This hidden iPhone trick does wonders to speed up your phone

There are various reasons your iPhone might seem slow at times, especially the older models that are running newer versions of Apple’s iOS platform. The good news is that there are some things you can do to speed up your old handset, and we’ve covered plenty of tips in the past here on BGR. Now, we’ve found yet another hidden trick that can help you speed up your phone if it’s not notifying you of app updates or if it’s just too slow in general.

Developer Zachary Drayer recently explained the trick on Twitter, and it’s so weird that it’s unlikely most people know about it. I’ve been using iPhones for years, and I had no idea about this hidden App Store app trick.

It’s not clear exactly why Apple included this hidden trick, but apparently quickly tapping on any of the buttons at the bottom of the screen while in the App Store 10 times in a row will do wonders for your iPhone. Just make sure you press the same button 10 times.

The screen will go blank after you’ve performed this little trick, and the phone’s App Store cache will be reset. Apparently, the phone’s temporary storage is emptied after 10 taps on the same icon, and this wizardry works across several of Apple’s apps. According to the developer, the trick works in iTunes, iBooks, App Store and the Apple Watch app, but not in Podcasts, Music, Game Center, iMessage or Phone.

Your PC's dead, but you may still be able to save its hard drive

The right adapter might let you recover your files, but there’s no guarantee. A lot of it depends on the physical condition of the drive and the way your files are stored on it.

But first, a reprimand. If you backed up your files daily, you wouldn’t have this problem. You could just restore the files from your backup. It really isn’t difficult.

Okay, let’s get on with your problem.

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A SATA/USB adapter temporarily turns an internal drive into an external one. You remove the drive from the computer, plug the SATA end of the adapter into your drive, then plug the USB end into another computer. Windows—or whatever operating system the computer uses—should treat it like a flash drive or an external hard drive, allowing you to access the files and copy them elsewhere.

Unless your drive is the part of your PC that died. (You can test this beforehand by booting a live version of Linux and seeing if you can access your files.) If your files remain inaccessible, you’ll have to send the drive to a data recovery service.

Another possible problem: If you use something stronger than a Home edition of Windows, you might also run into a problem with Windows’ own built-in encryption. The Encrypting File System (EFS, which encrypts selected files and folders), and Bitlocker (which encryptions whole partitions and drives), require a special key to decrypt on a computer other than your own. If you didn’t save that key or don’t remember where you put it, your files are gone for good.

That’s why Microsoft doesn’t make these tools available in the Home editions. It’s also why I recommend using a third-party password-based encryption tool such as Veracrypt.

The good news is that if the drive is in good shape, and you haven’t used Microsoft encryption, you will probably be able to recover your files.

SIIG, Inc.

One more suggestion: Instead of buying a SATA/USB adapter, buy a SATA/USB enclosure. An enclosure is basically an adapter in an enclosed box, turning the former internal drive into a full-fledged external one.

Then you can use that external drive for backup. That way,  you won’t have this problem again.

How to create an image backup in Windows 10

An image backup copies everything on your drive—operating system, boot sector, programs, and data files—into one compressed but still very large file. If disaster renders your Windows installation useless, an image backup will allow you to get it up and running again quickly.

I recommend you create an image backup, saving it to an external hard drive, three or four times a year. This is in addition to the far more important daily file backup of your data.

Creating an image backup in Windows 10

1.   Plug in your external hard drive—which should have enough free space to hold everything on your internal drive. Make sure Windows can access the drive.

2.   In Windows’ Search field, type file history, and select Control Panel’s File History program.

3.   In the File History dialog box, click System Image Backup in the lower-left corner.

4.   In the resulting Backup and Restore dialog box (don’t worry about the “Windows 7” label), click Create a system image.

5.   Follow the resulting wizard.

The backup may take a few hours. You can continue to work as it backs up. However, I prefer to start the backup at the end of the workday so it doesn’t slow anything down.

When the backup is over, you may be asked if you want a System Repair Disc. If your PC has an optical drive, create the disc.

If not, create a Recovery Drive: Plug in a blank flash drive, open Control Panel’s Recovery tool, click Create a recovery drive, and follow the prompts.

Restore the backup

When Windows is in a seemingly hopeless condition, you’ll need to get into the recovery environment to restore the image. Here are three ways to do that:

• If you can still boot into Windows: Select Start > Settings > Update & security. Select Recovery in the left pane, then select Restart now.
  
• If Windows won’t boot and you have a System Repair Disc: Insert the disc into your optical drive and boot your PC. When you’re asked to “Press any key…,” press any key. Then pick a language.
  
• If Windows won’t boot and you have a Recovery Drive: Insert the Recovery flash drive into a USB port and boot your PC. If your PC skips the flash drive and attempts to boot Windows, reboot and enter your Setup screen (F2 usually works; if it doesn’t, check your manual). Look for a boot or boot order option. Once you’ve successfully booted the flash drive, select a language.

Once you’re in a recovery environment, select Troubleshoot, then System Image Recovery. Follow the instructions.

7 things that you can clean with Coca-Cola

I'm a Pepsi guy personally, so I figure this is a good way to get rid of that Coke that I may come across in life.  Thanks to CNET for the information.  Click here for the 7!

Should you get monthly phone insurance?.....probably not..

Paying an extra $5 to $11 per month for month-to-month phone insurance might sound tempting -- especially now that the big wireless carriers have ditched contracts and subsidized phones, and you're paying $650 up front for a new iPhone 6s.

But it's not that simple. First of all, month-to-month phone insurance isn't the great deal it sounds like -- that relatively low monthly fee is only part of the cost you'll pay if your phone is damaged, lost or stolen. For each claim you file, you'll pay a deductible of $50 to $199 (unless it's an old-school flip phone, assume that price is going to be $199), and most insurance companies only let you file up to two claims per year.

So, should you get month-to-month phone insurance? Probably not, but let's take a look at the available plans before we answer that question in more detail.

The plans

There are two ways to get month-to-month phone insurance: You can purchase it from your wireless carrier, in which case you'll simply pay the premium as an add-on to your wireless bill, or you can purchase it directly from a third-party insurance company such as SquareTrade.

The main difference between the two is that carrier-provided insurance usually covers device malfunction, damage, loss and theft, while SquareTrade covers only malfunction and damage. Many carriers, including Verizon and AT&T, offer plans through the third-party insurance company Asurion.

Verizon offers four protection tiers. The top tier, called Total Mobile Protection (TMP), costs $11 per month for smartphones; protects against device malfunction, damage, loss and theft; and carries a $99 - $199 deductible depending on the device. Verizon's deductibles tend to be a little lower -- most high-end Android phones won't hit the $199 deductible. TMP offers the same protection as the second-highest tier, Total Equipment Coverage (TEC), but TMP includes a tech coach feature, which basically means you can chat with Verizon about your device. You don't need this.

TEC costs $9 per device per month for smartphones and combines the two lower tiers: Asurion Wireless Phone Protection ($7.15 per month for smartphones, protects against everything except device malfunction) and Verizon's Wireless Extended Warranty ($3 per month for smartphones, protects against device malfunction).

AT&T's insurance currently costs $6.99 per month per enrolled number, but that price will jump to $7.99 per month in March 2016. AT&T's insurance protects against device malfunction, damage, loss and theft and carries a $50, $125 or $199 deductible, depending on the device. Most high-end smartphones, including any iPhone newer than the iPhone 5, will hit the top deductible tier, so expect your deductible to be $199. Unlike Verizon, however, AT&T rewards you for not filing claims -- you get a deductible discount if you haven't filed a claim in the last six months ($149 vs. $199) or 12 months ($99 vs. $149).

Sprint offers a two-tiered insurance plan -- like Verizon, the top tier ($13 per month) simply includes tech support and device tutorials. Sprint's insurance costs $9 to $11/month, depending on which deductible tier your device is in. There are four deductible tiers: $50, $100, $150 and $200. Most smartphones will be in the top two deductible tiers and will therefore cost $11/month. Like Verizon and AT&T, Sprint uses Asurion -- so its plan covers device malfunction, damage, loss and theft.

T-Mobile's insurance costs $8 per device per month and protects against malfunction, damage, loss and theft. The plan includes a $20 to $175 deductible; most high-end smartphones will end up costing between $150 and $175 to replace. T-Mobile also offers an enhanced protection package for $10 per month that includes Lookout Mobile Security Premium. If you're already enrolled in T-Mobile's JUMP program ($10/month), which lets you upgrade your phone once you've paid off 50 percent of its cost, insurance is included.

SquareTrade is one of the most popular third-party insurance providers, and it's cheaper than most carrier-provided options. Of course, it also offers less protection -- with SquareTrade, you won't be protected against loss or theft. SquareTrade plans cost $6 per month for smartphones (or less if you purchase one, two or three years in advance) with a $75 deductible. Because the company only covers damage, it will only repair your phone -- not replace it. In the event that your phone is damaged beyond repair, SquareTrade will just give you money to replace it (enough for a refurbished phone -- not a new one).

Should you get phone insurance or not?

This is a difficult question to answer, because it really depends on you. If you live in an area where phone theft is rampant, or you're the type of person who's likely to lose your phone, carrier-sanctioned phone insurance could save you hundreds of dollars. But if you're just clumsy, you may not come out ahead. Apple will fix an iPhone 6S screen for $99 if it's still under warranty or covered by Apple Care+ -- that's less than a year's worth of Verizon insurance.

Month-to-month phone insurance comes with low premiums, high deductibles and a limit on claims (Asurion lets you make two claims per year, with a cap of $1,500 per claim). If you make one claim per year, you'll pay between $270 and $330 for a new phone -- and the phone may not even be new. The insurance company has the right to choose whether they want to repair your phone or replace it with a phone of equal value, which means you're likely to get a refurbished phone instead of a brand new one. If your phone is more than a year old, phone insurance makes no sense because older high-end smartphones are subject to the same deductibles as newer high-end smartphones.

Device-specific insurance isn't your only option. If you purchased your phone with a credit card, your credit card company may offer an extended warranty that covers device malfunctions once the manufacturer's warranty expires. Also, if you pay your phone bill with a credit card, your credit card company may offer some protection against loss or theft (my Wells Fargo card offers $600 worth of protection, subject to a $25 deductible, against damage or theft). If you have renter's insurance, your phone is most likely covered in your policy -- though renter's insurance is usually subject to a higher deductible ($500+) per claim.

For most people, month-to-month phone insurance is a bad idea. You're better off extending the manufacturer's warranty or buying Apple Care+.

Register your Drone! starting next week

You might enjoy flying that new drone around the yard this holiday season, but there's a new string attached.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday that US residents must register hobbyist drones by February 19 at its drone registration website. Registration opens December 21 and is free through January 20, the agency said. After that, the FAA will charge $5 for registration.

Accepting the guidance of an advisory panel, the FAA said registration is required for any hobbyist drone weighing between 0.55 pounds and 55 pounds. That weight limit includes even relatively small drones like the $549 Parrot Bebop 2, not just the serious $1,000 hobby-oriented models from companies like DJI.

The FAA's registration rule (PDF) applies only to hobbyist drones. Those used for business purposes are prohibited unless the FAA has granted the business a special exemption. The FAA expects to release rules legalizing business use of drones by mid-2016.

Drones, which are typically camera-equipped quadcopters, have become a new consumer and business phenomenon for those interested in remote-controlled vehicles, aerial photography and even aerial racing. As the aircraft have grown in popularity over the last several years, though, drones have become a concern for the government agency responsible for regulating the nation's airspace. In 2014, the FAA received 238 reports of potentially unsafe drone use. So far in 2015, that figure has already reached 1,133.

So far, though, it's hard to truly judge the drone safety risk, said Michael Sievers, an attorney who co-chairs drone work at law firm Hunton & Williams."The FAA has often cited the significantly increased frequency of pilot reports of UAS sightings. But it is hard to judge how accurately those figures represent a real safety problem," he said. High-profile problems only represent a small portion of flights. "That we've not had a truly catastrophic incident is either a sign of very good fortune or a sign of a manageable risk."

The FAA is prepared to enforce its rule.

"Failure to register an aircraft can result in civil penalties up to $27,500," the rule states. "Criminal penalties for failure to register can include fines of up to $250,000."

When registering, drone owners must provide a name, physical address and email address. Drone owners then must mark their drones with a registration number or register its serial number with the FAA.

The FAA believes the cost to operate the drone registration system will be $56 million through 2020.

US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said registration will improve drone safety.

"Unmanned aircraft enthusiast are aviators, and with that title comes a great deal of responsibility," Foxx said in a statement. "Registration gives us an opportunity to work with these users to operate their unmanned aircraft safely."