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Reduce data usage on your Android deviceLetting mobile data consumption go unchecked can cause serious problems, such as slower connections and a decreased battery life. This is on top of expensive fees that you will incur. To help you use less data on an Android phone, here are some tips. Delete data-draining apps Apps constantly consuming your mobile data can cause […]

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02 Oct, 2020 / by Complete Technology Resources / in android category
Reduce data usage on your Android device

Letting mobile data consumption go unchecked can cause serious problems, such as slower connections and a decreased battery life. This is on top of expensive fees that you will incur. To help you use less data on an Android phone, here are some tips.

Delete data-draining apps

Apps constantly consuming your mobile data can cause serious problems such as accelerated hardware deterioration and inefficient battery use. Facebook, Google Maps, and YouTube are prime examples of such apps.

Consider deleting any app that consumes too much data. To identify these apps, go to Settings, then tap Data usage. From there, you can see which apps are consuming the most data, and you can delete the worst offenders.

Restrict background data

One of the biggest culprits of unnecessary data consumption is background data. This Android feature allows apps to use the data connection when the app isn’t open or the phone is locked to provide real-time updates. To prevent this from happening, go to the Data usage menu and tap Restrict Background Data.

Beware of auto-updates

It’s better to wait for an available Wi-Fi connection before updating your apps, unless there’s a security issue involved. You may not even realize updates are happening if you have the auto-update setting enabled. Turn it off by opening the Google Play Store, tapping the three horizontal lines in the upper left corner, opening Settings, selecting Auto-update apps, and tapping Over Wi-Fi only.

Avoid streaming music

Media streaming is another data-drainer, but it can actually be controlled. Some apps don’t put a cap on media resolution, so you could be wasting data on high-quality audio that’s barely better than the lower-resolution version. Go to the settings of each of your media-streaming apps to restrict these downloads or for options to download media over Wi-Fi for later offline use.

Take your apps offline

Some apps include an offline access option. For example, Google Docs lets you choose the documents you’d like to access while disconnected from the internet. Check regularly for offline access options and enable them whenever possible.

These are some quick and easy tips for IT novices, but if you’re on the hunt for expert solutions and support for Android devices, get in touch with our team today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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How to extend your iPhone’s battery lifeIf you’re working out of the office or house, you never want to be in a situation where your iPhone is almost out of battery. A dead smartphone can mean missing important calls and being unable to send crucial updates to the team. But with some careful preparation combined with the tips below, you can […]

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30 Sep, 2020 / by Complete Technology Resources / in 2020september30apple_b, airplane mode, apple, battery life, brightness, cellular data, iPhone, low power mode, screen, wi-fi category
How to extend your iPhone’s battery life

If you’re working out of the office or house, you never want to be in a situation where your iPhone is almost out of battery. A dead smartphone can mean missing important calls and being unable to send crucial updates to the team. But with some careful preparation combined with the tips below, you can avoid these issues in the first place.

1. Activate Low Power Mode

Low Power Mode can be activated with a single tap. When switched on, it automatically adjusts several settings to extend the life of your battery. For starters, it reduces the brightness of your screen and the amount of battery power your apps are using. It also disables the automatic fetching of new email and it powers off the display more quickly.

To activate Low Power Mode, press Settings > Battery and then tap Low Power Mode so that the battery icon is yellow.

2. Lower the screen brightness

The brighter your iPhone screen, the more battery it drains. And really, there isn’t much of a need to have an excessively bright screen because in most instances (being outside in the sunshine excluded) you can easily see everything on the screen at a lower brightness level.

To adjust the brightness of your iPhone, flick the Control Center tab upward from the bottom of your screen. There, you’ll see a horizontal line with a circle in the middle and a sun symbol to the side of both ends. Move the circle left or right to adjust the brightness.

Alternatively, you can adjust your iPhone’s brightness in Settings > Display & Brightness. On this screen, you also can turn off Auto-Brightness, which automatically adjusts the brightness of your phone. When you turn this setting off, you’ll be certain that your phone is not wasting any excessive battery power by automatically adjusting brightness on its own.

3. Switch off Wi-Fi

As much as you love using the Wi-Fi on your phone, it is a proven battery life killer. The funny thing is, the degree it drains battery life varies by location. For instance, if you’re at home (where iPhone battery life is less of a problem to begin with), Wi-Fi will use less battery. But when you’re out and about, your phone is often searching for a Wi-Fi signal to connect to, and this drains battery. So if you can hold off on your mobile browsing and email till you get home, your phone will stay powered on quite a bit longer.

4. Switch off cellular data

Like Wi-Fi, cellular data can also eat up battery quickly — especially if you’re in an area where there’s no cellular coverage. When this happens, your phone begins to search nonstop for a signal, and guess what this uses — battery. So if you’re short on battery and don’t need data, turn off your cellular data function. Doing this can easily provide an extra hour or two of additional battery life.

5. Activate airplane mode

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and this is exactly when you need airplane mode. If you are down to 20-ish percent battery life and need your phone to last for a few hours longer, then airplane mode may just be your savior. By switching it on, your phone will shut down all wireless activity, including cellular, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi.

Doing this is obviously not ideal, but if you have little battery life and want your phone available in case of emergencies, this is your best option (next to switching it off). Once in Airplane mode, you can turn on individual wireless functions, such as Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi, individually, while staying in airplane mode.

To switch on airplane mode, you can do so from the Control Center screen or by going to Settings and then clicking on Airplane mode.

6. Use a power bank

Buying a power bank to charge your phone remotely is a great option if you intend to continue using Wi-Fi, cellular data, and other high-powered settings for long hours. These delightful battery saviors are continually shrinking in size, with some coming in half the size of the latest iPhone, so it’s no longer a hassle to carry them around. You can simply slide a power bank into your pocket and use it when needed.

If you’re looking for more ways to get the most out of your iPhone or are looking to service your Apple technology, feel free to shoot us a message. We’re happy to help in any way possible.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Perks of using dual monitorsWhile dual monitor setups aren’t as popular as single monitor setups, you should consider working with two screens since doing so has a lot of advantages. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of dual monitors. Enhanced productivity A survey by Jon Peddie Research shows that working with dual monitors increases overall productivity […]

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28 Sep, 2020 / by Complete Technology Resources / in 2020september28hardware_b, business, dual, enhanced, Hardware, improvement, leisure, monitors, Productivity, screen, space, visibility category
Perks of using dual monitors

While dual monitor setups aren’t as popular as single monitor setups, you should consider working with two screens since doing so has a lot of advantages. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of dual monitors.

Enhanced productivity

A survey by Jon Peddie Research shows that working with dual monitors increases overall productivity by 20–30%. Computer programmers, for example, can use one screen for source coding and the other for programming. By using dual monitors, they no longer need to toggle back and forth between tabs. This frees up time to complete more projects.

Better multitasking

Efficient multitasking requires adequate screen space to keep multiple applications simultaneously visible — a view that single monitors alone simply cannot accommodate. With a dual monitor setup, workers like customer service reps and web designers would no longer waste time scrolling up and down and resizing windows to fit the limited space. Instead, the enhanced visibility that dual monitors bring lets them focus on completing their tasks accurately and efficiently.

Easier layouting and image and video editing

With dual monitors, the days of stacking numerous editing tools on top of the newsletter, slide presentation, image, or video you’re working on are long gone. Instead of your screen looking like a game of Mahjong, you can position the editing tools on one screen and use the other monitor for the file you’re working on. With better visibility, you’re less likely to commit errors and more likely to accomplish the task faster.

Effortless product comparison

Imagine that you want to buy a camera, and you have two models in mind. Of course you want to look up and compare their specs before making a final decision.

If you had only one monitor, you’d need to go back and forth from one tab to another. But if you had two monitors, you could view the models side by side to help you clearly see their differences and make an informed purchase.

Want a dual monitor setup for your employees? We can help you roll it out. Contact us today to get started.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Tips to avoid VoIP downtimeCalamitous events such as wildfires and Category 5 hurricanes can happen at any time. If your company’s tech infrastructure isn’t prepared to weather these, it can put you out of business. One of the most essential technologies today is Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony systems. Should a disaster knock your VoIP system offline, you […]

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25 Sep, 2020 / by Complete Technology Resources / in 2020september25voip_b, Business Continuity, cloud, disaster recovery, network monitoring, telecommunications, VoIP category
Tips to avoid VoIP downtime

Calamitous events such as wildfires and Category 5 hurricanes can happen at any time. If your company’s tech infrastructure isn’t prepared to weather these, it can put you out of business. One of the most essential technologies today is Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony systems. Should a disaster knock your VoIP system offline, you may lose customers, productivity, and ultimately, profit. Avoid such losses by following these necessary procedures.

Choose your provider wisely

When evaluating VoIP systems, you must verify your provider’s service level agreements. Ask them about their security and availability guarantees, and how they’re able to achieve them.

Partner with the firm that can host your VoIP systems in facilities that are safe from local disasters such as flash floods or earthquakes. Your provider should also use advanced network security services to protect your calls.

Invest in VoIP monitoring services

Before implementing any of the two VoIP continuity solutions that follow, install a third-party VoIP monitoring service to keep tabs on the status of your phone system. This will identify all network issues disrupting your phone system, so you can resolve them quickly.

Have a backup broadband line

Because VoIP solutions are dependent on internet connections, you should have a backup or alternate internet service provider (ISP) in case your primary network goes down.

Ideally, one ISP will be dedicated to your VoIP service, while another supports your main computer network. Once you’ve installed both networks, you can then program them to automatically transfer services to the other should one network fail. Thus, if your main phone network goes down, your VoIP solution switches to the other network so you can keep working.

Of course, subscribing to two separate ISPs will increase your internet expenses, but if you perform a cost-benefit analysis, you’ll find that the cost to maintain both is far less than the cost of significant downtime.

Route calls to mobile devices

With a cloud-based VoIP solution, you can choose where to receive your calls with call forwarding — a feature that automatically reroutes incoming calls to other company-registered devices. This is an excellent feature for enabling staff to receive calls when they’re out of the office on a remote assignment, working at home, or when your main office is hit by a local disaster or network outage. Thanks to call forwarding, your employees can continue working from their mobile devices as normal.

To benefit from this feature, make sure to register all employee mobile devices to your VoIP system and configure such devices to receive rerouted calls — and don’t forget to set policies for remote working. You should have rules that forbid staff from connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, as this can put them at risk of VoIP eavesdropping.

Test your continuity measures regularly

There’s little value in VoIP continuity and disaster recovery strategies if these end up failing when you need them the most. Test your VoIP service and check whether contact details are up to date, call forwarding features are routing calls to the right devices, and your backup internet service works. Ultimately, your goal is to find flaws in your strategies and make the necessary adjustments to avoid potential hiccups from occurring in the future.

If managing VoIP is too time-consuming and complex, call our professionals today. We design, implement, test, and monitor powerful, disaster-proof VoIP phone systems to ensure your communications are always online.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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