Five most popular VPN services
Five most popular VPN services

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) secures and protects your internet connection by providing a secure and private network that is routed through multiple locations. Any information shared on a public network is vulnerable to hackers and cybercriminals. It is a good idea to invest in premium VPN services that mask the connection to protect sensitive data.

Here is a list of the most popular VPN services available in the market.

ExpressVPN
This service is compatible across multiple platforms like Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux. Express VPN offers fast and reliable speeds that support heavy uploading, downloading, and video streaming with a global average speed of over 47 Mbps. An ExpressVPN connection is available across 90 countries. You can subscribe to 15 months of service for a price of $6.67/month approximately.

NordVPN
This VPN service offers multiple privacy options with secure protocols, an AES-256 based encryption technology, support for TCP Port 443, and a killswitch feature among other advanced options. The average global speed of 46 Mbps supports heavy data streaming over a decent connection network spanning 59 countries. Nord VPN is also one of the most affordable VPN services with a three-year subscription that is available for about $2.75/month.

IPVanish VPN
This is an ideal option for P2P users as the VPN service sponsors high upload speeds over a global network spanning 61 countries. The service features an instant setup and a simple user interface. The service also has a zero log policy making your connection private and secure, unlike some alternatives that keep a log of user data. The cost of IPVanish is around $6.49/month for the year-long plan.

CyberGhost VPN
Strong privacy features and excellent connection speeds are the two key features of this VPN service. Compatibility is another highlight of this affordable VPN service as it is available across Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux. There is additional support for popular browser extensions like Google Chrome, and the VPN can also be configured for manual routers, consoles, and external streaming devices. CyberGhost is a value for money deal available for approximately $2.75/month for one year.

HideMyAss VPN
This VPN service has the highest number of global server connections to securely reroute your connection spanning across 190 countries and over 100,000 IP addresses. The private network is secured using AES-256 encryption technology and protocols. The service, however, keeps a log of user information. The cost of HideMyAss VPN about $6.99/month.

  • The ongoing debate between used and refurbished laptops

    Since laptop is a useful gadget and is bought only once in a while, it makes no sense to buy it without doing proper research and making a comparison among all the available alternatives. If wrongly chosen, a person may have to pay for it in the form of difficulties faced and sometimes in the form of the cost of another laptop.

    Things that are usually kept in mind while deciding which laptop to buy are the use, budgets and the overall configuration of the laptop. On the basis of these factors it is chosen whether the product can be new, refurbished laptops or a even a used one and which brand should be bought. The best choice can only be made when a buyer knows what the laptop is best suited and his willingness to spend is also kept in mind.

    Usually, refurbished laptops are bought for home use which means gaming, watching movies,or even school/college and office use. Apart from using refurbished laptops for some heavy gaming, a standard laptop will suffice for most of the uses. When the laptop is to be used for home as well as school/college and the budget is low, one should look for suitable used or refurbished laptops. In certain office uses, when there is no budget problem, there must be no negligence on the part of the buyer as laptop will play an important role in his work.

    In such cases, a brand new laptop should be the preferred one. Used laptops should never be considered for buying here and if they want to buy refurbished laptops and be economical. Care should be taken with regard to the place it is bought from and the warranty received. In terms of risk, used laptops are the most risky, followed by refurbished laptops. New laptops are certainly considered to be the least risky ones. Most of the time, there is no problem in the new laptop for a good amount of time. Still, there are certain exceptions when a brand new laptop starts having problems in the very initial days of the purchase.

    Refurbished laptops are considered an ideal option. This is because their prices are lower than that of new laptops but they work as good as a brand new laptop. Their prices are thus, much lower than their performance. The only catch is that one should be certain that it is a refurbished laptop and not a used one. Since used laptops do not be repaired to be resold, problems may occur in their usage.

    Refurbished laptops, on the other hand, are thoroughly checked before being resold. The buyer must buy a refurbished laptop from a certified seller to be assured of its quality. Still, there is no such guarantee that the product won’t have any problems at all. The reason is that some laptops are better refurbished than others. And unfortunately, there is no way of knowing which one has been refurbished thoroughly.

    It can be concluded that the buyer should for once consider all the options before purchasing a laptop. He or she must not leave any effort on his part while making a purchase. But the buyer must understand that even if the best choice on his part has been made, there is no certainty that it will work as expected. Sometimes, a brand new laptop might have problems only after a few days of being bought and a used laptop may give no problems at all. Still, chances are, the better the choice, better are the chances of a refurbished laptop working according to expectations a user has set for it.

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  • Top jackets from North Face that deserve a place in your closet

    The temperature is dropping steadily, but that doesn’t mean you have to feel miserable in the cold. Your style can heat up with the new modern North Face jackets. The exciting collection of North Face jackets will keep you warm and stylish even in the coldest climate.

    Some of the most exciting and stylish North Face jacket designs include:

    North Face Nuptse Jacket for Men
    This jacket is known for its amazing quilted style and sleek lines. You should note here that the quilts are not just for styling. This jacket is filled with goose down, which will keep you ultra-warm on even the coldest days. The down traps hot air, keeping you cozy and comfortable. It is also equipped with a water repellent coating on the external surface so that the wearer finds it lightweight and water resistant. This jacket comes with a waterproof internal chest pocket as well as secure zip pockets for keeping your essentials safe and dry. Thus, this is the best time to grab your favorite jacket color before the cold gets unbearable.

    North Face Tweed Stanwix Jacket
    If there is anything been crafted to conquer the cold, then the North Face Tweed Stanwix Jacket is it. It has PrinaLoft down alternative which delivers warmth and comfort without any added bulk. The best advantage of this jacket is that it is complete with waterproof technology tweed. This shields the insulation to keep you warm even when the temperature has dropped. Finally, the fabric is finished with a durable water repellent so that you feel light and dry even in heavy snow and rainfall. It comes in three colors and you can choose any of them and pop the hood to move in style.

    North Face Sherpa ThermoBall Jacket for Men
    If you are in search of something that will equip you to face winter-head on, then the revolutionary Thermoball insulation is right for you. The new technology comes in goose down with synthetic fiber clusters to trap the heat within miniature air pockets. Alongside this innovative technology, it is beautifully lined for extra warmth and style. If you are anxious about your belongings, then there is a zip fastening on the hip pockets.

    Besides these three most sought after North Face jackets, there are many more to add to your closet. If you are looking for jackets for women, then popular choices include North Face Gotham Jacket and Far Northern Parka jackets for women. These all give you the coverage you need to be warm and cozy. There is no need to compromise on colors as you can definitely choose from a wide selection.

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  • How to choose a phone system for your business

    For small businesses, it is crucial to identify the right phone system to implement in your offices. There are umpteen manufacturers and service providers in the telephone and Internet bundles for a small business to choose from. A small business phone and Internet bundle is a service that is comparable to other providers when you are looking for a phone and data service. The below-mentioned providers are the shortlisted top companies for small business phone plans. You can even find out local deals that are private companies and have better deals. These companies that are picked are compared nationally and are not based on particular areas.

    8 x 8
    Their benefits, coverage area, savings are all highly rated. This, being one of the best small business phone systems, is a great pick with affordable features. They boast about 99.97% of uptime, which means customers can rely on their range and online data services. There is no assembly required. A phone is connected via Ethernet and it’s a plugin through an 8 x 8 router. They take care of all maintenance and upgrades hence no customer support calls required.

    Ooma Office
    This is a low-cost and excellent customer service company. The monthly pay is as low as around $9.99 and you get the best service, though you may not receive all the extended features like other suppliers. You can choose from the two options of traditional or virtual small business phone plan. The drawback is it can support only 20 employees, but it is the only cheap plan at this rate.

    RingCentral
    One of the best virtual small business phone system. They have many features at a price of just around $9.99 per month. If you have a small team, you can use this service for connecting with your mobile devices or even the personal landline numbers. They are very easy to connect as well. Customer satisfaction is the main core for them.

    ShoreTel Connect
    Call center businesses can make use of ShoreTel, which works great as a small business telephone solution or a small office telephone. This requires a technician to set up because the traditional system is indeed connected virtually as well. They have a built-in fail-safe option as well that acts independent and switches the landlines when that doesn’t work. ShoreTel has a cloud-based system that is fail safe and it is easy to deploy once taken out of the box. The cloud-based system acts as a technician to take care of the traditional system.

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  • Samsung phones you should definitely check out

    Trying to figure out which android is best suited to your needs is like venturing into a never-ending pit of despair. While there are a multitude of brands you can opt for, Samsung over the years has produced some of the best smartphones replete with top-notch features. However, with so many feature-laden models, choosing the one that best suits your needs can be difficult. To help you narrow down your choices, here is a list of the latest smartphones from Samsung. Now, all you need to do is figure out your budget and your needs before choosing your next Samsung phone.

    • Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus

    Released in March 2020, this Samsung flagship phone comes with a 6.2-inch AMOLED screen that has a QHD+ resolution, making for a clear and colorful display. It also features a major camera upgrade with a 12MP+64MP+12MP rear camera setup and a 10MP front camera. The phone also features a 4000 mAh battery that comes with a 25W Superfast charger and has 128GB of internal storage.

    • Samsung Galaxy Note 10

    The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 was released in August 2019 and has made a name for being one of the better Notes in the Galaxy Note series. While it features a fancy camera setup and massive internal storage of 256GB, the phone loses out due to its 3500 mAh battery life. However, it makes up with the Superfast charger and comes with the S pen stylus. The S pen is a great addition to the handset as it allows you to take notes and draw, especially if you are a digital artist.

    • Samsung Galaxy Fold

    Is this a phone? Is this a tablet? The answer to both these questions is yes. It is a two-in-one foldable phone with a 7.3-inch screen size that can be folded to a 4.6-inch screen. With an inbuilt memory of 512 GB, a 12GB RAM, and a powerful Snapdragon 855 processor, this phone takes gaming on mobile handsets to the next level. The screen may be one of the most amazing innovations by Samsung ever; however, this also makes it expensive.

    • Samsung Galaxy A80

    The Samsung Galaxy A80 was released in May 2019 and is replete with some high-end features all for an affordable price. One of its salient features is the flagship pop-up spinning 48MP, 8MP, ToF 3D camera. The phone has no front camera, in fact, the rear screen turns around and allows the user to take a selfie. It has a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen with an HD display resolution of 1080 x 2400. The only downside so far is the less than impressive battery life; however, the phone’s fast charging port evens this out. This is one of the best Samsung phones in the lower price range.

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  • Top Pier 1 Coupons to Choose From

    Pier 1 is the best place for buying high-quality, modern, fun, and exuberant pieces needed around the house. It is best recognized for its home furniture and textile as well as it is a great place to shop for presents, dishes, and candles. You can also get good discounts on your purchases by using the Pier 1 coupons available on various websites. In the following article, we have mentioned various Pier 1 coupons available in the market; however, you need to check their validity, before making a purchase by using them.

    Pier 1 Coupons on Group On

    • In the “Give and Get” offer from Pier 1, you can get $20 off on a purchase of $50 by referring your friend. To avail this offer, you must send an email to them and get the promo code.
    • For only new customers, there is 10% off on the entire order and no code is needed for getting the offer.
    • Free shipping is provided up to the value of $40 for code FREESHIP49.
    • Free Shipping on $49 purchase for the code FREESHIP49.
    • You can save 30% on melamine dinnerware without the use of a code.

    Pier 1 Coupons at RetailMeNot

    • Free shipping is provided for credit card members on their orders for the code FREESHIP.
    • Get up to $100 off with minimum spend for the code SAVEMORE.
    • The existing customers can get up to 10% off on the orders for code 2862.
    • 30% off on the umbrellas+$10 cash back on spending more than $60. No need of a code for enjoying this offer.
    • No need of a code for getting 70% off on all outdoor furniture, including clearance.
    • Get all reed diffusers for around $17 or 2 for around $20. No code needed for availing this offer.
    • No code needed for getting up to 30% Off on all Night Stands.

    Pier 1 Coupons on GivingAssistant

    • Save $15 on your order for code SAVEMORE.
    • Get free shipping on your orders for the code FREESHIP.
    • Get $100 off on home products for the code GRPNLABOR.
    • Get 10% off on your order for the code BIG25.
    • Save 25% on your purchase for the code REMEMBER.
    • Get 20% off on the dining room furniture for the code SEATED.
    • Save 20% on the candle holders for the code HOLDIT.
    • Get 20% Off on Lighting and glimmer strings for the code SHINE.
    • Get 10% off on Halloween décor for the code SPOOKY.
    • Save $25 on home décor for the code AFFILIATE.

    There are numerous offers, use the Pier 1 coupons codes mentioned above and avail the discounts on the products like never before.

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  • Get ready for that precious moment with a due date calculator

    Expecting your little bundle of joy soon? Want to do a ground study about EDD (Expected Due Date)? Well, a lot of science is involved behind them. There are some handful ways to calculate the due date. Before reading further, please understand that the due date calculator can provide the nearest estimate of when the baby arrives in the world. It can never be 100% accurate. Only 4-5% of babies are born on their pre-calculated exact due date.

    Do you remember the starting day of your recent menstrual cycle (LMP last menstrual cycle)? Do you have knowledge about the exact day of ovulation? Even after knowing the ovulation day, are you sure when the male and female reproducing chromosome met each other, because the sperm can wait around for three days to fertilize the egg, after injection. The answers to above mostly are unsure, hence the accuracy of EDD.

    Counting from the day of conception, it takes 38 weeks to reach the day of parenthood. But in most cases day of conception remains unsure. Here, the first day of the recent menstrual cycle is taken and 40 weeks (280 days) added for a rough calculation of EDD. In these types of approximate calculation, one can expect labor two weeks before or after the suggested EDD. In cases where the date of conception is known precisely, such as with In- Vitro Fertilization (IVF), the EDD is calculated by adding 266 days to the date of conception.

    Ultrasound scanning is one of the age old popular ways to detect EDD and examine the wellness of the growing fetus. Ultrasound scan predicts the gestation age of the fetus in the womb. Gestation is the period between the conception and birth of the baby, the time it takes for the baby to develop and grow inside the mother’s womb. The earlier the ultrasound scanning is done, more accurate is the estimation of the due date.

    One of the easier ways to calculate your due date with very less ground data is to consider the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP), add seven days to it and then count backward three months (change to the forthcoming year if necessary). For example, if your last period happens to commence on April 10, 2017, you need to add seven days resulting in April 17, 2017. Then subtract 3 months, which leads to January 17, 2018.

    Many of the online due date calculators come in handy to estimate the EDD. They pose a couple of questions regarding LMP, luteal phase (the time when ovaries release egg for fertilization, the time period before the onset of the menstrual cycle), date of ovulation, etc. These online tools always have a near estimate of the due date. All these ways to find the birth day of your baby give a rough idea and remind you to get ready for the surprise any time close to the prediction. After all, your babies know best when to arrive and melt your heart! So keep your fingers crossed and await your bundle of happiness.

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  • Introduction to employee relations

    To start with, what is it that constitutes employee relations?

    Well, for starters, employee relations refer to the relationship between the employer and employee within an organization and also that which exists between the employees themselves. It is the responsibility of the organization to engender harmonious employee relations, and in order for this to happen, there has to be a planned, focused, and strategic set of initiatives. The larger the size of the organization, the more will people need to be involved in the employee engagement initiatives in order to develop a conducive, fostering environment for work and personal relations. Most often, it is the Human Resources department that is tasked with managing employee relations in any organization. In a small or family run business, that might mean the task falls on the shoulders of one person, as is also often the case at the beginning stages of a startup. As organizations grow and develop, so too must their employee engagement initiatives and practices, to ensure they encompass all team members, across ages and stages of the organization’s growth. Keeping in mind the age group of employees is an integral aspect, given that employees’ thinking and views, as well as needs and expectations will change depending on which stage of their career and lives they are at. For example, a retirement plan and 401K option is likely less important to an employee starting out in their career, but will become increasingly important with middle aged employees. A young person at the beginning of their career might be more interested in policies surrounding vacation days and healthcare benefits, as they age out of being on their parents’ insurance policies.

    A good employee relations plan will have policies in place with regard to workplace culture, the office environment, human resource and payroll policies (vacation and sick days, work from home, compensation and benefits, etc.), the company’s values, mission, ethos, how the employers will deal with conflict within the organization, including but not limited to friction and disagreements between employees, and also of course, the addressing of grievances that employees bring forth, against the organization or management. How the organization addresses issues that employees face, internal, as well as external facing (for example, with a client or vendor) are also aspects related to employee relations. Employees want to feel supported by their employers, alongside being valued for their contributions to the team effort and in hitting organizational goal posts.

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  • Safety guidelines to follow when removing weeds from the garden

    One of the best tools to give to give your garden a clean and tidy look is a weed trimmer. These trimmers are easy to use and efficient in removing all unwanted weeds. Like all appliances, it is essential when using a trimmer to follow a few guidelines to ensure there are no accidents or mishaps.

    Wear heavy clothing – While the weed eater is in action, it is very important to wear protective clothing since there will be a lot of debris when the high powered trimmers remove the weeds. Eye goggles and a protective head gear is recommended.

    Check the surrounding area – Ensure that the area where the trimmer is being used is free of pieces of glass, small stones, and other items that can cause injuries.

    Avoid usage near cables – When using electric weed trimmers, be careful of the wires and cables as there are chances of the insulation on the wires getting damaged which could result in a fire.

    Watch out for onlookers – Be mindful of people around you when working with a high powered tool such as a weed trimmer. Dislodged or flying debris can cause injuries and accidents.

    Weather check –Avoid using the gas trimmer or any other weed trimmers if the weather is cold and rainy. Wet weeds are difficult to remove and you would be wasting fuel.

    Use the apt trimmer line – Depending on the height of the weeds you intend to remove, use the correct trimmer line. For instance, square and star sized lines are used when there are tall and thick weeds, while the common round line can be used to destroy smaller ones.

    Avoid alternatives – It is advisable to try different kinds of trimmer lines that come with the machine instead of trying ropes and wires which can damage the appliance.

    Gas trimmer precaution –It is advisable to wear gloves and take regular breaks when using a gas trimmer as it causes a lot of vibration that can cause pain in the hands.

    You need to be cautious when using an appliance such as a weed trimmer to ensure that there are no accidents when the job is being done.

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