Our laptops, cell phones, and smartwatches help us with numerous everyday tasks like booking tickets, paying bills, setting reminders, and tracking our health. However, these gadgets are sometimes expensive, especially the models from premium brands with advanced features and capabilities. Luckily, Black Friday allows consumers to bag them at highly discounted prices and save money. Here are a few popular tech devices worth checking out once Black Friday 2023 begins. Smartphones Samsung Samsung’s latest Galaxy smartphones, including the Ultra, Z, Flip, and Fold models, were offered at discounts ranging from $400 to $1,000 last shopping season. These devices have several desirable features, such as long battery life, fast charging, elegant displays, expandable storage, and excellent camera quality. Apple Apple is known to have lucrative offers on its cell phones during Black Friday. Last year, specific iPhone 12, 13, and 14 variants sold for a discount of up to 75%. OnePlus OnePlus has emerged as a household name for superior-quality smartphones with features like fast charging, long battery lives, premium-quality cameras, and affordability. Some esteemed models, such as the OnePlus Nord, OnePlus 8T, and OnePlus Pro, were available at discounts ranging from $50 to a whopping $500 last sale season. Google Google’s Pixel series smartphones stand out for using Machine Learning technology to enable features like smart replies and live captions.

The internet plays an indispensable role in one’s daily life. The digital realm offers unparalleled convenience, from enabling communication and education to shopping and entertainment. But the more the online world is embraced, the more people are exposed to potential privacy breaches in increasingly innovative ways. Protecting one’s privacy online has become an essential skill to master, and fortunately, there are several effective strategies one can employ to do this. 8 Simple Ways to Protect One’s Privacy Online Create Strong and Unique Passwords Passwords are one’s access to all personal information, so one is advised to opt for long and complex passwords. They can include a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters. Use Two-factor Authentication (2FA) Two-factor authentication is often used by businesses and banks. This secondary verification step adds an additional layer of protection and may include a text message, an email, or a specialized authentication app. So, even if an unauthorized individual gains access to one’s password, they would be unable to infiltrate one’s accounts without the next step. Update the Software The updates often prompted by operating systems, web browsers, and apps contain security patches aimed at rectifying vulnerabilities that hackers could potentially exploit. So, updating them ensures that one’s software is the latest, most fortified version.

The internet is one of the richest information sources and a platform to enjoy content. However, the flip side to the net is that there are too many ways one could fall prey to scammers, hackers, or viruses. While it could happen to anyone, seniors who do not fully understand the internet might be at a greater risk of getting scammed. Here are five tips to help safeguard everyone’s interest, including seniors, while navigating the internet. Avoid unsecured transactions While the internet has made paying for things much easier, one should never do this on a public, unsecured network. Sometimes, scammers intentionally create these networks to gain access to all the sensitive information a user has on their device. Update systems regularly Hackers constantly look for loopholes to access user data. This is why manufacturers work around the clock to patch these weak points and strengthen a device’s security. Therefore, it is essential to update each device regularly to keep it safe from cyber threats. Do not click on unfamiliar email links If one receives an email from an unfamiliar address, one should not open or click links in its contents. These links could secretly install malware on an electronic device, such as a computer, and damage it.

A portable monitor is a compact display that one can carry around with a laptop. Using it, one can expand their screen, stay mobile, and easily accomplish tasks. While many types of portable monitors are available in the market, the battery and USB-powered ones remain in high demand. However, choosing the right portable monitor isn’t as easy as it seems. Therefore, here are some key tips for buying a portable screen monitor. Tips to buy a portable screen monitor Determine the need Everyone has unique needs, including gamers and business travelers. Therefore, it’s important to consider factors like screen size, resolution, and display type when choosing a portable monitor. Full HD resolution is the standard for most monitors, but those who require higher quality can opt for 4K or Quad High Definition (QHD) display options. Consider the monitor’s weight When choosing a portable screen monitor, it’s essential to consider its weight. Ideally, it should be between 1.3 and 2.2 lbs, making it easy to carry around without straining one’s back. This also comes in handy for business travelers who want to avoid paying extra fees for overweight baggage. With a lightweight screen, it can easily fit into a bag and be transported wherever needed.

In today’s digitally connected world, having a reliable phone plan is essential for seniors to stay in touch with family and friends, access information, and be alert for help in emergencies. However, not all phone plans are created equal, and seniors may have specific needs and preferences to consider when choosing a plan. To help seniors find the best phone plans that cater to their requirements, here are some top options to explore. Consumer Cellular Consumer Cellular is popular among seniors due to its straightforward pricing and excellent customer service. They offer affordable plans without contracts and various data, talk, and text options. Consumer Cellular also provides a 5% discount for AARP members, making it even more appealing to seniors on a budget. Jitterbug by GreatCall Jitterbug offers simplified smartphones and flip phones designed with seniors in mind. These devices have larger buttons, easy-to-read screens, and a straightforward menu. GreatCall’s phone plans include health and safety features like 24/7 access to medical professionals and urgent care services. While these plans may be pricier, the peace of mind they offer can be invaluable. T-Mobile Magenta 55+ Plan T-Mobile’s Magenta 55+ plan is an excellent option for tech-savvy seniors who want unlimited talk, text, and data at an affordable price.

Apple has always been at the forefront of technological innovations. Their latest pursuit of cutting-edge products has resulted in the development of the Apple Vision Pro, a headset that provides an immersive experience. This mixed-reality headset has changed how one interacts with one’s digital content. Here are some of the impressive features of Apple Vision Pro and what one can expect from the upcoming sales season if one wants to try out the headset. How does Apple Vision Pro headset work? The Apple Vision Pro headset boasts an impressive display that seamlessly blends augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) and provides high-resolution visuals of one’s surroundings. The screen placed on the inside of the device displays one’s surroundings, which are captured by sensors on the outside. Upon wearing the Vision Pro headset and activating it, users will have access to their apps displayed on the screen. In terms of functionality, it comes with customizable straps that wrap around the head to block out light. The device also involves numerous elements for proper fitting, such as multiple head straps, various sizes of light seals, and specialized options for those who wear lenses. Key features to look forward to Spatial computing Spatial computing merges the digital and physical worlds to enhance how people interact with computers.

Apple’s MacBook has been popular due to its seamless and minimalistic interface over the years. Consumers have shown an increased preference towards the device as the macOS has not changed much despite multiple updates. However, Apple has been adding several handy features to the OS. At times, many of these functions are overlooked by users. So, here are a few hidden MacBook features that could save a few clicks and make one’s workflow more productive. 1. Us e the emoji keyboard Just like on smartphones, the Mac also has an emoji keyboard. Whether one owns a Mac Pro or has built a workstation with a Mac Mini, the emoji keyboard can be activated in both. However, it is more complex than just pressing a button on the keyboard. Launching the emoji keyboard involves using a series of buttons and combinations. All that one has to do is simply memorize the combinations, which is easy if one uses emojis all the time. When the user wants to use an emoji in a conversation, email, or document, they can easily access it by pressing the Control, Command, and Space Bar keys together. This will prompt the emoji picker to appear on the screen, along with a search bar.

The Apple Vision Pro headset, set to release soon, is the talk of the town. The device merges augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies to provide high-resolution visuals utilizing the user’s surroundings. The advanced headset is set to revolutionize the digital space. While the brand is still working out the price point of the device to make it accessible to more people, here are some of the headset’s key features to consider: Standout features The Apple Vision Pro has attracted substantial attention within the tech community for its cutting-edge features and promises to revolutionize the way users engage with immersive virtual reality. Here are some of its standout features: 1. Design The Apple Vision Pro headset features an inward-facing screen. Once a user wears the device, their environment, captured by external sensors, is projected on the screen. This augmented reality device comes with customizable straps that secure it to the user’s head, blocking out external light. The device is equipped with automatic eye adjustment when a user puts it on and provides a 4K display for each eye. This gives a high-quality, fully immersive experience to the users. Additionally, the headset is notably light, weighing about a pound.

Even in this age of smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches, laptops hold their own and are used by students, individuals in various professions, and others alike for countless purposes. Laptops help drive a range of operations daily, but if one does not use these devices in the right way, then their overall performance and longevity are affected negatively. Thus, here are several common usage mistakes and bad habits that laptop users must avoid. Putting laptops on padded surfaces Laptops get heated up relatively quickly due to the number of operations users often run on their devices. These devices come with powerful processors that heat up quickly. Therefore, tech experts and mechanics often tell laptop users to “let their device breathe.” This is why placing one’s laptop on a clothed or padded surface is a bad idea. The cloth prevents the fan and exhaust ports of one’s laptop from cooling down through air exposure. This causes the residual heat of a laptop to stay within and further heat its internal components. All in all, placing one’s laptop on clothed surfaces tends to reduce the device’s battery life and overall longevity. Constantly charging the laptop A common sight in workplaces, houses, and classrooms these days is users keeping their laptops plugged into power supplies or power banks for 7 to 8 hours straight.

Cashless transactions have become the way to go for vendors and buyers alike. Most vendors offer debit and credit card options and modes of online payment for almost all goods and services. But a high volume of card transactions also increases the risk of the customers’ sensitive data being stolen. Vendors need to ensure that customer details are safe, so here are some tips for them to ensure the card swiping machines are used safely. Maintain compliance standards There are some global standards that retailers need to follow when using their customers’ card details because such information is highly sensitive. One of these standards is the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). Credit card associations may charge fines from retailers if they don’t live up to these standards. Also, complying with them enhances a retailer’s reputation in the market. Implement security measures There are many effective security measures today, such as SSL and end-to-end encryption, to transfer sensitive information safely from card readers to processors. With this step, retailers can make sure that hackers cannot access the customer’s personal details while the card is being swiped. Cross-check the customer’s signature It can be tricky to verify if the person carrying the card is the rightful owner at first glance.