August 2017 – Page 4

Galaxy S8 battery life tips: How to control battery drain

The Galaxy S8 and S8+ are two of the best Android smartphones available, but if you’re going to get any use out of features like Bixby Voice and Samsung’s stellar camera, you’ll want to implement a few power-saving strategies.

Fortunately, Samsung bundled in a helpful power-saving mode to keep the Galaxy S8’s battery steadily pumping throughout the day. We’ll teach you how to set it up, as well as how to implement some best practices for prolonging the life of your shiny Samsung phone.

Galaxy S8

The best part is that you don’t need to download anything to improve the health of your Galaxy S8’s battery. All you have to do is read on.

Get rid of battery-sucking apps
Set up power saving mode
Get notified of bad behavior
Go low resolution
Automatic brightness isn’t always a savior
Ditch the always-on display
Ditch the Assistants, too
Keep the screen off

What to do when your laptop’s touchpad stops working

When your laptop’s touchpad stops responding to your fingers, you’ve got a problem. Have you ever tried to use a Windows PC without a mouse, touchpad, or other pointing device? It’s all but impossible.

If the problem just started, reboot your computer and see if that fixes it. (Yes, I know that’s painfully obvious, but we all sometimes overlook the obvious.) If that doesn’t work, try these solutions.

First, make sure you haven’t accidentally disabled the touchpad. In all likelihood, there’s a key combination that will toggle the touchpad on and off. It usually involves holding down the Fn key (which is probably near the lower-left corner of the keyboard) while pressing another key.

But what other key should you press? It’s probably one of the function keys (F1 through F12), although it might be something else. Examine the keyboard, paying particular attention to the little icons (usually blue) on some of the keys. Look for an icon that might suggest the touchpad.

Unfortunately, not all touchpad icons are easy to figure out. I never would have guessed the one on my old Lenovo X220. I found it by searching on the model name and number plus “disable touchpad.” The answer, by the way, was F8. I had to search the answer again for my newer Lenovo Yoga 900, where it was F6. If you can’t guess the icon, I suggest you do the same.

If that doesn’t fix the problem, check the touchpad settings. In Windows 7 or 8, go to the Start menu or the search charm and type mouse settings. Select Change mouse settings (there are other options that are very similar, so pick the one with that exact wording). In Windows 10, click the Windows key and go to Settings > Devices > Touchpad. This brings you to the Touchpad settings page, where you can confirm the touchpad is enabled and check other options.

If that doesn’t help, you may need a new driver. Go to your laptop manufacturer’s website and search for your model number and the words touchpad driver. See if there’s a driver you can download and install.

If none of these suggestions work, you’ve got a hardware problem. Assuming you’re not ready to try this sort of repair yourself, you have two options: You can send the laptop to a shop for repairs, or you can buy a small, wireless mouse and use that in its place.

Intel’s 8th-gen Core CPUs could boost laptop performance by 40 percent

Updated to add details of the rumored black Surface Book based on the 8th-generation Core chips, as well as Intel’s desktop processors.

For the first time, Intel’s upcoming 8th-generation Core CPUs will feature quad-core processors aimed at ultrabooks, offering performance as much as 40 percent faster than in the previous generation, the company said.

Intel hasn’t disclosed the prices of its four new 15-watt 8th-gen Core U-series chips, though the company revealed Monday how fast they’ll run: The slowest Core i5-8250U will run at 1.6GHz, with a boost clock of 3.4GHz; the fastest Core i7-8650U will run at 1.9GHz, boosting up to 4.2GHz.

All four U-series chips include four cores and eight threads. PCs using the new 8th-gen Core chips should begin shipping soon, Intel said, with about 80 new system designs ready to go by the 2017 holiday season.

The far more interesting story, at least for enthusiasts, is how Intel has loosened the definition of “generation,” as a slowing Moore’s Law has thrown off the company’s legendary tick-tock manufacturing process. These 8th-generation CPUs are not the upcoming Coffee Lake, as previously expected. Intel characterizes its new chips as a “Kaby Lake refresh,” referring to the current Kaby Lake chips as “prior generation” parts. Here’s another surprise: Both Coffee Lake and the upcoming 10nm Cannon Lake chips will also be part of Intel’s 8th-generation Core branding.

Confused? Let’s sum up: Intel’s 8th-generation Core chips will include three separate chip architectures and two process technologies, all under a single brand name. Whew!

A new crop of HP laptops flip or spin, and run Windows, Chrome or Android

HP announced a versatile lineup of PCs and PC-shaped things on Monday (Taipei time) at Computex, embracing the new normal in the world of PCs—which is, nothing’s normal.

hp computex primary copy

A year ago, the PC diversification drive was just getting started, but now it’s in full swing. You want a laptop that can flip over with a 360-degree display hinge? HP’s got one. What about a laptop that can split in half? HP’s got one. Or maybe it looks like a laptop, but it runs Chrome or Android—HP’s got some of those as well. It’s also got plain ol’ Windows laptops and PCs, but that’s not where the excitement is anymore.

Let’s start with the hottest trend, which is notebooks that can flip all the way over to turn into a tablet, following the lead of Lenovo’s Yoga series. HP debuted the Pavilion x360 with a full-rotation hinge at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Now it’s got more fleshed-out specs, plus a fancier version that will carry HP’s Envy moniker.

The Pavilion x360 will have a 13.3-inch touch display and your choice of graphics-oriented AMD A6, A8, or A10 CPUs, or more battery-efficient Intel Core i3 or Core i5 CPUs. Speaking of battery life, HP specs it at up to 8.25 hours with the Intel chips, but up to only 6.25 hours with the AMD chips.

The Pavilion x360’s memory will run up to 8GB, and hard-drive storage will range from 500GB to 1TB. The Pavilion x360 will weigh about 4.3 pounds and come in red or silver case colors. The AMD versions will cost $630 and be available on July 9, while the Intel-based models will cost $600 and be available July 20.

The Envy x360 will be physically bigger than its Pavilion cousin, sporting a 15.6-inch display, a heavier 5.8-pound weight, and Intel Core i3-i7 processors. It’ll be configured with up to 8GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage, including a hybrid option. Silver will be its sole case coloring. HP says the battery will last up to 7 hours. HP did not specify a ship date, but the price will be $680.

HP built several improvements into the new Split x2 hybrid, including a fanless design. Thanks to the advent of thinner hard drives, HP was also able to shift the main storage from the keyboard side to the tablet side, so users won’t be separated from their data regardless of the mode.

The Split x2 configurations will offer Intel Bay Trail and Haswell CPUs, 4GB to 8GB of RAM, and up to 500GB of hybrid storage. The 13.3-inch tablet side weighs 2.45 pounds, but the full unit with keyboard attached weighs 4.3 pounds. The tablet alone lasts 5.25 hours per HP’s spec or 7.75 hours with the keyboard (which has its own battery) attached. Colors will include white, silver, and red. The Split x2 will be available July 16th for a starting price of $600.

Less than a year after HP debuted the Chromebook 11 (with 11.6-inch display) it’s giving the line a look more similar to that of its Chromebook 14 cousins (with 14-inch display). Gone are the shiny white and classic black of the original version, designed in collaboration with Google. The new Chromebook 11 will come in Ocean Turquoise or Snow White.

The specs remain simple: a Samsung Exynos 5250 CPU, up to 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of local storage. It will weigh a pleasant 2.69 pounds, and HP says the battery will last up to 6.25 hours. HP set the price at $249, but a ship date has yet to be announced.

PC-shaped Android devices popped up at Computex in 2013, and a light trickle of models has come out since then. A recent roundup of Android AiOs shows how vendors are still experimenting with this fairly new concept.

HP introduced its Slate line of Android products last year, starting with a tablet and an All-in-One. This year, a new SlateBook delivers the Android experience in a clamshell design whose black and “sweet yellow” accents make me think it should be called SlateBee. The 14-inch Full HD touchscreen device will be driven by an Nvidia Tegra 4 chip and contain up to 2GB of RAM, and up to 64GB of storage. It will weigh a toteable 3.71 pounds. HP says the battery will last up to 9.25 hours. The new SlateBook will ship on August 6 for a starting price of $429.

I’ll give HP credit this year. It’s been playing catch-up in developing products for a new generation of users. The products it’s unveiled at Computex show that it’s assertively developing even fairly new product lines like the Slate Android devices. It hasn’t given up on its Windows business, but it’s responding to users’ restless search for more versatile form factors and tablet-like talents.

What do you think—is HP innovating, or is it straying too far from its PC roots? Let us know in the comments.

Correction: Due to erroneous press information, the price of the HP SlateBook was corrected from $399 to $429. PCWorld regrets the error.

4 ways to turn off annoying notifications on your Android phone or iPhone

So there you are, doing your best to connect with a friend over a cup of coffee, but you can’t help but notice the pulsing alert on your phone’s touchscreen. What if it’s your babysitter trying to reach you, or a nasty email from your boss?

You surreptitiously unlock your phone to see what the fuss is about—and just like that, you become one of those people who can’t keep their hands off their handsets, even when there’s a flesh-and-blood person in front of them. (Oh, and that message on the screen? It was a promo for a half-off sale. Great.)

The good news is that your Android phone or iPhone boasts a series of tools that can help you concentrate on the people who matter, rather than being distracted by random calls, messages, and alerts.

Read on for four ways to keep your eyes and hands off your phone, starting with…

Let Do Not Disturb mode screen your calls (Android and iOS)

Sure, activating Do Not Disturb mode for iOS (tap Settings > Do Not Disturb, or tap the Do Not Disturb button from the swipe-up Command Center pane) or Android (flick down with two fingertips to reveal Quick Settings, then tap the Do Not Disturb button) is a great way to keep your phone from buzzing during lunch, but you may still find yourself tempted to check your messages. After all, what if your spouse is trying to reach you—or your irate supervisor, for that matter?

Here’s a trick that’ll help keep your mind on your Caesar salad: just set Do Not Disturb to screen your calls and text messages, allowing only the most important ones through. That way, you’ll be confident that your silent Android phone or iPhone isn’t actually ringing off the hook with mission-critical calls, and more likely to pay attention during your lunchtime chat.

For Android:

Tap Settings > Sound > Do not disturb > Priority only allows, then pick some options. For example, you can set “priority only” to include incoming calls and texts from contacts, reminders, event alerts, and repeat callers. To restrict call and text alerts to your innermost circle, make sure Calls and Messages is set to Starred contacts only, then go through the Contacts app and star only those contacts who really, truly matter to you. Finally, a Repeat callers setting will allow a caller to get through if they’ve called twice within 15 minutes.
To enable Priority mode, flick down from the top of the screen to reveal Quick Settings, tap Do Not Disturb, then make sure the Priority only tab is enabled.
Finally, sit back and give your full, undivided attention to a (grateful) friend.

Note: Android’s version of Do Not Disturb boasts three different modes: Priority Only, which blocks specific alerts for apps, calls and texts; Alarms Only, which blocks all alerts except for the Android alarm clock; and Total Silence, which blocks all alerts, no matter what. While the Alarms Only and Total Silence modes will guarantee you a peaceful lunch hour, they may also block critical alerts, calls or alarms. In general, you should stick with Priority Only mode unless you’re certain you don’t want any interruptions, period.

For iOS:

Tap Settings > Do Not Disturb > Allow Calls From, then pick the Favorites setting. Once you do, calls and text messages from those on your iOS Favorites list will ring through even with Do Not Disturb mode switched on.
You can also pick a specific contact group for the Allow Calls From setting, but you can only set up contact groups using the Mac version of the Contacts app. Open the Contacts application on your Mac desktop, then click File > New Group to get started. As long as you’re syncing your contacts using iCloud, your desktop groups in Contacts will sync up with the Contacts iOS app.
You can also enable the Repeated Calls setting, which will allow urgent callers to break through Do Not Disturb mode if they call twice within three minutes.

Enable ‘VIP’ alerts for email messages

There’s little chance you’ll get through an important meeting without glancing at your iPhone or Android phone if your screen is constantly flashing with alerts for new email messages. Follow these steps to ease your email notification overload.

For iOS:

Mail’s ‘VIP’ alerts give you separate notifications for your most important email contacts, perfect for leaving you alone unless a message from a close friend or someone in upper management lands in your inbox.

Open the Mail app, back up to the main Mailboxes screen, tap the little ‘i’ next to the VIP mailbox, then tap Add VIP to add a contact to your VIP list.
Once you’ve added some names to the list, tap VIP Alerts to manage your VIP notifications. You could, for example, give messages from VIPs a special ringtone or a custom vibration when they arrive in your inbox, or allow VIP alerts—and only VIP alerts—to light up your lock screen.

For Android:

Android doesn’t have its own version of iOS’s handy VIP feature, but you can replicate it using filters in Gmail.

Turn on alerts for Gmail’s Priority Inbox—and off for all your other inboxes (Android only)

If you’re not interested in hacking iOS’s VIP alerts into your Android phone, you can take advantage of Gmail’s secret formula for determining which messages are most important to you.

Using your prior emailing habits as a guide, Gmail’s Priority Inbox sifts through your incoming messages, finds the email that you’re most likely to answer, and puts them into an “Important and unread” folder. Everything else (such as random email promos, newsletters, and other lower-priority messages) goes into the aptly-named “everything else” section of your inbox.

Once that’s done, you can set the Android version of Gmail to alert you only when new messages land in your Priority Inbox—and hopefully, you’ll feel better about leaving your silenced phone alone.

First, you’ll need to enable Gmail’s Priority Inbox feature. Open Gmail, tap the menu button in the top-left corner of the screen, tap Settings, pick a Gmail account, then tap Inbox type > Priority Inbox.
Tap Manage labels, then make sure that Priority Inbox is the only Gmail label with notifications turned on. (If you don’t see a Sound on, Notify once or similar tag next to a label, then notifications are off for that label.)

Turn off unneeded lock-screen notifications (Android & iOS)

So, you’re in a meeting, your phone is sitting dutifully—and silently—on the table in front of you, and you’re giving your colleagues your full attention. But then it happens: Your phone’s lock screen lights up, and your eyes can’t help but flick down to the display … which is nothing more than a random Facebook update.

Luckily, it’s easy to pare odwn your lock-screen notifications to an absolute minimum—or turn them off completely, even when you don’t have Do Not Disturb or Priority mode switched on.

For Android:

To keep your phone’s lock screen from lighting up when notifications come in, tap Settings > Display, then toggle off the Ambient Display setting. Or, here’s another option: Tap Settings > Sound > Do not disturb > Block visual disturbances, then enable the Block when screen is off setting. Doing so will keep alerts blocked by Do Not Disturb from lighting up your phone’s lock screen.
You can completely turn off notifications for a specific app by tapping Settings > Notifications. Tap an app, then enable the Block all setting. You can also choose to show an app’s alerts silently—but remember, even silent notifications can be tempting.
Another way to disable an app’s alerts is by long-pressing its notification when it appears. When you do, you’ll get the chance to block its alerts or show them silently.
While you’re at it, you might also want to turn off your handset’s pulsing notification light—you know, the one that’s saying “Look at me, look at me!” all the time. Go back to Settings > Notifications, tap the Settings button (the one shaped like a gear) in the top right corner of the screen, then toggle off the Pulse notification light setting.
Just below the Pulse light notification toggle is a setting that can disable all lock-screen notifications, regardless of whether Do Not Disturb is switched on. If you’re willing to forgo any and all lock-screen alerts, tap On the lock screen, then choose the Don’t show notifications at all setting.

For iOS:

To completely turn off an app’s notifications, tap Settings > Notifications, tap an app, then toggle off the Allow Notifications switch.
If you only want to disable an app’s lock-screen notifications, leave the Allow Notifications switch on but turn off the Show on Lock Screen setting.

What’s the difference between a LCD and LED screen?

When you are comparing displays for a laptop, desktop computer, or even a flat-screen television, you will often see them referred to as either LCD or LED. You may wonder what the differences between the two technologies are, and which one is better for your needs.

Truthfully, the comparison between LCD and LED displays is a bit tricky, as they can be the same thing. In fact, the terms may be somewhat interchangeable for some models. Confused? You should be.

LCD stands for liquid crystal display, which refers to tiny crystals that make up the pixels of an LCD display. The crystals don’t create light themselves, but instead they filter the light to create colors that combine to make the image on the screen. The light for the picture is actually supplied by the backlight located behind the crystals and the inverter board.

Originally, LCD displays used fluorescent lamps as backlights, which provide a fairly bright light but are prone to uneven lighting and generally use a lot of power. In many cases when someone refers to an LCD display, they are referring to a display that uses fluorescent backlighting. These displays are becoming less common.

LED displays are those that use LED (light emitting diodes) lights as a backlight. LEDs use less power than fluorescent bulbs and usually provide a brighter and more even light for the display. However, LED backlights still shine through LCDs to create the color for the display. This is where much of the confusion between the two technologies happens.

In summary; a display that is referred to as LCD could mean one that uses fluorescent OR LED backlighting, though it generally refers to those with fluorescent backlights. LED refers to a display with LED backlighting, but it is worth knowing that LED displays are still technically LCD displays as well.

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Glossy vs. Anti-Glare LCDs

There is an endless debate among technophiles when it comes to screens. Some prefer the sharp, crisp vibrancy of the glossy LCDs, where others prefer the practicality of the light diffusing matte or anti-glare LCDs. It really comes down to a matter of environment and personal preference.

Glossy monitors are exactly that – shiny, spiffy, and glossy. They display color with rich texture and are capable of sharper display than their matte counterparts, lending themselves very well to DVD playing and movie streaming, as well as gaming and overall appearance. However on the flip side of these benefits, you will have to deal with a monitor that is light reflective, which can ruin whatever you are looking at with a bright spot of light reflecting into your eye. With desktops however, this isn’t that great of concern since you can more easily position your monitor away from light sources, preventing any problems with reflection.

Glossy monitors are also infamous for holding smudges and fingerprints. Being such a smooth and highly reflective surface is basically like wearing a completely white outfit. Every smudge, nick, scratch, or whatever else will show up, so these monitors require a lot more care and attention in cleaning.

Matte screens are more suited to laptops or business machines due to their non-reflective nature. Laptops are mobile devices, always on the move with their owners, and that exposes them to a number of different lighting environments. Office machines are typically under direct lighting from above, which makes glossy screens less than ideal. In both cases, matte displays are a perfect fit. Matte screens however are by definition slightly rougher surfaces than glossy screens, which causes them to somewhat diffuse light leaving the monitor as well. This is why matte monitor displays are slightly less sharp than those on glossy monitors, and the colors less pronounced. However, it’s the kind of difference you would typically only notice if you had the two screens side by side.

When it comes down to it, the battle between glossy and matte screens is up to you. Whatever fits your personality and the type of computer you’re using is what is best. Glossy is great for rich movie and DVD viewing, but is best left to stationary machines away from light, whereas matte is great for travel and business and offers more practicality at a minimal impact on display quality.

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How to find the proper replacement LCD for your HP Laptop

Laptop computers are subject to a lot of wear and tear, especially on their moveable parts. The monitor is one of the most used and abused parts of your computer as a result of this, and also its sheer size. Fortunately, it isn’t that hard to find and replace an HP LCD monitor for your laptop.

The first thing you’ll want to do is identify your machine, with a model number if possible. Typically, this will be displayed on the underside of the laptop on a white sticker called the service tag. If you’re not sure what is what on this sticker, write it all down. The model number identifies your machine, and the product number narrows it down even more.

If you are unable to find your specific model number, you may need to remove the LCD itself and find a part number on it. To do so, look at the front of your monitor. It will either have screws or caps along the edge facing you as if you were using the machine. If it has caps these can be removed simply by popping them off with a tool. Remove the screws beneath around the perimeter of the screen. Then, take a corner of the bezel (the part of your computer case surrounding the monitor itself) and carefully remove the entire face and set aside. Now at the bottom of your laptop, you should see screws on the hinges which will also need to be removed, carefully. Once this is done you should be able to lower the monitor itself face down to the keyboard, revealing its backside, which will list its specific part number.

If you do attempt to do this at home, be sure to remove the AC adapter and the battery. Remember always, safety first. If you are not comfortable with doing this, take your machine to a local repair shop, or contact your manufacturer for further assistance.

When shopping for replacement LCDs, there are a number of specifications of which to be cognizant. First and foremost will be size. Especially when purchasing a new laptop monitor, you will be locked into a specific size, so make sure your new monitor will fit your machine properly. Aspect ratio refers to the height and width of display, for example a 16:9 would be considered a widescreen display format. Resolution is typically the gold standard of performance rating. The higher the resolution, the more pixels the monitor will display. More pixels allow for a sharper, crisper image. Most common displays run at WXGA or XGA, depending on the aspect ratio. There are many other specifications that come in to play that you may wish to discuss with a computer repair shop or retailer, but those listed above will be the most influential to the quality and function of your display.

Common solutions to internet connectivity issues

One of the most frustrating problems many users face is that random seeming event when your computer simply will not connect to the internet. You can’t tell why, there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong, but no matter what you do, your computer just cannot seem to get online. There are however, a few common culprits that can get between you and the great wide world of web, and luckily they’re pretty easy to remedy as well.

First, do a quick cable check. If you are using a desktop computer, check the cable connections from the back of your tower, to your router (if you have one), to your modem, and finally to your wall. All connections should be tight and secure. If you’re using a laptop on a wireless connection, you should still check the cables from your router, to the modem, and finally to the wall. Also, while you’re checking your modem, check its status lights. Is it sending and receiving information? If it isn’t, you may need to contact your internet service provider.

Another simple cause of connectivity issues that happens more frequently than you’d think is actually having the wireless card enabled. Most laptops will have either a button or switch right near the keyboard to toggle the wireless card on and off. Check that this is in the “on” position. If this doesn’t fix the problem, go into your computer’s device manager and check the status of the wireless card. It may not be functioning properly, or may have been disabled manually while your wireless switch remained in the “on” position.

When in doubt, restart your modem and your router. Sometimes, they just get stuck. Routers are notoriously sensitive machines, and the tiniest thing can throw them off. Usually, unplugging either of these devices for about 10 seconds and then plugging them back in gets them to refresh themselves, which in itself can sometimes fix whatever problem you may be having.

If none of these things work, contact your internet service provider. Many times their technicians will be glad to assist you in checking everything over, and they can double check and confirm the status of your internet service as well.

Should you get an extended/accidental damage warranty for your computer?

Extended warranties extend the coverage against defects and problems that a computer may experience for a longer period of time. An accidental damage warranty can cover a computer repair in situations that the standard warranty may not, such as water damage or dropping a laptop on a floor. On the surface, these warranties could save you a lot of money if you need a repair, but are they worth it? Let us look at a few of the factors to consider.

Reliability

Computers tend to be more reliable today than they were even a few years ago. As manufacturing processes improve, the chance of a major failure is less likely.

Cost

When considering whether to purchase an extended warranty or accidental coverage, weigh the cost of the warranty with the likely cost of a major repair and/or the parts needed for that repair. Then consider the likelihood of the repair being necessary. Also consider the replacement cost for a new laptop. Laptops have become increasingly less expensive, often making it cheaper to purchase a new laptop with a new warranty than to pay for a costly repair.

Insurance Coverage

In some cases, home insurance may cover the cost of some computer problems, particularly those caused by lightning damage or other factors associated with your home. Check your policy to see what may already be covered.

Saving Alternatives

You may want to consider skipping an extended warranty, but to put the same amount of money in a savings account. If a repair becomes necessary, the money in the account may be enough to cover it. If a repair is never required, you can use the money to purchase your next computer, or keep it in the savings account for future repairs.

There is no quick and easy answer as to whether or not an extended warranty will be worth the money in every situation. There are many users who have saved a lot of money by utilizing an extended warranty, but also many who paid for one and never used it. Considering the factors listed above can help you to make an informed decision based on your own personal needs.