Tools that Can Help You Protect Your Tech Gadgets this Summer

Summer is the usual season to take holidays or a long sought after vacation to finally get the chance to relax and unwind. Of course, when we pack, we pack not only the necessities but also a part of our lives, and some of those are our gadgets. Our gadgets – usually consisting of smartphones, laptops, or tablets – or at least just one of those will always accompany us in our holiday travels.

Of course, since its summer, we also need to protect our devices inside and out. Remember that this protection includes the sand and the sun and other factors that always come with the season.

Insurance

If you have a smartphone, tablet, or laptop that has become a vital travel companion wherever you go, insurance is a really good idea. You can purchase insurance through any service provider or third-party sources such as insurance agents. Most non-life insurance policies for gadgets cover a range of eventualities including water damage and theft, and since replacing a mobile device isn’t cheap, remember to shop around in order to get the best value coverage that suits your needs.

Invest in a good case for all your gadgets

This and the above may sound low tech, but these “low tech” tools are meant to protect your technology. Our devices often travel everywhere with us and at some stage our devices can decide to slide off the table or fall from our hands, providing a heart stopping moment. If you’re concerned about your device being subjected to the elements, consider investing in a waterproof case. There are plenty of sleek and protective skins on the market for every smartphone, tablet, and even laptop, allowing you to shield your gadgets from destruction without adding serious pressure on your wallet.

Protect your Wi-Fi use

What’s one of the first things you ask when you arrive at a hotel or restaurant? More than likely it’s the Wi-Fi code, but rather than connecting your smartphone, tablet, or laptop to any old Wi-Fi network, use Wi-Fi Protected Access such as the Norton Wi-Fi Privacy app instead. This creates an encrypted, highly secure network connection you can trust. Now this time, this one is a tech tool.

Road trip tool

If you’re planning on a road trip for your vacation, a reliable GPS device can ensure you won’t get lost. But if you’re traveling through tree-lined hills, your cellular signal strength may not hold up. The weBoost Drive 4G-X can help give travellers a stronger signal on the road. It helps your smartphone work in even remote areas, it helps your data work so you can send texts, and it helps your GPS system work. For people that travel a lot or go on long road trips, it can really help you stay safe on the road. The manufacturer says it can extend your service range up to 60 percent farther than other boosters on the market and works on all cellular-connected devices in your car, including smartphones, tablets, and laptops.

5 Signs Your Computer is in Need of Immediate Optimization

Why does a computer need optimization?

Firstly, just like a car that needs an eventual tune up, a computer that needs to be optimized means it also needs a tune up. This prevents a computer from running slow or brings it back if it’s already starting to run slow.

Secondly, optimizing a computer prevents a computer from crashes. Neglecting your computer’s condition will make it prone to unexpected crashes, causing you to lose very important files and data.

Aside from a computer starting to slow down, there are 5 other signs that your computer is in need of immediate optimization:

1. Random File or Program Corruption Issues

An obvious sign of a slow-growing problem is random file and program corruption errors. Files that always worked before suddenly won’t open or only occasionally work. They may suddenly be accompanied by an error message. First, make sure your anti-virus is running and up-to-date, and then run a full system scan for malware. A virus sometimes will cause this problem. Another likely culprit is a failing hard drive, so you should check it for errors. If that doesn’t reveal the problem, look for hardware conflicts in the Windows Device Manager.

2. Occasional Boot Errors

This is a clear sign that something is wrong, usually something along the lines of “boot device not found.” Windows will fail to boot, but it might work at a later time, even immediately if you hit the reset button. This is a sign that something is wrong with your hard drive, or that your Windows installation has somehow become corrupt.

3. Poor Performance

General poor performance, from launching programs to watching videos and playing games, often results from the cumulative effects of software installed on a Windows PC. If you’re not careful, you may find you’ve installed more than your computer can handle, and it will perform poorly. Cleaning Windows might help, and afterwards get the computer fully optimized. If all else fails, you either need to re-install your operating system or the problem could be in the hardware.

4. Hardware Conflicts

Seldom, but it happens, two components in a PC will try to consume the same resources or perform the same task. This creates a hardware conflict, and it manifests itself in unusual behavior during certain tasks. An audio conflict, for example, might disable audio in some programs, but not in others. Not all conflicts will crash a PC, but some can cause instability, which leads to a Blue Screen of Death or a reboot. You can search for the problem on Windows Device Manager so you can re-install the drivers of the conflicting hardware while optimizing the whole machine.

5. Video Artifacts

When viewing any form of video, an error in that data can cause an “artifact” that appears as blocks of random color, strange lines or partially missing 3D geometry. This is a sign that your PC’s graphics processor is encountering an issue. Often the problem is excessive heat; you may just need to open your computer and give it a good cleaning while optimizing it.

Getting a Trusted VPN Provider Can Help You Secure Your Web Traffic

Let’s all be realistic about Internet privacy through ISP providers. Recently, the Republican ruled congress has made a big decision about the future of your online data, and many people aren't happy about it.

On March 28, Congress voted along party lines to kill a set of rules adopted by the Federal Communications Commission in October of last year that would have kept all Internet Service Providers or ISP’s, at bay because they needed to ask your permission before it collected certain personal information. President Donald Trump signed the resolution on April 10, turning it into law.

So does this mean your ISP now has free rein over everything you do online? Not really, but it means that it no longer needs your permission to gather data from you that passes through its servers and sell it to other companies for marketing purposes. Also, should any law enforcement or government agency demand for your data, ISP’s may cough it up without your permission?

To counter this, you can get the services of a VPN.

A Virtual Private Network or VPN allows you to connect to the Internet through a server run by a VPN provider and separate from an ISP provider. All data traveling between your computer, phone or tablet, and this “VPN server” is securely encrypted. As a result of this setup, VPN’s:

§  Provide privacy by hiding your Internet activity from your ISP. Your ISP will still receive data from you since they provide your Internet service. However, all data they receive will become encrypted, and thus, rendered unreadable.

§  Allow you to evade censorship by the government or through an ISP.

§  Allow you to “geo-spoof” your location in order to access services unfairly denied to you based on your geographical location, or hides your location when you are on holiday.

§  Protect you against hackers when using public Wi-Fi.

§  Allow you to P2P download in safety.

In order to use VPN, you must sign up for a contract for a VPN service, which typically costs between $5 – $10 a month. Note that using a VPN service does not replace the need for an Internet Service Provider, as it is your ISP that provides your Internet connection in the first place.

How do you know that a VPN is trustworthy?

§  VPN’s are expensive to run so a free VPN makes you the product and can’t be trusted.

§  Inquire from others who use VPN’s and identify which providers they trust the most.

§  A trusted VPN will have a “no tracking” and “no logs” policy, meaning that they don’t gather any data from their users.

§  Trusted VPN’s use “shared” ISP’s so they are not easily tracked.

Immediate Solutions to Some Common Computer Issues

No matter how new your rig is or how powerful its specs are, the time comes when something inside malfunctions or a software doesn’t work properly. But before you contact a technical support representative, take your best shot in solving your computer issue because there’s a chance that the problem is only minor and that it doesn’t require a professional help.

Here are some tips on how you can solve some common PC-related problems.

Try this first…

Before you do anything else, try restarting your computer. Most computer problems are solved with this simple step. This long-standing workaround can do wonders.

And while you’re at it…

Make sure that your operating system is fully updated by running Windows Update. Neglecting system updates could deprive you of important bug and performance fixes. Make sure all drivers are updated as well. You can opt to have Windows automatically update itself and install all updates so you don’t need to check on them from time to time.

Slow computer

Check if you still have plenty of free space on the hard drive that’s holding your operating system. Windows needs room to create files while your system is running. If your hard drive is maxed you’re your computer’s performance suffers. Now is the perfect time to clear some space. Delete all files that you don’t need anymore such as videos, music, and pictures. For more important files, you can transfer them to external drives as backup or burn them into DVD’s or CD’s. Microsoft’s System Configuration tool is your next-best bet for handling slow performance. Many applications launch automatically when your machine boots up and this stretches out boot time. Make a habit of filtering your startup programs to increase the speed of your PC’s boot up time. Checking the Startup Item and Manufacturer columns is the best way to figure out which potential performance-killers you can safely disable. Avoid messing with any of the services and programs that have Microsoft Corporation listed as the manufacturer. Items such as AdobeAAMUpdater, Google Update, Pando Media Booster, Spotify, Steam Client Bootstrapper, and the like can be disabled. However, do err on the side of caution, and so if you’re not sure what the program or service does, don’t disable it.

Slow Internet

Run a speed test to see what your download and upload speeds are. Ideally, they should be at least 50 percent of your ISP’s advertised speeds, with a ping under 100 milliseconds. If the speed seems solid, make sure that you aren’t inadvertently downloading or uploading anything. Many torrent downloading programs run in the background and minimize into the system tray instead of the taskbar. Also, check that your network card’s drivers are up to date, and if you haven’t updated your operating system, this might be the time. Next, try turning your modem off and on again. If it has no On/Off button, just unplug and plug it back in. If none of this helped, call your ISP and have them assist you further with your Internet connection problem.

5 Things You Need to Check Before Buying a Used Laptop

Although it's nice to have a shiny brand new laptop straight out of the box, but not everyone can afford to get one. And that's when going for a fairly used laptop is the only realistic option you have.

To reduce the risk of having a bad purchase, here are some tips that may serve as your guide on what to check for before purchasing a second-hand laptop.

1.    Know Your Needs

Before making any sort of purchase, it is important for you to know what you will be using the computer for and buy something that matches your needs. Think about the sort of applications you will need, how portable you need your laptop to be, battery life, RAM, and storage requirements.

When you spot a laptop that you want to buy, search for the make and model online and print out its specifications to find out if it matches with the product you're about to purchase. Another thing you need to take into consideration before buying one, check for reviews online and see what people are saying about the laptop and its performance over a long period of time.

2.    Inspect the Laptop Body

A thorough body check is non-negotiable. Make sure that the frame of the laptop you're eyeing to buy is free from cracks and any signs of impact. Also, check for any missing screws, loose hinges, and any other forms of irregularities.

3.    Check the Screen's Condition

The next important step is to make sure that the laptop's screen is in good working condition. Check for any dead pixel, flickering, discoloration, as well as the brightness controls if it's still working properly.

4.    Test the Keyboard and Trackpad

The keyboard and the trackpad are the most used parts of a laptop, so it's necessary for you to make a thorough checkup on these as well. Here are some additional tips:

·         Check for any broken keys, pay close attention to key travel, and see if you feel comfortable typing with the keyboard. If you're making too many mistakes, then you might want to check out other laptops.

·         Check what gestures are supported by the trackpad and then try them out (such as pinch-to-zoom, two-finger scroll, three-finger swipe, etc.). If mouse keys are present, make sure that they're easy to press.

5.    Check the Battery's Condition

In most cases, you may not be able to perform a thorough check when it comes to the battery's health. However, you can still get a rough idea of how long the battery lasts by going into the laptop's power management settings of the installed OS to see how much charge the battery can hold as well as the battery health status.

Another thing is, make sure the battery charges properly and doesn't drain too fast. Otherwise, you can ask for a discount so you can get a replacement for the battery in case it wears out soon.

What is the Most Effective Approach in Solving Difficult Computer Issues?

Before anything else, let’s break down what we deem as difficult. If difficult means your screen going blank, the computer won’t boot, or you know it’s a hardware problem, the only sensible advice we can give is that you call your subscribed technical support company. Really major and difficult problems of this level can only be solved by the professionals. Tinkering with your computer will only exacerbate the issue. This is the most effective approach and advice we can give.

Even for less difficult or even basic computer issues, if you’re not really sure what to do, then the best thing is not to do anything at all. Just pick up that phone instead.

But if you know what you’re doing, remember that many different things could cause a problem with your computer. No matter what's causing the issue, troubleshooting will always be a process of trial and error. With some cases, you may need to use several different approaches before you can find a solution, but there are definitely problems that may be easy to fix.

We recommend starting by using the following tips:

Write down the steps you’ve done

Once you start troubleshooting, you may want to write down each step you take. This way, you’ll be able to remember exactly what you’ve done and avoid repeating the same mistakes. If you end up asking your tech support company for help, it will be much easier if they know exactly what you’ve tried already.

Write down the exact error messages

If your computer gives you an error message, be sure to write down as much information as possible. You may be able to use this information later if you decide to call your tech support company.

Always check the cables

If you’re having trouble with a specific piece of computer hardware, such as your monitor or keyboard, an easy first step is to check all related cables to make sure they’re properly connected.

Restart the computer

When all else fails, restarting the computer is a good thing to try. This can solve a lot of basic issues you may experience with your computer.

Use the process of elimination

If you’re having an issue with your computer, you may be able to find out what’s wrong using the process of elimination. This means you’ll make a list of things that could be causing the problem and then test them out one by one to eliminate them. Once you’ve identified the source of your computer issue, it will be easier to find a solution or to properly inform your tech support if you decide to call them.

Remember that most computer problems have simple solutions, although it may take some time to find them. For difficult problems, a more drastic solution may be required, like reformatting your hard drive or reinstalling your operating system. If you think you might need a solution like this, we recommend consulting your professional tech support company.

Google Drive Tips You Really Shouldn't Miss

Google Drive is one of the most used cloud storage services, partly due to the fact that it is automatically integrated with every Google account. The service provides some really nice features, both for file storage, and for creating shareable, cloud-hosted documents, spreadsheets, slides, and a lot more. While Google Drive is used by a lot of people, not everyone might know all its cool features that are offered by the cloud service, and the plethora of add-ons that are available for it.

Here is a collection of some great Google Drive tricks that can be very useful to anyone who wants to make the most out of Google Drive.

View Google Drive Keyboard Shortcuts

If you are looking to expand your knowledge of the keyboard shortcuts that work inside Google Drive's web app, you can simply press "Ctrl+/" and you will be shown a card with all the different keyboard shortcuts that are available in Google Drive.

See Your Files Sorted by Size

Google Drive sorts uploaded files and folders by the "Latest Modified First" rule. This can be useful because it makes sure that the files you have uploaded the most recently are present at the top for easy access. However, if you're running low on available space on your Google Drive account, you may want to sort the files by their size, in order to determine where you can save the most.

To do this, hover your mouse on the Upgrade storage option at the bottom left panel of the Google Drive homepage. This will bring up a window with the breakdown of your usage, click on Drive, and Google Drive will sort all your files by Size.

Automatically Save Emails and Attachments to Google Drive

Save Emails and Attachments is another add-on for Google Sheets that lets you define rules based on factors such as the sender's email ID, the subject, message size, attachments, etc., and the add-on will run every hour automatically, and sync emails from your Gmail account into a spreadsheet. It also saves a copy of the email as a PDF inside Google Drive, along with any attachments in the email.

The add-on can also be run manually if required, by going into Addons > Save Emails and Attachments > Manage Rules > Run Manually.

Add Multiple Rows and Columns to Google Sheets

Google Sheets is a pretty well-rounded tool, and it provides almost every spreadsheet capability that someone might need. Combine that with the plethora of add-ons available for Google Sheets and you will see just how incredibly powerful it can get. However, Google Sheets only allows adding rows and columns one by one, but this can get tedious if you need to add multiple rows and/or columns to the spreadsheet. To resolve this, you can use the add-on called Add Rows and Columns, which allows you to add multiple rows and columns in Google Sheets with ease.

Save Web Content Straight to Google Drive

Google created a browser extension called Save to Google Drive that lets you add documents, images, links, and HTML5 audio and video files directly to Google Drive with a simple right-click.

To enable this on your desktop PC, download Google's free browser extension and authorize it on your computer. Then, right-click on the web content you want to save and then select Save to Google Drive. You'll be able to access that file on the Drive right away.

Effective Computer Optimization: The Essential of Speeding Up Your Computer

Most computers don’t have to slow down over time, whether it’s a desktop or laptop. If your computer has gradually become slower because it’s 5 years or older, there could just be a few reasons for that sluggishness.

As with all computer issues, don’t be afraid to give your computer a reboot if something’s not working properly. This can fix quite a few problems and is faster than attempting to manually troubleshoot and fix the problem yourself. If you don’t know how to do the reboot, you can request your subscribed technical support company to do it for you.

Upgrade to a Solid-State Drive (SSD)

If your computer is still using a mechanical hard drive, try upgrading to a solid-state drive or SSD if you can afford it. Undeniably, an SSD will offer you a dramatic performance improvement. An SSD ensures a faster CPU, faster graphic processor performance, and faster overall system performance.

Uninstall Programs You Don’t Need

Open the Control Panel, find the list of installed programs, and uninstall programs you don’t need and use from your computer. This can help speed up your computer as those unneeded programs might include background processes, autostart entries, system services, context menu entries, and other things that can slow down your computer. It will also save room on your hard drive and improve system security. For instance, you definitely shouldn’t have Java installed if you’re not using it.

Defragment Your Hard Disk

Defragmenting your hard disk today is much easier compared to the days of Windows 97 and XP because Windows will automatically defragment mechanical hard drives in the background. SSD’s don’t need traditional defragmentation and modern versions of Windows will “optimize” them. However, if you’re still using a mechanical hard drive and you’ve just put a lot of files on the drive – like copying a huge database of PC game files – those files might be defragmented because Windows hasn’t defragmented them yet. In this situation, you might want to open the disk defragmenter tool and perform a scan to see if you need to run a manual defrag program.

Free Up Disk Space

If your hard drive is almost completely full, your computer may run noticeably slower. You want to leave your computer some room to work on your hard drive. Start removing all unnecessary files that you no longer need, no matter how small. Unneeded pictures, wallpapers, videos, and uninstalled program folders should be deleted. You don’t need any third-party software; just running the Disk Cleanup tool included in Windows to further clean out your disk.

Clean Out Your Web Browser

Since you use a web browser a lot, it’s a good idea to use as few browser extensions, or add-ons, as possible since these slow down your web browser and cause it to use more memory. Go to your web browser’s Extensions or Add-ons manager and remove add-ons you don’t need. You should also consider enabling click-to-play plug-ins. Preventing Flash and other content from loading will prevent unimportant Flash content from using memory.

Some Reasons Why Your Internet is Slow All of a Sudden

Sometimes a suddenly slow internet is the universe’s way of telling you to go play outside. On other occasions it’s the same universe’s cruel joke to disrupt your productivity.

On a more serious note, a slow internet connection may sometimes be the fault of the internet service provider (ISP). Sometimes though, the culprit is simply the user.

It may be your Wi-Fi

Most internet connections with plans are pretty fast. The same can’t be said for Wi-Fi. In truth, wireless Wi-Fi reception is much slower than other connections. Before you assume you aren’t getting the speeds you pay for, make sure your expectations are correct. Try and download a small file (like music) or run a speed test from a computer that’s hard-wired, and compare the results. If that machine provides the speeds you expect, you have a Wi-Fi problem. If that’s happening in a part of your home prone to bad reception, move somewhere else.

It could be the server

Just because a speed test reveals your connection is capable of certain data rates doesn’t mean you’ll always get them. For example, if your connection provides 25mbps downstream, the server you’re connected to has to provide the same speed upstream just to you. Remember that you’re not the only one connecting, so that’s a lot of bandwidth. Major sites do have large amounts of bandwidth and can match your speeds on numerous occasions, but many simply cannot. This doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with your connection, but that the server you’re connecting to just can’t match your speeds.

Did you leave the torrent on?

Since we tend to love to download a lot of things these days, remember that the larger the torrent you’re downloading the more it takes from the bandwidth. So your connection might tend to slow down while working if you’re downloading that 8GB Blu-ray movie as compared to downloading an 800mb music album. Of course a torrent isn’t the only thing that bogs down your connection. Lots of other apps may be running in the background and slow things down, either briefly or a long time. Apps often automatically update themselves. Be sure to check on everything capable of utilizing your connection in the event a slowdown occurs.

Your router is sleeping on the job

Routers are tiny little computers that manage your network. Sometimes they require a bit too much and may cause problems. That’s why many routers require a regular restart. Sometimes you can easily fix this problem, but other times you may just have a bad router. Unfortunately, routers often don’t fail by completely dying. Rather, they’ll stop working well and you won't notice immediately. If your router is becoming a problem, perhaps you’ll need the help of your local tech support company.

5 Awesome Remote Tricks That Could Supercharge Your Apple TV

Do you know that you can find one of the fastest growing niches of the consumer technology space in your living room? Nowadays, almost everyone wants to have their own piece -- Apple, Google, Amazon, and Roku. The reason for this is because HDTVs are usually expensive; therefore it's not something an average consumer can buy. There's a lot to love about the new Apple TV. And to help you get the best out of your new Apple TV remote, check out these tips to find out more.

Adjust the sensitivity of the Touch surface

The Touch surface on the new remote is a great addition, but it can feel fairly imprecise while performing a text input. A part of the problem is that everyone swipes a little differently, and fingers of varying sizes fit differently on the Touch surface. To compensate for this, Apple allows us to adjust the sensitivity of the Touch surface. Just go to Settings > Remotes and Devices > Touch Surface Tracking and then choose Fast,Medium, or Slow.

Use the remote to control your TV or receiver

Did you know the new remote can control the basic functions of compatible TVs and receivers? If your equipment supports HDMI CEC (which is often referred to by manufacturer-specific names such as SimpLink, EasyLink, Bravia Link, Anycast, or CEC), the remote can be used to adjust the volume, turn everything off when the Apple TV is placed into sleep mode, or turn it all on and switch to the TV's correct HDMI input when the Apple TV is woken up. Your Apple TV should set this all up automatically, and the remote's volume buttons should work even on tech that don't support HDMI-CEC.

Manually start the screensaver

Press the Menu button with the first app highlighted on the Home screen in order to manually trigger one of the Apple TV's swooping cityscape screensavers. If you're deep into an app, simply continue tapping on the Menu button -- paging backward through as many menus as necessary -- until the screensaver shows up.

Zoom in on the action

If you'd like to have a closer look at a movie, game, etc., you can use the remote to zoom in and magnify a section of the screen. Once you've turned on this feature by heading to Settings > General > Accessibility, it can be triggered by clicking the Touch surface three times. With zoom activated, simply slide your finger across the Touch surface to move your magnification area across the screen. To return the screen to its normal setting, just do another three clicks.

Extra video controls

You may already be aware that you can swipe left or right on the Touch to slide the scrub bar to the exact scene you want, but did you know you can also click the right or left edge to jump 10 seconds or backward? Aside from that, you can also click and hold an edge to rewind or fast-forward the video clip. These tips are useful especially if you want to go back to a specific part of a long video clip that you're currently watching.

Understanding Basic Operations on how a Computer Works Can Make a Difference

How nice it would be if you know at least the basics of how to operate a computer. But some people tend to get the idea that if only they just know more by exploring their computer’s inner functions they might improve on how to use the computer, or worse, they think they might be able to improve its performance.

Sometimes there are just some things you really need to leave alone. As the overused cliché goes, “curiosity killed the cat,” and in this case, your curiosity can actually kill your computer. It would be more appropriate if you at least understood the basic operations on how a computer works and just leave things as they are.

Understanding your computer’s operating system

The operating system is the most complicated, complex, and important software that runs your computer. It manages the computer’s memory, processes, other software, and hardware. It allows the user to communicate with the computer without the need to really speak the computer’s real language. In short, just learn to communicate with the computer and things will go well with you both. Tampering with the OS is a big NO-NO unless you’re a professional support technician, so leave the OS alone.

Understanding storage systems

Computer data storage is referred to as storage or memory that saves all digital data. Examples are RAM (Random Access Memory), hard disks, CD’s, DVD’s, and removable flash memory sticks. These aforementioned are called permanent or non-volatile storage devices that don’t require power to store data. A loss of power will not affect their ability to retain data. Temporary or volatile storage is more often called “memory” and any loss of power means that any data stored will be lost irretrievably. When all is said and done, all storage systems are important to the computer’s lifeline and is therefore hands off to all struggling DIY repairs. Should you attempt to repair a storage system with no prior training, you could end up damaging it further. It’s best to call your tech support company if one or more of your storage systems, particularly the hard disk, is failing.

Understanding computer processing

The processor is the brain of a computer. It’s also called the CPU (Central processing unit) and is in the form of a microchip. For a non-programmer, this is where all the real action is. Programs only set the stage and direct the play. The processor actually performs very simple operations like basic arithmetic and comparing two values. Despite its apparent simplicity, the CPU does in fact run the show, controlling all of the peripherals while executing the current software commands. Since you don’t want other people picking into your brain, so it would be wise to stay away from the computer’s brain, and should anything go wrong, let the professional tech support people look into it.

Understanding the basic operations of computers simply means that while you do understand how your computer works, it isn’t a license to start poking inside, inviting damage to the software or hardware. Understanding how your computer works simply gives you a reason to take more care of your machine since it’s a complicated device.