Tag: Notebook

The Philips SmartSleep Light helps you wake up more naturally and feel more refreshed – but does it work?

The great thing about using laptops and Chromebooks as opposed to a desktop is obviously the portability. Having something you can pick up and take with you really changes how work can be done. But there’s also a downside to that, too.If you’ve ever worked on a desktop setup with multiple screens, you surely appreciate how nice that is. Extending the screen to a second display for reading, monitoring, or tasks is something you can get very comfortable with. Wouldn’t be nice if you could take a display with you and use it only when needed?The Desklab Portable Touchscreen Monitor, on sale for just $248.95 right now, is a lightweight, flexible way of bringing a secondary screen to any computer, even your laptop.This versatile, ultra-portable 1080p screen can transform your laptop into a fully functional touch panel that optimizes your ability to design, make music, manage data, chat, and more.With USB-C, HDMI, and 3.5mm auxiliary ports, you can connect to your laptop, desktop, phone, tablet, or even your favorite gaming system in an instant. It’s your screen, your charger, your speakers, and it’s fully customizable to be whatever else you need.1080p Resolution: Enjoy your favorite content in stunning clarityTouchscreen: Easily navigate your apps with just a few swipesVersatile: Equipped with USB-C, HDMI, & 3.5mm auxiliary portsPlug & Play: No set up requiredPortable & Lightweight: Free up space and carry it with you anywhereUniversal Compatibility: Connect any laptop, desktop, smartphone, tablet & gaming consoleBuy Yours Today!Pick up your Desklab Portable Touchscreen Monitor for just $248.95 and increase your work from home productivity. Or, use it to extend your laptop screen for the next time you’re at a coffee shop. Purchase a 4K version for just $318.95 and you’ll have a great screen for gaming and streaming video!

When you see movies or television shows about hackers, they are often shown as being these super geniuses. Entertainment portrays hackers as being able to get access to any device, circumnavigate any safeties, and steal information with impunity.You would be forgiven for thinking there is nothing that you can do to protect yourself against hackers if you do not have a computer science degree. However, nothing could be farther from the truth. There are several things that you can do to protect your Android device from cyber-attacks. A little of common sense and a bit of readily available technology will go a long way.View post on imgur.comWhat Is a VPN?A VPN is one of the most powerful tools you have for protecting your Android device from hackers. When you surf the web or engage in transactions using unsecured Wi-Fi networks, your private information and browsing habits are exposed to the world.A Clark School study at the University of Maryland showed that hackers attack every 39 seconds. The FBI reported that the number of complaints about cyberattacks since the pandemic started is about 4,000 a day, which is 400% more than what they were seeing before the pandemic. If you feel concerned about protecting yourself from hackers, a secure VPN service that guarantees no-logging policy should be high on your list for security and privacy.Having a VPN on your Android device is especially important because it is likely that you use your Android device to read emails online, check your bank account, or even schedule visits with your doctor. You might take advantage of free Wi-Fi at a coffee shop or restaurant. Oftentimes, these Wi-Fi networks do not require a password. This means that anything you transmit while connected to the network is vulnerable to eavesdropping by people on the same network.When you install a VPN on your Android device, you protect your online activity. A VPN keeps your browsing private and anonymous.How Does a VPN Protect Your Android Device?When you use a VPN on your Android device, you are creating a tunnel between yourself and a secondary location. The server you are connecting to could be on the other side of the globe. It gives the appearance that you are connecting to your favorite website or app from somewhere else. But this is just part of the protection a VPN offers.A VPN will use encryption so that the data sent over a Wi-Fi network is scrambled. Scrambled data cannot be read. Even if someone could monitor the data you are sending, without being able to decrypt it, the information would be garbled and incoherent.If you use your mobile data and avoid connecting to open Wi-Fi networks, you are still at risk of having your information monitored by your ISP. Your ISP can record your entire browsing history. However, if you use a VPN on your Android device, your search history is hidden.You might think that you are not looking at anything online that you would want to hide from your ISP. However, it is amazing how seemingly innocuous information gathered from a person’s browsing history can build a profile about them that can target them for marketing, stealing their identity, or doing other harmful things.It’s also good to remember that search engines monitor your search history. They do that by associating the information with your IP address. If you are using a VPN, they will associate your search history with an IP address that does not belong to you.View post on imgur.comWhat Things Will a VPN Hide?Your VPN hides your location and your IP address. If a person has access to your correct IP address, they will know where you are and what you have been searching. You can think of your IP address in the same way you think about your physical address. It leads to your device. However, since a VPN is using an IP address that doesn’t belong to you, you are able to maintain privacy on your Android device and search the web anonymously.A VPN hides your browsing history. Your web browser can track everything you do online. There are several websites that also keep your browsing history. Why is this so important to remember?Let’s say that you have a medical condition that you are researching online. You want to get information about hospitals and treatment options. If you don’t use a VPN, you may be targeted with emails and ads that pop up at the wrong time, drawing further attention to a medical condition you want to keep private.Another example is if you use your Android device to search plane ticket prices. You check for a price and then check back a few days later. Did you know that travel sites monitor how many times you visit them? If they can tell that you are looking for the same ticket repeatedly, they might not display the cheapest rates.And don’t forget that your ISP might gather your browsing history to sell it. Even if your browser claims to be private, they might have a different definition of private than you do.View post on imgur.comUsing a VPN to Protect against Identity TheftA VPN protects your data, so it protects you from identity theft. It allows you to use your Android device to send private data to your doctor, your bank, your school, or any other individual or entity without cyber criminals being able to access it.To be sure, no one can 100 percent prevent identity theft. However, using a VPN on your Android device can make it harder for cyber criminals to steal the information that they want to steal from you. They can help keep your Android device safe.Not all VPNs are created equal. Sadly, some VPNs have been the source of data breaches that have led to people being victimized by cyber criminals. Before choosing a VPN for your Android device, investigate their logging policies. Learn how they handle your privacy and about the VPN protocols they use.It’s also good to know where the servers you are connecting to are located. Certain servers are in countries where your privacy rights are protected. Other servers are in countries where privacy rights are not a priority.The Internet is a powerful tool. It can allow you to access information and services with the touch of a screen or button. By using a VPN on your Android device, you can feel safer online.EDITOR NOTE: This is a promoted post and should not be viewed as an editorial endorsement.

Wireless earbuds are kind of a commonplace thing these days. Every audio company is seemingly dipping its toes into the wireless audio market. Treblab is one of those companies, who for some time now makes affordable quality devices that may not be immediately recognizable in retail stores. The new Treblab X3 Pro earbuds offer a sporty design for much less than some of those name brands.DesignAs mentioned the X3 wireless earbuds are targeting the sports crowd. The looped design is intended to be used by the active consumer who might find themselves at the gym or long runs. They look awfully similar to another Pro model that’s upwards to $250 dollars.Thankfully, the design is still great. Even at $70, the Treblab X3 Pro earbuds are very comfortable. Most earbuds will fatigue the ears after 4-5 hours of constant use, but I’m happy to report that wasn’t an issue with the X3 Pro.I lend this to the ear-hook and bud combination. Both offer support to positioned to separate parts of the ear. This disperses the weight, even though it’s super light, and avoids the small aches that would come with a more traditional earbud design.As with most earbuds the packaging includes several silicone ear tips. This gives you the flexibility to make sure you have a secure, comfortable fit. These are marked in the box as Small, Medium, and Large.IPX7 water resistance is also onboard with the Treblab X3 Pro. You can’t cater to the active crowd without being able to withstand an unexpected rainstorm or sweat at the gym.Playback ControlsThis is another strong segment of my review of the Treblab X3 Pro buds. I absolutely love that the button layout is exactly the same on each earbud. You have a large multifunction, center button for play and pause of audio. This same button can activate your preferred voice assistant with a double press.The center button also interacts with phone calls by starting and stopping the call. Hold it for 1 second while your phone is ringing and it will ignore the caller. Lastly, if you extend that long press for 2 seconds it will power off the Treblab X3 Pro earbuds.Just above the earbud portion in the crest of the loop, you will find the volume rocker. This allows you to control the volume of media and calls directly from the X3 Pro. I’ve grown to enjoy this additional touch while using these earbuds. It can be frustrating when enjoying the wireless revolution but still have to pull your phone out to interact with the volume levels.Speaking of frustrations relieved by the X3 Pro, all of these inputs are exactly the same with each earbud. The X3 Pro supports both stereo (both earbuds synced and playing at the same time) or mono mode with a single earpiece. Many other brands do this, but most have dedicated functions that only work with one earbud.Not having to remember if it’s the left or right one that turns the volume up, or if voice assistants can only be activated with the left earpiece has been fantastic. The Treblab X3 Pro earbuds just work. Regardless of which earbud you have in.AudioI was also pleasantly surprised by the audio quality. Playback is punchy and robust. Treblab has done a great job of balancing the feedback to capture bass and vocals without either drowning the other out.The volume levels are better than most as well. I think it’s a flaw of the smaller design of most wireless earbuds, but the X3 Pro doesn’t suffer from low playback sound.I was able to place a few phone calls and the opposing side of the conversations had no issues hearing me. Conversely, I found the audio to be more than acceptable on my end as well.Battery Life and ChargingEach charge of the earbuds is rated at nine hours of playback. I found this to be spot-on accurate. I consistently got through an entire eight-hour work shift with no issue.If you do need to charge on the go, the include battery case will recharge the X3 Pro earbuds an additional four times. This offers you 45 total hours of playback without an outlet.The power case supports USB-C fast charge. So when you do need to top off you won’t have to wait long. Charging the case and the earbuds take just under two hours. One knock, if I had to choose one, is the case has to be pretty bulky to hold the larger looped earbuds.Final ThoughtsIf you couldn’t tell by this point, I’ve really enjoyed using the Treblab X3 Pro wireless earbuds. The hook design and light weight result in a comfortable fit that surpasses most others I’ve tested. Add that to above-average audio, and you have a win in my book.Taking in all that and only having a price tag of $70 makes this a no brainer. The Treblab X3 Pro is available in one color, black, and can be purchased from Treblab’s Amazon page. Need an additional bump to pull the trigger? Our readers get a limited-time promo code for 15% off the final price on Amazon: TREBLABNEWX.