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We already knew Google+ was shutting down, but we now know exactly when and how Google+ will be disappearing from our lives. To be fair, most of us have already moved on from Google+, but this is important for the few people who still use the social network.
In October 2018, Google disclosed that Google+ had suffered a data leak. And as a result, the company announced the consumer version of Google+ is shutting down. And now we know all of the important dates, including when your Google+ account will disappear.
Download and Save Your Google+ Data ASAP
According to this Google Support page, Google+ will be shutting down on April 2, 2019. This is when “your Google+ account and any Google+ pages you created will be shut down and we will begin deleting content from consumer Google+ accounts”.
Before that, however, on February 4, 2019, you will “no longer be able to create new Google+ profiles, pages, communities or events.” This is also the date when the Google+ Sign-in button on sites and apps will start to be replaced by a Google Sign-in button.
You can, of course, download and save your Google+ content, but you’ll have to do so before April. Thankfully, you can download all of your Google+ data, “including your Google+ circles, Communities, Streams, and +1’s” at once by following these instructions.
It should be noted that all of this only applies to personal users, as the enterprise version of Google+ is sticking around. In fact, Google is planning to roll out “a new look and new features” for G Suite customers in the coming months.
A Sad End for Another Failed Social Network
This is a sad day for a social network that once boasted a passionate userbase. Unfortunately for fans of Google+, not enough people cared. So in the end, Google+ will go down in history as another in a long line of social media platforms that flopped.
Our verdict of the One Netbook One Mix 2S:
The One Mix 2S has fantastic build quality, high specs, and is beautifully designed. Its let down only by the poor Wi-Fi and a steep learning curve keyboard.710
Recently there has been a flurry of small form factor laptops making their way to market. Is the humble netbook making a comeback? The One Mix 2S is the latest offering from One Netbook, but has it got what it takes to replace your laptop and let the netbook rise from the ashes?
Read on to find out more about the One Mix 2S, and at the end of this review, we’re giving our test model away to one lucky reader.
One Netbook One Mix 2S Specifications
CPU: Intel Core M3-8100Y, Dual Core up to 3.4GHz
GPU: Integrated Intel HD GRaphics 615
RAM: 8GB DDR3
Storage: 256GB PCIe SSD
Screen: 7″ IPS @ 1920 X 1200px, capacitive touchscreen
Battery: 6500mAh (3-4 Hours)
OS: Windows 10 Home
Wi-Fi: 2.4 + 5Ghz / 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth: 4.0
Ports: Headset / microSD / USB 3.0 Type-C / Micro HDMI / USB 3.0 Type-A
Weight: 1.14 pounds (520 grams)
Dimensions: 7.17 x 4.33 x 0.66 inches (182 x 110 x 17mm)
Other: Fingerprint Scanner / Stylus Support / Hinged screen for tablet mode operation
You may recall a period where companies like Acer and Asus brought the netbook to the world. You may also recall that they had both a brilliant form factor and a rather short shelf life. This came down mainly to how underpowered and awfully slow they were, as well as the advent of the iPad.
Netbooks were typically optimized for low weight and low cost, and as such omitted features like optical drives. By the end of 2012, many companies stopped producing them, and they’ve been replaced by devices such as the Chromebook.
Chromebook’s however, run the slimmed down Chrome OS. This means you can’t use applications that are designed for full-fledged Windows 10. Over the last few years, this is where the 7″ netbook space has really come to life. Hopefully, this second coming of the netbook is here to stay ,as many people prefer the form factor but aren’t willing to compromise on the spec or the OS.
Honey, I Shrunk the MacBook
The One Mix 2S is the second iteration of this product, and it was released around six months after its predecessor. This might seem quite rather soon, but there are a few improvements that make this version a little more special.
The One Mix 2S looks like someone took a shrink ray to a MacBook. This isn’t a bad thing in the slightest. Its chassis is CNC’d aluminum, and the keys are recessed perfectly to ensure they don’t leave ugly marks on the screen. Build quality is also fantastic, with the 2S feeling premium and well built.
The hinges are another indication of the excellent build quality. They’re stiff enough to keep the screen at the same angle when using the touch screen, but not so tough as to make opening and closing feel like a workout. The back features a fan vent, with a speaker grill and rubber feet on the bottom.
The port selection on the 2S is nothing short of exceptional. There’s a combination headphone jack, microSD card slot, mini HDMI and USB 3.0 Type-A. There is also a USB Type-C port which is where the One Mix 2S gets its juice, as well as being able to connect a dongle if you’d like to add more ports. I can’t fault the design or the port selection on the 2S. Full marks!
Form factor is obviously a focus here, and many will find the size of the 2S appealing. It can fit easily in a back pocket or a handbag if that’s your thing. The One Mix also has a yoga hinge, meaning it can transform from a laptop to a tablet in a matter of seconds.
One of the things that they removed from the first iteration is the backlit keyboard. It would have been better if they kept this in, but considering the upgrades, it’s a worthy trade-off.
Performance
The One Mix 2S is not just a pretty face. Spec wise it packs quite a punch for its size. Even compared to the 12″ MacBook which is near double in price! The 2S features an 8th Gen Core M processor which tops out at 3.4 GHz. There’s 8GB of DDR3 RAM and a blisteringly fast 256GB PCI Express (PCIe) SSD.
The PCIe SSD is one of the major upgrades from the previous generation. It is very important because boot up times and even just general usage are an absolute breeze for the 2S. This might sound like something mediocre, but for someone as impatient as I am, the One Mix 2S definitely has it where it counts. Machines that have even slightly delayed loading times are extremely frustrating, and there was no sign of that on the 2S.
The 7″ IPS display is pleasantly bright and sharp and has great viewing angles. Because the display is so small, you need to set the scale to at least 125% so you can comfortably see all the text on screen. Also, remember to turn on tablet mode in Windows if you’re turning the 2S into a tablet.
Another item that is lightning fast is the fingerprint sensor. It makes a huge difference to the experience that the One Mix 2S provides and in this day and age should be on every laptop!
Touch Screen
The capacitive touch screen is responsive and accurate, but the glass does feel like it has a little too much resistance. Having a touch screen on a laptop is actually very intuitive. In fact, after moving to another laptop I found that I missed having one.
As mentioned the hinge is very well built so while in laptop mode the screen’s angle doesn’t shift if you touch the screen. One Netbook also offers an optional stylus which does have different pressure levels. The stylus makes note taking on the 2S a cinch. If you’re an occasional Bob Ross, there are a few painting apps available as well.
The stylus does badly scratch the screen, however, so I highly recommend getting the optional screen protector if you’re planning on getting the stylus. This is one of the issues with the 2S which takes us neatly into the next section.
It’s Not Perfect
The One Mix 2S has got a lot going for it but there are a few issues. First and foremost, the fans can get very loud, very quickly. This is always the case for small fans and there is a workaround. Pressing the keyboard backlight key, which is an artifact from the previous model, slows down the fans. This will limit the CPU speed, but under normal workloads, you shouldn’t notice any difference.
The trackpoint touch based mouse is usable but it’s not great. If you need to scroll across the screen you need to pick your finger up and swipe a few times. The 2S also lacks a scroll button which can sometimes get a little annoying. A regular rubber trackpoint would’ve been perfect in this position.
The Wi-Fi, unfortunately, isn’t great. Both in terms of signal strength and throughput. Running a speed test on the 2S against any other machine illustrates how much room for improvement there is. Hopefully this is a simple software fix and not because the Wi-Fi antennae are of lesser quality.
The worst part of about this device though is the keyboard. Things like TAB being next to the number one, backspace being next to the letter P and the period and comma keys being half width makes the learning curve quite steep for this keyboard. I found myself making lots of errors and having to look down at the keyboard frequently. This isn’t indicative of the quality of the keyboard which is fantastic.
Verdict
It’s always good to validate when a product can be used as opposed to a hypothetical scenario. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to put the One Mix 2S to the test on site. During a relatively large Ubiquiti install, I had to work in the network cabinet on a ladder.
The form factor as well as having full Windows 10 on the One Mix 2S made this so much easier as opposed to having to carry a laptop everytime I had to move up and down the ladder. I’m sure many system administrators might appreciate this.
If you type a lot, however, the keyboard does not make for a compelling choice. Especially if you’re using this as a secondary machine, as you’d get used to one keyboard and have difficulty switching. If you’re planning on making this your daily driver I would suggest having a monitor, mouse, and keyboard to which your One Mix 2S connects.
It’s well built, quick, and is packed with features. Features that machines in a much higher price bracket just don’t include. Hopefully, the Wi-Fi issues can be fixed and there’ll be a better keyboard layout they can improve on. For now, I’ve got my eyes on what One Netbook is bringing in the future!
Use the coupon code makeuse6 to get grab the One Mix 2S for $659.99 for a limited time; or, enter our giveaway below to win one!
7 Days. 7 Emails: It’s Time to Change Your Email Security Forever.
Email is vital to communication, so why leave your accounts exposed? Over just seven days, this free, practical email course will help you turn your inbox security from a wet blanket into a fortress.
You will learn:
Why your password sucks.
How to spot scam, spam, and fraudulent email.
How you stop spammers stealing your email address.
How to securely lock down your inboxes and send secure email.
And the biggest mistakes every email user makes—they might not be what you think!
Your inbox is the key to your digital kingdom. Don’t sit around wondering what you could have done.
iRobot, the company known for making the Roomba, some of the best robotic vacuum cleaners out there, is looking to jump into the lawn care game with the announcement of Terra. Much like the company’s selection of indoor cleaners, this device will automatically cut its way around your yard, making for one less chore that you need to do manually.
The main thing iRobot is touting about its new robot lawn mower is the high-end mapping and navigation technologies. The company talked about its iRobot’s Imprint Smart Mapping tech, which allows the device to mow the grass in the same way people do—with a straight back and forth pattern. It will also remember where it is in the yard, and how much space in the yard it has left to do.
Like Roomba vacuums, Terra will automatically return to its base to recharge when the battery runs low, and then it will resume cutting where it left off.
As far as what makes this stand out from other robotic lawn mowers already on the market, iRobot said in a press release that it eliminates “the need for costly and labor-intensive boundary wires.”
Instead, the setup process actually sounds pretty painless and doesn’t seem like it will require any professional installation. Apparently, you just need to place several wireless beacons around the outside of the yard, drive Terra around the edge of the yard once, and then schedule it to mow.
In the press release, Colin Angle, chairman and CEO of iRobot, spoke about the future of robotic lawn care:
iRobot is building an ecosystem of robots and technologies that help people do more both inside and outside of the home. The robot mower segment is well established in EMEA and has tremendous room for growth in other markets, including North America. With its ease of use and premium mowing features, Terra is poised to give consumers a whole new way to think about how they take care of their lawn.
When Can You Buy the iRobot Terra and How Much Will It Be?
Unfortunately, iRobot didn’t release any pricing information as of the time of this writing, though we certainly wouldn’t expect Terra to be very budget-friendly, based on the prices of Roomba vacuums.
However, we do know that it’ll be available in Germany and as a beta program in the U.S. this year, though the company didn’t narrow down exactly when to expect it in 2019. Logically, one would think they’d want to release it before the summer in the northern hemisphere since that’ll be the time when people would actually use a device like this.
Don’t forget about the robot vacuum we actually called one of the best—the iLife a7.
People have been arguing that size doesn’t matter for a long time. And it turns out that at least in terms of movies on streaming services, this old adage is demonstrably true. In a nutshell, Netflix boasts more hit movies than Amazon Prime, Hulu, and HBO.
In this instance, “hit” means critically acclaimed. Rotten Tomatoes maintains a list of movies which have been Certified Fresh. This means a film has a score of 75 percent or more, has been reviewed by Top Critics, and has a minimum number of reviews overall.
And Netflix has a higher number (and a higher percentage) of movies Certified Fresh than Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and HBO Now…
Streaming Services by the Numbers
Streaming Observer is responsible for running the numbers. And they found that while Amazon Prime Video offers the highest number of movies overall, Netflix boasts more movies beloved by the critics. At least according to Rotten Tomatoes’ ratings.
Check out our newest report here, comparing the quality of Netflix's movie library to Amazon Prime, Hulu, and HBO. https://t.co/V78DOmx1zB
The truth is revealed in two charts ranking Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and HBO Now according to both the total number of movies offered, and the number of Certified Fresh movies offered. While Amazon Prime Video tops the first, Netflix tops the second.
The Total Number of Movies:
Amazon Prime Video: 17,461
Netflix: 3,838
Hulu: 2,336
HBO Now: 815
The Number of Movies Certified Fresh:
Netflix: 596 (15.5%)
Amazon Prime Video: 232 (1.3%)
Hulu: 223 (9.6%)
HBO Now: 38 (4.7%)
Essentially, this comes down to quality vs. quantity. According to the numbers, Amazon has filled Prime Video with lots of films, the vast majority of which aren’t very good. Netflix, on the other hand, offers a lot less movies, with a higher percentage of decent films.
More Money Means Better Movies
It should be noted that you gain access to Prime Movies as a result of an Amazon Prime membership. Whereas Netflix is a standalone service with its own subscription fee. And given that Netflix has raised its prices again, it’s no wonder it can afford better movies.
Do you hate anything more than taxes? Maybe, it’s the money you have to pay to just file your taxes. There are plenty of options to file your federal return. However, finding services that will file state taxes without paying extra can be tough.
If you’re tired of paying to file your taxes, stop here. You’ll love these five free options for submitting your state and federal forms.
Something About Free Tax Software
First, and most important of all, remember that you get what you pay for. Tax software that’s free isn’t going to offer as many options as paid versions. You’ll also get less support, and in most cases, you won’t be able to file anything other than the simplest of returns. That’s just how it is.
Second, this list is current as of January 2019. Some companies change their offerings on a yearly basis, and if this list becomes outdated, we’ll try to make changes so that it’s current. But if you see a site that’s no longer offering free state returns, or has different requirements, that’s why.
Finally, remember that big-name companies like TurboTax and H&R Block have been doing this for decades and that their years of experience means they’re great at finding potential deductions and filing quickly. While using a lesser-known website doesn’t mean that you’ll miss out on things, if you want to make sure that everything about your return is perfect, you may want to go with a big name (which often means you’ll need to pay).
With that out of the way, let’s get onto the free tax software!
DIY Tax offers completely free federal and state tax returns with no catch. Many forms can be used (including the critical part of 1099-MISC for contractors and freelancers), making this a more versatile option than many others out there.
A Premium option is available, though there’s no indication anywhere on the website of what’s include; this makes it difficult to say whether or not that might be useful. Even so, this is one of the simplest, most straightforward, and totally free tax-filing options.
With one of the biggest names in tax preparation, you can be confident that TurboTax will give you the information and tools you need to get your returns filed quickly. And with the Federal Free Edition, you can file both your federal and state taxes electronically without paying a dime.
You’ll need to be doing a relatively simple return, using forms 1040EZ or 1040A. If you’re doing anything more complicated than that, like taxes for the self-employed, a paid service will be required. Regardless, filing your taxes with TurboTax is a relatively painless process as these things go!
With the free version of H&R Block’s online tax filing system, you can file your federal and state taxes for absolutely nothing. This plan is ideally suited for renters, those with young families, or individuals living on retirement income.
The free package offers 45 forms required for filing, including those needed for the Earned Income Tax Credit, child care expenses and child tax credit, student loan interest, social security income, and more. Keep in mind, however, if you find yourself tracking your payments and receipts each year, this isn’t the plan for you.
The free edition of TaxAct provides for “simple federal filing” for those “with no dependents.” Available forms include the 1040A, 1040EZ, and a few other basics, though it is missing the 1099-MISC that many freelancers will need.
Despite this stipulation, TaxAct does offer free filing of both federal and state returns, though it does say “Pay when you file,” inviting speculation that there could be some hidden fees in some instances.
Also included with the free edition is tax support via email, so you can get answers to any questions you have from the TaxAct support team. And TaxAct’s price lock guarantee means that once you register, the price won’t change.
You might pass over OnLine Taxes because of its uninspiring design. But don’t discount it immediately. If your adjusted gross income is between $14,000 and $66,000, you’re eligible to file both your federal and state returns for free.
If you don’t qualify, filing your federal taxes is still free, but you’ll pay $9.95 for each state, which is a pretty great deal. OLT also provides free email support every day of the week during tax season, and they let you file amended returns for free if you submitted the first return with them. You can use a wide range of tax forms, including 1099-MISC and just about anything else you might need.
A program run by the United Way in conjunction with H&R Block, MyFreeTaxes will let you file both federal and state taxes for free if you make less than $66,000.
The site also helps you get organized by providing a tax preparation checklist as well as information on tax extensions, ITIN for immigrants, and credits/deductions. Because it’s a newcomer to the business, it doesn’t have as many reviews as other sites, but the fact that it’s powered by H&R Block should inspire confidence in the convenience and security of the service.
If You Don’t Quality for the Free Options
While many people will be able to use one of the free websites above, there will be some who can’t. For those people, there are a few other sites that you can check out.
FreeTaxUSA offers free federal filing and $12.95 per state return. You’ll find this is one of the lowest prices you’ll find anywhere. Meanwhile, eSmartTax lets you file federal returns for free, and charges $29.99 per state, which is still pretty reasonable.
If you have a simple tax return, you should be able to get both federal and state filing for free. These five websites will help you do it. As long as you’ve followed the best strategies for claiming a tax return, it should not be a problem. So don’t pay for what you can get free!
If you spend a lot of time using File Explorer in Windows, it’s easy to become weary of its idiosyncrasies. Why can’t you integrate non-Microsoft cloud storage providers? Why can’t you edit and delete the folder shortcuts in This PC? And why hasn’t Microsoft introduced tabbed browsing?
Perhaps it’s time to dump File Explorer and use a third-party alternative? If you’ve never looked into what’s available, you might be surprised. Here are the seven best Windows File Explorer replacements.
1. XYplorer
XYplorer is one of the best Windows Explorer alternatives. But what makes it so good?
Firstly, it’s portable. That means you don’t need to worry about it not being available on other computers you have to use during the day. Just keep it loaded on your USB stick along with all your other useful portable apps.
Secondly, it’s got an impressive feature set that will appeal to both casual users and hardcore geeks.
For example, the explorer has tabbed browsing. The tabs function like a web browser’s tabs; you can reorder them, drag files between them, and pre-configure them. The app also boasts support for custom scripts, customizable fonts and colors, and secondary sorting.
XYplorer has both a free and paid version. The paid costs $39.95 for a lifetime license.
If XYplorer doesn’t meet your requirements, check out Directory Opus instead.
It arguably has a steeper learning curve than XYplorer. While the previous app takes many of its design queues from Windows File Explorer, Directory Opus introduces more of its own style decisions.
If you’re prepared to spend the time learning where to find everything, you will be handsomely rewarded. Features include support for synchronizing files and finding duplicates, scripting capabilities, graphics that allow you to flag and check mark files, and a customizable status bar.
The lite version costs about $40 while the full version is $70. A 60-day free trial is available.
fman is the least Windows-like app on the list so far. It’s self-described as “GoTo on steroids.”
Perhaps the best thing about fman is its cross-platform support; it works on Mac and Linux as well as Windows. If you spend a lot of time jumping between the three operating systems, it’ll provide a sense of continuity in your work.
Nonetheless, if you’re a beginner, this probably isn’t the app for you. fman is mainly aimed at software developers and other tech-savvy pros.
Feature-wise, it always displays the contents of two directories to make moving and copying files a breeze. It also has an extensive list of plugins for additional functionality and it has full keyboard shortcut support.
It’s free to download and use, but an update license costs $12.
Free Commander is the first entirely-free software on this list. If you’re not a power user and you don’t want to pay for a Windows File Explorer replacement, this is probably the app for you.
The app doesn’t try to confuse users with lots of features most people will probably never use. Rather, it aims to offer an alternative solution that remedies some of the glaring omissions within the native Windows app.
So, if you’re a first-time user, what can you expect? Free Commander offers a tabbed interface, dual panels for easy drag-and-drop, built-in support for archive handling (ZIP files), folder synchronization, definable shortcuts, and even a DOS command line.
The second entirely-free app on the list, Explorer++ makes the cut because it’s open source. That means the community can keep working on it for as long as they wish—there’s no danger you’ll be tied to an unsupported app at some point in the future.
Interestingly, it’s also one of the most basic apps on the list. It looks the most similar to Windows File Explorer and offers the fewest enhancements.
Despite that, the enhancements will lift most users to a new level of productivity. You will enjoy tabbed browsing, the ability to merge and split files, and a display window for file previews.
Most of the apps I have shown you so far have focused on one computer. Altap Salamander is the first Windows File Explorer replacement that makes a big push to offer extensive networking tools.
Network protocols such as FTP, FTPS, SCP, and SFTP are all supported. It makes transferring files over the internet exceptionally straightforward.
The app also offers support for more archive file types than its rivals. It can work with ZIP, RAR, 7-Zip, ISO images, and UDF images.
Altap Salamander offers one other unique tool: a built-in password manager. It means you can protect any sensitive or personal files using secure encryption techniques, thus stopping them from falling into the wrong hands.
Costing around $27 (depending on the current euro exchange rate), it’s also one of the most reasonably-priced paid apps.
TagSpaces is an open source file organizer. It’s seemingly targeted at light users and people who want to keep everything organized on their machine without using a full-featured file manager.
It works by adding user-defined tags to all your files. For example, you could tag things as “Photos,” “Recipes,” “College,” and so on. You can color-coordinate your tags, then organize them thematically into groups for easy recall.
Best of all, because it works on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android, you can stay coordinated regardless of which device you’re working on. The app even boasts Chromecast support.
Each app will appeal to a different type of user. People looking for a small amount of added functionality should consider Explorer++ or Free Commander. If you’re a power user, check out XYplorer or Directory Opus. Developers need fman, networkers need Altap Salamander, and if you want something completely different, download TagSpaces.
Facebook now has over 2 billion monthly active users. Unsurprisingly, it’s collecting as much data about them as possible. This is to help advertisers target ads at the right people.
If you’re on Facebook, did you know that you can see what Facebook thinks it knows about you?
In this article, we’ll explain how Facebook collects this data about you, how to view your Ad Preferences, and (crucially) how to change them if they’re inaccurate.
Do You Know What Facebook Knows About You?
According to research conducted by the Pew Research Center, 74 percent of American Facebook users don’t know that Facebook maintains a list of their interests and traits for advertising purposes.
Facebook collects this information in the background, but you can see it on a page called Your Ad Preferences. Since Facebook is trying to figure out these preferences from your activity, it isn’t always accurate. According to the survey, 59 percent of people say the data reflected their real-life interests, while 27 percent say its not very or not at all accurate.
When shown how Facebook classifies their interests, 51 percent of respondents said that they were not comfortable that such a list existed.
Facebook also assigns some users a political and multicultural affinity. The latter is not your actual race or ethnic background, but instead your understanding or empathy towards a group.
Around half of the people in the survey had been assigned a political affinity. And while 73 percent say it’s accurate, 27 percent say otherwise. Only about a fifth of people had a multicultural affinity. A sizable 60 percent say their affinity is strong to the group they had been assigned to, while 37 percent say otherwise.
How accurate this data is not only relies on Facebook’s formula for calculation, but also on your activity across the web and offline.
How Facebook Creates Your Ad Preferences
Facebook collects data and makes assumptions about you in order to benefit its advertisers. By knowing who you are, Facebook can target ads that it thinks will be relevant to your interests.
How Advertisers Target You
When an advertiser comes to Facebook, they detail the audience they want to reach, defined by things like age range, gender, location, and interests. Facebook then links this to all of their users to find a match.
Let’s say a cupcake company in New York wants to run an ad to get people into their shop to buy their new Batman-themed cupcake: dark chocolate, yellow icing, and the bat emblem on top. Delicious!
The cupcake company could target their ad at people who are between 18-35 years old, within 20 miles of their store, and have an interest in comic books.
If you are 23 years old, living near Central Park, and visit a Batman fansite regularly, Facebook will prioritize showing the cupcake ad to you.
How Facebook Knows Who You Are
Facebook builds its profile on you using a variety of different methods.
The first, and probably most obvious, method is through your activity on Facebook and Instagram (which Facebook owns). Information collected includes pages you and your friends like, all personal details in your profile like age and gender, plus the places you check in to.
Your location can also be determined through where you use your phone and where you connect to the internet.
Even if Facebook doesn’t own a website or app, you are still liable to be tracked if the developer is utilizing Facebook’s web beacons. These can track if you download their app, what pages you view, and what you add to your shopping cart or purchase.
Finally, an advertiser can upload a customer list to Facebook, which can include your phone number, email address, and other information. The advertiser can collect this data when you sign up on their website, subscribe to an email newsletter, or make a purchase.
How to Change Your Facebook Ad Preferences
Thankfully for anyone concerned that this data is being collected, Facebook have made it easy to see your ad preferences. Log in to your Facebook account and click the dropdown arrow from the top menu. Select Settings > Ads. This is Your Ad Preferences page.
Expand Your interests to see what Facebook thinks you like across categories like entertainment, shopping, and technology. Click an interest to see an example ad. Click the cross to remove something from your ad preferences; this doesn’t remove Facebook storing that data about you, but lets them know you don’t think it applies to you.
The Advertisers section shows which companies added information about you, websites you’ve visited, ads you’ve clicked, and more. Click the cross to stop seeing ads from that company. This doesn’t remove the data that the company uploaded about you.
Expand Your information and use the sliders to set whether Facebook can show you ads based on your profile fields like relationship status and job title. Separate from ad settings, you need to remove this data from your profile if you don’t want Facebook to know it.
Take a close look at the Ad settings section. You can choose whether you allow Facebook to show you ads based on data for partners and based on your activity elsewhere. You can also exclude your name appearing in ads for other people. Click each section in turn, read the full details, and use the dropdown to set your preference.
Finally, Hide ad topics lets you note your desire to see less ads related to alcohol, parenting, and pets. This can be for 6 months, 1 year, or even permanently.
How to Stop Facebook Tracking You
Now, you are fully educated on how Facebook is tracking you and where you need to go to maintain your ad preferences. And it’s understandable if this all seems a bit creepy, leading you to want to crack down on it.
If you play Fortnite on your smartphone you can now use a Bluetooth controller. This should help level the playing field when playing against Fortnite players on PC or console. Because as good as touchscreen controls can be, they’re no match for a controller.
Epic promised controller support was incoming in an update from November 2018. At the time the company said it was “beginning testing on various controller setups as we work to enable support.” Now, controller support has arrived with the release of Fortnite v7.30.
Fortnite Levels the Playing Field for Mobile Gamers
Epic Games regularly updates Fortnite, fixing bugs and other technical issues, and adding new features and fun elements. Fortnite v7.30 is no exception, but the headline feature of this particular update is mobile controller support on Android and iOS.
On Android, Fortnite now supports “most Bluetooth controller adapters, such as Steelseries Stratus XL, Gamevice, XBox1, Razer Raiju, and Moto Gamepad.” On iOS, Fortnite now supports “MFi controllers, such as Steelseries Nimbus and Gamevice”.
The Ice King recalls his legion as downtime for the v7.30 patch begins.
Why is this important? Because Fortnite is one of the few games to offer crossplay across multiple platforms. And if you’re playing Fortnite on Android or iOS, using a controller is going to help you compete against people on PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch.
Fortnite v7.30 isn’t all about mobile controller support though. It’s also adding a 60Hz mode on select Android devices (Samsung Galaxy Note 9, Huawei Honor View 20, Huawei Mate 20 X). You can see all of the other improvements in the Fortnite v7.30 patch notes.
Razer is rolling out a limited edition of the Razer Blade Stealth laptop in Quartz Pink. The new device features the same level of performance and weight as the other models, but it comes with a special Valentine’s Day-themed color.
The Razer Blade Stealth Quartz Pink Limited Edition
The Razer Blade Stealth Quartz Pink edition is quite a powerful laptop, which makes sense considering it’s from a company that’s dedicated to all things gaming. To start with, it comes with an NVIDIA GeForce MX 150 4GB graphics card that’ll handle most games out there. That’ll power a 1080p display, which might hold back buyers looking for a 4K display.
As for the processor, there’s a Whisky Lake 8th Gen Intel Core-i7-8565U, which is quite powerful. It’s powered by 16GB of RAM, with a 256GB PCIe M.2 SSD for storage.
Like the traditional Stealth, the pink version will last for around 11 hours on a single charge, which is pretty solid for a gaming laptop.
One of the reasons it’s able to get such good battery life is the addition of Intel UHD Graphics 620. The laptop will automatically turn to the onboard graphics when it doesn’t need the dedicated GPU, which will help it save battery and run longer.
In spite of being a powerful laptop, the Quartz Pink Razer Blade Stealth will only tip the scales at three pounds, making it super easy to carry around as a daily laptop.
Here are some other cool features of the Blade Stealth:
IR Camera with Windows Hello support
2x Type-A USB 3.1 ports, USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 port, and Thunderbolt 3 port
4 Speakers + Smart Amp
Windows 10 Home
0.58″ X 11.99” X 8.27”
How Much Is The Quartz Pink Razer Blade Stealth?
The new special edition of the Blade Stealth laptop is available starting today, January 29th. While Razer traditionally sells the Stealth laptop with a number of customizable configurations, the Quartz Pink Limited Edition model is only available in the $1,599 model. The limited edition Razer laptop is available in the US, Canada, and China while supplies last.
You’ve heard it a thousand times: you need antivirus protection. Macs need it. Windows PCs need it. Linux machines need it.
Thankfully, you don’t need to spend any money to protect yourself. You can get some antivirus suites for free.
Grab one of these 10 apps and start protecting your computer.
A Note About Free Antivirus
All of these companies are trying to make money, and handing out free antivirus isn’t going to do that.
Therefore, there are two things you should be aware of before you hit the install button:
Paid Software: Many of the apps we will discuss will nag you to upgrade to their paid version; you could see a barrage of pop-ups or emails.
Toolbars and Browser Extensions: More worryingly, some apps will try to get you to install toolbars or browser extensions. That’s almost never going to be a good idea. Browser toolbars are terrible, and generally only serve to collect and sell your information while slowing down your browsing.
1. Avira
Available on: Windows, Mac
With a reputation for consistently solid performance and easy-to-use tools, Avira is a great choice. The most recent antivirus test from AV-Comparatives gave the pro version a 99.9% protection rate, and you can bet the free version packs similar power.
Scheduling options are intuitive, and you can create a number of scans that run throughout the week. Just schedule a quick daily scan or a weekly full scan, and you’re set. Combined with real-time protection, the scans will keep you safe from just about everything (though there are some things antivirus suites cannot protect you from).
Another antivirus app whose pro version got a 99.9% protection rate, the free version of Bitdefender will keep you safe from almost every piece of malware in circulation. Anti-phishing and anti-fraud features help keep you even better protected.
The simple interface won’t overwhelm you with options, and automation means you don’t have to actively manage it. It was also designed to be light on system resources, which is a bonus, as some antivirus apps can be resource hogs.
Although Avast secured a slightly lower protection rating than some other options (98.9 percent), it’s still very high. The app also has relatively low resource usage, making it unlikely to noticeably slow down your computer.
A simple, easy-to-use interface means you don’t need an instruction manual to get it set up. Despite ranking slightly lower on threat protection, Avast is a solid choice for anyone looking for a free antivirus. There’s a reason it’s one of the most popular options out there.
AVG ranks well in both protection (98.9 percent) and system resource usage. And while they now offer unnecessary things like system clean-up and mobile antivirus apps, their core product is still one of the best.
AVG does have a reputation for some annoying nag screens, but many people find the occasional upgrade request an easy price to pay for solid antivirus performance.
Lavasoft’s pro version of Ad-Aware scored a 99.3% protection rate in recent tests, making it a solid contender. And while that version did tend to use more resources than other antivirus options, it’s still a great choice for Windows users. Its focus on anti-adware and anti-spyware features are especially nice.
And although using a free antivirus app is going to be sufficient for just about everyone, the various paid levels of Ad-Aware are quite affordable, so if you’re looking to upgrade to something more fully featured, sticking with Lavasoft will be easy.
This toolkit differs from the other options available in that it doesn’t require installation; you can just download and run it. That means it can be run from a USB drive, and you can use it even if you already have another antivirus running. It never hurts to have a backup!
Because there’s no installation, there’s no real-time defense or scheduling. So you probably shouldn’t use this as your main antivirus. But if you think yours might not be working, or you want to double-check, it’s a good choice.
Another on-demand antivirus app, HouseCall can be quickly downloaded and run. It won’t give you scheduling options or real-time protection, but if you think your computer might be infected, it’s a great way to check.
Trend Micro offers a number of other free tools that you may be interested in as well, like the anti-ransomware toolkit, browser guard, and rootkit buster.
Malwarebytes has earned a strong reputation for excellence over the past few years. And its anti-malware app is no exception. It specializes in getting rid of adware, it’s a very small file, and it’s lightning-fast.
Unless you decide to upgrade, you’ll only get manual scan capabilities and no real-time protection. But even with that caveat, it’s still a great app to have.
While you’ll probably get quite a few nag screens telling you to upgrade to a paid version, Panda does have some advantages. For example, it offloads most of its work to the cloud, freeing up system resources.
Beyond doing work in the cloud, there’s not a whole lot to differentiate Panda from other things out there. AV-Test showed that it protects well but doesn’t have phenomenal performance results. It did score very well for usability, though, so you don’t need to worry about complex interfaces and configurations.
In addition to all the standard antivirus features you’d come to expect, Zone Alarm Free Antivirus also packs a basic firewall. There’s a good chance you already have one, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. It also offers some basic identity protection that will let you know if there are unauthorized changes to your credit files.
Using an actual identity theft protection service (or even basic credit monitoring) will likely be more effective, but another layer of security is always good.
The 10 free antivirus apps we have covered will keep you safe on both Windows and Mac. Try out a few of them and let us know which one you like the most in the comments below.
