Robots are stealing jobs, the narrative says and according to this video, robots are stealing the arts too. The video shows several industrial robotic arms playing the piano, guitar, drums and a keyboard. Through some stellar music production, it sounds amazing too. Nigel Stanford is the artist behind the project and also posted a video that shows some behind-the-scenes clips — basically… Read More
The war between the “PC master race” and console fanatics rages on. More often than not, it comes down to price. But is it suntil cheaper to build a gaming PC than buy a video game console? Yes, but with some caveats. The simple act of buying one or the other shows that a console will cost as much, if not less than a PC. But when you consider the long-term life for gaming, the PC master race has a valid point. What We Looked At We had a clear idea in mind. This article is about gaming, and gaming...
Read the full article: Why It’s Cheaper to Build a Gaming PC Than Buy the Latest Console
Free and open source desktops are great, but they aren’t exactly popular. Many people don’t know they exist, and among those that do, many still also use commercial operating systems. Even among my fellow Linux writers here at MakeUseOf, only a couple of us exclusively use Linux at home. I do, and I have done so for years. Linux has become the standard I compare other operating systems against. Right now, I see little reason to switch to something else. Aside from a three-year flirtation with Chromebooks, I’ve been running Linux exclusively for the better part of a decade. Here...
Read the full article: No Windows or Mac for Me: 8 Reasons Why I Only Use Linux
You’re riding the bus to work, minding your own business, drinking your coffee. You usually scroll through the overnight news, or catch up on last night’s MLS results. And suddenly, there it is: an unwanted, unsolicited picture of a stranger’s genitals all up in your smartphone. The phenomenon known as bluejacking has returned, and it is coming to a mass public transport carriage near you. Bluejacking Isn’t New You may or may not recall that bluejacking appeared long ago. The BBC reported instances of bluejacking in London and other major cities back in 2003. Bluejacking has been thrust back into...
Read the full article: Disable AirDrop to Avoid a Barrage of NSFW Images
CCleaner, a popular piece of security software with a squeaky clean reputation, was distributing malware for the best part of a month. Although Piriform has disarmed the threat, anyone using the affected version of CCleaner is being urged to update the software at their earliest convenience. Over time, computers get clogged up with lots of unnecessary crap. Cookies, temporary internet files, and outdated Windows Registry entries, to name just three. CCleaner exists to clean this crap away, with the C in the name standing for “Crap”. Unfortunately, CCleaner has been delivering its own form of crap of late. Hackers Hack...
Read the full article: CCleaner Was Distributing Malware for a Month
Google’s Information Security Manager Heather Adkins has a pretty good track record. The company was last hacked in 2009, that’s why Adkins had some good advice for startups in the audience at TechCrunch Disrupt SF. “At some point in the history of your company, you’re probably going to get hacked. The question is not whether or not you’re going to get hacked, but… Read More
It’s important to know the signs of poor computer health. Some of these can be fixed with software and other require a trip to a service point. And sometimes you’ve got to admit defeat and concede it’s time to shell out for another. When a computer reaches a certain age, the cost required to repair or maintain it is often outweighed by the benefits of sinking your money into a new model instead. Today we’ll look at a few of the warning signs, what you can do about it, and consider the right time to say goodbye. 1. You’re Constantly...
Read the full article: 6 Signs It’s Time to Upgrade or Replace Your Mac
If you’re looking to get your hands on Amazon’s personal assistant, today is your lucky day. Right now, you can get the Tap for its lowest price ever! Amazon Tap Amazon Tap - Alexa-Enabled Portable Bluetooth Speaker Amazon Tap - Alexa-Enabled Portable Bluetooth Speaker Just tap and ask for music from Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and TuneIn. Enable hands-free mode to control music and more from a distance. Buy Now At Amazon $79.99 For anyone interested in getting their hands on an Alexa-based voice assistant at a low price, but with more power than the cheap Dot, this is...
Read the full article: Today Only: Get an Echo Tap For Its Lowest Price Ever
In 2016, C was the 9th most active language on GitHub with 202k pull requests in the year. Compare that to the top three languages: JavaScript with 1,604k pull requests, Java with 763k pull requests, and Python with 744 pull requests. Ruby, PHP, C++, and CSS also beat C. At first glance, it may seem like C has been left in the dust by newer, fresher, more exciting languages — C is 45 years old, after all — but GitHub isn’t exactly the most accurate picture of the software industry. GitHub has a huge bias toward open source and trendiness....
Read the full article: Why C Programming Is Still Worth Learning
A rather interesting development has cropped up in the security world. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has banned the use of Kaspersky security software on federal computers. This — understandably — has some people worried. Is it still safe to use Kaspersky software on your home or work computer? We’ve collected the facts, tried to make sense of the claims, and put together what we’ve found. Here’s what we know so far. What the DHS Says According to the DHS Statement on the Issuance of Binding Operational Directive 17-01, the Department has direct Federal Executive Branch agencies to identify the use...
Read the full article: Is Kaspersky Software a Tool of the Russian Government?
The language learning app Duolingo has become one of the most trusted sources for people to improve their language skills. With lessons in over 20 languages through short games and challenges, Duolingo has captured all ages and language ability levels. But it isn’t the right solution for everyone — and that’s okay! There are plenty of other great (and completely free) services out there that may be a better fit. How Free Is “Free”? It’s Complicated One of the reasons some people are looking to move away from Duolingo is the recent introduction of in-app purchases. While the core functions...
Read the full article: The Best (Completely Free) Language Learning Alternatives to Duolingo
Keybase added to its encrypted tool kit today when it launched Keybase Teams, an open source, Slack-like communications tool with end-to-end encryption. Desktop and mobile versions are available for download now. It may seem like competing with Slack, the enormously popular enterprise communications tool would be a fool’s errand for Keybase. But by making it fully encrypted, open source… Read More
It’s easier than ever to share your photographs online. Unfortunately, that also means it’s easier for others to use those pictures without your permission. Fortunately, copyright law is designed to protect creators. Just by taking a photograph, you have certain rights to that image. However, knowing how to enforce those rights is another story. Whether you want to register your copyright, or just make sure that prospective content thieves are aware that you know where you stand, you have options. Here’s what you need to know about protecting your ownership of your photographs. What Is Copyright? When you possess copyright...
Read the full article: Why (and How) You Should Copyright Your Photos
Maintaining a clean inbox is a real challenge. You can put a ton of effort into cleaning it up, reaching close to inbox zero, and just finding yourself back where you started in a month. The key to getting to inbox zero is automating as much of the process as you can and rethinking your approach to email. 1. Make Labels Your Best Friend Gmail labels have been around for a long time, but this simple feature can do wonders to tame your inbox. Labels will satisfy that urge to open every new email. Adding one will make you feel...
Read the full article: Get to Inbox Zero in Gmail With These Strategies
Linux gaming is booming and prompting a wider increase in software development across the open source world. While it has always been possible to play games on Linux — whether dedicated releases or Windows games played under emulation — the arrival of Steam on Linux has had a massive impact. Whether you use the Steam client on your PC, or rely on the SteamOS operating system, a whole host of amazing games are available, including dozens of top titles. But what if you’re looking for a way to populate your Linux gaming library with extra titles? Perhaps you’re short of...
Read the full article: Game on Linux? You Should Download These 10 Free Steam Titles
Firefox has long been the browser for power users, thanks in no small part to its vast extension library. These powerful addons let creative developers tweak the browser in awesome ways, but that kind of power also exposes Firefox to problems. For a long time, Firefox’s addon system meant that a bad extension could cause issues in your browser, or even be malware posing as helpful. To remedy this, the upcoming Firefox 57 is making a big switch. From that version on, Firefox will use addons that are similar to what Chrome uses — they can’t modify the browser’s code,...
Read the full article: How to Check Which Firefox Extensions Will Stop Working in Firefox 57
Finding out what generation Intel processor is in your Windows machine is as easy as a matter of a few clicks. We’ll walk you through how to find that information, and explain why it might come in handy. How to Find Your Intel Processor Generation Open Windows Explorer and right-click on This PC or Computer (depending on which version of Windows you’re running) to open the context menu. Click on Properties. Under View basic information about your computer you should see a section called System, under which you’ll see a string of numbers and letters for your processor. So what do all those numbers mean?...
Read the full article: How to Look Up Your Intel Processor Generation
Game DVR is part of the Xbox app on Windows 10, and its primary purpose is to let you record footage of your gameplay and share it with the world. Apparently, some people love watching videos of other people playing games. They must not have heard of the “great outdoors.” Alas, I digress. At first glance, Game DVR looks a bit confusing. How can you make it work for you and maximize the app’s potential? Well, here are three tips for making the most of Game DVR in Windows 10. 1. Change the Background Recording Time By default, Game DVR...
Read the full article: 3 Tips for Making the Most of Game DVR in Windows 10
On a quiet afternoon in early September 2017, Equifax disclosed an extraordinary security breach that was estimated to have affected almost 200 million people worldwide. Given that the company had first discovered the breach in July, that should have provided ample time to prepare for a response and solution for all affected individuals. Instead, Equifax proceeded to provide the world with a perfect example of how not to handle a major security breach. From the enormous scope of the data leak, confusing legalese, and hideously insecure response websites, Equifax had it all. Add in allegations of insider trading, poor communication,...
Read the full article: Equihax: One of the Most Calamitous Breaches of All Time
Read the full article: Forget the iPhone X, the Apple Watch Series 3 is the Future
