Tech Gadgets That Make Traveling a Breeze

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Supposedly half the fun of travel is getting there, but what if traveling could be fun from start to finish? This year's CES was all about travel tech designed to make your next vacation (or business trip) a lot less stressful and a lot more enjoyable. 

Of course, an open mind and adventurous spirit are the most important things to bring with you on any voyage but there are plenty of gadgets and accessories that are worth packing. Here's some of the newest travel tech, some of which debuted at CES 2016, that's equally useful for world travelers and weekenders.

The Egg – a Phone to Cloud Photo Solution

Eggcyte's personal cloud device, the Egg, is a must have for phone-wielding shutterbugs who have more subject matter than storage space. 

The Egg can connect to your phone from anywhere in the world so you can share up to 50,000 snapshots with friends and family back home. And after you've said goodbye to your favorite destination, scrolling through those vacay pics is as easy is firing up the app. 

Samsung's Galaxy S7 – Best in Class Photos on the Go

The Samsung Galaxy S7 has premium specs that include a best in class camera with 4K capture capabilities, low-light optimization, a cool menu of effects and a fully outfitted manual mode. Why make this your go-to travel phone? 

The brand's latest offering brings back IP68 dust resistance and long-term water resistance up to 3m, which means you can bring it just about anywhere. And best of all, if you get it from T-Mobile this phone comes with a free year of Netflix, perfect for binge-watching your favorite shows on the go.

Bluesmart – the Smartest Suitcase 

This four-wheeled, extra strong carryon-friendly bag does more than keep your stuff safe. Bluesmart can weigh itself, has not one but two USB charging stations, and comes with a built-in tracker that's smart enough to alert you if it senses that your luggage is on its way to Timbuktu. 

Want the tracker without all the extras? Stash Trakdot in your suitcase and you'll always know where in the world your bags are. 

Zagg – Untethered Audio Anywhere

The retractable earbuds on Zagg's versatile Flex Arc headset let you curl up and forget about your neighbors on the plane. 

And then when you get to your destination, you can get the party started with built in external speakers that offer surprisingly souped-up sound for such a small package. 

Sol – a Bag that Does Double Duty

Samsung C&T's Sol Bag is a stylish oversized clutch that features integrated solar panels that charge your devices whenever you're walking in the sun. Of course, if you're traveling to an out of the way destination a high capacity power bank makes more sense.

In that case, grab Aukey's portable charger – it has enough emergency backup juice to charge your iPhone ten times plus a built in flashlight.

Bedphones – Promoting a Good Night's Sleep

DubsLabs has created Bedphones, a new kind of nighttime earbud designed to combat the challenges travelers face when falling asleep away from home. This speaker sits outside your ear so you can bliss out with white noise or fall asleep to your favorite podcast without the uncomfortable feeling of something in your ears. 

Better still, the Bedphones app senses when you've nodded off and automatically shuts off your audio to save you power. 

Mobi EyeFi – for Faster Photo Transfers

The Eyefi Mobi WiFi SD card makes the chore of transferring photos from camera to device a breeze.

Your snapshots are automatically sent from your camera to your iOS, Android, or Kindle device using wifi. 

What else do you need to stash in your carryon? Definitely check out the latest on-the-fly audio translators and ultra light laptops – especially if it's business bringing you to the far reaches of the globe. Ultimately there's no such thing as 100% stress free travel but with the right tech you can come pretty close.

READ ALSO: Transportation Options While Vacationing

As always, would be great to hear what you think!

*by andreascy*

Trending Tech Accessories Taken for Granted

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

It’s the year 2015. No flying cars, moon base, or teleportation technology. Anyone familiar with the 20th century’s pop culture projections of the future are a little disappointed. Alas, not everything tech we hoped to exist by now has failed to appear. When it comes to personal and personalized gadgets and gizmos available to 21st century consumers, the human race has done pretty well for itself. The digital revolution has helped everything from touchscreens to voice command make the leap from fiction to reality. We haven’t sent someone to Mars yet, but we can simulate it via downloadable app. 

For anyone bummed out about the chances of a working hover board appearing in their lifetime it’s time to appreciate what you do have. Here’s a list of impressive technology either ten feet away from you right now, or five years away from being ten feet away from you:

Headphones/Earbuds 

Ear gear has been around for a long time, no lie. The recent fashion flare-up involving “high quality” headphones illustrates how this taken for granted technology has come a long way. Not too long ago it exhausted a part-time paycheck or two to acquire headphones capable of reproducing great sound without letting everyone around you know what’s on the playlist. These days we’re able to isolate ourselves inside an album, movie, or viral video while riding packed public transit for less than $50 for a good pair of earbuds. Or you can opt for the $500 pair of headphones if you want...the technology is impressive either way.

Flash Drives

Like portable personal audio, the ability to physically transport digital data is nothing new. And it may even seem old-fashioned thanks to the cloud. But once again, we’re failing to marvel at one of the more magnificent inventions of our time. In terms of data volume, physical size, and versatility, nothing beats the flash drive. Not to mention they’re tangible, and thus have become a bit of a fashion accessory. Thanks to things like 3D printing people can now buy flash drives in bulk from companies capable of building them into custom shapes and figures. The result is an array of normal everyday objects capable of being hidden data mines. That’s futuristic for you.

Smart Stuff

It seems like only yesterday we were flipping open our cellular phones, winding our watches, and owning a dozen different other pieces of technology to do an equal number of tasks. The iPhone debuted eight years ago and we’re already over the all-in-one, touch-operated, voice-activated, pocket sized computers we carry in our pockets and purses. Now we have the dawn of the smartwatch; a little anticlimactic considering the wonders of the smartphone, but the stuff of science fiction nonetheless.

Drones

Does anyone appreciate the potential of drone technology? Maybe because the consumer drone industry is still in its infancy, but that’s partly because consumers aren't taking advantage of this amazing technology. We associate drones with spooky government stuff, and that’s a legitimate connection, yet drone technology can be so much more. It can be used to remotely chaperone children walking to school by themselves, or deployed to monitor a stolen car. We hear the word “drone” and picture a faceless killing machine, but the ability to essentially combine RC and smart technology together is a wonderful thing for society, whether we know it now or not.

We’re well into the 21st century now. Glance around and it doesn't really feel like it, but looks can be deceiving. Humans are easily bored and constantly eyeing the next big thing. Every once in awhile we need to stop and appreciate the technological gifts we’ve been fortunate enough to live to experience. For billions of people they were only the stuff of dreams.

CHECK ALSO: 10 Gadgets that Will Make your Life so Much Easier

Thanks for reading! Looking for feedback.

*by andreascy*

The Battle between Windows, Chromebook and Mac

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Hi friends! We are friends by now, right? If you haven't before, I would be grateful if you follow our page on Twitter. Please share with others. 

Chances are that you’re already quite familiar with all the options that the technological world provides us when it comes to computers and their operating system.

In stores, you have a choice between 3 operating systems: OS X by Apple, Chrome OS by search engine giant Google, and Windows from former software monopoly Microsoft. Each OS has their own pros and cons, and when choosing the right fit for you, there are a few things to consider for each one of them. 

Windows

Everyone has probably used a Windows computer at least once in their life. Windows is still the most popular operating system out there, used by companies, governments, and individuals worldwide. Because of its huge user base, Windows has an advantage over the other OS’s, as almost all software on the internet is made for Windows. Another pro of Windows is its usability. Just about everyone is able to use a Windows computer. A final pro is that you have a wide variety of choices when it comes to the computer that runs the OS. 

But on the con side, Windows needs a lot of extras when it comes to security. Its big user base makes it a target for hackers, and it’s incredibly easy to get a virus when surfing the web. Physically, Windows computers are quite heavy when you compare them to Chromebooks and MacBooks. Finally, most of the best working Windows computers are above the $400 mark. This doesn’t exactly make it the most affordable computer out there.

Chromebooks

When comparing Chromebooks and Chrome OS with that of the big guys (Windows and Apple), Google’s computer is still in diapers. Nevertheless, it is growing rapidly in popularity. Chrome OS is based entirely around Google’s web server, Chrome, and this is both a gift and a curse. It’s a gift in that everything goes directly into the cloud, making it impossible for you to lose files even when something happens to the computer itself. Another reason it’s a gift is its usability. Even your grandmother could handle a Chromebook! It’s nowhere near as frustrating as using a Windows computer can be for the older generation. A Chromebook is also highly affordable, with most computers sold at under $400. The screen quality is way better than that of a MacBook. 

However, as I mentioned before, the way the Chrome OS runs is also a curse. You are unable to download any software or hardware onto your Chromebook, and while you are able to make a lot of apps available offline, it definitely can be a pain in the ass. Another definite con of the Chromebook is that you can’t fully download Skype. If you want to use Skype, you have to make do with the IM+ messenger, which comes without the option for video calls. For those of you who can’t live without video calls, there is the option of Hangouts, Google’s very own version of Skype. Google Hangouts comes with a few extras, like free group calls and the ability to draw on the person you’re calling with. 

MacBooks

When Apple decided to make the MacBook Air, they were aiming for something portable and high performance, with a great design and usability. An Apple MacBook is often the first choice for designers, graphic artists, and anyone else who has made it their job to bring you high quality media. All of your files, pictures, etc. get stored into iCloud, which makes it incredibly easy to transfer a file from one device to another. MacBooks are lightweight, which makes them great for travel or just moving about at home. 

The biggest con of MacBooks is their price. Apple has always been about the exclusive feel that you get from their products, and the MacBook Air is the perfect example of this. Prices range from $800 to $3000. So, is it worth the price? Yes, it can be. Contrary to popular belief, Mac OS X is not immune to viruses. The threat just isn’t as big, because like stated before, most hackers focus on Windows computers. Just as with Apple’s other products (like the iPhone and the iPod), it is nearly impossible to make any changes to the MacBook itself, which can be a little impractical when it comes to having to change the battery or upgrading the internal storage space. 

So which one is the best?

That is up to you to decide. Don’t mind a computer that’s completely based around internet and Google? Then the Chromebook will be a great choice for you. Are you a gamer, or do you like to mess around a bit? Then the obvious choice for you is a Windows laptop. A designer or artist? The MacBook is your perfect match.

*by andreascy*

Keeping Your Treasured Photos Safe

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Just imagine all the thousands of photos stored in phones, digital cameras and laptops. The Daily Mail estimates that almost 40 percent of such individuals have no backup of those files. 

These devices break, wear out or are damaged every day, and with them thousands of photos are lost. Make sure you have backup plan for your treasured memories. Those moments in time can be lost forever if you don't protect them.

Local Backups and Broken Hard Drives

Most people know they should back up their files regularly. This often happens at home to a computer hard drive or maybe to an external drive. Local backups are a good idea because it does make a copy of the files. However, it's not such a good idea for long-term storage because hardware does break.

Backblaze estimates that 22 percent of hard drives, on average, fail in the first four years of use. The failure rate is higher if the computer or hard drive is used continually, or is used in hot, dusty environments. You also could experience a failure if there is a sudden spike on the electric circuit, such as during a lighting storm. You could lose years of photos on one failed drive.

While there are recovery services who will attempt to retrieve files off of a dead hard drive for you, these are expensive with no guarantee the recovery will be 100 percent successful. A better option is to have multiple ways of backing up your photos.

Backing Up to the Cloud

Cloud Storage Services have matured into an easy way for people to save all types of files, including photos. Most are easy to set up. Some offer automated backup, so you don't even have to remember to do the backup yourself. Some vendors require you to load small programs onto your computer to do the backup while others rely on a browser-based online application.

Having a combination of backups is safest. Do a local backup of your photos from your phone or camera to the computer and a regular backup to your cloud storage. One way to use your cloud storage is as an archival system.

Since your files are in the cloud, you have access to them anywhere. For example, photos you take during a vacation can be uploaded to your cloud storage from your hotel room and then you can access them again when you get home. Or you can check on photos you took during your last trip to your destination to see if you already have photos of certain scenic spots.

The Safety of Your Photos

USA Today finds that cloud storage is as safe as other storage options. Most cloud service providers use encryption to store your files so they can't be viewed by others. Data is stored on huge disk farms, which are constantly monitored for potential disk failures. The systems cloud providers use allow the replacement of disk drives without creating any downtime. You don't have to worry about a drive failing and losing photos.

Keeping Those Non-Digital Photos Safe

If you have a number of regular film photos, you can keep them save as well. CNET shows how you can scan those photos to create digital copies. Or you can have a service do that for you. A digital copy of a film photo is easier to store, doesn't fade, or get damaged by water or fire. You could scan your print photos and store the originals in a fireproof box or in a safe deposit box with your bank.

RECOMMENDED: 5 Ways to Preserve Precious Family Photos

We'd like to take a moment to thank everyone here for being a member of THE OFFICIAL ANDREASCY club! It's because of your great feedback and constant support that we're able to continue as a powerful community. More will come. 😊😊

*by andreascy*

5 Ways to Preserve Precious Family Photos

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

It's worse than a punch in the gut—that awful realization that your computer has crashed and your wedding photos are gone, your beach vacation photos are gone, and your baby's first birthday photos ... gone. 

You scold yourself for not backing them up, saving them to a disk, or leaving them on your memory card. You swear you'll never make that mistake again, but how can you prevent a virus from wiping out your priceless photos again? Here are a few ways to make sure they're stored safely and securely.

1. Keep them in the Cloud

Upload your precious photos to cloud storage where they'll be safely stored until you need them again. Accessing them at any time is easy, and you'll never again experience that sinking feeling that comes with knowing you've lost an entire year's worth of memories to one annoying computer crash. Different features and fee structures are available at the various providers, so do your research—decide what type of storage you need and research cloud storage rankings for dependability.

2. Save them to Disc

Another efficient way of saving your digital memories is to burn them onto a disc. According to the International Journal for the Preservation of Library and Archival Material, CD-R discs made with phthalocynine dye are the ones that stand the test of time. They're less likely to exhibit laser rot and deterioration over time. The fact that the disc is a CD-R instead of a CD-RW, also means you can't accidently copy over the photos you have stored.

If you choose this method of storage, it's still a good idea to have a backup system in place. Even the best CDs deteriorate over time, so have an alternative storage method.

3. Use an External Hard Drive

Although external hard drives can be susceptible to viruses, they're a good back up to discs and to the regular hard drive on your PC. External hard drives hold a ton of photos without slowing things down and they're easy to retrieve when you need them. PC Magazine recommends the top five external hard drives, which include: 

•  LaCie Little Big Disk Thunderbolt (1TB SSD) 

•  LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt (120GB SSD) 

•  Lenovo ThinkPad USB 3.0 Secure Hard Drive 

•  Seagate Backup Plus 

•  Seagate Backup Plus Portable Drive for Mac (1TB) 

4. SD Card

SD Cards are the small memory sticks that go inside your camera before you leave on a photo expedition. These are a viable option for storing photos, except that they have a size limit and can fill up quickly if you're not cautious of your volume of large file sizes. These are also not foolproof for life, but they'll do until you have a chance to upload your memories to the cloud.

5. Combination Storage

Of all these options, cloud storage is the safest file storage method of hanging onto precious digital files. Be extra safe, however, by using a combination of storage solutions. With more than one dependable storage solutions in place, your cherished memories will be safe and secure for years to come.

SEE ALSO: Keeping Your Treasured Photos Safe

We’ve shared our ideas, now we want to ask you – how do you preserve your family memories and not lose them forever? Share them with us in a comment below!

*by andreascy*

A Loving Son's Gift Guide: 4 Tools for Your Tech-Savvy Mother

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Your mother has threatened to become a technology ninja for the past decade. Maybe she once went wild playing "Grand Theft Auto" on the Playstation 2 and refused to give up the controller, but your mom’s enthusiasm for high-tech gizmos and gadgets is typically fleeting. 

This year, though, things are different. Mom is geeking out. OK, so maybe she is still more of a Candy Crush queen than a Wi-Fi warrior. You can help broaden her technological horizons with the following tools, a gift-giving guide for any loving son to turn his mother into a tech know-it-all.

Amazon Prime

Mom has always been an entertainment nut. In fact, she can quote her favorite Seinfeld episodes like the back of her hand (No, mom. Please. Don't). It’s your job to open her up to a whole new world of entertainment.

Photo by magerleagues via Flickr

First things first: Make mom the proud owner of a new Kindle Fire. After that, buy her a subscription to Amazon Prime, which gives her unlimited access to Amazon’s library of streaming videos. Also, with Amazon Prime the items bought from the Amazon store are shipped for free using standard or two-day delivery. If mom wasn’t a big online shopper before, she will be now.

Portability at Your Fingertips

If mom still spends her computer time sending emails on a desktop from the Dark Ages, a dial-up dinosaur, then it is high time for an upgrade.

Photo by Intel DE via Flickr

From laptops and ultrabooks to light, razor-thin and travel-ready tablets, Check out gifts from Lenovo, which has durable and affordable tech gear for all styles and tastes. 

Hey mom, this is the modern world. You need portability at your fingertips.

DoorBot

While so much of modern technology is about staying connected and up-to-the-minute on social media sites, what about some frivolous, good old fashion fun? If mom is engaged in a task around the house (or simply trying to level-up in a game of Plants vs. Zombies) and the doorbell rings, she can’t be expected to drop everything and answer it, right? No worries; the DoorBot will tell her who is at the door. 

Photo by AskDaveTaylor via Flickr

The DoorBot uses Wi-Fi and a night vision camera, which allows mom to see who is knocking. She can even talk with the visitor using an Android or iOS smartphone. The DoorBot is the modern version of Rosie the robot from "The Jetsons."

GPS Traveling Companion

Sure, a smartphone can get mom around town. And it is certainly better than wrestling with an old and partially ripped Rand McNally. However, there is something to be said for a GPS unit. Perhaps it is the feeling of suction-cupping the device to the car windshield that we love.

Photo by Anders Lageras via Flickr

Perhaps it is the fact that once we listen to the voice of the GPS, we can’t help but the give it a name and make it a member of our family. Large text, clear graphics and easy-to-use voice control make the Garmin Nuvi 2555 GPS system a spectacular traveling companion.

Spread this post with friends, family, and the world. Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments. We love feedback and fresh ideas. If you have any questions for the team then please feel free to use the contact form. 

Thanks! 😊

*by andreascy*

3 Must Have Pieces of Technology for Your Home Office

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

If you’re among the fortunate and can work from home each day, you have the luxury of skipping a stressful commute, but the burden of creating your own home office. To ensure that your day can run as smoothly as possible, it’s key to have the best technology at your disposal. 

Since most work-from-home positions require you to communicate remotely with a main office, Internet service is absolutely essential, as is reliable equipment. Here are three pieces of technology that you really shouldn’t skip if you want an efficient home office.

1. Laptop

A desktop computer doesn’t offer the mobility of a laptop, which can make it more difficult to work from outside your home office - like at a coffee shop. If you do go into a company office on occasion, you can’t just pack up your desktop computer and set it up at the new location. A laptop is not only mobile, but it also occupies less space. If your home office ever becomes the guest room, you will be happy that you decided to skip the desktop. If you like a large monitor, you may be able to attach your laptop to a larger screen and connect it to a USB keyboard. This gives you the freedom of having a small laptop set up or a desktop feel. 

2. Wireless Internet

Wireless Internet, usually called just WiFi, lets you get access to a data connection without tripping over wires all day. If your Internet router is set up in another room, it may not be feasible to get Internet in your home office without this technology. While your laptop will need to be within a certain distance of your router to get a good connection, you can typically be at least a few rooms away and still get good WiFi service on your computer. A service provider may be able to bundle your wireless Internet with other communication services so you can even save some money. 

3. High Speed Internet

Your wireless Internet should be high speed so you’re not wasting any time when you need to get online in a hurry. High speed Internet will expedite your Internet browsing, and can allow you to open more than one program at a time without your computer crashing or freezing. If your connection is too slow, you may be limited to keeping only one or two tabs open on your Internet browser screen. High speed Internet also guarantees that you can load and view media like videos without interruption or negative effects on your computer performance. A slow Internet speed can make it nearly impossible to load large files like PDFs or download email attachments from a colleague.

A home office is a good investment if you’re able to keep it up and running. With these must have pieces of technology, you can stay on track of your work objectives without the interruption of an Internet breakdown or the dilemma of how to get your computer’s data to another location.

SEE ALSO: How To Build A Home Theatre At A Reasonable Price

Subscribe to Lifelong Learning! Sign up for weekly updates in your inbox. You'll receive our newest and most popular stories to master a new skill every week.

*by andreascy*

What You Need to Know About Disability Insurance

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Insurance: it's everywhere. We have car insurance, home owner's insurance, health insurance, life insurance, even insurance for things like jewelry and baseball cards. The reason we have so many types of it is simple: insurance is synonymous with protection in case of the worst. 

One type of insurance that many people don't consider is disability insurance. While not as common as other types, it is still very important and allots people protection that they hope they never need to use. 

What is Disability Insurance?

Disability insurance is a type of insurance that protects you financially in the event that you become ill or disabled and are unable to work. It helps provide you with compensation from lost wages so that you can continue to pay your bills, your mortgage, save for retirement, pay tuition, and purchase everyday necessities, such as clothing and food. 

Who Should Purchase Disability Insurance? 

According to the US Department of Commerce, Economics, and Statistics Administration, one in five Americans are disabled: one in ten are considered severely disabled. While some of these disabilities are the result of birth defects or genetic diseases, many are the result of accidents or other incidents. In other words, disability can happen to anyone. 

Many disabilities involve physical ailments, such as long-term disease or damage to a wrist joint, but disability isn't always something that can be seen: having post-traumatic stress disorder or another mental illness, for instance, can interfere with your ability to perform a job and may therefore be considered a disability. 

With the term "disability" having a wide range of definitions, as well as the fact that no one is immune to it, disability insurance is a wise choice for anyone. However, people who work in certain occupations (such as construction or transportation) where accidents are more likely may further benefit from disability insurance. Your risk of disability goes up as you age, so those who are over 40 may further benefit as well. 

What About Disability Insurance Through Work? 

Your place of occupation may offer disability insurance, allowing you to purchase it through your employer's group benefits plan. However, this may not always be the best decision. Depending on your place of business, your employer might offer you a plan that limits your coverage under the Employee, Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). While the ERISA protects insurance companies, it doesn't offer a great amount of protection to the insured. For this reason, many people are better off purchasing an individual plan. Even so, any type of disability insurance (employer based or individual) is better than none at all. 

What Kinds of Things Should be Considered When Purchasing Disability Insurance? 

An agent or lawyer who specializes in disability law or disability insurance can help you procure a plan that is right for you. However, in general, there are several things you should look for in a plan, including: portability (your ability to keep a plan if you change jobs), your premium (some carriers may allow you to lock in a premium price, others will not), adding a rider (such as cost of living benefits and future increase options), residual benefits (these may apply if you are able to work part-time), renewability (ability to retain your coverage after it expires), collection time of benefits, and the ability for your insurer to make coverage changes. 

*by andreascy*

Microsoft Surface Pro Tablet Comes To Australia

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Microsoft announces the arrival of its Surface Pro tablet in Australia. Users can choose from one of two options - either the 64GB one for $999 or the 128GB one for $1099. More than likely people in the Land Down Under are saying that it's about time.

After all, Microsoft already sells the Surface Pro in the United States, Canada, China, UK, and other countries. However, Australians probably also could say that late is usually better than never. 

The same is possibly true of what people in Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Russian, and Thailand would say when theirs arrive in June. Word has it that Japan will also finally receive shipments in the same month as some of the other Asian countries.

A Surface Pro Overview

Unlike most tablets, this one was made for both work and play in mind. In fact, this could possibly justify charging over $1,000 for the larger hard drive space. This device comes built with Touch Cover, Type Cover, HD AV and VGA adapters. It also features the Wedge Touch Mouse Surface Edition.

Surface Pro Versus Surface RT

Sometimes computer companies offer so many choices that deciding on the right device may not be easy. In this case, some consumers will find themselves having to decide to stick with the RT or to go Pro. The following lists show some major differences between the Pro and the RT:

The main Surface Pro specs are as follows: 

•  Thickness and weight - It is 13.5 mm thick and weighs about 903g. 

•  Price range - Microsoft will charge approximately $899 to $1099 for it. 

•  Screen resolution - It is an HD screen of 1920x1080 pixels. 

•  Surface - It supports up to 10-point input. 

•  Processor - This uses a third generation Intel Ivy Bridge Core i5 processors and 4GB of  RAM. 

•  Storage capacity - Users can purchase either the 64GB or 128GB model. 

•  USB and HDMI port - This one has the 3.0 USB slot as well as the Mini DisplayPort.

Here are the main Surface RT device specs: 

•  Thickness and weight -This device is 9.5 mm thick and weighs 686g. 

•  Price range - It costs approximately $600 to $800 

•  Screen resolution - It is 1366x768-pixels. 

•  Surface - This device supports up to 5-point input. 

•  Processor - This one uses the NVidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM 

•  Storage capacity - Users can choose either the 32GB or the 64GB model. 

•  USB and HDMI - This one has the 2.0 slot and the micro-HDMI port.

Additional Surface Pro Features

Much of the features of the Surface Pro Microsoft tablet compare to the original Surface RT. For instance, both tablets have a front and rear camera of 729p, and this picture-taking tool is angled. That way, it will be level when the device is angled.

Both the Surface Pro and the processor RT also have Bluetooth capabilities, USB slots, headphone jacks, and an SDXC card slot. They are also both Wi-fi ready, and they also both are meant for carrying around no matter where a person wants to go with it.

READ ALSO: Office Webinar - What's Office like on Windows RT devices?

The only decision that Australian users have now is to decide based on the facts which one is better. In the end, the choice is easier as long as they know their priorities.

*by andreascy*

Tips For Making Your Garden An Internet Hot Spot

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Many people have experienced the problem of weak wifi signal in a particular room or a different floor of their home. However, what do you do when you need that signal out in your garden. 

Whether you keep an office outside the house, or if you just want to check your email outside, there’s a multitude of ways to make it happen. We’ve put together a list of the top suggestions for turning your garden into a hot spot.

PC (or Mac) Maintenance

The problem with your internet speed out in the garden may lie within your laptop itself and not the signal strength. You can carry out general maintenance such as scans for malware and viruses. Defrag-ing your laptop will only further help its speed. A good rule of thumb as for how much space should be left free on your drive is usually double your RAM or 10 percent (whichever comes first in your case). For example, if I have a laptop with an 8 GB RAM, I would want to leave 16 GB free on my hard drive. Or if I have a 750 GB hard drive, I may want to leave 75 GB free. Not only is everyday maintenance help your laptop performance, it may aid in your internet speed so you don’t have to go out and buy a product to improve connection.

Outdoor Repeater

A repeater is an electronic device that simply replicates a signal coming from the original router in your home. These can be used if the wifi signal is particularly weak in one side or level of the house. If you have an old router lying around, then there isn’t even a need to buy a repeater as an extra router can perform the same function.

However, for wireless to reach your garden, an old router might not be ideal since they’re suited for indoors. Outdoor repeaters are more suited to the elements, be it rain or shine, and tend to offer a greater range. They can be expensive, but they come with perks such as water proofing, built-in firewalls (depending on the brand), and the ability to be mounted outdoors. You can’t say the same for your indoor router.

Outdoor Access Points

If trees aren’t in the way, an OAP can offer a range of up to 2000 ft when it comes to getting a wireless signal. Even better, they can be placed outdoors (if you can manage an Ethernet cable connection). The reason these have gained popularity is due to price increases by ISPs. As a result, neighbors sometimes use OAPs to share a connection in order to save money. Similar to repeaters, OAPs come waterproof, are tolerant of wider temperature ranges, and are made for sometimes rugged environments. OAPs can even act as repeaters, bridges, and offer other operations depending on the brand you select.

Stick it Out

If all else fails, just stick it out. These laptop sticks can allow you the luxury of internet connection simply by plugging into your USB port. This can be used almost anywhere where your wireless provider is located. The downside is you may be limited to a 3G or 4G connection speed, and the sticks can be lost. However, the stick can be used on multiple devices and offers you a mobile hotspot almost anywhere.

Like what you're reading? Follow us on Twitter for more!

*by andreascy*

The Right Choice Between Laptops and Desktop Computers

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

If you are wondering whats's the best Computer device today? My answer will be, "that depends". Before you'll decide what kind of computer you want, you first need to think if you want the portability of a Laptop or dexterity of a Stationary Computer. Whatever the decision is it depends on your needs and obviously on your budget. I have summarized some of the reasons you may want to invest in a Laptop versus a Desktop PC below.

In the modern era, technology is getting smaller. And smaller generally means better. On the past, a Desktop PC was for doing anything serious, while a Laptop (also referred to as Notebook) was a handy extra or an indulgence for businessmen who travel a lot.

But how things have changed. Desktop is faded away, most of the people are buying Laptops but every device has it's pros and cons and a different usability. Since the advent of Wi-Fi technology, people prefer Laptops. Before getting my first Laptop i asked myself. What bests suits to me? To be honest i had no previous experience and i wasn't so sure if finally a Laptop would do. I wanted to be confident though that i pick the best computer for my needs. But let me admit that I love my Laptop. :)

To decide between a Desktop or Laptop PC can be difficult. Especially if you don't know or understand their real differences. There are so many choices than ever before, and each comes with plenty of competitive features and on different prices. 

First of all ask yourself some questions. Which one would be better in terms of cost, usage and performance? Why do you need it? Surfing the internet? E-mails, networking, typing up documents and spreadsheets? What are you going to use it for? Are you always on the go? Are you a heavy user who wants the best setups? Are you a heavy gamer or a youtuber? How much can you spend?

A Laptop it's small. That makes it lightweight and easy to carry. It's powerful, tough, wireless and central. Some years ago, Laptops were weaker than Desktops and not able to perform as expected. They were missing lot of features that a Desktop had but with the benefit of being portable. For someone who travels a lot and works or plays on a computer outside the house, the campus or the city, these are strong arguments in favor of a Laptop. Nowadays both are nearly equals but with an important difference. Laptops are still dependent on their battery life. But there is again something about the Laptops that still makes you want to buy them.

Laptops are outselling Desktops due to their sleek design, portability and improved performance. Believe it or not, Laptops are the new Desktops. A Laptop allows you to sit on your sofa, surfing the web, keeping all your files, can also be used as a communication tool with family and friends, it doesn't have any wires or make you worry about space and this has become part and parcel of our modern life. There is no need to dedicate a portion of your home to a giant desktop PC on a desk.

But it is also true that the level of customization of Desktop's is high. A Desktop PC is one that will reside on a desk in your room. It will come with different parts, for example a tower, which contains the heart of the PC including some of the peripherals. It comes with a monitor, keyboard and mouse. All Desktop Computers have some expansion slots for PCI and memory cards, optical and even hard disks. They are easily upgradeable and parts can be easily replaced or upgraded.

Desktops perform better in general. Most times Laptops are running to catch up with Desktop technologies as they have to shrink everything down in size before being able to use them. Let's say hard drives. Laptop hard drives are much slower than Desktop hard drives. Laptops are also much more expensive than Desktops and have limited options for any upgrades in the future.

Lots of new innovations in Computer's technological field are also more readily available for Desktop PCs. For example, multi-core processors, were available for Desktop Computers way before they figured out how to make them small enough for Laptops. This means that if you're looking for a Computer system that's state-of-the-art, then Desktop Computers are in priority. It's also a fact that Laptops will never be as good as Desktops in terms of Computer power. As far as cost is concerned Laptops are not far away from desktops.

Conclusion :

Till date, Laptop is the only answer to Desktop which provides a fair mobility and flexibility. If you think you won't need that flexibility, you can prefer the Desktop, but don't count it out. Both of them are created with different needs so you never know when you'll have to compute on the go. You can completely replace your PC and buy a beautiful Laptop. Laptop has a variety of rich features which can beat a Desktop at any stage of time. You just have to figure out how you are going to use the Computer. Your situation may be different. Just take the best choice and make it work. 

*by andreascy*

The Advantages Of Purchasing An Acer Laptop

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

When it comes to purchasing a laptop, the market is wide open. There are numerous brands and models to choose from and one of the most popular, as far as international sales are concerned, is Acer. Acer is actually the #2 laptop brand in the world (regarding overall sales). The brand offers dependability, affordability and portability, just to name a few of the primary features.

With Acer, one of its best claims to its intrinsic value is its affordability in a growing and competitive market. This article is designed to provide some insight as to the advantages to owning an Acer laptop. This is not to establish it as the top brand, but to submit to you the advantages.

1. Memory

One of the most important elements of a laptop’s functionality is its memory. Acer is competitive in the amount of memory it offers standard. Acer Laptops come with a variance of memory space, and carry the capability to easily add more memory in a short period of time. The memory can be increased at the time of purchase with very little impact to the total prices. Memory can also be added as an aftermarket addition with minimal costs.

2. Portability

Another important feature on any laptop is portability, which is reflected in the size and weight of the laptop. Acer offers a number of laptops and notebooks that are extremely portable while remaining highly functional. Even when the models increase in screen size, the weight of the device, has a whole, allows it to be easily managed. These laptops can be easily stored in the average backpack or carrying case.

3. Wireless Capability

The entire point of portability is to have accessibility. Having multiple wireless options allows the user to stay connected and have the accessibility to the web and business remote networks. You can connect to home based WiFi systems, public networks, and even Bluetooth devices, such as printers, headsets, and more.

4. Connectivity

The ability to have connection adaptability is extremely important when choosing a laptop. As network and WiFi connections vary your computer’s ability to adapt to those variations and facilitate a seamless connection is quite necessary. Acer laptops also support multiple connectivity ports for USB drives and Ethernet connections. With some of the lower priced laptops, there is a letdown is connectivity and network sharing capability. This is not the case with Acer. Acer provides a great computing experience at a reasonable price.

5. Affordability

All of the different features and capabilities of the Acer (its affordability may very well be its best feature), makes it a great value and a viable alternative to some of the more well-known brands. Are there brands out there that provide features that are not standard or available on Acer? Yes, but as a general rule, you will see those additional features reflected in the price. If those special features that sit outside the standard capabilities of Acer laptops are not absolutely necessary for you, then you will be surprisingly satisfied with an Acer laptop.

RECOMMENDED: The Battle between Windows, Chromebook and Mac

Thank you for reading! Feel free to share your feedback! :-)

*by andreascy*