Category Archives for Technology

What’s The Latest About Huawei?

September 19, 2022

Founded in 1987, Huawei is a top global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure as well as smart devices. They have around 195 000 employees and they operate in over 170 countries and regions, serving a lot more than three billion people around the globe.

Huawei’s mission is to bring digital to each and every individual, home and organisation for a completely connected, intelligent world. To this end, they will drive universal connectivity and promote equal access to networks in order to:

  • Lay the foundation for the intelligent world.
  • Provide differentiated computing power to deliver universal cloud and intelligence.
  • Build powerful digital platforms to assist all industries and organisations become more agile, efficient and dynamic.
  • Redefine user experience with AI, offering consumers a more personalised and intelligent experience across all scenarios, including home, travel, office, entertainment, and fitness & health.

The Huawei Ban

In May 2019, the then United States President Donald Trump announced that Huawei — together with a number of other Chinese companies — was now on something which was called the Entity List. Companies on this list are not able to do business with any organisation that operates in the United States.

The Huawei ban thus started with Huawei suddenly unable to work with companies such as Google, Qualcomm as well as Intel, among many others. In the case of Google, this means that new Huawei smartphones are not able to ship with Google-owned applications being pre-installed.

With the Huawei-US ban still in effect, the company has needed to revamp how it creates and releases smartphones completely. It also faces increasing scrutiny from other nations, a lot of which rely on Huawei in terms of wireless networking equipment.

From May 2019, Huawei has had some minor wins however the bulk of the ban is still in place. It appears that the Huawei ban will be in effect in perpetuity and the company will need to strategise around it until further notice.

The Latest Huawei Devices

Huawei P50 Pro

Huawei continues to show its expertise with the Huawei P50 Pro, which is a beautiful phone that provides excellent performance and also has an extraordinary main camera. Plus, it has a big screen, ideal for playing online blackjack real money on the go.

Over the years, Huawei has been able to convince many regional developers to get on board with its Google-services-missing platform however some of the bigger players are still absent; so if you’re very reliant on Google services then the P50 Pro may not be the phone for you.

This smart device comes standard with a:

  • Dual-Matrix Camera Design,
  • 6.6 inch True-Chroma Display⁠1
  • 120 Hz Screen Refresh Rate⁠2
  • IP68 Splash, Water, and Dust Resistance⁠3

Huawei P40 Pro+

Huawei has had quite a fruitful partnership with Leica over the years. It may as well be the one very thing to help it to survive in the post-Google era. The maker has been known for its superb photography skills in a while, however with the P40 series it also is concentrating on improving its video quality. The penta-camera which is to be found on the back of the P40 Pro+ is, obviously, the real star of the show, and it will definitely be the selling feature of the Pro+ key.

Personal Fundraiser: A New Feature on Instagram

Instagram is not resting on its laurels these days. Not long ago, it revamped and re-launched its “Shop” service, then it announced that it would be competing against Tik Tok through an app called “Reels” and now it is looking to move into the business of personal fundraisers. Their executives leave no doubt as to their desire for continuous expansion.

Testing Phase

Instagram announced in July that it had already launched a test phase for its new personal fundraisers feature. It is currently taking place in the U.S., the UK and Ireland. Once in place, people will be able to launch one directly from their profile page on the app. These fundraisers will have to be associated to an existing cause or a new one. However, they will be vetted before being allowed to start in order to make sure that they exist and that they respect all guidelines necessary to be accepted by Instagram. They are the same rules that Facebook apply on its page.

This social network is the most important in the world and it is continuing to innovate in order to make sure it keeps its place as it moves towards the future. Instagram Stories have become quite a success as well throughout the last year, as more and more people use them to communicate with their followers. The quality of these posts has reached a new height, thanks to mobile app such as mojo-app.com, a story editor enabling individuals to create stories like professionals.

How it Works

You will be able to start a fundraiser on Instagram by following three simple steps. First you need to tap on “Edit Profile.” Once there, you will choose “Add Fundraiser” before clicking on “Raise Money” to start the process. After that, you can handle the details such as the choice of a picture, selection of a category for your cause and enter more pertinent information which will help convince people to give to your cause. Afterwards, you will need to wait for confirmation of approval by Instagram. If that is the case, you will benefit from a 30-day period during which you can raise funds. If you wish to continue after the time is up, you will be granted an additional 30 days, which will not be renewable anymore.

This is perfect for time-sensitive causes, when you need to gather funds quickly, but it cannot replace a fundraiser which is open throughout the year. People will be able to make their donations through Facebook Pay.

6 Ways to Optimize Images for a Killer Web Design and Performance

February 27, 2020

Do you want your web design and performance to improve?

If so, then you need to optimize your images.

By doing so, not only will your web visitors have a better experience while on your pages, but your website will also load faster, you can convert more visitors into paying clients, and more.

If you’re oblivious about how to optimize your images, then you can check out the tips below.

Let’s dive right in.

1. Leverage high-quality images.

High-quality images are critical in catching your audience’s attention and convincing them to stay longer on your site.

If you don’t have any high-quality image, you can use stock photos offered freely for commercial purposes.

Websites that are excellent sources of stock photos include Pexels, Unsplash, Pixabay, Little Visuals, StockSnap.io, Reshot, PicJumbo, Barn Images, and many more.

If you’d like to showcase your portfolio, however, you’ll need to use your own photos.

For instance, if you own a travel blog and want to showcase some of the most beautiful places to visit around the world, you’ll have to take your own shots.

Doing so lets you engage with your followers more effectively and avoid possible copyright issues.

Various guides online are also available to teach you how to take professional-looking photos and refine your photography skills over time.

2. Label your images for SEO.

Did you know that images can help improve your webpage ranking on search engine results?

They can — if you use the right keywords in the file names, captions, and alt tags of your images.

Now, the question becomes, how do you search for the keywords you should be using?

One way is by looking at your site analytics, where you can find keyword patterns that your visitors follow. Get the frequently used keywords and apply them in your file names and alt tags. (If they’re keywords that you’re hoping to rank for, of course.)

Another technique is to uncover and use the words your customers type in when searching for your product.

Be as descriptive as possible, like “navy blue DualShock wireless Bluetooth controller for PlayStation 4” and others.

Once you have the right keywords, you can now replace the default file name of the images, upload them onto your site, and fill in your alt tags accordingly.

3. Resize images for optimal size and resolution.

If you’re conducting an SEO audit and you notice having slow page loading speeds and enormous space consumed, check the size of your images.

A bulk of large images is often one of the causes for pages to load sluggishly — that is, beyond three seconds — which can frustrate and cause your visitors to abandon your site immediately.

As a result, you can experience high bounce rates and a reduced number of page views, which hurt your conversion rates, sales, and others.

If you don’t want to experience any of that, you need to resize your images while keeping their optimal resolution.

You can do that through tools like Optimizilla.

The tool lets you upload the images you want to resize and then yields the results in a matter of seconds.

You can also adjust the desired quality of resolution to your liking.

Through tools like Optimizilla, you can ensure that your images won’t hamper your site’s performance.

4. Save images according to the ideal file type.

Do you know the difference between a JPG and PNG file?

Knowing so helps you determine the file type you should use in saving and uploading your images.

Generally, JPG formats are best for saving and uploading photographs because they can manage all the colors in a fairly small and efficient file size.

On the other hand, PNG file types are best for graphics that use vast, flat spaces of color, like logos, infographics, images with plenty of text, and others.

This format handles areas of text and color with sharp lines, allowing you to zoom in with excellent resolution. It also supports transparent backgrounds, which are useful for logos.

PNGs are also higher in quality and, as a result, frequently larger than JPGs in terms of file size.

If you have photographs with text on them, you can still save them in JPG formats, as long as the text does not comprise the majority of the file.

5. Keep styles and sizes consistent.

Images, as part of your web design, look better when their styles and sizes are similar across the site.

Consistency in image size helps you align your text, paragraphs, and other objects more neatly, making your site look more attractive, professional, and appealing to your visitors.

Consistency in your image styles also makes your design and branding identity look harmonious.

Over time, though, if you find the need to modify your image styles, be sure you don’t stray too far from your known branding identity. Keep it consistent, too, over a considerable period.

If you need to introduce the new style in your images, do it gradually, so you don’t shock your followers with the sudden change.

An example may be from using vintage and hipster patterns to loose and hand-drawn illustrations, which are becoming trendy among 2020 web designs.

Refrain as well from adopting trends in your images and graphic designs just because they’re popular. You need to stay aligned with your brand image.

6. Employ image sitemaps.

If you use photo pop-ups, JavaScript galleries, and other similar methods to enhance your user experience, then you must employ image sitemaps.

If you don’t, web crawlers will have a hard time crawling your site.

To inform crawlers about undetected images and help Google spot them, you need to list their location in the image sitemap.

You can do that by inserting this line in your robots.txt file, which leads the way to the sitemap: Sitemap: http://[your URL]/sitemap_location.xml.

You can also go to the Search Console and submit the sitemap to Google.

With sitemaps, along with their correct format, Google’s guidelines for publishing photos, alt tags, and other techniques, you can boost your SEO efforts and online visibility.

Bottomline

Images can be complete game-changers for your site — if you leverage them correctly.

By applying these techniques, you can make your photos compelling, appealing, easy to load, and others, which, in turn, attracts your customers to respond favorably to your offers.

Take the time to optimize your images now, and you’ll soon see the huge difference it can make to your website and achieving your business goals.

 

How Call Centers Can Manage a Brand Crisis

September 22, 2019

Call centers are integral to the survival of any company. In fact, in today’s social media savvy society, customer service can make or break your business. Customers now have a louder voice and aren’t afraid to publicize their opinions (especially of companies), so one poor interaction with a customer could cost your business customers and profits.

Social media’s impact can turn a single reputation-damaging gaffe into a worldwide viral sensation with one customer complaint. After 2018’s public relations scandals relating to a death of a French bulldog on a United Airlines flight and an allergy-related death from a Pret-A-Manger sandwich, it’s now clearer than ever how vital customer relations are to a business’s success.

And while these PR disasters can cause a storm on social media, criticism can flood into call centers, as well. So how can call centers help manage and mitigate a brand crisis? The following are a few tips on how to solve these situations and prevent an international blunder.

Utilize artificial intelligence

The use of artificial intelligence in the workplace is on the rise. During a brand crisis or even an everyday interaction, AI can be incredibly useful for a call center. An AI call center gives agents the power to utilize data to their benefit. Customers often complain of having to repeat themselves to a different agent, and this issue can likely heighten tensions with an already exasperated customer. To avoid that scenario, AI pulls customer’s data together so that the information is available on each agent’s screen. When the customer’s call is routed through several agents, the next agent already knows all of the customer’s details and the current situation.

Incorporating social listening can help you understand your consumers and their interactions with agents better. Social listening, the process of monitoring your company’s digital conversations, can give you insight into the crisis and understand why customers are upset. It can help you come up with solutions, better prepare agents, and craft an apology. Social listening tools powered by AI uses machine learning to better track conversations and deliver expert advice.

While some people see AI as taking away jobs, in reality, AI does not have the capability to replace the emotional connections humans can provide. Instead, AI makes agents’ jobs easier with technology that can improve customer relations.

Separate phone lines

Beyond artificial intelligence, call center managers can implement other ways to help manage a brand crisis. By separating crisis calls from regular customer service calls, you can establish how many agents you might need to address the issue and can help the center function more smoothly instead of having all agents inundated with frustrated calls.

Set up call-backs

During a brand crisis, high caller volume is likely. Offering customers a call-back helps reduce customers’ time on hold (which will only further annoy them) and help call center agents manage the spikes in calls.

Give agents a break

Call center agents are typically not the cause of a brand crisis, but, unfortunately, they bear the brunt of it. Dealing with angry customer after angry customer can become draining and can test agents’ emotions and mental capability. Allowing agents to take a breather in between calls will give them much-needed stress relief. Without a break, call center agents could become overwhelmed and sour their interactions with customers.

Be empathetic

Make sure your agents understand the importance of empathy. Agents should be trained to offer compassion and understanding when dealing with a frustrated caller. Responding robotically or defensively will only exacerbate the issue. During a crisis is the time to show your humanity to customers.

Customer service is always vital, but in the age of internet, it is imperative that call center agents are trained to handle a brand crisis of any kind. By following these tips, your agents will be better prepared to speak to customers and handle any questions or concerns they may have.

To read more on topics like this, check out the technology category.

5 Simple Ways to Find Better-Paying Freelance Writing Jobs

 

Being a freelance writer is fascinating. You’ll enjoy flexibility, increase your knowledge about a vast collection of topics, and have control over your time. While these and many more are the benefits of being a freelance writer, it is vital to note that the pay isn’t going to be lucrative at first especially if you don’t know where to find high paying freelance writing work. On a site like Writezillas.com, for example, you can get more than $1000 to write a dissertation. There are many other sites like this, but before that, you can start getting a steady flow of high paying gigs online.

How To Find High Paying Freelance Writing Jobs Online

1. Create A Professional Website

If you want clients to pay you like a professional, you need to create a website that presents you as a professional. These days, the first thing the clients examine when considering an individual for service is their website. Your website should be designed by a highly skilled web developer. The content on your website should be written in correct English with no typographical or grammatical errors. The website should have a blog that is updated regularly with informative content. It should not always be about direct pitching.

2. Request Referrals From Satisfied Clients

When you have a satisfied client, feel free to ask him or her for referrals. If you met the client on a gig platform, ask them to give you a five-star rating and written feedback. That will help to increase the trust other clients have in your work skills, allowing you to charge higher. If you didn’t meet the client on any gig platform, you could simply ask them to post a testimonial on your website. You don’t need to be afraid to request a referral, especially when your client is satisfied.

3. Contact Clients Directly

One way to reduce the competition is to reach out to clients directly. Contact businesses that may need your services and tell them how they would benefit from having a freelance writer on their team. When a company is convinced that your services will be beneficial, they will be willing to pay anything you ask. There are also many websites that need the services of freelance writers but may not put adverts on job boards.

4. Write Free Guest Posts

This option may sound counterproductive, but it is one of the best ways to build your reputation and establish yourself in your niche. When your content is spectacular, individuals and groups that need writing services will contact you. To increase your chances of making more money by guest blogging for free, aim for high authority sites that get thousands of users daily. Remember that the higher the quality of your guest post, the higher the chances of being contacted by a client.

5. Build Your Network With Other Writers

The fact that you’re a freelance writer doesn’t mean you need to be a lone wolf. You can build your network with other writers rather than always see them as competitors. There are many social media groups for freelance writers you can visit to build your network. Join as many as you can, and be willing to exchange ideas with them. They can give you tips on how to get high paying gigs. Make sure that you’re not always at the receiving end of information. Be willing to contribute meaningfully in every group.

Conclusion

Being a freelance writer is profitable, but keep in mind that you’re not going to start getting high paying jobs overnight. You need to devote time and effort to create a name for yourself in the industry. Also, make sure that you are always ready to learn and improve your skills. It may not happen tomorrow, next week, or next month. However, you will eventually become a writer who never has to look for clients.

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Smart TV – 5 Notable Advantages

 

Not unlike how the bulky CRT television sets paved the way for the sleeker LCDs as well as LED variants, smart TVs have become the new trend in home entertainment today. After all, not only do they enable their users to access the internet through their built-in software but in doing so, limitations such as programme schedules and restrictions by television networks are rendered non-existent. And in this article, we will discuss the notable advantages that these types of TVs have over the alternatives and how they can vastly improve our entertainment experience.

  1. Internet connectivity

If there is one feature that defines a Smart TV, it is its ability to allow its users to go online. Whether you choose to connect to the internet either through Ethernet or Wi-Fi, the online connectivity that the platform offers provides a number of advantages that include, but aren’t necessarily limited to, video streaming from popular media providers, uploading content of your own and listening to music.

  1. Convenience in minimalism

Another advantage that smart televisions boast over other alternatives is the minimalistic approach in design. Since the technology that it offers its users is all built into the TV itself, the need for additional and external devices as well as peripherals becomes unnecessary. In this way, a smart TV is not only a cost-effective option, but it will also help keep your entertainment centre neat and organised too.

  1. Ease of use

With its wide range of features, you might think that navigating its interface can be a time-consuming and tedious task. But the fact of the matter is that nothing could be farther from the truth. From voice-assisted tools to mobile connectivity services, using a smart TV is easy for both tech-savvy individuals and laymen alike.

  1. Affordability

Despite the advanced technology that powers most smart TVs, these products aren’t as expensive as some might think. In fact, they’re relatively inexpensive and affordable to own. With a staggering number of available models offered at a wide range of prices, you’ll be hard-pressed not to find a smart TV that will enhance your viewing pleasure at a price that you’ll be more than happy to pay.

  1. Longevity

It’s an unavoidable reality for any electronic product to be replaced with newer variants, and televisions are no exception. But with constant development and updates in the software they use such as applications by fx digital, smart TVs offer users long-term entertainment when compared to their non-smart counterparts.

Even with the sheer popularity of mobile technology in the market today, televisions remain as relevant now as they ever have been in the past due in no small part to smart TVs. After all, they offer a lot of features and functionalities that significantly improve the user entertainment experience. And with plenty of available options, they are as easy to find as they are cheap to purchase. So, for those in the market for a new television set, you can do no better than a smart TV.

To read more on topics like this, check out the technology category.

Ways to Avoid Extra Costs When Renting a Large House

 

Renting a large house on a short trip will cost you a lot. These houses come with facilities you might not have when you decide to book a regular hotel room. If you can enjoy all these facilities, you can safely say that the place is worth renting.

Imagine being in a house with a mini library, a swimming pool, entertainment rooms, and even a golf course. Even if you work hard, you might not have all of them in your own house. Instead, you can rent the place for a night and feel like you own it. Besides, once you rent the home, it is yours for that time, and you can do whatever you want.

You need to be cautious, though, as you could incur more fees if you are too clumsy.

Follow the rules

Before you sign the deal and finalise the reservation, you need to read the terms. Some owners are quite strict. For instance, they do not allow you to bring pets. They also require you to clean up the place before leaving or pay additional fees for cleaning. As long as you understand these rules and you are willing to follow them, it is okay.

Avoid restricted places

Some owners ban their guests from entering certain areas in the house. It does not mean that they are trying to prevent you from having fun. It means that they might have items inside some rooms that they do not want you to touch. It is also possible that some areas are under renovation or there are repair issues that the owner is yet to fix. You could damage the property if you force your way in. Therefore, if told that the place is not for guests, you need to obey. Of course, the owner needs to explain this information before you book the place.

Be tough with your kids

At home, you might allow your kids to run around and enjoy everything. If they break anything, you have no choice but to forgive them. You believe that they are only kids, and they deserve to play. However, when you are in someone else’s house, you need to be careful. The items might be very expensive, and you do not want your kids to break them. Let them know that you are staying in a different place for the night and they need to be on their best behaviour. They can still play and have fun, but it does not mean they can touch the items that do not belong to them.

Do not get too drunk

Perhaps, you decide to rent a large house because you want to enjoy a pool party with your friends and get drunk. Make sure not to get too drunk since you could end up damaging some items inside the house. Tell someone in the group to remain sober to ensure that people will not go too crazy to the point that they start destroying the house.

Big houses for rent are worth it, but you need to be careful to avoid extra fees when you leave.

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Are You A Struggling Photographer

Here Is How You Can Make It!

Invoices, Payday Loans and More

Are you an aspiring photographer trying to make it big in this competitive world? Do you feel that your passion for photography is not enough to pay your hefty bills, whether that’s your daily expenses or the more critical bills, such as your mortgage? Do you ever consider giving up your love for a steady, more stable income job? If these are the question taking over your sanity, it is important to know that there is hope. Most people take the job of photography lightly, when in reality, it is something that requires effort, time, and consistency. Luckily, there are ways that can allow all aspiring or current photographers to receive the payment they deserve!

To make things easier on your end, here are the tips you should follow in order to make sure you are invoicing correctly:

Include the Important Information

No photographer would want their payment to be delayed. However, delayed payments are quite common because the complete invoice data is not sent out to the client. Including irrelevant details in the invoice can lead to confused and frustrated clients that could reject your invoice. In this case, it is important to make sure your invoice has all important information.

Just remember, the more –relevant- details in the invoice, the less room for disagreement.

Opt For a Standard Template

With a standard template for the invoice, you will be giving yourself a professional outlook while giving out your information. If you are having troubles in finding a proper invoice template, you can always create your own.

Staying Professional

When you are constantly photographing a client, there is no way you will not begin to understand them. Throughout the whole process, you must have communicated, asked questions and listened to your clients carefully. This must have led to you and your client establishing a business relationship, however, be careful. Do not let this relationship make you slack away from sending your invoice. Keep in mind, even if you think the client has gone over their budget, you need to let them know instead of staying quiet. Do not ask for immediate payment, but do give them reminders.

However, sometimes clients tend to take advantage of this relationship and cannot pay on the right date. Having a client that is not paying on the right date can cause troubles for you. If you have to meet deadlines and pay off bills, but do not have the cash, try out payday loans. Payday loans are loans you are taking from lenders that you will have to pay back with a fee attached to it. Say, if you are taking $100, you will have to pay back $130 or so. Even though are getting instant cash, make sure you are paying back before the price is too high. If you are in a cash emergency, try out Bonsai Finance.

Think and Act Fast

Before taking up new work or after one project has come to an end, send out your invoice. Delaying the invoice will not only result in delayed payment but it will allow your client to think of you as an unprofessional photographer. With this thought in mind, there is a chance the client is taking advantage of this. To prevent this from happening, all you have to do is send out your invoice as soon as you can.

Make an Agreement

It is well understood about the business world (and you do not even have to be in the business world to understand this) that clients are often extremely lazy in giving their payment. While some might delay the payment, others might just disappear without even doing so. This is the sad, but true reality of business.

What you can do to prevent this from happening is making an agreement. Before you are saying “yes” to the client, hand the client a letter of agreement that clearly states all your terms and deadlines. Nothing in the agreement should be too complex for the client to understand nor should it be too ambiguous. It should be simple so the client can sign it before you start working for him or her.

Keep Account of Your Expenses

An essential step in business is keeping account of your expenses. Even the cab you took to meet your client or the props you got last minute should be counted in these expenses. Even if this seems weird to do in the beginning, in the long run, it will help your business.

From the beginning of your photography career, you need to make sure there is an established way of organizing receipts and other records. Whether you choose to write these expenses and keep them in folders, or input the data onto your computer or laptop, make sure it is safe and easy for you to understand in the future.

Understand Taxes

In the beginning, understanding how taxes work can be confusing. However, just know that you need to get the right information and record it because it is as important as choosing the right photography equipment for a big shoot.

Making a Client

Pre-Booking

  • Meet the client and discuss the goal of the shoot
  • Provide your client with the access to your work and contact information

First Meeting

  • Prepare the workspace
  • Ask question so you can understand the client
  • Show previous works
  • Talk about the pricing and payment
  • Give them an agreement

Booking Process

  • Sign the contact
  • Discuss shoot details

Before the Shoot

  • Set a date and choose the location
  • Talk about the ideas
  • Confirm the date, time and location
  • Prepare your equipment

After the Shoot

  • Send a thank you email
  • With client’s consent, share the images
  • Sort and edit photos
  • Confirm date and time for viewing photos
  • Share photos with client
  • Send the invoice
  • Deliver the photos to the client

These are simple ways you can make it as a photographer. Stick to the simple tips and you will be receiving the amount of money you deserve!

To read more on topics like this, check out the technology category.

The Fundamentals of USB-C

Those who are familiar with personal technology understand that the idea of a universal standard is very rare. Sometimes, you can see a format conflict that ultimately ends with one option supplanting the other, like how Blu-ray ultimately beat out HD-DVD to become the successor to DVDs.

One exception in this regard is USB-C in terms of its prominence. It can be found on just about any device you can think of, but not every single USB-C port out there is the same, even if they look identical. So, whether you’re looking for a USB C to VGA connection or have simpler plans for your new device, here’s a starter guide on how to understand them and work them to your advantage.

The USB-C Cable Explained

The origins of USB-C lie with the USB Implementers Forum a group of over 700 companies including PC giants like Apple, Dell, Microsoft, and Samsung. This is part of the reason why USB-C has been so easily accepted across a wide span of different PCs. Compare it to some of the options like MagSafe, which never really caught on outside of the Apple umbrella.

If you take a look at a USB-C connector, there’s a chance it looks a lot like a micro USB connector, with one major difference. Similar to MagSafe and Lightning, as USB-C connector is fully reversible, with no up or down orientation. This is a major leap above USB technology, which some people called “dumb” cables because you had to plug them in a certain way or at a certain orientation, or not reap any benefits at all. Note that every USB-C cable you buy has a 3.1 protocol at the base. Running at 10Gpbs, this is nearly twice as fast as USB 3.0.

Note that the USB Implementers Forum defines the Gen 1 USB 3.1 standard as meeting the interface and data signaling rates as USB 3.0. Basically, this means USB 3.1. Gen 1 goes at the same 5Gbps speeds as USB 3.0. 3.1 Gen 2, though, means rates at 10Gpbs. This can match a single-channel Thunderbolt’s speed.

Supporting Your Ports

USB-C supports various video signals and power streams, so in terms of external display connections, you can use DisplayPort, HDMI, or MHL, so long as you have the proper adapters and cables. Notably, you can transfer audio through USB-C, and some have suggested USB-C as a possible replacement for the classic 3.5 mm headphone jack. However, this hasn’t entirely taken root yet.

For PC shoppers, you want to make sure that you take a close look at the specs, especially if you’re looking to set up some external displays. Power delivery and data transfers will generally be compatible no matter what. The same applies to USB C to ethernet connections as well. but not every PC manufacturer has ports that will connect to every type of graphics hardware, not yet anyway.

One area that may be a bit confusing for people making the switch to USB-C is how it matches with older USB 3.0 ports. Electrically, these can work, and your USB-C is completely compatible with any USB 3.1 ports. However, if you have a peripheral or connection without a USB-C plug, you need to buy an adapter or cable. In some cases, these may come with your laptop, in others, you need to make a purchase.

One way to navigate this issue is by buying a few typical USB-C cables. These will work with anything that supports USB-C. Those who may remember the trouble of trying to charge a micro USB phone with a mini USB charger can appreciate the added benefits here.

Following Proper Procedures With Your USB Type-C Cable

One thing that also bears mentioning with USB-C, like any types of cables, is that you need to follow the proper procedures both with using them and buying devices with them in mind. For example, many people like to make their laptops into a desktop-like station, with different peripherals all plugged in. However, with the advent of USB-C, maintaining these items and adapters for all of your legacy peripherals can be a headache, especially if your computer has only one USB-C port to go around.

One thing that can make this easier is the advent of the USB-C docking station. PC manufacturers and third-parties alike offer these handy tools, making it possible to recharge your laptop and have access to extra ports like ethernet or HDMI. If needed, you can even put in additional support for multiple monitors.

So, with this said, do you need USB-C in order to get by nowadays? It’s certainly something you want to consider. For example, if you are interested in buying a very thin laptop, it’s likely going to have a USB-C port by necessity, giving you little choice when it comes to learning the ropes. Many newer desktops are going to have these as well, particularly some of the higher-end options or gaming computers.

In addition, many people have been concerned in the past about incompatibility and potentially damaging their products by charging with the wrong USB-C cable. The fact of the matter is that these issues can happen any time that you fail to properly vet the products that you buy and the vendors you buy from. As long as you do your research on cables, you’ll be just fine. For example, a properly made cable will have resistors so you never have to worry about frying a device, even if it’s the wrong one for that cable.

Ultimately, the gulf in power and data transferrance between USB-C and its counterparts mean that even if you’re not interested in it now, you probably will certainly. Many people may remember the times when USB slowly overtook options like ADB, parallel, FireWire, and SCSI. In time, it looks like USB-C will do the same.

usb-c usb-c cable usb type-c usb c to ethernet usb c to vga

To read more on topics like this, check out the technology category.

Designing a Unique Office Space

If you’d like to design an office space, which is functional, safe and stylish, continue reading to discover a few handy tips to help you get started.

Designing a unique office space:

1. Consider purchasing an ottoman to decorate your office with

If space in your office is limited, consider purchasing an ottoman which guests can use as a seat. This will add a pop of colour and texture to your office space.

2. Place unique, eye catching light fixtures in your office

Besides having the proper lighting in your office for health and safety measures you can also use it to create a more modern office. One way to do this is to replace your current light fixtures with stylish, sleek office lighting. You’ll be able to install in a few minutes and it will totally change the look and feel of your office.

If you’re looking for more information on health and safety in your office check out, Citation.co.uk.

3. Place a textured rug in your office

One way to make your office space seem a little more inviting is to place a textured rug such as a shaggy rug or a faux fur rug in the middle of your office. If your office has a minimalist inspired vibe you may want to opt for a simple white or black shaggy rug, while if you’re not afraid of a bit of color, you may want to opt for a colorful textured rug.

4. If you have plenty of room, place a tall table in your office

If you have a large office space and foresee visitors spending time in your office on a regular basis, it’s well worth placing a tall table in the middle of your office. As tall tables paired with stylish stools are great if you see yourself hosting business meetings in your office.

One of the benefits of opting for a tall table over a regular table is that you’ll be able to hide your stools under your table, when you’re not using them, which will give you extra space in your office.

5. Turn one of your walls into a living wall 

What is a living wall? A living wall is an indoor garden which you can create with a wire planter wall frame. So if have a green thumb and would love to brighten up your office, it’s well worth finding out more information about creating your very own living wall.

6. Place a corner desk in your office

If you’re always running out of desk space, you may want to place a corner desk in your office, which will provide you with extra room to place items such as work related folders and stationary.

7. Place a large map of the world on one of your walls

Alternatively, another one way to create a unique, one of a kind office is to have a map of the world painted on one of your walls. Alternatively, you may be able to find wall paper or wall decals which feature a large map of the world, which you may be interested purchasing.

8. Floor to ceiling window

If you’d love to work with a stunning view, it may be worth incorporating a floor to ceiling window in your office. This will also add more natural lighting into your space.

Hopefully you’ve discovered a few creative office design ideas, that will transform the look and feel of your office!

To read more on topics like this, check out the technology category.