• Electronics

    Top Brands For Home Audio Systems

    6 top brands for home audio systems

    Music is an important factor of our lives. Good sound quality is what enhances the musical experience for you. Good quality speakers are a must have for all of us; the music is not the same when it is played on average quality speakers. But it is essential to not get carried away and make an impulsive purchase when it comes to speakers. It is usually a one-time investment and needs to be bought with care. Make sure you do a complete research before you go ahead and make a purchase for your speakers. Read along to find out the top brands for your home audio system:

    • Polk home audio speakers
      Polk is not a brand that is heard of among most consumers and buyers, but that does not rule out the amazing quality that is provided by its speakers. Even if they are lacking a little on the popularity quotient, the quality of their home audio systems is impeccable and cannot be challenged by many brands in the market. If you are looking for a good quality home audio system set and are running on a low budget, then this is a good option for you.
    • Paradigm cinema
      This is not a very well known brand in this industry, but what is in the name anyway. The company is working towards making a name for themselves with the quality of speaker they are offering in the market. As a brand, they are looking to widen the customer base as they already have great quality speakers all they need is recognition. If you are looking to buy a new home audio system, you must consider this brand.
    • Onkyo HT
      This is a Japanese company that has one of the best home audio systems in the country right now. They make speakers that are ideal for closer rooms, with a receiver, subwoofer as well as a set of speakers that you can also place around the room for a surround sound feel. The brand has speakers with more than one input, so you can connect different types of devices to the home audio system.
    • Energy
      The name of this brand of speakers is based on the personality and performance of the product that is made by this brand. The energy in these speakers enables them to produce sound that is both powerful as well as clear. The speakers in this set are tuned to produce music that is loud as well as distortion free to a great extent.
    • Sonos
      Everyone loves music that is full of clarity and covers every single lyric to guitar strum from the piece of music. Sonos as a brand, targets this requirement and makes speakers that will expose you to clear, distortion free music. The speakers are designed with perfect synchronization that enables them to produce more music than noise.
    • Orb Audio
      Orb audio is the number one home audio system brand in the world right now and it has reached that point with regards to its outstanding music quality in closed rooms as well as its modular design that helps in enhancing the looks of your room. The quality of the speakers is enhanced as they filter out the distortion from the music, the compact design prevents them from taking up a lot of space in your room.

    The above list has almost all the brands that are known for their exceptional quality of home audio systems all over the world. If you are indecisive, then you can go ahead and choose from any of these brands.

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  • Electronics

    Listen To Your Favorite Music While Working Out With These Portable Players

    Listen to your favorite music while working out with these portable players

    For most people, listening to their favorite music is a great motivator while working out. While working out, you need a media device that is light, compact to carry around, can be easily clipped onto your clothes, does not fall off while you are exercising or running, is resistant to sweat, and easy to use. Although smartphones are viable devices for listening to music, they are not suitable for use while working out. Also, if you want to listen to music while you do your swimming laps, you will want a portable audio and video device that is waterproof. Here are a few popular portable audio and video devices that have been known to perfect for a good workout session.

    • Aerb 4G Waterproof MP3 Player: These belong to the category of budget portable audio and video devices. Priced at around $50, this device has a functional design with the bare basic necessities incorporated in it. You can listen to music with this waterproof device while swimming or while you are working out. It is resistant to water at a depth of up to three meters. Made of plastic, this device can be held in your hand with its grip support, or it can be clipped on your workout apparel. This device supports MP3 and WMA format songs. Audio files can be transferred using USB.
    • Sony Sports MP3 Player: The Sony Sports portable player is a dedicated workout gear. Its unique design has been made for use while running and doing exercises. Resembling a pair of headphones, this device is comfortable and hands-free. The quality of music is quite high. Along with listening to music, this device lets you listen to audiobooks as well. It has an internal storage capacity of 4 GB. The device has Bluetooth capabilities that let you take calls and stream music. The battery lasts for about 8 hours. The device is waterproof at a depth of approximately two meters. The device costs around $120.
    • AGPTEK A26: Made of silicon case, this portable audio and video player is very lightweight and can be attached to your workout gear with its back clip. The device supports nearly all file formats. Its internal storage capacity is 8 GB, which is expandable to 64 GB with a MicroSD card. It also has Bluetooth capability, FM radio, a digital clock, and can display lyrics of stored songs on its digital interface. The device can store up to 2000 songs, and it gives approximately 30 hours of continuous playback. This portable player costs around $45.
    • TomTom Spark Cardio: This portable audio and video device doubles up as a fitness tracker and a smartwatch. It is worn around the wrist. It comes bundled with wireless Bluetooth headphones to easy listening as you work out. The fitness tracker allows you to check your workout progress by indicating the number of active minutes, steps taken, calories burned, and the heart rate. The fitness tracker has eight modes for different activities such as swimming, cycling, and running. The device can also be synchronized with various fitness apps. It can store up to 500 songs. On a full charge, the battery allows nearly 56 hours of playback time.
    • FX-Sport VRX Wireless Smart Sports Headphones: If you are willing to splurge on your workout portable audio and video device, you can buy this premium player, that is also a pair of headphones. This wireless player is resistant to sweat and rain. It has an internal memory of 8 GB and has a total playback time of 5 hours on a single recharge. The device is preloaded with workout routines that you can choose and follow as you like. The control functions are located on one side of the headphones, so you can easily navigate through your playlist as you work out.
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  • Electronics

    7 Deluxe Portable Audio-Video Players For Audiophiles

    7 deluxe portable audio and video players for audiophiles

    There was a time when the Apple iPod was very much coveted among audiophiles. Over time, more portable audio and video players have entered the market. With their sleek deluxe designs and luxurious finish, these portable audio and video devices are really something to own if you want to flaunt your style quotient and at the same time, desire a high-quality audio output.

    • Astell and Kern A and Ultima SP1000: This portable audio and video player has a storage space of 256 GB which can be expandable to 512 GB. It has a sleek design and does look quite like it is worth around $3299. The supported file types include DSD, FLAC, WAV, WMA, MP3, OGG APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, and so on. This portable digital player has a high audio quality akin to studio sound quality. Also, this device has an excellent resolution. It has a 5-inch touchscreen display and a very intuitive interface. The device is bundled with a USB cable for charging and data transfer.
    • Questyle QP2R: An award-winning portable player, the Questyle costs around $2700. It supports the following formats: DSD, MP3, FLAC, WAV, ALAC, Ogg Vorbis, AAC, AIFF, APE, WMA, DFF, DSF. With a fantastic audio quality, this deluxe portable audio player packs in a 65 GB built-in memory. It has an expandable memory of up to 200 GB. A single recharge of the battery gives a continuous playing time of 10 hours. Accessories include earphones, USB cable, and a cable adapter.
    • HiFiMAN HM901S: This portable player costs around $1499 and supports file formats such as DSD, MP3, FLAC, WAV, ALAC, AAC, AIFF, APE, and WMA. It is a high-fidelity audio player that is available in with expandable memory up to 256 GB. There is no internal memory. The battery life is around 9 hours. You can listen to songs for 9 hours straight on a single recharge of the battery. The hardware of this device is top-of-the-line, and this renders a high quality to the audio output.
    • Sony NW-WM1Z N: Resembling something straight out of the Transformers movies, this portable player from Sony is priced at approximately $2699. It has an expandable storage of up to 256 GB; it can store nearly 20,000 songs. It supports file formats such as DSD, AAC (Non-DRM), AIFF, ALAC, DSD, FLAC, HE-AAC, Linear PCM, MP3, and WMA. Packed with a superb audio quality, this portable audio device has a 4-inch touchscreen and offers 30 hours of playback time on a single charge.
    • Lotoo PAW Gold 2017: This portable audio player costs approximately $2399. Loaded with a great audio output, this player is truly made for luxury with its 24K alpha wheel and sapphire-glass display. Its powerful battery offers 12 hours of continuous playback time. Its expandable memory is upto 2 TB along with 128 GB of SD card memory; you can store thousands of albums. This device supports the following file formats: DSD, AAC, FLAC, MP3, WMA, DFF, DSF, ISO, APE, WAV, ALAC, M4A, and WavPack.
    • Astell & Kern AK380 MP3 Player: This portable device costs around $2999. It supports the following file formats: MP3, FLAC, WAV, ALAC, Ogg Vorbis, AAC, AIFF, APE, WMA, DFF, and DSF. It has an internal memory of 256 GB which is expandable to 128 GB with an external memory card. It has a 4-inch touchscreen display. It has a built-in Wi-Fi to stream and download music. The music quality is quite high. The device does not come bundled with headphones.
    • Cowon Plenue: This premium portable player is priced around $3999. It supports nearly all file formats including FLAC, ripped SACDs, and DSD. It has an internal memory of 128 GB, which is expandable to 256 GB. This device has a relatively shorter battery life compared to others; you can play songs for 8 hours on a single recharge of the battery.
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  • Electronics

    5 Affordable And Portable Media Players To Listen To Music On-The-Go

    5 affordable and portable media players to listen to music on-the-go

    You can listen to your favorite tunes or watch your favorite movies wherever and whenever you want with a portable audio and video device. Yes, it’s true that you can use your phone as well for these; however, you use your phone for a lot of things apart from listening to music or watching videos. All these additional features will consume substantial storage and battery power from your phone. But with a dedicated portable audio and video player, you do not have to worry about all these. You can store thousands of songs, a few videos, as well as photos on your portable audio and video device. And you do not have to spend much on these devices, especially if you are on a budget. Here are a few portable audio and video players that pack in a lot of features at quite affordable costs.

    • AGPtEK M20S: With a price of around $30, this is a portable audio and video player by AGPtEK. The M20S is one of the cheapest models that is quite perfect for people who do not want jazzy features on their portable device. It is quite compact, and its size is about 3×0.3×1.2 inches. Its internal storage is 8 GB, and the storage is expandable to about 64 GB. It supports nearly all audio formats. It has 14 hours of battery life; you can listen to 14 hours of music with a single charge.
    • Sony NW-A35 16GB Walkman: The original Walkman was a game-changer; however, it was bulky and could barely fit into your pockets. The Sony NW-A35 is the lighter and sleeker version of the classic Walkman. This portable audio and video device has a high-resolution audio quality that is sans any distortion and noise. It has a 3.1-inch touchscreen interface that is quite intuitive. It has an internal storage of 16 GB. 64 GB models are also available. The memory can be expanded to 192 GB. This affordable portable audio and video player includes a Bluetooth feature as well. The battery life is a solid 45 hours. The price, however, is a bit on the steep side with the approximate cost being $218.
    • MYMAHDI MP3/MP4 Music Player: This sturdy portable device from MYMAHDI costs approximately $26. Its internal storage is about 8 GB, which is expandable to 128 GB. The supported audio formats include MP3, WMA, FLAC, APE, AAC, and so on. The device’s weight is relatively more as compared to other portable audio and video devices. This adds to the durability of the device. There is a speaker on the backside of the device; so, this can be used as a voice recorder as well.
    • Sony NWE395: This portable player from Sony costs around $68. It can play 35 hours of songs or four hours of video on a one-time recharge of the battery. The internal memory is about 16 GB. The display screen is about 1.77 inches and is suitable for watching short and quick video clips. Typical to Sony, this device is known to have quite good audio quality. The control functions can be operated through buttons.
    • AGPTEK A01T 8GB Bluetooth MP3 Player: This is one of the best looking portable devices in the affordable range. It costs around $37 and has slim and compact design with buttons for control functions. The audio quality is good since it is supported by a noise reduction feature. It has a 1.8 TFT display and storage capacity of 8 GB. The memory is expandable to 128 GB. The battery life is 45 hours of audio playing or 16 hours of videos. It takes about 1.5 hours to recharge the battery.
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  • Electronics

    Tune Into Your Favorite Tracks With These Popular Portable Players

    Tune into your favorite tracks with these popular portable players

    Right from the days of the chunky Walkman to sleek, pocket-sized media players, portable media devices have come a long way. The evolution of portable audio and video players picked up speed in the past couple of decades. Earlier you had to carry around a set of batteries, your portable player, audio cassettes or CDs, and headsets. Now you just have your compact media device with all your playlists stores in the device. You now have thousands of songs or movies at your fingertips.

    Whether you are a keen audiophile or just like to listen to music or watch movies while you are commuting to work, portable audio and video players can be quite useful for you. A portable device can be used for playing games, reading books, streaming videos, and recording audios and videos as well. If you are looking for portable audio and video devices, here are some popular options available in the market for you:

    • Apple iTouch: This is one of the most popular and coveted portable audio and video player that you can find. With its 32 GB storage capacity, this media player can store around 7000 songs, 2 videos, and 10000 photos. It is one of the most compact devices with dimensions 4.4×0.28×2.3 inches and with a weight of 3.6 oz. This portable audio and video device has a touchscreen interface with the LCD screen measuring about 3.5 inches. Other features of this device include an Internet browser, radio, Bluetooth, USB, and Wi-Fi. It supports a wide range of audio and video formats. The battery life is about 40 hours. The device comes bundled with earphones and a charger. The price is this device is around $200.
    • Samsung Galaxy Player 5: The Samsung Galaxy Player 5 has a storage capacity of 4 GB. The device can hold about 5 videos, 1000 songs, and 10000 photos. It has an LCD touchscreen display that measures nearly 1.7×0.4×3.7 inches. The device is quite light with a weight of 1.8 oz. This Samsung portable audio and video device has an Internet browser, radio capability, Wi-Fi, USB, and Bluetooth. Earphones and a charger are provided along with the device. The battery life is about 25 hours. You can listen to music or watch videos for 25 hours straight on a single charge. The price of this device is around $150.
    • Zune 80 GB Digital Media Player: This portable audio and video device has one of the largest storage capacities with 80 GB. You can store nearly 25000 photos, 20000 songs, and 5 videos. It looks quite sleek and weighs about 4.5 oz and measures about 2.4×0.5×4.3 inches. It has an LCD touchscreen measuring approximately 3.2 inches. The features of this device include an Internet browser, radio, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and USB. The device supports almost all popular formats of audio and video files. The battery life is about 24 hours. The device package includes a battery charger and earphones. The price is this device is around $270.
    • Archos 604 30 GB Ultra Slim Portable Multimedia Player: This device is relatively bigger and heavier than the other portable audio and video; its size is about 5.1×0.7×3 inches and the device weighs about 9 oz. The device can store 40 videos, 150000 songs, and nearly 300000 photos. Its storage capacity is about 30 GB. Its touchscreen LCD display measures about 4.3 inches. Similar to other devices, the Archos Portable has an Internet browser, radio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB capabilities. It supports all video and audio formats except AIFF. Its battery life is about 16 hours. Earphones and battery charger are bundled with the device. The price is this device is around $300.
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  • Electronics

    A Timeline Of Ebook Readers

    An electronic book reader or a universal name, the eBook reader, is one of the latest development in interactive electronic technology. It is a digital form of text-based publications. Some eBook may contain images and graphical forms, most of the formats are text-based.

    They are designed so that they can be read on a compatible electronic device. eBooks are stored in the form of electronic files. The file size is small, so you can store a number of books, making them easy to share and purchase. It makes them a perfect companion for travel reading, making electronic notes. eBook readers have a come long since their first appearance.

    Let us look at the timeline of eBook readers and accessories and how they developed with progression of time.

    Automated reader

    • The first automated reader, which is a precursor to all the versatile eBook readers available today was invented by Angela Ruiz Robles back in 1940’s.
    • The first design of eBook reader was a very simple prototype that printed texts onto a spool that was operated by compressed air. Yes, this reader was not an eBook reader and did go for mass production but is still hailed as one of the first automated readers of that time.

    Online surfing through Internet

    • It was the invention of the internet that took the eBook reader and related accessories to the next level. The first eBooks took the advantage of Internet by sharing files and information. It was somewhere around 1970’s when a student from University of Illinois used a computer and ARPAnet (which would be later become internet) typed in some messages in Capital letters on the computer that was connected to some data processing machine. The text message was available for download and was downloaded by six other people that were on ARPAnet. This is how the first eBook was born.
    • With widespread of the internet, a company published one of its hypertext fiction around 1985. This eBook was available on floppy disk.
    • In the year 1993, a company launched a website that sold eBooks over the internet. With this, it also became the first company to create financial exchange system over the Internet. So, in a way, computers were the very first eBook readers.
    • It was between 1998 and 2000 when the first true eBook readers came into existence. It was Softbook reader and Gemstar produced the first true eBook readers
    • By the end of 2003, eBook reader and accessories manufacturing companies saw a decline in sales because of their monotonous designs and because of the fact that people were more inclined towards reading their favorite books the way they were supposed to be.
    • Sony released eBook reader by the name Libre that utilized eInk (electronic ink). The annoying glare from the backlit was a thing of past as eInk on the PDA’s were more comfortable to read.
    • It was only before the year 2010 that unleashed a whole new separate platform of eBook reader and accessories. Amazon (Kindle) and iPhone released eBooks and accessories that were initially sold only in the country. As the eBook reading picked up popularity, these eBooks readers started being sold globally.
    • Today there are a like a “gazillion” varieties of eBook readers and accessories that avid readers can lay their hands on. These eBook readers now come with a plethora of features such as online bookshelves, music playback and internet browsing and much more. They offer accessories with eBooks that enhance the reading experience. To get the best eBook readers and accessories, read the reviews available on the internet and visit the manufacturer’s official website to know more about these eBook readers and accessories.
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  • Electronics

    6 Basic Elements That Need To Be A Part Of Your Photography Kit

    Photography is the art of capturing a moment be it a picture of a stunning landscape or a portrait of rare visuals you come across while exploring. With what you take the picture, doesn’t matter! What matters is how you take that first click.

    For some, photography is just a hobby. For others, it’s their livelihood, and everything depends on how well the picture has been taken. It doesn’t matter if you are just starting out, all photography needs is a passion for the craft and the patience to learn.

    Here are a few basic things that will form part of your very own camera and photo essentials kit:

    Camera

    • Perhaps the most substantial and significant investment when you are just starting out.
    • However with so many makes and models of professional DSLR camera’s available in the market, finding the right one for the best price can be very confusing.
    • When you are just starting out, buying a high-end professional grade camera is not recommended, even if you can afford it.
    • Instead, buy a DSLR camera which has basic yet useful functionality when it comes to different shooting modes and picture settings.

    Lenses

    • Just buying a camera body will not suffice, you will also need a number of lenses to shoot and click pictures for different settings and purposes.
    • For a basic camera and photo kit, buying a prime lens and zoom lens, with one for specific wide angle shots will be more than enough to get you started on the basics.

    Camera kit bag

    • When you are investing a good amount of money in buying the right camera and photo kits and accessories, buying the right portable camera bag is the next logical step.
    • Camera lenses and even the camera itself consists of delicate moving parts which are also expensive to replace in case of any damage.
    • A good camera and photo essentials bag will allow you to carry your gear for both indoor and outdoor shoots with ease.

    Tripods

    • A good tripod will provide all the stability that you will ever need to click the best portrait and landscape pictures.
    • Tripod forms an integral part of your camera and photo essentials kit, especially for people who are interested in travel photography.
    • The tripod will allow a stable support even on rugged terrains to help you take a beautiful picture of that soaring eagle in the Grand Canyons, without having to worry about messing up manual focusing because you are too preoccupied trying to balance a heavy DSLR camera.

    Memory cards

    • Traditional cameras previously worked with film rolls, which would produce a negative print and the same would be then processed to provide with positive print on paper.
    • This process was, however, time-consuming, which is why when digital SLR cameras were developed, memory cards replaced the film rolls.
    • You want to purchase a high quality and capacity memory card for your professional grade camera, to get the best results when you process the finished product.

    External flash and speedlight

    • For the best results, professional photographers use external flash kits and speedlights as part of their camera and photo kit which are excellent lighting sources to click pictures in dim light or low light conditions.
    • The traditional flash inbuilt in your DSLR will not provide the intended result when it comes to quality and color, which is why a speed light is used.
    • The system is efficient since the speedlight is activated for a fraction of a second when the shutter releases to take the picture, which is why it is also not too harsh on the elements that you want to cover within the frame.
    • However, speedlights are expensive accessories and generally should be bought only when you plan to take pictures professionally.
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  • Electronics

    Some Interesting Features Of Ebook Readers That You Should Know

    If you are an avid reader, reading books on eBook readers can be an amazing experience. The biggest advantage of using an eBook is that all your favorite reads are stored in one place in one huge portable library. In addition, it comes with a plethora of features. So much that the device feels like an understatement.

    If you are one of those eBook reader and accessories fan and still need some convincing, the following features of eBook might nudge you into buying one for yourself.

    Let us first take a look at why eBook readers are better than paper books:

    • Making notes
      Almost every eBook reader provides their users the feature of creating and archiving notes. Thus, you can type a note on your eBook rather than scribbling the notes separately on a paper or writing down at the corner of the margin.
    • Look-up for words
      Okay, so you are a reader, it does not necessarily mean that you would be aware of every word that is out there in the dictionary. Writers and poets alike use some of the most esoteric words which you might not be aware of. There are some eBook readers and accessories that let you tap on a word which opens a small window below the word explaining its meaning.
    • Social highlighting
      Social media is a way of life. With posting photos and videos online, It has become a huge platform to share your ideas and thoughts and connect with anyone located oceans away. Most eBooks let you highlight a quote from a page and lets you post on social media. In a similar way, you can also browse the internet and find the most highlighted quote.
    • Searchability
      Similar to the word look up feature, you can also search for the topics and keywords in your eBook readers and accessories or even out of the web. This augments the user’s reading experience.

    Now that we have established why eBook readers can be better than paper books, let us take a look at features that different the most competitive eBook readers and accessories manufacturers have to offer.

    • Keep the track of your favorite characters
      Although an unusual feature, this feature allows you to find information of your characters, ideas and other notable items, so that you don’t get lost. A disadvantage here is that Android apps don’t have this feature.
    • Wiki and search integration
      There are some features offered by eBook reader and accessories manufacturers that let you select a word and find more information about it on the internet.
    • Search scan feature

    Almost all the books have the feature which is available in Google Play. Search scan in Kindle as well as play books provide this feature to search modern eBooks. Although you may not find older books that are made out of scanned page. Google has recently added the ability to search for scanned pages.

    • Language translation
      This feature is made available by almost all eBook readers and accessories manufacturers. The language translator by Google Play is a universal translator that works pretty well for you to get the gist of words and sentences that you might not be able to understand. All you need to do is select the word or a sentence and tap on the “action” icon from the bar. Choose the preferred language that you want the word or the text translated into.

    These are just some of the highlighted features that are offered by most of the eBook and accessories manufacturers. Proprietary features make every other eBook reader even more unique. Visit the official website of the eBook reader manufacturer you wish to buy for more information.

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  • Electronics

    Pros And Cons Of Ebook Readers

    It is that time of the year where you would be getting electronic appliances and deals at the most competitive prices. There is no best thing than being a reader fanatic and a tech geek at the same time. e-Book readers and accessories are one of the electronic devices that are sold out like hot cakes.

    But before you barge into the Black Friday and big boxing day sales, take a step back and read everything you need to know about eBook readers and accessories.

    Have a look at the pros and cons of buying eBook readers:

    Pros

    • Portability
      An ordinary eBook reader weighs anywhere under 10 ounces. You can jam in as many as eBooks you please in one single device rather than carrying around a pile of books in a bag.
    • Convenience
      Consider a scenario where you plan on reading a random book. If you own an eBook reader, you don’t need to go to a bookstore or order one from a website and wait for it to be delivered to your doorstep. All you need to do is download the book on your eBook and start reading it at your convenience anytime, anywhere. When compared with traditional books, newly released books are much cheaper with eBook versions. A wide variety of eBooks (including the classic editions) have entered the public domain and thus are freely available on the online portal of the eBooks.
    • Ergonomically convenient
      One of the best things about using an eBook is its ergonomic convenience. eBook readers and accessories manufacturers, design eBooks in such a way that they can be efficiently held with just one hand. You can turn the page on an eBook reader without having to use the other hand. This comes in handy when you are using a public transportation that is rather crowded. The same is not the case with reading a paperback traditional book. There is always a fear of losing out on turning more than one page if you are not in a comfortable space.
    • More than just an eBook
      eBook readers and accessories manufacturers have grown out and gone ahead with providing features in the eBooks that are more than just for reading. You can listen to music and browse the internet while you read favorite books in your eBook reader. You could do that with a traditional book as well but, you’d need a separate smart device which would be very inconvenient.

    Now that we have learned the pros of using an eBook let us move over to the cons of the same that will help decide if it is a good idea to invest in eBooks readers and accessories.

    Cons

    • No “second-hand” option
      Unlike in traditional books, where you can get a book that you have not read at, second-hand prices. There is no such provision in eBook readers. It is possible that you may end up paying the same price or a lot more for certain books.
    • No option of lending out a book
      Forget buying second-hand books, you cannot lend or borrow a book from a friend like you can with traditional cover books. There are a very few eBooks that let you do that but then you might have to compromise on some or the other factors.
    • Not a real book after all
      While many of you might not completely agree with this disadvantage, if you are a paperback cult reader and like the idea of turning the pages the way they are meant to, you might find reading your favorite book from an eBook reader rather daunting and even disconnecting. Many eBook readers and accessories manufacturers try their best to give their users the same feel of a traditional book but it is an electronic book reader at the end.
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  • Electronics

    Top 5 feature-rich tablets for kids

    Gone are the days when tablets offered mediocre performance and only basic features. Today, tablets are as good as miniature laptops. You can buy them for your personal use or give them to your children for school work and entertainment. Here is our list of the best tablets for kids.

    Apple iPad 10.2 2020
    Apple iPad 2020 is easily one of the best tablets for kids. This model comes with a super-fast A12 Bionic processor and works stress-free. You can add a screen guard to protect the device and give it to your kids for their school work or to catch up on the latest videos. The best advantage of this tablet is that it can double up as your work gadget when needed. Besides, it is among the more affordable Apple laptops in the market.

    Amazon Fire 7
    If you are on a very tight budget, Amazon Fire 7 is one of the best tablets you can buy for your kids. The device has pretty decent front and back cameras and a microSD slot too. It weighs just 0.6 pounds and can be easily handled by your little ones at home. If you think your kids are too young to use expensive tablets, this model is a perfect pick.

    Samsung Galaxy Tab A7
    This is another top tablet for kids due to its affordability and quality. The Galaxy Tab is slim and comes with a 10.4 inch HD screen and 32 GB storage. Your kids can easily take video classes through the tab or listen to songs and rhymes.

    Lenovo Tab M10 Plus
    This 10.3-inch FHD tablet runs on Android and comes with 64 GB storage and 4 GB RAM. The model is also equipped with two microphones, one at the front and the other at the back, and two side speakers. You can also choose Kids Mode on the gadget to hide unsafe websites, content, and apps.

    Fire HD 8 Kids
    With an 8-inch HD display, the Fire HD 8 Kids tablet is perfect for children between three and seven. This comes with a two-year warranty and a protective case too. Free online books, audiobooks, games, videos, and other kid-friendly apps come preloaded on the tablet, making it one of the easiest and best tablets for kids.

    Make a note of all these best tablets for kids and pick a suitable model for your child. Age-appropriate gadgets really make a difference!

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  • 4 ways to protect your kids from cold and flu

    Due to their relatively weaker immune systems, children are most susceptible to cold and flu. This is especially true when the season is a bit chilly, and there is a slight nip in the air.  Here’s what you can do to ensure your child safe from viruses and infections that can cause cold and flu.

    • Eat a healthy diet: Make sure that your kid’s immune system is strong enough to fight infections and viruses. A healthy diet is crucial. Also, don’t forget that they should keep themselves hydrated by drinking sufficient water. Boil a liter of water, cool it and then give it to your kid. When it comes to diet, add a lot of fruits and veggies to the diet. This should include food items that have a high content of vitamin C.
    • Maintain hygienic habits: It is necessary to maintain habits of utmost cleanliness and hygiene to stay away from cold and flu. Ensure that you child follows a daily routine of having baths on time, washing hands, and drinking clean water.
    • Beat the mosquito attack: If your kids love playing outside, they might be at the risk of being exposed to mosquitoes and other bugs and insects that can potentially carry cold and flu viruses. Ensure that you maintain a clean environment to keep these insects and bugs at bay.
    • Try home remedies: When you notice the first signs of cold and flu in you child, use home remedies such as ginger juice and honey to treat sneezing and other early symptoms of cold and flu. If the symptoms persist for more than two days, consult a doctor. Along with doctor prescribed medications, you can follow certain natural remedies that can make your child’s immunity system strong.
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  • Why prefer an All Wheel Drive (AWD)?

    Let’s get this straight. All-Wheel-Drives (AWD) are not for all.

    The AWD is a design and function where all four wheels spin all the time which gives an added traction to the automobile. Unlike the 4WD where you can shift from a two wheel drive to a 4 wheel drive, the AWD vehicles operate on a permanent drive. AWD’s made their first appearance during the late 1930s when General Motors first introduced them. Today, the AWDs have decked up a lot of technological improvements ranging from advanced traction controls to electronic systems and bold vehicle design. They have earned a separate genre among automobiles making them a necessity in certain types of terrain and climate. However, for anyone thinking of buying one, there are a set of pros and cons to consider.

    Traction
    Upside: The extra traction is needed for an efficient drive over the rough and slippery terrain. The AWD is usually preferred in places of harsh winters and slippery terrain. During times of a sudden snowstorm, one can feel safer in getting back on an AWD.

    Downside: Experts say that good traction help in moving over slippery surfaces and cutting corners but is not enough. A set of good snow tires and suspension are the fundamentals of the physics of optimum vehicle control.

    Design
    Upside: The AWDs design offers a huge space for at least 6 passengers and their luggage. Some of the AWD’s can carry up to 8 passengers and luggage efficiently. The vehicles are designed to drag weight across rough terrain ensuring safety to passengers. The modern all-wheel-drive design offers electronic stability control which gives more control to the vehicle.

    Downside: Due to the heavy weight and complex engineering, the AWDs are not fuel efficient. The AWD gain more power by during more fuel than the two wheel drives.

    Money
    Upside: The AWDs have a good resale value than the two wheel drive cars. You cannot me promised of a 100% resale value but your car will easier to sell for a better price than a two wheel drive. People living in the northern climate do not have to think about resale.

    Downside: The reason why the AWDs have a good resale value is due to their high cost of purchase. Many AWD manufacturers charge a premium between $1500 and $3000. The AWD are expensive to maintain as they have a more complex engineering.

    The final verdict is that you need an all-wheel-drive if you are living in harsh winter storms and have to travel through slippery roads. But if you are in places with milder climates, the AWD might not be the right fit.

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