Upgrading Car Speakers: Price vs. Quality The main argument against replacing speakers is cost, but installing direct replacement aftermarket speakers can be a great way to bump up your sound quality without breaking the bank. Although it can get expensive, if you upgrade to component speakers, you’ll enjoy an improvement in sound quality. If you are looking at an overall upgrade to your car audio system, your factory speakers should be one of the first components to hit the chopping block....

Windows XP Release Date Windows XP was released to manufacturing on August 24, 2001, and to the public on October 25, 2001. Windows XP is preceded by both Windows 2000 and Windows Me. It was succeeded by Windows Vista. The most recent version of Windows is Windows 11, which was released to the public starting on October 5, 2021. April 8, 2014, was the last day Microsoft issued security and non-security updates to Windows XP....

An Understanding the Target Audience Advertising design is all about persuasion. The job of a graphic designer is to sell a product or service. To do this job well, you need to understand consumer psychology and be aware of market trends and research. You likely won’t perform this research but will work with marketing departments and professionals to understand the target market. You must also have an understanding of the agency’s clients and how those clients position themselves in the market....

Some automakers like Tesla say that assistance technologies like Autopilot aren’t meant to be used without close human supervision. But Americans may not be getting the message. A new study finds that drivers using driver assistance features often treat their vehicles as fully self-driving. “These applications still require the human to keep their eyes on the road and hands ready to take over the wheel, just as we have been doing with traditional cruise control for decades,” Stan Caldwell, a professor of transportation and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University told Lifewire in an email interview....

Researchers have uncovered a new way to track you across the internet using your computer or phone’s graphics processing unit (GPU). It’s part of growing concerns among security professionals about the trail of information users are leaving that could impact privacy. “As it is unrealistic for a user to open their system and change their GPU each time they go online, this potential new method for tracking individuals may prove a significant hurdle to overcome for privacy advocates and may require legal mechanisms, such as new laws, to protect the privacy of users who wish to remain anonymous online,” Frank Downs, the senior director of proactive services at cybersecurity company BlueVoyant, told Lifewire in an email interview....

Apple’s App Privacy Report, just added to the latest iOS 15 betas, is a new settings page that lists how often apps access sensitive data. It’s similar to the already-existing Safari Privacy Report, only it doesn’t apply just to the web. It applies to every app on your device—including Apple’s own apps. This welcome feature lets the user take back control of their private data, and it may even make unscrupulous developers think twice before sharing your data....

LastPass CEO Karim Toubba has revealed that the password manager was breached for a second time. The company said personal information was disclosed, but customer passwords remained safe. The incident is a reminder, some experts say, that you should take extra precautions with your password. “Perhaps the biggest vulnerability for users is that a weak master password can compromise all other passwords: so it is important that users select a very strong master password and commit that master password to memory,” Brian Robert Callahan, the graduate program director of information technology and web services at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, told Lifewire in an email interview....

To turn off Background App Refresh on the iPhone, open the Settings app, go to General > Background App Refresh, then choose Background App Refresh > Off. Or, toggle the option off for specific apps only. To turn off automatic app updates, open the Settings app, tap iTunes & App Store, then turn off Updates. This feature uses extra battery life to maintain your location and communicate with the App Store....

Depending on the system you use at home, there are a few ways to watch your shows while away. In this guide, we’ll tell you how to watch cable TV anywhere. Your Cable Company’s Streaming Service Most cable companies now offer a service that allows customers to stream programming on their mobile devices and computers. Many cable providers use a service called TV Everywhere that includes many of the most popular cable channels....

We gathered eight of the most popular mobile payment apps to help you decide which are best for you. Also included with Apple Pay is Apple Pay Cash, which is a way to store money on your phone on a virtual card. You can spend it through Apple Pay in stores or use it in the Messages app to pay or receive money through a text message. The Apple Pay service is secured with a PIN or with Apple’s TouchID or FaceID biometric systems....

What Is an AHK File? A file with the .AHK file extension is an AutoHotkey script. It’s a plain text file that’s used by a free scripting tool for automating tasks in Windows. AutoHotkey uses this file to automate things like clicking window prompts, typing, and lots more. It’s especially helpful for long, drawn out, and repetitive actions that always follow the exact same steps. How to Open an AHK File Even though AHK files are just made up of readable text, they’re only understood and executed within the context of the free AutoHotkey program....

A computer scientist recently argued that his AI system should be credited for two inventions it generated. The case could have wide-ranging implications for patent law, but experts are skeptical of the claim. “Someone or some corporation at the end of the day owns the AI that is doing the inventing,” Bob Bilbruck, the CEO of the technology consulting firm Captjur told Lifewire in an email interview. “AI, after all, is just coding, just like any other computer; although more independent of human input....

When Did the First iPad Come Out? It was introduced on January 27, 2010. It launched on April 3 of that year and was discontinued in March 2011 with the launch of iPad 2. It came in six models — 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB of storage, and with or without 3G connectivity (provided in the U.S. by AT&T on the first generation iPad. Later models were supported by other wireless carriers)....

Replace Your Laptop The iPad is efficient at fulfilling most basic computing tasks. Can it replace your laptop or desktop PC? That depends on your personal needs. Some people use proprietary software that’s not available for the iPad. For general use, the iPad can complete many of the miscellaneous tasks you perform on laptops or PCs. Search for information on the web, check email, and stay productive with tools such as the Notes app....

According to a new study by Forrester (PDF), Macs work out cheaper over their lifetime. The purchase price may (or may not—see below) be higher than buying PCs, but after you pay for support, security, and software, Apple gear starts to look like a bargain. And then it’s just a lot less hassle. The problem? Apple commissioned this study. Still, the claim has a ring of truth, so we asked a few business owners about their experience with Apple vs PCs....

The most common ASAX file is the global.asax file (also called ASP.NET Application File) that’s used for handling certain functions like when the application starts up or shuts down. A web application can only have one of these ASAX files, and it’s completely optional to include with the application. Below the following section is some additional information on ASAX files. How to Open an ASAX File Microsoft’s Visual Studio software can open ASAX files....

Snap, the company behind Snapchat, has acquired a neurotech startup whose headband lets the wearer control a computer with their thoughts. The company plans to integrate the headband with its ongoing research into augmented reality (AR) products. “Levering neural thoughts that can be translated into direct commands has enormous application (and privacy implications) as removing the hardware element lowers the total cost of ownership for enabling an AR/VR experience,” Mark Vena, the CEO of tech consulting company SmartTech Research, told Lifewire in an email interview....

Types and Classes At the basic level, there are only two types of power amplifiers: analog and switching. These basic types are further broken down into more than a dozen lettered classes. Some of these, such as T and Z, are proprietary, trademarked designs, and others, such as A and B, are produced by a variety of manufacturers. All power amps perform essentially the same function and operate under the same basic principles, but classes are not created equal....

Overall Findings While you should never listen to headphones while driving, passengers may be at a loss without these personal devices. Whether for music or video, headphones can transport you to another world without disturbing the driver. There are ups and downs to each. The value of a pair of headphones depends on the situation in which it is being used. To decide which one is right for you, consider the compatibility and usage requirements of each headphone....

Witherspoon is the founder and CEO of PopViewers, an app for TV and film fans to build digital communities around their favorite content. The entertainment journalist was inspired to launch his own tech company after seeing a need for more diverse critics in the cinema industry. “I realized that the playing field is not leveled, so I created a platform that amplifies the voices of everyday viewers, marginalized viewers, and diverse communities,” Witherspoon told Lifewire in a phone interview....