Unlocking Creativity: Simple Tips to Beat Mental Slumps

Creative activities can be lots of fun, but many times “creativity” is a learning process, with lots of bumps along the way. Sometimes you have no idea what to make next, or you don’t know how to create it, so you get slowed down while you try to come up with a new plan.

At other times, no matter how many creative hobbies you try out, or how many creativity quotes you search for, you draw a blank for large periods of time. Once you hit this creative block, it’s hard to figure out what to do.

While such blocks are definitely frustrating, they are not insurmountable. In fact, lots of people suffer through creative “dead zones” from time to time, but emerge on the other side just fine.

To help you find your way through such a dilemma, we’ve put together the cheat sheet below. It contains a variety of tips to help you unlock your creativity and get your mental gears rolling again.

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 Unlocking Creativity Cheat Sheet.

Unlocking Creativity

Idea	Task Tips
Spark Creativity With Learning
Explore a subject you know nothing about.	Pick a podcast at random and listen to it.
	Pick the first word that pops into your head. Read a book with that word in the title or as the subject.
	Use the Random article button on Wikipedia to learn about a brand new subject.
	Discover one new YouTube channel per week about a topic that interests you.
Build on an area of expertise.	Complete an online mini-course related to your career or hobby.
	Subscribe to a YouTube channel devoted to a skill you want to improve.
	Sign up for a newsletter based on a subject you would like to learn more about.
Use a historical time period as inspiration.	If you're a writer, write a historical novel.
	If you're an artist, draw a poster influenced by that time period.
	Google a year from history at random. See what information comes up about that year, and use it as inspiration for your next project.
Let Everyday Objects and Activities Inspire You
Find beauty in the ordinary.	Write a short story about a coffee shop you visit often.
	Create an Instagram display featuring everyday items around your home.
	Walk through a part of your neighborhood that you've never been to before and snap pictures of your jaunt.
Discover hidden secrets.	Design a treasure hunting map.
	Play a mobile game where you have to hunt for treasure.
	Look for Easter eggs in apps and services you use.
	Learn different ways to solve a Rubik’s cube.
Explore an urban environment.	Draw or paint a picture of an interesting building.
	Write a story set in a city you've lived in or visited before.
	Pick a museum in your city. Go to that museum and explore every exhibit within it.
Explore a rural environment.	Draw or paint a picture of the horizon.
	Drive, bike, or walk to a nearby rural area. Take panoramic pictures of that landscape.
	Write a ghost story set in a small town or village you’ve visited.
Go on a road trip.	Open Google Maps. Chart a drive, and complete that drive in a day.
	Pick three national parks that you want to visit. Document your visit to each of them through photos and videos.
	Pick a campground that is no more than a day away. Drive there and camp out for the weekend. Capture the experience in a journal.
Discover an unfamiliar part of the world.	Open Google Earth. Pick a random destination on the map, and zoom in on it. Explore that part of the map.
	Go to the Google Tours main page, and find a tour on a subject that you would like to know more about.
	Use Google Tours to travel to a place you've never been to before.
Find inspiration in nature.	Go for a walk in a park.
	Watch one nature documentary per week through a streaming service of your choice.
	Pick any landscape formation (i.e. cliffs, forests, waterfalls) and explore all examples of it in your area.
	Listen to ambient rain sounds while you're working.
	Write a short story or a novella about a severe storm that you've experienced.
	If there's a thunderstorm approaching, turn off all music, TV, and radio stations. Listen to the sounds of that storm while you work.
Forget About Speed, Perfection, and Monetization
Just have fun!	Play a mobile game made for kids or a board game that you loved as a kid.
	Start a sketchbook. Draw one thing in that sketchbook per day, until the sketchbook is full.
	What creative activity did five-year-old you love to do? Indulge in that activity now.
	Make a Pinterest board for a subject that interests you.
	Rearrange your phone/desktop screen with custom icons, so finding the app you need is easy and unique.
	Create a handful of cartoon avatars for yourself.
	Do nothing.
Make creativity a habit.	Set aside one hour per day away from work, family, and friends. Spend that time working on a specific creative project.
	Come up with a specific theme every month and base your creative activities on it.
	Use the Pomodoro method or the Don’t Break the Chain method to work on creative tasks.
	Build a LEGO castle brick by brick as you work through your project.
	Start your own version of Project 365. Take a photo, draw a sketch, write a poem, or do any such creative activity daily for 365 days.
	Go on an artist date i.e. a solo creative expedition every week. (The idea was popularized by Julia Cameron in the book The Artist’s Way.)
	Use a Bullet Journal to document your creative progress in a fun manner.
Look for novelty and variety.	Read a book that’s on a friend’s reading list.
	Watch a movie from a different genre every week.
	Discover a new artist using Spotify’s radio feature.
	Work on an unfamiliar activity. Build a one-page website. Create your own font. Design your dream home with a 3D modeling tool.
Embrace mistakes.	Free write a short story.
	Find an object that interests you. Instead of trying to take the "perfect shot," take 20 pictures of the same object. Pick your favorite.
	Pick a challenging project from your to-do list—the one you've been most afraid to start. Focus on finishing it, whatever its outcome.
Imagine Your Idea on the Silver Screen
Watch classic movies.	Pick one year from the past hundred years and watch three movies from that year.
	Look for a list of "the best classic films" online. Watch three movies from that list.
	Pick a historical era that you enjoying seeing on screen. Watch a classic movie that was set in that era.
Watch movies from a genre that inspires you.	Start a movie review blog.
	Write your own movie script.
	Pick a year and a genre of movies. Watch three movies from that genre that were released in that year.
Watch TV shows to learn how to craft a story.	Read a book on how to write a TV script.
	Watch TV shows about TV shows.
	Write a review of a TV show to visualize what you liked about the story and what you didn’t. Apply those lessons to your own story.
Sharpen Your Problem-Solving Skills
Find an innovative way to solve a problem.	Play a puzzle game.
	Look at a historical, well-documented problem. Ask yourself "how would I react to this problem, if I was faced with it?"
	Brainstorm solutions for a tricky problem listed on Quora or Reddit.
Listen to other innovative thinkers.	Watch one TED Talk per week.
	Watch a Netflix documentary about an innovative historical figure.
	Watch documentaries about current events and issues, to see how people are trying to solve problems right now.
Break down a problem into smaller parts.	List 10 creative goals that you want to complete. Pick your top three goals from that list and work on them.
	Define a problem in one word on a whiteboard. Whenever you think of a solution, write that down next to the initial word.
	Start with a keyword and create a word bubble using free association. Mix and match words in the bubble to spark an idea or a solution.
Reward Yourself for a Job Well Done
Celebrate your success in simple ways.	Buy a new game, book, or some other form of creative media once you've reached a major creative goal.
	Buy a candy jar. Put it on your desk. When you finish a milestone task associated with your creative project, give yourself a treat.
	Find a drawing that you finished 5+ years ago. Redraw it with your current skill level and enjoy how far you've come.

More Solutions for Your Creative Blocks!

After you’ve checked out the cheat sheet, explore these smartphone apps for breaking creative blocks. We also recommend reading up on creative hobbies that will make you a happier person to find personal fulfillment through the arts.

Image Credit: Jess Bailey on Unsplash

Read the full article: Unlocking Creativity: Simple Tips to Beat Mental Slumps

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This Week in Apps: WWDC20 highlights, App Store antitrust issues, tech giants clone TikTok

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 looking at the highlights from Apple’s first-ever virtual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) and what its announcements mean for app developers. Plus, there’s news of the U.S. antitrust investigation into Apple’s business, a revamp of the App Store review process, and more. In other app news, both Instagram and YouTube are responding to the TikTok threat, while Snapchat is adding new free tools to its SDK to woo app developers. Amazon also this week entered the no-code app development space with Honeycode.

WWDC20 Wrap-Up

Image Credits: Apple

Apple held its WWDC developer event online for the first time due to the pandemic. The format, in some ways, worked better — the keynote presentations ran smoother, packed in more content, and you could take in the information without the distractions of applause and cheers. (If you were missing the music, there was a playlist.)

Of course, the virtual event lacked the real-world networking and learning opportunities of the in-person conference. Better online forums and virtual labs didn’t solve that problem. In fact, given there aren’t time constraints on a virtual event, some might argue it would make sense to do hands-on labs in week two instead of alongside all the sessions and keynotes. This could give developers more time to process the info and write some code.

Among the bigger takeaways from WWDC20 — besides the obvious changes to the Mac and the introduction of “Apple silicon” — there was the introduction of the refreshed UI in iOS 14 that adds widgets, an App Library and more Siri smarts; plus the debut of Apple’s own mini-apps, in the form of App Clips; and the ability to run iOS apps on Apple Silicon Macs — in fact, iOS apps will run there by default unless developers uncheck a box.

Let’s dig in.

• The iPad’s influence over Mac. There are plenty of iOS apps that would work on Mac, but making the choice an opt-out instead of an opt-in experience could lead to poor experiences for end users. Developers should think carefully about whether they want to make the leap to the Mac ecosystem and design accordingly. There’s also a broader sense that the iPad and the Mac are starting to look very similar. The iPad already gained support for a proper trackpad and mouse, while the Mac with Big Sur sees the influence of design elements like its new iPad-esque notifications, Control Center, window nav bars and rounded rectangular icons. Are the two OS’s going to merge? Apple’s answer, thankfully, is still “NO.”
  
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5 Free Apps for Creative People and Teams to Collaborate Digitally

Creative teams depend on the free and easy flow of ideas to collaborate and inspire new thoughts. When you have to work digitally, these free apps help foster creativity and brainstorm fresh ideas.

The most obvious starting point for creative brainstorming is to use a mind-mapping tool. This article won’t go into that because we’ve already reviewed the best free mind-mapping apps for single users or teams.

Instead, we’ll focus on tools that ease creative collaboration across a range of fields, like design, writing, music, and more.

1. Red Pen (Web): Fastest Way to Collaborate on Images, Designs, and Mockups

Red Pen is the fastest and easiest way to collaborate on images, designs, and mockups. Create an account, upload an image, give it a name and description, and you’re ready to go. Click anywhere on the image to start a new comment. Then share the link with collaborators.

Anyone with the link can now see all the comments on it. You can mention other users in comments by adding @username. Press Ctrl+C to see all comments in a list form.

You can also create Projects, which are essentially folders in which you add as many images as you want. Red Pen offers unlimited images and unlimited collaborators.

The website has a scary “14-day trial” sign at all times, but don’t worry, Red Pen is still free after that time period. You will then be on the basic plan, which lets you upload single images (no projects) that last for 20 days before being auto-deleted. If you want projects and images that last forever, check out the plans that start at $5 per month.

2. Dextra (Android, iOS): Social Network to Find Free Creative Collaborators

Where do you go to find creative people looking to collaborate on your ideas? Try Dextra, a social network for painters, designers, writers, musicians, filmmakers, and all other types of artists to discover like-minded collaborators.

The first step is to create your own profile and add “dexes”, which is the social network’s term for your skills. Add as many as applicable, and choose your proficiency level in each. Based on these skills, Dextra will show you a feed of open projects by others looking for collaborators. It spans a variety of project fields; for example, if you’re a writer, you will see everything from blogging to writing film scripts.

You can also create your own project, fill in its details, and hope others sign up for it. The next step is for the collaborators to talk and see if they’re the right fit as a creative team. Once you tick all the boxes, add the project to your ongoing portfolio. Meanwhile, keep browsing other projects to find something cool to get your creative juices flowing.

Download: Dextra for Android | iOS (Free)

3. Chanty (Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS): Chat App with Task Management

In simple terms, Chanty is a chat app like Slack, but with robust task management and to-do list features baked into it. The free version allows up to 10 people in one team and has everything you’d need from a chat app for collaboration.

Any line said in chat can be turned into a task. That task can then be reassigned to any team member. You can view all tasks in the handy “Tasks” room, and interact with each task to mark it as done, comment on it to create the task’s own discussion thread or delete it forever. Funnily, there’s no simple way to set a deadline for any task.

Apart from the tasks, Chanty does most of the things that any chat app like Slack would. You can create rooms, search through chat history, leave voice messages, share files (up to 20GB), integrate other apps, and talk like you would in any chat room.

Download: Chanty Desktop for Windows | macOS | Linux Deb | Linux RPM (Free)

Download: Chanty Mobile for Android | iOS (Free)

4. CryptPad (Web): Privacy-Focused Collaborative Online Office Suite with Chat

CryptPad is a privacy protecting alternative to Google Docs, Microsoft Office Online, and other online office suites. And while protecting privacy, it still allows for real-time collaboration between creative partners.

The suite includes rich text (like a word processor), presentation, spreadsheet, coding, kanban board, whiteboard, online polls, and cloud storage. Registered users get 1GB of free storage, and you’ll need to sign up to share files with others. However, those users don’t need a CryptPad account to open or download the files you send them.

The apps themselves look and behave like any office suite, so you’ll feel right at home while using them. In a nice move, CryptPad adds a chatroom to the apps, so apart from comments, you can actually chat with collaborators for a more free-wheeling discussion. It’s one feature you won’t find in Google Docs or Microsoft Office, and it could be a game-changer.

5. Brainsparker Creativity Cards (Web, iOS): Brainstorming Cards to Spark New Ideas

Stuck in a creative rut? Brainsparker’s free online cards help spark new ideas and provide creative inspiration. Use it by yourself or as a team to kickstart the brainstorming process.

It’s a cool but simple process. Once you find yourself stuck, open the card deck and play it. The animation cycles through all of Brainsparker’s cards at a fast pace. Pause or screenshot the video to find a card, and write or discuss all the thoughts that the card inspires. Use the best free screen-sharing apps to turn the card game into a collaborative experience with creative partners.

There are five free card packs on the website, as well as on the iPhone app: starter, vision, journal, kids, and kickstart. Each has its own set of inspirational ideas to change your perspective, like “challenge the viewer” or “trust your intuition” or “create a limitation” and so on. Go through the exercise a few times and you’re bound to break through your mental block.

Download: Brainsparker for iOS (Free)

Best Free Whiteboard Apps

If none of these apps are what you’re looking for, maybe you simply need a blank space where you and your collaborators can brainstorm. The internet has some free digital whiteboard alternatives you should check out.

Read the full article: 5 Free Apps for Creative People and Teams to Collaborate Digitally

5 Free Apps for Creative People and Teams to Collaborate Digitally

Creative teams depend on the free and easy flow of ideas to collaborate and inspire new thoughts. When you have to work digitally, these free apps help foster creativity and brainstorm fresh ideas.

The most obvious starting point for creative brainstorming is to use a mind-mapping tool. This article won’t go into that because we’ve already reviewed the best free mind-mapping apps for single users or teams.

Instead, we’ll focus on tools that ease creative collaboration across a range of fields, like design, writing, music, and more.

1. Red Pen (Web): Fastest Way to Collaborate on Images, Designs, and Mockups

Red Pen is the fastest and easiest way to collaborate on images, designs, and mockups. Create an account, upload an image, give it a name and description, and you’re ready to go. Click anywhere on the image to start a new comment. Then share the link with collaborators.

Anyone with the link can now see all the comments on it. You can mention other users in comments by adding @username. Press Ctrl+C to see all comments in a list form.

You can also create Projects, which are essentially folders in which you add as many images as you want. Red Pen offers unlimited images and unlimited collaborators.

The website has a scary “14-day trial” sign at all times, but don’t worry, Red Pen is still free after that time period. You will then be on the basic plan, which lets you upload single images (no projects) that last for 20 days before being auto-deleted. If you want projects and images that last forever, check out the plans that start at $5 per month.

2. Dextra (Android, iOS): Social Network to Find Free Creative Collaborators

Where do you go to find creative people looking to collaborate on your ideas? Try Dextra, a social network for painters, designers, writers, musicians, filmmakers, and all other types of artists to discover like-minded collaborators.

The first step is to create your own profile and add “dexes”, which is the social network’s term for your skills. Add as many as applicable, and choose your proficiency level in each. Based on these skills, Dextra will show you a feed of open projects by others looking for collaborators. It spans a variety of project fields; for example, if you’re a writer, you will see everything from blogging to writing film scripts.

You can also create your own project, fill in its details, and hope others sign up for it. The next step is for the collaborators to talk and see if they’re the right fit as a creative team. Once you tick all the boxes, add the project to your ongoing portfolio. Meanwhile, keep browsing other projects to find something cool to get your creative juices flowing.

Download: Dextra for Android | iOS (Free)

3. Chanty (Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS): Chat App with Task Management

In simple terms, Chanty is a chat app like Slack, but with robust task management and to-do list features baked into it. The free version allows up to 10 people in one team and has everything you’d need from a chat app for collaboration.

Any line said in chat can be turned into a task. That task can then be reassigned to any team member. You can view all tasks in the handy “Tasks” room, and interact with each task to mark it as done, comment on it to create the task’s own discussion thread or delete it forever. Funnily, there’s no simple way to set a deadline for any task.

Apart from the tasks, Chanty does most of the things that any chat app like Slack would. You can create rooms, search through chat history, leave voice messages, share files (up to 20GB), integrate other apps, and talk like you would in any chat room.

Download: Chanty Desktop for Windows | macOS | Linux Deb | Linux RPM (Free)

Download: Chanty Mobile for Android | iOS (Free)

4. CryptPad (Web): Privacy-Focused Collaborative Online Office Suite with Chat

CryptPad is a privacy protecting alternative to Google Docs, Microsoft Office Online, and other online office suites. And while protecting privacy, it still allows for real-time collaboration between creative partners.

The suite includes rich text (like a word processor), presentation, spreadsheet, coding, kanban board, whiteboard, online polls, and cloud storage. Registered users get 1GB of free storage, and you’ll need to sign up to share files with others. However, those users don’t need a CryptPad account to open or download the files you send them.

The apps themselves look and behave like any office suite, so you’ll feel right at home while using them. In a nice move, CryptPad adds a chatroom to the apps, so apart from comments, you can actually chat with collaborators for a more free-wheeling discussion. It’s one feature you won’t find in Google Docs or Microsoft Office, and it could be a game-changer.

5. Brainsparker Creativity Cards (Web, iOS): Brainstorming Cards to Spark New Ideas

Stuck in a creative rut? Brainsparker’s free online cards help spark new ideas and provide creative inspiration. Use it by yourself or as a team to kickstart the brainstorming process.

It’s a cool but simple process. Once you find yourself stuck, open the card deck and play it. The animation cycles through all of Brainsparker’s cards at a fast pace. Pause or screenshot the video to find a card, and write or discuss all the thoughts that the card inspires. Use the best free screen-sharing apps to turn the card game into a collaborative experience with creative partners.

There are five free card packs on the website, as well as on the iPhone app: starter, vision, journal, kids, and kickstart. Each has its own set of inspirational ideas to change your perspective, like “challenge the viewer” or “trust your intuition” or “create a limitation” and so on. Go through the exercise a few times and you’re bound to break through your mental block.

Download: Brainsparker for iOS (Free)

Best Free Whiteboard Apps

If none of these apps are what you’re looking for, maybe you simply need a blank space where you and your collaborators can brainstorm. The internet has some free digital whiteboard alternatives you should check out.

Read the full article: 5 Free Apps for Creative People and Teams to Collaborate Digitally

Read Full Article

What Is SteamOS? How to Start Gaming on Linux

Since 2013 the Steam gaming platform’s developer Valve has maintained its own Linux-based operating system: SteamOS.

Originally intended for a range of now-abandoned “Steam Machine”-branded hardware, this Linux gaming OS can be installed on any computer.

But is SteamOS any good for Linux gaming? Can you rely solely on SteamOS for gaming, or should you dual boot with Windows? Let’s take a look.

What Is SteamOS?

SteamOS is a Debian family build of Linux that is optimized for video games.

It is installed on standard PC hardware and provides a console-like experience via the Steam game client. For a console like experience, Big Picture mode is recommended.

More specifically, SteamOS features a tweaked kernel that is designed to improve gaming performance. The latest graphics drivers are supported, but SteamOS features little in the way of additional applications. While it has the GNOME desktop and a version of the Chrome browser, little else is included.

After all, this is an OS that is all about gaming. While ChromeOS is dedicated to cloud computing, SteamOS is dedicated to gaming.

SteamOS Hardware Requirements

As of June 2020, the minimum hardware requirements for running SteamOS on your PC are:

• Intel or AMD 64-bit capable processor
• 4GB or more memory
• 250GB or larger disk
• NVIDIA, Intel, or AMD graphics card
• USB port or DVD drive for installation

Of course, for games with the full graphical and FPS settings, you’ll need more RAM and a top-of-the-range GPU.

Significantly, however, most currently available PCs are more than suitable for running SteamOS. Whether you choose an old device or a brand-new PC, most of the Linux-compatible Steam library can run.

Note that while the operating system is open source, the Steam client and some of the third-party drivers are proprietary. If you’ve gamed on Linux before, you’ll understand that this isn’t unusual. But if you’re an open source advocate, it might not be the ideal solution for you.

What Games Run on SteamOS?

A decent selection of Steam-hosted games run on SteamOS—too many to list here. In June 2020 over 6,500 Linux-compatible games were available in the Steam library.

That’s an impressive library of titles that includes big hitters including Civilization 6, Saints Row IV, Rocket League, CS: GO, and Dota 2. Independent publishers also release games on Linux, resulting in the most diverse and vibrant games and community.

Meanwhile, around 250,000 people using Linux for Steam gaming daily. That figure is of course lower than the total number of Linux users with Steam installed.

In short, Steam is the future of Linux gaming, and SteamOS plugs you directly into that environment.

Does SteamOS Have Any Limitations?

SteamOS, while good, has some limitations.

For a start, there is the obvious flaw: not all games are available with Linux. While SteamOS has resulted in Linux compatibility increasing dramatically and indie games often support Linux, many major publishers ignore it.

It’s getting much better than it was, however. Often, games are released initially on Windows and macOS, then support is added for Linux down the line.

Another SteamOS drawback is that the operating system is geared up just for gaming. While additional software can be added via Apt, you’ll be waiting for a lot of dependencies to also install. If standard computing is required, SteamOS is best avoided in favor of a normal Linux desktop. You can still install the Steam client if needed.

Install SteamOS on Your PC

If you fancy installing SteamOS you’ll need a 4GB USB stick or black DVD to write the installer to.

Download: SteamOS (Free)

The simplest option is the Automated Installation—this will wipe your hard disk drive, however. For dual booting, use the Expert Install option to create a new disk partition for installing SteamOS.

Basically, installing SteamOS is as simple as installing any version of Linux.

What Is Gaming Like on SteamOS?

So, SteamOS is a Debian-based operating system with the Steam client preinstalled.

There’s not much to say about the Steam client itself that you probably don’t already know. It’s the same Linux client, which is largely identical to the one on Windows and macOS. It has all the same features, including In-home Streaming. There’s nothing you’re missing out on by using SteamOS.

Gaming performance, too, is indistinguishable. Whether RPG, FPS, or strategy, Linux is up to the task. Hardly a surprise from a performance point of view, but it’s impressive how Steam handles Linux. In addition, achievements and other unlockables are also supported.

Breaking it down, this shouldn’t really come as a surprise. SteamOS doesn’t include much more than the Steam client, leaving considerable system resources that can be dedicated to each game. Any differences in performance between Windows and Linux are minimal. Ultimately, if you’re getting equal frame rates, it’s tough to tell the difference anyway.

Controller support is good too, with pretty much any controller you can think of supported. While the best results are probably Xbox One or PS4 style controllers, the Steam Controller is worth using. However, as these are increasingly rare, a standard console controller is your best option.

Gaming on Linux? You Need SteamOS!

If you plan to use Linux primarily for gaming, SteamOS is the best option around. It’s lightweight, has good GPU support, and the list of compatible games is increasing all the time.

Used alone it can handle most of the games you’ll want to play. Further, since 2018 Steam Play has been added to the Steam client. This features a modified version of Wine and is intended to persuade incompatible games to run on Steam.

Any games that refuse to run will require close attention under PlayOnLinux/Wine, or installation in a virtual machine. Both options result in poorer performance on newer titles, however.

But what you really want to know is this: can SteamOS replace Windows?

Well, if you’re all about PC gaming and the games you like have Linux support, then yes. But you might want to dual boot and use Windows for productivity or as a non-Linux gaming alternative.

If you’re a fan of online gaming you’ll probably use a chat solution to easily stay in touch with your fellow gamers. Find the best game chat tool in our comparison of Discord vs. Steam Chat.

Read the full article: What Is SteamOS? How to Start Gaming on Linux

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The 10 Best Free Udemy Courses

How do you pick the best free courses on Udemy when there are more than 80,000 online courses to choose from? Well, here are a few steps if you are only interested in the free Udemy courses and nothing else:

1. Decide on your topic.
2. Use the Udemy menu to drill down to the Categories.
3. Search for course with the right keyword in the Search Bar.
4. Click the All Filters button on the search result page.
5. Apply the Free filter.

Then it’s just a few minutes of diligent sifting to find the course with the best ratings and a good number of enrollments. Use the video preview to check if the instructor’s rhythm agrees with you. The comments can also be a good pointer to the quality of any course.

I put these steps to the test in order to find the top free Udemy courses. Many of these are around technology topics. And as you know, we really like to talk about tech. So here we are…

1. Before You Code: Programming 101

I am assuming you are a beginner. You have decided to test the logical side of your brain. So let’s start with the basic tools of the trade. This course does not teach you any programming languages but instead offers a gentle introduction to the journey ahead.

Like everything else, a coder sticks to some basic principles which you should always remember.

Also: Try the paid Pre-Programming: Everything you need to know before you code course if you manage to snag a discount coupon.

2. Learn Python Coding: Introduction to Python Programming

Machine learning is hot. But you can’t use machine learning unless you know how to program. Help yourself to the basics with this free guide. Python is among the world’s most popular programming languages, ranked at the top by IEEE Spectrum in 2017.

It is also flexible, as you can use Python for building desktop and web apps if you don’t want to go into machine learning. The Introduction to Python Programming covers the basics and does not ask for any prior programming experience.

3. Learn AI: Welcome to Artificial Intelligence (Introductory Course)

As mentioned, A.I and machine learning are already shaping our lives. So grab the basics with this introductory course which is a gentler introduction and is aimed for people who don’t have any technical skills behind them.

You can also learn the fundamentals from YouTube videos, but this course gives you structure and future learning paths to follow. Finish it in under an hour and then you can pick up one of the excellent machine learning courses on Udemy.

4. Learn Data Science: Introduction to Data Science Using Python

Data science uses statistical tools to extract patterns in big sets of data. It overlaps with artificial intelligence and machine learning, as intelligent algorithms are designed to learn more about the world around us.

If you want to become a data scientist, your skillsets will include Python, R, Hadoop, and SQL. Start with this primer course (the first of a series) that will stoke your interest.

Also, look into these paid data science courses on Udemy too when you decide to go deeper into the field.

5. Get Introduced to Cloud Computing: AWS Concepts

If cloud services are the present and the future, then Amazon Web Services is at the vanguard. Amazon offers a training and certification path for learning practical skills to help manage the cloud for large enterprises.

There are several in-demand niche areas like cloud architecture, container and docker technology, and even cloud backup and disaster recovery.

But this free Udemy course from Linux Academy can be the first step to gather the basic concepts. To make it easier, there are no technical explanations or definitions to memorize. It is visual and conceptual.

6. Simply SQL: Introduction to Databases and SQL Querying

I read somewhere that a data analyst who doesn’t know SQL won’t get far. But you don’t need to look that far; just see how databases are at the core of any business today.

The Structured Query Language (SQL) is how you speak to databases. With SQL you can track your own data and make your own reports instead of relying on the tech department. You can even use SQL with Microsoft Excel.

This is an introductory course on Databases and SQL Querying. It is a simple walkthrough of SQL queries and how you can extract data from a database. It is just the right introduction for someone who does not have any knowledge of SQL.

7. Learn Your First Language: Javascript Essentials

Want to be comfortable in a foreign land? Learn the native language. Want to be a good developer on the web? Learn JavaScript. It is like a “default” language (along with Java and C++) if you want to go anywhere.

Take this basic course that will not only show you how JavaScript works but also give you a mini-project to do. If you want to try another free JavaScript course then look at Learn JavaScript for Web Development too.

8. Make Video Games: Introduction to Unity for Absolute Beginners

Unity is a complete software application for game development. An integrated development environment (IDE) like Unity is the less difficult way to design your own game.

The harder way is to learn the black arts of programming languages like C++ and Java from scratch. Unity gives you many of the assets for game development along with a code editor. So the workflow is much easier.

This free Udemy course will show you that workflow, from the installation to the process of controlling game objects with code. Some experience with coding will help, but it is not essential. This course was updated in 2019 with a bonus section at the end.

9. Think Outside the Box: The World of Design Thinking

Take any industry, and you can improve your results with design thinking. The methodologies to get the right results are not only for designers. The 17 modules will take you through the steps of Need-finding, Synthesis, Ideation, Prototyping, and Testing.

More than 100,000 students are enrolled in this course. You may not have the responsibility to manage big projects yet, but you can use still design thinking to prototype the little projects in your personal life for meaningful solutions

10. Train Your Mind: Hyperthinking: Improve Your Day to Day Learning & Creativity

Hard skills are the bricks. But soft skills are the mortar. You can flounder in your career if you do not develop soft skills like critical thinking and problem-solving. Today, a technology career also needs creativity and design thinking. Maybe some of these soft skills will help us save our jobs from the robots.

As the world changes every day, this course gives you a few hyperthinking tools that can help you frame a situation and think about it in a new way. With these critical thinking tools, you can take on challenges with more confidence.

Select a Free Udemy Course to Begin With

These aren’t the only best free Udemy classes, of course. There are many more that are well-rated. The word “best” is relative and you will find your own picks once you work through the course roster. Free Udemy courses are a no-risk introduction to the subjects you are interested in; the only investment is time.

Do remember that learning online on your own needs a lot of self-discipline. So keep these tips in mind as you start your class.

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How to Create a Knockout Effect in Photoshop and Illustrator

A knockout effect allows you to place a solid layer of color over a photo or image, and then punch out some of that solid layer to reveal the image behind it. You can do this with text or shapes both in Photoshop and Illustrator, but the process is slightly different for each program.

In this article, we explain how to create a knockout effect in Photoshop and Illustrator, offering a step-by-step guide.

How to Create a Knockout Effect in Photoshop

To achieve a knockout effect in Photoshop, the first thing you’ll want to do is open up your image. In this example, we’ll use a rectangle shape over the image, and knock text out of that shape.

Step 1: Draw the Shape

With your background image open, draw a rectangle using the Shape tool. You can either select the Shape tool from the tools menu, or you can use the keyboard shortcut U. Pick a color as well.

When you draw your rectangle, you can either choose free form and drag the rectangle across the screen to create the shape you want, or you can click anywhere on the image to enter the dimensions of your rectangle in pixels.

Step 2: Enter the Text

Next you need to type in your text on a separate layer in Photoshop. Grab the Text tool (T), click anywhere on your canvas and start typing. Then use the Move tool (V) to position the text above your shape.

If you prefer to use a shape or icon for your knockout, you can place that shape where you would have placed the text.

Step 3: Set the Blending Options

Double-click the text layer to open the Layer Style window, and choose Blending Options from the left-hand panel.

Under the Advanced Blending section you’ll find the Knockout drop-down menu. You can choose between a Shallow or Deep effect here. Shallow applies the knockout effect to a single layer; Deep applies it to a group of layers.

In our example, we only need Shallow.

Finally, make sure the Preview button is checked, then drag the Fill Opacity slider to the left, towards zero.

Here you have complete control over how much of that original text will be visible. The color of your text will make a difference here unless you choose for an opacity of zero percent.

If you have a particularly busy photo, however, you probably won’t want to choose a very low opacity in order to keep the text legible.

Step 4: Final Touches

Click OK to confirm your changes. You can now add the finishing touches. Because all of the elements are on their own layer you can make adjustments to all of them separately.

You can edit the background image, the shape, or the text. To adjust the knockout effect just double-click the text layer to reopen the settings box.

How to Create a Knockout Effect in Illustrator

The process to create a knockout effect in Illustrator is similar to that of Photoshop, but is a little more hands-on.

Get started by opening your background image on your canvas. Go to File > Place, then click to place the image. Use the Selection tool (V) to resize it to fit.

Step 1: Add the Shape and Text

Now draw your shape using the Rectangle tool (M). You can use other shapes if you prefer, or draw your own with the Pen tool. Select a fill and stroke color—you can change these later if you want—and drag it into roughly the position you want it.

Next, you need to add the text (or you can use other shapes for the knockout effect—it doesn’t always have to be text). Select the Text tool (T), and click on the canvas. Set a color and size, and start typing.

Choose the Selection tool and click away when you’re done. You can move all of the objects into position by eye, or hold shift and select the text, shape, and background image and align them properly with the Horizontal and Vertical Align tools.

Step 2: Create Outlines

Reselect your text layer and go to Type > Create Outlines, or you can use the keyboard shortcut Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + O. This will convert your text into shapes rather than editable text, so check for typos first!

Make sure that your text is on top of the shape and not behind it.

If you want to be able to control the opacity as is possible in Photoshop, copy your text layer to the clipboard with the keyboard shortcut Cmd/Ctrl + C. You won’t need to do anything with it until later.

Step 3: Apply the Knockout Effect

Select both your shape and text and go to your Pathfinder tools panel. If it isn’t already open, you can open it by going to Window > Pathfinder or by using the Illustrator shortcut, Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + F9.

Click here for more Adobe Illustrator keyboard shortcuts.

In the pathfinder tool, select the Minus Front option in Shape Modes. This will remove the text from your shape.

To control the opacity of your knockout effect you need to copy the text layer, as we mentioned above. Now hit Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + V to paste your text back in the exact place you copied it from. (Make sure to do this before you move any of your layers.)

You can then adjust the opacity of that layer by going to the Transparency panel, which you can open by going to Window > Transparency. Adjust the opacity slider until you have the exact shade you want.

With an opacity of around 20 percent, this is what the final product looks like:

More Photoshop Text Effects to Try

It’s easy to create a knockout effect in Illustrator and Photoshop. If you’ve got access to both programs, we’d recommend using Photoshop first because the text remains editable at all times. But for more detailed designs, Illustrator is the way to go.

A knockout effect isn’t the only creative way you can use text in your designs. Take a look at our guides detailing how to outline text in Photoshop and how to add textures to text in Photoshop for some inspiration.

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Acer Launches Enduro Laptops and Tablets Designed for Durability

Acer unveiled a wide range of new computers and laptops during its live-streamed press event. Notably, the company has launched a range of rugged laptops and tablets under the Enduro lineup.

As the company noted, the devices are designed for professionals working in the field who need portability, long battery life, and, importantly, durability.

Here’s everything you need to know about Acer’s Enduro lineup.

Acer Enduro Notebooks

The company announced two Enduro notebooks; the N7 and the N3. The Acer Enduro N7 is a rugged device designed to MIL-STD 810G and is IP65 certified for water resistance. It has a 14-inch Full HD screen and two batteries for all-day use. A built-in bridge battery supports the 10-hour swappable battery. The N7 is equipped with an Intel Core i5 CPU and a fingerprint sensor for biometric login with Windows Hello.

The Acer Enduro N3 is the more portable of the two, but it still retains a high durability level. It is resistant to water and drop resistant, is IP53 certified, and is designed to the MIL-STD 81-G standard. The notebook is light, too, weighing just under 2kg. The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass and is coated with Aquafan for improved water resistance. The N3 is powered by an Intel Core i7, 32GB of RAM, and has a 13-hour battery life.

Acer Enduro Tablets

Similarly, Acer unveiled two rugged Enduro tablets, with Windows and Android variants. The Acer Enduro T5 is a Windows 10 tablet, supported by a 10-hour, swappable battery. The tablet uses an Intel Core m3 CPU and is IP65 certified for water resistance.

On the other hand, the Acer Enduro T1 (ET110-31W) is a rugged 10-inch Windows 10 tablet. Interestingly, it can double as a notebook thanks to the optional portfolio keyboard. This makes it easy to switch between a portable computer and a productivity device. The tablet is IP54-rated and uses an Intel Celeron CPU.

Alternatively, you could opt for the Acer Enduro T1 (ET108-11A), an Android edition of the rugged tablet. Despite sharing a model number with its Windows equivalent, the design is slightly different. For example, the unit features an 8-inch display. However, like its larger sibling, the tablet is IP54-rated. Both T1 tablets can be used while wearing gloves.

Acer Enduro Availability

Acer announced a selection of devices, although only gave retail information for one. The Enduro N3 notebook will be available in most regions from June, before rolling out in North America in August with a retail price of $899/€999.

Notably, the Enduro range doesn’t include a smartphone. So, if you need a durable mobile device, check out our review of the Doogee S95 Pro Rugged Modular Phone.

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How to Delete Any and All Photos From Your iPhone or iPad

Are you struggling for space on your Apple device? You could buy increased capacity on iCloud, but a cheaper option is to erase some photos from your iPhone or iPad.

If you’re new to Apple devices, you may be wondering how to delete individual photos, how to delete photo albums, or event how to delete all photos on your iPhone. Don’t worry: it’s easy to do, and we’ll show you how.

How to Erase Photos After Syncing Your Device

You definitely need to create a backup of your iPhone or iPad before deleting your pictures. You can do this using iCloud, but unless you’ve paid for additional storage, you probably won’t have enough space.

It’s possible to use other cloud services, like Dropbox or OneDrive. However, chances are that you don’t have enough space in those without paying either.

You can otherwise import all content from your device to your Mac or PC by plugging it in. Run iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and newer) and click Sync. Your PC might ask to download your photo library too.

After doing this, it will likely ask for permission to erase those images from your smartphone. This is a simple way to quickly erase all photos from your iPhone, but those pictures will still be on your computer. It’s in an effort to get rid of duplicate images.

Make sure you’ve backed up everything you want to keep before deleting anything.

How to Delete Photos from Your iPhone

You can delete individual pictures or do a mass delete of photos on your iPhone or iPad.

Let’s first cover how to select particular images. Open the Photos app and navigate to the image you want to erase. Open it to full size, then tap on the screen. A menu will appear at the bottom—just click on the trash can icon, then Delete Photo.

If you want to clear numerous pictures from your library, select Photos or Albums at the bottom of your interface. Next, tap either See All (on the Albums page) or All Photos > Select (on the Photos tab) and highlight however many images you want to get rid of. Click the trash symbol, then Delete X Photos.

Your device should warn you that “Some photos will also be deleted from Photo Stream on all your devices, and from an album.”

Selected the wrong photo? Just tap on it again to remove it from the selection. And should you feel like you’re making a mistake, just press Cancel at the top of your screen.

If you’ve deleted something by mistake, you can recover it, but we’ll come back to that.

How to Delete All Photos From Your iPhone at Once

You might want to bulk delete photos from an iPhone so you can sell it, pass it on to a friend or family member, or simply free up space. So how do you select and delete all your photos?

Use the same method as above; Albums > All Photos > Select.

Tap the most recent photo you want to delete. It’s easiest when it’s the third or fourth image in the latest row. Drag your finger to the left across the row, then upwards to the farthest-left picture on your interface. This will highlight every photo in between.

Your screen will start scrolling. To clear all photos from your device, keep your finger at the top-left of your album as it scrolls upwards until you reach the oldest image you want to remove. After they’re all selected, select the trash icon, then Delete.

This will also include all videos you have saved to your Camera Roll. You can still deselect individual image by tapping on them.

If you have a Mac, it’s even simpler to delete all pictures from your iPhone and any Apple devices connected to iCloud. Open Photos on your Mac, click Edit > Select All (or Cmd + A), then hold Cmd + Delete. This will erase all photos from numerous devices, as long as they’re connected to (not necessarily signed into) iCloud.

How to Permanently Delete or Recover Photos on Your iPhone

Even though you’ve deleted pictures, they may still be on your device! As a safety net in case you mistakenly erase something, the Photos app has its own Recently Deleted folder. Just scroll down on the Albums menu to find it.

You can recover individual pictures or delete them permanently by tapping on each image. The options—Delete and Recover—will appear at the bottom.

Alternatively, you can select and recover or delete multiple photos in the Recently Deleted album using the same method described above for deleting them all. That is, you choose Select then drag your finger from the bottom-right image and scroll upwards to the top-left.

If you’re looking for an image that’s not in Recently Deleted, there are other ways you can recover iPhone and iPad photos. Note that any images in your Recently Deleted folder are permanently erased 29 days after their initial deletion.

How to Delete a Photo Album on Your iPhone

What if you have an album that’s defunct? Or one that’s now empty because you’ve deleted all the pictures? Don’t worry: you can get rid of a whole album.

Choose See All > Edit on the Albums tab. Red circles will appear by each album. Tap the ones you want to erase, then confirm by tapping Delete Album. This won’t delete all your pictures: they’ll still exist in your iCloud Photo Stream, other cloud services, or your Recents album.

You might not want to get rid of the whole album. So how do you delete individual photos from an album?

Anything you delete from your main Camera Roll will also vanish from albums. However, if you just want to remove certain images, choose Select, tap the images you want to get rid of, then hit the trash icon. Finally, tap Remove from Album.

Delete Photos, Then Organize What’s Left

Now you know how to delete one or many photos on your iPhone or iPad. Run through these steps once in a while and you’ll keep your device from getting overwhelmed with old or poor photos.

Once you’ve cleared out the junk, why not organize the photos on your iPhone that remain?

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As advertisers revolt, Facebook commits to flagging ‘newsworthy’ political speech that violates policy

As advertisers pull away from Facebook to protest the social networking giant’s hands-off approach to misinformation and hate speech, the company is instituting a number of stronger policies to woo them back.

In a livestreamed segment of the company’s weekly all-hands meeting, CEO Mark Zuckerberg recapped some of the steps Facebook is already taking, and announced new measures to fight voter suppression and misinformation — although they amount to things that other social media platforms like Twitter have already enacted and enforced in more aggressive ways.

At the heart of the policy changes is an admission that the company will continue to allow politicians and public figures to disseminate hate speech that does, in fact, violate the Facebook’s own guidelines — butit will add a label to denote they’re remaining on the platform because of their “newsworthy” nature.

It’s a watered down version of the more muscular stance that Twitter has taken to limit the ability of its network to amplify hate speech or statements that incite violence.

Zuckerberg said:

A handful of times a year, we leave up content that would otherwise violate our policies if the public interest value outweighs the risk of harm. Often, seeing speech from politicians is in the public interest, and in the same way that news outlets will report what a politician says, we think people should generally be able to see it for themselves on our platforms.

We will soon start labeling some of the content we leave up because it is deemed newsworthy, so people can know when this is the case. We’ll allow people to share this content to condemn it, just like we do with other problematic content, because this is an important part of how we discuss what’s acceptable in our society — but we’ll add a prompt to tell people that the content they’re sharing may violate our policies.

The problems with this approach are legion. Ultimately, it’s another example of Facebook’s insistence that with hate speech and other types of rhetoric and propaganda, the onus of responsibility is on the user.

Zuckerberg did emphasize that threats of violence or voter suppression are not allowed to be distributed on the platform whether or not they’re deemed newsworthy, adding that “there are no exceptions for politicians in any of the policies I’m announcing here today.”

But it remains to be seen how Facebook will define the nature of those threats — and balance that against the “newsworthiness” of the statement.

The steps around election year violence supplement other efforts that the company has taken to combat the spread of misinformation around voting rights on the platform.

Facebook adds option for US users to turn off political ads, launches voting info hub

 

The new measures that Zuckerberg announced also include partnerships with local election authorities to determine the accuracy of information and what is potentially dangerous. Zuckerberg also said that Facebook would ban posts that make false claims (like saying ICE agents will be checking immigration papers at polling places) or threats of voter interference (like “My friends and I will be doing our own monitoring of the polls”).

Facebook is also going to take additional steps to restrict hate speech in advertising.

“Specifically, we’re expanding our ads policy to prohibit claims that people from a specific race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, caste, sexual orientation, gender identity or immigration status are a threat to the physical safety, health or survival of others,” Zuckerberg said. “We’re also expanding our policies to better protect immigrants, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers from ads suggesting these groups are inferior or expressing contempt, dismissal or disgust directed at them.”

Zuckerberg’s remarks came days of advertisers— most recently Unilever and Verizon — announced that they’re going to pull their money from Facebook as part the #StopHateforProfit campaign organized by civil rights groups.

These some small, good steps from the head of a social network that has been recalcitrant in the face of criticism from all corners (except, until now. from the advertisers that matter most to Facebook). But they don’t do anything at about the teeming mass of misinformation that exists in the private channels that simmer below the surface of Facebook’s public facing messages, memes and commentary.

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Fleetsmith customers unhappy with loss of third-party app support after Apple acquisition

When Apple confirmed it had acquired Fleetsmith, a mobile device management vendor, on Wednesday, it seemed like a straightforward purchase, but Fleetsmith customers quickly learned a key piece of functionality had stopped working  — and many weren’t happy about it.

Apple systems administrators began complaining on social media on the morning of the acquisition announcement that the company was no longer allowing them to connect to third-party applications.

“Primarily Fleetsmith maintained a third party app catalog, so you could deploy things like Chrome or Zoom to your Macs, and Fleetsmith would maintain security updates for those apps. This was the main reason we purchased Fleetsmith,” a Fleetsmith customer told TechCrunch.

The customer added that the company described this functionality as a major feature in a company blog post:

Fleetsmith handles this all for you automatically. Once the version is enforced, it is downloaded and queued for install immediately across the device fleet. Most apps will update silently and automatically once they’re restarted, but users can also choose to do the update manually. Our agent will remind users about the update periodically, and then once the enforcement date hits, it will give them an opportunity to save work and then run the update itself.

Apple has acquired Fleetsmith, a startup that helps IT manage Apple devices remotely

As it turned out, Apple had made it clear that it was discontinuing this feature in an email to Fleetsmith customers on the day of the transition. The email included links to several help articles that were supposed to assist admins with the transition. (The email is included in full at the end of the article).

The general consensus among admins that I spoke to was that these articles were not terribly helpful. While they described a way to fix the issues, they said that Apple has turned what was a highly automated experience into a highly manual one, effectively eliminating the speed and ease of use advantage of having then update feature in the first place.

Apple did confirm that it had responded to some help ticket requests after the changes this week, saying that it would soon restore some configurations for Catalog apps, and were working with impacted customers as needed. The company did not make clear, however, why they removed this functionality in the first place.

Fleetsmith offered a couple of key features that appealed to Mac system administrators. For starters, it let them set up new Macs automatically out of the box. This allows them to ship a new Mac or other Apple device, and as soon as the employee powers it up and connects to WiFi, it connects to Fleetsmith where systems administrators can track usage and updates. In addition, it allowed System Administrators to enforce Apple security and OS updates on company devices.

What’s more, it could also do the same thing with third-party applications like Google Chrome, Zoom or many others. When these companies pushed a new update, system administrators could make sure all users had the most recent version running on their machines. This is the key functionality that was removed this week.

It’s not clear why Apple chose to strip out these features outlined in the email to customers, but it seems likely that most of this functionality  isn’t coming back, other than restoring some configurations for Catalog apps.

Email that went out to Fleetsmith customers the day of the acquisition outlining the changes:

 

Attempts to reach Fleetsmith founders for comment were unsuccessful. Should that change we will update the article.

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