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What Is a Lightning Connector? The Lightning connector was introduced in 2012 with the arrival of the iPhone 5 and, shortly thereafter, the iPad 4. It remains the standard way to both charge them and connect them to other devices such as a laptop, although some devices, such as the 2018 iPad Pro, might use USB-C instead of Lightning as its standard connector. The cable itself is small with a thin Lightning adapter on one side and a standard USB-A adapter on the other....

What Can a Smart Plug Do? A smart plug transforms even “dumb” devices into a part of your smart home network, giving you greater control and customizable options just by plugging the device in. Table lamps, the clothes iron, and even the coffee maker get an IQ upgrade with smart plugs. For the most features and best reliability, stick with smart plugs that connect to Wi-Fi either directly or using a bridge or dongle that plugs into your router....

What Is a Client? In a client-server environment, “client” refers to the host program a person uses to run an application. A client-server environment is one in which multiple computers share information from a database. Where the server hosts information, the “client” is the application used to access the information. What Are the Benefits of Using Web Applications? A web application relieves the developer of the responsibility of building a client for a specific type of computer or operating system, so anyone can use the application along as they have internet access....

What’s the Difference Between a Wi-Fi Router and a Modem? Modems and Wi-Fi routers are often combined in one box to create an all-in-one device called a Wi-Fi modem, but they’re different pieces of hardware performing specific jobs. Modems handle communication between your local network and your internet service provider (ISP). They also handle maintenance tasks like accepting the I.P. address assigned to your modem and updating the modem with new settings when your ISP changes its network....

What Is a ZXP File? A file with the ZXP file extension is an Adobe extension package that contains little bits of software that adds functionality to an Adobe software product. ZXP files are really just compressed ZIP files. They replace the older Macromedia extension plugin format (.MXP files) and improve on it by supporting a digital signature to identify the publisher of the extension. How to Open a ZXP File Adobe Extension Manager version CS5....

What Is an ODT File? An ODT file is an OpenDocument text document. These files are most often created by the free OpenOffice Writer word processor program. ODT files are similar to the popular DOCX file format used with Microsoft Word. They’re both document file types that can hold things like text, images, objects, and styles, and are compatible with lots of programs. If your file isn’t a document, it might instead be a dialog theme used with the Origin data analysis and graphic software....

Aperture control performs two essential functions on a digital single-lens reflex camera. In addition to managing the amount of light passing through the lens—leading to brighter or darker images—it also controls depth of field, which is a technical term for how sharp or blurry objects appear beyond the object at the center of the camera’s focus. The Range of F-Stops F-stops pass through a huge range, particularly on DSLR lenses....

On July 16, 1982, a new local area network connected all of the development machines in the Microsoft offices. Called the MILAN, this system brought a new, improved email system to the company. As in today’s businesses, email addresses were assigned by name, with Bill’s being billg. This username later developed into his old email address; however, the address is no longer valid. After leaving Microsoft, Bill Gates and his wife Melinda (now ex-wife) went on to found and co-chair the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation....

What Are Burst Photos? Burst photos are a rapidly-captured series of photographs, usually of fast-moving action—sporting events, playful children, or pets—to catch a specific action without needing to capture the moment at precisely the right time. Burst mode may sound like video, but it’s different in a key way: Burst mode is designed to create a series of discrete, sharp photographs in situations where even video would be blurry, in the expectation that at least some of the frames will be in focus....

What Is Google Home Max? Part of a growing family of smart speakers, Google Home Max is essentially the same as the Google Home Mini or Google Home, just somewhat larger (and with a few extra features). Essentially, it is a speaker with an integrated microphone so you can ask questions and issue commands to Google Assistant. In addition to those basic features, Google Home Max has built-in Wi-Fi (which is essential for connecting to the internet) and Bluetooth, so you can stream music or other audio from your phone to the Home Max....

What’s the Difference Between Lossy and Lossless? When you create a series of MP3 files by ripping one of your music CDs, some of the detail from the original recording is lost, making it lossy. This type of compression isn’t restricted to audio; image files in the JPEG format, for example, are also “lossily” compressed. This method is the opposite of lossless audio compression used for formats such as FLAC, ALAC, and others....

Offline restore is almost always an added cost, charged only if and when you might need to use the feature. Backblaze is one example of an online backup service that supports offline restore. Why Should I Use Offline Restore? Restoring files back to your computer from your online backup account can take a long time if the files are large, your internet connection is slow, or you have lots of data....

Shareware vs. Freeware At odds with freeware which is intended to be free forever and is often permitted to be used in many different scenarios without a fee, shareware is cost-free but often severely limited in one or more ways, and only fully functional with the use of a paid shareware license. While shareware can be downloaded at no cost and is often how companies provide a free, limited version of their application to users, the program might nag the user to buy the full edition or prevent all functionality after a certain period of time....

How Do I Turn Siri On or Off? Siri is probably already turned on for your device. If not, you can activate or modify Siri by opening your iPad’s Settings app and then selecting Siri & Search from the left menu. You can also turn on Hey Siri, which allows you to activate Siri by saying, “Hey Siri,” rather than pressing down on the home button. For some iPads, “Hey Siri” will only work when you connect the iPad to a power source, and some older models do not have access to Hey Siri at all....

Unlike other podcast services which focus on the playing of individual episodes, Stitcher sets itself apart by focusing on the continuous streaming of podcasts and radio stations from playlists that are either curated by Stitcher staff or the user. Listening to episodes one at a time is also possible, however. How Do Stitcher Accounts Work? The Stitcher apps and website require you to use an account to subscribe to podcasts and stations and to sync preferences between devices....

Laser scanning is a method for using a projected laser in order to create virtual representations of any existing space or object using a collection of “points” that have a distance and elevation from the laser itself. Each scan creates thousands of points (i.e. a point cloud) and those dots can be viewed as a simplified model of your scanned items. Think of it as sonar, or echolocation, but using light to outline physical objects instead of sounds....

Setting Up Pushbullet Start by downloading the Pushbullet Android app to your smartphone or tablet. To sign up for Pushbullet, you need to connect it with your Facebook or Google profile; there’s no option to create a unique login. Once you’re signed in, the app walks you through its features, including sending text messages from your desktop, managing notifications, and sharing links and files between devices. Download For: Pushbullet on Chrome and Other Browsers Once you have a login, you can install a browser plug-in for Chrome, Firefox, Opera, or a desktop client....

Apple just added a feature that lets you export your entire Photos library to Google Photos. This is pretty great, as it avoids having your photos locked up on your Apple device or in Apple’s iCloud. But that feature seems more like a way to stave off growing antitrust pressure from government regulators than an actual feature people will use. “To be honest, I think the move to Google is redundant,” professional photo organizer Caroline Guntur told Lifewire via email....

During Monday’s WWDC keynote, Apple will provide details on its upcoming software updates. Of those, the most interesting could be iPadOS 15. Why? For starters, the iPad missed out on some major changes in iOS 14 last year—home-screen widgets, for example. But more than that, the iPad’s incredible hardware is held back by its software. Even the 2018 iPad Pro has more power than most people can use, and yet the OS still lacks basic features....

In shopping for an audio or speaker system, it’s important to consider your wireless options, as well as the various tech specs and features associated with each device. Consider the pros and cons of these wireless platforms and standards when deciding which one is right for you. Audio enthusiasts like AirPlay because it doesn’t degrade sound quality by compressing music files. AirPlay can also stream any audio file, internet radio station, or podcast from apps running on your iPhone or iPad....