Online Tech Tips

Chromecast Vs Android TV: Which is Better?

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 11:00:00 GMT

Chromecast and Android TV are both Google-branded devices–a fact that proves confusing when shopping for a streaming device. Both services provide similar features, but they also differ from one another in major ways.

This guide will break down the difference between Chromecast and Android TV to help you understand how they differ and decide which of the two is the right choice for your streaming needs.

What is Chromecast?

Originally, Chromecast was a USB-powered dongle that plugged into your TV’s HDMI port that enabled streaming. Now, however, the name refers more to the branding. While there are still Chromecast dongles available for purchase, the service is built-in to more modern televisions–no dongle required.

Chromecast differs from other streaming services in that it doesn’t have an interface. There is no home screen or menu to select the content you want. Chromecast acts as a receiver, so you can cast content directly to it from your phone or other device.

The casting protocol is referred to as Google Cast. It’s what enables you to cast from your phone to the dongle, and it isn’t limited to just videos. You can cast YouTube, photos, and much more. With the right Google app, you can even livestream your own face–a great party trick for freaking out guests if you want to act like Zordon.

What is Android TV?

Android TV is an operating system. More specifically, it’s a version of the Android operating system that is designed for media devices. It’s often found in set-top devices like the Nvidia Shield, but it is also used as the default OS for many smart television brands.

Unlike Chromecast, Android TV has a home screen. It functions much like any smart TV does, with a series of different menus and options. You can use Android TV to launch multiple streaming services and even play games.

One thing to note is that Android TV also uses the Google Cast protocol, which means you can cast content to your Android TV exactly as if it were a Chromecast. There may be minute differences in the way content displays, but the functionality is the same.

This means that you can use an Android TV exactly as you would a Chromecast. With that in mind, you might be asking: what’s the point of Chromecast?

Chromecast Vs Android TV Features

As we mentioned earlier, there is a lot of overlap in feature sets between the Chromecast and Android TV.

Chromecast can receive content from other services and allow you to play Netflix, Hulu, and other services on a non-smart TV. Android TV can do all of this and more.

You can stream content to your Android TV, but it also has built-in services. You can login to your Netflix, Hulu, and other accounts directly through the OS and play through the TV itself. If Android TV is installed on a set-top box, the same concept still applies–you just need to turn on the device to make it work.

Android TV also works with lesser-known streaming services like Red Bull TV and TED, as well as bigger companies like Starz and HBO Max. You can also stream Live TV, sports, news, Twitch, and more. According to Android TV, users have access to more than 700,000 different movies and shows.

If you’re looking for different entertainment, you can access games through the Google Play store and download and play them on your Android TV. Pair it with a controller for a better gaming experience.

Chromecast vs Android TV: Which is Better?

The largest difference between the two devices is price. A single Chromecast dongle is significantly more affordable than an Android TV.

One of the lowest priced options for an Android TV is the Nvidia Shield at roughly $150 or so. Comparatively, a third-generation Chromecast will run you just $30. That said, determining which of the two is the better option is difficult, especially given the feature overlap.

From a pure cost standpoint, the Chromecast offers streaming capabilities (provided you have a smartphone) for a budget price, with 2020 Chromecast models offering 4K streaming too. It works with most TVs, and can be an easy way to set up streaming without breaking the bank.

On the other hand, Android TV has far more features and can do everything the Chromecast can do–but it costs significantly more. There are a few budget options if you want to avoid a set-top device. A few 32-inch televisions from HiSense run on the Android TV operating system.

Android TV’s feature list also makes it a better overall investment, too. If you’re on a budget, go for Chromecast–but if you can afford it, invest in the Android TV. It does everything Chromecast can do and more and will give you a much better return on your investment.

Why Can’t I Add Someone on Facebook? 8 Possible Reasons

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 11:00:00 GMT

Facebook has become one of the most well-known social media sites, and currently has the most users among them. A lot of the appeal is being able to add friends who can follow and see what you post and vice-versa. So you may have come across the situation where you go to add someone, but the option to do so has mysteriously disappeared.

There are many reasons you can’t add someone on Facebook, and it doesn’t automatically mean someone has blocked you. If you’re wondering what some of these other reasons may be, look at the list below to find out which one may be occurring for you.

1. Their Privacy Settings

A common reason you may be unable to add someone on Facebook is because of how they may have changed their privacy settings. There are a few options on Facebook’s privacy settings that could not let you add someone. If this person has their Friend Request privacy set to “Friends of Friends,” and you have no mutual friends, you probably won’t be able to send them a request.

If you still want to send them a request, you can message them and ask them to send a request to you. Just be aware that since you aren’t friends, your message will land in the person’s message requests page. So it might be a while before they actually see your message.

2. The Account Is Deactivated

You may also not be able to add someone if their account has been deactivated. When someone does this, usually their account will stay up in some form unless they completely deleted it. However, no one will be able to send friend requests to them as long as their account is deactivated.

If someone decides to log in to Facebook after deactivating their account, it will show up again. They can also still use Messenger while their account is deactivated, so if you wish to send them messages, you can still do this.

3. You Have Been Blocked

On Facebook, a person can block someone else from viewing their profile or interacting with them in any way. Besides being unable to see their profile, you also cannot see their posts, photos, comments, and won’t be able to message them. You can see if someone has blocked you by trying to message them. If you’re not able to message them at all, you’ve likely been blocked.

4. You Blocked Them

If you’re trying to add someone but can’t seem to access their profile, you might want to see if this is because you actually blocked them. If it’s been a while since you did this it’s entirely possible you forgot.

You can check who you’ve blocked as Facebook keeps a block list. To see this, go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Blocking. On this page you should see a list of people you have blocked, and you can check to see if the person you’re trying to add is there. To unblock them, simply select the Unblock button beside their name.

5. They Have Reached Their Friend Limit

There is actually a cap to how many friends you can have on Facebook. If someone has reached this 5000 friends limit, you will no longer be able to send them a friend request. If you try to, Facebook should notify you that the person has reached 5000 friends.

If someone who has reached the limit sends you a friend request, you still won’t be able to add them this way. If you try to accept the request, Facebook will not add them to your friend list or you to theirs. However, you can certainly still message anyone who has 5000 friends or over.

6. You Already Sent a Request

It’s possible you may want to check if you’ve already sent a request to someone, as this will remove the option to add the person until they accept the request. If it’s been awhile since you’ve sent the request and they still haven’t added you, it’s easy to forget about it.

If you want to remind someone you’ve sent a request or ask them to add you, you should still be able to send them a message. It’s possible they’ve forgotten about the request or it got lost among other friend requests the person has received.

7. They Denied Your Request

Another possibility is that the person has already denied your request. If you already sent a request and are unsure why you still see the Add Friend button, the most likely reason is that they denied your friend request. You can try sending another request if you wish, as long as the Add Friend button is still there.

Also, if they sent you a friend request already and you denied it, but you now want to add them, you may not see the Add Friend button if they have certain privacy settings. They will have to send you a friend request again.

8. Facebook Restricted Their Account

Sometimes, if someone is reported to Facebook enough times or they’re found to be going against the Facebook guidelines, they will actually restrict the person’s account for a certain time period. The time periods can be anywhere from a few hours to weeks. During this time, the person will no longer be allowed to do specific activities.

This could be the reason you’re unable to add a person. You can try to wait awhile and then check back to see if you’re able to do so then. Sometimes Facebook may also restrict the person’s ability to use Messenger, so you may be unable to contact them this way as well.

Adding Friends on Facebook

Since one of the main points of Facebook is adding and interacting with others, it can be frustrating when you run into trouble doing this. If you notice this issue is occurring with everyone you try to add, or you’re having errors adding people and can’t figure out why, you can always try to contact Facebook support to see if there’s something else wrong.

Hopefully you find your answer through one of these reasons, and can continue to interact with friends and enjoy the social media platform.

Todoist GTD Tips to Boost Your Productivity

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 11:00:00 GMT

Whether you’re a seasoned Getting Things Done GTD expert, or you’re just starting to learn about the GTD process, Todoist is by far the best to-do list app to support your GTD workflow.

Why is this? There are a lot of reasons that have to do with its features, layout, and the fact that the default functionality naturally supports the GTD structure that you’ll build inside it.

Even if you’ve never heard of GTD, the following will include basic GTD tips to get you started, and how you can use Todoist to do so.

Note: The exact version of GTD used in this article is built upon the principles put out by Carl Pullein and his Your Digital Life 3.0 Online class (which I highly recommend). This article only offers how to use Todoist as part of that system. There are many details we don’t have space to include in this article.

What Is Getting Things Done (GTD)?

Getting Things Done principles have been around for a while. There are no set tools or apps you have to use, but the basic core principles around any approach is essentially the same.

GTD helps empty your mind of everything that’s swimming around in it all day. This frees up your brain to really focus on the task in front of you, instead of constantly getting distracted.

It works by giving you a series of steps that you work through every week to stay organized. These steps include:

Capturing every idea, task, action item, or appointment that comes along. You could be in the middle of a meeting and your boss gives you an action item. You could be walking in the park and you get a great idea for a book you want to write. It doesn’t matter when, where, or how — whenever you think of something you need to do, you’ll capture it into your “Inbox”.
Clarifying those ideas by breaking them down into tasks, assigning them a priority, and giving them a due date if you’re ready to work on them soon.
Organizing the tasks by putting them into a bucket that you’ll get to eventually, based on priority. If you’re planning to work on the task soon, you’ll also add it to your calendar (and Todoist can help you automate that).
Reviewing each “bucket” and moving all those organized ideas up the ladder until the most pressing ones make it into your calendar and your focus time.
Engaging your full attention on those tasks that have finally made it in front of you, at the times you’ve scheduled.

Not only does GTD help you get more productive and organized, but it can also help you get to Inbox Zero (no more emails in your inbox), because you will never procrastinate on your incoming emails. You will process everything immediately using the GTD system above.

How to Build a Todoist GTD Structure

Now that you know the basic principles of GTD, let’s take a closer look at how Todoist can help.

The first thing you’ll want to do is create a new parent Projects structure in Todoist that contains all the buckets for organizing your various incoming tasks.

These buckets (parent folders) include:

Inbox: This is where all those incoming ideas go into. When you get an email that requires an action, you’ll put the action in here and archive the email immediately. If you receive an action item in a meeting, you’ll put that action item in here. Anything that you need to act on, goes directly into your Inbox.

Note: Todoist has a default Inbox section, so you won’t have to create this one manually.

The next few project folders you’ll create are where you’ll move items into during your daily end-of-the-day Clarifying and Organizing sessions. These include:

This Week: Items you want to work on immediately, during the current week, will go into this project. When you put them here, you’ll also assign a due date. If you integrate Todoist with your calendar, Todoist will automatically add it to your calendar for you.

Next Week: Items from your Inbox that you want to do soon, but aren’t so urgent you have to get them done this week, will go into your Next Week project. No due date required.

This Month: Items that you want to do fairly soon, but can wait a week or two will go into this project. Don’t attach a due date here either.

Next Month: Tasks that you want to do eventually but you know can wait quite a while will go into the Next Month folder without a due date.

There are two more Projects you’ll need to create for special tasks.

Recurring Areas of Focus: These are things you need to do regularly related to goals that are important to you, like taking an online class every month.

Routines: These are tasks that may not be related to your goals, but that you have to do every week, like exercise or club meetings.

Building Recurring Tasks

You certainly must have a bunch of things you have to do every day or every week. Get those out of your mind by adding those into your Recurring Areas of Focus project (if they’re related to goals that are important to you).

It’s also recommended that you include Recurring Areas of Focus as a sub project of This Week.

Any recurring tasks that are just part of your life but don’t really drive your life’s goals, add them to the Routines project.

Remember to add due dates to all these and mark them as recurring. This way they’ll automatically pop up in your Today and Upcoming Todoist sections without you having to do anything.

Using Your Inbox

During the week, as new issues come up that you have to deal with, just toss them into your Todoist Inbox.

This way, you avoid getting distracted and you know you won’t forget to deal with these tasks later when you have time.

Every week at the same time, you’ll set aside about 20 to 30 minutes to process your Inbox. During this time, just work through one at a time and decide how important it is to do that task, and within what timeframe.

For example, I know I want to fix the deck eventually, but it’s still Winter. So, I’ll move that task to Long Term / On Hold.

Next, I know that I need to have my annual medical checkup, but I’m busy this month and it won’t really matter if I wait until next month to schedule it. So, I’ll move that to the Next Month project.

Finally, I know I want to get an Online-Tech-Tips.com article done this week. So I assign a day and time during the week that I want to get it done.

Then, move that task into the This Week project.

I was able to process these three items that I added to my Inbox during the day in about five minutes.

I know I won’t forget them because they’re now in my organized ToDoist GTD system. Everything is assigned for the week and I don’t really have to think about anything except working hard on each task when it comes up on my calendar.

Managing This Week

As you reach the end of each week, you’ll notice that your This Week project will eventually empty of active items.

Set up a time every week (typically the end of the day Friday, or some time on the weekend), to move tasks from the Next Week project into your This Week project. Assign due dates when you do this.

Repeat this for items in the This Month, Next Month, and Long Term / On Hold folders.

Remember: You don’t have to move the item if it still doesn’t feel urgent. You can also delete tasks that you’ve decided don’t matter to you anymore.

Remember To Stay Focused

Here is the most important principle that brings this all together and makes the GTD system work.

Because you’re only spending small blocks of time processing all the ideas and tasks that get tossed into your Inbox, you’re left with the rest of the time you’ve assigned in your calendar to actually get work done.

This means using only your Today and Upcoming areas in Todoist during your day (along with your Calendar) and working through your day to finish and cross off those tasks.

You know you’ve only assigned tasks you can get done in one day, because Todoist automatically added them to your calendar. If your day is full, you can’t assign more. When your week is full, you can’t move anything else into the This Week project.

GTD works because it gets the mess out of your head and into the “system”. It frees up your thoughts so you can focus your mind on the task at hand — and Get Things Done.

How to Block a YouTube Channel

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 23:00:00 GMT

YouTube is the most visited site and the most popular search engine after Google. With over 500 hours of video uploaded every minute and more than 1 billion hours of video content watched, it’s easy to see why.

The sheer amount of content is enough to overwhelm you when you’re searching for videos in your topic of interest. YouTube helps you with this by displaying recommendations to help you discover channels or videos you might otherwise miss.

However, it can get annoying if there’s a channel you’re not interested in and it keeps showing up.

For content creators who upload videos on YouTube every day, the challenge lies in preventing trolls from interacting with their channel.

Whether you’re on YouTube to watch other people’s videos or upload your own, you can resolve such challenges by blocking YouTube channels for good.

How to Block a YouTube Channel

You may have subscribed to a channel knowingly or accidentally, and you no longer want to see any video content from it. In such cases, you can block the YouTube channel by unsubscribing from it.

To unsubscribe from a YouTube channel, go to the channel’s home page and select or tap Subscribed.

Select or tap Unsubscribe to confirm your action.

Note: Once you unsubscribe from a YouTube channel, your subscription will end and you won’t get any notifications for the channel in your feed. However, you may continue to receive video recommendations from the channel from time to time, but you can block them using the steps in the next section.

To block videos from a particular channel that YouTube still suggests to you, get rid of them for good using these steps.

Note: The steps below are similar whether you’re using a computer or mobile device.

To do this, go to YouTube and tap on the ellipsis next to the video title.

Next, select Not interested, Don’t recommend channel or Report.

If you select Not interested, you’re telling YouTube to stop recommending the video and similar videos to you regardless of which channel the videos are from.
If you select the Don’t recommend channel option, YouTube won’t show you videos of any topic from that channel. This option is ideal when you want to exclude videos from a specific account around your area of interest.
The Report option comes handy when you find a video dangerous, offensive or misleading and you want YouTube to know about it. If you choose this option, YouTube will no longer show you the video, and it tells them they need to investigate and possibly delete it from the platform.

If you’re a parent and want to protect your kids from receiving or viewing inappropriate content, you can block a YouTube channel or use Restricted Mode.

Restricted Mode allows you to screen out potentially mature and/or inappropriate content that you prefer not to see or others using your device to see. You can enable Restricted Mode by selecting or tapping your profile picture, selecting Restricted Mode and then toggle it to On.

There are other YouTube alternatives for kids including YouTube Kids, ABCMouse and SproutOnline, all of which offer curated kid-friendly, free-to-watch videos. YouTube Kids in particular filters all the content and only allows safe content while preventing any kind of cyber bullying-related issues or commenting on the platform.

How to Block a Channel on YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids is a dedicated video service with all the content curated and designed for kids. The platform offers family-friendly, education and fun videos with colorful large images and icons from different channels surrounding kids’ liking.

Plus, YouTube Kids filters all content and provides parental control features so you can monitor what your child is watching and prevent commenting or issues related to cyber bullying.

If you’re not sure about a particular channel and the kind of content it serves your child, you can block YouTube channels or videos and your child will no longer see it when you sign in to YouTube Kids.

How to Block a Channel on YouTube Kids

You can block a channel on YouTube Kids from the channel’s watch page.

To do this, go to the watch page and tap More (three dots) at the top right side of the video.

Next, tap Block.

Select Block entire channel in the dialog box that appears to block the channel associated with the video and then tap Block.

Enter your custom passcode or complete the sum on your screen.

Note: If you want to unblock the YouTube channel you’ve just blocked, sign in to the app again, go to Settings (gear icon) and tap Unblock videos > Yes, unblock. If you’re using the app with Family Link, go to the Family Link settings and unblock the videos.

If you don’t want to block a whole channel on YouTube Kids, you can block a particular video from the channel instead.

To do this, sign in to the app, tap More next to the video whose channel you want to block and select Block this video.

Enter your custom passcode or complete the sum on your screen.
You’ll get a notification in a green bar at the bottom of your screen confirming that the channel has been blocked, along with the option to undo if you want to unblock it immediately after.

How to Block a YouTube Channel from Search Results

There’s no direct YouTube method that you can use to block a YouTube channel from search results. Instead, you can use a Chrome extension like Channel Blocker to do this for you.

The extension allows you to block YouTube comments and videos by using regular expressions and/or blacklisting users. You can use it to block users, separate videos or whole channels from search results and it won’t collect your user data.

Put the YouTube Block Button to Good Use

We hope this guide helped you block a YouTube channel or video on your device or browser. Go ahead and enjoy your YouTube experience without the annoying video recommendations that pop up every so often while you’re browsing the platform.

What tricks do you use to block YouTube channels? Share with us in a comment.

How to Forward Outlook Emails to Gmail

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 11:00:00 GMT

If you have Outlook and Gmail accounts, you can set up your inbox so that it will automatically redirect your messages to the preferred email account. This is particularly useful when you want to read and respond to email messages and you don’t have Outlook on your device.

Plus, you can forward your emails when you want to read and reply from a different email address, or you want someone else to receive on your behalf and reply while you’re away.

Whatever your reasons, we’ll show you how to forward Outlook emails to Gmail so you can send and receive mail wherever you want.

How to Forward Outlook Email to Gmail

Whether you just set up a new email account or you don’t want to miss an important email while on the go, here are the steps you need to take to forward Outlook to Gmail.

Note: Instructions in this guide apply to Outlook.com and Outlook Desktop.

How to Forward Outlook to Gmail Automatically

You can configure Outlook on the web to forward your emails automatically to your Gmail address.

To do this, go to Outlook.com toolbar and select Settings.

Next, select View all Outlook settings.

Select Mail > Forwarding in the Settings dialog box.

Check the box next to Enable forwarding.

Note: If you don’t want Outlook to forward more messages, clear the checkbox instead.

Next, enter the Gmail address to which the emails forwarded from Outlook will be sent. You can select the box next to Keep a copy of forwarded messages to keep the copies in your Outlook account otherwise the forwarded mail will be deleted from Outlook.

Select Save to complete the process.

How to Use Message Rules to Forward Outlook to Gmail

Message rules ensure that Outlook forwards only the messages that match a certain criteria to your Gmail address. For this guide, we’ll use Outlook on the web.

To do this, select Settings > View all Outlook settings > Mail > Rules and then select Add a new rule.

Give the rule a descriptive name that you can remember and then choose how to forward the emails. You can do this by going to the Add a condition dropdown and selecting:

Choose Has attachment
Choose From
Choose Importance

If you pick Choose Has attachment, Outlook will forward only messages with email attachments. Choose From and Choose Importance will forward emails from specific senders or those marked as highly important respectively.

Note: The message cannot be forwarded until it has met all conditions.

Next, select Add an action and then select Forward to (an email) or Forward as attachment (complete emails forwarded as unmodified attachments).

Enter your Gmail address to which all the forwarded messages matching the set criteria or message rules should be sent. Here you can specify more than one address if you want the email to be forwarded to multiple recipients.
Next, add exceptions that will exclude all emails that match certain criteria from being forwarded. You can do this by selecting:

Add an exception
Select one dropdown to choose a condition like Sensitivity
Select an option dropdown and choose an option like Private

Once done, select Save to complete the process.

How to Forward Outlook Emails to Gmail on Desktop

We’ve looked at how to forward Outlook email to Gmail using Outlook for the web, but you can do the same using Outlook’s desktop version.

To get started, create a rule using the following steps:

Open Outlook desktop on your PC and find the Rules under Home.

Next, select Rules > Manage Rules & Alerts > Create New rule.

Select Advanced options.

Next, set the criteria for the forwarded messages or leave it blank if you want every email to be forwarded to your Gmail account and then select Next.

Confirm the prompt if you see a dialog box warning that the changes will apply to all messages.

Select Forward it to people or public group and then click the people or public group link text.

Enter your Gmail address in the To box at the bottom and then select the criteria for the emails you want excluded from the rule. If you want, you can also filter emails from particular senders or that contain certain words or phrases.

Give your rule a descriptive name that you can remember in future and check the box next to Turn on this rule.

Select Finish. From here on, every email that’s forwarded will go to the email address you specified and matches the criteria you set.

Note: If you want to stop forwarding Outlook emails to Gmail using the desktop version, go back to Home, and then select Rules > Manage Rules & Alerts. Uncheck the box next to the rule you want to disable.

Send Your Mail Wherever You Want

Whether you plan to switch email clients or you just want to move a few important emails, it’s easy to forward emails from your Outlook account to Gmail using the steps in this guide.

If you have two Gmail accounts, our guide on how to transfer emails between two Gmail accounts offers quick ways to do so within minutes. See also how to forward multiple emails in Gmail and how to automatically save your email attachments to cloud storage and free up valuable storage space on your device.

What Is 8K Gaming on PS5 and Xbox Series X? Is It Worth it?

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 23:00:00 GMT

With the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles, a new “big number” has crawled into the light of day: 8K.

There’s nothing worse than a technology buzzword when it comes to gaming consoles. You may be old enough to remember the console wars where terms like “blast processing” and how many “bits” a console had, dominated the conversation around these devices.

Marketers love simple numbers where more is better. It means a potential buyer can look at two products and pick the one with higher numbers, even if they don’t really understand what those numbers mean.

So, what is PS5 8K gaming? Is it worth it? Let’s bury the confusion once and for all.

What Does “8K” Mean?

The terms HD (High Definition), FHD (Full High Definition), 4K UHD (Ultra High Definition) and 8K are all just shorthand for different resolution standards. That is, how many rows and columns of pixels an image consists of or a particular display can show you.

An FHD display has 1920 columns and 1080 rows of pixels arranged in a grid. That’s a total of 2073600 pixels!

A 4K display doubles both those numbers to 3840×2160. Multiplying the columns by the rows yields 8294400 pixels. Exactly four times the number of FHD.

8K quadruples that figure again to 7680×4320 for 33177600 pixels! That’s a whopping four times the resolution of 4K and sixteen times the resolution of FHD.

The higher the pixel count of a screen the more fine detail you can see. Assuming it has an image of the same quality to display. Although the amount of detail that’s in the picture isn’t the same as the amount of detail the human eye can see!

Why Is 8K Gaming so Hard?

Unlike a pre-recorded movie, a video game has to calculate the exact value of each pixel on screen in real time. Since video games are interactive media, the images can’t be prepared beforehand. You control camera movement and choices made in the game, so an extremely tight feedback loop exists from where you give the game commands using a controller and the image on screen changes in response.

While the level of difficulty in rendering (that’s all the math needed to make the picture) doesn’t scale in a straight line as resolution goes up, it’s not far off. This implies that to render a game at 8K, you need (as much as) sixteen times the processing power compared to rendering it at FHD.

If you can’t increase the amount of processing power the console (or computer) has, then you have to resort to other methods of reducing the workload on it:

Reduce the frame rate, providing more time to do the math for each image but with choppier motion.
Decrease the quality of the render. (e.g. shadow detail, particle effects, etc.)

In both cases, you’re trading detail in another area to free up resources for a higher resolution. So you might have a sharper image, but the render is less pleasing to look at or runs with less fluidity.

Will There Really Be 8K Games on PS5 and Xbox Series X?

We have no doubt that there will be some titles that offer an 8K resolution mode at some point in the future. There are many simpler video games that would have no trouble running well at this resolution. We also expect that some backwards compatible games from the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 generation (and older) could get 8K resolution enhancements.

Running brand-new triple-A quality games at 8K on existing console hardware can safely be considered out of reach. At least if games are rendered at “native” 8K resolution. These days video games can use dynamic resolution technology to render each frame at the resolution required to achieve a specific frame rate. So it’s conceivable that some games could dynamically target 8K, although rarely reach it.

Can I Play in 8K Today?

Even if you own one of the rare (and incredibly expensive) 8K displays on the market today, you still won’t be able to get 8K output from either the PS5 or Xbox Series X. There are no games on either platform that support this resolution. Despite “8K” being advertised on the packaging for new consoles,it’s a feature that still needs to be enabled.

The only place you can currently play games in 8K is on a gaming PC. Even then, using the most powerful gaming hardware on Earth doesn’t offer great results, with serious compromises or upscaling technology needed to achieve playable frame rates.

120Hz and 4K are Worth Caring About

Borderlands 3 supports 120Hz gaming on console.

With the latest generation of consoles, 8K resolution isn’t all that relevant. However, there are other aspects of these machines that are worth looking into for the average player.

The CPUs in the PS5 and Xbox Series X are powerful enough to make high-frame rate gaming possible. If you have a TV that supports 120Hz visuals then you can enjoy a growing number of games that have 120fps modes. This offers hyper-smooth motion and razor-sharp responsiveness. In most cases this comes at the cost of resolutions below 4K or even below FHD, but it has a much more dramatic effect on gameplay than an 8K resolution would.

The sweet spot for this generation thus far is gaming at 60 frames per second at a resolution targeting 4K.This is achievable for many cross-generation or previous-generation titles. At normal viewing distances 4K is noticeably sharper than FHD and doubling the frame rate from the last-generation’s 30 frames per second to 60 is a dramatic improvement. Virtually all modern flat panel displays support 60Hz output, so it’s also a much more accessible option.

8K Isn’t Worth It, for Now.

One of the biggest problems with 8K as a concept is that we’re reaching the limits of how much detail the human eye can perceive. At least when it comes to typical viewers, sitting at normal viewing distances relative to the size of the screen.

Early in 2020, results of a study were published where participants took part in a double-blind experiment. Each participant was shown either an 8K or 4K image and had to rate which looked better. On average most people can’t tell the difference, although interestingly people with better than 20/20 vision could tell what was 8K or not with better accuracy. The overall conclusion is that the perceived improvement from 4K to 8K is one that most people can’t see and even those who can don’t rate it as particularly dramatic.

That’s a different situation than the obvious increase in sharpness going from FHD to 4K. Then again, an FHD image is hardly blurry judged on its own merits. Even 4K becomes indistinguishable from FHD if you’re sitting too far from the screen relative to its size.

So what’s the bottom line? Let’s lay it down:

Gaming at 8K requires massive amounts of processing power, which consoles and even top-end PCs don’t have, unless the game is older or relatively simple.
8K televisions and 8K content is currently nearly nonexistent.
A 4K resolution with better refresh rates, contrast and color will create a much more dramatic perceived image quality improvement than 8K by itself.

We don’t recommend at this time that anyone should spare a thought for 8K. It will be a long time (if ever) for this next step in resolution to become relevant and it certainly isn’t going to be practical on current PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles.

How to Fix Broken Registry Items in Windows

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 11:00:11 GMT

The Windows Registry holds important files that are essential for the proper functioning of the Windows operating system, system apps, and processes. The majority of changes made to your computer are stored in keys and entries known as Registry Files.

These files are responsible for the optimal functioning of many system applications and processes. As you use and personalize your computer, Windows creates more and more registry files, most of which aren’t deleted even when they are no longer needed.

The Registry gets bloated with redundant files that eventually get damaged, corrupt, or broken. Factors like power failure, abrupt shutdown, faulty hardware, malware, and viruses can also corrupt some registry items. Consequently, broken registry items clog your PC’s storage, slow down your computer, and sometimes result in startup problems.

Do You Need to Fix Broken Registry Items

You should occasionally confirm that your Windows computer is devoid of broken items in the registry. Doing so will positively impact your PC’s performance, particularly if your computer is running slowly or if some system apps are not working correctly.

The point is: You stand to benefit more from removing or fixing broken registry files than leaving them to bloat the registry.

Windows has a number of built-in tools that can help diagnose issues with registry files. Proceed to the next section to learn how to use these tools to fix broken registry items on a Windows PC.

Note: The Windows Registry is a database of sensitive files and settings. Therefore, it’s important to make a backup of the registry before you attempt to make changes to the registry or fix broken registry items. Damaging any registry file may corrupt the Windows OS and cause your computer to malfunction. Creating a backup serves as your insurance should anything go wrong. This guide on backing up and restoring the Windows Registry has everything you need to know.

1. Perform Disk Cleanup

The Disk Cleanup tool that lets you remove unnecessary files from your computer, this includes broken registry items. To access this tool, type disk cleanup in the Windows Search box and click Disk Cleanup in the results.

Click the Clean up system files button.

You can check other file options in the “Files to delete” window. These are redundant temporary files that your computer can do without. You can click on a file type and check the Description section to learn more about the file and what it does. Click OK when you’re done with file selection.

Click Delete File on the confirmation prompt and Windows will permanently delete corrupt registry files and other selected files.

2. Use the System File Checker

The System File Checker (SFC) is another important tool integrated into the Windows operating system. This tool fixes broken registry files using a “repair-or-replace” approach. It scans your computer for corrupt or missing system files. If the tool finds any, it replaces them with a fresh copy. The tool is accessible via the Command Prompt; here’s how to use it:

1. Right-click on the Start Menu or Windows icon and select Command Prompt (Admin) from the Quick Access menu.

2. Type or paste sfc /scannow and press Enter.

When the SFC utility executes the command (P.S: this might take up to 30 minutes), it’ll let you know if it found or repaired any corrupt files. This makes the utility a good way to confirm if your computer has any broken registry item.

Note: If you get a message that reads “Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them,” run the SFC command again. If this continues, restart your computer and try again.

3. Run the DISM Tool

You can also use the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) command to repair broken registry files, particularly if the System File Checker doesn’t find or fix any broken registry file.

Right-click the Start Menu button and select Command Prompt (Admin). Type or paste DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth into the console and press Enter on the keyboard.

That will prompt the DISM tool to scan your computer for corrupt and broken system files; check the results to confirm if any file was replaced.

4. Repair Install Windows

Another way to fix or replace broken registry items is to reinstall Windows from scratch while preserving your personal files, installed applications, and other system settings. This is known as a repair install (or repair upgrade).

You’d need to download the Windows 10 Disc Image (ISO file) from Microsoft’s website. Double-click the disc image file to commend the repair installation process. Follow the installation prompts and agree to the necessary license/usage terms. On the “Ready to install” page, make sure an option that reads “Keep Windows settings, personal files and apps” is on the screen.

Otherwise, click Change what to keep and select Keep personal files, apps, and Windows settings.

When the installation is complete, your PC will be free of corrupt or broken registry files.

5. Run Automated Repair

The Automated Repair utility is great for foxing startup-related issues on Windows 10 computers. The tool is also equipped to scan and fix problems affecting registry settings as well as other system files and configurations.

1. To access the Automated Repair tool, go to Settings > Updates & Security > Recovery and click Restart now in the “Advanced startup” section.

That will reboot your PC into the Advanced Startup Options menu.

2. Select Troubleshoot to proceed.

3. Click Advanced options.

4. Choose Startup Repair from the list of Advanced options.

5. Choose your account and enter the profile password to continue. If the account isn’t password-protected, simply click Continue to proceed.

The Automatic (Startup) Repair tool will scan your computer and fix any broken registry file it finds.

6. Use a Registry Scanner

You can also utilize a third-party registry scanner (also called registry optimizers or registry cleaners) to fix broken registry items on your Windows computer. The software will put your PC’s registry back in shape, removing and replacing corrupt and missing files.

Malwarebytes is a trusted and reliable registry cleaning program you can use to fix broken registry items. The problem with these registry cleaners is that they sometimes don’t always fix or replace registry files. A malicious registry scanner may even ruin your PC’s registry. Make sure you read enough reviews before installing a third-party registry scanning tool.

Healthy Registry, Healthy PC

In addition to the solutions highlighted above, you can also fix broken registry items in Windows by reverting your PC to a restore point where registry items were not broken. Another option is to reset your computer (go to Settings > Updates & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC). Performing a reset will delete all installed applications and system settings (but keep your personal files). So you should only reset your PC as a last resort.

Finally, make sure you scan your PC for malware and viruses causing registry items to become broken or damaged.

How to Measure Distance on Google Earth

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 23:00:41 GMT

Google Earth might be the coolest of all the Google apps. It’s like Google Maps’ younger, more tech-savvy sibling. What other free, open source program gives you the ability to explore our shared planet, zooming from your home to a city on the other side of the globe or even to space—all in just a few clicks or taps?

In this article, we’ll show you how to measure distances, areas, and elevations on Google Earth. The first step is to choose a version of Google Earth to use. There are three main versions.

The quickest way to get started is to access Google Earth on the web by visiting earth.google.com from a supported web browser. Currently, supported browsers include Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera.

Mobile device users can download the Google Earth app from Apple’s App Store or from the Google Play store.

And those of you who want access to more features can download Google Earth Pro. Despite the “Pro” in its name, this desktop application is free and available for PC, Mac, and Linux. Google Earth Pro includes historical imagery and the ability to import and export GIS data—features that the web and mobile apps lack.

How to Measure Distances with Google Earth

Before we get into how to measure distances in Google Earth, first a warning about accuracy. Volumes have been written on this topic, and the upshot is that positional accuracy in Google Earth isn’t perfect, especially over long distances. For most amateur users and uses, though, it’ll be good enough.

You will find that measuring the distance between two points on Google Earth is easy.

Search for your starting point.

Select the ruler in the toolbar.

Select your starting point by clicking on the map.

Select a second point on the map. The line between the two points will be yellow, and the distance between them will be displayed.

If you want to remove the last point you set, select Undo. You can also click and drag any points you’ve already set.

Units of Distance in Google Earth

Google Earth will automatically choose the unit of measurement that makes the most sense for the distance you have measured. Alternatively, you can toggle between several units of measurement.

Select the dropdown arrow next to the distance, and choose your measurement unit. Options range from metric units like centimeters, meters, and kilometers, to imperial measurements like inches, feet, yards, and miles. You can also opt for nautical miles or even Smoots.

How to Measure Area with Google Earth

Measuring the area of a polygon in Google Earth is quite similar to measuring the distance between two points. Simply add three or more points and close the shape by selecting the first point.

The information panel will now display both the perimeter and the area of the shape you have created.

Again, you can change the unit of measurement by selecting the dropdown arrow next to each measurement.

How to Measure Elevation in Google Earth

Google Earth makes it really easy to find the elevation of any place on the planet. Simply select a point on the map, and the elevation will display in the lower-right corner of the map.

How to Measure Your House’s Height on Google Earth

Now that you know how to measure elevation, you can use that knowledge to calculate the height of your house (or any building) provided that Google Earth is rendering the building in 3D.

This exercise comes down to three steps:

Determine the elevation of ground level by clicking on a point on the map at ground level. Note the elevation measurement of that point in the bottom-right corner of the map.
Determine the elevation of the roof of the building whose height you want to measure by clicking on the roof of the building on the map. Note the elevation measurement of that point in the bottom-right corner of the map.
Subtract the ground level elevation from the elevation of the roof, and that gives you the height of the building.

Measuring 3D Polygons with Google Earth Pro

If you’re using Google Earth Pro, you can go about this a different way.

In the Layers panel, make sure the box next to 3D Buildings is checked.

Select the ruler tool.

In the Ruler pop-up window, select the 3D polygon tab.

Click on the map to set your points. You could select, for instance, the four corners of one side of a building. The Ruler panel will display the perimeter and the area of the polygon shape you have created. Again, you can use the dropdown arrows to select different units of measurement.

What Else Can You Do with Google Earth?

There’s so much more to Google Earth beyond measuring distances and areas. Launch the Voyager showcase and enjoy interactive tours, quizzes, and map layers.

Or, in true Google fashion, select the “I’m feeling lucky” icon, and Google Earth will whisk you away to a part of the world you’ve probably never heard of before. And, before you leave, be sure to learn how to launch the free Flight Simulator game that’s hidden inside Google Earth Pro!

10 Best Nintendo Switch Retro Games

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 11:00:00 GMT

The Nintendo Switch has been a massive hit for Nintendo with amazing new first-party games such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Then there are fantastic video game ports from the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 generation which have new life breathed into them by going handheld.

Skyrim, for example, feels like an entirely new title now that we can take it on the go. Yet it’s not just these (relatively) modern games that have found an unlikely home on the Nintendo Switch. If you know where to look, you’ll also find some amazing retro titles from the 8- 16- and 32- bit console generations.

There are even a few retro PC ports thrown in as well! If you’re feeling a little nostalgic for the way games used to be, the following are the best Nintendo Switch retro games in our opinion.

DOOM 1, 2 & 64

Every main Doom entry is available on the Nintendo Switch. That includes Doom 1,2,3, 64, Doom 2016 and Doom Eternal. Only Dooms 1,2 and 64 count as retro mind you, but we thought you should know the extent of the available games. Yes, this entry has three titles. Just pretend we used the Konami code to cheat more entries into the list.

Doom 1 and 2 not only include great ports of the original games, Bethesda and ID have also added several of the very best Doom mods and conversions and keep adding more as time goes on. Which makes the first two games incredibly good value for money. Doom 64 was only ever available on the Nintendo 64 officially. In 2020 it received ports to PC and console, which included the Switch. It’s also a wickedly-good classic Doom experience.

All three of these games are amazing retro shooters where you fill the blood-soaked boots of a lone space marine fighting demons on Mars, Mars’ moons, in Hell and on Earth. Best of all, you can shoot your buddies via LAN or split-screen play. It’s a “hell” of a blast!

Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour

Another classic shooter from the 32-bit era, this release of Duke Nukem 3D is perhaps our favorite. It’s certainly the best handheld version, supplanting the excellent yet overlooked Sony Vita port of the game.

Duke Nukem 3D was the rowdy, raunchy shooter that didn’t take itself seriously but still offered a pitch-perfect shooter experience. Duke has to deal with an alien invasion and the mass kidnapping of Earth’s babes.

This version of the game offers the classic Duke experience, but also a new true 3D rendering mode as well as an entirely new original episode! It’s a great way to play Duke Nukem on the big screen or on the go.

The Nintendo Online NES and SNES Collection

Instead of selling us their retro classic games yet again on Switch, Nintendo has decided to offer a NES and SNES game library to anyone who subscribes to the Nintendo Online service. The service is fairly cheap, especially if you’re using the family plan to cover multiple consoles, but you can also try a 7-day trial if you’ve never subscribed before.

It’s worth it just for the cloud save backup function, but locked in these two apps are some of the best 8-bit and 16-bit games ever made. These include heavy hitters such as The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Super Metroid, but also quirky titles such as Zelda 2 and StarTropics. It’s amazing value for money and every Switch owner should try these Nintendo Switch retro games at least once. There’s a very good chance you’ll discover (or re-discover) an unforgettable title.

The Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Classics Collection

Not to be outdone by erstwhile rival Nintendo, Sega have put out their own mega collection of classic titles for the ultra-popular Sega Genesis (or Mega Drive, depending on where you’re from) console.

Rather than charge you a monthly fee however, you can buy the entire collection outright and keep it forever. This is more than just a collection of ROMs, you access the games via a period-accurate virtual bedroom, with a shelf stuffed with some of the very best games from that generation. That includes Sega mainstays such as Sonic the Hedgehog and Golden Axe, but almost every title is worth having.

The emulation is great, but not perfect. However, all but the most picky purists wouldn’t enjoy this excellent collection. It is worth waiting for it to go on sale, with 50% discounts happening once or twice a year. Simply wishlist the game to get an alert when the price drops.

Castlevania Anniversary Collection

This is the last collection on the list, but certainly not the least. Castlevania is half responsible for the birth of the “metroidvania” genre and this anniversary collection includes no fewer than eight classic Castlevania games, starting from the very first title.

It also includes Kid Dracula, a game released in Japanese only for the GameBoy, but now available in English. The collection includes a “History of Castlevania” book and features such as quick save. So you don’t have to go all the way back to the start of a level if a boss wipes you out. Which they will!

Sega Ages Virtua Racing

While this arcade hit did receive a lackluster port to the Sega Genesis and Sega 32X, this is the first time that a perfect port has been released for home systems. Not only is it perfect, it’s actually a significant improvement over the arcade original, with much sharper graphics and flawless framerates.

Virtual Racing may be short, but it’s addictive and great fun to play with friends. It’s also a historically important Nintendo Switch retro game, heralding the advent of true 3D graphics in arcades. Definitely pick this one up.

Sega Ages Phantasy Star

Phantasy Star is a significant title in the history of Japanese role playing games, but this first title was strangely hard to find. The three sequels are all part of the Genesis Collection mentioned above, but Sega finally made things right and released a perfectly emulated version of the game as part of the Sega Ages series.

This is a pure, good old dungeon crawler which originally paved the way for this branch of the JRPG family tree. It’s still an engrossing game to play today and the graphics preserve the very best of what the 8-bit Sega Master System could pull off.

Classic Final Fantasy Games

[9 FF8]

There is a long list of mainline Final Fantasy games on the Switch, but the only ones we feel deserve the “retro” label are numbers 7, 8 and 9. Given that older titles are not yet on the system.

All three have received quality of life improvements (such as cheats and fast forwarding) with Final Fantasy 8 getting a complete remaster. All of these games represent the best of the series in different ways, although 8 and 9 don’t get as much love as they deserve. Three epic adventures for very little money, who could say no?

Commander Keen in Keen Dreams

The last game on our list isn’t the best of its series, but we think it should be here because it’s actually a re-release of a classic MS-DOS platformer. While the consoles tend to get most of the attention for this genre of game, ID Software (of Doom fame) actually made a series of fantastic platforming games featuring the boy genius Commander Keen.

For our money the sequel Goodbye Galaxy is the better game, but Keen Dreams is still tons of fun and maybe if enough people buy it, Goodbye Galaxy will get the same treatment. Fair warning, there’s also a “Definitive Edition” of this game on the Switch eShop. This Nintendo Switch retro game version is more modernized, and makes big changes to the title. It’s a fine game in its own right, but if you want the original experience go for this one instead.

Which are your favorite Nintendo Switch retro games? Let us know in the comments and share the retro-gaming love!

7 Sites to Find Public Domain Stock Footage for Your Video Projects

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 23:00:18 GMT

Everyone’s heard of stock photo websites where you can find images to use in your projects, both commercial and non-commercial. Did you know that you can also find stock video?

If you’re looking for an economical way to add diversity to the variety of shots in your project, using public domain footage or video is a great idea.

Creative Commons Vs. Public Domain Footage

Some people confuse works licensed by Creative Commons with works that are in the public domain. If a work is in the public domain, that means anyone can use it for whatever reason they want. No one owns works that are in the public domain. In contrast, CC licenses are only applied to works that would otherwise be copyright-protected.

For creators who want to affirmatively place their works in the public domain to the extent possible, Creative Commons offers the CC0 “no rights reserved” license.

It’s up to you to determine and follow the usage, licensing, and royalty restrictions on any image, film, or video you use in your projects. Ignorance of the law is no defense, so be sure to do your due diligence. Another important thing to remember is that just because some film or video footage is in the public domain doesn’t mean that websites can’t charge you for it.

Best Public Domain Footage Sites

There are lots of sites you can use to search for stock video for your projects, both free and for purchase. In this article, we’ll focus on sites that offer film and video that are in the public domain, giving you some resources to put together the best video project you can.

Most are free, but some may require a small fee—and are likely far less expensive than purchasing stock footage that is not in the public domain.

1. PublicDomainFootage.com

PublicDomainFootage.com has a catalog of public domain archival stock footage and newsreels. Their archival and newsreel footage is organized by categories including entertainment, pop culture, religion, retro sports, and civil rights among others.

You’ll pay to download the footage (most clips cost between $10 and $150), and then you can use it in any of your projects.

2. Vimeo

You can search vimeo.com for files that include the Creative Commons public domain dedication, and then you can search within those results.

Confirm the CC0 license for any particular video on its main page by selecting the More link. An About popup will appear listing the video’s title, uploader, date of upload, license, and tags. Look for the CC0 license icon in the license field.

3. Pond5

Pond5’s Public Domain Project offers videos that are free for private and commercial use. In addition to public domain footage, you can also search for audio, images, and 3D models in the public domain.

Pond5’s search function includes several useful filters. For example, you can upload your own video or image and then search for videos that are similar in composition or color.

4. Prelinger Archives

The Prelinger Archives on archive.org includes thousands of films, with an emphasis on home movies and amateur films. You will likely pay a fee to license the use of clips from this collection.

Why do you have to pay if these films are in the public domain? They explain in their FAQ. Since the Internet Archive isn’t in the business of issuing licenses for the use of the material in its collections, that means the risk would all be yours if you choose to use the films you find there in your projects. You would be responsible for ensuring that every piece of footage you use is actually in the public domain and, if not, that you have the appropriate license to use it.

To save you that work, the Prelinger Archives works with Getty Images to license the films in the Prelinger collection, and Getty Images charges you a fee for that license. The benefit to you is that Getty Images indemnifies you if anyone makes a copyright infringement claim against you. In other words, with a license from Getty Images, you don’t have anything to worry about.

5. The Public Domain Review

This not-for-profit project is “dedicated to the exploration of curious and compelling works from the history of art, literature, and ideas” with a spotlight on content that is in the public domain. Search their film collection, and you’ll be able to filter by epoch, genre, theme, or type.

6. Library of Congress National Screening Room

The National Screening Room is an effort by the Library of Congress to highlight their huge archive of old movies to viewers everywhere. While the “vast majority” of films in their collections have no copyright or other restrictions, remember, it’s still your responsibility to confirm your usage rights.

7. Grand Canyon B-Roll Video Index

The National Park Service (NPS) offers the Grand Canyon National Park’s B-Roll archive, a catalog of downloadable video clips for your projects.

As they note, everything in the B-Roll archive is in the public domain, so you don’t need to get their permission to use video in this collection. However, you can’t use their video to imply that the NPS endorses any product, service, organization, or person without their express permission.

This archive includes aerial views of the Grand Canyon, time lapse video from the canyon rims, some scenic views, and videos of the Colorado River.

How to Add Headers and Footers in PowerPoint

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 11:00:05 GMT

PowerPoint allows you to customize presentation templates in various ways. One of them is by adding headers and footers to your PowerPoint presentation.

Headers and footers in PowerPoint are great for adding those important details to your presentation, whether it’s slide numbers, date and time, or other information. You can easily add a header or a footer in PowerPoint, then customize and edit it to fit your presentation better.

Why Use Headers and Footers in PowerPoint

Headers and footers appear at the top and bottom of your slides and are there to display additional information. After you insert a header or a footer, you can always edit and add more data to it. However, be careful not to overload your audience with it.

The most common use of headers and footers in PowerPoint is to help your audience follow the presentation. You can add page and slide numbers which will help you keep track of where you are when presenting the content. Plus, it’ll be easier for you to see if you’re going to finish presenting on time, or if you’re a little behind by following the page numbers.

You can also use headers and footers to insert some of your personal information, like your brand name or some personal details that you want to be displayed in front of your colleagues. It’ll be helpful for your audience to remember your name and address you by it during the Q&A section or after you finish the presentation.

How to Add Headers and Footers in PowerPoint

To insert headers and footers into your PowerPoint presentation, follow the steps below.

Open your PowerPoint presentation.
Select Insert.
Select Header and Footer.

In the Header and Footer window you’ll see two options: you can add headers and footers to your slides, or you can add them to your notes and handouts. Select the right tab and proceed adding your information to the headers or footers in your presentation.

The Types of Headers and Footers in PowerPoint

When you open the Header and Footer window, you’ll see there are different types of headers and footers that you can add to your slideshow.

Under Slide, the first option is the Date and time footer that you can add to your slides. You can either have your Date and time footer update automatically, meaning that every time you open the presentation the date and time will be updated automatically. Alternatively, you can select to have it Fixed, meaning that the original date and time will stay the same, even if you open your presentation a month from now.

The second option is Slide number. This one’s self-explanatory, you can use it to display a page number either on one of your slides or on all of them.

The last option is Footer, which gives you more space to add your personal info at the bottom of your slides.

You’ll find similar options under Notes and Handouts. You can choose to add a Date and time header, a Header with your personal info, a Page number, or a Footer.

You can select whether you want to add headers and footers to all of your slides, or to a selected one. Select Apply to insert your header or footer into the selected slide, or Apply to All if you want to add it to all of your slides at once.

After you choose the type of a header or a footer that you want to add, you can check the way they’ll appear in your presentation on the right side of the Header and Footer window under Preview.

How to Edit Headers and Footers in PowerPoint

If you’re not happy with the way your headers and footers appear in your presentation, you can always edit them to suit your slideshow better.

How to Edit a Header or a Footer on a Single Slide

When you want to change a header or a footer on just one of your slides, you can easily do it by selecting the text of the said header or footer. You can then edit the text as you would any other part of your PowerPoint slide. To edit the format of the text, highlight it and then use the formatting tools on top of your PowerPoint slide.

How to Edit Headers and Footers on All Slides

To edit headers or footers on all of your slides at once, follow the path Insert > Header and Footer and then edit the text in the Header and Footer window.

If you need to edit the format of your headers and footers on all slides, like changing the font or the size of the text, follow the path View > Master > Slide Master. Then on the left side of the screen select the top slide. Highlight the header or the footer that you want to edit and use the formatting tools on top of the PowerPoint window to change the format of the text.

To exit the Slide Master view, select View > Normal. Your changes will now appear on all of your slides.

Become a Power User of PowerPoint

Mastering PowerPoint can help you create unique and engaging presentations, no matter the subject. All because PowerPoint gives you a lot of room for customization. From changing the size of your slides to adding audio narration to your presentation – you can choose how to customize your slideshow to make it fit your topic and audience better.

Do you use headers and footers in your PowerPoint presentations? What type of headers or footers do you usually add to your presentations? Share your PowerPoint experience with us in the comments below.

How to Fix Spotify Error Code 4

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 23:00:22 GMT

Like all music streaming services, Spotify’s biggest disadvantage over locally-saved files is a requirement for constant internet access. While you can download songs for offline playback, you can’t do this for every song. If Spotify keeps pausing, or you see Spotify “error code 4” appear, it points to an internet issue.

Spotify “error code 4” only appears when the Spotify desktop client can’t detect a working internet connection. There are all kinds of reasons why this might occur, from a physically broken connection to incorrect DNS settings. If you’re faced with this problem and you’re looking to fix it, here’s what you’ll need to do.

What Causes Spotify Error Code 4?

A Spotify “error code 4” message is an issue that prevents the Spotify desktop client from connecting to its servers. Without a connection, you can’t stream music without having the files downloaded to your PC first.

Connection issues like this could be caused by a disconnected WiFi or Ethernet connection to your local network, or by an outage at your internet server provider. It could also point to a domain name server (DNS) issue, which can sometimes be fixed by clearing the DNS cache or switching DNS providers.

Spotify uses TCP port 4070 to connect to its servers in the desktop app, but should default back to common web ports 443 and 80 if it fails. Ports 443 and 80 are unlikely to be blocked by any local network firewall or by Windows Firewall as this would block all internet access.

However, this isn’t guaranteed. While Spotify should use web ports if port 4070 is blocked, this could still cause issues with connectivity. You may need to check for open ports and, if port 4070 is blocked, open it using Windows Firewall or your network firewall.

You may also find that a corporate firewall is blocking the particular IP range or domain names that Spotify uses. If Spotify and other outside services are being blocked by a school or workplace firewall, you’ll need to speak to a relevant network administrator to resolve the issue, or consider alternatives to bypass it.

Checking Your Network and Internet Connections

Before changing any settings, confirm that your connection to your local network (and the connection between your network and internet provider) is working. You can quickly check whether or not you’re connected to a local network using WiFi or Ethernet by looking for the network symbol in the taskbar on Windows 10.

If you don’t have a working connection, the symbol appears as a globe with a cross in the corner.

Mac users who face the same issue can select the network symbol in the top right corner of the menu bar. From here, they can double-check the status of their WiFi or Ethernet connection.

Assuming the connection to your local network is working, you may need to investigate your internet connection. If you’re unsure, open your browser and try to visit some of your favorite websites. If these fail to load, it likely points to a connection issue that you’ll need to investigate further.

Where an internet connection is broken, you’ll need to contact your internet service provider (ISP) for additional support. Alternatively, you can switch to a mobile hotspot using your smartphone’s mobile data connection to get yourself back online quickly, taking care to avoid breaching your data cap or tethering limits.

If you’re using a virtual private network (VPN) to connect to the internet, this could also cause DNS conflicts or connection issues. Spotify should usually work over a standard VPN connection, but if you’re unsure, disconnect and use your standard connection to test and troubleshoot first.

As we’ve mentioned, Spotify should default to ports 443 and 80 to make a connection if port 4070 is blocked, but this isn’t always the case. If you think your network or system firewall is blocking this port, you’ll need to adjust your Windows Firewall rules or your router’s own firewall settings to allow it.

Resetting DNS Cache

Domain name servers are essential to the wider internet. Without DNS, typing helpdeskgeek.com into your browser would result in nothing, as your browser wouldn’t be able to point you to the correct web server’s IP address.

Services like Spotify also rely on the DNS system to allow them to quickly change servers (or spread server load) using domain names. If there’s a DNS issue, this could stop Spotify from working. Before you change DNS servers, you can clear the DNS cache and regenerate it.

To clear DNS cache on Windows, open a new PowerShell window. You can do this by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Windows PowerShell (Admin).

In the PowerShell window, type ipconfig /flushdns and select the Enter key.

On a Mac, you can clear DNS by opening a new Terminal window from the Launchpad (visible in the Other folder). In the Terminal window, type sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder, then select Enter.

Changing DNS Settings

If a DNS issue is causing Spotify to stop working, you can change your DNS server to a public provider. There are a number of free public DNS servers you can use from organizations like Google and OpenDNS.

To change DNS servers on Windows, right-click the Start menu and select Settings.

In the Settings menu, select Network & Internet > Status > Properties.

In the Properties menu, scroll down to the IP Settings section, then select the Edit option.

Change the Edit IP Settings option to Manual, then select the IPv4 slider to the On position. In the Preferred DNS and Alternate DNS boxes, type in a suitable public DNS provider (eg. 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 for Google DNS), then select Save to save your settings.

On Mac, you can change DNS settings in the System Preferences menu. Select the Apple menu > System Preferences to launch this.

In System Preferences, select Network. In the Network menu, select your connection, then select the Advanced option.

Select the DNS tab, then select the Add icon to add a public DNS provider. Once you’ve added it, select OK to save.

Once you’ve changed your DNS settings, clear the DNS cache using the steps above or restart your PC or Mac.

Switch Players or Reinstall Spotify

If the steps above still don’t resolve the issue, you can try to fix it by switching to the web player or to the Spotify mobile apps.

As we’ve mentioned, Spotify uses port 4070 to connect to its servers. If this is blocked and you can’t seem to get the Spotify desktop client working, switch to the Spotify web player using this URL to ensure it only uses HTTP (ports 443 and 80) to connect. This will only work if your internet connection is working, however.

Alternatively, you can reinstall the Spotify desktop app. You’ll need to uninstall it first, ensuring any corrupted files are removed in the process. Once Spotify is removed from your PC or Mac, you can download the latest version from the Spotify website.

Enjoying Spotify

Troubleshooting a Spotify “error code 4” issue is usually straightforward, but if you’re still having issues, it likely points to wider problems with your internet connection. Once Spotify is up and running, however, you can enjoy full access to millions of songs and artists, especially with some lesser known tips and tricks up your sleeve.

You may want to consider upgrading to Spotify Premium to ditch the ads or use the child-friendly Spotify Kids alternative for your family. As long as Spotify is playing songs, you can sit, relax, and enjoy the music, but don’t forget, there are several Spotify alternatives you can try if it doesn’t suit your music tastes.

Can You Change Your Twitch Name? Yes, But Be Careful

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 11:00:11 GMT

There are many reasons you may want to change your Twitch name from what you already use. Maybe you thought of a new name you’d like more, or your current username doesn’t feel like a good fit anymore. Twitch makes it easy to change your username. However, you can only change it once every 60 days.

You’ll also want to keep in mind that followers will have a hard time finding your streams if you change your username and you have already established a following.

How to Change Your Twitch Name

To change your Twitch username, first be sure that it’s been at least 60 days, or 2 months, since you’ve last changed it. If so, follow these steps on a computer to change your username.

On the homepage, select your profile icon.

In the dropdown, select Settings.

Under profile, scroll down to Profile Settings and find Username. If it says You may update your username underneath your current username, you’ll be able to continue. If not, you probably have to wait longer.

Select the pencil icon to the right of your current username. A window will pop up where you can type in the new username you want. At the bottom, you’ll see what your new Twitch URL will appear as after you update your username.

Once you’ve entered the new name, select Update. Your username will then be changed as will your Twitch URL.

Twitch will tell you on the update window that your old username will be sent back into the pool of available usernames after 6 months. This means that if you decide you want your old username back eventually, you’ll still be able to do so, as your username will not be shown as available to others right away.

How to Change Your Twitch Display Name

While your Twitch username actually changes the URL of your Twitch account and streams, you can always change your display name to whatever you wish without affecting this. This way, if you want a name change but don’t want to commit to a full URL change, this is a good route to take.

Display names can be anything you want, and you can always change it. Here’s how to do this instead of a username change.

From the main Twitch homepage, click on your profile icon.

In the dropdown, select Settings.

Underneath Profile Settings, under your username, you will see Display Name. The text box should be open for you to type and edit.

Once you’ve made changes to your display name, the Save Changes button at the bottom of the profile settings box will light up purple. Select this to save your display name.

Whether you change your Twitch username or display name depends on how drastic of a change you want your Twitch channel to undergo. If you decide to change your username, you’ll have to notify followers of this change so they can access the correct URL. Changing your display name removes this hassle.

How to Change Your Twitch Username on Mobile

If you’re trying to use the Twitch app to change your username, this is actually not possible to do. However, if you need to use your mobile phone, you can still use a browser to change your Twitch username. Just follow these steps below.

On your chosen browser, go to the Twitch website.

If you’re using Chrome or Firefox as a browser, you can tap on the three dots in the corner next to the URL to choose to view the desktop site.

If you’re using Safari, you can actually still access the desktop site. The normal Twitch mobile site won’t allow you to change your username, which is why you need to access the desktop site. On Safari, tap on the three dots in the right hand corner across from the Twitch logo. Tap on Privacy Policy, and scroll all the way down and tap on About. In the top right-hand corner, tap on the three white bars and tap on twitch.tv. You should then be taken to the desktop site and can follow the next steps.

On the Twitch homepage, tap on your profile icon, and in the dropdown select Settings.

Under Profile Settings, select the pencil icon next to your current username.

In the next window, you can enter the new username you’d like. Once you’re done, select Update and your username and Twitch URL will change immediately.

Transitioning to a New Username

Once you change your username, your Twitch URL will also be changed. This means that the old URL you were using will no longer direct to your Twitch account. This may cause issues if you’re linking to your Twitch streams from other websites or have your URL up somewhere else.

To have a smooth transition to a new name on Twitch, you’ll want to be sure you update your old Twitch URL wherever you may have it posted. This will prevent any confusion for your followers. It might also be a good idea to warn your followers beforehand of your new name change, if possible.

Having a new Twitch username can be exciting, bringing rebranding possibilities if done correctly. Just make sure you keep your followers in the loop, and you’ll continue to watch your streams thrive under a new name.

How to Repost a Story on Instagram

Sun, 21 Feb 2021 11:00:16 GMT

Instagram lets you share short-lived and interactive content to your audience via Stories. Photos, videos, music, polls, quizzes, you name it can all be shared. You can even share other people’s Stories to your Story. But unlike reposting regular posts from your feed, reposting a Story is a lot more complicated.

The whole existence of social media borders around sharing. So, what’s the fun in viewing a breathtaking picture or a funny video on someone’s Instagram Story and not being able to repost?

In this tutorial, you’ll learn the conditions attached to reposting Stories on Instagram and how to repost a Story—whether you were tagged or not.

Note: The methods, tricks, and tools listed in this tutorial are applicable to both Android and iOS users.

How to Repost Stories You’re Tagged In

When someone tags you on an Instagram post, you’ll get a notification in the Activity tab. Things work differently with Stories. If one of your followers tag you on their Story, Instagram sends the notification via your Direct Message (DM) thread with that follower.

You’ll also get the option to share the Story (that you were tagged in) on your Story for up to 24 hours. Instagram calls this “@mention Sharing.”

Here’s how it works:

1. When you get a notification that someone mentioned you in their Story, open the DM and tap the Add to Your Story option just below the Story.

2. Alternatively, open the Story and tap the Add this to your story button.

3. Proceed to adorn the story with texts, filters, stickers, poll, quiz, etc.

4. Tap the Send to button when you’re done editing the story to your taste.

5. Finally, proceed to (re)share the newly-created content to Your Story, Close Friends, or to select followers.

Things to Note

You can only repost a Story that you were tagged in or mentioned.
You cannot reshare a Story from a private account, except the person’s privacy settings allows for resharing of stories.
Instagram will notify the original poster that you reposted their Story.

How to Repost Instagram Story When Not Tagged

You can repost anyone’s Instagram posts, Reels, and IGTV videos on your Story even if you weren’t mentioned or tagged. Instagram treats Stories differently. As mentioned above, Stories only support @mention sharing; it’s impossible to repost a random Story you weren’t tagged in. But there’s a workaround.

It involves saving the Story to your device (using a third-party tool) and reposting the content as your Story. It requires some effort but it’s the closest you can get to reposting a Story on Instagram when not tagged. Here are the steps involved:

1. Note the Instagram username of the person who shared the Story you want to repost. For this tutorial, we’ll be reposting a Story from @fcbarcelona on Instagram.

2. Visit InstaDP on your web browser (works on mobile or PC) and go to the Stories section.

3. Enter the Instagram username (in #1) and tap the search button.

4. Select the account from the search result.

InstaDP will display the stories (photos and videos) shared by the account in the last 24 hours.

5. Tap the Download button to save the Story you want to repost.

6. Launch Instagram and tap the camera icon at the top-left corner of the app to go to the Story section.

7. Tap the square card at the bottom-left corner and select the downloaded Story from your gallery.

8. Pinch-in the corners or sides of the Story to resize it to your preference. Tap and move the Story to adjust it to your preferred position. You could also repost the Story in its original size; it’s totally up to you.

Although this isn’t compulsory, we strongly recommend that you tag the original poster of the content. Tap the text tool at the top-right corner and type the Instagram username (remember to add the @ symbol) of the original poster.

9. Tap the Send to button when you’re done editing the repost.

10. Share to Your Story or Close Friends list and tap Done.

Repost Without Limitations

The key takeaway is that Instagram Story only supports mentioned sharing. The only time you can repost a Story on Instagram is when the original poster mentions you in the Story. To repost a random Story you weren’t tagged in, you’d have to save the Story to your device and manually post on your Story.

That’s the only workaround—at least for the time being. If you don’t want to use a third-party platform to save the Story, you could take a screenshot (for pictures) or screen-recording the Story (for videos). The drawback, however, is that you may have to edit the screenshots and recordings to remove on-screen elements like battery icon, network signal, notification icons, etc.

We recommend InstaDP because it outperformed all the Instagram Story downloaders that we tested. Plus, it’s free. It’s also important to note that you cannot use the tool to download stories from private Instagram accounts.

Flat Panel Display Technology Demystified: TN, IPS, VA, OLED and More

Sat, 20 Feb 2021 11:00:22 GMT

The age of the CRT (cathode ray tube) display is well and truly over. Although some people are rediscovering how great CRTs can be, the vast majority of displays today are flat panels. However, just because modern screens have more or less the same appearance, doesn’t mean that they’re the same under the hood.

There are multiple flat panel display technologies to be found all around you. The specific type of technology in your flat screen display influences everything from how the image is reproduced to what the display costs.

We’ll be looking at the most important current and upcoming panel technologies and the pros and cons of each. Armed with this information, you can make an informed decision the next time you have to purchase a television or monitor.

Twisted Nematic (TN) LCDs

TN panels are the most basic form of LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The name refers to the basic principle of how all LCDs work. A special liquid crystal material twists into alignment or out of alignment based on an electrical current. In this way these displays can reproduce full-color images by varying the amount of red, green or blue light passing through each pixel.

Modern TN panels are much better than those early models that really made you regret switching from CRT, but these days general audiences would be happy with a typical mainstream TN screen.

There are two main advantages to choosing a TN screen. The first is a fast response time. That’s a measurement of how long it takes for the display to change from one state to the next. Slow response times can lead to blurry images and ghosting. This is why competitive gamers tend to favor TN panels, since it’s not uncommon to find ones with a response time under a millisecond.

A fast TN gaming monitor with a 2ms response time

The second major advantage of TN panels is price. With all other things being equal, TN screens are almost always less expensive than other technologies.

Unfortunately, there are problems. They have relatively poor viewing angles, can appear washed out and don’t reproduce vibrant, accurate colors. What’s worse, IPS displays (which we’ll discuss next) can now reach similar response times without compromising on image quality.

In-plane Switching (IPS) LCDs

IPS technology was one of the new LCD approaches developed specifically to address the major weaknesses in TN technology. IPS displays offer accurate color reproduction, vibrant colors and fantastic viewing angles.

IPS technology has also essentially eroded the response time advantage of TN screens, but that depends on the specific model. Be sure to check the response time specification on any IPS screen you’re interested in.

One area where IPS screens fall a little short compared to TN panels is in the reproduction of blacks. However, poor black reproduction is a problem all LCD technologies share. It’s an issue that’s being improved across the board.

An ultrawide, color-accurate monitor using IPS technology

IPS monitors are generally the best option for anyone who works in video editing, photo editing, design and other professions where color accuracy is important. Although you do still have to calibrate your IPS display to really nail the right settings.

IPS screens are also suitable for gamers, especially those who don’t care for refresh rates above 60Hz. While high refresh rate IPS screens do exist, they carry a stiff price premium compared to equally speedy TN panels. Overall, when it comes to computer monitors, IPS displays are the best choice for most users.

Vertical Alignment (VA) LCDs

VA panels put the liquid crystals that all LCDs use into a different orientation. That is, they are aligned vertically relative to the glass of the display when a current is applied. This changes what happens to light as it passes through the display compared to the TN and IPS approaches.

One of the most important advantages of VA panels is the fact that they produce the best black levels among LCD displays. This flat panel display design also offers much wider viewing angles than either TN or IPS.

A large HP EliteDisplay monitor using VA technology

This is why VA panels are often used in televisions, rather than computer monitors. Computer users generally work solo and view the screen from the optimal central viewing position. Televisions are watched by groups of people, with some looking at the screen from an off-axis position. VA panels minimize color shift and other distortions for those viewers sitting far to the left or right of the screen.

There are two subtypes of VA flat panels: MVA (Multi-domain Vertical Alignment) and PVA (Patterned Vertical Alignment)

MVA flat panel display technology was developed as a middle-ground between TN and IPS displays. With the improvements of both TN and IPS, the need for this compromise is lessened, but modern MVA technology has its place in the form of “Advanced” and “Super” MVA technology.

PVA technology is proprietary to Samsung and you’ll find that they’ve made various proprietary tweaks to it that improve things like color accuracy or brightness.

OLED Flat Panels

OLED or Organic Light-Emitting Diode displays use a completely different principle than LCDs. They consist of pixels that contain organic chemicals which produce light. LCDs use a backlight through the panel to make the display visible. This makes it hard for LCDs to produce true black, since there’s always light shining through the panel. OLEDs achieve perfect black levels by simply switching off those pixels.

Premium smartphones and high-end TVs make use of OLED flat panel display technology. It’s superior to LCD technology in almost every way, apart from a higher tendency to suffer “burn-in”, where an image is retained on the screen. Oled can also be made incredibly thin, making for stylish wall-mounted TVs or ones that are easily hidden when not in use.

A wall-mounted LG OLED

OLEDs are still quite expensive, but prices have come tumbling down over the years. LG in particular sells OLED televisions with prices that can almost be considered reasonable.

That being said, LCD manufacturers have been making improvements to their technology to bring it closer to what OLED can do, at a much lower price. Samsung’s cheekily-named QLED televisions is one example of this.

Mini LED Flat Panels

Mini LED flat panels are just standard LCD panels which can be of any type. The difference comes from the backlight technology. At first, LCDs were backlit with fluorescent tube lights, which produced uneven brightness and various other problems. Then LED backlights, dotted around the edges of the screen dramatically improved the situation. Today higher-end TVs use “local dimming” where numerous LEDs are placed behind the panel across its surface.

A 2021 8K Samsung TV using mini-LED technology

For example, a TV might have 12 dimming zones, which allows for better representation of true black thanks to precisely controlled brightness in each zone.

Mini LEDs are many times smaller than those existing LED arrays, making it possible to put hundreds and perhaps thousands of local dimming zones in a TV. They promise to approach the visual prowess of OLEDs but at a much more affordable price. Especially for the larger displays.

microLED Flat Panels

Finally, we have microLED flat panel display technology. You can’t buy a display using this technology yet, but it probably won’t be long. If you thought mini LEDs were small, hold on to your hat. microLEDs are so small that they can be used as pixels themselves. That’s right, a microLED display doesn’t have an LCD panel. You’re looking at millions of microscopic lights.

This technology promises superior image quality to OLED displays, without the decay organic compounds suffer over time. If you want to know more, check out OLED vs MicroLED: Should You Wait? for an in-depth breakdown.

Which flat panel display technology do you think offers the best overall experience? Do you care mainly about cost or performance? Are there other display technologies you think should be included in this list? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.

How to Refund a Game on Steam

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 23:00:10 GMT

Maybe you’ve had an experience where you bought into the hype of an upcoming game, only to buy it and become immediately disappointed. Regardless of why the game didn’t deliver for you, you may be interested in getting a refund on Steam for the game.

On Steam, you have the ability to submit a refund request if you feel like you don’t want to keep a game you bought. There are some things you need to know, however, if you want a refund through Steam. If you don’t know how to get a refund on Steam, here’s everything you need to know.

When You Can Request a Refund on Steam

There are some qualifications you need to meet before you can expect a refund from Steam. First, you need to request a refund within 14 days after you purchase it. You also only have less than 2 hours of play time with the game.

Steam says that even if you don’t meet these requirements exactly, you can still request a refund. However, you’re much more likely to get one if you meet these requirements.

If Steam finds that you are abusing the refund system by refunding too many times or otherwise using the system for some sort of personal gain, you may be blocked from requesting refunds.

How to Request a Refund on Steam

To request a refund on Steam, follow these steps:

Go to help.steampowered.com and log into your Steam account.

Scroll down and select Purchases.

Steam will show your history of purchases from the last six months. Any purchases further in the past will likely not be refunded. Select which purchase you want to refund here.

After selecting the purchase, under What issue are you having with this purchase? select I would like a refund.

On the next screen, choose I’d like to request a refund. The request form will then appear.

Fill out this form by selecting your reason for a refund and a short description of what issue you’re having with the game if needed.

After you complete your refund request, you should receive a confirmation email.

Once your refund has been approved, it can take about a week for your funds to show up in your Steam wallet or bank account. So keep an eye on your account to make sure you see the refund appear.

How to Refund a Pre-Order

If you’ve pre-ordered a game through Steam but then change your mind, Steam will allow you to refund a pre-order at any time before the game’s release. If the pre-order was made more than three months ago, you may not be able to get a refund back to your bank, but Steam may provide you with Steam Wallet credits.

To refund a pre-order, you can follow the same steps above for refunding a game, except this time choose the pre-order you want a refund for.

How to Refund a Gift

If you want to refund a Steam game that you gifted to someone else, the person who received the game will have to initiate the refund request if they’ve already redeemed it. If they haven’t, the purchaser can submit the request themselves.

If the gift has been redeemed already, the gift recipient can initiate the refund by following the steps in the previous section to refunding a game. Here’s how the recipient should refund the gift before redeeming it:

Go to help.steampowered.com on their account and select Games, Software, etc.

Select the game which has been gifted, then choose It’s not what I expected.

Select I’d like to request a refund for this gift.

Check the box next to Allow the original purchaser of this gift to request a refund. The game will be removed from the recipient’s account.

After the gift recipient follows these steps, the purchaser of the game can now submit a refund request for the game through their account using the same steps as the last section.

Keep in mind, the same rules apply for the gifted game. That is, the purchase should have been made within 14 days, and the gift recipient should have no more than 2 hours of play time on the game.

How to Refund a Game For Its Sale Price

Steam does not consider it an abuse of the refund system to get a refund for a game and then rebuy it for the sale price. However, the sale will have had to occur within the 14-day time span after you bought the game, as you can only refund games you bought within that time span.

You also only have two hours of playtime on the game that you intend to refund and rebuy. However, this isn’t a hard and fast rule so it’s still worth it to try and see if Steam will refund you. You can enter into the Notes section of the refund request that the game went on sale after you bought it and you’d like to rebuy it.

To do this, all you need to do is request a refund for the game, making sure it meets the requirements. Once you’re refunded, you can rebuy the game on sale. You can follow the steps above for refunding games to do this.

Refunding a Game on Steam

Steam is pretty lax with their refund policy, and they do this in order to promote a no-risk feeling when buying new games. This is a good practice since many games can garner a lot of hype and then under-deliver upon its release.

As long as your game meets Steam’s requirements and you don’t overuse the refund system, you should have no problem refunding your game on Steam, and can feel better about buying new games knowing it’s such a simple process if needed.

How to Fix Netflix Error Code F7701-1003

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 11:00:05 GMT

From personal experience, Netflix is a lot more stable (and reliable) on mobile devices, TVs, game consoles, and streaming devices. Using Netflix on a computer—either through an app or a web browser—is an entirely different ballgame. More often than not, random and occasional error messages ruin the web streaming experience.

Netflix errors come in variations, each with its unique codes, causes, and solutions. When you get an error message while watching content on Netflix, the video streaming provider is telling you that there’s a problem somewhere. Perhaps with your internet connection, your Netflix account, subscription status, etc.

In this article, we’ll walk you through seven ways to fix Netflix error code F7701-1003. But first, a brief explanation of what the error means and its causes.

What Causes the Netflix Error F7701-1003

In the case of the Netflix error F7701-1003, it’s an indication of a problem with your browser’s Widevine Content Decryption Module (CDM).

The Widevince CDM is a component of your browser that lets you play copyrighted content protected by the Digital rights management (DRM) system. Movies and shows that you watch on Netflix are DRM-protected. Therefore, if Netflix is having difficulties communicating with your browser’s Widevince decryption module, the error code F7701-1003 pops up.

Basically, Netflix wants to be sure that you can’t copy or reproduce contents that you’re watching through your browser. Proceed to the next section to learn how to get rid of this error.

How to Fix Netflix Error Code f7701-100

From our investigations, we discovered that the error code f7701-1003 is peculiar to Netflix users streaming content via Mozilla Firefox—both on Windows and Mac computers. We barely found any Chrome or Microsoft Edge users that have encountered this issue.

The solutions below are applicable to both Windows and Mac users.

1. Refresh the Netflix Tab

If you haven’t refreshed the Netflix tab, you should. Click the refresh button next to the address bar or simply press F5 on your keyboard. Proceed to the next solution if Netflix continues to display the error code despite multiple tab refresh.

2. Force Quit Firefox

You may experience this problem if Firefox is temporarily unstable or malfunctioning. Force-stopping the browser and starting it afresh may help fix the problem. Before you do so, however, make sure you save any ongoing work you’ve opened in other tabs so you don’t lose anything important.

To force quit Firefox on Windows, launch the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), right-click Firefox, and click End Task. Relaunch Firefox and check if you can watch Netflix without the error.

On Mac, open Firefox and use the Shift + Option + Command + Escape keyboard shortcut to immediately force-quit the browser. Relaunch Firefox and check if you have error-free access to Netflix.

3. Enable Firefox Cookies

To watch content on Netflix via web browsers, you need to have cookies enabled. Netflix uses cookies to store information required to stream content on your browser. This isn’t just limited to Firefox but other supported browsers—Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera, and Safari.

If the Netflix error F7701-1003 still occurs at intervals, check that Firefox isn’t blocking websites’ (particularly Netflix’s) cookies.

Open Firefox’s menu and go to Options (for Windows) or Preferences (for Mac) > Privacy & Security. In the ‘Enhanced Tracking Protection’ section, select Custom.

Uncheck Cookies and click the Reload All Tabs button.

Return to the Netflix tab and check if you can now stream movies.

4. Close or Disable Private Browsing

We’ve mentioned earlier that Netflix requires cookies to provide you with a smooth streaming experience. You may be unable to view content if you’re accessing Netflix on Firefox through a Private or Incognito window. This is because Firefox deletes cookies in incognito mode.

If there’s a purple mask at the top-right corner of Firefox, you’re accessing Netflix through a private window.

Simply close Firefox and reopen it normally. That should fix the problem.

5. Re-Enable Digital Rights Management (DRM) on Firefox

Although Firefox supports the Digital Rights Management (DRM) content protection standard, you may encounter the F7701-1003 error on Netflix if the feature is turned off. Open Firefox, click on the hamburger menu icon, and select Preferences (for Mac) or Options (for Windows).

Scroll through the General section and make sure ‘Play DRM-controlled content’ is checked. You can uncheck the option and tick it again.

Reopen or reload the Netflix tab and check if you can now watch content without interruption.

6. Update Firefox’s Widevine Content Decryption Module

In addition to the above, you should also make sure Firefox’s content protection module is up-to-date. Here’s how to get it done on a Windows PC:

Launch Firefox and go to the Plugins page using the Command + Shift + A shortcut (for Mac) or Control + Shift + A (for Windows).
Alternatively, click the menu icon and select Add-ons.

Go to the Plugins section and click Widevine Content Decryption Module provided by Google Inc.

Click the gear icon at the top-right corner and select Check for Updates.

Firefox will download and install an update to the plugin if there’s one available. Otherwise, the browser will display a ‘No updates found’ message.

7. Update Firefox

It’s common for Firefox (or some of its features) to malfunction if it isn’t up-to-date, or if you’re yet to install the latest version of the browser on your device. If you use a Mac, launch the browser, select Firefox in the menu bar, and select About Firefox.

Firefox will check for available updates and download them. Wait for Firefox to download the update and click the Restart to Update Firefox button to proceed.

For Windows users, click the menu icon and go to Options > General > Firefox Updates and click Restart to update Firefox.

Try Netflix again when Firefox comes back on and check if that fixes the error f7701-1003.

Last Resort: Refresh Firefox

If the Netflix error code f7701-1003 persists after trying all the recommended solutions above, you may have to restore Firefox to default settings. That will remove the problematic components, malicious add-ons and restore the browser’s performance. To reset Firefox, select the menu icon and go to Help > Troubleshooting Information > Refresh Firefox.

How to Make a Booklet in Word

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 23:00:59 GMT

Microsoft Word is essential for anyone who does any sort of work with documents. Word’s been around for so long, it’s impossible to imagine doing office, school, or any other type of digital work without it.

While most users use only the most basic features that Microsoft Word offers, they don’t realize the capabilities they’re missing out on. Aside from being able to open, view, and edit documents, Word gives you an ability to design greeting cards, create barcodes, and make your own booklets among many other things.

So, let’s make a booklet in Microsoft Word, both manually and using one of the built-in templates.

Note: The screenshots are from Microsoft Word for macOS.

How to Make a Booklet Using a Word Template

Using Microsoft Word templates can save you time and effort when working on your documents. Whether you’re making a booklet for your school project, or for a popular event in town, you can find the right template in Word’s free templates collection so that you don’t have to start from scratch.

To make a booklet using Microsoft Word’s templates, follow the steps below.

Open a new Microsoft Word document.
From Word’s menu, select File > New from Template.

In the Word Document Gallery window you’ll see a standard selection of the most common templates.
Find the search bar in the top-right corner of the window, and type booklet to search the templates. You can also use different keywords, like event or school project to look through other themed templates that might suit your needs better.

When you find the template you want to use, select Create (or Choose if you’re using an older version of Word).
Word will then download your template and you can start working on your booklet.
After you finish, select File > Save As to save your booklet.

You can customize the selected template right inside the Word document before you start working on your booklet to fit your needs better.

How to Make a Booklet in Word Manually

If you don’t find the right template, you can create a booklet in Word from scratch using the special booklet page settings – the Book Fold layout. This layout allows you to easily create and print a booklet ready for folding or binding.

To make a booklet in Word manually, follow the steps below.

Open a new Microsoft Word document.
Select the page Layout tab.
Select the little arrow icon at the bottom-right corner of the tab to open the Page Setup window.

In the Page Setup window, follow the path Margins > Multiple pages > Book fold.

Change the page Orientation to Landscape if it didn’t change automatically.
Under Margins, you can also set up the right value of Gutter – the amount of space that you want to leave for binding.
Open the Paper tab and select Paper size if you want to change the size of your booklet. Note that the physical size of your booklet is half of the paper size that you set up.
Under the Layout tab, you can edit your booklet’s appearance further. For example, you can add borders to every page by following the path Page Setup > Layout > Borders.
When you’re happy with all of the measurements, select Ok. If you decided to do the formatting after adding the content to your booklet, you should see the text formatted automatically.

If when you finish adding content to your booklet, you see that the document is too long, you can split it into multiple booklets and then bind them together after printing. You can select how many pages to print per booklet under Margins > Pages > Sheets per booklet.

How to Print a Booklet in Word

If you used one of Word’s free templates for creating a booklet, printing it out is extremely easy. Booklet templates are designed to make sure the page orientation is correct when you print them on both sides of the paper. All you have to do to print your booklet is to select File > Print.

If you choose to make your booklet manually from scratch, you need to check the print settings in advance to make sure you print on both sides of the paper and flip it correctly to keep the right page orientation.

After you select File > Print, check if your printer supports automatic printing on both sides. In that case, under Settings select Print on Both Sides. Then select Flip pages on short edge to make sure you don’t print the second side of each page upside down.

If your printer doesn’t support automatic printing on both sides, select Manually Print on Both Sides and put the pages back into the printer manually when needed. In this case you’ll have to flip the sheets on the short edge yourself to keep the right page orientation.

Make Your Own Booklets in Word from Scratch

When you know your way around Microsoft Word, you can truly get creative with it and use the software to do more than just open and edit text documents. Aside from making your own greeting cards and booklets, you can also use Word to practice drawing and improving your artistic skills.

Have you ever used Word for creating booklets before? Which method did you use? Share your Microsoft Word knowledge with us in the comments below.

6 Best Animated Weather Apps for Android or iPhone

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 11:00:38 GMT

Whether you’re on vacation, enjoying a road trip, or your daily evening jog around the neighborhood, many things can ruin your day, but unexpected weather is right up the top of the list.

Heavy rain can leave you soaked for hours, sudden cold snaps make traveling miserable, and excessive heat makes exploring new towns a chore.

While there isn’t much you can do to change or prevent bad weather outside your home, knowing when it’s coming helps you know what Mother Nature will throw at you.

Here are the best animated weather apps for Android or iPhone to help you prepare for certain conditions and avoid cruddy weather.

1. AccuWeather (Android, iOS)

AccuWeather offers detailed information in a pleasing and well laid out user interface. The app delivers thorough weather reports in graphs, charts and video forecasts with spot on accuracy.

You also get timely updates and alerts that let you know conditions, dew points and wind speeds by the hour for your location, and a RealFeel index that considers humidity and wind. The index gives you a feel of what the weather will look like compared to the numbers you find on a thermometer.

If you already have a good compass app, AccuWeather is a handy companion as it helps you plan what to wear for walks, spur-of-the-moment hikes or upcoming trips.

The app’s animated radar map also lets you track looming severe weather, and you can check out local or global forecasts for a specific period of time. Plus, there’s a feature that predicts precipitation so you can carry your protective rain gear.

2. NOAA Weather Radar Live (Android, iOS)

If you like tracking multiple locations at once to track weather conditions where you are and how loved ones are doing the NOAA Weather Radar Live is worth considering.

The app allows you to highlight key places using bookmarks, look up a particular location by name or pinpoint the location on a map to find more details about it.

On top of that, the free version of the app uses real-time animated radar images, showing precipitation, rain and cloud cover while the premium version adds lightning and hurricane trackers. You also get basic numbers about the weather forecast such as visibility, wind speed, humidity, pressure, dew point, sunset and sunrise.

The app sends notifications whenever a weather alert is issued for snow storms, tornadoes, harsh weather and flood warnings for your current location. This way, you’re never caught unaware by such dangerous conditions.

3. Weather Live° (iOS)

Apple’s native animated weather app is a great option with nice animations, graphics and hourly forecasting. If the built-in weather app on your iPhone doesn’t give you the data or simplicity you need, you can use the Weather Live° app to plan your day-to-day activities.

The free app is designed to display local forecast and rain alerts, but you can select the layout and weather parameters you want to track, and view your customized forecast. In addition, the app displays breathtaking weather backgrounds that look and feel as visual as nature itself.

Weather Live° provides animated weather scenes that reflect weather conditions, and accurate 24-hour and 7-day forecasts for multiple locations across the globe. Plus, it displays local time and sends you bad weather alerts and warnings to give you a heads up about severe weather in your locality.

You also get insightful details such as pressure, precipitation, humidity, wind speed and direction, UV and visibility, wind chill, and temperature levels. The app also displays details about sunrise or sunset and moonrise or moonset, which is especially helpful if you like capturing moon shots at night.

Weather Live° is compatible with Apple Watch so you can view weather conditions and forecasts right on your watch face and be prepared for any weather.

The premium version offers advanced features and details including lightning and hurricane tracker, air quality, and an ad-free experience.

4. Weather Underground (Android, iOS)

Weather Underground displays accurate local weather forecasts with interactive satellite and radar maps.

The app aggregates crowdsourced data about your specific location from a network of 250,000+ weather stations to deliver severe weather alerts and hourly updates for up to 10 days. Each of these stations has instruments that gauge data on pressure, humidity, rainfall, temperature, wind speed and direction.

You can receive hyper-accurate statistics about your location, and you can confirm weather conditions or post your own updates on the app.

If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, the app displays details about sunrise and sunset but also notifications for first and last light. This information helps you know if you’ll have enough visibility for bike riding or hiking.

5. Animated 3D Weather (Android)

If the Google weather app keeps disappearing off of your phone or you need something more detailed and animated, you can try Animated 3D Weather app.

Whether it’s snowing, raining, hail or sleet, the app displays weather conditions in animated format including trees shaking by wind strength. You can also see the sun and moon positions in real time.

The app also displays multiple locations for weather, hour by hour forecasts, five- or seven-day weather forecasts, customizable graphic features such as widgets, more than 10 different weather and notification icons.

6. WeatherBug (Android, iOS)

WeatherBug is a free and easy to use animated weather app that delivers reliable real-time forecasts using localized GPS data.

The app can help you track developing weather situations including spark lightning alerts and hurricane forecasts. On top of the typical weather fare, you get pollen count data, heat index, barometric pressure, UV index and air quality information.

WeatherBug relies on data from satellites, weather services and tracking stations to display data that’ll help you plan your trips accordingly. The app also provides hyperlocal real-time conditions with 10-day, hourly or current forecasts.

There are 18 different interactive maps to help you visualize the weather including lightning, Doppler radar, temperature, humidity, pressure and even traffic information.

If you live in an area affected by lightning, severe winter or hurricanes, WeatherBug will send storm alerts in real-time, and inform you how the weather may influence your workouts, sports, pain or allergies.

Check the Weather With a Glance

While most smartphones come with a built-in weather app, it’s always worth checking out third-party apps to see if they offer better information for your needs.

The best animated weather apps not only display interactive weather information, but they also deliver everything you need including the latest forecasts and severe weather warnings any time of year.

Having one of these six animated weather apps can tip you off to the conditions outdoors. Play around with any of them to get an idea of what kind of weather information you need and which of the apps best provides it.

What’s your go to animated weather app? Tell us about it in the comments.

How to Mute Someone on Discord

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 23:00:50 GMT

Discord is one of the most popular text and voice chat platforms on the internet. It’s used for everything from gaming communities to niche, enthusiast groups and everything in between. Unfortunately, as with any online community, Discord can attract a few bad apples.

If you only use Discord with friends, you will likely never need to use the Mute function. If you’re part of larger communities, though, you might encounter someone that harasses you or speaks in a rather distasteful way. This article will show you exactly what you need to do to mute someone on Discord.

Muting vs. Blocking Discord Users

There are two main ways to stop someone from interacting with you on Discord: muting the person, and blocking the person. If you mute someone in a voice channel, you won’t hear anything they post. However, they can still send you messages and communicate through text.

If you block a user, not only will this stop you from seeing their posts in a Discord channel, but they will not be able to send you private messages.

Will Users Know They’ve Been Muted or Blocked?

There are obvious issues that arise if you Mute or Block someone on Discord. First of all, it can cause offense. In a tight-knit community, this can lead to a lot of drama. That’s not something anyone wants, especially considering how easily these problems can divide groups.

The good news is that Discord does not notify users if they have been muted. They won’t receive any message or notification, but they might notice if you stop responding to things they say in the channel. Of course, in channels with dozens or hundreds of users, this will be significantly less noticeable.

Discord also does not notify users if you block them. However, if they try to message you, it won’t go through; instead, it will show the sender a generic message that you are only accepting private messages from friends.

That raises another question: what if they try to send you a friend request? The user will receive a message that says you aren’t currently accepting friend requests, and that you will have to request they be your friend instead.

It’s not a perfect solution, especially if that user knows how to contact you outside of Discord, but it’s one way to fend off less-than-desirable communication.

When Should I Mute Someone on Discord?

If you mute someone in Discord you will not hear anything they say in a voice chat. There are times when muting them is appropriate, and other times when a simple conversation can solve the problem.

If you’re in a voice chat with someone and they are typing too loud, playing music in the background, or doing something else that’s distracting, you can mute them to reduce the sound. This is also beneficial if you are in a room with someone else and you are both in the same Discord channel. Muting one another will prevent feedback through the speakers and benefit everyone else in the channel.

If someone is harassing you, threatening you, or acting in a sexually inappropriate manner, you should screenshot the conversation and send it to Discord’s administration team before you block the user. If the threats are severe or against your life, consider contacting your local police.

How to Mute Someone on Discord

If you want to mute someone in Discord, it’s simple. If you are in a voice channel with the user, right-click their name and check the Mute box from the menu. Until you uncheck the box, that user will remain muted.

You can also select a user from the list of members in a channel and right-click their name. You can choose Mute from the menu just as if you chose their name from the voice channel.

If an entire channel is bothering you (perhaps too many notifications), you can mute the entire channel. Right-click the channel name and choose Mute Channel. You can choose to mute it for 15 minutes, one hour, eight hours, 24 hours, or until you unmute it.

How to Block Someone on Discord

If a user has reached a point where you no longer want any interaction with them, you can block them as easily as you can mute them. Right-click the username either within the channel itself or within the active user list and then choose Block.

When you do this, it will immediately block the user. If they’re on your friends list, it will remove them.

You can also block a user by right-clicking their username and clicking Profile, then clicking the three dots beside Send Message. When you do, choose Block from the menu that appears.

Understand the difference between muting and blocking a Discord user, and take the necessary steps to protect yourself from those malicious elements online that would detract from your experience.