18 June 2018
17 June 2018
First look at Instagram’s self-policing Time Well Spent tool
Are you Overgramming? Instagram is stepping up to help you manage overuse rather than leaving it to iOS and Android’s new screen time dashboards. Last month after TechCrunch first reported Instagram was prototyping a Usage Insights feature, the Facebook sub-company’s CEO Kevin System confirmed its forthcoming launch.
Tweeting our article, Systrom wrote “It’s true . . . We’re building tools that will help the IG community know more about the time they spend on Instagram – any time should be positive and intentional . . . Understanding how time online impacts people is important, and it’s the responsibility of all companies to be honest about this. We want to be part of the solution. I take that responsibility seriously.”
Now we have our first look at the tool via Jane Manchun Wong, who’s recently become one of TechCrunch’s favorite sources thanks to her skills at digging new features out of apps’ Android APK code. Though Usage Insights might change before an official launch, these screenshots give us an idea of what Instagram will include. We’ve reached out to Instagram for comment, and will update if we hear back.
This unlaunched version of Instagram’s Usage Insights tool offers users a daily tally of their minutes spent on the app. They’ll be able to set a time spent daily limit, and get a reminder once they exceed that. There’s also a shortcut to manage Instagram’s notifications so the app is less interruptive. Instagram has been spotted testing a new hamburger button that opens a slide-out navigation menu on the profile. That might be where the link for Usage Insights shows up, judging by this screenshot.
Instagram doesn’t appear to be going so far as to lock you out of the app after your limit, or fading it to grayscale which might annoy advertisers and businesses. But offering a handy way to monitor your usage that isn’t buried in your operating system’s settings could make users more mindful.
Instagram has an opportunity to be a role model here, especially if it gives its Usage Insights feature sharper teeth. For example, rather than a single notification when you hit your daily limit, it could remind you every 15 minutes after, or create some persistent visual flag so you know you’ve broken your self-imposed rule.
Instagram has already started to push users towards healthier behavior with a “You’re all caught up” notice when you’ve seen everything in your feed and should stop scrolling.
I expect more apps to attempt to self-police with tools like these rather than leaving themselves at the mercy of iOS’s Screen Time and Android’s Digital Wellbeing features that offer more drastic ways to enforce your own good intentions.
Both let you see overall usage of your phone and stats about individual apps. iOS lets you easily dismiss alerts about hitting your daily limit in an app but delivers a weekly usage report (ironically via notification), while Android will gray out an app’s icon and force you to go to your settings to unlock an app once you exceed your limit.
For Android users especially, Instagram wants to avoid looking like such a time sink that you put one of those hard limits on your use. In that sense, self-policing shows both empathy for its users’ mental health, but is also a self-preservation strategy. With Instagram slated to launch a long-form video hub that could drive even longer session times this week, Usage Insights could be seen as either hypocritical or more necessary than ever.
New time management tools coming to iOS (left) and Android (right). Images via The VergeInstagram is one of the world’s most beloved apps, but also one of the most easily abused. From envy spiraling as you watch the highlights of your friends’ lives to body image issues propelled by its endless legions of models, there are plenty of ways to make yourself feel bad scrolling the Insta feed. And since there’s so little text, no links, and few calls for participation, it’s easy to zombie-browse in the passive way research shows is most dangerous.
We’re in a crisis of attention. Mobile app business models often rely on maximizing our time spent to maximize their ad or in-app purchase revenue. But carrying the bottomless temptation of the Internet in our pockets threatens to leave us distracted, less educated, and depressed. We’ve evolved to crave dopamine hits from blinking lights and novel information, but never had such an endless supply.
There’s value to connecting with friends by watching their days unfold through Instagram and other apps. But tech giants are thankfully starting to be held responsible for helping us balance that with living our own lives.
Read Full Article
First look at Instagram’s self-policing Time Well Spent tool
Are you Overgramming? Instagram is stepping up to help you manage overuse rather than leaving it to iOS and Android’s new screen time dashboards. Last month after TechCrunch first reported Instagram was prototyping a Usage Insights feature, the Facebook sub-company’s CEO Kevin System confirmed its forthcoming launch.
Tweeting our article, Systrom wrote “It’s true . . . We’re building tools that will help the IG community know more about the time they spend on Instagram – any time should be positive and intentional . . . Understanding how time online impacts people is important, and it’s the responsibility of all companies to be honest about this. We want to be part of the solution. I take that responsibility seriously.”
Now we have our first look at the tool via Jane Manchun Wong, who’s recently become one of TechCrunch’s favorite sources thanks to her skills at digging new features out of apps’ Android APK code. Though Usage Insights might change before an official launch, these screenshots give us an idea of what Instagram will include. We’ve reached out to Instagram for comment, and will update if we hear back.
This unlaunched version of Instagram’s Usage Insights tool offers users a daily tally of their minutes spent on the app. They’ll be able to set a time spent daily limit, and get a reminder once they exceed that. There’s also a shortcut to manage Instagram’s notifications so the app is less interruptive. Instagram has been spotted testing a new hamburger button that opens a slide-out navigation menu on the profile. That might be where the link for Usage Insights shows up, judging by this screenshot.
Instagram doesn’t appear to be going so far as to lock you out of the app after your limit, or fading it to grayscale which might annoy advertisers and businesses. But offering a handy way to monitor your usage that isn’t buried in your operating system’s settings could make users more mindful.
Instagram has an opportunity to be a role model here, especially if it gives its Usage Insights feature sharper teeth. For example, rather than a single notification when you hit your daily limit, it could remind you every 15 minutes after, or create some persistent visual flag so you know you’ve broken your self-imposed rule.
Instagram has already started to push users towards healthier behavior with a “You’re all caught up” notice when you’ve seen everything in your feed and should stop scrolling.
I expect more apps to attempt to self-police with tools like these rather than leaving themselves at the mercy of iOS’s Screen Time and Android’s Digital Wellbeing features that offer more drastic ways to enforce your own good intentions.
Both let you see overall usage of your phone and stats about individual apps. iOS lets you easily dismiss alerts about hitting your daily limit in an app but delivers a weekly usage report (ironically via notification), while Android will gray out an app’s icon and force you to go to your settings to unlock an app once you exceed your limit.
For Android users especially, Instagram wants to avoid looking like such a time sink that you put one of those hard limits on your use. In that sense, self-policing shows both empathy for its users’ mental health, but is also a self-preservation strategy. With Instagram slated to launch a long-form video hub that could drive even longer session times this week, Usage Insights could be seen as either hypocritical or more necessary than ever.
New time management tools coming to iOS (left) and Android (right). Images via The VergeInstagram is one of the world’s most beloved apps, but also one of the most easily abused. From envy spiraling as you watch the highlights of your friends’ lives to body image issues propelled by its endless legions of models, there are plenty of ways to make yourself feel bad scrolling the Insta feed. And since there’s so little text, no links, and few calls for participation, it’s easy to zombie-browse in the passive way research shows is most dangerous.
We’re in a crisis of attention. Mobile app business models often rely on maximizing our time spent to maximize their ad or in-app purchase revenue. But carrying the bottomless temptation of the Internet in our pockets threatens to leave us distracted, less educated, and depressed. We’ve evolved to crave dopamine hits from blinking lights and novel information, but never had such an endless supply.
There’s value to connecting with friends by watching their days unfold through Instagram and other apps. But tech giants are thankfully starting to be held responsible for helping us balance that with living our own lives.
Read Full Article
16 June 2018
You Can Now Screenshot Instagram Stories Again
For the last few months, Instagram has been testing a new feature notifying people when someone took a screenshot of one of their stories. This was a feature cribbed from Snapchat. Because anything Snapchat does, Instagram has to try doing too.
However, it appears that Instagram has now stopped the experiment, and is no longer notifying users that someone has taken a screenshot one of their stories. No one knows why Instagram has had a change of heart, and BuzzFeed is the sole source of the story.
Instagram Messes With Its Users
In February 2018, Instagram started warning some users when someone else took a screenshot of their stories. The screenshotter was warned, “Next time you take a screenshot or screen recording, the person who posted the story will be able to see”.
This was only ever a small test affecting a limited number of users, but it was enough to make everyone think twice before taking a screenshot of an Instagram story. However, now, four months on, it looks as though Instagram has ended the experiment.
In good news Instagram has stopped notifying people when you screenshot their stories, in bad news I had no idea this was actually even a thing to start with pic.twitter.com/EerqeWSh6P
— Tahlia Pritchard (@Tahls) June 15, 2018
According to BuzzFeed, Instagram has “officially ended this test, and NO ONE will get notified when you screenshot.” Which, if true, means you can start snooping on your friends once again without them ever finding out you’re a creep.
There’s a chance that Instagram has only ended the experiment, but is now cooking up something else to deter people from screenshotting stories. If our previous experience is anything to go on we won’t actually know until it’s being tested in the wild.
This Isn’t the End of This Story
Perhaps someone working for Instagram has indeed given BuzzFeed a scoop. But it seems strange that no other publication could get an official confirmation or denial of the story. Which leads us to suspect this isn’t the last we’ll hear of this subject.
In case Instagram ever does launch this feature in full, you should bookmark our article detailing ways to screenshot Instagram Stories without getting caught. After all, there are some legitimate (and non-creepy) reasons you may want to screenshot Stories.
Read the full article: You Can Now Screenshot Instagram Stories Again
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The Ultimate Windows 10 Data Backup Guide
Windows 10 makes data backups effortless. Amidst many changes to Windows 10 maintenance settings, Microsoft has been stepping up its backup game without dropping tried and tested features. Windows 10 is well prepared for the cloud based storage revolution and still offers everything you need to secure files locally.
We have summarized every native backup, restore, recovery, and repair option we could find on Windows 10. Use our simple tips and never despair over lost data again!
Local Storage Backup
Local storage is the practice of saving your files onto physical locations such as your PC or onto a thumb drive. These are safe and readily accessible methods of saving files which do not require an internet connection.
File History
File History is a relatively new method of securely saving files onto a separate pen drive (available for Windows 8 and 10).
To find the File History program, hit the Windows Key, search for file history and click Restore your files with File History. You can also access this program in your Control Panel under Windows Key + X > Control Panel > System and Security > File History.
The difference between File History and a simple file transfer is its ability to schedule backups regularly onto your thumb drive. From the File History window, click on Configure File History settings to get started.
File History automatically finds external storage devices plugged into your computer.
Before turning the File History on, click on the Advanced settings and set your preferred schedule.
Save your changes and Turn on File History in order to keep your backups safe and documented. By default, File History only copies files from: Libraries, Desktop, Contacts, and Favorites.
System Restore
System Restore is a long-time companion of Windows and a convenient method of backing up your system image along with regularly used files.
To find system restore press the Windows key, then search for restore point and click Create a system restore.
As a faithful user of System Restore, I can assure its necessity when experimenting with driver downloads and obscure software. Microsoft writes:
Sometimes, the installation of a program or a driver can cause an unexpected change to your computer or cause Windows to behave unpredictably. Usually, uninstalling the program or driver corrects the problem. If uninstalling doesn’t fix the problem, you can try restoring your computer’s system to an earlier date when everything worked correctly. — Microsoft.com
Simply create a restore point to a point where your Windows machine is working regularly to have a safe state of your PC. To restore to a previous point, open the Create a system restore window and click on the System Restore button to get started. Though this program does not allow the user to access particular documents, System restore is great to save states of your PC in case of an operating system (OS) failure. If you’re interested in a fail-safe method to toy around with your computer’s OS, look into virtual machine software.
Backup and Restore
Backup and Restore, not to be confused with System Restore, is a program originally available in Windows 7, which backs up data files from your system library and any particular file and folder (or all files and folders) present on your hard drive.
Backup and Restore provides a bit more freedom to back up files than File History, while File History has the added advantage of providing regular logs of your backups. Like File History, Back and Restore also provides regularly scheduled backups. You can even continually backup your whole hard drive to an external or alternative internal hard drive, doing away with the need for third-party backup software.
To launch Backup and Restore, go to Start to search and pick Backup and Restore. Our Backup and Restore guide will show you how to set up your first backup.
Recovery Drive Creator
Windows 10 conveniently offers a program named Recovery Drive Creator, which creates backup system files of your OS. You can then use this recovery drive to install or re-install Windows in case anything tragic happens to the PC.
To access this tool, go to Start (press the Windows key), search for recovery drive, and select Create a recovery drive.
The process is straightforward and saves you the pain of dealing with less reputable third-party USB recovery software. Microsoft thankfully provides a clear, concise and official Wiki article on how to use the program.
System Repair Disc
Along with creating a recovery thumb drive, Windows 10 allows you to create a recovery CD to back up your PC. To find this option open Start, search for backup and restore, and pick Backup and Restore (Windows 7). You have the option to Create a system repair disc on the left-hand side of the window. Note that this requires a CD/DVD drive.
Creating a system repair disc—like a Recovery Drive—is a simple and straightforward process. Microsoft has also been kind enough to provide an official article covering the program and its features as well.
Alternatively, you can use these tools to create a Windows rescue disk.
Third-Party Backup Software
Third-party backup software is a tricky subject, considering the wavering quality of their backups. Certain hard drive companies, however, like the folks at Western Digital, provide free software like Acronis True Image WD Edition Software, so be sure to check your hard drive creator’s website to ensure you are using proper backup software for your particular PC.
Acronis True Image WD Edition can clone drives, backup the operating system, applications, settings and all of your data, while also securely wiping any confidential data you no longer need. Acronis True Image WD Edition provides you with all the essential tools you need to recover your computer system should a disaster occur, such as losing data, accidentally deleting critical files or folders, or a complete hard disk crash. If failures occur that block access to information or affect system operation, you will be able to restore the system and the lost data easily. — Support.wdc.com
If you are going to use a third-party software to back up your computer, please be sure to study up on the software before putting your digital life in its hands.
Cloud Storage Backup
Cloud-based storage doesn’t depend on your thumb or hard drive. In fact, it doesn’t depend on you at all; cloud-based storage is an increasingly popular method of backing up both personal and system files (along with a slew of other things), while also keeping those files accessible anywhere there’s an internet connection.
OneDrive
OneDrive is a popular cloud-based storage outlet made by Microsoft, which provides up to 15 GB of free storage if you were lucky enough to sign up and claim it in time, and 5 GB for everyone else.
OneDrive allows users, via the desktop program or the mobile app, to reach files loaded in their account’s repository.
After you download and install OneDrive, the storage system shows up in your File Explorer as a normal USB or external memory storage drive would. Simply sign into your Microsoft Live account and you can enjoy the cloud storage space.
You can even access your files on the go using the mobile OneDrive application available on Android, and iOS. The prices for additional storage plans are compatible with other cloud-based storage companies, such as Dropbox and Amazon Cloud.
Microsoft Azure Backup
Last year, Microsoft announced anyone with a Windows 10 system can seamlessly back up their files in a cloud-based service named Microsoft Azure. Microsoft Azure is a subscription-based online backup system, which promises to keep your files safe and sound as well as secure.
But don’t be misled into thinking Microsoft Azure is only a backup software; there are many great facets to Microsoft Azure, which makes it an impressive and easy to use cloud-based program.
Microsoft has published official resources explaining how to download, install, and configure Azure Backup to facilitate the process. This goes even further regarding the complete Microsoft Azure program. To learn about how you can use Microsoft Azure as a competent and savvy business resource, head over to the Microsoft Azure YouTube channel.
Honorable Mention: NAS Systems
I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t mention Network Attached Storage (NAS) systems. NAS systems are essentially collections of hard drives, which are accessible via a network connection. Because you actually own these systems, you are more in control of who and what can access your files and information.
Although cloud storage is more widely used for its simplicity and rapid affordability, it may not be the most secure option for your sensitive documents and information.
NAS systems, on the other hand, are fully within the owners’ control.
The price and security of a NAS system makes them great for small businesses or large volumes of information that are better left kept in physical form, as well as allowing more technologically savvy users access to network attached RAID arrays.
In short, NAS machines are personal, scalable, and manageable clouds.
For the average user, however, the benefits of a NAS system above cloud storage for backups are negligible, and cloud-based storage systems are often easier to use and cheaper up front to manage.
Don’t Lose Your Data Again
Backing up is a safeguard often underutilized and underappreciated by the average user. That is until something bad happens and those priceless photos of Coachella 2008 are left faded and forgotten. Don’t allow the experience of reading three year old writing samples of your “Gothic pseudo-fiction” phase to pass you by; never be without your important files and folders again!
Read the full article: The Ultimate Windows 10 Data Backup Guide
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15 June 2018
10 Soccer-Themed DIY Projects to Build for World Cup 2018
There’s nothing quite like the FIFA World Cup to get you into a competitive sporting mood. But what if you’re not quite prepared for the festival of football? Need a score counter, or perhaps an automated drinks maker?
The answer is simple: DIY!
What better way to get into the soccer spirit than by building your own DIY soccer tech projects that aren’t just fun, but practical too? These projects show you how it’s done.
1. Arduino Bluetooth Scoreboard
This giant scoreboard was built by YouTube channel I Like To Make Stuff. Using a timber frame, some LEDs, 3D-printed diffusion, and an Arduino, this project can be completed in a weekend.
If you don’t have the space for such a large scoreboard, it’s simple to reduce the size. The clear instructions and high quality video shows you how to make one of your own. You don’t even have to use Bluetooth if you don’t want to.
If you’re overwhelmed even after watching the video several times, then perhaps some of our tutorials will help you. Our Arduino beginner’s guide is a good place to start, as is our ultimate beginner’s guide to 3D printing.
2. Arduino Goal Counter
This project by Ondrej Krama is a great way to keep track of the score. Slightly simpler than the previous project, this one uses a remote central locking device from a car.
This project also uses an Arduino, alongside a giant seven-segment display, but don’t worry if you don’t own one of those, this project can easily be replicated with different kinds of Arduino displays.
3. Arduino Table Soccer Goal Counter
This cool project by YouTube creators OSZ Täuffelen is an awesome way to digitize a table soccer game. Built once again using an Arduino, this project uses LED sensors to detect when a team has scored a goal.
Sensors aside, this project even uses a USB power bank to run the system for well over 30 hours. The code is provided in German, but the core concepts and ideas behind programming languages don’t really change between human languages. If you’re new to Arduino programming, then these Arduino clean coding tips may come in useful.
4. Raspberry Pi Ball Tracking Robot
Built by YouTube channel Circuit Digest, this neat little robot uses a Raspberry Pi at its heart. Built with several motors, a Raspberry Pi camera, and some code written in Python, this machine could be the beginning of your robot soccer squad!
No video tutorial is provided, but a full written tutorial with code is provided.
If you’re not sure on the differences between a Raspberry Pi and an Arduino, then why not look at our Arduino vs. Raspberry Pi comparison?
5. Arduino Robot Drinks Machine
This drinks machine is a guaranteed way to liven up any sports party. Why risk missing the action when this robot can serve you?
While this machine is designed to serve alcoholic drinks, there’s no reason you couldn’t serve juice or other alcohol-free drinks.
This project does require several 3D-printed parts, and a few specialist components, but don’t let that put you off. Besides, you could even program your own 3D models using OpenSCAD, if you’re feeling adventurous.
6. Automatic Pet Feeder
With this automatic pet feeder, you’ll never have to miss another goal again. Built by the Ntrobotics YouTube channel, this cool project can be completed in an afternoon—providing you have 3D-printed the parts.
This project uses an ESP8266 at its heart, which is quite possibly our favorite maker board here at MakeUseOf. Learn more about the ESP8266 and how it differs from Arduino. If you don’t own a 3D printer, consider using these awesome websites for ordering 3D prints.
7. 3D Food Printer
Sticking with the 3D printing theme, YouTube channel Dr. D-Flo presents an excellent and comprehensive tutorial for building your own food 3D printer.
This machine is perfect for when Brazil are playing Germany and you just can’t stop watching the action. Although it is a little on the slow side…
Dr. D-Flo adapted a less conventional 3D printer design, but you could easily use a more traditional format. Our 3D printer buying guide can help you out.
8. Electronic Ball Kicker
Moving outdoors, this electronic ball kicker was built by the Nudge Me YouTube channel. This slightly scary looking project is a great way to brush up on your goal keeping skills.
A circuit diagram is provided, and this project uses good old fashioned electronics, with no Arduino or Raspberry Pi to be found. You could probably find many of the parts needed by taking apart a microwave. High voltage, anyone?
9. Arduino TV Controller
Fed up with losing the remote? Hate being in a blind panic at the thought of missing the kick off? Then worry no more, as this gadget (built by Keenan Van Deusen) will save the day.
With a video tutorial and full code provided, this is a great project for the absolute beginner. You could even install a real-time clock and schedule your TV to come on automatically when the games start!
10. Color Tracking Robot
This color tracking robot was once again built by the Nudge Me YouTube channel. Using Bluetooth and a mobile phone, this robot tracks the ball based on its color. It races off at surprising speed, and would make the perfect defender for your robot soccer league.
Code and schematics are provided, and the tracking app is published on the app store. What are you waiting for? With this on your side, how could you lose?
If you’re looking for a simpler wheeled robot tutorial, then why not check out our Arduino 4WD robot tutorial?
The Best DIY Soccer Projects for the World Cup
These ten projects have shown just how much creativity and variety there is when it comes to soccer tech projects. There is every chance that you could considerably improve your FIFA World Cup experience with one or more of these builds. Controlling the all-important TV with an Arduino is particularly ingenious.
Meanwhile, if you’re not the DIY type, why not take a look at these Android soccer games instead? No assembly required!
Image Credit: golubovy/Depositphotos
Read the full article: 10 Soccer-Themed DIY Projects to Build for World Cup 2018
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Venmo is discontinuing web support for payments and more
PayPal-owned, peer-to-peer payments app Venmo is ending web support for its service, the company announced in an email to users. The changes, which are beginning to roll out now, will see the Venmo.com website phasing out support for making payments and charging users. In time, users will see even less functionality on the website, the company says.
The message to users was quietly shared in the body of Venmo’s monthly transaction history email. It reads as follows:
NOTICE: Venmo has decided to phase out some of the functionality on the Venmo.com website over the coming months. We are beginning to discontinue the ability to pay and charge someone on the Venmo.com website, and over time, you may see less functionality on the website – this is just the start. We therefore have updated our user agreement to reflect that the use of Venmo on the Venmo.com website may be limited.
The decision represents a notable shift in product direction for Venmo. Though best known as a mobile payments app, the service has also been available online, similar to PayPal, for many years.
The Venmo website today allows users to sign in and view their various transaction feeds, including public transactions, those from friends, and personal transactions. You can also charge friends and submit payments from the website, send payment reminders, like and comment on transactions, add friends, edit your profile, and more.
Some users may already be impacted by the changes, and will now see a message alerting them to the fact that charging friends and making payments can only be done in the Venmo app from the App Store or Google Play.
It’s not entirely surprising to see Venmo drop web support. As a PayPal-owned property after its acquisition by Braintree which later brought it to PayPal, there’s always been a lot of overlap between Venmo and its parent company, in terms of peer-to-peer payments.
Venmo had grown in popularity for its simple, social network-inspired design and its less burdensome fee structure among a younger crowd. This made it an appealing way for PayPal to gain market share with a different demographic.
It’s also cheaper, which people like. PayPal doesn’t charge for money transfers from a bank account or PayPal balance, but does charge 2.9 percent plus a $0.30 fixed fee on payments from a credit or debit card in the U.S. Venmo, meanwhile, charges a fee of 3 percent for credit card payments, but makes debit card payments free. That’s appealing to millennials in particular, many of whom have ditched credit cards entirely, and are careful about their spending.
Plus, as a mobile-first application, Venmo was offering a more modern solution for mobile payments, at a time when PayPal’s app was looking a bit long in the tooth. (PayPal has since redesigned its mobile app experience to catch up.)
Another factor in Venmo’s decision could be that, more recently, it began facing competition from newcomer Zelle, the bank-backed mobile payments here in the U.S. which is forecast to outpace Venmo on users sometime this year, with 27.4 million users to Venmo’s 22.9 million. In light of that threat, Venmo may have wanted to consolidate its resources on its primary product – the mobile app.
Not everyone is happy about Venmo’s changes, of course. After all, even if the Venmo website wasn’t heavily used, it was used by some who will certainly miss it.
Reached for comment, Venmo explained the decision to phase out the website functionality stems from how it sees its product being used.
A Venmo spokesperson told TechCrunch:
Venmo continuously evaluates our products and services to ensure we are delivering our users the best experience. We have decided to begin to discontinue the ability to pay and charge someone on the Venmo.com website. Most of our users pay and request money using the Venmo app, so we’re focusing our efforts there. Users can continue to use the mobile app for their pay and charge transactions and can still use the website for cashing out Venmo balances, settings and statements.
The company declined to clarify what other functionality may be removed from the website over time, but noted that using Venmo to pay authorized merchants is unaffected.
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Gmail proves that some people hate smart suggestions
Gmail has recently introduced a brand new redesign. While you can disable or ignore most of the new features, Gmail has started resurfacing old unanswered emails with a suggestion that you should reply. And this is what it looks like:
The orange text immediately grabs your attention. By bumping the email thread to the top of your inbox, Gmails also breaks the chronological order of your inbox.
Gmail is also making a judgement by telling you that maybe you should have replied and you’ve been procrastinating. Social networks already bombard us constantly with awful content that makes us sad or angry. Your email inbox shouldn’t make you feel guilty or stressed.
Even if the suggestions can be accurate, it’s a bit creepy, it’s poorly implemented and it makes you feel like you’re no longer in control of your inbox.
There’s a reason why Gmail lets you disable all the smart features. Some users don’t want smart categories, important emails first and smart reply suggestions. Arguably, the only smart feature everyone needs is the spam filter.
A pure chronological feed of your email messages is incredibly valuable as well. That’s why many Instagram users are still asking for a chronological feed. Sure, algorithmic feeds can lead to more engagement and improved productivity. Maybe Google conducted some tests and concluded that you end up answering more emails if you let Gmail do its thing.
But you may want to judge the value of each email without an algorithmic ranking.
VCs could spot the next big thing without any bias. Journalists could pay attention to young and scrappy startups as much as the new electric scooter startup in San Francisco. Universities could give a grant to students with unconventional applications. The HR department of your company could look at all applications without following Google’s order.
When the Gmail redesign started leaking, a colleague of mine said “I look forward to digging through settings to figure out how to turn this off.” And the good news is that you can turn it off.
There are now two options to disable nudges in the settings on the web version of Gmail. You can tick off the boxes “Suggest emails to reply to” and “Suggest emails to follow up on” if you don’t want to see this orange text ever again. But those features should have never been enabled by default in the first place.
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Gmail proves that some people hate smart suggestions
Gmail has recently introduced a brand new redesign. While you can disable or ignore most of the new features, Gmail has started resurfacing old unanswered emails with a suggestion that you should reply. And this is what it looks like:
The orange text immediately grabs your attention. By bumping the email thread to the top of your inbox, Gmails also breaks the chronological order of your inbox.
Gmail is also making a judgement by telling you that maybe you should have replied and you’ve been procrastinating. Social networks already bombard us constantly with awful content that makes us sad or angry. Your email inbox shouldn’t make you feel guilty or stressed.
Even if the suggestions can be accurate, it’s a bit creepy, it’s poorly implemented and it makes you feel like you’re no longer in control of your inbox.
There’s a reason why Gmail lets you disable all the smart features. Some users don’t want smart categories, important emails first and smart reply suggestions. Arguably, the only smart feature everyone needs is the spam filter.
A pure chronological feed of your email messages is incredibly valuable as well. That’s why many Instagram users are still asking for a chronological feed. Sure, algorithmic feeds can lead to more engagement and improved productivity. Maybe Google conducted some tests and concluded that you end up answering more emails if you let Gmail do its thing.
But you may want to judge the value of each email without an algorithmic ranking.
VCs could spot the next big thing without any bias. Journalists could pay attention to young and scrappy startups as much as the new electric scooter startup in San Francisco. Universities could give a grant to students with unconventional applications. The HR department of your company could look at all applications without following Google’s order.
When the Gmail redesign started leaking, a colleague of mine said “I look forward to digging through settings to figure out how to turn this off.” And the good news is that you can turn it off.
There are now two options to disable nudges in the settings on the web version of Gmail. You can tick off the boxes “Suggest emails to reply to” and “Suggest emails to follow up on” if you don’t want to see this orange text ever again. But those features should have never been enabled by default in the first place.
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6 Simple Steps to Fix Mac Apps That Crash or Freeze
Apps you install on your Mac can run into a variety of problems. An app might refuse to open a particular file, crash or hang in the middle of the work, or worse—crash at launch. Any erratic behavior that impedes the ability to use your Mac is frustrating.
The cause can be something external or internal. We’ll show you how to fix common app problems on macOS.
1. Quit or Force-Quit the App
An app might hang in the middle of work. After a few seconds of this, your mouse pointer will turn into a spinning rainbow beach ball. This indicates that the app is not responding, which arises due to several reasons. These include low free RAM, high CPU usage, or a bug in the app.
Most of the time, your other apps will continue to function. The pointer appears as a beach ball only when it’s over the window of the problematic app. To solve this problem, you need to quit the apps you aren’t actively using and free up valuable resources.
To quit an app, bring it to the foreground (the app name should be visible in the menu bar) and choose Quit from the app’s menu. The shortcut Cmd + Q also works.
When an app gets stuck, and the regular Quit command won’t work, go to Apple menu > Force Quit or press Option + Cmd + Esc. Select the app in this window, then click Force Quit.
If an app keeps running even after you use the Force Quit command, a second attempt should do the trick.
2. Restart Your Mac
This simple procedure can resolve hangs, crashes, memory leaks, and other problems related to an app. To restart, click Apple Menu and choose Restart. When the confirmation alert appears, click the Restart button.
macOS then quits all background apps and running processes. This eliminates memory leaks, frees up RAM and CPU, and reduces the number of virtual memory swap files from the hard disk.
If the Apple Menu won’t open or your Mac is frozen, then press and hold Control + Cmd while you press the power button to force a restart. Alternatively, you can press and hold the power button for approximately 10 seconds to restart your Mac.
3. Apply Software Updates
If an app is not functioning properly, you might want to download and apply any available updates. Launch the App Store, and click the Updates button. To update the app, click the Update button next to it.
When an app update is available, you’ll also receive a notification, and a badge will appear on the App Store icon.
Apps you’ve downloaded from a developer website may or may not have an automatic update mechanism. Some apps check for updates every time you launch, while others check on a fixed schedule, or only on demand. Look for a Check for Updates command on the Help menu, Application menu, or the Preferences window.
Keeping up with updates is challenging. To solve this problem, turn on the automatic update feature whenever possible or add the app to a Twitter list. The developer will likely share on Twitter when it releases a minor or major update to the app.
4. Check for Compatibility Issues
If you’re still having issues, you should ensure that your apps are compatible with the newest version of macOS. To do so, open Apple Menu > About This Mac to check which OS version you’re using. Most app developers list compatibility on their websites, so you can check if yours is supported.
While this should be no problem for the majority of apps, check with the developer for specific compatibility with your version of macOS if needed. The developer might also update users of any serious compatibility issues.
You should also check for old 32-bit apps on your system. To do so, open Apple Menu > About This Mac and click on the System Report button.
Scroll down the left pane and select Applications from the Software section. Wait for few seconds to build the list of installed apps. In the right pane, look for the 64-bit (Intel) column header. Adjust the column widths and click the header to sort the list.
No means the app is 32-bit, and Yes means the app is 64-bit.
At WWDC 2018, Apple announced that macOS Mojave is officially the last version to support 32-bit apps. This means that if you rely on a 32-bit app, you should find a replacement or contact the developer about updating it.
Aside from this, most developers have their apps ready to go when a new macOS version releases, but you may run into bugs early on. Check support forums and similar communities to see if others have had your issue.
5. Delete the Preference File
Preference files contain an application’s settings. They’re essential because they include parameters required for an application to work correctly. If there’s a fault in the preference file, an app could experience a crash, hang, or even corrupt data.
Most preference files live in the following Library folders:
~/Library/Preferences or /Library/Preferences
~/Library/Application Support/[App or Developer name] or /Library/Application Support/[App or Developer name]
~/Library/Containers/[App name]/Data/Library/Preferences
According to the Apple developer documentation, the preference files follow a standard naming convention, known as reverse domain naming system. It includes the company name, then application identifier, followed by the property list file extension (.plist). For example, com.apple.finder.plist is the preference file for Finder.
A developer might use a proprietary naming convention, but concentrating on the app name usually makes it clear. For example, org.idrix.Veracrypt.plist is the preference file for the Veracrypt app.
To locate the preference file for an app, first quit it if it’s running. Open the Library folder and set the window to List view, then click the Name column to sort the list alphabetically.
Type the app name in the Search field. To narrow the search results, click the Plus button and set the second row to System files are included.
Drag the preference file to your desktop. Since a background server process maintains the entire preference architecture, you need to clear its cache to remove the outdated preference information. This way an app won’t continue to use the old preference file.
To do this, choose Apple Menu > Log Out and log back in. Now, open the Terminal and type killall cfprefsd, and press Return.
There’s another way to remove preference files. AppCleaner is a free utility to uninstall any Mac app without leaving data behind. But it can also remove the preference file without touching the rest of an app.
Type an app name into AppCleaner, and click it to load the results. Uncheck the app, tick all the other options, and click Remove.
6. Delete the Cache
All Mac apps use caches. The cache file stores frequently used information, which helps apps run more efficiently.
If a cache file becomes corrupt for some reason, then an app may crash or misbehave while reading that file. macOS may try to remove that corrupt cache, but because of the hidden nature of these cache files, problems resulting from corrupt cache contents are difficult to find.
Cache files live in the following Library folders:
~/Library/Caches or /Library/Caches
~/Library/Containers/[App Name]/Data/Library/Caches/[App Name]
~/Library/Saved Application State
The app name follows the same naming convention as the preference files. Quit the app, and look for the particular cache file or folder in the above location. Once you locate them, drag them to the trash. The app will again regenerate the cache files automatically.
If the app has display issues, you might want to clean the system level font cache. Open the Terminal and type the following:
sudo atsutil databases -remove
Press Return and type your administrator password at the prompt. When the process is complete, restart your Mac.
You should not wipe out caches indiscriminately, because they keep your Mac performance smooth. Deleting them means your computer has to rebuild them, so only do so when you have an issue.
How to Troubleshoot Your Mac Even Further
Ideally, one of the above steps will fix the app problems you’re facing. If not, you can always try uninstalling the app and reinstalling a fresh copy.
Beyond these general approaches, an app might require specific troubleshooting steps for more in-depth problems. You’ll likely have to examine log files or contact the developer for individual support.
If you have some other macOS issues, you might want to try quick fixes for common Mac problems.
Image Credit: SIphotography/Depositphotos
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Apple’s new Mac ads show that even Grimes uses dongles
Apple has launched an new advertising campaign for the Mac called “behind the Mac”. In this campaign, the company is sharing user stories of people using Mac for work, creative projects and accessibility reasons.
The Mac is a versatile platform. People use it for boring tasks, such as checking emails and browsing the web. But you can also use it for countless of other things. Apple wants to show you what you can do with a Mac beyond Word and Excel.
Apple has shared 4 videos today. The first one is a 60-second recap of the three other videos. Each standalone video is a portrait of someone who is using a Mac every day. There will be 12 portraits in total on Apple’s website.
Peter Kariuki is a developer who created an iPhone app to improve road safety in Rwanda. Bruce Hall is a photographer who is legally blind and uses photography to see more details of the outside world. And Grimes is one of the most interesting music artists out there.
There are a few interesting things to note. All three are using laptops. It’s clear that MacBooks have become the most popular computers from Apple. It doesn’t mean that Apple should abandon the iMac, iMac Pro, Mac Mini and Mac Pro. But only a fraction of Apple’s customers will buy them.
It’s also interesting to see that none of the Macs have been updated in the last twelve months. Apple has nothing new to sell on the Mac front. And it’s a bit worrying that the company is starting a new advertising campaign right now. Maybe there won’t be any Mac update for at least a few months.
And if you’re currently using a recent MacBook or MacBook Pro, you might be using stupid dongles right now to plug accessories to USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 ports. The good news is that, yes, even Grimes has to use dongles.
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