Buying a new smartphone? Why not try something different this year?

Be different!

It is September 2018, that time of year when Apple releases new iPhones. Are you excited? You can't wait to get the latest shiny phone? It will be easy to renew that one or two year contract, just sign...

Or maybe stop, think about doing something different this year. You could save a lot because smartphones from the likes of Apple are coming with USD 1000+ price tags these days! Even if you buy on a contract, you still pay this high price (actually you probably pay more).

There are options, you can make savings and have more functionality. I know that sounds crazy but it is true!


Options!
I have been following the reviews and changes in smartphones closely for more than two years. I have witnessed an increase in prices for top end flagship phones from the major players like Samsung, Apple and Hauwei. But all is not lost because at the same time there's been an increase in what are known as "budget flagships" or "midrangers". These are smartphones that rival top of the range flagships for features and yet are cheaper! Yes it's true, even many of these cheaper phones have more functionality than the most expensive phones. Yes you didn't misread that, I really said that you get more for less!

For example, take new iPhone XR, that's the cheapest one from the 2018 line-up. Here in Switzerland the cost will be about CHF 879 (approx. USD 909) and that's just for the base model with 64GB of storage (not expandable) and not even a FullHD screen. There are many alternatives that will give you more for your money. The Nokia 7 Plus is just CHF 379 with 64GB storage (expandable), fingerprint reader, 4GB RAM, dual hybrid SIM support, FullHD+ screen, headphone jack and more! Yes in benchmarks it will not be as fast as flagships or the XR but if you read any review of the Nokia 7 Plus they'll tell you it can handle anything you throw at it, even games. This isn't the only option, there are many from Hauwei, Xiaomi, Motorola, OnePlus and Samsung. Even LG's currently flagship, the G7 is around CHF 600. That's got full waterproofing, fingerprint reader, headphone jack, 64GB storage (expandable) and a QHD+ screen (the highest resolution). Compare this to all the phones in the iPhone X range, none have fingerprint reader, expandable storage nor headphone jacks. In fact I read that the 2018 iPhone X models don't even come with a dongle in the box, something else to buy (and lose).

Apple concerns
For Apple iPhone users I do recognise there is one obstacle to switching to a more affordable option. That's the software. Outside of the world of Apple all other manufacturers are using Google Android. But don't be scared, it works in a similar way. Maybe a bigger worry is how to leave the Apple eco-system. Firstly please know that there are alternatives to iCloud, FaceTime and all the other Apple software services. It is also likely you'll save money as you will have more choices. Google provide many free services such as storing your photos. If you have your contacts in Gmail, you have nothing to worry about on a Android phone, contacts synchronise automatically. My advice is to make the effort to switch because once you've made the switch a whole world of choice and lower prices will open up to you. The following article explains the process in detail: https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/how-to-switch-from-iphone-to-android/


Conclusion
Value for money is important to me and perhaps that makes me different than others? I don't think I am so special, most would welcome a bargain, right? Have a look at what's available, you'll be surprised. If you are in Switzerland I recommend Digitec.ch as they have a wide range from all brands.

A year ago I wrote another article where I went into more detail on this subject and also on mobile phone contracts. I recommend you take a look at that too: https://mgxp.blogspot.com/2017/06/smart-thinking-about-your-next.html

Disclaimer
I hope this article can help you but at the end of the day it's your choice, I cannot be held responsible for any trouble you get yourself into. My article is just my opinion, maybe I am wrong! Please just take this as a guide only. All links on this page were valid at the time of writing. My article is purely my own work, I don't work in the smartphone industry, I have no affiliation to any smartphone company.

Smart thinking about your next smartphone

These days (2017) there are so many smartphones and contracts to choose from that deciding on your next mobile can be a confusing and even a stressful experience. I am sure this is why so many just buy the latest Samsung or Apple flagship phone and extend their existing contracts. It`s easier, you get a great phone and you don't have to think. But is it the right choice? Probably not if you`d like to save some money! In this article I am going to explore some alternatives.

My experience
In the past I always signed a 24 month mobile phone contract and paid a small (or not!) fee up front for a new mobile. I started doing that with my first Nokia back in the 90s and I just continued like that up until 2016. I often used my phone on the existing contract for longer than the contract duration, I effectively gave away money to my service provider! I wasn't too smart, was I!?!

Last year I found a monthly contract that didn't require me to buy a new mobile and was half the cost of the contract I had been tied to for the past two years. I bought a new smarphone (mid-range) too but full price and not on contract. I saved and I feel free now I am no longer tied to a contract as if it were a ball and chain.

Sums
Start off by doing some calculations. If you are on a 12 or 24 month contract including a phone, divide the cost of a new phone by 12 or 24. Minus that figure from the monthly fee you pay and that's what the service is costing you. This is approximate but it is a good way to compare.

For example, say a new top of the range smartphone will cost CHF 700 (about USD 730), over 24 months that is about 29 every month. If you pay 89 a month as your contract for phone and service, the service is costing 60 a month. 

Comparison
Check what other contracts can offer. Do those contracts include the same service you are getting now? If not, do you need everything in the package?

The best is if you find a contract just for the service and it provides a similar package of features to what you are used to. Most importantly the cost should be lower than what you are paying for just the service part of your existing contract. Look for contracts that do not tie you down. For example, I changed to a monthly contract, it means that if I wanted I could switch again later. If coverage is an issue then this is the best idea because at least there's a option to move to a better service provider if that cheap price turns out to be a cheap service!


Smartphone choice
You should make a saving on the service contract but where there is a real possibility of saving a lot, is on the new smartphone you buy. If you buy off-contract you pay upfront for your new smartphone. If you can afford to do this, you save in the long run. Which phone? Here are some options:


Flagship?
The latest and greatest smartphones such as the Samsung S8 or iPhone 7 will cost you maybe 700 (or more!), that's a lot. If you are an avid gamer who needs lots of performance or you buy a phone as others buy jewelry, maybe a flagship is a good idea, for the rest of us, there are cheaper alternatives.


Last year's flagship?
Something to consider, often last year's model can be a bargain. The downside might be having older software, something to consider. When the latest S8 came out all the shops immediately discounted the Samsung Galaxy S7, a very capable phone.


Mid-range smartphones?
What about a brand new phone, latest software and hardware but at almost half the price of a flagship? Yes it is possible! You will have to pay around the 250-450 mark. Mid-range phones don't have the fastest processor but these days very few of us will notice unless you are a serious gamer perhaps. For the average user a mid-range phone will be more than fast enough. In addition, often mid-range phones can surprise you with their features.

Many mid-range phones have features you don't find on higher end models. Most have a microSD card slot for more storage. Some models allow two SIM cards, great for those who travel abroad a lot. Even a headphone port! There are often also the features you would expect these days such as a fingerprint reader, large battery, sometimes dual cameras and look carefully for models with quick charging technology, that's a real boon.

The build quality of most phones in this category can be just as good as any flagship, often metal or glass designs. For example, Samsung's mid-range Galaxy A models have a similar build quality to their flagship S models.

The other good thing about mid-range phones is that there are so many manufacturers making great models. Samsung of course, their Galaxy A range. The Huawei Honor range, the Moto G range, Sony's XA models, Blackberry DTEK, OnePlus, Wileyfox or even the new Nokia Android phones - yes Nokia lives! All are worth considering as the phones they make are just as good as any other manufacturer. 

I've heard some people implying Chinese made phones are somehow inferior, this is nonsense, after all, all Apple iPhones are made in China! I'd also like to add that I feel the newer Chinese companies like Huawei try extra hard as they know they are up against the giants like Apple and Samsung. There are some great benefits to competition for us consumers.

To give you a real-world idea, I have the Honor 7, a model that dates from 2015. I bought it in 2016 for about CHF 300. It has 32GB storage, an octa-core processor, 3GB RAM, fingerprint scanner, quick charge, full metal body, 5.2 inch screen, etc, etc. After one year of use it is still going strong, I am happy with it. My previous smartphone cost more than twice the price and had a much lower specification.

Entry level?
Models that are priced below 200 are typically known as entry-level. The Moto E  and Samsung Galaxy J3 are good examples. Don't get one of the really cheap models with just 8GB of storage because you will soon fill that. Even if it has a microSD card slot, you will still need at least 16GB of main storage otherwise it is likely you will face frustration. The processors used in these phones will be of the slower variety so don't expect too much. If you only use your phone for messaging then perhaps an entry-level phone might be a good idea. Otherwise, I feel the mid-range phones are a better balance of features and price.


Shopping

To choose your new phone, look at the reviews and information online. There is so much! Youtube videos are the best, I recommend Mr Mobile and Android Authority. 

A good site to compare specifications is GSM Arena 

If you'd like to visually compare different phone sizes, there's a great site here:

http://www.phonearena.com/phones/size

For anyone living in Switzerland, the shops here often do not provide all the latest makes and models. Amazon isn't based in Switzerland for example, so the shipping and import duties can be a barrier. I recommend Digitec as they are based in Switzerland and they have a wide range of makes and models you don't typically see in, say Interdiscount or Fnac.

Next
Imagine you have your new contract that is separate from the phone. You have purchased a new phone outright. You can spend the next one or two years with that phone and whenever you feel like it, change the phone! You can always sell the phone second-hand even. You are free!


Conclusion
Please do not blindly buy your next smartphone. Check what is available, be smart about your next smartphone. You could save a lot and end up with something that stands out from the crowd.

Disclaimer

I hope this article can help you but at the end of the day it's your choice, I cannot be held responsible for any trouble you get yourself into. My article is just my opinion, maybe I am wrong! Please just take this as a guide only. All links on this page were valid at the time of writing. My article is purely my own work, I don't work in the smartphone industry, I have no affiliation to any smartphone company.

Compare two text files with Notepad++

Introduction
Often you may need to compare two text files to see the differences. Notepad++ is a very useful free text editor and you can easily add a free plug-in called 'Compare' to add this functionality:


Download
Download Notepad++
http://notepad-plus-plus.org/
Install Notepad++ if it's not already installed.


Check in Notepad++ that the Compare plugin is installed
With Notepad++ on the screen:
Click Plugins | Show Plugin Manager
Click Compare in the list and click Install
Accept the prompts...
Notepad++ will restart

Now on the Plugins menu you'll see the Compare option.


NOTE:
Normally the above is fine but in the past and possibly if you are troubleshooting, the following manual installation method might be useful:
Download the Compare plug-in for Notepad++
http://sourceforge.net/projects/npp-compare/?source=dlp
The download file is a zip, open it and extract the DLL inside. Copy this DLL file to:
C:\Program Files\Notepad++\Plugins
Start Notepad++ and now on the Plugins menu you can find the Compare option.



Using Compare in Notepad++
Let's say for example we have two text files - here's what to do:

Open both files in Notepad++

Click Plugins | Compare | Compare (or press Alt-D)

You'll see something similar to the following:

In our example it shows that in file1.txt on the left one line is present that is not there in file2.txt. Also in file2.txt on the right an additional line was added. Of course this is a very simple test but if you have a larger file you can use the Nav Bar to jump to where there are differences.

In the above I was comparing large files. After running the Compare I saw in the Nav Bar that there were two lines (see the orange arrow in the image above) indicating two differences. I clicked and it took me to where the difference was. You can see some text is missing from one line in file2.txt.


Conclusion
It's very fast, even with very large files. It's also easy to use especially if you are already using Notepad++ for other work. Of course this can be used to compare all kinds of data such as log files, programming code or maybe CSV data files, etc. Compare for Notepad++ is excellent!
Recommended: 8 /10

If you want to compare two Excel worksheets please see my previous article on this subject which explains about using an add-on for Excel to compare files inside Excel:
http://mgxp.blogspot.ch/2013/07/excel-2010-compare-two-worksheets-using.html




Updated: August 2015
Notepad++ has a plugin installer built into it now. I updated this document to reflect this but I also left the manual download and installation steps just in case they are needed by anyone.