Author Archives: Dominic

The Benefits and Disadvantages of VOIP

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a type of technology that facilitates the conversion of analogue audio signals of a telephone call into digital data which can be transmitted over internet protocol networks or Ethernet data connections. An Ethernet connection links computers within an office through Local Area Network (LAN) or intranet. It also links computers to the World Wide Web/internet (WWW) or Wide Area Network (WAN). VoIP is an alternative to traditional communication where telephone calls were transmitted over phone lines which were connected to public switched telephone networks. There are also IP phone systems, which uses a private network to make the calls. Recently, many individuals and businesses have switched to VoIP because of its numerous benefits. read more

How to Boost External Hard Drive Speed

The speed of your external hard drive mostly depends on the cables and the drive itself. It is very difficult, in fact impossible, to increase the hardware speed of your external hard drive. However, a person can improve the cables so as to boost the external hard drive speed.

Use Shorter Cables, Boost External Hard Drive Speed

A long cable allows you to place your external hard drive in a convenient place, far away from the computer. Such long cables affect the external hard drive speed. There are different types of cables and their lengths also vary depending on the kind of cord you use on your hard drive. Cords can be USB 2.0, USB 3.0, eSATA or Firewire. In most cases, the cables have a maximum length of between 2-3 yards or meters. Data transmitted through copper cables travels approximately 60 percent of the speed of light. As you use a short cord, your speed will increase. Typically, this means a short 3-foot cable is twice as fast as a long 6-foot cable. On the other hand, a 2-foot cable will be faster than both cables. read more

The Different Types of RAID Explained

The latest hard disks are manufactured in sizes as large as 4TB and they are getting larger every year. In the near future, they will probably reach up to 8TB and even beyond that. Although huge sized hard disks work extremely well, sometimes these may not be enough for certain applications.

The term “RAID” stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks/Inexpensive Disks. Usually it is suggested that all disks in a particular RAID must be similar in performance and functionality. The experts have designed numerous variations of RAID to meet different requirements. Some of them have been designed for making larger, faster storage solutions and some are for enhanced reliability. read more

Best Kindle Apps for Kids

The Kindle just got a whole lot more kid-friendly. Kindle Fire lets parents limit time kids spend watching TV. The small Fire, which comes with a more budget friendly price tag than the iPad, has some of the friendliest games for your kids. The number of apps available for Kindle Fire is expanding all the time, but for those who are using the Kindle Fire now, here are five of the best Kindle Fire apps for kids.

World of Goo

This app is the mobile version of an already popular game which was available on PC, Mac and Wii. This is an extremely creative mobile game for kids, which is high on learning quotient, especially in 6 to 8 years category. Kids have to gather gobs of goo and stretch them or give shape to them to form structures, in order to solve a puzzle. It allows kids to analyze situations and develop a strategy to solve the puzzle. The physics based puzzle is as much fun as it is creative. read more

The Best Music Players for Windows 8

Windows 8 truly is an exceptional operating system. Few would disagree that the new version of Windows is anything less than a great improvement over previous versions. That said, the music and media player that is standardized with the OS is less than appealing. Don’t worry though. If you love to listen to music on your computer, there are other options available. The following are among the best music players for Windows 8.

VLC Media Player can be considered the one music and video player than any and every computer should have. This media player can handle any and all formats. This player is very easy to operate and is not weighed down with unnecessary bells and whistles. Once you start using the VLC player, you probably will not go back to using the Windows player. read more