Do You Sit, Stand, or Lounge When Using Your Computer? [You Told Us]
More and more people are using computers - both for work and for pleasure - for long periods at a time. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's a practice that promotes a sedentary lifestyle. This certainly is a bad thing, as there are countless maladies connected to inactivity and obesity. This emerging understanding and knowledge of how some of us are doing harm to our bodies.
What Do You Really Think of Windows 8? [You Told Us]
The release of Windows 8 is, at the time of writing, a mere three months away. The time to make sweeping changes has passed, and Microsoft will be unleashing a version of Windows 8 very close to the preview versions we've tried and tested (and in some cases dismissed out of hand) here at MakeUseOf. Microsoft has taken a huge gamble in its strategy for remaining in the game against Apple and Google in the emerging post-PC era.
What Do You Do With Old or Outdated Hardware? [You Told Us]
Technology ages at an alarming rate. There is always something new and shiny on the horizon, meaning that at some point the device you were once excited about getting your hands on is no longer fit for purpose. At this point everyone has to make a choice. There are a multitude of different things that can be done with old or outdated hardware.
What Is Your Social Network Of Choice, & Why? [You Tell Us]
Last week we turned MakeUseOf over to you in order to gauge opinion on a relevant topic. We asked you a question, and you answered in a multitude of interesting ways. We have read and replied, cogitated and compiled, and ended up with an understanding of what you think of the subject at hand. The subject at hand was social networking; which has become a dominant force on the Internet in recent years.
Is Minecraft Really That Great? [Opinion]
Minecraft is quite possibly the most viral and addictive indie game that we've ever come to see. Who knew that a concept as elementary as playing with toy blocks could become such a sensation? I play it, you or your friends probably play it, and more than 20 million people worldwide have legally purchased an account. Are we overrating this game though? Is Minecraft getting a little too much credit?
5 Things I Like and 5 Things I Hate About Google Plus
When Google + finally came out, I actually avoided using it for up to a year. Not only was I skeptical, but I've been an initial user of a social network before, and it's absolutely no fun. Once I signed up, I was able to find my way around in due course, but I discovered that there were a few things about Google Plus that I really liked, and a few things that I didn't like at all.
The iOS-ification Of OSX - The Beginning Of The End? Or A Natural Harmonisation? [Opinion]
Recent announcements about the next major upgrade of OSX, named Mountain Lion, have garnered mixed reactions from the community. Some are proclaiming the death of the Mac; some think it's the first step in dumbing down OSX; while some believe it's a natural evolution given the success of iOS devices. One thing is certain - the iOS-ification of OSX has been officially confirmed. Is that a good thing though?
How This MakeUseOf Writer Procrastinates In 8 Easy Steps
As you may know, MakeUseOf isn't staffed by robots that churn out articles daily through an automatic system. All of us have our own methods of getting down to the writing. Since I'm not a full-time freelance writer, it takes me a little extra oompah to get myself started. With that in mind (and based on what I'm doing right now), I figured I'd give you a little insight into what I'm doing. Basically, here's how I procrastinate.
Why You Should Contribute To Open Source Projects [Opinion]
The concept of open-source software is not new, and with huge, successful projects such as Ubuntu, Android, and other Linux-related OS's and apps, I think we can safely say it is a proven model for creating and maintaining high-quality software. But let’s say you’re a novice developer, just getting started as a coder and thinking about whether or not this open-source thing is worth your time and effort.
Why You Have Too Much Crap on Your Computer & What to Do About It [Opinion]
I am here today to give you a message you don’t often hear on tech blogs - you have too much. Too much software, too many unneeded applications, too much digital clutter. Even if you happen to be working on a brand-new computer right now, I can almost guarantee your system is overloaded with crap you really don’t need, and would be better off without.
Is Everyone Ripping Off Apple's Designs? [Opinion]
Apple's products all have a certain look to them. Steve Jobs and Jonathan Ive wouldn't have it any other way. The question is whether everyone is ripping off Apple's designs at this point in time - and in the most glaring of fashions. It's a question that is being asked in protracted legal battles around the world, and that's no exaggeration.
Why 2011 Was Mozilla's Year After All [Opinion]
Up until a few weeks ago, I had no doubt in my mind that 2011 was Google’s year. Even if we put everything else aside, 2011 was the year Chrome has finally surpassed Firefox on the race to take the scene over from Internet Explorer. 2011 was also the year I switched from Firefox to Chrome, after years of using Firefox, and the last thing I remembered was Firefox 4 beta constantly hanging and crashing on my machine.
5 Facebook Notifications That I Can't Stand
We recently talked about an easy way to clear up email notifications, but that doesn't mean Facebook notifications themselves aren't still a problem. These notifications are great when they actually pertain to you and are relevant to what is currently going on in your life, but sometimes they simply don't. It gets really annoying, and yes... this is all silly.
Using Your Xbox 360 As A Media Center - Is It Worthwhile? [Opinion]
About two years ago I decided to "cut the cord" on my television service. Or to be more precise, I decided to switch cords - moving my entertainment needs from my cable to my Internet service. I already had accounts with online movie and television services like Netflix and Hulu, but I also needed a way to access these services on my television. My Xbox 360 has ended up becoming a major part of my media center.
How The Internet Makes MakeUseOf Possible [Opinion]
I love the web. It's a chaotic place where just about anything can happen. Unknown people become celebrities, revolutions spread from nation to nation and college students become billionaires. And a group of people spread across the planet - most of whom have never met in person - can work together to build a site read by millions. That's MakeUseOf.
Why Websites With Dark Backgrounds Completely Suck [Opinion]
You're reading MakeUseOf right now, a website which primarily uses dark text on a light background. Which is as it should be. That bar across the top with light text on a dark background, and the section at the bottom which hardly anyone reads, are fine because they're just small parts of the site. Any more and I would have to give my bosses advice on how to improve the look and feel of the site as a whole.
Accessing Blocked Websites At Work - Is It Worth Getting Fired Over? [Opinion]
In a perfect world, we’d all have exciting jobs where we get to set our own hours, work at our own pace, and participate in engaging tasks that challenge our minds and bodies. Back in reality, many people are left with an eight-hour office slog that swings between grueling boredom and tedious repetition. So it’s understandable that many people would turn to the Internet for some work-day entertainment.
The State Of The Internet, 2012 [Opinion]
Trouble is brewing, dear readers. Our rights and freedoms are under increasingly under attack from corporate entities with enough money to control those in power. We may have won a minor victory against SOPA, but that's the least of our worries. We can't keep up the fight forever, and I predict we're heading to a dark, dark place. Let's look at the evidence.
4 Reasons I Hate Facebook’s New Timeline View
Imagine what happened when I saw Facebook’s new Timeline feature. I’m still freaking out.
4 Rules to Ignore When Writing Your Personal Blog
Let's be straight - blogging is fun and blogging is cool, there's no doubt about that. Of course, it can also be used by middle-school girls who believe that everyone in the world wants to know about the new pair of shoes they just bought. With this being said, I haven't really told you anything you should ignore when writing your personal blogs.