Technically Easy

Tag: Smartphone

  • What to Do If Your Android Phone is Stolen or Lost

    What to Do If Your Android Phone is Stolen or Lost

    Are you a victim of phone theft? Whether you’re worried about the data the phone holds or its value, having your phone stolen is always frustrating. Still, losing your phone doesn’t have to be a terrible experience.

    It takes a few seconds for your phone to disappear. You forget it on the store’s counter and the next customer simply puts it in his pocket. Someone bumps into you while you’re walking and lifts it out of your pocket. The examples are limitless, but it’s also possible to find Android phones if you know how to do it.

    So, if your phone is missing, you don’t have to panic. There are several options that can get you your phone back.

    Prepare yourself

    As soon as you buy your new Android phone, prepare for the unfortunate event of someone stealing it or you losing it. I am Frank Thompson, a technology and small business provider of help with business planning for owners. This is what I always tell my clients: People say that it’s better to be early than to be too late. This applies to technology, too. Good tech companies implement methods that will help you recover the phone, but it is your responsibility as a customer to make sure that you can use those options when the time comes.

    Here are some tips that will help you prepare yourself for such situations:

    • Turn on the fingerprint and passcode authentication. Don’t just rely on face authentication (it can be tricked simply by using your photo).
    • Turn on Google’s ‘Find my device’ in your Android device manager to be able to erase and lock the phone as soon as you lose it. Check if this feature is enabled in Security and Location > Find My Device.
    • If you’re using a Samsung phone, enable the Samsung’s ‘Find my mobile’ service, too. This is an extra precaution that you should definitely have.

    How do I locate my phone?

    If you’ve already lost your phone or had it stolen, there are a couple of things you can do on Android to track it.

    Use the ‘Find my device’ feature

    Most phones have this option enabled, so even if you didn’t do it before it got stolen, odds are that you can still track it. Access this page immediately when you notice that your phone is gone. Once you do, sign in to the Google account that you linked to the phone.

    You can access this on your computer or download their app from the Play Store from another device. Once you do it, Google will start locating your phone. Surely, it would have to be online on for this to work. If it’s not, Google will inform you as soon as the phone is online.

    As soon as the app or site finds your phone, you can use one of their options: erase the device data, lock it down, or make it play a sound so that you can locate it in your home.

    If you choose to secure the device, you can choose the message that will appear on the lock screen. You can also sign out of the account, but continue to locate the phone.

    However, if you hope to find the phone, don’t erase the device. This is your very last choice if nothing else works.

    Use your smart watch

    Many people today have a smart watch that they pair with their phone. If you have your watch but not your phone, you can use it to find it. The watch will look for your phone and tell you about its location. However, if you plan to use the Bluetooth connectivity, this won’t really work unless the thief is nearby or your phone has been lost in a location that’s within the Bluetooth range.

    Smartwatch
    Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

    Use Samsung’s Find My Mobile Service

    This applies only if you own a Samsung phone. Their special feature for tracking phones can be really helpful if you’ve turned it on. You can use it to locate the phone once it’s lost or stolen. To use this service, visit this website.

    Report the phone as stolen

    This rarely works, but who knows? The police might be able to find your phone if you report it fast. And if it’s covered by insurance, you definitely need to do this to claim your money.

    To report a phone theft, you need the IMEI number. You can find it on the box or in the phone’s settings menu. Write it down as soon as you buy the phone. They’ll also need your phone’s model, version, brand, color, as well as your phone number, chosen mobile network, and some information about the theft such as date and location.

    Out of all these things, the IMEI is the most important. Without it, you might never find your phone, but you’re also not entitled to the insurance money.

    Smartphone
    Image by TeroVesalainen from Pixabay

    What to do if you can’t locate your smartphone

    Have you tried everything and failed? If you have, there are three things you should do.

    Firstly, file an insurance claim and report your smartphone as stolen. This should give you a refund and it will blacklist the device so that no one else can use it. It’s not ideal, but it’s definitely comforting to know that the thief risked it for nothing.

    Secondly, you can wipe the data on the Find My Device website. You don’t want the thief to be able to access your phone’s information.

    Finally, disable the cell phone service. Otherwise, you’ll end up paying huge phone bills if the thief decides to use the phone after stealing it. It’s a strange thing to consider, but it has happened plenty of times.

    Conclusion

    I hope that these steps help you find your lost or stolen phone. The situation is frustrating and stressful, but if you’re able to locate your phone, that means that you might be able to recover it. Still, remember that you shouldn’t confront the thieves on your own. If you find their location, call the police.

    Unfortunately, the tricks above don’t always work. Thieves know their way around these, so you might never get your phone back. That’s why it is smart to get insurance and enable the features above so that you can at least get some refund and be able to erase your personal data.

    Author’s Bio

    Frank Thompson, a business marketing expect and a financial advisors, has recently decided to share his wisdom with people online. Ever since, his wise words have been published on multiple websites online. With his help and guidance, hundreds of new small businesses have developed a better financial and marketing strategy.

  • 5 Tips for Running a Business from Your Smartphone

    5 Tips for Running a Business from Your Smartphone

    The smartphone in your pocket makes it possible to run your business from pretty much anywhere. Modern phone technology puts a world of technology in your hands, and it gives you access to software programs, information, and workers to quickly accomplish anything.

    Add to the lightning-fast ability of your mobile technology with a connection through a carrier with a reputation for delivering fast service. For example, T-Mobile was recently listed by OpenSignal as being the fastest network available, beating out both AT&T and Verizon.

    1. Choose from the four main business models

    When you’re getting started, choosing the right business model is right at the top of your to-do list. You want to choose a model you can successfully manage from a smartphone like your iPhone 7 on a 4G LTE network like T-Mobile.

    There are four main models to choose from as noted by Duct Tape Marketing. The types are aggregation, brokering, manufacturing, and reselling. Each mode of business has the potential to be successfully run from a mobile device, though one that requires a lot of detailed documentation may lend itself more effectively to legacy programs in a traditional PC.

    2. Ease of managing company communications

    Ease of Managing Company Communications
    Image via Flickr by Sole Treadmill

    It’s hard to top a smartphone when it comes to managing the lines of communication within a business. The device lets you instantly reach your contact list, plus provides access to traditional calling, text messaging, email, and even your social media accounts.

    This lets you communicate with people within your company, existing customers, and potential customers from anywhere. The flexibility enhances your ability to lead workers, manage issues your customers may have, and introduce potential clients to your product or service.

    3. Using your smartphone to market your business

    Aspects of marketing that are especially suited to mobile technology include social media marketing, videography, and photographing your products. This takes away the challenges associated with some classic time-intensive marketing strategies.

    Using your smartphone to handle these tasks means they are done instantly with the tap of your finger on the screen. This saves you the cost of hiring a large staff to handle these chores.

    Cutting costs lets you manage a lean business that’s easy to adapt to a changing market, and saving time on marketing tasks frees you up to handle other issues.

    4. Take advantage of apps on your device

    There are apps available to help you perform almost any task you need to accomplish while running your business. Apps are available for daily management tasks like tracking your income and expenses or even writing up a business plan when you’re first getting started.

    Project management apps can help you carry a new aspect of your business through each stage, from idea to completion. You can even build an app that’s specifically created for your business needs or one that addresses a common issue within your company to add value for your customers and employees.

    5. Make use of the calendar on your smartphone

    The integrated calendar or a downloaded calendar app is an extremely useful and important function when using your phone for business. It’s also an easy thing to overlook if you aren’t in the habit of using one.

    You may want to consider using it more — since being on time and meeting deadlines are two of the keys to being successful. Plus, it’s easy to set notifications on your phone to remind you of times to make important calls or head out to important meetings.

    Think of your mobile device as an equalizer. This technology levels the playing field, giving you an opportunity to manage your business on a level that’s comparable to that of a larger company.

    It opens the door for you to enter the business world even if you don’t have access to a traditional computer or a large staff. It’s also a great way to get started with the same level of technology a lot of large businesses use without the huge capital investment associated with buying computers, renting or buying buildings, and making other costly investments.

  • 6 Reasons Why Expandable Memory on a Smartphone is a Good Thing

    6 Reasons Why Expandable Memory on a Smartphone is a Good Thing

    Cloud storage seems like a popular, convenient, and cheap way to store and access your files from anywhere. Many popular smartphones don’t come equipped with expandable memory, so questioning cloud storage isn’t an option.

    Find out why expandable memory can be a preferred alternative to cloud storage and why you may want to consider a smartphone with this ability for your next purchase.

    1. No monthly fees

    Similar to many popular internet services today, storing files in the cloud comes with a monthly fee. While that fee may stand at only $10 a month, the costs add up quickly when considering your other monthly bills and subscriptions.

    Many will argue that expandable memory is more expensive and harder to access, but when purchasing a micro SD card, you pay a one-time fee and can easily switch the card for use among your devices.

    2. Access to files from anywhere — even without Wi-Fi connectivity

    Let’s say you have a long flight or are driving through an underdeveloped area. You open up your mobile device to play your favorite tracks, but you don’t have internet access, and your music is stored in the cloud.

    It looks like you’ll be marching to the beat of your own drum.

    With expandable memory options, you have the power to reach all your media files, even in remote areas where Wi-Fi and mobile data services can’t be reached.

    Having this feature will save you much of the frustration that comes from not being able to access your files when you need them the most.

    3. No privacy leaks

    While you may not be a highly publicized personality with sensitive data, you — as we all do — probably have some private files you’d rather keep to yourself.

    Storing your data on the internet makes it more vulnerable to being leaked to the public, a situation that can easily be eliminated by implementing expandable memory use. Making the simple decision to store information physically, rather than digitally, adds an extra cushion of protection to your private life.

    4. Easily expandable

    Some cloud users might argue that micro SD cards don’t offer enough storage space. However, cards come in a variety of storage sizes, and if you run out of space, purchasing an extra card is cheap and easy.

    Plus, many smartphones and tablets support expandable memory options, so you won’t have to feel limited when making a purchase.

    5. Freedom of choice

    Purchasing a smartphone with the option to expand beyond the internal memory provided is always the best choice. If you use cloud storage as a home for your files, you shouldn’t eliminate devices with expandable options from your wish list or dismiss the benefits that physical storage provides.

    Being able to make choices over ways you use your devices is great, but when you purchase devices that allow for internal or cloud storage only, you give up the option to make choices.

    Purchasing a mobile device, such as the new Galaxy S7, will give you the choice to store your files using expandable memory options or online storage services.

    An added benefit when making this choice is that you can always have a double storage space for your information for added protection.

    6. More memory, less to remember

    Many of us live through hectic schedules; some days we wish we had expandable memory for ourselves. Having an expandable memory feature on your mobile device, however, can help free up some space in your mind.

    Eliminating monthly fees not only helps your wallet, but also allows you to not worry about remembering to make those payments again. Missing payments can add unwanted fees and harm your credit.

    You’ll also never have to remember a password when working with micro SD cards. Who needs another password to remember?

    Whether you want to have added security attached to your files, one less monthly subscription to worry about, or the freedom to access your files in areas where they were once inaccessible, having expandable memory is the best option to simplify your life.

    When purchasing your next device, be sure to choose smart and select a device that supports expandable memory options.

  • Why Smartphones and Tablets Are Integral Parts Of Our Lives

    Why Smartphones and Tablets Are Integral Parts Of Our Lives

    When they first arrived, cell phones were just that: phones. You called people, they called you. End of story. Now, of course, smartphones exceed that functionality many times over. A tiny device in a purse, pocket, or belt clip has replaced a whole briefcase full of items.

    One of the most important developments that has made this possible has been effective touch-screen technology. Think of the thousands of different things that you can input on your phone. The ability to open an app and get a unique set of controls is only possible because we don’t need separate buttons for every single function. This also made possible the advent of tablets, for times when larger screens are necessary without the bulk of a heavy keyboard.

    Speaking of cell phones, they are now so indispensable that we are helpless without them. That’s why an iPhone 6 screen protector, the right provider, and access to a charging source can be the difference between success and failure in some circumstances.

    The following areas reflect just how much our cell phones and tablets help us in daily life. And as impressive as they are, these just scratch the surface of what’s ahead.

    They Do Our Remembering

    It used to require a calendar at home, one on the desk, and one in the pocket to make sure that everywhere we had to be was properly stored for our busy minds to keep up with. Now that we have cell phones and tablets, we can be miles away from pens or paper and still quickly enter important upcoming dates while being reminded of what’s going on right now. And the reminders are passive; we don’t have to open a calendar to see where we have to go today. When we enter the item, we enter a reminder that alerts us in time to make the deadline.

    They Give Us Freedom

    The old belief that you have to be chained to your desk to be successful is fading away. Now productivity and inspiration know no geographical limits. You could be hiking the Appalachian Trail when a million-dollar idea comes to you, and all you have to do is send a text or email, create a memo, or make a phone call to get things underway. Could you imagine waiting until the next trailhead to get in contact with someone?

    We also don’t have to be utterly lost to our workplaces or families when one takes us away from the other. A relative’s illness during your business trip can be easily monitored via social media. And if you suddenly need to get to that bedside, you can handle all the travel arrangements during the next coffee break.

    They Entertain Us

    This is far more than funny cat memes. We can navigate books, music, games, sports, movies, television and more from anywhere. There’s no need to find space in your carry-on for enough books to cover the flight time. You don’t need a bucket full of batteries to fuel a Walkman. Everything is right there in your device, compact, accessible, and unbelievably sharp and clear.

    You can expand your entertainment interests more easily, too. That long flight could place you next to a passenger with an intriguing read. In just seconds, you can download it and enjoy it yourself.

    And enjoyment is ultimately what this is all about–even for work functions–because you can carry out thousands of functions with a single device that saves you time, money, and energy, and that gives you the time, money, and energy to do things that you enjoy.

  • DIY Smartphone Projector for Less Than $10 [Infographic]

    DIY Smartphone Projector for Less Than $10 [Infographic]

    Do it yourself projects sometimes seem intimidating to people who don’t consider themselves “crafty”, however you don’t have to be a craft-savvy DIY pro for this project. Arts and crafts are fun and functional when it comes to creating this neat projector box for a smartphone.

    Anyone can gather these eight common and inexpensive items in no time at all; in fact, most of them are probably lying around your house or tucked into a drawer. Using the easy to follow and detailed step by step guide, the creation is very simple.

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