Di Sebalik Musibah, Sabar dan Nikmat

By Qamarul Nazrin Harun on December 26, 2014

Tinta pena telah mengering, lembaran-lembaran sebuah takdir juga telah tersimpul kemas di dalam ilmu Allah yang Maha Luas. Firman Allah S.W.T. dalam surah Al-Hadid, ayat 22 :
“ tidak ada sesuatu kesusahan (atau bala bencana) yang ditimpakan di bumi, dan tidak juga yang menimpa diri kamu, melainkan telah sedia ada di dalam Kitab (pengetahuan Kami) sebelum kami menjadikannya…”
Kerana yang demikian itu, janganlah kita merasa gundah dan bersedih hati lantaran ujian yang ditimpakan ke atas diri kita. Sesungguhnya setiap musibah atau kejadian itu, terlebih dahulu telah dicatat di dalam takdir Allah.
“… tidak sekali-kali akan menimpa kami sesuatu pun melainkan apa yang telah ditetapkan Allah bagi kami…” surah At-Taubah ayat 51.
Pernahkah anda terfikir bahawa ujian itu adalah untuk meninggikan martabat seorang abid di sisi Tuhannya serta meningkatkan pahala juga dosa diampuni jika ujian itu dilalui dengan solat dan sabar.
Saraf-saraf anda akan tetap tegang, kegundahan jiwa tidak akan pernah reda, dan kecemasan di dada tidak akan pernah sirna selagi mana anda tidak beriman dengan qada’ dan qadar Allah S.W. T.
Maka, bersabarlah. Akan tetapi, perlu diketahui bahawa anda tidak mampu bersabar kecuali atas pertolongan dan taufiq dari Allah. Sesungguhnya, pertolongan akan datang setelah kesabaran, kelapangan akan datang setelah kesusahan dan kemudahan akan datang setelah kesulitan. Ia tercatat dengan pena di atas lembaran Illahi dalam surah Al-Insyirah ayat 6 berbunyi :
“ sesungguhnya bersama kesulitan ada kemudahan…”

Lantaran yang demikian, marilah kita memetik buah-buah kesabaran dan mengambil isinya (hikmah) untuk dijadikan sandaran agar anda mampu bersabar. Antara hikmah ujian seperti yang dinukilkan oleh Dr. Aidh bin Abdullah Al-Qarni dalam bukunya ‘La Tahzan’ :
1) Untuk memunculkan bentuk ibadah yang berupa doa, yang sebelumnya tidak pernah nampak. Seseorang berkata : “Maha Suci Dzat yang telah memunculkan doa hambaNya dengan cara memberikan ujian.” Allah berfirman kepada malaikatNya : “tujuannya adalah agar Aku mendengar suaranya”.
2) Untuk meredakan nafsu manusia yang cenderung melampaui batas.
3) Untuk membangkitkan kesedaran manusia untuk menyayangi dan mendoakan orang yang ditimpa musibah.
4) Untuk menunjukkan adanya nikmat yang nilainya jauh lebih besar daripada musibah itu sendiri dimana sesiapa yang ditimpa musibah akan diberi ampunan atas dosa-dosanya dan akan diberikan pahala daripada Allah S.W.T.
Firman Allah dalam surah Az-Zumar ayat 10 yang bermaksud :
“… sesungguhnya hanya orang-orang yang bersabarlah yang akan dicukupkan pahala mereka tanpa batas.”
Lantas, apa lagi yang diinginkan oleh seorang abid melainkan keampunan dan pahala yang terbaik di sisi Rabb-nya? Atau adakah anda masih ingin menyoal Rabb mengapa anda ditimpa musibah, mengapa dan mengapa?
Justeru, lembaran pena ini ingin melabuhkan tirainya dengan sebuah persoalan yang perlu kita sama-sama mencari jawaban agar kita menjadi manusia yang berfikir.
“ maka, nikmat Tuhanmu yang manakah yang kamu dustakan?” (Surah Ar-Rahman ayat 13)
Atikah binti Abu Bakar
(Biro Tarbiyah Pembina Melaka)

Malaysia PM under fire as 100,000 flee worst floods in decades

Malaysia's worst flooding in decades forced some 118,000 people to flee as premier Najib Razak came under fire after photos showed him golfing with US President Barack Obama during the storms.


At least five people have been killed by the rising waters and there appeared little respite on the way on Friday, with forecasters predicting further heavy rainfall across previously unaffected southern parts of the country.

As local media carried photographs of people wading through flood waters as deep as two metres (6.5 feet) and entire houses submerged by rising water, the government faced criticism for not declaring a state of emergency to help devastated communities.

Seasonal flooding hits Malaysia every year and regularly forces tens of thousands from their homes, but the latest round has forced authorities to evacuate around 118,000, mostly in the north-east, state news agency Bernama reported.

Among the dead was a man who drowned at a relief centre on Christmas eve, while a rescue boat carrying eight people including a young couple went missing after it became entrapped in a whirlpool and capsized, the news agency said.

Rising flood water has rendered several roads unusable and authorities have suspended train services in some of the worst-affected areas. Communications have also been badly hit by the storms.





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A family ride in a boat through floodwater in Pengkalan Chepa, near Kota Bharu on December 26, 2014 …

Military officials told AFP that additional helicopters from Kuala Lumpur were sent Friday morning to deliver medical supplies, food and drinking water to victims of the flooding.

In a rare piece of positive news, around 100 tourists who were stranded in a remote resort in central Malaysia's Mutiara Taman Negara Resort were rescued and sent to a relief centre.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib called on rescue workers desperately trying to reach flood victims to step up their efforts to deliver food and water.

Najib himself came under fire, however, when photos emerged of the premier playing golf with Obama in Hawaii, with Malaysians questioning why he was not at home to deal with the crisis in posts on his official Facebook page.

- 'PM needs a break' -





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A man waits outside his house in floodwaters as he waits to be to evacuated in Pengkalan Chepa, near …

Critics have also charged his government with failing to respond quickly enough, with some lambasting the authorities for not declaring a state of emergency in the worst-hit regions.

"The PM needs time to take a break," Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.

"He has been working very hard so let's be fair to him as a human being. Don't worry, I'm in charge."

Yassin also insisted the government had responded appropriately to the flooding, telling the newspaper: "We face floods every year but this is looking to be the worst the country has seen in the last 30 years."

"Unless there was a total breakdown in electricity or water supply, or if the number of evacuees rises to over hundreds of thousands, we will not declare a state of emergency."

Amid rising criticism, the government said Friday Najib had decided to cut short his usual year-end vacation and return to Malaysia on Saturday to oversee rescue operations.

He is expected to land in Kelantan, one of the most severely-hit states, and meet people affected by the crisis as well as discuss new measures with authorities to help flood victims.

"I am deeply concerned by the floods. I feel for the people who have lost their homes, and the families who have lost loved ones," Najib said in a statement.

"I want to see the situation for myself and be with the people."

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Meteorological Department warned of a heavy downpour over the next few days in parts of the country that have so far been spared the worst of the flooding, including the southern state of Johor, which neighbours Singapore.

Residents there have been cautioned to prepare for possible massive floods. Heavy rain on Friday morning had already resulted in over 200 being evacuated to relief centres.

Some states and districts across Malaysia have decided to cancel their New Year celebration plans as a mark of respect for flood victims.




Source : http://news.yahoo.com/pm-under-fire-100-000-flee-worst-malaysia-060541000.html

More flooded areas, more evacuees, just less common sense

COMMENTARY BY THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER
Published: 26 December 2014



Some 120,000 people have been evacuated nationwide, but authorities seem to be ill-prepared. – AFP pic, December 26, 2014.If you do go to the Malaysian Meteorological Department website, there will not be any hint that Malaysia is going through its worst flood in decades, with nearly 120,000 people already evacuated in six states.


All it says is either isolated rain, scattered rain, thunderstorms or no rain in any given area in Malaysia. Nothing that would a hint of the incessant torrential rain deluging Malaysia this past week.


In fact, the number of people, equipment, aid and transport being scrambled to assist flood relief efforts will tell you a simple story - Malaysia was again caught unprepared for a disaster that has been likened to the US Hurricane Katrina in 2005.


As it is, the National Security Council's (NSC) Portal Bencana (Disaster Portal) microsite only tells you of an incidence of flood and the location - nothing else.


Details of weather for the next few days, tides, updated list of relief centres, food dumps, operations rooms and phone numbers are missing.


Any other information is trickling through radio and television channels as media companies scramble to put together lists of volunteers and aid requests for flood victims in the six states of Johor, Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis and Terengganu.


Yet, where is the disaster management plan to handle the current floods?


Last January, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Putrajaya would improve four area in handling natural disasters such as floods - early warning system, relief centres, food supply, and assets and logistics.




He also said the NSC would update the standard operating procedure to face extraordinary floods while the Social Welfare Department will look into management of relief centres and raise stocks of food supplies when anticipating floods.


“The National Security Council will study, update and increase disaster management assets at the rescue agencies, such as trucks and boats to evacuate flood victims and the sick as well as despatch food and other necessities to the relief centres," he had said.


Right. Where are these plans and where are the assets that is taking care of the flood victims now?


There is nothing on the NSC website to suggest this is even happening, or any announcements of the standard operating efforts to alleviate the suffering of the flood victims.


Muhyiddin is in charge and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has cut short his vacation to personally handle the growing and worsening floods.

Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah has announced a RM50 million emergency allocation, even as Malaysians from all walks of life contribute and volunteer to send aid to the flood victims.

Aid workers are frustrated, and as one expert told The Malaysian Insider, the major effort should have started much earlier, particularly detailed information about the high possibility of floods due to weather patterns.
"This time and age give no excuses to be caught unaware - it's just attitude.
"This will go into history books as the Malaysian Katrina and how we were ill-prepared," the expert said.
He has a point. Floods are an annual phenomenon, the only issue is how bad it can be.
Yet, the authorities should be able to predict, prepare and inform people that floods are expected, and list out the relief centres and available food stock.

Yet neither those in affected areas or Malaysians elsewhere knew what hit them at the tail-end of one of the worst years in the country's history.

We need more than a transformation, we need reforms of attitudes and operating procedures.

And we need leaders and officials, from top to bottom, who must always be prepared for disasters and calamities, notwithstanding our fortune of being blessed from the worst of mother nature's fury.

We need to learn lessons from our annual floods, have some common sense to ensure Malaysia is more than prepared to face this kind of disaster if it happens again. – December 26, 2014.


- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/more-flooded-areas-more-evacuees-just-less-common-sense#sthash.oA6SGhiL.dpuf

Savvy Studying – The Shariah Way!

Fatima Haffejee – Cii Radio | 17 October 2014/24 Dhul Hijjah 1435


I recently saw a video by a regular You-tuber who played out the scenario of a student who doesn’t bother studying before the exam and then prays fervently when the test paper is placed in front of him, in the hope that he’d suddenly know all the answers without having bothered to study.


The fact that this is true of so many students made my laugh even more meaningful. While the hilarity of it is evident, that this is a reality, is concerning. On a personal note, I love the aspect of being able to learn something new on a continuous basis, which is why, I consider myself a perpetual student of life.


However, like every other student, I dread having to face an exam. Not only is it time consuming, but there’s all that effort to cram a million and one bytes of information into my ‘ever-so-forgetful’ brain in the hope that said information will be retained for the duration of the test.


I’m not always as lucky.


But luck has nothing to do with it. Studying for an exam, requires a certain amount of pre-planning, and depending on the subject, a whole lot of sacrifice.


If you’re not as study savvy here’s some tips to get you through:




1. Set your priorities


Your mother may constantly be on your case about studying but if you having decided this is important for you, you won’t really take heed to her words.


Align your priorities and figure out why this is important to you. If you’re in matric you would know that your results are a determination of your potential career choices, and you could be a source of your own limitation. School-going students still have the guidance of their teachers, however, varsity is a whole different ball game. Unless you form a study group you’re generally on your own.


Onislam.net says that success in Islam is based on two things: Asking for help from Allah, and working hard and being dedicated.
2. Schedule a time


There is absolutely no point in setting your alarm for 2:00 AM when frankly, you’re no good at studying without a full nights rest. I know of people who can stay up the whole night studying, and in honesty, I’m not one of them. I prefer sitting up post-fajr, but that’s what works for me.


Ascertain what would be a suitable regime for you and make it work to your benefit.


According to Testtakingtips.com you shouldn’t study later than the time you usually go to sleep, you may fall asleep or be tempted to go to sleep, instead try studying in the afternoon or early evening. If you are a morning person try studying in the morning.




3. Wake up for Tahujjud


Cii’s resident Mufti, A.K.Hoosen strongly suggests waking up for Tahajjud as part of your preparation for studying.


It is reported from Abu Hurairah [R.A] that the Messenger of Allah [S.A.W] said: “Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven during the last third of the night (Tahujjud), inquiring: ‘Who will call on me so that I may respond to him? Who is asking something of Me so I may give it to him? Who is asking for My forgiveness so I may forgive him?” [Bukhari and Muslim]




4. Feed your brain


The aspect of eating well whilst studying is often overlooked. For the most of us, it means going out of our way. But whilst this requires extra effort, it is ultimately for our own good.


Onislam.net suggests having a good breakfast full with protein such as eggs and milk, since this gives you energy and stimulates your brain. However, do not overeat, especially not at dinner time and do not snack while studying; dedicate a snack time during your breaks.


While it is essential to stay hydrated, beverages should be chosen well. Since too much caffeine can make you jittery, caffeine (and sugar) should be kept to a minimum.. Try to drink moderate amounts: 400 to 450 mg per day, the equivalent of 2 to 2.5 cups.




5. Read your relevant Dua’s






Mufti A.K suggests reading Surah Yaseen in the mornings.


Sayyidina Ata ibn Abu Rabah (R.A) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) said, “If anyone recites Yaseen at the beginning of the day, his needs will be fulfilled.”(Darimee)






Recommended Dua’s by contemporary scholars:






Du’a before studying:


“Allahumma infa’nii bimaa ‘allamtanii wa’allimnii maa yanfa’uunii. Allahumma inii as’aluka fahmal-nabiyyen wa hifzal mursaleen al-muqarrabeen. Allahumma ijal leesanee ‘aiman bi dhikrika wa qalbi bi khashyatika. Innaka ‘ala ma-tasha’u qadeer wa anta hasbeeya wa na’mal wakeel.”


“Oh Allah! Make useful for me what you have taught me and teach me knowledge that will be useful to me. Oh Allah! I ask you for the understanding of the prophets and the memory of the messengers, and those nearest to you. Oh Allah! Make my tongue full of your remembrance and my heart with consciousness of you. Oh Allah! You do whatever you wish, and you are my availed and protector and best of aid.”


Du’a after studying:


“Allahumma inni astawdeeoka ma qara’tu wama hafaz-tu. Farudduhu ‘allaya inda hajati elayhi. Innaka ‘ala ma-tasha’-u qadeer wa anta hasbeeya wa na’mal wakeel“


“Oh Allah! I entrust you with what I have read and I have studied. Oh Allah! Bring it back to me when I am in need of it. Oh Allah! You do whatever you wish, you are my availed and protector and the best of aid.”


Du’a while studying something difficult:


“Allahumma la sahla illama ja-’altahu sahla anta taj ‘alu al hazana eza ma shi’ta sahal.”


“Oh Allah! Nothing is easy except what you have made easy. If you wish, you can make the difficult easy.”


Du’a for concentration:


“Salla-l-laahu alaa Muhammad wa aal-e Muhammad. Allahumma inni as’aluka yaa mudhakkira-l khayr wa faa’ilahu wa-l-aamira bihi dhakir-ni maa ansaani-hi-shaitan.”


“Blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad and his progeny. O Allah, I ask you, the one who mentions goodness and actualizes it and commands it, remind me of that whichshaitan makes me forget.”

Tags: Dua, Exams, matric, Study tips, Studying, university





Source : http://www.ciibroadcasting.com/2014/10/18/savvy-studying-the-shariah-way/

2015 Yamaha Exciter RC 150 – is this the 150LC? [UPDATED]

December 11th, 2014 12:20 pm by eddy







A clearer photo of the alleged 150LC (135LC in 150cc form) in yellow here is looking just a little different that the 135LC. We can easily recognise the wide fairing light and the wide body it have.





The rear is looking a little bit busy and the tyre looks like it is wider. Still retaining the monoshock rear swing arm. This Yamaha Exciter RC 150 is slated to release sometime next year mid December in Vietnam.





UPDATE (12/12/2014): Also available is the Exciter RC GP Edition that comes in exciting grey base colour with the iconic Yamaha Race-Blu splashed over it in the speed-block shape. The wheels looks like it is inspired (or is it the same?) from the 2014 Yamaha FZ150i. The wheelbase are looking longer than usual but I can’t confirm it. This is indeed 150cc bike as you can see on the wording ‘150’ on the side panel of the GP Edition bike just about the Yamaha word.





Transmission is 5-speed and this is confirmed by the word ‘5-speed’ shown on the picture above. Engine casing are now different and this makes it easy to differentiate between 135cc and 150cc LC. I like the colour of the GP edition as it comes in more blue colour coverage than the one we have seen earlier that have lots of white colour. The design of the livery is also very interesting. If you observe carefully, you can see the rear tyre hugger is also in a new design that is sharper and more pointed. It makes the bike looks fast even when not moving.





Some readers are saying that the front fairing light looks like the one from the YZF-R25, and I agree with them. It is wider but now it is slimmer to make it look like it is looking sharply to the front. Sadly, the front and rear brake only consists of single-piston brake caliper which I think should be replaced with 2-piston caliper since this is 150cc bike that need more power in braking. Oh, the power. The power is rumored to be close to 16hp which is promising, but compared to FZ150i, it is only 14.75hp with the same 150cc engine. Maybe this is a different engine altogether?

Via: Jeff Nouvo, Zing.vn and http://www.2banh.vn/threads/exciter-150-cua-yamaha-viet-nam-lo-dien-anh-thuc-te.21802/

SOURCE : http://motomalaya.net/blog/2014/12/11/2015-yamaha-exciter-rc-150-is-this-the-150lc/

(MOTOMALAYA) 2015 Yamaha Exciter RC 150 Officially Unveiled in Vietnam – 15.4PS 150cc FI King of Street – VND45,450,00 (about RM7,354.90)

December 18th, 2014 9:29 pm by eddy

Yamaha Vietnam has unwraps the cover of the Exciter RC that comes with 150cc fuel-injection SOHC liquid-cooled engine that is the successor of the Yamaha Exciter 135 (135LC in Malaysia, Jupiter MX in Indonesia or T135 everywhere else). There is also a rumor that Indonesia will get this bike with the name Jupiter MX King. There are a lot of improvement of this Exciter RC 150 compared to the Exciter 135.

The first objective of this machine is to ‘boost the feeling of power’ and with that in mind the 135cc engine has been increased to 150cc in capacity to enables it to harness more power. It is also said that the project leader for this Exciter RC 150 is the same project leader who handles the Vixion (FZ150i) development project. Reducing power loss also taken into consideration here with the proven technology that is the DiASil cylinder use to minimise the friction. Also here to minimise the friction is the use of the roller rocker arm that are now being extensively in many small bikes. Not suprising to us, is the use of FI system to make sure fuel-efficiency and accurate fuel delivery in high speed for more mileage and more power when in need.  The power rating of the Exciter RC 150 is 15.4PS @ 8,500RPM with the torque 13.9Nm @ 7,000 RPM. All this numbers beat the 1st generation Yamaha FZ150i which also 150cc FI bikes.

We can say that Exciter RC 150 is an all new bike as the chassis are also improved for more rigidity but still maintain the backbone or ‘underbone’ frame.

We have said earlier that the Exciter RC 150 wheelbase is looking longer than the Exciter 135 and yes, our prediction is correct as it is now measured at 1290mm, which is 45mm longer than Exciter 135 at 1255mm.

The front signal indicator are now separated from the fairing light and attached to the side panel which reminds me with the GSX superbike indicator style.

The front fairing light are now much smaller but excellently executed which makes it looks sharp and dynamic. It also looks very much the same like the YZF-R25 front headlight. On the left of the fairing, there is the ‘150’ to show that this is the King of Street.

Rear indicator are separated as to follow the UNECE regulation. The rear brake light is LED and that can give a bright illumination in the night.

This one in the special model that is the Yamaha Exciter GP 150 that comes in iconic Yamaha Race-Blu colour with the Yamaha speed-block shape just like to one used in YZR-M1 in MotoGP.

The Exciter RC 150 meter is very nice with the digital and analog combination. You’ll get to see the gear indicator, analog tachometer, trip and of course the speedometer, in digital display. The fuel indicator is nicely integrated between the analog and the digital display which I think is brilliant design decision from Yamaha team.

From the brochure here, we can see clearly that the bike is equipped with 1-piston caliper, but now it comes in bigger size that is at 245mm, which 25mm bigger than the Exciter 135 at only 220mm. The transmision is 5-speed for that sporty riding feel.

Monoshock rear suspension are retained, but now the rear tyre is wider at 120/70-17, bigger than the Exciter 135 at 100/70-17, which for me is already big and wide tyre for a moped like this.

There are three colour choices for the Exciter RC 150 that is Yellow/Black, Red/Black and White/Orange combination. The one most riders will be interested too is the GP edition.

2015 Yamaha Exciter RC 150 is VND44,990,000 or RM7,295.10 (direct conversion)

2015 Yamaha Exciter GP 150 is VND45,450,000 or RM7,354.90 (direct conversion)

 

SOURCE : http://motomalaya.net/blog/2014/12/18/2015-yamaha-exciter-rc-150-officially-unveiled-vietnam-15-4ps-150cc-fi-king-street-vnd4545000-rm7354-90/

PREPARATION BEFORE FINAL EXAM (LET'S DUA)

DUA BEFORE STUDYING

Allahumma infa’nii bimaa ‘allamtanii wa’allimnii maa yanfa’ unii. Allahumma inii as’aluka fahmal-nabiyyen wa hifthal mursaleen al-muqarrabeen. Allahumma ijal leesanee ‘amiran bi thikrika wa qalbi bi khashyatika. Innaka ‘ala ma-tasha’-u qadeer wa anta hasbun-allahu wa na’mal wakeel.

Oh Allah! Make useful for me what You taught me and teach me knowledge that will be useful to me. Oh Allah! I ask You for the understanding of the prophets and the memory of the messengers, and those nearest to You. Oh Allah! Make my tongue full of Your remembrance, and my heart with consciousness of You. (Oh Allah!) You do whatever You wish, and You are my Availer and Protector and the best of aid.

DUA AFTER STUDYING

Allahhumma inni astaodeeuka ma qara’tu wama hafaz-tu. Faradduhu ‘allaya inda hagati elayhi. Innaka ‘ala ma-tasha’-u qadeer wa anta hasbeeya wa na’mal wakeel.

Oh Allah! I entrust -You with what I have read and I have studied. (Oh Allah!) Bring it back to me when I am in need of it. (Oh Allah!) You do whatever You wish, and You are my Availer and Protector and the best of aid.

DUA WHILE STUDYING SOMETHING DIFFICULT

Allahumma la sahla illama ja-’altahu sahla wa anta taj ‘alu al hazana etha shi’ta sahla

Oh Allah! Nothing is easy except what You have made easy. If You wish, You can make the difficult easy.

DUA FOR ANXIETY

Allahumma inni a’oodhoo bika minal-hammi-walhazan. Wa’a oodhoo bika minal-ghammi-wal-kasal. Wa’a oodoo bika minal jubni wal bukhl. Wa’a oodhoo bikal min ghalabatid-dayni-waqarir rijal.

Oh Allah, I seek refuge in You from worry and grief, from helplessness and laziness, from cowardice and stinginess, and from overpowering of debt and from oppression of men.

DUA FOR DISTRESS

Allahumma rahmataka arjoo falaa takilnee ilaa nafsee tarfata ‘aynin wa aslih-lee sha’nee kullahu, laa ilaha illa anta

O Allah! It is Your mercy that I hope for so do not leave me in charge of my affairs even for a blink of an eye and rectify for me all of my affairs. None has the right to be worshipped except You

Smartphone Buying Guide 2014: 7 Things You Need to Know

By Mark Spoonauer, LAPTOP Editor in Chief | Jan 17, 2014 06:30 PM EST

 258  53 Google +47  41

You should be picky when it comes to buying a smartphone. After all, you two are going to be doing everything together, from capturing hundreds of photos and playing games to social networking, texting and email. Oh yeah, you’ll be making phone calls, too. But with multiple operating systems, screen sizes and carriers all screaming for your attention, picking the right device can feel like an endless maze. But it doesn’t have to. Use these seven tips to make the right call on your next smartphone.

1. Choose the Right OS

And then there were three. With BlackBerry struggling, most consumers are now deciding among Android, iOS (iPhone) and Windows Phone. Here’s a quick breakdown of the platforms’ strengths and weaknesses.

MORE: Best Smartphones 2014
Android

Google’s OS isn’t the most popular smartphone platform for no reason. Compared to iOS and Windows Phone, there’s a much wider array of hardware options from several manufacturers (Samsung, HTC, LG, Motorola, ZTE, etc.) in multiple sizes. Android is also much more open than iOS, which means smartphone makers can more easily innovate on top of Google’s software. That’s why a Samsung Galaxy S4 or Note 3, for example, can run two apps on the screen at once, and a Moto X can respond to your voice without you having to touch the phone.
With more than 1 million apps, the Google Play store has pretty much everything you need, but Apple’s App Store tends to get some hot apps and games first. And while we like that Android is so flexible and customizable, some interfaces can be cluttered and/or difficult to navigate.
MORE: Top 10 Android Phones
iOS/iPhone

iOS 7 represents a fairly major overhaul for Apple, with a cleaner look, improved multitasking and a new Control Center for quickly changing settings. Some aspects of the update are confusing, such as the Notification Center with three separate tabs, but overall, iOS remains the most intuitive smartphone platform. Apple also benefits from having the best selection of high-quality apps and games (though Android is narrowing the gap). Siri has improved, and the new iTunes Radio is definitely a plus.
More: 10 Best iPhone Apps You’re Not Using
Windows Phone

Thanks, in large part, to Nokia’s well-received Lumia phones, more people are paying attention to Microsoft’s OS. The platform boasts a dynamic interface with Live Tiles that display updates, and it’s easy to resize and rearrange these tiles to customize the experience. Other benefits include Xbox games, video and music, as well as Office and Outlook integration. The Windows Phone Store recently surpassed 200,000 apps, and the collection now includes Instagram, but Microsoft’s platform still has about one-fifth of the apps available for Android and iOS.
MORE: Top 25 Windows Phone Apps

2. Get the Right Size: Phablet or No Phablet?

Big-screen phones are growing on shoppers. In fact, phablets (phones with displays 5 inches or larger) now account for about a quarter of all smartphones sold. Nevertheless, the iPhone 5s, which sports a 4-inch screen, is the best-selling smartphone in the U.S. A smaller display allows for a more compact design. But if you want something bigger, you’ll want to opt for an Android or Windows Phone handset.
The 5.7-inch Samsung Galaxy Note 3 gives you a lot more real estate for watching movies, playing games and enjoying photos. The trade-off is that the phone isn’t easy to operate with one hand. Phones with displays even larger than this, such as the HTC One Max (5.9 inches) and Nokia Lumia 1520 (6 inches) tend to be heavier and can be a tight fit for front pockets. But some are willing to live with the larger size, especially those who don’t want to carry a separate tablet.
MORE: The Biggest Smartphones in the World

3. Pay Attention to These Specs

Processor
A phone’s processor is the brain of the device, and a fast one will enable you to open apps quickly, play games smoothly and even edit video. Today’s state-of-the-art chip for Android and Windows Phones is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 800. (The 805 is coming soon.) This CPU offers swift multitasking and high-powered graphics in devices such as the Galaxy Note 3 and Lumia 1520.
The Snapdragon 600 (inside the HTC One) and S4 Pro (in the Moto X) are also very capable. On cheaper phones, you’ll find the Snapdragon 400 CPU, which offers fair performance for everyday tasks but isn’t designed for more intensive activities. For example, the Galaxy S4 Mini with this CPU took 7 minutes and 19 seconds to transcode a 1080p video clip, compared to just 5:15 for the Snapdragon 800-powered Galaxy Note 3.
For iOS, Apple’s A7 chip inside the iPhone 5s offers 64-bit power and about double the performance and graphics of its A6 CPU (in the iPhone 5c). That’s just one reason why you should invest in Apple’s higher-end device.
RAM
The amount of system memory plays a significant role in how well a smartphone performs. Today’s flagship devices offer 2GB to 3GB of RAM, while lower-end to midrange phones get away with 1 GB to 1.5 GB.  If you want to load applications from memory faster and switch between them faster, more RAM is better.
MORE: Most Anticipated Smartphones of 2014
Screen

The size of the screen definitely matters, but so do the brightness, sharpness, color and viewing angles. Right now, 1080p screens (1920 x 1080 pixels) are the sharpest you’ll find on smartphones. However, we’ve seen some 720p displays (1280 x 720 pixels), such as the one on the Moto X, deliver fantastic image quality. We highly recommend putting the smartphone in your hand to evaluate the viewing angles; if the screen washes out when you tilt the device, think twice about that purchase.
When testing smartphones, we hit every one with a light meter to get a lux rating, so be sure to read our reviews to find out how each handset stacks up. As far as screen technology, AMOLED panels (found on many Samsung phones) tend to produce very rich and saturated colors, while LCDs tend to offer more realistic hues. It really comes down to personal preference.
Storage and Expansion
Given that you’ll store everything from photos and music to videos and apps on your smartphone, opt for as much internal memory up front as you can. Although 16GB is fairly standard, we suggest 32GB of storage so you don’t run out of room. The 32GB iPhone 5s, for example, costs $299. But you’ll also find some cheaper options with that much space, such as the HTC One; it starts at $199 for 32GB.
It’s becoming a lot harder to find, but if you like the idea of expandable storage, choose a device that has a microSD card slot, such as the Samsung Galaxy S4, Note 3 and Mega.

4. Get the Best Camera Possible (and Don’t Obsess Over Megapixels)

Just when you thought the megapixel war was over, there’s now a handful of smartphones with 20-MP cameras or higher — and more are certainly on the way. However, the quality of both the sensor and the images is more important. For instance, the iPhone 5s has an 8-MP camera, but its new sensor allows for bigger pixels and, therefore, sharper-looking photos.

Also look for camera features that you’ll actually use. The Galaxy S4 and Note 3 both sport a nifty Eraser mode feature that filters out photobombers from your images. The Nokia Lumia 1020 has prosumer-grade manual controls to help you get the best shot in all sorts of conditions. Optical image stabilization, which steadies your shots to reduce blur, is found in the LG G2 and Lumia 1020.
MORE: iPhone 5s vs. Lumia 1020 Camera Shootout

5. Don’t Settle for Low Battery Life

One way to tell how much juice your smartphone will provide on a charge is to take a look at the battery capacity. If you care about endurance, the closer you get to 3,000 mAh (milliamp hours) — or above the better. For example, the LG G2’s 3,000-mAh battery lasted a whopping 13 hours and 44 minutes over T-Mobile’s network on the LAPTOP Battery Test, which involves continuous Web surfing over 4G LTE on 40 percent brightness. In contrast, the Galaxy S4’s 2,600-mAh battery for the same carrier lasted 6:41. The average phone lasts 6:46.
MORE: 10 Smartphones with the Longest Battery Life

6. Select the Best Carrier for Your Needs (and Budget)

Choosing a carrier comes down to a few factors, including coverage, plan pricing and data speeds. Most shoppers opt for one of the Big Four (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile), but there are other perfectly viable options, especially for those on a tighter budget.
Carrier Pricing Compared (with Unlimited Voice and Text)

	Verizon	AT&T	Sprint	T-Mobile	MetroPCS	Virgin
Pricing	$110/month	$110/month	$80/month	$70	$60	$55
Data	4GB	4GB	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited

Verizon Wireless
Among the four major carriers, Verizon offers the broadest 4G LTE coverage, spanning more than 500 markets and 303 million people. That’s part of the reason Verizon’s service costs more than Sprint’s and T-Mobile’s; you’ll often see an LTE signal in the suburbs. However, we’ve noticed serious data congestion in major cities, including New York. Verizon will be rolling out an AWS upgrade to increase capacity, but only newer handsets compatible with the technology will be supported. A 2GB Share Everything Plan with unlimited voice and text costs $100 per month, and the 4GB plan costs $110.
MORE: Best Verizon Wireless Phones
AT&T
AT&T is closing in on Verizon, with more than 270 million people covered and more than 500 markets. Plus, AT&T has offered stronger data performance, both in our testing and according to independent third parties like RootMetrics. The carrier’s phone selection tends to be better than Verizon’s, offering exclusives such as the Nokia Lumia 1020 and 1520, and the Samsung Galaxy Active. AT&T’s data plans tend to be pricier than Sprint’s and T-Mobile’s. You’ll pay $95 per month for 2GB of data and $110 for 4GB.
MORE: Best AT&T Phones
Sprint
Offering 4G LTE in more than 300 markets, Sprint’s claim to fame is the guarantee of unlimited data for life, but that hasn’t stopped the carrier from losing customers. However, a new high-speed Spark LTE service, offering speeds of up to 60 Mbps, could provide a boost. Sprint’s pricing is lower than AT&T’s and Verizon’s but higher than T-Mobile’s, costing $80 monthly for unlimited voice, text and data.
However, Sprint has also launched a new “Framily” plan that enables subscribers to lower their bill as they add friends and family to their group. A group of seven, for example, would pay $45 per month for unlimited voice, text and data (which includes an annual phone upgrade).
MORE: Best Sprint Phones
T-Mobile
T-Mobile is making the biggest waves in wireless, banishing contracts, eliminating overseas data charges and now offering would-be switchers to pay their early-termination fee when they trade in their old phone from another carrier. In our testing, T-Mobile’s LTE performance has been stellar, but coverage is still improving. The carrier covers more than 200 million people across 273 markets. Unlimited data and voice costs a very reasonable $70 per month.
MORE: Best T-Mobile Phones
Other Carriers and Unlocked Options
Those looking to save money over the long haul can opt for a smaller carrier, such as MetroPCS, which provides unlimited data for $60 per month. Virgin Mobile costs an even cheaper $55 per month and piggybacks on Sprint’s network. Just keep in mind that the up-front costs for smartphones is higher on these smaller carriers because the phones are not subsidized. The iPhone 5s, for instance, costs $494 on Virgin Mobile.

Last but not least, if you want more freedom in selecting your carrier and don’t want to deal with a contract, opt for an unlocked phone. A good example is the Google Nexus 5, which Google sells directly for $399. The device supports AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile service.
MORE: Best No-Contract Phones

7. Splurge for the Best Device, Be Wary of Upgrade Plans

Take our advice. If you can afford to pay more up front for your smartphone to get the best possible hardware, do it. Over the course of two years, you’ll wind up paying much more for the service than the handset anyway. Take Verizon. A $99 iPhone 5c with a slower processor and less advanced camera than the $199 iPhone 5s will wind up costing you $2,499 over 24 months with a 2GB shared data plan, versus $2,599 for the more advanced device.
Carriers are making it easier to upgrade phones every year (or sooner) through such special programs as T-Mobile Jump, AT&T Next, Verizon Edge and Sprint Easy Pay, but they’re not necessarily good deals. With AT&T, Sprint and Verizon, you’re essentially breaking up the full cost of the handset (including subsidies) into monthly payments. T-Mobile at least saves you $10 per month on unlimited data, but you’ll pay $10 per month to be in the Jump program. The good news is that this plan includes handset insurance.