TechRestore Buzz

Buzz & Specials For 3/16

2010-03-16T11:53:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

So, I did it. I finally took the plunge (no pun intended) and remodeled our kids bathroom. After looking at old linoleum for years and each time thinking to myself, "We really need to update this bathroom" - I completely gutted the space a couple weeks ago and have been on my hands and knees ever since. The thing about home improvement projects is that they have a very typical lifecyle:

Stage 1: Destruction

This is where the fun begins. Your head is full of ideas and you have a sledgehammer in your hands. Your kids stare in awe as you destroy part of your home on purpose and within a very short time, you are staring at an empty room, just waiting for your creative energy to explode all over the place.

Stage 2: The Trip to Home World

Whether you go to Home Depot, Lowes, MondoHome - whatever is in your neck of the woods, chances are, you're going to wind up at some ginourmos warehouse store, wandering the aisles with a glazed look in your eye as you look at all the options for you new, empty space. Typically you have your spouse in tow and quite often any plans you have made about materials goes right out the window when said spouse happens to look at the "special order Italian glass tile" that is at the end of the aisle containing all the rest of the tile that you can take home with you today. Once you spend 20 minutes bringing your spouse back to reality, you load the tile up that you had agreed on previously. Then it's a quick trip around the rest of the building ("The tram to paint town is about to depart!") to pick out paint a new vanity and other sundry items. All in all, expect to spend 2-3 times as long as you think it will take. You will have a headache by the time you leave.

Stage 3: Progress

You plunge in and make a big impact with tile, paint and new fixtures. You are truly Master of your Domain.

Stage 4: The Finishing Touches AKA: Will this never end?!

You're almost done. There's only 30-40 things left on your list, but most of your mistakes are hidden by the overall impact of your superb placement of the bath matt, toothbrush holder and other accessories. As you look around, you start to see all the little things - just one more touch-up of trim paint, oh, one more section of grout to cleanup, one more piece of baseboard that need caulking. You get the idea. It's the home stretch - push hard and you will actually get this thing done. Be forewarned - do NOT fall for the Classic "let's start ANOTHER project" at this time - although enticing, you will only cause yourself (and your spouse) grief if you go down this rabbit hole.

All in all, things when pretty well and most of the flaws in my work are hidden well behind sinks, mirrors and toilets - not bad for the first time.

OK, enough about home improvement. We have some great stuff for you this week! Onward....

FUTURESHOCK

Hello again!

We've just launched TechRestore EDU - a place to find instructional and informational videos. Now you can learn things like how to install a classic macbook LCD, as demonstrated by one of our Apple Certified technicians, how to identify your specific Mac laptop model, or the difference between unibody glass and LCD damage - with much, much more to come!

Check out the TechRestore EDU introduction video and subscribe to our TechRestoreEDU YouTube channel to be notified as soon as new videos are posted!

These DIY videos are direct and detailed, without a minute wasted. Our unique auto fast-forward editing, allows you to see every move the tech makes, without suffering through each little screw removal/replacement in real-time. Watching these videos is also a good way for you to see if you feel confident enough to indulge your inner hacker, and attempt doing your own repair - see what you're in for before you ever pick up a screwdriver!

Desktops & Wallpapers

Now for the goodies...I've re-engineered a classic sci-fi movie poster, to be Mac themed: Invasion Of The Unibody Snatchers! Here we have a Mac desktop image and an iPhone wallpaper image:

Click on the images above to see them full size, then right click and select save, to make them yours.

To install an iPhone wallpaper image:

Click on the image that you like, to see it full size.
Right click on the full-size image and select save.
Add the image to your iPhoto library and sync with your iPhone.
Locate the image on your iPhone, tap , and then tap Use As Wallpaper.

iPad fans will also want to check out the iPad Desktop image featured in last weeks Buzz. It turns your iPhone into a mini iPad (which it basically is anyway, until they release some iPad specific apps).

iPhone App Pick

I just have to share this gem, since I haven't seen it mentioned elsewhere. It's a free iPhone game called Alpine Crawler. It's a simple 2D, side-scroller involving a truck and some hills - the aim being to complete the course in time, without rolling your 4x4. As with most good action games, it's all about the amazing real-time physics. Check out the Alpine Crawler web-page or iTMS app store link.

Enjoy!

Brian Northway
Designer/Animator

Buzz Specials

The Buzz coupons are valid through 4/2 at Midnight Pacific Time. You can use the coupons and order via the links, or call 1-888-572-7372 to speak to one of our friendly humans. Coupon codes cannot be combined, but you can use them on separate orders, if you are so inclined.

iPad Digitizer Photos

2010-03-15T12:07:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of the iPad digitizer (the front glass piece that processes the touch input) with protective a film on the front surface. Click on images to see them larger.

iPad Desktop For Your iPhone

2010-03-12T07:56:00.001-08:00

iPad pre-orders started today, but why wait to experience the magic?

Download an iPad desktop for your iPhone and turn it into a mini iPad!

To install: after adding the photo to your iPhoto library and syncing with your iPhone, simply locate the image on your iPhone, tap , and then tap Use As Wallpaper.

iPhone App Magnets

2010-03-11T13:45:00.000-08:00

iPhone apps are now available for your fridge!

Need a place to hang pizza coupons, in your kitchen? There's an app for that.

Without the frame of the iPhone to put them in context, these magnets are a little esoteric. Still, these iconic...uh....icons are sure go get a smile from any iPhone user and, at $13, they make a great gift for fellow Mac/iPhone enthusiasts.

Check 'em out at Jailbreak Toys.

iPhoria Defined

2010-03-10T09:04:00.000-08:00

-noun psychology

iPhoria is a mental/emotional state defined as a sense of great elation experienced by new iPhone users.^[1] Technically, iPhoria is an affect,^[2] but the term is often colloquially used to define emotion as an intense state of transcendent happiness combined with an overwhelming urge to download apps.

New iPhone owners, who experience iPhoria, will commonly say things like "wow, did you know that you can do [some amazing thing] on an iPhone?" or "look at this cool app that I found," to which any experienced iPhone user might reply "dude, I've been using that for months."

iPhoria is a temporary condition which, over a period of several weeks, will transform into a state known as omniPhonence, where users are instantly aware of all new apps, status updates and news, due to the 24/7 internet connection on their iPhone.

Sharing Apps Between iPhones

2010-03-03T14:38:00.000-08:00

Did you know that you can share iPhone apps with up to five other users (under the same Fairplay DRM license as music and video)? With some apps, like GPS navigation, costing $80 or more, this could save you quite a bit, but even the cheaper apps add up quick. Here's how you can let your family member, friend or significant other legally use the apps that you've already bought, in four easy steps.

Step 1: Authorize Computer
Log the other person out of their iTunes Music Store (iTMS) account and log in using your account.

Step 2: Re-Download
In iTunes, go to the app store and click the Buy App button for an application that you've already purchased. iTunes knows that you already paid for this and just lets you re-download it without charging again. The app will then begin to download.

Step 3: Switch iTMS Users
Once the download is complete, it shows in the Applications section of iTunes. You can now log out of your iTunes Store account and log the other user back in.

Step 4: Sync & Play
Plug the other users iPhone in now and sync. Once synced, it shows on the other iPhone, ready to be used.

Ideally, you and your friend would do this on each others computers, on a reglar basis, to ensure that you both have the benefit of the other's purchases.

via All Forces

You can also share apps without ever connecting to a computer like this:

Launch the App Store, on your iPhone.
Log out of your iTunes account.
Log in as the other user.
"Purchase" an app that the other user has already bought.

You will be told that you have already purchased the item and asked if you still want to download.

Buzz & Specials For 2/26

2010-02-26T13:06:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

Man I love this stuff. February has just flown by, with tons of repairs keeping our Techs busy and record numbers of Restored MacBooks and MacBook Pros keeping our shipping department hustling. We posted a new video a couple of weeks ago, showing everyone what our Restored systems look like and we've seen laptop sales take off dramatically since the video was released. We thought that you would enjoy seeing some samples of our systems before your purchase and we are thrilled to have the video so well received.

If you're in the market for a refurbished MacBook or MacBook Pro, here's the video for your viewing pleasure.

Self-Install Mac Parts

We also released our new Self-Install section for Mac laptop LCD screens on our website during the past week and we are beginning to ship LCD screens to DIY'ers throughout the country. Look for a video next week that will highlight this new service and provide some guidance on how to choose the right screen along with lots of other info about this new product line. We've been selling iPod, iPhone and PSP parts for some time now and adding the Mac laptop parts to our website has been a much heard request from our customers.

FUTURESHOCK

Hello my fellow Mac & iPhone enthusiasts!

I've got a some fun stuff for you today. First off is our new iPhone wallpaper downloads. Vacation photos and snapshots of the kids are nice but, sometimes, you want to dress up your iPhone - whether for style, your own enjoyment, or both. Here are some photos that you probably haven't had the opportunity to snap yourself:

My favorite, and the one that's sure to earn you some serious geek cred, is this photo of the inner workings of the iPhone. This isn't just a snapshot of an iPhone logic-board, it's an image of exactly what you would see, if your iPhone screen were invisible - reproduced at actual size! The effect of having this as your wallpaper image is equivalent to Superman-style "x-ray" vision, revealing every major chip, the sim card slot up top, even the tiny motor on the right side which generates the vibrating alert. What better way is there to appreciate the wonder of this advanced technology than by peering in to it's intricate innards? And all without ever dissecting your precious electronic companion.

To install any of the iPhone wallpaper images above:

Click on the image that you like, to see it full size.

Right click on the full-size image and select save.

Add the image to your iPhoto library and sync with your iPhone.

Locate the image on your iPhone, tap , and then tap Use As Wallpaper.

Enjoy!

Brian Northway
Designer/Animator

Buzz Specials

The coupons here are valid through 3/12 at Midnight Pacific Time. You can use the coupons and order via the links, or call 1-888-572-7372 to speak to one of our friendly humans. Coupon codes cannot be combined, but you can use them on separate orders, if you are so inclined.

TechRestore At The Olympics

2010-02-19T12:25:00.000-08:00

If you're in Vancouver, for the Winter Olympics, be sure to stop by TechRestore's free internet cafe, in Yaletown. There's no coffee, but we supply the laptops, so you can check your email, upload photos to FaceBook and see our stop-motion disassembly videos in Blue-Ray quality, on a huge HDTV!

iPad Pad notebook

2010-02-19T08:59:00.000-08:00

It's finally here - TechRestore has the cheapest iPads on the planet!

Ok, it's actually an iPad Pad notebook, that we designed to look like an iPad, but just look at what you get for $9.99...

Unlike the real iPad, this one is compatible with all conventional, wireless writing utensils (eg. pens, pencils, markers), weighs only a fraction of Apple's iPad!

Always has a wireless signal (see indicator bars)
No monthly data service contract required
50x less expensive than an Apple iPad
Never needs recharging
100% Recyclable

Check out the iPad Pad product page, where you can buy one, print one for free or just watch the iPad video spoof.

Buzz & Specials For 2/12

2010-02-12T13:33:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

If you are living on the East Coast and you've been buried in snow this week - our thoughts are with you! I won't tell you that I was wearing shorts out here in California just a few days ago, since I know that would drive you insane. I spoke to one of our customers this morning who lost power in their home from last Friday through Tuesday, then a power surge took out his MacBook and he dropped his iPhone in the toilet due to it being so dark- and this was on a good day. Hopefully things are getting better out there for you now that there's a break in the weather. To take your mind of your snow troubles, let's move on to discuss something that's on the minds of most American's these days, yes, your correct, I'm referring to the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby.

If you have a kid in Cub Scouts, you will know just how "important" this event is each year. If you don't have a little kid that you can live vicariously through, let me give you some background. In early December, each Scout is handed a little box with a chunk of wood (pine, of course), four nails (axles) and four plastic wheels. By the end of January, the goal is to turn that block of wood into a screaming fast, 5 ounce work of art to compete with the 54 other Cub Scouts in your pack. For our Pack, the Pinewood Derby weekend consists of two events, the actual Cub Scout race that takes place on a Saturday, and a Parent/Sibling race the night before that is for fun and to pre-test the track to be sure it's ready for the serious racing the next day.

This year, Ethan our 8-year old Wolf scout decided he wanted to make a Skateboard shaped car and Skylar, our 6th grader, wanted to build a Twilight, New Moon car for the sibling race. With our ideas in hand, we set off for the bandsaw, drill press and dremel to see what we could create. After cutting out the wood, we had to then decide how to get space for the weights we would need to add to get the car as close to (but not over) 5 ounces. Both cars spent some time on the drill press, having holes punched deep inside of them to slide round weights into. Then it was on to sanding, primer, paint and decals. But, before I forget, while we worked on the body, we also treated our nail "axles" by spinning them in the drill press and filing off any burrs, boring out the plastic wheels and sanding down the outer surface of the wheels to remove any rough spots. Then, all the wheels went into a bag full of graphite, where they spent the next couple of weeks on the kitchen counter, being turned over and over each time a little kid walked by (this was one of their most important jobs). By the time we were ready to put the wheels on the car, the graphite had complete coated each wheel, turning them from black to silver-gray and making them incredible slick, and hopefully just as fast.

So, as a recap, here's where we started...

...and here's how they looked when we were done:

So, pretty pictures are one thing. How'd the kids do in the race? I'm happy to report that Skylar's New Moon car took 3rd place in the Sibling race and Ethan's Skateboard took 6th place out of 54 cars on race day. We had a great time making the cars, with the entire family getting involved. Just one more thing that makes Scouting with your kids such a rewarding activity.

Alright, back to the tech stuff!

Laptop Parts

Let's chat for a few minutes about Self-Repair. We have had requests for years to sell our laptop parts outright, and I'm pleased to announce that we have begun to do just that. Over the next few weeks, you'll see more and more parts begin to populate our website for those of you that wish to perform a laptop repair yourself.You'll see our complete inventory of LCD screens coming online during the next week and for those of you that are handy with a screw driver or if you have a local technician you want to have do your repair, we think you'll love our pricing. Stay tuned for more information as we develop this new product line.

You can find our LCD screen listings here.

Now, some news from Brian and then onward to the the deals!

Shannon Jean
Founder

FUTURESHOCK

Hello again!

Here's my latest screensaver: eight iPads performing a synchronized, nocturnal dance - lit by colorful sprites who weave kaleidoscopic designs on the ground!

Preview & Download Page

Enjoy and have a wonderful Valentines weekend! <3

Brian Northway
Designer/Animator

Buzz Specials

The coupons listed here are valid through 2/26 at Midnight Pacific Time. You can use the coupons and order via the links, or call 1-888-572-7372 to speak to one of our friendly humans. Coupon codes cannot be combined, but you can use them on multiple orders if you are so inclined.

Print Your Own Functional iPad

2010-02-11T13:55:00.000-08:00

This functional, paper iPad features the popular Notes application that iPhone users have come to know and love. Unlike the real iPad, ours is compatible with all conventional, wireless writing utensils (eg. pens, pencils, markers), weighs only a fraction of Apple's iPad, and folds to fit in your pocket!

No monthly data service contract is required and this iPad always has a wireless signal, as you will see by watching the indicator bars, in the upper left corner of the screen.

Greener than Apple's iPad by far, ours never needs recharging and is 100% recyclable!

Touch functionality may require finger-paint.

iPad rendering prints actual size - seriously. (c;

PDF iPad Download

Unibody Screens: Broken LCD vs. Broken Glass

2010-02-09T10:49:00.001-08:00

Screens on the new unibody MacBook and MacBook Pro mainly break in 3 different ways:

LCD cracked but glass ok
Glass cracked but LCD ok
Both LCD and glass are cracked

(Click on images to see larger views.)

Naturally, glass replacement is the least expensive (starting at $199) repair followed by LCD replacement (starting at $349) and, if you're really unlucky, both the LCD and the glass in front of it may be broken (starting at $399).

Of course, we can fix any or all of these issues and, even if you send your laptop in for a wrong or insufficient service, it's no problem - we'll call you and make the appropriate adjustments to your order before we do anything.

To schedule a unibody MacBook or MacBook Pro repair, click here.

iNails

2010-02-02T08:01:00.000-08:00

This morning I ran across a photo of nails painted with old-skool Apple logos!

Apparently, last Tuesday's design of the week, at The Daily Nail, was done in anticipation of Apple's iPad announcement. All I have to say is well done and I hope you like geeks - especially old-timers, with beards, who lament Apple's decision to represent the company with a monochrome version of their logo.

Now...anyone care to try doing TechRestore nails? (c;

Buzz & Specials For 1/29

2010-01-29T16:34:00.000-08:00

FUTURESHOCK

Greetings!

Since Shannon's out today, we're jumping right in to the goodies...

First off, I have to mention the iPad. It's definitely a Kindle killer and a netbook neutralizer - but then, Kindles and netbooks aren't $500+. I've heard that you really have to hold an iPad, and use it a bit, to fully understand this device's true sex appeal. While I totally believe that, I still think it's a little weak that you can't make calls with it, using a Bluetooth headset, or run ordinary Mac OS apps. That said, I certainly wouldn't turn one down, if it was offered to me for free - and that's exactly what we're doing!

Sign up for our bi-weekly Buzz newsletter (also see "signup" at upper right).
Become our fan on FaceBook.
Follow us on Twitter.

Srsly - it's that easy...and you can maximize your chances of winning by doing all three. Don't worry about the safety of your email address - no one on Earth has ever received spam from TechRestore! Our Buzz newsletter has an easy opt-out and we would never give or sell email addresses to another company, 'cuz that's just not how we roll.

For a brief summary of the iPad's features and my observations from the announcement, click here.

iPhone Ringtone Downloads

Joining our videos, screen savers, PDF guides and other free downloads, we now have iPhone ringtones!

I created these 19 high-quality, stereo ringtones mostly from iMovie sound effects. Unlike ringtones made from songs, these unique attention getters include retro phone rings, spacy sci-fi sounds and classy orchestral accents. There's even a Mac start-up chime for us die-hard Apple fans. (c: Just keep in mind that the audio previews require ultra-high compression, to be small enough for the web, so the're a bit rougher and tinnier than the actual ringtone files.

Once downloaded, simply drop them in your iTunes and sync with your iPhone.

If you'd prefer to make your own rigntones, I've posted everything that you need to know here. It's simpler than you think!

Web Videos

I have a couple of found videos that I think are worth sharing (no, not the Mad TV iPad commercial).

The first one is the iSandwich, an iPhone made of food. The video's a little on the slow side, as you watch the preparation of the edible electronics, but the surprise ending is well worth the wait!

Next up is the source of the "leaked iPad photo," that I wrote about just before Apple's announcement. Apparently, it was just part of an Apple Store window display, featuring a 10" iPod. It was just pure coincidence that the photographed part happened to be almost exactly the size of the new iPad.

New Homepage Layout

Here's a sneak peek at our new homepage. After our recent format change, we've decided to add some content "below the fold," for those of you who don't mind scrolling. Let us know what you think of it - suggestions are always welcome.

Enjoy!

Brian Northway
Design & Marketing
TechRestore

Buzz Specials

Here are the deals! You can use the links to order, or call 1-888-572-7372 if you have questions and want to speak to one of our awesome humans. Any coupons listed can be used online or via phone and are valid through 2/12 at midnight Pacific Time.

The Low-Down On Apple's iPad

2010-01-27T12:03:00.001-08:00

The iPad is here and we have a quick summary...

The iPad IS:

a Kindle killing e-Book (or iBook) reader
an awesome game machine
a great video/movie player
a giant iPod touch
faster than an iPhone
a larger, more hires screen than the iPhone
the perfect portable web browser
the best photo sharing device ever

The iPad is NOT:

a phone
a laptop computer
a pocket sized iPod
a still or video camera
as revolutionary as the iPhone

Apple has done a great job at making us need yet another mobile device. The iPad replaces neither the iPhone nor laptop and you certainly won't be listening to music in the gym with it. However, at $499 for the WiFi only version, it's a great way to entertain yourself on the couch at home or, the $629 WiFi + 3G version makes it a great mobile web browser. The unlimited, month-to-month 3G data plan for $29 is also pretty ground-breaking.

I suspect that the real appeal of this device won't become clear until we see it in action, painting, reading typing and surfing. It's certainly very cool, with it's 1024x768 display (which falls just short of 720p HD video), but I'm a little disappointed that it's missing some key features found on iPhones (eg. camera, phone calls) or laptops (namely the ability to run any Mac OSX software). That said, the apps designed specifically for the iPad, and the interactive books or magazines found no where else, may eventually convince me that this is a must-have gadget, even if it doesn't fit in my pocket.

Make Your Own iPhone Ringtones

2010-01-26T09:57:00.000-08:00

Here's all that you need to know about making your own iPhone ringtones: They're AAC files with the .m4a extension changed to .m4r and they have to be 40 seconds, or less, in length.

That's it!

You can convert any file to an AAC, using iTunes, if your preferences are set to import to AAC. Simply highlight the file in iTunes, and select Create AAC Version from the Advanced menu. Then right click on your new AAC file and select Show In Finder, to see the actual file, so that you can change the extension to .m4r Then, simply drag your new creation on to your iTunes library to import it, so that you can resync your iPhone and start enjoying your ringtone.

Audio editing software like WavePad, Audacity, or even Garage Band, will enable you to crop and fade your favorite songs, movie samples or sound effects. Just be aware that this does not work with DRM'd (copy protected) files.

If this all seems a bit complicated, software like iRinger (Mac) or ToneShop (PC) provides a one-stop solution. Also, we will be offering free iPhone ringtones on our Downloads page, soon.

Apple Tablet Video Preview: Kindle Killer

2010-01-21T10:39:00.001-08:00

The most convincing peek at the new Apple tablet doesn't even come from Infinite Loop: Sports Illustrated posted a great demo video depicting a multi-media version of their magazine, in December, which has largely flown under the radar of Mac rumor hype, until recently leaked photos confirmed the "giant iPhone" form-factor of Apple's new device.

The Sports Illustrated proof-of-concept video clearly depicts an iPhone type device, responding to the same orientation changes and finger gestures employed on the iPhone. The size of the mocked up tablet also coincides with the 10" 16:9 screen that is widely believed to be used in the new Apple tablet.

Obviously a Kindle killer (despite Amazon's frantic attempt to get apps on the Kindle), this hypothetical application of the new Apple tablet also fits with Apple's strategy of creating new media markets, as they did with the iPod, iTunes and iPhone. Paper media is quickly going extinct, but the engine behind print media may find a new rebirth, thanks to Apple. Reducing eye strain with e-ink, a la Kindle, is a great idea, but static, monochorme pages are no where near as exciting as full-color, animated, content with embedded video (nevermind Amazon's disappearing e-books).

It's clear that we are now an internet-centric society and, as cool as the Kindle may be, it's poor web browsing capabilities are a severe limitation. The type of speech recognition and synthesis capability, featured on the iPhone 3GS, could also go a long way toward enabling the new Apple tablet for use by blind users as well - further stranding the Kindle, even as Amazon scrambles to add accessibility to their e-book reader. Add to the list, all of the best features of the iPod, iPhone and MacBook, and you can see that Apple is likely ushering in a new era of computing, once again. One way or another, we'll know next Wednesday!

Should I take my Mac laptop to Apple for out of warranty repair?

2010-01-20T08:25:00.000-08:00

So, your MacBook, MacBook Pro, PowerBook or iBook is having a problem and your system is no longer covered under the original Apple warranty. You have some choices to make about where and how you get your system repaired. Here's some information that may assist you in making that decision.

If you take your broken MacBook, MacBook Pro, PowerBook or iBook to Apple for out of warranty repair, there are some pros and cons to consider:

Pros:

Trusted source

Proximity (if you are close to an Apple store)

Uses original factory parts

Apple Certified Technicians

Cons:

High prices

Delayed turnaround time

Only 90-day warranty period

Alternatively, you can consider an independent source to get your MacBook, MacBook Pro, PowerBook or iBook repaired. And since we are writing this article, we get to pick the independent source, so you won't be surprised when we pick our company, TechRestore. Here are the pros and cons to consider when deciding between taking an out-of-warranty repair to Apple or to TechRestore:

Pros:

Trusted source (over 50,000 repairs completed)

Proximity: over 4000 local pickup locations across the U.S.

Uses original factory parts

Apple Certified Technicians

24-hour typical repair turnaround time

1-year warranty

Cons:

You won't get to browse the Apple store when dropping off your repair

TechRestore has fixed tens thousands of MacBook, MacBook Pro, PowerBook and iBook systems. Our most frequent repairs are broken LCD screens, hard drive replacements, SuperDrive replacement, logic board repair, case repair and data recovery. Learn more about our services, our people and our company by calling 1-888-572-7372 or by visiting TechRestore.com

PSP Go Disassembly Video

2010-01-15T16:10:00.000-08:00

Ivan and I have created a new stop-motion video, PSP Go Disassembly:

As you can see, there are far fewer parts in this latest version of the Sony PSP game system, though it's none less complicated. Unlike previous versions of the PSP, changing the battery voids your warranty (not our favorite feature) but the compact size makes it a solid contender for the best hand-held gaming device, even if it lacks the cameras of the DSi and accelerometer of the iPod touch.

A downloadable version of this video will be up next week, followed by YouTube annotations labeling the parts inside the PSP Go.

Enjoy!

Brian

Buzz & Specials For 1/15

2010-01-15T15:55:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

Welcome to the first TechRestore Buzz newsletter of 2010. We're back with you on a regular basis to share the latest Mac & TechRestore news, tips, stories and deals.

I just got back from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and I think I'm still recuperating from the event. If you've ever been to this show, you know what I mean - with literally thousands of products to see and touch and what seems like miles of floor space to cover - it's a workout, but if you are into technology and gadgets, it's a great event.

While I was at CES, the overall message that resonated with me was all about the sharing of experiences. The older I get, the more I realize that one of, and perhaps the most enjoyable things for me is sharing experiences with family, friends and colleagues. CES was no different - everywhere I went, I was struck by how each company has a plan to make their way into our daily lives and provide us with the technology to share more information, entertainment and data across countless devices. Oh, and most seem to want to charge you 10 bucks per month to do so, via one type of subscription service or another.

Ford was there - yes, Ford Motor Company, with cars and trucks that can share data about where you're at, what tools you have onboard, what jobsite you are on and more.

Plastic Logic wants to share business publications with you, if you'll only send $650 their way you can get access to tons of newspapers and magazines, books and blogs, word and excel files. I really liked their black and white eBook thingy, but I didn't have the heart to tell them that Apple was about to make their product obsolete - but I'm sure they already knew that.

Speaking of Apple and CES - Apple never exhibits at the show, but this year, more then ever, their presence was felt. It seemed like almost every product was compared to an Apple product. Every phone, music player, tablet computer or eBook was mentioned as a comparison to a market leading Apple product. It was great to see this in action and to listen to execs at these companies stumble over the details of why their device was "better" than the Apple version.

All in all, it was a very interesting show, with lots of cool stuff to see and do. We spent most of our time meeting with vendors and customers that came to Vegas for CES as well, so it was pretty productive and it's not like I get to look at an 82-inch 3D LCD TV everyday now, is it?

Back at TechRestore, we're coming off a record month of repairs and Restored MacBook sales and moving into 2010 with lots of new stuff that we think you'll enjoy.

Starting off the new year, we expand our exclusive anti-glare matte finish screen replacements for MacBook and MacBook Pro systems with the 2009 white polycarbonite MacBook. If the shiny glare of the screen on your new MacBook is driving you crazy, our Apple Certified Technicians will replace your screen with an anti-glare, matte finish version for just $179! This price includes a brand new replacement screen with the exact same specifications as your current screen (except that it will not reflect like a mirror), installation and Free return shipping! This is another TechRestore exclusive and it is available immediately. You can learn more about this MacWorld Expo Best of Show service by visiting our MacBook repair and upgrade section online, or by calling 1-888-572-7372 to speak to one of our friendly humans.

Local Repairs Expanding

TechRestore has always performed nationwide repairs, with over 2000 local drop-off centers throughout the country receiving Mac, iPhone and other repairs daily. We began to reach out more to our local customers in the San Francisco Bay Area a few months ago and we are now seeing a surge of new business coming from our neighbors. If you live in the Bay Area and need help with a Mac laptop, iPhone or iPod Touch, we offer same day turnaround on most services (drop off by 10AM) and we also sell a large selection of restored MacBook and MacBook Pro systems that can be picked up at our Concord facility. See our building from space and get directions to our building here.

Best regards,

Shannon Jean
Founder
TechRestore

FUTURESHOCK

Hello again!

After the holidays, we retooled our newsletter and blog and we're calling it the TechRestore Buzz. News and specials will be in every e-mail the news will be in our online blog and the latest specials will always be a click away via our "Instant Savings" button. Now we're ready for an awesome 2010!

To kick things off I've uploaded some videos from my recent trip to Disneyland. The ASIMO show at the spinning Innoventions building, in Tomorrowland, was amazing! The latest model of ASIMO robot has artificial intelligence and eerily realistic speech synthesis. Almost as impressive was the Toy Story 3D Zoetrope, in California Adventure - a rotating sculpture that becomes animated under a strobe-light. You definitely have to check them out in person, if you have the chance! Oh, and I highly recommend The Grand Californian hotel, with it's mountain theme and private entrance into the park - I was just disappointed that the Monorail just passed through without stopping.

Lastly, I've got a new screensaver for ya. This one uses your photos! Simply place whatever pictures you'd like to see, in your "Pictures" folder and they will appear on a 3D cube as it tumbles endlessly through the vastness of space...

Preview & Installation Instructions

Enjoy!

Brian Northway
Design & Marketing
TechRestore

Buzz Specials

Click here for the latest deals! You can use the links to order, or call 1-888-572-7372 if you have questions and want to speak to one of our awesome Humans. Any coupons listed can be used online or via phone and are valid through 1/22 at Midnight Pacific Time.

My MacBook Screen is Cracked and I'm in Canada. What now?

2010-01-12T16:30:00.000-08:00

Breaking your MacBook screen can be a traumatic event - but the good news is that it doesn't have to be!

If you own a classic black or white MacBook, screen replacements are fairly straightforward and typically require just the replacement of the MacBook LCD screen itself, not the plastic outer casing. If you own an aluminum MacBook "unibody", you may not have actually broken your LCD screen, but rather you could have broken the unibody MacBook glass screen cover. Either way, there's a quick solution for Canadian MacBook owners.

TechRestore Canada offers overnight and same-day repairs on all MacBook models and you can rest assured that your MacBook screen repair will be completed by an Apple Certified Technician. With a turnaround time typically of 24-hours or less, the TechRestore Canada technicians have mastered the replacement of MacBook LCD screens as well as the replacement of the MacBook unibody glass screen covers. In the event that your MacBook requires additional repairs, such as a damaged case or screen housing, a TechRestore Canada technician will provide you with a detailed repair quote so that you can make an educated decision about how you wish to proceed with your repair. In many instances, case damage can be corrected without replacement the entire part. No matter what type of MacBook you own, help is on the way.

To schedule a repair, simply call 1-888-384-5613 from within Canada and one of our friendly humans will assist you in scheduling your repair. You can expect a quick turnaround time, friendly service and an exclusive 1-year warranty on all repairs.

What's the difference between an LED and LCD screen in a MacBook Pro?

2010-01-06T15:11:00.000-08:00

Good question - but actually, the first thing we need to clear up is the idea that your MacBook or MacBook Pro has an LED screen and not an LCD screen. The LED refers to just the backlight portion of your screen, not the entire screen itself. There is a common misconception that the current model MacBook and MacBook Pro do not use LCD screens.

So, what's the deal? Well, before June of 2007, Apple laptops used LCD screens that used a cold-cathode fluorescent lamp as a "backlight". And why would these need this backlight in the first place? Another good question - you're on a roll. LCD screens need a backlight, because the screens themselves (the liquid crystal display part) do not actually emit any light. In order to see what is on your screen, you need a special light, located behind the glass LCD screen, to brighten things up enough for you to view them. A common repair for MacBook and MacBook Pro systems is a damaged screen due to a fall that causes the backlight to stop working. You can usually tell if your backlight is damaged - turn on your MacBook or MacBook pro, or your PowerBook or iBook for that matter, and if your screen looks dark, but you can still see things on the screen when you shine a flashlight onto it, chances are your screen has a damaged or non-functional backlight.

During 2007, Apple (and a bunch of other companies) decided that CCFL backlights were evil and they had to go. They were full of mercury (bad), they used up to much power (bad) and they broke rather easily (very bad). So, enter stage right, the LED powered backlight in June of 2007. Since that time, all Apple laptops have used a backlit LCD screen that has an LED based backlight. This has helped increase battery run-times, increased reliability and helped the environment all at the same time. All good.

The Apple Certified Technicians at TechRestore still see LED backlit MacBook and MacBook Pro systems arriving daily for repair. Even though the LED is more reliable and less fragile than the CCFL, they still break when dropped hard enough, when your kid sits on one or when run over by a car (we've seen it all!). TechRestore customers often ask if just the backlight can be replaced on an LCD screen, and while it is true that you can replace just the backlight in many LCD panels, the parts and labor costs are not that much lower than replacing the entire screen. Plus, the vast majority of screens that come in also have additional damage, either to the LCD itself or to the screen housing on the MacBook or MacBook Pro.

TechRestore technicians perform MacBook and MacBook Pro screen repairs on the same day they are received for our local customers and overnight for customers throughout the United States. Their award-winning technicians have mastered a proprietary "Factory-Fit" screen replacement process that insure that your new screen will look as good as new.

Thanks for joining us for this brief educational interlude!

Shannon Jean

Founder

TechRestore, Inc.

Apple Blocks 3rd Party Accessories

2010-01-04T15:34:00.001-08:00

The 3.0 update for the iPhone and iPod Touch may be full of wonderful features but there is one that's not so great: third-party docks and video cables will no longer output video!

Apparently, the new update checks for the presence of an Apple Security chip and displays a message on your TV stating that you are using an invalid accessory, when you attempt to connect using a 3rd-party A/V cable that lacks this built-in dongle. Admittedly, we've seen lots of iPods and iPhones with logic boards blown by poor quality accessories, but I think that people should be allowed to take their chances, not to mention keep using the equipment that they already own and have been using successfully, for years in some cases!

I'm guessing that this is Apple's way of retaliating against patent infringers but, if they had offered these cables at a reasonable price, there wouldn't be a market for knock-offs. I mean who wants to pay $50 on a cable for an iPod that could cost as little as $150? I'm sorry, but a cable that should have been included with the iPod in the first place, shouldn't cost 30% of the price of the iPod.

Some users are downgrading to the 2.2 firmware, but it's a fairly involved process and you lose the 3.0 functionality, so most folks are biting the bullet and forking over the $50 to get the Apple cable.

Hopefully, Apple's new tablet will be so awesome that we will forget about these shenanigans soon. (c;

-Brian

2010 Screen Saver

2009-12-31T17:09:00.000-08:00

Usher out the zeros and bring in the teens, with this free 2010 screen saver, exclusively for the Mac!

3D, color-cycling goodness will fill your screen and light up your party, or just help you connect with the fact that we are finally far enough from the nineties to truly start experiencing the wonders of the new milenium - enjoy!

Mouse Your Mac With Wiimote

2009-12-30T09:01:00.001-08:00

Controlling your Mac with a Wii Remote is as simple as installing a free app, called DarwiinRemote, and pairing the controller with your Mac via Bluetooth!

Once installed, you can use the Wiimote as a mouse and program the buttons to do whatever you like. This means that you can play Mac games, control iTunes, or use Front Row - all a la Wii! DarwiinRemote even supports force feedback and nunchuck attachment.

Needless to say, this is an awesome way to control a Mac mini, hooked up to your TV, since the Apple Remote won't control a mouse (leaving you virtually stranded, outside of Front Row).

Since the Wii Remote uses IR signals, as well as Bluetooth, you will need a Mac that shipped with an Apple Remote (or, more accurately, a built-in IR sensor) to run the program that enables Wiimote usage.