The Galaxy Note occupies an odd space in the smartphone segment, positioning itself deliberately between phone and tablet, as evidenced by Samsung’s marketing material for the device. We take a look at the Note and see whether it’s all it’s cracked up to be.
Review: LG Optimus 3D (P920)
If you haven’t been living in a secluded cave in the mountains somewhere, you’ll know that three-dee is a bit of a fad at the moment (or, that’s what the manufacturers want you to think). Everybody and their dog is jumping on the bandwagon. Yes, we’re even seeing phones getting the 3D treatment. The LG Optimus 3D is the first of these to have landed on South African shores. We spent some time with it to see whether the 3D helps or hinders an otherwise solid device.
Application Showcase: Android South Africa
We take a look at a few South African centred applications, either developed locally, or targeting the local market.
Application Review: Swiftkey X
Android is known as a mobile operating system that gives you choice. One of the choices presented to you as a user is which input method you would like to use. Quite a while ago, Swiftkey appeared as a beta, and we’ve been using every iteration of it since then, the latest being Swiftkey X.
Application Review: FNB Smartphone Banking
First National Bank has always been ahead of the pack when it comes to new technology and the benefits it can bring to customers. Today they announced yet another first with the release of smartphone applications for Android, iPhone and BlackBerry. We took a quick look at the first version of the Android flavour of the application.
The first thing that strikes you upon install is the size of the application. At ~18MB, it’s quite large – and Philip found out why. That being said, you can move the application to your SD card. The overall look and feel of the application is polished, clean and intuitive for a first release.
You get access to a few functions without having to log in: ATM & Branch Locator (you can use your device’s current location to find the nearest – nice touch!), get access to (and dial) important FNB numbers, and see current Forex rates. Upon first login, you’re prompted for your online banking username, and then asked to confirm the link between your FNB account and the application on the website. This was a quick, painless process.
This being the first version of the application, only a few basic functions are available. You can access all of your accounts and their transaction histories, transfer money between accounts, make payments, view payment history, and use the FNB connect VoIP functionality baked into the application. All of these work, and work well. It’s evident that a lot of thought has been put into the interface.
If we have to nitpick, it’s that we would have liked to see a bit more functionality, like buying electricity, or paying for pre-paid services, but this is probably coming in future versions of the application. There’s also that redundant “back” button all over the show. Android devices have a hardware button for that, FNB. We’re sure that more little niggles will become evident with everyday use of the application, but if this first release is any indication of what’s to come, FNB’s heading in the right direction.
Rating: 7/10
Price: Free
Get the FNB Smartphone Banking Application from the Android Market
4 Responses to Application Review: FNB Smartphone Banking
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I like the idea and some of the features on it but damn are those drop shadows heavy or what.
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I’m not sure if I’m ready to have that sort of thing living on my smartphone just yet, with all the phone hacking and stuff going on..
Just a thought, but freaking awesome from FNB. Love banking with them.
Over the weekend I forgot my wallet at home and only figured it out once I got to Franschoek, my brother sent money to my cell phone, got a pin to withdraw from ATM. Thanks FNB!