Automatically Shutdown Android Phone/Tablet

Do you want to automatically shutdown android phone or tablet? And yet not sure if it is possible or not? Well! It is completely doable, but only works on a rooted android device. Here we will see how to shutdown android mobile automatically at specific time using android app. There are a lot of auto shutdown apps available for Android, but only a few of them are up to the task. Below I have shared two such android apps that help you to shut down android automatically.

Remember that the app method is only applicable to rooted android devices and for good reason.

Shutdown Android Automatically using Apps

The first App is Automateit and is not just a simple auto shut downer. The android app is feature rich and allows you to automate various tasks on your Android phone or tablet.

All you have to do is to set up rules consisting 'Trigger-Action' and make your Smartphone behave as you want.

Using Automateit App to Auto Shutdown Android:

1. From your Android phone, go to the Google Play Store, download and install the Automateit app.

2. Once installed, start the application. You must now set up a new rule to shut down android mobile automatically at a certain time.

3. For that, tap on 'Add Rule' option. It will open a screen to add new rule and contains several types of triggers for you to set.

4. Go to 'Common' section and choose 'Time Trigger'. You will see a timer on the screen. Set the time you want the phone to shutdown automatically. There will also be an option to repeat the trigger every day or on specific days of the week.

5. The 'Every Day' option is checked by default. You must remove the tick mark to see other available options.

6. Once the timer is set, press 'Next' and it will take you to the 'Action' screen.

7. From there, go to 'System' and select the 'Shutdown Device Action' option.

8. On the next screen provide a name for this rule and select 'Save' in the upper right corner of the screen.

Done! From now on your phone will turn off when it gets to the specified time. If you wish, you can also set up multiple shutdown rules using the app. But remember that the app will only shutdown your phone, but it is up to you to boot it when necessary.

In case you want to disable the automatic shutdown process, go to 'My Rules' and choose the name of the rule. Press the 'ON' button to deactivate the rule. It is a toggle switch, so you have to simply tap it again to enable the rule.

To permanently delete the rule, select 'Delete Rule'. And to change shutdown time or something else, choose 'Edit Rule', change and save it.

2. Shutdown Timer

If you need a basic auto scheduler that is simple to use, then 'Shutdown Timer' is for you. The app is useful to shutdown, restart or switch into flight mode at specific time. Keep in mind that this application requires root access.

1. To set up automatic shutdown from your Android phone, visit play store, download and install Shutdown Timer application.

2. Once installed, open the app. For the first time the app will display a warning, so you must click 'Allow' for the app to work.

3. You will now see a timer screen where you will need to set the time and date for auto shutdown.

4. Once configured, go to the bottom, click 'Action' tab and set it to shutdown device.

5. Finally, select 'Schedule' button to set automatic shutdown timer.

That's it! Your Android mobile will shutdown at the scheduled time and date automatically.

With both of the above apps, you can make your android device to shutdown automatically. The apps require root access and the reason behind this makes sense, as it is dangerous to give external apps the power to shutdown your device automatically. So if you are desperate, root your android and use this feature.

Fix Invalid IMEI Error in Android Phone (MTK)

Do you know how to fix invalid imei error in android? If you don't, here is the solution for imei error. After factory reset, Android upgrade or custom ROM installation may sometimes result in an invalid IMEI error. The error occurs mostly on Mediatek Android devices and raises network issues. It makes your Phone's Sim unrecognizable and prevents you from making and receiving calls.

Fortunately invalid IMEI is a common problem and has some quick fix. But before going into the solutions, here's a little background about IMEI for complete beginners.

What is the IMEI Number?

IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. It consists of a unique fifteen-digit number and is used to identify GSM Phones. So is Sim number not enough? Why the need for IMEI? Generally Sim no. is associated with individuals and can be exchanged from phone to phone. But that's not the case with the IMEI number. It is exclusive to a particular handset and cannot be inter-changed between devices. Therefore, it is useful to track the device from anywhere.

How to Fix Invalid IMEI Error in Android?

Below I have shared two different methods by which you can solve invalid imei problem in android devices.

Method-1) Reset IMEI Number

In the first method you have to reset the imei number to the handset.

What you'll need?

• Rooted Android Phone
• Your Phone's IMEI Number
• Mobileuncle Tools (or) MTK Engineering Mode App

First make sure that your Android phone is rooted otherwise the method will not work.

To try this method you must know the IMEI number of your device. Generally dialing '*#06#' from the phone will display the IMEI number of the handset. But in our case it will not work and you'll get an invalid error.

But don't worry! You have other ways to find out the phone's IMEI.

If you are lucky enough to have the handset's retail box you can find the IMEI printed on it. If your phone comes with a removable battery, then open the device, remove the battery and find a label that contains the phone's IMEI numbers.

Once you have the IMEI number, write it down on paper.

1. Now download and install Mobileuncle Tools App on your Android phone.

2. Then open the App and tap on 'Engineer Mode' option on the screen.

3. On the Engineer Mode screen, tap the 'Engineering Mode (MTK)' option.

4. Next swith over to 'Connectivity' and tap on 'CDS Information' at the bottom and tap again on 'Radio Information'.

5. If your phone is dual-sim, you will see 'Phone 1' & 'Phone 2' which represents 'Sim 1' and 'Sim 2' respectively.

6. Select 'Phone 1' and you'll see 'AT+' in a textbox. Now enter EGMR=1,7,"YOUR_IMEI_NUMBER" next to it. Make sure your full command looks like AT+EGMR=1,7,"YOUR_IMEI_NUMBER" and tap 'Send AT Command' button. You will get a pop-up window that shows 'AT Command Sent'.

7. You must repeat the process for 'Sim 2' as well. For that select 'Phone 2' and type AT+EGMR=1,10,"YOUR_IMEI_NUMBER" and press 'Send AT Command'. Make sure to use the second IMEI number for Sim 2.

8. When finished, reboot the phone.

Congratulations! You have successfully fixed the invalid IMEI error on Android.

If you face problem sending 'AT Command', try a space between 'AT' and '+' like this, AT<space>+EGMR=1,7,"YOUR_IMEI_NUMBER" and both methods work for me.

Method-2) Restore IMEI Backup

With the second method you can simply restore the IMEI number on handset and you are good to go.

What you'll need?

• Rooted Android Smartphone
• IMEI Number Backup
• Mobileuncle Tools

1. Download and install Mobileuncle Tools App on your Android mobile. Once installed, launch the application and tap on 'IMEI Backup Restore (MTK)' option.

2. You will now see four options on the screen. The first two are meant for taking IMEI backup and the next two for restoring IMEI on the phone.

3. If you have an IMEI backup file in the internal storage, choose the 'Restore IMEI from SDCARD(MTK)' option. If you have stored the backup in the external storage (SD Card), select the last option 'Restore IMEI from SDCARD2(MTK)'.

This will restore the IMEI number on the phone. Just make sure you have the backup in the root folder of the storage.

Reboot your phone and dial *#06# from your device. You will receive the IMEI number if the error was solved.

I hope now you have a better understanding of fixing invalid imei error on android. Note that the above methods will only work for mediatek devices. Also, Mobileuncle Tools is not available in the Play Store so you have to get it elsewhere. You can also use the MTK Engineering Mode application as an alternative. If you find this post useful, don't forget to share it in social media.

How to Stop Autoplay Videos on Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Opera

Hi! This post will show you how to stop autoplay video on chrome, firefox, safari and opera browser. Auto play videos suck and unfortunately they are all over web. It's pretty hard to miss them! They steal your internet bandwidth and annoys to no end. And then there's this music too. If you use latest web browsers then they are fully equipped to block flash-based videos by themselves. But websites these days uses HTML5 to play videos and media. And they'll automatically start playing once the page loads.

Luckily you can stop autoplaying videos no matter its Flash or HTML5. Here I have shared some of the methods you can use to stop video autoplay on various browsers like chrome, firefox, opera and safari.

1. Stop Video Autoplay on Chrome

Chrome ships with built-in support to stop auto playing flash videos. But there are complaints about them not working. So if you have such issues then I recommend you to use a chrome extension. Just go to chrome store, download and install flashcontrol extension. Once installed it will automatically stop flash videos from playing.

The extension will simply disable flash on chrome. At any time you can easily enable flash by changing the settings.

To do so right click on the extension and choose 'Allow flash plugins on this site' or any other option you prefer.

If you notice the extension will work only for flash videos. HTML5 videos will still be playing automatically on chrome.

To stop HTML5 video auto-play get this extension instead. Once enabled, chrome will load HTML5 video but won't play it automatically. It's your call to watch it or not.

2. Stop Video Autoplay on Firefox

With Firefox you don't need plugins to stop autoplaying video at start. You can just do it right in the browser settings itself.

To stop flash video auto play in firefox, open firefox, go to 'Tools' > 'Add-ons' or simply hit the hotkey 'Ctrl+Shift+A'.

Navigate to 'Plugins' section and look for 'Shockwave Flash'. By default the dropdown besides the plug-in will show 'Always Activate', means it's enabled.

To disable Flash in Firefox choose 'Ask to Activate' option from the dropdown. This will prevent flash videos from auto-playing.

Next we have to stop HTML5 videos.

To stop autoplaying HTML5 video in firefox, enter 'about:config' in the address bar and click on "I'll be careful, I promise" button.

Now search for the option 'media.autoplay.enabled'. Once you find it double-click on it to turn it off. Else you can simply right-click click and choose 'Toggle' option. This will disable auto play.

From now on HTML5 video won't play automatically anymore on loading.

The only downside to this method is it will also prevent vimeo videos from playing. As a Vimeo user I find it annoying but guess it wouldn't be a problem to others.

Flashstoper Plugin for Firefox

If you don't bother using one more plugin, I recommend get flashstopper plugin for firefox. It will stop both flash and html5 video auto play on firefox but will not get in the way of Vimeo playback.

3. Stop Video Autoplay on Safari

If you use Mac, then there's good workaround to disable playing videos automatically in Safari. 'ClickToPlugin' tends to work earlier but seems it no longer get updates. So we have to go for other method.

First you need to turn on Safari Debug menu. For that open Terminal and type the below lines into it, hit Return and wait for couple of seconds.

defaults write com.apple.Safari
IncludeInternalDebugMenu 1

Using option '1' will enable Debug menu in safari browser. Later you can turn off Debug menu by using option '0' like this,

defaults write com.apple.Safari
IncludeInternalDebugMenu 0

But for now you just enable Debug menu so that we can stop auto play videos.

Now quit Terminal and open Safari browser. Find Debug menu and select 'Media Flags' > 'Disallow Inline Video' option (You can also try 'Video Needs User Action' if this raise issues but both options has little difference).

That's it! It will prevent autoplaying videos/audio in safari.

4. Stop Autoplay Video in Opera

And here's the method to turn off autoplay videos in opera browser. It's really very simple. You have to download and install Disable HTML5 Autoplay extension for opera. Once installed you don't have to worry about autoplaying videos anymore.

Best Bluetooth Key Wallet Finder & Luggage Tracking Tags 2017

Best Bluetooth Keychain Wallet Finder 2017 - If you are the one who always scramble for keys on your way out of the house then attach a wireless bluetooth key finder to them and make your life easier. These tiny dongles works on bluetooth and alerts you about their where-about with beep sound. Key Finders connects with your smartphone and helps tracking keychain, car keys, wallets, purses, remotes, track luggages and even your pets. All you have to do it to attach a key finder/tracker to them and can easily track them from your phone or pc.

Life is hectic and we are likely to misplace common things like wallets, car keys, remotes and even mobile phones. And the worst case scenario it to forget or lose them. So it's wise to buy and attach a good key finder and locate them on unfortunate situations.

What is a Key Finder and How it Works?

Key Finders are tiny GPS tracking devices and syncs with your mobile or pc using integrated app. So if you want to track say key-chain, then you must tag it with the finder gadget. In-case you have misplaced or lost it, you can locate it easily with mobile or pc. But what if you have lost your phone or laptop itself? Still you can find them with finder gadget. Pretty nice huh!

Come let's see what are the best bluetooth key & wallet finders you can buy in 2017.

Top 10 Best Wireless Bluetooth Key Wallet Finders 2017:

1. Tile Mate Key Finder - All Purpose Key Finder

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Tile Mate is an all-purpose best key phone wallet finder you can buy in the market as of now. It is extremely lite and comes with durable battery. Tile Mate is an all-in-one gadget finder/pet tracker and helps locating all those little things you value most in life. You can easily hook it to a key chain or stick to wallet, purse, mobile, laptop or even your lovely pet. Later track them with the help of integrated tile app when you have to.

Simply use your mobile phone to ring tile mate and easily locate the item out of sight. But what if you have misplaced mobile itself? Just simply double press the button on Tile Mate and your mobile will start ringing and let you know where it is.

In case your item is stolen you can log in to the tile app and mark it as lost. When any of the tile user comes within the range of your lost item, the app alerts you where about.

Good thing is you'd get huge discounts for bulk purchases, highly recommended.

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2. TrackR Bravo

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TrackR Bravo is another best bluetooth wallet, keychain finder and let you easily locates misplaced items and devices with its app and Bluetooth technology. There is not much difference with TrackR App than the rest in this list but when it comes to design this one wins.

It has got pretty sturdy built to last long and cool LED indicator light that blinks when the alarm goes on. Would be very handy when you try to locate it in dark.

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3. Pebblebee Honey

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Pebblebee Honey is an all-purpose gadget finder with stunning coverage of 150 ft. It comes with the best luggage tracking tags. It is extremely good at discovering items out of sight even in dark with blinking LED light. Plus the best part of this finder gadget is its highly customizable app. The app comes with so many cool features and easy to set up and use on your Phone or PC.

You can even trigger your mobile to snap photos and record videos with it. It also automatically alerts you when you move out of the discoverable range of items.

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4. iHere 3.0

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This key and gadget finder works on Bluetooth and comes with cool design and noteworthy features. The device is rechargeable which alone makes it to stand out from the crowd. So you don't have to change battery when you run out of fuel.

Plus the app is highly customizable and all you have to do is to tag the items in the app and it will start tracking them. And you will be alerted when you move out of the limited range of the tagged items. Another interesting feature is its LED indicator which helps locating items in the dark.

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5. Luxsure Smart Tag Nut 3

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Luxsure Smart Tag Nut 3 is the next generation key finder and can be bought as sets of one, two & three packs. The tags are extremely lite and cover good range. Its intergrated app is user friendly and easy to setup and customize. You can tag items, set ringer volume, automatic triggers and much more.

To use Luxsure Smart Tag Nut, attach the tags to the items you want to track. Then install the app to your Smartphone, pair up the tagged items for tracking and set up remote alerts.

This will ring and alert you when you move out of the range of items. You can also reverse trigger to let your mobile beep when you misplaced it.

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6. Magicfly Wireless RF Key Finder

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Magicfly Wireless RF Key Finder is affordably priced and comes with 4-receivers and a transmitter. It is relatively good at locating misplaced items and has good coverage.

It has got so many user reviews and ratings and that accounts for the high durability and excellent build quality.

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7. Click ‘n Dig E4 Key Finder

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Click ‘n Dig Key Finder is another good choice in our list of best key wallet finders. You don't have to integrate it with phone as it comes with its own RF receiver.

It is sold in sets as E2 (2 finders), E4 (4 finders) & F6 (6 finders). As for E4 pack, it contains 4 receivers and one RF transmitter. There are two key ringers which you can chain through keychain & luggage zip lock to track luggages during travel and two flat ones to stick to wallets, phones, laptops and alike.

Tags come in four different colors and the transmitter contains four buttons each one for a receiver. You have to long press the button to trigger alarm of the particular item. The ring is loud and works well within 80 feet range. Overall it's very simple and effective if your range is short.

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8. WTR (Where's the Remote) Key Finder

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WTR Key Finder is for people who likes simple uncomplicated device. The dongle covers a good range of about 70 to 110 feet and comes in a pack of four key-ring finders and a transmitter. All of the four receivers are of different colored and whenever you want to track a particular item you have to long press the corresponding colored button on the transmitter. Then the item tagged with particular color beeps to let you know where it is.

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9. JTD Wireless RF Item Locator/Key Finder

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JTD Wireless RF Key Finder is another alternative that has solid body built, better coverage range and battery backup. The device comes with a transmitter and 4 receivers of which two are key ring finders and two are flat receivers which you can stick up to wallet, purse, mobile or laptop. The transmitter comes with a base and has decent performance.

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10. iKee Bluetooth Smart Finder

This Smart Key Finder works on Bluetooth and comes with a smart receiver and mobile app. The receiver is so small and can easily be tagged to key chain, wallet or even your dog or cat. Then you have to install the app on your Smartphone and pair the tags for the device to track and store the location of items. Later whenever you misplaced or lost the item, just open the tracking app and trigger alarm to locate it.

Overall a decent tracker, but certainly has limitations like limited range, non-waterproof body and constant Bluetooth disconnection to preserve battery juice.

Our Picks for Best Gaming Mouse for Dota 2 in 2017 (Pro Players Choice)

Dota 2 is one of the Best MOBA game out there played by millions of gamers. No matter if you are a good player, your hardware is what determines gaming performance, especially the Mouse. A good gaming mouse will provide better gaming experience in games like Dota 2. You can't play the game with just any mouse. They are likely to buckle under the strain the game puts on it. Therefore it is better to invest in a good gaming mouse which is convenient and has lots of features required for playing Dota 2.

Choosing the best mouse for playing Dota 2 would be daunting since the market is crowded with a wide range of selection. Apart from the price factor you have to look for features like DPI, Macro buttons, Ergonomic design etc.

Top 5 Gaming Mice for Playing Dota 2

1. Razer DeathAdder Chroma

Razer DeathAdder Chroma is one of the Best Gaming Mice to Play Dota 2. It is the most popular choice among Dota 2 players and the ergonomic design perfectly fits under your palm. You won't feel any strain at all even after hours of playing.

It features an optical sensor of 10,000 DPI which is excellent for the price range. And the mouse responds with amazing precision no matter you play on fast or slow pace.

When it comes to programmable buttons DeathAdder has five buttons no less or more. It is more than enough to play Dota 2 game. You can use them for linking skills and item slots. Sure enough you can go for a mouse with more buttons but having less buttons is sort of convenient and less-confusing in my opinion.

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2. Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum

Logitech 502 is a great alternative choice for playing Dota 2. It is one such mouse that suits all sorts of grips and games. Being the most customizable mouse in the market you can tune it to suit your personal taste.

What we like most is the customizable weights. Yep! You can add extra weights to Logitech G502 to give balance and comfort to reach greater accuracy in the heat of the game.

Plus there are eleven programmable buttons which is twice as much of Razer DeathAdder Chroma. So if you play other games then these extra buttons will be quite useful.

As for design it is not overly big or small. Just the right size to fit snugly under your palm. And the ergonomic design offers comfortable grip without strain. Overall Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum is a great value for money gaming mouse.

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3. Razer Naga Ergonomic Mouse

Razer Naga is a good versatile gaming mouse popular among gamers. The mouse is excellent in its ergonomic factor and offers maximum comfort while playing. If you feel heavy mice are inconvenient to use for hours then you'll love Razer Naga. The mouse is light-enough to glide easily on your mouse pad.

And the best part is it has 12 configurable side buttons which you can use to attach skills and items in Dota 2. Plus the super-responsive 4G laser sensor provides up to 8200 DPI resolution.

Overall Razar Naga is a good gaming mouse with lots of programmable buttons and cool performance.

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4. Logitech G400s

Logitech G400s is another great choice for playing Dota 2. It comes with very good ergonomic design and sculpted grip for better handling. There are 8 configurable buttons on the mouse for linking anything you want in Dota 2.

Its 4000 DPI optical sensor offers high-precision gaming experience. Plus you can switch over to various DPI settings with single click of a button.

Overall it's a great gaming mouse from Logitech suitable to play all MOBA games especially Dota 2. It has got report rate of 1 millisecond and low-friction feet which makes it suitable for playing FPS games too.

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5. SteelSeries Rival

SteelSeries Rival optical gaming mouse is a popular choice among Dota 2 players for several reasons. The mouse has a very good resolution of 6500 DPI with a quick response time of 1 millisecond for gaming experience without delays. Plus it comes with 6 configurable buttons to bind skills in Dota 2 game.

Dota 2 players will appreciate the ergonomic design and incredible smoothness under their palm. And the buttons are well-placed for easy access in the heat of the game.

If you run out of mouse often then you must seriously consider SteelSeries Rival as it is highly durable and guarantees 30 million clicks of a life cycle.

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How to Pick the Best Mouse for Dota 2?

In a Moba game like Dota 2 your Mouse plays a key role. High precision and responsiveness vastly improves the gaming experience.

DPI Is Important:

DPI or Dots-per-inch refers to the sensitivity of a mouse. Having higher DPI will let you play with more precision and respond to minor movements as well. As for Dota 2 you can settle for 5-6K DPI but if you also play FPS games then you may need to go for much higher DPI range. Some mice come with dedicated button and you can switch over DPI range with a flick of a button.

Wired or Wireless - Which one is best?

With wired gaming mouse you will never be out of connectivity and enjoy the best responsiveness you require for moba games. Of course there are some good wireless gaming mice in the market with superb responsiveness. Overall it comes down to the personal preference. If you don't mind cords, then go for wired mouse. This will also save you some bucks.

Do You Need Programmable Buttons?

Having a few programmable buttons will be very useful for playing MOBA, MMO games. Some may use only keyboard but others rely on mouse. As for Dota 2 binding items and skills to buttons will offer fast access. You may not need more than 4-5 buttons for this purpose.

Design Factor:

Ergonomic is the key. If you are a hardcore player I don't have to tell you how much mouse design affects you physically. Ergonomically designed mouse offers greater comfort even after long hours of gaming session. Brands like Logitech, Razer are the key-players in this gaming market and produces mouse with good ergonomic forms.

If you are not sure which mouse to pick for Dota 2 then go through our recommended mice section. They are convenient, cost-effective with loads of features helpful for playing Dota 2.

Best Bluetooth Dongles for PC/Desktop Computers (Windows/Mac/Linux)

Here are our top 5 picks for the best bluetooth dongle for pc. A Bluetooth compatible device can effortlessly pair up with other Bluetooth enabled devices. Having Bluetooth connectivity on your PC computer will let you connect headsets, speakers, keyboards, mice etc to it without messy tangled cords. Laptops and desktops are built with Bluetooth support these days but the older systems may not have one. If your PC is not bluetooth ready then you can easily fix it with a bluetooth dongle.

What is a Bluetooth Dongle and How it Works?

Bluetooth Dongle is a tiny USB device that makes a PC or Laptop Bluetooth-ready when attached. It's easy to setup and plug-and-play in most cases. Once plugged in to the USB port it configures computer with Bluetooth and stay out of your way. Since they are so small you will barely notice at all.

The latest Bluetooth connectivity standard is 4.0 and the best thing is they are backward compatible with the earlier versions like 3.0, 2.1, 2.0, 1.2 & 1.0. So a 4.0 USB adapter/dongle will easily connects with older Bluetooth devices without issues. Not all dongles are compatible with every computer. So you must make sure the dongle and computer's operating system are compliant with each other.

Top 5 Best Bluetooth Dongles for PC/Laptops

1. Plugable Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy Micro Adapter (Windows 10/Linux)

Plugable Bluetooth 4.0 USB Adapter is the best bluetooth dongle for pc running on Windows 10, Linux and Raspberry PI. It is tiny and discreet so you can plug it and forget it. Moreover the device is plug-and-play so the setup is really a breeze. Within moments it transforms your computer/laptop into bluetooth compatible. Plugable is cross-platform compatible and works well with Windows 10/8/7, Linux and Raspberry PI. But please note that this DOES NOT support MAC. So if you look to upgrade Bluetooth on MAC machines then go for other recommended adapters in this list.

The dongle works on Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity but backward compatible with older Bluetooth versions like 3.0. So if you want to connect devices that run on older Bluetooth versions then you can do it without trouble.

BT 4.0 technology consumes less energy so using the dongle on Windows 10 or 8 PC is more advantageous. If you plan to use it on laptop then you don't have to worry about the adapter eating up battery power. You can simply plug-in and leave it on travel. Plus it has good coverage of 33 feet so gives you the freedom to move around with the headset on.

• Adds Bluetooth 4.0 support to Windows/Linux PC and Laptops.
• Plug and play setup in Windows 10 with default Bluetooth stack.
• Energy efficient and safe to leave it plugged-in on laptop during travel.
• Cross-platform compatible with Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Linux OS, Raspbian & Ubuntu on Raspberry PI
• Connects Bluetooth headsets, speakers, keyboards, mice etc to PC without wires.

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2. Avantree USB Bluetooth 4.0 Adapter for PC (Windows 10)

This ultra compact USB adapter from Avantree setup Bluetooth support to PC/Laptop and let you connect with Bluetooth-enabled devices like headphone, smartphone, speakers, keyboard, mouse and other peripherals wirelessly. The Bluetooth adapter is compatible with almost all Windows versions right from Windows 10 to XP. The setup is smooth and supports plug-and-play on Windows 7 and above machines.

It works on Bluetooth 4.0 but also backward compatible with older versions like Bluetooth v3.0/v2.1/v2.0/v1.1. It covers a good range of 10 meters and has data transfer speed up to 3 Mbps. The LED indicator is a nice addition to know status like ON, Connecting and Stand-by mode.

• Bluetooth 4.0 Adapter and backward compatible with V3.0/2.1/2.0/1.1
• Compatible with 32/64-bit Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista & XP Operating System.
• Connects Windows computer to bluetooth devices such as speakers, headsets, keyboards, mice, and cell phones.
• Wireless range up to 10 meters (33 feet)
• Supports Bluetooth Low Energy Protocol
• LED Status indicator
• 2 Years Warranty

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3. Kinivo BTD-400 Bluetooth 4.0 Dongle (Windows 8 and Older)

If you want to upgrade Windows 8 or earlier systems to Bluetooth then Kinivo BTD-400 Bluetooth 4.0 Adapter is a very good choice. Being around for years in the market the dongle is extremely reliable for making Windows systems to communicate wirelessly.

It is complaint with the latest Bluetooth v4.0 with class 2 specifications and very energy efficient. Plus the dongle is backward compatible with earlier versions like v2.0, v3.0 etc so you can pair up with all types of Bluetooth devices like speakers, keyboards, headsets etc.

The USB adapter is very portable and comes with seamless installation process. If you use Windows 8 machine then simply plug-in the device and it will install automatically. As for older versions like Windows 7 you have to use the CD that comes along with the adapter. The entire setup is easy and straight forward.

• Supports Bluetooth v4.0 Class 2 with low energy technology
• Pair up PC/Laptop with Bluetooth-enabled Keyboards, Mice, Smartphones, Printers, Headsets and others.
• Compatible with 32/64 bit Windows 8.1/8/7, Vista & XP
• 10 Meters of Wireless coverage
• 2 Years Limited Lifetime Warranty

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4. SoundBot SB340 Universal Bluetooth 4.0 Adapter (Windows/Mac)

Soundbot Plug and play Bluetooth USB adapter is the inexpensive solution for bluetooth connectivity. This is a versatile dongle that works on both Windows PC and Mac machines. It establishes wireless connection between PC and other Bluetooth devices like BT supported stereo headsets, mobiles, speakers, keyboards and mice.

It is a Bluetooth 4 Class 2 adapter and backward compatible with earlier bluetooth versions such as 3.0, 2.1, 2.0 & 1.0. It has a good 33 feet range and transfer data at 3 Mbps speed.

Also supports most of the Windows OS versions like 64/32 bit Windows 8/7, Vista, XP, 2003/2000, Me.

• Bluetooth V4.0 Class 2 Smart Ready Specification with Low Energy Consumption
• Backward Compatible with Bluetooth v3.0, v2.1, v2.0 and v1.0
• Compliant with 2 Mbps & 3 Mbps Modulation Mode with Gold Plated Connector
• Compliant with Windows 8, 7, XP, Vista, 2003, 2000, Me 64/32 bit and MAC OS
• Data transfer speed of up to 3 Mbps
• Coverage range 33 feet open space

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5. IOGEAR Bluetooth 4.0 USB Micro Adapter (Mac/Windows)

IOGEAR USB Micro Adapter is compatible with both Mac and Windows 10 OS and easily set up bluetooth connectivity to PCs and Laptops. It converts non-bluetooth computers to bluetooth-enabled one and let it connect with headsets, phones, laptops, tablets, speakers and others wirelessly.

It's Bluetooth 4.0 Class 2 USB adapter and has bluetooth range of 33 feet. The dongle uses Bluetooth Low Energy protocol for minimal power consumption. So if you plan to use it on Notebooks or Laptops this is an excellent choice.

What we like most in IOGEAR is the support for multiple connections at once. Yes you can connect up to three wireless devices simultaneously and each one of them gets to communicate with the computer without issues. You can simply plug-in single IOGEAR Micro Adapter to PC and connect with wireless-keyboard, wireless-mouse and wireless-headphone at once.

• Wireless communication with Bluetooth-enabled speakers, keyboards, mice, printers, mobiles, tablets, headsets and more
• Setup any Windows Computer with Bluetooth via USB
• Ultra portable Bluetooth 4.0 + Bluetooth Low Energy consumption
• Wide-band audio + A2DP stereo audio wireless streaming
• Up to 3 Mbps of asynchronous transfer rate
• Up to 10 meters wireless range

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If you have old computer without Bluetooth support you don't have to replace it just for connecting wireless devices to it. A good Bluetooth dongle/adapter will easily setup wireless connectivity to them. In most cases they are plug-and-play. So you don't even have to go through the process of installing it manually. Overall it's a cost-effective solution. Just make sure the adapter is compatible with your version of operating system before choosing it.

How to Format / Access SD Card on Chromebook

This post explains about how to format and access sd card on chromebook. Everyone knows chromebooks comes with so little internal storage space but fortunately you can expand its storage with SD Card, Pen drive or USB based external hard disks. Also there's whole lot of support for cloud storage too. So storage is not a big concern with chromebook. Most of the chromebooks includes built-in SD reader so it's wise to buy SD card along with chromebook. It is very cost effective too.

But then there's the usual problem. If you are a first time chromebook user then probably you'll wonder how to access sd card on chromebook or how to format sd card in chromebook. Don't underestimate the capability of Chrome OS. Formatting or accessing sd card is so easy in chromebook. You don't need any special tools for doing so.

• Read: How to Factory Reset Chromebook without Password
• Read: How to Copy Paste Text, Image & Files on Chromebook

How to Format SD Card in Chromebook?

If you have bought a new SD Card then you must first format before using it to store files. To format SD Card, insert the card into the SD card slot available in chromebook. Crome OS automatically detects the SD Card once you have plugged it in.

Click on Launch icon and navigate to the Files app. This will open the file manager with left side pane showing all the available drives. You can find the SD card below Google Drive and Downloads folder. Downloads is Chromebook's local storage and contains all the files, images and other medias you have stored in the device.

Now right-click on the drive you want to format and choose 'Format Device' option from the context-menu. You will be asked to confirm formatting. Just click on 'OK' to proceed formatting SD card. When done formatting the card you will be notified with a pop up.

Usually formatting won't take long. Depending on the SD card size it would take anywhere between few seconds to couple of minutes. Formatting 64GB Card took only 1-2 mins for me. By default the SD card will be formatted to FAT32 file system which is the widely used format.

But note that ChromeOS supports various file systems like exFAT, FAT16, FAT32 and even Windows NTFS file system with read/write support. But generally I don't see any formatting option to choose the type of file system. The Format Device option simply formats the USB drives and SD cards to the default one.

Sometimes you may not see sd card icon on file manager app. This means the card is not detected by chromebook. In such case unplug and re-plug the SD Card in the given slot and most of the times this will rectify the problem and chrome os detects the sd card without trouble.

Please note that formatting a storage device will wipe it off clean. So the old file system and any files stored on it will be removed. So make sure to take backup before formatting the drive.

How to Access SD Card on Chromebook

Once you have formatted the SD Card you are good to go with it. You can use sd card as secondary storage and move files and medias from and to chromebook.

To Access SD Card, insert the card in the card reader slot and let chromebook detects it. Then click on icon launcher and on Files App and look for the sd card at the left side pane of the window. Simply click on the device and the files stored on the card will appear on the right-side of the window.

To move files and photos from chromebook to SD Card, navigate to the 'Downloads' folder, copy the files you want, go back to SD Card and paste the files there. Please note that copy paste action will duplicate the files. If you want to move the file altogether then use cut paste option.

As for Cut - Copy - Paste functions you can either use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+X - Ctrl+C - Ctrl+V respectively. Otherwise right click on the file icons and use the context-menu's cut, copy & paste options.

There is also another easy option to move files and folders around. Just drag and drop the files, pictures, videos and other media documents. This gesture is similar to copy-pasting files using keyboard or mouse.

In the same manner you can move files from SD Card to Chromebook internal storage or chromebook to SD card. You can also open the files, pdf, images or play mp3 directly from external drives. Just double click on the corresponding file icon to open them.

The files app also allows you change the files views based on your preference. You can find the option to change views at the top-right corner of the app window. The options vary from thumbnail preview, list and even sort files by name, type, size and modified-date. Yep! It is similar to Windows File Explorer.

Check Storage Space on SD Card

To check how much free space available on SD Card, go to files app, select the device on the left pane of the window then click on the Menu button located at the top-right corner of the screen. It will show you how much storage space is left on the card.

You can use the same method to check chromebook's internal storage also. Instead of SD Card choose 'Downloads' on the left pane and you will be indicated with the free space available on chromebook.

How to Safely Remove SD Card from Chromebook

When you are done with the SD Card it's a must to eject the drive before removing the card from the slot. This will make sure chromebook has done writing to the card before removing and helps protecting from possible data loss - a proper way to remove SD Card and other external drives attached to chromebook.

To safely remove sd card from chromebook, open files app, right-click on the card and choose 'Eject Device'. This will make the device/drive to disappear from the files app so you can safely remove it.

I hope the article gives you better understanding of handling SD Card with Cromebook - the proper way to format SD Card, to access sd card and to safely remove it from chromebook after usage.