Technology & Business
Useful websites you need to know about
In this article, we will share a few useful websites that can save you time or money. WIFIMap <img src="https://ekiledjian2.micro.blog/uploads/2025/a432fce339.jpg" alt=""> If you are traveling or running low on LTE data, there are always a dozen good reasons to connect to a local free Wi-Fi network (just make sure you use a VPN). WiFiMap is an app and website that allows you to locate free Wi-Fi networks. The service (and apps) are free and supported by advertisements. The pro subscription costs $25US and provides offline access to the offline database as well as an ad-free experience.
Real time precipitation alerts in IOS
Weather apps are the most downloaded category of apps in any app store. People seem to be obsessed with them. Apple delivered a ton of "hidden" improvements in iOS15 that you probably won't be able to find on your own. One such improvement is the ability to receive real-time precipitation alerts through Apple's iOS weather app. In order to enable this new functionality: Open the weather app. Tap the icon with three dots on the lower right corner of the screen
What is Google SmartCompose and how to turn it off in Gmail
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is slowly making its way into all aspects of our lives, whether it is profiling us on social media or making us buy that product at the perfect time on Amazon. Companies can use AI for good or evil. Google is known for search, but you may not realize that they apply AI to almost all of their products in order to help their users. Sometimes this added convenience may be at the expense of privacy. An example of this is Gmail's Smart Compose feature.
Wormhole could be the free file transfer app Firefox Send wanted to be
Firefox Send was a fantastic tool that allowed anyone on the internet to send large files for free using encryption. Unfortunately, the bad guys started using it, and Firefox pulled the plug. The concept is simple, by visiting the service page, you upload your files, and the service provides a link that allows anyone to download the content. The challenge with most free services is that they are insecure, and most are slow (encouraging you to buy their faster service).
Review of the Asus C434 Chrombook
I am lucky enough to have the chance to test a tone of devices every year. Chromebook testing is an interesting endeavour because the higher end units usually are fantastic to use, while the cheaper products are slow and clunky. Chromebooks that live in the middle ($500-600) typically inherit the bad characteristics from both categories. The mid-priced ($600) Asus C434 doesn't fall into this typical model. Build quality Most (non-premium) Chromebooks feel cheap and flimsy. They creek and crack when you grab them from an edge.
VPN Support coming to Linux apps on Chromebooks
It seems everyone has jumped on the VPN bandwagon these days. On Chromebooks, we can use VPN extensions, but these don't protect Android apps. We can use Android VPN apps, which protect the entire ChromeOS (including Android apps but not Linux apps). So what happens today? Even if you have an Android VPN running, the Linux apps go our via your origin IP bypassing the VPN network adapter. If you need to use a VPN with the Linux container today on ChromeOS, you have to install a Linux VPN client in the container itself.
Smartphone chargers just got a powerful upgrade
This is NOT a sponsored post. Anker Atom PD-1 <img src="https://ekiledjian2.micro.blog/uploads/2025/1ac68fe707.jpg" alt=""> At first glance, the Anker PD-1 may seem unremarkably normal looking. After all, it looks like the small wall charger that came included with your iPhone. It is almost the same size as that iPhone charger, but it delivers a full 30 watts of USBC power (it’s 35-40% smaller than the equivalent MacBook charger). Ravpower 45W PD Charger <img src="https://ekiledjian2.micro.blog/uploads/2025/89d899c494.jpg" alt=""> Ravpower have taken the same technology to greater heights by designing a slim (14mm) 45 watt USBC charger .
Exciting new multi-monitor feature coming to Chromebooks
Every professional understands the power of a dual screen setup. The additional real estate enables a more fluid and productive work process. I use a tone of platforms (mainframe & mini to Mac, Windows and Linux) and I find that ChromeOS handles multi-screen setups with ease and grace. Every time I have hooked an external display to a "good" Chromebook (something that costs $500 or more), it has worked flawlessly immediately without having to fiddle or fine tune. I have successfully connected 2 external monitors to my Pixelbook at work using a Lenovo USB hub but this isn't something most people will have access to and therefore the 3 monitor option normally isn't used.
Best USB C Hub for your Pixelbook or PixelSlate
This is not a sponsored post. I was not provided with a sample product and the links are NOT affiliate links. USB C is a thing of beauty. It means I can travel with one charging brick and charge all of my devices. It truly has been a liberating technology. The only additional accessory I truly need is a good USB C hub. This is the on question I receive regularly “What is the best USBC hub?” I am not going to pretend this is the “best” for everyone but this is the best one (HooToo USB C Hub, 6-in-1 Premium USB C Adapter with Type C Charging Port, 4K HDMI, Card Reader, 3 x USB 3.
Microsoft releases a news app powered by AI
Everyone is trying to crack the automated news curation field using AI. First, there was Google News, then Apple News and Now Microsoft Hummingbird. Hummingbird is available in the US, and I was able to find the listing in Canada, but I am not allowed to download it. Reports suggest users in Germany, India are not able to download it either. APKMirror has the APK available if you want to install it. Click here. Once you sign in, you choose the categories you are interested in.
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency, without a central bank or single administrator, that can be sent from user to user on the peer-to-peer bitcoin network without the need for intermediaries. Transactions are verified by network nodes through cryptography and recorded in a public distributed ledger called a blockchain. Bitcoin was invented in 2008 by an unknown person or group of people using the name Satoshi Nakamoto, and started in 2009 when its source code was released as open-source software.
Dramatic drop in the number of US Public Companies
Going public was considered the ultimate sign of success for any company in a capitalist market. It meant the company had succeeded and the founders and original investors could reap some of the benefits. Public stock also allows companies to raise money, use stocks as a means to acquire and much more. Would it surprise you to learn that the number of publicly listed American (USA) companies has declined dramatically? We are currently sitting at about half the number of public companies, compared to the 80s and 90s.
What is a Progressive Web App
Over the last 18 months, I have seen more and more sites prompting me to "Add to Home Screen" from websites I have been browsing. Then you add this site, it installs itself in the background and is now accessible like a native app from your smartphone. <img src="https://ekiledjian2.micro.blog/uploads/2025/0b9df6b222.jpg" alt=""> What I have just described is the wondrous workings of a fairly new technology called Progressive Web Apps. This technology (called PWA) works even when you are offline and behaves like a "
Google's new Pixelbook ad is a hard jab at Windows
Windows is the most popular operating system in the world and Google will naturally target it, in an attempt to win new customers for its upmarket Pixelbook offering. Find more statistics at Statista January 2019, according to Statistica: Windows market share 75.47% MacOS market share 12.33% Linux market share 1.61% ChromeOS market share 1.17% Google released a one-minute promo video entitles “If you want a laptop you can count on. You Chromebook. “ . Truth be told the latest version of Windows 10 has been incredibly stable but this ad will be fun to watch for any Windows user annoyed with constant forced patches, badly designed progress bars and the infamous Blue Screen of Death.
Google One finally available to all US customers
I first wrote about Google One in May 2018, when it was still shrouded in secrecy. The new storage program with improved storage capacities was an invitation-only program until today (for US residents anyway). Per the original (Google Drive) model, storage is shared across all of the Google properties you use (GMAIL, Photos stored in full resolution, Drive, etc.) 100 GB for $1.99 200 GB for $2.99 (New) 2 TB for $9.99 (2TB for the price of 1TB on the old plan) 10 TB for $99.
US bans use of Huawei technology through Defense Authorization Act
US President Donald Trump has signed the Defense Authorization Act into law. Section 889 ( PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT) bans use by government agencies and contractors of Huawei or ZTE technologies. The language of the act is ambiguous and doesn't clearly list what technology is or isn't covered by the prohibition. “procure or obtain or extend or renew a contract to procure or obtain any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system” ZTE and Huawei should not be used to access government systems that display personal data, therefore it is safe to assume that most agencies and contractors will purge their networks of systems designed or that use these technologies.
2 secrets you need to know for Amazon Prime Day
Amazon Prime Day is here and expect millions of customers to go crazy buying things they don't need. At least those unneeded items are deeply discounted, right? Maybe! Thousands of items will be sold at their lowest price ever, but that isn't the case for everything. The internet is here to save the day again. A free online tool called CamelCamelCamel will show you the truth. You paste an Amazon link into the search bar at CamelCamelCamel and it will show you the item's price over time.
Google Chrome's Spectre Mitigation is consuming 10% more RAM
Google Chrome has always been a resource hog, but you may have noticed it's been consuming just a little bit more RAM lately (on your desktop). This new more demanding Chrome is because of the Google's Spectre mitigation efforts. The Google Chrome security team has enabled site isolation as a default (in Chrome v67 for desktops). Justin Schuh, head of Google Chrome Security, explained that site isolation separates each website process thereby preventing a malicious tab from stealing data from another.
Freedom Mobile removes insurance coverage for lost or stolen phones
Freedom Mobile's phone protection plan is removing coverage for lost or stolen phones. In exchange, they are reducing the monthly fee by $1 (down to $9). This change was first noticed on Reddit by user Alphalee and you can read messages from upset customers (obviously). <img src="https://ekiledjian2.micro.blog/uploads/2025/b8bf42c609.jpg" alt=""> This change will come into effect on August 2nd, 2018. Repair service is now listed at $99 (was unlimited in the past). It looks like this is an attempt to limit fraud and reduce insurance costs for Freedom Mobile.
Review of the free Mozilla Send service
As a citizen of the digital world, you probably transfer large files daily. Sure you could use Google Drive, Dropbox or OpenText Core but Mozilla believes there is a better way (Mozilla Send). Mozilla Send is a web experiment that allows you to easily transfer large files up to 1GB in size. Mozilla Send can be used with any modern browser. How to use Send 1 - Go to https://send.firefox.com/ <img src="https://ekiledjian2.micro.blog/uploads/2025/65fea92c0f.jpg" alt=""> 2 - Upload a file <img src="https://ekiledjian2.