16 May 2023 | Gizmos, How to, Networking |
These days, darn near everything is censored – for your protection, of course!
While you may be able to read whatever web sites you want from home, mobile operators are particularly fond of blocking certain sites.
This is obviously particularly annoying for those of us who like to choose what we read and, ya know, make up our own minds. We’re not ALL brainless zombies.
While you could use a VPN, it’s often a PITA to set them up and use them. The best ones are also paid…
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was an easy, free option to view what you want? Turns out, there is!
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11 April 2023 | Computers, Gizmos |
Razer makes some pretty nice stuff: Laptops, gaming gear, keyboards, and even some very nice webcams.
Their Kiyo Pro webcam is particular awesome.
Unfortunately, their software is nowhere near as good as their hardware.
So, you might not want Razer Synapse to install, but every time your plug in your Razer gizmo, that dang installer prompts you – EVERY SINGLE TIME.
How to make it stop?!
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7 March 2023 | Computers, Gizmos, Spare Me! |
Windows 12 has been in the news lately.
Specifically, rumors are swirling that not only will there be a Windows 12, but it will be “AI-powered”.
Of course, this requires support preferably from Intel’s next 14th-gen processors as well as from AMD’s equivalent offerings.
That means Windows 12 will probably have even tighter hardware requirements than Windows 11, sadly…
But hang on, does anyone even use Windows anymore?!
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17 January 2023 | Gizmos, How Does it Work?, Wireless Wonderland |
These days, streaming is all the rage.
Whether you have a smart TV, a streaming stick, Blu-Ray player, soundbar, or even some projectors, many of these gizmos come with Android TV built in.
Too many of them also only have WiFi – no Ethernet jack to be found! This is particularly irritating for those of us who want to go wired and avoid the Wireless Wonderland.
So, how to get Ethernet? Well, you just buy a USB-Ethernet adapter, right?
Yes – sort of…
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10 January 2023 | Do-It-Yourself, Gizmos, How to |
A little while ago, my electronic lockbox / key safe started eating batteries.
When I opened her up, I discovered the problem: condensation!
Join me for a look at how you can save your own battery-powered devices from the scrap heap…
And save some bucks in the process!
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13 December 2022 | Energy, Gizmos, How Does it Work? |
With everything getting more expensive these days, you want to be sure your costly electronics stay protected.
One of the most common ways is to plug them all into a surge protector.
The question is: Do these things really work?
The answer is, as usual: It’s complicated!
Join me for a look at 3 different types/levels of surge suppressors, how these gizmos really work, and how best to protect your techie goodies from unfortunate zaps.
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1 November 2022 | Gizmos, How Does it Work?, Video, Wireless Wonderland |
The Specific Absorption Rate, or SAR, of a phone shows how much energy from radio frequency waves is absorbed by body parts – head, torso, whole body, etc.
The idea is that phones can be certified as “safe”, while also allowing some sort of comparison between different phones. In reality, the whole thing is a bit of a bad joke.
Even the FCC admits SAR is a pretty useless rating!
Join me for another fascinating look inside our modern “Wireless Wonderland”!
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18 October 2022 | Computers, Gizmos, How to, Video |
VLC media player is free, popular, and just awesome. It’ll play just about any audio or video file you throw at it.
For video quality, there’s an easy fix for choppy vids in VLC.
But what about audio? How do you fix choppy AUDIO in VLC media player?
Believe it or not, the fix is even easier than with choppy video…
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9 August 2022 | Gizmos, Video, Wireless Wonderland |
Ah, the eternal battle: iOS or Android?
These days, there’s a big war going on where both sides are trying to prove that their mobile OS is the safest and most privacy-friendly.
So, which is it?
Join me for a deep dive into the wonderful world of smartphones…
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19 July 2022 | Computers, Gizmos, How Does it Work?, Video |
We all know about Apple, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and so on.
But there’s one tech company that’s utterly massive in its importance to the entire industry, and no one is talking about it.
Well, to be precise, no one is talking about what MIGHT happen should the current,um, global mayhem go one step too far…
Join me as I take a look at TSMC: the biggest tech company you’ve never heard of!
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These days, darn near everything is censored – for your protection, of course!
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