Saturday 29 June 2019

Become a Better Negotiator With This FREE Ebook!

meeting-minutes-templates

Negotiations enter so many parts of our lives, yet few people ever take the time to learn how to become a better negotiator.

This is a skill that, if developed, can give you the confidence that you are finally in control, and able to better work toward what you want to accomplish. And this is exactly what this ebook has been written for.

With just a small amount of learning, you could be much better suited to mediate family arguments, negotiate job offers, reduce interest rates, land real estate deals, and improve your relationship with your colleagues.

With 100 packed pages, this free resource on negotiating skills, theory, and practices covers:

  • How to negotiate with your family members, and keep the peace
  • Negotiating sales and contracts
  • Using hard and strong negotiating skills
  • Using body language and eye contact
  • And much more!

Download This Ebook For Free!

Learning the art of negotiating will help you advance in your personal and professional life, and this ebook is a great introduction that you can download today, for free.

Want to download your free copy? Simply click here to download Negotiating and Negotiations from TradePub. You will have to complete a short form to access the ebook, but it’s well worth it!

Read the full article: Become a Better Negotiator With This FREE Ebook!



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5 Sites to Find DIY Crafts and Projects for Kids and Teens

Whether you’re the parent of a teen or a younger child, you need to complement their book-based education with hands-on projects. These free websites have a collection of DIY crafts and projects for kids of all ages.

DIY home projects with parents are a great way to raise your kid to be a tinkerer. It’s never too early to start them on the path, so read the linked article to know the safest ways and best practices for inquisitive young minds.

1. DIY.org (Web): Projects, Challenges, and a Rewards System

DIY.org has a range of DIY crafts and projects for kids

DIY.org, a project by Little Bits, is a wonderful place to get your children started on the DIY journey. It comes with a rewards-based system. The child and parent have to both sign up for an account, so you can track what your kid is doing.

Set up your account and go to Patches. Patches are a bit like scout badges, wherein kids have to pick and finish an activity to earn the Patch. Kids can do that by unlocking different projects. Patches won’t be given out until the child uploads a picture of the finished project.

Patches are divided into skills like art, building, design, engineering, science, etc. Each skill has sub-patches, and each sub-patch has a number of projects or challenges available in it.

Pick a challenge, and you’ll find instructions on how to complete it, usually in the form of a video. Upload a picture or video of the finished task to earn one point. Three points earn you the patch, and six points mean that you’ve mastered the skill.

2. PBS Design Squad (Web): Detailed Guides from the Popular Show

PBS Design Squad's website has detailed DIY guides for children's projects

The official website of PBS show Design Squad has a neat collection of DIY projects and ideas for kids in their Build section. Projects have difficulty levels and you can pick them from categories like art, building, machines, musical, party, toys, and vehicles.

Kids can follow the detailed instructional guides that are easy to understand. They can build anything from a confetti launcher for parties to a two-wheeled car toy propelled by a rubber band. These projects require materials that you’ll already have at home or should be easily available in any store.

Each project comes with a fun video demonstrating it, along with detailed step-by-step instructions and pictures that you can read online, or print out as a PDF. There are currently 51 DIY projects to try out. And if your child wants other distractions, check out the Watch, Design, or Games sections for ideas.

3. 5-Minute Crafts KIDS (YouTube): Quick and Basic Projects for Kids

The popular 5-Minute Crafts YouTube channel is mainly for adults, but it has several sub-channels including one for children. Here, you’ll find projects and ideas that any kid can do with basic craft materials like glue, scissors, and so on.

The videos are usually large compilations of things you can do around one activity. For example, one video concentrates on DIY hacks and projects for a dollhouse, while another talks about simple and cute craft works to decorate phone cases.

Depending on the age of the child, you might need to help them with some projects. But any kid can do these once given the materials. Make sure you also check the video’s description, which has links to the different demonstrations in the video along with a link to jump to that timestamp.

4. KiwiCo’s DIY Blog (Web): Over 2000 DIY Projects for Kids and Teens

Kiwi Co's DIY blog has excellent projects for teens

KiwiCo sells a subscription service where children get a monthly box for new hands-on art and science projects. While those boxes cost some money, the KiwiCo blog of DIY Ideas has plenty of free-to-try projects that you can do with your own materials.

The broad categories are arts and crafts, science, and holidays and events. The projects range from ideas that are suitable for children aged from three to 16 years. But there isn’t an easy way to sort them based on age.

But you can simply browse through the projects to find plenty of cool options. The titles and descriptions usually indicate which age-group it would be ideal for. You’ll find everything from creating your own Mobius loop with an easy printout to making art by melting crayons on canvas.

While all of this is free, an annoying pop-up will keep reminding you to sign up for the KiwiCo newsletter before reading the full article. There doesn’t seem to be an easy way to circumvent this, so you’ll have to sign up to see the projects.

5. STEMpedia (Web): Robotics and Science Projects for Teens

STEMPedia offers DIY robotics and engineering projects for teens

Is your child is interested in any of the STEM disciplines? You’ll need DIY projects that are a little more advanced than what other sites offer. STEMpedia has a host of projects for students looking to get hands-on experience with building something geeky and fun.

The projects at STEMpedia often require electronic materials like Arduino boards, LEDs, LEGO robotics kits, and other such items. You can also help out as some projects are a bit more advanced and need an adult hand.

But while they’re more complex, they are still fun and challenging. For example, you can learn how to build your own claw machine, or a simple maze-based video game, or even a phone-controlled 4-wheel robot.

All of these projects require a basic understanding of STEM disciplines, and you’ll probably need a computer handy too. In fact, it might be a good idea to find a local hackerspace because you might need help with some projects.

For more such ideas and projects, check out the best Youtube channels for STEM education.

Raising a DIY-Loving Kid

An all-rounded education is important for any child, and that means along with academic information, they need to also have hands-on practical projects. The above list of websites will ensure your child is eager to roll their sleeves up with art, mechanics, or science.

In fact, we’ve before you move to the websites, we’ve also got a curated list for you. Here are the top 10 geeky science projects you can do at home with your child. It’ll be educational while also leading to some parent-child bonding.

Read the full article: 5 Sites to Find DIY Crafts and Projects for Kids and Teens



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Friday 28 June 2019

10 Pokemon Go Tips and Tricks Everyone Should Know

Everything You Need to Know About Your WhatsApp Privacy Settings

Is Your Virtual Memory Too Low? Here’s How to Fix It!

low-memory

Does your Windows 10 installation feel like it slows down over time? You’re not imagining it. As the hardware requirements for popular apps increase, your aging hardware suffers. Often there is a simple culprit: low memory. If you don’t have enough system memory, your system will slow to a crawl when you attempt to run multiple resource intensive programs.

Here’s how you fix your virtual memory size to make those issues disappear.

What Is Virtual Memory?

Your computer has two types of memory: A hard drive or solid-state drive, and RAM. Your hard drive is where your operating system lives, as well as your photos, music, games, documents, and otherwise. Your RAM stores program-specific data. It is much faster but also more volatile, acting as a working storage area for the programs and files you have open.

So, what is virtual memory?

Well, if you use all the RAM available to your system, it will utilize virtual memory—also known as a swap or paging file—to provide a temporary expansion. Your system virtual memory does this using part of your hard-drive memory to expand your RAM effectively. So this virtual memory is extremely useful. It allows your system to handle more data for more programs than previously available.

However, your hard drive memory (and even a faster solid-state drive) is much slower than your superfast RAM, so your performance can suffer.

When your memory runs low, the paging file comes into play. Some data stored in the RAM will move to the paging file, providing additional space for high-speed memory functions.

Running Low on Virtual Memory

If your virtual memory runs low, you will encounter the following message:

Your system is low on virtual memory. Windows is increasing the size of your virtual memory paging file. During this process, memory requests for some applications may be denied. For more information, see help.

Manually increasing the size of your paging file will alleviate this message, as per the error message. Windows sets the initial virtual memory paging file equal to the amount of installed RAM. The paging file is a minimum of 1.5 times and a maximum of three times your physical RAM.

For example, a system with 4GB RAM would have a minimum of 1024x4x1.5=6,144MB [1GB RAM x Installed RAM x Minimum]. Whereas, the maximum is 1024x4x3=12,288MB [1GB RAM x Installed RAM x Maximum].

Still, 12GB for a paging file is enormous. I would not recommend using the upper limit. Why? Because once your paging file increases over a certain size, your system will become unstable. In that, the paging file is a temporary fix.

How to Increase Your Virtual Memory

The natural question to ask is, “How much virtual memory should I set?”

Here’s how you increase the size of the paging file to get rid of the virtual memory error message.

  1. Head to Control Panel > System and Security > System.
  2. Select Change Settings to open your System Properties. Now open the Advanced
  3. Under Performance, select Settings. Open the Advanced Under Virtual memory, select Change. Here are your Virtual Memory options.

virtual memory system properties

The default option is to Automatically manage paging file size for all drives. Uncheck this to enable the currently greyed out section below. Select the drive you want to edit the paging file size for. By and large, this is your C: drive.

virtual memory default paging file size

Now, select Custom size. Set the Maximum size you want for your paging file, following the recommended size for your system. Remember, Windows restricts the paging file size to three times the size of your installed RAM. This is to ensure system stability. Set the Initial size to the Currently allocated size (found below).

virtual memory set custom paging file size

Click Set followed by OK. You have successfully increased your system’s virtual memory size. +1 knowledge for the day!

Please note that paging file (virtual memory) size increases are not usually met with a system restart message, but decreases are. A sudden decrease could cause system damage.

Other Ways to Increase Your Virtual Memory

If you find that your system still runs slowly following the paging file size adjustment, you must consider upgrading your RAM. Upgrading your RAM is the only way you can increase your virtual memory, by increasing the amount of overall memory available to the system. In that, you will alleviate the virtual memory issue during the process and could see a boost to your system speed, too.

There are countless tutorials to help you through this task, both text, and video, and many can be found specifically for your device. A great place to start figuring out compatible RAM is PC Part Picker.

What Are the Best Virtual Memory Settings?

I’m inclined to leave my virtual memory settings alone. Windows 10 manages your physical memory and your virtual memory, along with it. If you keep hitting the paging file memory limit, you should consider upgrading your RAM. It will make a world of difference, especially for older systems.

Want to know more about your system RAM? Check out our quick guide to everything you need to know about RAM!

Read the full article: Is Your Virtual Memory Too Low? Here’s How to Fix It!



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12 Mystery Podcasts Guaranteed to Tingle Your Spine

mystery-podcasts

There’s something inherently compelling about a mystery. As humans, we love being strung along, having small parts of a story revealed to us slowly. Which is why mystery novels sell so well. And now there are mystery podcasts to enjoy as well.

In this article we list the best mystery podcasts you can listen to today.

1. Limetown

limetown mystery podcasts

If you enjoy mystery fiction, give Limetown a try. After its initial release in mid-2015, it took less than two months to shoot to the top of the US podcast charts.

The plot revolves around fictional reporter, Lia Haddock. She tells the story of the mysterious disappearance of more than 300 people from a neuroscience research facility.

The first season has six episodes; the second season has five episodes. The story has reached its conclusion, and the creators are not planning any further episodes.

There is also now a prequel novel, written by Cote Smith.

2. The Lost

the lost mystery podcasts

The Lost is a five-part mini-series from New Zealand that explores some of the country’s missing person cases.

Led by reporter Paloma Migone, each episode features witness interviews, interviews with family members, and conversations with other people close to the cases. The aim is to uncover new evidence that might be able to shed some light on the truth behind the stories.

3. Unexplained

unexplained mystery podcasts

Unexplained is a British mystery podcast. It looks at some of the world’s weird goings-on that can’t be explained with simple science.

It covers everything from murder mysteries to purported meetings with the Devil. Through each of the episodes, the blurred line between reality and the paranormal is pondered by the host.

At the time of writing, there are four seasons available.

4. Thinking Sideways

thinking sideways mystery podcasts

One of our favorite history mystery podcasts is Thinking Sideways. It is approaching its 300th episode.

A typical episode focuses on a particular historical mystery, folk tale, or urban legend, which the hosts then discuss in more detail.

To give you an idea of what to expect, recent shows have discussed everything from the Tunguska Event in 1908 to ghost ships on the high seas during the age of pirates.

5. SPINES

spines mystery podcasts

SPINES is another one of the best mystery podcasts. The story’s central character is Wren Jones. He wakes up in the aftermath of an occult ritual without any idea of how it got there—and immediately embarks on a quest for answers.

If you like mysterious creatures, occult organizations, amnesia, and strange disappearances, SPINES is worth listening to. The series concluded in 2018 after an impressive 308 episodes.

Due to the length of the story, the publisher has now made the entire series available as a single podcast, turning it into something like an audiobook.

6. Death in Ice Valley

death in ice valley mystery podcasts

Death in Ice Valley is a BBC production that aired in 2018. It tells the story of the “Isdal Woman.” Two kids found her body in the remote Isdalen Valley outside the Norwegian city of Bergen in the 1970s.

Her corpse was badly burned and surrounded by bottles of water, a rubber boot, and burnt paper. Both her identity and the reason for her supposed murder have remained a mystery ever since.

The show is hosted by Norwegian investigative journalist, Marit Higraff, and British BBC radio documentary maker, Neil McCarthy.

7. Empty Frames

empty frames mystery podcasts

Empty Frames explores the famous Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft. In March 1990, 13 works of art worth $500 million were stolen from the museum. It remains the largest-value theft of private property in history.

The heist included pieces by Rembrandt, Degas, and Vermeer, though the more valuable works in the building were left untouched.

No one has ever been charged over the incident, and the paintings are still missing.

8. Mysterious Universe

mysterious universe mystery podcasts

This mystery podcast series isn’t what it sounds like—it’s nothing to do with the Milky Way, the Solar System, or space in general.

Mysterious Universe is a news podcast for anyone interested in supernatural happenings. The show is now up to season 21 and showing no signs of slowing down.

Recent episodes have discussed poltergeist invasions, strange beings in the English countryside, and a controversial theory about obsessive-compulsive disorder.

9. The Black Tapes

the black tapes mystery podcasts

If you liked the popular Serial podcast, you will love The Black Tapes—it uses the same docudrama format, though the subject matter is a bit darker. Disappearances, hauntings, shadowy figures, and rituals are commonplace in episodes.

The Black Tapes begins with a series of seemingly unconnected paranormal cases, but the series’ main protagonist, Alex Reagan, quickly realizes everything isn’t as it seems.

10. Bowraville

bowraville mystery podcasts

The Bowraville murders in Australia happened over a five-month period starting in September 1990. In total, three aboriginal children were killed; they all lived on the same street, and all three disappeared after community parties.

The prime suspect—name unknown—has been tried twice for the murders, in 1994 and 2006. On both occasions, the court acquitted him. The case is still unsolved.

Bowraville is one of the best mystery podcasts if you love stories that are tied up in race relations, law enforcement attitudes, and dodgy legal systems.

11. Tanis

tanis mystery podcasts

The same team who is responsible for The Black Tapes has created Tanis. When the series kicks off, listeners aren’t even sure what Tanis is. A place? A person? Is it biblical? Or historical?

However, with the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Bermuda Triangle, the Super-Sargasso Sea, William Blake, the Freemasons, Xanu, and numbers stations all getting mentions within the first few episodes, there’s a whole lot to dig into and enjoy.

12. The Last Podcast on the Left

last podcast on the left mystery podcasts

Finally, no list of the best mystery podcasts would complete without a mention of The Last Podcast on the Left.

Three comedians host the show. In each episode, they explore a horror, mystery, unexplained phenomena, or another supernatural event.

It’s light-hearted, so if you’re looking for serious mystery podcasts, try the other recommendations instead. However, if you want an easy-to-digest show, you should check it out.

Beyond Mystery Podcasts

After you’ve worked your way through these shows, there’s a strong possibility that you’ll be looking for a different genre of podcast to listen to. After all, there’s only so much mystery that one person can handle.

Don’t worry, as MakeUseOf has you covered. Here are the most popular Plex podcasts and the best podcasts on Spotify.

Read the full article: 12 Mystery Podcasts Guaranteed to Tingle Your Spine



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How to Transfer and Share Files Between Windows and Linux

share-files-linux-windows

Copying data from a Windows PC to Linux—or in the other direction—can seem intimidating at first. After all, it’s something that seems like it should be simple, but turns out to be difficult.

In truth, sharing files from Windows to Linux is easy, but only if you know how to do it. Ready to find out?

5 Ways to Transfer Files from Windows to Linux

Transferring data between Windows and Linux operating systems is easier than you think. We’ve compiled five ways for you to do this:

  1. Share network folders
  2. Transfer files with FTP
  3. Securely copy files via SSH
  4. Share data using sync software
  5. Use shared folders in your Linux virtual machine

With each of these methods you’ll be able to easily (and in some cases, effortlessly) move files between operating systems.

Let’s look at them in turn and find out which one suits you best.

1. Share Network Folders Between Linux and Windows

The most obvious way to share files between Linux and Windows is to take advantage of network shares. This term refers to folders on one PC that are available to users on other machines. On a Windows-only network this is easy to set up. Adding a Linux device complicates matters slightly, although this can be overcome.

Starting on the Windows machine, right-click the network connection icon in the system tray and select Open Network & internet Settings. Next, click Sharing options and for the current profile enable

  • Turn on network discovery
  • Turn on file and printer sharing

Click Save changes to confirm, then browse to the folder containing the files you wish to share. Right-click the folder, select Properties and open the Sharing tab. Here, click Advanced Sharing then check the Share this folder box.

Share a folder in Windows to access it in Linux

You can manage access to the folder via Permissions; this refers to local Windows users, not network devices.

Click OK to confirm the change, then open the Security tab in Properties. Configure this to mirror the settings in the Permissions box previously. You shouldn’t need to do too much here as Windows 10 should include a group called Authenticated Users. This is used for remote access to your computer.

Again, click OK when you’re done.

To find the Windows share from your Linux PC, simply open the file browser and select Network. From here, navigate to the Windows-hosted folder, and start exchanging data.

Access a Linux Share From Windows

To move data in the other direction, you’ll need to install Samba on your Linux computer.

sudo apt install samba

Next, set a username for the samba share

smbpasswd -a username

You’ll be prompted for a password for the new account (don’t call it “username”!).

Next, create a directory to share the data from.

mkdir /home/[username]/Share

Next, edit the smb.conf file in your text editor:

sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf

Add the following to the end of the configuration file:

[Share]

path = /home/[username]/[folder_name]

available = yes

valid users = [username]

read only = no

browsable = yes

public = yes

writable = yes

Make the required changes to suit your own needs, then hit Ctrl + X to exit, tapping Y to save. Next, restart Samba:

sudo service smbd restart

You’ll then be able to access the share from Windows. Open File Explorer or your browser and input the IP or hostname of the remote Linux device, followed by the folder name. In our example, this is

\\192.168.1.233\Share

2. Copy Files via SSH From Windows to Linux

With SSH enabled on your Linux device, you can send data via the command line from one computer to another. For this to work, however, you will need to set up an SSH server on your Linux machine.

Start by opening a terminal and updating and upgrading the OS.

sudo apt update

sudo apt upgrade

Once complete, install the SSH server. The OpenSSH server is a good option.

sudo apt install openssh-server

Wait while it installs. To check at any time if the OpenSSH server is running, use

sudo service ssh status

To transfer data from Windows, use an SSH client like PuTTY. This needs the PSCP tool downloading to your Windows system to run alongside PuTTY. Find both on the PuTTY homepage.

Note that while PuTTY will need installing, PSCP won’t. However, it should be saved in the root of the C:\ drive or else set up as an environment variable. You’ll also need to confirm the IP address of the Linux device. Check this on the box with

ifconfig

With a connection established, you can send data like this:

c:\pscp c:\some\path\to\a\file.txt user@remoteIP:\home\user\some\path\newname.txt

You’ll be prompted for your password for the Linux computer before the transfer commences.

Want to copy data from Linux to Windows in the same SSH session? This command will download the specified file to the current directory:

c:\pscp user@remoteIP:\home\user\some\file.txt .

Note the lone period at the end—include this or the transfer will not work.

3. How to Transfer Files From Linux to Windows Using FTP

A file transfer protocol (FTP) application with SSH support can also be used. Transferring files via SFTP in a mouse driven user interface is arguably easier than relying on typed commands.

Again, an SSH server must be running on the Linux machine before you start. You should also ensure you have installed an FTP app like FileZilla, which has SFTP support.

To use this method, run FileZilla, then open File > Site Manager.  Create a New Site, taking care to set the Protocol to SFTP. Add the target IP address in Host, then the username and password, setting the Logon Type to Normal.

Share data between Linux and Windows via FTP

Click Connect when ready, then use the FTP interface to drag and drop files between the two computers.

4. Share Files Between Linux and Windows With Resilio Sync

Another option you should consider is a file syncing program. These are typically cross-platform and use an encrypted key to manage the connection between devices.

All you need to do is install the app, nominate a sync folder, then create the key. Set this up on the second PC and your data will then sync. Two good options are available for this:

  1. Resilio Sync: formerly known as BitTorrent Sync, Resilio is available on almost any platform you can think of. There is a paid version, but the free option is enough for syncing two devices.
  2. SyncThing: for Linux, Windows, macOS, and Android, this Resilio Sync alternative offers a similar feature without the paid component.

Our guide to using Resilio Sync (as well as Syncthing) will guide you through setting up network file transfers between computers.

5. Create and Mount a VirtualBox Shared Folder in Linux

Many people don’t run a separate Linux machine. Instead, it’s common to run Linux in a virtual machine (VM). But is there are way to transfer files between Windows and Linux when one is installed in a VM?

Fortunately, yes. With VirtualBox you can create a virtual shared directory for data syncing.

If you’re running Windows in a VM on Linux (or vice versa), VirtualBox is already set up for sharing. Ensure you have the Guest Additions installed on your virtual machine before proceeding.

In the VirtualBox manager, select the VM and choose Start > Headless Start (Alternatively start the VM then open Devices > Shared Folders). When the status displays that the machine is running, open right-click the VM and select Settings > Shared Folders.

Here, select Machine Folders then click the + symbol on the right (or right-click and select Add Shared Folder). Browse the Folder Path, find the directory you want to use, set a name (if necessary) then OK.

Share data between Linux and Windows via FTP

Use the Auto-mount checkbox if you want the share to be available whenever the VM runs. Click OK again to confirm and exit. When you reboot the VM, the share will be ready to swap data between the host PC and guest operating system

Sharing Files Between Windows and Linux Is Easy

Whether you’re new to Linux, or you find Windows unfamiliar, sharing data between them is easier than you think.

We’ve looked at several methods. We’d recommend you try all of them and work out which one you’re most comfortable with.

If you’re syncing data to Linux, there’s a good chance you’re migrating your computing from Windows. Check our guide to switching from Windows to Linux for more tips.

Read the full article: How to Transfer and Share Files Between Windows and Linux



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What Is TikTok and How Does It Work?

whats-tiktok

If you’ve been on social media lately, you’ve likely encountered short videos of people lip-syncing, dancing, doing stunts, or performing short skits. These bite-sized videos come from TikTok, an app that’s quickly rising in popularity. But what is TikTok?

Since these videos have been spreading like wildfire across the web, you’re probably wondering what TikTok is, how to make your own videos, and how to get most out of the app. So, in this article, you’ll find out what TikTok is, how it works, and how to use it.

What Is TikTok?

You might remember those six-second Vine videos that propelled dozens of Viners to internet stardom. These Vines started the short video trend (and also decreased the world’s attention span).

After Vine’s release in 2012, Musical.ly came out in 2014. Like Vine, Musical.ly centered around short videos, particularly the kind that involved lip-syncing to music. By 2017, Musical.ly had hundreds of millions of users creating quick 15-second to one-minute long music videos.

So what does this have to do with TikTok? A lot, actually.

TikTok originally started out as an app called Douyin, which is essentially the Chinese version of TikTok. This Chinese variation still exists today, as it’s there to comply with special Chinese censorship laws. In other words, the world has access to TikTok, while China can only use Douyin.

ByteDance developed Douyin in 2016, and launched TikTok for the rest of the world in 2017. The app was an immediate hit, gaining millions of users in a fairly short period of time.

Here’s where Musical.ly comes into play. TikTok grew even more when ByteDance decided to merge with Musical.ly in August of 2018. Musical.ly users got to keep their accounts for an overall smooth transition into TikTok. TikTok also combined Musical.ly’s logo with their own, and even adopted the same “musers” nickname that Musical.ly gave to its audience. Since then, TikTok has increased in popularity and is now considered one of the top social media apps.

How Does TikTok Work?

Now that you know a bit about TikTok’s background, it’s time to learn more about the app itself. With TikTok, you can post wacky 15-second videos for the entire community of musers to see. You also have the option of linking these videos together into your story, which can last up to 60 seconds.

Either way, you have a very short timeframe for your videos, but it’s still not as limiting as Vine’s six-second maximum. Unlike Vine, you can upload videos directly from your phone, instead of having to record them directly in the app.

How to Use TikTok

You don’t have to register for an account on TikTok in order to use it. However, registering for an account allows you to follow other users and actually make videos. When you first open the app, you’ll probably feel overwhelmed at the sight of the neverending stream of videos that appear on your home page.

TikTok shows you recommended videos, as well as videos from the musers that you follow. Scroll through the suggested videos, and click the username on the ones you like. If you enjoy the rest of their content, give them a follow and stay up to date on all of their new posts.

Try not to watch too many TikToks. When you spend more than 90 minutes on the app, you’ll receive a notification to take a break. This app has been blasted for its addictive qualities, highlighting some of the negative effects of social media.

In terms of making videos, the app works a bit like Snapchat. You record videos by holding down a big red button, and (unlike Snapchat) you can edit them afterwards. The editing options obviously don’t compare to Adobe Premiere Pro, but you can still trim your videos and adjust the speed.

While some effects let you draw on your screen, others allow you to try on filters and even use augmented reality to change the environment around you. If you know how to use filters on Snapchat, you should get the hang of TikTok quickly. You can also create a short sequence of pictures from your phone, and use that as a video instead.

The main attraction of TikTok is the use of music. Every muser incorporates a song into their video using TikTok’s huge library of song clips that features almost every genre. If you’re not a fan of music, you can also use clips of dialog from funny videos.

What Kinds of Videos Can You Post on TikTok?

Despite the fact that TikTok only allows a short recording time for your videos, that doesn’t have to limit you in the creativity department. In fact, the time constraint usually makes for more creative and entertaining videos.

You can post any type of video on TikTok, but the most popular ones involve music. You don’t even have to know how to sing or play an instrument; just staying on top of the trends and using the latest songs can help your videos go viral.

As for the type of content you should post, the possibilities are nearly endless. Just think of TikToks as a shortened version of YouTube videos. That means you can post anything from tutorials to entertaining tech videos.

If you hit the magnifying glass on TikTok’s bottom menu bar, you’ll see some of the most recent and popular videos. You’ll notice that TikTok separates some videos into different playlists. Some of these playlists pertain to gaming, art, comedy, dance, fitness, cars, beauty, memes, and more.

TikTok also cycles through various challenges that a large number of musers attempt. These challenges aren’t created by TikTok itself; they start with one muser and spread from there.

For example, the stair shuffle dance challenge involves performing a shuffle dance up a flight of stairs. Many users took to TikTok to do this challenge in several creative variations. TikTok’s musers always seem to come up with different trends, memes, and challenges on a weekly basis. When one trend ends, another begins.

Should You Download TikTok?

Now that you know what TikTok is, you should know whether it’s worth downloading.

TikTok may seem to be the exclusive domain of teenagers, but it’s entertaining for all ages. You just need to find the right musers to follow, and once you do, you’ll receive a daily stream of amusing content. Since TikTok’s inception, millions of videos have been posted, so you’re bound to find at least one type of video you enjoy watching.

If you like TikTok and want to know what else is hot right now, check out these lit social media apps for teenagers.

Read the full article: What Is TikTok and How Does It Work?



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Instagram Adds Ads to the Explore Feed

get-instagram-verified

Instagram users beware… Instagram is adding adverts to the Explore feed. The Explore feed is where you discover new people and posts, and you’ll soon be discovering new brands and products too. Whether you want to or not.

Instagram originally added ads in 2013. Since then, Instagram has added more ads to more areas of the app. So much so that you’re probably don’t notice them any more. The Explore feed has always been free of ads, but that is now changing.

Instagram Introduces Ads to the Explore Feed

In a post on the Instagram Business Blog, Instagram explains that “over the next few months, we’ll be introducing ads in Explore feed.” This is because “more than 50% of accounts on Instagram use Explore every month” and “80% of people follow a business.”

The good news is you’re not going to be bombarded by ads as soon as you open the Explore feed. Instead, you’ll start seeing ads after you’ve tapped on a photo or video. This should keep the Explore grid free of annoying ads, at least for the time being.

Instagram explains that, “We’re introducing ads in Explore slowly and thoughtfully in the coming months. After tapping on a photo or video in Explore, people may begin to see ads as part of their browsing experience just like in the main feed.”

As if predicting that this move will annoy some people, Instagram has linked to the page on the Instagram Help Center labelled “What can I do if I see an ad I don’t like?” This basically involves hiding ads, reporting ads, or adjusting your ad preferences.

Advertising Equals More Money for Zuckerberg

As annoying as this is for users, it makes sense for Instagram. Advertising equals money, and the Explore feed is a sensible place to display ads. Instagram knows it’s become such an essential app for people that a few extra ads aren’t going to put anyone off.

Even though Instagram boasts over 1 billion users, more people are discovering it all of the time. So, if you’re new to the app, you should check out our beginner’s guide to Instagram explaining, What is Instagram and how does it work?

Read the full article: Instagram Adds Ads to the Explore Feed



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Mobile Phone Cellular Frequency Bands Explained

cellular-frequency-bands

You can file mobile phone frequency bands alongside DVD regions and electrical sockets—it would be nice if all countries used the same ones, but they don’t.

So, if you’re about to buy a new mobile phone, make sure you read this article before you hit the shops. We’re going to explain which cellular frequency bands you need and why.

What’s the Problem?

Different countries use different frequency bands for their mobile phone networks. It poses a headache for anyone who does a serious amount of international travel. Your device might be able to connect to the web in some jurisdictions, but not in others.

To further complicate matters, in some countries—most notably the United States and Russia—different carriers use different cellular standards. If you buy a phone through one carrier, there is a chance it will not work with a rival carrier if you decide to change your provider in the future.

Today, we’re going to look at the bands and standards in a little more detail, then explain which of the various configurations are in use in different countries.

3G: GSM vs. CDMA

Back in the 3G era, the two primary cell phone standards in use around the world were GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access).

Under the hood, the two standards used different techniques to connect users. However, from a user standpoint, the big difference was the freedom of movement. CDMA phones did not require a SIM card—so while GSM phones could be unlocked and moved between carriers, CDMA phones were often locked to a single carrier and unable to be transferred.

Although 3G is becoming a distant memory in our day-to-day lives, there are still times when 4G and 5G connectivity is not available, and your device will connect to a 3G network instead, so it’s essential to know where your devices will work.

Some regions—including Scandinavia, southern Europe, the Middle East, and most of Africa, only offer GSM networks. The US, UK, Russia, northern Europe, and the Far East have GSM and CDMA networks, and Mexico and South America only have CDMA coverage.

The GSM network coverage, however, is further complicated by the GSM bands in use. Of the countries that offer GSM networks, almost the entire world uses the 900 and 1800MHz bands. North America is the big exception; it uses the 850 and 1900MHz bands. A couple of South American countries are the only other places in the world to do so.

In Canada, 1900MHz is the primary frequency; 850GHz is the backup. In the US, different regulatory requirements determine which areas use which band. In countries with 900 and 1800MHz, 900 is the more common.

Depending on the countries you typically visit—and on whether 3G connectivity is even crucial to your use case—you can make the decision about which 3G bands you need.

Check out our article if you would like to learn more about the differences between GSM and CDMA.

4G: LTE Frequency Bands

Although you might not have guessed from the patchwork nature of 3G frequency bands, the world is officially divided up into three International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regions.

Region One covers Europe, Africa, Russia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Region Two is North America and South America, and Region Three is Oceania, the Indian subcontinent, and the Far East.

The regions are important to understand when you try and establish which cellular frequency bands you need for accessing 4G networks (LTE networks) around the world.

(Note: Today, almost all countries offer 4G networks. The only exceptions are a handful of nations in Sub-Saharan Africa.)

If your phone supports LTE band seven or 28, it will work on 4G networks in ITU Regions One, Two, and Three—i.e., anywhere in the world.

LTE bands one and three will work in Region One and Three, LTE band 20 only works in Region One, band five in Region Two and Three, and bands two and four in Region Two only.

There are suggestions that bands eight, 38, and 40 may allow roaming in all three ITU regions in the future, but they do not at the time writing.

Confused yet?!

5G: Limited Commercial Availability

5G networks are still in their nascent phase. Indeed, you can count the number of commercially available 5G networks on one hand. There are a couple of locations in the North East US, along with areas in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, and South Korea.

All the commercial 5G bands currently fall into the so-called “Frequency Range One.” It runs on sub-6GHz frequency bands which were previously used by other standards. The bands in Frequency Range One run from n1 to n86.

Frequency Range Two will offer higher speeds. Only four bands are currently live: n257, n258, n260, and n261. They run from 26 to 39GHz.

In most countries, the spectrum allocation has not yet been decided. A conclusion is probably imminent though; 5G field testing has started in the rest of the EU, Russia, China, and Australia. And research is known to be ongoing in Canada, Mexico, South America, India, and South Africa.

It is likely the bands will broadly follow the ITU Regions we discussed in the previous section. However, you should wait for official confirmation from your carrier before you make any purchasing decisions.

We’ve written about how 5G will make the internet faster and safer if you need more information.

The Ideal Phone for Roaming

It’s easy to get lost in a maze of frequencies and bandwidths when you’re trying to make your buying decision.

To stop yourself from going crazy, remember this one crucial tenet—there’s not a single mobile phone anywhere in the world that will work on all networks in all countries. You need to be selective about which networks and which locations are most important to you and select your new phone accordingly.

If you would like to learn more, make sure you read our article on all the different phone networks in use around the world.

Read the full article: Mobile Phone Cellular Frequency Bands Explained



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3 Shocking Reasons to Use PirateBrowser in Your Country

piratebrowser-reasons

Looking for a way to circumvent region blocking, or avoiding censorship? Whether you’re concerned about governments blocking social networks or political material, or something else altogether, solutions exist.

While the best option is to rely on a VPN or proxy, some people rely on browsers configured to avoid censorship. The PirateBrowser and its alternative, PirateSnoop, are two such options. But should you use them?

What Is the PirateBrowser?

First released in 2013, the PirateBrowser is a web browser issued by the Pirate Bay website. The notorious file sharing site created the browser to help members find the site after it was banned. Basically, it lets the user circumvent censorship.

Using the PirateBrowser avoids more than just censorship on downloading sites

The PirateBrowser is a version of Mozilla Firefox with the FoxyProxy add-on. There is also Tor integration (using Vidalia), which helps to beat censorship. For example, sites blocked in countries across the European Union, Iran, and North Korea can be accessed using the Pirate Browser.

Sites blocked or limited by ISPs are unblocked when viewing with the PirateBrowser.

A second browser, PirateSnoop, has also been released. Operating along similar lines, this alternative is based on the Chrome browser rather than Firefox.

Isn’t Accessing the Pirate Bay Illegal?

The Pirate Bay has been blocked in many countries around the world, especially in the European Union. This is largely because of the liberal attitude of its founders to copyright laws. If you can visit the Pirate Bay website, it’s unlikely that you would be breaking any law. Once you start downloading torrent files, however…

Don’t worry about having to access the Pirate Bay when using the PirateBrowser. The download link above directs to a third-party website and your use of the browser is totally legal. You don’t need to go anywhere near the Pirate Bay to use this browser.

The Pirate Bay is not a great option for legal or illegal torrents. If you want to torrent safely, choose one of these free, legitimate torrent site alternatives.

However, you’ll find that the PirateBrowser or PirateSnoop have some surprising legal uses. If you use your chosen Tor-based browser in the right way, you might even save a few dollars.

1. Avoid Censorship

If you’re looking for a way to avoid censorship, PirateBrowser and PirateSnoop are tools you should have installed.

internet censorship is a problem for many people around the world. They might live in “free” counties like those in the European Union, or in oppressive regimes such as Iran, China, or North Korea. Daily life might be easy, or it might be difficult; perhaps carried out in ignorance. What is going on in the world beyond their nations?

What crimes are being committed by the state against their countrymen?

With a free censorship-avoiding browser, barriers to information can be broken down immediately.

Want to find out what is happening in the world beyond the closed doors of your country’s internet? Check our guide to the best censorship-free news sources.

2. Circumvent Region Blocking

Another good reason to use the PirateBrowser or PirateSnoop is to enjoy geo-blocked video streaming services.

Geo-blocking (also known as region blocking) takes place when a video streaming service restricts access to media based on location. For example, Netflix subscribers in the UK have a smaller library than those in the USA. As a result, some people use tools to bypass the region blocking in order to access Netflix US.

Netflix isn’t alone in blocking specific countries from accessing its service. Often, it’s done for a good reason, related to how cast and crew are paid. But viewers with subscriptions to the service rarely care about such “rights issues.”

Note that if you’re in the USA, however, the PirateBrowser will not help you watch BBC iPlayer. Instead, use a VPN like ExpressVPN.

3. Get Better Prices for Goods, Hotels, and Flights

Use PirateBrowser to book cheaper flights

Online stores of all kinds base their pricing on where you are based. With a tool like PirateBrowser, you can visit sites selling technology and other goods and get a different price. This might even be substantially lower than the price on offer in your usual browser.

This is a trick that is regularly used with a VPN. Usually, booking flights and hotel stays can prove cheaper by visiting a different version of the usual site. For example, you might live in country A and book from country B to make a saving.

While this option isn’t available in PirateBrowser, its ability to circumvent website detection can result in lower prices.

The PirateBrowser Is Not Anonymous

If you want to use the PirateBrowser to avoid censorship, dodge region blocking, or get better prices, you can. You might even find some other uses.

But none of these activities will be anonymous. Websites you visit will be able to identify you. Your local internet provider might also be able to observe your actions. While this may not be a problem in the UK or USA, it could result in a very vast visit from the security services in Iran or North Korea.

In short, if you’re looking for a way to keep your online activity off the record, the PirateBrowser and PirateSnoop are not the solution.

This is because proxy avoidance and Tor technology are used in the PirateBrowser; neither offers encryption. Only encryption can deliver easy anonymity on the internet, so if privacy and security are important (and they should be) check our list of the best VPNs.

Secure Alternatives to the PirateBrowser

You might expect a browser that essentially ensures that you can access blocked websites would be secure.

By now, you should understand that it isn’t. It’s simply capable of thwarting the blocks that ISPs put on certain websites. These might be political, social, religious, even. It might merely be a social network that is blocked in your area. The PirateBrowser and PirateSnoop can sidestep ISP blocks with very little effort.

So, if you wanted a secure browser, what would you use? Now is a good time to look at our comparison of the most secure mainstream browsers.

Read the full article: 3 Shocking Reasons to Use PirateBrowser in Your Country



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What Does TFW Mean? The TFW Acronym Explained

You Can Now Change YouTube’s Video Recommendations

YouTube is rolling out new features designed to give viewers more control over what videos they watch. The new features will help you explore topics and related videos you’re interested in and remove suggestions and recommendations you’re not interested in.

YouTube Gives Viewers More Control Over Content

In a post on the Official YouTube Blog, YouTube explains how and why it’s “doing more to put you in the driver’s seat”. YouTube states that it wants to “help viewers find new interests and passions,” and that you’re the “one true expert” able to do that.

Explore Topics on the Homepage and Up Next: YouTube is making it easier to explore topics and related videos. You’ll see these topics both at the top of your homepage (when you scroll up) and on the Up Next section below the video you’re currently watching.

Stop Certain Channels Being Recommended: On the flipside, you can now tell YouTube to stop recommending videos from particular channels. Just tap the three-dot menu next to a video and select “Don’t recommend channel” from the dropdown menu.

Discover Why YouTube Is Recommending Videos: YouTube is also explaining why it’s recommending particular content. When YouTube recommends videos based on what other viewers have watched, you’ll see an information box underneath the video.

Avoiding YouTube’s Deepest Darkest Rabbit Holes

These changes are clearly a response to complaints that YouTube’s algorithms can send people down rabbit holes. An example being that watching one video taking an objective look at the anti-vax movement would surface countless videos supporting that view.

These changes are rolling out now, and will appear on YouTube for Android and iOS, and on the desktop. This is the perfect opportunity to review the channels you’re subscribed to, and we have recommended YouTubers worth watching in our YouTube starter kit.

Image Credit: Rego Korosi/Flickr

Read the full article: You Can Now Change YouTube’s Video Recommendations



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How to Install Android on Your Windows Tablet

Windows tablets are becoming more popular. But if you’re looking for a bigger selection of apps, Android is the answer.

While installing Android on a desktop PC is reasonably straightforward, you might find installation tricky on a Windows tablet. One problem is that tablets don’t have a CD/DVD drive.

So how can you install Android on a Windows tablet? We’ll show you.

What Tablet Are You Using?

Microsoft Surface Windows 10 tablet

Before proceeding, be aware that Android can only be installed on standard 32-bit or 64-bit Windows tablets. Those that use ARM processors (such as the old Microsoft Surface RT) are incompatible.

Meanwhile, the process of installing Android on your Windows tablet differs from device to device. However, the general approach is the same.

Windows 8 tablets are desperate for an upgrade to a usable operating system. In many cases, Windows 10 is the solution. However, the lack of apps or the increasing complexity of Windows 10 may prevent you from upgrading.

For many, Android is the only way to keep using old but perfectly adequate tablet hardware.

What You Need to Install Android on a Windows Tablet

Get started by gathering everything you need to install Android:

  • Your Windows tablet, plugged into a power source
  • A blank USB flash drive of 16GB or more
  • Second USB flash drive with the Windows installer loaded on it (in case of problems)
  • USB flash disk writing software (we recommend Etcher)
  • USB keyboard (a mouse is optional)
  • A USB hub so you can connect multiple devices to your tablet at once
  • The right version of Android for your system

When it comes to installing Android, the first option you should try is Phoenix OS. Be sure to check our guide to installing Phoenix OS for full instructions.

Intel also maintains some Android images for Windows machines. You’ll find these as part of the open source Celadon project, available to download on GitHub.

Before proceeding, check the web for steps specifically pertaining to your tablet. It’s important to have a direct, step-by-step reference to ensure you don’t make any mistakes that could wipe your drive. You certainly want to avoid any errors that could leave your computer unbootable.

Why Install Android on a Windows Tablet?

Windows has a usable UI in touchscreen and tablet mode, but the Microsoft Store’s app selection is comparatively modest.

If you already have experience with Android tablets and don’t particularly like the Windows touch environment, switching is sensible (where possible, that is). Thanks to enhanced OTG support on Android (so you can connect USB drives and input devices) you might not even notice a difference!

Note, however, that you’ll be restricted to apps that support x86-compatible systems. These are growing in number, but don’t expect to run every app in the Play store.

Configuring Your Windows Tablet for Android Installation

You can’t just install a second operating system on a device designed for Windows without making a few adjustments to the system setup.

First, you’ll need to ensure Secure Boot is disabled. Open Settings > Update and Recovery > Recovery and select Restart Now under Advanced Start-up. From here, use your arrow keys to select Troubleshoot, then Advanced Options > UEFI Firmware Settings.

Here, find Security in the left-hand menu and set a Supervisor password. Once you’ve added that, open Boot, find the Secure Boot option, and set it to Disabled.

With that done, hold down Power to restart, then hold the Windows button as well until the screen comes back on. This enables a quick shortcut back into the BIOS screen, where you should ensure UEFI Mode is selected.

Install Android on your Windows tablet

Next, switch the tablet off, and connect the USB hub directly to the USB port. Do not use a docking station.

With the keyboard and USB stick connected to the hub, boot up your tablet PC, pressing F12. In the boot menu, use the arrow keys to select the USB drive. When you need to make selections (such as enabling dual boot), use your device’s volume keys.

Different versions of the Android installer have slightly different steps. In most cases, the dual boot option should be selected. It’s often not worth removing Windows entirely as the bootloader is required for Android to boot.

If all goes according to plan, when you next boot up the tablet you should see a boot menu, where you can select between Android and Windows.

Alternative Ways to Run Android Apps on Windows

If your main motivation for installing Android on your Windows tablet is to use apps, emulation is a simpler solution. You can choose from several tools to run Android apps in this way, including:

  • NoxPlayer: Probably the best Android emulator for Windows.
  • BlueStacks: Ideal for fans of Android gaming.
  • Andy: Includes features for game and app development.

Note that these will only run as well as the hardware on your Windows machine allows. Check our guide to the best Android emulators for Windows for more.

Turn Your Windows Tablet Into Android With a Virtual Machine

Installing Android on a Windows tablet can be tough. It might take a while to find a suitable image, for example. In the worst cases, there may not even be a compatible version of Android for you to use.

Don’t give up. If Android emulation doesn’t suit you, consider a virtual machine instead.

Tools such as VMWare Player or VirtualBox run a virtual environment, upon which you install an Android operating system. This might be the operating system you downloaded earlier to run on your specific tablet model, or it could simply be Phoenix OS.

Either way, this is a cleaner option than dual booting or removing Windows entirely. Simply boot Windows, launch the virtual machine, and run Android. Our guide to using VirtualBox will get you started with virtual machines.

Running Android on a Windows Tablet

It can be a hard slog, but eventually you should be able to install Android on your Windows tablet. Perhaps you’ll end up with a dual-boot setup, or maybe you’ll rely on a virtual machine instead. Either way, with Android running, you can start enjoying your favorite apps and games.

With everything is installed, and Android booted up, it should work perfectly. However, whichever method you use to install Android on your Windows tablet, you’ll likely find some features missing or disabled.

As such you’ll need to install Google Apps to get staples like YouTube, Google Play, Gmail, and all the other popular Google-provided Android apps.

Image Credit: peshkova/Depositphotos

Read the full article: How to Install Android on Your Windows Tablet



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What Is the Windows Registry and How Do I Edit It?

The Windows Registry is a scary place at first glance. It is a place where power users can change Windows settings that are not exposed elsewhere. When you search for how to change something in Windows, you often find articles telling you to edit the registry.

If you need to edit the registry, don’t worry. Making a registry tweak is easy so long as you know what setting you’re modifying. However, you must be careful when editing the Windows Registry as you can create unintended issues.

What Is the Windows Registry?

The Windows Registry is a database that stores a wide variety of configuration settings. Nearly all configuration settings included with Windows are stored here. Third-party programs can also use the registry to store their settings, although they can also store settings in configuration files – the choice is up to each program.

windows registry entry

Many of the options exposed in the registry are not available elsewhere in Windows. There is a wide variety of advanced settings that you cannot change without editing the registry. Some of these settings are available through Windows Group Policy—but the Windows Group Policy Editor is only available to Professional versions of Windows. If you are using a non-Professional version of Windows, editing the Windows Registry is likely the only way to edit some of these settings.

The Windows Registry Editor is a GUI for the Windows Registry that allows you to view and edit its contents.

How to Open the Windows Registry

Warning: I advise extreme caution when editing the Windows Registry. Don’t jump into the Registry Editor and start deleting whatever you want. Don’t change any registry entries without knowing exactly what you’re about to edit. If you do know what you are doing and carefully edit only the correct values, you shouldn’t have any problems.

However, if you start deleting, editing, and tweaking registry keys, you could damage your Windows installation beyond repair. Only a full reinstall will recover your system at that point, and you could lose a lot of data in the process. (Though it is possible to reset your Windows Registry.)

To open the Registry Editor, type regedit in your Start Menu search bar, then select the Best Match.windows registry start menu entry

How to Edit the Windows Registry

If you know a specific value you want to change, you can navigate through the Windows Registry tree structure.

Click the arrows to open the next branch of folders until you find what you’re looking for. For example, if I want to edit the “Add to VLC Playlist” right-click context menu option, I would browse to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\AddToPlaylistVLC, unfurling each folder branch until you reach the destination value.

windows registry find key

Alternatively, you can use the Registry Editor search function. Press CTRL + F to open Find. Then you can type in the key, value, or data string you’re looking for. The Registry Editor Find function doesn’t always return what you’re looking for. If it returns no values, head back to the manual search. Alternatively, check out how to open the Windows Registry to any key without searching!

To edit the value, right-click the name, and select Modify. Change the Value Data to whatever is appropriate and press OK.

How to Create a New Windows Registry Value

At times, you may need to create a new registry value. For instance, if the registry value for a setting you want to edit doesn’t exist, you can create it. For a new value to work, however, you must make sure you are in the corresponding registry folder. There is no use in placing a new registry value in any old folder; it could negatively affect your system or worse.

First, make sure you are in the correct Registry Editor location. Then right-click the right pane and select New > [registry value type]. Type the name of the value, assign it whatever attributes it needs and hit OK. Sounds vague? That’s because you will only create new registry values on a case-by-case basis, and there are several different registry value types. By and large, you will create a DWORD (32-bit) Value. But that isn’t always the case.

windows registry new dword

If a key, or folder, you need doesn’t exist, create the correct folder structure by creating new subkeys in each folder. For example, if you need to change a value in Foo\Bar, create the “Foo” key if it doesn’t exist, then create the “Bar” key inside it.

How to Export and Import Windows Registry Files

The Registry Editor also supports the import and export of .reg files.

Export

You can create your own .reg files to back up specific registry keys. Taking a backup is a great idea if you are about to edit the registry. You can back up individual keys and values, or the entire registry. Although backing up the entire registry sounds time-consuming, it isn’t. For most people, the registry will amount to hundreds of megabytes. For instance, my entire Windows Registry weighs in at 167MB, as you can see below:

windows registry export key

Anyway, back to the exporting. Right-click the registry key (in the left panel), select Export. The contents of the key will save to a .reg file on your computer.

Import

Double-clicking a .reg file will add its contents to your registry. Adding a .reg file to your registry simplifies the process of performing registry hacks. Instead of creating or editing each value manually, double-clicking the .reg adds every value, placing them in your registry without error. For many registry hacks or alterations, you will have to restart your system before the change takes effect.

windows registry import key warning

You will come across .reg files online. However, you shouldn’t download and run any old .reg file. A malicious registry file could wreck your system settings with a single file. Before running the .reg file, right-click it and select Edit. The registry file contents will open in Notepad (or an alternative text editor), showing you exactly what will install should you double-click.

Understandably, you won’t figure out what each entry is for. I can’t either. When you are unsure, complete an internet search for the registry key in question to figure out if it is benign.

Three Useful Registry Hacks to Try

There are loads of handy registry hacks and tweaks you can make. Here are three to get you started.

1. Open Last Active Window from the Taskbar

Ever click an icon on your taskbar and wish it would open the last active Window of that program? I did, so found this registry tweak that “fixes” the problem.

Open the Registry Editor and navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Current\Version\Explorer\Advanced

Then right-click in the right panel, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it LastActiveClick, change the Value Data to 1, and hit OK.

2. Remove the OneDrive Button from the File Explorer

Something else that drives me mad is the persistence of the OneDrive button. Don’t use OneDrive? You can use a registry tweak to remove the button from File Explorer.

Open the Registry Editor and navigate to:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}

Double-click System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree, set the Value Data to 0 and hit OK.

3. Change Desktop Icon Spacing

Ever wanted to change the space between your desktop icons? You can use a Windows Registry tweak for that!

Open the Registry Editor and navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics

There are two spacing measurements you need to edit. In the left panel, find the WindowMetrics key. In the left panel, find the values for IconSpacing and IconVerticalSpacing. The former controls the horizontal spacing, while the latter controls the vertical.

Is Editing the Windows Registry Easy?

Editing the Windows Registry is easy—so long as you move slowly. That means don’t add random registry files without checking, don’t mess with registry values you don’t understand, and always take a backup before making registry tweaks.

Want another Windows Registry tip? Registry cleaning software is snake oil!

Read the full article: What Is the Windows Registry and How Do I Edit It?



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Krita Is the Free GIMP Alternative You Should Be Using

krita-free-gimp-alt

Free tools are awesome. They empower anyone with a computer and passion to develop their talents. I played around with GIMP when I was a high school student, and years later, I use GIMP in my professional life.

However, GIMP isn’t the only great image editor out there. If you’re looking for a GIMP alternative that provides another way to create visual art, check out our Krita review. We use it to pit Krita vs GIMP, comparing the two image editors.

What Is Krita?

Krita is a free and open source image editor built for the KDE Plasma desktop Linux interface. But you don’t have to know what KDE is or use Linux to fall in love with Krita. You can also download Krita for Windows.

Download: Krita for Linux (Free) | Windows ($9.79)

Krita Is More Than Just a GIMP Alternative

GIMP and Photoshop are one-size-fits-all image editors that you can use for a large range of tasks. This makes them versatile, but this can also make them clunky.

Krita is a far more specialized tool. Here’s a taste of what it can do.

Krita’s Painting and Drawing Features

how to use Krita vs GIMP - brushes

If you know how to work a brush and like to do the same with a mouse or stylus, you’re part of Krita’s primary target audience.

Krita tries to make you feel more like you’re working with actual art supplies rather than a mouse. The initial set of visible tools provide ways to draw using various pencil, pen, and brush styles. Krita lets you edit these brush presets and save your own. Plus, these brushes are pressure sensitive.

Other aspects offer advantages over using actual art supplies. A color wheel and sliders are there for you to select colors with a fair degree of precision. Layers make it easier to work with the foreground and background in whichever order you like. The various selection tools, such as lasso, provide you with the ability to make alterations that are harder to do when working with actual paint.

I haven’t done much painting, physically or digitally, but I found the tools straightforward enough for me to try my hand at drawing the picture below.

how to use krita- image editor

OK, so my creation isn’t going to be hanging in a gallery anytime soon, but it’s a good example of what can be achieved quickly and effortlessly. Want a better example of what Krita can do? Over on its website, you can see a gallery of art that people created in Krita alongside numerous Krita tutorials and interviews where artists explain why they use Krita.

You can also find Krita tutorials on YouTube.

Krita’s Graphic Design Features

how to use Krita vs GIMP - shapes

Say your work isn’t limited to paintings. You also deal with logos, create banners, and like to make icon packs. Krita can manage those tasks as well.

In addition to drawing freehand, you can drag straight lines or work with shapes. There’s also a basic text tool, making Krita something you can use for book covers and posters.

In older versions of Krita, the text tool leaves much to be desired. Fortunately, the latest version gives you more of the core functions you would expect, such as a window for adjusting the font size, line height, color, boldness, italics, and more.

That’s not all. Many of the changes for Krita 4 turned the app into an alternative to Inkscape. The developers updated the vector tools to make it easier to switch between the type of fill, stroke, and transform properties. They also gave the shape editing tool an always-visible place in the toolbox and made nodes easier to see.

Perhaps more importantly, vector tools in Krita now use SVG. Krita 3.0 used the OpenDocuments Graphics (ODG) format. That format was intended for office documents, not graphic design. SVG is an open standard that you can export and open in many different types of software.

Krita’s Photography Features

how to use Krita vs GIMP - enhancements

Krita’s photography related features aren’t immediately apparent, but if you dive into the menu bar, you will find much of the expected functionality. This includes the basics such as cropping and resizing, along with enhancements such as sharpening.

You will also find filters, such as the ability to turn a photo into an oil painting. Or you can manually tweak the colors in a photo that didn’t come out quite right.

If you are looking for a free photo manager, digiKam is a great option built on the same KDE foundation as Krita. You can download digiKam for Windows and macOS.

Download: digiKam for Windows | macOS | Linux (Free)

Krita’s Animation Features

Tucked away under Krita’s Window & Workspace menu, there’s an interface for animators. Like in a video editor, a timeline appears at the bottom of the app. Here you can track each individual frame of an animation.

This workspace could come in handy when creating video games or when producing GIFs.

Krita vs. GIMP

Yes, Krita lets you manipulate photos, but it’s primarily a tool for digital artists. It is not a general purpose Image Manipulation Program (what the IMP in GIMP stands for). When learning how to use Krita vs GIMP, you may find Krita easier thanks to its focused interface, especially if you’re drawing with a graphic tablet.

Yet while Krita’s initial layout is tailored to painting, you can change the toolbars and panels however you see fit. Krita is like most KDE programs in this regard. You have some freedom to make the interface your own.

GIMP may now have a single-window mode, but this is a recent change for that image editor. Meanwhile, Krita’s developers designed the interface with that workflow in mind from the beginning. This can make the app feel more familiar if you’re transitioning from another painting program that isn’t GIMP.

Should You Download Krita?

Krita isn’t necessarily more powerful than GIMP or Photoshop, but it is more focused. This can be a great thing. One size doesn’t fit all, nor should it.

The same goes for Krita. Give it a try, and if it turns out not to be a good fit, here are more free alternatives to Photoshop, Illustrator, and Lightroom.

Read the full article: Krita Is the Free GIMP Alternative You Should Be Using



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Android TV Boxes: What Are They and What Can They Do?

android-tv

Android TV boxes are becoming enormously popular. They’re great for cord cutters, people who want to improve the smart capabilities of their TV, anyone who uses Kodi and Plex to manage their own media, people who travel a lot, and more.

But what is an Android TV box? What features do Android set-top boxes have? And who should buy an Android TV box?

What Is an Android TV Box?

nvidia shield set top box

An Android TV device is either a set-top box or dongle which plugs into your television. You can use the box to watch on-demand video apps, video sites, and network TV shows.

“Android TV box” is not a strictly defined term. They come in lots of different shapes and sizes and can have very different capabilities. The only thing that they all have in common is their ability to run the Android TV operating system.

What Is the Android TV Operating System?

Android TV is the version of the Android operating system that’s specifically designed to run on televisions. It’s been around since mid-2014 when it replaced the now-defunct Google TV.

Just like the mobile version of Android, the Android TV operating system is highly fragmented. Lots of Android TV box manufacturers have altered the OS to service their own whims and requirements. Even Amazon’s Fire TV operating system is a heavily modified version of Android TV OS.

And like the mobile version, there are many different releases in circulation due to erratic update cycles. Google regularly releases new versions, but they can take a long time—in some cases, years—to filter down to all the devices via a manufacturer’s over-the-air updates.

Android TV OS is also found built into smart TVs. At various times, Sharp, Sony, Philips, and Hisense have all used Android TV OS to power their TVs’ smart capabilities.

Lastly, Android TV OS is the most common backend for Kodi boxes. For those who aren’t aware, a Kodi box is a set-top box that boots directly into the Kodi app. And no, don’t worry—Kodi boxes won’t get you in trouble with the law. We’ve explained the legality of Kodi boxes if you’d like more information.

How to Find Content on Android TV Boxes

Despite using the Android moniker, the interface on Android TV boxes bears little resemblance to its smartphone counterpart.

Your apps are displayed on scrollable ribbons across the screen. On most Android TV boxes, you can set up your favorites, as well as seeing recommended content from your apps in additional ribbons further down the screen. Android TV boxes do not support widgets.

What Can You Watch on Android TV?

android tv homescreen

Android TV users have access to the Google Play Store. However, it’s not the Google Play Store that you’ll be accustomed to if you’re an Android mobile user.

The list of available apps is heavily modified. An app developer has to make their software Android TV-compatible in order for it to be listed in the TV version of the store. That means many apps from smaller developers aren’t available.

Nonetheless, all the apps you’d expect to find are present. You can download and watch Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Crackle, YouTube, HBO Go, NBC, ABC, BBC iPlayer, MLB.TV, and a whole lot more. Some of the apps face geo-restrictions. Use a high-quality VPN provider like ExpressVPN or CyberGhost to get around the blocks.

However, even though the Google Play Store is smaller than the mobile version, Android TV boxes let you sideload apps. It means you can grab the APK file of any app you want to run on your box and install it.

Just be aware that sideloaded apps might not be compatible with your remote. The simple solution is to download an Android TV remote app for your smartphone; they let you use your finger as a mouse cursor.

Is Other Content Available on Android TV Boxes?

Android TV isn’t only about watching videos. There are music apps like Spotify and Pandora, video players such as VLC, and various utility apps like file explorers and sideload app launchers.

However, the most prominent form of alternative content on Android TV is games. Some Android TV boxes—most notably, the Nvidia Shield—even offer alternative apps stores where you can download and run games as diverse as Grand Theft Auto and Sonic the Hedgehog.

What Other Features Do Android TV Boxes Have?

This is where it starts to get murky. The different Android TV box designers have built differing features into their products.

Some of the features you might encounter on Android TV boxes include:

Built-In Chromecast Support

You can cast directly from your phone, tablet, or desktop Chrome browser straight to your TV.

Google Assistant

Mid- and high-end products are increasingly offering Google Assistant integration. Sometimes, that’s in the form of always-listening set-top boxes. Other times, you need to activate the assistant via your Android TV box remote control.

Additional Ports

Again, the situation varies considerably from device to device. Depending on the manufacturer, you might find USB ports, SD card slots, and Ethernet ports for a wired internet connection.

You can use the USB ports to connect keyboards, mice, gaming controllers, and other peripherals.

Bluetooth

If your Android TV box is Bluetooth-enabled, you can use the connection to hook it up with your phone, keyboard, laptop, or another device.

Who Should Buy an Android Set-Top Box?

Android TV is my smart TV operating system of choice. I’ve used Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and various alternative smart TV operating systems, and I keep coming back to the Android option. If you like customization, flexibility, and integration with other Google apps and services, it comes highly recommended.

Given the wide variety of price points, you could easily install a premium Android TV set-top box on your main television and then use cheaper Android TV dongles on other TVs around your home, thus getting a consistent user experience in your whole house for a reasonable price.

Apple users might want to steer clear. As you’d expect, Android TV does not play nicely with Apple’s suite of apps.

If you would like to learn more about some of the best Android TV alternatives, read our article on Chromecast vs. Apple TV vs. Roku. Meanwhile, here are some of the best Android TV boxes you can buy in case you’re thinking about making a purchase.

Read the full article: Android TV Boxes: What Are They and What Can They Do?



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