About Dave Parrack
Dave Parrack is a Deputy Editor at MUO and also oversees the site's coverage of current events. He has been writing about technology since 2007, and with MakeUseOf since 2011.
He has previously written for various sites, including Blorge, WebTVWire, and New Atlas.
Dave uses ChromeOS and Android, but isn't a Google fanboy. He thinks AI will change the world sooner than people think, for good or for bad. He has a particular interest in new and emerging technology.
8 Disappointing Video Game Endings
Video games offer epic experiences with the power to excite, enthrall, and entertain. At least they do on occasion, when all of the various elements needed to turn a game from a mildly amusing distraction into a piece of art are present. Unfortunately, even the best games can often turn ugly in the end. Video games often require hours of effort to complete. And there's nothing quite like sitting back and enjoying a satisfying ending.
What Gadget Do You Most Regret Buying? [You Told Us]
Gadgets come in all shapes and sizes, and boast a variety of different purposes. Whether they're designed to help you accomplish certain tasks or chores, or provide entertainment for you and your loved ones, gadgets are an essential part of the lives of most people. Since starting to write about gadgets and technological innovations, I've seen as many bad ideas as good.
How To Take Amazing Photos Of Your Pets
If you haven't yet experienced the joy of owning a pet then you're missing out on one of life's simple pleasures. While owning a pet isn't a wholly positive experience - especially when they pass away after far too short a time on this Earth - the positives far outweigh the negatives. Especially if you choose the right animal to suit your personality. Pets provide a great subject for photographers, both professional and amateur alike.
Not Just for Grown Ups: 5 Android Tablets You Would Let Your Kids Use
There's a certain novelty factor to tablets, which invariably means that if one person in the household owns one, they'll be continually fighting off calls to share. Not only is this annoying, it has the potential to end in a family feud if an expensive tablet gets dropped or otherwise destroyed by a younger member of the family. The answer is, of course, to provide an alternative tablet for your kids; one that you're comfortable with them using to their heart's content. What follows are five Android tablets that fit the bill.
Extreme Sports Revealed With Amazing GoPro Videos
GoPro cameras are designed to be worn or held while doing adventurous activities. They're tough and waterproof, meaning they can survive along with you (hopefully) whether you're jumping out of a plane, diving in the ocean, or competing in any of the extreme sports that adrenaline junkies the world over are increasingly participating. For those of us less inclined to throw ourselves into the path of danger, GoPro cameras offer a chance to see these activities from the perspective of those involved.
What Does the Future Hold for Virtual Currencies Such as Bitcoin? [You Told Us]
Bitcoin has been around for several years now, but with its price climbing to monumental highs over the past few weeks, there has been a will to explore what it is, how it's created (or mined), and what the future may hold for this new virtual currency and others that could emerge in its wake.
Meta - 7 Awesome Subreddits All About Reddit
Reddit is rapidly becoming my favorite site on the Web. I'm a latecomer to its powers of seduction, being a veritable n00b compared to some of the other writers here at MakeUseOf. But I'm keen to explore Reddit, learning its subtleties and gaining new insights from subreddits aplenty as I do so. As it stands I consider Reddit to be one of the seven wonders of the Web, one of the pillars the whole community is based on and around.
Your First Day On Reddit... Fixed
Reddit is emerging as a true force on the Internet, which explains its inclusion in our list of wonders of the Web. It's a source for news and interesting factoids, the instigator of many memes, the popularizing force of many viral videos, and an all-round entertaining place to hang out online. I thoroughly recommend it to everyone, though there will inevitably be some people who decide it isn't for them.
The 10 Best Original YouTube Comedy Channels
Life can be depressing at times. I don't care who you are or how good your life is, there is always the chance that something or someone can knock you off your happy pedestal and bring you down for a while. That's why we all need to laugh. Uproariously. On a daily basis. After all, laughter is the best medicine. With the possible exception of antibiotics. With this in mind we all need to seek out sources of laughter each and every day.
5 Web Resources for New Chromebook Owners
The Chromebook is a form factor that splits opinion, as we previously discovered when we asked you what you thought of the netbook-like devices from Google. However, the Chromebook isn't going away anytime soon, with Google expanding the number of markets it's selling Chromebooks in. What follows are Web resources that could prove invaluable to any Chromebook owner.
8 April Fools' Day Pranks You May Have Missed
April Fools' Day is, depending on your individual point of view, either a pathetic waste of everyone's time and energy that you try to avoid as much as possible or 24 hours of fun that marks a welcome break from the doom and gloom which dominates the rest of the year. The Web was once virtually free of April Fools' Day pranks, but now it's awash with them each time the calendar clicks over to the fourth month.
What Should Have Been Culled Instead of Google Reader? [You Told Us]
The company which has its many and varied tentacles wrapped tightly around all four corners of the Web recently announced the culling of Google Reader. This decision annoyed many people, some of whom immediately began looking around for alternative RSS readers. The chances of Google culling other services in the future are high, as the company has these spring cleans regularly.
7 Reasons Why You Should Be Using Twitter
Twitter has now been with us for seven years and counting. This was seven years to the day since Jack Dorsey sent out the first tweet in 2006, at a time when the micro-blogging social network was known simply as twttr. What follows are seven reasons why you should be using Twitter. Even if you have so far rejected the social network either out of ignorance or a lack of desire, I urge you to read on and at least consider giving it a go.
Watch The Best Short Films From Around The World On Vimeo
Vimeo is one of these YouTube alternatives. It's a different beast from the Google-owned property, extolling the virtues of quality over quantity. Vimeo is the place where the cool cats -- the innovative musicians, interesting documentarians, and offbeat filmmakers -- reside. The videos are presented in a beautiful manner, making watching Vimeo a closer experience to watching broadcast television.
5 Awesome Meme Generators on the Web
Anyone who spends any serious amount of time on the Web will be aware of Internet memes. At least those who venture into the useless-yet-entertaining side streets the Web has to offer. Those who are unaware what an Internet meme is just need to look at the picture for an example. That's Grumpy Cat, and those words are what I imagine he's thinking right now.
10 Twitter Accounts All Star Wars Fans Should Follow
In October 2012 Disney acquired Lucasfilm, the production company primarily known for the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. For a fraction over $4 billion, Disney therefore landed the Star Wars franchise, and promptly announced that it would be making three new films to complete the nine-film story arc originally planned by George Lucas in the 1970s. Various spin-offs are also expected.
5+ HTML5 Games to Play in Your Browser Now
HTML5 is driving Web development forward in an exciting way. It offers a range of advantages over its predecessors, and could (and really should) kill proprietary plugins such as Adobe Flash and Microsoft Silverlight. HTML5 is capable of handling a wide range of multimedia requirements, including video, audio, and, best of all, games. What follows are 5+ HTML5 games to suit all tastes. These are all free, and available to play in your Web browser right now.
Does the Internet Need Rules & Regulations? [We Ask You]
I previously wrote an article detailing 5 of the commandments that govern the Internet. These are more like adages than laws; more a form of etiquette than hard rules. Still, it set my mind to thinking about the actual rules and regulations which govern what we all do online. To be honest the Internet is a fairly lawless entity. Mainstream use of this amazing tool sees people still apply a moral and ethical code to the Web.