Procrastinate on This! Is That A Cellphone In Your Pocket?

I loved, loved, loved this NYT article on low-tech fixes for high-tech gadgets, with advice on how to get your dry ink cartridge back up an running if it gives out on an important printing job — been there, and how to fix your cellphone with a jar of rice after it’s fallen in the toilet — haven’t been there yet, but it’s just a matter of time…

Another helpful piece of advice:

If your cellphone loses its battery charge too quickly while idle in your pocket, part of the problem may be that your pocket is too warm. “Cellphone batteries do indeed last a bit longer if kept cool,” says Isidor Buchanan, editor of the Battery University Web site. The 98.6-degree body heat of a human, transmitted through a cloth pocket to a cellphone inside, is enough to speed up chemical processes inside the phone’s battery. That makes it run down faster. To keep the phone cooler, carry it in your purse or on your belt. This same method can be used to preserve your battery should you find yourself away from home without your charger.

Read the rest of the article here.