Graphics design is one of the most demanding fields of computing. Not only does it require high performance hardware for the best output, it also requires high end software that contains the necessary tools and features to get the job done efficiently and effectively. The demanding tasks in graphics design must be conducted with the best software on the market so as to have crisp clear graphics that will command the attention of the targeted audience at an instance.  

It is 2015 and the technological advancements seen over the last few years have brought about high performance hardware components including graphics processors and visual display units; with that, all you need to succeed now as a graphics designer is a great graphics design software. Read on to find out which are the best graphics design programs available today.

CorelDraw Graphics Suite X7

CorelDraw was the first ever graphics design software for developed for Windows platform. Maintaining its ingenuity over the years, this version promises users all the right tools for the best imaging work. Graphics designers are very creative and require software that will enable them bring their visions into visual reality. This package comes with a host of applications to ensure this is possible. The support and help available for this software also means that users will always have somewhere to turn to when they get stuck.

Adobe Creative Suite 6 Design Standard

Adobe has been setting the standard for a while now with their highly functional graphics design software offering. This package maintains this trend remarkably. It comes with 6 applications including Photoshop, Illustrator and Acrobat X among others, that all work together to give users the best chance of creating any graphic they with. Although the variety of features, tools and applications in the package means that you will take longer to master everything, you will be all the more grateful in the end. It comes with eBook publishing capabilities and a host of apps designed for the iPad for use while on the go.

Xara Photo & Graphic Designer 9

Not all graphics design software will be as complicated and comprehensive as the two named above, sometimes simple is better. This software is great for photo and image editing which also supports webpage design tools. It is affordable and very functional. The fact that it does not come with numerous applications means that users can get right into it in no time. 

The cloud has totally changed how you sue your computer and access it. Using cloud services, you are able to save files in an accessible virtual location where you will be able to share pictures, documents and other files easily and securely provided you make the necessary security settings. Similarly, you will be able to access your files from various computers located in different places, making working out of the office possible. Some services even enable remote access to computers so that users can get any files they need wherever they are. Below we will look at some of the ways a windows user can use the cloud to their advantage especially given the free offers available. The guide describe here are for laptop and desktop, but not for Windows smartphones.

Save All Documents to the Cloud

Windows users can be able to send all their documents to the cloud to reap the benefits of using it. This entails turning the My Documents folder into a cloud folder so that every time you save a document it is sent to the cloud. All you need to do is open the Dropbox folder and create a folder named Documents. Go to My Documents and right click it and select properties. Open the location tab and select move; then select the new documents folder in the Dropbox folder as the location to move to, and you are done.

Synchronize your Music on Different Computers

If you want to access your music from different computers, you can get this done easily. Just send your music to the cloud and then change the settings on Windows media player to source all music from the cloud location by default. When you install the cloud client on the computers Windows media player will download the music. This can also be done for other types of media as well. 

Synchronizing Folders with the Cloud

Most people want to synchronize their folders with the cloud for access and backup purposes. In this case, most cloud clients require you to move the folder to the cloud client folder. However Amazon Cloud Drive and Ubuntu One do not require you to do so. For Cloud drive the client is added to the drop down menu in the send to option. This is available for Windows users and makes the synchronization process far more convenient.

The introduction of cloud computing has created a lot of convenience in the use and access of computers and data sharing. Windows users can begin enjoying this convenience by following the above suggestions. 

All computers require a display to work with. Whether you are looking to replace and old Cathode Ray Tube monitor or just bought a new computer and want the best monitor on the market to use it with, LED and LCD are your two main options. To help you decide better, it is important to begin by considering your needs before going shopping. This will help you choose the best monitor that fits your needs. Below we will compare these two types of computer display units and provide you with a better foundation on which to base your decision.  

LCD

Liquid Crystal Diode (LCD) monitors use a cold cathode to display graphics. Without getting into the details of this design, it is important to note that it uses an improved form of technology based on the obsolete cathode ray tube monitors. The improvements have resulted into a smaller and thinner monitor that comes with better clarity and lower power consumption. The LCD display reduces power consumption by almost half of its predecessor’s consumption levels.

LCD monitors are quite affordable due to the fact that numerous manufacturers are now producing them. Apart from this, they are designed to have a better viewing experience even from an angle. This anti-effect effect is one of the main selling points for these monitors. They have a high level of image clarity and can be sued in for most regular computing and media viewing satisfactorily.

LED

Light-Emitting Diode this type of display unit uses light emitting diodes to illuminate the screen and display graphics. These monitors tend to be relatively the same size and weight as their LCD counter parts but consume less power. These monitors have a higher resolution especially those that come with control features. This means colors and images are sharper and look better than on LCD screens. The main drawback however, is the fact that LED screens tend to have more glare when viewing from an angle. However, upgrades are being made to give them better anti-glare properties.

LED monitors are the latest in terms of computer monitor technology. They come at a higher price as compared to LCD monitors but have better picture clarity. If you are looking for a display unit best suited to conducting graphical work, then this is your best choice.

Conclusion

Both LCD and LED monitors are similar with minimal differences. In most cases, the choice between them is made depending on user’s preferences and not these differences. 

If you want a computer but are not sure that you will find exactly what you are looking for as per your needs in the market, you can put together your own machine and make sure it meets all of your requirements. Computers, usually rely on the motherboard to conduct all of their functions. The motherboard affects every aspect of the computer and therefore forms one of the most important parts of the entire system. For your system to perform as expected, it is essential to have the right motherboard with the right components. Below we will look at some of the important features to look for in a motherboard.

CPU

The main component on a mother board is the central processing unit CPU. This is where all the computing tasks will go through. Depending on the intended application for the computer under construction, you will need a processor that can handle all the work smoothly and as fast as possible. The main brand name to look out for here is Intel. They build core 2 duo and core 2 quad processors. The former refers to a dual core CPU while the latter is a four core CPU. AMD is another manufacturer offering reliable processors but with slightly lower performance.

Chipset

This is among the most important components of the motherboard. The chipset directs various data communications to their respective destinations and determines the performance of a computer. Some of the major brands to consider here included nVidia, Intel, AMD and Via among others. 

GPU

This refers to the graphics processing unit. It is another component that ranks highly when shopping for a motherboard. It can either be an integrated graphics processor, which handles its processing tasks through the system’s processor. On the other hand we have dedicated graphics processors which can only be fitted on a mother board with a PCI Express slot, for the best performance.

Storage

Storage is a major factor when it comes to computing. The speed at which the computer can write and read data from storage directly influences the speed of the entire system. This speed mainly depends on the transmission protocols used by the motherboard. Most motherboards today use SATA to read and write data into hard drives. You will find that most motherboards support numerous SATA connections going up to ten at times. For connecting to external hard drives, most motherboards use USB 2.0 while eSATA which is a newer protocol uses SATA for higher speeds.

Whether you use your computer for regular computing or much more demanding media streaming, you want the best display for clear and crisp graphics. Although a lot on the graphics part depends on the hardware in use, connections are also essential and have and influence on the quality of the picture produced. Today, you can use a HDTV, projectors or dedicated computer display unit as a monitor, the choice is yours. Video signals can be carried to the monitor in digital or analog format, with the former being clearer. These will connect to the computer in different or similar ways. Below we will look at the main connections used to connect computers to these types of monitors.

HDMI

HDMI is the easiest and most common way of connecting a computer monitor to the computer. Since HDMI is a digital connection, it is able to produce crisp clear graphics on the monitor. With HDTVs being the norm today, it is advisable to use HDMI connection as they held the user enjoy the clear display features of such TVs to the maximum. It is capable of transmitting signals with 3820 x 2160 pixels at 30 frames per second at the minimum level, with higher versions of HDMI cables transmitting even higher resolutions found in 4K resolution displays.  

If the computer display unit in use comes with inbuilt speakers that you want to use especially when streaming media, it is advisable to use a HDMI cable as it also carries an audio signal. You will not have to carry multiple cables carrying video and sound separately. This is one of the mina stand-out features when it comes to distinguishing HDMI cables from the others available.

VGA

A VGA video connection is by far one of the oldest available today. VGA connections have been used to connect monitors to computers in the past. They carry the video in analog format. It is important to note that if you are planning to use a TV as your display unit/monitor, a VGA cable will not deliver the best image quality to make use of the display features of the monitor. VGA cables also do not carry an audio signal and hence make it necessary to have a separate audio cable if the monitor has inbuilt speakers which the user intends to make use of. It is also important to note that many TVs do not have a VGA port. 

In today’s world, malice is bound to find its way in the computer world. The internet has been flooded with malicious software which is intended to exploit and corrupt host computers it spreads to. Unfortunately, the spread of this malicious firmware used for destructive ends seems to be growing by the day.  

With viruses embedded in innocent looking web sites, anyone who uses their computer for browsing purposes runs the risk of falling prey to computer viruses when using the internet. This everyday task can turn out to have some devastating effects such as having your personal data stolen or crucial data corrupted. A wrong click can damage your laptop and you will need to bring it for laptop repair. 

Fortunately, there are organizations actively developing anti-virus software to keep your computer safe from these attacks. These organizations are always researching and developing new virus definitions, detections systems and most importantly new ways to prevent computer systems from being infected by viruses.

It is on this note that we look at some of the best antivirus software for today’s demanding consumer needs. You will note that the list features some familiar anti-virus brands since many of these companies have established systems as well as research and development teams that ensure that their products remain effective deterrents against viruses.

Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus 2015

This is a cloud-based anti-virus featuring a unique system structure. The snit-virus primarily monitors behavior to detect and deter malware installations in your computer. Priced at $19.99 at Webroot, the anti-virus provides value for money spent.

Symantec Norton Security with Backup

This is among the best suits to purchase if you intend protect multiple computers. One purchase has license to protect up to 10 computers. Beyond this economic value, the anti-virus is also effective in protecting against any malware and virus. You also get back-up space with each purchase.

Bitdefender Total Security 2015 

Consistently among the best anti-virus software on the market, Bitdefender has also proved to be effective; according to independent tests. This particular 2015 release version came with a 2GB backup space per purchase. It compatible with Microsoft operating system but does not have a release for IOS. 

Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2015

Another familiar name when it comes to anti-virus software, Kaspersky is known for its effectiveness. It is compatible with Microsoft’s OS with no release for IOS.

In all, what sets these anti-virus programs apart from the rest is their exceptional ability to detect computer viruses and eliminate them. Users can rest assured that their computers are safe from the common virus attacks characterizing today’s internet. 

The advent of laptop computers not only brought portable computers but also gave rise to some of the most advanced computers. The continued growth in computing capabilities in laptop means that their use is increasing by the day; and so does the number of laptop units being purchased annually.  

The growth in processing power and the increased ability to process better and high-resolution images has resulted in laptop computers being utilised for much more than carrying out regular computing. More recent uses of laptops feature gaming and entertainment. The portability of laptops makes them the perfect replacement for home entertainment systems and DVDs, gaming consoles and music players, for a device that offers all these functions rolled into one.

That being said, some of the applications for laptops call for a larger screen. For instance, gaming and movie viewing is best enjoyed when the screen is large enough to watch from afar. Fortunately, the technology associated integrating different output devices with computers enables laptops to be linked with larger TV screens for a clearer display.

Connection Options

There are different connections that are at your disposal if you want to connect a laptop to a larger TV. Many laptop devices come with VGA, DVI and HDMI. Each connection has its own capabilities; VGA connection cannot handle high definition video output whereas the DVI and HDMI connections are capable of handling HD video output. However, HDMI connections are able to carry digital sound whereas DVI does not have that capability. 

The choice of connection that one chooses is dependent on the connection cable one has as well as the connection ports supported by the TV set being used.

Making the Connection 

This task begins with matching the connection type on both ends and then using the cable to connect both the laptop and the TV set. In this regard, the output from the laptop should be the same as the input on the larger screen. A converter may be required to convert HDMI out to DVI or vice versa.

After connecting the laptop, you need to change the computer settings by ‘Changing Display’ option from the ‘Appearance and Personalisation’ settings accessed from the ‘Control Panel’. While at dialog box, click on the 'Detect' button to discover the external, secondary screen. From the ‘Multiple Display’ drop down choose ‘Extend These Display’ and then follow the option by clicking on the 'Apply' button. At this point, the larger screen should mirror the laptop display.

Your computer, whether laptop or desktop uses a cooling fan to keep all internal components as cool as possible during operation to ensure that nothing gets damaged due to overheating. As the fan blows in cool air into the computer, dust and fine particles accumulate on its housing and fins from the outside. This accumulated dust reduces the efficiency of the fan and the computer’s cooling system as a result. Once this is done, your computer will be overheating regularly causing its performance to go down as a result. Applications will crash during operations and the computer’s components will be at risk of damage. This means it is essential to keep the cooling fan clean sing the following methods.

Using Electric Vacuums

You can suck out the accumulated dust in your computer’s cooling fan using an electric vacuum. It is recommended that you look for a vacuum designed for this function as using any other vacuum might end up damaging the fan or other components in the computer. For instance, electronic vacuum cleaners that connect to the wall are known to produce an electrostatic discharge which damages internal computer components.

Using a Compressed Air Can

Compressed air cans are great for cleaning out computer cleaning fans as they are designed to eliminate any possibility of the production of electrostatic discharge. This means that by using them, you avoid exposing your computer to any damage due to electrostatic energy. These are also cheap to buy and therefore offer an affordable method of keeping your computer’s air fan clean. It is recommended that you position the air can in a way that will help blow the dust out of the computer as opposed to inwards.

Damp cloth

At times if your computer has not been cleaned for an extended period you will find that the accumulated dust has created a thick layer that is very difficult to deal with. Using a damp cloth would do a better job of cleaning out the dust and grime.

When you decide to clean out your computer’s cooling fan it is important to remember that removing it from the computer system offers a better chance of cleaning out the dust. Make sure that the fan’s fins are not moving when cleaning so as to get all of the dust out. 

Technological advancement has rendered USB 2.0 ports somewhat irrelevant as the more capable USB 3.0 ports are able to transfer data at speeds of over 5GB/s. These unimaginable speeds are quite exciting and anyone with a computer that does not have USB 3.0 support is clamoring to get their hands on the necessary hardware to upgrade their older USB 2.0 ports to the newer 3.0 ports and functionality. It is possible to upgrade your computer to have the higher transfer speeds of USB 3.0 by adding the relevant ports, for those fortunate enough, they can add even more ports to utilize them as they like. 

To install USB 3.0 ports on a computer that does not have the necessary hardware you will need a PCIe card, USB 3.0 ports and a case that has the ports already in place or an empty space to fit the expansion bay. The PCIe card is fitted on a PCI Express slot so as to provide the necessary support for the USB 3.0 functionality. The card should have some salient features so as to provide the functionality that you are after. In this case, the card should come with a power connection. Most cards use a Molex power connection to supply power to the USB 3.0 card and ports. It is important to note that USB 3.0 has more power as compared to USB 2.0. Secondly the card must have a free header on which to attach the new USB 3.0 expansion bay cable.  

Once you have the necessary PCI card in your possession it is time to get the job done. Begin by observing all safety rules especially pertaining to electrostatic energy before opening up your computer’s case. Make sure the power is turned off to avoid any electric shock. Do approach an IT support personnel or a computer repair professional if you are unsure on how to do this personally.

Once you have opened up the computer, locate the empty PCI Express slot. This slot should be protected by a slot guard which is attached to the case. Once you have removed the slot guard, insert the PCIe card just like you would a RAM module. Fasten it to the case using the screw from the removed slot guard. Now plug in the internal 19 pin USB cable that is connected to the expansion bay holding the USB 3.0 ports. Once this is done connect the Molex power cable.

With that simple procedure, you can now enjoy the benefits of using USB 3.0 but only after installing the necessary drivers which can be downloaded or come in a CD to be installed. 

Every day, numerous desktop computer and laptops are returned to their manufacturers or dealers due to various reasons. These include cancelled orders, surface imperfections due to damage during delivery; broken or non-functional parts and after their use as demo is over. When these are returned to the manufacturers, it would be wasteful to discard them and therefore remanufactured and retested before being offered up for resale. Even though some have not been removed from their packaging yet, they are not considered as new anymore and have to be sold as used computers by law. They offer customers a lot of value at a lower price.

Pricing

The first and most important reason to buy a refurbished desktop computer is that it comes at a reduced price even though it is “like new”. Refurbished computers including desktops are usually only 3-18 months old. This means that, even though technological advancement is at an all-time high and continuing even faster, you can be sure that what you are getting it not obsolete. The lower price offers value.

Quality

When these desktop computers are returned to the manufacturer for refurbishment, they are carefully remanufactured and every part is tested for the highest quality and performance. You can be sure that, even though the computer you buy is referred to as used, it has been tested and satisfied the necessary conditions like new computers. It is also important to note that manufacturers will provide warranties on these products as a guarantee to the quality of the internal parts and the computer as a whole. Do ensure that there are warranty in place or you will need to spend extra on computer repairs.

New Attachments

In most cases when desktop computers are returned for refurbishment, they are equipped with new attachments including a keyboard and mouse. This is especially important considering that computer hardware designs are always changing from time to time. This will save you the effort, time and money that you would have spent in looking for new ones of your old attachments are not compatible your new computer.

Return Policy

One of the main things that have facilitated the growth of the demand for refurbished computers is the availability of sensible return policies. If at all you find that the computer does not work as promised by the dealer or manufacturer, you are free to return it and get your money back. Make sure you check this policy before buying from any dealer or manufacturer. 

Computers are great in sharing and managing resources. For equipment and software that can be shared by a number of users, setting up a network to connect all users to the printer is essential and saves the business or users a lot of cash. A print server offers these benefits to users. Print servers usually encompass the installation of a printer and any relevant software on one computer referred to as the print server. Once this is done, the printer and relevant computer software do not need to be installed on to all the computers in the server. It is important to also note that the server can be connected to a variety of printers on the network as well. 

Setting up a print server is a request that often received by IT support professionals. To set up a print server you need to begin by finding out the versions of the operating systems of all the computers on the network. This is because; the operating systems have to be factored in to the configuration settings of the printer. The two main options are “All Windows Clients” and “Windows 2000 and Windows CP clients only”. This provides permission for the computers to use the print server.  

The next step is to configure the print server by using a set up wizard. When using the set up wizard you will be prompted to enter a name for the printer. This is if you do not wish to use the default printer name usually displayed at this point. This is mainly to help you manage the printer individually especially if there are other printers on the server.

You will also need to create a name that will be seen by other users on the network using the print server. This is referred to as the share name. This will help users distinguish different printers when sending out printing tasks.

To configure the print server and have it working, go to the Star button and then Control Panel. From here open Printers and Other Hardware and then Printers and Faxes. Look for the newly added printer and right click on it. Open Properties and then go to the Sharing tab.  Look for the Network Start-Up Wizard and click on it. Follow the prompts to complete the set up process. From this point onwards you can enjoy the services of your newly set up print server.

Now users on the network can print their work by locating the printer’s share name and then sending their tasks through for printing.

Ever since the advent of cellphones, wrist watches have had a reduced importance as time telling duties had been assigned to phones; however smart watches have brought new meaning to the functionality of wrist watches with some handy features. Below we will look at some of the best smart watches you can buy in 2015. 

Sony Smart Watch 3

This is by far one of the best smart watches available today. It comes with a large 1.6 inch LCD display which has been termed as exceptional to use in daylight. Its stand-out features include a pedometer and GPS system. The battery can go for two days, but this time is reduced by a large margin if the GPS is used on a regular basis. The expansive screen is however not scratch-resistant as it isn’t made of gorilla glass. 

Samsung Gear S

This watch comes with a stand out curved 2 inch super AMOLED screen that makes it comfortable to wear. Apart from being able to synchronize with your Android smartphone, it also maintains its own independent access to data networks. Among the included features is the pedometer, GPS and heart rate monitor. An inbuilt speaker and microphone enable users to make calls through the smart watch as well. However its battery will only serve you up to 2 days in between charges.

Asus ZenWatch

The watch features a 1.63 inch AMOLED screen that is curved to fit your wrist much more comfortably. It is dust and water resistant as it comes rated as being IP55. It also comes with a custom UI for better independent functionality. It includes a heart rate monitor as well as a pedometer among its features offering. The watch comes with 360mAh battery that will last users about two days. 

Pebble Steel

The watch comes with a 1.26inch gorilla glass eInk screen which does not display different colors; however this makes its battery life extend beyond most of its competitors by far. It may have been from 2014, but it is one of the most popular smart watches to date. It comes with its own custom OS for independent functionality; it also comes with a phone app that allow users to manage the watch and the loaded apps conveniently. The stand out feature is the battery which users can expect to last over 5 days. It is backed by over 65000 apps.

Apple Watch

This is latest addition to the growing smart watch market. Scheduled to be available for sale from April 24th, this is a device designed to appeal to buyers across the board with 6 different varieties available. Apple Watch is powered by iOS, comes with a touch screen display and a battery life of around 18 hours. It shows text, email and call notifications as well as sending canned texts and voice messages by speaking into the watch. It comes with Apple’s NFC for on the go payments and acts as a fitness tracker as well. 

As a computer software company, Microsoft has always tried to better their product offering. This has led to a myriad of Windows Operating System options on the market for consumers to choose from. Each operating system is made and optimized for different aspects of computing, therefore catering better for a certain consumer needs. For instance some of the operations and features are better suited to handle entertainment needs; others for business oriented functions while other features are designed to handle the specialised scientific operations. 

With these options, one may end up being confused regarding which Operating System is best suited to handle their need optimally. It is in this regard that we should look at the various features of different Windows Operating Systems as well as their advantages over the others in relation to specific customer needs.

The Intended Application

There are specific needs that attract a computer user to a particular OS; this is partially determined by the work the computer will be used for. In instances where one aims to use the computer predominantly for business purposes, the best edition of Windows Operating System to go for is the enterprise edition. The enterprise editions for Windows 7, Window 8 and Windows 8.1 are optimized to business enterprises. Aspects of business management and decision-making are better handled with Enterprise Editions.

On the same note, there are laptops which are meant purely for entertainment purposes. The entertainment may be in the form of watching films, playing games, listening to music, graphic design and photo editing. The best Windows Operating System is the Ultimate version of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. These two Operating systems are optimized for entertainment purposes as the graphics and other features are perfect for use in entertainment.

Window 7 Pro is designed for intensive computing purposes that the other operating systems would find challenging to handle. These include the scientific modelling, advanced designing, engineering calculations and many more. The software that handles these tasks needs a powerful Operating System and the Pro edition fits the bill.

Operating System Support from Microsoft

The developer’s support is crucial for continued use. Developments and advancements made for particular Operating Systems ensure that the OS works perfectly, in the long run. You should, therefore, go for a supported OS, such as Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.

Tom Goodwin recently published a great article on TechCrunch about how companies who own the customer interface are milking all the profits. 

“Uber, the world’s largest taxi company, owns no vehicles. Facebook, the world’s most popular media owner, creates no content. Alibaba, the most valuable retailer, has no inventory. And Airbnb, the world’s largest accommodation provider, owns no real estate. Something interesting is happening.”

The part of the business that deals with the customer, also know as the customer interface, are the place where brand is built and trust is established. This is where the profits are. The supply chain underneath is where the costs are. There are companies who insert themselves in the customer interface side of things are reaping all the profits. 

“The new breed of companies are the fastest-growing in history. Uber, Instacart, Alibaba, Airbnb, Seamless, Twitter, WhatsApp, Facebook, Google: These companies are indescribably thin layers that sit on top of vast supply systems ( where the costs are) and interface with a huge number of people ( where the money is). There is no better business to be in. ”

If you are looking to back up your digital data or transfer it between various computers in different locations, a portable hard drive is a great and secure way of doing this. Portable hard drives are a form of digital storage devices that are compact and easily transferrable from one point to another. They do not require a lot of space when working and are not bulky to hinder portability. You can use them to backup your data to prevent tedious data recovery. These drives come with an array of features depending on the model chosen and can be bought over a wide price range depending on their capacity. Below we will look at some of the features to keep in mind when shopping for the best portable hard drive.

Speed

Portable hard drives usually have different disk rotation speeds. The rotation speed determines the data read speed on the hard disk; the faster the read speed the higher the performance. The disk rotation speeds usually vary between 4000-15000 rotations per minute. When determining the best rotation speed for your portable hard disk drive, begin by considering the intended applications. in most cases anything in the 7000 rpm range is good enough for standard users while those who require faster speeds necessary for processing larger video or program files are suited to using around 10 000rpm.

Storage size

Whether you are looking for a portable hard drive for business or personal use, storage space is a vital consideration to keep in mind. Storage capacity for these devices usually ranges from 64 GB to as high as 4TB. When you are out shopping, make sure that the chosen drive will support your needs. For business use, higher capacities of up to 4TB will do, while lower sizes are good for personal use.

Type

Portable hard drives come in two distinct designs when it comes to the internal working mechanisms. One type employs the use of spinning disks. It generally supports higher capacity but is more susceptible to damage from impact; the other variety is the solid state hard drives. These tend to be faster than the above type but are associated with lower capacities ranging from 64GB to 1 TB.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew is a great leader who has dedicated his entire life in building this great country. We are praying for him and hoping that he will recover soon. Interestingly, he uses hard disk as an analogy in one of his books. A quick trivia, what do you think is the best invention of the 20th century according to Mr Lee? The answer is Air-conditioning.

Get well soon Mr Lee, we are praying for you sir.

Many homes today are equipped with Wi-Fi networks due to the numerous portable internet enabled devices now available. The need to use these devices anywhere in the house unencumbered has brought the need to have working networks that are strong and capable of handling the data transmission demands of many homes today. Getting the Wi-Fi signal to all corners of the house or room, in its strongest form means that everyone using the network will have satisfactory use of the network at all times. This is something that is mainly dependent on the positioning of the Wi-Fi router. Below we will look at the ways in which you can position your network in the right spot for the best use in terms of signal coverage. Learn to setup Wi-Fi router better today. 

Place the Router in a Central Position in the House

The Wi-Fi router spreads its signal on both sides of the antenna. In this case you want it to cover all sides of the room or house without wasting any signal. Placing it in a central location will help spread the signal evenly throughout the space covered. A central location also means that the router should be raised from the ground to a relatively central height above the floor. Placing it on top of a desk will be good enough.  

Position it Away from any Obstructions and Interference  

To keep your Wi-Fi signal as strong and efficient as possible you will have to position it away from any obstructions in the house. This includes water, glass, walls and cabinets. When Wi-Fi signals are obstructed they get weaker and make it very difficult for users to enjoy the use of a strong signal.

Interfering signals will also weaken the Wi-Fi signal and make it flaky. Put the Wi-Fi router away from the microwave, wireless phones and remote controllers among others. By avoiding any interference you will have a smooth and continuous signal at all times.

Since different hand held internet devices are usually held in different alignments it is important to position the Wi-Fi router antennas in the right way. If you have a router with two antennas position them perpendicularly to each other. This means one will be aligned horizontally and the other one vertically. This will boost the chances of all devices receiving the signal strongly on all floors of the house however they are aligned. 

Computer graphics are highly important when it comes to playing the latest 3D video games or editing videos. If you are looking to run video editing software smoothly or play the latest 3D video games, you will need to have a similarly worthy graphics processor. A graphics card is used to lessen the weight on your computer’s memory and processor by processing graphics on its dedicated processor and memory. This leaves your computer to continue performing at optimum levels while you enjoy seamless graphics processing with the higher performance of the graphics card. Below we will look at some of the features you should look for when shopping for a graphics card.  

Compatibility

When you decide to go out in search of a graphics card to help boost your computer’s gaming and video editing capabilities, you will want to begin by assessing your needs and limits as well. First and foremost, you will want to look at the processing and memory needs of the games you wish to play. This will give you an idea of the specs to look for. Make sure you buy something with a higher level of specs as compared to your needs as you will always find the need for higher processor speed and memory.

It makes absolutely no sense to buy a graphics card that is too powerful for your computer as it will not work. The graphics card’s specs must be supported by the existing computer’s processor as well. Have your computers performance numbers and specs in mind when going out to purchase a graphics card 

Connectivity

A graphics card can have a number of connecting ports depending on its design. The two primary ports are the connections to the computer motherboard and the display unit. Computers connect to a graphics card using either one of two ports depending on age; older ones use an AGP or PCI slot while newer ones only have a PCI slot. Check to see which one you will be buying.

On the other hand you will need to connect your graphics card to a display unit. The ports can be for a monitor only or include a HDMI port to connect to HD TVs as well 

Some manufacturers design graphics cards that can be connected to each other for enhanced performance. In this case they come with the necessary ports for these connections to work. Both, Radeon and GeForce processors come with this feature. 

Recently I have received unsolicited SMS-es about taking cash loans. These are unlicensed money lenders that use unscrupulous tactics to market their illegal services. Obviously, they do not abide by the law and do not provide an option to opt out from their SMS blast list. To make matter worse, they constantly change the phone numbers, so when we block a certain number, we will receive similar SMS-es from other numbers.

Good thing is that I am using Xiaomi that allows me to block messages based on Keywords. So now when there are incoming messages containing the word loan, it will go to my block list and it will not disturb me anymore. I didn't even know that these messages exist unless if I check on the incoming blocked messages. If you use Xiaomi phone, the following tips is on how to set your phone setting for this purpose. Here are the steps to enable keywords SMS block in Xiaomi phone:

1. Find the security icon in your desktop

2. Select Blocklist icon

3. A list of blocked messages will appear, tap on the setting icon on top right corner

4. Choose keywords filter option

5. Enter your desired keywords in this setting form, and all future SMS-es will be blocked

"Alan Turing photo" by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia - 

Weekend is here, and a must watch movie for any geek this weekend is definitely The Imitation Game. It is a movie about Alan Turing, the father of computer science. Alan Turing is a perhaps the greatest mathematical minds of the twentieth century. At a young age, he displayed an amazing talent in mathematics. He condensed Einstein's theory of relativity for his mom at the age of 15. Later on, he studied at the prestigious Cambridge. At the age of 22, he conceived a hypothetical machine called the Turing machine, which became the cornerstone of computer science. 

During the World War, Turing was given an important task to break a highly sophisticated German encryption tool called the Enigma. Not only that he managed to break the Enigma code; together with Gordon Welchman, he devised a machine that can automatically break the code, which is the world's first computer. This lead to a great advantage to the Allies forces. Historians estimated that it cut short the war by 2 years, saving the lives of millions of people. He is credited for laying down the foundation of computer science and technology. Watch the trailer below.

An interesting documentary about Alan Turing by Cambridge University