*** Don't underestimate the importance of a UPS ***
Nowadays with frequent voltage fluctuations and brownouts, it has become necessary to protect your PC with a UPS so that your data and hardware are safe and secure. There have been numerous reports of PC users experiencing the foul stench of burnt computer components which is quite unpleasant and should definitely be avoided. Start at a minimum of 500VA for battery backup which should give you enough time to shut down programs and save your data.
Beware of keeping your Bluetooth switched on!
Switching off bluetooth on your mobile would be a smart move both for your phone security and battery life. There are hacks out there which can penetrate the non existent defenses of your mobile phone by exploiting an open bluetooth connection. Some of the hacks can even override your access and dial any number from your contact list! It also drains a significant amount of battery life even if not paired to any device so make it a habit to switch it off after use.
Make playing videos on the iPod easier
It might be frustrating when iTunes doesn't detect your library of avi or flv video files. There is an easy solution to that. Prism Video Converter is one of the best free video converting software in which you can even queue up your entire video library without having to click convert each. If you just want to convert the odd video or two, then the free software from Doremisoft will work for you.
Before you buy LED TVs
There are two types of LED technologies - Full Lit and Edge Array. The older LEDTVs and some models with a slimmer profile use edge array lighting which leads to quite uneven lighting on different parts of the television which actually ruins the viewing experience. On the other hand the Full Lit LEDs give uniform lighting to the television leading to to better picture quality in comparison to edge array but tend to be the same as LCDs. Look for a feature known as Local dimming which adjusts the picture quality according to the environment and the best combination would be a full lit LED with local dimming.
Optimizing your flat panel TV
Most flat panel televisions need to be calibrated for best picture and to better suit your ambient light. If you can't get it professionally calibrated you can at least check whether the TV is set to 'store' or 'home' mode. Store more is unnatural and will cause eye fatigue. The same goes for dynamic contrast in the picture settings menu. Keep this at 'low' or 'medium'.
Are all flash drives the same?
Just like memory cards have different speed ratings, USB flash drives can differ in their read/write speeds. The difference is that flash drives don't usually advertise their speeds. But if you have a hankering for speed, you can choose something that's been built for speed right from the start; something like Sandisk's Ducati flash drive or Corsair's Flash Voyager GT.
