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MATE is a robust desktop environment that provides a pleasing visual experience without limiting performance. It is a continuation of GNOME 2 and is significantly faster compared to GNOME or KDE. This feature makes MATE an excellent choice for people who're running Linux on older hardware. The developers recently released MATE Desktop 1.26, the latest stable version of this desktop environment. It's been under development for over 18 months and has finally arrived with several new features. What’s New in MATE Desktop 1.26? MATE 1.26 offers some exciting new features, such as Wayland support for many components, including Atril, Terminal, System Monitor, and the pluma text editor. Wayland is the display protocol of the future , and MATE's transition to it is a big plus. This version also adds new functionality to many userspace apps. For example, pluma now has a mini-map that gives a quick overview of the content. And the new grid background pattern can turn it into a wr...

International celebratory days are a nice way to give recognition to social matters, historical days, and respective careers. International Programmers’ Day celebrates the role that programmers play to improve everyday life. The civilized world we live in is a product of the hard work put in by programmers. Every bit of software that you use exists because of programmers, whether it’s the apps on your smart device or the efficiency of the technology around you that makes life easier. What Is International Programmers’ Day? The number 256 is a distinct number for programmers. This number marks the 256th day of the year, which is International Programmers' Day, known by some as the "Day of The Programmer". The number 256 was chosen because it's equivalent to one byte, a value well known by programmers. 256 is also the highest power of two that is less than 365, the number of days in a year. How to Celebrate The Day of The Programmer There are some interesting way...

Workplaces are getting increasingly digitized through automation and efficient alternatives. Even though emails have been useful for a long time, technology has introduced us to more direct and effective tools for communication and collaboration. You might be seeking tools that are more accommodating to collaboration. Perhaps, you are tired of emails because of the expectation to use professional language or simply because you might not know how to manage your overloaded email inbox. There are numerous collaborative tools that you can use to save you from the stress of emails. Here's why you should use them instead! 1. Save Time Collaboration tools have notification options to alert you or your colleagues when there is a message. Even though you can turn on your email notifications, collaboration tools make it easier for team members to communicate through efficient chats instead of emails. Slack is one of the popularly used collaboration platforms for remote work. Slack off...

Android Auto has become a very useful app to have while driving. The app allows you to utilize your phone through your car's infotainment screen and control its functions using the car’s buttons and microphone. It has made navigating towns and cities a lot easier, and you can use it for off-road driving too. Let's take a look at how to get started. Android Auto and Gaia GPS Google Maps is a great navigation tool, providing you with quick routes and updating them accordingly to traffic and road conditions. But just like its competitors, Waze and Apple Maps, it was made for typical route-following drivers. If you wanted to go off-road, exploring the wilderness, that was not an option until now. Android Auto now lets you connect with Gaia GPS, a popular off-road mapping service, that provides routes on all sorts of terrain and backcountry roads. Download: Gaia GPS (Free, in-app purchases available) What Can You Do With Gaia GPS? Gaia GPS is a powerful navigation tool use...

Windows 11 is rolling out new features with each Insider Preview update, and Microsoft is building up the operating system ahead of its big release later in 2021. With productivity-boosting firmly in mind, Microsoft's latest new feature focuses on the humble Clock. Nestled down in the corner, the Clock ticks away, telling the time with superb accuracy. But what if it could do more? What if it could help you become more productive? With Windows 11 Focus Sessions, that's exactly what the Clock becomes: a productivity tool to keep you on track. What Are Windows 11 Focus Sessions? Windows 11 Focus Sessions is a new upgrade for the Clock app that extends its functionality into a focus timer complete with Spotify integration. You can use Focus Sessions to set a specific period of time you want to work for, similar to the Pomodoro technique used by millions worldwide. After you set the timer, you select an accompanying playlist from the Spotify integration, press play, and off...

Are you an avid video chat user and want to use FaceTime on your Windows PC? Then you’ve come to the right place! FaceTime is proprietary technology owned by Apple and runs on iPads, iPhones, and Mac, which means that it doesn't work with Windows right out of the box. Apple has not released an app for Windows, but anyone with an iOS device can create an invite link that’ll work on other Windows applications like Google Chrome. Let’s look at how you can use FaceTime on Your Windows PC. Joining FaceTime Calls on Windows PC As a Windows owner, you cannot host a meeting on FaceTime independently. This is because there’s no FaceTime app for the Windows operating system. You’ll need a friend with an iOS device to create an invite link for you to join a FaceTime call on your Windows PC. To join a virtual meeting using the invite link shared by your friend or colleague, you have to use browsers like Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. Your friends can also follow the steps explained in th...

Windows 11 is becoming more popular by the day, and it is only natural that it will soon replace Windows 10 as Microsoft’s primary operating system. While Microsoft still hasn’t completely rolled out Windows 11, Insiders have already tried it for themselves in the past few months. However, chances are you’re not comfortable committing to a Preview Release of Windows 11, especially with all the bugs that can come with works-in-progress. If you want to experience everything new in Microsoft’s star-studded OS without installing anything, read on as we discuss how you can try Windows 11 in a web browser. How to Use Windows 11 in a Browser A software developer by the name of BlueEdge has developed an interactive website that allows Windows 11 to run in a browser. Simply visit the website, and when prompted to type in a login password, just press Enter to begin exploring Windows 11. Which Features Are Available? Unfortunately, the website only offers a demo of the basic features Micr...

One undeniable fact of life: movies are expensive to produce. If you're going through the time and effort to create something truly unforgettable, you probably want to be well-equipped enough to pull everything off without leaving anything to chance. For the most astute photographers and cinematographers among us, precision is the name of the game. All camera lenses will give you some indication of how much light they need in order to shoot legibly; this indication comes in the form of something called an f-stop. But have you ever heard of a t-stop? Let's go over the differences between each term. What Does F-Stop Mean? Most photographers are familiar with f-stops, also known as f-numbers. They're a unit of measurement that refers to each incremental step up or down in exposure when adjusting the aperture of a camera . Picture this value as an estimate of how much more or less light is reaching the sensor of the camera as you open the aperture up or close it down. On t...

Starting with watchOS 8, the Apple Watch is gaining some great tracking features that put it on a par with the iPhone and iPad for finding lost devices and items. Along with the existing Find People app, watch users can now take advantage of new Find Devices and Find Items apps. We're taking a look at all three apps to explore how they work below. Using the Find Devices App Instead of a single Find My app, like on iPhone or iPad, Apple is taking a different approach with watchOS 8. Related: Everything You Need to Know About watchOS 8 The first new app is Find Devices. The app can be used to track any Apple device, including a Mac, iPhone, iPad, or any AirPods tied to your Apple account. After opening the app, you'll see a list of all your devices. You can use the Digital Crown to quickly scroll through everything. Select a device to see its last known location, the last time when located, and a map. It will also show battery life. You can play a sound on an applicable d...

On September 25, Netflix is virtually hosting Tudum: A Netflix Global Fan Event, which will showcase the streaming service's upcoming movies and TV shows. Tudum marks the first time that Netflix has held a global live-streamed event of this scale. It will bring together stars and creators “to entertain and honor Netflix fans from across the globe.” What Is Tudum? Tudum (named after the famous Netflix startup sound) is a three-hour livestream that will showcase clips and trailers for some of Netflix's upcoming content, along with panels and interviews with stars and creators. Over 70 movies and TV shows will be showcased during the event, including big names like Bridgerton, Cowboy Bebop, Stranger Things, Cobra Kai, The Umbrella Academy, and The Witcher. Related: How to Watch Netflix Online With Friends How to Watch Tudum Tudum begins on September 25, 2021, at 9 am PST and lasts three hours. You can watch it on Netflix's YouTube , Twitter , and Twitch . Netflix wi...

While the Breathe app has been part of the Apple Watch experience for years, Apple is making some big changes to it in watchOS 8. We'll look at the new app, now called Mindfulness, and the additional Reflect feature. A Time for Reflection The new Reflect session type is accessible at the top of the Mindfulness app. To begin, you'll see a thoughtful phrase to help put you into a positive state of mind. For example, one of the prompts is "Think about a challenge you're facing and how it will help you grow." Select Begin to see a beautiful animation while thinking about the prompt. At the end of the session, a screen will show the time and your heart rate. That information will also be accessible in the Apple Health and Fitness app. Related: Everything You Need to Know About watchOS 8 To cancel a session at any time, just swipe to the right on the animation screen and select End . Each Reflect session, by default, is 1 minute long. You can change that by hi...

For most people, computers are long-term investments that cost a lot of money. As such, they need the highest levels of care. And while most do their best to care for their devices, some habits aren't good for your computer. So, what should avoid doing? Read on to discover six things you do every day that are slowly killing your computer. 1. Draining Your Laptop Battery In the past, people said that you shouldn't keep your laptop battery plugged in all the time . While this is still somewhat true (more on this later), the real danger now lies when you drain your batteries. If you frequently empty the battery, it can impact its lifespan. Because battery lifespan is dependent on its designed number of cycles. Most modern lithium-ion batteries only have a limited number of charge-discharge cycles; if you keep on fully discharging it, you'll run through these quicker. If you fully discharge a battery and keep it at that state for months, there's also a chance that it w...

Thanks to the iPhone's spatial audio feature, which creates a 360-degree surround sound experience, you can binge-watch Netflix in a more immersive way. If you have the AirPods Pro or AirPods Max, here's how you can use spatial audio with Netflix. The Requirements of Using Spatial Audio With Netflix Before you use spatial audio on Netflix shows and movies, there are a few things you need to know. First, you can only use spatial audio on Netflix if you have the AirPods Pro or AirPods Max. If you have regular AirPods or other types of earbuds, this won't work. Related: What Is Spatial Audio and Is It Different From 3D Positional Audio? Also, you need an iPhone that supports spatial audio. This feature is available on the iPhone 7 or later. Your iPhone must also have iOS 14.3 or a later version installed. Finally, not every movie or show on Netflix supports spatial audio, though much of it does. You'll need to look for content with Dolby Atmos or 5.1 surround sound....

We all love a good pair of shoes. They're essential to our everyday lives. But when we think of shoes, technology isn't really something that comes to mind. Well, with smart shoes, fashion and tech meet in the middle. So, what are smart shoes, and can you buy them right now? What Is A Smart Shoe? Smart shoes might look like the type of shoe you'd see in any regular shop window, but they have a lot of cool features. Firstly, smart shoes can be used to track your activity levels. With the help of a few small devices, these shoes can measure how active you are by monitoring how many steps you've taken, your pace, how many calories you've burned, and more. These shoes can even show you your location with the use of geo-location systems, such as GPS. A lot goes into a smart shoe to give it the capabilities for such in-depth monitoring. For example, the shoe has a pressure sensor to detect when you have them on and your current weight. These pressure sensors are eve...

Twitter usernames make your account stand out from someone else with a similar profile name. Your username is unique and tied to your profile, but it doesn't have to be your real name. It can be your stage name, nickname, a pun, or anything else really. Unlike your real name, you may get bored of your Twitter username and decide to change it after some time. Luckily, Twitter allows you to do so whenever you want. Whether you use the platform on the web or mobile, here's how to change your Twitter handle. What's the Difference Between a Twitter Display Name and a Twitter Username? Your Twitter display name usually includes your first name, last name, or both. This name isn't unique to your account, meaning anyone else can use the same name too. The display name shows up next to your tweets and replies in bold letters. On the other hand, your Twitter handle or username is the name that comes after the "@" symbol. Your username shows up right below your dis...