6 Fixes for the Faulty Hardware Corrupted Page Stop Code in Windows 10

A Blue Screen of Death, technically known as a stop error, is never a happy experience for Windows users. Your computer crashes without warning, losing your work, or other data in the process. The faulty hardware corrupted page error is one such critical error that can strike without warning.

Here’s how you fix the faulty hardware corrupted page stop code for good.

What Is the Faulty Hardware Corrupted Page Stop Code Error?

The faulty hardware corrupted page error (Windows stop code 0x0000012B) covers several different hardware issues, but refers to a single-bit error. A single-bit error occurs when a single bit (a minute piece of data) is incorrectly changed during the transmission of data. While it sounds like a tiny issue, the result can cause your system hardware to malfunction, resulting in the faulty hardware corrupted page stop code.

There is good news and bad news.

The good news is that there are several fixes available for the faulty hardware corrupted page stop code. The bad news is that Windows stop code 0x0000012B can indicate your system hardware is failing. Specifically, the stop code is often associated with faulty RAM.

You can check your RAM and other hardware issues with these fixes for the faulty hardware corrupted page stop code.

1. Restart Your Computer

If you haven’t already, restart your computer. Although infuriating to hear, “Have you tried switching it off and on again” really does fix a lot of problems. Before delving into the more advanced fixes, restart your computer and see if that resolves the issue.

2. Reseat Your Hardware

As the faulty hardware corrupted page error relates to your system hardware, a common fix is reseating your system hardware. If you knock or bump your system accidentally, you might jolt your RAM or graphics card out of position.

You’ll need to get inside the case of your PC or laptop to reseat the hardware. Please be aware that this will void your manufacturer’s warranty in certain cases, so proceed with caution.

3. Run SFC

The faulty hardware corrupted page stop code can indicate issues with your system files. The Windows System File Check (SFC) is an integrated Windows system tool you use to check your Windows installation files for errors.

Before running the SFC command, you need to check that it is completely functional. You don’t want SFC to miss an error because it wasn’t working properly, to begin with. To do this, we use DISM, the Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool.

Like SFC, DISM is an integrated Windows utility with a wide range of functions. In this case, the DISM Restorehealth command ensures that our next fix will work properly.

Work through the following steps.

1. Type Command Prompt (Admin)in the Start menu search bar, then right-click and select Run as administrator to open an elevated Command Prompt.
2. Type the following command and press Enter: DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
3. Wait for the command to complete. The process can take up to 20 minutes, depending on your system’s health. The process seems stuck at certain times, but wait for it to complete.
4. When the process completes, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.

4. Run CHKDSK

Like SFC, CHKDSK is a Windows tool you can use to verify your Windows 10 file system. Wondering what the difference between CHKDSK and SFC is? CHKDSK scans your entire drive for errors, while SFC scans Windows system files specifically.

Run it from the Command Prompt, and use the CHKDSK scan to find the problem and fix your machine.

1. Type command prompt in your Start menu search bar, then right-click the best match and select Run as administrator. (Alternatively, press Windows key + X, then select Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.)
2. Next, type chkdsk /r and press Enter. The command will scan your system for errors and fix any issues along the way.

5. Check Your Drivers

At times, a new Windows drive will upset your hardware and cause a fault. Windows 10 now handles most driver updates, so faulty drivers are becoming less of an issue. But that doesn’t mean a dodgy driver cannot come and cause havoc.

You can see a list of recent Windows driver updates in the Update & Security settings page.

Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings panel, then select Update & Security > View update history. You can find any driver updates here.

Now, type device manager in the Start menu search bar and select the best match. Head down the list and check for an error symbol. If there is nothing, your driver status is likely not the source of the issue.

Several tools let you update all of your system drivers at the same time. The usefulness of these tools is debatable, especially as many try to force you to pay for freely available drivers. If you would like to know more, check out the best free tools you can use to fix any Windows 10 issue.

6. Check Your RAM Using MemTest86

The Windows Memory Diagnostic tool is a Windows system tool you can use to analyze your RAM for errors. However, it isn’t the best option for the job. That title goes to MemTest86, a free, standalone memory testing tool for x86 machines.

You boot MemTest86 from a USB flash drive (or bootable disc) and leave it to check your system RAM. A MemTest86 takes a while to complete. For a full evaluation of your RAM, you should run at least two passes (that’s two complete cycles). As a single pass can take hours, the analysis process can take a while. However, MemTest86 will uncover any serious RAM issues during the process, so it is worth the wait.

Head to the MemTest86 download page and download the Image for creating bootable CD (ISO format). Next, you need to write the MemTest86 ISO to a USB flash drive. Check out this list of free tools to make a bootable USB flash drive.

Download a tool from the list, burn MemTest86 to your USB flash drive, then shut down your system. Now, reboot your system while pressing the button for your Boot Selection menu (usually F10, F11, DEL, or ESC), then select the bootable MemTest86 USB flash drive. The memory test will start automatically.

Fixing the Faulty Hardware Corrupted Page

Like many things Windows 10, a Bluescreen of Death is never nice—but there is often a simple resolution. The best thing to do is attempt to reseat your RAM and graphics card before attempting any of the additional fixes. Sometimes the simplest fixes have the greatest effect!

If you want to learn more about your bluescreen errors and how to fix them, check out Nirsoft’s BlueScreenView. It is a free tool you can use to understand Windows stop codes so you can fix any issue without help!

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The Microsoft Surface Neo Has Been Delayed

Microsoft has been busy planning new entries to its Surface range, including the Surface Duo and Neo. Unfortunately for fans of the Microsoft Surface Neo, its rough release date has been silently dropped from the Microsoft website.

We can make an educated guess as to why the Surface Neo has been delayed. However, Microsoft hasn’t confirmed anything officially at the time of writing.

When Did the Microsoft Surface Neo Release Date Vanish?

Microsoft didn’t make an official announcement on any of its channels about the possible delay. However, the company did edit the Surface Neo product page. If you use The Wayback Machine to view the page from July 28, you’ll find that the first paragraph ends with “coming Holiday 2020.”

However, if you visit the Surface Neo product page now, the date has disappeared.

While this isn’t direct confirmation from Microsoft, it’s safe to assume the Surface Neo won’t be coming out as soon as Microsoft hoped it would.

Why Has the Microsoft Surface Neo Been Delayed?

Given that there was no official announcement from Microsoft on this delay, we don’t have confirmation on why it happened. However, it’s safe to assume that the current COVID-19 pandemic caused issues.

Technology manufacturers rely on China as one of the top electronics exporters in the world. Unfortunately, China was at the epicenter of the pandemic, which caused delays for a lot of these companies. As such, there’s a good chance that Microsoft did not get all the components it needed to meet the Surface Neo’s release window.

It’s important to note, however, that this setback only affects the Surface Neo. Microsoft’s other future entry in the series, the Surface Duo, has not suffered any delays.

Windows Central reported a tweet that pinned the Surface Duo’s release date to August 24, 2020. If that turns out to be a rumor, you can instead rely on Microsoft’s Surface Duo product page, which points to “holiday 2020.”

Preparing for New Microsoft Surface Devices

While the Surface Duo has reportedly escaped delays, the Neo was not so lucky. Which means you’ll have to wait a little longer before you can get hold of a Surface Neo.

While you wait for the Surface Duo or Surface Neo to release, why not check out the best Microsoft Store apps you could install on it?

Read the full article: The Microsoft Surface Neo Has Been Delayed

Windows 10 Devices Are at Risk From the BootHole Vulnerability

Researchers have discovered a flaw in Windows and Linux-based operating systems. The flaw, nicknamed “BootHole,” can grant a hacker near-complete control over a victim’s PC. And unfortunately, we’re now waiting on Microsoft to patch the vulnerability.

How the BootHole Exploit Works

The exploit first came to light when researchers at Eclypsium discovered it. BootHole is not a strain of malware. Instead, it’s the name for the hole in the defenses that a virus can exploit.

At the time of writing, this problem only affects Linux boot systems and those that use Secure Boot. Unfortunately, Windows uses Secure Boot, which means it’s weak to this exploit.

Eclypsium researchers discovered #BootHoleVulnerability in the GRUB2 bootloader that can be used to gain arbitrary code execution on majority of Linux and Windows based systems, even when they are not using GRUB and Secure Boot is enabled. https://t.co/9jc26InmfA pic.twitter.com/0hgnufe1xA

— Eclypsium (@eclypsium) July 29, 2020

Once malware enters the system via the BootHole exploit, it can use arbitrary code to gain control over as much of the computer as it pleases.

The boot process is an important part of a computer because it defines how an operating system loads. If malware gets in between the cracks of the boot process, it can control how the operating system works and cause damage.

Can You Fix the BootHole Exploit?

Unfortunately, because this flaw is related to Windows’ boot sequence, it’s not something that you can fix yourself. Microsoft has to release a patch that fixes the BootHole flaw. However, this isn’t an easy task.

The boot sequence is an essential part of keeping the operating system stable. As such, if Microsoft rushes out a buggy patch for the flaw, it will cause system instability.

As a result of this, it may take Microsoft a while to release a patch that fixes BootHole. And we’re all reliant on Microsoft doing so.

How to Stay Safe From Exploits

While waiting for Microsoft to patch BootHole, you’ll need to be extra careful to avoid malware that would allow hackers to take advantage of the vulnerability.

If you’re worried about BootHole, be sure to read our article explaining how to stay safe online without the latest security patches.

Read the full article: Windows 10 Devices Are at Risk From the BootHole Vulnerability

The 4a and 5 will be Google’s first 5G-enabled Pixels

Surprise. The latest version of Google’s budget Pixel device will be one of the first two to get its next-gen technology. It’s an odd strategy, to be sure, but sometimes roadmaps work out like that, I guess. You can read basically everything you need to know about the Pixel 4a in my review here. It’s a pretty basic addition to the line, albeit one that bumps up battery life from its predecessors and maintains the brand’s focus on excellent imaging with limited hardware.

Google’s budget Pixel 4a addresses its premium predecessor’s biggest problem

At some point in the fall, it will be joined by a 5G version, priced at $499. That’s a fairly significant bump over the standard 4a’s $349 starting price, but still pretty reasonably priced for a 5G phone. Obviously the Pixel 5 will be going 5G as well — Google even said as much in a blog post this morning (with a rare peak behind the curtains). From the sound of things, the devices will be released in roughly the same timeframe, but the details are understandably still very limited on that front.

Image Credits: Google

It’s promised more on both in the coming months, though we do know for sure that both models will be available in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, Japan, Taiwan and Australia. It’s a strange strategy that bucks previous next-gen technology roll outs (not the mention how virtually every other manufacturer has approached 5G). Likely it has more to do with timing that any, though there’s notably been an aggressive push to democratize 5G access, led by the likes of Qualcomm. 

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Snapchat to take on TikTok with a new music-powered featuring rolling out this fall

Snapchat is taking aim at TikTok. The company announced today it will begin testing a new feature that lets Snapchat users set their Snaps to music, similar to TikTok’s app. The feature may allow Snapchat to capitalize on the fracturing of the TikTok audience, who have been exploring alternative apps as the Trump administration weighs a ban on Chinese tech companies over data privacy concerns.

Already, apps like Byte, Triller, Dubsmash, Likee, and others have climbed the app stores’ charts as TikTok users hedged their bets. Instagram also launched a music-powered feature called Reels to cater to the TikTok crowd.

In Snapchat’s case, users will be able to add music either pre or post capture from what the company promises will be a “robust” catalog of music. This is made possible by way of Snap’s deals with music industry partners, including Warner Music Group, Warner Chappell, Universal Music Publishing Group, NMPA publisher members, Merlin and others, who have licensed their music for use in Snapchat’s app.

When friends receive one of the new Snaps with music, they’ll be able to swipe up to view the album art, song title, and artist name. A “Play This Song” link will also be available. When clicked, it will open a webview to Linkfire that will allow users to listen to the full song — not a snippet — on their preferred music streaming platform, like Spotify, Apple Music or SoundCloud.

This aspect differentiates Snapchat’s implementation from TikTok, where clicking on a video clip’s “sound” link only takes users to a page featuring other clips that have used the same sound. But even though TikTok today lacks a feature that fully connects a user to the artist behind a popular music clip, much less the full song, TikTok’s power has continued to launch breakout hits as users hunted down their favorite TikTok artists across streaming services.

Snapchat says its music feature, however, will allow fans to form deeper connections with artists and music. It also spoke to its strength in being a tool for close friends which gives it more influence — largely because of how its younger user base values friend-to-friend recommendations. Today, Snapchat reaches 90% of all 13-24 year-olds in the U.S., more than Facebook, Instagram and Messenger combined, the company says. It also reaches 75% of 13-34 year-olds. And though TikTok has a large international base, Snapchat claims it reaches more U.S. users than Twitter and TikTok combined, based on publicly available data.

“We’re constantly building on our relationships within the music industry, and making sure the entire music ecosystem — artists, labels, songwriters, publishers and streaming service — are seeing value in our partnerships,” a company spokesperson said, with regard to the new feature.

Snapchat says it will roll out the new feature across English-language markets this fall.

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Facebook launches commerce and connectivity-focused accelerator programs

Facebook launched two 12-week accelerator programs for startups on Monday as the social juggernaut looks for new ideas and solutions to expand its commerce and connectivity efforts.

Facebook’s Commerce Accelerator will select 60 startups from the EMEA and LATAM regions for the program, the company said. The startups that make the cut will explore building shopping solutions to drive commerce inside Facebook’s family of apps.

“Our goal is to make shopping seamless and empower anyone from an entrepreneur to the largest brand to use our apps to connect with customers,” wrote Michael Huang, Head of Startup Programs at Facebook, in a blog post.

The company said a recent global survey it conducted in partnership with the OECD and World Bank found that at least a third of small to medium-sized businesses on Facebook reported 25% or more of their sales being made digitally in the past month.

“With so many sales being made online, the importance of intuitive and positive e-commerce experiences for customers has become even greater,” the company said in a statement.

The other accelerator program, called Connectivity, will feature 30 startups from the LATAM and North America (Americas) regions. These startups will be tasked with developing affordable connectivity solutions that make internet access available in more places and to at least 100,000 additional people.

Facebook said through these accelerator programs it aims to provide local development opportunities for entrepreneurs. The company holds one or two similar accelerator programs each year in some markets. In total, the company has launched accelerator programs in 11 countries to date.

The coronavirus pandemic, which has forced Facebook to conduct the accelerator programs virtually this year, has “exposed the hard truth of the digital divide and the critical need for reliable, affordable internet connectivity,” wrote Huang.

Participating startups will gain access to cost-free training, 1:1 mentorship, and access to Facebook products, its expertise and access to a global network of startup peers and successful founders. But the company is not offering monetary benefits to startups —  something it has in some of its previous accelerator programs — at accelerators announced on Monday.

Startups interested in either of the accelerator programs can submit their application.

“At Facebook, we strongly believe that by connecting, training, and growing entrepreneurs and startups through our programs, we can empower people to solve relevant, meaningful problems. We aim to build products that billions of people can use and benefit from,” Huang wrote.

Facebook has long focused on connectivity efforts, but its interest in commerce is relatively new. In May, Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg unveiled Facebook Shops to make it easier for companies to list their products on Facebook and Instagram.

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Give Your Visitors Stock Information With Marketstack API

Every website needs to find a way to keep visitors and regular readers interested. One option is to provide live information that they can use. Not all data will be relevant, of course, but if its financial facts and the latest movements in the markets your readers need, marketstack API can help.

It’s a free and easy to use REST API interface that delivers worldwide stock market data to your site. You can place real-time market data from 72 global exchanges wherever you need on your site. There’s even the potential to check real-time market data and 30+ years of historical data.

How Does an API Make This Possible?

Signing up to marketstack provides free access to the JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) API (application programming interface). This provides queries and operations which a developer can use to add useful data to a website or app.

APIs are in use constantly around the web and on phones. You’ll have used one to upload photos to Facebook or share a web link to a messaging service.

With marketstack API, a vast database of market data is ready to be presented to your readers. Top exchanges can be displayed as easily as regional exchanges, useful if your project requires something more specific.

Using this API gives you the opportunity to service your readers with high-quality market data

Marketstack API Features

Used by over 30,000 happy customers, marketstack API boasts big names including Amazon and Uber among its clients. The service boasts:

• Real-time stock data
• Intraday market data
• 125,000+ stock tickers
• 72 global exchanges from NASDAQ, NYSE, TYO, and LSE to less prominent exchanges such as XOSL, XWAR, XBAH
• 30+ years of historical data
• Scalable API
• Free and premium subscription options

In short, you have everything you need with market API to create stocks and shares

Scalable API, With Free or Premium Options

You can use marketstack API free or pay for the privilege. It all depends on the depth of data you require and the number of monthly requests.

The Free package gives you 1,000 requests per month, access to 72 stock exchanges, a single year of history, and End-of-Day data. As you may have guessed, this package is really intended for development and testing.

The marketstack API Basic package is $9.99 a month, or $7.99 if billed yearly. You’ll get everything you find in the Free package plus 10,000 requests/month, 10 years of history, HTTPS encryption, tech support, license for commercial use, and Intraday Data.

With the Professional package ($49.99/month, or $39.99 with annual billing) you’ll get all the same features as the Basic marketstack API package, plus 100,000 requests/month, 30+ years history, and real-time updates.

The Business package is $149.99/month ($119.99 with annual billing) with up to 500,000 requests/month and priority tech support. Enterprise customers can contact marketstack for custom pricing.

Getting started with marketstack API is easy with thee Free package. Simply sign up for a free account to start using.

Integrate Marketstack Data into Your Website or App

A free marketstack API account requires just an email address, relevant personal details, and a password.

With the account set up, you can find your API key, start querying the endpoints, and begin adding market data to your project.

Find Your API Key

Find your API key by signing into your marketstack account to view the Dashboard screen. Your API key is displayed alongside the details of your selected package.

To make an API request you need the API access key. Note that this can be reset at any time to create a new key. This is useful if you accidentally make the key public.

A query begins with the base URL:

http://api.marketstack.com/v1/

A request available for basic plan users is the End-of-Day (EOD) data:

Running this displays pages of data for a specific company (Apple Inc). Data in this format can be styled for presentation in your website or apps.

Note the optional parameters. These can specify sort order, date range, a limit to the query results, and an offset.

Query the API Endpoints

With marketstack API you have access to various API endpoints, each capable of delivering different data. Each of these is subject to optional parameters.

• End-of-Day Data: look up data for one or multiple stock tickers
• Intraday Data: data intervals as short as one minute can be queried
• Real-Time Updates: with the high request subscription of the Prodessional plan, intraday updates can provide minute-by-minute market updates in real-time
• Historical Updates: stock prices going back a year (Free plan), 10 years (Basic) or 30 years (Professional and above) can be displayed with this API endpoint

• Tickers: this displays information about a specific stock ticker symbol (e.g. AAPL)
• Exchanges: look up data from the 72-plus stock exchanges covered by marketstack
• Currencies: check the rate of trading currencies supported by marketstack
• Timezones: display information about supported timezone

As with the example above, these API endpoints all have specific parameters that you can use to tailor queries to the intended outcomes.

Marketstack API Supports Six Development Languages

Six programming languages are supported by marketstack API:

• PHP
• Python
• Nodejs
• jQuery
• Go
• Ruby

While implementation is straightforward, extensive documentation is also provided [LINK]. This covers API response objects, GET parameters, and more.

You’ll find documented examples of the API used with each programming language, giving you an easy shortcut to incorporating market data on your website.

Show Your Readers Real Time Stocks and Shares Data

With the marketstack API you can easily service the needs of readers requiring up to the minute stock market data. A range of query types are available thanks to the wealth of API endpoints, with support for six key development languages.

Marketstack API can be effortlessly integrated with new or existing projects, making it the top choice for integrating market data on your website.

Want more features for your website or app? Consider the weatherstack API for adding weather information to your project, or aviationstack API for live flight data.

Read the full article: Give Your Visitors Stock Information With Marketstack API

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How to Access Special Characters in Your Mac Fonts

Special characters refer to characters that are neither letters nor numbers. You might be looking for how to type special characters like a copyright symbol, accented letters, or emojis on a Mac. All of these, and many more, are available through a few different methods.

The best method to use depends on your workflow. You might prefer to view the character map in the Mac Font Book, to access the emoji and symbol viewer while typing, or to learn particular keyboard shortcuts for the symbols you use most often.

We’ll explain all you need to know below.

1. Hold Down a Key to Type Accented Letters

Although they aren’t technically special characters, accented letters are some of the most common characters people struggle to find on a Mac keyboard. These aren’t used too often in English, but if you speak a second language, you’re likely to need them all the time.

The easiest way to type accented letters on a Mac is to hold down the letter you want to type, causing a popup menu with all the available accents to appear.

From this menu, type the corresponding number for the accent you want to use. You can also use the Arrow keys to highlight the accented letter you want, then hit Return to type it. Or use the mouse to click your desired accent.

This method is only available for letters that use accents, which are mostly vowels. But you can also use it to access alternative punctuation marks, like the upside-down question marks used in Spanish.

2. Press Ctrl + Cmd + Space to Open the Character Viewer

The best way to type special characters on your Mac is to open the Character Viewer. This is a popup character map with every special character on your Mac. You can find what you’re looking for by scrolling through the list, selecting the relevant category from the sidebar, or searching for a character using the search bar.

Press Ctrl + Cmd + Space whenever you’re typing on your Mac to open the Character Viewer. When you find the special character you want to use, double-click to add it to your text. Hit Esc at any time to quit the Character Viewer.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, open the Settings dropdown menu and choose to Customize List. You can add more categories to the Character Viewer, including Dingbats, Musical Symbols, Phonetic Alphabet, Foreign Characters, and more.

You can also create a Favorites section by clicking Add to Favorites beneath each of your most commonly used special characters.

Shrink the Character Viewer for Quick Emojis

Although you can use the full Character Viewer window to type emojis on your Mac, if that’s your primary goal, you should use the minimized viewer instead. Click the Window button in the top-right corner to shrink the Character Viewer to a smaller size.

From this window, you can navigate through all the available emojis using your keyboard. Press Tab to cycle through emoji categories, then select an emoji using the Arrow keys and hit Return to add it.

You can also use the search bar immediately after opening the minimized Character Viewer to find the exact emoji you’re looking for in a snap.

3. Use Keyboard Shortcuts to Type Special Characters

For most people, the Character Viewer is the easiest way to type special characters on a Mac. This is especially true since you only need to remember a single keyboard shortcut. But power users can boost their productivity by learning specific shortcuts for all the special characters they need to use.

Everybody knows that you can type punctuation marks by holding the Shift key. But you can access even more special characters by using Option or Option + Shift with various keys on your Mac’s keyboard.

Using these shortcuts, it’s possible to type a wide range of common special characters in an instant. For example, the copyright symbol is Option + G. The trademark symbol is Shift + Option + 2.

Take a look at our special characters cheat sheet for Mac to see every keyboard shortcut.

Use the Keyboard Viewer to See Live Shortcuts

If you’re struggling to remember all the shortcuts you need, turn on the Keyboard Viewer for a live view of your keyboard shortcuts. Go to System Preferences > Keyboard and enable the option to Show keyboard and emoji viewers in menu bar.

Now click the Window icon in your menu bar and select Show Keyboard Viewer. This icon might appear as a flag if you have multiple keyboard languages enabled.

The Keyboard Viewer shows you what every key on your keyboard is programmed to type. As you press and hold the Shift and Option keys, this keyboard changes to reflect the relevant special character shortcuts. Accents come up in orange, to show that you need to type another letter after the accent.

If you memorize some keyboard shortcuts, you’ll find they’re the quickest way to type special characters on a Mac.

4. Open the Font Book to View Every Special Character

Different fonts offer different special characters. Another way to view all the special characters available for a particular font on your Mac is to open Font Book. You can find it in the Applications folder on your Mac, or open it using Spotlight (Cmd + Space).

Font Book lets you manage all the fonts on your Mac. Use it to install new fonts, organize them into categories, or delete the fonts you don’t need anymore.

After opening Font Book, select your font and click the Grid view in the toolbar. You can also go to View > Repertoire to change the Font Book view. You should see every character in your chosen font as a grid, including all the special characters available.

To type a special character, select it in Font Book and use Cmd + C to copy it to your clipboard. Now press Cmd + V to paste it elsewhere. If you’re pasting it into a word processor, use Shift + Option + Cmd + V to paste it without any formatting.

Better Ways to Manage Your Fonts

Now you know how to type special characters without much fuss. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for more ways to manage fonts or access special characters on your Mac, alternative font managers might be the answer you’re looking for.

Take a look at the best Mac font management apps.

Read the full article: How to Access Special Characters in Your Mac Fonts

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The Microsoft Edge Beta v85 Adds Lots of New Features

If you’ve kept track of the new Microsoft Edge browser, you’ll know that it has recently undergone a lot of changes, including upgrading to a Chromium base. Now, Microsoft is looking to make its browser even better with the addition of some new features. Starting with v85.

Let’s take a look at the changelog and see what the new Edge has in store for us.

What’s in Store for the Microsoft Edge V85 Update?

You can find all of the new additions in the Edge Beta v85 release notes. You’ll note that this is for the beta version of the browser, so it’s not available on the main branch yet. However, it’s useful as a sneak peek into what Microsoft Edge will look like in the future.

First, Edge will now support syncing favorites and settings between users on the same PC without needing to use cloud sync. This is good news for privacy enthusiasts who don’t want to put their data stored in the cloud.

The update also brings along a PDF highlighter tool, natively installed within the browser. This lets you mark specific parts of a PDF document, then save it so that others can see your edits.

This update will also allow Windows Explorer to play nicer with Edge. If someone tries to open a link from a trusted source in another program (like Word, for instance), Edge will no longer prod you with a confirmation box.

Microsoft Edge Collections is also getting sync compatibility with OneNote. OneNote is Microsoft’s handy note-taking system that lets people organize their projects, so this syncing capability makes it easy to store essential websites for later.

How Microsoft Edge Is Evolving for the Modern Internet

For a long time, Microsoft’s browsers struggled to keep up with the competition. Both Chrome and Firefox boasted advanced features that put Microsoft’s Internet Explorer to shame.

However, Microsoft is keen to push its new browser, Edge, into the spotlight. First, the company adopted a Chromium base to keep up with the competition. We took a look at this update in our guide on how to download the Chromium version of Edge.

Now, as evident by this update, Microsoft wants to equip Edge with all the necessities needed to take on Chrome and Firefox. It’s still early days to tell if Microsoft Edge will become a significant contender in the browser market, but updates like this are a step in the right direction.

Keeping on Top of Microsoft Edge

While these features aren’t ready for the main branch, they’re usable in the beta. Now you know some of the features that will come to Edge in the future.

If you want first-hand sneak previews of each update for Edge, here’s everything you need to know about Microsoft Edge Insider channels.

Read the full article: The Microsoft Edge Beta v85 Adds Lots of New Features

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Which Linux Shell Is Best? 5 Common Shells Compared

Happy using the bash shell in Linux? Or would you prefer to try out an alternative? There’s tsch, fish, KornShell, and Z Shell to choose from. But which of these popular Linux shells is best?

What Is a Linux Shell?

Usually, when you write an application, it’s done in a high-level language that humans can understand. Examples of these are C#, Java, C++, etc. Believe it or not, your computer sees everything as 1s as 0s or, as commonly known, binary or machine code.

A compiler will then translate the high-level language into a binary file like an executable. This binary file is what you execute to launch said application.

Now, this is a very high-level view of what happens; just remember, your computer needs a translation layer. This sits between what you’re telling it to do and how it can understand that.

A shell is what’s known as an interpreter. Similar to a compiler, an interpreter translates the human code into machine code. One of the differences is that an interpreter does this one statement at a time. Meanwhile, a compiler scans the entire program and translates it all into machine code.

The shell, then, is an interface for you to interact with your operating system (OS). As you type commands into the shell, it’s responsible for interpreting those commands and making the magic happen. Operations like copying files, piping, listing files are all within a shell’s remit.

Several Linux shells are available. To find out all the shells that are available on your system, open the terminal and type:

cat /etc/shells

To find out what shell you’re currently using type:

echo $0

But are you using the best Linux shell? Let’s look at what is available.

1. Bash

This is by a mile the most popular shell among Linux users. It’s hard to even think about shells without the Bourne-Again Shell (bash) being a part of the equation. Many Linux distributions ship with bash as the default shell because bash is the default GNU shell. Released in 1989, it also boasts a few decades of healthy development behind it.

Bash’s predecessor is The Bourne Shell (sh) which is one of the original Unix shells. One attractive feature to sh programmers was that they could port their scripts directly to bash entirely unchanged. Bash also offers several enhancements to its predecessor:

• Command completion
• Command history

Often online documentation will assume you are using bash. However, it is not without its shortcomings—as anyone who has ever written a bash script can attest to! It’s not that you can’t do something, it’s that it’s not always particularly elegant to read and write.

2. KornShell

Commonly known as ksh, KornShell is a popular alternative Linux shell that originated out of Bell Labs in the 1980s. There aren’t many differences between bash and ksh, but each has minor advantages over the other. Ksh, for example, has the cd old new command. If you were in the directory /Downloads/foo/bar/one/foobar and you needed to get to /Downloads/foo/bar/two/foobar you just need to enter:

cd one two

Veterans of ksh will advocate it’s superiority by mentioning its scripting benefits. These include:

• Better loop syntax
• Natural ways to repeat commands
• Associative arrays

Unlike bash, it’s tough to find help for ksh online. If you want to give ksh a try you enter:

sudo apt install ksh

ksh

3. Tcsh

Tcsh can trace its roots back to the early days of Unix. It’s an improved version of the C shell (csh) and features:

• Programmable command-line completion
• Command-line editing
• Adding arguments to aliases
• Easy command history access

You can run any command by typing !n replacing n with its corresponding number in the displayed history. History tab completion in tcsh works by typing:

!a<TAB>

This expands to the last command that started with the letter “a”. Comparatively, in bash, you would have to type !a:p to first see the command, followed by !! to execute it.

To give tcsh a try, type:

sudo apt install tcsh

tcsh

Tcsh is the default shell for BSD based systems like FreeBSD. The big selling point for tcsh is its scripting language, useful to anyone who is primarily programming in C. This makes tcsh useful for prototyping small C programs without getting confused over things like which brackets you’re using. This problem tends to happen if you’re continually switching between C programming and shell scripting.

4. Fish

Among all the seriousness of Linux, the team at fish have embedded a sense of humor in their project. On their website, the tongue-in-cheek title reads “Finally, a command line shell for the 90s” although fish (“friendly interactive shell”) was developed in 2005. Beyond the touted “Glorious VGA Color,” are some enhancements over other shells:

• Commands with invalid syntax display as red
• Correct syntax appears in blue
• Auto-complete suggestions
• Command completion based on the man pages on your machine.

This feature adds the syntax from the man page of newly installed software to your auto-complete suggestions. If you’d like to get more familiar with the command line, fish can be a great place to start.

To sample what fish is about, type:

sudo apt install fish

fish

5. Z Shell

Many would consider this to be leaving the best shell for last, which would be completely understandable. Zsh has similarities to bash and ksh and incorporates many of the features found in them as well as tcsh. Zsh features:

• Navigable autocompletion list
• Superior spelling correction
• Command line completion
• History shared across terminals
• Globbing (wildcard characters for filenames)

Globbing in zsh is very useful. Typing:

vim /u/l/b/a<TAB>

Would open the file:

/usr/local/bin/autoupdate.sh

Zsh can take a while to configure on first use if you don’t go with the default config. To give it a try, enter:

sudo apt install zsh

zsh

Which Linux Shell Is Best for Me?

The fact that these options are available is brilliant. Each is a glimpse into computing history, where programmers decided they wanted to make things their own way.

The substantial differences between these shells can be found in the scripting syntax. Each shell has a particular set of nuances that separate them from each other. As it stands, bash dominates in terms of market share, which makes finding help much simpler. Bash is simply the best all-rounder, meeting the needs of all but the most advanced users.

When you’ve settled on a Linux shell, be sure you’re familiar with the basics of shell scripting.

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6 Fixes for the Faulty Hardware Corrupted Page Stop Code in Windows 10

A Blue Screen of Death, technically known as a stop error, is never a happy experience for Windows users. Your computer crashes without warning, losing your work, or other data in the process. The faulty hardware corrupted page error is one such critical error that can strike without warning.

Here’s how you fix the faulty hardware corrupted page stop code for good.

What Is the Faulty Hardware Corrupted Page Stop Code Error?

The faulty hardware corrupted page error (Windows stop code 0x0000012B) covers several different hardware issues, but refers to a single-bit error. A single-bit error occurs when a single bit (a minute piece of data) is incorrectly changed during the transmission of data. While it sounds like a tiny issue, the result can cause your system hardware to malfunction, resulting in the faulty hardware corrupted page stop code.

There is good news and bad news.

The good news is that there are several fixes available for the faulty hardware corrupted page stop code. The bad news is that Windows stop code 0x0000012B can indicate your system hardware is failing. Specifically, the stop code is often associated with faulty RAM.

You can check your RAM and other hardware issues with these fixes for the faulty hardware corrupted page stop code.

1. Restart Your Computer

If you haven’t already, restart your computer. Although infuriating to hear, “Have you tried switching it off and on again” really does fix a lot of problems. Before delving into the more advanced fixes, restart your computer and see if that resolves the issue.

2. Reseat Your Hardware

As the faulty hardware corrupted page error relates to your system hardware, a common fix is reseating your system hardware. If you knock or bump your system accidentally, you might jolt your RAM or graphics card out of position.

You’ll need to get inside the case of your PC or laptop to reseat the hardware. Please be aware that this will void your manufacturer’s warranty in certain cases, so proceed with caution.

3. Run SFC

The faulty hardware corrupted page stop code can indicate issues with your system files. The Windows System File Check (SFC) is an integrated Windows system tool you use to check your Windows installation files for errors.

Before running the SFC command, you need to check that it is completely functional. You don’t want SFC to miss an error because it wasn’t working properly, to begin with. To do this, we use DISM, the Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool.

Like SFC, DISM is an integrated Windows utility with a wide range of functions. In this case, the DISM Restorehealth command ensures that our next fix will work properly.

Work through the following steps.

1. Type Command Prompt (Admin)in the Start menu search bar, then right-click and select Run as administrator to open an elevated Command Prompt.
2. Type the following command and press Enter: DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
3. Wait for the command to complete. The process can take up to 20 minutes, depending on your system’s health. The process seems stuck at certain times, but wait for it to complete.
4. When the process completes, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.

4. Run CHKDSK

Like SFC, CHKDSK is a Windows tool you can use to verify your Windows 10 file system. Wondering what the difference between CHKDSK and SFC is? CHKDSK scans your entire drive for errors, while SFC scans Windows system files specifically.

Run it from the Command Prompt, and use the CHKDSK scan to find the problem and fix your machine.

1. Type command prompt in your Start menu search bar, then right-click the best match and select Run as administrator. (Alternatively, press Windows key + X, then select Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.)
2. Next, type chkdsk /r and press Enter. The command will scan your system for errors and fix any issues along the way.

5. Check Your Drivers

At times, a new Windows drive will upset your hardware and cause a fault. Windows 10 now handles most driver updates, so faulty drivers are becoming less of an issue. But that doesn’t mean a dodgy driver cannot come and cause havoc.

You can see a list of recent Windows driver updates in the Update & Security settings page.

Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings panel, then select Update & Security > View update history. You can find any driver updates here.

Now, type device manager in the Start menu search bar and select the best match. Head down the list and check for an error symbol. If there is nothing, your driver status is likely not the source of the issue.

Several tools let you update all of your system drivers at the same time. The usefulness of these tools is debatable, especially as many try to force you to pay for freely available drivers. If you would like to know more, check out the best free tools you can use to fix any Windows 10 issue.

6. Check Your RAM Using MemTest86

The Windows Memory Diagnostic tool is a Windows system tool you can use to analyze your RAM for errors. However, it isn’t the best option for the job. That title goes to MemTest86, a free, standalone memory testing tool for x86 machines.

You boot MemTest86 from a USB flash drive (or bootable disc) and leave it to check your system RAM. A MemTest86 takes a while to complete. For a full evaluation of your RAM, you should run at least two passes (that’s two complete cycles). As a single pass can take hours, the analysis process can take a while. However, MemTest86 will uncover any serious RAM issues during the process, so it is worth the wait.

Head to the MemTest86 download page and download the Image for creating bootable CD (ISO format). Next, you need to write the MemTest86 ISO to a USB flash drive. Check out this list of free tools to make a bootable USB flash drive.

Download a tool from the list, burn MemTest86 to your USB flash drive, then shut down your system. Now, reboot your system while pressing the button for your Boot Selection menu (usually F10, F11, DEL, or ESC), then select the bootable MemTest86 USB flash drive. The memory test will start automatically.

Fixing the Faulty Hardware Corrupted Page

Like many things Windows 10, a Bluescreen of Death is never nice—but there is often a simple resolution. The best thing to do is attempt to reseat your RAM and graphics card before attempting any of the additional fixes. Sometimes the simplest fixes have the greatest effect!

If you want to learn more about your bluescreen errors and how to fix them, check out Nirsoft’s BlueScreenView. It is a free tool you can use to understand Windows stop codes so you can fix any issue without help!

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The Microsoft Surface Neo Has Been Delayed

Microsoft has been busy planning new entries to its Surface range, including the Surface Duo and Neo. Unfortunately for fans of the Microsoft Surface Neo, its rough release date has been silently dropped from the Microsoft website.

We can make an educated guess as to why the Surface Neo has been delayed. However, Microsoft hasn’t confirmed anything officially at the time of writing.

When Did the Microsoft Surface Neo Release Date Vanish?

Microsoft didn’t make an official announcement on any of its channels about the possible delay. However, the company did edit the Surface Neo product page. If you use The Wayback Machine to view the page from July 28, you’ll find that the first paragraph ends with “coming Holiday 2020.”

However, if you visit the Surface Neo product page now, the date has disappeared.

While this isn’t direct confirmation from Microsoft, it’s safe to assume the Surface Neo won’t be coming out as soon as Microsoft hoped it would.

Why Has the Microsoft Surface Neo Been Delayed?

Given that there was no official announcement from Microsoft on this delay, we don’t have confirmation on why it happened. However, it’s safe to assume that the current COVID-19 pandemic caused issues.

Technology manufacturers rely on China as one of the top electronics exporters in the world. Unfortunately, China was at the epicenter of the pandemic, which caused delays for a lot of these companies. As such, there’s a good chance that Microsoft did not get all the components it needed to meet the Surface Neo’s release window.

It’s important to note, however, that this setback only affects the Surface Neo. Microsoft’s other future entry in the series, the Surface Duo, has not suffered any delays.

Windows Central reported a tweet that pinned the Surface Duo’s release date to August 24, 2020. If that turns out to be a rumor, you can instead rely on Microsoft’s Surface Duo product page, which points to “holiday 2020.”

Preparing for New Microsoft Surface Devices

While the Surface Duo has reportedly escaped delays, the Neo was not so lucky. Which means you’ll have to wait a little longer before you can get hold of a Surface Neo.

While you wait for the Surface Duo or Surface Neo to release, why not check out the best Microsoft Store apps you could install on it?

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What Are Reloaded Games and Repacked Games?

If you’ve explored the gaming scene for long enough, you may have come across game torrents labeled with two terms; “Reloaded” and “Repacked.” While these may sound like sequels for The Matrix, they have a whole different meaning when describing video games.

In this article we explain what repacked games and reloaded games are, and discover whether or not they’re legal.

What Is a Reloaded Game?

When you see a “reloaded” game, it can mean one of two things. Either the Reloaded group cracked and uploaded the game, or the uploader re-uploaded the game.

When “Reloaded” Means the Reloaded Team

Sometimes when a game is labeled “Reloaded” (or “RLD”), this means the Reloaded piracy group cracked the game. Crackers will often “sign” their work to show that they’re responsible for it.

The Reloaded team is notorious on the internet. They started up in 2004, and have many high-level cracks under their name. One of them was Spore, which Reloaded released four days before the release date with its draconian SecuROM DRM stripped from it. Since then, Reloaded has become a famous team amongst pirates who rely on them for free games.

When “Reloaded” Means a Re-Upload

Sometimes, “reloaded” means the uploader has tweaked the original files and re-uploaded it to internet. This may be because someone took down the original link, or the uploader tweaked the game to make it run better. As such, they use the term “reloaded” to tell people that the files are a recent upload.

What Is a Repacked Game?

When a game is labeled as “repacked,” it means the uploader has shuffled the files around to minimize download times. It tells downloaders that the uploader took the base files, “repacked” it to lower the file size, then re-uploaded it for everyone to use.

When a cracking team first breaks into a game, the total file size can be huge. This is because the software contains the full game, without any compression or removal of unnecessary features.

As such, if the cracker then uploads this to the internet, it may take a long time for downloaders to download the games onto their system. Even if they do manage it, the game will take up a large amount of space on the downloader’s hard drive.

How Crackers Reduce a Game’s File Size

When reducing a game’s huge file size, a cracker may compress files to reduce the file size. They’ll locate the files that take up the most space (such as sound and texture files) then pack them up to make the overall download size smaller.

They’ll also go through the game files and remove elements they deem unnecessary. For instance, a lot of games come with different language options. These games contain sound files for each of these languages, so the user can swap between them at will.

Someone repacking a game can lower the file size by removing the language files that aren’t in their native language. They will then upload the files stating what language the game is in, so people know what to expect when they download it. As such, if someone doesn’t care that they can play the game in French or Italian, they can save space and download time by grabbing an English-only repack.

A repacked game may also come with a crack. Cracks are special tools that can bust open the copy-protection of a program. Once the user downloads the files, they can apply the crack themselves and play the game without issue.

Are Repacked and Reloaded Games Illegal?

As you may have guessed by now, you’ll find these terms on pirating and game torrent sites. One is a tag for a cracking group, while the other is a sign that someone has heavily reduced a game’s file size.

Either way, if you see one of these tags on a game, there’s a very high chance that by downloading it you’re committing piracy. Even if the game is so old that it’s technically abandonware (what is abandonware?), it’s still a substantial gray area both legally and morally.

As such, if you see a game with one of these tags, it’s best to leave it be and find a legal way to download the game. For modern games, Steam and the Epic Store are both excellent picks to find it; for older titles, Good Old Games (GOG) may have it. If it doesn’t, GOG does have a “recommend a game” feature that you can use to raise awareness for your game.

Yes, these options do involve spending money, which isn’t an ideal situation. However, there are plenty of issues when illegally downloading games, ranging from a broken game to viruses and malware. You’re better off waiting for a Steam sale or Humble Bundle than running the risk of downloading a bad file.

How to Legally Get Free Games

Even if you’re short on cash, you don’t need to resort to piracy for something new to play. These days, there are swathes of games you don’t need to pay to play. This is either because the game uses a free-to-play model, or a store gives away a paid game.

For example, there are plenty of free games on Steam that won’t harm your wallet. Game services such as PS Now, Steam, and the Epic Store also give away games for free periodically, with Epic doing a unique “free game every week” campaign. It’s worth keeping tabs on them to see what’s new.

If you’re willing to pay a little bit of money, you can get lots of games for a single monthly fee. PS Now and the Xbox Game Pass (what is Xbox Game Pass?) are like the Netflix of video games. You just pay a small amount of money to unlock a considerable library. It’s by no means free, but it is a fantastic way to play games on a low budget.

Getting Smarter About Piracy

“Reloaded” and “repacked” are two terms you’ll see if you frequently pirate games. Crackers use them to tell you more about the upload, whether it’s a cracking group’s signature or an indicator that the uploader reduced the file size.

If you tend to turn to torrenting services for your entertainment, you should learn all about the dangers of downloading pirated games.

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Windows 10 Devices Are at Risk From the BootHole Vulnerability

Researchers have discovered a flaw in Windows and Linux-based operating systems. The flaw, nicknamed “BootHole,” can grant a hacker near-complete control over a victim’s PC. And unfortunately, we’re now waiting on Microsoft to patch the vulnerability.

How the BootHole Exploit Works

The exploit first came to light when researchers at Eclypsium discovered it. BootHole is not a strain of malware. Instead, it’s the name for the hole in the defenses that a virus can exploit.

At the time of writing, this problem only affects Linux boot systems and those that use Secure Boot. Unfortunately, Windows uses Secure Boot, which means it’s weak to this exploit.

Eclypsium researchers discovered #BootHoleVulnerability in the GRUB2 bootloader that can be used to gain arbitrary code execution on majority of Linux and Windows based systems, even when they are not using GRUB and Secure Boot is enabled. https://t.co/9jc26InmfA pic.twitter.com/0hgnufe1xA

— Eclypsium (@eclypsium) July 29, 2020

Once malware enters the system via the BootHole exploit, it can use arbitrary code to gain control over as much of the computer as it pleases.

The boot process is an important part of a computer because it defines how an operating system loads. If malware gets in between the cracks of the boot process, it can control how the operating system works and cause damage.

Can You Fix the BootHole Exploit?

Unfortunately, because this flaw is related to Windows’ boot sequence, it’s not something that you can fix yourself. Microsoft has to release a patch that fixes the BootHole flaw. However, this isn’t an easy task.

The boot sequence is an essential part of keeping the operating system stable. As such, if Microsoft rushes out a buggy patch for the flaw, it will cause system instability.

As a result of this, it may take Microsoft a while to release a patch that fixes BootHole. And we’re all reliant on Microsoft doing so.

How to Stay Safe From Exploits

While waiting for Microsoft to patch BootHole, you’ll need to be extra careful to avoid malware that would allow hackers to take advantage of the vulnerability.

If you’re worried about BootHole, be sure to read our article explaining how to stay safe online without the latest security patches.

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The 5 Best Burner Phones for Protecting Your Identity

Burner phones, devices which are intended to be cheap, throwaway, and less invasive serve may different purposes. Whether you’re after a spare to throw in your bag when travelling or hoping to minimize surveillance, there are options out there that won’t break the bank.

We’ve rounded up some of the best burner phones available today to get you started.

Why Use a Burner Phone?

There are plenty of reasons why you might want a burner phone. While news reports often link them to criminality, these devices can be incredibly useful for all sorts of legitimate reasons. They tend to be quite hard-wearing, have great battery life, and, best of all, are pretty inexpensive.

Aside from that, burner phones can be useful to protect your identity. For instance, your smartphone will have a lot of personal data stored on it. Lose your phone and that can leave you at risk of identity theft. A simpler, less expensive phone will likely only have text messages, phone calls, and contacts on there.

Given that most options rely solely on 2G or 3G connections, you’re unlikely to be using the internet in the same way, aside from possibly accessing emails or getting directions. Taking all of this into account, let’s see what handsets we rate as some of the best burner phones.

1. Nokia 3310 3G

Nokia 3310 3G Nokia 3310 3G Buy Now On Amazon $64.99

If you grew up in the 1990s, then you’ll remember the original Nokia 3310, one of the most popular cell phones of all time. The Nokia 3310 3G is an update of the iconic device with a color screen and 3G capability. While this is almost two generations of wireless technology behind, so it won’t offer the fastest internet speeds, it does have its uses.

For example, it would come in useful for someone who is going to a festival for the weekend. You can call and text your friends if you lose them, and, thanks to the 3G, you could probably even locate them on a map. Aside from the 3G capabilities, the phone has a massive 27-day standby time—more than enough for a weekend away, for example. There’s even an updated version of Snake, the classic pre-internet mobile game, to play.

We reviewed the revived Nokia 3310 back in 2017. At the time, we didn’t think it offered value for money. However, the phone has evolved in the years since and has become one of the best affordable burner phones available.

2. Plum Ram 7

Plum Ram 7 Plum Ram 7 Buy Now On Amazon $55.00

As mentioned, burner phones tend to be fairly rugged. Case in point is the Plum Ram 7, which looks like something that could withstand a fall from the 37th story. The handset has a damage-limiting design, so it should be able to withstand a knock or two.

This handset is also 3G, so it will be able to access the internet, albeit without many of the features we’ve come to expect. This would be an excellent phone for hiking trips or similar pursuits. Its IP68 dust and water-resistant rating will ensure you won’t easily damage it if you drop it into the sand or a stream.

This cell phone is unlocked, too, meaning you can pop any SIM card from compatible carriers into it. Consequently, you can find the provider with the best coverage at your destination and use their network. The phone boasts a fantastic 35-hour talk time and 900-hour standby time.

3. Nokia 8110 4G

Nokia 8110 4G Nokia 8110 4G Buy Now On Amazon $57.35

Another Nokia, this time the revamped Nokia 8110 4G. However, unlike the 3310, this is a slider phone. Although largely a relic of a bygone era, these devices come equipped with a plastic covering over the buttons. This slides down to reveal the keypad so you can access the phone’s functions.

It is relatively inexpensive, and the sliding mouthpiece has an air of retro-cool. The 8110 outstrips the other burner phones on this list in terms of connectivity. Users can enjoy all the wonder of 4G, so you should have no problem with basic internet functions. It has a standby time of 25 days, which is the best part of a month.

It also has a talk time of 7.5 hours, so you will get plenty out of the battery. Just be aware that using the internet will drain the battery faster, so you would need to use it sparingly and ensure you turn data off when you aren’t using it. Interestingly, the original 8110 is the phone that Neo used in The Matrix!

4. Alcatel QUICKFLIP 4044C

Alcatel QUICKFLIP 4044C Alcatel QUICKFLIP 4044C Buy Now On Amazon $47.90

The Alcatel QUICKFLIP 4044C is an excellent example of an inexpensive burner phone. Like the others on this list, it comes with a novel throwback feature. In this case, the 4044C is a flip phone. Although this design has seen a few modern revivals, namely the Motorola Razr 2020, it still has an element of nostalgic cool to it.

However, one additional feature that stands out is the HD Voice capabilities of the phone. This makes it an ideal choice for noisy environments like a concert or music festival, where you might not hear your friends on a regular phone. The HD Voice capabilities will filter out background noise, making a caller’s voice clearer.

5. Zanco Tiny T1

Zanco Tiny T1 Zanco Tiny T1 Buy Now On Amazon $49.99

The Zanco Tiny T1 has to take the prize for the most compact handset on this list. Well, it would do, as it is the world’s smallest phone. Sick and tired of lugging an unwieldy Samsung beefcake around with you? Then the Zanco Tiny is for you.

If you are going backpacking or hiking for photography purposes, you want all the weight in your camera equipment. You can pop this phone in any pocket, and you won’t even notice the difference. Thanks to the 14-option software-based voice changer, this is an excellent phone if you want to protect your identity, too.

It also has a 180-minute talk time and a three-day standby time. Ideal for those short weekend trips away, then. The great thing is, it is a very basic phone. So, if you are taking a distraction-free break from everyday life, you can still contact someone if you need to.

The Best Cheap Burner Phone for You

Whatever you need a cheap burner phone for, there are plenty on the market to choose from. Whether you’re heading to a festival, off camping for the weekend, or just want a cheap, basic handset, the phones included here definitely have you covered.

That said, if you want to keep your smartphone’s features, while still getting the benefits of a burner phone, check out some of the best apps for a temporary burner phone number.

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Google’s budget Pixel 4a addresses its premium predecessor’s biggest problem

The Pixel line has always felt like more of an underdog product than one should reasonably expect from a corporation as massive as Google. After years of partnerships and Nexus devices, when Google finally did enter the smartphone market in earnest, it found itself attempting to chip away at an already mature category — an even more difficult feat when most of that competition is already running your operating system.

In an important sense, the Pixel line’s differentiator may actually be its lack of flash — something that draws a sharp contrast from industry leaders like Samsung, Apple and Huawei. If phones were cars, it would be a reasonable sedan — competent, well-priced and no one is making comments when you drive it up to the PTA meeting. Through much of this, however, Google seems to have struggled to find an identity.

Top members of Google’s Pixel team have left the company

Sales have been mediocre. It’s the sort of thing that has less than zero effect on Google’s bottom line at the end of the day, but the company clearly has grander ambitions. The division recently underwent a seismic shift in management with the exit of division head Mario Queiroz and camera wizard Marc Levoy. It was, seemingly, a sign that Google is set to blaze a new path for its mobile line, which could ultimately make the Pixel 4 and 4a the last of their kind.

I do think there’s value in reconsidering its approach to the flagship. But the budget “a” really was Google getting things right at the right time. And the sales reflected that with the Pixel 3a, following a disappointing performance by the 3. The 3a nailed the smartphone zeitgeist in a way that previous Pixels had failed, delivering solid and affordable options as the smartphone-buying public had grown weary of paying $1,000+ for a new flagship.

It was even less flashy than other Pixels, and lacking in horsepower under the hood, but it was custom-built to deliver one of the best and purest Android experiences on the market. Last year’s Pixel 4 got off to a rocky start. The device was solid, but had one extremely important flaw: abysmal battery life. Sales suffered, though Google was reportedly able to make up for a rough start out of the gate due to pretty solid discounts over the handset’s life.

Pixel 4 review: Google ups its camera game

That all brings us to the Pixel 4a, which, most importantly, addresses the 4’s most glaring problem. Battery life is one of those things that rarely gets mentioned in the first sentence or two about a new smartphone. It’s not cool or interesting or new or sexy. But after the honeymoon of the first few weeks or so with a new handset, it can rocket to the top of the most important things about a phone. It’s the sort of thing you tend to only notice when it’s back. And with the Pixel 4, people definitely noticed.

The 4a, mind you, is not a battery powerhouse, but it’s decent. And that, in and of itself, is enough to recommend it over the Pixel 4. At 3140 mAh, the 4a’s battery is nothing to write home about, but it’s a nice improvement over the 4’s 2800 mAh and a slight bump over the 3a’s 3080 mAh. Using the 4a as my regular phone, I was able to get more than a day out of the handset, with the battery finally giving up the ghost around 27 hours after I unplugged it from the charger. That number is going to shrink if you enable the always-on display. 

What Pixel 3a tells us about the state of the smartphone — and Google

Inside, the handset sports last year’s Snapdragon 730G (an overlooked version of the 730). There was likely little consideration of the new 765, for reasons having to do with price. For most tasks the processor choice won’t make a huge difference day to day, but it’s certainly noticeable on some key things like shooting photos, which take a few extra moments to process.

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The camera has, of course, long been the centerpiece of the Pixel line. That fact certainly extends to its budget offshoots. The 4a maintains the 3a’s single 12.2-megapixel rear-facing camera, albeit configured into a square camera module à la the 4. Middling camera hardware has always been a strange source of pride for Google.

The company has long insisted that it’s able to provide some of the best mobile imaging by letting on-board computation and software do most of the heavy lifting. And honestly, the results speak for themselves. The Pixel 3a takes some truly excellent photos for a handset at this price point, including low light and zoom.

Hardware does, indeed, still matter. And it’s going to for the foreseeable future. Google, for example, is able to do some really impressive things with the Super Res Zoom feature introduced on the Pixel 3. But without an optical zoom lens, the AI only goes so far when it comes to losing detail.

Same goes for Portrait Mode. Google’s is one of the best in the business. But while it’s most good enough to offer the illusion of bokeh blur, there are still computation limitations of a system that’s designed to guess at an image’s depth of field. Having been switching between the iPhone 11 and Pixel 3a a fair bit in recent days, among other things, I’ve really come to appreciate the close range at which the Google device is able to shoot in Portrait Mode. Both, however, continue to run into some depth issue with more complex subject matter or noisy background. Shooting a chain link fence, say, can create some blurring chaos.

[L-R: iPhone 11, Pixel 4a]

Night Sight, on the other hand, continues to shine in low light.

I recently asked a colleague what drew him to keep purchasing Pixels. His answer, in hindsight, was obvious: software support. Along with the purest version of Android, you know Google is going to continue to deliver its best and most interesting features to the device. That goes a long a way.

Here, it means hits like the company’s impressive Recorder app, which provides live transcriptions. I’m always a little wary of how much to play up the feature. I know as a reporter who does a lot of interviews, it’s a pretty indispensable tool in my daily life. The same could probably go for college kids who attend a lot of lectures. Beyond that, I’m not sure how handy it’s going to be for most folks’ day to day. But I’m excited to see Google continue to build on the app with new features like Google Doc integration and Google Assistant support.

The 4a and 5 will be Google’s first 5G-enabled Pixels

Other notable software additions include live captioning for phone calls and video calls, which essentially integrates the above technology. Doing so will alert the users on the other end. As Google notes, it’s really only good for conversations between two people. Adding more than that has a way of frying the algorithm in my experience with these services. And for privacy purposes, it will alert the person on the other end when it has been enabled.

At $349, the Pixel 4a starts at $50 cheaper than the 3a and less than half the price of Pixel 4. It also puts it well under budget flagships from the likes of Samsung and Apple. Even with that aggressive pricing in mind, there’s really no measure by which the Pixel 4a is an exciting phone. But it’s one that will get the job done, which is probably the most we can ask of it. Well, that and a headphone jack. 

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