Read Sarah Pinel's tips of how to protect your computers and mobile phones.
As temperatures start to rise, people aren’t the only ones sweltering. Laptops and mobile devices also are in danger when the mercury rises. Overheating can cause permanent damage to the CPU, hard drive and other components. This can lead to irreversible data loss. Here are some tips on keeping computers and mobile devices protected during the Singapore heatwave
1. Ensure there is a good flow of air
Make sure there’s nothing sitting right against any side of the computer, especially the back. Most of the hot air flows out of the back end of the computer case. There should be at least 2 to 3 inches open on either side and the back should be completely open and unobstructed. Try to avoid resting laptops on your lap or soft surface.
2. Clean your computer frequently
The fans inside your computer are there to keep it cool. Dirt – in the form of dust, pet hair etc can find a way into your computers and much of it gets stuck on the fans. Over time, the fans slow down the fans and eventually stop. One of the most effective ways to cool your PC is to clean the fans. You can use either a vacuum or canned air to remove the dirt from the fans. On iMacs the vents are in the bottom rim and a small circular one on the back, behind the foot. On MacBook Pros and other laptops the vents are around the edges – usually between the lid and the base of the case.
3. Keep them out of direct sunlight
When taking your devices out and about, don’t leave them in the car. We all know the dangers of kids and dogs in hot cars – phones and laptops can also fall victim to the greenhouse effect. Also keep them out of direct sun. If you have to keep your computers and tablets in your vehicle, put it in a shaded spot.
4. Minimise temperature fluctuations
Subjecting your devices to extreme temperature changes can take its toll. Do not place your computer in direct sun light or in the direct flow of air conditioning units. Fluctuations in temperature can lead to condensation which can prove fatal for electronic devices.
TEKKIE HELP’S Q&A TECHNOLOGY TIPS
Q: Why can’t I access US Netflix anymore?
A: US Netflix often purchase content that they are only licensed to broadcast in the US. They are not permitted to broadcast all of this content to Asia, hence why Singapore Netflix has a more limited selection. Until recently, there has been a number of “work-arounds”, such as VPNs and DNS services, so that we have been able to watch US Netflix in Singapore. Such activity is NOT permitted/ supported by Netflix US.
Unfortunately, Netflix had a huge crack-down on access from outside of the US (for these copyright issues) and we have seen a number of VPN and DNS providers blocked.
Q: Is there any fix Tekkie Help can do?
We have been doing a lot of testing and we have been able to access US Netflix. At this stage though we are not in a position to roll it out to customers as we cannot guarantee it’s stability. Please get in touch if you would like to be added to our contact list for when we ready to implement. In the meantime, if you know particular Netflix movies or series you wish to watch, you can download these using torrent sites – we can help set this up. We are also able to get you set up to watch other great international content such as BBCiPlayer, Hulu, ITV Hub, Channel 4Od. If you would like us to come and help, give us a call on 8113 8682.
