Innovative Phone Charging Solutions

Smartphones are getting better and better all the time, but with this increase in power comes a huge increase in power consumption. As a result, it’s rare that a modern smartphone will last more than a day through average use. Play some games and surf the web for a couple of hours, and it’s unlikely that it will even last that long. For this reason, we’re finding more and more that our smartphones are likely to run out of power in really awkward places when there’s no power outlet available. So what are the best ways of avoiding running out of juice without restricting usage?

• One of the very best ways of keeping your phone topped up is by carrying your laptop around with you. You can think of it as a giant extra battery for your phone. It might be a little bulky, but if you need the power, you need the power. A lot of netbooks are very small anyway, so they aren’t too bad to keep around when you’re on the go.
• Solar powered chargers are one of the smartest new gadgets that will keep your battery going, using the suns’ light to recharge. They do have their downsides of course. When the weather isn’t too great, the power supply won’t be either, so you could be left in exactly the same situation. Similarly, you might need power while you’re indoors, which a solar charger simply can’t give you. Of course, if you’re inside, you are more likely to have access to a power outlet of some kind, whether that is a socket or USB port.
• Wind-up chargers are great in an emergency, because you don’t need anything but yourself to power them. Just wind up, plug in and you’ve got power. The only problem is that you only really get about as much phone time as you do wind time, so forget restoring a dead phone to full charge.
• Your best bet is probably one of the battery/case crossovers. These are specially made cases which have an integrated battery. The case then clips on to the phone as you’d expect, but it also goes into the charging port, so that you’ve got a whole extra reserve of power. They will add some size and weight to the phone, but they are a really good way of making sure that you have enough power to keep you going.
• In addition to the cases, you can also get micro USB chargers from Energenie that attach to the back of any compatible phone. You charge this unit beforehand, and then you can easily attach or detach it whenever you need. It won’t fit quite as neatly as a battery case, but it is more flexible in that you don’t always need it to be plugged in, it’s quick to use, and you can use it with any smartphone that uses a micro USB to charge from. Most Android smartphones use this method of charging.

Computer Hardware and Literature

Novelists have always had a love/hate relationship with computer hardware.

Dysfunctional embrace

Author Daniel Akst wrote in the New York Times that writers and computers are, “locked in such an enduringly dysfunctional embrace…We both rely heavily on memory, for instance. We are both calculating, complex and crash-prone.”

Comparing the mind of an author to computer hardware doesn’t sound so far fetched. It is comprised of complex parts like those that can be found at SCH Trade and other specialists.

Computer hardware inspires authors

And the similarities don’t just end there. Computer hardware has, since it was first introduced to civilization, inspired authors. Science fiction writers in particular have often featured malfunctioning computer hardware in their stories. At first, perhaps the idea that computer hardware would colonize and take over human beings was born from a fear of what computers could do. Since computer hardware was used to construct robots, and especially since the arrival of Artificial Intelligence, a latent fear of being taken over by robotic creatures can be seen in science fiction.

Understanding computer hardware

It is unfortunate then that many artists and authors are notoriously bad at understanding the computer hardware they so depend upon. What is even more unfortunate for authors is that computers themselves have started writing – without the need of writers. Selmer Bringsjord, a computer scientist who knows a thing or two about computer hardware along with I.B.M. researcher David A Ferrucci, developed a computer programme known as Brutus.1 that can write bursts of fiction. Another programme that can run on computer hardware is the StoryBook, also designed by computer scientists. But the human authors aren’t too worried about computer hardware writing the Great American Novel. Perhaps because computer hardware can’t know what life experience or emotions are all about – yet!

Computers and Generation X

Computer hardware and software continues to inspire authors. In the early 1990s Generation X hit the literary world and catapulted author Douglas Coupland into cult status. His novel Microserfs looked at the world of Silicon Valley and the peculiar techno-talk of people who deal with computer hardware for a living. The Bill Gates inspired novel has now taken an iconic place in literature.

Hackers and cyberpunks

The 1990s saw a deluge of fiction inspired by computer hardware and software, including the anthology, Hackers. Cyberpunk writers such as William Ford Gibson told the story of hackers who specialized in computer hardware and software, profiling a new way of committing crime. Identity theft using computer hardware and software became another on-going theme, as well as hacking computer hardware to uncover secrets and covert or corrupt information.

Dysfunctional embrace

How computer hardware and software will impact on future authors isn’t known. One thing is for sure though; computers will continue to influence writers who will inevitably continue to be locked in their enduringly dysfunctional embrace.

Trend of the Futuristic Home Cinema and TV Unit

Big 3D TVs are the latest craze for homeowners, and people are decking out their living rooms with expensive equipment as the home cinema and futuristic TV unit trend continues to grow.

There are few people who don’t have a big flat screen super-modern television these days, but the big square box which we all seem to have some sort of an addiction to isn’t just about catching the latest on Eastenders and watching celebrities trip over on the red carpet. Television is about world news, current affairs, modern culture and education. This is why your choice in TV and TV unit is extremely important. 3D TVs have literally given a whole new dimension to watching the programmes you love.

For parents, couples, young professionals, students and just about everyone, the television provides us with so much – a distraction for the kids when you’re cooking dinner, a daytime cure for boredom, a relaxing retreat away from the stresses of work in the evening, and an insight into what’s happening in your local area or the rest of the world. The television generation is what fuels the futuristic home cinema and TV unit trend in 2012.

A Stylish TV Unit 

So why is the TV unit so important? Not only is it the component which the digital box sits on, but it is a piece of furniture in your living room. Today’s living rooms, however big or small, are being decked out in the latest electronic equipment, modern gadgets and massive cinema screens. The only way to compliment such a technological space is to make the interior design as futuristic as possible. Here are some ways to make your home cinema work with your TV unit:

• Choose a TV unit which blends with the style/colour/shape of your screen, making them appear as one entity.
• Find a TV stand with ample storage so you can tidy away all the miscellaneous items which do not marry up to your interior design concept.
• Get a feature TV unit and turn it into a focal point in the room.

How to Spot that Super Stylish Futuristic TV Unit

So you’ve got your cheapest 3D TV from 3DGB, complete with surround sound and a million other fancy gadgets. How can you spot that ultra-modern TV unit which can turn your living room into a coordinated tech heaven? Look out for the following trends in TV stands:

• Curved shapes – TV stands with curvatures and smooth contours can seem extremely futuristic and artistic.
• Metals – choose shiny chrome or brushed metals for that contemporary effect.
• Bold colours – pick bold and glossy colours to create a focal point in the room.

Computer Hardware – Build your own PC

Understanding computer hardware

It seems there has never been a more important time to understand computer hardware than now. The western world already revolves around computers and no doubt, technology will become more and more advanced. If you don’t want to be left behind in the digital age, learning to build you own PC can be a great way to understand more about how computer hardware works.

Buying computer hardware

Never before has it been easier to build your own PC, all it needs is the right computer hardware and guidelines you can find easily on the internet. Building your own computer not only makes you familiar with computer hardware and systems, it helps you understand computers in general. It’s true that computers are cheaper now than ever, and it might be tempting to buy one off the shelf, but if you are a real PC enthusiast or want to understand your PC better, than buying the components and computer hardware can be a more fulfilling option. It’s true you can buy computers off the shelf cheaper than you can build them, but there can be differences in the quality of the computer hardware used that reflects the lower price. Of course if time is money to you, building your own computer isn’t an option.

Benefits of building a PC

If you are building your own PC you can ensure you only use high quality computer hardware, but it’s also true many off the shelf computers are high quality. But building your own computer means you don’t have to use generic computer hardware. You can hand pick the components and ensure you get good quality computer hardware that will perform.

Community of enthusiasts

If you are a DIY computer builder, you can find loads of information on the internet for assistance, guidelines and support. You needn’t feel intimidated by computer hardware, and there are a lot of computer enthusiasts out there who can offer advice.

When it comes to warranties, many of the computer hardware components you buy will come with their own warranties if you buy a good brand name.

Computer hardware and software

The benefit of building your own computer means you can decide what software your computer hardware will run and set it up the way you want to set it up. One of the benefits of learning how computer hardware works means you can also upgrade your PC as and when you need to rather than waiting for a shop-bought PC to go out of date.

Some of the computer hardware you will need to get you started includes:

• A PC Case
• Floppy Disk Drive and CD-ROM Drive
• Hard Drive
• Power supply
• Memory modules
• Processor and Processor cooling fan
• Motherboard
• Keyboard and mouse

http://www.pcmag.com/

Computer hardware for Creative Types

If you are an artist, designer or into visual graphics, than make sure you buy the right computer hardware.

Computer hardware has evolved

Computer hardware has evolved so much that it can run some outstanding software. Of course, buying a computer depends on what you want to achieve. If you are more of a words-person or just want to use Microsoft software on your hardware than there is some great straight forward computer hardware available. But if you are looking to direct your own movie, or you are a professional photographer, Apple hardware has some great packages available.

Apple hardware and software

On an Apple, computer hardware and software work together in a user friendly way. They pride themselves on being simple and un-geeky to use. And if you are a visually creative type, Macs are traditionally used thanks to the suite of software the hardware supports.

Computer hardware for creative projects

One of the reasons Macs are so desirable for creative-types is the fact you can produce amazing things and can transform photos, music and video into creative projects. Macs allow even those who don’t know a thing about computer hardware to make their own high-quality websites, photo books, DVDs, songs, slideshows, CDs, calendars, cards, podcasts and just about any other audio/visual item you could think of.

Making cool stuff

Computer hardware on many models and designs now lets you make amazing stuff on your pc or Apple. iLife is a suite of software that Apple computer hardware supports. Things like producing DVD’s, creating your own books, blogs or even make your own music are things you can do with any software, but if you are buying computer hardware primarily for visual and media needs, the iLife software works hand in hand. You can lift a photo from your photo album and burn it onto a DVD or add it to a blog easily and simply.

Create amazing work

Whether you buy a PC or an Apple, computer hardware has evolved so much today that you can be the author of your own art and create amazing work independently in your own front room.

Ultimate democratic art form

In fact, although computer hardware is the domain of the scientists, boffins and geeks, thanks to them anybody can access hardware to run software that can help them create their own movies, write blogs, record podcasts and publish their work online for the world to enjoy. Many blogs have already taken the publishing world by storm after being picked up by agents and turned into bestselling books. With the help of the right computer hardware, the world of creativity has never been so democratic and accessible to all. Contact SOHO IT London for more solutions.

Computer hardware for Creative Types

Computer hardware has evolved

Computer hardware has evolved so much that it can run some outstanding software. Of course, buying a computer depends on what you want to achieve. If you are more of a words-person or just want to use Microsoft software on your hardware than there is some great straight forward computer hardware available. But if you are looking to direct your own movie, or you are a professional photographer, Apple hardware has some great packages available.

Apple hardware and software

On an Apple, computer hardware and software work together in a user friendly way. They pride themselves on being simple and un-geeky to use. And if you are a visually creative type, Macs are traditionally used thanks to the suite of software the hardware supports.

Computer hardware for creative projects

One of the reasons Macs are so desirable for creative-types is the fact you can produce amazing things and can transform photos, music and video into creative projects. Macs allow even those who don’t know a thing about computer hardware to make their own high-quality websites, photo books, DVDs, songs, slideshows, CDs, calendars, cards, podcasts and just about any other audio/visual item you could think of.

Making cool stuff

Computer hardware on many models and designs now lets you make amazing stuff on your pc or Apple. iLife is a suite of software that Apple computer hardware supports. Things like producing DVD’s, creating your own books, blogs or even make your own music are things you can do with any software, but if you are buying computer hardware primarily for visual and media needs, the iLife software works hand in hand. You can lift a photo from your photo album and burn it onto a DVD or add it to a blog easily and simply.

Create amazing work

Whether you buy a PC or an Apple, computer hardware has evolved so much today that you can be the author of your own art and create amazing work independently in your own front room.

Ultimate democratic art form

In fact, although computer hardware is the domain of the scientists, boffins and geeks, thanks to them anybody can access hardware to run software that can help them create their own movies, write blogs, record podcasts and publish their work online for the world to enjoy. Many blogs have already taken the publishing world by storm after being picked up by agents and turned into bestselling books. With the help of the right computer hardware, the world of creativity has never been so democratic and accessible to all. http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/pc

Computer Hardware – a History

Computer Hardware – a History

The dictionary defines ‘computer’ as any programmable electronic device that can store, retrieve, and process data.

Computer hardware evolved as data storage, calculation and data processing became important elements in work and life. In fact, the earliest computer hardware is thought to be record keeping aids such as clay shapes that represented items in the real world – the early mechanics of merchants and accountants of the past. From the abacus and the slide rule came analogue and later, the electronic computer hardware known today.

A timeline of the history of computer hardware:

• 1632 the first mechanical calculator was built by Wilhelm Schickard. It used cogs and gears and became the predecessor for computer hardware.
• 1801 punched card technology began and by 1890 sorting machines were handling data, the first computer hardware and installations used punched cards until the 1970s.
• 1820, Charles Xavier Thomas created the first mass-produced calculator.
• 1835, Charles Babbage described his analytical engine, which was the layout of a general-purpose programmable computer.
• 1909, Percy Ludgate designed a programmable mechanical computer.
• 1914, a central component in computer hardware – the binary numeral system- was described by Leibniz.
• 1930s, desktop mechanical calculators, cash registers and accounting machines were introduced.
• By the 1960s, calculators advanced with integrated circuits and microprocessors.
• Digital computer hardware replaced analogue computers.

Digital computer hardware

The era of the computer as we know it today began with developments during the Second World War as researchers and scientists were spurred on by the military.

1960s and beyond

‘Third generation’ computer hardware took off post 1960 thanks to the invention of the integrated circuit or microchip. This led to the microprocessor which in turn led to the microcomputer – computer hardware that could be owned by individuals and small businesses. Steve Wozniak co-founded Apple Computer and is credited with developing the first mass market computer, although the KIM-1 and Altair 8800 came first.

Evolution in computer hardware

After the 1970s the personal computer and evolution in computer hardware exploded across the western world. Microsoft, Apple and many other PC companies fuelled the market and today, these companies are still striving to reduce the size and price of computer hardware while improving its capacity enabling legal case management software and more to be available.