iPhone 4S Issues -  A few iPhone 4S owners have been complaining about a short battery life on the recently released iPhone 4s model.  According to a statement released by Apple, there have been a “few bugs” that have attributed to the short battery life.  In response to the new battery issues Apple said “we will release a software update to address those in a few weeks.”  We’re hopeful Apple will have this release shortly and iPhone 4s owner’s can find some relief.

Another recent issue with the new iPhone 4s is the voice assistant feature “Siri”.  It seems that a network outage was the cause of “Siri” being unavailable on Thursday.  There has been no statement from Apple regarding the “Siri” outage.  Looks like you’ll have to forgo the new feature for now if your one of those effected until the problem is resolved.

The battery draining issue coupled with the “Siri” network outage is frustrating to say the least.  However,  the iPhone 4s still gets our #1 vote for being the best smart phone on the market today.  With a 1 GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor and Apple A5 chipset the iPhone 4s is the most powerful phone available.  Some other nice features of the iPhone 4s are its 8-megapixel camera and capabilities to record 1080p videos.  The new iCloud technology lets you wirelessly connect to iTunes.  Did we mention that you can use the iPhone 4s on the CDMA as well as the GSM networks?  For people that travel, particularly overseas, you won’t have an issue using your iPhone as some countries use either CDMA or GSM but not both in some cases.

Hopefully,  you haven’t had any accidents with your new iPhone 4s yet.  If so,  we will soon be adding an array of iPhone 4s repairs at low-cost affordable rates.   As always, we are striving to be the #1 mail-in repair service in the nation.  Please contact us today if you have any questions about an iPhone repair or iPhone screen repair.

-The XpressFix Team

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iPhone 4S Launch -  If you haven’t already reserved your iPhone 4S, you still have time to reserve yours.  The iPhone 4S pre-orders started at 3am EST this morning and will be available for a limited time.  You can go to the official Apple website to reserve yours today.

By pre-ordering your iPhone 4S,  you guarantee yourself a copy.  However, you will not receive your iPhone for about two weeks from today.  Next Friday,  stores are going to receive shipments of the iPhone 4S.  There will be a limited supply and these shipments will be sold on a first come first serve basis.  So,  you have the option of getting in line early next week and hoping your mobile provider has enough supply to give you one.  The alternative, is to pre-order your iPhone 4S and you will receive your device the week following the official launch.

The iPhone 4S features a dual-core A5 chip, the most powerful chip yet in an iPhone.  It can deliver 2x more power and 7x faster graphics.  The battery life is said to last double the amount of time of it’s iPhone 4 predecessor.   The iPhone 4S also an 8-megapixel resolution with a  custom f/2.4 aperture.  The iPhone 4S will also feature 1080p video recording capabilities.  Also new in the latest model iPhone is an IOS 5 operating system which is leaps beyond anything that is currently on the market.  Finally, perhaps the most amazing new feature this iPhone boasts is the iCloud functionality which is capable of synching to iTunes wirelessly!

Well,  if your an iPhone enthusiast then you are probably just as excited as we are for the launch of this new device.  Of course XpressFix will be on top of or should we say, inside this device when it launches learning everything we can about repairing this new beauty.  We will keep you posted on the iPhone repairs that we will be offering in the near future for the iPhone 4S.  For an iPhone screen repair and other repairs visit our official website www.xpressfix.com.

-The XpressFix Team

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The New iPhone 5 Reportedly Lost

With the release of the iPhone 5 around the corner,  Apple is doing what they can to keep the new iPhone model under wraps until its official release.  Unfortunately,  it seems as though one of Apple’s own employee’s has lost the new iPhone as such is being reported.

The Apple employee strolled into a bar in the San Francisco area with the most sought after piece of technology to be released and reportedly walked out without the device.  How can this be so?  Was money a motivator or was this a careless mistake that could prove to be costly for the multi-billion dollar tech company?

Apple determined to retrieve the iPhone 5 model began an investigation.  According to CNET,  Apple tracked the phone electronically to a single-family home in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights neighborhood.  When the home was investigated they spoke with a man there who admitted to being at the same bar of the Apple employee the same evening the iPhone 5 went lost.   He denied knowing anything about the device.

Well, it appears from the reports that Apple was able to retrieve their yet to be released iPhone.  With so many employees working for Apple you have to think that they would take better precautions and keep the device more secure.  Is this some kind of publicity stunt?  Doubtful, since the iPhone has gained so much popularity over the past few years.

The iPhone 5 is reportedly to be released on October 7th on the AT&T, Verizon and for the first time on the Sprint network.  It is estimated that 1 in 2 Americans own a smart phone with the iPhone being the leader in the smart phone arena.  The iPhone 5 is rumored to offer a rounded back and a larger screen as well as some new features that were not offered in the the last generation of iPhones.  We are waiting anxiously for the release of the new iPhone 5 and will have the repair at or official website.

-The XpressFix Team

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XpressFix.com was recently acquired by Mobile Message Media, a Virginia based company.  With a small team of device repair technicians serving the Washington, DC and Northern Virginia area, we are proud to offer our new mail-in repair service.

Our dream was to offer our services beyond our native Washington and Virginia borders. With the addition of the XpressFix website, our dream has become a reality.

Quality and Service:  We’ve proudly completed iPhone repairs, iPod touch repairs and iPad repairs locally for some time now and look forward to serving our nation as the leader in expert mail-in repair services.

Partnered with an emphasis on quality and a speedy turnaround time, we are dedicated to providing the best customer service in the iPhone repair industry.  For example, we now offer a live chat feature that delivers easy access to a friendly customer care representative Monday-Friday from 9AM-11PM EST.

Quality Parts: Aside from our commitment to outstanding customer service, XpressFix uses quality OEM and grade “A” parts only!

We stand behind our quality repair products. We offer a 90 day guarantee on all of our repairs.

***Beware of imitation or cheap replica repair parts.  Often times, your fly-by-night local iPhone repair guy will provide repairs using low grade products that seem to fix your iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, but these repairs are usually short-lived.

Quick Turnaround: XpressFix delivers same or next day service.  If your repair arrives by 2pm EST, you can expect shipment same day .  All repairs arriving after 2PM EST will be shipped the following day and no later.

We understand that going without your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPod can be an inconvenience. XpressFix is here for our customers and we are dedicated to doing our absolute best to complete the repair with quality and efficiency. Once we complete your repair, you will receive a personal notification from us letting you know that your device is on its way.

We’re excited to relaunch the XpressFix website and currently offer the coupon code “Save10″ for 10% off all repairs when used during checkout.

For  iPhone repairs and/or other small device repairs, please visit http://www.xpressfix.com to get your device repaired today!

-The XpressFix Team

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Post tags: iphone repair mail in

Great Holiday apps for your iPhone

This year, we tested out two iPhone apps we believe will reduce the stress and hassle of running around from store to store, finding parking in crowded lots, waiting in lines, and comparing prices. Your iPhone can reduce the stress portion of Christmas shopping, and save you a lot of money.

We think you should give these a go:

1. Shop Savvy – This app has been out for quite some time, but it has been updated in time for Christmas, and we think you will love it.  Shop Savvy, of course, has a barcode scanner which a person uses to scan the UPC symbol of a product (its scanner is very accurate). You may also type in a search for the product.  Once the object has been entered, Shop Savvy will search online for the product, but the results also include local retailers who carry the product, along with prices, and even a map on how to get to that retailer.  Pretty awesome! On top of that, a blue dot appears next to those retailers who actually have your item in stock.  Also included is information about special deals, rebates and promotions that might be available.  If you want to read or write reviews about a retailer or a product, you can do that as well.  We have found that some forward-thinking retailers are adding coupon codes for Shop Savvy customers.  One cool addition is that a user can easily share all of the above with others via Facebook or Twitter.
2. Price Check – We included this application from Amazon because it works almost identically to Shop Savvy, except it lets you comparison shop online retailers only. The advantage is that you can use this app with your iPod as well.  Amazon produces very accurate and relevant results to a product search, with detailed product information and prices.  Amazon is not always the cheapest.  With Price Check, they readily admit when they are not the least expensive, and send you off to a cheaper competitor if you so choose.  The advantage this app has is that it has a barcode scanner, and a voice recognition feature.  The coolest feature is the optical recognition feature, where the user can do a search merely by taking a photo of the product.  This generally works on DVDs, Books and items with text the application can recognize.

If you are on the lookout for iPhone accessories or iPod accessories for gift-giving, you will find that the Apple Store and the AT&T store are quite expensive compared to local iPhone repair locations and websites.  If your gifts are not iPhone related, you will find that the online price is usually cheaper than the price you find at a retail location.  Remember, however, that online returns can be a hassle, and cost you more with shipping should you need an exchange or refund.

© John for XpressFix iPhone Repair Blog, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: holiday apps, iPhone Repair, iPod touch repair, xpressfix

Artwork: Shepherd Fairey of Obey.

When looking for causes to donate our time or money to, our goal is to find an organization that may not get the attention it deserves, despite the worthiness of the cause.  We discovered an excellent example this year of such a cause.  So, XpressFix.com is proud to announce its sponsorship of the 14^th annual non-profit Diva Invasion event, hosted by the Equal organization at the University of Central Florida! Known previously on campus as the “Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Student Union, the Equal organization has a new mission of fostering a safe and positive campus experience for any student regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.  However, Equal’s purpose is not only limited to the campus of the University of Central Florida.

Part of the proceeds of this year’s Diva Invasion will go to the Zebra Coalition to help down-and-out GLBTQ citizens who often see discrimination from some of the mainstream or faith-based charities.   The Zebra Coalition is a non-profit partnership of local organizations that provides food, shelter, medical services, substance abuse treatment, employment, counseling and other services to gay, lesbian, and transsexual people, and even to people unsure of their sexual identity.

We admit that what we liked mostly about Equal is that they know how to make their cause fun!  Hosted first by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Student Union in 1996, the Diva Invasion event has a new theme each year, with Diva Invasion 2010 being a circus-themed “Over the Top” show.  Diva Invasion has grown more popular each year, and this year it will be one of UCF’s largest GBLTQ events, with an expected 1,000 attendees.  As with past shows, Diva Invasion 2010 features provocative set designs, female impersonation, fantastic performances, and an extraordinarily fun time for everyone.  Added to this year’s revue are male impersonators! And, performing their own unique form of aerialist art, the Anti-Gravity group will be dazzling the stage.

Please come have a good time supporting a good cause on November 4^th at the UCF Arena!  Admission is free for all UCF students (you also get 1,000 LINK Loot points) and $7 for students from other colleges and universities.  For everyone else, admission is only $15.  But we at XpressFix opted for the VIP tickets, which include reception, food, wine and beer for just $50. We hope to see you there!

Oh yeah, and starting today through November 04^th of 2011, if you purchase any iPod Touch or iPhone Repair from XpressFix.com and use the coupon code EQUALUCF, we will donate 10% of the cost of each sale (excluding our shipping cost) to the EQUAL organization at the University of Central Florida.

© Alex for XpressFix iPhone Repair Blog, 2010. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Diva, Equal, fix iphones, iPhone, iPhone Repair, UCF Arena, Zebra Coalition

How to downgrade your iPhone 3G from iOS4

If you’re an iPhone 3G owner that has recently upgraded to the new iOS 4, and have realized that your device now functions extremely slow, even too slow for the new features to be worth having, then this tutorial on how to downgrade back to iOS 3.1.3 is for you.

The first thing you will need is the iOS 3.1.3 firmware, which you can find here (this will ONLY work for the iPhone 3G). The file is slightly over 200MB, so it will take a decent amount of time to download. The next tool you will need in order to perform this downgrade will be a useful little tool called RecBoot, which you can download here.

Once both the firmware and RecBoot are downloaded,  launch iTunes.  Once opened,  you will put your iPhone into DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to put your device into DFU mode.

1. Plug your USB cable into the charging port of the iPhone.
2. Press and Hold the power button AND home button at the same time.
3. After exactly 10 seconds, release the power button. Continue holding the home button until your iTunes displays a message telling you that it has detected an iPhone in recovery mode.

That’s it. Now your iPhone is ready to to downgrade to iOS 3.1.3. Select your device in iTunes under the “Devices” sidebar on the left pane. Now, hold shift on your keyboard while clicking “Restore”. A window will pop up prompting you to select the firmware you wish to use. Navigate to the 3.1.3 firmware we had just downloaded, select that and hit open. iTunes will begin to install the firmware.

Once iTunes is near finished with installing iOS 3.1.3, you will receive a iTunes error 1015, DO NOT PANIC. This is part of the downgrading process.

Now, the final step. The iPhone will boot back up with the “connect to iTunes” screen. Leave your device plugged into your computer and locate the RecBoot file that you had just downloaded.  Open RecBoot.exe and a screen should pop up. Click “Exit Recovery Mode”, RecBoot will now push your iPhone out of recovery mode, and it will boot up with iOS 3.1.3. You are done. This process should work just about the same on OS X.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact iPhone repair company XpressFix. We will be glad to assist you with any questions you have regarding this process.

Note: This will be a fresh install, so if you had a backup BEFORE you upgraded to iOS 4, then you will be able to backup by using that restore point. If not, you are unfortunately out of luck.

© John for XpressFix iPhone Repair Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Apple iPhone 3G Smartphone, fix iphone, from 4.0 to 3.1.3, iPhone, iPhone OS downgrade, iPhone Repair, ITunes, xpressfix

iPhone 4 Glass Back for a DIY Repair

When repairing the cracked or damaged glass back to an iPhone 4, buying the correct part is the most confusing step of the process.  The actual repair, once the correct part is purchased, is not as difficult as other iPhone 4 repairs. With an iPhone 4, a person runs a very high chance of buying a useless replacement glass battery cover unless they happen to read this article.

Unlike with iPhone 3G and 3GS owners, the do-it-yourself owners looking to fix an iPhone 4 end up with useless junk that they often cannot return.  The iPhone 4 simply has not been on the market long enough for good information to arise in any significant amount.

Please check for the following things when purchasing a replacement glass battery cover for your iPhone 4:

1. Price – When searching EBay or another online store front, check to see that the price is not absurdly lower than other parts of the same description.  There is a reason some parts are a few dollars and others cost over $40.  ALL of these parts originate from suppliers in China and are often re-sold by American sellers.  So, they do not differ terribly in wholesale cost.  The price of a genuine OEM glass battery cover should hover around $40 to $60 depending on availability. Anything significantly cheaper than this is not OEM and may not even fit.  Also, the part may be made of cheap plastic instead of glass or constructed of very thin glass.
2. Brackets – Make absolute sure that the part you are purchasing has the correct brackets and that the part is not just the glass alone.  The brackets from your iPhone are not easily re-used because they are very delicate and laminated to the glass (to see the brackets, please view the right region of the graphic directly below the title of this article).  In the photo or the description of the part you are considering, you should see brackets mentioned.  If they are not mentioned or you are unsure, ask.  When a glass back is very cheap, it usually lacks these brackets. And you will just end up ordering another one.  Sellers often make a buyer pay for return shipping if they are willing to issue a refund, and for a $9 part, it’s hardly worth bothering to return
3. Chrome Camera Bezel - If a part lacks brackets and is not OEM, it probably lacks the chrome bezel that surrounds the camera hole in the back of the iPhone.  Again, this is laminated to the iPhone and cannot be removed for all intents and purposes. It is delicate and will probably break if re-used.  Moreover, it will need to be re-glued and ugly glue mistakes will like occur on your otherwise pristine iPhone 4.

If the part satisfies these three criteria, then it is probably worth buying. As an iPhone repair company, we never recommend DIY repairs because they often end up costing the person more money than trusting a pro. However, we know that this particular repair is easier than other repairs, and we thought we would offer up some of our experience to make it easier for the more technically-inclined DIY people. You can buy the part from our Ebay Store or feel free to call us on our toll free number 1-800-236-4530 and order the part over the phone.

© John for XpressFix iPhone Repair Blog, 2010. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Apple Inc., Apple iPhone 3G Smartphone, DYI repair, eBay Inc, glass back, iPhone, iPhone Repair, iphone4, xpressfix

XpressFix Cartoon

Having learned from the successes of traditional American start-ups, we at XpressFix have decided to put a face on our company.   I mean, folks are sending us devices that are worth several hundred dollars, and internet companies are notoriously faceless. The least we can do is show our customers who we are and how unfortunate-looking we are.  But photos are so boring.   So, we sought the help of the best illustrator we could imagine.

From his studio in Lubbock, Texas, illustrator Brandon Green creates digital works of art that would make any Disney “Imagineer” jealous. He, like XpressFix, uses his own 3-step approach to awesome-ness.   On his blog, Brandon displays his artwork, but he also gave a glimpse into how he designed his creation for XpressFix.

He first asked for photos of each of us, which he created into caricatures.   After some bickering and acknowledgement among ourselves that foreheads may be a bit shinier and ears a bit bigger than we would like to admit, Brandon got approval on the caricatures.  He then drew rough drafts of poses for each of us, and then added border lines to the final draft.    His last step was for color, which he chose based on our website and then finalized after one last approval from us.

Brandon does great freelance work.  So, use him; you will be as happy as we are.  We are so happy that we are going to create a coupon in honor of Brandon.  Throughout September and October, if you purchase any iPod Touch repair or iPhone repair and enter the coupon code “BRANDONGREEN” into the final screen before check-out, you will receive 10% off of your repair.  Summer is over. You may have taken your iPhone on a cruise or to the beach.  After all of that time in the sand and sun with your iPhone, you may notice scratches on the case, a heat-damaged battery, a broken iPhone screen or water damage.  XpressFix can reverse iPhone damage.

If you decide to arrange a repair by calling our toll-free number and mention Brandon, we will honor the discount over the phone as well.

And thanks for reading!

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Post tags: Brandon Green, fix iphone, illustrator, iPhone, iPhone Repair, IPod Touch, iPod touch repair

iPhone Wars

Since the iPhone’s introduction, AT&T has guarded jealously its exclusive right to market this electronic miracle. However, one may observe from AT&T’s recent behavior that they, too, believe other wireless competitors may soon be able to offer the once-exclusive device.

For one, AT&T is offering insurance for the iPhone.  Although we wrote a blog recently about how iPhone insurance is not a good deal for most people, it is a sign that AT&T is trying to stay a step ahead of the other wireless providers.  Also, AT&T offered recently a great deal for any existing iPhone customer eligible for an upgrade before the end of the 2010.  Many customers jumped into the iPhone community a bit late, which led to frustration.  AT&T is allowing these customers to get the iPhone 4 at the $199 or $299 price up to 6 months early with a new two year commitment.  This forgiveness from AT&T would have been unheard of until now.

That tells us that the writing is on the wall, and AT&T knows, perhaps, that their days of iPhone exclusivity are numbered.  Verizon, being another major carrier in the United States, along with T-mobile, are the two most mentioned in the rumor mill.  This means a LOT more broken phones for iPhone repair companies, and it also means better bargains for people shopping for iPhones and associated wireless plans.  Verizon has put a lot of resources into countering the iPhone’s influence with excellent alternatives such as the HTC Droid, while T-mobile seems to have spent the last year setting up quietly their existing GSM network to accommodate iPhones.  It’s still not certain if Apple will hold a grudge against Verizon.  It’s doubtful, because Apple needs to keep expanding the iPhone market.  And this move will allow the iPhone to go head-to-head with Verizon’s Android smart-phones, which have been the cornerstone of the Verizon competition.

This new availability, no matter which if these carriers decides to offer iPhones, would probably start January of 2011 according to rumors floating around. And that amount of time is reasonable and wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone.

© John for XpressFix iPhone Repair Blog, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: iPhone AT&T, iPhone Carriers, iPhone Repair, iPhone Services