Learning
Recycling your old cell phone
(Touch screen, Non-touch screen)
Recycling your old cell phones, accessories, batteries, and other mobile device objects can help reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Before recycling your device, make sure that you have terminated your service contract and that you have removed all personal data from the device. Here are some recycling options:
- Drop if off: Old cell phone items can be dropped off at some retailers and service providers, including Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T, and Best Buy. For a list of links for recycling information, visit epa.gov/cellphone/cell-recycling-locations.htm.
- Mail it in: Sending your old items in to the retailer or service provider is another option. Visit the above link for more information.
- You could also try selling your old items on eBay (ebay.com), Second Rotation (secondrotation.com), or TradeMyCell.com.
VIP site, tip #1360
Know the Start menu structure
(Touch screen)
In order to take full advantage of the Start menu on touch screen devices, it's helpful to know how it is structured and how it functions. The Start menu is divided into three sections:
The Start menu on touch screen devices is divided into three sections.
1. Top section: Contains links to a maximum of seven applications. By default, it lists Calendar, Contacts, Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, and others. You can configure this portion of the Start menu to list any built-in or user-installed application by going to Settings >Menus. (For more on this topic, see "How to customize the Start menu," tip #456.)
2. Middle section: Contains up to five applications that have recently been launched. (If an item is already in the top or bottom sections, it will not appear in this section.) The last application that you previously opened will be at the top of this section, the previous application under that, and so on.
3. Bottom section: Contains links to the Programs and Settings folders, and to Help, in that order. Note that if an item appears in the top section, it will not be listed in the Programs folder. If you remove an application from the top section as described in "How to customize the Start menu," tip #456, its icon reappears in the Programs folder.
VIP site, tip #1362
Color code your cables when traveling
(Touch screen, Non-touch screen)
If you do a lot of traveling and carry a ton of electronic equipment such as a Windows Mobile device, an MP3 player, a laptop, international power converters, DC adaptors for the plane, etc., each of these gadgets unfortunately comes with a number of power and sync cables.
One way to organize the clutter is to use Velcro color-coded cable ties. Each device that you carry can then get its own color tie. This easy identification system also has the secondary benefit of keeping your cables organized and tangle-free.
Color-coded cable ties are available at most electronics stores, or you can purchase them online from a store like Amazon.com for a very reasonable $2.49.
Based on a SmartphoneMag.com blog post by Dan Hanttula
VIP site, tip #1363
Perform restart immediately after uninstalling a program
(Touch screen, Non-touch screen)
In my work as Editor of Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine, I have to install a lot of third-party software on my device so that I can test and review products or edit other authors' reviews. I usually wait until I'm finished with a series of reviews before I delete these programs from my device, but that can cause a problem.
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