Nothing makes me happier than resurrecting an old, slow, useless Windows PC by installing Linux on it. The result is a system that will almost always run faster, with almost zero chance of malware infections, and that affords all the computing basics. (Many of the latest computing advances, too.) Before you begin, read my tips …
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NBN can sell gigabit broadband today, but no one’s buying
In the minds of many, NBN equals speed. Or at least, it’s meant to. When’s it coming to my street? Why am I not getting full fibre? Why can’t I have crazy fast broadband right the hell now? Well, it turns out the NBN is ready to offer gigabit speeds right now, but retailers aren’t selling them. With last month’s …
Read More »Strava and Runkeeper bring GPS tracking to Android Wear 2.0
Popular running apps Strava and Runkeeper are now available for Android Wear 2.0 watches. You’ll be able to use both apps untethered from your phone (as long as your watch has GPS) to record activities and view real-time stats on time, pace, distance, laps, split times and heart rate. “Wear 2.0’s standalone model is forward thinking and innovative, and pushes …
Read More »Valve, of Half
Valve, the famous video game developer behind Half-Life, Portal, Team Fortress, Left 4 Dead and DOTA 2, doesn’t make a lot of games these days. When it does, they’re typically uber-popular, critically-acclaimed hits like the names above. So imagine our surprise to learn that Valve is working on not one, not two, but three new games right now — and …
Read More »Telstra users can now watch NRL, AFL and Netball data
The age of sitting around the family TV for Friday night football could soon be over if the telcos have their way. Telstra is hoping to lure more eyeballs away from the big screen towards mobiles with the launch of three revamped sports streaming apps for NRL, AFL and Netball. After its acquisition of Netball into its streaming portfolio this …
Read More »New York Times throws in free Spotify Premium with digital subscriptions
If you’ve been burning through your 10 free articles per month and thinking about getting a paid New York Times digital subscription, the news giant is adding a new incentive. New Times digital subscribers will also get free access to Spotify Premium if they sign up for a one-year all-access plan. The plan the deal applies to costs $5 per …
Read More »MacOS removed battery time remaining. Here’s how to bring it back
Before MacOS Sierra 10.12.2, you could click the battery icon in the menu bar to see how much time remained on your MacBook‘s battery, which as a rough estimate, is still more useful than seeing the percentage of battery life you have left. Thankfully, there are cheap or free apps that bring back battery time remaining to the menu bar. …
Read More »Apple patent points to potential iPhone 8 camera capabilities
While several media outlets focused on the TV-related patents from the gaggle Apple was granted this week, there was one that I think points to a camera update (or at least new features) for the iPhone 8. Originally published in December 2016, it covers “optimizing capture of focus stacks.” Doesn’t sound sexy? Focus stacking would enable some really neat capabilities, …
Read More »Google says ‘Android Wear is not a hobby’
Now playing: Watch this: Google is committed to Android Wear, says VP 1:16 Even if you buy into Tim Cook‘s pitch that he can’t make enough Apple watches to keep up with demand, the tech industry hasn’t had much luck popularizing smartwatches. But Google‘s not giving up. After a months-long delay, Google on Wednesday released its first major update to …
Read More »Nintendo Switch won’t support your internet browsing at launch
If you were planning to use your Nintendo Switch to surf the web when it comes out March 3, you’re out of luck. The Switch won’t have an internet browser upon launch, Nintendo’s president, Tatsumi Kimishima, revealed in an interview with Time this week. “In terms of the internet browser, since all of our efforts have gone toward making Switch …
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