It’s no secret that Apple produces some of the most popular laptops in the world, along with other devices such as the iPhone and iPad. However, it is practically unheard of for someone to not be in favor of one of Apple’s new products, but trust me it does happen.

According to CNN, Consumer Reports stated that they would not recommend Apple’s brand new MacBook Pro. Why you ask? Consumer Reports stated their reasoning was lack of battery life in the devices. Which, isn’t all that much of a surprise, this tends to be a common issue people have with Apple’s MacBooks.

Consumers have been complaining about this issue long before now. Forbes reported that overall it appeared consumers were not very impressed with this new MacBook model. Forbes stated in their article, “What Consumer Report’s intervention will do is set consumer perceptions of Apple in 2016 as a company that has problems with batteries. It carries far more weight than a thread in the Apple support forums or comments on Reddit”.

However, the new MacBooks do offer some new, interesting features. Apple’s website states that this new device has up to 67% brighter display than MacBooks prior. It also claims that the device is 17% thinner and has up to 130% faster graphics.

It comes in a 13 inch model and also a 15 inch model. Along side those features, is probably one of the coolest features introduced in this model, the Touch Bar and Touch ID. Instead of have function keys at the top of your keyboard, you now have a Touch Bar to replace them. It has the ability to change automatically depending on what you are doing along with also having typing features included.

The features of the new Touch Bar are actually very cool, but I have the tendency to question the Touch Bar’s actual functionality. A review of the device by Wired states, “After using it, poking and prodding it, and plugging things into it, I have one word of advice. Wait”.  David Pierce, the author of Wired’s review explained that the new Touch Bar did not strike him as “revolutionary”.

The review raves about the Touch Bar’s quick, responsive function and the usefulness of the Touch ID feature to log in or make purchases, but Wired states that the feature seems “unfinished”. The reasoning is that the Touch Bar is there to make your everyday, repetitive tasks easier, such as brightening the screen or pausing music. However, the Touch Bar has all of those functions crammed into one, small place. The Touch Bar has a tiny left arrow that has to be tapped in order to do anything other than mute, change the volume or brighten the screen. This is not rubbing people the right way because before this feature, all you had to do was click a button.

Now, I understand that these issues are pretty minor, especially when you are looking at a fancy new MacBook, full of new features. But, the cons to the device might cause issues for some other people. Pierce states in his review his dislike for the MacBook’s new ports, while others might not mind them.

Overall, it sounds like this new MacBook is not as great as it looks. Of course, it is still a good machine but from what I have found, it probably will continue to get better as time passes. MacBooks have been great to some and not so nice to others. I personally have one that has given me a lot of trouble, but my mother had one that lasted her for eight years. Personally, I would wait before jumping to the new latest and greatest computer.

If you are interested in purchasing this device, or any device for that matter, do your homework first. Read reviews, learn about all of the features and of course, weigh the pros and the cons before making a choice. There are a lot of great computers out there but it truly does depend on what you are using it for. I can’t tell you how many times people have told me they love Apple products and another person tells me they will never buy something made by Apple. It really does come down to a matter of opinion and personal preference.

If you are interested in reading further about this topic, here are the sources I used.

https://www.wired.com/2016/11/review-apple-macbook-pro-touch-bar/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ewanspence/2016/12/23/apple-macbook-pro-major-battery-problem/#7b9a2f3a6813

http://money.cnn.com/2016/12/23/technology/consumer-reports-macbook-pro/index.html

http://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/

There are many people out there claiming to be able to replace your iPhone, Samsung or Tablet screens these days. However, before you allow one of these places to touch your device, check some of the reasons you should have your screen replaced by Mr Phix or a reputable place first. We all know that there is nothing worse than dropping your phone, tablet or device and having your screen become cracked or damaged in the process. Whether you sat on your phone, your kids threw it or dropped it, you let it drop in water or simply shattered the screen by mistake, doing so is one of the worst feelings in the world. This is largely due to our phones or devices being one of the Devices we use more than anything these days. Also, some of us use our phones or Tablets for working, school or other reasons. Whatever the case may be, the fact is that having your phone screen replaced and brought back to the way it was before the incident is a very important decision.
It is not only about having someone who knows what they are doing with your device that is important. There is also the parts that will be used to replace the original. Let’s be honest, most businesses are in it to make a profit. This is why many places that fix broken or shattered screens end up compromising the quality of the parts they use to replace your original; for a bigger profit. However, here at Mr Phix, the replacement screen experts, it is the other way around. In some instances we end up foregoing a profit just to make sure our customers are 1000% satisfied and that their devices are left as when they were before the problem.
We use only original and the highest quality replacement screens and parts. Also, our staff has years of experience.  Unlike some of our competition, we also guarantee our work on your device for as long as you own the device which is unprecedented in this or many other businesses.
That is why having your device replaced by Mr Phix, or reputable and reliable people is so important. Letting someone replace your screen with cheap or low quality parts can end up damaging your phone forever in some instances.
So the next time your iPhone or iPad, your Samsung or other devices needs screen replacement or work done, make sure you come visit Mr Phix at one of our stores in Wilmington, NC. We are rated number one for a reason; we deliver the highest quality work. We will make sure your phone or Device is given back to you just like it was before the screen cracked or shattered or what whatever other issue you had. And we will guarantee our work to give you the peace of mind you need.

Verizon just rolled out exciting news for their customers that have some surprised. Verizon has recently announced the return of the unlimited data package. According to CNN, Verizon customers are now able to get unlimited data, text and talk features for eighty dollars a month.

One feature that Verizon is adding to this plan for now is the 10 GB of mobile hotspot usage. Customers are able to also call and text to friends in family in our neighboring countries, Mexico and Canada. However, the one aspect that everyone seems the most excited for is the unlimited HD video streaming.

This is quite the step up for cell phone carriers, especially after many customers criticized T-Mobile for lowering video quality for a few of its unlimited data customers, reported CNN. However, not everything is perfect. Verizon has stated that while it promises quick LTE speeds, customers using more then 22 GB of data during any one billing cycle might be left behind. Verizon stated, according to CNN, that it “may prioritize usage behind other customers in the event of network congestion”. Which, for the most part, has become a relatively standard practice across companies that offer unlimited data packages and plans.

Verizon first did away with the unlimited data plan back in 2011 but last summer attempted to “test the waters” on reintroducing the plan. Last summer, Verizon rolled out a new plan called “Safety Mode”, which basically provides customers with unlimited data, but once the user goes over a certain limit, their data goes incredibly slow.

AT&T recently also rid customers of overage fees but has yet to introduce unlimited data plans for just wireless customers. They do offer unlimited data plans, but the customer must be a AT&T wireless customers as well as either DirecTV or U-Verse TV users as well to qualify, reported CNN.

It will be interesting to see for sure how the return of the unlimited data plans fare with the public. My thought, I am sure that most will go crazy for it and we will have to keep an eye open for other networks to follow in Verizon’s footsteps.

Business Insider is one of the sources I use for all things technology based. I stumbled across one article that I thought was particularly interesting about some the best apps out there for your travel needs. Here are some of the ones I thought were the most useful.

1.     Airbnb

Airbnb is a very cool app in the sense that it can save you a lot of money for housing while you travel. How it works is you find a house, apartment or room for rent but the difference is that they are posted by everyday people like you and me, not big companies or hotels. It could be a whole house or maybe just a room, but the users post whatever they have available such as an empty room and offer them out to travelers, rather than having to stay in a hotel. You can find locations all over at varying costs per night.

The majority of the Airbnb rates are set by those that offer the accommodations and normally, depending on the location, the rates are cheaper or comparable to that of hotel rates. It also, in my opinion, feels a little more “homie” than that of your typical hotel room.

2.     BringFido

BringFido is an app for all of those out there who love their four legged friend. What this app does is it helps you find all the best places for your dog such as pet friendly hotels, beaches or restaurants. It basically makes it so you almost never have to be away from your furry pal. It also provides you with information as to where you can find pet supply shops and veterinarian services while you are on the go.

I have never personally used this app, but it sounds incredibly cool. I am absolutely going to look into this for my dog.

3. Flush Toilet Finder

It might sound funny but it is a pretty useful app. We have all been in that “we aren’t sure we’ll make it” situation and this helps rid you of that, no matter where you go. This app will tell you no matter where you are or how far you go, a restroom is within reach. It has a database of up to 100,000 bathrooms across the globe. This app is free for both Android and iOS users. You also are able to filter bathrooms near you based on if they have a fee for usage, a key or have disabled access.

This app is super useful, especially for the moms out there. We have all been in that situation when they didn’t need to go but five minutes later is a different story. This will help out in those situations for sure. Not to mention, it can be challenging to find a restroom when you aren’t familiar with the area. But, this now a problem of the past thanks to this nifty app.

4.  Cities Talking

This is another one of those apps that could save you money and make your travel experience unforgettable. What this app does is it has guided tours of all of the world’s most popular cities to visit. These tours are walking tours that provide voice overs by various artists. For example, Business Insider reported that the London tour has a voice over by Christopher Biggins. You have the ability to rewind, pause or fast forward the tour if you’d like as well. One of the best features is that you can skip over certain parts if you would like to bypass that tourist attraction. You can also take notes as you go if you learn something interesting or want to remember something about that attraction.

I think that this app would save you a lot of money on a trip for sight seeing. Obviously, you can always pay for a guided tour, but with this you can see the sights at your own pace rather than travel with a tour group. It uses GPS technology to run the guide when you reach the next place on the tour. However, wifi and data are not required so you can venture on your own as well. Cities Talking is also a free app for Android and iOS devices.

5. Foodspotting

For all of you foodies out there, this app is more than just reading a menu. It’s basically a visual guide to food in various restaurants all over the world. Launched in 2010, Foodspotting lets you read reviews and see recommended dishes for restaurants all over the globe. It also allows you to search based on the food you have in mind, such as pizza or sushi. You can also search for what is good to eat at certain restaurants, making it easier to chose what your want to eat or maybe what you don’t want.

This app could potentially be useful if you are in an area you have never been to and you are looking for a place to eat. It’s never fun blindly guessing what’s good to eat in different places, especially if you are kind of picky like I am. It also might help if you have a food allergy. Users could include information about foods offered for those with food allergies, making it easier to find places to eat in some situations.

No matter where you go or how far you go these apps can make traveling more about the experience and less about the stress that sometimes can come along with it. The original Business Insider article included several other apps that are good for travelers. If you are interested in check it out, here is the link to the article: http://www.businessinsider.com/best-travel-apps-2016-12/#accuweather-1.

If you have an Apple iPhone then you know that there are millions of apps out there for your phone. This is why knowing which apps to add to your phone is very important. Mr Phix, the screen replacement experts in Wilmington, NC found this article containing a list of the top 10 best apps for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus to help you sort out the best apps out there.

Choosing great apps can make your phone work much better and help speed it up as well since some apps can slow down your phone by using too many system resources.

For those of you that love puzzles or mind games, then one of the best puzzle apps out there is Threes! There is a free version and a paid one for $1.99.

The Netflix app is a great app to have since Netflix is one of the best subscription services out there for streaming TV and movies on your iPhone.

1Password maker is an essential app for your phone since there are so many cases of hacking and cyber attacks lately. This iPhone app can greatly make your device more secure.

Are you looking for a date? Then Tinder is a wonderful app which allows users to connect with new people nearby with a simple swipe. You can swipe those you like or pass those who you do not.

You can read the entire list containing the top 10 apps for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus here

Remember that if your iPhone or Samsung phone has any problems, or your screen is shattered, damaged or needs to be replaced, Mr Phix can do it for you. We offer quality work at affordable prices. Mr Phix has 2 convenient locations in the Wilmington, NC area for those who have any problems with their cell phones.

When you ask me about cable I honestly cannot tell you much about it other than it can get pretty expensive to have all the channels you and your family like to watch. Personally, I don’t rely on cable for my entertainment but Netflix instead.

I like it because of how easy it is to find shows or movies you like at a much cheaper cost than the normal cable provider. I can pick what I want to watch and I can also watch more than one a day if I want to. Nothing is worse than getting really into a show and having to wait a whole week before the next episode. With Netflix, you can see what happens next anytime you want to.

Outside of Netflix and other entertainment applications like Hulu are other versions of what we know as cable television. Apple TV is one of the newer features being offered. However, it works a lot differently than your everyday cable.

If you head to www.apple.com/apple-tv/ you’ll find a sleek and interesting new way to engage in the world of entertainment. Apple TV offers you all of the channels you enjoy in a more customizable way.  You can still watch live sports and the news channels you like, without having to buy the channels you won’t watch.

In order to use this service, you must first buy the “box” and remote that Apple TV requires. What’s nice about these? They’re simple and small. So, instead of having a bulky remote with a bunch of buttons you have no idea what they do, you have a simple, easy t o use remote with endless possibilities. The  “box” itself is also compact, making it look less tacky and in your face than your everyday cable box. Here is a picture of what it looks like.

What really makes Apple TV stand out though is t he way it brings TV into your living room. You have the power to choose, and by choose I mean you can pick exactly what you watch. The whole system relies on apps to function. You can download apps like Hulu, HBO Now, ESPN and even iTunes to watch what you are looking for, without having to pay for those pesky cable packages. According to Apple’s website, you have over 1600 choices in video apps.

You also are able to watch all of the TV shows and movies you have purchased on iTunes. Siri also works for Apple TV and you can tell her specifically what you’d like. She’ll make it happen. You can tell Siri, “I want to watch The Blacklist” and just like that Siri will bring you right there. Not only can she do that, but she can bring up the music you’d like to listen to as well.

The cost of the box and remote are a one time expense starting at $149 according to Apple’s website. The applications can vary in price. Some have a nominal monthly fee for the ability to access the certain channel you are interested in. For example, according to Apple the Hulu app requires a monthly fee.

1. Protect Your Phone:

One of the first things Samsung users should do is create a Samsung account. This will allow you to set up safety and emergency features on your S5. Once you set these measures in place, you will be able to ring, wipe your phone clean remotely and even locate it. With this security measure in place you can also prevent anyone who steals or has your device from reactivating it just in case.
You go to Settings > Safety Assistance. Here you will be prompted to add a primary contact number. This number you choose will allow you contact them in case of an emergency or when you want to send Help Messages to locate your phone. The device will turn on Location automatically and even take front and back photos to your emergency contact.

2. Set up the Fingerprint Security:

For extra security on your S5, Samsung gives you the choice of enabling the fingerprint scanner feature. Simply go to your Settings > Finger Scanner and set it up there. With this cool feature on, you only need to use your fingerprint to unlock your device. You can set up numerous fingerprints so your device can recognize both thumbs and or index fingers. This feature is also great when you need to use third party apps to pay for stuff.

3. Personalize Your Camera Shortcuts:

With one of the best cameras found on any phone, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is awesome for taking photos. Better yet, you can even take advantage of the many shortcuts to make using the camera even easier. You can customize up to three shortcuts on the S5 to better suite your needs for each occasion.

4. Motion & Gestures:

The Air gestures and motion gestures on the GS5 are not only awesome, they also allow you to show off what your phone can do to your friends and family. With the swipe of your hand or palm you can actually make your phone take screen shots with a feature called Palm Swipe to Capture or Air Browse. Normally, you have to press the home and power buttons at the same time to take a screen-shot. However, with the Palm Swipe enabled, you can simply swipe your hand across the screen. You can also browse through photos using your hand as opposed to actually having to touch the phone to turn the photos which is pretty cool. Lastly, you can also use Air Gesture to scroll through a list of items or pages by moving your hand towards the direction you want to scroll.

5. Emergency Mode:

Hopefully you will never have to use this feature. However, in case that you do, the emergency mode on the S5 allows you to keep your phone on for at least 10 days should you need to. This function is like the Ultra Power Saving Mode which turns off all other features. By doing this, the S5’s primary focus will be extending the life of your phone’s battery for as long as possible.

6. Use the Download Booster:

If there is one feature from the S5 we enjoyed using it is the download booster. By combining both the 4G connectivity and Wi-Fi, the GS5 can increase the download speeds tremendously with this function. This is great for when you want to download big files, TV shows or movies. FYI though, if you have a data limit plan then be sure to go to Settings > Network connections > Data usage and set a limit cap there.

7. Customize the Notification Panel:

Being able to toggle the NFC, screen brightness and Wi-Fi is just one of the great things about having quick access to your phone’s system settings. You can choose the order in which all other features on your phone appear once you scroll down the drop-down menu from the top of your phone. From different settings for your battery to Screen Rotation, Bluetooth and WiFi, you have the power to pick what appears first and last.

8. Dump the Bloat Software:

Just like computers and tablets, most phones come filled with bloated software, apps and programs you will not only never use, but also do not need. Most of these are not put there by Samsung though, but rather the carriers. You can edit these apps by going to Settings > Application Manager or by dragging the icon from the app drawer and hitting ‘Edit” or “App Info”. Simply hit “Turn off” and your phone will just save resources needed for other apps you really use.

9. Transition Animations & Windows:

If there is one problem some users have with the SG5 is the lagging on the phone which happens sometimes. This comes from so many apps running at the same time and system RAM being over extended. Enabling this feature may not really cure the lagging problems, but it will boost your animation times and make your device run faster. Simply go to Settings > Developer Options and then About Device. Quickly tap on the “Build number” option and continue to do so for about ten times. After doing so you will see a message which says “You are now a developer”.
Next you go back and see the “Developer options” row now available. If you scroll down and find Drawing then tap on “Window animation scale”. From here set it to 0.5x and then do the same for the “Transition animation scale”. Walla, you are now a developer!

10. Increase Touch Sensitivity:

We all love our touchscreen phones until we try to use them with gloves on, then it becomes a problem. However, the S5 allows you to simply increase the touch sensitivity of your phone thus making the glove problem moot. Just go to Settings > Display and from here pick “Increase touch sensitivity”. This feature will not affect the touch once your gloves are off and it wont drain your battery either.

We hope you have enjoyed these ten tips that will make your Samsung Galaxy S5 more amazing from Mr Phix, the screen replacement experts. Remember, we offer a lifetime guaranteed on all our screen replacement work and we are the highest rated repair stores in the Wilmington, NC areas.

Technology has absolutely come a long way. We have moved from one thing to the next so quickly, it seems like every time you turn around something new is coming out. The first cell phone was released back in April of 1973 by Martin Cooper, a researcher for Motorola. However, since then computers, phones and devices of all kinds have completely changed in what they are able to do.

Forbes released an article yesterday talking about just that, how advanced technology has become. However, instead of predicting what would be a hit in ten or twenty years, they discussed what is potentially heading our way in five years. Here are some of the things Forbes feels you should look for in the coming years.

One thing Forbes talks about is driverless cars. Lately that has been all over the news. For example, Uber is paving the way in this latest transportation technology. According to an article on USA Today, this company has moved it’s testing for driverless cars to Arizona, due to restrictions in California. Along with Uber, Honda and Alphabet are looking to potentially partner in the experimentation and modeling of self-driving cars, reported The Wall Street Journal. Self-driving cars, much like electric vehicles, will change how we travel and maintain the health of our cars.

Forbes’ article also mentions the take off virtual reality in the coming years. We have already started to see this become increasingly popular with the release of VR headsets, made by various companies such as Samsung, Sony and Google, just to name a few. Virtual reality has a lot of potential to be used by business, sports and many industries to make more money in a new and innovative fashion. In short, this new technology has the ability to completely change everything we know today. We might not shop, play, or work in the way we did before.

Automation, is also mentioned in Forbes’ article. Similar to self-driving cars, the continued advancement of automation can change how we interact and work in the future. Many suspect that as automation changes and develops further that it will be more equip to handle more challenging tasks that are less repetitive, such as operating a moving car.

Another technology that Forbes’ raves about is the Internet of Things, also known as IoT. For those that don’t know, The Internet of Things is basically a system of connected computing devices that have the ability to transfer data over a network without human to human or human to computer intercommunication. An example of this would be Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home, which allows you to connect to other devices in your home. You can ask them to do something simple such as turning on a light or something more specific like putting YouTube on your TV. Alexa is actually a device we use in our shop and she is able to stream music or search things for you, all by voice technology. There is no telling what else you will be able to do with that technology by 2022.

I have no doubts that technology will only continue to change and evolve as time goes on. Before we know it nothing will be done the way it is done today. If you are interested in reading further about these advancements or the news regarding anything mentioned in this post, I have linked the sources I used below.

Sources: 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobmorgan/2014/05/13/simple-explanation-internet-things-that-anyone-can-understand/#3bb15d256828

http://www.wsj.com/articles/honda-and-alphabet-talk-driverless-car-partnership-1482360369

http://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2016/12/27/upcoming-technology-10-trends-to-watch-in-the-next-five-years/#11ef0d252291

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/12/22/uber-moves-self-driving-cars-pilot-to-arizona/95763516/

There’s an old saying that two things are certain in life, Death and Taxes. The same can be said about glass and screens; they will one day break. Whether you have a mobile device or a tablet, sadly, the time will come when it will either shatter, break, crack or become damaged. Fortunetely, when screens break, Mr Phix comes to the rescue of your device. None of us ever want our phones or tablets to break or become damaged. Most of us have tons of family photos and videos on our phones. We also have work related files and our personal information. Mobile devices have become our mobile offices or like an extension of our computers. When something so important like this is damaged, you cannot gamble and take it to a store or someone who will end up damaging your device even further. Another important issue when it comes to screen replacement is the parts being used. Many places end up using low quality parts which end up breaking in mere months, sometimes sooner. Mr Phix never ever chooses profit over quality. We only use the best certified parts when replacing your broken, shattered or cracked screens.
It is well known that Mr Phix, is the replacement screen expert with the highest customer ratings in the entire Wilmington, NC area. This is because the staff at Mr Phix puts the customers first. Our team also has years of experience in the screen replacement business. We are also the only ones that give you a lifetime guaranteed on any work we do on your screen. No one else does that. No other store has more positive reviews than Mr Phix. Unlike some places, our reviews are legitimate, from real customers. You can check our reviews at our Google + page or our Facebook page as well. So the next time your screen breaks, have no fear and don’t fret. Just take it to one of Mr Phix stores and Mr Phix will come to the rescue of your device. With a lifetime guaranteed behind it!

Are you in the Wilmington, NC area and looking for a screen replacement for either your iPhone, Samsung, iPad or another mobile device? Then welcome to Mr Phix, the replacement screen experts with years of experience and one of the highest rated on the Internet. When it comes to screen replacement in Wilmington, NC, Mr Phix is the place to bring your electronic devices. Our expert staff has successfully replaced thousands of cracked, damaged, broken, shattered or destroyed screens. If your phone is damaged due to other issues then we can resolved that as well.

There may be others in Wilmington, NC offering similar services, however, only Mr Phix is willing to guaranteed their work and even take a loss to make sure you are completely satisfied. We are also the only ones that stand behind every screen replacement or repair with a guaranteed for life. This is because customer satisfaction is the most important factor for us. We also use the best parts available when making repairs to make sure your phone, iPad or electronic Device will work just like they were before the problem.

Everyone in our team of screen replacement experts knows and understands what it means to break, crack or shatter your screen. We know exactly how you feel when it happens because we have all experienced a broken or damaged screen at one time or another and we treat your devices as if they were our very own. The people here at Mr Phix have been in the screen replacement business for many years now. We also have several locations in the Wilmington, NC areas to make it easier for you to find a convenient location near you.

Mr Phix offers discounts to our brave service men and women since we appreciate, respect and honor their sacrifices and services to our country. This discount applies to both active and retired members.
So if you are in the Wilmington, NC area and you are looking for expert screen replacement for your iPhone, Samsung or iPads then come check out Mr Phix to see why we are number one.