Why Switch Off Slack? A major issue is security concerns, especially when it comes to discussing IP. Since Slack hosts your workspace on their own servers, you can’t be entirely certain that it’s locked down. Slack is very secure, and the Enterprise Grid tier includes tools for working with IP, but some companies would prefer to host an internal solution. Intranets are very common among corporations that want to protect their IP....
First, is the headset a tethered or standalone unit? A tethered VR headset needs a device like a gaming PC or console to provide all the processing power for VR applications. So, you’ll need to make sure your PC has the proper components to run games and support the VR headset at the same time. A standalone VR headset contains all of the necessary hardware to run its VR apps, taking some of the technical labor off the PC or console....
The Problem: Optical Disc Data Rots CD-Rs and DVD-Rs store data on a layer of dye that is melted by the laser when the data is written. This dye layer isn’t completely stable and can chemically break down over time, causing data loss. Also, the reflective layer on the top of the disc can oxidize, making the data difficult to read. As a result, many CD-R and DVD-Rs burned in the late ’90s and early ’00s are now unreadable in modern optical disc drives....
Modern gadgets are power hungry. If you want to make it through a long commute or a cross-country flight without having to plug your tablet or gaming device in, you’re going to need an external battery pack to keep the electrons flowing. Read on as we show you how to shop for a pack that will meet your needs and keep your screens glowing. What’s an External Battery Pack and Why Do I Want One?...
The web browser in Android 4.3 and earlier has many big security problems, and Google won’t be patching it anymore. If you use a device with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean or earlier, you need to take action. This problem is fixed in Android 4.4 and 5.0, but more than 60 percent of Android devices are stuck on devices that won’t receive any security fixes. Why Google Isn’t Patching Android 4....
You might have seen a notification that things are changing in your inbox. Starting February 2017, Gmail changed its policy regarding JavaScript. Here’s why this is changing, and how you can protect yourself from malicious JavaScript. What Is JavaScript, Anyway? RELATED: JavaScript Isn’t Java – It’s Much Safer and Much More Useful JavaScript (not to be confused with Java, a separate programming language with a similar name) is not inherently a dangerous or malicious thing—in fact, this page you’re reading right now uses JavaScript, like most modern web pages....
In photography, shutter speed, also called exposure time, is the length of time the digital sensor (or film in an older camera) is exposed to light while taking a picture. In a DSLR, a physical shutter moves out of the way to let light fall on the camera’s sensor which records the actual image. Think of it like opening and closing the curtains in your living room. When the curtains are closed, no light gets through....
Windows 7, 8, and 10 create a special “System Reserved” partition when you install them on a clean disk. Windows doesn’t normally assign a drive letter to these partitions, so you’ll only see them when you use Disk Management or similar utility. RELATED: Understanding Hard Drive Partitioning with Disk Management The System Reserved partition was introduced with Windows 7, so you won’t find it on previous versions of Windows. The partition is also created on Windows Serer 2008 R2 and newer Server versions of Windows....
What’s a Thermoplastic? Plastic, as you probably know, is a (usually) synthetic material made from synthetic polymers. Polymers are substances made up of monomers. Monomer molecules form long chains with their neighbors, creating huge macromolecules. Plasticity is the property that gives plastics their name. To be plastic simply means that a solid material can be permanently deformed. Plastics can be reshaped by molding, extruding, or applying pressure. Thermoplastics get their name from how they react to heat....
So you’re using Disk Utility to partition your new hard drive when you’re presented with a choice of potential file systems. The list is longer than you’d think, with terms like “APFS (Case-sensitive)” and “Mac OS Extended (Journaled, Encrypted)” to choose from. What does all this mean, and which should you choose? Basically there are three main options: RELATED: What’s New in macOS 10.13 High Sierra, Available Now APFS, or “Apple File System,” is one of the new features in macOS High Sierra....
If you recently installed a smart thermostat and discovered that it randomly turns the air conditioning or heat off, it probably isn’t broken. It’s just using a “smart” feature that, frankly, isn’t very smart. RELATED: How to Make Your Nest Automatically Detect When You’re Away Most smart thermostats come with a feature that can automatically turn itself down while you’re away from home, saving you money on your energy bill with no effort on your part....
The key to this deal is certification. It comes with the same warranty as a new headset, which means you don’t need to worry about anything happening to your VR device. Here’s the exact wording of the refurbished terms: Everything else is the same as a new headset, so it’s definitely worth considering if you’re in the market for one. You can use that $50 to pick up some Quest 2 accessories or games....
Once you’ve tried using a standing desk for yourself and decided you want something more permanent, your next option is to build a desk of your own or buy something you can use full time. We have already shown you how you can modify your existing desk to make it a standing desk, but if you want more options or prefer something that looks more professional, here are some options to build or buy a permanent standing desk....
The Debian Package Management System A major effort in creating a Linux distribution is designing and creating a package management system. Your users need to have a way to install and uninstall software packages. That requires software to retrieve the package files from your software repository and to install them correctly on the users’ computers. This is no small undertaking. Even putting the software engineering to one side, hosting the software repositories takes time, effort, and expense....
Linux users often use the terminal to accomplish tasks. This can be intimidating if you’re a new Linux user who wants a graphical environment that’s easy to come to grips with, but you shouldn’t be put off by the Linux terminal. The Linux terminal is a powerful tool that makes it possible to accomplish some tasks much more quickly than you could with graphical tools. However, these days, you can accomplish most things graphically....
Windows 10 no longer has built-in help for File Explorer, as Windows 7 does. Microsoft makes you search the web for information, so here’s what you need to know about using Windows 10’s file manager. File Explorer Interface Basics While it’s been renamed “File Explorer” in Windows 10, this application is basically the same as Windows Explorer on Windows 7. It does have some new features, including a ribbon interface and built-in Microsoft OneDrive for syncing your files to the cloud....
Spreadsheets are useful for a lot of things, and among those uses, there’s project/task managing. Google Sheets is one of the most easily accessible and useful spreadsheet services, and now, it’s getting a little friendlier for task management purposes as well. Google has announced that Sheets is gaining support for dropdown chips. You can add dropdown chips to cells within your spreadsheet and assign different colors, serving as an additional visual indicator and letting you know the status of something at a glance....
Whether we like it or not, there are just some devices in our homes that are, and always will be insecure. Is there a safe way to add those devices to a home network without compromising the security of other devices? Today’s SuperUser Q&A post has the answer to a security-conscious reader’s question. Today’s Question & Answer session comes to us courtesy of SuperUser—a subdivision of Stack Exchange, a community-driven grouping of Q&A web sites....
Confused by that digital SLR you have, and all the photography jargon that goes along with it? Take a look at some photography basics, learn how your camera works, and how that can help you take better pictures. Photography has everything to do with the science of optics—how light reacts when it is refracted, bent, and captured by photosensitive materials, like photographic film or photosensors in modern digital cameras. Learn these basics of how a camera—practically any camera—works, so you can improve your photography, whether you’re using an SLR, or a cellphone camera to get the job done....
These are the ways people around the world are actually accessing that geo-blocked content today. If you live outside the US, this will get you a lot—and even US residents might want to access BBC iPlayer or a similar service sometimes. RELATED: How to Change Country or Region in the Google Play Store The Best Option: Use a VPN VPNs are the best option for accessing content that is blocked in your own country because they allow you to tunnel your traffic through an encrypted connection and come out on the other side....
