5 Weird Messaging Apps to Chat With Friends or Strangers

Chat apps are a dime a dozen, but some do things a little differently. You need to try these weird messaging apps with “features” like sending a single message at a time or talking only when you have 5% battery left.

Why would you do this? Because it’s fun! You never know who you’re going to meet in a privacy-guaranteed chat channel full of like-minded people. Even with old friends who you already know well, you can’t predict how your conversations will take a different turn because of enforced pressure.

For the more normal, everyday chats and video chats, you should still turn to the best messaging apps for phones or computers. But if you’re up for a little craziness…

Say Henlo (Web): Only One Message At a Time

Most chat apps do a stellar job of backing up every message you have ever sent. You’re also free to send unlimited messages. These chat logs are available to you forever so that you can go back later to prove a point in an argument or obsess about what someone really meant. Say Henlo has a whole new approach.

In this web-based chat app, you can only send one message at a time. You can also read only the last message sent by a contact to you. It adds a new dimension to chatting, keeping you more in the present and making sure you frame your sentences well. No more of those passive-aggressive “K.” messages.

There are two ways to talk to a person. You can either add their username and start messaging them directly. Or you can click the “Random” button to find a stranger on the internet to chat with. The latter gets interesting when you don’t have a chat log to refer to.

There is also a privacy angle to Say Henlo. Each message is deleted forever once a new message has been sent. But I wouldn’t worry too much about privacy on this app anyway.

Die With Me (Android, iOS): Start Chatting With Low Battery Users

Die With Me is one of the coolest and weirdest concepts I have come across in chat apps. In fact, in all types of apps.

The idea of Die With Me is to give you a buddy when your phone’s battery drops to 5% or below. Send your emergency texts to whoever you want, then hop on to the app to find another person somewhere in the world stuck with less than 5% battery. And start talking.

The limited amount of time to talk with someone new will force you to dispense with the pleasantries and get to start knowing that person quickly. Or maybe you can have fun and take your conversation in a whole new direction, talking about the meaningless of life after your screen dies out and the existential questions the distraction-free offline world throws at you.

It’s a really fun concept, but it also needs some luck. Not many users have downloaded the app yet, so you don’t know if you’re always going to find someone when your battery drops that low.

Download: Die With Me for Android | iOS ($1)

Stealthy (Web): Telegram-Like Chat for Decentralized Blockstack Users

Stealthy is similar to Telegram in many ways, but adds a little extra. This messaging app is based on Blockstack, the new decentralized internet ecosystem. You’ll need a Blockstack account to use it, which is easily available for free.

The advantage of a Blockstack account and Stealthy is the focus on privacy. At a time when you question the privacy of Facebook Messenger, or pretty much any other messenger from a big company, this is an important feature. Your data on a Blockstack-based app can only be read by you and the recipient since everything you put up is encrypted.

When you move beyond the privacy, Stealthy has all the features of a great messaging app. You can join channels to find like-minded people, chat with friends by adding them, share your screen, chat on video, and even do file transfers.

While there are mobile apps of Stealthy available right now, they are riddled with bugs. The team says these are not fully developed and you should wait for the official announcement to download the Android and iOS apps.

Chudo (Android, iOS): Become a Memoji-Like Cartoon Avatar and Chat

What do you mean you still do video chats as yourself? It’s almost 2019, man! Just because you don’t have the newest iPhone doesn’t mean you can’t get on the memoji bandwagon. Get yourself Chudo to become a weird cartoon avatar for live chats.

Chudo works with old and new phones, as long as your front camera works. It’ll trace your face in no time, and then you can pick and choose from the several different avatars available.

It’s simple, it’s easy, and the avatar list is updated all the time. You’ll be shocked at how well it works with old iPhones and Android phones.

Download: Chudo for Android | iOS (Free)

Evry (Android, iOS): Browser to Chat on Any Web Page

Technically, Evry is a mobile web browser. But its focus on being a “social browser” turns it into a bit of a chat app too. Evry wants you to be able to talk with your friends on any web page, while within a browser.

It’s a basic comment-based system, but your friends can be tagged anywhere. So while you are browsing, you can tag a friend and leave a comment for them to understand why you think they should see the page. Once they visit it, they can reply to you. And like any modern messaging app, there are reactions for likes and comments.

Naturally, like any browser, you can add bookmarks, try a private mode, and so on. But the focus is on the social browsing part.

Download: Evry Browser for Android | iOS (Free)

How to Start Random Chats

These weird and unique messaging apps can be used to talk with friends or with strangers. It’s always more fun to chat with people you already know and then add layers like time or message restrictions, or weird emojis.

But it can be a little intimidating to talk with strangers. How do you begin? What do you say? Here are a few tips to start random chats worth having.

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LG’s New Projector: A 90-Inch 4K Display From 2 Inches Away

Gone are the days when a projector needed to sit across the room from the wall. Now, they can get closer than ever. In fact, some can work from just inches away. Of course, there’s plenty of room on the market for projectors like BenQ TK800 that require more space, but it’s nice to see the field evolving.

LG has just revealed a shockingly impressive projector that actually sits just inches from the wall on which it’ll display the screen. In fact, at just two-inches from the wall, the new projector in LG’s CineBeam can project a 90-inch screen. And for anyone who thinks 90-inches of screen real estate isn’t enough, moving the CineBeam HU85L laser projector back to just seven-inches away yields a massive 120-inch screen.

More Information on the CineBeam Hu85L

As mentioned, the main thing that makes this particular projector stand out from the crowd is how close it can be to the wall. LG calls the technology that allows this to work “Ultra Short Throw (UST).” This is great because it allows the projector to be used in small rooms where moving it a few feet back just isn’t an option. It also allows for a cleaner aesthetic, since there doesn’t need to be a bulky projector hanging from the ceiling and wires running from the projector to the input devices.

Another thing that makes this projector worth a second look is its support of 4K resolution. Not only will it project from an incredibly short distance, but it’ll project an extremely high-quality picture.

The device outputs 2,500 ANSI lumens of brightness. To put that into perspective, the LG HF85JA featured an output of 1,500 ANSI lumens, so this year’s model promises to be quite a bit brighter.

For connections, the CineBeam HU85L features USB, HDMI, and Ethernet ports. It also includes LG’s ThinQ AI for voice commands, which should make navigating around the projector much more pleasant. It has the same functions as a smart TV, so it’ll run all of the streaming apps and other services users expect from a high-end device.

When Will the CineBeam Hu85L Launch?

Unfortunately, when LG announced the new projector, it didn’t say when it would be available and for how much. However, we’re only a couple of weeks away from CES, which is when we’d expect LG to provide the rest of the information.

In the meantime, if you need a projector right now, make sure to check out our review of the P1 Mini Projector.

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Google Canvas Is a Drawing App for Doodles

Google has launched a new web app called Canvas. As it’s a progressive web app, Canvas lets you draw doodles and take notes without needing to download or install anything. Which makes it ideal for Chromebook users as well as anyone else on the go.

The Art of Doodling

Lots of us like doodling when our hands aren’t occupied doing something else. Doodles aren’t meant to be works of art, unless you have an art degree and can call it “modern art”. Instead, doodles are just colorful patterns or squiggles. Like my effort above.

There are plenty of drawing apps available for any platform you care to mention, but most of them require you to download and install a program. Canvas doesn’t. It’s a web app that anyone can use simply by pointing their web browser at canvas.apps.chrome.

Google Launches Canvas

Canvas was first spotted by Chrome Unboxed. However, as Google hasn’t yet formally announced Canvas, it’s impossible to know how long it has been around. What we do know is that it showed up as an app in a recent Chrome OS build in the Dev channel.

Now, it’s available to everyone either using Chrome or another web browser that supports WebAssembly. And while Canvas isn’t designed to let artists create fantastic works of art, it has everything you need to be able to doodle, sketch, and take notes.

The Basics of Google Canvas

You get a blank sheet of paper with various tools to use. There’s a pencil, a pen, a marker, chalk, and an eraser. By clicking on your tool of choice twice you can change the size and opacity of the mark each one leaves on the paper.

Clicking on the black spot above the tools opens the color pallette. Here, you can pick from a selection of colors prebuilt into the pallette, or click Custom to create your own color. You can then save the hex code to ensure you can use the same color again in future.

If you create a doodle you’re particularly proud of you can export your drawing by clicking on the three dots in the top, right-hand corner. And as you’re logged into your Google account, your saved work is available across a range of different devices.

Google Should Keep Developing Canvas

Canvas is very basic right now, but there’s nothing stopping Google from continuing to work on it, building new features in as they go. Who knows, maybe one day Canvas will enable those with the talent to do so the ability to create actual works of art.

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What’s the Difference Between 32-Bit and 64-Bit Windows?

When you consider Windows versions, you might think of the Home or Pro editions. While these are indeed different, there’s another factor that separates Windows versions: Is the system 32-bit or 64-bit?

You might have heard the terms 32-bit and 64-bit thrown around, but never really understood them. Let’s take a look at where these designations come from, and what they mean for your computing experience.

What Makes a Computer 32 or 64-Bit?

Whether your computer architecture is 32-bit or 64-bit depends on the processor (CPU) inside your computer. The majority of computer processors fall into one of these two categories, with 64-bit superseding 32-bit over the past several years. 64-bit processors are exponentially more powerful than their 32-bit counterparts because they can hold and process so much more information.

To understand the magnitude of the differences between 32-bit and 64-bit, you have to understand a bit about counting in binary. Unlike our decimal system, which has ten digits per place, binary only has two: 0 or 1.

Thus, a 32-bit number has 2^32 possible addresses, or 4,294,967,296. Conversely, a 64-bit number’s capacity is 2^64, or 18,446,744,073,709,551,616. Comparing ~4 billion bytes (about 4 gigabytes) to ~18 quintillion bytes (about 18 billion gigabytes or 16 exabytes) showcases the vast difference.

You can choose between the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows that Microsoft provides when you download and install it.

How Windows Differs Between 32-Bit and 64-Bit

If you’re using a 64-bit processor, you also need to use a 64-bit version of Windows to take advantage of it. 32-bit versions of Windows work on 64-bit processors, but can’t use the extra power.

You can’t install a 64-bit version of Windows on 32-bit processors. However, 64-bit Windows is backward compatible with 32-bit software, as we’ll discuss.

There are two major places you’ll notice the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit in Windows. One is that a 32-bit version of Windows can only utilize up to 4GB of RAM (or less). Thus, if you have 16GB of RAM in your computer, but it’s running 32-bit Windows, it won’t actually use more than 4GB.

The other place you’ll find a difference is the Program Files folder. On a 32-bit version of Windows, apps will install to the only Program Files folder. 64-bit systems have an additional Program Files (x86) folder for 32-bit software. This is because writing software for a 32-bit architecture is vastly different from writing it for a 64-bit system.

When programs want to grab some shared information, like DLLs, they need to look in the correct Program Files directory. This is why Windows keeps them separate. A 32-bit program would have no idea what to do with a 64-bit DLL.

Note that in Windows, 32-bit is referred to as x86, and 64-bit is called x64.

Ancient versions of Windows, like Windows 3.1, ran 16-bit software. 32-bit versions of Windows are backward-compatible with these legacy programs. If you have a 64-bit machine, however, you can’t run archaic 16-bit software. You’ll have to turn to emulating a 32-bit operating system.

In addition, 64-bit Windows requires 64-bit device drivers. If you have an old printer or something that only offers 32-bit drivers, it won’t work on your modern 64-bit system.

Differences Between 32-Bit and 64-Bit Programs

When you install software, it varies by vendor whether you get a 32-bit or 64-bit version. Some developers only provide a 32-bit version, sometimes they let you choose, and still others automatically install the right version for you.

If you’re running a 64-bit version of Windows, you should install the 64-bit versions of software whenever you can. But don’t fret if a vendor doesn’t offer a 64-bit version, as the 32-bit edition should work just fine.

64-bit versions of programs probably won’t blow you away with increased speed. However, they do take advantage of the increased security of 64-bit architecture and can utilize more than 4GB of RAM at a time. They’re thus often more stable and efficient than their 32-bit counterparts.

Keep an eye out for links such as Versions or Editions on vendors’ download pages to see if they offer a 64-bit version. Because 32-bit software works on every system, it’s understandably the default for some vendors.

Of course, if you’re on a 32-bit system, only 32-bit software will work for you.

Am I Running 64-Bit or 32-Bit Windows?

Now that we’ve discussed the differences between 32 and 64-bit versions of Windows, we can find out which version you’re using.

On Windows 10, right-click the Start Button and choose System. You can also browse to Settings > System > About. Here, you’ll see a Device specifications header.

Next to System Type, Windows lists whether your installation is 32 or 64-bit, plus your processor architecture.

On Windows 7 and earlier, right-click Computer in the Start Menu and choose Properties. Use the Win + Pause shortcut to open this menu on any version of Windows. You’ll see the System type entry with your OS and CPU architecture.

Both panels also list your Installed RAM here. On a 32-bit system, this will note something like 4GB usable if you have over 4GB installed.

Can I Upgrade 32-Bit Windows to 64-Bit Windows?

Your processor and operating system bit sizes should match. But if they don’t, you might be able to upgrade. If you’re running a 32-bit version of Windows 10 on a 64-bit processor, you can follow our guide to upgrade to 64-bit Windows.

Those running a 32-bit version of Windows on a 32-bit processor can’t upgrade. You’ll need to purchase a new machine to take advantage of 64-bit. Any decent computer manufactured in the last several years should include a 64-bit processor and 64-bit Windows.

Now You Know How 32-Bit and 64-Bit Differ

64-bit computing is the new standard, but it hasn’t always been this way. While Windows XP offered a 64-bit version, it caused a headache of compatibility issues, so few people used it. Use of 64-bit systems didn’t become too popular until Windows 7, and 64-bit is the standard for Windows 10 today.

4GB of RAM, which was an unfathomable amount when CPUs were first designed, is still a workable amount of memory for light use. However, as component prices continue to drop, low-end machines keep shipping with more RAM. Eventually,this will make 32-bit systems completely obsolete.

In turn, developers will focus on developing 64-bit software, which will be the standard for a long, long time. We probably won’t hit that RAM ceiling for some time; just imagine what you could do with a terabyte of RAM!

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Bellabeat’s new hybrid smartwatch tracks your stress…and goes with your outfit

Bellabeat, the company behind a variety of health and wellness wearable devices aimed at women, is now selling its first smartwatch. The device, which is simply called “Time,” was announced earlier this month right in the midst of holiday shopping season. Like other fitness trackers, the watch is capable of basic tasks like counting your steps, tracking sleep patterns, and reminding you to move. But unlike traditional smartwatches -which, aesthetically, are still very much just a screen on your wrist – the Time is designed to look like jewelry.

The hybrid device looks like a watch – albeit not a very expensive one.

It’s squarely in the range of fashion jewelry, with either silver or rose gold stainless steel finishes to choose from, and a minimalist watch face that forgoes complications like the date or the moon phase, for example. It even lacks a second hand.

That said, I prefer its cleaner look-and-feel to the gaudier smartwatches put out by brands like Michael Kors and Fossil. (Plus, there’s no Android Wear/Wear OS to contend with here.)

As an analog watch, it has both its pros and cons.

It’s designed to be hypoallergenic so as not to irritate those with sensitive skin, and it has some water resistance. (ATM grade 3, meaning it can withstand a vigorous hand washing and the rain. You can’t swim, bathe or dive with it.)

You also don’t have to charge it, which makes it feel more like a “real” watch than a gadget.

However, there’s a potential downside here, too – the coin cell battery only lasts “up to” 6 months. You’ll then need to use the tiny tool it ships with to replace the old battery with a new one.

Of course, some will see a user-replaceable battery as a perk. I don’t, but that’s a personal preference on my part.

I much prefer just dropping my Apple Watch onto a charger rather than having to keep up with a small watch tool, which can be easy to lose or misplace in the time between repairs. I’m also not a fan of having to unscrew tiny screws and then finding some sort of small, sharp object to pop out the battery. Perhaps that’s because I have a child with a dozen or so battery-operated toys. I’m constantly unscrewing things to replace batteries, and frankly I don’t need another.

In any event, among the watch’s better aspects is the fact that it packages up fitness and wellness tracking in a device that passes as a regular – and even fairly attractive – piece of fashion jewelry. The Time will go better with some of your outfits where you just don’t think the Apple Watch works – even with one of Apple’s fancier bands.

Of course, it’s not as seamless to use Time as the Apple Watch, which has the Apple platform advantage. (Or an Android smartwatch paired with an Android phone, for that matter.)

Instead, you have to sync your activity between the watch and the third-party Bellabeat app to view things like the steps taken or hours slept. You do so by taping a sync button in the app and double-tapping on the watch face.

The app can also serve as way to keep up with other aspects of your health and wellness, including your hydration goals, stress, meditation time, and your period.

The stress metrics are calculated for you, based on factors like activity levels, sleep quality, reproductive health, and meditation over the past week. But hydration and menstruation have to be logged manually (*unless you’re using Bellabeat Spring – see below.)

The mediation tracking only calculates your progress through the app’s own selection of over 30 included exercises. While it’s nice to have access to those resources included in the app, many people are already using popular meditation apps like Calm or Headspace. An “import” option for externally-logged “mindful minutes” would have been nice here.

One of Time’s better features are its silent alarms and inactivity alerts. Instead of pings and loud noises, the watch more calmly reminds you of things with vibrations you configure. There are also included alarms for waking up, taking your vitamins, taking your contraception pill, and another general alarm setting, each with their own toggle switches and settings.

There is something to be said for a quieter smartwatch, especially if stress levels are a concern. (There’s also something to be said for a device that’s built by a woman with the needs of women in mind. Remember how long it took for Apple to realize period tracking was a thing?)

That said, it’s unfortunately becoming harder for smaller device makers to compete with the Apple Watch, which has now moved into advanced areas with its Series 4 line, which sports life-saving ECG and fall detection features, along with smarter workout detection (and yes, you can still swim with it), plus its ability to work with the broader iOS app ecosystem in a more native way.

But the Apple Watch is pricier at $399 and up for current models. Bellabeat’s Time, by comparison, is $179.

The Bellabeat mobile app will work with other Bellabeat products, including its wellness tracker Leaf (which can be worn as a bracelet, necklace, clip, etc.), and $59 smart water bottle, Spring.

Combined, the Spring and Time could be a good entry point into the world of fitness and wellness trackers for those who never felt that wearables and trackers were right for them. Bellabeat’s line is more of a lifestyle choice based just as much on looks as on tech, if not more so.

The question now is whether or not Bellabeat can carve out a big enough slice of the smartwatch market, which continues to be dominated by Apple, to sustain itself in the years ahead.

Bellabeat was a Y Combinator 2014 grad founded by female entrepreneur Urska Srsen, and has raised ~$19 million to date, according to Crunchbase. It previously sold products for expectant mothers, as well, but those have been phased out. Bellabeat declined to share any user metrics or revenue figures, when asked.

 

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