Latest Articles
Delete Duplicate Files Quickly With These Tools
One of the fastest ways to clog up your hard drive is to store duplicate files. Most of the time, you probably aren’t even aware that you have duplicate files. They come from a variety of places: accidental copies, misplaced files, multiple downloads, etc. But one thing is for sure: they can really bog you down.
Are You Being Unfollowed? Check With These Apps and Plugins
In my opinion, one of the best things Facebook ever did was to let users "unfriend" each other without any notifications. There have been numerous examples where I’ve regretted "friending" someone, and I’ve avoided tons of drama thanks to this unfriend-in-secret feature. Now, there are apps and extensions that will let you monitor when people unfriend or unfollow you on Facebook or Twitter.
How to Optimize Your DNS for Faster Internet
"The Internet is just a series of tubes" as one man so wisely stated. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as that. There’s a complex architecture that supports the Internet, and data packets need to travel some interesting routes in order to reach you. If you can optimize the paths that your data takes, you can boost your Internet speed. Now, there are some limitations. Data packets are essentially light, and light has a fixed speed of travel.
The Best Ways To Send A Free SMS Online
In an era where smartphone ownership is becoming the majority, it’s hard to imagine someone who can’t (or won’t) send out text messages. When was the last time you knew someone who didn’t have a text messaging plan on their mobile? Or better yet, when was the last time someone told you "don’t text me because I've hit my limit!"? You probably don’t remember. And yet, there are still millions of people out there who don’t have access to free text messaging.
Post This: 5 Fantastic Blogging Add-ons [Firefox]
Growing up, I created dozens and dozens of blogs on nearly every subject that interested me. I've had software development blogs, video game blogs, religious blogs, mini-blogs for team projects, small blogs for my inner circle of friends. You might be running a blog right now, or you may be thinking of running one. If so, listen up! One of the best advancements in browser technology over the past decade has been in plugins/extensions/addons.
What Is Open Source Software? [MakeUseOf Explains]
"Open source" is a term that’s thrown around a lot these days. You may know that certain things are open source, like Linux and Android, but do you know what it entails? What is open source software? How can you tell if a program is open source? And, really, who cares? How does the open source philosophy affect you?
Dealing with System Problems in Android: Safe Mode, Factory Reset & Restoring Backups
If you've run into a problem on your Android phone or tablet, this method just might help you save it.
Speed Up & Tweak Windows Explorer [Windows 7]
For a long time now, Windows Explorer (the process on Windows that controls everything from the desktop to folder browsing) has had a poor reputation for being a clunky, slow, and arguably useless file navigator. More recent versions of Windows (namely 7) have improved upon it, but there are still a few options and features that are missing. Thanks to hobby programmers, there are a few options and tools that you can use.
Bloodline Champions: Free-to-Play Skill-Based PvP Arena For Competitive Players [MUO Gaming]
Bloodline Champions (BLC) is a top-down F2P game with high hopes: to create a game where players can play against each other in an arena that rewards skill, not repetition or luck. If you’ve ever heard of the term “e-sports,” this game is a prime candidate. It’s all about aiming, timing, reacting, and making the right decisions - and it’s HARD. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, though, as a game that rewards skill wouldn’t be very rewarding if it was easy.
RSS And Beyond: The Top 5 Android News Reader Apps For Free
RSS, which means Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary depending on who you ask, is a popular way to receive news updates from your favorite websites. You can pick and choose which updates you want and they’re amalgamated into a central "inbox" of sorts, allowing you to read your news at your convenience. With smartphones, you can now do all of this through apps.
Avoid These 7 Common Mistakes When Buying A New Computer
I built a new computer a few years ago. I’ve always considered myself above average in the tech field, but looking back, I have a few regrets with the system I built - some of my decisions could’ve been much better. Even if you’re thinking of buying a computer, not building one, you could be making the same mistakes as I did. Most of these mistakes come down to a lack of knowledge.
Make Sure You're Clean With These Free One-Time Scan Antivirus Tools [Windows]
It sucks to be constantly bombarded by computer-related threats, whether they’re spyware, malware, viruses, keyloggers, or whatever else. A popular way to combat this problem is to install an antivirus solution that sits in the background and keeps you safe. But no matter what resident solution you're using, it might not catch each and every infection. That’s where the one-time-scanner steps in.
$1 Per Song? No Way! 5 Cheaper Alternatives For The iTunes Store
The world of music is constantly changing. Vinyl, cassettes, CDs, and now MP3s - and that means that we’ve gone from analog to digital. The best thing about digital music, in my opinion, is that you can purchase it in full online without ever leaving the seat of your desk. But the latest question in online music purchases is - where?
Which Is The Best Mobile Music Streaming Service?
Online radio is picking up steam now that there’s a good bit of competition driving the technology. You might be familiar with services like Pandora and Spotify, but now that you can stream music on-the-go with your mobile device, it’s better than ever. Join me as I explore and compare the five best music streaming services available today.
Write More Good: 7 Free Online Tools To Ensure You Use Proper English
Improper use of English is one of my pet peeves. I’m not a full-blown "grammar nazi" (a colloquialism for someone very strict with grammar) but it does irk me. An exception can be made for those who don’t use English natively, but blatant disregard for the rules of language can be seen all over the Internet - and it can be quite annoying. Language is meant to convey ideas through a common medium that obeys a set of rules.
Are You Addicted To Your Smartphone?
At one time, landlines and payphones were all we had--and we survived just fine, thank you very much. But now, it’s almost laughable if you don’t own an iPhone or Android, and for some of us, we can’t even go a day without them. Smartphone addiction is a real issue for modern society and, like most addictions, people who are addicted don’t truly realize how addicted they are. And even if you aren’t addicted yourself, chances are good that you know someone who is.
Stream Audio to Your Phone With These 5 Apps [Android]
I’m a big fan of streaming media. Whether it’s YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, or whatever else is out there, I love being able to stream on demand. It opens up a lot of flexibility - especially in terms of access (streaming media that I don’t have) and schedule (streaming when it’s convenient for me). And now you can stream media directly to your Android device. Smartphones have evolved to a point where they aren’t just "smart phones" anymore.
Shoot The Apple: A More Skillful Alternative To Angry Birds [Android]
Talk to anyone about mobile gaming and the first game that pops into mind will likely be Angry Birds. So imagine my surprise when I downloaded Shoot the Apple, gave it a try, and saw that it was pretty similar in gameplay. You fire objects at a target, navigating or destroying obstacles that are in the way. However, Shoot the Apple has a 4.5 star rating on Google Play, and after playing it a bit, I can see why.
Discover New Android Apps With These Android App Finders!
How many apps do you use on a daily basis? Not that many, I’m guessing, but the ones you do use are pretty important. Now, how many apps do you have installed? A lot, probably. Yet even so, there are thousands of other apps out there - some of them just waiting for you to discover them. A few of them will change your life. But how do you discover them when you don’t have the time?
Write Space: A Distraction-Free Text Editor Right Inside Your Browser [Chrome]
Distraction-free editors are all the rage these days, and I’m fully aboard the train as a raving fan. I love the fact that these editors block out everything else on the computer so that you can write in peace. There’s a lot that could be said regarding our culture, that we need distraction-free programs in order to concentrate, but that’s for another article entirely. In terms of software programs, there are a bunch of different distraction-free editors you can pick from.