Matt Smith
Contributing since May, 2010
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380articles
Page 11
About Matt Smith
Matthew Smith is a freelance writer living in Portland Oregon. He also writes and edits for Digital Trends.
Latest Articles
The Top 6 Jobs Being Driven Into Extinction By The Internet
The Internet was the last revolutionary technology of the 20th century. It rapidly changed the way people across the world do business, and while many jobs were not impacted, some were brushed aside as the Internet muscled its way in. Some of these jobs were ones already having trouble. Change is hard when you’re on the wrong side of the revolution.
The Top 5 Alternatives To Diablo 3 [Gaming]
Diablo 3 is out. The game hasn’t pleased everyone. Some gamers feel it doesn’t live up to the legacy of the Diablo franchise while others are just mad about the DRM. If you’re in the not-so-happy camp, for whatever reason, here are five alternatives you should check out.
4 Things You Absolutely Must Check Before Upgrading Your Desktop PC
Upgrading your desktop computer is an excellent idea. You can extend the lifespan of a PC indefinitely by changing out components over time. Absolutely everything can be replaced. Computers are complex, however, and this can lead to headaches when trying to upgrade. Nothing is more frustrating than finding out that you have a compatibility issue.
15 More Retailers Accept PayPal For In-Store Payments [Updates]
Google and the credit card companies aren’t the only organizations trying to nudge into the field of mobile payments. PayPal is now in the mix and has just received a boost by adding fifteen additional retailers to its list of partners. PayPal’s mobile payment system allows customers to pay using two different methods. All users who sign up receive a “payment card” that acts like a credit card but is connected to a PayPal account.
5 Ways To Give An Old Laptop A New Life
Computers seem to become slower as they age. Operating systems tend to become more resource-hungry over time, hardware ages, and the exuberance felt during the first months of laptop ownership fades. This is why some people buy new laptops frequently, but there are ways to make an older model feel new again.
The 7 Best Mac Games For Kids
Games for children need to meet two important criteria. The content must be suitable and the game must not be too difficult. Anyone who’s played a game on Xbox Live knows that teenagers require no handicap, but young kids often have trouble with complex titles. What’s a parent and Mac owner to do? Direct your child towards one of these ten titles.
What To Do If Your Laptop Or Tablet Battery Won’t Charge
Occasionally we receive a question on MakeUseOf Answers about a battery that refuses to charge. This isn’t surprising. Batteries are known to only last so long, and poor conditions can drastically reduce their life. Issues with chargers or excessive power draw can also be a problem. Let’s address this common concern. Just what do you do when your battery is on the outs?
Why Hulu’s Cable Subscription Requirement Is A Harbinger Of Things To Come [Opinion]
An alarming New York Post article has stirred up a hornet’s nest by suggesting that Hulu will be slowly moving towards a business model that requires authentication. In other words, users who want to watch certain content – or perhaps any content – will have to prove they’re already a cable subscriber.
Will You Go To Jail For Mobile Phone Use While Driving? [Opinion]
One of the reasons why the smartphone has become popular is its mobility. Now you can read email, browse the web or watch videos from almost anywhere. This has naturally translated to in-car use, resulting in predictably deadly consequences. In response, legislators across the world are banning the use of mobile phones in cars. Does this mean you’ll be thrown in jail?
The Pros & Cons Of Having Your Parents & Other Family As Facebook Friends [Opinion]
According to Facebook, more than 800 million people now actively use the social networking giant. You don’t know most of them, of course – but some are very close to you. Even your grandmother might now be on Facebook this moment. Family members will usually request to be your Facebook friend for obvious reasons. But should you actually go through with it, or should you keep your friends list to, well, friends?
The 5 Best Sources For Animated GIF Images
I’m convinced that the animated GIF reveals something about humanity. Present your average person with a repetitive moving picture and they’ll become absolutely entranced. I’ve lost many hours of my life to dancing bears and dogs doing barrel rolls. Despite this, there’s no GIF-equivalent of YouTube. Browsing Google for sites offering animated GIFs will introduce you to website train-wrecks.
6 Reasons Why You Need A Roku [Opinion]
Electronics can be evil. A short time ago I wrote an article about using the Xbox 360 as a media center. I concluded that it wasn’t the best choice. Sensing my betrayal, the 360 promptly kicked the bucket, leaving me without the Netflix I craved. Rather than replace the 360, I decided buy to a competing media center, the Roku. My verdict?
The 10 Best Action Games You Can Play On Your Mac [MUO Gaming]
Getting your frag on with a Mac has never been easy. The most popular action shooters, like most of the Quake games and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare have been ported, but as you move away from first-person shooters and mega-hits it becomes harder to find good titles. There are, however, some games worth your time.
6 of the Best Streaming Media Services Compared
Streaming media has become the way of the future for many consumers, and as a result there’s no shortage of services to pick from. Let’s compare five of the best streaming media services to see exactly what they have to offer and which is the king of this crowd.
The 3 Best Places To Find Free Historical Maps Online
Many old records, such as maps, are not hosted in many locations. There are a few online resources that provide a decent selection of historical maps. They’re great for amateur researchers and anyone interested in what people thought the world looked like in the past.
The 3 Best Antivirus Apps To Protect Your Android Security
As we’ve reported frequently at MakeUseOf, Android is no longer safe from malware. The number of threats is on the rise. This shouldn’t be surprise to anyone. Smartphones and tablets can carry all sorts of personal information and users often don’t understand the potential threat. The state of anti-virus software on Android doesn’t make the situation better.
How To Unlock Your Computer After Forgetting Your Windows Login
Most passwords aren’t that difficult to reset, particularly those online. There is one that can give you trouble, however – your Windows login password. If you forget this you will be locked out of your account and unable to access all of the files and software specifically tied to that account.
3 Easy & Inexpensive Ergonomic Enhancements For Your Home Or Office
Most geeks are addicted to their desk. It’s particularly bad for those of us who both work with a computer and play on a computer. Humans weren’t made to sit in chairs for hours at a time. Let’s look at some cheap (and sometimes free) ergonomic enhancements that can literally improve your life.
4 Free Mods That Will Bring You Back To Old Games [MUO Gaming]
Gaming classics are often remembered fondly, but rarely played. The advance of computer technology can make a game that’s just five or ten years old feel almost unplayable. Most gamers give up and move on, but some re-invent older titles, adding new features and graphics. Let’s look at four titles that have been given a new lease on life thanks to ambitious mods.