Blog

Spending a beach day with family or friends is an inexpensive way to get out the house and have a little fun. You can jump in the waves, play volleyball or sit back and soak in some vitamin D. But if you’re bringing your cell phone with you, make sure you take steps to keep it safe and damage-free. Here’s a look at five easy ways to protect your phone at the beach or anywhere where water damage risk is higher than normal. 1. Keep your phone cool and shaded. While packing for a beach or water park day, make sure you bring supplies to keep you and your cell phone shaded from the sun, like an umbrella or proper beach bag. This is particularly important if you’re headed to the beach during the heat of the day, which can be between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Shade not only protects you from sunburn, it also keeps your phone from overheating and damaging your battery. 2. Store the phone inside a plastic bag. For added protection, pack your cell phone in a plastic… Read more

Some people can barely recall a time before cell phones - younger generations especially can't imagine life without them. These devices have become a necessity in our society and life for work, recreation, organization and communication. There’s no denying cell phones have made our lives more efficient and convenient. Looking back over the past two decades, you might ask: what did we do before they were around? If you have a short memory, or if you’re simply too young to remember life before modern technology, here’s a look at a few things we did before cell phones came into our lives. Do you remember the last time you did any of these? We watched the news and read the newspaper. Not to say people don’t watch the news or read the newspaper today, but most people will agree: with the ability to read the latest headlines on our social media newsfeeds, more and more of us are watching less TV and scrolling to find the latest in current events. Now, news is at our fingertips, so it’s much easier to stay… Read more

Cell phone charging accidents are rare, but can they happen. When they do happen, they can cause serious skin burns, electrocution, property damage or more. This isn’t meant to scare you, but it's important to understand the potential dangers that come with charging your phone irresponsibly. Here’s what you need to know to keep you and your family safe. 1. Don’t use your phone while charging. If you were to play games, research or listen to music while charging your cell phone, there’s a good chance that nothing will happen and you’ll be completely safe. But there’s also a small chance that something bad could happen. To err on the side of caution, avoid using your cell phone while it’s charging. Charging a cell phone creates a lot of heat and using your phone while it’s charging can slowly raise the temperature of the phone, to the point where it could catch on fire. The good news is that many newer cell phone batteries charge relatively quickly, so even if you don’t use your phone while it’s charging, you won’t… Read more

Your bedroom is a place where you wind down and get ready for a good night’s sleep. As you’re winding down after a long day, you might not think twice about staring at a screen until you're ready to close your eyes - as a matter of fact, checking your phone might even be a longstanding nighttime ritual, a time to scroll through your social media feed, play Candy Crush or catch up on the news. According to a recent study, nearly 58 percent of people check their phones within 30 minutes before going to sleep. This may seem like harmless fun, but it could be having detrimental affects on your mental and physical health. Want to test disconnecting before bed? Here are a few reasons to ditch your smartphone in bed. 1. Eliminate the urge to play games or surf the internet. Playing games or surfing the internet from your phone is an excellent way to kill time in a waiting room. It can also break up your day by providing a few minutes of fun downtime. However, playing games on your… Read more

When buying a new cell phone, you'll be asked if you're interested in purchasing an insurance policy that protects the phone from certain damages, like a cracked screen or malfunctions not covered under the warranty. Cell phone insurance is a godsend when you have slippery fingers, but there are a few things to know before opting for coverage. 1. Insurance doesn’t cover everything. When you think of cell phone insurance, you might imagine the policy covering any and every type of damage. Since insurance coverage varies, it’s important to read the fine print of the policy and understand exactly what you’re getting. There are different levels of coverage and, unfortunately, if you choose the cheapest coverage available, the policy may only cover some damages and exclude others. Also, the policy might not cover the cost to replace a lost or stolen phone, which can come as a surprise if you try and file a claim. 2. You have to pay a deductible. Just like any other type of insurance, cell phone insurance policies include a deductible. This is the amount you pay… Read more