Social networking has definitely revolutionized the way people communicate on the internet. It has made contacting friends and loved ones much easier than before. Along with that, sharing information, be it personal or not, has also reached greater popularity in our times.

Nowadays, people share almost everything on their favorite social networks. Pictures, videos, news and other information can often be found on Facebook, Twitter and other popular online destinations.

Perhaps not everyone knows it but posting too much information on these sources can potentially cause you some serious problems. You have to remember that some unscrupulous individuals are out there on the web and you may be feeding them with ways to commit their crimes easier – or at least to cause you some problems – if you are posting a lot of personal details.

So, how do you safeguard yourself from these hassles? We have a few tips for you. Read on and see what you can do to increase your online security.

First and foremost, do not post anything on the web unless you want it to be seen by everyone. Although you can always use filters to limit the reach of your posts, keep in mind that some things are better left unshared. Ranting about your boss, for example, is unwise if you have some of your workmates on your list. You can never tell who takes presses the print-screen button and sends the image to your boss.

Also, letting everyone know about your location can be risky. There are some people who have made online announcements that they are out on vacations eventually go home and discover that they have become victims of robbery. Take note of this, especially if you are using Facebook or Foursquare on a regular basis.

At times, posting information about your birthday or complete address can be very risky, too. Besides, some of these details can be used when retrieving your e-mail account or even your bank account. Never compromise your safety by making these important details available for the world to see.

Tweaking your privacy settings can go a long way but again, make it a point not to be wise and not share too much online. Always think of the possible consequences of a wrong online update before sharing anything. By so doing, you can be more vigilant in your posts and you can protect yourself (and your loved ones) from potential harm.

Many Xbox fans were delighted when Tritton released an officially licensed gaming headset for their favorite console. This year, the company is back to offer something for PC and PS3 gamers.

EndGadget.com has shared the news that the new Tritton Pro+ is a gaming headset that boasts “true 5.1 surround sound” technology. This is achieved with the help of three drivers and a single subwoofer in each earcup.

Design-wise, the Pro+ boasts innovative cups that can rotate flat. The drivers have also been strategically positioned to enhance the headset’s bass response and to deliver superb surround sound separation.

The Tritton Pro+ can be pre-ordered for $200.

Sounds like your dream gaming headset? Drop a comment below if this product grabs your interest.

The HP Photosmart 5520 looks perfect for those looking for a good all-in-one printer, but there’s a sting in the tail.

Part of its appeal can be credited to the fact that it is extremely quick and easy to set up. Moreover, operating the machine is a walk in the park because of its built-in touchscreen as well as AirPrint support.

Want to know other distinct features of Photosmart 5520? Read on and we’ll tell you more.

Unit Design

First and foremost, this all-in-one machine weighs 11.2 pounds and measures 21.5 x 17.5 x 5.6 inches. With the size and weight, it’s plain to see that Photosmart 5520 isn’t exactly the lightest in the market, but are you really going to be moving it around often?  We are pleased with its matte black finish because it does a great job at resisting fingerprints.

The control panel can be found on the printer’s front lip and it comes with a 2.1 x 1.5-inch capacitive touchscreen. Buttons for home, back, help, cancel, next and previous are all readily visible there. Additionally, you will also notice some buttons for enabling or disabling the WiFi connection plus those for accessing ePrint settings.

When printing photos, you can simply press the Photo button on the touchscreen. This allows you to print pictures directly from your memory card. You may even reprint the images using your flatbed scanner.

The Photosmart 5520 also has an 80-sheet input tray plus a 15-sheet output tray.

Interface

Like we mentioned earlier, setting up the Photosmart 5520 will not cause you any hassles. For the most part, all it requires is for you to plug it, choose the language on the control panel and then simply follow the instructions provided on the screen.

The included software makes the process even simpler because it will help you decide whether you want to print wirelessly or use a USB cable. It will take you a maximum of 10 minutes to get the printer running.

And because 5520 utilizes HP’s ePrint technology, you can send documents, pictures and PDF files to the machine’s email address without using a computer. This means you can put your smartphones and tablets to good use. As for the AirPrint capability, this one is ideal for those with iOS devices.

Specs

Since we’ve already mentioned about its measurement and features, we’ll only add that this uses four ink cartridges, namely black, cyan, magenta and yellow. Regular replacement cartridges for cyan, magenta and yellow only cost $9.99 each while black ink can cost as much as $11.99. This is pretty cheap when you compare it with other brands.

Notable Features

Speed is also a good selling point for the Photosmart 5520. Wireless printing churned out a 2-page black-and-white document in just a matter of 22 seconds. A 2-page color PDF, on the other hand, was printed in only 35 seconds. We’re really impressed with its lightning-fast performance.

It’s a little of a letdown, however, that we can’t say the same thing about its print quality. Documents were somehow grainy while photo prints do not guarantee accurate color reproduction.  Proper calibration may help here.

Decision Time

Despite its promising features and lower price tag, we hesitate to fully recommend the HP Photosmart 5520. We love it for being user-friendly and fast but we’re definitely bothered by the quality of its output.

Many avid gamers are going beyond the usual consoles to satisfy their gaming cravings.

Software isn’t driving the sale of tablets, but their portability and the likelihood that gamers will have a tablet or a smartphone on them throughout the day is driving sales of iOS and Android games.

What are some of the best options in the market? For many gamers, three devices pretty much stand out among the rest namely Sony Tablet S, Google Nexus 7 and Apple iPad 3.

If you’re yet to join the tablet-enabled crowd, read on and we’ll help you pick the perfect gaming buddy.

Sony Tablet S

The Sony Tablet S easily makes it on the top three because, like most other devices from the company, it is PlayStation certified. This means you will get the chance to access so many titles because it allows you to play PS Mobile games. You can even use a wireless PS3 controller to take your tablet-gaming experience to the next level.

Another factor that increases the tablet’s attractiveness is its “TruBlack” display which provides great image quality because of its exceptional black levels. One thing that may disappoint gamers about the tablet, though, is that it uses Tegra 2 SoC. Some say that this affects the performance but Sony assures the tablet can comfortably handle even the newest Android titles.

Google Nexus 7

Another nice choice is the Google Nexus 7. One distinct advantage of this device is its $200 price tag. This is way more affordable when compared to other tablets.  Another selling point is that it is powered by a Tegra 3 SoC.

Its display is also a highlight because it provides 216 pixels per inch. Simply said, this is a tablet that’s ready to compete with Apple’s Retina displays.

On the potential downside, gamers wanting a bigger screen may have to compromise a little if they get this 7-inch tablet.  If you’re the type that might consider the iPad too big and might wait for an iPad Mini (rumoured to be due Sep/Oct), you might want to consider the Nexus 7 instead.

Apple iPad 3

If you’re the type who wants to get the coolest titles first, then it’s definitely the iOS route for you. This is because most games are initially released here before it hits Android owners. Many observers also point out that games run better on iPads.

iPad 3 also has an amazing display which assures fantastic colour reproduction and impressive black levels. On top of that, this comes equipped with A5X which is currently the most advanced GPU for any tablet in the market.

Images of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus have started surfacing on the web.

DeviceMAG.com has posted the pictures on their website which shows that the device will be having a large 4.5-inch AMOLED touchscreen. The Galaxy S2 Plus is also reported to have 8.0 megapixel camera, 1GB RAM, and 16 GB internal memory, among others. The device will likely be powered by a dual-core 1.5GHz Exynos CPU.

Although the phone’s specifications are not too flashy when compared with more expensive smartphones, the affordable price tag makes this an attractive option for low-end and mid-end buyers.

What do you think of the new Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus? Tell us about it by leaving a comment.

With the rumored release of the iPhone 5 this September, Apple’s stock recently rose to unexpected heights.

GottaBeMobile.com reported on this subject mentioning that the stock is now at $664.75. That’s a huge improvement when compared with the low iPhone sales during the third quarter of the year. This is an all-time high for the company. Currently, Apple’s $622 billion market cap exceeds that of Microsoft’s. Apple’s stock price has increased up to 2.8%.

Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster shared the conclusion that if iPhone 5 gets launched and starts taking pre-orders on September 12 then sells the device in stores by September 21, Apple could sell as much as 6 to 10 million units during its first month alone.

iPhone 5 is rumored to be sporting a 4-inch Retina Display and powered by an A5X processor with quad-core graphics. It is also anticipated that the new device will be having 4G LTE connectivity.

Keep checking back here at Technology.com.au as we share more iPhone 5 rumors and updates throughout the month of August!

Gizmodo.com recently shared an image of the possible look of the upcoming iPad Mini.

The mockup was created according to the rumored specifications of the gadget and so it includes the 7.85-inch display, the mini dock port and a back camera. Also, the website supposed that iPad Mini will be sporting the industrial design language which Apple also uses with their other recent releases.

Looking at the image, one will surely notice the big difference when the gadget is compared with its predecessor. Rumors claim that iPad Mini will finally see the light of day come September 12, 2012. It is also said that the new iPhone will be released around the same time.

Although details are still unclear about its release date, images of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S B08/13laze Q have started appearing on the interwebs.

Electronista.com has posted the official images of the slider on their website. As it appears, the handset will have a QWERTY keyboard. Information about the specs is also limited but it is expected that the gadget will be sporting a 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, and 720p display. Additionally, rumors say that the device will be powered by Android 4.0.

Are you getting the Samsung Galaxy Blaze Q when it arrives? Drop by our comment section and tell us about it.

Those who haven’t picked up a Nintendo DSi unit yet might want to know that there are now two additional color options.

DeviceMag.com has shared the image of the handheld’s matte red and matte blue variants. The news was first shared by the company via their Twitter account. Few details have been shared about it, however, and no information has been given whether it will have the same price tag as the earlier versions or not.

Do you think these two colored models will entice new buyers or not? Share your thoughts with us by hitting our comment section below.

First announced back in June 2012, the Polaroid Z2300 is a camera that, true to the company’s legacy, has a built-in printer and does automatic photo printing.

CNET.com.au recently posted information about the 10-megapixel camera which comes equipped with a 3-inch LCD display. The camera is capable of producing 2×3-inch colour images plus you can also use a memory card if you want to print them with an external printer. The Z2300 only needs a single minute to print a picture.

Available starting September, this new Polaroid gadget will have a price tag of AU$249.95. The Zink cartridges and paper will be sold for AU$24.99.

Do you think this Polaroid camera has the chance to compete with other recent products? Go share your opinion in our comment section.

9to5Mac.com has recently been sharing lots of information about the upcoming iPad mini which they obtained from very reliable sources.

One of their latest posts says that the much-anticipated gadget will have look more “like a big iPod touch” than an actual iPad. The entry claims that the new tablet will be sporting smaller bezels and will have separate volume buttons instead of a volume rocker. Additionally, the website also displayed images of several iPad mini back plates along with a gallery of iPad mini mockups.

It simply makes sense that Apple will utilize this design considering that many of its competitors are headed towards the same direction. Products like the Nexus 7, Kindle Fire, Galaxy Tab 7 and RIM Playbook all sport similar aesthetics.

iPad mini is also said to have a front camera for your video conferencing needs.

Most rumors agree that iPad mini will be launched either in late September of early October of this year. The price will probably be at $299, although some believe that it will likely be available for $200.

Are you excited about the iPad mini? Will you immediately purchase it once it gets released? Drop a comment below and tell us about it.

The folks at Microsoft have officially launched Outlook.com.

According to a CNET.com.au report, the new service will be available free for any interested user. The site gives you access to email features such as viewing previews for attached images, integration to Facebook, Google, Skype, Twitter, and LinkedIn, plus a 7GB free cloud storage. It also supports SkyDrive which means those who already have an account can enjoy attaching files in the cloud without having to worry about size limitations.

The company promises that Outlook.com will be accessible for both Windows-powered devices and Exchange ActiveSync phones.

Have you checked out the Outlook.com preview? Go visit the new website and tell us what you think about it.

There’s absolutely no doubt about it: Microsoft Office is king when it comes to text documents, spreadsheets and slide shows.

The suite has gained dominance in the industry over successive generations and the reluctance of many corporate IT departments to switch away from it.  The downside of this is that many regard it as essential on their home computers and unless your employer provides a licence, or you can access substantially cheaper educational licences, it can be very expensive.

If you’re hesitant about investing for the full version of the software, you’ll be happy to know that there are alternatives available. With these options, you will be able to use almost the same functionality without having to spend as much.

Google Docs

Also known as Google Drive, Google Docs has become the biggest Office substitute for many. This convenient tool gives Google account users a few productivity tools in addition to their established services allowing for checking email, watching YouTube videos and adding events on Google Calendar without much hassle.

Collaboration is a strong factor because sharing documents and spreadsheets with others is extremely easy. This is ideal if you plan on working on a single document as a team. Accessing and editing files together is easy.

Best of all, Google Docs is entirely free.

LibreOffice

“Libre” means “free” and that’s what exactly this suite is all about. LibreOffice gives you Text Document, Spreadsheet and Presentation tools, making it unnecessary to install MS Office on your desktop. There are even some tools for Drawing, Database and Formula which practically gives you greater control over what you can do.

This free software is also attractive for the fact that it is very portable. You can install it on your SD card or flash drive and carry it with you anytime, anywhere.

SoftMaker Office

SoftMaker Office, on the other hand, provides users with three different versions. There are two paid versions plus there’s also a free option. The software’s interface bears a striking similarity with MS Office.

The professional version gives you TextMaker, PlanMaker, SoftMaker Presentations, BasicMaker, SoftMaker eM Client Professional and 4 Berlitz Basic Dictionaries. The standard free version, on the other hand, doesn’t have the latter two features.

Conclusion

The Microsoft Office suite is definitely under attack from these potential products. Many users are switching to these alternatives in order to save not insignificant  amounts of money.

Are you using other less expensive options for MS Office? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below.

If your printer is costing you more than you expect, maybe it’s high time to reconsider your printing habits. Reviewing your paper and printing workflows periodically can definitely save you a lot regardless of how often you use your printer. We get it – you need to print some emails and documents; the paperless office still hasn’t quite arrived, but are there any effective ways to help you save some money along the way? Of course there are!

Read ahead and we’ll give you a few ideas.

Tip #1: Turn the printer off.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that printers consume energy. Even if your machine is in stand-by mode, it eats up some power and it’s often better to simply turn it off properly. You might choose to turn it off at the wall, or use a powerboard that has independent switches for each device.  Some powerboards now have second switches that can be made more accessible to deactivate the board and all of the attached devices.

While settings can vary from one printer to another, yours may have smarter energy options including the ability to automatically switch off overnight, during weekends or after a specified idle time.

Tip #2: Reduce expenses on printer consumables.

Without a doubt, inks and toners are the one component of the capability that probably drain your wallet the most. To cut your expenses on these, all you need to do is to take the time to edit your documents and only print the ones you most need. Of course, printing in lower quality is also a wise idea. You may even opt to print in black & white if you don’t think it’s not too necessary to have the document in colour.  You might also want to consider refilling your ink cartridges rather than replacing them.

Tip #3: Make the most of your paper.

If adjusting printer settings is not enough, you bet editing your documents can go a long way towards helping you save some money. Start by adjusting your margins and then removing any unnecessary elements (such as unrelated images, etc.). Whenever possible, you can also decrease the font sizes and print double-sided to make the most of your paper if you’re just printing drafts for others to proof-read or give feedback on.

Conclusion

There are, of course, several tactics to avoid spending a fortune on your printing needs. Aside from the above-mentioned strategies, you can also use the services of a local print shop. Outsourcing is sometimes the easiest way out because there are now a lot of providers that offer inexpensive printing.

Other practical solutions include converting necessary files to PDF format and e-mailing things around rather than faxing if you can.

If you’ve always been interested in stop motion animated videos but don’t have any idea how to create them, you’ll be glad to know that all you need is an iPhone or an Android device.

These days there are many apps that make creating stop motion videos much easier for aspiring animators – even without any experience. To get started with your masterpiece, here are five apps you need to check out:

iStopMotion

Available for $10, iStopMotion is a premium iPad app that gives you advanced tools for exposure and white balance lock. While the main app itself is only suitable for iPad, the companion “remote camera” app can be used for iPhone.

This also boasts iCloud integration and changeable movie speeds. Along with that, manual control of the shutter for your stop movie movies is possible. Want to create time lapses of plant life or scenery? You can set iStopMotion to automatic mode to do that.

Frameographer

This app from StudioNeat is a simple (and less expensive) tool that will surely attract lots of stop motion enthusiasts. The interface is very user-friendly but don’t expect to see a while balance lock functionality. Fortunately, exposure and focus controls are there. Adding music from your iTunes can be done.

Available for $3, Frameographer is an iPhone exclusive. This doesn’t have a remote camera that’s why setting it up for specific angles can be a little challenging.

StopMotion Recorder for iPhone

As anyone can tell from the name, this app is only for iPhone. Instagram fans will likely favour this for having Sepia and other good effects. Time lapse gives you 20 seconds of pre-set intervals. The sound activated shutter option is also a nice touch.

This is sold for $1, but some iPhone 4S owners are currently complaining about a few issues. Keep your eyes peeled for some updates if you really want to get this.

Lapse It

Make no mistake about the name. Although this app is capable of time lapses, this also has a manual stop motion mode for you. This Android app is available for $1. Otherwise, interested users who want to first give it a try can get the free version.

In addition to the beautiful interface, we also love Lapse It for its good number of advanced features. Of course, its several camera effects can be a thrill to use.

Clayframes

This Android app may not have an attractive interface like the above-mentioned options, but we’ll assure you that it is equally effective in creating stop motion videos. This is even unique because it can be activated by sound (such as a clap) plus it has a timed shutter for time lapse mode.

Exporting videos to YouTube is also easier with Clayframes. This is available for $3, but the free version provides a good peek for those hesitant to make the purchase.

Although several rumours have surfaced about it in recent years, Apple is still staying tight-lipped about the possibilities of creating a Mini iPad. Steve Jobs himself was not a believer of 7-inch tablets and he has always maintained that 9.85 inches are the standard size. That way, the tablet can be portable and functional at the same time. So far, Apple has been consistent in terms of observing this golden rule set by Jobs.

According to rumours that keep on circulating online, a Mini iPad will measure 7 inches and will have a Retina Display and an 8GB storage. Price will also likely be quite affordable and will only cost around $200 to $250.

We here at TCA think that these are just a few of the advantages of having a Mini iPad.

In addition to that, we believe it will be to Apple’s benefit if they bend their own rules for the sake of their customers. Despite the fact that many users love using 10-inch tablets, many 7-inch devices are also gaining greater popularity in the market because they provide increased portability. Case in point, such tablets can be used with a single hand and reading ebooks is generally more convenient.

Also, we do not doubt that the lower price will be a huge selling point for the Mini iPad. These days, it’s not an unusual experience to meet tablet buyers who stay away from the new iPad because of its $499 price tag. Like we mentioned earlier, a Mini iPad that sells just $200 would be a competitive alternative.

It naturally follows that such a device would mean more consumers for Apple and its iOS ecosystem.   We think that buyers who have been hesitant to get an expensive iPad would quickly jump on the chance of owning a smaller, cheaper, version. After that, the user will likely install iTunes and start getting content there. Actually, it’s not even difficult to imagine that such a customer will eventually get hold of other Apple devices.

Lastly, Apple has always been the type of company that not only aims to sell well but to lead the industry – and we’re sure Apple will leave their rivals in the dust. There are now a lot of 7-inch tablets in the stores and a Mini iPad could provide some serious competition.

Do you agree that it’s finally time for Apple to start manufacturing smaller iPads? Share your thoughts with us by leaving a comment below.

It’s official!

Microsoft has finally confirmed that the new version of Windows 8 will be publicly available on October 26, 2012.

DeviceMag.com has shared this news from the software company. Steven Sinofsky recently made the announcement at Microsoft’s annual sales meeting.

Many users are looking forward to Windows 8 because it is considered as “the most important” platform update. The program will have touch-based user interface.

Reports are now surfacing on the internet that the company will be releasing the highly-anticipated Surface tablets around Windows 8’s arrival.

Will you purchase Windows 8 once it hits the market? Why or why not?

PDT and Perkins Products have recently teamed up to create a revolutionary technology that will benefit blind people.

EndGadget.com has posted information about the upcoming Perkins Smart Brailler. The press release said that the device aims to “make learning and teaching braille easier.”

PDT Program Manager John Freese stressed that “reading braille can be the difference between employment and unemployment” for some blind individuals. Perkins Smart Brailler attempts to change that by providing user-friendly tools such as audio and visual feedback, Acapela text-to-spech, downloadable braille lessons for beginners, and more.

The Perkins Smart Brailler will be released in September for the price of $1,995.

Panasonic has announced the latest addition to their popular line-up of Digital Single Lens Mirrorless cameras, according to FarEastGizmos.com.

The new Panasonic Lumix G DMC-G5 assures higher resolution and advanced image processing. The camera comes equipped with 16.05 MP Live MOS sensor and Venus engine which makes it capable of recording HD videos at 1920 x 1080 at 60fps (NTSC) or 50fps (PAL). Additionally, this also has an advanced AF system which includes practical full-time AF and tracking AF.

Newbie photographers need not hesitate about picking the camera because it has a Scene Guide.

For the fashion-conscious, the camera will be available in white, black or silver.

What do you think about the camera’s features? Share your thoughts by hitting the comment section.

If you’re like us, you can’t help but take gadgets with you whenever you travel.  The problem is keeping them all happily powered.  How do you extend their performance and get more out of you gadgets? Read on and we’ll give you some pointers.

Use Battery Cases

Best for iPhone owners, these accessories give your device some protection and extra battery life. These cases typically have dock-connector plugs that match iPhone’s 30-pin port.

Mophie’s Juice Pack Plus is one of the popular options because it’s lightweight and has the capacity to double your battery’s life. You also have Sol’s solar-powered charging case which, as the name suggests, allows you to charge using the sun’s free rays. This is ideal if you’re going to be outdoors and electrical outlets are out of reach.

Finally, MiPow’s JuiceBook is not only ideal for iPad but even for iPhone and iPod. Its Power Tube effectively charges your device because it offers 6600mAh.

Use Battery Saving Aps

If you are using a Macbook or a MacBook Air, there’s a way for you to monitor your battery closely. For example, Low Battery Saver is an app that allows you to customize battery warnings. This makes it convenient for you to see the remaining juice.

Deep Sleep is another app that allows you to hibernate your unit instead of simply putting it to sleep when closing the lid while it’s still on. This saves your RAM content to the hard drive and preserves power at the same time. It’s also a lot easier to restore apps and documents when you have this.

Tweak Your Settings

Sometimes, all it takes to save some battery life is to adjust some settings on your gadget.

For instance, iPhone and iPad users are advised to turn the Wi-Fi, 3G and Bluetooth off when the features are not in use. To do this, just go to Settings and look for Wi-Fi then switch it off. As for Bluetooth, just go to Settings, General, and Bluetooth to see its toggle switch. Other tips for you would be to turn off (or at least limit) data push-notifications, turn off location services, and use the Auto-Brightness feature. Those who have an OS X Lion-powered MacBook Pro can also opt to utilize the Energy Saver pane in System Preferences.

Do you have other suggestions about how to prolong your device’s battery capacity? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below.