Windows 10 Home vs. Pro: Do You Need to Upgrade?

While Windows 10 offers many editions for specific use cases, home users only have two main choices to worry about: Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro. This has likely led you to wonder what the differences are between Windows 10 Home and Pro.

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We’ll walk you through this in our Windows 10 Home vs. Pro comparison. Let’s look at what Pro offers if you upgrade, how to make the switch, and whether it’s worth it.

Windows 10 Professional vs. Home: A Summary

Before we dive into specifics, here’s a quick summary of the differences between Windows 10 Home and Pro:

• Windows 10 Home offers all the standout functionality of Windows 10 that the average user will enjoy. This includes Windows Hello logins, the Windows Defender antivirus, Cortana, pen and touch support, the Microsoft Store, and much more.
• Windows 10 Pro includes everything in Windows 10 Home, so you don’t miss out on anything by using the Professional edition.
• Windows 10 Pro adds several advanced features, including Hyper-V for virtual machines, BitLocker device encryption, Remote Desktop for remote access, and a suite of features intended for business use.

Let’s look at how to check which version of Windows 10 you’re using, then examine some of these exclusive features more closely.

Windows 10 Edition Basics

If you upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or 8, your edition of Windows 10 matches the prior version. For example, Windows 7 Home Premium would upgrade to Windows 10 Home, while Windows 8.1 Pro would upgrade to Windows 10 Pro.

Those who bought their PC new with Windows 10 probably have the Home edition. Some high-end systems are sold with Windows 10 Pro, but it’s not as common.

You can easily check which Windows 10 edition you have. Open the Settings app and go to System > About. At the bottom of the page under Windows specifications, you’ll see an Edition line.

What’s the Difference Between Windows 10 Home and Pro?

Is Windows 10 Home enough, or should you pay for Pro? Let’s look at the most important Windows 10 Pro-exclusive features to find out.

1. Windows Remote Desktop

Windows has included its own Remote Desktop tool for some time. This allows you to connect to your PC using another device and control it like you were sitting in front of it.

With Windows 10 Home, you can’t use Remote Desktop to connect to your own PC from other devices. You need Windows 10 Pro for anywhere access. On Windows 10 Pro, head to Settings > System > Remote Desktop to set up this feature.

If you have Windows 10 Home, you can easily replicate this feature using alternative remote access software. Tools like TeamViewer are free for personal use and work on all editions of Windows.

2. BitLocker Encryption

Did you know that even if your computer is password-protected, someone with access to your hard drive could read all the data saved on it? This is where encryption comes in—it scrambles all the files on your computer and makes them unreadable to anyone without the key.

BitLocker is Microsoft’s built-in encryption software for Windows. It’s a Windows 10 Pro feature that you’ll find under BitLocker Drive Encryption in the Control Panel (search for it on the Start Menu for easy access).

This is a great tool for simple and powerful encryption, and convenient since it’s integrated into the operating system. However, Windows 10 Home users have other choices for disk encryption. Check out how to protect your data using VeraCrypt for a full guide on a great free tool.

3. Hyper-V Virtualization

Hyper-V is a virtual machine (VM) manager that allows you to run virtual operating systems on your computer. These are great for test-driving other OSes or installing software in a safe environment without risking your actual system.

Newer versions of Windows 10 also include a handy related tool called Windows Sandbox. You can use the Windows Sandbox to open a clean copy of Windows 10 that resets when you close it. Compared to a traditional VM, this doesn’t take as much time to set up and is easier to maintain.

However, like both of the above functions, Windows 10 Home users have free alternatives. Hyper-V is a fine tool, but for the casual VM user, VirtualBox will do the trick just fine. See our full user guide to VirtualBox for everything you need to get started.

4. Deferring Updates for Longer

For some time, Windows 10 Home users didn’t have any way to put off Windows Updates, as they were all automatic. Now, Windows 10 allows Home users to pause updates for up to 35 days. Visit Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced Options and you can choose to Pause updates until a future date.

This prevents all Windows updates from installing during the period you select. However, once that date hits, you must install current updates before pausing again.

Windows 10 Pro goes a step further and lets you defer both feature updates and security updates for a set number of days. Feature updates are the major revisions to Windows 10 that launch approximately twice per year and add new features. Quality updates are Windows 10 patches that fix bugs and security issues.

If you feel strongly about controlling updates, you may wish to use Windows 10 Pro to gain more control.

5. Enterprise-Focused Features

Some Pro features clearly aimed at businesses can still have appeal for home users, but not all of them.

One of these is Enterprise Mode for Internet Explorer, which lets you emulate IE 8 inside of IE 11. This is for ancient websites that don’t work in modern browsers, which are usually internal business sites.

Another tool that might find more use with normal users is Assigned Access, a Pro-only feature that lets you lock down an account on the machine to using a single app. It’s designed for kiosks or other restricted environments, but it could be a great way to kid-proof your computer. Letting your child play a game while knowing they can’t access the web is a nice feature.

Windows 10 Pro is also required for other business features, like joining your computer to a domain and Active Directory support. These are critical for corporate environments, but pretty much useless for normal users.

Reasons Not to Upgrade to Windows 10 Pro

While the features above might tempt you, let’s conclude with some reasons why the Windows 10 Pro upgrade isn’t worth the cost for most people.

1. You Already Have the Features You Need

Windows 10 Home doesn’t inhibit your daily usage or take any major features away; chances are that it includes all the functionality you want. Cortana’s voice assistance, the revamped Start Menu, native virtual desktops, and the Edge browser are all fully available in Windows 10 Home.

Some people ask specifically about Windows 10 Home vs. Pro for gaming. While some of the Pro features could come in handy for gaming systems, there’s no particular advantage to using Windows 10 Pro for gaming. You’ll do fine with whatever edition you chose.

In the end, the features above either have a free alternative or are unnecessary for everyday use. Why pay for what you aren’t going to use?

2. It’s Expensive

A final, but important facet of the Windows 10 Home vs. Pro discussion is the cost. For a new system, Windows 10 Home costs $139, while Windows 10 Pro is $199. If you want to upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Pro, you’ll need to pay $99.

While this upgrade price isn’t outrageous, you could better spend it elsewhere on premium desktop software, a subscription, or something similar. If you do decide to upgrade, head to Settings > Update & Security > Activation.

Here you’ll see an Upgrade your edition of Windows section. Click Change product key if you bought one already. Else, choose Go to the Store to buy a license from Microsoft.

Windows 10 Home Is Enough for Most

As we’ve seen, Windows 10 Pro packs some solid features, but they’re mostly unnecessary for home audiences. Use the alternatives listed above and save your cash for something more useful. Windows 10 will continue to add new features in major updates that will come to all users, so those using Home won’t miss out.

For more on this, take a look at all the different Windows 10 editions on offer.

Image Credit: Joana Lopes/Shutterstock, Denis Vrublevski/Shutterstock

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6 Cool Things You Can Do With Google Voice

Google Voice revolutionizes the way we make phone calls—it allows you to combine your home, personal phone, and business phone into one device. You might not be able to replace your cellular device with Google Voice, but it’s still a reliable option when you don’t want to spend the money on an additional phone number.

So, what is Google Voice, and what advantages does it have? Here, we’ll introduce you to the basics of Google Voice, and tell you about its coolest features.

How Does Google Voice Work?

In short, Google Voice is a free phone service that allows you to send and receive calls and texts from your mobile device or computer. You can even create a VoIP phone using Google Voice.

Fortunately, Google Voice is extremely simple to set up. After you sign up for an account on Google Voice, select a new phone number, and input your current phone number, you can start making calls from your Google Voice number. Better yet, you can even connect one or more of your phones to your Google Voice number (which we’ll get into later).

You can use Google Voice to make calls and send texts over Wi-Fi. If Wi-Fi isn’t available, you can still use a small amount of mobile data from your cellular plan to make calls. This prevents your calls from eating up minutes on your phone plan.

1. Integrate Google Voice for All Mobile Calls and Texts

What can Google Voice do, and what is Google Voice used for? One of the main features of the service is its ability to forward calls to one or many phones.

Once you sign up with Google Voice, you’ll want to install the mobile app onto your phone. Google Voice offers integrated mobile apps for both Android and iPhones. As soon as you install Voice on your phone, you can check your voicemail, send and receive calls or texts, as well as check your current account balance.

Most importantly, you can receive calls on your mobile phone from your Google number. You can also dial out from your cell phone using the app, and people will see your Google Voice number, not your cell phone number.

Just call with your Google Voice number, and your call will get routed through your Voice account. Why is this useful? Imagine you’re starting a new business and you’d like a unique number that you can route to different phones depending on who’s calling.

Create one group of contacts that rings your phone, a second group that rings your mobile, and so on. Perhaps you’d like a call to your Google Voice number to ring multiple phones at once—Google Voice makes this possible as well.

2. Screen Your Calls

Remember the days when you had an answering machine, and when a caller would start leaving a message, you would also hear the voice from the speaker? With the advent of digital voicemail, that ability to screen calls by listening to the beginning of the message is a disappearing luxury.

Well, Google brings it back by allowing you to screen calls. Callers from an unknown number will get asked to speak their name. That way, you know who’s calling before you pick up. To enable call screening, head to your Google Voice Settings, click on Calls, and find the Screen Calls option. Make sure Screen Calls is toggled on.

Once you hear the caller’s name, you have the option to handle the call in a variety of ways. You can press 1 to immediately accept, 2 to immediately send to voicemail, and * if you want to jump into the call.

3. Automatic Transcription of Every Voicemail

If you’re not able to listen to a voicemail, Google Voice provides voicemail transcription. This allows you to read someone’s message instead of listening to a long, rambling voicemail. Google Voice can also send transcribed voicemails to your email. To ensure this feature is on, go to your Google Voice Settings > Voicemail and toggle on the Get voicemail via email option.

While the bugs aren’t quite all worked out of the system yet, the Google voicemail transcription feature works well enough that you can pretty much understand what the person is saying. In addition to receiving voicemail transcriptions by email, you can also check your voicemails either from your computer or from your phone.

4. Record Phone Calls

Make sure it’s legal where you live, but another option when you have an incoming call is to accept and record the call. When you answer, press the number 4 to record phone calls on your iPhone, Android, computer, or tablet. This is useful for interviews, police interrogations, or simply to have a record of the conversation.

When you start recording, you and the caller will hear an announcement that the recording has started. There’s no transcription available for recorded conversations, so you’ll need to log into your Voice account, head to your voicemails, and replay the conversation. You can even download it as an MP3 file.

5. Customize Greetings and Other Group Settings

You can customize Google Voice even more by changing the way Voice handles and routes your phone calls. It essentially acts as a personal secretary—a phone switchboard that can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be.

The old version of Google Voice let you set different voicemail greetings for different callers. While this feature isn’t available with the new version of Google Voice, you can still assign greetings by using the Legacy Version of Google Voice. Access the Legacy version from your computer by heading to the Google Voice menu in the top left corner of your screen. At the bottom of the menu, click Legacy Google Voice to open it.

Under Settings > Groups, you can create any group that you like, and edit individual settings as shown above. Select what phone (or phones) should ring, select (or record) a special greeting, and you can even disable call screening for a particular group.

6. Filter Spam

Tired of getting constant robocalls? When you receive calls on your non-Google Voice number, your caller ID might read “Scam Likely.” Otherwise, you won’t even know which numbers are safe to answer.

Fortunately, Google Voice has a filter for spam calls and texts. When Google suspects a phone number is spam, it’ll transfer any voicemails, calls, and texts to your Spam folder. You can turn on this feature by navigating to the Google Voice Settings > Security and turning on Filter Spam.

Why Use Google Voice?

It’s easy to see the benefits of Google Voice. Whether you use your Google Voice number for your business, or as a personal number, it can save you both time and money.

If you want even more options when it comes to calling, check out the best free calling apps for making free phone calls.

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TikTok Launches New Parental Controls to Keep Kids Safe

TikTok is launching new parental controls designed to keep kids safe while they use the app. And with TikTok being very popular amongst teenagers, the new Family Safety Mode should help ease the minds of worried parents the world over.

TikTok Only Appeals to Teenagers

TikTok has grown to be one of the most popular apps in the world. And unlike the other giant apps, such as Instagram and Snapchat, TikTok appeals to a very specific demographic. Essentially, kids love it, and adults generally don’t understand it.

With its 1 billion users being mostly children and young adults, TikTok needs to do all it can to protect its userbase. The company is slowly but surely adding measures to protect youngsters using the platform. And the latest are new parental controls.

What Is TikTok’s Family Safety Mode?

As outlined in a post on the TikTok Newsroom, TikTok has launched two new features. The first, called Family Safety Mode, is an amalgamation of various parental controls. The second, called Screen Time Management in Feed, reminds users to use TikTik responsibly.

TiKTok is for
a) kids
b) millennials in an early midlife crisis grasping for relevance

I’m here for it

— Badflower (@Badflower) February 17, 2020

Family Safety Mode links a parent’s TikTok account to their child’s TikTok account. And, once enabled, a parent will be able to control how long their child can spend on TikTok, limit who can send direct messages, and restrict certain types of content.

While most teenagers will not like the idea of their parents controlling their use of TikTok, this may be a necessary step for certain kids. Especially as even some adults seem to be addicted to their smartphones and the apps that reside on them.

Meanwhile, Screen Time Management in Feed reminds teenagers themselves not to overdo it on TikTok. Videos from popular creators pop up in users’ feeds encouraging them to take a break from TikTok and do something else more productive instead.

Learn More About How to Use TikTok

TikTok has initially launched Family Safety Mode and Screen Time Management in Feed in the UK. However, the company is promising to roll both features out to additional markets in the coming weeks. It isn’t yet clear whether or not that includes the US.

Whether you’re one of the few teenagers who hasn’t yet got into TikTok, or a parent keen to learn more about the phenomenon, we’re here to help. For parents, here’s our guide to TikTok and how it works, and for teenagers, here’s how to get more TikTok followers.

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The Best White Noise Machines for Drowning Out Distractions

Does sound distract or keep you awake? A white noise machine can help.

Many people use noise-canceling headphones to dampen sounds. But there’s another option that doesn’t require wearing bulky earcups: white noise does the same job. With a nature-emulating soundscape, such as wind blustering through trees or a gently rushing waterfall, white noise is well-suited to a variety of applications.

We’re taking a look at the best white noise machines you can buy.

What Is a White Noise Machine and Why Use One?

A white noise machine is a device that produces sounds with equal intensities but varied frequencies. These bits of random audio form a unified whole that’s soothing and mimics naturally occurring sounds such as a waterfall or the wind whistling through trees. However, there’s a bit of a misconception. Some machines don’t produce white noise. Instead, they play pink noise or even other colors of noise.

Pink noise differs in that it’s more powerful and louder at lower frequencies, whereas white noise maintains equal power. Additionally, many white noise machines include modes that play sounds, such as traffic, rain, and the ocean.

White noise devices are mostly used as sleep aids. Because of their ambient sounds, these machines can mask outside noises by forming a sort of sonic wall. Essentially, it’s like wearing earplugs but without the hassle of shoving anything into your ear, aside from sound waves. Similarly, noise-canceling headphones put a damper on the volume of outside noises. But these remove ambient sounds using active or passive noise control through methods like soundproofing.

Aside from the bedroom, they are superb devices for reducing distractions in general. A white noise machine for an office can help you better focus. Notably, babies may sleep better with white noise machines. Since they’re accustomed to ambient sounds in the womb, white noise generators provide a familiar experience. White noise machines are also ideal for sleeping with anxiety or tinnitus.

1. HoMedics White Noise Sound Machine

HoMedics White Noise Sound Machine HoMedics White Noise Sound Machine Buy Now On Amazon $19.93

For home or on the go, take a look at the HoMedics White Noise Sound Machine. The device can be powered with the provided AC adapter or with four AA batteries. You can select from six different sounds; white noise, thunder, ocean, summer night, brook, and rain.

While the machine can run all night, an auto-off timer can be set for 15, 30, or 60 minutes to conserve battery power. To better customize the sound, there is also an adjustable volume knob.

2. Marpac Dohm Classic

Marpac Dohm Classic Marpac Dohm Classic Buy Now On Amazon $41.77

The Marpac Dohm Classic is all about white noise. Featuring a real fan, the machine produces a continuous stream of natural-sounding audio. The machine uses an 8-foot long plug for AC power.

There are two different volume levels to select from. You can also adjust the sound and tone by twisting the outside casing. To help the device fit in with your home decor, this sound machine is available in white, black, gray, or tan.

3. Hatch Baby Rest Sound Machine

Hatch Baby Rest Sound Machine Hatch Baby Rest Sound Machine Buy Now On Amazon $59.99

The Hatch Baby Rest Sound Machine is made to grow with your child. With an infant, the machine offers a white noise sound machine and night light. After a few years, once a toddler, you can set a time-to-rise color, so they’ll know when it’s time to get up out of bed.

You can control settings, including volume and brightness, with a companion smartphone app so you won’t need to bother your sleeping child. The app also allows you to set schedules for the light and sound. A toddler lock on the sound machine will help make sure little hands can’t change any settings.

4. Big Red Rooster 8 Sound White Noise Machine

Big Red Rooster 8 Sound White Noise Machine Big Red Rooster 8 Sound White Noise Machine Buy Now On Amazon $19.99

If you’re looking for a variety of different sounds to select from to help cancel noise, you’ll want the Big Red Rooster 8 Sound White Noise Machine. As the name suggests, there are eight different options—box fan, small fan, brown noise, pink noise, white noise, summer night, rain, and ocean.

There’s also an auto-off timer which can be set for 15, 30, or 60 minutes. You can power the machine with the AC adapter or three AA batteries. A black or white version is available.

5. Sound+Sleep Sound Machine

Sound+Sleep Sound Machine Sound+Sleep Sound Machine Buy Now On Amazon $72.95

The Sound+Sleep Sound Machine offers 10 different noise options, each with three levels of richness to help you find a perfect combination for sleep or relaxation. Some of the more unique sound choices include fireplace, city, and train along with the usual white noise.

The device constantly monitors the surrounding room and then will adjust the sound to better cancel noise. You can also take advantage of the 3.5mm audio connector on the front of the machine to listen with headphones or use a larger speaker.

To help you better sleep, the front panel lighting will automatically dim. There is also an optional sleep timer that will reduce the volume after 30, 60, 90, or 120 minutes.

6. SNOOZ White Noise Sound Machine

SNOOZ White Noise Sound Machine SNOOZ White Noise Sound Machine Buy Now On Amazon $79.99

The SNOOZ White Noise Sound Machine features non-looping sound from a built-in fan. You can adjust the tone of the sound by twisting the outer shell. There are also 10 volume settings to select from.

With the companion smartphone app, you can remotely control the machine and customize an automatic on/off schedule. You can select from a white or black version of the machine, depending on your preference, too.

The Best White Noise Canceling Machines

Any of these white noise machines can help cancel out sounds and help you sleep at night. During the day, they can also help you to concentrate better and focus.

And if you’re looking for another alternative option that doesn’t require another device, make sure to take a look at the best sleep apps for tracking and improving sleep.

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VEGAS Movie Studio for Windows Combines Powerful Video Editing With Ease of Use

Editing video was once the task of people working on Hollywood movies or big advertising campaigns. These days, though, editing video is common enough that you’ll find basic editing software included on many new computers.

Of course, not all editors are created equal. If you’re looking for powerful video editing software for Windows 10, VEGAS Movie Studio is an impressive package. Not only does it compare to several other premium options, but you get 30 days to try before you buy.

Video Editing Software for Windows With a Safety Net

If you are new to the video-related field, VEGAS Movie Studio might be the best video editing software available for Windows to start out with. It is not only beginner-friendly, but also comes with time-saving features.

To start, VEGAS Movie Studio saves automatically. This means you don’t need to worry about losing all your work if the power goes out. And that’s just the beginning of how VEGAS Movie Studio makes video editing easier for both beginners and pros alike.

In other software, editing clips in the storyboard won’t automatically update them in the timeline. With VEGAS Movie Studio, these clips update in both the storyboard and in the timeline, making it much easier to experiment. If you don’t like the change, you can easily undo it.

Which Version Is Right for You?

If you’re not already familiar with VEGAS Movie Studio, you may not be sure which software version is right for you. The simple answer is to start with the basic VEGAS Movie Studio option, then upgrade as you need to. That said, the differences between the various versions mainly come down to extras.

VEGAS Movie Studio costs $49.99 and includes everything you need to edit a video from start to finish, complete with a guided video creator. If you find yourself needing a little extra polish, you might want to upgrade to VEGAS Movie Studio Platinum, which you can get for just a bit more. This adds features like fast and easy video stabilization and motion tracking.

For creators looking for an all-in-one editing solution, the VEGAS Movie Studio Suite includes everything you’ll find in Platinum, plus a solid collection of extras. Both of these include the VEGAS DVD Architect, which isn’t available in the standard version.

If you frequently burn DVDs for clients or even just for home use, this single addition will make your life much easier. Don’t let the name fool you either: you can use DVD Architect to create both DVD and Blu-ray Discs.

What Do You Get in the VEGAS Movie Studio Suite?

Much of the benefit of the VEGAS Movie Studio Suite comes in the form of the NewBlue plugins. One of these, NewBlue Transitions Ultimate, is available in Movie Studio Platinum. This plugin lets you go beyond simple fades and crossfades with transitions like Pencil Rubbing, Plasma Glow, and Shiny Fog. For all of the other plugins, you’ll need the VEGAS Movie Studio Suite.

The Suite includes the NewBlue Cinema Collection Template for eye-popping text effects, along with NewBlue Essentials 5 V3 which has all sorts of useful tools. NewBlue Titler Pro Express, meanwhile, lets you create professional-looking titles.

Other bundled plugins include NewBlue Cartoonr Plus, NewBlue Chroma Key Pro, and NewBlue Fluid Template Pack.

No matter which version you pick, VEGAS Movie Studio will save you money compared to most other video editing software. Don’t let that lead you into thinking this isn’t powerful software. Even the base version can handle most video editing tasks. You simply get more power with the Suite.

We think everyone interested in testing the waters of video editing will appreciate this software.

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10 Interactive Movies You Can Watch and Control Online

Interactive movies have been around since 1967, but they’ve come a long way from their humble beginnings. So much so that there has been a resurgence in recent years. Now, there are lots of great interactive movies worth checking out online.

Interactive movies are a special type of movie that blend the interactivity of games with the narrative experience of films. And in this article we list some of the best interactive movies that you can watch and control online in your web browser.

1. Possibilia

Possibilia bills itself as an interactive love story set in the multiverse. It’s directed by the duo behind Swiss Army Man, that barmy film where Daniel Radcliffe plays a corpse.

In Possibilia, a young couple are thinking of breaking up. That simple premise plays out in an incredible format, where you can switch between up to 16 different interpretations of the same script. The unique thing is that they are all playing out at the same time and cross over with one another.

2. Five Minutes

Five Minutes is set in a zombie apocalypse. The film opens with a man holding a gun to his head, his daughter in the next room, and a bunch of zombies trying to break down the door.

The name of the film comes from how long it takes for someone to become a zombie after being infected. Five Minutes flicks between the past and present as you must interact and draw shapes in order to carry out actions. It’s nail-biting (albeit violent) fun.

3. Black Mirror: Bandersnatch

Netflix brought interactive movies back into the spotlight with its 2018 release of Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. In typical Black Mirror fashion, the film blends science fiction and horror.

You control a programmer who is turning a choose-your-own-adventure book into a video game. You make his decisions for him as he begins to question his reality and things begin spiraling out of control.

If you enjoyed Bandersnatch, you’ll probably enjoy the best cyberpunk films to watch online.

4. Chatterbox: Escape the Asylum

Chatterbox puts you in the shoes of a man in an asylum. You can hear all of the voices inside his head, pushing him one way and pulling him another. You get to decide which route he takes.

The driving force of the story is the man’s desire to escape the asylum, but first he’ll have to deal with the other inmates and his own sanity. While the portrayal of mental illness is clichéd, it’s still a decent experience.

5. A Week In The Life Of Milly

Milly is a former child prodigy who has found herself in a life going nowhere, needing a raise in a job she hates. She turns to self-help books to try to guide her decisions.

You get to choose which book advice Milly follows at certain points, like how she replies to her landlord’s request for rent or how she copes when bumping into her childhood crush. This is a charming story that is elevated by Milly’s awareness of being in an interactive movie.

6. Solace

Solace is an interactive movie built within the browser. Via voice-over, you hear two friends talking to one another about an addictive fruit drink from their childhood. It’s set in the near-future and is all about the connection of marketing and addiction.

The narrative is portrayed with abstract color shapes swirling around the screen, which you can interact with—-poking, pushing, popping, and more. Not only do the visuals react to your movement, but so does the audio.

Solace was produced as part of the Experiments with Google project, so you’ll need to watch it in Google Chrome.

7. Dead Lonely

Aardman is known as the creator of the excellent Wallace and Gromit series. The company produced this interactive movie in partnership with Rapt Media. In Dead Lonely, a man called Fred is looking for his lost love in a post-apocalyptic world.

You must choose options that determine the path Fred takes, like whether you enter the hairdressers or what gift you buy from the shop. Be careful though, as many decisions lead to death. The interactive elements are enjoyable, but Aardman’s style and wit take this to the next level.

8. A Heist With Markiplier

YouTube teamed up with the popular YouTuber for this interactive movie called A Heist With Markiplier. It’s filmed from a first-person perspective, with Markiplier playing a cat burglar trying to break out of the facility he robbed.

Markiplier makes a great lead character, adding some needed silliness to the story. There are 31 different endings to experience and it’s possible to get “Game Over” during it, so be careful with what you choose.

Hopefully YouTube experiments more with this kind of storytelling in the future, since its platform is the perfect home for it.

9. Minecraft: Story Mode

Minecraft: Story Mode is an interactive Netflix version of Telltale Games’ episodic video game adventure. Of course, it’s based upon the hugely popular block builder game, Minecraft.

The story is a simple Good vs. Evil affair, but it’s a rollicking journey that is sure to be a hit with kids as they get to forge their own path in the Minecraft world.

If you enjoy Minecraft: Story Mode, you should also check out our article explaining how to play Minecraft for free in your browser.

10. Wizard School Dropout

You can’t go wrong with a bit of magic. Wizard School Dropout follows the story of Andy, a wizard who is struggling with the normal stresses and strains of life, like being unable to afford rent or putting up with overbearing parents.

Split across different episodes, this is not a story that takes itself too seriously, with an over-the-top style and modern humor. You get to control Andy’s life and how she uses her magic. Some of your decisions build elemental powers, which then impact how effective your magic is.

Play More Interactive Stories on Amazon Echo

Hopefully you’ve found something enjoyable in this selection of interactive movies, whether thanks to the intensity of zombies or the fun of Minecraft. And remember, these interactive movies can all be played online and in your browser, so you don’t need any special hardware.

However, if you own an Echo device then you can experience some more interactive narratives using Alexa. So, check out these interactive stories to play on your Amazon Echo.

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Excel Quick Tips: How to Flip Cells & Switch Rows or Columns

Microsoft Excel is a powerful program that can help you analyze and visualize data. To get the best results your data needs to be in the proper format.

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Occasionally you will run into data that is placed in a table, and you may not be able to work with the arrangement of rows and columns. Perhaps you have a column or row that you need to reverse entirely.

Flipping cells in a row or column can be a lot of work to do manually. Instead of re-entering all your data you can use these strategies to flip columns, turn columns into rows, and flip rows.

How to Flip Cells in Excel Columns

At first glance, there is no good way to flip columns upside down. Data sorting can sort by values or alphabetically but that doesn’t invert a column in Excel.

So what can you do? Copy the data and paste one by one? There’s a much better way to get this done.

Reversing the order of cells in a Microsoft Excel column is easy, and can be done in just a few steps with this nifty trick:

1. Add a column to the left of the table you’d like to flip.
2. Fill that column with numbers, starting with 1 and using the fill handle to create a series of numbers that ends at the bottom of your table.
3. Select the columns and click Data > Sort. Select the column that you just added and filled with numbers. Select Largest to Smallest, and click OK.

The columns are now inverted!

This is a useful trick to add to your toolbox when you’re managing columns in Excel.

If you like working with Excel shortcuts you can perform this trick with one click. This shortcut can perform a quick sort by the leftmost column; Either by smallest-to-largest or largest-to-smallest.

The real key to all this is the index column.

Once you’ve got the data reversed you can delete the index column and you’re ready to go. This trick was done on an Excel table but it works on any number of columns you want to invert.

If you use Visual Basic (macros) with Excel, you can use this code to accomplish the same thing. Just select the column you want to flip and run this macro:

Sub FlipColumns()
 Dim vTop As Variant
 Dim vEnd As Variant
 Dim iStart As Integer
 Dim iEnd As Integer
 Application.ScreenUpdating = False
 iStart = 1
 iEnd = Selection.Columns.Count
 Do While iStart < iEnd
 vTop = Selection.Columns(iStart)
 vEnd = Selection.Columns(iEnd)
 Selection.Columns(iEnd) = vTop
 Selection.Columns(iStart) = vEnd
 iStart = iStart + 1
 iEnd = iEnd - 1
 Loop
 Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

VBA Macros are very useful but if you’re not comfortable with them you can get results instantly using the data sorting trick.

If VBA does pique your interest you can learn more about it with a beginner’s tutorial on writing VBA macros.

How to Switch Columns and Rows

Reversing a column has some use for data analysis but there are more ways you can manipulate data.

Another change you may want to make is switching the columns and the rows. That is, turn the column data into a row or row data into a column.

Just like inverting tables, copying and pasting information one by one is not the way to do it. Microsoft Excel has a very useful function to get this done.

1. Select the columns you’d like to transpose and hit Ctrl+C or Edit > Copy.
2. Click to an open cell and click Edit > Paste Special…
3. Select Transpose

Your column has now been turned into a row, with the topmost value placed on the left of the row. You might have a long row so make sure you’ve got some room.

It works in the reverse order as well—you can transpose a row into a column. You can even transpose a block of data, which will turn the entire selection by 90 degrees.

How to Flip a Row in Excel

Now that you know the trick to flipping columns and you’ve seen the way to turn a column into a row; What about flipping a row in Excel?

To flip the cells in an Excel row you will use both of the tricks you learned together.

Because Microsoft Excel doesn’t support sorting rows, you’ll need to first turn the row into a column by using transpose. Once the row has been turned into a column, you can use the first trick to invert the column.

After you’ve reversed the column, transpose it back into a row and you will have inverted the entire row. It’s a rather roundabout way to get it done, but it works!

To do this in a far simpler manner, you can use Visual Basic again. Just run the same macro as before, but replace all of the instances of the word column with the word row.

Sub FlipRows()
 Dim vTop As Variant
 Dim vEnd As Variant
 Dim iStart As Integer
 Dim iEnd As Integer
 Application.ScreenUpdating = False
 iStart = 1
 iEnd = Selection.Rows.Count
 Do While iStart < iEnd
 vTop = Selection.Rows(iStart)
 vEnd = Selection.Rows(iEnd)
 Selection.Rows(iEnd) = vTop
 Selection.Rows(iStart) = vEnd
 iStart = iStart + 1
 iEnd = iEnd - 1
 Loop
 Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

Why Flip Rows and Columns?

Excel is widely used in data analysis. Data analysis and data visualization are becoming a critical part of decision making in many different ways.

It’s not just in computer science, data analysis is used in:

• Business
• Marketing
• Sports
• Medicine
• Real Estate
• Machine Learning

Often times information used to analyze data will not be organized the way you might like. In order to get the best results, you should know how to set up data for processing.

Database tools like SQL are great for working with data, but they won’t organize your data for you. Excel can do this and give you results in Excel or Common Separated Value (CSV) files.

Knowing these tricks to flip columns and rows get you one step closer to getting the most out of your data.

Flip Data in Excel Easily

If you need to flip the data in a Microsoft Excel column or row, using one of the strategies above can save you a whole lot of time. And if you need to do it on a regular basis, using the Visual Basic macros will save you even more time. You’re ready to start getting your data to work for you!

Of course, there’s plenty more you can do with Excel. Check out these crazy Excel formulas that do amazing things or review our essential Excel formulas and functions cheat sheet.

Read the full article: Excel Quick Tips: How to Flip Cells & Switch Rows or Columns

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The 9 Best Browsers for Linux

It’s virtually impossible to use a modern computer without accessing the web. Even if you’re disconnected, it’s not uncommon to come across software that presents its help files in HTML, necessitating the use of a browser.

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In short, a web browser is an absolute must. With Linux, the selection of browsers is considerable.

Whether you’re switching browsers or switching to Linux, you’ll need to know what’s available for browsing the web. Check these are the best Linux browsers to help you make your choice.

1. Firefox

While this list is in no particular order, Mozilla Firefox is probably the best option for most Linux users. Why?

• Firefox is fast, using less RAM than Chrome
• Multi-process browsing means more tabs
• Support for thousands of extensions
• Tracker blocking
• Tabs and other data synced across devices

Ultimately, Mozilla Firefox is a smooth browsing experience from the team behind the only real alternative to Google Chrome.

You should be able to find Firefox preinstalled or in your distro’s software repository. If not, visit the Mozilla website to grab a copy.

Download: Mozilla Firefox

2. Chromium

You might choose Google Chrome as your Linux browser. However, it isn’t open source, lumbered as it is with Google’s fingerprints. The alternative isthe Chromium browser, the open source project that Chrome is built on. Ideal if you’re moving from Windows or simply want a browser that gives you direct access to your Google account.

Here are some reason to use Chromium:

• Chromium is the basis for Chrome, so you’re already familiar with it
• Google account login and syncing supported
• Thousands of browser add-ons

To install the Chromium browser use:

sudo apt install chromium-browser

3. Midori

Many Linux browsers claim to be resource-lite, but few browsers are as lightweight as Midori. This browser is so slim and resource-lite that it appeared on early builds of Raspbian (for Raspberry Pi). Features in Midori include:

• Built-in privacy tools
• Minimalist, beautiful design
• Fast

Midori can be downloaded in DEB and RPM formats and is also available in the SnapStore and FlatHub.

Download: Midori

To install Midori in the terminal use

sudo apt install midori

4. Epiphany

Also known as GNOME Web, this is the browser you’ll find by default on unaltered GNOME desktops. It features:

• Built-in privacy tools
• No extensions supported for improved stability
• Functional and fast

If you don’t already use a GNOME desktop environment, you can install Epiphany in the command line:

sudo apt install epiphany-browser epiphany-extensions

The epiphany-extensions package is useful as it includes an extensions manager, development tools, and more.

5. Opera

Trumpeted as a revolutionary browser with features unseen elsewhere, Opera boasts an unusual side-bar user interface. While many of its revolutionary features have been borrowed by other browsers (e.g. speed dial, pop-up blocking, private browsing) it remains a reliable alternative to Firefox.

• Free VPN
• Laptop battery saver
• Cryptocurrency wallet
• WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger integration
• Data syncing across devices running Opera

DEB, RPM, and Snap packages for Opera can be downloaded from the home page.

Download: Opera

To install the Opera browser in the Linux terminal start by updating sources and adding the key:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://deb.opera.com/opera/ stable non-free" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/opera.list'

sudo sh -c 'wget -O - http://deb.opera.com/archive.key | apt-key add -'

Next, run an update, then install

sudo apt update

sudo apt install opera

Alternatively, if you have Snap installed, use

sudo snap install opera

The Opera browser is currently based on Chromium. However, up to version 12, Opera used the Presto layout engine. This switch has inspired other browsers.

6. Otter

Conceived to replicate the best aspects of Opera 12.x, Otter is built with Qt5. Visually it resembles Opera and includes several useful special features:

• Password manager
• Content blocking
• Customizable user interface

Download: Otter

You can install manually in the terminal by adding a PPA repository.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:otter-browser/release

Press Enter to confirm, wait for the GPG key to be created and at the next prompt update:

sudo apt update

When this completes you can install Otter with

sudo apt install otter-browser

7. Vivaldi

Like Otter, Vivaldi has its roots in Opera. Vivaldi is overseen by Opera co-founder Jon von Tetzchner and regarded by many as closer to the old Opera. Features include:

• Adaptive user interface
• Granular tab management
• Built-in tools include a notepad and screenshot app

Vivaldi is available in DEB, RPM, and ARM packages.

Download: Vivaldi

8. Falkon

Formerly known as Qupzilla, Falkon is a Linux browser usually found in KDE-based desktop environments, such as Plasma.

• Lightweight
• Features a built-in adblocking tool
• Uses DuckDuckGo as the default search tool

Download: Falkon

Falkon can also be installed using apt in the terminal:

sudo apt install falkon

9. SeaMonkey

A browser inspired by Netscape and Mozilla, SeaMonkey looks much like Firefox. The difference is in what it offers beyond browsing. Highlights include:

• Chrome-style tab syncing
• Session restore tool
• Built-in mail client
• Newsgroup/Usenet client
• Web development tools

Having an email and newsgroup client built into your browser can save a lot of time switching between apps. However, this approach isn’t for everyone.

Download: SeaMonkey

More Linux Browsers to Consider

While the Linux browsers above should be considered the best available, many other browsers can be installed on Linux. These fulfil specific needs or are particularly lightweight.

Linux Text Browser: Lynx

Not all web browsing can be done in a graphic browser. In the early days of the web, text-based command line browsers were essential. One such web browser is still available: Lynx.

To install this Linux command line browser, use:

sudo apt install lynx

To use the browser, open the terminal and enter lynx followed by the URL. So, to view MakeUseOf use:

lynx makeuseof.com

Use the arrow keys to navigate—all commands are displayed in the terminal window.

Qutebrowser

If you’re unable to use a mouse or laptop trackpad, accessing the web can be difficult. That’s where Qutebrowser comes in—a desktop browser that can only be controlled using a keyboard. Shortcuts are assigned to each link on a page, enabling easy mouse-free browsing.

Qutebrowser is only available in the terminal.

sudo apt install qutebrowser

Tor Browser

Want to maximise your privacy online? Using Linux is a good start, as is employing a VPN to encrypt your activity. But you can go a step further by installing the Tor browser for Linux.

To install Tor, you’ll need to add a repository and GPG key:

cat <<EOF | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/tor.list deb https://deb.torproject.org/torproject.org bionic main deb-src https://deb.torproject.org/torproject.org bionic main EOF

curl https://deb.torproject.org/torproject.org/A3C4F0F979CAA22CDBA8F512EE8CBC9E886DDD89.asc | sudo gpg --import

gpg --export A3C4F0F979CAA22CDBA8F512EE8CBC9E886DDD89 | sudo apt-key add -

With that done, update your repositories and install the Tor Project:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install tor deb.torproject.org-keyring

You can then install the Tor browser on Linux with

sudo apt install torbrowser-launcher

The Best Browsers for Linux

We’ve compiled this list of Linux browsers to help you find the best tools to get your computer online. Each browser has a strength none of the others offer—despite some clear similarities, differences are also there.

The browser you choose is totally up to you. However, we recommend you stick to the tools that give you the best browsing experience.

Need more Linux software? Start off with our list of the best Linux apps.

Read the full article: The 9 Best Browsers for Linux

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The 7 Best Curved Monitors

Choosing between a flat and curved monitor is one of the biggest choices you’ll have to make when buying a new monitor. The most popular brands in tech are releasing more and more curved monitors, making your decision even more difficult. Once you see the smooth curved edges on these monitors, it’s hard to resist buying one for yourself.

Whether you’re looking for a curved monitor for your gaming setup or for your office, we’ve put together a list of curved monitors for all uses. We’ll give you a brief rundown on why you should buy a curved monitor, and then introduce you to the best curved monitors on the market.

Why Buy a Curved Monitor?

Curved monitors aren’t just a trendy gaming fad—they actually serve a purpose other than looking cool. Having a curved monitor can actually reduce eye strain, as it has less distortion than flatscreens. They also give you a more natural field of view, which makes staring at a screen much more tolerable for your eyes.

Curved displays also provide an improved and immersive viewing experience when compared to flatscreens. You’ll get a wider field of vision, along with a picture that has more depth. This makes playing games more realistic. Even if you’re not a gamer, you’ll find that curved monitors are easier on your eyes and feel more natural to use.

1. Best Curved Monitor for Everyday Use:
Samsung LC24F396FHNXZA

Samsung LC24F396FHNXZA Samsung LC24F396FHNXZA Buy Now On Amazon $129.99

Need a new monitor for your workstation? The Samsung’s 23-Inch FHD Curved Monitor offers a super slim design that will look sleek on your desk—it has a thickness of less than half of an inch! Looks aside, this Samsung curved monitor also comes with plenty of features for a reasonable price.

The Eco-Saving Plus feature conveniently lowers the screen’s brightness to conserve power. Although this monitor isn’t specifically for gaming, it has Game Mode to enhance your gaming experience. Games are still playable on this monitor—a 4ms response rate and FreeSync compatibility let you switch between work and play.

2. Best Cheap Curved Monitor:
Sceptre C248W-1920RN

Sceptre C248W-1920RN Sceptre C248W-1920RN Buy Now On Amazon $104.97

If you’re a gamer on a budget, or just need a cheap monitor for professional use, you can’t go wrong with the Sceptre 24-inch Curved LED Monitor. For just a little over $100, you can get a curved monitor with a 75Hz refresh rate, a thin bezel, and 1080p resolution.

The 8ms response rate is a bit slow for gaming, but this isn’t surprising for such an affordable monitor. For added convenience, it also comes with HDMI, VGA, and DisplayPort inputs so you can plug-and-play.

3. Best Curved G-Sync Monitor for Gaming:
Alienware AW3418DW

Alienware AW3418DW Alienware AW3418DW Buy Now On Amazon $699.00

When you’re serious about gaming, you’ll want a monitor that can respond as fast as your reflexes. The Alienware 1900R 34.1-Inch Curved Gaming Monitor does just that. The 34-inch display has a speedy 120Hz overclocked refresh rate, a 3440 x 1440 WQHD resolution, as well as a 4ms response time—all those specs make it worth the splurge.

This monitor lets you adjust the display for the type of game you’re playing. It includes three preset settings for RPG, RTS, and FPS games, and even lets you input three custom modes. Plus, it comes with Nvidia’s G-Sync technology.

4. Best Curved FreeSync Monitor for Gaming:
ASUS TUF Gaming VG32VQ

ASUS TUF Gaming VG32VQ ASUS TUF Gaming VG32VQ Buy Now On Amazon $414.99

For a gaming PC with an AMD graphics card, you’ll want a monitor with FreeSync. The best FreeSync option is the ASUS TUF Gaming 32-Inch Curved Gaming Monitor. It offers a 144Hz refresh rate, as well as a 1ms response time.

Not to mention that it brings Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync and Shadow Boost to the table—these two features create crisp and clear gameplay. The built-in ASUS eye care allows for long gaming sessions without fatigue.

5. Best 4K Curved Monitor:
MSI OPTIX MAG321CURV

MSI OPTIX MAG321CURV MSI OPTIX MAG321CURV Buy Now On Amazon $359.99

The HDR-ready MSI OPTIX 32-Inch Non-Glare 4K Curved Gaming Monitor will give you impressive picture quality. With a refresh rate of 60Hz, and a 4ms response time, you can definitely use this monitor for 4K gaming. Just keep in mind that this is a FreeSync monitor with limited G-Sync compatibility.

The monitor features a DisplayPort, HDMI input, as well as USB Type-C inputs. Given that, the MSI OPTIX is a solid addition to the growing list of the best curved 4K gaming monitors.

6. Best 27-Inch Curved Monitor:
AOC CQ27G1

AOC CQ27G AOC CQ27G Buy Now On Amazon $249.99

A 27-inch monitor is the perfect size—it’s not too big, and it’s not too small either. The AOC 27-Inch Curved Frameless Gaming Monitor gives you a fantastic QHD 2K resolution, as well as a quick 1ms response rate. This monitor even has a 144Hz refresh rate and FreeSync compatibility.

This AOC monitor is called frameless for a reason. It has an ultra-slim bezel that promotes more immersive gaming sessions. While this isn’t the cheapest monitor out there, it’s worth the extra cash if you’re looking for reliable performance and immersive gameplay.

7. Best Large Curved Monitor:
LG 38GL950G-B

LG 38GL950G-B LG 38GL950G-B Buy Now On Amazon $1,896.99

The LG 38-Inch UltraGear Nano Curved Monitor is expensive, but the high price tag is definitely justified. For one, the huge 38-inch width coupled with a QHD+ 3840 x 1600 resolution will make you feel like you’re actually inside of your game. You can also expect smooth game performance with a 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time that will only amplify your gaming experience.

Even the look of this monitor won’t disappoint. It comes outfitted with eye-catching circular RGB lighting on the back. If you’re worried about having such a large screen sitting on your desk, remember that you can easily adjust this monitor’s height and angle.

Will You Upgrade to a Curved Monitor?

Curved monitors are the future—you just can’t beat the immersive qualities and comfort the come along with one. Although some might think that curved monitors are a short-lived fad, it seems that they’re here to stay. When you consider some of the best curved monitors on this list, you won’t be disappointed.

As you probably know already, monitors can be very expensive. For budget-friendly monitors, check out this list of the best cheap gaming monitors.

Read the full article: The 7 Best Curved Monitors

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