Have You Tried Turning it Off Then On Again?

Although technology is intended to be simple, it doesn't always seem that way. Devices can develop all sorts of problems that an average person would not be able to fix. Even figuring out how to use a perfectly fine device can pose a set of issues too.

Thankfully for Apple users, the Genius Bar can provide much-needed help. The Genius Bar is a long, bar-like table in the back of every Apple store. They can help with anything from cracked screens, to battery life, to learning how to use software.

This photo is gently mocking the Genius Bar, because they almost always ask if you have tried restarting your device before coming to them. The picture makes IT work seem comically easy, as if any person could sit at home and fix your phone remotely by asking you to turn it off and then on again. While I'm sure most IT workers would agree there is some truth to this funny troubleshooting photo, there is so much more that IT can do for you. 

For small issues, it is true that they normally ask the famous line: “Have you tried turning it off and on again?”. As silly is it sounds, a simple reboot of the phone can eliminate your problem- so try this first before visiting the Genius Bar!  But for more complex issues, they can service your phone or send it out to be fixed. The Genius Bar even holds classes for the elderly (or anyone in need) to learn how to use technology.

If you’re thinking of visiting the Apple Genius Bar, making an appointment is easy. Just go to the Apple website and create an appointment online. Remember to restart your phone beforehand!

Three Ways to Form Healthy Habits with Technology

It’s easy to begin feeling attached to technology. Nowadays, everyone from working adults to young toddlers depend on it as an essential aid in everyday tasks. Having instant access to technology, however, can quickly become addictive and unhealthy. Attachment to technology can make people seem distant, unengaged, or impolite. It can also lead to decreased focus and insomnia. Here are three ways to begin building healthy habits with your technology: 

1. Set personal time limits
2. Create a "no phone" basket during dinner
3. Make use of night mode

Setting a  personal time limit is a great way to make sure you aren’t spending too much time in front of a screen. Set a realistic goal that will be restrictive, but fair. Creating a no phone rule during dinner can not only help with your time limit goal, but will also improve your focus and quality of conversation. For example, have everyone put their devices away in a basket before eating dinner. Removing the temptation to glance at notifications or respond to texts will force everyone to engage with the real people in front of them at dinner. 

As for night mode, staring at a screen all day and night can be damaging to your eyes and your circadian rhythm. Remember to use your night mode when using devices after dark! Regular blue light screens trick your mind into thinking it is still day time. The blue light suppresses melatonin and causes restlessness at night. By using night mode, your screen will use a warm yellow color light. It will not disturb your natural circadian rhythm.

Remember to keep putting in the effort to form healthy habits. Technology is a great tool when used appropriately, but there is a time and a place for healthy usage. Follow these rules and don’t allow technology to have a negative impact on your sleep, focus, or relationships.

How to Choose Between Apple or Android

When it comes to buying a smartphone, choosing between an Apple or Android product is a difficult choice. They both seem to have endless capabilities and features. However, there are some important differences to note about each brand. Here are some things to consider before leaning one way or the other:

• Cross compatibility with other devices
• Pricing
• Simplicity vs. Customization
• Cybersecurity
• Elegance vs. Functionality

If you prefer for all of your devices to be cross compatible with each other it may be beneficial to buy the iPhone. Other Apple products (laptops, iPads, etc) will be compatible with your iPhone, whereas Android devices can not interact with each other in that way. The iPhone is also much more secure and simple to use.

However, if you need a more affordable option and don’t mind compromising simplicity or elegance, the Android would be more suitable. Androids function similarly to iPhones, but they are created for customization rather than the “one size fits all” experience that the iPhone provides. The customization can be complicated, but if you prefer to have things your way, the Android certainly is the better option. It may not be as much of a designer name, but Androids can still get the job done.

Depending on your budget and other preferences, you should be able to distinguish which brand best suits you.  No matter which brand you go with, you will end up with a great product!

Instagram Stories Wikipedia

While enjoying a delicious meal today at Xian Famous foods, I decided to take a boomerang to post on my Instagram story. A boomerang is a very short video that loops back and forth. Boomerang started out as its own, Instagram compatible app (run by Facebook), but now Instagram itself has the ability to record boomerangs.

I added the geotag “Xian Famous Foods” so that my followers could see where I was eating. Normally this is just a fun piece of information to add. Today, however, I got a notification from Instagram that my story had been added to two local stories. Although I knew that Instagram Local Stories had been announced, I did not know much more about it, so I checked Wikipedia. Here is what I found:

In August 2016, Instagram launched Instagram Stories, a feature which allows users to take photos, add effects and layers, and add them to their Instagram story. Images uploaded to a user's story expire after 24 hours. The media noted the feature's similarities to Snapchat.[125][126] In November, Instagram added live video functionality to Instagram Stories, allowing users to broadcast themselves live, with the video disappearing immediately after ending.[127][90] In January 2017, Instagram launched skippable ads, where five-second photo and 15-second video ads appear in-between different stories.[128][129] In April 2017, Instagram Stories incorporated augmented reality stickers, a "clone" of Snapchat's functionality.[130][131][132] In May 2017, Instagram expanded the augmented reality sticker feature to support face filters, letting users add specific visual features onto their faces.[133][134] Later in May, TechCrunch reported about tests of a Location Stories feature in Instagram Stories, where public Stories content at a certain location are compiled and displayed on a business, landmark or place's Instagram page.[135] A few days later, Instagram announced "Story Search", in which users can search for geographic locations or hashtags and the app displays relevant public Stories content featuring the search term.[91][136] In June 2017, Instagram revised its live-video functionality to allow users to add their live broadcast to their story for availability in the next 24 hours, or discard the broadcast immediately.[137]

Immediately, I noticed that there was no mention of the boomerang tool. Additionally, the article never mentioned that these features went live: only that they were announced.

I decided to submit an edited version of the Instagram article, so that it now reads:

“In November 2016, Instagram announced and made a handful of new tools accessible for Instagram Stories, including Boomerang and Mentions. This allowed users to create boomerangs from within the Instagram app, and tag friends or other users in their story.”

And at the end of this portion, it now reads:

“A few days later, Instagram announced "Story Search", in which users can search for geographic locations or hashtags and the app displays relevant public Stories content featuring the search term.[91][136] In June 2017, Instagram revised its live-video functionality to allow users to add their live broadcast to their story for availability in the next 24 hours, or discard the broadcast immediately.[137]  Instagram also began curating geotagged stories for local stories in June 2017. Any story that is geotagged within range of the local story is considered to be a part of the public local story for that day.”

Instagram is constantly evolving, so I hope that with my edit to the Wikipedia page, people will be able to stay on top of all the latest features.

UNU Superpak: Tiny but Mighty

Last summer, I flew to Shanghai, China for an internship. The flight was over 14 hours, and I had a full day of work ahead just hours after I landed.

Although I had enough energy to keep pushing through the day, my phone didn’t. Surely, my phone battery would have died during the long flight if I was unprepared or did not come across a power outlet. Luckily, that is where the UNU Superpak came into play.

No need to crouch on the airport floor with the UNU Superpak!

The Unu Superpak is a 10,000mAh , 3.1A external battery. What does that mean? Let’s break it down.

An external battery is a device that eliminates the need to plug into a wall outlet for power. External batteries store power, which is measured in mAh or milli-Ampere-hours, so that you can charge on the go.

All you need to do is plug your cable into the external battery in order to charge. The UNU Has two ports where you can plug your cable in, which even allows for charging multiple devices at once. On the UNU, one of the usb ports is capable of transmitting power faster than the other. The faster port, 2.1 Amps, is ideal for bigger devices like an iPad, whereas the 1A is suitable for an iPod or iPhone.

The UNU Superpak that I purchased was in a sleek matte black color, and had 4 LED lights to indicate how much power it still held. It came with a special charging cable which was convertible. It is a micro usb cable that also has an 8-pin (iPhone charger) adapter built in.  I thought this was a very nice touch, because an external battery is no use without a cable to plug into it. Not only that, but the practicality of carrying just one cable that can charge both the battery itself and my Apple devices is far superior to a bag of tangled wires!

The device itself is small and compact enough to fit inside a purse. It is just under 4 inches long, and I found that it can recharge my iPhone approximately 4 times before needing to be charged again. It is also super durable, which I discovered after dropping my battery down a flight of stairs! That fall did leave a dent in the plastic, but the battery itself and all the lights still work perfectly.

One downside to the UNU is that the cable did not last long. The adapter piece is connected by a piece of non flexible plastic, and after a few uses the adapter fell off and got lost. Although disappointing, I don't count this against the UNU Superpak since other external batteries do not come with cables anyhow.

The UNU Superpak retails for about $29.99 on Amazon.com.

Given its power capacity and small size, I would say that the price is fair. Other external batteries with 10,000MaH are in a similar price range, but may not have two charging ports or might be bulky.

Overall, I would recommend everybody carry an external battery with them, and that the UNU Superpak is fairly priced and a great option for travelers.

What is Technology?

Technology can be hard to understand, hard to use, and it changes every day. So what exactly is it?  

By definition, technology is using scientific knowledge in order to get a practical result. It can also be used to refer to the machinery or equipment created as a result of applying scientific knowledge.  

Technology, based off the definition, is not confined to only our iPhones or our Macbooks. As a matter of fact, there is technology in every industry being applied to make processes more practical. Landscapers may utilize technology such as a forklift to move heavy trees, while chefs use technology in the form of a probe thermometer.

Technology is all around us. Not only that, but the purpose of technology is to make things more practical! If technology is hard, it is defeating the purpose of its own existence. Technology is there to be a practical tool, and once the user becomes familiar with it, efficiency will skyrocket.

We also know that technology changes. Not to worry, though: many evolutions are subtle and easy to understand. However, these evolutions happen quickly. If too many updates happen over a short amount of time, it becomes difficult for the user to follow. For example, consider a novel. If you read each chapter in order, the story is very clear and easy to follow. However, if you skip chapters and start somewhere in the middle, it may be hard to understand what is happening in the book.

Technology, just like the novel, always has something preceding it. An example of this is to look at a simple lemonade stand. The children may track their sales simply by tallying up the cups sold on a piece of paper, then manually adding their profit together by hand. However, if they were to use a calculator (simple technology), they have a practical solution to adding numbers faster. If they want an even more practical solution, they could use Microsoft Excel. This combines the elements of tracking on paper and using a calculator into one simple tool, which they could use to automatically calculate their profits and even track profits over the course of a week. Simply put, one technological development leads to the next, so it is fundamental to know the roots of modern technology in order to best use and understand it.

Next time you run errands or clean the house, consider the technology which helps the practicality of your situation. I live on the 13th floor of my building, so the elevator is a much more practical way to getting to the lobby than taking the stairs. When I wash all of my cups and plates by hand, I dream that my next apartment will come with a dishwasher to do the work for me.  

If there is one thing to take away from this post, it is this:

Technology is using knowledge to improve practicality.

Good technology doesn’t make your life more complicated, it is a tool to improve efficiency (like the elevator!).

Why Follow Tech?

You might be asking yourself, "Why should I follow a technology blog?" While some may feel that technology is not all it's cracked up to be, or that anything worth seeing will be eventually brought to the public, it is still important for people of all ages to stay up to date on technological advances and new products.

 Why? Although there are many reasons, these are the main three: 

1. It allows you to stay in the loop and participate in everyday life better, similar to staying well informed with the news.
2. Early developments often become the foundation for many new gadgets and tools.
3. In a world where nearly everything has already been discovered, technology allows curiosity and possibility to thrive. 

As a person living in New York City, I am always having conversations with diverse groups of people, all who have equally diverse interests. One thing that is part of everybody's life, however, is technology. Staying well informed allows ease in everyday conversations, and makes way for a more in depth opinion or participation in conversations about technology. For example, I might see that a friend of mine is always complaining to me that her phone is dead. By knowing about new gadgets and technology, I could talk to my friend about external batteries and battery cases, and how sooner or later she might even be able to charge her phone via Wi-Fi. Socially, it can be beneficial to have some information on the developments of the tech world, in the same way that reading the newspaper can help a person have more in-depth discussions about recent events. 

Staying in touch with new technology developments also will help you ease into new gadgets and tools before they are released to the public. A lot of people (in older generations especially) have trouble learning the ropes of new gadgets like iPhones, smart TV's,  or even smart home appliances like thermometers or security cameras. By watching new developments and learning how they work, the learning curve of a new product decreases because you will already know the foundation of the technology. If I read that Apple is getting rid of their CD drive or standard cable in exchange for a USB-C port, I will not be as confused when I see a new laptop or future iPhone use USB-C ports as well. Since I already read about the benefits of the new USB-C, I will understand why this change has occurred and accept it more openly. 

Finally, reading about new technological developments ignites inspiration and curiosity. While it seems that nearly everything has already been invented and discovered, technology is far from reaching its limits. It can be exciting to read about new leads and try to guess where they might go in the future. Further, it may even inspire you to come up with your own app idea or gadget based off of a new discovery. 

All in all, the tech field is a constantly evolving field which is both beneficial and exciting to follow. I hope you will find that my posts will spark your curiosity and help you be a better-informed user of technology! 

Introduction

Hello, and welcome to my blog Groundbreaking Gadgets.  Here, I will be posting all about the latest gadgets and why you should keep an eye on them. Ever curious about battery saving hacks or secret phone features that none of your friends know? Or, are you a person who loves some good gossip? I know I do! 

If so, you'll love getting the inside scoop on device rumors (like the iPhone!)  and learning some helpful "hacks" for devices along the way.

Please stay tuned for quality content about the newest gadgets on the market!