NASA’s X-59 supersonic jet will have a 4K TV instead of a forward window

NASA’s X-59 QueSST experimental quiet supersonic aircraft will have a cockpit like no other — featuring a big 4K screen where you’d normally have a front window. Why? Because this is one weird-looking plane.

The X-59, which is being developed by Lockheed Martin on a $247 million budget, is meant to go significantly faster than sound without producing a sonic boom, or indeed any noise “faster than a car door closing,” at least to observers on the ground.

NASA grants Lockheed Martin $248M contract to develop a quieter supersonic jet

Naturally in order to do this the craft has to be as aerodynamic as possible, which precludes the cockpit bump often found in fighter jets. In fact, the design can’t even have the pilot up front with a big window, because it would likely be far too narrow. Check out these lines:

The cockpit is more like a section taken out of the plane just over the leading edge of the rather small and exotically shaped wings. So while the view out the sides will be lovely, the view forward would be nothing but nose.

To fix that, the plane will be equipped with several displays, the lower ones just like you might expect on a modern aircraft, but the top one is a 4K monitor that’s part of what’s called the eXternal Visibility System, or XVS. It shows imagery stitched together from two cameras on the craft’s exterior, combined with high-definition terrain data loaded up ahead of time.

It’s not quite the real thing, but pilots spend a lot of time in simulators (as you can see here), so they’ll be used to it. And the real world is right outside the other windows if they need a reality check.

Lockheed and NASA’s plane is currently in the construction phase, though no doubt some parts are still being designed as well. The program has committed to a 2021 flight date, an ambitious goal considering this is the first such experimental, or X-plane, that the agency has developed in some 30 years. If successful, it could be the precursor to other quiet supersonic craft and could bring back supersonic overland flight in the future.

That’s if Boom doesn’t beat them to it.

Boom wants to build a supersonic jet for mainstream passengers; here’s its game plan

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Google launches Chromebook App Hub for educators plus other classroom tools

Earlier this year, Google announced plans to build a Chromebook App Hub designed to help teachers and other curriculum administrators more easily find educational tools and apps to use in the classroom. Today, as a part of Googe’s educational announcements at ISTE 2019, the company officially launched the App Hub with content from Epic!, Adode, Khan Academy, and others. It also unveiled new product features in Quizzes in Google Forms, Classroom, Course Kit, and more.

As Google previously explained, teachers today often surf the web to seek out new ideas and activities to help them create their lesson plans. Meanwhile, curriculum specialists field special requests from teachers but are tasked with making sure the programs requested meet the district’s policies.

The Chromebook App Hub aims to address both these scenarios by offering a place for educators to discover ideas and resources, as well as learn how they can be implemented in the classroom and if they meet district policy.

Google worked with the EdTechTeam to help gather the ideas around apps, it says.

It also worked with the nonprofit Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC) to help app developers better consider the data privacy aspects of their products. That way, the districts would be able to find the appropriate solutions that meet their own privacy requirements.

“The SDPC is proud to work with [the Chromebook App Hub] to provide transparency and openness around the critical aspects of schools, states, and vendors securing learner information,” says Dr. Larry L. Fruth II, CEO of A4L/SDPC, in a statement.

Google additionally consulted with the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) and ConnectSafely on guidelines focused on creating “healthy digital citizenship habits,” it says.

At launch, Epic! will contribute its library of children’s books, videos, and games to the App Hub; Adobe will include its visual storytelling app Adobe Spark; and Khan Academy will bring its free library of lessons across subjects like math, grammar, science, history, standardized tests and more.

The ultimate goal, of course, is to better establish the Chromebook’s presence in the classroom, as App Hub’s apps and activities are designed to run on the Chromebook computers.

Schools and classrooms are a newer battleground for devices, with Google, Microsoft and Apple all investing in various initiatives in the K-12 market.

Last year, for example, Apple introduced a new iPad designed to help it catch up with Google, and win over more school districts. At its developer conference earlier this month, Apple also showed off new features for its educational framework ClassKit and its free app for teachers, Schoolwork.

However, Google’s Chromebook is dominating the U.S. K-12 market because of its simplicity, price, and  I.T. department tools. As of 2017, it had 58% of the market, versus 22% for Microsoft Windows and 19% for Apple.

In addition to the launch of App Hub, Google launched a beta program for teachers that lets them create a rubric and attach it to an assignment, so students know how their work will be graded. The rubrics can be created in both Classroom and Course Kit.

It also launched tools that let teachers lock Quizzes in Google Forms on managed Chromebook so students can’t navigate away until they submit their answer. And it says it will soon introduce a feature that allows teachers to import questions from previously used Forms into new ones.

Google is also launching an updated version of Gradebook, that offers a more holistic view of student progress plus an early access program that lets teachers sync grades from Classroom to the School Information System (SIS). The early access beta program will be available to schools this summer, with Infinite Campus and Capita SIMS as initial partners, with more to come.

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Google to face shareholders on censored ‘Dragonfly’ search in China

Another day, another shareholder suit. This time it’s Google in the spotlight.

Shareholders have tabled a resolution which, if passed, would demand Google put the brakes on its controversial search engine efforts in China. The program, internally dubbed “Dragonfly,” is said to be a censorship-friendly search engine with the capability to hide results at the behest of Beijing, which administers one of the most restrictive internets in the world.

The project remains largely secret, amid an internal upheaval and political pressure from the Trump administration to scrap the effort, but was later acknowledged by Google chief Sundar Pichai, describing China as an “important” market.

The resolution, set to be voted on at the company’s annual shareholder meeting Wednesday, would instruct Google to conduct and publish a human rights impact assessment examining the impacts of a censored Google search engine in China.

Open Mic, a non-profit representing shareholders worth $3 billion in Google assets, said Google should examine the human rights impact during Dragonfly’s development and not after.

“The Chinese government already employs invasive, data-driven surveillance to track its citizens,” said Joshua Brockwell, an investment communications director at Azzad Asset Management, which supports the resolution. “The potential for it to weaponize data from Google searches could allow the government to expand its human rights abuses, including mass detentions of the Uighur minority.”

Among recent crackdowns, China has come under international pressure in the past year for targeting Uighur Muslims and holding more than a million in detention.

Google opposes the resolution, saying in its proxy statement: “Google has been open about its desire to increase its ability to serve users in China and other countries. We have considered a variety of options for how to offer services in China in a way that is consistent with our mission and have gradually expanded our offerings to consumers in China, including Google Translate.”

A spokesperson for Google told TechCrunch it had “nothing more to add” beyond its proxy statement.

It’s unclear how the vote will go, given the pressure on Google to evaluate the introduction of search into China. In context, the shareholder in the top 10 with the least amount of shares still has $3.9 billion in stock.

Security lapse exposed a Chinese smart city surveillance system

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Millennials

Millennials

How to Create a Simple Flowchart in Pages on Mac

Flowcharts are very effective tools for visually explaining processes. You might use a flowchart to show the steps in a product assembly, a document workflow process, or control flows in a system program.

For large and detailed diagrams like those, specific flowchart software can give you all the tools you need and then some. But for small, quick, and simple diagrams, you can use applications you already own like Apple Pages. If you’re ready to get started on your first basic flowchart in Pages on Mac, we’re here to help.

Prepare Pages for Your Flowchart

There are a few settings you can adjust in Pages on Mac that will make creating your flowchart just a bit easier. These are not required but are helpful.

Enable Alignment Guides

Alignment guides in Pages help you place and arrange your objects more accurately. When you move the objects on your page, these guides will appear horizontally and vertically.

1. Click Pages > Preferences from the menu bar.
2. Select Rulers.
3. Under Alignment Guides, check the boxes for Show guides at object center and Show guides at object edges.
4. Optionally, you can click the color shown and change it to a different color if you prefer.

Show the Rulers

Another handy setting is to show rulers at the top and left side of your document page. This helps you line up those objects.

If you only want to see the top ruler, click the View button in your toolbar or View in the menu bar and select Show Rulers.

To enable the ruler on the left, open the Pages > Preferences > Ruler settings once more. Mark the box for Show vertical rulers whenever rulers are shown.

How to Make a Flowchart in Pages

Now that you have Pages set up with a few extras to make placing your objects easier, let’s get to that flowchart.

Insert Your Shapes

You can insert shapes using either the menu bar Insert > Shape option or the Shape button your toolbar. Use whichever works best for you. For this tutorial, we’ll be using the Shape button in the toolbar since it gives us a preview of the objects.

Click the Shape button and you’ll see categories to the left with a search at the top. Since there isn’t a Flowchart category, you can use the Basic shapes. Select your shape and it will pop right into your document for you to move wherever you like.

Format the Shapes

To change your shape’s style, border, shadow, or opacity, open the formatting sidebar by clicking the Format button on the top right. Select your object and then choose an option to make your change.

To resize, scale, or skew your object, select it and pick an edge or corner. Then, just drag to the shape or size you want.

Add Text to the Shapes

To add text to an object, double-click inside of the shape. Once you type your text, you can format it with the sidebar as well. Select the text and click Text in the sidebar. You can change the font size, style, format, alignment, and spacing or use bullets and lists.

Insert Your Lines and Arrows

Like with shapes, you can insert lines using either the menu bar Insert > Line option or the Shape button your toolbar. Again, we’ll be using the Shape button in the toolbar.

Pages lets you pick from a basic line, one with one or two arrowheads, and straight, curved, or angled connection lines.

When you pick your line and it displays on the page, just select and move it to connect your shapes. You’ll see the guides and a snap-type of movement as the lines fall into place.

Format the Lines

With the Format sidebar open, click a line, click Style in the sidebar, and you can adjust its appearance. Like shapes, you can change a line’s style, stroke, shadow, opacity, or add a reflection effect.

Add Unattached Text

Unlike shapes, you cannot just double-click and add text to a line. However, you can add a text box to go with a line or place anywhere in your flowchart. (We’ll show you how to keep text and a line together in the Grouping Shapes, Lines, and Text section.)

Either click Insert > Text Box from the menu bar or the Text button your toolbar. When the text box appears, just type inside the box and then drag it to the location you want.

Format Unattached Text

You can make many adjustments to your text with the Format sidebar. Click the text box and click Text in the sidebar. You’ll see the same options for this text as you did when formatting the text you added to your shapes above.

You can change the style, layout, alignment, spacing, and font style, size, or color as well as use bullets or lists.

You can resize, scale, or skew text boxes just like shapes. Grab an edge or corner and then drag to the shape and size you want.

Keep Text and Objects Together

If you will be using text throughout your flowchart, which is likely, there is one other adjustment you should make. In the Format sidebar, click the Arrange tab. Under Object Placement, click the button for Move with Text. This will keep all the text you add to objects with those objects if you move them around.

Group Shapes, Lines, and Text

Grouping is another great feature in Pages that lets you keep objects together, whether shapes, lines, or text.

Group Some Objects

If you add text to a line, for example, you’ll likely want to keep those two together. Follow these few steps to group the text and line into one object.

1. Click either the text box or the line.
2. Hold down your Shift key and click the other item.
3. In the Format sidebar, click Arrange.
4. At the bottom of the Arrange options, click the Group

Your text and line are now considered one object, so you can move them together easily. Follow the same steps above to group three or more items.

Group All Objects

If your flowchart is complete, you may want to group all objects within it together. This allows you to move the flowchart to another area of your document.

1. Make sure your cursor is on the document page and click Command + A. This selects all objects. If you need to remove one, hold Command and click. The rest will remain selected.
2. In the Format sidebar, click Arrange.
3. At the bottom of the Arrange options, click the Group

Now your flowchart is one big object. So you can move, resize, scale, or skew it as you like. But you can still make changes to the individual shapes, lines, and text within the flowchart as if you did before.

Ungroup Objects

You’ll notice after you use the Group button in the sidebar, an Ungroup button becomes available. If you need to separate any grouped items later, just select the group and click that Ungroup button.

A Basic Flowchart in Pages is Easy

Opting for an online flowchart application or using Microsoft Word to create flowcharts might give you more options, like the more official flowchart objects you normally see. But if you are a Mac user and just need a quick and simple flowchart, Pages gets it done.

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The Best Programs for Creative Writers

There are so many different things you can write these days and so many different types of writing careers. From crafting novels or essays to working as a journalist, content writer, or copy editor; those with the gift for creating compelling sentences are in high demand.

Because of this, you need the best tools of the trade so you can be a productive writer. When you have the right kind of tools, it can help you cut back on the time you have to spend on your writing.

Here are some of the best writing applications for creative writers that are currently available.

1. Google Docs

Google Docs has a reputation as an accessible and collaborative writing program. In the current age of internet connectivity—where almost everything we do is online—it has become ubiquitous at home and in the workplace.

Google Docs may be free for personal use, but just because it’s free doesn’t mean that it is less versatile than old-school titans like Microsoft. Its numerous functions allow you to design a functional looking document from start to finish. Its collaborative abilities, especially for teams that need to work on the same document, are unrivaled.

Google Docs is best for anyone who needs to work online and remotely. It’s also good for people who need to switch between different devices to write on the same thing. This is especially true if you’re working with other people on the same file, as Google Docs allows multiple individuals to work on a single document.

Another upside to Google Docs: it has a very low learning curve, which means that you won’t struggle to adjust to the application. The fact that it’s designed and operated by Google means that it will interface seamlessly with all your other Google apps.

Looking for a more in-depth rundown? We have an article on what Google Docs is and how to use it.

Visit: Google Docs (Free)

Download: Google Docs for Android | iOS (Free)

2. Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word is a writing program that has been around for ages. So long, in fact, that it’s an application that many of us millennials learned how to type on when we were kids.

Over the years, Microsoft Word has evolved and become more complex. There are more competitors these days, but the program still packs a punch with its incredible versatility and its reputation as a standardized tool in a work-based setting.

Knowing how to use Microsoft Word can mean the difference between getting that office job or not. Because of its sprawling number of customizations, Microsoft Word is good for a large variety of writing professions and purposes. These range from business reports to novels.

Microsoft Word works on both PC and Mac OS. In my own experience, I find it’s best utilized when you’re on the PC, as you retain more of the natural versatility of the program.

If you’re looking for more information, here’s a list of add-ons that you can install to make Microsoft Word easier to use.

Visit: Microsoft Word Online (Free)

Download: Microsoft Word for Windows | macOS (Office 365 Subscription)

Download: Microsoft Word for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchase)

3. Scrivener

Scrivener hasn’t been around for as long as Microsoft Word, but it’s definitely not new. It’s been gaining traction over the years as an alternative to the old-school favorite.

As an incredibly in-depth outlining application, Scrivener is perfect for anyone who is writing a novel. These days you’ll often see creative writers shouting its praise. Its name usually comes up as a recommended tool on the eve of writing events like NaNoWriMo.

With its ability to organize chapters, scenes, and research all in one place, Scrivener prevents you from hunting for files in different spots on your computer.

Visit: Scrivener (Free)

Download: Scrivener for Windows | macOS (Free Trial)

Download: Scrivener for iOS ($19.99)

4. Dabble

In terms of writing programs, Dabble is sort of like the new kid at school.

I first heard about Dabble through Camp NaNoWriMo, where the free trial was being advertised. Because I already had a lot of creative writing applications on my plate, I was unsure about trying it at first. I didn’t know if I needed another program.

Dabble hasn’t been around for as long as the other programs, so my curiosity was piqued. Was I missing anything in terms of features? Would it bring something new to the table that I hadn’t tried before? Turns out, I liked it a lot.

Some highlights:

• Just like Scrivener, Dabble allows you to organize your writing files all in one place.
• You can arrange your book via chapters and scenes, and you can include notes and set goals for your manuscript’s progress.
• When you download your final document, Dabble formats it so your manuscript meets industry standards. This is incredibly helpful if you’re submitting your story to agents or publishers.

Overall, Dabble is online, like Google Docs. This means that you can work on your document through your browser. It has a desktop version too.

The major difference with other applications like Google Docs is that Dabble is subscription-based. When choosing between the two programs this price point could potentially be an issue.

If you’re on a budget or you’re a cash-strapped student, it might be better to go with something cheaper (or free).

Visit: Dabble (Free)

Download: Dabble for Windows | macOS (Monthly Subscription)

5. Pacemaker

A tool I discovered this summer that I absolutely love is Pacemaker: a word count productivity app for writers.

By feeding your project stats into Pacemaker, including desired word count, deadline, and what days you will be available to write, Pacemaker creates a custom writing schedule that is perfect for you. You can stay on track with your writing goals, especially the more complex ones.

The thing I really love about Pacemaker is that they have two versions: a free account and a subscription-based premium one, so you can use whatever version works best for your needs.

Visit: Pacemaker (Free)

Download: Pacemaker Premium (Monthly Subscription)

6. Hemingway

Finally, one of the tools that you can use to make your writing better—and in perfect harmony with these other programs—is the Hemingway App.

By feeding your writing through the app, you can find out where your prose is weak and how to tighten it up. You can also narrow down the particular type of editing your writing needs, ranging from overly complicated sentences to an overabundance of passive voice.

Visit: Hemingway App (Free)

Download: Hemingway for Windows | macOS ($19.99)

Choose the One That’s Right For You

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, there’s a lot of demand for writers these days. In order to compete and make the best use of your time, it’s essential that you have the right tools for the job. This list will give you a good head start.

Another great thing about the programs listed here is that both Scrivener and Dabble offer trial runs. Google Docs doesn’t even need a trial to function. It’s free to use as an individual, and all you require is a Google account.

Looking for more amazing applications to help you with your writing? Here are some browser-based tools for writers, and what they’re good for.

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Debian vs. Ubuntu: Best Linux Distro for Laptops, Desktops, and Servers

There is a seemingly endless list of distributions to choose from if you’re interested in Linux. That said, one of the most popular distributions is Ubuntu. If you’ve heard of Linux, chances are you’ve heard of Ubuntu.

You may have heard that Ubuntu is based on another distribution, Debian. Which one should you choose? Is it a matter of preference, or is easy distribution better suited to different use cases?

What Are the Major Differences?

At first place, Ubuntu and Debian seem largely similar. Both use the same package management system and you’ll often find software packaged for both. Below the surface, however, there are some key differences to be aware of.

Not all software available for Ubuntu is available for Debian due to license restrictions in the latter. Debian has a much stronger stance on free software. This applies to firmware as well, so not all hardware that works with Ubuntu will work with Debian.

Ubuntu also has Personal Package Archives, commonly known as PPAs, available. These let you easily install packages not available in the official Ubuntu repositories. This makes installing a wider range of software much easier than it is on Debian. Our guide to PPA installation and security will help you out here.

The restrictions imposed by Debian aren’t as strict as those used by some other distributions, but it’s something to be aware of. Debian also has a different release cycle than Ubuntu. Both this and different license restrictions affect certain use cases, as we’ll see later on.

Debian vs. Ubuntu: Laptop Use

As you might have gathered from the above section, Ubuntu is often much easier to use on laptops than Ubuntu. Part of this comes down to the third-party firmware and software. Much of the hardware on newer laptops lacks open source drivers, meaning you’ll have to turn to non-free binaries.

Some non-free binaries are available in the Debian non-free repositories, but a wider range of hardware is more easily supported in Ubuntu. This combined with the software available in PPAs means you’ll have an easier time getting up and running with proprietary software in Ubuntu.

One of the main advantages of Linux is how customizable it is. This means that with a little work, you can get Debian running on a laptop as well as Ubuntu. That said, you’ll have to put in a bit more work to get to that point.

Finally, if you want to run Ubuntu on a laptop, you can simply buy a laptop running Ubuntu. It’s possible someone sells laptops pre-loaded with Debian, but you’ll find plenty of laptops preloaded with Ubuntu.

Debian vs. Ubuntu: Desktop Use

When it comes to desktop use, Debian is easier to use than it is on a laptop, especially if you choose your hardware carefully. If you’re building your own computer this is easy. If you’re dealing with a pre-built computer, maybe less so. Have an older computer? There’s a decent chance your hardware is supported.

When it comes to installation, you’ll generally have an easier time with Ubuntu. This isn’t necessarily a plus for every laptop user, but it is for many of them. Configuration is also easy in Ubuntu; how easy Debian is to configure will largely depend on your desktop.

The toughest time you’re going to have is with graphics cards. Nvidia offers drivers that will deliver decent performance for many of its cards. That said, if you want to use the open-source drivers you’ll have better luck with AMD cards.

If you’re looking to Linux alongside your Windows installation, you can dual boot either Debian or Ubuntu. That said, there are far more ways to run Ubuntu alongside Windows.

Debian vs. Ubuntu: Server Use

Debian doesn’t have a bespoke server download. Instead, it offers a minimal base installer. The main choice is to pick the image for your CPU architecture. Once you’ve installed the base system you install the software you need. From here you can choose  server software or a more desktop-oriented installation.

In the case of Ubuntu, multiple installers are available. One is meant for desktop use, another is meant for server use. Still others are meant for other use cases. The server image is a relatively minimal install with no graphical interface and basic server software.

Debian is frequently used in server environments for a few reasons. One such reason is its reputation for stability. This is due to the relatively older packages it ships. These have been tested and verified, so they’re less likely to have bugs.

Ubuntu is still a good choice for server software, but it tends to use newer versions of software. This is a plus if you need features found in newer software versions, but it does mean that packages aren’t as time tested.

If you’re curious, we have a rundown of the key differences between the desktop and server versions of Ubuntu. Many of these apply to Debian as well.

Debian and Ubuntu vs. Other Distributions

What if you’re wondering about choosing Debian or Ubuntu instead of a distribution like Arch or Fedora? One of the key advantages of using either distribution is just how popular they are. If you’re looking for a tip for solving a problem, someone has likely encountered that problem on Ubuntu or Debian. This may not be true for other distributions.

This popularity helps when it comes to packages too. You’ll find DEB packages that run on Debian or Ubuntu for plenty of software. You may not find packages for other distributions. This is doubly true for Ubuntu, as its PPA system means you’ll find plenty of packaged software available.

Why Pick One?

For the most part, which distribution is best for you comes down to personal preference. Ubuntu is generally easier to use on the desktop while Debian is well-suited to server use. That said,  you can easily use Debian on the desktop or Ubuntu on a server. As long as your hardware is supported, you can easily use either.

That said, there may be other reasons you may not want to use Ubuntu, or Debian for that matter. If you’re curious why you might opt for another distribution, we can fill you in on the details. Check our guide to the best Linux operating system distributions for more.

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The 10 Best Apple Watch Complications You Must Use

Apple Watch complications are a great way to get information from your favorite iPhone apps at a glance on your Apple Watch. With the added display real estate on the Apple Watch Series 4, complications can now do and show more than ever before.

Here are several Apple Watch complications that are worth a place on your primary watch face.

1. Dark Sky

Dark Sky is one of the best hyper-local weather apps available. It provides up-to-the-minute weather for your specific location that’s almost always on the money.

The Dark Sky complication shows you the most important weather information on your watch face. Every option gives you the current temperature, as well as up-to-date weather conditions. Larger complications also include information such as temperature highs and lows, and even sunset times.

Download: Dark Sky ($4)

2. Just Press Record

Using your iPhone to take notes or dictation is fine, but you have to stop what you’re doing, take out your iPhone, and start tapping away. With Just Press Record, your iPhone can stay where it is during the recording process.

Simply tap the red circle and your Apple Watch will start recording almost instantly. Everything you record is not only synced straight to the iPhone app, but also transcribed.

Download: Just Press Record ($5)

3. ActivityTracker

One of the big selling points of the Apple Watch is its fitness tracking capabilities. It’s a little bizarre, then, that there’s no native way of displaying your step count on your watch face.

Thankfully, there’s an app to fill in the gap. ActivityTracker takes data directly from your Apple Health app and lets you display your step count as a complication,. This is a real game-changer when you’re trying to hit a specific step goal, as you’re able to monitor your progress in real time as you work out.

You can also choose to display calories, distance, active time, and floors climbed.

Download: ActivityTracker (Free, premium version available)

4. Things 3

There are a lot of great to-do apps for iPhone. Things 3 stands as one of the best, and its Apple Watch complications make it even better.

The complications can show a progress bar to indicate how many tasks you’ve completed for a day. Some faces will display the next task in your list; the Modular face can show as many as three. You can also mark tasks as complete directly from your watch.

Download: Things 3 ($10)

5. HeartWatch

Another great health feature of the Apple Watch is the built-in heart rate monitor. The native Heart Rate complication does a good job of showing your current heart rate, but HeartWatch takes this a step further.

You can see your current heart rate as well as your minimum and maximum heart rates for the day. Some complications include your average heart rate too, which is great for fitness enthusiasts. There’s also a color-coding system—if the ring around your complication is red, it means your heart rate is elevated.

This complication sits nicely with some of the best Apple Watch fitness apps on the market—it’ll monitor your heart while you sleep, work out, and even while you rest, too.

Download: HeartWatch ($3)

6. Streaks

Streaks is a to-do list app that focuses on tracking how many days in a row you complete each task. It’s a great way to motivate yourself as once you’ve built up a long streak, you don’t want to break it.

The simplest complication shows six dots that turn from orange to gray when you’ve completed each task. You can mark a task as complete directly on your watch, as well as starting the timers for duration-based tasks. Larger complications will also show the name of an incomplete task on the face.

Download: Streaks ($5)

7. Fantastical 2

Fantastical 2 is already one of the best calendar apps for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. With the Apple Watch complication, you can be sure that you’ll never miss another appointment again.

At first glance, it appears quote similar to Apple’s Calendar app, allowing you to see the date as well as the name of appointments on larger complications. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll find that there’s a lot more on offer with Fantastical 2.

You can see how long your current event is going to last, even in small complications which show the information as a slowly-shrinking ring. Most useful of all, tapping on the complication followed by a force touch allows you to add a new appointment by voice command.

Download: Fantastical 2 ($5)

8. WaterMinder

If you’re concerned that you don’t drink enough water, WaterMinder makes for a great addition to your favorite Apple Watch face. You can set up a target of how much water you want to drink and count it off throughout the day, all from your watch.

The smaller complications give you another ring you can aim to close by the end of the day. Larger ones give you a percentage of your total in addition to the amount remaining for that day. Tap on the complication and you can add one of the preset amounts, or input one of your own.

Download: WaterMinder ($5)

9. iTranslate

If you’re traveling abroad, the iTranslate complication for your Apple Watch could be a lifesaver. Not only will it automatically detect the local language, but will also pop up with useful common phrases throughout the day.

One tap on the complication will launch the app. Tap on the flag and you can either speak or scribble the phrase you want to translate. After a moment, the app will offer you the translated phrase. Click on the speaker icon and your Apple Watch will speak the translated phrase for you.

The translated phrase remains on your watch face, so you can refresh your memory every time you glance at your watch.

Download: iTranslate (Free, subscription available)

10. BatteryPhone

There’s already a native complication for the Apple Watch to show your watch battery percentage. If you want to see how much juice your iPhone has with just a glance at your wrist, then you’ll need something like BatteryPhone.

This isn’t the most refined complication on the list, but it’s a great way to keep tabs on your iPhone’s battery level without constantly having to take your phone out. You can also use the (fairly basic) iPhone app to customize the complication to show both your phone and watch battery levels together.

Download: BatteryPhone (Free)

Make the Most of Your Apple Watch

Complications have always been one of the most practical features of the Apple Watch, thanks to the increased functionality they offer. They help to make your smartwatch even smarter, as well as your life a little easier.

If you’re a new Apple Watch owner, don’t forget to try out some of these hidden Apple Watch features too.

Read the full article: The 10 Best Apple Watch Complications You Must Use

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How to Back Up and Export Chrome Bookmarks in 5 Easy Steps

You save Chrome bookmarks like the little odds and ends buried in a shoebox. The links are meant to be visited often or later. Each of these links can be a precious corner of the web for you. That’s why it’s important to export Chrome bookmarks and keep them backed up always.

Mishaps happen. Fortunately, Chrome lets you save bookmarks in a single HTML file and also sync them automatically across devices.

So let’s see how easy it is to back up and export your Chrome bookmarks—both manually and automatically.

How to Back Up Chrome Bookmarks to an HTML File

Chrome makes it easy to create a manual backup of your bookmarks. It houses them all in a single HTML file which you can import into any other browser or another Chrome profile. Let’s go through the five easy steps.

Step 1: Launch Chrome.

Step 2: Click the Chrome Customize and Control button (the three dots on the top right). Select Bookmarks > Bookmark Manager from the menu. Alternatively, right-click anywhere on the Bookmarks bar if it’s visible.

The Chrome shortcut to open the Bookmark Manager is Ctrl + Shift + O.

Step 3: In the Bookmark Manager window, click the Organize menu button (the three dots on the top right). The select Export bookmarks.

Step 4: Chrome opens the File Explorer dialog box so that you can save your bookmarks as an HTML file. Use this file to import your bookmarks into another Chrome browser or any other browser via its import dialog screen.

Step 5: Save this Chrome bookmarks HTML file in a designated place like the Documents folder. You can export it directly to a connected flash drive too or save it to the cloud on Dropbox or Google Drive.

You can also choose to organize your bookmarks before you export them by selecting Sort by name on the above menu in the Bookmark Manager.

Restore Your Chrome Bookmarks From a Backup

To restore your bookmarks, you just have to import them back into the browser from the same Bookmark Manager window. Click the three dots in the top right corner, then select Import bookmarks.

Chrome will display the Open file dialog box. Go to your bookmark HTML file, select it, then click on Open to import your bookmarks. All your bookmarks will be retrieved.

How to Back Up Chrome Bookmarks From the Hidden Folder

There is another way to manually back up your Chrome bookmarks. You just have to make the effort to locate the hidden folder in your Windows PC or macOS. Then copy and paste the Bookmarks file from the Chrome profile folder to another secure location.

Follow the steps below.

Drill down to the User Data folder on your PC. This is the default location for all your entire browser profile (it includes Bookmarks, Passwords, Extensions, and Settings).

In Windows (Windows 10, 8, 7 & Vista), the default location is:

C:\Users\<Your_Username>\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default

In macOS, the default location is:

Users/<Your_Username>/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Default

For both paths, replace Your Username with the account name you use on the computer.

Steps to Back Up the Chrome Bookmarks Manually in Windows 10:

1. Close the Chrome browser.
2. Go to File Explorer and enable the Hidden items view. (You can also do it from Folder Options > View tab)
3. Navigate to the path mentioned above and shown in the screenshot from Windows 10.
4. Copy and save the Bookmarks file somewhere else.
5. To restore, copy the same file from the backup location and paste it in the Default folder.

What if you have multiple Chrome profiles?

If you share a computer, then maintaining separate Chrome profiles with their own set of bookmarks is always better. The User Data folder has a folder for each profile that you create in Chrome. If you only have one profile, that folder will be called Default as you see above. If you have more than one profile, the folders will be listed with the profile names.

What Is the Bookmarks.bak File?

You will also notice that the same location has another file called “Bookmarks.bak”. This is the most recent backup of your regular bookmarks file that Chrome created when you last opened the browser. It is overwritten every time you launch a new session of the browser.

If your Bookmarks file ever disappears or is damaged for some reason, you can recover all your saved bookmarks from this backup file. Just rename the backup file by removing the “.bak” file extension.

How to Sync Your Chrome Bookmarks Across Devices

Your Google account acts as a hub to sync your bookmarks and other browser settings across your devices. If you have multiple computers and Android or iOS devices, you can not only sync your entire profile but also select what you want to include or exclude.

Step 1: Open Chrome and click on More > Settings.

Step 2: Sign into the Google account you want to use with Chrome.

Step 3: Go to People. Click on the tiny arrow for Sync and Google Services.

Step 4: In the next screen, click the arrow for Manage sync. You can also explore the encryption options for added security.

Step 5: If you want to sync everything in your Chrome profile, then keep the Sync everything toggle enabled.

Step 6: Want to sync specific data? Turn off Sync everything and go down the list to enable the profile information you want to be synced.

Optionally encrypt your Chrome bookmarks and other synced data. Secure your data with your Google account’s passphrase or a custom passphrase for extra security. You will need to enter the same passphrase into the Chrome installs for all devices you want the data synced to.

If you use multiple Chrome profiles, you can sign into each and keep all your data synced across devices and your Google accounts. Even if you lose your bookmarks in one device, it can be retrieved with a simple sync.

Manage Your Chrome Bookmarks Well

Click-happy fingers can delete your entire bank of links in one go. There’s no undo button in the browser or the bookmarks manager. You realize how much you miss your bookmarks when you don’t have them (try a browser where you don’t have them around!).

That’s why it is important to know how to save your bookmarks in Chrome when disaster strikes. You can also choose to keep bookmarks synced across all your favorite browsers like Chrome and Firefox.

Read the full article: How to Back Up and Export Chrome Bookmarks in 5 Easy Steps

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