How to Play Unplayable Videos on Your PC: 6 Methods to Try

Found a video file you can’t play? It could be due to a poor media player, missing codecs, or be a problem with the file. Perhaps it’s an issue with Digital Rights Management (DRM) preventing a video from playing.

You might also run into problems playing videos online from a PC, such as on Amazon or other sites.

In many cases, you can overcome problems and get the videos running. Here’s what you need to know about dealing with error codes, codecs, streaming, and video playback errors.

Common Reasons for Video Playback Errors

It’s often frustrating to find a video file on your PC that won’t play, especially if it worked previously.

Various factors impact the playback of a video file:

1. Your media player cannot play it
2. Codecs are missing from your computer
3. The file extension is unrecognized
4. A DRM decryption key is missing
5. The video file is corrupt
6. The online video service has a problem

Some of these errors can be resolved; others cannot. Let’s take a look at how to play online and local videos on your PC and fix any errors.

1. Confirm the Video File Extension

Most video files feature recognizable extensions. For example, you’re probably familiar with WMV, AVI, MP4, or MKV. Many other file extensions are in use for video, however. (Some of these denote the format of the video files; others are merely container formats.)

In some cases, the file extension might have been changed. It’s important to find the correct file extension, although this might be a process of trial and error.

If your video file won’t play and you’re convinced it should, try changing the file extension:

1. Open Windows Explorer
2. Go to File > Options > View
3. Find Hide extensions for known file types
4. Clear the checkmark, then click Apply
5. Click OK to confirm

You can then see the file extensions of your video file. This will appear as described above. To change the video file extension, first make a note of what it is to start with.

Then use the right-click menu to find Rename and change the extension to another recognized suffix. When asked Are you sure you want to change it, click Yes.

Changing the file extension doesn’t work often, but it’s worth taking the time to ensure the correct extension is set.

2. Upgrade to VLC Media Player

Windows 10 features two media players pre-installed. First is the legacy Windows Media Player 12, which while regularly updated, was released with Windows 7 back in 2009. Second is Film & TV, a video playing app supporting a wide selection of video formats.

At first glance, the Film & TV app might be the smart option. After all, a modern video player should be able to play all file formats that came before.

However, this is not necessarily the case. To save money on licensing, Microsoft has omitted support for some video codecs from Windows 10. As such, a video that might have worked under Windows 7 or 8 might not play in Windows 10 using the preinstalled media players.

The solution to this is simple, however: use VLC media player instead. There’s a very good chance the video file will play.

Download: VLC media player (Free)

VLC isn’t the only solution, however. Other Windows 10 media players are available too.

3. Install the Latest Video Codecs

To play any video file that exists in the wildest corners of the web you need two things:

1. A media player (or the software)
2. A codec

You know what a media player is—but what is a codec?

In simple terms, it is software that knows how to convert the video into a viewable state.

Many codecs can be used to encode video. In some sense, the codec is like the key and your video is like a locked file. You need the same key or the codec to view the file that was used to encode the file.

This causes problems if you don’t have the right codec installed.

VLC media player is the solution to many video playback issues. It can play almost any video format, from XviD to Real Video, and even optical discs. Codecs are built into VLC media player, although other techniques are used to playback videos.

Furthermore, VLC media player can play partial files, which can prove useful in establishing the viability of a file.

If you’re already using a different media player and don’t want to switch, don’t worry. You can install all the codecs you need using the K-Lite Codec Pack. This is a bundle of free codecs that should allow you to play any video and audio file.

With the right codecs, video files should play smoothly. Choppy video playback can be fixed in several ways, including by updating to the most recent codecs.

Download: K-Lite Codec Pack (Free)

4. DRM Issues Are Preventing Playback

In other cases, some video files are locked to a specific media player.

This is most commonly the case with the M4V video format, a DRM-encoded version of the MP4 format. Unlike MP4, M4V can only be played on Apple’s media player software.

M4V files are purchased from the Apple TV app, and previously iTunes. So if you have used this service to buy video files and they won’t open in your regular software, use Apple’s media player software.

If the file has also corrupted, you may need a new copy of it. Check your purchases in iTunes to re-download the file.

5. Repair or Partially View Corrupt Video Files

In Windows 10 you might come across error messages that affect MOV and MP4 files. But with the right tool you can fix the 0xc00d36e5 or the 0xc00d36c4 error. It’s typically accompanied with the message “Item is unplayable, please reacquire the content.”

The tool you need to bypass this error? It’s the VLC media player again.

When Windows 10 is unable to play a video using the native tools, VLC is the alternative. Error codes can be overcome, and even corrupt and partially downloaded video files can be played back.

Of course, corrupted video files are ultimately useless. Where possible, you’ll need to replace a damaged file with a backup or download it again from a reliable source.

Be aware that the 0xc00d36e5 error can also occur due to other factors. As well as a corrupt file, the storage media might be corrupt. Power supply issues can cause the 0xc00d36e5 error as well.

There might also be an issue with the Windows Registry causing playback problems. Resetting the Windows Registry can help resolve this.

6. Resolve Issues With Your Online Streaming Service

It isn’t only video files hosted on your PC that can result in error messages. Unplayable videos from the web can also run into trouble.

Here’s an example: Amazon Prime Video error code 9074. Usually limited to Roku errors, it is one of several error codes that Prime Video displays, but they’re often interchangeable.

Prime Video playback error codes can be caused by:

• Server issues
• VPN and proxies
• An error on the playback device
• General service outage

In some cases, waiting will fix the problem. But it’s also worth rebooting your PC to be certain the problem isn’t at your end.

Unlike media player playback, streaming video from the web doesn’t require specific additional codecs. However, other issues preventing playback can be reset with a reboot—and who knows, by the time Windows 10 reboots, the Prime Video server could be back up and running.

You could also avoid problems with streaming video from Amazon. Simply download Amazon videos to your PC first, then watch at your leisure.

Now You Can Fix and Play Unplayable Videos on Your PC

If you’re running into any problems playing locally stored videos, on removable media, or on Windows 10, VLC media player should be your first solution.

For other problems, consider the file extension, DRM issues, and streaming issues.

At times, Windows 10 error messages can be caused by other underlying issues. Be sure to take the time to fix them. Failure to deal with these can lead to worse problems, such as the Windows 10 Black Screen of Death.

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When Did Apple Become Popular? A Brief History of the Rise of Apple

The rise of Apple perhaps lies in the company’s 1997-2002 slogan: “Think different”. While not always heralded as a success, it comes from great vision in the face of increasing competition.

While many of us own Apple products, few know the company’s history. When did Apple start and how successful was the company at first? When did Apple become popular? And why did Apple nearly collapse completely? Let’s find out.

When Was Apple Founded?

Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ron Wayne founded Apple in 1976. It began in the garage at Jobs’ parents’ house, and Wayne sketched its logo by hand.

Wozniak invented the Apple I computer, which consisted solely of a motherboard, memory, and a processor—intended primarily for hobbyists. It’s no great surprise, then, that manufacturers and investors had little interest in the prototype Apple I and Apple II computers. Soon, Wayne left Apple, trading in his shares for a $800 check.

Image Credit: Ransu/ Wikimedia Commons

In 1977, Mark Markkula invested $250,000 into the company and held a one-third share. Apple Computer Inc. officially began, and the Apple II launched to the public at the 1977 West Coast Computer Faire. Its VisiCalc—or Visual Calculator—meant the PC was a hit with businesses. The following year, Apple got its first real office.

Apple became a public company in 1980 and share prices skyrocketed. Some staff members suddenly became millionaires and Apple entered the Fortune 500 as one of the fastest-growing companies in history.

What Caused a Downturn in Apple Computer Sales During the Early 1980s?

The company soon hit a stumbling block. Primarily, Apple failed to deliver a cost-effective follow-up to the Apple II in a decent timeframe.

Jobs was especially impressed by the Xerox Alto’s capabilities, notably its Graphical User Interface (GUI). He became determined to incorporate its best features into Apple’s Lisa. The Lisa (1983) ran behind schedule, and at $9,995, was so expensive that only affluent businesses could afford it.

The Apple III (1980) was a high-end machine with matching price tag. Fortunately, the Apple IIe (1983) became a popular household computer for the decade. But they weren’t enough.

In the meantime, well-known firms decided to get into the PC market. IBM outsourced software to Microsoft, but didn’t stipulate operating system (OS) exclusivity. Users thus invested in an established company and developers targeted the successful Microsoft OS over Apple’s seemingly lethargic system.

Bill Gates announced GUIs as the future of PCs, but many years passed before Windows was released (Windows 1.01 was ultimately disappointing). Still, competition increased, with Microsoft releasing popular software such as Word and BASIC.

Apple and Microsoft eventually reached an agreement in 1985. This ensured Microsoft would continue to produce software for the Mac.

What Was Apple’s First Successful Computer?

Apple’s above Macintosh commercial, directed by Ridley Scott, was an instant hit. It was shown in movie theaters starting in January 1984, as well as at the 1984 Super Bowl. It’s still revered as one of the best ads ever made, although it was never aired on TV again after a cease-and-desist letter from the state of George Orwell.

Nonetheless, this was the world’s introduction to Apple.

That year, the original Macintosh was billed as “the computer for the rest of us,” while the Apple IIc simultaneously received awards for excellence. The Lisa 2 was released, later renamed the Mac XL, as Apple’s high-end alternative. Sales tripled when its price dropped from around $5,495 to $4,000. However, CEO John Sculley suggested Apple would lose money by increasing production, so the company discontinued the Mac XL.

Jobs had poached Sculley from his former position as the CEO of PepsiCo. Jobs reportedly said:

“Do you want to sell sugar water for the rest of your life? Or do you want to come with me and change the world?”

The Fall of Apple

Steve Jobs became involved in internal politics, was stripped of his duties, and resigned in 1985. Following claims he’d start a new company, Apple filed a lawsuit to stop him using sensitive information about the firm while in competition. This was eventually settled out of court.

Jobs launched NeXT Inc. with a computer twice as powerful as anything Apple had produced—and $1,000 cheaper!

Visited the Apple Museum in Prague which was fantastic! I got to use a real life Mac from the 80's! ?? pic.twitter.com/pL5xG8MNLe

— Dara Hayes (@darahayess) March 31, 2018

The company developed high-end computers at competitive prices using the NeXTSTEP OS. In 1993, NeXT sold the hardware side of the business to Canon in order to focus on its OS. It stayed ahead of the competition by ensuring that the OS could run on the latest hardware, like the Intel x86 and Pentium processors.

Microsoft’s Windows 3.1 (1993) was a great success, and its replacement, Windows 95, became Mac OS’s major competitor.

Motorola and IBM began to develop PowerPCs, quickly taken on by software developers like Adobe and Aldus. Apple developed the PowerPC Upgrade card, and by 1994, the first Apple PowerMacs were released.

Without Jobs and Wozniak, Sculley was trusted to steer the company. The System 7 OS introduced color to Macs, while the PowerBook laptop also launched. 1993 saw one of the company’s highest-profile failures: the Newton MessagePad, a glorified note-taker—costing $700!

The Recovery of Apple

By 1996, Apple had begun to license Mac OS to Motorola and IBM, a move suggested by Jobs before he left the company. PowerPC processors moved into the third generation and looked promising for all involved.

Apple then bought NeXT to improve Mac OS and stay ahead of its competition. In 1997, Steve Jobs delivered an inspirational speech on Apple’s behalf, detailing the future of Mac OS, plus other popular Apple products. Microsoft was impressed enough to invest $150 million in the firm.

Mac OS 8 was considered a huge success upon release. Later that year, the PowerMac G3 came out and the first Apple Store opened.

Jobs was reinstated as CEO, and remained so until shortly before his death.

Microsoft agreed to continue developing Microsoft Office software for Mac OS, possibly the pivotal point for Apple. Microsoft even developed a business unit specifically for Apple software, greatly improving the Mac’s end product.

By 1998, the Apple iMac and PowerBook G3 were extremely popular, and Apple’s profits were huge. Apple was a force to be reckoned with. The iMac further helped solidify Apple’s place in the market, driven by a belief in aesthetics and design alongside functionality. Soon, iBooks and PowerBook G4s were on the market, as well as the wireless innovation of Airport.

Mac OS X (2001) was a gigantic step forward for Apple’s desktop OS. Mac OS X integrated FreeBSD and NeXTSTEP developments. The Unix base appealed to the IT sector, while consumers and businesses alike appreciated the improved GUI. Apple also began to open Apple retail stores in the US to help combat poor sales in third-party shops.

When Did Apple Become a Big Company?

Another Apple innovation was released in 2001: the iPod. Its 5GB hard drive was marketed as having a thousand songs’ worth of storage—an incredible feat for an MP3 player at the time.

To complement this, Apple opened the iTunes Music Store in 2003. This came off the back of iTunes, Apple’s digital music management software released two years prior. Apple released a version for Windows in 2003 and began rolling it out to the rest of the world in the coming years. The iTunes Music Store was a simple way for US residents to legally purchase music online; its name changed to the iTunes Store in 2006 when it began to sell videos too.

Apple computers integrated Intel Chips in 2005, meaning its machines could run Windows. iMacs and MacBook Pro promises that all Apple PC hardware would be Intel-based in the future.

Apple Computer Inc. became Apple Inc. in 2007, reflecting its wider product range.

When Did the iPhone and iPad Launch?

2007’s iPhone, using iPhone OS (later iOS), was a hardware and software revolution. The iPhone combined basic phone capabilities with iPod’s music and video libraries.

The iPhone 3G was released the following year, allowing users to access the internet via a 3G data plan. It was also a personal organizer, and thanks to the App Store, was innovative in introducing an app-driven internet-capable smartphone to the world.

New iPhones have released annually ever since, including the redesigned 4, 4S, 5, and, in 2013, 5S and 5C, with varying sizes and price tags. The 6 Plus was introduced in 2014: it was a bigger unit which opened the way for iPhones of larger screen sizes. 2015’s iPhone 6S catered to those who still wanted a smaller smartphone, but Apple soon abandoned compact designs. Apple effectively skipped a ninth model, opting to name its 2018 model the iPhone X.

Apple’s voice assistant, Siri, launched in 2011 and has been a mainstay of all subsequent models. Regular updates to iOS also introduced new functionality. And hardware upgrades allowed Apple to offer Touch ID in 2013, which let users unlock their phones with their fingerprint. In 2017, Face ID arrived with the iPhone X, which allows users to unlock their phone and apps using facial recognition.

Apple launched the iPad in 2010: a tablet with the best features of the the iPhone (minus calling capacity), at the size of a small laptop. Like the iPhone, new models are released each year.

The iPad Mini then launched in 2012, while the bigger iPad Pro arrived in 2015.

Is Apple Running Out of Ideas?

This is the complaint frequently leveled at Apple. There are only so many ways you can reinvent the wheel.

When Steve Jobs died in 2011, many people believed Apple would fall again, having lost its visionary leader. So far, this has proven false and Apple has continued to succeed. Nonetheless, some see the company’s annual hardware tweaks as a sign of growing stale. Questions were certainly raised when the Apple Pencil was unveiled.

iPhones became thinner and bigger. The removal of a headphone jack forces users to adopt wireless earphones.

While camera capabilities have increased, the lenses remain just as large as previous units. This means that newer devices, like the iPhone 11 Pro, have unsightly blocks of cameras covering part of the units’ backs.

Stumbled upon a really cool Apple Museum in Prague today. pic.twitter.com/UCIkyJTH0i

— WHAT'S INSIDE? (@whatsinside) May 18, 2018

Then again, Apple stocks remain high. It’s a market leader that has innovated in such astonishing ways in the past. So do we hold Apple to a higher, and unrealistic, standard?

How Much Is Apple Worth?

Tim Cook took over from Jobs as CEO in 2011, and since then, Apple has become worth over $1 trillion.

But the more important question is how much Apple is worth to you. How much have you invested in the company’s products? Do you trust them to protect your data and keep providing useful services? If this historical glimpse has gotten you interested in Apple, find out when the best time to buy a new Apple product is.

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The 15 Best Self-Help Audiobooks to Change Your Life

Whether you’re looking to achieve a New Year’s resolution or simply trying to improve your life in some way, the best self-help audiobooks can help. However, there are so many out there that it can be difficult to know where to begin.

This list of audiobooks which could change your life for the better. They cover everything from cleaning out clutter to building a financial safety net. Check them out now and start working on your productivity, happiness, finances, and discipline.

Audiobooks for a Simpler Life

Clearing out clutter and refocusing your mind can have a profound effect on your life. These self-help audiobooks simplify different areas of your life to help you gain more focus and clarity from day to day. Check out our article about the KonMari method to learn more about simplifying your digital life.

1. Goodbye, Things by Fumio Sasaki

Fumio Sasaki isn’t a self-help guru, and he’s not an organizational expert. He’s also not an ultra-hip startup founder based in Silicon Valley. He’s just a regular guy who decided that he didn’t need to own so many things.

Goodbye, Things includes practical advice on how you can reduce the amount of stuff that you own. This self-help audiobook is about his journey and the remarkable ways his life changed after embracing Japanese minimalism.

Download: Goodbye, Things on Audible | Apple Books | Downpour

2. Essentialism by Greg McKeown

Once you’ve decluttered your space, you can start decluttering your mind. Greg McKeown encourages readers to stop pursuing everything and start the disciplined pursuit of less. It’s a method for developing the mindset to understand what’s important and where you should spend your time.

By focusing on tasks, projects, and priorities, instead of possessions, McKeown helps readers clear their minds. And that results in better focus, more discipline, and more effectiveness. While this audiobook is often discussed as one of the best self-discipline audiobooks for business people, the ideas are applicable to everyone’s lives.

Download: Essentialism on Audible | Apple Books | Downpour

3. The ONE Thing by Gary Keller

Gary Keller’s idea is simple: find the one thing you’re working toward and pursue it relentlessly. He says this is the surprisingly simple truth behind many extraordinary results. Doing it, however, isn’t as easy as it sounds.

When you’re focused on what’s important, you ignore the things that are unnecessary, spending more time on the tasks that get you closer to your goals. This self-help audiobook is one of the best tools in helping you do that.

Download: The ONE Thing on Audible | Apple Books | Downpour

4. Everything That Remains by The Minimalists

Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus are The Minimalists. They have been preaching the importance of intentional living since 2010 and Everything That Remains is your guidebook to follow their lessons.

In this audiobook, The Minimalists propose that the things you own actually own you. And you can waste your most valuable asset—time—organizing them, worrying about them, and collecting more stuff. Even if it doesn’t add value to your life. Change this way of life through minimalism; the benefits are seemingly endless.

Download: Everything That Remains on Audible | Apple Books

Audiobooks for More Productivity

We’re all looking for ways to get more done. These audiobooks take you beyond to-do lists and productivity systems and address the deeper systems underlying productivity.

5. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

While our conscious minds are capable of some pretty amazing things, it’s our underlying habits that drive much of who we are and what we do. There are plenty of habits that make people successful. And changing your habits is the key to your own success.

Charles Duhigg walks readers through some fascinating science in his search for the power of habits. He shares stories of some of the most successful people of our time, from Howard Schultz to Michael Phelps. And he shows how “keystone” habits form the foundation of success.

Download: The Power of Habit on Audible | Apple Books | Downpour

6. Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy

Procrastination is a productivity killer. If you’re wasting time when you could be working, you’re sabotaging your own success. Eat That Frog! gives you actionable strategies for defeating procrastination so that you can get more done in less time.

The title comes from the saying, “If you start your day by eating a live frog, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’re done with the worst thing you’ll do all day.” Yes, it’s weird. But when Brian Tracy applies it to modern life, you’ll see that it’s an apt metaphor and can transform your productivity.

This is why it’s one of the best self-discipline audiobooks of all time.

Download: Eat That Frog! on Audible | Apple Books | Downpour

7. Deep Work by Cal Newport

Technology has made it harder to focus on what we’re doing. We’re constantly bombarded with notifications, tempted by addictive social media, and thrown off track by relentless emails. In this audiobook, Newport discusses the importance of “deep work,” a state of distraction-free focus on a cognitively demanding task.

With a mix of practical strategies and reflections on modern culture, you’ll learn to understand the nature of deep work. It may force you to consider some alarming new suggestions: like the idea that serious professionals should quit social media.

Download: Deep Work on Audible | Apple Books | Downpour

8. Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

If you’ve ever felt in tune with what you’re doing with a profound sense of enjoyment, you’ve experienced what Csikszentmihalyi calls “optimal experience” or flow. In Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, he outlines the idea that consciously ordering the information that enters our subconscious can engage us in a flow state.

If you’re interested in psychology, this is one of the best self-help audiobooks to listen to. It backs up its claims with scientific results and explains why optimal experience is so important for research. It will also help you conquer chronic inattention in your life to become more deeply involved in both your work and leisure time.

Download: Flow on Audible | Apple Books

Audiobooks for a Better Life

Many of the best self-improvement audiobooks are broad in their scope, taking on a variety of issues. The selections below, however, are more specific, targeting your stress and happiness.

9. Unwind! by Michael Olpin and Sam Bracken

Stress permeates every corner of our lives. It affects our work, our relationships, even our health. If you can reduce your stress levels, you’ll see all manner of improvements. Unwind! is focused on seven “paradigm shifts” that will help you think and act differently in all areas of your life.

It’s not like any other stress-reduction book you may have read, and the changes that it makes in how you view the world and your relationship with it may very well change your life. This is a short self-help audiobook, but it’s a powerful one.

Download: Unwind! on Audible | Apple Books | Downpour

10. The Shallows by Nicholas Carr

You won’t find this one on many lists of the best self-development audiobooks. But Carr’s exploration of what the internet is doing to our brains may well make you think differently about all aspects of your life. When you see just how big the effect is, you can’t help but change how you live.

Carr argues that every piece of information technology carries an ethic. And that the ethic carried by the internet isn’t doing us any favors. It’s a difficult look in the mirror, and even though you might not call it a self-development audiobook, we think it deserves a spot on this list.

Download: The Shallows on Audible | Apple Books | Downpour

11. 10% Happier by Dan Harris

Dan Harris is a news anchor whose environment became so stressful that he had a panic attack live on air. This audiobook tracks the journey he took following this episode, which led to him embracing meditation. Check out these meditation and relaxation apps if that sounds like something you’re interested in.

Harris isn’t mystical or spiritual. Instead, he created this audiobook to show that anyone—even cynical news anchors—can benefit from meditation. When asked why he pursues meditation by skeptical colleagues, Harris explains to them that it makes him about 10 percent happier. And it could make you happier, too.

Download: 10% Happier on Audible | Apple Books | Downpour

12. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson

Regardless of how the title makes it sound, this self-help audiobook doesn’t aim to make you stop caring about everything. It aims to make you stop caring about those things that aren’t important to you. We can only give our attention to so much, so choose wisely where to spend your emotional energy.

Manson highlights a lot of inherent problems with self-help books by recognizing that the desire for change implies unhappiness with your current situation. This is one of the best self-development audiobooks to listen to because it helps you find happiness with your life as it is.

Download: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck on Audible | Apple Books | Downpour

Audiobooks for Wealth Management

Money, or the lack of it, is a common topic addressed in self-help audiobooks. There are lots of approaches to take to the topic, but these audiobooks offer time-tested advice that is useful to people from all walks of life.

13. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

Despite the title, this isn’t all about teaching your children personal finance lessons. It’s about how wealthy people think differently about money than non-wealthy people. And how those distinctions can help you move from the latter group to the former.

It’s not a new book—Rich Dad Poor Dad came out in 1997—but the advice is timeless. Kiyosaki helps you rethink assets and liabilities, one of the foundations of personal finance. And with that rethinking, you’ll see how you can become wealthy without needing to make a ton of money.

Download: Rich Dad Poor Dad on Audible | Apple Books | Downpour

14. The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason

Some of the oldest advice for managing your money is as useful now as it was in Babylonian times. Clason’s audiobook outlines basic financial principles that the richest men in ancient Babylon followed. You can follow these principles too to gain more control over your financial situation.

The lessons include setting money aside to pay yourself, making your money work for you, and becoming a person of action. They may sound simple, but it’s easy to slip into common traps, like letting your lifestyle expand alongside your income. This is a life-changing audiobook and one of the best at helping you avoid financial missteps.

Download: The Richest Man in Babylon on Audible | Apple Books | Downpour

15. The 4-Hour Workweek by Time Ferriss

This audiobook isn’t for everyone and you probably shouldn’t follow it to the letter. But there are some incredibly valuable ideas to be gained from it that can help you escape the typical work-life, make your money go farther, and re-define your wealth.

The core idea is that your wealth doesn’t depend on the size of your paycheck. Instead, it comes down to how long it took you to earn that money and how far it can take you where you live. You can get a lot more bang for your buck in Thailand than you can in New York. All you need to do is earn in dollars and spend in baht. Thanks to the internet and Ferriss’s advice, you can do just that.

Download: The 4-Hour Workweek on Audible | Apple Books | Downpour

Don’t Let Yourself Get Distracted

The best self-help audiobooks will help you make positive changes in your life. But audiobooks aren’t the only options available to you. The problem with them is that they make it easy to get distracted with other tasks and lose focus on what you’re listening to.

If you find that keeps happening to you, take a look at the best YouTube channels for self-improvement and motivation. That way, you’ve got something to watch while you listen to the wise words of advice.

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7 Ways to Bookmark Your Favorite Folders in Windows

The Windows file system can be complicated, with folders scattered all over the place and even buried deep under other, hidden folders. If you need quick access to a variety of folders scattered across your file system—or you just want easier access to one or two folders you frequently use—there are a variety of ways you can bookmark your favorite folders and make them more easily accessible.

Windows gives you different ways to do this, and that’s without even counting third-party file managers that offer their own ways to quickly access files. So, let’s look at a few different ways to bookmark folders on Windows 10.

1. Add Folders to Quick Access

The easiest way to bookmark folder is by using the Quick Access feature in File Explorer. Locate the folder you want to bookmark, then either drag and drop it into the Quick Access section in the left-hand panel or right-click and select Pin to Quick Access.

You can rearrange your bookmarked folder by dragging and dropping them. To delete a bookmark, right-click on the listing and select Unpin from Quick Access.

Unfortunately, the Quick Access section starts to become inconvenient if you want to keep track of a large number of folders, as you can’t create subfolders to organize the list. The inability to pin files to the list is also inconvenient; it feels like an oversight on Microsoft’s part.

2. Use Windows Libraries

The Libraries feature was popular in Windows 7 and 8. Although it’s now a less prominent part of the operating system, the feature is still there and works the same way as always.

For those who don’t know, Libraries allow you to combine multiple folders into a single view. You can add new folders to the default libraries or create your own custom libraries containing as many folders as you like. This can be a good way to organize related folders in a single place.

To make Libraries visible in File Explorer, open the app and go to View > Navigation Pane > Show Libraries.

3. Pin Files and Folder to the Taskbar

The jump list feature in Windows allows you to “pin” recently used documents to an application’s taskbar icon, thus acting as an effective way to bookmark a file.

To pin a folder, drag and drop it onto the taskbar. You can also right-click the File Explorer shortcut on your taskbar, hover over a recently used folder, and click the pin icon to bookmark a folder.

When you want to access a pinned file or folder in the future, right-click the on the app’s icon on your taskbar and select the folder you want to access. This works whether the app in question is open or not.

4. Pin Items to the Start Menu

For easy access to a folder, you could pin it to the Windows Start menu. It will appear in the list of tiles just as a Windows desktop application would.

To pin a file or folder to your Start menu on Windows 10, right-click on it and select Pin to Start from the context menu.

You can also choose which of the default Windows Library folders appear on the Start menu by heading to Settings > Personalization > Start > Choose Which Folders Appear on Start.

5. Create Shortcuts

You could also keep track of your important folders by creating shortcuts to them. Just right-click the folder you want to create a shortcut of and select Create Shortcut. Double-clicking the shortcut will take you to the folder associated with the shortcut.

This approach can be useful if you just need easier access to a folder or two—you could create shortcuts and dump them in your user folder so they’d be easily accessible along with your documents, downloads, and other standard folders.

If you have more folders, you could create a hierarchical structure for all your shortcuts. In other words, you could have a Shortcuts folder containing subfolders for shortcuts related to Development, Communications, Games, and so on.

6. Download a Third-Party File Manager

Some third-party file managers have a bookmark menu for files and folders. They allow you to pin as many files/folders as you need and arrange them into different categories, or subfolders.

Some of the best third-party file managers for Windows 10 include XYplorer, Explorer++, and Directory Opus. To learn about the three apps in more detail, as well as some other options, make sure you check out our article on the best File Explorer alternatives and replacements.

7. Bookmark Files and Folders in Your Browser

If you’re like most people, you probably spend most of your computer time in a browser. You could, therefore, bookmark your favorite folders directly in your browser, so they’d be accessible from your browser toolbar.

You could even store shortcuts to your folders in your bookmark folders along with your bookmarked websites.

To start browsing your C: drive, type file:///c:/ into Chrome or Firefox’s address bar, and press Enter. You’ll see a special view where you can browse your file system.

You can’t do much with this by default—just view your files in your browser. If you want to add a folder to your browser bookmarks, navigate to it using the special view then add a bookmark in the usual way (CTRL + D in Chrome).

Other Ways to Manage Files and Folders in Windows 10

Keeping your data organized has lots of benefits. It’ll save you time, will place less strain on your computer’s power, and will make it easier to create backups.

Using bookmarks, shortcuts, and pinned items are only a few of the ways you can manage your files and folders in Windows 10. If you’d like to learn more about how to keep everything under control, make sure you check out our other articles on apps that can automatically organize your files for you and our list of ideas for managing all the files on your computer effectively.

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What Is an Electric Vehicle and How Does It Work?

Motor vehicles have changed the way we move around the world. While the benefits of modern transport are undeniable, burning gasoline to fuel the engine contributes to human-caused climate change. That’s not to mention the ill-health caused by high pollution levels.

To overcome these issues, many manufacturers have shifted towards electric, rather than gas, vehicles. Much like your smartphone, these rely on rechargeable batteries to power the car. Now that the technology has become more affordable and mainstream, you may be considering an electric vehicle.

Before you invest, it’s essential to know what an electric vehicle is and how it works.

What Is an Internal Combustion Engine?

markusthomasde/Pixabay

The vast majority of vehicles on the road today use an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). Once you’ve topped your car up with gasoline, turning your key in the ignition creates a spark that ignites the gas inside the engine’s chamber. As a result, there is an increase in heat and pressure inside the engine. In turn, this creates movement of the pistons. This mechanical force is used to power the vehicle.

The burning of fuel does not, in itself, create movement. However, the by-product of combustion is harnessed to create mechanical movement. This process is effective but inefficient. On average, ICE vehicles are only 20 percent efficient, meaning the majority of the energy is lost. Additionally, the waste products created by this combustion are harmful to people and the environment.

Over the decades, manufacturers have been able to improve the efficiency and cleanliness of ICE vehicles. Catalytic converters, improved fuel purity, and technological progress have contributed to a slight reduction in the harmful side effects of ICEs. However, it’s become increasingly clear that we’ve reached a point of diminishing returns.

There is a growing awareness of human-caused climate change and the health impact of pollution. To address both of these issues, we need to move away from ICE-powered transportation. That’s where electric vehicles come in.

How Does an Electric Car Work?

Painter06/Pixabay

Unlike their ICE counterparts, electric vehicles (EVs) are powered by rechargeable batteries. They don’t burn fuel and so lessen the environmental impacts of road transport. There is little to distinguish EVs from ICE vehicles visually. However, beneath the familiar exterior, EVs require entirely different setups.

Your current car has a battery under the bonnet, but it doesn’t power the car. Instead, it is charged by the engine and used to power lights, dashboard, and onboard electronics. However, your car is driven by the engine. Electric vehicles are equipped with multiple large batteries that store electricity to power the car, instead.

An EV uses these batteries to power an electric motor, which gives the car motion. As a result, there is no need for a traditional engine. Design considerations also mean that batteries must be placed strategically around the chassis, rather than front-loaded. As a result, the EV power system is distributed throughout the vehicle. As with traditional options, EVs are found in front and rear-wheel drive, as well as four-wheel drive if two motors are used.

You can recharge your EV either at home or at a charging station. Additional power is recaptured through processes like regenerative braking. Critics of electric cars often say that although you’ve eliminated local pollution, the electricity still needs to be produced, and this only pushes the issue elsewhere.

Powering an Electric Vehicle

geralt/Pixabay

While that is the case, it doesn’t invalidate the benefits of an EV. Pollution is a local issue, and streets clogged with ICE-powered cars often contribute to ill-health. Switching to an electric car promotes a cleaner local environment, which improves health outcomes for everyone. Additionally, electric motors are far quieter than ICEs, leading to a reduction in noise pollution.

Electricity generation has traditionally been a significant contributor to global emissions, accelerating human-caused climate change. However, electricity companies are better placed, and better financed, to invest in cleaner alternatives like renewable energy. It wouldn’t be practical to power a vehicle directly using solar or wind power, for example. Although you can use solar (or fuel) backup generators in your home.

Utility providers are capable of large-scale energy production, making improvements that benefit EV charging, and all forms of electricity consumption. As electricity generation becomes cleaner, so, too, will EVs. That said, purchasing and using electric vehicles alone won’t save the planet.

For instance, producing batteries for electric vehicles is an environmentally unfriendly business. It’s still not clear what to do with end-of-life EV batteries, either. However well-intentioned, electric cars are a temporary remedy, capable of minimizing some of the damage caused by transportation, rather than eliminating it.

Criticisms of Electric Cars

Free-Photos/Pixabay

When considering an electric vehicle, it’s worth keeping in mind that the manufacturing industry behind them is driven more by business than by ethical or environmental concerns.

Additionally, some of these companies have been accused of greenwashing—marketing designed to misleadingly promote green credentials. Electric cars do help minimize local pollution and reduce transportation’s impact on the environment. However, that does not make them environmentally-friendly, either.

Car production, like smartphone manufacturing, requires components and materials sourced from all around the world. Often manual laborers involved along the supply chain are poorly treated, and the materials are mined using highly polluting processes.

As was seen during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the world’s manufacturing output is heavily reliant on only a handful of countries, particularly China. This has been a political and economic sore point for many governments, leading to notable trade disputes between the US and China. The debate even managed to include Huawei, leading to their exclusion from US markets. If you’re unsure of your position on this topic, we’ve explained why Huawei is seen as a security risk.

This combination of factors has led many environmental groups to denounce electric vehicles. Although this viewpoint isn’t widely accepted, it is certainly true that electric vehicles aren’t a magical solution to climate change. Instead, they are a less-bad option when compared to their gasoline-powered counterparts. Switching to an electric car, when necessary, is likely better than making no change.

That said, this pushes the issues futher up the supply chain, making us less aware of the impact. Critics also note that as the environmental marketing has been so effective, investing in an electric vehicle may create a false sense of progress, leading to a lapse in other environmentally-concious behaviors. In other words, it becomes someone else’s issue.

Battery Production

pixel2013/Pixabay

Battery production is particularly problematic. A 2019 campaign led by Amnesty International, hoped to bring awareness to these issues and gain an industry commitment to develop an ethical battery. As the charity notes, the often low-cost manufacturing processes cause sizeable environmental impact, especially as rising demand for cobalt and lithium to use in batteries has caused a surge in deep-sea mining. Likewise, batteries can not be easily recycled or disposed of.

The lack of recycling means that a fresh supply of materials will be needed, perpetuating current manufacturing standards as the minerals will always be in high demand. Large scale battery disposal of used batteries also causes issues. There’s the challenge of where the physically-large items will be stored to consider. Then, even once that’s overcome, the batteries themselves can be damaging to the environment if not correctly handled.

As battery and vehicle production is often in poorer or less-economically advantaged countries, the negative impacts of electric vehicles will be felt disproportionatly by some of the most vulnerable people. This imbalance is already present in the global economy, but will be exacerbated by a switch to electric vehicles.

The Electric Vehicle Market

Blomst/Pixabay

The Nissan Leaf was one of the first accessible electric vehicles. However, the Toyota Prius was responsible for making EVs a mainstream option. That’s despite the fact that the Prius is a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) rather than a full battery-powered option like the Leaf. In the years since, Elon Musk’s Tesla has become the most successful EV manufacturer.

The company is notable as it only produces electric vehicles and has been particularly pivotal in expanding the market for EVs. Before the Tesla options, EVs were more expensive, generally lower range, and seen as an ideological alternative to ICE vehicles rather than a practical one.

Tesla’s success is, in part, thanks to Musk’s involvement. However, he has pushed Tesla to mass-produce affordable electric cars, which other manufacturers have not been able to do. They aren’t without issue, though, as hackers can attack Teslas as well.

While Tesla aims to up-end the entire car market, traditional manufacturers have made significant investments in EVs, too. Almost all the major car companies now have a small selection of EVs. Generally, these are optimized either for range or performance, with hybrid and fully electric options available.

There are also luxury and budget options. So, it is possible to find affordable electric cars worth the investment, especially as governments often offer subsidies to make the switch. This is a crucial concern, as many countries are considering regulating or, in some cases, banning ICE vehicles within the next decade.

Thankfully, the past few years have seen substantial growth in electric vehicle charging stations. Like gas stations, there are many operators, all requiring their own subscription, payment method, or online account to get started. Importantly, though, there are now reasonably convenient charging options in most areas of the country.

What Is a Hybrid Electric Vehicle?

Up to this point, we’ve used EV to refer to a Full Electric Vehicle (FEV), where the entire propulsion system is electric. However, there’s another type of electric vehicle you may want to consider. Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) combine an ICE with an electric powertrain. The car is still powered by a traditional engine but is supported by an electric motor and battery.

This has several benefits over a traditional ICE-powered car. Gasoline cars are typically better suited to longer, higher speed journeys. You’ll have noticed that routes on faster roads without continuous acceleration and braking use less fuel than the stop-start inner-city trips. Hybrid vehicles use the most efficient propulsion system for your journey, switching between ICE and electric motor as needed.

ICE vehicles are inefficient, typically losing most of the energy to heat, especially when braking. HEVs capture the energy that would otherwise have been lost during braking in a process known as regenerative braking. This reclaimed energy is stored in the battery and is often used to power the vehicle during your next acceleration until the ICE takes over.

Plug-in HEVs (PHEV) have a similar setup, but instead of relying on the ICE and regenerative braking to recharge the battery, you can plug the vehicle in at home or a charging station to fuel up. As a result, the electric powertrain can be used more often, increasing efficiency and decreasing gas usage.

Will You Choose an Electric Vehicle?

Authorities around the world are starting to consider regulating the sale of traditional ICE vehicles. Pollution and environmental impact have become vital considerations to regulators and consumers. Fortunately, EVs are now more affordable and higher-performance than ever before.

After you’ve made the switch, there are other considerations to keep in mind. Gas stations will be a thing of the past as you hunt around for electric charging stations instead. To help you out, install one of these must-have smartphone apps for electric car owners.

Image Credit: Tesla

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Microsoft Edge Is Reborn: How Does It Compare to the Old Legacy Version?

Microsoft Edge has been around since Windows 10 launched in 2015, but it didn’t make an impact in the way Microsoft hoped. That’s why Microsoft has rebuilt Edge in 2020. It features a fresh logo and different technology under the hood.

But is the new Edge worth trying? Let’s see what the revamped version of Microsoft Edge has to offer and how it compares to the legacy version.

What’s Up With the New Microsoft Edge?

Starting in 2020, “Microsoft Edge” refers to a brand-new browser. Microsoft is calling the old one “Edge Legacy” and won’t actively support it.

The biggest difference with the new version of Microsoft Edge is that it’s based on Chromium. If you’re not familiar, Chromium is an open-source browser project made by Google. It serves as the backbone of Google Chrome, but is also free for anyone to adapt and use as they like.

As it turns out, many browsers are powered by Chromium. Opera and Vivaldi are examples of other popular Chromium-based browsers.

How Does Chromium Change Edge?

Because Edge is now Chromium-based, it supports Chrome extensions. This means that you can use your favorite add-ons from the Chrome Web Store in Microsoft’s browser—see below for a few caveats on this, though. Since the original version of Edge had a paltry collection of extensions, this is welcome news.

Notably, Edge now uses the Blink rendering engine, which is open source. The old version used Microsoft’s proprietary EdgeHTML engine, meaning that all major browsers now use open source engines.

Another major improvement is that Edge now updates on a regular schedule as Chrome does. This is much better than the old scheme, where Edge would only get updates a few times a year through major Windows updates.

Microsoft states that it took this path for better compatibility with both users and web developers.

How Do I Get the New Edge Browser?

You can download the new Microsoft Edge right now. It’s available for Windows 10, of course, but Microsoft has also made it available for Windows 8.1, Windows 7, macOS, Android, and iOS. The company plans to bring it to Linux in the future, too.

If you don’t install it manually, you’ll eventually get the browser delivered through Windows Update. You’ll need to have the May 2019 Update or later for this, so make sure you’ve updated your copy of Windows 10 if you’re running an old version. The new Edge should also come included with the May 2020 Update for Windows 10.

When you install the browser on Windows 10, it will replace the legacy version of Edge. Don’t worry; Windows 10 still includes Internet Explorer for compatibility reasons. The new Edge has a blue and green wave-looking logo instead of the old blue “e” that was similar to the Internet Explorer logo.

Exploring Microsoft Edge 2.0

When you first look around Microsoft Edge, you’ll definitely notice the similarities to Google Chrome, if you’re familiar with that browser. Most interface elements, such as the navigation bar, tabs, task manager, and three-dot menu are almost identical to how they look in Chrome.

Of course, Edge replaces the Google services in Chrome with similar Microsoft services. The Sync icon in the top-right will sync your data across Edge installs using your Microsoft account instead of your Google account.

Most of the Settings are the same as Chrome. The main difference is on the Privacy and services tab: you can choose from Basic, Balanced, and Strict levels of tracker prevention.

Collections

The Collections feature, which looks like a set of photographs next to the Favorites star, is one notable difference from Chrome. A collection allows you to gather links, images, and other web content in one place. It’s handy for creating a wishlist or Pinterest-like collection of items that are more flexible than bookmarking.

To try them, click Start new collection in the panel and give it a name. Now, with the collections page open, you can click Add current page, drag any link, or move an image to save them. There’s also an Add note button for bits of text.

Click the three-dot button in the collections panel for a few options, including exporting your collection to Word, Excel, or to open them all in a new window.

Using Chrome Extensions in Edge

Head to the Microsoft Edge Add-Ons page to browse the list of official extensions. It includes popular choices like Dark Reader and Grammarly, but you probably won’t find your favorite niche Chrome extensions there.

Thankfully, the new Edge is compatible with Chrome extensions. To enable them, open the three-dot menu at the top-right of Edge and click Extensions. In the bottom-left, enable the Allow extensions from other stores slider and accept the warning.

Now, you can visit the Chrome Web Store and install extensions from there. Some might not work properly in Edge, so make sure to test them after installing.

Should You Use Microsoft Edge Now?

There’s really not much more to using the revamped Microsoft Edge. If you’re familiar with Chrome, Edge is very similar, aside from the layout of the settings menu and a few options. So should you give it a try?

If you’re unsatisfied with your current browser for any reason, or just want to try something different, it’s worth a look. The new Edge doesn’t offer huge improvements over Chrome, but depending on your preferences, that could be perfect. Maybe you want a reliable and flexible browser that’s not tied to Google—as long as you don’t mind Microsoft’s integration with it.

It’s much more appealing than the old version of Edge, which really didn’t offer any great reasons to use it. While it did have an ebook reader and annotation features, those aren’t exactly game-changers. Plus, the new Edge has better syncing options since it’s available on all platforms.

Regardless of whether you use Microsoft Edge, this new setup is beneficial for almost everyone. People who can’t install a new browser get a much better experience from the preinstalled option, and Chrome will hopefully improve from the more direct competition.

Microsoft Edge Is Reborn

We’ve looked at the changes Microsoft made to Edge and what those mean for the browser. Whether you make it your new default or try it once and ignore it afterward, this is a positive change. We’ll see how Microsoft continues to differentiate the browser going forward.

If you want to try a different browser, have a look at our comparison of the various Firefox versions.

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How to Customize the Nintendo Switch User Interface

The Nintendo Switch is a great games console that can be played both handheld and on your TV. It’s packed full of amazing games, like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

The Switch boasts a nice, clean interface. Which makes it simple to jump into your games or browse applications like the Nintendo eShop or News feed.

The customization options for the Nintendo Switch user interface aren’t exhaustive, but there are various ways to manage your game library or change the color scheme. So, in this article, we show you how to customize the Nintendo Switch user interface.

How to Change the Nintendo Switch Color Scheme

Nintendo has never been big on themes. While Microsoft and Sony embraced customization with their Xbox and PlayStation consoles, respectively, offering dynamic themes and wallpapers, Nintendo lagged behind.

The 3DS was different. You could buy and apply themes, many centered around popular Nintendo characters. Unfortunately, its next console the Wii U didn’t provide any customization.

The Switch follows that trend. You can change the Switch color scheme, but you won’t be impressed with the choice.

From the home screen, go to System Settings and scroll down to Themes. Here you can choose between Basic White or Basic Black. Choose your color and press A to apply. This will change the primary color of the interface across the whole system, including areas like News and Albums.

Within System Settings, in the System setting, you will also find an option called Change Display Colors. Here you can switch between Default, Invert Colors, and Greyscale. Technically, this does change the appearance of the UI. That said, it also changes the appearance of everything else, including your games, so only use the setting if you need it for accessibility reasons.

Perhaps Nintendo will release more themes in the future. Even some more colors would be welcome! However, the Switch has been out for many years and nothing has come to fruition, so it seems unlikely.

Your best option right now is to buy some new Nintendo Switch controllers to spice up your system’s style.

How to Organize Your Game Library

The games on your home screen are those which you have played or downloaded recently. If you have more than 13, on the far-right you will see an All Software button.

You cannot rearrange the games on the home screen. You can move something to the first position by launching it, but it’ll just get unseated if you launch something else afterwards.

However, an update to the Switch now allows you to sort the full library. To do this, go to All Software and press R to sort by various options: Most Recently Played (those you have never played will be at the bottom), Longest Play Time (from longest to shortest), Title (from 0 to 9, then A to Z), and Publisher (from 0 to 9, then A to Z).

Hover over the option you wish to sort by, then press A to apply. This will permanently apply the change, but you can easily switch back and forth. This option does not rearrange the icons on the Home screen, only on the All Software page.

How to Remove Games From the Home Screen

The Switch doesn’t have much internal storage (only 32 GB), and some of that is reserved for the system. That’s not going to store many games.

Handily, you can expand the storage using microSD cards, allowing you to download games to your heart’s content.

However, download enough games and you might find yourself frustrated with the clutter, especially if you’ve completed a game or don’t play it any more. You can clean up the home screen and game library by removing games.

To do this, highlight the game tile. Press + on the right Joy-Con to open the menu. Select Manage Software > Delete Software > Delete.

Removing games deletes the files from your console, but it doesn’t revert your purchase. It will also keep your save data, so you won’t lose any of your progress. This is great if you want to temporarily remove the game if you haven’t finished with it and want to return to it later.

You can still download the games again at no cost from the eShop. To do this, open the eShop, select your profile icon in the top-right, and go to Redownload.

How to Get Custom Themes With Homebrew

Where Nintendo falls down, the homebrew scene step up. This is referred to as “hacking” your Switch and installing custom firmware. It’s nothing new—you can hack your Wii U to make it more useful.

Installing custom firmware is not illegal, but it does void your warranty. Nintendo frowns upon it and you will be banned if you go online with a custom firmware Switch.

As such, only proceed if you are confident in what you are doing and understand the consequences. Mess up and you risk bricking your device, which means it will become unusable. This is very rare, but there is a risk. If you don’t feel up to it, be patient and hope that Nintendo patches official support for themes in the future.

Until then, you will need firmware like Atmosphere, ReiNX, or SX OS. Use the NH Switch Guide to find out how to install custom firmware on your Switch. If you follow the guidelines, you should not lose any of your data. Your games, save data, and Nintendo account integration should all remain intact.

Once done, launch the NXThemes Installer. You can then use the store within to browse for themes, or look on the NXThemes subreddit.

Some of the best examples include a New Horizons theme and a Persona 5 theme. Instructions on how to manually install the themes can be found on the NH Switch Guide Theming page.

Now, Sit Back and Play the Best Switch Games

These are all the ways that you can adjust the Nintendo Switch’s user interface right now. Hopefully Nintendo will update the system in the future to allow for more customization, as it did with the 3DS.

With your Switch looking the way you want it to, it’s time to play some games. And thankfully, we have compiled a list of the best Nintendo Switch games you can buy today. Enjoy!

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French court slaps down Google’s appeal against $57M GDPR fine

France’s top court for administrative law has dismissed Google’s appeal against a $57M fine issued by the data watchdog last year for not making it clear enough to Android users how it processes their personal information.

The State Council issued the decision today, affirming the data watchdog CNIL’s earlier finding that Google did not provide “sufficiently clear” information to Android users — which in turn meant it had not legally obtained their consent to use their data for targeted ads.

“Google’s request has been rejected,” a spokesperson for the Conseil D’Etat confirmed to TechCrunch via email.

“The Council of State confirms the CNIL’s assessment that information relating to targeting advertising is not presented in a sufficiently clear and distinct manner for the consent of the user to be validly collected,” the court also writes in a press release [translated with Google Translate] on its website.

It found the size of the fine to be proportionate — given the severity and ongoing nature of the violations.

Importantly, the court also affirmed the jurisdiction of France’s national watchdog to regulate Google — at least on the date when this penalty was issued (January 2019).

The CNIL’s multimillion dollar fine against Google remains the largest to date against a tech giant under Europe’s flagship General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) — lending the case a certain symbolic value, for those concerned about whether the regulation is functioning as intended vs platform power.

While the size of the fine is still relative peanuts vs Google’s parent entity Alphabet’s global revenue, changes the tech giant may have to make to how it harvests user data could be far more impactful to its ad-targeting bottom line. 

Under European law, for consent to be a valid legal basis for processing personal data it must be informed, specific and freely given. Or, to put it another way, consent cannot be strained.

In this case French judges concluded Google had not provided clear enough information for consent to be lawfully obtained — including objecting to a pre-ticked checkbox which the court affirmed does not meet the requirements of the GDPR.

So, tl;dr, the CNIL’s decision has been entirely vindicated.

Reached for comment on the court’s dismissal of its appeal, a Google spokeswoman sent us this statement:

People expect to understand and control how their data is used, and we’ve invested in industry-leading tools that help them do both. This case was not about whether consent is needed for personalised advertising, but about how exactly it should be obtained. In light of this decision, we will now review what changes we need to make.

GDPR came into force in 2018, updating long standing European data protection rules and opening up the possibility of supersized fines of up to 4% of global annual turnover.

However actions against big tech have largely stalled, with scores of complaints being funnelled through Ireland’s Data Protection Commission — on account of a one-stop-shop mechanism in the regulation — causing a major backlog of cases. The Irish DPC has yet to issue decisions on any cross border complaints, though it has said its first ones are imminent — on complaints involving Twitter and Facebook.

Ireland’s data watchdog is also continuing to investigate a number of complaints against Google, following a change Google announced to the legal jurisdiction of where it processes European users’ data — moving them to Google Ireland Limited, based in Dublin, which it said applied from January 22, 2019 — with ongoing investigations by the Irish DPC into a long running complaint related to how Google handles location data and another major probe of its adtech, to name two. 

On the GDPR one-stop shop mechanism — and, indirectly, the wider problematic issue of ‘forum shopping’ and European data protection regulation — the French State Council writes: “Google believed that the Irish data protection authority was solely competent to control its activities in the European Union, the control of data processing being the responsibility of the authority of the country where the main establishment of the data controller is located, according to a ‘one-stop-shop’ principle instituted by the GDPR. The Council of State notes however that at the date of the sanction, the Irish subsidiary of Google had no power of control over the other European subsidiaries nor any decision-making power over the data processing, the company Google LLC located in the United States with this power alone.”

In its own statement responding to the court’s decision, the CNIL notes the court’s view that GDPR’s one-stop-shop mechanism was not applicable in this case — writing: “It did so by applying the new European framework as interpreted by all the European authorities in the guidelines of the European Data Protection Committee.”

Privacy NGO noyb — one of the privacy campaign groups which lodged the original ‘forced consent’ complaint against Google, all the way back in May 2018 — welcomed the court’s decision on all fronts, including the jurisdiction point.

Commenting in a statement, noyb’s honorary chairman, Max Schrems, said: “It is very important that companies like Google cannot simply declare themselves to be ‘Irish’ to escape the oversight by the privacy regulators.”

A key question is whether CNIL — or another (non-Irish) EU DPA — will be found to be competent to sanction Google in future, following its shift to naming its Google Ireland subsidiary as the regional data processor. (Other tech giants use the same or a similar playbook, seeking out the EU’s more ‘business-friendly’ regulators.)

On the wider ruling, Schrems also said: “This decision requires substantial improvements by Google. Their privacy policy now really needs to make it crystal clear what they do with users’ data. Users must also get an option to agree to only some parts of what Google does with their data and refuse other things.”

French digital rights group, La Quadrature du Net — which had filed a related complaint against Google, feeding the CNIL’s investigation — also declared victory today, noting it’s the first sanction in a number of GDPR complaints it has lodged against tech giants on behalf of 12,000 citizens.

Nouvelle victoire !

Le @Conseil_Etat valide intégralement, en la reprenant à son compte, la sanction de 50 millions d'€ contre Google prononcée en janvier 2019 par la CNIL.https://t.co/6gJRL5ZM3r

— La Quadrature du Net (@laquadrature) June 19, 2020

“The rest of the complaints against Google, Facebook, Apple and Microsoft are still under investigation in Ireland. In any case, this is what this authority promises us,” it added in another tweet.

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