Google Invites Public Developers for Its Fuchsia OS

 Google is like the charm that Princess of Wales Diana used to carry with her every time she interacted with the public. The platform that Google offers lets its users expand the horizon ever imagined. Google uses open platforms to let the users collaborate with the project to develop something unique. These projects later appear as new products. Google has announced the same with its Fuchsia OS. It has invited public developers to support its Fuchsia OS. Fuchsia’s idea is to be open-source for external developers to enter the public portal and contribute with their code.

About Fuchsia

Fuchsia is an open-source operating system developed by Google. One of the fascinating things about Fuchsia is that it does not have a Linux kernel. Many can consider it strange after Google’s Android OS, which has a Linux-built platform. Fuchsia uses a microkernel, Zircon, that renders lesser basic inherent features with independence for Google to customize the operating system environment from time to time. Hence, it ensures to expand the potential of the Fuchsia along with its capability upgradation. Google considers it an operating system that can work smoothly with many Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices. Google has already tested its Fuchsia on Google smart speakers by embedding the operating system program into it. However, Google has not laid any plans to release any hardware that is compatible with Fuchsia OS. According to GitHub, Fuchsia is highly portable and compatible to run on several platforms, like embedded systems, tablets, smartphones, and personal computers.

Advantages of Fuchsia OS

• Under Flutter, Fuchsia’s user interface gets cross-platform accessibility and availability.
• The modular system architecture present in the Fuchsia OS helps Google deliver security updates much faster than its Linux-based flagship Android.
• The hardware manufacturers can replace the microcontrollers and other standard electronic hardware with their modules – without compromising the functionality. But, the productivity of the hardware and software then depends on the integration of the configuration.

Latest Updates

Google has announced plans to increase the development outreach of the new operating system Fuchsia. Google believes that with this step, they would come closer to realize the actual tenets of Fuchsia. The IT giant has provided the link for the other coders to download the source code and emulator to run the code in a simulator, which to date, Fuchsia is offering. The emulator would also help the coders to run the source code and check the logic and running status. Google is hoping that the coders who will contribute to it will enhance the code’s optimization and add new features by increasing its capacity. Google has already published a technical roadmap for the Fuchsia OS project that focuses on very low-level tasks. These include Fuchsia Interface Definition Language, driver framework for updating the kernel independently of the drivers, etc.

Conclusion

Considering Google’s roadmap, Fuchsia will work at the micro-level by enhancing the hardware drivers and software simulation and integration. But, to customize the IoT capability, Google should start building IoT hardware and test the compatibility with the users. Hence, Google needs to bring more devices into the public domain so that the contributors can test and verify the same with what they will add. Otherwise, the external coders would work with current controllers in the market like Raspberry, Arduino, Sparkfun, etc. Google’s belief that these outside coders and contributors can enhance the capacity building measures that can solve and provide optimistic solutions for the controllers’ audio and video streaming end.

Source:-   Google Invites Public Developers 

 

How to Switch to Firefox From Chrome

Google has been the user favorite since time immemorial; however, its move against ad blockers is extremely concerning for users. This could result in corporate overreaches, which is compelling the users to think about switching to Firefox. This not so popular browser could be a major competitor for Google Chrome as it promises more privacy, security, and usability as compared to Chrome. In case you have made your mind and are planning to switch to Firefox from Chrome, go through this guide.

The Difference

The best thing about Firefox is the easy to understand interface, which can be used even by your grandma. The goal of the Mozilla Foundation with Firefox is to deliver a secure, private, and user-friendly Internet with the added benefit of various options to configure. Plus, this browser provides most of the security and privacy-related updates for free to the standard users. If you are fed up with the surveillance operations run by Google, then Firefox will be the right choice for you. Firefox provides a similar browsing experience as with Chrome but with lesser invasion.

Add-ons and Extensions

Unlike Chrome, Firefox has limited options for add-ons and extensions. Since Google Chrome is presently flourishing globally as a browser, it keeps up its user base by packing all sorts of extensions. On the other hand, Firefox is also adding up to its decent list of extensions. It already includes the popular ones, like UBlock Origin and AdBlock Plus. So, it’s a good idea to confirm that Firefox’s extension library has all the extensions crucial for you. And even if it doesn’t, you can always look for a functional replacement.

How to Import the Browser Data from Google Chrome

Switching the browser is no more difficult, as you can choose to “import” the data to access it all on the new one. This feature will efficiently fetch all the browsing data from Chrome and feed it more efficiently to Firefox. Follow the steps below to prepare yourself to make the switch from Chrome to Firefox!

Step 1. On Firefox’s browser window, navigate to the menu bar and click “File” followed by “Import from Another Browser.”

Step 2. A list will appear; select “Chrome” from it. Don’t forget to exit the Chrome browser before proceeding.

Step 3. Now click on the user profile that you wish to import.

Step 4. On the next window, checkmark both “Bookmarks” and “Cookies,” and then hit the “Continue” button to import all the data.

Syncing Across Devices

The fluid sync process in Google Chrome syncs the browser data in the background via Google account. While this feature is super-convenient, it is invasive as well. But since you are switching to Firefox, you can enable its Sync to import data with a secured account and password layer. Firefox’s Sync will make sure that the items to be imported are encrypted with a unique password preventing others from viewing them, including those who run Mozilla’s servers.

We hope these methods helped you switch from Chrome to Firefox easily.

Source:-    How to Switch to Firefox From Chrome

 

Google Chrome Is Dropping Mysterious Debug Files on Desktop

Even though the files are harmless, they can be annoying sometimes. Sources have reported that Google’s Chrome and a few other Chromium-based web browsers have started leaving a “debug.log” named mysterious file Windows 10 desktop users.

Watch out for this mysterious file if you are using any Chromium-based browser like Edge, Brave, Chrome, or any else, on your Windows 10 desktop.

A vast number of users have reported that this mysterious debug file was created by Windows 10 only. But the fact is that several new pieces of research have shown that it’s not Microsoft that is responsible; instead, it is because of the Chromium browsers running on the user’s desktop. Studies have shown that it’s not Microsoft’s fault; instead, it is because of the browsers.

Chromium is an open-source platform that is the backbone of most of the popular browsers of today. It is used by most browsers, including Brave, Chrome, Vivaldi, Opera, and Edge, as all these browsers make use of the source code developed by this open-source project. All the browsers that rely on Chromium use this source code, and all of them will directly get affected if a bug enters the source code of Chromium. Similar seems the case with the current scenario.

This month, an update was released for Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and a few other Chromium-based browsers. While updating their browsers, users reportedly noticed the file named “debug.log” that started appearing on their desktops. They also saw an error message, “FindFirstFile: The System cannot find the path specified,” alongside the file.

Even though the users have reported that the file seems harmless to them yet, it recreates itself while users are trying to delete it from their desktop. It looks like deleting the file from the desktop of the user is not worth it because the file recreates itself when a user deletes it.

What’s the Solution?

Even though the file gets recreated after deletion, users still have a way to prevent this from happening. Users can stop the unnecessary creation of the debug.log file repeatedly on Chromium browsers with the help of the below-mentioned steps:

1. To fix the bug file “debug.log,” the users need to open up the Windows Run first. This can be done by typing “Run” in the start menu or by pressing Win+R on your Windows 10 desktop.
2. In case you are using an Edge browser, you need to enter %localappdata%\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Crashpad.
3. If you use Google Chrome, you need to enter %localappdata%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Crashpad so that you can locate the folder named Crashpad.
4. After you have located the folder, you need to delete the files and folders present inside the main folder “Crashpad.”
5. You need to restart your desktop then.

Final Verdict

So, this was all about the mysterious debug file that users have reported all about. As mentioned earlier, the steps will help you fix the issue, and they will prevent the file from getting recreated on your desktop.

Source:-  Google Chrome Is Dropping Mysterious Debug Files on Desktop

 

This Big Microsoft Edge Change Might Render Your Antivirus Ineffective

Microsoft has decided to implement the Manifest V3 changes of Google in its Chromium-based Edge browser’s extensions system. On the other hand, many significant browsers have completely neglected Google’s Manifest V3 changes, but after announcing it in October 2018, Microsoft has now decided to implement it.

The Manifest V3 of Google is a certain set of changes used in Microsoft’s Chromium-based open-source Edge browser. Also, these changes will apply to the Web Extensions API. This will straightforwardly update the working method of the browser extensions on the Edge browser.

Google, under the Manifest V3, stated that they did it to improve the performance and security of the extensions and to give users more control over the extensions.

Soon after Google announced the proposed changes under Manifest V3, the extension developers immediately backfired concerning that the updates of the Manifest V3 had several other changes that can make the antivirus and other parental control software, ad blockers, and other privacy-focused extensions void.

Also, a vast number of users and even the browser makers backlashed due to this decision. They saw that Google’s move to have a more effective grip on the ad blockers was effectively hurting their primary business, Online Advertising.

However, other browsers like Brave, Opera, and Vivaldi announced to ignore the Manifest V3 updates to let their users continue the use of ad blockers.

Implementation of the Manifest V3 Changes

Google took a step back for some of the changes had planned on how Chromium would be handling the extensions. The reason for this back off was the criticism it faced over Manifest V3.

However, those changes have now started to roll out in Google’s Chrome browser. It has started making the ad blocker developers worried about their products, which won’t work effectively after these changes start to appear on the browser’s stable versions.

Google has planned to bring the preview/alpha changes of the Manifest V3 to the stable version of Chrome this year after it began last year in October.

Now you will also be able to see these changes in Microsoft’s Chromium-based Edge browser, where they are currently operating in beta and stable versions.

Even though the developers of the ad blockers are still worried about their products due to these changes, Microsoft has reassured the extension developers that these changes will not affect the ad blockers operating on the browser. The software giant has asked the extension developer to rest assured by stating this statement in its blog post:

“We believe that these changes will not compromise the capabilities of your extension or reduce the potential that the extension ecosystem has. These changes should reduce the time taken to review each submission, and improve certification turnaround time, thus reducing the overall cost of developing and maintaining extensions. We recognize the value of content blocking extensions and appreciate the role they play in honoring user’s choice by blocking advertisements and enhancing privacy by blocking cookies, and we want developers to continue to offer these capabilities.”

Conclusion

So, this was all about the Manifest V3 changes that Microsoft has bought up in its all-new Chromium-based Edge browser. Even though Microsoft has assured that these changes won’t minimize the extension ecosystem’s potential, the extension developers are still concerned about these changes.

Source:-   This Big Microsoft Edge Change Might Render Your Antivirus Ineffective

 

Things to Know About Microsoft Surface Duo’s Dual-Screen

On September 10, Microsoft launched its Surface Duo Dual-Screen smartphone powered by a modified version of Google’s Android software. It has a foldable design that looks like two mini tablets. Its two 5.6-inch OLED screens together form an 8.1-inch display, 9.9mm thickness, and weighs 8.8 ounces. The device costs $1,399 for 128GB of storage. Overall the gadget looks like a tiny notepad made of metal and glass. It seems like Microsoft is following the dual-screen phone trend as Samsung and Motorola have also understood the potential of a dual-screen gadget.

Some time ago, Microsoft had promised to reinvent dual-screen computers, and it seems like Surface Duo is their way of reinvention. In 2021, Microsoft will launch another smartphone called Surface Neo, and it will probably be a better version of the Surface Duo.

We are in the middle of the pandemic, where the online world and the requirement of a robust smart gadget are prominent. The company might be inspired by the amount of online space, multi-tasking, and phone storage we require, and thus, they created the Surface Duo. Our smartphones are often overburdened with the work, multi-tasking, space requirement, etc. that our phones give up before their life expectancy. If you switch between different screens quite often to stay active at online working, then a phone like Surface Duo might prove beneficial for you.

But for the rest of the population, let’s figure out if the Surface Duo is worth your money or if it is a technological upgrade that no one needs.

Why do we need two screens?

As per the research, it turns out that Microsoft’s Surface Duo team believes that two screens will increase productivity, and they treat this dual-screen like using a portable pair of monitors. The Surface Duo aims at offering a work-friendly environment on the device while making the procedure easy to use and comfortable. The display screens are separated rather than divided as it will allow the glass to be durable and work smoothly with the Microsoft Pen. The pen is safe to use on the Surface Duo.

Display Ratio

The Surface Duo has two 5.6-inch OLED display screens with a 4:3 aspect ratio, showing the documents in a large font. People who find it difficult to read on a single screen smartphone will find it easier to read the documents and web pages on it, and it won’t strain their eyes either. Also, it will feel like you are working on a mini laptop or a tablet. The dual-display of the 5.6-inch screens form an 8.1-inch display, which will be ideal for watching movies and other videos.

Supported Apps

Each half of the Surface Duo has an accelerometer, gyroscope, and proximity sensor that detects the phone’s position and shows the apps from screen to screen. Note that all the apps cannot split into two screens together. Only Microsoft’s core productivity apps, including Outlook, Word, and OneNote, work in the dual-display mode. These apps can recognize each other, which enables it to share information between apps in seconds. It is quite similar to using drag-and-drop on an iPad.

Unfortunately, the Android apps don’t work like that on the Surface Duo. Currently, only a few third-party apps are being picked to create a Duo-optimized dual-screen Android version. Whatever the results may be, it will set a benchmark and a stepping stone for the Surface Neo smartphone. Surface Duo can determine how the company wants its Surface Neo to have in its specs.

No 5G Connectivity

Microsoft could not bring a 5G connection with a 4.8mm design, as the world is far away from that type of technology. The Surface Duo doesn’t have Wi-Fi 6 either. Microsoft compromised on these specs to offer a good-quality screen. The company has focused on display quality, hinge mechanisms, device size, and battery life. The gadget has a split battery and custom processors, which is unique on its own.

Camera

The Surface Duo’s camera is not as impressive as the screen. It is surprising to see that it has similar camera features like any other smartphone. Despite having two screens, it only features one 11-megapixel camera inside, which will act as an external camera if you flip the phone’s display. The f2.0 camera has AI and portrait mode, allowing you to shoot 4K videos at 30 and 60fps with HDR. You can also capture slow-motion videos. It is also disappointing that it doesn’t have any optical image stabilization or any specific zoom step-up and focus features like the ones available in other smartphones.

These features will help you determine if you want to spend your money on Surface Duo or not. Note that the device is protected with Corning’s Gorilla Glass 5, but Microsoft has not made any claims on the drop test reliability yet.

Source:-   Microsoft Surface Duo’s Dual-Screen

 

Tips to Use the New Google Photos Editor

When Google launched its Android smartphones Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G on September 30, 2020, it also announced some new and improved features for the Google Photos app. Now finally, the Google Photos app for Android has got a new image editor along with smart suggestions and easy-to-use granular adjustments. A couple of months before, Google redesigned the Photos app for Android and iOS users by adding simplified navigation and an “Explore” map. Google has always tried to provide the best products and services to all its users, and there is no doubt that it is one of the most successful tech companies in the world because of this. Google Photos is also one of the best applications available for all users, including Android and iOS. This amazing Photos app is used by millions of users all over the world. It provides various excellent features that anyone can easily use.

However, this time, the editing features that it has started rolling out are specifically designed for the Android device users. Are you also one of the Android device users who use the Google Photos app? Do you want to know about these features? Want to explore how to utilize this editing functionality to make your photos look brighter and beautiful? If yes, then here, you will be provided with all the information regarding this feature. In the following article, we have mentioned the technique following which you will be able to edit your photos using the new Editor feature. So, to know everything about the topic, you will need to go through this complete article.

More About Newly Added Google Photos Editor Feature

We all love to capture a lot of images. And most of the time, we take pictures on our smartphones. And when it comes to editing, then there is no better app than Google Photos as it provides you with various editing tools. And now, when it gets more improved editing features, you can make your photos look more beautiful than ever. This update of Google Photos also includes features like machine learning-powered automatic one-tap suggestions, along with granular controls and a cleaner user-interface. Anyone can easily use Google Photos newly-added editing tool on their Android device. To make you understand more clearly, we have mentioned the proper procedure to use the new editing features of Google Photos. The technique is simple and convenient. So, now, let’s move forward and see how you can use the new editing features of Google Photos.

The Steps to Use the New Editing Features of Google Photos

To use the new Google Photos editing features, make sure to update the Google Photos app. After receiving the app update, follow these steps to start editing your pictures using Google Photos editor features:

• Firstly, you will need to open the “Google Photos” app on your Android device.
• Now, choose and tap on the picture that you want to edit.
• And now, tap on the “Editing” icon that you can see at the bottom of your screen. (The editing tool will look like three lines with the slot in each line)
• Now, to access the different editing modes, you will need to scroll sideways through your screen. Here, you will be able to crop your image and can add any filter to it.
• For instance, tap on the option of “Adjust.” And here, you can adjust the brightness, contrast, white point, highlights, saturation, black point, warmth, tint, skin tone, and can do more.
• To adjust brightness, tap on the option of “Brightness.” Now, adjust the filter by moving the slider. After this, tap on the “Done” option.
• This way, you can adjust saturation, skin tone, and more by following the same process. Finally, if you are satisfied with the changes, tap on the “Save” button to save the changes. And that’s all.
• To use the other features like AI Suggestions, tap on any picture, and then go through the editing tool. Here, you will also notice some AI Suggestions, including enhance, warm, and cool.
• Tap on any one of these options. And now, AI will automatically apply the filter to your photo with the right amount of light and brightness.
• Now, save the changes by tapping on the option of “Done.”

This is such an easy way to edit your images as per your choice. So, go and try out these filters now and make your pictures look more impressive. And for now, we don’t have any specific information regarding the availability of these editing features on the iOS platform. But, you can use it on your Android devices. And with this, I hope you will find this article helpful. If you are curious to read more reports like this, you can check out our website. 

Source:-   Tips to Use the New Google Photos Editor

How to Fix Common Google Hangouts Problems

 

How to Fix Common Google

Hangouts Problems

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic forced people throughout the world to stay inside their homes. And the video conferencing apps such as Google Hangouts have been very useful to continue with the work and keep in touch with family and friends. Although the classic Google Hangout and Hangout Meet for business experienced an increase in the users through this time, however, it seems that the users are recently experiencing certain problems with the app. So, here we are with the workarounds to fix some of the common issues that are being faced by the users. 

Unable to Send Messages

If there have been times that you were trying to send a message but it didn’t go through and showed a red error icon with an exclamation mark, here are a few things to try.

• Check to ensure, if you are connected to the internet or not.
• Try to sign out of Hangouts, and then sign in again.

No Notification Sound When Receiving a Message or Call

Have you missed an important call or a message on Hangouts because there was no notification sound when you received that? If yes, there is a simple workaround for this bug that seems to have worked for smartphone users. Here is what to do:

Step 1. Navigate to the app and tap on the hamburger menu at the top left corner.

Step 2. Tap on Settings followed by the primary account name.

Step 3. Select Messages under the Notifications section, and then go to the Sound settings.

Step 4. Open the notification sound section and change the alert tone. You should now be able to get notification alerts.

If you are facing the same problem with incoming calls, then repeat the same steps until you reach the Notification section. In this section, this time, select Incoming calls instead of Messages. In case, you are facing the same problem on a computer, try to uninstall and then install the Hangouts Chrome extension back again.

The Camera Isn’t Working

It has been noticed that a lot of users have been facing issues with that camera which gets stuck during a video call. Here are a few fixes that you can try to get rid of this issue.

• For some users, merely updating the browser to the latest version has worked.
• Updating the video drivers has also worked for a lot of users.
• Simply, using a browser other than Chrome has worked for many. That said, remember that the Firefox only supports Hangouts Meet and not the classic extension. That means you will have to use Microsoft Edge for the classic Hangouts extension.

Browser Freezes on Screen Sharing

A lot of users have come across a frozen web browser while sharing screens with others. Although there could be many reasons for the occurrence of this issue, however, it is commonly a problem with video/audio drivers. So, updating the drivers could be your best bet to get rid of this bug. Here is how you can update your drivers on Windows:

Navigate to Start > Device Manager > Display Adapters > Update Driver.

Choppy or Pixelated Video

A stuttering or pixelated video can be caused due to a slow Internet connection. Also, video calls require a lot more data as compared to audio calls. So if you are facing issues with the quality of the video, lowering the video settings might be a good idea. Here is how to adjust video settings on Hangouts

Step 1. First of all, to get to video settings,  you need to make a call.

Step 2. While on call, take your mouse over the call window until the call controls show up.

Step 3. Select the cog icon to open the video settings.

Step 4. Now, click on Bandwidth.

Step 5. Here, you will get two options to adjust the video quality of both the incoming and outgoing streams. Those are: HD (720p) and SD (360p). Select the lower setting if you want to save data or the internet connection is poor. Please know that by doing so, you won’t see the best video, but the video won’t lag and the audio will be stable.

These were the fixes to the common issues that are being faced by the users on Hangouts. All of the aforementioned fixes seem to be working for a lot of users. However, you will find the app working at its best only after a software update.

Source:-  Fix Common Google Hangouts Problems

 

Here’s How You Can Set up Parental Controls on a Chromebook

Do you have a Chromebook computer that is used by your kids most often? Well, if you want, your Chromebook computer can be turned into a kid-friendly device. We know these devices are pretty useful for every purpose and especially for kids. But, as a parent, you need to make sure that your kids don’t get addicted to these gadgets. And along with that, you should ensure safe internet surfing for your kids. The Internet is a powerful thing on which we all depend largely. We can find all types of content on the World Wide Web. But, in some instances, it can be harmful. These days, most devices come with an inbuilt feature that enables you to monitor your child’s activity. And like all the other devices, Chromebook computers also have this feature, and that is called parental controls. If you are planning to gift a brand new Chromebook computer to your child, then firstly, you need to set some limitations.

Do you want to know how you can enable the parental control settings for your kids on your Chromebook computer? Want some suggestions? However, for this purpose, you can also use some third-party parental controls software on your computer. But when you can use the inbuilt settings, then what is the point of depending on other software. It is possible that you might not know how to set up parental controls on your Chromebook. But, here, you don’t need to worry at all. The following article will let you know the way to complete the task. So, to explore more, you should go through the complete article.

The Method to Set Up Parental Controls on a Chromebook

If you want to set up parental control settings on your Chromebook computer, then you will need to follow a proper procedure. Enabling this setting on your computer is not a difficult task to accomplish. Anyone can easily activate the parental control settings on a Chromebook. To set up the parental controls, firstly, you will need to set up Google Family Link on your Chromebook. And then only, you can activate the settings. This is pretty easy and includes some easy steps. For setting up a Google Family Link, you will need to enter your information. And then you can filter the apps and activities for your kids. You can install the Google Family Link app easily on your computer. Now, let’s see how the method works:

The Steps to Set Up Google Family Link on a Chromebook

Follow the steps mentioned below to help yourself in setting up the Google Family Link on your Chromebook:

• To start with the procedure, first of all, go to the bottom right corner of your Chromebook screen and click on the “Settings” icon to open it on your computer.
• And now, select the option of “Advanced” that you can see on the right-hand toolbar. This will open up more alternatives for you.
• From the drop-down menu, click on the option of “Privacy and Settings”.
• Go to the “People” section and there, click on the “Parental Controls” option.
• After this, go to the “Set Up” button.
• And then, you will see a pop-up window appearing on your screen, here, you will need to click on the blue-colored “Get Started” button. After this, you will be provided with the details describing how to set up the parental controls along with some of its features. Select the “Next” to proceed further.
• And now, the next window will ask, “Is this the device you want to supervise”. Select the “Yes” button to continue.
• Go through all the instructions and after that, select the “Next” option.
• And lastly, log into the parent account, i.e. the Google account that you are going to use to supervise your child. And then, again, click on “the Next” button to finish the process. And don’t forget to enter the passcode at the bottom. And this is it. Now, let’s see the process for setting up parental controls to restrict any apps, websites, and more.

The Steps to Set up Parental Controls

Follow the steps to set up the parental controls on a Chromebook computer:

• Begin the process by clicking on the “Next” option after linking your accounts.
• Now, on the next screen, you will see a list of all the apps along with the toggle button beside each app. Review the apps and toggle the switch for the app that you want to allow access for your kid. And then click on “More” to continue with the process.
• On the next page, set the filters and ratings for each category. For instance, you can set the ratings for apps and games for everyone or specifically for your kids.
• After making the changes, click on “Ok” and then select “Next” to continue.
• After finishing the setup process, click on the “Sign Out” option. Here, you can even access the settings to block any websites.
• And now, go to the “families.google.com” and select the account that you want to supervise.
• From the toolbar menu on the left corner of your screen, click on the “Website on Chrome” option.
• And then, visit the “Manage Sites” section and click on the “Only allow certain sites” option.
• Go through the “Advanced Settings” tab and here, select the “Blocked Sites” option. Here, you will see the sites that you have blocked. And if you want, you can add any websites at any time to the blocked list by clicking on the “+” icon and then type the URL of the site. Click the “Block” option. And that’s all.

So, this is how you can set up parental controls on your Chromebook computer. Try these steps now. And stay tuned with us for more updates like this.

Source:-  Set up Parental Controls on a Chromebook

Google’s Free Transcription Tools Usage Guide

 

Google’s Free Transcription Tools Usage 

Guide

Video conferencing has become the need of the hour because of the pandemic. Many organizations are relying on video conferencing to ensure proper and continuous communication between departments to maintain a smoother workflow. In this case, transcription has become an essential tool. If you are in the middle of a video conference and you are getting a lot of information at once, then there might be chances that you end up forgetting some points at the end of the video. Transcription is an essential element that you can use to view details of the video. Apart from video conferencing, transcription can be beneficial for video marketing as well. 

There are various third-party applications available which you can use to record audio. They come with additional features like the ability to listen to audio and make corrections simultaneously. These applications come with a subscription fee. So, if you don’t want to spend any money on transcription services, then you can use Google’s free transcription services.

Google Documents Voice Typing

Google Document offers its voice typing tool through which the users can convert speech into text. This is a very beneficial tool for users who face trouble in typing or who prefer to speak rather than type. It can also be used as a transcription tool for audio and video recordings. You can use this tool during a live video conference as well.

Steps to transcription by using voice typing:

• Open a new Google Document.
• Click on” Tools” and then tap on “Voice typing.”
• You can choose your preferred language by using the link above the microphone icon.
• You can start recording by clicking on the microphone icon. Once you start recording, a bright red light will appear.

Note: Once you start recording, make sure you click on the microphone icon because in case you left your Google Document in between, then the feature will automatically shut off and you will lose your already recorded transcript as well. Other than that, the transcription feature of Google Documents works well. However, you have to add commas, periods, and other niceties separately to make your document grammatically correct. 

Google Live Transcribe

Live Transcribe is an Android application offered by Google that can be used to transcribe audio to your phone’s screen. The app provides an easy and straightforward interface. All you need to do is just install it, load it, and it will start transcribing immediately. The app will save your transcription for three days, and if you want to access it longer than that, then you can copy the saved transcription and save it into a document.

Conclusion

If you need transcription services occasionally, then Google Documents will be a suitable choice for you. All you need to do is just make it grammatically correct by adding a few periods and commas. But, if you use transcription services very often, then you can use various third-party applications for more precise and accurate results. Third-party applications are not free, but they are worth every penny.

Source:-   Google’s Free Transcription Tools

 

Google’s Kids Space: The Kid-Friendly Android Tablet Mode Explained

Google is going to bring Kids Space to Android tablets so that a safe way can be provided to the children to access the content, which is not only enjoyable but also right for them. Google has taken a step further by giving joy to young people and keeping the security factor under consideration.

Nowadays, children are getting educated by the modern techniques available for them. But, there is a dark side also to this technology. To educate the children securely, Kids Space has been brought by Google in selective Android tablets. However, some services like YouTube Kids are already designed to be suitable for entertaining children. Still, many websites cannot educate children with both education and entertainment.

The new Kids Space offers appropriate educational and enjoyable content for children. More than enjoyment, it also focuses on educational activities that are essential for the betterment of the future of the children. Google has made the education system a stress-reducing enjoyable system. Now, children can explore the educational materials in the form of videos, games, applications, and books. Google is also offering children to create their avatar to get the desired recommendations while surfing for educational fun.

Tablet Content Tailored For Kids

Google made changes in the new system instead of choosing the same old entertaining options to create an environment safe, enjoyable, and educational. Google designed the tailored material by including the help of persons who are specialists in children’s education. These specialists are appointed to focus primarily on fun material, educational material, and needs of the children simultaneously. These experts have combined their work into Kids Space, which has ‘Watch’ and ‘Make’ tabs that bring to the table activities and is also responsible for encouraging children to enjoy off-screen also.

In this pandemic-time, children have gone online to complete their studies. They are attending online classes, and some children enjoy online entertainment for fun. It can lead them to the wrong track instead of getting them aware of the study materials. These concerns have been solved by Google’s Kids Space. It takes care of the fun-loving educational material in the form of videos, games, puzzles, and many more and even maintains a secure environment. According to Google, Kids Space can be seen first on some of the selected Lenovo tablets, including the Smart Tab M10 HD Gen 2 also.

After exploring the details of Google Kids Space, we have concluded that it is one of the best features and upgrades by Google on the Android platform. It is very helpful in providing education to children in a much efficient and enjoyable way. Google’s Kids Space also plays a vital role in maintaining a secure environment so that the children could use the online mode of education correctly.

Source:-  Google’s Kids Space

 

The Best Google Drive Alternatives

Google is a popular search engine. Nowadays, Google has started developing software tools and offering various services to its users. Google Drive is a cloud storage service that is provided by Google. It comes with both free and premium options. There are many reasons for which one may not like Google Drive. These reasons are often personal. In this case, one may look for alternatives to Google Drive.

If you are looking for the best alternatives to Google Drive, the list will surely help you pick the right one that will suit your choice. Let’s have a look at some of the best Google Drive alternatives.

Dropbox

Dropbox is one of the best alternatives to Google Drive on the list. Dropbox is a great cloud storage service that you can take advantage of in order to keep your data safe. It lets you gain access to your data from any device. It works almost in the same way as Google Drive does, but the best thing about it is, it lays emphasis on your security and privacy.

Whether you are a businessperson or an employee, Dropbox is better for all sorts of people. If you are in search of a great alternative to Google Drive, Google Drive may be a good option for you. It offers various plans that you can choose according to your preferences. The cloud storage service offered by Dropbox is truly awesome.

Tresorit

Tresorit is the name that most of the guys may have already known. Now is the time to have a look at why it is a great alternative to Google Drive. Similar to Google Drive, it lets you keep your data safe and secure. The great thing about it is, its security features are so good that even the professional hackers will fail to access it. In terms of security measures, almost everyone likes it.

If you are looking for one of the best alternatives to Google Drive, Tresorit is the one that you will find good enough. One of the best features of Tresorit is, it can inform you about when and who got access to your file. This is the awesome feature that makes Tresorit awesome. You can give it a try. It is most likely that you will prefer Tresorit to Google Drive. In the matter of security measures, it is really an amazing cloud storage service.

pCloud

pCloud is the right option for you if you are looking for a good cloud storage service for individual use. pCloud lets you upload your files on Cloud and makes it easy for you to access them anywhere and anytime. You can gain access to the uploaded files anytime. If you are looking for an excellent cloud storage service, it is sure that this one will surely fit your needs. If you want to share your files with your buddy or clients, you can give it a try. It is really your money’s worth. If you are looking for an excellent cloud storage service, you can give it a try. It is one of the best alternatives to Google Drive.

Box

Box is one of the most popular cloud storage services. You can use it to store your data. It makes it possible for anyone to share the files with clients or colleagues. Some may take it as Dropbox, but it is not the one that has already been mentioned in the list. Box is totally different from all the cloud storage services on the list. Box may work great for companies or organizations. It helps you keep your data safe. In the matter of privacy and security features, Box is not as good as others on the list. If you are looking for a great alternative to Google Drive, Box may be the right choice.

Mega

It is the most popular and amazing alternative to Google Drive. Now is the time to have a glance at the king of all the best cloud storage services. Some of you may ask why it is being touted as the king of all the cloud storage services. It is free and offers good service. It offers in the region of 50GB storage for free. Free? Yes, you read it right! It offers 50GB storage at no cost. You can upload as many files as you want without worrying about space running out. Mega is really an ideal option for you if you don’t want to pay. This makes it possible for you to upload files without worrying about space.

You can consider the options mentioned above if you no longer want to use Google Drive storage service.

Source:-   Google Drive Alternatives