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Most of us don't even consider that our phones carry more germs than a toilet seat.

Toilet seat: 1,201 bacteria per square inch
Kitchen counter: 1,736 bacteria per square inch
Pet food dish: 2,110 bacteria per square inch
Checkout screen: 4,500 bacteria per square inch
Doorknob: 8,643 bacteria per square inch

The point: cell phones harbor more than three times the number of germs that dirty doorknobs do. So think about that next time you hold that thing up to your face! At SmartphoneEmt we offer free UV light sanitizing for your cellphone. We offer the latest of high tech sanitizing right in store. How's it work?! Inside the little box are two powerful UV-C lightbulbs. UV-C light is germicidal, meaning it breaks down the DNA of nasty bacteria so it can no longer function or reproduce. The bulbs on the top and bottom of the device, paired with the reflective interior inside the entire gadget, help achieve 360-degree disinfection. We offer this service for free as we are trying to help flatten the curve of covid-19.

Wow it's already summer?! I know right, how?! If you know me, you know my love for music is HUGE! I stream music almost 15 hours a day, seriously.. that's a lot.

Since summer is here I know people will be jamming out by the pool, on the lake or just at a bbq. Here's a few of my favorite apps to use for music streaming:

• Apple Music. I'm a playlist fanatic on Apple Music. Apple Music is easy for me to use & network between all my other Apple devices. Now this does cost a monthly subscription but you get a 3month trial to see if it's the right fit for you. You can follow your friends and download their playlists.
• Spotify is a very popular app that is free & gives you the option of having a subscription for in app purchases. You can also create playlists on Spotify. You can follow your friends and download their playlists on Spotify.
• Pandora radio app is better if you don't want to worry with a playlist. Pandora will play whatever artist you want and similar artists all on one station. Also free but with the option of a subscription.
• YouTube Red is YouTube's streaming app that allows you to actually play music while the YouTube app isn't open. You do have to pay a subscription for this. It isn't free like the regular YouTube app.

I hope your summer has started out fun and continues to be a blast! Be safe and remember if your device suffers from liquid damage, maybe it took a dunk in the pool, DO NOT plug it in to charge! Bring it in ASAP so we can check it out!

You can follow my playlists on Apple Music: @kellystargoins

This question is a very important one to ask yourself when you're in a repair situation. At Smartphone EMT we pride ourselves in being honest with you, our customer. We always ask you to take into consideration how much you paid for the device itself, then think about the cost of repairing it.

• Here's an example: if you get an iPhone 7+ on a payment plan of $32 (or whatever) a month, in time you're still paying the full amount of the phone's original cost, (example: $799 or whatever your carrier charged) So paying a combined part & labor fee of under $200 for a repair IS worth it.
• Now, if you purchased a phone for say $149 and you need it repaired, in almost all cases, it is cheaper just to buy another device. Another thing to consider is... if the phone is let's say "$899 retail price" that means the parts to replace damage in this device are most likely going to be pretty expensive. Example: you have a Galaxy s8+ with a broken screen that needs replacing, you're probably going to be looking at around $300 for a repair, although you might search and find a part on amazon, let's say a new glass for $12.99 ... unfortunately that isn't the correct part. If the whole phone was $899 why would a major part of that phone only cost $12.99? The outcome of a subpar quality part isn't going to be the best result and the device will end up looking unprofessional or may not be functional at all.
• We will always discuss any concerns about prices with you & give you our honest opinion about doing a repair on any device.
• So to avoid all of this we highly recommend some sort of protection for your phone. A sturdy phone case and/or tempered glass. They can't prevent ALL damage but they certainly can help.

• Our top pick for the ladies is a Google home mini. It's Practically your own personal assistant. It can look up recipes, control smart smart home devices and play your favorite music or tv shows.
• For the fellas we recommend Apple's AirPods. The hottest headphones on the market. Not only are they hand & wireless free, but with 24hr battery life these headphones are worth it. Full charge time is 15mins.

• Our mutual top pick would be the Amazon fire stick. It connects to your hdmi port and allows you watch over 250,000 shows from your favorite streaming service. So you can take full advantage of the "Netflix & Chill".
  

• We also have something in mind for the single people. Online dating is now the most common way to meet new people thanks to the internet. So here our top picks for matchmaking.
  

• Clover is a new up & coming app. It's one of the top 10 best dating apps, and has all the goodies of single-feature dating apps mixed into one.
  

• Our second pick is Bumble. What we like about this app is it that you actually have to talk to your match. If not you're disconnected and can no longer speak to them. It works both ways so no more just swiping right.

• My fitness pal allows you to not only plug in all food consumed throughout the day but also allows you to log exercise.
• Weight loss fitness is a free app that not only tracks your fitness progress but also has daily workouts to help you reach your goals. With several different exercise programs for you to choose to help you meet your fitness goals.
• Workout gym exercise tracker, Nike training club, are a few other apps to choose from.

If you need help setting up your new Apple watches or Fitbits feel free to stop by Smartphone EMT for free help.

Hands down team EMT votes the coolest gadget we've seen this year, the new IPhone X. It's a completely different iPhone than the rest and well worth the money spent on it.

• The Apple Watch3 now offers cell service, so you don't even have to have your iPhone with you for it to ring with a call, text or alert.
• Samsung VR takes you to a whole new world. Slide the goggles on and it's like your life is now 3D and you can interact. You can watch movies, play games or even relax on a beach depending on which program you choose.

Stop by for any advice on new electronic gift ideas & see what we have in stock.

If you haven't already, add your cell number to the Nation Do Not Call List. It doesn't fix the issue all the way around, but it does help keep legitimate companies from cold calling you. If you're already on the Do Not Call Registry and still get hit up, report the calls to the FTC, which compiles the reports and hands out the fines. You can also block them right from your smartphone. There are a handful of apps that promise enough anti-spam ammo to stop annoying calls for good.

Nomorobo - (iOS) is one of the best - so its no surprise that it won a competition by the FTC. After you download the app onto your device, you can sign up for a free trial for 30 days, or commit right away to either $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year. (If you don't remember to cancel you sign-up, you'll be auto-billed.) Remember, Smartphone EMT is ALWAYS just a phone call away and we are here to help!

It depends on your needs but if you need a refresher course in math, English, and other subject how about a digital tutor? (1) "School A to Z" helps you answer your student's homework head scratchers and gives project suggestions on a variety of topics.
(2) "Evernote" is a really nifty note taker. Evernote offers quick ways to manage your growing to-do-list: Record a voice note on the go for your partner or type up some tasks for your kids. Everyone has access to the notes on any of you family's devices.
And (3) "inClass" is great for parents who want to stay on top of all of their kid's assignments, due dates and the other things that take up the school year (Apple only).
Enjoy the new school year and remember us when you need help with your smartphone! #TeamEMT is here to help in North Richmond Plaza or call 903-255-0559 M-F 10-7 and Saturdays 10-4.

How about an E-card? E-cards can be customized so easily now with various app options. The E-card app makes it easy to send a personal card to your loved one directly from your smartphone. Simply select a card from their set, flip it over and draw your personal note on the back. Boom! You're done.
Now we suggest you go spend all the extra time you just saved with your parent! That's the gift they REALLY want from you.

There are several ways you can improve your cell phone reception: Use you phone near a window if you are inside a build, as walls weaken signals; move away from all electronic equipment, including TVs; stay away from large objects, especially if they contain metal; and move to a higher location is possible.

Remember, nothing uses up you phone's battery like seaching for signal. Turn you phone off when it is out of cell phone signal range.

Team EMT hopes you enjoy you summer and we are here in Texarkana, 10am-7pm, if you need us. No appointment neccessary. More information avialable at SmartphoneEMT.com

Kids Eat Free - just like the name says, this app brings up a list of nearby restaurants that offer free meals and specials off the kid's menu.
Offload - Clever app that let's every family member claim chores and earn points, competition style. Make chores fun and end the squabbles. (If you have younger kids, consider ChoreMonster)
Keepy - Take snaps of your kid's artwork, paper awards, etc., then, upload to one place and share with family. Stop the endless clutter, but keep the precious memories.
Cozi Family Organizer - Share to-do lists, schedules, appointments, shopping lists and/or keep a family journal all in one place with this handy app.
Find My Phone - You KNOW you're going to need this one at some point if you are a busy mom! It locates your phone when you can't find it!

Remember, when you have phone problems, don't stress. Come see us a Smartphone EMT.

All electronics can get hot with use, although there are three key factors that will make your smartphone get hot:
1) When it is being taxed with intensive tasks
2) While it is charging
3) When you have poor signal.

While some heat is normal, excessive heat isn't good for your smartphone's battery. Remember to unplug your phone once it's finished charging. When its hot, remove it from the case, and let it cool down, and/or turn it off for a bit and give it a rest. If your phone seems excessively hot, bring it by, Smartphone EMT (Emergency Mobile Technicians), and let us check it out. Determining EXACTLY where the heat is coming from on the phone can also help us figure out how to remedy the problem.

A new year offers a fresh chance to better our lives. We've survived the holiday whirlwind; now it's time to plan for an organized new year!

Here are three (3) FREE APPS to get your 2017 off to a good start!

1.My Fitness Pal - Lose weight with the fastest and easiest to use calorie and activity counter.
2.Dropbox - Bring your photos, documents and videos anywhere to simplify sharing and collaboration.
3.Evernote - Collect or share your thoughts across multiple platforms, and stay organized in a very easy way.

Remember, our techs at Smartphone EMT (Emergency Mobile Techs) are always on hand to assist you. We truly enjoy helping others and hope your New Year is the best yet!

Disable the background data for your non-essential apps.
Many apps run in the background, even when you're not using them and can eat up your battery life and data.

Here's how to turn them off:

With iOS, you can turn off background data on an app-by-app basis. Go to Settings>General>Background App Refresh, and select apps to turn off.
With Android, you can "restrict background data" for each app. Go to Settings>Data usage. Tap on your app of choice, then scroll to the bottom to restrict background data on cellular networks.

If you need help come by anytime 10-7 M-F or 10-4 on Saturday. Smartphone EMT is Texarkana's highest rated smartphone repair service and our techs enjoy helping others!

Whether you are camping, boating, fishing, hunting, swimming, biking or hiking your phone is probably the most critical device to protect outdoors. Most phone damage is caused by impact, water, heat and dust.

On hot, sunny days, keep your gadgets in the shade. Most smartphones can be damaged by prolonged heat. Avoid using devices during sudden temperature and humidity increases that create condensation and fogging, such as going out into high humidity heat from an air-conditioned vehicle.

When in camp, keep all your phone, back-up battery banks, outdoor music speakers and charge cords secure in one protected place, such as a clean, dry cooler.

If your device gets wet, don't try to turn it on. Placing it in a container of dry rice or silica gel is "not a fix" but it's okay and can help absorb lingering moisture. However, corrosion may still develop later on so we recommend bringing it to Smartphone EMT (Emergency Mobile Techs) as soon as possible for a thorough cleaning and/or data recovery.

For protection against these hazards, we recommend using a device-specific case such as one from Otterbox, LifeProof, or LifeBox. We carry all of these brands and our techs will install them for you or show you how to use them. They are not fool proof but can help protect your phone from water, drops, and dirt all while preserving full access and functionality.

Enjoy your time outdoors and remember we are here when you need help!

Ask yourself: does your phone have any symptoms of an infection? There are no known tell-tale signs of "Wire-Lurker," but virus-infected apps will usually be unstable and crash, or hang, or have other odd behaviors while they run. Please know that a quirky app is not a sure sign of a malware infection. If you have run an app from a third-party app store or risky website, and they haven't run as expected, then we recommend you err on the side of caution.

If you do suspect your iPad or iPhone might be infected with malware, don't panic! However, you shouldn't take any chances. Instead, wipe your gadget clean and start over with factory settings.

If you're like me and enjoy electronics then I know you've been asking yourself "6s or wait?" I mean, is the 6s really just the iPhone 6 with a couple of new features. Honestly, from my view, yes. Pretty sure everyone can agree that iOS9 has been the worst update choice, so how does it act on the 6s? One word: Laggy. Even the so-called iOS9.2 bug fix hasn't really improved the lag, but great accomplishments do not happen overnight, so hang in there. Now for some of the new features on the iPhone 6s

Apple has upped the pixels 50 percent & added a 12MP sensor compared to the previous 8MP shooter. What does that even mean? That means you will be able to see the difference in sharpness, the increase in color and image detail, and capture more accurate images. With the new "live" picture option, your pictures come alive. Just remember that with an increase of pixels also comes a decrease of space used for other things. Live Photos are reported to need at least 1GB for storage. If you're looking for a good laugh just watch your live photo of you trying to get that perfect selfie.

Force-touch, or, as some call it, 3D Touch, is a new feature on the iPhone 6s. This means you can press lightly on your screen to peek or pop into a application. Is it handy? Not really. However Applications such as Facebook & Twitter are very useful with 3D Touch. Just by force-pressing on the application you can take a photo, upload a photo or even update your status/tweet all without going into the app.

Everyone is always searching for that extra battery increase. Apple added a new feature with the iOS9 called lower power mode. When this feature is turned on it reduces power consumption until you can fully charge your phone. Siri, automatic downloads & background refresh are temporarily turned off to save battery life.

The iPhone 6s also has a thicker frame than the iPhone 6. This is so the frame doesn't bend as easily under pressure. Even though they have increased the thickness of the frame, iPhone 6 cases will still fit the iPhone 6s. However I have read that in 2016 with the new release of the iPhone 7 they will make the thinnest iPhone yet. So increasing the frame on the iPhone 6 doesn't make much sense.

In all honesty the iPhone 6s does not really improve the iPhone 6 that much. Is it enough to update to? That's a question only you can answer.


Kelly Star Goins, Smartphone Technician

Note: Be sure to check out additional tips from Apple for more in-depth differences and usage.

An unlocked cell phone is one that is not tied into a certain carrier's network. It will work with more than once service provider. Most phones are tied-or locked- to a certain cellular carrier, such as Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T or Sprint.

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique 15-digit serial number given to every mobile phone which can then be used to check information such as the phone's Country of Origin, the Manufacturer and it's Model Number.

Consider using a password manager. There are several on the market and with a little research its easy to decide which one is best for you. Also a few safety tips:

• Never give out your master password if you use a password manager. Be sure to never forget it.
• Don't write passwords on a little piece of paper and stick it in your drawer
• Password managers may not be safe on a shared computer. Only install them on a personal computer or phone.
• Using common information for your password is not secure- such as your birthday, initials, names, etc. "Password" is not a safe password!
• It is a good idea to throw a symbol in along with capital letters and numbers such as @ or $
• Using the same password for everything is a bad idea. Once it is discovered, a thief has access to all your accounts.
Our techs enjoy helping! Stop by Smartphone EMT in Texarkana anytime between 10am to 7pm. No appointment necessary!