Smartphones have become so ingrained in our lives it's hard to imagine a life without these handy gadgets. Being one of the best known smartphones, iPhone has become the go-to device for nearly every market. While these are great gadgets, they are technology, and technology will eventually stop working. Do you know what to do if your iPhone won't turn on?

Here are four things you can try when your iPhone won't turn on.

1. Charge it with a wall charger One of the main reasons your iPhone won't start is because its battery is dead. Before you deem the battery 'dead', you should check if the phone is on. Press and hold the power button for up to five seconds. Chances are, the phone has just gone to sleep. If this is the case, you should see the unlock screen pop-up after a few seconds.

If it doesn't pop up, your phone is likely dead. All you have to do is plug it in, preferably to a wall charger. Your phone should turn on automatically after a few minutes (up to five). If it doesn't, let it charge for around 15 minutes before trying to turn it on. If it does turn on, it would be a good idea to let it fully charge.

2. It's charged but still won't turn on Like all operating systems, the one on the iPhone will crash from time to time. If it does crash, you shouldn't lose any data unless you were in the middle of downloading or uploading files. These will have to be started again.

If pressing the power button doesn't turn the phone on, you should still plug it in and let it charge for 15 minutes. Then conduct what's called a hard reset:

1. Unplug your device.
2. Press the Home and Power buttons for 10-20 seconds until you see the Apple logo.
3. Let the device run for a minute or so and you should be able to use it again.

It would be a good idea to not do this while the phone is connected to your computer.Your computer may recognize your phone's hard drive and start automatically syncing through iTunes. Doing a hard reset when the device is syncing may result in losing information.

3. A hard reset won't work Another good thing to consider at this stage is switching cords. Chances are someone next to you has another iPhone cable. Borrow it and try the first two steps again. These cables aren't the most damage resistant thing in the world and have been known to wear out or fray at weak points rendering them useless. If you were trying to charge your phone through a wall charger, try again but this time connect it to your computer - make sure it's on.

4. It's truly dead If after trying different cables and charging methods, hard resetting and charging for a couple of hours your device still won't turn on, you have one option left. Go to an Apple store, or reseller. They may be able to get your iPhone working, or at the very least will to confirm the problem.

Sometimes the phones display a USB cord with an arrow pointing to the iTunes icon. This is your iPhone's way of telling you that something has gone wrong with the software and it needs to be plugged into your computer and connected to iTunes. If you see this, you will likely have to reset your phone which means you will lose everything stored on the hard drive. If you have been backing up your phone, however, your data loss will be minimal.

Has your iPhone stopped working? Are you unsure if your backup solutions are enough to keep all of your files safe? Contact us today as we may be able to help.

The iPhone, arguably the most popular smartphone, is touted to be a simple device. While for the most part it is, there is one function that isn't. Transferring files from your computer to your device can be a lengthy process, usually involving having to connect to iTunes. Luckily, there are ways to speed up the transfer of files while making it easier in the process.

Here's two great apps that you can use to make the transferring of files to/from your iPhone onto your computer not only quicker but less taxing too.

Bump This app started out as a way to share contacts with other iPhone users and has since been updated to include transferring files and pictures. A recent update introduced the capability to move files from your computer to your phone and vice versa.

How this process works is you install Bump on your iPhone, open the app and select a file you would like to transfer. On your computer you can navigate to bu.mp and then bump (hit) the spacebar with your phone. A new window will open with a preview of the file, giving you the option to download it, or share it.

If you would like to transfer a file from your PC or Mac to your iPhone, click on Send files to your device on the bu.mp page and select the files to send. They will be automatically sent to your phone and can be accessed by opening the app.

The app is free from the website, and works on both Mac and PC. There is a 20 mb per file size limit, so for larger files you would be better off saving them to a cloud storage app.

Instashare If you have a Mac, Instashare is new app that allows you to simply drag and drop files from your computer to transfer them to your iPhone.

Once you have downloaded the app on both your computer and iPhone, you then find the file on your computer that  you would like to share, drag it to the app icon and let it go. As long as your iPhone is connected to a W-Fi network, the file will be transferred in as little as a few seconds. You can also send files from your iPhone through the app, selecting the file and dragging it onto connected computers. Instashare will take care of the rest.

This app is an easy way to transfer files within the Apple environment while not having to physically connect your device to your computer. It's also free, which could make it an interesting tool for your business. Download it from the website here, or search for it on in the App Store.

There are many other ways to transfer files from your smartphone to your computer, including using cloud storage. What are your favorite ways? Let us know. Or, if you are looking for a more efficient file sharing solution, contact us today.

These days we use our smartphones for pretty much everything but calling. When you do have to make a call, especially to a business, you will likely have to go through the automated switchboard and enter extension numbers just to get the person you want. This can be a pain, especially if you call the same person and have to go through the same process on a regular basis. If you have an iPhone, there is a way around this however.

Here's how you can add number extensions to your iPhone contacts:

1. Open Contacts and either press the '+' for a new contact, or select the contact's number you would like to add the extension to and press Edit.
2. Enter the new contact's normal number without the extension under the Mobile, Work or Home field. If you are editing a contact's number, press on the number you would like to edit and tap on the end of the number.
3. Press the '+*#' button located at the bottom-left of the dial pad.
4. Select Wait. You'll notice a ';' at the end of the number.
5. Add the contact's extension. It should look something like this: 123-123-4567;321 (if the contact has a three digit extension).
6. Press Done and the contact's number will be saved or updated.

If the number was entered correctly, you should see a secondary button under the contact information when you call that person. It will say something like Dial-321. Pressing this after the line has engaged will dial the extension and connect you to that person. This is useful if you don't know how long you will have to wait to be able to dial the extension, but you will have to hit the Dial button on your phone to enter the extension.

You can automate this further by replacing the semicolon (;) with a comma (,). The comma tells the switchboard to pause, and then enter the number after the comma. This will often connect you directly to the person without having to press an extra button. The number should look something like this: 123-123-4567,321

If you use an iPhone for your business communication and call clients who are behind switchboards this is a nifty time-saving feature. For more information on how the iPhone can help power your business, please contact us today.

In the early to mid 2000s one of the most popular 'smartphones' was the BlackBerry. Business users loved it for many different reasons, one of the most common being the QWERTY keyboard. BlackBerry's time in the spotlight is over however and the iPhone is now the go-to for many users. One common gripe about the iPhone however is the keyboard. It definitely takes a while to get used to, especially if you are upgrading from a phone with a physical keyboard.

Here are four tip to make the typing experience better on your iPhone.

1. Lock caps lock - While the use of capital letters while typing is generally frowned upon, there are times when you need to type more than one letter in a row in caps. Most users will hit the caps button (upward pointing arrow) on the keyboard, type a letter and then hit it again to type another in caps. You can lock the keyboard in caps mode by double tapping the caps lock button. You'll notice the key turns blue, indicating caps lock is on. When you are finished, tap it once to turn it off. 2. Turn off auto-correct - We've all seen the funny and sometimes embarrassing texts blamed on auto-correct. While useful when getting used to typing on the iPhone, it can be more of a hindrance than a help after you've gotten the hang of it. You can turn auto-correct off by selecting Settings, followed by General, Keyboard and finally setting Auto-Correction to Off. 3. Long-press keys for more options - At first glance, the iPhone's keyboard is a little sparse with many of the standard keys beyond the letters and number keys missing. They are still there, however but just not labeled. With many keys, a long-press on the key will bring up a number of different options and other keys. For example: a long-press on the A key will bring up different letters associated with a, or a long press on ? will bring up the option to use an inverted question mark or an exclamation point. Play around with the keys, and you'll soon see a ton of different typing options emerge. 4. Stop typing .com - Did you know that you don't have to always type .com, .net or .org? In certain places, the iPhone will put it in for you. For example, when you are typing a web address on the browser, you can do a long-press on the . to get a pop-up of a whole bunch of dot something endings. This will also work in the email To, CC and BCC: fields.

The above tips are just a few ways to make it easier to type on the iPhone. Do you have another typing tip? Let us know; or, if you would like to learn more, please contact us.

The iPhone is a great gadget and many users probably don't know what they would do without it. One the biggest issues with it though is its relatively short battery life, although with careful use you will likely get through a full day and some of the next. This likely means you need to charge it at the office, which probably means you carry that silly cable around with you all the time. A new charging device aims to replace this cable with something that you can easily fit into your wallet.

Scheduled to release in December 2012, the Charge Card, (no, it's not a new fangled credit card), is a device that will replace the somewhat unwieldy iPhone charging cable. The concept behind the gadget is to replace the charging cable with something you can fit in your wallet.

The Charge Card is a credit card sized charging device which is .1 inches thick and made of a hard plastic. In the middle is a rubber USB connector that pops out and is compatible with any USB port. On the opposite end is a small 30-pin connector - the standard connector used by Apple. The 30-pin connector will work with the iPhone 4s and older; the iPad 3 and older; and any iPod. It is compatible with the new iPhone 5, iPads and iPods if you have the adapter.

How it works is you pop out the flexible USB connector, plug it into a USB port on a computer, TV, airplane seat, etc. and plug the other end into your iDevice. While it isn't a battery, it does allow you to leave the cords at home, and USB ports being pretty much everywhere these days, you can charge your device whenever you need to.

What is interesting about this is that the project was crowdfunded through Kickstarter, meaning people think it's a good enough idea to invest in it. You can learn more about the project here, and if you'd like to learn more about using the iPhone in the office, give us a shout, we'd be happy to chat with you.

The iPhone 5 has been out for a number of weeks with user and critic’s reviews being largely positive. There are complaints about poor camera quality, but criticisms about a new product are normal; Apple or otherwise. Despite detractors, there are users who are willing to make the jump from other platforms, like Android, to Apple, and the move is as justifiable as it will ever get.

If you are contemplating jumping the Android ship for the good-ship Apple, here’s how you can do so.

Move those Contacts
Android is Google, Google is Android. This means that you’re contacts are most likely deeply ingrained in the Googleplex, aka your Google/Gmail account. If they aren’t, they live on your Android device’s internal memory.

The easiest way to migrate your Contacts over from your Android device to your iPhone is by syncing your Contacts with your Google Account.

1. On your Android device go to Settings followed by Accounts and select Google.
2. Tap on the Google account you would like to sync your Contacts/Calendar/Notifications with, and ensure there is a check-mark beside what you would like to sync.
3. Press Sync Now, and sit back and wait.
4. When it’s finished, you can go to Google Contacts to edit view your Contacts.

After your Contacts have synced with your Google account:

1. Turn on your iPhone and press Settings followed by: Mail, Contacts, Calendars.
2. Tap Add Account and select Microsoft Exchange. It may seem odd to select something with Microsoft for a Google service, but, this is how Google pushes emails to your iPhone. The added benefit to this is it allows your iPhone to sync with your Google account.
3. In the related fields put in your full Gmail address and password. Leave the Domain field blank as it’s only used if you have a Microsoft Exchange account.
4. Tap Server and enter: m.google.com and go to the next screen.
5. Select what you would like to sync; most pick Contacts, Calendar and Mail. Feel free to pick all of them if you want everything. Tap Accept and your iPhone will do the rest.

Move important media
If you’re like most smartphone users, you probably have a wealth of important media on your phone, and would like to transfer it over. You have a few different options at your disposal to ensure this happens.

The first option is to manually transfer it by plugging your Android phone into your computer using a USB cable and physically copying the files off your device’s hard drive onto your computer. After that, plug in your iPhone and sync via iTunes, selecting what files to sync.

The second option is to sync your pictures and videos with Google. Follow the above instructions for your Contacts, and also ensure that Instant Upload has a checkmark beside it. Your photos and videos will be uploaded to Google+ and also viewable on Picassa. They can then be accessed by the related apps on your iPhone.

The third option is to use a mutual-third-party cloud app like Dropbox. When you install Dropbox on your Android, you will be asked if you want to sync your photos and movies. Agree to the terms and your photos will be uploaded. Just be sure to be connected to Wi-Fi, as it will be quite bandwidth intensive. After your files are synced, install Dropbox on your iPhone and all your pictures will be available.

What about my apps?
As you may well know, Apple has a ton of apps available for you to download, most at a fairly decent cost. The good news is, almost all popular Android apps are also available for iPhone. The bad news is, you will likely have to pay to re-download them. You could try contacting customer services at the app developers and asking if they will drop the charge for buying an app you already own, but don’t get your hopes up.

This should cover the majority of your migration, so have fun and enjoy your new iPhone. If you have any questions, please contact us, we are here to help.

“It’s here, it’s here, it’s finally here!” At the end of September, Apple fans took delivery of the first shipments of the newly released iPhone 5. Reviews have been largely positive, it’s an Apple product after all; expectations are high. The new version of the popular iPhone has some new features that managers will definitely find useful.

Here’s an overview of the iPhone 5 and the changes it brings with the new version.

New version of iOS
As has become tradition, a new iPhone means an update to the operating system. iOS brings some features like a modified user interface, deeper iCloud integration, a new maps app, a digital wallet and many more. At this time, the maps app is good, but will need a lot of work to compete with Google Maps, while the digital wallet has yet to really be tested. To provide iPhone users information about businesses, Apple integrates Yelp information, so it will help you if you have a presence on Yelp.

Bigger screen
The iPhone 5 has a 4-inch screen, when measured from top-left to bottom-right. This extra screen space allows for an extra row of icons and a better landscape view. The retina display makes a comeback and produces some of the highest quality images on any mobile phone. The bigger screen also means you will be able to see more of a document, web page or any new program.

Is the extra screen space worth upgrading from older iPhone models? Yes, ask any Android user who has upgraded to the now standard 4-4.3 inch screen and they will tell you that they don’t know how they coped with a smaller screen. The same can be said for the iPhone.

More battery power
An important factor to consider before buying a smartphone is if the battery will last through your whole work day. Many iPhone 4 and 4s users know that their phone could get through a day of minimal use, but make calls or put the phone through it’s paces and a mid-afternoon top-up is needed. The battery for the iPhone 5 is bigger and according to Apple you should be able to get up to eight hours of surfing the web out of the phone.

Actual reports have been mixed from poor to amazing, with most reviews stating battery life is better than the iPhone 4, meaning you should be able to get you through a day of moderate use without needing to recharge.

Faster processor
The iPhone 5 has a new processor, called the A6, which is touted as being smaller, but nearly twice as powerful. This means that the phone will run faster, open apps quicker and be able to run more advanced apps. As of the launch, there aren’t a wealth of programs that utilize the new processor’s power, but give it a few months and you’ll see some highly useful programs that parallel those found on the computer.

New connector
If you are like any other modern worker, you probably have at least one laptop, two phones, an mp3 player and maybe a tablet. This can amount to a number of cables and cords that can be hard to keep track of. Apple isn’t making your life easier, as they have introduced a new connector. The connector is pretty cool, as it’s smaller and double sided, meaning you don’t have to worry about which way you plug in the device, both sides will work. The downside to this is you have to buy adaptors to use old cords, which cost around USD$30 each.

LTE support
LTE is a new form of wireless communication that’s widely thought to be the next version of mobile communication. Most networks in the world use 3G; LTE is commonly known as 4G, and is currently available in, or coming soon to, a large percentage of countries. The iPhone 5 can connect to LTE networks allowing users to benefit from super fast Internet speeds, and supposedly improved connections.

Durability
One of the most common complaints about modern phones is that they are somewhat fragile. Most people have dropped their phone at least once, many have had screens replaced. A drop test conducted by the Android Authority has shown that the iPhone 5 is durable, with three drop tests from different heights showing little damage. If you err on the slightly clumsy side you’ll be glad to know that the iPhone 5 appears to be more durable than other models.
In general, the iPhone 5 is an evolution more than the proposed revolution, but it’s a development that should be good for businesses users who pick one up. The biggest barrier might be price, which is the same as the iPhone 4s. If you’re looking to upgrade, contact your mobile provider, or let us know, as we may be able to help.

The iPhone and its operating system, iOS is arguably the single most popular cell phone on the market. There are a large number of great features and apps that make it an easy to use system. One app, iCloud, utilizes the cloud to ensure that all your files and important information are synced across all devices. While iCloud is useful, it can cause your phone to run slower.

Here’s how to optimize iCloud to ensure your iPhone runs quicker.

What is iCloud? Before optimizing iCloud it’s important to know what exactly iCloud is and how it works. iCloud is Apple’s cloud syncing solution. It’s main purpose is to keep your device’s important information in sync with your Mac, PC and other Apple devices. It works by uploading information like your contacts, installed apps, email, photos, bookmarks and calendars to Apple’s servers, which then make your information available to any device with iCloud installed on it, including your computer. The main purpose of this app is to back up and sync data across multiple devices, not store your data.

Every iPhone owner who has an up-to-date iPhone can sign up for the service and receives 5GB of space for their needs. By default, iCloud constantly syncs in the background without the user noticing. The only problem is syncing can slow your iPhone to a crawl.

Optimize iCloud for iPhone speed If you have iCloud set up and have noticed that your iPhone is slowing down we recommend three different ways to speed it up.

• Set iCloud to only sync when connected to WiFi. Chances are high that you have a data plan for your iPhone. When you set up iCloud, the default setting is to sync even while connected to a data network. This means iCloud is always syncing, using valuable system resources and data. You can set it to only sync when connected to WiFi by going to Settings, selecting Store and scrolling to the bottom and turning Use Cellular Data to Off. This will cause your Internet to slow down slightly however.
• Turn off iCloud sync. You can also disable iCloud until you want to sync. Go to Settings and select iCloud and turn everything to Off. When you add a new contact, or would like to sync something, you can go back to the iCloud and turn on what you want to sync. Another option is to turn it on when you go to sleep at night, then turn it off again when you wake up.
• Select what to sync. With iCloud, you’re in control as to what is synced and backed up. If you take a lot of pictures or are an avid media and app user you’ll find that your iPhone is constantly updating. You can go to iCloud in Settings and turn off non-essential apps and backups. When you need to back up your media, do so by connecting your phone to the computer and using iTunes to transfer your files onto your computer.

iCloud is a great way to back up your phone’s important information, but you shouldn’t rely on it. The optimal solution is to back up your phone using a cloud backup like iCloud as well as backing up your phone on your computer. If you’re interested in learning more about iCloud or other mobile backup solutions, please contact us.

Go back 20 years and tell a person that they’d be able to access the Internet through their mobile phone. Guaranteed these people would scoff at your zany ideas, but, it’s true, the modern mobile phone is smart, and one of the most popular smartphones is the Apple iPhone. While the iPhone is popular, it can, like any device, break. Often the first thing to break is your screen, and when it does you may be stuck wondering how to replace it.

If your iPhone’s screen cracks, chips, scratches or breaks there are four things you can do to:

Keep using it Some people that have a slightly damaged screen find that their iPhone is still perfectly functional and will continue to use it. If your screen is slightly scratched but the phone’s still working then, why not continue using it? Better yet, if the scratch comes with a funny story, it could be a great icebreaker.

DIY replacement An option for those who love to take things apart, or whose iPhone is off warranty, is the DIY screen replacement. You can order screens and related screwdrivers (needed for disassembly) online for around $100 and $15 respectively.

Be aware that this is an advanced method that should only be undertaken if your iPhone is past warranty and you’re comfortable working with small parts. For a full step-by-step guide on the process, please refer to cnet. Be warned that you attempt this process at your own risk, and we can’t be held responsible for any damage to your iPhone.

Send it back to Apple If your iPhone is still under warranty please don’t attempt to replace the screen yourself, as you will void any and all associated warranties. You should just send it back to Apple or to an Apple service center to fix. If there’s an Apple store with a Genius bar in your area you can make an appointment and take it there.

Buy a new one If you’d rather not do any of this, you can also wait for a new iPhone to be released and buy a new one. If you purchased your phone through your mobile provider, you may be eligible for an upgrade when the new iPhone comes out, so be sure to contact them and ask.

To minimize potential damage to your iPhone, we recommend purchasing a screen protector - a thin film that covers the iPhone’s screen and protects it from scratches. You could also buy a case for the iPhone, preferably one that sticks up over the screen a tiny bit. This way if you drop the phone screen down the case will hit first. If you have any questions about the screen replacement process please contact us.

One of the most popular phones for professionals has been the BlackBerry. It’s a high chance that we knew someone who was addicted to their “CrackBerry”, constantly checking their email, or texting with colleagues while out of the office. Then came the iPhone, and many professionals have moved on, only to wish their shiny new iPhone had some of the great features of the BlackBerry.

Here’s how you can get some of the email features of BlackBerry devices on your iPhone.

Auto complete text With a physical QWERTY keyboard, BlackBerry is ideal for typing long emails, even more so with the ability to specify common phrases and short codes e.g., typing ‘tdy’ could put today’s date. You can do this with the iPhone as well by going to: Settings, General, Keyboard and selecting Shortcuts. Type the full phrase into the Phrase field, and the shortcut into the Shortcut field.

Blinking indicator light for new emails One of the most useful features of the BlackBerry is the LED light that blinks in different colors, depending on the notification i.e., red for new message. While you can’t set the iPhone’s LED light to flash different colors, you can get it to blink when you have a new notification. Navigate to Settings, select General and tap Accessibility. Select LED Flash for Alerts.

Specific notification As many small business owners get over 100 emails a day, it can be annoying to see a constantly blinking light. With the BlackBerry, you can set it so the LED blinks only when you’ve received an email from a certain person or group. While you can’t do this with the current software version of the iPhone - iOS 5.0, the impending iOS 6.0 will allow you to set the phone to notify you only when certain people email.

Compose email quick key Being able to quickly view and reply to an email is a speciality of BlackBerry devices, and many smartphones, the iPhone included haven’t been able to beat it. It is a relatively painless process to compose a new email on your iPhone, simply press the Home button followed by email and Compose.

While it seems to be that BlackBerry devices have had their time in the spotlight, there are many loyal users who have had to switch devices due to necessity. Many of these users probably wouldn’t go back to a BlackBerry if they had the choice, especially if they have similar features on the new devices. If you’d like to learn more about how to use the iPhone for business, please contact us.