Amazon GadGets

Universal Serial Bus (USB) jacks and ports are tools that allow you to connect computer peripherals to your computers, keyboards, external hard drives, or storage keys. The numbers following the USB symbol simply correspond to the version of the USB standard concerned, the 3.0 and 3.1 series being the most recent at the time these lines are written. In addition to the color of their connectors (version 3.0 is usually blue), it is the speed of data transfer that is the main difference between these two standards. Thus, the USB 2.0 standard, introduced in 2000, made it possible to guarantee a transfer speed much higher than that of the previous standard: from 1.5 MB per second to theoretical 60 MB! USB 3.0, appeared in 2008, has multiplied this transfer rate by 10, reaching the theoretical rate of 625 MB per second! Be careful, if backward compatibility is supported in the case of USB 3.0 jacks (that is, your device with a USB 3.0 port will work on your computer with USB 2.0 s...

A Step by Step Guide If you are looking to upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10 for your home or business, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed. No worries. We are here to help. You can perform the upgrade task using the Media Creation Tool, available for Windows 7 and any device running Windows 8.1. You will need to download this before you can begin the upgrade process. Note: Microsoft will be ending support of Windows 7 on January 14, 2020. In order to successfully upgrade to Windows 10, you need to be running the latest version of your current operating system: Windows 7 Service Pack 1. You will also need a valid Windows 10 product key. It will not work without this. Before doing anything, make sure you have performed a full back-up of your system in case something goes wrong with the transition. Monmouth Computer can help with this if you are at a loss as to how to go about it. Steps First off, it would be wise to uninstall any software on your computer, such as antivirus, se...

Like any other kind of battery, your laptop battery comes with a limited life. As a laptop consumes a great deal of power, a laptop battery has a shorter lifespan because of your laptop's activities. Once your laptop battery's lifespan is over, you need to replace it with a new one. This means you will have to make an investment. That is why all laptop owners take the best care of their laptop batteries to prolong the lifespan of the batteries. Yes, my friend, you have read it right. You can prolong the lifespan of your laptop battery. In today's post, I am going to share with you four proven methods to save your laptop battery. Without further ado, let us dive in: Unplug devices from your laptop Whether it is a USB device or a second monitor through VGA, any device that is plugged into your laptop eats battery because the device will require CPU to work in order to access the device. There are certain USB devices that consume a great deal of power, meaning they ...

        Are you a typing rookie? Does your amateurish typing leave a lot to be desired? Do you feel too embarrassed to have a go at your computer in front of a room full of colleagues? Does your typing efficiency often cost you valuable hours in productivity? If your answer to any or all of the above questions is yes, then now is the time to start working on improving your typing efficiency. Typing is an important career skill. Your paycheck may not depend on how fast you type, but that doesn't mean you can get away with one-finger typing. From computer programming to writing; from office administration to teaching – no matter which profession you're in, you will be spending a lot of your time banging away on your keyboard. So, how does one go from being keyboard-challenged to becoming a typing whiz? Here are some quick and easy steps to improve your typing speed. 1. Assess you current typing skills: Before you start working on your typing efficiency, it ...

There has been an increased interest and speculation in the evolution of 5G in the recent years, further this year in 2018 it is expected 5G will come into the real scene. By the end of 2018, AT & T seems to launch mobile 5G to plenty of selected markets. Further, starting with Sacramento, CA a lot of cities will be introduced to fixed 5G as Verizon partners with Samsung. While the alternative carriers, T-Mobile and Sprint are in plans to get into the 5G scene by 2019 and 2020. In a National Security Report published by The White House, 5G Wireless service is now included as an infrastructure priority. So, what is 5G? 5G is the 5th Cellular Technology Generation - the G stands as the generation, which follows, the 4G standard that was introduced in 2010. In December 2017, a formal standard was established which lays specification for 5G. So, 5G, when it is about the download and upload speed, will surpass 4G standards by 100 times. Further with 5G, there will be less latency...

There is a good reason why Netflix warns users to change their passwords. When successful giants like LinkedIn, Google, eHarmony, Yahoo and many more have had problems with security breaches and cracked passwords, one should seriously consider creating a stronger password. In this new era of cybercrime, no one is safe from potential hack attacks and keyloggers. Typing "incorrect" or "I don't know" as passwords may be humorous to some, but they are extremely insecure. And security is, by no means, a laughing matter. If you think those passwords are bad, check out this list of the 10 worst, and insecure, passwords on the internet*: 123456 (#1 for the 3rd straight year) password (#2 for the 3rd straight year) 12345 12345678 football qwerty 1234567890 1234567 princess 1234 Of course there are methods of creating a more secure password, but still, concerning massive digital breaches lately, we can do more than just steering clear of the "popular...

Americans have unlimited access to the internet with today's technology. This gives criminals new ways to reach victims with scams and fraud from anywhere in the world. On a daily basis, we are exposed to questionable offers and opportunities on the internet. Some scams are very easy to spot, while others can take years to uncover. It is true that not every offer you see online is a scam. It is safe, however, to treat every offer you find online as a scam until you can prove otherwise. Here are four simple measures to protect yourself from scams and to recognize viable opportunities online. Treat Every Offer/Opportunity as an Investment You may come across an ad for a product that will cure balding with one use, or an ad for a service that will email you exclusive stock tips. Maybe you find a job offer that will allow you to work from home, or as your own boss. The internet is full of golden opportunities, but it also has a numerous scams going around. Whenever you find an o...

With the digital world evolution, the need to secure customer identities also evolved. The customers of today are expecting a secure experience from organizations. The increasing utilization of cloud based services and mobile devices has also enhanced the risk of data breaches. Do you know the overall account hacking losses increased 61% to $2.3 billion and the incidents increased up to 31% compared to 2014? SMS based One-Time Password is a technology invented to deal with counter phishing and other authentication related security risk in the web world. In general, SMS based OTPs are used as the second factor in two factor authentication solutions. It requires users to submit a unique OTP after entering credentials to get themselves verified on the website. 2FA has become an effective way to reduce hacking incidents and preventing identity frauds. But unfortunately, SMS based OTP are no longer secure nowadays. There are two main reasons behind this: First, the major security of...

Ever notice the media via TV, laptop, TABs and other digital gadgets is full of negative content? How is the media feeding this negativity to us and how is it lying on a daily basis? Read on to find out. Consider the following options and justify: 1) Murder/Crime Murder, kidnapping and ransoming are bold news in the media which scares the death out of us and make us want to think negative about our environment and the world. 2) Theft/Robbery Theft - trivial or big - does happen. More of it happens in underdeveloped countries. Robberies are equally rampant and sometimes they are thoroughly planned and executed so that it takes times to find out the suspects and culprits behind the action. These are highlighted in the media, making us feel insecure. 3) Bankruptcies Once in a while bankruptcies do happen and they become hot news in the media, damaging the image and reputation of the banks. 4) Global warming Global warming is an issue taken up since the late eighties...

        As a business owner, you must have heard about the benefits that cloud computing concept bestows on businesses. They would be certainly alluring you to adopt cloud computing and there is no doubt that this could be a turning point for your business. However, since it is a massive makeover, it deserves a lot of time mulling over it. In this write up, I will be spotlighting the important points that every business owner should consider before opting for cloud computing. The very first point is to ask yourself whether you need it or not. I have mentioned above that switching to the cloud is a huge process so, before deciding to adopt this technology, it is very important to consider whether you need this change or not. You can do this by studying the existing system of the company and filtering out the areas where cloud computing would be helpful and areas that does not need cloud computing. In the second point, calculate the cost of working in the curren...

Your Apple ID is the main identity and helps to login into your Apple account, and accessing its iMessage, iTunes Store, iCloud, and Apple store. However, often users experienced a problem with logging their Apple account. So, if you have the same issue as your Apple ID stops working, or Apple ID Not Working! You can’t connect to the Apple store and can’t access it’s any other functionalities. Then don’t worry! Here you will get the complete steps to fix the issue. Why Apple Id Not Working? Here are causes mentioned behind the issue: Inactive Internet Connection Apple Server Issue Wrong Password Update the Apps Incorrect Time Setting How to Fix Apple ID Not Working Issue? When Apple ID Not Working, try the below-given solutions that help to fix this issue quickly. 1.Internet Connection Often, poor or low-speed internet connection or faulty VPN route to iTunes Store, maybe your Apple ID stop working. Then check you don’t have any VPN enabled at the time of connecting w...

Do you have a new Alexa device? It might be the Amazon Echo, the Amazon Echo Dot, or the Amazon Tap. The Amazon Echo has earned tremendous acclaim since its launch last year. It's important to know the features of your new smart assistant. That's how you can exploit it for all its benefits and use it up to its full potential. The Echos' virtual assistant, Alexa, can do a lot of amazing things on your command. Now, there are two ways you can use it. You can either waste your precious productive time fooling around with it or read the top benefits right here. Here we list the 7 best things you can do with the Amazon Echo. 1. Call Your Contacts Amazon Echo brings the traditional landlines back into business. The assistant allows you to call any number in your contact list. You can use your Alexa device to make a voice call to any of your contacts who also have the device. Additionally, you can even leave a message if the person doesn't respond. Currently, the as...

Ever wondered what technology really is and how many forms it can take. In fact, this article cites some examples of technology so that you get a concrete idea. Here they are: 1. Programming Languages Programming languages for instance Java, C, C++, C# and others help with coding in order to build software products which are in turn purchased by clients or other relevant companies for instance, for maintaining their IT assets. Software products also come into the picture in the form of backend connected with front end where you get to input data and retrieve information from the relevant database. SQL or standard query language is the one we use for querying information but it is embedded in the system so that you do not have to do any hard work other than call up data from the backend to the front end interface on user input and/or button clicks. As another instance, we can use notepads to store formatted information and apply data mining algorithms on these data to find ...

What exactly is two-factor authentication and what started it? Two-Factor Authentication happens when you are required to use two types of identification to log into a web site or open your email. It was started because people were using weak passwords or no passwords at all. Normally the first factor is a password. As a reminder, your passwords should use numbers, capital and small letters and symbols. They should not be any sort of dictionary word and be at least 12 characters long, the longer the better. You should never reuse a password. If used correctly, you will need a password manager to remember them all. Getting one it is well worth it. The second factor can vary widely from fingerprint or facial recognition to the web site sending you a numeric code via text or email that you must enter into their web site as part of the log in process. Google, Microsoft and others are working on other methods of authentication that will be secure and make it easier for the end user. ...

We are all seeing more Voice Activated Door Locks bring advertised and being sold. By Voice Activated I mean they can be controlled by Amazon, Google or Apple devices. Such as "Alexa" unlocked the front door or "Hey Google" lock the front door. So how do these devices work? The basic lock is remarkably similar to electronic locks, which I have discussed in past articles. The difference is that these locks have built in capabilities to communicate with voice activated controllers. They will usually communicate with either Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or both. Bluetooth will be used to open or lock the lock; it will be controlled by your smart phone. Like all smart or electronic locks installation is particularly important. It must be installed so the mechanical action is exceptionally smooth and there is no binding. The motor inside these locks are not as strong as your hand as was the case in all mechanical locks. These smart locks can be set up to temporally allow someo...

From time immemorial we know no two humans are never the same, irrespective of whether they are born of the same mother or different mothers. Even twins of the same mother have different personalities and bear different marks or signs on their bodies. Now the question is: Is human cloning a good or bad idea? What do you think? Read on to find out. I strongly detest human cloning. Firstly, cloning deteriorates the value of human life. In real life so far, every human being is special and different and have so much to contribute to the world with the help of their thoughts, ideas and creative minds. But what about cloning? With each cloning, their brain and body are likely to suffer and get less intelligent and physically weaker in the process. We don't need dumb and feeble cloned beings. Above all, I don't really see any advantage in it. It makes room for more confusion and doubt. There could be more murders and criminal activities taking the advantage of cloning. Diffe...

You can find a lot of free antivirus programs out there. But the problem is that most of them can steal your personal information, especially if you are a Windows user. The reason is that Windows is the top target for malware and other viruses. Therefore, make sure you don't fall a victim to these scams and go to legitimate sites to be on the safe side. Let's find out how you can opt for the best antivirus. Since the cybercrime rate is on the rise, you can't find a lot of antivirus apps out there that provide good protection. Although many brands provide a free version of their antivirus, know that there is a difference as far as quality and security is concerned. The problem is that many of the free antivirus apps you can find out there offer nothing but a free scan. These programs can detect the malware for you but will ask for payment when you need to remove it. How to look for the best antivirus? If you want to choose the best antivirus, we suggest that you l...

Before the Internet was actually the Internet, it was called ARPAnet. ARPA-Who? Yes, it's a funny sounding name for sure. Especially considering what the Internet is today, literally encompassing every aspect of our lives. ARPAnet is an acronym for Advanced Research Projects Agency Network. In the late 1960s, The Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Department of Defense set out on a mission. They were trying to find a way to simplify communication and share data, but not using the old telephone method of 'circuit switching' to transfer voice and data communications. That method was only able to send from one to another in a linear fashion - from end to end. The ARPAnet once set up, as rudimentary as it was in the beginning (late 70's, early 80's) used packet switching which enabled the sending and receiving of communication and data to multiple locations. Thus, TCP/IP communication protocols were born. You can probably thank Robert Kahn and Vint Cerf, of...

2020 has been a hotly anticipated year for the mobile technology industry. Alongside Huawei’s release of the P40 handset, Samsung’s launch of the S20 series has catapulted eSIM technology into the hands of consumers worldwide. While those in-the-know are likely to be thrilled, the majority of consumers are still in the dark about this transformative technology.  So, what is eSIM? eSIM, or embedded SIM, is a virtual SIM card slot that lives within a device. Fitted during manufacturing, the small chip (eSIM) can connect to mobile and data services and performs the same function as a regular SIM card.  Yet, there are many differences between eSIM and SIM cards, each providing a number of benefits and drawbacks to consumers and the industry alike.  1. Ability to switch between multiple network operators The biggest significant change between a physical SIM card and an eSIM is the ability to switch between multiple network operators and profiles at the dro...

Artificial intelligence has always had a bad rap when it comes to depictions of it in television, film, and literature. It seems humans have a tendency to expect the worst possible outcome when they visualize a future where artificial intelligence is a part of our day-to-day lives. In most depictions, artificial intelligence quickly surpasses human intelligence and uses that advantage to attempt to destroy the entire species. While everyone pretty much recognizes that these films and books are science fiction, there are plenty who do believe in the real possibility of an artificial intelligence takeover. And though many of these people’s opinions might be written off as the delusions of a crazy conspiracy theorist, other voices are harder to ignore. Some of science’s most brilliant minds like Stephen Hawking, Bill Gates, and Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk as well as many AI researchers have all warned about the dangers of artificial intelligence. Hawking even went so far as to say...