Wednesday 31 December 2014

Want to Add More Storage to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, or Wii U? Learn How to Do It?



If you’re a hardcore gamer and want to enjoy all your favorite games without any interruption then probably you should purchase a game PC or a PlayStation. All the gaming consoles available in the market come with a wide collection of PSP games, and you can also download the latest ones from the PlayStation store. Gamers having Sony PlayStation installed at their ends will have direct access to the PlayStation store, which offers a wide range of the available content for download. Since the technology is evolving at a rapid rate, gaming consoles have also come a long way from simple cartridges and cassette modes. The gaming consoles available nowadays just resemble the gaming PCs that incorporate inbuilt storage to save files, latest game updates, and digitally downloaded games. If you think that the pre-defined storage space isn’t enough to store your desired stuff then, follow the tips mentioned below to add more storage to your console and enjoy more space.

Tips to Add Storage to PlayStation 4


PlayStation 4

Sony PlayStation 4 or PS4 incorporates a 500 GB internal storage drive, and it doesn’t allow users to connect an external drive via USB cable. But, the company realizes the need of having more storage space and allows you to upgrade the internal drive. Users can easily enjoy more storage space by simply removing the internal 500 GB drive and installing a new drive (greater space dive) in its place. Since, the company uses standard 2.5-inch SATA drives for its gaming consoles, it becomes easier for users to replace the same without many hassles. 

Tech geeks recommend picking up a standard mechanical drive with the correct physical size and swapping it to replace your original storage to terabytes of storage. Some users may also like to install a solid-state drive (SSD) instead of a mechanical drive, but it will not impact the disk access and loading time of the console. 

Xbox One

Xbox One 


The Xbox One too includes a 500 GB internal storage drive, but here you can’t upgrade the internal drive. Users can connect an external drive or specifically use a fast USB 3 external drive to speed up the game load times. The gaming console uses a slow SATA II internal drive so the external drive may empower your gaming experience and perform faster than your console’s default storage.

Additionally, ensure that the external drive you’re attaching should support USB 3.0 and must be over 256 GB in size. This gaming console allows users to connect up to two external drives at once and also supports USB 2.0 to access music and video files stored on the drive only.

Wii U

Wii U 


Nintendo’s world class Wii U console ships with 8 GB (basics) and 32 GB (Deluxe) of internal storage. You can use this console to save game data, download game updates, and download games from Nintendo’s eShop.

Users can connect an external hard drive to Wii U via a USB cable but remember that this console only supports USB 2.0 speed. You can only connect up to 2 TB in size and can also use Nintendo as its power source. Tech geeks recommend using a mechanical drive instead of a solid-state drive, and you can easily connect an external drive to the console using a power cable.

Conclusion


All game console manufacturers allow users to enhance their gaming device’s storage by either attaching an external drive or upgrading an existing one. You will need to arrange a USB cable, purchase an adequate hard disk drive and spare some time to make out of your PSP games. If you have, a Sony PlayStation then the gaming experience will be more enchanting as it is the most demanded brands in gaming console series. Once you successfully install an additional storage space, you may experience optimal performance, functional boost and faster game loading on all your consoles, irrespective of their model and make. PlayStation 3 can also swap its internal drive and upgrade it simply like you do on a PlayStation 4 and Xbox 360. Original Wii users should not feel disheartened as they can take help of an SD card of up to 32 GB to enjoy seamless Multimedia experience!

Tuesday 30 December 2014

Is Computer Maintenance Necessary?



computer maintenance Every day plenty of devices, gadgets, and computing products are making our life easier and faster, but have you ever thought of maintaining them properly? Many tech users blame their busy schedules and inaccessibility to their devices during their free time for not conducting proper PC maintenance sessions. In order to maintain your computers and ensure their prolonged working life, you can perform some basic steps at your workplace or household. Conducting computer maintenance sessions can also maximize your device’s lifespan and ensure its best speed and optimal performance. Performing some occasional maintenance can help in maintaining optimum functioning and allow your computer to operate normally and extend its usability. If you want to increase your computer's performance and longevity, then consider incorporating regular computer and hard disk drive maintenance into your PC cleaning schedules.

 Problems Arising Due To Poor Computer Maintenance

PC maintenance

Undoubtedly, you may think that maintaining a Mac computer or an Apple device is an easy task since it is less exposed to the prevailing virus threats. But maintaining a Windows PC and finding out solutions to how to fix a virus on the same, isn’t a difficult task. If you want to look out for answers to your questions like how to fix the application not found error, how to optimize your PC and many others, then read this complete PC maintenance guide. 

Some of the common issues arising due to poor maintenance are:


  •         Disk fragmentation
  •         Cluttered Windows registry
  •         Unwanted software or programs
  •         Viruses, malware, and other malicious codes
  •        Delayed boot and PC startup
  •       Frequent PC hangs and lags
  •       Application freezes and unresponsiveness
  •         Slow or delayed response to PC commands
  •         Frequent shutdowns and sudden crashes 
  •  Outdated drivers and software with performance flaws
  •         Malicious codes get executed if the user continues to download from unreliable sources

        Outdated Internet Explorer or browsers may turn responsible for major security breaches 

Maintenance Sessions That You Can Conduct on Your Own


Opening the home/office CPU’s case or laptop’s exterior case isn’t an easy task for everyone so rather than going through this, simply opt for general PC repair tips mentioned below: 

1.       Update Windows Regularly 

Update Windows Regularly  
Microsoft releases timely updates to ensure that its operating system remains free from viruses and potentials flaws. The latest security updates and patches carry some advanced programming codes and bug fixes that prevent viruses, malware, and other prominent infections from entering into the device. Neglecting Windows updates and deferring them for later install can be highly dangerous as your system will remain unprotected for that period, and a hacker can easily enter into it. You can also use the ‘Automatic Install updates’ feature to never miss anything important, and your system adopts all the latest technological changes.

 

2.       Run an Efficient Antivirus Software


Finding out solutions to how to fix a virus? Well, an efficient antivirus program can provide an optimal solution to all your virus and infectious codes related issues. If you're using Windows, then probably you are one of those unlucky users who are prone to all the latest virtual threats as Windows OS is hacker’s favorite platform. Microsoft Security Essentials is the best option if you’re looking for antivirus software that keeps running in the background all the time, and that too for free. You can also install free or trial versions of Avast, AVG, Kaspersky, Norton, MacAfee and others to provide basic protection to your computers.

3.       Back Up Your Hard Drive

Hard disk drive

Hard disk drive crashes are uncertain, so it is important to timely create Windows Backup manually, or you can also opt for automated and offsite backup to survive this risk. Taking backups is an essential step in device maintenance, which ensures that a user will remain free from any data or software loss, if something goes wrong. 

4.       Clean Temporary Files 


Windows may collect a junk or clutter of temporary files, browsing history, cookies, and cache to make your web experience better and faster. But sometimes, this clutter may interrupt in normal PC functioning ad force you to undergo various PC performance issues. The best solution to make your hard drive free of clutters and ensure optimal PC performance is to clean them up regularly by scheduling a timed process.

5.       Uninstall Unwanted Programs

Uninstall Unwanted Programs 
You might have seen many tech geeks recommending users to add/remove programs regularly to save some extra space on hard drive. You can go to Control Panel and scan through the list of installed programs, follow the disable/uninstall program procedure, if you have any unwanted program installed on your device. Additionally, you can also uninstall apps that are unnecessarily enlisted to load into the hard drive during the startup processes.

Conclusion


Computer maintenance is not all at a difficult task, but it is time consuming and needs to be regularly conducted to get effective results. A Windows user can undergo numerous processes and activities to ensure that their computers function properly. In order to avoid virtual threats, the user can also access powerful web and PC security tools that can block malicious programs and blacklist phishing websites. You can also access the www.doubleclick.net to add any website to the blacklist and avoid future threats associated to it. Users can also avail the paid versions of antivirus programs to ensure complete protection from viruses, malware, worms, Trojans, and other prevailing threats. You can also seek help of an IT professional or a tech geek if you want to maintain proper health and functioning of your computer!

Monday 29 December 2014

Top 5 Windows Tablets, Laptops under $200, You Must Buy



Many of you might have invested hours of research and internet browsing to look out for the best laptop deals, but did you ever paid attention towards selecting your budget? Hundreds of laptop reviews and tablet reviews cannot help you in deciding your dream machine until you fix the amount to dollars you want to spend on it. In a world, where plenty of new gadgets and devices are entering into the market on a regular basis, it becomes difficult to choose the one that can cater your needs precisely. Most of the tech experts will select Apple’s devices to ensure optimal speed, productivity, and performance if budget is not a constraint. On the other hand, you might love to own Windows tablets and laptops that offer optimal features, possesses stylish appearances, and delivers amazing performance at budget-friendly prices. 

If you’re a budget customer and want to know about the top 5 best Windows tablets and laptops available within the price range of $200, then read the blog for specifications:

 1.       Dell Venue 8 Pro 

Dell Venue 8 Pro  
Dell has introduced its Venue 8 Pro 3000 Series (32GB) at a starting price of $199.99. It is counted as an ideal portable computing device available for budget-friendly users. Undoubtedly, the company hasn’t compromised on style, quality and performance, rather the product is a masterpiece from all aspects. Venue 8 is the new 8" HD Android tablet, and the company has revamped the tablet’s features to make it more productive, power-efficient, and last for longer  time duration. The device equips a quad-core Intel Atom Z3735G processor, Windows 8.1 and 1GB DDR3 memory enabling a user to perform powerful tasks efficiently. Arriving with an 8.0” IPS HD (WXGA) touch display with a screen resolution of 1280x800 pixels, the device is capable of meeting all your personal, professional, gaming and entertainment needs. The gadget offers 32GB of system storage and features a 1.2MP front-facing and, 5MP back camera to click bright selfies and capture your important moments with ease. You can avail this tablet in black and white colors, and this highly portable gadget measures 216.2X130X9 mm and weighs around 391g.

2.       ASUS Eeebook X205TA

ASUS Eeebook X205TA  
ASUS Eeebook X205TA with a price tag of $199 is an extremely powerful device with strong and sturdy build. Shipped with an Intel Bay Trail-T Quad Core Z3735 1.33 GHz Processor and operating on Windows 8.1 OS with Bing support, the gadget is an outstanding device for meeting professional requirements. With 2 GB RAM, 32GB storage, and Integrated Intel HD Graphics card, the device ensures smooth functioning, speedy browsing and faster app loading. The 11.6" Full HD (1366x768) Glare panel display is ideal for watching videos, movies, and even for making presentations in the boardrooms meetings. The Micro SD, Micro SDXC, and Micro SDHC card support ensures expandable memory space and makes you feel free about the safe storage of your important files and documents. A VGA web camera caters all your web chats, image clicking, and video recording requirements at ease.

3.       Iconia Tab 8 W

Iconia Tab 8 W

Offered with a price tag of $149.99 at Acer’s official website, the Iconia Tab 8W is an ideal slate for home, business, college, and professional users. The W1-810-1193 tab is operating on the latest Windows 8.1 with Bing support and features apart from Intel Atom Z3735G Quad-core 1.33 GHz processor to boost performance at its max. The standard memory of 1 GB ensures faster loading of apps, while the 32 GB flash memory storage makes the device fit for storing your important data and documents. The 8" Active Matrix TFT Color LCD display with WXGA and LED support meets all the video and movie watching requirements and also supports wide viewing angles without blurring the images. The tablet by Acer measures around 8.4X5X0.4 inches, when measured diagonally, and weighs around 13.05 oz. 

4.       HP Stream 11 Dual-Core 11.6-inch Windows 8.1 Laptop

HP Stream 11 Dual 
The HP Stream 11 is an ideal laptop for your kids and young ones as it exactly looks like a toy nevertheless hides extremely powerful PC configurations. Made available at a starting price of $199.99 on HP’s official website, the laptop features an 11.6-inch screen, one-year Office 365 subscription and 1TB OneDrive storage for a year. The laptop features a dual-core Celeron N2840 processor, 2GB RAM, and spacious 32GB storage, making it one of the best laptop deals HP is currently offering. The revolutionary HP laptop is very stylish and quite affordable with a battery life of around 8 hours on a single charge. The gadget efficiently runs on Windows 8.1 with Bing and the Intel Turbo Boost Technology empowers the processor to deliver accurate and impactful performance. Additionally, the device also features an Intel HD graphics card, 11.6" HD anti-glare WLED-backlit display, HP TrueVision HD Webcam, and an island-style keyboard.

5.       Toshiba Encore Mini WT7-C16MS Signature Edition Tablet

Toshiba Encore Mini WT7-C16MS  
The Toshiba Encore Mini WT7-C16MS is one of the best among cheap tablets that presently a budget user can purchase. Presently, available at a price of $99.00 at Microsoft Store, the slate has earned many positive tablet reviews. Featuring a 7.0 inch diagonal WSVGA LED-backlit display supporting a screen resolution of 768 x 1280 pixels, the device incorporates 5-finger multi-touch support and produces crystal clear images. The device features an Intel Atom Z3735G 1.33 GHz processor with Intel Burst Technology to ensure optimal performance and speed. Coming with 1 GB of RAM, 16GB SSD, and Windows 8.1 with Bing support, the device can beat any of those Windows tablets having hefty price tags. The device is ideal for meeting business, personal, and entertainment needs, and can last for up to 7.3 hours, once properly charged.

Conclusion


All of the above-mentioned tablets and laptops are some of the best Windows machines that the user can buy within the price range of $200. Apart from these, you can also pick Windows laptops like Acer Aspire E-11 ($199), Dell Inspiron 15 ($189), and E Fun Nextbook 10.1 ($179). You can also try E Fun Nextbook 8 ($99), and HP Stream ($100) as these Windows powered slates have got amazing tablet reviews from global tech geeks. If Windows isn’t a constraint then, Samsung Galaxy Tab 4, Asus MemoPad 7, and Lenovo A10 tablet are some of the other alternatives that you can think of buying. Don’t forget to check the Monday sales and black Friday deals that most of the major retailers will be offering during the holiday season 2014!