Are Magnets Bad for Phones?

Magnets have long existed in the smartphone and accessory industry. But magnetic accessories weren’t much seen back then. After Apple introduced the iPhone 12 with built-in magnets in 2022, magnetic phone accessories quickly gained popularity. But the question remains: Are magnets bad for phones?

The simple answer is that the average household magnet will not cause substantial interference. Scientific studies and real-life tests indicate that magnets used in everyday magnetic accessories, such as magnetic car phone holders and magnetic chargers, are unlikely to cause any significant damage. So, it’s totally fine to use magnetic accessories. How to Safely Use Magnets with Phones

With such importance placed on magnets in phones and daily accessories, it’s crucial to know how to protect them from potential harm. 

Essential Dos and Don’ts for Using Magnets with Phones

Let’s start with the dos. Magnets can be beneficial when used with phones in the right way. 

Magnetic phone cases are usually safe, as are magnetic phone mounts and wallets. These magnets are generally designed to have minimal interference with the device’s functionality. 

However, it’s important to be aware of the don’ts when it comes to using magnets with phones. Don’t place strong magnets near your phone. Magnets can interfere with the operation of the phone’s internal components and potentially cause irreparable damage. So, steer clear of placing your phone directly on magnetic surfaces or attaching powerful magnets directly to the phone itself.

Choosing Compatible & Certified Magnetic Accessories

Compatible and certified magnetic accessories undergo rigorous testing to ensure they do not interfere with the phone‘s functionality. These accessories are specifically designed with shielding materials or accurate magnet placement to protect the phone from potential damage and malfunctions. 

To determine if a magnetic accessory is compatible and certified, look for reputable brands that adhere to industry standards and regulations. Check for certifications such as the MFi (Made for iPhone) certification or Qi standard. Reading product reviews and seeking recommendations from trusted sources can also help you make an informed decision.Using Proper Magnets

Magnetic phone cases and accessories use magnets to stick your phone in a place for a convenient hands-free experience or stable wireless charging. That said, it doesn’t necessarily mean the stronger the magnetic force is, the better. 

Just ensure your phone won’t fall off when you use those magnetic accessories. For instance, using a magnetic phone mount in your car can provide a hands-free solution for navigation and answering calls. Your car mount should be strong enough to keep your device in place even on bumpy roads. Over-strong magnets will make pulling your phone from the mount difficult and may even cause interference with the device’s performance.  

Proper Mounting Techniques: Placement & Alignment for Optimal Security

When it comes to mounting your phone, first consider placement. 

Choose a location that offers easy access without obstructing your view in a car. Place the mount on the dashboard or air vents for easy reach and minimal distractions while driving. If you want to install the mount on the windshield, make sure it’s not against the local rules. Check out more tips on selecting the best car mount here. 

Also, ensure your phone is aligned properly. The biggest upside of magnetic mounts is that they auto align with your phone. When you move your phone over the mount, it automatically clicks into place. Sometimes, you may need to move it around a bit to hear the “click”. Additionally, some car mounts can be adjustable, allowing you to position your phone at the most comfortable angle.  

9 out of 10 phone users have low-battery anxiety

How often have you searched for a solution to charge your phone?

A recent survey by LG of thousands of people found “Low Battery Anxiety,” a term they used to explain the behavior of people who change their everyday lives to accommodate their dying battery. The survey found that 9 out of 10 people “felt panic” when their phone battery drops to 20% or lower.

More data has emerged that suggests the fear of being without a fully charged mobile phone is a growing problem. This type of anxiety  even has a name – nomophobia (NO MObile PHone phoBIA).

We once lived happy, productive lives without smartphones – but we now live in a digital world. Every day people rely on their phones for important documents, information, and even access to work, events, restaurants, and other facilities. 

Five symptoms of low battery anxiety determined by LG

  1. Asking a total stranger to charge their smartphone
  2. Arguing with a significant other or romantic interest because of unanswered calls or texts 
  3. Ordering something at a bar or restaurant just to use their power outlet 
  4. Secretly ‘borrowing’ someone else’s charger 
  5. Owning three or more smartphone charging cables

We conducted our survey.

We asked users: “Do you worry about your phone dying when you are out and about?

Answers to choose from: Somewhat worried, Worried, and Stressed.

The most interesting insight is the difference between female and male responses.

-Responded Stressed: 59% female, 36% Male, 5% Nonbinary

-Stressed and Worried replies make up 51% of responses from Females while only 40% from Males.

Females are more worried about their phones dying.

This comment from one of our female users explains why:

“Thought of being without a phone after 6 pm is horrifying. What if I’m in an emergency and need to call an Uber to leave?”Why should businesses care?

Anxiety and discomfort go hand in hand, so it makes sense that companies should try to reduce stress for customers and employees wherever possible, ensuring they have a positive experience and are productive.What impact could low battery anxiety have on customer experience?

A customer struggling to relax because they are worried if they have enough power left in their phone to navigate unlikely to enjoy their experience, and may even remember their journey (and your company) negatively. 

A dead cell phone battery at an entertainment venue could potentially ruin the entire experience: 

  • Paperless ticketing
  • Taking photos and recording videos
  • Posting to social media
  • Texting and calling
  • Paying for merchandise, food & drink(Apple Pay, Venmo etc.)
  • Accessing ride share Uber & Lyft

How to pair an Apple Watch with your iPhone

The Apple Watch and the iPhone are made for each other and both augment the functions of the other. Regardless of which Apple Watch model you own — the brand new Apple Watch Series 10, last year’s Apple Watch Series 9 or Apple Watch SE, or an older model — you’ll need to pair it with your iPhone.

Setting up your Apple Watch to work with your iPhone is just the beginning. For more ways to benefit from your watch, have a look at our guides covering the essential Apple Watch tips, the best Apple Watch faces, and the best Apple Watch apps, which promise to make your watch as integral to your life as your phone.

Before you get started, make sure that both your Apple Watch and your iPhone are updated to the latest version of their respective operating systems. Right now, that would be iOS 15 and WatchOS 8. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone and make sure both your watch and phone are fully charged or plug them in to replenish the charge as you pair. The pairing process is virtually identical in iOS 13 and WatchOS 6, iOS 14 and WatchOS 7, and iOS 15 and WatchOS 8.

  • You can use the latest WatchOS 8 with Apple Watch Series 3 or later and pair it with an iPhone 6S or later running iOS 15. The setup assistants on your iPhone and Apple Watch work together to help you pair and set up your Apple Watch.
  • Start by strapping the watch onto your wrist and then press and hold the side button (the one underneath the Digital Crown) until you see the Apple logo appear.
  • Move your iPhone near to your Apple Watch and observe the welcome pairing screen on your iPhone, and tap Continue.
  • Easier still, just launch the Apple Watch app on your iPhone and tap Pair New Watch.
  • Tap the Start Pairing button, and at the prompt, place your iPhone above the watch so that your Apple Watch appears in the viewfinder. This pairs the devices and you will see an alert that confirms the pairing.
  • If you already had a watch paired on this device, you may see a screen prompting you to either restore your watch from a backup or set it up as a new watch.
  • Tap the wrist you will wear the watch on (left or right) and the location preference of the crown (top or bottom).
  • Agree to the terms and conditions and decide whether you want to share information with Apple.
  • Create or wait on a passcode. If you intend to use Apple Pay, you will need to set up a passcode.
  • Choose whether to update your watch automatically or manually and whether to enable SOS and fall detection. If your Health app designates you as 65 or older, the fall detection feature will be enabled by default.
  • You can choose to install all apps at pairing or wait to choose which specific apps you want. You can always delete individual apps later.
  • Wait a few minutes for the setup to complete and for the two devices to sync, and after that’s done, you’ll see a welcome screen.
  • If your Apple Watch features cell service, you can activate the cellular service on your Apple Watch now or later in the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. While cell service is not available everywhere, your iPhone and Apple Watch must use the same cellular carrier to set up and run it.

Pair multiple watches with your iPhone

You can pair more than one watch with your iPhone, but only one watch can be active on your phone at any specific time. The WatchOS platform doesn’t support wearing two watches at once, nor does it support the simultaneous sharing of watches between multiple users. Not all carriers support multiple, active cellular plans at the same time, so make sure your carrier supports the feature. The steps are very similar to the pairing procedure above. There are slight differences between iOS 13 and WatchOS 6 and iOS 14 and WatchOS 7, including the ability to set up separate watches for various family members. The interface for iOS 15  and WatchOS 8 is virtually identical to the previous version.

Apple launches iPhone 16e and ditches home button

Revamped entry-level iPhone is last to exchange touch ID home button for face ID, modern design – and a price hike

Apple has put the final nail in the coffin of the home button after 18 years with the release of the new iPhone 16e.

The lowest-cost new iPhone replaces the 2022 iPhone SE, which was the last Apple product standing with the touch ID button, finishing off its drawn-out demise, which started with the iPhone X back in 2017.

The iPhone 16e costs £599 (€709/$599/A$999) and offers a modern iPhone experience similar to the regular iPhone 15 and latest iPhone 16 but with a few bells and whistles removed to reach a slightly lower price. It replaces the previously cheapest available £599 iPhone 14 and £429 iPhone SE in Apple’s lineup, and thus marks a considerable price increase for the cheapest new iPhone when it ships on 28 February.

The new iPhone has an aluminium frame, glass front and back and an 15.4cm (6.1in) OLED screen, relegating the old-school iPhone design, with its chunky forehead and chins, to history. But the 16e is only available in black or white and has the older, notch-style cutout at the top of the screen from the iPhone 14, not the newer pill-shaped dynamic island design used by the rest of the iPhone lineup. The notch contains the face ID sensor that replaces the touch ID system for unlocking the phone and authenticating payment.

The phone starts with 128GB of storage and has Apple’s latest A18 chip, which enables the firm’s various AI tools, to bring the cheapest iPhone up to par with the rest of the line. It has 5G powered by a new Apple modem for the first time, emergency satellite messaging, charges via USB-C and has an action button instead of the mute switch in the side.

But the phone has only a single 48-megapixel camera on the back instead of the double or triple cameras of other iPhones, and lacks the recently added camera control button on the side.

Despite a sizable price hike over the outgoing iPhone SE, Apple will be hoping this beefed-up lower cost model can recapture some of the mid-range smartphone market and improve slumping sales in countries such as China. It may also help in moving a greater share of iPhone users on to devices capable of receiving Apple intelligence features, on which the firm has bet big to catch up to rivals such as Google’s Gemini on Pixel and Samsung devices.

9 Tips to Avoid Phone Addiction and Reduce Unnecessary Stress

If you find yourself constantly reaching for your phone, it might be time to implement some mindful phone usage habits.

Our phones provide instant access to information, communication, and entertainment. But with this constant connection comes the risk of phone addiction and the negative impact it can have on our mental and physical well-being. Studies have shown that excessive phone usage can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as sleep disturbances and poor physical health.

So, how can we avoid phone addiction and reduce stress while still being able to enjoy the benefits of our devices?

Here are some tips to help you practice mindful phone usage and create a healthy balance:

1. Set boundaries for phone usage and stick to them. It’s easy to get caught up in the endless scrolling and notifications, but it’s important to set limits for ourselves. This can mean turning off notifications during certain times of the day, or setting aside specific times for phone usage. By creating these boundaries, we can prevent our phones from taking over our lives.

2. Use apps to track and limit phone usage. There are several apps available that can help you track and limit your phone usage. By seeing the data on your phone usage, you can become more aware of your habits and make changes to create a healthier balance.

3. Take breaks from your phone regularly. It’s important to give ourselves a break from the constant stimulation of our phones. This can be as simple as leaving your phone in another room for a few hours, or going for a walk without it. Taking a break from our phones can help us to relax, be more present in the moment, and engage in other activities that bring us joy and relaxation.

4. Create phone-free zones in your home. Choose certain areas in your home as phone-free zones, such as the bedroom or dining room. This will allow you to create boundaries and have designated times and places to disconnect from your phone.

5. Practice mindfulness when using your phone. Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment and fully engaging with what you’re doing. This can be difficult when using our phones, as we tend to multitask and constantly switch between apps and notifications. By practicing mindfulness while using our phones, we can focus on one task at a time and be more present in our interactions with others.

6. Unfollow accounts that cause stress or anxiety. Social media can be a great source of connection and inspiration, but it can also be a source of stress and anxiety. It’s important to curate our feeds to create a positive and stress-free environment. This can mean unfollowing accounts that make us feel negative or inadequate. Follow accounts that bring us joy and positivity.

7. Use your phone for self-care. Instead of using your phone as a constant source of distraction or entertainment, try using it as a tool for self-care. There are many apps and resources available for mindfulness and relaxation, such as meditation and yoga apps.

8. Disconnect from social media before bedtime. The blue light emitted by our phone screens can disrupt our sleep patterns and make it harder to fall asleep. To ensure a good night’s rest, it’s a good idea to disconnect from social media and other stimulating activities at least an hour before bedtime. Instead, try reading a book or listening to calming music to help you wind down.

9. Remember that it’s okay to disconnect sometimes. It’s important to give ourselves a break from technology and disconnect from our phones and other devices. This can be as simple as turning off our phones for a few hours, or going on a digital detox for a day or more. Taking a break from technology can be incredibly refreshing and help us recharge both physically and mentally.

Do you recharge yourself as much as you recharge your phone?

It’s easy to get caught up in the constant connectedness of our devices. Remember that our own well-being is as important as the well-being of our phones.

In conclusion, it’s important to use our phones mindfully to avoid causing unnecessary stress or disruption in our lives. By implementing mindful phone usage habits, we can reduce stress and live more balanced lives. Take breaks from your phone, unplug, and recharge yourself to enjoy a stress-free life.