I appear to be running out of storage space on my smart phone. What can I do about that?
    Some smart phones allow a user to insert a "micro SD" card to provide additional storage space but many, most notably the Apple iPhone, do not allow users to expand storage after the device is purchased. In such cases, the only options are either to replace the smart phone with a newer model with more available storage (expensive!) or find a way to reclaim some of the existing storage space (sometimes challenging!).
   Assuming you prefer the less expensive route of reclaiming space on your smart phone, the first step is to determine what is taking up space.
   Individual applications ("apps") as a rule don't generally consume a lot of space, but most users tend to accumulate new apps over time and it's easy to install new ones that don't get much use and then forget to UNinstall them if they truly aren't wanted or needed. So, check to see if you have any unwanted apps and delete them.
    Many users routinely download a lot of music on smart phones for entertainment on the go. Again, individual songs don't take up all that much space but if your playlist numbers in the hundreds or even thousands, you may want to consider paring down your portable music store.
   But in our experience, the greatest consumers of storage space on a smart phone frequently are photos and videos. The vast improvement in phone-based cameras has made them almost essential recorders of our daily experiences. Photos and especially videos can consume a large amount of phone-based storage, so it becomes a matter of deciding which of your photos and videos you want to keep easily available, which ones you definitely want to keep but not necessarily within arm's reach, and finally which ones really have no great sentimental value and possibly can be eliminated entirely.
   Fortunately, most all smart phones can be paired with a laptop or desktop computer and allow the user to back up all or part of the entire catalog of data on the phone. So, for many folks, the simplest tactic is to back up a phone (including all the apps, music, photos, videos and other data) to the home computer and then cherry-pick the items that really don't need to be mobile and free up a significant amount of storage space. The backup also generally allows the process to be reversed and, maybe more importantly, allows everything to be replaced on a new phone should its predecessor be lost, stolen or damaged!
   We can help you evaluate and implement the best strategy for both managing storage space on your phone and protecting you against potential data loss on the device.

I have wi-fi in my house but I have problems getting reliable coverage throughout my home and patio areas. How can I improve home wi-fi coverage?
    Now that most home Internet providers offer wi-fi as part of their hardware package, we are seeing an increase in questions like this one. There are several approaches to maximizing home wi-fi coverage.
   The first step is taking care initially to set up the wi-fi modem/router in a location as central to your lifestyle as possible. Don't put it in the basement unless that's where you live! Ideally there should be no brick, cinderblock or other masonry blocking line-of-site to desired coverage areas (wood and drywall are less of a concern). However even under the best of conditions, wi-fi coverage tends to drop off 150-200 feet from its source.
    Once the wi-fi signal strength drops below optimum, network speed and reliability begin to suffer. The only way to resolve the problem is to create another signal source.
   There are so-called wi-fi "repeaters" or "signal boosters" that can be used to create a broader coverage area but we have never found them to be much help. They tend to be a bit temperamental both in terms of initial setup and performance afterward. We never advise this approach.
   Instead, we recommend setting up a second inexpensive wireless router at a location where existing wi-fi coverage is poor and linking it to the original wi-fi modem/router put in by the Internet provider. It is possible to use conventional ethernet cable to link the devices but the physical installation of such cable is often an arduous task at best. We've found a much easier and equally reliable way to accomplish the task is to use a pair of "ethernet-over-powerline" adapters available from various vendors we work with. We connect one adapter to the original wi-fi modem/router and the other to the newly stationed wireless router. The physical link between the two devices is the home's original AC power wiring. A few minutes configuration of the second router and, voila, expanded wi-fi is ready to go! On a few occasions (a very large home, perhaps), a third router might be needed but this approach works seamlessly with additional devices.
    We can help you work with establishing a new home Internet connection to optimize its wi-fi coverage at the outset. And we can work with you to broaden wi-fi coverage later, if it is needed. And of course, we can help you get the right expansion hardware at a good price and the labor cost to you is usually quite minimal.

I know that you, Terri and your respective spouses all vacation together frequently. What should I do if I have a computer problem and both of the One Click Wonders are off in Timbuktu?
   It is quite true that The Wonders are occasionally out of town together with our beloved spouses! In most cases, unless we are physically removed from cell phone/internet service (like on a cruise ship), both Terri and I are quite willing to offer limited long-distance e-mail or phone support to our clients. We may be a little slower to respond than usual, but we don't like to leave folks hanging if we can possibly avoid doing so.
   If the nature of your problem requires some on-site assistance, we also have made arrangements with a few of our IT colleagues to cover for OCW when we are away. Our colleagues are very knowledgeable in the same areas of computer support as we are, and you can rest assured that they will do right by you.
    On most occasions, travel by The Wonders is usually a week or less in length. So, unless your situation seems dire, you may want to simply unplug for a few days until we get back in town. We will respond to e-mails and voice mails as soon as we can.