Straight Talk Smartphone Comparison

Samsung Galaxy S4
Samsung Galaxy S4

Straight Talk by WalMart now has nearly 30 smartphones available – using every available operating system – Android, iOS, and Windows. One phone is even available on the Verizon network. With a phone starting as low as $59.99 plus the lowest monthly rate around of $45.00 per month, there is a smartphone in your future.

If you already have a smartphone, you may be able to benefit from exiting their Verizon, Sprint or AT&T $90 to $100/month plan and go to Straight Talk at 1/2 the monthly cost.
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Samsung Galaxy Proclaim Accessories Round 2

make your own skin

The first few accessories we’ve accumulated for our Straight Talk Samsung Galaxy Proclaim include 3 chargers, a protective case, a stylus, and a bluetooth headset. Next up are some more advanced and robust accessories. Everything evolves and so will my Proclaim. I love it a lot and I can make it even better.

Let’s look at a custom cell phone case, a bigger memory card and a holster. Or, if you want to browse a giant list, here’s a list of over 50 items for the Samsung Galaxy Proclaim at my favorite cell phone accessory discount retailer. By the way, the Samsung Illusion I110 is the same model phone … but sold by Verizon instead of Straight talk.

make your own skin

First up, a custom case for your Proclaim. For $12.99 reduced to $5.99 you can have any photo applied to a case. Imagine a picture of your spouse, child, significant other, pet, landmark, sports logo, replica tattoo, or absolutely any other photograph applied to your phone. For best results, edit your photo to about 900 x 1500 so that it fits the shape of the Samsung Proclaim.

picture of a phone holster

Next, a phone holster that attaches to my belt and the phone snaps into it for easy access. It is only $1.39 marked down from $19.99. What a deal. The phone is safe and secure and ready to draw from the hip with the next important ring! No more fumbling thru your pocket.

picture of solar charger

Next, a mini solar/wall charger for $17.99 discounted to $10.99. This amazing device can charge your phone from a wall outlet, a PC (USB), or from the sun! It even has a LED flashlight for some reason. Plug it in until it is fully charged. Then take it on the road with you. It even has many connectors so you can connect just about any device. Make sure you charge the device from the wall the first time for 15 hours to get the battery fully charged. The size of the charger output (current) determines how fast the battery will charge the phone. The current in milliAmps (ma) is the output power from the battery to the phone. The capacity in milliAmpHours (mAh) determines how long the battery will last on a full charge – so if you draw 300 mA and your battery capacity is 1500 mAh, you battery will charge the phone for 5 hours (5×300=1500). There are several sizes available including:

More Useful Items

Here are several other items that will become useful.

  • a replacement battery. If your phone no longer holds a charge very long, the battery may need replacing. Note that turning on the GPS or turning up the display brightness cause the battery to drain quickly.
  • a higher capacity microSD card. If you love music or photos on your phone, you may like a huge memory card.

References

Examine these other pages for more detail on Samsung Galaxy Proclaim and accessories. When shopping, remember that the Samsung Illusion I110 by Verizon is exactly the same as the Proclaim (s720c) by Straight Talk.

Android Multitasking

photo of Samsung Galaxy S 3 phone
Android robot

The ‘multitasking’ feature advertised on Android phones is often misunderstood. So, it’s time to take a closer look.

All versions of the Android OS have a multitasking feature. Generally, open any app and use it. When you switch to another app, the previous app moves to the background where it stays running. You can then switch back to your previous app instantly. Android automatically manages apps running in the background, but you can influence them also.
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Samsung Galaxy Proclaim Accessories

Now that we’ve all got ourselves a Straight Talk Samsung Galaxy Proclaim running on the Verizon network, we’ll need to protect it, feed it, and make it even more versatile. We’ll need 3 chargers, a protective case, a stylus, and a bluetooth headset. If you’re really using that phone, you might also like an external battery for charging on the go.

For under 4 bucks, start with a set of 4 accessories for Samsung Galaxy Proclaim (Verizon). This 4pcs combo pack includes a Solid Color Case + Screen Protector Film + Stylus Pen + Case Opener.

The rubberized cover is slim but provides protection in case you drop it – many colors are available – just follow the Amazon link above and browse. The film over the face plate protects the screen from scratches. The stylus helps for those with big fingers that find it rough to type on the virtual keyboard.

For 3 bucks, next up is a set of chargers for home, car, and computer. The Proclaim uses a common Micro USB port so these chargers are inexpensive and readily available. Plus they are reusable among other devices. You may already have a few. You received a home charger with the phone, but you’ll need another when you travel and some other spares. The USB charger is nice if you want to grab a charge off of your laptop. The car charger is a must have – just put it in your console for when you need it.

If you’re driving, you’ll need a hands free headset to make phone calls. The Samsung Galaxy Proclaim has either a bluetooth capability or you can even use the microphone jack with a wired headset. Choose the one that you like the best. There are literally thousands of options. With bluetooth, you have a range of about 30 feet. With a wire – well, you have a range of the length of the wire – so, you’ll certainly have the phone in your pocket. Some headsets like the Kinivo BTH220 Bluetooth Stereo Headphone can double as both a headset (for phone calls) and headphones (for your music).

Go big with a $40 Anker 10000mAh rechargeable battery. It will charge your phone about 4 or 5 times before this battery needs a recharge. Don’t bother with the other little battery chargers that give you 2 more hours. It’s great for that weekend when you’re biking or camping and you want to make sure your phone works so you can take pictures. Make no mistake, this thing is bigger and heavier (just a little bit though) than your phone so you won’t likely want it in your pocket. But it easily fits in a purse or backpack. Go big when you’re not at home.

Smartphone WiFi and Cell Basics

Cell-TowerWhen choosing a smartphone, you will have infinite choices of phones and service. The service you choose depends on many variables, but if you understand the options, you can make a more informed choice for your particular situation. Generally, your smartphone will use either cell service or wifi service to make calls or connect to the internet as you use your phone.

Here we will compare some of the simple differences of WiFi, 3G, and 4G.

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Straight Talk, Samsung Galaxy Proclaim and Verizon

proclaim photo

Straight Talk has found a winner in the newly available Samsung Galaxy Proclaim which operates on the Verizon network. The Proclaim runs the latest Android 2.3 operating system giving you all of the ease and convenience of a new smart phone. For $179.99 $149.99 plus $45/month, you can get the latest smart phone features, unlimited service, and the best nationwide network access.
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