How Things Work - Page 2 of 5

FAT32 vs. exFAT vs. NTFS: What’s the Difference?

When it comes to file systems, you have probably heard of FAT32, exFAT and NTFS. What are the differences between them, and which one should you use?

How Does Reverse Image Search Work?

Many people know there are search engines to find similar images, but few know how they work. Here is a look at how reverse image search works.

What Is Epoch Time All About?

How does your PC keep track of time? It picks a point of reference and counts the number of seconds elapsed since that point! This is what Epoch Time is about.

Color Codes: What’s the Difference Between Hex, RGB, and HSL?

Hex, RGBA, and HSLA are 3 of the most commonly used color codes. Listed here are some of the differences between Hex, RGB and HSL.

What Is Bitcoin’s Lightning Network?

The Bitcoin network doesn’t have the capacity to process multiple transactions at once. The Lightning Network is looking to change this and fasten up bitcoin transaction.

LTE vs 4G: Is There a Difference?

You have probably heard of 4G and LTE, but what do they really mean in the real world? Let us take a look at LTE vs. 4G and determine their differences.

How the Interplanetary File System (IPFS) Could Decentralize the Web

Thanks to the Interplanetary File System, we can now enjoy a faster and more efficient content delivery and also a more democratic decentralized Internet.

What Is Bandwidth? Everything You Need to Know

If you use the Internet regularly, you’ve heard the term “bandwidth” before. So what is bandwidth, and how did it come to be as fast as it is now?

Is Employee Monitoring Software Legal?

There is a range of employee monitoring software designed to keep tabs on employees. How legal is this, and can a boss get into serious legal trouble?

Powerline adapters are small devices that utilize the existing electrical wiring in your home to deliver an Internet connection. They are affordable and easy to install, making them an attractive option.

What Is HTTP3 and How Does It Improve Your Browsing Speed

HTTP/3 is the third and latest version of the Hypertext Transfer Protocol. Here is how HTTP/3 works and how it can improve a site’s loading speed.

What Is Keyboard Ghosting and Why Should You Care?

The term “keyboard ghosting” is a lot less scary than it sounds. Despite this, the question remains: what is ghosting, and why should you care about it?

How “Sign in with Apple” Works and Why It’s Different

Apple’s new “Sign in with Apple” system is aiming to fix the privacy issue with other third-party login systems. Here’s how Sign in with Apple works and how it is different from the rest.

The Differences Between Permissioned and Permissionless Blockchains

One of the biggest divisions in blockchain technology is permissioned vs. permissionless blockchains. Here are the differences between a permissoned and permissionless blockchain.

What Is IPv6 and How Can You Make Sure Your Site Is IPv6 Ready?

You may have heard the term IPv6 but don’t know what it means. IPv6 is important to the Internet, especially if you have a website. Learn what IPv6 is here.

Why Is Printer Ink So Expensive?

If you own an ink printer, you’ll know how expensive it is to refill it with ink. Here are some of the reasons why printer ink is so epensive.

How Does GPS Work?

People use GPS extensively every day, but not many people know how it actually works. Let’s open the hood on GPS and see how it works.

What Are Stablecoins, and Are They Safer than Bitcoin?

Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed specifically to prevent big changes in their value. Are they safer than Bitcoins and other cryptocurrency? Let’s find out.

What Is a Laser Projector and How Is It Different from a Usual Projector

The newest kid on the block is the laser projector, which is different from the usual bulb projector. Learn the pros and cons of a laser projector before you make your purchase decision.

How Do Fingerprint Scanners Work?

Fingerprint unlock is now a standard feature in smartphones, but what’s actually going on when you put your finger on the scanner? Here’s how fingerprint scanners work.

Brain-Computer Interfaces: What Are They and Why Are We Hearing About them Now?

The concept behind brain-computer interfaces is fairly basic. Using the neurons and electrical signals in the brain, we can control things with our thoughts.

What Does “4K” Mean for Televisions?

You may have seen the term “4K” when shopping for a TV. Many people are confused by this term. So, what is 4K, and what does it mean for your TV?

How Amazon Alexa Isolates Wake Words

The Amazon Echo is only able to record voice commands after the wake word. Learn how Alexa recognizes the wake word amid the background noises in your home.

The Anatomy of a QR Code: How QR Codes Work

How QR codes work is by conveying information through a graphical code of black and white pixels. It can also be decoded even if parts of the code are unreadable.

NFC vs Bluetooth: What’s the Difference?

NFC and Bluetooth both provide reliable communication between devices over short ranges. That is the only similarity. Beyond that, they are very different.

What You Need to Know About UFS 3.0 Storage

A lot of the high-end smartphones today are already running the Universal Flash Storage (UFS) standard. Find out what UFS 3.0 brings to the table.

It’s Not Just GPS: We Have Six Global Navigation Satellite Systems, and They’re Getting Better

GPS is not the only positioning system around. There are several other global navigation satellte systems that your phone can access.

How Does the Apple Credit Card Work?

If you’ve used Apple Pay before, you already have a good idea of how the Apple Credit Card works, since it’s just a card optimized for use with iPhones.

USB Power Delivery Explained

USB Power Delivery is designed to be a single charging standard that provides a safe and efficient way to push the limits of voltage and current to devices.

What Is a VPN, and Why Do I Need One?

A VPN is currently the best way to protect your device from hacking, DNS/IP address leaks and ISP surveillance. Learn what a VPN is and how it can protect you.

How Modern Video Compression Algorithms Actually Work

Modern video compression algorithms aren’t the same as the image compression algorithms you might be familiar with. Here’s how video compression works.

RFID Blocking Wallet: Are They Useful?

Thieves can easily steal information from your credit cards if the card has an embedded RFID chip. This is where an RFID blocking wallet is useful.

What Is a Time-of-Flight Camera and How Does It Work?

You’ve probably noticed that many flagship phones nowadays come with a time-of-flight camera. But what is a time-of-flight camera, and how does it work?

How to Buy Bitcoin

While the inner mechanisms of cryptocurrency are complex, buying and using it is actually very easy. Here is how you can buy bitcoin and start using it.

What Is Serverless Computing?

Serverless computing is a new trend that allows developers to host their apps and websites without having to run or maintain a server. Find out how it works here.

Are Dark Themes Really Better for Your Eyes and Battery?

Using a dark theme is said to be better for eyesight and battery life; how accurate is this? Here we will debunk the myths about dark themes.

Dolby Atmos vs DTS:X – Which Is Better?

Different codecs, like Dobly Atmos and DTS:X, have different surround-sound capabilities and support different types of hardware used in higher-end home theater systems.

How an Accelerometer in a Smartphone Works to Track Your Movement

The accelerometer is the component in your phone that detects if you are holding it upright or sideways. Find out how an accelerometer works in a smartphone.

What Is Bluetooth 5.1 and How Is It Different?

Bluetooth 5.1 is here, and it comes with handy improvements. This short primer on Bluetooth 5.1 shows how it’s different from the previous standard.

How Secure Is Your Stolen Encrypted Data?

Chances are that some of your data has been stolen. There’s a good chance it was encrypted, but how secure is your stolen encrypted data?

What Is “Ping” and How Does It Affect the Internet?

You may have come across the term “ping,” but what is a “ping” really? What does it mean in the computing world, and why does it have such an odd name?

Hashing vs. Encryption: How Your Password Is Being Stored in Server

There are various methods used to safely store your password in a web server. Here we show how password hashing, encryption and storage works.

Audio Wars: Digital (S/PDIF) vs. HDMI vs. Analog

From analog to digital, there are quite a few audio formats that are still in use today. Should you use Digital (S/PDIF), HDMI or just plain analog? Let’s check it out.

The Pros and Cons of Your Technology’s Short Lifespan

Technology products are designed to have a short lifespan, whether you like it or not. There is some rationale behind them, though a little outrage over planned obsolescence is certainly justified.

How macOS App Sandboxing Protects Users

Sandboxing is a tool used by macOS to limit the damage that a hijacked app can do. Here is how macOS app sandboxing works to protect its users.

Why Do Data Breaches Happen So Often?

The news is packed with reports of huge data breaches, and they never seem to cease. This is a quick look at how data breaches work and why it is impossible to eradicate them.

9 Great Ergonomic Improvements to Make at Your Work Area

Ergonomics is about decreasing strain by ensuring safe and optimal working conditions. Here are nine great ergonomic improvements to get you started.

Robotic Process Automation vs. Artificial Intelligence: What’s the Difference?

Robotic process automation and artificial intelligence are starting to take over ever-increasing levels of knowledge work. Check out their differences and how they affect you.

How Does Airplane Wi-Fi Work?

Did you recently access the Internet on a commercial flight and wonder how you are able to connect to the Web at such a high altitude? Here’s how airplane Wi-Fi works.

What Is Ethical Hacking and How Do You Become One?

Ethical hackers are people who hack for a good cause. These people use their hacking skills to uncover security flaws of a website/app. Find out how ethical hacking works.