4 Ways to View Your Laptop or Desktop’s Screen on Your TV

4 Ways to View Your Laptop or Desktop’s Screen on Your TV: "Mirroring your laptop or desktop PC’s display on your TV is actually pretty simple, assuming you know what you’re doing. There are several ways to do this, both wired and wirelessly.

The wired methods are the most reliable, although they’ll need an HDMI cable — and possibly an adapter for your computer. Wireless methods can work well, too — they just aren’t perfect."



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How To Set Up A VPN (And Why It's A Good Idea To Use One)

How To Set Up A VPN (And Why It's A Good Idea To Use One): "Do you know what a VPN is? Do you know what it does? We’ve covered the best VPNs here at MakeUseOf, and you definitely need to take a look at that.
So you know which VPN services are out there, but wouldn’t you like to know how to set one up? Well don’t worry, because this handy infographic will provide you with a quick guide for setting one up, and it even explains exactly why you’d want to."



'via Blog this'

How to Remove the Awful ShopperPro Adware / Malware

How to Remove the Awful ShopperPro Adware / Malware: "We were testing out our theory that all freeware download sites are awful when we got infected with the ShopperPro adware, which just completely takes over your entire browser window with obnoxious ads, redirects Amazon links to some shady site, and is awful. Here’s how to remove it."



'via Blog this'

The Mouse-Box fits a whole PC inside a mouse

The Mouse-Box fits a whole PC inside a mouse: "We've seen plenty of compact PCs in the past, but few as tiny as the Mouse-Box. This new invention from a team of Polish engineers packs a fully-functioning computer into a mouse that you can hold in your hand. All you need to add is a screen and a keyboard and you're ready to start work, get online or launch a presentation. The Mouse-Box is currently at the prototype stage and its makers are looking for funding to bring it to production."



'via Blog this'

10 essential apps for your tablet | Komando.com

10 essential apps for your tablet | Komando.com: "The thing that makes tablets really useful is the apps. Unfortunately, there are literally millions of apps available. Fear not! I've done the research for you, and am bringing you the apps that every tablet owner needs to install. By the way, these apps are also great for your smartphone."



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Which Antivirus Offers the Best Protection? AV-Test Reports

Which Antivirus Offers the Best Protection? AV-Test Reports: "If you count both major players and smaller companies, you'll find dozens of antivirus products available. Which one should you choose to protect your own PCs? If you were choosing between different cars, you could take test drives, see how each suits your needs. But you wouldn't want to test drive an antivirus using live malware! Fortunately, independent labs like AV-Test Institute do the necessary research for you. The latest report from this lab helps identify the best antivirus products"



'via Blog this'

How to Troubleshoot Common Google Chromecast Issues

How to Troubleshoot Common Google Chromecast Issues: "Most users have a smooth and trouble free experience with the Google Chromecast, but when it misbehaves the experience quickly goes from flawless to nearly unusable. Read on as we highlight the simply tweaks and fixes you can apply to get an underperforming Chromecast zipping along again."



'via Blog this'

Hard disk reliability examined once more: HGST rules, Seagate is alarming | Ars Technica

Hard disk reliability examined once more: HGST rules, Seagate is alarming | Ars Technica: "A year ago we got some insight into hard disk reliability when cloud backup provider Backblaze published its findings for the tens of thousands of disks that it operated. Backblaze uses regular consumer-grade disks in its storage because of the cheaper cost and good-enough reliability, but it also discovered that some kinds of disks fared extremely poorly when used 24/7."



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Windows 10: Microsoft aims for Windows everywhere | The Download Blog - CNET Download.com

Windows 10: Microsoft aims for Windows everywhere | The Download Blog - CNET Download.com: "Microsoft's event introduced the next OS for PC and mobile, the Spartan browser, Xbox streaming, and even holograms. Discover what's coming to Windows 10 in 2015."



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Microsoft to deliver free upgrades to Windows 10 - CNET

Microsoft to deliver free upgrades to Windows 10 - CNET: "The company hopes to encourage customers to embrace its new operating system by offering a free refresh for multiple devices."



'via Blog this'

How to Remove the Horrible BoBrowser Adware / Malware

How to Remove the Horrible BoBrowser Adware / Malware: "We were testing out some freeware download sites to prove our assertion that all download sites are pushing bundled crapware (and yes, they are) when we ran across a truly terrible piece of malware called BoBrowser which replaces Chrome with a lookalike that is chock full of adware."



'via Blog this'

How do You Hide the New User Profile Name Button in Google Chrome?

How do You Hide the New User Profile Name Button in Google Chrome?: "If you are the only one using Google Chrome on your computer, then you hardly need to be ‘reminded’ that you are the one currently logged into the browser. Today’s SuperUser Q&A post provides a quick and easy fix to hide the button for a frustrated reader."



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Yes, Every Freeware Download Site is Serving Crapware (Here’s the Proof)

Yes, Every Freeware Download Site is Serving Crapware (Here’s the Proof): "When we wrote about what happens when you install the top ten apps from CNET Downloads, about half of the comments were from people saying, “Well you should download from a trusted source.” The only problem is that there isn’t a freeware download site that is free of crapware or adware. And here’s the result of our investigation to prove it."



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Easily enlarge images on the Web without clicking - CNET

Easily enlarge images on the Web without clicking - CNET: "On social media, the larger version of an image is usually just a click away. However, if you're shopping on a site like Amazon, once you click it's easy to get distracted by other recommended products. It's similar to what happens if you read Wikipedia and get wrapped up in vaguely connected topics."



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Five ways to lower your smartphone data consumption - CNET

Five ways to lower your smartphone data consumption - CNET: "In the early days of cell phones, it was all about the minutes -- voice minutes, that is, because people used their phones to call each other. (Weird, right?) You had to limit your conversations or suffer the horrors of overage charges."



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12 Hidden Facebook Features Only Power Users Know - Slideshow from PCMag.com

12 Hidden Facebook Features Only Power Users Know - Slideshow from PCMag.com: "Facebook is the principal digital public square of today. Well, it's the principal digital public square for those of a certain age (i.e. post-college, the young'ns aren't into it!) But Zuck & Co's site is still an extremely integral virtual venue and will continue to be for some time."



'via Blog this'

10 cheap or free ways to make an old PC run faster

10 cheap or free ways to make an old PC run faster: "Teach an old dog new tricks
There’s a reason that unboxing videos and the phrase “new car smell” are firmly ensconced in the public groupmind. New stuff is exciting! New stuff is (theoretically) better! New stuff is just plain cool."



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How to Add a Longer-Lasting Battery to Your Smartphone

How to Add a Longer-Lasting Battery to Your Smartphone: "Well, it’s noon and your phone’s battery is already at 37 percent. There are ways to avert this disaster, adding more battery capacity to your favorite smartphone.

Phones are becoming thinner every year — if only they stayed the same thickness and had a larger battery instead! Be sure to follow the battery-saving tips for your Android phone or iPhone, too."



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The Best Free Google Chrome Extensions | PCMag.com

The Best Free Google Chrome Extensions | PCMag.com: "It's been an up and down year for Google's Chrome Web browser. It's gaining market share; Chrome had 22.65 percent of the market in December 2014 compared to 16.22 percent a year earlier, according to Net Applications. Nice growth, but still behind Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE), which stood at 59.1 percent last month. If you go by other measures, Chrome has an even higher number of users, but they're trending down."



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5 details Facebook asks for that you shouldn't give | Komando.com

5 details Facebook asks for that you shouldn't give | Komando.com: "To Facebook, your personal information is everything. The more the site has on you, the more money it can make from advertisers who want to target you. Unfortunately, there are some things you shouldn't share online."



'via Blog this'

What You Can Do With Your iPhone’s Health App

What You Can Do With Your iPhone’s Health App: "Apple’s Health app arrived in iOS 8, and it’s now on every up-to-date iPhone. This app appears simple at first glance, but it hides a lot of data and advanced functionality.

The Health app is in actually the user-visible face of HealthKit, Apple’s attempt at putting all your health data in one place."



'via Blog this'

Zombie cookie: The tracking cookie that you can’t kill | Ars Technica

Zombie cookie: The tracking cookie that you can’t kill | Ars Technica: "An online advertising clearinghouse relied on by Google, Yahoo, and Facebook is using controversial cookies that come back from the dead to track the Web surfing of Verizon customers.

The company, called Turn, is taking advantage of a hidden undeletable number that Verizon uses to monitor customers' habits on their smartphones and tablets. Turn uses the Verizon number to respawn tracking cookies that users have deleted."



'via Blog this'

Five ways to delete yourself from the Internet - CNET

Five ways to delete yourself from the Internet - CNET: "Finally ready to get off the grid? It's not quite as simple as it should be, but here are a few easy-to-follow steps that should at the very least point you in the right direction."



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The ultimate iPhone 6 drop test... from space - CNET

The ultimate iPhone 6 drop test... from space - CNET: "I'm sure I'll eat these words one day, but it seems that we've finally witnessed an iPhone drop test that can't conceivably be topped.

We've seen iDevices dropped from planes and stuck in molten lava, but the below video of an iPhone 6 descending from the edge of space seems to be about as far as gravity's effects can be pushed, short of tossing an iPad into a black hole."



'via Blog this'

Is There Quantifiable Evidence for Power-Cycling a Router for 10 Seconds?

Is There Quantifiable Evidence for Power-Cycling a Router for 10 Seconds?: "We have all heard the advice about power cycling an electronic device in order to clear up problems, but is power cycling better than simply unplugging and plugging the device back in? Today’s SuperUser Q&A post has the answers to a curious reader’s question."



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How to Enable HDMI-CEC on Your TV, and Why You Should

How to Enable HDMI-CEC on Your TV, and Why You Should: "“HDMI-CEC”, short for HDMI Consumer Electronics Control, is an HDMI feature many TVs and peripherals have. This feature makes your devices work better together, but is often disabled by default.

To make things even more confusing, manufacturers often don’t call this feature “HDMI-CEC”. Like with Miracast, every manufacturer wants to call it their own branded name, even though it’s an interoperable standard."



'via Blog this'

13 iOS Apps Worth Buying - Slideshow from PCMag.com

13 iOS Apps Worth Buying - Slideshow from PCMag.com: "Why pay for Cows vs Aliens when you can get Remember the Milk for free?
Oddly, paying for an app in the App Store is a big decision for some. It's easy to put down a dollar for a pack of gum, but paying 99 cents for an app? That requires some thought. Maybe that's because about 90 percent of the over 1 million iOS apps are free."



'via Blog this'

Does Memory Become Slower if Increased in Size?

Does Memory Become Slower if Increased in Size?: "Sometimes it is fun to speculate how differently your system would operate if changes were made to the hardware components. Today’s SuperUser Q&A post discusses increases in the size of memory to help satisfy a reader’s curiosity."



'via Blog this'

What Exactly is a “Quantum Dot” TV?

What Exactly is a “Quantum Dot” TV?: "TV manufacturers are in a constant race to add new “features so they can convince you to buy a new TV. Next up after 3D, 4K, and curved displays: Quantum dots!

Quantum dot displays aren’t a new technology, but they’re making their way to TVs and you’ll see them advertised more soon. LG showed off a quantum dot TV at CES 2015. Sony, Samsung, and TCL will also be selling quantum dot TVs."



'via Blog this'

What You Can Do With Your iPhone’s Health App

What You Can Do With Your iPhone’s Health App: "Apple’s Health app arrived in iOS 8, and it’s now on every up-to-date iPhone. This app appears simple at first glance, but it hides a lot of data and advanced functionality.

The Health app is in actually the user-visible face of HealthKit, Apple’s attempt at putting all your health data in one place."



'via Blog this'

5 Cool Uses For An Old Smartphone - Digital Media Mom

5 Cool Uses For An Old Smartphone - Digital Media Mom: "Your old smartphone may be disconnected from your cell service / data plan account, but it’s still got plenty of functionality you can use. Remember: your old smartphone still has WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, so now that you’ve disconnected it from your cell plan it’s kind of like a really small tablet."



'via Blog this'

10 Hidden Microsoft Word Features That Will Make Your Life Easier

10 Hidden Microsoft Word Features That Will Make Your Life Easier: "veryone knows Clippy. But are you friends with Pilcrow?
Stop there if you know what I am talking about. You know more about Microsoft Word than I do.
Okay. Let me test you a bit more by asking about “widow lines”. If you still got that, then do stop. If you didn’t, then welcome to this side of the line where we think we are proficient on Microsoft Word – but honestly aren’t."



'via Blog this'

How Much RAM Do You Really Need?

How Much RAM Do You Really Need?: "Most people know that their computer has RAM — but fewer could tell you just what is it and what it does. Here’s how to gauge how much RAM you need, how much your computer has and how to get the most out of it."



'via Blog this'

9 Hidden Facebook Features Only Power Users Know - Slideshow from PCMag.com

9 Hidden Facebook Features Only Power Users Know - Slideshow from PCMag.com: "Facebook is the principal digital public square of today. Well, it's the principal digital public square for those of a certain age (i.e. post-college, the young'ns aren't into it!) But Zuck & Co's site is still an extremely integral virtual venue and will continue to be for some time."



'via Blog this'

Scientists create prototype quantum hard drive

Scientists create prototype quantum hard drive: "Researchers from the Australian National University (ANU) and the University of Otago in New Zealand have created a prototype quantum hard drive that may fundamentally alter the realm of secure, long-distance data encryption. Using atoms of the rare-earth element europium embedded in yttrium orthosilicate (YSO) crystals, the scientists have shattered previous records for quantum information retention by creating a storage device capable of holding quantum state information for up to six hours at a time."



'via Blog this'

How to Tell Whether Your Windows PC is Using a Proxy Server

How to Tell Whether Your Windows PC is Using a Proxy Server: "While researching for our article about what happens when you install crapware from a really lousy download site, we noticed that some of the crapware and spyware will actually try to install a proxy server to spy on you. So how do you know if your PC is using a proxy?"



'via Blog this'

Why Would You Want a Curved TV or Computer Monitor?

Why Would You Want a Curved TV or Computer Monitor?: "Curved TVs were everywhere at CES 2015. We’re not exaggerating: Almost all the TVs being shown off were curved instead of flat! But what’s the advantage of a curved TV, anyway?

It wasn’t all about TVs. Samsung was showing off curved computer monitors, too. 4K TVs will be useful someday, but we’re not so sure about curved TVs."



'via Blog this'

What Are the Windows A: and B: Drives Used For?

What Are the Windows A: and B: Drives Used For?: "The C: drive is the default installation location for Windows, if you have a CD/DVD drive on your machine it’s likely the D: drive, and any additional drives fall in line after that. What about the A: and B: drives?"



'via Blog this'

Here’s What Happens When You Install the Top 10 Download.com Apps

Here’s What Happens When You Install the Top 10 Download.com Apps: "We installed the top 10 apps from Download.com, and you’ll never believe what happened! Well… I guess maybe you might have a good guess. Awful things. Awful things are what happens. Join us for the fun!"



'via Blog this'

10 Ways You Might Be Killing Your Home Wi-Fi Signal

10 Ways You Might Be Killing Your Home Wi-Fi Signal: "This is a popular time of year for hosting friends and family.  And stocking up on essentials is a must – drinks, snacks, the list goes on.

But there’s one necessity in your house that might get overlooked: Wi-Fi.  Whether your guests want to show a funny YouTube video, stream the latest Taylor Swift song or post a selfie on Facebook, everyone will want a strong and fast Internet connection."



'via Blog this'

How to Backup and Restore the Windows Registry

How to Backup and Restore the Windows Registry: "Any time you make a change to the Windows Registry, any responsible article will probably tell you to backup the registry first. But how do you do that? It’s not quite as simple as you might think."



'via Blog this'

Start the year off right with a clean PC | PCWorld

Start the year off right with a clean PC | PCWorld: "Unsavory detritus lurks in the vents and crevices of your computer hardware: Hair, dust, cigarette smoke, and pet dander can accumulate in your PC and also in your peripherals, even down between the keys of your keyboard. Some of it’s just gross. However, buildup on fans and other key components can increase the heat stress on your machine, potentially making it unstable and shortening the life of individual parts. That’s no way to start a new year. With thanks to Marco Chiappetta’s detailed rundown on how to clean a dirty PC, we’re adding information on how to clean  peripherals as well."



'via Blog this'

When Will 3D Printers Be Worth Buying For Home Use?

When Will 3D Printers Be Worth Buying For Home Use?: "We all want the replicator from Star Trek: a machine that can create any object we desire. 3D printers, which create objects from plastics and other materials, are the closest things we have. And they’re getting cheaper every year."



'via Blog this'

How to Disable Startup Programs in Windows

How to Disable Startup Programs in Windows: "The more software you install on your computer, the longer it may seem to take to start up Windows. Many programs add themselves to the list of programs started when you boot your computer, and that list can get long."



'via Blog this'

Broadcom, Comcast prep for gigabit cable service to begin in 2015 | TechHive

Broadcom, Comcast prep for gigabit cable service to begin in 2015 | TechHive: "LAS VEGAS—Broadcom announced Tuesday at the Consumer Electronics Show that it's begun sampling its first DOCSIS 3.1 chip, enabling gigabit Internet services to begin in 2015, and for consumers to pump up to 2Gb/s of wireless data throughout their home."



'via Blog this'

Sharp reveals new 4K, 8K and wraparound displays

Sharp reveals new 4K, 8K and wraparound displays: "Sharp has announced a number of new displays that it says "simply cannot be duplicated by other companies." The firm showcased an 85-in 8K LCD screen, a 120-in 4K commercial LCD display and a 60-in wraparound pillar display at CES in Las Vega"



'via Blog this'

Should You Buy Extra RAM for an Old Computer?

Should You Buy Extra RAM for an Old Computer?: "Sometimes you have an older but still very useful computer and are faced with a dilemma, should you upgrade it or simply hold out until you can buy a new one? Today’s SuperUser Q&A post discusses the dilemma in order to help a reader make a decision."



'via Blog this'

Smart TVs Are Stupid: Why You Don’t Really Want a Smart TV

Smart TVs Are Stupid: Why You Don’t Really Want a Smart TV: "Wouldn’t it be great to have a smart TV? Well, not really. If you do have a smart TV, you’d be better off combining it with a cheap set-top box rather than actually using its smart features.

Smart TVs are actually a decent idea. The problem isn’t that the idea of a smart TV is stupid, the problem is that the smart TVs themselves are stupid — or, at least, not very smart."



'via Blog this'

Forget 4G. Here's what 5G wireless tech will look like - CNET

Forget 4G. Here's what 5G wireless tech will look like - CNET: "Vestberg shared his vision of 5G, a network that will not only be significantly faster, but much smarter. It's that network intelligence that will better manage the burgeoning trend of the Internet of Things, or the concept that every object can connect to the Internet and talk to each other. "



'via Blog this'

Browser Slow? How to Make Google Chrome Fast Again

Browser Slow? How to Make Google Chrome Fast Again: "Have you noticed your usually speedy Google Chrome browser slowing down, or even crashing on you? Unnecessary plugins, extensions, and even browsing data can slow your browser down to a crawl, or make it crash. Here’s how to fix it."



'via Blog this'

How to Roll Back or Uninstall a Problematic Windows Update

How to Roll Back or Uninstall a Problematic Windows Update: "Barely a month had passed after we told you to let Windows Update automatically keep your PC updated before Microsoft decided to make us look bad by releasing a couple of really bad updates that broke people’s computers. So today we’re going to show you how to roll things back should an update break everything."



'via Blog this'

Google Tracker 2015: Everything we know Google is working on for the new year | Ars Technica

Google Tracker 2015: Everything we know Google is working on for the new year | Ars Technica: "The new year is almost here, and that means it's time for the bi-annual Google Tracker, our roundup of all of Google's news, rumors, and acquisitions. Hopefully it paints a clearer picture of what will happen with the company in the future."



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Best tablets under $200 right now - CNET

Best tablets under $200 right now - CNET: "The saying goes, "Out with the old and in with the new," if you're looking for a device with good performance at an affordable price. However, "in with the old" might be your best game plan if you're looking to save money while picking up a new tablet"



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How to Create a Facebook Business Page in 5 Simple Steps [Tutorial]

How to Create a Facebook Business Page in 5 Simple Steps [Tutorial]: "It's no longer a "good idea" for most businesses to be on Facebook. With 829 million people actively using Facebook every day, it's become a go-to component of almost any inbound marketing strategy.

Thing is, as more and more Facebook features change, so does the process of setting up a Page."



'via Blog this'

Acer's upgraded laptops include one with a motion-sensing 3D camera

Acer's upgraded laptops include one with a motion-sensing 3D camera: "Acer is showing up at CES with a lot of laptop upgrades in store, and its Windows PC revamps have a few tricks up their sleeve. By far he highlight of the mix is a new version of the high-end V 17 Nitro that includes an Intel RealSense 3D camera. "



'via Blog this'

The best-sounding home theater I've ever heard - CNET

The best-sounding home theater I've ever heard - CNET: "When I dropped by Lyric Hi-Fi & Video (New York City's oldest high-end shop), I wasn't looking for anything in particular. There's so much to see and hear, but then I was hooked into auditioning the Datasat RS20i surround processor with a full complement of Focal Electra series speakers, plus a pair of JL Audio F113 subwoofers. I've heard a lot of maxed-out home theater systems, but this one took multichannel sound to the next level."



'via Blog this'

Five ways to delete yourself from the Internet - CNET

Five ways to delete yourself from the Internet - CNET: "Finally ready to get off the grid? It's not quite as simple as it should be, but here are a few easy-to-follow steps that should at the very least point you in the right direction."



'via Blog this'

​CES: Acer introduces first 15.6" display Chromebook | ZDNet

​CES: Acer introduces first 15.6" display Chromebook | ZDNet: "At CES in Las Vegas, Acer debuted the first Chromebook with a 15.6" display. The Acer Chromebook 15 is also the company's first Chromebook with a choice of the 5th Generation Intel Core i3 or the next generation Intel Celeron processor with the 5th Generation Core microarchitecture. In short, it has the screen-size and CPU power for office work on the road."



'via Blog this'

3 big Facebook changes coming in 2015 | One Page | Komando.com

3 big Facebook changes coming in 2015 | One Page | Komando.com: "For years, businesses from the largest multinational mega corporations to the smallest mom and pops have encouraged customers to "Like us on Facebook." As Facebook use exploded around the world, businesses found it to be a cheap, if not downright free, way to reach current and future customers. Many companies set up entire social media departments tasked with managing its Facebook and other social media accounts."



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Navdy

Navdy:



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Is the Pixi 3 Alcatel's New Palm Phone? | News & Opinion | PCMag.com

Is the Pixi 3 Alcatel's New Palm Phone? | News & Opinion | PCMag.com: "Palm is one of the iconic mobile computing brands. In the late 1990s, the PalmPilot was the iPhone of its time, the first handheld mobile computer that had anything close to a mass market. But it was slaughtered by HP in one of the top five worst acts of corporate mismanagement in the mobile industry ever, and Palm looked dead ... until now."



'via Blog this'

How to Automatically Reboot Your Router the Geeky Way

How to Automatically Reboot Your Router the Geeky Way: "Verizon FIOS is great — the speeds are incredible, and the price is… well, kinda expensive. The real problem is that the terrible router they give you needs to be rebooted all the time, which is a royal pain considering it’s down in the basement. Plus, I don’t want to get off the couch."



'via Blog this'

How to Manage Notifications on iPhone and iPad

How to Manage Notifications on iPhone and iPad: "Android users have been a spoiled bunch when it comes to device notifications. iPhone and iPad users had to wait until 2011 to see a notification center appear on their devices. It works pretty well though it handles things much differently than its Google counterpart."



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How to set up your new Chromebook the right way | PCWorld

How to set up your new Chromebook the right way | PCWorld: "Setting up a new Chromebook is much easier than setting up a PC. Chromebooks don't require major updates or antivirus software. You start simply by signing in with your Google Account (or creating that account, if you don't already have one)."



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Take precautions when using public Wi-Fi networks | PCWorld

Take precautions when using public Wi-Fi networks | PCWorld: "Tctws Tan wanted to know about the dangers of using a public Wi-Fi network, such as the ones you find in cafes and libraries. "Is there any other method to increase my privacy?""



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