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The summer holidays are here and many of us will heading off on trips to hot and sunny destinations, and bringing our electronic devices along.But don’t forget that phones, tablets and other electronics are vulnerable to extreme heat. Southern European nations like Spain, Italy and Greece have been baking under the sun, while forecasters have consistently issued heat advisories across the United States, particularly in the Southeast.Here’s what device makers and experts say on keeping your electronics cool: What heat does to a phone: Most electronic devices work best in a specific temperature range. Apple says iPhones and iPads are designed to be used in temperatures between 32-95 degrees Fahrenheit (0-35 degrees Celsius).A device might change its behavior to deal with extreme temperatures, Apple warns. “Using an iOS or iPadOS device in very hot conditions can permanently shorten battery life.”Your phone might temporarily warm up if you’re charging wirelessly, downloading big files, streaming high-quality video or doing anything else that requires lots of power or data. Samsung says that’s normal and it won’t affect the performance or battery lifespan. What happens if the device gets too hot If your phone gets so hot that it becomes uncomfortable to hold, Samsung recommends that you stop using it.An overheating iPhone will alert users with a warning message that it needs to cool down before it can be used. Android devices will display a similar message, telling user that the screen will dim, apps will be closed and charging will be paused. What not to do There are things you can do to protect your device from high heat.Don’t leave it in a car on hot day and don’t leave it in direct sunlight for long.Apple also warns against using some features when it’s very hot or in direct sunlight for long periods, like GPS navigation when driving, playing a graphics-heavy video game or using the camera.Google, which makes Pixel Android phones, advises users not to use resource-intensive features or apps while charging. Keep your gear cool The best thing you can do in extreme heat is turn off your device completely.“Even background processes can generate heat,” say experts at British electronics chain Curry’s. “A full shutdown helps it cool faster.”Remove the case, if your phone or tablet has one, because they can trap heat.Also keep it out of direct sunlight and put it somewhere cool, like an air-conditioned room or in front of a fan. But be careful about putting it in cool places.“Never put your device in the fridge or freezer, as condensation can cause water damage,” Curry’s says. Is there a tech topic that you think needs explaining? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your suggestions for future editions of One Tech Tip. Kelvin Chan, AP Technology Writer
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E-Commerce
Russia on Wednesday became the latest country to restrict some WhatsApp calls, accusing the Meta-owned platform of failing to share information in fraud and terrorism cases. Here is a list of nations restricting WhatsApp: FULLY BLOCKED China started blocking WhatsApp in 2017, using its so-called Great Firewall to filter and block traffic with overseas servers. Chinese users rely on an alternative called WeChat. WhatsApp is generally inaccessible in North Korea which has blocked Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and other platforms since 2016. North Korea has one of the world’s most strictly controlled internet systems. PARTIAL BLOCK Russia started restricting WhatsApp from Wednesday. It had clashed with foreign tech platforms for several years over content and data storage. United Arab Emirates (UAE) has banned most applications using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services free internet-to-internet voice and video calls starting in 2017. However text messaging is allowed. In 2020, authorities allowed people to make calls over WhatsApp and other internet apps on the grounds of the Expo Dubai world fair. Qatar has not explicitly banned WhatsApp but has put restrictions on VoIP calls. Like UAE, WhatsApp messaging still works. Egypt does not have a blanket ban on calls over WhatsApp but has tried to throttle such communications. Jordan also has restrictions on making VoIP calls. INTERMITTENT BANS Iran last year lifted a ban on WhatsApp as a first step to scaling back internet restrictions following years of curbing access. Turkey currently has no ban on WhatsApp, but it has in the past blocked the platform over domestic issues. Uganda banned WhatsApp and other social media platforms in 2021 as a retaliation for Facebook blocking some pro-government accounts. It currently does not have a ban. Cuba temporarily restricted access to social media and messaging platforms including Facebook and WhatsApp in 2021. WhatsApp has been banned from all U.S. House of Representatives devices in June, according to a memo sent to all House staff. Supantha Mukherjee, Reuters
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E-Commerce
Of all the things you dont want to find in a jar of instant coffee, glass is pretty high on the list. But that scenario became more than hypothetical after a customer alerted Dollar General employees to a potential issue in their eight-ounce instant coffee. Now, Dollar General has issued a recall of three lots of the powdered drink due to the possibility of glass fragments. The recall impacts retailer’s private label brand Clover Valley. Dollar General is actively investigating the source of the glass contamination and apologizes for any inconvenience caused by this product issue, the chain said in a statement. The recall was also announced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Heres everything you need to know about identifying the affected items. Which products are affected? The recalled coffee is the Clover Valley brands eight-ounce instant coffee. It has a package UPC of 876941004069 and includes the following three lots: L-5163: Best by December 13, 2026 L-5164: Best by December 13, 2026 L-5165: Best by December 14, 2026 You can find this information on the neck of the jar. An image of the product can be found on the FDA’s website. Where and when was the product sold? The coffee was exclusively sold in Dollar General retail stores between July 9 and 21, 2025, and across almost every state. Heres a complete list of the states where Dollar General has recalled its eight-ounce Clover Valley Instant Coffee: Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming If your imagination isnt detailed enough, Dollar General provides a graphic breakdown in its announcement of what can happen if you ingest glass. (Well leave reading that to your discretion.) The company says it hasnt received any reports of injuries or illnesses. What should I do if I have this product? Don’t drink it. Dollar General is offering a refund for anyone who bought the instant coffee. You can reach out for one through email at customercare@dollargeneral.com. The company can also process a refund over the phone every day from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. at 1-888-309-9030. Has the recall impacted Dollar General’s stock? Investors appear to have shrugged off news of the recall to the extent that they know about it. Shares of Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG) are up 2.47% this week as of Wednesdays closing bell. In June, the company raised its financial guidance for its fiscal year 2025.
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E-Commerce
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