Router Purchasing Guide

Ever have a problem with your internet and think that maybe it is time for a new router? I am at my girlfriend's place for reading week and I can’t get onto the internet. My laptop is connected but the internet does not decide to work. I can restart the computer or the router and it will work again only for another device to do the same. This means you need a new router.

When looking to purchase a router you should ask yourself the following questions: how many devices do I have connected at the same time, do you play video games on the computer or game console and do I stream from the internet or Netflix. These questions are important because they depend how much you spend on the router. One thing when it comes to routers, you get what you pay for. You will not be for quality (how long the unit will last), you purchase features and what it can handle.

Below you will find a list of what to look for in a router and terms you will come across. Happy hunting.

Signs of a dying wireless router:

• When you keep unplugging and plugging it back into the power source
• Wireless devices keep disconnecting
• Everything is getting slower
• The range isn't what it used to be

Wireless Router Purchasing Guide by

Undelete Your Mistakes

Have you ever deleted a document, picture, video, song or anything else on your computer or storage device and wished you could get it back? Ever tried Recuva?

Recuva is undelete software from Piriform. They provide a free version and two separate paid versions. I love free stuff so I experimented with the free version.

In order to test this, I put some files onto a USB stick a few days ago. I deleted the files, ejected the stick and got lazy and left it in my bag. So I decided to actually try the software again, that being the day this blog is published. I added more files, deleted them and ran Recuva. Make a note that I forgot about the first 20 files I put on their a few days ago, and some from months prior (no joke I’m serious about that too). After I ran the scan I was in shock. Most of my files have been recovered. I’m talking videos, pictures, music, word documents and Photoshop files. For the most part, they reappeared. I found that this was amazing and should let you know what you need to download, Recuva.

Recuva is simple to use, take my word for it. I may be a techy but I know what is easy to use for the average Joe. Why are you still here? Shouldn’t you be making sure you have Recuva by now? Download it here. And if you do not believe me, check out this blog on undelete software with other options.

Things to know:

1. If you delete a file and want it back right away, be sure to not create new files onto the drive from which you have deleted stuff from. This lowers the recovery chance.
2. If you want to try this, do it with duplicate files.
3. This is no excuse to as why you do not have a backup hard drive for all your pictures.

The Truth on Internet Security Software

No matter what you are doing on the web you always need some type of internet security software. There are so many choices to choose from and people are upset with paying that yearly subscription for three computers. Technology is growing rapidly today and some people don’t have just computers; tablets, macs, and smartphones are used for all sorts online activities. Let’s be honest, in this topic, you get what you pay for.

Some things that are free are your best friends, antivirus/security software is not that cut and dry. There's the free stuff, where you don’t get internet security protection and then there are the paid ones where you get the option to have internet security for up to five devices. When looking at this you need to understand a few things: all free software protect you from viruses and the majority do not protect you from the major threats.

I urge all my friends (this includes you), to get Norton 360 or Norton 360 Multidevice. Multidevice allows you for up to five devices for up to one year. It is the best software I have ever used and do not regret it. It has made some major improvements since 2008 and is my choice and recommendations without a doubt. Best protection from security threats such as phising (false web pages), banking protection and spyware threats. If you must go with the free antivirus programs that do not protect you from the security threats, read up here on some reviews. But honestly, go with Norton 360. It tunes up your computer, has real-time antivirus and internet security protection and is the best I have ever used… EVER!

Photoshop 101

Adobe Photoshop CS5 Logo

Adobe Photoshop is one of the most frustrating programs that people want to use. It is also the best photo editing software you can use, in my opinion. I have been using Photoshop since grade 10 in my Communications Technology class at St. Paul Secondary School in Niagara Falls. Here I was taught all I really know about the program. It was a tough start, but I got through it. This post is to make that tough start easier. This cheat sheet will explain what tools do and what you would use them for.

However, as I get more and more excited about writing my blog, I find new websites that help me do my job a lot easier. In my mini tablet blog, I mentioned a website called Make Use Of. This site is amazing because it also gives you a second opinion on reviews and many different cheat sheets for all kinds of software. What I am going to do is provide you with the same concept. Here we have the explanation to the cheat sheet. The PDF below will explain the tools shown in the cheat sheet. If you are more interested in the features of Photoshop CS6, click on this guide. 

Photoshop 101 Basic Tools.pdf by

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Documents can be a pain when it comes to pasting images. Think about having a signature on an electronic resume or a title for your blog. Websites do not always give you the best tools and sometimes you have to do things on your own. This is where software comes into play.

I use adobe Photoshop for these tasks, but I suggest beginners use adobe Photoshop Elements. Elements can run you about $129 CDN but it is about $670 cheaper than Photoshop. Both are Mac and PC compatibility (please check system requirements before purchasing the product to check if your computer is compatible). Before starting the tutorial, you should know the different file types. The one we will be focusing on is Portable Network Graphics (PNG or png).

This file type allows you to save an edited image with a transparent background. I find PNG files to have higher quality than JPEG but lower compatibility with some devices. The following steps are what I took to get my friend Erin’s blog title up and running without a background. Check out her blog here.

Thanks Linda for the guest blog post. If you, or anyone reading this, needs technology advice, tutorial or faces issues, please visit www.eztechspot.blogspot.ca or email me at jordanammendolia@gmail.com.

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