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Best outdoor security cameras 2024

By admin January 8, 2024

Best outdoor security cameras 2024, If you’re shopping for the best outdoor security cameras of 2024, you’ll want to find something that’s weatherproof, captures high-quality footage, and works well at night. It’s also important to consider your budget and ongoing subscriptions that may be required to access premium features such as cloud saving and person detection.

Regardless of your budget, there’s an outdoor security camera that’ll fit your needs. From premium products crafted by Ring to budget-friendly options like those from Wyze, there are dozens of well-reviewed models that are perfect for protecting your home.

In fact, some of the best outdoor security cameras also double as floodlights, allowing you to light up your yard. Others are wireless for easy installation, while a handful require wired connections (though this allows for continuous monitoring).

Below, you’ll find a list of the best outdoor security cameras of 2024. You can’t go wrong with any of them, but each one caters to a specific audience and budget, so take a closer look at each to figure out which is best for your home.

John Velasco / Digital Trends

Arlo Pro 4

Best outdoor security camera

The Arlo Pro 3 was our pick for the best outdoor security camera for some time, but after testing the Arlo Pro 4, it brings a couple of new additions that help it earn our top pick. Just like its predecessor, it packs 2K video resolution and a wide 160-degree viewing angle. Also included are a weatherproof camera with color night vision, a built-in LED spotlight, and a built-in siren that can alert you to danger.

What makes this model superior is the fact that it no longer is tethered to a hub in order to talk with your home’s Wi-Fi network. You won’t need it this time, which certainly streamlines the setup process. And best of all, not only does it perform as exquisitely as the Arlo Pro 3 when it comes to safeguarding your home, but it now boasts a lower starting cost of $200 for a single camera, whereas the Arlo Pro 3 started at $500 for a 2K camera system.

The Arlo Pro 4 includes a three-month free trial of Arlo Smart, which gives you access to advanced features like 30 days of recording history, activity zones, enhanced 911 calling, and advanced detection features.

Best outdoor security cameras 2024

.Arlo

Arlo Pro 5S 2K

Best premium outdoor security camera

Pros

• Captures 2K footage

• Low Power mode extends battery life

• Impressive 160-degree field of view

Cons

• Expensive

• Very similar to the more-affordable Arlo Pro 4

The Arlo Pro 5S 2K doesn’t cut any corners. Featuring a camera that captures 2K video, a wide field of view, sleek design, and color night vision, few products can match its performance. Unfortunately, all those features come at a price, as the Arlo Pro 5S 2K clocks in at $250.

That makes it one of the most expensive security cameras on this list, but if money is no object, it deserves a closer look. Not only does it offer every feature found on our beloved Arlo Pro 4, but it also features Dual-Band Wi-Fi for simplified installation, SecureLink Connectivity that allows it to stay protected during power outages, and a Low Power Mode that offers a 30% boost to battery life.

But beyond those features, it’s eerily similar to its cheaper sibling. Still, if you need an outdoor security camera that’s as cutting-edge as possible, you can’t do better than the Arlo Pro 5S.

Wyze Cam v3

Best budget outdoor security camera

Night vision is a vital feature for every outdoor security cam — you don’t want the darkness to hide any detail, especially if something like a break-in happens. While our top cam picks include various kinds of night vision, Wyze’s indoor/outdoor cam is particularly notable thanks to its Starlight Sensor, which can record night-time video in full color for users.

This wired cam includes all the other smart features that make Wyze’s cams a great pick, including a motion and sound sensor for alerts, detection zones, sensitivity settings that you can tweak for best results, and two-way audio for communication. It’s also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant and is friendly with IFTTT if you’d like to set up complex routines based on the alerts the cam gives you.

The Wyze Cam v3 also has one of the best free video storage options around, with a 14-day cloud storage option for video clips at zero cost. There’s also an SD card slot for local storage if you prefer that method. While it’s an indoor/outdoor cam, you don’t need to worry: All the outdoor IP65 resistances are included for all types of weather.

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro

Best wireless outdoor security cam

Amazon’s update to the Ring Spotlight Cam is an excellent option for those who don’t want a full floodlight camera, but would still like lots of illumination for their porch, patio, or driveway. The surprisingly bright LED lights on either side of the cam can be set to light up along with the motion detection features.

There’s a little bit of everything packed into the Spotlight Cam Pro’s design, including basics like 1080p video, night vision, and two-way audio. But Ring also has some extras, like a siren you can sound, advanced 3D motion detection, and a “Bird’s Eye” view option that gives you a model for where a subject may have gone. We also like that it’s battery-powered with an option to plug into an outlet.

As with all Ring cams, you will really want a Ring Protect plan to enable video storage and video sharing, but otherwise, this is the most comprehensive wireless security cam we’ve seen to date.

Blink Wired Floodlight Camera

Best floodlight camera

Blink makes plenty of great outdoor cameras, but few are as great as the Blink Wired Floodlight Camera. As one of the newest members of the Blink family, the Wired Floodlight Camera offers heaps of functionality despite its budget-friendly price of $99.

In case the name didn’t give it away, the Blink Wired Floodlight Camera isn’t just an outdoor camera – it’s also a floodlight. And a bright one at that, capable of producing 2,600 lumens of LED light. You’ll also benefit from motion detection, a wired connection that offers a constant power supply, and color night vision. Its design is a bit bulkier than others on this list, but that’s largely due to the massive floodlights that loom over the camera.

Anyone in the market for an outdoor camera that’s both affordable and powerful (and comes with shockingly bright floodlights) should give strong consideration to Blink’s new product. But if you’re looking for something with a more streamlined design, consider looking back at the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro mentioned above.

.Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

Ring Stick Up Cam Pro

Best indoor and outdoor security camera

Pros

• Easy installation process

• 1080p video with HDR support

• Can also double as an indoor cam

Cons

• Expensive

• No privacy shutter

It’s a bit expensive, but you’re getting a lot of value out of this investment. The Ring Stick Up Cam Pro is designed to work both indoors and outside – giving it plenty of versatility. Along with its weatherproofing, the camera offers HDR video and films in 1080p, supports two-way audio, and is easy to install thanks to its wire-free setup.

One minor sticking point is its lack of a built-in privacy shutter. That might be an issue if you’re using it indoors, though you can quickly toggle alerts off and disarm the camera from the Ring smartphone app. But if you have it installed outside, you likely won’t miss the feature. You’ll also want to spring for a monthly Ring subscription to unlock additional features such as cloud saves and smart alerts.

Beyond those minor quirks, there’s not much to dislike about this powerful outdoor camera. Homes with other Ring products already installed will love how easy it is to sync the device with the rest of their smart home, and Ring newcomers will enjoy its high-quality images, simple setup, and generous 155-degree viewing angle.

Ring Stick Up Cam Pro

Best indoor and outdoor security camera

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I place outdoor security cameras?

FBI crime data indicates that most (around 55%) home intruders try to get into homes through either the front or back door. So, you may want to have your security camera scoping out your doors. It’s also a good idea to cover other entry points, like back windows, that are hidden away where someone could break in without being seen.

Where exactly to mount your outdoor cameras, however, depends on your property and your individual needs. You may have a shed in the back that contains expensive lawn equipment, for instance, and you might want to place more focus on that area. Perhaps your neighborhood has experienced a few break-ins recently, and the intruders typically enter through the garage, so you want to cover your garage area.

How many security cameras do I need?

Typically, having at least two outdoor cameras is ideal, not including your video doorbell. If you have a video doorbell to watch your porch, combined with an outdoor security camera covering the front and back areas of your home, this should be sufficient. However, if you have a large property, live in an area where there’s a lot of property crime, or if you have vehicles or valuables stored on your property, you may want to add in an extra camera or two.

Can you use an indoor security camera outdoors?

No. An indoor camera does not have the necessary protection from the elements, so it won’t hold up outside. Some cameras are rated for indoor or outdoor use, and you can use those cameras outside. If you want to point your indoor camera out a window to watch the outdoors, you technically can do so. However, the camera’s features probably won’t work as well, and you’re better off just buying a cheap outdoor camera.

Can outdoor security cameras be used indoors?

Yes, although it’s not usually recommended because the cameras designed for outdoor use may not work optimally indoors. Again, you can opt for a camera that’s rated for both indoors and outdoors, like a dome camera.

Do all outdoor security cameras have two-way audio?

The short answer is no. Many wired outdoor cameras feature two-way audio, which allows you to speak back and forth with someone through the camera via an app on your phone, but not all outdoor cameras have this feature.

If two-way audio is something you’re interested in, consider doing research on which cameras have it, and of the ones that do, read up on which are better. Not all two-way audio is created equal — some companies do it well, while others do not. Keep in mind that cameras with two-way audio might cost a bit more than those that don’t feature the technology.

How well does night vision work on an outdoor security camera?

Night vision on cameras typically uses infrared light to illuminate dark images at night. Essentially, cameras with night vision use this technology to backlight images to help you see what’s happening in the field of view. Most outdoor security cameras feature night vision, but the quality varies from model to model.

If you’re looking for superior night vision, go for the Arlo camera listed above, or research night vision quality before making a purchase.

How well do outdoor security cameras detect motion?

Motion sensitivity in outdoor security cameras varies widely, but generally, the technology works well regardless of the model you choose. Most cameras, even inexpensive ones, do an excellent job of detecting motion, and, if the camera is connected to an app, it will send a motion alert to your phone. Most people find that motion settings on cameras are too sensitive, meaning that things like rain, bugs, or even bright sunlight can trigger an alert.

If you’re concerned about motion alerts, consider buying a camera that not only sends you motion alerts so you can monitor what’s happening on your property but also allows you to adjust the motion sensitivity so that small things aren’t triggering it all the time.

Can outdoor security cameras survive severe weather?

Most outdoor cameras have a rating of IP65 or higher, which means they are waterproof and can withstand someone spraying a hose on them. That usually (but not always) means that a camera with that rating can withstand extreme temperatures ranging from -40 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit or similar.

Cameras vary slightly in terms of survival in extreme weather, but anything with a rating of IP65 or higher will be fine for most climates. If you live in an extremely hot or extremely cold climate, you might want to consider a camera with a rating of IP66 or higher.

Do I have to pay for storage for an outdoor camera?

This depends a lot on the brand and the model. Generally, if a security cam has a memory card slot, you can use native storage without paying anything — it’s just a little trickier to manage. If you want video footage to be uploaded to the cloud for easier viewing and saving, you’ll often have to pay for it. Brands like Arlo and Ring only allow for free livestreaming video and require a plan if you want to save video for any length of time. Google is one of the best options here because its Nest cam offers a certain amount of free online storage without needing a subscription.

Is an outdoor security camera ever illegal?

It can be, although privacy laws haven’t entirely caught up with home security cams yet. Generally speaking, you can’t point a camera where people have the expectation of privacy. Pointing a cam at your porch and the street in front? Totally fine, it’s considered a public area. Pointing a camera so that it captures footage of your neighbor’s backyard or looks into their windows? Illegal, and you could get successfully sued for it.

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The best PDF editors for 2024

By admin January 7, 2024

The best PDF editors for 2024, The PDF file format has great support for text and video, as well as an efficient file size, making it a great format for all kinds of documents and data. It’s also excellent for preserving the quality and formatting of a document.

Adobe Acrobat is perhaps the most well-known PDF editor, but there are other options to consider. Having access to a PDF editor opens the possibility of editing document texts, adding images, filling out forms, combining PDF files, and converting your PDF files to other formats. A PDF editor is a useful tool if you work with this format regularly, and these are the best ones to use.

Adobe Acrobat Pro

The best PDF editor overall

Adobe

Adobe first introduced the PDF format over 30 years ago, and Acrobat Pro is the current industry standard for editing PDF files. It’s a PDF editor that combines the hallmarks of the other programs on our list into a unified piece of software. It’s also one of the few premium programs available for both Windows and macOS. Acrobat Pro boasts dedicated mobile functionality (with iOS and Android apps) and the ability to convert various file formats to PDF, including multiple web pages (HTML), Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, and even scans or image files like PNG or JPG.

Simply put, you can’t do much better than the premium version of Adobe Acrobat Reader for editing your PDF files. It has an array of text-editing options and can instantly convert and save scanned documents to PDF. It even has the ability to merge multiple PDF files. Adobe’s editing options also include reordering pages, page rotation, annotations, page cropping, page removals, and being able to split PDFs into separate files.

Get Adobe Acrobat Pro

The best PDF editors for 2024

[dropcap type=”background”] Best Free FPS Games for Mac 2024 [/dropcap]

PDFgear

The best free PDF editor

.Jon Martindale/Screenshot / DigitalTrends

PDFgear is a free PDF editor that rivals some of the best paid-for solutions with its range of features. It’s the new favorite app of one of our Computing section writers. It even has ChatGPT built right in, letting it summarize PDFs or search information in them for quick reference. PDFgear can also edit, merge, compress, convert, and even sign PDFs. You can draw with a mouse, upload a signature image, or type in your signature.

Better yet, its offline application is free, so you can sign and edit important and sensitive documents without fear of some online service looking over your shoulder. There’s an online editor if you need to sign or edit a PDF when you don’t have the option of installing the application, and it’s just as fully featured.

PDFgear isn’t just a great PDF editor, it’s a productivity-boosting tool. With its AI integration, you can find information from PDFs faster and interact with them in natural ways — just ask the AI to perform a task.

Try PDFgear

Microsoft Word

The most convenient PDF editor

.Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you use Microsoft Office, then you already have access to a versatile PDF document editor.

In the past, versions of Microsoft Word were limited to saving a document in or out of the PDF format, and that was about it. However, the more recent 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365 versions allow you to open a PDF and then make specific edits to the piece as a Word document. When finished, you can save it as a PDF again. This is especially useful because many people are already most comfortable editing documents in the Microsoft Word format.

It’s a simple tool, and formatting doesn’t always line up correctly based on the PDF, but it’s an excellent alternative if you need to dip into a PDF fast for a bit of basic editing or text changes. Plus, Word is a straightforward editing tool for employees and students who are already familiar with Word and don’t want to learn a new program.

While there are limited ways you can use Microsoft Word for free, it is generally software that you have to pay to use, either via a subscription or a hefty one-time payment.

Try Microsoft Word

PDF Architect 9

The best full-featured PDF editor

.Image used with permission by copyright holder

German company Pdfforge has a unique purchase model for its PDF Architect program. It’s available as a free download or as part of three separate packages (Standard, Professional, and Pro+OCR). Each package includes a set of modules for the program, which dictate its editing power. The Standard package includes the Edit, Convert, and Page modules. Professional features all the modules from the Standard package and adds the Review/Comment, Secure, and Forms modules. Finally, Pro+OCR has everything from the Professional package and the OCR Advanced module. Full descriptions of each module can be found on the Pdfforge website.

The premium versions of PDF Architect have pricey annual subscriptions but the full suite of editing tools makes up one of the most complete, inclusive PDF editors out there. The latest version of PDF Architect is PDF Architect 9, and premium subscriptions to it include features such as editing text, the ability to convert PDFs into other file formats, support for comments/annotations, and password protection of your PDFs.

The free version of PDF Architect comes with the ability to create PDFs from Microsoft Office documents (Excel, PowerPoint, and Word), the ability to view PDFs, and you can use it to merge PDFs. The free version also lets you remove, rotate, and move pages.

Get PDF Architect 9

Sejda PDF Editor

The best online PDF editor

.Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sejda is a web app designed for speedy PDF editing, and it does that very well. It’s straightforward, focusing on fast PDF signatures and only basic text editing for the files you upload. But that’s also why we like it. This online, free PDF editor lets you do all sorts of things to PDFs, including changing font formatting, adding images, filling out forms, adding or editing hyperlinks, adding form fields, making annotations, and signing PDFs. You can even sign a PDF file with four options: Drawing your signature with your mouse, typing in your name, uploading an image of your signature, or using your webcam to capture a signature you wrote on a piece of paper.

It provides explicit instructions, making it hard to mess anything up, and it’s quick. If your boss or co-worker doesn’t really understand how to use technology or have the patience to download new apps — but you still need their signature on a random PDF file — this is one of the best ways to e-sign a document.

If you’re looking for an easy online PDF editor, then give this one a shot. The free version does come with some limitations, however: You can only upload up to 200 pages or 50 Mb, and you can only do three “tasks per hour.”

Get Sejda

PDFescape

The best free PDF editor

.Image used with permission by copyright holder

PDFescape is a free web app, so it’s accessible through your favorite browser. There’s no lengthy installation process to slow down your work. Users can access the editor using any operating system, as long as they can connect to the internet. PDFescape’s service is compatible with Safari, Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Opera browsers.

You can just pull up a PDF document in the PDF viewer and start adding text and images and even white-out old content. There are handy features like zoom and rotate to see small or awkwardly angled text better, and you can use a flurry of standard tools, such as a form designer and several annotation features.

There’s also a desktop version with all of the same features as the free online version, plus desktop PDF editing, more editing features, the ability to print and scan to PDF, and you can convert your PDF files to other formats. Depending on which premium plan you select, the desktop version can cost $3 or $6 per month (when billed annually). Luckily, you won’t need an internet connection to use the premium desktop versions, and $3 to $6 a month isn’t too bad. Overall, it’s a functional, simple PDF editing tool. If you aren’t looking for anything too complicated, give it a try.

Get PDFescape

PDF-XChange Editor

Another great free PDF editor

.PDF-XChange Editor/Tracker Software

PDF-XChange Editor is a free PDF editor that comes with a laundry list of features. Some of these features include editing text, adding or listening to audio comments, annotations, adding custom stamps, adding or editing hyperlinks, and the ability to move, add, or edit bookmarks. You won’t, however, be able to edit scanned documents. PDF-XChange has support for Sharepoint, Google Drive, and Microsoft Office 365, which means you can access documents via those cloud services and convert them to or from a PDF as needed by using PDF-XChange Editor.

If you need more than what the free version offers, you’ll need to upgrade to purchasing a license. If you do so, you’ll gain access to features such as Bates numbering, deleting pages, moving pages, inserting blank pages, and header and footer support. It’s also worth noting that the free version will put a watermark on the documents you edit or create with that version. Licenses start at $56 for one user with one year of maintenance.

PDF-XChange Editor is only compatible with Windows devices.

Get PDF-XChange Editor

PDFelement Pro

.iSkySoft / iSkySoft

PDFelement Pro from iSkysoft is a free and paid-for PDF editor with a range of impressive features. PDFelement Pro offers two kinds of free trials of their PDF editing software: unregistered vs. registered. The unregistered free trial lets you download and use the software for free without creating an account, but it only lets you use a few features like viewing and creating PDFs. A registered free trial means you have to create an account but it’s only a 14-day free trial in which you’re allowed to try out “nearly all” its features. Both free trial types will still add watermarks to PDFs you save.

If you don’t want the watermarked trial versions, you can choose between purchasing one of three plans: a year plan, a two-year plan, or a perpetual plan. They all pretty much offer the same benefits (no watermarks are added, full access to all features, and free tech support), but how long you have access to its features and how updates are handled depends on which plan you pick. The premium versions also include features like: compressing PDFs and extended access (beyond the 14-day trial) to features like page cropping, signing PDFs, and page splitting. PDFelement Pro also includes AI tools, such as summarizing and translating documents.

PDFelement Pro is available for both Windows and MacOS devices.

Get PDFelement Pro

FAQ

What should you look for in a PDF editor?

There are a few factors you should look for when choosing a PDF editor:

• File format compatibility and support. Will it allow you to convert your document file into a PDF or vice versa? Which file formats does the PDF editor support, and do they include the format of your particular document? This is particularly important for editing scanned documents.

• Will the edited version of your document retain the same formatting as the original? Sometimes, after editing a PDF via a third-party app or editor, you can lose your document’s original formatting, or the formatting will just look awkward and off. Make sure that the editor you choose is able to keep your newly edited document formatted the same.

• Does it have a simple interface with a few features or a complex one with lots of editing options, and which do you prefer? This depends on your actual needs. If you frequently edit PDFs and need access to lots of editing features, you may be better off using an app with lots of options but a cluttered user interface. Learning how to use it may take longer, but if you’re a frequent PDF editor, it may be worth it in the long run. If all you need is a quick edit here and there and don’t require complicated edits, you should opt for an editor with a simple and easy-to-use interface, though you may sacrifice access to more detailed editing features.

• Free or paid? Free editing apps tend to be best for those who don’t need to edit PDFs that often or don’t need access to a wide variety of editing options. Premium editing apps tend to be more worth it for those who regularly edit PDFs and need to do extensive and detailed editing. This is because paying a subscription or one-time fee will usually unlock more features or editing options that the free versions don’t have.

What are the benefits of using Microsoft Word to edit PDFs?

There are lots of benefits to using Microsoft Word for editing PDFs:

• You’re probably already familiar with the software. It’s likely that you’ve already used Microsoft Word before in school or at the office. So you won’t need to learn new editing software, and it’ll be easier for you to use.

• It’s probably already on your computer. If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you already have Microsoft Word on your computer, which means you don’t need to download or pay for a new editing software.

• You can easily convert it to a Word document for editing and then save it again as PDF. Later versions of Word will allow you to convert your PDFs into Word documents for easy editing. Then you can save your newly edited Word document as a PDF.

• It’s ideal for quick editing or text changes. If all you need to do is change a few words or make other minor edits, Microsoft Word is a good option for those quick-and-dirty edits. If you need a PDF editor that can handle more complex edits or does a better job of maintaining your document’s original formatting, then you may want to look at other PDF editor options.

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Best Free FPS Games for Mac 2024

By admin January 6, 2024

Best Free FPS Games for Mac 2024, Here is the list of the best free FPS games for Mac in 2024 that you can play and have an amazing gameplay experience. Play any or all of these MacBook FPS games to blow off some steam.

First-person shooter (FPS) games have come a long way from the days when Mac users had to settle for less-than-stellar options. In the year 2024, there are several free first-person shooter games that provide amazing gameplay and gorgeous visuals that are capable of keeping any player captivated.

This article will provide you with a list of the top best FPS games for Mac users, as well as a breakdown of the distinctive aspects of each game, so that you may choose the one that most satisfies your need for a rush of adrenaline.

Among these, the one that sticks out the most is Borderlands 2 owing to the fact that it has an interesting plot, a great armament, and excellent cooperative gaming elements. Its unique combination of comedy, role-playing, and action keeps players engrossed for a long period of time.

Let’s get right down to the nitty-gritty of the top first-person shooter games for Mac in 2024.

List of the Best Free FPS Games for Mac

If you are looking for some free first-person shooter games for Mac then in the coming sections of the article, we have listed some of the best ones for you. Try all of these and then download and play any or all as suited.

1. Paladins- The Best FPS for Mac

The first name on this list of the best free FPS games for Mac is Paladins. Paladins provide a seemingly unlimited range of strategic methods and group configurations to choose from. The breathtaking visuals of this game, together with its silky smooth performance on Mac platforms, contribute significantly to an overall better gaming experience.

The game is well-spoken for the good FPS games for Mac. This is because the players can be certain that they will never run out of new challenges to conquer in Paladins thanks to the game’s extensive competitive environment and consistently updated content.

Paladins is a first-person shooter game that offers numerous hours of intense action, regardless of whether you are new to free first-person shooter games for Mac or a veteran searching for an immersive multiplayer experience with the best FPS games for Mac.

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2. Metro Exodus

Second in this list of free FPS games for Mac is Metro Exodus. There is a wide variety of missions to choose from, each of which is arranged into a category based on the degree of challenge you are ready to face. In order to stay alive till the very end, you have to be quick on your feet, think strategically, and be a skilled shot. Today, on your Mac, you may get a look of this incredible work of art.

Within the rubble of a post-nuclear Moscow, you will find yourself in the middle of an exciting adventure. Players have the opportunity to hone their abilities in a variety of settings, some of which include desolate wastelands and creepy subterranean passageways.

For one of the best MacBook FPS games, Metro Exodus provides a visually captivating experience because of its sophisticated graphics engine, which enables the game to produce amazing images.

3. Dying Light

Let’s know about the next name on this list of free FPS games for Mac. In addition to venturing out on your own, you also have the option of teaming up with another player in the game in either cooperative or competitive modes to enjoy many hours of enjoyment. The downloadable content inside the game will take you on an even more thrilling, action-packed journey. Dying Light is without a doubt the first-person shooter game available for Mac that gives players the creeps the most.

Dying Light’s dynamic day-and-night cycles provide an interesting new wrinkle to the action by displaying the behavior and strength of your adversaries in different ways at different times of the day. Before acting in this one of the best free first-person shooter games for Mac, you need to give this some serious consideration.

This is the best FPS for Mac as it gives off an alluring vibe because of the improved, high-quality textures and realistic lighting effects that have been included with the intention of bringing players further into the post-apocalyptic setting.

4. Black Ops III- Call of Duty

Black Ops III is one of the top-rated free FPS games for Mac. If you are the kind of person who stays up all night to play video games, you can be certain that you will get addicted to this game as a result of the consistent content updates and new in-game expansions.

The fact that there is always something new to discover in Call of Duty: Black Ops III is one of the aspects of the game that we like the most. The game is a first-person shooter game of a professional caliber that you really have to experience if you are interested in expanding your horizons in this genre.

This is one of the fastest-paced FPS games for Mac that doesn’t leave any questions unanswered as it leads you through an intriguing narrative that’s full of unexpected turns and surprises. In addition, the incredible variety of sophisticated multiplayer modes available for competitive online games is a real treat.

Black Ops III provides the finest experience of all the free first-person shooter games for Mac that is without a doubt unparalleled, thanks to its jaw-dropping visuals, improved gameplay mechanics, and silky smooth performance on Mac platforms.

5. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

CS GO is indeed one of the best free FPS games for Mac. The ability for gamers to interact with other enthusiasts via participation in online leagues and tournaments helps to cultivate a feeling of community among gamers. And don’t worry about being uninterested in what you’re doing.

Your best FPS games for Mac gameplay will remain engaging and forward-thinking for many years to come thanks to regular upgrades from Valve. Even though it is now downloadable for Macs, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive continues to be a favorite option among players. Therefore, there is no reason not to immediately embrace the chance.

Gamers for the best MacBook FPS games may now experience the thrill of playing a game that combines aspects of competition and strategy, all made possible by recent developments in technology.

With its diverse selection of game types, including the time-honored bomb disposal and hostage rescue scenarios, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive provides gamers of all experience levels with the opportunity to uncover something they haven’t seen before.

6. Fortnite

Fortnite on the Mac is still in Season 3, despite having received the Season 4 update on every other platform. But it’s still one of the best free FPS games for Mac. It’s possible that some games won’t even support matchmaking. There are rumors that a dedicated first-person mode will be introduced to Fortnite, despite the fact that the game is not technically a first-person shooter.

Fortnite has many of the same characteristics as other best FPS games for Mac.

Macs are able to run Fortnite smoothly, but the game is now in an unusual position owing to legal issues with both Apple and Google. Read the notification on Epic Games’ website for the whole story.

The short version is that Apple demanded that Epic Games only accept payments via Apple Pay rather than providing customers with a variety of payment choices. After Epic Games’ refusal, Apple took the drastic measure of preventing any software made by Epic Games from being compatible with their operating system. Thus, indeed making it the best FPS for Mac.

7. Borderlands 2

Borderlands 2 is without a doubt one of the finest options for the free FPS games for Mac for you if you’re searching for a game that offers a distinctive combination of furious gameplay, a comedic narrative, and a massive open-world setting.

The mix of engrossing shooting mechanics and humorous dialogue delivery, along with an immersive universe, makes this one of the best FPS games for Mac and is a must-play for both veteran first-person shooter players as well as newbies to the genre. Those who like participating in online gaming should not be concerned with this addition to this list of good FPS games for Mac.

This game has a full multiplayer option that allows you to easily switch between playing with other people and engaging in competitive combat. Even on Macs, the game runs well because of its cel-shaded visuals, which are a wonderful match for the game’s unique art style. Thus, concluding the list of the first-person shooter games Mac.

8. World of Tanks

If you love playing war-based games like Call Of Duty and Battlefield, then you will surely get a huge kick out of World of Tanks. Just as informed, World of Tanks is a war-based game that works mostly with tanks. In the game, you are required to win different wars using tanks and smart combat tactics.

The allows you to hame a number of different vehicles, accessories, armor, weapons, canons, and more. Using all these elements, you can upgrade your tank to the next levels. There are multiple spawning or gaming maps in the game. Use the smartest of tactics, and win against other online players and gamers.

Which One of the Best Free FPS Games for Mac Did You Like?

This piece has provided a rundown of several free FPS games for Mac users in the year 2024 may play and have a great time with.

Not only have free-to-play games been easier to get into, but they have also become more complex. They now compete with their paid equivalents in terms of quality, complexity, and player involvement.

These are some game titles that have always stood out among the countless others that have been published on various websites. Even if these first-person shooter Macs aren’t the newest ones on the list, they are still our top picks because of their continuing appeal, intriguing narratives, and varied gameplay.

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Internet

Best Free and Public DNS Servers 2024

By admin January 6, 2024

Best Free and Public DNS Servers 2024, Use 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 for Google‘s DNS service. Here are more options from other companies, Every month, I update this page with the best public DNS servers you can use for free. As of January, my top picks include Google, Control D, Quad9, OpenDNS, Cloudflare, CleanBrowsing, Alternate DNS, and AdGuard DNS.

Here’s a quick reference if you already know what you’re doing, but I get into these services a lot more later in this article:

The Top Free Public DNS Servers
Provider	Primary DNS	Secondary DNS
Google	8.8.8.8	8.8.4.4
Control D	76.76.2.0	76.76.10.0
Quad9	9.9.9.9	149.112.112.112
OpenDNS Home	208.67.222.222	208.67.220.220
Cloudflare	1.1.1.1	1.0.0.1
CleanBrowsing	185.228.168.9	185.228.169.9
Alternate DNS	76.76.19.19	76.223.122.150
AdGuard DNS	94.140.14.14	94.140.15.15

Those are just my top choices. A list of additional free DNS servers can be found in the table near the bottom of the page.

What Are DNS Servers?

DNS servers translate the friendly domain name you enter into a browser (like lifewire.com) into the public IP address that’s needed for your device to actually communicate with that site.

Your ISP automatically assigns DNS servers when your smartphone or router connects to the internet, but you don’t have to use those. For a lot of reasons, you might want to try alternative ones (more on this a bit further down the page), but privacy and speed are two big wins you could see from switching.

Primary DNS servers are sometimes called preferred DNS servers and secondary DNS servers sometimes alternate DNS servers. Primary and secondary DNS servers can be “mixed and matched” from different providers to protect you if the primary provider has problems.

Best Free & Public DNS Servers

Below are more details on the best free DNS servers you can use instead of the ones assigned to your device automatically.

DNS servers are referred to as all sorts of names, like DNS server addresses, internet DNS servers, internet servers, DNS IP addresses, etc., but they all mean the same thing.

Google: 8.8.8.8 & 8.8.4.4

Google Public DNS promises three core benefits: a faster browsing experience, improved security, and accurate results without redirects. It’s what I use on my devices.

• Primary DNS: 8.8.8.8

• Secondary DNS: 8.8.4.4

There are also IPv6 versions:

• Primary DNS: 2001:4860:4860::8888

• Secondary DNS: 2001:4860:4860::8844

Google can achieve fast speeds with its public DNS servers because they’re hosted in data centers all around the world, meaning that when you attempt to access a web page using the IP addresses above, you’re directed to a server that’s nearest to you. In addition to traditional DNS over UDP/TCP, Google provides DNS over HTTPS (DoH) and TLS (DoT).

As you can see above, IPv6 IP addresses use colons. If you’re not sure which one to use for Google’s servers or any of the others on this page, stick with IPv4.

Control D: 76.76.2.0 & 76.76.10.0

Control D is unique in that it has several DNS servers to pick from, each categorized by theme. The “Uncensored” resolver proxies the commonly blocked websites in most countries to bypass IP blocking of various news websites. Others can be used to stop malicious websites, block ads and trackers, or block social networks or adult content. The basic option, “Unfiltered,” provides DNS query privacy and security:

• Primary DNS: 76.76.2.0

• Secondary DNS: 76.76.10.0

IPv6 is supported, too:

• Primary DNS: 2606:1a40::

• Secondary DNS: 2606:1a40:1::

Something unique about Control D that I love to see is the custom configurations. For example, I could join trackers and ads, malware, phishing, and government sites to make a custom filter to block all of that content. Premium filters are available for a low cost that can block things like crypto exchanges and VPNs. Control D also supports DoH and DoT.

Quad9: 9.9.9.9 & 149.112.112.112

Quad9 has free public DNS servers that protect your computer and other devices from cyber threats by immediately and automatically blocking access to unsafe websites. One thing I appreciated while researching this company is that it works without storing your personal data; their website clearly states that when you use Quad9, “no data containing your IP address is ever logged.”

• Primary DNS: 9.9.9.9

• Secondary DNS: 149.112.112.112

There are also Quad 9 IPv6 DNS servers:

• Primary DNS: 2620:fe::fe

• Secondary DNS: 2620:fe::9

Quad9 doesn’t filter content—only domains that are phishing or contain malware will be blocked. There’s also has an unsecured IPv4 public DNS (i.e., no malware blocking) at 9.9.9.10 (2620:fe::10 for IPv6). Quad9 also supports DoH.

OpenDNS: 208.67.222.222 & 208.67.220.220

OpenDNS claims 100 percent reliability and uptime (since 2006!), and is used by tens of millions of users around the world. They offer two sets of free public DNS servers, one of which is just for parental controls with dozens of filtering options.

• Primary DNS: 208.67.222.222

• Secondary DNS: 208.67.220.220

IPv6 addresses are also available:

• Primary DNS: 2620:119:35::35

• Secondary DNS: 2620:119:53::53

The servers above are for OpenDNS Home, which you can make a user account for to set up custom settings like to block or redirect websites. I did this for years (coupled with a DDNS service) and was very pleased with how it worked.

For DNS servers that block adult content, you can use OpenDNS FamilyShield: 208.67.222.123 and 208.67.220.123. Those two also support DNS over HTTPS. A premium DNS offering is available, too, called OpenDNS VIP.

Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1 & 1.0.0.1

Cloudflare built 1.1.1.1 to be the “internet’s fastest DNS directory” (here’s how DNSPerf ranks them). I like them for the privacy commitment—they will never log your IP address, never sell your data, and never use your data to target ads.

• Primary DNS: 1.1.1.1

• Secondary DNS: 1.0.0.1

They also have IPv6 public DNS servers:

• Primary DNS: 2606:4700:4700::1111

• Secondary DNS: 2606:4700:4700::1001

There are setup directions for all your devices through the link above. Another way to use it is through the 1.1.1.1 app, which provides quick DNS setup on mobile and desktop devices; it also doubles as a VPN. 1.1.1.1 for Families can block malware (1.1.1.2) or malware and adult content (1.1.1.3). It supports DNS over HTTPS and TLS as well.

CleanBrowsing: 185.228.168.9 & 185.228.169.9

CleanBrowsing has three free public DNS server options: a security filter, adult filter, and family filter. These are the DNS servers for the security filter, the most basic of the three that updates hourly to block malware and phishing sites:

• Primary DNS: 185.228.168.9

• Secondary DNS: 185.228.169.9

IPv6 is also supported:

• Primary DNS: 2a0d:2a00:1::2

• Secondary DNS: 2a0d:2a00:2::2

The adult filter (185.228.168.10) prevents access to adult domains, and the family filter (185.228.168.168) blocks proxies, VPNs, and mixed adult content. They both also block the same domains supported by the security filter. For more features, subscribe to a CleanBrowsing’s premium plans. This service supports DoH and DoT as well.

Alternate DNS: 76.76.19.19 & 76.223.122.150

Alternate DNS is a free public DNS service that blocks ads before they reach your network. It works pretty well in my experience, but it’s not 100 percent perfect.

• Primary DNS: 76.76.19.19

• Secondary DNS: 76.223.122.150

Alternate DNS has IPv6 DNS servers, too:

• Primary DNS: 2602:fcbc::ad

• Secondary DNS: 2602:fcbc:2::ad

You can sign up with Alternate DNS for free, but there’s also a Family Premium DNS option that blocks adult content.

AdGuard DNS: 94.140.14.14 & 94.140.15.15

AdGuard DNS has two sets of DNS servers that block ads in games, videos, apps, and web pages. I used these “Default” servers for several months to block ads and trackers, and I was pleased with its performance, despite ads slipping through at times:

• Primary DNS: 94.140.14.14

• Secondary DNS: 94.140.15.15

IPv6 is supported, too:

• Primary DNS: 2a10:50c0::ad1:ff

• Secondary DNS: 2a10:50c0::ad2:ff

There are also “Family protection” servers (94.140.14.15 and 2a10:50c0::bad1:ff) that block adult content, plus everything included in the “Default” servers. Non-filtering servers are available if you’re not interested in blocking anything: 94.140.14.140 and 2a10:50c0::1:ff. These servers are also available as DNS over HTTPS, TLS, and QUIC, as well as DNSCrypt. Compared to paid AdGuard DNS plans, free users have zero customer support and limits monthly requests, device access, rules, and servers.

Why Use Different DNS Servers?

One reason you might want to change the DNS servers assigned by your ISP is if you suspect there’s a problem with the ones you’re using now. An easy way to test for a DNS server issue is by typing a website’s IP address into the browser. If you can reach the website with the IP address, but not the name, then the DNS server is likely having issues.

Another reason to change DNS servers is if you’re looking for better performing service. Many people complain that their ISP-maintained DNS servers are sluggish and contribute to a slower overall browsing experience. If your existing DNS servers are really bad, you might find that you can even double your internet speed by just changing these servers.

Other common reasons to use DNS servers from a third party is to prevent logging of your web activity so that you can have a more private browsing experience, and to circumvent the blocking of certain websites. Know, however, that not all DNS servers avoid traffic logging. If that’s what you’re interested in, make sure you read through the FAQs on the DNS provider’s site to make sure it’s going to do (or not do) what you’re after.

If, on the other hand, you want to use the DNS servers that your specific ISP, like Verizon, AT&T, Comcast/XFINITY, etc., has determined is best, then don’t manually set DNS server addresses at all—just let them auto assign.

Finally, in case there was any confusion, free DNS servers do not give you free internet access. You still need an ISP for access—DNS servers just translate between IP addresses and domain names so that you can access websites with a human-readable name (like lifewire.com) instead of a difficult-to-remember IP address.

Additional DNS Servers

Here are several more public DNS servers:

More Free DNS Servers
Provider	Primary DNS	Secondary DNS
Comodo Secure DNS	8.26.56.26	8.20.247.20
CenturyLink (Level3)	205.171.3.65	205.171.2.65
CIRA Canadian Shield	149.112.121.10	149.112.122.10
OpenNIC	138.197.140.189	162.243.19.47
Dyn	216.146.35.35	216.146.36.36
Yandex DNS	77.88.8.8	77.88.8.1
Hurricane Electric	74.82.42.42	.
DNS for Family	94.130.180.225	78.47.64.161
FlashStart	185.236.104.104	185.236.105.105
Freenom World	80.80.80.80	80.80.81.81

Some of these providers have several DNS servers. Visit the link above and select a server that’s geographically nearby for the optimal performance, or one that has the features you’re interested in.

FAQ

• How do I change my DNS server?

You can specify a DNS server in the settings for your router. Specific instructions will differ depending on the model, but generally, you’ll log in to the hardware by entering http://192.168.1.1 and then enter one of the addresses above into the DNS settings.

• How do I fix a DNS server that isn’t responding?

Your computer may fail to connect to a DNS for several reasons. To fix a faulty DNS connection, check your ISP’s connection status and your antivirus software, and run any network troubleshooting software your computer has. If none of this works, restart or reset your modem and router.

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Software

Best Data Recovery Software for Mac 2024

By admin January 4, 2024

Best Data Recovery Software for Mac 2024, Macs are beloved for their sleek design and high-tech capabilities, particularly among creatives across various fields. Yet, like any other computer, they are not immune to data loss, a situation that can be incredibly distressing for users.

To address this concern, we have delved into the world of data recovery software tailored for Mac. In this article, you’ll find insights that will guide you in selecting the ideal solution to restore your valuable data, ensuring you’re well-prepared for any unforeseen data loss scenarios.

Key Criteria for Selecting Mac Data Recovery Software

There are many data recovery solutions from which to choose when data loss strikes your Mac. Several factors may influence which one you choose to use to recover your lost data. Here are some things to consider when naming your selection.

• Functionality: The most important aspect of recovery software is its ability to get your lost files back. You should choose a flexible solution that allows you to recover data from multiple types of storage devices and restore the file types that interest you.

• Ease-of-use: You will likely use data recovery software under less than optimal conditions. Losing data is stressful and you don’t need to increase the tension by using software that requires you to use arcane commands. Look for a tool that makes it easy for you to recover your lost files and folders.

• Reliability: You may only have one chance to recover your lost data so you want to use a tool created by reliable developers. It’s a good idea to check out some reviews of the products under consideration to see which ones have a proven track record of success with high recovery rates.

• Price: There is a wide range in the pricing of Mac data recovery solutions. You can obtain freeware solutions or commercial applications. In most cases, a paid/freemium solution will offer more functionality and ease of use than free alternatives.

In order for you to gain a better understanding of the situation in the Mac data recovery software market, we have prepared a diagram with interesting statistics for you.

The data for this chart was sourced from Google Ads and represents the average number of monthly searches in English worldwide. We combined various instances of writing the names of the same software (e.g., “easeus data recovery mac”, “easeus data recovery wizard for mac”, “easeus for mac”).

Stellar Data Recovery has restricted access to similar data in Google Ads for their brand. According to third-party services, the popularity of the brand (query) “Stellar Data Recovery (for) Mac” is approximately 500 queries per month. While R-Studio for Mac has numerous monthly searches, we did not include them all, as “R-Studio for Mac” can also refer to RStudio, an integrated development environment (IDE) for the R programming language, not just data recovery software.

Top 10 Best Data Recovery Software for Mac

So, here’s an overview of ten of the best data recovery software solutions for Mac. We’ve included paid, freemium, and freeware data recovery applications for your Mac or MacBook.

1. Disk Drill for Mac

Disk Drill is a comprehensive data recovery tool that makes it easy for anyone to restore accidentally deleted files and folders.

Pros:

• Intuitive and user-friendly interface

• Runs natively on M1/M2 devices

• Simple yet effective recovery procedure

• Scan results can be mounted as a virtual disk

• Recovers all lost or deleted files, even from an emptied Trash

• Advanced scanning algorithms

• Support for over 400 filetypes

• Market-leading RAW file scanner

Cons:

• No phone support

• The free version only provides file previews

Download Disk Drill

User Experience

Disk Drill simplifies the data recovery process, making it easy for anyone to recover their lost and deleted data. With just a few clicks, you can select the disk for recovery and start scanning the device for recoverable files and folders. Quick or deep scans can be employed to control the recovery and locate the maximum number of items to be restored.

Effective filters help control the scanning and recovery process by allowing you to focus on the files that matter. Scans can be paused and resumed at any time to make it more convenient to recover your lost data. When the scan is complete, the results can be mounted as a virtual disk, streamlining the recovery process.

The inclusion of the free data protection tools Recovery Vault and Guaranteed Recovery helps you keep your valuable information safe and furnish a simplified recovery method if you accidentally deleted a protected file. The tool is a comprehensive data recovery and protection solution that keeps your files and folders secure.

Free limits: You can preview all recoverable files with the free version of Disk Drill.

Price: $89.00

OS version: Disk Drill supports all versions of the Mac operating system from macOS X 10.5 to macOS Ventura.

2. R-Studio for Mac

This product was developed for data recovery professionals and includes many features that are not usually required for individual use.

Pros:

• Windows Explorer type interface

• Can repair damaged RAID arrays

• S.M.A.R.T. disk monitoring tools

• Recover any file type from any disk-based storage device

Cons:

• Designed for professionals and may be too complicated for average users

• Features can be hard to locate

Download R-Studio

User Experience

R-Studio is a full-featured recovery application that is suitable for professional use. It has an impressive number of features that, in some cases, may over-complicate the recovery process for inexperienced users. The advanced capabilities of the tool include the ability to repair damaged RAID implementations and perform network data recovery. Excellent documentation is available that covers all types of data recovery situations.

You can preview recoverable files with the demo version before making a financial commitment and the application provides a wealth of advanced features. At times, it can be hard to locate specific features in the tool’s interface. It’s worth the effort if you need access to its hexadecimal editor or disk copy module. R-Studio provides an excellent recovery application tailored to the needs of professionals and advanced computer users.

Free limits: File preview of recoverable files is available for free.

Price: $79.99 for the basic version

OS version: macOS X 10.5 through macOS 12 Monterey.

3. iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac

iBoysoft Data Recovery is a versatile recovery tool for Mac that lets you get back lost and deleted files from a wide variety of storage devices. The application can help you address a Mac that won’t boot or recover files lost from an emptied Trash bin. You can also obtain a version of the software for the Windows platform.

Pros:

• Free 1 GB data recovery

• Compatible with M1 and T2 Macs

• Quick and Deep scans for optimal recovery results

• Free scan and preview of recoverable files

• Scan results can be saved and reloaded

Cons:

• The license model is expensive

Download iBoysoft Data Recovery

User Experience

Recovering data with iBoysoft is simple enough that any Mac user can perform the activity. The software uses a three-step process that scans a device, previews recoverable data, and lets you choose which files you want to recover. A free download lets users recover 1 GB while they test-drive the product.

The tool supports over 1000 different file types and can recover just about any type of data deleted from your Mac. Virtually all disk-based storage devices are supported including SD cards and external USB drives. This software solution can help users recover from multiple data loss scenarios including formatted disks and emptied Trash bins. It offers a simple tool with professional-grade recovery functionality.

Free limits: 1 GB free recovery with the free version of the tool.

Price: A monthly license is $89.95 and a yearly license is $99.95

OS version: macOS all versions, including macOS 13 Ventura.

4. Data Rescue for Mac

Data Rescue 6 is a paid data recovery solution for Mac that supports the newest versions of macOS and machines running the M1/M2 chip.

Pros:

• View previous scan results

• Clone drives to avoid hardware failures

• Quick and deep scan options

• A secure erase tool to protect sensitive data

• A single license provides Mac and Windows support

Cons:

• No phone support is offered

• A professional license is expensive

Download Data Rescue

User Experience

Data Rescue 6 for Mac is a commercial data recovery tool that enables new users to preview recoverable files and folders for free. The solution supports the recovery of hundreds of file formats including all popular types found on your Mac. Users can recover data from all types of disk-based storage devices including internal drives, SD cards, and external disks.

You can clone your hard drive with the software to protect valuable data from hardware failure. Quick and deep scanning options let you control recovery and help locate hard-to-find items. Users can store up to 15 scans for historical comparison. Data Rescue 6 also provides virtual RAID support to assist with recovering data from a failing RAID configuration.

Free limits: Scan and preview recoverable files.

Price: Standard license $79/Professional license $399

OS version: macOS 10.12 through macOS 13 Ventura.

5. PhotoRec for Mac

This freeware recovery tool is compatible with all versions of Mac operating systems and provides a command-line user interface.

Pros:

• Free and unlimited recovery

• Support for Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems

• Wide-ranging filesystem support

• Supports recovery of many different filetypes

Cons:

• Command-line interface

• Files are recovered with generic names and need to be renamed

Download PhotoRec

User Experience

Users who are not intimidated by a command-line interface will find PhotoRec to be a valuable piece of freeware. It supports all versions of the Mac operating system as well as Windows and Linux systems. The tool supports an impressive array of file types and filesystems, making it ideal for a variety of data recovery scenarios.

The menu-driven, command-line interface does require some knowledge of the underlying system that more intuitive applications keep hidden from users. This can make the tool hard to operate for inexperienced computer users. Another drawback of this tool is that files are recovered with generic names, forcing users to review and rename them after recovery is completed.

Free limits: unlimited free recovery.

Price: Freeware

OS version: all latest versions of macOS are supported.

6. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard provides user-friendly file recovery software for Mac systems.

Pros:

• The tool provides users with an extensive knowledge base to assist their recovery efforts.

• An easy-to-use and intuitive interface makes it possible for anyone to successfully recover lost data.

• This MacBook recovery software produces good recovery results.

Cons:

• The tool can be slow when recovering large files.

• Lack of data protection tools.

Download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

User Experience

Recovering files with EaseUS is a simple process that anyone can perform with a few clicks. Select the device to be scanned and the tool will return a list of recoverable data that it can restore. The results can be filtered in multiple ways to make it easier to find the specific files that interest you.

The tool can be a little slower than other paid solutions which could be an issue when recovering a large amount of data. While this may be annoying to some users, the recovery results themselves were very good. A little patience may be required when using this too, but in the end, you should be satisfied with the recovery results.

Free limits: The free tool can preview recoverable files on Mac and restore up to 2 GB of data.

Price: $89.95

OS version: Supports all versions of the macOS operating system.

7. Wondershare Recoverit for Mac

Pros:

• Supports recovery of over 1000 file types

• Supports over 2000 types of storage devices

• 95% successful recovery rate

• Quick and deep scan options

• Repairs corrupted videos

Cons:

• Limited free recovery

• An expensive yearly license is required

Download Wondershare Recoverit

User Experience:

Wondershare Recoverit is a commercial data recovery solution for Mac that supports a wide variety of storage devices and file formats. The tool features a simple user interface that makes it easy for anyone to recover accidentally lost and deleted data. Just a few clicks and you can start recovering lost files and folders.

Recoverit offers users a quick and deep scan option. Usually, it’s best to try a quick scan first and reserve the deep scan for when your files can’t be found. Deep scan performs a signature-based search that may be necessary to recover from drive corruption of formatting. This tool can also repair corrupted videos in various formats including MOV, ACI, and MP4.

Free limits: Free recovery of up to 100MB.

Price: Individual $79.99-$139.99 per year.

OS version: macOS 10.10 through macOS 13 Ventura.

8. Stellar Data Recovery for Mac

Stellar Data Recovery provides a complete macOS data recovery software solution that can recover lost files due to accidental deletion, formatting, or drive corruption.

Pros:

• This Mac recovery software can be used to retrieve files from virtually any portable disk-based storage device that you can connect to your machine.

• Any file extension is potentially recoverable when using this software.

• A nice online guide helps inexperienced users recover their lost data.

• The software can be used to repair corrupted video and image files.

Cons:

• Your Mac needs 8GB of RAM to fully utilize this tool’s features.

• Repairing corrupted images or video files requires the premium version of the tool.

Download Stellar Data Recovery

User Experience

This file recovery software is easy to use and provides advanced functionality that can help recover long-lost files. It’s designed to recover lost files for all users from novices to experienced Mac owners. The tool supports all major file formats and can recover data on virtually any type of disk-based device.

The personal version of the tool is most suitable for recovering internal system files. If you want to recover lost files from USB drives or other storage devices, you should look into the premium versions of this recovery software. The premium tool also can repair corrupt videos and photos. All in all, this file recovery software solution for macOS provides a satisfactory data recovery experience.

Free limits: The free tool can preview recoverable files on Mac and restore up to 1 GB of data.

Price: $79.99 for the personal version, $99.99 premium version, and $149 for the technician version of this macOS data recovery software.

OS version: Supports all versions of the macOS operating system.

9. Mac Free Any Data Recovery

This file recovery software for Mac is an all-purpose tool that retrieves lost data in many different situations.

Pros:

• A 90-day money-back guarantee protects your investment.

• The tool offers free lifetime upgrades.

• Advanced search options are included to make it easy to locate lost files.

• Multi-language 24/7 customer support is provided to resolve issues with the software.

Cons:

• The trial version is only equipped to perform quick scans which may not locate lost data.

• The user interface is not as streamlined as other paid solutions.

Download Mac Free Any Data Recovery

User Experience

The user interface of this Mac recovery software is a little harder to navigate than some competing products. This can make it hard for new users to locate some of its features so they can efficiently recover their lost data. Once users get comfortable with the interface the tool is not difficult to use.

Many different types of files can be recovered with this tool including video and audio formats not found in some other solutions. The recovery performance is good, and files are recovered reasonably quickly. You can use this solution to recover files from your internal hard drive as well as from all types of disk-based storage devices.

Free lifetime updates and a 90-day money-back guarantee are very nice features of this software solution. One potential issue is that payment is conducted through a third-party processor which may discourage some users from purchasing the tool.

Free limits: The trial version of this Mac recovery software can be used to restore up to 2 GB of data.

Price: $59.99 for one computer, $119.99 for unlimited computers.

OS version: Supports all versions of the macOS operating system.

10. DiskWarrior

Pros:

• SMART monitoring to display drive health

• Developed specially for Mac operating systems

• Multiple support options including email and phone

• Patented preview feature to view repaired files before changes are made

Cons:

• Not suitable for individual file recovery

• No free trial is offered

• It does not support Apple File System (APFS) disks

Download DiskWarrior

User Experience:

Disk Warrior is a tool designed to prevent and resolve directory damage to your Mac that can lead to inconsistent performance and instability. The solution rebuilds a disk by recovering data from the original directory. The new directory is optimized for improved performance.

DiskWarrior focuses exclusively on creating error-free directories to recover lost files and prevent disk errors. The tool supports SMART monitoring and can be configured to automatically check drive health so you can address issues before being faced with a hardware failure. DiskWarrior ships on a flash drive that can be used to rebuild the directory of your Mac’s startup disk.

Free limits: No free trial available

Price: $119.95 plus shipping for the included flash drive

OS version: OS X 10.8 – macOS 13 Ventura

Honorable Mentions

We chose to exclude the following software solutions from our list of reliable data recovery tools. While they may work for you, we suggest that you stick to our recommended products for the best recovery results.

• M3 Data Recovery – iBoysoft was previously a white label clone of M3 recovery software. Recently, M3 has become an affiliate of iBoysoft and iBoysoft has now replaced it as the name brand of this recovery solution.

• Ontrack – We did not include this solution on our list of recovery products since it appears to just be a clone of Stellar data recovery. It may also be a dead project that will not offer updates in the future.

• Minitool – The Mac version of Minitool has become Stellar Data Recovery which is why we did not include it as a recommended product. We recommend you go directly for Stellar’s solution if you want to try this recovery tool.

• Recuva for Mac – There is no Recuva for Mac. Clicking on the download link for this product gives you a DMG file that contains the Wondershare data recovery tool. We tend to stay away from applications that use this kind of misleading advertising. The original Recuva is only available on Windows.

• iCare Recovery Data Recovery – When you try to download the iCare Data Recovery solution, you are redirected to Stellar data recovery software. We suggest if you want Stellar, you should go directly to their site rather than using a clone product.

• Safe365 Data Recovery – This program appears to be a clone of EaseUS data recovery software. While it has serviceable data recovery capabilities, you should stick with the original EaseUS product rather than this copy.

• Magoshare Data Recovery Enterprise – If the user interface of this tool looks familiar, it is because this solution is a white label clone of EaseUS data recovery software.

• Card Rescue – You might only get one shot at recovering your lost files. We found the recovery capabilities of this tool lacking as it did not do a good job of getting our files back and are not recommending it to our readers.

• iSkysoft data recovery – We chose not to include iSkysoft because it is simply a clone of Wondershare RecoverIt. In all cases, we prefer to use the original product instead of a renamed clone.

• Softtote – Softtote is a paid tool that offers 1GB of free recovery. The solution provides limited support for new versions of macOS. The tool only supports a limited number of file formats which may make it unsuitable for your recovery situation. The free version of the tool lets you recover as many BMP, JPG, PNG, TIF, or MP3 files as you wish.

• Lazesoft Mac Data Recovery – Lazesoft Mac Data Recovery is a free tool that has not been updated since 2014. You may experience issues when using the tool on modern operating systems. You should exercise caution if you are attempting to recover valuable data. Users can recover lost data from an iPod with this tool. The preview function lets you see what is recoverable while a scan is running.

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Best YouTube Vanced Alternative 2024

By admin January 3, 2024

This article acquaints you with the top apps similar to YouTube Vanced for the best video experience.

YouTube Advanced gained immense popularity for its features like in-built ad blocking, picture-in-picture, background playback, and auto-repeat. However, its shutdown caused despair among users, instigating them to look for the best YouTube Vanced alternatives.

If you are also searching for the best alternatives to YouTube Vanced, you will find this article helpful. Here, we list the top 8 apps that can perfectly replace YouTube Vanced. Let us go through them without wasting your valuable time.

List of 8 Best YouTube Vanced Alternatives in 2024

Below is a list of the best applications you can use as an alternative to YouTube Vanced.

1. NewPipe

Let us introduce you to NewPipe. It is a free, lightweight, and open-source YouTube Vanced alternative with incredible features, such as ad-blocking, background player, video downloading for offline use, and the following.

Key features of NewPipe

• Needs no Google account

• Does not have any codebases or APIs ensuring privacy and security

• Supports 100+ languages

• Compatible with other services, such as SoundCloud, etc.

Download Now

2. YouTube ReVanced

Talking about YouTube ReVanced, it is an early-stage application with an impressive set of features. Some of its features that make it one of the best YouTube Vanced substitutes include a friendly layout, background playback, an option to turn off the create button, and the following.

Key features of YouTube ReVanced

• Blocks ads

• Allows video downloading

• Useful settings like video playback speed adjustment

• Google account integration

• Many customization options

• Allows battery conservation with AMOLED dark mode display

Download Now

3. LibreTube

LibreTube is yet another alternative of YouTube Vanced to stream videos without any hassles. Its features like sponsor block, account sign-up for the personalized viewing experience, playlist creation, and the following make it a popular choice among users worldwide.

Key features of LibreTube

• Search filter to find the most relevant videos

• Option to subscribe to various channels

• Supports player gestures to customize the viewing experience

• Stores your subscriptions locally and allows you to restore them easily

• Keeps your privacy intact by passing the data collection restrictions of Google

Download Now

4. SkyTube

SkyTube is another great open-source and one of the best YouTube Music Vanced alternatives. It delights users with many fascinating features, in addition to ad blocking. For example, it offers an option to allow/block specific channels, stops the most disliked videos from appearing in your feed, and the following delightful features.

Key features of SkyTube

• Video downloading for offline viewing

• Easy subscription import from your YouTube account or other apps

• Lets you create a playlist

• Supports content mirroring through Chromecast

• Needs no Google Play service or GApps to function

Download Now

5. YouTube Premium

Here comes YouTube Premium as one of the best alternatives to YouTube Vanced. It is a subscription service from none other than YouTube, offering many features, such as an ad-free experience, background playback, Google account integration, and the ones shared below.

Key features of YouTube Premium

• Supports video downloading

• Has a massive music library

• Support for YouTube creators

Download Now

6. GoTube

GoTube is among the well-known apps similar to YouTube Vanced. It is popular among users due to its unique design, Google account integration, lightweight, and the following exciting features.

Key features of GoTube

• Allows you to download videos in the desired resolution

• Lets you customize the UI

• Useful tools like a background player, popup player, and an ad-blocker

Download Now

7. ReVanced Extended

Another best alternative to YouTube Vanced you can try is ReVanced Extended. It boasts a customizable layout, ad blocking, video dislike support, and the following exciting features.

Key features of ReVanced Extended

• Supports all AOSP and Android devices

• Lets you download high-resolution videos

• Regular updates

• Availability of more than 5 languages

• Allows gesture navigation

Download Now

8. Brave Browser

Another alternative to YouTube Vanced is the Brave Browser. Although this alternative is a browser rather than a standalone alternative, Brave Browser can be of great help. This browser blocks all the third-party ads to make streaming smoother.

Key features of Brave Browser

• Multilingual user interface

• Fast streaming and surfing

• Maintains user privacy

Download Now

Summing Up the Best YouTube Vanced Alternatives

This article brought to your attention the best alternatives to YouTube Vanced. You can use any of the above-listed applications to get a seamless video experience. In case of any suggestions, confusion, or questions about this write-up, you can always write us a comment. We will soon return with another useful post. Until then, stay connected with us.

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Best Funny Faces Apps 2024

By admin December 26, 2023

Best Funny Faces Apps 2024, With the world moving from physical to virtual platforms, social media has taken over the way we communicate. Almost everyone is active on social media accounts. You can add beautiful backgrounds, make funny faces, and other effects to make it visually appealing.

In this blog, we will focus on Best Funny Faces apps that offer an easy and creative way to make expression-filled faces. With these applications, you can easily create funny faces, post them, and share them directly on your Social media accounts.

These apps use advanced technology, and editing tools along with a lot of emotes and filters.

So without wasting any time let’s dive into the world of crazy and goofy faces with these best funny faces apps for iPhone and Android.

Best Funny Faces Apps For iPhone and Android in 2024

Pick a picture and make them funny with the below-mentioned crazy face apps.

1. Funny Face Effects

Our first pick on the list of funny faces apps is this superb application. The app is fully compatible with the Android platform and can make you look fat, ugly, and bald in a matter of seconds.

• Use it to add a huge smile to your face.

• You can also use it to stretch, warp, and distort the overall appearance of your face with the help of your fingers.

• It can also be used to import pictures from the photo gallery of your Android device.

• With this funny faces app, you can also post your edited faces directly on social media.

Download for Android

2. Face Swapper

Create high-res face swaps with AI right on your phone with Face Swapper by Icons8. Make a new version of yourself, troll your friends, or anonymize your photos. With this tool, you can create funny pics in just a few taps.

• Exchange faces with your pets, cartoon characters, and even historical figures.

• Preserves the size and quality of the original image.

• Swaps faces of up to 1024px in size. That’s the max size of a face, not of a photo. And that’s the largest resolution on the market.

• Try new hairstyles, body types, and professional looks.

Download for iPhone

Use Online (https://icons8.com/swapper)

3. HeyPhoto

Did you forget to smile for the camera? Are you hyper-cautious about protecting your identity online? With HeyPhoto, you can edit your face for free in literal seconds. Modify gaze, identity, age, smile, or gender by simply dragging a slider.

• Just drag a slider and get stunning results with the original quality preserved.

• HeyPhoto is free for everyone, no subscriptions are required.

• It doesn’t crop your pictures, resize them, or downgrade their quality. You reap precisely what you sow.

• HeyPhoto will not make your picture grainy, blurry, or weirdly zoomed in.

Use online (https://hey-photo.com/)

4. YouCam Fun

Another popular funny faces app for your iPhone is YouCam Fun. The app equally works well on Android devices and is highly popular for its class-apart functioning. The app comes in a handy design in a size of 109MB for iOS and 66MB for the android platform.

• Turning a normal face into funny and goofy ones is incredibly easy with YouCam Fun.

• You can use it to add filters to any pictures saved in your photo gallery or click one in real time.

• As soon as you launch the app, I will detect your face and start applying filters to it.

• The straightforward and simple interface adds to its easy working.

Download for Android and iOS

5. Face Changer Camera

Developed by Visionsapp, Face Changer Camera is another silly face app that you can pick to design and create awesome faces. The tool works well on both iOS and Android platforms.

• It has a massive collection of filters including live and artistic effects.

• It comes with straightforward working, all you need to do is, click or browse a photograph, open the app, add filters and it’s done.

• Face Mask, Face Wrap, Face Puppet, Face Sticker, and Chin Face are few of its well-known offerings.

• Apart from this, you can also blend two faces using its Face Blend feature using this top-rated funny faces app.

Download for Android

6. Banuba – Funny Faces App

Another best funny faces app that you can pick to make funny faces is Banuba. The tool has a humongous collection of filters and effects.

• The lightweight tool which comes in an 80MB size for Android devices and iPhones and is available in a small size of 165MB.

• Enjoy applying dozens and dozens of funny and goofy filters with Banuba.

• With this crazy faces app, you get class-apart selfies and video experience.

• Use your creativity and innovative ideas to create cheek-aching hilarious faces.

• Banuba is also available in a premium plan which offers advanced features and editing effects.

Download for Android and iOS

7. Faceswap

Face swap is another impressive funny face app that you can use to edit your facial expressions. The tool has several filters to add that can fit your face without any hiccups.

• Numerous facial effects include weird looks, animals, Halloween, and celebrities.

• Theme Photo, photo swap, live stickers, motion swap, classic collage, and photo retoucher are a few other functions of this good funny faces app.

• It is a free app and enjoys a rich user base.

Download for Android

8. Face App

Face APP is one of the most popular funny face apps that one can use to make funny faces. It comes with a lightweight design and enjoys more than 100 million downloads.

• It uses an AI feature that adds a realistic effect to your photographs.

• The most recent addition is its old-age selfie filter.

• Its basic version has around 21 filters. However, you can also go for its Pro version to enjoy 28 fun filters.

• It can also be used to swap gender, change age, alter hair color, add a smile, beard, or mustache, and even add makeup.

Enjoy an array of fun-filled and incredible tools to give your face a new design and take Hollywood-ready selfies and pictures.

Download for Android and iOS

9. Cupace

Superlative Funny faces apps for Android offer a variety of innovative and funny features. If you are looking for a straightforward and lightweight application then Cupace can be a good pick. It offers an incredible way to copy and paste different faces on each other.

• It comes with several exciting features and allows you to cut a face from any given image. You can, later on, choose to paste on a different image.

• For accurate results, it also has a magnifying tool.

• The cropped face is saved in the Face Gallery for further use.

• With Cupace you can also add text to your photo.

Download for Android

10. Snapchat

Next on our list of best funny faces apps for iPhone and Android smartphones is Snapchat, an incredible face swap app that enjoys worldwide popularity and fan following. It has a plethora of filters to offer along with various other useful and fun-filled features.

• With this versatile application, you can change the entire way you look.

• It gives you an easy option to express yourself with the help of filters, editing effects, lenses, and Bitmojis.

• Apart from this, you can video chat with 16 friends at a given point in time.

• The images that you click using Snapchat can be shared with your friends within seconds.

Download for Android and iOS

11. Face Warp – Funny Photo Editor

Face Warp – Funny Photo Editor as the name suggests this photo editor application allows you to warp the image of your face in any desired direction. Undoubtedly it is the best funny face filter app available to both Android and iPhone users. With more than 1,000,000 installs on the Google Play store, it is one of the top free funny face apps on the internet.

• Face Warp allows users to create an ample number of funny content from their selfies.

• The application converts a normal image into an animation to make it more cool and funny.

• With the help of the pinch-zoom feature inbuilt in the application, users can perfectly work on the minute details of the image.

• The app comes with an auto mode that randomly makes changes to the user’s image and provides the best results.

Download for Android and iOS

12. Facelab – Face Editor & Beauty

Facelab – Face Editor & Beauty is the app that makes funny faces out of the users’ selfies. The app allows users to perform things like makeup, reshape and retouch the image to make it more attractive, beautiful and funny. Facelab comes with the in-app purchase which unlocks the premium and advanced features.

• One can easily perform all types of modifications on an image to make it more funny and hilarious.

• The app allows users to work upon every single part of the face separately.

• Use various stickers and 3D filters available on the application free of cost.

• With the help of face masks offered by the software, users can change the selfies to look old or young in age.

Download for iOS

13. FaceOver Lite

The last on our list of best funny faces apps is FaceOver Lite. It is a brilliant app and has a bottomless ocean of Fun Face Photo effects. The application is powered with straightforward and clean working and can effortlessly replace any part of your image with another part.

Simply crop,cut, edit, copy and paste different image parts to add life to your boring images and selfies.

Download for iOS

14. Face Swap Live

The next one on our list of best funny faces Apps for iPhone is Face Swap Live. The application has some remarkable filters and stickers to make your pictures funnier. Also, it has the option to add these filters to your video call camera. To add motion to your pictures use Gifs, doodles, and text edits to create funny videos. The app enables users to add filters to pictures without any extra effort. Apart from general feature the 3D filters enable users to swap faces with images available online.

The following are the notable features of Face Swap Live:

• Add GIFs, doodles, texts, and other fun elements to your pictures.

• Edit your camera image of video chat with stickers and incredible filters.

• Mask mode can customize your images with hats, glasses, and other fun elements.

• 3D filters and swapping faces from images online

• Replace your boring messages with funny filter images.

Download for Android

15. Helium Funny Face Editor

Let us introduce you to the Helium Funny Face Editor. It is a popular choice for the best funny faces applications because of a plethora of live face filters, an inhaled helium face present in the face mask library, an interesting lip-sync, and the following remarkable features.

Availability of more than 30 sound effects

• Option to mix or add multiple filters

• Lets you add audio/visual effects to your current photos or videos

• Allows you to change the density of an effect during recording

• Robot, Bear, Chipmunk, Violin, and many other voice effects

• Video and voice speedup/slowdown tool

• Boasts a flash to help you record videos in the dark

• You can save the video to camera roll or share it on social networks

Download for iOS

The above-mentioned best funny faces apps are undeniably the most popular and feature-rich applications that one can currently find in the market. Pick one as per your requirement to create funny, goofy, and amazing faces, swap faces, apply stickers, and ass filters.

Check your creativity with these funny face apps for Android and iOS smartphones. If you think that we have missed out on a funny face, selfie and face maker app, then please drop in the comment section below.

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The full history of Samsung Galaxy Smartphones

By admin December 24, 2023

The full history of Samsung Galaxy Smartphones, The Galaxy S is the handset that kick-started Samsung’s journey along the path to world smartphone domination. Announced in March 2010 and released in June, it packed in some of the most impressive specs available at the time. Its 1GHz ARM Hummingbird processor coupled with 512MB RAM and the most powerful graphics processing of any smartphone made it a spec-fiend’s number one choice.

At 9.9mm thin (positively obese by today’s standards), it was also the thinnest smartphone in the world, with a 5MP camera and 0.3MP selfie cam to boot. While its 4in 800 x 400 display sounds archaic by today’s standards, it was still a Super AMOLED affair, making the Apple iPhone 4’s screen look positively washed out in comparison. Oh, and let’s all take a moment to appreciate how horrible TouchWiz 3.0 looks skinned over Android Eclair. Shudder.

Samsung Galaxy SII – 2011

This is it folks. This is the handset that really put Samsung on the map. The 8.49mm-thin Galaxy SII received rave reviews, with many critics labelling it the best smartphone in the world, evs.

The Galaxy SII helped push Samsung ahead of Apple in smartphone sales, and it deserved the praise. Its superb Super AMOLED Plus screen was miles ahead of the competition, as Samsung ditched the Pentile matrix for a regular RGB matrix display. In English, that means that it was even sharper than the Original Galaxy S’s screen, while maintaing its true blacks and rich colours.

It was also the most powerful phone in the world at the time, beating out the likes of the Motorola Atrix with its dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor and 1GB of RAM, along with up to 32GB of internal storage and expandable memory support – all of which helped to run Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

An 8MP rear camera (with 1080p video recording) and a 2MP front-facing snapper rounded off the rest off the impressive spec sheet, while NFC – a real rarity back then – and MHL support for multimedia playback finished off the mighty feature list.

The full history of Samsung Galaxy Smartphones

Samsung Galaxy S III – 2012

The Galaxy SIII is where it all went horribly wrong for Samsung. Wait, did we say “horribly wrong”? We meant to say “incredibly well”. Like, really, massively, unbelievably well. The quad-core beast was once again the most powerful handset in the world at the time of its release, and its 1080p screen was a joy to behold. Samsung packed more bells and whistles into TouchWiz than a hoarder at a… bell and whistle factory.

The usefulness of some of these features, such as screen-on eye-tracking and picture in picture (PIP), were debatable, but the very fact it could do so much without stuttering was testament to the incredible hardware beneath its glossy plastic shell.

No, the SIII wasn’t as pretty as its iPhone 4s rival, but that didn’t stop it from outselling Apple’s poster child. Throw in an impressive 8MP camera and 8.5 hours of non-stop video playback, and it’s clear to see why the Galaxy SIII jumped straight to the top of Stuff’s Top 10 smartphone list.

Samsung Galaxy S4 – 2013

Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505 4G Black – smartphones (Single SIM, Android, MicroSIM, EDGE, GPRS, HSPA+, Bar)

£80.00

Launching with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, the 7.9mm Galaxy S4 was Samsung’s fastest-selling handset ever, with a whopping 20 million units sold in the first two months. The phone landed with plenty of power beneath its plastic shell, in the form of Qualcomm’s mighty Snapdragon 600 processor and 2GB of RAM. The full HD AMOLED display made its return, and the rear camera received a healthy bump up to 13 megapixels.

But despite being a solid handset and receiving plenty of praise, Samsung also received criticism for bloating up Android with not only the cartoonish UI of TouchWiz, but a pile of (debatably useless) features that increased the size of the OS and reduced the amount of available internal storage.

Samsung Galaxy S5 – 2014

The Galaxy S5’s launch was the first occasion in which people’s love affair with Samsung began to falter slightly. Unveiled at MWC in Barcelona, the handset’s band aid-like plastic rear was met with criticism, especially as the premium metal HTC One M7 had already demonstrated that Android handsets could match Apple for build quality.

Predictably the insides were faster and the camera was as impressive as ever, but Samsung was once again criticised for filling up the Android OS – in this case 4.2 KitKat – with more bloat. In a time that Sony’s Xperia handsets were reaping praise for their minimal interference with Google‘s OS, Samsung’s TouchWiz, with all of its clunky features, had begun to look far too podgy and ugly in comparison. The S5’s slightly flakey fingerprint sensor (which required an annoying swiping action) and gimmicky heart rate scanner didn’t help matters either.

Still, it was a solid flagship nonetheless, shipping 10 million units in just 25 days, making it Samsung’s fastest-ever-shipping smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge – 2015

Simply put, Samsung smashed it in 2015 when it released the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. The plastic had finally been banished, and was replaced with lovely premium metal and glass. The handset felt as good as the iPhone and HTC One M9 in the hands, and the S6 Edge, with its curved display, was a thing of beauty. The camera was superb, and until its successor came out, it was the best smartphone camera we had ever tested.

The once niggly fingerprint scanner had become lightning fast and worked just like Apple’s Touch ID home button, with no pesky swiping gesture required. Even TouchWiz was toned down considerably, with a large amount of bloat removed, and an all-new, flatter design introduced.

The power of Samsung’s own octa-core processor blew the competition out of the water, and its 2K Super AMOLED display was the best we’ve ever seen on a smartphone. It’s still fantastic today. The only major gripe – and a deal breaker for hardcore Android fans and media hoarders – was the axing of the removable battery and, even worse, microSD card slot. But overall, the Galaxy S6 was an absolute stunner of a handset.

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge – 2016

Samsung Galaxy S7 SM-G930F 32GB 4G Gold – smartphones (Single SIM, Android, NanoSIM, GSM, HSPA+, LTE)

£199.00

Unveiled at MWC in February 2016, the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge were (naturally) Samsung’s sleekest, sexiest, most powerful handsets to date. While their designs appear almost identical to the existing S6 and S6 Edge, their backs have been rounded off to make for a more comfortable, grippy shape, and the protruding camera lens is now almost flush. The premium metal and glass build remains, this time with the addition of IP68 water resistance, along with the return of the microSD slot (hooray!)

Both handsets retain Samsung’s excellent 2K Super AMOLED display, though the Edge’s screen has increased from 5.1 inches to 5.5 inches, which has resulted in larger, more useful Edge Apps. Samsung also improved the camera by increasing the sensor size and aperture, as well as implementing dual-pixel autofocus – all of which resulted in more light being absorbed – hence better shots in low light conditions – and sharper shots when snapping moving subjects.

With Qualcomm’s powerful Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM and larger batteries in both, they were Samsung’s best handsets yet. Well, until 2017 rolled around.

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus – 2017

Unlike Apple’s iPhone 6/6s/7, Samsung didn’t revisit the same basic design for a third time: the Galaxy S8 went for something bold and new, and Samsung’s gamble paid off. The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus offer striking silhouettes, with a taller-than-usual 18.5:9 curved Infinity Display that covers nearly the entire face of the phone, with minimal bezel on the top and bottom and almost nothing on the sides. And no, there’s no more flat-screened edition.

It’s a fabulous display again, of course: a 2960×1440 Super AMOLED screen in 5.8in and 6.2in sizes, depending on the model. The fingerprint sensor’s new placement on the back is clunky, unfortunately, but it’s the rare knock against an otherwise fabulous handset.

Inside, of course, the Galaxy S8 has plenty of power, packing an Exynos 8895 processor (or Snapdragon 835 in some parts of the world) with 4GB RAM to play with, while the TouchWiz skin over Android 7.0 Nougat is even more usable and less annoying than ever.

Again, Samsung has a brilliant camera here: it’s only a 12-megapixel sensor, but advanced image processing abilities take a lot of the blur and noise out of shots. It actually snaps three photos when you tap the button, and then creates one oft-brilliant final product.

Gear VR support returns, of course, along with the new DeX Station, which lets you use the Galaxy S8 as the brain for a desktop computer-like experience using an external monitor.

It’s heavy on style, heavy on perks, and certainly staggering in price – but if you want the best of the best in the smartphone world right now, it’s the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus.

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus – 2018

Samsung stuck to its guns with the Galaxy S9 series, on the design front at least. Practically identical to their S8 predecessors, the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus retained their smooth, organic, pebble-like curves and minimalistic side bezels, making for a premium, comfortable experience.

Standout features (at least, at the time), included 3D avatars in the form of AR emoji, which, if you’re being honest, probably saw next to no use. The S9 did, at least, have a far more useful feature in the form of a dual aperture main camera, which let users switch between f/1.5 and f/2.4 on the fly. How’s that for flexibility?

Samsung Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, and S10e – 2019

The S10 range landed with five models in total — the regular Galaxy S10, the larger S10 Plus, the more affordable S10e, and a model with 5G support thrown in for good measure.

The design was, once again, pretty familiar, marking the last time Samsung could have probably gotten away with the same rounded look without fearing criticism for playing it too safe.

Tantalising specs in the S10 range included a groundbreaking in-display UltraSonic fingerprint sensor (rear scanners be damned), along with a triple-camera setup, and a punch-out selfie cam for a sleeker front appearance.

Samsung Galaxy S20 and S20 Plus – 2020

Samsung decided to spare us all the unsymmetrical eyesore of S13-19 monikers back in 2019 when it skipped straight from S10 to S20. After years of teasing near-bezelless screens, the S20 range was the first time that we saw Samsung almost eliminate them for good — thanks to that clever punch-out selfie cam.

The predictably vibrant OLED display also saw a notable bump up to a 120HZ refresh rate, while the rear triple-camera setup serves up more photographic flexibility. The slightly larger Galaxy S20 Plus offers similar specs, albeit with a little more screen real estate and a slightly larger battery.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra – 2020

The Galaxy S20 Ultra ushered in a new no-compromise flagship category for Samsung which made headlines with a large 120Hz 6.9in display, a huge 108MP camera, and a whopping 10x optical zoom.

The latter is a genuinely useful feature for getting more detailed shots of distant subjects, though the 100x Space Zoom turned out to be more of a pixellated mess. You can’t defeat the laws of physics, after all.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE – 2020

Despite being marketed as a more budget entry point into the S20 range, the Galaxy S20 FE won plenty of praise for blending core Samsung features and slick design, in a package that spared your bank account.

With a crisp, flat display, formidable camera performance, and the power of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 processor, it made for a very tempting alternative indeed. And let’s not forget the eye-catching plastic rear, which landed in a plethora of pleasing pastel hues.

Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus – 2021

At first glance, the Galaxy S21 and larger S21 Plus appeared to be downgrades. After all, they landed with plastic rears, and not the absolute best battery life around.

Dig a little deeper though, and you’ll see that their launch prices were a little less than those of their predecessors. Camera performance delivered too, but it’s the unmatched style and head-turning colours that made the S21 and S21 Plus stand out from the crowd.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra – 2021

The Galaxy S21 Ultra still houses one of the best overall smartphone cameras you’re likely to use today, with superb shots in all lighting conditions, with detailed zoom on offer as well.

Galaxy Note fans can also use a (non-bundled) S Pen for doodling and note taking, while the ultra-adaptive screen blends a maximum 120Hz refresh rate with battery-sipping cleverness, letting it ramp the refresh rate up or down accordingly.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE– 2022

Launching later than expected, the S21 FE landed in January 2022. Resembling its S21 siblings (minus a rear camera housing that matches that of the main body), it remains a handsome handset that cuts features down in a few areas to help make the price tag more palatable.

With a 120Hz display though and plenty of Samsung tricks going for it, it remains a strong budget-minded option.

Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus – 2022

The S22 and S22 Plus resemble their predecessors, although their Gorilla Glass Victus Plus construction makes for a hardier improvement.

Super-fast OLED screens and more than capable cameras are, as expected, also present, although the cream of the imaging prowess is reserved for the higher-end Galaxy S22 Ultra, as (which should come as no surprise by now).

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra – 2022

The Galaxy S22 Ultra landed as the first true Note successor, thanks to the inclusion of the S Pen, which (mercifully) can be stored inside the handset itself, rather than being lost down the side of the couch.

Super-fast internals, a large 6.8in screen, and a headline-grabbing 108MP camera made the S22 Ultra the handset to beat. That is, at least, until its Galaxy S23 successor came along.

Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus – 2023

Samsung Galaxy S23 5G Dual SIM Android Mobile Phone, 256GB, SIM Free Smartphone, Black

Powered by the mighty Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and 8GB of RAM, these are, unsurprisingly, two of the most powerful phones Samsung has ever made. The larger S23 Plus features 45W fast charging (versus the slower 25W charging of its sibling), but both have the same 50MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP telephoto (complete with 3x optical zoom), for snapping quality pics.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra – 2023

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G Dual SIM Android Mobile Phone, 256GB, SIM Free Smartphone, Green 3Y Extended Manufacturer Warranty

As predicted, Samsung’s latest and greatest flagship is the most powerful and feature-packed one yet. With a largely unchanged design (although the rear camera housing has slimmed down), it’s the combination of tech that makes it shine.

From a beautiful, bright screen, to a camera setup that’s capable in almost any situation (thanks to a 10x optical zoom lens and a huge 200MP main sensor), the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is shaping up to be a contender for one of the best phones of 2023.

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The History of iOS, from Version 1.0 to 17.0

By admin December 24, 2023

The History of iOS, from Version 1.0 to 17.0, A complete view of the operating system that launched the smartphone revolution

iOS is the name of the operating system that runs the iPhone and iPod touch. It’s the core software that comes loaded on all devices to allow them to run and support other apps. iOS is to the iPhone what Windows is to PCs or macOS is to Macs.

Below you’ll find a history of each version of iOS when it was released, and what it added to the platform. Click the name of the iOS version, or the More link at the end of each blurb, for more in-depth information about that version.

See our article What is iOS? for a lot more on this innovative mobile operating system and how it works.

iOS 17

Apple announced iOS 17 at the June 2023 WWDC, with a public rollout to take place in Fall 2023.

One of the most notable updates to iOS 17 is the change from, “Hey Siri!” to, “Siri,” as well as the ability to give Siri back-to-back commands,

iOS 17 includes upgrades to Phone, FaceTime, and Messages, which also features an all-new Stickers experience. AirDrop has been upgraded to include NameDrop to allow for easy contact sharing. Journal is an entirely new app that provides an intuitive journalling experience based on your photos, locations, contacts, music, podcasts, and more.

In addition, iOS 17 offers a fullscreen experience called StandBy, which is similar to Nightstand Mode on Apple Watch. While you’re charging the phone, you can put it into landscape mode to display the time and other information on a minimalist, easy-to-read display.

iOS 16

iOS 16 was announced at 2022’s WWDC in June. It rolled out to consumers in Fall 2022.

Updates include new Messages features, SharePlay availability in FaceTime and Messages, and upgrades for Apple Wallet including Apple Pay Later and Apple Order Tracking.

iOS 16 also featured an Apple Maps redesign and new features, such as cycling, lookaround, and multi-stop routing. The iOS upgrade also offers improvements to Spatial Audio that allow for the personalization of audio on AirPods.

The History of iOS, from Version 1.0 to 17.0

iOS 15

Apple Inc.

Support ended: n./a
Current version: 15.5, released May 16, 2022
Initial version: 15.0, released Sept. 24, 2021

Much like iOS 14, iOS 15 is more of a collection of improvements to the iPhone platform than it is a themed release. Generally speaking, iOS 15 moves forward a number of important things Apple has been working on for a number of releases: Increases security and privacy, blocks more ad tracking, improves Siri and the camera app, and much more.

Some of the biggest steps forward are influenced by the recent remote-work trend. Features in that area include improvements to FaceTime audio, support for FaceTime conferencing on the web and Android, improvements to the Messages app, and more.

Key New Features:

• FaceTime received numerous improvements aimed at improving the experience of using the app and expanding the audience for it, including:

1.SharePlay allows people on a FaceTime video call to watch video or listen to audio together, and share screens

2.Spatial Audio brings Apple’s more-natural, 3D audio experience to improve the naturalness of FaceTime sound

3.Enhanced Mic Modes allow you to isolate your voice from background noise to improve audio quality

4.Portrait Mode brings this terrific still-photos feature to video to blur your background

5.Cross-Platform support allows you to invite anyone to a FaceTime call with a link and for them to join from a web browser or Android devices.

• Focus adds a set of smart notification and communication s settings based on what you’re doing at that moment.

• The Photos app gains major improvements such as:

1.Live Text lets the app detect text inside your photos and convert it to text that can be copied and pasted, or phone numbers that can be tapped to call

2.Visual search lets you search within the Photos app for text embedded your photos.

• In keeping with Apple’s ongoing commitment to user privacy, iOS 15 adds:

1.App Privacy Report lets you know what permissions each of your apps has, how often it accesses your data, and what third-party domains the app has contacted.

2.Mail Privacy Protection blocks tracking pixels, hides your IP address from marketers, and blocks the connection of your data from email with other data sources.

3.On-device Siri means that Siri recordings are no longer sent to or stored in the cloud. Siri works completely on your iPhone, and now works offline.

• Support for the iCloud+ service that adds new Homekit and VPN-style features.

• Notifications scheduling and summary.

• Improved driving directions in Maps.

• A redesigned experience and features for managing tabs and groups of tabs in Safari.

• Better ways to find content shared with you and to share medical data from the Health app with your family.

Dropped Support For:

• iPhone 6 series. All iPhone models from the 6S series and up are supported.

• 6th Gen. iPod touch. Only the 7th Gen. iPod touch is supported.

iOS 14

Apple

Support ended: n/a
Current version: 14.6, released May 24, 2021
Initial version: 14.0, released Sept. 17, 2020

There’s no single major change or theme to the changes introduced with iOS 14. Instead, iOS 14 is a collection of numerous small and medium-sized changes to the user interface, features, and overall ease of use that add up to making the experience of using an iPhone even better.

Maybe the most notable changes are around customization, thanks to the addition of Homescreen Widgets, the ability to choose default apps in some cases, and improved privacy controls.

How to Change the Color of Apps on iOS 14

Key New Features:

• Homescreen Widgets for customized home screens and shortcuts.

• Smart Stacks that deliver different Homescreen Widgets at different times of the day based on your habits.

• Set third-party apps as default for email and web browser apps.

• App Library, a new way of organizing apps and keeping your home scree neat

• App Clips

• Picture in picture mode

• Improved privacy features to block tracking online.

• Built-in language translation for 11 languages.

• Spatial audio for AirPods delivers surround sound, along with other AirPods improvements.

• Design changes allow phone calls and FaceTime calls to take up less space on the screen and allow you to do other things at the same time.

• Numerous improvements for group texts in iMessage, including threaded replies and mentions.

Dropped Support For:

• None. iOS 14 supports the same set of devices as iOS 13

iOS 13

Apple Inc.

Support ended: n/a
Current version: 13.7, release Sept. 1, 2020.
Initial version: 13.0, released Sept. 19, 2019

Perhaps the biggest change introduced with iOS 13 is that the OS no longer runs on the iPad. That’s due to the release of iPadOS (which begins with version 13). That’s a new OS dedicated to the making the iPad a more useful productivity device and a potential laptop replacement. It’s based on iOS 13 and has many of the same features, but also adds iPad-specific items.

Beyond that, iOS 13 shores up some core features, including launching apps faster, unlocking devices with Face ID faster, and overhauling pre-installed apps like Reminders, Notes, Safari, and Mail. Maybe the most obvious new feature is the Dark Mode, but the changes range much wider than that and further bolster the already-strong OS.

Key New Features:

• System-wide Dark Mode

• Sign In With Apple user account system

• New privacy and security options

• New Portrait Lighting options

• Look Around, a Google Street View-style feature for Apple Maps

• New, improved Siri voice

• Overhauled stock apps like Reminders and Notes

Dropped Support For:

• iPad (due to the release of iPadOS)

• 6th Gen. iPod touch

• iPhone 6 series

• iPhone 5S

iOS 12

Apple Inc.

Support ended: n/a
Current version: 12.4.8. It was released July 15, 2020
Initial version: It was released on September 17, 2018

The new features and improvements added in iOS 12 aren’t as extensive or revolutionary as in some previous updates to the OS. Instead, iOS 12 focused more on making refinements to commonly used features and on adding wrinkles that improve how people use their devices.

Some of the key features of iOS 12 included improvements to Siri like Siri Shortcuts, enhanced Augmented Reality with ARKit 2, and giving users and parents ways to monitor and control their device use with Screen Time.

Key New Features:

• Grouped Notifications

• Screen Time

• ARKit 2

• Siri improvements, including Siri Shortcuts and multi-step actions

• Memoji, a personalized kind of Animoji

Dropped Support For:

• N/A

iOS 11

Apple Inc.

Support ended: n/a
Current version: 11.4.1. It was released on July 9, 2018
Initial version: It was released on September 19, 2017

iOS was originally developed to run on the iPhone. Since then, it’s been expanded to support the iPod touch and iPad (and versions of it even power the Apple Watch and Apple TV). In iOS 11, the emphasis shifted from the iPhone to the iPad.

Sure, iOS 11 contains lots of improvements for the iPhone, but its major focus is turning the iPad Pro series models into legitimate laptop replacements for some users.

This is done through a series of changes designed to make iOS running on iPad a lot more like a desktop operating system. These changes include all new drag and drop support, split screen apps and multiple workspaces, a file browser app, and support for notation and handwriting with the Apple Pencil.

Key New Features:

Dropped Support For:

• iPhone 5C

• iPhone 5

• iPad 4

• iPad 3

iOS 10

Apple Inc.

Support ended: 2019
Current version: 10.3.4. It was released on July 22, 2019
Initial version: It was released on Sept. 13, 2016

The ecosystem Apple built around iOS has long been referred to as a “walled garden” because it’s a very pleasant place to be on the inside, but it’s hard to gain access. This was reflected in the many ways Apple locked down the interface of iOS and the options it gave to apps.

Cracks began to show in the walled garden in iOS 10, and Apple put them there.

The major themes of iOS 10 were interoperability and customization. Apps could now communicate directly with each other on a device, allowing one app to use some features from another without opening the second app. Siri became available to third-party apps in new ways. There were even apps built into iMessage now.

Beyond that, users now had new ways to customize their experiences, from (finally!) being able to delete built-in apps to new animations and effects to punctuate their text messages.

Key New Features:

Dropped Support For:

• iPhone 4S

• 5th gen. iPod touch

• iPad 2

• 1st gen. iPad mini

iOS 9

Apple, Inc.

Support ended: 2018
Final version: 9.3.9. It was released on July 22, 2019
Initial version: It was released on Sept. 16, 2015

After a few years of major changes to both the interface and technical foundation of iOS, many observers began to charge that iOS was no longer the stable, dependable, solid performer it had once been. They suggested that Apple should focus on shoring up the foundation of the OS before adding new features.

That’s just what the company did with iOS 9. While it did add some new features, this release was generally aimed at solidifying the foundation of the OS for the future.

Major improvements were delivered in speed and responsiveness, stability, and performance on older devices. iOS 9 proved to be an important refocusing that laid the groundwork for the bigger improvements delivered in iOS 10 and 11.

Key New Features:

• Night Shift

• Low Power Mode

• Public beta program

Dropped Support For:

• N/A

iOS 8

Apple, Inc.

Support ended: 2016
Final version: 8.4.1. It was released on Aug. 13, 2015
Initial version: It was released on Sept. 17, 2014

More consistent and stable operation returned to iOS in version 8.0. With the radical changes of the last two versions now in the past, Apple once again focused on delivering major new features.

Among these features was its secure, contactless payment system Apple Pay and, with the iOS 8.4 update, the Apple Music subscription service.

There were continued improvements to the iCloud platform, too, with the addition of the Dropbox-like iClould Drive, iCloud Photo Library, and iCloud Music Library.

Key New Features:

Dropped Support For:

• iPhone 4

iOS 7

Corbis News / Getty Images

Support ended: 2016
Final version: 7.1.2. It was released on June 30, 2014.
Initial version: It was released on Sept. 18, 2013

Like iOS 6, iOS 7 was met with substantial resistance upon its release. Unlike iOS 6, though, the cause of unhappiness among iOS 7 users wasn’t that things didn’t work. Rather, it was because things had changed.

After the firing of Scott Forstall, iOS development was overseen by Jony Ive, Apple’s head of design, who had previously only worked on hardware. In this version of iOS, Ive ushered in a major overhaul of the user interface, designed to make it more modern.

While the design was indeed more modern, its small, thin fonts were hard to read for some users and frequent animations caused motion sickness for others. The design of the current iOS is derived from the changes made in iOS 7. After Apple made improvements, and users became accustomed to the changes, complaints subsided.

Key New Features:

Dropped Support For:

• iPhone 3GS

• iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, 3rd gen. iPad, and iPad 2 couldn’t use all features of iOS 7

iOS 6

marco_1186 / Flickr

Support ended: 2015
Final version: 6.1.6. It was released on Feb. 21, 2014
Initial version: It was released on Sept. 19, 2012

Controversy was one of the dominant themes of iOS 6. While this version introduced the world to Siri — which, despite being later surpassed by competitors, was a truly revolutionary technology — problems with it also led to major changes.

The driver of these problems was Apple’s increasing competition with Google, whose Android smartphone platform was posing a threat to the iPhone. Google had supplied the Maps and YouTube apps pre-installed with the iPhone since 1.0. In iOS 6, that changed.

Apple introduced its own Maps app, which was badly received due to bugs, bad directions, and problems with certain features. As part of the company’s efforts to solve the problems, Apple CEO Tim Cook asked the head of iOS development, Scott Forstall, to make a public apology. When he refused, Cook fired him. Forstall had been involved with the iPhone since before the first model, so this was a profound change.

Key New Features:

• Apple Maps

• Do Not Disturb

• Passbook (now Wallet)

Dropped Support For:

• None, but iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPad 2 couldn’t use all features of iOS 6

iOS 5

Francis Dean / Getty Images

Support ended: 2014
Final version: 5.1.1. It was released on May 7, 2012
Initial version: It was released on Oct. 12, 2011

Apple responded to the growing trend of wirelessness, and cloud computing, in iOS 5, by introducing essential new features and platforms. Among those was iCloud, the ability to activate an iPhone wirelessly (previously it had required a connection to a computer), and syncing with iTunes via Wi-Fi.

More features that are now central to the iOS experience debuted here, including iMessage and Notification Center.

With iOS 5, Apple dropped support for the iPhone 3G, 1st gen. iPad, and 2nd and 3rd gen. iPod touch.

Key New Features:

• iCloud

• iMessage

• Notification Center

• Wireless syncing and activation

Dropped Support For:

• iPhone 3G

• 1st gen. iPad

• 2nd gen. iPod touch

• 3rd gen. iPod touch

iOS 4

Ramin Talaie / Getty Images

Support ended: 2013
Final version: 4.3.5. It was released on July 25, 2011
Initial version: It was released on June 22, 2010

Many aspects of the modern iOS began to take shape in iOS 4. Features that are now widely used debuted in various updates to this version, including FaceTime, multitasking, iBooks, organizing apps into folders, Personal Hotspot, AirPlay, and AirPrint.

Another important change introduced with iOS 4 was the name “iOS” itself. As noted earlier, the iOS name was unveiled for this version, replacing the previously used “iPhone OS” name.

This was also the first version of iOS to drop support for any iOS devices. It was not compatible with the original iPhone or the 1st generation iPod touch. Some older models that were technically compatible were not able to use all features of this version.

Key New Features:

Dropped Support For:

• Original iPhone

• 1st Gen. iPod touch

iOS 3

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images News

Support ended: 2012
Final version: 3.2.2. It was released on Aug. 11, 2010
Initial version: It was released on June 17, 2009

The release of this version of iOS accompanied the debut of the iPhone 3GS. It added features including copy and paste, Spotlight search, MMS support in the Messages app, and the ability to record videos using the Camera app.

Also notable about this version of iOS is that it was the first to support the iPad. The 1st generation iPad was released in 2010, and version 3.2 of the software came with it.

Key New Features:

• Copy and paste

• Spotlight search

• Recording videos

iOS 2

Jason Kempin / Getty Images

Support ended: 2011
Final version: 2.2.1. It was released on January 27, 2009
Initial version: It was released on July 11, 2008

One year after the iPhone became a bigger hit than almost anyone projected, Apple released iOS 2.0 (then called iPhone OS 2.0) to coincide with the release of the iPhone 3G.

The most profound change introduced in this version was the App Store and its support for real third-party apps (rather than web apps). Around 500 apps were available in the App Store at launch. Hundreds of other crucial improvements were also added.

Other important changes introduced in the 5 updates iPhone OS 2.0 included podcast support and public transit and walking directions in Maps (both in version 2.2).

Key New Features:

• App Store

• Improved Maps app

iOS 1

Apple Inc.

Support ended: 2010
Final version: 1.1.5. It was released on July 15, 2008
Initial version: It was released on June 29, 2007

The one that started it all, which shipped pre-installed on the original iPhone.

This version of the operating system wasn’t called iOS at the time it launched. From versions 1-3, Apple referred to it as the iPhone OS. The name shifted to iOS with version 4.

It’s hard to convey to modern readers who have lived with the iPhone for years how profound a breakthrough this version of the operating system was. Support for features like the multitouch screen, Visual Voicemail, and iTunes integration were significant advances.

While this initial release was a major breakthrough at the time, it lacked many of the features that would come to be closely associated with the iPhone in the future, including support for real third-party apps. Pre-installed apps included Calendar, Photos, Camera, Notes, Safari, Mail, Phone, and iPod (which was later split into the Music and Videos apps).

Version 1.1, which was released in Sept. 2007 was the first version of the software compatible with the iPod touch.

Key New Features:

• Visual Voicemail

• Multitouch interface

• Safari browser

• Music app

FAQ

• How can I see the version update history of an iOS app?

Go to the App store, select an app, and tap Version History. There, you will see all updates for the app, plus the date of each update.

• How can I get notifications about new versions of iOS apps?

To receive notifications about new versions of iOS apps, you must turn off automatic updates on your iOS device. Go to Settings > App Store > turn off App Updates. When you turn off automatic updates, the App Store is forced to notify you that an update is available for your iOS app.

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Featured

The best smart speakers for 2023

By admin December 20, 2023

The best smart speakers for 2023, Smart speakers are an integral part of any smart home, often serving as the brains of the entire operation. Beyond pumping out impressive audio or giving you updates on the morning news, smart speakers can listen to voice commands before passing out instructions to the rest of your gadgets. Functionality varies widely by product, making it important to find the best smart speaker for your setup.

Thankfully, it’s hard to pick a dud in today’s loaded marketplace. Whether you’re an Apple loyalist, a Google enthusiast, or an avid user of Amazon Alexa, just about every big tech company is churning out incredible smart speakers. But if you need some help narrowing down all your options, here’s a look at the best smart speakers of 2023.

Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Sonos Era 100

The best smart speaker

As the successor to the Sonos One (our previous best smart speaker), it should come as no surprise that the Era 100 is just as easy to recommend. Everything that made the Sonos One popular has been improved with the Era 100 – including sound quality, usability, and the addition of native Bluetooth support.

The Sonos Era 100 produces booming sound thanks to its twin angled tweeters, a woofer that’s 25% larger than the Sonos One, and custom waveguides that help send noise to all corners of your room. It also features a faster processor, which results in better performance when giving it commands.

Interacting with the device is more streamlined than it was on the Sonos One, which used gestures and touch controls on the top of the device. For the Era 100, you’ll get simple buttons for everything from volume controls to track selection.

It’s still expensive (typically retailing for $249), but there’s no doubt it’s a premium smart speaker that should appeal to even the most discerning audiophile.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sonos One (Gen 2)

The best smart speaker (Runner-up)

The second-generation version of the Sonos One is even more user-friendly, with an updated design that adds touch controls and incorporates Bluetooth 5.0 for a variety of connection options. Its core features still remain, however, including the ability to choose between Alexa or Google Assistant and to link with other Sonos speakers through Wi-Fi to fill the room with even more sound.

The speaker’s far-field microphone array effortlessly hears voice commands from across a room, even when music is playing. If you have qualms about privacy, Sonos claims that muting the microphones is done via hardware, ensuring that when the mic indicator light is off, the speaker is definitely not listening. With AirPlay 2, you can stream any audio from an Apple device directly to the speaker or to any other Sonos speaker in your home.

But our favorite aspect of this model is simply the fact that it’s a Sonos speaker. The Sonos wireless whole-home music system remains the very best we’ve ever tested. It has support for almost every major music streaming service, and it’s all controlled from an app on your phone, tablet, or PC. Not only is the app full of great features like Apple Music playlist compatibility and the ability to group multiple speakers, but these features are also remarkably easy to use.

Thanks to Sonos’ partnership with Ikea, there’s also a growing ecosystem of cool third-party devices that can be used to control the Sonos One and any other Sonos speakers in your home. The Sonos One (Gen 2) is a fantastic speaker and a great way to smarten up your home.

The best smart speakers for 2023

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) with Clock

The best budget smart speaker

The 4th-gen Amazon Echo Dot already upgraded the design to an orb that matched the larger flagship Echo and greatly improved the sound of the speaker — but Amazon outdid itself with the 5th-gen model and the host of smart features it contains.

Alexa is fully supported, of course, and those little speakers do an incredible job of filling a small space with sound. The clock version (not necessary but nice) is especially well-suited for an office desk or a bedside table — and onboard controls include privacy switches among other benefits. Plus, as is tradition, there are kid versions of the speaker, this time with owl and dragon skins.

Amazon also added even more useful technology to the 5th-gen model, including a higher-resolution display, and new accelerometer and temperature sensors to provide more information about your surroundings. There’s a new chip also for tap-based controls (all the better for an alarm clock), and it now has Eero tech built in, allowing it to connect with an Eero router to help extend it

The most appealing part about the Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) with Clock is its price. At $60, it’s easy on just about any budget — meaning you can buy multiple units without forking over a huge sum of money! And who doesn’t like that?

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Amazon Echo (4th Gen)

The best smart speaker for Amazon Alexa

The larger, spherical design of the 4th-gen Echo doesn’t just look cool and modern. It also packs a set of speakers specializing in 360-degree sound designed for larger areas, filling spaces with tunes or other audio while listening for voice commands from across the room.

Of course, it’s a wonderful centerpiece in the living room if you’re planning to entertain guests, like a speaker in the kitchen for music, and so on. Other features like a 3.5mm auxiliary jack, Bluetooth, and stereo pairing round out its audio features. When it comes to controlling the smart home, the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) can be used to turn off lights, check up on calendar appointments, and order pizza.

Meanwhile, it can also monitor your home while you’re away by sending you notifications if it hears the sounds of smoke alarms with Alexa Guard. You’re getting a rich smart speaker in terms of performance, and features with the Amazon Echo (4th Gen).

John Velasco / Digital Trends

Google Nest Audio

The best smart speaker for Google Assistant

Google Nest Audio plays to a wide range of people because it brings that perfect mixture of intelligence and raw power.

What’s apparent is that it’s a substantially beefier speaker than the Google Home — aided by its 19mm tweeter and 75mm mid-woofer. The result is a Google Assistant-powered smart speaker that roars with incredible power. There’s no denying that it’s far more equipped at playing music than its successor, just because it’s 76% louder and has a 50% boost in bass.

You can also pair it with another Google Nest Audio for stereo sound, plus you can group multiple speakers in other rooms to play your tunes everywhere — while being harmoniously in sync. The best part of Nest Audio is that you’re not paying a fortune for premium audio with its $100 sticker price. It’s affordable, packs all the intelligence of Google Assistant, and even delivers impressive sound.

John Velasco / Digital Trends

Apple HomePod Mini

The best affordable smart speaker for HomeKit

Apple certainly learned how tough it can be to complete in the smart speaker space. While its HomePod faced stiff competition when it launched, its sibling in the HomePod Mini fared much better. Part of that reasoning is that the HomePod Mini was cheaper, while still offering excellent audio performance.

Apple users will appreciate the HomePod Mini in the home because Siri can be leveraged on the speaker to accomplish a number of things, such as turning on the lights, unlocking the door, and much more. When it comes to audio, there’s still a lot of power behind its compact design — but what’s impressive is its ability to adapt to whatever it’s playing. For example, if you’re watching a movie on your television and using the HomePod Mini as your audio source, it’ll tune the audio accordingly so that dialogue won’t be drowned out by the sound effects in the background.

Speaking of home theater experiences, you can achieve that by pairing two HomePod Mini speakers together. In fact, you’d be surprised by how well it sounds compared to a traditional soundbar.

Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

The best smart speaker for TV

Even the best TVs typically have lousy sound quality due to their tiny built-in speakers, which makes soundbars an attractive option for many. However, there are a lot of soundbars and not all of them are as smart as the modern home theater needs. That’s where this excellent iteration of the Sonos Beam steps up.

A compact and well-styled bar, it can easily fit under the smallest of TVs on either a console or on the wall using the optional bracket. Like every Sonos product, it has impressive sound quality for its size and can become part of a much larger multiroom audio system. The Gen 2 model is further improved with the addition of Dolby Atmos, an important part of home entertainment audio these days. The Sonos app lets you stream from virtually every music service on the planet and it does an excellent job managing your private music collection, too.

But the reason we’ve chosen the Beam for this roundup is its smart speaker chops. With the ability to run either Google Assistant or Alexa as its voice assistant, it can serve as the hub for a host of home automation commands. It can translate spoken commands for Google Assistant or Alexa into signals that control your TV. “Alexa, turn on Bedroom TV,” will do just that. Other commands, like “Alexa, turn the volume up on Bedroom TV,” work well too, as will similar commands for Google Assistant. You can also control the speaker with an app, or use it with Apple AirPlay 2.

Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Bose Portable Home Speaker

The best portable smart speaker

You already know that we love the Sonos One for its ability to let you choose your preferred voice assistant. The Bose Portable Home Speaker gives you that choice too, plus a built-in rechargeable battery, carry-handle, and Bluetooth so you can take it with you anywhere you go.

Though considerably more expensive than the Sonos One, the Bose is the ideal choice for people who demand absolute flexibility. When at home and connected to your Wi-Fi network, the Portable Home Speaker is a full-fledged smart speaker that lets you talk to Alexa or Google Assistant. Using your voice to control music playback via Spotify works like a charm, but the Bose app gives you additional options like multiple speaker groupings. The app isn’t as good as the one Sonos provides, but as long as you don’t intend to build a whole-home music system using Bose speakers, we doubt you’ll mind.

While you shouldn’t let it fall in the pool, the speaker is protected from small amounts of water thanks to its IPX4 rating, so you need not fear the occasional unexpected rain shower.

Apple users will love the AirPlay 2 integration which lets you stream any audio — be it music from your favorite streaming service, or the soundtrack from a Netflix movie — directly to the speaker when connected to Wi-Fi. When on the road (or if you’re an Android user) the Bose Portable Home Speaker’s Bluetooth connection lets you keep the tunes going. With 12 hours of battery life between charges, those tunes can go on for most of a day.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Amazon Echo Studio

The best smart speaker for 3D sound

Though it bears a resemblance to the Apple HomePod with its cylindrical shape, the Echo Studio is, in fact, an entirely new breed of smart speaker. It’s still an Amazon Echo, which means that you get all of the benefits of being able to issue voice commands to Alexa to control everything from your music to your thermostat. But when it comes to audio, the Echo Studio is in a class of its own.

With the launch of the Amazon Music HD streaming service, Amazon is now a leading source of top-quality music. The service offers CD-quality audio and hi-res audio, as well as immersive 3D music tracks via Dolby Atmos Music, and Sony 360 Reality Audio. And for now, the Echo Studio is the only speaker on the planet that works with all of them.

CD-quality and hi-res audio are fairly easy to understand: They’re the best versions of stereo audio you can get. Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio are different. These two new formats expand your music into something far wider, deeper, and immersive — which is why we refer to them as 3D. The Echo Studio not only projects these formats around a room the way they were meant to be heard, but it also reinforces the sound with a clean and powerful bass response we simply didn’t expect from a speaker at this price.

The Amazon Echo Studio may not please all audiophiles — it tends to muffle some midrange sounds for stereo sound — but it is nonetheless a superb value and (at the moment) a unique smart speaker that leads a growing movement. Also, note that Amazon announced an update for Echo Studio firmware in 2022 to give it Amazon’s own spatial audio processing, designed to improve clarity compared to standard audio. You’ll need Amazon Music Unlimited to use it, but it’s a notable upgrade to the Studio’s sound options.

Zeke Jones / Digital Trends

HomePod 2023

The best smart speaker for HomeKit

If you love HomeKit but need something with a bit more power than the HomePod mini, consider opting for the new Apple HomePod. It offers all the same functionality as its smaller sibling, but thanks to its larger footprint, the HomePod is capable of producing loud, room-filling sounds. Inside the device, you’ll find a high-excursion woofer and an array of beamforming tweeters, which is just a fancy way of saying the HomePod sounds fantastic.

Another perk of the HomePod is its ability to optimize its sound for any room. Using Room Sensing technology and Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, you can rest assured your smart speaker is pumping out the best possible sound at all times. And if you want to fill your entire home with great sound, HomePod supports multiroom audio through AirPlay. It’s not cheap at $300, but no doubt you’re getting your money’s worth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I buy an Alexa smart speaker or Google smart speaker?

That depends on which ecosystem you like and use most. Both have their benefits and drawbacks, and both work with the most popular streaming services. Alexa tends to work with more smart devices, but this is becoming less of a factor with time. If you’re undecided, pick a smart speaker that gives you a choice like the Sonos One.

Do smart speakers help the visually impaired?

Yes, they have a lot of functionality that doesn’t require buttons, making smart speakers great for visually impaired people. They are particularly useful when paired with smart devices around the home that can be controlled via voice. Even without smart devices, these speakers can help make schedules, read the news, look up information, plan events, provide recipes to cook meals, and lots more — really putting the “assistant” in voice assistant.

Do smart speakers have an AUX input?

Some smart speakers, like the Marshall Stanmore II Voice, have 3.5mm inputs. If you need an AUX input, we recommend making sure the speaker has one before purchasing.

Can I use smart speakers to listen to FM radio?

No, most smart speakers do not have an FM tuner. If you want to listen to the radio, your best bet is to play an internet radio station on these speakers. Some services do turn FM channels into internet stations you can listen to on smart devices, like myTuner Radio.

Do smart speakers usually have a battery?

It’s not common. Batteries are more common on simpler Bluetooth speakers designed more for portability. If you want to take your smart speaker with you on the go, we recommend making sure it has a built-in or add-on battery (like the Bose Portable Home Speaker).

Do smart speakers need Wi-Fi?

Yes, smart speakers generally need Wi-Fi to set up and use. You can access some features with Bluetooth, but a Wi-Fi connection is still needed for the smart speaker to operate.

Are smart speakers always listening to me?

Yes and no. After some initial hiccups, smart speakers typically work like this: The mics are always listening for their wake word, like, “Hey, Alexa.” But they don’t recognize or record anything else. Once they do hear the wake word, they listen to the speech after it to interpret the request. That command is typically recorded, but settings in apps like Alexa allow you to stop the speaker from storing the command in the cloud, or make sure it’s deleted soon afterward. Smart speakers also come with physical mute buttons that will shut down the mics entirely if you don’t want them on.

Can children use smart speakers?

Today’s smart speakers have voice profiles so each person in the family can create their own profile with their own preferences. You can also use apps to set controls, such as disabling any music with profanity, etc. That being said, there have been cases of kids using smart speakers to order things online (100 gallons of ice cream, etc.) or otherwise getting into trouble, so it’s a good idea to limit what they can do.

Can all my devices work with a smart speaker?

Compatibility has long been a problematic part of smart platforms that power smart speakers and other devices. In past years, it’s been a tug of war between brands to get third-party smart devices to support their own voice assistants and apps, so you may have a device that works on Alexa but not with Google Home, and so on. Alexa has generally done the best with third-party support, followed by Google, then Apple’s HomeKit and Home app.

That’s starting to change and change quickly. The big three smart brands, along with a wide variety of other tech companies, banded together and created a new smart home protocol to work on all their platforms, called Matter. These days, you can look for the Matter logo or check to see if your devices are backward compatible with Matter and rest easy. Older devices, however, may still have limited compatibility, so you may have to do some extra research.

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