Computer Support Blog

There’s plenty of exciting technology out there. There’s so much of it, in fact, that it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Laptops, MP3 players, Smartphones, e-readers, digital cameras, and of course, tablets. Technology addicts should inform themselves well before buying new gadgets.

The golden rule, here, is that you get what you pay for. The more expensive the device, the more reliable it’ll probably be. More money spent upfront often means less money spent on tech support and computer repairs. For example, even though Apple’s iPad comes with a hefty price tag, it’s still by far one of the most reliable tablets on the market. A cheaper tablet that claims to function in the same way as an iPad will probably require more computer repair down the road. Cheaper tablets are usually less sturdy and less powerful. This difference doesn’t necessarily apply to tablets like Amazon’s new Kindle Fire, for example, because even though that tablet is a lot cheaper, it targets a different audience and functions differently from computing tablets like the iPad.

Buying cool gadgets can be costly, but that’s a onetime cost. What can really break the bank is the occasional need for computer repairs and tech support. There are several things you should keep in mind when it comes to computer repair costs, as well as tech support.

When you buy a fancy gadget, be it a tablet or a smartphone, remember that prevention is the best cure. Take care of the device’s physical structure to delay the need for computer repairs. For example, avoid placing your smartphone in your back pocket, which might cause you to accidentally damage it by sitting on it; keep your tablet away from water; protect your e-reader from scratches. You’d be surprised at how effective simple practices can be in offsetting expensive computer repairs.

Also, get your gadgets regular tech support when that’s applicable. Tech support can take the form of regular security updates or software patches and upgrades. Smartphones and tablets that operate using a version of Google’s Android OS are especially susceptible to viruses and hacking efforts, which is why such devices require regular tech support. Providing regular tech support is an essential practice to offset computer repair costs.

Ultimately, you get what you pay for. But with time, what you have to pay will become less. You’ll find that resisting the urge to buy the latest gadgets as soon as they come out can save you higher initial costs, the need for lots of tech support, and computer repair expenses.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

Perhaps no other communication device gets as much physical wear and tear as these mini-computers do. Smartphones are often glued to their users’ hands. They’re an extra appendage and often an active member in a conversation. With the increasingly active role that smartphones play in our lives, it’s hard to keep them sheltered and scratch-free for long. Odds are, a significant number of 4S iPhones could already use some kind of iPhone computer repair. Even though advanced technology is by no means a novelty anymore, we should still not take it for granted. In other words, there’s no need to be careless with our smartphones just because we all use them!

When it comes to smartphone computer repairs, here’s a list of the worse three offenders.

Coins and Keys: You’re probably thinking, how exactly do keys or coins induce smartphone computer repairs? The key (no pun intended) to seeing how these culprits cause their harm is by looking at their long-term effects. Keys can scratch a smartphone’s touch screen, causing it to require smartphone computer repairs. The same goes for coins. Computer repair work for screens can be costly because it sometimes involves replacing more than just the screen. To avoid screen-related computer repair work, avoid putting your keys, coins and smartphone in the same pocket.

Water: Though waterproof phones are on their way, they’re not here just yet. Until then, water damage is still one of the most common problems requiring smartphone computer repairs. An accidental coffee or drink spill can require serious smartphone computer repair. It’s often cheaper to buy a new phone than to pay for smartphone computer repairs.

Drops: As fun as it may seem to drop smartphones and watch them break, such a practice is best watched on YoutTube and not imitated. In real life, dropping a smartphone can cause serious damage that requires costly smartphone computer repairs. Drops can crack a screen, damage the internal hardware or damage the camera lens, all things that require professional computer repair. Protect your smartphone with a sturdy cover in case it does fall. The money you spend on a case is almost certainly going to be less than what you’ll spend on smartphone computer repairs.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

Smartphones, just like ordinary computers, need regular tech support and are certainly not immune to needing smartphone computer repairs. It’s not uncommon to delay getting smartphone computer repairs because we can’t part with our devices for more than a few hours. Still, when a smartphone remain without the right kind of tech support for long, smartphone computer repair may become inevitable.

To delay the need for expensive remedial tech support or smartphone computer repair, try to keep these tips in mind.

1)   Leave the heavy stuff for the pros—if the back cover of your smartphone is scratched, you probably don’t need any kind of serious smartphone computer repair. Simply buy a new cover and replace the damaged one. When the damage is more severe than a scratched cover, though, you’re better off not messing with your device and getting professional smartphone computer support. Internal hardware failure, especially, is not something you even want to try to fix. Trying to provide your own smartphone computer repair can end up costing you more than a professional smartphone computer repair service.

2)   Keep it healthy on the inside—when your device gets clunky with apps or folders, consider taking it to an expert to get the right kind of tech support. Most smartphones have auto update functions for their software but if you notice your smartphone not doing this, you should get expert tech support from a tech support provider with a proven track record of providing excellent computer and smartphone tech support like Rescuecom.

3)   Keep it healthy on the outside—when you accidentally hit your hand against the desk and it bruises, you usually don’t panic too much. In a few days, it’ll heal itself. Sadly, smartphones don’t have regenerative cells. When the case gets scratched, it’ll stay scratched. The same goes for the screen: it will need professional smartphone computer repair. Be gentle when using your phone. Buy a protective shell to reduce the risk of damage from an external physical force. Accidents happen, so make sure you ensure your phone against those nasty drops by using a sturdy cover.

Smartphone computer repair can be pricey. A small problem with the screen might require extensive smartphone computer repair to replace the entire outside shell, for example. And as always, prevention is the best cure. Regular tech support and graceful handling can delay the need for smartphone computer repair.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

Apple’s iPhone computer support personnel gave a press release on November 2, 2011 about customer complaints concerning their iPhone 4S.  Specifically, customers complained that the battery of the iPhone 4S was draining too quickly. Apple’s iPhone computer support staff said in the statement that the problems are the result of bugs in the iOS5 operating system.  This could mean trouble for Apple’s holiday sales, since other phone network service providers are standing by to pick up any slack.

The iPhone 4S hit shelves last month, and shortly after that, complaints began to come in to iPhone computer support hotlines.  Some customers reported that the iPhone 4S was drawing power even while in stand-by mode, and would go from a full charge to empty in as little as four hours.  Others stated that using the phone network service for as little as ten to fifteen minutes resulted in a ten percent loss in battery life.

The statement released by Apple’s iPhone computer support staff acknowledged the problem while avoiding any mention of a specific cause.  What the statement made clear is that the problems with the phone network service stem from a software issue, and that iPhone computer support personnel expect to release an update in a few weeks.

Here are a few things you can do to extend your battery life until iPhone computer support publishes the fix:

1) Turn down the brightness of your screen.   Less light emitted means less power drawn, which leads to a longer-lived battery.

2) Turn your wireless connections off when you’re not using them.  Many phone network services have features such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or 3G wireless connections, which run in the background of the phone and increase power drain.  Turning these phone network services off when you don’t need them will help extend the life of your battery.

3) Be aware of the locator feature.  The iPhone 4S phone network service is constantly pinging GPS and cell-towers to find the phone’s location.  This allows the phone network service to do things like give you a local weather update, or find restaurants in your area.  While this feature enables the phone network service to do some neat things, the constant pinging is a real drain on your battery.  Some users concerned with their battery life have taken to turning this feature off unless they need it for something specific.

Though following each of these steps will result in slightly increased battery life, they are not a solution to the problem.  For a real solution, we’ll just have to wait until iPhone computer support releases their update in a few weeks.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

The way the smartphone market is heading, those things that once allowed us to make phone calls and send text messages (what where they called again?) will quickly be forgotten. In their place (oh, that’s right, phones) the standard communication device will be the smartphone. Smartphones are becoming more like computers and less like phones. Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android, the two systems currently dominating the market, already work like mini computers. Given this slow but inevitable shift in the functionality of phones, it is important to remember that they are becoming more susceptible to Internet security issues and may encounter problems that require virus removal.

As browsing capabilities on smartphones become more sophisticated, users are able to access more websites, many of which pose a risk to a smartphone’s Internet security. Downloading email attachments, for example, carries Internet security risks. Internet security is also threatened by using unsafe networks. The biggest threat to Internet security, though, is mobile apps. According to an article in The Telegraph, malicious software attacks on smartphones are on the rise.

Cyber criminals are rushing to write new virus software that can breach smartphones’ Internet security and record private and sensitive user data such as bank account information or login passwords. Such increasing threats require users to employ the necessary measures to ensure their phones’ Internet security.

Unfortunately, sometimes even the best Internet security precautions fail, causing smartphones to require virus removal efforts. Virus removal for smartphones is relatively new territory, which is why users shouldn’t gamble with their devices and risk losing valuable data and money because of amateurish virus removal. Smartphone users should seek out professionals in virus removal, like Rescuecom who have a long history of providing Internet security services, as well as virus removal services for a variety of computers and computer-based devices.

The transformation of the phone into the smartphone marks an exciting and important time in the development of technology. It signals the marriage of complex technology and basic tools. But while we drool over the potential that these devices bring with them, we should remember that as computers, they require more advanced tech support to stay healthy. They also require us to pay more attention to Internet security and to get the right kind of virus removal if that ever becomes necessary.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

Apple’s iPhone 4S has found its voice with Siri, the new digital assistant that comes integrated into the phone’s OS. The feature allows users to interact with their iPhones as if they were talking to a personal assistant, albeit one who has limited functionality. Siri lets users control functions using their voice; users can send messages, check and make changes to their calendars and even search for nearby restaurants.

Siri is different from other voice-operated systems or features because, according to Apple, it not only understands what people say, but also what they mean. It understands the contexts of requests and can keep track of the conversation. For example, when a user says “reply,” Siri automatically understands which message the user is referring to based on context.  Apple calls Siri proactive, meaning that it will keep asking its user questions until it actually understands what he or she wants to know.

The voice control functionality works extremely well with text messages. Users can ask Siri to read incoming texts and to respond by typing what they dictate. Likewise, Siri is programmed to work smoothly with the iPhone’s calendar application. Siri can check for appointments, make new ones, and remind its users when tasks or meetings are scheduled. This feature, coupled with Siri’s understanding of colloquialisms, makes it easy to say things like, “Make sure I remember to pay my credit card bill after work.”

Siri also keeps track of its user’s geographic location, so to get directions, users don’t need to load a map and enter the final destination; instead a user only needs to say, “Where’s the nearest gas station?” If Siri isn’t quite sure what’s being asked, it may ask its user more questions for clarification.

The voice recognition technology works fairly well when it comes to recognizing mumbles and whispers, according to Mark Milian who reviews the feature for CNN.

Siri currently works with several of the iPhone’s integrated apps like music player, calendar, text messaging, and Yelp; but it has some limitations. Siri can’t work with outside apps and will not be able to do so until third party apps can be tied to it. The feature can’t access the iPhone’s camera, nor can it take email or memo diction.

Siri talks to users in a female voice (except in France and the U.K. where it has a male voice) and doesn’t have a heavy computer-software accent, so it seems rather friendly. Thanks to the ongoing advances in anthropomorphic voice technology, Siri adapts its tone to suit its sentence’s intended meaning, and doesn’t sound completely like a robot reading strung together words.

Overall, Siri isn’t perfect yet; it has quite a few limitations and will require strong tech support to improve. Besides, many people may not feel comfortable talking to their phones in public. Still, Siri’s future is promising; it can only get better as it gets tied to third-party apps and as its voice recognition and tonality become more advanced.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

It can be tempting to “share” songs via software like Kazaa or LimeWire rather than buying them. Such practices are not only illegal most of the time, but pose a serious threat to your Internet security. Downloading files using P2P (Peer-to-Peer) sharing software is one of the worst Internet security practices that users can employ. By downloading music or other files using such software, you could be inviting a conglomeration of malware to infest your computer. Even a small breach of your Internet security can cause you to spend lots of money on virus removal and, in some cases, identity theft problems.

Though LimeWire is no longer available for download due to legal reasons, users with older versions of the software on their machines can still use it, and can therefore still endanger their Internet security. Even when users don’t use LimeWire to share files, their Internet security is susceptible because the program automatically runs in the background, allowing strangers access to a user’s files!

When you opt to participate in P2P sharing, you can’t normally control what files you share. This lack of control can lead to your participating in copyright infringement, having your device infected with malware, and consequently requiring virus removal.

Perhaps the worst part of getting viruses from P2P sharing software is that we willingly invite them in. It’s like volunteering to spend time and money on virus removal. Sometimes, Internet security problems are hard to identify, but when threats are this obvious, there’s no excuse to fall for them.

If you’re looking for free music, YouTube is a great alternative. Watching music videos on YouTube poses far fewer threats to your Internet security, as viruses cannot usually target media files. Internet security problems that occur while on YouTube might be related to bugs in Adobe Flash player, but these are rare. Besides, Flash is constantly updated to eliminate bugs and ensure Internet security.

On the other hand, if you’re feeling overtly philanthropic and want to support the music industry by more than just illegally downloading songs, then consider buying the music! Amazon and Apple both sell music by the song, as do dozens of other sites. The great news is, music services like these are legal and don’t come with the added expense of virus removal.

Given the time and effort needed for virus removal, it is always better to make sure you have strong Internet security and to avoid using software like Limewire and Kazaa. After all, paying for a song or three is a lot cheaper than paying for virus removal.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

A recent article on Yahoo.com named seven gadgets that will die out by the end of the decade. Among the seven gadgets are the stand-alone GPS and the low-end digital camera. According to the article, smartphones will take over both products’ functionality before long. We’ve already begun to see the demise of the stand-alone GPS as smartphone users turn more frequently to the navigation features readily available on their devices. As for cameras, well, the Apple’s iPhone 4S sports an 8 megapixel camera, as does Nokia’s new Lumia 800, which is more than what most people need for casual photography!

With the ubiquity and increasing sophistication of wireless network services, smartphones are able to do what previously took a specialized device to do, like give driving directions. Because wireless network service providers are constantly competing for customers, we’re seeing navigation systems rise to standard feature status along with faster speed networking.

Wireless network services have become such a regular component of modern technology that they have lost their appeal as a hot topic. Inter-device network services are on their way to becoming standard, too. Soon we will forget what it is like to use a wired network service that connects a camera to a computer device, which in turn often depends on a wired network service to connect to a printer.

With wireless network services becoming the standard form of network services, the centrality of smartphones will become fundamental to communication and entertainment. Smartphones are on their way to becoming one of the primary mediums for linking users to a plethora of options ranging from tech support to entertainment, from information to communication.

Of course, as smartphones morph into their new eclectic roles, they will also become more susceptible to breakdowns and may require more frequent tech support. Right now, users require a relatively low level of tech support for their separate products. For example, users may need simple tech support in handling a poor satellite signal on a GPS device. When several devices are incorporated into one, though, users might find themselves in need of more frequent tech support.

Still, the fact that increasingly sophisticated devices are likely to require more tech support should not deter anyone from endorsing them. After all, getting tech support for smartphones and modern electronics is becoming easier by the day thanks to almost instant tech support availability. With a wireless network service, for example, users can get remote tech support in minutes.

Wireless network services are becoming incredibly powerful, and with their help, smartphones are almost certainly going to become the main technological vessel for housing GPS devices and low-end digital cameras.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

The computer tablet market is about to be shaken-up. Amazon’s Kindle Fire is almost here, and the tablet is already causing a stir. Analysts and bloggers agree that the advent of the Kindle Fire will usher in an era of real tablet competition. Several of the Kindle Fire’s features suggest that it is going to give apple’s iPad a run for its money. On the other hand, despite its great price of $199 (which International Business Times believes is a net loss for Amazon), the tablet has a few tech support and Internet security issues that are worth considering.

First of all, the Kindle Fire has several intriguing qualities like stereo speakers and 169 pixels per inch resolution, but these relatively high-tech features may require extra tech support down the road.

The Kindle’s Silk web browser is another interesting feature of the tablet, but according to ZDNet, the software has serious Internet security problems. The browser will make surfing the Internet super fast, but at a cost to Internet security and user privacy. To increase the browsing speed, the Silk browser depends on the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) to act as a Web proxy. As web browsing becomes delocalized with data passing through a third party (the Amazon cloud), Internet security threats are bound to increase. Users who use this feature may witness an increase in their need for tech support.

The good news is that users can enhance the tablet’s Internet security by turning off the Silk’s cloud-enhanced mode. Using the Silk in offline mode prevents data from passing through Amazon’s cloud, improving Internet security but also slowing down the browsing experience.

The Kindle’s traditional function as an e-book reader has been significantly revamped with this new model. Users will be able to use this tablet to watch rich color movies and television shows, listen to music, read magazines, browse the web, play games, and of course, read books. There are a few advantages to using the Kindle Fire to do all this rather than, say, an iPad. For example, Amazon’s tablet is almost a third of the price of an iPad2. Also, the Kindle Fire offers paid access to millions of books, millions of songs, and over 100,000 television shows and films.

According to PCWorld, Android-based apps and their related tech support for Amazon’s Kindle are limited. Since the Kindle Fire runs on a system similar to Google’s Android, future changes to the OS may create significant tech support issues for the Kindle Fire.

If Amazon’s tech support for the Kindle is anything like its customer care, then you can plan on finding quality tech support to help deal with the Internet security and other problems that require tech support. Still, the longer you wait before buying the product, the more you can count on tried and tested tech support and maybe even better Internet security.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

Cloud services are opening up across the Internet as the idea gains support from many.  In the minds of many, cloud computing is the wave of the future.  The system of cloud services could reduce operating costs such as computer equipment purchases and computer repair for many businesses and public institutions, while allowing for data sharing from any number of places or devices.  In the rush of cloud service startups competing to gain control of the market, Apple announced the first step toward public release of their new iCloud services.

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