Thursday, September 8, 2022

Process in Apple Store for AirPods Pro FREE replacement


As, I have told in my earlier articles, that after suspecting that my AirPods Pro had manufacturing defect and have been using it for over a year due to several reasons, I have now decided to check out Apple service center for possible options available. So, I wanted to summarize the process by checking out different service centers across the locations and by validating it with Apple’s Chat support. Here is the process: 
  • Initial collection process: Once your feel that your AirPods Pro might have manufacturing defect and are eligible for FREE replacements, the first step would be visiting the Apple authorized service center. Post the visit, the entire product would be collected including the case and both AirPods pro headphones. During, collecting the device would be checked for any physical modifications or damages, Apple’s serial number validation and finally will be collected with photo proofs. 
  • 24 hours to check any issues: Post device collection, the Apple service center representative would run basic troubleshooting steps for around 24 hours to validate the defect and ensure that product is not altered with any external or third-party counterfeit parts. 
  • Product would be shipped: Post running the initial diagnostic process, it would be validated whether the device is eligible for FREE replacement or not, if eligible then Apple would be notified about the replacement eligibility and new would be shipped to service center. 
  • 4-5 days to get replacement: Once the product is shipped by Apple to the service center, then it would take around 4-5 working days to reach the service center and the customer would be notified about the replacement. The customer can collect their FREE AirPods Pro headphones at their convenient time. 
The above process is summarized based on my personal experience and through validation of various sources. To more about my personal replacement process, please feel free to check out the articles published in “G R Team Sites”

Friday, August 5, 2022

Apple should enable Passcode lock for Apps in iOS



I have been using iPhone as my primary mobile phone for several years and the most sought-after feature that would like to have in iOS is the lock/unlock option for Applications. This feature has been in Android for several years and this is one of those missing features in iOS that makes it inferior to Android operating system. There may be several reasons for Apple to not enable this most sought-after feature and I have few reasons on why Apple should enable this feature for its loyal users
  • Privacy Protection from friends and family: Even though Apple promotes their superior privacy protection against external forces, it should also enable users to protect their privacy with their close family and friends. The reason being, there would have been time where you had to pass on your mobile phone to friends/family to share stuff and there is high possibility that they might open an application accidentally and it might contain your personal/confidential information. So, in such scenarios Apple’s iOS system lacks feature to lock/unlock an application with passcode authentication to protect against accidental access from your friends or family. 
  • Protect Kids from unauthorized access: Another reason on why Apple’s iOS system should enable application lock/unlock feature is accidental access by Kids and protecting critical office application access to children. With evolution next gen kids accessing mobile or iPad devices for games and videos, there are high chances that they might click on your critical office application or your personal projects with confidential information and accidental deletion of files. So, in such scenarios there should have been option to lock/unlock option with passcode for applications and it also helps in restricting kids access to video apps or games only to certain limits. 
To read more such articles or suggestions from me, please feel free to check out the articles published in “G R Team Sites”

Sunday, November 14, 2021

Apple should launch their Wireless Power bank


Wireless Power bank
For most users who have been on Apple ecosystem like iPhone, iPad, AirPods and Mac Laptops, the major concern would have been power or battery back-up during their travel. There are numerous third-party products available in market providing battery backup solution for all Apple devices in different formats. However, most of the third-party product solutions available in market are not recommended by Apple and has device inter-operability constraints. To overcome the constraints, Apple should launch their own version or product category of battery power-banks for its users. By the launch of battery power bank category, Apple could resolve following issues faced by users in their ecosystem. 
  • Unified power bank solution for all products: Most third part battery power banks available in market are specific to each apple devices, like mobile power banks can be used only to charge iPhones or iPads or AirPods and cannot charge MacBook’s. Apple with their lightning cable dominance, should launch their batter power bank that can charge all devices within Apple ecosystem.
  • Multiple battery solution for travel enthusiasts: For travel enthusiasts, they often need to carry numerous battery power banks to charge all their Apple devices and Apple can launch their own battery power bank that can charge all their devices at once. 
Looking forward to seeing the launch of battery power bank from Apple sooner than later and can capitalize the power bank battery with their market dominance. For more such articles, please feel free to check out the “G R Team Sites”

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Longtime feature or application needed - Call recording option in iPhone


Call recording option in iPhone

Even though iPhone operating system - iOS has ton of premium features for its users there was one major feature that the operating system feel lack over Android was the "in-built call recording option". For a long time, the Android phones were having call recording feature enabled through freeware or system integrated third party applications and the most users felt those applications were introduced as part of Android system updates due to its simplicity. However, for most iPhone or iOS users finding reliable and trusted application to enable call recording in iPhone is most complicated and tiring process.

Existing list of applications
There may be wide range of applications available in Appstore enabling users to record calls in their iPhones and most of those applications lack one feature or the other like
  • Freeware and limited functionalities: There are applications which promises to offer application for FREE and only post installation, users may be notified of FREE trial and the features are available only in premium versions. 
  • High Functionalities and subscription fees: The other contrast list of applications available for call recording in iPhone are either have premium one-time purchase cost or may have recurring monthly subscription costs. 
Solution:
Hope, either Apple introduced call recording option as in-built system feature, or any developers launch call recording option for users with affordable pricing or through Freeware. The availability of call recording feature in iPhone will surely address its long-lasting complaints from its premium users. To read more such articles, please feel free to check out the articles published in "G R Team Sites"

Monday, August 9, 2021

Review of online collaboration between Google Sheets & OneDrive's Excel

I have been using Excel as my offline application for my business for past few years and yet I use Google Sheets as my preferred online collaboration sheet for several reasons. So, I wanted this article to focus on features comparison between Google Sheets and OneDrive's Excel sheet. Before referring to the below table for comparison, note that the comparison is done based on execution of basic excel functionalities and usage of simple formulas.

Features

Microsoft Excel

Google Sheets

Sign-in

Requires users to create Microsoft account - Outlook.com or live.in 

Requires users to create Google account - gmail.com

Storage Option

Files are stored in OneDrive - 5GB limit for FREE users

Files are stored in Google Drive - 15 GB limit for FREE users

Collaboration 

Enables users to share excel sheets and collaborate using in-built applications and web version

Enables users to collaborate sheets only with web version

Exclusive features

Users can collaborate with in-built application

Stores excel versions for unlimited durations

Limitations

·       Users cannot collaborate with locked files

·       Version history is stored only for 30 days

·       Sheets cannot be locked with passwords while collaboration

·       Sheets does not have applications for MAC or Windows

For more such comparison like detailed above, please feel free to check out the articles published in G R Team Sites.

Friday, July 2, 2021

Issues in Windows OS and lack of availability for locking browsers 

I have been using windows laptop for my office work and strangely I was not able to lock certain actions or password protect applications. To detail further, following are my expectations on my windows laptop and shortcomings in each of those actions. 
  • Locking browser: I wanted the browser to be locked for my employees and should be opened only when they enter password or authenticated only for specific employees. However, there are many applications available for windows and most of those applications are termed as EXE locker and lock when those applications are executed. The browser will not work like normal applications and the moment when EXE file is locked, the browser will get stuck and will not work, as it used to work. Only when the application is completely reinstalled or EXE locker is removed, the browser would work normally. 
  • Locking extensions/add-ons in browsers: There are ton of add-ons or extensions available for all browsers, promising to lock the browser at start-up or would lock specific URL with defined passwords. However, post installation most add-ons or browser extensions does not work and often gets crashed or does not serve the promised purpose. The most frustrating part is, these browser extensions or add-ons are still available in the respective browsers with high ratings, even though they do not work as detailed. 
Hope one day, a developer or even windows in-built functionality allows users to lock the browsers with passwords or passcode before start-up and it was my most sought after feature for my employees. For more such articles, please feel free to check out the articles published in "G R Team Sites"