Tag: Technology

While you don’t always need the latest and greatest tech gadgets, there are times when the need to upgrade is essential. This is the case for many people, with cellular networks phasing out the 3G standard. Older smartphones will lose most of their essential functions, including the ability to make and receive calls and texts.

The 3G shutdown will also affect many car models that rely on a network connection for features like GPS, voice assistants and emergency call services. 

It doesn’t stop there, either. The shutdown will impact virtually any connected device running solely on a 3G network. Read on for details and tips on how to avoid being left behind.

3G is going extinct in 2022

With billions of smartphones out there, many people will first feel the impact of the 3G shutdown. Cellular networks began deploying 4G LTE networks in 2010 and phone manufacturers followed with compatible models.

More than a decade later, the three biggest providers have announced they’re phasing out 3G networks in 2022:

• AT&T said it will shut down 3G networks in February.
• Verizon said it will pull the plug on 3G on December 31.
• T-Mobile said it will shut down Sprint 3G networks on March 31. T-Mobile’s own 3G networks will be gone by July 1.

There’s only so much wireless spectrum and infrastructure out there, so the old must be cleared to make way for the new. As 3G phases out, newer 4G and 5G networks will see improvements in performance.

If you use an iPhone 5 or older, you’re out of luck. The same goes for Samsung phones preceding the Droid Charge. If your Amazon Kindle uses AT&T’s Whispernet service, it’ll also be bricked.

Luckily, many cellphone companies are offering special upgrade incentives and pricing if you need a new phone. Check with your provider for any available 3G retirement plans. They can also tell you if your phone will be affected.

Did your car make the list?

Newer cars are adapting 4G and 5G connectivity for safety and convenience features. That’s not to say you’ll have to ditch your 3G-only capable vehicle. In some cases, you may be able to get an update, though you may be charged for it or even face a subscription fee.

Popular car models from major manufacturers will be affected, including the 2014-2017 Acura MDX, 2013-2018 Audi A4/Allroad, 2018-2020 Honda Accord (Touring trim), all Lexus models produced from 2010-2017, Tesla Model S vehicles produced before June 2015, and the 2013-2017 Toyota Camry, among others. 

Beyond phones and cars

Virtually any connected device running solely on a 3G network will be affected by the shutdown. Even with Wi-Fi support, use will be limited. The FCC lists tablets, home security, smartwatches and medical devices among the impacted groups of devices. If your 3G device uses cellular connectivity as a backup when its wired network connection goes down, it will also cease to function properly.

Some of the newest medical devices still run on 3G and even 2G networks, since they are cheaper to produce. Contact the manufacturer of your device via their official website or phone number. If you have to upgrade, make sure that 4G support is included.

The FCC’s Lifeline program can assist low-income consumers with phone and internet services with a discount. Go to fcc.gov/lifeline-consumers for more information.

The FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit Program provides a discount of up to $50 per month for broadband service. A one-time discount of $100 for a computer or tablet is also available. 

The change is coming whether you like it or not and it’s coming soon. Start getting ready now.

🚨 What it means for you

The 3G shutdown will be far-reaching and impact a lot more than just your cellphone. If you have older internet-connected devices at home, expect at least some of them to lose important features that rely on a cell connection.

✅ Use a connected medical device? Contact your doctor or the manufacturer to check if there is any upgrade you need to make now.

✅ As with any big development in the tech world, you can bet scammers will jump on it. Be wary of emails, texts and letters from companies saying you need to take action. A reputable company will never ask for your personal details unprompted. If you receive a notification, contact the company through another means to confirm it is legitimate.

By Albert Khoury

Source: The 3G shutdown impacts more than just your phone (komando.com)

Every now and again, I see a tiny dot-shaped light appear at the top of my iPhone screen. Sometimes it’s orange. Sometimes it’s green.

I never really questioned it, until one day I was like, Hmm, what if it’s important? I should probably figure this out.

Apple Support’s explanation of the orange and green iPhone dots Credit: Apple

Orange dot

The orange dot is telling you that your iPhone microphone is being used by an app. It’ll appear when you use voice memos, maybe briefly after you close out of your camera, or if you’re using any app that exclusively records your voice.

Green dot

The green dot is telling you that your iPhone camera is being used by an app. You’ll see it when opening your camera, or taking pictures on Instagram, Snapchat, or any social media app that allows you to take pictures and post them.

That’s pretty much it. Neither the orange or the green indicate anything particularly concerning. You can exhale now. Check out the Apple Support page for further details, if you want.

Article By Andy Moser for Mashable©

Source: What those orange and green dots mean on your iPhone (mashable.com)

If you’ve just installed iOS 15 and you’re now seeing a message that says that your ‘iPhone storage almost full,’ then you’re not alone.

In fact, it seems like it’s quite a widespread problem, and the exact cause is unclear.

It’s certainly not a lack of storage space. Some affected users report having tens of gigabytes free.

So, if you’re affected by this ‘iPhone storage almost full’ bug, what should you do?

Do nothing.

Wait it out for a fix from Apple.

What you shouldn’t do is start deleting stuff because:

1. That doesn’t appear to fix the problem
2. That’s a path to data loss and more headaches

I’ve spoken to an Apple support agent contact who tells me that Apple is aware of this bug, there’s nothing that support techs can do about it, and that it’s something that Apple will need to fix as part of the iOS 15.x update.

Article by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes for zdnet©

Source: ‘iPhone storage almost full’ after installing iOS 15? Here’s what NOT to do (msn.com)

© Provided by BGR iPhone Spam

There’s no getting around it: spam calls are incredibly annoying and, at times, seem absolutely endless. From fake calls about social security benefits to fraudulent calls about expiring car warranties, scammers in recent years have only become more brazen and sophisticated when it comes to robocalling any and everyone.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that your iPhone comes with a few built-in features that can help you eliminate these spam calls, or at the very least, keep them from constantly interrupting you throughout the day.

To get started, all you have to do is go to Settings > Phone where you should then see a toggle for “Silence Unknown Callers.” If you turn this feature on, every call from an unknown number will be silenced and automatically sent to voicemail. And on the off-chance an incoming call from an unknown number is actually legitimate, the call will still appear on your list of recent calls.

With the feature turned on, the only calls that will actually ring include numbers from your list of contacts, numbers that appear in your list of outgoing calls (which is helpful if, for example, you recently dialed a customer support number), and numbers from Siri Suggestions, which is to say numbers that iOS thinks may be associated with someone you know.

Now if a specific person or entity is calling you non-stop, which at a certain point becomes harassment, you can specifically block their number. To do so, simply go to Settings > Phone and scroll down to the Blocked Contacts setting. Once you tap that, you can hit “Add New” whereupon you can select which contact you’d like to block. Once selected, no phone calls, messages, emails, or incoming FaceTime alerts will be able to come through.

In light of the above, there may be some hope on the horizon. According to RoboKiller — an app designed to fight spam calls — the total number of spam calls in May of 2021 went down by 5%. And while this isn’t a huge decrease, spam calls have been steadily rising over the last six months.

Incidentally, RoboKiller — which you can get for less than $2 from the App Store — might be a worthy investment.

MarketWatch notes:

Article by Yoni Heisler for BGR©

Source: How to silence every single spam call on your iPhone without buying any apps (msn.com)

Smartphones are a huge investment, so most people want to hang onto them for as long as possible. In fact, research by Strategy Analytics shows that smartphone users are now waiting up to almost three years before replacing their phones. While this can be a good strategy for your budget, keeping a phone longer than it is intended to be used can come with some consequences like poor sound quality, security issues, and more. Not sure if your cell phone situation is dire? Here are the telltale signs that it’s time to part ways with your trusty companion. 

The battery drains quickly

If a full charge lasts only a fraction of the time it used to and your phone constantly needs to be charged, it’s time for an upgrade, says Jonathon Nantz, a production support engineer with Republic Wireless. Over time, like anything else that’s used a lot, your cell phone’s battery will wear out. If your phone doesn’t have a replaceable battery, then you’ll have no choice other than to buy a new phone.

No one can understand you

Can you hear me now? If the answer is suddenly no, even when you’re in tried-and-true calling locations or have four service bars, the problem might not actually be your connection—it might be your microphone. When your mic starts to wear out, people on the other end of your calls will continuously complain that they can’t understand what you’re saying because your voice sounds very quiet or the sound cuts in and out

Your phone isn’t VoLTE-capable

Did you know that 3G is on the way out? It is, and if your phone doesn’t support VoLTE (Voice over Long Term Evolution, a new way to make a service connection so you can make a phone call and use your data at the same time), your phone could become a glorified paperweight that doesn’t get service. If you were unaware, you’re not alone. A survey conducted in early 2020 across all mobile carriers found that 79 percent of people didn’t know that 3G networks would be shutting down. “Check your settings to make sure VoLTE is turned on,” says Andrew Moore-Crispin, Director of Content at Ting Mobile, an MVNO mobile service provider. “[If your phone doesn’t have this feature,] there are lots of VoLTE-compatible devices you can choose from without breaking the bank.”

To find out if your phone has VoLTE, you’ll need to go to the connection settings or the cellular data options on your phone. The specific area that contains the VoLTE setting will vary depending on the type of phone you have and the carrier, so your best bet is to call your phone service provider and ask if your phone is VoLTE capable. While you’re talking to customer service, ask the representative to walk you through the process of finding the VoLTE setting to be sure that it is turned on, since many phones don’t have it turned on as the default.

The touch screen is glitching

Have you noticed that your touch screen is getting less compliant to your swipes? When the sensors on it are starting to fail, sometimes your phone will work just fine, and then other times you’ll need to swipe or tap repeatedly to get a response. When this starts happening, you’re not losing your mind or imagining things—it’s a sign that you need to start looking for a new phone. You can typically get your screen repaired, but if your phone is on the older side, it may cost more to make the repair than your phone is worth.

Troubleshooting isn’t working

DIY phone fixes, like cleaning your charging port to improve charging and drying out a moistened phone, can keep your phone running for a long time. There’s a time, though, when not even troubleshooting will make a difference. If you’ve tried rebooting your phone, checking it for malware, and installing the necessary software upgrades and it still remains slow or laggy, it’s time to say goodbye, according to Nantz.

It randomly reboots

If your phone randomly reboots, it could be a sign that your phone has malware and that hackers may have access to it. If, however, you scan your phone with an anti-malware app like Malwarebytes or Bitdefender and you don’t find anything amiss, your phone may just be old and worn out. Worn out electronics can glitch, causing them to malfunction and randomly restart.

The operating system is outdated

When you can’t update to the latest operating system due to outdated hardware, your phone can slow down and potentially be vulnerable to security threats, says Moore-Crispin. Google the latest OS for your phone type and check in your phone’s settings to make sure your device is updated. If it can’t download the latest update, it’s time to upgrade. Just FYI, it usually takes around three years for a phone to have an outdated operating system, though this isn’t a rule. It can happen sooner or later, depending on the phone manufacturer.

You can no longer get technical support

“Depending on how old your phone is, your manufacturer or local repair shop may think your device is considered obsolete,” says Moore-Crispin. When this happens, you won’t be able to get tech support or replacement parts for your phone anymore. That means if it’s glitching out, there’s really nothing you can do but get a new phone. 

The camera is terrible

At this point, just about everyone uses their phone as their personal camera. If your photos are cringe-worthy, with grainy images and less-than-brilliant colors, it’s time to make a change. Even budget phones have great cameras these days. Typically, if your phone’s camera has single-digit megapixels (your phone will often say something like 5MP or 8MP beside the camera lens on the back of the phone), then you should probably consider replacing it. The more megapixels, the better the resolution. Camera phones today have up to 20 megapixels, which means they take photos just as well as many newer digital cameras, with clear, crisp images. You should also look for phones with zoom capabilities and the ability to take photos in low-light conditions.

It has internal damage

If your phone looks like it’s been dropped off a Ferris wheel, it’s time for it to rest in peace. “We all drop our phones occasionally, but if your device is experiencing internal damage that goes beyond a cracked phone screen, you may be due for an upgrade,” says Moore-Crispin. Signs of internal damage can include a touchscreen that doesn’t work properly, random phone reboots, or a screen with blacked-out pixels. 

You never have enough storage

Are you constantly deleting photos and uninstalling apps because your storage is full? And your phone doesn’t have external memory that you can upgrade in the form of a better microSD card? It’s time to face facts: You need an upgrade. The only way around this, really, would be to save your photos to a cloud service like Google Drive or iCloud and use as few apps as possible. Older phones have around 4 to 8 GB of memory, but that doesn’t really cut it with today’s apps, especially if you want to store photos on your phone, too.

If you don’t use a ton of apps and still use a regular camera for most of your photos, 32 to 64 GB of memory should work for you. But you can get up to 1 TB of memory storage on new phones, which is especially important if you want to take photos with your phone and store them there, as well. 

You do the headphone wiggle

Headphone plugs take a beating from dust and lint constantly getting in the port and from regular use, and after a while, they stop working as well as they should. If you’re constantly wiggling your headphone jack so that you can get sound to come through, no matter what headphones you try, then you need a new phone. 

By Alina Bradford for Reader’s Digest©