What to do if you Break the Back Glass on your iPhone 4

  Recently, my wife and I went to the Los Altos Art & Wine Festival.  I had a great time shooting photos and videos with my iPhone 4 while Alana checked-out the booths.

On our way back to the car,  I tried putting my iPhone away in my backpack while walking, talking and not paying attention to what I was doing.... bad idea!  Unfortunately, the iPhone slipped out of my hand and dropped on the edge of a concrete sidewalk.  I picked it up, turned it over, and saw that the back of my iPhone glass was smashed to bits.

 

What to do if you Break the Back Glass on your iPhone 4  (Continued)

Apple iPhone 4 Smartphone with a Shattered Back Glass Panel

I was in shock.  I read about how other people have had this happen to them... but I never thought it would happen to me!  The good news was that when I turned the iPhone on... it worked fine.  The bad news was that small bits of broken glass were starting to fall out of the phone.

We stopped at a few stores on the way home to find an iPhone case that would cover the broken back.  They ran $15 to $25.  I decided to just wait until I got home and buy an inexpensive case from Amazon.

Once I got home, I searched on "iPhone 4 back panel broken" and found several videos and articles featuring how easy it is to replace the back panel of an iPhone 4 or 4S.  I then found a few comments about how Apple will just fix the iPhone for under $30.

So....I went on to my iPhone Apple App and scheduled an appointment with the Genius Desk for the next morning at 9am.  It took 60 seconds to make the appointment.

Monday morning,  I went into the Apple store and showed the Apple Genius my phone.  He confirmed everything worked ...I just had to replace the broken back panel. He also confirmed that it would cost $29 and he could do it NOW.  He went into the back of the store and five minutes later he was back with my iPhone fixed and cleaned.   I gave him my credit card and sent the receipt to my email address on file.  I was all done in 10 minutes.

People always talk about why Apple is so wonderful and why the company is growing so quickly.    Well,  this is a great example of why......

$29 and 10 minutes to fix an out-of-warranty mobile smartphone

...and NO Hassles ...just smiles!

 

Now What? ...Look for Shock Proof Cases

After breaking my phone screen, I did a lot of research on Shockproof iPhone Cases. Here are three of the best iPhone 4 / 4S cases I found to protect your Smartphone.  Note: these are also available for the iPhone 5.

Top iPhone 4/4S Cases - Water Proof, Dirt Proof, Snow Proof and Shock Proof

LifeProof Case for iPhone 4/4S  - Links to Amazon Reviews

OtterBox Armor Case for iPhone 4 /4S - Links directly to the OtterBox Website

The following case is also very strong, but not as tough as the above cases.

OtterBox Defender Series Hybrid Case & Holster for iPhone 4 & 4S - Links to Amazon Reviews

Apple Retail Store

Top 10 Reasons Why I Dumped my Android for an iPhone 4

iPhone vs Android Smartphone - photo source by freedigitalphotos.net

“The iPhone is Just Easier & More Fun to Use” - Quote from my wife

Let me start by saying that I highly recommend both Android and Apple iPhones to all of our clients, friends and family. I think they are the best Smartphones available for business and personal use in the marketplace today. The other vendors have great Smartphones. However, Android and iPhones are just better to use at this time. Sorry Blackberry, Nokia and WIndows users :(

In the past, I was an enthusiastic user (and fan) of the Blackberry and the Palm Smartphones.  For the last two years, I used an iPhone 3g. Unfortunately, it  was stolen out of my jacket pocket in San Francisco a few months ago. I was devastated. So my wife, feeling sorry for me, let me borrow her Android Smartphone for a few months (one of the many reasons why I love my wife). Since I always really liked the Android Smartphone, I took this opportunity to evaluate all the latest Android Smartphones to see if I wanted to buy one of them or to just buy the new iPhone 4 (FYI... our contract was up, so I was free to buy any mobile phone). I spent hours in the various phone stores and Best Buy asking questions and testing the new Androids. I read all the reviews, watched the video reports and asked everyone with an Android what they liked and didn’t like about their Smartphone.

However, after using an Android Smartphone for 8 weeks and after all the research, I dumped my Android Smartphone for the iPhone 4.  At this time, I greatly prefer the iPhone 4 to any of the Android Smartphones. Everyone kept asking me why I switched... so here are my Top 10 Reasons:

  1. Silent Mode Button - Every Smartphone should have this button. I use it every day during Movies, Meetings, Phone Calls and Meals. One click and the phone is OFF. One click and it’s back ON. Most other Smartphones require you to enter passwords and click several times through menus to turn off the Smartphone sound.
  2. One App for all Music, TV, Audio Books, Movies & Podcasts - This is a very BIG reason why I love the iPhone (and yes... I’m using the word “Love”).  I use ONE App to download, buy, back-up and play all Music, Movies, TV Shows, Videos, Audio Books & Podcasts.  It is fast and easy to use each day. If you have a simple question,  just walk into any Apple Store and someone is usually available to help you.If you use an Android Smartphone, you need to find, evaluate and download 2-10 different Apps to buy, play and download multimedia.  When I go into the other retails stores to ask which Android App should I use to: Buy, Back-up, and Play Music, Movies, TV Shows, Videos, Audio Books & Podcasts, the Store Reps all have different answers and typically  recommended 2-4 Android Apps.  Bottom-line: With the iPhone, there is only ONE iPhone App to learn and use... and only ONE company to ask questions.
  3. One Simple User Interface - All 100 million+ iPhone iTouch and iPad) Users have had the same simple user interface for the last 3 years. Almost every Apple employee and iPhone user can help answer questions on how to use the iPhone... because they all work the same.  You can also ask almost anyone at work or friends that have an iPhone for tips and help.   The Apple iPhone is simple to learn, use and upgrade. Almost every new Android Smartphone User Interface has a different (or sometimes significantly different) interface to learn.  The vendors add their own look and feel to the basic Android operating system on each phone. When you upgrade to a different brand Android Smartphone, there is a high probability that you will have to start all over learning a new use interface. Most people HATE  having to learn a new mobile phone.
  4. Apple Retail Stores -  I can’t get over how wonderful it is to go into an Apple Store and ask anyone for help. It is even a better experience when you make an appointment with a Genius Support Rep to help answer (for free) any questions about the iPhone. There is even an easy-to-use special Apple Store App (that you can download for free from the iTunes Store) to schedule Apple Store Training and Tech Support Appointments. The FREE weekly Training is pretty terrific as well.  I went with my wife to the Apple Store iPhone Trainings after she recently got her 1st iPhone.  She loved the training. I believe it is always better to have someone else teach your Spouse how to use new technology... if possible. Don’t you agree? :) I have a dramatically different experience when I go into many Verizon, Best Buys and Sprint Retail Stores for help & demos on the new Motorola Droid X, HTC Incredible, the original Motorola Droid, Samsung Android or various Blackberry Smartphones.  They can usually tell me all about their rates and plans.  However, the Reps are not much help answering standard “App questions” on how to use a Smartphone.  To be fair, there are so many models, options and versions of the Android, it is hard to know them all.   This goes back to the fact that too many versions of the Android operating system makes it very hard to provide an excellent customer experience buying and learning how to use a new Smartphone.  Even if the Sales Reps own one Android phone, that doesn’t mean that they know how to use an App on another Android smartphone because the interface will be different.
  5. App Store & Security - The Apple iTunes Store is very easy to use.  In addition, Apple Engineers Review and Approve Apps before I even see them in the iTunes Store.  Why do I prefer this as a user?  Read the recent two examples below. Android recently had 1+ million people download and install a free nice looking wallpaper Android App. The App looked perfectly normal in the Google Marketplace Store. Unfortunately, the Android App sent user passwords and personal information to a website in China without their knowledge. Google started looking into the “high security risk” App after a million+ Android users’ data was stolen. Most experts predict that this problem will get worse... not better in the future.Here is another Android App issue: Since no one checks Google Marketplace Android Apps before you download them, many poorly designed Apps keep running in the background after your think you stopped using them.  The problem is very common on many Android Smartphones and can cause the Apps to quickly drain the battery.   To fix this, you need to find and download a special Android App to kill other Apps. This is just great for non-technical people that just want to use their Smartphone phone.
  6. Camera & Video - I don’t know what Apple did... but the new iPhone 4 camera has a fast shutter speed and takes great photos during the daylight. Night shots are good but not great.  The Camera App has one switch that changes from a Digital Camera to a Video Recorder within the App. Most of the the Android Smartphone Camera and Video Apps work slightly different on each Smartphone and the camera shutter speeds are much slower. On the Android Smartphone you need two Apps to do the same thing as the iPhone one Camera App.  You have one App for the Camera and another App for the Video.
  7. Design & Screen - The iPhone 4 is beautifully designed.  It is the right size and feel for most users.  As a result of the iPhone 4 being 25% thinner than the older iphones, I replaced my iPod with the iPhone 4 when I work out. The extremely high resolution and quality of the screen really makes a difference with everything you do on the Smartphone. I love reading and watching HD Videos a lot more since I upgraded to the iPhone 4. The new hot Android Smartphone operating systems are rough around the edges, the hardware has a plastic feel and many of them are huge when you hold them. If you have small hands, you need to use both of them to hold some of the new phones.  I don’t like the “Geeky Look” when I am on the phone.   When  you hold one of the new huge Android phones to your head to talk, it looks like you are holding a brick. If you put it in a case and try to wear it on your belt or clipped to a purse it looks ridiculous. Women will have a hard time fitting a Droid X or Sprint HTC EVO into a small purse going out at night.
  8. Bloatware, Crapware & More -  Apple doesn’t install lots of extra Apps (Bloatware and Crapware) on your iPhone. There are a few Apps Installed when you first get the Smartphone. When you buy an Android Smartphone from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon, they install lots of extra Apps from paid Advertisers and their own Apps.  The first thing you have to do when you leave a store after buying your new phone is to go through the phone and figure out which Apps to delete and which Apps you need.  I hate when HP and Dell install Crapware and Bloatware to a new Windows PC. Unfortunately, Android Smartphones are now sold using the same bad practices.
  9. Facetime - This App is just a wonderful “Game Changer” in Smartphones.  Apple made this video phone App so simple to use compared to any other smartphone or laptop solutions. Touch One button and you are seeing and talking to a loved one. If you travel for business, have a child at college, a loved one in another city, or just stuck late at work, I cannot describe how wonderful it is to see someone you care about on your phone. A few other Android Smartphones have video Apps. However, they are much more difficult to set up and use... so the App doesn’t get used.
  10. It’s just Easier to Use -  This is a quote from my wife after using her new iPhone 4 for four weeks (Note: She replaced the android smartphone that she was using for the last year)  The bottom line is... “It’s just easier... and more fun to use.”

Recommendations

I think the Android Smartphones are ideal for Tech and Gadget minded users. It appears the newer Android phones will continue to have a few more new features and gadgets when compared to the iPhone.   You can customize an Android Smartphone every hour just for fun and you get to learn a new user interface each time you upgrade.

If you have a contract with and like Verizon, T-Mobile or Sprint, I would buy an Android Smartphone over any of the other Smartphones today.  I personally like the HTC from Verizon at this time.

No surprise here... If you are with the AT&T network, I would buy an iPhone over an Android Smartphone.  Apple has clearly set the new standard for customer service and retail service. And... quoting my wife - “The iPhone is just Easier and More Fun to use”

Photo source: stockimages @ freedigitalphotos.net

Any Feedback or Comments are appreciated from all you Smartphone Users.

Top 25+ iPhone Travel Apps... and How to Use Them

Apple iPhone Google Map Application used for TravelIf you are one of the 60,000,000+ iPhone (or  iPad / iTouch) owners, you can use these 25+ Applications to save money, reduce travel hassles and make you more productive before, during and after your trip.  In addition, if you have an iPhone 4, we will describe a few more "extra" applications (or Apps) that you can use during your travels. Some Apps are included standard on the iPhone, others have to be downloaded from the iTunes Store, using the "App Store" App (standard on the iphone).  Over 200,000+ iTunes Apps  are available for you to download.

This may sound funny... but I have over 100 Apps on my iPhone 4. In this article, I include many of my favorite Apps that you can use to Plan, Research your trip, Check on your Day-to-Day Travel and Post-trip wrap-up activities.

Before You Go - Travel Planning & Research

  • Google Maps - Google Maps can help you select your hotel based on how far it is from the beach, ski slopes, a client meeting or a city office. Google Maps comes standard on the iPhone and includes FREE wireless traffic updates, driving directions (on Graph Maps or Turn-by-Turn Direction Lists), Mass Transit pick-up locations (for trains, subways & buses)  and walking (biking) directions.  You an also download Google Earth for more detailed info on a specific vacation area anywhere in the world)
  • Weather Channel - We prefer the Weather Channel App for planning travel to the standard Weather App that comes with the iPhone. Search and Bookmark the City that you are going to visit. Then, check the 10-day Forecast and determine what to pack. The day before your trip, you can track any  bad weather coming your way during the trip and plan accordingly.
  • TripIt - Everyone seems to like this App. Use it to consolidate all your travel plans into one list and sync them into your iPhone Calendar,  Tripit is terrific for providing key information in one place, hotel phone numbers, maps, key contacts etc.  You can download the Free or Paid version (more features).
  • Kayak - They have a great Search App that looks at all the other online travel services in one place.  We use it to find the best prices before we book a vacation, hotel, airline or car rental.  They also have a great Free Alert service that emails you a running 12 months of average pricing each month for a trip(s) that you specify.
  • Airline Apps - Download your favorite Airline App to check for prices, schedules and check-in services. The Check-in services can really save you time at the airport and reduce the wait time on lines.
  • Online Travel Agents - You can download Priceline, Expedia, Kayak and Travelocity from the App Store. They all have Apps that can be very helpful.
  • Open Table - Before you travel, sign up for this service.  You can use the iPhone App to make reservations in advance or in a taxi on your way to the restaurant.
  • Yelp - We often use the Yelp App to check out restaurant feedback before we make reservations.
  • Games - There are lots and lots of fun easy-to-learn games available in the iTunes Store. They can make the time fly by if your flights are delayed. Find fun Games on iTunes
  • TV Shows - Catch up on your favorite TV Shows or missed episodes by using the iTunes App to download TV shows from iTunes
  • Movies - Rent or Watch Movies during your trip using the standard iTunes App.  If you own a new iPhone 4, the screen in incredibly sharp to watch High Definition (HD) or Regular movies. New movie releases on iTunes Top movie rentals on iTunesSpecial priced movie bundles on iTunes
  • iBook or Kindle - Must-haves, if you love to read.  Buy eBooks using the standard iTunes App.  If you prefer Amazon, download the new Amazon Kindle App (from the iTunes Store) and then buy ebooks directly from Amazon (using the Kindle App).  The iPhone is excellent for bringing multiple Books without the extra weight.  Note: Some people may prefer buying an Apple iPad or the new Amazon Kindle Reading Device for the larger screen and type.
  • Audio Books - You can use the Standard  iTunes App to listen to audio books. Buy Audio Books to listen to best sellers or an old favorite book. Audiobooks on iTunes - Main Section or Best selling audiobooks on iTunes

During your Trip - Traveling

  • Google Maps - Maps helps you get around a new city or resort.  The iPhone has a compass feature to help you find where you are going.
  • Weather Channel - Check the hourly weather in the morning before you go out... and plan your day around the weather
  • Google Search (with Voice) - Speak to your iPhone and search for anything you need or want.  The speech recognition is fantastic for searching. It really works!  Just be in a quite area.
  • Facetime Video Call - If you and a loved one have an iPhone 4, this one App makes the price of the phone all worth it. You literally push one button and you are talking and seeing the other person. If you have Kids, a Spouse or a Parent at home while you are stuck in a hotel room on the road, you can't put a price on how wonderful it is to see and talk with your loved ones.  My wife and I love using Facetime. Note: You both need to be connected to WiFi for Facetime to work at this time. I believe that by next summer Facetime will work anyplace.
  • Camera & Video - The standard iPhone Camera App can be used to snap photos and shoot HD video. The camera quality is extremely good and has a fast shutter speed and a digital zoom.  It is one of the best camera phones on the market today.  The photos can be excellent during the day. However, if photos are important to you,  it's handy to carry a point-and-shoot or Digital SLR Camera with you when traveling.  Note: We also love the easy-to-use and compact Flip Video Recorder for shooting excellent High-Def (HD) Videos. Buy a Flip Video Camcorder
  • White Noise (Sound Machine) - My wife loves... and needs this App wherever we travel.  The App has 40 different sounds that block outside noises (and snoring).  It helps you get to sleep in a new bed quickly.  It also has a Turn-Off Timer and an Alarm to wake you up.
  • Alarm - The standard Alarm App can be set to wake you up in the moring.  I never fully trust the Hotel Alarm Clock, Clock Radio or "Wake-Up" Calls from the Hotel Operator.
  • iBook or Kindle - If you love to read, the iBook and Kindle Apps are excellent. With the strict luggage weight limits these days, you can bringing multiple books without the extra weight.  Note: An Apple iPad (or Amazon Kindle) is considered a much better choice for reading.
  • iTunes Music, TV, Movies and Videos - Great for the plane trip or on a beach. You may want to buy a small travel speaker to play the music in your hotel room or for a private beach.
  • iTunes Podcasts - This is part of the iTunes App.  You can get Free audio and video program downloads of many of your favorite news shows and newspapers from around the world to take with you.  I use this App every day to watch or listen to my High Tech Updates and the News.
  • Audible.com - Listen to those favorite books that you just haven't read yet.
  • Calendar - Use the Calendar to keep all your key info during travel. Tip: Print out a copy before you travel for emergencies.
  • Skype - New Upgrade keeps Skype running in the background once you sign-in.  Now anyone can Skype call your iPhone and it will ring like a regular phone call. Talk or Text with Family, Friends or Business Assoicates with the Skype App for FREE
  • AroundMe - This App is very handy in cities when you are looking for a local restaurant, cafe or Bank ATM.  They use the GPS in the iPhone to find the closest places to you and how far away they are on a map.

When you Come Home - Post Trip

  • iMovie - Very Ease-to-use App to create and improve movies and then load them to Facebook or Flickr Web-Service  You can also use iMovie to create slide show movies (with background music) from your photos. (iPhone4 - $5)
  • Flickr - Use the Flickr App to load,  share and store your travel photos.
  • Facebook - Upload any photos that you have not uploaded during the trip to share with family, friends or business associates.
  • Print Photos - Costco, Shutterfly, Kodak and Snapfish also have good websites to upload, share and print photos.

Here are links to the iTunes Store to download the Free and Paid Apps that you are interested in using during your trip.

Top free apps on the App Store Top paid apps on the App Store

A few more Travel Tips:

1. Very Important: When you are traveling internationally (outside the USA), make sure you turn off your GSM Radio on the iPhone before you land and only use WiFi with your iPhone overseas.  WiFi is often FREE  and GSM voice and roaming charges are prohibitively expensive to use.

2. If you have any questions or problems before your trip, stop by your Apple or AT&T Store to ask for help downloading or setting up your iPhone/iTouch.  You can also call the USA Apple Support phone number at: 800-275-2273.

3. Look up the appropriate Apple Support Phone Number for the country that you are visiting and enter it in your iPhone Phonebook. Apple Support Internationa Country Phone Numbers

4. Try to download the Apps (we discussed in the article) before you travel.   Give yourself a little time before your trip to play with all the Apps so you can enjoy your trip.

5. Please share your own favorite Top Apps for Travel by commenting below.

We hope this article has helped you think about how you can use the iPhone to make your travel so much easier.

Have a safe and fun trip!

2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Summary and Favorite New Products

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) featured more than 120,000 attendees, 2,500 exhibitors and 20,000 products....over 1.5 million square feet of show space to see. Over the last 2-3 years, CES became boring...with few new exciting products.  Apple Macworld had most of the new buzz and fun announcements.  Well.. not anymore!

The new decade started off with a bang.  Lots of new exciting technology and products for 2010 and beyond.

After attending the show, we are most excited about the following product categories:

  • Almost all new HDTVs will be connected to the internet (this is my favorite big trend) - Due by Christmas 2010
  • A Samsung see-thru laptop screen prototype...Expect them in about 3-5 years
  • Apple's Tablet - Not announced at CES but everyone is talking about it - Jan 27th is the big announcement
  • Project Natal - Using your hand movements to navigate the TV or Computer is pretty cool - Expect Games later this year and other products next year
  • Flip-like Easy-to-Use Video Cameras were everywhere
  • eBooks or eReaders will continue to grow rapidly this year - We expect the high-end eReaders to be be replaced with Tablets by 2011
  • Blu-ray Players with 3D and Wi-Fi Internet Connections are due this summer
  • Many Digital Cameras with GPS will wirelessly connect to your Internet Services
  • HD Video Conferencing and Telepresence Systems will be available in 2010  for the Home, Home Office and Small Business at reduced prices using your HDTVs and Wireless Internet Connections
  • Military-like flying toys that are wirelessly controlled (using Wi-Fi) by an iPhone and delivers a live video feed in flight - Very cool and due this summer

Many articles and TV Shows focused on the new 3DTVs. They looked terrific. However, we don't think most people are going to charge up their $100 3D-TV glasses every night to watch TV shows.

We do expect the 3D Adult videos (that are due out in the fourth quarter of 2010) to be responsible for many of the 3D HDTV sales during the next 1-3 years. Over the last two decades, the Adult industry always implemented new video technology products before the mainstream companies.

2010 CES List of Top New Product Updates Our Top 10+ CES 2010 show Products

How to Cut Your Mobile Phone International Calling Expenses in 2010

Everyone is looking for ways to cut costs in 2010 - including us. We are using a NEW mobile service called "Skype to Go" that is very easy-to-use and has been saving us a lot of money each month. The service lets you make international calls from any mobile phone at dramatically reduced prices, compared to typical phone company rates. You do NOT need your PC or Mac to make these calls.

We call London (UK) on a regular basis using an Apple iPhone or a Google Android MyTouch mobile phone. Our carrier, AT&T Wireless, offered us an international discount plan that reduced our mobile phone costs from $1.25 to 99 cents per minute when calling London. That sounded good before we tested the new "Skype to Go" Service.

A few months ago, we switched to using a "Skype to Go" number which dramatically cut our costs to about 2.4 cents per minute.. a 96-cent per minute savings. We talk about 8 hours per month on international calls and now save approximately $460 per month. Wow!

The "Skype to Go" number is very easy-to-use and set up.

8 Easy Steps to Set Up the "Skype to Go" Service

  1. Go to the Skype Website
  2. Select either the Pay-as-You-Go or Monthly Payment Plans to set up your account. There are NO long-term contracts to sign.
  3. Important: Once Your Account is established, Look for the "Skype to Go" Set-up Button and Press it.
  4. Select a "Skype to Go" Number. The number is your "Skype to Go" local phone number. Write it down.
  5. Enter the Mobile Phone Number(s) you plan to use to call overseas.
  6. Enter up to 10 phone numbers that you commonly call overseas in the Auto-Dial Fields.  Note: You can also directly dial any international number from your mobile phone when you are out and about.
  7. Key in your "Skype to Go" number into your mobile phone Contact List to make life easier when you dial international calls.
  8. You will get an email confirmation for your new account and your new Skype to Go Number..

3 Easy Steps to Use "Skype to Go"

  1. Go to the "Skype to Go" Number in your mobile phone and Dial It
  2. After the recording, either Select a Pre-Set Phone Number or key in the International phone number you are calling
  3. That's it!

So... is There Anything else You Should Know?

The phone service has been wonderful, sound quality has been very good. However, we have heard from others that the Skype customer service could be improved. The good news is that there is NO contract! If you don't like Skype, and the money you are saving,  just cancel the service.

My other comment is, if you don't like new technology, and saving money is no big deal, then skip this service... but then again, you probably wouldn't be reading this article... would you?

If you want to instantly cut your monthly international calling costs, get a "Skype to Go" Number for your small business or personal use.

For More info click on this link and Search on: "Skype to Go"