Now that you have learned about the basics of home networking in Part 1, and how to optimize your Wi-Fi in Part 2, in Part 3, it's time to get your hands dirty and learn how to take control of your network completely.
All home networks start with a network cable. Even if you plan on using all wireless clients, in most cases you will still need at least one cable to connect the wireless router and the broadband modem. … Read more
Depending on which version of Android you're running, there might be a Bugdroid or gender-neutral silhouette that appears for each contact that is missing a custom photo. While seeing these instead of a contact's photo isn't too big of a deal, it's always nice to see the faces of your family and friends that are calling you. This is especially useful if you're at a location where the volume of your device needs to be turned off and you can see who is calling with just a quick glance.
While this method is a bit … Read more
Matching the colors on larger items you can't tote into stores or around town can sometimes be difficult -- especially when it's something like your walls or furnishings. If you love color matching and coordination, then SwatchMatic is the app for you.
All you need to get started is an Android device with a camera and a copy of the SwatchMatic app. Once installed, simply point the app at an object to start matching the color. When you see a color tab in the wheel that looks like an exact match, or at least something close, tap … Read more
For times like this, a reference chart is a superhandy way to save time when looking for a particular font. Luckily, you can make a couple of these charts with just a few steps, as pointed out by the Digital Inspiration blog.… Read more
RetailMeNot is a deal site that enables you to find coupons and discounts at tens of thousands of nationwide stores. Whether you're looking for deals on clothes, accessories, furniture or food, its slogan is "Save when you want, where you want," and its mobile app delivers it all.
You can search by specific store, popular items, or just by category, and then the results will be sorted by online and in-store. In-store coupons can be used by showing your screen to the cashier so he or she can scan the bar code. Coupons can be … Read more
Scouring the Google Play Store for apps isn't always easy. When looking for an app you'll probably know the category it falls into, and you might know the name of something that works similarly to what you're looking for. Unfortunately, it's still a lot of work to sort through each entry until you find the perfect one.
You could look at app reviews online, or check star ratings in the Play Store, or you could try looking at Recommended For You.
Just open the Google Play Store and tap on Apps, then tap on the banner … Read more
Apple's iTunes software takes a lot of criticism from CNET readers. It's a gigantic memory hog of a program that attempts to do everything from downloading iBooks (e-books) to synchronizing apps with your iPad. For a piece of software named for its music playback capability, that feature seems to be a diminishing part of iTunes' appeal.
But groan all you want, iTunes is still one of the most popular ways to play music on your computer.
If you're one of the millions who get your daily music fix through Apple's ubiquitous software, here are a few … Read more
It's easy to accumulate too much stuff. Sometimes it's because you receive a lot of random gifts or couldn't resist a sale item; other times, it's because you want to make room for new stuff. But now you're trying to sell your rarely used items or collections and you have no idea what to ask for them.
Why spend time scouring the Internet looking for what everyone else thinks an item is worth? Wouldn't it be easier to just see how much people are paying for similar items right now? Luckily, eBay … Read more
Sometimes your social media accounts can be useful tools to stay in touch with your friends, family, or even customers. When it comes to Twitter, many of the third-party apps may have your location setting enabled by default. Additionally, it's very easy to accidentally tap the button to add your location when you're working on a smaller mobile screen. So how can you fix that and regain some of your privacy?
Instead of deleting all of your tweets, you can strip the location information from them using a tool provided by Twitter on their Web site. Here's … Read more
Since my last post on the basics of home networking, which is Part 1 of this series, I've been flooded with even more e-mails than I had been before (which explains why some of you haven't heard back from me). The good news is that nobody is asking about what a router is anymore. I guess I did an OK job explaining that in my previous post.
Most of the e-mails this time asked about how to have the … Read more
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