5 Myths About Your Smart Phone Battery (and Real Tips for Preserving It)

in ,

Smartphones have the mighty power of super computers in a tiny package that can fit in the palm of our hands. They allow us to communicate, find entertainment, get work done, manage our finances, navigate to our destinations, shop the Web, and so much more. That is… until the battery runs out. 

Avoid battery drain—and the anxiety that comes with it—by learning how to make your phone’s battery last longer and keep you connected when you need it most. Here we’ll bust five common myths about charging your iPhone or Android, plus provide helpful tips on getting the most out of every charge.

Read the article on Xfinity.com

Fact or Fiction: Do you know what data your car is sharing about you? - Esurance

in ,

Connected cars are turbo-boosting everything about our driving experiences. We now have the luxury of tapping into the same 24/7 connectivity we rely on off the road when we get behind the wheel. What many people don't realize is that all the bells and whistles that make your commute smoother and your car trips more comfortable are also capturing data. Lots of data.

Read my deep-dive reasearch article for Esurance on this topic here.

 

Meet The Firm That’s Reimagining Life in Antarctica - Dwell Magazine

in ,

The largest community on the planet’s coldest continent needs a smaller, smarter facility to continue its crucial work. It may be on the verge of getting one.

Read my latest piece for Dwell Magazine here. 

Within and Without - Dwell Magazine

in , ,
Dwell

A Texas interior designer expands her vision outdoors with a water-wise garden.

The first thing that strikes you about interior designer Lynn Rush’s home is that it’s black. The second is that its dark plaster walls are slowly being enveloped by swaths of brilliant green ivy. Surrounded by peach stucco mansions, this LEED Platinum residence on the outskirts of Dallas is wholly different, but without sticking out like the proverbial sore thumb. Instead, its low profile seems to dissolve into a backdrop of native plantings.  

Read the full article here.

How to Create the Smart Bathroom of Your Dreams - AllConnect.com

in ,

You’ve heard of the smart home — homes equipped with technologies that provide convenience, comfort, and security. Now get ready for the smart bathroom – bathrooms that promise the same, along with improved cleanliness and safety. From motion-sensor lights to Bluetooth speakers, there’s a wealth of devices that can make your bathroom one of the smartest rooms in your home. Here are just a few reasons to invest in creating a smart bathroom.

Read the whole post here.

5 Household Robots That Make Your Life Easier - AllConnect.com

in ,
Robots

Easily take care of common household chores and carve more time for yourself with the latest generation of household robots. Powered by artificial intelligence (AI), today’s robots can wash your floors, monitor your home’s climate, clean your windows, and more. Here are just some of the ways household robots can make managing your home easier.

Read the whole article here.

The Best Hardwood Floors for Messy Kids and Pets | Homes.com

in ,
Floors

Hardwood floors trump carpet for households with kids and pets. It’s a whole lot easier to clean up when spills are on wood, not wool. Plus, hardwood is more forgiving than ceramic, concrete, or tile. But if you have rambunctious pets and messy kids, you may be concerned about whether hardwood floors will stay beautiful in your home. Here, we’ll look at the four factors to consider if you’re thinking about installing hardwood.

Read the full article here.

The Ultimate Guide: Protecting Your Kids Online - Modern Parents Messy Kids

in ,

Children using the internet is a modern parenting dilemma.

How can we let them enjoy and benefit from this world-changing, infinitely educational tool that can span the globe in seconds while also protecting them from its potential dangers? Setting aside the issue of how much “screen time” children should have, here we will look at how to make that screen time safe, fun and productive—whether you are thinking of letting your preschooler play with your iPad or considering buying a computer or smartphone for your pre-teen.

Read the full post here.

How to Monitor and Control Indoor Air Quality in Your Home | care2.com

in , , ,
Indoor Air Quality

The air that we breathe is, quite literally, our life source. But it could also, quite possibly, be killing us. Air quality is becoming a modern crisis, with the World Health Organization (WHO) classifying air pollution as the world’s largest health risk, linking one in eight total global deaths to air pollution exposure, both indoor and out.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the air inside our homes is commonly five times more polluted than that of the outdoors, and in some cases, up to 10 times. So, what can you do to protect your health, and that of your family, from this silent killer lurking in your home? Detect and correct. Find out what is causing air pollution in your home and then take whatever steps you can to help correct or mitigate those causes. Here we’ll look at how you can achieve this.

Read the full article here.

HOW AMERICANS ARE EMBRACING THE POWER OF THEIR HOMES | Earth911.com

in , , ,
Smart Home

Just a few years ago, living off the grid conjured up images of tiny cabins in the middle of nowhere. Today, the dream of average American homeowners powering their homes with alternative energies is coming true. Solar panels on your neighbor’s roof are no longer an oddity, and electric cars are less of a curiosity and more of an everyday sight. It’s not hard to imagine a time when wind turbines in the backyard will be commonplace and geothermal heating an expected utility in all new homes.

Read the full article here.

Smart Home DIY: 5 Reasons Your Family Is Going To Love Smart Door Locks | FunTimesGuide.com

in , ,
Smart Home

The phrase “latchkey kid” was a popular one among my generation — the first where many families boasted two working parents. Coming home from school to an empty house was a pretty common occurrence for many of my school friends. However, thanks to smart door locks, today’s latchkey kids can dispense with the key entirely and parents can dispense with the worry over whether their children made it home safely!

Read the full article here.