Check up on your Internet Service Provider

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Classic OPTE Project Map of the Internet 2005 by CuriousleePhoto courtesy of Curiouslee

In the days where unlimited access doesn’t really mean you can download “all you can eat”, and Verizon and AT&T are at each other’s throats about 3G coverage, it pays to check up on your ISP to see if you really are getting what you’re paying for.

There’s a few ways you can check on your ISP. Speed tests, Ping tests, DNS tests, Shaping / Throttling tests to see if certain protocols (P2P, Voip, Skype, Torrents) are traffic shaped.

What about if you have a bandwidth cap? How can you meter your bandwidth to see if you’re approaching it? Its not just for DSL and Cable – 3G and other mobile data plans are usually capped with heavy overage charges.

Here’s what you can do to give your internet provider a checkup:

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Dealing With 10 Common MacBook/Pro Problems

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Mac_Sad by NewrafaelPhoto courtesy of Newrafael

Everyone’s heard the rumor that Mac’s are perfect, never have problems and life is so much easier with OS X. Nobody’s perfect and neither is OS X, Mac hardware or Apple. In fact, there’s a few common ailments specific to MacBooks and MacBookPros.

Below are some of the most common problem’s I’ve come across with Apple laptops, how to identify them, what to do about them and fixing them.

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Six Ways To Improve the iPad

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Behold the iPad in All Its Glory by GlennFleishmanPhoto courtesy of GlennFleishman

There’s a little bit of disappointment in Apple’s iPad announcement. Many were expecting an earth-shattering new device and all they got was an oversized 3G iPod Touch. As a follow-up to my recent article, Why you should relax about the new Apple Tablet, I’m going to explore why I’m not sure about the new iPad. There’s a great deal of potential in it, yet the first generation isn’t quite there yet.

Here’s six things the Second Generation iPad could use, and the likelihood we’ll see it:

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Connect your Mac to an HDMI or DVI HDTV

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Samsung TV by DeclanTMPhoto courtesy of DeclanTM

So much of our media is related to the computer. Between iTunes downloads, Hulu, YouTube, DVR recordings, and Netflix Streaming, the days of the disc are ending. Sure, Blu-ray will keep them alive for a little while longer but I wouldn’t call them mainstream yet and HD Movies are available digitally through iTunes.

The Home Theatre PC is all about containing this entertainment / media in one place, digitally and on-demand; storing videos, pictures, music, playing DVDs, games and streaming content. Now that large flat-screen TVs are becoming reasonably priced, what’s better than having a gigantic 1080p LCD TV? Getting your Mac to display video on it!

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How OS X Works With Non-Apple MP3 Players

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SanDisk Sansa MP3 PlayerPhoto courtesy of Raybdbomb

There are other .MP3 players out there besides the iPod. Sandisk makes the Sansa line, Creative makes the Zen series, Sony has its Walkman, ARCHOS is popular and don’t forget about the Zune.

Not everyone’s .MP3 player is an iPod (or iPhone). Some are recent switchers, new to the Mac. Others wanted something less expensive or received it as a gift. Whatever the reason, a huge question for you is “Does my non-Apple .MP3 player work with OS X?”

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