There comes a time in every phone’s life, to make the decision to repair or replace. A 2015 study by a Gallup Panel found that 44% of American smartphone owners automatically replace their phones every two years, driven by the contracts offered by major wireless providers Verizon, AT&T and Sprint.

Smartphones are wonderful, no argument! They streamline both work life and personal errands. Games, books and movies keep us amused. Apps support self-improvement. And communication options keep everyone in touch, fostering the opportunity to create and deepen relationships. Alas, they are a two-edged sword. Imagine sitting across from your date, and they nonchalantly pick up […]

As the capabilities of portable electronic devices increase, so do our investments. Whether you pay entirely up front or distribute the cost across months, it’s important to consider the value of your device and if it’s worth laying out more cash to protect it against mishaps.

Don’t cry over spilt milk, unless it landed on your mobile phone. Even so, resist the urge to cry, because you’re more likely to revive the phone with a fast response. Turn off your phone right away to prevent short circuits. Take the battery out, this will power down the phone immediately. Since iPhone batteries […]

It usually happens the day after the product warranty expires, Murphy’s Law being alive and well (and loving the computer age). Your phone has been working fine, and suddenly there are death rattles. Calls drop, apps crash, the battery fades faster than party guests at cleanup time.

Do you ever go online at a coffee shop to catch up on emails? Shop online while using the free Wi-Fi at a hotel? Check your bank balance while in line at the grocery store? If so, you could be opening your cyber life to a nasty invasion of privacy. Unsavory people can use open […]

The technological marvel that is today’s phone: you baby it with a protective case, safeguarding the expensive little computer that it is. You keep it dry and happy. But how do you treat the very heart of your darling, the battery? Best of Health Technically, a battery is only fully healthy for a short period […]

Mobile gaming has come a long way from the nascent days of the 1st generation iPhone’s bold attempts to dethrone Nintendo in this arena. Now, the pricing paradigm has shifted, much to Sony and Nintendo’s chagrin, to 99 cent apps and the more premium gaming experiences of $5, $10, and even the rare $15 game […]

While mobile gaming platforms boast great ports and games built from the ground up with touch controls in mind, the popularity of the iPhone and Android platforms are bound to bring about games that are well-designed and receive critical acclaim, but might go unnoticed by the masses simply due to lack of exposure. While the […]

Fitbit was one of the first big sensations for the wearable tech industry, but talk to current owners of the health tracking device and they might tell you that the hype has worn off and the lack of functionality other than the pedometer has it collecting dust in the corner. Meanwhile, Google Glass made a […]

What happens to our smartphones when they reach the end of their lifespan (or, as the weakest link, the end of their battery life)? In a perfect world, their parts will be recycled, or they themselves will find another grateful user who can squeeze some more use out of it. In reality, many of their […]

It is undoubtedly one of the biggest weaknesses to the mobile computers we call smartphones. Yes, they have advanced by leaps and bounds in terms of becoming smaller and smaller whilst rivalling the speed of larger digital cousins like netbooks and tablets. The fact that they fit in the pocket means that manufacturers outfit them […]

Since its public beta testing phase directly following Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference in June of this year, Apple fanatics have been able to give the newest iteration of the iPhone’s operating system for a spin. On offer is a bevy of new features that focus on smartly predicting what apps, contacts and content we use […]

So you’ve got a new smartphone, and now you’re wondering what other devices will enhance your smartphone experience. Simply put, things that will extend the battery life, enhance your audio capabilities, or protect your phone from damage are not just extra goodies, but can be considered vital additions if you really want to get the […]

Tasker on Android: The App That Opens Pandora’s Box Many Android users may not be familiar with the app that gives birth to a whole new set of customizable apps, but that does not mean they shouldn’t be. That’s because Tasker is arguably, without exaggeration, the single most powerful app for Android. As a simplified […]

In the famous Queen ballad Bohemian Rhapsody, Freddy Mercury asks ‘is this the real life? Is this just fantasy,’ then later follows up to say that ‘nothing really matters to me.’ This could be the attitude adopted by a new generation of users who will adapt to what could become a new norm, virtual reality […]

As we all know by now, apps are what makes smartphones tick. The sheer diversity of the ecosystem of an app marketplace are what can make (Apple’s app store) or break (Windows app store) a mobile platform. While games are super popular for those that want to pass time waiting for their ride home (which […]

By now, we pretty much all have smart phones, and we want the most out of them, whether it’s the most speed for multi-tasking a bunch of apps at the same time, or the longest battery for getting us through an intense day of internet usage at work and on the commute home. Indeed, we […]

Finding out that the device you spent a few hundred dollars on was engineered from the start to fail prematurely is not exactly the news one wants to hear. Unfortunately, this exact type of thing, commonly referred to as “planned obsolescence” is by no means new to the consumer market. Was your Apple device made […]