You may want to consider this mode if your phone gets stuck during an iOS update, or if you have had trouble restoring your phone after an update. It’s also useful if you get stuck on the home screen or even if iTunes is not showing on your device.

A word of caution however – restoring your iPhone in this mode will remove all data on your phone unless you exit before finishing the restore. Always ensure that you are synced so that you can back up your data easily.

Getting Into iPhone Recovery Mode

Here’s how you can activate iPhone recovery mode on your device:

1. Connect your USB cable to your computer, but not to the device.
2. Turn your phone off – if it won’t switch off normally, hold the sleep/wake button and the home button at the same time until the screen goes black.
3. When the phone is switched off, hold down the home button, and connect the USB cable to the dock connector – this will turn your phone on.
4. Keep holding down the home button even after the Apple logo appears – you can let go when the iTunes logo or the USB cable icon shows on your screen.
5. Your phone is now in recovery mode.

Once it’s been put in recovery, you should see a message box telling you that it’s in recovery mode and will need to be restored.

Getting Out of iPhone Recovery Mode

Getting out of recovery mode on iPhone devices is a lot easier. You should do this before removing your data and going to restore the device.

If your phone is not in need of major repairs, you should have no trouble getting out of recovery. To get out, disconnect the USB cable and turn off the device by holding the sleep/wake button. After letting go, press it again and keep pressing until you see the Apple logo. Let it go again, and you should be back to normal.

If you’re still finding that your phone is not working, you can always give us a shout to assist with any iPhone repairs you may have.

Sometimes, it is impossible to prevent damage to your phone – even if you take very good care of your beloved device, you just never know what will happen. A friend could get a bit carried away at a braai and push you into the pool, phone and all. Your phone may have been in your pocket when you throw a load of laundry into the washing machine. Many people have unfortunate bathroom mishaps too that result in a wet smartphone.

Before you start to panic, try these tips to see if you can repair your smartphone on your own…

DIY Wet Smartphone Repair Tips

When your phone gets wet, quick action is at the order of the day. In many cases, acting quickly can prevent damage entirely. Here’s what to do if your smartphone is water damaged:

• Remove the phone from water as soon as possible. With all the ports on the handset, water can leak into your phone in seconds. Once you remove your phone from the water, turn it off immediately. It’s better to assume it is waterlogged if it has had any contact with water – even if it seems to be working.

• Grab some paper towels and place the phone on them carefully. You can then remove the battery cover, battery, cover and any other accessories that may be attached. Place each part on the paper towels to allow for absorption of the water.

• Take out the SIM card. This can get damaged too, and you don’t want to lose your SIM. Gently pat it dry with paper towels, and put it next to the other parts of the phone to dry out while you carry on with the next steps.

• Gently dry your smartphone using a soft cloth. This should be done carefully – try not to move or shake the phone, as this will spread the water further. Get as much surface water off the phone as you can, patting down every groove and port too.

• Place your phone in something that absorbs liquid. You’ve probably heard of friends doing this, and it works surprisingly well. Pour uncooked rice grains into a bowl or bag, and pop the phone in overnight. The rice draws out any water that is inside the phone. Rotating it every few hours helps as well.

Important Things to Note About Water Damaged Smartphones

You should also keep some caution in mind if your phone is water damaged. It’s best to opt for professional phone repair services if your phone was connected to a charger when it got wet – dealing with that yourself can be very dangerous.

You should also never attempt to take the phone apart. Water can cause electrical issues, which could shock you – chemicals or other parts may also be dangerous if you are exposed to them after water damage.

Another word of advice – don’t use a hair dryer to attempt to fix a wet phone. Even on the cold mode, hair dryers force water inwards rather than outwards, which means that water can be pushed into the electrical parts inside the phone. If it is hot air, those parts could be melted, and your phone will be beyond repair.

When in doubt, it is always wisest to stay safe rather than sorry, and take your device in for smartphone repairs.

Launched after the Galaxy Tab 10.1, the 2 7.0 has a 7 inch screen and a nice, handy size that makes it easy to take with you. It may not have quite the nice look that other models have, but there are a number of good features that make it great for those in the market for a reasonably priced tablet. Of course, the Galaxy Tab vs iPad debate will come into play, depending on whether you are an Android or Apple fan.

Have a look at the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 manual points below before you make up your mind though, so that you can see what it’s all about.

Basic Galaxy Tab Specifications

Before we get into the features, let’s have a look at the basic Galaxy Tab specifications for the 2 7.0. It’s a fairly standard list really, compared to other versions of tabs by Samsung. Light on weight, small enough to fit into your hand without trouble but large enough to be able to use properly. Full specs are as follows:

• 8GB, 16GB, 32GB
• 1GB RAM
• Weighs 344g
• Measures 193.7 x 122.4 x 10.5mm
• 1GHz TI OMAP 4430 dual-core processor
• 7” 1024 x 600 TFT touchscreen
• 720p video at 30fps
• 3MP camera at the back
• 4000 mAH battery

Top Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 Features

Moving on to Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 features, this is where things get a lot more fun. This tablet runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which brings with it a whole range of new and improved features. As mid generation Android Galaxy Tab, it is still updated enough to offer a good range of functions. Some features worth noting include the following:

• Ice Cream Sandwich – highlights of this upgrade in software include improved multitasking, a much better browser, more responsive operating system, better video handling and more customisation in terms of settings and whatnot. Definitely a step up from previous versions of Android OS.

• Home screens – there are five home screens, all of which can be accessed by swiping left and right. The main screen at default contains various widgets for weather, music, time and other shortcuts, but you can of course easily personalise these screens as you like. Editing is easy – you can move, edit, delete and add anything and everything across the home screens.

• Lock screen – this screen has limited functionality, using a TouchWiz interface rather than Android one. The overlay is ok, and it’s not hard to use – there could perhaps be a few more features here, such as shortcuts perhaps.

• Shortcuts – talking of those, there are shortcuts for screenshots, plus a customisable dock for frequently used apps that you can bring up at any time. This tool is very useful, and is a very cool addition if you often need to get your favourite tools quickly.

• Browser – includes Android 4.0′s default browser, with multiple tabs, most used sites displayed as thumbnail images when a new tab is opened, fast loading pages and a rather clumsy bookmarking system. Pluses are the incognito browsing mode, and Flash video that allows you to watch web videos easily.

All in all, this is a good device for anyone who likes Android tablets, and wants something small, easy to use and is not prone to issues. If this Galaxy Tab review was helpful in any way, you may also want to check out our Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 sales page to get prices on new devices we have in stock.

Whether you have an iPad or Galaxy Tab, there may come a time when you need to do some tablet troubleshooting when things don’t work as they should with your favourite device.

Tablets are much like portable, small computers in many ways, while also integrating with your smartphone too. The number of features found on a typical device is impressive, and we haven’t even gotten started on the access to apps yet either.

So it is not too much of a shocker that sometimes, daily use can take its toll on the body, screen, battery or even software of your preferred tablet.

Before we get into a few basic troubleshooting tips for each type of tablet, you may also want to do this simple pre-check to make things easier:

1. Make sure that your software is up to date (especially in the case of iTunes for iPad users);
2. Make sure that you are connecting to your device to your computer with a functional USB 2.0 port;
3. Make sure that your battery is charged for at least 20 minutes before you begin troubleshooting.

Now that your initial test is done, let’s take a look at some other tablet issues that you may want to resolve…

Common iPad Issues (And How to Fix Them)

Like any other tablet, the most common iPad troubleshooting areas include screen, battery, on/off and similar starting issues. iTunes can also lead to a few other complications here and there.

• iPad won’t turn on or respond

Try turning it off and on again. If you hold the Sleep/Wake button on the top of the device until a red slider appears, then slide that slider, you can press the Sleep/Wake button again to toggle it off and on. You could also try resetting by holding the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the same time until the Apple logo is shown on the screen.

• Won’t connect to iTunes or USB

First, test the USB port (remember to make sure the port is USB 2.0 rather than an outdated version) – you can do this by connecting your iPad to a different port on your PC. If that still doesn’t help, try turning it off and on using the Sleep/Wake steps above. Restarting your computer too can also help, after which you can attempt to connect again. Still not working? Take it in for iPad repairs to rule out other issues.

• Touchscreen is not responding

Assuming the protective clear plastic has been removed, you can clean the screen using a moist soft cloth to get rid of any surface smudges that are limiting the response. If it is not a surface issue but more of a device issue, you can try turning off/on or resetting to see if that works.

Troubleshooting Your Galaxy Tab

Generally speaking, the Galaxy Tab is not too prone to issues – not major ones anyway. But sometimes you may find your tab behaving oddly or not performing as it should. Here are a few of the more typical issues.

• Tab won’t turn off/on

Trying to make a locked device turn off or on is a pain. If this happens, try pressing and holding the Power button for a few seconds – hopefully a hard reboot will solve the frozen issue. Another thing to know is that locking can be caused by a program sometimes. If the reboot doesn’t work, try waiting for a few minutes until the device goes into sleep mode, and then do the hard reboot again.

• Touchscreen isn’t working

The tips listed above for iPad will work with any touchscreen, including the Galaxy Tab. Another thing to note is that touchscreens may fail if the battery is running low. Recharging for a while can therefore fix the screen issue fairly easily. Physical damage can also affect the screen – if you have recently dropped or scratched your device, take it to a Galaxy Tab repairs expert pronto.

• Device is over-heating

Another rather scary problem is overheating – this is not all too common but it is worth noting in case it happens to your device at any point. You will be able to feel if it is overheated, even from a quick touch test. Turn the device off immediately and wait for it to cool down before using it again. If this issue happens again, you may need to replace the battery or have it repaired. Do not ever use a device that is overheating – this is dangerous to you and your tab.

Of course when all else fails, it’s good to know that you can always take your favourite gadget in for tablet repairs – better safe than sorry!

This is according to a global privacy report by mobile content and commerce industry body MEF, which was released this week. Many apps are free, or heavily discounted, and these business models are undoubtedly key factors behind their meteoric success, MEF said.

International research firm Gartner forecasts that more than 185-billion applications will have been downloaded from mobile app stores by next year.

However, according to MEF, in recent months a few high-profile apps have been found to have transgressed in the collection and use of personal data.

The study found a third of consumers are comfortable sharing personal information with an app that they have bought.

MEF said some consumers are either choosing to ignore apps until such time as they can trust them not to share their personal information, or worse, they are engaging with apps not knowing that the app is sharing information without their permission. The survey was carried out by On Device Research, which interviewed 9,500 mobile media users in 10 countries including the US, UK, China, India, South Africa, Brazil and Saudi Arabia.

Growth markets are least comfortable sharing personal information. Women, men above 35 years old and Android owners feel least in control of their data, the research showed.

Next time you decide to share your location, or personal details ensure the site will not abuse this data.

New stuff that we have enjoyed is the Blackberry Messenger (BBM) Voice, and Video call, although the voice call had already been introduced with the older devices, the experience is enhanced in the Z10, plus the video call is a new addition.

The keyboard is amazing, it changes the experience from the hard button experience to a virtual keyboard that is interactive and changes the look and feel from previous  touch screens in the Android and OS devices.

The Application world has been revamped, with new products and very few of the old recognisable Apps, you can now download music, movies, and videos directly from here.The games available are awesome for any of the avid gamers on the go.

Other additions are the Blackberry Hub where you are able to make updates on most of your social accounts, the notification bar, Doc editor which enables you to view and edit excel, powerpoint and word documents, it also allows for easy file sharing and email attachment.

We are impressed with what Blackberry has managed to achieve with this device, and we can’t wait to actually have it running on LTE.

Whether you have upgraded from an S2, moved to Samsung from another phone type or even changed over to touchscreen after years of traditional phone keypad or QWERTY keypad, there are a few things to know in order to get set up.

How to Set Up a Galaxy S3 Smartphone

We are assuming here that your new phone is connected to your mobile network via 3G or WiFi, but if you are not able to get online, your first step is to get your network activated. This will allow you to move on to the fun stuff.

Some other things to remember when you set up your Galaxy S3 include the following:

• Configuration – When turning on the phone for the first time, you will see the configuration screen – this is where you can choose your language, set the date (click the ‘automatic date and time’ to make this easier), select your WiFi network and sign in or register for a Google Account.

• Backups – After adding your account, you can then choose to backup phone data via your Google Account. Data will then be restored this way too.

• Accounts – In the Settings menu, you can set up S3 accounts such as Gmail, Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook and whatever other accounts you want to add. You can choose to sync these accounts with your main phone contacts, for an expanded contact list.

• Applications – Google Play is where you can find various apps, from social media to games, music, photos and whatever else you want to add. Choose from the displayed lists of free and paid categories, or search for specific types of apps. Once they are downloaded, they will install in the background.

• Notifications - This screen is accessed from your main home screen, by pulling it down from the top of the screen in a downward swipe movement. It shows new message alerts across your accounts, app updates, missed calls and any other notification that you may want to see.

• Customisation – You will find all the sounds, picture, background and other settings in the Settings menu – this is usually found in the Applications list. To use music as your ringtone, you will first need to add music to your Music folder, by USB, Bluetooth or file sharing application.

• Home Screens – There are several home screens on the Galaxy S3, which can be customised with various widgets such as weather, clock, news, RSS feeds, social media feeds and key contacts. To move between them, simply slide left or right. Clicking the middle button brings you back to your primary home screen again.

• Calls and Messages – Many new S3 users may struggle to answer incoming calls at first – instead of tapping the answer button, you do a quick right swipe instead, holding just a tiny bit down as you swipe. Ending calls is done with a press motion. Messages are easy to access, either from the main messaging screen or from the contacts screen by pressing on a contact name to bring up options (call, message, email, WhatsApp among others).

As for the rest, we will let you figure it out as you play around a bit. With a very intuitive design, this device is easy to use, despite the few little hiccups that may arise as you get used to the layout. Once you have set up your S3 phone, you’ll be good to go.

This week we review the Global Repositioning Satellite (GPS), this is a space-based satellite navigation system that provides location and time information in all weather conditions, anywhere on or near the Earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites.

This comes in handy if you intend to travel, or want the easiest route to any location, you want to know what services are available to you in the area that you are in, these may include banks, hotels, restuarants, police or a hospital.

GPS applications come standard in most Smartphones, easy to download if not pre-installed, and very easy to use. It has even become possible to locate and find individual phones, by either tracking the cell phone number, IMEI number or the special unique pin code allocated for certain mobile brands.

Cell phone tracking in some instances may be an invasion of privacy, but in the instance where individuals are lost or injured they become vital in rescue operations and in saving lives.

Here are some links on different Tracker applications available to cell phone users. http://bit.ly/UphS5F for android, http://bit.ly/WqkjSP for iphone.

The good news is that the setup process is designed to be as simple as possible. With that said, the handset has a number of buttons, options and shortcuts that may take a bit of getting used to. Just like any other device however, this is all part of the fun. After trying out various settings and hand movements on the multi-point touchscreen, you will start to get acquainted with your new Apple device.

Things to Remember When Setting Up iPhone 5 Smartphones

There are however a few things to keep in mind that will make it easier when setting up the Apple iPhone 5. These include the following tips:

• Battery - As with any newer model smartphone, the iPhone battery life is fairly short. Make sure to charge your phone once it is out of the box, and from then on, keep the battery charged as much as possible to avoid damaging it.

• Setup Assistant – This is the tool that guides you through the setting up process. It is pretty easy and straight forward, and includes things like WiFi networks, Apple ID, iCloud, Siri, Location and Find My Phone. Follow the prompted steps to complete this process.

• Backups – There are two options for adding data – iTunes and iCloud. To learn how these options work, check out our article on backups for the iPad that shows how the overall Apple device backup works.

• Applications – The Apple AppsStore is preloaded on all devices, allowing you to shop for apps from there. You can also shop via iTunes. Browse to find the applications you want, then download them to install on your device in the background.

• Home Button – As the only physical button on the device, this one has many features. This is where you can access shortcuts to applications and settings, with each type of movement offering different functionalities. Play around a bit, and you will soon figure out what makes this button so useful.

• Home Screen – What makes this device so simple is its clean home screen layout. Here you can add shortcuts to your most used apps, so that they are ready to use quickly and simply. Application icons are listed at the bottom of the screen.

• Settings – This is where you will find all the settings you need – ringtones, alert tones, sound, privacy, wallpapers and everything else you might want to adjust. Once these final touches have been added, your phone will be set up and ready to use.

As we said earlier, the best way to figure out what does what is to simply use the device and play around a bit. You can activate Siri during the initial setup process and have some fun asking all the questions you can think of. Shop for apps, customise your home screen and in no time, your iPhone 5 will be set up and ready to roll.

Beauty

This has been an exciting year already in terms of technology, the biggest buzz of cause being the Blackberry 10 launch at the end of this month. Sadly we were unable to review the phone ourself but from the information we have gathered from the interent this is one Blackberry you would want to get,  we do hope it will not behave like its siblings with the issues of battery life and freezing.

The iPhone 5 kept a buzz for some time, but sadly it didnt go on for so long, we believe its just a smaller slimmer version of the iPhone 4 and 4S, we would have loved to see an upgrade in the OS, and some new exciting features and apps, sadly iPhone played it safe and gave us the very same product we know and slowly losing trust in.

Samsung S3 still seems a favorite, but there is rumor in the rumor mill that Samsung plans to launch the S4 by end of February this year, if you check our Social media (Facebook and Twitter) you will see the picture of this amazing beauty, Samsung have undoubtedly become the leader of the pack, and we definitely can’t wait to see what new stuff they have fitted in.

HTC, Sony and Nokia have released some great products too, we are not so thrilled with the Nokia products, but hey Windows phones are not for all of us.

With all these Smartphones launching and flying around it is just awesome that all network providers have upgraded to 4G/ LTE (Long Term Evolution), this will see a higher speed and a much greater experience using your tablet/ Smartphone.

We can’t wait to see what the rest of this year brings for us, coz it definatelt started with a big bang.