you might bring your smarthome outdoors in some fun and useful ways. Outdoor smart plugs come in several varieties, whether that meansZ-wave, Homekit, or Wi-Fi. The thing to pay attention to is whether the plug has one outlet or two. If it has two, you will always want to double check whether both are smart. With some outdoor outlets, the second port is passthrough only. You’ll turn off the unit by turning off the outlet....
All you needed to know about them was 3.0 was faster than 2.0. It was simple and straightforward. But everything changed with USB 3.1. Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek USB 3.0 was retroactively renamed “USB 3.1 Gen 1.” To further complicate things, the transfer speeds themselves received names. USB 3.1 Gen 2 is capable of 10 Gbps transfer speedsthat’s called SuperSpeed+. Jason Montoya / How-To Geek Technically, it accomplishes this by using 128b/132b encoding in a full-duplex communications mode....
Usually, IP assignment is automated, but if you need static IPs, familiarity with DHCP is essential. DHCP Can Handle IP Assignments Every equipment that connects to a internet needsan IP address. DHCP, in part, automates this process, which makes connecting devices to the data pipe far easier. DHCP servers or routers handle this process based on a set of defined rules. The process is pretty straight forward. When a client (a computer,IOT machine, tablet, cell phone, etc....
Related Quick Links SD cards are about to get bigger and faster. The new SD Express standard will increase the maximum capacity and speed significantly. But manufacturers are already pushing the limit of the current standards. The theoretical limit for SDXC, for instance, is 2 TB. In theory, this should contribute to better battery life on mobile products, how much though is unclear. Manufacturers can use what they already know from creating solid state drives....
With theslmgrcommand, it’s possible to deactivate your old PC and then activate a new one. Deactivate an Old PC Instead of Buying a New License Windows licenses are expensive. And it’s not a good idea tobuy cheap keys from sketchy websites. Theslmgr commandmakes this reasonably straightforward, but you’ll want to keep in mind a few limitations. Otherwise, you’ll have to take some extra steps. If you have a product box or digital receipt, grab it from there....
But not all smarthomes are made equal, and not all are worth your consideration. Here’s a few to skip. Some smart devices useZ-Wave, some Zigbee, and others use eitherBluetoothorWi-Fi. Right now smart hubs are one way to fulfill that role. WinkandSmartThingsare well known smart hubs, but there are numerous other options with varying features. While some of these alternatives may be fine, others you shouldn’t put into your home. Iris hubs will not work after March 31st, 2019....
Smarthome hubs did the best job of connecting everything from Wi-Fi outlets to Z-wave smart locks. They introducedroutines,automation, and a handy dashboard to control everything in one dedicated place. Devices made by different manufacturers could work in tandem when connected to a hub. Smarthome hubs also madeZ-wave and Zigbeedevices truly smart. Without one, you couldn’t control a smart lock remotely, and managing codes was far more difficult. Hubs Do Have Downsides Unfortunately, the smarthome hub business hasn’t been particularly stable....
Quick Links Microsoft offers desktop and server versions of Windows. At first glance Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 look similar, but each has different uses. Windows 10 excels at everyday use, while Windows Server manages many computers, files, and services. They can have the same desktop, same start button, and even the same task view button. They use the same kernel and can feasibly execute the same software. you’re free to, for instance, install Google Chrome or Microsoft Office on both....
But, for all their improvements, one thing holds them back: They don’t understand you. They rely too much on specific voice commands. Speech Recognition is Just a Magic Trick Voice assistants don’t understand you. Not really, anyway. If it finds an exact match, then it follows a set of instructions. It’s little more than sleight of hand magic to trick you into thinking it understands. It isn’t hard to trip up voice assistants either....
Usually, the problem is you. you’re able to solve some of this by setting up groups. But it also helps if you follow some basic rules when naming your smart devices. You’ll accomplish more with fewer words, and you’ll have less to remember. One good strategy is to name your groups after the room in which they’re located. The exception is for groups of things not tied to a specific room....
Related Quick Links Congratulations, you have a new Google Home or Amazon Echo rig! The good news is, there are easy solutions to try. Whether you have a newGoogle Homeor newAmazon Echodevice, setup should be easy. Unfortunately, smartphones are aggressive about maintaining a good data pipe connection. To avoid this, before you begin the setup process turn onairplane modein your phone’s controls. Then turn on Wi-Fi (which airplane mode just turned off)....
Can you unlock an electric smart lock? Will all your smart lights come on at 3 a.m. when the power returns? And what about your garage door. However, any remote capabilities that rely on the internet or a connected hub will not work. Batteries dying won’t be a concern if your smart lock includes a keyhole. They won’t do much of anything until you get power back, which is no surprise....
Related Quick Links Printer ink is expensive. But HP makes you count pages, and I’d rather print as much as I want. So I purchased a new inkjet printer on the promise of HP’s easy-to-use ink subscription service. Now, years later, I’ve realized there was one other price of admission. The ink they’ve sent me isn’t mine; it’s theirs. I have to buy new ink to replace the ink that is already in my house....
