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Windows 10 VS Windows 8: Key Distinctions Between These Iterations Of The Operating System

July 6, 2019 By David Crozier Leave a Comment

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last three or four decades, you know what Microsoft Windows is. That said, every few years Microsoft comes out with a new version of their Operation System (OS), and we all have to decide if we’re going to upgrade or not. 

Sometimes the “upgrade” isn’t much of an actual upgrade; you know, with real advantages and stuff. So how do you determine whether you should switch your OS? Over the years, upgrading hasn’t been that big of a deal because the changes have usually been pretty minor when it comes to the user interface; not so much with Windows 8.

Some people (lots of people) hate the Windows 8 version of the OS. It is so wholly different than what Microsoft users had come to expect. Add to that scenario the fact that the new interface wasn’t very user-friendly, and you can bet that Microsoft was going to rethink their product.

The Windows 8 Debacle

In 2012, Microsoft decided it was going to jump on the app bandwagon. Users of smartphones and tablets love apps. Apps are convenient and user-friendly; you can easily organize them and find them when you want to. 

But Microsoft made a big mistake in thinking that this interface was right for every device. The first version of Windows 8 was great for tablets but was a massive flop for a regular desktop computer. 

The reason for this: It wasn’t user-friendly at all, especially if you didn’t have a touchscreen device. Also, users had come to expect that the basic operation of their Windows OS wasn’t going to change. Each iteration of the software was so like its predecessors that we never worried about learning to use a new version. And frankly, we weren’t complaining.

Eventually, Microsoft realized that they’d made a mistake. So, they came out with Windows 8.1, in which you can decide to use the tile interface or go back to the tried-and-true desktop screen. This version is the one we will concentrate on in the Windows 10 vs Windows 8 debate.

Moving On From Windows 8

Image by flickr

In 2015, Microsoft moved on from Windows 8. Even though they tried to fix it and get people on board with the 8.1 version a year after it’s original release, users never fell in love with it. So Microsoft decided to go with a hybrid version of their platforms.

Windows 10 is a combination of the tile interface merged with the iconic desktop we all know and love. The desktop looks mostly how it always did in legacy versions before Windows 8, but the tiles are still featured when you click the Start button.

If you haven’t upgraded to Windows 10 yet, you’re going to want to do so quickly. Support is limited for the Windows 8 version OS. Mainstream support ended back in January 2018, and extended support is only slated to last until January 2023. In the meantime, more and more applications will fail to be compatible with Windows 8, and security updates are scarce.

Windows 10 VS Windows 8

We’ve compiled a list of the key distinctions between these iterations of the operating system so you can prepare for the switch. Below, you will find the information you should know when considering Windows 10 vs Windows 8.

Main Screen

If you’ve been using the original version of Windows 8, then you know that your PC main screen is the Metro version –  the one with all the tiles. 

You can shift these tiles around to different pages, place them in different layouts, and even change their sizes. Some tiles are “live,” which means they feature photo slideshows, excerpts, headlines, etc. depending on what application it is. 

With version 8.1, you can choose to use the original style desktop rather than the Metro mode. Metro mode is pretty convenient for tablets, touchscreen laptops, and hybrid model devices like the Microsoft Surface. 

Are the tiles user-friendly for the regular desktop PCs? Not so much.

In Windows 10 your main screen is simply the regular desktop interface we’re used to seeing. Tiles are a part of it, but you don’t have access them right away. To get to your tiles, you click on the Start button or press the Windows key on your keyboard.

When the menu pops up, you’ll see tiles in a section off to the right of the main list of applications. This section is essentially the same as the Metro interface on Windows 8. You can move the tiles, and some are live, etc. 

You can see that Microsoft decided to go with a mashup of their old interface and the new app-based interfaces dominating Androids and other smart devices. 

I don’t ever use the tiles to be perfectly honest, and I think many longtime Windows users are probably with me –  it doesn’t even occur to me to look at them. But if you liked the tiles in Windows 8 then you might consider using tablet mode since this is the biggest difference in Windows 10 vs Windows 8. 

Logging In

image by pixabay

Windows 10 has a new login feature that allows you to unlock your computer by merely looking at it. While Windows 8 needed a password, pin, or swipe pattern, Windows 10 will enable you to set up facial recognition.

You’ll need a specialized camera compatible with Windows Hello, Microsoft’s Biometric Facial Recognition software, but other than that it’s simple to use. Once you’ve set it up, you only need to look into the camera to quickly unlock your device for use.

File Explorer

Image by flickr

In Windows 10 the File Explorer GUI (Graphical User Interface), changed a little. The Favorites section from Windows 8.1 was replaced with a Quick Access section.

The Favorites section of File Explorer allowed you to pin your favorite folders and locations to it. In Windows 10, the Quick Access section enables you to do this too but it also automatically features the most often and most recent locations and folders.

This feature makes it easier to pick up where you left off the last time you used the PC. For example, if you were working on a document in your Winter Expenses folder, this folder will show up in the Quick Access list.

You’ll find the Quick Access List at the top of the column to the left side of the File Explorer. It is shown above the list of other locations like OneDrive, Homepage, and This PC.

Another key difference within File Explorer is the start page. In Windows 8.1, when you opened File Explorer, the main start page was This PC. In Windows 10, the application opens to the Quick Access folder.

If you prefer the File Explorer default page to be This PC, you can switch it. Go to View>Options>Folder Options>General>Open File Explorer to, then select from the dropdown menu.

Lastly, there were some menu changes within File Explorer in both the dropdowns and the ribbon. There is also a new share button which allows you to share information with other people via a compatible app. The application icons themselves were tweaked but essentially look the same.

Cortana

Cortana is the name of the Microsoft personalized digital assistant, and she can be used for a variety of different functions. 

Cortana is in the taskbar. If your taskbar is hidden, hover your mouse over the bottom of your screen to make it appear. In the bottom left corner, next to the Windows icon, there is a search bar featuring a circle to the left and a microphone symbol to the right. 

Click in the box to start typing or click on the Windows key and do the same. If you click the microphone icon (and have a compatible microphone installed), you’ll be able to speak directly to Cortana.

Cortana uses plain English (or whatever language you speak). You don’t have to use keywords or phrases to get what you want. Simply say it as you would to another person.

You can search with Cortana for applications, folders, files, and more, but you can also use her for other things. Tell her to set a reminder or use her to manage your calendar. You can ask a question like, “What day does Christmas fall on?” or “What’s the weather like today?” 

You can also tell her to do things like play music, track your flight, perform calculations, or send emails. To get a list of everything Cortana can do type or say, “Help me.” This feature is really impressive and is the feature most like a smart device. I find it more useful than the tiles ever were.

Windows 10 Tablet Mode

Windows 10 Tablet Mode

In Windows 10, you have the option of setting it to tablet mode. Tablet mode makes the device go back into the full-screen Windows 8 interface. You’ll have a full screen of tiles (apps), and each one will open to be a full screen when you use it.

This feature is super convenient and useful if you’re actually using a tablet or a hybrid device. A hybrid device is one where you can detach or flip the keyboard out of the way to use it as a tablet and vice versa. Likewise, you can switch the device out of tablet mode if you want to use it like a regular desktop or laptop computer.

Windows Store Apps

windows 10

All the Windows Store apps (although there aren’t as many as we’d like) are still available. Unlike the apps in Windows 8, however, the apps available are now more supportive of the regular desktop interface. Many of the full-screen apps can open more like a traditional window app when the device is not in tablet mode.

Virtual Desktops

Windows 10 finally brings virtual desktops to their system. Previously, only machines that ran operation systems such as Linux had this. Now, Windows users can enjoy the same features and benefits of having multiple virtual desktops.

A virtual desktop is actually being able to access more than one desktop from a single PC. Much the way you might have different users login to their own account and see different desktops, now you can seamlessly jump between your desktops on one screen.

One instance this might be useful is if you want to keep your personal stuff separate from your business information. With virtual desktops, you don’t have to make separate logins, and you can easily share data across them because they are physically located in the same space on the computer.

To make a new desktop hover over the taskbar, click the task view icon (or hit Alt+Tab) and then click + New Desktop.

The Action Center

In Windows 8, notifications would pop up on your screen. If you missed them though or didn’t click on them, they were gone. There was no place that these notifications were stored so that you could refer back to them. It defeated the purpose. 

In Windows 10, you have what’s called an Action Center. This area is where all your notifications are stored and managed. You’ll still get notifications that pop up on your screen, but now if you miss one, it will be accessible from the Action Center.

To open the Action Center hover over your taskbar and click on the message icon on the far right. If the notification icon is blank, you have no new messages. If it has horizontal lines that indicate writing, it means you have new notifications. There will also be a number on the icon showing you how many notices you have. 

Clicking on the icon will bring up your messages in a semi-transparent menu on the right side of the screen. There are also other menu items within this area, such as turning on/off tablet mode, airplane mode, and getting to network settings.

You can customize the Action Center in the Systems app under Notifications and Actions.

Gaming

One feature of Windows 10 that you’ll particularly enjoy if you’re a gamer is the ability to play your Xbox (Microsoft’s game console) on your PC. You can stream video games from the Xbox console to your PC. 

There is also cross-platform gaming support, meaning you can play an Xbox game from your PC against someone who is playing on a regular console and TV. This is an entirely new concept for Microsoft and gamers in general who have long had to choose between PC and Video Console games.

Microsoft also incorporated an Xbox app. The app allows you to chat with friends, look at and track your gaming stats, and view your activity. Again, this is an integration of PCs with gaming consoles that many gamers are going to enjoy. Rather than having to switch from one platform to another, you can simply do everything from one device.

Lastly, Windows 10 offers one more perk for gamers. PCs with Windows 10 have built-in game recording. Best of all, you can record yourself playing any game at all on the PC, whether it is a PC game or an Xbox game. Pretty cool for when you want to show off your mad skills to your gamer buddies in the Xbox app.

Conclusion

There you have it. These are the key distinctions in the faceoff with Windows 10 vs Windows 8. Windows 10 seems to be much more user-friendly than Windows 8 was, especially for traditional desktop users. That said, if you own a tablet or convertible laptop, Windows 10 still has everything you need to use your device comfortably. 

Check out some of our other articles to learn more about laptops, tablets, PCs, software, and more. 

Filed Under: Apps/Softwares

Top 9 Best Text To Speech Transcription Software ; Best Software

December 13, 2018 By Daniel Giordano Leave a Comment

Many people love reading a book or any learning material, but they also love to multitask. Plus, reading text through extended periods can be very exhausting.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could just listen to a book or any document while you’re working, driving, or just lounging around?

The best text-to-speech software definitely fills that purpose. During the past few years, the demand for text-to-speech software has skyrocketed. Such tools are a boon for folks with reading disabilities or for those who don’t want to devote all their time to reading texts. Plus, according to a study, reading information aloud makes it more likely for your brain to remember something.

Whether you’re reading a book for entertainment or for eLearning, the best text-to-speech software is an invaluable tool. So today, we have rounded up some of the best software for turning text into speech.

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How We Chose Our Ratings
Top 10 Best Text-to-Speech Software
Found Your Text-to-Speech Software Yet?

How We Chose Our Ratings

For this post, we have taken a look and tested dozens of text-to-speech applications and handpicked the ones that meet our criteria. Our selections were based on several key factors like interface, ease of use, performance, accuracy, price, and many others.

We pride ourselves in providing recommendations that are honest, accurate, and have integrity. We don’t promise that you will like all our recommended software, but you’re bound to find one that will fit your needs and personal preferences.

We have also considered the many feedback from actual users and tech reviewers.

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Top 10 Best Text-to-Speech Software

If you can’t be bothered to research for the best text-to-speech software, perhaps you can consider some recommendations. Below are some of the top-rated text-to-speech programs that you can find online.

Let’s get to it!

1

Natural Reader

Reader

Price

Platform

Rating


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Windows, Mac, iOS, Android

Notable Features: Text to speech, supports PDF, docx, and text documents, OCR with eBooks and printed documents, pronunciation editor, listen to web pages.

The first pick in our list is Natural Reader, a free text-to-speech tool which can be used in a variety of ways.

For the free version, you have access to the basic text-to-speech function and it supports PDF, docx, TXT and ePub formats. You may also change the speed and speaker, plus the floating bar tool that offers a way to read text directly from the page.

The main option for reading text to speech is to load the document in the app’s library which will then be read aloud from there. The other method is through the floating bar tool which will read any highlighted text. This is a great feature when you’re using web browsers, word processors, and other programs.

There are four pricing packages from Free ($0) to Ultimate ($199.50). The program is also available for both iOS and Android.

2

Balabolka

Balabolka

Price

Platform

Rating


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Windows

Notable Features: Skin support, multi-language, SAPI 4.x/5.x voices and the Microsoft Speech Platform text-to-speech engines, spell checking.

Balabolka means “chatterer” in Russian.

Although Balabolka doesn’t look much in terms of interface and the overall look of the software, it’s one of the best text-to-speech software for Windows – plus it’s also freeware.

Balabolka excels because of its excellent file format support which includes AZW, AZW3, CHM, DjVu, DOC, DOCX, EML, EPUB, FB2, HTML, LIT, MOBI, ODS, ODT, PDB, PRC, PDF, RTF, TCR, WPD, XLS, XLSX. To use the software, you can either copy-paste the text into the program or you can load the supported file. Regardless of which method you use, you may adjust the speech, pitch, and volume of the speech playback.

On top of reading words aloud, Balabolka also gives you the option to save the narrations as audio files (WAV, MP3, MP4, OGG or WMA file formats), so you can listen to them later.

The program supports multiple languages and you can download more content like language packs, voices, skins, and more.

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3

Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader

Zabaware

Price

Platform

Rating


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Windows

Notable Features: Add up to 11 high-quality AT&T Natural Voices, text can be saved as an audio file, speed reading.

The Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader is yet another free program that’s worth checking out.

One of the key features of this application is its ability to read standard window dialogs like pop-up boxes and alerts. So in some way, it works like a virtual personal assistant but not really. The program can also read multiple types of data including documents, emails, websites, clipboard content, and more.

In the free version, you get the basic text-to-speech features, but it only comes with generic, robotic voices. You can purchase additional high-quality, natural-sounding voices but it will cost you around $25. Personally, I don’t mind the default free voice, but I can imagine that it can be rather annoying for some users.

4

Capti

Capti

Price

Platform

Rating


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Windows, Mac, Web, iOS

Notable Features: Offline and online reading support, high-quality text to speech in over 20 languages, OCR for digitizing PDFs and images, dynamically created vocabulary games.

The Capti app is mainly geared towards learning institutions, so you can expect that it’s a powerful text-to-speech tool.

The core function of Capti is as a content aggregator. You can add content to the app in the form of document files such as DOC, PDF, EPUB, and more. It can come from various sources like your iPhone or even cloud storage accounts like Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud, Google Drive, and more. You may also use the web plugin version for reading and uploading content.

Once you have added a file, you may now play it like an audio file. You can control the speed of the playback and the program also provides track controls like Play/Pause, Next/Previous, etc. Adding content can be quite slow but I assume it’s because the program is parsing the document to produce a speakable file.

5

 WordTalk

WordTalk

Price

Platform

Rating


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Windows, MS Word

Notable Features: Speaks entire document, paragraph or word, highlights the text as it goes, change the voice and the speed, convert text to speech (WAV or MP3).

If you frequently use Word and want a good text-to-speech tool, WordTalk might just be right down your alley.

Unlike the other programs featured in this article, WordTalk is not a standalone application but simply a toolbar add-on for Micr​​​​osoft Word. It works with all versions of MS Word and can be accessed via a toolbar or ribbon, depending on the version you are using.

We have to say that the toolbar doesn’t look much, thanks to its juvenile design. Also, it’s not clear what the functions of the buttons are. Fortunately, it does come with a handy help file.

The tool supports both SAPI 4 and SAPI 5 voices which can be customized based on your preferences. You can also save narrations as an audio file which is a really nice touch.

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6

Panopretor Basic

Panopreter Basic

Price

Platform

Rating


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Windows

Notable Features: Reads TXT files, RTF files, web pages, and Microsoft Word documents, creates audio files in WAV and MP3 formats, and supports batch file conversion, allows users to adjust voice speed and volume, reads the characters, words, phrases, or articles that you input in the window.

Panopreter Basic is a program that delivers text-to-speech functions with no fuss. The program supports plain and rich text files, MS Word documents, and web pages. You can then export the output as an audio file (WAV and MP3).

The default should work well for quick and basic tasks. However, we recommend that you spend some time exploring the settings of the program to find options such as being able to change the language, set custom interface colors, destination of saved audio files, and more.

If you need more features, you can go for the premium version of Panopreter ($29.95) which includes a toolbar for MS Word or Internet Explorer.

7

TextSpeech Pro Deluxe

TextSpeech Pro

Price

Platform

Rating


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Windows

Notable Features: U.S. English AT&T Natural Voices, convert text from any document into natural-sounding speech, read web pages and emails using integrated text-to-speech tools, export synthesized speech from documents to a variety of audio file formats.

TextSpeech Pro Deluxe is a text-to-speech program that packs a lot of power and great features.

As you can see, TextSpeech Pro is a paid program but don’t let that scare you. The features alone and the fact that it works is worth the price tag. TextSpeech Pro can convert most document files (text, Microsoft Word, PDF, Microsoft Excel, RTF, etc) into speech. The speech sounds rather natural unlike most programs that sound generic or robotic or both.

Emails and web pages are also supported with the integrated text-to-speech tools. You may also convert the speech into audio files (MP3, WAV), so you can listen to it while in the car or doing pretty much anything. Overall, TextSpeech Pro Deluxe is one of the best paid software out there.

8

TextAloud

TextAloud

Price

Platform

Rating


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Windows

Notable Features: Save text to MP3, automatic iTunes syncing, optional AT&T Natural Voices Mike & Crystal, multi-language, batch file converter, skin support.

TextAloud is a product of NextUp Technologies.

Although it’s technically paid software, you can download TextAloud for free and give it a try for a couple of days. The program utilizes voice synthesis to read aloud documents, web pages, email and more. The text can be converted to audio and save it as an MP3 or WAV file, so you can easily play it with devices like MP3 players and iPhones.

The TextAloud features a pretty intuitive interface which is a breeze to use. Plus, the app supports skins, so you can tweak the look based to your liking. You also have the option to adjust the volume, voice, and pitch of the speech.

TextAloud is available for $34.95 which uses the default Windows voices. If you want natural sounding voices, you can purchase the AT&T Natural Voices Mike & Crystal or Acapela Sharon and Ryan voice add-ons.

9

Voice Dream Reader

Voice Dream Reader

Price

Platform

Rating


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iOS, Android

Notable Features: 186 voices, 30 languages, auto-scrolling and full-screen, works with Dropbox, iCloud, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Box, multi-document format support.

Voice Dream Reader is mainly geared towards mobile users, specifically iOS and Android users.

Voice Dream Reader (iTunes link, Google Play link) supports a wide range of file formats like PDF, plain text, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, RTF, and Google Docs. It can also read web pages by simply highlighting the text that you want to convert to speech. The text can also be converted to MP3, MP4 or zipped MP3 format which you can listen to later straight from your phone.

Purchasing the app will get you one premium Acapela voice of your choice. There are also additional 200+ premium voices in 30 languages available through in-app purchases.

Other features include bookmarking, annotations, full-text search, built-in dictionary, Safari extension for web pages, and many others. The only downside is that it can’t read DRM-protected ebooks, which is basically every ebook that’s available in iBooks and Kindle.

Overall, this is a top-notch text-to-speech app for mobile users.


Found Your Text-to-Speech Software Yet?

That wraps up our roundup of the best text-to-speech software for various platforms.

Many of these applications are available for free, so you don’t have to spend a single cent for your text-to-speech needs. However, if you’re someone who relies on or benefits from text-to-speech features, you should consider purchasing a premium or paid software.

So what do you think of our list of text-to-speech software? Did we leave out a favorite app of yours? Comment your favorite software down below.

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Filed Under: Apps/Softwares Tagged With: software, Text to Speech Transcription

10 Best DVD Burning Software For Mac And Windows – To Burn The Data

December 1, 2018 By Mary Duncan Leave a Comment

There is very little doubt that the age of DVDs has long passed.

In this day and age, most folks would prefer to store their files and media through USB drives and cloud storage services since they’re so much more convenient. However, there are still many people that use DVDs to save their files due to their reliability and a lesser chance of being damaged or corrupted. Using DVDs is also a good way to back up your files.

However, unlike a USB flash drive or cloud storage services, storing data on a DVD is a little bit more complicated. You need to burn the data on the DVD by using burning software. Of course, you will also need a DVD burner or writer hardware to burn files on a DVD.

If you are looking for the best DVD burning software for Mac and Windows, then you’ve come to the right place. Below, we have compiled some of the best DVD burning applications that you can use to burn your DVDs.

Quick Navigation

How We Chose Our Ratings
Top 10 Best DVD Burning Software for Mac and Windows
Burn Away

How We Chose Our Ratings

Rounding up the best DVD burning software is never an easy task. There is no shortage of software that you can find online, both free and paid programs.

So how do we decide if a software is worth your time and money?

You can trust we have done our homework and have tested each application to give you honest and accurate recommendations. We have taken into account some factors like features, ease of use, the design of the interface, price, and many others.

Also, we have considered the feedback of actual users for each program we tested. After all, if a program has worked great for many people, there’s a good chance that you’ll have a similar positive experience as well.

Top 10 Best DVD Burning Software for Mac and Windows

We’ll divide our recommendations into two sections, for Mac and Windows. Let’s get to it!

Best DVD Burning Software for Mac

Burn 

Burn

QUALITY

PRICE

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$$$

If you are looking for a no-fuss, easy-to-use DVD burner for Mac, Burn is an easy program to recommend.

Burn is a lightweight program but is surprisingly powerful. The program has four main modules: Data, Audio, Video, and Copy.

Data is for when you copy files from your computer to a hard drive. This is ideal for backing up files to a DVD. Audio is for creating audio DVDs and CDs resulting in a *.cda format, which you can play in your car and others. The Video module is for creating a DVD movie complete with interactive menus and themes. Copy is basically for “copy a disc or disc image to a DVD.”

One thing that I enjoy about Burn is the drag-and-drop interface which makes the software a breeze to use. You also don’t need to convert anything since the program does it for you during the burning process. Best of all, it’s free.

Disco App

Disco App

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PRICE

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$$$

Disco’s main claim to fame is that the app actually emits smoke while you are burning a DVD or CD. It’s a completely superfluous feature but it’s still a nice touch.

Now for the features that are actually useful, Disco supports multisession burning and seamless disc-spanning (in cases where files are too big for a single CD or DVD), and provides a record of every session you’ve done so you can easily search and find the disc you want without going through your entire collection.

Disco also supports a wide range of CD/DVD types. The app supports CD/DVD-ReWritable discs for burning and erasing, even dual-layer DVDs. You can also create disc images from files and discs with formats like ISO, DMG, and CDR.

Unfortunately, Disco’s development has come to a halt since 2011. However, the app is still downloadable but it’s not guaranteed to work in all OS X versions. It’s a really great app if it works.

Disc Burner 

Disc Burner

QUALITY

PRICE

RATING

$$$

We got another free DVD burning application for you.

The Disc Burner program by CentroMedia is another lightweight burner but not light in features. Their website might not be the prettiest but trust us when we say that Disc Burner is one of the best DVD burning software that you can get for Mac.

This is a fairly comprehensive burner that supports both CD and DVD for burning music, video, data, and photo. That’s right, Disc Burner can burn photos to a DVD disc although it’s no photo slideshow maker for the Mac. It’s a great way to back up and protect your photos via DVDs.

Disc Burner is quite straightforward to use, and the interface is a joy to navigate. Writing speed is also fairly decent and you can continue working while it burns in the background.

SimplyBurns 

Simply Burn

QUALITY

PRICE

RATING

$$$

SimplyBurns is yet another free DVD burning program for Mac OS X users.

The SimplyB​​​​urns app is still labeled as beta but it’s a full-featured burning software and it works great. Upon launching the application, you’ll find five modules: Data, Audio, 1:1 Copy, Rip Disc, and Burn Image.

Of course, there are your usual Data and Audio burning functions for backing up your files and creating music discs. The application can also duplicate a DVD with just a few clicks. One interesting feature is the Rip Disc which basically copies or extracts the existing data on a DVD which you can save to your computer or flash drive.

Like all good DVD burning programs, SimplyBurns is very easy to use, thanks to its intuitive user interface. Writer speeds are pretty good and I’ve yet to experience an error while burning. Unfortunately, there’s no option to create DVD movies.

Toast 17 Titanium

Roxio Toast 17 Titanium - Complete DVD Burner & Digital Media...

QUALITY

PRICE

RATING

$$$

Toast Titanium is one of the more popular premium DVD burners for the Mac.

As you can see, the Toast Titanium comes with a $ price tag but that also means it’s packed to the brim with features. Although many free apps can rival Toast’s burning features, the main strength of Toast lies in the video department. This burning software should be your go-to when it comes to making professional-looking DVDs with its advanced DVD authoring features. If you have the necessary hardware, you can also burn Blu-ray discs.

Toast has just about everything that you can get from a burning software suite. It can copy CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray Discs. It supports MultiCam Capture and can record audio and video clips, and afterward, edit them using the same program.

Toast can also write encrypted data to a USB drive using the Roxio Secure Burn. This protects your private information with banking-level encryption (AES 256-bit).

Being premium software guarantees that the developers will support Toast Titanium by adding more features, releasing updates, and fixing bugs.

Best DVD Burning Software for Windows

Ashampoo Burning Studio 

Ashampoo

QUALITY

PRICE

RATING

$$$

When it comes to apps and software, many people tend to gravitate to a program that looks good and easy to use. Ashampoo Burning Studio is one of those programs.

Ashampoo is a name that sounds rather silly but the software itself is top-notch. Once you see its interface, you’ll think that it’s paid software. Ashampoo features a beautiful, well-designed interface that looks modern and easy to use.

You have the usual features like burning data, music, movies, disc images, and others. You can also copy discs and erase rewritable discs using the program. When it comes to burning discs, Ashampoo delivers all the necessary goods which are more than you can ask for in free software.

The only downside that we can find is that the supported formats are rather limited. If you want more features, you can get the paid version of the tool for around $15.

ImgBurn (Free)

ImgBurn

QUALITY

PRICE

RATING

$$$

ImgBurn is a very versatile disc image burning utility for the Windows platform.

If you are dealing with a wide range of disc formats, then you should definitely check out ImgBurn. Supported formats include BIN, CCD, CDI, CUE, DI, DVD, GI, IMG, ISO, MDS, NRG, and PDI. Plus, it can burn just about every digital media disc available from the classic CDs to Blu-ray.

ImgBurn offers plenty of options so it can become quite complicated to use. However, the interface is very simple with large graphic modules to help you out. It takes some getting used to but it’s really not that hard to use.

ImgBurn might not be the most user-friendly burning software out there, but that only means that this utility is deeply configurable. It offers a ton of features for the more savvy users. But that’s not saying that ImgBurn requires some coding knowledge because it’s still a fairly simple tool to use.

BurnAware 

BurnAware Pro

QUALITY

PRICE

RATING

$$$

Here’s another free software for you that doesn’t scrimp on features.

BurnAware is a basic burning tool that supports CDs, DVD, Blu-rays and dual-layer media. With this tool, you can create music, video, data, and bootable discs, as well as work with disc images. These features are pretty standard for most burning software, but BurnAware makes it all accessible so it feels more than the sum of its parts.

The interface of BurnAware looks very clean and sparse which is exactly how we want it. You don’t want to work with a software with lots of clutter that only leads to confusion. The interface looks very simple and easy to get around, so you can work with your task quickly and efficiently.

Although BurnAware is free software, there are paid versions both for personal and commercial use. It’s slightly disappointing that it doesn’t have disc-to-disc copying, and you’ll have to get a premium version for that.

CDBurnerXP

CD Burner XP

QUALITY

PRICE

RATING

$$$

You are probably thinking, “why are you guys recommending a burning software for XP?” Although CDBurnerXP has an “XP” in its name, it’s fully compatible with the latest Windows 10.

CDBurnerXP will burn anything that you throw at it like CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs. If you have rewritable discs, you may also use the tool to erase data from the discs and burn brand-new data on them. It also supports disc-to-disc copying which is a nice touch for a free tool. ISO images are also supported so you can burn them to your discs.

Like most free software, CDBurnerXP looks very bare-bones with a fairly straightforward interface and few features. One drawback that we have encountered is that the utility requires the .NET framework which requires extra installation. Not really a big deal if you already have the framework installed on your PC.

Alcohol 120% DVD Burning

Alcohol-120

Back in the early 2000s, Alcohol 120% is a very popular DVD burning suite, and for good reasons.

Alcohol 120% DVD Burning is not free, but you can try out the tool with its free 15-day trial. When it comes to duplicating CDs and DVDs, Alcohol 120% is an amazing tool to use. However, it doesn’t have that many tools for creating discs from scratch. In fact, the steep learning curve of the software is its largest drawback. Performing the most basic burning task can be a challenge.

Alcohol 120% largely excels in copying DVD discs. We used the copy wizard to duplicate a DVD and the whole process took only a few minutes. Another good thing about Alcohol 120% is how easy it is to extract and create disc images like ISO. This can be a good thing if you’re looking to mass-produce DVD discs.

Burn Away

That wraps up our best DVD burning software for Mac and Windows.

As you can see, many DVD burning programs are free, so you really don’t need to spend a cent to create or copy DVDs. However, even the paid programs are certainly worth the investment if you’re looking for more features or for commercial use.

So what’s your best DVD burning software? Feel free to share your picks in the comments!

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Roxio Toast 17 Titanium - Complete DVD Burner &...
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Filed Under: Apps/Softwares

List Of The Best Apps For Apple Watch: What Suits Your Needs?

October 17, 2018 By Daniel Giordano Leave a Comment

If you’ve purchased an Apple Watch recently, or just want to get more out of your investment, you’ll want to peruse this list of helpful applications for your Apple Watch.

These apps can do just about anything a tablet can do, only on a much more portable scale.

Quick Navigation

What is the Apple Watch?
The Best Apps for Apple Watch by Category
Health and Fitness Apps
The Best Apple Watch Apps

What is the Apple Watch?

The Apple Watch is one of the smartwatches we’ve been hearing about for a good long while now. The first smartwatch, which could be defined as a miniature “wearable” computer, dates back to the 70s with the first battery powered digital watch from Seiko.

What we consider a smartwatch today, however, is an entirely different animal. These watches are capable of running calculations, tracking fitness and health aspects of the wearer, keep track of calories burned while exercising, track sleep patterns of the wearer, and a whole host of other things.

Apple Watches stand apart from their competitors with a different styles, designs, and interfaces.

Apple Watches also have a much larger number of applications than many other smartwatches because of the proven success of Apple in general. These apps are more prevalent with Apple because developers are willing to take the risk on exclusive apps for Apple due to their success.

Apple watches come in a variety of colors and styles, including the $17,000 model that’s got red straps and an 18-karat gold case. Most of us will aim a bit lower for the models in the under $500 range.

The Best Apps for Apple Watch by Category

Health and Fitness Apps


WorkOutdoors


One of the best apps for Apple Watch in the fitness and health realm, the WorkOutdoors app will help you track your location and your training progress.

Workoutdoors maps

 It uses your Apple Watch’s GPS service independent of your iPhone, meaning you can leave the phone behind on your workouts. The app features things like bread-crumb tracking, customizable stat displays, and custom points of interest along your routes.

The WorkOutdoors app is one of the most customizable fitness apps available for your Apple Watch. The data all translates easily to a number of fitness apps on your phone or computer for over-arching training and fitness tracking.


Streaks


Another one of the best apps for Apple Watch, the Streaks app helps you make small changes to life.

streaks

 These small changes, like getting a few hundred more steps per day, or eating a few less calories daily, will make your life changes stick. You can use the wide range of data collection tools on the Streaks app for making these small habit alterations, a little at a time.

The Streaks App also lets you set reminders for walking the dog, taking your vitamins, or practicing a musical instrument. The app is designed to help with anything that will improve your way of life.


Gymaholic


For the gym rat, Gymaholic helps you track your gym workouts. You can manually log workouts through this app, and view tutorials on how to use the various machines at your gym.

Gymaholic

Auto Sleep


The great thing about this particular sleep tracking app is that, like its name suggests, the app works automatically. Many other apps have to be turned on and off, and who’s going to remember every night to do that?

auto sleep

 Since Auto Sleep does what it says, it’s one of the easiest sleep tracking apps to use. Even better, the Auto Sleep App is as accurate as some of the higher end apps, and can easily be adjusted for sensitivity.


Sleep++


If you’re looking for an even more bare-bones app than the Auto Sleep, you can try this free sleep tracking app for your Apple Watch.

sleep++

 You can view a chart that displays your sleep patterns and can send your data to Apple Health. It does not turn off and on automatically, though, so you’ll need to remember to start and stop the app each morning and night.


Pillow


Pillow uses heart rate, movement, and sounds to track your sleep patterns. The data is then presented in an eye-catching, easy-to-read chart. You have to manually start and stop the app based around your sleep times.

Pillow

Travel and Commuting Apps


CityMapper


The iPhone app, CityMapper, gives point-to-point directions that can help you get around town in the car, or on public transit in any of the cities supported by the app. The Apple Watch version of the app is just as good at this, which makes it far more convenient for anyone trying to make quick or stressful direction changes.

Citymapper

 Each step along the way is mapped out clearly, enabling you to get from point A to point B without all that extra stress of waiting for maps to load on your phone.

 You can easily access information about your favorite spots, and public transit info for buses, trains, and even ferries.


Find Near Me


Find near me

This awesome little app helps you find the key places you need to go. Need a Chinese restaurant? Find Near Me will get you there. Need a laundromat, zoo, or ATM? Click on the list of places under the category you’re looking at, and the app will get you there with info on distance from your location.

You can also review restaurant reviews and contact info, along with directions to the place of choice.


iTranslate


iTranslate

If you’re traveling overseas, a translation app on your wrist is about as convenient and beneficial as you can get. You can speak or scribble into the app to find the information you need. The iTranslate app also helps with proper pronunciation.


App in the Air


If you fly a lot, App in the Air is a great option for you. It tracks your information, like your gate number, gate arrival deadline, and directions to that hard to figure out gate location.

App in the air

 The app on your Apple Watch tracks the immediate information, but the app in your iPhone also keeps track of your frequent flier points, live status changes, flight history, and pretty much everything else related to your flying experiences.


Transit


If you’re like many city-dwelling Americans, this transit app is going to come in handy. The app assumes that any time you engage it, you’re in a hurry and need the information fast. The app provides instant departure information, nearby transit stop locations, and a quick and easy “take me home” button that gives you the best route via transit to return to your place of residence.

Transit

 Transit can help save you a few seconds, which can make the difference between catching that train or bus or not, and having to wait around for a while before the next one comes.

If you’ve ever been late to meeting because of that extra two seconds it took you to get through the turnstile, you understand the value of a few seconds.

Transit is primarily for Americans but does work in over 50 cities outside of the United States.

Weather Apps


Dark Sky


Dark Sky Weather

If you’re ever had issues with checking your weather report, and then stepping outside in a light jacket when you needed a warm coat, you’ll love the Dark Sky app. This Apple Watch app tracks the forecast, for your personal location. Your immediate vicinity is where the Dark Sky works, not out at some airport twenty miles away.

Dark Sky will keep you up to date on the forecast in your area, including an hour’s notice of incoming rain or snow. You can also get a seven-day forecast.

Dark Sky is known for being more accurate than many other weather apps on the market.


Carrot Weather


The saucy Carrot weather app dishes out your weather forecast through customized settings.

Carrot Weather

This app isn’t for the easily offended, though, as the app actually laughs at any weather misfortunes you experience during your day.

Entertainment Apps


djay 2


The algorithms of the djay 2 let users turn their Apple Watches into a mixing machine like the pros use.

Djay2

 Your Spotify Pro account integrates your playlists and information, giving you a pretty much limitless supply of tunes for your party. You can use the app on your iPhone to intensify the results, or you can let the features on the Apple Watch app lead the way.

With the Apple Watch app, you can fade from track to track, add special effects, turn on auto-mix, or pause and sync your list.


Lifeline


lifeline

Lifeline is a game app for your Apple Watch. It’s been described as a bit of a “choose your own adventure” on your wrist. You control the fate of an astronaut’s survival. You make decisions along the way, while the story plays out in real-time.

The script is humorous, entertaining, and intelligent, and keeps you engaged as long you stay tuned in.


FiLMiC Pro


FilMic Pro

If you’re more of a camera and video guy, the FiLMiC Pro is your Apple Watch app. You’ll notice some potentially low ratings for the app, but you’ll also notice not that many users have rated this recording app for your Apple Watch.

The FiLMiC Pro is a powerful iOS camera app used by film-makers, and journalists. You’ll just need a great editor to great professional level video with this stellar app.


Trivia Crack


TriviaCrack

A trivia game designed for multiplayer use, this straight forward game is perfect for the Apple Watch.

You play against real people, answering multiple-choice questions within a category you choose. There’s a pretty massive collection of questions, so you’re unlikely to hit the same questions for a while.


Runeblade


Runeblade

Runeblade, a game app for the Apple Watch, is an award-winning fantasy adventure game. You can get the base app for free, but of course, there are lots of add-ons you can purchase to improve your gaming quality.

Runeblade is a bit simpler than your typical role-playing game, or RPG, but that’s mainly because your Apple Watch is a simpler machine than a smartphone or tablet. Basically, that makes this a fun game for killing a few minutes here or there in transit.

Personal Finances and Calculator Apps


Pennies App


Pennies App

The Pennies App is a personal budgeting and financial tracking app for your Apple Watch. We love that you can keep lists, create a budget, and input values any time you spend or receive money.

If you’re rebuilding your finances, paying bills for the first time on your own, or in need of just getting that spending under control, the Pennies app can help.

If you need a constant reminder to keep your spending in check, you can set up the Pennies app as a complication for your watch dial.


PCalc


PCalc

Reviewers have called the PCalc the best calculator app for the Apple Watch. The app had large buttons that make navigating the app easy on your watch dial. Overall, the app is easy to navigate and use. There’s even a third screen that can be used for doing your calculations on.

You can either do the paid version of the PCalc app, or go for the free PCalc Lite app, which doesn’t have as many features, but is still functional.


Calzy 3


Calzy 3

A runner up to the PCalc, the Calzy 3 calculator app is a revamped version designed for the iOS 11 system. This calculator app has the operators on the same screen, which makes for easier calculations and less swiping. That means that Calzy 3 is a much faster app to use than others, though you’ll need a more precise tap on the screen to hit the numbers accurately.

Calzy 3 also keeps a running total while you do your calculations. Calzy 3 also offers some great features on the iPhone app, like a customizable keypad, and currency rounding.

Overall, Calzy 3 isn’t as comprehensive as some of the other calculation apps, like PCalc, but it is a great, basic app for calculations at your wrist.

The Best Apple Watch Apps

It’s important to track your health, your fitness training, sleep patterns, and eating habits. It’s also important to know what to wear as you step outside.

These awesome apps will help you do that, and keep you entertained while you wait on the train. One tip - be sure to keep track of your Apple Watch’s data capacity and don’t overload it to the point you can’t use it well.

Filed Under: Apps/Softwares, Smartwatch, Technology

The Best Apps For Apple Watch – Health And Fitness Apps

October 1, 2018 By Mary Duncan Leave a Comment

apple watch apps

If you’ve purchased an Apple Watch recently, or just want to get more out of your investment, you’ll want to peruse this list of helpful applications for your Apple Watch.

These apps can do just about anything a tablet can do, only on a much more portable scale.

Quick Navigation

What is the Apple Watch?
Health and Fitness Apps
Travel and Commuting Apps
Weather Apps
Entertainment Apps
Personal Finances and Calculator Apps
The Best Apple Watch Apps

What is the Apple Watch?

The Apple Watch is one of the smartwatches we’ve been hearing about for a good long while now. The first smartwatch, which could be defined as a miniature “wearable” computer, dates back to the 70s with the first battery powered digital watch from Seiko.

What we consider a smartwatch today, however, is an entirely different animal. These watches are capable of running calculations, tracking fitness and health aspects of the wearer, keep track of calories burned while exercising, track sleep patterns of the wearer, and a whole host of other things.

Apple Watches stand apart from their competitors with a different styles, designs, and interfaces.

Apple Watches also have a much larger number of applications than many other smartwatches because of the proven success of Apples in general. These apps are more prevalent with Apple because developers are willing to take the risk on exclusive apps for Apple due to their success.

Apple watches come in a variety of colors and styles, including the $17,000 model that’s got red straps and an 18-karat gold case. Most of us will aim a bit lower for the models in the under $500 range.

The Best Apps for Apple Watch by Category

Health and Fitness Apps

WorkOutdoors

One of the best apps for Apple Watch in the fitness and health realm, the WorkOutdoors app will help you track your location and your training progress.

It uses your Apple Watch’s GPS service independent of your iPhone, meaning you can leave the phone behind on your workouts. The app features things like bread-crumb tracking, customizable stat displays, and custom points of interest along your routes.

The WorkOutdoors app is one of the most customizable fitness apps available for your Apple Watch. The data all translates easily to a number of fitness apps on your phone or computer for over-arching training and fitness tracking.

Streaks

Another one of the best apps for Apple Watch, the Streaks app helps you make small changes to life.

These small changes, like getting a few hundred more steps per day, or eating a few less calories daily, will make your life changes stick. You can use the wide range of data collection tools on the Streaks app for making these small habit alterations, a little at a time.

The Streaks App also lets you set reminders for walking the dog, taking your vitamins, or practicing a musical instrument. The app is designed to help with anything that will improve your way of life.

Gymaholic

For the gym rat, Gymaholic helps you track your gym workouts. You can manually log workouts through this app, and view tutorials on how to use the various machines at your gym.

Auto Sleep

The great thing about this particular sleep tracking app is that, like its name suggests, the app works automatically. Many other apps have to be turned on and off, and who’s going to remember every night to do that?

Since Auto Sleep does what it says, it’s one of the easiest sleep tracking apps to use. Even better, the Auto Sleep App is as accurate as some of the higher end apps, and can easily be adjusted for sensitivity.

Sleep++

If you’re looking for an even more bare-bones app than the Auto Sleep, you can try this free sleep tracking app for your Apple Watch.

You can view a chart that displays your sleep patterns and can send your data to Apple Health. It does not turn off and on automatically, though, so you’ll need to remember to start and stop the app each morning and night.

Pillow

Pillow uses heart rate, movement, and sounds to track your sleep patterns. The data is then presented in an eye-catching, easy-to-read chart. You have to manually start and stop the app based around your sleep times.

Travel and Commuting Apps

CityMapper

City mapper-sketch map

The iPhone app, CityMapper, gives point-to-point directions that can help you get around town in the car, or on public transit in any of the cities supported by the app. The Apple Watch version of the app is just as good at this, which makes it far more convenient for anyone trying to make quick or stressful direction changes.

Each step along the way is mapped out clearly, enabling you to get from point A to point B without all that extra stress of waiting for maps to load on your phone.

You can easily access information about your favorite spots, and public transit info for buses, trains, and even ferries.

Find Near Me

Find-Near-Me-Apps

This awesome little app helps you find the key places you need to go. Need a Chinese restaurant? Find Near Me will get you there. Need a laundromat, zoo, or ATM? Click on the list of places under the category you’re looking at, and the app will get you there with info on distance from your location.

You can also review restaurant reviews and contact info, along with directions to the place of choice.

iTranslate

​

Holding iPhone

If you’re traveling overseas, a translation app on your wrist is about as convenient and beneficial as you can get. You can speak or scribble into the app to find the information you need. The iTranslate app also helps with proper pronunciation.

App in the Air

App in the Air-Flight tracker

If you fly a lot, App in the Air is a great option for you. It tracks your information, like your gate number, gate arrival deadline, and directions to that hard to figure out gate location.

The app on your Apple Watch tracks the immediate information, but the app in your iPhone also keeps track of your frequent flier points, live status changes, flight history, and pretty much everything else related to your flying experiences.

Transit

transit application for mobile phones

If you’re like many city-dwelling Americans, this transit app is going to come in handy. The app assumes that any time you engage it, you’re in a hurry and need the information fast. The app provides instant departure information, nearby transit stop locations, and a quick and easy “take me home” button that gives you the best route via transit to return to your place of residence.

Transit can help save you a few seconds, which can make the difference between catching that train or bus or not, and having to wait around for a while before the next one comes.

If you’ve ever been late to meeting because of that extra two seconds it took you to get through the turnstile, you understand the value of a few seconds.

Transit is primarily for Americans but does work in over 50 cities outside of the United States.

Weather Apps

Dark Sky

If you’re ever had issues with checking your weather report, and then stepping outside in a light jacket when you needed a warm coat, you’ll love the Dark Sky app. This Apple Watch app tracks the forecast, for your personal location. Your immediate vicinity is where the Dark Sky works, not out at some airport twenty miles away.

Dark Sky will keep you up to date on the forecast in your area, including an hour’s notice of incoming rain or snow. You can also get a seven-day forecast.

Dark Sky is known for being more accurate than many other weather apps on the market.

Carrot W​eather

The saucy Carrot weather app dishes out your weather forecast through customized settings.

This app isn’t for the easily offended, though, as the app actually laughs at any weather misfortunes you experience during your day.

Entertainment Apps

djay 2

The algorithms of the djay 2 let users turn their Apple Watches into a mixing machine like the pros use.

Your Spotify Pro account integrates your playlists and information, giving you a pretty much limitless supply of tunes for your party. You can use the app on your iPhone to intensify the results, or you can let the features on the Apple Watch app lead the way.

With the Apple Watch app, you can fade from track to track, add special effects, turn on auto-mix, or pause and sync your list.

Lifeline

Lifeline is a game app for your Apple Watch. It’s been described as a bit of a “choose your own adventure” on your wrist. You control the fate of an astronaut’s survival. You make decisions along the way, while the story plays out in real-time.

The script is humorous, entertaining, and intelligent, and keeps you engaged as long you stay tuned in.

FiLMiC Pro

If you’re more of a camera and video guy, the FiLMiC Pro is your Apple Watch app. You’ll notice some potentially low ratings for the app, but you’ll also notice not that many users have rated this recording app for your Apple Watch.

The FiLMiC Pro is a powerful iOS camera app used by film-makers, and journalists. You’ll just need a great editor to great professional level video with this stellar app.

Trivia Crack

A trivia game designed for multiplayer use, this straight forward game is perfect for the Apple Watch.

You play against real people, answering multiple-choice questions within a category you choose. There’s a pretty massive collection of questions, so you’re unlikely to hit the same questions for a while.

Runeblade

Runeblade, a game app for the Apple Watch, is an award-winning fantasy adventure game. You can get the base app for free, but of course, there are lots of add-ons you can purchase to improve your gaming quality.

Runeblade is a bit simpler than your typical role-playing game, or RPG, but that’s mainly because your Apple Watch is a simpler machine than a smartphone or tablet. Basically, that makes this a fun game for killing a few minutes here or there in transit.

Personal Finances and Calculator Apps

Pennies App

The Pennies App is a personal budgeting and financial tracking app for your Apple Watch. We love that you can keep lists, create a budget, and input values any time you spend or receive money.

If you’re rebuilding your finances, paying bills for the first time on your own, or in need of just getting that spending under control, the Pennies app can help.

If you need a constant reminder to keep your spending in check, you can set up the Pennies app as a complication for your watch dial.

PCalc

Reviewers have called the PCalc the best calculator app for the Apple Watch. The app had large buttons that make navigating the app easy on your watch dial. Overall, the app is easy to navigate and use. There’s even a third screen that can be used for doing your calculations on.

You can either do the paid version of the PCalc app, or go for the free PCalc Lite app, which doesn’t have as many features, but is still functional.

Calzy 3

A runner up to the PCalc, the Calzy 3 calculator app is a revamped version designed for the iOS 11 system. This calculator app has the operators on the same screen, which makes for easier calculations and less swiping. That means that Calzy 3 is a much faster app to use than others, though you’ll need a more precise tap on the screen to hit the numbers accurately.

Calzy 3 also keeps a running total while you do your calculations. Calzy 3 also offers some great features on the iPhone app, like a customizable keypad, and currency rounding.

Overall, Calzy 3 isn’t as comprehensive as some of the other calculation apps, like PCalc, but it is a great, basic app for calculations at your wrist.

The Best Apple Watch Apps

It’s important to track your health, your fitness training, sleep patterns, and eating habits. It’s also important to know what to wear as you step outside.

These awesome apps will help you do that, and keep you entertained while you wait on the train. One tip - be sure to keep track of your Apple Watch’s data capacity and don’t overload it to the point you can’t use it well.

Filed Under: Apps/Softwares, Smartwatch Tagged With: Entertainment Apps, Personal Finances and Calculator Apps, The Best Apple Watch Apps, Travel and Commuting Apps, Weather Apps

Facebook Quiz App Exposes Data of Millions of Users

June 29, 2018 By Mary Duncan Leave a Comment

Quiz sign written in colorful letters on a black background


Nametests accessed and then exposed private data belonging to 120 million people

The data leaking problem is one of the most popular subjects of the moment, as many people saw how their data has been stolen from websites and social media platforms. If you thought all the new privacy policies would solve the issue, you were wrong. A security researcher discovered a quiz app popular on Facebook accessed a lot more data than it should have.

Facebook deals with another privacy concern

If you wanted to find out what you did in a past life or which Star Wars character you are, you might have unknowingly given access to way too much of your personal data. One security researchers discovered the popular quiz app called Nametests exposed private information on over 120 million people. Even after the deletion of the app, the problem persisted, so the problem was really serious.

This shows Facebook is still dealing with privacy issues even after the scandal with Cambridge Analytica. In fact, this company used a personality quiz, too, to obtain all the data on 87 million users. Back then, it accessed the info without their knowledge, and the Nametests quiz app did the same.

The quiz app leaked information on over 120 million people

However, this time, it’s not entirely Facebook’s fault. This privacy concern had nothing to do with Facebook’s privacy policy, as the website of the quiz app was the one with faulty coding. Fortunately, Facebook acted quickly to solve the problem.

The platform published an official post informing users of the vulnerability of the quiz app. However, both the Facebook and the Nametests developers worked together to solve the issues and prevent further data leaks.

The company revealed it acted on the issue as soon as the security researcher made the data public. He said he understood something was wrong when he saw all his private info being loaded on the quiz app website without any security measures. Then, he realized people could access the data if they had the link to his result.

Image source: Pixabay

Filed Under: Apps/Softwares

Facebook Helps You Stay Spoiler-Free with Keyword Snooze

June 28, 2018 By Lori David Leave a Comment

Person typing on a laptop while a social website is open on the screen

Keyword Snooze blocks certain keywords from appearing on your news feed

Everyone hates going online before watching the last episode of their favorite show, since it’s full of spoilers. Facebook knows it and is now giving you the chance to run away from them. With the new feature Keyboard Snooze, you can select the information you want to know nothing about and keep it from appearing on your news feed.

Keyword Snooze is a method of filtering the news feed

Today, you might think it’s really hard to stay uninformed. The internet is full of news and, with the rise of social media, you get them even when you don’t want to. However, Facebook understands some people might want to avoid reading information on a certain topic, so it has just presented its new feature.

The platform will start testing Keyword Snooze, the tool that will filter posts based on the information they present. Most probably, the feature is meant to keep people from getting spoilers for their favorite movies and TV series. Also, it you find a topic disturbing, you can introduce the keywords related to it and Facebook will help you avoid this type of news.

The feature lets you block content for a period of 30 days

If you want to test the Keyword Snooze, here is how it works. Whenever you stumble upon a post you don’t like, you can tap the icon in its right corner. There, you can tap the Keyword Snooze feature that will pull keywords directly from the text of the post.

From all these words, you can select the unpleasant keywords and snooze them from your news feed. For the next 30 days, Facebook will block any post containing the keyword from appearing on your feed. Once these 30 days pass, the posts will start reappearing, but you can just snooze keywords endlessly.

Facebook has explained the Keyword Snooze feature is not about keeping people uninformed. On the contrary, this is an attempt to keep the platform as peaceful and friendly as possible. Therefore, when people stumble upon something they find unpleasant, they can just block this content from further disturbing them.

Image source: PxHere

Filed Under: Apps/Softwares

Snapchat Might Be Preparing a Gaming Platform Within Its App

June 28, 2018 By Brandi McCants Leave a Comment

Snapchat launched on a smartphone thrown on the bed

The Snapchat gaming platforms will play games directly in the app

You might have noticed how Snapchat has been experimenting with gaming features in its app but found nothing strange about it. According to some rumors, there was a serious reason behind this attempt, showing the platform has big plans for the future. It turns out Snapchat wants to build a gaming platform inside the app with titles developed by real publishers.

Snapchat hints at an in-app gaming platform

In the past, Snapchat inserted some mini-games within its app which allowed users to have a little more fun than usual. These elements weren’t too complex, so users didn’t think they could hint at something else. Now, some new rumors have arisen claiming that Snapchat is preparing to launch a gaming platform of its own.

This time, Snapchat has big plans, as the games won’t just be small in-app elements you can interact with. The company wants something a bit more elaborated this time, so it will start a collaboration with a series of developers.

Snapchat has been preparing to win back its users

The gaming platform will be part of Snapchat and will contain games that will only work within the app. To play these games, people will have to download them from the app store. Then, the games in question will open directly into Snapchat.

It turns out Snapchat has been preparing the gaming platform for a year. For this, it used the help of PlayCanvas, a UK company known for developing mobile games. Snapchat has acquired this company and, together, they created a special platform for developers where they can log in with their Snapchat accounts.

This gaming platform could be an attempt to restore the user number. Not a long time ago, Snapchat rolled out a redesign that left people quite disappointed, and this was immediately reflected in the decreasing number of users. Now, the company hopes these games will help them regain their popularity and bring some of these users back.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Filed Under: Apps/Softwares

Microsoft Fixes Its Facial Recognition Tool to Better Spot Darker-Skinned People

June 27, 2018 By David Crozier Leave a Comment

Drawing of a woman with a diagram on her face

Microsoft’s new facial recognition algorithm is better at recognizing people with dark skin

Some time ago, Microsoft released a facial recognition tool that was supposed to detect you in photos. However, the algorithm wasn’t flawless, as it had difficulties in recognizing people with darker skin tones. Now, the company has revealed it has improved this tool, reducing most of its inaccuracies.

The facial recognition tool had trouble with darker skin

Microsoft’s facial recognition program, called Face API, was a bit racially biased. This means it was perfect at identifying people with whiter skin, but it faced several difficulties when it came to darker-skinned people. Now, the company has finally decided to address these problems and fix them.

This new version has a much smaller error rate when it comes to identifying people of all skin colors. The facial recognition algorithms for dark skin are now better, but the system has greatly improved its capabilities when it comes to women.

Microsoft fed the algorithm with a bigger amount of data

To achieve these improvements, Microsoft fed the algorithm a much larger amount of data. It selected special samples belonging to all skin tones, ages, and gender. Also, it focused on achieving good results regardless of all these differences, so the engineers made sure the data was as diverse as possible.

There is one specific factor that defines the quality of an AI algorithm. It’s not the code behind it, but the type of data it uses. Before, Microsoft didn’t provide it with enough data to cover the entire population. Therefore, its results when it came to darker-skinned people were poorer. The company identified the weak points of the mechanism and fed it with suitable data.

However, the new version of the facial recognition tool doesn’t only account for different skin color. Microsoft knows many other elements might be present in a photo, so the new data trained the system to recognize different hairstyles, jewelry, or other accessories. Therefore, from now on, the tool should be a lot better at spotting faces in photographs.

Image source: Pixabay

Filed Under: Apps/Softwares

Google Earth Returns with an Area Measurement Tool

June 26, 2018 By Micheal Baptiste Leave a Comment

Google Earth screenshot of Sevastopol

The area measurement tool is a lot more useful than the ruler in Google Maps

After many years of living in the shadow, Google Earth is ready to make a comeback. All these years, Google kept developing the service which has now got a new series of updates. The changes are already available for web and should get on Android this week. iOS should receive it as well, but it’s not clear when this happens. This update involved an area measurement tool that might try to bring Google Earth’s popularity back.

Google Earth makes a comeback with a new update

Several years ago, Google Earth was the top mapping system everyone used. If you needed to see a satellite image or 3D representations of buildings, this was the perfect platform you could use. Gradually, Google Maps received these features as well, so the Earth app seemed no longer useful.

However, Google didn’t want to give up on it, so it kept adding features more or less silently. Now, it decided to announce a new update for Google Earth, namely an area measurement tool. To use it, you have to indicate a specific surface and then the app will measure it for you.

The area measurement tool can be really useful

This is far from being unique, since Google Maps already had a similar feature. Maps contained a ruler that allowed you to find the distance between two points. However, the area measurement tool is a lot more useful. It can accurately calculate the actual surface of an area and can have different uses. For instance, it can be great for architecture students.

The announcement is pretty exciting, as it might really bring Google Earth back into the spotlight. However, it also shows us how similar these products are. There are many Google products on the market, and they all serve different purposes. Despite this, there are clear similarities between them, as these features often overlap.

Image source: Flickr

Filed Under: Apps/Softwares

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