1080 refers to the number of horizontal lines of visual information displayed on a television screen. For comparison, the Wii, like pre-HD TVs, offers a measly 480 lines. The more lines, the better-looking the image. The “p” in 1080p stands for progressive scan, as opposed to “i” for interlaced, and tells you how the image is output to the screen. An interlaced scan outputs every other line then lays in the other lines in the gaps left by the first scan....

Basic Functionality The bass reflex speaker is designed so that the back wave of a speaker cone is routed through an open port (sometimes called a vent or tube) in the enclosure in order to reinforce overall bass output. These ports are generally located on the front or rear of the speaker cabinet and can vary in depth and diameter (even wide enough to reach your hand through). Channeling the speaker cone’s rear sound wave through such a port can often be an effective way to increase output volume, reduce distortion, and improve bass response and extension (versus sealed enclosure speakers)....

What Is a Digital Optical Connection? Digital optical is a type of audio connection in home theater systems and stereo systems for automobiles. Fewer devices are being made with digital optical output ports, so it’s important to understand which types of connections your audio equipment can support. Digital optical is a physical connection that uses fiber optics to transfer audio data from a compatible source device to a compatible playback device using a specially designed cable and connector....

The Trouble With Drowsy and Impaired Drivers Research has found that fatigued and drowsy drivers suffer from slower reaction times and that a large number of both fatal and non-fatal crashes take place during the nighttime and early morning hours when drivers are less alert. With these two pieces of information, it’s reasonable to assume that a general increase in driver alertness could potentially save lives. While an NHTSA study concluded that adequate sleep and proper education on the dangers of drowsy driving are the best solutions to the problem, the reality is that drowsy and impaired drivers get behind the wheel every day....

What Can a Smart Dishwasher Do? Smart dishwashers have the edge over standard dishwashers in two areas. Added features make smart dishwashers more efficient and more flexible, addressing common issues such as food particles redepositing on dishes. Also, technology features enable you to incorporate your dishwasher into a smart home design. New Functional and Flexible Features of Smart Dishwashers Smart dishwashers incorporate features that make this appliance more useful and work better than previous generations....

If you choose a wireless external hard drive, you’ll have all the advantages of an external hard drive without having to plug the device into your desktop or laptop. Wireless hard drives are convenient, versatile, and offer a clean setup. Here’s a look at how wireless external hard drives work, what these drives are used for, and tips for buying one. What Is a Wireless External Hard Drive? A wireless external hard drive looks similar to a regular external hard drive....

What Is an EXE File? A file with the EXE file extension is an executable file used in operating systems like Windows, MS-DOS, OpenVMS, and ReactOS for opening software programs. Software installers are usually named something like setup.exe or install.exe, but application files go by unique names, usually relative to the software program’s name. For example, when you download the Firefox web browser, the installer is named something like Firefox Setup....

While Fixd does have its limitations, and there are some vehicles that it will not work with, it is a useful tool for anyone who has ever wanted to know more about what’s going on under the hood of their car. How Does Fixd Work? Fixd works by tapping into the onboard computer in your car, reading information that’s stored there, and relaying the information to an app that you install on your smartphone....

Google Sheets, along with Google Docs and Google Slides, is a part of what Google calls Google Drive. It’s similar to how Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft PowerPoint are each individual parts within Microsoft Office. Google Sheets works best for those who have modest spreadsheet requirements, work remotely from multiple devices, or collaborate with others. Google Sheets Compatibility Google Sheets is available as a web application, accessible through Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer 11, Microsoft Edge, and Safari....

This helper service is installed with Windows 10 right from the start, so it’s nothing you really need to concern yourself with unless something particularly goes awry. That said, it’s also not massively important if you’re just using your system for general tasks like web browsing, media viewing, and gaming. Iphlpsvc is mainly useful for running remote databases or connecting over IPv6. Seeing iphlpsvc in the Wild You might come across iphlpsvc....

What Is Microsoft Exchange? Exchange is Microsoft’s groupware server, originally developed for corporate customers. Like other groupware solutions, it includes communication and organizational features, including: Email hostingA calendar component, including collaborative features like meeting invites, shared calendars, and bookable resourcesContact management providing an organization-wide address book, as well as personal contact storesCollaborative task management, such as the ability to delegate tasks to another userSticky notes, files, and others Exchange itself is the server application that stores and manages all of this data for you....

Multitasking in Smartphones Apps in smartphones that run in the background do not always display multitasking. They can be in three states: running, suspended (sleeping), or closed. When an app is in the running state, it is in the foreground and you are using or interacting with it. When an app is running, it works more or less like apps do on computers, its instructions are executed by the processor as it consumes space in memory....

Unfortunately, however, getting that screen replaced isn’t cheap. Apple has a set fee based on the model of the iPad, and while getting the screen replaced on an iPhone isn’t too bad, this is one area where that big display is a drawback. The cheapest screen repair for an iPad is $199 for the iPad Mini or iPad Mini 2 and the prices go up from there. The iPad, iPad 2 or iPad Air will cost $249....

If you’ve ever seen this happen, you may wonder what causes iTunes not to have song names and how to fix it. This article has the answer to both questions. How iTunes Identifies CDs and Songs The names of songs and albums aren’t encoded into CDs. All of that information actually lives on the Internet. When you rip a CD, iTunes uses a service called GraceNote (formerly known as the CDDB, or the Compact Disc Data Base) to identify the CD and add the names of songs, artists, and albums for each track....

Cydia, a formerly popular app store for the iPhone, recently filed the suit claiming that Apple stopped its rise through anti-competitive means. Before Apple created its own app store, Cydia offered a wide range of software for users. “Were it not for Apple’s anti-competitive acquisition and maintenance of an illegal monopoly over iOS app distribution, users today would actually be able to choose how and where to locate and obtain iOS apps, and developers would be able to use the iOS app distributor of their choice,” the lawsuit claims....

iPad There is little doubt Apple leads the way when it comes to pure tablets. The iPad Pro is a beast, with a processor as fast or faster than most laptops and a gorgeous display capable of HDR video playback. In addition, the iOS operating system has evolved to the point where the iPad has a capable file system and can run two apps side-by-side on the screen. The iPad Pro is also the most expensive pure tablet, with the current generation 11-inch and 12....

According to The Information, the Facebook watch will have the same core features as the Apple Watch: health and fitness, and messaging. The watch will join Facebook’s other hardware efforts, the Oculus virtual reality headset, and its Ray Ban smart-glasses collaboration. But who, really, would wear a Facebook watch? “Facebook’s entrance into the smartwatch market stems from its perceived need (but really, entitlement) to collect more data,” avoidthehack! founder Ashley Simmons told Lifewire via email....

A federal safety agency recently told car manufacturers to begin reporting and tracking crashes involving cars and trucks that use “autopilot” features. The move is a sign of the growing concern about the safety of semi-autonomous driving. “Autopilot requires the driver to remain in the driver’s seat, pay attention to the road and traffic conditions and be prepared to intervene if a crash is imminent,” Alain L. Kornhauser, the director of the transportation program at Princeton University, told Lifewire in an email interview....

Despite being popular and easy to use, Chromebooks haven’t had the best record of support and updates. Google has been trying to change that for a few years now, and the latest update only improves what Chrome OS has to offer by adding new accessibility features and better troubleshooting. “The most exciting update we’ve found is definitely the Live Captions,” Remco Bravenboer, the owner of Laptoid, told Lifewire in an email....

Quirky artwork and simple controls are at the core of Crashlands. Stranded on an alien planet following the destruction of their spaceship, Flux—the player character—and Juicebox must work to build a communication device to let the Bureau of Shipping know about their crash, so that they can complete their latest shipping contract. From here, players must gather resources, build up their base, and unlock new weapons, all while beating their enemies to a pulp....