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Add a video wallpaper to your desktop, or pin applications to the desktop with Active Desktop Plus

2021-03-05 14:47:45 UTC

Do you like Live wallpapers? Active Desktop Plus is a Windows program that allows you to pin other programs to the desktop and use video wallpapers. Tip: if you like animated wallpapers, […]

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Do you like Live wallpapers? Active Desktop Plus is a Windows program that allows you to pin other programs to the desktop and use video wallpapers. Tip: if you like animated wallpapers, check out our reviews of <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2020/10/19/autowall-is-an-open-source-program-that-can-display-animated-gifs-and-videos-as-your-wallpaper/" data-wpel-link="internal">AutoWall</a>, <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2019/12/17/awesomewallpaper-set-videos-system-information-or-galleries-as-your-desktop-background/" data-wpel-link="internal">Awesome Wallpaper</a>, <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2020/12/27/lively-wallpaper-may-be-the-ultimate-wallpaper-app-for-windows/" data-wpel-link="internal">Lively Wallpaper</a>, and <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2015/10/20/desktop-movie-plays-videos-as-video-wallpapers-on-the-desktop/" data-wpel-link="internal">Desktop Movie</a>. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168694" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Active-Desktop-Plus-is-an-open-source-program-that-allows-you-to-pin-other-programs-to-the-desktop-and-use-video-wallpapers.jpg" alt="Active Desktop Plus is an open source program that allows you to pin other programs to the desktop and use video wallpapers" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Active-Desktop-Plus-is-an-open-source-program-that-allows-you-to-pin-other-programs-to-the-desktop-and-use-video-wallpapers.jpg 1920w, https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Active-Desktop-Plus-is-an-open-source-program-that-allows-you-to-pin-other-programs-to-the-desktop-and-use-video-wallpapers-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /> The program is portable, and extracts to a 1.62MB folder. ADP as its referred to in short, has a compact interface with a side panel on the left. The sidebar has 4 icons, one for each tab. Click on the menu button in the top left corner to expand the side panel. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168692" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Active-Desktop-Plus-main-screen.jpg" alt="Active Desktop Plus - main screen" width="372" height="497" /> The Quick Add tab is the main screen in Active Desktop Plus. Drag and drop a file onto the GUI, or click on the large + button to start using it. The program supports three file formats: MP4 videos, Applications (EXE's) and webpages (doesn't seem to work). Let's add a program to ADP. Use the + plus button and navigate to the location of the EXE, and Active Desktop Plus will display a message that reads "File accepted. You may add an MP4 video in the same way. Click on the Continue button, and it will prompt you to select the monitor on which to display the added program. Hit Save and Apply, and the application will be started in maximized mode. The video wallpaper feature is cool, though it doesn't play the audio, but that is to be expected. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168690" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Active-Desktop-Plus-current-apps-screen.jpg" alt="Active Desktop Plus - current apps screen" width="372" height="497" /> Active Desktop Plus requires you to hide your desktop icons. You can minimize windows and use them as normal. Click the Toggle Lock option to pin the app to the desktop, this also prevents you from interacting with it. The Toggle Borders option hides the title bar of programs. The 2nd tab in Active Desktop Plus is called Current Apps. It allows you to manage the selected window. The program seems to add the number 1000 next to each app that you add, which was kind of funny when I tried it with Foobar2000 (I had named it Foobar) as it read Foobar 1000. Highlight an application and hit the "Close selected app" button to exit it. Go to the 3rd tab, Saved Apps, to view a list of all the programs that you added to ADP. You can also add new applications from this screen, to do so, click on the button in the top right corner. It cycles between Use Video/Website/Program. Give the shortcut a name, and choose some additional options including one that sets the program to start locked or pinned, and then hit the "Add to saved apps" button. To open a shortcut in Active Desktop Plus, select it and click on the Launch button. Similarly, you can remove apps from the list. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168693" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Active-Desktop-Plus-saved-apps.jpg" alt="Active Desktop Plus - saved apps" width="372" height="497" /> Active Desktop Plus runs in the background and sits on the system tray. Right-click on the icon to close the program. Applications that were started by ADP run in the background, and will continue to do so even when you exit ADP. You may not want videos running in the background when your laptop is not plugged in, so head to the settings (icon in the bottom left corner), and toggle the options to pause videos on battery or battery saver. It also has an option to pause the media in maximized mode. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168691" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Active-Desktop-Plus-settings-screen.jpg" alt="Active Desktop Plus - settings screen" width="372" height="497" /> The default tray icon isn't very visible with the Windows light theme, but you can toggle a dark tray icon that fixes the issue. Likewise, there is a dark theme for the program's interface. Active Desktop Plus is an open source program. It has a few minor issues. I couldn't find a way to edit a shortcut after adding it. The "Close selected app" doesn't always work, sometimes the process would continue to run in the background. And lastly, the web URL feature didn't work at all, it just caused a blank wallpaper to appear on the desktop. UWP apps aren't supported by the program. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/03/05/add-a-video-wallpaper-to-your-desktop-or-pin-applications-to-the-desktop-with-active-desktop-plus/" data-wpel-link="internal">Add a video wallpaper to your desktop, or pin applications to the desktop with Active Desktop Plus</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
Microsoft Edge 89 Stable is out

2021-03-05 13:14:21 UTC

Microsoft released a new stable version of its Edge web browser to the public on March 4, 2021. Microsoft Edge 89.0.774.45 is a security and feature update that is available for all […]

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Microsoft released a new stable version of its Edge web browser to the public on March 4, 2021. Microsoft Edge 89.0.774.45 is a security and feature update that is available for all supported platforms. The new version of Microsoft Edge patches several security issues, including a security vulnerability in Chromium, the core that Edge is based on, that is exploited in the wild according to the Chromium team. According to Microsoft's security database, CV3-2021-21166 <a href="https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2021-21166" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">refers</a> to an Object lifecycle issue in audio. The rest of the security updates is referenced <a href="https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/DeployEdge/microsoft-edge-relnotes-security#march-4-2021" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">on this page</a> by Microsoft. Microsoft Edge supports automatic updates, and the browser should be updated to version 89 automatically on most systems. Edge users may load edge://settings/help in the address bar to check the current version. The browser will run a check for updates when the page is loaded and will download and install updates that it discovers during the check. Microsoft Edge 89: features <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168791" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/microsoft-edge-89.png" alt="microsoft edge 89" width="1405" height="646" /> Microsoft lists six new features that it added or improved in Edge 89. Notable is the introduction of the Sleeping Tabs feature; its main purpose is to improve the performance of the web browser by putting inactive tabs to sleep; this has a positive effect on the browser's memory use and CPU utilization according to Microsoft. <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2020/09/19/a-look-at-microsoft-edge-87s-sleeping-tabs-feature/" data-wpel-link="internal">We reviewed Sleeping Tabs</a> back when it was introduced in development builds of Microsoft Edge 87. Tip: <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/01/26/which-browser-has-the-best-tab-snoozing-sleeping-freezing-implementation/" data-wpel-link="internal">check out our overview of tab sleeping / freezing features in web browsers</a>. Another useful feature is the ability to reset sync data in the cloud manually, a process that required contacting Microsoft support previously. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168792" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/microsoft-edge-reset-sync.png" alt="microsoft edge reset sync" width="1376" height="898" /> All that is required now is to open Settings > Sync, or load edge://settings/profiles/sync directly, and activate the "reset sync" button on the page to do so. Vertical Tabs, an option to display tabs in a sidebar on the left, seems to be enabled by default as well in Edge 89. Check out our<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2020/10/29/vertical-tabs-are-now-available-to-all-microsoft-edge-canary-and-dev-users/" data-wpel-link="internal"> review of vertical tabs in Edge here</a>, and the <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/27/microsoft-edge-work-on-vertical-tabs-continues-now-with-resizing-support/" data-wpel-link="internal">resizing feature</a> that is being tested currently. The remaining improvements unlock the option to autofill the date of birth field, improve text selection when viewing PDF documents in Microsoft Edge, add more lockdown options to kiosk mode, and enable the edge://compat page for managing the Enterprise Mode Site List. Microsoft's <a href="https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/microsoft-edge-relnote-stable-channel#version-89077445-march-4" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">release notes</a> list three issues that have been fixed in Edge 89: <ul> <li>A right-click on Edge in the Start Menu will show the unpin from taskbar option.</li> <li>Start layouts with taskbar configurations won't have a second Edge placed on the taskbar anymore.</li> <li>Users with Windows Roaming Profiles won't see a blank icon on the taskbar anymore instead of the Edge icon.</li> </ul> Several policies have been updated or made obsolete. Microsoft added seven new policies in Edge 89: <ul> <li>BrowsingDataLifetime - Browsing Data Lifetime Settings</li> <li>MAMEnabled - Mobile App Management Enabled</li> <li>DefinePreferredLanguages - Define an ordered list of preferred languages that websites should display in if the site supports the language</li> <li>ShowRecommendationsEnabled - Allow recommendations and promotional notifications from Edge</li> <li>PrintingAllowedBackgroundGraphicsModes - Restrict background graphics printing mode</li> <li>PrintingBackgroundGraphicsDefault - Default background graphics printing mode</li> <li>SmartActionsBlockList - Block smart actions for a list of services</li> </ul> Now You: have you used Edge recently? What is your take on the browser's development since its initial release? Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/03/05/microsoft-edge-89-stable-is-out/" data-wpel-link="internal">Microsoft Edge 89 Stable is out</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
Google decides to switch to a 4-week release cycle for Chrome

2021-03-05 06:13:27 UTC

Google announced yesterday that it plans to migrate from a 6-week release cycle for its Chrome web browser and Chromium to a 4-week release cycle. The company releases a lot of browser […]

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Google <a href="https://blog.chromium.org/2021/03/speeding-up-release-cycle.html" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">announced</a> yesterday that it plans to migrate from a 6-week release cycle for its Chrome web browser and Chromium to a 4-week release cycle. The company releases a lot of browser versions in the six week period, mostly beta and development versions of Chrome. Chrome Stable has a fixed release cycle of 6 weeks and will see its version bumped after the release period. Starting in the third-quarter of 2021, that release cycle is reduced by two weeks. Google notes that it has optimized its release processes and testing in the past, and that the improvements paved the way for pushing out new Chrome Stable versions more quickly to users. To address Enterprise needs, Google will release a new browser version called Extended Stable. Chrome Extended Stable will have a 8-week release cycle and get security update patches every 2-weeks. The browser version won't receive feature updates or even some of the security updates in the time according to the announcement. <blockquote>Security updates on Extended Stable will be released every two weeks to fix important issues, but those updates won’t contain new features or all security fixes that the 4 week option will receive.</blockquote> Chrome Stable and Chrome Extended Stable share the same features and patch levels in the first four weeks after a new release cycle begins. The two browser versions divert from each other in the four weeks that follow, as Chrome Stable will be bumped to a new version and receive new features as part of the process, while Chrome Extended Stable will stay on the previous version without these feature updates. The two browser versions are unified again after the 8-week release cycle ends. <figure id="attachment_168788" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-168788" style="width: 1036px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-168788 size-full" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/chrome-release-cycle.png" alt="" width="1036" height="387" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-168788" class="wp-caption-text">via <a href="https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src/+/master/docs/process/release_cycle_new.md" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Google</a></figcaption></figure> <h3>What about other Chromium-based browsers?</h3> Many third-party browsers are based on Chromium, including Vivaldi, Opera, Brave or Microsoft's Edge web browser. The browser makers are impacted by Google's decision to speed up the release cycle and have two main options at this point: <ul> <li>Follow Google's example and speed up the delivery of updates as well to a 4-week release cycle.</li> <li>Switch to the Stable Extended release cycle and delay releases by 2-weeks.</li> </ul> Not all browser makers follow Google Chrome releases closely, but releases are tied to Chromium's development nevertheless. Another possibility could be to implement security patches as they become available, but divert from Google's release cycle otherwise. We contacted several browser makers and will update the article once we get replies. <h3>Closing Words</h3> Google follows Mozilla in speeding up the release cycle of the company's web browser. Both browser makers have switched to a 4-week release cycle by the end of the year. Mozilla switched already, Google will have made the switch in the third-quarter of 2021. Now You: Do you care how often your favorite browser is updated? Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/03/05/google-decides-to-switch-to-a-4-week-release-cycle-for-chrome/" data-wpel-link="internal">Google decides to switch to a 4-week release cycle for Chrome</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
Is the Windows 10 app Microsoft Update Health Tools legitimate?

2021-03-04 11:34:14 UTC

The Microsoft Update Health Tools application may be listed as an installed application on devices running Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system. You may see it listed in the Settings application under Apps […]

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The Microsoft Update Health Tools application may be listed as an installed application on devices running Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system. You may see it listed in the Settings application under Apps & Features, and also in the classic Programs and Features listing of the Control Panel. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168770" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/microsoft-update-health-tools.png" alt="microsoft update health tools" width="1485" height="813" /> The application is not listed in the Start Menu or linked on the desktop or taskbar. Some administrators and users may wonder about the purpose of the Microsoft Update Health Tools application, especially since it is not installed manually by users of the system. Is Microsoft Update Health Tools a legitimate application? The short answer: yes, the program is legitimate. It has been created by Microsoft. How does it end up on Windows 10 devices? The application is pushed to Windows 10 devices via system updates, on most systems via Windows Updates, but it can also be installed manually via the Microsoft Update Catalog website. The update in question has the ID KB4023057. Its <a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb4023057-update-for-windows-10-update-service-components-fccad0ca-dc10-2e46-9ed1-7e392450fb3a" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">support page</a> refers to it as "Update for Windows 10 Update Service components", and labels it as an update for all major versions of the Windows 10 operating system. Reports about the application go back to mid-2020 when users started to post questions about the functionality of the Microsoft Update Health Tools application on various forums and sites, including Microsoft's own <a href="https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-security/what-is-microsoft-update-health-tools/513cdfa6-0bb6-4994-933d-59aa1b6b9f56" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Community</a> and <a href="https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/129522/microsoft-update-health-tools-app.html" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Docs</a> sites. Microsoft provides the following information about the update: <blockquote>This update includes files and resources that address issues that affect the update processes in Windows 10 that may prevent important Windows updates from being installed. These improvements help make sure that updates are installed seamlessly on your device, and they help improve the reliability and security of devices that are running Windows 10.</blockquote> In other words: the update, and the Microsoft Update Health Tools application it installs, is designed to resolve updating issues on Windows 10 devices. Microsoft lists a handful of issues that may be resolved with the help of the update: <ul> <li>Network settings may be reset.</li> <li>Registry keys may be cleaned up that "may be preventing updates from being installed successfully".</li> <li>Repair disabled or corrupted components of the Windows 10 operating system.</li> <li>Free up disk space to ensure that there is enough space for the update to be downloaded and installed successfully.</li> <li>Reset the Windows Update database to repair problems.</li> </ul> What if the update is not installed (but Microsoft Health Update Tools is)? <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168771" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/microsoft-update-health-tools-control-panel.png" alt="microsoft-update-health-tools-control-panel" width="1391" height="890" /> If you check the list of installed Windows updates on newer versions of Windows 10, you may notice that KB4023057 may not be installed. Microsoft lists it as compatible with all versions of Windows 10, but the company's Update Catalog website does not list versions of newer versions of Windows 10. The newest version listed is Windows 10 version 1803. One possible explanation for the discrepancy is that Microsoft Update Health Tools may have been installed on earlier versions before the device itself was updated to a more recent version of Windows 10. Another explanation is that it the application could have been installed as part of another update on newer versions of Windows 10. This needs more researching, feel free to leave a comment in this regard below. <h3>Uninstall the Microsoft Update Health Tools application</h3> You can remove the application from the system, e.g. by selecting the uninstall button in the Settings application. Note that doing so may interfere with the update capabilities of the system. It is unclear whether the update will be pushed to systems again if issues are detected during system updates. Now You: is the Microsoft Updates Health Tools application installed on your device? (via <a href="https://www.askvg.com/what-is-microsoft-update-health-tools-program-in-windows-10/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AskVG+%28AskVG%29" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Ask VG</a>) Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/03/04/is-the-windows-10-app-microsoft-update-health-tools-legitimate/" data-wpel-link="internal">Is the Windows 10 app Microsoft Update Health Tools legitimate?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
Brave acquires Tailcat search engine; will offer search results without profiling users

2021-03-04 07:54:16 UTC

Brave Software has acquired the Tailcat search engine, to step up the competition with Google Search. Tailcat will be integrated in to Brave Browser, as Brave Search. Brave Search is intended to […]

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Brave Software has acquired the Tailcat search engine, to step up the competition with Google Search. Tailcat will be integrated in to Brave Browser, as Brave Search. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168764" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Brave-acquires-Tailcat-search-engine-will-offer-search-results-without-profiling-users.jpg" alt="Brave acquires Tailcat search engine; will offer search results without profiling users" width="794" height="547" /> Brave Search is intended to be an alternative for Google Search, while being a privacy-focused service that does not collect IP addresses or personal information, and won't track users. So, this sounds similar to DuckDuckGo. But there are quite a few differences. <h4>What is Brave Search?</h4> Brave says that Search will serve the user first, in other words it is not devoid of ads. Instead of tracking users with personalized ads, Brave Search will employ non-targeted ads. If you're familiar with the Brave Browser, you may have noticed how the user ads work. The browser displays random sponsored ads (non-personalized, ad campaigns) which when viewed earns you some BATs (Basic Attention Tokens. Brave says it is working on private ads which will be delivered via search. There are plans to offer Brave Rewards with Search, so this could be another way to earn more BATs. There will be two tiers in Brave Search; an ad-free premium search, while the other will be an ad-supported search as described above. Brave claims that it will provide unbiased search results without forced censorship or biased algorithms, unlike other services which have been criticized and have often been hit by lawsuits, for promoting specific results. Tailcat is a search engine that was developed by Cliqz. You may have heard of the Cliqz browser, it was a fork of Mozilla Firefox, and was focused on privacy and included a <a href="https://cliqz.com/en/whycliqz/search-engine" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">custom search engine</a>. Mozilla invested in Cliqz back in <a href="https://blog.mozilla.org/press-uk/2016/08/23/mozilla-makes-strategic-investment-in-cliqz-to-enable-privacy-focused-search-innovation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">2016</a>, but a year later Cliqz (the company behind it) acquired the popular privacy-focused extension,<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2018/03/09/ghostery-open-source-and-new-business-model/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal"> Ghostery</a>. Four years later, in 2020, Cliqz was shut down. The browser's built-in search engine was the first to display search suggestions and top search results as the search query was being typed in the address bar. The important part here is that the search engine delivered results, while protecting the privacy of the user. You may know this already, but DuckDuckGo's search suggestions (Autosuggest) are powered by Microsoft's Bing, Yahoo, etc. In fact, it has hundreds of <a href="https://help.duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/results/sources/" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">sources</a>. Tailcat on the other hand is an independent search engine, i.e., it doesn't rely on Bing, Google, etc, it has its own index. This is just an educated guess, but these are likely the features that made Brave Software want to acquire Tailcat. Brave Search isn't available for users yet, you can join the waitlist by visiting <a href="https://brave.com/search/" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">https://brave.com/search/</a>. You will have the option to choose the search engine of your choice in Brave Browser, that's not surprising as anti-trust laws practically guarantee that users have multiple options. But more interestingly, the announcement says Brave Search will be available on other browsers as well. So, we could use it in Firefox, Vivaldi, Chrome, Edge, etc. Brave <a href="https://brave.com/brave-search/" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">says</a> that it has over 25 million monthly active users in 2021, and likened its growth to the recent exodus from Whatsapp to Signal, after the Facebook-owned service shot itself in the foot by making questionable changes to its privacy policy. <h3>Closing Words</h3> I'm not a fan of Ghostery or Brave for that matter (though I'm intrigued by its recent developments), is it a browser that also happens to have a cryptocurrency associated with it? Or is it the other way around? Regardless of that, having an unbiased, independent, open ranking alternative to a dominant Big Tech based service does sound good on paper, but only time will tell how Brave Search turns out to be. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/03/04/brave-acquires-tailcat-search-engine-will-offer-search-results-without-profiling-users/" data-wpel-link="internal">Brave acquires Tailcat search engine; will offer search results without profiling users</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
Google plans to shift advertising from user tracking to group tracking

2021-03-04 06:01:47 UTC

It is no secret that Google is working on removing support for third-party cookies in its products, most notable its Chrome web browser, the world's most used browser. One of the main […]

Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post Google plans to shift advertising from user tracking to group tracking appeared first on gHacks Technology News.

It is no secret that Google is working on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2020/01/15/google-wants-to-make-third-party-cookies-obsolete/" data-wpel-link="internal">removing support for third-party cookies</a> in its products, most notable<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2020/12/22/first-bits-of-googles-privacy-sandbox-land-in-chromium-designed-to-eliminate-third-party-cookies/" data-wpel-link="internal"> its Chrome web browser</a>, the world's most used browser. One of the main applications of third-party cookies is user tracking. The cookies are used to identify users and provide advertisers with information on user activity. Browser makers like <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2019/06/04/mozilla-enables-tracking-protection-by-default-in-firefox/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mozilla</a> and <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2019/12/04/microsoft-improves-tracking-prevention-in-the-new-edge-browser/" data-wpel-link="internal">Microsoft</a> started to introduce protective functionality in their browsers to address tracking and growing user concerns as privacy became a growing user concern worldwide. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168763" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/google-tracking.png" alt="google tracking" width="902" height="875" /> Today, Google <a href="https://blog.google/products/ads-commerce/a-more-privacy-first-web/" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">announced</a> that it won't replace third-party cookies, once eliminated as an option to track users, with other functions that track individual users. <blockquote>Today, we’re making explicit that once third-party cookies are phased out, we will not build alternate identifiers to track individuals as they browse across the web, nor will we use them in our products.</blockquote> Google introduced some groundwork in <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/03/03/here-is-what-is-new-in-google-chrome-89/" data-wpel-link="internal">Chrome 89 Stable</a>, which it released yesterday to the public. One of the company's core plan of going forward is to move tracking to group levels. <a href="https://github.com/WICG/floc" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Called</a> Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC), it is designed to group users into interests groups and provide advertisers with correlation information between clicks on ads and conversions on sites. FLoC is designed to show relevant interest-based advertisement to Internet users, but without identification of the individual. Cohorts are made up of thousands of people "derived by the browser from its user's browsing history". Google <a href="https://github.com/WICG/floc" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">notes</a> on GitHub that the data is stored locally and are not uploaded to remote servers. <blockquote>The central idea is that these input features to the algorithm, including the web history, are kept local on the browser and are not uploaded elsewhere — the browser only exposes the generated cohort.</blockquote> Since cohorts consist of thousands of Internet users, it is clear that interests will overlap, but also that there will be interests that only some of the users of a cohort share. Google lists several abuse scenarios on the GitHub page, including that sites that can identify individual users, e.g. through accounts, could link information provided by FLoC to users, that it could be used as a tracking mechanism, and that sensitive interests may be revealed. The readme suggests that users will be able to control whether their browser sends a "real" FLoC or a random one. Much about FLoC and related functions is still in an experimental stage, and things may change along the way before wide adoption starts. Unless something critical happens, it is set in stone that FLoC will become a part of the Google browser. Whether other browser makers, be they Chromium-based or based on other technology, will implement this as well is not clear at this point. Now You: What is your take on this development? Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/03/04/google-plans-to-shift-advertising-from-user-tracking-to-group-tracking/" data-wpel-link="internal">Google plans to shift advertising from user tracking to group tracking</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
Load new tabs in the same container as the first one with the Sticky Window Containers extension for Firefox

2021-03-03 17:52:22 UTC

Multi-Account Containers are one of the best extensions/features in Mozilla Firefox. It helps enhance your privacy by isolating websites, thus preventing cookie-based tracking. But you may have noticed that sometimes it's hard […]

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<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2020/07/12/firefoxs-multi-account-containers-add-on-gets-site-isolation-feature/" data-wpel-link="internal">Multi-Account Containers</a> are one of the best extensions/features in Mozilla Firefox. It helps enhance your privacy by isolating websites, thus preventing cookie-based tracking. But you may have noticed that sometimes it's hard to tell which <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2020/02/24/what-are-firefox-containers/" data-wpel-link="internal">container</a> is open. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168673" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Load-new-tabs-in-the-same-container-as-the-first-one-with-the-Sticky-Window-Containers-extension-for-Firefox.jpg" alt="Load new tabs in the same container as the first one with the Sticky Window Containers extension for Firefox" width="1365" height="504" /> The colored lines on container tabs, that's how I know which containers are being used. Color coding the containers helps a bit, and so does the container name in the address bar. But it can get a bit messy if you have several tabs from various containers opened at the same time. Say for example, I want to do some banking related stuff or order something online, I usually open a new window to load the website, complete my transaction and return to the primary window. I do this to avoid cluttering the current window session. Sticky Window Containers can help you manage your containers better. Here's how: the add-on detects the first container tab that you open in a window, and loads all subsequent new tabs in the same container. So how is this different from the Multi-Account Containers extension? You open a specific website, and it loads in the container you assigned it to. But when you open a random website (one you haven't added a container for), it will be opened as a normal tab. Similarly, you will visit more non-contained sites. This can result in a bit of a tracking mess, because none of them are contained, and it poses a bit of a privacy risk, though this has been reduced by the Firefox 86 update (a word about this at the end of the article). Wouldn't it be better if all new tabs were restricted to the same container? That's exactly what Sticky Window Containers helps with, to limit your activity to the specific container on a per-window basis. With its help, you could instead open a Personal container tab, and with the help of the extension continue browsing by isolating sites to that container. That said, the sticky add-on only restricts non-container websites. So, what happens when you open a second (different) container tab in the same window? It works as normal, i.e., if your browser window has a work container tab open, and you decide to open a different container tab e.g. News, the latter will be opened in its corresponding container. That's how containers are meant to work, and this extension does not affect that. Speaking of which, you will need to have the Firefox Multi-Account Containers extension installed for Sticky Window Containers to work. The extension has no options whatsoever, which is a good thing. It works right out of the box. Sticky Window Containers is an <a href="https://github.com/kemayo/firefox-sticky-containers" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">open source</a> add-on. The plugin would be more useful if it recognized new container tabs, and opened them in a different window. An option to send a tab to a specific window would work great too, but you can use <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/18/manage-windows-and-move-tabs-between-them-quickly-with-the-winger-extension-for-firefox/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">Winger</a> for that. You may have read about the <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/23/here-is-what-is-new-and-changed-in-firefox-86-0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">Firefox 86 update</a> that was released recently with the new Total Cookie Protection feature. It loads websites each in their own container, which is kind of what the Temporary Containers add-on does. Sticky Window Containers is still worth using, because it forces the site-isolation to a specific container of your choice, which I think gives you a little more control. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/03/03/load-new-tabs-in-the-same-container-as-the-first-one-with-the-sticky-window-containers-extension-for-firefox/" data-wpel-link="internal">Load new tabs in the same container as the first one with the Sticky Window Containers extension for Firefox</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
Here is what is new in Google Chrome 89

2021-03-03 12:14:31 UTC

Google released a new stable version of its Chrome browser on March 2, 2021. Google Chrome 89 is a security release that includes improvements and bug fixes. The Chrome Releases blog reveals […]

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Google released a new stable version of its Chrome browser on March 2, 2021. Google Chrome 89 is a security release that includes improvements and bug fixes. The Chrome Releases blog <a href="https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2021/03/stable-channel-update-for-desktop.html" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">reveals</a> that engineers patched 47 different security issues that affected previous versions of the browser. The highest severity rating is listed as high, but Google lists only issues reported by external researchers on the page. Chrome users can select Menu > Help > About Google Chrome to check the installed version and run a manual check for updates. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168746" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/chrome-89-release.png" alt="chrome 89 release" width="1241" height="913" /> Starting with Chrome 89, devices with x86 CPUS need to support SSE3 for Chrome to run on them. The standard was introduced in the early 2000's by Intel and AMD Chrome Status <a href="https://www.chromestatus.com/features/schedule" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">provides</a> information on new features in Chrome 89. The new Chrome version introduces support for First-party sets, a new option to mark sites as belonging to the same party or entity. Google could for instance use the feature to link google.com and youtube.com together, ensuring that certain data can be shared across these sites. The feature takes cues from Firefox's Enhanced Tracking Protection feature and from Microsoft Edge's Tracking Prevention feature; both of these include functionality to link sites to make sure that these work properly with the protective features enabled. Google's plan with First-party sets is to standardize the approach. Chrome 89 introduces other privacy-related features: <ul> <li>Platform-provided trust tokens -- An experiment to "ascertain the value of tokens incorporating on-device state as a mechanism for anti-spam and anti-abuse systems, and to evaluate the feature’s performance relative to standard web-issued trust tokens".</li> <li>Schemeful Same-Site - evolves same-site definition to include the URL scheme.</li> <li>User-Agent Client Hints -- designed to provide sites with information about a "user's device or conditions" without needing to use the User-Agent String.</li> <li>Anti-Fingerprinting mechanics -- the interest-based targeting API FLoC, designed to work with groups of users instead of individuals, and an event-level conversion API, to enable the correlation between ad clicks on sites and conversions on the advertisers site without identifying users individually, are available as experiments.</li> </ul> What else is new in Chrome 89? <ul> <li><a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2020/11/18/chrome-87-launches-with-tab-search-performance-improvements-and-new-chrome-actions-feature/" data-wpel-link="internal">Open Tabs can be searched now</a>. Is still being rolled out, enable chrome://flags/#enable-tab-search to get it right now.</li> <li><a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/01/04/chrome-will-soon-try-https-first-when-a-user-types-an-address-in-the-browser/" data-wpel-link="internal">Chrome prefers HTTPS over HTTP</a> when the user does not specify the protocol in the address bar.</li> <li>Chrome won't lookup single word entries anymore when entered in the address bar by default, meaning it won't assume that the word is an Intranet location. May be changed using the IntranetRedirectBehavior policy.</li> <li>Chrome on Android requires that a device is Play Protect certified, otherwise it won't run anymore; this does not affect WebView nor Chrome on virtual machines. Play Protect certified devices include Google apps and have passed Android compatibility testing.</li> <li>Version pinning is a new option to keep extensions or applications on a specified version. May be configured via the ExtensionSettings policy.</li> <li><a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2020/12/16/you-may-soon-save-chrome-passwords-to-your-google-account-even-if-sync-is-disabled/" data-wpel-link="internal">Access to certain Google Account features even without Chrome Sync</a>.</li> <li><a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/03/03/you-may-soon-display-the-chrome-profile-manager-on-start/" data-wpel-link="internal">New profile picker and profile options</a>.</li> <li>BeyondCorp Enterprise customers may check URLs for phishing attacks in realtime.</li> <li>New BrowsingDataLifetime and ClearBrowsingDataOnExitList policies to clear browsing data after a specific amount of time or on exit.</li> <li>Users may turn of metrics reporting even if set to on by an administrator. The feature is controlled by MetricsReportingEnabled.</li> <li>Support for the Serial API that allows sites to perform read and write operations on serial devices.</li> <li>Chrome on iOS gets biometric authentication support in Incognito Mode tabs.</li> <li>Web Share API support to share data from the Web with an app of the user's choosing.</li> <li>WebHID support that enables web applications to interact with human interface devices that have not been supported before.</li> <li>Web NFC is supported by default.</li> </ul> Now You: What is your take on all of these changes? Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/03/03/here-is-what-is-new-in-google-chrome-89/" data-wpel-link="internal">Here is what is new in Google Chrome 89</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
You may soon display the Chrome profile manager on Start

2021-03-03 05:43:32 UTC

Google Chrome users may display the profile manager of the web browser on start of the browser in the near future. Launched in Chrome Canary already, Chrome's new profile manager feature brings […]

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Google Chrome users may display the profile manager of the web browser on start of the browser in the near future. Launched in Chrome Canary already, Chrome's new profile manager feature brings an option to the browser to pick one of the available profiles on start, or create a new one. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168743" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/google-chrome-profiles.png" alt="google chrome profiles" width="1549" height="1211" srcset="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/google-chrome-profiles.png 1549w, https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/google-chrome-profiles-1536x1201.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1549px) 100vw, 1549px" /> Profiles are not new in Chrome. Chrome users may click on the profile icon in the main toolbar of the browser to manage them. Profiles can be local or Google accounts, and certain data, such as passwords, bookmarks, themes, cookies, or the browsing history, are kept separately. The feature serves two main purposes according to Google: to separate different accounts, e.g. work and home accounts, or when a single PC with a single account is used by multiple users. When a Chrome user creates a new profile, an option to place a desktop shortcut is provided. A click on the desktop icon launches Chrome with the profile; the only other option provided in Stable versions of the web browser right now is to click on the profile icon to switch to another one during a browsing session. Chrome opens the profile that was used the last time if the browser is opened directly. The new profile selector and startup screen adds a third option to Chrome. How it works depends on the number of profiles. If a single profile is used, it won't be displayed during startup of the browser. Once a second profile has been added, it may be displayed during start of the browser to give users the option to pick the desired profile. Select the profile icon and then the manage icon to display the Chrome profiles screen once the feature has landed. There you may check or uncheck the "show on startup" option, but only if at least two profiles exist. <h3>Closing Words</h3> Profiles offer a great way to separate different use cases, e.g. to keep work activity separate from non-work related browsing. Sharing a single account with different profiles on the other hand is not ideal, a better solution is to create accounts for each user on a device to better separate data, improve privacy and reduce confusion and potential issues with launching the wrong profiles. Now You: do you use profiles in your browser of choice? Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/03/03/you-may-soon-display-the-chrome-profile-manager-on-start/" data-wpel-link="internal">You may soon display the Chrome profile manager on Start</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
Windows Server 2022 Preview released

2021-03-02 17:57:28 UTC

Microsoft released Windows Server 2022 Preview today on the first day of the company's Ignite 2021 conference. Windows Server 2022 will be a Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) release when it is released […]

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Microsoft released Windows Server 2022 Preview today on the first day of the company's Ignite 2021 conference. Windows Server 2022 will be a Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) release when it is released to the public. LTSC versions of Windows Server are supported for 10 years in total divided into 5 years of mainstream support and 5 years of extended support. Windows Insiders may download the preview version of Windows Server 2022 <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windowsinsiderpreviewserver?wa=wsignin1.0" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">from the Microsoft website</a>. Microsoft has not published a blog post or news article at the time of writing, not even on the <a href="https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-server-insiders/bd-p/WindowsServerInsiders" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Windows Server Insiders Tech Community site</a>. The company did provide some information on the upcoming Windows Server release today on the Ignite conference. Microsoft confirmed that features such as AES-256 encryption for SMB, support for TLS 1.3 and the new Chromium-version of Microsoft Edge will be included in the new server version. Next to that, it is certain that most features of the latest Semi-Annual channel versions of Windows Server will also be included. Bleeping Computer <a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/microsoft-announces-windows-server-2022-with-new-security-features/" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">provides</a> insight on the security feature Secured-core that will be part of Windows Server 2022. The security feature protects devices and data against threats that target firmware and driver security flaws. These security features are enabled by default on any Secured-core PC: <ul> <li>Protect with hardware root of trust</li> <li>Defend against firmware attack</li> <li>Defend against vulnerable and malicious drivers</li> <li>Defend against unverified code execution</li> <li>Defend against limited physical access, data attacks</li> <li>Protect identities and secrets from external threats</li> </ul> <figure id="attachment_168740" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-168740" style="width: 1410px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-168740" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/secured-os-pc-event-log.png" alt="" width="1410" height="813" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-168740" class="wp-caption-text">via Microsoft</figcaption></figure> Microsoft <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2020/03/17/secured-core-pcs-a-brief-showcase-of-chip-to-cloud-security-against-kernel-attacks/" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">noted</a> on its security blog in March 2020 that it worked with OEM partners to create the new class of devices. <blockquote>Secured-core PCs address the need for customers to perform the complex decision flow of mapping which security feature (e.g., hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI), virtualization-based security (VBS), Windows Defender Credential Guard) are supported by which hardware (e.g., TPM 1.0, 2.0, etc.). With Secured-core PCs, customers no longer need to make this complex decision; they’re assured that these devices support the latest hardware-backed security features.</blockquote> Windows Server 2022 will be released later this year. Now You: what is your take on the new Server release? Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/03/02/windows-server-2022-preview-released/" data-wpel-link="internal">Windows Server 2022 Preview released</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
Everything.NET is a frontend that adds a dark mode and some additional functions to the Everything search engine

2021-03-02 14:12:08 UTC

Do you use VoidTools' Everything search engine on your computer to quickly find files? Everything.NET is an open source project that adds a cool dark mode to the popular desktop search engine, […]

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Do you use <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2017/06/07/everything-desktop-search-review/" data-wpel-link="internal">VoidTools' Everything search engine</a> on your computer to quickly find files? Everything.NET is an open source project that adds a cool dark mode to the popular desktop search engine, along with some enhancements. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168659" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Everything.NET-is-a-frontend-that-adds-a-dark-mode-and-some-additional-functions-to-the-Everything-search-engine.jpg" alt="Everything.NET is a frontend that adds a dark mode and some additional functions to the Everything search engine" width="786" height="443" /> Everything.NET is not a standalone program, you need VoidTools' Everything running in the background. On the plus side, the frontend works with the the portable version of the search engine application. Since it is based on .NET, you'll need .NET 5.0 Runtime installed to use the program. You can get the framework from <a href="https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download/dotnet/5.0/runtime/" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Microsoft's website</a>. Once you have the framework installed, run the Everything search engine's executable, followed by the Eveything.NET.EXE. The dark background of the frontend tool makes it easier to read the text. Enter a minimum of 2 characters to perform a query, the main application starts displaying the result with just one character, and I find the former to be the slightly better option here as the number of results are lower, which in turn makes it easier to find what you're looking for if you don't remember the full name of the file or folder. The overall performance of the tool remains the same as it relies on the desktop search engine, so let's see what new features the frontend brings. Right-click on a file in the results pane to access the Explorer context menu, the keyboard shortcut for this is Shift + F10, and the hotkey's menu offers some additional options. Tap the up arrow key on your keyboard and Everything.NET will display the previous word that you searched for, which is similar to how you would check the history in a Command prompt window. But the downside here is that you're limited to just 1 item from the search history. Now, you may have used the Up arrow key for navigating the search results in Everything. The frontend supports that as well, but to use it you need to hit the Down arrow key first, which shifts the focus away from the search box to the results pane, and then use the up/down keys for navigating. Sort the results by clicking on the corresponding column. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168658" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Everything.NET-example.jpg" alt="Everything.NET example" width="786" height="443" /> You can't minimize Everything.NET to the system tray. To close the program, hit the Escape key. Everything.NET has a few issues. While the right-click menu works with files, it does not support folders which means you cannot access the additional options that the original program offers. A comment left by the mod developer's website on <a href="https://www.voidtools.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9585" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Voidtools' forums</a> indicates that the folder menu will not be added. I also noticed that the context menu doesn't for files that are located in the ProgramData folder. The frontend has 4 columns, and you cannot add/remove columns, even if you change the settings in the main application. The entire menubar from Everything is missing as well, along with the various options they offer (open list, export, save, etc). But remember, Everything is running in the background, so you can use the official application for features that the frontend tool lacks. I think Everything.NET improves the search engine with some nifty little additions, while retaining the core search function intact, and by cutting out the more complex options it may have actually made the experience a bit more user-friendly. Don't forget to check out <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2020/10/09/add-everything-search-to-the-windows-taskbar-for-even-faster-searches/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">Everything Toolbar</a>, it adds a search field to the Taskbar for faster searches. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/03/02/everything-net-is-a-frontend-that-adds-a-dark-mode-and-some-additional-functions-to-the-everything-search-engine/" data-wpel-link="internal">Everything.NET is a frontend that adds a dark mode and some additional functions to the Everything search engine</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
Google plans to bring Vivaldi Quick Commands to Chrome, calls it Commander

2021-03-02 06:15:38 UTC

One of the coolest features of the Vivaldi web browser, Quick Commands, may soon be available in Google Chrome as well. Called Commander, it is bringing a quick launch interface to Google's […]

Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post Google plans to bring Vivaldi Quick Commands to Chrome, calls it Commander appeared first on gHacks Technology News.

One of the coolest features of the Vivaldi web browser, Quick Commands, may soon be available in Google Chrome as well. Called Commander, it is bringing a quick launch interface to Google's browser to activate browser features using nothing but the keyboard. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168722" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/chrome-commander-menu.png" alt="chrome commander menu" width="1481" height="703" /> Quick Commands is a <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2016/04/06/vivaldi-web-browser-review/" data-wpel-link="internal">major feature of the Vivaldi web browser</a> that sets it apart from other browsers. Tap on F2 to display the launcher and type some letters to get a list of all commands that you may execute from the menu. The feature supports advanced commands, apart from common commands, such as opening a new tab, bookmarking the active tab, or moving a tab to a new window. You can use it to quickly paste text into a new note, turn off all images, or switch to the next theme. Chrome's new Commander feature offers similar functionality. It is being tested in the latest Canary versions of Google Chrome. Commander should not be confused with <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2020/11/18/chrome-87-launches-with-tab-search-performance-improvements-and-new-chrome-actions-feature/" data-wpel-link="internal">Chrome Actions</a>, another feature added to Chrome recently. Chrome Actions displays browser actions when users type in the browser's address bar. <h3>Enable Commander in Chrome</h3> <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168723" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/chrome-commander.png" alt="chrome commander" width="1481" height="703" /> The feature is experimental at this point in time. Experimental feature may come and go at any time, and are often used when Google needs to collect more data or development is still ongoing. Commander is available for desktop versions of Google Chrome only. I tested the feature in Chrome 91.0.4433.1. To enable Commander, do the following: <ol> <li>Verify the Chrome version by selecting Menu > Help > About Google Chrome</li> <li>Load chrome://flags/#commander in the browser's address bar.</li> <li>Set the experimental flag to Enabled.</li> <li>Restart Google Chrome.</li> </ol> <h3>Using Commander in Google Chrome</h3> <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168724" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/chrome-commander-commands.png" alt="chrome commander commands" width="1285" height="729" /> Commander is mapped to Ctrl-Space currently in Chrome, and there is no option to change that shortcut. Since it is used by many Launcher applications on Windows, it is possible that the new shortcut will interfere with those. Use Ctrl-Space to display and hide the interface; all that is left after displaying it, is to type part of a command, e.g. book to display all bookmark related commands, or tab to display all tabs-related commands. The list that is provided currently introduces a few commands that are not available when using the mouse, such as closing all unpinned tabs or creating a new Google Sheet. Use the cursor keys and the Enter-key to activate a feature, or use the mouse if you prefer that. <h3>Commander vs. Quick Commands</h3> Chrome's Commander feature looks and feels a lot like Vivaldi's Quick Commands feature. Quick Commands has been around for a long time and it is more mature at this point as it supports more commands and displays a list of open tabs next to that as well for easy access and filtering. Commands is in development on the other hand and it remains to be seen how it will function if it is launched in Chrome Stable at one point in the future. Commander, and Quick Commands, are mostly useful for executing commands that don't have a shortcut mapped to them, as you could activate the feature using the shortcut otherwise. It may be useful to users who don't known about the shortcut or cannot remember it as well. Now You: what is your take on Commander? (via <a href="https://techdows.com/2021/03/chromes-new-commander-displays-chrome-commands-as-you-type.html" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Techdows</a>) Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/03/02/google-plans-to-bring-vivaldi-quick-commands-to-chrome-calls-it-commander/" data-wpel-link="internal">Google plans to bring Vivaldi Quick Commands to Chrome, calls it Commander</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
No, the Firefox logo isn't being changed

2021-03-01 11:13:08 UTC

Recently, there has been a rise in memes that mock the Firefox logo. You may have come across some of these images that tell you "they killed the fox", and the new […]

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Recently, there has been a rise in memes that mock the Firefox logo. You may have come across some of these images that tell you "they killed the fox", and the new "Firefox minimalist logo". <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168704" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/No-the-Firefox-logo-isnt-being-changed.jpg" alt="No, the Firefox logo isn't being changed" width="1400" height="770" /> Well, Mozilla finally had enough of this and published an article at its <a href="https://blog.mozilla.org/firefox/the-fox-is-still-in-the-firefox-logo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">blog</a> to clarify the situation. Here's what happened. The story goes back to 2019, when Mozilla experimented with a new logo. It almost looked like they reversed the browser's iconic (pun intended) imagery, and just took the fox's face away, so it was kind of like a tail surrounding the globe. That sounds odd, but the important thing here is that this logo isn't for the Firefox browser at all, it was made as an icon for the parent Firefox brand, which includes the browser and all other services/products made by the organization. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168703" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Firefox-parent-logo.jpg" alt="Firefox parent logo" width="1400" height="770" /> Take a look at this <a href="https://blog.mozilla.org/opendesign/firefox-the-evolution-of-a-brand/" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">blog article</a> from 2 years ago. This particular icon in question is something that has never been used for any of the Firefox versions or other service. While we are on that topic, it might seem like the non-profit organization was kind of going the Google-way, with the colorful icons in that image. Speaking of which, Mozilla calls the parent logo, a "fiery marble". <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168705" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Fake-firefox-logo.jpg" alt="Fake firefox logo" width="680" height="383" /> Right, back to the present, here is one of the images that are being circulated on social networks, reddit and meme sites. While some of the icons are older versions used for the browser, you may have noticed that the last one, i.e., the meme Firefox logo is a slightly altered version of the parent brand's icon. The memes didn't stop there, and were quite hilarious. One of these had a logo with the fox's tail being replaced by a sphere making it a crunchyroll icon. There was an <a href="https://twitter.com/tcoffaVEVO/status/1363486348510978050" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">animated version</a> of this which transitioned from Firefox to Microsoft Edge's logo. Another meme featured an Among Us styled logo, there were other pictures with funny quotes, sarcastic humor, rude posts, and even completely different icons. The downside was that the memes were being shared by social accounts with thousands of followers, and some of these were verified accounts. And the sad thing is, people started believing these were real, and even reached out to Firefox's social accounts protesting the change. This is when Mozilla decided to step in, the misinformation had to stop, and they had to officially say "No! the Firefox logo isn't being changed". The statement also took a swipe at the people sharing the memes, and stated that these people (who were sharing the memes) aren't Firefox users, because otherwise they'd be familiar with the real logo on their desktop (or Taskbar). The only thing missing in Mozilla's message was a facepalm meme. While it may seem like a trivial thing on the surface, logos and brand recognition are actually pretty important. Many people have fallen victim to malicious programs, because of a case of mistaken identity, they looked at an icon and thought it was the official program, but at the end they got a potentially-unwanted program. <a href="https://blog.malwarebytes.com/threat-analysis/social-engineering-threat-analysis/2018/01/stolen-security-logos-used-to-falsely-endorse-pups/" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Here's</a> an example of that. Well, it wasn't that bad in the case of the Firefox logo. That's a relief of course, but maybe all these parodies will turn out to be good. There's no such thing as bad publicity, right? Perhaps some of those people who saw the memes will switch to Firefox. Update: It appears Mozilla is fighting fire with fire, the latest Firefox nightly version actually changes the browser's icon. But, wait for it, it is not the one from the memes. It's a totally different one, the Doge meme. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168717" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Firefox-logo-doge.jpg" alt="Firefox logo doge" width="176" height="130" /> The memes were claiming that the Fox face is missing, well now it is. And the new icon (and about page) was welcomed by <a href="https://old.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/lswv11/my_firefox_nightly_icon_after_updating_why_i_mean/goto6k8/" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">r/firefox</a> in good humor, and even got its own meme, "Such speed, much privacy, wow, very browser!". <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168715" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Firefox-nightly-new-logo-doge-meme.jpg" alt="Firefox nightly new logo doge meme" width="693" height="413" /> <a href="https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/channel/desktop/" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Download</a> Firefox Nightly to get the new logo, the cool one that is. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/03/01/no-the-firefox-logo-isnt-being-changed/" data-wpel-link="internal">No, the Firefox logo isn't being changed</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
How to free up space on Gmail quickly

2021-03-01 11:00:36 UTC

Customers who use Google's email service Gmail do get 15 Gigabytes of storage; that is a lot of space, but it is shared between multiple Google services including Gmail, Google Photos, and […]

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Customers who use Google's email service Gmail do get 15 Gigabytes of storage; that is a lot of space, but it is shared between multiple Google services including Gmail, Google Photos, and Google Drive. Google started to push its subscription-based service Google One in recent time. Customers who subscribe to it get increased storage and some additional benefits. Google customers who don't want to pay the company for extra storage may run into space issues eventually, especially if the account is used actively. One option to explore when it comes to freeing up storage space is to get rid of emails that are no longer required. Note: you can use a program such as <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2019/04/10/email-backup-software-mailstore-home-12-0-released/" data-wpel-link="internal">MailStore</a> or <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/tag/thunderbird/" data-wpel-link="internal">Thunderbird</a> to back up all emails prior to deleting the emails on the Google server. <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2020/10/16/what-is-the-best-way-to-bulk-delete-or-archive-gmail-emails/" data-wpel-link="internal">You cannot use Gmail's mobile clients for effective delete sessions</a>, as the options to do so are missing. Mobile users may be able to access Gmail in a mobile browser on the other hand, but the best option is to access Gmail using a desktop or laptop system. Gmail displays the used storage space at the bottom of its web version. Note that the information is not updated in realtime. <h3>Option 1: delete entire categories</h3> <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168708" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gmail-bulk-delete-free-space.png" alt="gmail bulk delete free space" width="1800" height="432" srcset="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gmail-bulk-delete-free-space.png 1800w, https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gmail-bulk-delete-free-space-1536x369.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px" /> Gmail divides emails into different categories. Some of these categories may be prime targets for bulk delete jobs. Take the "social" or "promotions" categories for example. The first lists messages from social network sites such as Facebook or Twitter, e.g. that someone shared a link or wants you to become friends. The second category lists emails by companies for the most part, e.g. newsletters, offers, and related content. All you have to do is the following: <ol> <li>Access Gmail in a web browser and not in the Gmail app.</li> <li>Select one of the categories, or another folder from the sidebar listing.</li> <li>Select the square icon at the top of the email listing to select all emails that are displayed.</li> <li>Activate the "select all conversations" link at the top to select all emails of the folder and not just the visible ones.</li> <li>Activate the "Delete" icon afterwards.</li> </ol> All selected emails are moved to the Trash. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168709" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gmail-empty-trash.png" alt="gmail empty trash" width="1800" height="335" srcset="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gmail-empty-trash.png 1800w, https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gmail-empty-trash-1536x286.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px" /> Gmail keeps them in the Trash for 30 days before they are deleted for good. You can speed up the process by opening the Trash from the sidebar menu and selecting "empty trash now" at the top to remove the emails right away. Tip: you can speed up accessing the content by searching for categories or default folders to jump to them directly. <ul> <li>Social category:social</li> <li>Updates category:updates</li> <li>Forums category:forums</li> <li>Promotions category:promotions</li> <li>Spam in:spam</li> <li>Trash in:trash</li> </ul> <h3>Using advanced search parameters</h3> <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168710" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gmail-search-filters.png" alt="gmail search filters" width="1469" height="834" /> Starting with a single category or folder provides users with a quick option to delete large numbers of emails, but it may not be the best option depending on use cases and personal preferences. The second option that Gmail users have is to use search parameters. All you have to do is click on the arrow symbol next to the Gmail search field at the top to display advanced search parameters that you can combine for efficient filtering of emails. The following options are the most useful ones: <ul> <li>Size to display emails that exceed the specified size, e.g. 5 Megabytes.</li> <li>Date within to restrict the output to a certain date range.</li> <li>Has attachment to include emails with attachments only.</li> <li>From to include only emails from specific email addresses.</li> <li>Subject to include only emails that match the selected text.</li> <li>Has the words to include emails that match the text.</li> <li>Doesn't have for the opposite.</li> </ul> Select search to use the selected search parameters for that particular search. You may also use the "create filter" option to create a permanent filter that you can access over and over again. You may use the "select all" option described in the previous chapter on the search results page. Gmail users may type the advanced search parameters into the search field manually to speed things up. We highlighted the options back in 2021 in <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2012/11/15/gmail-advanced-search-parameters/" data-wpel-link="internal">Gmail advanced search parameters</a>. Here is a short list of important ones: <ul> <li>size: search for messages larger than a specified size</li> <li>has:attachment - display only messages with attachments</li> <li>from: - find emails from a specific sender</li> <li>to: - find emails sent to a specific recipient</li> <li>subject: - search for words in subject lines</li> </ul> Best of all, you may combine these with the category and folder filters, e.g. larger:5M category:promotions returns all emails in the Promotions category that have a size of 5 MB or larger. Now You: have another tip? Let us know in the comments below. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/03/01/how-to-free-up-space-on-gmail-quickly/" data-wpel-link="internal">How to free up space on Gmail quickly</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
Linux Mint team wants users to upgrade, may enforce some

2021-03-01 06:04:30 UTC

Last month, the Linux Mint team published a post on the organization's official blog about the importance of installing security updates on machines running the Linux distribution. The essence of the post […]

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Last month, the Linux Mint team <a href="https://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=4030" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">published</a> a post on the organization's official blog about the importance of installing security updates on machines running the Linux distribution. The essence of the post was that a sizeable number of Linux Mint devices was running outdated applications, packages or even an outdated version of the operating system itself. A sizeable number of devices run on Linux Mint 17.x, according to the blog post, a version of Linux Mint that reached end of support in April 2019. A new blog post, <a href="https://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=4037" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">published</a> yesterday, provides information on how the team plans to reduce the update reluctance of Linux Mint users. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168699" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/linux-mint-updates-manager.png" alt="linux mint updates manager" width="526" height="402" /> Next to showing reminders to users, Linux Mint's Update Manager may enforce some of the updates according to the blog post. <blockquote>In some cases the Update Manager will be able to remind you to apply updates. In a few of them it might even insist.</blockquote> Enforcing updates is an option according to the blog post. The team goes on to explain that the new functionality will be configurable. <blockquote>We don’t want it to be dumb and get in your way though. It’s here to help. If you are handling things your way, it will detect smart patterns and usages. It will also be configurable and let you change the way it’s set up.</blockquote> Upcoming versions will provide information on the implementation, how the "insisting" part may look like, and whether the installation of updates will be enforced. The two blog posts highlight that update reluctance is not only a thing on Windows. There are several explanations when it comes to avoiding the installation of software updates or operating system updates: <ul> <li>Unclear how updates are installed or that updates are available.</li> <li>New versions introduce changes that are unwanted.</li> <li>Fear that updates may introduce errors or may crash the entire system, or even make it unbootable.</li> </ul> All of this boils down to a single question: how far should operating system developers go when it comes to updates? There is a clear danger in not applying updates that introduce security fixes. Running old versions that have security updates could result in attacks being carried out successfully against systems. Should the companies and organizations that develop operating systems enforce updates because of that or use notification systems to inform only but keep the update decision in the hands of the administrators? Now You: what is your take on update enforcements? Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/03/01/linux-mint-team-wants-users-to-upgrade-may-enforce-some/" data-wpel-link="internal">Linux Mint team wants users to upgrade, may enforce some</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
Capture your screen and save it as a MP4, GIF with Electron Screen Recorder

2021-02-28 15:44:40 UTC

Want to share a short video of your screen? Teach somebody how to use something? All you need is a quick way to capture the content, and Electron Screen Recorder can help […]

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Want to share a short video of your screen? Teach somebody how to use something? All you need is a quick way to capture the content, and Electron Screen Recorder can help you with that. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168617" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Capture-your-screen-and-save-it-as-a-MP4-GIF-with-Electron-Screen-Recorder.jpg" alt="Capture your screen and save it as a MP4, GIF with Electron Screen Recorder" width="611" height="549" /> The application's interface has just 4 options, and a large blank pane. Click on the phrase "Choose a video source". A menu will pop up with various capture modes. The first option "Entire Screen" captures the content on your current screen. When you select the option, you will see a live preview on Electron Screen Recorder's interface. If you're happy with the selection, hit the start button to begin the capture. Done recording? Click the Stop button, and then on the Save as option to save the recording to a media file. The program allows you to save the video in one of five formats: MP4, Webm, GIF, Webp and APNG. It takes a few seconds or a minute to save the content depending on the output format that you selected. You may save a recording in all five formats if you want to, but you'll need to do it manually. To discard or restart a recording, just ignore the save as button, and click on the Start button again. You may have noticed that the option at the bottom of the screen which read "Choose...." now displays the current source's name (i.e. entire screen). Click on it again to change the source, the other options in the pop-up menu represent the title of each program's window that you have open in the background. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168616" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Electron-Screen-Recorder-select-source.jpg" alt="Electron Screen Recorder select source" width="807" height="650" /> Electron Screen Recorder does not take minimized windows into account, which can be a good and bad thing. That's good as in, the menu doesn't become cluttered with a long list of programs. This can be an issue if you quickly want to capture something, but it isn't in the list. The fix for it is simple, just restore the window that you want to capture and start the recording. There is no option to choose the output resolution of the saved media, or the number of frames per second which can make the difference in the quality. Electron Screen Recorder does not have a built-in editor, so if you want to modify the content before sharing it with someone, you'll need to rely on third-party tools. I like the simplicity of Electron Screen Recorder, I'll give it that but hotkeys would've been a good feature to have. But the main issue with it is that the program tends to be intensive on resources, it consumed somewhere between 300-400MB of RAM when capturing videos, and it spiked to higher numbers when saving the content. I have tested many Electron based applications recently, and none of them were this heavy. It depends on the source too, I noticed that the screen recorder hit nearly 1GB when I tried to record streaming videos. It dropped to less than 100 MB when the task was completed, and stayed in the 70s when idle in the background. Electron Screen Recorder does not support audio recording, which means it is not a good option for capturing games, streaming content, etc. But, a comment from the developer on a GitHub issue hints that audio support could be added in the future, along with webcam recording. So for now, I think it is more suited for recording content that you may want to share with your friends or on social media. The program is open source, it is available for Windows, Linux, Mac, and comes in an optional portable version. For something less resource-intensive, check out <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2020/05/21/quick-screen-recorder-is-an-open-source-and-simple-screen-recording-tool/" data-wpel-link="internal">Quick Screen Recorder</a> or <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2019/07/19/screentogif-is-an-open-source-screen-recorder-for-creating-animated-gifs/" data-wpel-link="internal">Screen2Gif</a> for Windows, or <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2018/04/27/a-look-at-peek-screen-recorder-for-gnu-linux/" data-wpel-link="internal">Peek Screen Recorder for GNU/Linux</a>. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/28/capture-your-screen-and-save-it-as-a-mp4-gif-with-electron-screen-recorder/" data-wpel-link="internal">Capture your screen and save it as a MP4, GIF with Electron Screen Recorder</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
LocalFolders is a Thunderbird extension that helps you create local mail storage directories

2021-02-28 11:59:28 UTC

Mail boxes can fill up quickly depending on how often you communicate, newsletters, notification emails land in your inbox. This results in a cluttered mess. One way to deal with this is […]

Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post LocalFolders is a Thunderbird extension that helps you create local mail storage directories appeared first on gHacks Technology News.

Mail boxes can fill up quickly depending on how often you communicate, newsletters, notification emails land in your inbox. This results in a cluttered mess. One way to deal with this is to archive old mails, which helps preserve the contents without deleting them permanently. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168637" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/LocalFolders-is-a-Thunderbird-extension-that-helps-you-create-local-mail-storage-directories.jpg" alt="LocalFolders is a Thunderbird extension that helps you create local mail storage directories" width="1071" height="387" /> Another option, is to use folders to categorize mails based on their content. This also helps you find specific content quickly, looking for a receipt? Check the shopping folder. Where is that mail your colleague sent you, in the work folder of course. It's easy to create web-based folders, you right-click on the account's name, select "new folder", and it's ready. It would be nice to have a local archive of your mails, wouldn't it? Thunderbird has one local folder by default, but how do you add more? <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168636" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/LocalFolders-Thunderbird-extension-menu-account-settings.jpg" alt="LocalFolders Thunderbird extension menu - account settings" width="354" height="344" /> LocalFolders is an extension that helps you create local storage folders in Thunderbird. These also give you more control over organizing content for offline usage/archiving. To start using the add-on, go to the Account Settings from the Tools menu. Select an account from the sidebar on the left, and click on the Account actions button at the bottom of the panel. Choose the "Add Folder" option from the pop-up menu. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168634" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/LocalFolders-Thunderbird-extension-add-a-new-folder.jpg" alt="LocalFolders Thunderbird extension - add a new folder" width="831" height="939" /> This opens a new window where you can set up the Local Folder. You may assign a name for the folder, and select a custom directory to store the mails in. There are two message types you can choose from. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168638" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/LocalFolders-thunderbird-extension.jpg" alt="LocalFolders thunderbird extension" width="1094" height="445" /> As for the contents that get saved in the directory, you can select specific message folders that's already available for the selected account. All web-mail folders can be selected except for the trash and outbox folders, because these are pre-selected, i.e, if you create a new folder these 2 sub-directories will be added automatically. Check the box next to the other folders you want to add and click the OK button. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168639" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/LocalFolders-Thunderbird-extension-create-a-new-folder.jpg" alt="LocalFolders Thunderbird extension - create a new folder" width="568" height="435" /> That's it, your local folder is ready to use. Go to the main screen of Thunderbird, and you'll see the folder on the side panel. The directory may appear to be empty, i.e. the message folders won't be inside it. Don't worry, this is normal and how Thunderbird works by default. The email client lists sub-folders under your accounts, it's a little odd. There is a simple fix for this, click on the program's menu button and go to the View menu, select Folders and choose the "All" Option. Now your folders should be listed as normal. The sub-folders that are listed depends on the message folders that you chose while creating the directory. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168635" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Thunderbird-View-menu-all-folders.jpg" alt="Thunderbird View menu - all folders" width="266" height="236" /> To manage your folders, head to the Account Settings page. Can I create multiple folders? Yes, that's what this add-on was created for. Folders can be created in local drives, network drives and mail servers. What does this mean? If you choose to move a message from your IMAP folder to a local folder, it will be deleted from the server and stored locally, this is not the add-on's fault, it's how Thunderbird works. So, if you want to retain mails locally and on the server, use the "Copy" option instead of "Move". Don't forget, you can always move messages back to the web-folders if you want to. LocalFolders is an open source add-on. The latest source code can be found <a href="https://github.com/cleidigh/Localfolder-TB/tree/v3.0.0" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">here</a>. I tested it with Gmail and Outlook, and it works fine. The extension can also import content from portable Thunderbird profiles. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/28/localfolders-is-a-thunderbird-extension-that-helps-you-create-local-mail-storage-directories/" data-wpel-link="internal">LocalFolders is a Thunderbird extension that helps you create local mail storage directories</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
Tile Tabs WE makes it easier to display tabs side-by-side in Firefox and Chrome

2021-02-28 07:05:37 UTC

Remember Tile Tabs in Firefox? The classic extension for the browser added capabilities to it to display multiple sites in a single tab. Tile Tabs WE is the successor of the extension, […]

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<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2010/02/03/tile-tabs-in-firefox/" data-wpel-link="internal">Remember Tile Tabs in Firefox</a>? The classic extension for the browser added capabilities to it to display multiple sites in a single tab. Tile Tabs WE is the successor of the extension, and since it is based on WebExtensions, compatible with all recent versions of <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/tile-tabs-we/" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Mozilla Firefox</a> and <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/tile-tabs-we/lbnnfjfjdijcnaakaebgcoemmlicjbnl" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Google Chrome</a>. WebExtensions APIs don't provide options to display multiple sites in a tab, and that is the reason why Tile Tabs WE uses the next best thing, windows, for its operations. The change impacts the display, as windows do come with window controls that take up space. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168682" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/tile-tabs-we-firefox.png" alt="tile tabs we firefox" width="1800" height="1153" srcset="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/tile-tabs-we-firefox.png 1800w, https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/tile-tabs-we-firefox-1536x984.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px" /> The very first thing you do is install the extension in the Firefox or Google Chrome web browser. The extension should work in other Chromium-based browsers such as Microsoft Edge or Brave as well. Vivaldi browser users don't need it as the <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2016/04/06/vivaldi-web-browser-review/" data-wpel-link="internal">browser supports tab tiling functionality natively</a>. The extension adds a single icon to the browser's toolbar, but you may control it with keyboard shortcuts or context menus as well. Once installed, right-click on the extension icon to display its menu. Here you may switch the layout and even create layouts of your own. The layout determines the number of tabs that the extension will split in windows on the screen. The default is two tabs, but you can go as high as displaying all tabs in windows side-by-side on the screen. Custom layouts can be saved, and exported and imported. The extension will place the tiles in the location of the original browser window. The number of tiles depends on the screen size to a large degree. To invoke the functionality, click on the extension icon. It uses the "default" tile layout for the operation. A second click returns the tiles to their parent window. The extension selects tabs based on the following logic: <ul> <li>If multiple tabs are selected, e.g. by holding Ctrl and left-clicking on tabs, these are tiled.</li> <li>Otherwise, it is the active tab and tabs to its right that are selected. If there are not enough tabs on the right, tabs on the left will be selected as well. If there are not enough tabs, blank tabs are created.</li> </ul> A small extension icon is displayed in the top left corner on each tab used in the layout. You can use it to add or remove tiles, change the layout, bookmark it, or enable scroll sync. Scroll sync synchronizes scrolling between all tabs of the layout. When you use the scrollbar in one tab, all other tabs are scrolled as well provided that this is possible. The feature can be useful to compare two pages or sites, or two versions of an article to find differences. You may also resize tiles while keeping the layout intact. <h3>Closing Words</h3> Tile Tabs WE adds tab splitting functionality to Firefox, Google Chrome and most Chromium-based web browsers. The feature is not as elegant as that of the Vivaldi web browser, but is useful nevertheless as it makes it easier to display multiple tabs side-by-side on the screen. Now You: do you display tabs side-by-side in your browser of choice? Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/28/tile-tabs-we-makes-it-easier-to-display-tabs-side-by-side-in-firefox-and-chrome/" data-wpel-link="internal">Tile Tabs WE makes it easier to display tabs side-by-side in Firefox and Chrome</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
Microsoft Edge: work on vertical tabs continues, now with resizing support

2021-02-27 16:37:02 UTC

Microsoft revealed plans to introduce support for displaying tabs vertically in the company's Edge web browser in May 2020. Vertical Tabs supported was added to development versions of Microsoft Edge in October […]

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Microsoft revealed plans to introduce support for displaying tabs vertically in the company's Edge web browser <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2020/03/31/microsofts-new-edge-browser-will-get-vertical-tabs-soon/" data-wpel-link="internal">in May 2020</a>. <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2020/10/29/vertical-tabs-are-now-available-to-all-microsoft-edge-canary-and-dev-users/" data-wpel-link="internal">Vertical Tabs supported was added</a> to development versions of Microsoft Edge in October 2020; users of the browser could activate the option in the browser's settings. Doing so would hide the horizontal tab bar and display a vertical tabs sidebar instead that would display tabs on the left side of the browser. Vertical tabs offer benefits to users, especially on widescreen devices. Tabs are displayed in a hierarchical structure in the sidebar, and the extra space means that more tabs with page titles can be displayed at the same time. Moving tabs around is also much easier thanks to easier drag and drop support. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168676" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/microsoft-edge-vertical-tabs-large.png" alt="microsoft edge vertical tabs large" width="1800" height="1154" srcset="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/microsoft-edge-vertical-tabs-large.png 1800w, https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/microsoft-edge-vertical-tabs-large-1536x985.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px" /> Support is still in an experimental stage as certain features are not implemented at this point in time. One of these features, the ability to resize the tabs sidebar, has now been implemented in the latest Edge Canary build. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168677" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/microsoft-edge-vertical-tabs-large-1.png" alt="microsoft edge vertical tabs large" width="1800" height="1154" srcset="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/microsoft-edge-vertical-tabs-large-1.png 1800w, https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/microsoft-edge-vertical-tabs-large-1-1536x985.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px" /> All you need to do is move the mouse cursor over the sidebar border; the icon changes and you may click and drag to resize the sidebar. You may reduce the size to make up more room for the display of websites, or increase it to make sure all page titles are displayed properly, even in lower levels of the hierarchical structure. <h3>Closing Words</h3> The option to resize the tabs sidebar is a welcome addition but the implementation in Edge is still missing important features, such as the ability to display the tabs sidebar on the right of the browser windows. <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2016/04/06/vivaldi-web-browser-review/" data-wpel-link="internal">The Vivaldi browser supports this</a> and many more features. Still, with Edge introducing support for sidebar tabs in the stable version eventually, it could attract new users to the browser. Now You: What is your favorite place for tabs? Does your browser support it? Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/27/microsoft-edge-work-on-vertical-tabs-continues-now-with-resizing-support/" data-wpel-link="internal">Microsoft Edge: work on vertical tabs continues, now with resizing support</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
Neat Download Manager is an impressive downloader that also supports media grabbing

2021-02-27 16:04:40 UTC

What's a good free alternative for IDM? The answer varies, depending on what you need a download manager for. You'd be hard-pressed to find a proper one that mimics all of IDM's […]

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What's a good free alternative for <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2020/01/02/internet-download-manager-is-probably-the-best-video-downloader-right-now/" data-wpel-link="internal">IDM</a>? The answer varies, depending on what you need a download manager for. You'd be hard-pressed to find a proper one that mimics all of IDM's features, especially the refresh download link/resume it and the batch downloads. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168592" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Neat-Download-Manager-is-an-impressive-downloader-that-also-supports-media-grabbing.jpg" alt="Neat Download Manager is an impressive downloader that also supports media grabbing" width="800" height="460" /> But if you're looking for a way to download files quickly, and capture video URLs, you might want to give Neat Download Manager a shot. NDM's interface is simple and reminds me of <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2019/12/10/http-downloader-is-an-open-source-download-manager-for-windows/" data-wpel-link="internal">HTTP Downloader</a>. Click the "New URL" button to paste a link, if the clipboard contains one it will be pasted automatically. Hit the download button to start the process. Your downloads are listed in the right pane of the GUI/ Neat Download Manager has a sidebar that categorizes the files based on their type such as Video, Audio, Compressed, Documents, Application and Misc. And there are separate panels for Complete and Incomplete Downloads. But unlike IDM, this program doesn't place the files into separate folders, they all go into the same directory. You can change the download folder by clicking on the Settings button at the top of the screen and navigating to the General Tab. This page has some extra options that you can use to set the maximum connections per download, limit the bandwidth, change the user-agent, and the auto-start behavior. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168587" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Neat-Download-Manager-settings.jpg" alt="Neat Download Manager settings" width="486" height="487" srcset="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Neat-Download-Manager-settings.jpg 486w, https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Neat-Download-Manager-settings-300x300.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 486px) 100vw, 486px" /> Neat Download Manager has an official extension for Firefox and Chrome, which is great because it helps captures downloads from both browsers. To install the add-ons, click on the browsers button on the program's toolbar, which opens a pop-up window. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168586" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Neat-Download-Manager-browser-add-ons.jpg" alt="Neat Download Manager browser add-ons" width="496" height="483" /> If you don't have the browser installed on your computer (but use a fork of it), the buttons won't work. That's not an issue as you can use the following links to visit <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/neatdownloadmanager-extension/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external">Mozilla's AMO</a> or the <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/neatdownloadmanager-exten/cpcifbdmkopohnnofedkjghjiclmhdah" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external">Chrome Webstore</a> and get the add-ons. There is one caveat though, Neat Download Manager needs to be running because the add-on will not send the links to it if the program isn't open. So, it may appear like the download never started, well you know why. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168588" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Neat-Download-Manager-browser-integration.jpg" alt="Neat Download Manager browser integration" width="645" height="297" /> You may download streaming videos with Neat Download Manager, the pop-up panel and the options are very similar to IDM. But more importantly it works, and I could grab the streaming media from multiple sites. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168590" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Neat-Download-Manager-video-download.jpg" alt="Neat Download Manager video download" width="643" height="446" /> Note: I was unable to download any video in Chromium based browsers using Neat Download Manager. I tried it with Chrome, Edge and Brave, and it clearly isn't an integration issue since the extension works with other downloads (EXEs, ZIPs, etc). <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168591" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/NDM-chrome-extension-error.jpg" alt="NDM chrome extension error" width="442" height="185" /> The Firefox extension on the other hand works flawlessly for all downloads. The browser add-on displays a "Download by Neat Download Manager" option in the context menu, you can use it to start downloads from direct links. If you're having troubles with a download, maybe the website doesn't allow download managers, or NDM is capturing the URL incorrectly, hold down the Delete key and then click the download button on the website. This tells the download manager to skip the file, and your browser will download it instead. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168589" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/NDM-firefox-add-on-context-menu.jpg" alt="NDM firefox add-on context menu" width="608" height="604" /> NDM has a tray icon, but it only allows you to access the GUI; to exit NDM you will need to click the Quit button in the top right corner of the window. Neat Download Manager is freeware, it is available for Windows and macOS. The "about" window of the application says it is the Basic version - Free license, this suggests the program could go premium in the future. Neat Download Manager is surprisingly good free alternative for Internet Download Manager. But as a long time IDM user, I still give the premium application an edge for its more advanced options, batch downloads, plus it has a proper functioning Chrome extension. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/27/neat-download-manager-is-an-impressive-downloader-that-also-supports-media-grabbing/" data-wpel-link="internal">Neat Download Manager is an impressive downloader that also supports media grabbing</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
Open Source Watomatic Android app sends automatic WhatsApp replies

2021-02-27 06:34:59 UTC

Regular WhatsApp accounts don't come with options to send automatic replies, e.g. to inform users who contact you that you are on Holiday or decided to migrate away from WhatsApp because of […]

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Regular WhatsApp accounts don't come with options to send automatic replies, e.g. to inform users who contact you that you are on Holiday or decided to migrate away from WhatsApp because of the recent <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/01/07/whatsapp-makes-data-sharing-with-facebook-mandatory/" data-wpel-link="internal">privacy controversy</a> surrounding the app and service. <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/21/if-you-dont-agree-to-whatsapps-new-terms-your-account-will-eventually-be-deleted/" data-wpel-link="internal">WhatsApp accounts will be limited and eventually deleted</a> if users don't agree to the new privacy policy. Users who don't agree may migrate to another chat service, Telegram, for example, introduced options to <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/01/29/telegram-update-introduces-support-for-importing-whatsapp-chats/" data-wpel-link="internal">import WhatsApp chats recently</a>. While you can reply to contacts manually using the application, automation may help reduce the time it takes to inform users, especially if you have a lot of contacts that send you messages regularly. Watomatic - WhatsApp Auto Reply Bot is an open source application for Android that introduces an option to automate replies. The source of the application is published on <a href="https://github.com/adeekshith/watomatic" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">GitHub</a>, and you may download its APK file directly from the site or follow links to Google Play or Izzy On Droid to download it from these sources instead. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168668" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/whatsapp-automatic-replies.png" alt="whatsapp automatic replies" width="1080" height="2220" srcset="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/whatsapp-automatic-replies.png 1080w, https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/whatsapp-automatic-replies-747x1536.png 747w, https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/whatsapp-automatic-replies-996x2048.png 996w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" /> Watomatic relies on Android's notification system and needs notification permissions. WhatsApp notifications need to be enabled as well, and WhatsApp's fingerprinting lock needs to be disabled. The interface of the app is straightforward and easy to use. Tap on the auto reply text field to edit it, e.g. to inform users about your new messaging app and username on the app, that you are on holiday or a business trip, or that you are in hospital or otherwise occupied. Toggle the Auto Reply preference to On to enable the feature. Note that you will get the Notifications permissions prompt if you enable it for the first time. You may enable the feature for group chats as well, and use the reply frequency field to limit the number of messages per contact or group. The default setting is unlimited. <h3>Closing Words</h3> Considering that you need to keep WhatsApp installed on the device for Watomatic to work, the application's usefulness growth with the number of contacts and group chats that a user has. If you just have a few contacts, you could simply write the message and don't need to install a third-party app to do so. If you have lots of contacts or groups, say hundreds or more, it is becoming more and more time consuming to inform everyone, and that is when Watomatic shines the most. Now You: Which messaging service do you use, and why? Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/27/open-source-watomatic-android-app-sends-automatic-whatsapp-replies/" data-wpel-link="internal">Open Source Watomatic Android app sends automatic WhatsApp replies</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
BlobBackup is an open-source, cross-platform, and easy-to-use backup program that optionally supports cloud services

2021-02-26 15:01:25 UTC

Do you backup your data? You should, as you never know when it might come in handy. Some people like having a backup readily available on a hard drive, while others prefer […]

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Do you backup your data? You should, as you never know when it might come in handy. Some people like having a backup readily available on a hard drive, while others prefer a cloud-based solution that they can access from other devices. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168557" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/BlobBackup-is-an-open-source-cross-platform-and-easy-to-use-backup-program-that-optionally-supports-cloud-services.jpg" alt="BlobBackup is an open-source, cross-platform, and easy-to-use backup program that optionally supports cloud services" width="471" height="340" /> BlobBackup is a backup program that provides the best of both worlds. The application has a user-friendly interface without a toolbar or flashy colors. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168556" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/BlobBackup-add-new-backup-task.jpg" alt="BlobBackup add new backup task" width="416" height="387" /> To get started, click on the add new button in the middle of the window. The program supports local backup, network drives, and cloud storage services including Google Cloud, Amazon AWS. Microsoft Azure, BackBlaze B2 and S3 Storage. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168554" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/BlobBackup-add-new-backup-task-cloud-based.jpg" alt="BlobBackup add new backup task cloud based" width="402" height="356" /> We'll be focusing on the local storage backup here for simplicity. Select an option and BlobBackup will prompt you to enter the name for the new task, and a password to encrypt the files (256 bit AES in GCM mode). For local storage drives, you'll need to select the directory in which the backup should be saved to, aka the destination folder. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168555" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/BlobBackup-add-new-backup-task-local.jpg" alt="BlobBackup add new backup task local" width="402" height="257" /> The network/cloud backup methods require you to configure (authenticate) the program with your account. I recommend selecting an external hard drive (or a different internal drive) as the backup's destination if you pick the local option. In the next step, a new window appears with options for selecting the folders that you want to back up, i.e. the source directories. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168553" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/BlobBackup-select-folders.jpg" alt="BlobBackup select folders" width="462" height="388" /> BlobBackup doesn't have an option to select individual files. The program supports recursive folder by default, but it does allow you to exclude file types from the backup using wildcards. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168552" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/BlobBackup-select-folders-2.jpg" alt="BlobBackup select folders 2" width="462" height="388" /> Backups can be scheduled to run automatically at a given time, every day/hour, or just on specific days of the week. If you don't want to automate the task, you can choose the manual backup option. The next screen is called Retention, and is used to define the number of days that the backup data should be retained before it is deleted. BlobBackup runs in the background (to trigger scheduled tasks), and can be accessed from the system tray. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168550" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/BlobBackup-scheduled-backup-task.jpg" alt="BlobBackup scheduled backup task" width="462" height="388" /> The last tab in the configuration window is named Advanced, and has options to select the number of threads /(to be used for running the task), and the compression level (Zstandard). You can ignore these settings if you're not familiar with those terms. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168551" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/BlobBackup-saved-task.jpg" alt="BlobBackup saved task" width="471" height="340" /> Click on the save button and BlobBackup will create the task and list it on the main screen. To run it manually, select the task and hit the Run button on the toolbar. The program will begin backing up the files and displays a log in the bottom pane to indicate the status. A notification will pop up in the action center to tell you whether the task was completed successfully. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168558" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/BlobBackup-backup-successful.jpg" alt="BlobBackup backup successful" width="471" height="340" /> To edit a backup's settings, use the Edit button on the toolbar or double-click the task in the list, you'll need to provide the password to access the task's options. The toolbar also has buttons to stop an ongoing backup, delete a task, or restore data from a previous snapshot. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168549" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/BlobBackup-restore-backup-task.jpg" alt="BlobBackup restore backup task" width="467" height="332" /> Select the backup's snapshot, and you'll be able to choose specific sub-folders that you want to restore the data from. Make your selection and click on the "Restore To" button, to save the data at any folder of your choice. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168548" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/BlobBackup-restore-backup-task-2.jpg" alt="BlobBackup restore backup task 2" width="467" height="332" /> BlobBackup is an open source program. It is available for Windows, Linux and MacOS. The program requires about 173MB of storage space. For an application that's still in beta phase, it is quite promising, but not yet ready for installation on anything but test machines. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/26/blobbackup-is-an-open-source-cross-platform-and-easy-to-use-backup-program-that-optionally-supports-cloud-services/" data-wpel-link="internal">BlobBackup is an open-source, cross-platform, and easy-to-use backup program that optionally supports cloud services</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
List trackers and permissions of all installed Android applications with Exodus

2021-02-26 12:50:31 UTC

Exodus is a free privacy application for Google's Android operating system that reveals the use of trackers of installed Android applications and their permissions. We reviewed Exodify, browser extensions by the Exodus […]

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Exodus is a free privacy application for Google's Android operating system that reveals the use of trackers of installed Android applications and their permissions. <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2018/03/19/list-the-trackers-that-apps-use-on-google-play/" data-wpel-link="internal">We reviewed Exodify</a>, browser extensions by the Exodus project, back in 2018 and covered the web service Exodus as well back then. Users may use the browser extensions to display permission requests and tracker uses of any app on Google Play, or run searches for applications on the Exodus website. Exodus was mentioned in <a href="https://www.borncity.com/blog/2021/02/26/lastpass-android-app-trackt-seine-benutzer/" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Günter Born's article</a> on LastPass' extensive use of trackers in the service's Android application. The Exodus application is available on Google Play. Its main advantage over the browser extensions or web service is that it will scan all installed applications on an Android device to return each application's use of trackers and its requested permissions. Usage is pretty simple: <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.eu.exodus_privacy.exodusprivacy&hl=en&gl=US" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">download the app</a> from Google Play and run it after installation. It will scan the installed applications automatically, lists them, and displays the number of trackers and permissions for each. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168653" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/exodus-android-trackers.png" alt="exodus android trackers" width="1600" height="1096" srcset="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/exodus-android-trackers.png 1600w, https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/exodus-android-trackers-1536x1052.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /> The app uses colors to make it easier for users to distinguish between apps that use little or no trackers or permissions, and apps that use them heavily. Green background colors mean that the app does not use any trackers or has not requested extra permissions, yellow that some are used or have been requested, and red that a lot of trackers are used or a lot of permissions have been requested. You may tap on any application to display a profile page. The page lists the installed version and test version, all trackers and all requested permissions with a short explanation. A tap on a permission or tracker opens even more details, e.g. when you select a tracker you get a list of other installed applications that use it as well. You may also activate a link to open the application's profile page on the Exodus website to get additional information such as purposes of trackers if known. The results depend on the applications that you have installed, but most users will probably notice that the majority of installed applications do use one or more trackers. Use of trackers or lots of permissions is not always a sign that something bad or fishy is going on, but it can be an indicator. Exodus offers some interesting options, such as: <ul> <li>Checking all installed browsers for trackers.</li> <li>Making sure that important applications don't use trackers.</li> <li>Spotting apps or games that go over the board with trackers or permissions to drop them.</li> </ul> It is necessary to check the list of requested permissions and/or trackers. Some application types, web browsers for instance, require more permissions than apps that have a narrower focus. <h3>Closing Words</h3> Exodus offers an interesting service. It needs to be noted that the app requires Internet connectivity as it uses a central database and not real-time scanning for its analysis; this means, that it is possible that some applications have not been scanned by Exodus or that earlier versions have been scanned only. Still, if you want to quickly check permissions and trackers of all installed Android apps on a device, it is a good way of doing that. Now You: Do you check trackers or permissions before installing apps on your mobile devices? Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/26/list-trackers-and-permissions-of-all-installed-android-applications-with-exodus/" data-wpel-link="internal">List trackers and permissions of all installed Android applications with Exodus</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
Steam's Remote Play Together now functions without a Steam account

2021-02-26 06:42:59 UTC

Valve Software announced an addition to the Remote Play Together feature of the company's Steam gaming platform this week. Remote Play gives Steam users the option to play games with others, even […]

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Valve Software <a href="https://steamcommunity.com/groups/homestream/discussions/0/3111395750231979202/" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">announced</a> an addition to the Remote Play Together feature of the company's Steam gaming platform this week. Remote Play gives Steam users the option to play games with others, even if the invited users don't have the game in their library. Remote Play works with a selection of games only and up until now, required that every participating user had Steam installed and a Steam account. The change brings the Remote Play Together feature to users who don't have Steam installed or a Steam account. Launched in beta clients of Steam already, it enables Steam users to invite users who don't use Steam to participate in the game. Invite links are created by the Steam user and then provided to others. The next step depends on whether Steam is installed on the device or not. If it is installed and if the user has an account, it is used to enable the Remote Play Together functionality. If the invited user does not have Steam or a Steam account, a prompt to install the <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/steamlink/about/" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Steam Link</a> application; this app is then used to enable the Remote Play Together functionality. Steam Link is available for Windows, Raspberry Pi, Google Android, and Apple iOS at the time of writing. Main limitations at this point are that Remote Play Together is enabled for some games only, and that the new link-based invite option is restricted to a single invite. Inviting users to Remote Play using a link <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168648" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/steam-remote-play-together-without-account.png" alt="steam remote play together without account" width="450" height="376" /> Here is what you need to do to make use of the new feature: <ol> <li>Currently, it is only available in Steam Beta; it will be released in stable versions eventually however. <ul> <li>To join the beta, select View > Settings > Account > Change under Beta Participation, and join the Beta program. A restart is required.</li> </ul> </li> <li>Open your library.</li> <li>Select the filter icon at the top.</li> <li>Pick the "Remote Play Together" filter to list all games that support the feature.</li> <li>Start one of the games.</li> <li>Open your Friends list.</li> <li>An icon to copy the Remote Play Together link is provided at the top.</li> <li>Send that link to a friend.</li> </ol> Everything else happens on the "other" users system. The main limitation at this point is that only one user without a Steam account can be invited. The process could be improved by adding the option prominently to the game page or even the library listing. Now You: Have you used the Remote Play Together feature on Steam? What is your take on it? Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/26/steams-remote-play-now-functions-without-a-steam-account/" data-wpel-link="internal">Steam's Remote Play Together now functions without a Steam account</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
Microsoft is finally hiding the 3D Objects Folder in Windows 10

2021-02-25 17:20:02 UTC

Microsoft released a new Insider build on February 24, 2021; it included fixes for the most part but made a few changes as well. One of the changes hides the 3D Objects […]

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Microsoft <a href="https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2021/02/24/announcing-windows-10-insider-preview-build-21322/" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">released</a> a new Insider build on February 24, 2021; it included fixes for the most part but made a few changes as well. One of the changes hides the 3D Objects folder by default on the operating system. The "This PC" menu in File Explorer's sidebar displays a number of default folders and connected drives by default. One of the folders is 3D Objects, and since it is the only one that begins with a number, it is the first folder of the list. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168643" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/3d-objects-windows-10.png" alt="3d objects windows 10" width="949" height="516" /> 3D Objects was added to the operating system in 2017 when Microsoft released the Fall Creators Update for the Windows 10 operating system. The Creators Update introduced 3D applications, e.g. Paint 3D, on the system, and its successor the special folder 3D Objects, designed to be the storage location for 3D files. Most users had no use for the 3D Objects folder, and we <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2017/10/20/remove-3d-objects-from-this-pc-in-windows-10/" data-wpel-link="internal">published a tutorial that explained how to remove the 3D Objects folder from being shown in File Explorer</a>. The guide may not be needed for much longer, as Microsoft will hide the folder in future versions of Windows automatically according to the changelog of the most recent Windows 10 Insider build: <blockquote>The 3D Objects folder will no longer be shown as a special folder in File Explorer after updating to this build.</blockquote> The folder is still available, but users need to enable it if they want to continue using it. Microsoft notes that users who do, have two options to do so: <ol> <li>Load %userprofile% which displays the folder next to all other special folders and other user profile folders.</li> <li>By selecting View > Navigation Pane > Show all Folders in File Explorer.</li> </ol> The first option is a temporary solution as you need to access the folder each time you want to open the 3D Objects folder; the second option is permanent and restores the current status quo of stable versions of Windows 10. Closing Words Microsoft did not reveal usage numbers for its 3D applications and use of the 3D Objects folder. The removal is an indicator that the folder may not have seen the usage numbers that Microsoft hoped it would get since it was introduced. Now You: did you use the 3D Objects folder? What is your take on Microsoft's decision? (via <a href="https://techdows.com/2021/02/worthless-3d-objects-folder-in-windows-10-to-vanish-with-21h2-update.html" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Techdows</a>) Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/25/microsoft-is-finally-hiding-the-3d-objects-folder-on-windows-10/" data-wpel-link="internal">Microsoft is finally hiding the 3D Objects Folder in Windows 10</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
Brook is a simple RSS Feed management extension for Firefox

2021-02-25 12:43:17 UTC

I rely on RSS Feeds to catch up with news from multiple tech sites, news sites, and other sites that support RSS. It's simpler, faster, and much more efficient than visiting sites […]

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I rely on RSS Feeds to catch up with news from multiple tech sites, news sites, and other sites that support RSS. It's simpler, faster, and much more efficient than visiting sites or even waiting for newsletters to drop. There are plenty of good add-ons that you can use for getting feeds right from your web browser. Brook is a Firefox extension that keeps it simple, and offers a quick way to access the latest articles from your favorite websites. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168543" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Brook-is-a-simple-RSS-Feed-management-extension-for-Firefox.jpg" alt="Brook is a simple RSS Feed management extension for Firefox" width="658" height="712" /> When you install the add-on, a sidebar will appear on the left edge of the screen. This is Brook's interface. To subscribe to a feed, visit any website that supports the RSS or ATOM feed protocol, and a "Subscribe button will appear at the top of the side panel. Click on it (or use the extension's button on the toolbar) and Brook will add the feed to its subscription list. The website's name will appear in the sidebar, click on it to view all articles that were fetched. You don't need to register for an account to get RSS feeds, and that's the way it should be. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168542" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Brook-firefox-extension-toolbar.jpg" alt="Brook firefox extension toolbar" width="230" height="159" /> The add-on lists each article's title, which is great because you can skip articles that you may have no interest in. Click on the heading to open the corresponding post. This might be a drawback for some users, but Brook doesn't have a built-in reader pane, so it loads the selected article in the current tab. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168541" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Brook-extension-subscribe-to-rss-feed.jpg" alt="Brook extension subscribe to rss feed" width="428" height="257" /> There are a couple of other ways to add feeds to Brook. Hit the 3-dot menu button near the top of the panel, the second option here allows you to add a feed using a URL. Select it and paste the RSS feed's URL in the box and click on the add button. The third way is to use the Import Feeds option to pick an OPML file that you have saved from a different program/service. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168540" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Brook-add-an-rss-feed.jpg" alt="Brook add an rss feed" width="218" height="192" /> Now, having a ton of feeds can make it difficult to keep track of new articles. Brook supports folders, which you can use to categorize websites, and manage them efficiently. The extension respects the folder structure that's present in your OPML file, which makes it easier to get started. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168539" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Brook-firefox-extension-interface.jpg" alt="Brook firefox extension interface" width="1839" height="947" srcset="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Brook-firefox-extension-interface.jpg 1839w, https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Brook-firefox-extension-interface-1536x791.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1839px) 100vw, 1839px" /> The sidebar can be closed by clicking the X button, and re-opened at any time using the button on the toolbar. If you feel that the sidebar is distracting, you could switch to the pop-up interface from Brook's options. This makes the add-on display a modal, which is quite compact. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168544" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Brook-firefox-extension-popup-interface.jpg" alt="Brook firefox extension popup interface" width="763" height="703" /> There is no option to control how often the add-on updates the feeds. The button displays a star symbol to indicate new articles are available for reading. Brook is an <a href="https://github.com/adamsanderson/brook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external" data-wpel-link="external">open source</a> extension. I think that the add-on could use a new tab interface, with its own reader view. Or maybe simplicity is its specialty? I liked <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2020/03/10/smart-rss-reader-is-a-feed-reader-extension-for-firefox-and-chrome/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal">Smart RSS Reader</a> and <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2020/05/24/get-rss-feed-urls-from-any-page-and-preview-them-using-the-want-my-rss-extension-for-firefox/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal">Want My RSS</a>, but at the end of the day, I like having my articles fetched and ready for reading, which is my I use <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2012/05/30/quiterss-open-source-rss-reader-for-windows/" data-wpel-link="internal">QuiteRSS</a>. What about you, do you use a desktop program or a browser extension for RSS feeds? ? Or do you rely on online services like Feedly or Inoreader? Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/25/brook-is-a-simple-rss-feed-management-extension-for-firefox/" data-wpel-link="internal">Brook is a simple RSS Feed management extension for Firefox</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
Latest Brave browser update fixes Tor .onion DNS Leak

2021-02-25 06:22:08 UTC

The makers of the Brave browser have released Brave 1.20.110 to the stable channel. The new version addresses a serious privacy issue in the browser, a crash issue on Linux, and upgrades […]

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The makers of the Brave browser have released Brave 1.20.110 to the stable channel. The new version addresses a serious privacy issue in the browser, a crash issue on Linux, and upgrades the core of the browser to a newer Chromium version. Brave browser has built-in functionality to access .onion sites using Tor. <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2018/06/29/brave-browser-gets-private-tab-with-tor-option/" data-wpel-link="internal">The feature was introduced in June 2018</a> and has been an option ever since. Designed to improve privacy by routing the connection through a series of hops along the way, it is an option to improve anonymity by keeping information secret from the target and network listeners. All that is needed to activate Tor mode in Brave is to use the shortcut Alt-Shift-N, or to select Menu > New private window with Tor. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168626" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/brave-browser-tor-mode.png" alt="brave browser tor mode" width="1340" height="962" /> The implementation in Brave is not designed to be a full replacement for Tor Browser. The company <a href="https://support.brave.com/hc/en-us/articles/360018121491-What-is-a-Private-Window-with-Tor-" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">notes</a> on its support page that its browser "does not implement most of the privacy protections from Tor Browser" and that it "recommends using Tor Browser instead of Brave Tor windows" for "absolute anonymity". One user <a href="https://ramble.pw/f/privacy/2387/brave-browser-leaks-your-tor-onion-service-requests-through" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">discovered</a> last week that Brave was leaking information in Tor mode. The user suggested that Brave Browser was leaking the address of sites visited in the mode and the IP of the requester. Brave attempted to resolve .onion domains through traditional DNS look-ups, something that should not happen according to the user. The new update addresses the privacy issue. Brave engineers fixed the issue so that the information is no longer leaked when the browser's Tor mode is being used. The company's recommendation to use Tor Browser for full anonymity still stands. Brave users can verify the installed version of the web browser by loading brave://settings/help directly, or by selecting Menu > About Brave. The page that opens displays the installed version and will run a check for updates. Any new version that is found will be downloaded and installed automatically. Brave1.20.110 fixes a crash issue on Linux that occurred when opening .onion links in "certain cases". The core of the browser is updated to Chromium 88.0.4324.192 next to that. Now You: have you used Tor mode in Brave? Would you? Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/25/latest-brave-browser-update-fixes-tor-onion-dns-leak/" data-wpel-link="internal">Latest Brave browser update fixes Tor .onion DNS Leak</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
PeperNote is a simple sticky notes application for Windows

2021-02-24 15:43:30 UTC

Alerts and reminders are useful for getting things done. But sometimes you may not want to fiddle with menus and toolbars, keeping it simple and faster might just be the best idea. […]

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Alerts and reminders are useful for getting things done. But sometimes you may not want to fiddle with menus and toolbars, keeping it simple and faster might just be the best idea. So in a way, a note on your desktop can serve the purpose. If you want a sticky notes application with minimal options, PeperNote is a good choice. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168500" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/PeperNote-is-a-simple-sticky-notes-application-for-Windows.jpg" alt="PeperNote is a simple sticky notes application for Windows" width="780" height="512" /> The program is set to automatically start with Windows, and there's no way to change this behavior from the program's settings. If you don't like that, you'll need to disable it from the Task Manager's Startup tab or through programs such as <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2015/01/30/startup-manager-autoruns-13-introduces-virustotal-integration/" data-wpel-link="internal">Autoruns</a>. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168501" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/PeperNote-interface.jpg" alt="PeperNote interface" width="264" height="264" /> PeperNote has a tray icon which you can double-click to access the GUI. The interface looks like a blank yellow page, but when you mouse over it several elements appear on the screen. To add a new note, double-click on the tray icon, or use the option from the tray context menu. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168496" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Pepernote-tray-menu.jpg" alt="Pepernote tray menu" width="221" height="125" /> You can stick a note to stay on top of other windows by clicking the pin icon in the top left corner of PeperNote's GUI. Not a fan of the yellow backdrop? Click on the box that appears next to the pin to change the background color. The program lacks a palette, so you can't pick the color manually. Instead, it switches between a few pre-defined options. On the bright side, you can use this to change color code various notes. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168499" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/PeperNote-text-formatting.jpg" alt="PeperNote text formatting" width="264" height="264" /> The two A buttons in the bottom left corner of the program's window allow you to change the font size of the note. PeperNote supports basic text formatting such as Bold, italics, underline and strike-through. To apply one of these styles, select the text before clicking on the relevant format option. The application supports common keyboard shortcuts such as Ctrl + B, CTrl + I, etc, for applying the format, which can be a faster way for stylizing the content. The note-taking tool also lets you set the text alignment to left, right or center. PeperNote supports images, but you can only add them if the image is stored in the clipboard, i.e. you cannot attach pictures from files directly. The program doesn't support URLs, you can save web addresses in your note, but the pasted text is not converted into a clickable link. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168498" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/PeperNote-urls.jpg" alt="PeperNote urls" width="264" height="264" /> Resize a note by dragging it from any corner. You can have multiple notes set up at the same time, kind of like how you'd stick several notes on your refrigerator's door. PeperNote supports auto-save, it preserves your notes when you exit the application. But there is something you should remember, if you close a note individually its contents will be deleted. Right-click on the tray icon and select "Bring notes to front" to display all notes that you have saved. You may also do this by clicking in the title bar area of a note. The program lacks a trash bin for deleted notes. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168497" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Pepernote-multiple-notes-and-colors.jpg" alt="Pepernote multiple notes and colors" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Pepernote-multiple-notes-and-colors.jpg 1920w, https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Pepernote-multiple-notes-and-colors-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /> PeperNote is named after a Dutch Gingerbread cookie. The application is open source and requires .NET 4.7.2 to run. Even though it is available in an archive, it is not a portable software, the ZIP file contains the installer. The program is very user-friendly, and is almost as simple as Notepad, but with additional options. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/24/pepernote-is-a-simple-sticky-notes-application-for-windows/" data-wpel-link="internal">PeperNote is a simple sticky notes application for Windows</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
The case of missing ESNI support in Firefox 85

2021-02-24 12:58:58 UTC

If you have upgraded your stable version of the Firefox web browser to version 85.0, released in January, you may have noticed that it no longer supports ESNI. ESNI, which stands for […]

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If you have upgraded your stable version of the Firefox web browser to <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/01/26/here-is-what-is-new-and-changed-in-firefox-85-0/" data-wpel-link="internal">version 85.0</a>, released in January, you may have noticed that it no longer supports ESNI. ESNI, which stands for Encrypted Server Name Indication, is a security and privacy feature designed to protect against network eavesdropping. Mozilla <a href="https://blog.mozilla.org/security/2018/10/18/encrypted-sni-comes-to-firefox-nightly/" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">introduced</a> support for ESNI two years ago and the feature has been available as an advanced option in Firefox for some time. Users had to configure several advanced parameters to make use of ESNI in Firefox. Tip: <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2019/04/29/check-if-your-browser-uses-secure-dns-dnssec-tls-1-3-and-encrypted-sni/" data-wpel-link="internal">Check if your browser uses Secure DNS, DNSSEC, TLS 1.3, and Encrypted SNI</a> Mozilla <a href="https://www.cloudflare.com/ssl/encrypted-sni/" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">published</a> a post on its Mozilla Security Blog in January that informed readers that Firefox would drop support for ESNI in favor of ECH, or Encrypted Client Hello. The new TLS extension was designed to eliminate the shortcomings of ESNI. Researchers <a href="https://blog.mozilla.org/security/2021/01/07/encrypted-client-hello-the-future-of-esni-in-firefox/" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">discovered</a> that ESNI provided incomplete protection and that it had "interoperability and deployment challenges that prevented it from being enabled at a wider scale". ECH addresses these shortcomings. Mozilla did remove ESNI support from Firefox 85 in favor of ECH support. <h3>Enable ECH in Firefox</h3> <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168610" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/firefox-ech.png" alt="firefox ech" width="1171" height="631" /> Firefox users may turn it on in the following way: <ol> <li>Load about:config in the Firefox address bar.</li> <li>Confirm that you will be careful.</li> <li>Search for network.dns.echconfig.enabled.</li> <li>Set the preference to TRUE to enable it.</li> <li>Search for network.dns.use_https_rr_as_altsvc.</li> <li>Set the preference to TRUE to enable it.</li> <li>Restart the Firefox web browser.</li> </ol> <h3>Problem: ECH needs servers</h3> While Firefox does support ECH, it is just one side of the coin as servers are needed for the feature to work. Cloudflare's test reveals that the SNI is not encrypted currently even while the feature is enabled in Firefox, and that indicates that the default provider, which is Cloudflare, has not enabled it yet. Firefox users who used the feature prior to version 85.0 Stable found themselves in a precarious situation: Mozilla did remove the feature from the browser, but there was no option to use ECH yet; this in turn meant that privacy could be impacted. Users <a href="https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1689249" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">reported</a> the issue on Mozilla's bug tracking site, some stating that dropped support would allow censorship mechanics to work again. All these reports appear to have received the "won't fix" status. Mozilla <a href="https://www.cloudflare.com/ssl/encrypted-sni/" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">suggests</a> that users use Firefox ESR for the time being, as support for ESNI is still available in that browser. It is an option, but users would have to be aware of the change first to make the switch. It is unclear why Mozilla removed support for ESNI early. It would have been better from a user point of view if Mozilla would have waited until servers would be available that support ECH. Cloudflare, being the default provider in Firefox, being a prime choice for that. Firefox users who require it may switch to ESR for the time being. ECH looks more promising than ESNI, but Mozilla's timing could have been better. Now You: Have you used ESNI in Firefox? Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/24/the-case-of-the-missing-esni-support-in-firefox-85/" data-wpel-link="internal">The case of missing ESNI support in Firefox 85</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
How to turn off the News and Interests feature of Windows 10

2021-02-24 08:19:24 UTC

News and Interests is a new feature of Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system that is currently in testing. Introduced in Insider build 21286, News and Interests is available in certain geographical regions […]

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News and Interests is a new feature of Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system that is currently in testing. Introduced in Insider <a href="https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2021/01/06/announcing-windows-10-insider-preview-build-21286/" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">build 21286</a>, News and Interests is available in certain geographical regions only currently. Microsoft has not yet revealed if the feature will land in the upcoming next feature update version of Windows 10. <h3>News and Interests</h3> <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168601" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/news-and-interests-windows-10.png" alt="news and interests windows 10" width="484" height="171" /> News and interests displays weather information on the Windows 10 taskbar when it is enabled. The information is localized, and you get the current temperature and weather conditions displayed directly on the taskbar. When you hover over the icon, news and interests is displayed, hence the name of the feature. A left-click on the icon opens a news widget with personal feed widgets. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168602" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/windows-10-news-widget.png" alt="windows 10 news widget" width="673" height="692" />   It features headlines, sports, weather, finance and traffic information by default for the selected region and language. Ads are not shown and links open in Microsoft's Chromium-based Edge browser even if another web browser is set as the default browser on the system. A click on the three dots icon and the selection of language and content opens a configuration page. Here you may change the region and language, and turn off or on certain cards based on interests. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168603" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/news-and-interests-configuration.png" alt="news and interests configuration" width="1259" height="982" /> One thing that you cannot change here currently is the location the weather information is displayed for; this can be edited in the News and interests widget directly by selecting the three-dots menu of the weather card and then "edit location" from the menu that opens. You may switch from auto-detect to a fixed location. <h3>Turn off News and Interests</h3> <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168604" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/news-and-interests-turn-off.png" alt="news and interests turn off" width="591" height="565" /> Some Windows 10 users may like that weather information is displayed on the taskbar, or that news are just a single-click away. Those who don't, may disable the News and interests widget to remove it from the taskbar. Here is how that is done: <ol> <li>Right-click on the News and interests entry on the Windows 10 taskbar.</li> <li>Select the News and interests entry on the menu that opens.</li> <li>To disable the feature entirely, select "turn off". <ol> <li>You may alternatively reduce it to an icon-only display.</li> <li>You may also select "reduce taskbar updates".</li> </ol> </li> </ol> Changes take effect immediately. To restore the feature, right-click on a blank space on the taskbar, select "News and interests" and then either "show icon and text" or "show icon only". Administrators may turn off the feature using the Windows Registry as well: <ol> <li>Open the Windows Registry editor <ol> <li>Select Start</li> <li>Type regedit.</li> <li>Select the Registry Editor result.</li> <li>Confirm the UAC prompt.</li> </ol> </li> <li>Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Feeds.</li> <li>Locate the Dword value ShellFeedsTaskbarViewMode. <ol> <li>If it does not exist, right-click on Feeds and select New > Dword (32-bit) Value.</li> <li>Name it ShellFeedsTaskbarViewMode.</li> </ol> </li> <li>The following values are supported: <ol> <li>Value 0: Both the weather icon and temperature is shown.</li> <li>Value 1: Only the weather icon is displayed.</li> <li>Value 2: The feature is turned off.</li> </ol> </li> <li>Restart the computer.</li> </ol> Now You: what is your take on the News and interests widget? Good feature? Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/24/how-to-turn-off-the-news-and-interests-feature-of-windows-10/" data-wpel-link="internal">How to turn off the News and Interests feature of Windows 10</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
Thunderbird 78.8.0 security update is out

2021-02-24 06:23:38 UTC

Thunderbird 78.8.0 has been released on February 23, 2021. The release schedule of the email client follows that of the Firefox web browser as code is shared between the two browsers. It […]

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Thunderbird 78.8.0 has been released on February 23, 2021. The release schedule of the email client <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/23/here-is-what-is-new-and-changed-in-firefox-86-0/" data-wpel-link="internal">follows that of the Firefox web browser</a> as code is shared between the two browsers. It is often the case that both products are affected by the same security vulnerabilities, and that security patches are released for both around the same time. The new version of Thunderbird 78.8.0 is available already. Users should see it being installed automatically in client versions provided that automatic updates are enabled. To verify the installed version of the email client, select Help > About Thunderbird (if the menu bar is not displayed, press Alt on the keyboard to show it). The menu displays the version and runs a check for updates. The latest version of Thunderbird can also be downloaded directly from the <a href="https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/78.8.0/releasenotes/" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">project website</a>. The downloaded file can then be installed manually to upgrade existing installations, or to install Thunderbird anew or for the first time. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168597" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/thunderbird-78.8.png" alt="thunderbird 78.8" width="961" height="507" /> The s<a href="https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/security/advisories/mfsa2021-09/" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">ecurity advisory page</a> lists four distinct security vulnerabilities that have been patched in Thunderbird 78.8. Three of the four received a severity rating of high, one a rating of low. High is the second highest rating after critical. Thunderbird 78.8.0 includes several bug fixes but no new features next to that. The release notes highlight the following changes: <ul> <li>fixed an issue that created an error when importing an address book from a CSV file.</li> <li>fixed security information not being displayed correctly before a s/MIME message was saved as a draft.</li> <li>fixed FileLINK user interface in CalDAV calendars.</li> <li>fixed that recurring tasks were always displayed as incomplete and that filters could not be used.</li> <li>fixes to "various UI widgets" that did not work correctly.</li> <li>dark theme improvements</li> <li>the extension manager did not have a link to the support web page for add-ons.</li> </ul> <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/10/thunderbird-team-outlines-plans-for-the-email-client/" data-wpel-link="internal">The Thunderbird team outlined its plans for the email client recently</a>. Many major updates will be introduced in Thunderbird 91, which will be released later this year. Now You: what would you like to see in future releases? Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/24/thunderbird-78-8-0-security-update-is-out/" data-wpel-link="internal">Thunderbird 78.8.0 security update is out</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
Access your favorite programs from the system tray and optionally run them with admin rights using SuperLauncher

2021-02-23 19:08:50 UTC

Sometimes you may need to run programs with administrator privileges. Maybe it's required for the program to function, or it fixes an issue, or lets the application run in full-screen mode. The […]

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Sometimes you may need to run programs with administrator privileges. Maybe it's required for the program to function, or it fixes an issue, or lets the application run in full-screen mode. The usual method to do this, is to right-click on the executable and select the run as administrator option. You could create shortcuts for these programs, but it will quickly clutter your desktop. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168476" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Access-your-favorite-programs-from-the-system-tray-and-optionally-run-them-with-admin-rights-using-SuperLauncher.jpg" alt="Access your favorite programs from the system tray and optionally run them with admin rights using SuperLauncher" width="453" height="298" /> Is there a way to tackle both these issues? There is, if you use a program like SuperLauncher, it allows you a quick way to access several applications from one place, which keeps your desktop clean. And if you want to, you can run them with elevated rights, only when required. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168473" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/SuperLauncher-interface.jpg" alt="SuperLauncher interface" width="447" height="292" /> As the name suggests it is a launcher application, it sits in the system tray. A single click on the icon opens the program's interface, which is a black window that pops-up just above the tray. SuperLauncher has one shortcut assigned to it by default, for the Command Prompt (and it starts at the program's folder). To add a new shortcut, right-click on the tray icon, and select the Add Shortcut option from the menu. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168474" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/SuperLauncher-tray-menu.jpg" alt="SuperLauncher tray menu" width="277" height="256" /> A browse window opens, which you can use to jump to the location of the EXE that you want. That's not very difficult, is it? The shortcuts you add to SuperLauncher function like a normal one you place on your desktop, i.e. a double-click opens the corresponding program. Right-click on a shortcut to remove it from the launcher. SuperLauncher does not have a proper context menu, so you can't customize the icons or set advanced parameters. But then, how do you run these programs as an administrator? If you look at the top right of the launcher's window, you will see the current user's name. Keep this in mind, now right-click on the tray icon and select the Elevate option from the menu. Windows' UAC will alert you regarding the request, allow it to run. Take a look at the launcher's interface again, you should now see the administrator icon next to the username, which means it can now be used to run the programs with elevated rights. This is completely optional, so if you just want to use it as a normal launcher, you can skip the setting. Have more than one user account on your computer? SuperLauncher allows you to run programs as any user, to do so, use the Run As option from the tray menu. You will be required to enter the selected user's credentials to authenticate the switch. SuperLauncher is an open source program. Despite the Super in its name, the program is quite simple to use. <h3>Closing Words</h3> The application needs a better way to add shortcuts, I feel drag and drop could be a much faster way than the manual method that is in place. It can become cumbersome, especially if you want to add a bunch of shortcuts at the same time. Even a "Send To > SuperLauncher" option would be more efficient than the current method. A portable version could be a welcome addition, and so will ways to add folders for shortcuts, renaming the shortcuts, sort them manually. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/23/accessing-your-favorite-programs-from-the-system-tray-and-optionally-run-them-with-admin-rights-using-superlauncher/" data-wpel-link="internal">Access your favorite programs from the system tray and optionally run them with admin rights using SuperLauncher</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
Here is what is new and changed in Firefox 86.0

2021-02-23 14:45:35 UTC

Mozilla released Firefox 86.0 Stable and Firefox 78.8 ESR to the public on February 23, 2021. The new versions of the browser are already available as direct downloads from the Mozilla website […]

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Mozilla released Firefox 86.0 Stable and Firefox 78.8 ESR to the public on February 23, 2021. The new versions of the browser are already available as direct downloads from the Mozilla website and as in-browser updates. All development versions of Firefox are updated as well around the same time. Firefox Beta and Firefox Developer are moved to version 87, Firefox Nightly to version 88, and Firefox Android to 86.0 as it follows the stable channel's versioning. You can check out the <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/01/26/here-is-what-is-new-and-changed-in-firefox-85-0/" data-wpel-link="internal">Firefox 85.0 release overview</a> in case you want to take a look at it. <h4>Executive Summary</h4> <ul> <li>Firefox 86.0 introduces a new privacy feature called Total Cookie Protection.</li> <li>Firefox 85 and Firefox 78.7 fix security issues. The highest severity rating is high (second-highest after critical).</li> </ul> <h2>Firefox 86.0 download and update</h2> <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168581" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/firefox-86.0-stable.png" alt="firefox 86.0 stable" width="1007" height="552" /> Firefox 86.0 is available by the time this article is published. Firefox users may select Menu > Help > About Firefox to check the installed version and run a manual check for updates. Unless deactivated, updates will be pushed automatically to Firefox installations. Manual downloads are also available. The following pages list direct downloads for supported Firefox channels. <ul> <li><a class="ext-link" title="" href="https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/new/" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Firefox Stable download</a></li> <li><a class="ext-link" title="" href="https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/channel/" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Firefox Beta download</a></li> <li><a class="ext-link" title="" href="https://nightly.mozilla.org/" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Nightly download</a></li> <li><a class="ext-link" title="" href="https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/organizations/all/" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Firefox ESR download</a></li> <li><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mozilla.firefox" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Firefox for Android on Google Play</a></li> </ul> <h4>New features and improvements</h4> Multiple picture-in-picture windows <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167867" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/firefox-multiple-picture-in-picture-videos.png" alt="firefox multiple picture-in-picture videos" width="1800" height="1154" srcset="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/firefox-multiple-picture-in-picture-videos.png 1800w, https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/firefox-multiple-picture-in-picture-videos-1536x985.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px" /> Firefox users may open multiple picture-in-picture windows in the new release instead of just one. Each stream needs to be opened in its own tab in the browser, and the actual picture-in-picture windows may be moved around to view them all at once. While it is not a mass-market appeal feature, it is useful for certain scenarios, such as following multiple matches on match day, or watching an event unfold through different camera perspectives. You can check out our <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/01/24/first-look-at-firefoxs-multiple-picture-in-picture-video-feature/" data-wpel-link="internal">full review of Firefox's multi picture-in-picture feature here</a>. Total Cookie Protection <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168582" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/firefox-total-cookie-protection.png" alt="firefox total cookie protection" width="1920" height="1281" srcset="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/firefox-total-cookie-protection.png 1920w, https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/firefox-total-cookie-protection-1536x1025.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /> Total Cookie Protection is a new privacy feature designed to separate cookie data by website. Each site gets its own cookie storage and that means that access is restricted and not shared across all Internet sites. Mozilla notes that it decided to make exceptions for non-tracking cookies that are cross-site that are needed, e.g. for sign-in purposes on sites. The organization <a href="https://blog.mozilla.org/security/2021/02/23/total-cookie-protection/" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">notes</a>: <blockquote>Only when Total Cookie Protection detects that you intend to use a provider, will it give that provider permission to use a cross-site cookie specifically for the site you’re currently visiting</blockquote> The new feature is enabled automatically when you enable the strict mode of Firefox's Enhanced Tracking Protection feature. Firefox users who want to try the new option may point their browser to about:preferences#privacy to set the Enhanced Tracking Protection preference to Strict on the page. <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/01/26/here-is-what-is-new-and-changed-in-firefox-85-0/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mozilla introduced network partioning in Firefox 85, another privacy feature</a>. Other changes <ul> <li>Print functionality offers better integration with the operating system's printer settings and a "cleaner design.</li> <li>Canadian Firefox users may now use credit card management and auto-fill automatically, as it is enabled by default. Users who don't want that can turn it off under Menu > Options > Privacy & Security > Autofill credit cards.</li> <li>Performance and stability improvements by using the GPU process for canvas drawing and WebGL drawing.</li> <li>Reader Mode works on local HTML pages.</li> <li>Various Screen Reader improvements and improved link color contrast in Reader View.</li> <li>Improved security by consolidating all video decoding in the new RDD process.</li> <li>Linux and Android users are protected against stack clash attacks thanks to implemented mitigations.</li> </ul> Firefox for Android Firefox 86.0 for Android's release notes are now available. The browser supports Total Cookie Protection in strict mode just like the desktop version of the browser. Other than that, it does include security fixes and a mitigation against the stack clash attack on Android. <h4>Developer Changes</h4> <ul> <li>DTLS 1.0 is no longer supported for for establishing WebRTC's PeerConnections. The new minimum version is DTLS 1.2.</li> <li>Improvements to the Tabs permission for extension developers (tab URL, title and favicon no longer require the tabs permission for host permissions for tabs.</li> <li>New experimental base content security policy landed behind a flag that disallows remove code execution in extensions.</li> <li>extensions.webextensions.tabhide.enabled has been removed because the tabs hiding API is enabled by default.</li> <li>Windows.name is reset to an empty string if a tab loads a page from a different domain to prevent the new tab from accessing information that previous tabs might have stored.</li> <li>Basic AVIF support is enabled. Some features, animated images and colorspace support, are still in development. (appears to have been postponed)</li> <li>Developer Tools Toolbox shows the number of errors on a page.</li> </ul> Known Issues <ul> <li>The release notes list no known issues.</li> </ul> <h3>Security updates / fixes</h3> Security updates are revealed after the official release of the web browser. You find the information <a href="https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/security/advisories/" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">published here</a> after release. Outlook Firefox 87.0 will be released on March 23, 2021 <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2012/08/16/mozilla-firefox-release-schedule/" data-wpel-link="internal">according to the Firefox release schedule</a>. Recently Reviewed Firefox extensions <ul> <li><a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/09/manage-browser-tabs-efficiently-with-open-source-tabmerger-extension/" data-wpel-link="internal">Manage browser tabs efficiently with open source TabMerger extension</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/18/manage-windows-and-move-tabs-between-them-quickly-with-the-winger-extension-for-firefox/" data-wpel-link="internal">Manage windows, and move tabs between them quickly with the Winger extension for Firefox</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/05/read-pages-in-a-distraction-free-mode-print-or-save-them-with-the-reader-view-extension-for-firefox-and-chrome/" data-wpel-link="internal">Read pages in a distraction-free mode, print or save them with the Reader View extension for Firefox and Chrome</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/01/write-notes-in-a-new-tab-and-save-them-locally-with-the-textnotes-extension-for-firefox/" data-wpel-link="internal">Write notes in a new tab and save them locally with the TextNotes extension for Firefox</a></li> </ul> Recent Firefox news and tips <ul> <li><a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/10/another-glimpse-at-firefoxs-upcoming-proton-design-refresh-the-new-menu/" data-wpel-link="internal">Another glimpse at Firefox's upcoming Proton design refresh: the new menu</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/16/firefox-89s-user-interface-will-be-leaner-and-less-convoluted/" data-wpel-link="internal">Firefox 89's user interface will be leaner and less convoluted</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/04/firefox-top-sites-to-be-renamed-to-shortcuts-new-design-launches-in-nightly/" data-wpel-link="internal">Firefox Top Sites to be renamed to Shortcuts. New Design launches in Nightly</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/06/mozilla-firefox-gets-open-to-display-modified-preferences-only-on-aboutconfig/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mozilla Firefox gets open to display modified preferences only on about:config</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/01/30/mozilla-retires-firefox-voice-and-voice-fill-extensions/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mozilla retires Firefox Voice and Voice Fill extensions</a></li> </ul> Additional information / sources <ul> <li><a href="https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/86.0/releasenotes/" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Firefox 86 release notes</a></li> <li><a href="https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2021/02/09/extensions-in-firefox-86/" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Add-on compatibility for Firefox 86</a></li> <li><a href="https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Firefox/Releases/86" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Firefox 86 for Developers</a></li> <li><a href="https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-enterprise-86-release-notes" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Firefox for Enterprise 86 - release notes</a></li> <li><a class="ext-link" title="" href="https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/security/advisories/" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Firefox Security Advisories</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2012/08/16/mozilla-firefox-release-schedule/" data-wpel-link="internal">Firefox Release Schedule</a></li> </ul> Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/23/here-is-what-is-new-and-changed-in-firefox-86-0/" data-wpel-link="internal">Here is what is new and changed in Firefox 86.0</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
New Winamp Community Update Project (WACUP) preview released

2021-02-23 05:35:27 UTC

Back in early 2019, a first preview of what the developers called Winamp Community Update Project was released; designed to improve the original Winamp music player through its extensive plugins system, WACUP […]

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Back in early 2019, a first preview of what the developers called <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2019/01/03/winamp-community-update-project-releases-first-winamp-preview/" data-wpel-link="internal">Winamp Community Update Project was released</a>; designed to improve the original Winamp music player through its extensive plugins system, WACUP did fix bugs, added features and updated existing features. A new preview is now available that <a href="https://getwacup.com/preview/preview_1_0_20_7170.html" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">introduces</a> another batch of improvements to Winamp. The new release is based on Winamp 5.666, like the previous one. You can <a href="https://getwacup.com/preview/" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">download</a> an installer from the project website or a portable version. The installer will download Winamp 5.666 if it is not found on the device as it is the base requirement for WACUP. The developers recommend to install WACUP into a separate directory and not over an existing Winamp installation at the time of writing. A portable version is also available which will always be installed separately. WACUP is not compatible with <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2018/09/16/winamp-5-8-beta-leak-appears-on-the-web/" data-wpel-link="internal">Winamp 5.8 Beta</a> which was released by <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2014/01/01/new-owner-winamp-radionomy/" data-wpel-link="internal">Radionomy, the current owner of Winamp</a>, in 2018. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168561" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/winamp-wacup.png" alt="winamp wacup" width="548" height="721" /> The first public preview of WACUP introduced lots of crash and security fixes, improved the performance of the player, made improvements to the plugin system and media format support, and added support for new skins. WACUP Preview version1.0.20.7170 introduces changes, bug fixes and new features to Winamp. The changelog is divided into three sections that list more than 150 different changes introduced in the release. As far as fixes are concerned, there are plenty in the new release. The latest WACUP preview improves stability by patching code that could lead to crashes or hangs, improves compatibility with certain plugins, and updates several DLL libraries to a new version. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168562" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/wacup-preferences.png" alt="wacup preferences" width="911" height="889" /> Nothing stands out when it comes to new features introduced in the version, they all appear to be light changes or changes made in preparation of new features that will be added in future releases. To give a few examples: Shuffle's session restoring can be turned off now in the preferences to restore classic Winamp functionality, a new Windows 10 preferences page has been added to disable on-screen media controls, and the Volume Logic output plug-in should now be usable with the new release. You can check out the entire changelog here for a <a href="https://getwacup.com/preview/preview_1_0_20_7170.html" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">full rundown</a> on all the changes, improvements and fixes in the new release. <h3>Closing Words</h3> WACUP is available as a preview only, and that means that it is beta software at this point. My initial reaction to the release still stands: it is an interesting project, especially for die-hard Winamp users, until a final version gets released. I keep on using <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2015/08/09/first-look-at-aimp-4-00/" data-wpel-link="internal">AIMP</a> and <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2015/04/21/musicbee-review-the-ultimate-music-player/" data-wpel-link="internal">MusicBee</a> for the time being though, as these suit my needs better. Now You: what is your favorite music player, has it changed in the past two year period? (via <a href="https://www.deskmodder.de/blog/2021/02/22/winamp-wacup-1-0-20-7170-als-oeffentliche-preview-mit-150-aenderungen-zur-6840/" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Deskmodder</a>) Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/23/new-winamp-community-update-project-wacup-preview-released/" data-wpel-link="internal">New Winamp Community Update Project (WACUP) preview released</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
How to turn off Text Predictions in Word and Outlook

2021-02-22 15:34:38 UTC

Microsoft announced the upcoming release of a text prediction service in Word and Outlook last year. Text predictions, as the name suggests, predict words and phrases users are likely to type, and […]

Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post How to turn off Text Predictions in Word and Outlook appeared first on gHacks Technology News.

Microsoft <a href="https://insider.office.com/en-us/blog/text-predictions-in-word-outlook" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">announced</a> the upcoming release of a text prediction service in Word and Outlook last year. Text predictions, as the name suggests, predict words and phrases users are likely to type, and provide options to add these to texts with minimal effort. Microsoft suggests that predictions help users type faster, and that they may also help reduce spelling and grammar errors. Ideally, text predictions will be right 100% of the time and will speed up the typing once the user has found the right rhythm when it comes to making use of them. Word or Outlook would predict that the user wants to write antediluvian when writing ant, or concomitant based on the first three characters of the word. In a not so ideal world, Word or Outlook could predict something else entirely, such as antiseptic or conduit. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168537" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/text-predictions.png" alt="text predictions" width="1024" height="506" /> That's why Microsoft is making use of machine learning. Text Predictions learn over time to improve the recommendations that they give to users based on a user's writing style. The feature works in all documents and email messages in the two supported applications once it has been launched. It needs to be noted that the feature is limited to US English at the time. Users may notice predicted text being displayed as they type -- the text is displayed in a light gray color to distinguish from already typed text -- and may complete the word or phrase with the Tab-key. A tap on the Esc-key rejects the suggestion, and it is also possible to continue to type manually. Microsoft states that the "content is not stored or seen by any human". <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168524" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/word-text-predictions.gif" alt="word text predictions" width="600" height="329" /> Some Word and Outlook users may appreciate the feature, others may dislike it. If you belong to the "don't need or want camp", you may use the following instructions to turn of text predictions in Word and Outlook. <h3>How to turn off text predictions in Word</h3> Text predictions are supported in Word on the Web and in Office 365. <ol> <li>Hover the mouse cursor over the status bar entry "Text Predictions: On" and left-click on the entry.</li> <li>Uncheck the "show text predictions while typing" in Office 365 or "suggest words or phrases as I type" in Word on the Web to turn off text predictions in Microsoft Word.</li> </ol> <h3>How to turn off text predictions in Outlook</h3> Similarly, text predictions may be turned off in Outlook on the Web or in Office 365. <ol> <li>If you are using the Web version of Outlook, go to Settings > View all Outlook settings > Mail > compose and reply, and uncheck the option "Suggest words or phrases as I type" under text predictions.</li> <li>In Office 365, select File > Options while writing an email. There you need to uncheck the "Show text predictions while typing" option under Compose messages.</li> </ol> Now You: What is your take on text predictions? Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/22/how-to-turn-off-text-predictions-in-word-and-outlook/" data-wpel-link="internal">How to turn off Text Predictions in Word and Outlook</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.
View a mail's contents quickly without clicking on it with the MessagePreview extension for Thunderbird

2021-02-22 09:42:08 UTC

How many mail accounts do you have in Thunderbird? The more you have, the more cluttered it becomes, doesn't it? And if you have a ton of mails, it's not any easier […]

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How many mail accounts do you have in Thunderbird? The more you have, the more cluttered it becomes, doesn't it? And if you have a ton of mails, it's not any easier to manage them. When you want to find something that you need, you either use the search tool, or take the manual route, i.e., you select the mail and it loads in the message pane at the bottom of the program's interface. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168461" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/View-a-mails-contents-quickly-without-clicking-on-it-with-the-MessagePreview-extension-for-Thunderbird.jpg" alt="View a mail's contents quickly without clicking on it with the MessagePreview extension for Thunderbird" width="625" height="288" /> Want a faster way to view your mails? The Thunderbird extension MessagePreview may be a useful addition to your collection. This extension displays the content of a mail without opening it, that saves you plenty of clicks. Let's get started, MessagePreview doesn't have a toolbar icon. Instead, it is available as a column. This isn't available readily, so right-click on the column bar, and enable the option that says "Message Preview". <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168465" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/MessagePreview-column.jpg" alt="MessagePreview column" width="517" height="355" /> A new column with a "paper" icon will appear, you can drag and drop it to a location that's convenient for you, e.g. next to the subject column. You will need to enable the column for each folder that you want to use the add-on with. Mouse over the MessagePreview icon and a large tool-tip pops up, this panel displays the mail's text contents. The sender's name and email address are not shown in the preview panel. Only the message's subject, body, and text signature are included in the preview. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168463" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/MessagePreview.jpg" alt="MessagePreview" width="461" height="196" /> You may have noticed that there is a light version of the icon, and a bold one. The lighter icon indicates that you haven't previewed the mail (even if the mail itself has been marked as read), while the darker symbol shows that the mail was read using MessagePreview. Click at the top of the column to sort the mails by their preview status. The preview method changes in case of mail conversations (message threads) with several replies. The extension will display the last accessed reply in Thunderbird. Say you had 5 replies to an email that you sent, and you opened the conversation recently to read one of those, for example the 3rd one, MessagePreview will display that reply in its preview panel. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168462" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/MessagePreview-column-view.jpg" alt="MessagePreview column view" width="465" height="409" /> If you don't want the preview to appear when you mouse over the column, you can disable the option in MessagePreview's options. But, then how will you preview the mail? Toggle the 2nd option, and the extension will display a short version of the preview directly in the column (like the Subject column, but for the message's body). You can set the number of characters to be displayed in the preview. <img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168464" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/MessagePreview-thunderbird-extension-options.jpg" alt="MessagePreview thunderbird extension options" width="656" height="440" /> Don't like hovering over the specific column? The third option in the add-on's settings page when enabled, displays the preview pop-up when you scroll down the row. For this to work, you will need to resize the column. The extension will by default download the IMAP message that the mouse is over on, to display the preview. MessagePreview has an official page on the BitBucket repository. The add-on does not display pictures, attachments, or the name of attachments that a mail may contain. This is kind of annoying, but I'm not sure if whether this is because of a limitation in the mail client, or if the add-on isn't supposed to fetch those details. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net/2021/02/22/view-a-mails-contents-quickly-without-clicking-on-it-with-the-messagepreview-extension-for-thunderbird/" data-wpel-link="internal">View a mail's contents quickly without clicking on it with the MessagePreview extension for Thunderbird</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ghacks.net" data-wpel-link="internal">gHacks Technology News</a>.