How-to

One of the most important components in a gaming PC is also one of the most overlooked: storage. Killer video cards, monster CPUs and wide-screen monitors tend to get all the attention, but the hard drive also has a big impact on your gaming experience. It’s also one of the easiest components to change, and one where making a switch can have a big impact. Here’s how you choose a hard drive to get the best PC gaming experience.

After a two-week spring break, I’ve learnt what keeps kids entertained on a rainy spring day. Creating food and new recipes can take a boring day and make it fun, especially if you get the kids involved in the creating. Take a look at a few of my favourite kid-friendly recipes.

Sleep is such an important part of our lives even though we may not enjoy getting it with so many things to do and see. Regardless, there are ways to maximize the quality of your sleep in what little time you are in bed. In this final edition of the Smarten Up series, we discuss the values of colour with sleep as well as what smart home technology you can use to help you rest and wake up refreshed better.

Patio season is almost here and I’ve been doing some yard clean up to get ready. Next I’ll be setting up my patio furniture and deciding if I’ll be needing or wanting anything new this season. I love to entertain when the weather is nice, and I’m thinking this is the year to treat myself to a patio swing. Read on to see how you can make your patio beautiful with some great new pieces.

There are many tweaks and system upgrades that will help your PC perform better and seem more responsive. One of the overlooked ways you can boost performance is through faster Wi-Fi. Here’s how upgrading to 802.11ac can make your computer faster than ever.

When your little one’s close to arriving and it’s time to think about buying a baby monitor, you have a few different ways to go. In this edition of the Smarten Up series, we take a look at whether to go video and audio (or just audio) and taking a modernized look at the the traditional baby monitor. Not only can you use monitors to peer in on whether your baby’s ok, but some even offer Air Quality and Room Temperature real time readouts. Read on to find out more. 

One of the keys to sleeping comfortably at night is making sure that your room and your body are the right temperature. In this edition of the “Smarten Up” series, we look at the idea of using a smart thermometer to help you make sure that your room is a great temperature for you to fall asleep in. What are those optimal temperatures exactly? What makes the Ecobee 3 Thermostat a good choice for your home for this purpose? Read on to find out.

It’s almost Easter, and if you’re not quite ready for the festivities next week, here are a few great Easter sides and treats you can make for Easter this year.

In the first installment of the “Smarten Up” series, we discuss the idea of using smart locks to your advantage. We take a specific look at the August Smart Lock and its accompanying products. Bringing home the ability to open your locks without fumbling for keys and providing guests with access to your home without having to worry about cutting keys are convenience that you can offer while making it all look like a Jedi mind trick.