6 of 2022’s Top All-in-One PCs

All-in-one PCs are now getting wide that’s fitting for high-professional use or a basic desktop for kid’s classes and homework. It takes up less room than traditional towers that can feel cramping; offers more screen space that’s larger than the largest laptops. 

These systems pack their components, ports, and monitors into a single unit that allows you to easily place them in your workplace. But because it’s compacted in a single unit, you can’t crack it open to fix or swap the components freely. So here are the top all-in-one desktops to help you in choosing.

  1. HP Pavilion 24 All-in-One

This has a 3GHz speed six-core AMD Ryzen 5 4600H processor with 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD boot drive, and 1TB hard drive as a secondary drive. This operates with Windows 10 Home with AMD Radeon graphics displayed on a 23.8 inches screen. 

The IPS touch screen offers full HD 1920×1080 native resolution. This also has a high-resolution 5-megapixel webcam with a pop-up privacy design and a quad-array digital microphone that’s already great for videoconferencing and online chat. HP Pavilion 24 all-in-one desktop already gives a potent performance for as low as $799.99 in direct-to-customer configuration.

It has a plain rectangular base and slim stand support with tilt but no height adjustment. This 14.8-pound computer doesn’t swivel but it’s not difficult to move. 

The desktop has a headphone jack and one USB Type-A port on the right edge of the display; the power button is at the bottom left; three more USB-A ports and one Type-C port at the rear; along with an SD slot; a Gigabit Ethernet jack; HDMI-out port to connect a second display; HDMI-in to connect a cable box or game console to the screen. 

The USB ports follow the USB 3.1Gbps spec. This Pavilion 24 has Bluetooth and 802.11ac Wi-Fi to handle wireless communications and a laptop-style 120-watt power brick plugs into the rear. The Pavilion comes with a color-coordinated white keyboard and a mouse that takes two of the rear USB ports.

  1. Asus M241 

Asus M241 has a 2.6GHz speed AMD Ryzen 3 3250U CPU with 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD boot drive. This operates with Windows 10 Home with AMD Radeon Vega 3 graphics displaying on a 23.8 inches screen. 

The non-touchscreen offers full HD 1920×1080 native resolution.

This features a metal, L-shaped stand that looks familiar to the iMac’s base. M241’s speaker bar is 0.9 inches thick; the base and speaker bar are muted gold in color. The display is bordered by 0.2-inch thick bezels that give a sleek look. All but two of its ports are placed in a row in the center of the back panel.

  1. Apple iMac 24-Inch

This has an Apple M1 processor with 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD boot drive. This operates with MacOS Big Sur with Apple M1 graphics. This non-touchscreen type desktop has a 23.5 inches screen size of 0.44 inches thick with 4480×2520 native resolution. 

This all-in-one PC is available in seven tones. The Magic Mouse, the Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad (optional) have color-matched aluminum sides and surfaces. The iMac’s power cord and the USB-C-to-Lighting cable used to charge the wireless peripherals are made of woven and color-matched material. The stand offers tilt but not height adjustment. The power adapter is upgradeable with a gigabit Ethernet port built-in.

  1. HP Envy 34 All-in-One 

This has an Intel Core i7-11700 processor with 2.5GHz speed. This has a storage amount of 32GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD boot drive. This operates with Windows 11 Pro with Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU graphics. This 34 inches non-touchscreen desktop has a 5120×2160 native resolution with an aspect ratio of 21:9. HP’s latest update of the Envy 34 which starts at $1,999.99 to $2,709.99 is one of the best AIOs.

It got a 5k display, a movable camera, and a snappy performance. It has a different USB webcam design. It’s magnetically detachable that allows moving at any edge of the system and also has above average camera quality of 16MP sensor. 

The connectivity option is more than the most. The system has more ports than many AIO offers. Most are located at the back of the monitor that includes four USB 3.0 ports, two USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support, an HDMI connection, and an Ethernet jack. There are additional ports on the right-hand side of the stand that hold two more USB 3.0 ports, a USB-C connection, and an SD card slot. Envy 34 also comes with a basic Bluetooth mouse and keyboard.

  1. Apple iMac 27-Inch

Apple iMac 27-inch ($1,799) has a 3.6GHz speed 10-core Intel Core i9-10910 brain. This has a storage amount of 32GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD boot drive. This 27 inches wide non-touchscreen desktop has a 5120×2880 native resolution with a vastly better 1080p camera. This operates with Apple macOS Catalina with AMD Radeon Pro 5700 XT graphics. 

This iMac weighs 19.7 pounds and measures 20.3 inches in height, 25.6 inches in width, and 8 inches in dimension. This system includes four USB 3.0 Type-A ports, two oval-shaped USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 3 support, an Ethernet jack, a full-size SD card slot, a headphone jack, and a port for power adapter. The Ethernet port is now upgradeable to 10Gbps.

  1. HP Chromebase All-in-One 22

HP Chromebase has an Intel Pentium Gold 6405U processor with a 2.4GHz speed. This has a storage amount of 4GB RAM, and a 64GB eMCC Flash Memory boot drive. This operates with Google Chrome OS with Intel UHD Graphics. 

This 21.5 inches touch screen type has 1920×1080 native resolution and a modest 250-nit maximum brightness rating with a 5-megapixel webcam. This all-in-one desktop is different from others with a display that can rotate in landscape and portrait modes. This has a 6.7 inches in diameter cone-shaped base that doubles as a speaker. 

There are no height adjustments. The ports are located at the back of the base having the power button on the top, and a quartet of USB ports (Type-A and Type-C and USB-C ports) variety. This $479.99 desktop already includes a wireless keyboard and mouse.

5 Best Productivity Apps for iPhone Users

Making use of productivity apps makes it easier to set goals, assign tasks, track progress, and create reports. And this influences us to meet more productivity whether it’s for work, organizing a family vacation, or planning for an event. But productivity apps have different types, and you might not be using the best one for you. So here are some productivity apps for iPhone users.

  1. Apple Notes

This is the best note-taking app for iPhone users. Remember everything and tackle any project with your list, notes, tasks, and schedule all in one app. When you put your notes here, it automatically syncs to all your devices. This helps you work anywhere because it keeps important info handy.  You can also add text, images, audio, scans, PDFs, maps, and documents that make your note more useful. Make your tasks easier to do with your notes with checklists and tap check-off items as you go. 

This app has powerful and flexible searching capabilities that help you to get what you need in a matter of seconds. You can also scan documents to make them handier and save web pages and mark them with arrows, highlights, and texts to make them more useful. Apple Note can secure notes containing sensitive or personal data with a password, keep your notes in folders and subfolders then sort them as you prefer, and create Custom Smart Folders based on one or more tags. You can share and collaborate on entire shared folders, mention friends to alert them to important updates and direct them to a shared note and view the edit times and dates for the note with highlighted text color-coded to match the collaborators who were involved in the creation of the note. Quick Notes can be created on compatible iPad and Mac systems and viewed and edited on iPhone.

  1. Outlook

It has impressive utility and power features, making it the ideal alternative to the more popular Gmail. Outlook helps you protect and keep your inbox clutter-free working around the clock. You can add popular services like Dropbox, Trello, Grammarly, and more, making it an ideal way to keep your workflow in one place.

It also has a To-Do feature that was formerly called Wunderlist. It also has an Immersive Reading Mode that filters images and quotes out of your email to present it as a clear document and complete with text-to-voice capabilities. Collaboration is easy with Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. With Skype, you can chat in real-time, right from your inbox. It has a built-in Calendar to keep you on track with your tasks. Outlook allows Two-factor authentication and email encryption for security. Outlook is easy to use since it’s designed to be more accessible to everyone with intuitive voice-control navigation, and support for multiple assistive devices. 

  1. 2Do

2Do was designed to meet your speed needs. You can quickly enter your thoughts and ideas before forgetting. You can enter multiple tasks in seconds with Quick Add on iOS. Quick Entry on Mac, on the other hand, is a comprehensive task editor that can be accessed anywhere, anytime, even when 2Do is not running. It’s simplistic appearance but it houses an incredible productivity-aware engine that can be as fierce as your workflow. It offers the perfect mix of a rich feature set and ease of use. From a full set of sorting filters, focus, tags, location, and date range, it will surprise you in every way with the amount of thoughtfulness and attention to detail that went into developing it. 2Do gives you complete control over all your workflows giving you the freedom to organize your lists, categorize, and sort them. Your notes can sync into iCloud, Dropbox, and Toodledo.

  1. Apple Calendar

Apple Calendar is a user-friendly app installed on all MacBooks, iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches in several versions of macOS and iOS. Your account syncs across desktop and iPhone so you can manage your schedule wherever you are. It’s knowledgeable to use and has all the features you’d expect from a web-based calendar, including the ability to create multiple calendars and customize the view of each calendar so you can see your schedule by day, week, and month.

  1. Streaks

This is a great habit-tracking app for iPhone. This has two excellent features that set it apart from the other habit-tracker apps. It integrates very well with Apple’s ecosystem including Mac and Apple Watch and can be seamlessly integrated with Apple’s Health app, and its robust charts and graphics give you a more detailed interpretation of habit-tracking. You can choose or create up to twelve tasks. Streaks can automatically track certain goals with the iOS Health app. You can set how many times in a day per week, in a month, or every day. This app lets you quickly see which tasks are remaining for the day, and what’s in progress, and marked as complete. You can view your task statistics to keep you motivated.

These iPhone 12 Camera Tips Will Make You a Phone Photographer Pro

Do you enjoy dabbling in photography? Are you thinking about upgrading to a photographer-friendly iPhone? Then this blog is just for you! The iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max have advanced camera features that excite both amateur and professional photographers alike. Keep reading to learn more about iPhone 12 camera tips and more.

iPhone 12 Camera Tips and Features

Three Cameras

Yes—you read that correctly! The iPhone 12 has a camera for telephoto, wide, and ultrawide photos. The dual-lens cameras are arranged similarly to previous models (on the back of the iPhone). The primary camera has the largest aperture in iPhone history—ƒ/1.6—which significantly improves low-light shots.

Tip: The three cameras really come in handy when you are trying to perfectly frame your photograph. First, put your phone in portrait or landscape mode and zoom past 0.7x. As you zoom, the screen will continue to show you the area that is outside of the frame. Can’t fit everything in? Then that’s your sign to switch to a different camera mode!

Night Mode

Night Mode is a feature that is on several other iPhone models; however, on the iPhone 12, you can use it on all lenses (even the selfie lens!). Even better—Night Mode is automatic, meaning it turns on anytime it detects low light. Whenever Night Mode automatically activates, a moon icon will pop up to let you know.

Tip: To get the perfect low light photo, select the number next to the moon icon. This number shows how many seconds to keep your phone still before it snaps the photo. It also allows you to choose the exposure level yourself, giving you more creative freedom and control over your photos.

QuickTake

QuickTake is essentially a quick way to take a photo, video, or series of photos. On the iPhone 12, if you press on the white shutter button, it will take a photo. But if you hold the button for an extended period of time, it will switch to Video Mode and begin recording. If you press the white shutter button and swipe to the left, it will begin to take burst mode photos.

Tip: Trying to shoot a lengthy video? Hold down the white shutter button and swipe to the right. This will lock your phone into video mode, allowing you to remove your finger from the button and giving you more freedom.

Dolby Vision

Don’t worry videographers—we haven’t forgotten about you! Perhaps the coolest feature of the iPhone 12 is its ability to shoot and edit HDR videos with Dolby Vision. As you may know, HDR videos are more colorful, detailed, and visually advanced. Dolby Vision is simply a HDR video format. The iPhone 12 implements Dolby Vision HDR recording capabilities, which significantly improves video content. You can also edit your Dolby Vision videos on your iPhone 12, which makes the iPhone 12 the first phone to shoot and edit Dolby Vision videos.

Tip: To quickly turn on Dolby Vision video, go to Settings > Camera > Record Video > HRD Video.

Feeling ready to take on the world as an iPhone 12 photographer? We hope this blog taught you some iPhone 12 camera tips and tricks you didn’t know before! For any questions, concerns, or assistance with the iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 12 Max, feel free to give iCare Repair a call.

Top 3 Gaming Laptops of 2022

Are you looking for a gaming laptop that will win you more games and help you stay productive? Check out this article for the year’s top three gaming laptops.

Razer Blade 15

Razer Blade 15 got even better with a new top-level Razer Blade 15 Advance Model. This beastly performing gaming laptop is now compact with the latest 12th Gen Intel Core i9 processor (14-core) and NVIDIA with graphics up to GeForce RTX 30 Series laptop GPUs, previously with 6-Core Intel Core i7 with graphics of GeForce RTX 3070 laptop GPU, giving you the most impressive gaming laptop graphics ever. 

Razer Blade 15 has an amazing display with Full HD 360Hz, QHD 240Hz (G-SYNC), or the new 4K with UHD 144Hz display. The already high-end former model that performs with Windows 10 Home is free to upgrade to operate with Windows 11 Home.

You can enjoy an unbeatable performance loaded in the thinnest 15” RTX gaming laptop chassis ever. It has spectacular specs loaded with a large amount of storage space of 1TB PCle and an extra M.2 PCle slot, memory of 16GB to 36GB RAM (DDR5 4800MHz), a vapor chamber cooling system, and a per-key RGB keyboard. This top-notch gaming laptop that is thinner from 0.78” / 19.9 mm to 0.67” / 16.99 mm also has an SD card reader port.

The latest Razer welcomes some other improvements. The keycaps are larger. Though it’s not that noticeable, it makes it easier to touch so that you can type quickly. 

The power button has been replaced by a less meticulous full-size key in the top right corner of the keyboard. It looks cleaner and more sensible. The new speakers also got sleeker. Razer’s touchpad remains one of the best in any Windows laptop with its smooth panning delivery, responsive presses, and high-quality feel. Last year’s model upgraded the webcam to 1080p, so you’ll get a better video call experience. 

This Razer Blade 15 Advanced model is still the most excessive among gaming laptops with a base configuration price of $2,499.99, but its CPU and GPU bring an incredible on-edge gaming experience with a high-quality portable design. It is also available on Amazon, Best Buy, B&H, and Newegg.

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 GA402 2022

Asus has released its new ROG Zephyrus G14 GA402 with various models yet nearly similar to each other. These are consisting of RJ-L8106W, RJ-L8147W, RJ-L8146W, RJ-L8145W, RK-L8135W, RK-L8134W, RK-L8133W, and RK-L8132W.

ROG Zephyrus G14 GA402 operates with Windows 11 Home runs with AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS Mobile Processor (8-core/16-thread, 16MB cache, 4.9GHz max boost). All of the models have 8GB GDDR6 but the RJ models’ graphics have AMD Radeon RX 6700S ROG boost up to 100W(SmartShift), while the RK models have AMD Radeon RX 6800 ROG boost up to 105W(SmartShift). It has a $1,649 configuration for RX 6700 and $2,499 for RX 6800. 

All of its displays are the same as the ROG Nebula display, QHD+ 16:10 (2560 x 1600, WQXGA), an anti-glare display, a refresh rate of 120Hz, a response time of 3ms, and supports Dolby Vision HDR.

Its memory is available in either 8GB DDR5 or 16GB DDR5 on the board, 8GB DDR5 or 16GB DDR5 SO-DIMM, with a maximum capacity of either 24GB or 32GB, and can support dual-channel memory. This gaming laptop has a large storage space of 1TB PCle 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD, all I/O ports that are needed are available, backlit chiclet keyboard 1-Zone RGB touchpad, and 720 HD IR camera for Windows Hello. 

Its audio has some wonderful specs like a 4-speaker system with Smart Amplifier, a built-in 3-microphone array, and AI noise-canceling technology. You can have a great experience in its network and communication with Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax) (Dual-band) plus Bluetooth 5.2 (may vary with OS upgrades). Its battery has 76WHrs, 4S1P, and 4-cell Li-ion. Can have AniMe Matrix that’s adding a customizable, dynamic LED grid to the laptop’s lid. It weighs from 1.65 Kg (3.64 lbs) to 1.75 Kg (3.79 lbs) with different dimensions too.

Razer Blade 14 AMD Ryzen 5900HX

This Razer Blade 14 costs as much as $2,599.99. Pretty expensive, right? But it can also perform expensively. This device processor is AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX with 8 Cores / 16 Threads, a 3.3GHz base, and a 4.6GHz maximum boost. 

Updating its Windows is free if available. It has a display of 14-inch QHD 165Hz, 2560 x 1440, a graphics of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (8GB VRAM). Amazing graphic features like NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3080 Laptop GPU, 8GB GDDR6 VRAM, NVIDIA CUDA® Cores – 6144, Maximum Graphics Power up to 100W, Boost Clock up to 1365MHz, NVIDIA GPU Boost™ 2.0, NVIDIA Optimus™ Technology, NVIDIA Whisper Mode 2.0, NVIDIA Resizable BAR, 2nd Gen Ray Tracing Cores, 3rd Gen Tensor Cores, and VR ready.

It has a storage of 1TB SSD, a memory of 16GB DDR4-3200MHz (fixed on the board), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and 5.2 Bluetooth connectivity, and a per-key RGB keyboard, Microsoft Precision Glass touchpad.  It also has amazing audio of built-in stereo speakers and a 3.5mm headphones/microphone combo port.

It’s finished with CNC Aluminum, anodized black, and a backlit green Razer logo with the dimensions of 16.8mm x 220mm x 319.7mm that weighs 1.78 Kg (3.92lbs). It is amazing to have powerful hardware with such slimness like a pro. 1.78 Kg may be heavy, but for an NVIDIA RTX 3080? This is just impressive.

Top 4 iPhone accessories for 2022

Having an iPhone may already be quintessential for some people, but others still want to have a next-level extra. There are accessories that can make the iPhone push more performance, more secure, and more useful like leveling up photos and videos or charging up the device.

  1. Prime Cables Lightning to HDMI Digital AV Adapter

The Lightning Digital AV Adapter supports mirroring of whatever is displayed on the device screen. This includes apps, presentations, websites, slideshows, and more. This adapter can be used with iPhone, iPad, or iPod with a Lightning connector. This AV adapter can connect to HDMI-equipped TV, display, projector, or other compatible monitors in up to 1080p HD. This can enhance the versatility of entertainment systems or presentations. This HDMI adapter is fast and easy to use. This Lightning to HDMI adapter can connect to most HDMI displays that broaden the use of the devices. The displaying photos, videos or other presentations from the iPhone can already be shared with family, friends, students, and others. This Apple Lightning Digital AV Adapter made browsing on larger screens easier and better. 

  1. Apple AirTag

AirTags are used to help track important stuff such as keys, bags, wallets, purses, devices, and others. This lessens the possibility of losing things. This keeps things on the owner’s radar. This uses the Find My app which can also track Apple devices. This cute keychain-looking Apple AirTag can play sounds on the built-in speaker via the new Items tab in the Find My app. It has Bluetooth proximity finding, Apple designed U1 chip for Ultra-Wideband and Precision Finding that uses an accelerometer sensor and NFC tap for Lost Mode. This can lead straight to the lost item; it displays the distance to the AirTag and the direction to head in. The Precision Finding is compatible with iPhone 11/Pro/ProMax, iPhone 12/mini/Pro/Pro Max, and iPhone 13/mini/Pro/Pro Max.

The tag efficiently sends out a secure Bluetooth signal to nearby devices in the Find My Network. The location of the AirTag signal is sent to the iCloud; then to the Find My app and can be viewed on a map. The process is encrypted and anonymous to protect privacy. When Lost Mode is turned on and detected by other devices in the network, this automatically sends a notification. The contact info of the owner can be gotten by the NFC tap. AirTag is still designed to discourage unwanted tracking. Only the owner can see where his AirTag is. The location data and history are never stored on the tag itself. The devices that relay the location of the owner’s AirTag also stay anonymous.

Its battery life is designed with a user-replaceable CR2032 coin cell battery that can last more than a year, and iPhone gives a notification when it’s time to be replaced. The 31.9 mm x 8 mm tag that weighs lightly as 11g is also Rated IP67 resistant to splash, water, and dust. That is a maximum depth of 1 meter up to 30 meters under IEC standard 60529 that should have an operating ambient temperature of -20 ℃ to 60 ℃.

  1. Otterbox Amplify Glass Glare Guard

The Amplify Glare Guard is a Corning Aluminosilicate glass screen protector that is available for iPhones 11/Pro Max, iPhone 13/Pro/mini/Pro Max, and iPhone XR. The anti-glare screen protector defends screens against drops, scratches, and scrapes up to 5x greater resistance than leading glass alternatives while giving improved display readability from low to extreme lighting. The 0.04 lbs glass protector also boasts a lowered screen-brightness setting that enables extended daily battery life. This comes with an installation frame, cleaning wipe, drying cloth, and dust removal sticker.

  1. Master & Dynamic MC100 Wireless Charge Pad

The Master & Dynamic MC100 Wireless charge pad is built to complement the MW08 Sport True Wireless Earphones that can be used with the iPhone. It is a beautifully engineered wireless charger having a low-profile look that is available in colors silver aluminum with grey coated canvas and gunmetal aluminum with black coated canvas. This charging disk measures 100mm by 100mm and is 9.9mm thick and weighs 90.7g. This gives 10 Watts of maximum output with an input of 5v/1.2~1.5A, 9V/1.2~1.5A.

The charging pad does not include an AC wall adapter. It has a LED indicator on the front of the charger which looks like a round drink coaster. It illuminates when a device is charging without being too bright. The bottom side of the Master & Dynamic MC100 Wireless Charge Pad is made from machined aluminum and has four anti-skid rubber feet to keep the MC100 from sliding around. Master & Dynamic claims that this charging pad can charge the MW08 Sport to 50% in just 30 minutes and a full charge from empty will take up to 100 minutes.

iPhone Battery Health: How to Check and Improve It

Just like all batteries, iPhone batteries tend to deteriorate in performance over time. An iPhone that can last you 12 hours out of the box can only last you two or three hours after a year or two. You wonder, why does my iPhone’s battery health deteriorate so fast?

Well, the answer is because that’s meant to happen. However, there are ways you can slow down this inevitable deterioration of your iPhone battery.

How to Check Your iPhone’s Battery Health

First, you might want to check your iPhone’s battery health percentage. Here’s how:

  1. Launch “Settings.”
  2. Scroll down and find “Battery.”
  3. Tap “Battery Health.”

The “Maximum Capacity” is the maximum charge percentage your iPhone battery can reach relative to its health. When your battery is new, the number should be at 100%. You’ll notice that over time, the percentage goes down.

But if it goes down at an alarming rate, for example, at least 1 percent per week, you should take measures to prolong your battery’s lifespan. But if you’re a heavy user, you should expect this rate. Consistently using demanding apps, keeping your iPhone plugged in, and using it while charging deteriorates it.

That means the more time you fully discharge and charge your iPhone battery, the faster its “Battery Health” percentage goes down. Faster deterioration means you need to get an iPhone battery replacement service one or two years after getting a new iPhone.

How to Improve Your iPhone’s Battery Health

If you want to slow down the fall, here are some practices you can apply to your daily smartphone routine:

  1. Don’t get the battery percentage down to 0%.

0% battery is the time your iPhone shuts itself down in the middle of an activity because it’s out of juice. To save your iPhone’s battery from fast deterioration, avoid fully discharging it. Charge your battery when the percentage drops below 20%, the time when you get low battery warnings on your screen.

If you’re nowhere near a charging station, turn on “Low Power Mode” in “Settings” > “Battery.”

  1. Don’t fully charge your battery all the time.

It’s understandable to want to have a fully charged phone, but consistently charging your iPhone’s battery from 0% to 100% severely hurts its health. When you can, charge your iPhone up to 50% or a little more.

If you’re going out and won’t have the chance to charge again, take advantage of the iPhone’s “Low Power Mode.”

  1. Avoid storing or using your phone in high temperatures.

If your iPhone starts to feel hot on your hands, it’s time to put it down and give it a rest. But when you do, make sure to store it in a dry, cool place to help it cool itself down and save its battery and other components from damage.

According to Apple, the iPhone works best in 0 to 35 degrees celsius environments. For storage, the iPhone can be comfortable at -20 to 45 degrees celsius.

Note: When storing an iPhone long-term, make sure you turn it off with the battery percentage at 50%.

  1. Remove thick cases when charging your iPhone.

If you’re a fan of thick iPhone cases because of the protection they offer, make sure to check how breathable they are. They might be too thick to the point that your iPhone can’t breathe and let heat out when it needs to, which happens during charging.

Check if the case is breathable. If not, remove it before plugging your iPhone in.

Parting Words

Truthfully, you can’t save your iPhone’s battery from deterioration. They’re made to be used and are susceptible to wear, that’s why they’re easily replaceable through professional iPhone battery replacement services.

However, it’s still a good idea to try to reduce the speed of its deterioration. But when the time comes for your iPhone to get a fresh battery, remember to rely on the experts to help you out.

iPhone 13 vs. Samsung Galaxy S22: Which One Should You Get?

With so many choices in the market, it’ll take a lot of time just to come down to a 1 versus 1 of the devices you’re going to choose from. However, iPhones usually take the other side of the fight for casual smartphone users. If you’re one of the people picking between the iPhone 13 and Samsung Galaxy S22 5G, this guide will help you decide.

We’ll break this guide down into four categories:

  • Body
  • Display
  • Platform
  • Camera
  • Price

You can skip through the categories you care most about to help yourself decide faster! But if you’re like us who like getting down to the nitty-gritty of gadgets we plan to spend our money on, read through our buying guide.

Body

iPhone 13: The iPhone 13 weighs 174 grams and is measured at 5.78 x 2.81 x 0.30 in. The front and back of its aluminum frame are powered by Gorilla Glass, which can be found on most smartphones today. The iPhone 13 is also IP68-rated dust- and water-resistant, and you can swim up to 6 meters deep for 30 mins with your iPhone 13 if you’re into that!

Samsung Galaxy S22 5G: On the other side of the ring, the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G weighs 167 grams and is measured at 5.75 x 2.78 x 0.30 in. Similar to the iPhone 13, it has an aluminum frame with Gorilla Glass Victus+ front and back. Based on Samsung’s ads, the Galaxy S22 5G has an armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance. Moreover, this model is IP68 rated dust- and water-resistant.

Display

iPhone 13: The iPhone 13 has a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel with HDR10, and Dolby Vision support. Its display panel has a peak brightness of 1200 nits. As for display resolution, you get 1170 x 2532 image clarity, protected by a scratch-resistant ceramic glass with an oleophobic coating, wide color gamut, and Apple’s True Tone.

Samsung Galaxy S22 5G: Not straying far, the Samsung Galaxy S22 also has a 6.1-inch size display, but with Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, and a peak brightness of 1300 nits. However, display clarity is where iPhone 13 wins over the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G, since the Galaxy S22 5G only has a 1080 x 2340 panel. Wondering what protects the Galaxy S22 5G’s display? It’s Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ and the panel has an Always-on Display feature. Perfect for those who don’t like tapping their phones to check the time!

Platform

iPhone 13: The iPhone 13 runs iOS 15 out of the box, and is upgradable to the latest version of the iOS 15. It runs on Apple’s A15 Bionic chip which has six CPU cores with a 4-core Apple GPU. Storage-wise, the iPhone 13 is upgradeable up to 512 GB.

Samsung Galaxy S22 5G: The Samsung Galaxy S22 5G is shipped out running Android 12 and is powered by Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Its CPU has eight cores and its graphics processor is Adreno 730, a brand you often see on Samsung smartphones. When it comes to storage, the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G is only up to 256 GB.

Camera

iPhone 13: Apple’s iPhone 13 has a dual-lens rear camera setup with the first lens being wide with 13 MP. The second lens is also 12 MP, but is ultrawide. Both lenses have their own LED dual-tone flashes and HDR photo and panorama. The highest video capture quality you can get from the iPhone 13 is 4K@60fps with Dolby Vision HDR support.

The front camera of the iPhone 13 has a single-lens setup, with 12 MP wide lens that is SL 3D supported. It has HDR and can take up to 4K@60fps videos.

Samsung Galaxy S22 5G: Samsung’s contender for this buying guide has a triple-lens rear camera setup. The main is a wide lens that has 50 MP, the second is a telephoto lens that has 10 MP with 3x optical zoom, and the third lens is ultrawide and has 12 MP with Super Steady video. The rear camera setup has a LED flash, auto-HDR, and panorama. Samsung Galaxy S22 5G’s rear camera can take up to 8K@24fps videos with HDR10+ support.

Its front camera is a 10 MP wide lens with Dual Pixel PDAF, auto-HDR, and can take up to 4K@60fps videos.

Price

iPhone 13: Starts at $799 for the 128 GB model. It comes in Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, Red, and Green.

Samsung Galaxy S22 5G: Starts at $699.99 for the 128 GB with 8 GB RAM model. The Samsung Galaxy S22 5G comes in Phantom Black, White, Pink Gold, Green, Graphite, Sky Blue, Violet, and Cream.

What made you decide?

Was it the camera? The body? Or the price? We know there are many factors in play, but for most people, the price is one of the biggest deciding factors. But if you’re a tech whiz who likes comparing every feature of the gadgets you’re planning to purchase, we hope this buying guide helped you pick the right smartphone for you!

If you need expert assistance when it comes to picking your new smartphone, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us and we’ll be happy to answer all your tech questions! Our friendly staff are available and will lead you to the smartphone that will serve your tech needs.

The Best Streaming Services for 2022

The phrase “going to the movies” has a new meaning thanks to online streaming services that a majority of us depended on when we’re not 100% sure about going out to see a movie in theaters.

Since we can watch movies (even the newest ones) without going out of the house because of streaming services, it’s hard to imagine a weekend without them. So if you’re surfing the web looking for a new streaming service or another one to add to your list, you’re in the right place.

We jotted down the best streaming services for 2022 that we recommend:

  1. Netflix

Netflix is known to have an impressive library of original movies, TV series, documentaries, and other types of consumable video content on its subscription-based platform. It’s probably the hottest streaming service right now because of its library alone and how accessible it is.

Outside of its original library, Netflix hosts classic movies and TV series people love to watch over and over, such as Friends, How I Met Your Mother, and other American series. It’s also home to an extensive list of hit series from South Korea and Japan.

When it comes to accessibility, you can count on Netflix to be available on any streaming device. You can use it on your smartphone, computer, Apple TV, smart TVs, and its library also supports streaming in 4K, HDR, and Dolby Atmos – for a price.

  1. Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime can be bundled with a Prime Video subscription or as a standalone subscription Like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video has its own library of original movies and series. You can subscribe to Amazon Prime and have Prime Video bundled with it, or only pay for a Prime Video subscription to access its library of video content.

There are tons of international films, 4K HDR support, and rental feature. Since Prime Video has a set of exclusive titles, you have to pay extra to watch them on your streaming device. In addition, there are also channels you can watch using your Prime Video subscription, such as Paramount Plus and AMC Plus, among others.

  1. HBO Max

HBO Max offers users an extensive library of iconic films and latest movie releases. You can subscribe to HBO Max ad-free or ad-supported, depending on your viewing preference.

Its library is constantly updated with the latest films from Warner Bros., new releases 45 days after their theatrical release, and a collection of content from classics such as Sesame Street, Adult Swim, etc.

However, despite its impressive library, it can’t stream in 4K HDR quality like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. You’re limited to watching your favorites in 1080p, which isn’t all too bad if your display isn’t big or you stream on your smartphone.

  1. Disney Plus

Streaming service Disney Plus is home to Marvel and Star Wars films. So if you’re a fan of both franchises, a Disney Plus subscription is highly recommended to ensure you get all the movies you need for binge-watching.

You can get Disney Plus as a standalone subscription or with ESPN+ and streaming service Hulu.

Aside from Marvel and Star Wars films in one place, you also get access to Disney’s classic movies! However, this may mean the content leans more towards general audiences. It’s excellent for family movie times, but not if you’re into mature titles.

As for stream quality, Disney Plus can stream 4K HDR to support high-resolution displays for the best viewing experience.

Final thoughts

When looking for streaming services, you should consider what titles you want to watch and check if specific providers have them in their libraries. Even though monthly subscriptions aren’t expensive, you can spend those dollars on better streaming services that actually have what you want to watch.

Top 5 Apple Gadgets and Accessories to Get In 2022

Apple is known for designing its products to support each other. This can be seen in how integrated their products are with each other, which manifests clearly in Apple’s native tracking application, Find My. Find My allows you to track all compatible Apple devices signed into your iCloud account and included in your Family Sharing setup.

Another feature that takes advantage of Apple’s excellent cross-device integration is Universal Control. This feature lessens the time you take switching between your Apple devices. For example, you’re working on your MacBook, and you need a file from your iPad. You can simply drag and drop the file you need using your MacBook’s trackpad to navigate your iPad. What’s better is that Universal Control isn’t limited to two devices, but three.

With notable features making Apple gadgets easier to use, it’s time you find additional devices and accessories that’ll complete your Apple ecosystem. Here are five products we recommend:

1. 16-inch M1 Max MacBook Pro

The M1 Max is currently Apple’s most powerful processor, with 10-cores of CPU power and a GPU with up to 32-cores. The beefy Apple silicon is made even more powerful by 64GB of unified memory, making it a good MacBook for heavy video rendering and software development tasks.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro is built to be compatible with Apple’s latest integration feature, Universal Control, so that you can work between your other compatible devices without a problem.

2. iPad Pro 12.9-inch

Apple’s latest addition to their iPad Pro line are the 11- and 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Both come with up to 2TB of storage but differ in size, display quality, and battery capacity.

The iPad Pro 12.9-inch is powered by Apple’s M1 chip, which you’ll also find in their latest generation of MacBook Airs. The M1 chip has an 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores. In addition, it has an 8-core GPU with up to 16GB of RAM.

The 12-9-inch iPad Pro is fully compatible with Universal Control, so you can conveniently include it in your productivity arsenal and have no issues transferring what you need.

3. iPhone 13 Pro Max

The iPhone 13 Pro Max is Apple’s fastest iPhone, with the A15 Bionic chip and the Pro camera system with Telephoto, Wide, and Ultra Wide modes. It’s also 5G capable, making it fast enough to connect to the internet and support your online tasks without an issue.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max is fully compatible with Universal Control, so working alongside your iPad and MacBook is made extremely convenient.

Lastly, it’s compatible with Apple’s MagSafe accessories, making charging up this smartphone a hassle-free experience.

4. Apple Watch Series 7

The Apple Watch Series 7 currently has the biggest display out of all Apple Watch models released in the previous years. This made it an even more competent smartwatch because users who aren’t fans of smaller displays benefit from its upgraded viewable area.

The retina display also has an always-on feature, so you don’t have to repeatedly tap on your watch to see the screen.

5. MagSafe Duo Charger

As Apple continues to develop MagSafe-supported devices, the MagSafe Duo Charger becomes even more relevant. It allows you to conveniently charge your compatible iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods, and other Qi-certified devices without the trouble of plugging into a charging port.

With the MagSafe Duo Charger, you can just lay your device on top, and you’ll get the juice you need for your devices.

Why It’s Important to Backup Your Data: 5 Ways to Safeguard Your Information

Most of us store sensitive data like passwords and bank card information on our phones. If our phones fall in the wrong hands, so will our personal and important information. Data can be lost and corrupted, or worse, stolen. To protect yourself from such errors and attacks, backing up your data regularly should be a habit. Creating backups will let you seamlessly access your files and information stored in the cloud using secondary or backup devices.

Why is it important to backup your data?

We rely on our electronic devices to store our data. We use devices like mobile phones, laptops, external hard drives, flash drives, and many more. But what do you do when they run into problems that lead to losing your data? If you don’t keep your data backups up-to-date, you risk being left with outdated data for work, school, or personal purposes.

But if you don’t back up your data at all, you’ll end up losing all the data you’ve collected since the day you started using your storage device. On the bright side, having a good backup of your data will ensure that, whatever happens to your devices, your files will remain intact for you to use and view in the future.

Where should you store your backups?

These days, we have a lot of options when it comes to backing up information. The old and trusted way is to use external storage drives such as flash drives and external hard drives that can store up to 4 terabytes of data, such as Western Digital’s WD MyBook Duo 4TB.

But there are digital options like the numerous cloud services available for all types of users. You might be a mobile phone person or a computer person, but these cloud providers don’t discriminate. You’ve probably heard of DropBox, Google Drive, and similar providers giving users free cloud storage capacities with a simple sign-up. We highly advise you to grab these free storage spaces!

How can you protect your data?

Got unlucky and lost your data without backup? Then your best bet is to seek help from professionals! If you are handing your phone over for repair, take these extra measures first to protect your data:

1. Backup your data

Whether it is a simple screen replacement or a more complex device repair, many things can go awry during repairs that may further damage your device. In the unlikely event that this happens, you can prevent loss of data by ensuring your information is always backed up. Most smartphones can be set on automatic backup, so you do not have to manually do it yourself. 

There are two ways you can back up your data. You can go to your device settings and manually perform a backup. Or, as previously mentioned, you may also set it on automatic backups so that your data will be backed up regularly. 

Another method is to plug your device into a computer. For iOS users, backups are seamless as long as you have iTunes installed. For Android users, there are several ways to backup your information. You can do this by transferring files via USB, using third-party software, or syncing your Google account to either Google Drive or Google Backup and Sync. 

If you backup your device by using the USB cable that came with your device, you will need to enable USB debugging and manually select files to backup. When using third-party software, you can back up your entire device and restore data, similar to how iOS backup works. Most of these applications are not free though. 

If your Google account is synced to Google Drive, your data may be backed up on the cloud. If it syncs to Google Backup and Sync, your data will be stored locally on your computer.

Backing up an Android to your computer may be a little confusing. If you are having any difficulties backing up your Android device, you should seek assistance from our technicians.

Even if you are not getting your phone repaired, backing up your data should be done regularly so you can retrieve and access your data anytime, even if you do not have your primary device with you.

2. Log out from your accounts and disable passcodes

Some phone repairs may take longer and if you do not want to wait for your device, you will have to drop it off and pick it up at a later time. You should disable passwords and other locks so technicians will be able to easily lock and unlock your device during the repair.

To protect your privacy, log out from all applications, especially your social media and cloud accounts. Alternatively, you may also download and use an application that will let you create passwords and secure your files without necessarily logging out from your accounts.

3. Remove SIM and external storage cards

Most smartphones have huge storage capacities. But if you are still using external storage cards, do not forget to remove them along with your SIM card before handing it over for repair. These cards are small and may easily be lost during a repair. If your device is queued for a repair, you will be unable to receive and make calls and texts for a period of time, so it is advisable to temporarily insert your SIM card to a secondary or backup phone.

4. Wipe out your data

Don’t want to go through the hassle of logging out of your accounts or downloading privacy applications? After backing up your device and all its data, you may skip logging out of your accounts by performing a factory reset on your device to wipe everything out. This will ensure no one can access or steal your data. 

For iOS users, simply go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Data. 

For Android users, go to Settings > Backup & reset > Factory Data Reset. Tap Reset phone once the prompt appears.

You can easily retrieve and restore backed-up data after your phone is repaired by either connecting your phone to your PC or downloading your backup directly to your device when you log in to your associated email.

5. Make sure you’re working with reputable repair stores

Technology has become so essential that millions of tech repair stores have popped up around the world. Even densely populated areas have their own tech repair shops these days! With tons of choices out there, it might be difficult for you to find technicians you can trust with your devices and data.

To make sure you’re working with repair shops you can trust, read reviews, view websites, and observe how they handle your queries! It’s also a good idea to ask people you know where they get their device repairs done.

Things to remember

Information is gold these days. People can sell, trade, and use data to earn money. As you sign up for more items or services, the amount of data you need to protect grows. That’s why it’s important to keep in mind that your data is private and important — no matter what it is or what you intend to do with it. When your data falls into the wrong hands, it will lead to problems. Remember, protect your data by backing it up, using trusted services, and working with reputable technicians that will help you attain your goal — data protection!