The smartphone market is dynamic, the older the phone, the lesser its value becomes. Newer models are released more frequently and if you’re planning to upgrade it’s always a good idea to consider selling your old or unused mobile devices to get some extra money and finance your next purchase. 

Whether you’re planning to upgrade to the latest iPhone 12 Pro or need extra cash for a new Samsung Galaxy S model, before you trade, sell, or give away your old smartphone, you might want to secure your personal information and data first and wipe it off your old handset through factory reset. Although it may sound technical, the good news is that factory resetting your phone is a simple task that doesn’t require expert tech services. Factory resetting your phone won’t harm your device or remove your device’s operating system, but does the job of effectively removing all data stored in your mobile device. 

For starters, think of it as permanently deleting all your personal information in your old device including confidential messages, private contacts, files, documents, installed apps, stored videos, and of course those embarrassing selfies that you don’t want anyone to see. Why is this important? Handing in a phone that hasn’t been factory reset is sorta like handing someone a complete file of your browsing history – big mistake. The great part about a factory reset is that you don’t need to do it manually. Let’s take a look at the quick and easy factory reset steps you can follow.

FOR APPLE DEVICES

Before factory resetting your old iPhone, make sure you transfer all your personal information to your new mobile device. You can do this through QuickStart if your phone is on iOS 11 or later to efficiently transfer all your information from your old smartphone. You can also do this through iCloud or iTunes if your device operates on iOS 10 or earlier versions. Aside from transferring your personal information to another mobile device, you can also opt to manually backup your device using your iCloud or through your computer. When that’s done, follow these simple steps to factory reset your iPhone:

1. Go to the Settings app from the Home screen of your iPhone or iPad.

2. Tap on General.

3. Find and tap Reset.

4. Select Erase All Content and Settings.

5. Tap on Erase Now.

6. Enter your Passcode.

7. If you’ve set up your device in Find my iPhone, go to Activate Lock to turn off or remove this setting which might require your Apple ID and password.

8. Make sure to also remove your old device from the list of trusted devices.

For a more comprehensive guide to factory resetting and choosing backup methods for your iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices, check out this Apple support page.

FOR SAMSUNG DEVICES

Similar to Apple devices, wiping data and resetting your old Samsung mobile phone is pretty straightforward and you can do it in just a few minutes. But first, always make sure your personal data is backed-up before wiping clean your old mobile device. To factory data reset your old Samsung smartphone, follow these quick steps:

1. Go to Settings

2. Select and tap Factory data reset.

3. Review the information before tapping Reset.

4. Enter password credentials if your phone has a security lock.

5. Then tap Delete all to delete all information and downloaded apps on your old mobile phone. 

Samsung support also offers great tips on performing a factory reset on your Galaxy phone and other insights for other samsung-related mobile device problems. 

Your phone is an extension of your daily life and probably knows a lot of your secrets. Factory resetting your phone gives you ease in selling out your mobile device. So before saying goodbye to your old smartphone, make sure that none of your personal data goes with it and that all your confidential information is completely wiped clean from it. 

Need more than just factory reset? Our team of experienced tech repair experts at iDoctor Kiosk is ready to help. Contact us today!

Need to boost your productivity this year, but you’re not sure what tools to start with? We understand! There are seemingly endless productivity apps available, with almost all of them offering you the latest and greatest tools. If you’re already struggling with getting all of your work done, you definitely don’t have time to sift through each and every productivity app and find one that suits you.

Luckily, in this blog, we will cover what we consider to be some of the best workplace productivity apps out there! We’ll discuss the benefits of each app so you can quickly and efficiently decide which app(s) will assist you the most.

1. Slack

Function: Slack is a communication and messaging tool that allows both in-office teams and global, remote teams to communicate, collaborate, share files, and more all in one place. Slack is a wonderful alternative to emails because it allows real-time responses and conversations. If you’re looking for a productivity app that will bring your team together and produce successful outcomes more efficiently, then Slack is the way to go!

Benefits: Perhaps the largest benefit Slack offers is streamlined, simplified lines of communication. It offers three basic communication features: open channels (visible to everyone), private channels (visible to select team members), and direct messages (visible to one coworker). Another benefit is Slack’s ability to easily integrate with other apps (Google Drive, MailChimp, the list goes on). When you keep everything in sync with Slack, it becomes a one-stop platform for all of your productivity, communication, and sharing needs. You can also drop and share all kinds of files within your Slack conversations (images, PDFs, Word Docs, Google Docs, etc.).

Mobile vs. PC: Slack has released updated versions of both its desktop and mobile apps this year, and the apps complement each other quite well. The mobile app is simple, organized, and easy to navigate. It can also be downloaded on both iPhones and Androids. Like the desktop app, it offers a “Mentions & reactions” screen, where users can quickly find Slack messages that mention them and/or reactions to their messages.

2. Airtable

Function: Airtable is a platform that allows you and your team to create and share databases. You don’t have to be a database expert to use it, either! Other than creating databases, the platform also lets you store, organize, and collaborate/communicate on tasks within the database. 

Benefits: Airtable is a lot like a spreadsheet, except simpler and more user-friendly. With Airtable, you can organize a large amount of information as well as the relationships between that information, which means you can better categorize your information as well. Additionally, Airtable has an Import feature, which allows you to upload existing data from other apps. The true beauty of Airtable lies in its flexibility—it will adapt to whatever organizational tasks you need it to.

Mobile vs. PC: Airtable’s mobile app has a few functionality limits. For example, you cannot create new fields in mobile; you can only view existing fields. You also can’t create or view Forms or Apps in mobile. That being said, navigating Airtable is equally as simple in mobile as it is in desktop.

3. Microsoft Teams

Function: Microsoft Teams is another collaboration platform that offers chat channels, document storage and sharing, online meetings and video calling, and more. These features make it quite similar to Slack, except Microsoft Teams is free with Microsoft365 and Office365.

Benefits: Because of its integration with Office365, Microsoft Teams makes it incredibly easy to collaborate on Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents. You can create the document in Microsoft Teams rather than having to open up a separate app. Another excellent feature is the user’s ability to follow channels that they are interested in/a participant in and hide whatever channels they do not what to see. This makes Microsoft Teams more customizable than other collaboration platforms.

Mobile vs. PC: With Microsoft Teams, you can stay connected anytime and anywhere by using the mobile smartphone app. With the app, you not only have access to all of your conversations and documents, but you can also respond to channels and join meetings as you would via desktop, PC, or laptop web browser.

There are many other productivity apps out there, of course. But we believe our top three choices will improve your overall workflow, help you get more done, and keep you self-motivated to accomplish more!

Give the Gift of Repair This Holiday Season

Gearing up for the holidays, but not sure what to give? We’ve got just the thing for you! 

With the holidays just around the corner, finding that perfect gift can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. So what’s the best gift to give this year? Well, it’s time to consider what your loved ones really need and not just some run-of-the-mill gift pack. With people spending more and more time on their phones and gadgets, giving the gift of repair is a practical and thoughtful way to help your loved ones, family, and friends enjoy the most of their electronic device this holiday season.

With that in mind, iDoctor Kiosk offers a variety of tech options to help you with quality repair services that your loved ones will be sure to appreciate. To narrow down your options, this blog post will give you our top picks of the most essential services you can gift to your loved ones that will take their mobile experience to the next level. 

Phone Cases

With more time spent online for work, business, school, and even leisure, smartphones without a doubt are an essential part of our day-to-day. And to add to that, they are also getting more and more expensive. So how do you keep your smartphone (whether it be an iPhone or Android phone) from dents, scratches, and cracks? iDoctor Kiosk has a wide array of options you can choose for your phone’s protection, with features such as shock-proof, water resistant, and compact and functional cases. 

Screen Repair

While it’s a universal truth that repairing a device is more cost-efficient compared to replacing it with a new one, most of us just don’t have the time to do it. Despite the risks of using phones with broken screens – issues like touch screen malfunction, loss of protection, eye strain, and lower device productivity – some phone owners still don’t realize how necessary a phone screen repair really is. With trained and experienced repair technicians, iDoctor Kiosk gives a selection of affordable mobile phone screen repair services that can extend a device’s life and make someone’s day this holiday.

Battery Replacement

Aside from screen problems, drained batteries are also a common problem for mobile users. Over time, your electronic device may be prone to battery health issues due to prolonged use and unhealthy gadget habits. But this doesn’t mean buying a new phone is the best solution. Need more power? Our master repair technicians at iDoctor Kiosk can give you the best battery troubleshooting and replacement solution with guaranteed quality parts. Phone care services are always a great way to breathe new life into worn-out devices without the burden of spending too much.

Phone Protection Plans/Bundles

Just like protecting the physical assets of your phone, phone protection plans are also an important thing to consider when you have a mobile device. If a person is prone to damaging and losing his or her phone, a protection plan is definitely worth it. When you bring your phone everywhere with you, it tends to be exposed to all types of potential problems which could range from accidental damage, hardware, loss, and theft. iDoctor Kiosk covers these in our protection bundles, which also include other device protection plan benefits like screen repair and a phone charger. 

So make the most of your holiday by giving the gift of repair to save time, money, and trouble for your loved ones. Contact iDoctor Kiosk to benefit from our professional phone repair services at an affordable price with fast turnaround time. We don’t just fix your phone; we’ll leave you and your wallet smiling too. 

You’ve probably noticed that your phone battery begins to drain more quickly as your phone ages. When you first purchase the phone, you hardly ever have to hook it up to its charger. But the more you use it and the older it gets, the shorter its battery lifespan becomes. As soon as this happens, many people choose to purchase a new phone without considering other options like phone battery replacement. At the right local cell phone repair shop, replacing the phone’s battery is a much cheaper solution than dumping your old phone and buying a new one. Stay tuned to learn why!

Fortunately, if you’re noticing any issues with your phone battery, we can quickly and affordably replace it for you here at iDoctor Kiosk. Our technicians will have your phone running optimally again in no time!

Here are a few reasons you should consider phone battery replacement:

Cost Efficiency

Smartphones are more expensive than ever before and as tempting as it is to simply purchase a new phone when your old phone’s battery is giving out, it will likely be a far more expensive purchase than a basic battery replacement. Plus, your phone’s battery life may start to give out before the performance of the phone itself slows down. This means everything except your battery is functioning perfectly, and it would be a bit of a waste to throw out a phone that is only experiencing one particular problem.

Time Efficiency

Another benefit to getting your phone battery replaced (especially at a local repair shop like ours) is the fact that it will save you a significant amount of time. Most local cell phone repair shops can replace your phone battery the same day you bring it in, or they can even replace the battery within the hour. So getting your phone battery replaced is both cheaper and faster than buying a new phone!

Security

Most cell phone repair shops offer some kind of warranty on their work as well. This means that if they replace your battery and it fails only weeks or months later, you’ll be covered. No time or money wasted!

Safety

At this point, you’re probably thinking, “Hey, I can replace my battery myself and save even more money!” Although you might be a smartphone expert and capable of replacing the battery on your own, we highly recommend taking it to a professional. It’s the safest, easiest, and most reliable way to replace your phone’s battery. Here are a few things that could go wrong with DIY phone battery replacement:

• There’s a strong possibility that you will break your phone. Opening your phone requires specific tools and specific skills like knowing how much pressure to use when opening up the phone.
• You will have to purchase expensive tools and know-how to use them. Most modern smartphones have embedded batteries, which means replacing them isn’t as simple as opening your phone and pulling out the battery. Removing the battery can entail heating, prying, and removing screws so you can access the internal components of the phone, all of which are time-consuming and difficult tasks.
• An exposed battery can release dangerous chemicals into the air if it’s broken or ruptured, meaning it could also start to swell and explode.

Your smartphone will be in good hands with the help of a local cell phone repair shop technician.

Perhaps the largest benefit of having your phone battery replaced by a professional repair shop is the comforting knowledge that it will be replaced with a battery of the highest quality, and it will be installed efficiently and correctly. So count on us for all of your smartphone or iPhone battery repair and replacement needs!

Is your phone battery on the fritz, or do you have a totally broken iPhone/smartphone? Get an instant repair quote directly from our technicians HERE.