Computer Support Blog

There are three smartphones, made by trendsetters Apple, Motorola, and Nokia, which significantly outlast other phones in terms of battery life. The iPhone 4S, Droid Razr Maxx, and Lumia 900 have batteries that last for around 9 hours of talk time. This is in comparison to other smartphones that only last an average of 5 hours of talking time. Of course, many factors contribute to the battery life of a phone, but what do those three models have in common that provides the extra talk time? Read more »

Wireless power, or at least the idea of it, has been around for centuries. Nikola Tesla invented the first “Tesla coils” that produced an electrical field able to wirelessly power light bulbs up to fifty feet away in the late 1800s. Unfortunately, this did not lead to widespread use of wireless power.

Constantly, every day, there are thousands of wireless energy signals being sent back and forth across large distances, but we have yet to perfect easy methods of wireless electricity. That might be about to change.

For a while, there have been wireless charging stations available for cell phones, but those come riddled with many mobile computer support problems. Most of the time, these wireless-charging stations will only work with certain products, or they become obsolete when you upgrade to a new model of phone because of incompatibility.

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For those who chose to keep the purity of the Kindle idea alive by not upgrading to the much-hyped Kindle Fire, there are some rewards awaiting you!  The e-reader concept was upgraded into a multimedia player, much like a tablet computer, with Amazon’s latest iteration.  But for those who like to read, for whom being trendy, current and/or not upgrading at the first sight of the next new product, companies like SolarFocus are there for you!  SolarFocus has a great product for Kindle users with its SolarKindle Lighted Cover!

The SolarKindle Lighted Cover is a portfolio-style cover for the Amazon Kindle that features a powerful solar panel on the front cover.  The cover helps to recharge both the Kindle and the case using solar power.  As trendy as renewable energy is, there have been very few companies to tap into the market and synergize it with the e-reader and tablet market.  With the SolarKindle Lighted Cover, SolarFocus brings together two very popular concepts to enhance the user experience of the Kindle e-reader!  Read more »

Outside Kermit, Texas, there is an experiment in industrial batteries going on now that has the potential to change the computer world.  In fact, if the experiment is successful, it may well reduce the need for a major, common type of computer repair, as well as eliminate many consumers’ fears of failure to their data storage devices.  The Notrees Power Project is testing a new 36-megawatt battery and that should have computer users and manufacturers paying attention.

One of the most common forms of damage to computers comes from power surges.  Inadequate surge protection can lead to expensive computer repair bills.  Because power surges can damage hard drives, sometimes even a computer repair cannot recover data you were storing on the drive.  The threat of power surges has led many businesses and personal computer users to invest in online data storage or redundant data storage off-site.  However, if the off-site data storage and primary computer connect to the same power source, your data remains at risk.  There is little that is more frustrating than costly computer repair bills and the wasted investment in multiple data storage methods when you irrevocably lose your data from an extreme power surge.

Until the Notrees Windpower Project began to experiment with the massive 36-megawatt battery, wind power was notoriously unreliable for generating electricity and led to data storage problems from faulty power delivery.  Power surges and the erratic power supply that frequently comes from the generation of electricity using wind power has acted as a threat to computer users since U.S. power companies began to generate wind power.  The success of the battery would mean that whenever the wind was not generating enough electricity at the Notrees Windpower Project, the battery would discharge its stored electricity to keep the power supply constant.  That consistent energy delivery would eliminate many computer problems for computer users who receive electricity through wind power generation.

While surge protectors have prevented many computer problems and data storage errors, no type of power delivery reliably prevents the need for a computer repair like a clean power supply.  Until the Notrees Windpower Project battery experiment, wind power has not been able to deliver a clean, constant power supply, though the local nature of wind power generation has lessened many of the transmission difficulties other means of generating electricity still suffer.  A constant power supply that does not fluctuate, surge or collapse prevents damage that mandates a computer repair.  Only stable energy can alleviate power-based fears relative to data storage devices and that is the potential of the 36-megawatt battery.

For sure, the technology being developed at the Notrees Windpower Project is still experimental and may not protect the power supply from other environmental factors like solar flares. The promise of clean wind energy is enough to give hope to those who have had data storage failures as a result of power fall-outs.  If the Notrees battery is successful, it may encourage the generation of more wind farms to help consumers get more reliable, affordable, renewable electricity that will not harm their computers.

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 debate over turning computers off or leaving them on continues to come up every once in a while. Regardless of which side of the debate you fall on, everyone involved is merely trying to provide the best kind of computer support and avoid the need for costly laptop repairs. Leaving a laptop on all the time isn’t a great practice, but it’s also not a bad one. How you should approach the issue depends on your needs and work habits.

One of the most commonly cited reasons for keeping computers on all the time is a fear of the effects of internal temperature fluctuations. Some people fear that frequent temperature changes can damage parts or cause connections to break, requiring professional laptop repair. So in the attempt to provide better computer support, people think it’s beneficial to always leave computers running. Sure, rapidly and consecutively turning a computer on and off can create long-term damage to some internal circuits which eventually requires professional laptop repair, but powering down your device once at the end of the day is not only harmless, but it also provides indirect computer support.

Leaving a computer running all the time means that its fan is constantly sucking in air dust. Eventually, the accumulation of dust and other dirt can coat a computer’s internal components and require professional laptop repair. Therefore, always leaving a computer on can create laptop repair issues related to overheating. By turning your computer off at night, at least, you are providing a precautionary form of computer support.

Turning a computer off at the end of the day is also an easy way to provide software computer support. Constantly running Windows allows poorly written software to clog up the RAM and system resources. Turning off your machine clears out the memory every day and starts up again with a fresh windows boot.

So for the most part, it’s not a bad idea to power down your device at night. There are some exceptions to this, though. If your computer is part of a work network, you might find it necessary to leave it on all the time in order to get network computer support that includes updates and security patches. Especially when a device is part of a network, it’s important to get strong anti-virus computer support to avoid threats to other devices in the network. Home laptops or computers also need the occasional computer support that comes from regular Microsoft and anti-virus software upgrades, which can delay the need to get professional laptop repairs.

In the end, a happy medium is the best approach. Leaving your laptop on all the time can waste energy, overheat it, and fill it with dust, eventually requiring professional laptop repair. At the same time, it may be necessary to leave a computer running through the night if it’s part of a network in order to get network computer support.

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

Many websites offer computer support tips for taking care of laptops to help avoid needing laptop repairs. Along with the detailed, technical computer support practices that can greatly benefit your devices, there are a few easy tricks that can help you put off that trip to the laptop repair shop. So if you have a hard time making too many small changes to the way you use your device, here are three short and sweet habits that you might find helpful.

3 easy computer support tips:

• Keep it cool: Overheating can be annoying to users and harmful to laptops. The most common cause of overheating is poor air circulation. This usually happens when dust and other particles accumulate on and around a laptop’s fan and plug its air vents. A good computer support practice is to clean out the vents regularly. Use specialized compressed air or consult a laptop repair specialist periodically.

Placing your device on your lap or a cushion as you lounge on the couch is a sure way to reduce air flow and overheat your laptop. Doing it once or twice won’t hurt; however, if you make a regular habit of it, don’t be surprised if you need professional laptop repairs.

• Keep it clean: keyboards love to accumulate dirt and dust. With time, dirt under the keys can cause them to stop working properly, a problem that will eventually require laptop repair work. An easy way to prevent the accumulation of dirt is to keep food away from your device.

Many websites suggest using compressed air as a regular means of computer support, but this technique can be risky as it may push the dust further under the buttons. So when cleaning does become necessary, use a small vacuum attachment to get dirt out from in between the buttons.

• Keep it gentle: Carry your laptop using its base and not its screen. According to Wikihow, pressure to the screen can cause long-lasting damage. It can also break or offset the hinges, which can require the attention of a laptop repair specialist.

Protect your device’s cords by loosely wrapping them around your fingers then securing them with a Velcro strip or rubber band. Never wrap a cord around its adapter because that can damage the cord’s tip and will only add to your laptop repair bill.

Remember, prevention is the best cure. Regular computer support can delay the need for laptop repairs. Perhaps the best kind of computer support is taking your laptop to a professional computer and laptop repair professional for regular maintenance and cleaning.

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 new smartphone will thrill game system customers. Sony Ericsson launched Xperia Play recently, which acts both as a smartphone and as a game playing device. Gamers only need one device to play and talk while away from home.

Xperia Play runs the latest in Android technology, Gingerbread, giving customers the best technology to play games on small devices. Games and other applications perform well using a 1 gigahertz processor and an extra game processor. Images in the games are easy to see, and the colors are bright. The games also respond to control commands better than on most phones.

The most interesting part of the phone is how it physically adapts to allow gaming. The bottom half of the phone slides out for playing games and looks like a PlayStation control. Direction pads, control buttons, and pads in place of thumb sticks let gamers play as if at home. This game controller bottom makes the device bulky compared to other smartphones, but gives gamers a good hold while playing. The need for few devices excuses the larger size, as does the user’s hands not blocking the game view.

Six games come packaged on the phone already. Game titles include PlayStation favorites like Sims, Madden NFL 11 and Crash Bandicoot. The Xperia play does not offer PlayStation games exclusively. Different producers offer 60 titles for the Xperia. Sony Ericsson plans to increase the number to 150 game titles by the end of the year.

The process of getting new games on the phone will take time and some effort. Each game on Xperia Play must configure to fit into the processors used on the phone, so games cannot be transferred from other portable devices. Sony Ericsson assures game developers that existing mobile games can add the necessary support programming for the control pad easily.

Xperia Play also remembers to function as a phone. The actual telephone feature on the Xperia Play is a touchscreen system which behaves like most other Android smartphones. Sony Ericsson offers seven hours worth of talk time, or five hours worth of play time, before the battery needs recharging. Familiar applications like Twitter or Facebook links are still available for gamers who want to share scores.

Verizon Wireless started selling Xperia Play the last week of May for $199.99. Customers who like PlayStation and similar games will enjoy using the Xperia to continue the fun while away from the home game system. Sony Ericsson has added great gaming ability onto the networking capacity of the smartphone.

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

Summertime brings unique computer repair problems. Overheating is the obvious computer repair culprit, but RESCUECOM’s computer support specialists caution that power surges and blackouts can also lead to computer repair.

The top heat related threats and how to combat them: Read more »

RESCUECOM reminds you to keep your laptop computer and its power supply protected.

Summer is here, and with it comes increased electrical usage that could damage your laptop computer.  Without proper precautions, even something as simple as your air conditioner turning on could result in the need for serious computer repair. Read more »