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The Dangers of Blue Light

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dangers of blue light

Have you heard about the dangers of blue light, especially in instances of prolonged exposure?

It has been a repeated topic of conversation among eye health experts over the past several years.

In case you aren’t familiar, blue light is what most of our electronic devices emit, including our smartphones, laptops and tablets.

Of course, we love our gadgets, don’t we? Nobody wants to ditch their smartphone!

But the dangers of blue light exposure appear to be very real.

Sure, our eyes are designed to naturally protect us against some blue light, particularly the lens inside the eye and the pigment in the back of the eye.

But is it enough?

Well, this video does a great job of summing things up:

Today, we are going to look at two possible dangers of blue light — damaged eyesight (especially in children) and sleep loss.

We’ll also offer a little advice in terms of how you can curb either of potentially unpleasant outcomes.

The Dangers of Blue Light: Damaged Eyesight

According to at least one article we found,

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises limiting children older than 2 years old to a maximum of two hours a day on media devices. Children younger than 2 years old should have no exposure.

Young children — especially those under three — do not have fully developed lenses in their eyes. As a result, the blue light goes straight through.

Although the dangers of blue light are more prevalent in children, adults are not totally safe, either.

Plenty of research exists to suggest that exposure to blue light can cause retinal damage in adult eyes, and possibly lead to the development of macular degeneration.

Our best advice?

If you must look at a digital device that emits blue light throughout the day — especially for extended periods of time — take frequent breaks.

Try the 30-30-30 rule.

Every 30 minutes, look at an object at least 30 feet away for 30 seconds as this can help to reduce strain on your eyes and prevent headaches.

The Dangers of Blue Light: Sleep Loss

In some cases, blue light has been linked to affecting the levels of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. What this means is that too much exposure to your laptop, tablet or smartphone right before bed can adversely impact your sleeping patterns — also known as your circadian rhythm.

Changing your body’s circadian rhythm can have profound physical effects, including organ malfunction, mental health issues, weight gain, a weakened immune system, and more.

Our best advice?

Avoid reaching for your smartphone or tablet at least a couple of hours before bed. It can be difficult to do, but so can losing out on restful sleep.

Be Aware of the Dangers of Blue Light

As a repairer and re-seller of electronic devices, Target PC Repair certainly isn’t condemning the use of devices that emit blue light; rather, we are suggesting to be aware of the risks and do what you can to mitigate them.

It’s important to underscore that we are not doctors — if you believe your eyes are being strained by your electronic devices, please discontinue use and see a doctor immediately.

If you have any questions regarding smartphones, tablets or laptops, please call us.

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13 Things You Didn’t Know Your iPhone 6 Could Do

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Things You Didn't Know Your iPhone 6 Could Do

Let’s face it — as consumers, we love our iPhones, don’t we? If anything, we wonder how we ever got along in life without them.

Music, movies, games, productivity, scheduling, communication, news updates, and more… the iPhone does just about everything, doesn’t it?

But in all likelihood, your iPhone 6 does a lot more than you realize.

In this short list, we’re going to examine 13 things you didn’t know your iPhone 6 could do.

13 Things You Didn’t Know Your iPhone 6 Could Do

(1) Reply to texts with your iPhone 6 locked

You can reply to an incoming text through the notification drawer without having to unlock your iPhone 6.

(2) Review which apps are draining your battery

You can easily determine which apps are consuming most of your battery power on the Settings screen.

(3) View every image someone has texted to you

Rather than scrolling back through months worth of messages, the Details screen will show you all the photos a person has ever sent to you.

(4) Set audio and video messages to expire

If you want to send someone sensitive content — including audio or video — you can set that content to “expire” after a fixed amount of time.

(5) Share your location by text

Rather than try to explain to your friend where you are, just use the Details panel to instantly send your location.

(6) More control over group conversations

Whether you want to rename a group conversation or leave it altogether, iPhone 6 can do that.

(7) Minimize an email you are composing

You can return to your inbox to refer to other emails by simply minimizing the email you’re currently composing.

(8) Enable Siri without using your hands

By changing one simple setting, you can activate Siri by saying “Hey Siri” out loud. This can be a very helpful feature while driving.

(9) Have Siri read anything you want

Don’t want to read through an entire article? Ask Siri to read it to you instead.

(10) Control your iPhone 6 with your head

In your Accessibility settings, you can make left or right head movements trigger particular actions on your iPhone 6.

(11) Reduce colors to save battery power

You can set your iPhone 6 to “grayscale” mode to converse battery power.

(12) Display emergency info on your lock screen

In case of emergency, you can set up your iPhone to link to emergency medical and contact information right from the lock screen!

(13) Start your music player by inserting your ear buds

You don’t need to manually open your music app. Just plug in your ear buds and press play.

A Great Top 10 List

We could go on in this post, but there are a number of articles and guides online that will surprise you with things you didn’t know your iPhone 6 could do.

For instance, check out this short video entitled 10 Things You Didn’t Know Your iPhone 6 Could Do:

Pretty cool, right?

Did We Miss Anything?

In closing,

  • Did you discover some new things your iPhone 6 can do in this post?
  • Did we miss any features that surprised you when you first discovered them?

Let us know in the comments.

And remember, if your iPhone 6 needs its power plug replaced or screen repaired, we can help. Call 440-725-0642 or contact us today!

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7 Myths About Charging Cell Phone Batteries

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myths about charging cell phone batteries

There are a number of myths about charging cell phone batteries that you’ve probably heard before.

A few common examples include…

  • Let your battery drain completely before charging it
  • Never use your cell phone while it’s on the charger
  • Don’t leave your phone plugged in to charge overnight

But are any of these true?

Today, we’re going to debunk 7 myths about charging cell phone batteries.

Myths About Charging Cell Phone Batteries – Debunked!

Let’s begin.

(1) You have to drain your battery before charging

A common myth is that cell phone batteries have a memory, and partial charges will eventually diminish the capacity of your battery.

This is a myth. Frequently charging your smartphone will not damage the battery.

(2) You have to use your factory charger

Many people still believe that a third party charger will damage your battery over time. Again, this isn’t true. So long as the charger you are using is in proper working order, your cell phone battery will be fine.

(3) You can’t leave your cell phone charging overnight

The rationale behind this myth is that continuing to charge a fully charged battery will damage it. This, believe it or not, is true.

That said, most smartphones are clever enough to realize when the battery is fully charged. At that point, the phone will stop charging the battery, even if it is plugged in all night.

So go ahead and let your cell phone stay on the charger all night — it won’t hurt a thing.

(4) You shouldn’t use your cell phone while it’s charging

Think about it this way — even if you aren’t physically touching your phone while it charges, your phone still has processes running in the background, right?

So it really doesn’t matter whether you use your phone while it charges or not. Sure, it may not charge as quickly if you’ve got the screen on, but it won’t hurt your battery in any fashion or diminish the quality of the charge itself.

(5) You should always charge to 100% before using your cell phone

This is a crazy myth with no evidence to support it.

Generally speaking, smartphone batteries work best between a 40-80% remaining charge. It will not harm your battery in any way if you use your cell phone with less than a 100% charge.

(6) Your phone will hold a charge longer in a cool environment

While it is true that heat will damage your cell phone battery, smartphones generally operate best at room temperature. Trying to expose your cell phone to cool air — or worse, attempting to freeze the battery — will only hurt your battery life, not extend it.

(7) You should disconnect from WiFi and mobile data when not in use

The idea here is that internet connectivity drains your battery faster than anything else. Again, this simply isn’t true. Keeping your screen on — especially when combined with gaming apps — will drain your battery faster than anything else.

If you want to extend your battery life, diminish your screen brightness and close gaming apps when you’re finished with them.

Did We Miss Any Myths About Charging Cell Phone Batteries?

These are seven of the most common myths we’ve heard. Have you heard any others? If so, leave them in the comments below, and we’ll do our best to respond.

Remember, if your smartphone is having trouble holding a charge — or charging at all! — we can help. Contact us today for a quote.

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I Spilled Water on My Phone – What Now?

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I Spilled Water on My Phone

Did you know that — statistically speaking — more smartphones are dropped in a toilet on New Year’s Eve compared to any other day of the year?

Actually, that statistic isn’t true.

We literally just made it up right now.

But it would be fair to say parties and water damage done to smartphones go hand-in-hand. Whether it’s dropping your phone in a toilet, spilling a beverage on it, or dropping it in a puddle as you exit a cab, water damage happens…

So with New Year’s Eve just a few days away, let’s hope you aren’t one of the unlucky ones who ends up saying…

Help! I spilled water on my phone!

If your phone ever does end up exposed to moisture or water, your best bet is to contact us right away. Although water damage is a tricky thing, we perform a number of different types of smartphone repairs, including iPhones.

I Spilled Water on My Phone and It’s Midnight – What Now?

Assuming you’re nowhere nearby, or that the damage occurs outside of regular business hours, there are a few remedies you can try yourself first:

(1) Don’t panic. Shut your device off immediately, even if that means losing unsaved work.

(2) Remove the battery if possible. In fact, dismantle as much of your device as you’re able to. This will speed up the drying process and help you to see what exactly got wet.

(3) Contrary to popular belief, don’t immediately reach for a hairdryer. Forcing air into tiny spaces just means you’ll be pushing water further into areas you can’t see or reach. Worse yet, the heat could melt some parts.

(4) Blot dry any moisture you can visibly see. Ensure no residue is left behind. If you need a cleaning solution to remove any sticky fluids, use something like 99% rubbing alcohol or DIELECTRIC spray. Be patient, go slowly, and use a fresh, clean toothbrush to clean out small spaces.

(5) Pack your phone with something absorbent, such as silica packs, rice or pasta. If possible, place your phone near a dehumidifier.

(6) Leave your device off for 48 to 72 hours, until you’re absolutely certain that everything is dry. If you power it back on too quickly while it’s still wet, the damage might be irreversible.

You Can Save Your Smartphone

In a perfect world, electronic devices would be waterproof. Unfortunately, they are not — so take every precaution to avoid getting your smartphone wet in the first place.

We hear stories all the time of people who got their phone wet, dried the surface off with a towel, then carried on using it. It worked as normal for a day or two, then slowly began to lose functionality.

In most cases, this is due to corrosion. Sweet or sticky fluids made contact with the inner parts, and before long, they began to corrode important pieces.

So, please — if you’re one of the unfortunate few who ends up saying, “I spilled water on my phone!” Don’t treat cleanup as a rush job. Take your time. Be thorough. And you just might have a shot at saving your phone from a certain and painful death.

Happy New Year!

– the Target PC Repair team

 

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This Is What to Look for in Earbuds

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what to look for in earbuds

What are earbuds?

Earbuds are tiny earpieces that are inserted into your ear canal to provide personal sound from devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops. They are portable headphones that can give you freedom from external noise. They can isolate you from what is going on around you.

There are two general styles: in-ear or sealed which actually fit into your ear canal, and traditional which nestle into your external ear hole.

What do earbuds cost?

A basic set of earbuds is usually given away free when you buy a device such as a phone or media player. These free giveaways aren’t always the best quality. If you want to trade up and buy your own earbuds separately, the prices can range from $5.99 up to $300.

What should I look for in a good set of earbuds?

It’s important to know what to look for in earbuds when you start to shop, because there are hundreds to choose from.

You can choose from many qualities and features including:

  • sound clarity
  • accuracy
  • low-end strength
  • tonal balance
  • in-ear comfort
  • bass quality
  • appearance
  • weight
  • design
  • color
  • microphone
  • phone connect-disconnect
  • volume control
  • ease of operation by feel
  • secure fit
  • crisp high tones
  • light weight
  • available remote control
  • low or no sound distortion

…and so on.

Your decision depends on how you use your earbuds, what you are looking for, and what kind of music you listen to.  Some earbud models are better for rock and roll and hip hop, while others provide crisp, clear sound for classical music lovers.

You may have to try out several models and brands to find what is best for you. It is a good idea to tell the sales rep how you intend to use the earbuds, and he or she can guide you to an appropriate pair.

How can I choose the earbuds that are right for me?

Ask your friends which ones they like, try them out at our retail stores, set your price range, check online ratings articles, and ask our team at Target PC about their favorites.

Should I get wired or wireless earbuds?

Earphones can connect either through a 3.5mm cable or wirelessly over Bluetooth, depending on the model.

Wired earphones are generally less expensive, and you don’t need to worry about keeping them charged.

Bluetooth earphones are more convenient because you don’t have to physically connect them to your device, but they need battery power to work. When they’re out of power, they’re out of commission until you charge them again.

Again, it depends what kind of music you listen to, whether you make phone calls while listening to music, whether you want to wear your earbuds at the gym or while running, and other factors. Those uses will determine whether you want wired or wireless earbuds.

So now you know what to look for in earbuds!

There are hundreds of different brands and price points for earbuds.

Have a sales associates can help you narrow your choice when you go in to the store. Just tell them how you intend to use your earbuds, what you want to pay, and what kind of music you listen to.

Good luck!

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4 Ways You’ll Accidentally Damage Your Cell Phone

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damage your cell phone

Nearly 3 in every 4 Americans own a smartphone. While that may be great news in terms of staying connected, other surveys show that roughly 1 in every 3 smartphone owners will lose or damage their cell phones.

Here are a number of surprising figures in terms of how you may damage your cell phone:

  • The average iPhone is damaged within 10 weeks of purchase
  • 23 million Americans that have damaged their smartphones while watching a sporting event
    • 12 percent flung their phone in a fit of passion
    • 13 percent dropped their phone into their beers
  • Men are more likely than women to damage their smartphones
  • 18-to 24-year-olds are 16 percent more likely to break their smartphones
  • Men are 70 percent more likely to lose their phones
  • Men are 57 percent more likely to drop their phones into a toilet
  • Women are 42 percent more likely to have their phone stolen
  • The most common accidents include cracked screens and spilled fluids

Of course, if it is simply a matter of a cracked screen, we can easily repair that for you.

Barring that, what we are going to explore today is four common ways to accidentally damage your cell phone that you may not even know about.

(1) Accidentally installing malware

When you download smartphone apps, even from iTunes, you are risking granting permissions that may not be safe. In fact, you could accidentally damage your cell phone – or at the very least, your privacy – by allowing a new app to access your contacts, send text messages on your behalf, delete data, activate your camera, use bandwidth, or track your location.

Conclusion: If you aren’t familiar with an app, skip installing it.

(2) Leaving your phone on the charger too long

Do you generally leave your smartphone on the charger all night long? If so, the excess heat is not good and could damage your cell phone. In some rare cases, that excess heat has resulted in fires. Unlike the old days of cell phone usage, you no longer need to wait until your battery has fully died before charging it. At the same time, overcharging does not benefit your device.

Conclusion: Take your smartphone off the charger when it reaches 100%.

(3) Placing it in direct sunlight

This is the type of damage to your cell phone that could easily be an accident. Whether it is leaving your phone near a window, or placing it on a picnic table while playing some beach volleyball, that excess heat can easily cause several hardware components to malfunction.

Conclusion: Keep your phone in cool and shaded areas.

(4) Accidental exposure to moisture

This point might seem obvious; we all know that water and electronics don’t mix. That being said, many smartphone users forget that moisture does not necessarily refer to gigantic puddles. For example, you can damage your cell phone by placing it in the cup holder in your car that had a cold beverage in it a few moments before. Even placing your smartphone in the pocket of some freshly dried pants could be dangerous.

Conclusion: Keep your device away from any source of moisture.

Have you accidentally wrecked your smartphone in an unusual way? Tell us all about in the comments below.