These days, it can be an uphill battle for small business owners. Even with all the makings of success – a great product or service, the right location, good equipment and a loyal staff – gaining customers in today’s world spells new technical challenges and new costs.

Q: What causes a laptop’s screen to suddenly have a tiny black spot in the middle of it and is there anything I can do about it? — Thomas

(StatePoint) These days, it can be an uphill battle for small business owners. Even with all the makings of success -- a great product or service, the right location, good equipment and a loyal staff -- gaining customers in today’s world spells new technical challenges and new costs.

Q: What is better for a computer, leaving it on all the time or shutting it down every night? — Justin

(StatePoint) You may remember your parents telling you to turn off the television and go outside or read a book. But these days, it’s harder than ever to separate kids from media devices, especially as their options become more mobile.

(NewsUSA) - It doesn't matter how you celebrate Father's Day, what matters is reminding Dads that they're appreciated, even admired.

Q: What can I do to get better battery life from my smartphone? It doesn’t even get me through the afternoon on most days. — Ed

(StatePoint) You may remember your parents telling you to turn off the television and go outside or read a book. But these days, it’s harder than ever to separate kids from media devices, especially as their options become more mobile.

I am trying to find a way to legally copy DVDs we own to an external hard drive for storage connected to my laptop. When we take long road trips it would be nice to not have to haul all our movies along. — Bill

(StatePoint) With summer travel season upon us, families across the country are taking to the open road for family road trips. But while the destination always leads to excitement, oftentimes the long car ride can be a drag.

(NewsUSA) - With over 80 million moms to shop for, Mother's Day is second only to Christmas when it comes to gift giving. So, besides giving a bouquet of flowers and box of chocolates this year, try getting mom the trending gifts and tech gadgets she'll love.

Q: I received a call today from a male who identified himself as Andrew Allison with Microsoft Security. He told me that “my NT wires” were installed incorrectly and were causing errors across the internet and that he could talk me through the steps needed to correct the problem. Trying to find a way to report this to Microsoft... — Dennis

(StatePoint) You may not think your mom is “cool,” but is she hip when it comes to technology? If you have a tech savvy mom, skip the order on the flower bouquet and treat her right this Mother’s Day with the latest gear.   

(BPT) - A lot of things change when you become a parent. The shows you watch, the restaurants you go to and the concept of sleep as you once knew it all evolve when your family structure transforms from a “me” to a ”we.” And increasingly, personal gadgets like smartphones are following the same trend.

The increasingly intense desert heat is a tell tale sign that summer is nearly upon us, and with it, the obligatory season of blockbuster films. With a jam packed lineup that includes Iron Man 3, Star Trek Into Darkness, Fast and Furious 6, Man of Steel, Pacific Rim, and World War Z, it is clear that big time producers in LA are gearing up to entice audiences with the usual explosions, car chases, zombie attacks, space battles, and robot wars, all enhanced by the technological advancements of 3D cameras. But despite the current technological prowess that is obtainable to all filmmakers with money to burn, we have reached an age where the standard gimmicks may no longer be sufficient for the 21st century viewer.

Q: I would like to print from my Gmail account on my iPhone or iPad to my printer, but it doesn’t come up in Apple’s print option on either (device). Any suggestions? — Daryl

(NAPSI)—Technology continues to make road trips better. USB power adapters for all our gadgets, thermoelectric coolers for food and beverages, and affordable cameras that can withstand being dropped in the parking lot or dunked in the pool are helping to keep travelers comfortable and connected.

(BPT) - For time-stretched gardeners who prefer to enjoy their backyards rather than work in them, several new products make outdoor living easier. Each offers a thoughtful solution to a common outdoor living problem, providing time-saving help to gardeners, gadget geeks and all who love to focus on fun outdoors. 

Q: Is a VPN the safest way to use an unsecured (public) Wi-Fi connection? Are there other ways to stay safe? Are there any free VPNs out there for personal use? — Kevin

(NewsUSA) - Who hasn't experienced that moment of panic when your smartphone is about to die just when you need it most? Without our tech gadgets -- and that includes everything from iPods to gaming devices to the latest tablets -- most of us feel absolutely lost.

(NAPSI)—Kitchens are cooking up some of today’s hottest decorating trends. That’s the word from experts who say families are using their kitchen as never before.

(NAPSI)—If your home is like most, you have some 26 different battery-operated devices—from flashlights to smoke detectors to cordless phones—around the house.

(BPT) - If you find yourself wondering how you ever got along before your smartphone, laptop and GPS, you’re not alone. Technology is so much a part of how we go about our days that we often take it for granted. However, in many cases, houses haven’t caught up to the same technological standards as the gadgets people carry with them 24/7. But that’s all about to change, as new ideas begin to revolutionize the way we view our homes.