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How to Configure Your New Gadget

Ah, welcome to the wonderful world of new electronics. It’s exciting to get something new to play with. The feeling is that it will revolutionize your entire life. Well, before you change your life, you are going to need to set up your new gadget accordingly. Here are some tips.

Email First

The best part of most tablets, smartphones, or anything else with the internet is the email function. It’s also the thing that you will use most, so make sure you set it up first. Once email is working everything else will be a breeze.

Know Your Other Devices

Many times a new gadget is compatible with other devices, but you need to see what those devices are to use them correctly. Make sure you know the operating system of your computer and the password for the wi-fi in your house. This will allow you to set everything up in a way that is most similar to how you are using things today. If you need additional cables or accessories you can try using your to stock up on what you need.

Get Contacts

Make sure your contacts are right and are set up correctly. Streamlining your life with a new gadget means knowing who you have in your address book and what their information is. Information is key, so set it up to have the most comprehensive info you can.

Your new gadget could change your life, so start by setting it up the right way. If you can do that everything else is easy breezy.

Filed Under: General, Home Tagged With: Gadget, IPod, Mobile phone

Home Technology for Safety

Physical security access control 

Image via Wikipedia

Society isn’t always a safe place; even the safest neighborhoods have outbreaks of crime that can leave homeowners scared. However, there are many new advances in technology that can keep homeowners safe and keep their belongings protected.

One of the most high-tech things you can get for home safety is a . This is a system that protects your entire home. As a result, it can be fairly costly; however, it has a very low failure rate. It works by having sensors on your doors, windows, and other home entrances. The system is synced with all of these sensors, and it can be turned on or off with a password that only the homeowners know. If the system is turned on (for instance, when the homeowners are out of the house) and a door or window opens, the alarm blares. It sends a call to the operators at the security company, who then calls the homeowner. They verify whether or not they are the ones who opened the door by asking for a password. If the homeowner doesn’t answer or if the person who answers can’t identify the code, they send the police to the house.

This type of system has a regular installation and equipment fee in addition to a monthly monitoring fee. Another solution that is a bit less expensive are door and window sensors that aren’t connected to an outside monitoring service. These sensors still make an alarm noise when the window or door is opened, but if no one is home, the alarm doesn’t do anything.

Filed Under: General, Home Tagged With: Burglar alarm, Physical security, Sensor

Spruce Up Your Home

With the state of the economy causing people to tighten their belts, the last thing they might think about is remodeling.

However, there are ways to give a room, several rooms, or your entire home a new look, even when money is tight.

You may simply want to turn extra bedrooms into something else, when the kids go off to college, or when they move out to live on their own. These tips will save you some cash.

Less is Not Always Best

Spending a little more than you might want for one or two pieces of furniture instead of filling a room with cheaper items, will give the room a more chic look. This is because an overcrowded room will draw attention to the shortcomings in design or quality of the furniture.

Give it a New Shine

Inexpensive furniture can look like new by applying unique paint colors and then varnishing. Look for bargains by using research sites such as Canada 411 to meet any budget.

Strive for Similarity

You can also paint furniture pieces all the same color or tone. Additionally, you can spruce up obsolete pieces with new fabrics or colors that accent each other.

Finish it Off

Several times a year, many large department stores have money-saving deals on linens and furniture coverings. Give a room a new look and feel without going over budget by purchasing window dressings, pillows, and throws to hide imperfections in furniture.

You can give your outdated furniture a new look, or change the look of every room in the house. There are ways to do it, without paying too much, and with just a bit of imagination.

 

 

Filed Under: General, Home Tagged With: Home & Garden, Interior design, Paint

Computer Problems: Hard Drive Crashes

Computers are pieces of equipment that after using them for a number of years they start to become worn and overworked. When this happens it can lead to a number of problems for the computer user. The most common type of computer problem that happens as a result of age is the dreaded hard drive crash. If you have experienced a hard drive crash or believe that your computer is about to experience one it is important to make sure that you prepare for the worst. Here is what you can do to repair your computer after a hard drive crash.

Run a Virus Scan. If you notice that there are symptoms of a hard drive crash coming such as loud noises, clicking sounds or blue screens it is important to try to prevent it. Since the most common cause of hard drive crashes is a computer virus try to run a scan for a computer virus. Once the virus is removed it could prevent any data from being lost and could prevent the hard drive from crashing.

Restart the Computer. Some hard drive crashers are only tiny problems. These problems are easily solved by shutting off the computer and turning it back on after a few minutes. This will prevent the loss of data and could stop a hard drive crash.

Reinstall. Should you experience a complete system crash you will need to repair the hard drive. Once this has been done you can rebuild your computer from scratch. You will use a system restore disc and reinstall all the elements of the computer as if it were brand new.

Filed Under: Computers, General Tagged With: , ,

Computer Problems: Randomly Rebooting

Computers for the most part will usually run with very minimal problems. As long as a computer users maintains their computer through regular computer maintenance such as running virus and spyware scans, dumping caches and defragmenting regularly the computer should work smoothly. However, there are sometimes when the computer will act up. One of the most common problems computers might have is that their computer will randomly reboot itself in the middle of doing something.

If this is happening to you here are some reasons why this may be happening to your computer.

Motherboard Issues. The most common source of random rebooting is that there are massive issues with the motherboard or center of the computer. This is usually because a capacitor has failed on the motherboard. The solution to this is usually to seek another new power source.

Power Surges. When the power goes out it turns off the computer automatically. However, the power can quickly surge back. When the surge happens this can often overload the computer and cause it to burn out quickly. To prevent this from happening you need to make sure you have a power strip that is grounded and surge protected. Once a computer shorts like this there is very little that can be done.

Fatal Errors. When a computer receives a fatal error it will often reboot itself. The computer while it is rebooting is trying to fix the problem that is causing the error. Unless the computer problem is fixed on reboot the computer will continue to reboot itself until you unplug it or fix the problem.

Filed Under: Computers, General Tagged With: , Motherboard, reboot

Purchasing Home Theater Systems

If you have been looking at home theater systems and imagining just how good one would look in your home, here are a few tips to help you pick the one that is exactly right for you.

  • Measure first, and then buy. You have to be realistic. That ultra-loaded, comes-with-everything home theater isn’t going to bring you maximum enjoyment if it doesn’t fit in the room or area that you are dedicating to it. Moreover, unless you were planning on it already, you don’t want to have to go through a major remodeling job just to make sure it fits.
  • Consider the room’s construction. Not only must fit, you must also check to make sure the floor is solid enough to support the weight of the “master unit” on the one you buy. In addition, if you are going to hang speakers, you want to make sure you have enough room between the ceiling and floor as well as study anchors for the hooks and holders that will support the speakers.

Comparing Prices

Once you have all your measurements, then you’re ready to start comparing prices. Even if you know exactly what you want, and know where you can get it, go ahead and use online resources as well as other information sources to find the best price. You might be surprised at how much less the same or similar home theater systems cost at one store than at another.

If you have written proof of one store’s price, show it to the manager at the store you wish to purchase the system from. He may honor his competitor’s price.

Filed Under: General, Technology Tagged With: , Surround sound, Wal-Mart

Laptop Power Problems

Laptops are like any computer and can have a wide range of problems. Some of the problems that can be fixed are simple problems that can be fixed in a matter of minutes, other problems are more complex and require a wide range of technological knowledge in order to fix them. One of the most common types of problems that laptop users might have is that of having to deal with random power problems. If you are experiencing that here is a walkthrough of some things you can do to try to fix the problem.

Not Turning On/Randomly Shutting Off. Computers that do not turn on properly or randomly shut off in the middle of you using them are usually experiencing a problem with the power supply. To fix this problem you should make sure that your laptop battery is properly charged if you are running off of that. You can also check the power supply cord that leads to the laptop. Make sure that it stays in the computer properly and that it isn’t loose. Also check for breaks in the wire that leads from the power supply to the laptop.

Turning on But Turns Off After Some Time. If your computer turns on but will randomly shut off while you are using it this could be a sign that it is overheating. Computers that believe that they are overheating will turn themselves off in hopes of cooling themselves down. If this happens turn the computer off and check the cooling fans to make sure that they are working. If the cooling fans work and the problem keeps happening you may need to take the computer to a tech specialist as the problem could be more involved then overheating.

Filed Under: Computers, General Tagged With: Laptop, ,

Computer Tips: Upgrading the RAM on Your Computer

Computers, the Internet and the software that runs on computers are always advancing. This means that the computer that you purchased a year or two ago might be outdated in terms of how much RAM is available. Computers users are recommended to install more RAM in order to keep up with the ever changing world of the Internet and various computer programs that require a high amount of RAM. A high amount of RAM is required to run several different applications and website at one time.

Upgrading to more RAM does not have to be something that only a professional can do. You can easily upgrade the RAM on your computer. Here is how it is done.

Step 1. Purchase the RAM from a local computer supply store. It is important to make sure that you purchase a RAM that is similar in configuration and size as the one that your original computer had.

Step 2. Shut down the computer completely. However, do not remove it from the power supply. When this is complete remove the computer cover so that you have access to the inside of the computer.

Step 3. You will want to ground your computer so that nothing happens to it or you have any electrical problems. Grounding can be done through grounding equipment like antistatic wristband.

Step 4. There might be cards or items in the way inside your computer. Remove anything that might be in the way of you installing the RAM.

Step 5. Read all instructions that came with the new RAM. Most will include a step by step guide that you can follow. It is important to figure out if you will need to install a SIMM, single in-line memory module or a DIMM, dual in-line memory module.

Step 6. Place the RAM into the computer. It is important to make sure that you do not interfere with the pins or slots that come with the RAM. Depending upon the type of RAM that you have it will go parallel or perpendicular. You will feel the RAM lock into place and you have completed the project.

Filed Under: Computers, General Tagged With: Components, DIMM, , , Random-access memory

Protecting Your Home Computer from Food

Most people think about protecting their home computer in terms of having up to date virus software and running periodic scans. Protection can also mean performing frequent back-ups and keeping your files secure and passwords secret. One thing we don’t always think about is how to protect your home computer from the grime and damage that comes from food and drink.

The Habit

Many people eat or drink at their home computer to increase their efficiency. A cup of coffee at the computer is a morning routine, just like eating lunch while getting some work done seems like a harmless habit. The crumbs from food can cause serious damage and stick inside your keyboard long after you’ve finished that sandwich. Greasy food can be especially problematic as greasey fingers can har your keyboard and mouse, leaving difficult marks on the surface that are tough to get out safely.

Combatting the Problem

Alwasy wash your hands after eating at your desk and avoid touching your computer during mealtime. If you can move away from your computer for meals, do it. You can set up a sound to alert you to new emails or anything that needs attending to during lunch. If you must drink at your computer, keep the mug or cup far away from your computer to avoid spills. Mark your calendar with regular times to clean out your computer keyboard and if you notice crumbs, clean them out immediately with tape, compressed air, or a full-out keyboard clean.

Damage Control

If you do severe damage, like spilling a beverage on your computer, try to act quickly and don’t panic. With water or tea, sometimes you can let the keyboard drain out and use a hairdryer to clean up the spill with no harm done. Sugarly drinks like sodas can be more problematic, causing lasting damage and causing sticking keys. Sugary drinks and food can also attract ants to your home office.

Filed Under: Computers, General Tagged With: Drink, Eating, Home computer, Keyboard instrument, Original equipment manufacturer,

Stretching Tired Hands and Wrists

The repetitive motion of using your home computer can take a toll on your hands. Learning some simple stretches for the hands, fingers, and wrists can help to prevent injury and ensure the health of your hands for years to come. Set an alarm on your computer or phone to remind you to stop and stretch your hands at least once every hour while you are working at your home computer.

Stretch the Wrists

Place the palms of your hands together in front of you and press them gently into each other. Push your hand in each direction with palms remaining flat against each other and feel the stretch at the base of your wrist. This is a great stretch for people who spend a lot of time typing and need to remember to break for their wrists’ sake. Make circles with your wrists to further stretch and loosen these tired joints.

Shake Them Out

Shaking out your hands, wrists, and fingers is important when you work at the computer a lot. Shaking out body parts relieves tension that has built up in the muscles and helps them to relax and avoid strain. Shake out each wrist whenever you pause from typing and you will find your hands don’t get as sore during work. You also want to remember to shake out your whole arms or roll your shoulders a bit when you pause in your work. This can help prevent pain and keep everything in good working order.

Clench and Stretch

Fingers can also get sore from computer usage. Make fists and clench them tightly together for three counts, then stretch your fingers wide apart for three counts. Pulse on the counts to deepen the clench and stretch and help keep your fingers from getting stiff or worn out from typing. Stretch your thumbs across your palm to give them a little extra stretch before returning to your work.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Wrist
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