Join iCare Phone Repair at the Cleveland Franchise Expo, held at the International Exposition Center on April 16 and 17, 2016. We are happy to share with you complimentary tickets to the event! Click the button below to download your FREE tickets (worth $7). Connect with us and get to know our franchise offerings. We’ll walk you through all the details on how to start an exciting retail franchise opportunity with iCare Phone Repair!
The Big Four carriers (Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile) have been promoting very enticing offers to attract customers to sign up with them. These deals sound very irresistible, especially when the carriers are running a ‘buy one, get one free’ deal, like AT&T’s 2-for-1 promotion on the Samsung Galaxy S6 series and the iPhone 6s.
But do these deals really save you money in the long run? Let’s say you bought the iPhone 6s on AT&T’s Next 24 plan. You’re eligible to get a free iPhone 6s (valued at $650) BUT you need to add the free iPhone under a postpaid plan and you’ll be paying off the two iPhones for the next 30 months. With the second line of service, you’re now paying at least $45 per month extra for a new data plan and line access fee.
What happens if you cancel the plan before the contract ends? You have to pay the full balance for the phone. And if you upgrade at 24 months on Next, AT&T will ask you to return the ‘free’ iPhone before you can upgrade.
Overall, ‘free’ is not always what it seems because you still have to pay for the second line of service plus taxes and surcharges. There’s the activation or upgrade fee ($30 to $40 per device), and a restocking fee (usually $30 to $40) if you return the unused phone within the initial exchange period.
Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP): How Does It Work?
If your two-year contract with your carrier has already ended, you are now free to shop around for better services and prices with another compatible carrier. AT&T and T-Mobile operate GSM networks so they’re compatible carriers, while Sprint and Verizon are on CDMA.
How do you switch to another carrier? If you have a post-contract phone, you can request your carrier to unlock your device so you can bring your unlocked phone over to a compatible carrier for a contract-free plan. You can also purchase pre-owned smartphones from reputable stores like iCare Phone Repair.
Why is BYOP Better?
Unlocked, no-contract phones gives you freedom to choose a carrier with the plan that suits you best. If you find a better deal elsewhere, you can easily switch to another carrier without paying early termination fees (ETF).
Contract phones allow you to trade in your phone early and get an upgrade. But think about the resale value of your phone. An iPhone 6s in great condition can still net you around $300, and you don’t have to enter another two-year contract with your carrier.
Subsidized phones under two-year contracts sound like a great deal. You can buy a $650 iPhone 6s for a subsidized price of $199, for example. But the cost of the phone is added into your monthly fee, so after two years, you end up paying full price (or even more) for the device. And think about the activation fees on top of the cost of the phone.
Besides the Big Four, there’s a lot of choices out there that offer no-contract services. Just bring your own phone and have them activated. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular carriers that allow BYOP.
Good news to customers whose iPhones were ‘bricked’ or shut down by Apple’s Error 53. Apple has released a solution for the error that disables iPhones after the connector that ran between the Touch ID sensor in the home button was replaced by an unauthorized third-party.
Apple has issued a patched version of iOS 9.2.1 that will restore ‘bricked’ iPhones and will also prevent Error 53 from happening if an iPhone’s home button is replaced by a third-party repair center in the future. Note that this is an iTunes-only update, so plug your iPhone into iTunes to get the update and you should be able to restore your iPhone’s functionality.
Apple has published a support document on their site that discusses the steps to fix Error 53. Note that even after restoring your device, it will still not be able to re-enable Touch ID.
Force restart your device by doing the following: Press and hold both the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons for at least ten seconds, until you see the Apple logo.
Try to restore your device again.
If you still see Error 53 when you try to restore your device, contact Apple Support. If you encounter a different error code, you can check what the error signifies from this page: iOS Update and Restore Errors.
What is Error 53 for?
Error 53 shuts down an Apple device to prevent a malicious Touch ID sensor from being installed on it. This sensor could gain unauthorized access to your fingerprint data in the iPhone’s Secure Enclave. So the Touch ID sensor must match the device’s other components when this is checked by the iOS during an update or restore. Otherwise, Error 53 occurs.
If you’ve had your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus fixed at a repair shop, then you are at risk of getting the Error 53 that can cause your iPhone to become an expensive paperweight. Error 53 is a problem that you can run into if you had your Touch ID sensor (or other iPhone hardware) replaced by a repair shop that’s not authorized by Apple. When you update iOS, the device locks down and shows the Error 53 message. The iPhone virtually becomes unusable. The only way to prevent it is to NEVER update the iOS but this is not a very plausible option in the long run.
What is Error 53?
According to Apple, Error 53 is an iOS 9 security feature to keep private data secure. So when the home button assembly has been tampered with or replaced, Error 53 occurs. For the iPhone 5s, the home button can be replaced at the cost of losing the finger scanner’s functionality, but it can still function without running into Error 53. But it’s not the same case for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
The iPhone 6’s finger scanner may be faulty but it can still function just fine — until the iOS is updated. A warning prior to the update would have been great but Apple doesn’t give out that favor. Even a hard reset won’t be a solution for the Error 53. The iPhone simply becomes worthless.
Which devices are affected?
The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are definitely affected, as well as iPads with Touch ID. The iPhone 5s is not affected even though it has Touch ID, but it is not clear yet if the 6s and 6s Plus are vulnerable too because they use a different cable design than other models.
What is Error 53 for?
Locking down the entire device with the Error 53 is Apple’s way of preventing a malicious Touch ID sensor to be installed on the device, which could potentially allow unauthorized access to your fingerprint data in the iPhone’s Secure Enclave.
Fingerprint data is encrypted and protected with a key available only to the Secure Enclave. Fingerprint data is used only by the Secure Enclave to verify that your fingerprint matches the enrolled fingerprint data. The Secure Enclave is walled off from the rest of the chip and the rest of iOS. Therefore, iOS and other apps never access your fingerprint data, it’s never stored on Apple servers, and it’s never backed up to iCloud or anywhere else. Only Touch ID uses it.
Is there a way to avoid Error 53?
Have you ever had your Apple device with Touch ID repaired by anyone other than the Apple Store? If yes, then your device is now vulnerable to Error 53. To avoid it, your only solution is to NEVER update your iOS. If you need repair on your device, bring it to an Apple Store because only they have hardware capable of re-establishing an authentic connection between the Touch ID and the iPhone’s Secure Enclave.
Is there a fix for the Error 53?
You can but it’s not easy. Reinstall your original home button and any other parts that were replaced if you still have them. The genuine parts are a must-have, or else, it’s time to buy a new iPhone.
Apple suggests bringing over your device with Error 53 to the Apple Store, but don’t expect a lot of great help. If your device is still under warranty and there are no signs of damage, then you can have it exchanged. But if it’s not covered by warranty, the warranty is voided, or the device is suspected to have been tampered with, then your only recourse is to buy a new iPhone.
How are people reacting to Error 53?
Seattle-based law firm PCVA said it believed Apple is in violation of various consumer protection laws in the US, and offers to represent affected iPhone users for free. According to them, users are being forced to use Apple’s more expensive repair services, than third-party repair shops. Users are being limited from finding other methods to fix their devices.
Think of it this way: let’s say you bought a car, and had your alternator replaced by a local mechanic. Under Apple’s strategy, your car would no longer start because you didn’t bring it to an official dealership. They intentionally disable your car because you tried to fix it yourself. That is wrong.
In response, Apple has maintained the necessity of having a strict security measure to avoid a fraudulent Touch ID sensor from being used. Apple is encouraging users who encounter Error 53 to contact Apple Support.
The real losers…
It’s not just about the money spent to purchase the Apple device, but also the photos, documents, and apps that cannot be recovered because of Error 53. As a third-party repair shop, we also get the brunt of customers’ complaints when their devices get bricked (or nonfunctional) because of an error that is really out of our hands. This can be their security feature but this also gives them the responsibility of warning customers beforehand.
Hopefully, Apple is already working on this issue and find a better alternative than Error 53 to handle the tampering of the Touch ID system. In the meantime, if you’ve done something with your Touch ID or had a screen replaced, don’t update iOS. Better to be on an old version than be left with a bricked device!
Are you trying to get over a breakup and nothing seems to work? Have you already deleted their number from your phone but you still know it by heart? Have you been tempted to send them a late-night message to try to fix things? Getting over a relationship is not an overnight process (at least for the most of us!), but there are plenty of “techie” ways to help you move on. So if you feel like you’ve exhausted every trick in the relationship book, here’s some break-up apps that may help you get through the grieving period.
DrunkDial
Can’t get yourself to delete your ex’s number? Then DrunkDial is that best friend who stops you from making a big mistake — and save you a huge embarrassment the morning after. The DrunkDial app gives you its own version of a sobriety test, via timed math problems, before it allows you to call your ex. Of course, the best way to NOT call an ex is NOT to memorize his/her number, but DrunkDial is your next best step for avoiding a regretful conversation with the ex.
KillSwitch
Out of sight, out of mind. Get over your ex easily by removing ALL traces of him/her from Facebook through the KillSwitch app. No need to deactivate your Facebook to avoid seeing old and new photos of your ex. Just use KillSwitch and everything, from pictures to post, will be removed. Now be careful about using KillSwitch because once you use it, it’s final, and you won’t be able to get things back again.
Ex Lover Blocker
We all need our friends in this time of grief. Tempted to call your ex? The Ex Lover Blocker app will alert three of your friends when you try calling. And if your brokenhearted self still managed to get around that road block, the app will publicly shame you on Facebook. Yep, it’s a harsh punishment. So be good and don’t call your ex! You’ll thank yourself — and this app — later!
Designated Dialer
This app is similar to the DrunkDial app but with an additional feature. You can use the Designated Dialer to set up a Do-Not-Call list, so when you’re being swayed by the influence of alcohol and you attempt to call up a number in your forbidden list, the app will redirect the call to a patronizing toll-free number. You can unlock those numbers but you have to go through a coordination test first.
RebounDate
Are you ready to move on and start dating again? Dating after a break-up can be awkward, but RebounDate makes it pretty clear cut to both parties. RebounDate is a dating app, but what makes it different is that users can specify on their status if they’re looking for a rebound date or are willing to be a rebound date. You can avoid all the questions and drama about your past relationship and both of you know what you signed up for. Win-win!
Moving on is never easy but there are always technologies that you can hang on to during the process, so hang in there!
Dry skin, frozen pipes, icy roads — these are a few unpleasant effects of winter. But besides these, our mobile devices also have a negative reaction when exposed to the extremely cold weather.
Our favorite gadgets can endure cold temperatures much better than hot, but that doesn’t make them unbreakable. Apple says its iPhones can be used only in temperatures between 32 degrees to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. On the other hand, Samsung guarantees its phones to function in temperatures between -4F and 122F. HTC and Nokia do not mention any temperature guidelines in their user manuals or on their websites.
According to tests made by PCWorld.com, most smartphones couldn’t handle temperatures ranging from 5F down to -4F. Even if the phones managed to stay powered up, most died when put to actual use. The breaking point of all smartphones is at -40F, when smartphones of all types can cease all their functionalities.
So what happens to our smartphones if they are left out in the cold for too long?
Effects of Cold Weather to Smartphones
Dead battery
Leaving your smartphone in the cold can drain the battery much faster, and the device can shut down spontaneously. If the smartphone battery is exposed to cold temperatures over an extended period of time, the battery can end up dying all together. When tested, an iPhone 4s battery died and shut down at 14F.
Unresponsive and/or cracked screens
Our smartphones have LCD displays that are more fragile in the cold than AMOLED displays. All phones with LCD displays in PCWorld’s tests experienced difficulties when the temperature dropped below 14F, while those with AMOLED displays were able to keep working at that temperature.
If you notice that the touchscreen has delayed reactions, and the text and colors are smudging and ghosting, this means the smartphone has been subjected to cold temperatures. The display panel also becomes more sensitive to cracks when dropped because the cold makes the panel rigid.
Internal component issues
Smartphones may have a hard time reading the SIM card because of extreme cold temperatures. A number of functionalities may also fail to process. As an example, the iPhone 4s started reporting a SIM card error at 23F after testing.
Physical damages to the components
The extreme cold makes the internal and external components rigid, making them susceptible to spontaneous screen shattering. Simple drops and movements can lead to a cracked screen or damage the internal components. When devices are left in ‘sleep mode’ in freezing temperatures, they can be facing real permanent damage that they cannot turn on anymore.
Liquid condensation
Liquid damage can occur even if you don’t literally drop your smartphone in water because of liquid condensation. This happens when the device has been left in the cold for a long period of time, and used immediately after bringing it into a warm area. Liquid condensation appears underneath the display, which can cause liquid damage and make the screen unreadable.
How to Protect Your Smartphone in Cold Weather
Keep the battery in check. Since the battery will drain much faster in the cold, make sure to charge your smartphone before going out. (Tip: Switch to airplane mode to charge faster.) Keep a car charger or have an extra battery with you for backup. (Check out our stores for these accessories; you’ll never know when an emergency will happen.)
Limit your usage in the cold. The screens are more fragile in the cold and you don’t want to crack the screen if you suddenly drop your phone. Also, stay away from snow-related activities such as sledding or shoveling to avoid liquid damage.
Always have your phone with you. Don’t leave your phone in the car for a long period of time, especially not overnight. This can cause permanent damage on the internal and external components.
Limit your phone usage in the cold. Keep the phone in a safe place near you such as your pocket, jacket, purse, or somewhere close to your own body heat. This also prevents accidental drops that can cause shattered screens.
If this article came to you late and your smartphone has already been exposed to subfreezing temperatures, you can still do something about it. Don’t try to use the phone right away. Let it warm back up to room temperature before turning it on again. This prevents condensation and other damage that might occur to the device.
The iPhone SE 2020 is here, and you’re ready. Or maybe you’ve been salivating over the Samsung Galaxy Note10 Plus. Your old phone is slowly giving up the ghost, or you’re just excited to upgrade. Whatever the reason, you now have to decide what to do with the old phone. You could try selling it yourself, or you could sell it to iCare iRepair for a much better price (and without a lot of the hassle).
Before you sell your iPhone, Android, or other smartphone, though, make sure you follow these steps:
Backup Your Device
You don’t want your valuable (and possibly cashable) information in the wrong hands. Before you delete everything off your old iPhone or Android, be sure to transfer the data to your new device. Backing up your smartphone will ensure that the information you transferred to your new device is saved to the cloud. If you want to do this directly from your phone, select your name within your Settings, then tap “iCloud.” This will take you to the option of “iCloud Backup > Backup Now.”
For an Android, this process may require a few more steps. First, check that Google Photos, Gmail, and Google Contacts have cloud backups toggled on in your settings. Another option for backing up important data is utilizing a service like Google Drive, or even G Cloud Backup. After you’ve successfully saved your information on the cloud, be sure to remove all accounts saved on your Android phone. While you may want to delete your main Google account last, you can still select “Accounts” within your settings and remove all the other accounts from your device.
Unpair devices
Keeping your old Bluetooth devices paired to your smartphone can put you at risk. Those devices could also mean trouble if they continue connecting to your old device rather than your new one. Before selling your smartphone, be sure to disconnect and “forget” all other devices. To do this, bring your Bluetooth devices near your phone, then go to “Bluetooth” in your Settings. Next to each device listed, tap for information and select “Forget This Device.”
While, like with the iPhone, your paired Android devices won’t connect to your out-of-range phone, it’s still a good idea to disconnect those Bluetooth headphones from your Android. In “Connected Devices” within Settings, tap the Settings gear icon next to each device and select “Forget.”
Sign out of the Cloud
You’re a few steps closer to handing in that old smartphone. Next, return to your settings and select “iCloud > Sign Out.” This will prompt you to “Delete from My [Device],” and will ask you to enter your Apple ID password. In order to sign out of iTunes, go back to the main page of your settings, and select “iTunes and App Store > Apple ID > Sign out.”
For an Android smartphone, be sure to perform a factory reset, and even consider removing your SIM card. For the first step, head over to “Settings > System > Advanced > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset).” While this option may turn up in different locations depending on each model, you can do this on most Android phones (like the Pixel, for example). For removing the SIM card, locate the SIM tray at the end of your phone and use a paperclip to pop the tray open. Remove the card and destroy it if you plan to buy a new one, or keep it for use in your new smartphone.
Disable “Find My Phone”
For Android users, the “Android Device Manager” feature offers a neat method of maintaining control over your phone, even from a long distance, and locking it (or erasing all data!). While it’s important to disable this program if you’re selling your Android, make sure you’ve already backed up all information first. When you’ve completed steps 1-4, check out your account here and locate the “Security” section. You can manage all your devices from the “Your Devices” heading. Find the phone you’d like to sell and select “Remove.”
iPhones allow users to disable this feature AND erase all content and settings in one fell swoop. Once in Settings, click “General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings,” then follow the next prompts until completion. This will allow your iPhone’s future owner to activate the smartphone, as well as keep them from accessing your private information.
Yes, these steps can be time-consuming, but yes, they’re important! Logging out of and deleting account information is a sure-fire way to keep future users from causing issues or accessing content you’d rather keep private.
Now, you’re looking to sell that smartphone – and at a decent price, if you want your money’s worth. We know some tech experts and smartphone gurus at iCare iRepair ready to inspect your device and offer top dollar (in cash!). Following the steps above will make sure this process saves you time, but we’re more than happy to help you in-store. Head over to any of our locations today and trade your old Android, iPhone, or other smartphone for cash!
If you own an iPhone and you’re a human being, chances are you need a screen repair! Either you dropped your phone on the kitchen floor, your kid got a hold of it, or it fell out of your pocket – no matter the amount of “UE”s, Apple iPhones are known for easily cracked screens.
Before you decide that you can live with your cracked iPhone 8 screen, consider these points.
It only gets worse
With one or two cracks in your screen, the problem will spread into a webbing of cracks that will soon hinder or halt the phone’s use altogether. At this point, it might even be more cost-effective to purchase a new phone.
You might run into other problems
As the cracks in your screen widen, they allow for water and grit to slip in. At this point, not only will you struggle to read your screen, now you’ll also have to wrestle with water damage and malfunctioning beneath your screen. When you do take your phone into a repair shop, you could rack up quite the bill on a screen repair and a phone water damage repair.
It’ll be harder to sell the phone
While you may not be thinking about trading in your old iPhone 5S for a new iPhone 11 just yet, the overall appearance – and hence, vendibility – of your phone should be important to you. Unfortunately, the accrued damage may cause the costs of a phone screen repair to outweigh the benefits. At that point, finding a buyer ready to accept your overwhelmingly damaged phone might be too much of a headache.
It looks unprofessional
You might also consider that using an obviously cracked iPhone or Samsung Galaxy actually leaves a negative impression with those around you. You can have the Maserati, the executive job, or even the perfect wardrobe. But a banged-up phone can still do some serious social damage.
Hopefully, you now understand how impactful your cracked screen can be. There are several ways you could protect your screen from further damage if it’s already suffered some bumps and bruises. Or maybe you’ve gone through a screen repair before, and you’re wondering what steps you can take to prevent it happening again. Let’s check out a couple of ways of doing that.
Tips on Safeguarding Your Smartphone
Use a screen protector
While a screen case is great (we’ll discuss that in the next section), investing in a screen protector is another one of the best ways you can safeguard your phone. You can avoid several coffees-worth of iPhone 8s screen repairs by simply purchasing a screen protector with your phone and having an experienced tech install it for you. Or, you can also install it yourself if you’re confident in your skills. (But we highly recommend coming out to iCare Repair to have one of our guys give your phone the TLC it deserves.)
Invest in a quality screen case
Nothing says “fix my phone” like a cellphone without a case. Would you really purchase a brand new car and not park it safely in your garage? Similarly, a good quality phone screen case guarantees longer device life (and fewer heart attacks when you inevitably drop your phone again).
Make sure your phone repair shop offers a warranty
A long warranty for a repair is a vote of confidence for the repair shop’s expertise. The longer the warranty, the greater chance your phone will stay repaired (and that you won’t wake up with a different problem the next day). Besides what it says about your repair technician’s work, a warranty also means extra security for you, your device, and your wallet. That’s why iCare Repair offers a guaranteed warranty for your peace of mind.
Although we certainly hope you never run into this issue, you might be in need of a screen repair already. Do yourself a favor and stop by iCare Repair for a fast, professional repair that won’t leave you with more damage than you started with. We’ll make sure you and your phone have a repaired, fresh start.
