Neighbor News
Cold Weather Tech Tips for Alexandria Residents
When the weather outside is frightful, make sure your tech feels warm, protected and delightful
The snow may be over for now, but Old Man Winter isn't finished with us just yet. It is downright cold today and it will be through Monday with wind chills as low as five below zero. So when you do bundle up, don't forget there's something else that needs to stay out of the frigid air for extended periods, your tech. Smartphones, tablets and notebooks are as susceptible to the bitter cold as much as your exposed hands or face.
The cold can do several things to damage your electronics:
- Cause your battery to drain faster
- With prolonged exposure, make your phone's hardware more brittle which can lead to cracked screens
- Cause condensation to form inside your screen if you turn it on while it is still cold
- Increase the chances of permanent damage if the device is left in "sleep mode" for an extended period of time, especially for netbooks
So what can you do to save your pricey piece of tech beyond the obvious of not taking it out in the extreme low temperatures? AT&T has a few tips to help your phone stay warm and you connected:
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- Don't leave your phone in your car or trunk for extended periods of time and definitely not overnight. Also, if you're driving to one of the local ski resorts in Maryland or Pennsylvania make sure you don't leave it in your car all day while you're hitting the slopes.
- Don't take your phone outside to shovel snow or to sled because not only do you expose it to the cold, you also increase the chance of getting it wet.
- Keep your phone in a protective case. We recommend something like a LifeProof or OtterBox case. They are waterproof, drop resistant and dirt proof.
- If you expect to be out in the cold for a while invest in a Bluetooth device/earbud with mic and call answer buttons so that you can keep the conversation going while you are clearing the driveway.
- If you do have to expose your device to the cold for an extended period, turn it off and don't turn it back on until it has warmed up. This helps to keep condensation from forming.
