The Exchange Blog - Tech Blog - Tips, tricks and gaming

Mario

This little Italian plumber has been one of the most recognisable games characters since his first appearance in 1981. The figurehead for Nintendo, Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, even morphed into Mario at the 2016 Olympics closing ceremony, showing just how integrated into our culture Mario is – his design remaining more or less the same (though less pixelated) since the 1980s. Mario has appeared in 200 games, selling 240 million to date. That’s one successful plumber.

2. Lara Croft

There was no way the badass Lara Croft wouldn’t make the list. The intelligent, sexy and highly skilled lead protagonist in the iconic Tomb Raider franchise, she’s gone through numerous redesigns and has even been played by Angelina Jolie in the adapted film Tomb Raider (soon to be recast by Alicia Vikander, which we can’t wait for).

Originally appearing in 1996 for the PlayStation 1 and Sega Saturn, Lara has since appeared in 16 Tomb Raider games, as well as films, comics and even theme park rides.

Her character has gone through more development than most, in both looks and character, but whatever changes she goes through, Lara Croft is an iconic game character that has infiltrated pop culture in a big way.

3. Crash Bandicoot

One of PlayStation’s stars, Crash is the lead character in the Crash Bandicoot franchise – a widely-loved platformer. Crash is the kooky, cool, anthropomorphised bandicoot who you help try to defeat Cortex in his plans for world domination on the Wumpa Islands.

There have been 16 Crash Bandicoot games released so far since 1996, and we hope more to come as it is one of the most iconic, fun and challenging platforms around.

4. Master Chief (Halo)

The lead character in the obscenely popular game franchise Halo, Master Chief was one of the first big characters for Xbox, appearing in the first of the franchise – Halo: Combat Evolved – in 2001.

The mysterious character is a faceless, biochemically and cybernetically enhanced super soldier, who speaks sparingly and whose only purpose is to be a living weapon.

A character of few words with unspeakable skills and a long history of killing, Master Chief has become an iconic and massively recognisable game character, despite being the most recently created on this list.

5. Link

As the lead character in The Legend of Zelda games, despite his name so frequently being confused with Princess Zelda’s (every gamer’s no. 1 pet peeve), this silent (other than the occasional HYAH), brave and endearing character is re-incarnated over and over to save the princess and defeat the evil Ganon.

Link has starred in all 18 Legend of Zelda titles, as well as spin-off games and in graphic novels. Like others on this list, although he has gone through many design changes since his first appearance in 1986, he is still immediately recognisable all over the world for his green tunic, blonde hair, blue eyes and the master sword. Like Mario, Link is one of Nintendo’s other enduring, iconic game characters.

Conclusion

Did your favourite make the list? There are so many to choose from! Let us know in the comments who your favourite iconic game characters are. A few of our honourable mentions are Spyro, Sonic the Hedgehog and Snake from Metal Gear.

Dishonourable mention goes out to Bubsy. You’re the worst, Bubsy.

Stay tuned to find out the Classic Games Consoles that we miss.

How to sell your phone

Smartphones are a big part of most of our lives – but the majority of us get a new smartphone every few years depending on our contracts and budgets. But what happens to your old phone?

Many of us end up putting them in a drawer to be forgotten about, even if they still work perfectly and we’ve just chosen to upgrade to something shiny and new.

Rather than leaving your old phone lost in a drawer gathering dust, why not sell your phone for cash?

We’ve put together a quick and easy guide of things you need to know before selling your phone.

Do your research

Before selling your phone, you need to know what to expect in terms of price. How much a phone is worth brand new is different from when it’s been used. The price you can expect for your phone also varies depending on how much wear and tear is visible, such as a scratched screen or scuffed edges.

Although it may be tempting to sell it on yourself via eBay or a similar site, it can be safer to go through a third party or to go directly to a phone exchange store. A benefit of a mobile trade-in store is that you can trade directly without any fees and walk away with cash immediately rather than having to wait!

You can also try out a few trade in programs and check with your local smartphone trade in store to see a range of different quotes to find out where can offer you the best value. To remove the hassle of selling and listing your phone yourself, at The Exchange we can look at your phone right away and give you a quote immediately!

Be Honest of Technical Issues

Even if your phone has some minor fault, be honest. We know that over time many smartphones end up with some issues – perhaps your screen has cracked or the battery life has depleted.

Whether you’re selling online or coming in store, make sure you’re honest about the state of your phone – otherwise you risk getting bad reviews or being banned from the site. Many people are still willing to buy pre-owned phones with some wear and tear for a lower price.

Similarly, a trade-in store will be happy to buy a phone with faults from you – even if it is badly damaged they may offer you a low quote so you won’t leave with nothing.

They’ll then repair your phone and sell it on – which is better both for the customer and the environment as you are effectively recycling your phone.

Ultimately, even if your phone is noticeably damaged, you’ll be able to walk away with something – there’s no downside!

Wipe your data before selling your phone

It’s vital that before you sell your phone, you wipe all your data. Our phones have lots of personal information about ourselves, from login details, contacts, text, photos and bank details.

Before handing it over to a local trade-in center or selling it online, make sure you backup your data by transferring all your files to your new phone, laptop or online account (such as Google or the Cloud), and then reset your phone to its factory settings.

Also make sure you remove your SIM card and SD card if you have one, so when it’s sold on it’s got no trace of your details.

Sell your phone and your accessories

Although you don’t absolutely require all the original accessories that came with your phone to sell it on, if you do still have them and they’re in good working condition you’re likely to get more for your phone.

If you still have the original box, headphones and charger and replace them like new, your quote will immediately go up – that’s why it’s always worth saving the box!

So what are you waiting for?

No matter what condition your phone is in, if you sell it you’ll be gaining some of your money back. Whether you choose to sell online or directly through a tech exchange or trade-in store, make sure to be safe and do your research before passing your phone on – you want to get the best deal!

At The Exchange in East Finchley, we’ve made it as simple as possible for you to sell your phone through us – either come to our East Finchley store or fill in our form online today to find out how much you could get for your mobile.

The Benefits of Buying a Refurbished Phone

If your phone is broken and irreparable, has been lost or stolen, or you just fancy something new and you can’t wait for one via your contract, why not opt for a refurbished phone rather than a brand new one?

A refurbished phone has been pre-owned, so the previous owner has either chosen to sell it while it’s still intact, or it has been damaged, sold and repaired.

While many may be wary of buying a refurbished phone, there are actually plenty of benefits so long as you’re buying the phone for a reliable and trustworthy place. Here are just a few benefits of buying a refurbished phone.

Get cheaper, high-end smartphones

It goes without saying that buying a new smartphone isn’t cheap. Despite the majority of us all owning a smartphone and using them every day, new releases or brand new ones can be extremely expensive to buy outright – especially the top brands which most of us would prefer.

The benefit of buying a refurbished phone is that you can get a high end phone from a top brand at a much lower price, meaning you could get last season’s iPhone at a massively discounted rate. In other words, you can get top quality tech at an appealingly low price.

Refurbished phones are more Environmentally Friendly

Most of us get a new smartphone every year or two, which means there is a massive amount of waste involved as people throw their old phones away to buy a brand new one. By opting for a refurbished phone you’ll be making both a financially and environmentally responsible choice, as by reusing an older, refurbished phone you delay it ending up at the landfill.

Then, when it’s time to move on, you can recycle your phone and buy another refurbished one!

Fully Inspected, serviced and tested

Many people avoid refurbished phones because they automatically assume they must be damaged or faulty in some way. In fact, a refurbished phone is likely to be in just as good of a condition as a new phone. Every phone that’s sold and refurbished, whether its intact or damaged, has to go through extensive inspections and tests.

It is then serviced and fixed if need be – so whereas brand new phones may have a defect, with refurbished phones there’s actually a lower risk of any tech issues as it will have been recently serviced.

While some refurbished phones may have signs of wear and tear (there are different scales ranging from low to high wear and tear which you can choose from), in terms of the actual tech your phone will have been fully serviced before the store could even put it on sale.

Even so, make sure you get a warranty so if any problems do arise, you’re covered. Most places will offer a 90 day or 12 month warranty with any refurbished phone purchase, but make sure you’re buying from a tried and trusted seller.

In Summary

While there may be some downsides to buying a refurbished phone, such as not getting it in the original box and not being guaranteed to have headphones included, the benefits outweigh the negatives considering the quality and cost of the phone you’ll be getting.

The main thing to remember when buying a refurbished phone is to go through a trustworthy, dependable seller and to make sure you have a good warranty, so you can trust that the phone has been fully inspected by experts who will help you out if anything goes wrong (which means go into a store rather than buying off an anonymous seller on eBay…)

If you’re interested in buying a refurbished phone, take a look at The Exchange’s website or come see us at our store in East Finchley where we can run you through the whole process and help get you a great quality smartphone at fantastic prices!

Getting your console repaired in East Finchley

We’ve all been there – you’ve been getting really stuck in to your shiny new game, the one you’ve been looking forward to playing for months – then, suddenly, disaster strikes.

Your treasured console suddenly breaks down, leaving you unable to play any of the games you were hoping to fill your evening with. We’ve all heard of these console nightmares – from the Xbox red ring of death to the Playstation 4 yellow light of death, or more general issues with the software, console fan or motherboard.

These can be really annoying, yet common problems which you need solved, and fast, before you get behind on any new game releases!

Is it worth fixing the console yourself?

Whenever a games console or any of your gadgets and devices breaks it can be tempting to get online to try and fix the problem yourself. It is always worth checking online, in case the problem really is as simple as turning it on and off again.

ps4 yellow light

If only all tech issues were so simple! With an expensive device like a games console it can be risky to try any complicated home repairs. You run the risk of making the problem even worse, or potentially completely ruining your precious PS4 or Xbox, whereas an experienced professional could have fixed it quickly and easily.

When in doubt about what the problem with your console or whether you have the skills to fix it, take it into your local tech repair shop to get it looked at by someone who spends all day repairing games consoles.

Benefits of repairing your games console

The other thought that creeps into a lot of our heads is to just get a brand new games console – we worry that our old one is beyond saving and start picturing a shiny new one. However, there are lots of benefits to repairing your current games console rather than simply replacing it.

By holding onto your current console and getting it repaired you can keep track of your games without having to get a whole new system and move around your saves and games through your HDD – not to mention the time you’ll save from having to reinstall and update the system.

red-ring-of-death

Repairing your games console is also significantly cheaper, and with the correct games console repairs you may be able to have your console last longer than it would’ve before, saving you far more money in the long term.

If your games console really can’t be salvaged, at least you’re likely to be able to get a cheaper, pre-owned console from your local East Finchley tech repairs store, so you’re still saving money overall.

Fixing your console

Ultimately, if you’re having issues with your games console it’s always best to take it into an expert repairs store so you can find out what the problem is and get it repaired by someone who really knows what they’re doing. When choosing which repairs store to take your console to, make sure you check the online reviews to be sure they’re a store you can trust – you want to be certain that real professionals are handling your console so you get the best possible service.

If you’re in London around the East Finchley or Finchley Central areas, or wondering about a console repair store near you? The Exchange would be more than happy to help you with your games console repairs and send you home smiling.

Mobile Phone Repairs in East Finchley

Our mobile phones have become such a vital part of our day to day lives that it can be devastating when they end up getting broken – what do you do next?

If your phone has run into trouble you can come to The Exchange, the best mobile repair shop in East Finchley for reliable and fast phone repairs. Here are just a few of the most common mobile phone repairs we do:

Reliable mobile phone repair

When it comes to your phone you want to make sure you’re getting the best repairs possible – otherwise you’ll just be back in the same situation, or a worse situation, a few weeks later. Although you can go straight to the manufacturer for repairs, this is often a slow and costly choice, but you should also be wary of overly cheap repair options too as they’re likely to do a botch job – especially when it comes to suspiciously cheap screen repairs.

thumbs up

A good, reliable phone repair service will be upfront with you about what’s wrong with your phone, how much it will cost and how long it will take, as well as using top quality parts. When you talk to them they’ll quickly work out the problem and won’t shirk away from how much it’ll cost.

Good phone repair companies will also ask you about your warranty and will make sure that they won’t make it invalid by fixing your phone; if possible they’ll be able to extend your warranty to cover repairs. You need to feel like you’re talking to an expert.

Phone Screen Repairs

Cracked phone screens are one of the biggest blunders when it comes to your phone. An accidental drop can make it practically impossible to use, and all too many of us go on day by day struggling to make out a text through a cracked screen.

You need to get a cracked screen repaired to keep your phone going, otherwise you’re bound to run into more problems down the line – the mobile screen cracks will only get bigger and you could encounter water damage or other similar issues if it’s left as it is. And no, cellotape is not the way to fix it.

phone screen repairs

Phone screen repairs are an easy job so long as you take your phone to the right repair shop. Again, always be wary of a shop which has suspiciously low prices, as they’re likely to give you a cheap plastic screen which won’t last and will make the problem even worse, rather than a high quality glass or LCD screen.

You want to be given an authentic new screen which will last, and ideally walk away with a screen protector and new phone case too so it doesn’t happen again.

Water damaged phone repairs

Water damage is another issue which we run into all the time. Depending on your phone, water damage could happen from something as unfortunate as dropping your phone in a puddle or the toilet, or something as simple as texting in the rain. Water damaged phones are pretty much completely unusable – for some the touch screen stops working and many others completely shut down.

Lots of us will desperately attempt home fixes in this situation, ‘The Rice Method’ being a particular favourite. This involves soaking your water damaged phone in dry rice for 24 hours or more to see if this soaks up the water.

In my experience this method takes time, rarely works and even if your phone does come back to life, you’re left with mushy bits of rice stuck in the cracks meaning it isn’t worth the wait.

It’s much easier and reliable to take your water damaged phone to a trustworthy repairs service – by doing this you’ll have a much better chance of getting your phone and all your memories and info on it back, which is far better (and cheaper) than having to get a new phone altogether.

Conclusion

These are just a few key mobile phone repairs that we can take care of. If you run into technical issues with your mobile phone, we can diagnose and repair your phone quickly and easily for a good price, all in the convenient location of East Finchley.

Top 5 Tech Disasters (and how we can help)

Nothing feels better than when you’ve got that shiny new gadget to play with, but sadly, the inevitable tech disasters strike.

We’ve all been there. We’ve all felt our heart stop when we hear that devastating crunch. Someone’s sat on your tablet, your phone’s slipped out of your hand – and suddenly it’s not shiny and new anymore. Here’s our top five most common (and annoying) tech disasters which we can help with.

1. Cracked Screen

This common problem is always upsetting – all too often that brand new iPhone falls and you hold your breath before you pick it up, praying it’s not shattered. Sadly, for most, many end up with a cracked screen.

Too many of us end up going for the sellotape solution – but please resist the temptation, you’re making a bad situation worse. Mobile screen repairs are actually a quicker process than you’d think; at The Exchange UK we specialise in cracked screen repairs so we can get your gadget looking shiny and new again.

2. Dead Battery

After a while your phone battery just seems to die within hours and you can’t remember the last time it made it through the day without a mini charge at lunch. Sound familiar? Sometimes this is because it’s been overcharged at purchase.

A lot of people forget to let their phone battery die when they first get it. The best thing for a healthy battery is to let it die and then recharge. But sometimes this isn’t your fault and your phone just has a faulty battery. It’s quick and easy to repair your phone and get your battery replaced.

3. Water Damaged Phones

Texting in the rain, a glass of water spilt, a gadget falling straight in the toilet. It can kill your gadget straight away. If this happens to you make sure you make sure the phone is off straight away and don’t plug it in!

Then make sure you remove the battery, SD card and SIM card. Sometimes the old ‘dry it out in rice’ method works, but if not take it to a phone repair shop to find out the diagnosis…

4. Charge port issues

Sometimes you know the charger is fine but your gadget still won’t charge, staying perpetually on 3%. This is usually because there’s an issue with your charge port – the metal connector may have become bent or dislodged.

This isn’t an easy home fix and can be really frustrating, but most warranties will cover this so you can get your tablet or phone repaired quickly.

5. Mysterious tech issues

You don’t know what’s wrong or why it’s wrong, but your tech just isn’t cooperating. It keeps shutting down and showing the same error message, it’s started lagging and running slow, or it just insists it’s out of storage space no matter how many apps or photos you delete. Try as you might you just can’t work out why.

If you’re facing any of these common tech issues, don’t panic – we’re here to help. Whether it’s your phone, tablet, laptop or any other gadget, The Exchange UK can help advise and repair your tech as the top digital repairs store in East Finchley, London.

How we can help

Check out our website or come in store with your tech disaster and see how we can help, for more information about The Exchange UK’s services.