Be Mine Online: What's the Best Dating Site for You?
February 10th, 2012 - Posted by jeff
If you are looking for a fun date for Valentine's Day, try something new with an online dating site that is perfect for you. But with the hundreds of dating sites that seem to be available these days, how do you pick the one that's right for you? We can help. We've researched and tested the top dating sites to find out which ones have the best specializations. We include reviews of the best site for women, the best site for men, the site that is best for social networking, the best free site and the best site for those looking for that white picket fence. We also break down the pros and cons of each dating site. So find the best online dating site for you here!
Not sure any of these are the right fit for you? We review a slew of other online dating sites here.
Can I Save Information on My e-File Return and Finish It Later?
February 10th, 2012 - Posted by jeff
Q: When I start my e-file, can I save the information and return to review and do corrections a few days later?
Source: 401K on flickr
A: Luckily, most tax preparation services allow you to save your information so you don't have to finish your taxes in one sitting. All of the services that we review will not only let you pick up where you left off, they also let you jump back in the filing if you forgot any important information, such as a W-2 you may have forgotten about. An added bonus: If your computer crashes or you accidentally sign out, most of the services also have autosave, so you can pick back up where you left off.
Our top services, H&R Block, TurboTax and TaxACT, have a more intuitive interface, so it makes navigating your e-file much easier in case you need to jump around to fill in information you forgot about. They will also review your return before you submit it to make sure that you didn't accidentally skip over any vital information.
If you have more questions, feel free to check out the full reviews of the tax preparation services here.
How Can I Sync up my Desktop and Laptop?
February 9th, 2012 - Posted by polina
Q: I have a desktop and a laptop. I want to sync them up so that if I make a change on one, this change will show up on the other. Which service will allow me to do this?
Source: ZipCloud
A: You're in luck, we just released our new Cloud Storage reviews! These services allow you to sync your files across all of your devices. Choosing the right one really depends on your specific needs. SugarSync would be a great choice for you because it sounds like you want to do a lot of syncing. To do this, you must first backup your desktop and laptop using SugarSync. Once this is done, you can go to "manage sync folders" on either computer and choose which folders you want to keep synced on which computers. For quick syncing, you can add whatever files you want to keep synced up into the "magic briefcase." Whatever documents you add into the magic briefcase will be updated on either computer as you work.
Click here to compare all of our cloud storage services and get all of the specs!
Chemistry.com Offers Free Weekend Just in Time for Valentine's Day
February 9th, 2012 - Posted by mary
Source: Pen Waggener on flickr
It's that time of year again, and Chemistry.com is gearing up for Valentine's day with a Free Communication Weekend! That means for this weekend, February 10th through February 12th, all users can flirt, communicate, and get in the Valentine's Day mood for free. You don't need a promotion code to take advantage of this deal, just click here, or on any NextAdvisor link to Chemistry.com to start talking for free, all weekend long.
Since a full membership on Chemistry.com usually costs $26.65 per month, this is a great chance to try out the site's innovative personality-based matching service without the monthly commitment, or to use the paid communication features if you've been browsing for free.
New to online dating? Check out our detailed reviews of online dating services and a comparison chart of all the options or find the answers to some commonly asked questions.
Can You Keep Your Number Unlisted with VoIP?
February 8th, 2012 - Posted by mary
Q: When you switch to VoIP, can you keep your number non-published and unlisted ?
A: In general, yes. By default, VoIP providers do not list numbers when they issue them, so if you get a new number from a VoIP company, it will be unlisted unless you specifically add it to directories. With the exception of numbers currently carrying a DSL account, you can move an existing phone number from traditional service to any VoIP service without problems. However, keeping your VoIP number unlisted can be a little bit more complicated when you transfer it from a traditional phone service.
Listing is handled by your original phone company, so if your number is currently unlisted, be sure to tell the company you would like the number to remain unlisted when you port it to your new VoIP service. Most traditional phone providers have an option to remain unlisted when you port out your number, but it is handled on their end, not through the new VoIP provider. If you have questions about your specific number, try contacting your current phone provider and your new VoIP provider to be sure your number will stay private. If your primary concern is marketing phone calls, you might also consider adding your phone number to the national Do Not Call Registry to prevent telemarketers from calling you at home.
Got more questions about VoIP service? Head over to our VoIP FAQ section for a quick overview, or read comprehensive reviews and choose the right provider for your phone service.
How Can I Locate Old Birth and Death Records?
February 8th, 2012 - Posted by mary
Q: Which is the best people search service for Birth/Death records for going back over 75 years?
Image Source: tonrulkens on Flickr
A: While people search and background check services like our top-rated option, Intelius, can be great for locating criminal records, marriages, and legal histories, the best resources for finding birth and death records that old are generally geared towards genealogy research. In most states, birth and death records must be at least a certain number of years (often 75) old before they become public information. Once this information is public, it becomes easily accessible for genealogy enthusiasts and historians alike.
Our top three choices, Ancestry.com, Archives.com, and Footnote all do a pretty good job of locating birth, marriage, and death records, as well as census data, immigration information, and a wide range of other resources. We recommend Ancestry.com for its large resource base and ease of use, particularly for people planning to build a family tree. Footnote is more geared towards historians, if you're doing research on a family other than your own.
To compare all the genealogy services we've reviewed, head over to our comparison chart.
Can Cloud Storage Services Encrypt my Data?
February 7th, 2012 - Posted by polina
Q: I need a cloud storage service that will encrypt my files before they leave the computer, as they have personal data on them. Can they do this?
A: Security is very important when storing your files online, and that's why cloud storage services make data encryption a priority.
Image Source: finestdaily.com
A great example of this is SugarSync, our top rated cloud storage service. Before your files are uploaded online, they are transferred securely using TLS (Transport Layer Security), which is 3.3 SSL encryption. Then they are stored in the cloud in an encrypted format using 128-bit AES. This is highly secure. In fact, this is the same level of protection used for online financial transactions.
JustCloud, ZipCloud and MyPCBackup, which are all part of the same family of services, also take your data security very seriously. All of your data is transferred using a 256-bit AES encryption and is stored on the heavily monitored Amazon s3 data center.
Spideroak also puts a lot of emphasis on their security features. They are a "zero knowledge" cloud backup provider. Not only do they do standard triple-encryption, but they also have zero access to your account password, making it extra important for you to remember your own password or keep it in a safe place. They can't even see your folder or file names — this information just looks like numbers of encrypted data on their end.
Thus, no matter which service you choose, you can rest assured that your data is safe. Compare all of our cloud storage services and find the right one for you!
Can I Use Multiple Phones with VoIP?
February 7th, 2012 - Posted by mary
Q: I have four phones on the same phone line. Will I be able to keep all four phones with VoIP?
Source: Karolina Kabat on Flickr
A: This depends on how your phones are currently set up. If, like many people, you use a standard cordless phone system where one base phone plugs into a standard phone jack in the wall and the others transmit wirelessly from that base unit, your phones should work exactly the same with a VoIP system once you plug the base unit into your VoIP adapter.
If all four phones currently plug into their own wall jacks, you have a couple of options for multiple phones. If your phones are plugged in in separate rooms, you might want to use wireless phone jacks, also known as portable phone jacks, to connect your phones through the electrical wiring in your house. A main base plugs in to the VoIP adapter, and then individual extender ports for each phone plug into electrical outlets around the house. This can cause some interference or audio issues, but is simpler than some of the other options.
Splitters are another possibility if you don't mind dealing with running wires from room to room. A splitter plugs into the VoIP phone jack and provides multiple phone ports, which you can then use to plug in a number of phones.
Finally, you can use your existing telephone wiring to route your VoIP service throughout your home. This option is best if you live in a single-family house, as redoing the wiring might cause problems for other residents in an apartment or condo building. To do this, you must separate your house's wiring from the phone company's outside system and connect it to the VoIP adapter. This change is reversible. Although you can do the wiring yourself, an electrician can help with the process. Check with your VoIP provider to see if they can recommend an electrician or other professional. VoIP providers may also provide resources to help you do the rewiring yourself. Some VoIP providers advise against rewiring your house because traditional telephone wires carry a charge that can sometimes damage VoIP equipment. If you're thinking about Vonage service, click here to read our blog post on using your existing home wiring with Vonage for more detailed information about rewiring.
If you just need one extra plug, some VoIP providers' adapters have more than one phone port, including one of our top-rated options, VOIPo, which offers an adapter with two phone ports.
Long story short, multiple phones are very doable with VoIP, but you might want to switch to a cordless system, since overall, the simplest solution is definitely to use one main base and a number of cordless handsets rather than to install a splitter, redo home wiring, or use wireless extensions.
Got other questions about VoIP? Compare services head to head with our comprehensive charts for home or business VoIP services. You can also read our FAQs, delve into detailed individual reviews, or take a look at other blog posts answering common VoIP questions.
Can I Use the Same VoIP Line for Voice and Fax Calls?
February 6th, 2012 - Posted by mary
Q: My landline and fax use the same phone line. How will this work with VoIP?
Source: Yortw on flickr
A: If you currently use your phone line for occasional faxes, you can use a VoIP line in exactly the same way. With Vonage, you can just connect your VoIP phone line to your fax machine as you would with a standard landline. Note that just like a regular phone line, if you are using the line to send or receive a fax, you can't make voice calls at the same time. Many services recommend that you get a second, dedicated fax line if you plan to leave your fax machine connected.
Some VoIP companies also offer internet-based fax features. One of our most popular options, Phone.com offers web-based faxing straight from your internet browser. Check out our full review of Phone.com to find out how to get 10% off six months of the company's Home/Residential Phone Service Plus.
If you're interested in adding separate Internet Fax services to your landline or VoIP service, you can also check out our comparisons and detailed reviews of Internet Fax companies, or read this previous post on faxing with a VoIP account.
What MP3 Player Works With Barnes and Noble Audiobooks?
February 6th, 2012 - Posted by mary
Q: Which MP3 player should I buy to download audible books from Barnes and Noble? I have Windows Vista.
Source: gcg2009 on flickr
A: We've addressed this question in general before on the blog, but I can offer a few specific pieces of advice for working with Barnes and Noble files. Users almost always download audiobooks through their computers. Barnes and Noble uses a free piece of software called the OverDrive Media Consul to download purchased files. This program should work fine on either a Mac or a PC. You can read more about how the download software performed in our detailed review of Barnes and Noble's audiobooks.
Some people choose to listen to their audiobooks on the computer, which doesn't require any extra equipment. If you'd like to take your books with you and listen to them on the go, any MP3 player should be able to handle files from Barnes and Noble, including iPods and iPhones. Today, most MP3 players will work with both Mac and PC operating systems, including Windows Vista. The ODM Consul can transfer the files to the MP3 player of your choice, or you can transfer them through a music program like iTunes.
Looking for reviews of other audiobook providers? Check out our Audiobooks Downloads and Rentals section!
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