While the methods work mostly the same across different platforms, we will still go over the process for both mobile and PC versions of Spotify music. And Spotify web, which can be accessed from any browser.

How to Shuffle a Spotify Playlist on Mobile

While these steps were tested on an Android device, the UI of the Spotify mobile app is the same for both iOS and Android, so you can follow along on an iPhone as well.

1. Open the Spotify app on your smartphone.

2. Select the playlist that you want to shuffle. If you are a Premium subscriber, your playlists can include local files as well.

3. In the web or desktop versions of Spotify, the Shuffle button is present in the play controls. Here though you can find the button at the top of the playlist itself.

4. By default, the icon is grayed out. Tap this icon to turn it green, enabling shuffle on this playlist. Now you can listen to this playlist and the songs will randomly shuffle themselves.

How to Shuffle a Spotify Playlist on Web

1. Open the Spotify web player on your favorite web browser.

2. Select a playlist to shuffle.

3. You will find a series of playback control buttons at the bottom. The Shuffle icon is the first of them.

4. When you click it, it will turn green with a dot below to signify that shuffle is active. Now if you play the playlist, it will jump to random songs instead of following the vertical sequence.

How to Shuffle a Spotify Playlist on the Desktop

We have demonstrated the process with the Windows version of the Spotify Desktop app. But since the UI is fairly similar on Apple as well, you can try this on both Macs and Macbooks.

1. Open the Spotify desktop application.

2. Select the playlist that you want to shuffle. You might have to play around with settings in case your local files aren’t showing up.

3. The playback controls at the bottom have the Shuffle button at the very left.

4. Click on the button to enable shuffle, changing the icon to green with a small dot below it. You can click this button again to turn off Shuffle.

What Is Smart Shuffle?

In addition to the standard Spotify Shuffle that you can apply on any platform in Spotify free, Spotify also offers a Smart Shuffle feature for its Spotify Premium users on mobile.

In addition to randomly shuffling the playlist (which normal shuffle already does,) Smart Shuffle adds recommended songs in between. These songs are selected to match the mood of the playlist, using the same algorithm that curates the personalized recommendations you get on Spotify.

When Smart Shuffle is active the button will change subtly to reflect the difference – with a plus sign on top and a slightly different shade of green.

What’s the Easiest Way to Shuffle a Playlist on Spotify?

Among Spotify’s many tips and tricks is the ability to shuffle your playlists. Thanks to the dedicated Shuffle button in the Spotify app on every platform, it is pretty easy to break the monotony of your favorite playlists by shuffling the order of songs. You just need to navigate to the playlist in question and hit the Shuffle button to activate the feature.

For Spotify Premium users on mobile, there is an additional Smart Shuffle feature that weaves in a few songs from outside your playlists too. The songs are selected by the recommendation algorithm, trying to match the vibe your playlists match.

The post How to Shuffle Playlists on Spotify first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Users familiar with Microsoft Sharepoint would note the similarities with the new Lists app, as it is in essence an upgraded version of the same tool. While Sharepoint lists were mostly about data management and could be accessed through Excel spreadsheets, Microsoft Lists are focused more on collaboration and can be viewed in multiple user-friendly ways.

What Is Microsoft Lists?

Microsoft Lists is described pretty well by its name already, but the number of similar products in Microsoft’s arsenal still makes things a bit confusing. Microsoft To-Do already lets you add tasks to a list, while something like Microsoft Planner works as a proper agile team collaboration tool. And then there is Sharepoint, which lets you create shareable lists as well.

Microsoft Lists distinguishes itself from these applications by its modern interface, cross-platform support, and incredible customization. It seeks not to supplant these tools but to supplement them, and to this end provides native integration with Planner and Sharepoint.

Lists are meant for creating multipurpose lists of, well, anything, from tasks to calendar events and even just data entries. This is paired with the ability to share these lists with Microsoft Teams (again, natively integrated) to discuss and collaborate on any list item.

Essentially, Microsoft Lists works as a powerful alternative to project management tools like Trello for teams that use the Office 365 suite, plugging a major gap in the capabilities of the Microsoft ecosystem.

Using Microsoft Lists

As Microsoft Lists is intended to work as a general-purpose collaborative list-making tool, it’s designed to be cross-platform. Along with the desktop app, you can download the Lists mobile app on Android as well as iOS phones, apart from the web version that can be accessed through any browser.

It is a part of the Office 365 suite, but you can also use it as a preview for now with any Microsoft account even without an Office subscription.

1. To try out the Microsoft Lists preview, head to lists.live.com, which acts as the web app for the tool. You may have to log in with your Microsoft account to gain access.

2. The interface is clean and clutter-free, with one button standing out at the top: New list. Click on it to create our first list.

3. This is where we get our first glimpse of the flexibility of Microsoft Lists. You can create a Blank list, use ready-made templates, or import a .csv file as a list, similar to Microsoft Sharepoint. And of course, you can also select a template to create a specific type of list.

4. Selecting a template also gives you a preview of what the template will look like with data filled in, after which you can click on the Use template button to go ahead with it.

5. Now just enter a name for the list, along with an optional description to make it easier to understand the purpose of the list. A color and icon will be chosen by default (based on the type of template) but you can change these too if you want. Select Create when you are satisfied.

6. The new list will open with all the fields (columns) already in place, ready to accept data. You can add more fields with the Add column button on the right, and new rows with the Add new item option on the left.

7. The categories are already configured with their respective data types, so for fields like date, you will get a calendar to pick from.

8. Simply enter all the fields to create a new item, repeating the process for as many entries as you want to add. As you might note, the Created by field keeps track of who added the item, making it easier to organize in case of multiple people using the same list.

And that’s all you need to get started. Those proficient with Excel (or Sharepoint) will find many similar features like sorting the data in a column or using Filters to view a selection of the list.

You can even export any list as a CSV file or a Microsoft Power BI file with the Export button on the top.

Sharing a List

Since the whole premise of Microsoft Lists is about collaborating with others, let’s take a look at how you can share lists that you have created.

1. Open an existing Microsoft List.

2. Click on the Share button from the top bar.

3. A small window will appear, letting you add names and a message for the people you are sharing the list with. All of it is optional since the only thing you need to do is to Copy link and share it with your team members.

4. By default the link permissions are set to allow anyone with the link to edit lists (after signing in), but you can modify this as well. Click on the Sharing settings button on the top of this small window (the gear icon) to view all the available options.

5. Now you can change the sharing access, from turning off the sign-in requirement to restricting it to people added to your organization. You can also set a password for an extra layer of security, or change what kind of permissions the link provides, limiting it to viewing only if you need to. Select Apply when you are done to bring the changes into effect.

Don’t worry about any mistakes made during this part; you can always use the Manage access button on the top right to modify user permissions for any given list.

Creating Views in Microsoft Lists

The default list is not the only way of viewing a Microsoft list. You can choose from four different views: List, Calendar, Gallery, and Board.

This flexibility in visualizing the information is another advantage Lists has over Sharepoint. There is no perfect view – depending on the content of the list in question, some views are better suited than others.

1. To create a new view, open a list and slick on the Add a view button on the right (with the + icon).

2. Here you can select the type of the list and enter the additional information required. Gallery and the default List view only require a name, while the Board needs you to specify a column to organize the list by. The Calendar view asks for a layout (Month or Week) along with the starting and ending dates.

3. Click on the Create button after entering the information to have the new view created for you.

4. You can edit new items in this view itself, or switch back to the grid view by using the dedicated button on the top left.

5. If you have multiple views, bringing down the three-dot menu on the right will let you choose from them.

Automate Tasks by Creating Rules

An essential feature of a collaborative list creation app is to be able to automate certain tasks. Fortunately, Microsoft Lists has you covered.

We say tasks, though for now, the only thing you can automate are notifications. You can set a list up to notify you when certain changes are made, letting you keep track of how the list is being used by your team.

1. To do this, click on the Rules button on the top bar, and select Create a rule.

2. A new window will appear, prompting you to select the type of condition you want to trigger a notification for. Select the icon that matches your needs.

3. Enter any other information required (such as the name of the column to track and any additional conditions) and the name or email address of the person to be notified.

4. Select Create when you are done to bring the new rule into effect.

5. You can head to Rules > Manage rules at any time to view the rules running on a list and disable them with a click.

Is Microsoft Lists Worth It?

For anyone already acquainted with the Office 365 ecosystem, the Microsoft Lists app is an excellent way to keep everything organized, whether you are working on it with a small team or a full corporate division.

You can create tasks, list out calendar events, and discuss every item with your teammates. The lists are extremely customizable, with several templates to create the perfect list for your use case, be it Employee onboarding or an Expense tracker.

And that’s before we get into the native integration with other Office 365 apps like Teams or Planner, making it the perfect organizational tool for someone familiar with Microsoft’s applications.

The post How to Use Microsoft Lists (And Why It’s Awesome) first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Keep in mind that being waterproof does not mean that you can chuck your speaker into a pool and take it out weeks later – the idea is to save it from accidental splashes and the rare dunking, not operate it in fluids. A waterproof speaker might handle being occasionally sprayed, but not held under a constantly running stream of water for long.

What Is IP Rating And Why Does It Matter?

It’s all very well to claim that a speaker is waterproof, but what exactly does it mean? Is it waterproof in the sense it can survive a few droplets of water, or in the sense that you can immerse it in a pool and still not damage anything?

That is where the IP rating comes in. The degree of waterproofing on a speaker (or any electronic device, really) is measured by the IP rating or the Ingress Protection rating.

As the name suggests, the IP rating of a device suggests how protected it is against intrusion by foreign particles. This includes both solid particulate matter like dust along with liquids like water.

Therefore the IP rating of a device consists of two digits; the first denotes its immunity to dust while the second digit measures how it fares against water. It is occasionally also followed by an alphabet to indicate additional capabilities – for example, K denotes resistance to pressurized water jets.

What Should Be the IP Rating of a Waterproof Speaker?

When you are shopping for a waterproof speaker, you want an IP rating of IP64 or better. The 6 indicates complete immunity to dust, while the 4 in the second digit means that the speaker can take water splashes without breaking down.

Of course, a better rating is always better, especially if your speaker is going to be subjected to more than just stray splashes. A rating of 5 or 6 (in the second digit) is required for withstanding water jets, while 7 and 8 deal with immersion.

9K is the highest possible value and denotes immunity to high-pressure jets – basically, equipment that is meant to be cleaned with jets of pressurized water, usually required in the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Is a Waterproof Speaker Worth It?

At first glance, waterproof speakers sound like a stupid idea. After all, why on earth do you need your speakers to be waterproof?

But if you think about it, waterproof speakers are actually pretty useful. There are many situations that can bring your speakers in contact with fluids, and buying one that can weather these conditions can save you a lot of pain in the long run.

Pool Party

A party means music, calling for a great portable speaker to pump out those groovy tunes, but a pool party makes things tricky. No matter how careful you try to be, one of your friends is going to splash your expensive speaker, and for some models, that doesn’t end well.

A waterproof speaker (with a rating of at least IP64) can take a few splashes of water and keep going. An even higher-rated speaker will even survive being dunked into the pool, though no one is going to do that. Right?

Shower

Listening to music while showering is a common habit, even if it can be an expensive one. Most speakers don’t do well with water, particularly when it is coming out of a high-pressure nozzle.

Ideally, you want a speaker rated IP66K or IP69K (the K means they can deal with high-pressure water jets), but you can also use an IP65 speaker if you manage to keep it away from the direct spray.

General

A waterproof speaker isn’t useful only if you are looking to play music around water sources. Even a low-cost waterproof speaker can save your day if you happen to spill water on it by accident.

And if you are fond of wiping your devices clean with a damp cloth, an IP-rated enclosure can protect the moisture from getting in. Playing music in the kitchen, for example, becomes far more stress-free if the Bluetooth speaker can handle a little water.

#1: Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 – Best Overall

When it comes to Bluetooth speakers (or any electronic device, really) there is no upper limit. No matter which model you buy, you will almost always get better sound quality in a more expensive one.

But if we’re talking about the best waterproof speaker overall, we need to balance the cost with the performance. This makes Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 the clear winner.

It combines a powerful bass and excellent sound quality with an IP67 rating, making it impervious to dust, water sprays, and even short-term immersion. And all this at less than a hundred bucks.

To be fair, the lack of USB-C charging does sting a bit since it makes the charging process much slower, and there are speakers with better sound quality out there. Yet all said and done, you would be hard-pressed to find a better waterproof speaker at this price range.

Pros

• IP67 rating
• Small and portable
• Decent battery life (around 14 hours)
• Supports pairing for Stereo sound
• Specialized outdoor mode for listening in open spaces
• Powerful bass and good sound quality
• Everything configurable with physical buttons

Cons

• Lacks USB-C charging
• Not supported by the Ultimate Ears app
• Not the most powerful speaker

Price

$85.00

#2: Sonos Roam – Best Smart

Sonos is known for its high-quality smart speakers, and its cheapest model makes for the perfect portable speaker. Appropriately named Sonos Roam, the speaker offers voice assistant support and great sound quality in an IP67-rated enclosure – which means it’s all but immune to water, surviving even complete submersion for a limited time.

While priced higher than Wonderboom 3, the Sonos Roam is nevertheless the most affordable model of the Sonos lineup, and actually has a few extra features than its competitor.

It charges using a USB-C cable, for example, allowing the speaker to charge rapidly using the same cable you use for your smartphone and laptop. Then there’s the wireless connectivity, leveraging both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections to play music and receive voice commands.

But its best feature has to be Auto TruePlay. This functionality ensures that the sound output is constantly modulated to carry through the background noise, letting you listen to your favorite tracks in the middle of a busy outdoor area.

Pros

• IP67 rating
• Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support
• Auto TruePlay feature for outdoor listening
• USB-C charging
• Great sound quality
• Alexa and Google voice assistant integration

Cons

• More expensive than Wonderboom 3
• Complicated setup

Price

$199.00

#3: JBL Charge 5 – Best Powerbank

The JBL Charge 5 brings an interesting quirk to the table – it is a waterproof speaker that can also function as a power bank, charging other devices through a USB cable. Even if you choose not to use this feature, it translates into a much larger battery capacity, which is always great for a portable speaker.

Apart from that, it is a pretty solid Bluetooth speaker, with an IP67 rating and powerful audio output. The bass is surprisingly good for its size, even at low volumes. A dedicated PartyBoost (along with the JBL Portable app) lets you connect the device with any compatible JBL speaker, playing the same audio from multiple angles.

Thanks to the use of Bluetooth 5.0, you get a low-latency high-range connection that can smoothly play your music without any degradation in quality. In a departure from Charge 4, however, the JBL Charge 5 ditches the AUX port, which might be a deal breaker if you intend to plug in your phone with an audio jack.

Pros

• IP67 rating
• 7500 mAH battery
• Can act as a power bank
• Can connect with other JBL speakers using PartyBoost
• Bluetooth Multipoint support

Cons

• Lacks wired audio connectivity
• No specialized outdoor sound mode

Price

$149.95

#4: Tribit Stormbox Micro – Best Portable

If you’re looking for the cheapest possible waterproof speaker to carry around everywhere you go, the Tribit Stormbox Micro is just the device for you.

While not the smallest speaker you can buy, the 4×4-inch footprint is pretty tiny, fitting even in a small handbag. The build quality is solid, with an IP67 rating that makes it untouchable from dust and water.

You’ll be surprised by the pretty powerful audio output, even if it distorts a bit at the maximum volume. It has pretty good bass though, and Bluetooth multipoint support to boot. At a little over $50, it is certainly a steal.

Pros

• Small and lightweight
• Very affordable
• IP67 waterproof rating
• Built-in microphone
• Bluetooth multipoint
• Good bass and volume output

Cons

• Distorted sound at higher volumes
• Lacks advanced modes or a dedicated control app

Price

$49.99

#5: Anker Soundcore 3 – Best Value

The Anker Soundcore 3 doesn’t look particularly fancy, but with its $50 price tag, it doesn’t need to be. It is a portable speaker with a decent audio output and an IPX7 rating, making it one of the best value-for-money Bluetooth speakers you can buy.

Of course, the sound quality isn’t exactly great, especially as you approach the really higher volumes. The bass is lacking as well, even if Anker’s BassUp feature tries its best to push the bass.

That being said, the Anker Soundcore 3 performs pretty well as an everyday speaker. The battery life is pretty good for its price, and the inclusion of a Soundcore app to control the speaker and modify the EQ settings is a godsend. All in all, the Soundcore 3 is a great waterproof speaker for your simple music needs.

Pros

• IPX7 waterproof rating
• Very affordable
• EQ settings through the Soundcore app
• Good battery life

Cons

• Insufficient bass
• Average sound quality
• Simple design

Price

$50.99

#6: JBL Flip 6 – Best Sound

JBL speakers are all the rage and for a good reason. They offer a good balance of affordability and quality, with a variety of different models suitable for various use cases.

The JBL Flip 6 is perfect for a handy portable speaker with amazing sound quality. The clarity is incredible, and the vocals are pretty crisp. You do miss out on voice assistant integration, but if you just want to listen to music, that’s not an issue.

This model supports PartyBoost as well, so you can pair other JBL speakers for a Stereo sound. Better yet, the IP67 rating protects from dust and water submersion, unlike Flip 5’s waterproof-only rating.

Ultimately the best part about this speaker is the sound quality, which is way better than most of its competitors in the same price bracket. Of course, you can always use the JBL Portable app to tweak the EQ settings, perfectly customizing the sound.

Pros

• IP67 Rating
• Great sound quality
• Graphical EQ
• Decent battery life
• Bluetooth 5.1

Cons

• No integrated voice assistant
• No outdoor mode

Price

$99.95

#7: Sony SRS-XB33 – Best Bass

If you love listening to bass-heavy soundtracks, the Sony SRS-XB33 is just the speaker for you. Part of Sony’s EXTRA BASS series, the SRS-XB33 packages some powerful bass into a portable package.

While the audio clarity suffers a bit, there is no beating the thumping bass of this speaker at this price range. Add to that the cool RGB lighting that flashes with the beat, and you get a cool party speaker for carrying around with you.

Since it’s Sony, you can use the Sony Music Center app to customize the LED lighting or the EQ settings, giving you complete control over the speaker. The Party and Stereo pairing modes can be used to connect with other SRS speakers, along with a battery-saving mode to make the charge last longer.

You can even plug in other devices with a USB-A cable to charge them using the speaker’s battery, letting it double up as a power bank of sorts. Although you should perhaps refrain from doing that since the powerful bass and the LED lighting are going to burn through the battery pretty quickly on their own.

Pros

• Incredible bass
• Customizable RGB lighting
• Graphical EQ
• Powerbank feature
• IP67 waterproof rating

Cons

• Average sound quality
• Battery drains quickly

Price

$59.99

What’s the Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker?

Waterproof Bluetooth speakers are no longer a rare breed, and you can find a great option at almost any price range. Almost all of them have an IP67 rating (or at least IPX7), allowing them to be carried into your shower or even submerged in a pool without going kaboom.

Go with the Tribit Stormbox Micro or the Anker Soundcore 3 if you are looking for an affordable option, otherwise, something like Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 would be perfect.

Of course, if you’re more interested in the sound quality, something like the JBL Flip 6 (or the Sony SRS-XB33 for bass lovers) might serve you better. No matter which speaker you choose from the list, you will get a waterproof device that you can carry with you and blast music anywhere.

The post 7 Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speakers (And Why You Should Buy One) first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

In the interest of simplicity, we will not be making a distinction between different keyboard form factors. Whether you like a TKL or a 65% keyboard is always a personal preference, and most leading brands will offer multiple variants of the same model.

A Quick Guide to Keyboard Form Factors

If you are new to gaming keyboards, you may be surprised by the number of variations on offer. From TKL keyboards to 65% keyboards, there are many different keyboard form factors available today.

Basically, it’s all a question of how many keys you want. A full keyboard gives you more than a hundred keys, including a bunch of useless keys that you will never likely use. Cutting out some of these keys gives you different form factors.

A TKL or Tenkeyless keyboard, for example, ditches the Numpad. This removes a whole column of the keyboard, making it much more compact without hurting any functionality.

Then comes the 65% keyboard, doing away with the row of function keys at the top, and the 60% keyboard, discarding the arrow keys as well. All of these keyboards work well for typing as well as gaming since no useful keys are missing.

But there are also one-handed keyboards meant exclusively for gaming. As the name suggests, these gaming keypads stick with just the left side of the keyboard, letting you keep your other hand on the mouse alone.

#1: Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 – Best Overall

If you’re looking for a great mechanical keyboard with a solid build quality and extremely low latency, the Corsair K70 is the keyboard for you.

The K70 comes with all features you could expect out of a top-of-the-line gaming keyboard – RGB lighting, textured keycaps, Cherry MX switches – and then some more.

Durability is especially focused upon, with a sturdy aluminum faceplate and high-quality plastic frame. Even the keycaps are special, made of double-shot PBT that is highly durable and virtually immune to wearing out.

Thanks to the premium Cherry switches, the response times are already great, and can be improved further using the iCUE companion software – though you are unlikely to see the benefits on a low-end system.

Price: $159.95 on Amazon

#2: SteelSeries Apex Pro – Best Adjustable

A good gaming keyboard will register the slightest of keypresses, letting you fire off those blistering combos more quickly than your opponent. But trying to type with the same keyboard is an exercise in frustration, as simply brushing your fingers past the wrong key can register an input.

SteelSeries is probably the best-known name for mechanical keyboards, and with good reason. The quality and versatility offered by its products are second to none.

And the Apex Pro series takes it even further, giving you adjustable mechanical switches to perfectly customize key sensitivity. This makes it a great keyboard for beginners, as you can gradually ease your way into using a more responsive keyboard instead of jumping into the deep end.

Better yet, you can create multiple profiles with different levels of key sensitivity, letting you use the same keyboard for typing as well as gaming. The actuation can even be adjusted on a per-key basis, giving you complete control over your keyboard’s responsiveness.

Price: $139.99 on Amazon

#3: Razer Huntsman V2 – Best Optical

Mechanical keyboards are pretty fast, but if you’re looking for the fastest possible response times, you need to go further than that. And what’s faster than the speed of light?

The Razer Huntsman line of gaming keyboards is outfitted with Opto-Mechanical switches that use a beam of light instead of a metallic contact for actuation. This gives you the fastest possible actuation speed while also reducing moving parts to make the switches more durable.

Of course, you still get the usual features you can expect out of a quality gaming keyboard – RGB backlighting, a fully programmable layout, and a durable build using an aluminum frame and double-shot PBT keycaps.

Price: $139.98 on Amazon

#4: Logitech G915 – Best Wireless

Calling the Logitech G915 simply the best wireless keyboard is actually a disservice. It’s an amazing mechanical gaming keyboard in its own right, with a slim form factor and sleek design that does not sacrifice any essential features.

Mechanical keyboards usually have a lot going on underneath the keycaps, but the Logitech G915’s is surprisingly thin, thanks to its low-profile linear mechanical switches. The keycaps aren’t PBT, unfortunately, but the ABS version does the job well enough.

The principal focus of the construction is on aesthetics, giving it a premium look and feel with a classy metal finish. And of course, the wireless connectivity of Logitech devices is unparalleled, allowing you to game with a wireless keyboard without any lag creeping in.

The pricing is a bit high, however, especially since it skimps on a wrist rest and the ability to reprogram every key. You do get a row of media keys, apart from a few dedicated macro keys to remap as you want.

Price: $203.99 on Amazon

#5: Roccat Magma – Best Affordable

Roccat Magma is the only membrane keyboard on this list, and with good reason – membrane keyboards are usually not very good. Mechanical keyboards are far more tactile and precise, not to mention long-lasting.

But mechanical keyboards are also prohibitively expensive. Unless you are a pro gamer, you will not lose out on much by sticking to a high-quality membrane-based gaming keyboard.

Roccat Magma is the best budget gaming keyboard you can buy, with responsive keys, limited RGB lighting, and some macro functionality. It also comes with a wrist rest, giving you quite the value for your money.

Of course, the rubber dome keys don’t hold up well to a quality mechanical keyboard, even though it is leagues better than a standard membrane keyboard on the market. Overall, Roccat Magma is a decent choice for your first gaming keyboard.

Price: $49.99 on Amazon

#6: Wooting Two HE – Best Analogue

Analogue keyboards are nothing new, but they have only started to really pick up in the last year or two. And Wooting’s Two HE gaming keyboard is perhaps the best analog keyboard you can buy.

The build quality is impeccable, and the Hall Effect switches from Gateron ensure that the smallest actuations are registered accurately. Other manufacturers – like SteelSeries or Razer – offer analog gaming keyboards as well, but none come close to the performance of the Lekker switches used in Wooting’s keyboards.

At the end of the day, however, analog keyboards aren’t really essential. Very few games actually support the analog keypresses alongside mouse control, and setting it up can be a pain. But if you cannot choose between a controller and a mouse with keyboard setup, the Wooting Two HE might not be worth it to you.

Price: $194.99 on Wooting.io

#7: Mountain Everest 60 – Best Modular

Okay, we lied – it’s not exactly modular in the sense you can switch any key around wherever you want (though it does feature hot-swappable switches). No, the Mountain Everest 60 is a 60 percent keyboard with a modular keypad that can be attached to any side.

Let us repeat that last bit – any side. That may not seem like a big thing, but if you like gaming on your PC, chances are that you will find your right hand glued to the mouse, while the left-hand hovers over the WASD area of the keyboard.

This means the traditional keypad is useless to you, which is why many prefer the 60 percent keyboard for gaming. But by attaching it to the left, you can easily access the keypad with your left hand, giving a huge fillip in RTS games or in any other game by rebinding them as macros.

Even if you’re not interested in this feature, the Mountain Everest 60 is a great keyboard for gaming. You get exactly the number of keys you need, with pre-lubed, hot-swappable switches mounted on an aluminum faceplate and double-shot PBT keycaps.

The sound dampening is particularly impressive, considering how difficult it is to find a quiet keyboard. Add to that a per-key RGB lighting feature, and you have a gaming keyboard that is almost perfect in every respect.

Price: $149.99 on Amazon

Which Gaming Keyboard Should You Buy in 2023?

Any of the top-of-the-line gaming keyboards mentioned here will give you access to all the features you can expect – mechanical switches, RGB lighting, and reprogrammable macro keys.

Now, which of these is the best for you depends on the exact features you want. For optical switches, you want to go with Razer Huntsman. For analog switches, Wooting Two HE is the best.

SteelSeries Apex Pro is great if you are buying your first mechanical keyboard, thanks to its adjustable actuation distance. For a budget option, you can pick Roccat Magma – while it uses rubber dome switches, the quality is good enough to give a decent gaming experience.

The post 7 Best Gaming Keyboards to Buy In 2023 first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

To be clear, we are only talking about the basic iPad here, not the iPad Pro version. This is because tablets like the iPad Pro and Microsoft Surface Pro are meant more as laptop replacements rather than simple tablet devices.

Amazon Fire Tablet vs. Apple iPad: The Rundown

In a way, the comparison isn’t really fair. The Amazon Fire tablet is priced at less than half of what the iPad 10th Gen asks for, making it clear that there are going to be major differences in their features and performance.

The iPad outperforms the Fire tablet on every technical specification, offering more storage, more processing power, higher resolution, and better cameras. So the question is not whether the Apple iPad is better than the Amazon Fire tablet – it definitely is – but rather if it is worth the extra price.

And honestly, that is a difficult question to answer. Because it depends entirely on what you want out of a tablet.

If you are looking for a simple entertainment tablet to read books, play games, and watch movies on, the Amazon Fire tablet is perfect for you. It is especially good for kids. But if you’re looking for a more powerful mobile device with a range of productivity apps and the specs to power them, the iPad would be a better choice.

Amazon Fire Tablet vs. Apple iPad: The Specs

Amazon Fire Tablet vs. Apple iPad: Pricing

The first and most obvious difference between the two tablets is the pricing. The Amazon Fire tablet is practically dirt cheap, with even the latest 10-inch model retailing at just $150, while the iPad starts at well over $400.

Even if you are willing to go back a few years – metaphorically speaking – and buy an older generation model, you’ll still be hard-pressed to get a price lower than the Fire tablet. And this is before we consider the iPad Pro, which will cost you at least a thousand bucks, if not more.

This renders the Amazon Fire tablet the undisputed winner in terms of pricing. Unless you really want more from your tablet – and can extend your budget – you can go with the Fire HD 10 with no regrets.

Winner: Amazon Fire Tablet

Amazon Fire Tablet vs. Apple iPad: Apps

Contrary to what you might expect, the Amazon Fire tablet does not run on Android. It instead uses FireOS, a fork of Google’s AndroidOS. And therein lies its biggest problem.

Amazon Fire tablet cannot run Google services. This means no Play Store, no Gmail, no Chrome (it has its own browser), and most surprisingly of all, no Youtube. Even the general selection of apps available on the Fire tablet is smaller since you can only install apps from the Amazon App store.

Now technically, it’s possible to install these natively unsupported apps on a Fire tablet through workarounds. But such methods are tricky and often get broken when a new update rolls out.

The Apple iPad, in contrast, features all applications available in the Apple ecosystem. This means you get Google apps like Youtube alongside Adobe and Microsoft’s creativity and productivity apps.

Winner: Apple iPad

Amazon Fire Tablet vs. Apple iPad: Display

The display is a major factor in choosing a tablet, and another area in which the cost of the device ends up playing an important role. And so while the Fire HD 10 is marketed as a multimedia tablet, it is the more expensive iPad that sports a better display.

The 10.9-inch iPad features a Liquid Retina display with True Tone color, along with a whopping 2360 x 1640 resolution. This sets it leagues apart from the Amazon Fire tablet’s 1920 x 1200 Full HD display.

Of course, this also means that accidentally breaking the iPad’s display is going to burn a deeper hole in your pocket. If you’re getting this tablet for a kid, you might be better off with the Amazon Fire tablet’s Kids Edition, which encloses the tablet in a more durable casing for just fifty bucks extra.

Winner: Even

Amazon Fire Tablet vs. Apple iPad: Camera

Apple is known for its incredible cameras, so you can probably already guess the winner in this category. That’s right – the Apple iPad has better cameras than the Amazon Fire tablet.

The increased price tag obviously plays a part in this, since you can only fit so much into a $150 device. Especially when the primary function of that device is to serve as an entertainment tablet, not a photography tool.

Still, the Amazon Fire tablet’s 2MP cameras are good enough for the occasional photo or video call. If you want proper cameras, however, you should go with the Apple iPad without a second thought.

Winner: Apple iPad

Amazon Fire Tablet vs. Apple iPad: Processor

The CPU of a tablet is often not a deciding factor for most people, since it’s hard to judge how the numbers translate into actual performance. This holds true when comparing these two tablets since they both boast of a multi-core processor with 2Ghz (or higher) clock speed.

That being said, the Apple iPad is outfitted with a more sophisticated processor. Named A14 Bionic, the chip contains specialized hardware for machine learning, giving a huge boost to all the new AI algorithms being rolled out.

All that doesn’t really matter if you just want to watch movies or play games on your tablet. For most use cases, the Amazon Fire tablet’s CPU performs just fine.

Winner: Even

The Verdict

If you look at the specs alone, the Apple iPad takes the clear win. From the display to the camera, it outstrips the capabilities of the Amazon Fire HD, with higher-quality hardware and software.

At the same time, you must remember that this increased quality comes at a price. The iPad 10.9 is priced at more than twice the cost of the Fire HD 10, and most people won’t find the hefty price tag worth it.

Whether you want to read books on the Kindle app or watch Amazon Prime Video, the budget-friendly tablet performs quite well. Unless you really want the extra features, the Amazon Fire tablet would be the correct choice for you.

The post Amazon Fire Tablet vs. Apple iPad: Which Should You Buy? first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

The Amazon Echo lineup has expanded greatly over the years, going from the single flagship speaker to a whole selection of smart home devices with a range of impressive features. But for most people, the decision ultimately boils down to two products – Amazon Echo vs Amazon Echo Dot. Here’s how they stand up to each other.

Amazon Echo vs Amazon Echo Dot: In a Nutshell

It’s easy to dismiss the Echo Dot as just a smaller version of the Echo, but that would be a disservice. Amazon has taken pains to make the Echo Dot a distinct option that stands on its own, offering unique functionality that’s not found with the larger Echo.

First, the similarities. Both Echo and Echo Dot function perfectly as smart home hubs, thanks to Alexa, Amazon’s voice assistant service. Using voice commands, you can control all manners of smart devices like lights and thermostats.

Sound quality is also on par, even if the Echo boasts of a larger, slightly more powerful speaker. And while the Echo has more microphones to catch your voice commands better, you’re unlikely to run into issues with Echo Dot’s four microphone array either.

If you can get the latest Echo Dot 5, you even get temperature and motion sensors that were lacking in the previous generation. And since Echo has yet to get a Gen 5 upgrade, you get a better processor with the new Echo Dot.

Aesthetics

Before 2020, the Amazon Echo and Echo Dot had completely different designs. The Echo was a short cylinder while the Echo Dot was a flat, puck-shaped speaker.

With the 4th Gen, both the speakers were converted to fabric-covered spheres with better acoustic and aesthetic quality. The only difference between them is the size – the Echo Dot is much smaller than the more powerful Echo.

Both devices also feature an LED ring around the base that lights up in different colors depending on the state of the device. Some versions of the Echo Dot also come with printed skins and an LED clock on the device, making it visually distinct from the more somber look of the Echo (and a normal Echo Dot).

Sound Quality

The transition to a spherical design turned both Echo devices into 360-degree speakers, boasting better sound quality. On top of that the speakers use Dolby processing to provide cleaner vocals and improved bass response, further elevating the audio performance.

Obviously, the Echo possesses a larger speaker, a 3-inch woofer, and a pair of 0.8-inch tweeters, giving it an edge over the smaller Echo Dot, even in its latest form.

That being said, both speakers make for excellent standalone speakers, thanks to their ability to sense the acoustics of the room and adjust their dynamics accordingly. You can also pair multiple Echo speakers (or Echo Dot, for that matter) to create a whole stereo sound system.

Smart Device Compatibility

The Echo speakers make for great smart home hubs, allowing you to control your smart devices using Alexa voice commands. Both Echo and Echo Dot possess this functionality, though the specific frameworks supported vary a bit.

Devices designed especially for Alexa – like Philips Hue lights – work seamlessly with both speakers, no matter which version. Echo and Echo Dot can also serve as the bridge for any smart devices belonging to the Sidewalk ecosystem (as well as Matter, but that’s because the standard is intended to be cross-platform).

Zigbee smart devices, on the other hand, can only use the 4th Gen Echo, making it a must-buy for those with a Zigbee-based smart home network. Similarly, only the 5th Gen Echo Dot can act as an Eero Wifi extender, adding a handy functionality for anyone with an Eero router.

Alexa

The biggest highlight of any Echo speaker is undoubtedly Alexa. Amazon’s voice assistant can accurately parse verbal commands in several languages, allowing you to control the speaker and even parts of your house through voice commands.

You can set routines, do your shopping, and of course, listen to music using Alexa.

To facilitate this capability, the Echo speakers are outfitted with specialized neural edge processors, allowing the device to learn and process your commands without having to constantly query Amazon’s servers.

The Echo Gen 4 comes with the AZ1 Neural Edge chip, while the newer Echo Dot uses the latest AZ2 Neural Edge processor, giving it a small fillip in performance. The machine-learning optimized silicon also lets both Echo speakers offer advanced features like Natural Turn-Taking and Guard Plus.

Pricing

The standard pricing of the Echo speakers has been kept at nice round figures, with the Echo costing $99.99 and the Echo Dot exactly half of that – $49.99. For the Echo Dot, you can also get the clock variant at $59.99.

Of course, these prices rarely remain static, with offers and discounts often driving the price down significantly. And that’s before you look into the older generations of these speakers that are already marked down from their original prices.

Features Exclusive to the Echo Dot

Amazon Echo might be the bigger, meaner speaker, but the Echo Dot also has a few tricks up its sleeve. Whether these tricks are worth making the switch depends entirely on your preference.

The most obvious is the clock. The Amazon Echo Dot (both 4th and 5th Gen) features a variant with an LED clock, allowing it to double up as your bedside alarm clock. You can also tap to snooze the alarm instead of fiddling with voice or touch controls.

Then there’s the kid’s version. Echo Dot for Kids packages up the speaker in a variety of cute skins and gives them access to Amazon Kids+, with educational content and age-appropriate entertainment options that will keep your kids busy. Parental controls let you customize every aspect of this experience, from time limits to content filters.

Amazon Echo vs Echo Dot: Which One to Buy?

If budget isn’t an issue, you should consider getting both Echo and Echo Dot. The Alexa ecosystem works best when you have an Echo device in every room, and Echo Dot is priced low enough to throw down a couple in random spots.

The Dot is especially suited for your kids and even as an alarm clock for your bedroom, while the Echo’s greater audio output makes it the better music solution for the living room. The Echo Dot can also be put down as a wifi mesh extender for an Eero router, covering blind spots with network connectivity and music.

But you can’t go wrong with the Echo Dot if you have to get just one. Sure, the bigger Echo has better speakers, but the Echo Dot offers more features and a more advanced processor. Unless you’re looking to use the speaker as a Zigbee bridge, there’s nothing the Echo can do that the Echo Dot can’t.

The post Amazon Echo vs Echo Dot: What’s Different? first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

It is relatively easy to hide a slide in Microsoft Powerpoint too. These hidden slides do not appear in the slideshow, even though they remain visible in other views. This makes it a great method for tinkering with the length of your presentation without losing any of your work.

How to Hide And Unhide a Slide in Google Slides

1. First, open Google Slides. Just open a new tab on Chrome browser and click on the dots icon next to images. Scroll down this Google apps menu to find Google Slides.

2. The interface is similar to Google Docs, with templates on top to get you started and existing projects listed below. Open an existing presentation (or create a new one).

3. To keep things simple, we will demonstrate the process in a new presentation created using a template. This gives us a bunch of pre-filled slides to play around with.

4. Let’s say we want to hide a slide in this presentation. Right-click on the slide you wish to hide, and select Skip slide.

5. As you can see, the affected slide now shows a crossed-out eye symbol, denoting that it is now hidden. If you play the slideshow now, that slide will not be played. You can do this to as many slides as you wish.

6. To unhide the slide, simply right-click on it again. There will be an Unskip slide option in the menu now. Select the option to make the slide visible again.

Should You Hide or Delete Slides?

It is rarely a good idea to delete your slides. Storage space is no longer an issue – besides, Google Slides is hosted on the cloud – and you never know when you may want to insert that slide again.

This is why Google Slides includes the option to skip selected slides. You can preserve your hard work for potential use while ensuring it does not play in the Slide Show.

It makes it easy to try different approaches and create perfect presentations. You can always un-skip a slide if you want to include it again in the final version.

The post How to Hide and Unhide a Slide in Google Slides first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Not that you cannot get goat horns in a single-player game. It is just that their effect is only useful when playing with other people, whether in a team or competitively. So let’s look at how to get goat horns in Minecraft.

What are Goat Horns and What Do They Do?

Goats have been in Minecraft for a while (both the Java and Bedrock Edition), annoying you by screaming and ramming into stuff. Sure, you could milk them or breed them, but that was all.

With the 1.19 update, however, goats occasionally drop horns when ramming into solid blocks. These horns aren’t purely decorative either, as you can blow the horn to play a unique sound.

The best thing is that the horn can be heard by other players at a very long range (up to 256 blocks), making it the best tool for signaling your teammates in multiplayer mode, except for beacons, of course. Though you cannot just keep using a horn continuously – there is a six-second cooldown before you can play a horn in your inventory again, no matter how many you have.

Where Can You Get Goat Horns in Minecraft?

Contrary to what you might expect, you can not get goat horns by slaying goats. Horns are only dropped when goats ram into a solid block.

You have to wait around a goat – found in mountainous biomes – and pick up the horns as they drop. As they ram stationary blocks frequently, it wouldn’t be long before you find yourself a bunch of them.

The only materials that can snap goat horns are stone, coal ore, copper ore, iron ore, emerald ore, log, and packed ice. Goat horns also spawn in pillager outpost chests, though they can only contain regular horn variants, which is just four of all possible types. More on that in the next section.

Types of Goat Horns

Mojang doesn’t do anything by halves. When they added goat horns, they added a whopping eight types of them.

Each of these variants has its unique sound, allowing a party of eight players to easily distinguish between each member with a different horn. Though you do have to collect all these different types of horns first.

A single goat only drops two horns of the same type. Furthermore, goats themselves have two types – regular goats and “screamers”.

You can tell a goat is a screamer if it, well, screams, and rams more frequently. Screaming goats can drop four types of horns: “Admire”, “Call”, “Yearn”, and “Dream”. Normal goats drop the other four: “Ponder”, “Sing”, “Seek”, and “Feel”.

What Is the Best Way to Get Goat Horns in Minecraft?

The only reliable way of getting horns is to find a group of goats on some snowy slopes and wait for them to ram into solid blocks. They will drop a pair of horns each that you can pick up easily.

If you want to get all goat horn variants, however, be prepared for a long wait. It is hard to find large herds of goats, and there are eight types of horns. Screaming goats are even rarer, and four of these variants can only be dropped by them.

Of course, all of this is made simpler if you were already breeding goats. Just coax them into an enclosed space and watch as they ram the block and drop their horns. If you stand still they will try to ram you as well, so be ready to jump aside.

The post How to Get Goat Horns in Minecraft first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Keep in mind, however, that using an app to log Discord messages can be considered against the platform’s ToS (Terms-of-Service). While you are unlikely to land into trouble for using these apps, it might be considered unethical to do so.

Is There No Built-in Method to View Deleted Messages on Discord?

Unfortunately, there’s no default functionality that allows you to see any deleted messages on the Discord app, whether on mobile or desktop. And this exclusion is deliberate.

Discord considers the ability to view deleted messages an intrusion of user privacy, and has taken steps to ensure it isn’t doable. Messages deleted on a Discord server remain hidden, with even audit logs unable to display the original contents.

Even server mods are unable to get around this restriction since Discord claims that deleted messages are no longer stored on their databases. Any person can take screenshots, of course, but that is a very tedious method.

How to See Deleted Messages On Discord

The best way to track deleted messages on Discord is to use a bot application like Dyno Bot. These bots can automatically copy every deleted message on a server or channel, letting you view them any time afterward.

Of course, this only works on your own servers, greatly limiting its scope of effectiveness. Still, it is a great moderation tool for Discord server owners, which is the most common reason for wanting to view deleted messages anyway.

1. As Dyno is a bot rather than an add-on, there is nothing to download. Just head to its site and Login with Discord.

2. Dyno will ask for permission to access your account. Hit Authorize to grant that access.

3. All the servers you participate in will be listed on the next page. Select the Discord server you want to view deleted messages on.

4. Once again, you will need to grant the required permissions to Dyno. Note that this will only work if you possess Manage Server permissions yourself, so make sure you select the right server.

5. After that, you just need to set things up, and the Dyno bot would be ready to use.

6. The way Dyno’s message logging works is by sending you the messages in a dedicated channel. So head to Discord and create a fresh text channel on your server. You can do this by clicking on the + symbol beside the Text Channels tab on your server.

7. Enter an appropriate name for the channel and set it to private for good measure.

8. The only member you need to add is Dyno since it will be the only one messaging to this channel.

9. Now head back to the Dyno dashboard and switch to the modules tab.

10. Open the Action Log module and select the channel you just created as the Log Channel.

11. Scroll down to the Message Events section and check everything with Delete in it. This means Message Delete, Image Delete, and Bulk Message Delete.

12. And that’s it. To check if the feature works, open Discord and delete a message posted on your server. It will appear in the created channel.

What About MessageLoggerV2?

Discord made massive changes to the app in a recent update, breaking many plugins and add-ons. One of the many useful plugins affected by this change is MessageLoggerV2.

Prior to this Discord version, MessageLoggerV2 was the most popular way for people to see deleted Discord messages. Used alongside the equally popular BetterDiscord, the small plugin provided a simple method of logging all server messages and viewing them even after deletion.

Unfortunately, the plugin no longer works, even with the latest version released by the creator. Maybe the issues will get ironed out someday, but for now, you have to try other methods.

Should You View Deleted Discord Messages?

It is against Discord’s terms of service to preserve and view deleted messages of other users. So should you even try to do it?

To be clear, there’s no real way for Discord to detect if you are saving a log of messages on your server. And being able to see deleted messages is crucial for moderation because troublemakers can send abusive messages and then delete them before getting reported.

This is why most servers run a Discord bot to keep track of chats on their server. It is far more difficult to get this feature working on a personal Discord account, however, since Discord updates tend to break add-ons frequently.

What is the Best Way to See Deleted Messages on Discord?

Currently, the only working way to view deleted messages on Discord is to use a Discord bot like Dyno to back up deleted chats and images. Of course, this only works on a server you manage, and only lets you see those messages that were deleted after the bot was active.

If you want to preserve a message sent to you in DMs, your only recourse right now is to take a screenshot of the message. The MessageLoggerV2 plugin for BetterDiscord was a great way for users to record personal messages, but the plugin no longer works.

An alternative plugin exists, but it is much harder to use since it requires Node.js to work. And there is always the risk of getting banned, since Discord doesn’t approve message loggers, especially for personal use.

The post How to See Deleted Messages on Discord first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

It’s not as easy as making a torch – which only requires a stick and charcoal – but it comes close. This is great, since you will need torches to make lanterns anyway. Let’s see how.

Lanterns vs Torches

You might have already guessed it, but lanterns are more expensive than torches. If you’re only looking for a source of light to keep the monsters at bay, the humble torch is more than good enough for your needs.

It isn’t like a lantern gives significantly more light either, giving just one more level of light than torches (15 vs 14). The only reason to make a lantern is because it looks cooler. And let’s face it, that’s the most important reason to do anything in Minecraft.

Lanterns look especially great when combined with a lamp post, or in well-decorated interiors. Just like with torches, there is also a soul variant that gives off blue light, though it has a lower light level (10).

Such lampposts make for good landmarks in the early game, helping you navigate to your base at night. This remains a handy trick until you learn how to craft a map.

How to Make a Lantern

Making a lantern, like anything else (for instance, Minecraft Fireworks), is just a matter of putting the right ingredients into the crafting grid. It has to be a 3×3 grid though, so a crafting table is required. If you don’t know how to do that

The ingredients are pretty straightforward – a torch in the center and 8 iron nuggets placed around it. Use a soul torch instead of a regular torch and you will get a soul lantern.

In case you don’t have a torch, you can craft it easily by placing a piece of coal (or charcoal) above a stick in the crafting grid. The soul torch just needs the addition of soul soil or soul sand underneath the stick, making it a very easy crafting recipe.

What Is the Use of a Lantern?

Like any light source, a lantern can be used to, well, light up the world. This is, of course, essential in survival mode to prevent mobs from spawning inside your houses.

Lanterns can also be used to make lamp posts of your own by combining other blocks in interesting designs. While you can also use torches or glow stones for this purpose, lanterns look much better.

Beacons look even better, but they are much harder to make as well.

Can You Get a Lantern Any Other Way?

Crafting is the most reliable way of getting lanterns in Minecraft, but it isn’t the only one. In case you don’t have iron nuggets yet (just smelt some iron ore or any iron items), you can grab a couple elsewhere.

The easiest method, of course, is to find lanterns in the world. Regular lanterns can be generated in Snowy Tundra Villages and Bastion Remnants, often as lamp posts or just freestanding lamps. You might even run into soul lanterns in Ancient Cities.

You can also buy lanterns from Librarian villagers for one emerald each. It is usually much easier to get iron, so only use this method if you are flush with emeralds and don’t have anything better to buy.

What Is the Best Way to Get a Lantern in Minecraft?

Crafting them from torches and iron nuggets is the best way to get lanterns in Minecraft. Just put a torch in the center of the 3×3 crafting grid and fill up the remaining 8 spaces with iron nuggets, and you’ll get a lantern.

You can occasionally find naturally generated lanterns in the wild as well, often placed on buildings or crude lamp posts. This only happens in Snowy Tundra villages or Bastion Remnants, so be on the lookout when you visit these areas.

Trading with a librarian villager can net you lanterns as well, though your trades (and your emeralds) are better used to buy more valuable items. Iron is easier to get, and has no limit.

The post How to Make Lanterns in Minecraft first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Of course, Roku isn’t the only streaming media center out there. You have stellar options like the Apple TV, the Amazon Fire Stick, and Google’s own Chromecast. But since Roku is by far the most popular of the bunch, let’s see how it holds up against Android TV – the streaming platform quickly swallowing up the market.

1: Channel Support

The first thing to consider when comparing any streaming service is channel availability. Sure, you can sideload other Android apps with a little work, but it’s a good idea to ensure maximum support right out of the box.

And both platforms perform well on this metric. The usual culprits like YouTube, Netflix, or Amazon Prime Video are obviously supported, but both Android TV and Roku also integrate other popular streaming apps like Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, or Peacock TV.

The differences creep in when you go beyond the basics. Android TV, for example, can run almost every app available on the Google Play Store, including games as well as live TV apps like Sling and Pluto TV.

Roku takes a different approach, throwing in hundreds of free channels including its very own The Roku Channel. None of them are big names, but sometimes quantity – especially when free – is a quality of its own.

Takeaway: Both streaming services integrate all popular offerings, so you wouldn’t be left high and dry by picking any one of them. Go with Android TV if you would like unrestricted access to the Google Play Store, otherwise, Roku gives you more of a bang for your buck.

2: User Interface

The next big factor to consider is the UI. And that’s an area in which Roku definitely excels.

Simplicity is the key when it comes to UI, and Roku takes this to the heart with its minimalistic, uncluttered interface. While you certainly cannot escape the pervasive advertisements, relegating them to a side panel helps.

Android TV in contrast puts an ad banner front and center, spanning the entire top half of the screen. The icons are smaller and clustered tightly together as well, making for a busy TV interface.

That being said, it isn’t like Android TV’s UI is unusable. And if you are up for it, you can even modify the user interface and bring it more in line with your expectations.

Takeaway: Roku has a cleaner, simpler UI than Android TV, with larger icons and smaller advertisements. It isn’t that customizable, though, so you may want to stick with Android TV if you like to change things around.

3: Voice Control

When it comes to voice assistants, there is no beating the seamless integration of Android TV’s Google Assistant. It gives you the full range of features of the AI voice assistant, unlike the pared-down version offered by a Roku device.

That’s not a big deal if all you are going to do is search for your favorite shows with voice commands – even Roku’s native voice assistant can do that.

But if you have smart home devices you like ordering about with your Google Assistant, choosing an Android TV is a no-brainer. Unless you have an Alexa, in which case your TV can get by being dumb.

Because outside of smart devices, there isn’t really a host of reasons why you would want the full integration of Android TV’s Google Assistant. You can ask it about the weather, admittedly, but why on earth do you need your TV for that?

Takeaway: Roku’s voice remote supports both Alexa and Google Assistant – for basic stuff like searching for title. If you want to use fancier voice commands, we recommend going with Android TV’s full-fledged Google Assistant.

4: Bluetooth Connectivity

You would expect every streaming box in 2022 to at least have Bluetooth connectivity. But you cannot reliably count on Roku that much.

To be fair, newer models of the Roku streaming stick can pair with your Bluetooth speakers just fine. It is the older versions of the device that sometimes lack this basic connectivity option.

Instead, Roku offers an app that lets you pair your phone’s audio output to the streaming stick, giving you indirect wireless connectivity. Some Roku remotes even feature a 3.5mm headphone jack, giving you a legacy option in case you haven’t yet thrown away your old earphones.

Android TV is much better in this regard, providing Bluetooth connectivity across the board. And since most streaming devices these days (cough, Fire TV Stick, cough) are also based on Android TV, you are unlikely to run into Bluetooth issues with any other device.

Takeaway: Bluetooth isn’t an issue with any newly bought device, but be careful with older Roku TV sticks, as they sometimes lack this essential feature. They make up for it somewhat with a smartphone app, but Android TV’s default Bluetooth support is much more hassle-free.

5: Screencasting

With the right app, it is basically possible to mirror any Android or iOS device to any streaming platform. But built-in screen casting support is a different matter and is almost never universal.

Android TV, obviously enough, has Chromecast, allowing you to project your Android phone’s video output to the TV with a tap. This saves you from having to buy a dedicated Chromecast dongle if you are a fan of that feature.

Roku, on the other hand, plays nicer with Apple devices. With its native support of AirPlay on newer models, you can start mirroring from your iPhone or Mac in an instant.

Not that it matters much in the long run, as you can mirror any phone to your TV by downloading its requisite app anyway.

Takeaway: The inexpensive Roku features AirPlay on its latest models, making it a good choice for iPhone users not willing to splurge on an Apple TV. Android TV is likewise great for, well, Android users, as the native Chromecast support makes screen mirroring a cinch.

6: Miscellaneous

This is where all the little differences that do not merit individual subsections go in. None of these factors are going to be deal breakers, but they might help tip the scales if you are still undecided.

Carriage Disputes

Roku, for all its claims of 2000+ channels, is actually a bit shaky when it comes to channel availability. It has run into carriage disputes with major broadcasters like YouTube in the past and might be headed to a spat with Netflix in the coming years.

Android TV suffers from no such issues, with every channel available on the platform under a properly negotiated contract. The selection may be smaller, but includes all streaming content you are likely to watch anyway.

Updates

Software changes add up over time, so a platform that updates more frequently is going to have an edge. And that platform is Roku.

The streaming stick is known for its rapid pace of innovation, with major updates rolling out twice a year, and smaller patches even more frequently. This speedy schedule is not matched by Android TV, which updates at a much slower rate.

HDMI

A commonly overlooked factor in the Android TV vs Roku debate is the HDMI slot. As there is no such thing as an Android TV box, you don’t have to occupy an HDMI slot of your television to stream shows on it.

As most TVs have two or more HDMI slots, this usually doesn’t become a big issue. But if you are a gamer with a console plugged in as well, the free slot can be handy.

Although if you are a gamer, you would probably do better with Nvidia Shield TV than with either of these options.

Android TV vs Roku: Which is Better?

Roku has maintained a lead in the streaming market for years by being the cheapest option to upgrade a normal television into a smart TV. But now that Android TV comes with all the relevant features by default, we have a new winner.

To be clear, Roku is by no means a bad device. With its streamlined UI and an impressive number of streaming channels, it is a great platform to get your daily dose of entertainment from.

But the fact remains that it doesn’t offer an advantage significant enough to warrant switching from Android TV. Actually, it is Android TV that provides unique features like the complete Google Assistant or access to the Google Play Store.

So yes, Android TV is better than Roku.

The post Android TV vs Roku: What’s Different and Which Is Better? first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

But like all social media platforms, permanently deleting your account is irreversible. You can reactivate your account by signing in within 14 days, but you will still lose your followings, group memberships, endorsements, recommendations, and any pending invitations.

So think carefully before closing your LinkedIn account, especially if you have a Premium account.

How to Delete Your LinkedIn Account on a PC

Whether your computer runs Windows, Mac, or Linux, you can access and delete your account using the same steps through a web browser.

1. First, open LinkedIn on your web browser and click on the small profile picture visible at the top right. Select Settings & Privacy from the drop-down menu.

2. Scroll down to the Account Management section at the bottom and select Close account.

3. You will be warned about losing your recommendations and endorsements when deactivating your LinkedIn account. Click Continue to proceed anyway.

4. Choose a reason for why you are closing your account. If your reason is not on the list, select Other and type it out in your own words.

5. Finally, enter your account password to confirm the deletion of your LinkedIn account.

Your LinkedIn account is now closed. As the website informs you, it will take a few days before your LinkedIn data stops appearing on search engines.

How to Delete Your LinkedIn Account on a Smartphone

The steps to delete your account on the LinkedIn mobile app are virtually identical on Android and iOS devices.

1. Open the LinkedIn app on your smartphone and tap your profile photo at the top corner. This brings up a short menu. Select Settings.

2. Select Account Preferences.

3. Scroll down to the Account Management section at the bottom and tap the Close account option.

4. From here on, the steps are the same as on the desktop website. Tap Continue to proceed.

5. Now choose a reason for deleting your LinkedIn account, using the Other option if you want to enter a custom reason. Tap Next when you’re done.

6. Enter your password to confirm and delete your account.

How to Reactivate Your Deleted LinkedIn Account

If you change your mind about closing your account within 14 days of deactivating it, you can restore your account. Remember that this won’t bring back things like pending invitations or endorsements, no matter how little time has passed.

1. To reactivate your deleted LinkedIn account, open LinkedIn on your web browser. You will be prompted to create an account.

2. Select Sign in and then enter your login details.

3. You’ll see the option to reactivate your account. Select the Yes, Reactivate button.

4. LinkedIn will start reactivating your account and send you an email when your account is ready to access.

5. When you receive the email, open the message and select the Confirm your email option. You can also sign in normally from a fresh tab.

And just like that, you can use your LinkedIn account again.

The post How to Delete Your LinkedIn Account first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Besides the functionality and the cost, another reason to pick a different option is to ensure compatibility with other smart home devices. If you don’t want to be locked into the Amazon ecosystem, here are the five best video doorbells.

1. Google Nest Hello Video Doorbell

The fiercest competitor to Amazon’s Ring is Google’s Nest Hello doorbell. Though slightly more expensive than the standard Ring models, the Nest Hello justifies its cost with better audio quality and responsive design.

With a camera resolution of 1600×1200, it practically matches the 1080p HD capture resolution of Ring, recording everything in a 160-degree field of view. You can set up Activity Zones to focus on particular areas, receiving motion alerts for any activity in those zones.

Then there is the Familiar face detection system to recognize frequent visitors and build up a library of friends and family, alerting you when a new person shows up. This extends to detecting packages and notifying you of deliveries even when you are away.

Price: $142.00

2. Eufy Dual Camera Doorbell 2K

Eufy is the most powerful cost-effective video doorbell you can buy, as it lets you use features like package detection and facial recognition without having to pay a dime. You can even store weeks’ worth of footage on local storage without paying a subscription fee.

Not that it lacks features. Boasting 2K resolution videos with High Dynamic Range (HDR), the Eufy video doorbell will give you excellent video quality. Then there is the second low-angle camera to capture that pesky bottom part of the front door.

The Eufy security doorbell also includes a wireless door chime, saving you the effort of connecting it with your existing system. There is even a battery-powered version for those looking to avoid doorbell wiring altogether, though it is priced slightly higher.

Price: $199.00

3. Arlo Essential Video Doorbell

Arlo may not have tech giants like Amazon or Google backing it, but it offers some incredible features not present in any of its competitors. Add to that its low price tag and you have a winner.

The biggest difference is the viewing angle. Arlo uses a 180-degree field of view, capturing the entire head-to-toe image in a 1:1 aspect ratio. This means any packages lying on the ground will no longer be invisible to you.

The two-way audio combined with its smart notifications system reduces noise and transmits only relevant alerts, keeping you on top of things happening at your doorstep. The only problem with Arlo is the expensive monthly subscription, requiring $15 a month to unlock its full gamut of features.

Price: $127.22

4. SimpliSafe Doorbell

One of the most comprehensive smart video doorbells out there, SimpliSafe includes a heat sensor along with motion detection, helping it accurately detect people and cut down on false alarms.

A major selling point of the SimpliSafe Doorbell is the easy installation, allowing anyone with a screwdriver to set things up. It even works with mechanical chimes, making it the ideal video doorbell for old houses.

Its wide viewing angle and HDR camera enable it to capture some really clear videos, which can be stored on cloud video storage for just $5 per month. The SimpliSafe Doorbell integrates smoothly with the company’s home security system, making this doorbell camera a perfect choice if you want a complete security solution.

Price: $169.99

5. Lorex Video Doorbell

By far the cheapest option on our list, the Lorex is an excellent option for those who want complete control over their data and prefer a no-frills wifi video doorbell that gets the job done.

It doesn’t have any AI-based person detection technology or cloud storage options, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Any videos recorded by the doorbell are stored locally on a 16GB microSD card, safeguarding your privacy.

It doesn’t skimp on essential features either, possessing two-way talk and night vision even at this affordable price tag. You can even use Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to control the Lorex video doorbell through voice commands.

Price: $49.99

What is the Best Ring Video Doorbell Alternative?

If you want to stick to a big name with a whole smart home ecosystem, then Google’s Nest doorbell is your best bet. This gives you equivalent or better features with Google’s patented face detection technology.

For people distrustful of cloud storage – or just seeking to save on subscription costs – the Eufy or Lorex video doorbells are perfect. Eufy is the more feature-rich version with an optional subscription, while Lorex is a straightforward video doorbell that gets the job done.

The Arlo or the SimpliSafe doorbell may not save you money, but they offer better security features than the Ring. They have a wider field of view, easily capturing packages on the ground, and the SimpliSafe doorbell even comes with a heat sensor to improve detection.

Any of these options are great alternatives to the Amazon Ring, and can successfully safeguard your doorway without being a drain on the pocket.

The post 5 Best Ring Doorbell Alternatives first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

That being said, VGA is far from extinct. While the older interface is gradually being phased out, many devices still use VGA ports, making it important to understand its strengths and limitations. So here is a primer on the differences and features of the VGA and HDMI interfaces.

Introduction to VGA and HDMI

VGA (Video Graphics Array) is a display interface designed by IBM for computer monitors back in 1987. The 15-pin 3-row VGA port became a ubiquitous feature in PC motherboards, gaming consoles, and DVD players.

As the name suggests, the VGA interface only carries visual information, and that too at a resolution considered low by today’s standards. Yet its easy compatibility and widespread manufacturer support meant the interface continued to be developed until 2010 when the industry finally made the switch to the HDMI standard.

HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) was introduced in 2002 to carry both audio and visual data with a single cable, that too at a much-improved resolution and framerate. Over the next several years, it quickly became the de facto standard for multimedia connectivity.

The soon-to-be-launched HDTVs swiftly integrated this technology, using HDMI connectors as a unified audio-visual interface. And as HDMI was backward compatible with DVI (Digital Visual Interface), most modern devices could make use of it.

This leaves VGA users in the lurch, however, as you need a specialized adapter to convert VGA to HDMI signals, and even then performance can be spotty. This is why even gaming consoles and streaming devices have also migrated to the newer technology, joining computers in ditching the VGA port.

The Fundamental Difference: Analog vs Digital

The most obvious difference between the two interfaces is the type of signal used. VGA connections carry analog video signals, while HDMI is meant for digital transmission.

But what does that mean? Basically, analog signals contain a continuous gradient of information, while digital signals are made up of discrete values.

This makes analog transmissions easier to transmit, though not particularly efficient. Digital transmissions, on the other hand, can pack a lot of information and are less susceptible to interference.

HDMI: Full Multimedia Transmission

As an analog interface, VGA is only capable of transmitting one type of information at a time. This limits it to video transmission alone, that too at a lower level of image quality.

HDMI, on the other hand, can transmit any type of digital data. The interface has been developed to accommodate both video and audio signals, without compromising on the fidelity of either.

The same HDMI cable can transmit 32 channels of high-resolution Dolby Digital audio as well as a 1080p resolution video stream simultaneously. This has made HDMI the mainstay interface for high-performance applications like 4K gaming consoles and Blu-Ray players.

VGA: Simpler and Faster

Thanks to the complex nature of an HDMI data stream, the information needs to be decoded into usable signals before playback. This introduces a small input lag with any HDMI connection, no matter how powerful the system in question.

This problem is not present in VGA. Its analog signals can be rapidly translated into moving images on the screen, without any sort of post-processing or conversion. This low input lag is VGA’s only saving grace, as it loses to HDMI on every other metric.

Sadly, it is a quality that rarely comes into play in most applications. An input lag just introduces a slight delay in the actual playback, without affecting the playback quality in the slightest. Unless the content is extremely time sensitive, there is no discernible advantage in using VGA.

HDMI: Flexible and Stable

Anyone who has worked with old CRT monitors knows that you cannot just plug a VGA connector into a running device and expect it to work. You can do it in HDMI, though.

Called hot-plugging, this functionality allows HDMI displays to be switched on the fly, without having to restart the whole system generating the video feed. For many commercial applications, this ability is a lifesaver.

HDMI cables are also less prone to electromagnetic interference, because of their thick shielding and digital signals. This makes them a better choice than VGA for deploying around radiation sources.

HDMI: More Pixels That Refresh Faster

Not only can HDMI support higher resolutions (up to 4K) than VGA but it also supports much higher refresh rates, going up to 240 Hz. This advantage is no longer just theoretical, with high-end monitors and UHD TVs regularly offering these advanced specs.

The latest version of the standard, HDMI 2.1a, supports even 8K, along with advanced video standards like Dolby Vision and HDR10+.

In contrast, the latest version of VGA is only capable of a maximum resolution of 1600×1200, that too at the standard refresh rate of 60 Hz only. Apart from audio integration, this is another big reason why TV and computer display manufacturers are completely shifting to HDMI.

VGA vs HDMI: In a Nutshell

HDMI is clearly the better interface for transmitting any multimedia stream. It eliminates the need for an audio cable and offers improved resolutions and framerates. DisplayPort is the only other interface to offer similar features.

That is to be expected, however, considering that VGA is a much older technology. For its time, VGA was a surprisingly robust technology, transmitting video streams through simpler analog signals without any input lag.

But like older standards of any technological interface, the days of VGA are drawing to a close. In this age of 4K graphics and 120 Hz monitors, HDMI is an essential component of the entertainment ecosystem. VGA is only useful to interface with older devices like projectors.

The post VGA vs. HDMI: How Are They Different? first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Google Docs may not have much in the way of brochure templates, but customizing a template to fit your needs is simple. You can also create a tri-fold pamphlet yourself, or use a third-party template to make it even easier. Let’s get started.

How to Make a Brochure On Google Docs

1. Open Google Docs on your web browser by navigating to docs.google.com. Of course, you should be logged in to your Google Account for this to work.

2. You can already see some common templates at the top, but select the Template Gallery option to view them all at once.

3. There are many different types of templates in the gallery – scroll down until you see a couple of options for brochures.

4. Selecting the template opens a new document with the formatting already in place and filled with dummy text.

5. Now just replace the text with your own content, and add images with your brand logos.

This gives a pretty decent brochure with proper margins and a nice layout. You can start printing these out if you are satisfied, or customize them further.

Customizing Your Brochure Template in Google Docs

You can easily edit a template to add any written or visual content you want, but what about formatting the page itself? That’s easy too.

Open any brochure template and select File > Page Setup. Here you can customize all aspects of your pamphlet’s page formatting.

Orientation

The page orientation is set to Portrait by default, which is ideal for simple brochures. For creating a tri-fold brochure, however, you need the horizontal layout of the Landscape orientation.

Margins

The existing margins leave sufficient space on all sides, but you can always adjust them to your personal requirements. It’s generally not a good idea to remove margins entirely unless your layout already leaves enough empty space at the edges.

Page Size

Clicking on the drop-down menu below Page Size brings down a list of page sizes. Each entry has a name and dimensions in inches. Letter is usually the right option, though feel free to pick any other size from the list.

Page Color

Google Docs brochure templates have a white background, but that doesn’t mean you have to stick to it. Promotional materials can benefit from some background color, and pamphlets are no exception.

How to Create a Tri-Fold Pamphlet in Google Docs

The Google Docs template gallery is great for multi page business brochures, but you will not find any templates for the far more common tri-fold pamphlet. Instead, you can create one yourself with a simple tweak.

1. First, open Page Setup from the File menu.

2. Set the orientation to Landscape. You will need the extra space to accommodate a trifold layout.
   

3. You may want to reduce the margins as well, especially on the Left and Right. With a pamphlet, our goal is to fit as much information as possible.
   

4. Select OK to apply the changes to the current document.
   
5. Now head to Format > Columns and select the three-column option on the right.

6. If you have any content on the page, it will be automatically sorted into three columns. You can adjust the margins between the columns with the little blue arrows, making sure you have enough space to fold.

Depending on your inserted images and general design, you may want to play around with the page and the column margins until they match up nicely. Then just print out the pamphlets and start folding.

You can use the same process to create a bi-fold pamphlet as well. Just pick the double-column option in step five and adjust your margins accordingly.

Using Third-Party Templates

Google Docs templates can be pretty bland, and there aren’t even that many to choose from. If you don’t have any cool design ideas in mind, try starting out with a third-party template.

There are many websites offering brochure templates for Google Docs. For this tutorial, we are going to try out a brochure design from GooDocs.

The site offers an incredible variety of pamphlet designs for absolutely no cost, covering all kinds of business needs. Templates compatible with Google Docs will sport its blue icon and can be imported directly.

1. Head to GooDocs’ brochure templates to find a design you like.

2. Selecting a template opens its specific page, with a clearer view of what the brochure looks like. Click on the EDIT TEMPLATE button on the right to use the template.

3. This template has only one size, but some might have multiple options. Confirm your desired size to proceed.

4. After waiting a few seconds, you’ll be taken to Google Docs. If you are signed in to your Google account on the web browser, you can now Make a copy in Google Docs for your use.

5. The template will open in a fresh document with all the formatting in place. Just replace the contents and you are ready to start printing.

What is the Best Way of Making a Brochure or Pamphlet in Google Docs?

Customizing a Google Docs brochure template with your own content and formatting is the most straightforward way of creating a pamphlet. Whether you need a two-page brochure or a trifold pamphlet, you can create them both yourself.

That being said, it might be easier to import a third-party template that already has these features. You can copy a nice trifold template from a site like GooDocs and just edit the content.

This allows you to use any Google Docs add-ons you need and save the document to your own Google Drive. Keep an eye on the margins, and start printing the pamphlets when you are satisfied.

The post How to Make a Brochure or Pamphlet in Google Docs first appeared on Online Tech Tips.