Some of the Best Websites to Learn Basic Troubleshooting on Computer Technical Issues

If you consider yourself a techie person and you can at least troubleshoot some common computer technical issues, then there are sites that you can learn from or add to your knowledge based on what you already know. Often, these sites can give advice and tips on how to solve at least those common problems that don’t need really deep technical know-how.

Of course, you can always go to the search engines to search how to fix a technical issue on your computer. However, this takes time.

By the way, if you are in no way a techie person, even just a little, you can stop here and just call for tech support. If in case you’re confused and don’t know what to do, don’t hesitate to contact tech support.

WikiHow
Probably, the simplest site to go to if you want to learn easy step-by-step instructions including some advice and tips on how to solve those common technical issues on your computer. The steps and instructions are given in detail and are easy to understand. Aside from the tips and advice, there is even a section towards the end that warns what not to do in certain situations.

TechSpot
TechSpot is a good learning site to read up on the latest reviews, news, and to download drivers for your computer. TechSpot’s forum is also a good place to get computer advice and support for a wide range of issues from hardware, operating system, and software to gaming consoles and guides. If you’re facing some common technical issues on your computer, you can also check out the TechSpot Forum.

Supportrix Knowledge Base
Supportrix is the business and tech support unit of Concentrix, the well-known Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) division of the Synnex Corporation. They have been in the business of computer technical support for over 20 years. Their Knowledge Base page contains specific topics for learning basic troubleshooting, or how to avoid technical issues. These topics cover mobile devices and gadgets, multimedia and gaming, network issues, PC tune-up and repair, virus removal and security, and data recovery.

Tech Guy
The Tech Guy forum is a lot larger than most help and learning sites, and focuses on more key areas such as operating systems, networking, internet and e-mailing, hardware, software, software development, security, do-it-yourself projects and many more areas. With many people online at a time, you should be able to get computer support really quickly on a wide range of topics.

Geeks To Go
An ever popular site that has an active forum that specializes in security, operating systems, hardware, software, and development to ensure you can find a solution. With over 1.5 million posts, there have been quite a lot of happy customers.

There you have it. Those are some of the lesser known websites that can help you fix your tech problems. Hope you will be able to find a solution using those resources.

What are the Coming Technology Trends in User Experience for 2015?

Technology trends today are always evolving, and 2015 will undoubtedly be another year filled with cutting-edge innovations and standout technology. And if you look at the past years, each year was always a big year for new technology trends. This coming 2015 will be no different when the user experience face new developments, surprises, and shakeups.

Staying “Always Connected”

The biggest factor that will make headway in 2015 for user experience is Internet connectivity. This isn't just about computers, tablets, or smartphones, but rather, all types of products that can be connected to the Internet at all times. New devices will have the ability to send and receive data, display graphs on smartphones, and store it all on the cloud. Experts call this latest phenomenon the “Internet of things (IoT).”

The blurring between hardware and software

With the Internet now becoming more ubiquitous, a lot of software is now converting into web applications. Many can be downloaded for free through any mobile device or PC. For businesses, however, it makes it harder to appeal to customers because even competitors may be using the same apps. Thus, the true user experience for customer value may now boil down on who can create the better apps without the competition getting to it. Take the example of Apple and what they did with iPod and iTunes package using Device+Software+Internet+Content for their customers.

The rise of the smartwatches

This is one product that the user experience will see rise in 2015. The smartwatch is a device that features not only time and date, but also many other functions including web browsing, social media, and the ability to track user data by staying connected to the Internet and any user smartphone.

The coming of text-less communication

The biggest reason for the popularity of chat apps in mobile devices and even computers is the function that enables users to communicate just by sending icons or stickers. It has been noted that Asians, in general, love text-less communication. It is not because it is faster and simpler, but because it makes it easier to express their true feelings by showing the icon or sticker. This also is a new form of user experience that many users appreciate as it is slowly replacing costly texting and phone call bills. Of course, aside from being able to continuously chat without texting comes the ease of exchanging photos and videos without resorting to costly MMS.

Online services that can provide real experiences

If you think about some of the new and popular online services like Uber and Airbnb, you should realize that they provide a new type of real life experience. Just by using their services online, you can experience a new way to ride a taxi or stay at different places around the world. It feels like the technology has finally started serving its original role of helping people’s lives instead of taking them over.

Taking a closer look at these trends, most of these concepts are actually nothing new. Rather, most of these technologies were well developed almost a decade ago. However, by combining different technologies and platforms, these new trends are also providing new user experiences that may just make a great impact in 2015 or beyond.

Important 'Must Have' Skills that Every Tech Enthusiast Should be Familiar With

You're a technology enthusiast, and you know that there are some so-called “must-have” skills that you need to possess. Of course, the skills required for technology may vary widely from one situation to the next. However, there are some skills that are worth acquiring no matter what your area of expertise is.

Do these skills involve web development coding because it’s in demand globally? Is it perhaps cloud computing since this may be the “hybrid development of the future?” Could it be data for mobile apps? Or perhaps all you need are soft skills such as the skill of being resilient, having adaptability, and having awesome problem solving skills.

However, the first three above may be too technical for some people, while soft skills are basic work ethic skills that everyone needs whether working in IT or on a factory assembly line. Instead here are some “must-have” tech skills that all techie enthusiasts can relate to.

Quality Assurance
The quality assurance (QA) process is central to almost everything from developing software to systems and apps. While QA can be a job in itself, many organizations rely on developers, support professionals, and others to handle QA. If you don’t know anything about it, you’re shortchanging your career prospects. It is, therefore, important for every techie to have a sound QA background in whatever IT field they have.

Documentation
Producing documentation isn’t just for content and technical writers. Support professionals, coders, and other IT workers must often document their processes and products for other technology professionals, customers, and even their non-techie colleagues. Techies with sharp documentation skills have an edge.

Databases
The database is at the foundation of most software projects. The more you learn about databases, the more you’ll be able to contribute to projects with databases at their center. Support professionals often field calls from non-technical users about databases, while developers must often design software to work with databases.

Networks
Even in this age of Wi-Fi and mobile gadgets, everything is still connected especially in offices. If you don’t know the basics of networking, and if you can’t even set up and troubleshoot your own Wi-Fi network, then you need to familiarize yourself with the essentials of networking. Lacking knowledge about networks can be a red flag to potential employers. There have been numerous experiences by hiring managers and company proprietors who have complained about programmers who know everything about coding, but nothing about networks.

Microsoft Office
If you don’t know how to use Excel, let alone how to import an Excel worksheet, then that could spell real trouble for your hiring chances. Too often, too many techies don’t have a broad enough knowledge of Microsoft Office. MS Office – and at least the three basic programs in it, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint – is so pervasive that it makes sense to learn enough so that it’s not a barrier in the workplace. After all, you never know when you’ll need to write technical specifications in Word or prepare a presentation in PowerPoint.

5 Best Lollipop Launchers for Your Android Device

Android 5.0 Lollipop rolled out with a great user interface and a number of improvements in order to make Android devices run as smoothly as possible. Though there are already several devices that have been confirmed to receive this latest update, there are still some that weren't lucky enough to get Android 5.0 Lollipop. If you're one of those not-so-lucky Android users, your time to shine is now. Third-party developers have brought some amazing launchers that lets you get that Android Lollipop look on your device.

Let's take a look at these five great Android Lollipop launchers.

1. Blinq Lollipop Launcher

The Blinq Lollipop Launcher carries the Material UI, which makes your device look like it's running on the real Android 5.0 version. Whatever Android version you're device is currently running on, you can now achieve that Lollipop feeling on your device in an instant. The launcher allows you to create your own gestures, extreme customizations, more transition effects, and many more.

The Blinq Lollipop Launcher can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store. It's one amazing launcher that you should not miss.

2. Epic Launcher (Lollipop)

One of the best looking Lollipop launchers you can get for your Android device is the Epic Launcher. With the support of "Ok, Google" keyword and a number of other goodies, it will surely give you a feeling that your Android device is already running on Android 5.0 Lollipop. This launcher allows you to specify custom icons and text sizes, locking and unlocking desktop, infinite scrolling, and so on.

3. Lollipop Launcher

The Lollipop Launcher can give you everything you need to transform your Ice Cream Sandwich or Jelly Bean-based Android device into a Lollipop version. Starting from the material UI to speed improvements, this launcher carries almost all the elements that can help you achieve your dream of having the newest version for your device. Aside from that, it supports the "Ok, Google" keyword to quickly launch the search panel for you. What makes this launcher worthwhile is the infinite scrolling and hand gestures. You can download the Lollipop Launcher for free at the Google Play Store.

4. Action Launcher 3

If you're in dire search of a great Lollipop launcher for your Android device, better check out the Action Launcher 3. With the combination of material UI and its own designs, anyone who will look at your device will think that it's a true Lollipop-upgraded one. For quicker access to your apps, Action Launcher 3 offers a unique feature called Quickdrawer that holds shortcuts to all of your apps. Just tap on any app to launch it.

Meanwhile, the launcher's Quicktheme feature combines the color of your wallpaper with the layout in order to create great blendings. For widgets, the Shutter feature lets you create widgets for your favorite apps with just your hand gestures.

Overall, the Action Launcher 3 boasts a lot of great Lollipop features, and it's so awesome because you can download this for free on Google Play Store.

5. KK Launcher

If you want something with handy features and a smooth interface, KK Launcher is perfect for you. This launcher is the solution for those looking a way to give their Android devices a neat Lollipop makeover. Some of the notable features include a handy sidebar, which lets you quickly jump to your favorite apps, "Ok, Google" support, more than sixteen transition effects, unread counts, and so on.

After installing the KK Launcher on your device, you'll notice that your device looks clutter-free, which is a cool and refreshing thing to see on your Android device.

Whether you haven't received the Android 5.0 Lollipop update or you don't want to switch to the latest version yet, installing one of these launchers should help you achieve all those fancy Lollipop features on your device in an instant. Try and see which one will really suit you best.

New Features of Windows 10 That is Worth the Wait

Windows is up for another big upgrade. Microsoft has finally developed a solution for all the frustrations and confusions brought about by Windows 8. From a big comeback of the Start Menu to new multitasking tools. Here's a sneak peek of what you can look forward to in Windows 10, which will be rolled out by mid-2015.

1. Start Menu is Here to Stay

Microsoft has finally brought back the most sought-for Start Menu. What's new with this feature is that when you click on the traditional Start button, you'll be seeing two panels side by side -- the left panel showing the pinned, recently, and most used apps. There's also a power button at the top for the Hibernate, Standby, and Shutdown options, as well as an all apps option like with Windows 7. While the right panel features a selection of live tiles, which you can customize, resize, and re-organize according to your preference.

2. Universal Search in Start Menu

The Search tool, found at the bottom of the Start Menu, has also been improved. It now not only searches your programs and files, similar to how it does in Windows 7, but it also looks up related results from the Internet. What's good about this is that you won't have to open up a browser in order to find a particular Wikipedia entry. However, there's no accurate information as to what other sources the Universal Search will get from.

3. Multiple Desktops

This feature is similar to Apple's Spaces feature on Mac OS X, which assists you in managing multiple open windows and apps. So instead of having multiple windows open on top of each other on your desktop screen, you have the option to set up a whole other virtual desktop for those programs to occupy in. Set up one specifically for home and leave your other apps like Netflix and Amazon open, and create another desktop for work in which you keep programs such as Word, Excel, and Internet Explorer open.

4. Task View Multitasking

With Windows 10, there's a new way to keep track of your open apps. You can either hit the new Task View button on the taskbar or swipe in from the left edge of the screen to pull up a one-page view of all your open apps and files. It's somehow similar to the Alt-Tab key combination, but this provides a convenient way for touch-oriented users to get an overview of what programs are running.

5. Enhanced Start Screen

Back in Windows 8, the Start Screen is the touch-optimized page for all the live tiles and apps in which the OS became famous for. Now, the improved Start screen comes with a persistent taskbar and a list of programs and folders on its left panel. This gives Windows 10 users to have easy and quick access to common locations such as My Documents or PC Settings straight from the home screen, and it also allows an easy way to find a particular app with the help of the All Apps option at the bottom.

6. Smoother Snap View Feature

Microsoft has also improved that Snap View multitasking feature, which allows you to dock windows to the four corners of your screen. If you could split your display between up to four apps at a time previously, the number of apps you could have side-by-side was dependent on your screen size's resolution.

There's no definite information as to whether this quadrant snap view is dependent on your resolution, but this improved way of docking your apps will surely boost your productivity. The system will even suggest what other open apps you can use to fill up available space, if there's any.