Archives for September 2019

10 Hacks for Getting Faster Video Streaming – TechRotten

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” overlay_color=”” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” padding_right=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” center_content=”no” last=”no” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=””][fusion_text]

The internet offers an excellent platform for streaming videos and other online content.

Currently, there are millions of people subscribed to video streaming subscriptions according to Digital TV research.

Looking at the trends, it is right to conclude that the numbers will continue to rise as more people gain internet access.

One of the negative sides of streaming is that at times, you may have to deal with downtimes and loads of buffering which can be annoying.

Below you will get a solution to this as you learn hacks for enjoying faster streaming.

Invest In A Proxy Server

Many people think that using a proxy server is only good when you want to bypass geo-restrictions.

They are also useful when you want to speed up your internet connection.

Multiple independent tests have proved that when you get reliable private proxies, you will end up enjoying better performance of your online streaming capabilities.

Do not Download Everything At Once

Avoid downloading too many things at once if you want to experience faster streaming.

This is because multiple downloads usually lead to bogging down your network speed, especially if you are working with limited bandwidth.

Work with Dedicated Streaming Services

Dedicated streaming services offer a great solution to internet users who need to boost their streaming speeds.

Different companies offer these services that you can use on different devices.

All you have to do is compare the packages to identify the one you find most useful.

Delete Temporary Internet Files and Cache

Temporary cache and internet files are bad for your internet speed because they weigh down your device.

This normally affects the ability of your machine to play and load videos.

Before streaming content, make it a habit to visit your browser setting to clean recent history as well as temporary files.

Plug into An Ethernet Connection

If possible, always use an Ethernet connection to access your internet.

Even though Wi-Fi offers a convenient way to connect to your computers at home, it is also considerably slow and unreliable when you compare this to a wired connection.

Block Scripts and Ads

Stopping invasive ads and input scripts will help cut down website bloat.

The best thing with a majority of the add-ons is that you can easily customize them to find a balance between utility and speed.

This way you can always allow ads on the websites you wish to support.

Fix/Update Plug-ins

Multiple browser plug-ins can force themselves on you even when you do not want them.

Shady or unnecessary plugins can affect the quality of streaming.

It is, therefore, wise to uninstall all the plug-ins that do not add any value.

Updating and fixing the ones you have can go a long way to eliminating time-outs and slow streaming.

Disable Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration is usually associated with slow streams, crashing media players, and pixelated graphics.

When you turn off hardware acceleration, applications on your machine will choose hardware resource requirements instead of using universal settings which can slow down streaming.

Get Closer to the Router

The farther away you are from the router, the weaker the signal becomes.

This is especially true is there are walls between the user and the router.

Sitting closer to the router can help you enjoy a better internet connection.

Settle for Lower Quality

You may want to consider watching lower-quality videos if you are always suffering from buffering.

Doing this helps you play your videos faster to avoid slow streamlining nightmares.

For example, YouTube videos are usually available in 4K Ultra HD, 1080p, 720p, and 480p.

Without excellent connection, you can go for the lowest quality to enjoy your videos.

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

How Should You Be Investing Your Extra Income? Techrotten

Everyone dreams of earning some extra cash, but that happens rarely.

But when it does maybe due to a bonus, a commission earned, inheriting money or simply saving you are tempted to buy something extravagant.

If you are a saver or somewhere in between a spendthrift and a saver you would have just let it sit in your savings accounts.

Whatever be the case, there are many ways to earn extra income. Here are some ways of investing the extra income you have made:

Considering options

Before you do anything with your money, there is a need to stay on top of your finances.

You should be well aware of your income, savings, investments, expenses, etc by checking it periodically.

That will enhance your ability to make good financial decisions and also reduce stress related to money.

Once you know your financial situation, it becomes easy to consider various options like for example if you have credit card debts or student loans you can use that extra income to clear them if not, one can use it for income investing or other such investments.

Skim through the list of investment options

Consider investing your money in various venues but there should be a solid understanding of concepts before investing money.

Also, it is essential to note that investing will not help you get rich quickly it only helps to earn some extra cash using these techniques. Some of the investment options are

Stock market: The most beneficial way for an investor to make money. When you buy stocks of a company and it makes profits, those will be paid as dividends depending on the stocks you own. It is considered risky and there is potential for making huge profits or losses depending on the stocks purchased.

Investment bonds: It is less risky than stocks and also offers less earning potential. When you purchase a bond you will be loaning money to the company or the government selling the bond to you. In return, you will earn interest on the bond’s duration.
Mutual funds: This is also market-linked, but instead of buying a single stock, a mutual fund will help you buy a variety of stocks. These stocks are usually managed by a fund manager.
Physical commodities: These are purchasing gold, silver or other commodities and safeguards against difficult economic times.

Make Sure That The opportunity Is Legitimate

While investing extra income in earning opportunities ensure that it is legitimate by verifying it.

Many scammers and fraudsters publicize investment options in newspapers or through various forms of advertising and lure potential investors.

They make it sound legitimate but they may not be.

So it is best to check out these investment options by asking for legal documentation.

Ask friends and family and trusted sources before making any investments.

Make Sure You Keep Your Needs In Mind

Invest, but make sure that you keep a goal in your mind, it will ensure that you make the right investment decisions.

The goals should be unique and should be based on personal circumstances.

If you have invested considerably for retirement you may want to use this money to fulfill other financial goals.

It might be a foreign trip, a new car, a child’s education, etc.

Keeping your needs in mind will help you invest money in smart ways to reach it.

Listen to What Others Are Saying

As an investor, it is essential to keep your eyes and ears open and look around for better ideas.

Look for the best deals but ensure you choose the right source as not everything is the right pick for your needs.

There are many resources online that can help you analyze and then make the right decisions.

Some investors’ podcasts provide the latest in investing trends worldwide which you can make use of while investing your extra income.

Future Prospects

Knowing your prospects financially helps you make wise decisions in investment.

If you have a steady income and hope to continue making money in the same way, opt for riskier investments as you can recover from any downs that you may have.

But if you don’t have a steady income then the smartest thing to do is to put enough money in savings product or emergency funds as a safe nest for your future.

To conclude, if you as an investor have the risk appetite and can accept losing money then choose aggressive investments otherwise one can stick to safer options.

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

Guide to Select Portable AC With Cooling & High Performance

When we speak of air conditioners, most people imagine of central air condition units or window units.

However, little attention is given to portable conditioning units even though they could be essential appliances in any home.

When buying a portable air conditioner, you want to ensure that you opt for the best item.

But, this may be daunting since there are different types in the market.

Below are helpful tips to guide you in making the right choice.

Consider the size

Portable air conditioners come in various sizes and designs; some are small, while others are big.

The BTU (British Thermal Unit) is a critical factor to consider when choosing a portable air conditioner.

The BTU rating depicts power and cooling capabilities.

Also, the BTU measures the amount of heat that the air conditioner can expel.

So, the higher the BTU value, the mightier the air conditioner. BTU ratings typically range between 5,000 to 30,000, and the size chosen depends on the area to be cooled.

Therefore, the effectiveness of a portable air conditioner can be affected by the wrong BTU value.

Luckily, the Igloo’s iceless cooler comes in various capacities with the right levels of BTUs; this makes it the best iceless cooler in the market.

Check the type of venting

Portable units come with different types of venting. Consider the venting system of the air conditioning unit and ensure that the one picked matches your window specifications.

Placement of your unit

A portable unit will come with collapsible duct tubing for directing hot air outside, and others will even come with an adjustable fitting to your window.

So, consider where you’ll place your air conditioner and ensure that you have access to an exhaust location.

Consider the noise generated

If you plan to use your portable air conditioner to cool you while sleeping, examine the amount of sound produced.

Some air conditioners don’t emit any noise; but, they may be pricier. However, cheaper ones may be noisier hence keep you awake. Also, they may make some noise as you drain them.

Review energy efficiency

Some portable air conditioner models will efficiently cool your room without lots of excess moisture or a considerable increase in your energy bills.

So, you want to acquire the best unit that you can afford.

To achieve this, examine the PAC’s Energy efficiency Ratio (EER).

The EER guides on the number of BTUs used for every watt of power. Similarly, units with high EERs are more likely to save on energy.

Examine the condensation capacity

Another feature of all air conditioners is that they eliminate moisture from the air to various degrees of efficiency.

Central conditioning units dispose of this condensation by use of pipes connected to your home’s sewerage system.

However, with portable units, there’s nowhere to dispose of the condensation.

So ensure that the air conditioner picked has a container or tub where the condensation is stored until you empty it.

Required maintenance

The only maintenance you’ll need to worry about is draining of moisture collected.

All air conditioners draw moisture from the air and its part of the process. However, there are several approaches to clear this moisture.

First, you can dismantle the pan and drain it manually as required.

However, there are hassle-free units with fully self evaporative designs.

They dissipate most of the water collected; so you don’t need to bother about draining them manually.

Take home

By picking the right portable air conditioner, you ensure that it functions efficiently.

So, consider the size, amount of noise produced, energy efficiency, condensation capacity and the type of venting.

Types Of Posts To Use In Your Instagram Content Strategy

There are topics, categories and events that you can include to make a good Instagram strategy.

There are different types of posts that you can use in it to make it more attractive and result driven.

This will help you to drive more followers and traffic to your site and increase the volume of your sales.

Take Instagram Stories Highlights for example. You can group your posts together using this feature and even categorize it.

This will help your followers to quickly find your content, especially those categories that are of their specific interests.

Whether you are a fashion or a lifestyle brand, it is important that you constantly update your content and posts.

This Instagram Stories Highlights feature will help you in a great deal. It will be easier for you to:

Draw more attention of our followers
Make your latest offerings and
Even share posts.

This will help you in your Instagram branding for your business and also give your followers enough reasons to follow you.

The most significant benefit of this feature, provided you can optimally use it, is that you can even make a sale directly from your Instagram profile and from those who are not even following you!

Using photo posts

Another important element to use in order to build an effective Instagram content strategy is using the photo posts.

This will enable you to meet with the need of making your Instagram feed look great, which is a critical requirement of today.

You must make sure that you do not overlook your individual posts and photo posts is one segment that is exceptionally useful these days in Instagram marketing to gain a lot of real likes.

Instagram photo posts typically continues to be one of the most popular forms of content on Instagram. This is because these are:

Easy to create
Editable and
Super versatile.

As off now, Instagram only allows you to use and share posts that are in square, landscape, or portraitformats.

All these different formats need different dimensions and aspect ratios.

For example, when you use a square format you only use photos that have 1:1 ratio and a specific resolution of 1800 pixels.

Similarly, the portrait and landscape photos will need to have different resolution and quality.

Therefore, be sure about the requirement of the platform to make sure that your photos look stunning on your Instagram feed.

Video posts

Another important and effective element to include in your Instagram content is the video posts. Ideally, the video posts on Instagram has evolved dramatically since these were first introduced in 2013.

It does not have that 15-second limitation any more.
Today, you can create high resolution, high production and long form videos of up to one minute and include in your content.
These videos generate a lot of engagement from your followers.
You will also not need a DSLR camera or any expensive video making equipment to shoot a video to post on Instagram, which is another great thing of it.
You can simply use the built-in camera of your smartphone to create a beautiful branded video. To make it more beautiful you may use a couple of video editing apps.

Though video posts are not quite as popular as photo posts on Instagram, these too can generate a lot of followers and engagement.

Therefore, it makes quite a lot of sense to include these in your marketing campaign.

Since these has the unique ability to communicate intricate stories, this happens to be a useful format to drive more sales.

It is for this reason more and more businesses are capitalizing in creating these promotional video content.

Shopping posts

Most of the brands, especially ecommerce brands find that, out of all the different ways to weave more sales opportunities through their Instagram marketing strategy.

Using the Instagram shopping posts in their feed is one of the most significant features that they absolutely want to take advantage of.

This is because the Instagram shopping posts make it much easier for them to tag products in their posts which in turn helps the people to shop the products.

All they have to do when the shoppable posts appearin their feeds is:

Tap o the shopping bag icon on the picture
Get and read all the facts and info regarding the product and
Click on it to buy.

Also, when the user clicks on the info box, they will be automatically directed to the specific URL from where they can purchase the product.

Therefore, it can be said that, using Instagram shopping posts will provide the brands and businesses a great way to showcase their products.

As well as use their Instagram feed in the best possible way to drive more traffic and increase their sales volume.

The carousel posts

Lastly, you can use the carousel posts in your content. This will make it all the more attractive to your followers.

This feature was introduced by Instagram in the mid-2017, and since then it has become one of the most popular and favorite element.

The businesses use it to include in their posts to promote new product lines especially and even to share photos and videos of a specific event.

The most significant reason that the carousel posts have become so popular is that just like Instagram videos, these posts are very versatile as compared to the single and simple photos posts.
Apart from that, you can also include both photos and videos into these carousel posts giving you a lot of opportunity to get as creative as you can.

However, just like the photo posts, you can share carousel posts in landscape, square or portraitformats.

But you will need to stick to one specific photo format for that matter.

The good news is that you can include anywhere between two and ten photos or videos.

Therefore, with all these variety of options, tools and features available on Instagram it is quite natural that it will be one of the most favorable channels on social media networks for promotion of business and products.

Author Bio: Karen Anthony is a Business Tech Analyst. She is very responsible towards her job.

She loves to share her knowledge and experience with her friends and colleagues.

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

10 online games that will enhance your creativity

As smartphones are creeping into every aspect of our lives, you will rarely see a person without one.

According to pewinternet.org, 96% of Americans now own a cellphone of some kind.

So it’s not surprising that people are increasingly connected to the digital world.

Everyone wants to do everything while on the go.

And more than ever, the need to fill up ‘free time’ with gaming has steadily become a favorable option.

The effects of gaming have been in the news for quite some time. More interestingly, it’s becoming a popular topic of research.

Market results about gaming

The online gaming market is expected to witness substantial growth. That may well be due to the fact that online gaming has transformed into an entertainment tool.

And because 92% of games available on Google Play are free for downloads, there’s an exponential growth in the gaming industry.

Lifehack.org claims that for every 10 gaming apps created, 6 of them are usually targeted at boosting the gamer’s creative mind.

But awareness about the benefits of sophisticated online gaming has made them more attractive, while increased consumer disposable income has boosted the demand for a variety of games.

Consider, for example, the German games market in the first half of 2019.

It remains a success story with its robust and continuous growth, demonstrating how economically important online games still are.

Players admire most of all the high creativity of these games.

The effects of online gaming

It’s obvious that children nowadays do not play outdoors as much as we used to in our youth.

On the contrary, video gaming has substantially increased in recent decades.

The effects of such activities have been well-documented by psycologytoday.com.

“Video gaming may, in fact, be an ameliorating factor, helping to counteract the harmful effects of the loss of other forms of play.”

Video gaming has proven to improve cognition, creativity, sociability, and much more. Some games have even helped children get smarter.

In this blog post, we will focus primarily on the creativity benefits of online gaming.

Research on how online gaming enhances creativity

Linda Jackson and her colleagues in Michigan carried out tests using the well-validated Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking.

Their study found that there is a significant positive correlation between the amount of time spent on playing video games and creativity, regardless of gender or race.

Moreover, the individuals expressed an openness to new experiences, which is also an aspect of creativity.

They concluded that either highly creative people are drawn to video gaming or that gaming increases creativity (or both).

David Moffat and his colleagues later assessed the immediate effect of video gameplay on creativity in 2017.

Their research showed that there was a considerable gain in creative thinking, especially in flexibility, another facet of the innovative thought process.

More importantly, they were able to portray that even small periods of gaming put an individual in a higher creative frame of mind.

Over the years, more studies have been pointing in favor of online gaming. But enough of the research related stuff.

Let’s get down to actual business.

What games can help boost your creativity?

Now you’re talking! So without any more delays, here are some online games that you’ve been itching to learn about.

You should definitely give some of them a try.

Portal

According to Google users, 98% like this video game.

Pretty impressive, huh? Initially designed for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation, Portal has since transitioned to other systems, including OS X, Linux, and Android.

This game takes creativity to a whole new ‘dimension’ – pun intended. Well, that’s because, in this game, players need to create portals to teleport characters and objects from one area to another.

Experience the excitement of the chain reaction your next move will have on the gameplay.

Portal is a puzzle-platform video game that will have you hooked from the get-go.

You won’t want to put it down until you’ve figured out the best solution!

Minecraft

This sandbox game involves building- or destroying- whatever you wish.

It demands a great deal of creativity as the gameplay also includes exploration, resource gathering, crafting, and combat.

It’s been acclaimed as one of the best-selling video games of all time, selling over 176 million copies across all platforms by late 2019.

One of the reasons is that players have a great deal of freedom in playing the game.

The game world is finite, and players can choose to explore as they deem fit.

Tetris

Who hasn’t played this game yet? Tetris has undoubtedly made the rounds since its inception back in the ’80s.

But even today, it still ranks as 7th on the list of “100 Greatest Video Games of All Time”.

Does this game really need a description?

Just for the sake of formality, here is a synopsis. Players must make quick decisions to rearrange blocks so that they fit perfectly in a row. Enough said.

On the flip side, the original game has been subject to numerous changes over the years. I guess it enhances creativity on more than one level.

Matchsticks

Ready to have fun with matches?

There are several puzzles that players must solve by repositioning matchsticks with a certain number of moves.

Though some are quite tricky, they all have a solution. This game requires a bit of lateral thinking.

So it’s a good way of exercising different parts of your brain.

The good news is that Unlimited Gamez Mo has several other creativity linked games available for a nominal monthly package. Ready to give them a go?

Flow Free

Create a path of matching pipes. Free Flow ranges from a relaxed mode to a frantic frenzy as you race against the clock.

Its addictive gameplay is suitable for players of all ages.

As the levels become progressively harder, you’ll need to find creative methods to finish the level.

Ready to accept the next challenge?

SimCity

Electronic Arts has done it more times than you know.

EA has developed a game where you can be the hero of your very own city.

Studies indicate that interpersonal games like this one have exhibited the strongest positive effect on creative skills.

Design and build a bustling metropolis from the ground up.

So it’s time to put your imagination into overdrive and expand your horizons. This is a game where literally the sky’s the limit.

This popular gameplay has been around for quite some time now.

Rarely does it seem to pass off as old and boring.

There is more than just building anything wherever you want to.

Strategically develop sites to keep your city growing. Moreover, there are hidden challenges to keep the excitement flowing.

Alchemy

This is your chance to create new objects! Start off with the four basic natural elements: fire, water, earth, and air.

From bacteria to skyscrapers, see how many objects you can think of.

Get fascinated by the numerous combinations that magically appear.

This game puts anyone’s mind into creative mode. You may begin to look at ordinary objects surrounding you in a new light.

Discover how they can be more useful than you initially thought.

Roller Coaster Tycoon

You thought riding roller coasters was fun? Think again.

This is your chance to create, customize, and share your theme park. Choose from an array of 3D, animated rides.

There are over 250 different options available for how you wish to design the park, the decorations, rides, shops, etc.

Let’s see who has the coolest park creation around.

Limbo

As the player, your job is to control an unnamed boy through dangerous environments and traps.

The player is on a quest to search for his sister.

Like other puzzle-platform video games, it features an assortment of circumstances where the player must find a plausible solution to resolve the situation.

The game requires a great deal of trial and error to complete, so be prepared to encounter a number of deaths.

Now’s your chance to find creative methods to pass various stages of the game.

Myst

This first-person gameplay takes you on an adventure through an interactive world.

Begin by exploring your surroundings on an island called Myst. You’ll notice that the game unfolds at its own pace.

There is no time limit, hidden dangers, or eminent enemies.

With a combination of patience, observation, and logical thinking, you must find hidden pages of different books.

Wrapping up

No matter what game you decide to play at the end of the day, there are multiple benefits to playing online games.

As you progress through various levels of the game, your mind has the opportunity to develop in diverse ways.

Alternative tasks promote flexibility, originality, engagement, fluency, and much more.

But the overall desired effect revolves around a player’s level of creativity.

Since creativity is a broad term and all games are not created as equals, you should ideally consider playing a vast selection.

So are you ready to play some games now?

Author Bio:

About Ashley Rosa: Ashley Rosa is a freelance writer and blogger.

As writing is her passion that why she loves to write articles related to the latest trends in technology and sometimes on health-tech as well.

She is crazy about chocolates. You can find her at twitter: @ashrosa2.

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]