Gone are the days when our devices were limited to one use – while we used to reach for our cellphone to make a call, for example, we’re now equally as likely to grab it if we need a calculator, a GPS or a quick way to respond to emails.
As our devices do more, it’s essential to ensure you’re doing what you can to help them keep up, says Gurkaran Chawla. Director at Techmate.
A common issue right now is battery burn-out in laptops and cellphones, especially as we’re spending more time staying connected online during COVID.
“I’ve been seeing a lot of people coming in who have been overcharging their batteries, which then burns out the battery and charging port. Many people are unaware of the issue and end up having to buy a new battery sooner than they should because they don’t understand how to properly charge their devices,” Chawla explains.
Chawla advises only charging your device until it reaches 100 per cent; once it does, unplug it. Leaving your device plugged in for longer than necessary – leaving your phone charging overnight, for example – overloads the battery and eats into its lifespan. It’s also a good idea to avoid letting the battery reach lower than 10 per cent before reaching for your charger.
“You wouldn’t drive your car with low or excessive air pressure in your tires because it could ruin the driving traction and increase the risk of a blowout. That is the same idea with the battery, you should be recharging it before that zero per cent mark and then un-plug power once at one hundred per cent to help protect your device,” Mehar Chawla, brother of Gurkarans and employee at Techmate, explains.
Other clients are turning to the Techmate team for help ensuring their systems are keeping up with new demands, like video chats.
A friendly, knowledgeable Techmate team member can make sure your devices are running as well as possible, including installing new software so you can keep up with your conference calls! Installing the new Windows or updating your Mac IOS devices can further maximize your system.
For those needing more of a helping hand, they’re also happy to show you the ins and outs of your device. After all, with their constant innovations, it can be hard to keep up with all that they can do. With in-store and in-home tech support and educational lessons for your TV, PC, printer or gaming consoles – they’ve got you covered!
And when the unexpected happens, simply drop off your laptop, tablet or cellphone to take advantage of Techmate’s repair services. For cellphones and tablets, you can typically expect to get your device back the same day – so you can get back to using them as soon as possible.