Although 4G is now the norm and 5G is spreading its wings wide, mobile internet has not and will likely never replace broadband. 5G internet boasts crazy-fast speeds, but it’s expensive and unreliable, depending on how close you are to a nearby tower. Not to mention, Wi-Fi speeds can be pretty high, especially after the …
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Catherine Tramell
Linking devices and authorizing them to transfer data is routine in today’s modern, connected world. To facilitate the interaction, however, several pieces must come together. In particular, two network communication components play a significant role: the MAC address and IP address. The IP address is a relatively familiar term. However, most people wouldn’t know what …
If USB and HDMI rule the wired connections space, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi reign supreme in the wireless domain. Although cables are not the most convenient way to link two electronic devices, they are arguably the most reliable. Most importantly, they are non-interfering. In other words, you can plug USB and HDMI cables next to each …
Wi-Fi calling is an excellent alternative to cellular calls. It’s great for international calls or when you cannot find a proper phone signal. Many cellular networks need more service and coverage, particularly in rural areas. Wi-Fi calling addresses all those issues and more. If your house has a cellular dead spot or the signal bars …
Bluetooth was first released in 1999. As user devices (phones and computers) became more capable and willing to ditch their cables, Bluetooth became more relevant. The Bluetooth wireless technology has also evolved over the years. The speeds and range have particularly gotten better. Bluetooth, however, is still a comparatively underused wireless tech, especially after the …
The abbreviation “VGA” is instantly labeled as “old technology,” which is not incorrect. Having made its foray into the industry in 1987, VGA has undoubtedly been around for quite some time. VGA uses analog signals in the world that has shifted to digital connection standards years ago. Although an analog signal does not undergo processing …
Pretty much every smart device with a visual interface (smartphones, smart TVs, gaming consoles, etc.) has an integrated app store. An app marketplace helps install services the manufacturer didn’t preinstall with the device. App stores let you derive maximum value from the product. And when it’s built-in, accessing and installing apps becomes convenient. Imagine plugging …
“Wi-Fi” and “mobile hotspot” are used interchangeably but wrongly. Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) denotes wireless network protocols that allow digital devices to exchange information by radio waves. Simply put, it lets your phone, laptop, or any compatible device connect to the internet wirelessly. A mobile hotspot or portable hotspot is, as the name indicates, “mobile” or …
Samsung is a household name in the TV realm, alongside LG and Sony. Similarly, on the smart TV software front or in the streaming hardware world, Roku is easily recognizable. For many, a marriage between the two would be a match made in heaven. But like how Roku OS comes preinstalled on many smart TVs, …
Zoom may have made video-calling popular in homes and offices, but it is not the first software of its kind. Multiple apps have been used years before for video calls and other virtual interactions—Skype being one of the foremost tools. FaceTime is another popular video-calling app. The majority of iPhone users have used the app. …
Samsung is known for its displays. The displays on its phones, TVs, laptops, etc., are among the best in class. Several brands use Samsung-made displays in their products. Apple, for instance, incorporates Samsung’s OLED panels on its high-end iPhones. That said, Samsung panels have their issues, too—for instance, burn-ins on their OLED panels. On the …
Video games were quite popular only a short time ago. It was a form of entertainment that every kid with access fancied indulging in. Unsurprisingly, arcade machines and gaming cafes were quite popular back then. But when gaming entered homes, dedicated gaming centers lost their appeal. Gaming at home was not just convenient, but the …
Starbucks is world-renowned for its coffee. Whether or not you’re a fan of it, you cannot deny that the company is the most popular coffee vendor in the world, particularly in the West. For most people, visiting a Starbucks outlet means sipping on some caffé mocha or a vanilla latte. For others, the iconic American …
If your Roku TV takes time to load applications, the interface navigations are not smooth or snappy, etc., the television has issues. Unfortunately, smart TVs are not equipped with the most powerful SOCs since not a lot is expected from them. Roku TVs are no exceptions to that rule. However, that doesn’t mean your Roku …
Back in the day, when TVs were boxy and had a broad base, televisions did not come with discrete stands. They may have had rubber feet attached to their bases to avoid slippages, like how laptops have soft rubber nubbins in all four corners under them to mitigate unintended sliding. As the TV got thinner …
The modern-day TV comes with multiple ports, making it easier to connect it to other devices and facilitate communication between them. However, most TV users rarely check their TV’s behind or sides (usually only at the time of installation). As a result, most of those ports behind the TV go unused. Many don’t know what …
Sending an email message, browsing the web, etc., are standard modern-day tasks. To perform these tasks, one need not be a computer science engineer or savant. That, however, doesn’t imply chatting online or sending a text message are non-complex activities. Luckily, the complicated aspects are handled by your computer and the internet. And they perform …
Unlike desktop and laptop computers and even smartphones, streaming sticks are short on built-in storage. The maximum is usually 4 GB of space. Some could sport more than that, but those are few and far between. User-available space is even less, as the built-in OS usurps a portion. And it’s pretty easy to exhaust what …
An air passenger must follow certain rules and guidelines during travel. Fastening seat belts, listening to safety instructions, respecting the limited aircraft seating space, etc., are things to be on top of. People who fly know these requirements. Those who’ve never been on an airplane before may not be aware, however. But everyone knows that …
Modern-day devices connect wirelessly—for instance, a desktop or laptop computer communicates with a router without cables. But how do these devices talk to each other virtually? Your 802.11 networking or Wi-Fi-enabled router employs radio waves to send information to a laptop, smartphone, tablet, or any connected device. The connected devices use the same radio waves …