The Benefits of Comcast Home Security

Last Updated: August 16, 2013

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Comcast has long been known as the largest cable operator in the United States. Late in 2012, the company officially launched its home security and automation service, which is now available in 40 states and billed under the brand name of Comcast Xfinity Home.

Comcast

What Is Comcast Home Security?

Due to work, social commitments, and vacations, individuals and families spend less time at home than ever before. Quite naturally, there’s a growing concern that the place you love remains safe and protected when you’re not there. Comcast Home Security promises to offer homeowners peace of mind, with a range of plans designed to soothe personal security anxieties with a “smart home” solution that will fit a variety of budgets and needs.

How Does Comcast Home Security Work?

Via wireless cameras discretely placed outside and inside your house, Comcast allows you to monitor your home through a live-streaming video which can be accessed from anywhere at anytime, as long as you have a robust Internet connection (a speed test can make sure you do) and the required password. Through the marvels of a broadband Internet service, when doors and windows are opened, you are alerted by email, text, and video notifications.

Remote thermostat and lighting controls also allow absent users to create a “lived-in” appearance to scare away any unwelcome guests. Additionally, when paired with a Comcast Xfinity Home thermostat, the system allows you to save money by remotely adjusting the temperature of your house. For those who want extra peace of mind, the Xfinity Home Secure package connects your home with the local police and fire departments and provides 24/7 professional monitoring.

The Final Verdict

Now available in 40 states, Comcast Home Security is worth considering if you’re concerned about your home security. Comcast’s system comes fully equipped with cellular and battery backup, so your home stays protected even in the event of power failures. Adding a home security system will also help you save on homeowner’s insurance, another benefit worth considering.

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Google Play Music Review: Is Google Play All Access Any Good?

Last Updated: August 13, 2013

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Google Play Music All Access is a new streaming music service. It allows unlimited listening access to millions of songs and is $9.99 per month, but you can also try it for free for 30 days (it’s absolutely worth it at this time). Keep in mind that iTunes Radio is still a few months away, so after iOS 7 releases this fall, we will see what the comparisons are like.

google-play

What’s Different About Google Play Music?

You can create personalized radio from any song or artist, as you can with Pandora, and listen to radio with unlimited skips. What Google Play has that other music streaming services don’t have is storage. You can upload your own music or buy from the Google Play library, which is a nice plus. Everything from the sound quality to the user experience is exceptional.

How Does It Work?

If you’re a Chrome or an Android user, you’re in heaven. Once you pick a few artists or albums, Google Play Music really starts working. Your home page becomes a selection of records, similar to an iTunes library or Rdio playlist. Select My Library, and every artist is listed in alphabetical order with a nice image in each selection. In the header are Artists, Albums, and Songs. If you pick the Albums header, all of your Albums are listed randomly. If you pick the Songs header, you get a Spotify-like list in alphabetical order.

What Other Features Does It Have?

Google Play music has a Radio feature and an Explore feature, as well. Radio is by artist, or genre, and is similar to Pandora in design, although some might argue that Pandora is a bit more advanced with its music selections. Explore is also great and similar to Songza. Users compile Playlists, which are pretty good in taste and selection. In addition, with Chromecast, your Google Play account can now stream to your TV (that alone justifies the monthly fee).

Is Google Play Music All Access the Best Streaming Service?

As far as music streaming services go, Pandora and Spotify are better. Spotify has more tracks available (more dance, hip-hop, world, indie tracks) and some may argue that Pandora has a better radio selection experience.

While Google Play has some room for improvement, what makes it worth the monthly fee is very similar to why you loved (back in the day) your favorite record stores. Some record stores have the best dance music and some have the best reggae and world music. But you like both, so you buy from both. Having Google Play, Spotify, Rdio, and Pandora subscriptions just opens up more streaming for your library. That’s nothing but a good thing for music lovers.

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Do Hardcore Gamers Still Need the Power of a Desktop?

Last Updated: August 12, 2013

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In today’s world there are three types of gamers: casual gamers, mid-level gamers, and hardcore gamers. The casual gamer is someone who plays Facebook games all day. The mid-level gamer loves the high-end graphics of a console. Then there is the hardcore gamer, who not only plays the most memory-absorbing, graphic-pounding games out there, but also has to do it with the best hardware. But which machines are best for each type of gamer? And do hardcore gamers still require the advanced power of a desktop?

hardcore-gamers

Tablets

These little touchscreen computers are coming up fast in the technology world. Yes, some short games can be played on them, but these are more for the casual gamer.

Laptops

These dynamos can do almost everything desktops can do, but they’ll cost you more money. You’ll have to pay a lot more to have the same level of power as a desktop compacted into a lightweight laptop. Laptops also don’t have the same ease of replacing parts as desktops. While they usually meet the requirements for playing most games when you first purchase them, later when the new release or the expansion comes out, they might not. One big advantage the laptop has over the desktop is mobility, but the consumer has to decide if the mobility is worth the price.

Upgrading a laptop can be difficult because parts are harder to replace than in a desktop. Adding new memory or a new hard drive may require you to bring the laptop to a professional, unless you buy an external hard drive, which cuts down on the laptop’s main advantage, its mobility. Video card upgrades are a very complicated process, and if you want a larger screen, you’ll have to purchase an external monitor. By the time you buy the external hard drive, monitor, keyboard, and mouse, you may realize that a desktop would have been much cheaper in the long run.

Laptops are best for the mid-level gamer, but hardcore gamers that can afford to purchase a new laptop every couple years may benefit from them as well.

Consoles

These expensive toys are selling better every year. New features and unique games keep the consumer coming back for more. The great thing about consoles is that they are made to play games: Their memory cards are designed to play games, their video cards are designed to play games, etc. Many games are made specifically for the console, so you don’t have to worry about whether your system has the requirements necessary to play them. Matt Peckham wrote in Time about his desktop, “Truth be told, I played two, maybe three games on it. The rest of the year I spent on my Xbox 360 and PS3….”

The console is another good choice for the mid-level gamer crowd.

Desktops

The desktop appeals to the hardcore gamer because it can be altered at a moment’s notice. If the video card stops working, you can run out to Best Buy and pick up a new one, go home, install it, and continue playing. As new games come out with more intense requirements, you can easily upgrade the desktop to meet the evolving needs of the game. The desktop computer’s upgradability is the main reason the veteran gamers require it (remember: analyze your internet speed before any big purchase with a speed test).

But does the hardcore gamer need a desktop? No, not really. There are so many games out there to play now. Many people like the shorter games they can find on a console, not the games that require years to play and will never be beat. In fact, many games that require monthly payments to play are switching to a play-for-free mentality. Times are changing, and the hardcore gamer will have to adjust with the times.

And according to Popular Science, smartphones will be the only device hardcore gamers need in the future.

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The Kindle Fire Tablet and Its Target Audience

Last Updated: August 6, 2013

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The Kindle Fire tablet has ignited many a person’s interest since it was first launched, but who was the primary audience Amazon had in mind when they created this unique little tablet?

Compared to the almost universal reception of enthusiasm and excitement which greeted the advent of Apple’s iPad, the Kindle Fire failed to generate the same sort of buzz. However, Amazon never expected to capture the same section of the market as the iPad. Here’s why.

KindleFire

Making a Good Thing Better

The initial Kindle was hugely popular and revolutionized the way we read books. It was cheap, accessible, and — because it was an Amazon product — offered a bookstore without equal. The Kindle wasn’t the first e-reader on the market, but compared to its rivals it quickly became the most popular. However, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos saw an opportunity for his company to grow by tapping into a market Apple’s iPad had not ventured very far into, and the plucky visionary grabbed that opportunity with both hands.

A Real Bargain

The Kindle Fire tablet was hailed by some, upon its launch, as the “iPad killer.” It wasn’t quite that, but suddenly a Kindle not only allowed you to read books but also let you watch movies, play music, view photos, and download apps, all for a fraction of the price of an iPad. All in all, it was a full-color multimedia tablet that wouldn’t cost you the earth.

So Who Is the Audience?

Sized somewhere between an iPhone and an iPad and with an irresistibly low price, the Kindle Fire has real appeal for anyone on a low income, particularly young people and students, who want a tablet that does a lot but doesn’t retail for a lot. For regular Amazon customers, the Kindle Fire tablet is also a dream come true, because it automatically links your Amazon account with the easily accessed bookstore, app store, music store, and Lovefilm, not to mention the traditional Amazon store where you actually buy physical items. The Kindle Fire tablet also allows you to view an unlimited stream of your personal photos and documents, as long as they’re stored on the Amazon Cloud (remember: make sure you perform a Kindle speed test to analyze broadband performance before using the cloud).

The Final Analysis

Critics will argue that the Kindle Fire tablet is the “poor man’s iPad,” but it answers a market need for a low-cost tablet and is making more people question the price of the higher-end tablets in general.

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Best Mobile Photo Editing Apps for the Android and iPhone

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A smartphone may still be just a phone, but consumers expect more from the device. For example, a smartphone also doubles as a camera. And if manufacturers are going to place good cameras into their phones, it just makes sense that consumers have a way to edit their photos. Mobile photo editing has therefore caught the attention of both veterans in the field, such as Adobe, and newcomers, such as FxCamera. It doesn’t matter if it’s an iPhone or an Android phone: there are plenty of options available to edit photos.

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Android

  • Photoshop Touch. This app lets users play with many of the core Photoshop tools they are already accustomed to. Photoshop Touch is a little pricier than some of the other apps, but consumers are getting an app they’re familiar with from the veteran of photo editing.
  • FxCamera. FxCamera lets users apply different effects to their photos. Many of the effects can also be found on other apps, but this tool has incorporated many of the best features, such as the Symmetry, Fish Eye, and Toycam effects.
  • PicSay. This is a fun little app that allows users to add word balloons, titles, and clip art to their photos. PicSay can also distort, spotlight, and pixelize photos.

iPhone

  • Photoshop Express. Although Photoshop Touch also works for the iPhone, Photoshop Express is free. Some of its features include Crystallizing, Auto Correcting, and Burning. There are also add-ons that can be purchased from the App Store.
  • Filterstorm. This iPhone- and iPad-specific app is the full package. It does what most other editors wish they could. It has an easy-to-use interface allowing users simple and quick access to all of the editing tools. Filterstorm also tracks all edits made by the user. The app allows users to create an automation that shows the change, and it allows the user to go back and undo the edit. With enhanced editing and masking mastery tools, Filterstorm is clearly one of the top mobile photo editing apps on the market.
  • PhotoGene. PhotoGene was originally designed to work for the iPad, but now there is PhotoGene2, which works for the iPhone. This app actually has more options than Filterstorm, but its lack of accessibility and ease of use is its downfall. It is a great app and has been one of the best sellers at the App Store for the last couple of years, but it comes with a bit of a learning curve.

Mobile photo editing apps are still in their infancy, and as the phones become more sophisticated, so will the editing software. This year alone finds the apps passing information between Bluetooth devices and creating special effects that used to be considered a computer’s job. Listed above are some of the best apps currently on the market, but don’t be surprised to see new ones popping up very soon.

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Crackle.com Streams Free Movies Online

Last Updated: August 5, 2013

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Are you interested in streaming free movies online? If the answer is yes, then you need to check out Crackle.com, because Crackle.com and all of its content is completely free. Crackle.com streams popular movies and relatively new TV shows all from the Sony Pictures Entertainment catalogue (e.g., Pineapple Express, Real Genius, The Karate Kid, Rudy, and more). It’s available online and as an app for mobile devices.

crackle

Crackle.com Looks Similar to Netflix

You have three choices in the header—movies, shows, and watch lists—with content just recently added in the splash screen. The movies are listed below the splash screen, and they vary greatly, with several oldies included. With movies like Run Lola Run and Bad Lieutenant, Crackle.com may seem to have a 90s fetish, but that’s OK, especially when it’s all free.

The television isn’t bad either. Remember, this is Sony Pictures material, so if you want to watch Seinfeld or The Shield, you’re in heaven. The streaming is ad supported, and programming is interrupted by commercials, but Crackle.com — even though its limited catalogue is not in HD — is a great alternative to a night when there’s nothing on TV. It’s also a nice alternative to Hulu or Netflix (which have their own content limitations).

Stream Crackle.com on Your Phone or Tablet

If you enjoy streaming with your phone or tablet, Crackle.com supports iOS and Android, again all for free. The quality is good and the user experience is very easy and intuitive. It makes total sense to download the Crackle.com app for your phone or tablet and try it out. You never know what movie or TV show you’ll find.

Use It With Chrome

As for Chrome users, the Crackle.com Chrome app is specifically made for the Chrome browser and is very easy to use. Now all you need is a Chromecast, a laptop with WiFi, and a TV. Voila! Now you’re streaming free movies online right to your television.

No matter how you choose to watch Crackle.com, it gives you a nice array of free movies and programming right on your laptop, phone, or tablet … or even TV. It’s worth checking out as an addition to your usual streaming options. It also lets you stream shows you may not easily find elsewhere. Just make sure your broadband is robust with an internet speed test from BandwidthPlace.com, and you’re good to go!

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Should Bluetooth Security Be a Major Concern?

Last Updated: August 2, 2013

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With more and more devices in use than ever before, should we be worried about the potential Bluetooth security threats?

Once hailed as the great liberator which would finally free us of spaghetti junctions of tangled cables and cords, Bluetooth never initially caught fire in the way many commentators predicted. Yet with the advent of WiFi, we are using more and more devices that have wider implications in relation to Bluetooth security.

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What is Bluetooth?

Designed as the foundation of the personal area network (PAN), Bluetooth enabled wireless communication for devices which were in a range of one to 100 meters of each other. Although the more powerful (Class 1) devices are capable of communicating over a range similar to an average WiFi network, its speed does not usually exceed 1 Mbps, which renders it far more sluggish than WiFi. For years, many people failed to maximize the true potential of Bluetooth, but a growing range of portable keyboards, mouses, printers, headsets, and Bluetooth-enabled phones have conspired to boost its popularity.

What are the Bluetooth security risks?

Bluetooth connects one device to another through LMP (Link Manager Protocol). Consequently, Bluetooth security is often not to be considered an issue because of the short distance range between devices and the nature of its general use — such as connecting to a computer through a wireless headset. Yet Bluetooth is also used by people using laptops in meetings to create a temporary computer network and share files. When computers communicate directly as opposed to being channeled through a wireless access point (WAP), there is no centralized security, and this can cause major concerns.

Is Bluetooth secure?

Class 1 Bluetooth devices can boast a range of more than 300 feet. Consequently, when using Bluetooth to communicate between computers, your confidential data and files are at risk of being breached by remote access. Fortunately, Bluetooth security protects your device from unauthorized data transmission by using authorization and identification procedures. By consciously choosing to accept or decline a transfer of data or opening of files from other Bluetooth users, it is unlikely that any unauthorized access will occur. In addition, Bluetooth users can switch their device to non-discoverable mode so that it can’t be recognized by other Bluetooth devices for extra peace of mind.

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Top Five Ways to Faster Gameplay: Reduce Lag While Playing Online Games

Last Updated: July 22, 2013

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faster-gameplayHigh-end gamers have a need for speed when playing their favorite online games. No matter how fast they push the button, press the keys or wave around the controller, they want faster gameplay. If lag hits it can cause the player’s character to die, hurt an in-game friend, or worst of all, destroy a group of players during a raid. Lag cannot be avoided, but most of the time it can be minimized. One of the first things to do is go to BandwidthPlace.com and take an Internet speed test.

Internet Speed

Internet speed may have to be upgraded for some games. The faster the Internet speed, the more data that can be downloaded to the device. This can usually be done by calling the local cable company and having a boost added to the account. Be careful of the salesperson on the other line as they may try to sell a gamer’s package. This “gamer’s package” could cost $100 to $500 more per month. In most cases the device will not handle the 1Gbps speed the salesperson is trying to sell.

Hardware

There are several potential lag issues that can arise within a gamer’s hardware. Below are some of the most common suspects:

  • Modem: These days, the modem is usually supplied by the Internet carrier. Unless a new one is purchased, there isn’t anything that can change the modem speed. If there are severe issues, the Internet carrier can be contacted and a replacement can be issued, or an update can be installed.
  • Router: Users get what they pay for. The better the router, the better the performance. If the wireless or network card cannot support the speed of the router, then a more expensive router is worthless. They all have to be upgraded to see a significant change.
  • Memory: Memory is mainly used in conjunction with the processor to increase performance, but it depends on the developer of the game. High-end games need more video memory, which is the memory on the video card. Many developers are using machine-language code to enhance video performance.
  • Wired vs Wireless: This makes a big difference. Wireless connections are much more convenient, but they also lose bandwidth. Distance, radio waves, and high magnetic areas can all be factors in bandwidth loss. Players always get faster gameplay from a wired connection.

Software

  • Drivers: The main issue in this category is drivers. Every piece of hardware has software drivers that tell them what to do. Keep the most recent drivers updated for the device.
  • Updates: Keep the most recent updates installed on software products like Flash or the operating system.
  • Anti-virus software: Check anti-virus software. Many times the internal firewall will be active and it can stop or slow down packet exchanges from the game to the device.

Game Time

It may seem silly to some, but what time of day the gamer plays can be important. If the game gets too many players on at the same time, it will lag. The less people playing, the better the experience.

Internal Game Settings

Most games have internal settings that can be adjusted by the player. Players like to assume that their device can handle the best of settings, but this is not always true. Changing background noises and video filters can give the game a much better flow.

The first thing to getting that faster gameplay from a device is to take Internet speed test. Gamers can go to BandwidthPlace.com for all their devices’s needs. Once they know that the Internet is solid, they can just go down the list and decide what is financially feasible.

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How to Block and Remove Games on Facebook

Last Updated: July 17, 2013

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Facebook-privacyFacebook now has thousands of games for its users to play. A user can play action, puzzle, fantasy, or casino games all day long for free, but the games require the user’s information and access to post on the user’s pages. There may come a time when a user will want to remove these games. How does one delete Facebook games? Read on.

Although we call them games, they are actually apps. Apps are not necessarily games. They can include news feeds, sites, or other programs that have access to the user’s account. All these apps will have certain access to profile information, settings, or posting rights agreed upon by the user.

Delete Facebook Games

To remove any app from the account, just do the following:

  • Log on to Facebook
  • Click the gear symbol at the top right of any page.
  • Select the “Account Settings” option.
  • In the column on the left hand side, select the “Apps” option.
  • Select the “X” to the right of any game or app to remove it.
  • A delete confirmation window will appear. A few things should be noted before the app is deleted. If the user wants to remove all the app’s activity from the account, he should check a check box at the bottom of the delete confirmation window. If the box is not checked, then everything already posted will remain but no new information will be added. In addition, there is also a message stating that information taken from the app may be stored with the company that makes the app. Any information already gleaned from the account will remain with the app maker unless the user contacts the vendor directly and asks the vendor to remove it. Either way, no new information will be stored or collected after the app is removed.
  • Click the “Remove” button.

Block Facebook Games

Blocking is useful if a user wants to play the games but does not want the app to post everything on the user’s pages. When there is a posting from a game or app that you do not want to see, simply pass the mouse to the upper right of the posting. A drop-down arrow will appear. Click the drop-down arrow. Select the “Hide…” option. This will stop further postings from the app to the home page.

If a user decides he wants the app back or that he wishes to remove the block, he can go to the Facebook Help Center and find the easiest way to restore the app.

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Mobile Phone WiFi Testing is Easy

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Testing your mobile phone WiFi connection is a great way to make sure your Internet is operating at the speed promised by your service provider, but you aren’t limited to running those tests on your desktop computer. Mobile phone WiFi testing is a perfect way to test the power of your WiFi signal at various places in your home or office. Additionally, it is a great way to compare the quality of service between your home Internet provider and your mobile Internet service subscription.

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How to Run a Mobile Phone WiFi Speed Test on your Smartphone

Running a WiFi speed test on your smartphone is a simple task. Most convenient are the speed tests that are able to run in your smartphone’s mobile web browser. Just follow the simple on-screen prompts to begin the test. If the online test doesn’t save your results, take a screen shot after the finished test to provide a history.

Some tests are available as apps for both the iOS and Android platforms. To use these, download the app you want. Then follow the instructions to run the test and save your result.

Checking for the Optimal Spot for WiFi at Your House

Using an Internet test service that allows you to download and save the test results makes it easy to check the quality of your WiFi connection at various locations in your house when you perform the test on your smartphone or even a tablet computer. Does that all brick in the family room hamper your WiFi signal? Mobile phone WiFi testing lets you easily check your entire house, even a screened-in Florida room, to find an excellent WiFi connection.

Simply save the test results in a spreadsheet or word processing document labeled for each room in which you performed the test. Now you will know the best and worst places to wirelessly access the Internet in your house.

Comparing Your Home WiFi with Your Carrier’s 3G or 4G Signal

Another great application for mobile phone WiFi testing is comparing the quality of the signal between your home WiFi connection and your mobile phone provider’s 3G or 4G signal. Sometimes the speed of a 4G network can rival that of a cable Internet or DSL connection, and bandwidth testing on a smartphone is a great way to find out. The test results might be the determining factor in spending a bit extra on your monthly data allowance.

Whatever your reasons for performing an Internet speed test, the convenience of running that test on a smartphone allows you more insight into the quality of your WiFi connection that isn’t possible on your desktop computer. Take advantage of your mobile phone for WiFi signal testing.

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