Hardware
Universal Charging Cable Gets EU Vote
Following a provisional agreement in June, the European Parliament has voted in favour of a law to ensure that all devices have a single universal charger. Why? Back in June, the EU Parliament highlighted the following reasons why having a single universal charger is necessary: – Consumers currently face the inconvenience and costs of needing…
Read MoreUSB4 Version 2.0
Following the announcement by the USB Promoter Group of the imminent arrival of the new USB4® Version 2.0 connectivity standard, we look at what is, and what advantages it offers. What Is USB4 Version 2.0? USB4® Version 2.0 specification (USB4 2.0) is the name for the newest Universal Serial Bus standard, which is the plug-and-play…
Read MoreHot Weather & Hardware
In this tech-insight, we look how extreme heat can affect IT hardware and what measures you can take to keep the equipment cool and prevent damage. High Temperatures Hot weather UK-style is not normally a problem. With an average temperature here of about 14 °C, temperatures over 30 °C are a fairly rare occurrence – although becoming more…
Read MoreUK Not Adopting EU’s Universal Charger
Following the recent news that the EU plans to introduce a single, universal charger for all devices, it has been reported that the UK has said that it is not currently considering copying the idea. Just One Universal Charger Cable A week ago, the EU parliament announced that by autumn 2024, USB Type-C will become…
Read MoreTech Insight – Why Is Printer Ink So Expensive?
After a recent ‘Which?’ survey found that some branded printer ink costs more than some champagnes, we take a look at the reasons why printer ink is so expensive. The Recent ‘Which?’ Survey The survey by consumer watchdog Which? asked more than 10,000 inkjet printer owners about their ink shopping experiences regarding both original-branded and…
Read MoreSafely Moving Your Tech Hardware
With many of us now owning tech items such as laptops, desktops, and printers, we look at the best ways to prepare tech hardware for a safe journey to a new home. Tech Owners An Aviva survey from 2020 showed that the average UK home now has 10.3 internet-enabled devices (286 million in UK homes)…
Read MoreTech Insight: What Are Firewalls?
In this article, we take a brief look at what a firewall is, what types there are, and the benefits and drawbacks of firewalls. Firewall A firewall is a network security system that can monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. Based on these rules, it decides whether to…
Read MoreOld Router Risks Could Affect Millions
An investigation by consumer watchdog ‘Which?’ has highlighted how millions of people around the UK are using old routers with security flaws. The Investigation The Which? investigation surveyed 6,000 UK adults and, with the help of Red Maple Technologies, looked at the security aspects of 13 models of (commonly used) old routers from companies such…
Read MoreThe Risks or Benefits of Charging Devices Overnight?
Many of us charge phones and laptops overnight but is this good for the battery and is it potentially dangerous, and how can we safely get the most from our device batteries? Batteries Smartphone and laptop batteries are Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion). These batteries have high energy density so they can be made small, while their rate…
Read MoreTech Insight – The Global Microchip Shortage
With the world facing a considerable semiconductor microchip shortage, we take a look at the causes and effects of the shortage plus some potential solutions. Why Is This Important? Microchips are now included in virtually everything from watches to white goods and crucially in larger, high demand, big industry items such as cars. Many products…
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