Just admit it. Sometimes you spend longer than needed in the bathroom because you get carried away scrolling through your social media feeds and reading your emails. Even though this is a harmless act, millions of germs collect on the surface of devices. To ensure that your business does not follow you outside of the bathroom here’s how to properly disinfect your devices. 

Why Should I Care? 

Viruses and germs such as COVID-19 can live on commonly touched surfaces for up to three days according to the CDC.

Think about every surface you intentionally touch every single day. You touch the screen of your phone, your laptop’s keyboard, your remote control. As you go throughout your day, disinfecting your hands is not enough to prevent further spread. 

These germs are not like a software virus you can get on your phone or computer. Rather, they can make you sick if they happen to enter your system. 

What is Living on My Device? 

To put everything into perspective, here are stats provided by Seatle Times Journalist Bobby Caina and Mashable. 

• Toilet seats: 1,201 bacteria per square inch
• Kitchen counter: 1,736 bacteria per square inch 
• DoorKnobs: 8,643 bacteria per square inch 
• Phones: 25,127 bacteria per square inch

These stats show that phones carry about 20 times more bacteria than the surface of a toilet seat.

Studies found that phones, tablets, and computers carry bacteria, such as Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, E. coli, Enterococcus feacalis, and MRSA.  

How do I Disinfect My Device? 

So now that you are aware of what is on the surface of your device, here are tips provided by the CDC to ensure that you properly disinfect your device. 

• Unplug your device before cleaning 
• Use a slightly damp cloth or wipe 
• Avoid excessive wiping and submerging 
• Don’t spray cleaning solution directly onto the device 
• Avoid bleach and abrasive cleaning solutions 
• Avoid any openings of your device when using liquids 

Failing to properly clean your device can result in a lot of damage. If your device has water damage, is no longer charging, or not powering on after you disinfected it, you can visit or send it to iFixYouri to have it repaired for an affordable price. 

How to Minimize the Germs

If your device has a cracked screen, wiping its surface may not be enough because bacteria can still collect in the cracks. The best solution is to get your screen repaired to prevent any further spread of germs. 

To minimize the germs, the CDC also recommends that you: 

• Keep your phone in your pocket or purse when outside of your home 
• Use a physical shopping list rather than your phone when grocery shopping 
• Use a credit card rather than mobile pay 
• Only touch your phone after you have washed your hands
• Use hands-free devices when making a call so your phone is not pressed against your face 

https://www.ifixyouri.com/pages/supportYou won’t be able to prevent germs from getting onto the surface of items you use every single day, but what you can do is be mindful of where, when, and how you use and disinfect your devices. If you still have questions about how to properly disinfect your devices, contact iFixYouri.

Photo Credit: Kelly Sikkema Via Unsplash.com

What makes an iPhone a great smartphone is its LCD touch screen, battery life, camera, and many other features. But if one of these elements becomes damaged, this does not mean you can’t successfully repurpose your broken iOS device.

As a result, there are several creative ways to repurpose your device and give it a whole new purpose. 

Repurpose Your Device as A New Game System

Let’s say your iPhone or iPad has a poor speaker, and a broken rare camera.

Even though it may be inconvenient at first, this is the perfect opportunity to use your device exclusively for gaming.

Rather than having to save storage space for important data, you can finally download that one game you’ve always wanted to.

Here’s a plus: You won’t have to worry about conserving your battery to do other tasks on your phone like making a phone call or checking your email. 

Repurpose Your Device as A High-Quality Camera

If your phone has a damaged volume button or a cracked screen, focus on using it for its camera.

Rather than spend hundreds or even thousands on a handheld or DSLR, use your phone to capture an image.

For instance, the new iPhone 12 has a night mode and Smart HDR 3 camera features, which allows it to enhance and balance elements such as color, sharpness, and texture.

Depending on your device, you could already own a studio-quality camera.

Repurpose Your Device as Extra Data Storage

You should still keep your broken device handy, especially if it stores important data.

Depending on the damages, continue to use your device to save contacts, store passwords and organize files.

If you have data on your computer that you‘d like to store on another device, you can also load information directly to your phone. 

Once you have all of the important information needed, be sure to back everything up on iCloud so you can have it forever.

Repurpose Your Device as a New Home Appliance

Are you constantly losing your remote control? Consider turning your damaged device into one. 

The App Store has several universal remotes that are compatible with smart TVs. 

If you need help getting up in the morning, use your phone as an alarm clock. If you need to keep track of your time in other ways, use your phone as a stopwatch or timer. 

Even though home phones are not as common as they once were, if you are ever in need of one, just use your unused or damaged device. A typical home does not have many features besides displaying caller ID, so using a damaged iPhone won’t feel any different. 

Depending on the damages, owning an unused or broken iPhone can still be useful in so many ways. But if you want your phone to actually function the way it’s meant to, there is always an option to get it repaired. 

Repair services such as iFixYouri can fix your device while saving you money and time. If you are not sure what exactly is wrong with your phone, a free diagnostic service is also provided. 

For the iPhone specifically, iFixYouri repairs:

• Broken glass
• LCD 
• Batteries 
• Water damage
• Vibrate switch 
• Ear speaker 
• Volume button 
• Front/ Rare camera 
• Power button 
• Microphone 
• Speaker 
• Charging port

After this is all said and done, if you are still not able to successfully repurpose your broken iOS device, or you don’t think it’s worth it, you can always sell your device to a buy-back company in the condition that it is in.

Photo Credit: Agê Barros via Unsplash 

OtterBox and its sister company LifeProof have definitely made a name for themselves as some of the most reliable and durable phone cases for smartphones. Even though they seem to be the perfect accessory for clumsy owners of fragile phones, they occasionally break, or even worse- your phone breaks. So here’s how to repair your damaged phone case or smartphone.

Luckily, Otter Box and LifeProof have a one-year warranty. This means that if you have purchased a case from an authorized retailer, you are eligible to receive a replacement. To submit a warranty claim you can visit their sites or call 1-855-688-7269/ 1-888-533-0735.

Unfortunately the same cannot be said in the case that your phone was also damaged. Otter Box’s or LifeProof’s warranty does not take responsibility for your device. 

Phone carriers typically sell Accidental Damage warranties when you first purchase your phone. But if you chose not to purchase the warranty, you are not out of luck. 

Repair companies such as iFixYouri will fix your device for a reasonable price and will run a diagnostic service for free. 

Repair Services for your smartphone:

• Glass repair 
• Glass and LCD repair 
• Battery replacement 
• Water damage repair 
• Vibrate switch repair 
• Ear speaker repair 
• Volume button repair 
• Rear camera repair 
• Power button repair 
• Microphone repair 
• Loudspeaker repair 
• Front camera repair 
• Charging port repair 
• Backglass repair 

Not only does iFixYouri offer affordable prices and save you time from repairing the device yourself, but it also offers a warranty to an extent. 

With glass repairs, a one-year parts and labor warranty is included, which means that if you have any issues regarding your repair within one year, iFixYouri will take of it free of charge. This warranty does not cover accidental damage. 

If your high-quality phone case has failed you and you need to know how to repair your damaged phone case or smartphone, there are several solutions to ensure that they remain in the best condition possible.

I bet you were told once or twice to never believe everything you see online. This is the case when it comes to tech hacks and DIY repairs. There are hundreds of videos online claiming to be the answer needed to fix your smartphone. In reality, they only offer temporary fixes and can cause further harm to your device.

One of the most popular “hacks” circulating the web and cited by many sources is applying toothpaste to your cracked screen. Allegedly once toothpaste fills the cracks of a screen, they suddenly smooth out and disappear. Don’t do this.

Even if your phone does appear smoother, there are still cracks that need to be fixed and you are left with a sticky, minty mess. If a hack seems too good to be true, take it with a grain of salt.

Rather than relying on videos that can be misleading, turn your device issues over to a tech repair service like iFixYouri.

iFixYouri specializes in repairing phones, tablets, computers, game consoles, and accessories.

Specifically for phones, iFixYouri offers:

• Glass repair
• LCD repair
• Battery Replacement
• Water damage repair
• Vibrate switch repair
• Ear speaker repair
• Volume button repair
• Front/ Rare camera repair
• Power button repair
• Microphone repair
• Loudspeaker repair
• Charging port repair
• Backglass repair

All of the following is done at a reasonable price, but if you want to take things into your own hands, you’ll need to use the proper tools and follow the right steps.

Fix your Smartphone: iPhone 6 Battery Replacement

If your device has poor battery life, the video and steps below may help:

Unscrew the two pentalobe screws on either side of the lightning dock on the bottom edge of the iPhone 6.

Use the isesamo to slowly and carefully separate the glass screen of the iPhone from the body. Start on the bottom edge of the device and proceed slowly. The flex cable for the screen is at the top.

Slowly pull the top of the screen away from the body and locate the EMI (electromagnetic interference) shield located by the bottom right of the battery.

Unscrew the two screws securing the EMI shield to the logic board and remove it.

Using a spudger, disconnect the battery cable from the logic board.

The next steps involve removing the adhesive tape underneath the battery to make it easier to remove. Slide one tip of your tweezers under the black adhesive strip at the bottom of the battery. Each black strip runs halfway across the bottom of the battery.

Now roll your tweezers away from the battery while simultaneously pull the tape out from underneath the battery.

Continue to pull the tape out from underneath the battery and roll it around the tweezers. It may help to pull diagonally out from the corner as the tape runs up the full height of the battery.

If the white tape snaps apart you may need to use a spudger to carefully pry the battery up. Continue using a combination of tweezers and the spudger to separate the battery from the body of the iPhone. You will have to repeat the process to remove the second strip of tape.

Now you can remove the battery. Use a small length of some adhesive tape to secure the new battery in place. Reconnect the battery cable to the motherboard and screw the EMI shield back on.

Reattach the screen by angling the top in first and then clicking the side clasps into place. Replace the two screws near the lightning dock. That’s it! You’re done.

Fix your Tablet: iPhone Mini Screen Replacement

If you ever want to remove your tablet’s glass and LCD, here’s another helpful video:

Tools Required

• Heat Pad: soft mat with a variable temp electrical heating element
• iSesamo, or metal spudger, used for prying device exteriors, never internal electronics
• Phillips head screwdriver
• Plastic spudger

Instructions

• Loosen adhesive with the heating pad (10min @ 75°C)
• Pry with a metal spudger slowly and gently.
• Lift glass from the bottom to avoid damage to the flex cable.
• Unscrew the screen from the body with a Phillips head screwdriver. Keep your screws organized.
• Be extremely careful while removing the screen. Go gently around all the edges to loosen the LCD.
• Unscrew the metal shield with your Phillips head screwdriver. Keep your screws organized.
• IMPORTANT: Disconnect the battery.
• Disconnect the LCD Flex.
• BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL. Separate the backside of the digitizer flex from the housing.
• Then, USING A PLASTIC SPUDGER, remove the digitizer clip evenly from the logic board.
• If the end of the flex cable is still attached, align your spudger with the side of the iPad and disconnect it.

Needless to say, several helpful tutorials can be found on iFixYouri’s YouTube page.

If you ever have trouble while attempting to fix your smartphone, feel free to visit iFixYouri for further assistance!

Image by InspiredImages from Pixabay

Are you trying to turn your broken iPhone, iPad or Macbook into a D.I.Y project? Even though fixing your device sounds like a good idea initially, the work you do to it  could possibly cause more damage or break it completely. 

Fixing a device is a tedious task and requires a lot of your time and effort, as well as the tools needed. 

Here are the tools you’ll need to be successful at fixing an iPhone, iPad or MacBook  

• Small Phillips screwdriver
• Small Flathead screwdriver
• Plastic opening tools 
• Suction cup 
• Nylon Spudger 
• Point Pentalobe screwdriver 
• Fine tip curved tweezers 
• Microfiber cleaning glass 
• SIM card ejection tool 
• Handle bar
• Flexible extension shaft 

While some people have had luck repairing their device with an at-home tool kit, others not so much. Below are real reviews written in response to a tool kit: 

“Tri tip screwdriver has successfully stripped over half of the screws I’ve tried to remove. This is not a quality product. Maybe I just happened to receive a dud, but I’m definitely not impressed. The Tri Tip screw driver appears to not be “sharp enough” to engage the screw head and get a grip on it. In turn, it strips the screws easy. This has now caused a mess that I have to deal with, and also wait to get another kit of better quality. At first I thought it was user error, but it stripped two screws in a row with proper pressure applied after only removing two screws.” 

“No Phillips screwdriver, no tweezer, basically useless for computer repairs.”

“The kit comes with everything you’d need, but the screwdriver heads and extensions drop right out of the handle, a simple magnet would hold them in place, but what I got was completely useless!”

Most importantly, fixing one of these devices, even with the tools needed, requires experience. Without this, you will probably spend several hours flustered over a procedure you don’t understand. 

To avoid the mishaps and frustration, we strongly recommend that you have an expert repair your device for you. Even though repairs may seem costly, partnering with a reasonably-priced repair service will save you time and money. 

Photo Credit: Kilian Seiler

Apple said it best. The latest update- iOS 14- looks brand new and feels like home. This update came alongside the iPhone 12, which was released in October. The goal of this post is to show how to upgrade your iPhone with iOS 14.

The update’s fresh features are just one of the many reasons why people are so eager to get their hands on the iPhone 12. Yet, the update is also compatible with the iPhone 6 and later models as well as several iPad models.
Here’s a highlight of some of the new iOS 14 features that will help upgrade your iPhone experience.

Add Widgets to Your Homescreen

With iOS 14, you can now customize your home screen and other pages to be more fitted toward your personality and lifestyle. 

iPhone with iOS 14: Widgets

Widgets, which at one point could only be examined with a swipe to the left, can now be placed directly on your home screen, allowing quick access to information.

Convenient widgets to have:

• Weather
• Mail 
• News
• Clock 
• Podcasts 
• Notes 
• Music 
• Calendar 
• Travel 
• Stocks 
• Reminders 
• Fitness 

Each widget can be sized and placed differently, as well as stacked on top of each other to save space and keep your screens organized.

iPhone with iOS 14: App Library

Another iOS 14 feature that helps with saving space and organization is the App Library. Instead of having your apps at random and scattered, or having to manually organize your apps in folders, your phone does all the work for you. 

The App Library automatically organizes your apps into convenient categories such as Suggestions, Recently Added, Social, Entertainment, and Creativity. The best part about this update is that every one of these folders can be found on one screen. All you have to do is swipe all the way to the right and there you have it!

Multitasking in iOS 14

Have you ever scrolled through your socials or read your emails when suddenly you’re interrupted by a phone call that takes up the whole screen? With the newest update, you can do two things at once.

 Because of a new compact design, only a small top portion of your screen is used when someone gives you a call. This feature allows you to answer your calls while still being able to navigate your phone.

What about facetime calls? The same still stands true. Now you can talk face-to-face with a friend (sort of) without having to pause what you were doing beforehand. 

Even movies and videos? Sure. Without having to pause your movie marathon on Netflix, you can get other tasks done. 

Think about it this way, the more you can get done at once and the less time you have to spend on your phone, the better your screen time statistics. This sounds like a win-win situation.

Stay conveniently connected

Navigating through your messages can be a bit overwhelming at times, especially if you are carrying several conversations at once.

To make this task easier, iOS 14 has introduced several features to ensure that the right person receives the right message. 

Pinned conversations

With pinned conversations, you are now able to pin up to nine significant messages to the top of your conversation list. 

Pinned conversations will indicate unread messages, give you a preview of the person’s reply and let you know how they react to a message you sent.

Group photos, mentions, and inline replies 

Do you have several group chats that are difficult to differentiate because they have the same overlapping people, or you find yourself becoming annoyed because your phone is flooded with messages? 

Now you are able to add an image to group chats to help tell them apart, send a direct message to someone within a group chat and reply directly to a message within a group chat. This way your notifications are reduced and you see the messages meant for you. 

Search Securely with Safari

According to Apple, Safari is more responsive than ever before with the iOS 14 update. The update ensures that you are able to browse the web efficiently and securely. 

Translate What You See

Safari can now recognize and translate webpages in seven different languages. Once you come across a webpage that can be translated, just click on the icon that will appear and begin reading.

Passwords and Privacy

An iPhone with iOS 14 benefits from a version of Safari that mindfully monitors your saved passwords to guarantee that each one you use is secure. There is also now a Privacy Report button that can be used to acknowledge how websites treat your privacy. 

All of these new features are meant to make using your phone an easier task. But keep in mind, the functionality of iOS 14 depends on the model of your iPhone. The older the model, such as the iPhone 6, the slower your phone may function with the update.