Hidden Winter Hazards for Your Electronics

Well, Christmas is over and if you're like many people, you may have received a new electronic device. Kindles, laptops, iPods, Androids, the list goes on and on. In my time helping people with their devices,  I've never gotten used to the number of people who have their new devices ruined days or just weeks after receiving them. Here are a few common hazards for these colder winter months that I hope you'll be able to avoid.

1. Dropping from Gloves- With gloves or mittens on, you have much less feeling in your hands and therefor the likelihood of dropping your device (especially cellphones) goes up significantly. If you have a smartphone in particular, dropping and shattering your screen is a big deal since most smartphone screens are not replaceable. Whether you drop it on the kitchen tile or the snow covered driveway, the results are rarely favorable.
2. Speaking of snow, you'd be amazed how many people will drop their devices in the snow. Not only will the snow melt and therefor give the device liquid damage, but some people are unable to find it and will only recover it when the snow melts or it goes through the snow blower- yikes!
3. If it's left in the snow, or sometimes even just left in the car, the device can freeze. This will damage the battery and can even break the screen. If a touch screen or LCD screen gets too cold, it can freeze and then crack when it thaws. For this reason, I generally recommend people keep their electronics in environments they'd normally keep their pet or child-- not too hot or too cold.

Practical Tip of the Day:
If you live in a cold climate, you've probably already run into the issue of your touch screen not working when you have gloves on. If you don't already have a pair, I recommend touch-screen sensitive gloves for all my smartphone and tablet-using friends. They allow the user to keep their gloves on while using their touch-screen devices.

Can I Access My Computer From My Smartphone or Tablet?

Ever have a file on your computer at home that you really wish you had with you? Maybe it's a resume and you just ran into a prospective employer, a photo you don't have on your phone, or maybe you need to do some work on your computer and won't be home for hours or days. Because of these exact reasons, there are apps you can get for your Apple or Android devices that allow you to remotely access your home or office computer. That means that you can open this app and actually see and control your computer as if you were there. How cool is that? Here are the most popular apps in the marketplace right now:

• GoToMyPC- This is a premium app made by Citrix so I usually recommend it for people who will either be accessing their computer a lot or for business people who need something more streamlined. Designed for either iOS (Apple) or Android, this slick app is free, but does require a subscription to the GoToMyPC service. ($20/month)
• LogMeIn- This app is iOS only, and is a simplified remote access app, which works out nicely for the occasional user. The other nice thing about it is the price tag; The app is free and there is no subscription. Simply download the app on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch and then the program onto your Mac or PC.
• Ignition- This is the Android version of LogMeIn, and as such is going to be nearly identical. Still able to access both Macs and PCs, still free, and made by the same company as LogMeIn (LogMeIn, Inc.), I'm not sure why they gave it a different name, but nonetheless, here it is.

Keep in mind that these are just the top apps for remotely controlling your computer and there are others out there, but I will caution you when you go searching for other options. Make sure you only download apps directly from the iTunes Store or Android Marketplace and the computer program part directly from the manufacturer's website. This is important as the Store and Marketplace verify the authenticity and safety of the apps and programs before allowing them on the store. That way you know you're not downloading something that will allow anyone else into you devices without your permission.

Practical Tip of the Day:

When you go to look at the apps before downloading them, check the features. You'll often be pleasantly surprised. The ones I've listed often have added features allowing you to do things like transfer files between devices, linking to cloud based storage, and accessing multiple computers.


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How Does a Square Reader Work?

You may have heard that the Girl Scouts are accepting credit cards  now, or maybe you've just overheard an excited friend with a small business talking about finally being able to accept credit cards while they're out and about. While there are many products and services that allow people to do this, the most popular option by far is the Square reader and Square Register app. Made by the Square Up company, they have a great business plan that allows people to start accepting credit card payments with no startup costs. Here are the three easy- and free- steps to getting started with a Square reader:

1. Get the app- Available for iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch) as well as Android devices, the app is called Square Register and yes, it's free. Just download onto your device like you normally do.

2. Set up account- Once you have the app, you can create your account right from it or from Square Inc.'s website. (https://squareup.com) This is also free to do. Once you have your account, you can log onto the app and customize your settings.

3. Get reader- This can be done before or after you get the app, but it doesn't do you much good to have the reader without the app to use it with. When you signed up for your account on Square's website, they also asked for your address so they could mail you your- you guessed it- FREE reader. Now that you have it you're ready to go! Now, what if you decide you need it now? Last minute bake sale at school maybe? You can purchase the readers at various electronics stores and departments like Sam's Club, Apple, etc.

Only an inch in size, this little guy can make a big impact for portable businesses.

What's the catch, you ask? How are they making any money? Square keeps 2.75% of all credit card transactions made with their app. That means that if you charge someone $10 for a dozen cupcakes, Square will keep 27.5 cents of it. That's it! No other fees or charges. That's why Square has become such a staple to many small businesses around the world.

Practical Tip of the Day:
One of the nice things about the Square Register app is that it also helps you keep your transactions accounted for. What then should you do if someone chooses to pay with cash? No worries! The Square Register can also help you track your cash transactions. Once you enter the price on the main screen, simply tap the $ icon on the top right corner to change it from a credit card transaction to a cash one.