Category: Articles

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and gift-giving is arguably the holiday’s primary focus.  While so many of us are quarantining, it might be hard to trade tangible gifts.  If seeing your partner or family members is more difficult this year, here are some smart, digital ideas for great Valentine’s Day gifts and activities.

Wellness App Subscription

Meditation, yoga, and mindfulness activities are on the rise this year.  Spending many days inside means there’s a lot of time to focus on our introspection.  Practicing mindfulness tasks is easy with various websites and apps to download.

Buying a yearly subscription for an app like Calm or Headspace is an exceptional gift for 2021.  With these programs you can find guided meditations and many soothing playlists to choose from.  Exercises specific to anxiety, depression, anger, and stress are great for when life is a little too overwhelming.  If your partner is having trouble sleeping, meditations and tips for better rest are available on both applications.

Giving the gift of relaxation is unbelievably simple this year.  Provide a loving gesture from afar by including a mindfulness app subscription as your Valentine’s present.

Check out Headspace and Calm here:

https://www.headspace.com/
https://www.calm.com/

Online Scrapbook

Who doesn’t love a commemorative scrapbook from their loved ones?  With many people having access to smartphones, taking pictures and documenting trips is extremely common.  Putting together a slideshow of memories is an easy way to show your deep affection.

Creating a short movie on your iPhone is painless and instantly shareable.  If you go into your Photos app, there’s a section where it has a facial recognition feature.  Clicking on your friend or partner’s icon magically unfolds all of the photos you have of them on your phone.  There’s a play button, too, that creates the slideshow function.  You can edit, add photos, and share the slideshow in seconds with your Valentine.

A digital book of memories is a wonderful, personalized gift for your beloved.  Check out more about slideshow creation on Apple products here:

https://support.apple.com/guide/photos/create-slideshows-phtae8c6d40/mac

Online Cooking Class

Here is a fantastic idea for Valentine’s Day that’s safe and interactive.  If there’s a dish or dessert you’ve always dreamed of making, there are specialized cooking courses all over the internet to peruse.

There are a few websites to checkout for cooking courses online, but Cozymeal has some great Chicago chef options.

Many restaurants in the city have created alternate routes for supporting their business.  Cooking classes are one of the primary ways we can give back to the chefs we cherish in our communities.  On Cozymeal, you can find chefs based on location, cuisine, and difficulty.  Besides using booking websites, checking your favorite restaurant’s website is a stellar way to see if they offer online courses.

This culinary gift will inspire your loved one for months and years to come.  Check out all sorts of classes on the Cozymeal website:

https://www.cozymeal.com/online-cooking-classes

eCards

The complications of scheduling a card drop off or meeting in person are frustrations of the past.  Animated eCards are a safe and silly way to show your appreciation.  There are plenty of options to choose from for eCards from standard and romantic to extremely goofy.

American Greetings is a great site to check out for traditional styles.  They have a wonderful selection of romantic-themed eCards like hearts, flowers, and funny animals.

For a sillier Valentine, the singing and dancing messages on JibJab might be what you’re looking for.  Renowned for their extremely personalized approach, these eCards are great for anyone with a sense of humor.  Crop your friend or partner’s face on the JibJab website and plop them into a choreographed dance number.  For Valentine’s day, there are even Rick Astley, Grease, and Lady Gaga themed greetings.

Look at all the customizable options here:

https://www.jibjab.com/browse/valentines-ecards
https://www.americangreetings.com/cards/ecards/valentines-day/_/N-ezcyxhZ1x91zju   

Digital gifts aren’t the only way to show love and appreciation.  If you’re quarantined with your friends, family, or partner, here are some safe Valentine’s ideas and activities.

Love and adoration are feelings we all share for one another.  Making Valentine’s Day a special event this year can be uncomplicated and safe with these brilliant ideas.  Whether you’re removed from your beloved or cozily at home together, there’s an abundance of possibilities to make the holiday remarkable.  Enjoy these digital romantic ideas and activities and make this Valentine’s Day unforgettable.

Learning doesn’t stop just because we aren’t in the classroom.  With many of us transitioning to remote schooling and working, anything seems possible with the internet at our fingertips.  For those of us who need some extra stimulation, there are plenty of resources for free or cheap learning.  Here’s a list of wonderful apps and websites to peruse if you’re craving to achieve something new.  

Duolingo 

What’s an online learning list without the beloved Duolingo?  This app has a considerable amount of languages to choose from completely free of charge.  

Duolingo utilizes different approaches for holistic language learning.  Though conversing in real life might be hard to do, there are components of the app that can substitute it.  The pronunciation feature incorporates speaking out loud into the lesson.  Alongside grammar, spelling, and conjugation, each course contains diverse educational opportunities.          

One of the best, and arguably most annoying features, of Duolingo, is their reminders.  Anyone who has used the app knows the incessant nature of the Duolingo owl in your texts and emails.  Though it may be frustrating, language proficiency only comes with practice.  The app knows that and will remind you to do your work consistently to meet your goals.  

Find Duolingo on the App Store and check out more here: https://www.duolingo.com

Tynker: Coding For Kids 

Coding has become an essential tool in today’s workforce.  Even if it’s not for your career, learning the ins and outs of coding are exceedingly helpful.  With Tynker, you can start your kids off with an entertaining, interactive app for learning code.  

This award-winning program makes learning sequencing and pattern recognition enjoyable.  The app has even transformed to incorporate kids who are pre-readers.  With 200 challenges and counting, Tynker will never run out of fun exercises to try.  

Coding isn’t the only focus on this learning app.  With the new art and music station, Tynker includes composing music and learning math into its colorful world.  The animation studio is also available, teaching graphics and storytelling together.  

With a strong code focus, Tynker has much to teach to inquisitive children of all ages.       

Download Tynker in the App Store and learn more about the app here: https://www.tynker.com

Star Chart

Star Chart is the free astronomy app for remote planetary exploration.  Using your phone or iPad, you can search and find all sorts of stars and planets.  The universe is entirely viewable with this magnificent application.  

There are a few different ways you can explore with Star Chart.  One example is the ability to point your device into the sky and have the app tell you exactly what stars are there.  It’s almost like having a star GPS in your pocket.  

You can also learn any info about stars, gas giants, and everything else in the universe.  You will be able to master the star placements in the northern and southern hemispheres.  If constellations pique your interest, you can learn and study all 88 of them.  

There’s so much to investigate in space, and Star Chart has it all in one downloadable app.  

Get Star Chart here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/star-chart/id345542655    

Trivia Crack 

When flipping through podcasts isn’t enough, a trivia game can provide just as much obscure information.  Similarly to Trivial Pursuit, Trivia Crack is a six category contest to play alone or with friends.  It’s the perfect app for the avid learner who enjoys endless access to facts.  

The objective of Trivia Crack is to win rounds and earn characters.  The only way you can achieve characters is by answering three questions correctly.  These questions are chosen from the six categories, which include sports, entertainment, and geography.  Once you’ve received a character from all of the categories, you win the round. 

Even in its simplicity, the knowledge available is absolutely endless.  Download this app and challenge your friends to a wide array of fact-based questions.      

Check out more about the rules on the app website: https://www.triviacrack.com

Yousician 

Yousician is an excellent app for those of us with dusty guitars or unused keyboards begging to be played.  With Yousician, you can achieve your quarantine goals of learning an instrument remotely.  

Yousician has intuitive lessons for musicians of all abilities.  There are plenty of specialized tutorials for ukulele, piano, bass, guitar, and singing.  It even incorporates your phone’s microphone feature for real-time critique when practicing.  

Though it’s not free, the trial is accessible for one week with the option to upgrade.  Check out more on the Yousician website: https://yousician.com

The ASL App 

An important language that Duolingo doesn’t offer is American Sign Language.  If this is something you’ve been looking for, The ASL App is available for all cellular devices.  

The main purpose of this program is to teach you conversational ASL.  With a huge selection of phrases to choose from, learning this language has never been quicker.  Over 2,000 expressions are available on the app, with many different signers to study with.  

Explore more about ASL and the app on the website: https://theaslapp.com

Home can be a hard place to discover new things.  As innovative apps emerge each day, there are even more opportunities to find the right educational tool.  From language learning to introductory coding, there are endless resources online.  Try out these free or cheap learning tools to achieve your goals remotely.  

Trying to get the most out of our home in quarantine can be frustrating and extremely limiting. Our abode has become an office, a studio, a meditation space, and a gym all in one. Figuring out how to make enough space for exercise is an issue that’s perplexed even the best problem solvers. If running outside in the winter or being around other people is a cause for concern, here are some wonderful streaming tips for great indoor fitness.

Dance Church

Dancing is one of my favorite things I’ve been missing in quarantine. Going to see a show or venturing out to a club is something most of us haven’t done since the beginning of the pandemic. Though dancing in the mirror or around your apartment can be a likely alternative, it often misses the viable ambiance. Dance Church can add some structure and energy to your movements with the enthusiasm we’ve been lacking.

Started in 2011, Dance Church offers Wednesday and Sunday classes for people of all dancing levels. Each course has different instructors, with multiple genres and styles to try. COVID doesn’t have to eliminate your weekly dance parties; with the ability to stream the exercises on your computer or TV, you can turn your home into a private club. Self-consciousness is a feeling of the past with this exclusive fitness alternative.

Check out the website and weekly schedule at their website:
https://go.dancechurch.com/go-dance

Online Yoga

The simplest form of exercise to do at home has to be yoga. With minimal requirements, this ancient form of movement is our most accessible tool indoors. Though many of us aren’t venturing out to our local Yoga studio, there is an ample amount of instructors around the web to give some comprehensive guidance.

Yoga With Adrienne

The most revered instructor in my household is the calming, charismatic Adrienne. I will often see her face first thing in the morning as I pass the living room, where a roommate or two is streaming her class. With an enormous catalog of videos, it’s easy to see why she’s the primary instructor for many Yoga fans.

Yoga for Adrienne has material for beginners, experienced folks, or particular healing journeys. She has single, short videos available and consecutive playlists for those requiring more structure. There are even specific Yoga instructions for anxiety and stress as well. Yoga with Adrienne has a wide range of topics to choose from, making it a great start for remote exercise.

Check out her videos here:
https://www.youtube.com/c/yogawithadriene/videos?view=0&sort=p&flow=grid

Good Body Feel

If you’re looking for fitness that’s centered around internal feeling and body awareness, Good Body Feel is the right place to start. A Canadian studio founded by Robin Lacambra, their practices involve connecting Yoga, Pilates, and mindfulness.

Tapping into their new virtual studio, viewers can experience multiple instructors sharing guided practices involving interconnectedness and care. A focus on trauma, anti-oppression, and community involves a unique perspective from most Yoga classes. With daily courses operating on a sliding scale, Good Body Feel is an unmatched workout for both inner and outer contemplations.

Find instructors and courses at their website: https://www.goodbodyfeel.com/

Popsugar Fitness

Popsugar Fitness is just as fun as the name implies. Streaming on the reliable Youtube, these free fitness classes explore an extensive range of techniques and workouts.
If you’ve been struggling maintaining the fitness aspects of your normal life, taking a look through Popsugar’s catalog might inspire you to get back on track. Ab workouts, dance classes, and cardio are just a few of the specific classes you can choose from. Reminiscent of vintage workout tapes, these charismatic instructors remind us of the fun in routine exercising.

If you’re pursuing a personal fitness plan or just browsing for something new, Popsugar has plenty videos to peruse for your indoor workouts.

You can check out their Youtube page with this link: https://www.youtube.com/c/POPSUGARFitness/videos

Daily Burn 365

Needing some structure in your fitness routine? Daily Burn 365 has some solutions to get you off the couch and working out.

Daily Burn 365’s most enticing program is their daily, thirty minute live-streamed course. Every morning at nine, you’ll have the opportunity to start the day with a personal workout in the comfort of your home. If the early morning doesn’t suit your schedule, each course becomes available on their website for the remainder of the day.

Their goal is to get us quarantined folk back into exercising and a healthy lifestyle. Each course also includes modification options, in case the workouts are too simple or frustrating. Though motivation can become harder as we stumble into winter, Daily Burn 365 offers a steady solution for your daily fitness needs.

Check out their website here:
https://dailyburn.com/

Fitness can be hard to incorporate into our regular schedules, let alone in the midst of a pandemic. Youtube and free trials are available, though, for at-home approaches to reestablishing cardio and exercise. I know working up a sweat inside your apartment might not be your first option, but there’s plenty of enticing programs to change your mindset. Exercising at home can be fun and worth it with a little bit of time and the perfect virtual option.

Schools are opening across the country for the fall semester.  Though many kids are going back to regular methods of learning, virtual practices are being utilized as well with both “positive and adverse impacts”.

You might feel nervous for kids to have additional screen time, but learning online can be easy, fun, and educational.  With so many options to choose from, it might feel impossible to find the right remote tactics.  From online workshops to interactive games, Below is a list to help keep kids engaged both in and out of school hours.

Class Dojo

Class Dojo is an app that feels the most like in-person learning.  Its basic functions provide seamless communication between parents, students, and teachers.  With learning existing outside of normative structures, Class Dojo can provide some organizational tools to keep everyone on the same page.

The app has a couple of features to aid teachers and parents with their kids’ work ethic and concentration.  There are timer functions to delegate how much time is devoted to certain activities and noise meters to control outside distractions.  Keeping all the child’s priorities in line is hard even without a pandemic, so Class Dojo makes it easier to organize their work and check on their studies. Visit Class Dojo.

Outschool

Similar to Class Dojo, Outschool provides an educational extension to your kid’s school curriculum.  There are a variety of classes to choose from, with a focus on small-group learning.

Courses of all interests can be found by scrolling through Outschool’s website.  If you’ve got a tech-savvy adolescent, there are classes on game and web design.  For the literary inclined, there are creative writing courses ready to be explored.  With so many of us relegated to learning at home, Outschool makes it easy by having an extensive catalog of enticing classes for all students K-12. Visit Outschool.

Grace and Friends Birthday Cafe

Learning doesn’t always have to be dry and information-heavy.  Sometimes we learn things by being provided with something more interactive. Take Grace and Friends Birthday Cafe: a simplistic game that has the power of teaching subitizing and quantitatives for even the most stubborn among us.

A repetitive structure and birthday theme make this math game perfect for your beginner mathematician.  With multiple levels, your child will be learning under the guise of fun and competition.  Get an early jump on subitizing with this game and see your child’s skills drastically improve. Visit Grace and Friends Birthday Cafe.

Math Science Music

For our teenagers, learning remotely often has a deficiency in arts education.  Woodworking and band rehearsal have tremendous limits when it’s necessary to maintain social distancing.  Luckily, Math Science Music provides some solutions to interdisciplinary learning when it comes to music-making.

This website contains lesson plans, interactive functions, and games to practice math and science through music.  Providing teachers with a free toolkit on the site, you can keep your students engaged with topics ranging from geometry to coding.  With a focus on creating and understanding music, students of all ages can combine their academic interests into making percussion loops and practicing music theory. Visit Math Science Music.

Fun Brain

If you’re looking for a website that hosts games for all different subjects, then Fun Brain is the place to go.  Since 1997, Fun Brain has had a myriad of educational games for K-8 students.

As a young kid, I was overly obsessed with marine biology and anything aquatic.  The coral reef simulation on the website is a perfect look into these diverse ecosystems.  You can pick and choose various animals and plants to see how they interact with each other, discovering their intricate world and all the features that comprise our wondrous reefs.

If biology isn’t a topic of interest, there’s reading, writing, and educational videos to get your kid engaged.  Comics to peruse are available on the site, as well as scientific vlogs and cartoons.  There is so much to explore on Fun Brain, it might even be impossible to get your kids off the site. Visit Fun Brain.

Wordscapes

Crossword lovers, here’s an excellent alternative for you.  The app is called Wordscapes and it combines problem solving and vocabulary in this sophisticated puzzle game.

For competitors of all ages, this app twists a normal crossword into a tetris-esque contest.  The player starts with a few letters with only a couple intersecting rows.  The goal is to use the three letters assigned to make different words for all of the rows available.  As the rows and letters increase, the harder it is to conjure up new words and make them fit on the board.  The simplistic concept is great for anyone with an adoration for puzzle solving. Visit Wordscapes.

Coco – Educational Games

Similar to some of the other sites and apps I included above, Coco is a collection of activities for kids to enjoy.  Focusing on memorization techniques, this app has plenty of educational games for when your child needs a mental break from their classes.

With options to play by yourself, multiplayer, or split-screen, Coco has the potential to engage anyone and enhance attention and memory.  Popular games like ColorMind focus on memorizing color combinations with increasing complexity.  Other games like Silly Sequence are more rapid-fire, where letters and numbers appear on the screen with the goal of catching the duplicates.

Simply put, Coco has a range of games to make free time an opportunity for engaging our minds and memory. Visit Coco Educational Games.

Final Thoughts

Staying home and learning remotely doesn’t mean losing out on education.  In fact, the accessibility of the internet has made education more convenient and creative.  Whether your kid needs assistance in the classroom or wants to engage in stimulating puzzles, there are endless possibilities to explore.  Brushing up on math or learning a skill or two has never been easier with this list of wonderful activities for kids of all ages.

With the days of a “new normal” afoot, our daily lives are quickly changing. We’ve had to adjust from office life and conference room meetings to keeping your cats off the keyboard when you’re on a video call. Let’s face it, you’ve been looking at the same four walls for the past six months now…and you’re starting to lose it! Here are FIVE things that I have done to keep level headed and stay productive.

Make Sure to Take Breaks

It seems like a no-brainer, but it’s easy to get caught up in work when you wake up and roll out of bed straight to your laptop. Another factor is that you may feel that taking a break shows that you’re not hardworking while remote. Alan Kohll put it well in saying “Chaining yourself to a desk or scarfing down your lunch in your cubicle isn’t a recipe for success – it’s a recipe for disaster.” Every hour or so take a short break, go outside, stretch, watch that funny video you’ve been dying to watch, anything but work.

Stop Working At a Set Time

Just like rolling out of bed straight to the laptop, its just as easy to stay on your laptop until the wee hours of the night. Set a time every day where the laptop closes, work stops, and the fun begins! Don’t neglect yourself, you need time to wind down and re-energize for the next day. Make plans and set appointments that will make you close down your workstation and head out the door.

Keep It Moving

There they are, the same walls you’ve been looking at day and night. Nothing says stuck in a loop like having the same day over and over again. Its time to change things up, now pick up that laptop and bring it into a different room! Changing my scenery helps me keep things fresh, I’ll grab my laptop and work in the basement, living room, or even outside. Another way to keep it moving would be to invest in a standing desk. Now if you’re like me and consider yourself a DIY’er, I would recommend this video from LRN2DIY on YouTube 

Optimize Your Internet Connection

Nothing makes you want to throw your laptop out of the window more than a poor internet connection. Whether if its that your WiFi doesn’t reach a certain area or your connection is lost, make sure your equipment is up to date. I’d personally recommend the Unifi Amplifi line. You can have anything from a simple router to an at-home mesh WiFi network. If you have some gamers at home as well, the Netgear Nighthawk line is a fantastic option to ensure a strong WiFi connection.

Add Entertainment to the Day

As we’re working remote, the social water cooler chitchat is disappearing. You don’t realize how important your social interactions with your coworkers were until they have come to a halt. Even though we’re not in the same building anymore, try to set up calls to collaborate with team members, get their input, or even set up a happy hour call at the end of the day! As most companies are using messaging software, start up a channel for fun topics. As an idea, a pets chat….who doesn’t want to see everyone’s pets during a stressful day!?

There are a multitude of ways we manage our stress and anxiety levels on a daily basis. For many, relief is attributed to a variety of outdoor exercises. Yoga is known to help with “exaggerated stress responses” alongside team sports and other physical activities. Talk-therapy and psychiatry are common as well, with a combination of these tactics effectively reducing our overwhelming feelings. For the busybodies and workaholics, taking hours out of the day to deal with stress might be too time-consuming. With this frequent problem, tactics online for dealing with unresolved anxiety have risen to popularity. Guided meditations and virtual journaling are now extremely accessible with the availability of smartphones. With a little direction, you can quickly transform your anxious feelings with these downloadable apps.

Moodpath

One of the most confusing parts of feeling overwhelming anxiety is the random bombardment of unnecessary thought. When these thoughts become too rampant, Moodpath is a great tool to organize and process those feelings without the help of a therapist.

Moodpath offers simple questions revolving around your emotional state to begin cataloging your anxiety. It begins with questions about your sleep, performance, inner frustrations, and temperament. Alongside the initial questioning, the app will also ask you about your general feelings: confident, enthusiastic, happy, empty, to name a few. With a calendar and journal feature in the app, you’ll be able to log your interiority every day and start to understand your stress and its causes.

Learn more about Moodpath at https://mymoodpath.com/en/.

Daylio

If journaling is one of your main tools for decompressing, then this app will make your relief even easier. With Daylio, you will be able to set reminders, create goals, and track your mood for a holistic writing experience.

In this journaling application, your entries don’t have to be lengthy or laborious. Daylio uses a combination of emoji expressions and activity selections to create a visual writing experience. You can add your own activities during the day and write how each event made you feel, creating a sequential moodboard. You’ll also be able to create your own distinguishable icons to identify each of your activities and journal entries. If getting back into journaling during quarantine has been difficult, Daylio will make the transition a whole lot simpler.

Learn more about Daylio at https://daylio.webflow.io/.

Headspace

Meditating has become one of the most popular ways to relieve our minds in quarantine. It doesn’t require much except for a place to sit. Headspace provides guided meditation for all kinds of purposes, allowing you to meditate wherever you are in the world.

For different relationships, moods, or tribulations, Headspace has options for most common predicaments. With the packs that the app provides, you can choose from a variety of meditations tailored to your feelings. For those dealing with grief and regret to those of us who simply need a confidence boost, the possibilities are almost endless. Updating consistently with new meditations, Headspace is definitely the best app for controlling stress through at-home mindfulness.

Learn more about Headspace at https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app.

Runkeeper

For those of us who need to fight the itch of anxiety by exercising, Runkeeper will wonderfully assist you. Giving runners an incentive to get out into the fresh air, this app includes many features to make exercising more intentional.

Runkeeper works to aid our stress-relieving activities, with features that track your own goals and improvement. Whether it’s walking, biking, or even snowboarding, you can track your mileage and set limits for yourself in whatever sport you choose. If you’re practicing in a marathon, there are all types of schedules you can use to help meet your goals. With the scheduling side handled, you’ll spend more time outdoors successfully flushing out the stress of your workweek.

Learn more about Runkeeper at https://runkeeper.com/cms/.

Viridi

Sometimes, you might need a mindless distraction to keep the anxiety at bay. Instead of cataloging and delving into the cause of your stress, a playful game can also help calm your stimulated mind. Viridi is an app revolving around growing plants that facilitates a serene world for the user.

While seemingly pointless, a need for distraction makes Viridi a key app for stress relief. Tranquil, ephemeral music flows as you plant each succulent. The pot, rotating slowly in a soft pink landscape, holds the array of plants you must attend to. With simple, menial tasks at its basis, Viridi provides a pleasant experience to divert the mind from chaos. For anyone who finds gardening a peaceful experience, this app is definitely worth checking out.

Learn more about Viridi at http://www.icewatergames.com/viridi.

Calm

The top-rated app of 2017, Calm is a meditation and sleep stories app that offers many functions for stress and anxiety relief.

One of the most widely used features in Calm is the breathing exercises. With the ability to pick from one minute to infinity, the screen appears with instructions for breathing in and breathing out. The circle on the screen expands and collapses, imitating our own lungs as we inhale and exhale. Seems simple, right? It might appear cumbersome, but concentrated breathing is one of Calm’s most helpful tactics to mitigate an anxiety attack.

Alongside the breathwork, Calm has meditation and calming music choices for restful thinking and better sleep. The mental fitness option comes with instructions on how to meditate with personal instructors. For sleep, there are countless playlists and mixes from rain sounds to light ambient music. If tunes are too chaotic, there’s also a plethora of sleep stories that will surely aid in your rest.

Learn more about Calm at https://www.calm.com/

Splashy

For regaining focus, an app like Splashy can help center your mind. It’s a game with a simple task, but ultimately rewarding for those of us who need a diversion from our anxieties.

Splashy is a game that requires fierce concentration. All you need to do is tap the ball on the screen, move it from platform to platform, and get it to the finish line. With a feasible objective, this game can be a triumphant distraction from all outside stresses. You’ll have a great time with this recreational app, concentrating too vigilantly to remember your daily frustrations.

Learn more about Splashy at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/splashy/id1319500389

Leaving the house to get therapeutic treatment is a method of the past. Now with calming, downloadable apps, relieving anxiety can be easy and free. Whether it’s gaming, organizing, or meditating, everyone has a different practice for eliminating stress. Hopefully, this list will provide a few great options to manage your day to day life and improve your relaxation.

If you’re looking to expand your TV options, or if you want to ditch cable and try a cloud-based service instead, there are many options to choose from.

Cloud TV allows customers maximum flexibility in taking their preferred programming on the go at any time they choose. Cloud TV generally works in the same way as other cloud-based services, meaning that information and programming are stored on remote servers that allow users to access and stream or download media through any suitable internet connection at any time. With the advent of cloud technology, many new cloud-based TV platforms are appearing to address growing consumer demand. In this post, we look at the top five platforms in the industry today.

1. YouTube TV

 

YouTube TV has the powerful advantage of taking advantage of the familiarity and popularity of YouTube and its powerful presence for many years as the go-to video-sharing platform. In addition to the millions and millions of user-generated videos available for streaming on YouTube, YouTube TV offers live streaming of multiple TV channels.

YouTube TV also capitalizes on consumer familiarity in its user interface. With some intuitive modifications, it operates in the same simple way as always.

Depending on your local area, YouTube TV offers local station programming for most networks. The platform also includes most major sports networks, although the NFL Network is not currently part of YouTube TV’s programming.

YouTube TV currently costs $49.99 per month, and several network add-ons like Showtime and Starz are available, usually at less than $10 per month.

YouTube TV subscriptions also include access to YouTube Premium, which includes original programming and some special features like ad-free streaming and YouTube Music Premium. YouTube TV’s original programming has not been as active or critically acclaimed as some other platforms, but the company claims dedication to investing heavily in original offerings.

2. Netflix

 

The original industry giant for streaming TV remains near the top of the list for almost all streaming TV viewers. In about a decade, Netflix transitioned from a highly disruptive DVD rental service to a streaming service, and now to an industry leader in highly popular original productions.

While Netflix is not a complete replacement for a cable or satellite subscription, there original programming and offerings of other very popular and highly re-watchable content make it an essential add-on for cloud-based TV customers everywhere.

Netflix is available on virtually every streaming device currently on the market. It offers three tiers of service, depending on the picture quality and the number of continuous streams a customer wants. Monthly plans run between $8.99 and $15.99.

Netflix also still offers the DVD rental service that put it on the map. For movie fans who enjoy classics that are virtually impossible to find for rental anywhere else, the Netflix inventory remains impressive.

3. Amazon Prime Video

 

Amazon has a strong history of entering into almost every consumer-based marketplace with force, and Amazon Prime Video has become an extremely popular offering. Like Netflix, Prime Video is not a replacement for a full cable or satellite channel lineup but acts as a great add-on for on-demand entertainment. Amazon’s original programming has become more popular in the last couple of years, although new releases are not nearly as frequent or consistent as Netflix. The service does include a wide variety of old classic and B-movies that many customers enjoy.

The biggest bang for the buck with Prime Video goes to regular Amazon customers. If you are an Amazon Prime subscriber, Amazon Prime Video is part of the package that consists of several features and savings for Amazon customers. As a standalone service, Amazon Prime Video costs from $8.99 to $12.99 per month. If you are not a regular Amazon customer and do not find the other benefits of a Prime subscription valuable, the standalone Prime Video expense may not be worth the cost.

The user interface is intuitive and consistent with traditional Amazon platform use. However, the service does not allow customers to create multiple accounts or profiles under a single subscription, and simultaneous streaming on two devices simultaneously.

4. Hulu

 

Perhaps the fastest-growing platform is Hulu, as newly developed Hulu + Live TV is hitting the “cord-cutting” marketplace powerfully. Hulu has traditionally operated as a streaming service that provided access to most TV shows the day following its original broadcast along with some original programs.

Hulu + Live TV costs $54.99 per month, markets itself as a full replacement for cable or satellite TV subscriptions. Local channel availability varies significantly in some cases from city to city, and prospective customers should check the available lineup carefully. For sports, Hulu currently provides the ESPN networks and the major networks’ sports programming.

Hulu markets aggressively to family customers and allows users to create six personally configured viewer profiles under a single subscription. Simultaneous streaming is allowed on unlimited devices on a subscriber’s home network and up to three devices away from home.

5. HBO NOW

 

HBO has been the standard-bearer for cable TV movies and original programming for decades. Previously, HBO offered streaming service through HBO GO, which required an active ordinary HBO subscription through a traditional TV provider. HBO NOW is a standalone streaming service that provides HBO’s original programming without a cable or satellite TV subscription.

HBO’s programming, including The Sopranos and Game of Thrones, has placed it at the front of the line for millions of viewers. In addition to original content, HBO NOW includes a rotating selection of movies shown on the network that is available on demand.

HBO NOW costs $14.99 per month, and many cord-cutters find that the cost is comparable or cheaper than the subscription cost of HBO through a cable or satellite provider. HBO NOW is compatible with almost all streaming devices and has a slick and enjoyable interface.

If you are looking for more streaming TV resources, check out our cord-cutting guide.

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Whether your internet network serves your home devices, your home office, or a small to medium business internet data security is always an ongoing concern. The threat of cyber-attacks, hackers, and other malicious actors continues to increase as more and more of our business and personal financial lives are conducted over the internet on connective devices and in the cloud. Here are some basic common sense ways to improve your personal and business data security’s exposure over the internet.

1. Construct a Secure Data Infrastructure

We often focus on perimeter security to the extent that our system’s overall infrastructure security suffers. Many times the vast majority of security budgeting and planning goes into firewall protection. There are multiple ways that a firewall can be penetrated or defeated by persons with access to system information and weaknesses. Firewalls are very important but are just the beginning of comprehensive data security.

Layered security systems are important for defeating hackers and cyber attacks. Every device on your network should be running fully updated operating systems and using applications that are updated with all available security patches. It is essential that you have operating systems, applications, and programs that automatically update or that you manually check for updates regularly. Internal devices should all also have filtering and antivirus software installed and operating properly. Depending on the size and scope of the data that you are protecting, investing in intrusion/attack detection and continuous monitoring software may also be useful for cost-effective and efficient data infrastructure security.

2. Make Sure All Users On Your Network Are Educated On Data Security Risks

Whether you have local family users on your personal network or have co-workers and employees accessing data and network resources locally or remotely, it is critical that every person on your network understands and uses best security practices.

No one should ever click on links in any form of messaging from unknown and untrusted sources, whether inside emails, texts, or instant messages. All users should log off all applications properly when finished using them, and credentials should not be saved on operating systems or inside programs. Implementing dual authorization of any financial transactions, which requires your additional authorization, also adds an extra layer of protection.

3. Pay Attention To Your Privacy Settings

Your social networking applications contain vast amounts of personal information about all aspects of your online activities. If you ignore privacy settings on any of the platforms that you use, the default settings likely provide visibility over the internet that would shock you. For every platform and application that you use you should carefully check the privacy settings. You should understand the settings and select what you want to share with anyone, only with contacts or friends, or with no one at all.

In addition to social networks, you should understand how your private information might be visible on online storage services. Unless you understand the privacy settings on Google Docs, you should not use it to store sensitive personal information. If you are using Dropbox for storing sensitive data you should understand how to use encryption to archive your information.

Your everyday web surfing is also a possible security threat depending on the browser you use and the privacy settings you select. Even incognito mode with common browsers is vulnerable to tracking by marketers and search engines. There are software add-on options available that can assist in avoiding internet tracking.

4. Be Smart With Passwords and Keep Your Contact Info Secure

Weak passwords are much more vulnerable than in previous times, as hacking techniques and methods become more advanced. Use complex and lengthy passwords in every use that requires password security. Go for 12 or more characters and include a mixture of capitals and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols. Use a different password for every service or application in the event that a single password is compromised somehow. In order to keep your passwords securely stored and accessible to you only, look for a quality password manager program.

If you share your primary email address or phone number with any online application or website, you are inviting an unlimited number of spam emails, text messages, and telemarketing calls by voluntarily placing your contact information on marketing lists that are sold all around the world. If you need to sign up for an unknown service, use an alternate email address or even an alternate phone number. If you decide later that the resource is trusted and you want to use your primary contact information, you can update as needed.

Bonus Tip: Use Two Factor Authentication (2FA) on Email Accounts

Two factor authentication (2FA) is an extra layer of security beyond a password that makes security breaches of your accounts much more difficult. The two most common ways to implement 2FA is through a physical key that verifies through connecting to your physical devices such as Yubikey or app-based 2FA options like Google Authenticator and  Authy. Both systems make access to your accounts nearly impossible without physical access to your access key (Sim swapping attacks being the only exception).

Most people implement 2FA through app-based verification. The 2FA apps are connected to your accounts, using a mathematical algorithm with a numerical code that rotates every minute, specific to your account. After you enter your username and password, there’s a prompt to enter your 2FA code to access the account.

2FA has been available on popular email services such as Gmail for many years. Using 2FA on your email is critical since email provides access to personal information and the ability to reset the passwords of your other accounts. Additionally, there have been many significant data breaches over the past several years were usernames, passwords and emails have been obtained by hackers. In many cases, people use the same passwords at multiple sites, making them easy targets for criminal activity. Learn more about 2FA and implementing it into your account security at Google.

5. Use End-To-End Encryption With All Messaging Apps

There are many messaging apps in use today, with more being developed all the time. Modern messaging is quickly supplanting email, text messaging, and voice calling as the go-to way to communicate with family, friends, and even for business purposes. Most messaging apps use encryption, although the default method is “in transit” encryption. This encryption is deciphered by the app provider and messages are stored on their servers. If those servers are compromised in any way, your data is exposed. By choosing end-to-end encryption only you and your end-user will be able to see the information you share. Be sure to determine if your messaging app uses end-to-end encryption by default or if it can be selected for specific or all conversations.

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People are more aware than ever of the risks associated with public Wi-Fi networks when they use their laptops, phones, tablets, and other devices to access the Internet. Those risks are real and substantial, and without proper precautions, someone, somewhere very well might be monitoring your activity and data. One form of protection is a virtual private network (VPN), which can help provide security and privacy for your online activity everywhere.

How VPNs Work

The primary function of a VPN is acting as an intermediary between your computers and devices and the websites that you visit. Your PC or device connects to a remote computer that can be located anywhere in the world. The remote computer is the VPN “server,” which is a computer dedicated to handling traffic between remote computers.

Your PC communicates to websites you visit by passing through the VPN server each way. As a result, any outsider to your communication will observe your computer as being at the physical location of the VPN server and not your actual location. The traffic coming away from the VPN server is encrypted and tracks back to the IP address of the VPN server. Typically the only actors who will know that you are using a VPN server are you, the VPN, and some of the websites you communicate with over the VPN.

If you access the Internet through public Wi-Fi and use a VPN, hackers will have a tough time accessing your login data or sending your PC to fake websites to steal your information or gain access to your accounts. Your Internet service provider (ISP) or any hacker will have great difficulty learning what sites you visit over a VPN at any time.

The public Wi-Fi example highlights the value of VPN security. Many times we connect to a public network without a second thought. Consider, however, the places where hackers anticipate people are using networks while traveling, like airports, hotels, coffee shops, and restaurants. Bad actors choose these sorts of places to target transient users or to even set up entirely fake networks to entice users to log on, thus presenting easy access to their financial and private information.

Just because a network is displayed as “coffeehouse_freecustomerwifi” or with a brand name in the title does not mean that it is legitimate. Using a VPN is a way to defeat these types of attacks.

Who Needs a VPN?

As described above, VPNs provide security when you are accessing the Internet over a public Wi-Fi network. Even password-protected public networks benefit from the added layer of protection a VPN offers. Typical WPA2 passwords used by secured public networks provide a far lower level of security than a VPN.

When you are traveling outside of the United States, many sites that you usually visit might not be accessible because of the IP address of the network you use in a foreign country. Using a VPN based in the U.S. will allow you to appear to sites you visit as if you are currently inside the U.S. If you want to use a streaming service that you subscribe to, for example, you may be blocked from your account if logging in from a foreign IP address.

Business travelers often use VPNs to access their company networks and local resources without exposing private and local resources to the Internet. Travelers can also set up private VPNs to access a home local area network (LAN) securely while away from home.

Many more companies are beginning to require their remote workers to use a VPN when accessing company servers or resources. Remote or traveling workers can use a VPN to operate as if they were inside a company’s physical location while remaining secure.

Residents of some countries with restrictive governments that limit Internet access have used VPNs to access restricted sites and content. Many of the restrictive governments have taken harsh measures against citizens who use VPNs to circumvent Internet censorship. As always, technology and regulators are in a constant struggle over the free movement of information.

Many U.S. residents use VPNs just to obtain simple privacy from their ISP in addition to greater security from hackers. Typically, an ISP will only see a single connection to a secure VPN, and all other traffic is encrypted through the VPN server.

Using VPNs On Multiple Devices

You are likely to have several devices that could benefit from connecting to the Internet through a VPN. The most challenging aspect of managing multiple connections is addressing inconsistent connection requirements. This issue is identified by examining the capabilities of an individual VPN.

Most VPN network clients work smoothly between Windows and macOS, but that has to be verified. Other operating systems may have different requirements for connection or may simply be incompatible. Additionally, you should check to see if a VPN has suitable Android and Apple apps for connecting your mobile devices.

Limitations Of VPNs

VPNs can protect you from data collection by your ISP but are not effective against data collection by websites you use. When you shop with a retailer or use social media on the Internet, your information is associated with your account on that site and not your IP address or local connection. Also, every VPN is different, and some VPNs collect and sell data just like ISPs do. It is worth the effort to investigate different VPNs, and to not always just settle for a free option without question.

Some websites, and especially streaming services and financial companies, actively attempt to block all traffic identified as coming from a VPN server.

Speed is also a concern with many VPNs. VPNs usually involve increased ping time, or latency, because of the additional time and distance involved in using a remote server. This is another area where each VPN can differ significantly, and some research is probably necessary.

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Kids today have lived their entire lives expecting a continuous connection to the Internet everywhere and all the time. Children typically spend much more time online than their parents do. There are unsafe, disturbing, and illegal sites that children can reach very easily if they are not properly supervised. Children are also continuously exposed to the risk of harassment, threats, and other aggressive acts by bad actors without appropriate safety measures. Kids access the Internet through home computers, and also through a wide array of devices including phones, gaming consoles, and tablets. Here are some simple steps you can take to help ensure your kids’ safety and monitor their use of the Internet.

1. Filtering Software

Internet filtering software is designed to sort content found online and classify content accessible by different users. This type of software is designed to block content that parents do not want their children to access, including social network platforms and chat interfaces. Parents should look for applications that include menu options for different types of content or sites that should be blocked. Specific URLs can also be added to a filter list. Typically, a whitelist of allowed URLs can be created, blocking access to all unlisted sites.

Filters for social media apps are becoming more sophisticated as well, filtering and blocking explicit content and suspicious images. Parents are able to control the filters for social media content, and any current filtering program should be designed to send parents instant alerts of any blocked or suspicious content or attempts to access blocked sites or content.

2. Monitoring Software

Relationships between parents and children depend on open communication and trust. Additionally, parents are responsible for protecting their children from dangerous activities. There are a number of applications that are available that allow parents to keep up with their kids.

Apps are available that allow parents to monitor device calls, texts, app use, and GPS locations without their children being aware of the monitoring. Details related to videos viewed can be provided. Alerts can be sent to parents regarding what sites a child accesses on a mobile device and when pictures are shared over social media or other apps. Monitoring apps can also alert a parent to the speed of any vehicle a child is traveling in.

3. Physically Secure Your Home Router

Children know many methods to defeat security measures, and one simple way is physically resetting your home router. Restoring factory default settings can often be done with a push of a button on many router models. Many routers will default to a factory password printed on the router or which can be found with a Google search. With security features disabled, safety features and other settings can be modified. This type of router manipulation can be very difficult to detect, as power outages or surges can cause similar resets. Securing your home’s router in a locked closet or another secure area will prevent physical manipulation of safety settings and other features.

4. Set Internet Access Time Limitations Through Your Router

In addition to safety and security concerns, unlimited internet access causes sleep disruption for many children, along with all of the health concerns that accompany the lack of proper nighttime sleep patterns. Most modern router models feature a setting that allows repeating periods without internet access through the router. If you want sleep hours in your home to be from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., just set your router to cut Internet access during the times you chose. This setting also provides additional protection against hackers during the downtime you assign for your router.

5. Disable Wireless Remote Administration of Your Home Router

Disable the “Remote Administration via Wireless” function on your router. Some children know how to modify security settings on routers, and using wireless remote administration is a common technique used by teenagers and hackers to defeat system security. Disabling remote administration will only allow modification by a user physically connected to the router through an Ethernet cable. By keeping your router physically secure, as described above, you can ensure that only you are able to modify the router’s security settings.

6. Consider the Location of All Computers in Your Home

Always consider low-hanging fruit solutions. Children today want to enjoy using computers in their bedrooms. However, often the simplest Internet security step is controlling the physical spaces where children can go online. Consider creating a semi-private computer and study area in your family room or kitchen where the kids can do homework and enjoy the Internet. Just knowing that you are close by and able to see what they are doing directly can be the most effective security measure of all.

7. Enable Parental Control Features on Mobile and Gaming Devices

Web browsers are not only on the computers you have stationed in your house. Almost all the devices that kids use — mobile phones, gaming consoles, tablets — allow full Internet access. For every mobile Internet device your children own, check the manufacturer’s security and safety settings. Also, look at the capabilities of the filtering and monitoring software discussed above to determine if your best solution is a universal application across multiple devices or a single-device-designed app or internal setting. Regularly check device passwords and settings to ensure no modifications have been attempted.

8. Scan Around Your Home for Unsecured Wireless Access Points

The easiest way for children to defeat all the security and safety precautions you take with your network is to simply use a different network to access the Internet. If your neighbor has an unsecured network that penetrates your house, then kids need only to simply click on the unsecured network. Use your phone or laptop to scan for any unsecured networks that are available on your property. Check all the different locations that your children might use around the house to go online. If you do find an unsecured network present in your home, you will hopefully have a good relationship with your neighbor and will be able to discuss the benefits of protecting their network with a simple password.

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Businesses of all sizes depend on fast and reliable Internet access to be competitive in all industries today. Internet speed has a direct impact on productivity and bottom-line success. Traditional broadband cable or DSL service provides typical speeds between 10 and 30 Mbps (megabits per second). Fiber-based Internet service providers are able to provide speeds up to 1000 Mbps and beyond. Modern high-speed Internet access benefits business infrastructures, employee performance, and customer protection and satisfaction.

Here are 10 ways that a quality high-speed Internet connection improves business productivity.

1. Fast Internet Access Makes Employees More Productive

A substantial majority of employee positions involve daily Internet use. Many employees are more dependent on their Internet connection than they are on their phones in performing their daily tasks. Slow Internet speeds mean slow loading times for all applications that employees rely on to do their jobs. High-speed Internet also supports multi-tasking among several Internet applications at the same time.

Time that is wasted on delayed Internet research, customer service, email, chats, software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications all add up over the course of a day. Fast Internet allows employees to move quickly and seamlessly from task to task without losing steam and becoming distracted by downtime.

2. High-Speed Internet Access Reduces Costs

The initial added cost of high-speed Internet access is usually absorbed through the added efficiencies of established business processes. There are many other direct savings available with fast Internet speed.

High-speed Internet makes Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone voice service an option that companies without fast speeds do not have. All companies rely on telephone service. Depending on the number of employees, phone numbers, and extensions a business uses, immediate savings over traditional landline phones can amount to thousands of dollars.

High-speed Internet access also supports moving or adding employees who are able to work remotely. In order to access company systems, remote workers rely on the quality of the business’s Internet access.

Fast and reliable Internet connections generally support scaling up cost-saving efficiencies throughout an organization and streamline processes while eliminating costly redundancies.

3. High-speed Internet Improves Cloud Access

Most current business applications require constant uploading and downloading that are associated with cloud access and remote data storage. Slow speeds significantly affect the performance of SaaS apps, customer relationship management (CRM) programs, and financial processing programs.

Lags in processing data through CRM programs cause customers to lose interest and confidence in a business’s ability to operate safely and efficiently. Slow load times involving any third-party user leads directly to dropped communications and losses due to inefficiency.

Poor Internet performance often acts as a complete barrier to businesses even entering into the market of cloud applications and opportunities. Virtually all new software products coming online currently are designed to rely on fast cloud access. High-speed Internet access is not only important to efficient use of software products, but it is also essential for accessing new products that can support business success.

4. High-Speed Internet Provides Consistent Broadband Efficiency Without Data Cap Losses

Traditional Internet Services lack the bandwidth capacity to handle video conferencing, VOIP services, large file transfers, and efficient use of cloud applications. As businesses struggle with low Internet speed to use necessary programs, data caps can also disastrously affect operations. Many Internet service providers supply a limited amount of their already limited-speed service.

When data caps are hit, a business often finds that many applications will no longer properly operate at all because of highly reduced speeds. High-Speed Internet service can provide consistent access to quality service without arbitrary cap limitations in addition to superior performance overall.

5. High-Speed Internet Supports Effective Collaboration

Remote working opportunities require fast Internet speeds. Remote employees and those who work while traveling and have high-speed access can share files, collaborate through sharing platforms, print documents remotely, and perform tasks as if they were physically present in the office. These remote efficiencies facilitate easier communication and sharing with clients, customers, and other partners.

High-speed Internet access also allows companies to invest in video conferencing and other teleconferencing products without sacrificing Internet performance for other essential company functions. Many businesses are enjoying the time and money savings associated with replacing in-person meetings with video conferencing when possible.

Collaborative platforms for marketing, sales, and training are also available when companies have sufficient bandwidth to support the many sharing and conferencing products available.

6. Reliable Service Supports Productivity

Any unexpected Internet outage can impose significant costs and losses on any business that relies on Internet access to get work done. High-speed Internet service, and especially fiber connectivity, uses hardware that is far superior to traditional cable and DSL connections. Weather conditions, electrical interference, and physical breakdowns are less likely to interfere with a high-speed provider’s service.

Increased bandwidth also prevents losses through slow load times or lost connections for customers. If a business’s pages load slowly or crash, customers lose confidence quickly and move along to a competitor’s site. The reliable performance also promotes customer loyalty and encourages repeat business.

7. Greater Security

High-speed Internet service is more physically resistant to hacking and other illegal access than traditional Internet service. Security breaches present a substantial risk to businesses in many ways and are always expensive to remediate. Prevention is the best cure for the risk of loss of customer information or any sensitive material. Agility is critical to any disaster response, and agility is entirely dependent on speed.

Most companies today use offsite resources to back up data for safety and disaster preparation. The amount of data that most businesses need to back up efficiently is continuously increasing. Slow Internet connections make effective backups difficult during working hours. Even overnight backups are often compromised because of slow connections.

8. Consistent Signal Strength

Traditional Internet service suffers signal loss as user interfaces are located further away from the service router. Companies with large campuses and buildings benefit from the consistent signal provided by modern high-speed Internet. Ethernet signal strength generally exceeds even the best WiFi signal and provides a more secure connection. High-speed Internet provides a more resilient and strong signal that helps avoid downtime, poor operation and lost productivity.

9. Symmetric Speed Provides More Effective Service

Traditional Internet service normally produces higher download speeds than upload speeds, although both are inferior to high-speed service. The organizational staff enjoys higher productivity with more equalized speeds in addition to the overall higher speed for both downloads and uploads.

Modern companies are more likely to rely on multiple applications that upload and download data simultaneously such as VOIP calls, video conferencing, and large data transfers. High-speed data connections provide smooth and efficient use of applications that require substantial uploads while maintaining simultaneous downloads.

10. High-speed Internet Reduces Losses From Latency

Latency refers to service delays that happen while data is being processed through an Internet connection. Traditional Internet service can suffer from latency issues, and especially while handling high-bandwidth material like VOIP calls and video data. High-speed Internet promotes greater productivity through improved VOIP quality, uninterrupted large data transfers, and more efficient use of cloud-based applications.

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After a long day of work, you settle in for an evening of catching up on the latest Netflix offerings. You kick back and power up your 70-inch 4K UHDTV, thinking of what to watch first. Things take a bad turn when you realize that the video is not streaming correctly, and when you check your tablet, your email is taking forever to load, and your Google Drive is just sadly telling you that it is having issues getting any functions to load. Gritting your teeth and taking some deep breaths, you think of your Internet service and decide to return to the kitchen and have that ice cream.

What can you do to get the most out of your home’s Internet speed? Here are eight simple tips that might help get you back on the couch, relaxing with the remote.

1. Is Your Router Up to Date?

Take a look at your router. If you use an older model Wireless G (802.11g) or Wireless N (802.11n) router, your equipment is outdated. Your router should perform as well as your devices, and if you have phones, tablets, TVs, or other devices that you have purchased in the last couple of years, you should look at a Wireless AC (802.11ac) router to ensure the most reliable and fastest performance for your Wireless AC devices. Even with older devices, a new Wireless AC router will enhance performance, and any new devices you add over time will take full advantage of the power of a Wireless AC router.

Upgrading your router will also help ensure that you are receiving current support and firmware updates to address performance and security. A Wireless AC router may not have greater range than your old router, but you will notice much greater performance throughout the router’s range, all the way out to the coverage fringe. Modern Wireless AC routers analyze and manage the way that multiple devices connect, maximizing speed across all devices.

2. Stick With Wires When You Can

Even with the latest WiFi equipment, wireless connections cannot compete with a solid wired connection for speed or signal reliability. Think of positioning your router close to the devices you use that pull bandwidth. Your TV, gaming consoles and streaming media devices will produce the best performance your router can supply when connected directly to the router with a networking cable.

Depending on the size and configuration of your home or apartment, a central location for your router may also work as the hub for your most speed-dependent streaming media devices. To the extent that you can save your router’s wireless connections for your truly mobile devices, your entire system will operate at higher speeds.

3. Are You Getting Dinged with a Data Cap?

Sometimes slow speeds are not the fault of your equipment but are the responsibility of your ISP. Successful marketing usually means emphasizing the positive, and it is no wonder that ISPs do not go out of their way to talk about data caps. A data cap can leave you with a connection with significant speed issues affecting every connected device.

Data caps apply when your service period renews each month. While ISPs heavily advertise their fast speeds, they may also have caps in place. A plan may provide for a data limit at a higher speed and a significantly lower speed after reaching the limit. ISPs will advertise there are no “hard caps,” which means you will not lose all service. The problem is that the speed you have after the cap may be unable to supply your devices.

Check your bill or call your ISP to determine what data cap, if any, applies to your service. You may need to consider changing plans or providers to get the service you need at a price you are willing to pay.

4. Give Your Router Some Routine Maintenance and TLC

Many times we think of our routers as we think of our refrigerators–plug it up and forget about it. Internet connections are a bit different than electric motors, however, and a quick rest and reboot can make a huge difference in performance.

At least once a month, you should reset your router to give it a short rest and to refresh your Internet connection from the source through to the router and all connected devices. If you have a modem that is separate from your router, you should reset it as well. If you are forgetful or do not like keeping up with these routine tasks, you can get a programmable timer that powers the router and modem down and back up at pre-scheduled times.

You may also want to check the firmware version of your router, even if it is a modern Wireless AC one. Upgrading the firmware version can provide performance and security upgrades.

5. Consider Your Router’s Position and Range

If your router is stuck in a back bedroom or out in the garage, lack of sufficient range may be the source of your speed problems in the parts of your property that you use most of the time. If your router and TV have a few walls and several feet between them, your streaming speed and signal consistency are likely to suffer. Whenever possible, position your router in a central location in your house or as close as possible to the majority of your connected devices.

If you have problems finding a suitable position, or if you have a large house and backyard you would like to supply with adequate WiFi coverage, consider buying one or more WiFi extenders (also called repeaters). The small devices receive your router’s signal where it is strong and then retransmit the signal to other parts of your property. The issue with extenders is that they create another level of connectivity that is naturally less resilient than a simple wired or one-jump wired connection.

6. Use Both of Your Router’s Bands

Most modern routers transmit their radio signals on two different frequencies, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. This allows you to have two separate networks running off of your router at the same time. Each device connected to your router will only use one of the two running networks, and some planning on which devices use which frequency can improve speed and performance.

The 5 GHz frequency is normally less congested and works better with high bandwidth consumers like video devices and gaming consoles. The dual-frequency design is intended to allow your router to more effectively handle bandwidth traffic on your system, so take advantage of it.

7. Keep Your Home Network Secure and Free From Hackers

Neighbors who connect to your router can create significant speed issues in addition to the obvious security concerns. If data caps are a problem, you certainly do not want your neighbor to click the gigs off of your plan like an electric meter playing video games.

Make sure your router’s firmware is always up to date. Change your router’s default login and password, and update your personalized password anytime you notice any suspicious activity. Be sure that your WiFi network is using WPA2 encryption, and turn off WPS if your device connections allow connection otherwise.

8. Update Your Antivirus and Malware Protection Software

We usually think of viruses and malware causing problems with our PCs and the programs that they run. Malicious software is also designed to infect and compromise your router and all other connected devices as well. In addition to affecting your Internet speed, malicious software can create significant security issues. Set your protection software to regularly scan your entire system and address any issues that are identified.

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While you may know of Zentro for our ultra-fast residential and business Internet service, we also provide on-site service for events, festivals, construction sites, and other short-term needs. In fact, Zentro has provided dependable Internet service for popular Chicago events like Lollapalooza, Pitchfork Music Festival, the Shamrock Shuffle, Cirque Du Soleil, NBA Draft Combine, and Riot Fest.

These popular events rely on Zentro because of our straightforward, turnkey approach to event and outdoor Internet. We handle the on-site installation and provide ongoing support and monitoring. Our experienced staff can also provide complimentary technical consulting. With speeds up to 1 gigabit available, Zentro is the ideal solution for events of all sizes that depend on a reliable, fast Internet connection.

Have you ever attended a festival, craft fair, or other large event and found that it takes forever for your credit card to process when you purchase something? The likely reason for the slow processing is that attendees and other event staff are using up all of the bandwidth. Zentro’s managed Wi-Fi service is the perfect solution for issues like this. We’re able to allocate different amounts of bandwidth to different parts of your event. Attendees can be restricted to a certain percentage of bandwidth, technical staff can have their necessary bandwidth, and vendors can have the bandwidth to process credit cards. Zentro’s managed Wi-Fi services are custom-tailored to your event to ensure staff and attendees have the best Wi-Fi experience possible.

If your event, construction site, or outdoor space is in need of a flexible, dependable, and exceptionally fast Internet provider, contact Zentro today.

The placement of your WiFi router in your home can have a big impact on your WiFi speed and the range of your connection. While it’s often easiest to keep your router under your desk or in a metal cabinet in the corner of your apartment, doing so can mean that your connection isn’t as strong as it could be.

Below are some of the best places to keep your WiFi router in your home.

Centralized in Your Home

WiFi routers emit radio waves which spread out and towards the ground. Putting your router as close to the center of your home will ensure that the waves reach as much of the house as possible. If you have a second floor, you may want to consider mounting the router near the ceiling of the first floor so the connection is strong on both floors.

On a High Shelf or Desk

If you’re not able to centralize your router, try to put it on a high shelf or desk. Avoid the floor, as that will minimize the emission of the router’s radio waves.

Not in the Kitchen

Kitchen appliances, especially microwaves, are not your router’s friend. Microwaves actually use frequencies around the same as routers, so you could notice your Internet slowing down when someone uses the microwave.

Away from Your TV or Metal Objects

Metal objects and TVs can reflect your router’s signal, causing it to disperse. Consider a wood or plastic shelf for your router, or mount it on a wall as suggested above.

Check your Router’s Antenna Position

If your router features an external antenna, one of the easiest way to optimize your router’s performance is to experiment with different antenna positions. Typically, vertical positions are optimal, but experimenting can bring surprising results.

Zentro’s concierge support team can help you determine the best location for your router in your home. Email us at help@zentrointernet.com or call 312-6000-3800 if you need assistance.

Zentro is pleased to be the Internet service provider of many local Chicago businesses. Companies like The Second city, Harris Theater at Millennium Park, Smashotels, Baum Revision and even Millennium Park rely on our ultra-fast, dependable Internet. Here’s some reasons why we’re trusted by so many Chicago businesses.

Consistently Fast Speeds

Zentro provides consistently fast, symmetric speeds that are the fastest you’ll find in Chicago. Symmetric means that you’ll get the same upload and download speeds. Our industry-leading 99.99% uptime means that your connection is dependable too. Zentro’s dependability allows you to focus on your work without being distracted by fluctuating Internet speeds or downtime.

Local Concierge Support

Our business support team has experience working with Chicago businesses of all sizes. We use that experience to help our business clients determine the Internet service that is appropriate for them. Whether you’re a small startup who needs Internet for your new office or you’re Lollapalooza and need us to keep the operations team connected, we’re able to provide you with exactly what you need. We can also suggest hardware and software to optimize your Internet connection and technology.

Straightforward Pricing

No more confusing bills with a long list of fees and taxes! With Zentro, you pay a simple, straightforward price each month. We don’t hold you to a longterm contract either and you can upgrade or downgrade at anytime.

Help When You Need It

While our service is dependable, there are times when you may need our help. Whether you need help troubleshooting a connection issue, want to replace your router or you’re upgrading your company’s technology, Zentro’s business concierge support team is here to help. Our goal is to help Chicago businesses succeed by providing the best service and support possible.

If your business doesn’t use Zentro, we encourage you to contact our business support team at 312-600-3810 or help@zentrointernet.com today. You can also learn more about our business services at zentrointernet.com/business.