File Genie are offering a great chance to meet and chat about your tech... a little bit of personal care. Maybe you are looking to buy a family member a new device for their birthday, looking for some tech advice for you kids or upgrading one of your own computers for your small business. Get some valuable advice and pointers on looking after your devices, come and grab a drink with a trusty geek!

File Genie is established in the Peterborough area with many happy customers. Take a look at some of our reviews here >

Commonly asked questions:

• Whats the best antivirus software?
• Shall I upgrade to Windows 11?
• My laptop won't start have I lost everything?

Upcoming Technology Surgery Dates:
• Thursday 26th May 2022 From 9am
• Thursday 30th June 2022 From 9am
• Thursday 28th July 2022 From 9am
• Thursday 25th August 2022 From 9am
• Thursday 29th September 2022 From 9am
• Thursday 27th October 2022 From 9am
• Thursday 24th November 2022 From 9am
• Thursday 29th December 2022 From 9am

The Old Copper Kettle Tea Shop
6 North St
Crowland
Peterborough
PE6 0EF

Get directions here: The Old Copper Kettle Tea Shop >

If you’ve had your phone for a few years, you’re probably starting to see signs that it might be time for an upgrade.

The battery is probably running out much more quickly and you might find your fun running much slower than before.

There are some things you can do if you’re not quite ready to change up your phone:

• Delete apps you don’t use- this will free up vital space on your phone and help speed things up a bit.
• Update your operating system.
• Get rid of live wallpaper- it might look cool but it’s seriously eating into your phone's memory and battery life.
• Remove apps you no longer use.
• If you have an iPhone, turn off Siri. Although Siri’s suggestions can be quite handy it also slows down iPhones, especially older ones.
• Restart your phone- this clears the memory and can fix glitchy apps.
• Clear the cache.

If the above doesn’t help improve the performance of your phone as a last resort you can try a factory reset. Be warned this does wipe everything from your phone so you need to back up all your important data before you perform the reset!

Upgrade Your Smartphone?
If you’ve decided to splash out on a new phone, we highly recommend doing your research first. Check out this handy guide from Which? It covers everything to help you make the best choice for your budget.
 
In the past, when it came to upgrading your mobile phone there had often been significant improvements in technology that made it tempting to buy a brand-new handset or sign up to a contract to get hold of the latest model. But advancements in smartphones have slowed making the hefty price tag that comes with buying a new model much less enticing. Why would you want to spend £1000 on a new handset that doesn’t offer much more than your current model?
 
So, if you want an upgrade but you can’t justify buying a new model what options do you have?

Refurbished or Second-Hand Smartphone?
If you have decided not to get a brand-new phone or contract, then you’re probably looking at getting a refurbished or second-hand phone, but which option is best for you? A refurbished phone will have been checked over by professionals to ensure you are getting a phone in good working order and condition.
 
If you opt for second hand you are taking a bit more of a risk. The warranty will likely have expired and depending on the age of the phone you may not be able to update the operating system to the latest version. Check the phone doesn’t have any accessories missing and that there is no damage to the charging port. Be aware of scams, especially if you are buying on a site such as Facebook Marketplace. If you are in any doubt, walk away.
 
If you are at all unsure about any of the above procedures or want help choosing a new phone, we highly recommend getting in touch with a File Genie for unbiased advice and support.

Many of you have been working from home for the first time and may not have a proper office desk set up. Over time, this may well be negatively affecting your posture and lead to pain in your back and neck and even trigger headaches.

Here are a few tips using household items to prevent such things:

1. Sit in a supportive chair. Don’t be tempted to sit in a low lounge chair or settee. Your hips and knees should both be at right angles and your back supported. Don’t perch or lean forward.
2. Don’t spend more than 20-30 mins working on a laptop on your lap. It is better to work on a table and if you have it with a wi-fi remote keyboard and mouse. This will allow you to place the laptop on several books or a box until the screen is level with your eyes and far enough or close enough for you to be able to focus on the screen easily. Looking down at a screen will strain your neck muscles and a combination of glasses and strange screen angles can lead to eye strain and headache.
3. Every 30 mins take a posture break. Stand up, do a star stretch, looking up as you do it and take a deep breath in. This will help your joints and get oxygen circulating, helping both your mood and your concentration.
4. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water at least 2lt. It is easy to get engrossed in what you are doing and forget all about you.
5. I hope you find this useful. If you need help with neck, back, joint pain or headaches during lockdown or indeed after please don’t hesitate to contact me. There is much advice I can share to help you through.

 
Bridget Bath, Doctor of Chiropractic, Greenacres Chiropractic Centre, Glinton