The following is a review of the Google Pixel by Gophermods Technician Matt Fraser.  Meet the Pixel; a phone by Google. Photo by: Michael Speer In October of 2016, Google held a tech conference about a few major hardware initiatives for the rest of the year. One of these keynote high points was the release of the first phone designed by Google, the Pixel. With the Pixel out in the wild, and one in my pocket, I’ve been able to put the phone through its paces. Visually, it is a subtle mix of premium materials and a conventional design. [...]

Tech Talk is a series highlighting a member of the Gophermods Family. We presented each of our technicians, managers and employees with 10 questions. These are their answers. Today our guest is Nick Persinger: Marketing and Social Media Coordinator 1. Where are you From?  I am from Hudson, Wisconsin, just across the Saint Croix! 2. What do you do at Gophermods?  I am a technician at Gophermods, and work in the company's marketing as well. 3. What is your favorite phone to repair and why?  My favorite phone to repair is probably the iPhone 6. It is compact, durable, manufactured to [...]

Surge Protectors - Save Yourselves the Shock Surge protectors offer some level of protection against power spikes. How much and how well varies considerably.  Surge protectors offer protection in amounts called joules.  A joule is the work required to produce one watt of power for one second.  A power surge is basically a spike in your home's electrical current. The spike is very brief, usually lasting less than a thousandth of a second, but it can still cause damage to your home, electronics and appliances.  The joule rating of a surge protector is only a reservoir of protection, it will [...]

It’s the beginning of the Tech New Year. The Consumer Electronics Show, commonly referred to as CES allows companies from all branches of technology to showcase forward looking concepts such as 8K Televisions, to the unveiling of new flagship products like the HTC Thunderbolt – the first true 4G LTE Smartphone for the United States. History CES first started as an offshoot of the Chicago Music Show in 1967. The keynote speaker for that conference was the chairman for Motorola, Bob Galvin. Attendance at the first CES was approximately 18,000 people with over 100 exhibits and company showcases. Today average [...]

Tech Talk is a series highlighting a member of the Gophermods Family. We presented each of our technicians, managers and employees with 10 questions. These are their answers. Our next guest is Video Game Repair Guru and St. Anthony Assistant Manager, Benjamin K. 1. Where are you from? I am fron Keshena, WI, a small town about an hour north of Green Bay. 2. What do you do at Gophermods? I am a repair technician that specializes in video game console repair and I dabble in phone/tablet repair. 3. What is your favorite phone to repair and why?  My favorite [...]

  You’re at a holiday party. Everything is going well. The eggnog is great, savory treats are everywhere and everyone is having a fantastic time. The night goes on, and everyone starts taking selfies. Phones start slipping out of hands, pockets get missed and gadgets hit the floor. While I hope this isn’t a scenario you are familiar with, here are some great preventative measures to make your smartphone party-proof. 1. Get a tempered glass screen protector The majority of repairs we see at Gophermods are cracked or damaged screens on your smart devices. Often these are from being dropped, having [...]

Tech Talk is a series highlighting a member of the Gophermods Family. We presented each of our technicians, managers and employees with 10 questions. These are their answers. Today our guest is Addison Cox: Regional Manager for Gophermods St. Anthony and Woodbury. 1. Where are you from? I grew up in Eagan, went to school in FL and lived briefly in GA but now I’m back home in MN and living in Uptown. 2. What is your Job at Gophermods? Regional Manager for the Woodbury and St Anthony locations. 3. What is your favorite phone to repair and why? Addison is the [...]

What to do when your phone takes a spill? It’s the absolute worst. We’ve all heard of the horrors of liquid damage. We’ve got do's and don'ts when your phone gets wet. 1. Turn off your phone! I know it is tempting to leave it on and try to use it, but don’t. Any electrical charge from the battery can instantly fry your phone, resulting in lots of :( emojis. 2. DO NOT PLUG IT IN!!! It doesn’t turn on right away? Oh, well lets try to plug it in and see if that works. DON’T DO IT! Just like rule 1, [...]