MP3 players like iPods generally work best in standard room temperature, say, around 72 degrees, but can function fine in a range of 32 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. (That would be 0 to 35 on the Celsius scale).
Don’t leave your MP3 players, tablet computers or other mobile gear in a hot car, especially one in direct sunlight. According to the National Weather Service, even if it’s just 80 degrees outside, the inside of the car can get up to 123 degrees in an hour.
If you do have a device that gets really hot, bring it into the hotel room and wait until the gadget cools down to room temperature before trying to use it.
Try to avoid hauling anything like a laptop or a tablet to the beach. Oceans tend to involve elements like salt spray in the air, water, hot sun and sand – and none of these things is good for electronics. If you do need to bring an e-reader to the beach, cover the electric and USB ports with electrical tape to keep out sand and salt — or invest in a tight-fitting protective case designed to keep Mother Nature out of the device. The same goes for camcorders and cellphones. In a pinch, keep your mobile phone sealed inside a plastic bag.
If you do haul gear out in to the sun, consider storing it in a dry cooler (with no ice inside) to keep it out of the sun and sand.
Wear sunscreen. If you’ve just applied sun-blocking lotion, be sure to wipe it off your hands before handing your electronics — especially touchscreen devices.
A can of condensed air back in the hotel room is helpful for blowing off any sand that may have dusted the gadgets.
And, if you happen to be reading iBooks on an iPad under an umbrella on the hotel balcony or in the room after a long day of sun and fun, remember that you can choose a different color-scheme theme that just black text on a white background. Just tap the Fonts icon in the top corner. In the menu that pops up, tap the Theme button for the option to switch to Sepia for a soothing light brown pages or Night, the high-contrast white type on a black background. The Fonts icon also has the screen brightness controls if you need to make the iPad’s screen dimmer or brighter.
A good weather app on your smartphone is a great way to keep up with any alerts for heat advisories, approaching storms and other nature-related event that may be on the way to harsh your vacation fun.
Drink plenty of fluids and stay hydrated so you don’t become woozy and drop your gear in the sand or water.
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And, if you happen to be reading iBooks on an iPad under an umbrella on the hotel balcony or in the room after a long day of sun and fun, remember that you can choose a different color-scheme theme that just black text on a white background. Just tap the Fonts icon in the top corner. In the menu that pops up, tap the Theme button for the option to switch to Sepia for a soothing light brown pages or Night, the high-contrast white type on a black background. The Fonts icon also has the screen brightness controls if you need to make the iPad’s screen dimmer or brighter.
