I’ve had the opportunity to test out one of Vizio’s TVs for the last few months, the 65 inch D65-E0. I’ve come away impressed with it, both with the quality and the sharpness of the image. It’s a full 4K set, with small bezels and a small footprint. The blacks are black, the whites white, and it overall offers an experience I’d have trouble distinguishing from sets that cost considerably more.

VIZIO’s D-Series of HDTVs offer value-minded consumers a wide array of home entertainment options. Picture quality options on various models include HD, Full HD, and even 4K Ultra HD in select models in the 43” class size and above. Most D-Series’ models feature VIZIO’s Internet Apps Plus Smart TV platform for simple access to stream TV shows and movies from Netflix, iHeartRadio, and other popular apps. A handful of newer models have recently been introduced with VIZIO’s SmartCast platform—on 24, 43 and 50-inch models—which includes Chromecast built-in and on- screen. VIZIO’s D-Series also includes a built-in Digital TV tuner for those who utilize an off-air antenna to receive free, over-the- air broadcasts. The D-Series truly has something for everyone.

The D-Series collection starts with superior picture quality thanks to full-array LED backlighting, which provides advanced LED control for superior light uniformity and enhanced contrast when compared to edge-lit TVs. The series has p to 12 Active LED Zones® in the full-array LED models like the D65-E0 that we reviewed. These zones dynamically adjust to match the light and dark portions of on-screen content, resulting in brighter whites and deeper, black levels. Sports and action fans will appreciate the image processing benefits of Clear Action 180 with 120Hz effective refresh rate that is achieved with backlight scanning for sharper detail in quick-moving action scenes. Select VIZIO D-Series models like the D65-E0 also support 4K Ultra HD resolution, for four times more detail and clarity in every image compared to 1080p Full HD. Additionally, the 4K Ultra HD models support the latest HDMI standards, enabling Ultra HD playback from Ultra HD Blu-ray players,
gaming consoles, and next generation cable and satellite receivers. Equipped with VIZIO’s Internet Apps Plus SmartTV platform, the 2017 D-Series collection provides consumers with easy access to the hottest movies, TV shows, music and more. Popular apps such as Netflix, iHeartRadio, Xumo and more are all accessible via the on-screen app dock. High- quality streaming on 4K Ultra HD models is possible thanks to built-in V8 octa-core processor, HEVC decoding and the latest ultra-fast WiFi standard, 802.11ac dual-band WiFi.

Once upon a time, the internet was the same no matter where you lived or your personal circumstances. In recent years, however, the means to personalize and tailored websites to different users has increased exponentially. Today, we’re on the edge of a huge shift in the way we experience the internet. From geo-targeting to micro-advertising, new technologies spell the end of the internet as we know it. Whether good or ill, we’ll explore of few the features of this new online experience below.

Geo-targeting, in particular, has taken off in a big way in the last few years. Using the information that’s freely available through your browser, companies can serve up different content depending on your country, IP address, and even city. This technology has been in place for some time and can be seen in action on any one of a number of streaming sites, such as BBC iPlayer, Netflix, or Hulu, which restrict content on the basis of digital rights management. The next step in the development of this technology will be its use as a means of personalizing the online user experience and micro-targeting adverts.

However, there is at least a logical reason for the personalization boom. According to a recent Epsilon study, over 80 percent of online consumers are more likely to purchase products from a company if it offers a personalized browsing experience. Personalization, in this sense, offers businesses and marketers increasing opportunities for one-to-one advertising; targeting that goes beyond simply a specific group and straight to the individual. Given the amount of information we generate and hand over to companies, it’s hardly surprising that this personal data, from hobbies and interests to daily routines, is used to personalize the online user experience. These data insights, to use the analytics term, afford content providers, be they companies or solitary WordPress bloggers mucking about on Google Analytics, the opportunity to tailor the websites to their intended target audience in a way that was unthinkable even five years ago.

Furthermore, as companies retain more information about the purchases made by visitors to their site, they will be able to target the products themselves more specifically at users. This means that the range of items on offer at a consumer site that one user sees will differ from those that are displayed on another user’s browser. This change won’t simply affect large business, but will also have an impact on smaller organizations. As we’ve written elsewhere, it’s never been easier to sell your products quickly online. The coming technological changes to the fundamental user experience of the internet will increase that even further.

Personalization requires a lot of data – the right kind of data at that – and technology to process it. The actual process of personalization can be roughly mapped into four different areas: identifying customers, building profiles, using data to make decisions about the ads to deliver or products to display, and then measurement. In some senses, this reflects the classic optimization model, as the process is circular; you use what you’ve learnt from the first time to improve on the next. Using this process, we can expect to incredibly personalized and effective advertising online in the next few years, to such an extent that it will likely blur the traditional distinctions between content and advertising even more than they currently are.

It seems that a day doesn’t go by without some news being released about a cyber attack or breaches of online privacy.
It’s a major concern for many people and if you’re not yet using a VPN, otherwise known as a virtual private network, hopefully this short article will give you the background you need to know how using a VPN could benefit you.

A VPN encrypts your online activity
The technology is simply specialist software that encrypts your online activity, including your traffic and IP address. By doing this, your actions remain private, whether it’s your email, your browsing history or your location.
When you access the internet, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can see everything you do online. Many track your activity and sell your behaviour patterns to third parties who use this information to market their own products.

By using a VPN service, your activity is automatically re-directed through a VPN server, which applies the software and encrypts all your actions. The only thing that your ISP will know is that you are using a VPN service. This means that nobody can steal your precious files and communications, nor can they monitor your browsing routines.

Ensure you use a VPN with multiple security protocols

At this point, you may be wondering how secure VPNs are and so this is where details become technical. By using a service with multiple security protocols such as NovaVPN service, you can be sure that AES-256 standards are being met together with DNS leak protection facilities.

Anybody wanting to snoop on you would quickly come to a dead end when they realise you are using a VPN server. In the unlikely event that they were persistent and clever enough to intercept your data, they would discover that everything has been encrypted.

The benefits of using a VPN

If you are considering whether to use a VPN, remember that the main purpose of a VPN is to protect your data from malicious online threats, so here’s a reminder of the clever things a VPN service provides.

When using a VPN:

• Your location is hidden
• Your communications are encrypted
• Your browsing history is private
• Your habits are not monitored for the benefit of third parties
• You’re safe from hackers and snoopers combing through your personal files

Considerations before you sign up to a VPN provider

Consideration should also be given to the service provider and how they operate. It’s all well and good to use a VPN service, but what if the provider has a policy where they can use your data? This can and has happened. So, there are a few things to check before you sign up to a provider:

• Does the service provider log your data?
• Does it use AES-256 and DNS protection?
• Does the service allow multiple logins from anywhere in the world?
• Is the service fast when the user is using a high-speed connection?
• Is the service sensibly priced and competitive?

Thinking of signing up?

If you have decided to explore VPNs further and are considering signing up, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find it’s all very easy and extremely cost effective. A first point of contact could be to check the Nova VPN service mentioned above, price starting from 5.42$. This benchmark service provides all the background facilities you’ll need for complete confidence.

Rolex, Omega, Tag Heuer… they’re all big names in the watch industry when it comes to luxury mechanical timepieces, but here at Oh Gizmo? We say, big deal: we want cool, futuristic-looking digital watches with tons of advanced features! For a time, there was a slight shift away from digital watches, but they recently made a roaring comeback with the invention of smartwatches. However, smartwatches wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the success of several companies in the 80s and 90s. So, here are some important names related to digital watches.

Casio

Japanese company Casio is a name most will connect with digital watches, primarily because of the famous F-91W model that took prominence in the 90s. People all over the world absolutely loved the watch, not only due to its simple-but-effective design but also because of the many features. The resin strap was sturdy and comfortable, it was water resistant, there was an alarm and stopwatch, and it also had a cool LED backlight. Casio had a lot of success with their G-Shock range, which was a lot tougher and built for those needing a digital watch primarily for the outdoors.

Seiko

Although Casio does (deservedly) get a lot of the spotlight when it comes to digital watches, it must be said that Seiko was the company to get it all started. In 1973, the Japanese brand created the world’s first LCD quartz-powered digital watch, called the 06LC. With a design fairly similar to the Casio F-91W, the 06LC was very popular and is still much sought-after today. Although the 06LC won’t be easy to find, you might get lucky if you search via an online second-hand watch market. Be sure to also take a look for the limited edition Star Wars watch!

Apple

We can’t leave Apple out of the list, primarily because the Apple Watch has been so crucial to revitalizing the digital watch industry. It’s designed so beautifully, has more functions than you could ever dream of (heart rate tracker, GPS, and the ability to play music, take calls, play games and send messages) and simply keeps getting better and better. Currently on the third edition, exact sales figures on the Apple Watch are a little hard to come by, but it’s estimated that close to 11.9 million units were sold in 2016, and that 80% of all smartwatch sales were the Apple Watch.

Image via Flickr by GillyBerlin

Smartphones are unquestionably entertaining on their own, with each new generation capable of cooler functions than the one before it. Daring techies, however, can ensure that their phones are capable of even more, although doing so may mess with your warranty. Not all hacks make changes to your phone though, and even when they do, the results are worth the bold behavior.
Five-Star Photography Hacks

Smartphone cameras are practically professional-grade these days. It’s possible to capture stunning photos with your phone. The first thing you need to do is make sure you have a phone with a spectacular camera, such as the Galaxy S8 from a carrier like T-Mobile. The carrier is crucial so that you can use apps and programs to touch up your photos. You also need something similar to T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network so that you can always send your pictures and Snapchats to friends. How serious is your commitment to becoming a shutterbug? Some of these hacks might be unexpected.

• Aerial photographs: Aerial photographs are exquisitely detailed, but they’re hard to snap unless you’re on a plane or flying a drone — or unless you have a balloon. A balloon filled with helium, a fishing line, and a remote trigger are the only items you need to take breathtaking aerial photographs — other than your phone, of course. Tie your phone to the balloon and use the fishing line to keep control of both. The trigger allows you to capture the perfect picture.
• Do-it-yourself filters: Your sunglasses can create an Instagram-worthy filter. Give the camera a boost, particularly if the dynamic range of your scene isn’t on-point. Hold your shades in front of the lens of your camera phone and click. This hack works even better if your sunglasses have a gradient.
• Exposure: You can similarly fake out your phone’s exposure. To take brighter pictures, slide a black piece of paper or card in front of the camera, then lock the exposure. Your phone will think that it’s too dark to take a good picture so that it will brighten up the photo. Drop the card and snap your photo. The colors will dazzle you.
• Do-it-yourself projector: To turn your smartphone into a projector, grab a cardboard box and a DSLR lens. In the box, cut a hole big enough to hold the lens and then secure it using gaffer tape. Place your phone inside of the box, upside down. The phone screen should face the DSLR lens. Queue up the movie you want to play and aim the box at a blank white wall. Instant projector!

Save Time With Inventive Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are lifesavers, and they can save you from any number of embarrassing autocorrect situations. Not only can you ensure that you never accidentally text about the “ducking traffic” again, but you can also set up shortcuts for your email address, for example, so that you don’t have to constantly type it into website fields on your phone. You can do the same with your home address, phone number, and favorite swear words.

Put Your Phone in a Glass

This sounds odd, but it’s a two-fer hack. Placing your speaker in an empty glass amplifies the sound. You can get an instant speaker boost when you’re listening to music. It’s also difficult to turn off your alarms when you have to reach into a glass. Try this trick if you’re prone to pressing snooze or sleeping through your alarm.

Make a Lamp

Your smartphone’s flashlight is bright but concentrated. However, with a simple trick, you can turn it into a bedroom light, which is helpful when you’re traveling, staying overnight with a friend, or dealing with a power outage. Turn on the flashlight, turn over your phone, so the light shines upward, and then place a water bottle on top of the light. Make sure the bottle is tightly closed, of course. The water dims some of the brightness by diffusing the light and increasing its reach.

Keep in mind that some hacks can void your warranty, so you always want to proceed carefully. What’s the coolest hack you’ve ever tried on your phone?

Music means something different to each and every one of us. However, most can find a common denominator when speaking about music, in that it’s an important part of their life and it makes up for a solid portion of their pastime or hobby time. However, many will go above and beyond to turn music into something more. For them just listening to music isn’t enough, as they need to enhance their listening experience in a number of ways. Today’s technology has made it possible for those who love music beyond a mere listening session to take things to a new level. Here are the most important apps in every music lover’s arsenal:

Musixmatch
This Chrome plugin also comes as a standalone app, and it does the job just as well as it does in Google’s browser. The app has the very appealing feature of displaying the lyrics to any song directly on your screen. Now, you can see the entirety of a song’s lyrics as the song plays out, eliminating any doubt about what the artist had said in each line. Use it to understand the song better or turn your phone into a karaoke machine, the choice is yours.

YouTube
This might surprise some people but yes, YouTube is on the list as well. Many might have not realized but YouTube has turned into a very important part of today’s musical culture. It has taken over from platforms like MTV, as in artists now resort to YouTube to promote their music. In combination with a youtube to mp3 converter, you can even download music to your computer or device, making it easy to get a hold of your favorite songs. An example of such a converter is https://ytmp3.com/, which only needs you to give them the link to the video you want converted and click a button in order to receive the MP3 version.

Shazam
Music lovers know a lot about music, and consequentially a lot of music as well. However they don’t know everything, so when a new song comes along, the hunger for knowledge grows insatiably. Who is that artist? How old is that song? These are questions that can be instantly answered with Shazam, a service that lets you scan a song as it’s playing. The app will recognize the audio and give you the name of the artist, song, and even album. All it needs is a few seconds of unhindered scanning in order to properly capture the song audio.

Last.FM
Sometimes knowing about a lot of songs and artists isn’t enough. Sometimes, you need to know about what your friends are listening to as well. For some it’s a way of satisfying their curiosity while for others it’s a valuable means of learning about new artists and discovering new bands, albums or even genres. If you value your friends’ appreciation for music, Last.FM is a great tool to have. It’s like the Facebook of music, where all the songs you listen to are recorded so anyone checking out your profile will know how many times you’ve listened to a specific song, or who are your top artists.

In recent months, there has been an increased scrutiny on how secure modern communications are. There was the United States government wanting a way to access your personal information on your cell phone without your knowledge. Additionally, in mid-October, a widespread hack that affected modern WiFi encryption was revealed. While these are attacks on personal information, they also have distinct implications for businesses. So while everyone’s focus is on security, now is a good time to address what a few of those terms mean, and how they affect your business.

VOIP – Hosted vs. Premise-based Solutions
Every business relies on some form of voice communication. When choosing their phone systems, many companies turn to voice over internet protocol (VOIP) as a way of bundling their voice communication with their online presence. One of the chief security decisions when dealing with business VOIP solutions is choosing between hosted and premise-based VOIP solutions. But what does this mean and how does it affect the security of your company?

Premise-based VOIP means that the servers and tech that handle your VOIP calls is on-site. Your IT department is responsible for maintaining it and the security of the communications. This is a great solution for a small business, but if you experience rapid growth, you could find yourself outgrowing your VOIP capabilities.

A hosted VOIP solution means that the servers are hosted offline by your VOIP provider. This not only relieves you of the concern for security but also what to do if you suddenly need ten new lines. A hosted solution will scale quickly and easily for you. That also means that your IT guy won’t suddenly be stressed out about having to secure your new equipment.

Wireless and Internet Solutions
Internet security is essential to your company. Viruses and malicious attacks cost businesses over $450 billion around the world. Whether it’s a simple clean up because of a downloaded virus or a full-blown ransomware attack, the security of your computer infrastructure is a major concern.

It affects multiple things, from how you choose your web host provider to how you train your new employees in the basics of internet security. While protecting your company, there are some keys to ensuring its safety.

· Don’t download anything without clearing it with your IT department.
· Never click on links in an email.
· Don’t use personal flash drives or external storage on company computers.

These basic rules are great when it comes to securing your wired infrastructure, but what about your wireless network?
Wireless integrity can be a bit trickier. The standards for wireless encryption have changed drastically over the past ten years. The first encryption protocol was the Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) protocol. This was supplanted by the Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) protocol while a more robust solution was developed. That solution ended up being WPA2, whose vulnerabilities were revealed by the KRACK hack.

WEP is the least secure method of wireless encryption. It was introduced in 1997 and was first cracked in 2001. It is extremely easy to break, and no company should be using this method.

WPA2 is the most robust form of wireless security currently in place. This protocol allows for the use of an authentication server instead of a common passphrase. Server authentication issues a certificate to a valid user that is checked every time they attempt to log in.

Keep in mind that the most vulnerable aspect of any system is the passphrase selected by a user. For example, “1234” or “password” are still commonly used passphrases. This makes those systems vulnerable to attack. When dealing with the security of your company, employee education is perhaps the most important link in the chain.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Milo Wifi for SponsoredTweets. All opinions are 100% mine.

Internet speeds have been held back for several years, and setting up and connecting to the internet at home has become increasingly difficult. That’s where Milo wants to make a difference. The Milo Wifi System is able to add coverage, reliability and flexibility to any existing Wi-Fi setup, and its simple setup process makes it a breeze to get it up and running.

Milo can be configured as its own Wi-Fi network, without the need of a router; or it can be configured as an addition to your existing router and network. Adding Milo to your existing network will allow your Wi-Fi network to reach farther and faster. It does this using a feature called SmartSeek which constantly checks your connections and adjusts them to give improved performance.

When I setup Milo, I used the recommended configuration of adding it onto my additional router. I saw increased speeds from areas in my house that normally take long to load webpages. Using Milo I’ve seen about a 20-30% improvement from both uploading and downloading speeds.

While the increased speeds have been nice, the biggest benefit of adding Milo into my network has been the increased reliability. Before, my internet while playing Overwatch would suffer with small dips and random lagging every so often. It was enough that I’d have to reset my router every few days. This problem affects many gamers, whose unreliable connections to the internet have caused countless losses and have resulted in thousands of online casualties. But once I connected Milo, my internet has become significantly more reliable, and my lagging and disconnects have essentially ceased fully.

Along with the increased reliability, I love the improvement in range I’ve begun to see. My living room had been a very weak area for my network to reach, causing our Smart TV to stop and buffer several times while watching Netflix, but by putting the additional unit in the kitchen between the living room and the computer room (with the router), Netflix has been loading movies significantly faster and without breaks to buffer. By having Milo extend my network, I’m able to use my fast Wi-Fi throughout my house, instead of hitting dead spots where my internet feels like it came from 1996.

Milo comes with one base unit as well as, either 1 or 2 additional units depending on the size of your home and the needs of its users. A 2-pack will work well for Wi-Fi networks up to 2,000 sq. ft., and a 3-pack will work well on Wi-Fi networks up to 4,000 sq. ft. And setting up Milo is incredibly easy, simply connect the base unit to either your modem, or existing router (depending on which way you chose to use Milo) power up the additional unit(s) and configure the network using the Milo Wi-Fi app.

It’s available for $129 and $189 for the 2-pack or 3-pack respectively. Overall, adding Milo to your existing network is a good solution for anyone who feels like their network has been a little too unreliable, or could stand to have better range.

[ Milo Wifi ]