Customers and industry watchers have been stunned by rumors that Apple may commence iPhone 5S test production in December and may start volumes manufacturing in 2013. Can it really be possible that Apple is thinking of providing an update to phone that was just released in September?

iPhone 5S Update Rumors

If these rumors are believed to be true, then customers can expect the updated version of the iPhone 5S to hit the shelves by March 2013. This is not unprecedented for Apple. Apple broke its rule of offering iOS updates once in a year with its fourth generation iPad.

If Apple does released an update, then customers can expect better specs and new components without any changes in design. Google did the same with Nexus tablets and offered improved storage technologies without touching the price.

What This Would Mean For Competitors

Competitors like Samsung, HTC and other Android manufactures offer frequent updates and new phones. They also come up with variants and modified versions of old models to enhance overall brand appeal. Samsung has followed Apple’s approach but has released many other Galaxy devices while we have seen just six iPhones in the past few years. Apple could afford to ignore its competitors in the past. However, Samsung has, come up as a strong competitor and there are rumors that Apple may also introduce cheaper options to strengthen its market position.

However, the decision to offer upgrades in the middle of the cycle can lead to a lot of uncertainty in a company like Apple. Apple’s customers anticipate the yearly update and make their plans accordingly. Apple’s decision to offer mid-cycle of grades may affect sales. Shoppers may go in for a wait and watch approach and this can hamper the volume of sales for Apple.

Last Word From the Rumor Mill

The rumor is not from a particularly reliable source. However, one just cannot deny the possibility of Apple trying to take advantage of the release of its fourth generation iPad. If iPhone 5S is released in March, then the updated iPad will be available in the next quarter after the release of this updated device. This fact makes Apple’s decision seem even more sensible. Apple may be going in for a new pattern but there is no guarantee that Apple would benefit from this change.

Rumor or not, the one thing we can count on is that in the case of an unexpected accident, these devices will require repair. The experts at iFixYouri are experienced in iPhone repair and can help with any problem.

DIY Fix, News, Repair Parts, iPhone

What To Do When Your iPhone Microphone Stops Working

December 12, 2012 Staff 1 Comment

One of the most common problems that iPhone users encounter is the microphone not working during phone calls. The person you are speaking to can’t hear you while using the handset, but in some cases may still be able to hear while on speakerphone. It’s a frustrating problem that can make it difficult to use the phone on a regular basis. If you’re tired of shouting and asking people to “SPEAK UP,” consult the tips below or take it in for a professional diagnostic and repair.

Causes of iPhone Microphone Malfunction

Water exposure. Has your phone recently been dropped into water? Gotten wet in any way? Sometimes, even exposure to high levels of moisture, like steam, can cause the microphone to malfunction.
Mechanical malfunctions can sometimes cause the mouthpiece on the phone to stop working, like after a drop onto a hard surface.

How to Fix an iPhone Microphone Malfunction

Allow the phone to dry. If the microphone is malfunctioning after being exposed to moisture, you can allow the phone to dry. Turning the phone off and placing it in a porous environment, like in a box of rice, can help to dry the phone effectively and hopefully get the microphone back to normal.
Replace the microphone. If the problem persists, and you don’t want to buy a new phone, you can always have the microphone replaced by a professional.

Microphone Repair Cost

The costs can vary depending on the model of the phone, the damage and whether the mouthpiece can be repaired or needs to be replaced completely. Mechanical problems with the phone that have not been caused by the user are usually fixed under the warranty of the phone with no cost to the customer.

Keep in mind that phones less than one year old are usually covered under the manufacturer or carrier warranty, but there are exceptions. In addition, the warranty program on phones that have been tampered with or repaired outside Apple are often void under and the phones are ineligible to be repaired or replaced for free when the mouthpiece breaks.

The next best alternative is to ship your iPhone to our stores and we will fix it for you and send it back to you. iFixYouri has experts equipped with skills required to fix your iPhone’s microphone when it stops working. Alternatively, you could also sell your iPhone for cash.

iPhone

Samsung Galaxy S 3’s Edge Over the iPhone 4S

December 12, 2012 Staff Leave a comment

The Samsung Galaxy S III was considered to be the best-selling smartphone in the entire world during the third quarter of the year 2012. In fact, it even defeated the iPhone 4S when it comes to sales.

This news is according to the report of the Strategy Analytics, which stated the S III was able to get a very impressive 11% of all the shares of smartphones that are shipped globally. This makes it the world’s best selling model of smartphone, which is considered to be the first.

However, many people were left wondering how was the flagship phone of Samsung able to surpass the admired iPhone 4s, which dropped to the number 2 spot during the third quarter sales. One of the raised arguments was that most people did not buy the latter because they know that an iPhone 5 will be released on September.

Getting to Know the Samsung Galaxy S III

Note: The one thing both the Samsung Galaxy S III and iPhone 4s does have in common is that both phones aren’t invulnerable to unexpected accidents. Water damage and cracked screen can make the operation of either device impossible. The experts at iFixYouri are experienced in smartphone repair and can certainly help.

For beginners, the S III has a very huge screen (4.8 inches), which is a lot bigger compared to the 3.5 inch screen of the iPhone. This can be very helpful especially when you are using apps such as the LogMeIn Free to access office PC or the CamScanner to turn the printed documents into the PDFs. Aside from this, wide screens are also very helpful for people who use their thumbs to type and it also provides comfortable typing and easier viewing.

The 4G LTE Option

The Samsung model also features the 4G LTE option, while the iPhone 4S only has a 3G technology. The added speed is also considered to be very crucial for uploading photos or downloading very large attachments. This is also useful for remote access since it allows users to connect faster.

Memory Cards and Extra Storing Capacity

Last but not the least, the Samsung Galaxy S 3 also allows users to insert a memory card for extra storing capacity. Aside from this, it is also capable of swapping a replacement battery when the power runs very low. On the other hand, the iPhone 4S also has a closed design, which means that it is not capable of battery exchanges and has no memory expansion.

Because of these factors, it is definitely easy to understand why the S III was able to top the sales list in Q3. Fast connectivity, wider screen, and helpful expansion features are always beneficial for those users who prize productivity the most.

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BlackBerry 10 Vs. Android OS and Apple iOS?

December 12, 2012 Staff Leave a comment

RIM (Research in Motion) has announced the upcoming launch of BlackBerry 10 which they have disclosed will be launched on January 30, 2013.

The demonstration of BB10 in its final avatar will also take place at launch ceremonies in different countries across the globe. At the same time, RIM will also make known the availability of the first two BB10 handsets.

A Look at the BlackBerry 10

It is still not known whether the price will be announced on the same January 30th, or if carrier partners of RIM will reveal the price separately. RIM revealed in October that as much as fifty carriers worldwide were involved with the lab testing of BB10.

RIM had earlier deferred the launch of is new Operating System from late 2012 to early 2013. RIM had informed that the development of the new OS was taking more time that was initially anticipated.

Standing Up Against the Competition

Until very recently, Blackberry held the top spot among smartphone platforms in the country. However, in the last two year or so, it has seen a steady drop in its support base as many of its earlier patrons have shifted loyalties in favor of touch devices such as Apple iPhone or devices using Google Android OS.

According to a comScore estimate, RIM has experienced, as of September, a10.5 percentage point drop as compared to its position a year back and at present claims no more than 8.4 percent of the country’s smartphone market. This is in stark contrast to its performance of September 2010 when it claimed as much as 37.3 percent of the smartphone market.

Blackberry 10 Savior or Sinker?

RIM is expecting BlackBerry 10 to slow the rapid downward slide and pose a strong challenge to both Google Android and Apple iOS. An early look at the system was provided by RIM in September. In spite of generally positive reactions, it nevertheless failed to create any deep stir among critics or enthusiasts.

Included among BB10’s new and attractive features are a universal email inbox, christened BlackBerry Hub; BlackBerry Messenger; SMS support; and notifications from social network sites. For switch between apps, a card based method of swiping, named BlackBerry Flow has been introduced to the new OS.

Critic’s Opinion

Critics have however expressed concern over the quality of BB10’s third party app store and many apprehend that the store will not feature enough popular applications to challenge effectively the hegemony of Android and Apple. RIM has however announced that BB10 will contain most popular applications from across the world.

The only thing that we can be certain of with launch of any new smartphone device is that sooner or later it will be in need of repair and that’s where the experts at iFixYouri come in. Whether it be a cracked screen, water damage or aother unforeseen instance, these trained professionals can repair your device.

DIY Fix, News, iPhone

How to Increase iPhone Processor Speed

December 11, 2012 Staff 3 Comments

Your smartphone has certain benchmarks for processing that can be overcome, increasing the processing power of your iPhone or Samsung Galaxy. By overclocking the internal processor, it is possible to boost the circuit boards and increase performance. This overclocking, however, greatly reduces the battery life of the iPhone and will rapidly drain it, even for programs that draw relatively little energy. The key to increasing iPhone processor speed lies in overclocking the processor through jailbreaking.

Benefits of Increasing iPhone Processor Speed

When you increase the processing speed of a phone, there are many benefits. Your apps take less time to power up and down, you can get better access to streaming internet content, and your wait times for pages to load is significantly reduced. One of the major criticisms of some iPhones is the amount of time they take to load content.

Secret to Increasing iPhone Processor Speed

Apple iPhones are “underclocked,” running at about half the capacity of their processor power. An iPhone 6S, for instance, can run at 1.4 megahertz but is set to run at only half that. Thus, overclocking the phone will boost processing speed by 50%, but will also drain the battery 50% faster. These safeguards put on the phone also prevent it from overheating. When you overclock an iPhone, it may heat up past the point of damage to the circuitry.

Jailbroken Phone Necessary for Increasing Processor Speed

An overclocked iPhone needs to be jailbroken, removing the limitations that Apple puts on their products. A jailbroken phone automatically violates Apple’s warranty process, meaning that overclocking your phone will make it impossible to get it fixed by Apple’s product services. It is best to jailbreak an iPhone once the warranty has expired or else you risk losing the phone in the event of damage. Using a cooling pad minimizes the damage that overclocking could present.

Overclocking 101

There are a number of protocols that you can download from the internet to overclock your phone. File-sharing sites and torrent distributors have the files needed to install overclocking software on your processor. It will be necessary to download and rename the file, however, since the device will automatically block any files do not have Apple configurations. Install it on your phone and reboot the processor. Your iPhone will utilize the program to run on a new processor configuration.

Overclocking Can Damage iPhone

In addition to boosting processor speed and heating up the phone, overclocking will reduce the lifespan of your phone’s computer processing unit. The best way to maximize CPU life and minimize heat is to close the apps you are not currently using and to check the temperature often. Anytime you jailbreak or overclock a phone, you do so at your own risk. Increasing the processor speed on a brand-new smartphone is not recommended, especially since some new devices (like the Galaxy Note 7) are subject to recalls and jailbroken iPhones cannot be recalled or replaced.

While it is possible to increase iPhone processor speed, it can end up causing you more issues with your phone. Since you’ve voided the warranty by jailbreaking your iPhone, you’ll need to get it repaired by a third-party professional company, like iFixYouri.

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What You Should Know About iPhone 4 Speaker Repair

December 4, 2012 Staff 4 Comments

Modern gadgets are not exactly built to last, and that includes the speakers of your iPhone 4. Sometimes the cause of the speaker problems is simple, requiring little effort to repair on your own. Other times, you may need to call in the experts to get your product working properly again. Let’s explore some possible causes of iPhone speaker problems and options for resolving them.

iPhone 4 Speaker Problems

As practical and efficient as the iPhone 4 can be, you may experience times when the speakers fail to provide the optimum service you need. Some common iPhone 4 speaker problems include:

Low volume
Volume fading in and out
Speakers crackling
Speakers stop working altogether

Causes of iPhone 4 Speaker Malfunction

The causes of speaker problems may vary, depending on the age and how you take care of your product. Minor accidents or rough treatment of your iPhone can take its toll on it over time, causing them to malfunction or lose their power. Condensation, dirt and debris can also adversely affect your speakers, making them work at less capacity. Sometimes glitches occur in the phone’s setting that causes speakers to act up temporarily until the problem is remedied.

How to Handle Speaker Problems

Not all speaker problems require technical support assistance. You can personally fix some of the problems. If, for example, you lose audio through your headset but the phone’s built-in speakers are functioning fine, your phone may need to be reset to deliver sound to your earpiece. This can be accomplished by pressing your “sleep” and “home” buttons concurrently and clicking “restore.” This helps your mobile device to remember proper audio settings.

When your headphones work properly but built-in speakers do not, your jack sensor may be clogged up due to debris. This makes the phone think a headset is plugged in which automatically routes audio in that direction. Inserting your headphones in and out several times can help clear out any debris, rectifying this problem. A problem with low volume may be corrected by sticking a sharp needle through speaker holes, clearing out anything that may be impeding sound.

Getting Professional iPhone 4 Speaker Repair Services

The extent of the damage may be severe such that the above mentioned tips won’t fix the speakers. At this point, many people start thinking about disposing of their iPhone and buying a new one. This definitely does not have to be the case because there are professional repair stores that can fix your iPhone. iFixYouri provides professional iPhone 4 speaker repair services as an affordable, hassle-free solution.

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Smartphone Glass Repair: What Options Are Available?

December 3, 2012 Staff 3 Comments

Smartphones are wonderful gadgets, but as the latest, sleekest designs tend to be made of glossy and glassy materials, they can easily get damaged. All too often, someone’s favorite device gets dropped and becomes scratched, or worse. When this happens, users are often unsure of what to do. Do you need to replace the whole device or are you able to get your smartphone’s glass repaired?

Smartphone Glass Repair vs. Replacing

The world we live in encourages us to replace any device that goes wrong. It is becoming more and more popular to throw away broken or even scratched iPhones in order to replace them with new ones. The problem is that this can be a very expensive process. Having to buy a new smartphone when you drop your current one is an expensive habit that can cost you hundreds of dollars each time.

Benefits of Smartphone Glass Repairs

Smartphone glass repair is a viable alternative to replacing your device.
Repairing your iPhone instead of replacing it can save you a lot of money.
The repair turnaround time can be very fast.
Sending your device away to get repaired is easy and can be done via the internet.

Doing It Yourself

It is certainly possible to save yet more money by doing the repair yourself. However, there are a few potential problems with this. The main issue is that many modern devices are assembled so that user servicing is nearly impossible. Apple’s iPhone displays are connected to the glass as a single unit, so you cannot just replace one or the other. However, if you are technically-minded and have experience repairing similar devices yourself, then it is definitely an option. You can get dedicated repair kits for specific applications and save some money compared to sending your phone away.

Key Points

Do-it-yourself repairs require technical knowledge and great care.
You can save more money by using the DIY option.
Irreparable damage to the phone may result from a bad DIY repair attempt.
Sending your phone away to be repaired guarantees an expert service.
For most people, an expert repair job is the best solution by far.

Professional iPhone Repair Services

Smartphones are extremely sophisticated electronic devices. As a result, it is not surprising that the technology is very delicate. If your smartphone has unsightly scratches on the screen, poor touch sensitivity, odd colors or anything else, then it may need a smartphone glass repair service. The best thing about shipping your phone to be repaired by iFixYouri experts is that you can rest assured that your phone is being handled by professionals with years of experience.

DIY Fix, News

How to Replace iPhone 4 Headphone Jack

December 2, 2012 Staff 4 Comments

After spending several hundred dollars on a brand new Apple iPhone, the last thing you want to do is replace the iPhone 4 headphone jack due to an internal or external problem. The iPhone 4 headphone jack is prone to damage if mishandled or if you accidentally drop your phone. Luckily, you can easily replace it with a new one.

Replacing iPhone 4 Headphone Jack

In order to repair a headphone jack on an Apple iPhone, you will need several tools, including:

Paperclip
Phillips number 00 screwdriver – Buy
Small Flathead screwdriver
Spudger – Buy

Cost of Replacing iPhone 4 Headphone Jack

In order to change the headphone, you will have to buy the required tools. The tools will include opening tools that will allow you to get into the shell of the iPhone without damaging the circuitry underneath. While this sounds like a daunting task (especially since it can void the Apple warranty), it is possible to achieve with careful dexterity.

Preparations

Once you have all the tools and parts, including the replacement part and the opening tools, you have to clean your iPhone and work station carefully in order to avoid getting dust within the interior of the opened phone. Degrease all metal parts and contact points so that the oil on your fingertips does not interfere with the circuitry. If you wear gloves, clean the tips of the gloves carefully and ensure they are not damp.

Disconnecting the Headphone From The Motherboard

Once you have opened up the iPhone, you need to disconnect the headphone jack from the motherboard’s sockets. The two small screws on the edge of the headphone jack need to be removed with the Phillips’ head screwdriver. Once they are removed, the entirety of the headphone jack can be taken out with the spudger.

The connecting wire of the headphone jack is only held loosely in place, so that it may be taken out easily. The next step, however, is replacing the part and keeping the connecting wires from flapping around. Using a hot glue gun can keep them down. Once it is firmly in place, screw the new headphone jack in with the flathead screwdriver. Clean the area again and then plug in your headphones to see if they now work and project sound.

Easy Enough? Or Let the Experts Handle it?

Although you can personally replace the iPhone 4 headphone jack, the risk of messing up and damaging the entire phone is quite high. Plus, the cost of buying tools and the new part might seem like more of a hassle than getting a professional repair company to do the job, like iFixYouri. You simply ship the phone to us, and we’ll get it back to you fixed – it’s that simple.