And as more smart devices enter our homes, the risks are growing exponentially. If you thought regular cybercrime was scary, wait until hackers start targeting your toaster or garage door opener. The Internet of Things may take over, but security isn’t keeping up. It’s time for companies and consumers alike to get serious about NAS ransomware protection and safeguarding this new wave of technology. The future is at stake, and it’s up to us to ensure it’s secure.

1. The Rapid Growth of IoT Devices Poses New Security Risks

The rapid growth of internet-connected devices—the Internet of Things or IoT—has introduced new cyber risks. As more smart devices like security cameras, smart speakers, and smart home assistants join unsecured networks, the potential attack surface for hackers expands.

Billions of IoT devices are operational worldwide, with millions more deployed daily. Many are built without basic security protections like encryption, authentication, or software updates, making them easy targets.

When compromised, hackers can harness the sheer volume of devices to launch disruptive botnet attacks that overwhelm systems and networks. Hackers have already used unsecured IoT devices for massive DDoS attacks that disrupted significant websites.

Personal information and data collected by IoT devices may also be exposed or stolen in cyber breaches. Everything from home security footage to smart speaker recordings could end up in the hands of cybercriminals.

Outdated software and firmware on IoT devices that go unpatched for years pose additional risks. New vulnerabilities that emerge won’t get fixed, allowing hackers to exploit them.

To reduce risks:

• Enable security features on all IoT devices like strong passwords, two-factor authentication when available, and automatic software updates.
• Buy from vendors with a track record of providing security patches.
• Turn off any features not needed.

Staying vigilant about IoT security will help ensure these connected technologies are a benefit, not a liability. The time to start securing the Internet of Things is now.

2. Best Practices for Securing IoT Devices

You’ll want to take some basic precautions to secure your IoT devices.

Change default passwords. As soon as you set up a smart device, customize the password. Default logins are easy targets for hackers. Choose a robust and unique password for each device.

Enable two-factor authentication if available. Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your accounts. If your IoT device offers this feature, turn it on.

Update firmware regularly. Firmware updates often contain necessary security patches. Check for updates at least once a month and install them promptly.

Disable remote access if not needed. Many IoT devices allow remote access through an app or web portal. Turn off this feature if you don’t use it. Remote access provides another avenue for hackers to get into your system.

Isolate IoT devices on your network. Place smart devices on a separate Wi-Fi network from your computers and other internet-connected equipment. It makes it harder for hackers to access your entire network if they compromise an IoT device.

Be cautious when connecting new devices. Only buy IoT devices from reputable brands and retailers. When setting up a new innovative gadget, be alert for any signs that it has been tampered with. Only connect what you need – the more connections, the bigger the risk.

By taking prudent precautions, you can enjoy the benefits of the Internet of Things with greater confidence and security. While no system is 100% hacker-proof, following best practices will reduce risks and help keep your smart home safer.

3. How Consumers Can Protect Their Connected Homes

As a consumer, you have some control over securing your connected smart home devices. Here are a few steps you can take:

Use strong, unique passwords for your Wi-Fi network and all connected devices.

Don’t use familiar, easy-to-guess passwords like “1234” or “password.” Make them at least eight characters long, using letters, numbers, and symbols. Please change the default passwords on all your connected devices as soon as you set them up.

Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible.

To enhance security for your accounts and devices, please enable two-factor authentication on your Wi-Fi router, security cameras, thermostats, and any other connected tech that offers this additional layer of protection, such as entering a code sent to your phone in addition to your password.

Keep your router and connected device software up to date.

Regular software and firmware updates often contain necessary security patches to protect against vulnerabilities. Enable automatic updates on your router and connected devices when available. If unavailable, check for updates at least once a month and install them promptly.

Be cautious when connecting new devices.

Not all smart home devices meet the same security standards. Do some research on any new tech before connecting it to your network to ensure it has basic security features like password protection and software updates. Avoid very cheap devices that seem too good to be true.

Monitor your connected devices regularly.

Look for any unauthorized access or unknown devices connected to your network. Some routers allow you to see a list of connected devices so you can make sure only your recognized devices are online. Report any signs of hacking or malware immediately to the manufacturer and local law enforcement.

By taking some responsibility for securing your connected smart home, you can have the convenience of the IoT with more peace of mind. Staying proactive and vigilant is vital to reducing risks in an increasingly connected world.

4. Conclusion

So there you have it. The Internet of Things is becoming an inextricable part of our daily lives, with smart devices embedded in our homes, cars, and clothing. But with the proliferation of IoT comes significant security risks if not addressed. As consumers, we all need to do our part to secure these connected devices and be vigilant in monitoring for vulnerabilities.

Manufacturers also must prioritize security in the design process and commit to issuing updates to patch holes. Government regulation and policy reform may be needed to enforce basic security standards. The future is here, but we all must work together to ensure it’s secure. The risks are real, but so are the rewards if we’re proactive. The Internet of Things can enrich our lives, but only if we try to safeguard it. Our hyper-connected world depends on it.

The post Securing the Internet of Things: A Growing Concern appeared first on Tech India Today.

From the way people interact with each other to now being able to multitask like never before, technology is trending towards having an even more significant effect with the development of new ways to make our lives easier. Whether you’re using your mobile phone to check NFL odds or lowering the thermostat in your living room, several technologies will be helpful shortly.

1. Internet of Things 

Internet of Things (IoT) technology is all near us. It enables objects to work together in cooperation to reach a specific goal. IoT is currently used in Smart Home technology, allowing users to control household devices or systems when away from home. 

Each machine in an IoT system has a unique identifier that will enable it to receive signals or commands from other devices through the usage of the Internet. With the speed of 5G technology, IoT is now being implemented into systems that previously needed fast internet speeds because of the large amount of data used. 

Things like robotics and self-driving cars are now using this technology, which has become more affordable than in the past and will soon be introduced into more household goods, helping to make our lives even more effortless. Industries most likely to use IoT technology in the future are agriculture, transportation, utilities, finance, and hospitality. 

2. Blockchain

Blockchain is the technology that allows online transactions through an unchangeable distributed digital ledger. Never has there been a more safe way to send and receive money online. The technology will enable cryptocurrencies to be exchanged through secure transactions, allowing money to be sent in seconds worldwide without any fees involved. 

In the world of sports betting, industry leaders such as BetUS use the technology to ensure all financial transactions using cryptocurrency are fast and secure, revolutionizing the way transactions are handled online. There are also applications outside of cryptocurrency that financial institutions and other industries explore. 

3. AR Technology

Augmented Reality technology will be incorporated into many more mobile apps in the future. It integrates computer graphics and sound into the view of the real world. The best example would be the face filters users have seen used on Instagram and Snapchat. 

Online retailers use the technology to see how a piece of furniture looks in your actual house. Online sports betting industry leaders such as BetUS could use the technology to enhance the players’ experience by providing real-time analytics while watching a sporting event. Many industries will be looking to adopt the technology to add more innovative elements to their applications to give users a more immersive experience. 

4. Beacon Technology 

Beacon technology uses a wireless transmitter called a beacon that sends signals to devices nearby. The technology is currently used in many industries, such as retail stores, and it’s used to track customers through their mobile phones and deliver them offers and coupons once they get close to the store. 

It’s also used by restaurants, hotels, sports arenas, and other locations. The technology uses Bluetooth, and the user grants permission after downloading the company’s app and having Bluetooth turned on while in the Beacon’s proximity. Beacon technology can even help blind people navigate, as is being done in San Francisco’s airport. 

Sometimes you don’t even have to take out your phone to use Beacon technology. For example, an app called BeHere allows students to register their attendance in class when they walk into the classroom with their phones in their pockets.

The post Top Mobile Phone Tech Trends in 2022 appeared first on Tech India Today.

Like many other intelligent devices, smart thermostats can be controlled from anywhere with your smartphone. Here are a few you can consider getting for your home. 

1. Ecobee Smart Thermostat

Ecobee Smart Thermostat is the best smart thermostat overall, similar in appearance and behavior to Ecobee 4, but significant improvements. It’s one of the best Alexa-compatible devices with all the features of Alexa, including calling, messaging, and drop-in. T

he latest updates work with Siri, but you also need a HomePod or HomePod mini on the same network. Ecobee also has much better speakers and Spotify support than previous versions. 

Therefore, if you are looking for a device that can provide background music, it is an excellent place to play the melody. Sure, its quality is still well below the Echo Dot, but it’s an inexpensive way to bring Alexa into your room if you don’t want to connect with another intelligent speaker.

Most importantly, the new Ecobee has redesigned the remote control sensor with a much better range and battery life. The plastic design hasn’t changed much from the original, and unlike Nest, it’s gradually becoming obsolete.

2. Nest Learning Thermostat

Nest Learning Thermostat is the original smart thermostat, and its classic design still sets it apart from its competitors. The third version of Google’s thermostat has a more prominent and crisper display than previous versions. As before, Nest Learning Thermostat can learn your behavior over time and automatically change the temperature when someone returns home. 

The Nest Thermostat has a retro circular design but a luxurious stainless steel finish and rotating mechanism. In addition, a variety of finishes such as brass, polished steel, copper, and white make it easy to blend into your home decor. Combining the best of the past with the future, this thermostat is one of the best intelligent thermostats compatible with Google Home.

3. Sensibo Sky

Most smart thermostats are designed for homes with central heating and cooling systems, but what if you live in an old house or apartment and rely on window air conditioning to keep things cool? Several companies manufacture smart thermostats for this purpose. We can say that Sensibo Sky is the best smart thermostat for anyone with a wall or window air conditioner with an IR remote control. 

The Sensibo Sky is cheap and is easy to set up as it could be quickly connected to a window air conditioner. Sensibo Sky doesn’t have a temperature display, but it has a small, minimalistic design.

It can be controlled remotely, and you can create a schedule that turns it on and off. It also has a geo-fence, so you can depend on the air conditioner when you get home. The Sensibo has a new version of Sensibo Air, including a motion sensor. It can be configured to turn off the air conditioner when no one is in the room Sensibo Air and turn it on again when someone enters the room.

4. The Nest Thermostat E

The Nest Thermostat E is another excellent smart thermostat for less than $ 200. It’s easier to set up than the more expensive Nest Learning Thermostat, but it still offers many of the same features.

However, the Nest Thermostat E does not support many HVAC systems or components, such as two-stage heating and cooling. For most homeowners, this shouldn’t be a problem. 

The Nest Thermostat E has the same shape as the Nest Learning Thermostat but is plastic instead of metal. Also, Nest Thermostat E is only available in white and not in many versions of the more expensive Nest Learning Thermostat.

Finally, the white display of the Nest Thermostat E can be brutal to read from a distance. However, consider Nest E if you’re looking for something cheaper than Nest’s premium thermostat.

The best way to test your smart thermostat is to use it directly at home. Given that most smart thermostats are intended to be installed by the homeowner himself evaluate how easy it is to install it yourself.

This is important. Each smart thermostat was subjected to several tests to handle different situations during the test phase. Consider how easily you can schedule it to react to changes in temperature. 

If the app is included, you should check for navigation and effectiveness. The same applies to connecting to a smart home hub or device. If it works with Alexa or Google Assistant, check the performance there. Additional features can also be tracked to get a complete picture of the product.

You also need to look at other exciting features, such as geofencing, that allow you to set the ideal temperature when you’re away and back. It’s also worth making sure that the Smart Thermostat Alexa or Google Assistant is compatible or not.

Final thoughts

Getting a smart thermostat for your home is a crucial step. Smart devices have become famous worldwide due to the convenience they offer. However, it would help research which smart thermostat works for your home.

With a massive variety on the market, it can be challenging to choose one for home, so make sure you carefully see the features all the intelligent thermostats offer and then make a wise decision. 

The post Which Smart Thermostat To Buy For Your Home appeared first on Tech India Today.

The Bluetooth speaker receives the digital audio file without a cable with Bluetooth protocol in this fantastic technology.

Then converts the files to analogue audio and converts the same as the regular speaker does. Then it needs to pair with the devices and play the music and all done.

1. What Is Bluetooth Technology?

Bluetooth is a wireless technology developed to exchange data from device to device within a short distance. To transmit data, it uses the short-wavelength ultra-high-frequency radio wave protocol. You can use a microwave radio frequency spectrum in the 2.402 GHz to 2.480GHz range to transmit digital data.

Let’s see the list of the applications that are using Bluetooth technology in their application.

• Controls the communication system through mobile and Bluetooth-compatible cars.
• Contact between the mobile and intelligent lock to unlock the doors.
• Establish connection amongst the Bluetooth devices.
• Data streams from Bluetooth-enabled fitness devices to smartphones.
• Connects two industrial ethernet networks.

2. How Does a Bluetooth Speaker Work?

A Bluetooth speaker works just like a traditional speaker. The only difference is that it works wirelessly, and typical speakers work with hard-wired signals. On the other hand, Bluetooth speakers use radio signals to receive the audio files. There is a built-in amplifier that receives the audio signal.

To function correctly, the Bluetooth speaker has to be paired with the devices. When the devices are connected, the digital audio device forms a Piconet to send the audio signals effectively. However, the intelligent Bluetooth speaker has the option to operate with a voice command.

When the digital audio signal is received, it must go through two key elements. First, the received audio signal must be converted into an analogue audio signal. There is a built-in digital to audio signal feature to convert the signal. Then the converted signal is sent through a power amplifier.

Once the signal is passed through the driver, now it is the driver’s task to produce sound waves. That is how we hear the sound via the Bluetooth speakers.

3. The Best Bluetooth Speaker

Many brands introduced different types of Bluetooth speakers, but according to Nerdknowbetter, the Tikitunes Bluetooth speaker is the best. Since it has been launched, its user reviews are still positive. Its features and structure are excellent, which is different from the other wireless speakers.

It looks like a tiki torch with soft ambient light. A 2000mAh battery is installed that can run up to 6 to 10 hours. Tikitunes is water and dustproof that makes it unique compared to the rest of the speakers.

4. How Tikitune Works

It is a portable speaker that is compatible with all Android, Apple, and Windows devices. There are functional buttons on top of the speaker to operate it. Here are the steps about how to use the tiki tunes speaker?

• Place the speaker less than 30 feet away.
• Press the middle button on top of the speaker.
• Pair the speaker with the smartphone.
• Once the connection is set up, you can play music.

5. Top Features of Tiki Tunes

Tiki tunes is an award-winning stereo music player with some extraordinary features. It is a perfect speaker for indoor and outdoor environments. To know the mind-blowing features of the tiki tunes, let’s have a look at their features.

a. Clear Sound Quality

Though the speaker is tiny, it has the remarkable ability to produce the most transparent and audible sound. Its punchy bass creates a musical dancing environment that changes the person’s mode. It provides high-quality sound that is available only in high-range speakers.

b. Ambient Light

Ambient light is an uncommon and extraordinary feature that is not available with any other wireless speakers. However, tiki tunes have the built-in ambient light that creates a party environment in the house or garden. Its light is soft and changes to many colours, which are perfect for nighttime music.

c. Compact

It is small in size and weighs only 14oz which is easy to carry inside the bags. Tikitunes is designed with water and dust protection. That means you can use it while you are in the swimming pool. And the music continues, no fear if it gets into the water.

d. Easy to Use

It works with the phone’s Bluetooth connection. Just connect the device and play the music. Ttikitunes supports Android, Apple, and Windows devices that are a maximum of 30 feet away. You can keep the phone inside the home, take the speaker outside to the backyard, and control your playlists with the speaker’s buttons.

e. Multi Speaker

Tikitunes has multi-speaker functions that amazingly connect multi speakers at the same time. That means you can connect five speakers to make a party in the house. This feature is not available with most wireless speakers.

f. Where Can I Buy Tiki Tunes?

If you decide to buy one of these speakers, you can buy it from gettikitunes.io.com. If you purchase it from the tiki tune website, you can return the product in case of dissatisfaction.

The company provides a one-year warranty and 30 days money-back guarantee. The pack includes a charger, a speaker, and a user manual. However, you can purchase from eBay and Amazon wherever you like.

6. Is Tiki Tunes a Scam?

Well, as per my experience, it is not a scam. I have been using the speaker for a year, and it still works as a fresh one. It does what it says. I have enjoyed it most in the bad weather as it is waterproof. Already I have two of them, and they give a good performance.

The device is controllable from 30 feet away. I recommend you to try one of them, and you will be pleased with the speaker. I don’t think it is a scam. The best way to test it is to try one of them. On top of that, it has a great user review.

Final Statement

Tikitunes is the most relaxed wireless speaker that will delight you. Crystal clear sound and ambient light is the exceptional quality of the speaker. Its excellent battery life and fast charging make it most beneficial and comfortable to use.

Though the device is water and weatherproof, be careful not to use it near the electric field, under direct sunlight, and underwater.

The post How Does Bluetooth Speaker Work? appeared first on Tech India Today.

Technology is evolving at a fast rate, and lenders need to keep up with the growing trends as new start-ups and FinTech companies join the competition.

At the core of the disruption caused by recent technology trends in the mortgage industry are three main factors:

• New business models
• Economic pressure
• The convergence of mortgage and real estate business

These three factors are single-handedly responsible for the change in the whole outlook of the mortgage industry. Previously, a real estate agent was at the centre of all home transactions, but currently, the customers are the most important.

Why has tech caused such a severe disruption in the mortgage industry?

One of the main reasons why the mortgage industry has experienced a significant disruption is because lenders opted to seek ways to automate, speed up, and simplify steps of the mortgage origination process.

FinTech lenders, therefore, created a completely online mortgage application and approval process supported by centralized underwriting operations.

The Amazon effect is also taking root in the mortgage-lending sector. Today, customers are more tech-savvy and choosing their options carefully before taking up a home mortgage.

This has necessitated the need for mortgage lenders to employ tech in their processes to provide a better customer experience and services.

Trends that are responsible for the disruption in the mortgage industry

1. The digitalization of the mortgage ecosystem

Technology has revolutionized not only the mortgage process but also the mortgage ecosystem. Everything from creating a new listing to securing a homeowner’s title insurance has been digitized.

The digitalization of the entire mortgage ecosystem has led to the introduction of electronic/hybrid mortgage closing, which is slowly becoming a norm in the industry.

The incorporation of technology such as the eSignature has provided a customizable, branded signing solution that speeds up the process and provides a sleek customer experience.

2. Single source validation and automated data collection

Without any measures in place, customer validation is a complicated process, which is time-consuming. However, with the current technological trends, acquiring a borrower’s information can be quickly done in a few steps. This data is easily collected using 1003 applications that are available online.

In 2016, Fannie Mae launched the Day 1 Certainty program that automatically passes customer details from financial institutions, which in effect speeds up the mortgage processing time and cuts down costs.

3. Self-service channels for borrowers

In today’s world, the world is increasingly connected, and customers look for instant gratification. They always want to have access to products and portfolios and compare them against similar products and portfolios. Self-service is becoming increasingly common in the mortgage industry.

Better self-service channels help provide useful information and educational tools that facilitate consumer access and cut down costs. Borrower portals are assisting customers in checking their credit scores, generate pre-approval applications, and run their files through digital underwriting processes.

4. Mobility

Mortgage lenders are devising their operations with mobility in mind in this changing landscape. People move periodically handling their mobile devices, and lenders need to make their products and services more accessible.

Mortgage service providers are creating apps with different functionalities that keep consumers up to date with mortgage rates, mortgaging processes, and mortgage information. Web and mobile apps help consolidate and streamline service provision and ensure customers can easily manage their finances.

5. Big data

The availability of mass data has made it imperative for lenders to derive actionable conclusions that help them offer better quality and diverse services. Machine learning algorithms can potentially help lenders identify trends in the market. This helps lenders provide better products and support customer requirements efficiently.

The growth of digital technology, however, carries some risk for mortgage lenders. Data theft is a significant concern, and the customer’s sensitive information needs to be adequately secured.

In a nutshell, technological diffusion has helped speed up the mortgage origination process and reduced capacity constraints commonly experienced during peak demand.

This has strengthened the ability of the mortgage market to transmit mortgage policies to households. These tech trends have also influenced refinancing decisions making them more streamlined and efficient for most businesses and consumers.

The post Recent Tech Trends That Have Caused Serious Disruption in the Mortgage Industry appeared first on Tech India Today.

Cutting edge technology is the most advanced in information technology (IT). Cutting edge technologies are the future for a high level IT developers. The cutting edge is also called as leading-edge technology or state-of-the-art technology.

Cutting-edge equipment is the most advanced in a particular field. The innovation in cutting edge areas is connected to smart devices like IoT (Internet of Things), Smart homes, etc.

In information technology (IT) industries, cutting edge is frequently used to describe disruptive technologies such as the most recent technological improvements.

The IT leaders are pressured to incorporate cutting edge technologies and IT services. The option is to permit shadow IT to build the organization’s danger craving and maybe present operational and security risks to expand its consistent trouble.

The term “cutting-edge technology” is an ambiguous word of content and often used in marketing and technology.

The related terms related to cutting-edge technology are State-of-the-Art Technology, Leading-Edge Technology, and Bleeding Edge Technology.

1. Top 11 Examples of Cutting-edge Marketing Technologies

1. High Tech and High Fashion Technology
2. Augmented Reality (AR) Advertising
3. Virtual Reality (VR) Shopping Experience
4. NFC Technology
5. IoT and Wearable Technology

6. Facial Recognition Technology
7. Cloud Computing
8. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology
9. 3D Body Scanning Technology
10. Social Media Command Centres
11. Robotics and Automation

2. Video About Cutting-edge Technology

The post Cutting Edge Technology: The Future of IT Developments appeared first on Tech India Today.

With guides available online, anyone can find out how to create a mobile peer to peer payment app if they’re curious to know how it works or want to make their own. The question skeptical users want to know is are they as safe as they are convenient.

1. Scammers

Although many people use P2P payment apps as an option to do business transactions, it is highly recommended not to. You could make yourself a target to fraudulent sellers, or buyers buy using this as a payment method.

A fraudulent buyer may tell you they will Venmo or CashApp you and send you either the information from someone else’s cash app, or if your notifications aren’t on, you may not realize right away that they never sent the funds at all.

Fraudulent sellers can take the money from you and never send you the product or complete the service. It is easy for them to accept the payment and disappear.

2. Hackers

With any form of technology comes some form of hacker waiting for an opportunity in the dark web. It is essential to get information on how to protect yourself on these apps because there is money involved.

With P2P apps, if you don’t go to the settings and make sure your account is private, hackers can quickly get into the app and take the money you are sending or receiving.

Not only can they take that money, but they can also get into your connected bank account and get information and linked credit and debit cards, and personal address. If your account has been hacked, there isn’t a law that requires the apps to return your money, which can be devastating and frustrating.

3. Keep Yourself Safe

There happen several things that you can do to protect yourself while using your peer to peer payment app. The first thing to do to protect yourself is to go into your settings and make your account private. Enable any security settings that are offered.

This will lessen the chances of you becoming a victim of a hacker getting into your account. Turn on your notifications also so that you can be verified immediately when you receive money. If the recipient is someone you don’t send money to often, verify all of their information before you send the money.

Also, as stated earlier, it is highly advised not to conduct your business transactions with these apps. Try to only use the app amongst people you know and are already locked into your phone list. That secures that you can understand who you are sending your money to and trust they won’t scam you.

The post Is Peer to Peer Payment Apps as Safe as They Are Convenient? appeared first on Tech India Today.

1. Choose the most suitable speakers. | Clearest Turntable Sound

Choosing speakers for your vinyl player, you get a choice between bookshelf speakers and tower (floor-standing) speakers. For a more powerful and loud sound, you should choose floor-standers. However, if you don’t feel like dedicating a lot of space to the speakers, you definitely will be satisfied more with bookshelf speakers.

It would help if you also didn’t forget about the room size. The sound of small bookshelf speakers will get lost in a large space.

In general, each bookshelf speaker contains such inner components as midbass for middle and low frequencies and a tweeter for high frequencies. The floorstanders can offer more in this aspect: they have a separate driver (woofer) for bass handling also, midrange frequencies to sound much better through the tower speakers.

The floor-standing speakers have another advantage: they let out a greater output, making the sound louder and the low-end more pronounced.

However, tower speakers usually don’t have an integrated preamp, so most of them are passive. Or course, some models have an inbuilt preamp, but, as usual, their cost is very high.

In the case with bookshelf speakers, as they are intended to provide compactness, most of them are active since they have a preamp added in their construction.

2. Passive or Active? | Clearest Turntable Sound

Passive speakers can’t work out the turntable’s weak signal. This is due to the absence of a built-in amplifier. This means that you will need an AV receiver with an integrated amplifier or a separate amp.

This will increase the cost of your turntable audio system. However, a separate amplifier also offers many advantages, like upgrading and tweaking the overall sounding of your speakers.

Active speakers work as a great plug-and-play solution. You can connect them to a turntable and start listening to music straight after. This is very convenient and requires less budget. However, such speakers are usually designed to produce a simple sound.

3. Position your speakers in a proper way | Clearest Turntable Sound

The sound of speakers depends not only on their quality but on their correct placement as well. The improper positioning may negate the advantages of the most expensive equipment, while the correct one can push to the limit all the positive qualities of budget speakers.

If you need a truly clear sound, you need to be careful when placing the speakers and follow some rules.
Ideally, the sound wave must reach the listener before it bounces off the surface or objects. This way, the speakers must be installed on the short side of the room and turned to the listener at an angle of approximately 30°.

If the room is significantly elongated, the speakers will be better to place along a long wall. This will allow avoiding an excessive emphasis on bass, ringing, and rumble. The front speakers must be placed close to the equilateral triangle with the listener’s seat.

It’s not recommended to place the speakers in the room’s corners, although it seems to be the most convenient solution. Such an arrangement contributes to the appearance of significant phase distortion (echo) and strong standing waves.

It would help if you also didn’t place speakers to close to the wall as this will boost the low frequencies, and the sound won’t be balanced.

Many manufacturers provide some instructions on how to place the speakers in their user’s manuals. However, if you have limited space, you may not be able to follow those instructions. In this situation, you will have to dedicate some time to balance settings.

That would ease if you also weren’t afraid to experiment. Different people like different sounding and experiments with the speaker’s positioning will help you find your perfect one.

Source: https://helptochoose.com/blog/vinyl/best-speakers-for-vinyl/

The post Best Tips On How To Get The Clearest Turntable Sound appeared first on Tech India Today.

Natural language processing is a branch of AI that enables computers to learn and interpret human language. It is being used today by digital marketers to analyze customer intent and improve customer experience in ways that weren’t possible in the past.

1. How natural language processing works

Vast amounts of data exist today that can be mined for useful information. A large number of this data, consisting of emails, images, audio, social media posts, text messages, etc. is unstructured data.

Computers can go through data and analyze it to find patterns, but the problem is that machines find it difficult to understand human language. It is bound together by almost arbitrary rules – intonation, context, grammar, syntax, etc.

NLP uses algorithms to teach a machine to identify the intent of a speaker. The algorithm is trained based on examples. Historically, the algorithms were pretty bad at interpreting human language, but they have improved considerably. Now, when you open a website, you will often find a chatbot that works based on natural language processing and can understand and answer your queries.

As conversations can now take place between humans and computers, many things have benefited, and some examples of natural language processing include automatic text summarization, entity recognition, speech tagging, and topic extraction.

2. Applying NLP in digital marketing

One of the first requirements of using NLP is to have systems in place that can take advantage of the data as well as systems that can pass it on to yet other methods that can take action using it.

Coming together, NLP might run behind the scenes as a spam filter, a spell-checking app, a translation tool, or a chatbot. An NLP application that is probably most useful to marketers is sentiment analysis, which can provide them with actionable customer insights.

3. Sentiment analysis

Assume you are speaking to a friend about a product you bought. Sentiment analysis has advanced enough that it can give insight not only into what you are saying about the product but how you feel about it.

Most use of NLP in marketing revolves around social media. Social listening is a mainstream feature enabled by NLP. The technology is used to sift through millions of mentions about a given topic, pull out the most important ones and identify the overall ‘feeling’ about the subject, i.e., whether it is positive, neutral, or negative.

Marketers know that not all mentions are positive ones, and NLP can help to find negative remarks. Marketers can then address these to mitigate any negative consequences. Likewise, sentiment analysis can help marketers to identify people with a clear intention to purchase so they can take the necessary actions to make them aware of their brand.

Some NLP-enabled apps focus on specific social media platforms, and others are built into social media management apps, such as Hootsuite.

4. Search engine optimization (SEO)

Google BERT is the newest Google algorithm update that leverages natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning to improve searches. How does this affect brands and the content they produce going forward?

Any content that’s precise, well-written, and relevant will rank well, and brands that have already been creating high-quality content may see a boost. In creating content, it is essential to ask the questions an audience would ask and then proceed to answer them.

The popularity of voice shopping continues to expand, and when people search using voice, they use longer sentences than they may use when doing a text-based Google search. This means that varying keywords and long-tail key phrases become important in written content.

For a while now, writers have been able to use NLP in real-time to examine content as it is being written and get suggestions for improving it. It is possible to optimize average writing in this way highly. MarketMuse is one AI content intelligence and strategy platform that claims to be able to transform how you research, plan, and craft content.

5. Customer experience

Marketing and customer experience are not the same, but they’re closely related. Stress-free customer interactions are vitally important for overall company success.

Improving the performance of chatbots using NLP can improve the customer experience. Chatbots can respond to queries around the clock; they are objective and never in a bad mood. They can handle simple questions, and those they can’t deal with are passed on to humans who can answer them.

Customers must be able to access the information they need quickly and interact naturally with these tools that can help them. Automatic categorizing and tagging of customer support tickets based on sentiment analysis, for example, is a way for companies to ensure that the most critical queries are handled first.

Email marketing is still beneficial, and using NLP can help its ROI to improve even further. For example, NLP can measure how often users respond to specific keywords, which content attracts new users, and which headlines work better for individual users.

Chatbots can even offer significant marketing benefits in terms of conversions and sales when combined with targeting and marketing psychology. Retailer Asos found that their orders increased when they started using a Facebook Messenger chatbot, Enki, instead of a traditional ‘boring’ gift bot. They reached more people and saw a 250 percent return on spend.

Conclusion

Many new NLP-enable apps use actionable data to achieve a particular purpose. The degree to which companies move into using them will influence how NLP affects digital marketing in future years.

NLP-powered tools are continually evolving, and it’s essential to keep an eye on those that are being made available. No matter whether you are a small or large business or what you’re marketing, they offer some of the most practical and exciting uses of big data available to marketers today.

The post The Impact of Natural Language Processing on Digital Marketing appeared first on Tech India Today.

You’ll also come across some lesser-known options that make quite a lot of sense, at least financially. That doing answered, there are some distinct drawbacks to going for one of those less popular options, and they may be very far from the best option for you.

To make things a bit easier for you folks who are looking to invest in such a system, let’s take a look at two things. First, we’ll see those big brands, who they are, and what they offer.

And then we’ll take a look at some of the lesser-known options and see if it would be a smart choice to save a bit of money.

What Are Those Big Brands? – Less Popular Voice Assistants and Popular Voice Assistants

If you take a look at the industry, you’ll see it’s mostly dominated by Amazon, Google, and recently Apple. The companies have a massive market share, and their respective voice assistants are arguably the best on the market.

Amazon’s Alexa is currently the most popular option.

It comes with any of Amazon’s smart speakers and has support for the most significant number of original products, such as smart cameras, door locks, video doorbells, and lights. It’s also relatively reasonably priced, but you might not get all the user-friendliness you expected from it.

Then you’ve got Apple’s HomeKit. Even though this is a pretty new player in the industry, you’ll find that many people who have invested in Apple’s ecosystem find that this is the best option for them.

Apple has made sure the system is incredibly easy to set up and use, and when you get compatible devices, it works like a charm. The problem with it, however, is finding compatible devices – since they’re new to the game, not a lot of brands have proper support for them.

Last but not least, we’ve got Google Assistant. You don’t have to have a smart speaker for it, and you can use it from your Android phone, provided it has the Google Assistant. When you look at user-friendliness and device compatibility, it’s somewhere between Amazon and Apple, but it’s closer to Alexa because it supports a lot of devices.

What About the Less Popular Options? – Less Popular Voice Assistants and Popular Voice Assistants

AI by Xiaomi, Bixby by Samsung, and Cortana by Microsoft Less Popular Voice Assistants” />

Even among the “less popular” options, there are three that you’ll come across very often. We’re talking about Xiao AI by Xiaomi, Bixby by Samsung, and Cortana by Microsoft.

You might be familiar with them from other places, too – Bixby has been preloaded on many Samsung smartphones in the past period, and Cortana comes with Microsoft’s Windows 10 operating system.

The first difference between these three and the more common options we mentioned above is the compatibility with devices.

When you look at most security cameras or smart locks, you’ll see “Works with Alexa,” or “Google Home compatible.” Still, not many of them say they’ll work with Xiao AI, especially if Xiaomi doesn’t make them.

Of course, how much this impacts you depends on the devices you’re using, so if you’ve already invested in a security system, check if it’s compatible.

The second thing is reliability. The more popular options have a proven track record, and they’ll work well, without any problems.

This is a critical aspect of home security because your home isn’t all that secure if your system doesn’t work well. You’ll want everything to be reliable, and you’ll want it to work 24/7.

Last but not least, we must mention price, as this is where the less popular options tend to win, especially if you go for Xiaomi’s products.

If you take a look at the entire ecosystem as a whole, both the hardware and the software, you’ll find that Xiaomi’s products, for example, are a lot cheaper than competitive products that are made for Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri. And if you’re going to be investing in an entire system, this will make a significant difference.

Are They Worth It?

You can’t deny that you’ll be saving a lot of money by getting some less popular options. However, it would better if yourself kept in mind that your home’s security is in question here, and saving might not be the top priority – reliability should be.

If you want to play things smart, you should go with an option that has a proven track record and is known to work well, in a variety of situations – it’s your home’s security and your peace of mind we’re talking about, after all.

The post Less Popular Voice Assistants , Popular Voice Assistants – Are They Worth It for Home Security and Automation appeared first on Tech India Today.