31 May 2020

Maxoak Bluetti AC100 Keeps You Powered Up, No Matter What


maxoak bluetti ac100
Our verdict of the Maxoak Bluetti AC100:
It doesn't have the power of its larger siblings, but the Maxoak Bluetti AC100 has more than enough to keep your most vital electronics running when you need them.
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The world is an unpredictable place, so you never know when you might need a solid source of portable power. You may have a power outage in your area or you could have a downed wire from a storm. Maybe you’re just going on a camping trip but can’t do without a specific modern convenience.

We’ve previously looked at portable power supplies from Maxoak’s Bluetti line and were impressed with what they had to offer. That said, not everyone needs a big ultra-powerful pseudo-generator. When you just need to power a few household electronics, the Maxoak Bluetti AC100 will get the job done, and it’s just light enough to make it luggable.

Join us as we take a closer look at the Maxoak Bluetti AC100, and scroll down for an exclusive coupon code!

Specifications

  • Inputs: AC adapter or solar panel (16V-40V 10A)
  • Outputs: 2x AC sockets, 4x 5V USB 2.1A ports, 1 x 45W PD USB-C, 1 x 12V 9A car port
  • Total capacity: 1000Wh
  • Maximum continuous power: 600W
  • Battery technology: Lithium-Ion
  • AC Charge time: 10 hours
  • Solar charge time: Variable (higher power panels mean shorter recharge times); panels not included
Maxoak Bluetti AC100 Maxoak Bluetti AC100 Buy Now On Amazon $899.99

Build & Design

DC ports on the AC100

The Maxoak Bluetti AC100 might be smaller than some others in the Bluetti line, but it isn’t exactly tiny, nor is it light. The size is slightly bigger than a car battery and weighs in at 34.4 pounds (15.6 kg).

While most of that weight comes from the internal lithium-ion battery, a significant portion of it comes from the build. This is a sturdy power source, with a handle for easy carrying. It feels like it could handle a drop from a few feet, but I wouldn’t want to find out the hard way.

The battery may be tough, but it does have its weak points. The biggest of these is that it isn’t waterproof. This isn’t a problem if you’re keeping the AC100 around for power outages, but it means you’ll need to be careful if you bring it on a camping trip.

Features

Built-in light on Bluetti AC100

Functionality is simple: just press the power button on the front, then tap the AC or DC buttons on the front to enable power to the ports. You can use both at the same time, but the individual switches make it easy to route power only to where you need it. You’ll be using both switches often, because aside from the two AC sockets on one side, every other port provides DC power.

One extra bit of functionality comes from the built-in light. Turn on the battery, then tap the light button and you’ve got an extremely heavy, largely unwieldy light source. That said, this may be handy when it comes to plugging devices into the Bluetti AC100 during a power outage.

The built-in display is easy to read, both inside and outside. As with the Maxoak Bluetti 1500Wh, the five-segment battery indicator doesn’t give you a good idea of how much power is left. That said, this is the only poor aspect of the display. Being able to see exactly how much power is discharging at any given time is useful.

Charging the Battery

Charging the Bluetti AC100

The Maxoak Bluetti AC100 arrived mostly charged, so I had quite a lot of work to do before I could charge it to see how long it took. Given the capacity of the battery, this took longer than I’d initially planned.

There are two ways to charge the Bluetti AC100, one of which is standard AC power from a wall outlet. An AC adapter is included in the box, which makes this easy.

As this is such a large battery, you’ll need a while to charge it — roughly 10 to 11 hours, in fact. In my case, charging took around nine hours, but this is because I didn’t entirely run out the battery before plugging it in to charge over the course of a day.

Input for charging the AC100

The other option for charging the Bluetti AC100, and largely one of the more novel reasons for opting for this power source over others, is using a solar panel. You can use plenty of solar panels, as long as it provides a working voltage of between 16V and 40V at a max of 10A. A DC to MC4 charging cable is included in the box.

I had hoped to have a solar panel on hand to test this feature, but that was not to be the case. If you’re interested in charging via solar panel, see our review of the Maxoak Bluetti 1500Wh Backup Solar Generator, which has a 50% larger capacity than Bluetti AC100.

Solar power is great, but not exactly known for being predictable, as so much is reliant on the weather. How fast the AC100 charges depends partly on your solar panel and partly on how the weather is while you’re charging.

Powering Up Your Home

Dual AC outlets

You can power anything with the AC100, as long as it doesn’t draw more than 600 watts. This means that it easily powers TVs, computers, coffee grinders, and more. Maxoak even advertises using the Bluetti AC100 to power a car fridge or mini-fridge.

That said, the AC100 won’t power every home appliance. Microwaves, toaster ovens, kettles, or even a slow cooker, typically all draw more than 600 watts.

Fortunately, you don’t need to worry about accidentally plugging in something with too big of a draw. The AC100 has built-in protection against overcharge, overcurrent, overvoltage, and overheating.

I wasn’t it to provide much fo a challenge, but for initial testing, I plugged a Marshall guitar amplifier from the mid-1980s into the Bluetti AC100, which draws around 50-watt. As expected the AC100 had no problem powering the amp, but there was a strange noise in the background. I’m going to blame this on the amp being a solid-state amp that is around 35 years old rather than the Bluetti.

Just to make sure that the AC100 didn’t have any significant issues with noise, I next decided to power my home audio setup. This includes an Audio-Technica turntable, a hybrid tube integrated amplifier, cassette deck, and input switcher. The Bluetti AC100 easily powered everything, and I noticed no noise. Everything sounded exactly as it was plugged into the wall outlet.

How Long Does the Battery Last?

Reporting the current power load

Unlike laptop power banks, which Maxoak also makes, it can be hard to predict how long the battery will last unless you know how much power you’re drawing. Fortunately, the readouts on the built-in display make this part easy.

Once you know how much power you’re drawing, you can figure out how long the battery will last. This model has 1,000 Wh (watt-hours) of capacity, which simply means that drawing 1 watt continuously would get you roughly 1,000 hours of power. If you’re drawing a total of around 100 watts at a given time, you can expect roughly 10 hours.

This formula works, but you won’t always be working with neat units of 10 or 100. Still, the Maxoak Bluetti AC100 performed as expected, delivering power for roughly as long as I expected. It’s important to note that power usage will fluctuate in most cases, so you’ll want to keep your eye on usage for a while. If you want to be safe, just base your estimate on the highest number you see.

I tested the Bluetti AC100 with my home theater setup that included an LCD TV, 5.1-channel receiver, powered subwoofer, and Ultra HD Blu-ray player. All of this only displayed a load of around 100 watts, even during playback, so I could have expected around 10 hours of playtime. I didn’t feel like watching TV for 10 hours, but after finishing a roughly 2.5 hour movie, the AC100 had drained at the rate I had expected.

Should You Buy the Maxoak Bluetti AC100?

The Maxoak Bluetti AC100 is a great example of a product that clearly describes what it aims to do and then does just that. While it’s not as powerful as other products in the Bluetti line, it’s still powerful enough to keep a fair amount of electronics running. The occasional slightly gimmicky feature like the built-in light don’t do anything to take away from that.

The more important thing to consider when looking at the Bluetti AC100 is whether it does what you need. It’s handy how powerful this power bank is, but that doesn’t mean much if you’re aiming to power your toaster and this won’t handle it. While the AC100 will handle most things you throw at it, its portability does come with a slight tradeoff of sheer power.

Maxoak Bluetti AC100 Maxoak Bluetti AC100 Buy Now On Amazon $899.99

If you need just slightly more than what the Bluetti AC100 can provide, you might be interested in one of the more powerful models in the Bluetti line. On the other hand, if you’re looking to power your entire home or even a portion of it, no product like this will meet your demands. Instead, you’re probably in the market for a diesel-powered generator or Tesla Powerwall.

This level power and portability doesn’t come cheap, but you aren’t necessarily stuck paying the Bluetti’s $900 MSRP. Using the coupon code bluetti108, you can get a further $108 off the purchase price (and there’s an Amazon coupon for $50 on the sales page this can be combined with), which may be a large enough difference in price to make this a worthwhile investment.

Enter the Competition!

Maxoak Bluetti AC100 Battery Backup

Read the full article: Maxoak Bluetti AC100 Keeps You Powered Up, No Matter What


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You Can Now Break YouTube Videos Into Chapters


YouTube creators can now add chapters to videos, making it easier for viewers to navigate them. This is especially useful with longer videos, with the content broken up into smaller chunks. Chapters are entirely optional, but should start appearing on more videos.

YouTube started experimenting with chapters in April, and thanks to positive feedback, is now rolling the feature out to all users. Chapters are optional, and won’t be applied by default, but if a YouTuber adds timestamps to a video, YouTube will do the rest.

How to Add Chapters to YouTube Videos

To add chapters to one of your YouTube videos, simply add timestamps to your description. The first timestamp needs to start at 0.00, a video needs to have at least three timestamps, and each timestamp needs to be at least 10 seconds apart.

YouTube will use your timestamps to break the video into chapters. Viewers will then see the chapters at the bottom of the video, with the timeline broken up with black lines in between each one. Making it easier to navigate to an exact point.

Chapters work on desktop, Android, and iOS. On desktop, you can hover over a chapter to see the title, and click the one you want. On mobile, you need to keep your finger on the screen and scroll across the timeline until you find the chapter you want to watch.

There are no limits on who can add chapters to their YouTube videos, so you’re likely to see them cropping up a lot from now on. However, it IS optional, and YouTubers can disable chapters by adjusting the first timestamp to something other than 0.00.

Making It Easier to Navigate YouTube Videos

Chapters have the capacity to help both YouTube creators and viewers. Creators can break videos up into smaller chunks, helping direct viewers to specific parts of their uploads. And viewers will be able to find what they’re looking for quickly and easily.

If you’re a budding YouTuber keen to start making videos, read our beginner’s guide to making YouTube videos. And if you’re a viewer keen to get more out of YouTube, be sure to check out our article explaining ways to make YouTube even better.

Image Credit: Ivan Radic/Flickr

Read the full article: You Can Now Break YouTube Videos Into Chapters


Essential Keyboard Shortcuts for Visual Studio Code


Laptop displaying text editor

Microsoft Visual Studio Code debuted only a few years ago, but it has quickly become one of the most popular text editors available. Its combination of a simple user interface with powerful IDE-like features makes it especially popular with programmers, but it’s just as useful for writers and anyone who manipulates text files.

Visual Studio Code supports nearly every programming language that exists. If support isn’t built-in, you can add it through the app’s extension browser. VS Code even has native features to support collaborative programming. Plus, it has plenty of keyboard shortcuts to help you navigate the app interface effortlessly.

And what’s more, you can discover the most useful VS Code keyboard shortcuts with this cheat sheet!

Because of the sheer number of users on Windows, that OS is the main focus of this cheat sheet. Don’t worry if you’re a Mac user though, as all of these keyboard shortcuts work on macOS as well. Simply use the Command key instead of the Ctrl key and the Option key instead of Alt. If any shortcuts vary more than that, we’ll mention both.

FREE DOWNLOAD: This cheat sheet is available as a downloadable PDF from our distribution partner, TradePub. You will have to complete a short form to access it for the first time only. Download The Visual Studio Code Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet.

The Visual Studio Code Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet

On a Mac keyboard, replace Ctrl with Cmd and Alt with Option in the shortcuts.

Shortcut Action
Basic Functionality
Ctrl + Shift + P Open Command Palette
Ctrl + , Open app settings
Ctrl + K, Ctrl + S Display keyboard shortcuts
Ctrl + Shift + X Switch to Extensions pane
Ctrl + N New file
Ctrl + Shift + N New window
¹Ctrl + F4 Close file
Ctrl + Shift + W Close window
¹F11 Toggle Full Screen mode
Ctrl + B Toggle sidebar visibility
File Management
Ctrl + O Open file
Ctrl + S Save file
Ctrl + Shift + S Save as…
Ctrl + K, S Save all files
Ctrl + K, Ctrl + W Close all
Ctrl + Shift + T Reopen last closed
Editing Commands
Ctrl + C Copy selection or current line
Ctrl + X Cut selection or current line
Ctrl + V Paste
Ctrl + Shift + K Delete line
Home Go to beginning of line
End Go to end of line
Ctrl + Home Go to beginning of file
Ctrl + End Go to end of file
Alt + Up / Down Move line up or down
Ctrl + ] Indent line
Ctrl + [ Outdent line
Ctrl + / Comment out line
Shift + Alt + A Comment out region
Folding
Ctrl + Shift + [ Fold region
Ctrl + Shift + ] Unfold region
Ctrl + K, Ctrl + [ Fold all subregions
Ctrl + K, Ctrl + ] Unfold all subregions
Ctrl + K, Ctrl + 0 Fold all regions
Ctrl + K, Ctrl + J Unfold all regions
Editor Navigation
Ctrl + P Go to file
Ctrl + G Go to line
Ctrl + T Show all symbols
Ctrl + Shift + O Go to symbol
F8 Go to next error or warning
Shift + F8 Go to previous error or warning
Ctrl + Shift + M Show Problems panel
¹Alt + Left Go back
¹Alt + Right Go forward
Find and Replace
Ctrl + F Open Find dialog
Ctrl + H Open Replace dialog
Ctrl + Shift + H Replace in files
¹F3 Find next
¹Shift + F3 Find previous
Alt + Enter Select all matches for search term
Ctrl + D Add current selection to Find match
Ctrl + K, Ctrl + D Move previous selection to next Find match
Selection and Multiple Cursors
Ctrl + L Select current line
Ctrl + Shift + L Select all instances of current selection
Ctrl + F2 Select all matches of current word
¹Shift + Alt + Right Arrow Expand selection
¹Shift + Alt + Left Arrow Shrink selection
Alt + Click Insert cursor
Ctrl + Alt + Up Arrow / Down Arrow Insert cursor above or below current line
Ctrl + U Undo last cursor
Shift + Alt + I Insert cursor at the end of each selected line
Split Editor Management
Ctrl + \ Split editor
Ctrl + 1 / 2 / 3 Focus on editor pane 1, 2, or 3
Ctrl + K, Ctrl + Right Arrow / Left Arrow Focus on next / previous editor pane
¹Ctrl + Shift + PgUp Move editor left
¹Ctrl + Shift + PgDown Move editor right
Integrated Terminal
¹Ctrl + ` Show integrated terminal
¹Ctrl + Shift + ` Create new terminal instance
Ctrl + Up Arrow / Down Arrow Scroll up / down
Ctrl + Home / End Scroll to top / bottom
macOS-Specific Shortcuts
Cmd + W Close file
Cmd + Ctrl + F Toggle full screen
Cmd + - Go back
Cmd + Shift + - Go forward
Cmd + G Find next
Cmd + Shift + G Find previous
Cmd + Control + Shift + Right Arrow Expand selection
Cmd + Control + Shift + Left Arrow Shrink selection
Cmd + K, Cmd + Shift + Left Move editor left
Cmd + K, Cmd + Shift + Right Move editor right
Control + ` Show integrated terminal
Control + Shift + ` Create new terminal instance
¹The corresponding macOS shortcut is listed under the macOS-Specific Shortcuts section at the end of the cheat sheet.

Looking for More Ways to Make the Most of VS Code?

The keyboard shortcuts here will have you well on your way to becoming a Visual Studio Code power user. That said, there are many more ways that you can make the software even better-suited to your workflow.

For example, you can add countless features to the editor with extensions. If you’re looking for a starting point, take a look at our list of extensions to help make programming in VS Code even easier.

Image Credit: UserName on Unsplash

Read the full article: Essential Keyboard Shortcuts for Visual Studio Code


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You Can Now Break YouTube Videos Into Chapters


YouTube creators can now add chapters to videos, making it easier for viewers to navigate them. This is especially useful with longer videos, with the content broken up into smaller chunks. Chapters are entirely optional, but should start appearing on more videos.

YouTube started experimenting with chapters in April, and thanks to positive feedback, is now rolling the feature out to all users. Chapters are optional, and won’t be applied by default, but if a YouTuber adds timestamps to a video, YouTube will do the rest.

How to Add Chapters to YouTube Videos

To add chapters to one of your YouTube videos, simply add timestamps to your description. The first timestamp needs to start at 0.00, a video needs to have at least three timestamps, and each timestamp needs to be at least 10 seconds apart.

YouTube will use your timestamps to break the video into chapters. Viewers will then see the chapters at the bottom of the video, with the timeline broken up with black lines in between each one. Making it easier to navigate to an exact point.

Chapters work on desktop, Android, and iOS. On desktop, you can hover over a chapter to see the title, and click the one you want. On mobile, you need to keep your finger on the screen and scroll across the timeline until you find the chapter you want to watch.

There are no limits on who can add chapters to their YouTube videos, so you’re likely to see them cropping up a lot from now on. However, it IS optional, and YouTubers can disable chapters by adjusting the first timestamp to something other than 0.00.

Making It Easier to Navigate YouTube Videos

Chapters have the capacity to help both YouTube creators and viewers. Creators can break videos up into smaller chunks, helping direct viewers to specific parts of their uploads. And viewers will be able to find what they’re looking for quickly and easily.

If you’re a budding YouTuber keen to start making videos, read our beginner’s guide to making YouTube videos. And if you’re a viewer keen to get more out of YouTube, be sure to check out our article explaining ways to make YouTube even better.

Image Credit: Ivan Radic/Flickr

Read the full article: You Can Now Break YouTube Videos Into Chapters


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30 May 2020

This Week in Apps: Facebook launches trio of app experiments, TikTok gets spammed, plus coronavirus impacts on app economy


Welcome back to This Week in Apps, the Extra Crunch series that recaps the latest OS news, the applications they support and the money that flows through it all.

The app industry is as hot as ever, with a record 204 billion downloads and $120 billion in consumer spending in 2019. People are now spending three hours and 40 minutes per day using apps, rivaling TV. Apps aren’t just a way to pass idle hours — they’re a big business. In 2019, mobile-first companies had a combined $544 billion valuation, 6.5x higher than those without a mobile focus.

In this Extra Crunch series, we help you keep up with the latest news from the world of apps, delivered on a weekly basis.

This week we’re continuing to look at how the coronavirus outbreak is impacting the world of mobile applications, with fresh data from App Annie about trends playing out across app categories benefiting from the pandemic, lockdowns and societal changes. We’re also keeping up with the COVID-19 contact-tracing apps making headlines, and delving into the week’s other news.

We saw a few notable new apps launch this week, including HBO’s new streaming service HBO Max, plus three new app experiments from Facebook’s R&D group. Android Studio 4.0 also launched this week. Instagram is getting better AR tools and IGTV is getting ads. TikTok got spammed in India.

Meanwhile, what is going on with app review? A shady app rises to the top of the iPhone App Store. Google cracks down on conspiracy theory-spreading apps. And a TikTok clone uses a pyramid scheme-powered invite system to rise up the charts.

COVID-19 contact-tracing apps in the news 

  • Latvia: Reuters this week reported that Latvia aims to become one of the first countries to launch a smartphone app, Stop Covid, using the new toolkit created by Apple and Alphabet’s Google to help trace coronavirus infections.
  • Australia: The role of the country’s Covidsafe app in the recovery appears to be marginal, The Guardian reports. In the month since its launch, only one person has been reported to have been identified using data from it. A survey even found that Australians were more supportive of using telecommunications metadata to track close contacts (79%) than they were of downloading an app (69.8%). In a second survey, their support for the app dropped to 64%. The app has been maligned by the public debate over it and technical issues.
  • France: The country’s data protection watchdog, CNIL, reviewed its contact-tracing app StopCovid, finding there were no major issues with the technical implementation and legal framework around StopCovid, with some caveats. France isn’t using Google and Apple’s contact-tracing API, but instead uses a controversial centralized contact-tracing protocol called ROBERT. This relies on a central server to assign a permanent ID and generate ephemeral IDs attached to this permanent ID. CNIL says the app will eventually be open-sourced and it will create a bug bounty. On Wednesday, the app passed its first vote in favor of its release.
  • Qatar: Serious security vulnerabilities in Qatar’s mandatory contact-tracing app were uncovered by Amnesty International. An investigation by Amnesty’s Security Lab discovered a critical weakness in the configuration of Qatar’s EHTERAZ contact-tracing app. Now fixed, the vulnerability would have allowed cyberattackers to access highly sensitive personal information, including the name, national ID, health status and location data of more than one million users.
  • India: India’s contact-tracing app, Aarogya Setu, is going open-source, according to Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Secretary Ajay Prakash Sawhney on Tuesday. The code is being published on GitHub. Nearly 98% of the app’s more than 114 million users are on Android. The government will also offer a cash bounty of $1,325 to security experts who find bugs or vulnerabilities.
  • Switzerland: Several thousand people are now testing a pilot version of Switzerland’s contact-tracing app, SwissCovid. Like Lativia, the app is one of the first to use Apple and Google’s contact-tracing API. Employees at EPFL, ETH Zurich, the Army and select hospitals and government agencies will be the first to test the Swiss app before its public launch planned for mid-June.
  • China: China’s health-tracking QR codes, embedded in popular WeChat and Alipay smartphone apps, are raising privacy concerns, Reuters reports. To walk around freely, people must have a green rating. They also now have to present their health QR codes to gain entry into restaurants, parks and other venues. These efforts have been met with little resistance. But the eastern city of Hangzhou has since proposed that users are given a color-coded health badge based on their medical records and lifestyle habits, including how much they exercised, their eating and drinking habits, whether they smoked and how much they slept the night before. This suggestion set off a storm of criticism on China’s Weibo, a Twitter-like platform.

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5 Ways to Watch YouTube Together With Friends for Videos, Music, and Workouts


Watching YouTube with friends

Circumstances stopping you from meeting up with others? Try some of these best apps to watch YouTube together with friends. All you need is a web browser to enjoy videos, music, and even workout with friends remotely.

These websites and apps sync YouTube videos and music for everyone to turn it into a group activity. While the clip is playing, you can video call with friends to see their reactions, or chat in text.

So queue up a music playlist together on YouTube, exercise with the best YouTube workout videos, or kick back and watch a movie together on YouTube.

1. Squad (Web, Android, iOS): Watch YouTube Videos in Sync With Friends

Squad is the best app to watch YouTube together with friends on desktop and mobile, with video calls and chat both

Squad is one of the best ways to watch YouTube videos with friends online. It enables both video calls and chat while you’re streaming the same video. And it works on phones as well as desktop browsers smoothly, making it one of the few YouTube sync watching apps to do that.

You don’t need to sign up to use Squad. Simply create a new room with a unique name, and send that link to your friends. Friends can open it in their browser, or in the Squad app on iOS and Android.

You can search YouTube within the app without leaving the screen, to add new videos as and when you want. The video call works flawlessly, and you can also chat in text at the same time.

Squad also works with TikTok videos and has a few movies in its catalog that you stream. The app was initially a screen sharing app for video calls and still has that option too, but it has come a long way since then.

Download: Squad for Android | iOS (Free)

2. Jukebox (Web): Listen to Music on YouTube With Friends in Sync

Jukebox.Today is the easiest app to create YouTube music playlists and listen in sync with friends

After trying many, many, many others like it, we believe Jukebox. Today is the best app to listen to music on YouTube in sync with others in real time. It’s easy, it’s free, it looks good, it works flawlessly, and you can use it for public rooms with strangers or private rooms with friends.

Create a new Jukebox room with a custom name to begin. You can make the room public or delist it so that only people with the link can join. Search for songs within the app and add them to the now playing list. Registered users can even save the playlist for later. There’s a Chat tab to talk with people in the room, though it’s text only.

The host of the room controls playback, with the play and next/previous track buttons. Other users can only choose to mute or unmute. But other users can add songs to the playlist. The host can also give moderation or admin rights to other users.

From the main page, you can browse active Jukebox public rooms to join any. You’ll see how many people are in it, and how many tracks are yet to play.

Jukebox is a perfect way to create a playlist of songs to listen to on YouTube and share it with friends. You can all listen to the songs together, and add tracks to it.

3. Co-Train Space (Web): Workout to YouTube Exercise Videos With Friends

Co-Train Space lets you exercise to YouTube videos live with up to 10 friends on webcam

Working out is more fun when you do it with your friends. That’s why group classes and programs like CrossFit are so popular. You already know that you can stay fit at home with free workout apps. Co-Train Space lets you do a home workout with a YouTube coach, and your friends can join in too.

You don’t even need to register to begin. Pick a workout from Co-Train Space’s categories like morning, beginner, full body, specific parts, and yoga. It’ll create a room, just send the link to invite your friends. As the host, you get to decide when to start the session, so that everyone can work out in sync. The main video plays on the left, while your video chat is in a small bar on the right.

The app uses open-source video calling network Jitsi for its backend, so your data is safe and it’s a stable video connection. While video chat is the preferred form of communication, you can also use the built-in chatroom to send text messages. Co-Train Space is simple, easy, and just works as advertised. You can’t ask for more.

4. Chrono Tube (Web): YouTube Playlist Chatroom With Anonymity

Chrono Tube is an anonymous chatroom to share and watch YouTube videos together

Let’s say you want to send an open invitation to join a chatroom where people share YouTube videos. Chrono Tube makes that happen, while still giving some anonymity. When you visit the website, you’ll first be taken to the #general chat. Don’t use that. Click the yellow “Create a room” button to start your own.

Every participant (including you, the host) is automatically assigned a random nickname. Search for a YouTube video in a separate tab, copy the link, and paste it in Chrono Tube with !q added before it. The app will immediately start playing the video in the chatroom for everyone to see. Any participant can keep adding more links to create a playlist.

Chrono Tube has a few fun scenarios you can use it in. For example, you could post that link on your social media, inviting your followers to add their favorite videos about a subject or music links from YouTube.

It’s a double-edged sword though. If the wrong person gets hold of the link, they can just as easily share objectionable videos in the chatroom. The smart move would be to use Chrono Tube for a limited time, and ensure you post the link in a way that people you want to connect with would use it.

5. YouTube Fiesta (Web): Simple YouTube Chatroom, One Video at a Time

YouTube Fiesta is the simplest way to share a video and watch it together with friends

If you don’t want the bells and whistles of video calling and YouTube search, share and watch videos with friends on YouTube Fiesta. Host a room, add your nickname and a YouTube video link, and share the room’s URL with friends.

YouTube Fiesta only has text chat with emojis to communicate with each other. Add a new YouTube link and hit the “Change” button to start a new video. You can choose if anyone can control playback or only the host. No playlists, no queues, and no headaches; YouTube fiesta’s simplicity is its greatest draw.

If you’re looking for more quick and easy options, try these other ways to watch Youtube together with friends.

It’s Not Just YouTube

The internet makes it easier than ever to share an experience in real-time with friends. YouTube is just one of the many apps you can enjoy together. There are many ways to listen to Spotify songs together with friends. And if you can’t go to the theater, so what? You can still watch Netflix with friends far away.

Read the full article: 5 Ways to Watch YouTube Together With Friends for Videos, Music, and Workouts


5 Ways to Watch YouTube Together With Friends for Videos, Music, and Workouts


Watching YouTube with friends

Circumstances stopping you from meeting up with others? Try some of these best apps to watch YouTube together with friends. All you need is a web browser to enjoy videos, music, and even workout with friends remotely.

These websites and apps sync YouTube videos and music for everyone to turn it into a group activity. While the clip is playing, you can video call with friends to see their reactions, or chat in text.

So queue up a music playlist together on YouTube, exercise with the best YouTube workout videos, or kick back and watch a movie together on YouTube.

1. Squad (Web, Android, iOS): Watch YouTube Videos in Sync With Friends

Squad is the best app to watch YouTube together with friends on desktop and mobile, with video calls and chat both

Squad is one of the best ways to watch YouTube videos with friends online. It enables both video calls and chat while you’re streaming the same video. And it works on phones as well as desktop browsers smoothly, making it one of the few YouTube sync watching apps to do that.

You don’t need to sign up to use Squad. Simply create a new room with a unique name, and send that link to your friends. Friends can open it in their browser, or in the Squad app on iOS and Android.

You can search YouTube within the app without leaving the screen, to add new videos as and when you want. The video call works flawlessly, and you can also chat in text at the same time.

Squad also works with TikTok videos and has a few movies in its catalog that you stream. The app was initially a screen sharing app for video calls and still has that option too, but it has come a long way since then.

Download: Squad for Android | iOS (Free)

2. Jukebox (Web): Listen to Music on YouTube With Friends in Sync

Jukebox.Today is the easiest app to create YouTube music playlists and listen in sync with friends

After trying many, many, many others like it, we believe Jukebox. Today is the best app to listen to music on YouTube in sync with others in real time. It’s easy, it’s free, it looks good, it works flawlessly, and you can use it for public rooms with strangers or private rooms with friends.

Create a new Jukebox room with a custom name to begin. You can make the room public or delist it so that only people with the link can join. Search for songs within the app and add them to the now playing list. Registered users can even save the playlist for later. There’s a Chat tab to talk with people in the room, though it’s text only.

The host of the room controls playback, with the play and next/previous track buttons. Other users can only choose to mute or unmute. But other users can add songs to the playlist. The host can also give moderation or admin rights to other users.

From the main page, you can browse active Jukebox public rooms to join any. You’ll see how many people are in it, and how many tracks are yet to play.

Jukebox is a perfect way to create a playlist of songs to listen to on YouTube and share it with friends. You can all listen to the songs together, and add tracks to it.

3. Co-Train Space (Web): Workout to YouTube Exercise Videos With Friends

Co-Train Space lets you exercise to YouTube videos live with up to 10 friends on webcam

Working out is more fun when you do it with your friends. That’s why group classes and programs like CrossFit are so popular. You already know that you can stay fit at home with free workout apps. Co-Train Space lets you do a home workout with a YouTube coach, and your friends can join in too.

You don’t even need to register to begin. Pick a workout from Co-Train Space’s categories like morning, beginner, full body, specific parts, and yoga. It’ll create a room, just send the link to invite your friends. As the host, you get to decide when to start the session, so that everyone can work out in sync. The main video plays on the left, while your video chat is in a small bar on the right.

The app uses open-source video calling network Jitsi for its backend, so your data is safe and it’s a stable video connection. While video chat is the preferred form of communication, you can also use the built-in chatroom to send text messages. Co-Train Space is simple, easy, and just works as advertised. You can’t ask for more.

4. Chrono Tube (Web): YouTube Playlist Chatroom With Anonymity

Chrono Tube is an anonymous chatroom to share and watch YouTube videos together

Let’s say you want to send an open invitation to join a chatroom where people share YouTube videos. Chrono Tube makes that happen, while still giving some anonymity. When you visit the website, you’ll first be taken to the #general chat. Don’t use that. Click the yellow “Create a room” button to start your own.

Every participant (including you, the host) is automatically assigned a random nickname. Search for a YouTube video in a separate tab, copy the link, and paste it in Chrono Tube with !q added before it. The app will immediately start playing the video in the chatroom for everyone to see. Any participant can keep adding more links to create a playlist.

Chrono Tube has a few fun scenarios you can use it in. For example, you could post that link on your social media, inviting your followers to add their favorite videos about a subject or music links from YouTube.

It’s a double-edged sword though. If the wrong person gets hold of the link, they can just as easily share objectionable videos in the chatroom. The smart move would be to use Chrono Tube for a limited time, and ensure you post the link in a way that people you want to connect with would use it.

5. YouTube Fiesta (Web): Simple YouTube Chatroom, One Video at a Time

YouTube Fiesta is the simplest way to share a video and watch it together with friends

If you don’t want the bells and whistles of video calling and YouTube search, share and watch videos with friends on YouTube Fiesta. Host a room, add your nickname and a YouTube video link, and share the room’s URL with friends.

YouTube Fiesta only has text chat with emojis to communicate with each other. Add a new YouTube link and hit the “Change” button to start a new video. You can choose if anyone can control playback or only the host. No playlists, no queues, and no headaches; YouTube fiesta’s simplicity is its greatest draw.

If you’re looking for more quick and easy options, try these other ways to watch Youtube together with friends.

It’s Not Just YouTube

The internet makes it easier than ever to share an experience in real-time with friends. YouTube is just one of the many apps you can enjoy together. There are many ways to listen to Spotify songs together with friends. And if you can’t go to the theater, so what? You can still watch Netflix with friends far away.

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Weekly Trading Calls 1-June-2020 Free

Weekly Trading Calls 1-June-2020 Free

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How to Set Up a PayPal Account and Receive Money From Anyone


paypal-issues-fix

Whether you’re shopping online or selling, you should have a PayPal account. It’s ideal for receiving money from friends and family, as well as from customers of your business or website.

Think receiving payment with PayPal is difficult to set up? Think again!

Let’s learn why you need a PayPal account and how to send and receive money online.

Why Should You Create a PayPal Account?

Over the years PayPal has solidified itself as the de facto payment system for anyone doing business online.

PayPal grew as it found a gap in the market between less advanced alternatives and greedy credit card processors. Much of this growth was fueled by eBay, which needed a cheap, convenient payment system. Sellers couldn’t afford credit card processing and buyers didn’t want to risk sharing their credit cards with strangers.

Sign up to PayPal to receive money on PayPal

PayPal offered a solution to both, a safe and secure means to send and receive money. It works online and offline, provides tools to businesses of all sizes and types, and even offers a pre-paid credit card.

These days, PayPal can be used to purchase goods almost anywhere—you can even use PayPal on Amazon.

If you don’t already have a PayPal account, you should. Head to www.paypal.com, click Sign Up, choose your account type, provide a name, email address. and password, and you’re done.

Note that two account types are available, Personal and Business. Below we’ll look at how to receive money on PayPal using a personal account, then move onto business accounts.

How to Set Up a Paypal Account for Receiving Payments

A personal account can subscribe to websites, buy on eBay and other online stores, and send and receive money. As you might know, you can use any type of PayPal account to receive money.

For example, there’s eBay. You might have sold the odd item on eBay, which doesn’t require a PayPal business account, and received the money.

However, you can also receive money from people beyond eBay. Friends and family might send you money, or you could have a link on your blog or website for donations.

For years, the most common way to receive payments on PayPal has been to simply request a payment from someone.

Receive PayPal Money on the Web

With a personal eBay account, you can request money by signing into your account and clicking Request money.

Receive money in PayPal

In the field, enter the email address of the person who you want to receive money from. Add the value of the request, perhaps a note, and if necessary, add another email address. Up to 20 addresses can be entered at a time.

Click Request Now to complete the process and wait for the funds to be sent to you.

Usually, this won’t be required if you’re using a system like eBay, where the request for payment is an automated part of the process, and where buyers usually just pay for the products immediately upon winning the auction.

These are the two most common ways to receive money from people, and these methods have been available in some form or another since PayPal was founded. However, these days, PayPal provides many more options for you to offer your customers and clients for sending you the money that you’re owed.

Receive Money With the PayPal App

With a PayPal mobile app on iPhone and Android, you can request payments in three ways.

  1. Enter the name, email address, or mobile number of the person you’re requesting money from. Enter the amount, add a message, review the amount, then click Request Now.
  2. You can Share your link using social networks and email. This creates a clickable link that the recipient (or anyone) can use to send you money via PayPal.
  3. Split a bill is ideal for paying the balance at a restaurant or grouping together for a gift. Just input the value of the bill, add the email addresses of the group, and request the money.

Mobile devices are increasingly important to PayPal thanks to the growing facility of mobile payments for every type of transaction.

7 Ways Business Can Receive Money on PayPal

As well as manually requesting money, PayPal offers several tools to help you receive money in other ways. These are available to business accounts and include subscription tools, buttons, and point-of-sale tools.

  1. Invoices
  2. PayPal Checkout
  3. Subscriptions
  4. Point-of-sale Terminal
  5. Virtual Terminal (telephone payments)
  6. QR Code
  7. PayPal buttons

Each of these options is explained below in further detail.

1. PayPal Invoices

For business purposes, you can create an invoice in PayPal to send to clients. This has three options: a standard one-off invoice, a recurring invoice, and an estimate.

PayPal Invoices have all the fields you need for customization, e.g. specifying invoice numbers, setting logos, adding addresses. The result is a polished professional invoicing system.

2. PayPal Checkout

Run a website with a few bits of merchandise? Have a full eCommerce catalog? Either way, PayPal Checkout is available, either by adding a few lines of code or adding complete integration.

If you want your customers to take you seriously and receive money for your goods over PayPal, use Checkout.

3. Receive Money With PayPal Subscriptions

Set up a subscription program to receive money on PayPal

Offer a product or service that has recurring payments? Perhaps it’s an online TV station or a membership website.

PayPal offers a useful feature for receiving timely, regular payments: PayPal Subscriptions. Simply select the subscription product, add details, select a pricing model, and a periodic fee.

4. A Portable PayPal PoS iZettle Terminal

Businesses that use PayPal and have signed up to its Commerce Platform can use iZettle. This is a PayPal-owned service that offers a portable reader and mobile app for handling card payments.

It’s ideal for pop-up shops, market stalls, craft fairs, and similar small businesses. If credit card processing overheads are likely to crush your profit, try iZettle.

5. Virtual Terminal Payments

PayPal will also let business accounts receive payments using a virtual terminal system. This enables the processing of debit or credit card payments over the phone. Virtual terminal payments use card-not-present authorization and must be applied for before you start using it.

6. Receive PayPal Money With a QR Code

QR codes are another great way to receive money. No one needs to handle cards, making it ideal for restricted contact or lockdown scenarios. PayPal QR codes are free for sellers to use until September 2020, when a fee will be added. Check your local PayPal for details, as different countries have slightly different fees.

7. Add PayPal Buttons to Your Site

Receive money on your website with PayPal buttons

Another great feature of PayPal is the ability to add payment buttons to your website. Several such buttons are available, with labels such as Buy Now, Add to Cart, Subscribe. The right button selection will ensure you receive money from customers to your PayPal account.

Simply select a button, grab the code, and add it to your website code.

PayPal: You’re Ready to Receive Money

With so many ways to receive money from PayPal, there’s no reason to bother with cash. Friends and family can request money via PayPal with ease in the app. You can receive money from eBay sales automatically, but if you’re building your enterprise, a PayPal business account opens more options.

Running into trouble using PayPal? Here are some common PayPal problems and how to fix them.

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Where to Find Puppies for Sale: 10 Ethical Sites for Puppy Adoption


So you’re on a mission to get a new best friend—a puppy. What an exciting time! But where do you go to find your next best friend?

Local shelters and rescues are the ideal places to start if you’re interested in adoption. And if you’d like a purebred pup, you have that option too. That’s where top pet websites like these come in handy. They can help you find the right puppy for you and your family. And, they make it easy to find a perky little pooch nearby.

1. Adopt-a-Pet.com

Adopt-A-Pet Main Page

Adopt-a-Pet.com is an excellent website, backed by well-known companies like Purina and Bayer. And the site is not just for dogs either. You can search for cats, rabbits, horses, birds, and other types of pets. You can also look for local shelters and rescue services.

The interface is clean and easy to use. Enter your location and optionally the age and breed you’re looking for. Hit Search and you’re on your way to finding Fido! You can browse through the search results, see photos, or narrow your search further. You’ll see details for the dogs that interest you like age, color, and weight, and can then follow the adoption process.

Adopt-a-Pet also offers a handy pet alert options where you can receive emails when new pets match your search criteria.

2. American Kennel Club (AKC)

AKC Marketplace

The AKC is an organization that has been around since the late 1800’s, so you know it’s reputable. Also, they play a major role in registered breeds. The marketplace page on their site is only a very small part of their focus, but if you’re interested in learning about an organization you know you can trust, it’s an option for you to consider.

You’ll only find dogs from breeders who are AKC-licensed or club members who have AKC-registered puppies. These aren’t going to be average breeders, and especially not people whose dog had an unplanned litter of pups.

In addition, you’re going to be paying a lot more for a dog who’s registered by the AKC. With them, you’re looking for a dog who can compete in shows and trials.

3. NextDayPets

NextDayPets Search Results Page

On NextDayPets, the interface provides a nice way to navigate through their website. Enter a breed into the search box and click the blue Find a puppy button.

You are then able to refine your results by gender, location, price range, and other factors. Each result displays the breed, age, and location. If you select a pup to learn more, you’ll see additional photos and full details about the dog including if they are microchipped and AKC-registered.

You can contact the seller or breeder directly through the NextDayPets website or hit the Reserve Me button to move forward through the adoption process.

4. Petfinder

Petfinder Main Page

Petfinder is another very well-known source for finding puppies, as well as many other pets. In fact, its search results are used by many other websites and it also allows breeders and rescue organizations to host their own website directly within Petfinder.

On the main page, enter your location and start your search for the type of puppy that you want. You can then narrow down your results by age, breed, size, gender, behavior, or other options.

Select a puppy that interests you for additional photos, a description, whether the dog is good with children, and other helpful details. If you want to contact the current owner or shelter, you can do so easily with the form on the website.

5. ASPCA

ASPCA Adoptions

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, otherwise known as the ASPCA, is another very reputable source for finding nearby animal shelters.

Click the Adopt button at the top and then check out pets available for adoption from dogs to cats to horses. You can also select the Local Shelters tab to find a shelter in your area or view dogs available at a local shelter. Enter your zip code, optionally a breed and gender, and mark options for sizes, ages, and behavior.

Selecting a pet will provide you with full details, their location, and the contact information.

6. RescueMe.Org

Rescue Me Main Page

Rescue Me! is an animal rehabilitation center that offers adoption services through their website. Click the View Animals for Adoption button at the top, pick the type of pet, and then browse through the adorable photos covering any breed imaginable.

You’ll then move onto choosing your location and will see results for the breed you select in your area. When you see a pooch you like, check out details about their compatibility, personality, health, and more.

What’s really awesome about Rescue Me! is they have a whole page of links for not only all of the Unities States but an impressive amount of countries in the world too.

7. The Shelter Pet Project

The Shelter Pet Project Main Page

The Shelter Pet Project is a public service ad campaign focused on encouraging potential pet owners to consider rescuing a pet from a shelter as their first option. They are backed by The Humane Society of the United States and Maddie’s Fund.

To begin looking for your new best friend, just enter your postal code, select either the cat or dog, and click the Search button. The results are magnificent and are easy to scan through. If you want to narrow down your search, you can click the More Filters button and choose breed, gender, size, and age.

In addition, you can search for nearby shelters.

8. Petco Foundation

Petco Foundation Adoptions

Petco is a popular shop for buying pet supplies, whether in stores or online. The Petco Foundation focuses on animal welfare and making a difference. So you’ll definitely want to head to their website for finding your new pal.

To help you on your puppy search, you can enter your location and any information about the type of dog you’re looking for such as breed and size. The site also lets you find cats, reptiles, birds, and other types of pets.

When you receive your search results, you can browse through the photos and then pick a pet that interests you. You’ll see details about the dog like age, gender, color, and size along with their current location. You can then call or email if you’d like to move forward with the adoption process.

9. PetSmart Charities

PetSmart Charities Adoptions

Like Petco, PetSmart is a terrific place to purchase pet supplies. As another leader in animal welfare, PetSmart Charities have helped millions of needy pets across the country. And if you’ve ever visited a PetSmart near you, you may have joined in on their pet adoption events.

On their website, you can find adoptable dogs and cats near you. Enter your zip code and then browse all available dogs or narrow down your options by age, breed, size, or gender. Pick a pup and check out full details along with the pet’s story. Click to send an email if you’re interested in adopting the dog you find or get the contact information.

PetSmart Charities is a wonderful place to continue your search for the perfect pet.

10. PuppyFind.com

PuppyFind Main Page

PuppyFind.com is a popular place to go to find a dog. The interface and ease of navigation around the site is decent.

Upon visiting the website, you have the option to search by clicking the Find a Puppy tab or using the search panel on the left side. The Find a Puppy page alphabetizes the breeds and provides rankings on size, grooming, exercise requirements, watchdog ability, and how good they are with other dogs.

You might be wondering how PuppyFind works. Like many of the websites in this article, PuppyFind simply helps you narrow down your options by breed and location and provides the contact information for the breeder of the dog you’re looking for. However, it plays no role in any purchase.

They also offer tips for puppy buyers and provide a contact link if you come across a scam.

Caution: There have been some complaints in the past that PuppyFind.com has dogs from what are called puppy mills.

Beware of Puppy Mills

One of the biggest things you should be aware of is puppy mills. I’ve already mentioned it briefly above and if this Wikipedia link doesn’t scare you, I don’t know what will. They put profit and capital over the well-being of the animals. Unfortunately, some websites can’t catch every single one, so they rely on users to help. Many of the websites mentioned here provide more information about them, including the ASPCA, if you’re interested.

Finding Your Next Best Pal

Keep in mind that the ASPCA emphasizes that it’s best to see the puppy in person and to support your local shelters whenever possible. So hopefully one of these top pet websites can help you locate, contact, and visit with a dog that turns out to be the right fit for you and your family.

Once you’re connected with your new best friend, these free online dog training courses will come in handy, especially for young pups. And take a look at these GPS trackers for pets that run off.

Image Credit: Sergey Lavrentev/Shutterstock

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Feeling Down? 10 Sites That’ll Help You Feel Better and Cheer Up


Everyone feels depressed sometimes. Even though it’s a wonderful thing, the internet has a lot to be blamed for. Social media like Facebook and Twitter can damage your mental health. That’s without mentioning depressing websites that only serve to make you feel even more downhearted.

Fortunately, there are plenty of websites to go to when you’re sad. Here are our recommendations for the most uplifting, inspiring, and funny places to browse when you’re feeling low—websites to cheer you up, no matter what else is going on in your life.

1. TED

informative videos Technology, Entertainment, Design

Sometimes, all you need is a little inspiration. When you’re feeling unhappy, filling your head with new ideas is a superb solution. That’s where TED comes in.

Its name stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, and that’s just what you get: a collection of talks on a huge range of subjects. TED immediately recommends topics like science, the environment, social change, personal growth, nature, and more.

There’s a subject here for everyone. Talk durations vary, but no matter what you tune into, you’re bound to have your mind blown. And if you don’t want to be lectured, check out their awesome animations section, or watch dancing and music recitals.

Create a TED account for customized recommendations. Alternatively, you can take note of playlists, editors’ picks, or trending topics.

2. Reddit

s/MildlyInteresting popular subreddit

Reddit curates content from across the web, meaning you get to experience the best and the worst of the internet. Quirky communities build-up, so while this is a type of social media, you don’t have to engage. It’s a different form to Instagram and its ilk, which can make you idealize other people’s lives.

Swap between searching for generic subreddits and niche subjects you specialize in or want to learn more about. They can help indulge your passions and learn from peers; take, for instance, these great photography subreddits.

If you’re looking for subreddits to cheer you up, we recommend r/aww (cute images and videos), r/AccidentalComedy (search with tongue firmly in cheek), or even r/Disney for a nostalgic mix of news, creativity, and merchandise. Some subreddits contain NSFW material so be careful.

3. A Soft Murmur

soothing relaxing soundscape noises sound effects rain storm wind waves

Calming noises can affect your mental health. Simply engaging with the sounds of nature can increase serotonin levels in your brain—which is why so many find listening to rainfall at bedtime eases them to sleep.

Former private practice psychotherapist, Emily Mendez says,

“Rain has a regular, predictable pattern. Our brain processes it as a calming, non-threatening noise.”

A Soft Murmur uses this same idea: washing away all distractions with a soothing soundscape. Choose between sounds like thunder, waves, a coffee shop, birdsong, and crickets to soothe you. You can mix these up by combining two or more sounds.

It’s also available as an app so you can take the service with you on the road.

4. Blah Therapy

vent and chat to strangers about your concerns depression anxiety

Maybe you’ve got something on your mind that’s worrying you. Perhaps you’re stressed about work, relationships, or other matters.

In such cases, the best thing you can do is to talk to someone. That doesn’t mean you have to spend on a therapist or chat to a family member (although these are good options too). Blah Therapy is a free and anonymous alternative.

You don’t need to sign up. You don’t need to pay. There’s a free messaging service that connects you with a stranger, who is there to either converse with or just listen.

However, there is a low-fee service that connects you with a trained therapist too, so if you really need professional help, it’s available without having to leave your home.

5. Cracked

America's Only Humor Site NSFW

Cracked is known for its rowdy and distinctly NSFW humor, but it’s also a useful educational site in its own right. Admittedly, you probably won’t use these facts in college dissertations, but these bits of trivia are handy when chatting to family and friends at the pub.

You’ll also learn a lot about the media—behind-the-scenes tidbits to recall when you’re watching a film, or how one tiny aspect makes or break a production.

Billed as “America’s Only Humor Site”, Cracked has plenty of articles, photo galleries, videos, and podcasts to make you laugh and shake your head at how bizarre society is.

6. Garfield Minus Garfield

webcomic Jon Davis Arbuckle funny existential crisis

Garfield, the lasagne-loving, Monday-hating cat, is a much-loved icon of American culture. You can check out the archive of Garfield stories online, but if you’re looking for something a bit different, we recommend Garfield Minus Garfield.

This webcomic is dedicated to reprinting strips by Jon Davis, without Garfield in them. Without the orange feline, you realize that Jon Arbuckle is experiencing a perpetual existential crisis.

They’ll often make you laugh, but you’ll just as frequently nod your head and say, “Same, Jon. Same.”

7. Explosm

This is one of the best webcomics you can’t miss, encouraging you to laugh and cry and reexamine the world. It also features a lot of NSFW jokes and innuendo.

You’ll likely have seen Cyanide and Happiness online—its mad blend of surrealism, controversial topics, and meta gags that has built a considerable fan following.

Its success has meant Explosm.net has grown to include short videos, podcasts, convention appearances, and news.

Plus there’s a comic generator that splices panels from disparate strips together. This sort of lunacy is sure to cheer up anyone who enjoys very adult humor.

8. Zen Habits

Zen Habits website

Zen Habits encourages mindfulness, a psychological process often associated with meditation. But it simply means living in the moment, fully engaging with what you’re doing by letting go of your anxieties.

You might have heard it in relation to coloring. (That can definitely help, so check out sites offering free coloring printables.)

This site exhorts the virtues of peacefulness. It comes at topics objectively, training readers to acknowledge why thinking in certain ways can be damaging and showing you methods for changing your outlook on life. It’s not for everyone but is great for anyone who wants to embrace simplicity.

9. 100,000 Stars

It can help to put your troubles in context. There’s nothing unusual about problems overwhelming you: it happens to everyone. Something small can swell in your mind and dwarf everything else.

100,000 Stars can help. It lets you explore the universe, so it helps you find your place within it and appreciate how lucky you are to be here.

You’re presented with an awesome starry vista, so you can scroll all across the nearby galaxies and focus on individual astronomical phenomenon. Use the bar to zoom out—from our own sun to the edge of the Milky War. Click on a point of light to find out its name and any information we have about it. It’s mind-blowing.

10. 1000 Awesome Things

feeling down? websites to cheer you up celebrating life and all the small things

1000 Awesome Things emerged from personal tragedy. Neil Pasricha began it in 2008 after his marriage broke down and a friend committed suicide. He decided to write a blog celebrating life, specifically one awesome thing every weekday for 1000 days.

The project ended in 2012. At that time, it was named the “Best Blog in the World” for two consecutive years by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.

In 2020, Neil began again. Join him as he lists 1000 further things that bring joy to your existence. Sometimes, it’s big things. But more frequently, it’s finding light in the small things—and it’s the small things that matter most.

Looking for More Feel-Good Websites?

Why not bookmark this page and come back to it when you’re feeling down? Do you have any feel-good websites you turn to when you’re depressed or anxious? Share them in the comments below.

And there’s a final tip: don’t browse social networks when you’re depressed. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can give false impressions of other people’s lives. Remember the pros and cons of social media.

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