Messing up Your Computer Can Be the Best Thing to Happen to You

In summary, these are the hard lessons people learn because of the mistakes they made on their computers. It could be out of curiosity; it could be out of pure ignorance; it could be the desire to fix something in a hurry even if the user has no knowledge on how to fix the computer; and sometimes it’s just because of plain and simple stupidity. Whatever the reason, let’s hope these hard mistakes serve as a lesson when handling computers.

Not having an antivirus program

No matter how careful we all are with our computers, if you surf the net, chances are something will want to enter your machine and infect it with god-knows what it is. Always have an updated antivirus program. It’s no good if it’s not updated. You don’t even need an expensive one. In connection to this, even if you are running an antivirus program, don’t ever attempt clicking on links and e-mails that you don’t know about or try to click from the darkest corners of the net. These are where you pick up those nasty viruses.

Lifting a laptop by the screen

Doing this can be lumped into the category of ignorance or stupidity, or both. But logic tells us that the base of a laptop is heavier so always lift it from the base. Lifting by the screen will exert pressure on the hinges and will break the TFT-LCD or the CCFL lamp on the top portion of the LCD.

Not regularly cleaning your PC

Dust builds up inside of your PC’s case over time. This dust clogs up fans, reducing air flow, and increasing the temperature inside your PC. A large amount of dust build-up can result in problems with cooling, which could lead to system crashes as your CPU’s temperature increases. Take time to regularly clean out the dust, not only in your PC, but also from your laptop. Canned compressed air is useful for these cleaning tasks. While it’s understandable that we are all busy working, a damaged PC or laptop will render all your work useless.

Not using a surge protector

If you don’t have your computer plugged into a surge protector, you are putting your computer in great risk. Should there be a power surge or power outage, this can damage your equipment. A good surge protector will absorb the power surges and keep your equipment safe. It will also protect your PC against lightning strikes, but in connection with this, it’s always best to err on the safe side and turn off your laptop and PC during a lightning storm. Don’t ever think that just because your laptop is running on batteries it won’t be damaged by lightning. Ever heard of EMP? That’s what lightning can do if it strikes near enough.

Yanking cables out from a PC

Be sure you gently remove any cable that is attached to your computer. Some cables have screws that hold them in place. Some have plastic tabs. If you just yank the cable out, the cable can break or the computer port can be damaged.

5 Helpful Tips to Enhance Your Skype Experience

Making expensive international phone calls are now history, and we have to give the credits to apps like Skype, Hangouts, Viber, WhatsApp, Line, and WeChat just to name a few. Whether you're using a data plan or connected to a Wi-Fi network, you have the liberty to take calls wherever you may be. And although some may have additional charges for availing the advanced features, it would still be considered cheaper compared to the traditional overseas phone calls. Skype is a great help for businesses whenever the need for meetings, conference calls, and chats arise.

But would you like to have a better Skype experience? Check out these 5 simple tips and tricks that you can apply so that you can use Skype to its fullest.

Access and Backup IM Chat History

When you switch to another PC, you'll definitely won't find your previous chat conversations with your family and friends on Skype. However, there is a way to create a backup and explore your history if you're using a Windows computer. This feature can be useful especially if you want to keep your chat conversations for recordkeeping and/or documentation.

To do this, press the Windows key + [R] to launch the Run box. Then type the command "%appdata%\Skype" then press [Enter]. When the File Explorer window shows up, choose the folder labeled as your Skype username, and then look for the "main.db" file. That particular file is your IM chat history.

Alternatively, you can create a backup using the directory "C:\Users\YOURWINDOWSNAME\AppData\Roaming\Skype", which you can copy and then save to an external USB device. You can copy and then save them later on if necessary.

Mute the Mic During Group Calls

During conference calls, it is advisable to mute your mic so that you can hear the voice of the person you're talking to loud and clear. Just imagine if there are ten people in a conference call and each of them have their own background (a dog barking, a crying baby, an ambulance passing by, car honks on a busy street) -- that would be a complete chaos. So if it's your turn to talk, then that's the time to unmute your mic. Don't worry because unmuting your mic will not actually disconnect you from the call and you will still hear the other person/s talking.

Get a Backup of Calls Using Online Dial-in Conferencing

If in case you are experiencing an unstable line connection on the other side (from some of the team members) or others can't access their computers, you can set up the online dial-in conferencing that everyone can access. Although this option is premium, this will ensure that everyone in the call will be kept in-sync with your meeting. The dial-in for US is (641) 715-3580. Participants will be given the conference codes, PINs, and local dial-ins in each country.

Share Your Screen Easily with Join.Me

During a Skype conference call, you have the ability to share what's going on your computer screen among with the rest of the participants. However, there are times when doing this is a challenging to almost impossible due to low bandwidth or intermittent connection. You can solve this problem by using Join.Me. Simply send the link to the person or to the chat box (during conference calls), and they will be able to view your screen in no time once they click on it. This is most useful for participants who are non-Skype members since only registered users can make use of the screen sharing and file sharing options.

Use Skype Wi-Fi on Mobile Devices and PCs

Are you using a mobile device to make your Skype calls? You can download the Skype Wi-Fi app where you can check out the Skype Hotspots where you can connect to within your area by viewing its worldwide map. Skype boasts of having more than 2 million public hotspots all over the world.

5 Credit Card Reader Apps That Are Perfect for Small Businesses

For small business owners, investing in a mobile credit card reader is considered a smart decision nowadays because it gives your customers more payment options, especially if you are travelling and are usually involved in outside sales. Businesses are rarely cash-only and it can frustrate your customers if your business only accepts limited forms of payment. There are apps designed to make it easier for customers to pay how they want, even for small purchases, and will help boost customer satisfaction and retention. When comparing mobile credit card reader apps, there are several factors that a small business owner must consider, like ease of use and compatibility with a wide range of mobile devices and phones.

Check out some popular mobile credit card reader apps on the market now.

ROAMpay

The ROAMpay app is unique among its competitors because it is one of the few on the market that offers a combination card swiper that works with Android phones, iPhone, and BlackBerry. It is also compatible with some flip phones and older mobile phones. The app provides end-to-end encryption when transactions are made as well as a secure PIN-based user authentication, ensuring the highest level of data security possible. ROAMpay is a great option for small business owners because of its ability to work with so many types of devices. For this reason, having this app will surely provide convenience to your customers and higher possibility of sales increase.

Square

Square is currently one of the most acknowledged and popular apps. It charges 2.75 percent per swipe, but you can get both the device and app for free. It doesn't require any contract, and the money will be deposited directly to your bank account right after a transaction. What makes the app attractive is its ease of use, as well as the sleekness and the small size of the app. Simply plug it into the audio jack of your mobile device. The only downside of the Square app is that it is only compatible with Android and iPhones.

PayAnywhere

One of the least expensive you can get for a mobile credit card reader app is PayAnywhere. The reader is free and accepts most major credit cards, including MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover. It charges a low rate of 2.69 percent per card swipe. With its basic features and free from any setup costs, hidden fees, or minimum monthly payments, the PayAnywhere app is one of the best solutions you can get.

Intuit GoPayment

Intuit GoPayment is somehow similar to Square because it works with Android, iPhone and other Apple products, as well as BlackBerry devices. It's startup is free and simple -- all you need to do is sign up and install the free app. Enjoy rates as low as 1.7% per swipe, with no setup fees, no commitment and the ability to cancel anytime. With Intuit GoPayment, you can have safe and secure payments because it has two levels of security to ensure that all of your transactions are safe and secure with the encrypted card reader. Intuit GoPayment is compatible with major credit cards, including VISA, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express with authorization in seconds.

PayPal Here

This mobile payment solution is part of the overall PayPal package and connects with your PayPal debit card and online account. One cool feature of the PayPal Here app is that you can use your GPS signal to attract buyers, who can search for local businesses that accept PayPal or use PayPal Here. This also means you can simultaneously accept payments by credit card or online through PayPal's payment service. However, just like Square, it only works with Apple and Android devices. PayPal Here offers different types of payment plans, so you can choose a package depending on how advanced your business is or you can tailor a package that will perfectly fit to your needs.

4 Mac Apps That Will Help You Become More Focused and Productive

It doesn't matter whether you are finishing a work presentation on your computer or just getting your homework, there will always be some form of distraction to keep you from accomplishing your task. Such distractions can be in the form of checking your emails or Facebook feed, listening to online radio, browsing for the latest in lifestyle, fashion, or anything that interests you.

If you happen to be a Mac user, there are some apps that can help you ward off those distractions and keep you focused on what needs to be done right away. These apps block those services that it thinks you don't need at the moment. So, if that's what you're looking for right now, check out the apps below.

1. SelfControl

We all know that one of the most distracting things when working on a computer is the Internet. If you know that your computer has Internet access, it's hard to fight the urge not to open a browser and head to your favorite site or check your Facebook feed. Well, SelfControl lets you block websites you don't want to be distracted by, and it keeps them blocked as long as you want them to be. When the time restriction is up, you can then be able to access those websites you've blocked a while ago.

The app's blacklist is where you can specify those websites that you want to be blocked while you're working on something urgent on your Mac. All the websites you have indicated on the said list will not be accessible until the specified time is over.

The SelfControl app can be downloaded for free from its official website.

2. Focus

Basing on its name, the Focus app helps you stay focused on your actual work by preventing you from accessing social media and other sites on all the browsers on your Mac. You have the liberty to choose which sites you want to be blocked, including Facebook, Reddit, and IMs. Once you have blocked a website, you will see an inspirational quote, which you can customize yourself, to help you get motivated and finish your task right away.

Focus is a geek-friendly app that allows you to use its functions via the Terminal. A few commands from the Terminal, and you should be able to accomplish your work with the app's aid You can download either the trial or the paid version from its official website.

3. WriteRoom

If you're a writer and don't want to get distracted by anything while you're composing your work, then WriteRoom is the perfect app for you. Unlike any other text editor, the app doesn't have any page layouts, tables, or graphs. It's just a plain blank space, so that you can focus on the only thing that you need to do -- write.

And while you're so busy composing that great blog article, it's easy to forget to save your work. There's no need to worry about that part because WriteRoom has an auto-save feature, so that you don't lose your precious work in the event of any unfortunate incident.

WriteRoom is available in both free and paid versions.

4. Time Out

Stressed too much? Time Out is an app that reminds you to take a break once in a while, so you don't get tensed too much and give your tired mind a breather. This app helps you relax and move around after you have been working on your task for quite some time. Included as well is the micro break function that reminds you to take a break, say every ten minutes, and relax for a bit. Sometimes, when we get too much involved in our work, we tend to forget to take a quick break.

Luckily, you can get the Time Out app free of charge from its official website.

Tips You Should Know to Make the Most Out of Your Kindle Paperwhite

With the ability to hole more than 1,000 books in its slim built and thousands more that can be stored in the cloud, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite puts a library in your pocket. There's no need to clip on a bulky book light since the Kindle Paperwhite features an edge lighting, while its X-Ray features lets you follow along with every motion of a character or term without frenzied flipping. If in case you want to know how far you've got till you reach the end of the book, you can simply check on the slider along the bottom of the digital page.

So here are some quick tips and tricks to get the most out of your Kindle Paperwhite. If you want to change the number of words you want to see per page, a simple flick of your fingers can change the font size. If you want to save some battery life, just go to your Kindle's menu and switch it to airplane mode whenever you're not downloading books. Well, these are just the basics. So if you want to know more about your Kindle Paperwhite, read on.

Remove Books You Don't Wan't

Kindle is bundled with free pre-loaded books, which is great, but what if you don't like some of those books that Amazon's Selection? To fix this, press and hold the title and select Remove From Device option that will appear. What's nice is that you can re-download them to your Paperwhite later on. Buf if in case you want to permanently delete them from your Amazon account, log in from a browser add then go to Manage Your Content and Devices. Once there, go to your Content tab, then go to Show, and then headto the category where the unwanted book appear. Select the book you wish to be remove, then select Delete, and then confirm that you want to delete it permanently.

Extracurricular Activities

Aside from the main reason of buying a Kindle Paperwhite to read, you can also use it for games and app. Amazon has a Kindle Active Content that run on E Ink devices. Here, you can practice yoga, play Sudoku, or write down your thoughts on a notepad.

Organize Your Book Collection

having too many books on your Kindle is just the same way as too many apps cluttered on your smartphone's Home screen. If you want to keep things neat and tidy on your Kindle, head to Menu, select Create New Collection, and then type the name of your book collection. Check the box next to each book you want to appear in the said collection, and then select Done. If you want to add books to the collection later on, just go to the home screen, hold down the book cover, and an Add to Collection option will appear.

Take a Snapshot

You can also take a screenshot if you would like to save what you see on your Kindle's screen, similar to a smartphone. Kindle Paperwhite is the only Kindle e-reader that has this functionality. To do this, simultaneously tap either the upper-right corner and lower-left corner of the screen. You should see a flash, indicating that the screen has been snapped and saved. to view you saved screenshot, connect your Kindle to a computer and you should be able to see the image in the root folder (in PNG files).

Highlight Your Favorite Part

This is similar to the old school practice of using a yellow marker to highlight your favorite phrase, quote, or statement from book. If you miss doing this, then this feature of Kindle Paperwhite may just be on of your favorites. You can also see all your highlights in one place -- just go to Kindle Highlights Page.