03 August 2017

7 Selfie Styles That Will Make Your Photo Go Viral


selfie-styles

Whether you’re proud of it or not, you’ve taken a selfie before. Probably not once. And despite all the hate toward selfie sticks, the somewhat narcissistic habits of selfie takers, and a few situations when you should be careful about snapping those pics, taking selfies can be a good fun. If you’re already doing it, why not try to go an extra mile and spice up your selfies? With our creative tips, your pictures are practically guaranteed to go viral. How Not to Take a Selfie Before you discover our pro tips for expressing yourself through the art of selfies, here...

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Amazon Has a Couple Great Video Games Deals Today [US]


Today, you can get big discounts on two fairly new video games with Marvel Versus Capcom 3 and Rise of the Tomb Raider both available on the cheap. How We Cover Deals Rather than just list the deals (Amazon already does that), we analyze the value of the discount and the quality of the product. Here’s how we rate the deals to make it quick and easy for you to decide if they’re worth getting: Must-Buy: The lowest price ever and a deal that hasn’t been seen often. Good: At or close to the all-time low, but has been available...

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3 Best Free Alternatives to Microsoft Outlook


As awesome as Outlook can be, there are good reasons to consider an alternative. Maybe it offers too many features you’ll never use. Perhaps you can’t afford the $110 price tag. Or you simply don’t want to indulge in Microsoft’s confusing mess of email products. So what are your best options? There are some who say that all desktop email clients are bad and should be replaced with web apps. Others, myself included, believe that web apps can’t match the power and versatility of desktop email clients. Therefore, in this article, we’ll focus on the latter. 1. EssentialPIM Like Outlook,...

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15 Microsoft Word Business Templates to Keep You Productive


ms-word-templates-business

You can find dozens of terrific templates to get things done in the office with Microsoft Excel. But what if Microsoft Word is your go-to application? Not to worry, you can stay productive with templates for Word as well. Create a plan, make a list, take notes, and do more in less time with these helpful templates. Agendas and Itineraries For meetings and business trips, you can keep everything on track with agendas and itineraries. These templates give you what you need to see exactly what is on your plate and when. 1. Meeting Agenda If you are planning a...

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You Can Now Send Money to Friends Using Skype


It’s getting easier than ever to send money to friends. Or, even better, to receive money from friends. And now, thanks to Skype and PayPal teaming up together, you can now send and receive money in the middle of a Skype conversation without having to switch apps or open your browser. Microsoft recently gave Skype a makeover to help it appeal to the next generation of internet users. This just ended up annoying existing users, who really don’t like the Snapchatification of Skype. However, that hasn’t stopped Microsoft from forging ahead with new features. Send Money Using Skype and PayPal...

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Why I Ditched My Smartphone and Bought a Dumbphone Instead


ditch-smartphone

During the early months of my son’s life, I became acutely aware of every time I pulled my smartphone out around him. During those moments when he wanted nothing more than to look into my eyes, I wanted to look into a screen. Why? I didn’t do it often. My aversion started before my son was born. After spending years writing thousands of posts about Android, I became uncomfortable with the amount of attention I was giving smartphones. And not just me. Some politicians and religious figures wish they could draw as many eyeballs as Google I/O. When I graduated...

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Is the Discounted $400 Oculus Rift Bundle Worth Buying? 7 Alternatives


oculus-rift-alternatives

Getting started with virtual reality (VR) costs a lot. Fortunately, the VR headset Oculus Rift (and its Touch controllers) just dropped $200 down to $399 (BestBuy, Newegg). It could be a great time to get started with VR. Among the best VR systems, the Oculus Rift is a top-tier headset. However, since its inception, many affordable VR headsets exist. Find out if the $400 Oculus Rift bundle is worth buying and which alternatives you should consider! A Brief History of Virtual Reality While VR may appear a new phenomenon, the first instances of attempts at VR date back to the...

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Improve Your Cyber Hygiene in 5 Easy Steps


cyber-hygiene

We all know that looking after our own personal hygiene is important for our health and well-being. In the digital world, we need to be aware of and look after our cyber hygiene. While the term is unusual, it means performing regular checks and modifying a few behaviors to secure ourselves online. It’s the kind of advice that we here at MakeUseOf offer regularly in the face of a new leak or attack. Let us guide you through five easy steps to improve your cyber hygiene. 1. Keep Software Up to Date The software that we all rely on every...

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How to Turn Windows File Explorer Into an FTP Client


windows-explorer-ftp

FTP can be useful for a number of things. If you have web hosting, FTP is the primary way to transfer files onto the web server. (True whether you have free hosting, cheap hosting, or even VPS hosting.) You can also use FTP to transfer files between computers, from a computer to a mobile device, or vice versa. One option is to install a third-party app called an FTP client, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But if you use FTP on a day-to-day basis, a better option is to use File Explorer instead. Here’s how you can set up...

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The 6 Gadgets You Should Immediately Install in a New Smart Home


new-smarthome-gadgets

So, you’ve heard about the smart home revolution, but you’re not sure where to begin. It’s understandable — there are hundreds of devices and apps vying for your business. Starting your smart home setup on the right foot is important, because it can save you heartache further down the line. Perhaps more importantly, it’ll stop you from wasting money on unnecessary and overpriced devices. If you want to start kitting out your house with smart home technology, keep reading. We’re going to look at the first things you should install or buy. All these devices are readily available and easy...

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7 Must-Play Mobile Games You’ve Never Heard Of


mobile-games-must-play

It’s hard to find someone who hasn’t tried a smartphone game or two. Mobile gaming has risen in popularity for the past few years, but how do you find great games that aren’t made by big-name studios? Everyone’s heard of incredible mobile games like Monument Valley, Threes!, and even Pokémon Go. But what about lesser-known titles that are sure to keep you entertained for a long time? We’ve rounded up some of the best mobile hidden gems on iOS and Android that are worth a download — or even a few extra bucks. 1. Match Land Like match-three games but want...

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The New Google Earth Is Now Available on iOS


Google Earth is now bigger and better than ever, even on iOS. Google Earth enjoyed a major makeover in April 2017, but the new and improved app was only originally available on Android and Chrome. Now, however, the new Google Earth is also available to download on iOS as well. Google Earth is one of those core apps most of us use but which hardly any of us talk about it. Sure, when Google commemorates the 50th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper we sit up and take notice. But for the rest of the time Google Earth just exists without getting...

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How to Transfer Ownership of Files in Google Drive


create-beautiful-google-docs

Google Drive has many more features than meet the eye. Sure, it’s an excellent way to keep documents with you while you’re on-the-go, but there’s so much more to it. It’s one of the best entry-level collaboration apps you’ll find, it provides a way to access all your images in Google Photos, and with the recent release of the Backup and Sync tool, it can now double as a piece of free and easy-to-use backup software. If you want to learn even more, check out our extensive Google Drive guide. If you’ve created a document in Google Drive which you...

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Stay Safe by Sharing Your Location Data With Trusted Contacts in Real-Time


If your household consists of iOS and Android devices, you can now take advantage of Google’s Trusted Contacts app. First launched for Android users, the app is now available in the iOS app store, making it easy for users on both platforms to connect. Trusted Contacts is similar to Apple’s Find My Friends app, allowing you to add friends and family to your trusted contacts list and share your location at all times with them. Contacts can also send you a request for your location. Requests can be denied, but if you don’t respond within a certain time frame, your last known location...

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How to Back Up and Restore the Windows Registry


A lot of the Windows tweaks we share involve diving into the Registry and changing some values. While it’s great that Windows provides these opportunities, it’s all too easy to accidentally screw up the Registry — and, by extension, your PC. That’s why we’re here to show you how to back up and restore the Windows Registry. It’s smart to do this prior to making any changes. On Windows 7 and newer, begin by typing regedit into the Start Menu. Accept the administrator prompt, then you’ll be in the editor. Next, you need to select the part of the Registry...

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Google’s Screensaver for Mac Is Full of Beautiful High-Res Photos and Images


When it comes to wallpapers and screensavers, more is always merrier. It makes finding the right image to customize your desktop with a little easier. Now, add Google to the list of sources you can turn to for Mac screensavers — all you need is a tiny tool called Featured Images. Featured Images is a showcase of beautiful photos that are publicly shared and liked by Google+ users. Think of them as the best examples of photography found on the still vibrant social network. And, in case you were wondering: Google+ is still alive and kicking. Google+ was a lot about photography,...

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Thursday’s Best Deals: MSI Gaming Laptop, LG HD TV, Osram Smart Lighting, and More [UK]


Be prepared for some truly gigantic savings on items ranging from MSI Gaming laptops, HD TVs, and Smart lighting systems on today’s Amazon UK deals roundup. MSI GL62M 15.6″ Laptop with Hecate Gaming Backpack [30% Off] This is a rare discount on a premium gaming laptop from MSI. Packed with Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 1TB on-board storage, and a 15.6″ anti-glare HD screen. The Laptop comes bundled with Windows 10 and a backpack for you transport your awesome new laptop around. LG Electronics HD Ready 720p 23.6″ LED TV [33% Off] LG is one of the most popular and...

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Netflix Is Making a Slew of New Anime Originals


Netflix is doubling down on its commitment to anime, announcing a raft of new original shows and movies. In total Netflix is producing 13 new anime originals, all of which will be released over the next 18 months. And with that the world has got both a little bit stranger and a little more awesome. Anime is massively popular around the world. It should come as no surprise to learn that it’s most popular in Japan (home of weird game shows), where 50 percent of Netflix users watch the genre. However, Netflix users in the U.S., Canada, France, and Italy...

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5 Powerful Alternatives to the Windows Task Manager


windows-10-task-manager

As a Windows user, you’ll occasionally run into problems: unresponsive windows, high CPU usage, high disk usage, suspicious apps, etc. When that happens, the Windows Task Manager should be your first line of defense. Unfortunately, the Windows Task Manager isn’t very impressive. Did it receive a bunch of enhancements with Windows 10? Yes. Does it still have a few tricks up its sleeve? Of course. But the more you use it, the more you realize that it’s lacking in some areas. Which is why we recommend using an alternative task manager. The ones below are more advanced, more powerful, and...

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Never Kill a Plant Again: 7 Gadgets to Make You a Gardening Pro


gardening-gadgets

Gardening is hard. Not only does it take an incredible amount of patience, but your beautiful horticultural creations can be destroyed overnight thanks to droughts, diseases, and insects. As I’ve grown older, I’ve become a keen gardener myself. Unfortunately, I live in a desert these days. Growing plants is much harder than it was in the temperate seasonal climate of Northern Europe. As such, I’ve started taking much more interest in indoor plants. Being not only a gardener but also a tech addict, I recently went on a voyage of discovery to see what green finger-friendly smart devices were out...

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