It's been a great year so far for mobile, with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One making a big impact on the UK market. From super-fast processors to Near Field Communication capabilities, these smartphones boast a raft of new features designed to make your life better. But they also come with a hefty price tag; what is the point in spending big on mobile handsets if you are not going to take advantage of their capabilities?
One particular example follows the launch of the latest WiFi standard in 2012. AC WiFi runs up to three times faster than the previous industry standard (802.11n) and promises ridiculously fast wireless connections, better range, improved reliability and improved power consumption. Simply put, it means that WiFi is faster than ever before. But what has this go to do with phones?
Clearly, the thought of living our online lives purely just through our home PCs is an archaic one. We now shop, bank, game, stream or socialise online wherever we are and with whatever device we have in our hand - which is more often than not, our smartphone. Being able to surf the web on smartphones today should be absolutely painless, and not dampened by slow speeds and lagging downloads - however many will vouch that this has not always been the case. The good news is that a handful of the latest phones now have AC WiFi technology built into the devices, meaning a seamless and speedy WiFi experience is at the consumer's finger tips.
But back to the original point - despite having invested in this kind of capability with either the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One (or any future AC-enabled mobile phone), the vast majority of smartphone users are not making the most of it.
AC WiFi: good call
AC WiFi is the top choice in its field, and the benefits are clear to see. Having forked out the money for the latest must-have device, why then partner it with an inferior WiFi supply? AC WiFi allows your device to run to its maximum capacity, enabling you to enjoy the full benefits.
The key lies in checking which router you currently have, and ensuring it is of a good specification. If you just settle for the cheap router you picked up online or got free with your broadband package, you will never benefit from the AC technology inbuilt into your phone. By investing in an AC WiFi router you can be sure you won't fall short in terms of WiFi quality, coverage and reliability..
Other benefits of doing this include:
•Tripling your speed
oAs Android software capabilities develop, increasing numbers of people are sharing large and important files via their personal devices. It is not uncommon to find yourself twiddling your thumbs, staring at the screen waiting for the file to come to life.
oBy unleashing the power of AC WiFi to your handset, files can be transferred and downloaded at triple the speed - saving you not just minutes, but sometimes hours.
•Ditching the drain
oIt's great to save your data bundles by connecting a mobile device to a WiFi connection, but your smugness can be quickly cut short by a battery life indicator running into the red. Often, WiFi connections tend to be heavier on battery life than a 3G/4G connection, which can leave you unexpectedly short of juice.
oAnother area in which AC WiFi excels is its assistance with download speeds. One of the biggest problems facing battery life is the speed in which your phone downloads. AC WiFi's speed allows your phone to spend less time downloading, which in turn saves you a significant amount of battery time.
It has been said that joy comes from using your potential; there's no point in buying gadgets capable of wonderful things if you are not going to allow them to go on to deliver.. Once you get your hands on one of these new smartphones, make sure you get the best out of them.