By admin / Tech Tips / • • / 0 Comments

6 Tips for Better Pictures with Your Smartphone

The best photographs have nothing to do with the filter that you choose. They start with a great original picture file. So how can you elevate your Instagram game? Try these smartphone camera tips:

Turn on Grid Lines.

How? On an iPhone, go to general settings, then select “Photo & Camera” then switch the “grid” option on. On an Android, you’ll want to go to the camera app, and select settings in there to scroll down and find the “grid lines” options to turn it on. Camera grid lines are usually built on the law of thirds, with two lines horizontal and two vertical across the screen. It will divide any image you take into nine parts. The idea here is that if you can center points of interest in the intersecting points, or along the lines, then you can create a picture with immediately more visual appeal.

Use Better Lighting.

Lighting is always an essential component of a good shot, but that’s especially true with your smartphone camera, which doesn’t have the ability to filter bright light or balance the levels. You may not even be able to focus on the part of the image that you want to capture if your lighting is off. Avoid having the biggest light source directly behind who or what you’re photographing, and if people are standing in front of a window, consider closing the curtains or blinds. The best lighting will come from the side, or be evenly filtered from different angles.

Tap to Focus.

Every smartphone camera allows you to define your focal point by tapping it on your screen. If you’ve ever taken a picture in an area with a huge contrast in illumination, you’ve probably discovered this for yourself. Tap in the dark area, and the image will alter to view things in that dark area, even though the bright parts of the image will be over-exposed. Tap on the bright part, and the shadows will be too dark to even see.

Avoid the Digital Zoom.

Your tiny smartphone camera lens doesn’t actually zoom. In order to create the “zoom” effect, your camera app simply magnifies the area that you want to zoom in on as much as possible. This lowers the quality of your image greatly. Instead of using the zoom function, get closer whenever possible.

Get a Smartphone Lens Attachment.

Bypass the limitations of your smartphone’s camera with an attachment. These attach magnetically and can be easily switched out or removed. However, they can also make a big difference in what you’re able to do on your phone with pictures. Wide angle lenses can help you make the most of a beautiful panorama, or you can get effective micro shots and zoom in better with an ultra-magnifying lens.

Download another Camera App.

That’s right, you don’t have to be limited to the app that comes standard with your phone. There are other options out there, which may provide better filtering and focusing options. Think about trying ProShot or VCSO Camera.

By admin / Buying / Selling / • • / 0 Comments

How to Find Used iPhones for Sale in New York

When the latest edition of an iPhone goes on sale in NY, those with older phones are often ready to trade up in order to stay ahead of the curve. While the collective number of used iPhones NY residents might have on them is unknown, the fact that many of them still happen to be in good working order means that a new market emerges.
Go With Those in the Know
Finding used iPhones for sale in NY probably has the best chance of success when the place making it available has a strong focus on knowing all about Apple devices, including iPads. That means that that they not only sell new and used items, but know how to repair each of these items to get them running as good as new.

Avoiding the Unknown
These used iPhones in NY will come at a discount, yet choosing to go this route doesn’t have to mean you’re simply buying someone else’s problem. When you go online and search through swap sites like EBay, it’s probably less expensive to buy there if price is the driving force in the final decision.

The problem is that you’re putting your faith in someone that you’re likely never to see again or who presumably doesn’t offer a warranty on the item. That can be a real problem if the iPhone breaks down sometime in the near future.

Important Areas to Assess When Buying Used iPhones
That’s where SmartFix comes into play, since we always make sure that every time we buy iPhone NY residents may be seeking to sell, we make sure it’s in proper working order. If not, we take steps on our own to improve it to previous quality standards.

Perhaps more importantly, we check the Activation Lock Status. That’s to make sure that we don’t end up selling you a stolen phone. We simply log onto Apple’s website beforehand and enter the phone’s IMEI or serial number, which allows us to make a quick determination.

A problem that can surface when looking for used iPhones NY residents have put up for sale is that there may be a question about the battery. An aging battery is going to have to be replaced soon, which cuts into the savings of buying the used iPhone. The staff at SmartFix will always make sure to stand behind any used iPhones for sale in NY that they’re offering.

The Veterans to Trust
Since 2010, SmartFix has been the place to go when seeking to buy used iPhones NY residents can trust. Putting your faith in us also has additional benefits by offering you a one-stop shop when you need a repair or are looking to sell your phone.

So when you’re on the search for used iPhones NY residents have upgraded from, it makes perfect sense to check out the knowledgeable and trustworthy staff at SmartFix. Contact us today.

By admin / Used Phones / • • / 0 Comments

Lost Phone Countermeasures

Smartphones have become a mainstay in our lives and we face tons of problems if we lose our mobiles. Protection of both our phone and its contents should be a priority for us and some important steps are given below.

What to do before you lose your phone

Setting up protective measures beforehand to ensure minimal damage is a good idea. Make sure you download and enable Android Device Manager on your phone if you are using an Android based smartphone. However, if you own an Apple iPhone, you should go for the Find My iPhone app which can come in handy.

Immediate responses after missing your phone
  • Nowadays, it has become commonplace for smartphone manufacturers to include security apps on the phones. You are strongly recommended to enable them while setting up your new device. In iOS, look for iCloud while Android users should take a look at the Google Settings up.
  • Your lost phone must have some sort of security check in place on the lock screen such as a fingerprint lock or a PIN code. Though breakable, they serve as the initial level of defense against snoopy individuals.
  • Make sure some sort of emergency contact detail is displayed on your lock screen in case someone finds your lost phone and wishes to return it.
Track and erase your device remotely

If you a lost phone on your hands, you can use a different device to access apps from the Internet that provide you with the choice to either lock your phone remotely or erase the contents altogether. You may even disable any access to the installed apps on your phone or cancel any existing mobile payment methods.

Safety concerns

In case you do not have such apps enabled on your phone, you may find yourself in trouble. Keeping the data on your lost phone safe should be easy thanks to pattern locks, PIN numbers and fingerprint locks but you might have to endure a difficult time locating your handset.

  • It is worth a shot checking your timeline if you have location history enabled on Google Maps. However, this is not always a foolproof solution.
  • Get in touch with your carrier service and they can block any outgoing calls from the device.
  • If you suspect your phone has been stolen, do not hesitate to file a police report.
Get lucky

If luck is on your side, then chances are that the person who found your lost phone might have kept it safe but had no way to get in touch with you. This is why you should call your phone first and hope that someone on the other end picks up.