23 August 2017

One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Why Software Isn’t Universally Compatible


software-isnt-universal

You’ve just downloaded a feature-packed update to your favorite open source app. Everything is working well, and you use it on your other devices — so it is time to roll it out to those, too. Except your shiny new Linux laptop isn’t compatible with your Windows installation package. How about your Android tablet? iPhone? PS4? Why can’t you just take that piece of software and use it wherever you like? Let’s explore some different barriers to the dream of “buy once, run anywhere.” Software Development and OS Architecture Understanding why software doesn’t work across operating systems requires a little...

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The HTC Vive VR Headset Is Cheaper Than Ever


The HTC Vive is now more affordable than ever. This is thanks to HTC knocking $200 off of the price of the consumer version of its VR headset. Price cuts are a sure sign that the virtual reality market is evolving, with the cost of entry coming down as interest in the technology goes up. Anyone over a certain age will remember previous attempts at making virtual reality a thing. All of which ended in failure. However, the technology is now catching up to the ambition, and VR is becoming a serious business. Which is why so many big-name companies...

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A Guide To Facebook Symbols & What They All Mean


Have you ever noticed how many little Facebook symbols are scattered throughout the Facebook landscape? There has to be a Facebook team in some back cubicle at headquarters just thinking up what little image Facebook could offer next. Whatever the reason for so many little images, the one thing it can do is cause a bit of confusion for newcomers. While many of the tiny icons are self-explanatory, for many people who are not only new to Facebook but also new to computers, some of these images can be a real mystery. In the past, here at MUO, we’ve helped...

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Sleep Smarter (and Better) With These 9 Internet of Things Devices


sleep-better-devices

We’ve all been told that 7 to 9 hours of sleep is healthy, but recent studies are showing that quality of sleep is more important than quantity. If you sleep 8 hours every night but still feel terrible in the morning, this might be why — and you aren’t alone. According to The National Sleep Foundation, 35 percent of Americans describe their sleep quality as “poor” or “only fair”, which are correlated with high stress and low life satisfaction. For a happier life, you don’t need to sleep more. You need to sleep better. Which is why sleep gadgets are...

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Facebook Friend Requests: Unwritten Rules & Hidden Settings


Facebook is all about connecting with other people and making friends. Yet friend requests are delicate and can quickly get you in trouble with Facebook. While you probably won’t get banned for inappropriate friend requests, many people have been blocked from adding more friends. And even if it was a mistake, there’s no way to lift the block early. It really does help knowing the unwritten rules. On Facebook, innocent mistakes can lead to drastic consequences. Novices face many stumbling blocks. But with our Facebook friend request tips, you can avoid unintentional punishment and generally make the most of all features...

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4 Ways to Revive Windows XP on Windows 10


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Microsoft has long moved on from Windows XP, an operating system which launched a decade and a half ago. Though Windows 10 is now the latest and greatest, for some people XP cannot be beat. As such, we’re going to show you how to revive Windows XP on Windows 10. Whether it’s bringing back XP features like the Quick Launch bar, making Windows 10 look like its younger sibling, or going all out and running XP in a virtual machine, there’s sure to be something here which will be a blast from the past. If you have your own tips...

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How to Mirror Your Android Device to Your TV


mirror-android-to-tv

Yes, you can watch anything that’s on your Android device on a big screen. Whether with a wire or without, it’s easy to mirror any Android phone or tablet’s screen on a TV. And no, you don’t need to root your device. The methods for a TV are different from a computer or laptop screen. For that, we have another guide on how to mirror an Android screen to a PC or Mac without root. Casting vs. Mirroring Remember, in this case, we are talking about mirroring and not casting your screen. “Casting” involves sending a video or image from...

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How Do Forensic Analysts Get Deleted Data From Your Phone?


forensic-analyst-phone-data

If you’ve watched CSI, Law and Order, or any other police procedural, there’s a good chance you’ve seen an on-screen version of a mobile forensic investigation. Usually it involves the click of a few buttons and the users’ text messages and call history instantly appearing on screen. The truth is a little different. But what, exactly, can a forensic examination recover from your phone? How is it done? Why can deleted data be pulled from storage? There are a lot of questions to answer, so we did some research to find the answers. Why Mobile Forensic Investigations Happen Why might...

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Just an Illusion? Why You Should Think Before Using a VPN Service


vpn-illusion

You think you should be using a VPN. After all, virtual private networks enhance your security, right? Well, yes… and no. There is a time and a place for VPNs, but they’re certainly not as secure, or as private, as you think they are. VPN Providers Can See Your Destination Traffic We’ve already learned in 2017 that VPNs are employing fake servers that can destroy privacy, especially if you’re using the web in an oppressive regime. But really, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Image Credit: Brian A Jackson via Shutterstock You’re told by your VPN provider that they...

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7 Reasons the Nvidia Shield Is the Ultimate Tool for Cord-Cutters


nvidia-cord-cutters

The choice of gadgets for streaming TV and on-demand video content is impressive. There’s Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and Amazon Fire TV, amongst others. You can even set up a dedicated Kodi box. But there’s another device that you may not have considered until now: the Nvidia Shield. It launched in 2015 with little fanfare, but over the last couple of years, it’s built up a loyal following. I’m a convert myself. I’ve always been a dedicated Roku user, but I bought a Shield on Prime Day and haven’t looked back. To be perfectly honest, I haven’t fired up...

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How to Search Amazon for Millions of Public Documents, Images, and More


Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the blue whale of cloud computing. You may not realize it, but most websites and web services run on this platform. And in fact, AWS’s public cloud is bigger than Microsoft, Google, and IBM combined. Just like any other massive cloud platform, AWS hosts a variety of publicly accessible data. For instance, you can find huge 100 million strong datasets of Creative Commons images and videos from Flickr. Access it with the help of the YFCC100m Browser. Try a search with Google. You will be surprised by the massive amount of public documents you can find...

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Android Instant Apps: What They Are and How to Start Using Them


Android’s new Instant Apps are one of the most exciting developments for mobile phones in years. For a long time, when accessing websites on your phone, you’ve had to choose between browsing via a mobile site or installing an app. Mobile sites can be clunky and don’t offer the most mobile-friendly features. But installing apps uses data if you’re on-the-go and takes up storage space on your phone. What if there was a better way? With Instant Apps, you get the best of both worlds. This new feature allows you to use the essential parts of a site’s app without...

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How to Avoid Tolls and Save Money With This Google Maps Feature


google-maps-tricks

Saving money while traveling is like the holy grail. If you haven’t already, check out our tricks for finding cheap flights and our list of the best hotel search engines. But what about driving? Being behind the wheel is already expensive enough. With the cost of gas marching upwards and road tax and car insurance eating into our monthly budgets, it’s more expensive than ever to put your vehicle on the road. Google Maps can help cut a tiny fraction of that cost by making sure you never accidentally end up on a toll road. Google Maps GPS While there are lots...

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3 Ways to Read Text Out Loud on Android


If you want to multitask, one thing you can try is to get your Android device to read text out loud to you — that way your eyes can be busy doing something else. It’s even more helpful if your vision is going and you have a hard time focusing on digital screen text. Here are three easy ways to do that. 1. Google Assistant Android’s Google Assistant can do quite a bit, but one thing it’s not very good at is reading things back to you. In fact, the only thing you can get Google Assistant to read out...

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Android O Is Oreo and Rolling Out Soon


After months of speculation, Google has confirmed that Android 8.0 is Oreo. As is now tradition, Google has, until now, been referring to the latest version of its mobile operating system by its assigned letter. However, the company has confirmed that the O actually stands for Oreo. Every version of Android since Android 1.5 (Cupcake) has been named after a sweet treat. It’s actually become a game to guess what the name of the next version. There weren’t many suitable O names to choose from, so most people guessed it would be Oreo. And so it came to pass… Android...

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How to Recover Data From a Corrupt Memory Card or USB Drive


pc-accidents-recover

We keep a lot of data on memory cards and USB drives. Often, you might even use a high-capacity USB drive as your primary way of creating backups. When something goes wrong with them, it’s hard not to feel a sense of dread. Is that photo of your dog falling in the swimming pool gone forever? But alas, you shouldn’t panic. There’s a high chance you can recover your data – you just need to methodically work through few troubleshooting steps. Follow along with this article, and you’ll be laughing at your dog again in no time. 1. Check the...

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