August, 2014

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The 6 Benefits of Recumbent Exercise Bikes

A recumbent exercise bike can serve as a replacement to a real bicycle, in case you can’t go outdoors. But make sure that you have a good model. These days, it’s not easy to pick one because of the variety of units you can find.

Before reading reviews on indoor spinning bike trainers and jumping into a big decision of purchasing such, you must know first your needs and preferences in this type of fitness equipment as they play a huge role in finding the right model for you.

Benefits of a recumbent exercise bike

As previously mentioned, this equipment allows you to continue exercising even though you can’t go outside and ride a real bike.

  • It maximizes the effectiveness of a workout as it can increase resistance with a push of a button.
  • It employs specific body positions that you prefer making your exercise more efficient.
  • It reduces the risk of injury, as long as you choose a model with ergonomic designs.
  • It doesn’t require expensive running shoes. You can use any rubber shoes or sneakers that you have and you’re good to go.
  • It eliminates lower back pain that usually occurs when using a regular gym exercise. This fitness equipment keeps your body in perfect position to maximize workout while preventing aches and pains.

 

Tips to Secure Your IP Security Camera from Hackers

Security CameraThe industry of security camera has grown over the years. From consumer-grade to commercial-grade models, the technology is getting better and better and it’s also getting easier to take advantage of its features. With that being said, more and more people are purchasing surveillance cameras to keep an eye on their properties, family members and, even their pets.

Unfortunately, for IP security cameras, they’re prone to hackers. Hackers these days can get into anything, in your television, cell phone or even in home appliances like the toaster ovens we talked about. If these hackers could find your cameras they could watch you without you knowing it. Thus, to secure your camera, here are some tips.

1. Update its firmware regularly

The manufacturer of your security camera repairs vulnerabilities that they can find and release those fixes by upgrading your firmware often. Always make sure that your camera doesn’t contain un-patched parts that could be used by hackers to hack your camera.

2. Avoid connecting it to the Internet

If that’s possible, that is. Make sure that your camera is in local network and it must be non-routable. It’s also highly recommended that you set it up to local-only mode. If you don’t know how, you can go to the official website of the manufacturer and learn how to set it up.

3. Add password

By default, the password protection of most security cameras is turned off. Don’t forget to turn it on before using it. You must never leave your cameras without password protection to avoid giving hackers wide open access to your feeds. Protect it by implementing username and a strong password. You should change your password every week or more frequently.

4. Turn on its encryption technology

This is true if you’re using wireless security camera. It’s to prevent eavesdroppers from connecting to your camera and access your private video feeds. You must also never install your camera in areas that you don’t want strangers to see, like your bathroom or bedroom. Despite the password protection you apply to your unit, there’s still a possibility that it could be hacked. To avoid ending up to be a star of your own reality show, install the cameras in public areas only.

Finding the Cheaper Yet High Quality Toaster Ovens

A toaster oven isn’t as expensive as a traditional oven, and you can get the best price possible when you conduct a comparison shopping. You want to purchase this unit at lowest price you can find, either online or offline.

Online prices

The prices for this appliance online are somehow lower than when you find them at the store near you. If you don’t like shopping online, you can go to discount stores across your town and find the same model that you want at a much lower price.

Free accessories

Some stores do offer free accessories to their toaster oven. If they don’t have it, they can extend the warranty. That is, if they can’t lower their price.
When you go to a local store, you can ask the manager to lower the price and leave the freebies intact. You can even save more if you shop for it when the appliance department is hungry for sales.

Or you can go with last year’s models. An older product will always have lower prices than its newer counterparts.

Is it okay to purchase a slightly damaged toaster oven?

As long as it’s still 95% functional, it’s safe to buy a slightly damaged oven. However, with the competition going on, you don’t have to settle with such item. Manufacturers of this appliance are getting their prices down in order to compete effectively, and any toaster oven review will help you select the best of the latest models.

Although it’s okay to ask for a discount, you must not lower the price that it already wipes out the profit of the merchant. The mark up price of a toaster oven is usually 30%. So you can ask for additional 15% discount.

Should you go with branded models?

Not necessarily. Instead of focusing on the brand, try getting a toaster oven equipped with the features that you need to satisfy your cooking requirements.

Tips to Finding the Perfect Steam Mop

A steam mop is a must-have appliance in your house, if you want your house to be thoroughly cleaned. However, before you shop for a new mop and get rid of your old cleaning unit, you must make sure that you need to these tips. In this way, you won’t regret having a cleaning unit that you won’t use.

Conduct a thorough research

There are several brands on the market that offer this type of cleaning appliance, but many local outlets only sell one or two brands. Thus, it’d be wise to look online and make a comparison shopping. That way, you can compare one unit with another similar unit made by a different manufacturer.

It’s also ideal to perform thorough research online, even if you purchase the steam mop in your local hardware store. By researching over the Internet, you’ll know which retailer in your area that carries the unit that you wish to have and which store offers the best price.

Choose a multi-tasker

Not all mops are created equal, so you must choose wisely. As much as possible, pick a unit that can also eliminate debris. In this way, you don’t need a separate tool when sweeping the floor. However, many experts recommend doing the task separately to get the jobs done perfectly, but still, if your time is limited, a multi-tasker steam mop is what you need.

Pick a unit with adjustable steam settings

Make sure that the settings have steam output that you need to thoroughly clean the type of soil that you want to remove. Check with the manufacturer’s website to be sure. Keep in mind that a certain surface requires specific heat to obtain thorough cleaning.

With long cord

Although you may think it’s a minor issue, having a longer cord means you don’t need to plug and unplug the mop again and again just to cover more areas. This is the same principle applies when you shop for carpet cleaners and vacuums. If you can find a wireless unit, then that’d be even better.

Must be flexible

Choose a steam mop that’s flexible enough to clean any area in your house, especially those hard-to-reach spots. You also need to look for a unit that comes with helpful features, such as scrubbing fibers.

These are just some of the things you must keep in mind when shopping for a steam mop. They can help you get the most ideal unit for your house.