We can't say for sure, but we're guessing that within a day or so of the first iPhone debuting, there arose the need for the first iPhone repair. After all, we're only human. How can we be expected to hold a sleek little device for days, weeks, years on end and not accidentally land it in the sink every once in a while? Here at iResQ, we receive a flurry of repair requests on a constant basis. As much as we love carrying out repairs, we also want our customers to practice good care technique when it comes to maintaining their devices. Therefore, we're introducing this series called “The Daily Roundup,” in which we pull from our most interesting and teachable service requests in the hope that reading this could perhaps prevent you from needing a trip to a cell phone repair shop.
The carpet won't save it
- The situation: A Baltimore man got in touch with us because he noticed some cracks in the lower right corner of his device's LCD display.
- What caused it: The man's day enjoying some hard-earned couch time was interrupted when he found his device slipping to the floor. Though one might think that the floor's carpeting would save the machine, such was not the case, and when the man recovered it from the ground he noticed the crack.
- The solution: This is a clear-cut case of a screen repair – that is, if the man wants it. Fortunately for him, no other part of the device was damaged, and he did say that the crack was small. Ultimately, then, this boils down to a cosmetic repair. If he feels his computing is significantly disrupted because of the crack, then we advise him to send the device in for a speedy repair.
Craggy old iPod needs a facelift
- The situation: A Vermont man reached out to us because his iPod from 2006 (!!) is experiencing some major problems. It's not turning on like it should, and also it only works when plugged in.
- What caused it: First of all, we have to congratulate the man on retaining the 2006 iPod model. Given that he's had it for the better part of a decade, it's only natural that repair needs would come up eventually. But in this man's case, there may be a very specific reason for the not powering on that has nothing to do with normal device degradation. According to him, the powering problem began after he attempted to put his iPod on a magnetic holder in his car. He suspects that the magnet may have done some damage to the device's internal design. The fact that the device only works when plugged in, however, is likely due to the normal battery deterioration expected of an almost 10-year-old machine.
- The solution: This is going to require a comprehensive evaluation at our shop. While the battery issue may likely be solved in the time it takes to replace the battery, the apparent damage from the magnetic exposure may take some additional troubleshooting.
Not happy with iPod battery life
- The situation: A New York woman sent in a diagnostic request because her two iPods are both experiencing battery issues. According to her, one of the devices has a battery life of two days, while the other only lasts for 24 hours.
- What caused it: As we mentioned in the previous anecdote, there is a natural battery deterioration that takes place over time. No battery will last forever, and frequent use will only accelerate the rate at which the battery declines.
- The solution: The ultimate remedy in this case may be a battery replacement. That said, there are proactive measures iPod users can take to extend overall battery lifespan. According to Apple, these are some good tips for iPod users to practice in order to optimize device functionality and work toward boosting battery lifespan:
- Put the brightness on a low setting. By dimming the screen, you place less stress on the battery every second you use your iPod. Additionally, having an Apple device's brightness going full throttle places unnecessary strain on your eyes anyway.
- Shut off the device's Wi-Fi. Far more people than necessary unintentionally have their device's Wi-Fi activated at all times. But if you're like most iPod users we know, then having the machine search for Wi-Fi constantly is a big waste, since you're often using it for music you already have. So do your device a favor and deactivate its Wi-Fi.
- Get rid of push notifications. Who needs them? Sure, push notifications can be helpful in alerting you to the presence of new apps. But you can carry out that same process by simply clicking on the App Store and seeing which updates or new functionalities are available. By deactivating push notifications, you take a significant proactive step toward prolonging device lifespan.