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The Benefits of Battery-Powered Products for You and the Planet

Tweaks editor Uncategorized Comments Off

Battery-Powered.net is a website that compares products that run on batteries (instead of gasoline)

Many people use gasoline-powered products for various activities, such as gardening, cleaning, and transportation. However, these products have many disadvantages, such as:

Harming the environment: Gasoline-powered products use fossil fuels and emit greenhouse gases and particulates into the air, contributing to air pollution and global warming. They also waste non-renewable resources and increase the demand for oil and gas.
Making noise: Gasoline-powered products produce loud noises that can disturb users and neighbors. They also cause stress and irritation for people who are sensitive to noise or who value peace and quiet.
Costing more: Gasoline-powered products have higher maintenance costs and shorter lifespans than battery-powered products, as they have more moving parts and more friction. They also require frequent refueling and oil changes.

Battery-Powered.net is a website that offers a better alternative to gasoline-powered products. It compares products that run on batteries instead of gasoline, using electrochemical cells to generate electric power. These products have many advantages over gasoline-powered products, such as:

Saving the environment: Battery-powered products do not use fossil fuels or emit any gases or particulates that harm the environment. They help customers reduce their carbon footprint and fight climate change.
Being quiet: Battery-powered products make much less noise than gasoline-powered products, creating a more pleasant and relaxing environment for users and neighbors. They also improve the quality of life and comfort for people who prefer a quieter setting.
Saving money: Battery-powered products have lower maintenance costs and longer durability than gasoline-powered products, as they have fewer moving parts and less wear and tear. They also save money on fuel and oil expenses.

Battery-Powered.net compares a range of battery-powered products for different needs and preferences. Customers can also buy batteries and chargers separately, so they can customize their products and accessories according to their needs. The batteries are compatible with all the products on the website, and the chargers can charge them fully in less than two hours.

To discover more about battery-powered products and how they can benefit you and the planet, visit Battery-Powered.net today.

Google Chrome Extensions on a Macbook Pro

Best Google Chrome Extensions 2020: 11 Must-Have Browser Extensions

Tweaks editor Uncategorized Comments Off

Looking for the best Google Chrome Extensions? You’ve come to the right place! So many people nowadays use Google Chrome as their favourite web browser. Easy to understand. It is super fast and powerful. But what makes it even better, is the enormous amount of extensions and add-ons, giving it a huge variety of functions. In this article, you will find the best Google Chrome Extensions for blocking ads, privacy, shopping, causes and sustainability, tab management, and students.

Best Google Chrome Extensions for Blocking Ads

Ads and cookies are not only annoying when they pop up on your screen, but they also slow down your online activities and endanger your privacy. Use these top-rated ad-blockers to prevent this from happening. Note that if an extension excessively blocks ads, some websites may not work properly.

1. AdBlock

Advertising and the internet are inextricably connected. Many websites bombard us with banners, text ads and other advertisements (targeted or not). With AdBlock, you can block (almost) everything automatically, so you can enjoy looking at a clear, decluttered webpage. You can choose and update filters, but the extension is basically ready to go.

Install AdBlock for Google Chrome

2. AdBlock Plus

This is one of the best-known Google Chrome extensions for blocking ads. You install it within seconds, and it works straight away. What gives AdBlock Plus the Plus, is that there are more blocking options to choose from than with AdBlock. This way, you can configure it to your own liking.

Install AdBlock Plus for Google Chrome

Best Google Chrome Extensions for Privacy

Google Chrome isn’t exactly the best browser to use if you want to protect your privacy. It remembers your settings and favourite websites on all of your computers. The browser also automatically updates itself in the background. One solution is to switch browsers, but another one is to install an extension.

3. Privacy Badger

Privacy Badger lets you block third party advertisements. The service is super smart: every time the server thinks that an advertiser is about to violate any privacy laws, it blocks that advertiser from retrieving your personal information.

Install Privacy Badger extension for Chrome

4. DuckDuckGo

If you want to try a different search engine than Google, you can use DuckDuckGo. This search engine doesn’t trace, save or use any information for commercial purposes. The DuckDuckGo extension integrates with Chrome and makes searching easy. Of course, it’s not as good as Google, but if privacy is your priority, DuckDuckGo is the way to go!

Install DuckDuckGo extension for Chrome

Best Google Chrome Extensions for Shopping

Do you shop online frequently? Might be a good idea to download these useful extensions, that help save you money and make shopping online even more convenient.

5. Honey

Honey is an extension that finds and tests discount coupon codes all over the UK, Canada and the US. Once added to your browser, you can shop online like you are used to. Then, when checking out, click on the Find Savings button and Honey will try to find and apply a coupon code.

Install Honey extension for Google Chrome

Best Google Chrome Extensions for Amazon.com

Talking about shopping, Amazon dominates the online shopping world. If you use Amazon regularly and like to know what deals are on at the moment (who doesn’t?!), the following extension will make your life a lot easier.

6. Amazon Lightning Deal Watcher

Amazon Lightening Deals offers a button in the toolbar of the extension, showing the number of current and upcoming deals. Click on the button to see what deals there are. You can view an image of the product, the price, a short description, information about when the deal is about to start and end, and the number of remaining products. Clicking on a product takes you to the designated Amazon page. If you want, you can also receive a notification on your phone when the deal is about to start.

Get the Keepa / Amazon Dealwatcher Extension for Chrome

Best Google Chrome Extensions for Causes and Sustainability

7. TreeClicks

Who says shopping is bad for the planet? Well, a lot of people actually. And it is. Just think about all of the carbon dioxide, toxins, and pollution coming from the production, transportation, packaging, and waste production of your stuff. Fortunately, there is an extension that you can use for free to reduce your carbon footprint while you shop! It’s called TreeClicks. Whenever you purchase something at their 50.000+ stores (including Amazon), TreeClicks receives an ad fee and with it, trees are planted – absorbing carbon dioxide.

Install TreeClicks for Chrome

8. Tab for a Cause

What better way to contribute to a good cause than doing almost nothing?! Tab for a Cause raises money for charity whenever you open a new tab in Google Chrome. Free to use, it receives ad revenue from banner ads in the tabs, that they donate to human rights, environmental, educational, water or health charities.

Install Tab for a Cause Chrome Extension

Best Google Chrome Extensions for Tab Management

Speaking of tabs, how many tabs do you have open right now? Did you know that it can actually increase your stress levels to leave too many tabs open? It’s recommended to have no more than 5 tabs open at the same time. I know, that’s easier said than done. Fortunately, you can use this extension to help you out:

9. Save my Tabs

Can’t seem to choose what tabs to close? Just save them for later. Use Save my Tabs to save all of your tabs in one go. It saves all your opened tabs as bookmarks, so you can come back to them any time you want. Tip: Create a separate folder first, so they don’t get mixed up with the tabs you want to save next time.

Install Save my Tabs for Google Chrome

Best Google Chrome Extensions for Students

Students massively use the internet – and Google Chrome – for research and educational purposes. So, what are the two best Google Chrome Extensions students ought to have?

10. Grammarly

Grammarly is free to use and is a lifesaver for many students. Whenever you type something in Chrome, even in your email, Grammarly automatically checks the grammar and spelling. Errors are underlined in red, so it’s easy to spot them. Simply hover your mouse on the word, and it will give you several potential corrections.

Install Grammarly Extension for Chrome

11. Google Dictionary

Browsing the web with Google Chrome can have you run into quite a few unfamiliar words. Don’t have the slightest idea of what a word means? Add Google Dictionary to your browser and expand your vocabulary within seconds. Simply click on a word and Google Dictionary shows you the definition in a pop-up window. If you’re using a different language (say Dutch), then go to My Language and switch the language from English to your desired language. You can also easily launch a Google search for the word and see how the word is used in different contexts. The extension is free to use.

Get the Google Dictionary Chrome Extension

Got any other suggestions, let us know. This article originally came from DevProblems: Best Google Chrome Extensions 2020

8 easy habits for keeping your house clean

Tweaks editor Household appliances Comments Off

Do you recognize it? It looks like your house can never look tidy. It feels like you’re tidying up and cleaning all day. But at the end, you wonder what you’ve actually done all day. And the worst case happens, when you visit someone unexpectedly, the impossible seems true. You enter a house that is completely organized and clean. How is that possible? What are you doing wrong and what do others do better? People with a clean and orderly house often use a number of fixed tips. And because I also want to help you, I will share these eight simple habits with you. If you know how to apply them in your daily life your house will always be neat and tidy.

1. Shaking up for a good start of the day

The morning is the start of the day and therefore the start of your new routine. You got up and dressed up. Then start shaking up your bed. Shake the pillows and the comforter well and let the bed open for a while. Open the windows for some fresh air. After breakfast, go back to your bedroom, pull the sheets tight and put nice decorative pillows on your bed. It will surprise you what a pretty effect this gives to your bedroom. The cushions on the couch can also be shaken for a fresh effect.

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2. Clothes everywhere belongs to the past

Make a quick round through your entire house. Pick up clothes off the floor. Clothes are often the culprit of a disorderly home. It is so easy to leave clothes around the house. In the living room, the kitchen, the bathroom and of course in the bedroom. During your morning tour through the house, you collect all the clothing that is dirty. Put it directly in the laundry basket. It is handy to have different laundry baskets. Such as a laundry basket for towels, one for white laundry and one for colored laundry. That saves time during washing. And it also looks organized. Clothes that do not need to be washed can be stored in the wardrobe. It only takes a few minutes of your time, but it has a great result.

3. Clean out the dishwasher for a clean kitchen

Loading and unloading the dishwasher is a job that doesn’t make everyone happy. Yet it is a quick way to keep your kitchen counter clean. It gives a tidy and hygienic appearance. Do this in the morning and in the evening before going to bed. The dishwasher can be switched on at night, so that the dishes are clean in the morning. So the morning routine involves clearing the dishwasher. This gives space to put in the dirty dishes of breakfast. A clean kitchen with space for a flower or a green plant, and gives a pleasant feeling.

4. Cleaning the whole kitchen, for the best feeling

Have you finished cooking? Then it is tempting to leave the dirty dishes. It fits well with the above tip to put the dirty dishes directly in the dishwasher. Yet there is more work to do. The gas stove or hob also deserves a good cleaning. Do this as soon as possible after it has cooled. Then food scraps cannot stick and cleaning is so much quicker. Also don’t forget to regularly wipe the kitchen doors. It really takes only a minute or two. But a hygienic clean kitchen gives a wonderfully tidy feeling. And it seriously only takes a few minutes if you do it immediately.

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5. Use your cupboard to put things back in

Put things back in the cupboard. If you pay attention, it does not happen very often. You need something, for example a scissor. How often do you put it back immediately? Or the tape, the hair elastic or the charger of your smartphone. A good habit is to immediately put things back in the cupboard when you’re done. This also applies to shoes that you take off when you get home. Put them immediately in the shoe cupboard. By including this tip in your daily routine, you will see that your house will stay much more clean and organized. After all, things never just lay around the house anymore. And an additional advantage is that you no longer have to search for things that disappear without a reason.

6. Do the laundry in small stages

Laundry baskets full of dirty clothes causes discomfort in your head. And of course it also makes your laundry room uncluttered. Delaying to do the laundry is very tempting. But the more dirty laundry you have, the less clean clothing you have left to wear. Washing clothes does not only mean putting the wash in the washing machine. It also means drying, ironing, folding and putting clothes back in the closet. It is a whole process that you cannot do in one day. So don’t collect everything until it becomes a mountain, but work in small stages. That way you can keep control of everything and your house will look nicely organized and tidy.

7. A clean house gives a tidy mind

When checking your house, it is also good to catch an eye on loose items. A tidy house ensures a relax mind. Therefore, check what you can throw away. It costs you only a few minutes every day. This applies to bills, empty packaging, waste in the waste bin, old socks, but also food from the refrigerator. Advertising brochures and received mail are often collected in a large pile. Make sure this pile is checked every day and clean up what you no longer need. This way you prevent a mess of things at every little spot in the house.

8. Cleaning your house is the final step

Cleaning the house is the last logical step in the list. Not only cleaning up, but also hygienic cleaning is important. That does not mean that you have to clean every day. But people with a tidy house have a regular cleaning routine. They often have a cleaning schedule. This way they thoroughly clean a certain area every day of the week. The floor is always cleaned in the daily routine. A floor without crumbs and dirt ensures a clean feeling right away. Also wipe the table and other surfaces on a daily basis. This prevents too much dirt from getting onto the floor.

9. Need help? Use electrical appliances

Seriously, technology has given so much easy solutions to help you keeping your house clean and tidy. For example: a robot vacuum cleaner, a robot mob, dishwasher machine, washing/dryer combination. So use these wise technologies to keep your house clean and ordered.

You can see that it is not difficult to keep your house tidy and clean. Establish a daily routine for yourself and follow it. Then you will be satisfied with the result every day. From now on, disorder and dirt belongs to the past

3 Sustainability and Tree Planting related Chrome extensions

Tweaks editor Uncategorized Comments Off

Being sustainable is increasing in popularity. Except from eating less meat, flying less, recycling, etc. there’s also ways to browse as sustainable as possible. In this article we’re giving 3 Chrome extensions that make living sustainable easier

1. TreeClicks – Plant Free Trees While Shopping

TreeClicks is a recently launched Chrome & Firefox extension that plants trees for free while shopping. It works simple.

You go to TreeClicks.com
Download the TreeClicks Chrome or Firefox extension
When you shop at one of their more than 50.000 connected stores, trees are planted from the ad fee they receive. You do have to activate the TreeClicks popup that shows up when you visit one of their connected stores.

When shopping a decent amount, it’s easy to help planting already a couple of trees. Since online shopping is a 500 billion dollar business in the United States, if only a tiny percentage of this fee goes into tree planting, TreeClicks could plant billions of trees. Download now.

2. Tab for a cause

Tab for a Cause is a very simple Chrome extension that shows a tab with an advertisement every time you open a new tab. A part of that ad revenue is used for causes. You can select your own causes. If you want a sustainable cause, choose for example a Nature Conservancy related cause.

3. DoneGood – shop more ethical

DoneGood is a simple Chrome Extension that recommends brands that make the world better a place.

It’s an online shopping assistant automatically recommends the best ethical, sustainable brands as you shop on Amazon, Google, or other retail websites. Plus, with exclusive offers and discount codes for 25% off or more, you can easily shop your values while saving money at the same time.

Other handy Chrome Extensions

While this is a short list, there’s many other great Chrome Extensions. Check them out here:

Adblock
Article about other productivity Chrome Extension
Forest: This Chrome extension is also sustainability related. It plants a virtual tree. That one gets destroyed if you browse un-useful websites.

This post was originally published on DevProblems.

How to give old electronic devices a new life?

Tweaks editor Old electronics Comments Off

Today is the day to give old electronic devices a new life. Open a door of any cupboard or drawer in your house. There is a big chance that you will find an old smartphone, an old laptop or an old tablet. As soon as we get a new one, we put the old one away. If it is salable, we will receive a nice amount in return. However, in many cases, old electronics end up in a drawer. This way a whole collection is created over the years. But have you ever thought about recycling electronics?

Why is recycling important?

Studies show that in our country about one in three desktops and about one million laptops are just laying around, unused. Add to that more than 3 million unused mobile phones and the mountain of waste is huge. Sometimes it concerns broken devices. But often these are devices that are outdated. Technically, they no longer meet the current standard. They are laptops, tablets or telephones that are no longer fast enough. Or they can no longer handle the latest applications. Appearance also plays a role, in some cases. As long as an electronically device is not broken, you can give it a second life. That is recycling.

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How can you recycle electrical devices?

The most obvious thing to do is to sell electrical devices. There are many websites for this, such as eBay. Sometimes it costs a small amount to sell electrical devices on eBay. But nowadays, social media is also very suitable to sell stuff you don’t use. Facebook has even launched a sales site. It is called Marketplace. This site is integrated into the current Facebook website and is therefore easy to use. You don’t sell electronic devices only to earn some money with it. It is primarily a way to promote sustainability.

You don’t want to sell your old devices?

Do you not feel like negotiating, don’t you want strange people at your door or do you simply not feel like sending sold devices by mail? Then there are also stores that collect second-hand electronic devices. In return you will receive a voucher or a discount on a new device. On the website of this type of stores, you can indicate which device you want to trade. You will immediately see the value of your device. This way, stores give cell phones, computers and laptops a second life. But also online, there are more and more stores that offer this service.

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Recycling old computers

Recycling old computers is done by using the parts from old computers. In this way, they can repair broken desktops. Often it is only a single part that needs to be replaced. So it is very good for the environment not to buy new parts, but to use second-hand parts to replace broken or not functioning parts. There are companies that purchase these repaired computers. They see a trade in this by reselling old desktops and laptops. And people with a small pocket will be very happy with it.

Would you rather do a good deed?

Recycling means also giving away well-functioning second-hand equipment. There are organizations that recycle the devices or prepare the devices for reuse. These are often desktops on which the newest games can no longer be played. You can also hand in monitors, printers and other electronic accessories.

Use the container park

Are selling and giving away no longer an option? Then choose to return your old electrical device. The container parks ensure a responsible disposal of your electronic device. Note that it usually concerns smaller devices.

Take a look across the border

Sustainability is an important theme worldwide. For example, initiatives are being set up outside national borders that focus on the recycling of electrical devices. The devices are collected for reuse in developing countries. The transport and the recycling costs are paid by the organization. The only condition is that a minimum of devices must be returned. This does not only concern desktops, tablets or smartphones. Accessories are also more than welcome.

Using, returning, recycling and re-production

If you return an old device to a recycle collection point, this won’t be its last stop. A new process begins. Old electrical appliances and old devices will be recycled into new raw materials. In addition, old lamps are perfects for recycling. These raw materials form the basis for new products. A new circle of production is born: using, returning, recycling and re-production. Handing in is therefore getting back. Overproduction will decrease and nature can recover more. Therefore, the environment will be grateful for a recycle circle like this.

Go for refurbished

Ever heard of refurbished electronics? That’s electronics that are collected, checked and tested and then re-used. Sometimes, the quality of these electronics might be less, so always research your electronics provider well on this.

But if you do find a good supplier, you can save a lot AND help the environment. The Dutch company Aliter Networks is a refurbished network equipment supplier and delivers products like switches and routers from Cisco, Juniper, Extreme, etc. for a fraction of the new price. And they test it thoroughly before shipping.

Some final tips

Before you sell, give away or donate an old computer. Always ensure that the hard disk is completely erased. After all, you prefer to keep your private data private. Remember that just formatting the hard disk is not enough to erase everything. Do you really want to be sure of a completely clean hard disk? Then go to a professional or get started with software such as Data Shredder or KillDisk. This software will be installed on your USB stick. When you start up your computer, the software will start doing its work. It erases the hard disk from here, so for sure you do not give away any private information at all.

An old cellphone contains ores and metals that are great for recycling. Approximately 300 grams of gold can be obtained from a ton of old cell phones. In addition, also more than 20 grams of aluminum, 15 grams of copper and 5 grams of cobalt. The cobalt comes from the battery. Old telephones also contain other special ores. Think of indium, gallium, cerium, lanthanum, palladium and tungsten. They are exotic sounding ores. However, the fact is that recycling these ores is a lot better for the environment than extracting these ores from the mines over and over again.

Therefore, hopefully you have enough ideas about what to do with your old electric devices. Now you also know, that cleaning up your old devices in fact contributes to a cleaner and healthier environment.

Towards a sustainable future. Let’s start with our children.

Tweaks editor Sustainability Comments Off

In many rich countries, people can live in a world full of possibilities. There is a huge selection of food, both in the shops and in the various cultural restaurants. Traveling is possible without limits. Almost every little part of earth is accessible in one way or another. In terms of energy, we are no longer dependent on one specific substance. But we may have a choice. More and more research is being done on better and pure raw materials. We don’t seem to know any limits anymore. And although we live without limits, we would like to leave a healthy earth for the next generations. Do our children have a sustainable future?

Sustainability educational material for children

Do we understand climate change and a sustainable future?

Climate change, everyone is talking about it. But do you understand exactly what it means? A sustainable future, sustainability and climate change are complex topics, which are important to understand. We need to know the facts from the earliest history of climate changes, and also research, causes, consequences and measurements. These are many different parts that are all falling under the heading of climate change and sustainability.

For children there are special books on the market that explain this topic in an easy way. They explain how we can have a sustainable future by adapting today. Because let’s be honest. If we really want to change something, we need to understand it ourselves. And what is better than try to explain the problem to the next generation. If they understand this topic, then adults certainly understand.

Climate change, getting a closer look at it

Let us take a closer look at climate change. What does it mean that climate is changing? Climate change is a major deviation for long periods, compared to the normal climate patterns. The rapid changes that are taking place are worrying. Scientists do not know exactly why climate is changing so dramatically. Nor do they know how much the climate has changed. But a certain thing is that changes are partly caused by the actions of human being, by our (collective) actions.

What scientists have seen so far is that earth is warming up. This is visible in the layers of ice that are melting, and in the sea level that is rising. The gases emitted by factories, cars and planes seem to be an important guilty party. The large amount of gases affects the atmosphere. In addition, the large-scale clearing of forests also does not contribute to recovering our planet. And there are even more causes to mention.

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How do we know all this information about climate change?

All these causes are being studied from space by satellites. In this way, we learn more and more about our climate on earth and the changes that are taking place. With satellites such as ESA’s Envisat, we learn more about climate change on our planet. These satellites also help us to predict better what the future will look like.

Some Envisat instruments map the greenhouse gases every day. Other satellites follow changes in temperature, ice, snow, lakes and forest surface. All the information that the satellites collect for us, is being studied by scientists. This information is very important to ensure that international agreements on reducing greenhouse gases are complied with. Just like the agreements about our climate in general. Complying the agreements is important at a level worldwide. Certainly now the signs are becoming more visible. So let us start understanding what this theme is all about. And let’s try to explain it to the next generation. That would be a great first step.

So, what is not true about climate change?

It is very good to explain what climate change means to the next generation. But unfortunately, reality outlined today, does not always contains the complete truth. Photos are often adjusted by Photoshop to make it less threatening, or more pathetic. For example, a little polar bear on a floating ice floe. It evokes a pathetic image. Nature organizations in particular like to respond to people’s emotions. Reality is often somewhat distorted to attract attention. Is it preferable that children know about reality? However, this can be difficult if even adults don’t always see the difference.

Or the information about the so-called climate deniers may also be viewed critically. They stimulate doubt by saying that it is not so bad. And to reinforce that power, excuses are invented to make sure that they don’t have to contribute to change. It is a good thing that children are aware of the real situation. And that they do not rely on the situation that is outlined for self-interest.

How children can help

Children best understand difficult problems when they can get started with practical examples. The adult generation has already come up with many solutions. But for a child these are not understandable and not feasible. What can a child do? Start by practical changes to show the different consequences.

A good start is to close the door when you leave the house. By leaving the doors open, the heat goes out and the cold comes in. Turn down the heating if it is warm enough in the house. Or put on a warm sweater more often, so that the heating can be turned down one degree. And a good start is to alert children to the unwanted addition of palm oil in, for example, peanut butter and chocolate spread. By explaining your actions a decisions, you learn children about the consequences of their actions.

Tropical forests are harvested and burned for the use of palm oil. Many rare animals and plants are driven away by the fire and the presence of people and machines. By a simple example, children will be willing to look for more sustainable sandwich spreads. So go with your child in search of palm oil-free peanut butter and chocolate spread. It exists, it tastes the same, but you do help nature and the awareness of the new generation.

Relating sustainability to children is therefore not such a bad plan at all. In this way, future generations can also live pleasantly on our planet Earth. Deploying change with this new generation is a very good plan. Look for books written especially for children. These are easily written, don’t contain lies or exaggerations and the current generation can usually learn something from it.

Buying a tablet: 4 mistakes you shouldn’t make

Tweaks editor Tablets Comments Off

Are you thinking about buying a tablet? Then it is good to realize what exactly you are going to buy. There are many differences, in technology and in manageability. You have to know what to pay attention to. However, even more important is to know which errors you should avoid, before you actually purchase a tablet. In this article, we discuss the most common mistakes. A tablet is not a cheap product, so inform yourself well. And know the benefits before spending your money!

What to pay attention to when buying a tablet?

The market is very extensive and that is good. So there will be a tablet available for everyone’s specific demands. Expensive or cheap, with the latest technology or with less technologies and applications. Nevertheless, it is important to know the various options with regard to the operating system, hardware configuration and apps. To start, it is good if you make a list of the requirements that are important to you. That is a very good starting point. Yet it appears that when purchasing a tablet, many people make the same mistakes. To help you avoid these errors, we have listed the most common errors.

1. Ignoring the installed software on the tablet

If we buy a smartphone, the operating system appears to be very important. So you know in advance whether you prefer to go for iOS from Apple or for an Android operating system. The operating system determines for an important part the possibilities on the device. This means that the operating system of the tablet is of great importance. If you like Apple, choose the Ipad. But if you are not a fan of the Apple system, Windows tablets or Android tablets are great options too. Especially because Windows and Android work together very well.

Developers are constantly working to introduce the most advanced operating systems or new innovations. With the Android system on the tablet, it is important that you know that this can differ per manufacturer. Every manufacturer develops its own shell that is installed over the original Android system. This can cause mutual differences. Of course, the core of the Android operating system remains the same. It is also good to give attention to the operating system. It is important that the most recent version of the operating system is installed. The fact is that not all (Android) tablets get the latest version through an update.

A final important tip: look in advance at the online stores of the various platforms. Here you can see which applications can be downloaded. Windows has the Windows Store, iOS has the App Store and Android has Google Play. So check these stores before you buy your tablet.

2. Pay attention to the connectivity options

A big choice in different types of tablets also means different choices in connecting in to the internet. It is good to determine in advance what will be the purpose of the tablet. For example, do you travel a lot? So your goal is working on the road? Then advanced connection options are what you have to look out for. Your tablet should have at least 3G, but preferably 4G availability. The possibility to insert a SIM card is always a good solution. In this way, you are always assured of an internet connection. Only the certainty that there is always a WiFi connection nearby, can save the extra costs for this component.

In addition to internet connectivity, think about Bluetooth and GPS. Do you have many accessories that you would like to connect? Then Bluetooth is the ideal option. Furthermore, a tablet has physical connections, like USB and HDMI. If you plan to use these connections, don’t forget to check whether these are available on the tablet you want to buy.

3. Don’t buy a tablet that doesn’t suit you

It sounds so simple, but it is a mistake that has been made by many people. They look for a tablet and come home with a device that does not meet their expectations. You may be wondering: how is it possible buying the wrong tablet? It simply can happen if you have not thought well about what you are looking for in a tablet, and what you want to do with it.

Do you want to use the tablet to watch videos and checking emails? Then a simple tablet is sufficient. The specifications do not have to be of the highest level. But if you are looking for a tablet to work on for several hours, make sure that the tablet is satisfactory. The tablet must be supportive. For example, a good keyboard may not be forgotten. The tablet needs a connection for this. Or you choose a hybrid tablet that includes the keyboard. The operating system is also important when the tablet is frequently used for work. The Windows Surface Pro models are ideal. But the manufacturers of Android and Apple have also caught up in this area.

In addition to all the points mentioned, don’t forget the camera. Certainly, when there are frequent video conversations. The memory and capacity for storing these videos of course has to be sufficient.

4. A tablet to replace your computer

The development of the tablet has grown enormously in the last few years. Yet it is a big mistake when you think that a tablet can replace your desktop or laptop. A tablet is not a computer. Of course, most tablets can easily be used for an entire day. But soon you will notice that the tablets do not have all the software you need. The Windows tablet can be an exception to this. The problem with most tablets is that they do not use the full version of a program. Because it is a tablet, this is ideal. But when you use the tablet with the idea that you are going to work with a laptop, you will definitely be disappointed. And despite the fact that increasingly powerful and extensive tablets are being manufactured, the tablet cannot yet replace the computer.

Now you know which mistakes better not to make, choosing a good tablet will be easier. Don’t be guided by a cheap price, but by what is important to you. Then you will certainly be able to choose a good tablet that fits your expectations.

DNA computers are the future. Is it reality or science fiction?

Tweaks editor Computers Comments Off

About 50 years ago, can you remember what kind of computers we had? The smallest computers in the world were the size of a house. The smallest computers were very big and they consumed a lot of electricity. Of course they needed a lot of space, because of the heat they produced. A computer in those days produced way more heat, which caused problems now and then.

Newer generation computers were produced with smaller components. Like small microprocessors and smaller electronic components. This other way of producing, allowed computer to shrink in size. And this had a great consequence, as computers could grow in power. The very first microprocessors were actually built on real conventional silicon chips. And how technology changed all over the years, de microprocessors are still made with the same basic technology. That means that they still rely on the same material, silicon based. Silicon is a great material. But yet it is not the best material and certainly not the most dependable.

After years of research the best investigators have discovered a better alternative. The answer is in the believe that the secret of a super powerful computer is in the DNA. Which means that a computer grows as it calculates. This information is based on a big project from the University of Manchester. They discovered that using DNA strands for storing and calculating data, could be the answer for the future. This means that microchips who are using DNA, can solve complex problems much faster than traditional microprocessors.

So what makes DNA a better alternative than silicon microchips?

I was surprised about this new technology. You too? Then of course you want to know what makes DNA microchips so interesting. And why are they much faster than the chip that is currently available? The answer is that DNA computers can work simultaneously on two problems that are totally different. So the process can be described as searching for different information at the same time. But coming from two different ways. So that makes it a lot faster to find difficult information in a maze. Because if you can imagine that your computer is searching for one specific part of information, and when it comes to a point where it can go left or right, a traditional computer has to choose. And when the right information could not be found, it has to go back en take the other way.

Traditional computers work with bits that can have a value of 0 and 1. The DNA computer has four possibilities at the same time. It is called A, C, G and T. So it is very clear that a DNA computer can process much faster, which is very useful for complex calculations. Where a conventional computer needs many years to solve complex math problems. And now I speak about hundreds of years. A DNA based computer can solve the same complex math problem in hours.

So it is very interesting to use a DNA computer for trying to solve a problem that previously seemed insoluble.

Are there more advantages of DNA computers?

Yes, there are more. Let’s talk about storage. DNA computers can store a large capacity of data. Conventional computers with silicon processors have a maximum storage capacity. It depends on the size of the chip. But it will never be more than a few terabytes of data per chip. Of course that is a lot of data storage. But on the other hand we have the DNA chip. And one gram of DNA, could store more than 100 billion terabytes of data. During the years, the DNA microprocessors are much smaller. So you can equip an average desktop with more than one DNA microprocessor. This allows you to achieve a higher storage capacity and a higher speed. In theory you could say that, because the DNA is so small, a desktop could use more processors than all the conventional computers in the world together. So a DNA computer will perform better than the fastest supercomputer in the world, in only a fraction of the energy.

Another benefit of using DNA storage, is the stability and durability. It is proved that DNA can last for thousands of years at a temperature below freezing. The most digital data nowadays, such as SD cards of USB sticks, they will last for approx. 10 years. If they are handled with care. CDs or DVDs have a lifespan that is even shorter. They will last for two to five years with a regular use. So here we speak about complete different story, as we speak about DNA.

The development of DNA computers

When the DNS computer is so fantastic, why are we using still traditional computers? And why are we satisfied with a storage that is limited in capacity? It’s nothing more than the high costs, that is delaying the development. Even the smallest bit of information in DNA still costs a fortune. To have an idea: one megabyte of DNA stored data costs around $12,500. The good news is, that compared to previous years, the price of this technology has gone down. So the expectation is that this technology will be cheaper in the next years.

We can conclude that a DNA computer offers a great potential for the future. But there is still a lot of work to do! And even the existing computers are great to handle, the prospect is that soon we will get more efficient, super-fast DNA computers. Which has a mega storage capacity. You can imagine that this part will be very interesting for companies all over the world. Microsoft has already announced that it will start with the development of a computer based on DNA. So once the first model is fully developed it will be used for hospitals and confidential information from the police departments around the country.

I can’t deny there is also another side to this story. A computer with a DNA sounds a lot like a human being. Is this the start towards a computer that thinks like a human being? Sometime more to investigate by Tweaks2k2.