How to start setting up a voice controlled home

Article written by Technology Innovations

The issue with the current crop of smart home products is that very few of them work together. Every manufacturer has a vision of the Internet of things that is usually incompatible with a competitor. What’s worse is when a company is acquired, and their product line is removed with little notice. This is why it’s a good idea to assemble home automation equipment that is as cheap as possible and has some connectivity to others. This way the investment is limited. Let’s look at how we can set up a voice controlled home satisfying that criteria:

The first step is to get a voice interface. There are only two real choices here: the Amazon Echo and Google Home. When looking at the Echo, choose either the Echo Dot or the main Echo device. Both of these will work with the majority of home automation gear.

The next step is to set up control of lighting, air conditioners, etc. There are two approaches here, control the bulbs or control the switches. In a home with more than one occupant, it is wiser to go the switch route to prevent confusion.  There are several affordable solutions by Asian tech companies to control switches and IR devices.

The third is to establish control from the voice interface. This is the tricky part. Most of the above devices required an Android device or third party software to act a bridge. Look for guides on support for these platforms before purchasing.

That is all you need to get started. From this point, all you need to do is find other elements of the home to control and see what hardware is required.

Read More

Gadgets in the workplace

Article provided by Javier Loya, CEO of OTC Global Holdings. 

Gadgets always come handy in the workplace. They contribute to boosting efficiency of employees by helping them in certain tasks and have even boosted employee morale due to the fun factor that they add to the organization. The list below depicts some of the gadgets that are mostly used around the workplace.

All-in-one PCs

The all-in-one PC has the advantage of being quite compact and requiring little space. These types of computers are also quite rapid which makes them good investments if you are seeking the desktop computer experience. The design of the all-in-one PC comes at the right middle between the tablet and the desktop computer.

Self-stirring mugs

Self-stirring mug is one of the most helpful gadgets in an environment where people tend to consume a lot of coffee or tea. This is ideal for the lazy hot beverage drinker. The stirring function is activated by pressing a button located on the handle of the cup. This is perfect in cases where you are not able to find a spoon or do not want to spend too much time stirring.

Fingerprint Time Clocks

These employee time clocks allows people to easily clock in and out of their office without using a badge. This prevents situations where the badge is lost and thus the employee has to look for a new one. These types of systems automatically track time reports and compile attendance data.

Javier Loya grew up in El Paso, Texas and now lives in Houston, Texas with his wife and two daughters. He the founder and co-CEO of OTC Global Holdings, the largest independent OTC commodity brokerage in the world. He graduated from Columbia University in New York and is a minority owner of the Houston Texans football team.

 

Read More

What Rattan Furniture Can Add to Your Office

Blog provided by Wicker Paradise

Rattan furniture is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions office design. Many small businesses’ office buildings are designed with efficiency in mind, rather than aesthetics. However, there are good reasons why aesthetics should also be a major part of office design plans.

According to a study by Clutch, aesthetically pleasing workplaces can play a key role in employee morale and retention. 61% of surveyed workers valued an aesthetically pleasing, comfortable workplace the most, as opposed to other workplace perks such as community and learning opportunities. In the recruitment phase, 27% of employees “strongly agreed” and 51% “agreed” that office appearance and work environments influenced their decision of where to work.

Office appearance may not seem like an important factor, but no one wants to work in a drab, dull office environment. As a result, office designers should be willing to add eye-catching, unorthodox elements to workplaces. Rattan furniture’s elegant, caned design is evocative of nature. Rattan furniture pieces can be a welcome sight in any office dining room or break area.

Wicker Paradise has a host of rattan furniture products you can use for tropical accents in your workplace. From rattan chairs, sofas, and barstools to full dining sets, their rattan products can help your workplace convey a sense of warmth and comfort. If you prefer wicker furniture, you can also browse their indoor and outdoor wicker furniture collections. These products will also add an exotic touch to any office space. For any questions about their products, contact Wicker Paradise at 1-800-894-2537.

Read More

Using Web Design and Web Hosting to Improve Your SEO

Blog provided by Electric Kitten

If you’re trying to increase organic traffic to your website, SEO should be an important component of your marketing plan. Anyone can pay for advertising space in Google Ads, but it takes a different skillset to raise your website’s rank in search engine results. Effective SEO requires comprehensive knowledge of the factors that can affect your search engine rankings. SEO experts will tell you that web design and web hosting can play a part in your success in Google search results.

Search engines such as Google are designed to give the highest rankings to websites that provide the best user experiences. Small details that improve a user’s experience are tangible advantages when websites are rated by Google’s algorithm. For example, websites that are designed to be mobile-friendly will be ranked higher than those that have not been optimized for mobile users.

Another factor that affects Google rankings is page speed. This is where both web design and web hosting can play a part in SEO success. Websites with overly complex visuals can slow downloading speeds, leading to user frustration. Low-quality shared hosting servers can be slower because websites are sharing resources with other websites on the same server. The best web designs are user-friendly and easy to navigate, while the best web hosts for SEO and page speed are dedicated servers with high uptime.

If you need Los Angeles web hosting with dedicated servers or colocation, visit Electric Kitten for great web hosting options in Southern California.

Read More

The Best Gadget Deals on Cyber Monday

Blog provided by Curacao

Cyber Monday is the perfect time for online shopping deals on all the latest tech and gadgets. Here are some gadgets to put on your Cyber Monday shopping list.

Amazon Echo Dot with Wemo Mini Smart Plug

 

This convenient package deal contains Amazon’s Echo Dot smart home device with Alexa, along with Wemo’s Smart Plug for extended control of your home’s functions through your phone or other Wi-Fi-enabled devices. You can find this clever bundle at Curacao.

Google Home Max

 

Google Home is another leader in the field of smart home devices, and the Google Home Max can provide home automation, music, and even fun trivia games for your next party. The Home Max speaker is one of Google Home’s larger-sized smart home devices.

Canon SLR Camera

 

Don’t forget that Cyber Monday is also a great time to get discounts on digital cameras. The Canon EOS Rebel T7 shoots high-quality photos and high-definition video for professional-quality pictures.

iPhone 11 Pro Max

 

The iPhone 11 Pro Max is a powerful, durable smartphone model with the most advanced camera features in an iPhone to date. From its processing power to its ultra-durable glass, the iPhone 11 Pro Max is a worthwhile choice for many. The T-Mobile store has some good deals on the latest iPhone models.

Beats Wireless Headphones

Beats headphones are known for their stylish appearance, noise-canceling features, and sound quality. A wireless set of Beats headphones will allow you to listen freely without getting tangled in cords. Check BeatsByDre.com for the best selection of headphones.

You can find great deals and financing on electronic products at Curacao. These fantastic products could also be yours for low, easy monthly payments if you sign up for Curacao Credit. It’s quick and easy to get approved, even for customers with low credit scores!

Read More

The best laptops for battery life

Article written by Silver Tech, Stay up to date with latest tech news

There are several features and specs that people base their decision on when buying a laptop. There is the processor speed, graphics cards, screen size, and other upgrades. However, nothing is more important than battery life. Thanks to recent advances in battery technology and power efficiency, the minimum benchmark is at least ten hours of battery life on a full charge. The models below have battery life well more than the minimum.

Lenovo ThinkPad T470

The Lenovo ThinkPad T470 comes with an optional extended battery that takes the laptop to a staggering 17 hours and 25 minutes. The battery life is not the only thing great about the laptop. You get a best-in-class keyboard, fast SSD and durable chassis. The only drawbacks are a screen that lacks brightness and anaemic speakers.

Lenovo ThinkPad X270

The second best laptop regarding battery life is another ThinkPad. Again, you get a good keyboard, swappable battery and unlike the above, a better screen. However, you need to select the correct battery options to get the 13 hours and 51 minutes of battery life. The three cell batteries provide mediocre battery life.

Dell XPS 13

The Dell XPS 13 clocks in with approximately 13 hours and 49 minutes of battery life. The XPS 13 is one of the best allround laptops you can buy today and that includes great battery life. The XPS 13 has an amazing display, good Wi-Fi and is very light. The only drawback is odd placement on the webcam.

Read More