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How to Access iCloud Photo Library – Guide to Manage iCloud Photos

Last updated on June 11, 2019

How to Access iCloud Photo Library – Guide to Manage iCloud Photos

Looking for a method on how to access iCloud Photo Library to view all of your backup up photos and videos? Here’s a complete guide on how you can get hold of all the media saved to your Apple iCloud account in more ways than one.

When the very first iPhone was released back in the year 2007, the smartphone came with 4GB storage space on the base version. For a phone that had just a 2MP camera on the rear and couldn’t even record videos natively, 4 gigabytes of storage space were ample enough. Generation after generation, the iPhone has evolved, bringing more storage space onboard, charging users a premium for the iDevices for the 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB variants. However, Apple soon realized that users need a cloud storage solution that helps them add virtual space to their iPhones and iPad, and used it as an opportunity for monetization.

Thus, with the release of iPhone 4S, Apple rolled out the iCloud online cloud storage service for Mac and iOS devices in the year 2011. Offering 5GB of online data storage for free to all users, Apple charges a subscription fee to users who can then choose to upgrade the available online storage to 50GB, 200GB, and even a whopping 1TB. With over 800 million users, there are plenty of users who might find the need to learn how to access iCloud Photo Library on their Windows, Mac, and iOS devices. Although being rebranded as “iCloud Photos” after the release of iOS 12, the features of the cloud storage service from Apple have remained the same.

How to Enable iCloud Sync

Before you can have all of your photos and videos synced to the iCloud Photo Library, you need to make sure that the feature is enabled in the first place. Once you have the iCloud backup enabled, the media on your iDevices will begin to sync, and you can then go ahead and learn how to access iCloud Photo Library from multiple platforms.

Enable iCloud Photo Library on iOS

On your iPhone or iPad home screen, head over to the Settings
Scroll down to find the Photos & Camera tab and tap on it.
Press the toggle switch you see next to the option iCloud Photo Library to enable it.
You can enable to options My Photo Stream to automatically upload photos and videos to your iCloud account.
Additionally, the iCloud Photo Sharing option, once enabled, will allow you to share your albums with other users.

Enable iCloud Photo Library on Mac

From the main screen of your Mac OS X computer, open the System Preferences menu and head over to the iCloud
You will be asked to sign in you using your Apple ID and password.
Using the pop-up window, select the iCloud Drive and Photos using the checkbox right next to the two options.
Press the Options button on the Photos tab and make sure that all three of the checkboxes are enabled (iCloud Photo Sharing, My Photo Stream, and iCloud Photo Sharing) before you press Done to confirm.

How to Access iCloud Photo Library

You may not be a big fan of the closed environment that Apple has created amongst the iOS and Mac OS X devices, but it surely is efficient. By bridging the gap between the storage spaces of your Apple devices using iCloud, you can ensure that every single image and video that you’ve ever shot or has been shared with you, is safe in the cloud.

Even if you don’t own a suite of Apple devices to seamlessly share media content amongst each other, the ability to have all of your cherished moments safe and sound is reassuring to say the least. Whether you end up losing your iPhone or iPad or breaking it beyond repair, you can always rely on iCloud Photo Library to safeguard the media automatically.

How to Access iCloud Photo Library on Windows

For those who tend to use iTunes to manage the content on their iPhone and iPad with a Windows PC, chances are that you have iCloud installed already. However, if you did not choose to install iCloud along with the iTunes bundle, you can start off by doing so now.

Download and install the iCloud app for Windows using the link given here – Download iCloud for Windows.
Once you open the iCloud app on your Windows computer, you will be asked to sign in using your Apple ID and password.
Next to the Photos icon, press the Options button and select iCloud Photo Library from the list of options.
You can then choose to the Download, Upload, and iCloud Photo Sharing folders on your Windows computer accordingly.
Using the File Explorer on your Windows PC, you will be able to access the iCloud Photos folder under the Favorites
Once synced, you will be able to see the photos and videos in your iCloud account through the three folders – Downloads, Uploads, and Shared

How to Access iCloud Photo Library using Web Browser

Apple has designed iCloud to be the true web-based data storage platform, which is why is available as a web-based service as well. Using a supported desktop browser such as Safari, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or any other, you can sign into your iCloud account online and gain access to the entire Photos Library on the go.

Open a new browser tab and head over to the iCloud website using the following link – www.icloud.com.
You will then be asked to enter your Apple ID and password to access your iCloud Photos and other data through the web client.
The interface of iCloud is quite similar to that of iPhone or iPad, with app-shaped icons for you to open and view the contents.
Apart from the media in the Photos and iCloud Drive app, you will also be able to access the Mail, Contacts, Notes, Reminders, and a lot more through the web version of iCloud.
Finally, you can open the Photos app icon and understand how to access the iCloud Photo Library online from anywhere, at any time.

Final Words

Once you have enabled iCloud Photo Library on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac OS X devices, you will be able to view, manage, and easily delete your images and videos from a centralized platform. Based on the storage plan that you have selected, you will be able to upload, download, and share media files directly through the iCloud app for Windows, or simply by using the web-based platform.

Were you able to figure out how to access iCloud Photo Library using a Windows computer or by just going online over to www.icloud.com to access all of your iPhone and iPad data remotely? Be sure to ask away any questions that you may have in the comments section listed down below, and we’ll get back to you at the earliest.

How to buy Used iPhone 8: The Safe Method

Last updated on June 8, 2019

Buying used electronics can be a risky business. You often don’t have any warranty and you don’t even know if you’ll get something that’s working or that’s in good condition in the first place. So, how do you buy a used iPhone 8 while avoiding such things? Well, that’s what we’re here to find out today!

Why Go For A Used iPhone 8?

So, first things first, why go for a used iPhone 8? After all, as mentioned above, there are quite a few risks when buying a used device. Is there something that justifies those risks? Actually, there is!

Used phones are obviously much cheaper and you often get the option of choosing an unlocked model. So, not only you can get your phone for a lower price but you also get to use your phone with every carrier you want. Unlocking services usually cost money. So, this basically gives you two things for the price of one!

Speaking of carriers, a used phone means that you’re not tied to any contracts! This is useful if you don’t like the pricing options or the services of the specific carrier that you have chosen as you’ll be able to move away from them anytime you want.

Last, but not least, the used market is full of choices that are not officially available in stores. For example, finding a brand new iPhone is not just expensive, but also tough because availability is going down the drain every time that a new model comes out.

Also, let us not forget to mention that some sellers will include refurbished phones that are brand new. If you’re not familiar with it, refurbishing is a process of restoring a used product to a brand-new like state. So, you basically get a used phone that can’t be distinguished from a new one while paying only for a fraction of the full price.

Still interested in getting a used device? Let’s move on with the guide then!

Things To Look Out For When Searching For A Used iPhone 8

Again, buying used products can be a bit risky. Especially if you don’t know what you’re doing. And that’s especially true for electronics; be it a used iPhone 8 or whatever it is that may be looking for.

There are a few things to look out for and if you follow them you’re almost certain to get a good buy.

1: Only Shop From Reputable Re-sellers

When buying a brand new product, pretty much any retailer will get the job done. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with used phones as well.

See, there are numerous ways for the seller to screw you over. He may sell you something defective and claim that you broke it! He may lie about the device being unlocked while it’s actually locked, and more!

This is why you should only buy from sellers who are known to do their job well. Swappa and Amazon are two of the most popular choices when it comes to used electronics.

Swappa, in particular, is more or less entirely focused on selling used stuff. So, by taking both its popularity and standing into account, we’d say that it’s a very solid choice for buying a used iPhone 8 or any phone that’s available there, really.

Then there’s also Amazon and everyone knows who they are so you can’t go wrong with them, right? Well, not exactly. Amazon still relies a lot on 3rd party sellers and there have been numerous times where their products weren’t as described.

Don’t get me wrong. Amazon is still a much better choice than any unknown, random seller. But, websites that are specialized on selling used stuff like Swappa are often a more reliable choice for this sort of thing.

Get A Used or Refurbished Phone From Swappa

2: Condition

A common rookie mistake from beginners is that they focus so much on pricing that they forget about the condition of the device. Good or refurbished often means that the phone is close to brand-new in terms of quality.

Mint and below may mean that the device has visible marks of use but is still fully operatable. Things like marks, scratches, and stuff like that. Be especially wary of screen marks as that can actually affect your experience and can even make it easier for the display to break under a small fall or something.

Only for repairs means that the phone isn’t working normally and is only to be used for parts. For example, it may be that the device doesn’t boot but it still has a working screen. So, if you are looking for a new display to replace your broken one, then that’s what these phones are used for.

If possible, try to look for photos of evidence as well. Especially on websites like eBay that are almost fully based on how good their 3rd party sellers are.

3: Carrier Restrictions

This is another common trap that beginners fall into. You get your used iPhone 8, or whatever your choice is. But, to your shock, you get no signal. Only then do you realize that the phone was actually carrier locked and now you have to either return it or pay extra money for an unlocking service.

Websites like Swappa always mention the carrier of each device. So, do make sure to pay attention to it. If you already have a preference and feel alright with being bound to a single carrier, sure, nothing wrong with choosing a locked device.

However, if you don’t know which carrier to go with then a locked device is a big no. After all, once you get a locked device, there’s no going back. Unless, of course, you’re willing to pay that extra money for unlocking.

For this reason, you can consider getting an unlocked device. In theory, unlocked devices should work with every carrier out there. But, in reality, some of them may prevent you from getting access to their services simply because you own a device that is not theirs. So, do keep that in mind!

4. Import Fees And Taxes

This is something that applies to online shopping in general – not just used phones. See, when you get something that’s considered slightly expensive from outside of your country, you’re often required to pay extra import fees and taxes. So, do look out for that.

The price that you are going to pay and the price that is required to get into this process differs from country to country. So, you better make your own research on this one.

Europe generally asks for an order of at least 22 euros before you have to start paying fees. But, again, make your own research.

Phone Charging Slow Lately? Here’s How to Fix It

Last updated on June 6, 2019

Is your phone charging slow and there doesn’t seem to be anything that can help you get it up to speed? Here’s our complete guide on what you need to do to get your phone all charged up faster and understand the reason behind the extended charging time.

Back in the day when mobile devices were used for nothing more than phone calls and the most basic texting, battery capacity was not a concern. Early-age mobile phones such as the Nokia 3310 were legendary for the screen-on time that they offered, allowing users to go days on a single charge. There was nothing revolutionary about the quality of the battery that was offered in the older mobile phones, but rather the limitations that these devices posed when compared to the modern smartphone. Comparing the mobile phones from the 90s to the modern iPhone and Android phones, the two are incomparable.

The latest and great smartphones are capable of handling communication through video calling, stream high-quality content through Wi-Fi, play hours of music, and do so much more with thousands of apps that are out there. But all of this firepower comes at the cost of screen-on time, where even the meatiest smartphones such as the Galaxy S10 offer nothing more than one day of screen-on time. While the technology behind batteries has somewhat remained the same, the one area where mobile phones in general have evolved is the charging time required to juice up. From taking overnight to charge all the way up to 100%, to requiring just a few hours, fast charging has been a game changer.

Phone Charging Slow Lately? Here’s How to Fix It

Qualcomm has developed fast charging technology such as Quick Charge and brands such as OnePlus offering Warp Charge that goes from 0 to 50 in less than 30 minutes. These high-speed charging standards may cause you to expect nothing less than a couple of hours of charging time. However, there are aspects that can slow down the charging speed of your mobile phone, which sometimes may be obviously noticeable, and other times, it may not seem too obvious. There can be multiple factors behind the reason why the phone charging slow problem, and here’s how you can resolve each of them:

Issue #1 – Damaged Charging Cable

If you’ve had your mobile phone for a couple of years now, chances are that you’ve been using it with the same USB cable that came in the box. While most cables these days are built with good quality materials, thousands of cycles of plugging in and out can cause wear and tear over time. Even when the charging cable may seem fully-functional from the outside, broken pins at the either ends of the cable can affect the flow of charge from the adapter to the device.

The very first course of action should be replacing the USB cable with a newer, preferably the one that supports high-speed charging. Additionally, it doesn’t hurt to choose a USB cable that comes with a braided or thickened inner and outer layer, which will prevent the integrity of the charging cable to be hindered even after years of use. You can also test the charging cable with another device to confirm whether the issue lies with the USB cable or not.

Issue #2 – Inefficient Power Source

Apart from the USB cable that brings the power supply to your phone, it is equally important to consider if enough juice is being supplied to your phone in the first place. You can expect optimal charging speeds with the charging adapter that is included with the device. For instance, if you choose to charge your OnePlus device with another charging adapter, the Warp Charge technology will not work, thus causing the phone charging slow down significantly.

Using the USB port on your computer is not the most efficient way of charging your device either, since it offers less than 1A of energy output. You can try replacing the power adapter with a newer one, especially with a Qualcomm Quick Charge adapter (if your phone supports the fast charging standard). You can then expect to reduce the time that is required by your smartphone to charge all the way up to 100%.

Issue #3 – Battery Problems

Several users across the board have reported that the phone charging time seems to increase as the device gets older. Although this specific issue should not occur on newer mobile devices, but it wouldn’t be unheard of, if your new phone also begins to experience battery problems. While new phones can be serviced (for free in most cases), older devices will either need a battery replacement to fix the problem for good.

For those who still seem to own mobile devices that come with a rear panel that can simply be popped out (like the Galaxy S5, LG G5, and others), replacing the battery is fairly simple. However, for the newer generation of mobile phones can come with batteries coffined inside a glass or metal back panel, visiting a professional to have the battery replaced with a new one is the only way out of the slow charging issue. Or you can replace your battery yourself. For iPhone battery replacement or Samsung Battery replacement, read these articles.

Issue #4 – Usage Pattern

Although this should be a no-brainer, but the amount of time to keep that phone turned on significantly affects the time period required to charge the phone. The biggest power-hungry element of your smartphone is the screen, and with the latest crop offering Full-HD and Quad-HD displays, you can expect the juice to drain out significantly faster when you keep using the phone while its charging.

The processing power, combined with the display and even the speakers, can all come together to cause your phone charging slow down. In addition, if you have a weak power source or a damaged power cable that is feeding a reduced power supply to your device, you might even end up losing a couple of percent of battery charge even while it is continuously being charged.

Issue #5 – Background Processes

While everything on the surface may seem fine, there could be a collection of apps and services that may be wreaking havoc on the battery life of your phone in the background. If you have a high-graphic game running in the background, it can take up enough processing power to slow down the charging speed of your mobile phone, even when the screen is turned off and you’ve exited the app. To get a better understanding of what’s eating away at the battery life, you can check it out in the Settings app here:

From the home screen of your mobile phone, head over to the Settings
Through the Settings menu, scroll down to find the Battery tab and open it.
In the Battery menu, you will be able to see a list of apps, along with a percentage right next to them, which will highlight the amount of power it has consumed.

The list of apps can help you find the hidden culprit behind the battery draining and phone charging slow issue that the phone is experiencing. You can also ensure that all of the background apps and services have been closed while you leave the phone to charge.

Issue #6 – Faulty Charging Port

This may seem like a far-fetched possibility, but you’d be surprised how often the charging port of mobile phones can get damaged. The probability of you ending up with a wonky USB port increases significantly if your smartphone has a MicroUSB slot for charging. While the reversible USB Type-C makes the likelihood of USB port damage significantly less, there can still be issues regarding obstruction by debris and corrosion.

Carrying around the phone in your pocket can cause all sorts of dirt and grit to get lodged into the tiny USB port, which can, in some cases, affect the charging speed. Be it from the humid climate or moisture that may have made its way into the USB port, there’s always a chance of corrosion as well, which can also cause severe issues. Either way, we recommend that rather than taking up the job of fixing the problem yourself, you have the phone serviced by a professional.

Issue #7 – Software Problem

The way the mobile manufacturer designs the system software also generally affects the battery life of the smartphone. Although you usually expect a software update to improve the performance of your device, the manufacturer can “pull an oopsie” and roll out a software update that breaks more things than it fixes. There have been numerous where Apple and Android OEMs have released software updates that have caused charging issues with the devices.

If you recently updated your smartphone and have started to experience the phone charging slow lately, then the two could be connected. You can reach out to the software support team and expect the issue to be fixed by an upcoming update, or take matters in your own hand and perform a factory reset. Wiping clean the mobile phone would most likely do away with the broken elements of the system update that is messing with your phone’s charging capacity, so it’s a good idea to use the action as a last resort.

Final Words

Maybe the advent of fast charging technology has spoilt us a little, but not having your phone all juiced up within a few hours can be infuriating. As you can see from the list of possibilities above, the reason behind your phone charging slow is not tied down to a single factor. However, we’ve gathered the intel from users and community forums all over the internet to see what seemed to affect their phone’s charging time, and how they were able to fix it.

Are you among those who have been experiencing slow charging issues on their mobile phones lately? Have you uncovered a specific reason behind the problem that we might’ve overlooked? Be sure to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section right down below.

How to Install and Use TweakBox on iPhone and iPad

Last updated on June 5, 2019

Are you trying install TweakBox on iPhone and iPad, but what to know more about it before you proceed any further? Here’s everything you need to know about TweakBox, how you can install this app distribution service, and what it is actually capable of doing.

Apple iPhone and the entire ecosphere of iDevices that have existed, have been so in a closed-circuit environment. From restrictions over sharing media files across devices, and little-to-no cross-platform support between iOS and Android phones, Apple has a clearly defined path that it wants the customers to approach through. But ever since the beginning of the iPhone era, the user community has been tinkering with the software and trying to find loopholes that allow you to do a whole lot more than what Apple has intended the iPhone and the iPad for.

Jailbreaking has existed for almost a decade now, allowing iOS users to gain administrative access to the hardware and software of their iDevices. Over the years, Apple has made it harder for users to jailbreak its devices, and although jailbreaking is completely legal, it does pose a serious security risk. The need to do more with the mighty iPhone is the sole purpose behind the inception of TweakBox mobile app installer, which has taken the world of iOS devices by storm. If you own an iPhone or an iPad and want to be able install third-party apps, tweaked apps, and apps that don’t exist elsewhere, TweakBox is what you need.

What is the TweakBox App?

Apple has designed the iOS platform to be able to download and install apps and games only from the Apple App Store. The same pathway is used by Google on the Android OS as well, where users are expected to get their hands on all of the apps from the Google Play Store. However, the open-source structure of Android OS allows users to not only install apps manually, but also fetch them from third-party app stores such as Amazon Appstore and others. There had been no such way on the iOS platform to install apps through third-party sources, until now.

TweakBox has emerged as a one of a kind third-party app installer, which brings a slew of apps and services to your iPhone and iPad. Although there have been methods to install third-party apps directly on iOS devices, but all of them have required you to jailbreak your device and install them through Cydia. This is where TweakBox comes into play, acting as a third-party app installer without the need to jailbreak the device. Since the practice of jailbreaking is frowned upon by security experts, TweakBox is emerging as a brand new way of enjoying the freedom, without making any compromises.

Features of TweakBox

Plenty of thought and effort has gone into the development of the TweakBox app intaller service. Although the fact that the app installer does not require you to use Cydia is the biggest winning aspect of it, what makes the service worth trying out is the simplified categorization of the content that is available for you to try out.

App Store Apps – The TweakBox app comes with a category that includes a list of premium apps that are already available on the App Store. However, you can download these paid apps for free on your iPhone and iPad directly.

TweakBox Apps – TweakBox Apps category is a collection of apps, games, music directories, movies, and so much more. The list keeps being updated regularly, and you can find some truly unique offerings here, which includes game emulators and more.

Tweaked Apps – This category in TweakBox includes a list of apps that have been modified by the developer community to do more than they are originally intended to be used for. Here you can find modified versions of social media apps such as Snapchat, and entertainment apps such as YouTube, which includes some added features.

Hacked Games – If you’re tired of the pay-for-play design of some of the freemium games available for iPhone and iPad, this category in the TweakBox app is just what you need. With modified versions of games such as Clash of Clans and Pokémon GO, you can enjoy a premium gaming experience without spending a dime on in-app purchases.

How to Install TweakBox on iPhone or iPad

Now that you know what the TweakBox app installer is capable of, here’s how you can install it on your iPhone or iPad right now.

Open the Safari browser on your iPhone or iPad and access the official download website of TweakBox – tweakboxapp.com.
On the main screen of the TweakBox website, press the Install Now button.
A pop-up window will appear, notifying you that the website is attempting to access the Settings app, so confirm the action by pressing the Allow button.
You will now be prompted with a “Profile Downloaded” message, so continue by pressing the Close button.
Now head back to the home screen on your iPhone or iPad and open the Settings app.
In the Settings menu, you will be able to see a new tab called “Profile Downloaded”, so go ahead and tap on it.
On the next screen, press the Install button, at which point you will be prompted to enter your Passcode if you have one set up.
The pop-up screen will ask you to confirm your action, so go ahead and press Install to begin the process.
Once the installation process is complete, press the Done button on the top-right corner of the screen.
You can now go back to the home screen of your iPhone or iPad to see the newly installed TweakBox app icon available for use.

Before you proceed to using the TweakBox app, there is one additional permission that you need to enable first. Granting this specific permission will ensure that you can use TweakBox, along with its thousands of apps without any problems.

Head over to the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap on the General tab, and then scroll down to find the Profiles & Device Management menu option.
Tap on the text that is shown under the Enterprise App menu.
On the pop-up window that appears, press the Trust button and then press it again to confirm.

Once you’ve performed this action, the TweakBox app will be granted all of the required permissions by the system to function optimally.

Final Words

Back in the day when Apple had users on a chokehold when it came to the usability that iOS offered, jailbreaking your device was the only way out. Cydia installer offered a window into the world of possibilities that Apple restricted users from, but developers have figured out a way to get the good stuff over to users without the need for jailbreaking through the TweakBox app. Allowing you to try out modified versions of popular apps, download premium apps that are available on the App Store, enjoy freemium games, and also play around with a bunch of unique apps that cannot be found elsewhere, TweakBox changes everything.

Note: Despite the slew of features that it offers, TweakBox is, after all, a third-party app installer that is neither endorsed, nor supported by Apple. We advise you to use the TweakBox app with a certain amount of caution, since not every third-party app can be considered reliable.

Are you among the Apple fanboys and fangirls who wants more from iOS and can’t wait to see what TweakBox third-party app installer has to offer? For any questions regarding how to install TweakBox, what it can do, and what version of iOS is it compatible with, just reach out to us in the comments section right down below, and we’ll get back to you promptly.

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Best SD Card Reader for iPhone – Buying Guide

Last updated on June 3, 2019

Looking for the best SD card reader for iPhone and iPad that can help you forget your woes regarding the low storage space? Let’s take a look at the best offerings available in the market and reviewing them one by one.

In the year 2007 when the very first Apple iPhone was released to revolutionize the mobile market, it came with a base storage of 4GB. In times when mobile camera quality was subpar compared to today, and the operating system was not as beefy as the current generation of iOS and Android OS, even a single gigabyte seemed like an overachievement on Apple’s part. However, as the era of mobile devices has progressed, the software component along with the hardware, camera picture quality, and the need for media storage has increased tremendously over the years.

The technology behind expandable storage has also evolved over the years, with 1TB MicroSD cards also available on the market now. Most Android OEMs have realized the need for expandable storage and added the feature to their devices, allowing users to plug in a MicroSD card and enjoy hundreds of gigabytes of extended storage space. Apple continues to capitalize over the phone storage space, just as it has been doing right from the start. However, the high-quality camera that shoots high definition photos and videos, along with media-heavy apps, might make you thirsty for those extra gigabytes.

Apple iCloud Isn’t Enough

So you choose to purchase a 32GB version of the Apple iPhone, hoping that the storage space would be ample for all of your apps, files, photos, videos, and more. Just a couple of years down the line, you end up with an iPhone that is bloated with all sorts of content, and there’s no physical way to make space for more. The only option that is provided to you is using the iCloud service, which is Apple’s way of monetizing at your expense while giving you a mediocre way of adding some virtual gigabytes to the storage space.

However, Apple iCloud is far from perfect and monopolizes the way you use it, without allowing you any means to compartmentalize the data that you add to it. Although there is always an option to move media to a computer using iTunes, it simply doesn’t offer the convenience you deserve. This is where the invention of an SD card reader for iPhone comes in handy, giving you a way to connect an SD card directly to your iPhone or iPad. By utilizing the Lightning connector on your iOS device, the SD card reader allows you to access media files stored on a thumb drive or SD card directly from the iPhone itself.

Best SD Card Reader for iPhone and iPad

Since our mobile devices have become the window we use to view and connect with others across the globe, sharing photos and videos online is made easier with SD card readers for iPhone and iPad, especially when you’re sharing them directly from a DSLR camera. Apart from the official accessory available from Apple, we’ve reviewed a handful of high-quality SD card readers that work with both, iPhone and iPad.

1. Apple Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter

The official accessory from Apple comes as a recognition of the fact that users do need a way to connect external media devices such as pen drives and even cameras to transfer and view photos and videos on the go. However, the USB 2.0 port on the Apple Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter takes things one step further, by allowing you to connect other devices such as an iPad, an iPhone, or even other mobile devices to your iPhone and view the media that is stored on these devices. The adapter comes with its very own Lightning port, allowing you to charge the device while you’re using it to transfer and view media content.

Get the Amazon Lightning USB 3 Camera Adapter

2. FA-STAR SD Card Reader

One of the highest-rated SD card reader for iPhone and iPad that is available at the moment, FA-STAR has managed to solve the issue of media sharing on iOS devices for good. Priced at less than half the cost of the adapter accessory that is offered by Apple, this SD card reader with Lightning port comes with the ability to support all of the popular photo (JPEG, RAW, etc.), and video formats (H.264, MPEG-4, etc.) as well. Offering decent transfer speeds of standard USB 2.0, the FA-STAR SD Card Reader comes with two slots, allowing you to connect both, a regular SD Card, as well as the minuscule MicroSD Card directly.

Get the FA-STAR SD Card Reader

3. Aigouzer SD Card Camera Adapter

Based on the working design of the first generation official Apple Lightning to SD Card adapter, this iteration by Aigouzer matches the original one in terms of performance. The cheapest SD card for iPhone and iPad that you can find the market right now, the SD card reader can support a capacity of up to 64GB and offers decent transfer speeds of up to 16MB/sec. While you do not get an additional Lightning port to charge the iOS device simultaneously or get multiple slots for connection, the Aigouzer iOS SD Card Reader is worth the money.

Get the Aigouzer SD Card Camera Adapter

4. SUNTRSI SD Card Adapter

Taking the ability to share media files among your iPhone, media devices and even your computer one step further, the SD Card USB Adapter by SUNTRSI still manages to be cheaper than Apple’s official accessory. The 4-in-1 design of this adapter comes with a Lightning port for you to directly connect to an iOS device, includes a USB drive on the other end that you can hook into a computer directly, gives you the ability to add a MicroSD card through the slot, and also comes with a USB Type-C connector port, allowing you to share content with Android devices as well. There are two additional slots on the side of the adapter that grant you the ability to hook up a MicroSD and SD Card to the rig as well.

Get the SUNTRSI SD Card Adapter

5. Nousija SD TF Card Reader

Based on a similar design concept as that of the official adapter that Apple has developed, but this third-party accessory comes with a bunch of more additions. The 4-in-1 adapter comes with a Lightning port that allows you to hook up a Lightning cable to simultaneously charge the device while using it, a Micro SD slot, an SD Card slot, and finally, a USB 2.0 port as well, so that you can use a USB cable to hook up any media device directly to your iPhone or iPad. Offering high transfer speeds across devices of up to 16MBs/sec, you don’t need any third-party app to use the Nousija SD TF Card Reader with your iOS device.

Get the Nousija SD TF Card Reader

Bonus: SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive 64GB for iPhone and iPad

If you are not looking for a way to just view and transfer content from an SD card, but want to add expandable storage to your iPhone or iPad, the easiest way to do so is using a pen drive that is officially supported by Apple. SanDisk offers an easy way to do so through the iXpand Flash Drive that is available in 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, and even 256GB variants. The device comes with a USB drive on one side and a Lightning port on the other that you can use to hook up to your iOS device, the iXpand Flash Drive offers high-speed USB 3.0 transfers when connected to the computer. The flexible design of the Lightning port on the USB Flash Drive allows you to easily maneuver it, without damaging the components.

Get the SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive 64GB for iPhone and iPad

Final Words

For most Apple fans who choose to stick to the brand no matter what, the closed-circuit design of the iOS is not a nuisance, but a feature. But even the most diehard Apple fans have to endure the pain that comes with the limitation of storage space that iPhone enforces upon its users. It may cost Apple only a few bucks on the manufacturing level to add large storage space to the iOS devices, but the company uses this opportunity to maximize its profits.

If you are among those who can’t let go of Apple but don’t want to end up shelling out hundreds of dollars more just to double the storage space, then getting your hands on the best SD card reader for iPhone and iPad is just what you need. By adding gigabytes of expandable storage to your iPhone and also get the ability to view photos and videos directly on your iDevice. Which of the SD card readers above are you going to grab to make your phone’s media management easier? If you do need more assistance in choosing the right one, simply ask for help in the comments section right down below.

How to Delete Snapchat Account on iPhone And Android

Last updated on May 16, 2019

Looking on how to delete Snapchat account on iPhone or Android devices? We’ve got a couple of easy solutions for you right here. So, without any further ado, let’s check them out!

1: How to Delete Snapchat Account on iPhone

Unfortunately, this only works for iPhone users. We’re not sure why, but the Android app doesn’t allow you to delete your account without accessing the website. So, if you’re on Android, move on to the second step.

For our iPhone users, all you need to do is follow these easy steps:

Open Snapchat
Bring the profile menu forward by swiping down or by clicking to your profile icon
Select the gear icon on the upper right corner
Go to “Support”
Head over to “My account and settings”
Select “Delete my account”
Enter your password then hit continue
Your account is now deactivated

After that, your account will get deactivated and if you don’t activate it again in the next 30 days, then it will get permanently deleted. So, you’ve got a bit of time to rethink your decision. Just in case.

Now, this process may slightly change with every new update. And while we always try to keep all of our guides updated, there is a chance that we’ll miss it due to the high volume of guides that we’re creating on a weekly basis.

For the reasons that we mentioned above, if you follow these steps and you’re still unable to delete your account, or if you can’t follow them at all, move on to our second method which should work normally regardless of what version of Snapchat you have installed. Also works for Android

2: How to delete your Snapchat on both Android and iPhone

This is a bit of a universal method as it works for both Android and iPhone. It’s also the most effective method because you won’t have to worry about which version of the app is installed.

The reason that this works for both platforms and regardless of the version that is installed is because you have to do it by using a browser. It doesn’t matter if it’s from your phone or PC. Whatever suits you best.

Head over to Snapchat’s accounts portal
Insert your login credentials (Keep that private. If you’ve forgotten your password, just click on the “I forgot my password button”)
Insert your password one more time then click on “Continue”
Done

So, that’s all. Simple isn’t it? Again, in case you change your mind, you still have 30 days to re-activate your account. All you need to do is login and it’ll keep on working like nothing ever happened.

If you just leave it be, then your account will be permanently deleted. You’re still free to make another account if you ever wish to do so, but your old one will be gone forever. So, do keep that in mind.

That’s all for now. Those are the two easiest ways of deleting your Snapchat account. If you’ve got any questions or if you came across any issues, then let us know about them in the comments section down below!

Best Wireless Chargers for Android and iPhone

Last updated on April 19, 2019

Looking for the best wireless chargers around? Cause that’s what we’ll be looking at today. Wireless charging is a great way to make your life easier by getting rid of cables – almost. Not to mention that it eliminates port degradation. After all, with wireless charging, you don’t need to plug-in and out cables all the time for charging.

With all of that being said, it’s no surprise that wireless charging is slowly, but surely becoming the new standard. So, here are some of the best wireless chargers that you can grab right now!

1: Yootech Pad

Starting at 13 bucks with more than 6,000 positive reviews, the Yootech is definitely one of the best wireless chargers that you can get right now. It’s affordable, gets the job done, and also Qi certified.

It can charge iPhones at 7.5 watts and Qi certified Android devices at 10 watts. That’s assuming, of course, that your phone is compatible. The LED light also comes in handy so that you’ll know if your phone is charging or not and when it’s charged.

While the description mentions that the charger stays adequately cooled, not a whole lot of information has been provided about it. So, take that with a grain of salt.

As for cases, it can charge your device with a case on, but only if it’s less than 4mm in terms of thickness. And even in that case, taking off the case is recommended for the best results.

Overall, it’s a solid choice for those who want to get into the world of wireless charging without spending too much.

The only small downside is that it doesn’t come with a charging adapter and that fast charging is pretty much non-existent. But, at this price point, we really can’t complain. Not to mention that you most likely already have a charging adapter. And even if you don’t, or if you want an extra one, most chargers are extremely cheap.

Get Yootech from Amazon

2: Anker PowerWave Stand

The Anker PowerWave is another great wireless charger. If there is one advantage that it has over the other wireless chargers, then that would be its ability to charge through the thickest of cases.

The official description mentions that about 5mm of thickness is the limit. However, most people haven’t complained about anything like that.

If there’s one problem that people had with this is charging near magnets or with cases that contained any kind of magnet. Still, as far as we know, that’s a common issue with any wireless charger out there. They generally don’t play well with any kind of metallic objects. The charger does have foreign object detection, but that’s about it. You’re better off keeping any other foreign objects away from it.

As is the standard with affordable wireless chargers, this one doesn’t come with a charging adapter either. We suppose that you can use your phone’s charger. But, if you want to play it safe, or if you need it as a secondary option, you can always grab the version that comes withthe charging adapter as well. Just do keep in mind that it costs almost 50 bucks.

Get The Anker PowerWave from Amazon

3: Mophie Travel Kit

If you’re constantly on the road, then carrying around the average wireless charger will definitely be somewhat painful, to say the least. So, if you want the wireless charging experience while also traveling, do seriously consider picking up Mophie’s travel kit.

It’s one of the best wireless chargers when it comes to traveling, if not the best. After all, it offers pretty much everything you’ll need in one package.

Carrying bag
Charging adapter
Car adapter
And of course, the charging pad

The only downsides that it has is that it doesn’t charge as fast as the other chargers that we’ve seen till now. Other than that, the charging pad is also a bit too small, but that’s to be expected from a wireless charger that’s meant to be used for traveling.

One more downside is that it doesn’t play too well with phone cases. Anything more than 3mm of thickness will likely set you back. Or at least that’s according to Mophie.

Still, when everything is said and done, despite its numerous downsides, this still is the best wireless charger for those who are constantly traveling.

Get Mophie Travel Kit from Amazon

4: Samsung’s Wireless Charger

If you own a Samsung device from the S or the Note series, then Samsung’s wireless charger is definitely one of the best chargers that you can pick up at the moment.

It’s not that it won’t work with other phones. Any Qi-certified device should work with it. But, Samsung mentions that only the S and the Note series support wireless fast charging with it.

Now, we don’t know how much of this is true. But, still, we are only going to recommend it to those of you who own a Samsung device – just to be on the safe side.

As for features, it comes with everything that you would expect a wireless charger to have at this price point. LED indicators, support for wireless charging even through cases, a charging adapter, etc.

The price is definitely a bit high when the charger is not on sale. But, we’re talking about Samsung here. They’ve been making some very high-quality products for years now. However, do be very careful of counterfeits. If the seller has lots of negative reviews, then it’s probably for the best if you stay away from him/her.

Get Samsung’s Wireless Charger from Amazon

5: One of the Best Wireless Chargers on a Budget: Seneo

Seneo is without a doubt one of the best wireless chargers that you can get, regardless of if you’re a budget or not. Still, at less than 10 bucks, it’s one of the most affordable chargers out there at the moment.

Of course, at that price point, you can’t expect it to come with a charging adapter. However, the fact that it can offer anywhere from 5 to 10 watts of charging without asking for more than $10, is pretty darn amazing.

Furthermore, Seneo also claims that it can charge your phone even if you’re using a case with 5mm of thickness. Is that the highest that we’ve seen so far or what? Though, do keep in mind that 4mm is recommended for the best results.

Overall, no matter how you look at it, Seneo’s wireless charging pad is a great choice regardless of if you’re on a budget or not. So, do check it out!

Get Seneo’s Charging Pad from Amazon

Do you feel like there is another wireless charger that deserves being on this list? Why? Do let us and everyone else know about it in the comments section down below!

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Best Cell Phone Zoom Lens for your iPhone or Android Device

Last updated on April 16, 2019

Optical zoom, wide angle lens, smartphones nowadays come with all sorts of camera goodies. But, what if you’ve got an old or budget phone which has a decent camera but not those extra features? Well, that’s where an external cell phone zoom lens can come in handy.

If you’ve never heard about this accessory, it’s basically just an external lens that you can attach to your phone’s camera. This can give you extra features like zooming, taking wide-angle shots, and more.

And now you might say: “But, George. I can already zoom with my phone. Why do I need an extra accessory for that?” The answer is that if you don’t have an optical zoom lens pre-installed on your device, then you’re only zooming digitally. Digital zooming harms your image quality while optical zooming leaves it as it is.

With that being said, there are multiple lenses to pick from; each one with their pros and cons. So, there’s not one best solution for everyone. For that reason, we’ll take a look at some of the best options, and you can choose whatever fits you best. Let’s go!

One Thing to Keep in Mind

Before we start, there’s one thing to keep in mind. Have you noticed how superzoom cameras are almost always being used with a tripod? There’s a reason for that.

You see, when you zoom over extreme distances, typicall from 8-10x and above, the slightest movement creates extreme deviations. That makes it difficult to capture an image or a video. Especially a video.

So, just remember that this is not the lens’s fault. It’s normal. The only thing that you can do is prey that your phone has good digital image stabilization; or you can also get a tripod which is typically included with a cell phone super zoom lens that goes over 10x.

If you’ve got an extremely stable hand, then you can probably forget about all this. But, that’s a rather rare trait. You’ll soon find out that anything above 10x is extremely shaky.

1: Best Cell Phone Zoom Lens for Macro Shots (Budget): Easy-Macro Lens Band

When you think of zooming in, the first thing that comes to mind is just bringing objects that are far away closer to you. This is useful for landscape photography. But, what about taking macro shots?

A macro shot is essentially just a close-up/focused picture. Our phones can focus on their own, but they don’t do that very well with extreme close-ups. That’s where an external lens like this one can come in handy.

And by the way, the lens straps around your phone with a rubber band. So, it should be compatible with pretty much any smartphone out there.

This particular lens may not be the best around. But, still, if you want to get some macro shots for fun without busting the budget, check it out! It costs like 15 bucks.

Get the Budget Macro Lens From Amazon

2: Best Premium Cell Phone Zoom Lens for Macro Shots: Xenvo Pro

We took a look at what is probably the best budget option for macro shots. The problem with budget options is that they are often subpar in terms of quality. After all, that’s how they manage to be cheaper.

So, how about the best then? What if I’m willing to spend more money for the best macro shots that one can capture by using a phone? Well, in that case, the Xenvo Pro is probably your best bet.

For 40 bucks, you get Amazon’s best seller in phone lenses, a rechargable LED light, two lenses with one of them being the macro lens and the other one giving you wide-angle shots, and a travel case so that you’ll be able to carry your stuff without the fear of breaking them.

Let us clarify that you only get one lens and not two seperate ones. It’s just that it can act for both macro and wide-angle shots without you havaing to swap out different lenses.

The main advantage of Xenvo compared to budget options is that it doesn’t give you that vignette or fishye effect. Furthermore, it’s easier to capture macro shots without everything turning blurry.

Overall, if you want the best macro lens that you can get, we’d highly recommend checking out the Xenvo Pro.

Get the Xenvo Pro From Amazon

3: Best Cell Phone Zoom Lens Package/Kit

Alright, so, let us be completely transparent here. There is a LOT of false advertising with this product.

It doesn’t imrove the lighting quality of your pictures
There’s no way to achieve DSLR quality with phones. At least not yet
The difference between close-up shots with and without the macro lens isn’t that huge. Smartphones still have the ability to focus up to a certain point
The telephoto lens can indeed zoom over a hundred meters. But the image isn’t going to be that crisp and clear

To summarize. Is this lens kit badly advertised? Yes. But, is it a good kit? Also yes. At least as good as external lenses can get. If you want a little bit of everything, then do seriesously consider checking this one out. It gives you:

Optical zoom up to 12x
A Wide-angle lens
A 180 degree fisheye lens
And 2 15x macro lenses

Againa little bit of everything. However, let us not forget to mention that if taking macro shots is your primarily focus, then you’re better off getting the Xenvo Pro.

If you want both the best macro shots that you can capture but also a telephoto lens or anything similar, then you’ll probably have to get the Xenvo Pro and any other lens that you want seperately. The whole package isnt worth it if you’re going to pay for macro lenses twice. Only as a standalone choice.

Get This Kit From AmazonGet This Kit From Amazon

What is your favorite phone lens? Let us know in the comments section down below. If you feel like there is another cell phone zoom lens that is worthy of being in this list, do mention that as well.

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