Vivo teased the S5 earlier this week and today the company announced the smartphone will be unveiled on November 14 at an event in Hangzhou, China. The company made the announcement by posting a video on Weibo. It doesn't reveal anything about the S5, but the smartphone was spotted in a video last week with three cameras on its back arranged in a diamond-shaped formation. Details are scarce about the vivo S5 right now, but seeing how the S1 and S1 Pro were photo-centric devices, we expect the S5 to be aimed at the same audience and come with a 48/64MP primary camera and a 32MP...
Vivo teased the S5 earlier this week and today the company announced the smartphone will be unveiled on November 14 at an event in Hangzhou, China. The company made the announcement by posting a video on Weibo. It doesn't reveal much about the S5, but the smartphone was spotted in a video last week with three cameras on its back arranged in a diamond-shaped formation. Details are scarce about the vivo S5 right now, but seeing how the S1 and S1 Pro were photo-centric devices, we expect the S5 to be aimed at the same audience and come with a 48/64MP primary camera and a 32MP...
Vivo teased the S5 earlier this week and today the company announced the smartphone will be unveiled on November 14 at an event in Hangzhou, China. The company made the announcement by posting a video on Weibo. It doesn't reveal much about the S5, but the smartphone was spotted in a video last week with three cameras on its back arranged in a diamond-shaped formation. Details are scarce about the vivo S5 right now, but seeing how the S1 and S1 Pro were photo-centric devices, we expect the S5 to be aimed at the same audience and come with a 48/64MP primary camera and a 32MP...
A couple or so weeks ago an unannounced Huawei tablet leaked in some official-looking (yet low quality) renders, showing a punch-hole display housing a selfie camera in one corner, incredibly thin bezels for a tablet, a keyboard accessory, and a stylus that magnetically attaches to the tablet's top side. Today Evan Blass, aka @evleaks, has outed a new press render of the same device, and also provided us with its commercial name. It's going to be called Huawei MatePad Pro, and not MediaPad M7, as previously rumored. Given the design, stylus and keyboard support, and the name, Huawei...
A couple or so weeks ago an unannounced Huawei tablet leaked in some official-looking (yet low quality) renders, showing a punch-hole display housing a selfie camera in one corner, incredibly thin bezels for a tablet, a keyboard accessory, and a stylus that magnetically attaches to the tablet's top side. Today Evan Blass, aka @evleaks, has outed a new press render of the same device, and also provided us with its commercial name. It's going to be called Huawei MatePad Pro, and not MediaPad M7, as previously rumored. Given the design, stylus and keyboard support, and the name, Huawei...
A couple or so weeks ago an unannounced Huawei tablet leaked in some official-looking (yet low quality) renders, showing a punch-hole display housing a selfie camera in one corner, incredibly thin bezels for a tablet, a keyboard accessory, and a stylus that magnetically attaches to the tablet's top side. Today Evan Blass, aka @evleaks, has outed a new press render of the same device, and also provided us with its commercial name. It's going to be called Huawei MatePad Pro, and not MediaPad M7, as previously rumored. Given the design, stylus and keyboard support, and the name, Huawei...
Another day, another new media streaming service. This one courtesy of WarnerMedia. HBO Max is a streaming service offering the entire HBO service, plus original programming, and older content from the vaults. HBO Max is set to launch in May 2020.
From Cable Companies to Streaming Services
A decade ago, cable companies had consumers in their pockets. They could charge what they wanted, force bundles of unwanted channels on viewers, and generally take their customers for granted. Then Netflix arrived, and people started cutting the cord in droves.
Now, there are dozens of streaming services to choose from. All offering different movies and TV shows. The most recent additions being Apple TV+ and Disney+, which are priced at $4.99/month and $6.99/month, accordingly. And now HBO Max is joining the party.
Everything You Need to Know About HBO Max
As revealed at a glossy launch event in Burbank, California, HBO Max is launching in the US in May 2020. It will initially be priced at $14.99/month. An ad-supported tier will follow in 2021, with WarnerMedia also looking to expand into Latin America and Europe.
At launch, HBO Max will offer “10,000 hours of curated premium content”. This includes existing HBO shows, new original series, and content from Warner Bros., New Line, DC, CNN, TNT, TBS, truTV, TCM, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, and more.
The price point of $14.99/month mirrors that of HBO Now, which seems fair enough. However, it means HBO Max will be more expensive than any other major streaming service, including Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV+, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video.
The caveat is that people already pay for HBO, so some of you will end up getting HBO Max for no extra charge. The exact details are yet to be confirmed, but existing HBO subscribers on AT&T plus HBO Now direct-billed customers should get HBO Max for free.
Are There Too Many Streaming Services?
WarnerMedia is keenly aware it’s entering a crowded market. So it’s trying to differentiate HBO Max from the competition. So, besides the usual downloads, profiles, and parental controls, HBO Max will offer human-curated content and a co-viewing feature.
Whether this all pays off remains to be seen, but HBO Max stands as good a chance as any of the other newcomers of securing a foothold in the sector. All we know is that there are too many streaming services, and some will inevitably end up failing.
When you need to compose a document in Microsoft Word, starting with a template can be very helpful. Whether it’s a resume, report, proposal, plan, or another type of common document, templates give you a jumpstart with built-in formatting.
We’ve covered a lot of great free Microsoft Word templates before. But if you need a unique document type or simply want more choices, you might want to search for yourself. Here are six websites you can visit that offer the best selections when you want to download a Microsoft Word template for free.
When it comes to templates for Microsoft Word, what better place could there be to start than with Microsoft Office Online? The advantage of using this resource is that your templates come directly from Microsoft.
The site organizes their templates nicely so that you can search by keyword or browse by category, event, occasion, or application. And you’ll find hundreds of free templates for Word. For instance, resumes and cover letters, flyers and brochures, calendars and cards, and so many more.
When you see a template you want, select it to view a brief description. Click the Download button to use it on your computer or click Edit in Browser to open the template in Microsoft Word Online.
Another great spot for Word template downloads is Template.net. Since the site offers both free and paid templates, it can be tough to use the search box because you’ll see a mixture. It’s best to use the Templates button at the top and then pick a category from the Free Templates.
Template.net has free Word templates for everything from agreements to invoices to planners to vouchers. Once you pick a category, you’ll see an organized grid of results. Each template has icons for the applications that are compatible. So just look for that Microsoft Word logo which isn’t a problem as there are many.
You’ll have to sign up for a free account in order to download the templates. Once you do, pick a template, click Free Download and continue through the prompts to obtain the template.
A favorite for Microsoft Office templates is Vertex42. While the site concentrates mostly on templates for Excel, you’ll find a good selection for Word as well. At the top, you’ll see a navigation button for Word Templates. Just click that and you’re on your way to their full list.
You can find letters, resumes, flyers, and agendas or get specific with basketball rosters, exercise logs, and camping checklists. And if you select a template to view or download, you’ll see related templates at the bottom which is super helpful.
When you see a template you want to download, just select it to see a full description that includes the compatible applications and versions. Choose your version of Word, click the Download button, and then follow the prompts to obtain your template.
The WordTemplates.org website is all about its name. You can find tons of Word templates for your business or home, easily and all for free.
When you land on the site, you’ll see a simple way to navigate common template categories like business, brochure, certificate, flyer, and contract. You can also check out the recent and popular options along with searching for something specific.
Each template gives you a helpful description and image. When you find a template you want, select it and click the Download Now button. That’s it! You don’t have to sign up for an account or sift through paid templates. WordTemplates.org takes care of your Word template needs for free.
Hloom is a cool website that offers templates for all Microsoft Office applications, not just Word. So this is a handy one to bookmark if you need templates for Excel or PowerPoint down the road.
At the top, you’ll see Free Templates and can pick to see their collections or a specific template for things like invoices, certificates, invitations, or flyers. If you check out the Template Collections section, you’ll see the templates organized into categories from agreements to surveys.
When you see a template you like, select it for its description, samples, and more information about that type of document, which is helpful. Next to the filename, you can confirm it’s for Word with the DOCX extension in the name. Click the Download button and you’re set.
Stock Layouts is one more site you must check out for Microsoft Word templates. You’ll find many attractive and functional options for your project.
The site has both free and paid templates, so if you just want only the free options, click the Templates button at the top and choose Free Templates. Then, under Free Graphic Design Templates, click the dots to move through the categories.
When you find a template you like, select it and check the file formats for Microsoft Word because the site also provides templates for applications like Illustrator and Apple Pages. Sign in or sign up for a free account and then hit the Free Download button.
Some paid templates are priced individually, or you can subscribe to a plan. But there are plenty of templates available for free to get you started.
Happy Template Searching!
These six websites are wonderful resources for free Word template you can download. If you’re just beginning your search, check each one to find the exact template you want. You’ll end up having a favorite in this bunch, but if you bookmark them all, you won’t need to scramble at the last minute when searching for a Word template.
Some video game genres give you a quick fix, while others are slow burners designed to suck hours of your life away. Kingdom building and base building games are definitely the latter, and you can lose whole nights playing them.
There are lots of kingdom building and base building games available to play these days. In this article, we sort the wheat from the chaff, listing the best base building games and kingdom building games you can play right now.
Rimworld is a base and a city builder, as it is “a sci-fi colony sim driven by an intelligent AI storyteller.” It doesn’t let down. Your Rimworld game begins with just three survivors. With these three survivors, you must start a new civilization.
Rimworld is engaging, making no qualms of the non-competitive sandbox mode. Your survivors’ story is led through an AI storyteller. The storyteller creates pirate attacks, traders, storms, random flocks of chickens, and more.
The AI storyteller isn’t just a random number generator, either. It is modeled on the AI Director from Left4Dead, meaning the encounters and scenarios create a narrative, rather than a series of random destructive events.
Rimworld left Steam Early Access in October 2018 and still receives regular updates. It also has a bustling Steam Workshop full of mods, extensions, and new AI storytellers.
Stardew Valley is an extremely popular “open-ended country-life RPG” with a strong Harvest Moon influence. Stardew Valley straddles several genres. It isn’t strictly about building a city or a base, but about contributing to the healthy development of your city through a farming simulation.
On the face of it this sounds a little dull. But there is a good reason Stardew Valley players log thousands of hours in this incredibly engaging indie title.
Stardew Valley is a qualified indie success story. Its first week of sales in February 2016 saw Stardew Valley ship around 425,000 copies. In under two years, over 3.5 million copies of Stardew Valley had been sold.
Sole developer, Eric Barone, was taken aback with the universal appeal of the game, saying, “I never expected it to have such wide appeal. I mean, I’m super happy about it and blown away by the reaction, but I’m surprised too.”
Factorio players will be happy to learn that this article was entirely automated using a series of conveyor belts and mechanical grabbers. If you are yet to delve into the world of Factorio, get ready to book two weeks off of work as you build an enormous factory with the aim of building a shiny rocket.
Factorio is a true base builder. You harvest resources to feed a continually expanding factory. Researching unlocks new facilities, appliances, conveyor belts, and alien technology.
It sounds simple. In practice, your first base will become a twisting maze of spaghetti-like mechanical arms, pipes, and sorters powered using a variety of energy sources and protected with giant weaponry.
Factorio is elaborate and can feel hectic. You will definitely fall asleep wondering how to squeeze more efficiency from your logistics robots. Since its February 2016 release, Factorio has maintained a sensational 98% positive review rating on Steam, with nearly 2 million sales.
4. Subnautica: Base Builder and Undersea Exploration
Enter an alien world submerged deep underwater, filled with all manner of beautiful and horrific sea life, amazingly vibrant coral reefs, and stiflingly dark deep ocean trenches.
Brought to you by indie developers Unknown Worlds Entertainment, Subnautica has won many plaudits for its open-water survival style of gameplay, and a constantly expanding and developing ocean world for you to explore.
Subnautica spent four years in Early Access, and finally released proper in early 2018. Since then, it has sold millions of copies and maintains an excellent 93% positive rating on Steam.
You might sigh at the thought of yet another indie voxel survival base builder. But you shouldn’t. Subnautica will hold your attention from your first dip in the water to the murky, face-eating monster depths of terror.
What base, city, and kingdom building list could exist without Dwarf Fortress? The incredible city building and kingdom management game is an indie gem, through and through.
Dwarf Fortress is complex. You view the world in ASCII, making your screen feel busy. The controls are extensive, and you must micromanage your dwarves lest they kill themselves in any number of gruesome or amusing methods. Dwarf Fortress is completely open-ended, too, without any main objectives.
Islanders is a bright and vibrant city builder set on a tiny island. Your job is to build and maintain your island utopia through its fledgling village stages to a vast, bustling city.
There is no resource gathering in Islanders. You unlock new buildings via your high score, placing them like a puzzle to maximize your real estate. Buildings link together in a modular fashion, with each placement earning you more points.
Each island is procedurally generated, meaning no two places are the same. It keeps Islanders fresh, with a new challenge each time you play.
The newly established space colony trope gives developers an easy entry point. Setting your space colony city builder apart from the rest is more difficult. Planetside manages to rise above the rest as you guide a group of settlers toward the genesis of a new civilization.
In Planetside, you switch between the role of colony manager and base architect. Switching between and combining the two roles gives you a rounded approach to maintaining development while keeping the colonists happy, and, importantly, alive.
One important thing to note is that Planetside has you manage your ecology. Run out of oxygen, water, and food, and death will come knocking on your interlocking chamber doors.
They Are Billions is a base-building strategy game where you must overcome the infected hordes of a post-apocalyptic planet. You take control of one of the last remaining human colonies. Your task is to build and defend against the billions of infected attackers that arrive, wave after wave.
They Are Billions uses a custom game engine to power the decision making of the infected. You can face up to 20,000 units in real-time, all attempting to wipe out your colony. The They Are Billions infection is extremely virulent, too. If just one infected breaks through your defenses, the first workers it comes into contact with will contract the virus.
You control a group of exiled travelers, searching for the perfect spot to build a new town. Banished doesn’t make restarting life easy. In the beginning, you only have the clothes on the travelers backs and pack-cart, depending on the difficulty level.
Winters come and go. Each time, you wonder how many people will die of starvation as your summer crop yields were low. You wonder if the children will survive because your hunter caught an illness and died. You wonder if a trade vessel will arrive. And if it does arrive, will it be carrying anything useful?
Banished stopped receiving updates in 2017. However, there is a decent modding community that brings additional features to the game.
The Universim asks, “What would you do with the power?”
In The Universim, you are the creator, the almighty. Your actions shape the development of the world. In your infinite wisdom, guide your world from its genesis into a mighty kingdom. Reward the faithful and punish the disbelievers.
The Universim is an ecosystem, too. Every aspect is linked, and tweaking one area can have unintended outcomes elsewhere on the planet. Nature rolls in and out and is unpredictable and at times, dangerous and destructive.
The Universim is still in early access and receives regular updates and bug fixes.
What Is the Best Kingdom or Base Building Game?
With so many kingdom and base building games available to play, and so many choices that didn’t make the list, there is no definitive answer to this question. How can you choose the best base or kingdom building game with so many options available?
The trick is not to pick just one. Play all of the games on this list that appeal to you, and you’ll never be bored again. Just be sure to stock up on coffee for those all-night sessions.
Huawei's EMUI 10 open beta program has been active in China for some time now and the company is finally extending its availability to international users. Starting today, owners of the Mate 20 series, P30 lite, Nova 5T and P Smart 2019 will be able to test out the latest EMUI features. Complete list of supported devices: Mate 20 Mate 20 Lite Mate 20 Pro Mate 20 X P30 Lite Nova 5T P Smart 2019 P Smart + 2019 If your device is on the list and you want to test out the latest EMUI, you'll first have to download Huawei's Beta app. After that, you're several short steps...
Chinese phone maker Xiaomi will unveil its penta-camera smartphone, Mi CC9 Pro, on November 5. The company has already confirmed a few of the phone's features, and today it revealed its battery details. Xiaomi posted an image on Chinese social network Weibo confirming the phone will pack a 5,260 mAh battery. It will support 30W fast charging which will take the cell from flat to 58% in 30 minutes, and take another 35 minutes for a full charge. In another post, Xiaomi shared an image showing off the Mi CC9 Pro's curved edge screen with a waterdrop notch. Xiaomi says the phone will...
Chinese phone maker Xiaomi will unveil its penta-camera smartphone, Mi CC9 Pro, on November 5. The company has already confirmed a few of the phone's features, and today it revealed its battery details. Xiaomi posted an image on Chinese social network Weibo confirming the phone will pack a 5,260 mAh battery. It will support 30W fast charging which will take the cell from flat to 58% in 30 minutes, and take another 35 minutes for a full charge. In another post, Xiaomi shared an image showing off the Mi CC9 Pro's curved edge screen with a waterdrop notch. Xiaomi says the phone will...
Chinese phone maker Xiaomi will unveil its penta-camera smartphone, Mi CC9 Pro, on November 5. The company has already confirmed a few of the phone's features, and today it revealed its battery details. Xiaomi posted an image on Chinese social network Weibo confirming the phone will pack a 5,260 mAh battery. It will support 30W fast charging which will take the cell from flat to 58% in 30 minutes, and take another 35 minutes for a full charge. In another post, Xiaomi shared an image showing off the Mi CC9 Pro's curved edge screen with a waterdrop notch. Xiaomi says the phone will...
Xiaomi is expected to launch the Mi CC9 Pro next week, and the phone with 108 MP five-cam setup is going on the international market under a different name - Mi Note 10. While we thought they might be launched at the same time, today the Facebook page of Xiaomi Poland revealed it will have a premiere for new products on November 14, using the five-cam logo. The smartphone is expected to have all cameras on the back lined up vertically, coupled with two dual-LED flashes. Later Xiaomi posted two images on its social media channels, including the Polish version, where it is...
Xiaomi is expected to launch the Mi CC9 Pro next week, and the phone with 108 MP five-cam setup is going on the international market under a different name - Mi Note 10. While we thought they might be launched at the same time, today the Facebook page of Xiaomi Poland revealed it will have a premiere for new products on November 14, using the five-cam logo. The smartphone is expected to have all cameras on the back lined up vertically, coupled with two dual-LED flashes. Later Xiaomi posted two images on its social media channels, including the Polish version, where it is...
Xiaomi is expected to launch the Mi CC9 Pro next week, and the phone with 108 MP five-cam setup is going on the international market under a different name - Mi Note 10. While we thought they might be launched at the same time, today the Facebook page of Xiaomi Poland revealed it will have a premiere for new products on November 14, using the five-cam logo. The smartphone is expected to have all cameras on the back lined up vertically, coupled with two dual-LED flashes. Later Xiaomi posted two images on its social media channels, including the Polish version, where it is...
When your job involves analyzing data, being able to build databases is pretty useful. Recruiters in marketing, sales, finance, and many other sectors are actively looking for people with these skills. If you want to stand out from the crowd, the Ultimate MySQL Bootcamp can help. This learning library includes 34 video tutorials and five hours of content, transforming you from a coding virgin to a database expert. You can get the bundle now for $11.99 via MakeUseOf Deals — and use code 20LEARN20 for 20% off.
Data Bootcamp
For data sets under a certain size, it’s easy enough to crunch the numbers in a spreadsheet. But to make good decisions in business, you need as much data as possible. This is where MySQL skills come to the fore.
This course shows you how to build advanced databases from scratch. The video tutorials start with the basics, helping you learn SQL syntax and write your first lines of code. You then discover how to work with large data sets, run analysis using aggregate functions, and create complex queries.
Along with the videos, the Bootcamp includes loads of exercises, challenges and projects to help you hone your new skills. You can also claim a certificate when you complete the course.
Spotify has launched Spotify Kids, a standalone app designed for “the next generation of listeners”. This is Spotify built for kids. And it features a child-friendly UI and a collection of songs curated for even the youngest music lovers.
What to Expect From Spotify Kids
Spotify Kids is designed for kids aged 3+. There are thousands of songs available, all hand-picked by a team of editors. Younger children get Disney soundtracks and the like. Older kids can listen to pop songs from the likes of Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift.
The Kids app looks and feels different than the regular Spotify app. With a bright and colorful UI, and a cast of characters to choose from. The look varies by age group too, so the Spotify Kids app can evolve as kids grow up listening to Spotify.
I know many people who have worked on this for many many months. It is now out. Enjoy.https://t.co/EPxj7fjUyQ
Spotify Kids is exclusively available to Premium Family subscribers. This is partly due to the lack of ads. Spotify Kids is currently in beta, and only available in Ireland. However, it will be rolling out to all markets that currently have Premium Family.
According to the press release, Spotify has intentionally launched its Kids app in beta owing to “the sensitivities around content for children”. Spotify will use the beta to learn from “parents, caregivers and other experts as they begin to interact with the app.”
Download: Spotify Kids on Android | iOS (Only available to Premium Family subscribers)
Spotify Is Building for the Future
With the streaming wars starting to heat up, appealing to the next generation of subscribers could be the key to the longterm future of Spotify et al. If children associate a certain company with music, they’re more likely to stick with them as adults.
Got an old Android phone, or like to play the latest high-end mobile games? You might encounter memory problems from time to time, as your phone struggles to keep up with you.
But what can you do about it, if anything? Let’s take a look at how to manage RAM on Android.
1. If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It
The first point to make about managing memory on Android is that unless you’ve got an old or budget phone, you won’t need to do it at all.
Most mid-range to flagship devices from the last couple of years will have at least 4GB of RAM. A flagship from 2019, like the OnePlus 7 Pro or Galaxy Note 10 Plus, could have as much as 12GB. You never need to manage the memory on these devices.
For the most part, Android is very efficient when it comes to handling memory. If you do check and find that all (or most) of your available RAM is in use, don’t worry—that’s how it’s designed to work. Android tries to keep apps in memory for as long as it can, so that they start up again instantly next time you need them.
If and when it does need to free up some extra memory, the system will quietly close some of the apps you haven’t used recently in the background.
There’s an old adage: free RAM is wasted RAM. That definitely applies to Android.
2. How Much RAM Do You Need?
So you don’t need to manage your memory if your phone has got enough of it. But how much RAM is enough?
To an extent, it depends on how you use your phone. If you’re mostly doing light browsing and using social media, you can get away with a lot less than if you’re constantly playing PUBG or Call of Duty.
For 2019 flagships, Google decided that 6GB was plenty for the Pixel 4, while Samsung went with 8GB for the Galaxy S10 (which uses Samsung’s more resource-heavy skin). We’d suggest that 4GB is still enough for all but the most demanding users, and even 3GB is fine for lighter use. Below that, you’re pushing it.
Android and Google Play Services will use up to around 1.5GB of RAM on their own, and they’re running all the time. A game like PUBG will use over 1GB, and even having several browser tabs open at the same time can use a similar amount.
3. Find Out Which Apps Are Using Your RAM
The key to managing your memory is to first figure out how it’s being used, and which of your apps are hogging the most of it. You can do this with the Memory tool that was introduced in Android 6 Marshmallow.
Where you find it depends on what version of Android you’ve got:
On Android 6 Marshmallow and 7 Nougat, go to Settings > Memory.
From Android 8 Oreo onwards, the Memory section is inside the Developer options. To see this, first go to Settings > About phone, then tap Build number seven times to make the Developer options appear. Then go to Settings > Advanced > Developer options > Memory.
Once you’re there, you can see your average RAM use in the last three hours and the last day. Tap Memory used by apps to get a full breakdown on which apps use the most. This will help you identify those RAM-hungry programs and possibly replace them with better-performing alternatives.
4. Don’t Use Task Killers or RAM Boosters
We’ve known for many years that task killers are bad news for Android. Yet there are still large numbers of them on the Play Store, which continue to rack up tens of millions of downloads.
As we’ve already said, Android handles apps and memory efficiently already, so forcing apps to close will interfere with this process. It’ll also make your apps slower to start up next time you need them, as well as wasting additional processor and battery power along the way.
Worse yet, some apps are designed to run in the background. Shutting them down with a task killer will often simply result in them opening right back up again. That also wastes more resources than if you just left them alone.
If you do need to close an app for any reason, do it manually. Tap the Recents button at the bottom of the screen, or swipe up from the bottom if you’re using the new Android gestures. When your list of recent apps appears, close any you no longer need by swiping them away.
5. How to Use Less RAM
When you’re working with a phone that’s short on RAM, you can improve performance by trying to limit the amount of memory you use.
This isn’t always easy. Apps like Facebook and Snapchat are notorious resource hogs, but there’s no alternative if you use these services. But there are other steps you can take:
Cut down on the number of home screens you use, and don’t use live wallpapers or too many widgets that continually update.
Uninstall apps you no longer need.
Disable preinstalled apps you don’t use by going to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all X apps, locating the app, and tapping Disable.
Install any software updates as they become available—both for apps and the Android system.
Find alternative apps that use less memory.
6. Choose the Light Option
When Google launched Android Go for low-end phones, it also launched a series of lightweight Android Go apps as alternatives to its most popular offerings. You don’t need a Go phone to use these apps—they’ll work on any Android device and use a lot less RAM.
Once you’ve installed them, you can go ahead and disable the full-sized alternative using the method mentioned above. You usually cannot fully uninstall these built-in apps.
Don’t feel you need to stick with official Google apps either. You can often find faster, smaller alternatives to many of your favorite apps.
Chrome, for example, is quite RAM hungry, but you can easily replace it with something like Kiwi Browser. This is based on the same Chromium rendering engine, so web pages look the same. It just uses less memory.
Other Ways to Enhance Your Android Phone
Now you know how to manage your phone’s RAM, what to avoid, and how to make the most of your device. But a shortage of RAM isn’t the only hardware problem that’s likely to affect your phone. Fortunately, we can help you with those issues too.
Your Mac is not immune to problems. Occasionally, issues crop up in either macOS or your computer components. They can gradually worsen over time, or occur suddenly.
Sometimes your Mac will give a warning sign before these become major issues. It’s up to you to take notice and keep a close watch on the system. We’ll show you some common warning signs and discuss how to fix these problems.
1. Mac Won’t Turn On
You press the power button on your Mac, and nothing happens. There’s no power light, no sound, and a completely black screen. Instead of panicking, try these steps one at a time to diagnose the problem:
Check the power connections to make sure they’re secure on both ends. Next, check the wires for damage and try a different charger or cable.
Check the video-out cable connection with the external display (if any). Also, try raising the monitor brightness to make sure that it’s not turned down extremely low.
There might be a problem with your accessories. Unplug all peripherals except your keyboard and mouse, then try to boot. Plug in your peripherals after a reboot and see if it all works properly.
Perform a power cycle. On a modern MacBook, press the power button and hold it for ten seconds. If your Mac is running, it’ll cut the power and force it to restart. On a desktop Mac, unplug the cable and wait ten seconds. Then plug it in and restart.
Reset the SMC and NVRAM. This is the last step you should try before taking your Mac in for a repair.
Once you power on your Mac, a sequence of booting events occurs until the login screen or desktop appears. But if the startup process gets stuck, no matter how long you wait, you’ll see only a plain gray screen or one with symbols.
Depending on what you see, follow these instructions.
Plain Gray Screen
If you have a simple gray screen when you boot, here’s what to do:
Faulty peripherals are the primary cause of gray screen problems. Thus, you should detach all wired accessories, then press and hold the power button to shut down your Mac. Plug in one peripheral after each restart to find the culprit.
Try a Safe mode boot. If your Mac completes the startup process here, restart again in normal mode and verify that your startup drive is working properly.
If the Safe mode boot fails or gets stuck, then reset both NVRAM and SMC settings as mentioned earlier.
RAM with incorrect specifications can also result in a gray screen. Remove any RAM you’ve recently added and restart again.
Restart your Mac in Recovery mode by holding Cmd + R as you boot. Then, repair your startup drive with the disk repair utility.
Gray Screen With No Disk Icon
If the gray screen has a folder with a flashing question mark, then it means your Mac can’t find a valid startup volume. But when it shows a “Do Not Enter” symbol, it means that your macOS installation is corrupted.
To fix this:
Sometimes your Mac forgets the startup volume and momentarily shows a flashing question mark. To solve this problem, go to the Startup Disk pane in System Preferences and re-select your startup volume.
Boot your Mac in Recovery mode. In the Apple menu, check whether you can see the startup volume or not. If you can’t, the startup disk most likely has problems. Run the disk repair utility to fix the problem.
Occasionally, you may find that your Mac restarts spontaneously. When the screen comes back on, you’ll see a warning message, as shown above. This is known as a kernel panic—a type of low-level, system-wide crash that your macOS can’t recover from. It’s a bit like a blue screen of death on Windows.
The presence of this warning sign is what distinguishes kernel panics from app-related crashes and restarts. A single kernel panic is usually not a problem. But when it happens often, something more serious may be afoot. Since kernel panic tends to occur randomly, they’re often difficult to reproduce.
Causes and Solutions for Kernel Panics
Your Mac needs enough storage space to carry out day-to-day activities. A kernel panic could be a sign that you’re running critically low on disk space. See how to free up space on your Mac to regain some.
macOS is picky about the quality of RAM. If your RAM does not match the specifications or is even slightly defective, kernel panics or crashes can happen. Do a detailed Apple Hardware Test or Diagnostics to check your RAM.
Faulty or outdated peripherals can also result in kernel panics. Detach all peripherals except the power adapter, then reboot and check if it’s working properly. One by one, plug your external devices back in after each restart. If you find the problematic hardware, check for driver updates or contact the manufacturer.
Most of the time, macOS system updates include firmware updates. However, if you have an older Mac, you may be able to install firmware updates manually. Check Apple’s support page for EFI and SMC firmware updates, but know that it’s been archived by Apple. Also, check for updates for third-party apps. Bugs in apps may lead to a low-level system crash.
Safe mode can help isolate many issues that result in kernel panics. If your Mac boots in Safe mode, look for third-party libraries and system extensions in the Library folder.
4. Mac’s Fan Runs Excessively
Your Mac contains some vital sensors that respond to temperature changes inside your system. These turn on your fan and provide necessary airflow to cool critical components. They’re important because overheating can lead to physical damage.
Sometimes an app requires a great deal of processing power to complete its task. In such cases, your fans will run heavily and make noise. This is perfectly normal, and you shouldn’t worry about it. But when your fan runs constantly even though it isn’t experiencing heavy usage, that’s a red flag.
Here are some places to check when your fans are going crazy:
Your Mac has vents that let fans bring in cold air and expel hot air. Make sure they aren’t blocked. Avoid using your Mac in places like the couch, a pillow, in bed, or on your lap for extended periods of time.
Dust can accumulate on the vents, fan, and the surface of any parts. When dust blocks the airflow, the heat that does escape has nowhere to go. Periodic cleaning with a cloth or compressed air will help remove this dust.
A faulty temperature sensor, or an erroneous System Management Controller (SMC) setting, could cause your Mac to run the fan all the time. Reset your SMC using the guide linked earlier to fix the problem.
An app might be consuming too much CPU. Open Activity Monitor and visit the CPU tab. Check for any updates for apps using too much CPU, or report the issue to the developer.
5. Mac Keeps Turning Itself Off
You’re working on your Mac, and then it suddenly turns off for no obvious reason. MacBooks can randomly power off despite having an internal battery. This unpredictable issue results in the loss of unsaved work. Worse, it might damage your hardware and macOS.
When your Mac shuts off randomly, here’s what to do:
Check to make sure that the power cord is firmly seated on both ends. Next, review the cables for any damage. Try a spare cable if you have any doubts. And if you’re using a UPS, make sure that it’s working properly and you can power your Mac from the battery.
Go to Energy Saver settings in System Preferences and click the Schedule button to verify that your Mac is not scheduled to shut down automatically.
The SMC chip is responsible for power management and thermal fan controls. When it goes haywire, the fan starts running fast in response to heat and shuts down your Mac. Thus, this is another issue that resetting the SMC in your Mac can fix.
If your fan is not working, then your Mac can shut down due to overheating. To check the health of your Mac’s fan, try apps like Macs Fan Control and TG Pro.
Start your Mac in Safe mode and run it for a while to see if the problem happens there.
Regular Mac Backups Keep Data Safe From Trouble
Macs can have problems just like other computers. Defective components, the age of your Mac, and user-based errors can cause a variety of issues. You’ll notice from the tips here that there’s not a single clearly defined solution for these problems. As a result, these warning signs require thought and care.
That’s where the importance of backups comes in. When you back up your data regularly, you won’t lose your important information if your Mac suddenly stops working. See our guide to backing up your Mac with Time Machine to protect your files.
This has been the year when a lot of phone makers' lineups have gotten more confusing than ever, and Motorola is no exception. The One branding used to imply that phones with that name were part of the Android One program, but now... not so much. We're also getting more and more Motorola One branded handsets, and the latest of the bunch is the One Zoom. It has "Zoom" in the name, but its telephoto lens provides only 3x magnification, so it's bested on that front by competitors from Huawei and Oppo. Still, what's it like to use? We prepared a short and sweet video review for you that aims...
This has been the year when a lot of phone makers' lineups have gotten more confusing than ever, and Motorola is no exception. The One branding used to imply that phones with that name were part of the Android One program, but now... not so much. We're also getting more and more Motorola One branded handsets, and the latest of the bunch is the One Zoom. It has "Zoom" in the name, but its telephoto lens provides only 3x magnification, so it's bested on that front by competitors from Huawei and Oppo. Still, what's it like to use? We prepared a short and sweet video review for you that aims...
This has been the year when a lot of phone makers' lineups have gotten more confusing than ever, and Motorola is no exception. The One branding used to imply that phones with that name were part of the Android One program, but now... not so much. We're also getting more and more Motorola One branded handsets, and the latest of the bunch is the One Zoom. It has "Zoom" in the name, but its telephoto lens provides only 3x magnification, so it's bested on that front by competitors from Huawei and Oppo. Still, what's it like to use? We prepared a short and sweet video review for you that aims...
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Although a lot of Android device makers have already launched 5G capable smartphones, Apple is still holding out. This year's iPhones top out at 4G, but that situation has long been rumored to change in 2020. Now a new report out of Japan claims that next year's iPhones will employ Qualcomm's X55 5G modem, according to four people familiar with the plan. However, there may be supply constraints on the X55 as everyone will want to use it in 2020. Apple's A14 SoC that will debut in next year's 5G iPhones is said to use the world's most advanced 5nm fabrication process, and TSMC will be...
Although a lot of Android device makers have already launched 5G capable smartphones, Apple is still holding out. This year's iPhones top out at 4G, but that situation has long been rumored to change in 2020. Now a new report out of Japan claims that next year's iPhones will employ Qualcomm's X55 5G modem, according to four people familiar with the plan. However, there may be supply constraints on the X55 as everyone will want to use it in 2020. Apple's A14 SoC that will debut in next year's 5G iPhones is said to use the world's most advanced 5nm fabrication process, and TSMC will be...
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The Y500 Wireless is a new pair of Bluetooth headphones from the Samsung owned AKG Acoustics. It's a fairly affordable pair for casual, outdoor use with a compact, foldable design and some unique features for the price. The design of these headphones is quite appealing. It's quite compact, thanks to a relatively thin frame and small ear cups, and they also fold inwards to be stowed away easily. They come in four different colors, black, green, blue and pink. Build quality is average. They feel lightweight and plasticky with slightly loose joints. The headband length is adjustable...
The Y500 Wireless is a new pair of Bluetooth headphones from the Samsung owned AKG Acoustics. It's a fairly affordable pair for casual, outdoor use with a compact, foldable design and some unique features for the price. The design of these headphones is quite appealing. It's quite compact, thanks to a relatively thin frame and small ear cups, and they also fold inwards to be stowed away easily. They come in four different colors, black, green, blue and pink. Build quality is average. They feel lightweight and plasticky with slightly loose joints. The headband length is adjustable...
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After the Realme X2 went on sale in several European markets yesterday, the company announced its flagship X2 Pro is going on pre-order starting November 4. On launch, Realme will be able to ship the phone to Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain and the UK. The X2 Pro is every bit of a flagship phone with a 90Hz SuperAMOLED display, Snapdragon 855+ chipset and 64MP main camera. You also get the blazing 50W SuperVOOC charging to top up the 4,000 mAh battery. The baseline 6/64GB version comes with a €399 price-tag. There's also an 8/128GB...
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