Hardware

Amazon

Amazon best sellers

• https://www.searchbestsellers.com/, lifehacker.
• Traditional laptop
• Desktop
• Tablet
• Electronics

Analyze review tools

• https://reviewmeta.com/
• https://www.fakespot.com

Ebay

ITEM CONDITION Look-up

Build PC

• PCPartPicker. Build your PC digitally—and ensure everything is compatible before you buy it—with this oft-recommended website.
• Logical Increments. Figuring out which components you should buy when building or upgrading your desktop PC.
• 5 YouTube Channels to Help You Build Your New Desktop PC 2020
• A Short Guide to Motherboard Parts and Their Functions
• Not a Gamer? This $250 PC Build Is Everything You Need 2024
• Build a PC From Scratch 2024

cpu thermal paste

How to Re-Paste Your CPU With Fresh Thermal Paste

case fans

Are PC Case Fans Universal?

Computer motherboards form factor comparison

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_form_factor
• Standard ATX > Micro ATX > Mini ITX > Nano ITX > Pico ITX
• Motherboards Explained: What Are ATX, MicroATX, and Mini-ITX?

Mini ITX

• ASRock H97M-ITX/ac
• ASRock B85M-ITX

MicroATX/mATX

Should You Buy a microATX Motherboard? 5 Factors to Consider

PC stick

• http://linuxiumcomau.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/ubuntu-1604-iso-for-intel-atom-compute.html
• http://liliputing.com/2015/07/install-ubuntu-14-04-lts-on-the-2gb-intel-compute-stick.html

Possible cons:

1. No Ethernet port
2. Can get very HOT
3. No Audio out jack
4. Does not use opensource chipsets for wifi/bluetooth.

Dell

• F12 one time boot. F2 BIOS
• Update the Dell BIOS in a Linux or Ubuntu environment
• How to Update Firmware on Ubuntu
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_OptiPlex
• Differences between Dell OptiPlex 3040 vs. 5040 vs. 7040
• Differences between Dell OptiPlex 3050 vs. 5050 vs. 7050
• Differences between Dell OptiPlex 3060 vs. 5060 vs. 7060
• Memory upgrade guide 5060 SFF, 5060 Micro
• Best Dedicated GPU for Dell OptiPlex
• A table of Dell Model Years

HP

• Renewed i5 Mini PC: HP EliteDesk 800 G2, Amazon. i5 6500T 2.5Ghz. ebay (half price).
• HP EliteDesk mini g3 i5 6500T vs N100. "This Is The ONLY Home Server You Should Buy".
• HP 800 g3

Lenovo

• AMD M715q A10-8770E, A12-9800E, Ryzen 3. 35W TDP on CPU.
• Lenovo devices supported for upgrade to Windows 11.
  • Lenovo ThinkCentre M75Q AMD Ryzen5 Pro 3400GE 3.3GHz. AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 3400GE vs Intel Core i5-8500T. TDP 35W is exactly the same. Manual. Performance comparisons with other similar CPUs.

Intel NUC

• F2: boot into BIOS, F10: boot menu. F7 bios update.
• NUC 8i5BEH manual. Page 16 shows how how the SATA power is connected to MB.
• Certified Hardware Intel NUC
  • Ubuntu certified hardware
• How to find Intel NUC BIOS version and model on Linux
• Ubuntu 16.04 LTS certified for Intel NUC for IoT device development 6/26/2018
• (Mine) 1.5 GHz Intel Pentium J5005 Quad-Core, NUC7PJYH, 1 x 2.5" Drive Bay. Intel website 1 & website 2. Review by nucblog.net. Youtube review.
• Wake up from suspend using wireless USB keyboard or mouse (for any Linux Distro) (not working yet)

ODroid-H2 (Intel Celeron J4105 Gemini Lake processor, 2018) $111

• https://liliputing.com/2018/11/odroid-h2-gemini-lake-single-board-pc-launches-for-111.html
• Intel Celeron J4105 vs. Intel Pentium J5005

UDOO x86 PENTIUM N3710 (ultra), CELERON N3160 (advanced) 2016.

mini pc + external GPU

• the smallest GTX1650 gaming PC from ETAProme
• NUC8i5BEH
  • Driver for Ethernet. Previous Linux does not have one (I plug in a usb-c to ethernet adapter) but the later versions do have the driver.
  • It has a thunderbolt 3. Search "gpu". Need an external GPU dock.
• UDOO X86 with GeForce GTX 1060 GPU

MINIX

MINIX NEO Z83-4U Fanless, Ubuntu 18.04, $180.

Asus mini PC

Asus PN50 mini PC with Ryzen 7 4700U now available in the US

Single board computer

Rock Pi x

Chipset

What Is a “Chipset”, and Why Should I Care?

Intel Processor

• Atom: Bay trail, Cherry trail, ...
• Haswell
• Broadwell
• Skylake (sixth-generation Core series of processors) and review
• Intel's New Core M CPU: Everything You Need to Know
• Apollo lake replacing Braswell for low-power laptop/netbook/cloudbook.
• http://www.fanlesstech.com/

G, H, K, T, Y, U, Y Processor Suffixes

• Intel® Processor Names and Numbers
  • T: Desktop + Power-optimized lifestyle
  • U: Mobile + Power efficient
• Intel Y-Series vs. U-Series Ultrabook CPUs: What's the difference?

CPU socket

CPU Socket Types Explained: Socket 5 to BGA

Intel CPU

If Your Intel CPU Keeps Crashing, You Might Need to Install This Update

Intel & AMD CPUs

• Explaining Intel & AMD CPUs (video)
• Intel Core 5 vs. AMD Ryzen 5: Which One Is Better?

Ryzen

• Wikipedia
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryzen
  • List of AMD CPU microarchitectures
  • Zen (microarchitecture)
• Ryzen 3, 5, 7, or 9: Which Should You Buy?
• Three AMD Ryzen 5000 Mobile chips you should avoid buying. These chips are based upon AMD's older Zen 2 architecture, not the latest Zen 3, and the performance difference is notable.
• 前無古人一個插槽用6年，AMD蘇媽：AM5會走的跟AM4一樣久. 今年下半年，AMD將會推出Zen4架構的Ryzen7000系列，5nm製程，支援DDR5、PCIe 5.0，並首次更換插槽為AM5，而到那時候，Zen4的壽命將長達6年！
• Socket AM4. Support for Zen (including Zen+, Zen 2 and Zen 3) based family of CPUs and APUs.

Hyperthreading

What Is Hyperthreading?

Thunderbolt docks

Best Thunderbolt docks 2023: Extend your laptop’s capabilities

Monitors

• The best 4K monitors for desktops 12/2022
• Time to upgrade your monitor. If you’re shopping around for a new monitor, and you have to choose between higher pixel count or a high refresh rate, you should 100% without a doubt go for the higher refresh rate. The difference 120Hz or 144Hz will make in just how smooth and responsive a UI can be is astonishing. I think the sweet spot is 1440p at 144Hz, preferably with FreeSync or Gsync.
• iNNOCN 2watt was used when I connected it to ubuntu as a second monitor.

HDR/High dynamic range

What Is DisplayHDR?

USB-C Pass-through charging

The New Xpanel 4 Portable Monitor: The Best Steam Deck Accessory You Can Get!

USB-C alt mode

• Explaining Display Connectors: HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C, DVI, VGA & Thunderbolt
• USB-C Introduction: What You Really Need to Know About the Connector Taking Over the World, How to choose a USB-C monitor? (Updated 2021) A single USB-C cable can carry DisplayPort video signals up to 8K at 60Hz, digital audio signals, ultra-fast data over USB 3.1, as well as up to 100 watts of power to charge or operate your devices (more on that later).
• I see that term in the video. UM580 First Look, This New Ryzen 5800H Mini PC Puts The Power Down! Hands-On
• How do I turn on DP Alt Mode?
• Set up and use Samsung DeX on your Galaxy phone or tablet

OLED

Learn From My Mistakes: Don't Buy the Wrong OLED Monitor

Ultra wide

Best ultrawide monitors 2024: Let’s get large 2024/2

NPU

What the heck is an NPU, anyway? Here’s an explainer on AI chips

Graphics, GPU

Check GPU information

How to Check Which GPU Is Installed on Linux lspci.

• sudo lspci -v | less
  

  and type "/VGA"

• sudo lshw -numeric -C display
  

• sudo apt-get install mesa-utils
  glxinfo -B | less
  

Best Integrated Graphics

These 6 CPUs Have the Best Integrated Graphics for On-Board Gaming

Laptop With a Dedicated GPU

• Here’s Why I'll Always Buy a Laptop With a Dedicated GPU
• Don't Buy a Gaming Laptop Without Understanding These Specs
• A laptop without an integrated GPU means the dedicated gpu is always on, resulting in poor battery life. Lenovo LOQ: 15.6" FHD 144Hz, Ryzen 5 7235HS, RTX 3050 6GB

Low-profile GPU

What's the BEST Low-Profile GPU for your Home Lab?

Don't buy

When Building a PC on a Budget, Avoid These 5 GPUs 2024/9/17.

Media Capabilities Supported by Intel Hardware

• https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/docs/onevpl/developer-reference-media-intel-hardware/1-0/overview.html

MSI Afterburner

• How to use MSI Afterburner
• The Complete Guide To Using MSI Afterburner For Gaming
• https://youtu.be/NJesKE_p01A?t=476
• Overclock Your GPU & The On-Screen Overlay - MSI Afterburner - How-To Guide
• How to display an On-Screen Overlay with MSI Afterburner in 2019-2020

Core Temp

• How to measure cpu power consumption

Overclock, undervolt

How to Undervolt Your Graphics Card to Run Quieter and Last Longer

stats for nerd in Youtube

• http://tubularinsights.com/youtube-stats-for-nerds/
• https://www.quora.com/What-is-meaning-of-the-terms-appearing-under-%E2%80%98stats-for-nerds%E2%80%99-on-YouTube

VRAM

What Is VRAM?

Some selections

Nvidia’s $169 GeForce RTX 3050 6GB might be the new budget GPU king. It doesn’t require a power connector from the power supply. That makes it a super-easy, drop-in upgrade for any desktop with a PCIe slot, just like the venerable GTX 1050 and 1650.

Low profiles

• Time To Upgrade Your Old GTX 1650? Low Profile RTX 3050 Hands On Review 2024/2/27

SoC

My own collection of SoC

Device	Family	Instruction	Clock & Memory
Pogoplug	ARM9	ARMv5	1.2GHz, 256MB
Raspberry Pi	ARM11	ARMv6	700MHz, 512MB
Beaglebone Black	Cortex A8	ARMv7	1GHz, 512MB
UDOO	Cortex A9	ARMv7	1GHz, 1GB
Odroid Xu4	A15 & A7	ARMv7	2GHz & 1.4GHz, 2GB

See wikipedia for a list of ARM cores. These SoC are 32-bit. The newest ARM architecture is ARMv8 which is 64-bit; see here.

Arduino Yun vs BBB vs Intel Galileo vs Raspberry Pi

from Adafruit. It includes spec comparison, performance test, power usage, ...

• Arduino motor spin
• Arduino Uno vs Beaglebone vs Raspberry Pi from Makezine.com.
• Arduino Uno vs Raspberry Pi vs Beaglebone black from lifehacker.com.

Low-to-medium range PC/tablet and Chromebox

Lenovo IdeaTab Lynx K3011

Intel® Atom™ Z2760, 2G ram, 64GB storage and Micro-HDMI.

Lenovo chromebook S330

Feel fast especially on Terminal.

Dell Inspiron 2-in-1 14" Touch-Screen Chromebook

Bestbuy $399. Full HD, 4GB memory, 128GB eMMC. Stylus. Intel Core i3 CPU.

HP Chromebox Desktop, CB1-101

Intel Celeron 2955U Processor 1.4 GHz, 2GB DDR3 RAM, 16GB ssd, Year 2014

It is not updated for the meltdown & spectre bug. See this list.

To enter the developer mode, use the 'reset' button (a small hole next to Kensington lock). See

• Developer mode chromebox in HP chromebox
• https://www.chromium.org/chromium-os/developer-information-for-chrome-os-devices/hp-chromebox#TOC-Legacy-Boot

To invoke developer/recovery mode, you insert a paper clip and press the RESET BUTTON (just beside the kensington lock) and press the Power button. Release the RESET BUTTON after a second.

To enter Dev-mode you first invoke Recovery, and at the Recovery screen press Ctrl-D (there's no prompt - you have to know to do it). It will ask you to confirm by pressing the reset BUTTON again.

Dev-mode works the same as always: It will show the scary boot screen and you need to press Ctrl-D or wait 30 seconds to continue booting.

It seems the 'Reset' button is called 'Recovery' button on ASUS chromebox. See here.

See Gallium OS.

Upgrade

• Upgrade the RAM.
• M2 SSD (22mm x 42mm). Transcend 256GB SATA III 6Gb/s MTS400 42 mm
• Taken apart Video

ASUS Chromebox CN60 (M075U)

ASUS website. 1.7 GHz Intel Core i3-4010U Processor, 4GB of 1600 MHz DDR3 RAM, 16GB Solid State Drive, Year 2014

A newer one is CN62.

Both are not updated for the meltdown & spectre bug. See this list.

ASUS chromebook C423

https://www.amazon.com/Chromebook-C423NA-DH02-NanoEdge-display-Processor/dp/B07HRZM2V4/ $269

HP Stream 8

Intel® Atom™ Z3735G Quad Core (64-bit), 1G ram, 32GB storage. The C: drive shows the space is 23.5 GB. The free space is 20GB. After the first Windows update the storage space is reduced from 18.6 to 16.8. After running Disk cleanup utility, the storage now becomes 17.1 (still lose a lot). So the lesson is not to run Windows update if the disk space is very limited (eg tablet) & everything is working fine now.

Low cost laptop

• Acer Swift 1
• Acer Aspire E 15 (Core i3, HD 620)

Best Chromebooks That Run Android Apps

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/best-chromebooks-android-apps/

Laptop weights

• Macbook Pro 2015- 4lb 6.9oz
• Lenovo Thinkpad T420s - 4lb 1.0oz, removing DVD - 3lb 12.7oz
• Lenovo Thinkpad T440s - 3lb, 7.4oz. Touchpad design makes cursor jumps when clicking.
• Lenovo Thinkpad E480- 3.85lb
• Lenovo Thinkpad X1 carbon (6th gen)- 2.49lbs
• Lenovo Thinkpad 13 Chromebook (usb-c) - 3.2lbs
• Lenovo ThinkPad L390 - 3.2lbs (L-series for business customers)
• Lenovo Flex 14 81SS0005US - 3.52lbs

Best Laptops

• The 7 Best OLED Laptops 2021/11

Clean laptop screen

How to Clean a Laptop Screen Without Damaging It

Projectors

Take Your Projector On The Go With These Accessories

Home theater

Everything You Need to Build Your First Home Theater From Nothing

Samsung pico DLP projector sp-h03

LED, 30 ANSI lumen 854x480, 12V & 1A power. The manual is available at Samsung web site here. The input signal in D-Sub can be 1280x800, 1280x768, 1280x720 resolution although the manual also said "All resolutions higher or lower than 854 x 480 are converted to 854 x 480 by the scaler chip in the projector. To obtain an optimal picture, the resolution from the PC should be similar to the projector (854 x 480)".

Vivitek Qumi Q5

500 Lumen WXGA HD 720p 3D-Ready Pocket DLP, 19V/3.42A/65W (buydig.com, ebay, vivitekusa.com, Manual)

WEWATCH v53

amazon. Fan is noisy! 1080p video downloaded from youtube can't be played (720p is OK). Power consumption is about 114 Watt. No dedicated button for volume control when playing music. No zoom-in option for viewing text. No build-in Android OS. When connected to Jetson nano, the font looks tiny:(

PCIe

• (legacy) PCI vs PCIe slots
• Explaining PCIe Slots ExplainingComputers
• PCIe 4.0: What’s New and Why It Matters

PCIe and M.2 SSD

• M.2 SSD Adapters & Enclosures ExplainingComputers

M.2

• M2 SSD have two kinds. One is M2 + SATA and the other is M2 + PCIe + NVMe. https://youtu.be/alb6-zp52mA?t=159
• WD BLACK SN750 250GB NVMe Internal Gaming SSD - Gen3 PCIe, M.2 2280, 3D NAND - WDS250G3X0C

Slots

• M.2
  • B key: SATA
  • E key: wireless
  • M key: NVME
• M.2 M vs M.2 (B+M): What’s the Difference?
• How To Distinguish the Differences Between M.2 Cards
• What is M.2? Keys and Sockets Explained
• What Is the M.2 Expansion Slot, and How Can I Use It?

NVMe (cf SATA SSD)

• From 'best to worst' it goes MLC (such as Samsung 970 pro, 2x as expensive as similarly sized drives but also 2-3x faster), then TLC, followed by QLC.
• Should You Upgrade to NVMe? 6 Reasons to Stick With SATA SSDs
• On Dell Optiplex 5060 MFF (smaller than SFF, Differences between the Dell OptiPlex 3060, 5060, and 7060) I need to change "SATA Operation" from RAID to AHCI. Otherwise when I installed Ubuntu I will get an error message This computer uses Intel RST (Rapid Storage Technology). You need to turn off RST before installing Ubuntu. For instructions, open this page on a phone or other device: help.ubuntu.com/rst and installation stopped.
  • Similar specs. HP EliteDesk 800 G4, Lenovo ThinkCentre M720q.
  • 7060 has an i7 CPU choice and up to 64GB memory compared to 5060.
  • The next model in the series is 5070 MFF which comes with i5-9500T
  • The next model is 5080 MFF which comes with i5-10500T
  • 5090 MFF comes with i7-11700

• Samsung Firmware download, Proxmox gave a warning about temperature.

SATA SSD

• Dell 5060, support NVMe drives? Check B key.
• Western Digital 500GB WD Blue 3D, Samsung SSD 860 EVO

Hard disk

• 5 Most Reliable Hard Drives According to Server Companies (11/30/2017)
  • Western Digital Red - NAS application
  • Toshiba MD04ABA400V
  • HGST HUH728080ALE600
  • Seagate ST8000DM002
  • Western Digital Black - high performance
• A 7200 RPM drive presents minimal performance gains over a 5400 drive. Especially when compared to an SSD.
• http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/298091-32-cavair-green-blue-black-difference
  • Greens are for eco-oriented folks who want less power consumption
  • Blues are your standard vanilla drives
  • Reds are performance oriented drives that spin at variable rates
  • Blacks are for enthusiasts willing to shell out a premium

Signs Your Hard Drive Is Failing

3 Signs Your Hard Drive Is Failing (And What to Do)

Hard drive comparison

The Most Reliable Hard Drive Models

Backup media

Hard-core data preservation: The best media and methods for archiving your data

Hard drive docking station

• Sabrent USB 3.0 to SATA Hard Drive Docking Station w/ UASP (EC-DFLT). A firmware upgrade requires a Windows PC.
• https://www.sabrent.com/downloads/ Download from Sabrent. Search for "EC-DFLT".
• https://www.startech.com/Downloads. SATDOCKU3E.

Remove magnets

https://youtu.be/YKzPt18aE_0

SSD

• How Do Solid-State Drives Work?
• How to Choose an SSD: 5 Things You Need to Consider
• 101 Guide To Solid State Drives
• Explaining SSDs: The Price/Performance Trade-off (video)
  • SSD Technologies and P/E cycles (SLC/MLC/TLC/QLC), P/E cycles means Program/Erase cycles. How long does an SSD last? Calculate your SSD's lifespan.
    • SSD Life Expectancy and TBW (terabytes written)
    • For example, 500 TBW = 100GB/day for 13.7 years.
  • MLC (1200 TBW) vs TLC (600 TBW) vs QLC (360 TBW) from Samsung
  • SLC Cache.
    • SSD Interfaces and example max read speeds. SATA-III, SAS-4, PCIe 3.0, PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 5.0.
    • IOPS "Input output operations per second" rating.
    • Larger SSDs have more SLC cache.
  • DRAM-Less SSDs. DRAM-less SSDs have no DRAM, which makes them cheaper and reduces energy consumption.

• How to fix your SSD

Controller

What Is an SSD Controller and What Does It Do?

Lifespan

• How to Estimate the Remaining Lifespan of Your SSD. On average, a modern SSD will survive until you've written about 700TB of data over its lifetime (Total Host Writes). Software: CrystalDiskInfo.
• Linux. Smartmontools NVMe support

  $ sudo apt install smartmontools
  $ sudo smartctl -A /dev/sda         # 2.5" SSD
  ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME          FLAG     VALUE WORST THRESH TYPE      UPDATED  WHEN_FAILED RAW_VALUE
    1 Raw_Read_Error_Rate     0x000b   100   100   050    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
  ...
  241 Lifetime_Writes_GiB     0x0012   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       7829
  
  $ sudo smartctl -x /dev/nvme0n1p2   # NVMe SSD
  ...
  Data Units Read:                    1,808,590 [925 GB]
  Data Units Written:                 432,671,903 [221 TB]
  

M2 SSD

• SanDisk 16GB
• MyDigitalSSD 128GB
• SATA 介面的效能約莫為 3 - 5 倍左右，而 PCIe NVMe 的效能表現更高，相較於 HDD 可達 10 - 30 倍的效能表現。 價格進入「甜蜜點」，現在入手 SSD 正是時候！選購 SSD 必備知識，效能 UP UP 的 SSD 升級實戰！

SATA SSD

SATA 採用 B + M Key 的設計，而 PCIe 則為 M Key 設計，兩者並無法相容。

PCIe SSD

http://www.howtogeek.com/238253/what-is-a-pcie-ssd-and-do-you-need-one/

SLC, MLC, TLC, QLC

Your Next SSD Might Be Slower (Thanks to QLC Flash). In short, QLC SSDs Break Down Much Quicker. You should definitely avoid QLC drives with 512 GB and less. QLC flash isn’t too much of an issue when you look at the higher capacity drives.

Portable SSD

• Samsung T5 Portable SSD
• Crucial X8 Portable SSD review: An affordable drive for mainstream users

Trim and defrag

更新 Windows 10 後竟會降低 SSD 使用壽命！微軟表示：想辦法修復中, Microsoft is preparing a fix for a Windows 10 bug that affects SSDs

UFS, eMMC, SSD

• http://www.androidauthority.com/what-is-ufs-and-why-it-matters-590015/
• http://www.howtogeek.com/293339/what-makes-emmc-flash-memory-viable-in-mobile-devices-but-not-pcs/ eMMC vs SSD. eMMC (NVRAM technology) has a write cycle of 3k to 10k but SSD (NAND or NOR technology) has a write cycle of 10k to 30k.
• eMMC to UFS: How NAND Memory for Mobile Products Is Evolving. UFS boasts a substantial improvement in performance over eMMC.

MicroSD card

Micro SD Card Ratings Definition Reference

Health monitor

• F3 tool,
  • https://unix.stackexchange.com/a/289816
  • Prerequisites for Armbian new users
• Linux check the physical health of a USB stick
• fsck command
• Run CHKDSK to check and repair SD card bad sectors

Maximize the lifetime

• Some helpful tips on extending the life of your card
• The MicroSD card should be reformatted every 2 weeks to maximize the lifetime of the memory card (from the manual of Vantrue N1 Pro Mini Dash Cam) .
• How often should memory cards be formatted?
  • Formatting clears the directory structure of the card and removes any artifacts that might be left behind by erasing. Repeatedly using the ERASE and ERASE ALL camera options and not formatting can result in a buildup of file artifacts that may eventually cause the card to fail.
• How often does a microSD card needs to be formatted?
  • While the quick format will simply clear the filesystem table so all the space on SD card will appear as available (the data is still on the card), the full format will also check for errors and remove all the data from the card by writing zeros (for example).
• MEMORY CARD BEST PRACTICES: 15 THINGS YOU SHOULD ALREADY BE DOING
  • Formatting is a more complete way of clearing old files from your card and can reduce the risk of data corruption.
• How and Why Should I Reformat My Memory Card?
  • Deleting or erasing a file doesn’t necessarily remove it. Instead, your card will simply write over the “deleted” files whenever you save new data. This means the “deleted” files remain on the card until they’ve been replaced. Reformatting is a more thorough security measure that ensures you permanently erase all the data before adding new files or images. It’s the only way to rest assured that a file is truly erased.

Speed comparison

• http://www.midwesternmac.com/blogs/jeff-geerling/raspberry-pi-microsd-card
• The Fastest and Best microSD Cards 2019-10-22
• https://havecamerawilltravel.com/photographer/fastest-microsd-cards/ (Updated Apr 2018)
  • V60: 60MB/s
  • V30: 30MB/s
  • U3: 30MB/s
  • U1: 10MB/s
  • class 10: 10MB/s
  • class 2,4,6: 2,4,6 MB/s

Best microSD cards

• The Best MicroSD Cards for Dash Cams in 2019
• Which SD Cards Last Longest In Security Cameras?
• The Best MicroSD Cards For Drones, Dash Cams, and Action Cams
• Silicon Power 64GB

Why your laptop's SD card reader might be terrible

Why your laptop's SD card reader might be terrible

USB device speed comparison

See http://www.elinux.org/RPi_SD_cards#Performance for an objective way to get write/read speed by using command line tool 'dd'.

Device	Read	Write	FS
MicroCenter4G	Example	12.77MB/s	Ext3
MicroCenter4G	Example	5MB/s	vfat
Patriot XT 32G USB3.0	Example	50MB/s	vfat
Patriot XT 32G USB3.0	Example	115MB/s	fat16
Patriot XT 32G USB3.0	Example	113MB/s	fat32
Patriot XT 32G USB3.0	Example	24MB/s	ntfs
Patriot XT 32G USB3.0	Example	139MB/s	ext2
Patriot XT 32G USB3.0	Example	50~100MB/s	ext3
Patriot XT 32G USB3.0	Example	140MB/s	ext4
Example	Example	Example	vfat

When testing Patriot XT USB 3.0 drive, I partition it into ext2 (15GB)& ext3(15GB). The problem of unstability in Patriot XT's ext3 partition is not related to ext3 partition because if I switch the order of partitions of ext2 and ext3, then ext2 becomes unstable.

• A word about USB flash drive.
  • According to the Slo Bytes USB Flash Drives report from Brian K. Lewis, flash drives are capable of handling 10 thousand to 10 million write and erase operations during their lifetime, depending on the source as well as the specific USB drive. Regardless, a flash drive typically will outlast any standard hard drive. The main concerns about the life expectancy of a flash drive are damage from neglect and becoming lost or stolen.
  • The life expectancy of a USB Flash Drive can be measured by the number of write or erase cycles. USB flash drives can withstand between 10,000 to 100,000 write/erase cycles, depending on the memory technology used. When the limit is reached, some portion of the memory may not function properly, leading to lost of data and corruption.
  • Most experts would agree that around 10 years is about what you can expect to retain data on a flash drive without powering it up. That means you can lock away a USB drive for 10 years and return to still see your data. After 10 years of not being powered on, the electrical charges determining if bit of information is either a ‘1’ or a ‘0’ gets hazy. This is because like all electrically charged devices, they suffer from what is called electro/magnetic deterioration; or simply put, where devices will eventually lose their power.

• The copy-paste speed on my 7200rpm hard disk is about 160MB/s.
• Tested using Seagate portable drive SRD0SP0 500GB with USM((Universal Storage Module)/USB 3.0. When it is connected to USB 2.0/3.0, the writing (from an internal hd onto it) speed is at best 30MB/s. When it is connected to USB 3.0, the writing (from it to an internal hd) speed is at least 60MB/s.
• DIY USB on the go cables.

M2 NVMe to USB enclosure

https://www.pcworld.com/article/3396150/fledging-shell-usb-31-m2-nvme-to-usb-drive-enclosure-review.html

MemTest86

• https://www.memtest86.com/technical.htm. It has a total 4 passes. Each pass has 13 tests. It could take over an hour to run 13 tests for one pass.
• How many tests needed to run for memtest86?
• https://www.wikihow.com/Test-PC-RAM-with-MemTest86
• If we have multiple memory modules/sticks, we can test them one by one.

Power supply

• Explaining PC Power Supplies by ExplainingComputers
• ATX 24pin power supply and this.
• A simple test from wikihow.com.

Blu-ray Drive

• ASUS BW-16D1X-U
• LG Electronics LG BDXL Drive - External, Black (WP50NB40)
• Best Sellers in External Blu-ray Drives

Nintendo Devices hack

5 Ways to DIY Hack Your Old Nintendo Devices Into Something New

Cellular phone

Cellular phone frequency list

• North America
• Worldwide.
• Cheat sheet: which 4G LTE bands do AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint use in the USA?

In particular, T-mobile (T-mobile Band specs and Radio frequency spectrum chart from Wikipedia) uses

• 1700 (3G UMTS),
• 1900 (3.5G HSPA+),
• 2/4/12 (4G LTE)

Chunghwa telecom uses 2100 for 3G/3.5G.

What is the difference between G, E, 3G, H, H+ and 4G symbols? We find out!. The order is (from fastest to slowest)

1. 4G
2. H+
3. H
4. 3G
5. E
6. G
7. 2G

Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint: Which Mobile Carrier Is Best for You?

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/best-mobile-carrier/

GSM vs CDMA

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/gsm-vs-cdma-difference-better/

Mobile virtual network operator

• Mobile virtual network operator/Prepaid carriers
• The 7 Cheapest Prepaid/postpaid Phone Plans With Unlimited Everything

3 Ways to Find Free Unlocking Codes for Mobile Phones

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-sites-to-find-free-unlocking-codes-for-mobile-phones/

How to Block Unknown Callers

https://www.wikihow.com/Block-Unknown-Callers

When to get a new cell phone

12 Warning Signs It’s Time for a New Cell Phone

Buy a phone

• Buying New vs. Used Smartphones: What’s the Cheaper Option?
• The Best Android Phones Under $300 Oct 2018
• The 6 Best Unlocked Phones Under $200 Oct 2018
• Nextbin Robin frequency bands and network compatibility

Phone plan

trackfone $20 a year

Remap any Controller to Keyboard Keys

How to Remap any Controller to Keyboard Keys on Windows, Linux and MacOS

Vehicle camera recorder/dash cam

• 1. night vision 2. can turn on/off manually 3. pictures stable (not flicker) 4. G-sensor 5. 3D turning on mount racket 6. no surprising things like auto turned off, (power, start) buttons not working, freeze 7. video space (640x480 takes 100MB for 1 min???). The Amazon website has a list of popular dash cams.
• Miofive
• Rove R2-4K dash cam review. (225MB/h.264/1440p, 250MB/h.265/2160p).
  • NEW 4K Dashcam | ROVE R2-4K PRO Full Review

Phone camera accessory

These Accessories Give My Smartphone Camera Superpowers

Security Camera

• Everything to Consider Before Buying Home Security Cameras
• Wyze Just Increased the Local Storage Capacity for Its Smart Security Cameras 1/12/2022
• How To Get Wyze Web View for Free on Windows 11
• eufy Security Video Doorbell E340, 8G local storage. It only supports 2.4GHz, not 5G wifi.
  • Amzaon
  • Wired mode requires the battery to be installed and a power source power should be connected with 16 to 24V and >10VA.
  • Review from lontv

Mirrorless & DSLR cameras

• Tom's guide
• Photographylife.com
• Beachcamera.com
• Trustedreviews.com
• For Better Beginner Photography, Buy a Cheaper Body and Nicer Lenses
• Mirrorless vs. DSLR vs. Camcorder: What's the Best Video Recorder?
• Why You Should Never Buy a New DSLR Camera (And Always Buy a Used One)

Mirrorless Camera

• PANASONIC LUMIX G7 $400. 14.4 oz.
• PANASONIC LUMIX G85 $900. body stabilization. 1.1 lb.

Nikon D5600 camera

• Manuals
• Nikon D5600 Specifications and Key Features with Overview.
  • No image stabilization. Since a lens, not an image sensor, is where Nikon Vibration Reduction technology is born, using a Nikon lens with VR technology is the only way to achieve VR.
• BEST Video Settings To Record Video On ANY Nikon DSLR (D5200/D5300/D5500 FULL Tutorial)
• Nikon D5600 "User Guide": How To Setup Your New DSLR 36:58 long.
• Keep the lcd screen on the back display of your nikon dslr on for a longer time? Custom setting menu -> Auto off timers. Default 'norm' is 8 seconds and 'long' is 1 minute.
• Nikon D5600 Overview Tutorial 1:24:16 long.
• Got a new Nikon? Some cool camera tips for beginners 5:49 long.
• Lens Bag with Adjustable Drawstring
• How to Use Wi-Fi Transfer on Your Nikon D5500
• Nikon DSLR camera Timelapse and self-timer settings – Best guide

Can anything be done to reduce the shutter sound on my SLR?

https://photo.stackexchange.com/a/3304

Lens

• 5 Common Camera Lenses and When to Use Them
• Zoom Lenses vs. Prime Lenses: What's the Difference?
• 9 Fall Photography Projects You Should Try With Your Macro Lens
• Prime Lenses: Everything You Need to Know
  • cheaper
  • small and light
  • let in lots of light. This makes a huge difference if you like to shoot indoors or at night.
  • offer a shallow depth of field. A wide maximum aperture such as f/1.8 will decrease the depth of field and increase the background blur.
  • better image quality
  • improve your compositions
• 7 Reasons Why Every Photographer Should Own a 50mm Lens

Lens Hood

What Does a Lens Hood Do, and When Should You Use One?

Wide angle lens

What is a wide angle lens

Sensor and Pixels

The Pros and Cons of Larger Smartphone Camera Sensors

Shutter speed/exposure

• How To Change Shutter Speed On Nikon D5600
  • 1/60th of a second: A slow speed that produces a blurry photo.
  • 1/250th of a second: A moderately fast speed that produces a sharp photo.
  • 1/4000th of a second: This is the fastest speed at which the camera can capture a photo.
• Downloadable Shutter Speed Chart (Cheat Sheet) with lots of examples. What is the Best Shutter Speed for…
  • Night photography: over 1 second
  • Portraits: In bright light, you’ll need to use a faster shutter speed. If you’re capturing portraits of a moving subject, a fast shutter speed sure as 1/500 will help to freeze any movement.
  • Outdoor photography: On a bright sunny day, especially when shooting fast-moving objects, you might find that a 1/2500 shutter speed is optimal to sharply capture motion. If, however, you’re outdoors in a situation with less available light, such as under the shade of a tree, a more moderate setting, like a 1/30 shutter speed, might be more appropriate.
  • Moving Objects: you’ll need to use a fast shutter speed of 1/500 upwards
  • Motion Blur: you can experiment with slower shutter speeds of 1/15 and lower.
• Fast shutter speed causes less light into the camera
• Choose a very slow shutter speed of about 30 seconds to get a nighttime photo that includes stars. Again, a tripod will be needed for this type of nighttime photography. Shutter Speed: Five Things Every Photographer Should Know.
• My testing. I choose "S" priority mode.

  	Speed (sec.)	Aperture	ISO
  Left (long exposure)	1/8	f/4	100
  Right (short exposure)	1/400	f/3.8	1600

  ,

Night photos

How to Take Spectacular Photos at Night Using Your Smartphone. Night photography typically needs an exposure of around 30 seconds for best results.

Why the picture blurry

• Why is my Nikon camera blurry? Incorrect camera positioning
• The Most Common Reasons Your Pictures Are Blurry (And How to Fix Them)
• 10 reasons why your photos are blurry
• How to Avoid Blurry Photos by Choosing the Right Autofocus Mode

P, S, A, and M modes

Examples and procedure for D5600. The left-most of the 3 circles is used to control the speed.

Exposure Mode:

• Mode P (Programmed Auto) - the camera automatically adjusts shutter speed and aperture for optimal exposure.
• Mode S (Shutter-Priority Auto) - You choose the shutter speed and let the camera automatically adjust aperture for optimal exposure. Use to emphasize motion.
• Mode A (Aperture光圈-Priority Auto) - You choose the aperture and let the camera automatically adjust shutter speed for optimal exposure.
  • Use to control background blur.
  • Low f-numbers increase the size of the aperture and let more light into the camera. It'll create a more blurry background picture.
  • 光圈的大小通常用f值表示，光圈f值=鏡頭的焦距除以光圈口徑。簡單而言，f值越小光圈就越大，進光量也越大，景深越淺。
  • 若要照清楚照片 只要將f值右轉到最大值即可. For example, use f/36 instead f/3.5. ISO and shutter speed do not matter when I tested by taking pictures in my outdoor backyard.
• Mode M (Manual)

"i" button

How to Take Great Photos with the Nikon D5600

Photos tips

• What Is an F-Stop in Photography?
  • The f-stop is the ratio of the focal length of a lens to the lens aperture (the hole through which the light enters). So, an f-stop of 2 (f/2) means the lens aperture is half the focal length. In a lens with a focal length of 100mm, the aperture would be 50mm (100/50 = 2).
  • The lower the f-number, the brighter the image.
• What Focal Length Should I Use For My Photos?
• What Aperture Should I Use With My Camera?
• What Is Aperture in Photography? How to Understand Camera Aperture
• How to take portraits with blurred backgrounds
  • Stand back a little and zoom-in your lens – this is related to focal length/angle of view/sensor size
  • Choose the smallest f-number (bigger aperture) that’s available.
  • increase the distance between the subject and the background

• How To Blur The Background With A DSLR
  • Open the aperture wider for a more shallow depth of field
  • Use a longer focal length (zooming in) to blur the background more
  • Get closer to the subject for a macro effect

• How to Take a Photo With a Blurred Background Use a cell phone or small point-and-shoot camera
  • Choose portrait mode, and turn off the flash.
  • Make sure the subject is far from the background.
  • Get close to your subject

• Using the Camera: Taking Photos - moto x4
  • Motorola Moto X4 review

• You Can Attend Nikon's Photography School For Free This Month 2020-04
• How to Take Great Photos with the Nikon D5600 from tom's guide.
• Lens Speed, Explained: How to Shoot Anywhere With Confidence
• How to Photograph the Moon Choose a lens that is 200mm or higher. Choose a short shutter speed. "Keeping the shutter speed at a minimum of 1/125-second will mean the moon will be less likely to come out blurry."
• What Camera Settings Should I Use for Nightime Photos. Wider aperture. Most night photos are shot with an aperture between f/1.2 and f/2.0.

• Taking Pictures of Fireworks, How to Photograph Fireworks
  • Manual mode
  • Use a wide or telephoto zoom lens
  • Start with a slow shutter speed of 2.5-4 seconds
  • Set the camera to a low ISO level (ISO 100) and a narrow aperture field (f/5.6-f/8 or bumping up to f/11-f/16)
  • tripod
• Understanding Metering and Metering Modes

• Long exposure
  • A Beginner’s Guide to Long Exposure Photography
  • How to Take Long Exposure Photos on a Samsung Galaxy Phone. You'll need to experiment a bit to find the sweet spot for your situation, but typically, anything longer than 1/30 will be slower than a regular photo.

• Exposure Bracketing: The Creative Insurance Policy
• How to Improve Composition in Your Photographs
• How to Get Started with Photography
• 5 Photography Apps and Guides to Find the Best Lens for Your Camera.
  • DOF Simulator (Web): Visualize How the Camera and Lens Will Look.
• How to Take Professional Photos of Yourself
  • If the image is too dark, try raising the ISO or lowering the shutter speed.
  • If the image is washed out in light, lower the ISO to 200-400 before moving the shutter speed down.
  • For an outdoor business headshot, set the aperture as low as you can (usually around f/2) to blue the background out.
  • Unless you want to draw attention to something in the background, keep the aperture(f-stop) under f/12.
  • Turn the ISO to 100-400 for a clear image.
• Picture This: Learn Digital Photography with These Courses
• Nikon Brings Back Its Free Online Photography Courses in Time for the Holidays
• 10 Photography Terms All Photographers Should Know
• Pan shot
  • What is a Pan Shot and How to Use One
  • How to Take a Panning Shot
• 10 Street Photography Tips That Will Make You a Better Photographer
• What Is Texture in Photography? (And How to Use It)
• How I Turn Rainy Days Into Perfect Opportunities for Smartphone Photography

Image editing

How to Use Darktable, the Free Adobe Lightroom Alternative

DPI vs PPI

DPI vs. PPI: What Is the Difference?

Wifi SD card

Add Wi-Fi to Your Mirrorless/DSLR Camera

Dead cat mic

• What Are Dead Cats And Why Are Outdoor Microphones Furry?
• Rode DDC-GO DeadCat Go Artificial Fur Microphone Wind Shield for VideoMic GO

HDMI & CEC

CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) allows for control of devices over the HDMI port.

• http://elinux.org/CEC_(Consumer_Electronics_Control)_over_HDMI
• http://kodi.wiki/view/CEC
• http://www.techhive.com/article/3138917/streaming-hardware/hdmi-cec-the-secret-to-streaming-remote-simplicity.html
• How to Enable HDMI-CEC on Your TV, and Why You Should
• How to find out if your device is HDMI CEC capable?
• How to use your TV remote with a Google Chromecast. In other words, we have two remotes to control the chromecast. If we download an Android/iOS app, we can also use that to control the chromecast.

HDMI splitter

How to Split an HDMI Signal to Multiple Displays (And 3 High-Quality HDMI Splitters)

micro HDMI vs mini HDMI

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI

• Mini HDMI/Type C (flat, wider) is used on DSLR cameras standard sized tablets. Raspberry Pi zero. 7.8in Not-eReader. Anbernic rg353V.
• Micro HDMI/Type D (small like micro-USB) is used on smaller portable devices such as smartphones and smaller tablets. Raspberry Pi 4. Retro Pocket 2. Beaglebone black.

HDMI ARC and ext. soundbar

• 4 Easy Ways to Connect Your New Soundbar to Your TV
• HDMI ARC and eARC: Audio Return Channel for beginners
• What Is This HDMI ARC Port on My TV?
• JBL Bar 2.0 All-in-one (MK2): Compact 2.0 Channel soundbar

VIZIO TV

• Manufacture page, D24f4-J01 Manual, 25 Watt, $6 if 5 hours/day. 25*5*365/1000*0.12=5.5.
  • Physical power button: When TV is OFF: Press to turn on the TV. When TV is ON: Press to change to the next input source. Press, hold (5 seconds) and release to turn TV off.
• Guide to Fix a Vizio TV That is Slow to Turn On (Quick Fix!) Use Power cycle or cold boot

• Fix
  • Will 1080p resolution ever be broadcasted over-the-air? Is it technically possible?
  • Why Your TV Remote Still Won't Work With New Batteries
• ATSC 3.0: Everything you need to know about broadcast TV’s next big thing
• SiliconDust HDHomeRun PRIME Cable HDTV (3-Tuner). The over the air allow for 720p / 1080i as there max standard and I am not aware of any cable providers broadcasting in 1080p.
• SiliconDust HDHomeRun Flex 4K ATSC 3.0 NextGen TV: 2/4 Tuners HDFX-4K

Apple TV

Beginner's guide: How to get started with your new Apple TV

Google Chromecast

• How to Use Chromecast: A Guide for Beginners
• How to Use a Chromecast as a Second Computer Monitor
• Bluetooth audio
  • Connect Bluetooth devices to Google TV. Troubleshoot connection issues: Unplug your TV for 10 seconds and then plug it back in. When your TV is on, try to pair it again.
  • Chromecast with Google TV (CCwGTV) has an annoying Bluetooth audio issue, but there's a simple fix. Settings (via your profile image in the top right of the homescreen) > Apps > YouTube > Clear data.
• Maximize Your Chromecasts Full Capabilities (USB hub)
• Chromecast with Google TV (HD) arrives for $30 A/B partition
  • 4K version runs Android 10
  • HD version runs Android 12
• A/B partition in Android
  • Android 13 may force A/B partitions to update seamlessly
  • Google plans to force Android’s ‘Seamless Updates’ on holdouts like Samsung
  • Android 13’s virtual A/B mandate could bring Seamless Updates to more devices
• Turn Any Android Device Into a Chromecast with This App
• Watch live TV on Google TV
• How to Remap Buttons on the Chromecast with Google TV Remote
  • Button Mapper on Play Store
  • Remap Your Remote Controls On Android And Google TV With Button Mapper (video)

Amazon Echo

• How to Safely Dispose of (or Sell) Smarthome Hardware (including How to Factory Reset an Amazon Echo)
• How to Connect Your iPhone to an Amazon Echo Device
• How to Reconnect a First-Generation Amazon Echo to a Wireless Network
• How to Use Your Amazon Echo as a Bluetooth Speaker
• How to Use Amazon Echo as a Bluetooth Speaker for Computer or Mobile

Alexa

• What Is Amazon’s Alexa and What Can It Do?
• 7 Alexa Skills to Make Your Life Easier on Amazon Echo
• The 25 Best Alexa Skills of All Time (Free and Paid)

Echo buds

• Echo buds 2023
• Support For Echo Buds
• Echo Buds can connect with two devices at once and automatically switch between the two.
  • Pair Echo Buds with a New Device
• Amazon Music or Media Isn't Playing with Echo Buds. Place your Echo Buds in the case and close the lid for 30 seconds. Take them out and retry.
• 7 Best Tips to Fix Amazon Echo Connected to Bluetooth but No Sound Issue (not echo buds)
• bluetooth echo device connected but no sound

Google Home

How to Use Your Google Home as a Bluetooth Speaker

Amazon Fire TV

• Navigation with the remote.
• How to Cast YouTube and Other Web Videos to Kodi (Like the Chromecast)
  • Kore (Android)
  • Yatse (Android)
  • Pushbullet (iOS & Android)

Install Kodi

• Install XBMC/Kodi
• How to Install Kodi on an Amazon Fire Stick 2019

Bypass Google’s YouTube block on the Amazon Fire TV

http://www.aftvnews.com/potential-ways-to-bypass-googles-youtube-block-on-the-amazon-fire-tv/

Change settings for privacy

Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV and Chromecast settings to change to protect your privacy

Amazon Kindle ebook reader

Send to kindle web extraction failed when I tested 'Send to Kindle' from an iPad.

But it works when I use the Chrome extension on the Chrome browser.

Kindle Paperwhite 安裝英中字典

To take screenshots, just hold down on on the top left and button right, or the top right and bottom left. The pictures are stored in the root folder of your Kindle Paperwhite. You can plug your e-reader into your PC via the USB cable and get access to any of the pictures you took.

To use Kindle to read news, use Calibre or reabble.com (based on https://www.inoreader.com).

12 Sites Every Kindle Owner Should Really Know About

Identify Kindle generation

How to Tell Which Kindle I have? --Identify Kindle Model Updated Dec 2019

https://www.amazonforum.com/help/identify-your-kindle-e-reader. Mine is paperwhite 7th generation released 2015.

It is also called 'paperwhite 3' (4 LED frontlight) according to this

Kindle Paperwhite 3 (2015, 7th generation) vs Paperwhite 2. Both have built-in front light. Paperwhite 3 has 300 DPI while paperwhite 2 has 216 DPI.

Paperwhite (10th generation, 300 ppi, released November 2018) has bluetooth. Can't Connect to Bluetooth

Power saver mode

Power Saver Mode on Kindle Paperwhite, Have You Tried Disabling It?

Send to Kindle

The following file types are supported for Send to Kindle: - Microsoft Word (.DOC, .DOCX) - PDF (.PDF) - Text (.TXT) - Images (.JPG, .JPEG, .GIF, .PNG, .BMP) - Kindle Format (.AZW, .MOBI) - Other File Types (.RTF, .PRC, .PSZ)

• Browser (send web content): Chrome and Firefox (Not compatible with Firefox Quantum)
  • (third party) Push to Kindle from http://fivefilters.org/. It cannot translate Latex eg https://freakonometrics.hypotheses.org/52782. Neither 'Send to Kindle' from Chrome can do it.
• PC or Mac (send documentations)
• Email (send documentations)
• Android (send documentations)

Question: how to do it in R?

How to Send Articles to Your Kindle for Later Reading with Tinderizer, Instapaper, or Pocket

New Push to Kindle Android app from fivefilters.org. We no longer require email addresses to be entered to send articles.

Pocket

Using Pocket on Kindle Devices

Kinstant - the start page for Kindle's web browser

http://kinstant.com/

Removing Kindle User's Guide

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=288690. Change the selector at the top left of the library screen from "ALL" to "DOWNLOADED". The "ALL" option shows you all the items in your Cloud library; "DOWNLOADED" shows you just what's currently on the device.

Forum

• Kindle e-reader from Amazon Forum
• Amazon Kindle from MobileRead.

Kindle繁體中文電子

www.amazon.com/TCBOOKS

移除DRM

• https://www.azwsoft.com/?c=OBJ-KDR-1 (paid with free trial 30 days)
• https://www.techbang.com/posts/24781-on-the-kindle-to-read-vertical-books

Amazon Kindle Fire Tablet

• Fire Tablet Tool makes hacking Amazon’s 2017 tablets easier
• Install Google Play & Remove Ads on an Amazon Fire Tablet Without Root

DVR

Tablo

Mute

Smash Mute.The Big, Fat TV Mute Button

Cordless Phone

Panasonic Troubleshooting - Error Message "No Link to base" Menu - Initial setting - Registration. Follow the screen to press the 'Locator' on the base for 5 seconds and then press 'OK' on the handset. Done. ✅ See also p35 on the manual for registering a handset.

Headphone

Best headphones: Our top picks for personal listening. Over-the-ear headphones explained, Wireless headphones explained, Noise-cancelling technologies explained.

What Are Decibels (dB)

What Are Decibels (dB)?

Audiophile

Being an Audiophile Is a Curse, Not a Blessing

Workout

The Best Headphones for Working Out

Multipoint in bluetooth

• How to Connect Your Bluetooth Headphones to More Than One Device at a Time
• 6 Tips How to Switch Bluetooth Headphones Between Devices?
• What is Bluetooth multipoint, and why isn’t it more popular?
• Bose 700. You can store up to eight devices in the headphone device list, and the headphones can be actively connected to two devices at a time.
  • Manual
  • Press and hold Power/Bluetooth button until you hear “Bluetooth device list cleared,” and the Bluetooth light slowly pulses blue.
  • REBOOT THE HEADPHONES': 1) Connect one end of the USB cable to a USB-A wall charger or computer that is powered on. 2) Press and hold the Power/Bluetooth button while connecting the small end of the USB cable into the USB-C port on the right earcup. 3) Release the Power/Bluetooth button after 2 seconds
• (budget) Sound Blaster JAM V2 on ear.

Play Audio Through AUX and Bluetooth at the Same Time

Can You Play Audio Through AUX and Bluetooth at the Same Time?

• It is possible to play sound from both 3.5 audio and Bluetooth simultaneously on Linux. You can use the PulseAudio sound server to achieve this. One way to do this is by using paprefs. With paprefs, you can create a virtual output device that enables simultaneous output to all attached sound cards and devices. To install paprefs, run the following command in your terminal:

  sudo apt install paprefs
  

  After installation, run paprefs in the terminal and select the Simultaneous Output tab. Check Add virtual output for simultaneous output on all local sounds cards. The additionally created audio output device for simultaneous output may be selected in the Output tab from the PulseAudio Sound Preferences menu (pavucontrol)1.

• Alternatively, you can use a male-to-female dual auxiliary splitter to play audio through both aux and Bluetooth at the same time.

Some examples

• Bose 700.
  • Button controls. Holding the power button will allow to pair a bluetooth connection.
  • It can connect to 2 devices at a time (it can memorize up to 8 most recent paired devices). To switch between connected devices, pause the first device and play music from the second.
  • In order to disable the voice prompt every time it was connected, download the Bose Music App. I sign up using Apple ID. In the Setting, check Disable Voice Prompts
  • Also multiple BT devices can connect to iPad at the same time but only 1 device has the sound.
  • Ear cushions are replaceable.
  • When it is connected though a cable, the BT will be disabled.
  • Aptx is not supported.
  • Double taps will pause.
  • Bluetooth 5.0 and AAC, SBC codecs. It supports Bluetooth pairing profiles A2DP, HFP, HSP, AVRCP, and BTLE.
  • The headphones can be used without an app. But the Bose Music app allows to make changes (such as 10 noise cancelling levels) that are not necessarily possible on the headphones themselves.
• Bose QuietComfort 35 .52 lb
• Bose SoundLink .43 lb
• Sony WH-1000XM2 .61 lb
• Sony - H900N .64 lb. Official website
• Audio-Technica ATH-M50x .63 lb
• TaoTronics Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones tt-bh22 .48 lb
• Sennheiser HD 4.40 .49 lb
• Sennheiser PXC 550 .49 lb
• Avantree Audition Pro - aptX LL .43 lb
• 3M Worktunes Wireless Hearing Protection with Bluetooth Technology and AM/FM Radio 1.3 pounds

Amp

• What Is a Headphone Amp and Do I Need One?
• The Best Headphone Amplifiers for Your Smartphone

ANC

• 一萬元等級無線降噪耳罩式耳機選擇：6大「寂靜」關鍵、5款「好聲」產品
• Can You Use ANC Headphones and Earbuds Without Listening to Music? Using ANC without audio means you only have one layer of audio isolation, which can give you a great idea as to the real ANC performance of your headphones or earbuds. Having an audio source playing with ANC enabled provides multiple layers of audio distraction and isolation as you're concentrating on your music and the ANC is blocking external sounds.

Aukey EP-T21

• Aukey True Wireless Earbuds EP-T21 Manual & User Guide, How To Pair Aukey EP-T21 Earbuds: Pairing Explained Simply
• If you want to turn them off without putting them in the case, you can press and hold the touch panel on both earbuds for 5 seconds until the LED indicators turn red and then release them1. If you want to reset your earbuds, you can press and hold the touch-sensitive button on both headphones at the same time for at least 10 seconds – this will clear all previous Bluetooth pairings, and you can then try pairing again.

Microphone

• The 6 Best Wireless Lavalier Microphones
• How Close Should You Talk Into Your Microphone?

Gallium nitride (GaN) charger

What Is a GaN Charger, and Why Will You Want One?

PPS charger

• What is PPS Fast Charging, and What’s the Difference Between PD, QC, and PPS?
• What's the main difference between QC/PD/PPS/PIQ chargers?

Portable battery

USB-c PD/Power Delivery charger

• https://www.usb.org/usb-charger-pd
• A USB-C PD charger is a type of charger that uses the USB-C connector and supports the USB Power Delivery (PD) specification. USB Power Delivery is a fast charging technology that allows for higher power levels to be delivered over a USB connection, enabling faster charging of devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops.

• USB-C PD chargers can deliver up to 240W of power, which is enough to charge some heavy-duty USB-C equipment. However, the charger will only deliver the amount of power that the device can safely handle, as determined by the device’s wattage needs.

• All You Need to Know About USB Power Delivery Normally, each device charged by USB will have their own separate adapter, but not anymore. One universal USB PD will be able to power a wide variety of different devices.
• What Is USB Power Delivery (USB PD)?
• Best USB-C PD laptop chargers 2023: More portable power August 2023
• A portable power bank labeled as “PD” should support different/variable voltages. USB Power Delivery (USB PD) can support different voltages such as 5V, 9V, 12V, and 20V1. However, it’s important to note that although the specification supports a range of different voltages and currents, most devices will not support all of them. The actual voltage levels a specific power bank supports will depend on its design and price point. See Choosing a USB Power Delivery Power Bank.

PD usb-c battery

• RAVPower 20100mAh PD 3.0 45W Power Delivery Power Bank for macbook, phone, ...
• Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD with 30W Power Delivery Charger

Search: Best USB-C Power Banks : Best Power Delivery (PD) Portable Chargers

How long will it power my device, Watt (unit of power)

• working time = (Wh from the power station)* 0.85/ (watt of your device).
• Understanding Power Bank Specifications: Capacity (mAh), Charging Efficiency, Watt Hours, and More. The batteries in all these power banks are 3.7V, but USB charging occurs at 5V. This means that every 10000 mAh battery pack has a usable maximum of 7400 mAh (10000 / 5 * 3.7). Then charging inherently incurs efficiency losses – about 20% on average – meaning you can expect the final (or "rated") capacity of pretty much all 10000 mAh battery packs to be around 5920 mAh (7400 * 80%).
• Charging Efficiency Technologies (iSmart, QC, PD, GaN). See also Understanding Power Bank Specifications: Capacity (mAh), Charging Efficiency, Watt Hours, and More.

USB Hand Warmers

Are USB Hand Warmers Safe? Ocoopa Give You Answer

You Really Can Charge Your Phone With a 9 Volt Battery

From Lifehacker. A car charger is required. Line up your 9 volt battery, with the big (negative) battery terminal on the spring, and the positive (smaller) terminal touching the button in the center of the car charger.

How to test a solar panel using multimeter

`How to test a solar panel, How To Test Your Solar Panel - Quick And Easy INNOVA

• Back of the solar panel should have a label to show the specification/numbers. Pay attention to Voltage at Pmax and Short Circuit Current.
• Plug the red probe to V/omega/mA (red) and turn to DCV (red) to check the voltage. The reading number should be close to the label.
• Plug the red probe to DC10A (yellow) and turn to DC10A (yellow) to check the amps. There will be a spark when we connect them. Cloudy day will affect the amps.

Parallel and series connection

• MEGSUN 160 Watt Monocrystalline Solar Panels 12 Volt, 2PCS 80W 22.8% High-Efficiency
• Solar panel series vs parallel: Everything you need to know. By connecting solar panels in series, you increase the voltage of the system without increasing the current. When you connect solar panels in parallel, you increase the current without increasing the voltage.

Portable power station

• 5 Things You Should Look for When Buying a Portable Power Station
• Modified vs. Pure Sine Wave Inverter: What’s the Difference?
• You can use it as a pass through UPC backup if the power station supports the pass through charging.
• If we try to provide more than 1 input (eg solar & 120v AC & 12V car charger at the same time), then only 1 input will be taken. There is a maximum charge rate. But it seems it does not hurt if we supply more than 1 input at the same time.
  • Golabs R300 has a Solar Panel (62w input max), Wall Outlet (42w input max), Car outlet (42w input max), or Generator (42w input max). Charging ways. GOLABS portable power station is built in an MPPT controller, the voltage is 10.8-23.5V (3A), the maximum input power can reach 60W. Car charger adapter is included (Car cigarette to power station input port). The cigarette socket on the power station is for output (12V/10A, same as 2x DC output); e.g. tire inflator.
  • It does support pass through charging except the USB-c port(s). GoLabs 300w lifepo4 Power Station Detail Review and Demo R300 solar generator.
  • Golabs R150: similar to R300 except the capacity.
  • When I connect it to a solar panel it starts beeping and shows E09. What does that mean? It means over volt on the input power source. Just ignore the E09 error. According to the manual E09 indicates COVP (circuit over voltage protection). The solar panel output voltage should not exceed 22 Volts.
  • E08 error code on Anbernic rg353v. It cannot turn on nor charging.
• The full charging cycles is about 500-200 before it drops to 80% on subsequent charges.
• Charge it every 3-6 months.
• Many has a built-in MPPT controller (means faster charging with a solar panel).
• Not store it in a below 0C temperature environment.
• Check the Watt requirement of a electronic device if we want to power it with the portable power station.
• GOLABS Portable Power Station, 299Wh LiFePO4. It includes a PD USB-C port. It allows to use AC while it was charged. DC connection is 5.5x2.1mm. 12V DC output is not regulated.
  • GOLABS Portable Power Station, 204Wh(=63750mAh * 3.2V), R150 PD 60W USB C. One thing to note when charging via 2.1 mm plug you will not be able to use the USB power delivery port. Because this is a modified sine wave (inverter) some (AC) electronics may produce extra noise. I guess if I just use its USB-C connector (DC not AC), it would be OK (at least the power station's fan is not making any noise).
  • R150 + pi zero w. R150 has a capacity of 204Wh. Hours = Total Capacity/(Power Usage Rate). Suppose pi zero w has a power draw 500mAh * 5.0V/1000 = 2.5Wh. So the power station can run pi zero w, 204Wh/2.5Wh = 81 hours.
  • Can a Modified Sine Wave Inverter Damage Electronics? Suffice it to say that if it doesn’t use an AC motor, isn’t a delicate piece of medical equipment, and doesn't fit into any of the other no-go scenarios, you’re probably going to be in the clear. .... your laptop is probably going to be fine. If the device you want to power up runs on DC power in the first place, like a laptop, you're actually better off looking for a way to skip the transition from DC to AC and back to DC.
• 14" M1 macbook pro has a battery 70 (69.6) Wh. So 25600 mAh/3.7V=94.72 Wh portable battery should good to charge it once.

• Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 240. It allows to use AC while it was charged. DC connection is 8mm.
• ROCKPALS 300W Portable Power Station, 280wh (78000mAh) Solar Generator. Connection 5.5x2.1mm. Con: AC port cannot be used while charging. Only the DC ports (USB, 12V) can.
• Anker Powerhouse 200, 213Wh/57600mAh Portable Rechargeable Generator. 57600mAh * 3.7V/1000 = 213Wh.

Portable battery != Jump starter

• Battery
  • Honda by Jackery HLS 290 Portable Lithium Battery Mobile Power Station. Capacity: 292Wh. Working time = 292Wh* 0.85 / operating power of your device.
  • PAXCESS Portable Power Station, 280Watt Solar Electric Generator. Capacity: 250Wh.
  • RockPals 300W and review by PCWorld
  • Jackery Explorer 240/250: Emergency Power Backup for All The Things
• Jump Starter
  • POTEK Car Jump Starter

Solar panels

• Some calculation. The solar panel is measured by Watt & Volt but the battery is measured by Wh.
• Youtube
  • Build Your First Solar Power System! Beginner Tutorial Easily Explained, Budget Friendly
  • Building a Solar Powered Workshop
  • guide
• Renogy 100 Watts 12 Volts Monocrystalline Solar Starter Kit, The download menu becomes visible at the top of the screen once you’ve scrolled halfway down the page.
  • 30A PWM charge controller $33
  • 1 pair tray cable 8ft 10AWG (battery & controller) $17
  • 1 pair adaptor kit 20ft 10AWG (solar panel & controller) $ 30
  • (Not included) Renogy Deep Cycle AGM Battery 12 Volt 100Ah $190
  • (Not included) Renogy 700W Pure Sine Wave Inverter 12V DC to 120V AC Converter, BESTEK 500W Pure Sine Wave Power Inverter DC 12V to AC( 2 Outlets) 110V
  • (Not included) DC Converter with Battery Clip 12V 24V to 5V 8A USB, DC 12V/24V to 5V 6A 30W Dual Type-C USB C Converter

• Eco-worthy 100W Watt Solar Panel Kit 12Volt Battery Charge Controller RV Caravan Boat medium kit $132 from ebay
• Grape Solar 100W Polycrystalline Solar Panel (include watt calculation), converter 100watts 12volts DC to 10watts 120volts AC? and Home depot
• Converter
  • FOVAL 150W Car Power Inverter DC 12V to 110V AC Converter with 3.1A Dual USB Car Charger
• Environment concern
• How to Charge a Battery with a Solar Panel
• BigBlue 3 USB Ports 28W Solar Charger(5V/4.8A Max) It drains battery of devices when in the shade. Should this panel fall into shade while connected to something like a phone, the panel will act as a resistive load, and the phone will actually drain charge from its batteries into the panel. The blocking diode prevents charge from entering the panel from output devices.
• Portable Solar Panels recommended by Akrvbob
• How to Charge a Battery with a Solar Panel

Connect Any Solar Panel To A Portable Power Station

• Can You Connect Any Solar Panel To A Portable Power Station?
• How Do You Connect Solar Panels to a Portable Power Station?
• 26 Best Portable Power Station With Solar Panel (2023 Reviews) – Bestseller
• Kingsolar Solar Charger 40W Portable Solar Panel Charger with USB/DC output
• What Type Of Portable Solar Panels Charge A Power Station? Most solar panels are equipped with an MC4 or Anderson connection. MC4/Anderson connections would have to use a DC5221 – DC5525 adapter cable.
• Acopower 100W solar panel kit This Solar Panel Charges Both 12V Batteries & Power Stations
  • In a power station, the solar charge controller is built-in, so when you choose a panel to recharge it, it should be a panel without a charge controller.
  • An Aimtom MC4 to DC 5.5mm x 2.1mm adapter (6.6ft, 12AWG) is required for The Rockpals 250W portable station (supports 30 vdc input, the input power is 40W. so, the charing time will be around 6 to 7 hours) . Or this one (5ft, 16AWG) includes 3 other adapters (DC 3.5x1.35mm,DC 5.5x2.5mm and DC8mm Adapter).
  • What you need to be careful with when choosing a solar generator to pair with the Acopower solar panel is to make sure the built-in charge controller in the power station can handle at least 22.3V input?
  • Read the section "Best Solar Generators/Power Stations To Pair With Acopower 100W"
  • Slickdeals
• What I need is a "100w 12v Monocrystalline Solar Panel" and a MC4 to DC 5.5mm x 2.1mm (Outer diameter 5.5mm, inner diameter 2.1mm) adapter/cable for my portable power station.
• Other power stations such as Jackery, GZ Yeti, Bluetti, ExpertPower, MAXOAK, Anker requires 8mm DC input (DC7909). So we need an adapter like this.

Solar Charge Controller, Battery

• Renogy Rover 20A 12V/24V Auto DC Input MPPT Solar Charge Controller Parameter Adjustable LCD Display Solar Panel Regulator fit for Gel Sealed Flooded and Lithium Battery, Rover 20A w/ Bluetooth
• LOSSIGY 12 Volt 20Ah LiFePO4
• DIY Solar Setup: Easy to Follow Step-by-Step Instructions (video)
• A typical small or midsize car battery is rated at 45 amp hours. A standard dash cam with front and rear coverage, motion detection, and Wi-Fi all operating while your car is parked will only consume about 0.25 to 0.45 amps per hour. Best dash cams 2023: Your second set of eyes on the road.

Multimeter

• How to Use a Digital Multimeter
• How to Use a Multimeter (for Beginners)
• How to Check Voltage With a Multimeter
• How to Test Your Computer’s PSU With a Multimeter
  • How to Test Your Computer’s PSU With a PSU Tester
• How to Use a Multimeter to Measure Current

USB cable

8 Essential Factors to Consider When Buying a USB Cable

USB voltage meter

• How to measure and compare the capacity (watt hours) of a powerbank or https://www.tp-link.com/us/faq-741.html
  • Measure: 6320 mAh * 4.94 V / 1000 = 31.22 Watt hours
  • Claimed: 10050 mAh * 3.7 V / 1000 = 37.2 Watt hours
• Raspberry Pi zero w + Camera module. After 169 hours, the USB voltage shows 13539 mAh and Kill-a-watt shows 0.18 kWh.
• Raspberry Pi 2B + ethernet + HDMI + keyboard USB dongle + Wifi USB. USB voltage meter shows it draws 0.33A=330 mA; see also the official documentation from the FAQs: What are the power requirements?
  • 6000 mAh * 3.7 / 4.94 = 4494 mAh
  • After 2 hours, USB voltage meter shows 645 mAh (~2*330 mA). So I guess my 6000mAh power bank can last 14 hours in total.
• Raspberry Pi Power Measurements
• How long would an 11,000mA power bank power a raspberry pi?
• Power Consumption Rate of Pi2 on USB Battery Bank? calculation.
• Battery amp-hour, watt-hour and C rating tutorial (Video). A 2000 mAh or 2Ah battery means it can supply 2A for 1 hour (or 1A for 2 hours or 4A for 0.5 hour, there is a max Amp it can supply and it will be very hot if we push it to the limit) until the battery ran out of battery.
  • Capacity (in Ah) / Load (in A) = battery in hour (in h)
  • Volts (V) * Amp-hours (Ah) = Watt-hours (Wh), amount of energy. For example, 1.2V * 2Ah = 2.4 Wh, 9.6V * 2Ah = 19.2 Wh.
• Volts, Amps and Watts explained (Video)
  • Amps * Volts = Watts (power/energy)
  • Amps (current) is like how much water is flowing.
  • Volts (voltage) is kinda like water pressure.
  • Voltage = Current x Resistance

Kill A Watt P3

Note: click the 3rd button to switch between Watt and VA; similarly for the 4th and 5th button.

Volt --- Amp --- Watt/VA --- Hz/PF --- kWH/Hour

The relation of Volt-Amp-Watt-VA-PF are

1. VA = Volts x Amps
2. Watt =  VA x Power factor  (OR W = VA x PF)

For example, if the apparent power is 3000 VA and the power factor is 0.8, the real power is 3000x0.8=2400 Watt.

From the Pepco company, my bill is $530.40 (total usage is 4097 KWh) from 11/27/2014 to 12/16/2014.

Delivery Charges:
=================
Distribution services:
Customer charge:                           = 7.39
Energy charge, first 800 KWH x 0.0272      = 21.76
Energe Charge, next 3297 Kwh x 0.0272       = 89.71
Franchise tax (delivery) at .00062 per kWH = 2.54
Universal service charge                     0.36
MD Environmental surchage .00015 per kWH   = 0.61
EmPower MD charge res .0037 per kWh        = 15.16
Gross Receipts tax  2.0408%                = 2.81
Montgomery city energy tax res .01131 per kWH = 46.34
Administrativ credit res .0002912 per kWH  = 1.19-
==========================================================
Subtotal                                      = 185.74 

Supply charges:
===============
Generation services:
  Energy Charge  4097 kwh x 0.07732          = 316.78
  Procumental cost adj res .0005936 per kwh  = 2.43-
Transmission services:
  Energy charge  4097 kwh x .007250         = 29.70
 gross receipts tax at 2.0408%               = 0.61
==========================================================
Subtotal                                     = 344.66
Total                                        = 530.40

So it looks like the charge per kWH is about .0272 + .0037 + .01131 + .07732 + .00725 = 0.12678.

Some devices:

• On my home server (idle most of time) with a cpu of AMD Phenom(tm) II X6 1055T Processor, it consumes 1.75kWh in 24 hours. Instantly Kill-a-watt shows 70+ Watt from the machine which makes sense (24 * 70 ~ 1750). So the yearly cost of leaving the machine on is about 1.75 * 365 * 0.12678 = 81. For HP chromebox (Intel Celeron 2955U Processor 1.4 GHz), the yearly cost is about 0.2 * 365 * 0.12678 = $9.25.
• From above, we see 70W PC costs about 70*1.1=$77 a year. The formula is Watt * 24*/1000*365*0.12678 = Cost. So the factor is 24/1000*365*0.12678=1.1. See also Setting up an ODROID-HC4 as a NAS article.

• For Pi-top (+ Raspberry Pi 3), 11 hours is 0.06 kWh. 0.07 amp. 0.59 PF. 9 VA and 5 Watt (120v * 0.07amp * .59PF = 9VA * .59PF). For 24 hours, it consumes ~0.14kWh (vs 1.75 kWh in Phenom).
• Raspberry Pi power consumption comparison
• For raspberry pi zero w + Waveshare 2.7 e-paper running the clock weather application, it used up 6000 mAh @ 3.7A (4494mAH @ 4.94V)portable battery in 28 hours 40 minutes. 4494/28.67 = 156. Cf How much power does Pi Zero W use?.
• For Intel NUC7PJYH, 24 hours is 0.09 kWh (including suspend after 2 hours). The idle power is 4W and using browser to watch Youtube is 9W.
• For intel nuc8i5BEH (i5-8259U CPU @ 2.30GHz), 24 hours is 0.10 kWh. The idle power is 2W and watching youtube takes 7W.
• For Intel i5-8500t (Dell Optiplex 5060 Micro/SFF), 24 hours is 0.18 kWh. The idle power is 7W when the host is running Proxmox 7.1-10 and two VMs (Ubuntu 20.04 & Win10).
• For ASUS chromebox CN60 (i3-4010U) running the latest ChromeOS, 24 hours is 0.06 kWh.

• See http://www.howtogeek.com/234222/why-you-never-need-to-put-your-apple-tv-or-other-modern-devices-to-sleep/ for explanation about Apple TV and Fire TV case. For example, 2.1 watts of power /1000 * 24 * 365 * $0.125 = $2.29 per year. For Roku Premiere+, .07/36*24 * 365 * $0.125 = $2.2 per year.

• UDOO 4W, SainSmart 9" LCD 3W.

• How many watts of power does the latest MacBook Pro use?. My 2018 macbook pro uses 50+ Watt.

Others:

• How much electricity does the amazon echo use
• Will a Smart Plug Pay For Itself?

How to Calculate Kilowatt Hours

• What is a watt vs a watt-hour?. A watt (W) is a unit of power, while a watt-hour (Wh) is a unit of energy. Watts = Watt-Hours / Hours. The number of watts is a good measure of how much power your panels will produce in a moment of time. Watt-hours provides a measure of how much energy you’ll use in a provided period of time (hour).
• How Much Does It Cost to Recharge a Battery?
• https://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-Kilowatt-Hours
• Residential Electricity Rates & Consumption in Maryland

SSD and HDD power comparison

• Does an SSD or HDD Consume More Power for Your Computer?
• 3.5" vs 2.5" HDD Power Consumption. Take WD Mybook 8T as an example, it took about 8 Watt in idle (worse than intel nuc8i5BEH).
• How much power does SSD use?. When in active use, the SSD consumes an average of 2.7W and when it is idle, it consumes 0.05W. This is better than the HDD that uses 4.1W actively and 3W when it is idle.

How Much Electricity Each Item in Your House Uses

How Much Electricity Each Item in Your House Uses

How Much Does It Cost to Charge Your Smartphone for a Year

• How Much Does It Cost to Charge Your Smartphone for a Year?
• How much does it cost to charge an iPhone/iPad/MacBook Pro for a year?
• How much does it cost to charge a laptop in a year

Best printers

The 5 Best Laser Printers Under $200 And Under

Brother MFC-L2710DW

Login: initpass See FAQ

Toner: TN760 - 3000 pages, $75. 3rd party.

Print page face down.

Replace Drum. Amazon $38 for 2 or $35 for 1.

Printer drum.

• What is a Printer Drum? (The Heart and Soul of Your Laser Printer). As a rule of thumb, it’s time to get a new imaging drum after you use up four or five standard toner cartridges.
• The amount of pages that can be created from a single drum can be as many as 50,000.
• What happens when printer drum goes bad?

Laser Engraving Machine

• NEJE 300mW Mini DIY Laser Engraving Machine Picture Logo CNC Laser Printer and 500mW version.
• mdrawBot and 500mW laser engraver
• Laser cube 2.0 (100mw laser diodes). Laser engraver from makeblock.cc (500mw laser engraver).

Make your own laptop screen for Raspberry Pi

See raspi.tv

E-ink

Blue Light Glasses

Do Blue Light Glasses Work? Everything You Need to Know

reMarkable 2

Best for note taking. See Remarkable.

Comparison

Device	DPI	Resolution	Video playing	Browser
KindlePW (10th) 6' 8GB	300	?	X	X
Non-eReader 7.8" 2GB/64GB	300	1872 x 1404	Y	XY
Boox Note Air 10.3" 3GB/32GB	227	1872 x 1404	XY	Y

Note: 'X' means no good. 'Y' means good. 'XY' means mediocre.

DASUNG

• Software download 下载 (not this old one)
  • Current Build number is 2.0.10 (2021-Jan). 2.0.11 (2021-June?)
  • Firmware upgrade with PhoenixSuit for Allwinner CPU if your Android is not 8.1.0. If your Android is 8.1.0, you can copy the update.zip file to sdCard/Download/upper directory. The local update will be able to scan the file from multiple locations.
• Paperlike monitor - Windows is supported. For other OS, uses VirtualBox.
• Second-Gen Dasung Paperlike E-ink Monitor May 2016
• Paperlike Pro review. 40 refresh frame rate on HDMI.
• Not-eReader: First E-ink Mobile-Phone Monitor. Received 2019-08-30 by DHL (shipped on 2019-08-28).
  • Can play youtube through 'Browser'
  • Youtube won't run without Google Play services, which are not supported by your device
  • No Google Play app
  • APKPure is included for users to install apps. Possibly download APK from Good e-Reader.
  • I install
    • VLC to play media files,
    • Firefox can install add-ons like uBlock Origin to handle ads like AdChoices,
    • Brave
    • Chromium
    • AirDroid to transfer files
    • Taiwan Radio to listen to Chinese radio stations
    • Digital Clock
    • File Explorder (copy APK from Android phone)
    • Gboard, Google Handwriting to input Traditional Chinese,
    • JuiceSSH for SSH (color theme for e-ink device, volume buttons to adjust font size). For some reason, I switch to use Termius
    • Doodling Around for drawing, RAM Booster,
    • Speed BOOSTER - Memory Cleaner & CPU Task Manager (Permit drawing over other apps).
    • Xodo Docs for PDF
    • EbookDroid
    • Twitter
    • Lynda.com
    • BBC News
    • MX Player Pro
    • TED
    • WiFi No Doze
    • Pocket
    • Squid
    • Nextcloud
    • DnsChanger, Nebulo
    • Vivaldi does not block AdChoices and the mobile version does not support extension (vivaldi://extensions will show 'This site can't be reached'). So I remove it.
  • "Files Go" is the default file manager. Another one is "Downloads".
  • User Manual icon leads to Dasung website for the manual.
  • Default reader is called "Dasung eReader". Uninstall it.
  • The "screensaver" is a Chinese Lunar Calendar which is cool for Chinese. It will update itself the next day (so it is not sleeping).
  • Android 6.0.1. Firmware version v2.1. Kernel version 3.10.65 root@ubuntu. Build number 1.0.17. 2GB memory, 64GB storage. Quadtex-A53. Battery 5600mAh. Display 1872x1404 (4:3) 7.8 inch (cf 1920x1080 is 16:9).
  • My settings:
    • Image III, Fast ++ speed
    • Display: Font size - normal (Large, Huge, Biggest)
    • Accessibility: Large text: on
    • Brave browser -> Accessibility: Text scaling 120%
    • Firefox -> Settings -> Accessibility. Use system font size: on. Always enable zoom: on.
    • Display sleep after 30 minutes of inactivity
    • Font size: Normal
  • Dasung Not e-Reader Review on mobileread
  • https://youtu.be/nTk5bwBxt9Q A video from youtube Oct 2019

Kindle DX as an external monitor

• http://www.pcworld.com/article/259582/how_to_use_a_kindle_dx_as_a_pc_display.html
• https://tinyapps.org/docs/e-ink-monitor.html

Traveler: Ultimate Distraction-Free Writing Tool

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/traveler-ultimate-distraction-free-writing-tool#/

Onyx Boox Mira 13.3 monitor

https://onyxboox.com/boox_mira

Boox Palma 6.13 inch

https://shop.boox.com/products/palma

Onyx Boox Note

• Newsroom
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 636, 3GB RAM. 23.52 GB space.
• Firmware updates
• Change android OS font type? Try long pressing the app's icon and choosing App Optimization, then unchecking Whiten Apps Background.

Settings and launcher

Seeking Recommendations for Simple Apps to Enable Full/Hidden Android Settings

Transfer files

• How to Transfer files from PC to your BOOX
• Transfer with Your Computer. https://send2boox.com (Chinese), https://push.boox.com (English).

scp

File Transfer File Transfer via SFTP

File Transfer via SCP

scp -v ~/Desktop/book.epub [email protected]:
scp -rv [email protected]:/opt ~/Downloads/

Making Local Backups

mkdir -p remarkable-backup/files
scp -r root@remarkable:~/.local/share/remarkable/xochitl/ remarkable-backup/files/
scp root@remarkable:~/.config/remarkable/xochitl.conf remarkable-backup/
scp root@remarkable:/usr/bin/xochitl remarkable-backup/

Transfer notes

• Transferring note files to computer?
• Use Microsoft Edge Drop. More (3 dots on bottom-left corner) -> Share and Export -> Select pages -> Click 'X selected' icon on top-right -> Choose 'File name', 'Format' and click Share icon -> Choose Edge -> Drop.

Booxdrop

• Is there a way to view (not necessarily) edit my notes (in the cloud) from a PC/Browser?
• Received files are located at Storage -> Books.

Tips, User Guide, Help, Community

• https://help.boox.com/hc/en-us
• BOOX Tips and Tricks
• User Guide - Learn how to use BOOX devices step by step.

Useful apps

• Tips & Tricks for Productivity with BOOX
  • Obsidian,
  • Syncthing,
  • Weylus,
  • RustDesk,
  • Termux,
  • KDE Connect,
  • ZeroTier
• (Tutorial) My research/PhD workflow with a Boox e-reader
  • scrcpy: screen share and control (require Dev Tools for USB debugging)
  • zotero integration,
  • ssh,
  • automatic syncronization
• PDF Calendar
• AutoSync
• Pushbullet (send files & links)
• Spacedesk (2nd display). Boox Note Air 3 C: Viewer Requests & How To Make Your Eink Device a Monitor Extender.

App's font size, DPI

• Right click an app - Optimize. Adjust DPI value. It seems the default is 350. But for some apps like Edge browser, DPI becomes 480 initially so the app has a phone looks-and-feel. After I change DPI to 350, the app looks correct on Boox.

Pens

EMR technology

Second display

• Spacedesk
  • Anyone use their Boox Note Air 2 as a secondary display? I keep it open with spacedesk next to my monitor so I can drag and drop things onto it to read rather than read it on my backlit monitor.
  • Onyx Boox Nova 2 - Use As A PC Display, Setup And Guide (PC Only)
• SuperDisplay
  • Onyx tablets as monitors and second displays
  • Recommendation: SuperDisplay is AWESOME
• Duet Pro
  • How is the Boox Tab X as a 13.3" e-Ink Monitor? (Setup & Thoughts)

3.5mm Audio

Tested on a USB-C to 3.5 adapter and music.google.com. It operates directly.

Bluetooth keyboard

Hide virtual keyboard when a bluetooth keyboard is connected

Dictionary

• How could I install a dictionary on the BOOX device?
• The Way to Add Dictionaries to Your Boox and the video.

Integrate Dictionary into Moon+ Reader

When we long press a word in Moon+ Reader, we see a menu of "Copy, Highlight, Note, Dict. More". How do we set up the dictionary for Moon+ Reader?

• How To Integrate Dictionary into Moon+ Reader
• Options -> Search (magnifier icon) "Dictionary" -> Miscellaneous “Customize dictionary.” There are two items: Dict 1 (Single-tap on Dictionary button) and Dict 2 (Long-tap on Dictionary button. For either of them, we have a selection of choices
  • ColorDict/BlueDict/GoldenDict
  • Oxford Dictionary
  • WordWeb App
  • Dictionary.com App
  • TheFreeDictionary.com App
  • ABBYY Lingvo App
  • Customized online dictionary..
  • Google Translate. Select Destination language.
  • Other Installed Apps. I choose this one. Both the Boox's built-in "Dictionary" and English Dictionary - Offline by Livio work fine.
• Note the Miscellaneous menu has "Backup" (Top-left), "Restore" (Top-right), "Visual Options" (bottom-left) and "Control Options" (bottom-right) buttons. These names aren't seen in B/W eReader.

Neoreader

• Onyx Note Pro PDF Review The eBook Reader 2019,
• Onyx Boox Note 2 - In-Depth Review and Guide, Onyx Boox Max Lumi, In Depth Review and Guide: Reader Functionality, Part 3 of 5
• Crop pdf: floating toolbar, table of contents icon (4th from the LHS) -> Navigation -> More.
• Manual of Note Air. Search "Navigation".

Notes, Syncthing

Notes from the Manual.

• Cloud Sync ( in bulk), More Options, Notes Sync Setting, Backup and Recover, Settings, Note Password Settings
• Scribble Interface,
• Layers, Template, Custom Toolbar, Write and Erase, Lasso, Text input, AI Recognition, Insert image, Full screen. Floating Toolbar Settings
• Backup Files/ transferring to a new device: Syncthing
• Is there any way to backup and restore a Boox Note Air without using the Boox Server storage area nextcloud + syncthing OR manually backup in the settings.
• A Better Way To Back-Up Files on Your Eink Device (Video). Battery Optimization.

Starter Guide to using Onyx Boox Note Air 3C for Note-Taking App | OneNote | Penly

Lasso tool

Yes, we can copy an area and paste it onto another NotePad. The trick is after we copy an area, in the different NotePad we should click on the 'Lasso' tool again in order to see the 'paste' icon to perform the operation.

NotePad template

Click on 'More' and select 'Layer'. From there you can see "Layer 1" and "Templates_Blank(Portrait)". Click on "Templates_Blank(Portrait)" and scroll to the next page (Bottom-right arrow key). I choose 'Horizontal Lines 16' for my like.

Note Air

• https://www.boox.com/noteair/
• It seems FAT32 format works for OTG flash drive, but not exFAT or EXT4.
• How do you hard reset the Note Air? Power off the device, do not connect a USB or power cable Hold down the power button, continue to hold it Wait until the small blue power LED inside the button turns on, and continue to hold for about 7 seconds Release the power button, and press it exactly 5 times.
• Enabling Google Play store works.
• 15 Tips and Tricks for Onyx Boox Android eReaders. Power option: Go to Settings > Power > Power off Timeout -> Never.
• Why the Notes app does not have a highlighter pen?
• Onyx Boox Note Air Review with 10.3" E Ink Screen
• File transfer
  • Transfer Books app. All files will be in a folder 'Internal shared storage' -> WifiTransfer (not 'Download')
  • Autosync and run it through OneDrive/dropbox/google drive. It synced two direcories.
• Font issue
• Refresh mode adjustable from E-inkCenter (Pinch to Zoom in normal, speed, A2, and X modes on Onyx Boox Note Air )
  • Normal mode: suitable for general text reading (left most icon)
  • Speed mode: quickly reading images & text
  • A2 mode: scrolling pages with images & text (still feel slow)
  • X mode: web pages and video (best speed although black font becomes gray)
• When I pinch to zoom in, suppose I zoom in to the left side, then clicking on the right area won't allow me to navigate the right side of the PDF file; it stays on the left side only. See this video. So probably it's still better to use the "Article mode" for reading technical papers.

Note Air 3C

Jeffrey's thoughts about the Boox Note Air 3C

Note Plus

• http://www.boox.com/boox-note-plus/, Download
• https://onyxboox.com/boox_note
• https://www.amazon.com/BOOX-Upgraded-Note-eReader-Android/dp/B07GZM5M98 $569
• https://goodereader.com/blog/electronic-readers/onyx-boox-note-plus-10-3-inch-e-reader-review, $529
• 13.3″ Onyx Boox Max2 vs 10.3″ Boox Note Comparison Review

New firmware updates

Onyx Boox issues 3.2 update for previous generation hardware

Swap and memory

speed up Boox with swap

Pi-Hole Blacklist for BOOX devices

• Pi-Hole Blacklist for BOOX devices
• index1.send2boox.com, push.boox.com, en-data.boox.com (升級服務器), cb.boox.com (?), en-rom.boox.com (?) from pi-hole log on 2/4/2023.

ONYX BOOX Max Carta

Hardware spec (page 97 of the manual): 13.3 inch & 2200 x 1650 pixel, CPU is 1GZ, Ram is 1GB LPDDR2, Android 4.0.4, 16GB storage, 1.21 lbs (ipad 9.7in 2017 is 1.03 lbs). Very comfortable when I use it to read technical papers. It does not have front light, unfortunately. Shipping took about 2.5 weeks.

The manual is written in simplified Chinese only:) It is lightweight. Writing on the ereader is OK. Got it from banggood.com.

• MAX Discussion
• F-Droid as an replacement to Google Play Store
• Discussion from mobileread.com
  • The side button of the side button on the stylus activates the writing function in Neoreader2. See here
  • evernote works
  • You will need probably to sideload the APK, as the device fails compatibility checks with some applications when using the Play Store.
• E Ink Carta and Carta HD displays support Regal waveform technology, which reduces the need for page refreshes
  • One can flick turn more than 100 pages before the display needs a full refresh
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boox

Onyx Boox Max Carta vs Onyx Boox MAX2

https://goodereader.com/blog/electronic-readers/onyx-boox-max-carta-vs-onyx-boox-max2

Max2 has a micro HDMI port.

Boox as a Second Monitor

• https://youtu.be/VZTGULb4w54?t=3m26s
• https://youtu.be/KUO-nt6WlvA (mention quality mode and responsive mode)
• http://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/2017/04/26/how-to-use-onyx-boox-android-ereaders-as-e-ink-monitors-videos/
• https://youtu.be/lWAsfZTUrJs (include an instruction by using tightVNC on Mac/Windows/Linux platforms)
• https://youtu.be/aZCjYU9msuA Boox i86 - VNC session on EPD display
• Discussion from mobileread.com
• https://github.com/nahtethan/dxg-display/blob/master/BOOXen.md USB solution
• The monitor function on the Max lumi is a gimmick at best. Using as an external monitor: Max Lumi vs Note Air 2 Plus?

Boox and SSH terminal

I found using Max Carta to do work on a terminal is OK.

First go to the Play Store to download an SSH client. I am using JuiceSSH.

We can adjust font size and the theme (white as the background). Even you have connected to a host, you can still use the volume +/- to increate/decrease font size on-the-fly.

You cannot rotate the screen however.

I am using a bluetooth keyboard. If I don't use the keyboard for a couple of minutes, it'll take a few seconds for the device to respond to my typing.

When I use nano, the color syntax highlight is not good. So I use nano -Ynone FILENAME to disable the syntax highlight.

Airdroid

Airdroid works for transferring files between Boox and computers in the same network.

Boox and remote desktop

Note the the device has locked to rotate the screen (i.e. the screen rotation app from Play Store does not work)

When testing to connect to a Windows Desktop

• Microsoft remote desktop does rotate the screen but it does not respond to my clicking
• bVNC does not rotate the screen

Open html files

If I made a copy of a website (efficient R programming for example), then use Boox's default browser to open the html file, some links do not work.

Open epub files

• FBReader: no TOC
• NEO Reader v2.0: *TOC works*
• Onyx Neo Reader: format is OK, but not TOC
• OReader: no TOC

Open pdf files

• Neo Reader v2.0: TOC & search work! We can use the 'Crop Page' function to remove blank space on sides.
• Onyx Neo Reader: no TOC

PDF format has an advantage over epub: mathematical notation is guaranteed.

Note

Notes we created cannot be seen from Storage > sdcard > note directly. In order for the notes to be seen there (so we can copy them to computers through AirDroid), we need to click on each note and choose the gear icon and pick "Export the current page" or "Export all pages".

Music

The default music player works fine. I also like VLC downloaded from Play Store.

Settings

Systems

Date Automatic date & time: uncheck

Power Management

• Sleep: 30 seconds
• Power off timeout: 60 minutes
• Network Inactivity Timeout: 15 minutes

microSD card To eject it, go to Settings > Storage > Unmount SD card.

Reset the firmware Settings > Privacy > Factory data reset.

User Setting

• Open the last read document: uncheck
• Homepage preference: Show new added books
• Show books' titles instead of their names in library: uncheck

Language

Language Hacker's Keyboard

Extension

Appplication Setting

• USB debuggin
• Manage apps

DRM Setting Adobe ID

Calibration

Network

Wi-fi

Wireless Setting

Bluetooth

About

Device status

• Battery level
• IP address

System Update

• Model number: MaxCarta
• Build number: 2017-04-28_18-25_1.8.2_e4efe5. There is a button to "Check update from local storage".

Android version 4.0.4

Android apps

I installed

• AirDroid
• Device Info-HW
• Dolphin
• Hacker's Keyboard
• JuiceSSH. For some reason, I cannot connect to my bluetooth keyboard. So the app is not useful.
• VLC. It provides a loop function. However like the default 'Music' player, when I play a music, it will have a hiccup every few seconds.

Conclusion: it is best to use the device for viewing documents only.

Kindle Lite

Not compatible with Boox Max Carta Android 4.0.4. According to this, Android 4.1 is required. This source said the app is best supported with an android device of version 4.4. Android 4.4 seems to be required for other Android apps to work according to Good e-Reader.

Regular Amazon Kindle app. Not responding.

Android 4.4

https://www.zubersoft.com/mobilesheets/forum/showthread.php?tid=4129

Boox Tab X 13.3

Onyx Boox Tab X Review: 13.3" Paper-Like Productivity Powerhouse

Kobo ereader

I have a Kobo Aura HD. The touch screen is controlled by infrared (like the Nook Simple Touch, no requiring electrical conductivity), not capacitive or resistive technologies. Even a paper or an eraser works on the touch screen. Its screen is 6.8 inch, 1440 x 1080-pixel display with 265 dpi. The brightness is 326 lux. The built-in front light comes the light technology from the ComfortLight. It directs light at the page and boasts an even distribution across the display. The microSD slot can add up to 32GB to the built-in 4GB of storage. The exact model is not on sale now because it is replaced by H2O.

Firmware download

• http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=185660

Kobo Wifi Weather Forecast

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194376

KOReader

The pdf program is not quite useful for scientific papers.

Alternatively, we can try KOReader. Currently my Kobo FW is 3.18.0 (9/23/2015). I am following the procedures on KOReader's Kobo devices page.

1. Go to here and download <KBStartMenu_07inclUp4.zip>. Extract the folder kbmenupngs (it contains png files) and put it to the root folder of Kobo. Also put KoboRoot.tgz to .kobo hidden directory (putting it onto .adds won't work). Reject and reboot.
2. Download <koreader-kobo-arm-linux-gnueabihf-v2014.04> from v2014.04-stable github page. Put koreader folder in the .kobo hidden directory. Ignore the png file and KoboRoot.tgz file there. Reject and reboot.

If something goes wrong, we can go to Settings -> Device information -> Factory reset to reset the system. It can also download the update after the wifi configuration is set up.

When you update koreader, it should be sufficient to extract the koreader folder, without KoboRoot.tgz - that one is needed to add the launcher.

Standby does not work out of box. See http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=216960&page=85. That is, run

nano -c /media/brb/KOBOeReader/.kobo/koreader/frontend/ui/uimanager.lua

and change the Standby value from 1 to 4 and suspend function call from 0.5 to 2. The standby problem is resolved.

Battery always 100% (too good to be true, I have not used the ereader for a while). http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220912. It`ll take care of itself after a few charge cycles.

.kobo folder after reset

After I run factory reset on the device (and plug in it to my computer), I see the device only has 3 hidden directories

brb@brb-P45T-A:~$ ls -la /media/brb/KOBOeReader/
total 20
drwx------  5 brb brb  4096 Dec 31  1969 .
drwxr-x---+ 4 brb root 4096 Oct 11 10:22 ..
drwx------  2 brb brb  4096 Oct 11  2015 .adobe-digital-editions
drwx------  7 brb brb  4096 Oct 11  2015 .kobo
drwx------  8 brb brb  4096 Oct 11  2015 .kobo-images
brb@brb-P45T-A:~$ ls -la /media/brb/KOBOeReader/.kobo
total 152
drwx------ 7 brb brb   4096 Oct 11  2015 .
drwx------ 5 brb brb   4096 Dec 31  1969 ..
-rw-r--r-- 1 brb brb     25 Oct 11  2015 affiliate.conf
drwx------ 2 brb brb   4096 Oct 11  2015 certificates
-rw-r--r-- 1 brb brb     76 Oct 11  2015 device.salt.conf
drwx------ 2 brb brb   4096 Oct 11  2015 dict
drwx------ 2 brb brb   4096 Oct 11  2015 kepub
drwx------ 2 brb brb   4096 Oct 11  2015 Kobo
-rw-r--r-- 1 brb brb 110592 Oct 11  2015 KoboReader.sqlite
drwx------ 6 brb brb   4096 Feb 28  2013 slideshow
-rw-r--r-- 1 brb brb   3298 Oct 11  2015 Trolltech.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 brb brb     84 Oct 11  2015 version
brb@brb-P45T-A:~$ ls -la /media/brb/KOBOeReader/.kobo-images/
total 32
drwx------ 8 brb brb 4096 Oct 11  2015 .
drwx------ 5 brb brb 4096 Dec 31  1969 ..
drwx------ 3 brb brb 4096 Oct 11  2015 132
drwx------ 3 brb brb 4096 Oct 11  2015 18
drwx------ 3 brb brb 4096 Oct 11  2015 213
drwx------ 3 brb brb 4096 Oct 11  2015 233
drwx------ 3 brb brb 4096 Oct 11  2015 66
drwx------ 3 brb brb 4096 Oct 11  2015 70

Dictionaries

KOReader supports any Stardict format dictionaries. To use that, we need to download and put the dictionary 'folder' in the right place (.kobo/koreader/data/dict) of the Kobo ereader.

I tried two dictionaries (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English and cdict-big5 dictionary) from http://abloz.com/huzheng/stardict-dic/. And they work fine.

Turn your Kobo into a Debian Linux tablet

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=222123

Flexible E-ink

http://liliputing.com/2015/10/wove-band-smartwatch-has-flexible-e-ink-touch-display.html

Multiple ethernet ports

• How to Configure VLAN tagged NIC (Ethernet Card) on Linux Servers
• Understanding and Configuring Linux Network Interfaces
• There are several reasons why people might use a second NIC on Linux servers. Here are some of them:
  • Load balancing: You can use the second NIC to balance the load between two network interfaces.
  • Redundancy: You can use the second NIC as a backup in case the primary NIC fails.
  • Separation of traffic: You can use the second NIC to separate different types of traffic, such as internal and external traffic.
  • Virtualization: You can use the second NIC for virtualization purposes, such as creating virtual machines on a bare metal instance. Virtual Network Interface Cards (VNICs) by Oracle.com.
  • Routing: You can use the second NIC as a router
• Purpose of 2 LAN ports in Synology NAS?
  • The Synology DS220+ has two LAN ports to support network failover and Link Aggregation. Network failover means that if one of the LAN ports loses connectivity, the other LAN port will automatically take over to maintain the network connection.
  • Link Aggregation, on the other hand, allows you to combine the two LAN ports to increase the bandwidth of your Synology NAS. This can be useful if you have a high-speed network or if you connect the NAS directly to a PC that also has two LAN ports. To use Link Aggregation, you will need a switch that supports Link Aggregation Group (LAG).

Power over Ethernet (PoE)

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_over_Ethernet
• What Is Power Over Ethernet (PoE) and What Are Its Benefits?
• What Is Power over Ethernet (PoE)?
• TP-LINK TL-POE10R Gigabit PoE Injector or Splitter
• TP-Link TL-SG1005P V2 or later | 5 Port Gigabit PoE Switch | 4 PoE+ Ports @65W
• NETGEAR 8 Port PoE Gigabit Ethernet Plus Switch (GS308EP) - with 8 x PoE+ @ 62W
• p56 of https://www.raspberrypi.org/magpi-issues/MagPi45.pdf

Some devices powered by PoE include VoIP phone, IP camera, wireless access point. router.

USB

USB Port Colors

Blue? Yellow? Red? USB Colors Explained

Type-C Multi-Port Adapter

• https://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Aluminum-Multi-Port-Adapter-Charging/dp/B01J4BO0X8/
• https://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Aluminum-Multi-Port-Pass-Through-Ethernet/dp/B01FWT7MEA/

Trendent USB to ethernet adapter

ASIX AX88772A. The windows driver can be found on axix.com.tw. The one from Trendent website does not work.

USB OTG (On-The-Go) adapter

• USB On-The-Go It allows USB devices, such as tablets or smartphones, to act as a host, allowing other USB devices, such as USB flash drives, digital cameras, mice or keyboards, to be attached to them.
• What Is USB OTG? 10 Cool Ways to Use It on Android
• Orange Pi 3B – A Rockchip RK3566 SBC with an M.2 NVMe/SATA SSD socket, up to 8GB RAM
  • USB – 1x USB 3.0 host port, 2x USB 2.0 host port, 1x USB 2.0 Device/Host port
  • USB 2.0 Host Port.
    • Function: A USB host port is designed to control and manage the communication with USB devices. It acts as the master in the USB communication process.
    • Typical Use: Found on computers, routers, game consoles, and other devices that need to connect to USB peripherals like keyboards, mice, printers, external drives, or USB hubs.
    • Power Supply: The host port provides power to the connected device. For instance, when you plug a USB flash drive into a computer, the computer (as the host) powers the flash drive.
  • USB 2.0 Device/Host Port (OTG - On-The-Go)
    • Function: A USB device/host port can function both as a host and as a device, depending on the situation. This dual functionality is commonly referred to as "USB On-The-Go" (OTG).
    • Typical Use: Found on smartphones, tablets, and some laptops. This port allows the device to either connect to a computer (acting as a device) or connect to peripherals like keyboards, mice, or external storage (acting as a host).
    • Power Supply: When acting as a host, it supplies power to the connected device. When acting as a device, it draws power from the host.

Fast charging

• Fast Charging Standards Compared: What Is Your Phone Using?
• Best phone chargers in 2023: USB-C PD, PPS, and fast chargers

USB-C cables for charging and data transfers

• Best USB-C cables 2023: Get quality charging and data transfers
• the difference basically comes down to USB-C 2.0 vs. 3.1.
  • For USB 2.0 data transfer speeds, you should expect no more than 480Mbps versus the much faster 5Gbps to 40Gbps of cables wired for higher speeds.

DisplayPort Over USB-C

What Is DisplayPort Over USB-C and How Does It Work?

Magnetic Braided USB Charging Cable

https://www.amazon.com/Strongest-CoolKo-Magnetic-Charging-Smartphones/dp/B01N80ZQCB/

Adding USB 3.0 ports to an old PC

• ExplainingComputers (video), search: PCIe USB 3 card
• Explaining PCIe Slots (video)

USB Video capture

• Install VLC or OBS
• Using VLC to stream live video from an HDMI capture card.
  • Capture mode: Video camera
  • Video device name: /dev/video0
  • Audio device name: hw:2.0
• Can You Stream Video Over USB? Every USB Video Transmission Standard Explained
• The Best Capture Cards of 2024
• AVerMedia GC551G2 Live Gamer Extreme 3
• Elgato HD60 X

USB condom

Why Your Phone Charging Cable Needs a USB Condom. The USB condom is an adapter you place between the USB port and the charger side of your USB cable. Inside the adapter plug, the data “pins” are missing.

How to Crimp Your Own Custom Ethernet Cables of Any Length

https://www.howtogeek.com/60486/how-to-make-your-own-custom-length-network-cables/

Wake-on LAN

What Is Wake-on-LAN, and How Do I Enable It?

How to park your car on a hill

https://www.reddit.com/r/lifehacks/comments/1c6jfb/when_parking_your_car_on_a_hill_put_the_car_in/

When parking your car on a hill, put the car in neutral, set the emergency brake, then put the car in park (or in gear). This puts the weight of the car on the emergency brake rather than the transmission and can extend the life of your transmission.

Roku

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roku
• 5ik.tv
• Roku Premiere+ (2016 model, model # 4630R, 5th generation) 4K video, HDR support, AC dual band, ethernet & microSD port and a wifi direct remote w/ a headphone jack.
• Re-pair the remote: Press the small button beneath the battery. Hold it for 3 seconds while positioning the remote next to the Roku.
• https://www.cnet.com/how-to/11-roku-tricks-you-should-try-right-now/
• 20 Roku Hacks To Make Your Life Easier Oct 2018
• NewsOn app to watch local TV. I can watch WUSA9 (CBS) and a few. But they are not 'live' though it's the same day news.
• Roku iOS/Android app allows to use our bluetooth headphone for listening; see private listening.

Verizon ONT

Optical Network Terminal (ONT).

• The ONT converts the signal from a fiber-optic cable and connects to the router's WAN port.
• Verizon Fios Ont Optical Network Terminal Modem I-211M-L (left) + Power Adapter ADP-25DR & Cables (right).
• Connection ports.
• ONT power connector pins.

Verizon CR1000A

• It supports LAN – 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 10/2.5 Gigabit Ethernet. 2.4G/5G/6Ghz 11ax 4x4.
• User Guide

Router

• Do I Need a Firewall if I Have a Router?. If you already have a router, leaving the Windows firewall enabled provides you with security benefits with no real performance cost. Therefore, it’s a good idea to run both.
• I Switched to an Open-Source Router and There's No Turning Back, Here's Why.

Difference Between Routers, Hubs, and Switches

What's the Difference Between Routers, Hubs, and Switches?

Travel router

7 Features to Look for in a Travel Router.

QoS

http://www.howtogeek.com/75660/the-beginners-guide-to-qos-on-your-router/

• Prioritize by Service
• Prioritize by Interface
• Prioritize by Device with IP Addresses
• Prioritize by Device with MAC Addresses

WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup)

http://www.digitalcitizen.life/simple-questions-what-wps-wi-fi-protected-setup

Connect a second router to the main router

• I find devices connected to the 2nd router can reach devices connected to the 1st router, but not vice versa.
  • Double NAT (Network Address Translation): The second router will act as a new, independent network. Devices connected to the second router will be in a different subnet, and the second router will assign IP addresses to them. The first router will handle routing between the external internet and the second router. This setup causes Double NAT, meaning both routers perform NAT, which can complicate things like online gaming, port forwarding, or VPNs.
  • Two Separate Networks: The second router creates a separate private network, so devices on the second router's network won't be able to directly communicate with devices on the first router's network unless you configure port forwarding or set up static routes.
  • This means that devices on the first (main) network can’t directly initiate communication with devices on the second network because the second router is blocking incoming connections (due to its firewall and NAT configuration).
  • However, devices on the second network can initiate connections to devices on the first network because outgoing traffic is allowed by default, and NAT translates the addresses.
  • One-way communication. Because of the NAT and firewall, the second router treats the first router’s network as part of the "external" or public network. Traffic from the second network to the first network is allowed, but traffic from the first network to the second one is blocked unless explicitly configured otherwise.

• How to Enable Two-Way Communication. If you want devices on the first network to communicate with devices on the second network, you'll need to make changes on the second router. Here are a couple of approaches:
  • Port Forwarding: You can set up port forwarding on the second router to allow specific ports and services (e.g., HTTP, SSH) to be accessed from the first network.
  • Static Routes: You can configure a static route on the first router so it knows how to reach the second network directly. This would require you to manually set up routing rules. Example: If the first network uses 192.168.1.0/24 and the second network uses 192.168.2.0/24, you can set a static route on the first router to send traffic for 192.168.2.0/24 to the IP address of the second router's WAN interface.

• Create a New Static Route:
  • Destination Network: This is the second router’s network (e.g., 192.168.2.0). (Advanced Settings -> LAN)
  • Subnet Mask: For a typical home network with a subnet size of 255.255.255.0, this would be 255.255.255.0.
  • Gateway/Next Hop: This is the WAN IP of the second router (the IP it has on the first router’s network, such as 192.168.1.2).
  • Metric: You can usually leave this at the default (e.g., 1).

• Second Router Configuration: For this setup to work smoothly, ensure that the second router's firewall isn’t blocking traffic from the first network (disabling or adjusting firewall settings may be required).

Disable wireless

Go to Wireless -> Professional. Click "No" for Enable Radio.

Different operation mode

Click "Quick Internet Setup" on top-left corner. ASUS RT-AC68U.

• Wireless router mode (Default)
• Repeater mode
• Access Point (AP) mode
• Media Bridge
• AiMesh

Wifi connection on old devices

• How to improve compatibility of IoT device with ASUS WiFi 6(AX) Router?
• Fix: Amazon Kindle and Paperwhite won’t connect to WiFi Change the 5 GHz Band to 2.4 GHz

Wifi

2.4GHz, 5GHz

What Is the Difference Between 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi Bands?

Wifi and health

http://www.howtogeek.com/234817/dont-worry-wi-fi-isnt-dangerous/

Wifi and Microwaves

Why Does Wi-Fi Use the Same Frequency as Microwaves?

Wi-Fi Extender, Mesh Network, Booster, Repeater

• Wi-Fi Extender vs. Mesh Network: What’s the Difference?
• Wi-Fi Extender vs. Booster vs. Repeater: What’s the Difference?
• Wi-Fi Extender vs. Mesh Router: Which Gives You the Best Network Coverage? The extender has its own broadcast name, but it simply relays traffic back to your main router.
• How to configure an ASUS RT-AC68U Wireless Router as a Repeater
• How to set up a TP-Link Range Extender
• How to Setup Wi-Fi Extender (3 Methods) - Tutorial 2021
• How to Setup ASUS RT-AC68U as an Access Point and Repeater
• Why I Skipped a Wi-Fi Repeater and Bought a Mesh Wi-Fi System Instead

Google wifi OnHub, Nest Wifi

Google Is Killing OnHub: Here's What Users Need to Know

Wii

How to Install Homebrew on a Nintendo Wii Using LetterBomb

Logitech Unifying Software

ChromeOS version works fine.

Linux

• How to Manage Logitech Unifying Receiver and Devices on Linux
• Solaar: Linux devices manager for the Logitech Unifying Receiver
• Not all logitech mice work with unifying receiver. For example, G305 (manual) uses a lightspeed receiver; so the unifying receiver does not work.

Bluetooth adapter

The Best Bluetooth Adapters For Your TV, Stereo, And Speakers

Radiation

SAR levels

• Is Bluetooth Safe or Is Bluetooth Radiation Dangerous?
• Tablet Radiation Levels of Popular Models
• Android 手機輻射量十大排行榜單出爐！MOTO、Google 皆上榜. 美國聯邦通訊委員會 FCC 法規，手機的 SAR 安全標準值 limit 為 1.6W/kg。台灣 NCC、歐盟和德國政府則是規定，手機的 SAR 值最大不能超過 2W/kg。
• router radiation safe distance: 15 to 20 feet. What is the Safe Distance from wifi router radiation
• EMF Meter detector

Android device as a blutooth keyboard/mouse

How to Use Your Android Phone as a Bluetooth Mouse or Keyboard

Mouse

How to silence your computer mouse

An easy way to take off the cape of the rectangle box is to use a pairs of long nose pliers instead of a knife. The method works on my Logitech M210 mouse. The trick is to shorten the click distance.

Best bluetooth mouse

https://www.reviewgeek.com/3762/the-best-bluetooth-mouse-for-every-user/

Logitech M720 Triathalon Multi-Device Wireless Mouse

Logi M590

• Silent mouse. Other silent mouses include M330, M350, M585.
• Channel 1 is USB, Channel 2 is Bluetooth
• Once you switch to Channel 2, hold the button for 5 seconds and it will enter a pairing mode.
• This method works on Ubuntu and Lubuntu 18.04.

Laggy bluetooth mouse logitech M585/M590. Note that the original file contains "ConnectionParameters" section already. The original Latency is 44 and MaxInterval=9. I am using Ubuntu 20.04 (Pop_OS).

Logitech M650 Small/medium size. Quiet.

Mouse Acceleration vs Sensitivity

https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110113044831AAtcq91

Sensitivity/Speed is how far you have to move the mouse to move the pointer a particular distance. A high speed means that very small movements will shoot the cursor a large distance.

Acceleration is a very clever optimization. Normally, to keep precision control over the cursor (for those who need it) you need to keep the speed pretty low. But this means that if you need to get to the other side of the screen, you need to slide the mouse annoyingly far. Acceleration lets you have the best of both worlds.

What acceleration does is boost the speed temporarily when you 'flick' the mouse. So if you need to get to the other side of the screen, you can flick the mouse quickly just a short distance and the cursor will move much further. You then switch to moving more slowly to get the cursor exactly where you want it.

On Linux Mint, I can change these two settings individually. I use medium for the sensitivity and 3/4 high for acceleration.

Gaming mouse and DPI

• Logitech G305
• Configure Your Gaming Mouse Under Linux With Piper
• https://github.com/libratbag/piper

Keyboards

Compact keyboards

8 Compact Keyboards to Save Some Disk Space

Mechanical keyboard

In terms of noise, it’s generally accurate to say that Red < Brown < Blue.

• Red switches are typically the quietest, offering a smooth, linear key press without a tactile bump or audible click. Red switches is somewhat similar to a regular (often referred to as membrane) keyboard in terms of the noise level and smooth key press.
• Brown switches have a tactile bump but no audible click, making them slightly noisier than Red switches.
• Blue switches are the noisiest, providing both a tactile bump and a distinct audible click.

The 6 Quietest Mechanical Keyboard Switches in 2023

Logitech wireless solar keyboard k750

• Best typing feeling (similar to a laptop computer).
• http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/k750-keyboard
• Support
• Solar App and download links for Windows & Mac.

One problem is there is no Num Lock and Caps indicator on the keyboard unless you have install Logitech SetPoint software (Windows & ChromeOS).

K780

• A review on 2016.
• Manual from logitech.com.
• Tips:
  • To enter a pairing mode: press and hold one of the easy-switch keys for 3 seconds.
  • To switch devices: press one of the easy-switch keys quickly.
  • The keyboard has a true 'del' key (in add'l to the back key). On regular mac keyboard, you have to use fn+delete to perform the regular delete action.
  • The fn and ctrl keys position are reversed on K780 compared to the regular mac keyboard.
  • fn and del = print screen
  • cmd and left/right arrow = HOME/END

Logitech K380 Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard

https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Multi-Device-Bluetooth-Keyboard-920-007559/dp/B0148NPAT0

Lenovo ThinkPad Compact USB Keyboard with TrackPoint

• https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-ThinkPad-Compact-Keyboard-TrackPoint/dp/B00F3U4TQS USB model
• https://www.amazon.com/ThinkPad-Compact-Bluetooth-Keyboard-TrackPoint/dp/B00C32FWJC/ bluetooth
• ThinkPad TrackPoint Keyboard II

Lenovo Thinkpad Keyboard 2

• Amazon
• ThinkPad Keyboard II with Mac
• Review tomshardware

Keyboard with touchpad

AmazonBasics Wireless Keyboard with Touchpad for Smart TV - US Layout

Microsoft all in one keyboard

Microsoft Wireless All-In-One Media Keyboard

Trackpad

• Glass trackpad vs plastic trackpad
  • Glass touchpads are generally considered to be better than plastic ones. Glass touchpads are more durable and less prone to wear and tear than plastic ones. They also provide a smoother surface for your fingers to glide over, which can make using the touchpad more comfortable. In addition, glass touchpads are often more responsive than plastic ones, which means that they can detect even the slightest movements of your fingers.

Webcam

• Logitech C525
• Logitech C920 H.264 video compression.
  • C920 has an onboard dedicated encoder capable of outputting an h.264 encoded stream.
  • Raspberry Pi : use VLC to stream webcam : Logitech C920 (H264 Video without transcoding + Audio + LED control)

Qmote

A bluetooth based gadget to control a windows/android/ios device. See http://qblinks.com/support

How to Replace an Outlet That’s Controlled by a Light Switch

http://www.howtogeek.com/281023/how-to-replace-an-outlet-thats-controlled-by-a-light-switch/

GFCI outlet

Why Your Electrical Stuff Sometimes Stops Working Until You Push the Magic Red Button

How to Ship Packages Without Leaving Your House

http://www.howtogeek.com/284060/how-to-ship-packages-without-leaving-your-house/

Drone

• Fly zone map from AirMap
• Use a Drone Simulator to Practice Before You Buy
• How to Get an FAA Drone License As Fast As Possible
• 5 Important Checks to Make Before Flying a Drone
• Google’s OpenSky App Flies to the U.S. to Help Pilot Drones Legally

Desk

The Best Sit/Stand Desk Converters And Risers For Your Traditional Desk

Dell PowerEdge R630 server

• http://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/productdetails/poweredge-r630/pe_r630_1337 and the manual
• integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC)
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_DRAC
  • iDrac 8 manuals/videos
  • Different packages of iDRAC (Express is included)
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Dom0ZMmTQY#t=297.277149
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz60zgxqwRM
  • https://winception.wordpress.com/2011/11/19/connecting-to-a-dell-remote-access-controller-drac-with-dell-it-assistant/
  • How to install and configure iDRAC Service Module? This is to deal with the error when I try to use virtual media (iso file) to install a new OS. RAC0690: The iDRAC Service Module is not installed on the operating system of the server.
• RAID configuration
  • Virtual disk degraded
  • Dell Lifecycle Controller - RAID Configuration - Break Mirror
• Partitions
  • /boot, recommended size at least 1 GiB. Unlike other mount points, using an LVM volume for /boot is not possible - /boot must be located on a separate disk partition.
  • swap. If <=2 GB ram, give 2*RAM for swap. If 2<RAM<=8, gives 1*RAM for swap. If RAM >=8, gives 4G to 0.5*RAM for swap.
• Dell Lifecycle Controller
  • Videos The first video talks about how to launch the virtual console.
• OS installation
  • How to install the operating system on a Dell PowerEdge Server ? (OS deployment).
    • Method 1: Using LifeCycle Controller for Supported OS. Note that the boot mode BIOS/UEFI has to be configured properly in the "System Services" settings (F2).
    • Method 2: Booting directly on the OS Media.
  • OS Deployment Manual Installation
  • Remote OS Installation

iPad 9.7 2017 (5th)

• https://www.apple.com/ipad-9.7/specs/. A9 chip, 1.84 GHz. 2GB ram.
• http://www.macworld.co.uk/review/ipad/new-ipad-2017-review-3656385/

Notebook

Rocketbook Erasable, Reusable Wirebound Notebook - Letter Size

Drawing tablet

XP Pen Artist 15.6 Pro

Samsung galaxy s6 lite SM-P613

• samsung galaxy s6 lite tablet pen
• Hybrid Bumper Kickstand Cover, Protector Cover - Transparent

Samsung galaxy S9 FE SM-X510

No video out!

Laptop battery

• Should I Remove My Laptop Battery To Increase its Life? It really depends on the voltage cutoff of the device in question.
• The Formula for Estimating Laptop Battery Life. Just divide your computer battery’s watt-hours by your estimated wattage. The result is the number of hours you can expect your battery to last. Your expected wattage varies depending on the task you’re performing. Gaming will use between 40 and 60 watts, watching video will consume 15 to 30 watts, and web browsing will eat 10 to 15 watts.

Verizon FIOS

• I-211M-L ONT: Enable Data While on Battery Power
• CyberPower Nokia Power Supply 3MV00743ABAA. This has no battery.

Battery Life

• Google: At what voltage are alkalines considered dead? It really depends on the voltage cutoff of the device in question.
• 9V battery Low Voltage?
• ExpertPower 12V 7 Amp EXP1270 Rechargeable Lead Acid Battery. I use it to replace the battery in the Verizon fios box.
  • The beep sounds comes every 15 minutes.
  • 12V 14.4V 1A Portable Lead Acid Battery Smart Charger
  • It seems it is not necessary to buy a charging unit in order to charge the battery. If low battery light is on, it probably means it is time to replace the battery (cannot hold the power).
  • How many hours would battery last: A 6 watt load on 12v battery corresponds to a 0.5 amp discharge rate. Since the battery is rated at 7AH(7 amp-hours), 7AH/0.5A = 14 HOURS period. However, the battery voltage will decrease during the discharge cycle.
  • 12 volts * 7 amps will power 84 watts.
  • Verizon Battery Backup Unit (BBU) Information
  • Sealed lead acid batteries can only be charged and discharged 300 times at the most.
  • Verizon Optical Network Terminal (ONT)

Watch battery

• Casio Men's MRW-S300H-1BVCF: Rechargeable battery life is about 10 years
• Casio Women's LA20WH-1ACF : CR1616 3V, 5 years

CR2032 battery

Used in PC, car remote, ...

Homopolar motor

How to Make a Homopolar Motor

Govee Wi-Fi Temperature and Humidity Monitor

No More Dead Plants, with The Govee Wi-Fi Temperature and Humidity Monitor

Google voice & Obihai

Outgoing calls stopped working on GV TCP connection to 209.85.232.125 failed. Dec 2017.

Port Your Mobile Number to Google Voice

How to Port Your Mobile Number to Google Voice

Burr coffee grinder

• JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder,
  • How to Change The Grind Setting On The JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder,
  • How to adjust your coffee grind

Shopping

The 8 Best Online Shopping Sites for Cheap Electronics

How to Spruce Up Your Office Desk

How to Spruce Up Your Office Desk