Google has released Chrome 76 to the stable channel, pushing it out to everyone who uses the web browser. Alongside the usual litany of bug fixes come two changes that will affect users. One of which should help you circumvent soft paywalls.
What Are Hard and Soft Paywalls?
Paywalls are a growing trend, with major newspapers and other sites hiding their content behind them. Hard paywalls require payment before you can get anywhere close to the content, while other, softer paywalls let you read a number of articles for free every month.
While Chrome’s Incognito Mode should have prevented paywalled websites from knowing how many articles you have read, a loophole in Chrome’s FileSystem API allowed them to do just that. Now, Google is fixing that loophole to restore true private browsing.
How to Beat Paywalls Using Chrome
Google revealed it was fixing this loophole with the release of Chrome 76 in a post on The Keyword. Now, with Chrome 76 available, that loophole should have been closed, preventing websites with paywalls, as well as other sites, from tracking you.
All you need to do is visit a website such as The New York Times and the Washington Post while browsing in Incognito Mode. That is unless and until those publishers take steps to prevent people accessing content. Which could see them hardening their paywalls.
The other big change in Chrome 76 sees Flash being blocked by default. Google has been doing its utmost to kill Flash for several years, and in 2016, Chrome started using HTML5 by default. Now, with Chrome 76, Adobe Flash is blocked by default.
This means that Google is one step closer to eradicating Flash from its browser, which is timely given that Adobe plans to kill Flash for good in 2020. In the meantime you can still enable Flash again by clicking the lock icon to the left of a website’s address.
Update Your Browser to Chrome 76 Now
With Google releasing new versions of Chrome so often it’s rare that there are features worth talking about. However, Chrome 76 is an exception thanks to its ability to help you beat you soft paywalls and a move that takes us one step closer to killing Adobe Flash.
Who says smartphones with physical keyboards have had their moment in the sun? Sure, most people use full touchscreen phones at this point, but there’s something to be said for the feeling of physical buttons when it comes to typing long messages on a phone.
Unihertz, the folks behind the upcoming smartphone Titan realized this, and they’re attempting to bring a new phone to the market that features a full QWERTY keyboard and a rugged design that can take a beating.
Titan Smartphone Features
The main selling points of the Titan phone are the keyboard and the durability. The physical keyboard on the phone features a full QWERTY layout, which should make typing on it a breeze.
As for the durability, Titan is waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof, so it’ll handle all of the stuff you can throw at it. The screen is made with Gorilla glass, so it should be able to take some falls without smashing to pieces.
Outside of those key selling points, the phone has a 6000mAh battery, which the creators say will be enough for 25 hours of continuous internet usage, 42 hours of talk, and 25 hours of video playback. Basically, it’s a big battery that’s designed to last a long time.
As far as the specs of the phone, they’re pretty modest but respectable for the price. There’s a 4.5-inch touchscreen with a 1400X1400 resolution. It comes with Android 9.0 installed as well. The phone comes with an 8MP selfie camera on the front and a 16MP camera on the back for taking solid photos. It has 6GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. All of that is powered by an Octa-core 2GHz processor.
Some other notable features include:
Wireless charging
Walkie-talkie feature (think the old Nextel phones)
NFC
Global LTE support
Fingerprint scanner
Dual-sim
Face unlock
Bluetooth 4.1
USB-C
Titan Pricing and Availability
Unihertz is seeking funding for its new smartphone on Kickstarter. It has massively exceeded its funding goal already, showing that there is indeed a market for a phone with a physical keyboard.
If you’re interested in preordering one for yourselves, you can do so right now for a rather reasonable price of $259. The company plans to ship devices to backers in December of this year.
As with all Kickstarters, there are risks involved in backing a project and that’s true for this one too. However, Unihertz has successfully launched two smartphones via Kickstarter previously, so at the team has a proven track record.
There’s no doubt that virtual reality gaming headsets are expensive. Even when discounted, you can still expect to spend hundreds of dollars on a headset. However, for VR gaming on a budget, the best VR games for Android and iOS offer an alternative.
With Google Cardboard, Samsung Gear, Daydream, and even standalone VR headsets like the Oculus Go, cheap VR gaming is totally feasible. Here are the best VR games for your smartphone.
A Word on Mobile VR Gaming
While it’s likely you have a smartphone capable of virtual reality, you’ll want to double-check this. Even if your phone is compatible, you’ll still need a headset, and possibly a controller as well. If you want to avoid the extra cost of a controller, you should check out the VR games that you can play without a controller instead.
As for mobile VR headsets, they can range from inexpensive options like the Google Cardboard which you can buy or even build, to pricier alternatives such as the Samsung Gear VR or Google Daydream. Even the Daydream and Gear VR are fairly cheap when compared to the Vive and Oculus. The following mobile VR games are specifically for the Samsung Gear VR, Google Daydream, and Google Cardboard.
Don’t get too excited by the title of this game. Although Hidden Temple Adventure includes the phrase “Hidden Temple,” it’s not related to Nickelodeon’s classic Legends of the Hidden Temple game show.
Nevertheless, Hidden Temple Adventure offers a point-and-click experience in virtual reality. Its immersive gameplay and beautifully-rendered visuals make Hidden Temple VR Adventure one of the best VR games for Android and iOS.
Download: Hidden Temple VR Adventure for Android | iOS ($3.99)
2. VR Noir (Cardboard, Gear VR)
Although virtual reality is visually stimulating, gaming is often best when it’s story-driven as well. Enter VR Noir, an immersive VR game where you play as a private detective.
VR Noir delivers a cinematic experience and almost transcends pure gaming. The voice acting is top-notch, and the narrative is engrossing. Because of this engaging format, VR Noir is one of the top VR games for Android and iOS.
Download: VR Noir for Android (Free) | iOS ($0.99)
3. Vanguard V (Cardboard, Gear VR)
If you’re looking for an excellent VR game for iOS, check out Vanguard V. This game is a rail shooter that employs a third-person perspective. It’s one of the best VR iPhone apps for Google Cardboard. This epic title is fast-paced, but it’s a bit on the shorter side. Since many VR mobile games don’t take much time to beat, that’s not terribly shocking.
The visuals and audio are phenomenal—even the voice acting and soundtrack really stand out. As reviews note, controls are slightly challenging and require lots of neck muscles. Better hit the gym before trying Vanguard V.
This intense brick breaker plays just like an arcade game. Even though it looks simple, it still comes with an interesting backstory.
In Proton Pulse, you have to defend the world from something called a M.O.A.I. Smack the proton with your paddle to destroy the M.O.A.I.’s core. Proton Pulse’s intuitive controls, mesmerizing colors, and eardrum-melting audio make this a must-download VR smartphone game.
Sisters is a survival horror title for Android and iOS. This game is creepy, but tons of fun. It’s a bit like playing Resident Evil without the archaic fixed camera angles. Instead, you benefit from a first-person perspective.
As you traverse through an old house, you’ll soon realize some things just aren’t right. Try not to get too scared when playing this thriller!
Zombie Shooter VR appears like a retro arcade game and plays like one as well. The subway setting and zombie shoot ’em up format makes for tons of bloody fun. Note that while it’s a free game, Zombie Shooter VR operates on a freemium model.
Download: Zombie Shooter VR for Android | iOS (Free)
7. InCell VR (Cardboard)
Not only is InCell VR an amazing racing and action game, but it’s also educational. You race at high speeds through the human body, attempting to avoid any obstacles along the way. You might even learn some biology facts as you play.
vTime XR is the VR version of Facebook. This game is one of the most unique virtual reality games for Android and iOS, as it allows you to connect with users from over 190 different countries.
After you create your own avatar, you can choose the virtual environment to spawn in. Chat with other users, meet new people, and expand your network of vTime friends.
InMind comes from the creators of InCell, so you can expect a similar style of gameplay. It’s currently one of the best mobile VR games that’s available for free.
Instead of exploring the human body (like in InCell), you’re submerged inside the human brain. During your journey through the patient’s mind, you must locate the neurons that cause their mental illness.
VR Wrong Voyage seamlessly combines the puzzle and FPS genre. This VR game for Android requires a controller, but it’s still worth it. You play as a character who has gotten lost in an unknown location. As you explore the strange temple, you’ll soon figure out the meaning behind the structure, as well as your own role in the world.
In this arcade-style Android VR game, you play as a mage or gunslinger fighting your way through the town of Hunters Gate. It’s a basic but extremely fun game which includes a local co-op feature for multiplayer action.
Action role-playing game (ARPG) buffs, check out Twilight Pioneers. It’s a remarkably immersive VR title. As an ARPG, Twilight Pioneers remains unique in its gameplay with a mix of narrative, boss battles, and more. The mechanics are simple and Twilight Princess brilliantly showcases the capabilities of VR. It gets bonus points for being one of the few awesome free VR Android games.
13. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes (Daydream, Gear VR)
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes stands out as one of the best VR smartphone games on account of its cartoonish animation and wacky puzzle-solving.
In the game, you’re trapped in a room with a bomb that you must defuse with the help of other players. There’s also local multiplayer if you want to play with a group of friends.
Download: Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes for Android ($9.99)
14. Need for Speed No Limits VR (Daydream)
This is by far the priciest VR mobile game on this list. But it’s also one of the few which you’re likely familiar with. Hailing from the EA series Need for Speed, this virtual reality game puts you in the driver’s seat. The graphics are stunning, and it’s a triple-AAA gaming experience on your smartphone.
Download: Need for Speed No Limits VR for Android ($14.99)
15. Horizons (Daydream)
This rhythm game uses the Daydream controller to play music. The music that you play dictates the colors that appear, offering an excellent experience for both your eyes and ears.
You should really use headphones with any VR game. With Horizons, you’ll want to experience it using one of the best wired headphones rather than speakers.
Although VR has been around for a while, it’s just beginning to make its foray into the mainstream. With VR headsets such as the Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, and HTC Vive catering to hardcore gamers, mobile VR gaming sees the widest adoption among the general population.
If you’ve got a Cardboard-compatible phone or headset like the Gear VR, you’re all set to play most of these games. And if you’re looking for more VR content then download some of the best VR apps for Android.
It’s that time again: you’re on the lookout for a new apartment to rent. But with the number of available units greater than ever, how can you make sure you don’t overlook your perfect abode?
It’s easy. You just need to thoroughly scout the leading apartment search sites. Sure, it’s not a fast process, but it’s one that’s certain to land you the accommodation of your dreams.
Here are some of the best apartment rental sites for the United States and beyond.
Rent.com is an apartment finder site that covers both apartments and houses. All the properties you see are available for medium- and long-term rentals; it doesn’t deal with short-term accommodation or property purchases.
The site has a selection of tools geared towards different types of apartment seekers. For example, there are filters for pet owners, off-campus housing searches for students, a way to find independent living facilities for senior renters, and even military base proximity filters for members of the armed forces.
Some of the listed apartments have 3D virtual tours, but they are available on a case-by-case basis. There’s also a dedicated Moving Centre. It can supply you with free quotes based on factors such as moving distance and apartment size.
One of the big problems with apartment search sites is that they typically require a property owner or letting agency to list their property directly. Ergo, all the properties are not available on all the domains.
PadMapper offers a solution of sorts. It pulls apartment listings from other companies’ data and plots them all on a map. Sites that have their listings on PadMapper include Airbnb, ForRent, and PadList. Craigslist used to be included but was removed after a particularly controversial lawsuit.
A couple of features are worth mentioning. Firstly, the Drawing tool. You can use it to simultaneously search disparate areas of a map at the same time. And secondly, there’s a way to hide listings that you’re not interested in.
PadMapper has apartment listings in both the United States and Canada.
Zillow has built its reputation as a must-use website for buyers, but it’s also one of the best apartment finder sites on the web.
Apartment listings on Zillow are incredibly detailed. Yes, there’s all the usual stuff like floorplans and basic features, but there are also plenty of other features that you won’t readily find elsewhere.
For example, it integrates GreatSchools ratings so you can see the quality of the nearby education facilities. And there’s a “Walk Score” and a “Transit Score” for the neighborhood you’re looking at, thus giving you an idea of how easy it is to get around.
Zillow even provides a gateway for you to pay your rent, though not all apartments are supported.
The Zillow-owned HotPads is one of our favorite apartment search sites.
The site is primarily aimed at urban renters where competition for units is fierce and new listings disappear within hours of going live. To that end, HotPads offers phone notifications for new listings that match your customized preferences, a map search that supports everything from dog park proximity to nearby glass bottle recycling facilities, and a commute time calculator.
HotPads also tries to engender a feeling of trust. It provides landlord ratings, real-time reviews, updates from other users, and verified contact information.
You may have noticed a trend among the apartment search sites we’ve looked at so far—they all try to stand out from their competitors by offering dozens of fancy features.
But not everyone wants countless filters and endless amounts of information to filter through. If you would prefer a more straightforward apartment hunting experience, check out Lovely.
To begin your apartment search, just enter the city you want to live in; there’s aren’t dozens of questions you need to answer. And property listings are easy to digest— there are a few photos, the price, a list of basic amenities, and a short description.
Like Rent.com, ApartmentGuide is an apartment rental site that provides default filters that specifically cater to a certain subset of hunters.
With a simple click on the homepage, you can find college apartments, military apartments, corporate apartments, senior apartments, cheap apartments, and luxury apartments in the area where you want to live.
Perhaps the similarities shouldn’t be surprising; the same parent company, RentPath, owns the two brands. The firm also owns Lovely and Rentals.com, showing just how small the apartment rental world really is.
Note: Many of the properties on ApartmentGuide are owned and operated by large management companies. If you’d prefer to rent from a private landlord, look elsewhere.
Zumper (which also owns PadMapper) is the best apartment search site if you’re particularly sensitive to price considerations.
For example, it is one of the only apartment listing sites which lets you filter for Section 8 properties. For those who don’t know, Section 8 of the Housing Act of 1937 is a US government program which provides financial assistance to renters from low-income families.
And unlike many of its competitors, Zumper also offers short-term rentals. If you’re planning to spend a couple of months in a city—perhaps because of a work project—the site is definitely worth browsing.
Craigslist had to be included, didn’t it? With localized sites around the world, Craigslist should be able to find you an apartment regardless of where you live.
However, the site has a few issues which let it down. From a usability perspective, the available filters are nowhere near as numerous as those you’d see on a dedicated rental search site.
Remember the golden rule: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Never hand over any money before you’ve thoroughly vetted an apartment’s authenticity.
Use Social Media to Find an Apartment
Finally, don’t rule out social media when you’re searching for a new apartment. Sites like Reddit and Facebook have plenty of groups and communities that’ll help you find somewhere to live. You might even be able to find much better deals than you’d find on regular apartment finder sites.
The iPad Pro is a pretty versatile device that’s about as close to a laptop as you’re going to get from a tablet. A new device called MagicDock aims to add a bit more functionality to the tablet by creating a desktop-like docking solution.
What Makes MagicDock Worth The Money?
The primary goal of MagicDock is to facilitate using the iPad Pro as a desktop computer. It’s designed to take advantage of the iPad’s ability to quickly rotate between landscape and portrait mode for using apps that support one of the other. You won’t need to undock it each time you want to rotate it, which is a nice feature.
MagicDock is also designed to slide up and down depending on how you need to use it. If, for example, you’re writing a paper, you can move it up to a position that’s more like a computer monitor. If you need to do some graphic design, you can lower it right to the table, making it easy to draw on the iPad Pro.
There’s a bunch of magnets that promise to hold the iPad Pro securely to the dock, and the bottom is weighted, so it shouldn’t fall down if you bump it. There’s also a USB-C port that plugs into the bottom of the iPad Pro and a bunch of ports on the back of the dock that makes it so you can use your peripherals with your iPad quickly and painlessly. You’ll find a USB port, an HDMI port, a 3.5mm audio port, and a USB-C port.
The dock will be available in two colors: space gray and silver. Steve Warren, the creator of the dock, says that he plans to roll out support for older iPad models in the future, but for the time being, it only works with the 2018 iPad Pro.
MagicDock Availability
Steve Warren is seeking funding on Kickstarter to bring its MagicDock to market. It has already exceeded its goal, so the dock should find its way to market. If you’re interested in backing the project and reserving a MagicDock, you can do so for $99 for the 11-inch model and $109 for the 12.9-inch one.
Because this device is in the crowdfunding stage, there are certain risks involved in backing it. Make sure you’re aware of these risks before you spend your hard-earned money.
Is your text notification still the generic default sound that came with your Android phone? Do you hear the stock iPhone ringtone in public and wonder if it’s yours?
If you’re a video game fan, you can fix this problem in style. Video game music makes for awesome ringtones and notification sounds. Plus, nobody else will have the same tones as you.
Whether you’re an Android or iPhone user, we’ll show you the best places to download retro video game ringtones. Once you’ve chosen some tracks, we’ll review setting them up on your phone.
Video Game Ringtones and Notifications: The Basics
Ringtones are obviously intended to alert you when you get a phone call, but they work great as alarm sounds, too. Notification sounds are perfect for incoming text messages, emails, or any other quick pings.
To download a track from these sites, right-click on it, choose Save Link As, and save it to a folder on your computer. We’ll highlight a few recommendations from each franchise if you’re not familiar with them.
Mario Ringtones
The Mario series is one of the most iconic and important franchises of all time. Super Mario Bros. on the NES made a name for Nintendo and marked the dawn of the platformer. And the series hasn’t slowed down since. Its variety of music makes for great ringtones.
For ringtones, check out Mario Mayhem’s soundtracks page, which contains links to MP3 collections of many Mario games. We recommend visiting The Mushroom Kingdom for your Mario notification needs. It has a great collection of sound effects, divided by category for each game (such as the character speaking them).
The Legend of Zelda is second only to Mario when it comes to prolific Nintendo franchises. This incredible action-adventure series blends epic fantasy stories with challenging puzzles and tight combat.
Whether you’ve been playing since the original or are nostalgic for Ocarina of Time, there’s a piece of Zelda music waiting for your phone. And if you’re new to the series, why not check out our guide to the Zelda franchise?
You’ll find all the Zelda sounds you need at Dayjo. It covers all of the main games in the series, as well as spin-offs like Hyrule Warriors and Link’s Crossbow Training. For Zelda’s legendary music, check out Zelda Dungeon’s music page. Here, you’ll even find some official remixes and Japan-only tracks.
Pokémon got a strong start with the original Red and Blue titles on the Game Boy. Since then, the series has seen many successful sequels, TV shows, movies, a trading card game, and more. Its mobile iteration, Pokémon Go, was a smash hit in the summer of 2016 and is still going strong today.
KHInsider holds a ridiculous amount of Pokémon music. Choose the game you’re interested in and you’ll find its complete soundtrack. For sounds, you’re a bit more limited. There’s a collection from KHInsider, but it only includes cries for the 151 original Pokémon. And for some reason, they all have several seconds of Japanese speech after them.
If you want a specific sound not found here, you’re better off finding and downloading it from YouTube manually. You’ll also find a huge selection of Pokémon sounds available to download linked in this Reddit post.
Sega created the Blue Blur to challenge Mario, and the hedgehog with an attitude gave the plumber a stir back in the ’90s. Those days are long gone, as Sonic games now appear on Nintendo systems.
And while most modern Sonic titles don’t match up to the classics, you can relive the glory days with some awesome Genesis music. You might also enjoy reading up on the history of Sonic the Hedgehog while you listen to these tracks.
Sonic HQ is our destination for Sonic’s fantastic music library. Choose a game from the hedgehog’s catalog and you’ll find all its tunes ready for download. SoaH CITY is another good choice if you need an alternative, though the music comes in ZIP files there.
For sounds, a user on the SonicRetro forums provided zipped files with all the sounds from many early Sonic games. But they’re not named properly, which makes finding the right one a chore. Thus, a YouTube download is probably faster.
The big ape got his start as the antagonist in 1981’s Donkey Kong arcade game, but he didn’t receive a proper starring role until Donkey Kong Country in 1994. This masterful platforming experience created by legendary developer Rareware used (at the time) cutting-edge pre-rendered graphics for a more realistic look. Even better, it had an incredible soundtrack to match.
We’ll visit KHInsider again, this time on its Donkey Kong page. The three original Country games are the highlight here. For notifications, DKC Atlas has collected almost all the DK Country sound effects in one ZIP.
The Crash Bandicoot trilogy hosted some of the best platformers on the original PlayStation. While the bandicoot didn’t see too many great games after his PS1 days, we’ve thankfully gotten some remasters of classic Crash titles. Celebrate this with some Crash ringtones.
Some video game music and sound doesn’t belong to any of the series above, but it’s so awesome that we had to mention it. Here are a few bonus tracks we recommend adding to your video game ringtones and notifications collection:
Now that you’ve downloaded some awesome video game ringtones and notification sounds, it’s time to get them onto your device. To keep everything straight, it’s a good idea to separate ringtone and notification clips before transferring them. If you want to adjust the volume of any tone or shorten it, you can easily make audio adjustments using an editing app like Audacity.
We’ve looked at the best ways to send files to your phone before. You can use cloud storage like Dropbox, an easy-sharing app like Pushbullet, or just an old-fashioned USB cable. If you don’t want to transfer anything, open this page on your phone and download the files directly on your device.
On Android, you’ll need to place the audio files into the appropriate folders, so the system recognizes them as ringtones and notifications. Use a file manager app to move them from their current location (probably Downloads) to the Ringtones or Notifications folder in your phone’s storage. Then, go to Settings > Sound and tap Phone ringtone or Default notification sound to change them. The new audio effects show up when you picking a notification sound for a particular app, too.
If you don’t want to go through the trouble locating tones on your own, check out the free Zedge service. It’s available on the web as well as offering apps for Android and iOS, but the iPhone app redirects you to iTunes to purchase ringtones. Thus, you’re better off browsing the website and transferring ringtones to your device using the guide above.
The service lets you browse hundreds of ringtones and notification sounds that you can download right to your device. Note that users upload Zedge’s content, so tracks might have incorrect labels or suffer from poor quality. There’s lots of video game audio on Zedge, so it’s a great resource regardless.
Enjoy Your Awesome Video Game Ringtones!
Now you have everything you need to replace your boring stock ringtones with classic video game sounds and music. There are dozens of other games with excellent sounds, so feel free to substitute any of the music above with your favorites.
Notepad++ is a free, open-source, code and text editor jampacked with lots of features for both casual users and programmers. It supports various programming languages with custom syntax highlighting, auto-completion, and code folding.
The inclusion of sophisticated editing tools, user-defined style options, and support for plugins is like icing on the cake. One such powerful plugin is the Notepad++ Compare plugin which lets you see the visual difference between the two files. We’ll show you how to use this plugin to compare two files in Notepad++.
Basics of Plugins Admin in Notepad++
Plugin Admin or Manager is the repository of dozens or more plugins to extend the functionality of Notepad++. Before you start using them, there are a couple of settings you should watch out for while installing the app.
On the Choose Component screen during installation, make sure to select the Custom option from the dropdown list and check Plugins Admin box. Many users skip the installation steps. If you do so, then the plugin manager will not get installed. Slowly proceed with the steps while installing Notepad++.
Notepad++ keeps configuration files in the \Users[User Name]\AppData\Roaming\Notepad++\plugins folder.
If you plan to use this app on another computer or store in a USB drive, then check Don’t use %APPDATA box.
Your configuration files will remain in the Program Files folder.
Plugins Admin lists all the available and installed plugins. From here, you can install, update, or remove installed plugins. A revamped version came into effect in version 7.6 and above. If you want to use the plugins, then upgrade Notepad++.
Installing the Compare Plugin
Open Notepad++. Navigate to Plugins > Plugins Admin to open plugins manager. In the popup window that appears, type in Compare on the search bar. Check the box, then click Install. Once the plugin gets installed, the app will restart.
Click the Compare tool option from the Plugin menu. As of now, you can download the latest iteration of this plugin (version 2.0.0) from Github. Both 32-bit and 64-bit versions are available.
How to Compare Two Files in Notepad++
The compare plugin assumes that you want to compare an old version of your work versus the new version. Open any two files (A, B) in Notepad++ which you want to compare. File B (new) gets compared to File A (old).
Then, navigate to Plugins > Compare Menu > Compare.
It shows the difference/comparison side by side, as shown in the screenshot. You can set any open file as the default by clicking Set as First to Compare. You can then choose this selected file to compare it with other ones in whatever mode you decide.
Colors and Symbols
The compare plugin uses various colors and symbols to denote the changes in your file. You could have added, deleted, moved, or changed the line.
Added (+): The line only exists in the new file and not the old ones. The highlight color is green.
Removed (-): The line does not exist in the new file and only present in the old file. The highlight color is red.
Moved: The line appears once in the other file and a different location.
Changed: Most of the line is identical in both files. You’ll see the changes highlighted in orange.
Note: If you uncheck the Detect Moves option in Plugins > Compare Menu the meaning of symbols changes. Therefore, whenever you’re comparing two files in a session, always check for this option.
Navigation Bar
The navigation bar to the right side of the Notepad++ comes handy when you’re comparing big files. In a big file, navigating the whole file by going up and down to find the difference is difficult and time-consuming. The navigation bar works like a sitemap and bookmark browser.
Click the selected area to scroll in your file. Since it uses the same convention for colors and symbols, you’ll come to know which line was added, removed, and more with a glance.
Changing the View Modes
By default, when you compare two files, it does so in double-view mode. Right-click the gripper and choose Rotate to right or left. It either splits the window horizontally or vertically.
And if you continue rotating, your old file appears in the left while the new file appears in the right panel. It is recommended to restart Notepad++ after shifting from horizontal to vertical split or vice-versa.
Time-Saving Uses of the Notepad++ Compare Plugin
We often need to compare two files. The tool enables you to compare the original and modified files and list the lines you’ve changed. It has many practical uses:
If you’re working on a code and want to see the changes other people made, then a compare tool can make comparison easier.
You can precisely check the line with any code errors, defects that you don’t remember, and find the source of your problem.
Any difference gets highlighted in various light and dark color hues to help you identify changes.
You can compare files in a folder and know which directory is missing what files. This is useful if you have a large collection of music or ebooks on your computer.
When you click the Compare menu, it shows a popup with all the commands and options. It even lists down the keyboard shortcuts for those commands.
Explore the Settings
The compare plugin has all the basic features of a standard Diff tool. Click Settings to see the list of options you can tweak.
Color Settings: This option allows you to set color coding for Added,Deleted,Moved, and Changed line. For each option, you can choose a different color, change the highlight color, and its transparency.
Menu Settings: This option enables you to customize the file positions. First is determines whether you’re comparing the old or new file. Old file position allows you to position the old file at the left or right view (top/bottom in vertical split). Single-view default compare to lets you compare the active file in a single-view mode with the previous or next file.
Warn about encodings mismatch: shows you a warning message on trying to compare two files with different encodings.
Wrap around diffs: Determines whether it should enable the Next command on reaching the last diff and go to the first diff.
Go to first diff after re-compare: When unchecked, the caret position will not change on re-compare.
Compare Microsoft Office Files
Notepad++ is a flexible code and text editor app. You can customize it to any level depending on your needs. The compare plugin is a solid example which shows the power of plugins. You can compare a text, markdown file, or any programming language file.
With the flexible view modes and settings, this plugin is just as good as a Diff tool. But for some reasons, you cannot compare proprietary file formats like DOCX, XLSX, and more. If you want to know the procedure, look at our guide on how to compare two excel files and Microsoft word documents.
It’s bad enough when hackers get their hands on one of your accounts or logins. But sometimes they can use one stolen password to steal many of your other passwords as well. If your computer is on a network, they may be able to steal other users’ passwords too.
This is achieved using a technique called credential dumping. We’ll explain how it works and how to protect yourself from it.
What Is Credential Dumping?
Recently security researchers have been talking about the dangers of credential dumping. This is a technique used by hackers to access multiple accounts from one person.
It begins when hackers get access to a victim’s computer. From this one computer, they are able to extract usernames and passwords for multiple accounts. These could include logins for bank accounts, email accounts, and login information for other machines or networks.
This can make it easier for hackers to steal someone’s identity and take over all of their accounts. They can also use this technique to grab login details for other users on the network, spreading a vulnerability from a single machine to an entire system.
How Are You at Risk of Credential Dumping?
It is possible for hackers to access many passwords when they access a computer due to the way operating systems handle passwords. Your operating system doesn’t want to annoy you by asking for passwords all the time, so once you have entered a password it is stored in the computer’s memory for later use.
If the hacker is able to access a file called the Security Account Manager, they can see a list of the passwords stored on that computer. The passwords are hashed, meaning each character is transformed into something else to hide it. This is the same process used for passwords on secure websites. But if the hashing is not strong enough it can be broken for each stored password. Then the hacker will have access to all the different accounts for that user.
If another user has logged onto the same machine, the hacker might be able to find their passwords too. If a business user has problems, they may call IT support and get a network administrator to come and check their machine. Once the network administrator logins in to a compromised machine, the hacker can steal the administrator’s login information as well and do more damage.
How to Protect Yourself From Credential Dumping
You can see the threat posed by credential dumping. But there are some simple steps you can take to protect yourself and your device from this technique:
1. Don’t Store Your Passwords on Your Computer
A bad habit many people have picked up is storing all their passwords in an unencrypted text file on their hard drive. They know that they mustn’t use the same password for multiple sites, and that passwords should be hard to guess. So they use random passwords. But they can’t remember all of them so they write them down in a file on their computer.
The reason this is a problem is that if an attacker accesses that one text file, they have access to all of your passwords for every site. This is a big security risk and makes credential dumping very easy, so it should be avoided.
2. Use an Online Password Manager
So if you shouldn’t store passwords on your computer, what should you do with them? It’s a good idea to use a trustworthy online password manager like LastPass or 1Password.
Online password managers work by storing your credentials online. This data is encrypted before it is uploaded to the internet, so you can access your passwords from any device. This has the advantage of protecting you from credential dumping. But it can also be a disadvantage; if someone finds out the master password for your password manager, they can access every single one of your accounts.
On balance, an online password manager is the option that many people choose for the best security. But you need to be very careful with your master password and make sure you never write it down anywhere, either on a computer or on paper. This is one password you really need to memorize.
3. Enable Microsoft Defender
If you’re a Windows user, you should definitely make sure Microsoft Defender, Microsoft’s antivirus solution, is enabled. There’s even a version of Microsoft Defender available for Mac.
Microsoft says that Defender will protect against credential dumping by protecting the lsass.exe process which is the target of many credential dumping attacks. When you enable Defender, it will run automatically in the background to protect your computer.
Defender should be enabled by default on Windows machine. To check, go to Settings in Windows, then to Update & Security. Choose Windows Security from the menu on the left. Now click Open Windows Defender Security Center. Here, check that Virus & threat protection and Account protection are enabled.
4. Use Two-Factor Authentication
One of the best ways to protect yourself from password theft is to use two-factor authentication wherever possible. This means that when you go to log in to a site, you first enter your username and password. Then, if the password is correct, you enter a second piece of information.
Usually, you will enter a code that is generated by an app on your phone. Alternatively, you can enter a code which is sent to your phone via SMS.
The idea is that even if an attacker knows your password, they don’t have access to your phone or your email. The only way to access your account is when you have both the password and access to your device.
The annoying thing about two-factor authentication is that you have to enable it individually on every site you use. But you should definitely start by enabling it on your most essential websites, like your email account, your online banking, and PayPal or other payment services.
Beware the Threat of Credential Dumping
Credential dumping is a technique used by hackers to steal passwords for multiple accounts when they have accessed one computer. It can happen because of the way operating systems store passwords once you have entered them.
You can protect yourself from this threat by using a password manager, enabling Microsoft Defender, and enabling two-factor authentication.
Planning a trip this summer? Looking forward to a hot vacation, or simply traveling to see family and friends? Whatever you’re up to, it helps to plan in advance, stay secure, and not share your activity online.
In this Really Useful Podcast we take a look what precautions you can take for travel and vacations and how technology can help.
Really Useful Podcast Season 3 Episode 9 Shownotes
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Nowhere is the “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” saying truer than inprocurement planning. Once a supply chain is broken, it can take months to put the links back together.
Consider what happened when Bosch, an international auto parts supplier,ran unexpectedly lowon steering gears. BMW was forced to slow or stop production of its 1-series, 2-series, 3-series, and 4-series cars for months. Even bottlenecks in indirect supply lines can cause headaches. Ready for a hiring surge? Not if you can’t get enough desks. Have a company cafeteria? If cleaning supplies don’t show up, closing it could cost thousands in food waste.
Keeping the Chain Strong
Before your product, people, or pocketbook suffer from a supply chain issue, be proactive:
1. Develop a procurement strategy.
Preventing supply disruptions is mostly about having an effective procurement plan. For each spend category, ask yourself: Is getting the best price, maximizing quality, reducing risk, or saving time most important? Boutique suppliers might build the best product, but they can be expensive and may not be on firm business footing. Amazon might deliver your products quickly and at a good price — but you might struggle to build the sort of personal relationship that encourages vendors to go the extra mile.
If in doubt, consult agroup purchasing organization. GPOs work with thousands of major suppliers, making them a smart way to reduce vendor risks. And because they leverage the collective buying power of thousands of businesses, they can provide pricing that can’t be obtained individually. Beware, though, that GPOs rarely work with local suppliers. That organic soap your employees love may not be available beyond your grocery store.
2. Have a backup for key supplies.
Another benefit of GPOs is that they, almost without exception, have backup vendors. For example, while you don’t necessarily need a backup for something like staplers specifically, you should have one for office supply essentials. To make room for new relationships, first cull your list. Walmart may be able to managemore than 100,000vendor relationships, but even a dozen or two can overwhelm a small team.
Think about your nonnegotiables. If you’re a print shop, you can’t risk running out of paper. Ask industry peers where they buy theirs, and choose a secondary supplier. If you spot duplicates where you don’t need them, cut whichever vendor is more difficult to manage. Is one less reliable or less communicative than the other?
3. Buy in bulk.
When you buy Costco’s largest pack of toilet paper, you don’t just get a better price. Assuming you can fit it all in your bathroom, you reduce how frequently you run out. And by purchasing less frequently, you reduce the chance that you’ll need to re-up when the shelves are empty. Your business supplies work the same way. Don’t eat into your bulk discount by springing for a storage unit, but do buy what you can readily store. That way, you give yourself as much runway as possible if you find out your supplier is backed up or out of business. At higher order volumes, bulk sellers like Boxed and Zazzle also tend to throw in extras, like dedicated account managers and free shipping.
4. Over-communicate.
For all of the supply chain management software on the market, the best tool you have to avoid supply chain snags is your phone. If you’re an e-commerce company that hires temporary workers around the holidays, for instance, pick up the phone around September to tell your suppliers what to expect. Then, call them back in early January to thank them and say that you see a slowdown ahead.
Ask, too, about their expectations and policies. Would they prefer a standing call? Is there someone on the team you can text? If you can pay with cash or check, would they give you a discount? The easier you can make your suppliers’ lives, the more they’ll want to help you out when disaster strikes. Building a procurement strategy, culling vendors, and communicating with points of contact takes time, to be sure. But however long those things take, they won’t add up to the amount wasted by a supply chain disruption. Don’t risk it: “Pounds of cure” don’t come cheap.
With Microsoft Powerpoint, you can easily convert your presentation decks into high-resolution video files for uploading to YouTube and other video sites. The exported video files can also include all the voice narrations and background audio that you may have included in the presentation.
Google Slides doesn’t offer an option to save presentations as videos but there’s a new add-on in town – Creator Studio – that brings new export capabilities to your Google Slides. With Creator Studio, you’ll be able to save your decks as animated GIFs, image sequences and HD video (with audio).
To get started, go to creatorstudio.dev and install the Google Slides add-on. It requests certain permissions as it has to read the presentation images for converting them into movies. It also requires access to creating files in your Google Drive since the exported files are automatically uploaded to your Google Drive.
Once the add-on is installed, open any deck inside Google Slides that has at least 2 or more slides. Go to the add-ons menu, choose Creator Studio and it will open up a sidebar.
Specify the width of the output file in pixels. Creator Studio will auto-calculate the height to maintain the original aspect ratio of the presentation. Next, specify the time interval (in seconds) and this is the duration for which each slide would be visible in the video before advancing to the next slide.
Finally, you have a variety of export options to choose from that are not available natively inside Google Slides.
GIF Image
An infinite looping animated GIF image is created that is perfect for sharing inside email messages and blog posts. You can even make stop motion animations by keeping the time interval very low (say 0.2 seconds).
Image Sequence
Creator Studio will capture screenshots of each slide in your presentation and save it as a numbered PNG file in your Google Drive folder. Internally, it uses the Google Slides API to generate these thumbnail images.
MP4 Video
Like the GIF image, Creator Studio will produce an MP4 video file from your deck and you can also vary the time interval between slides.
Video with Audio
You can upload any audio file in MP3 or WAV format and it will play alongside the presentation. You can upload background music or even voice narration that will play in the background while the video is playing.
Realme X is the latest smartphone from Realme in India and it comes with top of the line hardware for the price segment it is being offered. The device has Snapdragon 710 Octa core processor with either 4GB of RAM or 8GB of RAM. The base variant pricing starts at Rs 16.999. The device comes with good hardware and has AMOLED display and a pop up selfie camera along with in-display fingerprint scanner. On the camera front, the phone has a 48MP camera with the Sony’s IMX586 sensor. It also has a pop up selfie camera. On the software front, the device has Color OS on top of Android 9.0. So if you are using Realme X, here are the best Realme X software features to try.
