CompuClever Blog

Introducing the BloomSky Network

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For some of us, spring is coming soon this year, and we are getting ready for the bloom.  With the coming of the season, we put more attention on the sky.  So what better time for us to roll out a review of a technology that we are really excited about! In a mini series of three articles, we are introducing our readers to BloomSky – a crowd-sourced, hyper-local weather network powered by an innovative smart weather station.

We’ll get started by looking at the company vision and the technology offered.

The company vision at BloomSky is to change the way people access weather information.  They are setting out to build a weather network based on data that is “crowd-sourced” and image based.  Weather is captured by devices around the world by regular people and presented using images and daily time-lapse photographs.  Of course it is available to be viewed online with your PC or your mobile device.

BloomSky

The Vision:

Speaking of regular people, we’ve had a chance to connect with the CEO and the marketing coordinator at BloomSky who shared more about the company and the vision.  They are located in the Bay area and the CEO’s name is Xiao (pronounced: Shee’ou).  Continue reading...

Keep’n It Cool

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Things are heating up – which means PC temperatures are rising. Just how important is it to make certain that your PC does not overheat? We’ll introduce a story from one of our expert support technicians and then get into potential issues that can result. We’ll conclude with ways of addressing overheating PC systems and laptops.

With our previous article (ReadyBoost) we received some email responses that were very positive. One email responder stated that he and a group of friends got some real benefit from the free technology we presented. One of the members of the group stated that their PC was “…working much more smoothly after implementing your USB know how.” The email went on to suggest we cover the topic of making sure that the “computers processor runs as cool as possible and what to do if it is running to hot.” That’s a great suggestion and we had already begun to write about this subject.

We’ll get started with a story from one of our Tech Support specialists.

Fan or Wireless Connection?

You can find all sorts of odd occurrences with your PC system and sometimes the oddest issue can arise with what appears to be no solution in sight. Continue reading...

The Key – USB

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“Can I get off at the next stop?”  It’s easy when you are on a bus, but not so simple when using computers.  The problem is the information highway is getting faster and trying to navigate can be frustrating.  We hope to make it easier with our upcoming series on USB technology and the functionality that is available.  We’ll get started on a description of USB in general, highlight differences between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0, speak about USB hubs, and then discuss the USB flash drive.

The Connection

Speaking of buses… in case you didn’t know, USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. USB has been around for a long time and it serves to standardize the connection, communication, and in some cases the power supply between a device and your PC.  USB is used for printers, cameras, keyboards, media players, as well as hard drive disks and flash drives.

In general, there are three basic kinds or sizes related to the USB connectors and types of established connection: the older “standard” size, in its USB 1.1, 2.0, and 3.0 variants (for example, on USB flash drives). [1]

USB Comparison

You are most likely dealing with USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 (as well as 3.1).  Continue reading...

My New PC Arrival

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What can compare to the feeling of getting a new PC? It’s like watching Tom Hanks in the movie “Big” when he spends a day in the toy department! While reasons for purchasing a new computer will differ from person to person, what remains constant is a level of excitement and anticipation that comes with getting it set up and putting it to use. With any level of excitement comes taking a few moments to take care of certain little necessities before rushing headlong into the fun. Ahhh adulthood!

Stages

We have come up with a list of items that we feel constitute the “necessities” of first running you brand new PC. In an attempt to make it easier for you we have broken these items into stages – that way it doesn’t seem overwhelming and tedious. We have also included an approximate time of completion. These may vary based on many factors but it is intended to give you an idea of what to expect. By having this information available you can determine how many items you can take on based on your schedule. If you want to bite the bullet and complete the tasks on the same day… go for it! Continue reading...

Product Review: A 4-in-1 Leisure Outdoor Backpack for Your Laptop

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Welcome to our first installment of our all new “Gears & Gadgets” column! With these articles we set out to provide well-researched feedback and review of items that could in fact make your “PC and tech life” more enjoyable. As the editor-in-chief, I took the liberty of penning the introductory issue and picking the first product: a 4-in-1 multifunctional backpack.

– Andy Thompson, Editor-in-Chief

This past Christmas, my wife and I decided to escape the wet and chilly weather common to the Pacific Northwest to spend some holiday time in Long Beach, CA.  Two weeks before the trip, I realized that instead of bringing my laptop shoulder bag I actually needed a different bag other than my usual Samsonite carry-on suitcase.  This bag needs to be more than just multifunctional.

I actually sat back and wrote down my “wish-list” for such an item:

  • It must provide a secure compartment for my laptop because I will be working occasionally during the trip.
  • It must be a backpack because I will use it during my daily excursion trips to various tourist attractions in L.A.
  • It should provide good compartment space, but not too big to carry, and it must fit in the overhead bin because it will be part of my 2-piece carry-on.
Continue reading...