Smart Recycling, Instantly Rewarding.™

ecoATM is a safe, fast and convenient way to sell or responsibly recycle your old phones, MP3 players and tablets for instant cash. Find an ecoATM kiosk near you at www.ecoatm.com.

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Download These Budgeting Apps to Keep Your Personal Finances in Check

Though the list of budgeting apps reaches into the hundreds, here are a few of our faves to successfully manage your personal finances! 

Written by Beth Braverman May 9, 2016

One of the first steps to winning at personal finance is keeping track of where your money goes each month. That’s easier than ever thanks to a host of personal finance apps designed to help you do just that. Though the list of budgeting apps reaches into the hundreds, here are a few of our favorites:

Mint (free, iOs and Androir)

The most well known budgeting app out there, this app has earned its stellar reputation. Sync Mint to your credit card and bank accounts, and it will automatically track the money coming in and out of your bank account each month and categorize spending done via linked cards.

Mint also gives you reminders when bills are due, (and allows you to pay via the app and avoid late fees), and notifies you if you’ve reached a savings goal. Though power users may find the app light on charts or reports, the easy user interface and minimal user input make this app a must for those who want to get started with a budgeting app.

Toshl Finance (free basic version, iOs and Android) Like Mint, Toshl provides expense tracking, but this app really shines in helping users create and stick to a budget. It will analyze your spending habits to show you trends based on past earnings and spending to make it easier to plan for the future.  

Though users will need to input every expenditure manually and the app doesn’t have support for advanced features such as bank balance tracking, if you are just looking to decrease your month-to-month spending, Toshl Finance will let you quickly evaluate your finances.

iReconcile ($2.99 for the app, $1.99/month after 30-day free trial, iOs)

This app may be geared toward personal finance power users, and goes more in-depth than Toshl and Mint. The powerful tool compiles spending and saving into easy-to-read, fully interactive reports. The app’s budget feature is easy to set up, and with a few clicks users can choose which categories are a part of their budget. This app also allows you to share accounts with other users (making it a great option for couples or family members). Like Toshl finance, this app relies on user input and won’t pull info directly from your bank.

PocketGuard ($iOs, free) Like Mint, PocketGuard will automatically sync to your bank accounts so that you won’t have to remember to manually input purchases or account balances. Mint may still be better for getting a big picture of your finances, but the beauty of PocketGuard is it’s ability to quickly tell you know what’s in “In My Pocket,” (or how much you can afford to spend) in a month without going into debt.

Photo courtesy of Flickr

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Top 3 Reasons to Buy Used Electronics

Written By Brianna Loper April 21, 2016

The exciting time has come to say goodbye to your old, slow, or broken device and go shopping for something shiny and new. There are so many options to choose from in today’s world, with new models constantly being released. But before you decide to splurge, consider the benefits of purchasing used electronics.

Not only will you save money, as used electronics are naturally much cheaper than brand new devices, but when you buy refurbished devices there are also numerous environmental benefits. Reducing the amount of e-waste is more important than ever! 

By the year 2018, there will be a projected 461 million idle devices in the United States alone, meaning the owners of these devices have upgraded their phones, and their old devices are no longer being used by anyone, according to a 2014 report by Bamboo Mobile - Compass Intelligence. Of those 461 million devices, only 174 million will be recycled. Moreover, 170 million of those devices will fall into the category of “gently used,” meaning they still have a lot of life to give!

Here are three big reasons why buying restored electronics is great for the environment — and your wallet!

1) Fewer new devices made each year

Did you know that cell phones, on average, are used for less than 18 months before they’re replaced? In 2013, more than a billion new smart phones were shipped out for use across the world. That’s an incredible number of cell phones made each year. Each of these phones requires plastics, precious metals and many other resources that could have been conserved had more individuals bought used phones. 

Instead of contributing to the mining of metals and creation of plastics, first consider if there’s a used device out there that can do the job just as well!

2) More electronics kept out of landfills

Because more consumers are purchasing personal electronics today than ever before, the amount of electronic waste that enters landfills each year is rapidly increasing. According to the EPA. e-waste is the fastest growing municipal waste in the United States. When these electronics, which carry heavy metals, are melted down or put in landfills, they create toxins that potentially pollute the soil, air, and water. These toxins can cause birth defects or even brain, heart, liver or kidney damage, in addition to damages to the environment. Instead, buying a used device, be it a cell phone, iPad or even MacBook, means there are fewer devices in landfills, and less of a health risk to us.

3) Extra spending money in your wallet  

One of the biggest factors in any large purchase is the price tag. No matter what you’re looking to buy, cost usually plays a major role in your decision. Not only are used electronics cheaper, but they’re also in great condition, as restoration companies have refurbished the battery, exterior and storage capacity to ensure the device is as good as new — many people can’t usually tell the difference between a restored device and a new one! 

Buy from a certified electronic restoration company to ensure that your iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, iPad or MacBook is the highest quality possible. Also choose a company that has a 30-day guarantee to ensure that if the electronic isn’t just right for you, it’s easy to return for a different smartphone or electronic. Stay away from sites that advertise “all sales final” or items that come “as is.”

Why did you decide to purchase a refurbished electronic? Were there unexpected bonuses to buying a restored smartphone, tablet or computer? Let us know!  

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

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10 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

How are you planning to pay tribute to Mother Nature this year? Here are 10 ways to celebrate Earth Day on April 22rd.

WRITTEN BY Brianna Loper April 18, 2016

Earth Day, which lands on April 22 this year, is the perfect occasion each year to get outside and appreciate the world around you. From green grass and blooming flowers, to clean air and blue skies, the beginning of spring reminds us why we love Mother Nature!

Here are 10 ways to celebrate Earth Day this year:

1. Create a recycle bin. Is your home or office missing a place to recycle bottles, paper or plastic? Be the person who steps up to add a recycling bin. Sometimes it just takes someone to make the first move! 

2. Give up bottled water. Did you know that more than 60 million water plastic water bottles end up in landfills each year? And those bottles take an average of 450 years to decompose. Buy a reusable water bottle and continue to refill it instead of adding countless plastic water bottles to the landfill.

3. Recycle used electronics. Almost all consumer electronics, such as mobile phones, computers, monitors and printers, contain toxic materials that pose a threat to the environment and our health. Putting these items in landfills can have huge repercussions for our planet. Either find an ecoATM kiosk to recycle or sell your old or broken electronics, or buy certified pre-owned devices through Gazelle.com to minimize the amount of new electronics that need to be created each year.

4. Don’t drive. Consider alternative ways to get to work or school each morning. Do you have a bike to ride, or is there a public transit stop near your house? Think about organizing a car pool with coworkers or friends who live near you.

5. Plant a tree. One of the simplest ways to give back is to plant a tree or other greenery. It also looks beautiful!  

6. Clean up your local park or street. Many neighborhoods or cities host a clean up for Earth Day. Consult your local Chamber of Commerce or newspaper to see if there is a clean up near you. If not, grab a few friends, disposable gloves and garbage bags, and head to a favorite park to give back. You’ll get to enjoy the sunshine and good company while seeing the results of your efforts instantly.

7. Tune up your house. Leaky faucet? Out-of-date light bulbs? There are a lot of ways to make your home more energy efficient.

8. Start growing (some of) your food. There’s nothing more rewarding than cooking dinner with ingredients you worked hard to grow. Consider turning some counter space into an herb garden, or growing fruits and vegetables in your own backyard. Don’t have the space? Many cities have a community garden where you can rent a plot of land for a fee or small portion of your crops.

9. Go solar. If you’re really looking to invest in Mother Nature, consider going solar for some or all of your energy. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also cut down on fossil fuels or other wasteful energy practices.

10. Get outside. Go enjoy the outdoors and remind yourself why our planet is so important. Take a hike with a friend or walk your dog, and enjoy the great view!

What’s your unique way to celebrate Earth Day and give back to the environment? Comment below to let us know!

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Introducing the Newest ecoATM Kiosks on the Block!

A green machine may have just moved into your town! Here are just a few of our new kiosks. To see all our new locations in your area click here. 

1. Dallas, Texas Walmart - 3155 W Wheatland Road

2. Norman, Oklahoma Walmart - 601 12th Ave NE

3. Rio Grande City, Texas Walmart - 4534 E US Highway 83

4. Shelton, Washington Walmart - 100 E Wallace Kneeland Blvd

5. Hartsville, South Carolina Walmart - 1150 S 4th Street

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How can you help protect wildlife?

Happy World Wildlife Day! 

Today is World Wildlife Day, a day to celebrate the amazing diversity of wild animals and plants throughout our world. In addition to celebration, today is importantly about raising awareness of our responsibility to protect our world’s wildlife. This year’s World Wildlife Day is focused on African and Asian elephants, who face serious threat from poaching and habitat loss. These beautiful creatures are not the only species increasingly threatened by habitat loss, development, poaching and trafficking. The need for animal protection and conservation action is real.

So what can you do to help?  The good news is there are a multitude of individual actions you can take to protect wildlife from right where you are.  The World Wildlife Organization has compiled a list of ways you can make an impact today and every day moving forward. To help you spread the word, also check out these free promotional and outreach materials, including posters, videos, and a social media kit. 

One of our favorite ways you can make a positive impact on wildlife and their habitat is by consuming responsibly and reducing your environmental footprint. Start by reducing the amount of trash you create and by reusing as much as possible before buying new. Check out these tips to get you started, jog your memory of all the things you can recycle here, and find the closest recycling drop-off to you here. 

In addition to paper, glass and plastics, don’t forget that you can recycle electronics – that’s where we come in. Brush up on our environmental commitment and the benefits of going green with ecoATM when you recycle your used electronics at a kiosk in your neighborhood.

Together we can make a big difference. #InOurHands

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5 Apps to Help You Plan the Perfect Valentine’s Day!

Are you down to the wire in making your Valentine’s Day plans? We know of someone, or something, that is willing to go out of its way for you this Valentine’s Day. Who you might ask? You’re beloved phone! With the help of the following apps you still have time to plan a very special Valentine’s Day. Shhh, we won’t tell anyone that it’s last minute. 

First step: OpenTable Dinner reservations!  

Treating you and your significant other, or your closest friends, to a nice dinner out is a wonderful tradition on Valentine’s Day. How nice would it be to skip the stressful experience of finding a good restaurant and securing a reservation at the one you set your heart on before it’s all booked up? OpenTable will help you do both at once – find the perfect restaurant for your night out and reserve a table. OpenTable provides reservation options, reviews of the restaurant, menus and more.

Step two: Flixter - How about a movie flick?

A night out to the movie theater can be expensive nowadays. There’s no better occasion than Valentine’s Day to splurge on movie tickets and maybe some popcorn and candy to go with them. Movies are so much better on the big screen and with Flixter, you can see what movies are playing in a theater near you, when, and what people think of them (the app is partnered with Rotten Tomatoes). The app even connects to MovieTickets.com so you can snag your tickets right there and then. Ready, set, action!

Step three: Let Spotify help you put together the perfect playlist for your Valentine’s Day evening.

Whether you’re driving around town from dinner to the theater, or enjoying a nice home cooked meal, Spotify is here to help you create the perfect Valentine’s Day playlist. Don’t have time to make your own? That’s okay, Spotify will have plenty of pre-made Valentine’s Day mixes for you to choose from. Nothing says romantic like a good playlist!

Step four: Deals on Day Adventures through LivingSocial

Looking for something active or new to do during the day? From kayak rentals to wine tasting and pottery class to a spa trip, there are plenty of discounted activities for your Valentine’s afternoon available through LivingSocial. 

Step five: Everyone loves to receive fresh flowers. There’s now an app for that: ProFlowers.

Finally, fresh flowers are always a nice gesture on Valentine’s Day. With an app like ProFlowers, you can order flowers and have them delivered directly to your doorstep. There are many apps and websites that offer this service. A quick google search should help you find a few options in your area!

Know of any other apps we missed? Please let us know. We hope you all enjoy your day of romance!

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Big Game Apps for Every Personality

All summer long we dream of the day our teams will finally make it to the big game.  We wait pensively through the preseason and cheer all football season long.  Not every team can make it, and yes, it's disappointing for some. But have no fear, the big game can make you feel like a winner when you have the right apps to get the most out of it! 

We've assembled a list of the best football apps for every spectator's personality, which one will be most popular at your party?

#1 - The Football Fanatic

Do you know the football fan that wishes they were at the stadium?  Do you know the football fan who is attending the event?  They need the Road to 50 app which shows fans all of the exciting events in the San Francisco area and an opportunity to win tickets to the game. 

#2 - The Oddsmaker

You know the Oddsmaker.  He's the one that always wants a wager to make the game more interesting.  For the Oddsmaker we recommend the Football Squares Plus App.    It's a fun way to track the classic football squares pool that goes on in offices and homes around the country.  This football squares app will cost $2.99 but it will save you a ton of time in administering the pool.

#3 - The Marketing MVP

There are some people that watch for the grid iron action and some people who watch for the groundbreaking ads.  There's no place better to track the hype around the ads than Twitter.  Get in the conversation in real time by checking for trending hashtags like #superbowlcommercials and mark your tweets to share your reaction. 

#4 - The Culinary Coach

Whether they are shaking up a cocktail or wrapping things in bacon, the culinary coach is ready to get guide you to a tastebud touchdown.  Food Network in the Kitchen is a great app that helps you pick out football party food ideas that everyone will love. They have videos to help you work through the game day recipes, too!

#5 - The Aspiring Athlete

Looking for ways to inspiring your young athletes?  The NFL has done an amazing job in creating the NFL Play 60 app that encourages kids to get at least 60 minutes of play time every day.  It's endorsed by the American Heart Association and provides a great way to harness the excitement around the big game into  positive action all year round!

Have other apps that you love for football?  Let us know!

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Ways to Recycle or Reuse Your Christmas Tree

If you’re still celebrating the holiday season the old-fashioned way - with a live tree carefully selected from your local Christmas tree farm or lot - we have great news for you. Not only do real Christmas trees positively affect the environment and the local economy (learn how here), but they can also be recycled or reused in a variety of fun ways!

An easy and reliable way to recycle your tree is to drop it off at your local recycling center.  But here are a few other resourceful ways to get a second use out of that retired tree:

1. Replant your Christmas tree in your yard and use it again next year or watch it grow into a beautiful, tall pine tree! If you’re considering replanting your tree, check out this helpful how-to guide.

2. Reuse your Christmas tree in your garden by cutting the branches into mulch or by using it to start a compost pile. A thin layer of pine branches makes for one of the best bases for compost piles.

3. Make a bird feeder for your backyard! This family reused their Christmas tree trunk by turning it into a peanut butter feeder. They hangs it every winter, attracting many feathered visitors, especially local songbirds. You might also string fresh fruit on the tree, or hang pine cones covered in peanut butter and birdseeds.

4.Chop your tree up and use it for fire wood! There’s nothing like a warm, cozy fire during the chilly winter season.

Give us a shout if your family recycles or reuses your Christmas tree in another creative way. We’d love to hear your ideas. And here’s wishing you and your family a very happy holiday!

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DIY Holiday greeting card crafts

Sending and receiving holiday cards is an age-old tradition we cherish. The greeting cards are festive and decorative; the messages inside warm and thoughtful.   But when the holiday season ends, what do we do with all these beautiful cards adorning our mantels?

Greeting cards are a DIY crafters dream! Instead of tossing this season’s assortment, hold onto them for next year’s holiday season when you can reuse and upcycle them into new wrapping materials and holiday decorations.  

Here are just a few ideas that make it easy to recycle greeting cards:

1. Gift tags: The festive, beautiful graphics on the front of the cards make great gift tags for future gifts.  Since each one tends to be unique it gives the additional benefit of helping you identify a gift at a glance when they’re all arranged in a pile!

2. Gift bags & boxes: Cut out the fun designs and images on your cards and glue them to paper bags. Gift recipients will usually share and cherish these handcrafted bags and boxes – making them useful for many holiday seasons to come!

3. Greeting card frame: Surround your photo from the big day, holiday, or event with cards that reinforce all of the things that made the moments so special.  

4. Postcards:  The signature area may be used up but most people don’t write on the top half of the card. The front portion of the cards can be detached and they are instantly converted to postcards.

5. Recycled gift card ornaments: Cards often have amazing designs and they look great hanging from a tree or turned into a children’s mobile! Watch this video to learn how.

6. Recipe cards: Don’t you love the idea of having all of your new holiday recipes written on cards that are as festive as the food?  Your famous sugar cookies will seem twice as sweet!

7. Donate them to charity: That’s right, there are charities that would love your used OR unused greeting cards – whether they are from holidays or other occasions.  Consider looking at programs like St. Jude’s Ranch where children learn entrepreneurial skills and sustainability principles through upcycling greeting cards into better than new condition!

8. Garland for your tree: this craft is a little more challenging but well worth it. 

We challenge you to get creative. What other ways can you recycle your greeting cards?  

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Eco-friendly Gifts Ideas: A Red and Very Green Holiday Season

‘Tis the season for giving and for giving back. There are so many ways to be green this holiday season by giving gifts to your loved ones that also help the environment.  Check out a few of our favorite ideas in this eco-friendly gift guide:

1.       Plants and herbs

Potted plants and herbs: they liven up the house, purify the air, and grow easily indoors. Fresh herbs are also awesome to have around the kitchen for cooking. Rosemary, oregano, and mint plants are just a few options, all found at your local nursery. For anyone with a green thumb, seeds and gardening kits are great ideas too!

2.       Conservation Gifts: perfect for the animal lover!

Have any friends who love elephants or lions? Have you ever considered adopting one for them? Symbolically, of course. Through the World Wildlife Organization or National Wildlife Federation, you can symbolically adopt an animal in someone’s name and help support the organization’s efforts to protect wild animals and their natural habitats.

3.       Gifts you can do together!

Time spent with loved ones is what the holiday season is all about. What’s better than an eco-friendly gift that means sharing more time together and creating memories? This year, treat your friends to an experience rather than purchasing merchandise.  Some popular options we recommend: a winery tour, a painting class, or a spa day together. Experiences will create a memory that you will cherish the rest of your days and experiences are better at creating happiness than things!

4.       Gifts that cut down on waste all year long

Last on our list of eco-friendly gifts is something a little more practical - gifts that reduce the amount of plastic through the year and help the environment throughout the year! Single use water bottles are not sustainable and more than 60 million plastic water bottles end up in landfills every year (read about other reasons why you should ditch the plastic bottles).Help reduce the waste by giving eco-friendly, reusable BPA-free bottles, this season.  You’ll help your loved ones save money on all of that costly bottled water - find out how much with the Bottled Water Cost Calculator.  

Anyone have any other creative eco-friendly gift ideas?  We’d love to hear them!

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Fa La La La Phones! ‘Tis the Season for Smartphones

Like ornaments trimming a tree, smartphones are the decoration that adorn most people year-round. According to Pew Research, nearly two-thirds of Americans already own a smartphone, yet still it is the top gadget on holiday wish lists this year according to an ecoATM survey. Nearly 80 percent of respondents are hoping to receive a smartphone this holiday season, followed closely by a smartwatch (77 percent) and fitness band/tracker (70 percent).

Smartphones are playing another role this season with the NRF finding that over 21 percent of owners using their device to purchase holiday merchandise. But for as much as people are tied to their phones, the holiday spirit seems to be taking over and creating a little device reprieve. The ecoATM survey also found that an overwhelming 90 percent of Americans would choose their family over their smartphone. This is a hopeful contrast to the findings in ecoATM’s 2014 holiday survey when 27 percent of consumers stated they would rather be apart from their family than their smartphone.

How are you feeling this Holiday season – ready to put down the phone and enjoy time with friends and family?

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Thankful Thursday – Video Call, Facetime or Skype the Holidays!

During the holidays we're reminded just how much our phones have helped connect us all. A lot of people stay in touch during the holidays with video call solutions like Facetime, Google Hangouts, and Skype. You can carry your loved ones with you on your phone and narrow the distance between you!

Here are a few stories about how video calls have changed the holidays for some of our ecoATM employees:

Connecting across the sea: We have family in Hawaii and travelling for every holiday isn't always feasible. Video calls have connected grandparents and grandkids - making sure that neither miss a chance to create great memories together. It's great to hear someone's voice, but it's even better when you can see a child's smile when they open the present you shipped out!

Away at school: For the past three years my family has done a facetime or Skype session on Christmas day with my brother since he’s been doing his residency in Minneapolis and can’t leave to be with the extended family for Christmas. We set up an iPad in the living room and just leave him on for an hour or so while he opens presents from us and we open the presents from him and then just chat it up for a while. It’s been nice but not as nice as it will be this Christmas since he finishes his residence 12/7 and will join us for Christmas in person!

It's so much fun to be put face to face. There's even a way to facetime directly with Santa and record kids interaction with him on hellosanta.com. A wonderful holiday memory to treasure!

If you're lucky enough to be with those you love this Thanksgiving, consider making a video to help preserve the memories and take part in the StoryCorps & Google Great Thanksgiving Listen. It has built in prompts that walk you through giving an interview and you can submit your favorite person's priceless stories to be a part of the Library of Congress.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Feature of our phones we’re thankful for: Maps & GPS!

Old way: Me: Dad, are we lost? Dad: No, no I know where we’re going. (30 minutes later and late to soccer game). Me: Dad, admit it, we’re lost. Dad: We’re not lost. Just do I a favor and hand me that map in the glove compartment? Ah, it looks like we just need to jump back on the freeway and… okay, hold on.  I’m going to pull into this gas station and ask for directions real fast…

New way: Me: Dad, are we lost? Dad: No, no I know where we’re going (Dad still hates to admit that he doesn’t know how to get there). Me: Ok, I just plugged the address into my phone. Looks like we’re just a few miles away. Google Maps: Make a right turn on Cass Street in .5 miles, then take your next left. Dad: Exactly what I was going to do.

This “Thankful Thursday” we’d like to express our gratitude for a feature that truly makes our lives easier, safer, and less stressful: GPS navigation and maps on our smartphones! Remember the days of printing directions out from the internet before leaving the house? Thankfully those days are long gone and in their place we have smartphone GPS navigation and maps that give us the following:

Maps that warn us about traffic and traffic accidents.

Real time updates on how long the drive will take. 

Even better: visibility into the fastest route to take!  

Safer driving!  Now we can focus on the road while listening to directions instead of attempting to read the hard copy directions while driving. Yikes!

Awesome accents! Yes, some apps let you choose to hear your directions in a British accent or celebrity voices. 

Peace of mind when going on road trips. And now – Google Maps has announced offline mode, meaning you don’t need cell service to access your maps. With this update, it’s nearly impossible to get lost!

Endless thanks to our smartphones for being such (one) direction rock stars (see what we did there… ;))! What feature are you thankful for this Thursday?

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Thankful For Cell Phone Clocks

Old way: Stranger: What time is it? Me: (Checks watch) 9:23 AM.   Stranger: Thanks! (Walks away) Me: (Running after stranger) I mean, 9:15 - sorry, I forgot, my watch runs a little bit early.   New way: Stranger: What time is it? Me: (Checks phone) 9:15 Stranger: Thanks! (Walks away) Me: (Still looking at phone) …and it's almost time for my very important conference call. Phew! Glad I have a few minutes to prepare….. This thankful Thursday we'd like to take a moment and reflect on our appreciation for clocks and calendars on our phones.  Think about it, it's really changed the world!

With the advent of cell phones we all have a transportable clock - and with smartphones our clocks have gotten smarter and smarter!  Watches were once a ubiquitous technology, everyone had a watch.  A study in 2011 found that only about 19% of people wore wristwatches in the US - and now people wear watches more for style than for function. Here are the top 5 things we love about smartphone timekeeping!

No need to set those clocks back. Daylight savings is a cinch.  

Your phone remembers when to you wake up every day - and if you like to change it up on the weekends. 

Your wrist has room for other things: bracelets, fitbits, and event access wristbands!

No carrying massive day planners! 

No more obsessing on the morning TV or radio traffic report.  The calendar, clock and maps work together to tell when to leave based on current traffic.

Father time would be impressed that we've come so far. Now it's time to tell us what you think: Do you still wear a wristwatch?  What about a smartwatch?

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How to Download Pictures from These 5 Android Devices 

By Alison Clancy 

Confession time: I’m 100% Team Apple, and Android phones confuse my iOS brain. It seems like each individual Android device has its own personality and system, and the small nuances that come up between the devices sometimes stress me out. That’s why I wanted to take a closer look at a few different Android phones to see how to do one of the most important things you can do before selling or recycling a device: Backing up those awesome pictures you have on your phone. 

1. Samsung Galaxy S6 

Prep: Double-check that you’ve saved and closed all files on your phone before connecting your phone to your computer. 

Method #1: Backing up to your computer 

Use a USB cable to connect your device to your computer 

A pop-up will appear > Select Open Device to View Files 

Double-click Internal Storage and you'll see a list of folder icons 

Find the DCIM (Digital Camera Images) folder 

Right-click and select Copy, then Paste it on your computer's hard drive 

Note: Check to make sure the subfolders inside the DCIM folder have the content you want to copy. For example, in this case, the Camera folder should have your photos and videos. 

Check your computer to make sure those files/folders were saved 

Disconnect your phone from the computer 

(image via)

Method #2: Google Drive 

Download the Google Drive app for free 

Go into your Photos file 

Select Menu > Share > Share to Drive 

2. HTC M8 

Prep: Double-check that you’ve saved and closed all files on your phone before connecting your phone to your computer. 

Method #1: Back up Media and Pictures 

Using a USB cable, connect your phone to the computer, then follow one of these steps depending on your computer: 

o Windows: An AutoPlay window will appear shortly after connecting to the computer. Select Open Device to View Files. 

o Mac: Select Virtual Drive on the desktop. 

Drag and drop the desired file from the internal storage onto your computer 

After you've finished backing up the files you want to keep, follow one of these steps depending on your computer: 

o Windows: Select Safely Remove Hardware in the system tray in the lower right-hand corner of your computer desktop 

o Mac: Drag and drop Virtual Drive icon into Trash/Eject 

Once the computer notifies you that it's safe, disconnect the USB cord from your computer and your phone 

3. Motorola Moto X Style/Play 

Prep: Double-check that you’ve saved and closed all files on your phone before connecting your phone to your computer. 

Method #1: Backing up data 

From Home, select Apps > Settings > Backup & Reset > Backup My Data 

4. LG G4 

Prep: Double-check that you’ve saved and closed all files on your phone before connecting your phone to your computer. 

Method #1: Backing up your data 

Start on the Home screen 

Select Apps > Settings > Backup & Reset (make sure that the check box is enabled) 

Select Backup My Data (make sure that the check box is enabled) 

Select the items that you want to back up 

5. Microsoft Lumia 

Prep: Double-check that you’ve saved and closed all files on your phone before connecting your phone to your computer. 

Method #1: Backing Up Photos in OneDrive 

Tap Photos > Tap the circular icon containing three checkmarks 

Select the photos or albums you want to upload 

Tap the circular icon containing three circuitous arrows > OneDrive 

Select where you want to upload the photos 

Tap the circular icon containing one checkmark 

Want to make sure the photos you want have been backed up? Log in to your OneDrive account on any device and check the folder to which you saved the photos. 

Did you find this blog post helpful? Learn even more about how to prepare your device for sale by reading our full How to Prepare Guides for both Android and iOS on our website.

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Get Your Phone Ready to Sell: Microsoft Lumia

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Get Your Phone Ready to Sell: Motorola Moto X Style/Play