1. Check Cables First, examine the connection between the scanner and your computer: Ensure your scanner’s adapter is safely attached to both the scanner and an active electrical outlet. Verify that the PC and scanner are connected to the same network if the scanner is wireless. If they are connected via cable, you might have a loose or damaged connection between the scanner and your computer. Ensure that you are using the correct cable for your scanner model....

If you dislike the official Xbox One controller for whatever reason, there are plenty of great third-party controllers out there for you. Here are some of the best Xbox One controllers from third-party manufacturers, many with their own unique features and designs to suit different folks. 1. Cronus Zen Let’s start with a bit of a cheat entry, but one that should quickly grab your attention when you discover that it pretty much allows you to use any controller on any console....

1. Heynote – Wallpaper Notes Price: Free / $3.99 Heynote is a cool little app which lets you set up wallpapers made of notes. Basically, you write your reminders on your lockscreen or homescreen, so every time you fire up your phone, you’ll be reminded of what you need to do. Users can create notes on a plain background or upload their own imagery to create wallpapers. More graphic options are available if you decide to unlock the paid subscription....

Fortunately, the process is not too complicated. In the following guide, we’ll discuss the best methods to help you optimize your computer for gaming. 1. Disable Startup Applications Usually, startup applications don’t exert an influence on gaming performance. However, the presence of a heavy application or an app with high consumption will most certainly have an impact. Ultimately, the result depends on the applications you are running on your PC....

If you are facing difficulty juggling different accounts, here are 8 useful tools that you can use to manage your Twitter accounts simultaneously. Web-based 1. Hootsuite Formerly known as Brightkit, Hootsuite is a popular web based Twitter client that allows you to tweet to multiple Twitter accounts simultaneously. You will need to sign up a free account with Hootsuite before you can use their services. Once you have started your account, you will be able to setup various twitter accounts in the dashboard....

1. Show File Extensions I really don’t know why Windows still doesn’t enable this option by default, but it is important that you configure the File Explorer to show file extensions for all files, not just unknown files. The good thing is it is quite easy to enable this option. Just open the File Explorer, click on the “View” tab and then select the “File Name Extensions” checkbox, and you are done....

To help you make your own personal security policy, instead of focusing so much on specific problems, we’re going to tackle the entire issue of security with a couple of broader pieces of advice. Assume Hostility Whenever crossing unknown territory, assume the worst. Do not misinterpret this as scare-mongering, though. All we’re saying is that if someone sends you a link — even if it’s someone you know — always assume that the link could be malicious....

A Brief History Ubuntu currently ships with the Unity shell by default, a relatively touch-friendly interface first introduced for netbooks in 2010. It became Ubuntu’s default environment starting with version 11.04. Its most distinctive characteristics are the large icons situated along a launcher docked to the left side of the screen and a dash that serves to as the primary means of launching undocked apps and files. By the time Unity appeared on computers, the GNOME Project had already detailed plans for the upcoming GNOME 3, which eventually debuted in 2011....

Ingramer is a service that will help you find those connections, followers, and likes on Instagram. The bot uses special filters, as well as targeting through hashtags, locations, and usernames, and lets you track the results through analytics. This is a sponsored article and was made possible by Ingramer. The actual contents and opinions are the sole views of the author who maintains editorial independence, even when a post is sponsored....

In this article we will be using Automator to harness the Quartz Effect engine as a preprocessor for Preview. Backup the Image Adding image effects to Preview is actually a simple three-step workflow with Automator. Open Automator and make an Application. As with every image processing job, it’s prudent and just plain good practice to operate on a copy of your image. If you save your treated version over the original, you won’t be able to get it back, so our first move must be a backup....

For those who are using WordPress, After the Deadline is a great spell checker plugin that checks your content for spelling and grammar mistakes. It is easy to use, and comes at no charge. After the Deadline does not load the whole dictionary to your server. Instead, it sends your content back to their server, validate it and send it back to your server. Everything is done in AJAX, so you won’t notice the differences....

Bob: “I can can I I everything else.” Alice: “Balls have zero to me to me to me to me to me to me to me to me to.” That gibberish might be the most sophisticated conversation on earth. Wait, what? Let’s set something straight here. Bob and Alice are not human. They are two of the many AI-powered chatbots developed by Facebook, and they are conversing in the “more enhanced English” developed by themselves....

For a product we considered the best e-reader on the market – for a number of reasons we’ll get on to shortly – this is a fantastic deal and it’d make a great Christmas present (for yourself, or someone else). The switch to USB-C for charging is welcome, while the battery itself will run for weeks depending on your usage. Support for Audible audiobooks is here, and the IPX8 body adds extra durability....

When I first took this Bluetooth speaker out of its box, I didn’t expect much from it due to its small size. However, once I turned it on and connected it to my tablet, I was blown away by the loud, clear sound and the noticeable bass. Here’s a closer look at this small speaker that’s made for outdoor use. What’s Inside the Box Inside the box you’ll find:...

What Makes Air Gapping Secure? Most attacks from hackers are carried out far away from the target system. Breaches like the ones that happened to Wendy’s and Massachusetts General Hospital are often the work of a person or group that specializes in creating malware that can siphon sensitive data from corporate systems connected to the Internet. The most obvious solution for this involves air-gapping the most sensitive data by storing it in a computer that isn’t connected to any network....

When you turn on your computer, there is a myriad of programs that open immediately whether you know it or not. These programs start automatically to help the operating system load. If you had to open all of these programs manually, it would take way too long. When the computer tries to boot too many programs at one time, it creates a bottleneck and slows everything down. Many programs that launch on startup may not be quickly recognizable to most computer users....

With some, that can be fairly easy. With many others, it can be difficult, if not impossible. But you should be able to get your information – no matter what the information is – out of any online service easily and in a format that other services or software can read. After all, it’s your data! Thanks to the work of the Data Liberation Front project, Google has been making the process of getting your data out of its various products easier....

Luckily, Android users can spruce up the look of their devices in a few different ways. Custom launchers can dramatically transform the look and behavior of Android devices. However, if you like the look and feel of your current launcher, you can still add some personality without rooting or flashing new ROMs. The often forgotten wallpaper can inject some much needed flair into your Android experience. Have a look at some incredible eye-catching wallpaper apps you can try right now....

Desktop with Cairo Dock (Click to enlarge) GIMP (Click to enlarge) Gnome Application Menu (Click to enlarge) Nautilus (Click to enlarge) Installing Elegant Gnome Pack There is a detailed installation instruction over at the Gnome-look home page, but for those who prefer to see it visually, here is the typical Make Tech Easier way of installation instruction, coupled with lot of screenshots. Note: The following instructions are based on Ubuntu and Linux mint Open a terminal....

Deciding which one to go for can be a bit of a minefield, given all of the things you need to consider. Handily, we’ve decided to weigh in and help out. Our team of experts test multiple printers a year, taking into account print quality, as well as running costs, general design, and more. And based on these test results and reviews, we’ve assembled this list of the very best....