Thursday, 31 August 2017

9 Great Safari Browser Alternatives for Mac Users

mac-safari-alternatives

On the Mac, there are many browsers beyond Safari: some common, some more obscure. It is not that Safari is a bad browser, or that it has a limited feature set. Safari is Apple’s vision of the web browser and targeted at general users. Not to mention most of its feature releases tie into releases of macOS. So you may want a different focus, or want major updates more than once a year. Here are a few good alternatives to try out. Common Browsers None of these are going to be too far off your radar. One has become one...

Read the full article: 9 Great Safari Browser Alternatives for Mac Users



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2wjtksO
via IFTTT

5 Call Recording Apps for iPhone That Actually Work

call-recording-apps

If you’re an Android phone user, you’ll have it easy when it comes to recording calls — there are several apps on Google Play that do the job just fine. Heck, some Android phones (like ones from Xiaomi and some other Chinese manufacturers) come with call-recording built right into the dialer. But due to Apple’s security-focused approach, iOS apps cannot directly record phone calls on an iPhone. What can you do? Why Would You Want to Record Calls Anyway? Well, there are a few reasons why. Maybe you are having an important discussion with someone and want to reference it...

Read the full article: 5 Call Recording Apps for iPhone That Actually Work



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2wTO9we
via IFTTT

The 5 Best Sites to Read Manga Online

Manga is a Japanese style of comic books that has proven to be a big hit around the world. But it’s difficult to distinguish official English translations from fan-made translations. For that, you need to know the right sites to read manga online. For a long time, manga comics weren’t officially translated into English, nor available digitally. This led to the rise of “scanlations,” the original Japanese comics were scanned, and then fans translated them in the speech bubbles. Things have changed for the better since then. There are some excellent apps to read comics. And you don’t need to rely...

Read the full article: The 5 Best Sites to Read Manga Online



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/1wqGkTJ
via IFTTT

5 Useful Ways to Utilize Your Mac’s Parental Controls

parental-controls-mac

Even if you’re a seasoned macOS user, there are probably some great features you don’t use enough. But what if we told you that some of them are hiding in your Mac’s Parental Controls menu? And you don’t even have to be a parent to take advantage of them. That’s right — just like the accessibility options in macOS, the Parental Controls menu offers some handy controls not seen elsewhere. We’ll show you how to access them and the best ones to try. How to Access Parental Controls To get started with Parental Controls, visit the Apple Menu in the...

Read the full article: 5 Useful Ways to Utilize Your Mac’s Parental Controls



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2wJPUvu
via IFTTT

Google Maps Now Helps You Find a Parking Space

Google Maps is introducing new tools to help you park your car. As anyone who lives in, or commutes into, a city, knows, parking can be a stressful endeavor. And if you’re driving into somewhere you’re not familiar with, you may not even be aware how difficult it is to find a parking space. Google is here to help in two ways. Not only will Google Maps now inform you how difficult it is to park in various cities around the world, it will also help you find a parking space near your destination. And in one fell swoop, Google...

Read the full article: Google Maps Now Helps You Find a Parking Space



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2woTOYa
via IFTTT

Wednesday, 30 August 2017

VR Gaming on a Laptop? Check This Out

vr-gaming-laptop

Virtual reality is obviously not going anywhere, but it very well could be the future of video games. Actually, it might just be the here and now, but there’s one big drawback: it’s expensive. Not only do you need to buy the VR hardware itself, but you also need a fairly high-end computer or PlayStation 4 to run the graphics-intense games. That brings us to why we’re here today: to talk about using a laptop to power your virtual reality headset. Is it even possible? If so, is the Vive or Oculus better suited to the task? We’re going to...

Read the full article: VR Gaming on a Laptop? Check This Out



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2wj89qV
via IFTTT

Amazon Has A Bunch of PCs On Sale, But Are They A Good Deal?

There’s a bunch of refurbished HP gaming PCs on sale today, but should you jump on any of them? We’ve explained the deals and we have the answers you seek! Rather than just list the deals (Amazon already does that), we analyze the value of the discount and the quality of the product. Here’s how we rate the deals to make it quick and easy for you to decide if they’re worth getting: Must-Buy: The lowest price ever and a deal that hasn’t been seen often. Good: At or close to the all-time low, but has been available at that...

Read the full article: Amazon Has A Bunch of PCs On Sale, But Are They A Good Deal?



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2grmiwy
via IFTTT

15 Chrome Extensions by Google You Didn’t Know You Needed

chrome-extensions-google

With all the extensions available for Google Chrome, it can be tough to decide which ones to install. And with so many from unknown third parties, you might be overly cautious. If you want to play it safe, go right to the source — and who better to provide Chrome extensions than Google? From useful to unique, here are the best Chrome extensions direct from Google that you need. 1. Google Mail Checker If you keep a close on eye on your Gmail inbox, then the Google Mail Checker is the extension for you. This basic button simply shows the...

Read the full article: 15 Chrome Extensions by Google You Didn’t Know You Needed



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2wT8jGD
via IFTTT

How to Change Your Mac’s MAC Address (and Why)

mac-macaddress-change

A MAC address is a serial number that ships with every hardware device connected to the internet. It’s the building block of networking because it enables unique identification of a hardware device over a network. This makes sure that the packets are sent to the right place. Earlier we covered how to change MAC address on Windows. Today, let’s see why you might want to change the MAC address (and how) on your Mac. What Is a MAC Address? A Media Access Control address (MAC address) is a serial number used to identify a network adapter uniquely. A computer with...

Read the full article: How to Change Your Mac’s MAC Address (and Why)



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2wiqX9v
via IFTTT

You Can Now Pay Tinder to See Who Swiped Right

Tinder has launched its new paid subscription tier around the world. Tinder Gold is designed to offer “a first-class swipe experience” for members only. So it’s kinda like the difference between having an ordinary credit card and a platinum credit card. Except Tinder Gold is cheaper. Tinder announced Tinder Gold in June 2017. And we duly wrote about it. At the time Tinder Gold was being tested in Argentina, Australia, Canada, and Mexico, but it has now gone live worldwide. It’s initially only available to iOS users, but will soon be available on Android as well. Tinder Gold Gives You...

Read the full article: You Can Now Pay Tinder to See Who Swiped Right



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2xxRM88
via IFTTT

How to Use Kodi Without Breaking the Law

use-kodi-legally

You’ve been streaming sports and movies on your Kodi media center, without realizing that, actually, you probably shouldn’t. But now the penny has dropped, and you want to move on. Is it time to dump your Kodi box (which is still legal to own and use), or can you still enjoy your favorite movies, TV shows, music, podcasts, and sport? Cull the Add-ons To start, you need to give some attention to the various add-ons you have installed on your Kodi box. Where legal challenges have been made, you’ll find that the add-ons concerned have stopped working. It doesn’t matter...

Read the full article: How to Use Kodi Without Breaking the Law



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2wJ9urK
via IFTTT

10 Hobbies for Programmers That Don’t Involve Code

hobbies-programmers

As a programmer you have quite a selection when it comes to hobby opportunities, and we’ve covered them in our roundup of hobbies that involve coding and scripting. If you love tapping away at the keyboard more than anything else, consider starting there. But if you want to exercise your mind in a fun way without writing a single line of code, then keep reading. There are several no-code hobbies you can take up that’ll help you become a better programmer in unexpected ways. 1. Baking Baking may seem like a hobby better suited for homemakers and retirees, but the...

Read the full article: 10 Hobbies for Programmers That Don’t Involve Code



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2x4Hz5r
via IFTTT

The Luddite’s Guide to Modern Technology

luddite-guide-tech

The promise of technology is one of empowerment. Computers are tools. They make it easier, or even possible, to do certain tasks. Technology’s basic purpose is to help. While developers often mean well, much of our technology is less than helpful. Today’s web services leave us dependent on telecommunications companies, put control of our data in other people’s hands, and open us up to pervasive surveillance. Planned obsolescence takes our hard-earned cash and turns it into products that we need to replace every couple of years. Online media stores now sell us permission to access books and movies instead of...

Read the full article: The Luddite’s Guide to Modern Technology



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2xxCnVo
via IFTTT

Probox 2 AVA Android TV Box and HD Recorder Review (and Giveaway)

The Probox2 devices are solid Android TV boxes that we’ve reviewed favorably before, so when we heard a new model had a been released that isn’t just an incremental upgrade, we jumped at the chance to check it out. Available for $155 bundled with the Remote+, or $130 for just the box, the Probox2 AVA adds room in the case for a 2.5″ SATA HDD, and the ability to record from an HDMI source. Those are quite compelling additions, so let take a look at the details and see what we thought of it. At the end of this review,...

Read the full article: Probox 2 AVA Android TV Box and HD Recorder Review (and Giveaway)



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2x4yx8p
via IFTTT

Confused by Home Automation Jargon? Study This Smart Home A-Z!

smarthome-jargon

One of the most challenging aspects of embracing new technology is getting your head around all the unfamiliar lingo. For most people, there are still some terms we don’t understand about the apps and software we use every day (how many non-geeks know what HTTP stands for, or what a MAC address is?). If you’re just starting out on your smart home journey, there are some words and phrases it’s essential to understand. But don’t worry, MakeUseOf is here to help. Here’s our A-to-Z of smart home terms every newbie needs to know. A is for Automation Smart devices are...

Read the full article: Confused by Home Automation Jargon? Study This Smart Home A-Z!



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2x4La3n
via IFTTT

How to Stop Facebook Memories From Appearing in Your Notifications

delete-facebook-friends

While Facebook’s memories can sometimes be a reminder of pleasant days past, the algorithm has been known to remind us of things we’d rather just forget. If you’re tired of seeing “memories” on Facebook, you can turn them off using these methods. Method 1: Turn Off All Reminders If you want all of these posts to stop appearing in your notifications, go to Settings > Notifications and look for On this day under the list for What you get notified about. In the dropdown menu, change the setting to None. Method 2: Turn Off Some Reminders You may not mind some of the memories that appear, but...

Read the full article: How to Stop Facebook Memories From Appearing in Your Notifications



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2vqFvFg
via IFTTT

Why Your PS4 Downloads Are Slow and How to Speed Them Up

Does it seem like the download speeds on your PlayStation 4 are taking forever? It’s not just you! Juho Snellman, a systems programmer from Switzerland, has taken the time to describe why PS4 downloads slow down for various reasons. You can read his full post for the technical details, but we’ll discuss the biggest cause here. In short, having applications open on your PS4 will cause the download speed to drop dramatically. Even if your PS4 is on a wired connection, having a game or media app like Netflix open will cause download speeds on the PlayStation Store to slow to...

Read the full article: Why Your PS4 Downloads Are Slow and How to Speed Them Up



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2whpDUk
via IFTTT

How to Archive Evernote Notes and Free Up Notebook Clutter

Are you still using Evernote? Kudos! The company has been through some major trials and tribulations over the last 12 months, and many users have jumped ship to OneNote. But alas, OneNote isn’t right for everyone. So if you’re still using Evernote, you’ll no doubt be aware of one missing feature — a glaring omission for a supposedly full-featured note-taking app. I am, of course, talking about archiving. Why isn’t there a simple, native way to archive your old stacks for posterity? Even the paid tiers don’t offer this feature. Luckily, there are a couple of workarounds. Using Native Workarounds...

Read the full article: How to Archive Evernote Notes and Free Up Notebook Clutter



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2whGIOc
via IFTTT

Uber Stops Tracking You After Your Ride Ends

Uber is set to stop tracking riders after they have reached their destinations. This is the latest in a long line of changes Uber is making in order to improve its terrible reputation. And this one means riders will only need to share their location when actually using the Uber app. Which is fair. Uber Tracks Riders In December 2016, Uber updated its mobile apps. And one of the changes it made affected how it collected location data from riders. Previously, Uber would only collect location data when riders had the app open, but users were suddenly faced with a...

Read the full article: Uber Stops Tracking You After Your Ride Ends



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2x28ezP
via IFTTT

Amazon Echo Now Supports Multi-Room Music Streaming

play-music-amazon-echo

Amazon is introducing multi-room music streaming. This means you can now stream music to multiple Echo speakers positioned in different rooms of your house. This is great news for those who host raucous house parties, but bad news for your neighbors. And my neighbors too for that matter. The Amazon Echo can do lots of different things, powering other smart devices, for example. However, for most of us, it’s a powerful speaker capable of playing music. And now, if you own more than one Echo device, you can synchronize them to stream music all through your house. Synchronize Music Across...

Read the full article: Amazon Echo Now Supports Multi-Room Music Streaming



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2xKNOZb
via IFTTT

CrashPlan for Home Shuts Down: What Now for Online Data Backups?

CrashPlan is a popular cloud based backup provider. Their recent announcement to close the Home solution has left users in the cold. But here's what you can do next to safeguard your data.

Read the full article: CrashPlan for Home Shuts Down: What Now for Online Data Backups?



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2wfZbKF
via IFTTT

How to Turn an Old Laptop Screen Into a Magic Mirror

Laptops don’t last forever, but the screens inside them usually do. Even if the main computer is broken, you can extract the display panel, and reuse it. In today’s project, we’ll be turning an old laptop and a Raspberry Pi into a magic mirror. What You’ll Need Broken laptop. Please don’t tear apart a functional one, there are much better things to do with one that still works! (Free) Raspberry Pi 2 or 3 (preferably 3 since it has built-in Wi-Fi). ($30) Thick wood and a Kreg jig to make a frame. ($10 for the wood) 1-way mirrored acrylic sheet....

Read the full article: How to Turn an Old Laptop Screen Into a Magic Mirror



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2wg5iyC
via IFTTT

Tuesday, 29 August 2017

The 21 Best Entertainment Apps for Your Apple TV

apple-tv-apps

The Apple TV is not the cheapest nor the most versatile of the TV boxes out there — but if you’re deep in the Apple ecosystem, the 4th-generation Apple TV can be a great add-on that works seamlessly with all your devices and Apple services. While the Siri Remote gets a lot of hate for being perfectly symmetrical, I actually think it’s a great little remote once you get past that. The touchpad lends itself to some really quick and seamless interactions when it comes to interacting with apps. And ultimately, that’s what the Apple TV is all about: apps...

Read the full article: The 21 Best Entertainment Apps for Your Apple TV



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2wQ0EJd
via IFTTT

The Default Mac App Guide for Windows Switchers

windows-mac-switcher-guide

If you switch to Mac from Windows, it can be difficult to adjust to a new set of default apps. It should go without saying that for each of the default Windows apps, there is a Mac equivalent. Sometimes there are obvious ways to do the same things, and others are going to take a little work to find. However, they are all going to get you working on your Mac. Task Manager -> Activity Monitor The most basic step in troubleshooting any Windows issue is to open Task Manager. The app allows you to look at the process and...

Read the full article: The Default Mac App Guide for Windows Switchers



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2vGK7T4
via IFTTT

Enhance Your Note-Taking With the Apple Pencil and iPad Pro

apple-pencil-ipad-note-taking

While the Apple Pencil is a game-changing way for artists to create on any iPad Pro, the stylus can also be used for much more — including taking handwritten notes. Everything from lecture notes to a quick to-do list can be jotted down quickly and easily on the iPad Pro with Apple’s stylus. That capability definitely makes the tablet line a great choice for anyone looking to replace their laptop for daily work and whatever else imaginable. Whether you’ve just purchased an Apple Pencil and an iPad Pro or are an expert in the ecosystem, we’ll be offering some tips...

Read the full article: Enhance Your Note-Taking With the Apple Pencil and iPad Pro



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2gnjEbi
via IFTTT

How to Batch Rename Multiple Files on Your Mac

batch-rename-files-mac

You have a million files to rename on your computer, and you’re not looking forward to the long and tedious task. Don’t panic. You don’t have to rename all your files manually. We’ve looked at ways to batch rename files in Windows, but there are also easy ways to do this on a Mac. Back in the day, you had to select each individual file, press Enter, and select the part of the filename to rename, or retype the whole thing. Now, you can do fancy tricks when renaming multiple files, like replace text in filenames, add numbers or other...

Read the full article: How to Batch Rename Multiple Files on Your Mac



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2wGFGfy
via IFTTT

Clever Ways to Use an SQL Concatenation String

sql-concatenation

Structured Query Language (SQL) is a remarkably powerful tool, and one that is packed full of features. Once you’ve mastered the most important SQL commands, you can start to get a bit more creative with your SQL. Today I’ll show you everything you need to know about SQL concatenation strings. There are many different SQL dialects. For all these examples, I’m using the PostgreSQL variant. What Is Concatenation? Concatenation means to join two things together. You may have used it in a programming language to join two strings together. Perhaps you have a first name and surname variables that you...

Read the full article: Clever Ways to Use an SQL Concatenation String



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2wlFGiy
via IFTTT

4 Best Raspberry Pi Smart TV Projects We’ve Seen So Far

raspberry-pi-smart-tv

Need a smart TV but don’t have the budget? While there’s a good chance that you already own hardware that can make your TV “smart”, one low-budget piece of kit can make all the difference. Yes, it’s the Raspberry Pi. Although it has some limitations, the Pi can be used to make your TV smart. Raspberry Pi 3 Model B Quad Core CPU 1.2 GHz 1 GB RAM Motherboard Raspberry Pi 3 Model B Quad Core CPU 1.2 GHz 1 GB RAM Motherboard 1.2GHz Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A53 Buy Now At Amazon £31.50 5 Things a Smart TV Should Offer Before...

Read the full article: 4 Best Raspberry Pi Smart TV Projects We’ve Seen So Far



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2wPvDoG
via IFTTT

How to Use Subtitles on Plex: Everything You Need to Know

plex-subtitles

The ability to add subtitles to a video is an essential part of any worthwhile media player. There are lots of reasons why you might want to add subtitles. Of course, some of the best movies and TV shows in the world won’t be in your native tongue, but subtitles can also be useful if you’re trying to learn a foreign language. You might even want to add subtitles in the same language as the audio if the content includes broad accents or periods of quiet speech, or if you have hearing problems. Unsurprisingly, Plex supports several subtitle solutions, but...

Read the full article: How to Use Subtitles on Plex: Everything You Need to Know



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2xu8h5q
via IFTTT

Learn to Code by Remixing Existing Apps for Free

If you’re a novice programmer, the path ahead of you may seem daunting. Boot camps are tough, and you don’t feel at home in a programmer’s den. But there is one place on the web you can go to try out your developing skills for the sheer fun of it. Glitch is a playground for coders of all kinds. Through it, you can make your own app or remix any of the existing projects on the site. You can be creative without the fear of breaking anything — and there are veteran coders who are standing by to help you do it. It’s an open and free...

Read the full article: Learn to Code by Remixing Existing Apps for Free



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2xtQiM8
via IFTTT

How to Install Android Oreo Right Now

The latest version of Android has been revealed. It’s called Oreo and it’s coming to a device near you soon… kind of. As most Android users know, the operating system’s updates are slow to make their way out to devices. Only a select number of phones will get the update anytime soon, and even premium devices like the Galaxy S8 have to impatiently wait for months. Oreo isn’t exactly revolutionary, so you might not mind the wait. But if you have a Nexus or Pixel device, you can skip the rollout wait and deliver Oreo to your phone right now without...

Read the full article: How to Install Android Oreo Right Now



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2xIJEBe
via IFTTT

How to Rearrange Stacked Taskbar Windows

windows-vertical-taskbar

There are many basic features that should’ve shipped with Windows 10 but aren’t available. Fortunately, third-party developers are picking up Microsoft’s slack, and one of these gaps is the incredibly simple task of rearranging stacked windows in the Taskbar. Using 7+ Taskbar Tweaker 7+ Taskbar Tweaker is a handy little program full of features that are missing in Windows, including the stack-rearranging functionality mentioned above. And while the name may lead you to believe it only works on Windows 7, it is compatible Windows 10. After you install 7+ Taskbar Tweaker, under Taskbar items > Thumbnails, make sure that Drag to reorder is checked. Once that’s done,...

Read the full article: How to Rearrange Stacked Taskbar Windows



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2wFiAWs
via IFTTT

How to Change Drive Letters in Windows

We’re all familiar with the typical drive letters in Windows. C: is your hard drive. D: is your CD drive. E: and upwards are used for removable media. A: and B: were used for floppy disks (now mostly defunct). However, did you know you’re not tied to those letters? It’s easy to swap them around, and you can give them whatever letters you want. (Although changing the C: drive might not be worth the hassle). Perhaps you want to keep your flash drives organized at the tail end of the alphabet, or you want to give a network drive a...

Read the full article: How to Change Drive Letters in Windows



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2vnC1mZ
via IFTTT

Where Should I Go Next? 5 Decision-Making Travel Tools to Find a Destination

travel-tools-destination

Every one of us wants to take a vacation and travel the world, only to have the circumstances of daily life put a spanner in the works. But what if there were a few tools that solved these problems? Let’s make a travel decision and find out where to go next. All of these apps assume you’re a normal person with a regular routine. They’re meant for those who haven’t mastered travel hacking or other skills to travel more. If you’re already a pro at those, these won’t help you much. 1. Wander (Web): Set Your Budget, Find Where to...

Read the full article: Where Should I Go Next? 5 Decision-Making Travel Tools to Find a Destination



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2wEgtSW
via IFTTT

Google Wants You to Buy Certified Android Devices

Google is making it easier to find certified Android devices. These are devices, both smartphones and tablets, that Google has certified as being worthy of the Android name. And certified Android devices will now come with Google Play Protect branding to make them easier to spot. If you’re looking to buy an Android device it’s absolutely crucial that you choose one that has been certified by Google. This ensures a certain level of safety and security, a wide range of Google apps pre-installed on your device, and access to the Google Play Store to download more. It’s Better to Buy...

Read the full article: Google Wants You to Buy Certified Android Devices



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2wduC8M
via IFTTT

Giphy Reveals How Popular Your Favorite GIF Is

Giphy is adding view counts to its GIFs. These will measure the success (or failure) of the GIFs we all take for granted. With GIFs going increasingly mainstream, these view counts will allow us all to see which GIFs become part of the zeitgeist, and which just fall to the wayside. In case you hadn’t noticed, GIFs are now very popular. It’s easy to see why: GIFs offer a shorthand way of expressing yourself online without needing to find the right words. In that regard they’re very similar to emoji, but better. But just how popular is your favorite GIF?...

Read the full article: Giphy Reveals How Popular Your Favorite GIF Is



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2wXNzwJ
via IFTTT

Why the Java Virtual Machine Helps Your Code Run Better

Are you currently debating whether to use java for your next application, or use native toolkits and frameworks? Would you like to know what advantages java provides over native programming for an application? Read on to find out! What Is a Native Application? A native application is a program written specifically for an operating system (OS), and possibly for the specific hardware running that OS. It is mostly written in a language such as C/C++. The C/C++ source code is compiled to an object form using a compiler, which is then assembled into an executable by linking the required libraries....

Read the full article: Why the Java Virtual Machine Helps Your Code Run Better



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2wjiWiU
via IFTTT

The Best PowerPoint Templates for Educational Presentations

Whether you are teaching a class, giving a lecture, creating a tutorial, or running a training session, these PowerPoint templates are perfect. Some give you tables, charts, and diagrams while others give you a simple educational theme for your situation. With a template, you do not have to waste time creating a presentation from a blank canvas. Instead, you can concentrate on the content that goes in it. If PowerPoint is your slide-creating tool of choice and an educational concept is what you need, check out these awesome options. 1. Back to Elementary School Presentation For grammar school teachers, this...

Read the full article: The Best PowerPoint Templates for Educational Presentations



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2giOiCA
via IFTTT

Monday, 28 August 2017

How to Automate Photoshop With Photoshop Scripts

Photoshop is a wonderful tool for editing images — and it’s no secret that we’re big fans of it here. We’ve previously covered how to design a simple logo, and how to fix overexposed photos, so automation is the next logical step once you’ve mastered the basics. You may have heard of Photoshop Actions. These provide a simple way for you to automate tasks. Today I’ll be showing you how to use Photoshop Scripts. Photoshop Scripts are slightly more powerful than actions, and provide you with the ability to alter the behaviour of the script at runtime — something actions...

Read the full article: How to Automate Photoshop With Photoshop Scripts



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2xrVhNJ
via IFTTT

How to Set Up and Use Your Samsung SmartThings System

When it comes to taming the wild world of smart home devices, few attempts have been more successful than the Samsung SmartThings system. With broad support for many kinds of smart home devices, the SmartThings Hub connects all your stuff together, mostly in a seamless and in a user-friendly way. But, getting it all set up for smart home bliss can be a daunting task — even for a seasoned computer pro. So, we’re here to guide you through every step of the process. In this article we’ll go through the steps for: Introducing SmartThings : Get Connected | Hardware and...

Read the full article: How to Set Up and Use Your Samsung SmartThings System



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2vlEs9E
via IFTTT

Everything You Need to Know About DSLR Zoom Lenses

When upgrading a camera, one of the biggest choices you have to make is whether to invest in prime or zoom lenses. Primes are sometimes thought of as being more appealing to enthusiasts, but zoom lenses have their place too. You just need to know what you’re getting, and where their strengths and weaknesses lie. Here’s everything you need to know about DSLR zoom lenses. What Is a DSLR Zoom Lens? A zoom lens is a camera lens with a variable focal length. You can zoom smoothly from the widest angle to the longest angle, stopping at any point in...

Read the full article: Everything You Need to Know About DSLR Zoom Lenses



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2vxdx6D
via IFTTT

3 Back-to-School Laptops to Avoid Like the Plague

avoid-laptops

Do you want to ruin the back-to-school experience? Buy a cheap laptop (or “netbook”). $100 laptops may cost little, but if they fail, kiss your essays and projects goodbye. You need performance, value, and – above all else – reliability. So what should you avoid and what’s the cheapest laptop you should buy? Where Are the Junk School Laptops and Why Should You Avoid Them? Where Are the Junk School Laptops? Most electronics dealers sell a few junk laptops. Sometimes, they’re cleverly placed in the impulse-buy section of your favorite brick-and-mortar. Other times, they show up in online and paper ads....

Read the full article: 3 Back-to-School Laptops to Avoid Like the Plague



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2vDRpHa
via IFTTT

10 Amazing Audiobooks for People Who Hate Audiobooks

I have a love/hate relationship with audiobooks. Audio is a great format for storytelling, but it can still be difficult to get into audiobooks. Usually it has to do with the narrator. Sometimes they’re bad at differentiating characters with voices. Or they read too slow and the book drags on for more hours than is necessary. Whatever the reason, audiobooks can be hit or miss. If you’re not usually a fan of audiobooks, but you really want to give the format a fair chance, there are some amazing audiobooks available. Here are 10 that will appeal to even the most...

Read the full article: 10 Amazing Audiobooks for People Who Hate Audiobooks



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2xqTp7L
via IFTTT

How to Maximize Mac Screen Real Estate Without Extra Hardware

Are you constantly moving, resizing, hiding, and showing app windows on your Mac? If you’re using a Mac laptop with a small screen, you may find yourself spending more time trying to rearrange and resize apps to maximize your screen real estate rather than actually using the apps. Even if you have a Mac with a large screen, you still might need to maximize your screen real estate if you use a lot of apps at once. The obvious way to gain more screen real estate is to connect an external monitor to your Mac. However, you may not want...

Read the full article: How to Maximize Mac Screen Real Estate Without Extra Hardware



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2wM5GX9
via IFTTT

How to Control Windows 10’s Data and Bandwidth Usage

Are you unhappy with the amount of data Windows 10 eats through? You’re not alone. One of the biggest gripes people have with the operating system is the amount of bandwidth it consumes. These days, it seems every app wants to make use of your web connection. There’s “anonymous” diagnostics, near-daily updates, live tiles, streaming services… the list is almost endless. If you’re fortunate enough to have a high-speed unlimited broadband line, you might not care. For everyone else, it’s prudent to take some time to understand how you can reduce your system’s reliance on the internet. Not sure where...

Read the full article: How to Control Windows 10’s Data and Bandwidth Usage



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2wbnWaZ
via IFTTT

How to Make the Perfect YouTube Video Thumbnail

Your YouTube thumbnail is much more important than you might think. Here's how to make a video thumbnail that will get you more viewers.

Read the full article: How to Make the Perfect YouTube Video Thumbnail



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2wCIYR4
via IFTTT

How to Make and Play DVDs in Ubuntu

You’ve switched from Windows, and you’re using your first Linux operating system. Ubuntu was your choice, and now you want to play a DVD or Blu-ray movie. Or perhaps copy some data to an optical disc. But there’s something wrong. Why can’t you play DVDs in Ubuntu? What about other Linux distros? What’s going on here, and what can you do to fix it? Can You Burn CDs and DVDs With Linux Ubuntu? Yes you can, but it’s not as straightforward as it should be. There is no native tool, so you’ll need to find and install one. For the...

Read the full article: How to Make and Play DVDs in Ubuntu



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2vwaTOL
via IFTTT

3 Places to Find Excellent Royalty-Free Music

learn-basics-music

There are quite a few sites where you can find completely free music to use in your YouTube videos, indie films, and more. And just because they’re free doesn’t mean they’re terrible! You’ll just have to dig through large catalogs of music to find what works for you. 1. Mobygratis Mobygratis is a site created by the recording artist himself, Moby. With over 150 of Moby’s tracks available for noncommercial projects by “independent and non-profit filmmakers, film students, and anyone in need of free music for their independent, non-profit film, video, or short,” there’s a lot to choose from. You can...

Read the full article: 3 Places to Find Excellent Royalty-Free Music



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2wCbsu0
via IFTTT

How to Force Close Unresponsive Apps on Android

Have an app that’s not responding on Android? It can be frustrating when you’re stuck on an app that’s frozen and doesn’t seem to register your taps or swipes. Thankfully, closing such frozen apps is surprisingly easy! The next time this happens to you, keep these simple steps in mind: Press the Recent Apps button on your device to open the Multitasking menu. On many phones, this is the square button on the right side of the on-screen navigation bar. If your phone doesn’t have one, try holding the Home button for the same effect. Swipe the app you’d like...

Read the full article: How to Force Close Unresponsive Apps on Android



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2vCXdRe
via IFTTT

How to Reorder Wi-Fi Network Priorities in Windows 10

mesh-wifi-buy

Do you remember the good old days when Windows let you drag Wi-Fi networks in your desired order of preference? Well, it’s not so simple anymore. For all the improvements that Windows 10 has brought, there are a few areas where the operating system seems to have taken step backs, and this is one of them. After all, even Macs allow you to change network order like this! But don’t worry, all is not lost. There is still a way — it’s just not very user-friendly. Keep reading to learn how to change the order in which your machine auto-connects to...

Read the full article: How to Reorder Wi-Fi Network Priorities in Windows 10



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2vjM9xc
via IFTTT

How to Turn Off Annoying Sounds in Microsoft Office 2016

Alerts and notifications can be useful, but too many and you eventually enter annoying territory. Productivity-boosting sounds include new email tones and upcoming event chimes in Outlook. Most everything else falls into the unwanted category. Sound cues are an Ease of Access feature in Microsoft Office 2016, which means you can turn them off if you deem them unnecessary. This is true for Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint 2016. Here’s how you can quickly turn the sound cues on or off in these programs. How to Toggle Sounds in Microsoft Office Note that if you are a Microsoft Office 365 subscriber, then the update with...

Read the full article: How to Turn Off Annoying Sounds in Microsoft Office 2016



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/2vv94Sb
via IFTTT

How to Extract Images From PDF Files & Save Them for Other Uses

pdf-files

The Portable Document Format (PDF) is almost like a plastic laminated paper. You can see what’s inside but you can’t get to the content. It’s bit of a problem when one of the content types embedded in a PDF document are images. And, you want them for your own. For instance, I am a voracious user of SlideShare, and sometimes I like to save a neat illustration or graphic for my personal use. Then there are some professional reports which come packaged as a PDF and you might want to use a graphic or an embedded chart from there in a...

Read the full article: How to Extract Images From PDF Files & Save Them for Other Uses



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/HEFak6
via IFTTT