All the kids are home from school, your parents are coming to visit and you’re trying to be productive (or maybe you just want to watch soap cutting videos on Instagram) but the internet doesn’t seem to want to budge. You’re experiencing slow speeds. There are just too many devices running at once and they’re eating […]
Summer Slow Down: Combating Slow Speeds
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Comparing Smart-Home Devices
The next wave of tech is upon us. Smart-home devices are riding a huge wave of popularity. Over the past few years more than 20 million have been sold, the vast majority of those coming from Amazon. But there’s there are several companies making these smart-home devices, all at different price points and doing different […]
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Essential Tech Accessories for Back-to-School
We all know retailers are notorious for putting out seasonal items way too early. So when I walked into my neighborhood grocery store earlier this week and saw the back-to-school aisle set up, I wrote it off at first, but then I really thought about it. Back-to-school really is just around the corner and for […]
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Back-to-School Essentials for College Freshmen Part 1
Back-to-school has changed a lot over the past few years, especially for college students. Gone are the days of notepads and pencils, now is the time of tablets and styluses. Incoming freshmen and their parents will soon be flocking to the stores for Tax-free weekend to stock up on all the back-to-school necessities (and probably […]
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Back-to-School Essentials for College Freshmen Part 2
Having the right dorm room setup is instrumental in having a good year, especially the first year away from home. Part one of our back-to-school essentials post provided things we think your student needs to succeed in the classroom, this post will outline some things we think will help your student thrive in their dorm […]
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Protecting Your Privacy from Your Apps
After reading an article on The Guardian’s site about Facebook’s patent for technology that would allow your phone to listen to what you’re watching on TV, I was curious about app settings and privacy. There are plenty of conspiracy theories about what devices may be listening to you or watching you. I used to work […]
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Why the Google Suite Should be a Part of your Daily Life
Google has provided us with some of the best cloud-based apps on the market and almost all of them are free. The G-suite is something I utilize every day in various forms and since its back-to-school time, I wanted to share some ways you may be able to save some money by using the great […]
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Know What Mail is Headed Your Way with Informed Delivery
The United States Postal Service has launched a new service called Informed Delivery. This service aims to let customers know when mail or packages are on their way and set to be delivered. Much like a tracking number that you get when you order something from Amazon (or really any shipment) informed delivery will let you […]
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Is it Time for a Tune-up?
One of the things that you may notice on our website when you read about our services is “tune-up”, it’s all over the place, but understanding what it means could help you protect your computer. The biggest sign that your computer may need a tune-up would be poor performance. This could include your computer starting […]
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How to Tell Legitimate Tech Support Companies from Scams
With so much of our day to day lives centering around computers and other electronic gadgets, eventually, the need for tech-support is going to arise. But how do you know whether the company you use is going to fix your devices or install malicious programs and steal your personal information? Tech support scams are a […]
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Wi-Fi home security, things you can do with a home network.
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DoS and DDoS attacks
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How to Combat Slow Computer Speeds
All the kids are home from school, your parents are coming to visit, and you’re trying to be productive, but the internet doesn’t seem to want to budge. You’re experiencing slow computer speeds. There are just too many devices running at once, and they’re eating up all your bandwidth. Even though you might have your provider’s best […]
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Comparing Smart-Home Devices
The next wave of tech is upon us. Smart-home devices are riding a huge wave of popularity. Over the past few years more than 20 million have been sold, the vast majority of those coming from Amazon. But there’s there are several companies making these smart-home devices, all at different price points and doing different […]
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Remote Computer Support Isn’t the Enemy
When people talk about tech support scams one of the things that always seems to come up is remote access to a computer. Most people say “never let someone have remote access” but remote computer support is a growing and viable solution to the busy lives most people lead and revolve more and more around […]
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You Need Antivirus Software for Your Security
Installing an antivirus software is one of the basic steps after buying and setting up a new computer. In fact, antivirus software is such a necessity that most new computers come with Windows Defender or a free trial of Norton already installed. But picking the right antivirus software to protect your computer long-term makes a huge […]
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Buying A New Computer Doesn’t Have To Be Scary
Knowing where to start when buying a new computer can feel overwhelming. You have a list of things you need and a list of things you’d like, but how do you make sure you’re not paying for things you’ll never use? Here are some helpful tips for buying a new computer. Hard Drive Space Is […]
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Back-to-School Essentials for College Freshmen Part 2
Having the right dorm room setup is instrumental in having a good year, especially the first year away from home. Part one of our back-to-school essentials post provided things we think your student needs to succeed in the classroom, this post will outline some things we think will help your student thrive in their dorm room!
Desktop Computer
At this point, you’re probably thinking, “well she told us to buy a laptop in the last post so why do I need to buy a desktop?” Here’s the thing, both have their pros and cons and they’re both big investments that could help for back-to-school. According to our special contributor, Chris, “I think desktops typically have a longer life and are easier to upgrade the internal parts.” It’s all preference!
Bluetooth Speaker
Listening to (loud) music is part of the college experience. It’s easier than ever to get a great sound at a reasonable price but technology has come such a long way that you can add durable to that description as well. Our recommendation for the perfect Bluetooth speaker for back-to-school is the Logitech Wonderboom portable speaker.
This little guy (about the size of a coke can) has a well thought out design, it’s waterproof (great for the pool), it boasts great sound, comes in a variety of colors, is connectable with other devices (more speakers), and if you don’t want to buy new Amazon sells them refurbished as well.
“The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom speaker has great sound quality, it can pair with a second speaker so you can put one on each side of the room. I took mine to the beach, and threw it down in the sand while my son and I were playing, and listened to some tunes. When we got done, I rinsed it off in the water and it still works perfectly.”
If you’re not a fan of the Wonderboom, look around and find a Bluetooth speaker that’s right for your student. They’ll thank you for being able to have their music on the go!
Smart TV
This is one of the things on this list that might be a big investment on top of a very expensive time. Smart TVs are great because they give you access to broadcast channels but also to most streaming apps. Many people are making the shift away from cable service to streaming in an effort to save some money so the Smart TV is a great option for that. You can pick up some reasonably priced sets at places like Walmart, Target, and Amazon.
If the Smart TV is out of your back-to-school budget, we have two great less expensive alternatives to consider:
Chromecast/ Firestick
By now most people are familiar with some form of these little guys. They plug into your TV via HDMI and into a power outlet. They run off wifi and allow you to stream directly to your set. If your student already has a TV that they’re taking with them buying one of these little guys will allow them to watch their favorite shows and movies from a variety of service right on their TV.
Chromecast vs. Firestick is really just a matter of preference, Chris prefers the Chromecast:
“I like the Chromecast because it works with almost every streaming service. HBO Go/Now, Netflix, Hulu, Watch ESPN, etc. It doesn’t work with Prime Video because Amazon has exclusivity on it with their Fire Stick.” For prime video, you’ll have to go with a Firestick.
Portable projectors
Our second choice for the Smart TV workaround is portable (always a plus) projectors. With the projector, you will lose picture quality but you’ll gain convenience. Make sure you get one that’s compatible with your student’s phone and/or computer. The great thing about projectors is they can go anywhere so as long as there is a surface to project onto you can watch whatever you want. Pair these with the portable speakers and your student has the makings of a movie theater experience.
Check out our other back-to-school posts: part one of this post, classroom essentials, and our tech accessories post.
Remember we’re here 24/7 for all your tech needs and we’re always 100% U.S. based. Give us a call at 844-417-8776 or chat with us at OneSupport.com/connect, we’re always just a call or a click away.
The post Back-to-School Essentials for College Freshmen Part 2 appeared first on Computer Tech Support by OneSupport.
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Protect Your Privacy from Your Apps
After reading an article about privacy concerns with TVs and smartphones about Facebook’s patent for technology that would allow your phone to listen to what you’re watching on TV, I was curious about app settings and privacy. It is up to you to protect your privacy.
There are plenty of conspiracy theories about what devices may be listening to you or watching you. I used to work with a guy who was convinced that people were spying on him through the webcams on our computers, so he would put a sticky note over the camera. After a few weeks, there were sticky notes covering the cameras on a number of computers in the office. Unfortunately, sticky notes are not going to protect your privacy. 
How to Protect Your Privacy
Chances are you’ve already heard most of the theories about what the devices are doing, but maybe you’re unsure of the steps you can take to help protect your privacy. It is possible to change the access that most of your apps have, or at least limit them.
Check the permissions on your apps. A lot of apps will ask for permissions when you install or open them for the first time. Some will state that by using them you agree to the terms of service. Google, for example, is able to track your location. Wired has an article about how to protect your privacy and change these settings. Facebook is also able to track your location for ad targeting. This can be turned off by going into the app’s settings and turning off location history.
A lot of apps can track location or store data from certain parts of your phone. You can turn off your phone’s location in your phone settings.
This will not affect the ability of emergency services to see your location, but this may make it much harder to use GPS. You can go into your app settings on your phone one by one and see what permissions your apps have, and change the settings or even remove apps.
Call OneSupport for Your Tech Security Needs
If you need help with this, give OneSupport a call at 844-818-3415 or chat with us at OneSupport.com/connect. Let one of the technicians make sure you are doing what’s needed to protect your privacy.
The post Protect Your Privacy from Your Apps appeared first on Computer Tech Support by OneSupport.
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Google’s G Suite Is Free and Can Help You
Google has provided us with some of the best cloud-based apps on the market, and almost all of them are free. The G Suite is something I utilize every day in various forms. Since it’s back-to-school time, I wanted to share some ways you may be able to save money by using the great tools that Google has to offer.
Google Docs is a Word Processing App
The first, and most useful to me, is Google Docs. Docs is Google’s version of a trimmed down Microsoft Word where all of your documents are stored online in Google Drive and may be downloaded to your computer. When I’m not writing for OneSupport or raising kids, I’m a full-time student, and Docs makes my life so much easier. I can type up whatever I need, whenever I need to, and as long as I can get online, I can do it pretty much anywhere. The app is available in the App Store and the Play Store.
Google Drive Helps You on the Go![g suite]()
When taking your Docs on the go, you’ll want to use Google Drive with it. While you can download the documents that you create, Drive will give you the freedom to securely store and access your documents online at any time. I can create something on my personal computer and access it from any computer, phone, or tablet almost anywhere in the world. For me, this means being able to pull up my portfolio whenever the need should arise, and then I can share my documents.
Every part of the G Suite has a share option, or you can share directly from the Drive. The great thing about the share is that you can share as view only or by allowing the other party to comment or edit what you share. This makes collaboration quick and easy. With Drive, you get 15GB of space completely free. Simply create a free Gmail address. Should you need more storage, there’s a monthly fee, but it is reasonably priced.
Google Sheets, Calendar, and News
While Docs and Drive might get the most use, there are quite a few other programs in the Google suite. “Sheets” lets you create spreadsheets. Slides lets you create slideshows (think PowerPoint). Then there are Calendar and News.
The G Suite is Free
All of the programs that make up the G Suite have a free app that can be downloaded to phones and tablets creating a seamless transition from one device to another. Explore the full G Suite today for free by logging into your Gmail account. If you aren’t using a Gmail account, sign up for a free one today. You’ll have easy access from Gmail and new tabs in Chrome.
Call 844-818-3415 Whenever You Need Technical Help
If you need any help with G Suite, OneSupport is open 24/7, and the company provides technical support for software and hardware of all types. Please call 844-818-3415 toll-free, or chat with a technician today!
The post Google’s G Suite Is Free and Can Help You appeared first on Computer Tech Support by OneSupport.
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