Why Is it Called Wireless N? The term Wireless N came into popular usage starting in 2006 as network equipment manufacturers began developing hardware incorporating 802.11n technology. Until the 802.11n industry standard was finalized in 2009, manufacturers could not rightly claim their products as 802.11n compliant. The alternative terms Draft N and Wireless N were invented to distinguish these early products. Wireless N remained in use later, even for fully compliant products, as an alternative to the numeric name of the Wi-Fi standard....

Securing Your iPad The most important thing you can do for your iPad is to secure it against unauthorized access. Set a passcode to protect your iPad data from prying eyes—even if you leave the device next to your living room couch. You should have been asked to enter a passcode during the setup process. If you skipped that step, add a passcode by opening the Settings app and scrolling down the left menu until you see Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode or Face ID & Passcode....

What Is Game Center? Game Center is a set of gaming-specific features that you can use to find people to play against. You can also compare your stats and achievements with other players. Getting Game Center requires iOS 4.1 or later, up to but not including iOS 10. If the device that runs anything older than iOS 10, it may have Game Center on it. You also need an Apple ID to set up a Game Center account....

Only Seeing Public Posts Facebook won’t notify you if you’ve been unfriended. However, some clues may help you figure out whether you’re no longer Facebook friends with someone. First, if you only see someone’s public posts, they may have unfriended you. Facebook posts have two primary privacy settings: Public and Friends. Public posts have a small globe icon. Facebook friends, followers, and anyone who happens across the person’s Facebook profile page can read public posts....

It seems odd that you can buy a smartphone for $800 that comes with no way to charge it, but Apple explained that removing the charger from the box would benefit the environment, and now other makers are following along. But does it really help the planet, or is it just another way to squeeze some extra profit? And what alternatives are there, now that you don’t get a charger in the box?...

When a cigarette lighter socket stops working or seems to malfunction, there are a few things that can go wrong: An obstruction inside the socket - This happens most often when the cigarette lighter socket is installed vertically into a center console since that orientation makes it very easy for small items to fall into the socket. Non-conductive obstructions prevent chargers from making contact, while conductive objects like coins can blow the circuit....

In the company’s July 29 earnings call, Samsung revealed it wants to lean hard into the future of foldable smartphones like the ZFold and ZFlip, eventually making foldable phones more mainstream. While Samsung plans to release four new foldable models, and others also are getting in on the folding action, experts say going mainstream will require such smartphones to overcome hurdles that might not be possible without new tech advances....

Kids are more than used to seeing themselves on phone screens, but they may never have seen themselves on a paper photograph. They’ll be fascinated. They’ll think you’re amazing. And the best tool for the job is Fujifilm’s Instax printer. Of course, these little Instax photos are great for all kinds of things. For me, they bring much of what I love about film cameras, only without all the hassle....

The recently released OnePlus Watch has a sleek design and uses the company’s own interface. Meanwhile, the flagship OnePlus 9 Pro boasts a lightning-fast processor and a camera made in combination with the legendary company Hasselblad. I’m a longtime Apple enthusiast, but the combination of the OnePlus phone and watch is enough to tempt me over to Android. Watch This The $159 OnePlus Watch stakes a clear design path away from that of the Apple Watch....

You’ve probably seen the impressive and weird products of Dall-E, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion, so-called AI image creators that generate images from a soup of existing works, gathered from the internet. So far, AI art has been a curiosity, a tool for nerdy artists, and a fun way to waste some time. But now, apps that charge money to generate images based on those copyrighted sources without permission are appearing....

The original iPhone launched for $400. The current cheapest iPhone is the iPhone 12 mini, which comes in at $729 for the 64 GB model, which really isn’t enough storage, anyway. The original Samsung Galaxy went for $599, and now the cheapest model costs $799. That’s quite a hike, and usually the prices of gadgets tend to drop, not increase. What’s going on? “Apple and Samsung have dominated the market for years so they have the ability to charge a premium, particularly for their flagship phones,” Beth Klongpayabal, analytics manager and author of a new report on phone prices at Savings....

The new battery pack may be light on capacity, but it’s long on features third-party makers can’t add, thanks to Apple’s exclusive access to the depths of the iPhone’s brain and guts. Add to that the fact that this is a supremely convenient charger, and that MagSafe makes it more future-proof than Apple’s previous efforts, and you may have a winner. “I guess the big advantage this battery pack has is that it’s a genuine MagSafe charger,” traveling businessman and Filter King-founder Rick Hoskins told Lifewire via email....

Center Channel and Stereo Audio Stereo audio was originally designed to separate recorded sound into two channels (that is what the term “stereo” means), with left and right channel speakers placed in front of the room. Although some sounds come specifically from the left or right channel speakers, principle vocals or dialog are mixed into both speakers. With the vocals mixed to come out of both the left and right channels, a “sweet spot” is created that is equidistant between the left and right channel speakers....

Shortcuts lets you automate pretty much anything on your iPhone, iPad, or your HomeKit devices. Just by dragging a few steps into the order you want them to play back, you can make awesome, and surprisingly powerful, automations. Many people take a look at the Shortcuts app and dismiss it as too complex, but it’s just the opposite. Using shortcuts actually makes things simpler, quicker, and easier. You can even download shortcuts created by other people....

What Is an XSPF File? A file with the XSPF file extension (pronounced as “spiff”) is an XML Shareable Playlist Format file. They’re not media files in and of themselves, but instead just XML text files that point to, or reference media files. A media player uses this file to determine what should be opened and played in the program. It reads the file to understand where the media content is stored, and plays them according to those instructions....

While smart light bulbs are more expensive than traditional light bulbs or even regular LED bulbs, they use less energy and should last as long as traditional LED bulbs (that’s around 20 years). They are available in standard white or with a color-changing feature, depending on the brand. How Do Smart Light Bulbs Work? Smart bulbs require a smartphone, tablet, or home automation hub to operate because they use wireless communication standards such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, or Zigbee to connect to an app on your device or to your automation system....

Motorola recently said that it’s partnering with former Caltech scientists to develop smartphones that can be powered up to 3 feet away from a charger. The effort could mean an end to the constant search for power cords. “Over-the-air charging gives users much more freedom with their devices,” Cesar Johnston, the chief operating officer of the wireless charging company Energous, said in an email interview. “No need to feel tethered to the nearest wall socket....

Here’s what you need to know about YouTube TV’s channel offerings, supported devices, and monthly costs. YouTube TV Channel List YouTube TV is one of the most full-featured live TV services available, as its wide variety of channels make it an attractive option for those looking to cut the cord. While the selection may vary based on your region, YouTube TV’s list of popular channels includes AMC, Bravo, FX, and many more....

You can never be too careful on the web, especially when it comes to sharing personal photos, videos, and other sensitive information. The following Snapchat privacy tips can help keep your account secure. To enable two-factor authentication on Snapchat, go to your Profile > Settings, then tap the button beside SMS Verification to turn it on. Snapchat will walk you through the process of getting it all set up. You can choose to allow only your friends to contact you (a....

So what good is one? These types of antimalware tools are great when you think you might have some kind of virus or other malware but the antivirus program you’re using now hasn’t caught it. Sometimes, a really nasty piece of malware will prevent your installed antivirus program from running properly, in which case one of these tools can come in handy. Below is a complete list of the very best free on-demand virus scanners available....