Technology & Computers Archives

Conserve Gas Usage In The Wintertime With These Handy Tips

14 Apr

Conserve Gas Usage In The Wintertime With These Handy Tips

Winters can be particularly hard on cars. With the stress of holiday travel, it can also be particularly hard on your wallet when it comes to gas mileage. In the winter, people tend to crank up the heat or leave their car idling, wasting gas and money. Gas prices have been fluctuating, but everyone can agree they are still extremely high. It’s worth changing some habits so that you can save some money this winter. Here are a few ways to save money on gas this winter:

Don’t leave your car idling in your driveway or parking lot. The best way to warm up a car is to drive it. Although it might be more comfortable getting into a warm car or make scraping off ice and snow easier you get 0 miles a gallon. It’s much better to bundle up and handle it yourself.

The more heat you use, the more gas you will need. If you’re looking for a 70 degree interior, you might be looking for a bit too much. You’re going to have to brave the winter outside at some point, so bundle up, invest in warm boots and gloves, and keep the heater at a decent level.

Because the driving conditions during the wintertime, make sure your car is in top shape. Make sure that all your fluids are clean and that you have enough of them. Antifreeze will be particularly important in the winter, so keep extra in your trunk just in case If you live in an area with particularly harsh winters, you may want to invest in a synthetic oil change. It’s a high performing oil perfect for winters. Make sure you maintain your tire pressure, too. Not only will this improve your gas mileage but it’ll also maintain safety.

New App Promises to Curb Your Facebook Addiction

12 Apr

New App Promises to Curb Your Facebook Addiction

If you’re like millions of people across the country, you have a problem, and that problem involves being addicted to social media. Sure, social media can be fun, but when you can’t go half an hour without checking your smartphone, you know it’s starting to interfere with your life. A new app, FBRehab, is designed to help people face the issue.

The idea behind FBRehab is simple. After downloading the app, which costs $0.99, it becomes your portal to Facebook. You simply log in to your account and the app launches a timer. You’ll get 10 minutes for a status update, to check your news feed, or to check in with friends. Your session automatically ends after 10 minutes, keeping you from inadvertently spending an hour online when you had intended to spend only a few minutes there. You get two 10-minute sessions per day, so you’ll feel connected to your network while not being sucked into the online community too deeply.

The creator of FBRehab claims the idea came to him while he was on vacation. He was lounging poolside in a gorgeous tropical place with his friends when he looked around at the crowd of vacationers around him. Everyone had a smart phone in their hand. In that moment, it was painfully obvious to him–everyone was so busy talking about their vacation on social media that they weren’t taking the time to actually have a vacation. No one was in the pool swimming or visiting the swim-up bar; instead, they were taking selfies and posting to their accounts. FBRehab was born shortly thereafter.

FBRehab is a great tool for people who have good intentions about their time on social media. You know, those of us who say we’re hopping on for a quick check-in, only to end up spending hours there–missing sleep, arriving late to work, or irritating our friends because we’re glued to our phones. If that sounds like you, definitely check out the FBRehab app.

Are Cars with Smartphone Interactivity Taking Technology Too Far, or Making Driving Safer?

12 Apr

Are Cars with Smartphone Interactivity Taking Technology Too Far, or Making Driving Safer?

If you’ve been out of the car-buying market for a few years and are planning on purchasing a new vehicle soon, you’ll likely be surprised at the variety of features available today. Many features that were once considered a luxury upgrade now come standard. From heated seats to rearview camera displays, even the most basic vehicles offer buyers the comforts of a more upscale ride. Smartphone integration is one such feature that’s being included in more and more redesigns, in all classes of manufacturers from Ford to BMW. As smartphone interactivity becomes a nearly standard feature, car buyers may question if they need to be so connected while on the go. If you’re about to start looking for a new vehicle, you’ll want to consider these pros and cons of purchasing a car with a smartphone-friendly system.

Pros

Safety – If you’re going to be using a smartphone while driving, there’s no question that doing so with hands-free technology is the safest way to do it. Voice control services such as finding a contact, dialing, and adjusting the volume all make it easy to place a call without taking your hands off the wheel. This also means drivers don’t have to pull over to the side of a road or fumble around in their purse or pockets, potentially causing a dangerous situation, in order to use their phone.

Convenience – An integrated technology platform allows users to have uninterrupted conversations as they get into and out of their vehicle. For example, the BMW system automatically switches to speaker mode as soon as the phone is in its cradle, then switches back to handheld mode when it is removed. The driver can have seamless transitions without the person on the other end of the line even realizing it.

Cons

Cost – Smartphone-friendly systems often come with a hefty price tag. Buyers who aren’t interested in the technology may end up paying for a feature they don’t plan on using or don’t really need.

Over-connectivity – As cell phone ownership skyrockets, many are concerned about addiction to the devices. Honestly, most people just don’t need to be plugged in around the clock. Time on the road is best spent focused on driving, so it’s important to think about whether or not this feature is a necessity, or if you’d be better off using your phone when you’re not behind the wheel.