Google’s own video calling service, Google Hangouts, was recently retired in favor of Google Meet. What is Google Meet exactly? Previously a business service, Google Meet is a simple, click-and-start video calling service that’s now available for all Google account users. What Is Google Meet? Google Meet is Google’s premier video calling service. Originally launched in 2017 as a paid product for business users, Google’s decision to retire its consumer-orientated Google Hangouts service left a video calling-sized hole in its offerings—a hole that Google Meet is intended to replace....

However, every now and then Steam simply won’t open. What’s worse, you may not get any error message or indication of why this is happening. If that’s what you’re experiencing, these are the most common fixes. 1. Kill Steam Processes With Task Manager Steam sometimes won’t open because it never actually closed in the first place. To make sure it’s properly closed, do the following: Usually Steam will start up immediately when you open it again....

You can find launchers that cause your phone to emulate other devices, such as iOS (iPhone) smartphones, or to help integrate your phone into your home- or business-office ecosystem, or even to make your Android device behave more like another Android device. There are a few launchers, for example, designed to give your smartphone a look and feel of the popular (yet costly) Google Pixel. All Android smartphones come with their own, or a default, launcher, which is usually the result of the joint effort between the phone manufacturer and the cellular service provider....

The one glaring downside to the Apple HomeKit system is the lack of widespread compatibility. Many devices (especially those made by third parties) do not work with Apple HomeKit, which limits the number of options users have. But if you’re fully immersed in the Apple ecosystem already and you want your smart home to reflect that, never fear. We’ve put together a list of the best devices in each category for a HomeKit-powered smart home....

There are several different types of barcodes and I’ll try to show you how to create as many of them as possible for free. In order to create certain types of barcodes, you need specialized commercial software, so I won’t mention those. The most common 1D barcodes are Code 39, Code 128, UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-8, EAN-13, etc. 2D barcodes include DataMatrix, PDF 417 and QR codes. In order to create a barcode, you have to install a barcode font onto your system and then use that font in any program that supports fonts like Word, WordPad, etc....

Yeet is one of those definition-defying slang words, used in multiple ways and more as an exclamation than anything else. However, the word does have some background and meaning that most people agree to. Read on to find out what Yeet means, how it became popular, and how you can use it. The Definition of Yeet Over time, the word yeet has taken on several different meanings. However, when the term first began, it was used as an exclamation when throwing an object....

Well, the answer isn’t “witchcraft”, but a technology that has been dubbed “deepfake” and it’s causing quite a ruckus in various industries and communities. What is a “Deepfake”? The word “deepfake” comes from the term “deep learning” and of course “fake”. Deep learning is a specialized branch of machine learning, which is again part of the overall area of Artificial Intelligence. With the dramatic rise in computing power and newly-discovered ways for computers to process and analyze massive amount of data from the real world, computers can now suddenly do things most of us could never imagine....

Of course, the Portal is also plagued by the 2018 Cambridge Analytica controversy and more modern ongoing privacy concerns. If you’re interested in the device, this article will explain exactly what the Facebook Portal device is and how it works. What Is The Facebook Portal Device? The Facebook Portal device is a smart display. Its primary purpose is to make video calls to friends and family via Facebook Messenger’s built-in video calling service, but the Facebook Portal also boasts Alexa functionality....

Truthfully, headphones tuned to the Harman Curve are not everyone’s cup of tea. This article will help you understand what the Harman Curve is and the science behind it. Then, you can make an educated purchase instead of blindly buying the headphones with the highest rating. What Is the Harman Curve? Audio tuning is one of the most critical factors in determining sound quality. Sound signature is tuning frequencies: bass, mids, and treble....

The Konami Code would give Contra players an extra thirty lives. Given how difficult Contra was, those lives made it possible to survive significantly longer in the game until you got the hang of it. Since that time, the code has become world famous and has seen use in many games. Who Created The Konami Code? In the early days of gaming, difficulty sliders didn’t exist. When someone created a game, the only way to test it was to master it....

Yes, passengers on Uber also have a rating. Uber drivers have the option to choose what rides they will or will not pick up, and seeing your rating can help them to make this decision. So, it’s important to maintain a good rating if you want to be sure you can reliably get rides with Uber. What Is the Passenger Rating and How Does It Work? After every ride you take, much like how you have the option to rate your Uber driver, your driver is also able to rate you....

This is YouTube’s Restricted Mode feature in action, allowing parents and network administrators to block YouTube videos and channels that contain potentially unsafe topics from view. Here’s everything you need to know about YouTube Restricted Mode, including how to enable or disable it on your account. What is YouTube Restricted Mode? To help you understand YouTube Restricted Mode, it’s important to learn a bit more about the type of content that Google permits on its platform....

Truth be told, wireless mice have a bad reputation due to weak sensors that can cause latency and connectivity issues. Wired mice were always much better at transferring data. But in recent years, this is no longer the case. The sensors have become more responsive, and lag time brought to a minimum. So what is the difference between wired and wireless mice, and which is better? In the end, it all comes down to personal preference....

1. Throw It in the Trunk for Emergencies Older phones had batteries that lasted days or even weeks. You could buy a prepaid SIM card, load it up with a bit of talk-time, and leave it in your car for emergencies. Remember to switch the phone on every few months to check the battery. 2. Donate It to Someone Who Can Use It Older cell phones are perfectly fine for making calls and using text messages....

If you’re a Google Chrome browser user, you can find a great selection of Pinterest plugins (known as browser extensions) in the Chrome Web Store. If you aren’t a Chrome user, many of these extensions are also found in the Microsoft Edge, Apple Safari, and Mozilla Firefox extension stores as well. Finding and Installing Chrome Extensions All of the Pinterest Chrome extensions we’re highlighting here can be found on the Chrome Web Store....

However, we recently taught readers a cost-free way of creating resumes using Google Docs’ resume templates. In that article, we go over where you can find the Google Docs template gallery and what you can expect from it. Currently, the gallery is limited to just five templates, which isn’t enough for many people. Some of us are very picky when it comes to how we present ourselves, and we want to stand out....

If you’re ready to make Firefox look or function better for you, here are several ways to customize Mozilla Firefox. 1. Use a Firefox Theme Like themes in Google Chrome, you can select a theme for Firefox to match your style or mood. To access the Themes section of your Firefox browser settings easily, select the three lines on the top right of the window to view the Application Menu....

Afterpay isn’t actually the only service like this out there, though. There are quite a few others which offer a similar way to pay for your online buys. These services have some different features than Afterpay does, so if you enjoy using that but are wondering what else is out there, it’d be worth it to look into these other companies. So here are the best Afterpay alternatives to use while you shop....

This is good for saving power and money, but most computers don’t cost that much to keep on all the time anyway. Instead, I decided that I wanted to have my computer do something useful while I wasn’t working on it. Well, what can you accomplish on a PC without being around? Quite a few things actually. Here are five things you can try. Help Mankind There are quite a few projects out there that are trying to solve really complicated problems in the world, but need more resources....

The ability to synthesize human images and videos of things that people never said or did might seem scary. However, with the rise of face swap apps and the integration of deepfakes into Snapchat it seems like this technology is mostly being used for entertainment. How To Make a Deepfake Video Today anyone can download deepfake software or even use the web tools and apps to create a deepfake online....