4 Free Services to Test your Internet Speed

Are you having issues with loading web pages or downloading the movies? Do you want to ensure that the Internet speed you are paying for to your provider is indeed is in the range of the proposed service plan? Perform the test. It takes just couple of minutes to do so.

Measuring download and upload speed does not require any software to be installed in your PC. It is simply a matter of transferring a small, non-executable data file from the test server to your PC, and then moving the file back to the server from your PC. That is all that is needed to be done.

Ping measures how fast you get a response back from the test server. The lower the number is the better. If you play online multiplayer games, you will want less than 100 milliseconds. As for uploading and downloading, measurements are given in bits per second. Higher numbers are better. Download speeds will typically be much faster than upload speeds.

You can compare these numbers against the speeds that your Internet service provider promises you. Be sure to run multiple tests over several days at different times. This will give you on overall picture of your connection speed. You also might find specific periods that it is slow.

Before you test your speed, close any other browser tabs. Also, stop any downloads you may have in progress.

Here are the sites you can use:

1.       Your provider site (in my case, it is Comcast).

http://speedtest.comcast.net/

2.       SpeedTest

Ookla Speedtest service is probably the most popular among competitors, having Over 5 million tests per day and covering more than 2,500 servers worldwide. Actually, Comcast using Ookla service as well.

http://www.speedtest.net/

3.       BandwithPlace

http://www.bandwidthplace.com/

4.       Netmeter

http://www.netmeter.eu/

How to Repair your Freezing Kindle Paperwhite?

Possible Causes

Kindles typically freeze because the processor load becomes more than the device's limited memory and processing power can handle. This most commonly occurs during periods of high use or when trying to access websites using the Kindle's wireless capabilities. If the device freezes during a time when it is not being used it may be because of reduced power to the processor due to the Kindle's battery being low or outdated firmware that does not fully support the features being used.

Kindle Restart

If your Kindle Paperwhite stops behaving in its usual speedy fashion or freezes, you can typically resolve the problem by doing a menu restart or a hard restart.

Begin by performing a menu restart your Kindle Paperwhite:

* Tap Menu→Settings.

* Tap Menu→Restart (Restart is the third item on the drop-down menu that appears.)

Your Kindle Paperwhite displays the start-up screen and a progress bar. After a minute or so, the device restarts and displays the Home screen.

If the menu restart does not resolve the problem, try a hard restart:

* Press and hold down the power button for 45 seconds (7-15 seconds for a second-generation Kindle Paperwhite).

* The screen goes blank.

* Press the power button again — just a simple press as if you were taking your Kindle Paperwhite out of sleep mode.

* The start-up screen appears with a silhouetted child reading under a tree. In a few seconds, the device begins the restart process and displays a progress bar. When that restart is complete, you see the Home screen.

Sometimes a low battery can be the cause of unexpected Kindle Paperwhite behavior. If you continue to have problems, plug in your device to let it charge for at least an hour and then try a menu restart again, followed by a hard restart if necessary.

Firmware Updates

One way to prevent problems with a Kindle freezing up is to make sure that your Kindle device has the latest firmware version installed. Firmware updates are software installations that upgrade the way that the device itself works, fixing problems and introducing new functions.

If an update is available, your Kindle Paperwhite will download it when you turn on the wireless and connect to a network. If you notice a screen that says Your Kindle Is Updating, this is what is happening.

If you are curious as to whether a more current update is available, you can check at Amazon:

* Go to your Amazon account by typing www.amazon.com/myk and log in.

* In the left column, choose Manage Your Devices.

* If a software update is available for your Kindle Paperwhite, a blue i in a white circle will be displayed.

* If you see the i in a circle, click the picture of the Kindle and follow the onscreen instructions to learn more.

* If updates are available, you'll see instructions for determining whether you need to upgrade the firmware and, if so, how to download and manually update your Kindle Paperwhite, if you want.

Note that you do not have to update your Kindle Paperwhite manually, unless you have a problem and you consider firmware upgrades as the way to refresh the program. Necessary updates happen automatically through the wireless connection. Just be aware that if the screen looks different or if you find new features, the device probably went through an automatic update.

Kindle Reset

If all other methods fail, and you have exhausted troubleshooting the issue, you can reset your Kindle Paperwhite back to factory specifications.

Resetting your Kindle Paperwhite should be a last-resort step. Consider calling Amazon Kindle customer service before undertaking a factory reset on your own. The direct toll-free number for Kindle customer service is 1-866-321-8851. Customers outside the United States should call 1-206-266-0927.

To reset your Kindle Paperwhite to its original out-of-the-box state, follow these steps:

* Tap Menu→Settings.

* Tap Menu→Reset Device.

* When you see the warning, tap Yes.

Your Kindle Paperwhite resets. You have to re-register the device with Amazon and download your Kindle e-books and other content from the Cloud at your Amazon account. You also need to retransfer any personal documents that you have loaded on your Kindle Paperwhite from your computer.

Sources and Additional Information:

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/freeze-problems-and-solutions-for-your-kindle-pape.html

http://www.ehow.com/info_8342311_do-kindle-freezes.html

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-update-firmware-on-your-kindle-paperwhite.html

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-reset-your-kindle-paperwhite-to-factory-spe.html