Apple St. Louis Computer Repair South City Computer

Posts Tagged ‘Apple’

Apple, where is the touchscreen?

Posted November 23, 2016 by South City Computer

Apple where is the touchscreen If you have seen any of the commercials for the new Macbook Pro you probably noticed that Apple has incorporated a new touchbar feature above the keyboard. The touchbar marketing makes this new feature seem sexy sleek and cool by allowing users to interact with certain programs by using the new touchbar. Apple calls this new feature “A touch of genius” and “Light. Years ahead”, but really is this that “genius” or awesome of a feature? This new feature certainly begs the question: Why doesn’t Apple just make a Macbook Pro that is a touchscreen, and how about they call it a Touchbook Pro (duh)?

The Apple team has explained that they just do not think Mac OSX would be effective as a touchscreen operating system. They would like to keep iOS the iPhone and iPad OS the touchscreen operating system and Mac OSX the old point and click version but now with the new touchbar. For the company that claims to create the most intuitive user interfaces for operating system it seems like Apple is missing the boat here since most Windows based laptops now include a touchscreen for ease of use. Windows has recreated the entire Microsoft Windows user interface to accommodate both touchscreen and tradition mouse and keyboard users. So is Windows ahead of the curve here? Has Windows finally taken back the prize for most intuitive operating system interface?

In Windows the computer user is never forced to exclusively use the touchscreen as they can still use the touchpad mouse and keyboard to navigate the operating system as well. It just seems logical to provide Mac OSX users with the same experience to stay competitive. There is nothing wrong with touching the screen every once in a while to launch a program or to move the focus to a search field in the web browser.

Perhaps there is something else holding the Apple company back from making a touchscreen laptop. Maybe it has something to do with the chipset they have created for the Macbook laptop, and they just do not want to re-engineer a touchscreen into the motherboard due to cost and profit margins. While we may never really know what is holding this feature back, it is safe to say that the Macbook Pro laptop and Mac OSX is lagging behind in using the cutting edge features that touchscreen brings to the usability of a laptop.

Apple Ransomware

Posted March 8, 2016 by South City Computer

apple now targeted by ransomeware Apple computers are not immune to malware vulnerabilities. A new form of malware called “ransomware” is targeting Apple’s Mac OS X operating system. Ransomeware is a computer virus that encrypts important data such as pictures, videos, music, and documents in order to “hold it for ransom” at an unsuspecting victim’s expense. If the victim pays the ransom then, hopefully, they would receive a key to decrypt their data, known as a decryption key. Unfortunately many times there is no decryption key and the victim loses not only their data but possibly up to $700 USD in ransom payment. The ransom payment transaction occurs using an anonymous payment method in order to conceal the identity of the scammer holding the data ransom so that there is no trace. Ransomware is usually spread via email attachments, peer to peer file sharing, and more recently removable devices such as external hard drives and USB flash drives.

While this is not the first time Apple computers have been vulnerable to malware attacks, such as the FBI virus a few years ago, a recent Reuters report revealed that ransomware was targeting Apple computers for the first time. Ransomware is already rampant on computers running the Windows operating system. Many variants of the trojan horse already exist such as Bitlocker, CryptoWall, Cryptorbit, and CryptoLocker or Crypto-malware. So far the ransomware has infected Apple computers via peer to peer file sharing networks using bit torrent.

There is no easy fix for the data that has been affected by the ransomware. Without the decryption key the data is scrambled to a point that it cannot be deciphered using current technology.

“The best way to protect your data from a ransomware attack is to have an archive backup of the important data on a computer” says South City Computer security expert Nestor Wheelock. “Because the archive is completely disconnected from the live file system the ransomware will not encrypt the data”. While this form of data backup service is complex and daunting to most computer users, South City Computer offers a service package that includes this type of backup service. If you need assistance setting up this type of backup service contact South City Computer or a local computer repair store near you.

Tips For iPhone Problems

Posted November 25, 2014 by South City Computer

It sucks when your iPhone or iPad is in the midst of falling into the concrete or water. It’s like you kept the marshmallow over the campfire the whole time, now it’s ruined. There is no need to worry though, there are some easy fixes to this common problem.

First, if your iPhone gets soaked in water. Get the iPhone out of the water and don’t think about plugging it in. If the iPhone is plugged in already, unplug it (very carefully), and don’t turn it on and check for damage, it can cause short circuits. Then place it in a bowl or a Ziploc bag full of uncooked rice and leave it there for 48 hours. The rice will absorb the moisture effectively, and most of us have rice in our homes.

AssistiveTouch

AssistiveTouch Menu

Second, let’s say your home button is broken, there is this feature called AssistiveTouch. Access AssistiveTouch by tapping Settings > General > Accessibility > AssistiveTouch, then turn the feature on. You will see a translucent circle appear. Tapping on this circle will display a menu for interacting with your device. You can slide the circle anywhere on the edge of your screen.

Third, unfortunately there is no real tips for fixing a broken screen, except for that you should get it fixed. You may be thinking I can fix it myself, I don’t need to pay this guy when I can do it myself, yet there are some dangers that go along with that. Example of this is the battery, it’s very soft and delicate and isn’t protected by anything else besides the outer enclosure. If you damage or puncture the battery, it could leak corrosive and toxic chemicals which could get on your skin or in your eyes. Lithium-Ion batteries are extremely volatile when disturbed.

So if you don’t want to put yourself in danger while messing around trying to fix your iPhone, we can help you repair. We’ll repair screen, safely and efficiently, we have experienced people who can take of your broken screen issue. I hope these tips help some clumsy people or those who are just prone to breaking things. If you need a repair of your screen though, just stop on by the shop and we’ll be happy to help.

iPhone Repair in St. Louis

Posted November 11, 2014 by South City Computer

Broken iPhone Repair in St Louis Did you break your iPhone? Are you asking yourself what are the options for getting your iPhone repaired in St. Louis? Are you questioning whether you should repair or just replace your broken iPhone?

The following are a few frequently asked question to try to help you consider what your next step for your broken iPhone will likely be.

Should I just get a new iPhone?

Many people do not realize that they could repair their broken iPhone. These people will take the broken iPhone to the Apple Store to replace it with a new iPhone. This may be an easy way to fix the phone, however may end up costing more than the cost of repairing the broken iPhone. Because iPhones cost a considerable amount of money, depending on the age and damage to the device, it may be wiser to consider repairing a broken iPhone over replacing it.

The screen is shattered, is this an easy fix?

If you have dropped your iPhone and cracked the screen, you probably cracked more than just the piece of protective glass on the top. Oftentimes when the iPhone screen shatters the protective glass it also shatters the LCD digitizer under the glass too.

Can I still use my iPhone after a screen shatter

Sometimes if the protective glass has shattered the iPhone may still function, however continuing to use it may be dangerous a few reasons. The first most obvious reason is that you might injure yourself on the broken shards of glass. A less obvious reason is the iPhone no longer has a solid protective layer from the outside world, and will most likely eventually fail do to another hardware failure deeper inside the device. Unrepaired broken iPhone screens can cause hardware malfunction or failure to the speaker and microphone, the power jack, the headphone jack, the battery, or the entire mother board. To avoid further damage to your iPhone, considering repairing it as soon as possible.

Can my iPhone be repaired after a break?

It is a fact that Apple iPhone’s do not survive drops or slams very well. Usually shattered screens and broken LCD digitizers can be fixed. However until the damage to the iPhone is fully understood, it is hard to answer this question. A smartphone repair technician will need to examine your broken device to diagnose the issue and estimate a repair cost for you.

Will the cost of the repair be more than the iPhone is worth?

Depending on the age of the iPhone the cost of the repair may be more or less than the cost of replacing the iPhone altogether. Some older iPhone models may no longer be worth the price of repairing, and you would probably be better off replacing the iPhone with a new version. However if you have a new model, you will probably be wiser to repair the iPhone.

Should I repair my own iPhone?

Are you comfortable working on complex electronics? If so, you might consider doing your own iPhone repair. You can find iPhone repair kits at several online stores. However keep in mind that taking an iPhone apart can be a tricky and time consuming process. iPhones require special tools, and delicate fingers to work on. Keeping a mental note of where all the little screws and parts go can be somewhat challenging to most people. If you are not an expert in working on electronic devices you probably should not try to repair your own iPhone. Instead consider letting a local smartphone repair technician at South City Computer do the repair for you.