General

iOttie just released its new iON Wireless Fast Charging Stand. It is currently available from Amazon for $44.95, but as of press time, the stock is dwindling. You may still be able to purchase it by the time you read this, though, so definitely check it out if you’re interested.

This device, unlike some charging pads and stands, looks as good as it performs. The base is built to stay balanced and features anti-slip material for extra stability. There are three fabric colors, available in Ash, Ivory, and Ruby, which are similar to the iOttie iON Wireless Mini Chargers. Currently only the Ash color is listed on Amazon but more should be available soon. The charging stand has two Qi coils so you can charge your phone in both portrait and landscape mode, which is a very nice touch.

These would make a great gift for any tech junkie, or, you know, live your best life and Treat Yo Self. Having a wireless charging stand near your workspace or on your nightstand is a huge game-changer, and once you start using one, you won’t ever go back. This will work with all Qi-enabled devices, but in case you’re curious, the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X all support wireless charging.

Pros: Self-installation kit; free antivirus and firewall protection; easy-to-use software interface.

Cons: EarthLink doesn’t offer its DSL service directly, so you must connect through your local phone company.

Bottom Line: EarthLink DSL service is perfect for the home user who wants reasonably priced broadband, and easy installation – as long as they’re not afraid of a 12-month commitment. (more…)

CenturyLink’s appeal lies primarily in its speeds, which are much faster than most other DSL internet companies, and should be enough to satisfy heavy internet users.

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To speed up the rollout, Google will use existing fiber rather than build a network from scratch. But that means only certain neighborhoods will be eligible.

Google will soon provide San Francisco its high-speed Internet. San Francisco has joined a half-dozen other cities in queue for Google’s high-speed fiber Internet service.

Google will bring the service to some apartments, condos and affordable housing properties in San Francisco, the search giant said in a blog post Wednesday. But the rollout comes with a catch. (more…)

Broadband providers inform consumers about online tracking and give them a “meaningful choice” about whether their data will be used for behaviorally targeted ads, the online publishers’ organization Digital Content Next says today in a letter to the Federal Communications Commission.

“In light of their access to sensitive information about consumers, we urge the FCC to require broadband providers to provide consumers with transparency and meaningful choice with regard to the collection and use of personal information especially when this data will be used for purposes that fall outside of a consumer’s expectation and outside of the context of the interaction where the data was collected,” the organization writes. “Consumers should have the ability to exercise choice via a mechanism that is easy to use, persistent and universal.” (more…)

Should we be friends, or colleagues…?  Does my resume’ suck?  15 Rules You Should Know About LinkedIn Etiquette

Whether you’re a business owner, or looking for a job – LinkedIn is always a place potential business connections see first.  It’s social, but very different.  It’s not like you have an exact recipe to follow. (more…)

Cleans up, Tunes up and Speeds up your PC

Over time, as the hard drive fragments, Windows registry gets messed up, and software leaves behind junk even when it’s uninstalled – your PC begins to sloooowwww down. Norton Utilities aims to fix the problems that plague PCs by repairing invalid registry entries, removing orphaned registry entries, and turning off non-essential startup programs. Now save $20. (more…)

Even politicians post things they regret later!

Twitter on Thursday announced the return of Politwoops.  Politwoops, the site that aggregated deleted tweets from politicians and their staff, was blocked by Twitter in June.

Under heavy public shaming Twitter graciously reached an accord with The Sunlight Foundation and The Open State Foundation, to allow Politwoops to continue exploiting Twitter private user content for political gain. (more…)

For the next few weeks, or few days, you’re compelled to fulfill promises to yourself for the New Year.  This means most of us will vow to lose weight, learn something new or travel to new places.

Of the most popular resolutions: losing weight; volunteer to help others; quit smoking; get a better education; get a better job; save money; get fit…your resolution is probably nothing new.  But, how do you do it without someone looking over your shoulder?

Stat’s show 1 in 10 will actually follow through on those resolutions.  However, digital help is here! (more…)

Few things are as exciting as shooting something out of a cannon…but try shooting a GoPro using a 3D-printed projectile!  This very cool video is going viral as hell, showing two guys doing just that.  David and Ryan, created a homemade cannon with their GoPro as a cannon ball.  The footage it shoots on its way up, and then back down where they catch it, is astounding! (more…)

EE has decided to take on rivals including BT and TalkTalk with its own set-top box and TV platform

UK – In a bid to take on the likes of BT and TalkTalk, mobile network EE has announced its own EE TV set-top box which will rival YouView. The device is available now from EE stores nationwide and here’s what you need to know about getting one, it’s price and features. (more…)

The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) new rules on net neutrality may ban paid prioritization, aka Internet fast lanes, but TV streamers are reportedly looking for loopholes to help them get around the rules to be put in effect in a few months.

HBO, Sony and Showtime reportedly want special treatment from Internet service providers (ISPs) as a way to avoid bandwidth data caps and Internet congestion as more and more people start streaming movies and TV shows online. This is according to a new report by the Wall Street Journal, which cites people familiar with the matter who say that the companies have reportedly been in discussions with Comcast and other ISPs to have their TV streaming services treated as “managed” services. (more…)

Dish Network, the satellite provider, is trying to lure younger viewers back to paying for television with the start of a web-based offering that includes ESPN and a number of other popular networks for $20 a month, about a fifth the cost of the average household bill for cable and satellite service.

Announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Monday, the new service is called Sling TV, and provides live and on-demand television delivered via an Internet connection to television sets, computers and mobile devices. (more…)

Netgear is starting to sell 4G mobile broadband along with its mobile hotspot devices. Unveiled at CES in Las Vegas, the Netgear Around Town Mobile Internet offer is available initially in the US on the Sprint network. The AirCard  hotspot allows users to connect up to ten devices to the 802.11n Wi-Fi network. It will sell for USD 199.99 including 1 GB of data that doesn’t expire. Users can add more data at a cost of USD 25 per GB, with no contract required. The device can be extended with MIMO antennas and Gigabit Ethernet with the optional Boosting Cradle for USD 69.99. Both devices are for sale on Amazon. (more…)