Apple’s online support system now lets you book repairs with authorized third parties

Apple has updated its online support system to make it easier for customers to find somewhere to get their phone or computer repaired. As first spotted by MacRumors, the company has added details for authorized third-party service providers to its online site, meaning that when you log in to find someone that will replace your cracked iPhone screen, Apple won’t just direct you to its own stores. You can even book an appointment with third parties right from your browser.

It’s a small change, but a welcome one. Anyone who’s had to get an Apple repair in a big city will know that wait times at official stores can often run into weeks. Authorized service providers are those shops which have been assessed by the company to do both AppleCare repairs and out-of-warranty fixes. They may not have that Apple Store sheen to them (or those fancy indoor trees), but as long as they’ve got time to get your MacBook up and running today, who really cares.</div>

What to do with a broken iPhone 7 or 7 Plus screen

Oops, you did it again -- you dropped your iPhone 7 on the sidewalk and now the screen is a mess.

Good news: Apple's (sort of) got your back. Broken iPhone screens are so ridiculously common that the company has apparently decided they don't even need to charge that much for the repair -- because, you know, so many people are coming in with the problem that they're making money regardless. So here are your options for fixing (or not fixing) that broken iPhone 7 or 7 Plus screen:

Suck it up

A broken iPhone 7 or 7 Plus screen isn't the end of the world. If the cracks in your screen are minimal and purely cosmetic, you may want to put off repairs until they're actually problematic. I suggest picking up a glass screen protector -- such as Ventev's ToughGlass for iPhone 7 or Case-Mate's Gilded Glass Screen Protector for iPhone 7 Plus -- to keep cracks from spreading (and to prevent any cuts as you slide your finger across the screen).

Get it fixed by Apple

The best option for getting your iPhone 7 or 7 Plus screen fixed: Apple.

If you have AppleCare+, a broken iPhone 7 or 7 Plus screen will cost a mere $29 to fix. However, AppleCare+ costs $129 and only covers two broken screen incidents per device -- so your first broken screen will actually cost $158 (which is more than a broken screen replacement for an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus without AppleCare+), but if you break it a second time the cost-per-incident will go down to $93.50. To check if your device is covered by AppleCare+, go here and enter your iPhone serial number.

Without AppleCare+, the cost for fixing screen damage (and only screen damage) is still very reasonable: $129 for an iPhone 7 screen and $149 for an iPhone 7 Plus screen.

To get your iPhone 7 or 7 Plus screen fixed by Apple, you will need to take your phone into an Apple Store or send it into an Apple Repair Center. Sending a phone into an Apple Repair Center will cost $6.95 in shipping fees, and your phone will be returned to you approximately three to five business days after the Repair Center receives your device -- so this option could mean as much as a week without your phone. In-store screen repairs usually take about an hour to an hour and a half, but you will need to reserve a spot at the Genius Bar (and you may not be able to get a same-day reservation, depending on how busy your local store is).

Tips:

Take your phone in ASAP: If your phone has a single, hairline crack, Apple may consider the damage to be due to a manufacturing defect and may fix your phone for free. Apple techs will determine whether this is the case -- there's no guarantee that a broken screen, no matter how small the crack, will be considered a manufacturing defect instead of accidental damage.
Ask with kindness: You may be able to convince Apple techs to fix your phone for free -- even if you have more than one hairline crack -- especially if there are no other signs of drops or damage (only the screen is broken). Again, this is because Apple will fix screen breaks due to manufacturing defects for free -- but Apple techs are the ones who determine whether your break is due to a defect or an accident. Note that manufacturing defects are only covered if the device is under warranty -- so, within the first year without AppleCare+, or within two years with AppleCare+.
Back up your device: It's unlikely that anything will happen to your data during the repair, but it's better to be safe. Here's how to back up your device.
Have your Apple ID password ready: You will need to unlock your phone and turn off Find My iPhone before the techs will take your device. You'll need your Apple ID password to do this, so make sure you have it handy (this is especially important if you're taking someone else's phone in).
(Don't) get it fixed by a third-party repair shop

Apple's screen repair service is pretty cheap -- so cheap, in fact, that it probably doesn't make sense to go to a third-party repair shop unless you're in a pinch. For example, you don't live near an Apple Store and you can't bear to be without your phone for a week.

Most third-party repair services can't repair an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus screen for significantly less than $129 to $149, and any discount you'll get might not be worth the risk. Third-party repair services usually use third-party parts in their repairs -- and some of these parts may not be up to Apple's usual standard of excellence.

If you go to a bad third-party repair shop, you may end up with problems like a home button that no longer recognizes fingerprints... or a bricked iPhone. And if a third-party repair shop bricks your iPhone, not only will you void your phone's warranty, Apple may refuse to work on your phone at all. So, if you do decide to go with a third-party repair, make sure they offer a warranty on their service and any parts they replace.

Apple Macbook MC207LL-A Vs Asus UL30A-X5 13.3-Inch Laptop

Specifications: These laptops are two of my favorite laptop model for the past year. The Apple MacBook MC207LL/A is a full-featured 13.3-inch laptop while the Asus UL30A-X5 is a sleek ultra-thin model. Both these models have very strong selling points and I would definitely have a very hard time if I had to choose to buy either one. The Apple model has a 2.26Ghz processor, 2GB of DDR3 Ram and 250GB for storage. The Asus model on the other hand comes with a 1.3Ghz processor, 4GB of DDR3 RAM and 500GB of storage. Although the Apple laptop has a more powerful processor, the ample storage and RAM on the Asus model more than makes up for it. If you don't perform a lot of heavy computing tasks on your laptop (such as running heavy applications), the specs on the Asus machine would prove to be more than sufficient.

Design: The Apple MacBook MC207LL/A is full-sized laptop, weighing in at 4.7 pounds. The Asus UL30A-X5 is just 0.98-inches in thickness and is much more portable at just 3.74 pounds. The Apple MacBook sports an all-white uni-body polycarbonate external casing while the UL30A-X5 has a beautiful brushed-metal casing. It is of no doubt that the Asus model is the more portable machine but in terms of aesthetics, these two models are some of the most stylish laptops in the market.

Features & Performance: Considering the ample RAM on the Asus UL30A-X5, it is designed for heavy multitasking. The average user will find this model to be more than enough for running everyday computing tasks. The Apple MacBook MC207LL/A is more suited for handling moderate to heavy PC tasks. The DVD drive would also prove to be useful (not found on the Asus model). The battery on the MC207LL/A can last 7 hours on a single charge while the battery on the UL30A-X5 can last up am impressive 12 hours on one full charge. All in all, both models prove to be excellent 13.3-inch laptops depending on your personal preferences and computing needs. At the moment, the Apple MacBook MC207LL/A is price at around $954 each while the Asus UL30A-X5 is priced at around $691.

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HP Pavilion Laptops Vs Apple MacBook Pro Laptops

Price: One of the most obvious differences between Apple and HP laptops is in their price. Apple laptops are usually about twice as expensive as HP laptops. The important question is whether the price is justified. The more expensive price tag is justified in terms of design, specs and performance. Whether you need these extras is a completely different issue.

Design: Many would agree that Apple laptops generally have a more sleek design compared to regular laptops. They are made of environmentally friendly materials and appear a little thinner than normal Windows based laptops. HP laptops on the other sports more adventurous designs, often decorated with patterns and motifs.

Features & Performance: With Apple laptops costing so much more, they usually do come with a set of powerful specs. The highlights of an Apple MacBook Pro in terms of performance would be the Mac OS, powerful graphics card and great performance. Apple computers are known for their superb multitasking performance. They also have a much longer battery lifespan compared to regular laptops. HP laptops on the other hand have great emphasis on entertainment and hence, come with many features in that aspect. Although the specs may not be as powerful as an Apple model, they do come close.

Overall: It is evident that Apple MacBook Pro laptops usually have more powerful specs than a HP laptop but whether it is worth double the price is a subjective issue. If you are looking for a stylish and powerful laptop (and have the extra cash to spare) an Apple laptop would make an ideal choice. On the other hand, if you are looking for a powerful, affordable and straightforward laptop (and don't need a powerful graphics processor), a HP laptop will make an excellent buy.

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The Apple Macbook Laptop - Is it Worth It?

It has long been well known that Apple laptops (and desktops) are more expensive than Windows based laptops and for that reason, has made it to be a sort of 'designer' goods in the laptop world. Despite that, the Apple MacBook has been one of the best-selling brands of laptops around the world.

For those who are starting to get curious on whether a MacBook is really worth your money, these are some of the questions that are commonly raised: Are they more durable than regular laptops? Are the more powerful than other laptops? Are they better (or more fun) to use? At the risk of being crucified by Apple laptop fans, the answers to some of the questions above are almost always a resounding 'No'.

From the many consumer polls conducted over the internet, Apple MacBook laptops are just as durable as some of the top laptops brands in the market (such as Sony, Toshiba, etc). Then again, this is a subjective matter as the durability of a laptop is strongly dependent on its use. In terms of specs (such as processor speed, RAM and storage), a Windows based laptop of the same price will often get you much more. An Apple MacBook will almost always never come up on top in terms of price-specs ratios.

So are there any good reasons to get an Apple MacBook at all? Fortunately, there are many. For instance, the MacBook almost always have a longer battery life than a Windows based laptop of the same specs. In terms of design, they are also usually lighter than other laptop models. Most of them come with gigantic track pads and some of the models even have illuminated keyboard for typing in low-light conditions. In terms of ease of use, I would say the Mac operating system is good enough of a reason to get an Apple laptop. As a frequent user of both Mac and Windows OS computers, I can testify that the Mac OS definitely have its own unique appeals. Then there is of course the undeniable 'cool' factor. Thanks to its sleek design, one-of-a-kind features and spectacular branding, the Apple MacBook is easiest the most 'chic' laptop brand in the market.

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Why is My Laptop So Slow? - How to Speed Up Laptop Effectively

Have you noticed that your laptop is not as fast as it used to be? Most people notice it happening and think that it is just unavoidable. The whole slowing process is actually reversible. In this article, I will show you what exactly you should do to speed up your laptop.

The first thing you can do to speed up your laptop is cleaning unnecessary files. Windows requires a few gigabytes to store its cache files and perform correctly. Files that are deleted does not disappear right away, they are stored in recycle bin for recovery in case you want them back. Internet explorer occasionally stores temporary files and tend to use a lot of space in your hard drive. Deleting these temporary internet files will let your laptop perform efficiently.

The second thing you should do to speed up your laptop is disabling redundant startup programs. In this process you are basically being selective of what your computer should do and keep it as efficient as possible. Click on Start then click run, type msconfig and enter. System configuration windows will open. Click on startup tab and deselect programs you do not really need. You will be able to see the results once you try starting up or shutting down your computer.

The third step is easy but requires time equal to how big your hard drive is. When you click start button you can see all programs, hover your mouse on accessories then system tools and click on defragment. Defragmenter program will open and in there you can choose which drive you want to defrag. What is defragment? Imagine your files as papers stored in folders and your hard drive as a shelf filled with folders. This process basically puts all the papers that belong to one program together in one folder so your computer do not have to look in many folders just to get the next paper for a program. The process is hard to understand but you can see the result right away after this process. Your programs will run faster than before.

The last and the most effective step to make your laptop faster is registry cleaning. Windows has its own system files also known as registry files and they occasionally got corrupted. As you know computers usually goes slower as they become older. Corrupted system files are the main culprit behind this. Most people and companies now use registry cleaner programs to enhance their effectiveness and avoid down times. These programs are specially designed to repair broken system files and therefore assure optimal performance.

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Why the iPad Is Good for Business

With over 8 million sold in 2010, there is no doubt about it, the Apple iPad is one of the hottest tablets to hit the market. When the Apple iPad came to the market, many businessmen had second thoughts of using it for business because of its failed abilities to do some functions that you would find on a laptop. However, with the technology changing everyday, a lot of businessmen have decided to invest in the iPad. One of the main reasons for this change of heart is the ability to add special apps to the iPad. Everyday there are new apps being created to keep up with the business world.

Why The iPad Tablet and Not A Laptop

There are a number of reasons why more and more business men and women are turning to the iPad for daily business instead of the more traditional laptop. The main reason being the size and weight of the iPad. Business people who have to travel daily prefer to carry an iPad around or similar tablet instead of a laptop. The iPad tablet weighs a measly pound and a half, while a laptop weighs closer to six pounds. The size of the iPad is roughly 8x10, while most laptops have either a 10,14, 17, or 19 inch screen and are generally over an inch thick. The next reason why more business people are choosing the iPad over laptops is the presentation features the iPad offers. With the iPad, you can use it to conduct independent presentations without needing a projector. With the iPad you can use it as a whiteboard and draw out ideas in meetings, or while you are brainstorming you can use it as a whiteboard and email your ideas to your colleagues.

The next reason is the incredible battery life of the iPad pose to the life of a laptop battery. The main complaint of most business people who use laptops is the battery life. Most people who use laptops daily will sometimes carry a second battery. With the iPad, you can go a few days without charging the battery.

The last main reason and biggest reason of all are the applications that are available for the iPad. With over 200,000 apps and new ones being developed daily, you can do more on an iPad tablet then you could with the traditional laptop. Plus, the apps are cheaper to having to buy certain software for the laptop. Some of the most popular apps for the iPad tablet for businesses are the iWork Suit, Evernote, Webex, and Bento. With these four features, a small business owner could practically run their business from their iPad.

The iWork suite is three apps in one. You have the pages, numbers and keynote. The pages are a powerful word tool, the numbers are a spreadsheet application, and the keynote is a presentation app.

The Evernote app is a note taking app that lets you tag videos, photo's and text. It then stores it in a syncing database for easy searching when you need it. Everything you tag goes into the cloud.

The Webex is an app for meeting online or for holding online presentations. This is similar to GoToMeeting. You will need a Webex membership to hold a meeting, but do not need one to join a meeting.

The Bento iPad app is used for everyday business from inventory monitoring to tracking your expenses. This app comes with 25 built in templates.

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