OnePlus will return to its budget roots with the launch of Nord

Two factors defined OnePlus’s seemingly out-of-nowhere growth in the middle of the last decade: solid specs and a budget price tag. But markets change, and companies must adapt to survive. As someone who’s followed the Chinese smartphone maker since close to the beginning, I can confidently say that it hasn’t wavered from that first part. The second bit, on the other hand, is a bit of a different story.

OnePlus has experienced a bit of a price creep as it’s continued to add features to set itself apart from the competition. In the early days, the smartphone maker was content to wait a generation or two before embracing new tech, for the sake of keeping costs down. But increasingly, it’s come to be pride itself in being among the first first to things like in-screen fingerprint readers and 5G.

Today, however, it’s announcing a bit of a return to its roots with the Nord. The upcoming phone has been the subject of all manner of rumors under a variety of different names in recent months, but OnePlus just confirmed its name and arrival by way of an extended behind-the-scenes documentary on Instagram. Details are pretty slim at the moment, though the company confirmed that it will be priced at under $500.

Cofounder Carl Pei — who discussed the company’s place in the budget market last year at Disrupt last year — noted in the video, “There’s a huge change every two years. Anything can happen. Thousand dollar phones are decreasing in sales.” It’s a pretty well-established phenomenon over the last few years that has led to, among other things, companies like Samsung, Apple and Google to embrace lower-cost device amid stagnant sales figures.

OnePlus’s devices have still remained relatively affordable, compared to the competition, but the addition of the Nord will finds its getting back to where it started from with a line aimed at a wider range of consumers and different markets. More info soon, no doubt.

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Facebook says it will prioritize original reporting and ‘transparent authorship’ in the News Feed

Facebook announced this morning that stories with original reporting will get a boost in the News Feed, while publications that don’t clearly credit their editorial staff will be demoted.

The change comes as a number of high-profile companies have said that they will pull their advertising from Facebook as part of the #StopHateforProfit campaign, organized by civil rights groups as a a way to pressure the social network to take stronger steps against hate speech and misinformation.

On Friday, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the company will start labeling — but not removing — “newsworthy” content from politicians and other public figures that violates its content standards. (He also said that content threatening violence or suppressing voter participation will be removed even if it’s posted by a public figure.)

Today’s blog post from VP of Global News Partnerships Campbell Brown and Product Manager Jon Levin doesn’t mention the ad boycott, and it suggests that these changes were developed in consultation with news publishers and academics. But these certainly sound like concrete steps the company can point to as part of its efforts against misinformation.

Unilever and Verizon are the latest companies to pull their advertising from Facebook

What gets prioritized in the News Feed has long been a thorny issue for publishers, particularly after a major change in 2016 that prioritized content from friends over content from publishers.

“Most of the news stories people see in News Feed are from sources they or their friends follow, and that won’t change,” Brown and Levin wrote. “When multiple stories are shared by publishers and are available in a person’s News Feed, we will boost the more original one which will help it get more distribution.”

As for “transparent authorship,” Facebook will be looking for article bylines, or for a staff page on the publisher’s website. As Brown and Levin noted, “We’ve found that publishers who do not include this information often lack credibility to readers and produce content with clickbait or ad farms, all content people tell us they don’t want to see on Facebook.”

While these same like smart, straightforward changes (Google announced similar steps last fall), Brown and Levin also warned publishers not to expect “significant changes” in their Facebook traffic, since there are a “variety of signals” that go into how content gets ranked in the News Feed.

Also worth noting: These changes only apply to news content.

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

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Debian vs. Ubuntu vs. Linux Mint: Which Distribution Should You Use?

If you’ve heard of Ubuntu, the most popular version of Linux for desktop PCs, there’s a good chance you’ve also heard of Debian and Linux Mint.

With so many Linux distributions to choose from, a newcomer can understandably have a hard time telling them all apart. In this case, these three options have a great deal in common, but there remains a lot that sets them apart.

Debian-Based Linux Distributions

In the Linux world, there are hundreds of Linux-based operating systems (commonly known as “distributions” or “distros”) to pick from. Most of them expand from an already existing distro and implement various changes. There are only a handful that aren’t based on something else.

Debian is one of them, a parent that a majority of other versions of Linux have spawned from. Ubuntu is the most prominent descendant.

Yet while Ubuntu may be based on Debian, it has gone on to become a parent to many other distros as well. Linux Mint, for example, is based on Ubuntu.

If you’re connecting the dots, that means that Linux Mint is ultimately based on Debian.

But Linux Mint is not Ubuntu, and Ubuntu is not Debian. While they may largely share the same technical underpinning, chances are you won’t have that impression when you boot them up for the first time.

Debian

Software engineer Ian Murdock released the first version of Debian in 1993, in the process establishing a community of developers who would work together to provide a stable way to use the best software the free software world had to offer. The name came from the combination of his name and the name of his then-girlfriend, Debra.

While you can install Debian on your laptop and replace Windows, Debian is more than a desktop operating system. It’s a massive collection of software that you can configure in different ways to create the kind of experience you want. This is why so many projects use Debian as a foundation.

But yes, you can install Debian as a desktop operating system. Technically there is a default desktop experience available, but the installer enables you to pick and choose which desktop interface you prefer. You can even choose not to have a graphical interface at all, which is ideal for servers.

This freedom means the Debian teams leave the bulk of design and usability decisions to the various free software projects themselves. How Debian looks and feels has more to do with what the GNOME or KDE teams decide than the opinions of Debian developers.

You won’t find the custom themes and personal style that Ubuntu and Linux Mint both offer in spades, though this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

The GNOME desktop interface, for example, doesn’t support custom themes and many app developers actively request that distros stop theming their apps.

Debian’s Package Management

Yet there is a major part of the experience that is specific to Debian. That’s package management. Debian uses the DEB format and the APT package manager. I won’t go into details about them here, though, because as Debian-based distros, Ubuntu and Linux Mint inherent these same tools.

This isn’t to suggest that there’s nothing special about Debian. The reasons to use Debian are many, but only a few are likely to matter all that much to people first discovering free software.

If you’re coming to Debian from a different version of Linux, you may notice that much of the software is older than what you get elsewhere. New versions of Debian only come around once every two to three years, and app updates are frozen in time alongside the rest of the system, aside from security patches and similar maintenance. If you want to use newer software on Debian, you can, but doing so comes with more bugs and instability.

In short, Debian isn’t hard to use, but it is geared more toward technical users than Ubuntu or Linux Mint. Debian is great for people who care more about the values of free software, want more control over how their PC works, are creating a server, or value long-term stability.

Ubuntu

Unlike Debian, Ubuntu is the product of a private company. Canonical launched Ubuntu in 2004. The goal was to create a version of Linux geared toward non-technical users. The slogan was “Linux for Human Beings.”

So, what set Ubuntu apart from Debian? For starters, there was a clear product: the Ubuntu desktop. Canonical employed developers to make the chosen default experience as pleasant as possible for users.

Today, Canonical provides a simpler installer, a restyle of the GNOME desktop, and newer software.

(Ubuntu packages technically come from the unstable branch of Debian. That means experienced users can get this software on Debian too, but at the risk of a less stable desktop).

The Snap Store

Canonical has created the snap package format, courting commercial software developers to release their apps into the Snap Store.

The Snap Store, alongside Ubuntu’s position as the most widely used version of Linux, makes Ubuntu the Linux distro with the greatest degree of software support from non-Linux developers. This is relevant for apps like Skype and Steam, plus large swathes of PC games.

Canonical’s snap format is a universal format that works regardless of which Linux distro you choose. As such, you no longer have to use Ubuntu to enjoy many of these benefits.

Ubuntu has a predictable release schedule, with new long-term support releases launching every two years. Interim releases come out every six months. This makes it suitable for people who like regular updates and those who simply want a reliable computer.

Various flavors of Ubuntu are available beyond the mainstream version. Kubuntu uses the KDE desktop environment, while Lubuntu uses LXQt. Xubuntu employs the Xfce desktop, and Ubuntu MATE ships with (surprise!) the MATE desktop. If you don’t like the default interface, one of the many Ubuntu flavors may be the right fit.

Linux Mint

Clément Lefèbvre started Linux Mint in 2006, only a few years after Ubuntu. There was considerable experimentation in the early days, as the Mint developers decided how to structure the technical aspects of the desktop. They eventually landed on making Linux Mint fully compatible with the Ubuntu desktop.

Both distros use mostly the same repositories and can install the same software. DEB packages meant for Ubuntu will also work in Linux Mint. The Linux Mint team doesn’t care much for snaps, but it’s still possible for you to install them.

The primary difference between Mint and Ubuntu comes down to the initial desktop experience. The Linux Mint team created the Cinnamon desktop environment, which by default resembles Microsoft Windows. You have an app launcher in the bottom left, a task bar along the bottom, and system icons in the bottom right.

Mint comes with a selection of tools that simplify the process of installing apps and changing desktop themes. Mint also has the option to pre-install multimedia codecs that, on Debian and Ubuntu, you have to install after installation.

These changes have encouraged people to choose Linux Mint as an easier or more comfortable desktop to learn and use on a daily basis.

If you don’t love the Cinnamon desktop, there are MATE and Xfce editions of Linux Mint available as well. Both come with the same theme and general layout but may run smoother on older machines.

Debian vs. Ubuntu vs. Linux Mint: Which Is It?

Personally, I would use Debian. But then I’m a long-time free software user who has come to prefer distros that try not to make changes to “upstream” code. But I wouldn’t necessarily give Debian to a first time Linux user. Anyone familiar with computing could figure it out, but Ubuntu and Linux Mint offer an easier experience and look better.

The same could be said of elementary OS and Pop!_OS, which are both also based on Ubuntu. And if you’re inclined to like Debian, you might find much to like in Fedora, another upstream-focused project that isn’t based on another distro.

If you aren’t already paralyzed by choice, there are so many more great Linux distros to consider.

Read the full article: Debian vs. Ubuntu vs. Linux Mint: Which Distribution Should You Use?

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What Is a Linux Display Manager? How to Choose and Set One

You’re probably happy with your Linux operating system, but from time to time its good to refresh things. One way to do this is to replace some of the default applications and components. Think the default file manager, the text editor, or even the desktop environment or kernel.

One switchable component that is often overlooked is the display manager. But what is this component? How do you switch to a new display manager in Linux? Let’s find out.

What Is a Display Manager?

Also known as a “login manager”, a display manager is responsible for starting the display server and loading the desktop. This happens right after your correctly enter your username and password

Simply put, it controls user sessions and manages user authentication. Most of the display manager’s magic occurs “under the hood.” The only visible element is the login window, sometimes referred to as the “greeter”.

What a Display Manager Is Not

You probably already know your Linux computer has a window manager and a display server.

The display manager is a distinct piece of software. While all three interact, they have different functionality, and perform different jobs.

Examples of a window manager include:

• KWin
• Openbox
• Dwm

Some well-known display servers for Linux are:

• Wayland
• Mir
• Org

(Many Linux distributions feature Wayland as the default display server and a few others are also moving in that direction, so it’s a good idea to know more about using Linux with Wayland.)

Some display managers, meanwhile, are:

• GDM (Gnome Display Manager)
• LightDM
• LXDM

We’ll look at some more display managers below.

Why Replace a Display Manager?

Why would anyone want to replace a display manager, you ask? Well, here are a few probable scenarios:

• You’re trying to revive an old PC and you need a lightweight display manager.
• Your current display manager breaks after an update, and it’s much faster to just install a different one than migrate to another distro.
• You want to apply gorgeous themes to your login window, but your distro’s default display manager is limited in this respect.

There are several popular display managers for Linux. You’ll notice they’re quite similar in appearance; the main differences are size, complexity, and how they manage users and sessions.

Six Linux Display Managers You Can Switch To

With a new display manager installed, you can have some fun with themes. MDM is the best choice if customization is your priority, since it supports both old GDM and new HTML themes. DeviantART features many collection of themes for various display managers, for example. If you’re using SDDM, you can find theme packages for it in the repositories.

But first, which display manager are you going to switch to?

1. KDM

The display manager for KDE up to KDE Plasma 5, KDM features plenty of customization options. You can easily configure it via the control module in System Settings. There you can choose which KDM theme to use, or switch to the simple greeter that lets you customize the background, welcome message, and font.

Other features include:

• Fast user switching
• Display user list
• Enable root shutdown
• Allow passwordless login
• Autologin
• Fingerprint scanning

KDM supports X and Wayland and can also detect installed desktop environments and window managers. They are then offered in list form for you to choose which one to start when you enter your credentials.

While some features might overwhelm a beginner, KDM is easy to set up thanks to the straightforward graphical dialog.

2. GDM (GNOME Display Manager)

What KDM is to KDE, GDM3 is to GNOME—the default display manager of a popular Linux desktop environment. Like KDM, it supports X and Wayland and offers:

• Automatic login
• Hiding the user list
• Passwordless login
• Custom sessions
• Built-in themes
• Multiple user login
• Fast session switching
• Fingerprint scanning
• Smart card authentication

Configuring GDM3 can be done either via the dedicated dialog in System Settings or by editing configuration files.

Note that GDM3 is distinct from the legacy GDM. While they may appear similar, GDM3 is not backward compatible with legacy GDM themes, with options hidden in configuration files.

3. SDDM (Simple Desktop Display Manager)

SDDM is a comparatively new display manager scene. Initially released in 2013, it has survived while older rivals such as SLiM and Mint Display Manager have folded.

With support for X and Wayland, SDDM relies on QML theming, and replaced KDM as the default display manager in KDE Plasma 5.

SDDM features:

• Automatic login
• Num Lock on
• Modify greeter users
• Support for themes

As with other no-frills display managers, you can configure SDDM by editing a config file (sddm.conf). If you’re using SDDM on KDE, it has a configuration module in System Settings. Alternatively, use the handy sddm-config-editor utility.

4. LXDM

LXDM is part of the LXDE environment but runs comfortably on other desktop environments since it doesn’t have many dependencies. You can set it up through its own configuration utility, or edit configuration files in /etc/lxdm (or if you’re on Lubuntu, /etc/xdg/lubuntu/lxdm).

Using LXDM you can expect:

• Configurable user list
• Autologin
• Icons for each user
• User switching
• Timed autologin
• Custom background images

Both the official documentation and unofficial witness accounts on various forums note that LXDM doesn’t terminate user processes on logout. To ensure this happens, modify the /etc/lxdm/PostLogout file.

LXDM might be quirky, but it’s fast, so if that’s an acceptable trade-off for you, try it out.

5. LightDM

Perhaps the most popular and certainly the most versatile display manager is LightDM. Having supplanted older display managers in popular distros, it is customizable and feature-packed. LightDM is also lightweight, and supports X.Org and Mir.

With LightDM you can expect:

• Greeters for GTK, Qt/KDE, Unity and others
• Login screen themes
• User list
• Custom background image
• Adjustable window position

Configuration files should be edited to make these tweaks—the easiest way is the LightDM GTK Greeter Settings tool.

6. XDM

This is the default display manager for the X Window System and was first released in 1988. It is a minimalist display manager suitable for low spec systems or those with modest requirements.

Despite this, XDM still offers some features:

• Themes
• Set background wallpaper
• Tweak fonts
• Adjust login box position
• Handles multiple X sessions
• Passwordless login

Most tweaks are applied by editing etc/X11/xdm/Xresources.

How to Replace a Display Manager on Linux?

Seen something you like? Perhaps you want to switch Ubuntu’s display manager to LightDM.

Whatever your preference and distro there are just two steps to replacing your current display manager on Linux:

1. Install a new display manager
2. Set it up as the default

The first part of the process is easy, as you only have to find the appropriate package for your distribution and install it. You can remove the old display manager if you want to, but in most cases it won’t be necessary.

Setting up the new display manager as the default is different for each distribution. It boils down to editing a few configuration files or running a simple one-line command in the terminal.

Use this short guide to set up your chosen display manager, which you should have already installed.

Debian, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Most Ubuntu Derivatives

Installing a new display manager should prompt the dpkg-reconfigure tool to launch. If not, run it manually:

• Run sudo dpkg-reconfigure gdm3
• Select the default display manager in the dialog that pops up

You can replace “gdm3” with any of the display managers that are currently installed on your system. If this fails, edit the /etc/X11/default-display/manager file with root privileges.

For Arch Linux and Manjaro

Enable the systemd service for your new display manager:

systemctl enable displaymanager.service -f

If this doesn’t work, Manjaro users can try disabling the previous display manager first:

sudo systemctl stop gdm
sudo systemctl disable gdm
sudo systemctl enable lightdm.service
sudo systemctl start lightdm

while on Arch Linux you might have to remove the /etc/systemd/system/default.target file, and create a display-manager.service file in the /etc/systemd/system directory. This new file should be a symlink to your new display manager’s service file in /usr/lib/systemd/system/.

Change the Display Manager on Fedora

Start by disabling the old display manager, enable the newly installed replacement, then reboot:

• Run systemctl disable [old display manager]
• Follow this with systemctl enable [new display manager]
• Then reboot

When Fedora reboots it will be with a fresh display manager.

For PCLinuxOS

You should be able to select your new display manager from the desktop.

• Open Control Center > Boot
• Find Set up display manager
• Select the display manager you installed earlier

If the system doesn’t acknowledge the changes, edit /etc/sysconfig/desktop and set the new display manager.

For openSUSE

To change the display manager in openSUSE, first download your replacement and confirm the installation location.

Next enter

sudo update-alternatives --set default-displaymanager \ [FILEPATH]

Prefer changing the display manager with a desktop tool?

• Install yast2-alternatives
• Open the Control Center
• Browse to Display Manager
• Set the new display manager

Your new display manager should activate on next reboot.

Change Your Linux Display Manager Today

As you’ve seen, replacing a display manager is not as hard as it sounds. Once you start reading more about their features, you might be tempted to test a few different display managers in search of the best one – and I encourage you to do so.

You don’t have to wait for software to “break” to try something new or to experiment with a new Linux desktop environment.

Read the full article: What Is a Linux Display Manager? How to Choose and Set One

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How to Use WhatsApp Web on PC: The Ultimate Guide

WhatsApp Web offers a quick and easy way to read and reply to WhatsApp messages on your computer. It lets you use WhatsApp online from your browser. And in this guide we show you how to use WhatsApp Web on your PC.

What You Will Need to Run WhatsApp Web

Largely speaking, it’s a simple process and you’ll have the necessary items at hand. But for the sake of thoroughness, here’s the list.

1. An Android phone or an iPhone with a working rear camera.
2. A laptop or desktop computer with any modern web browser, like Google Chrome.
3. An active internet connection for both your phone and your PC.
4. The latest version of WhatsApp.

Download: WhatsApp for Android | iOS (Free)

How WhatsApp Web Works

WhatsApp Web does not have all the features of the mobile app. In fact, it can’t work without the mobile app. You will need your phone to connect to and use WhatsApp Web.

This is, in essence, a clone or a mirror of what’s happening on your phone. If a message comes to your phone, you’ll see it in WhatsApp Web. If your phone doesn’t get a message because it doesn’t have an active internet connection or it’s switched off, then you won’t see it in WhatsApp Web either.

This makes WhatsApp Web inferior to other chat apps, but in some ways, it also makes WhatsApp Web more secure.

How to Set Up WhatsApp Web

Once you have these elements ready, setting up WhatsApp Web is simple:

1. Open the browser on your PC and go to web.whatsapp.com.
2. You will see a QR code that you need to scan to connect to WhatsApp Web.
3. On your WhatsApp mobile app, tap Menu > WhatsApp Web to start the QR code reader.
4. Point your phone’s rear camera to the QR code on your PC screen.

As soon as WhatsApp Web scans the QR code, it will connect your phone to your PC. In a jiffy, WhatsApp Web and WhatsApp mobile will be synced. You are now ready to use WhatsApp online through the computer.

What You Can Do With WhatsApp Web

• Use your keyboard to type.
• Access media (photos, videos, audio) in-line. You can also download any media directly to your PC. However, you cannot bulk download all media files; you have to manually click each.
• View videos from Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube without leaving the chat window, through Picture-in-Picture mode.
• Start a new conversation with any contact, or search for existing conversations.
• View contact information.
• Start a new group chat, talk in group chats, and view group information.
• Connect multiple computers to your phone and save them for future. You can also remotely disconnect any browser from your phone.
• Get or mute desktop alerts and sounds.
• Share photos and videos, documents, and contacts.
• Send emojis, GIFs, and stickers, as well as voice notes.
• View WhatsApp Status updates from any contact.
• Select multiple messages, and clear messages.
• Reply, forward, star, or delete messages.
• Edit your profile.

What You Can’t Do With WhatsApp Web

• You can’t send a WhatsApp Broadcast.
• You can’t make or receive WhatsApp Voice calls or WhatsApp Video calls.
• You can’t post new WhatsApp Status updates.
• You can’t share maps or your current location.
• You can’t change media download settings, so all photos and videos sent to you are downloaded automatically.
• You can’t use two browsers at the same time. While you can add multiple browsers/PCs to your phone, you can only use one at a time.
• Settings are limited to notifications through WhatsApp Web and chat wallpapers.

Using Multiple WhatsApp Accounts

Some folks have two numbers associated with two different WhatsApp accounts. You can still control WhatsApp online for both on a single PC.

To do that, you will need to open WhatsApp Web in two different browsers, such as Chrome and Opera. Alternately, you can open WhatsApp Web in an incognito window, but that automatically logs you out after an hour.

What Makes WhatsApp Web Special

So why should you use WhatsApp Web when it’s more limited than the phone? Because of the keyboard, of course.

If you want to engage in long conversations with someone, it’s easier to type using a keyboard. In fact, WhatsApp Web also works with WhatsApp Business, and you’ll be glad that you can take care of multiple customers through it.

You can use keyboard shortcuts too. The most useful two to remember are Ctrl + Shift + [ to go to the previous chat, and Ctrl + Shift + ] to go to the next chat.

How Safe Is WhatsApp Web?

While it initially got some flak for its lack of security, WhatsApp now boasts end-to-end encryption for all of its messages. This extends to WhatsApp Web as well.

Still, it’s a good idea to employ the best security practices for WhatsApp and understand how safe your photos are in WhatsApp, whether you’re using it your phone or using WhatsApp Web. For example, if you have to use WhatsApp Web on a different computer, always open it through an incognito window.

How to Log Out of WhatsApp Web

If you are using WhatsApp Web on your own computer, you can stay logged in even when you are done. It’s convenient.

If you are using it on someone else’s computer, then remember to log out after you are done using WhatsApp online. It’s best to do this on both the computer and the mobile app.

1. To log out of WhatsApp Web through your computer, go to Menu > Log out.
2. To log out of WhatsApp Web through your phone, go to Menu > WhatsApp Web > Log out from all devices. As the name indicates, this will close WhatsApp Web on any computer you are logged in.

Once you log out, you will need to run the WhatsApp Web QR Code scan again to reconnect to the device.

WhatsApp Web Tips and Tricks

The more you know about WhatsApp Web, the more astounded you will be by what you can achieve with it. In fact, we prefer it to the official desktop apps for WhatsApp since WhatsApp Web is more feature-filled, and even offers extensions.

There’s also a clever hack that makes WhatsApp Web worth using. Through WhatsApp Web, you can actually read your WhatsApp messages without marking them with blue ticks. It’s a sneaky one, but if you want to learn how to do that and more, check out our list of WhatsApp Web tips and tricks everyone should know.

Read the full article: How to Use WhatsApp Web on PC: The Ultimate Guide

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The Best Cheap Webcam Alternatives Until Prices Drop

The COVID-19 pandemic sent the prices of certain bits of PC hardware spiraling. Webcams were one of the first items to begin selling out. People working from and those wishing to stay in video contact with family quickly cleared webcam stocks at the most popular online retailers.

The result is a webcam market filled with questionable brands, high prices for webcams, and a lack of stock at regular stores.

However, you don’t need a dedicated webcam. You probably have a webcam alternative in your home, waiting for use. So, here are the best webcam alternatives until the prices return to normal!

How to Use a Smartphone or a Tablet as a Webcam

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Let’s start with the easiest option—using your iPhone or Android device as a webcam. There are numerous apps available to both platforms that convert your smartphone camera into a handy webcam.

As many smartphones now come equipped with powerful cameras, you’ll get a clear image for your video calls. Check out how to use your iPhone as a webcam or how to use your Android device as a webcam for detailed instructions.

One thing that will make using your smartphone as a webcam easier is a tripod or mount. The UBeeszie Adjustable Camera Stand Holder is a basic smartphone and camera mount. It won’t change your life, but it will keep your smartphone stable on your desk during a meeting or family voice call, which is perfect.

How to Use a DSLR as a Webcam

Using a DSLR as a webcam requires a little bit more work than the smartphone option. The plus side is that you’ll have one of the best webcam streams around, unrivaled in quality amongst your co-workers and family.

There are two options for using a DSLR as a webcam. One uses software and is relatively plug and play. The other uses an external capture card to convert the HDMI output of the DSLR into a streamable USB signal output.

1. Using a Nikon or Canon DSLR as a Webcam with SparkoCam

If you own a Nikon or Canon DSLR, you can use SparkoCam, a webcam and video effects tool for Windows. SparkoCam is freeware, although the free version will add a large SparkoCam logo to your video output.

There are various SparkoCam licenses, which you should check out before committing. For example, you can purchase a Standard License for both camera types for $69.95, which includes one year of upgrades. There are also licenses available for just Canon or Nikon cameras.

On to the software itself. SparkoCam offers support for a range of Nikon and Canon DSLR models (full list). If your camera model is not on the list, it is highly likely it will not work with the software. This is due to limitations with some older DSLR models.

SparkoCam is easy to use. You connect your DSLR to your computer via a USB cable, then select the corresponding model in the software. Once SparkoCam recognizes your camera, you can adjust the resolution and other features.

Now, there is one important thing to note before purchasing SparkoCam. The output frames per second appear to fluctuate, with some users noting that they could not create video at more than 30 frames per second.

However, this is more likely an issue with USB 2.0 devices, rather than the software. And for the most part, 30FPS is absolutely fine for a family video chat or meeting with colleagues.

The other thing to consider is that SparkoCam does not use the microphone on your DSLR. You will need to use a separate microphone. SparkoCam is available to Windows only. Furthermore, at the price point, it is most of the more expensive solutions. However, it is an option, nonetheless.

2. Using a Canon DSLR as a Webcam with EOS Webcam Utility Beta

Canon DSLR users can opt for the EOS Webcam Utility Beta, which turns your compatible Canon camera into a high-quality webcam.

The software is in beta, so there are potential bugs and other glitches that could affect performance. Furthermore, we haven’t tested the software with a Canon DSLR. Still, the software looks decent enough, and Canon is specifically marketing this new software in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to help make communication easier.

Check out the above video for a tutorial on setting up EOS Webcam Utility Beta. Like SparkoCam, the EOS Webcam Utility Beta is available to Windows only.

3. Using a DSLR as a Webcam on Linux

The previous two options were all about Windows. But what if you use Linux and you want to use your DSLR as a webcam? Well, the libgphoto2 project takes care of that. The video above is a detailed tutorial on how to use your DSLR as a webcam on Linux with libgphoto2.

Using a DSLR as a Webcam with a Capture Card/Device

If none of the software options work with your DSLR, you’ll need an external capture card. An external capture card is a special video device that turns your HDMI input into a streamable output, usually via a USB cable.

There are several excellent capture cards on the market. Most are extremely easy to use, too. However, one thing to note is that the capture card market is also experiencing fluctuations due to COVID-19.

1. AVerMedia Live Gamer Mini

AVerMedia Live Gamer Mini AVerMedia Live Gamer Mini Buy Now On Amazon $87.35

The AVerMedia Live Gamer Mini offers plug and play connectivity if you want to use your DSLR as a webcam. Furthermore, there is Full HD recording, hardware encoding, and zero-latency passthrough up to 1080p at 60FPS (1080p60).

You also have the option of using AVerMedia’s RECentral streaming software, which adds additional streaming and overlay options.

2. AVerMedia AVerCapture LGP Lite

AVerMedia AVerCapture LGP Lite AVerMedia AVerCapture LGP Lite Buy Now On Amazon $74.25

The slightly smaller cousin to the Live Gamer Mini, the AVerMedia AVerCapture LGP Lite is a handy plug and play capture card that lets you use your DSLR as a webcam.

Like the Live Gamer Mini, the LGP Lite allows Full HD recording and 1080p60 video passthrough. There’s also the handy capture card button you can use for one-click recording.

3. MiraBox Capture Card

MiraBox Capture Card MiraBox Capture Card Buy Now On Amazon $125.99

The MiraBox Capture Card is a USB 3.0 capture card that works well with DSLRs. It offers Full HD playback with 1080p60 video passthrough, and is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is completely plug and play and will work with your Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch, too.

4. BlueAVS Capture Card

BlueAVS Capture Card BlueAVS Capture Card Buy Now On Amazon $39.99

The BlueAVS Capture Card is a basic but effective capture card option. You can connect a wide range of media options to the BlueAVS Capture Card and stream directly to your computer.

You should note that this is a USB 2.0 capture card, rather than USB 3.0. This means that you will not stream video from your DSLR at more than 30FPS. Again, that isn’t much of an issue for video calls with your friends and family, but something you should consider if you want a higher fidelity video stream.

5. Elgato Cam Link 4K

Elgato Cam Link 4K Elgato Cam Link 4K Buy Now On Amazon $126.43

The Elgato Cam Link 4K is one of the easiest ways to use a capture card with your DSLR as a webcam. You connect your DSLR to the Elgato Cam Link 4K with an HDMI cable and insert the capture card into a USB port on your computer. You can then select your DSLR for video calls, as well as other video recording tools.

Unfortunately, the Elgato Cam Link is sold out at many retailers, while the price on some sites is clearly double the usual retail price. So, while the Elgato Cam Link 4K is an excellent option, you could save money by waiting until the price returns to normal.

Are These the Best Webcam Alternatives?

For the time being, while the webcam market is unsettled and prices fluctuate, using a webcam alternative is a great option. You can use your smartphone or tablet as a webcam for a quick and easy alternative. Or, if you want greater video quality, you can use a DSLR camera as a webcam alternative.

Webcams won’t remain sold out forever. The demand for new webcams will stabilize, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic begins to ease around the world. Until then, try one of the webcam alternatives.

Oh, and if you have more than one webcam or additional camera, why not try using multiple webcams for your video calls?

Read the full article: The Best Cheap Webcam Alternatives Until Prices Drop

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How to Find Your Router’s IP Address?

While your router’s IP address isn’t need-to-know information on most days, there will be times you need to have it on hand.

For example, you may need it for changing settings on the device via its web-based control panel. And while it’s simple enough to get this information, many people aren’t sure exactly where to start—especially when it comes to different operating systems.

Whether you’re on your PC or a mobile device, here’s how to find your router IP address on different platforms…

What Is My Router IP Address For?

While some routers use text-based URLs, many use an IP address that you can use in your browser to access the device’s admin panel. In this panel, you can change settings, install firmware updates, troubleshoot issues, and configure your preferences.

You can find out more information on how to access your router in our guide on the topic.

Many routers in a private network use the default IP address 168.192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. If your router doesn’t use these specific default addresses, it will still most likely use one starting with 192.168.x.x.

However, the only way to know your router’s IP address for sure is to directly check it through a connected device like your computer. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck typing in all the variations of common router IP addresses until you get it right.

That might take a while.

Finding out what your router’s IP address is is pretty simple, but steps differ depending on the OS of your PC or mobile device. See our short tutorials below on how to find this IP address on various platforms…

How To Find Your Router IP Address on Windows

There are two main ways to find your router IP address on Windows—using Windows PowerShell or by visiting the Network and Sharing Center in your Control Panel.

Windows PowerShell

The simplest way to find your router IP address on Windows is by using Windows PowerShell.

Right click Start to find Windows PowerShell and type in ipconfig. Press Enter and various IP addresses will appear.

You will find your router’s IP address next to Default Gateway.

Control Panel

Another way to find your router’s IP address on Windows is to use the Control Panel.

Open your Control Panel and go to Network and Internet > View network status and devices.

This takes you to the Network and Sharing Center, which shows you the network you are connected to.

Next to Connections, you will see blue text that describes your network connection type—such as Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Click on this text.

This opens a small status window with information about your connection. Next, select the Details button.

An additional popup will appear with more details about your connection. Next to IPv4 Default Gateway, you will see your router’s IP address.

How to Find Your Router IP Address on macOS

To find your router IP address on macOS, head to your System Preferences and select Network.

This opens a window with your available network connections. Select your internet connection and then the Advanced button near the bottom right corner of the window.

In this window, select the TCP/IP tab. Here you will find your router’s IP address next to Router, under Subnet Mask.

How to Find Your Router IP Address on Android

While there are Android apps that can identify your router’s IP address, it’s easier and safer to just check it yourself in your network settings.

The exact wording of menu options may differ depending on your brand of Android smartphone, but the basic process is the same.

To find your router IP address on Android, go to Settings and select the wireless/connections/network menu.

Then, select the network you are currently connected to and access additional or advanced settings. You can do this by holding down on the network name (Huawei P40 Lite) or selecting the cog icon (Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra).

In these advanced settings, switch the IP settings from DHCP or dynamic to Static. Your router IP address will then show up under Gateway.

You don’t have to save this new setting since you now have the information you need. Switch back to a dynamic IP address or exit without saving to avoid the disadvantages of static IP addresses.

Find Your Router IP Address on iOS

Finding your router’s IP address on iOS couldn’t be simpler. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and select your current network.

This shows you more details and settings about your Wi-Fi connection. Check the section detailing your IPv4 address and you’ll find your router’s IP address next to Router.

How to Find Your Router IP Address on Linux

The user interfaces of different flavors of Linux can vary, but it’s relatively easy to check your router’s IP address on the OS.

Just click on your network icon and select Connection Information or Network Settings in the dropdown menu. This will open up a window with details about your current network. In some desktop environments, you can simply hover the mouse over the network icon.

(please add screenshot here Christian)

You’ll find your router’s IP address next to Default Route or Default Gateway.

There are ways to find your router IP address in Linux with terminal commands, but the exact commands differ depending on your chosen distro.

Learn More About Your Router

Now you know how to find your router IP address on a variety of platforms. But there’s a lot more you can learn about your router.

Why not read about ways to improve your router speed? From reboot schedules to setting tweaks, there are a variety of simple ways you can make your router’s connection faster without replacing the entire device.

Read the full article: How to Find Your Router’s IP Address?

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Boost Your Mind, Body, and Soul With This Bundle of Learning Apps

We all know that one person who speaks multiple languages, earns endless promotions at work, and owns the perfect body. Deep down, you are probably a little bit envious of their abilities. But in truth, anyone can adopt this dream lifestyle with a little effort. To put you on the right path, the Superhuman Lifetime Subscription Bundle offers five top-rated learning apps. You can get it now for just $79 at MakeUseOf Deals.

Mind, Body, and Soul

Covering a range of life skills, this bundle brings together some of the best apps currently available.

To kick things off, you get lifetime access to uTalk. Trusted by over 30 million users, this app offers 180 hours of training on 60 different topics. You learn real-world vocabulary, and you can even study offline.

A former Apple App of the Day, MindFi helps you relax and focus through guided meditation. The sessions only take 10 minutes, and they include powerful haptic breathing exercises.

Also in the bundle, Fitterclub offers personalized nutrition and workout plans, while 7 Speed Reading helps you read up to 3.471 times faster. In addition, you get lifetime access to Integrity Training — an online library of more than 600 professional courses.

Save Over $2,800

Lifetime access to all five apps would normally cost you $2,957.99, but you can grab the bundle now for just $79.

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6 Apps to Read or Listen to the Best Free Short Stories Online

A lot of people want to cultivate the habit of reading regularly. Start small with the best free short stories on these websites and apps, and work your way upwards.

Short stories are a gateway drug to the world of literature. In fact, most respected authors have a collection of short stories that are, at times, more entertaining than their larger works. Even for amateur writers, novels might be too daunting but short stories are more doable.

So the internet now has a storehouse of great short stories, from famous and unknown writers, that these apps have curated for your reading pleasure.

1. Storypony (Web): Community of Varied Short Stories

Storypony is a community for short story writers and readers. Each story has a maximum of 10,000 words, with most being around five to fifteen minute reads. The editors are particular about only accepting finished works and not chapter-by-chapter stories, so as a reader, you know you aren’t going to be left on a cliffhanger.

As you might expect, Storypony categorizes the short stories in genres like crime, drama, humor, fantasy, adventure, mystery, and so on. You can browse the most-voted, most-viewed, or most-recent submissions in any category, or go through the trending stories in all submissions.

Each story has its own comments page to discuss it with the author. Many of these short-story websites focus more on building a community, which eventually leads to a mutual admiration society. So far, Storypony seems like it hasn’t devolved into that, and the articles are picked on merit.

2. Bungo Search (Web): Filter Project Gutenberg by Time Taken to Read

Some of the world’s greatest authors have written incredible short stories, including the likes of O. Henry, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Edgar Allen Poe. After the copyright period expires on these, you can read them for free on Project Gutenberg. Bungo Search is a new web app to filter titles on Project Gutenberg by reading time.

The length of the short story is up to you, with the options being 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, one hour, two hours, or three hours. This reading time is based on the average person reading 300 words per minute. To choose the title, Bungo Search gives you the name of the short story and the author’s name, along with an excerpt of the beginning and its popularity on Project Gutenberg.

Bungo Search also adds the NGSL percentage, an excellent tool for those trying to learn English by reading. NGSL, or New General Service List, is a collection of 2800 words seen as an integral core of the English language. The higher the NGSL percentage of a story, the more easily you’ll pick up the language. For experienced English readers, a high NGSL usage also means that you’ll read the story quickly, without looking up words in the dictionary constantly.

3. The Short Story Project (Web, Android, iOS): Classic and Translated Short Stories

The Short Story Project finds little pieces of fiction worth reading from myriad sources: original publications, translated works from other languages, and a retelling of the classics. The mobile apps are especially great at collecting the pieces you want to read.

Translation is a central focus of The Short Story Project, which in itself opens up the world to so many more stories. Through categories like Latin, Arabic, German, Russian, and Israeli literature, you’ll come across fiction that breaks barriers. Yes, it’s available to read in English, and while the language might not be perfect all the time, it’s good enough to enjoy the new flavor of different worlds.

Each short story has an estimated reading time and a short description before you dive in. The project features audio retellings of classic English short stories too. Some of the stories and features are behind a paywall, but the bulk of free offerings on The Short Story Project are enough to enjoy it.

Download: The Short Story Project for Android | iOS (Free)

4. 1001 Classic Short Stories & Tales (Podcast): Soothing Narrations of the Classics

Narrator and podcast specialist Jon Hagadorn has a free podcast full of classic short stories and tales. Hagadorn, known for his “1001 Stories” podcast series on horror, history, and other genres, brings the classics to life with his inimitable narration style.

Hagadorn’s voice is the selling point of this podcast. He doesn’t have the deep voice you’ve come to expect from movie trailers or audiobook narrations. Nor does he act out different characters or situations to add flavor. It’s a humble retelling in a clear and endearing voice, which puts the story in the forefront. And after all, you’re here for the story, right?

The 1001 Classic Short Stories & Tales podcast releases a new episode every week. So far in its 200-episode run, it has already covered Agatha Christie, H. P. Lovecraft, Anton Chekov, Bram Stoker, and other literary giants. It’s a soothing podcast to listen to before you doze off.

Subscribe: 1001 Classic Short Stories & Tales podcast on Apple | Stitcher | PlayerFM | Megaphone RSS Feed

5. Short Story Award (Web): The Best Contemporary Short Stories

The Sunday Times Short Story Award, ongoing since 2010, offers a massive prize of 30,000 British pounds to the best short story of the year. All stories are under 6,000 words, and surprisingly, many of them are available for free online.

The Short Story Award makes you work for it though. It’s easy to browse all nominations dating back to 2010. But you won’t find an easy link to go read any nominated story. Instead, you’ll have to type the author and story title in Google and find a free place to read it at. The 2020 and 2019 list’s stories aren’t all free, but go back a few years, and you’ll find that those stories are now freely available online.

The award is a nice way to find new authors spinning short stories that are relevant for current times. While it’s great to read the classics, some contemporary literature is going to be a future generation’s classic, so why wait to read it?

6. Shortly (Android, iOS): Curated Short Stories From Reddit

Reddit’s r/writingprompts community is an excellent place to discover new short stories every day. Shortly takes the best stories from that forum and turns it into a pleasurable reading experience.

You can sort stories on Shortly by reading time, namely one minute, three minutes, or five minutes. It’s a gorgeous reading interface too. We’ve talked in more detail about Shortly in previous articles like apps to discover Reddit’s best posts and recommendations.

Download: Shortly for Android | iOS (Free)

Read More Free Short Stories

If you enjoy fanfiction, you’ll find websites catering to your favorite franchise, whether it’s Star Wars, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or anything else. There are even people who turn short stories into tweets or tell fiction over text messages.

When it comes to free short stories, this is only the tip of the iceberg, folks. Try a few of these other free apps to read quick, short stories, and then do a Google search to find your niche.

Read the full article: 6 Apps to Read or Listen to the Best Free Short Stories Online

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How to Add Options in Google Forms Questions from Google Sheets

A school is trying to create a Google Form where students can register their details. The form would have a drop-down of countries, the names of class teachers as a multiple choice question and a checkbox style question where students can pick one or more subjects.

It is easy to create such a form inside Google Forms - here’s a sample form - but there are two issues:

1. There’s too much data to type. For instance, the country down-down alone has a list of 250 countries and it would take some work for the form editor to manually type each choice in the question.
2. The question choices in the form may change with time. In the previous example, some teachers may move out, new teachers may join in and the drop-down list in the form has to be updated manually every time there’s a change in the staff.

Auto-Populate Questions in Google Forms with Google Sheets

As with everything else in the world of Google Forms and Google Sheets, we can easily automate the process of adding question choices in Google Forms in bulk with the help of, you guessed it right, Google Apps Script.

The idea is simple. We’ll have a Google Sheet that will be the data source and have all the answer choices for various questions in the Google Form.

The app will read the data from this Google Sheet and auto-populate the choices in the form with one click. You can even create a time-trigger that runs every hour, day or month to dynamically update your form using the most current data available in the spreadsheet.

Add Options in Dropdown Lists & Multiple Choice Questions

Create a Google Spreadsheet and add the question titles in the first row of the sheet, one per column. Next, write down all the options or choices that should be available per question.

Here’s how your spreadsheet structure would look like:

The important thing to note here is that your column headings in the spreadsheet should exactly match the form field labels of the Google Form. The Google Script can bulk add answers in multiple-choice questions with a single answer, drop-down lists and checkbox with multiple options.

Bulk Add Question Choices with Google Script

Open the Google Sheet that has the question choices, go to the Tools menu and choose Script Editor. Replace the default code in the script editor with the Google Script below. Please watch the video tutorial to know in more detail how this code works.

/**
 * Auto-populate Question options in Google Forms
 * from values in Google Spreadsheet
 *
 * Written by Amit Agarwal (MIT License)
 *
 **/

const populateGoogleForms = () => {
  const GOOGLE_SHEET_NAME = '<<Put the name of Google sheet here>>';
  const GOOGLE_FORM_ID = '<<Put your Google Form ID here>>';

  const ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();

  const [header, ...data] = ss
    .getSheetByName(GOOGLE_SHEET_NAME)
    .getDataRange()
    .getDisplayValues();

  const choices = {};
  header.forEach((title, i) => {
    choices[title] = data.map((d) => d[i]).filter((e) => e);
  });

  FormApp.openById(GOOGLE_FORM_ID)
    .getItems()
    .map((item) => ({
      item,
      values: choices[item.getTitle()],
    }))
    .filter((values) => values)
    .forEach(({ item, values }) => {
      switch (item.getType()) {
        case FormApp.ItemType.CHECKBOX:
          item.asCheckboxItem().setChoiceValues(values);
          break;
        case FormApp.ItemType.LIST:
          item.asListItem().setChoiceValues(values);
          break;
        case FormApp.ItemType.MULTIPLE_CHOICE:
          item.asMultipleChoiceItem().setChoiceValues(values);
          break;
        default:
        // ignore item
      }
    });
  ss.toast('Google Form Updated !!');
};

You need to replace the GOOGLE_SHEET_NAME and the GOOGLE_FORM_ID with your own values. Go to the Run menu inside the Script editor, choose populateGoogleForms function and it should instantly choices for all the specified questions in the Google Form.

Dynamically Update Answers in Google Forms

Going forward, whenever you need to update the answer choices in Google Forms, you can simply update the values inside the spreadsheet and run the same auto-populate function from the Script editor.

Or, to make things even more simple, you can add a button on the spreadsheet page that, when clicked, will automatically update the answers in Google Forms for you.

Go to the Insert menu in Google Sheets, choose drawing and pick any shape. You can also add overlay text to the shape. Once the shape is placed on the spreadsheet canvas, click the menu, choose assign script and type populateGoogleForms.

That’s it. You can click this button to update your Google Forms right within Google sheets. Do note that the script will not append choices, it will replace all existing choices with the ones that are available in your Google Sheet.

Also see: Send Pre-filled Google Forms via Email