3 Barriers Stalling AI Adoption in Revenue Cycle Management
Your New Cleaning Crush: This Popular Roomba Vac Is Down To $190 On Amazon — Now's Your Chance To Get It On Sale
The best partner I have ever had is my Roomba. That's right — I said it! Sure, there are advantages to human boyfriends. They can reach high shelves, laugh at your jokes and refill your wine glass. But it's my neat, efficient robo-roommate that's currently rocking my world. If you're tired of zeroes and need a hero, right now, there are a few Roombas on sale at Amazon, but the iRobot Model 671 is a tried-and-true shopper favorite that's currently under $200. Who said money can't buy you love?
Amazon
You don't even have to lift a finger: Schedule this robovac to tidy up on the daily using the manufacturer's app or your voice assistant of choice.
$190 at Amazon Why is this a good Amazon deal?Every once in a while, there are a few rare deals that pop up on Amazon that catch us by surprise and this one is the latest culprit, especially considering that Roombas rarely go on sale for under $200. Specifically, the 600 models are among the most popular in the brand's lineup and this one is $40 off for a limited time.
Why do I need this?So, here's why this particular Roomba is my holy grail cleaning appliance. It sucks up dust. It sucks up crumbs. It sucks up strewn kitty litter and tiny bits of Cheerios left over from breakfasts eaten long ago. And it does all this without any involvement from me — I don't have to ask, I don't have to stand up, I don't have to lift a finger. I don't even have to be home! Every day at the appointed time, my darling Roomba just does its job without my input, and I kind of love that.
This is all thanks to the schedule feature on the iRobot Home app. It's a useful "set it and forget it" perk that I absolutely love. Once I set the designated days and times on the app, it just does its thing according to that schedule and I can just relax on the couch in all of my clean home bliss.
And if you want to kick off a clean that's not scheduled, since the Roomba 671 is Wi-Fi connected, you can start the cleaning process with just a touch of a button on your smartphone. Also included with Wi-Fi is Alexa compatibility. Ask Alexa to start, stop or dock your Roomba, and it'll do just that!
Picture coming home to clean floors every single day. Can you even imagine? In case you're unfamiliar with the technology, the Roomba has sensors that map its surroundings (including cliff sensors that keep it from toppling down a set of stairs). This allows it to zip around an entire floor, removing allergens, pet hair and the detritus of daily life.
And when the Roomba is running low on battery from all that work, it automatically docks itself to recharge. All the more proof that we are, in fact, living in the future.
You'll never have to tell this guy twice to put down the remote and help you clean up. (Amazon)
What reviewers say:Several shoppers admitted that they were a little hesitant to shell out so much on a vacuum. But once they did, they, too, were smitten. "Y'all, this thing is a game changer," said one of them. "I was a little apprehensive to spend so much on a 'frivolous' item, but I took the plunge and got this girl. She is amazing!"
Another shopper takes full advantage of the scheduling feature, sharing, "We set it for when we go to bed so we get up [to] clean floors."
"I live with two children and a German shepherd who sheds endlessly," related this fan. "We have no carpet in any of the rooms, and I was sweeping constantly. I've been able to reduce my sweeping, which is a big help."
What's that you say — $190 is still a little too steep for you? Meet the iRobot Roomba 676. It was originally more expensive than the Roomba 671 but, thanks to this steep Amazon discount, it's on sale for just $159.
Amazon
This slightly more affordable model is another shopper favorite that also works on a slew of household surfaces. Get it now while it's over 40% off.
$159 at AmazonIf you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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13 Free Tips To Make Your Windows PC Run Faster And Better
Spring is here and that means weeding, cleaning, packing away winter clothes… and tuning up your PC! Optimizing your PC's performance isn't as complicated as it sounds, however. Just a few tweaks here and there and you'll have your computer running faster than ever.
How to make a PC run fasterImproving your PC's efficiency can take a little effort, though some processes can be automated. Your PC is like a Roomba in that streamlining your laptop or desktop often happens when you're not looking. Below, we've listed several ways to improve the responsiveness and overall speed of your PC and to preserve its longevity, too. Some may be familiar, others not. And if you've already taken care of these, good for you!
After all, why buy a new PC if you don't have to?
1.) Apply Windows updatesHave you tried turning it off and on yet? The U.K.'s The IT Crowd made this a meme and it's true. Rebooting can in fact make a wonky PC behave. From experience, though, PCs can also behave badly when an update is needed or downloaded but not yet installed.
Applying the latest Windows update is a must, whether it be automatically or manually. Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Make sure your PC is up to date via Windows Update (open the Settings menu, then Windows Update and click "check for updates"). Manage Windows updates to make them less of a pain. Apply updates to Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and other browsers by checking them. The Microsoft Store app is the front door for applying updates to Windows apps like Mail or Calendar, though those will happen in the background. Make sure Windows Defender or any anti-malware apps you use are also current, though that should happen automatically.
One additional tip: go to Windows Update > Advanced options and toggle on the option for updating "other Microsoft products". That can actually trigger updates for products connected to your PC, like a Brother printer.
2.) Update your router to secure your homeYou need to make sure all of your software drivers are updated. Most of this happens automatically, though, as part of your day-to-day use.
A major exception is the software used by your router, which often requires specifically accessing the router or the accompanying app. If you're having problems with your Wi-Fi, this can help.
You don't even need a PC to manage a router's fimrware any more. Thomas Newton / Foundry
Thomas Newton / Foundry
Thomas Newton / Foundry
Make this a habit. It's unlikely that your suburban neighbors are trying to hack your PC. In an urban apartment, however, there are likely numerous people within Wi-Fi range that come and go. Botnets love to hack Wi-Fi routers, too. Just play it safe, open your router's app, and update the firmware.
It wouldn't be a bad time to update your password, either—passwords get easier to crack all the time. Forgot your router's password? It's really not the worst thing to just write it on the bottom of the device, especially if you live alone. (If someone breaks in, this is the least of your worries). Otherwise, make sure you trust your roommates.
3.) Adjust your PC's performance sliderIt's an old trick, but a simple one. Yes, your laptop has a bona fide turbo button and you can adjust it however you'd like.
Windows literally allows you to dial up your PC's performance! Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Windows has a performance slider in Windows 10 and one in Windows 11, which you can use to literally tell your PC to run faster. It may lower your laptop's battery life a bit, if you're on the go. But using either the Windows controls or any associated utilities that shipped with your GPU or gaming laptop can also be used to accomplish the same thing: click a button, get a faster PC.
4.) Uninstall old or unnecessary programsOne of the benefits to owning a PC is trying out various applications and services. Sometimes, however, you'll discover that you might not need them any more, perhaps because they've become less useful. So, remove them!
First, view your installed apps. The easiest way to uninstall an app in Windows 11 is to go to your Start menu and review the list of applications. To uninstall a program, right-click the app. Alternatively, you can use the Windows Settings menu (Settings > Apps > Installed apps, or Apps & Features in Windows 10) and review which applications you have installed. To uninstall an app, simply click the ellipsis (…) menu to the right of the app. Windows will tell you how much disk space it takes up and how much you'll get back by uninstalling it.
Apps can take up just a few megabytes, or gigabytes, too. Manage them in the Settings menu. Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
That's not a perfect solution, though. In some cases, you may have Win32 apps installed—utilities or games, mainly. A game launcher like Steam will tell which games Steam installed on your PC, giving you the option to uninstall them. Alternatively, you can also use the old-school Control Panel for a list of installed apps. Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features, click the game, and uninstall it.
Which files should you uninstall? It's probably safe to say that if you're unsure about it, leave it. But if it's an app that you simply don't have any need for, get rid of it. Feel free to use a search engine to learn more about individual entries. And note the size of the program, too—eliminating the biggest ones make the most sense.
5.) Check and see if your hard drive/SSD is fullThis is a simple tip, but a useful one. Open up File Explorer and navigate to My PC. Check to see how full your primary boot disk is. If the file gauge is in the red, you have about 10 to 15 percent of the drive remaining to store files. Not only will this prevent you from installing large games or video files, a clogged drive can also slow down your PC if there's not enough available space for use with background processes.
This PC's SSD is filling up, but there's still room left for now. Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
What you don't have to do is worry about defragging your hard drive or SSD. Windows handles all of that quietly and in the background.
Further reading: The best SSDs we've tested
6.) Eliminate massive files by backing up, then deletingGenerally speaking, the bulkiest files on your SSD or hard disk will be programs (generally games, which we hope we just cleaned up) as well as big files like video. You probably don't need to harken back to the days of the extensive file management utilities we wrote about a decade ago, though apps like Space Sniffer remain to find large, hidden files. Your best bet is to simply identify the largest video and/or music files and move them off of your PC. Here, you'll want to dig through File Explorer, specifically Your PC: Videos, Music, Documents, and Pictures.
Windows 11's File Explorer is your key to finding big files. You can also organize by size using the drop-down menu above. Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
If you'd like, you can back up files to a backup hard drive or the cloud via our Windows backup guide. (Or why not both? Here are our recommendations for the best Windows backup software, and the best external drives for doing so). Alternatively, OneDrive is a solid choice for cloud backup, offering up to 1TB of cloud file storage via Microsoft 365. Other alternatives are OneDrive, Box, Dropbox, or Google Drive, all of which will allow you to create a dedicated backup folder within File Explorer for file backup.
OneDrive allows you to automatically back up files stored in Documents and the Pictures folder as well as your Desktop. Click the OneDrive icon on your taskbar, then the Settings gear in the flyout menu to manage this.
It's not quite as simple as it should be, though. If you use your desktop as a place to store random files, you might want to turn off OneDrive's Desktop backup to save space. Apps like games or Adobe can also use your Documents folder to save games or backup files, which you might need backed up into the cloud.
Windows has built-in backup capabilities that can be launched by clicking the OneDrive icon on the taskbar, but they must be managed. Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
In a case where OneDrive syncs a specific folder, cloud files (indicated by the small cloud icon next to it) are mixed in with local files. Personally, this makes me a little nervous—in a folder whose contents are backed up to the cloud, deleting the file erases it from your local drive as well as the cloud. (It then goes to the Recycle Bin, where it can be restored). To avoid this, you can use File Explorer's "Free up space" command by making local files cloud-only, deleting the local copy and letting the file live online instead.
The bottom line is this: Root out big files, back them up, double-check, then delete the originals from your PC.
7.) Turn on Storage SenseSome of those big, SSD-eating files can actually be temporary backups, data files, and the like, hidden deep within your PC. Don't bother managing this yourself. Storage Sense does it for you. This feature eliminates temp backups, deletes old files in the Recycle Bin, and removes local files from your PC if they've been backed up online.
Storage Sense can handle a lot of your PC's cleanup tasks, automated and in the background. Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
I usually trust Storage Sense to make the smart decisions here, although I always turn off the option to delete files in my Downloads folder.
8.) Disable unwanted startup programs for improved performanceThese suggestions will clean up your hard disk. Blocking apps from loading themselves during the boot process, however, will speed boot times and help reduce the strain on your computer's RAM or memory.
Programs want to helpfully load themselves into memory to be available right away! But that's really not necessary in all cases. Simply launching the program will do all that, costing you a spare second or two. (The exception are some security programs like antimalware, which should always run beginning at startup).
You don't need as many apps as you think when booting up your PC. Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
The Windows Settings menu (Apps > Startup) allow you to toggle apps on and off at startup, along with a broad generalization of what effect that will have on your PC. Again, the rule of thumb is if you don't know, leave the app on. Feel free to research it, though. If it's entertainment related, you can probably turn it off.
9.) Eliminate browser plug-ins you don't useWe all spend a lot of time on the Web, and your browser is like your PC. If you're using plug-ins and add-ons that you don't need, either disable them or remove them entirely. By doing so, you'll reduce the amount of memory your browser consumes, which will then improve your PC's overall performance.
In Google Chrome, open the menu with three vertical dots in upper right-hand corner. Scroll down to More tools, then Extensions. Remove or disable anything you don't need.
In Microsoft Edge, click the ellipsis menu (three dots, horizontally) and navigate down to Extensions. That will open a small popup window where you can remove unwanted extensions.
10.) Secure your online lifeThis won't help your PC's performance, just your peace of mind. Whether you use a password manager or you manage your passwords through your browser, check to see if any of your passwords have been exposed and change them if necessary.
Take an additional step and review which sites also have access to your digital credentials. It can be quite handy to use your Microsoft ID or your Google identity to log on to a new site or service, but there's no reason to let them have access to your personal information if you don't need to. (To check which apps have access to your Google account, use Google's instructions. Microsoft has similar information on its own site).
11.) Personalize your PCHow does personalizing your PC make you more efficient? Well, you may hate Windows' visual effects, like transparency and animations—you can turn these off via the Settings menu (Accessibility > Visual effects). But they may also involve configuring it to make it feel familiar and fun, too.
In certain cases, you may also want to try playing around with third-party utilities like Start11 to tweak Windows. Explorer Patcher is another great option and it's free, too. Hate the way the Taskbar or Start menu looks? Tweak them and make you more efficient when using Windows.
Personalization is a real strength of Windows 10. Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
12.) Reset your PCIf you really want to clean your PC of all digital junk, resetting your PC is a viable option. A clean install (whether it be from the cloud or some other installation media) should really be considered as a last resort for novice users because it will eliminate all the apps from your PC—and possibly your user files, too.
The process of how to reset your PC on Windows 11 is nearly the same as it is on Windows 10. Just be aware that you may have spend additional time installing and/or restoring apps and data. The process of resetting your PC is designed to restore your PC to a brand-new state, though.
13.) How to actually clean your PCAfter all that tapping, swiping and clicking, tapping, your PC may actually need, you know, cleaning. Why should you care about a clean PC? A desktop or laptop clogged with hair, lint, dust bunnies or more can prevent the fan from turning efficiently. An improperly cooled laptop will run slower than usual. A clean PC is a fast PC!
Taking a few minutes to physically clean your laptop is a good idea. IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo
IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo
IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo
We have you covered here, too. Take that dirty laptop and clean it the right way with our step-by-step guide. Just make sure to power it down beforehand!
Yes, there are other ways to optimize your PC—installing an SSD into a desktop or into a laptop are excellent, relatively easy tune ups to boost your PC's performance. But they cost money! These tips are fast, free ways of getting your PC in shape and running great. If you try all these and things still feel pokey, it might be time to buy a new laptop.
Roomba Combo J9+ Has Everything Other IRobot Models Are Missing
I have been testing robot vacuums for about a decade now. In that time, I've tried well over 100 different models. If you've read my Roomba s9+ review, you know it has been one of my favorite robot vacuums since I first tried it. So when I heard that this flagship Roomba model's successor was about to launch, I couldn't wait to try the Roomba Combo j9+.
Now that I have spent many months with the Roomba Combo j9+ robot vacuum and mop, I can confirm that it's a solid upgrade in many ways when compared to the s9+. And right now happens to be a great time to find out for yourself what makes it so great. The Roomba Combo j9+ is on sale right now for $998.98 instead of $1,399, which is within $15 of the all-time lowest price.
If you want to skip to the conclusion, the bottom line is that the Roomba Combo j9+ is the most impressive Roomba that iRobot has ever made. It takes almost everything I love about the Roomba s9+ and adds built-in mopping as well as even more intelligent features. Plus, it has a special auto-empty dock that refills the Combo j9+ with clean water each time it's done mopping.
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This model is from the Roomba Combo lineup, which is the designation that iRobot gives its robot mop and vacuum hybrid devices. In the past, iRobot users had to purchase a Roomba to vacuum and a Braava to mop.
If you're curious, the "9" in this model's name means it's iRobot's top-of-the-line Roomba. Then, the "+" means it comes with an auto-empty base station. As you can see in the images though, this auto-empty base station isn't the same as the one that comes with other Roomba models.
The first thing you'll notice is that the Roomba Combo j9+'s base station is much larger than other Roomba docks. There are a few reasons for that. This one has storage space inside for debris bags, which is a nice touch. But the dirty water and clean water tanks take up the bulk of the extra space inside.
Apart from the nifty new mopping features, the Roomba Combo j9+ has the strongest suction of any Roomba, ever. It's even stronger than the s9+ that I love so much, but there is one downgrade that's worth noting. The extra-wide rollers on the s9+ were terrific since they could pick up more dirt and pet hair in a single pass. Meanwhile, the Combo j9+ has regular rollers like the ones you would find on similar Roomba models.
The Roomba Combo j9+ holds up to 60 days of debris in the dock. It can also store enough water for up to 30 days of regular mopping. That means it'll empty the dirty water and get refilled with clean water every time it mops. That way, you don't have to worry about emptying it and refilling it yourself each time it runs.
That's great, but it's worth noting that this model doesn't have the auto-wash and auto-dry feature that comparable premium robot vacuum and mop hybrids have these days. Check our Roborock S8 Pro Ultra review for an example of a model that cleans and dries its own mop pads.
In addition to everything else I've covered, the Roomba Combo j9+ has all the best features from every other high-end Roomba. Examples include smart obstacle avoidance, intelligent mopping that lifts the mop pads on carpets, and four-stage cleaning.
As you might expect, the biggest downside of the Roomba Combo j9+ is the sky-high price tag. At $1,399, this model is one of the most expensive robot vacuums you can get.
This week, however, iRobot is offering this model with a deal that drops it close to the lowest price ever. Thanks to a $401 discount, the Roomba Combo j9+ is currently on sale for $998.98.
Or, if you don't need the mopping features, you can get the Roomba j9+ with a slight discount.
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