smartphone Archives - Rick's Daily Tips

Did you know you can remotely erase a lost or stolen smartphone?

Posted on June 1, 2025

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Have you ever stopped to consider just how much of your digital life is stored on your smartphone?

First, there are the names and phone numbers of all your contacts (and possibly their email addresses and other sensitive info as well).

Then there are apps for accessing your bank account, your social media accounts and the accounts for all the other online services you use (and possibly the usernames and passwords to those accounts as well). [Read more…]

How to use your smartphone to improve your driving experience

Posted on April 10, 2025

We all want safer, more efficient trips, but how do we achieve that? Navigating traffic, managing calls, and maintaining car health can all be stressful. Are there ways to use technology to make driving easier and safer?

From navigation to safety features, your smartphone holds many tools that can help.

In this article, we’ll explore practical ways your phone can enhance your driving experience while keeping you safe and connected. [Read more…]

Has that used phone you’re buying been reported lost or stolen?

Posted on January 8, 2025

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It’s no secret that some modern smartphones cost as much as a decent computer system. That’s why used phones are in such high demand these days.

Buying a used smartphone sight-unseen is a risky endeavor because there’s no way to know how much abuse the device has received or what kind of shape it’s actually in.

Even worse, if the phone you’re thinking about purchasing was lost or stolen it could well be locked in order to prevent it from being activated by a new owner – which could be you if you end up buying it. [Read more…]

5 reasons why I’ll never buy an expensive phone

Posted on July 16, 2024

As you probably know, one can easily spend north of $1,000 for a new top-of-the-line smartphone these days.

And truth be told, you could well be one of the countless individuals who regularly spend that much every time you buy a new phone.

Let me say right out of the gate that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

This is America after all, and we’re all entitled to spend our hard-earned money on whatever suits our fancy. [Read more…]

Q&A: Why do phones no longer come with user replaceable batteries?

Posted on July 6, 2024

Question from Harris: The battery in my three year old smartphone won’t hold a charge anymore.

I found a replacement battery online but it said I’ll have to disassemble the phone in order to remove the old battery and replace it with the new one.

The replacement battery comes with the tools needed to install the new battery but the video showing how it’s done has me thinking it’s way beyond my skill level. [Read more…]