| Get back to basics with your business technology |
| Technology can do a lot for home offices as well as small and medium-size businesses, but choosing and investing in the appropriate level of technology can sometimes feel overwhelming and time-consuming. Business owners and consumers alike sometimes overspend on technology rather than selecting the right tools to help them improve their productivity while keeping their costs at a minimum. |
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| Top apps help keep small-business owners efficient and on the go |
| With all the buzz surrounding business use of "cloud computing," you might think the concept of conducting business anywhere - on the road, in the board room, on a soccer field or in the gym - was a new one. But small-business owners (SBOs) have been working on the go for decades. The arrival of mobile apps has just made things a little easier for them. |
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| Top 2014 home improvement trends: smart homes and home automation |
| From smartphones to smart cars, technology is transforming virtually every aspect of our busy lives. Technologies not only make life easier while on the go, but new options are quickly simplifying life at home as well. Some experts are predicting 2014 will be the year of the smart home. Home automation is a top home improvement trend, making the Jetsons' futuristic lifestyle more realistic than ever before. |
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| Beyond traditional school supplies |
| The school year is in full swing, and shopping for pens, pencils and notebooks is already a memory. In addition to these traditional supplies, many of today's students have another tool - often underutilized - to help them succeed the in classroom: their smartphones and tablets. |
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| Diesel rides in demand for 2014 |
| Not that long ago, finding a diesel car or truck - a truck with fewer than 18 wheels, anyway - on an American highway was about as rare as an icy road in July. Not so today. The era of dirty, smelly and noisy diesel vehicles has gone the way of the 8-track tape player, clearing a path for high-profile and increasingly popular diesel sedans, SUVs and pickup trucks. |
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| Safety tips for your home's largest moving object - the garage door |
| The garage door's role in the home has changed dramatically over the last 30 years and most people don't realize it. Consider this: garage door openers have been installed in 35 million homes across the United States, making them one of the most widely used appliances. In fact, more than 70 percent of today's homeowners use their attached garage as their main entrance to their home. |
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| Top technologies guide for mature drivers |
| The shiny paint. The new car smell. Many aspects about buying or leasing a new vehicle can excite your senses. Chances are your new vehicle will feature some new technologies, many of which can make driving safer, easier and more enjoyable. To be safe on the road, it's important to learn how these technologies work in your current vehicle or a new one. |
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| Break away from bad online gaming habits |
| The holiday season is always an exciting time for gamers. This year is particularly interesting with the launch of two new gaming systems - Sony's PlayStation 4 and Microsoft's Xbox One, as well as a long list of titles gamers everywhere are feverishly waiting to play, including "Watch Dogs," "Assassin's Creed IV" and "Battlefield 4." |
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| Miley Cyrus, notorious trials and Obamacare top online searches for 2013 |
| While election politicking dominated the top 10 searches of 2012, this year people were a little starry-eyed when it comes to online searching. Miley Cyrus (No. 1) came into our lives like a wrecking ball and dethroned Kim Kardashian (No. 2) to become Yahoo's most searched person in 2013. |
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| Three tips to extend the life of your smartphone |
| We sit on our smartphones, toss them into a purse and sometimes, quite accidentally, douse them in the toilet. And that doesn't include what grimy-fingered kids do to smartphones as they play games. Generally, we are not very nice to the technology that has become central to our lifestyles. |
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| Digital world demands new IT workforce |
| It's no secret that technology has changed how we live. From tablets and streaming video, to big data analytics and network security, we live in a digital world that impacts us every minute of every day. However, technology not only improves the way we live and work in the present, but also offers great opportunity for the future. |
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| Americans' top Internet searches of 2013 |
| Looking back on 2013, billions of Internet searches from around the world reveal it was a year of American songs, superhero movies, social media love, high-end designer brands, controversial sports stars, European getaways and fierce women. |
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| How to get the most out of your new tablet in the new year |
| Tablets are clearly today's hot tech device: shipments will reach 184 million units in 2013 alone, estimates Gartner, an information technology research company. If you don't already own a tablet, it's very possible you might receive an iPad, Kindle or Nexus as a holiday gift. Knowing a few tricks to get the most out of your new mobile device will ensure it helps streamline your life both at work and at home. |
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| Maximizing your child's learning with technology |
| A practice that was once frowned upon, many schools are now encouraging students to bring their own tablets, smartphones and notebook computers into the classroom to improve student learning opportunities. With the rise of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programs, many parents are wondering how they can ensure their child has the most appropriate technology to help them succeed. The upcoming holiday season is a great opportunity to find the right device for your child. |
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| Mobile apps speed up holiday shopping process - with money savings |
| More and more people are connecting with work and family while on the go. The availability of different apps for smartphones makes it possible to conduct business, make lists, schedule meetings and contact family members when a change of plans occurs, all while sitting in an office meeting, waiting for an appointment or heading home on the bus. |
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| New offerings in home and on-the-go entertainment: how to 'decode' the many options |
| With all of the advancements in home entertainment technology, there are now more options than ever to watch movies at home or on the go that fit your budget and lifestyle. When planning a family movie night, road trip or just a cozy night in, here are terms that will help explain some of today's most popular movie-watching options: |
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| Staying productive and getting things done at work and on the go |
| The always on, always connected way of life has benefits and drawbacks - our to-do list never seems to stop growing while the time never seems to stop shrinking. Technology makes freedom possible, but balancing personal and professional responsibilities requires more than the ability to work from anywhere, it's about what you are able to get done from where you are that matters. |
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| Small businesses go leaner, more effective with technology tools |
| While the Great Recession convinced many big corporations to improve efficiency and reduce spending, small businesses have historically known the value of operating "lean and mean." Many have never had another option, and have always had to accomplish more with less. Fortunately, technology is making it easier than ever for small-business owners to work smarter and more efficiently - and continue growing their businesses. |
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| It's not child's play: Buying the right video games for kids |
| The upcoming holiday season has parents and family members focused on finding the perfect gift for their loved ones. With this year's release of the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One joining the new Wii U, video games are bound to once again be at the top of wish lists. With a vast selection of titles and genres, there is something for every player. While choosing the right game may be perplexing to some parents, figuring out which games are suitable for your child doesn't have to be. Remember to ask these important questions before giving video games and other interactive content as a gift. |
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| Fun or fantasy? How to know if a video game is right for your child |
| If you are like most Americans, you have computer and video game fans in your home. However, as a parent, it is not always easy to decide if a popular video game is right for your child. That is where ratings and parental controls can help. Here's what you need to know. |
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| Modern technology aims to help older drivers |
| Technology is increasingly integrating with many aspects of our daily routines. From toothbrushes that beep when you are brushing too hard to thermostats that automatically adjust the temperature based on your behavior, advances in technology are getting personal in ways that are intended to help ease your experience. |
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| Hearing aids for the rock-and-roll generation |
| Baby boomers grew up listening to The Who's Live at Leeds and other albums with liner notes that admonished young rockers to "play it loud" or "turn it up." For the generation that grew up blasting stereos until the bedroom windows rattled and attending rock concerts that left ears ringing for a week or more, it's little surprise that many are experiencing hearing loss. Here's what you need to know. |
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| Why Americans are cutting the cord and saving money |
| Frugal Americans know how to save money, not only by keeping it in their pocket but by making wise purchasing decisions. As many have found, a frugal lifestyle does not mean going without. One way many people have saved money is by cutting the cord and eliminating cable or satellite TV from the household budget. By taking that step, frugal consumers can save up to $1,200 per year. |
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| Fun home entertainment gifts for less than $100 |
| What do most people want for the holidays? Technology and home entertainment gifts are highly sought after, meaning gift-givers have plenty of opportunities to get an impressive present. If you think you need to spend a lot to get a great gift, think again. There are many great options for less than $100. |
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| Think mobile: marketing tips for local businesses |
| No doubt about it, mobile technology is transforming the way consumers live and businesses operate. Today nearly 5 billion people use mobile phones around the world, with 1 billion of those phones being smartphones. According to research conducted by venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, Americans check their smartphones more than 150 times a day. |
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| Turning your mechanical passion into a unique career |
| Technical and mechanical ability often shows itself at an early age. Chances are you've seen this in yourself. You always took care of your own bike and car. Do others see it? Are you the first person they come to when something is broken? Do you like troubleshooting mechanical problems and won't stop until you've found the solution? If you wear the term "gearhead" with pride, a career as a mechanic may seem an obvious choice. But what if you want something bigger? Something more unique that can broaden your career and income possibilities? The professions are out there - here are just a few. |
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| Tips and tricks for planning the perfect Halloween |
| Planning the perfect Halloween can be pretty spooky, and it's not just because of the ghosts and ghouls that run from door to door. Coordinating Halloween activities, planning a festive party and pulling off the perfect costume for each family member can be frightening. But with a few technology tricks, you'll be rewarded with a lot of treats and plenty of fun to make this holiday one to remember. |
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| Technology to keep families connected and protected this season |
| It's the time of year when family schedules change and their daily routines reset. From coordinating calendars to handling additional demands such as homework and extracurricular activities, it can be a challenging, if not daunting, time for even the most organized family. |
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| Make game time a chance to give back this holiday season |
| The holidays provide the perfect opportunity for family gatherings and gift exchanges. More so than ever, games of all kinds are factoring into a night by the fire or near the tree. If you're hesitant about letting consoles compromise your family time, consider the bonding potential and positive impact gaming can have on you, your loved ones, and even as a way to give back. |
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| Certifications: the new key to employment |
| A professional certification may not always be a job requirement, but it is often a deciding factor between qualified candidates. In fact, technology is one of the most in-demand career fields, but recent graduates and professionals are both struggling to find new jobs or get promoted because they don't have a certification - a third-party validation of their skills. |
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| Extreme athletes require high-performance gear |
| In extreme sports competitions such as the X Games, some of the world's gutsiest (some may say craziest) athletes push themselves - and their equipment - to the limit. To help these athletes prevent injuries and perform their best, competitors in sports such as motocross, rallycross, skateboarding, BMX biking and mountain biking depend on the ever-evolving safety gear made possible by a broad mix of tough, cushioning and high-performance plastics. |
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| Smart TV smarts: Learning the truth about smart TVs |
| American consumers are increasingly comfortable with the term "smart" when it's associated with technology. From smartphones to smart cars and even smart clothing, they've embraced the idea of devices that are "intelligent" and responsive to their changing needs. Even though smart TVs have been around for almost five years, many consumers still don't have all the facts. |
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