5 smartphone habits to break right away
Tech

5 smartphone habits to break right away

Most of us can’t do without a smartphone. The gadget helps us communicate easily, find the information we’re looking for, shop for our favorite products, and so much more. On the downside, we spend hours glued to our screens. This can take a toll on our personal lives, affect physical and mental health, and even cut short the life of our devices. Here are some harmful smartphone habits to break immediately. Scrolling before bedtime Endless scrolling on social media before bedtime makes it hard to fall asleep at night, leading to restlessness and tiredness the next day. Screens emit a blue light that affects melatonin production in the brain, the hormone that controls a person’s circadian rhythm or sleep-wake cycle. Without melatonin, it can be difficult to fall or stay asleep. Experts advise keeping the phone away for at least an hour before bedtime. You can instead read a book or listen to a podcast to relax your mind.  Always keeping the phone with you If you keep your phone in your pocket, you’ll be constantly tempted to pull it out and browse. Not to mention, you’ll be on the alert for notifications. Therefore it’s best to carry it in your purse or backpack.
5 easy ways to use a smartwatch effectively
Tech

5 easy ways to use a smartwatch effectively

Gone are the days when watches were used to determine the time. Smartwatches have enabled many to wear daily schedules and lifestyles on their wrists as one tread through the day. You can perform a wide range of daily activities, from counting steps to calories, through your smartwatch. Here are some smart tips to utilize them efficiently to regulate your health parameters, reduce screen time, and facilitate convenience in your day-to-day activities. Smart features to utilize on your smartwatch Monitor sleep quality Inadequate sleep is linked with several health conditions, including heart and kidney diseases, diabetes, and stroke. Moreover, the quality of sleep matters just as much as the number of hours. Smartwatches are designed to record your sleep hours as well as their quality, including one’s rapid eye movement (REM), light sleep, and deep sleep times. Check the palpitation rate A healthy heart is the foundation for a healthy body. Smartwatches can be used to monitor one’s heart rate, maintain records, and track changes in palpitations regularly. Any discrepancies or negative trends in your heart rate can help you consult a doctor instantly and prevent potential heart diseases. “Watch” Your Step One of the most significant advantages of fitness watches is the feature of displaying the number of steps one has walked throughout the day.
What to keep in mind before buying a pair of earphones
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What to keep in mind before buying a pair of earphones

Whether you are looking for cheap earphones that you can replace every few months or investing in a good set of earphones, there are some things to keep in mind before buying a new pair. While most of us depend on advice from our peers or online portals before making a decision, there is something more important to consider: what we expect from them so that we can be clear about our purchase. Broadly, earphones can fall into three categories: In-Ear : In-ear headphones (also known as in-ear monitors) are great for people on the go as these are handy and offer excellent sound quality. Most models today feature a True Wireless System (TWS), which allows for a wire-free experience. Their size makes them convenient to carry around. On-Ear : On-ear headphones (or supra-aural headphones) are bigger but may not offer the best sound isolation due to their size. Over-Ear : Over-the-ear headphones (also called circum-aural headphones) are comfortable to wear for a long period and offer excellent sound quality. Their only drawback is that they are much larger than the other two varieties, making them heavier in weight. With in-ear headphones gaining immense popularity today, here are some things to consider before buying your next pair:
Consider these 5 factors before buying earphones
Tech

Consider these 5 factors before buying earphones

Earphones are a must-have accessory if you own a couple of smart gadgets. You can use them to listen to music, talk to friends while playing multiplayer video games, and make phone or video calls. From the type of earphone to the total cost of owning a premium accessory, there are several factors one needs to consider before purchasing. Here are a few points that will help you make an informed buying decision. Type of headphones/earphones Many bestselling brands provide different types of earphones that include in-ear, over-the-ear, and even wireless options. Over-the-ear headphones work well with the built-in active noise-canceling feature and are suitable for outdoor use. Alternatively, earbuds are designed for use with your smart gadgets to sync up wirelessly over a stable Bluetooth connection. Know that your daily usage will determine what type works best. Audio quality There are many factors that determine the audio quality of any earphone/headphone or headset. For example, over-the-ear headphones come with an electrostatic driver that produces wide undistorted sound. High-end Bose and Beats headphones also offer a clear distinction between treble and bass. Even wireless earbuds and AirPods offer support for True Wireless Stereo or TWS. But mid-range and budget earphones mostly have a dynamic or balanced armature driver that may not be so great in quality.
5 ways to use smartwatches
Tech

5 ways to use smartwatches

Smartwatches are overshadowing regular watches for good reason. These gadgets have significantly evolved in the last few years and serve as digital assistants on our wrists. Not only do they help us keep up with calls and texts, but they have also made work efficient by making it easier to take notes throughout the day. If you have a smartwatch or are planning to get one, here are 5 smart ways to use these gadgets: As a task manager Smartwatches have eliminated the need to physically cross something off your daily tasks on paper (and on your phones). With apps like Todoist or Any.do, you can check your daily to-do list or pull up essential meeting notes on your wrist. Apple watches offer iPhone business apps with task management capabilities to help you organize your day. Android watches offer similar applications to seamlessly sync your smartwatch with your phone and manage your tasks for the day. Another great application to use to organize your day, regardless of your watch’s ecosystem, is the Google Calendar. As a health data monitor Smartwatches can offer personalized healthcare data and provide insights into our well-being. With sleep and food tracking, physical activity, heart rate monitoring, and other details, smartwatches have become great tools to monitor your overall health and can also help physicians look at your daily activity.
5 smart ways to get the most out of a tablet
Tech

5 smart ways to get the most out of a tablet

We live in a world where technology evolves faster than most people ever anticipated. And among the many innovations from tech companies, the smart tablet is a versatile gadget. This device has all the features and more than a smartphone would have, and it comes with a screen big enough to serve as an ideal laptop display. But most people buy tablets without learning about their full potential. So for them, here are five ways to use these gadgets effectively. A wireless remote control If you have a computer tablet at home, you can use it as a universal wireless remote. All you need to do is download the right third-party apps that can connect to your smart devices at home. This includes the lights, fans, air conditioning, smart speakers, and more. Once you’ve completed the setup, you can seamlessly play music and switch on or turn off other appliances at home via the tablet. Some apps may also let you do this with your voice. This is especially useful when you’re on the move, as you can turn on the device much before you get home. Tablets can also be utilized to control the surveillance cameras when you’re not at home for additional peace of mind.
20 tech deals to grab this Black Friday
Tech

20 tech deals to grab this Black Friday

November is almost here, and so is the prime shopping day of the year: Black Friday. This time is when ardent shoppers will likely prepare their long list to grab as much as possible for lucrative discounts on their favorite gadgets. While Black Friday sales are notable for various attractive deals, tech deals stand out as the stalwarts of this season. This list of life-simplifying tech will guide customers through the loaded market: Best 2022 Black Friday Tech Sales Customers wishing to purchase some new gadgets, including a smartphone, a smartwatch, or a laptop but hesitating because of the high prices, should wait no more and take full advantage of Black Friday 2022. To guide them through the sea of options, here is a list of the best 2022 Black Friday tech offers: Best laptop bargains Check out these laptops on sale for Black Friday 2022: Chromebook 311 By Acer The Acer Chromebook 311 is an already economically priced yet powerful laptop running on a 2.0-GHz MediaTek MT8183 8-core CPU. The device features 4GB of RAM, 32GB of eMMC graphics, and an 11.6-inch screen. Customers must hurry to get an extra $50 off this Black Friday. Ultra Slim Notebook PC By Gateway This Gateway model, running on an AMD Ryzen 3 3250U dual-core CPU, is expected to drop in price by $250 this Black Friday.
5 mistakes to avoid when buying new computer
Tech

5 mistakes to avoid when buying new computer

The season of sales and discounts is almost here. Amidst the excitement, it is unsurprising that customers would want to purchase a new computer as the prices are expected to witness new lows. However, with so many options available, it is very much likely for the customers to get confused. The pressure of availing of the most lucrative offers may lead them to purchase the first computer they see and, thus, make the wrong purchase. Mistakes to avoid when purchasing a new computer Being aware and informed of the top mistakes shoppers make while buying a new computer can help avoid the pitfalls of shopping. Accordingly, customers need to engage in some thorough research before heading to make the purchase. The following are some significant mistakes to avoid while purchasing a new Workstation or PC: Purchasing without considering requirements Most customers are prone to make the mistake of buying computers only based on their latest features. The fact that the media have significantly hyped a particular computer does not imply that it is an excellent computer for all. It is okay to demand specific aesthetics or prioritize as much power as possible. However, a suitable computer can sufficiently cater to its owner’s needs.
10 Black Friday gaming console deals to expect in 2022
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10 Black Friday gaming console deals to expect in 2022

When comparing gaming PCs and consoles, there seems to be no end to the debate on which one is best for an authentic gaming experience. As far as the variety is concerned, consoles exhibit their excellence. From sports to action, mysteries to arcades, gaming consoles seem to have it all.With the advent of technology, gaming consoles have diversified tremendously, with PlayStation, Xbox series, and Nintendo Switch ruling the market. The options are so many that customers are bound to get confused. Besides, their confusion will likely touch the sky this Black Friday as their favorite gaming consoles are expected to be offered for some never-seen-before deals. To avoid such situations, here are the top 10 best Black Friday deals on consoles that one must try to avail of this year. However, it must be noted that the offers made on these attractive gaming consoles will be primarily determined by their demand. The longer they take to be sold, the higher the price cuts will be. So, make sure to choose accordingly. Nintendo Switch (Standard) The standard model of the Nintendo Switch allows gamers to play on television as well as on consoles with friends and family. Besides, it has a handheld mode that will enable gamers to play anywhere and everywhere, along with multiplayer gaming features.
10 Black Friday 2022 VR deals to check out
Tech

10 Black Friday 2022 VR deals to check out

On Black Friday every year, top brands like HTC and Oculus offer phenomenal discounts and offers on their virtual reality headsets. Based on the offers from the last couple of years, shoppers can expect similar deals on popular VR products. Of course, sales get bigger and better each year, so if you have been eyeing a VR headset this year, here are some exciting VR deals you can expect on November 25. Oculus Quest 2 Have you been saving money for a brand-new gaming setup? Well, you can find an offer at Newegg, which offers shoppers a chance to claim a $50 gift card when they shop for a VR headset. So, you can bag the Oculus Quest 2 at $299.99 and the 256 GB model at $399. As this offer is supposed to last for a limited period, you may have to act fast. Oculus Rift VR This ergonomic VR headset gives you access to hundreds of games in the Oculus store. As this is a new product, you cannot expect a discount of over $50 even during the Black Friday sale. If you shop for the complete system, you might be able to save more. HTC Vive Pro It is a top-of-the-line head-mounted display, which is available at an excellent price this holiday season.

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6 high dividend ETF funds you can invest in
finance

6 high dividend ETF funds you can invest in

Before you search for the best dividend exchange-traded funds (ETFs), it is recommended you understand your needs and overall investment objectives. ETFs are hybrids of mutual funds and stocks. When you invest in the ETF, you purchase shares in the fund, which buys the underlying asset. Here are six of the best high-dividend ETF funds: Vanguard High Dividend Yield (VYM) This ETF adopts the simple method of choosing stocks that have higher dividend yield when compared to other companies. This has resulted in building a diversified portfolio comprising 400 stocks with higher market capitalization. The majority of these stocks belong to the healthcare, consumer, and financial sectors. During the last decade, VYM delivered average annual returns of 12.9%. The expense ratio is the lowest in the industry at 0.06% per annum. Vanguard Dividend Appreciation (VIG) The ETF focuses on investing in companies that have a long history of increasing their dividend payouts over the years. The portfolio includes approximately 180 stocks with low yields. The ETF has earned average returns of 12.6% per year over the last 10 years. The expense ratio is 0.06%, which makes it an excellent option if you do not mind lower dividend returns currently but want to earn more in the future.
Top 5 providers for automated investments
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Top 5 providers for automated investments

Roboadvisors are gaining popularity as these investment programs offer affordable financial advice to a large number of investors. These automated advisors use an algorithm to recommend investment options that best suit your requirements. The best automated investing algorithms offer simple account setup, portfolio management, low fees, strong goal planning, and security. Here are the top five providers of automated investments. Betterment This roboadvisor is the best for delivering top-quality services. You may sync various financial accounts without investing to gain an overall picture of your investment portfolio. You may choose the pre-built Betterment portfolios or customize one to meet your needs. The algorithm gives you the flexibility to add new goals as required while monitoring your progress without any difficulties. The advisor charges between 0.25% and 0.4% management fees with no minimum account requirement. Wealthfront It is one of the largest Robo-advisors and provides goal-based investing enabling you to understand the future effects of your financial decisions. You may choose from a wide range of portfolios that comprise individual stocks to meet your financial goals. Once your portfolio accumulates USD 25,000, Wealthfront allows you to borrow against its value. The service provider also offers margin lending. The management fee for most accounts is 0.25% and you need an account minimum of USD 500.
Top 5 retirement investment funds for your portfolio
finance

Top 5 retirement investment funds for your portfolio

Most people work for decades so that they can make investments and collect sufficient funds for their retirement years. Having enough savings for the golden years is ideally the most significant goal for you as an investor, but the volatile market may make it difficult to understand which retirement funds are suitable for you. To help you out, here are the best retirement investments that you can include in your portfolio: Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund This retirement fund is created for investors who want to retire early so that they can enjoy the benefits of their investment within 15 years. However, even if you don’t want to retire that early, this fund has various offerings that make it one of the best retirement investments available in the market. As of now, this retirement fund offers a current yield of over 2%, and the expense ratio is 0.14%. Plus, Vanguard is quite a trusted name for keeping your money safe. Northern Global Tactical Asset Allocation Fund This fund offers one of the best diversifications and a lot more protection in case the fund underperforms. So, it invests in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds and aims to provide long-term capital appreciation at an expense ratio of 0.58%.
Top 5 capital providers for your business
finance

Top 5 capital providers for your business

People who wish to set up their business ventures need additional funding to get going. Many banks and financial institutions help promising businesses with the same and in this article, we would be covering guaranteed business loan providers. You can check the following list out when looking for business loan providers. Wells Fargo Wells Fargo is one of the best financial institutions when it comes to guaranteed business loan providers in the market. It offers various other financial products. It claims to be a leader when it comes to small business loans. The unsecured business loan has varied loan amounts starting from $10,000 and going up to $100,000. The term for this product is between one to five years. Additionally, you can go for other loans offered by Wells Fargo, such as the Equipment Express Loan or the Advancing Term Loan. Capital One Capital One does not only offer good deals on business credit cards, its business loan is worth considering too. If you are looking at a funding source that can help expand your business or get going with the operations, then we highly recommend you to choose the business loan offered by Capital One. Starting at a minimal amount of $10,000 and a maximum term length of 5 years, the repayment term is simple and can be done on a monthly basis.
All you need to know about home insurance policy
finance

All you need to know about home insurance policy

Buying a home comes with a lot of responsibilities. There are a lot of risks that come with owning a home like the risk of theft and property damage. Investing in the right kind of home insurance policy is important so as to be financially prepared for these risks. There are several different companies in the market that offer home insurance policies with different kinds of terms and coverages. Remember the following points before choosing a home insurance policy. Explore your options As mentioned earlier, there is a wide variety of home insurance policies available to homeowners at this time. When selecting one, it is important to consider factors like what potential risks are being covered in the policy. It is also important to consider the company’s record in your area, whether they are reliable as insurance providers, and their response time. Ask about discounts Home insurance policy in 2021 offers additional services and discounts. They may offer discounts on additional safety installment services such as installing an alarm system, smoke alarm, or better locks. There may also be certain offers for old and retired personnel as well as some discounts for policies when taken via your employer’s or organization’s reference.
5 technologies revolutionizing financial services
finance

5 technologies revolutionizing financial services

For any industry to sustain itself in today’s world, implementing digital strategies has become indispensable. This holds particularly true for the financial services industry. The good news is that digital transformation in financial services has already begun, and we’ll likely see more and more innovative technologies underpinning banking and financial institutions in the coming years. Keep reading to learn about the latest digital transformation trends in the financial services industry. Big data and artificial intelligence The combination of big data and artificial intelligence is a revolutionary digital strategy that is shaping the future of banking and financial services. The technology helps institutions process, store, and drive valuable insights from the data they gather from their customers’ activities. Big data and artificial intelligence allow institutions to create a highly personalized experience, helping businesses attract and retain customers. Blockchain Blockchain is a fairly new technology that is becoming increasingly popular in the financial services industry. With blockchain technology, all transactions are permanently stored in the blockchain network, providing the highest level of transparency and security. Nobody can tamper with these transactions, which nearly eliminates the risk of error and fraud. Besides security, the technology is being explored for use in a wide variety of banking and investment applications.