Thursday, 30 November 2017

How to Monitor (and Reduce) Your Data Usage on Android

Increasingly sophisticated phones and data-hungry applications make it easier than ever to blow through your cellphone plan’s data cap…and incur nasty overage charges. Read on as we show you how to manage your data use.

How to Make Your Windows PC Use “Mono” Audio (So You Can Wear One Earbud)

Most audio you listen to is in “stereo”, which means that different things are played in through both the left and right speakers. However, you can have your PC mix the sound to mono, playing everything combined through both speakers.

How to Turn Your PayPal Balance Into a Debit Card You Can Spend Anywhere

PayPal is a useful service for sending and receiving money, and it’s just about everywhere…at least, on the internet. But what if you have a bunch of money in your PayPal account and want to use it somewhere PayPal isn’t offered…like an actual brick and mortar store?

You Can Charge Your iPhone in Half the Time with a Fast Charger

Apple’s new phones support fast charging but it’s a (super awesome) feature hardly anyone has paid attention to.

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How data analytics will affect the media industry,

In the media industry, data analytics has created possibilities that never existed

How to Stop Your iPhone From Showing Your Number on Other People’s Caller ID

There are plenty of reasons to not want your phone number showing up when you call someone else. Maybe you just don’t like giving it out to strangers, or perhaps you don’t want the person you’re calling realizing you’re ringing from a foreign number.

How to Increase Your Windows Laptop’s Battery Life

We often fixate on smartphone battery life, but most laptops still don’t have all-day battery life. Rather than tethering your laptop to an outlet, here are some ways to squeeze more life from your laptop’s battery.

Note ban proves a big gain for wholesalers Metro Cash, Walmart

Traditional retailers continue to act as the most critical channel for Metro, which has been convincing local grocers to use their big-format stores as warehouses.

Build fast, fix later: speed hurts quality at Tesla, some workers say

​Quality checks have routinely revealed defects in more than 90 percent of Model S and Model X vehicles inspected after assembly, these individuals said, citing figures from Tesla's internal tracking system as recently as October.

Amazon registers over 100 per cent growth in India revenues in FY17

Amazon Seller Services, which earns through commissions, advertisements and shipping fees, posted a 41% rise in FY17 revenue to Rs 3,128 crore.

Bitcoin surges past $11,000 less than 24 Hrs after topping $10k

Bitcoin surpassed $11,000 in a matter of hours after hitting the $10,000 milestone, taking this year’s price surge to almost 12-fold as buyers shrugged off increased warnings that the largest digital currency is an asset bubble.

Why it’s tough to tame Google, Facebook, Amazon & Apple

Yet the four, taken together, also stand widely accused of the sins associated with corporate bullies

With 47 per cent of total volume, India is gateway for PayU

This comes at a time when PayU is betting big on its India business which is set to turn profitable in the next two months, EThad reported earlier this month.

800 million workers worldwide may lose their jobs to automation by 2030

Even if the rise of robots is less rapid, some 400 million workers could still find themselves displaced.

OTT players like Truecaller oppose move to regulate apps, upset telcos cry foul

OTT companies' latest opposition to regulation has brought them once again in conflict with telcos which are demanding a level playing field.

What Is Bitcoin, and How Does it Work?

Bitcoin. the digital currency, has been all over the news for years. But because it’s entirely digital and doesn’t necessarily correspond to any existing fiat currency, it’s not easy to understand for the newcomer. Let’s break down the basis of exactly what Bitcoin is, how it works, and its possible future in the global economy.

How Three-Way Light Switches Work

If there are lights in your house that can be controlled from two different light switches (as opposed to just one), then the light is commonly referred to as a three-way light, and the switches are referred to as three-way light switches. Here’s how they work.

Wednesday, 29 November 2017

How to Get the Simple, Lightweight YouTube Go App in Any Country

YouTube is great, but only if you have a consistent data connection and unlimited bandwidth. That’s the norm for city dwellers in rich countries, but not for most people on planet earth.

Karnataka Bank partners with BCG for major technology overhaul

Mangaluru-headquartered private bank to tap startups to source digital solutions

How to Stop Certain Apps From Showing Content in Spotlight Search on Your iPhone

As iPhones have become more powerful, Spotlight search has gotten a lot more useful. Now when you search for something, Spotlight also searches the contents of your apps (if the developer has the feature enabled).

How to Run Any Command Prompt Command with Cortana

Cortana may not be as popular as Microsoft was hoping for, but it can be useful. No longer do you need to be next to your computer to perform a task; you can shout it from the other side of the room. However, there are some things Cortana can’t do out of the box.

The Headphone Jack Is Dead… and I’m Delighted

The iPhone 7, 8 and X don’t have a headphone jack. Google’s a year late to the game, but they’ve cut it from the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.

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How to Add Falling Snow to Your Photos With Photoshop

Taking photos in the falling snow is hard. It’s cold, your gear gets wet, and everyone ends up grumpy. Why bother going outside at all when you can fake it in Photoshop? Here’s how.

Chromebooks Are More than “Just a Browser”

Chromebooks have come a long way since their humble introduction with the CR-48 back in December of 2010, but people still think of them as “just a browser”. The thing is, this platform has grown significantly since then, and that mindset is just outdated.

McAfee to acquire Skyhigh Networks

McAfee and Skyhigh Networks announced a definitive agreement to combine businesses, with McAfee acquiring Skyhigh Networks for an undisclosed amount.

Dissecting how Bitcoin broke the $10,000 barrier

The virtual currency hit a high of USD 10,379 in Asia, according to Bloomberg News, more than 10 times higher than its value at the start of the year.

Bitcoin will hit $40,000 in a year! But beware, have small exposure

Lucrative return has forced market participants to think beyond their buying capacity.

ITU panel to examine net neutrality

“We all are taking this issue seriously,” ITU secretary general, Houlin Zhao, told ET in an interview during his trip to India last week.

Cabinet secretary to monitor Neutrino project conceived in 2010

This clearance has been pending for the last two-and-a-half years, the prime minister was informed by the Department of Atomic Energy at a review meeting last week.

Bullish Indians rush in for a big bite of bitcoin

Registrations at leading Indian Bitcoin exchanges have doubled in recent weeks, spiking up trading volumes, as the price of the decentralised crypto currency breached $10,000 a unit on Tuesday.

Huge macOS Bug Allows Root Login Without a Password. Here’s the Fix

A newly-discovered vulnerability in macOS High Sierra allows anyone with access to your laptop to quickly create a root account without entering a password, bypassing any security protocols you have set up.

How to Stop Your iPhone or iPad From Automatically Connecting to a Wi-Fi Network

Your iPhone or iPad automatically joins Wi-Fi networks you’ve previously connected to. You can now override this behavior, telling your device not to automatically connect to a specific Wi-Fi network. Your iPhone or iPad will remember its passphrase and other details, but will only connect when you choose to do so.

Do iMessage’s “Typing” Bubbles Only Appear When I’m Actively Typing?

If you have an iPhone and you send a text message to someone who also has an iPhone (or other Apple device), you’ll see a small bubble appear when the other person is typing out a message.

HP Just Installed a Bloated Telemetry Service on Your PC. Here’s How to Remove It

Not to be outdone by other terrible PC manufacturers, HP has been quietly, remotely installing a telemetry service known as “HP Touchpoint Manager” on its PCs since at least November 15, 2017. It’s sending data back to HP, introducing security holes, and generally bogging PCs down.

Tuesday, 28 November 2017

How to Manage Your Child’s Android Phone with Google Family Link

If you’re the parent of young child and would like a way to keep them safe when they use their phone, Google Family Link may be the option you’ve been looking for. It’s a way to provide a child with a fully capable smartphone that you can control.

How AI & mobile apps will prevent suicides

Even while Government has been doing its job with in such adversity, entrepreneurs and enterprises are taking endeavours to tackle the colossal problem.

Best Travel Surge Protectors for Gadgets Big and Small

When you’re on the go, whether it’s a family vacation or a business trip, the last thing you need is for one of your devices to stop working from a po…

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How to Stream Higher Quality Music on Spotify

With Spotify Premium, you get access to higher quality music streaming. By default (and if you’re on the free plan), Spotify streams at 96kbps on mobile and 160kbps on your computer. At these sort of bitrates, you’ll hear a small but noticeable drop in quality compared to a CD.

How to Block Cryptocurrency Miners in Your Web Browser

Cryptocurrency miners are a new scourge on the web. Web pages can now embed JavaScript code that runs in your web browser to mine themselves Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies using your computer. The website keeps the cryptocurrency, and you get higher electric bills, 100% CPU usage that drags down your computer, and reduced battery life.

Global cryptocurrency crackdown sparks search for safe havens

The United States leads with 34 digital currency start-up registrations so far this year.

Internet services should be non-discriminatory: TRAI on Net Neutrality

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Tuesday came out with its much-awaited recommendations on Net Neutrality holding that Internet services should be non-discriminatory and also suggested the government set up a body to monitor activities.

Drones to keep areca plantations healthy

A drone to spray chemicals on areca and coconut trees to ensure their good health.

Datair Technology to check pollution levels and offer alerts

The trio developed an ultra-portable device that informs its users about pollution levels, offers alerts and even predicts through an integrated mobile app.

How to Set Up Multiple User Profiles on Android

If you share an Android device with other people, it can be rough to keep your account separate from theirs. Fortunately, Android supports multiple user profiles, allowing users to share devices without fear of encroaching on each other.

Introducing Tutorials in the Jenkins User Documentation

Regular perusers of the Jenkins User Documentation may have noticed the presence of the Tutorials part (between the Guided Tour and User Handbook) that appeared in the last couple of months and gradually began to get populated with much of my recent work, writing Jenkins tutorials.

My name’s Giles and I’ve been a technical writer in the software development field for several years now. I’ve always been passionate about technical writing and more recently, the technologies that go into developing written content and automating its generation - like Jenkins! I was a former Atlassian and recently joined CloudBees as a Senior Technical Writer, working remotely from the "Sydney Office", with my current focus on the Jenkins User Documentation.

Why tutorials?

My exposure to Jenkins and its usage over the years has been patchy at best. During this time, however, I’ve had some degree of experience as a user of various continuous delivery (CD) tools like Jenkins and am reasonably familiar with the advantages these tools can offer software development teams.

I’ve also found that while many software developers are familiar with the broader concept of "developer operations" (or simply "devops"), fewer seem less familiar with the concepts of CD and related tools to facilitate devops within organizations.

The CD process is based on the fundamental flow of building the application > testing it > delivering it, where typically:

  • The building part involves compiling the application and/or ensuring all necessary libraries and dependencies are in place for the application to run as intended.

  • The testing part involves testing the built application with automated tests to ensure that changes implemented by developers function as expected.

  • The delivering part involves packaging or presenting the application in a way that can be delivered to customers or other users for any kind of purpose.

Now, as one of the major contributors to the Jenkins User Documentation (and faced with a reasonably steep learning curve), it quickly became apparent about the lack of accessible documentation to hand-hold people relatively new to Jenkins through this CD process. I couldn’t find anything in the Jenkins User Documentation to demonstrate how Jenkins implements this process on a simple app that delivers an end result.

With the guidance and assistance of helpful colleagues, I therefore decided to embark on creating a series of Jenkins tutorials to help fill these documentation and knowledge gaps. These tutorials are based on Daniele Procida’s description of how tutorials should be presented in his blog post "What nobody tells you about documentation").

Introductory tutorials

The first set of tutorials on the Tutorials overview page (beginning with "Using Jenkins to build …​") demonstrate how to implement this fundamental CD process in Jenkins on a simple application for a given technology stack.

So far, there’s one for Java with Maven and another for Node.js and React with npm. Another for Python will be added to this list in the near future.

These tutorials define your application’s entire CD process (i.e. your Pipeline) in a Jenkinsfile, whose Groovy-like Declarative Pipeline syntax is checked in to your Git source repository. Managing your Pipeline with your application’s source code like this forms the fundamentals of "Pipeline as code".

The Introductory tutorials also cover how to use some powerful features of Jenkins, like Blue Ocean, which makes it easy to connect to an existing cloud, web or locally hosted Git repository and create your Pipeline with limited knowledge of Pipeline syntax.

Advanced tutorials

Also soon to be released will be the first Advanced tutorial on building multibranch Pipelines in Jenkins. This tutorial takes the "Pipeline as code" concept to a new level, where a single Jenkinsfile (defining the entire CD process across all branches of your application’s Git repository) consists of multiple stages which are selectively executed based on the branch that Jenkins is building.

Additional tutorials that demonstrate more advanced features of Jenkins and how to manage your Pipelines with greater sophistication and flexibility will be added to this section in future.

Summing up

You can access all currently available tutorials from the Tutorials overview page in the Jenkins User Documentation. It’s worthwhile checking that page from time to time as it’ll be updated whenever a new tutorial is published.

Also, if you have any suggestions for tutorials or other content you’d like to see in the documentation, please post your suggestions in the Jenkins Documentation Google Group, which you can also post (and reply) to by emailing jenkinsci-docs@googlegroups.com.

The "Sydney Office" team
The Sydney Office team meeting at Carriageworks - from left to right, Giles Gaskell, Nicholae Pascu, Michael Neale and James Dumay

Monday, 27 November 2017

What Is the WMI Provider Host (WmiPrvSE.exe), and Why Is It Using So Much CPU?

The WMI Provider Host process is an important part of Windows, and often runs in the background. It allows other applications on your computer to request information about your system. This process shouldn’t normally use many system resources, but it may use a lot of CPU if another process on your system is behaving badly.

What Is UEFI, and How Is It Different from BIOS?

The BIOS will soon be dead: Intel has announced plans to completely replace it with UEFI on all their chipsets by 2020. But what is UEFI, and how is it different from the BIOS we’re all familiar with?

Why Did My Chrome Home Page Change?

The idea of a home page has kind of fallen by the wayside with modern browsers, what with their auto-recall tabs and syncing across devices. But it doesn’t help that Chrome, arguably the most popular browser on full desktop operating systems, isn’t entirely clear on exactly what your home page is. This can be especially frustrating if your home page changes without your knowledge.

The Game Console Shopping Guide For Parents

Alright, parents. Your kid wants a new gaming console, but you’ve got some questions. Don’t panic just yet.

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How to Find a List of Every App You’ve Installed from Google Play

If you’ve had a smartphone for any reasonable amount of time, you’ve probably installed and uninstalled more apps than you care to remember. Here’s how to access a list of all the apps you’ve installed on your Android phone(s) over time.

How to Stop Instagram from Sending You Constant Notifications

Instagram is by far my favorite social network. It’s a lovely place where people share all the good stuff that’s going on in their lives…and memes. Epic memes. That, however, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a few annoyances.

A Short History of the Blue Screen of Death

It’s iconic, but Microsoft wishes it wasn’t. In the 90s it was as core to the Windows experience as Paint and Solitaire, but these days it’s not seen very often.

HomeKit Isn’t Worth the Trouble: Use a Smarthome Hub Instead

Apple has had a few duds over the years, but HomeKit is particularly frustrating: After a few years, it’s still a mess disguised as an intuitive smarthome platform.

Sunday, 26 November 2017

The Best Ways to Video Chat from Windows, Mac, iPhone, or Android

If you live far away from the people you care about, video chatting is the best way to feel more like you’re there with them in person. But there are so many video chat apps out there, many of which only work on certain platforms. How do you know which one to use?

Saturday, 25 November 2017

Firefox Quantum Isn’t Just “Copying” Chrome: It’s Much More Powerful

Sure, Firefox has become more like Chrome in a few ways, but it’s still more powerful and customizable than Chrome is—which are integral to Firefox’s DNA.

IoT aids customers monitor their own security systems

It is also enabling them to talk to visitors, when they are not at home.

Google working on feature to accurately estimate battery life

In an attempt to make battery life estimates more accurate, Google is set to introduce a new "on-device" feature named "smart battery" to Pixel smartphones.

How to Make the $50 Amazon Fire Tablet More Like Stock Android (Without Rooting)

Amazon’s $50 Fire Tablet may be one of the best deals in tech—especially when it occasionally goes on sale for $35. It may feel limited, but with a few tweaks—no rooting necessary—you can turn it (and its larger, slightly more expensive brethren) into an almost-stock Android tablet perfect for reading, watching, and even light gaming.

Are Cheap Android Phones Worth It?

Cheap Android phones are quickly becoming commonplace—for as low as $99, you can get a reliable, initially-impressive handset that you’re free to take to a bunch of different carriers. While these bargain-bin devices are definitely appealing, you have to ask yourself: is it really worth it?

Friday, 24 November 2017

9 Ways to Give Your Old Scratched DVDs a Second Chance to Live [Sponsored Giveaway]

Old DVDs still mean a lot to some people. To keep DVD content/data stay safe and sound permanently, DVD owners are seeking for a way to copy old DVD to a new one or create a digital copy of it. Well, look no further, WinX DVD Copy Pro is your preferred program for Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7 and lower to backup old and even scratched DVDs swiftly and losslessly, be they are home-made or commercially copy-protected. See how it renews your old DVDs.

The Best Chromebooks You Can Buy, 2017 Edition

While once considered a novelty item by many tech enthusiasts, Chromebooks have broken out of the “just a browser” mold and become legitimate laptops. They’re full-featured, lightweight machines that can do everything most users need them to do. Best of all, they’re more secure and often more affordable than the competition.

Oculus Rift vs. HTC Vive: Which VR Headset Is Right for You?

The home virtual reality market might be a long way from mature, but the two main players on the PC side are firmly established: Facebook-owned Oculus and its Rift headset, and HTC’s Vive platform partnered with Valve.

Which Amazon Echo Should I Buy? Echo vs. Dot vs. Show vs. Plus and More

The Amazon Echo started off as a simple device, but now there are more than nine different Echo products out in the wild and on Amazon’s virtual shelves. So what’s the difference between them all, and which one should you buy?

Which Roku Should I Buy? Express vs. Stick vs. Stick+ vs. Ultra

So you’ve decided you want a Roku, but there are so many choices. There are currently five different models (not including full TVs with Roku built-in), and it’s not at all clear what the difference between them is. Which one do you want?

How to Make the Most of Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales

It’s that shop-til-you-drop time of year again, and retailers have already spent most of November with teaser sales and ads for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Here’s how to score the best deals and avoid getting ripped off.

Tesla cranks up big battery in Australia

Tesla has completed construction of the world's largest lithium ion battery in Australia, putting it on track to meet a 100-day deadline for switching the battery packs on.

Data analytics makes a debut in bollywood

While the use of data analytics might be the first for a feature film in India, the concept is not new to the wider entertainment industry.

How to Install the Google Play Store on the Amazon Fire Tablet or Fire HD 8

Amazon’s Fire Tablet normally restricts you to the Amazon Appstore. But the Fire Tablet runs Fire OS, which is based on Android. You can install Google’s Play Store and gain access to every Android app, including Gmail, Chrome, Google Maps, Hangouts, and the over one million apps in Google Play.

What’s the Difference Between the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Slim, and PlayStation 4 Pro?

Sony’s PlayStation 4 has been out since 2013, but there’s a pair of new, updated players on the stage: The PlayStation 4 Slim and PlayStation 4 Pro. But what’s the difference, and which one should you buy?

What’s the Difference Between the Xbox One, Xbox One S, and Xbox One X?

There’s more than one Xbox One. Microsoft has already released the Xbox One S, a redesigned Xbox One with a few upgrades. Microsoft also released a major upgrade named the Xbox One X, which was released on November 7, 2017 and was codenamed “Project Scorpio”.

Thursday, 23 November 2017

Should You Get an “Ultra HD” 4K TV?

Walk through any electronics showroom and most TVs you see will be some form of “Ultra HD” 4K. There are plenty of models available, and they’re cheaper than ever. But should you buy one?

The Complete Guide to Giving Better Family Tech Support

It’s that holiday time of year again, and that means it’s over the river and through the woods to…well, fix your family’s Wi-Fi and other tech problems.

The most asked daily tech questions

As technology continues to evolve, consumers get new products and newer features. However, new tech always leaves a few things unanswered

Finally, India is gearing up to face Cyber Security threats

With multiple, recent occurrences of high-profile cyber attacks globally, India finally seems to be catching up to its global peers when it comes to securing its cyber systems, albeit at a slow pace.

Telcos Soothe Aadhaar linkage Pain

India’s big phone companies have come up with a string of user-friendly innovations to help customers easily link their cellphone numbers to Aadhaar, in a clear bid to speed up re-verification of mobile subscribers mandated by the government.

How to Forward Ports on Your Eero Wi-Fi System

Pretty much every router on the market comes with the ability to forward ports, and the Eero Wi-Fi system is no exception, despite its easy-to-use interface.

Wednesday, 22 November 2017

How to Change or Customize Firefox’s New Tab Page

Firefox Quantum‘s new tab page has a lot of stuff on it, from recommended articles to highlights from your history. But if you don’t like that design, you aren’t stuck with it. You can restore Firefox’s old new tab page, or set any address you like as your new tab.

How to Watch Local Video Files on Your Roku

The Roku is a streaming box…and not much else. There’s no hard drive space onboard for your personal videos, and most models don’t even have a USB port for external drives. But that doesn’t mean you can’t play your own videos, listen to your own music, or browse your photo collection.

Amazon Fire Tablet vs. Fire Tablet Kids: What’s the Difference?

Amazon’s Fire Tablets offer arguably some of the best value in tablets today. The company also offers various sizes and builds of these tablets—including “Kids Edition” tablets designed for, well, kids. But what makes these different than the standard edition tablets?

How to Save Money on Apple Products (Like the iPhone, iPad, and Mac)

Apple’s computers and phones have a reputation for being expensive. While it’s true that their products are all high end (and priced accordingly), they’re rarely objectively overpriced (dongles and other accessories aside). But if you want to pinch a few pennies, there are still ways to save money on Apple products.

Intel Management Engine, Explained: The Tiny Computer Inside Your CPU

The Intel Management Engine has been included on Intel chipsets since 2008. It’s basically a tiny computer-within-a-computer, with full access to your PC’s memory, display, network, and input devices. It runs code written by Intel, and Intel hasn’t shared a lot of information about its inner workings.

Samsung Electronics to set up AI research centre

Samsung Electronics has said it would create an artificial intelligence research centre and strengthen an executive role to look for new business areas for all its three major business groups.

At $523 billion, Tencent ousts Facebook from global top 5

Investors piled into the Chinese social networking giant, extending this year’s rally to 127% and boosting its market value by some $292 billion as of Tuesday’s close.

5 weird jobs AI will create for you

Here are five job listings of the future to get a head start picking your post-robot career

The myths behind Hyperloop

The Decoder is a bi-weekly column that will focus on any new technology or business idea and explain its effects, both on the company & the user

US-based VC firm March Capital Partners plan to close investments in India

US-based stage-agnostic venture capital firm March Capital Partners is looking to close its next set of investments in India over the next few months, and may also consider setting up an outpost in Asia’s third-largest economy next year.

Fall in margins on the cards, PoS cos eye markets abroad

India’s rapid advancements in digital payments technologycoupledwith narrowing margins per transaction is driving companies that process card payments to scout for markets outside India.

How to Join a Beta and Download Early Versions of Android Apps

Back in the earlier days of Android, if you wanted to beta test an application, you generally had to sideload it alongside the current stable version of the app. But now, Google has “beta channels” in the Play Store, making it a lot easier to give beta apps a shot.

How to Turn Your iPhone or iPad Into a Shortcut Remote for Your Mac with Alfred

Alfred is a fantastic Spotlight Search replacement for macOS, but it also comes with a secondary feature that can turn your iPhone or iPad into a shortcut keyboard of sorts. That feature is named Alfred Remote.

Tuesday, 21 November 2017

How to Test Your Roku’s Internet Connection

You’ve got big plans for tonight, and they all revolve around Netflix. You fire up your Roku and…it’s not working. Is your Internet down, or is Netflix?

What Is Net Neutrality, and What Will Happen If It Gets Repealed?

Net neutrality is one of the biggest policy debates around the internet, and the government is getting ready to vote on it once again. Here’s what net neutrality is, and how it affects you.

How to Disable the Beeper on the Schlage Connect Smart Lock

The Schlage Connect is a great smart lock, but it makes a pretty annoying beeping noise whenever you press a button and lock or unlock it. Here’s how to disable it for good, either on the lock itself or from your phone.

How to Disable the Window Minimize and Maximize Animations on Windows

Windows normally animates windows whenever you minimize or maximize them. These animations can be disabled, if you like, making windows hide or appear immediately. This option is available on all modern versions of Windows, including Windows 7, 8, and 10.

Whatever TV You Buy Next, Make It a 4K One

It took a little while to gain steam, but the age of affordable 4K is finally upon us.

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How to Change Your Twitter Password

You should use a strong password for every important web service you have. While Twitter may not be up there with Facebook in terms of the personal data connected to your account, you may still use Twitter for important stuff, or have it connected to other accounts.

Streaming Box Showdown: Apple TV vs. Roku vs. Amazon Fire TV vs. Chromecast vs. Android TV

It’s no secret that “smart” TVs aren’t really that smart. Generally, and a dedicated streaming box or stick is the way to go. There are quite a few to choose from, though, so how do you decide which is the best for your movie-viewing needs?

Volvo Cars to supply Uber with up to 24,000 self-driving cars

Combining Volvo's cars with Uber's self-driving system builds on their nearly three-year relationship and comes as Uber's autonomous driving unit has been hit by a lawsuit over trade secrets and the departure of top talent.

Honda firming up plans to roll out affordable electric cars in India

HCIL, the Indian subsidiary of the Japanese carmaker Honda is evaluating developing country-specific battery electric vehicles addressing the issue of affordability.

Bitcoin hits record high after smashing through $8,000 for the first time

Bitcoin hit a new record high on Monday after smashing through the $8,000 level for the first time over the weekend, marking an almost 50% climb in just eight days.

How to Turn Your Wink Smarthome Into a Security System with Wink Lookout

Wink’s user interface doesn’t really focus a lot on security like other smarthome platforms do, but that has changed with a new feature added to the Wink app called Lookout. Here’s how to set it up.

Monday, 20 November 2017

How to Remove the Pocket Button from Firefox Quantum

Firefox Quantum has deep integration with the Pocket read-it-later service, which is now owned by Mozilla. You’ll see a Pocket page action in the address bar, a “View Pocket List” feature in the Library, and recommended articles from Pocket on the new tab page. Firefox offers a way to disable this Pocket integration, but it’s hidden.

Why I Switched From Chrome to Firefox Quantum

I’ve been using Firefox Quantum non-stop for more than a week now, starting from before its official release. For years, every Firefox release has felt slower than Chrome to me. But Firefox is now a real, speedy, modern option again. Enough so that I’m switching from Chrome back to Firefox.

How to Share Your Spotify Playlists with Friends (or the World)

Spotify and other streaming services have changed how people listen to music. While playlists were once the preserve of the radio DJ, annual compilation albums like Now That’s What I Call Music, or painstakingly put together mixtapes for a crush, now anyone can make one in a few minutes.

How to Make Calls and Texts From Your Smartphone Without Cell Service

Smartphones have become an integral part of our lives, and carriers know it—so they charge a lot of money for something they know you’re going to pay. But what if I told you that you could use your phone, including calls and texts, with nothing but Wi-Fi?

SBI to use blockchain for smart contracts and KYC by next month

BankChain was formed in February with State Bank of India being the first member. It now has 22 Indian banks, including ICICI Bank, DCB Bank and Axis Bank, and five Middle East-based banks.

India may adopt 5G at the same time as some developed markets by 2020: Ericsson CTO Erik Ekudden

The rapid change is forcing telecom operators to replace older generation technologies such as 2G and 3G with 4G and, around 2020, it will be 5G, Ekudden said.

Sunday, 19 November 2017

How to Add Custom Ringtones to Your iPhone

The iPhone has been around for a long time, and yet there’s still no easy way to add your own custom ringtones—but it is possible. If you don’t want to buy ringtones or use the ones that came with your iPhone, you can create your own with iTunes.

Saturday, 18 November 2017

Why Firefox Had to Kill Your Favorite Extension

Firefox 57, or Quantum, is here, and it’s a huge improvement. Firefox has finally caught up with Chrome in terms of speed, the interface is a lot cleaner, and there are some great new features to boot. There’s not a lot to complain about here.

Toyota, Suzuki to produce electric vehicles for India market by 2020

Global automobile major Toyota has signed an agreement with Suzuki to produce electric vehicles (EVs) for the India market by 2020.

Don’t Buy Internet-Connected “Smart Toys” for Your Kids

Just when you thought talking toys couldn’t get more annoying, new internet-connected toys like the Furby Connect and i-Que Intelligent Robot are smarter than their predecessors, allowing your child to ask questions, get answers, send audio messages, and more. And thanks to unpatched security holes, they’re more dangerous, too.

Why You Still Shouldn’t Buy Star Wars: Battlefront II

If you’ve been following video game news at all for the last couple of weeks, you’ve probably heard that EA’s Star Wars: Battlefront II is having some teething troubles. EA has backpedaled to avoid more controversy, but we’re here to say: don’t fall for it.

How to Set Up and Use Multiple Profiles (User Accounts) in Firefox

Firefox has its own profiles system that works like Chrome’s user account switcher. Each profile has its own bookmarks, settings, add-ons, browser history, cookies, and other data. For example, you might want to create a profile for work and a separate profile for personal use, keeping them separate.

Friday, 17 November 2017

How to Stop Samsung’s App Permission Monitor From Displaying Notifications

If you have an Android phone, you should be aware of the permissions your apps have been granted. For instance, there’s no reason for a calculator app to connect to the web. On the Galaxy Note 8 (and probably any phones coming after), Samsung has automated this process with a tool called the App Permission Monitor, which notifies you if any apps use a permission that’s especially important or outside their normal operating range.

Five Tips For Your TV Holiday Shopping Spree

Black Friday is coming up, but you don’t have to slay the retail dragon to score a deal on a new TV.

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How to Set Up a VPN on Android TV

There are several reasons you may want to use a VPN on your Android TV box, but it’s not available as a stock option like it is in Android phones or tablets. Fortunately, there are a few ways around this.

How to Change Your Instagram Password

Instagram accounts are a popular target for hackers. I know firsthand, because someone pretended to be me to try and steal some accounts. Fortunately they didn’t succeed, but if you have a weak password, you might not be so lucky. Let’s look at how to change your Instagram password to something a little more secure.

Govt of Karnataka launches centre of excellence for data science and artificial intelligence

To be established with around Rs 40 crore, the CoE will be its first-of-its-kind port based on a public-private partnership model

Lots of Android Apps Will Lose Features or Disappear from the Play Store Soon

Android, as an operating system, is great for power users—apps have the ability to do all kinds of stuff that other, more locked-down phones can’t do. Unfortunately, one of those abilities is disappearing soon, and many power user apps could lose features or disappear from the Play Store as a result.

Govt plans Hyperloop to reduce Navi Mum-Pune trip to 14 mins

The 100km line between Navi Mumbai and Pune will cost around Rs 26,000 crore, which is lower than the cost of an underground Metro,” said Nick Earle, senior vice president of VHO’s global field operations.

TVS Group begins its electric journey with Tesla

TVS group’s auto-component maker Sundram Fasteners has begun its electric vehicle journey with an order from Elon Musk-founded carmaker Tesla to supply key parts in gear transmission

Tesla expands its ambitions to electrify big trucks

After more than a decade of making cars and SUVs - and, more recently, solar panels - Tesla wants to electrify a new type of vehicle: big trucks.

Branson-backed Virgin Hyperloop One signs deal with K'taka to study feasibility

The California-based company signed an memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Karnataka Urban Development Department (KUDD) aimed at identifying potential routes to improve mobility in the Bengaluru metropolitan area.

Maharashtra Government,Virgin Hyperloop One ally to analyze Hyperloop feasibility

"A hyperloop route requires high-density traffic to become viable as a means of rapid public transit.

This startup is selling tractors in rural Karnataka through a missed call

Founded in 2016, 1Bridge is funded by the likes of Infosys board member Ravi Venkatesan, Manipal Group chairman Ranjan Pai, and media entrepreneur Ronnie Screwvala.

How to Delete a Saved Wi-Fi Network on Windows 10

Windows 10 saves a list of Wi-Fi networks you connect to along with their passphrases and other settings. If you want to stop your PC from connecting to a network automatically, you’ll need to make Windows “forget” the Wi-Fi network.

Thursday, 16 November 2017

How to Build Your Own VPN with the $20 macOS Server

VPNs can be useful tools for keeping you secure online. A VPN encrypts your traffic, useful when you’re using a public Wi-Fi hotspot or any network you don’t trust. There are many different third party VPN services to choose from, but ultimately using a VPN means trusting the service will keep your browsing data private.

How to Redeem and Play Digital UltraViolet Movies

Physical media is having a rough time of it in the digital age. While Blu-rays are still a perfectly legitimate means of getting HD video, and ideal if you don’t have a high quality Internet connection, the convenience of web-based services like iTunes, the Google Play Store, and Amazon Instant Video is beginning to supersede them.

How to Customize Firefox Quantum’s New Interface

Firefox Quantum is here, and it’s chock full of improvements, including the new Photon UI. Photon replaces the “Australis” interface that’s been used since 2014, and features a ton of customization options. Which is good, because there are a few annoyances—like all that empty space on either side of the URL bar.

Eight Advent Calendars for Every Taste

Advent calendars have come a long way since the little milk chocolate filled ones you may have gotten from doting grandmothers in your youth.

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How to Switch Your Android Phone to “Mono” (So You Can Wear One Earbud)

When you listen to music as it’s intended, you generally hear two different things from each speaker—this is called “stereo” sound. However, there are legitimate reasons to want to hear everything combined in both speakers, which is called “mono.” On Android, this is easy.

How to Take Screenshots and Videos on Your Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch has a dedicated button to take screenshots. It can now even record videos in some games, too. These screenshots and videos are saved to your Switch’s internal storage or a microSD card, and you can view them, move them around, and post them to Facebook or Twitter right from your Switch.

Should I Leave My Laptop Plugged In All The Time?

Should you leave your laptop plugged in and charging when you’re not on-the-go? What’s best for the battery? It’s a tough question, and there are quite a few contradictory recommendations out there.

Payments company Square tests buying and selling of bitcoins

Square said it has started allowing select customers to buy and sell bitcoins on its Cash app, as it looks to tap into a craze that has sent the cryptocurrency up nearly sevenfold this year.

5 technologies that will spin your world

After the Russian hacking of the 2016 US election, many people worry that technology has gone too far. And yet it continues to evolve rapidly

Pune to become fintech incubator

While Bengaluru has led the ecommerce and technology revolution in the country, Pune with its strategic location could emerge as the fintech incubation centre for India.

How to Automatically Turn On Your TV with the PlayStation 4 or Pro Using HDMI-CEC

Call it petty, but there’s just something about eliminating the “turn on the TV” portion of firing up your PlayStation 4 that makes the whole process seem faster. And the good news is that getting this action on your setup is as easy and ticking a box.

How to Create and Manage User Codes for the Schlage Connect Smart Lock

The great thing about having a keypad lock like the Schlage Connect is that you don’t need physical keys at all. Instead, you just enter in a key code (aka user codes) and you’re off to the races. Here’s how to create and manage key codes for the Schlage Connect smart lock, both on the lock itself and on your phone.

Wednesday, 15 November 2017

How to Disable Custom Ads and Tracking on Your Roku

In 2017, TV watches you. At least, it does if you’re using a Roku device: that platform monitors everything you do on their devices. Data is shared with Neilson to supplement ratings, mostly it’s used for advertising purposes.

How to Check Your BIOS Version and Update it

You probably shouldn’t update your BIOS, but sometimes you need to. Here’s how to check what BIOS version your computer is using and flash that new BIOS version onto your motherboard as quickly and safely as possible.

Which Amazon Echo Should I Buy?

Amazon has grown its family of Echo products from a single smart speaker to a wide array of Alexa-enabled devices for every room in your home.

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How to Make the Most of The Pixel 2’s Awesome Ambient Display

Android phones with Ambient Display are nothing new, but it’s taken a really long time to perfect them. Google finally did that with the Pixel 2, provided you’re willing to make a few tweaks. Here’s how to make it work for you.

How to See All the Apps You’ve Ever Downloaded on Your iPhone or iPad

In the seven years I’ve been using an iPhone, I’ve downloaded hundreds of apps. I’ve deleted the vast majority of them off my iPhone, but iOS has kept a record. There’s a way to see every app you’ve ever downloaded and re-download them. Here’s how.

How to Migrate All Your Data From Chrome to Firefox

If you’re thinking about switching to Firefox Quantum—or at least trying to switch—Firefox makes it pretty easy. Firefox can import your bookmarks, saved passwords, browser history, and cookies directly from Google Chrome.

How to Restore Firefox to Its Default Settings and Start Fresh

Any browser can slow down and become cluttered over time as you install add-ons, build up history, and change settings. Firefox can “Refresh” your profile to quickly give you a clean slate while keeping your most important data. This would let you try the overhauled Firefox Quantum with a fresh profile, speed Firefox up if it’s become slow, or fix other browser problems.

How to Send Audio Recordings Over MMS on Android

Text messaging is great and all, but it’s not always the most efficient way to communicate with another person. In fact, some would argue that voice messaging is the best chat feature you’ve never used. I won’t argue that, but if you’re interested in trying it out for yourself, here’s the best way to do it on your Android phone.

How to Install and Set Up the Schlage Connect Smart Lock

The Kwikset Kevo is one of the most popular smart locks on the market, but if you’re a stickler for keypads, the Schlage Connect is an option to consider. Here’s how to install and set up the Schlage Connect smart lock.

Tuesday, 14 November 2017

How to Search Every Streaming Site at Once With Roku Search

It’s one of the great annoyances of the streaming media age: figuring out which shows and movies are on which services. Searching Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and other sites individually takes up way too much time, especially when you just want to relax and watch something.

How to Remove Malware and Adware From Your Mac

Yes, Macs can get malware. Beyond traditional viruses, worms, and Trojans, there’s now a thriving ecosystem of adware and spyware programs that bombard you with ads and spy on your web browsing, just like on Windows.

How to Enable Parental Controls on Your PlayStation 4

Your PlayStation 4 offers parental controls that can limit access to games, Blu-ray movies, DVDs, and web browsing. Restrictions you set are protected with a four-digit numerical PIN so they can’t be easily bypassed.

How to Customize the Google Feed (and Make It Actually Useful)

When Google first released Google Now, it was celebrated by Android users across the board. When Now evolved into the Google Feed, however, this change was much less accepted. But the Feed is great if you just take the time to customize it.

How to Change Your Facebook Password

Most people use terrible passwords. If you’re one of them, you should change all your important passwords to something a lot more secure—and believe it or not, that incldues Facebook.

What’s New in Firefox Quantum, the Firefox You’ve Been Waiting For

Firefox transforms today. It’s now a multi-process browser with a new design, gaining speed but leaving traditional Firefox extensions behind.  If you’ve switched to Google Chrome, you might want to give Firefox another chance. But, if you’re already using Firefox, you’re in for some big changes.

Meet the minds that shaped the electric cars' dream in India

It’s the electric car built from Bommasandra in Bengaluru from 2000 onward - a business the Mainis sold to automaker Mahindra & Mahindra in 2010.

Pod taxis inching closer to reality in Bengaluru

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has floated tenders for the project's implementation although the ruling party failed to build a consensus for it in the city council.

How to Switch Between Farenheit and Celsius on Your iPhone

There are two units of temperature that are commonly used around the world: degrees Celsius (ºC) and degrees Kelvin (ºK). For some strange reason, Americans also use degrees Fahrenheit (ºF).

Synergia Conclave 2017 to focus on cyber security & re-imagining IT

To understanding better fostering of security risks, Synergia is conducting a conclave on 17th to 19th November in Bangalore wherein they will partner with IT & BT department, Government of Karnataka.

Monday, 13 November 2017

How to Make Your Computer Read Documents to You

Since the beginning of the computer age, people have always enjoyed making computers talk to them. These days, that functionality is built right into Windows and you can easily use it to have your PC read documents to you.

How to Back Up Messages From Windows 10’s Mail App

These days, it’s rare to see Microsoft’s Outlook email client on anything except a dedicated office machine. Who needs an expensive application when web email is all the rage? But if you’d still prefer to have a local program managing your mail, Microsoft includes a free one with every copy of Windows 10. It’s called…Mail.

How to Mute Conversations in Gmail (and Why You Might Want to)

We’ve all been a part of an email chain that just won’t quit, and on a long enough timeline it really starts to get annoying. Even if you delete it, boom—it returns again with another reply. Fortunately, you can use the Mute feature in Gmail to permanently silence the chatter.

How to Delete WhatsApp Messages

Sometimes you just want to delete a message from WhatsApp. Maybe you’ve sent a message meant for your partner to your mother, or perhaps you just want to hide personal details like a password you’ve shared. Whatever the reason, let’s look at how to do it.

Why Some Games Suck After Being Ported From Console to PC

If you’re a PC gamer, you’ve probably experienced this situation before: you wait months or years for an exciting new game to jump from major consoles to the PC, only to find out that the ported game is a buggy, broken mess.

Data usage on BSNL network in naxal areas hits 400 GB a day

New Delhi, Nov 12 () The naxal-hit areas across nine states brought under mobile coverage in 2016 have recorded consumption of 400 GB of data per day on 2G network of the sole service provider BSNL, as per a joint statement of the state-owned firm and network vendor VNL.

Techies hack to support education for women

These include providing access to online educational materials for girls, including a need-based helpline with information on their rights, building capacities of tutors in Kishori Sanghas and linking these groups to assist each other academically.

Govt has a Rs.3,600-cr subsidy plan for WiFi in rural areas

The government has proposed a subsidy of ₹3,600 crore to private telcos such as Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India, Idea Cellular and Reliance Jio through viability gap funding, for setting up Wi-Fi in rural areas

Sunday, 12 November 2017

The Amazon Echo Plus Is a Horrible Smarthome Hub

Amazon’s new Echo ($100) is smaller, contains new microphone technology, and boasts better sound. The old Echo form factor has been remade into the Echo Plus ($150), which comes with a built-in smarthome hub. It’s not very good.

Saturday, 11 November 2017

The Four Best Free Email Services

Email used to be the sole domain of the earthbound office worker, a boring and beige evolution of the fax and the sticky note. These days, email is still pretty boring (hey, we’re not going to lie to you), but it’s also an essential part of online life for anyone with an Internet connection.

Rajasthan village Nayla adopts Evin technology to combat infant mortality

Women in various roles are using technology to take immunisation efforts of India ahead. The women are still the same today but have donned a leadership role of a different kind.

This farmer’s agri technology can help solve India's pollution woes

Farmer Chandrashekar Bhadsavle, who has a Masters in Food Microbiology from UC Davis (USA), said the current technique of farming was flawed.

How to Change the App Layout on the Apple Watch to a List

If you’re not a big fan of the crowded app layout on the Apple Watch, WatchOS 4 has introduced a simpler alternative that makes it easier to scroll through and locate an app.

Friday, 10 November 2017

The Best Footrests for Your Office

Footrests aren’t just just for taking a load off and putting your tired feet up for a spell (although you and y…

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GE Healthcare will sell UE LifeSciences breast cancer detection device

UE LifeSciences, a mobile health technology startup for breast cancer detection that has investments from Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Mohandas Pai's Aarin Capital, has tied up with GE Healthcare to sell its device in more than 25 countries

How to Stop Spotify From Playing All Songs at the Same Volume

When sound engineers are mixing an album, they decide how loud they want each track to be. Depending on what the artist’s intentions are, they might want one track to be slightly quieter than another to add to the overall atmosphere.

Is There a Way to See Who Has Viewed Your Facebook Profile?

There are plenty of browser extensions, apps, and websites that claim to be able to tell you which of your Facebook Friends have recently visited your profile, and how much time they spent there. Unfortunately, none of these extensions or apps do what they claim.

Karnataka accounts for 44% of India’s investment plans

Karnataka accounts for an almost-unbelievable 44.3% of the total investment intentions in the country in 2017. The figures from the Union commerce and industry ministry for January to September show Rs 1,47,625 crore worth of investment proposals have come into the state. That’s out of a total of Rs 3.3 lakh crore for the whole of India.

IISc to expand smart factory, aid startups, research

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), which last year put in place the country's first indigenous smart factory, moving from automation to autonomy , is expanding the facility.

Facing issues with GST? Tweet govt for swift action

Under the new mechanism, issues tweeted to govt’s Twitter handles around GST would be picked up on a priority basis and resolved or clarified immediately.

China electric car startup Nio raises over $1 billion from Tencent, others - sources

New investors in the round include U.S. hedge fund Lone Pine Capital, Chinese investment firm CITIC Capital and Scottish fund manager Baillie Gifford, said one of the people.

Robert Bosch Engineering launches Bosch KitCat Hackathon 2017

German multinational engineering and electronics organization Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions launched the Bosch KitCat Hackathon, 2017 in Bangalore hackathon to explore new and novel ways of training algorithms for maximum accuracy and robustness for various use cases.

The debate on Aadhaar linking to bank accounts & mobile numbers

The linkage of Aadhaar to phone numbers seems to have taken a different turn as media reports which suggest that The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) announced that Telcos will not disconnect mobile numbers which are not linked to a Aadhaar number till the Supreme Court takes a decision on such issues.

How to Make Your Own QR Codes from Your iPhone or Android Phone

You might think that QR codes are so 2006, but they’re coming back in a big way. Here’s how to create your own.

Thursday, 9 November 2017

How to Stop Windows From Automatically Connecting to a Wi-Fi Network

Windows automatically connects to Wi-Fi networks you’ve previously connected to. On Windows 10, you can tell Windows not to automatically connect to certain networks. Windows will remember the passphrase and other connection details, but will only connect when you manually initiate a connection.

Don’t Bother with Smart TV Software, Use a Streaming Stick or Set-Top Box Instead

 

It is all but impossible to buy a TV without getting some kind of bundled software that’s supposed to make your life easier (…

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How to Make Your NVIDIA SHIELD or Controller Blink When it Hears “OK Google”

NVIDIA’s SHIELD is the first Android TV box to get the Google Assistant, and you can already do some cool thing with it—like use it with the TV turned off. If you’d like a visual notification that it heard you, though, there’s a hidden tweak for that, too.

How to Save Spotify Music Offline (and Stop Using Mobile Data)

While audio streaming is nowhere near as hungry as video streaming, you can still burn through your data cap pretty quickly if you listen to a lot of music. And if you happen to be roaming at the time, you can easily rack up a several hundred dollar phone bill just by listening to a playlist or two on Spotify.

Bitcoin hits record high after developers suspend plans to 'fork' currency

Bitcoin hit a record high just shy of $8,000 on Wednesday after a coalition of developers and investors suspended a software upgrade planned for next Thursday that could have split the digital currency in two.

Rise of the machines: Philippine outsourcing industry braces for AI

The outsourcing industry in the Philippines, which has dethroned India as the country with the most call centres in the world, is worried that the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) will eat into the $23 billion sector.

How to See What Web Sites Your Computer Is Secretly Connecting To

Your PC makes lots of Internet connections in a day’s business, and not all of them are necessarily sites you’re aware connections are happening with. While some of these connections are harmless, there is always a chance that you have some malware, spyware, or adware using your Internet connection in the background without your knowledge. Here’s how to see what’s going on under the hood.

Ford, China's Zotye Auto invest $756M in electric vehicle JV

Ford and China's Anhui Zotye Automobile have agreed to invest a combined $756 million to set up a 50-50 joint venture in China to build electric passenger vehicles

Augmented reality toys help parents in teaching their children

Bengaluru-based augmented reality technology startup Play Shifu, which makes these games, recently devised Orboot, a smart AR globe that teaches children about countries and cultures

How to Set Up Alexa Routines to Control Multiple Smarthome Devices at Once

It’s great to control your smart house with your voice, but it’s even better when you can say one command and have multiple things happen at once. Here’s how to set up Routines to use with Alexa and your Echo devices.

How to Block Tweets Over 140 Characters (If You Really Must)

After over a decade of staunchly restricting users to 140 characters in each message, Twitter just flipped the switch and enabled 280 characters in most supported languages. And not everyone is happy.

Logitech is Bricking the Harmony Link: Here’s Who it Affects

The news of Logitech willfully bricking a product line has a lot of people nervous about their Logitech products.

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Wednesday, 8 November 2017

How to Manage All Your Mac’s Saved Passwords With Keychain Access

Your Mac stores all kinds of passwords. It’s saved the passwords for your Wi-Fi networks, the ones used by your applications, and even the ones you save in Safari. You might be wondering where those passwords are stored, and whether you can look at them.

Uber strikes deal with NASA to build flying taxi air control software

Uber has struck a deal with NASA to develop software for managing "flying taxi" routes in the air along the lines of ride-hailing services it has pioneered on the ground

Qualcomm buy may pit Broadcom against Intel in 'connected car' fight

If Broadcom's unsolicited $103 billion bid for Qualcomm succeeds, it could set up a battle with Intel for dominance in the production of the next generation of communications chips

How to Hide Sensitive Notifications From Your iPhone’s Lock Screen

In iOS 11, your iPhone gives you much more control over notifications. You can designate certain apps as “sensitive”, so that it hides the content of notifications while your phone is locked, only letting you see the full preview when you use Touch ID or Face ID to unlock your iPhone. This works in every single app on your phone, unlike in iOS 10 and before.

Philips Hue Lights Are the Perfect Smarthome Starter Pack

The smarthome market is still, very much, a market for early adopters—complete with successes, duds, and plenty of confusion.

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How to Make Your NVIDIA SHIELD Listen for OK Google, Even When the TV is Off

Recently, NVIDIA’s SHIELD became the first Android TV device to get access to OK Google and the Google Assistant. The thing is, you really need the TV to be on in order to really make the most of it—but a new setting will still let you use it even when the screen is off.

How to Enable an Equalizer for Spotify on iOS and Android

An equalizer (or EQ) is a filter that adjusts the loudness of specific audio frequencies when you’re listening to music. Some equalizers will boost bass, while others will reduce bass and boost the high end. Different equalizer settings will work better or worse on different kinds of music.

Security updates for Jenkins core

We just released security updates to Jenkins, versions 2.89 and 2.73.3, that fix two low-severity security vulnerabilities.

For an overview of what was fixed, see the security advisory. For an overview on the possible impact of these changes on upgrading Jenkins LTS, see our LTS upgrade guide.

Subscribe to the jenkinsci-advisories mailing list to receive important notifications related to Jenkins security.

The Best Online Tools to Help You Build Your Next PC

Building your own desktop isn’t as difficult as it looks—it’s often called “LEGO for adults.” And while that phrase might be a bit condescending (adults can enjoy LEGOs too, ya jerks), it’s not wrong. Even so, the sheer breadth of choices, options, and compatibility issues can be intimidating, especially for a first-time builder. Here’s a collection of online tools to help you make sure that process goes as smoothly as possible.

Demonetisation effect: Technology drives currency management

​​The central bank leveraged technology and adopted a hub and spoke model for distribution of notes, post the announcement of demonetisation scheme.

Google's Waymo rolls out autonomous vehicles without human drivers

The companies say the robot cars are safer than human drivers because they don't get drowsy, distracted or drunk.

How to Download Steam Games to Your PC From Your Phone

Steam allows you to remotely install games from your smartphone, just like you can with a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. You can download games to your gaming PC from anywhere, ensuring those big downloads are complete and the game is ready to play when you get home. You can also do this from any web browser.

How to Use Your Apple Watch as a Flashlight

Your iPhone have a flashlight function, but why pull it out of your pocket if you don’t have to? Your Apple Watch can do something very similar. Here’s how to use it when you need to stumble your way through a dark room.

Jonty Rhodes & Anil Kumble outlay the importance of technology in cricket

Analysts foresee the worldwide sports analytics market to grow at a CAGR of 40.1% during the forecast period 2016–2022 to touch an aggregate of $3.97 billion by 2022

Tuesday, 7 November 2017

How to Open the System Information Panel on Windows 10 or 8

The System Information provides a quick way get information about your system, but how you open it depends on what version of Windows you’re using. Here’s how to do it.

How to Mount Removable Drives and Network Locations in the Windows Subsystem for Linux

Starting with Windows 10’s Fall Creators Update, the Windows Subsystem for Linux now allows you to manually mount drives. It still automatically mounts all internal NTFS drives. However, you can now manually mount external drives and network folders using the Linux mountcommand.

How to Customize the Recommendations Row on Android TV

When you fire up Android TV, the first thing you see is a list of movies and shows the system thinks you’ll like. It’s often full of the latest flicks or hottest news, but sometimes it could just be things relevant to your interests and the apps you have installed. The thing is, you can actually optimize this row to show suggestions only from the apps you want.

How to Get Spotify to Crossfade Between Songs Like an Actual DJ

When you listen to a live DJ, one song doesn’t stop playing and then another start after a brief pause. Instead, the tracks transition into each one another. One popular technique for doing so is called “crossfading”. The two tracks overlap for a few seconds, the volume going down for the first track as it comes up for the second.

What Is Bitcoin, and How Does it Work?

Bitcoin. the digital currency, has been all over the news for years. But because it’s entirely digital and doesn’t necessarily correspond to any existing fiat currency, it’s not easy to understand for the newcomer. Let’s break down the basis of exactly what Bitcoin is, how it works, and its possible future in the global economy.

Lack of tech awareness among Bengaluru police leads to Metro staffer detention

The incident exposed the general lack of awareness in Bengaluru police about the back end in Metro operations. They could be under the impression that local staffers control most of it.

India working on a policy to promote electric vehicles manufacturing

Power minister RK Singh had last month said that he had called a meeting of electric vehicle and storage system manufacturers and asked them to start investing in these sectors.

Will building AI that can build AI be a dream or nightmare?

Google may soon find a way to create AI technology that can partly take the humans out of building the AI systems that many believe are the future of the technology industry.

How to Use Voice Dictation on Windows 10

Windows 10’s Fall Creators Update makes voice dictation much easier to use. Now, you can immediately begin dictation by pressing a key Windows+H on your keyboard. You don’t have to dig through the Control Panel and set anything up first.

How to Associate Certain Smart Lights with a Specific Echo

In the past, if you wanted to tell Alexa to turn the lights on or off in a room, you had to be specific as to which room. But now, with the new way Alexa handles groups, you can associate certain lights with a specific Echo device.

Monday, 6 November 2017

How to Block Your Neighbor’s Wi-Fi Network From Appearing on Windows

Does your neighbor have an obnoxious Wi-Fi network name? You can hide it from the Wi-Fi menu on your computers, preventing it from showing up. You could go even further and block all other Wi-Fi networks, too, only allowing your PCs to see and connect to the Wi-Fi networks you allow.

Broadcom makes $130Bn mega-bid for Qualcomm

Broadcom on Monday launched a $130 billion bid for rival chip manufacturer Qualcomm, a deal which could be the largest yet in the technology sector.

Why Are MOBA Games like League of Legends So Popular?

Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas, or MOBAs, refer to a very specific subset of top-down, team-based strategy titles. Despite humble beginnings as a modded offshoot of real-time strategy games, these titles have exploded into the forefront of PC gaming, gaining tens of millions of players and a spot at the top of the eSports (blech*) world.

The Best iPad Cases for Kids: Keep Your Tablet (and Kid!) Safe and Sound

Whether you’re worried about your kid smashing their iPad on the ground or smashing their face on the iPad, there’s a case for you.

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How to Find Your Lost or Stolen Android Phone

You’re having a night out. With dinner down the hatch, you’re walking down the street with your sweetheart to the next destination. You reach into your pocket to pull out your phone, when that feeling hits the pit of your stomach: your phone is missing. Did you leave it at the restaurant? Or maybe at home? Did someone steal it? Your mind races. You have no idea.

How to Make iPhone Notifications Disappear as Soon as You’ve Read Them

The Notification Center in iOS is split into two sections: your new notifications, and your History. Notifications for things that have happened since you last looked at your phone appear at the top. After that you’ve got all the older notifications that you’ve seen but haven’t done anything about; they appear under Earlier Today, Yesterday, and so on.

How to Tether Your Android Phone and Share Its Internet Connection with Other Devices

Tethering is the act of sharing your phone’s mobile data connection with another device—such as your laptop or tablet—connecting it to the Internet through your phone’s data connection. There are several ways to tether on Android.

Sunday, 5 November 2017

Stupid Geek Tricks: How to Enable Windows 10’s Hidden Retail Demo Mode

If you click a word in Windows 10’s Settings app five times, it enables a hidden Retail Demo mode. You almost certainly don’t want to do this yourself, but knowing how to escape the Retail Demo Experience is essential if you ever see the name “Darrin DeYoung” on your login screen.

Four macOS Server Features That Are Now Built In to High Sierra

Apple’s server software isn’t what it used to be. Once a considerable investment, these days macOS Server only sets you back $20, a bargain considering all the features you get.

Demonetisation to power 80% rise in digital payments, may hit Rs 1,800 crore in 2017-18

Official statistics indicate an 80% increase in the value of digital transactions in 2017-18, with the total amount expected to touch Rs 1,800 crore in the wake of the impetus provided by demonetisation.

Google's Hinton outlines new AI advance that requires less data

Google's Geoffrey Hinton outlined an AI advance that improves the rate at which computers correctly identify images and with reliance on less data.

Banks give wrong UID numbers of 20 lakh loan waiver beneficiaries

“But the state government found that the data provided by the banks in 80% of these records having serious errors and inconsistencies,” the official quoted earlier said.

Broadcom explores a record tech bid for Qualcomm: sources

Broadcom is contemplating an offer in the range of around $70 to $80 per share. At $70 a share, the offer would value Qualcomm at $103 billion.

How to Create a Custom Apple Watch Face from a Photo or Album

While you still can’t create completely custom watch faces on your Apple Watch, you can use any photo you want as your wallpaper, either by using a single photo or rotating through a photo album. Here’s how to do it.

Friday, 3 November 2017

How to Speed Up Downloads on Your Mac, iPhone, and iPad with Content Caching

Are there multiple iPhones and iPads in your house? What about Macs, or Apple TVs? Have you ever thought about how much bandwidth all those individual Apple devices use downloading the same updates, media, and iCloud content as each other?

Blizzard Is Doing eSports Right with Its New Overwatch League

eSports, the colloquial and irritating name for organized tournaments featuring multiplayer PC and console games, are all the rage these days…among geeks. But because of their decidedly geeky roots, there seems to be a limited appeal for general audiences: you’re unlikely to tune into the DOTA  International if you’ve never played a round of the game itself.

How to Disable the “Is Running in the Background” and “Is Using Battery” Notification in Android Oreo

If you have a Nexus or Pixel device running Oreo, you’ve likely seen the “[app name] is running in the background” notification. If you have a Pixel 2, you may have seen this notification, though the verbiage is slightly different—it reads “[app name] is using battery.” While useful, this can also be quite annoying. Fortunately, you can pretty easily turn it off.

PSA: AppleCare Replaces Your Broken Charger and Headphones for Free

People usually get AppleCare for one reason: avoiding expensive repairs—but AppleCare offers so much more.

Despite the number of peo…

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How to Stop Apple Music from Taking Over Your iPhone’s Play Button

Apple’s Music app is…okay. It’s a decent music player and Apple Music is a competent streaming service. Here’s the thing, though: I don’t use it. And it’s constantly nagging me to use it.

How to Calibrate Your Laptop’s Battery for Accurate Battery Life Estimates

So you’re using your laptop and, all of the sudden, it dies. There was no battery warning from Windows—in fact, you recently checked and Windows said you had 30% battery power left. What’s going on?

How-To Geek is Looking for a Freelance Product Review Writer (for Review Geek)

Think you have the perfect combination of product knowledge and writing skills? We’re looking for a few experienced freelance writers to join the team at Review Geek.

How to Get the Most Out of Your SkyBell HD

If you get all kinds of different folks approaching your door, a video doorbell like the SkyBell HD is a worthwhile investment, but you may not be using it to its full potential. Here’s how to get the most out of your SkyBell HD video doorbell.

Thursday, 2 November 2017

The iPhone X is the Biggest Status Symbol Since the iPhone

I still remember when I saw my first iPhone.

I was in after-school study in September, 2007.

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How to Create and Use a Recovery Drive or System Repair Disc in Windows 8 or 10

Windows 8 and 10 let you to create a recovery drive (USB) or system repair disc (CD or DVD) that you can use to troubleshoot and restore your computer. Each type of recovery media gives you access to Windows’ advanced startup options, but there are differences between the two options.

How to Embed Fonts in a Microsoft Word Document

When you email someone a copy of your Word document or PowerPoint presentation and they don’t have a font installed, Microsoft Office shows that document with the default font instead. This can mess up the whole layout and make the document look completely different, but you can fix this by embedding fonts into your documents.

Thank God You Can’t Blowup Your iPhone By Double Charging It

What happens if you put your shiny new iPhone on a wireless charging pad and plug it in to charge at the same time?

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The Pros and Cons of Buying Phones from Your Carrier

I’m sure you’ve heard it a hundred times: don’t buy phones from your carrier. The thing is, it’s not that black and white. There are legitimate reasons why it’s okay to buy from your carrier…on top of the reasons you may want to avoid it. Let’s talk about the pros and cons.

What Is an eSIM, and How Is It Different From a SIM Card?

With the launch of the Apple Watch 3, the term “eSIM” has been thrown around a lot. And now, Google’s Pixel 2 is the first phone to use this new technology, it’s time we take a closer look at what it is, what it does, and what this means for consumers moving forward.

Best Travel Pillows for On-The-Road Comfort

You spend a lot of time sitting around when you travel—be it by plane, train, or automobile—so you might as well get some quality sl…

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How to Turn Your iPhone On and Off Without Using the Power Button

Apple has gradually started removing every breakable, physical button on the iPhone—like the Home button, which isn’t even a real button on the iPhone 7 and 8. There are, however, still a few physical buttons that remain: the volume buttons and the Power button.

India's Aviation Ministry allows drones to be used for commercial purposes

The new drone policy categorizes it into five categories - weight starting from 250 gram to over 150 kilogram. Among the rules prescribed, anything over 200 feet have been categorised as no-drone zone.

OneAssist Consumer Solutions raises undisclosed amount from former CEO of Vodafone Group

OneAssist Consumer Solutions, which provides protection for credit cards, smartphones and payment cards in case of loss or theft, has raised an undisclosed amount from former CEO of Vodafone Group Arun Sarin.

UPI clocks almost 77 million transactions in October

UPI, which emerged as the major game changer in the peer to peer digital payments space after demonetisation, has been showing steady growth since last year.

Apple, Samsung most popular refurbished phone brands in India: Quikr

Bengaluru based online cross category classifieds platform Quikr has seen a 154% growth in selling of refurbished smartphones than those manufactured in 2015 while Apple and Samsung led the most popular refurbished smartphone brands on the platform.

How to Create and Manage Lists with Alexa

Until recently, Alexa would only let you create a shopping list and a to-do list. Now, you can create any kind of list you want. Here’s how to make it happen.

What Is trustd, and Why Is It Running on my Mac?

So you found something called trustd running on your Mac, and are now wondering if it can be…trusted. The good news is you have nothing to worry about: this is part of macOS.

How to Remove “3D Objects” From This PC on Windows 10

Windows 10’s Fall Creators Update adds a “3D Objects” folder to This PC. It even appears in File Explorer’s sidebar. Microsoft is clearly trying to promote Paint 3D and Windows 10’s other new 3D features, but you can hide the folder if you don’t like it—you just need to dig into the registry.

The iPhone 8’s All-Glass Design Makes It (Shockingly) Hard to Drop

One of the first reactions many people had to the iPhone 8’s glass sandwich design was to grimace at the thought of dropping it but, weird…

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How to Enable or Disable “Now Playing” on the Pixel 2

The Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL bring a lot of cool new features to Android users, including an awesome Now Playing utility that actively listens for music in your environment and displays the current track on the ambient display.

How to Disable Handoff on Your iPhone and Mac

Handoff is a really great feature of iOS and macOS if you’re the only person who uses your devices. It lets you seamlessly move from doing something on your Mac to doing it on your iPhone, and vice versa.

How to Spot Fake and Scammy Amazon Sellers

Amazon is one of the biggest direct-to-consumer marketplaces on the planet. And not just of its own goods and services: though the company operates huge warehouses all over the world, it also lets smaller companies sell harder-to-find items on its marketplace, including individual sellers of new and used items. But with a relatively wide-open policy towards third party sellers, a few with less than noble intentions are sure to slip through the cracks. Here’s how to spot them.

GST becomes a major roadblock for e-cars

Under the new indirect tax regime, while electric vehicles sold with batteries are charged 12% GST, batteries sold without vehicles are taxed 28%

Which Amazon Echo Should I Buy? Echo vs. Dot vs. Show vs. Plus and More

The Amazon Echo started off as a simple device, but now there are more than nine different Echo products out in the wild and on Amazon’s virtual shelves. So what’s the difference between them all, and which one should you buy?

How to Enable the Apple TV’s Dark Mode, Manually or Automatically

When it’s after dark and the lights are out, the last thing you want is to be blinded by the bright white of your Apple TV’s home screen when your movie ends. Here’s how to enable dark mode on the Apple TV to make your late-night TV escapades more enjoyable.