Tag Archives: iphone

All posts pertaining to iPhones, including repairs, news, teardowns, service, drop tests, etc.

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iPhone vs. Man: Unbelievable iPhone Destruction Videos

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Perhaps you’re buying a new iPhone.  Or perhaps your iPhone just stopped working.  Or perhaps you were just trying to access your favorite app, and the device wouldn’t open it, again, and when you try open Safari to see what the problem is, the browser just won’t load, you just can’t take it anymore…

So you decide to destroy your iPhone.

The rash solution is to throw it against a wall in frustration.  Or drop it from your 15th storey apartment.  Or smash it with a hammer.  But there are as many ways to wreak havoc on your iPhone as there are reasons for doing it.  Let’s explore some methods, so you can decide how you’ll end the life of your (once) prized possession!

Quick Household Methods to Destroy Your iPhone

When you just need to get the job done.

iPhone vs. Truck

iPhone vs. Blender

iPhone vs. Boiling Water

iPhone vs. Drill

Creative Methods to Render Your iPhone Irreparable

Imaginative solutions to destroy an imaginative device.

iPhone vs. Giant Magnifying Glass

iPhone vs. Microwave Robot

Hi Tech Punishiment for an iPhone Behaving Badly

When you’ve got toys that are more powerful than the iPhone itself, why not use them against the little weeny device?

iPhone vs. Extreme Heat

iPhone vs. Lasers

Don’t Try This At Home… Unless You’re Mad

Safety first.  New phone second.

iPhone vs. Hand Gun

iPhone vs. Angle Grinder

Who Doesn’t Love a Montage?

It Takes a Lickin’…

Testing the durability of a consumer product with entertaining methods isn’t a new phenomenon. Timex, the titan of watch manufacturers, popularized the slogan “It takes a licking and keeps on ticking”.  Check out some of the vintage ads where they tested their claims.

While the iPhone does, at times, have the ability to continue functioning after it has been drilled or dropped in water, it is a pretty sensitive electronic device that can fail when it is simply knocked off of a coffee table, or dropped into a toilet.

Unless the phone has been obliterated, most of the common damage sustained by an iPhone can be repaired.  What could be more convenient than sending your damaged device from anywhere in the States to the professional repair team at iFixYouri, who specialize in iPhone repair, and getting your baby shipped back to your hands like new?

Besides, it’s more fun to destroy a working iPhone…

 

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Where to Watch Out for iPhone Damage in the Home

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Have you ever wondered which locations in the home iPhone users are most likely to damage, crack or break their smartphones? SquareTrade, a gadget warranty website, recently conducted a study revealing that

  • 21 percent of all iPhone damage related to the home occurs in the kitchen
  • 18 percent of incidents occurs in the living room
  • 16 percent in the bathroom
  • 10 percent in the bedroom
  • 8 percent in the driveway

In September, SquareTrade released information indicating that Americans have lost $5.7 billion dollars to iPhone damage just since 2007. Since the website sells extended warranties for electronic gadgets of all kinds, including the iPhone, it makes sense it would promote the notion that owners often lose money because they frequently damage their iPhones and accidents are not rare but rather common occurrences.

Since iPhones are damaged so easily, the iPhone repair industry is booming.  However, when it comes to getting your damaged iPhone back in the condition you had it when it was first bought, you’ll need to consider professional services, not just the local electronics repair shop.  iFixYouri uses top-of-the-line replacement parts and utilizes a safe, static-free environment for iPhone repair.

Beware the Kitchen

If you are among those people who have accidentally microwaved, baked or boiled your iPhone while cooking your dinner, you probably have no problem agreeing with SquareTrade’s assessment that the kitchen is a dangerous location for electronic devices, especially cell phones.

Studies show that three-quarters of all smart phone users carry them into the bathroom and I am actually quite shocked that more iPhones have not found their way into the toilet. A Plaxo study in 2011 cited that 19 percent of all iPhones have been submerged in toilet water, while SquareTrade’s survey determined 9% of iPhone users have faced that issue at home.

The bottom line is you need to be careful when using your iPhone in the home. You would be wise to purchase a screen protector and case and avoid cooking on the stove while attempting to play Angry Birds at the same time. This dangerous combination will result in nothing but bad news for your dinner, your game play and your phone.

Apps

Free iPhone Apps That Will Make Your Life Easier

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When it comes to benefiting from all that technology has to offer, you have to know there is more to your iPhone than playing Angry Birds – especially since it’s not a free app. There is nothing wrong with buying apps or playing games while you wait for your ride, your doctor, or while enduring public transportation.

The real beauty of technology and its entire splendor is deep-seated in applications, or apps, that you can download, to help you live an easier, more informed life. Although some cost money, there are tons of no-cost versions you can download to make your life a bit more efficient. If you are an Apple aficionado, the best free iPhone apps are right at your fingertips.

Free iPhone Travel apps

There are several free iPhone apps that will help you travel the globe much more efficiently than you ever thought possible.

1)      Airport Utility

Airport utility app allows you to view and control your Wi-Fi network, Time Capsule, Airport Extreme and Express at the touch of a button. What does that mean, exactly? It means you will be able to see what you are connected to, and how you are connected to it. It will allow you to change your Wi-Fi settings, and access base station, a DNS server, IP address and router address. This will ensure that you are connected at all times, safely and efficiently.

2)      FlightTrack

This app is personally responsible for on-time travel worldwide! Well, sort of. FlightTrack allows you to enter a flight number or simply a destination and airline name, and follow the flights activity from afar. You will know when a flight is delayed, early, on time and even when it touches down! The GPS magic of FlightTrack allows you to view an image of the plane as it traverses its flight plan, so you can see exactly where the traveler (even if it is you) is at all times. This allows you to pick someone up from the airport on time, without having to hang out in the cellphone lot for an hour.

3)      MapQuest 4 Mobile

Should that flight take you to a foreign land or even a city you have not lived in since you were a kid, MapQuest 4 Mobile app will give you step by step, voice guided directions, no more wandering around or appearing as if you really do not belong, thanks to this navigational genius.

Free iPhone Lifestyle Apps

Let’s face it, whether you are traveling across the globe, or sitting on your very own porch, you are going to need something, at some point. That something can be in the form of the closest Chinese restaurant, the answer to a trivia question, or a recipe on the fly — you know, since you are already at the grocery. Whatever your question, do not hesitate to tap one of the following best free iPhone apps to make it happen.

1)      Chrome

In a fistfight, Google chrome app will always win against any other browser, especially where an app is concerned. This monumental beauty is fast, organized, and will have the results you need in no time.

2)      Facebook

You want everyone to know you just landed in Tokyo or that your mom’s famous cookie recipe has just come to life in your very own kitchen, not hers. Go ahead and tap your Facebook app, and update your status before the kitchen timer goes off. In fact, you could do so with the other hand on the cookie sheet, it’s so easy to use!

3)      Sports Tap

Even if you only follow your hometown teams, Sports Tap iPhone app gives you the ability to pick the teams you follow, and to receive updates for each of their games with ease. The results are easy to read, and the navigation is perfect for anyone who is simply trying to impress the sport’s emperor in their life.

4)      IMDb

If you think you could not care less whether the girl in the last episode of “The Wire” was also the girl from a sitcom you watched six years prior, it does not mean you will not look it up. When you do, nothing makes it easier than the IMDb app. You can also check out movie trivia, trailers and even shooting locations, if you’re planning on crashing the set.

5)      Amazon Mobile

The truth is Amazon owns everything these days, which is great news for any online consumer, no matter what their views on Capitalism entail. Download the Amazon Mobile free app, and you will never miss another birthday, holiday, anniversary or book, music or movie release (for yourself, of course) again. The best part is, just like the website, it will ship everything from a new pair of flip-flops to a balance bike for your four year old niece anywhere.

6)      Nook, Kindle or iBook

Listen, we all have our affinity for one or the other. Since you can get any of the three for your iPhone, there is no reason to leave a book lie on another device when any of the three apps can be easily accessed from your phone. Start reading more, and enjoy the convenience of whatever e-reader suits your fancy, from your iPhone. It is the one thing that is always with you.  In addition, they all have magazines, newspapers and periodicals that will allow you to spend more time digesting knowledge.

7)      Shazam

Everyone has had the experience where they hear a song on the radio and they just can’t remember the name of it, or who sings it.  Shazam will give you all the information you need, with the tap of its app icon.  Musical magic.

8)      Epicurious

If you have a fridge that is full of groceries but you do not know how to cook, just type what you have into the Epicurious app and it will search for professionally created and tested recipes. This is the perfect app for staying in your pajamas on a rainy day, instead of eating out.

With over 300,000 free iPhone apps available (and counting), your idea of the best free iPhone app may differ from your friend’s and co-worker’s. The good news is, they are easy to use, and if you find you do not like it, all you have to do is delete it and find a replacement!

The internet is full of hundreds if not thousands of free iPhone apps, but you won’t be able to appreciate any of them if your iPhone is damaged. If your iPhone isn’t working properly due to damage, it would be easier to get it repaired than to buy a new one. iFixYouri specializes in repairing broken and damaged iPhones. If you accidentally broke your iPhone’s screen, or you dropped your phone in the pool, bring it or send it to us and let us repair it for you. Once your precious device is up and running again, you can start enjoying the universe of free iPhone apps.

DIY Fix

DIY Fix: The iPhone Repair Kit

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iphone-repair-kit-ifixyouriThe iPhone has a carefully engineered design that it appears so sleek and compact while packing the best features a smartphone can have beyond the mainstream standards. Unlike other electronic devices with screws and cracks, which can be used to access the internal components, the iPhone appears seamless, brought about by its unified design concept. Thus, the internal components of the Apple smartphone cannot be accessed easily without the use of an iPhone repair kit.

Why Get An iPhone Repair Kit?

The issues one may experience with an iPhone is indicative of the problems one may experience with any sophisticated electronic device. However, the added element of  this particular device being so closely streamlined to our own individual lives make it that much more sensitive. Here are the reoccuring problems that may warrant an iPhone repair kit:

Issues with the iPhone

Apple has always emphasized integrity when it comes to the design of their products. The iPhone, in particular, was designed in such a way that end-users would just have to enjoy the features of the product without having to deal with common issues that other smartphones possess. In certain instances, however, the iPhone can still be prone to some unlikely issues such as screen damage and battery replacement.

Damage of the LCD Screen

Screen damage of the Apple smartphone is highly unlikely because of the tough Gorilla glass protecting the liquid crystal display (LCD) screen. Nonetheless, impacts strong enough to push beyond the threshold of the Gorilla glass can still occur. When the glass is cracked, the phone may still function but the display can be difficult to read due to the crack lines along the damaged portion of the screen.

Shorter Battery Life

Another issue with the iPhone is battery replacement. No matter how strict quality control is in the manufacturing unit of Apple, product deviations from the norm are unavoidable. Among these deviations, battery life seems to be the most relevant. Not all batteries are created equal although strict manufacturing conditions intend to create these power packs identical. Hence, some iPhone units have longer lasting batteries while some others have less. For this kind of issue, battery replacement is ultimately the most obvious solution if not to buy another smartphone.

The iPhone Repair Kit

Note: It should be emphasized that due to the complicated nature of this device, the best measure for having an iPhone repaired that has experienced significant damage would be to take it an expert such as iFixYouri.

A set of screwdrivers is not enough to pry open the iPhone for repair; that is why third-party manufacturers came up with a repair kit especially put together for repairing the Apple smartphone. A kit designed for this purpose usually comprises opening levers, guitar opening tools, and pentalobe screwdrivers among others.

Opening levers are ideally made of strong plastic so as to avoid scratching the metallic components of the unit while still being able to apply enough force. The pentalobe screws designed for resistance from tampering can be unscrewed with specially designed pentalobe screwdrivers. Other accessories may include suction caps and phone mounting brackets for organized DIY repairs of the smartphone.

The Simple Truth

Not all issues, however, can be repaired with a DIY iPhone repair kit. For advanced technical issues beyond DIY repair, iPhone owners should bring their units to repair centers where skilled technicians with advanced tools can certainly solve most, if not all, issues.

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New iPhone Dock Connector

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iPhone Dock connectorAlong with the launch of the new iPhone 5 came the all new iPhone dock connector. The new connector is primarily known as “Lightning”. It is a digital 8- signal design with improved durability. According to Apple, the new iPhone dock connector is 80% smaller than the previous one and it is reversible. The best thing about this connector is that it can also be used with the old connector. If you have the old connector, all you have to do is buy an adapter and convert your old connector to support the all new iPhone 5 dock connector.

Benefits of The New iPhone Dock Connector

  • 80% smaller than the previous connector
  • All digital-8 signal design
  • Reversible
  • Improved durability
  • Adaptive interface

It was rumored that the new connector would be based on the USB 3 protocol which can deliver speeds of up to 5Mbps, however, that is not the case. Apple recently updated its notebooks to support the faster USB protocol and this led to widespread rumors that the new iPhone 5 would also be based on the same protocol.

Protocols supported “Lightning”

Apple executives said that they are relying on various wireless protocols to connect and sync iPhones. The technologies being used include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airshare, 3G, 4G LTE and iCloud.

The small size will particularly benefit those who connect the phone to their car’s charging system. This connector will be good news for people who are not good with new gadgets because it can work no matter how you plug it in. Therefore, you never have to struggle trying to figure out which side goes up and which side faces down.

Once you buy yourself the all new iPhone 5, you need to take good care of it. If you accidentally damage your iPhone, you need not worry because we can fix it at iFixYouri for you at an affordable rate. You can send your iPhone to us and once we fix it, we will send it back to you. Call us at 1-888-494-4349 for more details.

Tips, iPhone

Make iPhone Ringtones for Free in iTunes

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So you just bought an iPhone, and you want to buy a custom ringtone. Then you discover the songs are a buck each, and then another buck to make them into a ringtone on iTunes. If you want them for free, I’ll show you how to do it all within iTunes, no external program required.

Set Up for Free iPhone Ringtone

What to do first is to go into iTunes and pick a song. You can only pick a song that was not bought in the iTunes store. So either a song ripped from a CD, or that you find elsewhere on the internet.

Take the song, right-click on it and select “Get info”. Go down to the options menu and pick the start time and the stop time. Say the part of the song that you want to use for a ringtone is in the middle of it.  Indicate the start time for when the section of the song begins, and end it wherever you want. It doesn’t matter where it is in the song, as long as it lasts less than 40 seconds. Notice there are no dots in between minutes and seconds.

Now you’ve set when the song starts, and when it stops. If you were to play the song now that you’ve created a start and stop time, it will only last as long as the segment you indicated, even though the length of the song will still be the same. What you can do is right-click again, and choose “create AAC version”.  Create an AAC version and iTunes will create a copy of the song with the times that you have selected.

Fix Your Files

Next, go back to the song you’ve altered and undo the time changes you made in the options. That way, when you go back to listen to it later, it doesn’t just play the short clip you arranged.  Then take the short version for your ringtone to your desktop, and return to iTunes. Delete the short version from iTunes, so the copy isn’t taking up space in iTunes anymore.

Make the iPhone Ringtone

Next, go to the short track on your desktop, click on it, and change the name. Notice the format of the song is MPEG4 (‘M4A’ file extension). You’re just going to delete the A, to create an R, so the file’s extension would be .M4R instead of .M4A. If an alert comes up, confirm that you’re changing the extension.

Double-click on the song, and when it starts playing, it’s added in your ringtones automatically. Finally, on your iPhone, go to the ringtones section and sync it. Now your ringtone will be on it.

Adding personalized ringtones can make an old phone feel like new.  Before you purchase a new phone for fancy build-in ringtones, consider trying this simple method.  If your current phone isn’t performing properly, getting it fixed will also make it new.  Don’t take chances: leave iPhone repairs to the experts at iFixYouri.

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Has the iPhone 5 Changed Our Lives?

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Regarded by many smartphone enthusiasts as being the most anticipated handheld device in the past 2 years, the iPhone 5 has certainly not disappointed (neither in performance nor projected sales). But, apart from the new sleeker design, increased screen length, LTE, lighter frame… What does the public actually think of the newest addition to the Apple family? Well one thing is certain, it is true what they say about opinions and like elbows we all have them.

 

Although the iPhone 5’s glowing reviews are warranted, I feel this reviewer makes an excellent point of the consumer being required to pay $29.99 for an adapter to integrate this phone with older Apple devices. It would have been nice to see that included with the iPhone 5, considering that the added adapter would’ve cost Apple pennies on a phone that retails for $699.

 

Now besides the adapter issue (which let’s face it, isn’t really a huge factor), Apple’s introduction of Apple Maps and the move away from Google Maps threw many users for a loop (some perhaps literally if they were trying to follow Apple’s map). As this reviewer had explained – Apple has acknowledged its error, which in and of itself is always a good thing, and is going to fix the challenge. Apple Maps features a 3D overview of a city’s geography; however, it doesn’t actually give the user the capability of getting directions to their destinations. Which (although cool), for obvious reasons is a bit of a problem considering that this is the sole purpose of any map.

 

I think it’s safe to say that the overall consensus regarding the iPhone 5 is that all that have purchased theirs are pleased with its performance. Considering that for a device with such a broad and fanatic following, it is pretty amazing that its negative reviews are so sparse and seldom found. Short of any unforeseen issues such as the dropping, drowning or other physical damage that one may do to their iPhone 5, it is pretty safe to say that Apple has not lost any fans with its latest installment.

 

Apps

Google Maps Upgrades for Android

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google-maps-android

For those frustrated with the new Maps app included with iOS 6, here’s news about the old Google Maps app you were used to using.  Google has an upcoming upgrade on the horizon for its mapping service for its mobile devices.

Public Transportation

The upgrade includes the listing of options for public transportation in approximately 500 cities across the globe. This takes in departure times and suggested routes for in excess of 1 million international stations, which is roughly a 50 percent increase over a year ago. Google will even supply indoor directions as a means of assisting some riders in navigating the system.

To get a competitive edge, only devices that use Google’s Android operating software will have access to this initial offer. Devices from the following models will be able to access this upgrade:

  • The Motorola Mobility Division of Google
  • Sony Corp.
  • HTC Corp.
  • Samsung Electronics Co.

Apple’s Role in the Changes

iphone-maps-app

These changes surface at the same time as Apple Inc. commits to replacing Google Maps’ position as the foremost navigation service on the iPad and the iPhone. Apple created its very own mapping service for its mobile devices, although it has arrived to a chorus of disappointment due to bugs and a lack of features.

The Effect on Google

This snub from Apple signifies a major blow to Google, which is set to lose revenue from mobile advertising as well as valuable insights about the whereabouts of individuals if iPhone and iPad users embrace this mapping service from Apple.

Response from Google Inc.

Google is of the belief that it can remain one step ahead of Apple as it relates to mobile mapping on Google maps by including features like the expanded directions for public transportation.

This may encourage iPhone users to make the switch to Android devices, or perhaps switch back.  If you have an Android device that is no longer working properly, now might be the time to get it fixed (by the iFixYouri team) to take advantage of Google’s new app features.