Technology – Page 4 – Blue Lava Tech

Buying a PC Case

By submit | September 13, 2016

As you become more familiar with the hardware components in your computer, you will want to assemble the next computer you buy. This is because it allows you greater freedom in customizing the configuration and getting it “exactly right”. At this point, you should pay some attention to the type of casing that will house your computer.

The first decision is to choose between a Desktop and a Tower casing. The only real advantage of a Desktop casing is that it does not consume a lot of space. It allows you to place the monitor over it and there ends its usefulness. For serious hardware enthusiast, the Tower casing is the way to go.

Tower casings come in a variety of sizes and you should pick the biggest one you can which won’t eat up too much of space in your room. There are many advantages in doing this, the main one being the cooling factor. A large case will allow you to fixe multiple fans inside the casing, at strategic locations, so that your computer can be cooled efficiently. Inefficient cooling can lead to quick hardware deaths. A large casing laterally will also accommodate the large heat sink towers that are now available for CPU’s. In addition to this, it can also accommodate any future hard disk and DVD drive expansion plans.

Usually, casing come with a pre-installed power supply. In most cases this is enough to drive basic to moderately advanced hardware. But if you are going to plug in multiple hard drives and run a high end graphics card, you should probably ask the store to swap the existing power supply with one that has a higher Wattage. This will ensure that there is enough “juice” to keep all your hardware running smoothly. A word of warning though, the more devices you run on the machine the more your electricity costs will go up.

Reasons for Microsoft to smile

By publisher | August 31, 2016

Traditionally Microsoft has been at the receiving end of most tech related jokes. In many ways all the barbs are justified as its OS’s have been bulky, resource hungry and its browser has been a clunky app that that just barely got things done.

The main reason that Microsoft enjoys a majority share of the OS and browser market is that
a. Initially it was virtually the only proper OS available for PC users
b. Apple failed to penetrate the consumer market significantly
c. Internet Explorer was forced upon users
But all that seems to be changing as of late.
Over the years IE has seen many challengers to its crown and the most notable of the 90’s challengers, Netscape has disappeared into the wings. Opera has made a comeback, but Firefox, Chrome and Safari have been the biggest reasons for IE losing market share. After making constant one percent drops over the years, it was one very rare occasions that IE managed to get gain any market share. But over the last two months IE has done the impossible and actually gained ground. This is a significant reflection of how much IE has improved.
Windows 7 has also contributed greatly to Microsoft’s fortunes as it has also gained market share. In fact, it has overtaken Windows Vista in market share. The reason for this could be that Microsoft has finally produced an OS that actually does what is supposed to do without asking for too much. Vista was probably the worst OS to come out of Redmond and the bad press it has generated over the years will take some time to fix. However, currently, the signs are good for Microsoft and the company can afford to smile after a long time.

Computer Maintenance Guidelines

By submit | August 23, 2016

Computers, just like cars and other mechanical devices, need to have maintenance performed on them regularly. However, this article does not deal with the hardware maintenance, but rather the software side of maintenance, which is often forgotten.

Software, as most people do not realize, also needs to be kept in order. More often than not, the software that you get contains a few undiscovered bugs, some unpolished corners and even some loopholes in the code that allow hackers to exploit them. These can be fixed by installing software updates. In the past, the prevalent method involved manually checking for, downloading and installing the updates. Now, most software vendors have taken to the automatic delivery of software updates. This generally happens through the application you purchased, which is put into effect the moment you register. Whenever you see an alert for a software update, make sure you install it as quickly as possible. This is especially important in the case of operating systems, virus scanners and firewall updates.

Other than this, you can take some steps to make sure your data is protected as well. Make data backups a part of your schedule. Once a week or in two weeks is an acceptable frequency. You should also scan your hard drives for viruses regularly, once a day if possible. Hackers are always finding new ways to infiltrate systems so it is better to be safe than sorry. One other thing you can do to stay safe is to change your password whenever you can. This helps keep any unwanted characters from getting into your system and stealing valuable data.

The best way to keep track of all these tasks is to make a schedule with a checklist and stick to it religiously. This will ensure that your computer stays in good working order for a long time.

Keeping Tab with A Fleet GPS Tracking System In Place

By publisher | August 18, 2016

The current trend of having a fleet GPS tracking is fast catching up with almost all of the fleet managers. It is not only convenient to have a tracking system for the fleet but also safer. By taking the help of a fleet tracking system the worry and concern about the vehicles is totally taken out and the manager’s minds and they can concentrate on expanding their business rather than wasting their time worrying about the whereabouts of their company’s fleet of vehicles.

Many employees do think that installing a GPS tracking device in the vehicles is being done only to keep tabs on their activities and many of them even consider this as a huge question mark on their loyalty by the employers. But if the employee is actually doing his or her job properly there is no need to worry about the tracking device. It is only the trouble makers that should worry about the tracking device being fitted in to the vehicles that they drive.

Using real time GPS vehicle tracking is a very wise decision as the exact timings of the arrival and the departure of the vehicles can be predicted. In addition to this facility the vehicle can be continuously monitored for the speed limits and if in case the driver decides to exceed the permissible speed limit or veer off from the decided route then it is possible for the managers to contact the erring drivers and issue a warning. The safety benefits of installing a GPS tracking system cannot be stressed upon enough.

Ubuntu – an Alternative for Businesses

By publisher | July 29, 2016

There is no doubt that Microsoft Windows is the most dominant operating system in the world today. As a result of this most people are reluctant to move to another option for various reasons (e.g. familiarity). But there is an alternative that everyone should explore, whether it is a home user or a business, and that is Ubuntu Linux.

Ubuntu is an extremely improved version of Debian. It provides users with a very Windows-like feel and works well with older hardware. The best feature of Ubuntu is that it is free. You don’t have to pay a single cent for it. Upgrades that come out from time to time are also released free and all you have to do is download it. For your work needs, you can download OpenOffice.org which is also free. This suite of applications includes all the familiar apps you would find in the MS Office suite. They look remarkably similar so it is easy for people to adapt to it.

Ubuntu come with a firewall which you can activate to protect yourself from malicious persons on the internet. It does not come with an anti-virus program though. This is because Linux based systems are not threatened by viruses and therefore have no need of programs like that.

So far, all of this represents a saving of over $600 in software related costs. Add to this that there is a whole host of open source software that can be download and used on Ubuntu and you being to see why using this OS makes sense for businesses. Buying one hundred new computers for the office suddenly does not seem so expensive when licensing fees no longer play a role in those decisions.

35mm Slide Scanners

By publisher | July 25, 2016

Imagine yourself purchasing a direct-to-home television package that is digital but using a television from the eighties (provided they’re still around that is) to view your favorite programs with. Sounds kind of odd… doesn’t it?

It’s really the same thing if one uses a professional camera with film to take photos but cannot save them for those moments of nostalgia much later on in life that can be so easily solved by purchasing a photo slide scanner.

Even though a lot of people use digital cameras today, still photography still has a soft corner for photography with the good old film as it tends to add a more realistic touch to the photographs taken. Many professional and budding amateur photographers seem to think this way, and while they do have ‘film stock’ in the truer sense of the word, it does not mean that storing them digitally isn’t a priority and tor this, 35mm slide scanners are available so that one can do just that.

In another scenario, when it comes to converting photographs taken on film digitally, most professional photographers use the services of a professional digital film scanner owned by an organization that convert these photographs to their digital equivalent for exorbitant fees.

Truth be told, this works out to be expensive, so it only bodes well for photographers to get their machine that will work out to be inexpensive in the long run.

How fleet GPS tracking is useful

By publisher | July 21, 2016

Article written by UNDeFined Sources

Apart from the cell phone GPS tracking units that are really popular in the market, thanks to this service being offered by several communications services these days, it does not stop with personal use.

There are a wide range of commercial applications that are involved in using the global positioning system that the United States military has opened up for public use after using it for many years as a primary part of their navigation systems.

The number of satellites that are used in vehicle tracking GPS or for that matter with any GPS application are 27, where 24 are in constant use while three remaining satellites are in standby mode just in case there is a failure.

Since GPS can track any object (which has a GPS receiver attached to it) this service comes in handy especially in the transport industry where time is of the essence when it comes to delivering packages, goods and so on and so forth. Also known as fleet GPS tracking, several vehicles can be tracked when in motion to see if they are on time with the delivery that has been scheduled.

Not only does this ensure that employees aren’t fooling around and can hold them responsible for failure to complete the task at hand but can also be used to plan routes when the distance that needs to be travelled is a long one.

What You Need to Know about the SuperSpeed USB

By publisher | July 10, 2016

The SuperSpeed USB, otherwise known as the USB 3.0 is the newest upgrade for the Universal Serial Bus which was developed in 1996 by 7 major IT companies which was led by Intel. This device was made to eliminate the hassle of connecting to a computer via a peripheral device. As of 2009, the USB 2.0 version has become the most sellable and important device which has sold about 6 billion units.

But because of the increasing demand for faster file transfer and data communication, people are not contented by a transfer rate of almost 200 mbps, which is why in 2007, Intel developed a prototype of the USB 3.0 and showcased it on one of their forums (Intel Developer Forum). The following year, the SuperSpeed USB Version 1.0, and its complete specifications were finalized. After the finalization, the USB-IF (USB Implementers Forum) has released all the technical documents needed for the players of the IT market to adapt to the specifications of the USB 3.0. Some of the key features of the USB 3.0 include a faster transfer rate if up to 4.8 gigabytes per second, an amplified current draw to devices to be able to house power-hungry peripherals, and an amplified bus power (at maximum).

Aside from these features, the SuperSpeed USB also has new features for its power management and it supports new types of transfers and can also accommodate full-duplex data transmission.Finally, the key feature of the USB 3.0 is its backward compatibility with the USB 2.0 with the use of new connectors and host adapters.

Bluetooth 4.0 on the Way

By publisher | June 30, 2016

Bluetooth was revolutionary when it appeared and it still is a very useful medium to transfer data. Unfortunately, it had a huge power consumption problem. Keeping a Bluetooth device on, especially when a battery is involved, is a no-no. Therefore it has not been used as much as it could have been.

Now, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group has announced that the new and improved Bluetooth 4.0 is ready for release. While it has a few improvements over its predecessor, its most significant improvement is its low power usage when transmitting over short distances. This feature alone could bring Bluetooth into the mass market in ways never seen before.

By the end of the year, you could encounter Bluetooth enable watches, pedometers, smart meters etc., basically anything that runs off of a coin cell battery. That’s right, a coin cell battery; that is how efficient they have made this release. Unlike Wi-Fi, which requires a continuous connection, Bluetooth only needs connect to another device based on the requirement. Hence its low requirement of power.

The technology took its time in coming though. Apple and Nike have been using similar proprietary technology for a while now, to transmit data from Nike shoes to the iPod. Even Vision Max 3D glasses from Monster, uses a low power technology to maintain its connection with the TV. Bluetooth 4.0, however, has the potential to be very big. With over 13,000 member companies in the Bluetooth SIG (Intel, Nokia, etc), you can be sure that we will be awash in a blue flood before long.

Best Deals on Toner Cartridges are online

By publisher | June 21, 2016

Replacement parts have always been a life-saver for those whose equipment has failed, or for the types who love to have back up for the electronics items that they use on a regular basis. Take for example, in keeping Samsung toner cartridge readily available when the ink for the printer runs out this can be a very good idea as this keeps those productivity levels at the same pace, especially in an office setting.

The same goes for products that are usually bought for the home without which it will be difficult to manage to cope with your day-to-day needs, such as the Samsung refrigerator filter. Parts like refrigerator water filters, motor fans, temperature sensors, ice trays, shelves and water valves need to be replaced over a period of time due to consistent wear and tear.

Since television sets also succumb to wear and tear as well, replacement lamps are also an important part to consider without which the television will not operate. Since there are several television lamps that are manufactured and are used for specific televisions, it is important to find the right replacement lamp for your television by removing the lamp from your television and checking the code on it. Take for example, the model BP96-01472A that can be used for a range of televisions, produced by Samsung.

One way or another, one should be cognizant of the fact that replacement parts are an integral part to the smooth functioning of any device, and so, it is important to constantly keep track of ways by which one can purchase them at the earliest if something goes wrong.