If your experience with mobile phones started in the 90s or early 2000s, you’ve seen massive developments in mobile technology over the years. The green-screened, brick-like Nokia phones that so many of us used in the past were a far cry from the advanced touch screen mini-computers we carry now. But as technology has advanced, it seems to have also become more fragile, more complex and more prone to failure. According researchers, the typical smart phone user in the U.S. will use a phone for between 20 and 22 months before upgrading to a new one. As Tech support professionals, we know that those upgrades are often forced, as phones are dropped, screens are broken or the device otherwise stops functioning. Keeping in mind that our devices have become somewhat temporary, what can you do now, while your current phone is still working, to make your next upgrade go smoothly?
Put It on The Card
Many modern smart phones have a slot built in to insert a Micro SD card. These flash memory devices grant you removable storage for your device and are getting cheaper all the time (A SanDisk 250GB card can be purchased for around $30). This is a card that is roughly the size of your pinky fingernail, but can give you a serious boost in storage space. You can then move pictures, movies and other files onto the card, then move the card to your next phone.
Use Backup Assistants
Most carriers have backup assistants which come preinstalled on your phone or can be downloaded from the app store. Backup assistants will automatically back up your contacts, text messages and pictures to the cloud—they can then easily be downloaded and restored to a new device. Google and iCloud also offer comprehensive backup solutions for Android and iPhones respectively.
Move It to The Big Screen
Most phones can be mounted on your computer like an external hard drive by plugging it into a USB port with a cable. From there you can browse the files on your phone, drag photos over onto your computer, or do a complete backup of your content and settings using an application made by your phone’s manufacturer. It is often the case that we take a lot of pictures on our phones and we never see them on a big screen; moving your pictures onto a computer gives you a chance to see your photos in all their glory, do some editing, make slideshows or prepare them for printing and back up your data in case you need to get a new device.
With all the time we spend on our mobile devices, the thought of a smart phone being lost or damaged is enough to send most people into a state of mild panic—but with a few simple steps and a little bit of preparation, you can make the transition to a replacement devise seamless and easy. If you have any questions about safeguarding your most important data, come down and see us at Mankato Computer Technology.