In the era of Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, learning how to pay with your phone while you’re out can be a gamechanger when it comes to efficiency and convenience.  

For smartphone users, many of us are surprised to learn just how much we rely on apps. From social media, internet banking, navigation and even finding love – if you can think of it, there’s usually an app for it. While the perks of having a camera and a calculator in our pocket at all times are pretty swell, it’s the tiny details of smartphones that truly make them invaluable when it comes to improving the quality of our day to day lives. 

One of these smaller features that have been revolutionary is the addition of inbuilt payment systems in certain models of smart phones. For shopping online and in person, learning how to pay with your phone also eliminates the need to carry credit or debit cards around with you on a day to day basis. While not available on all smart phone models, tech giants have rolled out payment systems like Apple Pay and Samsung Pay to their range of devices as a means to boost their appeal – but how do they work, and how can users set this function up?

How To Set Up A Mobile Payment System On Your Phone

Gone are the days of needing to stash your phone and your wallet in your back pocket or bag, as there’s now a convenient alternative to carrying credit cards and cash – mobile payment solutions. For smartphone users who own devices that have this function, they offer a mobile “wallet” as a means to pay for online transactions or use a built-in chip in your phone to make purchases in a store or retail outlet. 

Industry titans such as Apple and Samsung know just how much consumers value the quality, performance, bells and whistles of their smartphones, and in turn have invested heavily into them. Each has a separate form of mobile payment, aptly dubbed Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. 

Although their initial setup is as simple as adding a credit or debit card to your app store identification, new users can get a bit flustered with using this payment system in person. To learn how to pay with your phone, we’ll happily give you a crash course based on which type of device you own. 

To pay with your iPhone and use Apple Pay in store via an EFTPOS machine, simply follow the below instructions. 

1. To use your default payment card:
   1. If your iPhone has Face ID, double-click the side button. Authenticate with Face ID or enter your passcode.
   2. If your iPhone has Touch ID, rest your finger on the Touch ID sensor.
2. To use a different card, tap your default card to see your other cards. Tap a new card and authenticate.
3. Hold the top of your iPhone near the contactless reader or EFTPOS machine until you see Done and a tick on the display.

To pay with your Galaxy and use Samsung Pay in store via an EFTPOS machine, simply follow the below instructions. 

1. When you’re ready to pay, open the Samsung Pay app on your phone.
2. Tap the Pay tab, and select your preferred card. Tap Pay again, and then choose your desired security option, such as entering your PIN or fingerprints.
3. Enter the required security information or simply place your finger on your phone’s fingerprint scanner.
4. Next, hold the back of the phone up to the contactless reader and perform your desired actions to complete your purchase.

Users are also able to use Samsung Pay via the Favourite Cards feature if already set up, and follow steps three and four outlined above. 

Although we live in an increasingly digital age, technology has also brought with it an extra set of distractions on top of whatever happens to pop up during our day to day lives. If you’re looking for advice on how to pay with your phone or are stuck on how to set it up, then it’s always worth speaking to the professionals. 

Talk Technology With The Professionals

SOS Phone Repairs are specialists in high-quality, cost-effective phone repairs, tablet repairs, and PC repairs, all backed with a six month warranty. Founded in 2015 in Coffs Harbour and now with over sixteen outlets located all over Australia, our primary driving factors remain the same: people and phones. 

Whether it’s to get a few more years out of your trusted iPhone, to fix one up to sell, or to repurpose an old one as a gift, repairing a smartphone might just be easier and cheaper than you think. However, if you’re in the market for a new smartphone, SOS Phone Repairs also stocks a wide variety of refurbished handsets at a fraction of the cost of a brand new one. While each has been carefully restored to perform at their best, all refurbished smartphones purchased through SOS also come with a twelve month warranty, and can be purchased at any of our sixteen store locations.  

If you are on the hunt for a quote, diagnostic, or even just some good old fashioned, friendly advice, please don’t hesitate to get in touch or give us a call today at SOS Phone Repairs. 

 

Are you the proud owner of the new iPhone 13, but aren’t quite sure how all the bells and whistles work? Some insider knowledge, tips and tricks might help. 

For the uninitiated, the iPhone is a line of smartphones designed and marketed by  Apple Inc, that use Apple’s iOS mobile operating system.  As of November 1 2018, more than 2.2 billion iPhones had been sold worldwide, and is regarded as the original smart phone and arguably the globe’s most celebrated.

The humble iPhone has a user interface built around a multi-touch screen. They connect to both cellular networks and Wi-Fi, and can make calls, browse the internet, take pictures and videos, play music, and send and receive text messages and emails. Since it’s initial release in 2007, the iPhone’s features have certainly come a long way. Improvements have been made to keep up with consumer demand, such as larger screen sizes, waterproofing, the ability to install third party apps, and many more accessibility features. 

Each September, consumers have come to expect and look forward to the annual iPhone release event orchestrated by Apple, the latest of which being the iPhone 13. However, every model of iPhone is always slightly different, so what are some tips and tricks to help users make the most of the newest release?

Seven Insider Tips On Using The iPhone 13

Whether you’re eager to start connecting to 5G or capture footage with the most up-to-date Apple camera technology, then the iPhone 13 is definitely worth the purchase price. Even if you’re not the type to jump at the annual models released by the tech giant, the latest updates have wowed both new converts and seasoned professionals when it comes to making the most of the smartphone. 

Focus Modes – Remember when our only options were Do Not Disturb or normal phone function? The iPhone 13 seems all too aware of the distractions that smartphones can herald, and has introduced Focus Mode. Users can select the apps or the contacts which can send you notifications, and you can also create dedicated focus profiles like “work” or “sleep”. 

Schedule Notifications – Particularly in the era of working from home, many of us have grappled with disturbed sleep from emails or notifications from apps. Now, users can add a specific window of time that each app sends these notifications. To enable it, head over to Settings > Notifications > Scheduled Notifications and toggle the switch, and pick your app. 

Screenshots Made Easy – How many times have you accidentally locked your phone by trying to press the buttons required for a screenshot? Now, iPhone 13 users have the option to customise the actions required, and can now simply double-tap or triple-tap to take a screenshot. Turn this feature on via the Accessibility settings. 

Scan Text To Your Phone – One of the neater tricks of the iPhone 13 is its ability to scan text directly from the camera and paste it into a document, allowing users to skip the process of typing the addresses and other texts manually. All you need to do is point your camera at a snippet of text, and tap the icon that appears in the bottom right corner of the camera. 

Improved FaceTime – The iPhone 13 has a feature dubbed Eye Contact, which improves your experience with FaceTime video calls. Essentially, the Eye Contact feature augments the FaceTime call to make it look like you are looking at the person, rather than at the screen. Enable this feature by going to Settings > FaceTime and enable the toggle next to Eye Contact.

Drag And Drop Photos – Exchanging information in the digital age can be a challenge, but now iPhone 13 users can drag and drop content between apps. To move text or images between apps, simply long press on the subject until it becomes translucent. When holding the selected objects, swipe on the tray below to go to the app of your choice and “drop” the images.

Built In Authenticator – Forget about relying on third-party apps like Google Authenticator for digital security, as the iPhone 13 now features a built-in version that gives the ability to quickly generate verification codes and enter them into your online accounts. You can set up an authentication code generator on your device by going to Settings > Passwords.

Although we live in an increasingly digital age, technology has also brought with it an extra set of distractions on top of whatever happens to pop up during our day to day lives. If you’re looking for advice on how to make the most of your iPhone 13 or any of the other models, then it’s always worth speaking to the experts. 

Talk Technology With The Professionals

SOS Phone Repairs are specialists in high-quality, cost-effective phone repairs, tablet repairs, and PC repairs, all backed with a six month warranty. Founded in 2015 in Coffs Harbour and now with over sixteen outlets located all over Australia, our primary driving factors remain the same: people and phones. 

Whether it’s to get a few more years out of your trusted iPhone, to fix one up to sell, or to repurpose an old one as a gift, repairing a smartphone might just be easier and cheaper than you think. However, if you’re in the market for a new smartphone, SOS Phone Repairs also stocks a wide variety of refurbished handsets at a fraction of the cost of a brand new one. While each has been carefully restored to perform at their best, all refurbished smartphones purchased through SOS also come with a twelve month warranty, and can be purchased at any of our sixteen store locations.  

If you are on the hunt for a quote, diagnostic, or even just some good old fashioned, friendly advice, please don’t hesitate to get in touch or give us a call today at SOS Phone Repairs. 

 

Whether it’s the software rollouts, games or gadget drops, here’s your SOS Phone Repairs monthly update on what’s happening with the latest March tech news. 

While technology sure is a wonderful thing, the dark side to these advancements mean regular updates, new device releases, and a wide range of other obligations that the average consumer often unwittingly signs up for. On the other hand, developments in technology can also provide a boost to productivity, efficiency and are often convenient ways to streamline our day to day lives. 

As such, it’s almost inevitable that there always seems to be an onslaught of new product drops, software updates and even fresh games to hit the market that are regularly released so that we can make the most of this digital world – so what’s on offer this month when it comes to the latest March tech news and updates?

The Lowdown On March Tech News 

Even despite what’s going on in the wide world, for the global tech giants, the show must go on. With the release of new games, software and devices still happening left, right and centre, the latest updates are always worth paying attention to. For the savvy digital consumer who traditionally follows these types of updates, we’ve deemed the below to be the most noteworthy in regards to March tech news.

Foldable MacBook Rumours – With Apple’s annual September product drop rapidly approaching, whispers on a blend between a MacBook and an iPhone boasting an impressive 20-inch screen continue to circulate. When folded, the device would feature a touchscreen keyboard, and when laid flat it would become a full screen monitor that could have an external keyboard attached to it as well. 

Samsung Galaxy S22 Drops – As the latest Samsung Galaxy S22, S22 Plus and S22 Ultra are now available in Australia, Samsung fans have wasted no time in getting their hands on the latest models. While the basic look of the Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus is very similar to last year’s Galaxy S21, the S22 Ultra has received a few pretty significant upgrades to the tech when compared to previous models. 

Off Road Apple Watch – With the Series 3 Apple Watch set for retirement, the next product drop is set to feature an Apple Watch like nothing we’ve ever seen before. September is set to welcome three different versions of the new Series 8 Apple Watch, with one particular model rumoured to be an “extreme sports version” slightly less delicate than previous market offerings, and designed to handle more challenging conditions. 

Fresh Game Releases – While January and February releases weren’t exactly gamechangers, March has a few more exciting offerings for fans to pay attention to. It’s a big month for Square Enix and JPRG fans, as original tactics gameTriangle Strategy from Team Asano and Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin (a retelling of FF1) are set to hit Australian shores, along with the Final Fantasy-inspired kart racing game Chocobo GP. 

Although we live in an increasingly digital age, technology has also brought with it an extra set of distractions on top of whatever happens to pop up during our day to day lives. If you’re looking to improve your selfie game, want to learn more about your smart phone’s camera, or even need some help in choosing the right type of device based on your needs, it’s always worth speaking to the professionals. 

Talk March Tech News With The Professionals

SOS Phone Repairs are specialists in high-quality, cost-effective phone repairs, tablet repairs, and PC repairs, all backed with a six month warranty. Founded in 2015 in Coffs Harbour and now with over sixteen outlets located all over Australia, our primary driving factors remain the same: people and phones. 

Whether it’s to get a few more years out of your trusted iPhone, to fix one up to sell, or to repurpose an old one as a gift, repairing a smartphone might just be easier and cheaper than you think. However, if you’re in the market for a new smartphone, SOS Phone Repairs also stocks a wide variety of refurbished handsets at a fraction of the cost of a brand new one. While each has been carefully restored to perform at their best, all refurbished smartphones purchased through SOS also come with a twelve month warranty, and can be purchased at any of our sixteen store locations.  

If you are on the hunt for a quote, diagnostic, or even just some good old fashioned, friendly advice, please don’t hesitate to get in touch or give us a call today at SOS Phone Repairs. 

 

Whether you’re new to smartphones or simply need to update your Tinder profile, learning how to take a selfie is all but a rite of passage in the 2020’s.

Globally, 83% of the population now owns a smartphone. When you compare that figure to 49% in 2016, it’s safe to say that we’re well and truly living in the digital age. With more than three quarters of the world now having a camera in their pocket at any given moment of the day, it’s amazing to think that the concept of taking a selfie didn’t even exist twenty years ago – or maybe it did, and now we just have a name for it. 

Although popular in Japanese culture in the early nineties, selfies – or self portraits – grew in popularity in line with the technology developments of smart phones. Often taken with a camera held at arm’s length, many Millennials either fondly recall or cringe at their Myspace selfies that once dominated social media. These days, reversible smartphone cameras and selfie sticks have fine tuned the process, making the art of capturing photos and videos of yourself significantly easier. 

For those who still need to learn how to take a selfie, the good news is that the process is relatively straightforward, with many avenues and even additional forms of apparatus now available to new smartphone users – so what are your options? 

Five Tips On Taking The Perfect Selfie 

You might be on a solo adventure overseas, and wish to capture this moment in time. You might be in dire need of a new Facebook profile picture. You might even just want to send a picture of yourself to your Mum to let her know what you’re up to. Whatever your reasons, learning how to take a selfie that you’re not embarrassed to show someone else is somewhat of a fine art. Thankfully, there are a few cheat codes that can be deployed as a means to boost your selfie game.

Natural Light – Fluorescent lighting does your face no favours, so get outside if you want to take the perfect selfie. Though natural light is important, try to avoid directly facing the sun and casting shadows on your face. Two hours after sunrise or two hours before sunset are usually considered as your best bet, with the latter being known as the revered “golden hour”. 

Play With Angles – Unflattering angles are the enemy of any decent selfie. Experiment with positions that highlight your best features, such as pointing your chin slightly down while looking up at the camera, and turning your face slightly to one side. Avoid taking selfies that have the camera looking up at your chin, and try to get the camera at the level that best suits your face. 

Experiment With Settings – The smartphone manufacturers know all too well that consumers love the in-built cameras on their devices, so go exploring to see which features you can harness when learning to take a selfie. As an example, iPhones have Portrait Mode, which was purposefully designed to allow users to take better selfies. 

Use Self Timers – Selfies are cool and all, but sometimes the view of your arm or selfie stick can really kill the vibe. Instead, try leaning your phone against a surface or invest in a tripod, and use your smart phone’s self timer feature to take selfies. Not only will this give you both of your hands back, but it also allows you to capture photos with a wider viewpoint. 

Be Kind To Yourself – The very best selfies are when your face shows that you’re happy, healthy and content. Try to avoid the social media based pressures of over manipulating your face or using too many filters – after all, the idea behind selfies is to capture a photo that is natural and in the moment. 

Although we live in an increasingly digital age, technology has also brought with it an extra set of distractions on top of whatever happens to pop up during our day to day lives. If you’re looking to improve your selfie game, want to learn more about your smart phone’s camera, or even other tech features included, it’s always worth speaking to the professionals. 

Talk Technology With The Professionals 

SOS Phone Repairs are specialists in high-quality, cost-effective phone repairs, tablet repairs, and PC repairs, all backed with a six month warranty. Founded in 2015 in Coffs Harbour and now with over sixteen outlets located all over Australia, our primary driving factors remain the same: people and phones. 

Whether it’s to get a few more years out of your trusted iPhone, to fix one up to sell, or to repurpose an old one as a gift, repairing a smartphone might just be easier and cheaper than you think. However, if you’re in the market for a new smartphone, SOS Phone Repairs also stocks a wide variety of refurbished handsets at a fraction of the cost of a brand new one. While each has been carefully restored to perform at their best, all refurbished smartphones purchased through SOS also come with a twelve month warranty, and can be purchased at any of our sixteen store locations.  

If you are on the hunt for a quote, diagnostic, or even just some good old fashioned, friendly advice, please don’t hesitate to get in touch or give us a call today at SOS Phone Repairs.