what you can do to alleviate it Hand Pain by your Smartphone

In 2024, Americans spent an average of 5 hours and 16 minutes per day on their phones, according to the data management firm Harmony Healthcare IT. That was up 14 percent from the year before.

Too much time with your phone can exact a physical toll. Just 20 to 30 minutes without any change in your position can strain various parts of the body, says Rachel Prusynski, PhD, an assistant professor in the department of rehabilitation medicine at the University of Washington and a spokesperson for the American Physical Therapy Association. And if you have preexisting conditions—an injury or arthritis, for instance—smartphone overuse may aggravate your symptoms. So yes, discomfort from using a smartphone is definitely a thing. Here are some conditions to watch out for—and what to do about them. How Phone Use Can Affect Your Body

Duretti Fufa, MD, a hand and upper extremity surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, confirms that using a smartphone for too long can lead to pain, tendonitis, and pinched nerves in your fingers, hands, and elbows. If you already have joint problems such as arthritis or tendon and nerve conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis, you’re more prone to experiencing negative effects.

Repetitive movements such as tapping on your screen to text or play games can also increase discomfort in your thumb and forearm, says Paul Ritchey, DrPH, an ergonomist at Consumer Reports.

Neck and shoulder pain are also common. Dana Keester, MS, another CR ergonomist, says neck discomfort can stem from the looking-down posture most people adopt when using their phones, which puts excessive stress on the muscles that support the neck. What can also cause discomfort in your shoulders and neck is holding your phone up to your ear for a sustained period of time while making a phone call. 

You might also feel pain in your lower back if you’re using your phone and sitting for a long time in an unsupported posture—if you’re slouched in your chair, for instance. And though we’re focused here on musculoskeletal pain, using your smartphone for too long (especially in a dark room) can cause eyestrain, Ritchey says.How to Prevent Pain

To mitigate pain, you need to pay attention to both how long you’re using your phone and how you’re using it—in other words, your posture. Experts suggest that these steps can help.

Take breaks. The most significant action you can take is to spend less time on your smartphone, Fufa says. You can achieve that by cutting down on excessive usage and taking breaks from your phone every 15 to 20 minutes. 

Try not to use your phone in one static, prolonged position. “Your next posture is your best posture,” Ritchey says. When you’re on your phone, shift the way you’re holding the device so that your hand isn’t locked in one position for a sustained period. You can also try switching between your right and left hand or using two hands instead of just one when holding your phone.

Stretching in between using your phone can help prevent skeletal muscular discomfort. One of the stretches Ritchey recommends is the wrist flexion and extension stretch: With your arm fully extended, rotate your palm so that it’s facing up and gently pull your hand toward you for about 15 seconds. Then turn your hand over so your palm is facing down and gently pull your hand toward you for about 15 seconds, and repeat this exercise two to three times. Ritchey says it’s also helpful to walk around and shake any body parts you were using while on your phone.

Adopt the right posture. A 2024 study published in the Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation found that there’s a connection between the angle of your wrist and elbow when you’re using your smartphone and pain and discomfort. 

To avoid nerve pain, to make sure you keep your wrist in a straight, neutral position when you’re holding your phone. Bending or flexing your wrist could contribute to pinched nerve pains. 

When possible, engage the larger groups of muscles in your arm because they’re less likely to tire. For instance, when you’re tapping your phone’s screen, try moving your whole hand instead of flexing and tapping with just your fingers.

Go smaller and lighter. The weight of your smartphone can also play a role in your pain. According to a 2024 study published in BMC Public Health, if your smartphone is heavier, you’re more likely to experience discomfort in your hand after prolonged use.

If you’re buying a new smartphone, opt for a device that’s smaller or lighter. That might be tricky, though, because phones have steadily been getting larger in recent years. If you want to avoid the biggest phones, steer clear of iPhone Max and Plus models, and Samsung’s Ultra models. The smallest smartphone recommended by CR is currently the 2022 iPhone SE. You can also find a small model by sorting phones by their screen size in our cell phone ratings.

But if you’re not likely to switch phones anytime soon, I suggests trying a phone grip like a PopSocket or a smartphone stand or mount. 

Go hands-free. When you’re on a call, consider using the speaker phone option, earbuds, or a headset to eliminate the need to hold your phone up to your ear for a long period of time.

Another handy feature is voice-to-text, which eliminates the need to physically type on a phone, lowering the chance you’ll develop discomfort.

Days after following some of these steps, you fingers will felt less stiff. Remember try to take breaks, and also make a concerted effort not to bend your wrist when you hold you phone, which has reduced the pain when you used to feel in you wrist. 

Battery Drain Too Fast? The Solutions Are In Your Phone

Vibration: Motor runs using more power than speaker, though not too much. 
Turn off by going:

Settings -> Sound -> Vibrate when ringing / Settings -> Language & Keyboard -> Haptic feedback or Vibrate on keypress

Brightness: Brightness level, colorful background, and live wallpaper eat more battery. So tone down the brightness, and switch to a static and black background.

Sleep / Screen Off: The longer the screen is on, the more unnecessary battery it uses. Go to Settings -> Display -> Auto-lock and adjust the time.

The 4 Pillars of Connectivity: Mobile Data, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth. Turn these off when not in use.

Outdated Apps: At times, update is made to fix bugs or improve functionality that reduces battery usage. Remember to check reviews before update.

Apps Notifications: Apps keep a level of activity in the background to alert you to notifications. Go to Settings -> Notifications -> Pick apps for which you don’t need notifications.

Background Apps: Some of them are silently running in the background. To really dig them out:

Settings -> Application manager -> Installed -> Tap through to see which one has “Force stop” enabled. Remember to not stop those needed by the system.

Widgets: Turn off those that you don’t need.

For iPhones, go to Home screen -> Widgets -> Edit; 

for Android, tap and hold home screen -> Widgets -> Close existing ones on the screen or drag new ones to the screen.

Temperature: High heat may damage your battery, while extreme cold can accelerate  consumption or even stops it temporarily.

Flight Mode: To really go battery survival mode, turn flight mode on. Handy especially while    you’re sleeping. Although it means you’re not able to receive emergency calls.

The Things That Kill Your Battery1. Vibration

Yes, setting your phone on vibrate mode actually drains more than using ringtone. The reason? The motor uses more power compared to speaker. Not much, but a difference is a difference nonetheless. You can turn off vibration by going to:

Settings -> Sound -> Uncheck Vibrate when ringing, or

Settings -> Language & Keyboard -> Uncheck Haptic / Tactile feedback2. Brightness

Both brightness level and colourful background (don’t forget live wallpaper too) will definitely drain your phone.

So if you feel like your phone needs to go on survival mode, lower your brightness and switch to a darker, static background. Preferably black.3. Sleep / Screen Off

“Depriving” your phone of sleep also counts. Not that it dramatically drains your battery (depends on the above factor), but the longer you keep the screen lit, the more unnecessary battery it uses.

Sounds pretty intuitive to me. Anyway, you can adjust the time-till-screen-off by heading to:

Settings -> Display -> Auto-lock

You can tweak the time to best suit your habit.4. Mobile Data (4G), Wi-Fi, GPS, & Bluetooth

Generally, just turn them off when not in use. But for more in-depth info, look below.

i. Mobile Data (4G):

Under the following 2 conditions, it will drain more than usual: i) there isn’t any 4G coverage in your area, ii) constantly crossing between 3G and 4G coverage area. Additionally, you should also switch to 3G when you simply don’t need the speed. Oh, and it consumes more battery than Wi-Fi.

ii. Wi-Fi:

Although its consumption is less than 4G, maintaining a signal still does. It’s even worse in area without Wi-Fi connection: your device will constantly be on the lookout for a network and thus, uses more power.

iii. GPS:

When location service is on, your phone will frequently ping the satellite, and herein lies the power consumption.

iv. Bluetooth:

Newer Bluetooth tech drains lesser battery. But still, there’s consumption.5. The little things about apps: older versions, notifications, and background operationi. Outdated apps:

Starving your apps of updates means you’re not doing your battery a favor. Usually, the developers of OS and apps will fix bugs and improve functions that may reduce battery consumption.

Be that as it may, be sure to ALWAYS check the reviews first before updating—you may never know what lies ahead.ii. Restless Notifications:

The app stores abound with apps that never rest: they always peek their heads out to alert you of whatever’s happening even after you “closed” them. And we can’t think of a finer example than Facebook.

There’s a remedy to this: customizing the apps’ notifications. 

Settings -> Notifications -> Choose from the list of apps whose notifications aren’t worth your attention.iii. Those Stealthy Background Apps:

There’s a garden variety of apps that will run in the background. Oh, those pesky bunch; they are most worthy of the name “vampire” among all.

The thing is, they are tricky too: clearing the RAM can only weed out some, and a good number of them will just restart again. So in comes the other method: going to Application manager in Settings.

In the running (or active) tab, you might see apps that RAM clear failed to wipe off for good. In here, you can manually close the apps. But it doesn’t stop there. You might be surprised at how many are still up and running.

Head to the installed list and try tapping through them; you will find some can still be “Force stop”. Just make sure you don’t stop those essential ones needed by the system.

More on Background Apps:It goes without saying that having more apps running in the background means battery will drop even faster. Whenever you hit home or back out of apps, some will remain mildly active to stay connected to the Internet, alerting you of notifications, and the like. So you can swipe them out or clear RAM to deal with them (though some apps will still restart on its own).However, frequently closing and re-opening apps will result in more battery drain since they need to repeatedly load into the RAM. Hence, you should really consider keeping those apps that you will reuse soon.Another suggestion is to just uninstall those you don’t really need; it’ll save up some space too.

Note: iPhones will automatically close apps that are inactive after a period of time.iv. Vampires in Disguise as Little Fairies (Widgets):

Similarly, having more widgets up will add more load on your battery. If you really need the juice to last, get rid of those you don’t really need.

(iPhone) Go to Home screen -> Swipe till you see widgets -> Scroll down then choose edit -> Add or remove those little fairies to your heart’s content.

(Android) Tap and hold the Home screen -> Tap widgets from the menu that popped out below -> Close the existing one (tap the cross on the widgets already placed on your Home screen) or drag new ones onto the Home screen.

And before we end, some extras for your knowing pleasureTemperature

Exposing your device to extreme ambient (surrounding) temperature isn’t ideal for your battery health. High heat might damage your battery, and the cold might accelerate consumption or if it gets cold enough, stops it entirely.Flight Mode

Getting into flight mode when connectivity isn’t needed, e.g., when you are sleeping, will definitely help in holding the juice. However, that means you’ve shut yourself off from getting any emergency calls.

There you have it: the battery vampires we gathered to help you be a smarter and more conscious smartphone users. As time goes by, we will add more or update the existing ones to ensure you can get the best and updated info as can be.

How to Delay Battery Degradation When Charging Overnight

Limiting the time spent at full charge

Method 1: The Committed Routine Manager

Plan your nighttime charging so it’ll be full before you sleep. In other words, avoid charging phone overnight altogether. If you have a fixed bedtime, plug it to charge 2 hours (or less, depending on charging speed and battery level) before that. Perfectly battery-healthy but inconvenient.

You have to either not use at all or use while charging, which may heat up your phone if heavy-duty apps are involved. And it isn’t suitable for anyone who doesn’t have enough time to fully charge before sleep (e.g., working late, party, etc).Method 2: The Slow And Steady

Swap in a slow cable/charger without fast charging. It’ll help to lower the fast charging heat and time spent at full charge. Your phone might still spend a few hours at full charge, but it’ll be much lesser.Method 3: The Uncommitted But Carefree

Unplug when you wake up … if you do wake up dead in the night from nightmares or for bathroom. Or if you are an early riser. It isn’t much, but it at least helps with minimal effort.

You wouldn’t set an alarm 2 hours into sleeping just to unplug, right?

Method 4:smart charging solutions
Alternatively, opt for a smart charging cable that cuts off power automatically at full charge. That way, you’ll get to minimize the degradation while getting the smartphone runtime and sleep you need.BONUS TIP: Use a quality wall charger!

Cheap charger is cheap for a reason. Don’t skimp on that! You’ll risk damaging your phone because cheaper charger may not provide a stable voltage output throughout the charging.Reducing heat while charging

1.Charge Where Heat Dissipates

Don’t ever charge on a bed, or worst, under the pillow. Unless only for a short while. Even so, you’ll notice how fast it heats up. And resist your desire to stack objects on top like it’s Jenga time.

What makes a good charging spot? Flat and sturdy surfaces like table, bedside cabinet, and floor. Bad spots will be those that are cushiony and trap heat; couch, blankets, and mattress, you name it.

2.Charge Your Phone Naked

No. Not you, but your phone. Yes, phones are fragile. But those thick casings you wrap your phones in trap heat and slow down cooling. Imagine dressing in a winter jacket while exercising. Nonetheless, this doesn’t apply to all as some aren’t as dense, e.g., phone skins. Try to notice how hot your device gets while charging in certain casings.

3.Use Non-Fast Charger

Again, fast charging cooks up battery quickly. So switch to a normal, or better yet, slow charger for overnight charging. Unless you’re the type that only sleeps a short few hours.

4.Charging Is Also Resting

Let your phone be app-free while it’s juicing up. Though the heat isn’t much if you’re using light apps like Messenger or Instagram. GPU and graphics-heavy apps (e.g., games) will generate much more heat, and worse if the phone’s charging.Wrapping Up

Is charging phone overnight bad? Not a concern if you seasonally upgrade to a new phone. Otherwise, your daily convenience may return to bite you in a year or so, in the form of shortened battery lifespan; and it’s all downhill thereafter until you send it to a repair shop or a dealer for a battery replacement.Different ways to reduce overnight charging degradation:

1.Plan your charging before bedtime

2.Use a slow charger

3.Unplug as soon as you wake up

4.Use an auto cutoff charging cable/power outlet

5.Charger overnight on a cool and flat surface

6.Remove thick phone casing before plugging in

Charging Phone Overnight: The real reason it’s bad

Smartphones are now so integral to our daily life. So much so that their batteries couldn’t ever keep up with our daytime needs. (Why can’t we get better batteries already!?)

Which leads to charging phone overnight. Because what’s a better time to recharge than when we’re sleeping? But then the paranoia and fear come hailing down on us: overcharging phone and battery explosion. Leaving in us a dilemma we’re all too familiar with …But is it really bad to charge your phone overnight?

So you leave your phone charging overnight … what terrible fate awaits you? The Big Bang? The Reign of Fire? Neither. Your phone gets charged, just that. The myth that this overcharges your phone – oh wait we’ve said it – it’s A MYTH. At least since phones have evolved into smartphones. And as their newly-earned prefix implies, they’re smart, in that they have an inbuilt protection chip that prevents overcharging at full battery.

In place of the now-debunked overcharging threat is trickle charging. It lowers the current matching the discharge rate (or consumption) to maintain 100% charge level.

During overnight charging, your phone constantly uses battery to stay functional, much like all things living; and when consumption happens, recharging happens. And this opens up to a hell of short-lived battery for whoever couldn’t bear to replace their phones every year or two. (If you do, however … Well, you may skip this reading.)The Real Issues With Charging Phone Overnight

Most phones nowadays use Lithium-ion batteries (LiB). They’re rechargeable and do so faster than rechargeable batteries in the past. They race to 80% in a flash, what with all the fast charging technology boasted by many a clashing smartphone titans (e.g., Huawei and Samsung). Owing to that, phones now take 1 to 2 hours top to fully charge. That’s really saying your precious phone spends most time hooked to the charger at 100% battery while you’re fast asleep. But … what’s the deal?

Stress on Lithium-ion battery. There’s no arguing that Li-ion is superior among batteries. But a champion is not without its weakness. In fact, it’s bordering counterintuitive: Li-ion suffers from stress when dwelling at full state-of-charge (100%). And when it does so consistently month after month, its recoverable capacity will drop; though the decline may not amount to much in the short run, it does leave a dent in the battery capacity that will be a long-term thorn in your side.

Adding insult to injury, it’s not even advisable to fully charge a Li-ion battery for the same reason; what’s more, prolonging it overnight? The closer it gets to 100%, the more degradation it stomachs. Generally, battery level outside the 20% – 80% range will degrade the battery more. But what could be behind this counterintuitive existence?

How Prolonged Charging Degrades Battery

Surely, you’ve heard that Li-ion batteries are bound to decay since day one; everything they do – cycling, discharging, and charging – wastes away their lifespan. But that isn’t to say the process couldn’t be hastened or delayed by your actions.

When charging, Lithium ions swim across the cathode (the positive electrode of a battery) to anode (the negative electrode), which is exactly how it should be. But it is during which that an irreversible damage also takes place: electrically-insulating rock-salts form & buildup over the cathode. Overtime, the buildup grows and battery capacity shrinks.

The worst of all, the buildup blooms like wildflowers after rainy days at higher battery levels and temperatures. Certainly, maintaining a high battery level longer will degrade the battery faster. And this is even more harmful than cycling a battery.

Which is why many, including Apple, recommend storing your battery at half charge …

To clarify, the problem isn’t inherent in trickle charging but charging and high state-of-charge themselves. However, trickle charging lends itself to prolonging charging and high state-of-charge more than needed, more pronouncedly, in an overnight charging session.

We may have phased out of the old Nickel-era, which condemned users to charge their devices fully on every session, lest batteries’ cyclic memory forget their maximum capacity; now, Li-ion suffers from full charge instead.What about heat during overnight charging?

It’s widely known that heat damages the battery capacity too. It’s just less an issue concerning overnight charging because, well, it happens whenever you charge anyway. Most heat is stoked up before nearing 100% owing to fast charging; the low voltage of trickle charge means its generated heat is negligible.

How to Boost Your Router Security

In today’s hyper-connected world, your WiFi router is one of the most critical tools for protecting your personal data.

As the gateway for emails, video calls, and a myriad financial transactions, it can be a prime target for cybercriminals. And, if you work remotely from home, any sensitive corporate documents that flow into and out of your WiFi network can make for a tempting target, too.

The risks are real: Hackers thousands of miles away can exploit software vulnerabilities to compromise devices, steal information, or turn your connected gadgets into unwitting participants in a sweeping botnet attack.

The good news? Strengthening your home’s WiFi security doesn’t require an IT degree. By following a few straightforward steps, you can significantly reduce the risks and better protect your digital life.Turn On Automatic Updates

Router manufacturers typically release software updates throughout the year to address security threats, fix bugs, and improve performance.

The easiest way to make sure your router always has the latest, safest software is to activate the automatic firmware update feature available on many of today’s models.

Newer routers make this relatively easy through a companion mobile app.

For other routers, you’ll need to look in the device’s settings. You can do that by opening a web browser and typing in the device’s IP address. Very often, the address is 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. But this varies by brand. So consult the owner’s manual or do an online search for the customer support pages for your router model.

If your router doesn’t provide automatic updates, you’ll have to periodically download and install the new firmware from the manufacturer’s website yourself.

Richard Fisco, who oversees electronics testing at Consumer Reports, says that to be safe you should check for new updates at least every three months. 

You can also see if there’s a way to get security notices via email from the router’s manufacturer when new software is available. Many brands offer that as an option during the online product registration process.

Manufacturers do eventually stop releasing new software for older models, though. The routers may lack the memory or processing power needed to run the software effectively. The manufacturer may lose access to support from a component supplier. And companies in the business of selling things do need to shift focus to newer models.

“If you find your router is no longer getting updates, it’s too risky to keep using it,” Fisco says. “Verify its status with the manufacturer, and if it has reached the ‘end of life’ stage, buy a new router.”

One relatively inexpensive router that supports automatic firmware updating is the Netgear Nighthawk AX3000, which costs around $175 and features three units—a hub and two satellites—that work together as a mesh router system to spread WiFi more evenly throughout your home.

Other recommended models include the TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro and Google Nest WiFi.

Turn Off Features You Don’t Use

Modern routers come with many handy features that help you manage your WiFi network, but some create weak spots in your defenses.

So when you’re logged in to your router’s settings, take a minute to review applications that could present opportunities for hackers.

If you don’t use Remote Administration (also known as Remote Management or web access from WAN), make sure it’s turned off. This denies access to the router’s control panel from outside your home network. In most routers, the feature is off by default, but you should confirm this by going to the advanced or administration section of the settings menu.

Disable Universal Plug-and-Play (UPnP), which many home routers have enabled by default. UPnP can help devices on your home network connect to each other, but the added convenience isn’t worth the security risk. This feature can make it easier for malware to spread through your network.

To disable UPnP, log in to your router like you would when changing your password (see below). Find the “tools,” “advanced,” or “advanced networks” menu. From there, make sure the “Enable UPnP” box is unchecked.

And last, if you have a guest network without a password, disable it. You don’t want unwanted guests using it without permission.Use Strong Passwords

There are two crucial passwords on your router: one for the device itself, which you use to log into the admin portal to do things like update settings, and one for the WiFi network created by the router.

You should change both passwords as soon as you set up the router.

Routers typically ship with default passwords used to set up the device. At times, they’re even printed on a label on the router itself. For convenience, the default passwords for lots of routers also appear online—and a password that’s easy for anyone to find is no help at all.

With a little online sleuthing, a hacker could use a default password to access your network and potentially control your router. If that were to happen, the hacker could change your passwords, spy on you, or access the files on a network-attached hard drive.

The settings and connection passwords can both be changed via the router’s mobile app or the settings page (aka 192.168.1.1).

Make sure the passwords you create are strong and unique—that is, different from one another and from any other password you use. They should have at least a dozen characters, with seemingly random upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. To keep track of them, you might also consider using a password manager.Change the Default SSID to Something Impersonal

Lastly, you’ll want to change the default name of your WiFi network, also known as the SSID. Leaving the default in place can reveal your router’s make and model, potentially helping hackers break into it—especially if you haven’t changed the default passwords as well.

And rather than change the name of the network to something that can be linked to you (“De Leon Family WiFi,” for example), you should instead give it more of a generic name, says Steve Blair, who oversees digital security testing for Consumer Reports. 

Choosing a personal SSID can make it easier for hackers and other ne’er-do-wells to carry out hyper-personalized phishing attacks designed to steal your personal information. “It’s easier than you think,” he adds, ”especially with sites like Wigle,” which lists crowdsourced WiFi network information.

You can even tell your router not to broadcast the SSID at all. Once you do that, any device that has never been connected to your WiFi won’t be able to “see” the network.

To connect to the WiFi via a new device, you have to manually input the network name, instead of selecting it from a list of nearby options. But what is at most a minor inconvenience for you—how often do you connect new devices to your WiFi?—essentially makes your network invisible to would-be hackers.

Use WPA3

Security protocols for routers improve over time, which means the old ones get outdated. 

Among other things, the latest standard, known as WPA3, encrypts your WiFi connection, making it harder for cybercriminals to guess your WiFi password using hacking tools that automatically cycle through tens of thousands of possibilities, says Kevin Robinson, vice president of marketing at the WiFi Alliance, which oversees the standard.

WPA3 has been a mandatory inclusion for WiFi-certified devices since 2020. So if your router is reasonably new, it should be supported.

If your router doesn’t support WPA3, use the previous standard, known as WPA2-AES. 

Routers that can’t use WPA2 should be replaced, according to Fisco, because they’re simply not equipped to handle today’s threats.

How to Recover Files From a Broken Phone

Today’s cell phones are filled with photos, videos, contact information, personal information and a host of other data. We often mistakenly assume that this data is completely safe, until one day our phone becomes unusable and it appears to be lost forever.

If you have broken your phone or one of its critical components and are worried that you have lost all the content stored on your device, don’t panic too quickly.

There are actually different ways to recover data from a broken cell phone, whether it is an iPhone or an Android device. Check out the most popular ones in this article.Useful tips for broken phone data recovery

Before taking any of the data recovery steps explained below, there are some things you should know.

First, if your mobile device’s hard drive or SD card was damaged by water or suffered physical damage, the data might not be accessible. However, with basic data recovery tools and techniques, chances are you can recover data from most devices, especially if the storage functions have not been affected.

Before trying anything else, it’s worth checking the iCloud or Google account associated with your cell phone. Automatic backups are always better than data recovery, and most devices automatically back up items like photos, videos and other personal files to a cloud. All you might need to do is go to Google Drive or iCloud using a computer, log in and search for the data you want to recover.

That said, if the data you need has not been backed up automatically, your best option is data recovery using a technique appropriate for the problem plaguing your phone.Different methods of phone data recovery

Not all common phone problems will affect your device in the same way.

For instance, if you’re just having trouble with your screen or home button, finding another way to access the device will usually be enough to recover your data. On the other hand, if your phone is completely unresponsive, you will need to use a computer or a second phone to remotely recover the remaining data. In short, the recovery method you choose should be prioritized based on the problem.Recover data from a broken phone

To recover data from a broken phone with a non-functional screen, you will need to use a second device to extract the data from the SD card or a third-party application.Recover data from an SD card

Android devices such as Samsung, Motorola and Google Pixel cell phones can hold an SD card where music, videos and photos can be saved. However, depending on the version of your Android system and the settings you have chosen, you may even have applications and other data saved.

That may not be everything you want to recover, but it’s often a good start and it only takes four quick steps to recover the data:

1.Remove the SD card – You can usually find your SD card with your SIM card, either in a tray on the side of your device or behind the battery.

2.Insert SD card into another device – You can use a microSD adapter to put your SD card into a laptop or you can transfer it to a new Android device and connect it to a computer with a USB cable.

3.Explore the contents of the SD card – Open Windows File Explorer and find the new drive that contains the data on your SD card.

4.Find the files you need to recover – Search for the folders you need and copy them to your computer for easy access at any time.

Use a third-party application

There are many data recovery applications and software that can help you recover your data. Here are several options:

  • Fone
  • Enigma Recovery
  • DroidKit
  • And many more

However, before you start, keep in mind that the capabilities of these applications are limited and you may lock your phone if the operation is not done correctly. So be careful!

Recover data from a phone with a broken screen

A cracked screen that prevents touch controls from working can render a smartphone basically useless. However, there are ways to get around this and recover your data.

Using software

There are applications that allow you to control your phone through a computer. Once you have control of your damaged phone, you can copy the files to a new safe location.

We recommend the Droid@screen software or the Vysor extension for Chrome. Vysor is convenient because it works for both iPhone and Android devices.

Using a mouse in OTG

If your screen no longer works with touch but still lights up, you may not be able to unlock your phone unless you use an OTG (USB On-The-Go) computer mouse!

The procedure is simple and works for Android devices. You need to connect an OTG mouse to your smartphone, enter your password or recreate your unlock pattern.

Next, disconnect the mouse and connect your phone to your computer via a USB cable. Then simply open Windows File Explorer and copy and paste the files and folders you want to recover into a folder on your PC.

Recover data from an iPhone with a broken home button

Considering the importance of the home button on the iPhones that preceded the iPhone X (iPhone 8, iPhone SE, iPhone 7, etc.), it only makes sense that Apple has a built-in way to use their devices even when the button is broken.

This mode is called “assistive touch” and works by giving you a fixed menu with various options. You can add all sorts of custom settings, but a button to access the home screen will be present by default. Activate this mode and your broken home button will no longer be an issue.

Take steps to avoid emergency data recovery

In conclusion, there are several methods and techniques you can try if you ever need to recover important data from a broken or damaged phone.

However, why not do everything in your power to make sure you won’t have this dilemma? You can avoid these data recovery headaches by making backups on a regular basis.

And if you ever decide to replace your damaged phone, you can avoid paying an exorbitant price for a new device by choosing refurbished phones or used cell phones. At Recycell we offer models as recent as a used iPhone 12 so you can quickly replace your phone without breaking the bank or having to use an outdated device!

Can You Charge a Laptop With USB? (Quick & Easy Guide)

YES, charging a laptop with USB is possible. Even if your laptop uses a dedicated power adapter (aka DC jack)

But not every type of USB can deliver enough power to charge a laptop.

To be precise, you CAN charge a laptop with USB-C, but NEVER with USB Type-A. (The rectangular USB-port that most phone charger comes in).

Difference between USB-A & USB-C

Sadly, you cannot charge a laptop from USB-A ports. And you can find more USB-A ports in cars, hotels, airports than their USB-C counterparts.

This is because USB-A is released in 1996, compared to USB-C that’s released in 2014. (USB-A has an 18-year headstart to be adopted in cars and outlets.)Why can’t USB-A charge a laptop?

Most USB-A ports cannot deliver enough power (W) to sustain a laptop’s consumption.

A laptop needs at least a 45W power to run, typically. And that’s just for basic office laptops.

The laptops for gaming runs on wattages between 60W and 180W.

For that reason, most phone chargers aren’t powerful enough to charge a laptop.How much wattage does USB-A provide?

Not all USB-A ports are the same.

For chargers, USB-A ports usually provide between 4.5W to 12W. With 18W being the most common maximum limit for fast chargers. (18W is enough to charge Nintendo Switch and tablet by the way.)How much wattage does your laptop need?

Every model needs a different wattage.

All you need is to look at your laptop’s original charger, which is often in the format of “__V/__A”How to check laptop charger’s wattage

To get the wattage, just multiply V with A. For example, a 20V/3.25A laptop will need a 45W power adapter. (20 x 3.25 = 65)USB-A cannot provide the required specific voltage

Every device, regardless of wattage requirement, needs to be charged with specific voltage to prevent damages. 

Why? A higher or lower voltage, even by a small difference, will either shorten the device’s lifespan or cause it to shut down.

How? If voltage is lower, your laptop may either charge really slowly or shut off on its own due to power fluctuations.

On the other hand, a higher voltage will damage your battery or its components (such as motherboard and processor).

Lastly, USB-A is simply designed to only supply power. Meaning that your laptop cannot receive power through its USB-A ports.

Why can USB-C charge a laptop?

Because it supports Power Delivery standard (PD), which opens up to a whole world of new possibilities.

To begin, Power Delivery lets USB-C supply up to 100W power. (More accurately, up to 240W now with the 2.1 update to USB-C specification as of 2021)

That means if you’re not using any laptop that needs more than 240W power, USB-C can charge your laptop.

USB-C allows communication between charger & device

Remember that every device need to be charged at specific voltage?

Thanks to Power Delivery, charger can communicate with laptop to decide on the optimal voltage and wattage needed.

The communication, known as handshake, lets the charger supply 7 different levels of voltage profile: 5V, 9V, 15V, 20V, 28V, 36V, and 48V.

USB-C can both supply and receive power

What does it mean?

That means you can charge your laptop through its USB-C port, even if it has DC jack port.How to charge a laptop with USB-C?

The methods depends on whether your laptop has a USB-C port with Power Delivery support.

We’ll split the methods into these two categories:

A. Your laptop has USB-C port with Power Delivery

B. Your laptop neither has Power Delivery nor a USB-C port

How to tell? Just look for any icons around your USB-C port. 

If it has either of the symbols below, it has Power Delivery.

Note: Most Thunderbolt support also includes Power Delivery. However, there are some manufacturers who do not follow the standard and left Power Delivery out. In this case, the best way to verify is to check your laptop’s user manual.

Method A: Laptop has power delivery

Congratulations! All you need is the following:

Any USB-C power source (with equal or higher wattage your laptop needs).

Here are some examples:

A 45W and above USB-C Charger

A 45W and above USB-C power bank

A 45W and above car charger 

Yes, it’s possible to charge your laptop in a car or with a power bank.

     2. A USB-C to USB-C cable (with equal or higher wattage your laptop needs. 

For example, this 100W USB-C to C cable.

Or, better yet, get a universal 100W cable (that includes a Lightning & Micro USB adapters) so it can charge smartphone, tablet, laptop, and any USB-powered devices you own.

In a desk or office setting, this is what your set up may look like without the bulky laptop charger.

With both, you just need to plug your USB-C cable into the power source and your laptop’s USB-C port to start charging. The exact same way you would follow to charge a smartphone.

Method B: Laptop doesn’t have power delivery or USB-C

Actually, what you need is exactly the same as above (a power source and a cable) — just with one more step:

Converting the USB-C connector into the laptop adapter connector. So it can fit into your laptop’s power port.

And to achieve this, you need either:Laptop charger converter adapter

A USB-C to DC Jack converter. An adapter that converts your USB-C cable’s connector into the laptop adapter connector.USB-C to DC Jack Cables For Laptop

A USB-C to DC Jack cable. A male USB-C to male laptop adapter connector cable.

The converter works best if you already have a USB-C cable, or prefer a more minimal set up (as in you only need 1 USB-C cable to charge every device by switching the adapters.)

Otherwise, you may find a dedicated USB-C to DC Jack cable more suitable for you.

Turn Off These 3 TV Features for Better Picture Quality

With the first wave of new 2024 TVs hitting the market, you might be in the market for a new set—maybe to catch all the Major League Baseball action or to watch blockbuster movies in all their 4K HDR glory. But you could be disappointed to find your new TV doesn’t look quite as awesome as you imagined once you bring it home and set it up.

Instead, everything looks a bit fake and unnatural, not what you anticipated when you plunked down your credit card for a state-of-the-art television.

Before you race back to your local TV barn to demand a refund, take a deep breath: You may be a victim of your TV’s out-of-the-box settings rather than a lackluster piece of technology.

Many new TVs come with a bevy of optional display features that are turned on by default, and a few could be robbing your set of the best picture possible. Below are three features we recommend you shut off—or at least turn way down—when you get a new TV home.

One bit of good news is that it has been getting easier to get a great picture on new TVs. Useful new features include Filmmaker Mode and, to a lesser extent, Netflix Calibrated Mode, which we describe in more detail below.

In addition to turning off the following three features, you can adjust other TV settings, such as black levels and color, to get the best picture quality. And CR members can consult our TV Screen Optimizer to find the best settings for their own TV.

1. Noise Reduction

“Hey,” you might say, “why do I want to turn off noise reduction? I don’t want to see any noise on my TV!” That would seem to make sense, except it doesn’t.

Noise—sometimes called “snow” on account of the black and white dots in the picture—was a big issue with older analog TVs, especially with low-definition analog signals. When TVs upconvert video signals from low-quality sources, you may still see some noise.

But for the most part, you’re getting much cleaner, higher-quality digital source content these days, whether you’re using over-the-air digital broadcasts, high-def signals from cable or satellite TV services, streaming service signals, or pristine video from Blu-ray discs.

The problem with noise reduction is that it comes at the expense of detail and fine texture; these tend to get smoothed over when the feature is active. The picture can get soft-looking. Turn off noise reduction and you’ll have a more natural-looking image.

Become a member of Consumer Reports to get access to our TV Screen Optimizer, which will help you get the perfect picture on your TV in just minutes. Join today to get started.

2. Sharpness Control/Edge Enhancement

Another entry in the “sounds good but really isn’t” department is sharpness control, which doesn’t actually make the image sharper.

What it really does is accentuate the edges of images. At first glance, this might give the impression of greater detail, but in reality it masks fine detail—and oversharpened images can add a halo around objects.

So turn it way down or completely off. Some TVs have a zero setting in the center of the control. That’s what you should use. Lower it beyond that point and you might actually soften the image.

3. Motion Smoothing

One issue with LCD-based TVs in particular is that the image can blur during fast-moving scenes, especially in action movies or sports.

TV manufacturers use various technologies to reduce motion blur, such as repeating frames or inserting black frames into the video signal. These techniques go by a number of names, including Auto Motion Plus (Samsung), Motionflow (Sony), and TruMotion (LG).

What is E-Waste and How Can You Reduce It?

With the astonishing pace at which technology is advancing, we have all lived through generations of models and entire categories of devices becoming obsolete. Technology that was considered cutting edge just a few years ago can’t keep pace with modern updates.

What happens to these devices when they have outlived their usefulness? Many sit in houses for years collecting dust, their owners unsure what to do with them. Eventually, most end up in the trash, which can have serious and unintended consequences.

In this article, the experts at Recycell present an overview of e-waste, its dangers, and how it can be mitigated.What is e-waste?

E-waste, also known as waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), refers to electronics that are discarded because they are unwanted, not working, or no longer considered useful. The term includes almost any item that contains circuitry or electrical components powered by electricity or a battery. Examples include microwaves, fans, smartphones, computers, DVD and Blu-Ray players, video game consoles, TVs, fax machines and printers.

E-waste is increasing exponentially, with a record 53.6 million metric tonnes generated globally in 2019, according to the Global E-waste Monitor 2020. This presents a major problem, as e-waste leaches toxic materials when disposed of in landfills. Electronics contain valuable raw materials that could be reused, but only 17.4% of the e-waste generated in 2019 was recycled, leaving the grand majority of the US$57 billion worth of raw materials in landfills.Planned obsolescence

The truth is that many of the electronics being sent to landfills don’t even need to be discarded—a lot of them still work! Technology is just evolving so fast that devices become outdated before they even have a chance to wear out. How many of us have anxiously awaited the end of our two-year plan before rushing out to buy the latest flagship phone from Samsung or Apple?

The issue of technological advances fuelling e-waste is further exacerbated by manufacturers using strategies such as software updates and ending support for older models to push consumers to buy new devices. Repair is portrayed as expensive, inconvenient, and less advantageous than buying a replacement with updated features.Consequences of e-waste disposalHealth and the environment

While electronics are safe to use and be around, most contain toxic materials such as beryllium, cadmium, mercury, arsenic and lead. When the electronics are buried in a landfill, the toxins leach into the soil and can contaminate the groundwater. While each device only releases trace amounts of toxins, the amount of e-waste now being discarded results in significant accumulation.

In Canada, it’s illegal to export e-waste to developing countries. However, other nations are in the habit of shipping their e-waste to developing countries that lack the capacity to handle it appropriately, endangering the local environment and public health. Exposure to such toxic contaminants can have irreversible health consequences such as cancer, miscarriage and neurological damage.

Furthermore, mining for the raw materials to manufacture new electronics also releases contaminants into the environment.Cybersecurity

The consequences of e-waste disposal on the environment are evident, but fewer people are aware that throwing electronics away can also pose dangers to data security and privacy. It might seem improbable, but hackers and identity thieves are perfectly willing to dumpster dive to acquire the treasure troves of data stored on old, discarded devices.

Even if you erase all of your sensitive personal information before throwing your old phone or laptop in the trash, the data is not completely eliminated from the hard drive and can be retrieved by skilled hackers. The resulting leaks can be financially and legally catastrophic for businesses and individuals alike.

Professional e-waste recycling companies have the expertise necessary to ensure that none of your sensitive data remains in the components of your device. In the end, recycling your old devices may prove just as important as securing your phone while it’s still in use!How to reduce e-waste

Materials such as steel, glass, copper, aluminum, iron, plastic and precious metals can be recovered from obsolete electronics and reused to manufacture new ones. Companies like Samsung are starting to make environmentally-friendly phones out of recycled materials. Recycling has the double benefit of keeping e-waste out of landfills and reducing the need to mine new materials.

Recycling your old electronics may seem more complicated than simply throwing them in the trash, but there are many resources available to help you recycle your phone and other devices. Most phone vendors can take care of recycling your old phone when you purchase a new one. Canada has a free program called Recycle My Cell for recycling mobile devices and accessories. They can even provide you with a pre-paid shipping label to mail your device in for recycling! The Recycle My Electronics program provides drop off points for e-waste in nine provinces across the country.

Governments also have a role to play in creating incentives to reduce e-waste. They can push companies to offer buy-back systems for old devices and encourage repair as a viable option.Help reduce e-waste by buying a used phone!

Another way for consumers to help reduce e-waste and minimize their ecological footprint is to buy a used phone. Buying a used phone reduces the demand for mining new raw materials and gives a second life to a device that might otherwise become e-waste.

Businesses that are looking to upgrade their cell phone fleets can also sell their old devices to a used phone retailer to prevent them from ending up in a landfill or in the hands of a cybercriminal. 

Why Does My iPhone Brightness Keep Changing or Dimming?

iPhone features that can affect brightness

If you find that your iPhone brightness keeps changing or dimming unexpectedly, don’t panic! It doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s something wrong with your phone. There are a variety of features that can affect screen brightness. It’s a good idea to check them all before jumping to conclusions.Auto-Brightness

Generally, if your iPhone screen keeps dimming, it’s because Auto-Brightness is turned on. This feature automatically adjusts the brightness of your phone screen based on the surrounding lighting.

If you want to stop your phone from dimming automatically due to this feature, go to Settings –> Accessibility –> Display & Text Size and toggle off Auto-Brightness. You’ll see a warning that turning off Auto-Brightness can affect battery life. This is because leaving your phone on maximum brightness all day will drain the battery faster than allowing it to adjust automatically to the ambient light.Night Shift

If your iPhone screen seems dimmer at night, it may be because you have Night Shift turned on. This feature shifts to warmer tones after sunset (using the clock and geolocation of your phone to ascertain when the sun will set) to help you fall asleep.

Go to Settings –> Display & Brightness –> Night Shift. There, you’ll be able to adjust the settings or turn Night Shift off entirely. You can also turn Night Shift on or off from the Control Center if your iPhone is running iOS 11 or later. Open Control Center by swiping down from the upper right-hand corner if your phone has Face ID, or swiping up from the bottom of your screen if not. Simply press and hold the brightness slider in the Control Center to access the Night Shift button.True Tone

True Tone is a feature that automatically adjusts the colour of your phone’s display based on the ambient light, just like Auto-Brightness does for screen brightness. The colour shift may sometimes make your screen appear dimmer. Go to Settings –> Display & Brightness and check to see whether True Tone is on!Low Power Mode

Low Power Mode is a feature that adjusts a variety of settings, including screen brightness, in order to conserve battery life. You can easily check whether your iPhone is in Low Power Mode by taking a look at the battery icon in the top right-hand corner. If it’s yellow, that means that Low Power Mode is on.

Low Power Mode will automatically turn off when your iPhone is charged to 80% or more, but if you’d like to turn it off manually, go to Settings –> Battery and toggle it off.Reduce White Point

Reduce White Point is a feature that lowers the intensity of bright colours on your screen, making the display easier on the eyes. Go to Settings –> Accessibility –> Display & Text Size to access Reduce White Point. If you don’t want to turn it off completely, you can drag the slider further to the left to lessen its effect.Common iPhone problems that can affect screen brightness

If none of the features listed above are causing your screen dimming problem, your iPhone may be experiencing a software or hardware issue. If that’s the case, there are a few simple fixes you can try before taking your phone to a professional for repair. If none of these solutions work, it may be a sign that you need a new phone.Software glitches

Whenever we’re having trouble with a device, the first piece of advice we usually hear is “try turning it off and on again.” While it may seem silly, a simple restart can actually resolve many common phone problems! Your screen brightness issues may be caused by a temporary glitch that can be resolved by restarting your iPhone.

If that doesn’t work, try updating your phone. If a software glitch is the culprit, there may be a fix for it in the latest update.Overheating

iPhones are programmed to dim automatically when they get too hot. This is a built-in feature from Apple that is designed to protect the phone’s internal components and prevent hardware damage, because the brighter a display is, the more heat it generates.

If your phone is getting too hot, it’s important to cool it down and figure out why it’s overheating. Possible causes include running power-intensive apps like mobile games or video players, having too many apps running in the background, downloads and installations and leaving your phone out in the sun. Try putting your phone in a cool place out of the sun, taking off the case and letting it rest for a while. You can even turn it off to try to speed up the cooling process.