Category : blog

You may not be sure of the exact date of purchase of your Apple product. The good news is you may not need to dig out that receipt from the depths of your basement.

Usually the date of purchase on Apple’s record is pretty accurate, that means when you come in for your appointment, we will run your serial number through Apple’s system and verify your warranty information. However, there are these rare cases when the date of purchase does not match what is in Apple’s records. In this case a proof of purchase may be required to verify your warranty information.

You can also check your warranty by entering your serial number into the link provided https://checkcoverage.apple.com/ca/en/

No warranty? No problem! Our technicians will run diagnostics on your out of warranty Apple products and provide you with a quote for repairs and/or replacement.

Brittany E
Front Office Representative

When I search in my calendar the events do not show up!

This can be an issue with the Spotlight indexing, I would suggest to re-index the spotlight index. This can be done with the following command in terminal:

sudo mdutil -i on /

The other way to do it is to exclude your hard drive form the spotlight search in system preferences, restart the computer, then remove it from the excluded list:

This will take a while and searching will not work properly until the indexing is complete. If the problem still persists after the drive has been re indexed it can be an issue with the hard drive of the machine. Run a disk check to verify if there is a problem or not and replace the drive if necessary.

If you are still having a problem with that, give us a call and we will be happy to help

Daniel Galant

Apple certified Support Professional

When a battery begins to swell it can begin to cause damage to the device itself and present the possibility of exposure to the user or technician.

Should your unit exhibit the symptoms of a swollen battery (lifting display, unit unexpectedly rebooting), Apple has authorized the replacement of the entire unit.

If the iPhone is under warranty it will be replaced for free, however if the iPhone is out of warranty  Apple will replace the phone for the cost of a battery replacement. This will ensure that not only will your battery have a new lease on life, but that any damage caused to your unit will also not be an issue.

Alary Technologies can help with both these situations, please book an appointment and bring in the iPhone.

Mark W
Apple Engineer

An iPhone (iPad or iPod) is only disabled when the wrong password is entered too many times.

This is a security feature set in place to prevent someone from stealing your device and gaining access to your information. This device will be disabled for a set number of minutes (5, 10, 15, etc) until you are able to try the passcode/PIN again.

If unsuccessful, this can be removed by resetting your device back to factory settings.

Alary Technologies can help with that, this will cost $45 + HST

Doing this will erase all data on your device and will be unable to be recovered unless previously backed up to iTunes or iCloud.

Mark W
Apple Engineer

A few weeks ago, we received a message of recognition from Apple. We’re proud to say we’ve been named a Premium Service Provider thank to our commitment to customer service and technical expertise.

In order to become a Premium Service Provider, you must first become an Authorized Apple Service Provider. If you are getting any Apple products serviced, it is always best to go through an Authorized Dealer for the following reasons:

• Coverage under Apple Care Warranties
• Only authorized details can obtain parts directly from Apple
• Apple audits everyone to ensure businesses are operating legitimately
• Apple provides specialized training to technicians for best possible service

So What Does it Mean to be a Premium Service Provider?

According to Apple,  “Premium Service Providers consistently deliver exceptional repair support and customer experience that meet Apple’s exacting standard for high-quality repair and prompt service.”

There are over 200 authorized Apple retailers around the world and only 6% of them are awarded this distinction. You can see why we’re very proud of our staff and our customers for creating such a terrific atmosphere at our shop.

As a locally-owned business, and the only Authorized Apple Dealer in the Durham Region, we know we have a responsibility to provide only the best service to our customers. We always appreciate hearing feedback and are always happy to help.

Thank you to Apple, to our staff, and of course our customers for making it possible for us to receive this wonderful distinction. We can’t wait to see you in the shop and show you our terrific technical support firsthand!

January is the time of the year where we can start fresh. It’s the time we promise ourselves to exercise more, eat better, be nicer so we can live a longer happier life. However, rarely do our resolutions revolve around the machines we love the most – our Macs!

Getting extra longevity out of your computer means taking extra good care of it. While some might say the average computer only last 4 years, you could get much more as long as the right upgrades and care is taken. Here’s some things to start trying this year.

Resolution 1: I will back up my hard drive at least once per week.

You might hear this a lot from us, and other computer repair shops, and teachers, and techies. Well guess what, if it didn’t need to be said we wouldn’t say it. By far, the biggest problems we encounter is lost data. Regular backups mean you don’t lose precious photos, files or other documents. Set up Time Machine and use it at least once a week on two different hard drives.

Resolution 2: I will try to fix my old laptop before throwing it out and buying a new one.

It’s no secret, laptops cost a lot of money. Especially Macs. However, these computers are built to last if you treat them well. If your machine encounters a problem, don’t immediately write it off. Apple service providers are very willing to diagnose the problem for little to no cost. You might find a solution in an upgrade that will lengthen the life of your computer and save the environment from another laptop in a landfill.

Resolution 3: I will clean up my files in the Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall

A new computer brings with it a fresh slate, ready to organize files in perfect alignment. But as the working year progresses, the files slowly become disorganized and your work flow suffers. A quarterly clean out of your files will free up space on your hard drive and save you tons of times in the long run. Also be sure to take advantage of the searchlight and smart folder features to more easily store and find important files.

Resolution 4: I will clean my computer regularly (once a week)

While your computer is more useful than a lot of the objects in your home, they all have one thing in common: dust collection. Yes even with Apple’s tech advancements, they’ve yet to come up with a way to keep dust off your keyboard and smudges off the screen. To avoid dust build up, regular wipe downs of your computer with a damp and lint free cloth help keep things sparkly and running smoothly.

Resolution 5: I will start using a new password for better security

When’s the last time you changed your password? If it’s been a while – you might be at risk. And heaven forbid you’ve been using the same password for all your accounts. As hard as it is to remember things, there’s free password storing services making managing passwords easier and safer.

Resolution 6: I’ll be wary of downloading nasty things from the internet

If it’s sent to you in a text message, an email or messenger – don’t click it right away. Even friends who get hacked might inadvertently send you a nasty link that phishes your email or downloads malware or spyware on your computer. With all the links there are to click on these days, be extra critical.

If you want to get your new year started right. Why not bring your computer in for a checkup and clean up? We’ll be happy to assess your computer’s health and give you our suggestions for making it last for many years to come. Just send us an email or reach out to us on Facebook to set up an appointment.

By now you’ve heard about the new line of MacBook Pros. Which means you’ve also heard about Apple’s leap toward OLED TouchBars and USB-C and leap away from older USB ports, MagSafe adapters and SD Card Slots.

Of course, the internet had something to say about this. Many point out the first round of new technology requires buying a new slew of adapter and dongles to make their old accessories work on their new computer.

The dongles and adapters could prove annoying at first. But historically, Apple usually gets rid of certain technology just before the technology becomes obsolete. The floppy disk was an old input that lasted for about 15 years, until Apple got rid of it for more efficient technologies. Back then, people complained they needed to get rid of their floppy discs. Eventually, CDs proved the better method, and now no one will ever go back to floppies again (eventually the same thing happened to CDs too).

This “Apple Death Chart” from the Verge shows the average life of computer inputs is about 10-15 years. You’ll see USB ports have been around for 18 years . So by Apple’s standards, the USB input is long overdue for an upgrade. USB-C seems to be the solution Apple is going with.

Why USB-C is Better in the Long Run:

To set the record straight, USB-C is just the name of the connector shape. The underlying USB technology determines how fast it will be. So you could have a USB-C connection that supports up to USB 3.1 (like the new MacBook Pros), or a USB-C connection that only supports up to USB 2.0.

The beauty of USB-C is that the shape is tiny and versatile. Manufacturers now have one universal standard that is the perfect size to fit on any device. Gone are the days of different USB cords for the printer, your tablet, your phone and your other devices.

But the best part? There is an identical and reversible port on each side. So there’s no need to flip or twist cords finding the right way to plug them in.

It’s Multi-Purpose

Old USB ports could only give about 2.5 watts of power to a device. This could be enough to charge a small battery, but those big laptop batteries need closer to 60 watts. USB-C ports can provide up to 100 watts of power which is more than enough to charge our laptop.

USB-C can also be easily adapted to work as an HDMI, VGA and DisplayPort output. And it is also compatible with Apple’s Thunderbolt technology (no adapter necessary). So essentially you have a better USB port, that also charges your computer AND supports other inputs/outputs.

Makes More Room for Awesome Stuff

In computer design, even saving a couple millimeters can be crucial. This new tiny and multi-purpose port saves space, because you no longer need multiple bulky USB, SD card and charging ports. That means more room for speed, storage, and new features like OLED TouchBars.

Remember, Waiting is Always an Option

You don’t always need to be on the cutting edge of technology. While you wait for everyone else to get on the USB-C train (which will happen very soon), keep using the USB ports and SD Cards you love by boosting your computer’s life. A new hard drive, more RAM and a well kept computer means you can get that new MacBook Pro when it costs less and the rest of the world is ready for it.

Apple makes great computers. There’s no joy quite like opening a fresh laptop and clicking around new applications, typing out big long documents all while listening to music, streaming YouTube clips and syncing your iPhone to iTunes – with no loss of speed.  

But like all of us, as computers get a little older, they start not being able to do the things they used to. Suddenly, even dragging your mouse around becomes a drag because it moves slower than a snail while you’re just trying to read your email. However, unlike us, a little professional tinkering on the inside of a computer can make the machine work as good as or better than the day you bought it.

Clean Out Your Digital Clutter

Imagine you’re working in the kitchen preparing dinner. However, you haven’t put all the groceries away and there taking up all your counter space. If you try to work with the extra food lying around taking up space, you’ll have to constantly move things out of the way and the task of making dinner is going to take a longer time.

Just like a full counter, a full hard drive means your computer has to do extra work to access the things it needs. Reformatting your hard drive or simply cleaning out old files can be a quick solution to speed it up again. You want to make sure your computer has about 20% of free disk space for swap files, so your machine has some space to move things around and work more efficiently. Just always be sure to make at least two backups before trying this!

Clean Up Your Computer Parts

Does your computer feel hotter than a freshly-microwaved pizza pocket? Is it noisy enough to get people working around you to stare you down because they can’t get their work done? If so, it might mean your computer needs a little cleaning inside.

Hot and noisy computers can be a sign that internal parts like the fans and hard drives are working extra hard because there is dust and other dirt clogging up the parts. Just like a well-oiled car, a well-cleaned Mac will run much smoother if it doesn’t need to worry about working through dirty conditions. This may not speed up your computer, but it is good for computer health and will make sure the things that affect speed, like RAM and Hard Drives, last longer.

Upgrade Your RAM

RAM stands for Random Access Memory and it can be thought of in terms as your computer’s Short Term memory. Basically, every application you open, means your computer needs to remember more things are going on and juggle the tasks. Computers with more RAM are better jugglers, able to toss around multiple applications like a Cirque de Soleil performer.

If you find your computer slows down when you have multiple applications open, or certain high-requirement applications open (like photo or video editing software), you might consider getting more RAM for your machine.

Upgrade Your Hard Drive

Hard Drives work really hard to keep accessing your files when you need them and saving every new thing you put on them. The more popular hard drive in Macs is a hard-disk drive (or HDD for short). These drives have tiny moving parts that spin and make sounds if you listen carefully enough. However, all that spinning and whizzing around means parts eventually start wearing down or stop working entirely.

If you notice things are drastically slowing down, it can be a sign that the hard drive is failing. Mechanical hard drives slow down greatly as they start to fail. This is a good time to back up your computer and bring it to a professional. They can asses your hard drive, confirm the problem and help you avoid losing data.

Upgrading to a solid-state drive (or SSD), will get rid of the moving parts of an HDD. This means your hard drive can last longer and work faster – speeding up computer processing greatly. While these hard drives are more expensive, they are cheaper than buying a new computer and will ensure your machine lasts a much longer time.

There’s plenty of ways we can tell which of these options will the most cost-effective way to improve your Mac’s slow performance. Give us a call, send us an email, reach out to us on Facebook or come into our store today and we’ll see what we can do!