What is iMac?

iMac represents a low-cost intuitive all-in-one Macintosh desktop computer with a Retina display made by Apple.

There are many different reasons behind the reduced performance of a system. Every device, including the Mac computers, face slowdowns after certain years of usage. So, if your iMac is running below its normal speed, you will need to figure out the exact cause by trying several different tricks.

An iMac starts creating trouble if there are many background applications, nearly full hard drive, overloaded launch and login items, obsolete hardware, insufficient RAM, etc. Sometimes, the Mac OS like 10.15 Catalina may itself be problematic. In other cases, the system’s memory may not be enough for processing requests from large applications.

How to Speed Up My iMac?

1. Close all unnecessary applications that run in the background
2. Disable all unnecessary iMac startup programs
3. Free up space on iMac Hard Drive if you have low disk space
4. Make sure that you have the latest macOS Version (install updates)
5. Remove all extension and unwanted apps
6. Add more RAM to iMac.
7. Buy a new fast M2 SSD hard drive.

A slow-performing system adversely impacts your work productivity. Furthermore, even scientific evidence reveals that the annoyance caused by a slow laptop or computer hurts health. Given below are the procedural descriptions of different ways to rectify an iMac’s speed issues:

Close the Background Apps

If there are too many processes running on your iMac, it is bound to slow down and sometimes even freeze. You are likely to think that clicking the red ‘x’s sign on the top left corner will close the applications. However, some apps still keep operating in the background. To stop these apps, you have to do a hard reboot or force quit these processes.

If you want to see which services and apps consume the system resources (memory, battery, CPU, etc.), you can use the Activity Monitor or iStat Menus app. To learn about their proper usage, you may refer to Apple’s support article for the same.

Optimize iMac Startup

Sometimes, several third-party services and apps auto-run as soon as you start up your iMac. Therefore, if your system consumes more than 30 seconds to boot up and show up on the desktop screen completely, there is a high probability that the system’s slowdown is due to the automatic launch agents or login items.

However, it is quite easy to get rid of these start-up and login items. All you need to do is navigate the Apple logo on the upper-left side of your main screen, choose ‘System Preferences, select ‘User & Groups, and then click on ‘Login Items.’ Here, you can view all the start-up apps and services. Next, click the minus ‘-‘ sign in front of the ones you want to disable.

However, some launch agents do not appear in the login programs list. These cannot be removed using the above-mentioned method. But you can disable them with apps like CleanMyMac. Such software applications are designed to identify redundant launch items, eliminate them for using the app, and download and install them on your iMac. Thereafter, select the option ‘Launch Agents’ given under the feature ‘Extensions.’ Here, you can easily enable, disable, and manage all additional services and applications.

Use the Correct macOS

Any system tends to run slow if you use an OS that does not work well with your Mac model. For instance, the macOS Catalina may not always show a good performance, mainly because it needs at least 12.5 GB of storage space and 4GB of memory. Besides, if you upgrade to a previous version like OS X Yosemite, this system requires up to 18.5 GB of storage memory. Further, if the hardware configuration of the iMac is older, the system is likely to run slower after updating the OS. A majority of iMac users have experienced this problem.

To find out the macOS version of your system, go to the Apple logo on your iMac, and click on ‘About this Mac.’ Here, you will see all the required information regarding your system’s OS. Accordingly, you can upgrade the iMac to the latest OS or downgrade to the more appropriate one.

Clear up the Hard Drive

Any Mac will start to slow down if the start-up disk is nearly full. Several features and applications begin to malfunction if there is less storage capacity left in the system. In extreme cases, it may lead to frequent app crashes, freezes, and hangs. So, the first thing to do is check the space on your iMac’s hard drive. To do this, go to the ‘About this Mac’ section of the Apple icon on your system and check under the ‘Storage’ option. Here, you will notice different types of data (movies, photos, etc.) displayed in different colors and the space left on your disk.

While you can delete the unnecessary files shown in this section, you may find it difficult to locate the system junk. For this, you can opt for the CleanMyMac app to save your time and energy. With this application, you will see the system files data that take too much space on your disk. Alternatively, you may use Gemini 2 to track the duplicate files and remove them from your system. The same team of people develops both apps.

Increase RAM

Random Access Memory (RAM) plays a crucial role in processing the request from different applications and services. So, if you are a developer or designer who often uses an old iMac for editing purposes, there is a high likelihood that your RAM is causing the trouble. When the system’s RAM gets fully used up, it shifts to utilize the virtual memory, leading to reduced performance. Hence, the solution lies in adding up more RAM.

Will RAM speed up my iMac?

Yes, new RAM will speed iMac in an indirect way because it provides resources to run multiple applications at one time. However, if your iMac has enough RAM memory you probably won’t notice any speed improvement.

However, before increasing your RAM, check your iMac’s capacity from Apple’s resource page. For example, most 27-inch models have a base memory of 8 GB, which can be expanded up to 32 GB. Among the RAM upgrading options, you can consider Crucial 16GB Kit (8GBX2) and OWC 32GB for the 2017 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display.

Replace Hard Drive with SSD

If you have an older version of iMac running on a fusion drive or hard drive, you may replace it with an SSD (solid-state drive). SSDs are known to boost the system’s speed and performance significantly. However, here also, you need to check the compatibility of SSD with your system.

Remove Unneeded Applications and Extensions

There must be certain downloaded apps or plugins that you rarely use or have used just once and forgotten to uninstall. With time, several such apps and extensions get accumulated in your system. Although most of them won’t do any harm except for taking up the memory space, some may run in the background when you start up your iMac or use the browser. So, a good way to free up storage and enhance system performance is to remove these unnecessary plugins and similar extensions. To do this, navigate to the ‘Applications’ folder and select the apps that you want to remove. Then, you can drag these apps to the Trash and, later on, empty the Trash bin.

Similarly, for clearing up browser extensions and plugins, you need to go to your browser settings and manage them as per your usage and preferences. For example, in the case of Chrome (64-bit Mac version), you have to click on the three-dot icon and locate ‘More Tools,’ where you will find the option for ‘Extensions.’ Accordingly, you can uninstall or disable the listed plugins.

How to speed up my iMac 2010?

To speed up iMac 2010 you need to change the hard disk to a new M2 SSD and add more RAM memory. More hard disk space, removing unwanted apps, and removing unnecessary start-up programs can help but an increase of speed is limited.

All the above-stated solutions usually give a great boost to the iMac’s performance. However, if your problem remains unresolved even after applying these tweaks, you will need to get your system checked by a professional.

Is my computer healthy?

Computers often start showing signs of a slowdown and poor performance due to various software or hardware issues. To resolve the problem, you will need to find out the cause behind its reduced efficiency. The best way to get precise data related to your system’s health is to run good diagnostic software on your PC. These tools examine the system and identify the probable hitches that are affecting its operations. In other words, you will get to know if your system is infected with a virus, or has less storage space, or is filled with redundant files.

While several diagnostic tools are available for a PC health check, some are either not authentic or ineffective. Hence, after testing a few good software tools, we have shortlisted the best ones for your usage.

Computer health programs

The best computer health programs that can do a PC health check and fix problems are Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, Windows Defender, CleanMyPC, CCleaner, WiFi Analyzer, DiskCheckup, PixelHealer, and Adblock Plus.

Given below is a brief description of the top 8 diagnostic software tools that can be used for checking your computer’s health:

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus for PC Malware/Virus

PC users often face system disruption or file damage due to some virus or malware. To protect your system from such issues, you need robust antimalware/antivirus software that is powerful yet consumes less storage space. In this respect, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is a great choice as it has cleared many independent tests in the software industry. The cost of the program is $29.99 and above.

Windows Defender for PC Security

Windows Defender provides one of the easiest ways to check your PC’s health and protect it from potential threats. It comes built-in with Windows 10, and you do not need to download it from any third-party site. All you have to do is click on the ‘Scan Now’ button, and its interface will show any threats or other problems with your PC. If the system is working fine, the icons will be green in color, whereas it will take a red shade if something is amiss. Here, you will have to press the red icon, and the program will guide you on how to sort out the problem. Windows Defender is available for free and must be updated from time to time.

CleanMyPC to free up Storage

CleanMyPC is a computer maintenance program created by MacPaw, a popular company that produces awesome products for Mac users. CleanMyPC includes several utilities like Autorun, Shredder, Privacy, Hibernation, Multi Uninstaller, Registry Maintenance, and other extensions. It helps locate and remove unneeded data, files, and folders to free up disk space. The program can be run on Windows XP, 7, 8, and 10. CleanMyPC is priced at $39.95.

CCleaner to resolve Registry Errors

CCleaner is one of the most popular and oldest PC cleaners for several good reasons. It is quite easy to download and install. Besides, CCleaner is light and takes up very little space. To fix the registry issues, you need to go to the ‘Registry’ section and click on the blue ‘Scan’ button to start the search. Then, you have to select the option ‘Fix Selected Issues’ for the desired action. CCleaner can be downloaded for free.

WiFi Analyzer to check Network Health

Sometimes, your Wi-Fi router causes troubles, and the internet speed goes down. However, if the speed is below normal, you can utilize the WiFi Analyzer to spot the accurate source of the issue. With this program, you learn many important network features like channel, bandwidth, frequency, SSID, etc. The program also informs you of your Internet’s speed and the best signal in your Wi-Fi list.

WiFi Analyzer uses dBm (0 to -100) to display the value of the signal’s power. This unit defines the signal strength of cables and wires at AF and RF frequencies. The closer the value is to 0, the stronger the signal is. E.g., -21 dBm is a better signal than -61 dBm. WiFi Analyzer is available for free download.

DiskCheckup for HDD Health Check

With DiskCheckup, you can track the SMART attributes of the hard disk drive (HDD). SMART is a detection system that refers to ‘Self-monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology. It is a feature on a PC’s hard disk that indicates the monitoring parameters of disk reliability. The software will tell you whether your HDD is in good condition or not. You can utilize two types of tests for HDD, namely, short test (5-10 minutes) and extended test (above 10 minutes). The majority of the issues revealed through DiskCheckup are resolvable. For personal use, the software can be downloaded for free.

PixelHealer to fix Dead Pixels

If you have come across stuck pixels on your screen, you can go for PixelHealer to identify and revive them. The software requires no installation, which means you have to download and run it on your system. For this, you need to click on the ‘Start Flashing’ button. Once PixelHealer locates the dead pixels, you can repair them using the color window.

Adblock Plus for Blocking Adware

Some websites keep showing unnecessary ads and distract you from doing the actual work or reading a web article. Here, Adblock Plus can assist you in eliminating most kinds of advertisements like YouTube ads. Adblock Plus is a free Chrome extension designed for blocking ads and filtering irrelevant web content. It helps you browse the web with your own preferences. You can also use the related plugin to keep away the spammy sites created solely with marketing motives.

Apart from the above-mentioned software applications, there are several other good tools for similar purposes. However, before using any software, make sure that it is compatible with your system.

iPhone backup

It is always a good idea to back up your phone data in a secure place to save it permanently. When you have the backup of your important files, you won’t need to worry if your phone is lost or damaged. You might have bought the Apple AirPort Time Capsule for your Mac, and it is quite easy to back up the Mac via Time Machine. However, there is no direct way to backup your iPhone data to an external hard drive or Time Capsule. This is because Apple AirPort Time Capsule and Time Machine are made only for the desktop versions of macOS. They cannot support data backups of iOS devices like iPad, iPod Touch, iPhone, etc. So, you won’t be able to retrieve your iPhone data through Time Machine.

Nevertheless, your iPhone files can be backed up in Time Capsule in an indirect manner.

iPhone time machine backup

For this, you will need to firstly create a backup of your iPhone in iCloud or iTunes. Thereafter, Time Machine can be used to backup your iTunes files to an external hard drive or Time Capsule.

Illustrated below is a complete overview of the process to backup your iPhone data to Time Capsule:

Creating iCloud Backup

Another way to create your iPhone backup is through iCloud. Although iCloud is a paid product, it does provide 5GB of free storage. But there is a high chance that this storage option gets stocked up quickly as the size of the present-day photos, documents, and other files is generally large.
How to backup an iPhone using an airport time capsule?
However, if you buy the additional iCloud storage, you will find it a very convenient backup option. Given below are the steps to back up iPhone data to iCloud:

• On the iPhone, open the Settings app and look for iCloud.
• Scroll down and check for the backup option.
• Now, click on it, and the default iCloud backup will be enabled (in green color). Here, the gray color indicates that the backup is turned off.
• You may also tap on the ‘Back Up Now’ option to carry out the backup manually.

iCloud will create a backup of all your iPhone data like documents, home configuration, settings, health data, accounts, photo library, etc. For more information, you can check out the official Apple support site.

Creating iTunes Backup:

How to backup an iPhone using an airport time capsule?

To backup your iPhone data to iTunes using an airport time capsule, follow the given steps:

• Connect your Mac to the iPhone using a lightning cable.
• Go to the iTunes app of the Mac and launch it.
• Here, click your iPhone icon and navigate to ‘Settings’ and then ‘Summary.’
• Choose the ‘Back up Now’ button in the backups section.

Complete the process by following the on-screen instructions, and thus, a new backup file will be stored on Mac. You can always utilize this file to recover your data. For detailed information, you can search for video tutorials of the same.

Alternately, you can use some third-party data recovery software to restore your lost files.

Finally, Time Machine will automatically pick up the backups present in your iTunes/iCloud app/drive of the Mac and can be used to transfer the files smoothly to an external drive/ Time Capsule. In this way, your iPhone data will be securely saved.

What is Tablet?

Tablet represents a portable mobile computer that uses a touchscreen as its primary input device and has a size between a laptop computer and a smartphone. It is designed to be held in one or two hands slightly smaller and weighs less than the average laptop.

With the advancements in technology, tablets are getting more and more multifunctional and efficient. Today, these devices can perform most of the tasks that were originally the domain of computers only. Owing to their amazing features and easy portability, tablets are witnessing ever-growing popularity and expansion across global markets. One of the best features offered by tablets is their capability to work as e-readers. In other words, tablets come in handy when you frequently read office documents or study notes. The majority of the online publications, documents with text, images, and other graphics are available in PDFs.

Apart from reading, most tablets can be used for watching movies, listening to music, browsing, etc. Depending upon your suitability and needs, you can opt for an all-purpose tablet or predominantly an e-reader. While there are many tablets available in the market, some are more effective e-readers than others.

What is the best tablet for reading pdf files?

The best cheap tablet for reading pdf is Kindle Oasis because long battery life, paperwhite easy reading, 32GB storage, and the cheap average cost of $250. However, if the price is not the issue, the best tablet for reading PDF is Apple iPad Pro because fast processor and 512 GB storage. After examining some good and popular tablets, we have shortlisted the three best tablets for reading PDFs: Kindle Oasis, Apple iPad Pro, and Samsung Galaxy Tab A.

If you are looking for a tablet mainly for reading purposes, you need to consider a few factors while selecting the right tablet for yourself. In this article, you learn about the important parameters to check before buying a tablet, along with a brief overview of the top 3 tablets.

What features should a tablet have?

The excellent Tablet in 2021 should have more than 8-10 inches screen size, at least 32GB storage, and more than 10 hours battery duration.

Although you can read PDFs across several devices, tablets lend much greater convenience than others. For example, smartphones don’t really offer a bigger screen for easy readability, whereas PCs/laptops are cumbersome to carry around. In this scenario, tablets appear an affordable and best intermediate solution.

So, if you are planning to purchase a tablet for personal or professional reading, you must look for a few standard things to make it worthwhile. Glimpse through the essential features to check in a tablet:

• Screen Size

When you are getting a tablet for viewing eBooks and PDFs, screen size becomes a crucial consideration as it determines the effectiveness and comfort of the activity. Tablets are available in many different sizes, and a large screen size definitely enhances your reading experience. While the exact size you want depends on your personal preferences, it is recommended to go for a tablet with a screen size of 8-10 inches. These devices are optimally sized between a computer and a smartphone.

• Storage Capacity

A good tablet will have enough capacity to hold all the PDFs and similar files you wish to access. Even though eBook formats do not consume much space, it is better to have a decent storage memory if you want to save a sufficient number of files. An average reader requires at least 32GB of storage in his/her tablet. The latest tablets come in a memory range of as little as 4GB to the maximum expandable storage of 512GB.

• Battery Life

If you spent an adequate amount of time with your tablet, you would want it to stay charged for an entire day. While different tablets come with different battery lives, you should preferably find the one with a minimum 10-hour battery duration.

In addition to the above factors, you may want to gauge the other features of the tablets like operating system, available apps, Wi-Fi connectivity, camera, etc.

Best Tablets to Read PDFs: Top 3 Models

The top three tablets offer different kinds of features and come with distinct strengths and weaknesses. Given below is a quick description of the best tablets, along with their pros and cons:

Kindle Oasis

One of the best tablets for reading PDFs, Kindle Oasis lets you download and open PDF files and eBooks with absolute ease. Its 7-inch and 300 PPI Paperwhite display make way for an amazing reading experience. The tablet is light and waterproof and also provides a facility for audio eBooks. Kindle Oasis is the perfect e-reader to take along on your long journeys with its slim profile and adjustable lighting.

Listed below are the benefits and drawbacks of Kindle Oasis:

Pros:

• Great Battery Life lasting for weeks on a single charge
• Easy Reading with Paperwhite display
• 32GB Storage
• Efficient e-reader

Cons:

• Not good for purposes other than reading

Apple Ipad Pro

If you desire to have a tablet that can read PDFs and perform various other modern functions, Apple iPad Pro is an ideal choice for you. It is an all-around tablet with multiple features and high-end functionalities. With a large-sized dazzling display and an enormous storage memory, the device serves as an excellent e-reader and gives the feel of viewing printed pages of PDFs and similar files. Listed below are the advantages and limitations of the Apple iPad Pro:

Pros:

• 9-inch brilliant display
• 512GB Storage
• Fast Processor
• Versatile Functionalities

Cons:

• Much expensive
• Relatively less battery life

Samsung Galaxy Tab A

Another good tablet for reading PDFs, Samsung Galaxy Tab A, is packed with multiple features and comes at a reasonable price. Within an optimal screen size and minimum bezel, the tablet has awesome clarity in the screen display. Tab A is very efficiently designed to utilize the entire surface of the screen for viewing and reading PDFs and other files. It provides 32GB of storage and a perfect battery life that lets you maintain a decent-sized e-library. Samsung Tab A is one of the best among lightweight and slim-profile tablets. Glance through the plus and minus points of Samsung Galaxy Tab A:

Pros:

• 13-hours of Battery Life on a single charge
• Storage memory extendable up to 512GB with a microSD card
• Fairly affordable
• Minimum bezel for optimal screen viewing
• Amazing built and profile

Cons:

• Not great speakers
• Not large-sized screen

Tip to choose the best Tablet for reading PDF

It is crucial to take care of your tablet to get the best value out of it. For instance, you can always increase your tablet’s battery life by reading eBooks and PDFs in low brightness. The less bright your screen, the longer the battery will last. Similarly, you should avoid installing unnecessary apps to save storage space and maintain the device’s processing speed. However, keep a tab on the updates as they usually help remove bugs from the device’s software.

As for the usage, the actual functioning of tablets varies as to how you can download and open a PDF or eBook file on them. For detailed information on these operations, you may search for the relevant tutorials or refer to their official website for help.

You can buy a suitable case or screen protector for your tablet to protect it from physical damage for external maintenance. Further, the device tends to create problems if you leave it in direct sunlight or other extreme conditions. So, it is better to keep it in a safe and cool place.

Reading a PDF or eBook or a document on a tablet is equivalent to reading the actual paper since the device is similar in size and profile to an average book. This is the reason why people prefer tablets over smartphones and computers when it comes to reading stuff. The above-mentioned models are among the best-performing tablets in terms of value, clarity, and additional features. However, you may choose a simple e-reader or multifunctional tablet per your usage, personal preferences, and budget. Either way, these modern gadgets extend a delightful reading experience.

Lastly, the better you maintain your tablet, the more efficient and usable it will be.

It is really irksome when you happen to delete your valuable text messages by mistake. At times, when you are unable to meet your loved ones in person, their text messages are among the best things to cherish. However, we often accidentally remove the old messages from our phones to declutter the inbox. But fortunately, modern cellphones like that of Samsung provide the option to recover the deleted SMS.

How to Retrieve Deleted Texts on Samsung?

To retrieve deleted text on Samsung, you can use Samsung Smart Switch, or Samsung Cloud, or recovery software, or through the service provider. If you have backed up your file to the Samsung cloud, the easiest way is to use the restore setting in your phone.

 It is possible that one or two solutions do not apply to your situation; however, you can definitely restore the required messages with the help of other methods.

Given below is the detailed step-by-step description of the top 4 ways to recover deleted SMS from Samsung phone:

Retrieve Deleted Texts on Samsung Through Samsung Smart Switch

Samsung Smart Switch is an app devised to keep the data backup of your Samsung device so that you can transfer the data to another device when needed. The app can create a backup of your photos, audio files, videos, contacts, text messages, and many other types of data.

If you have created this backup, you can easily recover your data through Smart Switch. You can save this backup on your PC/ Mac and use the app to get back data on your Samsung phone. All you need to do is choose the content (SMS) that you wish to recover and then click on the ‘Restore’ button of the app.

Retrieve Deleted Texts on Samsung Through Samsung Cloud

Samsung Cloud is an official storage solution for Samsung devices. It provides a free online backup service and is inbuilt in every Samsung tablet and phone. Samsung Cloud provides an easy way to manage your files, backups, and retrieve files in mistaken deletions or device damage. It also lets you save all the apps, layouts, settings, and related files. So, if you have accidentally deleted any text messages from your phone, firstly, you must check if you have backed up your phone data to Samsung Cloud. If you have the backup, you can retrieve the deleted SMS as follows:

How to retrieve deleted texts on Samsung using Samsung cloud restore?

• Go to ‘Settings’ of your phone and click on ‘Accounts.’
• Then, tap ‘Backup and Restore.’
• To restore your data, tap on your particular Samsung phone option and choose the content (text messages) you need to recover.
• Finally, click on the ‘Restore.’

Alternately, you may download the backup with the help of on-screen app instructions.

Retrieve Deleted Texts on Samsung using SMS Recovery Software

If you have created a backup of your phone data in the above-mentioned Samsung apps, you can use third-party software to recover your text messages. Dr. Fone is one of the best software programs for data recovery. Apart from restoring your normal texts, the software also retrieves your WhatsApp messages. It is available in both the Mac and Windows version and Android and other iOS devices.

While you can scan and preview your files with the free version of Dr. Fone, you will require the paid version to recover them. Alongside, it would help if you rooted your Android for completing the recovery operation. Follow the given steps to restore the deleted SMS:

• Once you have downloaded and installed ‘Dr Fone for Android on your Mac/PC, connect your Samsung phone to your computer.
• Launch the software program and follow the instructions for USB debugging and choose the file type for scanning.
• Here, select ‘Messaging,’ and the software will start scanning your device for the recoverable SMS.
• After the scanning ends, you can preview the messages and recover accordingly.

Retrieve Deleted Texts on Samsung From Service Provider’s Website

All the mobile carriers and service providers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, etc.) keep records of your personal data, including the SMS you have received and sent. So, if the above-stated methods seem unsuitable to you, you can recover your text messages from your mobile service provider’s website. First, log in to the official site of your provider and go to the ‘message’ section to check for the historical data. For instance, if you are in the US and your phone carrier is AT&T, you will find it very easy to recover your text messages via their portal.

Some of the providers list down your sent and received messages in the previous billing period. If you cannot find your particular text messages, you can contact their customer support for help. Also, you may have to pay a small fee for restoring the text messages as per the provider’s terms of use.

Final Words

It is always a good idea to back up your data using Smart Switch or Samsung Cloud. Similar functionalities also exist in third-party recovery apps. No doubt, losing text messages can make us panic, especially when they are essential. However, using the above techniques, you can recover your deleted SMS in just a few minutes.