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3 On Your Side: Protecting Your Smartphone In Frigid Weather

By Jim Donovan

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Have you had it with winter yet? Well the cold weather is far from over, and if you've noticed that your mobile phone is behaving  differently in the frigid temperatures, you're not alone. So 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan has advice to keep it functioning.

If Punxsutawney Phil is correct, then spring is still far off. And since a lot of us use our smartphones on the go, outdoors, and in the cold weather, we may be  encounter some difficulties when temperatures drop.

First, protect your smartphone from the cold.  For example, don't leave it in a parked car for an extended period of time.

Some smartphone users will notice that exposure to cold drains a phone's battery faster than usual, or a battery appears to have plenty of juice, but suddenly your screen goes dim or black. If a phone shuts down due to the cold, don't try to restart right away.  Allow that phone some time to warm up before you try to power up and use it again in order to avoid battery damage.

Touch screens will also be more sensitive in the cold, which doesn't match well with wearing winter gloves. You might consider a stylus or touch screen gloves if you need to do work that requires precision on a smartphone or tablet.

Finally, be mindful those smartphone screens can also be more susceptible to scratches in the cold weather, especially if they're already cracked.

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