Hello, and welcome…
Rick’s Daily Tech Tips Update for Saturday, April 23, 2022
Topics covered in this issue…
• Why you might need to replace a perfectly good cell phone
• Warning: Password Managers put your online accounts at risk.
• Q&A: Did I just completely fry my PC?
• Time-lapse video: Southern Lights over Tasmania
• Info about my photo / file recovery service
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Today’s Quick Tip….
Why you might need to replace a perfectly good cell phone
Have you ever had a cell phone that just stopped “getting a signal” even though the phone seemed to be working just fine?
In some cases that happens when the phone actually does develop a hardware problem (for example, the phone’s radio that “talks” to the tower goes bad).
But there are also times when a perfectly good phone will have to be replaced simply because it’s no longer able to acquire a compatible cellular signal (i.e. it becomes technologically obsolete).
This can happen when:
1 – Your cellular carrier drops support for an older technology.
A great example of this is the shut-down of 3G cellular service by the major carriers that’s in progress as we speak.
If your carrier has already shut down their 3G service you already know that any old 3G phones you have no longer connect to the towers.
If your carrier hasn’t shut 3G down quite yet you’ll find that out soon when they finally get around to it.
2 – Another situation in which you’ll need to replace a perfectly good phone is to take advantage of new technology.
For example, if your current phone is 4G compatible it’ll still work just fine for a while even after your carrier finishes rolling out 5G in your area.
However, if you want to take advantage of the faster speeds and other enhancements provided by 5G, you’ll need to upgrade to a new phone that’s compatible with that new standard.
And now, one final point…
Even if a phone is no longer able to connect to a cell tower it can still be used as a “tablet” by connecting it to WiFi as long as the phone itself is still in working order.
The latest from Rick’s Daily Tips Tech Blog…
• Warning: Password Managers put your online accounts at risk.
Password managers make it easy to use unique and complicated passwords for all of your online accounts. Unfortunately, they also put all of you accounts at risk of being hacked. This post explains why.
• Q&A: Did I just completely fry my PC?
A reader wants to know if a computer that was damaged by plugging it into an outlet with the wrong voltage on it can be repaired for a reasonable amount. This post has my answer.
• Click here to see today’s ‘Picture of the Day’.
Every morning I post a new photo that I find inspiring, intriguing, or just plain beautiful to look at. Jumpstart your day by checking it out.
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Rick’s Daily Pick…
ComfiLife Adjustable Memory Foam Foot Rest (#ad)
Do your feet get cold and fatigued while you’re working at your desk?
This little gem can help keep them feeling warm and refreshed all day long.
Today’s post from ‘My Daily Smile’…
Time-lapse video: Southern Lights over Tasmania
The video featured in this post showcases the amazing light shows in the far southern hemisphere courtesy of the aurora australis.
Tech news that caught my eye…
• Critical bug in Android could allow access to users’ media files
• Twitter to add ‘safety measures’ on its new Edit feature
• Developer snuck apps past Apple that forced users into subscriptions
• Google combats malicious browser add-ons with new Chrome badges
• Apple announces service program for Apple Watch Series 6 ‘blank screen issue’
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Rick’s Photo / File Recovery Service…
Do you have precious photos and/or other irreplaceable files that you’d like to recover from a non-working computer?
Chances are I’ll be able to recover them for you, even if the machine won’t turn on or start up correctly.
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Thanks so much, and have an amazing day.
Your tech buddy,
Rick Rouse
https://www.RicksDailyTips.com