The average smartphone speaker is an insult to an audiophile’s ears. Poor quality, low volume, and a lack of bass can ruin the sound. Since those speakers are in-built, there isn’t an easy way to fix them. However, before you invest in external speakers, try some quick & easy DIY solutions to significantly improve the sound your mobile produces. These super simple hacks make do with basic household items.

The CAPS LOCK key is probably the most useless key on your keyboard. Netiquette forbids you to use it because it’s considered screaming, which is simply rude. And what else would you use it for other than expressing your raw emotions? Unintentional activation of the CAPS LOCK is also a common reason why people fail to type the right password. That’s because it sits on the home row, a prime location that is easily hit by accident.

I joined Facebook because it promised to be an easy way to stay in touch with friends and family while traveling and living abroad. I stayed with Facebook even though many of the prejudices I had turned out to be true. What I learned, however, is that most of the things you do with Facebook, or allow it to do to you, are your choice. Facebook offers a lot of opportunities and it is up to you to customize your experience. It’s a little like real life.

Each week, Sound Sunday introduces you to awesome music by talented artists from around the world. In this edition, we return to one of the most controversial genres in music: Hip Hop. Often misunderstood by those who need to listen most closely, Hip Hop is far more than what you expect. Come on in, discover new facets, and educate your ears.

Facebook is all about connecting with other people and making friends. Yet friend requests are delicate and can quickly get you in trouble with Facebook. While you probably won’t get banned for inappropriate friend requests, many people have been blocked from adding more friends. And even if it was a mistake, the block cannot be lifted early. It really does help knowing the unwritten rules.

Velcro was invented by a Swiss engineer who couldn’t help but discover a good use for the nasty burrs of burdock that would stick to his clothes and his dog’s fur after hunting trips. He examined the burrs under a microscope and saw hundreds of hooks. The name Velcro is a made-up word based on two French words: velours and crochet (hook). The other day I picked up some adhesive Velcro spots in black and white at a local shop.

Every year, exhibitions around the world present new high tech devices; expensive toys that come with many promises. They aim to make our lives easier, more fun, super connected, and of course they are status symbols. Moreover, they are an electronic manifestation of the ideals that drive our society: bigger, better, faster, more. What is the purpose of driving the technological advancement? Does it help us create something that will last? Where are we going so fast? We don’t know. Or do we?

Few editions of Sound Sunday are mainstream. This week even less. It’s a roller coaster of emotions with a limited set of genres, from upbeat synthpop to dark ambient electronic and much in between, including folk, rock metal, and progressive house. I challenge you to discover a style of music you never thought you would like.

Facebook isn’t a safe haven. A recent study by GMI revealed that one in ten Facebook users have experienced some form of abuse. Among 18 – 24 year olds, one in four were affected. Offenders use their victims’ walls or private messages to post insults, threats, or other abusive messages. In the real world it can be tough to avoid bullies or even prove what they have done. In Facebook, however, you have effective tools to deal with people who deliberately abuse you.

Sitting can kill you or at least cause serious health issues. Unfortunately, many jobs require us to sit at our desks for many hours a day. While it’s tough to change what you do for a living, it’s pretty easy to change your desk. Being a freelance writer working from home, I struggle with this challenge more than most other professionals. Theoretically, I could work from my bed. I have to make a conscious effort not to sit for too long, get up regularly, walk around, and stretch.

This edition of Sound Sunday is dedicated to the wonderful genres R&B, Soul, and Hip Hop. Discover the life & work of Toronto singer/songwriter Rochelle Jordan, who has worked with Drake, LA-based singer Jason Chen, who recorded a mixtape with his favorite Chinese music, Grammy-nominated singer and actor Omarion, whose debut album went Platinum, and [...]

Laptops are a treasure trove of parts that can live more than one life. Whether they continue a life as spare part or become the subject of a DIY tech project, you can get a lot of extra value out of your old hardware. And at the very least you can give a broken laptop to a recycling facility that will recover valuable materials like gold, copper, aluminum, and many more. Curious to see which parts you can easily extract yourself and re-use in one way or the other?

Facebook is a publicly traded company. As such, its success isn’t just measured in traffic or users, but first and foremost in revenue. In other words, Facebook is pressured to make more money. But where does this money come from? The social network is a free service and all its unique content is generated by its users. This does not leave the site with a whole lot of options to earn money.

This edition of Sound Sunday rocks. Open your ears to pop rock, post rock, stoner rock, math rock, and ambient rock albums, many of which are instrumental. Happy Easter! Note that name your price albums can be downloaded for free by entering 0 in the price field. That said, we strongly recommend you to donate [...]

Cable clutter is one of technology’s biggest annoyances. While it’s easy to conceal your messy cable collection in a closed box, the cables that catch dust under your table are a completely different story. Try to vacuum those tangled beasts or remove a single cable from the mess. Fortunately, the Internet is a treasure trove for great ways to organize and clean up the cable monsters under your desk.