SF Cable Blog - Get Expert Tips & Advice on Cables & AccessoriesIn our blog, we educate customers on the various types of cables, components and accesscories for computer, laptops and mobiles. Find More Blog
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SF Cable Blog - Get Expert Tips & Advice on Cables & AccessoriesIn our blog, we educate customers on the various types of cables, components and accesscories for computer, laptops and mobiles. Find More Blog
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Battery technology is getting better, but it is nowhere close to perfect. At the end of each day - if not at mid-day - we have to plug in our devices to be able to use them again. The devices that we have to plug in are only increasing every day, from our phones and laptops to our cars! Even the much-hyped wireless charging devices are not exactly wireless. Not yet anyway. This takes me to say that the most essential gadget of all time is a power cable!
Every little thing requires a power cable to transfer electricity to the device. More often than not, the supplied power cord is too short or you have more devices to charge than power sockets available. This is where power extension cords come in. Extension cords come in various shapes and sizes, offering outlets from one to more than five in compact sizes. You can plug in a number of low voltage items in it, from mobile phones and laptops to televisions and toasters. If you look at one household’s devices, each member has their mobile phones; there may be one or two tablets, and one or more laptops or desktop computers. Then there is a television, an internet router, and perhaps a smart speaker. All of these make up close to 10 gadgets, some of which need to be plugged in at all times. This requires the use of one or more than one extension cord. As with everything, they come in multiple levels of quality. With this, comes the issue of too many appliances plugged into one electrical outlet by extension (pun intended!) However, since you are still going to need power extension cords, let’s look at some of the factors you should keep in mind before buying one:
Since this extension cord will have increased electricity flowing through it, you must make sure that it has an earthing prong. This protects both you and your devices from occasional fluctuations in electric current.
Since this is a multipurpose tool, it is beneficial to have grounding port for each outlet, so that you have the flexibility to put in a two-prong plug or a three-pronged plug. The outlets should also be far apart to accommodate several types of plug designs.
Make sure that your power extension cord is travel proof. European regions have double the voltage than North America does. So you want to make sure to get an extension that you can safely use on your travels.
The extension cord needs to be able to handle occasional electricity surges so that all of your plugged-in devices are not affected by it. There are a lot of negative consequences of access electricity to your devices. They could catch fire or explode, which could cause you both physical and financial harm. Extensions can come in handy not only when you need to charge devices in a hurry, but also in other situations when you want to establish permanent setups in and around your house.
The most basic requirement of a house is the internet connection. If you have a mesh network, then you have to plug in the main hub right next to it. You can also plug in your television and streaming device into this power strip.
Your workstation has everything that you need for work. This can have your computer, an external monitor if you require, speakers, a lamp, a charging setup for your tablet, laptop, mobile, and Bluetooth headphones.
Kitchens have many appliances that depend on electricity, and for convenience, a permanent setup is a way to go. You can use one extension power cord to plug in a toaster, blender, coffee machine, and mixer. With these gadgets in place, you can handle cooking and baking with ease and efficiency. The devices you will use are only going to increase, and so will the power cables. Start buying smart power management tools and learn the art of cable management because cables are definitely here to stay! Wireless charging can be the focus of all ads, but we all know that that charger requires a cable. Read here to know how all of your charging solutions lie in the power extension cord. If you found these Articles useful, here are some other articles that may be of interest. Is it Possible to Recycle Power Cords? Safety Guidelines to Choose The Right Extension Power Cord
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en it comes to connecting accessories to computers, it is not always with a USB to USB cable. Even after the invention of the USB standard, the various types of serial connectors stayed. Everything did not immediately switch to USB entirely. This is when manufacturers started to find a middle ground because they did not want their accessory to be useless (or, out of time) in a short time. So, they started making devices that could connect to a computer via its USB port while the device itself retains its serial port. They shipped their device with a USB to serial adapter.
These cables and chips are low cost. So, when you try to connect any device using these, you might face issues because, along with the cheaper hardware, there is usually also an issue of driver compatibility. As this USB to serial adapter cables are supposed to be for short term use, they are not made with future software in mind, or even more than one software (in terms of Operating System) in mind. You are less likely to upgrade your printer every two or three years, but your computer is definitely getting regular software updates, making your printer more incompatible with each update. However, a simple fix for this is always having the latest software drivers as well as firmware updates for your printer. Another use case of USB cables is that if you want to connect something that solely connects via a serial connector then you can get a USB to serial adapter cable. This increases the lifespan of your device by making it forward compatible with a USB standard, something that is generally widely available, as the words USB standard suggest. USB cables have evolved from carrying data slowly and only enough power for it to work, to carrying data much faster, as well as being the gold standard in fast charging. You can plug in serial adapters into the newer devices along with the compatible software. The drivers are generally available to download and install. You have to make sure to get the right cable for your requirement before buying it. Use Cases of a USB to Serial Adapter:
With so many adapters and cables to take care of, it would make sense to upgrade all your devices to the latest USB cables. However, it is better to use adapters to the maximum value of your product rather than keep upgrading to each new technology because that only increases the hardware trash. With limited resources, that might not be the best idea to continue throwing out older devices. Adapters can breathe fresh life into older devices and you can use them for way more time than the constantly upgrading industry wants you to. Dongles are too bad considering they are the one keeping your devices for being obsolete too fast. Read here to know why that is. If you found these Articles useful, here are some other articles that may be of interest. Some FAQs About USB C Cables Answered! How USB-C Is Going to Get More Secure Understanding USB Cables & Their Types What Makes USB C Cables Better Than Other USB Cables? Why Should You Choose USB Type C Over All Other Cables? Back in the days when there was no WIFI, we were so fascinated with how a single cable connection could let you surf and access online data. As time passed by, we have cut down a lot on the cables. With a single Wi-Fi connection, we can access the internet from anywhere in our homes. All we need for that is good internet speed. But, when it is down, you cannot do anything but wait for the error-free connection (including adjusting our modem wiring). Think about Ethernet cables. They might be old fashioned but when it comes to internet speed Ethernet cables gives you plenty of reasons to adopt them into your system. WIFI (Wireless Connection) Vs Ethernet Cables (Wired Connection) There’s nothing like a WIFI connection. It changed our lives. Gave us the flexibility to consume data from anywhere with internet-enabled devices. In our homes, offices, cafe, restaurants. In short, everywhere. It’s now a part of our everyday lives. Having said that there are a lot of benefits in using ethernet cables over a wireless connection. One might say that they are life-changing. We know it means losing your internet flexibility but let’s admit that Wi-Fi connections are not always pleasant. Sometimes they crash out of nowhere and sometimes we agonize over the ever-circulating buffer sign. The experience dulls down when you have thick walls or metal things around the house. These objects can throw off the signal which comes from your router. There is an entire industry selling devices which can help in curbing this issue. Wireless connections are prone to signal drops and high latency. So, you will be just fine if your use includes browsing and documentation. But if you are an avid gamer, then things won’t look so bright. In such cases, ethernet cables are the answer. When you connect an ethernet cable to your hardware, it will multiply your connection speed by two or three. Wireless connection speed is always going to be slower. When Ethernet Cables Are Applicable? There are times when it makes no sense to use ethernet cables. For example, when you are just messing on a web browser, watching YouTube videos, WIFI would serve you just fine. Even when you are watching Netflix in the default configuration, your WIFI connection would serve you best. But when 4K streaming becomes an everyday thing, using a wired connection would make more sense. The same goes for downloading large files, gaming, environment, video calls, mass surfing. Why Don't More Devices Support It? For sure WIFI is a great alternative for people. Because the streaming sticks usually don’t come with ethernet ports. You usually get it in $10 or $15 or so. But then people think that WIFI is good enough. They won’t bother. Benefits Of Ethernet Cables:
While Wi-Fi is susceptible to countless environmental factors, walls and floors easily block radio waves. Even the atmosphere can cause problems.
Plus, with WIFI, the data is in the air. So, if you use an open network, anybody can intercept all the data you send and receive easily. It includes personal details and logins. Most WIFI networks do have secured interface but its strength depends on the method of your security.
Which One To Pick?
Will The Upcoming Era Of 5G Internet Takeover Ethernet? The 5G revolution is slowly approaching us. It would be much faster than the current connection. It is available in some of the major cities in USA. And not in all the neighborhoods. So, it is going to be a long while before 5G will become a default source of internet. And even after reaching to the masses, there is no evidence that it will make wired internet connections obsolete. Hence, it is best to stick to old school ethernet cables to leverage high-speed internet every time! Source: https://www.sfcable.com/blog/why-ethernet-cables-stay/ No one talks about computer monitors. You will always find hobbyists talking about processor prowess, RAM and storage when they talk about building their ideal setup. But the display is just as essential! After all, the result of that computing is on the display! So, once you pick out the perfect CPU parts, the most comfortable keyboard, and the most accurate mouse, spend some time picking out the right monitor. On top of that spend an equal amount of time getting the best and the most future proof computer monitor cable.
What should you keep in mind when getting a monitor?
These are some of the essential factors that you have to keep in mind while buying a computer monitor. However, this is not all. A display is only as good as the monitor cable used for it. Along with display technology, cable technology has also advanced. Let us look at some of the computer monitor cables so you can get a comprehensive picture of what to buy:
The issue with these two ports was that they took up a lot of space on the monitor as well as the CPU and they were slow for activities like gaming and video editing. Then came the HDMI cable. HDMI: The High Definition Multimedia Interface, a port that was great when it came out, is getting better. Along with the evolving display resolution, it has scaled to support it. Computer monitors that can support 4K resolution can benefit greatly from the HDMI computer monitor cable. At the end of the day, your monitor’s output comes down to the computer monitor cable that you use. Therefore, when you buy your computer setup, you have to look at all of these various aspects to make a well-informed decision. After all, you have to have a monitor that can deliver the performance that your carefully picked out CPU can perform. An overall computing assembly requires more than just the perfect CPU. Take a look at what you need to know to pick out an equally great monitor for it! If you found these Articles useful, here are some other articles that may be of interest. How to choose the best Monitor Cable with Ferrite Bead Gear Up Your Computer System With These Must Have Accessories Tips to Run Cables Into An Industrial Computer Enclosure A Step by Step Guide to Installing a New Monitor to the Computer How to Use an External Monitor for a Better Working Experience The first computers were huge and mainly used the command line interface. In order to perform the smallest tasks, you had to type them out using the keyboard. And the idea of the keyboard also came from the typewriter. These keyboards were connected to the computers via a cable.
The DB9 connector is the smallest of the D sub type of connector. It has 9 pins for the male connector and 9 holes for the female port. It is a connector that is very popular when it comes to connecting with serial peripherals like mouse, keyboard, etc. to a computer. In the days of a wired computer setup, the db9 cable was perhaps the most used computer cable. Apart from essential accessories, the db9 cable attached mono printers, joysticks or even another computer. The 9-pin connector and cable were the industry standard. Anyone making computer accessories could build in the dp9 port for easy connection. If everyone already has your cable, it smoothens the buying decision of that product. So no matter what brand you were, you could make an accessory with the db9 connector and be sure that it would connect to all computers. Or if you were a computer manufacturer, any accessory with this port would connect to your computer. This was, until of course, the USB standard replaced it. We have gone from all of these ports to a multifunction, multi-use USB-C now. Other use cases for DB9 Connectors & Cables:
As far as computer cables are concerned, this one was perhaps legendary not too long ago. Whenever technology updates, it demands that we don’t look back and makes the older tech obsolete. Younger people born in the last decade will not be tripping over wires, but they will have to struggle to connect multiple devices to each other over Bluetooth, or setup a coherent workflow of routines in their smart homes. However, before this, if you were good at cable management, you could simply plug things into the device you wanted to use it with, and it would simply work (without tripping)! This is also where the term ‘plug and play’ comes from. And because the main device, like a computer couldn’t do anything as a standalone device, it was full of ports for us to configure in any accessory we wanted, from any brand. It made the computer a very customizable device. You could have an office setup with your favourite keyboard, mouse, printer and scanner. But you could also have a fun gaming setup by removing the printer and scanner to just add in a joystick. Handheld games became popular much after computer gaming and huge video games took off. Db9 is a legendary connector in computer history. However, the technology industry has moved on to much smaller, more versatile ports, if not wireless and Bluetooth technology. The most common use of this connector was for keyboards and mice. The Future of Computer Cables: When it comes to computer cables and connectors, the USB cables are becoming a standard which has been here for a while. Most accessories are moving to USB-C because it can do both, data transfer and power another device. It is a natural move for devices that want to be portable, and need to have fast charging. Technology updates every day, and industry standards are set every day. We are looking for smaller, more powerful devices and aiming to cut the cord completely, but that doesn’t mean we don’t remember our first experiences with a computer on a great mechanical keyboard. A brief history of the DB9 computer cable and how the industry has moved forward. Read on about how most people had their first interaction with a computer via a mechanical keyboard all because of this connector! If you found this article post useful, here are some other articles posts that may be of interest. DB9 Cables, Their Types, and Working Simplified! A Complete Guide to DB Style Connectors & Cables Types of Computer Cables You Must Know About How to Choose Best Adapters and Connectors for your Computer When it comes to choosing power cord for the household devices, people often make a mistake by choosing the wrong products. Rather than buying the cheapest and longest cord, here is how you can make a smart purchase by considering these factors when deciding which extension cord to use.
Two Prong Vs Three Prong Plugs For the household use, two of the most common household plug configurations are two prongs (NEMA 1-15) and three prongs (NEMA 5-15). Three prongs (NEMA 5-15) plug has a round pin for the ground wire use. It helps in preventing ground shock. Whereas, two-prong (NEMA 1- 15) is not grounded. A variety of devices such as electric fans, lamps, charger cords, TVs, etc. support them. However, high powered devices such as refrigerators, microwaves support three prong plugs (NEMA 5-15). Wire Gauge Household extension cords come in multiple wire gauges as per the applications. A thicker gauge cable would simply use more heavy-duty items. For instance, a wider pipe allows more water to flow through it, while a thicker gauge cable enables more power to flow through it. It comes handy with distances as well. Here are the most common wire gauge sizes for 3 prong (NEMA 5-15) plugs:
We Use The Wrong Gauge Extension Cord Having a thicker gauge cable then the recommended is always better than using a right angle power cord with a thinner gauge wire. When you use a thinner gauge wire, even with right angle power cord, the device may not have power at all. This could lead to a misunderstanding that the extension cord is faulty. But that also means that the device did not have enough power to run. Even if a device running on a lower gauge extension cord initially, it could still lead to problems such as the device burning out or malfunctioning. Outer Jacket Sometimes, the outer jacket is an important aspect as well. If you use extension cords outdoors in colder temperatures, a regular extension cord might begin to stiffen up and become much harder to plug-in. In this context, there are power cords available that contain “All-Weather” outer jacket. For example, a cable that is SJEOW means the following:
As we cannot stress enough on how important it is to take precautions while working with power cords, here are the quick safety tips:
In the meantime, you can check out our range of extension power cord here and choose the best suited for your home! All the things you need to know about choosing the right extension cord for your household here. Read more to make a smart decision. If you found this blog useful, here are some other blog posts that may be of interest. All You Need to Know About Power Cord Connectors What is the Difference between C13 and C15 Power Cords? A Safety Guide to Handling Power Cords A Buyer’s Guide to Choosing the Right Power Extension Cord There are many of us out here who only trust cables for connectivity. People can go around with their wireless devices all they like, but we don’t want to have to make sure to charge everything before using it. We just want to start using the device!
Fortunately, cables are not going anywhere. They are mostly required for audio video purposes which is something we need for both entertainment and work. Primarily, there are two types of these connectors, one type passes a digital signal and the other type passes analog signal. The most popular analog audio connectors are the 2.5mm and 3.5mm connectors. If we take a trip down memory lane, Sony’s iconic Walkman chose the 3.5mm port back in 1979. This made it famous. And when the technology industry evolved and/or copied the Walkman, everyone put this port on their devices. 20 years after the Walkman, the audio cable and the portable audio industry had become so iconic that Apple used its silhouette for their famous iPod ads. With this cable, you never have to worry about running out of battery or its large size. All you have to take care of is that they don’t tangle. The Uses of 2.5mm & 3.5mm Cables for Entertainment: To carry a stereo signal you need two audio channels. The tip carries the left channel, the ring carries the right channel, and the sleeve is the ground channel. This is specific to the 3.5mm cable. And the 2.5mm cable can be used in phones that need to use headsets, or in smaller phone instruments that were cordless but needed a headset. The most common use of a 2.5mm connector is for connecting a microphone to devices. When you need to have a separate microphone input and audio output an audio splitter is useful. This splitter is a 2.5mm to 3.5mm cable where the connector is 3.5mm and the other side has two 2.5mm female ports. These can connect a microphone and headphones, or two headphones. This cable comes in handy in case you want an external microphone input on your phone, and/or when you want to use headphones for the audio experience. While buying audio video cables, you can check for whether it is mono sound or stereo sound, and if it has a microphone built-in. The mono channel connector will only have one ring, a sleeve, and the tip. If you are looking for a stereo sound experience, then the connector should have two rings. The tip carries the left signal, the first ring carries the right stereo channel, the sleeve is ground and the second ring is the microphone. It is in the TRS or TRRS connector format. The 3.5mm connector can route analog dual channel audio for a device that uses the RCA audio video cable for video input and audio output. While this cable is old, it is most often used in gaming setups, that have a console hooked up to a TV, and more than one controllers attached to the console itself, along with headsets or stereo speakers. Another use case is when you want to use an aux cable but your car’s music system is older. This requires you to use a 2.5mm to 3.5mm cable to connect your phone or mp3 player to it. An older system will also not have Bluetooth, so this cable is your best option for car entertainment. That was entertainment; now let’s move on to work requirements. The Uses of 2.5mm & 3.5mm Cables for Office Work: If your line of work requires you to be talking on the phone for the better part of your day, you wouldn’t want to be constantly holding a phone. Generally, you are required to use a work phone, which is a corded landline phone. In this case, there are headsets that plug into the 2.5mm female port on the phone itself. You may not have a headset that has a 2.5mm connectors but have the more popular and reliable 3.5mm connector. In this case, you can simply use a male to female 2.5mm to 3.5mm cable. This way you can plug in your existing headset to your landline phone. Concluding Note: The audio video cables are in huge demand in the accessory market. There are plenty of accessory makers who make sure to put in ports that they think can provide with faster and smoother experience than Bluetooth or Wireless technologies. The cable industry is going strong. Especially the audio-video cables as the sheer number of accessories we want to connect keep increasing every day. Read more: The Reason We Are Still Talking About Audio Video Cables in 2019 If you found this article useful, here are some other articles that may be of interest. How to Choose the Correct Audio Cable Splitter for Headphones? Choose the Best Video Extension Cables for Your Home Theater In 2017, at the Worldwide Developer Conference, in the opening video, Apple showed a very interesting thing. They wanted to highlight the fact that the world cannot be without apps. A data center employee accidentally unplugged the servers to plug in his waterfall, and in doing so, turned off the data center. This turned off all the apps and there was an APP-pocalypse.
What this also highlighted was that without data centers, most apps would stop working! Apps heavily depend on the cloud infrastructure that Amazon, Google and Microsoft (mainly) provide. So the app that you use most could stop working if the data center stopped working. The data center needs to run perfectly if it is going to be able to deliver that kind of consistency. To ensure that it runs smoothly at all times, you have to keep in mind 4 main things: 1. Cabling
3. Security 4. Electricity Let’s look at all of these metrics in detail: 1. Cabling: Servers require bulk Ethernet cables and there are two ways to set the servers up in terms of cabling:
2. Cooling: In a setup, that has a huge number of servers: Ethernet cables, optic cables, and constant flow of electricity, it can get plenty hot. Excessive heat is not a good thing in such close quarters. So to maintain a cooler atmosphere in a data center, you can scale back on lighting. Once set up, it only requires little daily changes, so less lighting or special lighting, depending on the frequency of humans going in, can help in maintaining the temperature. Natural ventilation can also help to some level but you would need to outfit dedicated cooling units per a certain number of racks, as well as manage the overall environment. With a smart environmental management system in place, you can make sure that your servers shut down before succumbing to fluctuations in temperature. 3. Security: A data center houses sensitive data about apps, customer data, etc. Therefore, it is imperative that you take measures to maintain tight security. You should install security cameras in a way that you can see all corners and aisles. They should also be of the kind that let you see any activity in low light. However, it is not enough to protect it against data breaches and human errors. You also have to have measures in place in case of natural calamities. Take into account the design of the infrastructure so that it can withstand earthquakes, floods, etc. These precautions can save you a massive loss of data and expense in the long run. 4. Electricity: Just like you have to account for other calamities, you also have to keep in mind that electricity can stop without notice, for multiple reasons. This is why you have to have a backup power supply in case your electricity fails. This way your backup power kicks in before anything goes majorly wrong. These are the four most important things that you have to take care of in a data center. Apart from these things, there are other equally important but second level details to keep in mind, such as what Ethernet cable you want to use, how many server racks you want to have, the material for the infrastructure, the lighting you want in the data center, etc. The world needs apps, and apps function if you take care of these four things in a data center. Keeping it connected to the internet with the right Ethernet cable is the most important thing. If you found this article useful, here are some other articles that may be of interest. Types of Computer Cables You Must Know About 8 Ingenious Hacks to Hide Every Cable in Your Room Understanding the Utility and Importance of Ethernet Ports When you are planning for travel, electronic gadgets need a proper planning as well. And when doing so, it is important to stock up right power plug adapters in order to save power. And there are almost 12 types of power sockets in-use universally. Because of this, users tends it get confused while selecting the power plug adapters.
To get over this issue, here are six tips to help you buying the right one: Only Modifies Plugs, Not Voltages When you are buying power plug adapter, make sure it converts the layout of the pins on your charger or appliance, not the voltage coming from the power socket. It is important to consider this as in American, Caribbean and other countries, the main voltage is 220-240 volts. So, if your gear can not handle the voltage change, end result would harm the device. As most portable electronics have a small sticker with the voltage range they can handle. if it doesn’t go up to 240 volts, it is time for you to take a voltage converter. Note: If you are travelling to Europe, consider buying special european plug adapters which not only converts the layout but the voltage as well. This is because most of the european appliances run on high-voltage. Size Matters There are many shapes and sizes of power plug adapters. Starting from small and simple single-region adapters to larger versions that engulf most of countries. While you choose the convenient devices for your travel, its extra size may cause hurdles. Firstly, they might fall out of socket, if there is any weight on them. Secondly, their width might block the socket beside them. Hence, it is wise to choose the smallest adapter, or may be a set of adapters. Single region ones are cheaper as well. Consider Three Pins Plugs It is common among some adapters that they have sockets only for two-pin North American Plugs. But if you use a MacBook, power strip, or other devices with round pin, it won’t fit in that kind of adapter. Before buying an adapter, make sure that you decide what you intend to plug in. Or may be simply buy a three-pin version by avoiding the problem. Consider Buying It From Official Stores Sometimes we do not prioritize the criticality of travel essentials. And because of that, we end up forgetting adapters and buying them from airports. Airports are one of the most expensive places to buy travel accessories, food, drinks, internet access and almost everything else. Hence, it is wise to plan your travel in advance and buy travel adapters from official stores. Not only for cost management but also for better product. At stores, you would have options of exact products you need with a chance to test them. Keep Single Product If you are planning to travel with family, friends carrying a bunch of gadgets and appliances, buying individual adapters could be an expensive choice. Instead of that, you could but a travel power strip which serves the purpose. If it is not necessary to convert their voltages, you can plug all of your chargers into the power strip, that strip into the travel adapter into the switchboard. This approach would help you save money, some extra space in your bag, and scarcity of having power sockets while travelling. You Could Consider USB Travel There are several companies who make compact two to four socket USB travel adapters which will let you charge multiple devices from the same wall socket. It is only if your electronics can charge via USB. There are other products which have clip-on plugs which lets you use them in a number of countries. You could simply charge phones, tablets, kindles, portable batteries, and other electronic devices as well. Extra Tip Before buying a power plug adapter for your use, it is important to check the adapter’s maximum power output for individual sockets and the adapter as well. And iPads and recent smartphones need more juice than older phones and devices. That’s why look for 2.4 amps from each socket if you wish to plan to plug high powered gadgets. Planning your travel? Here’s how you can select the right kind of power plug adapter for your device. If you found this blog post useful, here are some other blog posts that may be of interest. Power Plug Adapters You Must Carry While Travelling! Essentials About Power Plug Adapters Tips to Choose a Good Power Adapter for your Laptop Know the Plugs that Power Your Laptops |
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