Posts

Installation and Usage Computer infrared network adapters both transmit and receive data through ports on the rear or side of a device. Many laptops and personal hand-held devices had infrared adapters installed. In Microsoft Windows, infrared connections used the same method as other local area network connections. Infrared networks supported direct two-computer connections only, created temporarily as the need arose. Extensions to infrared technology, however, supported more than two computers and semi-permanent networks....

A Brief History of PPTP PPTP is a network tunneling protocol that was developed in 1999 by a vendor consortium formed by Microsoft, Ascend Communications (today part of Nokia), 3Com, and other groups. PPTP was designed to improve on its predecessor Point-to-Point Protocol, a data link layer (Layer 2) protocol designed to connect two routers directly. How PPTP Works PPTP is an outgrowth of PPP, and as such, is based on its authentication and encryption framework....

Tethering Benefits Tethering offers internet connectivity to devices that lack a built-in mobile data plan. It’s especially helpful in situations where no other means of internet access are available: when, for example, there’s no Wi-Fi hotspot around, your cable modem goes on the fritz, or you’re on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere and need an online map. If you’re already paying for data on your cell phone and your wireless provider doesn’t require any extra fees for using your cell phone as a modem for your laptop, tethering can also save you money, since you won’t have to pay for separate mobile broadband service or buy additional hardware just to get your laptop connected....

Calling Alexa Skills You can also take advantage of Alexa skills. With tens of thousands of skills or tasks Alexa can perform, you can ask Alexa to help with almost anything you can imagine. Ask Alexa to add a skill you need to customize your experience to your needs, and new Alexa skills are being added continuously. More Than a Smart Alarm Clock Sometimes called a “smart alarm clock,” the Spot is capable of so much more....

How S4S Works on Instagram If you follow popular, branded Instagram accounts (fitness, food, fashion, makeup, etc.), you may have noticed that some of them also include “S4S” in their bios, captions, and even in the comments in their posts. S4S involves two users who have agreed to give each other a shoutout on their own Instagram accounts. Each user posts a photo or video featuring the other user’s account, and they encourage their followers to follow the featured account....

There are four things to try when your Google Assistant won’t play your movies. Check Your Google Assistant Permissions For Playing Movies When Google Assistant isn’t able to play movies, the first thing you should check is whether it has the correct permissions. On an Android phone, permissions are the way that you can allow an app to access various things like your microphone, local storage, and your contact information....

Check Your Permissions One problem might be with your permissions. Google Assistant can’t work properly if it doesn’t have access to the Google app and other core functions. For example, Google Assistant needs access to your phone’s microphone to hear voice commands. Here’s how to check permissions on your Android device and make sure Google Assistant has the access it needs. Check Your Linked Google Account The problem might stem from mismatched Google accounts....

What Is a Hidden Network Used For? In the past, users frequently created hidden networks to add an extra layer of security because no one could see they existed. In reality, it doesn’t add much protection, and most users should have secure passwords in place instead. However, a hidden network can still be used for various purposes. These can be to keep a network list tidy such as in a busy apartment building where you don’t wish to advertise a network you only use for a couple of your own devices....

WhatsApp detailed that you still can only have one phone connected to your WhatsApp account at a time and that you’ll need to manually link your new devices with your phone using the proper WhatsApp account. The company also mentioned that the multi-device feature doesn’t support tablets at this time, so you can’t use WhatsApp on your iPad. However, WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart previously confirmed to WABetaInfo that WhatsApp on iPad would happen eventually....

Gmail Account Deletion Policy History In years past, you could keep your Gmail account as long as you used it in a sensible manner. You had to use it, though. Google automatically deleted Gmail accounts after nine months of inactivity. Not only were the folders, messages, and labels deleted, the account’s email address was also deleted. Nobody, not even the original owner, could set up a new Gmail account with the same address....

How to Change iPad’s Sounds Settings If you have searched through your iPad’s keyboard settings looking for a way to turn this sound back on, you’ve been looking in the wrong place. Apple decided to put this particular setting in the Sounds category, even though it might make more sense for it to be in the keyboard settings. What Else Can You Do From This Screen? While you are in the Sounds settings, you might want to take the time to customize your iPad....

The specific plans for which this policy applies include all Magenta plans, T-Mobile Essentials, ONE Plan, or a Simple Choice plan activated after November 15, 2015, as well as voice and mobile internet. Domestic roaming eligibility varies for prepaid plans and postpaid plans activated before November 15, 2015. Data Roaming Data roaming is available to you as a convenience when you are out of reach of the T-Mobile network. It is not designed to be the primary source of your data coverage....

What Is an XCF File? A file with the XCF file extension, which stands for eXperimental Computing Facility, is a GIMP image file. Much like PSD files used in Adobe Photoshop, GIMP uses XCF files to store layers, transparency settings, paths, and other information associated with one or more photos that are a part of the same project. When the file is opened in a compatible image editor, all those settings are accessible again so that you can edit the layers, images, etc....

What Is an XLTM File? A file with the XLTM file extension is an Excel macro-enabled template file created by Microsoft Excel. They’re used to build similarly formatted XLSM files. The file is similar to Excel’s XLTX format in that they hold data and formatting, except that they’re also used to make spreadsheets that can run macros, while XLTX files are used to build non-macro XLSX spreadsheet files. How to Open an XLTM File XLTM files can be opened, edited, and saved back to the same format with Microsoft Excel, but only if it’s version 2007 or newer....

In reality, however, the match isn’t quite so perfect. You’ve got horror stories, for example, of children racking up sizable bills when purchasing apps or in-game content. Younger children can also be rough on their devices, with tablets not precisely designed to withstand a ton of physical abuse. It’s Surprisingly Grown Up It’s Tough It Comes With FreeTime Unlimited Parental Controls Even with FreeTime Unlimited, you’ll still want to have controls that limit what your kids can do with the Kids Edition tablet and prevent potential accidents....

You have to pay up: Zoom announced it would add encryption to its calls for paid users at the end of May 2020. The Verge reports that CEO Eric Yuan said, in an investment call Tuesday, “Free users—for sure we don’t want to give [them] that, because we also want to work together with the FBI, with local law enforcement, in case some people use Zoom for a bad purpose....

Here are five ideas to help recycle an old computer mouse. What Things Can You Do With an Old Mouse? There are many creative ways to repurpose and recycle an old computer mouse. The ideas below are organized from the easiest (which needs basic skills) to the more challenging (which requires technical skills). The ideal way to dispose of an old mouse is to use a local recycling center. Also, search the manufacturer’s site for any recycling programs....

From several of those menus, you can not only paint on your canvas and position objects, but also create your own models from scratch or download pre-made models. Below are a handful of things you can do in this program to make your own 3D art, whether it be a fancy logo or header for your website or a model of your home or a city. The sharp edge tool is meant to provide depth....

Here are six great Christmas shopping list apps for iOS and Android. Search online and add gifts to your lists. You have to input the information manually unless you have the Chrome extension that automates the process. Track purchases on the lists to see what you’ve already bought and what you still need to buy. Download For: The app for iOS and Android is particularly handy for making lists for young children who can’t set up one on their own....

Access AOL Mail in Mozilla Thunderbird To set up an AOL email account in Mozilla Thunderbird: Select Tools > Account Settings… (Windows, Mac) or Edit > Account Settings (Linux) from the menu in Mozilla Thunderbird. Press the Alt key if you cannot see the menu. Click Account Actions. Select Add Mail Account… from the menu that comes up. Type your name under Your Name:. Now type your full AOL email address (including “@aol....