smart phone Archives - Page 2 of 3

5 tips for fixing a misbehaving smartphone

Posted on August 9, 2022

It’s no secret that smart phones have literally changed the way most of us live our lives.

They allow us to make phone calls and use the Internet from most anywhere, and the list of devices they can replace by simply installing an app boggles the mind.

Truth be told, smartphones are actually just really small computers that can run programs (apps) to perform countless types of tasks.

Unfortunately, like other computers a smartphone can get bloated and inefficient over time as you add more and more apps (some of which can conflict with one another) and its internal storage gets clogged up with digital clutter.

[Read more…]

How to turn your old smartphone or tablet into an emergency radio scanner

Posted on September 4, 2020

Regular readers of this blog know that you don’t have to just junk your old smartphone or tablet when it comes time to upgrade because there are countless uses for working mobile devices.

In this post I’ll explain how to give your old iPhone, iPad or Android device a second life as a dedicated emergency radio scanner.

You’ll be able to use your “scanner” 24/7 while at home or anywhere that you have access to WiFi (your old phone likely won’t have an active data plan). [Read more…]

Did you know you can redial the last number you called with a single tap?

Posted on April 24, 2019

Have you ever called someone only to have the call go straight to voice mail? If so, you probably tried placing the call again later.

Or perhaps there are occasions when you need to speak to the last person you called once again?

There are several ways to redial the last number you called, and I’m sure you have your favorite method of doing it. [Read more…]

Q&A: Will Sprint upgrade my phone if I break it while it’s insured?

Posted on May 7, 2014

Question from Marnie H.: I have a Samsung Galaxy S3 from Sprint and I really like it. It’s currently insured, and if something were to happen to it I would want to get it fixed or replaced with another S3 instead of upgraded to a newer model.

My question is this: If I was to break my phone and they couldn’t fix it, would Sprint replace it with another Galaxy S3 or would they give me something newer?

Rick’s answer: Marnie, if something happened to your phone and it couldn’t be repaired, Sprint would replace it with another Galaxy S3 if one was available. My guess is they would probably have a stock of new and refurbished models on hand, but there are no guarantees.

If they didn’t have another S3 to give you, they would simply replace your phone with the next closest model (one that’s as good or better than the S3).
[Read more…]

Q&A: Can I connect my Samsung Galaxy S4 to my router via USB?

Posted on November 17, 2013

Question from Devon P.: Rick, I have Charter Internet, and I access it through a Belkin wireless router that the Wi-Fi has stopped working on. That’s fine for me because I only have one computer, and since it’s a desktop I just keep it plugged in to the router via an Ethernet cable.

The problem I have is I also need to connect my Samsung Galaxy S4 to the router via the Micro USB connector since there is no Wi-Fi available and there is no usable cell service out here in the boondocks where I live.

I can’t seem to get a straight answer as to whether I can do this or not, and I’d really appreciate it you could give me a yes or no (and if the answer is yes, the steps I need to take to do it). I’d like to avoid having to buy a new wireless router if I can.

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]