While many have said that the only limits of virtual reality are your imagination, how will this translate into the real world and the future of the Metaverse?

Considering the recent events we’ve all experienced on a global scale in recent years, video has helped to bridge the physical gaps with some virtual magic. While it’s been a medium used for anything and everything from family board games, work meetings and even attending doctors appointments, video will eventually pale in comparison to the opportunities presented through virtual reality.

It’s no secret that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is a fan of thinking big, and his recent rebranding of the parent company as Meta – derived from the Greek word meaning “beyond” – only solidifies this view point. According to Meta’s press release about the long term goal of the “Metaverse”, Zuckerberg’s vision is to create a digital world where users can virtually meet, work and play using a VR headset, glasses or your device – but can he pull it off?

How The Metaverse Will Reconstruct Reality 

The future Metaverse that we’ve been promised by the tech giants in Silicon Valley is best summarised as an online digital social space, where users can meet, work, and play collaboratively across a variety of devices. The Metaverse is aiming to bridge the gap between virtual reality headsets, mobile devices, and laptops, and users can ‘enter’ a virtual environment that consists of interconnected worlds from apps to games. 

For technophiles, the future of the Metaverse represents a nirvana of sorts. In simple terms, the Metaverse is set to become a digital space to immerse yourself in any world, and participate in any physical reality, at any time. While we already have the ability to connect with people on the other side of the world, the Metaverse aims to take that one step further, and use virtual reality to not just see, but to feel. 

A core part of the experience is creating a digital avatar of yourself, which is designed to help ground your presence in this next evolution of interacting with the web. If you’re inside the Metaverse using a VR headset such as the Meta owned Oculus Quest 2, you can communicate with others from a virtual environment of your choosing while represented by your digital avatars. 

Regardless of whether you’re up for a casual chat with a friend or a work meeting, you can talk to people in the real world through their phone or webcam, while they’re displayed on a virtual screen in front of you. For now, most commercial VR experiences only provide visual and auditory feedback, but technology advancements will also introduce haptic feedback such as vibrations, meaning that users can physically touch and feel objects in a digital environment. 

By 2030, there’s a very real possibility that we could be spending more time in the Metaverse than we do in the real world. On a day to day basis, people will be applying for jobs, earning a living, meeting with friends, shopping, even getting married using the virtual capabilities of the Metaverse.

In the coming decade, higher education and job training may increasingly be provided in virtual 3D settings, along with boardroom and workplace meetings. Businesses and governments will rely on the power and reach of the Metaverse to share information, provide services and collaborate as never before. 

If the concept is still baffling you, we would recommend taking the time to watch Steven Spielberg’s recent film “Ready Player One”, which essentially depicts a virtual realm not so different to what’s on offer through the Metaverse, and is also in the not so distant future. 

However, the film also offers a warning, and doesn’t shy away from the potential downsides of retreating to a virtual world in favour of engaging in the real one, so how the Metaverse will attempt to tackle this balance is anyone’s guess.

Talk Tech Updates 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. 

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.

While it’s no secret that we’re living in the golden era of the smartphone, using this technology means that addressing personal information security is a must.

In Australia, the risks associated with a cyber attack are on the rise, and working from home, global instability and increased reliance on technology has proved to be the perfect storm for cybercrime. In fact, more than 60% of businesses expect a surge in reportable incidents in the next twelve months, with 2021 already shaping up to be one of the worst years on record. 

While personal information is often used by many businesses and government entities for perfectly legitimate reasons such as communication, this is not always the case. This type of data can also be misused by criminals, or even inappropriately by unscrupulous digital marketing professionals. 

For businesses and individuals alike, personal information security measures are a necessary evil to protect yourself in the digital landscape. While a growing number of brands have started to invest in access control for their systems, how can ordinary Australians protect their laptops, tablets and smartphones?

Five Key Personal Information Security Measures

As a general rule, the most common types of cyber crime include identity fraud, the theft of finances or credit card details, theft and sale of corporate data, cyber extortion, and ransomware attacks. 

While the last three are often more applicable to corporations, exposing personal information and financial details to would-be cyber criminals is something that many people do entirely by accident. In fact, it’s often as simple as opening a dodgy email, or making a purchase from an online store that doesn’t actually exist. 

Even details such as your name, address and phone number can open the door to accessing your digital usernames and passwords, which can in turn provide access to your bank details or credit cards. Unfortunately, many people are none the wiser that they’ve fallen victim to a cyber crime until it’s too late, and money starts to go missing from their accounts. 

Once upon a time, personal information security meant purchasing an anti virus software for their desktop computer. These days, we rely on more portable forms of technology such as our phones, which means that protecting yourself online has also changed – but what are your options?

Social Media Privacy – If you use social media, adjust your privacy settings to control the amount and type of information you share and make your profiles private so that only your friends can view your details. In addition, dig into the settings of your account to see what types of tracking you’ve enabled and where your personal information is distributed. 

Strong Passwords – One of the most effective ways to protect personal information online is to be smart with your passwords. Aim for long tail phrases that include numbers and special characters, and avoid anything like addresses or nicknames that would be considered relatively easy to guess as a third party. 

WiFi Connections – An unsecured network most often refers to a free Wi-Fi (wireless) network, like the types available at airports or large shopping centres. It means there’s no special login or screening process to get on the network, so don’t access personal bank accounts, or sensitive personal data on unsecured public networks to avoid any potential hacking events. 

Two Factor Authentication – Two-factor authentication means you need to pass another layer of authentication in addition to a username and password  to get into your accounts. If the data or personal information in an account is sensitive or valuable, and the account offers two-factor authentication, you should enable it. This usually includes generating a text or email. 

Check Your Credit Report – It’s often difficult to detect if you’ve been a victim of identity theft until it’s too late. Along with keeping a close eye on your bank statements, take precautions to regularly check your credit report to see if there’s any potentially hazardous defaults or listings that you don’t recognize. It’s important to nip this in the bud to keep your credit score in tact. 

Making your devices, online identity, and activities more secure really doesn’t take much effort. In fact, taking the time to tackle personal information security is very much considered to be the easy route when compared to fixing any potential damage inflicted by cybercriminals, so don’t wait until it’s too late to opt for a proactive approach. 

How To Improve The Security Of Your Smartphone

One of the most effective ways to boost your personal information security is to ensure your smartphone software is up to date. However, if your device is sluggish or not running at its best, it might be time to consider a repair or an upgrade.

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. 

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. 

 

 

Can’t decide on whether to use a hydrogel screen protector or tempered glass? In order to safeguard your smartphone, it’s crucial to grasp how they differ

In the early days of the smartphone revolution, protecting yourself against the horror of a smashed screen meant investing in a clunky “life proof” case almost doubled the phone’s physical size. Although not exactly stylish or user friendly, the alternative was to face the very real prospect of forking out hundreds of dollars to fix a smashed screen. 

Thankfully, advancements in technology have come a long way in terms of not just making the devices themselves less fragile, but the accessories designed to protect smartphones have also improved. Now, smartphone users have multiple choices with methods to protect their phone screens, with two of the most popular being a hydrogel screen protector and a tempered glass screen protector – but what’s the difference?

Comparing A Hydrogel Screen Protector Against Tempered Glass

While both of these types of screen protectors are a pretty handy tool used to provide the maximum level of protection to the screen of your device, the materials that they are made from is where they differ. 

If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, tempered glass screen protectors are thick, cheap, clear, and offer a high level of protection from surface scratches. However, the level of protection and its overall performance does often depend on what type of glass the screen protector is made from, and consumers aren’t often able to tell the quality of them on face value. 

High quality glass screen protectors often use a material known as “gorilla glass”, which is harder than the metal used in keys, coins, and other household metal items. However, even the toughest quality glass screen protectors can still shatter into a thousand pieces once you drop it just the wrong way, or chip around the outside parameters. As it’s thicker, tempered glass can also negatively affect the touchability and responsiveness of your screen.

In comparison, a hydrogel screen protector is usually made from TPU or thermoplastic polyurethane, which is why these types of screen protectors appear to be so elastic and offer a clearer view than tempered glass. In a nutshell, users can expect automatic smudge-resistant technology while barely noticing the presence of a hydrogel screen protector at all. 

As smartphones continued to evolve, tempered glass was limited with how its production could adapt to the changing faces of iPhones and other products on the global marketplace. In comparison, the world’s key hydrogel screen protector producers were already quite literally ahead of the curve.

Unlike any other screen protector, their flexibility offers equal security to the curves of more modern smartphones as much as it does to the display of the phone. As a result, a hydrogel screen protector tends to have a longer lifespan when compared to traditional glass options, especially considering the fact that they are able to be produced in over three thousands different custom cuts to fit a wide range of smartphones, tablets and even smart watches. 

In addition, the TPU used in the production of a hydrogel screen protector also means that this material helps the screen protector to develop a new world form of aqua shield technology. They can readily dissolve any smudges, fingerprints, or minor scratches, and also helps reduce the signs of any major scratches. 

While a hydrogel screen protector is often the more expensive choice when compared to the tempered glass alternatives, the quality that goes into their production can ultimately make them a better investment for users with newer phones, and for people that don’t want to constantly have to replace their screen protector of choice.

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. In addition, each of our retail outlets is equipped with its own hydrogel screen protector machine, meaning we can help with adding an extra layer of protection that’s literally custom made just for you.  If you are on the hunt for a new screen protector, 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.

As Apple’s latest offering, the Shortcuts app has been touted as a way to streamline and automate life – but what is it, and how does the app actually work?

Like it or not, our lives are inextricably linked to the smartphones that live in our pockets and how we choose to use them. Industry titans such as Apple know just how much consumers value the quality, performance, bells and whistles of their smartphones, and make conscious efforts to improve their functionality as a means to keep consumers hooked. 

If you’re on a mission to get more out of your day or to perhaps get back on top of that ever expanding to-do list, one of the lesser known ways to do so for Apple users includes making the most of the Shortcuts app. Whether you need help organising a project or simply need assistance with ‘getting in the zone’, understanding how the brand’s in house app works can turbocharge the way we use our iPhones on a day to day basis. 

Understanding How The Shortcuts App Works 

What if we told you that your humble iPhone had the power to automate your morning routine? From turning your smart home’s lights on, triggering your morning alarm and even playing your favourite podcast, the Shortcuts app can quite literally enable users to take ‘shortcuts’ in the real world. 

With the release of iOS 12 in late 2018, Apple updated its incredibly useful Workflows app and rebranded it under the name Shortcuts. In a nutshell, Shortcuts allows users to run detailed workflows, which help them accomplish complicated tasks in less time.

The simplest way to trigger a shortcut is to open Shortcuts on your device, before tapping a shortcut from the main screen. Alternatively, users can also ask Siri to run it for you by saying “Hey Siri” followed by the name of your desired shortcut. As long as you use the same Apple account on all your devices, users can sync the shortcuts across multiple devices, such as an iPhone, iPad, Mac or even an Apple Watch. 

Once you learn the basics, the Shortcuts app has the potential to open up a whole new world of possibilities when it comes to regular tasks that you might use your Apple device for. In fact, the Shortcuts app actually works in conjunction with over three hundred built in actions, and can be paired with a wide range of other apps such as Contacts, Calendar, Maps, Music, Photos, Safari, Health and even Camera. 

In addition, the Shortcuts app makes suggestions to you exactly when you need them. Siri is incredibly good at learning your routine, and often suggests easier ways to perform common tasks via the Lock Screen or in the Search function. To use a Siri Suggestion, just tap it on the Lock Screen. Alternatively, swipe left on your screen to show Search, then tap the Siri Suggestion. These are then added to the Shortcuts app on your behalf and saved for future use. 

For almost all iPhone users, apps are now integral in going about our day to day lives. From social media, internet banking, navigation and even finding love – if you can think of it, there’s usually an app for it. As such, it makes sense that there would also be an app designed to streamline this heavy usage, which is when getting to know the Shortcuts app can be a true gamechanger. 

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. 

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. 

If you’re in need of help with phone repairs but aren’t sure where to start, the good news is that some repairs are more common than others, and are easy to get sorted. 

For smartphone users, many of us are often a little embarrassed to admit just how much we rely on them. 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. 

Like all machines, unfortunately smartphones aren’t immune from the occasional breakdown or repair job. Many users immediately panic at the thought of having to replace their smartphone, and the sizable price tag that comes with a new one. In the event that your smartphone isn’t looking or functioning as it’s supposed to, the good news is that specialists in phone repairs can often provide an affordable solution. 

Meet The Team At SOS Phone Repairs 

Before you march off to buy a new smartphone out of defeat or frustration with your existing one, be sure to explore all of your options first through a unique provider that specialises in phone repairs. 

Established in 2015 in Coffs Harbour and now with sixteen outlets located all over Australia, the primary driving factors in business for the team at SOS Phone Repairs has always been simple: people and phones. According to SOS founder Codi, solving tech issues and undertaking phone repairs for ordinary Aussies doesn’t have to be a deflating experience. 

“Often tech repair stores in Australia are all knowledge but no service – instead, we get to know them, meet them where they’re at, and deliver a real world experience that they may not have been expecting. Our advice is always free, and we work hard to ensure our customers leave our stores with a smile on their face and their problems solved.” 

Whether you’re chasing iPhone repairs or Samsung phone repairs, SOS has a long history linked to solving tech dramas and getting customers back up and running in the digital world. In fact, Codyi believes that some of the most common phone repairs she encounters on a day to day basis are more easily solved than many initially think, and fixing them is usually much more affordable than shelling out for a new phone. 

Battery Replacements – Many smartphone users fall into the trap of thinking that their device is on it’s way out, but in reality the solution is often as simple as replacing it’s battery. Even phones as fresh as three years old may show signs of battery damage, which presents as not charging as efficiently or consuming battery a lot faster than it once did. 

Cracked Screens – If you’ve somehow managed to smash the front glass screen or the back housing on your smartphone, removing the screen and adding the replacement is slow work and takes some delicate manoeuvring. Even finding the right size can be tough, which is why it’s a good idea to leave this type of phone repair to the professionals. 

Charging Port Issues – If your smartphone is slow to charge or refuses to do so at all despite trying multiple different cables, there’s a chance that your charging port itself may be damaged. Although a more common issue in older iPhones and Galaxies, the issue can arise through careless use of the charger and the charging cable while connected to your smartphone. 

Water Damage – Although serious water damage to smartphones is less common now thanks to technology advances, it’s still one of the most requested phone repairs as the damage is hard to detect on face value. Whether you’ve dropped it in a swimming pool or spilled a cup of coffee over your phone, don’t try fixing this one yourself to avoid causing more harm than good. 

Camera Lens Cracks – As many people love their smartphones because of the great photographic experience that their extremely convenient cameras provide, a cracked or damaged camera lens can be a real cause of concern in regards to its overall use. To avoid blurry or less than stellar photos, look into getting the lens replaced by a professional. 

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 help with iPhone repairs or Samsung phone repairs, then it’s always worth speaking to the professionals. 

Talk To The Phone Repairs Specialists 

SOS Phone Repairs are specialists in high-quality, cost-effective phone repairs, tablet repairs, and PC repairs, all backed with a six month warranty. 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. It’s also a great way to upcycle and keep electronics out of Australian landfills. 

SOS Phone Repairs also take great pride in the fact that they’re helping regional Australians stay connected, and now have a wide range of retail outlets open in a number of rural hubs right around the nation. To chat to the professionals about your options for phone repairs, we now have the following additional store locations to choose from.

SOS Phone Repairs Armidale

SOS Phone Repairs Ballina

SOS Phone Repairs Bellingen

SOS Phone Repairs Byron Bay

SOS Phone Repairs Dubbo

SOS Phone Repairs Grafton 

SOS Phone Repairs Lismore

SOS Phone Repairs Port Macquarie

SOS Phone Repairs Tamworth

SOS Phone Repairs Taree

SOS Phone Repairs Toormina & Sawtell 

SOS Phone Repairs Tweed Heads

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. 

While apps have long played an important role in how we use our mobile phones, industry experts are stunned at how fast their usage is still managing to grow. 

For the unfamiliar, apps – short for applications – is a computer program or piece of software purposefully designed to operate on a smart mobile device, such as a phone, tablet or watch. While there are now apps for laptop and desktop computers, the earliest apps were created to help streamline the world’s first smart phones. 

In fact, it was Apple founder Steve Jobs who first created the idea of an app in the summer of 1983. Six months before the release of his first Macintosh computer, Jobs predicted a world where apps would come and go in fashion much like records or computer games. While he wasn’t wrong, he did instigate the evolution of a new digital distribution system.

For smartphone users, apps are now integral in going about our day to day lives. From social media, internet banking, navigation and even finding love – if you can think of it, there’s usually an app for it. While app usage is now at an all time high, is the arrival of the pandemic solely to blame, or are there other factors at play?

How 2021 Became The Year Of The App

The original App Store was launched by Apple with 500 apps, meaning there is no ‘true’ first app. Nevertheless, as new varieties of smartphones were unveiled, different app clients were introduced. Depending on the consumer’s brand of phone, Google Play, the Amazon App Store, and Blackberry’s App World also gave more people the ability to enjoy various apps on their smartphones. It’s also worth mentioning that each app store has always had both paid and free apps from the very beginning, meaning premium and “freemium” content was always a big factor in appeasing users. 

Today, apps are big business. In 2021 alone, more than two million different apps were launched around the world, with the average user spending 4.8 hours per day on their smartphone apps. Although the pandemic may have given app usage a push into a whole new stratosphere of popularity, it’s no secret that our digital habits were already on the uptick. 

Forced indoors with little to do, many people inevitably turned to their smartphones as a form of boredom relief. In contrast, millions of offices and workspaces also shut down. In order to keep the workforce connected, video conferencing apps like Zoom and workplace project management apps such as Asana suddenly found themselves front and centre for people who may have previously never heard of them – let alone having to use them. 

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. FaceTime, online shopping and even food delivery apps also contributed towards 2021’s notable rise in app usage. For everything we once did in person, there was an app to substitute it. 

While not the ideal situation for many consumers, apps provided a means to bridge the gap as an emergency measure. While only time can tell if these habits are likely to stay, we’re betting that app usage isn’t likely to decrease in the near future. 

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.