How to Make a Discord Bot

Once you’ve been on Discord long enough, you’ll encounter a Discord bot. Perhaps it welcomed you to a new server, or booted someone who violated the rules. Maybe it spouted off quotes from Zero Wing whenever anyone typed the word “base.” Some powerful variants of Discord bots have kept users in a given chat…Read more...
Tags: Science, Software, Freeware, Bot, Instant Messaging Clients, Discord, AsyncAwait, Alt Tech, Internet Bot, Python Discord

Valve's Servers Melted Down Due to Steam Deck Demand

Yesterday, Valve countered the upcoming arrival of the OLED Switch with its own PC-based gaming handheld console, the $400 Steam Deck. Reservations opened today, and it seems the Steam store just can’t keep up.Read more...
Tags: Twitter, Science, Software, Steam, Freeware, Left 4 Dead, Valve Corporation, Windows Games, First Person Shooters, Video Gaming, Multiplayer video games, Multiplayer Online Games

Valve Announces Steam Deck, a Switch Clone for PC Gamers

Earlier this spring, rumors started swirling that Valve was working on its own take on the Switch for PC gamers, and today, Valve has returned to turn those rumors into reality with its official announcement for the Steam Deck.Read more...
Tags: Science, Software, Steam, Computing, Nintendo, Dell, Amd, Lenovo, Freeware, Pc Game, Valve Corporation, Nintendo Switch, Video Game Consoles, Handheld Game Consoles, Handheld Game Console, Technology Internet

TikTok's Algorithm and AI Tech Are Now up for Sale

Now anyone can tap into the secret sauce behind ByteDance’s globally successful TikTok app—for a price. The China-based company quietly launched a new BytePlus division back in June focused on selling TikTok’s artificial intelligence technology, including the popular recommendation algorithm behind its ForYou feed, to…Read more...
Tags: Google, Science, Microsoft, China, Software, Alibaba, Tencent, Ibm, Baidu, Freeware, Amazon Web Services, Mobile Applications, Business Finance, Video Software, Bytedance, Tiktok

Pirate These PC Games and Get Free Bonus Malware Now!

Someone is using cracked copies of top video game titles to install crypto-mining malware on PCs belonging to hundreds of thousands of unsuspecting victims—a ploy that’s netted the criminals a hefty $2 million so far.Read more...
Tags: Security, Science, Malware, Ransomware, Software, Security Breaches, Nba, Computer Virus, Freeware, Avast, Antivirus Software, Technology Internet, Computer Security Software, Daniel Bene, Avast Antivirus

Android Apps on Windows 11 Could Bring Apple's Seamlessness to the PC

Windows is my desktop operating system. It’s what I’ve been using all my life. I feel just as married to it as my Android smartphone, which has been my mobile OS since the dawn of smartphones (or just shortly thereafter). But despite the different ways that I can sync the two platforms through apps and browsers, I…Read more...
Tags: Apple, Google, Amazon, Android, Google Play, Google Play Store, Science, Microsoft, Kindle, Intel, Smartphones, Software, Chrome Os, Amd, App Store, Dyson

If you love voice messaging, you’ll love Squad

Squad used to be an app that connected people with similar interests for in-person meetups. Then the coronavirus pandemic hit. While most social apps thrived under these conditions — people craved digital connection more than ever — Squad couldn’t operate. Founder Isa Watson didn’t know how long the world would be in shutdown. Instead of waiting for a return to normalcy, she shifted the scope of the app entirely.   Today, Squad relaunches as an audio-based social app that aims to help users...
Tags: Facebook, Apps, Instagram, Imessage, US, Social Media, Tech, Whatsapp, Software, United States, Computing, Venture Capital, Squad, Watson, Silicon Valley, Isa

This Browser Plugin Can Kill Those Annoying ‘Privacy Setting’ Pop-Ups

The EU data protection laws that passed back in 2018 have done a world of good when it comes to reigning in the shitty data-ming tactics of companies like Facebook and Google. At the same time, they’ve also transformed the web into a place where almost every site bombards visitors with requests to drop cookies into…Read more...
Tags: Google Chrome, Google, Facebook, Science, Eu, Web Browsers, Software, Computing, Freeware, Max Schrems, Embedded Linux, Internet Privacy, Noyb, Portable Software, Http Cookie, Gnome Web

Like Google Chrome, Chrome OS Will Transition to a Four-Week Update Release Cycle

Google is speeding up the update release schedule for Chrome OS to a four-week cycle in the third quarter of this year, the company announced Friday. Read more...
Tags: Chrome, Google Chrome, Google, Science, Microsoft, Web Browsers, Software, Chrome Os, Freeware, Operating Systems, Chromium, Microsoft Edge, Embedded Linux, Cloud Clients, Portable Software, Technology Internet

Amid controversy, Dispo confirms Series A funding, high-profile advisors, and investors

It’s only been nine months since Dispo rebranded from David’s Disposable. But the vintage-inspired photo sharing app has experienced a whiplash of ups and downs, mostly due to the brand’s original namesake, YouTuber David Dobrik. Like Clubhouse, Dispo was one of this year’s most hyped up new social apps, requiring an invite from an existing member to join. On March 9, when the company said “goodbye waitlist” and opened the app up to any iOS user, Dispo looked poised to be a worthy competitor to ...
Tags: Apps, Japan, Beyonce, Instagram, Sofia Vergara, Germany, Social Media, Tech, Ceo, Software, David, Digital Photography, United States, Computing, Venture Capital, Nba

Microsoft’s Edge browser can now start up faster and put your tabs to sleep

At its annual Build conference today, Microsoft announced a couple of new features for version 91 of its Edge browser that, like so much at Build this year, aren’t earth-shattering (developer velocity!) but nice quality-of-life upgrades for its users. Since Microsoft develops Edge in the open, these may also feel familiar to those who keep a close eye on the Edge roadmap – indeed, I think I’ve seen most of these in Edge 90 already… One new feature is Startup Boost, which allows Edge to start up ...
Tags: Google, TC, Microsoft, Tech, Web Browsers, Software, Windows 10, Freeware, Edge, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Google-chrome, Tab, Microsoft Edge, Major, Microsoft Build 2021

ByteDance’s video editor CapCut is the latest to top the U.S. App Store

From time to time, we see a Chinese app climbing to the top of Google Play and App Store in a host of Western countries. It might be a utility tool like a selfie beautifier or some casual video game, which has universal appeal and require little localization effort. But most of them tend to be a blip on the radar. The latest Chinese app to top the overseas charts is from TikTok owner ByteDance. Called CapCut, the video editing app allows users to not only add a trove of stickers, filters and eff...
Tags: Google, TC, Asia, Entertainment, China, Tech, United States, App Store, Freeware, Social Network, Video Hosting, U S App Store, Meitu, Sensortower, Major, Video Editor

So long, Internet Explorer, and your decades of security bugs

Image Credits: Louis Douvis / Getty Images Pour one out for Internet Explorer, the long-enduring internet browser that’s been the butt of countless jokes about its speed, reliability, and probably most notable of all, security, which will retire next year after more than 25 years of service. Microsoft said it will pull the plug on the browser’s life support in June 2022, giving its last remaining half a dozen or so users a solid year to transition to Chrome or Firefox — let’s be honest here — ...
Tags: Security, Microsoft, Tech, Web Browsers, Software, Windows 95, Freeware, Microsoft Windows, Internet-Explorer, Google-chrome, Microsoft Edge, Browser Security, Louis Douvis Getty

ByteDance CEO to Step Down, Says He'd Rather Daydream Than Manage People

The CEO of ByteDance, Zhang Yiming, is stepping down at the end of 2021 according to a memo posted to the ByteDance website on Thursday. And while most corporate transitions are filled with bland PR-speak, Yiming’s departure memo is an interesting case study in honesty.Read more...
Tags: Science, Software, Freeware, Zhongguancun, Business Finance, Jamie Powell, Video Software, Zhang Yiming, Bytedance, Pinduoduo, Tiktok, Li Auto, Yiming, ByteDance Zhang Yiming, Companies Of China, Economy Of China

Chrome now uses Duplex to fix your stolen passwords

Google announced a new feature for its Chrome browser today that alerts you when one of your passwords has been compromised and then helps you automatically change your password with the help of… wait for it… Google’s Duplex technology. This new feature will start to roll out slowly to Chrome users on Android in the U.S. soon (with other countries following later), assuming they use Chrome’s password-syncing feature. It’s worth noting that this won’t work for every site just yet. As a Google spo...
Tags: Chrome, Google, Android, Security, Tech, Web Browsers, Software, United States, Password, Chrome Os, Web Browsing, Password Manager, Freeware, Operating Systems, Assistant, Google-chrome

How to Turn Off Edge Chromium’s Shopping Notifications

You might not begrudge your Edge Chromium browser for trying to help you save money, but it can be annoying when prompt after prompt pops up about cash-back programs and coupon savings. Sometimes the deals are great; other times they’re more of an annoyance than useful.Read more...
Tags: Google Chrome, Amazon, Pinterest, Microsoft, Web Browsers, Software, Social Issues, Windows 10, Lifehacks, Freeware, Chromium, Microsoft Edge, Human Interest, Cloud Clients, Portable Software

7 Gmail Browser Extensions That Are So Good They Should Be Native Features

Google is pretty regularly adds new features to Gmail, but there’s always room for improvement, and third-party developers have been quick to plug the gaps. Here are seven browser add-ons that are polished and powerful enough to be native features (and hopefully will be one day...).Read more...
Tags: Google, Science, Gmail, Email, Yahoo, Web Browsers, Software, Computing, Freeware, Google Calendar, Webmail, Google Allo, Outlookcom, Cross Platform Software, Portable Software, Technology Internet

Clubhouse Launches Android Beta as iOS Downloads Nosedive

Good news: The audio-based social network Clubhouse is finally bringing its app to Android after more than a year of iOS exclusivity, the company announced Sunday. Bad news: The beta is only available for U.S. users, and, just as with Clubhouse’s iOS version, it remains invite-only for now. So not just anyone can sign…
Tags: Ios, Android, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Science, Tesla, Smartphones, Software, Freeware, Yo, Internet Culture, Operating Systems, Clubhouse, Mobile Software, Mobile Applications, Social Networking Services

PlayStation and Discord Are Teaming Up

Discord, the gamer-focused chat app that’s been in the news a bit more than usual recently, has partnered with Sony’s PlayStation. Details are scarce, but the statement put out by Sony promises to bring “the Discord and PlayStation experiences closer together on console and mobile” beginning next year.Read more...
Tags: Science, Microsoft, Xbox One, Playstation, Sony, Xbox, Freeware, Twitch, Element, Jim Ryan, Business Finance, Instant Messaging Clients, Discord, Teamspeak, Video Game Consoles, Series H

Clubhouse Is Losing Steam

Clubhouse—the company that was making headlines just a few months back for drawing major celebrities (and Elon Musk)—seems to have reached a tipping point. In April, the app reached a grand total of 922,000 downloads, new research found, a sharp downturn after bringing in millions of new users just a month earlier. Read more...
Tags: Android, Twitter, Spotify, Elon Musk, Science, Social Media, Software, Computing, Freeware, Internet Culture, Operating Systems, Clubhouse, Mobile Applications, Clubhouse Software, Social Networking Services, Technology Internet

Instagram Realizes It Had a Clubhouse In Its Heart All Along

As more and more social media platforms start cooking up their own Clubhouse clones, Instagram is adding new features to its existing livestreaming service to get in on the voice chat craze. On Thursday, Instagram announced it’s rolling out the option to turn off your audio or video while using Instagram Live.Read more...
Tags: Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, Science, Instagram, Social Media, Linkedin, Software, Facebook Messenger, Computing, Freeware, Operating Systems, Clubhouse, Mobile Applications, Business Finance, Adam Mosseri, Video Software

12 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do on Your Chromebook

Chromebooks continue to find success as affordable, simple, cloud-based laptops. Chrome OS isn’t as complex as Windows or macOS, but sometimes less is more (especially when you’re saving money). If you have a Chromebook of your own, these are some of the most useful features you need to make yourself aware of.Read more...
Tags: Google Chrome, Google, Science, Web Browsers, Software, Chrome Os, Chromebook, Computing, Freeware, Chromebooks, Laptops, Screenshot, Cloud Clients, User Interface Techniques, Technology Internet, Context Menu

A Cloud-Based Google Chrome Sounds Neat, but Consider Upgrading Your Hardware Instead

As I sit at my desk typing this blog, I have 15 Chrome tabs eating up 790MB of memory. I also have 17 Microsoft Edge tabs open, which take up 535MB of memory. Aside from those two extra tabs on Edge, I have the same webpages open, yet Chrome is hogging more memory. Complaints about the resource-hogging Google Chrome…Read more...
Tags: Google Chrome, Firefox, Google, Science, Microsoft, Web Browsers, Safari, Software, Chrome Os, Nvidia, Freeware, Operating Systems, Vivaldi, Chromium, Embedded Linux, Cloud Clients

Rename Chrome Windows So You Stop Losing Them

Tab overload is real, as my crowded Edge and Chrome browser bars can attest. But what about... window overload? If you’re the kind of person who tries to organize their browser by dedicating different windows to each tab or group of tabs, Google is now allowing you to rename those windows so you can jump between them…Read more...
Tags: Google Chrome, Google, Web Browsers, Software, Chrome Os, Lifehacks, Freeware, Window, Operating Systems, Tab, Embedded Linux, Stardew Valley, Taskbar, Cloud Clients, Portable Software, Technology Internet

How to Test Drive Google Chrome's New 'Memories' Page

Google is testing a new “Memories” feature for Google Chrome that collects your browsing history, bookmarks, and other web activity onto a single, searchable page that will help you dig through your browser activity more easily.Read more...
Tags: Google Chrome, Google, Web Browsers, Software, Chrome Os, Lifehacks, Freeware, Operating Systems, Chromium, Cloud Clients, Portable Software, Technology Internet, Google Chrome Version History, Srware Iron

Discord Walks Back iOS Block on NSFW Content

Discord has walked back an earlier decision to ban NSFW servers completely from its iPhone and iPad apps.Read more...
Tags: Iphone, Apple, Ipad, Science, Microsoft, Software, Freeware, Operating Systems, Not Safe For Work, Instant Messaging Clients, Discord, Alt Tech, Proprietary Software, Technology Internet, A Szabla

Speed Up Your Google Search With This New Keyboard Shortcut

Google just dropped a great new keyboard shortcut that you can use to refine your search queries, and while it’s not going to save you a week’s worth of time, it’s easier to use than scrolling back up to the search bar, clicking it, and editing your query to launch a new search.Read more...
Tags: Google Chrome, Google, Google Search, Web Browsers, Software, Lifehacks, Freeware, Chromium, Microsoft Edge, Eve, Address Bar, Cloud Clients, Portable Software, Technology Internet

Microsoft Edge Adds a Kids Mode for Parents Worried About Their Shared Devices

In Microsoft’s ongoing endeavor to convert people to its rebooted Edge web browser, it’s launching a new Kids Mode that makes it easy for parents to control how their children surf the web. Read more...
Tags: Science, Microsoft, Computing, Windows 10, Browser, Freeware, Microsoft Windows, Web Browser, Operating Systems, Microsoft Edge, Liat Ben Zur, Technology Internet, Ben Zur

How to Customize the Best New Features in Chrome 90

Chrome 90 is here, and a number of fun features you’re getting are all automatic—no action needed on your part. Others require you to dig into some settings or adjust Chrome flags to view them. That’s the cat-and-mouse game you’ll find in any Chrome release, and we’re up for the hunt.Read more...
Tags: Chrome, Google Chrome, Google, Web Browsers, Software, Chrome Os, Lifehacks, Freeware, Operating Systems, Embedded Linux, Human Interest, Cloud Clients, Portable Software, Technology Internet

Gaze Upon My Browser Extensions and Despair

They’re not what any of us would call “intimate,” but you can really tell a lot about a person from a quick glance at the browser extensions they use. Is your boyfriend’s browser decorated with favicons from Evernote, Trello, and literally nothing else? He’s either a type-A perfectionist or zen to a fault. Is your…Read more...
Tags: Google Chrome, Google, Science, Microsoft, Evernote, Web Browsers, Software, Opera, Freeware, Operating Systems, Trello, Adtech, Product, Alphabet Inc, Embedded Linux, Browser Extension