5 Great Free Phone Pranks for Halloween

It’s that time of year again: Halloween. So time to think up some really great pranks. Today Cool Websites and Apps has five great tricks you can pull using only your phone. We showed you how to prank the family computer; today we’re going mobile, with prank apps that do everything from sending your friends random facts to hitting the “Like” button on embarrassingly old pictures. Let’s get started, so you can annoy your friends or make them uncomfortable. It’s the little things in life, isn’t it? CatFacts (Android, Free): Annoy Your Friends with Constant Cat Facts Wouldn’t it be great if...

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What Will Halloween Be Like in 2025?

I think we can all agree that things will be very different in the future. Of course, we don’t really see the future in the same way as Back to the Future, but we can all accept that 10 years down the line, the world will be a very different place than it is right now. As we move more and more towards the Internet of Things, it’s clear that that will keep pushing its way into more parts of our lives. With Halloween upon us, what better time is there to look at the future than right now? What...

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Build Your Own DIY Home Security System with Text Messaging

Building your own DIY security system is a great way to learn more about technology, especially if you use a microcontroller like Arduino. And you don’t have to be a tech whiz to get one set up quickly. With a few parts (or just some free software), you can create a security system that will send you a text message when it detects motion. With a little extra work, you can even have an alarm and flashing lights to scare away intruders! Here are a few ways to get started. The Basics: A Free Webcam Security System To create a...

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Remove Windows Startup Items to Fix Your Slow Computer for Free

Got a slow Windows computer? The problem often originates with user-installed, auto-starting programs. A handful of these you need. The majority you don’t want. Some love hogging system resources and phoning home with your data. Others do so with malicious intent. Killing startup apps requires just a few simple steps. My own experiences with auto-starting apps emerged after owning a Dell XPS laptop for a year. The Dell didn’t start off with memory problems. It developed RAM anemia over time. In that short period, I found myself constantly running out of memory. So what caused the problem? The slow deterioration in performance...

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Here Are 6 Pieces of Paper You Should Always Shred

Having your identity stolen is horrible. Even if you’re not at any financial loss, knowing someone has information about you is a nasty feeling. Chances are, they’ll cast you aside after they finish getting value from your details like you’re nothing anymore. They can ruin you, and then forget all about you. In fact, your personal information is worth very little on the Dark Web. We all know that important documents need to be shredded, but many of us get lazy. We figure, ‘oh, it doesn’t really matter.’ It’s the old ‘it’ll never happen to me’ mentality. Conversely, many think otherwise:...

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How to Block People or Dates in Facebook’s “On This Day” Memories

Facebook is a virtual diary of most of the things that happen in your life, and the new “On This Day” feature automatically prompts you to look back at past events on any particular date. But that can mean reliving painful memories too – which some people aren’t thrilled with. Here’s how to stop it. What’s “On This Day”? On This Day is actually a pretty cool feature, and 90% of the time, it’s a great way to look back at your social life. It’ll find who you made friends with in years past, and it will show you goofy photos...

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Every Linux Geek Needs To Know Sed and Awk. Here’s Why…

Two of the most criminally under-appreciated Linux utilities are Sed and Awk. Although admittedly they can seem a bit arcane, if you ever have to make repetitive changes to large pieces of code or text, or if you ever have to analyze some text, Sed and Awk are invaluable. So, what are they? How are they used? And how, when combined together, do they make it easier to process text? What Is Sed? Sed was developed in 1971 at Bell Labs, by legendary computing pioneer Lee E. McMahon. The name stands for stream editor, and that’s kinda what it does....

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Start this Simple Habit to Rocket Your Productivity: Journaling

There’s a reason why journaling has been around in one form or another for centuries. It offers real benefits not just for your private life, but also for your work life. This is exactly why it’s a strategy that many successful people continue to use. Many managers may well roll their eyes at the thought of employees “wasting time” by keeping a journal. But in many careers, like science, engineering, and medicine, journaling — or a form of it — is a core part of the job description. From increasing productivity, to maintaining accountability, this article explores why you should consider...

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5 Tweaks You Can Use to Speed Up Ubuntu Today

You’ve installed Ubuntu on your PC. Perhaps you’re a long-term Linux user, or you’ve just swapped from Windows. Either way, you’ve noticed that things could be faster. Don’t worry – here are five ways you can tweak Ubuntu to speed things up! Show Hidden Startup Applications Software that is configured to run at system startup can slow things down incredibly, whether you’re using Linux, Windows or OS X. Or even Android. Ubuntu users can fix slow startups by opening the Startup Applications screen, but on first glance you’ll notice that things are a little sparse. To prevent mistakes, the majority...

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Runkeeper, Strava, or Garmin? Pick One & Sync with the Rest

Whether you’re a cyclist, runner, or keen hiker, you’ll be spoiled for choice when picking an exercise tracking app to summarize your suffering. This predicament is made worse still if your friends are scattered across services. Fortunately thanks to the wonders of APIs, it’s possible to use a multitude of fitness services without carrying multiple devices on every jog. Why Would I Do This? It’s absolutely possible to use multiple GPS apps on your iPhone or Android device at once. A good example of this is checking your cycle route using Google Maps’ excellent cycling view, while Strava tracks your location and speed in...

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