Tools Review

The Internet has modernized our lives and moved most of what we do to the online world. We communicate, relax, learn, watch, and shop from the comfort of our own home or mobile device. In this age of advancing technology, people are looking for quick, easy, and seamless digital experiences. …

OCR or Optical Character Recognition is a sophisticated software technique that allows a computer to extract text from images. In the early days OCR software was pretty rough and unreliable. Now, with the tons of computing power on tap, it’s often the fastest way to convert text in an image …

So, you’re here because you’re trying to open a file with an “.MDB” file extension, but don’t have a copy of Microsoft Access to reveal its mysteries. Just what is this file format and, for that matter, what’s Microsoft Access? The first question is related to the second, but let’s …

Subtitles aren’t just for the hearing impaired—they help you to understand new languages, as well as decipher difficult-to-follow dialogue. If you’re watching a movie on DVD or Blu-ray, you might have a subtitle track included, but usually only in one or two languages (if at all). Thankfully, there are several …

Having a dual-monitor setup has been the secret weapon of desktop productivity for years. Of course, these days a much more elegant solution is to buy a large ultrawide screen. However, simply hooking up a second monitor is fast and affordable way to add more workspace. Not to mention that …

There are quite a few tools available to the general public that can help you monitor your monthly internet usage limit. Seeing as unlimited plans are not considered the standard in the United States, these tools can be seen as almost necessary to avoid overspending.  Most users are unaware of …

It seems RAM is getting faster every day, but does faster RAM matter? Does it make sense to buy 3000MHz or is something like 2400MHz good enough? Let’s take a look at what higher frequency RAM actually does for your system and whether it’s worth buying or not. Once you …

One of the primary reasons a Google Chromecast alternative is sought after would be the lack of a standalone graphical interface and operating system. Anyone who currently owns a Chromecast can attest to the need to rely on other devices for control and management, like a PC or smartphone. Another, …

Shopping for a good router has become quite a challenge, given the many options in the market today. It’s even more challenging for buyers looking to buy their very first router. Take all the jargon you will find in the box. What does it all mean? Do you find yourself …

Webcams are everywhere these days, including on the computer or mobile device you’re probably using to read this. If you have an old device around the house, you can repurpose its webcam into a surveillance tool for your home or business. If not, you should be able to find an …

If you use Gmail, you already have built-in encryption as your emails travel across the Google servers. Gmail uses S/MIME to support enhanced encryption and it will also encrypt your outgoing emails when possible. Gmail’s encryption doesn’t protect your email once it reaches its destination, though, and that limitation is …

How long does it take you to get a new computer set up just the way you like it? We’re talking Windows here. Yes, we know Macs come with pretty much everything you need and not too much that you don’t. It’s a different story with Windows, figuring out what …

Are you using images to enhance your online content? If you aren’t, you are missing out on the opportunity to reach a wider audience, maximize conversions, and increase user engagement. People are inherently drawn to attractive visuals. Did you know that 67% of consumers say that a product image is …

Video editing software can be divided into two basic categories – closed-source and open-source. Closed source is the normal video editor that offers all the basic functionalities like cropping, rendering speed, adding a soundtrack, etc. An open-source video editor tends to have a bit more of a professional touch than …

Most Windows 10 tools have been around and improved upon for decades, but even still, there are many third party apps that outperform the default options. Most options are open source, but all of them are free. None include any form of adware, so you can download these tools for …

A web proxy server alters a user’s IP address without the need for online traffic encryption. This enables the user to privately surf the web making it difficult for malicious forces to infiltrate and acquire your browsing data information. Using a web proxy will also allow a user to access …

There’s a shortage of computer programmers and software developers. This is a big deal because the tech industry is growing faster than the talent can keep up. Some firms are even willing to pay 20% more for qualified engineers.  Mobile app revenue by itself will generate an astounding $935 billion …

Remote desktop connection managers (RDM) are an incredibly useful tool, especially in the IT career field. Not to be confused with screen sharing software, a RDM allows you to log into a computer remotely when you cannot access it directly.  So if Nana, who lives in Florida, is having issues …

Some people don’t think about how secure their passwords are until a hacker gets a hold of their valuable personal information. Don’t wait for that to happen. Make sure your data is securely protected and your passwords are as complex as they can be. However, coming up with a bunch …

If a picture is worth a thousand words, how many is an infographic worth? Infographics have both words and pictures, so they represent the best of both worlds. If you have no design skills, how can you take your research and data and integrate it into a visually appealing infographic? …

Besides having the coolest name for system utilities ever, PowerToys have a long history with Windows. PowerToys for Windows made their debut back in Windows 95 to aid in the optimization and customization of your Windows operating system (OS). Back then, these features were high-tech wizardry. You may have used …

When it comes to a truly successful example of a wiki, Wikipedia stands tall above all others. Both the largest and most popular, Wikipedia’s content is contributed, edited, and maintained by volunteers from every corner of the globe. Boasting over 530 million readers each month, it’s not hard to understand …

Google is known for constantly bringing new apps to life. Some of them are just useful tools that are aimed at making your digital life easier. Others are more artsy and creative.  This time Google has released a rather specific batch of new apps. They are experimental and their main …

When you want to learn how to do something new or need to fix something, what do you do? A lot of people use YouTube to help them figure out how to do things. Whether you are creating animated video explainers, interviews or educational resources, a video tutorial is the …

Social media is an essential component of successful digital marketing strategies. From live streaming to your fan base to creating viral rich image campaigns, social media provides fast and potentially lucrative access to a wide audience.  However, managing all your social media accounts effectively to get your message in front …

Before Google, discovering websites and services or finding information was tricky. The same can be said for internet users now if they had to do anything on the web using URLs only, and no search engines. Today though, Google is more than just a search engine; it’s become a verb …

No matter what type of website you have, knowing how your visitors interact with your site is essential. Google Analytics (GA) has traditionally been the tool used by webmasters to gain insights into website traffic. GA gives users statistics and reports about:  The number of visitors to your site What …

Your computer screen or monitor is comprised of millions of carefully programmed tiny lights known as pixels, which create the images you see. Within the pixels are sub-pixels that emit RGB (red, green, and blue) colors, which when lit altogether, emit a pure white light, while other colors are emitted …

Computer components such as CPUs, GPUs and RAM all have a standard performance rating on paper. However, manufacturers are actually pretty conservative when it comes to deciding how fast their components should run.  They favor stability across the product line, which means particularly capable samples aren’t performing as well as …

Installing apps manually in Windows can be time-consuming and has several steps, including searching for the most recent version of the app or program, downloading the installer file, signing agreements, pressing Next to get to a subsequent step, and manually unchecking ads, toolbars or bundles you don’t want. Some even …