What are the Best App for Makeup? Have you ever felt that you look much better in real compared to how your pictures turn out? It may be due to the lighting, camera angle, facial expressions, etc. There are also days when we spend a lot of time doing our makeup, making that perfectly winged eyeliner, trying out different eye shadow shades and combinations of colour, but all these either go unnoticed in the pictures you take or don’t turn out to be as good as it may be in real.
Beauty and makeup apps can be very useful in such situations. You can edit your pictures, do touch-ups in your pictures, smoothen and brighten up your face or even do your entire makeup virtually if you are too lazy to do it in real. In this article, we have shortlisted the best Apps for Makeup that will help transform your pictures entirely. So, if you want to try a virtual makeover, this is the best opportunity to do so.
Best App for Makeup [2024]
1. Perfect365: One-Tap Makeover
Perfect365 is known to be one of the best app for makeup in the market. The app contains almost everything that you need to makeover your pictures, from amazing filters to video tutorials, it has you all covered. One exciting feature is the no-makeup glow feature that does a very subtle touch-up in your pictures, without anyone getting to find that out.
Face detection is really effective, which makes your job even easier by making your virtual makeover appear as natural as possible. Makeup tutorials by popular makeup artists are also available on the app, so you can even recreate your virtual makeover looks in real life.
Cymera camera has a fantastic collection of photo effects, photo filters, stickers, crop, instant, blur effects, mirror effects, tattoo & muscle effects, and makeup! There are live filters available, as well as AR face stickers. The beauty camera is excellent for selfies as it is very effective and powerful, it gives you a very realistic makeover. If you download this app, do not forget to use the anti-shake mode in case you have messed up your pictures by shaking your phone and blurring them out. This is one of the best app for makeup.
Dull pictures look very unattractive and unpleasant, Beauty Camera helps solve that problem. You can easily brighten up your pictures and make them appear way more clear and bright. This is the best app for makeup that allows you to tone up and sharpen up the images.
Beauty Makeup Editor is the best app for makeup and edit and retouch your selfies. It has a decent collection of beauty filters, which are good enough to revamp your pictures. One exciting feature it offers you is the cropping feature that you can use to resize your pictures as per Instagram requirements. There are options to whiten your teeth, remove acne, select customized makeup options, lip shaper and eye beautification like changing eye-colour, eye shape, apply eyeliner etc.
The adjustable skin tone option is one of the most useful features in this app, it transforms your pictures, giving it a more personalized and natural touch. You can also do some experimentation with different hairstyles and hair colour changing tools available in the app. This is one of the best app for makeup.
Pretty Makeup is one of the best app for makeup which comes with a very impressive auto-recognition tool that automatically recognizes your facial features and gives you stunning and precise results. The app also has an amazing real-time beautifying effect with exclusive motion pictures that are very cool and unique. There are also amusing motion faces available in the app you should definitely try those out.
If you don’t want to do a step-by-step retouching of your pictures, you can easily refrain from doing so by using the Visage Lab. It is quick, and on to the point, you can easily edit your pictures even if you have no basic knowledge about makeup. The app has some exciting artistic effects and backgrounds that can be used to revamp your photos. There are a good number of retro and aged exotic backgrounds, photography effects, lighting effects and colour filters which are just too perfect for transforming your pictures.
Beauty Makeup is the best app for makeup that offers you almost all the features that other apps on this list have to offer. The effects and filters give you very detailed and professional results. It is easy and simple to use, the camera in the app is also very effective.
Firstly, know that you are beautiful the way you are. Everybody has their own level of insecurities, and if you feel they hold you back, such apps can help boost up your confidence. Pictures can make you look quite different from reality, and it is okay if you want to make specific changes in how you look in those pictures.
Having said that, the app I would recommend my readers to try out is the Perfect365. It is easy to use and gives excellent results. Their face detection tool is really effective and is known for being very detailed and précised, leaving no chance of error.
If you have any app suggestions that you think we should add to our list of Best App for Makeup, please feel free to drop a comment, we are always open to new ideas and suggestions. If you like our content, please do bookmark our website and stay tuned.
Is there a free makeup app?
YouCam Makeup is the best and free-to-use virtual makeup app to try hundreds of beauty filters and create the looks you love.
Who is the No 1 makeup artist?
One of the most popular makeup artists in India, Deepak Sawant has been providing services in the makeup industry from more than 50 years.
We all know that lift chairs are one of the best pieces of furniture we can have in our homes, and they are been used by elderly and disabled people for a long time.
What if we could have the opportunity to sit back on a comfortable lift chair recliner with feet raised, having the pleasant feeling of total relaxation and comfort? I believe it is a great idea, right?
How Lift Chairs Work?
Maybe you are asking yourself: “what’s so special about a lift chair? Well, a lift chair looks no different from a standard reclining chair. The only thing is that it has additional features which make the life of elderly people more comfortable and practical.
In fact, a lift chair is a piece of medical equipment, which can be used reclined or in an upright position by just pushing a button. So, the user operates the chair by pressing the buttons instead of manually.
Such chairs are available in varied sizes, styles and materials, and most of the time, the lift chairs are customized to attend to the clients’ specific needs. And these clients tend to be older people, who have serious joint problems, back pains and restricted mobility.
Who Benefits from a Lift Chair?
By using a lift chair, elderly people feel more confident to perform simple movements, such as sitting down or standing up, as these issues associated with ageing start to show up when we get older.
Lift chairs are ideal solutions for everyone who has some kind of difficulty moving from a seated position to standing, especially because of limited mobility or issues related to balance. And some of the features you can find on this kind of chair is heat and massage (ideal for those who suffer from arthritis, back and leg issues, as they can provide relief and comfort at the same time.
Many individuals even choose to sleep in their lift chairs than in their beds due to the varied positions available. Not only they are excellent for sleeping, but also for watching television, reading and using the computer.
What You Should Consider When Getting a Lift Chair
There are many places where you can order a lift chair, but we totally recommend that you consider working with a professional or some specialised store to determine the best type, which includes the size, features and design.
A good expert should be able to determine with you some of the following points:
If you have a pet or not: depending on the answer, the expert can recommend you one kind of material or a different size.
Your weight: finding a suitable lift chair designed according to the client’s weight is priority number one.
If you drink or eat in the chair: for cleaning purposes, it would be better to acquire a vinyl or leather model, for example.
The purpose of using the lift chair: as most of them are designed for the elderly, what can eventually happen is that the lift chair may be used by someone fit or with minor health problems, so providing this kind of information to the expert is extremely relevant here.
Your current space home: in order to have a comfortable lift chair home, it is more than necessary to know if it will fit in your space. Some units occupy more space, while others can be more compact.
Regardless of age or condition, lift chairs provide something for everyone. Just choose the best model according to your needs and get ready to have comfort at home!
There is a lot of content on Instagram that is useful for most of us. While Instagram gives us the option to save the content in the app itself, there is a high possibility that the content will just vanish once the owner deletes it. So, why take the risk? For pictures, you can just take screenshots, but for video content, you might need a tool through which you can download the videos, reels, IGTV, and even images in high quality.
There are many apps and extensions available for Android and iPhone users. However, there are very few that are considered reliable and secure. In this article, we have listed a few of the trusted apps, websites, and extension that might help you to download the content from Instagram. Without exaggerating more on the importance of Instagram downloader, let’s jump right into the names and features of a few amazing Instagram downloaders:
Best Instagram Live Downloader
1. Save IG Live Story
Save IG Live Story is a chrome extension that allows you to save Instagram Live Video and allows you to download Instagram Stories. This is an amazing extension, and it will indeed help you to download Instagram live video of profiles and pages that you are following. Moreover, this extension allows you to watch or download stories anonymously. It is one of the best Instagram live downloaders and using this extension, you will get all the content in original quality. Using this extension, you can save the stories in your PC or laptop.
This downloader helps you to download Instagram videos and photos from Instagram on your directly to your device. It is completely free, and it is compatible with almost all the devices. You just have to copy the URL of the video or photo that you need to download and then paste it in the text box available on the site. It is fast, easy and secure. You can download content without login in your Instagram account, and you can even save & download Instagram videos from private accounts.
StorySaver+ is an Android application, exclusively available on play store. It is an all-in-one-app to download media files from Instagram. The app is designed to make gram user’s life easier by providing all major options to download files. The app allows you to view & download stories anonymously of any username, using this application you can view & download and replay stream anonymously, and many more. The app even comes with an in-built gallery viewer.
Story save for Instagram is an Android application that allows you to save stories from Instagram. It perfectly manages your story and supports multiple accounts. Story Assistant or Story Saver is used by thousands of people, and it is considered to help users to easily manage their Instagram handle. The app supports easy to use interface and allows you to bookmark the account that you like the most. The app even supports “search” and more features. The application even comes with a disclaimer stating that it is not affiliated with Instagram. Moreover, re-uploading image/video stories are not encouraged without the owner’s approval.
This sums up the names of few but the best IG downloaders. There is very less possibility that you won’t need any of the above-mentioned tools. Because being an active Instagram user, I have certainly felt the urge of downloading good and useful content. You can try using all of the above and keep the one that meets all your requirements. Hope this article is helpful to you. Do let us know about any other app or tool that is equally good as the above-mentioned tools!
If you have any app suggestions that you think we should add to our list of Best Instagram Live Downloader, please feel free to drop a comment, we are always open to new ideas and suggestions. If you like our content, please do bookmark our website and stay tuned.
Do you like carving? In daily life, we hope to engrave the favourite patterns on our bags or mobile phones, but this seems too professional and challenging. Well, what if I told you that is easy and can be done by you? Laser Engraving Machine refers to the operation method of connecting laser equipment to laser engraving software and inputting artwork into automatic engraving.
In this article, we have listed various portable laser engravers that are out there. At gearbest, you can get them at a low price too. Using these engravers, you can see some logos, three-dimensional billboards, custom wallets or handbags logos, and you even can carve exquisite patterns on wood, bamboo, etc.
Best Laser Engraving Machine
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Do check out the list to understand which one meets your requirements:
ORTUR Laser Master 2 (20W) is of higher power and supports a faster engraving and cutting. It is one of the Best Laser Engraving Machine for wood that you can buy online. It comes with a specialised motherboard with STM32 MCU, and it could easily pre-process 32 instructions, support baud rate as high as 921600. It even is built using the most advance laser Engraver Firmware that makes this machine smarter, faster, and easier to use. The laser engraver even supports PWM mode and offers triple safety protection for more DIY enjoyment.
It is the most cost-effective laser engraving machine that is used both for both engraving and cutting. It could pre-process 32 instructions and is one of the most advanced lasers that are smarter, faster, offers higher precision and easier to use. The active position protection ensures that if there is any unauthorised movement, the machine will stop. The laser engraver supports PWM Mode. It operates on a power of 15W.
This laser engraving machine is suitable for picture engraving, and it could pre-process 32 instructions. Moreover, Ortur Laser Master could control the laser beam more accurately, and can even use the high power laser unit to “draw” a picture on paper. The G -sensor on the motherboard detects unauthorised movement. It also comes with a laser beam safety guard. It supports PWM mode.
It is a desktop laser engraver machine, and it is portable, easy to install and safe to operate. It comes with a built-in sensor accelerometer that will automatically accelerometer. When the machine tilts, it will automatically stop laser work and protect against laser damage. It even supports dynamic control laser module, and PWM power regulation, low brightness regulation, laser temperature induction protection. For DIY projects, this laser engraver also comes with the support of different powers.
It is a portable laser engraving machine, and it is quite easy to install and safe to operate. It has a built-in G-sensor that can smartly detect any of the unauthorised movements. Hence, you and your staff are safe from any kind of laser damage. It supports dynamic control laser module, and PWM power regulation, low brightness regulation. The laser engraver supports PWM mode. LaserGRBL is the most popular carving software in the world, and it, could import different format images, you could try editing in PhotoShop, Inkscape, CAD, etc. and then connect to the laser engraver.
It is a 32-bit motherboard with STM32 chip, and it is more powerful, faster, offers higher precision and is easy to adjust the speed. It is used both for both engraving and cutting. The machine is equipped with a G sensor on the motherboard for active position protection. Hence, if the machine detects unauthorised movement, the laser beam will stop. It is the most popular carving software worldwide, runs well in both Mac and Windows OS. The laser engraver supports PWM mode.
This engraving model is perfect for engraving cylindrical objects such as engraving text and patterns on cans. It is not hard to assemble the machine parts.
It is a high power laser engraving machine that allows you to carve patterns on the surface of woods, plastic and paper. The engraving area is upgraded, and that makes this machine flexible and convenient to engrave on objects. It is a high-intensity laser with a detachable driver and motherboard. Moreover, the machine comes with safety goggles to protect your eyes from laser injury.
This 3D machine offers modular installation and comes with a 3D video guidance for non-professionals. It is a simple and fast machine. You can even optimise the motherboard configuration and external structure, the engraving speed is increased by 25 per cent. The machine is frame does not require any connectors. It is a widely used engraver and is mostly used for engraving text on daily materials easily.
It is not a laser engraver. However, it is small, portable and easy to assemble the machine protection baffle. The package contains 4 protective shields that can be used to protect the machine as well as people and objects around.
Laser Engraving Machine for Sale Price List
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Conclusion
This sums up the list of the best laser engraving machine for sale. You can choose any of them based on your requirements. Trust me, it is the coolest thing that you can own. I became its fan after watching those guys on Linus Tech Tips Channel make cool logo and brandings on the CPU cases. You can engrave your name on an object. You can engrave your company’s logo on your T-shirt and what not!
Please do drop your suggestion and ideas in the comment section below. If you want to keep tabs on a more innovative product like this, subscribe to our website.
Everyone has the power to purchase, but how much can you spend on buying a laptop is what you should ask before purchasing one. Gone are the days when you have to pay a hefty amount of money on laptops. Nowadays, Chinese Laptops can easily compete with famous brands globally because it comes with better performance, appearance that, too, at affordable prices. China is well known for its cost-effective gadgets. Finding the best laptops that fit your budget can be a tough challenge. So here are some of the best Chinese laptops below that are worth mentioning and bring it to your attention.
Here are the Top Best Chinese Laptops of this Year
Xiaomi Mi Air is equipped with a 12.5 inch 10 point IPS display along with 1920×1080 resolution. It has a full metal body which provides proper protection and style. It comes with 4GB RAM, which helps in smooth functioning and has 128GB SSD storage capacity, which is expandable up to 256GB using a TF card. It runs on Windows 10 Home operating system. It consist of Li-ion battery that can run up to 7 hours of video playing time and also has an AC adapter of 100-240V, which will give you long duration along with fast charging. For better performance, it has Intel Core m3 with 8100Y dual-core 1.1GHz up to 3.4GHz. It consist of Intel UHD graphics 615 for better gaming experience. It comes with a single camera of 1.0 MP along with dual-band 2.4GHz/5.0GHz WiFi and is priced at $599.99.
You can enjoy watching movies and photos with Jumper EZbook X3 that has 13.3-inch FHD screen with 1920×1080 resolution. It has Intel HD graphics 500 integrated graphics, which offers fast gaming experience and has HDMI output that allows you to connect it to a high definition monitor or projector. It surprises us with Intel Apollo Lake N3350 Dual-Core 1.1GHz up to 2.2GHz and has dual-band 2.4GHz/5.0GHz WiFi. It is powered by Windows 10 Home OS. It is equipped with 6 GB DDR3L RAM for smooth and easy multitasking and has 64GB eMMC storage capacity for storing audios, videos, and photos. It comes with a single camera of 2.0 MP and is priced at $232.99.
Jumper EZpad Go is a 2 in 1 tablet PC that comes with keyboard and stylus pen. Its 11.6 inch 1920 ×1080 high-resolution screen provides a better experience for watching videos and browsing the web. It is powered by Apollo Lake N3450 quad-core processor, which offers you maximum high-efficiency power. It has Intel HD graphics GPU and runs on Windows 10 OS, which gives you smooth performance. It is powered by 4GB RAM and has 128GB SSD storage capacity to store music, videos, photos, and documents. It comes with a 2.0MP single camera and has a micro HDMI output. It cost $325.99 after 25% discount.
Jumper EZpad 7 offers you great experience for watching videos and high-quality images as it has 10.1 inch 10 point IPS with 1920 ×1200 resolution touch screen. It surprises you with 360-hinge that offers four versatile modes, which include tablets, laptop, stand, and tent modes. For smooth functioning, it runs on Microsoft Windows 10 64-bit OS. It is powered by Intel cherry trail Z8350 quad-core 1.44GHz up to 1.92 GHz and has HDMI output that increases your viewing options. It offers advanced multitasking with 4GB DDR3 RAM and high storage capacity with 64GB eMMC ROM which is expandable up to 256GB using a TF card expansion. It comes with dual cameras of 2.0 MP and costs $185.99.
Jumper EZbook X3 Pro notebook has a 13.3-inch FHD IPS screen with 1920×1080 resolution. It is powered by Intel Gemini Lake N4100 quad-core 1.1GHz up to 2.4GHz, which provides you with extra power when you need and brings you smooth and excellent user experience. It runs on the latest Windows 10 Home OS and supports 2.4GHz/5.0GHz dual WiFi. It has powerful 8GB DDR4 RAM and 180GB SSD storage capacity, which is expandable up to 128GB using TF card expansion. It has a single front camera of 1.0MP and costs $299.99.
Xiaomi Redmi Book offers you with big 14 inch 1920×1080 FHD resolution touch screen for better viewing quality and experience. It is powered by Intel Core i5 – 10210U quad-core 1.6GHz up to 4.2GHz, which ensures high performance. It has 8GB substantial high bandwidth RAM and 256GB SSD storage capacity. It comes with NVIDIA GeForce MX250 dedicated graphics GPU and offers more powerful experience by using Windows 10 OS. The only drawback is that it has no camera in it but has long battery running time, which is perfect while you travel. It comes with a price of $789.99.
All laptops mentioned above provide the best features according to their category at multiple prices. I would recommend laptops that I think are best at given prices. If you want a laptop that offers you the best screen, you can go for Tbao T11 and Jumper EZbook X3 Pro notebook. If you’re looking to buy a laptop that is suitable for gaming, you can go for Xiaomi Redmi book and Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air. If you want a laptop that costs less but provides good features, you might go for Jumper EZpad 7 and Jumper EZbook X3. If you want a better camera, you might choose a Jumper EZpad Go. They all are the best Chinese laptops that are available in the market. Choose wisely what is best according to your needs.
Smart light bulbs—LED- bulbs are controlled by a hub or smartphone app and these LED Bulbs come with a system of interlocking LED panels that let users decorate with light. These LED lights also enhance the beauty of your house or rooms. These are brighter and easier to control than ever, but choosing the right one for your environment remains a challenge. However, in this article, we have come with the 10 best smart light bulbs that can conserve energy and can be easily purchased from Amazon.
This smart bulb makes use of a wireless technology that allows users to control the lighting of their home from anywhere in the world. With this LED bulb you get the chance to discover a world of features such as setting schedules and scenes, grouping devices, voice control, etc. This bulb is compatible with 2.4 GHz modem only and it can even save energy while you add style to your space. Moreover, you can control and manage your device via Amazon Alexa. The smart bulb works amazingly well with any Wi-Fi router and all the family members can control the lighting.
You can operate this bulb by WiFi from anywhere in the world through “Wipro Next Smart Home” app. You can get relaxed with Blue light after a long tiring day and then you can turn it to red to enjoy the party evening or you can even switch to yellow to enjoy dinner. You can even adjust the brightness of your space ranging from 10% to 100% based on your requirements. You can schedule the turn ON & turn OFF time as per your requirements and you can even configure the same to turn ON automatically in the evening and turn OFF with sunrise.
Panasonic’s Smart WiFi LED Bulb allows you to experience the convenience of controlling your WiFi-enabled bulb from just about anywhere with the ‘Panasonic Smart WiFi’ application. Using this smart WiFi LED bulb you can customise lights according to your mood and the occasion. Moreover, while you are using the ‘Panasonic smart WiFi App’, your data is completely secured. You can control the device by using voice command with Alexa or Google Assistant device.
Philips Smart Wi-Fi LED bulb is cheap and allows you to have the complete control of your lighting with smart bulbs. These are easy to use bulbs and are loaded with a bunch of features. You can easily connect these bulbs with the existing Wi-Fi network and you can control your lights wherever you are using the WiZ lighting app or your favourite compatible voice control device. The product requires a WiFi connection to operate wirelessly. Philips Smart Wi-Fi LED smart bulb is compatible with WiZ apps and products along with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Siri Shortcuts.
This smart bulb comes with an 11 years long life and works perfectly well with Google Assistant. It offers smart lighting experience and this smart bulb is capable to set the right mood for movie nights. You can control it by the mobile application. You can control features like brightness, power, schedules, and colour.
The Halonix prime Prizm smart 12-Watt LED bulb comes with Wi-Fi connectivity that allows you to control every aspect from your smartphone. Using this application you can even set up a mini rainbow at your home with this smart polychromatic LED. This smart LED can connect to Wi-Fi and allows you to control its versatile functions from a smartphone or tablet. You can control the brightness of the LED from one to hundred per cent that too of any colour and you can enjoy a romantic ambience with the dim candlelit effect or bright lighting when you are having a family gathering at home. You can also control this smart LED by voice via a virtual assistant like Alexa or Google assistant.
Using this smart bulb you can light up your moments. Just download the “Wipro Next Smart Home” app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and control the smart bulb with your phone. You can adjust the brightness of your space ranging from 10% to 100% based on your need and you can even schedule the turn ON & turn OFF time as per your need. With the help of “Wipro Next Smart Home” app, you can operate your bulb simply through wifi from anywhere in the world.
These smart LEDs by Wipro comes with a boast of the brightest panel in the space with the efficacy of up to 100 lm/ W and it even comes with the slimmest design that makes it elegant. It is even furnished with good-quality optic hardware which impedes glaring of light. The driver comes with the flexibility of hassle-free replacement and in-built protection which impedes any sort of risky damage to your home.
This smart LED is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and the Google Assistant. It is a personal wireless lighting system that allows you to control your lights from your smart device. This smart light bulb helps users to get out of bed, and start your day feeling refreshed as it can mimic the effects of sunrise and helps you wake up naturally. It promotes user’s wellbeing by letting you select the right kind of light for your tasks and routines. Your lights get automatically turn on/off or you can even set the lights to switch on at a preset time.
10. XERGY USB 5V 5050 RGB LED Flexible Strip Light
The LED strip light is powered by any devices and it can be used in several scenarios, such as bars, bedrooms, home decoration, etc. It comes with a small Controller and speed settings. It is easy to use and easy to install and it even alleviates eye-Strain.
CONCLUSION
Having discussed all the above-mentioned items that we had to share with you, my personal preference would be to go for the smart bulb either from SYSKA or WIPRO. But choosing what’s right for you is completely your decision as an individual.
Online hackers are every person’s biggest fear when surfing the net. Be it gaining access to your finances, or identity, hacking is big business – with a recent report finding that cybercrime is to cost up to $10.5 trillion by the year 2025. Whilst, unfortunately, the threat of hacking from online fraudsters is unlikely to diminish anytime soon, there are some simple tips that can help to keep you safe when online. Here, we identify three of our favourites.
Online advertising has become a primary means of marketing products, but this sector has evolved into a haven for online fraudsters. Malware infecting devices through auto redirect ads is one of the biggest threats to people online.
These redirects can result in you clicking on anything from a message falsely notifying you that your device has become infected to one saying that you have won a prize. Auto redirects are designed to get users to part with personal information or to infect their devices with harmful software – with the intention to commit fraud or push people onto a low-quality page.
These forced redirect ads can be combated with the correct ad verification security. There are businesses out there, such as GeoEdge, who are helping companies to guard against this form of malware and inappropriate content, using their ad verification to help protect devices from auto-redirect ads. This will allow a lot of your most trusted sites to remain reliable.
Passwords & Two-Factor Authentication
Passwords are designed to keep your online accounts safe from hackers. As such, there are now passwords for almost every online site that you try and access. It is easy to fall into the trap of having the same password for a range of websites, but don’t do this! In the event of one of your accounts being hacked, this could increase the chances of your other accounts being hacked too.
It is advised to create strong passwords, that will be nigh on impossible for hackers to guess – and to frequently change passwords to your online accounts. Two-factor authentication is also a good method to keep online accounts secure. This system adds another layer of protection to your accounts and is available on many sites.
Network Security
Unsecure networks can allow hackers to gain access to your personal information – even your home internet connection can be targeted. To secure your home Wi-Fi, frequently change your router admin name and password – as you would with your online accounts. When on the go, be wary of Free Wi-Fi networks.
These public networks are often targeted by online hackers due to multiple users being connected at one time. It is advised that before you connect to public Wi-Fi make sure that it is safe and use a VPN whenever possible. VPN’s prevent hackers from accessing your information.
Whilst it is difficult to stay fully protected when online, the above tips should hopefully help to prevent any hackers from gaining access to your personal information. Moving forward, there are likely to be new methods of staying safe online popping up in the coming years – and using these should help to keep you one step ahead of any potential cybercriminals.
Prototyping isn’t something new in the app development business. Many organizations and individuals understand the immense benefits of prototyping, which explains why they invest a lot. Organizations require Fast Prototyping Tool for App Developers.
Developers need prototyping just as an engineer needs simulation. It gives developers a real picture of how their product would be in an actual deployment. Testers get the real feel of a product, and therefore, developers get the right information to help them align their strategic design decisions to the user needs.
For proper prototyping, developers require effective prototyping tools. These tools should provide a variety of features that make the prototyping process quite seamless. While there are plenty of prototyping tools out there, it isn’t easy to narrow them down to the right prototyping tools. Fortunately, we have compiled for you a list of top prototyping tools.
Mockitt is a powerful easy to use prototyping and collaboration tool for developers, managers, and designers. The prototyping process is quite seamless, as it involves just three steps. Whether you want to design interactive or animated prototypes, be sure Mockitt will make it much easier for you. This way, you can clearly illustrate your ideas and take your client’s experience to another level. With libraries full of assets, Mockitt lets you avoid building designs and prototypes from scratch. Thanks to the array of templates, icons, and other UI elements. You can create your own library of templates and UI assets so that you can reuse them any time you need.
Features
Mockitt has plenty of built-in UI assets and templates.
Mockitt supports real-time collaboration, and thus teammates can co-edit and see the changes made in real-time.
It supports the creation of both interaction and animated prototypes.
Users can preview and share their designs with target friends.
Price: Trial/starter version- Free, Personal – $69, Enterprise – $99
Pros
The prototyping process is simple and involves three steps.
It supports real-time collaboration.
It has plenty of prototyping resources.
Cons
The free version only supports up to three projects.
Adobe XD is a popular design, prototyping, wireframing, and collaboration tool used by many people worldwide. This tool is fast and helps you create website designs, apps, and voice with ease. With a wide pool of design tools, you can create high-fidelity designs suitable for any screen. Being a collaborative tool, team members can collaborate in real-time. This means members can edit, comment, and receive feedback in real-time.
Features
It has plenty of design resources that are also reusable.
It supports 3D transforms.
Users can auto-animate their designs by adding artboards, animations, micro-interactions, and parallax effects.
It supports real-time collaboration.
Users can share their prototypes and receive feedback for ease of iteration.
Price: Monthly plan-$9.99 per month, Annual plan/Prepaid- $119.88 per year
Pros
It has several design resources that are also reusable.
It is easy to collaborate with team members and iterate the prototype.
It is always evolving with the addition of more features.
Cons
The trial version is limited, while the premium versions are pricey.
Axure is no doubt one of the big names in the product prototype industry. This powerful platform makes it easy for users to prototype and hand over their projects to developers. With adaptive views, conditional logic, and dynamic content, Axure enables you to create prototypes that fit any project. One of the major highlights of Axure is its support for integration with other prototyping and design tools. This way, you can take advantage of other features not available in Axure to create stunning prototypes.
Features
Axure allows users to create interactions from Sketch, Adobe XD, and Figma assets.
Users can directly publish their Axure prototypes to Axure Cloud with automated redlines and code export.
It supports team collaboration.
Price
Axure RP 9 Pro -$25/month/user, Axure RP 9 Team-$42 per user/ per month, Axure for Enterprise (contact Axure for pricing)
Pros
It creates highly interactive prototypes.
Users can export and import designs from other design tools such as Sketch and Figma.
Cons
Plenty of users have complained about the steep learning curve.
The complexity of the designed interactions makes it hard to transfer files if designers get moved between projects.
There are no templates to create prototypes from scratch.
Protopie is a popular platform for seamless and interactive prototypes using conceptual models. With the object, trigger, and response, you can create a prototype on Protopie like never before. Use libraries to access and share your team’s interactions, thus keeping consistency throughout the design experience.
Here, there is no code creation. You can create prototypes using the native camera, native keyboard, and multi-touch, among others. Also, users can use powerful interactions ranging from the basic Excel-grade formulas to advanced interactions like the chain, detect, formula, and variable.
Features
It allows users to create interactions through the native keyboard, camera, multitouch, SVG, vibration, and tilt.
It supports both basic and mind-blowing interactions without writing a code.
It supports collaboration with team members via interaction libraries, interaction recipes, secure cloud, and project histories.
Price: Individual Plan-$11 per month and $129 per year, Team Plan- $42 per month/editor and $499 billed yearly, Enterprise-(call Protopie for negotiation)
Proto.io is another great web-based prototyping tool used by scores of people across the globe. This tool is suitable for UX designers, entrepreneurs, product managers, and marketers, among others. The interface provides you with the necessary building blocks for your prototype to help you get started in no time. With over 250 UI components, 6000+ digital assets, and 1000+ templates, be sure to create stunning prototypes with ease.
Features
It has over 1000+ templates, 250+ UI components, and over 6000 digital assets.
It supports screen transition, timeline transition, and advanced animations.
Users can preview their prototypes on the web or a mobile browser then share with single or multiple receivers.
It supports collaboration.
Price: Basic –free, Plus-$24/month, Pro- $49/month. The pro versions have a 15 day trial with no credit card required.
Pros
Users can integrate with other design tools.
With plenty of design resources, users don’t have to start prototypes from scratch.
Users can create interesting micro-interactions.
Cons
Since it is web-based, it heavily relies on imported data from local files.
It is a bit pricey.
The interface is a bit clumsy.
Supported Systems: Web.
Conclusion
When selecting a suitable prototyping tool for app development, you ought to be cautious because working with under-par tools will give you the experience to forget. Fortunately, this article has compiled the top-rated prototyping tools for app developers that you should use. Try a standout tool from this list and get your prototyping to another level.
Soon after the ban of PUBG mobile, many players shifted to Among Us. Initially, it was played by many Indian streamers and from there, it gained huge popularity. Among Us is a multiplayer game that can be played with 10 people and all the players have to complete certain tasks and survive during emergencies. Among the 10 crewmates, there can either be 1, 2 or 3 imposters who cause obstacles and problems so that the other crewmates are unable to finish their tasks. Moreover, an imposter can even kill a crew member.
Multiplayer games are fun to play as you can play them with your friends. There is nothing that brings a bunch of friends together so that they can try and figure out who is the traitor. Among us is a social deduction game. Social deduction games are also known as traitor games or imposter games. If you are someone who likes to play such games or you are looking for an alternative for Among Us, then this article is for you. In this article, we have listed 5 Best Games Like Among Us.
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Best Games Like Among Us
1. Deceit
Deceit is an action-filled, multiplayer first-person shooter game. This game is awesome as Among Us and it tests your instincts at trust and deception. In this game, you wake up in unknown surroundings (asylum) to the sound of the Game Master’s unfamiliar voice. You will also notice that you will be surrounded by five others just like you. Moreover, the third person in your group have been infected with a virus, and you have to strategies your escape.
2. Town of Salem- The Coven
If you are looking for a game that is as good as Among Us and consists of murder, accusations, deceit, and mob hysteria, then Town of Salem-The coven is the best game to download. In this particular game, you can witness around 7-15 players and the players are randomly divided into Town, Mafia, Serial Killers, Arsonists and Neutrals. So, if in case you come under the category of Town member (the good guys) you must track down the Mafia and other villains before they kill you. However, the toughest part of the game is that you don’t know who is a town member or who the villain is. Moreover, if you take over the role of a Serial Killer, you secretly murder town members in the cloak of night.
3. Werewolf online
This is a mystery game that you can play online with your friends. In this game, you have to defend your village from the forces of evil or you will have to become a werewolf and hunt your friends. It is a multiplayer game for up to 16 players and you will have to use special abilities to uncover the roles of other players and convince your fellow players to work with you to win.
4. Unfortunate Spacemen
It is a co-op / multiplayer game. This game is all about Shape-shifting Space-Based Murder and Betrayal. In this game, you will be a hapless yet brave spaceman employed by “The Company” and you will have to work diligently to defend and be rescued from failing outposts. However, you must remember that not everyone around you is who they claim to be and not everyone is your friend.
5. Enemy on board
Just like all the other games mentioned in this article, the Enemy on Board Is also an amazing and exciting multiplayer game. It is a multiplayer (4v2) social deception game. In this particular game, 6 crew members try and figure out who among them are murderous shape-shifting aliens. In this game, you have to Detect, deceive, and destroy your way to victory. The only thing to remember while playing is that you cannot trust anyone.
In conclusion, all of these games provide a decent variety of themes and gameplay. I would suggest that you can try each one of them one by one and stick with the game which you think resonates the most with your playstyle. Among Us has definitely set up a benchmark when it comes to imposter games but do give these a try.
Identity verification is one of the most growing concerns of the tech world. Every big company is now spending millions from its revenues to improve the identity verification process. But the amusing part is that small businesses still have not realized the potential of identity verification. They are still stuck on the basic questions like, “Is it even important? or which method is best for their product or company?” So here is an article answering all of your Frequently Asked Questions regarding the same. Enjoy!!!
Identity verification is the process that ensures that the identity of the person logging in matches the owner of that account or system. Moreover, it can also be related to ensuring that information provided by the users or customers belongs to a real person.
Which industries are using Identity verification the most?
Albeit Identity verification is used in majorly every type of industry, but here are some of the major industries where identity verification plays a huge part:
Financial Sectors
Medical Sector
Telecommunication Industry
Recruitment Industry
On what basis can we verify identity?
Let’s not beat around the bush and come straight to the point that identity verification is based on these five methods:
Knowledge-based authentication
Two-factor authentication
Credit bureau-based authentication
Verification by an online process
Verification by Biometrics
What are the different types of Identity verification?
ID Document Verification
Human Supervision
3D Liveness Detection
Facial Recognition
Which is the best type of identity verification?
There is probably no such “the-best” type of identity verification. To elaborate more, it is situation-specific. But if, in any case, we have to choose the one which is based on the most advanced technology and at the same time it is reliable too, it should be the use of AI in face verification with a touch of human verification. Yes!!! AI and humans can together do wonders on an enormous scale with excellent efficiency.
Why is even Identity verification important?
Identity verification is important as it helps in avoiding fraudulent cases. And not just this, if you do not comply with the rules and regulations related to customer identification, you will be inviting hefty fines from the government. Moreover, it adds to the image of your brand. We don’t need to tell you that having a good brand image is one of the most important parts of sales.
Should I opt for Identity verification for my product?
One word: Yes!!!!
Having an Identity verification service for your product can indirectly help you to gain the trust of your customers, which will indirectly reflect in your sales graph. Moreover, it adds an extra layer of protection, prohibiting an intrusion of privacy for your customers. Therefore, it is a must for your products.
Concluding Note:
Well, the questions are infinite, and the answers are limited. We hope that we sort of cleared the air by answering the most asked questions regarding identity verification. If you need any more help regarding the same, you can always refer to iDenfy for more details.
People all over the world are now super connected. They have access to better WiFi deals anywhere they go. Yet, the challenge for most comes when they travel to faraway or secluded places. There is no guarantee that they can have a stable internet connection in these locations. In Australia, a handy and small device became a popular and reliable way to get online anytime anywhere. These are pocket WiFi devices. Many internet service providers offer varied WiFi deals for pocket WiFis. Here are some of the best pocket WiFi plans in Australia.
A pocket WiFi is a light and small portable device that allows full access to the internet. It can easily fit in your pocket, so you can bring it anywhere you go. Since pocket WiFi is very small, the power of its connectivity is limited within 30 feet to 50 feet radius. Depending on its firmware, you can connect it to up to 10 devices. But please note that the more devices are connected to your Pocket WiFi, the faster its battery drains. To ensure internet security on your pocket WiFi, you can enable and set a password on the device to prevent unauthorised access.
How Does a Pocket WiFi Work?
Just like a modem or a router, a pocket Wifi serves as the middleman between a wider area internet connection and the devices that use the internet. A pocket WiFi operates under a subscriber identity module (SIM). The SIM card inside a pocket WiFi connects to a cellular or mobile network in the same way as mobile or smartphone do. Once it is connected, it can then transfer cellular data to other devices. You can connect computers, desktops, laptops, smartphones, tablets, etc. to access the internet from pocket WiFi.
Best Pocket WiFi Plans in Australia
We at Compare Broadband are dedicated to helping you find the best pocket Wifi deals for you. As such, we have listed the 3 best pocket Wifi plans in Australia.
All these WiFi deals do not have a lock-in period and have access to 4G networks. These plans cannot be used for calls, SMS, and MMS. Any excess usage from the monthly data allowance will be charged $110 per GB. These WiFi deals come with a Huawei E8372 pocket USB modem for an upfront payment of $69.00.
Telstra Upfront Data Plan offers 4 pocket WiFi deals:
The extra small plan costs $15 per month with a 5 GB data allowance.
The small plan costs $25 per month with a 20 GB data allowance.
The medium plan costs $50 per month with a 60 GB data allowance.
The large data plan costs $75 per month with a 200 GB data allowance.
All plans do not have a lock-in period and can have access to international roaming. These plans cannot be used for calls, SMS, and MMS. These WiFi deals come with a 4GX Mobile WiFi USB device for $98.88 which you can pay outright, within 12 months, or within 24 months. The extra small and small plans both allow internet access under the 4G network. While the medium and large plan both allow internet access under the 5G network.
Vodafone Red Modem Plans offer 3 pocket WiFi deals:
The 10 GB plan costs $23.75 per month with a 30 GB bonus.
The 40 GB plan costs $43.75 per month with a 40 GB bonus.
The 100 GB plan costs $63.75 per month with a 50 GB bonus.
All these WiFi deals do not have a lock-in period and have access to 4G networks. These plans cannot be used for calls, SMS, and MMS. What’s good about these plans is that you can use your own pocket WiFi. Though they also offer a pocket WiFi modem made by Huawei for $72.00. Subscribers have the option to pay them outright or in instalments of 12, 24, or 36 months.
There is so much more that we can do at home thanks to advances in technology. There used to be a time when we had to go to a theatre to watch movies on a big screen. Now we can buy our own projectors or large-screen TVs, then stream whatever we want to watch on-demand.
Music Studio To Record Guitar Samples
Most white-collar workers had to commute to an office every day but now many are working remotely from home on their laptops. The same revolution is happening with music with artists choosing to produce their songs at home. Below are some tips on setting up a music studio to record guitar samples:
Reducing Noise
The first task is to reduce the amount of noise that gets into the recording. While it’s almost impossible to eliminate this, it can be decreased significantly. The goal is for the noise to become virtually undetectable to listeners.
Make strategic decisions such as selecting a room that is facing away from the street so you don’t have to deal with roaring engines. Close the doors and windows so that noise from the neighbours and dogs get attenuated.
If there is a noisy fan or air conditioner, then consider turning this off while recording. You can test whether these precautions are enough by recording the silence. There’s a good chance that the recording will pick up sounds that you don’t even notice.
This could be the chipping of birds, the rustling of leaves, or the ticks of a wall clock. Think of what you can do to limit these. Maybe you can move the clock to another room for the time being. Perhaps you can use seal the gaps along with the doors and windows. You could also move your recording session at night when most activities are halted so machine noise won’t be an issue. As a last resort, you might have to do a few retakes or edits in the final mix.
Enhancing Acoustics
After dealing with the noise, it’s time to enhance the sound. Pay attention to your chosen room’s acoustics. The best choices are medium to large rooms with soft surfaces and a non-square shape.
This will produce the least amount of echoes because the sound waves will be absorbed by the surfaces instead of reflecting round and round. However, you should not despair if you only have a small room with hard surfaces. You make changes such as covering window glass with curtains or other treatments. As for the floor, you can lay carpets or rugs on ceramic tile.
You can also install wooden bookshelves and bring in cushioned seats. These will all break up the resonance so a better sounding recording. If you have the budget for it, then consider covering the walls with acoustic panels.
These are foam tiles with spikes or ridges designed to absorb sound waves. While most are available in dark grey, you can now find them in more colour options to match your décor. You may also use bass traps which are similar in nature but are specifically designed for low frequencies. If you don’t have a lot of funds, then just use egg cartons or comparably shaped objects. Save them every time you buy eggs from the supermarket. These can perform surprisingly well so many amateurs use them.
Recording Audio
Now let’s get down to the equipment needed to record a guitar sample pack. This will also depend on your budget and technical level. If you don’t want to purchase new hardware, then just use your phone for recording. Download an audio recorder and a music editor from your preferred app store. See how well this works for you. Good phone brands have sensitive mics that can perform better than expected. The system is easy to operate and suitable for your initial forays into the recording. When you’re ready to take it a notch up, invest in a digital recorder.
These handheld devices are affordable and user-friendly. They can even capture stereo sound. This is good enough if you are only recording a single instrument. For a multi-instrument setup, you will need to level up to the task. You could either get a multi-track recording system that can do everything by itself or opt for a computer-based recording.
If you already have a desktop or laptop, then the latter might work better for you. Get as many USB microphones as you need and plug them into your system. Read reviews to find out which ones work best. You could also buy an audio interface device to capture all mic inputs before sending the signals to the PC via a USB port. Check the interface capacity to make sure that it can handle your requirements.
Consider
Using a boom stand for flexible mic placement. Install a recording suite to get going. Some of these are available free of charge while others require a paid license.
Getting tired during work very soon? This may concern the quality of your work, productivity, creativity, etc. All you need is the right selection of standing desks and adjustable standing desks.
Your workplace should be a place where you are comfortable working and not get tired.
Hack for comfort and productivity
Some of the products that prevent your work from getting tiresome include:
Standing desks
Adjustable standing desks
Automatic standing desks
Ergonomic chair
Ergonomic office chair
L-shaped standing desk
DIY standing desk
Standing desk frame
STANDING DESKS
Standing desks and adjustable standing desks help you get rid of or prevent the pain at several body parts. The most irritating pains are neck pains, leg pains, and back pains. Standing desks and adjustable standing desks make your worktime easier and comfortable. They keep a check on your physical health by keeping you away from pains in the neck, legs, and back.
Standing desks have numerous benefits, and office workers worldwide are advised to move around and take breaks from sitting as sitting for a long period has many negative health effects. The end goal is to reduce the amount of time one spends just sitting. Adjustable standing desk benefits include less obesity risk, reduced cancer risk, longer life, better posture, etc.
It also focuses on reducing eye strain as it keeps one from bending over, improving one’s core strength. Standing desks are considered a healthier substitute for sitting on a chair all day long. There are standing desk frames available that can be used to adjust the standing desk according to one’s comfort.
AUTOMATIC STANDING DESKS
These desks are the same as standing desks with the same benefits and comfort. The only profit of automatic standing desks is that the height adjustment is automated.
ERGONOMIC CHAIR
Long office hours and heavy workload may damage your back and cervix. The office chairs with adjustable and comfortable seats to give you lumbar support are classified as ergonomic office chairs. An ergonomic chair is essential for improving one’s posture as it helps minimise back pain and improve productivity. There is a huge difference when it comes to traditional chairs and this type of chair.
An ergonomic office chair is mostly used in offices as one spends more than 8 hours a day just sitting at a particular sitting position. The ergonomic chair focuses on comfort and has adjustable attributes.
Some of the reasons people prefer this type of chair are that it enhances productivity, reduces pain, reduces hips pressure, is adjustable, increases blood circulation, fewer worker compensation claims, designed for all users, optimum safety, long term use, etc.
L SHAPED STANDING DESKS
This type of standing desk adds space to your workplace. It makes your mobile and allows you to access your things more efficiently. They come in all sizes, therefore used for many purposes and space large enough to hold things and get your job done.
DIY STANDING DESKS
Do it yourself; standing desks make your work hassle-free. It is easier to build and easier to use. It comes in handier. You can customize it according to your requirements and comfort.
A standing desk can be expensive but can be built on your own. The dresser, which has a relative height to one’s height, can work pretty well as a standing desk; one can also get a tall fixed desk with a drafting chair as whenever one wants to sit, they can do that as well.
An existing chair can also be raised by adding something below the table’s legs; this is cost-effective and easy to do at home. The main reason one tries to make their won is to save money. By DIY, one can personalize it according to the need.
Benefits of using standing desks at your workplace:
Standing instead of sitting prevents weight gain and keeps you away from obesity. Standing and working is more of an exercise on its own. It allows you to lose way more calories amid your busy daily schedule.
Using standing desks might benefit you Healthwise on some higher levels, like lowering your sugar levels. Hours of standing and working and working simply help you lower your sugar levels.
Blood flow is better when you keep moving rather than keep sitting in one place for hours. Since blood flow is taken care of when you use a standing desk, we can say that it may even prevent you from having a cardiac arrest.
Keeping your lumbar region healthy and moving should be one of your priorities. Usage of standing desks prevents back pain and keeps you away from many health issues that arise from back problems.
You might have heard of the famous proverb, “All work and no play make Jack a dull boy”. This means that sitting and working for hours will make you dull, but standing and working keeps you alive and energetic even during a heavy workload.
There are many theories and legends which say that your mind works 20% faster when you walk. Using a standing desk allows you to constantly move freely while working, and hence it increases your thinking which in turn results in an increment in your productivity and creativity.
All these health benefits, as well as financial benefits, enable you to live longer. Hence, we can say that standing desks help you live longer.
DESIGNS AND STYLES
The standing desks, automatic standing desks, ergonomic office chairs, etc., all can be custom made. They come in different colours, sizes, and even styles.
Besides keeping you healthy, standing desks and ergonomic office chairs make your office look stylish too.
CONCLUSION
The manoeuvre of sitting plays a very crucial role in how much stress it gives to our bodies. The spine’s posture is perfectly aligned and healthy, as it endorses significant all in all alleviation, with better concentration and longevity during work overtime, especially in a particular sitting position.
The posture impacts the human body’s well-being as it targets the vertebrae, pelvis, sacrum, ischial tuberosities, intervertebral discs, muscles, ligaments, skin, and tissues. It is extremely salient to have a comfortable chair while working.
It boasts comfort, improves one’s productivity, improves posture while eliminating back pain, better employee engagement, reduces workplace injuries, etc. According to health, to reduce pain in the back, it is important to invest in a congenial office chair.
In conclusion, having a comfortable sitting or standing position is fundamental, as one would then find themselves being really productive and focused as there is no such distraction.
By having a healthy posture, one is free from back muscle- ligaments tension, and one will no longer have the need to agonize about their back. By investing in a secure chair, one can simply upgrade their work environment. With a standard chair, one would be more productive, focused and will hardly miss any deadlines.
An employee’s workspace must always be well-designed, safe and comfortable and not lead one to be low efficient and have large medical bills due to back pain, joint pain, headaches, etc.
“A good stance and posture reflect a proper state of mind.” Morihei Ueshiba
If you want to get your hands on the latest mobile phone, there are more ways than ever to do it. Whether you’re looking for the Apple iPhone 12, the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G or the Huawei Mate 40 Pro, you’ll have a range of purchase options.
So here’s a guide to the best ways to get yourself the latest mobile phone!
Why buy the latest mobile phone?
Mobile phones are one of life’s essentials. We rely on them for so many of our daily tasks: from checking the time to buying a train ticket, messaging friends to taking the perfect photo.
And the latest mobile phones are packed with the very best features. With cameras capable of capturing photos and videos in stunning high definition and LCD displays that enable you to watch the latest blockbuster whenever you want, and the up-to-date handset is everything you need for work, rest and play!
Buying options
Depending on how you want to pay and how much you want to pay, there are a number of options when it comes to buying the latest mobile phone. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, but they all mean you’ll get your hands on the device you want:
Contracts
Pay As You Go
Trade-in
Refurbished Phones
Contracts
It’s estimated that there are around 65 million mobile phones in circulation across the UK. Many of these devices are on a contract – often with network providers like Vodafone, EE or Three. In most cases, you’ll pay monthly and contracts last anywhere between 12 and 36 months.
For the latest handsets (such as the Apple iPhone 12), you may also be required to pay an ‘up front’ fee. This can be negotiated depending on how much you’re willing to pay in each month of your agreed contract. For example, you can pay a bigger ‘up front’ fee to make your monthly payments lower or agree to pay higher monthly payments and bring your ‘up front’ fee down.
Either way, it’s always important to take note of the total contract cost. This is because it will include all the costs (up-front fee and total monthly payments). And don’t assume the lowest monthly price is the best available – it’s always a good idea to look at the bigger picture!
Pros
Spreads the cost of paying for the latest mobile phone over a longer period
Ability to often negotiate lower monthly payments if paying more ‘up front’
Cons
Ties you down to a long payment plan
Cancellation fees are usually required to break any phone contract
Pay As You Go
Pay As You Go is far less common these days, especially when it comes to buying the latest mobile phone. This is because it requires you to pay the full handset cost upfront – which can often be over £1,000.
However, a real advantage of this option is that you’re in complete control of how much you spend and only pay for the services you use (calls, texts, mobile data, etc.).
Pros
You own the handset from the start, which means total control overselling or upgrading it at a later date
You only pay for the services you use
Cons
High up-front costs
Trade-in
A great way of bringing down the cost of paying for the latest phone is to trade-in your old device – either with a retailer or directly with a network provider. Depending on what you’ve got to trade-in, you could be looking at a sizable discount on any new phone: whether buying the handset outright or moving onto a new contract.
Another real plus with trade-in is that – by buying the latest phone – you’ll usually be guaranteed higher trade-in when you come to sell again. It’s basically a good habit to get into and allows you to get the latest mobile phone for a significantly lower price every time you upgrade!
Pros
A discounted handset price that makes the latest mobile phone more affordable
Cons
Can be difficult to get high trade-in prices for older handsets
Refurbished Phones
An increasingly popular way to get your hands on the latest mobile phone is to buy a refurbished device. This is a great way of bringing down a handset price and getting the latest device from retailers like The Big Phone Store.
Unlike buying a ‘used’ phone, a ‘refurbished’ device has gone through an extensive pre-sale process. The term ‘used’ basically covers anything from a few scrapes and scratches to a phone that’s been dropped several times… But ‘refurbished’ phones are fully tested, cleaned and had their memory wiped. They’re also covered by a warranty that gives you complete peace of mind!
And if you want the latest phone, you’ll usually make a saving when purchasing a refurbished handset. This means you can get the latest Apple, Samsung or Sony device for a lower price than buying ‘new’!
Pros
A lower (sometimes much lower) handset price for the latest mobile phone
You own the handset from the start
The device has been tested, cleaned and had its memory wiped, as well as being covered by a warranty
Flexibility to choose your own provider and choose a data/calling plan that’s right for you
Cons
Despite being fully tested, it’s not a ‘new’ mobile phone
Recommendations
Unless your heart is set on getting a ‘new’ device, when buying the latest mobile phone, you should really consider buying a refurbished handset. You’ll often save money and get yourself a phone that’s been fully tested and checked over before being sold.For more such content stay tuned to techniblogic.
What is the No. 1 mobile in India?
Samsung is India’s No. 1 Mobile phone.
Which is the most popular phone?
The iPhone routinely dominates the top 10 best-selling phones every year
What is the most reliable smartphone brand?
Samsung, iPhone, and Google Pixel are the most reliable smartphones in India.
Moving home is no easy task – from searching for your perfect house to applying for a mortgage, and from packing up your belongings to decorating your new digs, there’s a lot that needs to be considered. One thing that shouldn’t be neglected is top-end gadgets to spruce up your home; after all, a new house deserves new belongings. We’ll take a look at some house gadgets you can benefit from to get you settled in.
Doorbell security system
House gadgets
The security of your new home is more than likely your main concern. It’s likely you will have invested a lot of time and money into it. If you’re still at the stage where you’re browsing for a new home, buying top-of-the-range security tech probably falls a second place to mortgages, which will be at the forefront of your mind. Gadgets may have already come in handy here: comparison sites like Trussle can help you find which banks offer the best mortgage and interest rate for your needs. But once your mortgage application is successful and you’ve considered other financial aspects like content insurance and energy bills, considering additional security measures is advised.
A lot of houses now come with alarm systems but one thing that has been on the rise is the security doorbell. Once the security doorbell is installed, you can simply download an application on your mobile phone where, when someone rings your doorbell, you will be notified and can view who is at your door on the screen. This is perhaps most useful when spending some time away from your home as you will be able to check into your doorbell’s camera and keep an eye on any activity.
Kitchen utensils
Kitchen utensils
The kitchen is often considered the heart of the home, and with the population’s increasingly busy schedules, handy kitchen gadgets can often speed up the food preparation process, especially amidst the unpacking of boxes. Even if you have a quieter day and don’t need to speed up your cooking process, kitchen gadgets can bring more enjoyment into the kitchen as they are simply fun to use. One functional gadget is the slow cooker – this is perfect for preparing meals in advance if you know you won’t have time to serve your meal of choice later down the line. With these, you can simply throw your ingredients in and let your meal cook throughout the day. Also increasingly popular are automatic peelers or dicing machines which can prepare your vegetables with the click of a finger.
Speakers
More often than not, a new home comes with a mandatory housewarming party, and while our handy kitchen gadgets will help you prepare your food for your guests, top-spec speakers will provide the entertainment. From Alexa to Sonos, there are plenty of speakers to choose from and you can pick what best caters to your needs. Some speakers are in fact multi-functional, with Sonos offering a surround sound feature so that you can have a cinematic experience in your own home.
Here we have covered just some of the top-spec gadgets to get you started in your new home, but there are plenty more gadgets to explore on the market to make your new home a much more fun place to live.
This one line sums up the extraordinary ability of the field of journalism. It defines something, a meaning, a purpose, a thirst for information, and courage to shake even greatest democracies. Sounds fascinating, isn’t it? From what I know, Journalism has different meanings for a journalist, and all of those definitions are very much true. But here is what it is, what drives journalism together is the truth, and only but the truth. But the job to publish that truth comes with a burden, to make sure what you write is factual.
Journalists have always followed the traditional approach to gather information; get the tip, find the source, collect information, verify it with officials, take expert opinion and publish it. Though these steps still work, digitalisation has made it complex. But to be honest, it has also opened a new dimension of information gathering, or I should say- Investigation.
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What is Investigative Journalism?
‘Money trail.’ Simple speaking- follow the money, and you’ll get your story. If you have any doubt, ask Bernstein and Woodward. But formally, investigative journalism is a field in journalism in which reporter thoroughly investigate or research on a single topic that has a public interest. Because these subjects are of high risk, it needs a lot of experts’ opinion, and that is why it could take months to write one unique story.
Though I can’t help you write an investigative piece, I can tell you about the tools and techniques that can be used to write a better investigative journalism story. As you know in this age of the cyber world, everything is available in the form of data, and if you have the right tool, you can utilise this data to further develop your investigative journalism story.
These tools are known as Open-Source investigation tool, they are not real covert operation, but publicly available information, e.g. government report, research paper, documents, social media profile, internet traces, image mapping, geographical location, timeline etc.
This is a list of the tools used in investigative journalism that you can go with, I’ll try to catch up with those tools in this article.
There is no doubt that Google map is the first and most used tool for Maps and Geolocation. They have everything, Satellite map, Terrain, 2D and 3D globe view, real-time traffic and street view. Google maps also have a pervasive 3D street view of historical sites, that may come handy in your investigation.
A tremendous amount of satellite data makes Google maps the winner. It’s easy to use and is pretty much accessible in any county. The only drawback of google maps is that it doesn’t have any historical satellite imagery. While investigation if you want to see a timeline of a location, you might not be able to see that.
We can say it is the extension of Google maps, though the satellite images are pretty much identical. Google earth uses few more satellites such as NASA, NOAA, USGS etc. to synchronise their data. It also adds some bonus points since you can roam around the galaxy and study the different planet as well. Though, it’s an excellent tool to observe weather patterns, because Google Earth Engine uses geospatial data from Landsat satellite that pass the same location on earth in every sixteen days.
Bing map is simply an alternative of Google maps. It’s fast and quite reliable and has updated satellite imagery of locations. The drawback of this platform is that there aren’t enough street maps to overserve. There are traffic updates, but it’s not as good as Google Maps. You’ll get some settings to explore, but at the bottom of it, they all have a minimal scope. The only good thing is the updated map, which will help you in Geo investigation.
Might not be very helpful for your Geo investigation, but this tool may give an extra touch to your map research. In location and maps the more satellite images you have, the more you’re close to identifying your target. It uses MODIS, Landsat 5 & 7, USDA’s NAIP etc. satellite maps to integrate its data. Thought the tools are free to explore, they also offer premium subscription in case you want to use their platform for research. The maps are also very sharp and clear, although there are very minimal geotags of locations.
This map is also an extension in your map library. Yare going to need multiple pictures of the same location in different timespan, so you can analyse the site and find topics. It surely has new maps, but it lacks in geotags, that’s why you’ll have a hard time looking for your location. So, make sure to limit the area and search for your location.
This map might be the hidden gem in your geo investigation. Though it doesn’t tell much about location, it tells you about weather patterns, monsoons, fire spots and many more. A stunning and interactive map, which also has a historical timeline that goes way back to 1999. YES! You can track live weather pattern in your area, and with a dedicated storm tracking section, you can see the actual climate condition.
Storm exploration menu is unique and informative, it lets you track historical data so you can analyse weather patterns. If you zoom to surface, you can measure any segment of the map via its measurement tool, it also has a function to measure the surface area as well.
It’s probably the best place where you can find a map for your investigative journalism piece, but Descartes is a professional organisation, and they only have a premium package. Although, they are willing to give access to their tool for free if you’re a journalist, just make sure you credit them. Their map API is based on Python, and for visualisation, you might need R programming, they also use Jupyter IDE. Their entire API works on a pattern recognition system, which divides segment of your research, and looks for similar spots in the map.
It’s intuitive and excellent if you want to find something like deforestation over Africa or wind turbine over the USA. But hold your horses because if you don’t know programming languages, things might get tricky from here, though they provide an extensive how-to guide, in the end, you need technical expertise. Trust me when I say this ‘Journalism is not easy’.
8. Industryabout.com
This website is for those who are looking for landmarks of industries and government facilities. They have categorical data, country wise and sector-wise organised. I’m sure you’ll be surprised to see the number of industries operating in your country. This is a custom map, so all the locations points have some details including their coordinates and source information, which will redirect you to the respective government’s website.
Forget Google Steet view, Mapilliary might have a much-extended library of the street view of the world than Google maps. Their massive library extends to even Iran, Iraq and even Antarctica. But try to be specific of what you’re looking for otherwise you’ll be lost in the black mirror. These images are crowdsourced, which means you can use them if you give a little credit in your report.
This is a very simple tool. Find your region in the map, select the area, and it will tell you how many people can be in that area. Please note that it’s not a real-time data, it is just an estimate by calculating the surface area and average space covered by a person. The tool also has few customisations to play around, so do check them out. I would say this estimation is reasonably accurate.
This website has an extensive database of antique maps. Yes! These maps go way back to 1700. If you’re writing something that requires an old map to compare, this is a good choice. Maybe for your historical piece, you might want to check out this website as well.
A very simple but useful tool, this map will divide your location into a block and create a laymen code, that you can share in your article. Because it’s just 3 words, it’s easy to write, you don’t want the headache of writing coordinates everywhere.
Other Maps & Geolocation Investigation Tools:
Honestly speaking, there is no end to what you can do to collect satellite data. Although, I have tried my best to cover various free tools to gather geographical images, and what I have mentioned here are enough. But if you’re looking for something more professional, then there are few websites that you might want to check out. There are some non-profit group that provides free or discounted access to their tools to journalists, these platforms are excellent and have high-quality satellite images.
Radiant.earth: This non-profit group applies Machine learning algorithm to analyse satellite data. They mostly use Jupyter IDE and have their own MLhub API. Cut short, you’ll require a python expert.
Resourcewatch: This entire platform is in beta phase, but they do offer satellite images and pre-sets. Simply add those pre-sets into the map, it has an extensive library of pre-sets that ranges from Ocean, energy, forest, cities, climate, water, food and society. So, start exploring.
Digital Globe: This website has a more comprehensive library of satellite imagery spanning over two decades. Their subscription-based service ‘Secure Watch’ allows user to access recent high-resolution images. They also have predefined tools for search different exploration technique. Check out their map here
EarthData: The one and only NASA. This map is powered by EOSDIS, and provides an excellent search interface. You might have to first understand all the tools, and what satellite can give better images first. Good luck if you’re new into this.
Pro tips:
Satellite investigation works on one crucial factor- Historical map. So, try to collect as much map of the area of interest.
Please note:
I have tried my best, but in my research, I have not found any tool that I can say is perfect. The tools with historical maps need coding expertise and those who do not need money. I do realise for investigative journalism tool this list would not be perfect either, but for a beginner, this might work. So do explore, and let me know if you have found something worthwhile.
Chapter 2: Social Media Investigation
Social media investigation is pretty much easy, the question is where to find the information. Well, the manual method is to check all the top social media website and look for relatable details. However, there is a smart way to do so.
It’s a very simple tool that can filter out unique user ID from the web, including social media website, e-commerce website, gaming profiles, dating websites, ott platform etc. Basically, this tool can list out all the different website profiles of a user ID.
It’s a professional tool that can search all the publicly available information about a user account. The step here is to have at least the name, email address, phone number or address. It’s a pro tool and may require premium membership to access its feature. However, information availability is questionable and solely depends on open-source information publicly available on the net.
1. Tools for Facebook
Searching tools for Facebook investigation was easy, but I’ll tell you what’s not easy. The tools don’t work, they used to work but not now. Apparently, Facebook completely stopped its Graph Search feature in June 2019. Because almost all the tools were based on this sole functionality of Facebook, shutting it down gave a heart-ache to the investigative community. It’s clearly a set-back, but there are still few ways to search through Facebook data.
Hashtag: The graphs search left a void that no tool can fix. But hashtags are turning out to be a deal-breaker here. I’m not entirely satisfied with how it works, but I’ll tell you what it is. You’ll be able to see a few popular posts, but it will not be pervasive. Which is entirely against the coding behind hashtags, because hashtag was made to associate a particular post with a keyword, and if you search that keyword, you should be able to see all the posts. Technically speaking, Facebook is filtering outposts associated with hashtags for your profile. God, I hate this.
There are however few investigative journalism tools that you can use, you’ll find those tools in some of the open-source operating systems like Kali Linux, Buscador, Dora OSINT VM, Tsurugi Linux etc. I’ll not recommend them for a beginner since they’ll require technical expertise in Terminal. I can, however, explain those tools, but that’s a topic for another article.
2. Tools for Instagram
There are preliminary two methods for Instagram investigation, first and foremost is checking it manually, its time taking but it works. The second method is exporting all the target’s data into an excel sheet, it will give you more information since you can manipulate it into graphs, pie charts and search for specific keyword smoothy. But to be honest, I couldn’t find any free tool for this method, there are paid ones, and for some reason, I can’t seem to trust them.
2.1 Storiesig This is a free tool that’ll let you download Instagram stories of a public profile. It will also show some previous stories or stories highlights. This tool is restricted to public user ID only, and it will not work if the target’s account is private.
2.2 Instagram Analytics
There are many tools for this part. Since Instagram has several influencers, professionals and brands, requirements for analytics tool have rapidly increased. And because these tools are professional-grade, they require a premium subscription. As of now, there is SocialBlade that can tell you something about the target’s ID for free. Try that.
This might be the most accessible tool so far. Just open maps.snapchat.com, and click on any location on the map. The map will also show a heat map of the area where Snapchat is most used, click there and find a unique video. The problem here is that these snaps are anonymous I have tried but couldn’t find the actual user that has posted the snap. Let me know in the comment section if you have though.
How to download the video?
There is a straightforward method for that, you can install any video downloading extension in your browser, and it will automatically show you the file as you browse. I have used Video Download Helper by Mig, and it works great.
4. Tools for Tiktok
Tiktok is a very much open platform as of now. You don’t even need an account to view its content. Just check out the official website and your target’s profile, this will be enough. However, if you want a little more than the usual profile tracking, then you can use some free analytics tools.
This is a marketing website that popular TikTok users use to analyze their content and its reach. It shows historical figures, followers increase, likes and Hashtag participation. You’ll get a better insight with this platform.
This is another profile analytics tool that you can use to see different insights. It focuses on historical stats, likes, followers, views, video analysis and daily progress. There is challenge statistics section that will tell you about the different trends that users have participated in.
5. Tools for Reddit
Reddit is pretty much open platform, though some posts require a user ID majority of posts are public. The easiest way to track something on Reddit is to look for a target community and join it. You’ll start getting feeds on your home page.
This is a free email notification service developed by Silo 9 Inc. They provide notification emails when your selected keyword is mentioned on Reddit, Hacker News or Lobsters. Signing up for this service is also very easy. Just create an account and input keywords for the tracker. That’s it.
Pro tip:
Keywords tracking can be very complicated. You don’t want your Inbox to have thousands of email every hour. Try to use unique keywords rather than generic.
6. Tools for Telegram
Although Telegram is a closed community, they all are very much accessible via a simple tool- A search engine. You just have to know where to search.
Simply putting, it is a dedicated search-engine for Telegram. The interface is quite simple, just put in the keyword and press enter. The search engine will show relevant links to associates with the keyword. To my surprise, it even showed some links to private channels, but you have to join them to see the messages.
A gateway for your analytical information, this tool will help in understanding the traffic and subscriber base of a particular channel. You can filter out top channels by country, language, category and period. The website shows historical stats, subscribers, reach, a post per day, views, post frequency and many more.
7. Tools for YouTube
There is one primary ingredient while investigating on YouTube, i.e. downloading a video. I will recommend using some free YouTube downloading website, you can search on Google, the list is very long. I use a very simple free add-on Video Download Helper by Mig, it allows me to download videos from any website.
This is a very simple tool that lets you select a few thumbnails from the video, and reverse search that image on Google. To be honest, it just eases your job of taking screenshots and reverse search the image to check its authenticity. This is an excellent tool for fact-checking any video. You’ll also get Video ID and Upload time, which you’ll not get on YouTube.
As the name predicts, it is a geographical search tool, that lets you search video in a particular location. The provided map is straightforward and helps you navigate and select a location. The platform has an extensive search function that allows you to search video, channel, topic and pinpoint a location. You can also select areas to cover, and specific keyword to search. There is many more function, and I think you’ll have a fun time exploring them.
8. Tools for Twitter
Is it safe to say that Twitter is an ideological, social media platform? I’m just asking. Despite what you think Twitter is an opinionated public space, almost all posts are public, and any individual can see it; otherwise, what’s the point. This specific feature makes Twitter the most accessible social media platform and encourages third party tool to openly access its data and analyses it. There are mostly two methods for investigative journalism on Twitter.
Old School Searches – You would be surprised, but traditional backtracking is always good and trustworthy. Yes, it will take a good amount of your time, but if you keep digging enough on one particular hashtag or keyword, you’ll definitely find something worthwhile.
Tools- Twitter analytics and search tools are countless, but most of them are same. I’ll list down the unique, and exciting ones further in this investigative journalism article.
It is a free website that analyses bots or automated accounts on Twitter. You just have to copy-paste the tweet URL or enter a Twitter handle, the analytics will tell you if the account is suspenseful or not. Apart from that, it also shows the most used Phrases, Hashtags and URLs used by the account, which is nice. The website also has a browser extension for Chrome and Firefox, this is a charm because once installed, it adds a ‘Check User’ button on every Twitter profile that you open.
There are alternative tools like Botometer, which requires app permission to check the user’s account. Although the tool is authentic, I’m sceptical in giving app permission for privacy reasons.
It’s is a free live Tweet tracking website that analyses and showcases live tweet on a geographical map. This is the most fantastic tool so far, it can track specific keywords and Hashtags, and show heatmap of Tweets. One of the most exciting analysis is Sentiment View, which highlights Tweets based on emotional quotient, it has three categories Negative, Neutral and Positive. This will come very handy in analyzing the sentiment of people on politicians.
This is a unique visualization tool for twitter threads and retweets. It creates a graphical chart that connects one tweet to another. In a nutshell, it represents threads in a graphical manner. It is a browser add-on available for both Chrome and Firefox. Once you have installed this Add-on, just open a Twitter post and click on its icon in the address bar. Fair warning, try to be specific while expanding every thread because it gets clustered very soon.
8.4 Twitter Analytics tools-
These tools are social media marketing tools and provide quality analysis on the user’s profile. Because the majority of tools are used by professionals, they have paid features and require app permission or account sign-up to analyze anyone’s account. Try them yourself and let us know in the comment section, some of these tools are TweetBinder,Twilert, and Tweetreach etc.
A sweet tool but requires app permission to work. Basically, this tool can tell how many fake followers you have, it also gives analyses and on followers counts as well. The only drawback is that its usages are limited to one person, so if you want to audit anyone else’s account, you have to buy the premium subscription. If you happen to know an alternate free tool, then let us know in the comment section.
It is a very simple tool that stores anyone Twitter data into an excel file. This concludes tweets, likes, followers, following, lists, retweets and replies. The tool also has a Chrome extension as well. It might not look very usable at the beginning but have patient and analyze these data via graphs or algorithm. There is other Twitter data downloader as well, such as Vicinitas.
8.8 Professional Investigative Tool for Twitter-
In this investigative journalism tool article, I’m trying to focus on open-source investigative tools that are easy-to-use and can be beneficial as well. Most of these tools require little to nothing technical knowledge, however, if you have a knack for programmings like Python, R and Ruby, you can check-out Github for APIs. I have found some interesting ones if you want to take it to your test.
The idea of a digital investigation tool is to simplify your task, something that can minimise the time taken to complete the report you’re writing. And when there are multiple tools to do the same task, you kind of lose the purpose of using a digital tool in the first place. So, hold on for a moment because this might be the mother box of all the tools yet. Widely used by news fact-checkers and researchers to verify content like images and videos, this might be the only tool you need.
This is a free tool that does not require much technical knowledge to work with, it’s merely a browser extension that helps you out in your foot-printing. This tool is made by Condat AG, and its sole purpose was to help journalists verify news-worthy user-generated videos or photos. It’s a European product and has been said the be ‘The swiss army knife’ of digital investigation. And since it has too many features, to begin with, I have written a separate step-by-step guide for this tool, the link for the same is down below.
Indeed there are some other application and tools that you can use, but I have found InVid the most competent one in the case of Digital investigation. I’ll still mention a few tools that may come around to be helpful.
The allrounder google reverse image search never sees to amaze me, it’s one of those fun tools that one can learn in seconds. Just open the link and upload the picture that you want to search for, Google will analyse the image and show you relevant results. You might have to play with the keyword a little bit, and you’ll be able to backtrack the image if it was on the internet.
It’s an alternative of Google Reverse Image search system, and it’s better. Bing visual search provides much more flexibility in terms of search results and option to focus your search results to a certain segment of the picture. So, if you want to focus on the face of a person, or any object, you can freely do that on Bing visual search.
It’s a small windows/mac application that completely removes EXIF metadata from multiple image files. This may not come handy always, but in case if you want to transfer a super-secret image file this software may come as a boon, It’ll protect your identity.
It is just another tool to detect Digital Image Tampering within a media file. It’s widely used in Digital forensics and works very much similar to the InVid forensic tool. You can simply upload an image file or paste a URL, it will tell you many technical details about the file, e.g. metadata, hidden pixels, colour correction etc. Though this tool can detect tampering or editing into an image file, its authenticity is questionable in some low-quality images files. To be honest, it requires expertise to point out an error in a perfectly edited image file. My recommendation would be to take baby steps with this tool or any digital forensic tool.
It’s a Github package that will require a little bit of technical knowledge to begin with, but it can analyse different file apart from media files and can give you metadata about the file.
Chapter 4: Phone Number investigation
In the age of Spam calls and Scammers, it’s hard to keep track of unknown numbers these days. Though it seems easy, it also comes with a burden of limited datasets on phone number, we are simply not in the age of yellow pages. We are in the age of information warfare, So, how can you find details about an unknown number, or find the phone number of individual people from a certain background. Doing a phone number investigation is tricky since it requires much more public data than traditional social media. But I’ll try my best.
This is probably the best tool thus far to identify phone numbers. They have got a massive country-wise database of more than 100+ country. It will tell you the name, the carries, and the location of the phone registration, in some cases it may even tell you the email id of the person. There is just one catch, data, Truecaller relies on your contacts to make its database, which is why it’s not highly recommended.
Pro tip: Never install TrueCaller in your smartphone, always use a separate email-id (non-Gmail) to login TrueCaller via a computer. You’ll get 4-5 searches per day.
It’s a free telephone directory that catalogues international numbers, yellow pages, white pages and phonebooks etc. It’s okay, but it is time taking, you might have to search through many different catalogues to find details. However, you can lookup U.S. phone number without any hassle, and it’s free.
It’s a premium people search tool, where you can find details of a person if in case, they have it. You can cross-reference your searches on multiple parameters, like demographic, email, social media account. It’s a useful tool for researchers and digital investigators, and they also provide a trial version. So, try them out.
Chapter 5: Investigation of Time
Finding the captured time of an image file might seem like a tricky task, but if you have the right tool, then maybe it’s not. Obviously, you’ll need some sort of technical knowledge to be with, but trust it will grow with you.
If you have the right image file that has enough metadata, it’s very easy to identify the time. Just check its properties, or find EXIF metadata website and upload the image file. However, if the metadata is not present, then it gets tricky to identify time, where night shots are almost impossible to predict but the timing of morning shots can be indicated via a sun clock.
It may seem a very complicated tool in the first place, but give it some time you’ll be fine. With Suncalc you can identify the capturing time of the photograph, positioning of the sun on various days, months and years, latitude and longitude. The process, however, is very simple, identify the date of the photograph, and set the marker where you think the camera angle was, position the sun as per the shadow in the picture, and you have your time.
Pro tip: Reading and positioning a sundial might be tricky and will require a bit of practice. You can check out this medium article for a detailed walkthrough.
Mooncalc works on the same principle of the sun clock. It can identify phases of the moon of that particular day and the positioning of the moon as well depending on the shadow. Understanding and using it is as much as critical as the sun clock, and you may need some tutorial to being with, so buckle up.
Chapter 6: Flights, Ships and Railways investigation
There is no trick to track flight path or see rail route, it’s just simple public data available for travellers to keep track of their train or flight, sometimes metro or subway. These public data are easily accessible on municipal websites, national train route of the countries, flight plans, subway apps etc. I’ll be listing few websites down below, where you can track these things.
It’s an opensource global flight tracking system that can show in-the-air flight paths. You can click on the fight icon and explore various details, e.g. Reg, County, Type, Operator, signal, altitude, direction, speed and many more.
This is also a global flight tracker, that maps all the flight patterns. It also has historical maps of the flight, global airport index, global airlines index, aircraft index, flight tracking statistics. They even have subscription plans that flights alerts, enhanced 3D projection and more details.
These are some of the alternative websites to track flights path.
Live train tracking is subject to the origin country, there is simply no singular database for the entire world. You have to go through the public transport website of the location, city or the state to find information. Countries who have state-owned rail network have a centralised database, thus making it easier to track trains. I’m listing few governments/non-government websites from where you can track train network.
Indeed, this list is not sufficient, it requires more websites from where you can track or book train tickets. If you know any, feel free to drop in the comment section about the country or medium to track or book train tickets.
It works on an open-source database and public editing. Users can add/edit different routes of their city or location into this public database, and it will update on the map or the app. You can also select your desired city and see various routes reported by the public.
It is a very fascinating website that keeps a record of the marine vehicle such as merchant navy ship/cargo. They are independent non-profit origination and promote transparency in ocean travel and accountability for marine life. Though some of the information is free to see, some may require you to be a registered member. An alternative website for similar results is listed below.
It’s a very constructive website where you can find various license plates of different countries. This will come handy while investigating license number plate of vehicles and where to find information about them.
Chapter 7: Website backtracking
Backtracking any website or any prior URL is a piece of cake, you just have to have an understanding of some analytics tool. I’ll mention a few websites where you can find such information.
Probably one of the best websites to look for website stats, keyword gaps, traffic estimation, top keyword, competitor website, easy-to-rank keyword, buyer keywords and many more. Being an Amazon company, its services are not entirely free, and only few information will be available for a website including its global, regional and categorial ranking all over the internet.
It’s an alternative of Alexa ranking. The best part about this analytics tool is that it will show you historical website traffic of recent month for free, which is crucial data to analyse a website authority or reach. It has an easy-to-use add-on that can be easily integrated into Firefox & Chrome.
It’s a website information tool that can easily give public details about the domain name, registration name, owner address etc. However, there is a catch if the owner of the website has used a third-party service to hide its ownership information, it will not show any detail at all.
Complete DNS is a platform where you can see historical information of DNS records for any website. Very handy if you’re backtracking a website. Here’s an alternative.
It is Free website analytics that can show you in-depth information about any website. It offers Backlinks, Link disinfection, anchor texts, pages, domain, industries, link contexts, countries, list distribution, subdomains, linkage, export links and link notification etc. All the tools are free to access which some platform may charge you for. Here’s an alternative.
A search engine for IoT devices. It shows the IP address, location, Broadcast server, Type of network interface, hostname, ISP, SSL certificates and Vulnerabilities of IoT devices connected with the internet. Here’s an alternative.
Anything related to cryptocurrency can be found here, you can even buy, hold popular cryptocurrency like bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, chainlink, XRP, EOS, TRON etc. The website provides historical data of rising and fall of every currency, the current value of the currency. It also has a dedicated bitcoin wallet for its user, which you can use to send, receive and exchange cryptocurrency.
It’s a dedicated Ethereum blockchain explorer, where you can search for Ethereum blockchain wallet and transaction. You can make a query by address, token, name tags, labels and website, you can even find top accounts, recent transaction details, ERC20 Top token etc. To be frank, It’s probably a one-stop destination for Ethereum cryptocurrency.
If you want to see live footage of CCTV cameras around the world, this is the website to go for. You can search by location, and it will show you surrounding public CCTV cameras, and unlocked security cameras. On the other side, the website claims that they don’t hack into people’s security camera; it just uses the default ID and password to access the backlink via the company server.
LittleSis is a website to go for when you want to know who-know-who. It’s a network of watchdogs who keeps track of powerful, influential people and their social network. The platform offers various toolkits, maps and lists etc.
It’s a website that has an open database of registered companies around the world. Their motto is to make sure transparency in corporations and create a trusted business environment. You can search by company or by name, they have listed down, founder, directors, investors, and subsidiaries etc. as well.
A unique and very use full website. It can identify different hash code and can crack those code if needed. The website uses server grade computation power to crack a hash code by brute force attack. This may come in handy If you encounter a locked file.
Please do drop your suggestion and ideas about any Investigative Journalism tools, let me know in the comment section below. If you want to keep tabs on a more explain series like this, subscribe to our website. Thanks.
We all struggle when it comes to managing money, sticking to a budget, and even handling an investment. However, the time has changed a lot and technologies have gotten more advanced. Now, with just a few apps, you can make the correct decisions that are easier than ever before. Whether you are an Android user, iOS user, or Windows user, there are a lot of personal finance apps available out there.
However, one should understand that not every mobile money management tool is worth downloading. To bring ease to your difficulty, we have come listed the Best Money Management Apps for Android that might bring peace to your personal life and can help you in a longer run. Do check out the list and let me know your suggestion in the comments below!
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Best Money Management Apps for Android
1. Walnut – All India Banks, money manager
It is one of the Best Money Management Apps that you can trust. It comes with an expense tracker to automatically and securely track your monthly spends and understand the amount you spend on food, shopping, groceries, etc., as well as you can understand how much you are saving month on month.
The app allows you to take control of your MONEY and SAVE more. Using the app, you can even keep a close track of credit card dues. It even helps you to locate ATM and cash near you in real-time. It is available on Play store and is the #1 expense tracker app on this list.
Monefy is a simple budget app that you can either download for free with basic limited features or upgrade it to the pro version which might cost you $2.50 for high-end features. It is simple and quick to use a budgeting app. The interface of the app is pretty simple and allows you to add new data quickly and easily.
It even features various currency support, a built-in calculator, passcode protection, Dropbox integration, widgets, and more. It is a pretty decent app to have with less complexity.
It is a simple, intuitive, stable and feature-rich app that helps you to do budgeting and manage your expenses as well. It is an all in one app, in which you can manage the expenditures, cheque book and budgets as well. And the best part is it is a free app with no hidden charges.
This application allows you to track expenses and incomes, split transaction, track recurring expense and income, and track multiple accounts and many more. It helps in organizing bills by week, month, and year as well as by categories. You can even do the daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly budget with a progress bar. Moreover, an automatic backup is created on Dropbox, Google Drive and SD Card.
mTrakr is one of the fastest-growing money managers, and it helps you to securely manage your money, bank accounts, credit cards, bill reminders. This app helps you to achieve financial goals by managing money and budgets every day and help you to become financially fit. It is loaded with many awesome and amazing features like “The Money Manager” that helps you track all your bank account and credit card transactions. Its Daily “Expense Manager feature” helps you to view your expenses by category, by month, by credit card, all in one place.
The app even acts as a BILL REMINDER that automatically reminds you of credit card bills, mobile phone bills, and other utility bills. The TAX calculator lets you calculate your taxes according to your income. You can even track your cash.
Goodbudget is a popular app for budgeting that comes with cross-platform support on Android, the web, or iOS. Moreover, the best part is being a cross-platform compatible app, everything syncs between the platforms. It comes with certain high-end features like expense tracking, income tracking, and some other decent budgeting tools.
Using this budgeting app, you can even export your data as a CSV file, QFX (for Quicken), and OFX (Microsoft Money). It is user friendly, easy to use and simple budget app. However, where on one side you can find certain features for free on the contrary, certain features require a subscription.
This financial calculator provides an intuitive layout as well as a detailed approach. It is an all in a one-touch solution for your financial calculations. It comes with an EMI calculator that removes all unwanted hassles out of your way, giving your clear indication, statistics and graphs. It helps you to understand your monthly EMI cycle clearly.
The FD calculator incorporated EZ financial calculator helps you to calculate long-term deposits and their interest. It even features RD, the SIP calculator. Moreover, it comes with Retirement planner and reports generation. Overall, it is an intuitive and user-friendly financial calculator for Android users.
It is an awesome Money Management App that can automatically track your expenses, budgeting. Moreover, this app offers an instant personal loan of up to Rs. 5, 00,000. With this app, you can track your expenses automatically using the expense manager (via SMS), you can check bank balance and PayTM & Freecharge wallet balance, you can get bill reminders & pay bills on time, etc.
The app uses a proprietary technology platform to read your financial SMS from banks and billers to automatically present a comprehensive view of your finances. Considering the features and the fact that it is a free app, it is a good app to have.
Money Manager App is your personal finance makes managing personal finance management app. It is easy to use the application, and by using this App, you can easily record your personal and business financial transactions, generate spending reports, review your daily, weekly and monthly financial data and whatnot.
It comes with a bunch of features such as efficient asset management and accounting, Budget and expense management function, Credit / Debit Card management function, etc. The app even has a paid version that offers unlimited assets and no Ads.
It is one of the most used expense manager apps. The app’s entirely automated manager nicely categorizes all your expenditures, bills and accounts. Using the app, you can easily get all your account balances and expenses in one snapshot. Moreover, you can manually add your investments on ETMoney and get real-time updates on overall portfolio performance. It is the best personal finance managing app.
It is your daily expense management application, and it helps you track all your transactions, travel, bills, and purchasing details. It makes your life simple by auto-tracking all your transactions and viewing them in a straightforward and usable format.
Conclusion
This sums up the list of Best Money Management Apps. You can choose any of the above-mentioned apps. Initially, you can go with free apps and can see if they are working for you or not. Few of the free apps that I would suggest are Walnut and Expense Manager that you can use and make your life more manageable.
Hope you like this post and got a better idea about the Best Money Management Apps for Android in the market. If you have any suggestions, feel free to contact us or comment down below.
Puresight Systems is the official distributor of iRobot products in India, and today, on March 1st, 2021, this company has announced an exclusive offer. The company came up with a thoughtful idea of selling the vacuum and mop duo. This duo acts like an ideal ‘cleaning assistant’ for those who love a spotless home but are too occupied to clean it again and again.
The offer is not only amazing, but it is also a considerable offer in terms of money. The company exclusively announced that with every purchase of Braava Jet m6 priced Rs 56,900, consumers will get the premium Roomba 971 or Roomba 976 worth Rs 29,900 free. However, every good thing has an expiration date. This offer by Puresight Systems is only valid till March 15th, 2021. Consumers can avail of this particular offer via all online as well as offline channels. Specifically, customers can avail of this offer at all iRobot, Croma Centres, and Reliance Digital stores and online shopping platforms, including www.irobot.in Amazon and Flipkart.
For those who are not aware of products, we will take a moment to help you understand. The vacuum and mop are enabled with Wi-Fi connectivity and mapping. Hence, the users can have ultimate control over the smart home appliances. Moreover, both these cleaning devices come with the ease of scheduling and controlling from the phone that makes users control the devices via their fingertips.
Specific Details about the Vacuum and Mop:
iRobot Roomba 976:
It is built using vSLAM technology, and it uses an optical sensor to capture over 230,400 data points per second, allowing the robot to create a detailed map of its surroundings, so it knows where it is, where it’s been, and where it needs to clean.
It features dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes and the device is uniquely designed with rubber treads to clean any sort of floor surfaces.
It is designed for removing everything from fine dust to large debris.
It is equipped with the 3-Stage Cleaning System that completely removes dirt from every nook and corner of your house.
It couples with Power-Lifting suction which uses 5× the airpower so that the debris is easily eliminated.
iRobot Braava Jet M6:
It is built using ImprintTM Smart Mapping Technology that helps the robot get to know the home, giving the user total control to choose which rooms are cleaned and when using the iRobot HOME App, the Google Assistant, or Alexa.
The technology even helps the device to automatically return to its Home Base charging station to recharge when the battery is low. Once it is charged then it resumes cleaning until the job is complete.
Precision Jet Spray removes dirt and sticky messes without harming furniture, carpets, or walls.
Wet Mopping pads feature wicking fibers to remove kitchen grease, grime, and sticky messes.
Where to find Free Audio Books Online? With the development of the times and the advancement of science and technology, people’s reading contents are becoming abundant and diversified, from reading paper books to reading e-books, and then to today’s “listening to books” which is referred to as reading with sound. It makes reading more possible and elastic by replacing eyes with ears, which has been accepted by more and more people and has become a new growth point in reading.
Obviously, audiobooks, i.e. listening to books, create many benefits for people’s lives. First of all, it protects readers’ eyes. People no longer need to lower their heads and focus on characters for a long time to read and digest the book contents. Their eyesights can focus on other healthier subjects. Second, it protects the environment because there is no need for paper which requires thousands of trees to make. Third, the soundtrack and recitation of the books are extreme enjoyment to relax. Therefore, how to access and download audiobooks for free? Here are 10 amazing Free Audio Books Online sites.
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Best Free Audio Books Online Websites
1. YouTube
Before today, you may know YouTube as a popular video streaming and sharing platform with plenty of resources on it. But now, you can explore one more function of YouTube – searching for audiobooks. You can directly type the name of the audiobook followed by the word “audiobook” to search for the audiobook. Another way to find the audiobook is to try the audiobooks-on-youtube section of Reddit which indicating the actual YouTube audiobook videos.
However, YouTube doesn’t allow users to download videos as many as they want for free. The problem shooter you can look for is a free YouTube video downloader on google. Just one copy and paste process which you will easily handle and grasp.
2. LibriVox
LibriVox is an open source for Free Audio Books Online. It works as a non-profit organization which invites volunteers to read the books and release the recorded audiobooks to anyone to listen for free. If you are interested, you can try being a volunteer of it, which will be pretty meaningful. If you just want to enjoy the audiobooks, you can browse by author, book title, genre, or the language of the book.
3. Lit2Go
Lit2Go is another amazing site to stream and download audiobooks for free with a lot of choices. You can open it in MP3 format or download it in a PDF file which will useful for teachers to prepare as reading material in class. Also, for each book, Lit2Go has a detailed introduction including abstract, year published, country of origin, genre, and word count, etc.
4. Internet Archive
Internet Archive is a big library of free audiobooks and poetries which provides you detail illustration of the books including added date, publication date, year, and identifier, etc. Also, you will have different download options with different formats. The most interesting feature of this site is that you can post a review of a book that you have read, which allows you to share your opinions and thoughts.
5. Loyal Books
With a simple user interface, you can easily find and filter audiobooks on Loyal Books site. You can choose “Top 100” or “Mystery” to browse. What’s more, you can stream with smaller categories like religion, poetry, or short stories, etc. Loyal Books also designs an abstract part for the book to let readers preview the content of the book. After reading, you can add a review of the book which is similar to what you can do on the Internet Archive.
6. Storynory
On Storynory, you can find more audiobooks for kids. However, it still categorizes the audiobooks by several categories which are original, fairytales, classic authors, myths & world, educational, and poem & music. Furthermore, Storynory matches its audiobooks with a cute photo and a short description to make the stories vivid.
7. Open Culture
Open Culture has an interesting name as it does bring different cultures to people by offering thousands of audiobooks of fictions and literature. The alphabetical menu of audiobooks lists many options for readers who can directly click on one to start reading. In addition to audiobooks, you can access courses, movies, other recordings, and textbooks, etc.
8. Light Up Your Brains
Light Up Your Brains offers audiobooks just for children. Additionally, as its name indicated, Light Up Your Brains provides different colouring and brain-teaser games which practice children’s imagination ability and creative skills.
9. Scribl
If you would like to check for recent audiobook updates, you can choose Scribl. Also, if you prefer reading by the author, Scribl is an ideal place for you. There are many ways for you to filter and select one audiobook on Scribl. For example, you can search for book-length, story elements such as styles and themes and the main character, and knowledge elements like citations, writing style, and reading intents. Therefore, under each book page, you will find the corresponding content describing these elements and a short synopsis.
10. Spotify
Surprise! The audiobook services have been added to Spotify, providing the audiobook lists of The Great Gatsby, 1984, and Pride and Prejudice. Listening is free on Spotify; however, if you don’t want the advertisements on it, you will need a step further which is paying for premium.
Audiobooks have been a new trend in today’s world. While listening to comfortable reading, you can improve your knowledge, which is the most important aspect of the audiobook. Audiobook has helped me realize many people’s dream, enjoying while learning. Now, put your paper book down, raise your head, and choose one audiobook to listen!
If you have any suggestions for Free Audio Books Online Sites that we should add in this list, feel free to contact us at [email protected], we always welcome new ideas. Thank you and stay subscribed for more content.
Language has always been an interesting subject in between travelers and multilingual. But in this rapidly changing banal life, the craze of language has gone a little bit amiss. Thankfully, the technological revolution has taken the world by a storm. We are here with some best Language Learning Apps that are free and really amazing. There is literally an app for everything; maybe not for cat videos. But honestly, if you search out there, you’ll definitely find hundreds of apps.
Well, the discussion here is not about some hundred apps, but if you have to install one precise app for that unique work, you’ll have to look a list of unprecedented app that may or may not fulfill your requirements; terrifying isn’t it? So, to take your work further and push aside it to your limitless capability in languages.
List of Best Language Learning Apps
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1. Duolingo
The app is considered to be one of the best language learning apps out there, and trust us it is. We went through its features, and it was the simplest and minimalist experience ever. The training of any language starts from basics, and the fundamental learning is very important. So, the app has features like Voice playback, which will the speak every word that you learning.
The most amazing feature that we encountered with is the listening from the learner itself, which not just improve your memorizing capability but also improves your speaking ability. Simply because regurgitating words and speaking them is not what you call learning. The app has more than 50 foreign languages and developers are still working to add more. Duolingo promises that the app will always be free so if you see some adds please don’t get annoyed.
“Duolingo may hold the secret to the future of education.” —TIME Magazine
Memrise is the rival app of Duolingo and features the same functionality as it. In our experience, we find the app useful in terms of understanding on languages. This best language learning apps helps you remember words by showing respected pictures, which is basically the best technique to learn anything at all. The one key feature that makes this app different than others is the Video playback of the sentences which shows the exact pronunciation of the word from their native speakers.
The app has the very settle learning experience we have ever seen. It almost felt like playing a game, one and two mission every day and you’re a champion in the language The App feature 300+ courses, which is insane. You can also invite your friends to learn with and compete with them. The video playback feature is our personal favorite.
Babbel is an awesome app and comes in the list of the best language learning apps if you want to do a crash course in any language. The app basically visualizes you in almost everything. It has features like listening, speaking, writing, which sums up the app very beautifully. The one thing that we didn’t find very interesting is the integrated keyboard, which sometimes gets little tricky to cope with, so just keep patient you’ll get it.
The app features 14 foreign languages and seems to work great in terms of user experience. The one thing which is lacking in the app is the availability of courses in one app, basically, it means that you have to install a separate app for each course if you want to do the advanced courses. Which is definitely not a very intruding feature.
Busuu is an another way of learning languages. Every learning app has the mostly the same features and courses as each other, but what Busuu here is offering is interesting. The App not just gives quick lessons in languages but also lets former native speaker gives you feedback on your exercise. Getting social is a new way of learning languages.
The app has premium features, which you have to purchase but mostly the app is free with a limited amount of exercises and courses. The best feature so far is the direct interaction with native speakers, which is absolutely fantastic. The app also lets you download the entire course offline.
Hello, Chinese is the most interactive and the best language learning apps and creative app out there. If you want to learn Chinese and additional regional language this is the best app. The App’s key focus is on understand Chinese and its Alphabets. It also teaches you to write Chinese by drawing it on the screen. The App has its own Chinese dictionary that keeps you Chinese vocabulary up to date.
The app is fun and easy learning; it almost feels like playing a small game. Speech recognition and Character handwriting technique are the most amazing feature we have ever seen in HelloChinese. Overall the courses are absolutely free, however, you may see some in-app purchases option.
Hope you like this list of top 5 free Best Language Learning Apps. We had a lot of fun trying these apps. It was hard to determine which one’s is the best between Memrise and Duolingo but we thought to stick with Doulingo. The App doesn’t just regurgitate you with some pre-written sentences or words, it also helps you understand preposition, noun, the use of adverbs and plurals. Which we didn’t found in Memrise or in any other free app out there. Busuu’s social interaction learning feature is still our favorite.
If we missed any App, please mention them below. Also feel free to share your view about these Apps in the comment section below. That’s all for this guys, stay tuned to Techniblogic for next update.
Is Duolingo better than Babbel?
Babbel is a better option for traditional language instruction through modules and lessons.
How do I choose the best language learning apps?
An ideal app should offer a range of teaching methods that cater to different learning styles and preferences.
Does Babbel cost money?
The base price on the web is $14.95 per month, but $17.99 per month in the app.
Currently, many people are transiting onto online platforms to mint some money. One of the most appropriate ways of making money on online platforms is blog writing. Of course, there is a range of ways you can use to earn a few coins online. However, creating a blog based on a given niche and posting engaging content is more than enough before dying for money at the first stage.
Earning money from blogs is as easy as any other thing you would consider but first requires a unique strategic plan. Services like my essay geek explain the best tips and steps to follow while creating the blog and can help you with writing.
One of the blunders many bloggers make is to set money at the forefront. It should not be the case. Blogging requires prior experience or a solid background of writing catchy and attractive content that can capture large masses of affectionate readers.
Steps to Start a Money Making Blog
Identify a name for your blog.
It is more of a simple task to get a name for your designated blog. However, naming your blog without considering several measures is impractical from an advanced and more practical aspect. Naming a blog is much more comfortable initially but pretty difficult when adjusting at a later stage. Therefore, it is good to ensure that your blog bears an attractive and more promising name depending on the content you are going to post. In this stage, you will search for domain availability to choose a name that doesn’t match another domain. It is a brainstorming task that needs you to get sharp if you earn more from the blog later.
Buy the domain name to get it hosted
At this stage, you should have identified a proper productive domain for your blog. Getting the domain comes with some little charges, which vary from one domain hosting platform to another. To be live and secure some space online, this domain is critical and comes with some reasonable charges.
Some of the hosting providers you can consider for hosting your domain include Bluehost, Dreamhost among more. Most of the hosting platforms provide reliable support and guidance through the entire hosting process. Therefore, there are no worries, especially when you handling basic shared hosting.
Select a unique platform and theme for your project
Your project’s platform and theme are essential as it’s the container of the dynamic content you are required to post frequently. One of the most reliable and widely-known platforms is WordPress. The platform supports one-click installs of almost every hosting service. Of course, there are alternatives associated with these platforms, and they may be more effective in serving the same purposes. For any blogging platform, it is essential to consider every bone that will build up the blog. Therefore, it is necessary to identify a primary and proper structure for your blog before generating income.
Understand your direction
In the beginning, running your blog can seem a more challenging task. However, all you have to consider is to specialize in the clarity of your blog work. At the onset of your blog, you will have a range of items to cover. At this stage, you can find research on in-depth written pieces that explore more on blog management. Doing so saves you from frustrations and boredom at a tender stage of creating your blog. Develop realistic expectations within your context and match them with other ideas in a similar field before running straight into content generation.
Create your blog content
A smarter choice to consider at this stage is to gather enough informative and guiding materials. Don’t worry about spending some extra coin on some of these premium materials because the journey is worth it.
