Summertime Tech Advice

Summertime has finally arrived and that usually means many of us are headed to the shore for some rest and relaxation. Unfortunately our mobile devices usually tag along. If this is true in your case be sure to take care with your mobile devices as they are even more susceptible to the summer's unique weather conditions then you are.

Avoid "Heat-Related Death"

Extremely warm (and hot) temperatures have noticeable effects on your phone's battery, display and the parts inside your phone. There's even a possibility of the ominously named "heat-related death," which is exactly as horrible as it sounds. The best way to protect your tech is to keep it in the shade. If you do find that your phone has overheated in the sun, don't panic and let it cool gradually. Do not put it in the refrigerator or freezer. Let it cool down on it's own, and out of the sun.

Use a cooling pad when you're working on a laptop outdoors, even if you don’t use one at home. Increased temperatures mean even new laptops could easily overheat in the summer sun. Also take the time to clean your laptop fan before heading into the sun. This will help to ensure that it is running properly and keeping your laptop cooler. Of course the best protection is to keep it in the shade.

Use "Protection"

Another concern is water damage. While your smartphone case protects against damage from dropping your phone, it will do little to protect your phone from damage caused by liquid, dust or sand. If you want to tote your cell to the shore, you’ll need a little something extra like a waterproof case. You can find these online easily. I found dozens of these cases at Amazon.com.