STACK #205 Nov 2021

TECH LIFE NOVEMBER

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STACK ’ s TECH TipS

1 Don’t leave your devices in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. Smartphones, laptops, and tablets already generate heat, so adding even more from the sun is just asking for trouble. Shade is your tech’s best friend on a hot day. 2 The casing surrounding your device has been designed to disperse any unwanted heat, so avoid blocking the vents or putting them in confined spaces. Airflow is essential. 3 Avoid stacking electronic devices on top of each other. This will only increase the combined temperature. 4 Keep a can of compressed air on hand at all times. Dust, dirt, and even pet hair can interfere with the fan inside your laptop, so use the air to keep the dust away. And keep all the vents clear of obstructions like stickers. 5 Should the unthinkable happen and your device overheats, take it out of the sunlight and immediately shut it down. Allow the device to cool naturally, leave for 30 minutes and then try to restart it. We’re just a month away from summer, and unless you live in Melbourne, the weather across Australia is starting to heat up. Thoughts turn to the beach and long, warm days with friends and family, but when the mercury begins to rise, remember that your tech needs to take time out from the heat as much as you do. Here are five tips for keeping your tech cool in the coming months.

T he best way to highlight the benefits of a smart home is to demonstrate it in person. With a simple voice command, watch your captive audience gasp in disbelief as the entire array of smart lighting changes in unison or marvel in amazement as a requested song kicks in through a smart speaker. But aside from the sheer entertainment value, there are real advantages to turning your home smart. Controlling lighting, security cameras, and even your TV choices for the night via a voice assistant is the height of convenience. And with the ability to monitor power usage, a smart home is good for the back pocket, too. And talking of money, you don’t have to spend a fortune to join the smart home revolution either – you can get involved with a single, smart lightbulb! This month we’re showcasing some of the newest smart home products to land at JB, and we’ll dig deep into the smart functionality of your connected TV.

What was the hottest tech in…

1979

On The Radar

Playing music on the move before 1979 either involved a ghetto blaster, a heavy cassette player on a strap, or a car. However, that all changed when one of the co-founders of Sony requested a small portable device that he could privately listen to opera on. The Sony Walkman was born. It was

It’s Christmas, Christmas, Christmas in December. Do you have a tech lover in the family? Well, next month, we’ve got you well and truly covered. so whether you’re a last-minute shopper or a click and collect specialist, we’ll

released on July 1, 1979, for 33,000 yen (around 780 Aussie dollars in today’s money). Sony put an initial sales forecast of approximately 5,000 units a month but sold 30,000 in the first two months. By the end of the year, the Sony Walkman was introduced to the US, becoming the most desired consumer tech device on the planet.

have a heap of gifting ideas to help take the sting out of your buying decisions.

26 NOVEMBER 2021

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