Today's tip comes to you courtesy of Lifehacker, because I honestly had no idea you could do this until I read this article today.
When I try to log in to websites or apps on my phone, it can be a pain to have to enter my email address every time. Using the "Keyboard Shortcuts" on iOS or "Personal Dictionary" on Android allows you to set up a keyboard shortcut that will enter your email address.
The article recommends using "@@" for your primary email address and adding additional "@" for secondary email addresses, but points out that this did not work on Android. The truth is that you can use any key combination, so long as you don't plan to actually type that particular combination. Don't use "email" as your shortcut because you will never be able to actually type the word "email" on your phone again without deleting this shortcut.
To set it up, go to the Settings app in iOS and tap General, followed by Keyboard, and add a new shortcut. In Android, also go to the Settings app and tap Language and Input, followed by Personal Dictionary.
Showing posts with label Phone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Phone. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Six Things You Can Do with Your Old Smartphone
In just a few hours, we will know the details of the next series of iPhones. Since the iPhone holds just over 40 percent of the smartphone market share, it is no surprise that the leaked and anticipated details of Apple's next smartphone have been discussed so much. However, if you are a person who always upgrades to the latest device, or if you have recently purchased a new smartphone, you will have to decide what to do with your old phone.
Here are five things you can do with your old phone:
1) Turn it into cash - I always think it is amazing to see the number of older model phones available on eBay, Amazon, and Craigslist right after the next model has been released. Once the new iPhones are available, one simple thing you can do with your old phone is to sell it. While those who know me know that I am not a fan of Apple's products, one of their big benefits is that they hold their value very well.
If you decide to sell your old phone, you should make sure that your new phone is exactly what you want and in working order before you list it. It would be very frustrating to decide to return your phone or have to send it off for warranty service after you have sold your old phone.
Before you sell your phone, make sure your data is wiped from your device. I wrote a tip on this subject recently, and you can read it here if you missed it. Then, check out the value of your old phone on a site like WorthMonkey to determine how much it is actually worth.
If you want a simple way to get quick money quickly, you can try trading your phone for a gift card at a major retailer. Walmart and Best Buy both offer a trade-in program, but it will not get you the best deal. To get the most for your phone, you can list it on Craigslist, Amazon Marketplace, and eBay. You can also try looking at local Facebook groups established for buying and selling products in your region.
2) Let your phone guide you - If your phone has an offline mapping service, like Google Maps, you can turn your old phone into a GPS. Turn off the Wi-Fi and Mobile Data connections (they will run your battery down) and turn on GPS location services. With a windshield mount (available for around $10-20), you won't need to buy an actual GPS again. Plus, if your new phone uses the same charging port as your old phone, you won't need a separate car charger for both devices.
3) Create a digital photo frame - Combine your old phone with the free app Dayframe (only available for Android) and turn your phone into a digital photo frame. Dayframe will sync with accounts on multiple services, such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Google+, Instagram, etc. (It does not currently have the ability to take photos directly from your computer.) If you want to create custom playlists of photos, you can purchase the $3 Dayframe Prime upgrade.
4) Listen to music on the go - If you want to save your phone's battery for calls and texts, you can carry your old phone with you as a media player. Just remember to turn off all connections (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and Mobile Data) to conserve your battery life.
5) Wake up to your old phone - Many of us now use our phones as mobile alarm clocks. The only problem is that most of them have to be on for the alarm to sound. (I do know of a few phones where the alarm can be set to sound even when the phone is off.) If you find yourself waking up to notification alerts during the night, try shutting your new phone off and using your old phone as an alarm clock.
6) Create your own internet phone - If you are considering ditching your landline, but like the convenience of having an extra phone at the house, your old phone can fill that need. Simply use an internet voice/text app like Talkatone to make calls and send text messages using your home's Wi-Fi. Unlike Skype and Facetime, Talkatone is free even when calling those who do not have the app installed.
Here are five things you can do with your old phone:
1) Turn it into cash - I always think it is amazing to see the number of older model phones available on eBay, Amazon, and Craigslist right after the next model has been released. Once the new iPhones are available, one simple thing you can do with your old phone is to sell it. While those who know me know that I am not a fan of Apple's products, one of their big benefits is that they hold their value very well.
If you decide to sell your old phone, you should make sure that your new phone is exactly what you want and in working order before you list it. It would be very frustrating to decide to return your phone or have to send it off for warranty service after you have sold your old phone.
Before you sell your phone, make sure your data is wiped from your device. I wrote a tip on this subject recently, and you can read it here if you missed it. Then, check out the value of your old phone on a site like WorthMonkey to determine how much it is actually worth.
If you want a simple way to get quick money quickly, you can try trading your phone for a gift card at a major retailer. Walmart and Best Buy both offer a trade-in program, but it will not get you the best deal. To get the most for your phone, you can list it on Craigslist, Amazon Marketplace, and eBay. You can also try looking at local Facebook groups established for buying and selling products in your region.
2) Let your phone guide you - If your phone has an offline mapping service, like Google Maps, you can turn your old phone into a GPS. Turn off the Wi-Fi and Mobile Data connections (they will run your battery down) and turn on GPS location services. With a windshield mount (available for around $10-20), you won't need to buy an actual GPS again. Plus, if your new phone uses the same charging port as your old phone, you won't need a separate car charger for both devices.
3) Create a digital photo frame - Combine your old phone with the free app Dayframe (only available for Android) and turn your phone into a digital photo frame. Dayframe will sync with accounts on multiple services, such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Google+, Instagram, etc. (It does not currently have the ability to take photos directly from your computer.) If you want to create custom playlists of photos, you can purchase the $3 Dayframe Prime upgrade.
4) Listen to music on the go - If you want to save your phone's battery for calls and texts, you can carry your old phone with you as a media player. Just remember to turn off all connections (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and Mobile Data) to conserve your battery life.
5) Wake up to your old phone - Many of us now use our phones as mobile alarm clocks. The only problem is that most of them have to be on for the alarm to sound. (I do know of a few phones where the alarm can be set to sound even when the phone is off.) If you find yourself waking up to notification alerts during the night, try shutting your new phone off and using your old phone as an alarm clock.
6) Create your own internet phone - If you are considering ditching your landline, but like the convenience of having an extra phone at the house, your old phone can fill that need. Simply use an internet voice/text app like Talkatone to make calls and send text messages using your home's Wi-Fi. Unlike Skype and Facetime, Talkatone is free even when calling those who do not have the app installed.
Friday, July 25, 2014
The Place You Should Never Have Your Phone
As I was preparing today's tip this morning, I came across this story from a Texas FOX affiliate. I feel that it deserves some follow-up as a reminder for all of us.
One of the biggest enemies of any computer is heat. Most people are unaware of how much heat their computer produces until there is a problem and it starts overheating. Almost all desktop computers come with at least two fans (one in the power supply and one over the processor). Some come with more fans to push air through the case for additional cooling. The latest trend for high-end computers is water cooling, which uses a system similar to a car's radiator to cool the computer. (I do not recommend using water cooling, but it is available.)
As computers have gotten smaller and more portable and the places where we can use them have grown, the heat problem has remained. For years, laptop computers have had problems keeping cool, especially as they grow older. Overheating laptops comprise a significant part of the service requests I receive.
Now, back to the phone. Essentially, smartphones are simply small computers. A high-end smartphone (iPhone, Galaxy S, etc.) can perform almost every task that a computer can perform. However, they have minimal heat control because of noise. (You wouldn't want your smartphone's fan to kick into high gear right when you get that important business call!)
This means that good ventilation is a must for your phone. In this girl's case, the phone slipping under the pillow as she fell asleep was probably enough to cause the phone to overheat and cause a fire. At this point, I am sure some of my readers are now saying something like, "But I left my phone under my pillow one time, and it was fine." True, but what happens if the phone gets a little more smothered the next time?
Samsung addresses two issues. First, the phone was under the pillow, which likely restricted airflow and caused overheating. Second, the battery in the phone was a replacement battery and not a certified Samsung battery. I will address this issue in another tip next week, but for now, I will simply say that at most, this was likely a contributing factor and not the main cause.
In conclusion, your phone should simply not go to bed with you! I know that I am just as guilty of breaking this rule as anyone else. However, phones do not do well around pillows, blankets, sheets, etc. Even if your phone never bursts out into flames, the added heat could reduce your phone's life or cause other problems.
One of the biggest enemies of any computer is heat. Most people are unaware of how much heat their computer produces until there is a problem and it starts overheating. Almost all desktop computers come with at least two fans (one in the power supply and one over the processor). Some come with more fans to push air through the case for additional cooling. The latest trend for high-end computers is water cooling, which uses a system similar to a car's radiator to cool the computer. (I do not recommend using water cooling, but it is available.)
As computers have gotten smaller and more portable and the places where we can use them have grown, the heat problem has remained. For years, laptop computers have had problems keeping cool, especially as they grow older. Overheating laptops comprise a significant part of the service requests I receive.
Now, back to the phone. Essentially, smartphones are simply small computers. A high-end smartphone (iPhone, Galaxy S, etc.) can perform almost every task that a computer can perform. However, they have minimal heat control because of noise. (You wouldn't want your smartphone's fan to kick into high gear right when you get that important business call!)
This means that good ventilation is a must for your phone. In this girl's case, the phone slipping under the pillow as she fell asleep was probably enough to cause the phone to overheat and cause a fire. At this point, I am sure some of my readers are now saying something like, "But I left my phone under my pillow one time, and it was fine." True, but what happens if the phone gets a little more smothered the next time?
Samsung addresses two issues. First, the phone was under the pillow, which likely restricted airflow and caused overheating. Second, the battery in the phone was a replacement battery and not a certified Samsung battery. I will address this issue in another tip next week, but for now, I will simply say that at most, this was likely a contributing factor and not the main cause.
In conclusion, your phone should simply not go to bed with you! I know that I am just as guilty of breaking this rule as anyone else. However, phones do not do well around pillows, blankets, sheets, etc. Even if your phone never bursts out into flames, the added heat could reduce your phone's life or cause other problems.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)