WoWeb - Teacher Web

IT News - Computing, Tech and Apps

[woweb-blog]

How to Choose the Best Wireless Router for Home

Nowadays, people become more and more dependent on various devices and gadgets because technological progress is revolutionizing at an exponential rate.

We already have smart devices that link between themselves and are also capable of linking with our house if it’s a smart one or with security system if we live in a regular house with latest security installed. We can remotely access almost everything, sync our phones with TV or monitors and play video.

Moreover, we can even manage our household appliances with the help of our smartphones: do you need your washing machine to do the laundry and dry it by 4 PM? Just program it with the help of your smartphone and you’re good to go.

Naturally, this level of interdependency with multiple computers and a heap of other Wi-Fi devices in our homes requires powerful wireless routers to maintain this network of devices, which all rely on uninterrupted Internet access.

In order to help you choose a suitable wifi router we will take a look at several aspects that must be considered, while choosing the heart of your entertainment system.

Aspects to consider when choosing wireless routers:

1. Signal strength

Different routers, obviously, have different signal strengths. It may happen that the router you bought provides weak signal, despite the fact that your apartment or house is not that big.

Therefore, before buying one you need to pay attention to the signal strength. After you bought the router – test it immediately, because sometimes the signal strength indicated on the box doesn’t match the actual one. One of the best routers that provides strong signal is D-Link AC3200 Ultra.

2. Performance

Manufacturers usually indicate the performance characteristics in the instructions or on their website; however you will not be able to understand what speed throughput you will be getting in the environment of your apartment

Therefore, when you pick a model that theoretically suits your needs – search the web and find other users’ reviews. They will help you understand the probability that the router you chose will work in your apartment just as the manufacturer claims it will.

You can also use online tools to check speed throughput for lots of models, as well as will provide a possibility to compare different models.

3. Speed

You will probably want to buy one of the latest models of the wireless router, which is why you need to make sure that it supports the internet connection you have.

Keep in mind that theoretical limit of the up-to-date routers is 600 mbps, although they also must support 300 mbps (802.11N standard). In the obsolete models, manufacturers used 54 Mbps (802.11G standard).

You can find out this information in the router’s documentation or specifications, indicated on manufacturer’s website. One of the best up-to-date routers with excellent speed is Linksys WRT1900ACS Dual-Band Gigabit.

4. Compatibility

You need to make sure that the router you chose is compatible with all the devices you have at home. Check router’s connectivity before buying it, otherwise you will have additionally buy adapters.

5. Customer Support Warranties

If you are not very tech savvy, you need to consider a possibility that you’ll require some help with router installation and maintenance, which is why it is better to find out a manufacturer that provides great customer support for its products.

Thus, anytime you have a question or issue – you will be able to resolve it. Warranty also matters, which is why you should choose a router with at least a year warranty period.

During this time, you will be able to address the manufacturer if something isn’t right with the router, replace it and in general make sure that it was the right choice

Have you decided what’s the best wireless router for your home?

If you made up your mind to find a great wireless router that will meet your specific needs, make a list of pros and cons of the models you’ve outlined in your web search. Remember that your list must be based on the aspects indicated above. After you run the models, you’ve chosen through this list – it will be easier for you to decide which one got the most points.

[woweb-blog]

Best Laser Projection Virtual Keyboards of 2016

Due to the advancements in modern technologies, tiny portable devices are now capable of granting us internet-access wherever we are. Busy lifestyle and constant need of keeping up with the times boost the demand of technologies that are ultra-portable and lightweight. Laser projection virtual keyboard is the best example of this innovative technology.

It’s a portable keyboard that one can wear on a keychain and use anytime there arises a necessity to create sizable text document or write a letter. Projection keyboard can be used on any flat and opaque surface. It is compatible with the majority of operating systems and uses only 1 lithium ion battery.

Here are the best laser projection virtual keyboards that already are or will be available on the market this year:

Celluon EPIC Ultra-Portable Virtual Keyboard

Celluon EPIC Ultra-Portable is a laser projected virtual keyboard that works on all opaque and flat surfaces. This keyboard is the most popular among users, which is why it takes the 1st place in our list. Celluon laser projected keyboard can boast adjustable settings for sound feedback as well as brightness; therefore, you can fine-tune it to work anywhere: desk, bench, magazine – you name it

Interface wise it has HID Profile Ver 1.0 and Bluetooth V3.0, which is why it is compatible with the majority of the Bluetooth-ready devices. Celluon EPIC Ultra-Portable truly is tiny (3.8 x 1.8 x 6.8 cm) and weighs only 60 grams. It has built-in lithium-ion battery with a 660 mAH @ 3.7V capacity and is compatible with devices running such systems as Android 4.0 and higher, Windows XP+, Mac OS X 10+, Blackberry 10 and iOS4.

Zoook ZB-MAGIC Laser Virtual Keyboard

Convenient QWERTY keyboard with precise data input and Bluetooth interface will be an irreplaceable necessity if you are planning a business trip and cannot take lots of luggage with you. Zoook ZB-MAGIC comes with 1 rechargeable battery lithium-ion battery.

Thanks to USB and Bluetooth interface, this tiny keyboard will be compatible with the overwhelming majority of Bluetooth devices, running Android v3.1, Windows XP/7, Mac OS X and iOS4 operating systems. You will be able to use it on any flat surface, for instance a wide book or coffee table if there appears a necessity to write an urgent letter.

It has an impressive detection rate of more than 400 characters per minute. It has white finish and looks very elegant. Zoook ZB-MAGIC weighs only 47 grams and fits in any pocket due to its small dimensions (7.5 x 1.8 x 3.8 cm).

I/O Magic Magictouch

I/O Magic Magictouch is a great laser projection keyboard that will be an outstanding present to any fan of hi-tech. This keyboard possesses settings for brightness, sound feedback and sensitivity calibration. It is compatible with almost all portable devices running Android 4.0 and higher, Mac OS X 10, Blackberry 10, Windows XP+ and iOS4.

It’s new on the market and hasn’t been thoroughly tested yet, however first impressions are quite positive. Just like the other laser-projected keyboards in our list, it works on flat, opaque surfaces. I/O Magic Magictouch has HID Profile Ver 1.0 and Bluetooth V2.1 interface and 660 mAH at 3.7V capacity.

It runs on a single lithium-ion battery and weights 90 grams. Dimensions wise it is small (7.1 x 2 x 3.8) and suitable for the road trips.

AGS Wireless Laser Projected Keyboard

AGS Wireless Laser Projection keyboard is actually one of the most affordable laser keyboards on the market. It was released quite a while ago in comparison to other entries in our list and already managed to gain a decent base of happy customers. It can boast impeccable performance with maximum input speed of 350 words per minute.

At first glance, the layout is simple English QWERTY, but this laser keyboard can boast its compatibility with the most popular operating systems: Windows, Android, Mac OS and iOS. It works using one lithium ion battery, which is rechargeable and included in the package.

AGS Wireless Laser Projection keyboard weights 141 grams and is small enough (5 x 12 x 7.1) to take it in a business trip.

SUNKINGDOM 3-In-1 Wireless Laser Projection Keyboard Bluetooth Speaker Stereo

In terms of size, SUNKINGDOM 3-In-1 is undoubtedly bigger (6.4 x 3.6 x 9.8 cm) than other laser projection keyboards from our list; however, one has to remember that this is 3-in-1 deal.This is a keyboard, as Bluetooth speaker and external battery for mobile devices. Battery’s capacity is 5200 mA.

This relatively tiny device is a usefulentertainment system and changing station. It allows you to type letters, listen to the music and even charge your phone – all at same time. It can boast ergonomic outlook and 99 percent precision rate. It works best on flat opaque surfaces and includes mouse.

The CTX Virtual Laser Projection USB Bluetooth Keyboard

Out of all the laser-projected keyboards that we discussed so far, CTX Virtual Technologies Laser Projected USB Bluetooth Keyboard is the heaviest, weighting around 200 grams. It is a high precision 78-key laser keyboard that works flawlessly on flat and opaque surfaces. It has a built-in battery that can be charged via USB.

It has Bluetooth and USB interface and is compatible with most of the mobile devices, which makes it a perfect keypad to take in a trip. Despite the fact that it’s relatively heavy, it is still rather small (13.2 x 11.4 x 3.8) and can fit into the pocket. Settings allow regulation of brightness, sound feedback and many other features.

Bottom Line on the Best Laser Projection Virtual Keyboard

Portable keyboard is a perfect device to take in a business trip when your luggage is very limited. Laser projection virtual keyboards are quite affordable (around $40 - $60) and allow you to be always ready to write an important letter or draw up a contract.

Some of them even include speakers for your entertainment. Currently it is still considered an innovative technology that with a flow of time will become as common as wireless keyboards we are used to today.

[woweb-blog]

The Advantages of PC Liquid Cooling System

Given that modern graphics cards, processors and CPU/GPU microprocessors are evolving at rapid-fire pace, it should not come as a surprise that they are generating exponentially greater amount of heat. For instance, a dual-processor graphics card like ATI Radeon 3870 X2 can generate up to 380 watts of heat.

This level of heat can be compared to that of a nuclear reactor and as such, it can easily damage your internal PC components, which is why the need of a reliable and extremely efficient cooling system is higher than ever.

Traditional air-cooling will require progressively more of the precious real estate inside your PC and the noise of the abundance of powerful fans will be unbearable. Thus, if you have no intention of working in noise-cancelling headphones all the time – you may want to consider liquid cooling or also known water cooling system for your PC.

Traditional Air Cooling vs Liquid Cooling

In case of purchasing your computer from a manufacturer you will have no concerns regarding the cooling system – it will already be installed. However, in case you made up your mind to create a custom PC, you will be faced with a difficult choice – which cooling system to choose for your heat-generating computer. Should you go with traditional and more affordable air-cooling system and listen to the irritating noise of the fans or fork up for the more expensive, but silent and efficient liquid-cooling system. It’s worth to take a quick look at both, while making up your mind.

If you intend to build a truly powerful PC with monster graphics card and processor, you will definitely require efficient cooling. In case of air-cooling system installation, it translates into much more and much bigger fans: in case itself, in graphics cards, CPU fans and so on. Simply imagine the level of noise all of them will be producing, while working simultaneously. Apart from that, they are not as efficient as liquid-cooling system.

What is Liquid Cooling ?

Nowadays, liquid cooling as well as water-cooling is the best method of swift heat dissipation due to the incredibly efficient thermal performance. Liquid cooling allows completely silent heat removal, which is extremely important for certain critical areas of you PC components. Tubes with the coolant/water can be directed precisely to the area of the most intense heat generation. Water blocks provide twice as much cooling power than fans in the air cooling system, but are much smaller. Moreover, surgical and instant heat removal boost the overclocking potential of your PC components.

How Water-Cooling Works?

PC liquid-cooling system consists of water blocks, several tubes, filled with coolant (usually these tubes are colorful), radiator and a few other components, including a couple of fans to pomp the coolant liquid. Mode of operation of PC Liquid-cooling system is very similar to automobile cooling system. It utilizes fundamental principle of thermodynamics, namely that heat transfers from hotter objects to colder objects. Thus, the liquid transfers heat from the heated objects to cool ones.

Advantages of using PC Liquid Cooling

Low Maintenance:

In case liquid-cooling system is set up as it is supposed to, with all necessary precautions and in compliance to the instructions – it will require almost no maintenance in comparison to the traditional air-cooling system, where you need to clean fans n a regular basis.

Silent Work:

Due to the absence of the huge and loud fans, liquid-cooling system works flawlessly and completely silently. The difference becomes obvious if you are working with powerful graphics card or CPU.

Impeccable Cooling Performance:

Liquid Cooling system undoubtedly leaves traditional air-cooling system behind in terms of efficiency. It can provide twice the cooling power in comparison to the air-cooling system. Surgical approach to heat removal redirects considerably more power to the source of heat, without dispersing any part of it.

Compact Size:

As opposed to huge fansthat are vital for cooling of the modern powerful PCs and require a lot of space inside your PC, liquid-cooling system is very compact and requires little space. The remaining free space can used to add RAID or other upgrades.

Extended Service Life of PC Components:

Due to the efficient and timely heat removal, other parts of your PC operate in favorable temperature. Absence of temperature fluctuations allow preserving these components in better condition for a longer period of time, which means you will require less maintenance checks and reparations.

Striking Outlook:

Colorful coolant-filled tubes look strikingly beautiful and futuristic. You can actually make your PC look even cooler by using a transparent case and neon tap lights.

Conclusion:

For the majority of users air-cooling remains the preferable option due to the low price and lack of complexity during installation. However, in case you’re looking ahead and intend to build a powerful PC with extreme heat-generating graphics card or processor – it is obviously better to go with liquid cooling. Thus, if you have enough cash you can indulge yourself in awesomeness of water-cooling system that works silently, efficiently and requires little space.

[woweb-blog]

D-Wave 2X™ - Dawn of a New Era in Quantum Computing

Incontestable leader of quantum computing, D-Wave Systems, has declared the launch of its latest model “D-Wave 2X”. New quantum computer boasts 1000+ qubits (1097 qubits to be exact) and an entire row of additional groundbreaking technological innovations that allow potential users to solve much more extensive and complicated problems than was previously possible.

D-Wave 2X is an ideal tool for resolution of optimization problems, in other words - for choosing the best possible solution out of the billions of potential ones. In January 2015 D-Wave Systems managed to raise $29 million for the project, however the main investor expressed a wish to remain anonymous.

Before moving on to the discussion of detailed specifications of this newly emerged technological wonder, it would be useful to clarify what’s it about.

What is Quantum computing

Quantum computing is a field of study, dedicated to the creation of quantum computers that use superposition and entanglement in order to accomplish data processing operations. The main difference between traditional transistor-based computers and quantum ones lies in the fact that the traditional ones process binary encoded data (bits: 0 or 1), while quantum computers operate with qubits (quantum bits).

How Quantum Computing works

Suffices to say that in compliance with collaborative report, published by NASA and Google, D-Wave 2X operates 100 million times quicker than conventional computer chips, while solving optimization problems. It was able to deliver the required answer within seconds. System running at 15 millikelvins is a part of the reason why unimaginable speed like that became a reality. It runs at almost absolute zero and definitely at much lower temperatures than those in space.

In comparison, such a complex and extensive task would have been accomplished within a period of 10 000 years by a conventional 1-core computer. Another part of the reason why D-Wave 2X operates considerably faster is the fact that it runs on qubits (quantum bits) as opposed to simple binary system of ones and zeros. For qubits, 0 and 1 pairs are processed at the same time, which is why calculations are performed at higher speed.

As of the beginning of 2016, these new processors are considered to be the most sophisticated circuits with incorporated superconductor that were effectively exploited in the production systems. It became possible due to 128000 Josephson tunnel junctions. Processors became considerably faster and much more robust of the boost in circuitry precision control as well as due to the noise reduction by approximately 50 percent.

Creation of specific benchmarks for testing

Given that there are only a couple of enterprises that work on the creation of quantum computers, D-Wave Systems had to establish their own benchmarks for testing of the new system. The established benchmarks represented an array of combinatorial optimization problems that were the reflection of potential real life challenges. Benchmarks were based on the most commonly used principle of finding a solution that is “the closest to the ideal” or “the best possible, given certain amount of time and funds”.

The results of D-Wave 2X™ performance in compliance with above-mentioned benchmarks:

Based on the total time spent on processing, D-Wave 2X delivered near-optimal solution 15 times quicker than conventional solvers.

Depending on the input data, D-Wave 2X delivers near-optimal solution 2 to 600 times quicker than advanced and fine-tuned classical solvers.In instances, where the input problems allowed for calculation of the difference between “optimal” and “near-optimal” solutions, such difference did not exceed 1%. Overall, the performance of D-Wave 2X in finding near-optimal solutions is 100 faster than in conventional solvers.

In instances, where the input problems allowed for calculation of the difference between “optimal” and “near-optimal” solutions, such difference did not exceed 1%. Overall, the performance of D-Wave 2X in finding near-optimal solutions is 100 faster than in conventional solvers.

Conclusion:

D-Wave 2X™ undeniably marks a new era in the field of quantum computing. Despite the fact that the industry as a whole is currently in its embryo state, D-Wave Systems managed to make a huge step in the direction of further quantum computing advancements. D-Wave 2X™ Quantum Computer is currently available for purchasing. Companies (like NASA) that require resolution of sophisticated and complex problems will definitely benefit from installation of this system. At the moment, its total cost is $15 million.