Parents Countdown to College Coach » tech gadgets http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com Helping parents navigate the college maze Sun, 01 Sep 2013 04:30:24 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.6 Are you spying on your teens? http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/2013/08/29/spying-on-your-teens/ http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/2013/08/29/spying-on-your-teens/#comments Thu, 29 Aug 2013 06:00:26 +0000 admin http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/?p=5384  

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spying

Last Sunday I was listening to a radio talk show on IT and a mom called in with a horror story about her teenage son. She was asleep in bed one night while her son was staying with her ex-husband. About 1am her phone beeped and Skype opened. She saw a conversation between her son (who had apparently loaded Skype on her phone without her knowledge) and an adult male. When she chimed in and asked him who he was, he asked who she was and told her to butt out of the conversation. As she was calling the police, the man asked her son where he lived, how old he was and started initiating a face-to-face meeting. Needless to say, she was shocked. The radio host told her she should be “spying” on her son so this doesn’t happen again.

Keeping your teens safe

Spying on your teens may seem a bit harsh and our kids would certainly rebel if we used that word. But parents need to be aware that threats are real and just because you feel technologically challenged, that’s not an excuse to put your kids at risk. The good news is that help is out there. According to Stacy Ross on  The Online Mom:

I suggest that those of us who are Baby Boomers or Generation X-ers, who weren’t raised with a bottle in one hand and an iPad in the other, are learning the “language of the land online” so to speak, right alongside our offspring. That dynamic is a compelling one, worthy of its own bit of tender loving care.

We need time to foster a relationship with our kids that establishes a system of communication and guidelines for this world, which seems so natural to them but is still so novel to many of us old fogies! We are helping our kids navigate in a new online language and culture, while at the same time assuming roles as strong parental figures. As we do this, we are wise to bookmark resources and find mentors that can help. Entrusting kids with adult-like privileges such as e-mail accounts, smartphones, social media platforms, etc. is no small endeavor.

Most of us weren’t raised with a smartphone or an iPad but our kids and grandkids have been. The concept of pay phones, dial up internet and television with no more than three channels seems unfathomable to them.

An overwhelming task

As if parents don’t have enough responsibility already, we’re faced with policing our kids online activity. Call it spying. Call it being nosey. I prefer to call it smart parenting. And while we’re at it, what about limiting their time with these gadgets. I see kids watching iPhones while in their strollers, and families at restaurants not communicating with one another because every kid is either on an iPhone, texting, or watching a movie on an iPad. Teens are the worst–their whole lives are wrapped around their smartphones and other technology. The more time they are online, the more risk they will be targeted.

Where can you get help?

What’s the solution?

  • Stay informed on security issues and tools to monitor their tech usage. The Online Mom is a great resource for this.
  • Set limits and guidelines for time spent with these devices. Think this is hard? You bet it is. But if you’re feeling frustrated, Fern Weiss, a parent coaching expert, is conducting a FREE teleseminar to help: Teens and Screens.
  • Don’t ignore the issue. Tech gadgets aren’t going away and parents need to stay informed and be proactive.

Watch this video to see how important it is to pay attention to your teen’s online behavior.

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Tips to make a smartphone battery last longer http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/2013/08/14/tips-to-make-a-smartphone-battery-last-longer/ http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/2013/08/14/tips-to-make-a-smartphone-battery-last-longer/#comments Wed, 14 Aug 2013 21:18:49 +0000 admin http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/?p=5345  

smartphone batteryThe entrance of smartphones in our lives brought a lot of changes in the way we do things. This is due to the fact that this small communication device can assist us to undertake a lot of activities much easier and faster than before. However, each of these activities makes your battery deplete. This means that you need to find ways to reduce the battery consumption. This article looks at the science behind the various approaches.

Manage Your Screen Settings

Your screen is one part of your smartphone that is always on when performing an activity. Every operation on the phone uses the screen in one way or another. This means that your screen is one of the components that take up a lot of battery power. The good thing is that you can change the various settings that are used in your screen to reduce consumption.

If you have no time to customize this feature, you can select a theme that automatically adjusts the features to improve battery consumption. This is achieved by selecting the ‘power saving mode’ under your display settings. The science behind this is basically a change in the screen time-out and reduction in the brightness of your screen. This most definitely reduces the power consumption.

Manage Connectivity

No other smartphone function uses up your battery like connecting to the Internet via Bluetooth, data, or Wi-Fi. You may prefer to leave the connection turned on due to the fact that some of the apps and functions use the Internet, but you need to be ready with a charging pack very soon.

If you are not using the Internet, it is better to turn off these functions so that you do not waste your battery. Additionally, the higher the level of connectivity, the faster your battery will be drained. This means that it is more economical for you to connect to a 2G network rather than a 4G network.

Avoid Using Themes/Live Wallpapers

Everyone loves to have his or her smartphone screen looking beautiful. The best part is leaving your friends and colleagues in awe due to the way your phone looks. Well, you need to know that as your friends gape at your screen, your battery is going down faster than you can imagine. The science behind the energy consumption is due to the fact that themes and live wallpapers use higher resolutions and more resources on your phone.

These features consume more power as compared to the static wallpapers available on your phone. So, before you install that app or amazing wallpaper, think about your battery life.

Kill Unnecessary Processes

Smartphones come with default apps that run in the background. You don’t need most of these apps so you need to shut them down. One of the best ways to do this is to download and install an app that can kill background tasks. However, it is you to decide the tasks that you do not need and those that are essential to your daily phone activities.

Monitor Your Battery Usage

You cannot control something that you do not know. If you know the details of your battery usage, then you will be able to manage it better. One way you can achieve this is by downloading an app that can monitor your battery status. The app shows you a breakdown of the various stages of your battery status. You will know how long you have in talk time, standby mode, use of the Internet, and more. This will assist you to budget for your battery much better.

The science that dictates the function of your smartphone is such that battery power runs the various applications. This is why you can save some power by managing applications installed on your phone. You can do this by adjusting the settings on the gadget or using apps designed for a specific purpose, such as killing applications running in the background.

 ________________

Author Bio

William Stevens is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to technology. In this article, he offers advice for saving battery life on smartphones and aims to encourage continued study through OU Online Programs

 

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Safeguarding your college laptop against viruses http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/2013/07/31/college-laptop-viruses/ http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/2013/07/31/college-laptop-viruses/#comments Wed, 31 Jul 2013 06:07:46 +0000 admin http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/?p=5077  

college laptopIn general, a computer virus is a piece of malicious software that infects and causes damage, changes, or copies files on your computer or other software. Hackers create viruses for different purposes including stealing credit card information, intellectual property, login details used by site visitors, as well as spying on unsuspecting laptop users. According to a report published by Kaspersky Lab, the company’s antivirus software detected more than three billion attacks from infected files. If you use your laptop to surf the Internet, you run the risk of downloading malicious software unknowingly. Read on to learn how to safeguard your college laptop from malicious software.

The Email Threat

Email is one of the most widely used forms of Internet communication. However, cyber criminals have turned email into a tool for spreading computer viruses. The rule of thumb is to avoid opening unsolicited email attachments or links. Even if the email seems to come from a trusted source, be careful when opening it. For example, you might get an email that says you need to verify your bank account details by clicking open a given link.

It is advisable not to open that link straight from your email. Instead, open another browser tab and use it to visit your bank’s website. Most banks have teams of representatives ready to answer client queries via web chat, phone, or instant messaging. Find out if the information in the email is genuine.

Avoid File Sharing Sites

File sharing sites where people can access music, software, or movies have become quite popular. It is wise to stay away from such sites because there is no way of knowing if you are downloading an infected file or not. You might realize that your laptop has malicious software when it is too late and hackers have already cleared your bank account. Even if you have installed antivirus software in your laptop, it does not provide 100% protection. Take note that an antivirus program is simply a database of known viruses and hackers can create sophisticated, unknown, and undetectable viruses.

Pop-up Messages

If you come across a pop-up message warning that your computer has a computer virus, ignore it. In most cases, such pop-up messages urge web users to download software that will clear viruses or software. The truth is you will be downloading malware and not genuine antivirus software.

Social Engineering Threats

Although social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest have made it easy for people to communicate and socialize, they have also made it easy for hackers to spread malware. For example, you might receive a message from a friend on any social network site inviting you to view a video or listen to an audio message.

When you open the link provided by your supposed friend, you might get a message prompting you to update your software. If you proceed to update your software, you will likely infect your laptop with a virus. Other social engineering tricks include fake gift delivery messages, music or sports concert tickets giveaways, or messages to participate in a lottery.

USB Drives

Make it a rule to never accept and use USB drives from other people. There is no way of knowing the contents of such a drive without sticking it in your laptop. Even if you carry out a virus scan, antivirus programs can never be 100% efficient.

All college students should take steps to protect their laptops from malware. Some effective ways of ensuring Internet security goal include avoiding file-sharing sites, never opening email attachments from untrusted sources, avoiding unsolicited popup messages, and never accepting USB drives from other people.

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Ryan Ayers is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to education. In this article, he offer tips of laptop safety and aims to encourage further study through Norwich University Information Assurance Degrees.

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25 Apps for the College-Bound Student http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/2013/07/12/25-apps-for-the-college-bound-student/ http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/2013/07/12/25-apps-for-the-college-bound-student/#comments Fri, 12 Jul 2013 06:00:37 +0000 admin http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/?p=4939  

college-bound appsIn today’s smartphone, tablet world, apps rule. Teens (and their parents) are looking for the best apps to help them organize, study, and find accurate information about colleges. After doing research over multiple websites, I’ve compiled a list of 25 apps for the college-bound student (and their parents!).

In no particular order, they are as follows:

1. Essay Starter-$.99

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/essay-starter/id593023126?mt=

(iPad)

Be inspired! Writing is easy when you have easy access and control of your sources. Automatic footnotes let you stop worrying about references and just write. Split screen mode lets you open and read multiple PDF files, and take notes at the same time.

2. Quad2Quad-FREE

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/quad2quad-college-visit-planner/id520573900?mt=8

(iPhone, iPod touch, iPad)

Quad2Quad’s mobile app takes the hassle out of college visit planning. Quad2Quad is a virtual travel assistant, mining, curating and assembling the most important college data for the user. Quad2Quad enables families to plan college visits without spending hours combing multiple college web sites.

3. Edupath SAT Prep & College Search-FREE

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/edupath-sat-prep-college-search/id569529148?ls=1&mt=8

(iPhone, iPod touch, iPad)

Edupath SAT Prep and College Search is like two apps in one. The free College Explorer lets you browse 1300 colleges to find the right fit. The adaptive SAT Training is optimized for short sessions so you can use it anytime, anywhere, for just $40/month.

4. College Visits-FREE

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/college-visits/id436274357?mt=8

(iPhone, iPod touch, iPad)

With the Welcome to College CollegeVisits iPhone App, you’ll get the ability to rate, take notes, and upload photos in real time or on the trip home. All of the information and photos sync with your account on WelcometoCollege.com.

5. Find Colleges-FREE

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/find-colleges/id347654402?mt=8

(iPhone, iPod touch, iPad)

The Find Colleges search application makes it easy to search for information about U.S. colleges and universities. Developed by ThinkEducationUSA.com, this innovative app enables browsing by video, majors, size and tuition, or by state. This unique multimedia app features video profiles for some schools. It also provides web links as well as the ability to request more information directly from a school.

6. School Grade Tracker-$.99

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/school-grade-tracker/id545880650?mt=8

(iPhone, iPod touch, iPad)

Does your teen need a certain grade point average to get into their dream school, or to receive a college scholarship? School Grade Tracker is a powerful tool for tracking, predicting, and organizing their school life. Students can easily keep track of terms, classes, mark categories, and individual marks. Highly customizable to suit all types of classes and marks. Includes a built-in calendar to keep track of upcoming marks, along with a GPA calculator and class grade prediction calculator.

7. The Homework App-FREE

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-homework-app/id561371952?mt=8

(iPod, iPad)

This course management app can replace the need for a day planner, allowing your teen to take note of all of their upcoming assignments, quizzes, and tests, with the simple click of a button. Bonus: the app can even store the teachers’ contact details–so you can easily jot off emails to your favorites when it comes time to request letters of recommendation.

8. SAT Vocab Challenge Vol. 1 and 2-$4.99 each

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sat-vocab-challenge-vol.-1/id315264996?mt=8

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sat-vocab-challenge-vol.-2/id330209840?mt=8

(iPhone, iPod touch, iPad)

Created by none other than the test prep maestros at the Princeton Review, these comprehensive apps let your teen turn any spare minute into an opportunity for vocabulary cramming. The Vocab Challenge offers a variety of timed multiple-choice vocab challenges, featuring 250 of the words most frequently used in the SAT. It’s an ineffable way to expedite your edification. (Didn’t quite get that? You need this app.)

9. Essential Essays Pro-$19.99 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/essential-essays-pro-10-apps/id318685794?mt=8

(iPhone, iPod touch, iPad)

Is your teen struggling when it comes to summing up your life story in 500 words or less? For most students, the personal statement is the most difficult part of the college application process. This group of four related apps makes it easier, providing a virtual writing tutor inside your iPhone. The tools can help your teen to define the writing assignment, and help them come up with an outline for the essay. Then, if you’d rather not type up your entire essay on your phone, you can email your notes to your home computer. It won’t actually write your essay for you, but it’s a close second.

10. College Search Guide-FREE

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/college-search-guide-handbook/id364820872?mt=8

(iPhone, iPod touch, iPad)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dormmom.collegeguide&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5kb3JtbW9tLmNvbGxlZ2VndWlkZSJd

(Android)

This application is for anyone across the world looking to enroll in a college or university in the United States. Foreign students, high school students, current college students looking to transfer, parents, the working professional looking to go to grad school will find this application very useful. All information are 100% authentic from the US Department of Education.

11. The College Checklist-$.99

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-college-checklist/id434331732?mt=8 

(iPhone, iPod touch, iPad)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Craes.CollegeChecklistGirls102&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5DcmFlcy5Db2xsZWdlQ2hlY2tsaXN0R2lybHMxMDIiXQ..

(Android)

A fantastic compilation of 178 articles of clothing, bedding, toiletries, desk supplies, and more that young women need to pack for college. Pack what’s on the list and you’ll be all set. With this app it is very easy to track the stuff you need to pack.

12. Campus Guide-College & University-$1.99

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/campus-guide-college-university/id524079518?mt=8

(iPhone, iPod touch, iPad)

Powered by results from Foursquare, Campus Guide is the ideal student app to take with you to College or University. Find your way around College campuses, check-in with Foursquare and update your friends, family and other students via Twitter and Facebook. Visiting friends at a different College or University? With Campus guide there is no need to get lost or arrive late. Search for campus buildings, find address details and plan your route using the in-built map.

13. College Confidential-FREE

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/college-confidential/id416874838?mt=8 

(iPhone, iPod touch, iPad)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.quoord.tapatalkcc.activity&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5xdW9vcmQudGFwYXRhbGtjYy5hY3Rpdml0eSJd  (Android)

Read and interact with other users on topics like Financial Aid, College Life, Test Preparation, and more. Check messages, search topics and exchange private messages with other members. With access to millions of posts from students, parents, and experts in 700+ forums, you’ll find answers to all of your college-bound questions.

14. Math Formulas-Reference Guide-$.99

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/math-formulas-reference-guide/id423545644?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

(iPhone, iPad)

Over 100 math formulas at high school level. The covered areas include algebra, geometry, calculus, trigonometry, probability and statistics. Most of the formulas come with examples for better understanding. Use the powerful search function to find what you are looking for and mark your favorites for easier access. A convenient tool for students and teachers and a handy reference for anyone interested in math!

15. ShowMe Interactive Whiteboard

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/showme-interactive-whiteboard/id445066279?mt=8

(iPad)

Turn your iPad into your personal interactive whiteboard! ShowMe allows you to record voice-over whiteboard tutorials and share them online. It’s an amazingly simple app that anyone can use, no matter how young or old!

16. Asset Campus Housing-FREE

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/asset-campus-housing/id413622155?mt=8

(iPhone, iPod touch, iPad)

The Asset Campus Housing iPhone app displays information about student housing properties around the United States and it allows you to: look at floor plans, view image galleries, view the property on a map, apply on your phone, send in maintenance requests and pay your rent.

17. Note Taker-$1.99

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/note-taker/id342284707?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

(iPhone, iPod touch, iPad)

With this full version, you can email multiple pages as a PDF. You can also create “Typed” pages with the keyboard and organize them with the ink pages. On ink pages you can bring up a keyboard later to transcribe what you wrote into contact information that can be added to the Address Book with the tap of a button or pasted into other apps. This full version does not have a limit on the number of pages and does not have a watermark on the JPEGs.

18. College-Bound-FREE

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/college-bound/id522249774?mt=8 

(iPhone, iPod touch, iPad)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kaebelharhotmail.com.kae.collegebound&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5rYWViZWxoYXJob3RtYWlsLmNvbS5rYWUuY29sbGVnZWJvdW5kIl0.

(Android)

College-Bound eliminates the college stress by providing both students and parents with useful, every day, and up-to-the-minute, information on and about the entire college process. Professionals in all areas of the college planning and preparation process provide expert information on the following topics: Athletes and Recruiting, College Admissions, College Essays, College Travel, Financial Aid, Internships, NCAA Eligibility, SAT & ACT Preparation, SAT Essays, SAT Vocabulary and Scholarships.

19. Fiske Interactive College Guide-$19.99

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fiske-interactive-college/id418350915?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

(iPhone, iPod touch, iPad)

FISKE GUIDE TO COLLEGES has been the most trusted source of information for parents, counselors, and college-bound students. Now, the Fiske Interactive College Guide brings you every aspect of the book—plus much more—in an app! You’ll find the Fiske Interactive College Guide useful throughout the hectic, often stressful college search and selection process.

20. Evernote-FREE

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/evernote/id281796108?mt=8

(iPhone, iPod touch, iPad)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.evernote&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5ldmVybm90ZSJd

(Android)

Evernote is an easy-to-use, free app that helps you remember everything across all of the devices you use. Stay organized, save your ideas and improve productivity. Evernote lets you take notes, capture photos, create to-do lists, record voice reminders–and makes these notes completely searchable, whether you are at home, at work, or on the go.

21. Dropbox-FREE

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dropbox/id327630330?mt=8 

(iPhone, iPod touch, iPad)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dropbox.android

(Android)

Dropbox lets you bring all your photos, docs, and videos anywhere and share them easily. Access any file you save to your Dropbox from all your computers, smartphones, tablets and even the Dropbox website! Use Dropbox to save and share photos and videos in a snap or even take your work on the go. If something happens to your iPhone or iPad, your stuff is always safe in Dropbox!

22. SAT Question of the Day-FREE

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/official-sat-question-day/id361264754?mt=8

(iPhone, iPod touch, iPad)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sabatini.satt_question_free&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5zYWJhdGluaS5zYXR0X3F1ZXN0aW9uX2ZyZWUiXQ..

(Android)

Tease your brain with real SAT questions and SAT preparation materials from the test maker. With the question of the day application you can answer a real SAT question each day.

23. Tutor.com To Go-FREE

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tutor.com-to-go/id382913089?mt=8

(iPhone, iPad)

The only education app that connects you to an expert tutor for real-time help. Here’s what a few students had to say about their experience with Tutor.com To Go.
With Tutor.com To Go, you can: connect to a live tutor for one-to-one help in math, science, social studies, and English; save and review past one-to-one tutoring sessions; store essays, assignments, or photos of homework problems in your Tutor.com Locker; share items in your Locker with a tutor and access thousands of educational resources from the SkillsCenter™ Resource Library

 24. StudyBlue-FREE

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/studyblue/id323887414?mt=8 

(iPhone, iPod touch, iPad)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.studyblue&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5zdHVkeWJsdWUiXQ..

(Android)

This app is made for serious studiers; flip online flashcards for fast feedback on what you know, then re-study concepts you’ve not yet mastered using Study Filters. Review class notes or make flashcards whenever you have a minute to spare. Study over breakfast or late at night – at the library or in a coffee shop. Do what works for you, whenever and wherever you are.

25. Khan Academy

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/khan-academy/id469863705?mt=8

(iPhone, iPad)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.concentricsky.android.khan&hl=en

(Android)

Khan Academy allows you to learn almost anything for free. This app is the best way to view Khan Academy’s complete library of over 4,200 videos. It covers a massive number of topics, including K-12 math, science topics such as biology, chemistry, and physics, and even the humanities with playlists on finance and history.

 

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Investing in a laptop for college http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/2013/06/30/investing-in-a-laptop-for-college/ http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/2013/06/30/investing-in-a-laptop-for-college/#comments Sun, 30 Jun 2013 06:00:53 +0000 admin http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/?p=4855 laptop

If you have a teen heading off to college in the fall, these upcoming weeks are a great time to get ready for college: like purchasing books and dorm room furniture and supplies to be ready for the first day of class.  And hopefully, many students received some of these supplies as graduation gifts.  One of the most necessary items to have before stepping foot on campus in the fall is a laptop.  Laptops offer supreme portability and efficiency, aspects which make them an essential item for all college students.

And parents, laptops have far more uses for your children than checking Facebook every ten minutes and playing online games.  With a laptop, students can easily and more effectively take notes during class and Skype their parents to tell them face-to-face how school’s going.  But there are so many laptops to choose from–how do you decide?

Fortunately, Parents Countdown to College Coach has a laptop comparison tool, powered by FindTheBest, that enables parents and their children to narrow down the best laptops for their needs and preferences.  With the widget below, you can sort through hundreds of laptops by price, display size, battery life, and Smart Rating (a single rating based on technical specifications and review scores from expert sources).  Also, if you want to narrow down the list, just filter the search by price range, display, battery life, and storage range, and also laptop type.  If and when you find the laptop that best fits your child’s needs (and your budget!), you can purchase it directly from Amazon, and it will be at your doorstep in a week or less.

Also, a crucial accessory to have for laptops in college are headphones.  Whether your child wants to listen to music while he’s in the library, or he needs to watch a documentary for class while his roommate is asleep, this item comes in handy very often.  Like laptops, determining which earphones are right for them is a difficult process.  Check out the widget below to find and purchase the right headphones for your kids!

 

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How to maximize laptop battery power http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/2013/06/17/how-to-maximize-laptop-batterypower/ http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/2013/06/17/how-to-maximize-laptop-batterypower/#comments Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:52:28 +0000 admin http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/?p=4792  

laptop batteryLaptops were once fairly rare possessions, but they have become very common these days. Students are issued these devices to further their education in some schools. People of all backgrounds find them necessary for working on the Internet or for their employers remotely. However, knowledge of how to care for these devices has not spread so quickly.

As a result, many people spend far too much on new laptop batteries. These sources of power can actually last much longer if people would use them properly. Some education about laptop battery usage could save you or a friend a lot of money and a lot of hassle in the long run.

Following are five suggestions to help prolong and maximize laptop battery power:

1. Manage Your Power Settings

You may not know it but you are in charge of how much power your laptop uses. You can exercise this control significantly when you alter the brightness of the screen. You can memorize the steps to find this control or simply type screen brightness into the search bar that appears when you click on the Start menu in the lower left-hand corner. You can make the screen bright for when it is in use and program the computer to dim it whenever a certain amount of time goes by.

2. Minimize Background Programs

You may not know that your laptop, like your desktop computer, is always running a variety of programs. For example, while you are using a word processor, the computer is operating anti-virus operations and keeping instant messenger programs open and ready for use. Each of these programs, even if they are not in present use, requires energy.

Hit Ctrl + Alt + Del and go to the task manager. You will see a lot of processes listed in operation. You do not want to turn off all of these. Some are required to keep your computer functioning and protected from threats. However, many should only be on when you want them. Play around with ending some of these tasks and watch how much longer your battery will function.

3. Take Care of the Battery

Think of your battery as a living thing. It has certain needs. Just like a person, it needs to sleep and recharge. It also needs to stay clean and get some exercise.

By cleaning the metal contacts where your battery meets your laptop, you can increase the efficiency with which it transfers and receives energy. Clean these contacts with alcohol wipes or with cloth dipped in alcohol.

Some people think that they preserve their battery by never using it. They constantly carry around the power cord and plug it in whenever they can. This is actually bad for the battery. You should regularly use the battery and let it run down low before allowing it to recharge without disturbance.

4. Temperature Control

High temperatures can damage batteries and cause them to function less efficiently. Whenever your computer is on, make sure that the vents underneath have plenty of space between them and a smooth surface so that heat can dissipate properly.

5. Let It Hibernate

Do not just close your laptop, stick it in your bag and walk away. Your computer will continue to operate even if it goes to sleep. This uses power and can also heat up the battery in the enclosed space of your bag. Before putting your laptop away for a while, choose the hibernate option that is usually right underneath sleep in your shut down options.

Taking good care of your laptop battery will extend its life. This education in laptop care will also save you money and prevent the possibility of losing the battery all at once.

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Author Bio

William Stevens is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to technology. In this article, he offer tips for extended battery life and aims to encourage further study with a master degree in electrical engineering.

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