“At least one signature has problems” Error in Adobe Reader

Posted on by Vlad Turiceanu

‘At least one signature has problems’ – You may have encountered this error while opening a signed document on Adobe Acrobat Reader.

It’s even more common if you’re trying to open and read documents digitally signed through electronic signature software and services like DocuSign.

But what does this error actually mean and what can you do to fix it? In the following guide, we’ll explore what causes error messages in Adobe Acrobat Reader and how you can quickly fix them.

How do I get rid of “At least one signature is invalid”?

Adobe at least one signature has problems

adobe-reader-signature-error


Since Adobe Acrobat Reader does not come with trusted identity data out of the box, it has to download it.

This error arises because the authentication data to validate the signature on the document isn’t available on your system.

In layman terms, Adobe cannot automatically verify signatures that were made using a self-generated certificate through third-party applications such as DocuSign.

These types of certificates are known as self-signed certificates.

However, this warning or error message (“At least one signature has problems”) does not indicate that the signatures on the document are corrupt or invalid. It simply informs the user that the certificates connected to the signatures may not be trusted by Adobe.

The latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader tries to download the certificate data automatically upon opening a document with digital signatures. The “At least one signature has problems” in Adobe may occur and disrupt the process.

The easiest way to fix this is by manually validating the certificates and signatures.

Remove at least one signature that has problems

  1. Near the end of the ‘At least one signature has problems’ error bar, click on the button labeled ‘Signature Panel‘.
  2. On the panel that displays itself on the left side of your screen, right-click on the signature you want to validate.
  3. Click on Validate Signature.
    adobe-acrobat-example
  4. On the Signature Validation Status dialog click on the button labeled Signature Properties…
  5. On the Signature Properties screen, click on the Show Signer’s Certificate button.
  6. In the Certificate Viewer, click on the Trust tab in the main panel. It should be adjacent to the Revocation tab.
  7. Click on the button marked Add to Trusted Certificates.
  8. Acrobat will display a warning message. Click on OK. 
  9. You can leave the next screen as is and click on OK. 

Alternatively, you can click on the Validate All button. This may be an issue for larger documents with multiple signatures.

If you’re just viewing a document, verifying the certificates attached to a signature is unnecessary.

It’s also important to only manually verify certificates that you trust. Verifying the wrong certificates can pose a security threat.

Nevertheless, this issue isn’t unique to Adobe Acrobat Reader. A lot of other PDF readers suffer from the same issues but they can be handled almost as easily.

You can actually use this as a test to see how secure a PDF reader is.

If it doesn’t scan for untrusted certificates, then it’s not very secure. So it’s less an issue and more a security feature.

This isn’t the only problem you can encounter, and we wrote about Windows Cryptographic Service Provider reported an error in our other guide, so feel free to check it out.

Did the solutions in this guide work for you? Do not hesitate to leave a comment down below.

Can VPN apps hack you? How to choose a safe VPN provider?

Posted on by Vlad Constantinescu

One of the most pressing matters when installing a VPN app is that you trust the provider 100% with your personal details and private Internet traffic.

From that point onward (i.e. installing the VPN), your ISP is no longer the middleman in your connection. Instead, your VPN grabs this role.

We’ve seen that VPNs can access your data, but most of them choose not to. Or if they do, they shrug it off without grinning devilishly, grabbing it and handing it over to whoever demands it.

There are various scenarios where VPNs turn evil and start doing wrong for no apparent reason. And that’s exactly what we’re going to discuss today: can VPN apps hack you?

That sounds downright ridiculous, so here’s a more proper way to put this: can you get hacked through VPN apps?

Can you get hacked using VPN apps?

Technically speaking, everything is possible. So, to put it shortly, yes, you can get hacked through VPN apps, no doubt about it. However, it’s highly unlikely.

The odds of that ever happening are once in a blue moon. Most VPN providers check their apps regularly and the security measures they apply for their data centers are so out of this world you won’t even believe them.

Even if, say, one of the employees would go rogue and try to sabotage you, it won’t go undiscovered.

It’s more likely that you’ll be hacked through mobile apps. However, both Google and Apple make great efforts to scan and filter any suspicious apps from their stores.

How to choose a safe VPN?

Go for premium VPN services

Private Internet Access is a popular premium VPN service from Kape Technologies.Private Internet Access

Among its top features are:

  • More than 3000 servers to connect to
  • Zero-logging policy
  • Fast servers
  • Kill switch
  • Several encryption protocols
  • Proprietary DNS and DNSCrypt support
  • Lets you connect up to 10 devices on the same account

VPNs such as PIA take your privacy and security very seriously. As a rule of thumb, try to avoid at all costs free VPN services.

Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access

Need a safe, secure VPN service? Try using Private Internet Access.
$2.85/mo. Buy it now

The reason why you’d want to keep away from them is that even though you don’t pay with money, they still get paid one way or another.

Most of them run ads (which can be riddled with malware), but others go so far as to collect your data and sell it to the highest bidder.

Check the VPN’s privacy policy and terms of service

If you’re about to start using a VPN, it would be a wise thing to give a thorough read to their privacy policy and terms of service documentation.

VPN providers are legally obligated to specify the way they treat your personal data and the way they interact with the end-users’ devices.

If proved otherwise (that they violated their terms), it’s an offense that they can be sued for.

Another good advice is to try and avoid anything that seems sketchy. Any VPN that even slightly attempts to normalize heavy data logging is out of the question.

The same goes for those who fell under government regulations and agreed to deploy backdoors on their servers.

VPNs can hack you through their apps, but most of them won’t

So the answer to your question is yes, absolutely, VPNs can compromise your system through their apps. But the truth is that most of them won’t risk doing that.

Trust is a very important resource for all VPN providers and such an event (i.e. spying on someone through their apps or compromising their device) surfacing might deal a tremendous blow to their reputation.

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Cortana to let you make voice queries in Teams mobile app

Posted on by Don Sharpe

The new Cortana app is one of the key highlights of the Windows 10 May 2020 Update. As you may already know, Microsoft repurposed the digital voice assistant to suit the features and functions of Office 365 productivity tools.

For example, the AI-powered application can read aloud your Focused Inbox emails (via the Outlook mobile app), thanks to its Play My Emails feature.

If you’re excited about Cortana’s productivity-focused capabilities, then you’ll be happy with the upcoming ability to use its voice assistance in the Microsoft Teams mobile app.

Teams mobile app to support Cortana voice assistance

Microsoft recently announced the upcoming integration of Cortana with the Teams mobile app. The feature is only rolling out to Microsoft 365 Enterprise users though.

The tool lets you collaborate, communicate, and carry out other meeting-related tasks in Teams by issuing verbal commands. Using spoken natural language, for example, you’ll be able to instruct Cortana to call anybody in your contact list.

Similarly, when your hands are working on something else, Cortana lets you join a Teams meeting by speaking a directive into your phone’s microphone.

The app’s voice assistance will also come to the rescue when you need to send an instant chat message, access your calendar, share a document, and a lot more.

Coming soon to the Teams mobile app, Cortana uses AI and the Microsoft Graph to provide voice assistance in Teams. To stay connected to your team even when you have your hands full, you can ask Cortana to make a call, join a meeting, send chat messages, share files, and more.

Android and iOS versions of the Teams app will support the feature, which arrives in the U.S. in the next few weeks.

The Teams mobile app is currently getting other productivity improvements, including inline message translation.

What’s your take on Cortana voice assistance coming to the Teams mobile app? Feel free to express your opinion via the comments section below.

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Can VPN access your data? Is your VPN safe?

Posted on by Vlad Constantinescu

VPNs are seen by many as superheroes, as they help maintain a private, secure, and free Internet. What a VPN does is create a tunnel and redirects all of your Internet traffic through it.

More so, they encrypt the data they pass through that tunnel. That way, your ISP has no chance of getting grab of your traffic, let alone decrypt and analyze it.

However, like your ISP, a VPN is but a middleman. An intermediary, if you want. As long as there’s someone or something between you and the destination server, there will also be a means of observing and collecting your data.

Basically what a VPN does is ask you not to trust your default intermediary (which is your ISP), but to willingly hand them access to your private data, hoping that they will only act as passive observers.

For that reason, users have started to ponder on questions such as whether or not VPNs are truly safe, and if they can access your Internet traffic and/or private data.

But before we jump to hasty conclusions, let’s take a step back and run a quick recap.

VPNs act as middlemen

From a security standpoint, there’s little you can hide from your VPN provider. By default (without a VPN), your ISP can see everything you do online, ranging from websites you visit to connection times and what files you’ve downloaded.

They can even go as far as seeing every bit of unencrypted data that belongs to you. For instance, if you’re posting something on an HTTP website, they can see it. Passwords, messages, pictures, you name it.

Now, if you use a VPN, you simply replace the middleman. So everything you’ve trusted your ISP not to do will be expected of your VPN.

Just to be clear, your VPN can see the same information that your ISP usually sees. However, how they choose to treat that information is what sets VPNs apart from each other and from ISPs.

The importance of zero-log VPNs

As we’ve mentioned just above, the VPN provider’s policy is quite important, as it rules on how your data gets treated by the service. There are several VPN services that swear by their zero-logging policy, which is a good thing.

Not keeping any logs means that if the provider’s servers get seized, there will be no data worth analyzing.

This includes connection timestamps, IP addresses, and basically anything that can help someone link you with your VPN account or with specific actions that have been performed in a certain fashion or timeframe.

To put it shortly, if the VPN doesn’t log anything, there’s nothing to analyze.

Most VPNs do run some logs, but these are only meant to help optimize the service since the data they monitor and/or collect is anonymous and can’t be traced back to you.

For instance, VPNs can log successful or failed connection attempts, the date (and not exact time) you connected to a specific server, and how many users are connected to each of their servers.

Even though these bits of information seem specific, they’re not enough to pun a pin in you.

Is your VPN safe?

The quickest way to learn that is by giving a quick rundown to the provider’s privacy policy and terms of service. We know it’s a lengthy, tedious process, but it will help you learn more about your VPN‘s trustworthiness.

Another way to determine whether you can trust your VPN or not is by looking it up online. VPNs who previously sold or handed customer data never live it down. You can find tens, if not hundreds of articles and even court cases where they gladly handed incriminating info.

Only use trustworthy VPNs

  1. Download Private Internet Access
  2. Install it on your PC
  3. Launch it
  4. Log into your PIA account
  5. Enjoy private, secure Internet browsing

Private Internet Access is a VPN you can trust. It’s brought to you by Kape Technologies and not only does it encrypt your traffic to keep it away from prying eyes, but it also keeps no logs regarding your online activities.

Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access

Want a VPN that won't log your data? Try using Private Internet Access.
$2.85/mo. Buy it now

Thus, whatever website you decide to browse or file you might want to download, PIA will keep it on the hush for you. Just don’t make the mistake of taking PIA as your unlawful sidekick.

Neither PIA nor we condone unlawful activities using a VPN. You should only use VPN to keep your online whereabouts to yourself, but be careful about which side of the law you land on.

Can VPN servers see my data?

With all that in mind, we can safely conclude that yes, your VPN provider can absolutely see your online data. All of them, no exception. However, some of them decide not to act on it. Others might harvest it and sell it to the highest bidder.

If you want to avoid nasty situations like your private data falling in the wrong hands, make sure to do your research thoroughly before deciding to stick with a VPN provider.

There’s plenty of helpful guides online and even discussion forums can make a great starting point for your research.

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Microsoft Teams gets video filters, Dynamic view, and more

Posted on by Don Sharpe

With support for up to 300 attendees per meeting and a host of other feature updates, Microsoft Teams is expanding at the speed of lightning.

The Office 365 tool, which lets you create digital workspaces for your employees, recently received multiple updates that empower collaboration in the workplace and the education sector.

New Microsoft Teams meetings features

Microsoft Teams received new features that make workforce collaborationa breeze. Microsoft said that the improvements make meetings more lively and inclusive.

They help you feel more connected with your team and reduce meeting fatigue. Second, they make meetings more inclusive and engaging. And third, they help streamline your work and save time.

Here are some of the features either coming or currently rolling out to Microsoft Teams users:

Together mode

Microsoft says it researched and learnt that virtual meetings make people feel less connected. So, it’s rolling out Together mode in Teams, which uses AI to place virtual meeting participants in a shared background.

Dynamic view

This AI-powered feature lets users customize how they view shared content and fellow Teams meeting attendees on the screen. For example, you can configure the feature to see select participants side-by-side.

In addition, Microsoft will be rolling out large gallery view in August. This update enables up to 49 people to appear on the video screen at the same time.

So, finally, Microsoft Teams is going to match Zoom’s maximum number of participants visible on each screen.

Video filters

Use this feature to customize the appearance of participants on the video screen. You may tweak the lighting or adjust the camera focus to achieve video effects typical of photography and social media applications.

Live reactions in Microsoft Teams

A few months after Microsoft Teams got the raise hand feature, it now supports live reactions. This capability lets the audience give feedback to the speaker in real time using emojis.

Other announced Microsoft Teams features include chat bubbles, suggested replies, and more.

Kindly leave us a message in the comments section below to let us know what you think about the new Teams enhancements.

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This is how you can fix HTTP 403 error on Google Drive

Posted on by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

Due to its omnipresence on Android devices, many users choose Google Drive over numerous cloud alternatives. And it’s a valid choice, considering that it looks great with the material design and does exactly what a casual user needs.

However, from time to time, users experience issues with completely undermine the reliability of Google’s cloud service. One of them is the HTTP 403 error where an affected user can’t access or download certain files from Google Drive.

We made sure to shed some light on this and, hopefully, provide you with the solution.

How to fix Google Drive access denied (error 403)

  1. Clear browser’s cache
  2. Change your cloud storage
  3. Sign out and sign in with your Google Account
  4. Disable browser extensions temporarily
  5. Try an alternative browser or use the Incognito mode
  6. Create a shareable link and use it to access your file

1.  Clear browser’s cache

Let’s start with the elementary step when in-browser issues emerge. This applies even when the first-party websites like Google Drive in Google Chrome won’t work. And that’s, of course, clearing the browsing data.

You can immediately go for the Incognito mode and skip 2 or 3 steps from this list, but that’s a temporary solution. Most likely you have a variety of saved credentials in browser cached data so using the Incognito mode every time an issue appears is just a mere workaround.

Follow these steps to clear the browser’s cache from Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge:

Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox

  1. Press Shift + Ctrl + Delete to open the Clear browsing data menu.
  2. Select All time as the time range.
  3. Focus on deleting Cookies, Cached Images and Files, and other site data.
  4. Click on the Clear Data button.http 403 error google drive

Microsoft Edge

  1. Open Edge.
  2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete.
  3. Check all the boxes and click Clear.http 403 error google drive

2. Change your cloud storage

As mentioned in the beginning, there are a lot of cloud storage options available out there, so why not go for something new?

Our recommendation is Sync.com, a very user-friendly cloud storage, and file-sharing tool.

What recommends Sync is the end-to-end encrypted technology they use. Most cloud storage providers can access, scan, and read your files. But not Sync (or anyone else). This is why there’s a minor chance that your database gets corrupted and that you get blocked from accessing it.

What’s more, Sync backs up your files in realtime and makes it easy to recover deleted files and previous versions of any file, any time.

Sync.com

Sync.com

With Sync you keep all your important files safely stored in the cloud and accessible just to you, anytime, anywhere.
$8/mo. Visit website

3. Sign out and sign in with your Google Account

Another viable step to take if Google Drive is blocking your downloads is to sign out and sign in again with your Google Account.

There’s a fair number of mishaps concerning the access permission. Especially if you’ve copied the file from Google Drive assigned to a different Google Account. Or, maybe, uploaded the file from a different platform, like Android or iOS.

For that and similar reasons, this simple sequence might help you resolve the problem. Here’s how to do it in any browser:

  1. Open your browser and navigate to Google.com.
  2. Click on your profile pic and sign out.http 403 error google drive
  3. Restart your browser and sign in again.

4. Disable browser extensions temporarilydisable browser extensions

While we’re at browser-based troubleshooting, we can’t avoid mentioning possible issues a rogue extension can cause. It can even be one of your regulars, like an adblocker or even a third-party theme.

Since we can’t say with certainty what exact extension is causing the problem, we suggest disabling all of them temporarily.

If the problem is resolved, make sure to re-enable extensions one by one until you, by a system of elimination, find out which one was causing the error 403 with Google Drive.

 These are the best Chrome extensions to protect your privacy today

5. Try an alternative browser or use the Incognito mode

If one browser won’t cooperate, there’s an abundance of alternatives.

Chances are you already have a few installed on your PC, including Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer, which are built-in browsers. So try logging into your Google Drive via some other web browser and hope for the resolution.fix google drive 403 error

On the other hand, as we duly noted, the Incognito mode is the best way to avoid all browser-related concerns. Just click on the 3-dot menu in the top right corner and choose New incognito window or anything along those lines. Then sign in and try downloading the troublesome file from your Google Drive.

6. Create a shareable link and use it to access your file

Finally, some users who were stuck with the HTTP 403 error even after all these steps found a workaround.

If you can’t download a file directly from Google Drive, try with the shareable link. The shareable link allows everyone to download a private file. It automatically copies to the clipboard so the only thing you need to do is pasting it into the Address bar.

You should see a download page from where you can get your file without any issues. If you’re not sure how to do it, follow the steps we provided below:

  1. Open Google Drive from your browser.
  2. Right-click on the file you want to download and choose “Get shareable link” from the contextual menu.http 403 error google drive
  3. Click on the browser’s Address bar line and press Ctrl + V to paste the link. Hit Enter.
  4. Download the file.http 403 error google drive

With that said, we can conclude this article. If you have any other concerns, questions, or possibly suggestions, feel free to use the comments section below.

Hackers created fake Outlook login page in phishing drive

Posted on by Don Sharpe

The cloud enables enterprises (big and small) to deploy computing resources cost-effectively, at scale. But as users of Microsoft Outlook, Teams, Excel, and other Office 365 apps have come to realize, the platform has its own perils.

Hacking, which is one of the negative aspects of the cloud, reared its ugly head recently. This time around, hackers targeted Outlook accounts of employees in various organizations, according to an Abnormal Security report.

Phishing attackers used a fake Outlook login page

In this phishing attempt, the attacker sends an email designed to look like it comes from the genuine Microsoft Outlook team.

The email notifies the recipient that their organization expects all employees to migrate to a new MS Outlook web portal.

In addition, it injects a sense of urgency into the communication to compel the target to act faster.

The attacker impersonates an automated notification from the Outlook team on behalf of the recipient’s company. Recipients are urged to “upgrade” their Outlook services within 24 hours, or email deliveries to them will be delayed.

To migrate or upgrade to the new MS Outlook site, the victim has to unwittingly click on a login link that leads to a fake Outlook login page.

Since the attacker controls the fake sign-in portal, they have access to the Microsoft account user credentials that the victim types.

Once the hacker receives the victim’s login details, they can access troves of information stored on the Microsoft account. Similarly, you can’t rule out the possibility of the attacker compromising other accounts associated with the breached Outlook account.

The cloud though isn’t going anywhere despite the persistent hacking threats. But Office 365 users can protect their data and apps with the various security features available on the platform.

In addition, stronger password policies and password security awareness programs can help a great deal.

As always, you can share your opinion or ask any question about Microsoft account security in the comments section below.

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StrongVPN for Netflix: Does it work? How to unblock Netflix

Posted on by Elena Constantinescu

StrongVPN is a virtual private network service that focuses on making your online activities more secure. However, a lot of users are wondering if StrongVPN works with Netflix.

Because Netflix has a strict policy against customers using VPN and proxy servers, it bans most free solutions because they use public IP addresses to spoof your location, resulting in a Netflix VPN error.

But it’s not so easy when it comes to premium VPN services that go to great lengths to maintain VPN servers that unblock Netflix. In this article, we’re testing StrongVPN to see if it’s worth your money.

Does StrongVPN really work with Netflix?

Yes, it does.

You can use StrongVPN to unblock Netflix US and watch TV series and movies that are only available to the United States. But the tool can’t unlock other regional Netflix catalogs.

That means that StrongVPN is worth the trouble only if you’re living or traveling outside of the US (if you’re only interested in using a VPN to watch Netflix).

How to unblock Netflix US with StrongVPNuse StrongVPN

  1. Download StrongVPN.
  2. Install the VPN on your device.
  3. Connect to a US VPN server.
  4. Start watching Netflix US.

Made by Strong Technology, StrongVPN is compatible with all major platforms, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. It supports more than 59,000 VPN IP addresses, and you can use it to circumvent geoblocks.

Furthermore, you can connect to the best available location to get the best possible Internet connection speed. There are no speed limits, and StrongVPN doesn’t capture any traffic logs.

The tool can secure your entire Internet traffic using the OpenVPN, WireGuard, L2TP, SSTP, IPSec, or IKEv2 protocols, depending on your preferences.

More about StrongVPN:

  • +950 VPN servers in 35 countries
  • Unblocks Netflix US
  • Up to 12 connections at the same time
  • 30-day money-back guarantee (no free trial)

StrongVPN

StrongVPN

Unblock Netflix US and start watching your favorite shows with this VPN app.
$7/mo. Buy it now

What’s the best VPN for Netflix?

use CyberGhost VPN to unblock Netflix

When it comes to unblocking Netflix, we recommend using CyberGhost VPN because it works with all major Netflix catalogs. A product of Kape Technologies, this VPN service can redirect your entire network traffic via VPN.

Besides, unlike StrongVPN, CyberGhost VPN offers a free trial. It has a special category dedicated to streaming services, so you can quickly connect to a VPN IP address that really works with Netflix. It’s also one of the best VPNs for Netflix UK.

CyberGhost VPN can be installed on all major platforms. It even has a VPN extension for Chrome. No logs are stored about your VPN activity. Plus, it comes with an ad and malware blocker, together with exclusive DNS servers.

More about CyberGhost VPN:

  • +6,500 VPN servers in 89 countries
  • Unblocks Netflix US, UK, Canada, India, France, Germany, and others
  • 7 simultaneous connections
  • Up to 45-day money-back guarantee (1-day free trial)

CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost VPN

Unlock the best Netflix catalogs with this VPN, including Netflix US and UK.
$2.75/mo. Buy it now

To summarize, StrongVPN works with Netflix, giving you the possibility to watch Netflix US. However, it’s not the best choice for this streaming service. In fact, StrongVPN stops working sometimes.

If you’re looking for the best VPN to watch Netflix, we suggest using CyberGhost VPN because it can unlock most Netflix catalogs, not just Netflix US. And it offers superior connection speeds so that you won’t have to worry about buffering.

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Dropbox sync icons missing on Windows 10/11 [Fixed]

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

Dropbox is one of the best cloud storage services available, allowing users to view and edit their files on any device, anytime and anywhere, share files, and automatically back up their work.

This service is a UWP app and is compatible with many Windows 10 features such as Windows Hello, Live Tiles, and Notifications.

Dropbox is a reliable app, but sometimes Windows 10 users encounter various issues when running it on Microsoft’s latest OS.

Oftentimes, users complained that the Dropbox sync icons don’t show in Windows 10, especially after having upgraded to this OS.

What can I do if Dropbox sync icons are missing?

1. Reinstall the latest version of the Dropbox desktop application

latest version of the Dropbox app

In some cases, there might be a temporary glitch with Dropbox and that can cause issues with Dropbox sync icons. One way to fix the problem is to restart Dropbox and check if that solves the issue.

On the other hand, you might experience problems with Dropbox sync icons because your installation is damaged. However, you can fix that easily by reinstalling Dropbox.

Once you uninstall Dropbox, download the latest version and install it again. After installing the latest version, the issue with sync icons should be resolved.

2. Try out a different cloud storage solution

cloud storage solution

You’re already used to the idea of not wasting valuable storage space on your PC when you can store your data in the cloud.

However, these Dropbox sync icons issues prevent you from enjoying this experience. That’s why it’s time to talk about an alternative that doesn’t include handing over your hard-earned cash.

Sync is one of the very few free cloud services that easily guarantee the confidentiality of your private files. No unauthorized access is ever allowed.

You get plenty of other advanced collaboration features too – file requests, permissions, and expiry dates – all make sure you’re organized and ready for action.

Sync

Sync

You won't find a better cloud storage solution than the full-featured Sync. It will help you forget all about Dropbox!
Get it free Visit website

3. Customize the notification area

  1. Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. When the Settings app opens, navigate to the Personalization section.
    Dropbox folder not showing sync icons
  3. In the right pane choose Taskbar. Scroll down to the Notification area section and choose Select which icons appear on the taskbar.
    Dropbox icon missing Windows 10
  4. Locate Dropbox on the list, disable it and wait for a few moments. Now turn on Dropbox again.

Sometimes you might encounter problems with Dropbox sync icons because the Dropbox icons aren’t set to appear on Taskbar.

After doing that, the problem should be completely resolved and the sync icons will appear again.

If you’re having trouble opening the Setting app, take a look at this article to solve the issue.

4. Unlink and relink your computer to Dropbox

  1. Open the account menu.
  2. Select Settings > select the Security tab.
  3. In the Devices section, click the X for the computer you want to unlink.

Dropbox green check mark missing5. Relink your Windows computer from the desktop app.

Some users claim that you might be able to fix the problem simply by unlinking your PC from Dropbox. This is just temporary, so you won’t lose any synchronized files.

To unlink your account, just complete the above procedure.

5. Hack the Registry

  1. Press the Windows key + R and enter regedit.
    Dropbox icon missing Windows 10
  2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerShellIconOverlayIdentifiers
    Dropbox green check mark missing
  3. If the Dropbox overlays are in the first 15 positions, they will display.
  4. If the Dropbox overlays aren’t in the first 15 positions > right-click the Dropbox files > select Rename > add a space before the name of the Dropbox files to take them to the first positions.

If Dropbox sync icons aren’t showing, the issue might be related to your registry. Windows has a limit of 15 overlay icons that can be loaded.

To prioritize the Dropbox sync icon overlays, just apply the above steps.

6. Remove other cloud storage software

remove cloud storage software

According to users, sometimes other cloud storage software can interfere with Dropbox and cause Dropbox sync icons to become missing.

However, you can fix this problem simply by removing other cloud storage software from your PC.

There are many ways to do that, but the most effective one is to use uninstaller software such as Revo Uninstaller.

In case you’re not familiar, uninstaller software is a special application that can remove any application, along with all of its files and registry entries, from your PC.

Once you remove other cloud storage software from your PC, the problem should be resolved completely.

In addition to cloud storage software, other applications that have status icons can also cause this problem to appear, so if you have any other applications that are using sync icons similarly to Dropbox, be sure to remove them.

7. Restart explorer.exe

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. A list of running applications will now appear. Locate Windows Explorer, right-click it and choose Restart from the menu.
    Dropbox folder not showing sync icons

After Windows Explorer restarts, check if the problem with Dropbox sync icons is still there.

Keep in mind that this is just a temporary solution and if the problem reappears, you’ll have to repeat this solution.

If Dropbox sync icons are missing, you might be able to fix this problem simply by restarting explorer.exe. Sometimes there might be certain glitches on your system, and in order to fix them, it’s necessary that you restart Windows Explorer.

Can’t open Task Manager? Don’t worry, we’ve got the right solution for you.

8. Move your Dropbox folder

how to move your Dropbox folder

  1. Click the Dropbox icon in the system tray and select the gear icon.
  2. Navigate to Sync > Move.
  3. Choose a new location for your Dropbox directory and wait while Windows moves all your files.

In some cases, the location of your Dropbox folder can cause Dropbox sync icons to become missing. If the Dropbox folder is in the root directory on your PC, that can cause this and other problems to occur.

However, you can just move your Dropbox folder and the issue should be resolved.

9. Install the latest updates

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Navigate to the Update & Security section.
    Dropbox green check mark missing
  3. In the right pane, click Check for updates button.
    Dropbox icon missing Windows 10

In some cases, Dropbox sync icons won’t appear on your PC due to certain system issues.

If your system is out of date, that might be a problem, and in order to fix it, you need to install the missing updates.

By default, Windows 10 installs the missing updates automatically, but you can always check for updates manually by doing as described above.

If any updates are available, they will be downloaded automatically in the background. Once the updates are installed, restart your PC and check if the problem with Dropbox sync icons still appears.

10. Disable OneDrive

how to disable OneDrive

  1. Right-click the OneDrive icon in your sysbar and choose Settings from the menu.
  2. Now navigate to the Account section and click Unlink this PC options. Now choose to Unlink this account.

OneDrive is built-in in Windows 10, and if you’re having problems with Dropbox sync icons, you might have to disable OneDrive.

This is quite simple, and you can do it by following the above steps. After doing that, the OneDrive will be disabled and the issue should be completely resolved.

11. Perform a System Restore

  1. Press Windows Key + S and type system restore. Select Create a restore point.
    Dropbox folder not showing sync icons
  2. When System Properties window opens, click the System Restore button.
    Dropbox icon missing Windows 10
  3. System Restore window will now appear. Click Next to proceed.
    Dropbox icon missing Windows 10
  4. If available, check to Show more restore points option. Select the desired restore point and click Next.
    Dropbox green check mark missing
  5. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the restoration process.

If this problem started appearing recently, you might be able to fix it by performing a System Restore. To do that, follow these steps:

Once your system is restored, check if the problem is still there. If not, it’s possible that a recently installed application caused this issue.

As always, if you’ve found other workarounds, help the community and share your experience in the comments section below.

Do keep in mind that Dropbox remains a great cloud storage service. The sync icons missing are a big problem, and speaking of Dropbox issues, here are some similar issues that users reported:

  • Dropbox icon missing Windows 10 – This problem can appear on Windows 10, but other versions of Windows aren’t excluded. If you encounter this issue, be sure to try some of our solutions.
  • Dropbox icon not showing in system tray – There are times when the icons don’t show up in the system tray. If you encounter this problem, be sure to make a couple of changes to your registry and the issue should be resolved.
  • Dropbox green checkmark missing – Sometimes, this problem can occur with green checkmark icons. If this happens, restart Dropbox and check if the problem is still there. Alternatively, reinstall Dropbox and check if that makes any difference.

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Storage Access API lets you pause your Edge privacy settings

Posted on by Don Sharpe

Microsoft rolled out the Storage Access API in the Canary and Dev Channels. As such, developers can implement the feature to let site visitors temporarily suspend their Edge privacy settings.

The recently concluded Microsoft Build 2020 event came with plenty of productivity features and quality- of-life improvements for Edge. Many of them, for example, Pinterest-Collections integration and tracking prevention are already available in the browser.

Well, the new Storage Access API lets developers make a provision for temporarily suspending certain aspects of privacy features like tracking prevention.

The Storage Access API and your Edge privacy settings

Of course, tracking prevention is vital to the reinforcement of user privacy by blocking unwanted access by third parties or any untrusted parties.

But it can also have unfavorable effects, such as blocking access to content the user may wish to view. In such scenarios, developers can use the Storage Access API to create user opt-in provisions and let third-party sites access otherwise restricted first-party site data.

Microsoft explains the API:

This capability can be used to create graceful fallback experiences in cases when storage access may be restricted by features such as tracking prevention in Microsoft Edge. For users, this API provides greater transparency into and control over the sites that are requesting access to browser-based storage that could be used to track their behaviors across the web.

Say, you have prevention tracking enabled in Microsoft Edge. And you wish to view embedded videos or interact with social media widgets on a website in the browser.

Also, let’s assume that the first-party site has implemented the Storage Access API. In that case, you may encounter a prompt requiring permission to temporarily access its storage in the context of the third-party site you’re visiting.

Obviously, allowing access lets you view the content.

But you may choose not to allow. As a result, your Edge privacy settings will prevent you from viewing the embedded content on the third-party site.

Nonetheless, browser privacy remains a hot-button issue for users. Tells us what you think about the new Access Storage API for Edge and other Chromium browsers.

Looking for toddler games to play online? Check this guide

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina
When it comes to playing games online with your toddler there are plenty of things to consider. You don’t want to stress or overwhelmed your toddler with games that may not be age-appropriate. Some of the age-appropriate activities for toddlers involve drawing, coloring, painting, and musical games. You can play games that will help develop your toddler’s memory, logic, and reasoning as well as emotional skills. If you are looking for some great recommendations, read further. We compiled a list with the best online games for your toddler. Additionally, we also recommend using Opera GX as the main browser.  Opera GX brings a couple of amazingly useful features to enhance your online gaming experience. This great gaming-browser offers you access to a built-in panel to limit RAM and CPU usage for an increase in performance. Beyond this, Opera GX also contains a free ad blocker and a VPN service.
Editor's choice
Opera GX browser logo
Opera GX
  • Best gaming browser
  • Resource controller
  • Custom UI
  • Twitch integration
  • Free VPN included
  • Ad-blocker
Download Opera GX
If you’re not convinced yet, maybe the fact that Opera GX was awarded for its interface and user experience design will convince you. Scroll down to see our toddler game suggestions.  

Where can I find some good online toddler games?

Memory Game

best toddler games online memory

This game consists of several cards, flipped on the back. Each time your toddler clicks on the card, a picture will be displayed for a second.

Your toddler will have to memorize the card and click on the next one. Then try to pair all the cards.

A great game your toddler can play when you are driving in the car or your kids are restricted on moving around.

Such games will also teach your toddler strategy and improve their concentration.

⇒ Play Memory Game

Counting Pizza Party

best toddler games online pizza counting

With this game, toddlers learn in a fun and relaxed game how to count and how numerals relate to quantity.

In this game, toddlers have to count the correct number of toppings and add them to their pizza so that it matches the customer request.

Each time they are finished, they’ll have to ring the bell and hear how the toppings are being counted.

The game is very fun and engaging, especially for toddlers.

⇒ Play Counting Pizza Party

Letter Dance Party

best toddler games online letter dance

This is a great game where toddlers can learn about letters and how they are pronounced. And as the title suggests it’s a party where all the letters are invited.

You can trace the letter, pronounce it out loud with them, and name different words that start with the same letter.

⇒ Play Letter Dance Party

Puzzle Games

best toddler games online puzzle

Puzzle games very creative and educational, where each character is cheerfully animated. To play the game, your toddler will have to simply drag each part of the character in their matching slot. This game encourages basic manipulation skills, problem-solving, and imaginative play.

⇒ Play Puzzle Games

Seasons Spinner

best toddler games online seasons spinner

This game is great for discussing with your toddler about what happens in nature during each season and the specific things they can do during Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall.

The characters in the game are fun to play with and they will keep your toddler engaged.

⇒ Play Seasons Spinner

These are our recommendations about the best toddler games online. If you have other suggestions please share them in the comment section below.

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Email-Archiving Software: 4 Best to Use in 2026

Posted on by Matthew Adams

Email-archiving software packages are primarily designed for the business domain. These are applications that archive emails to an off-site server, disk arrays, or cloud storage.

The applications index emails so users can then quickly retrieve and restore them if required. As emails can contain records that need to be preserved, keeping email archives might be an essential requirement in some industries.

Email-archiving applications provide a number of advantages compared with leaving emails on live servers. Archived email data takes up less space, which consequently speeds up restoration and retrieval.

This can also boost productivity as it’s quicker to search for specific archived emails than those left on a live server. So these are some of the best email-archiving software packages.

 

What’s the best email-archiving software to get?

Aid4Mail (recommended)

enjoy Aid4Mail

Aid4Mail is a top solution for archiving and securing your emails. It works both as a personal email archiver but you can also use it as a business solution.

It will archive over 40 email box formats and email programs, popular email services including Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook.

You can apply an archiving process to your mails even when you are disconnected from the email provider and the emails are stored on your PC or another storage device.

Here’s what this powerful tool can archive your emails to:

  • Outlook PST and MSG formats
  • Nonproprietary formats: mbox and EML
  • XML or PDF (formats that do not require a mailbox)
  • Alternative email accounts on the cloud
  • Aid4Mail ZIP archive format
Aid4Mail

Aid4Mail

Processing your email can’t get any easier. Try out Aid4Mail and you’ll never look for another email-archiving software!
Get it free Visit website

GFI Archiver

get GFI Archiver

GFI Archiver is a highly rated email archiving application that offers great value. The software enables users to archive not only emails but calendar entries, SMS, files, and folders in a central store.

GFI Archiver’s single-instance storage and real-time compression store emails more efficiently.

The software also includes advanced search tools so that users can search for emails with numerous filters, exclusion parameters, and conditions.

GFI Archiver is compatible with most Windows platforms from XP to 10, and its supported mail servers include MS Exchange, Office 365, and Google Apps.

GFI Archiver

GFI Archiver

That’s your chance to archive important files, faxes, emails, and much more with GFI Archiver.
Free trial Visit website

MailStore Server

enjoy MailStore Server

MailStore Server is another email-archiving application that has had glowing reviews.

The software has relatively minimal system requirements and supports email systems such as Office 365, MS Exchange, MS Outlook, Google Apps, and all IMAP and POP3 email servers.

This application also uses single-instance storage and compresses file attachments, which can potentially save 70% storage space.

There are various ways for users to access the archives via MailStore Web Access, MailStore IMAP Server, and MS Outlook, which includes a handy archive add-on.

J. Peter Bruzzese, a Microsoft Exchange MVP, stated:

There are a lot of things I like about the MailStore Server. I especially like how easy it is to get it up and running and set it and forget it (like a proper archive solution should be). I appreciate the additional bells and whistles for compliance and the effort made to offer a client add-on, as well as the ability to access the MailStore through Web Access and Mobile Web Access (and not just on iOS but on Android, Windows Phone or Blackberry).

⇒ Get MailStore Server now 

Symantec Enterprise Vault

enjoy Symantec Enterprise Vault

Symantec Enterprise Vault is one of the industry leaders for email archiving that provides both on-site and remote deployment.

With this application, users can archive emails from MS Exchange, IBM Domino, SharePoint, and other file systems.

One of the best things about Enterprise Vault is its PST (Personal Storage Table) migration that enables you to move PSTs to a separate archive, which can enhance IT operations.

The application makes the most of single-instance storage to compress archives. Enterprise Vault also incorporates plenty of wizards that make setup and administration of the archives a breeze.

Those are four of the more renowned email-archiving software packages for Windows. They are reliable applications that could have considerable cost benefits for most organizations.

⇒ Get Symantec Enterprise Vault now

Those are four of the more renowned email-archiving software packages for Windows. They are reliable applications that could have considerable cost benefits for most organizations.

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5 Best Free Email Template Builders to Create Stunning Mails

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

While a regular email can do the mundane job of sending messages across, email templates can do a level-up.

Marketing software like the best email template builders can take your brand to the next level with their prewritten emails.

What are email templates? These are pre-written emails that are created to replace the existing content and help you write emails, quickly and effortlessly.

So, they’re basically HTML files that users can reuse to create email marketing campaigns.

It’s a powerful tool for email marketing, replacing the concept of sending plain emails with something appealing to the recipient.

So, for those who want to create faster marketing campaigns for their brand, using professional software can be the solution.

Here are some of the best email template builders that offer easy-to-use templates designed by experts.

What are the best free email template builders to get?

eM client

best free email template builders

Do you try to find the very best template builder to break out of your email comfort zone? Does the limited budget make you feel less confident that you can even achieve your goal?

If the answer to the first question is yes, the answer to the second question is clearly positive too. Well, we want to remind you that price is never a concern when using the eM client.

This is a free email template builder that comes with a convenient user interface and covers professional communication needs for enterprises of all sizes.

However, it was designed to help both individuals and businesses design beautiful and high-quality emails.

eM Client is a great option if you want to start creating email marketing campaigns not only because it provides quick and easy solutions for templates, but also because it has tons of integrations.

This email client can easily double as a task manager as it has a built-in calendar and notes app. Connect your Google Workspace accounts, Office 365, and many more for a well-organized experience.

The tool is easy to use and offers solutions that can come in handy especially if you deal with lots of emails.

It has advanced and fast search options, automatic backup, attachment search options, and reply alerts, just to name a few.

eM client key features that you are about to enjoy:

  • Easy-to-use interface
  • Intuitive sidebar with communication history, calendar, and agenda
  • Unique Notes and Send later tools
  • Message encryption features
  • All-compatible with GSuite, Outlook, Exchange, and more
  • Completely free to use

Along with the free version, eM Client also has two paid plans for individual use and for companies. They are based on a monthly subscription and include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

eM Client

Adjust eM Client’s behavior to enhance your workspace and create stunning emails in no time!
Get it free Visit website

Stripo.email

Stripo.email is hands down one of the best email template builders in recent times. This new-generation email editor helps users make professional-looking email templates with ease.

Best of all, users can create intuitive email templates without any knowledge of HTML skills. This makes it suitable even for beginners.

It offers simple, yet responsive features that render powerful results. It’s a highly competitive software that’s compatible with all mobile platforms.

So, an email template, designed using Stripo automatically gets mobile intuitive. For advanced customization options, users can leverage their set of tools that help transform the look on the mobile device accurately.

It integrates easily with ESP (email service providers) which enables users to sync their ESP clients and create emails by default.

Additionally, the emails can also be downloaded in HTML format, archived, or in the form of OFT to be able to send emails via Outlook.

The software is integrated with all the popular email clients like Gmail, Constant Contact, MailChimp, SendGrid, and so on.

Other key features of Stripo.email include:

  • Modules library
  • Various export options
  • Custom fonts
  • Brand guidelines

The option to make its own new blocks, micro tools that allow making banners, looking for, and adding free stock photos, and automating the day-to-day emails, are some of its other major highlights.

Stripo.email

Design your consumable email with Stripo!
Free Trial Visit webstie

BEE Free

best free email template builders

For those looking for a tool that can help them design sophisticated, professional, and mobile receptive emails, BEE Free is the answer.

This template builder offers one of the fastest and easiest ways to design emails for free.

From freelancers or marketing teams to email agencies or developers, it’s a useful tool for all.

It comes with a drag-and-drop editor that allows users to drag and drop the complete rows or content elements separately. Moreover, it can create a duplicate and realign everything much faster.

Best of all, it syncs with mobile phone/device platforms seamlessly offering peace of mind.

What’s more? Users can also pick professional designs from the template gallery without signing up for an account! This makes the entire process faster and easier.

Other key features of BEE Free include:

  • Multiple export options
  • Easily design emails on the go, on mobile devices
  • Integrates with Mailchimp, Gmail, HubSpot, and more

Whether it’s an email with a newsletter, declaration, or translation, the software helps to create attractive emails that work with most programs.

BEE Free

Save time by using drag-and-drop tools to create email templates that can be used immediately.
Free Download Visit website

TOPOL.io

TOPOL.io enables users to create elegant emails easily with its responsive layouts. It saves a major chunk of time that’s spent on producing emails.

The drag and drop feature is so easy to use and responsive, that even beginners can use it conveniently. Alternatively, users can also choose to use their templates.

The interface is attractive and intuitive making it effortless with its application on several clients including Outlook.

The software allows users to add their own HTML codes into the template, and save the content picked up from the templates using the drag and drop feature.

Users can merge tags that can be used in the editor, personalizing messages, selecting products through any e-shop via XML, and adding them to the product feed, are some of its major features.

This email template builder lets you easily create emails tha read well on any platform, be it mobile or desktop.

Topol also offers you the possibility to use it as a website plugin. It is easily embeddable, providing a time-saving solution to keep in contact with your audience.

If you are interested in managing emails and client communication on a higher scale, then you might benefit from the Topol Pro version.

The tool offers collaboration features as well as access to an unlimited library of predefined templates and free-to-use images.

Other key features of Topol.io include:

  • Fully customizable templates
  • Supports cloud storage
  • Multi-language support

You can get started with Topol for free and build beautiful email templates. If you are interested in the Pro or Plugin versions, you will have to pay a monthly subscription.

TOPOL.io

Elevate your emails within minutes with professional-looking and responsive layouts.
Try free Visit Website

Campaign Monitor

Used by 250,000 plus businesses across the world, Campaign Monitor is easily one of the best email editor software in the business.

It powers the email marketing campaigns offering an unforgettable experience.

It helps users create attractive and efficient email newsletters that fetch actual results for the business with their user-friendly layouts, automation tools, and personalization.

It offers some of the most eye-catching email templates that are mobile compatible. These professionally designed email templates echo the user requirements accurately.

The software has reached every sector including the smart divisions and the individual customers with its integrated features that improve the income from the emails.

Other key features of Campaign Monitor include:

  • Completely customizable templates
  • Mobile friendly
  • Team work solutions
  • Free image gallery

As a bonus, it offers 24/7 customer service, whenever anyone needs assistance.

⇒ Get Campaign Monitor

While there are so many email template builders available these days, these are among the best free options.

So, make these email editors a part of your business and save your time by using the pre-designed beautiful templates. They are useful when looking for:

  • Email template builder software – Many users want to find email template builder software for creating business emails. eM client is a top choice in that regard.
  • Online email template builder – You may easily create engaging emails using the best online email template builders too.
  • Free drag & drop email template builder – If you’re looking for drag and drop builders for unique email templates, you’ll surely find our above picks interesting.
  • Responsive email template builder – Responsive email templates help you grab your potential customer’s attention and encourage positive responses. That’s why choosing the best email template builder is mandatory.

We hope this rundown provided a good guide on what the best email builders on the market have to offer and can now make an informed decision on which one is best for you.

If you are interested in stepping up your email experience, we recommend you bookmark our Email Clients Hub.

Looking for train games online? Check out this guide

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic
If you’re passionate about mechanics or mapping and routing tracks, then train games may be for you. You can let your imagination run wild while you try to build your own network of railroads and get an exciting and fun experience while playing with your friends. Many players say that the best train games are among the very best board games released. There are various websites where you can play online games, from different categories. It is very important that you have a good browser software to play games online without any issues. For this, the best browser is by far the Opera GX browser, offering you an incredible set of gaming features, and fast loading speeds as well. The Opera GX browser is built from the ground-up with the idea of gaming in mind, thus offering an incredible set of features, online privacy protection, and fast internet browsing speeds as well.
Editor's choice
Opera GX browser logo
Opera GX
  • Best gaming browser
  • Resource controller
  • Custom UI
  • Twitch integration
  • Free VPN included
  • Ad-blocker
Download Opera GX

Check out the best online train games

Rail Nation

where can I play online train games rail nation

This is a great game of management and building your own network of trains and stations. you will start small and work your way up.

The games put a lot of emphasis on the economic solutions and all the power plays that come along with running your own railway.

You can choose from more than 150 trains from all over the world and railway eras: steam, diesel or electric.

⇒ Play Rail Nation 

Train Fever

where can I play online train games train fever

You are tasked here with building a transport company and the logistics of being its manager.

The game offers you 45 trains and vehicles to choose from and the time period goes from 1850 through 2020.

In addition to all that you will also be in charge of managing the transportation for mines, forests, farms and more. But make sure to build some city roads, to ensure your goods reach your stations.

⇒ Play Train Fever

Train Simulator

where can I play online train games train simulator

Ever wondered how it’s like to operate trains from the inside? Now you have the chance to sit in the cabin of the locomotive or you can pull levers and turn the knobs.

The cabin of the Train Stimulator offers some great and fun challenges by giving you full control of authentic locomotives and real-world routes.

⇒ Play Train Simulator

Railroad Tycoon II

where can I play online train games Railroad Tycoon II

The game puts you in charge of 51 train engines and 34 types of cargo. Make strategies of buying and selling stocks, schedule train routes, optimize operations, and take over companies. Build your own empire and if all this is too much you can anytime hire or fire your managers. Show them how legends are made!

⇒ Play Railroad Tycoon II

Mini Metro

how to play online train games mini metro

Another great strategy simulation game that puts you in control of building a subway map for a growing city.

You will have to decide along the way, what lines to add between stations, which stations to keep open, and when and where are your resources best used?

The city is rapidly growing and you need to make sure things are running smoothly.

⇒ Play Mini Metro

This is our list of great train games online. Check out our recommendation and find out which one you like the most.

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Xbox execs explain why they’re keeping their hands off recently acquired game studios after acquiring Mojang

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft is a company that doesn’t have a great track record regarding acquisitions. In the past decade, the purchase of Nokia’s mobile division ended up as a disaster, while Skype lost a huge amount of mindshare in favor of WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, as well as Microsoft Teams in recent years.

When it comes to video games, many studios have also disappeared after Microsoft acquired them, while many others have been unable to produce hit games for PC or Xbox consoles. Fable developer Lionhead Studios is a pretty good example of that, with Microsoft deciding to close the company after the development of Fable Legends had gone offtrack. The few Lionhead employees that have since spoken up complained about Microsoft interfering with the creative process, as well as Microsoft insisting on making the PC version exclusive to the Microsoft Store.

Fortunately, Microsoft appears to be done trying to dictate its game studios what they need to do. Speaking with Gameindustry.biz, several Xbox execs including Head of Xbox Game Studios and Mojang boss Helen Chiang explained that everything changed after Microsoft acquired the Minecraft developer back in 2014. Purchasing Mojang was a big bet for Microsoft, but the Redmond giant decided early on to keep the popular sandbox game on all platforms and not try to change the culture at Mojang.

“How Matt integrated Mojang really helped set the stage for how Xbox acquired and integrated all of the additional studios,” explained the Mojang studio head. “Before, Microsoft acquired companies in a specific way. And this not only set the foundation for additional game studios, but when you look at LinkedIn and GitHub, they also have this minimally integrated approach. That really was something that Mojang set the foundation for.”

Minecraft got a new spinoff this year with the dungeon-crawler Minecraft Dungeons.

Microsoft announced several new studios acquisitions two years ago, including some companies that have yet to release hit games. A good example is Compulsion Games, the Canadian studio behind We Happy Few, a survival horror game that launched in pretty rough shape back in 2018. We don’t know yet what Compulsion Games is currently working on, but Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty explained that Microsoft is giving the studio a lot of freedom to experiment.

Booty explains: “It’s kind-of a phased thing. Take Compulsion. They’re working on their next game and have spent the last year on early ideation. I try to keep us as far away from that as possible. And then, as it starts to get exposure within the organisation, feedback will come in and things will start to steer. But it’s important to leave them alone for as long as possible, until they’ve got something that can walk on its own. And then there’s no shortage of feedback within Xbox.”

The article also includes several enthusiastic comments from executives of studios recently acquired by Microsoft. In addition to the guaranteed creative freedom and financial security, Double Fine boss Tim Schafer emphasized how Xbox Game Pass should allow all of Microsoft’s game studios to offer different experiences for different types of gamers.

“With Game Pass, it wouldn’t make sense to acquire Double Fine and then assign us a bunch of Forza DLC. That’s not what you’d want from a studio like Double Fine. And Game Pass seems like a great opportunity to have a diversity of games, a plethora of unusual content… I can see how the type of games that Double Fine makes could fit into that,” explained Schafer.

With Microsoft holding its Xbox Games Showcase on July 23, we’re should finally get more information about what Microsoft’s new studios are currently working on. The much-anticipated event could also be a good opportunity for Microsoft to surprise everyone with some new studios acquisitions.

“We have really strong support from Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, and Amy Hood, the CFO. And there’s been no signal at all that we should be slowing down, but just to go at a pace that is maintainable for us as a leadership team. We’re always out there talking to people. But it has to be the right opportunity,” Xbox head Phil Spencer said.

FIX: Windows 8 Mail app not working or syncing [Quick Guide]

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Having issues with the Mail application in Windows 8 is something a lot of users have complained about in their usage of the operating system.

The most common issue is that the Mail application will stop syncing with the accounts you have in Windows 8.

Therefore, we have decided to explain to you how you can fix your Mail app if it periodically fails to run.

The reasons as to why your Mail application fails to operate properly is due to the fact that the license you have for a specific application like the Mail app might be out of sync with the license you have in the Windows 8 operating system.

For you to fix this issue, you may run the SFC (System File Checker) in order to fix any registry errors you may have or apply other tips detailed below.

Also, do note that the above solutions may be applied whenever facing these issues:

  • Windows 8 Mail app not receiving emails – Users worldwide claim that they no longer receive new messages in their Mail app. Using the SFC tool for a quick scan is our recommendation.
  • Windows 8 Mail app not syncing Hotmail – Windows 8 Mail app users face a number of other issues with the mail app. This includes that it doesn’t sync with Hotmail. If that’s your case too, try to install the latest updates.
  • Mail app on Windows 8.1 not working – If the mail app simply refuses to work, trying out Mailbird may be a smarter choice. Ready for a change?

What can I do if the Windows 8 Mail app is not working?

  1. Use a different email client
  2. Install the latest updates
  3. Update your Windows Store apps
  4. Sync your licenses
  5. Run SFC scan
  6. Change your localization settings

1. Use a different mail client

try out Mailbird

Since you are here, you might consider switching to a full-dedicated email client that will make these syncing problems a thing of the past.

In that case, we would suggest taking into consideration Mailbird – winner of Most popular mail alternative of 2020. Of course, this is not the only email client that you can use on your Windows computer.

However, this one handles all the basic features expected of the best email apps and much more than that. When you open it, it’ll feel familiar.

Its uncluttered and intuitive interface is a joy and it comes with multi-language 24/7 customer support as well.

With all these on the table, its stand out feature still remains the ability to access all your different email accounts directly from Mailbird.

Mailbird

Mailbird

When the Windows 8 Mail app is not working or syncing, Mailbird is the best alternative you can find.
Get it free Visit website

2. Install the latest updates

  1. Move the mouse cursor over to the lower right side of the screen.
  2. From the menu that appears left click or tap on the Settings feature.
  3. Now from the Settings menu left click or tap on the Change PC Settings option.
  4. Find in this next window the Update and Recovery option and left click or tap on it.
  5. Now find the Check Now button and left click or tap on it.
  6. The checking process will last up to 10 minutes and then it will give you what updates you need to install.
  7. If you have available updates left click or tap on the Install updates feature for all that are available.
  8. After the updates have installed left click or tap on the Finish button.
  9. Reboot your Windows 8 operating system.
  10. After the device starts check again if your Mail app is working correctly.

Note: On Windows 10, the path to follow is a bit different. To install the latest updates, go to Settings > Update & Security > Update and hit the Check for updates button.

check for updates

3. Update your Microsoft Store apps

  1. From the Start screen, left click or tap on the Store icon.
  2. Move the mouse cursor over to the lower right side of the screen.
  3. Now left click or tap on the Settings feature from the menu that appears.
  4. Find and left click or tap on the App Updates feature on the list.
  5. Turn to Yes the Automatically update my apps feature.update store app automatically
  6. Reboot your operating system after you are done.

4. Sync your licenses

  1. From the Start screen of Windows 8, left click or tap on the Store icon.
  2. Move the mouse cursor over to the lower right side of the screen.
  3. From the menu that appears left click or tap on the Settings feature.
  4. Left-click or tap on the App updates feature.
  5. Left-click or tap on the Sync licenses feature.sync app licenses
  6. Now close the windows and right-click or hold tap on the Mail application in the Start screen.
  7. From the submenu left click or tap on the Uninstall feature.
  8. Left-click or tap again on the Uninstall button.
  9. After you finished the uninstall of the application left click or tap on the Store icon presented in the Start window.
  10. In the Store window left click or tap on the Accounts option.
  11. Now find and left click or tap on the My apps option.
  12. Right-click or hold tap on the Mail app and then select to install it.
  13. Reboot the operating system after the Mail app installed.
  14. Check again to see if the application works.

5. Run SFC scan

  1. While on the Start screen of your Windows 8.1 start writing the following: Command Prompt.
  2. After the search has finished right-click or hold tap on the Command Prompt icon.
  3. From the menu that appears left click or tap on the Run as Administrator feature.
  4. Now you should have Command prompt window with administrative privileges in front of you.
  5. Write in the command prompt window the following: sfc /scannow.SFC scan
  6. Press the Enter button on the keyboard.
  7. Let the system file checker finish the process.
  8. When the check is done write in the command prompt: Exit.
  9. Press the Enter button on the keyboard.
  10. Reboot your PC.
  11. Check again to see if your Mail app is working properly.

Having problems using the SFC tool? Check this useful guide dedicated to sfc /scannow issues and set things right once again.

If you’re having trouble accessing Command Prompt as an admin, then you better take a closer look at this guide.

6. Change your localization settings

  1. Open Control panel > Select Region.
    Windows 10 Mail app crashing
  2. Go to the Location tab > set the Home location to your country.Windows 10 Mail not receiving emails
  3. Go to the Administrative tab > Change system locale.
  4. Select your country from the Current system locale menu > hit OK > Apply.
    Mail app is not working in Windows 10 keeps crashing

You are done, if you carefully followed the steps above your Mail application will start working again. You can also take a look at this quick guide to finding a solution if you can’t open Control Panel.

Some users managed to fix their Windows Mail app issues by changing their localization settings.

If you do have any other questions regarding this article you can always write to us in the comments section of the page below and we will help you further.

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Looking for a cooking game online? Here are the best

Posted on by Vlad Turiceanu
If you like to cook and play games online, then you must know that there are a lot of new things you can learn from playing online cooking games. Things such as dietary needs/restrictions, flavors, timing, ingredients are just a few to name. And there is a lot of fun you can have as well. There are a million places where you can go to gain more cooking knowledge however, we’ve compiled a list of the best cooking games and we recommend you give them a try.          

Free cooking games online

World Chef

where can I play the best online cooking game

In the complex world of cooking, becoming a world-renowned chef is not easy. In this game, you will get to see what it takes to open up your own restaurant.

The more you work and the better your dishes will look, the greater your success will be.

You’ll have to hire chefs, cooks, manage your orders and your building and earn as many many possibilities that will allow you to decorate the restaurant the way you want.

You can buy new items and make improvements so that the place looks exactly as you want it to.

It’s a fun and extremely entertaining game to play, we definitely think you should give it a try.

⇒ Play World Chef

Overcooked 2

which is the best online cooking game

If you ever wondered how it would be to cook in a chaotic kitchen, then this is the game for you.

This is a 1-4 player game that you can play solo or team up with your friends. The quest: cooking the best dishes.

Sounds easy but there will be obstacles you have to overcome. Cook in the fire, through collapsing floors, overbearing waiters, or floating work surfaces.

⇒ Play Overcooked 2

Cooking Simulator

online cooking game how to play

This game is one of the most realistic cooking games you can play. You have at your disposal all the ingredients and tools you need in order to cook over 60 real dishes.

Whatever you want to do, now it’s the time. Make a soup, boil vegetables, fillet a fish, and everything with real-life physics. The kitchen experience awaits

⇒ Play Cooking Simulator

Idle Cooking Emperor

cooking game idle cooking

Cooking is everything in this game. You start from not having a lot of strengths and work hard in order to become the best cook in the world.

In this game, you will make progress by challenging other chefs in cooking battles and taking control of their restaurants.

Afterward, you can hire the cooks you beat to work in your restaurant.

⇒ Play Idle Cooking Emperor

Star Chef: Cooking & Restaurant Game

where can I play the best cooking game online

This game helps you bring out that inner chef. You will have to create recipes, put together a cookbook, and grow your character from an amateur cook to a real master chef.

Run your team of chefs while customizing your restaurant kitchen with top of the line cooking appliances, making sure is the best in town.

⇒ Play Star Chef

We hope you enjoyed our recommendations. Please let us know in the comment section below which one you liked the most.

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How to check your Compliance Score in Microsoft 365 to ensure you keep your small business data safe

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

If you own a small business, you might not have an IT staff or someone to constantly check to see if your data and information floating around Microsoft 365 is safe and secure. Luckily, Microsoft has a new preview feature covered in your subscription called the Compliance Score which can help you out.

With Compliance Score, you get a simplified way to manage compliance standards. You get recommendations for security actions you can take to comply with industry regulations and standards that other companies often pay IT departments to think about and handle. Here’s how you can use it.

Key things to understand

Before diving into the Compliance Score, there’s a set of terms you’ll need to understand. You’ll see something called a control. Control is a requirement or regulation, standard, or policy. You’ll also see an action, which is an activity that helps you implement control. Finally, you’ll see an assessment which is a grouping of controls from a specific regulation, standard, or policy.

Additionally, Compliance Score is not to be confused with the Compliance Manager or Center. They share the same backend, but Compliance Score as a simplified version of Compliance Manager and gives you a more complete view of your organization’s current compliance situation, plus the steps you can take to improve it.

Please in mind that Microsoft will provide you with an initial numbered score based on some of the most common regulations and standards. As explained by Microsoft, this risk-based score “measures your progress in completing actions that help reduce risks around data protection and regulatory standards.”

You’ll be able to improve this score by creating and taking assessments that are relevant to your company. You’ll be able to select these assessments, modify them, or create your own to see things that are most important to you. Just be aware that having a high score doesn’t always mean you’re fully compliant. According to Microsoft, it “does not express an absolute measure of organizational compliance with any particular standard or regulation.”

Finally, you’ll want to understand that you’ll be able to see quick actions to improve your compliance. They’ll be detailed guidance with step by step instructions for the right solution. Completing these will improve your score.

How to use the home dashboard

Once you head to see your Compliance Score, by clicking Compliance from the Microsoft 365 App launcher, you’ll be taken to the Microsoft 365 Compliance Center. From here, you’ll see different sections. The first will show your compliance score, which is divided up into various actions like protecting information, controlling access, managing devices, and more.

From here, you’ll be able to navigate to the sections which we will describe below. You’ll also see things such as cloud app compliance, as well as users who are sharing files. In addition, there will be a section here for security alerts, a list of shared files that might be compromising your security, and high-risk apps. You can click each of these sections for more details and a look at how your data is moving.

How to see your compliance score

To dive deeper into your compliance score, you can click compliance score in the sidebar. From here, you’ll see your overall score. You can scroll up and down to see the data that went into the score, and some key improvement actions you can take.

Along the top, there will be some tabs, one of which has improvement suggestions. Clicking this will give you a step by step guide on how to take certain actions to bump your score.

Another tab will have solutions and assessments. These will show you how certain solutions can contribute to your score. They’ll also be assessments, too. Clicking these will help you implement data protection controls specified by certain types. These include compliance, security, privacy, and data protection standards, regulations, and laws.

How to check data classification

The third section in the Compliance Score will be data classification. From here you can build classifiers that can be used to protect and govern your sensitive data. You’ll then be able to explore what data is being labeled so you can fine-tune your classification strategies.

You’ll get a snapshot on an overview page. From here, you’ll get a quick look at where sensitive info and labels are being used across Microsoft 365 apps and some links to investigate them. You also can dive deeper into classified content with content explorer, which allows you to filter by sensitive info type or label to see how many items are classified inside your business. Finally, you can monitor and review activity with a detailed view into classification activities and trends across locations.

How to manage policies

From the policies section, you’ll be able to set up certain policies in Microsoft 365 which can help you improve your score. These policies will be listed by types, be it data, access, or security. Typically, these policies are meant for more experienced users and IT Admins, but clicking one will give you the basics and an explanation of how you can change the policy to improve your compliance score. In most cases, there is also a link that will take you to Microsoft’s documentation for said policy.

How to manage permissions

Next up, there is the permissions section. From here, you can assign Microsoft 365 permissions and roles in Office 365. You can add users as global administrators, data administrators, compliancy administrators, and more. Keep in mind, though, that Office 365 roles has a separate page, and you’ll need to go here for that. If you’re having trouble setting permissions, we invite you to check out our guide on the different administrative roles in Microsoft 365.

How to use the catalog

In the catalog section, you’ll find some solutions that you can take inside your organization to improve the overall compliance store This includes topics such as data loss prevention, information governance, information protection, records management, and more. You’ll also see topics on how you can identify, analyze, and remediate internal risks, as well as respond to audits, data investigations, and more. Each of these solutions come with step-by-step guides and even videos explaining how you can get started with them.

Customizing and more

These are the basics of checking the Compliance Score, but there is a bit more you can do. If you like to customize the look of the Compliance dashboard, you can do so by clicking Customize navigation on the side. This will show you a variety of things which we’ve discussed here already. Your changes are unique to you and won’t impact other admins.

Fell free to play around with your Compliance Score, and let us know how you’re liking this experience by dropping us a comment below. Also, feel free to check out our Microsoft 365 hub for more how-tos and other guides.

 

5 Ways to add links on Instagram photo

Posted on by Vlad Turiceanu

The question of how to put links in Instagram photos is vital because Instagram is incredibly popular with marketers. It creates a visual way to showcase your products and services while engaging your audience.

However, after showing off your organization’s content, how do you convert your profile visitors to website visitors, buyers, or leads?

You have to learn how to put links in your Instagram photos and videos. Read this article to the end, as we’ll show you five ways to do this free of charge.

how-to-put-links-in-instagram-photo-bio

The first place your profile visitors look is your bio. It is visible to everyone, even if your Instagram account is private. You can see the bio link as a base link where users should click to learn more about you or your organization.

Some users use links to their most recent content, hence change their bio links frequently. Others prefer to link to a specific page on their website or app and leave it at that.

There are benefits and disadvantages of both link strategies; hence, your choice depends on what outcome you desire.

If you want both, you can use a link service. They create a link for you to put in your bio, and clickers are directed to a page with various relevant links on your website.

Link services give you customization options to let the linked page match your brand design.

how-to-put-links-in-instagram-photo-story

Instagram shows your timeline posts to only a fraction of your followers. Whereas, the application delivers your stories to every one of your followers.

For this strategy to work, your story has to catch your followers’ interest. It should also include a clear call-to-action that instructs viewers to swipe up.

Stories on Instagram last for a max of 15 seconds and disappear after 24 hours, so you have only a small window to make an impression.

Alternatively, you can also pin your IG stories with evergreen links to the highlights of your profile permanently.

To insert links in your Instagram stories, you must have at least 10,000 followers or a verified account. When done correctly, IG story links can be massively beneficial to B2C brands.

3. Use short links in post captions

how-to-put-links-in-instagram-photo-caption

Links you insert in your captions are not clickable, and that’s why brands look for other ways to link to their website or app.

However, your timeline posts and their captions are still some of the most viewed content on your account.

Note that this strategy needs your followers to type the link into their browsers manually.

Therefore, pasting your content link in your image or video captions is effective only when the link is either short or memorable. If your link is long, you can use a link shortener.

If you notice that links you add in captions refuse to open or behave unexpectedly, check this detailed guide on Instagram links not working.

4. Use Instagram Shoppable stories and posts

how-to-put-links-in-instagram-photo-shoppable

Thanks to Instagram Shoppable posts, you can now embed links on your posts directly. If you’re not sure what Shoppable posts are, look out for posts with a shopping bag icon.

On tapping posts with this icon, you see a little popup saying Tap to view products. When you tap this message, it redirects you to the linked page or product.

You can add multiple product links to a single post. On the part of your customers, they’ll have a smooth transition from your post to the linked product.

Hence, with engaged audiences, this is a highly effective linking method.

how-to-put-links-in-instagram-photo-ads

While users search for how to put links in Instagram photos, Instagram already has a solution for this through. If you’ve used Facebook ads or other advertising services, you can use Instagram ads.

When you pay Instagram and publish an ad, you get to put your link directly below the photo you promote.

For this, your link has to be relevant to the promoted content. Instagram also lets you customize the button to match your design and the content.

If you have video content, IGTV allows you to insert clickable links directly in the video description. You’ve now learned how to put links in Instagram photos and videos. Is there any other method you use? Do let us know in the comments below.

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Fix: Your Computer is Currently Offline Dropbox Error

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

Dropbox is one of the most popular cloud storage platforms in the world. However, it is not free from issues, with some users reporting Your computer is currently offline error on Dropbox.

Fortunately, this issue has a series of workarounds, as shown in the following sections of this guide.

What does the Dropbox No Internet connection message mean?

Listed below are some of the potential causes of the Dropbox Your computer is currently offline error:

  • Antivirus interference: Your antivirus and firewall can prevent Dropbox from syncing, leading to this error. In this case, you need to disable your firewall and antivirus software.
  • Wrong proxy settings: Sometimes, your Dropbox proxy setting might be set to auto-detect. This leads to problems if the app cannot detect your proxy. What you need to do in this case is to set it to no proxy.
  • Network issues: In some cases, this issue might be down to problems with your network. The solution to this is to flush your DNS and reset Winsock.

How can I fix Dropbox Your computer is currently offline error?

Below are some basic troubleshooting steps you need to perform before delving into the sophisticated fixes below:

1. Disable your firewall and firewall

  1. Press the Windows key, type windows defender, and select the Windows Defender Firewall option.
    windows defender
  2. Find and click Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off on the left pane.
    turn windows
  3. In the Customize Settings window, select the Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) radio buttons for both the Private and Public network settings.
  4. Click OK to disable Windows Firewall.
    turn off dropbox your computer is currently offline
  5. Now, press the Windows key, type virus, and select Virus & threat protection.
    virus
  6. Click the Manage settings link.
    manage settings
  7. Finally, toggle the switch under Real-time protection backward to disable it.
    real time dropbox your computer is currently offline

If you are getting your computer is currently offline on Dropbox, disable your antivirus and firewall. If you have a third-party antivirus, you can turn it off by right-clicking the icon on the taskbar and selecting Disable.

After syncing your Dropbox files, you should re-enable the security tools.

2. Use an alternative to Dropbox

While Dropbox is among the most popular cloud storage services in the world, that doesn’t mean you can’t use alternatives when it becomes unavailable.

In the case at hand, if all solutions fail and you can not use Dropbox in the foreseeable future, then a good alternative is Sync.

This cloud storage tool boasts incredible security features and immense flexibility regarding how easily you can access your cloud content.

Sync

An amazing cloud storage service that can easily replace Dropbox if it cannot be used.
Free Trial Visit Website

3. Disable proxy in Dropbox‘s settings

  1. Launch Dropbox and click on the gear icon.
  2. Select Preferences.
  3. Now, choose Proxies.
  4. Finally, change your proxy settings from Auto-detect to No Proxy option.
    no proxy dropbox your computer is currently offline

Another thing we’re going to try is disabling the proxy in Dropbox’s settings. This has fixed your computer is currently offline on Dropbox.

4. Flush DNS and reset Winsock

  1. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and select Run as administrator under Command Prompt.
    cmd admin
  2. Type the following commands and hit Enter after each: ipconfig /flushdns ipconfig /registerdns ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew NETSH winsock reset catalog NETSH int ipv4 reset reset.log NETSH int ipv6 reset reset.log Exit
  3. Finally, restart your computer.

Maybe Dropbox isn’t the problem after all. So, let’s leave it for a moment and restore the network protocols to default settings.

5. Use the Store app troubleshooter

  1. Press the Windows key + I and select Updates & Security.
    update and dropbox your computer is currently offline
  2. Click Troubleshoot in the left pane and select Additional troubleshooters.
    troubleshoot
  3. Now, select Windows Store Apps and click Run the troubleshooter.
    run the
  4. Finally, apply the recommended fixes and restart your PC.

If you’re using the UWP version of Dropbox, you can use the Windows Store app troubleshooter to check and resolve issues with the app. This should show you the cause of your computer’s currently offline Dropbox problem and recommend potential solutions.

That’s about it. We certainly hope one of these solutions helped you resolve your computer’s offline connection issue on Dropbox.

If Dropbox is not syncing on your PC, check our comprehensive guide for effective solutions to apply.

Feel free to let us know the solution that helped us solve the problem in the comments below.

How to fix HBO NOW error code 203 in a few steps

Posted on by Vlad Turiceanu

If you planned to watch a season premiere only to get into difficulties, know that you are not alone. For many users, HBO NOW crashed while they were in the middle of watching their favorite show.

There were no further indications only a message that HBO NOW could not play due to error code 203.

They tried to hit the home button and signed in again, but the same error code 203 appeared. Although these errors are annoying, in most cases, they are extremely easy to fix.

We provided some steps to deal with this in the list below, make sure to try them out in the given order.

How can I fix the HBO NOW error code 203?

1. Clear the app caches 

For Android:

  1. Go to Settings – Applications – Manage applications.
  2. From the list select HBO NOW.
  3. Find the Clear cache option and tap it.

For iPhone and iPad

  1. Tap on the Menu button
  2. Go to the settings page and tap Clear temporary files

2. Factory reset your device

All the data from your phone can be removed by resetting it to factory settings. This is also called formatting or a hard reset.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Find Backup & reset.
  3. Tap Factory data reset and Reset phone.

Note: If you can’t open your phone‘s Settings app, you can try factory resetting your phone using its power and volume buttons. 

3. Update your software

  1. To update your HBO NOW, open the Play Store on your Android device and search for HBO NOW to see if an app update is available.
  2. Also, make sure your Android software is up to date. Go to Settings – Systems – Advanced – System Update.

4. Clear cache and data

  1. Open your Android and go to Settings – Apps & notifications
  2. Search HBO NOW in the list of apps
  3. Tap storage – clear storage
  4. Finally, tap clear cache
  5. You can now reopen HBO NOW and sign in again

5. Reinstall HBO NOW

  1. Go to Settings > Apps & notifications 
  2. Search and tap HBO NOW in the list of apps.
  3. Tap Uninstall.
  4. Open the Play Store and reinstall HBO NOW.

6. Check if not HBO NOW is actually down

Although it’s not common, it can happen that HBO NOW is not working because it’s down. In order to check this, you can use DownDetector to see where people are currently having trouble using HBO.

if the above tricks did not work, we suggest you try Disney+. This is an alternative streaming service that could meet many of your needs.

⇒ Get Disney+

That’s about it. We hope that the above solutions were helpful in solving your HBO NOW error code 203 problem. Let us know in the comments below if our suggestions helped you fix it.

How to use Vintage Ad Browser and view old advertisements

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Advertisement is a part of our culture, and it has changed drastically over the years. Nowadays, most advertising is done through the Internet or via multimedia.

In the past, that wasn’t the case, and the most common form of advertising was printed advertising. In today’s article, we’re going to show you a way how to view those vintage ads in your web browser.

How can I view old ads in my browser?

What is Vintage Ad Browser?

Vintage Ad Browser is a special website that hosts a large variety of old printed advertisements. All content is organized into categories, so you can easily find the advertisement that you need or a particular category that you’re interested in.

How to use Vintage Ad Browser?

  1. Visit the Vintage Ad Browser website.
    website vintage ad browser
  2. Now select one of many available categories and choose the desired year.
    advertisements vintage ad browser
  3. You should now see all ads that match your criteria.

Although this website should work in any web browser, for the best experience we recommend using Opera.

vintage ad browser in opera

The browser runs on the Chromium engine, and it can work with Chrome extensions. Unlike Chrome, Opera is light on your resources, so it should run smoothly at all times.

The software has built-in messengers for rapid sharing on the most popular social media platforms. There’s also the ability to organize tabs into workspaces as well as an advanced search feature that will help you find tabs with ease.

Opera comes with an integrated ad blocker and tracking protection that speed up webpage loading. For extra security, there’s a built-in VPN with unlimited bandwidth.

The browser is available on all major desktop and mobile platforms, and if you’re looking for a fast, reliable, and secure browser, be sure to give Opera a try.

”Opera”

”Opera”

”Try
”Free”
&aff_sub2=Native?utm_medium=native&ref=” current_url=”true” button_text=”Visit website” image=”https://windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Opera-1-210×160.png” ]

Vintage ads have a unique look that is distinct for the decade they are made, and thanks to modern technology, you can browse these ads right from your browser.

Feel free to leave a comment on this topic using the dedicated section below.

iTunes error 0xe8000015? Here’s how to fix it for good

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

iTunes is a great multimedia app, but many users reported iTunes error 0xe8000015 while using it.

This issue usually occurs when trying to use iTunes with your phone, and in today’s article, we’re going to show you how to fix this issue once and for all.

How can I fix iTunes error 0xe8000015?

1. Disable restrictions on your phone

  1. Navigate to Settings > General.
  2. Head to the Restrictions and make sure that Disable Restrictions is enabled.

After doing that, check if the problem is still there.

In addition, make sure to select Trust this Computer notification when you connect your iPhone to the computer.

2. Update your macOS/iOS, try other USB ports

  1. Make sure that you have the latest version of iOS and macOS installed.
    software update itunes error 0xe8000015
  2. Install the latest version of iTunes.
  3. Make sure you have enough storage space on your iOS device.
  4. Disconnect all other USB peripherals and use only your iOS device.
  5. Try using a different USB port.

Although these are some of the most basic troubleshooting solutions, they might help you fix iTunes error 0xe8000015.

3. Delete Lockdown folder

  1. Open Finder.
  2. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  3. Type /var/db/ lockdown and press Enter.
  4. Select all files and move them to trash.

4. Put your phone in recovery mode

  1. Make sure iTunes is closed.
  2. Connect the USB cable to your Mac.
  3. Now connect the cable to your iPhone.
  4. Open iTunes.
  5. Press and release the Volume Up Do the same for the Volume Down button.
    phone recovery itunes error 0xe8000015
  6. Press and hold the Side button until the recovery mode screen appears.
  7. Now restore your iPhone.

Bear in mind that older versions of iPhone require a different button combination to access the recovery mode.

Few users reported that they fixed the problem by updating the iOS instead of performing a restore, so you can try that as well.

5. Restore the phone in DFU mode

  1. Start iTunes on your Mac.
  2. Connect your iPhone to your Mac.
  3. Quickly press and release Volume Up and Volume Down Now hold the Side button and wait for the screen to go black.
  4. Without releasing the Side button, press and hold the Volume Down button.
  5. After 5 seconds, release the Side button but keep holding the Volume Down button until iPhone shows up in iTunes or Finder.
  6. Once it appears, release the Volume Down button.

Bear in mind that this process works for iPhone 8 and newer. For older models, accessing the DFU mode is slightly different.

iTunes error 0xe8000015 can be problematic and prevent you from connecting your iOS device with your computer, but we hope that our solutions helped you fix the problem.

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Windows 10/11 App RT News Russia Today [Review]

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The official RT News English app, formerly known as Russia Today, has been made available for download in the Microsoft Store for Windows 10 users. Read the entire article below for more details and a video overview of the main features.

If you are interested in news regarding Russia and its oversea affairs, then you definitely need to check out the newly released ‘RT News English’ app in the Windows Store.

For those who don’t know, RT is funded by the federal budget of Russia through and presents round-the-clock news bulletins, documentaries, talk shows, and debates which are aimed at Russia but also on international happenings.

RT news app lands in the Microsoft Store

RT is a 24/7 English-language news channel. We are set to show you how any story can be another story altogether. Broadcasting over six continents and 100 countries, our coverage focuses on international headlines, giving an innovative angle set to challenge viewers worldwide.

russia today windows 8 app

Those who have watched Russia Today on the TV, or just RT, as it’s currently known, are already accustomed with the highly professional level of the shows and reporting, similar to other big outlets such as EuroNews or CNN.

I have tried out RT for Windows 10 for a few good minutes and you can see for yourself in the video from below that it looks pretty neat, indeed.

Everything inside the app is real snappy and what I particularly enjoyed was the live stream feature. I experienced no lags, whatsoever, even while using the highest quality of the stream.

rt news windows 8 app

Whenever you want, you can right-click or double tap and you will be able to choose from the news and on the air sections. In the Live area of the app, you will be able to follow news from Russia or from America.

RT also cared to mention on the official description that albeit the channel is government-fund, it shapes its editorial policy free from political and commercial influence. Having watched RT for more than a year now, I can attest to that.

According to the latest statistic, almost 650 million people watch the channel in more than 100 countries across the world.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that they are interested in Russia-oriented news, but they have become used with the professional reporting. To get the app on your Windows devices, follow the link below.

⇒ Download RRT News English for Windows 10

7digital Music Store Windows 10 App [Review]

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

7digital has just released its official app in the Microsoft Store for Windows 10 users.

With a quite ugly name 7digital Music Store recommended by HP, which I hope gets changed with a future update, the release of the app brings more than 25 million high-quality tracks that you can buy, download, synchronize with other devices, and listen to on the go.

If you already have a 7digital account, you can sign in to claim the songs you bought.

The official 7digital app has been available for Windows 10 users for more than one year ago, but it got pulled down. Now, the app has been officially launched once more, and it brings one of the most known music stores for Windows 10 users.

7digital windows 8 app

7digital’s Music Store now available for Windows 10 users

Shop for new music with 7digital. Choose from over 25 million high quality tracks in our store; buy, download, sync and listen to your music on the go. Managed by music lovers for music lovers. 7digital stores are available across 42 countries including the UK, Europe, the US and Canada. Sync your previously purchased 7digital music and have access to your 7digital collection across the web and all your mobile devices.

windows 8 app 7digital

Of course, you could’ve used 7digital’s services even before on Windows 10, but the dedicated app now brings the service to touch-enabled devices, as well.

And what I’ve discovered after reviewing so many Windows 10 apps on a non-touch device is that they look better and feel better designed than a desktop app.

You can also have a look at the video below to see how the app looks like before you actually download it (link at the end of the article)

The app brings many useful features, such as high-quality 320kbps MP3s, 30-second previews of all songs, and full-length streaming of your purchased music.

As mentioned, you can synchronize your 7digital music from the cloud to your phone and Windows 10 tablet.

Inside the app there’s an integrated music player that keeps playing as you explore new music on 7digital’s music store. You can even pin the songs and tracks you like to the start screen.

A feature that international users will notice is that the 7digital app for Windows 10 is available worldwide. As you can see from the above video, this app moves incredibly fast, and everything is really smooth.

Of course, this can also depend on your internet connectivity. The app is divided into the following main sections

  • New releases
  • Charts
  • Sale
  • Genre
  • Recommended
  • Bestsellers
  • Classic albums

The ‘Your Music’ section becomes available once you log in with your existing account or sign up for a new one. You can access it anytime by right-clicking inside the app and going to downloads or your music.

The Sale section will contain songs and albums available at a discounted price. So, if you have been waiting for this app to launch for Windows 8 users for a while now, follow the link below and grab it from the Microsoft Store.

⇒ Download 7digital app for Windows 10

Kobo Books eReader App for Windows 10 [Review]

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Kobo released their official e-Reader app in the Microsoft Store for Windows 10 users a while ago, but it had to pull it down because of some problems related to UX and performance. Now it’s back and available as a free download.

I don’t have a Kobo e-reader, but I know many who do and who also have Windows 10 on their devices, so they will be really happy to learn that the official Kobo Books ereader Windows 10 app has been made available for download.

Somewhat similar to the official Kno Textbooks app, Kobo’s ereader app lets you browse from over 3.5 million eBooks, free and paid, comics, and children’s books.

Of course, in order to use the service, you need to have an account with Kobo, but you can also sign up for a new one from inside the app itself.

kobo ereader app windows 8

Kobo Books app for Windows 10 available for download

With Kobo, you can read on your Windows device anywhere, anytime. Download the Kobo app and browse from over 3.5 million free and affordable eBooks, comics and children’s books.

kobo books windows 8 app

Obviously, the app will run just as fine on your Windows 10 touch and desktop devices, and also on Windows RT.

Kobo Books for Windows 10 comes with many useful features, such as the ability to resume your reading and to have your bookmarks synchronized across all the devices where you have Kobo’s service installed.

Kobo Books will offer a ‘crisp, clear text,’ and of course, you will be able to choose the font size and style that you want. There’s also the Night Mode if you plan on doing some nighttime reading.

You can have your screen in portrait or landscape mode, so choose whatever suits you better and your reading positions. Before buying a certain book, Kobo will let you read the first chapter previews, and you will even be able to save them in your library.

The application also supports Live tiles, so by pinning it to the Start screen of your Windows devices, you can resume your reading easily. I have used the app for a few hours on my tablet, and I enjoy it.

Everything has a pristine quality and seems very fluid and robust. So, if you’re in need of a cool ereading app for your Windows 10 device, go ahead and download Kobo Books from below.

⇒ Download Kobo Books for Windows 10

Free BBC Good Food app for Windows 10 released

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

We certainly don’t lack cooking and recipe apps for Windows 10 users, but BBC has decided that there’s room for one more as it has just released its Good Food app in the Microsoft Store. Read below for more details on it.

Up until today, BBC had in the Microsoft Store only the paid version of BBC Good Food app for Windows 10, but now the free version has been made available, as well.

My guess is that the paid one will be removed, since the new version also lets you buy separate recipes, if you are interested. I’ve played with the app for a few minutes and you can see for yourself in the video from below that it looks gorgeous and everything moves really fast inside.

You can also have a look at the BBC Earth Wonders app, as well.bbc good food windows 8 app

Cook in style from your Windows 10 tablet

Whether you’re looking for weekday inspiration, trying to cook the perfect steak or attempting your own homemade ice cream, get cooking with the new BBC Good Food app. This app lets you buy and store all the existing BBC Good Food cookbook apps, and organise your favourite recipes in one place. The app is free to download, and comes with 20 of our favourite recipes, like, Beef & beer pie, Summer vegetable curry and Chocolate & raspberry pots. It also includes a basic glossary of ingredients and techniques, to get you started.

windows 8 app bbc good foodThere are enough free recipes to get you started and what’s really cool is that there is also a basic glossary of ingredients and techniques which will prove out to be really useful to those who’re just starting out in the world of cooking.

Every recipe also comes with nutritional information such as kcals, protein, carbs, fat, saturated fat, fiber, sugar, and salt per serving. This is a really great feature as it doesn’t teach only how to cook but also how to watch over your health.

The app looks just as great on desktop and on touch device, and it comes with plenty of recipes divided into the following categories:

  • Healthy with such options like salmon & ginger fish cakes, thai beef stir-fry, and Indian butternut squash curry;
  • Quick with Quick lamb biryani, Parmesan spring chicken and easy puds;
  • One-pot with Sausage casserole with garlic toasts to One-pot mushroom and many others.

Follow the link from below to download it and have a look at the above video for more insights.

⇒ Download BBC Good Food app for Windows 10

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Virtual Chemistry Lab is a cool Windows 10/11 app

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The Virtual Chemistry Lab app has recently been launched in the Microsoft Store, so give it some time in case you’re not pleased with some of its features, as I’m sure the app will get better and better in time.

The idea behind this app is really nice as it wants to visualize and show in a 3D environment how chemical experiments take place.

But, as you will see from the video for yourself, there are still many areas where the app needs to be improved, so I’m reaching out to developers to make it even better.

windows 8 chemistry lab app

We definitely have a thing for Windows 10 chemistry apps as in the past we have talked about two interesting periodic table apps and about TouchMol, an app that allowed for molecule drawing. And now we’re talking about Virtual Chemistry Lab because they deserve it.

See chemical experiments on your Windows 10 tablet

Chemistry lab project, perform the following experiment Magnesium Ribbon burning, preparation of Oxygen Gas, Preparation of Hydrogen Gas, Preparation of Carbon Dioxide Gas. Help the students to perform the chemistry experiment.

chemistry app windows 8 appThe app works like a chemistry lab project, allowing you to perform such experiments as Magnesium Ribbon burning, preparation of Oxygen Gas , and others.

It is apparently aimed at teachers who want to help students, and it does the job pretty well for an initial launch.

Another area where I’d love to seem some improvement is with the chemical equations as it’s clear that the images are either scanned papers or washed down pictures.

Another drawback of the app is that you can’t currently install it on Windows RT devices, which is a real pity, but I hope that this will also get solved in the future.

To know more about the app, have a look at the video from above or follow the link below to download it.

⇒ Download Virtual Chemistry Lab app for Windows 10

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iTunes error 0xe80000a? We got fixes [Windows & Mac]

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

iTunes is a must-have tool if you have an iOS device, but unfortunately, many users reported iTunes error 0xe80000a on their computer.

This can be a big problem, and if you encounter it you won’t be able to connect your phone with your computer. However, there’s a way to fix that.

How can I fix iTunes error 0xe80000a?

1. Update your iOS and iTunes to the latest version

  1. Download the latest version of iTunes and install it.
  2. Update the system on your iOS device to the latest version.
  3. Update your computer operating system to the latest version.

Few users reported that updating both the iTunes and iOS fixed this issue, so be sure to try that first.

2. Disable your antivirus

disable antivirus iTunes error 0xe80000a
  1. Locate your antivirus icon in the systray and right-click it.
  2. Choose the option to pause or disable the protection.
  3. Now check if the problem with iTunes is still there.

This is just a general guide, and the actual process will vary depending on the antivirus that you’re using.

If disabling the antivirus helps, try adjusting your settings in order to allow iTunes to work properly.

3. Reset location and privacy settings on your iOS device

  1. Go to the Settings app and go to General. Not select Reset.
  2. Now select Reset Location & Privacy.
  3. Tap on Reset Settings to confirm.

After resetting Location & Privacy settings, check if the iTunes error 0xe80000a is still there.

4. Reset the Lockdown folder

  1. Press Windows Key + R and enter %ProgramData%. Press Enter or click OK.
    program data itunes error 0xe80000a
  2. Navigate to Apple directory.
  3. Locate the Lockdown directory and rename it Lockdown.old.

For Mac users:

  1. In Finder, select Go and choose Go to Folder.
  2. Type /var/db/ lockdown
  3. Once the lockdown folder is open, select all files and delete them.

After doing that, check if the error message is still there.

5. Stop iTunes processes and reconnect your iOS device

  1. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
  2. Locate the following processes:
    • PodService.exe
    • AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
    • iTunesHelper.exe
  3. Right-click each process and choose End task.
    end task task manager itunes error 0xe80000a
  4. Disconnect your phone from the PC and connect it again.

6. Reinstall iTunes

  1. Go to the Settings app and navigate to Apps.
    settings app apps section itunes error 0xe80000a
  2. Locate iTunes and click Uninstall.
    uninstall software itunes error 0xe80000a
  3. Follow the instructions on the screen.
  4. Once the application is removed, download it and install it again.

For Mac users:

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. Now enter cd /Applications/
  3. Enter sudo rm -rf iTunes.app/ and press Enter.
  4. Enter the administrator password to confirm.
  5. Now visit the Mac App Store or Apple’s iTunes web page to download iTunes again.

After reinstalling iTunes, check if the iTunes error 0xe80000a is still there.

iTunes error 0xe80000a will prevent you from connecting your iOS device with your computer, but you should be able to fix this problem using our solutions.

Windows 10 app check: Al Jazeera

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Al Jazeera is one of the best news channels in the Middle East, but it has slowly improved to become a global presence with millions of readers.

Along with EuroNews and the RT Russia Today’app, it represents one of the best news apps to be tried out on your Windows 10 device, be it a tablet or desktop unit

Al Jazeera has been available in the Microsoft Store for Windows 10 users for more than one year now, but we’ve decided to go through its main features only today, at the request of our readers.

A great app for all your international news needs

The Al Jazeera app for Windows 10 that we’re going to talk about here is the English version, but there’s one in Arabic language, as well.

We will be providing download links at the end of the article to both of them. The app can be downloaded completely for free from the Microsoft Store and comes with a size of fewer than two megabytes, so you won’t even feel it’s there.

Those who reside in the Middle East have definitely heard about Al Jazeera, but the TV channel has become quite popular across the entire globe thanks to its professional reporting and quality of news and programs.

windows 8 al jazeera app

I have had a look at the app for myself for a few good minutes and you can see in the video from below how it performs.

Al Jazeera English for Windows 8.1 brings you all the latest news and live broadcast of Al Jazeera English, free of charge. The 24-hour news and current affairs channel is the first international English-language news channel to broadcast across the globe from the Middle East. Al Jazeera’s global footprint continues to grow and now broadcasts to more than 260 million households on six continents in more than 100 countries.

Despite the fact that the Al Jazeera app for Windows 10 can be downloaded completely for free, I didn’t see any advertisement blocks inside the app, so this is really nice.

You get to follow your news and favorite channels and coverage without having to worry about ads, neat. Also, there are many news stories that come with videos that come with really good quality. Another awesome feature of this app.

al jazeera windows 8 app

What I didn’t like was the fact that while on a certain article, you couldn’t change its font, increase or decrease size and have access to other features, such as adding stories to a watch-it later column or to favorites.

Also, I couldn’t manage to get the live streaming to work, but maybe that’s a local problem. Al Jazeera says that they are the first international English-language news channel to broadcast across the globe from the Middle East, and in this profile, they are somewhat similar to the Windows 10 RT ‘Russia Today’ application.

The channel is said to broadcasts to more than 260 million households on six continents which span across more than 100 countries. Another cool feature of the app is the fact that it comes with Text to Speech feature for listening to news articles.

A pretty big downside, however, is the fact that the app isn’t currently available for Windows RT users, but I hope a future update will take care of that.

You can also have a look at some of the best Quran apps for Windows 10 devices. Follow the link below to download and install it on your Windows 10 touch and desktop devices.

⇒ Download Al Jazeera app for Windows 10

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Booking.com Windows 10/11 apps gets plenty of new features

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Booking.com has released its official app for Windows 10 users in the Windows Store for quite a while now, but now it has received a really big update that we’re going to talk about below. It’s definitely one of the best Windows 10 travel apps around, so go ahead and download it.

A great app for those that love traveling

TripAdvisor and Booking.com are probably the most knowledgeable travel apps in the world. Naturally, Booking.com couldn’t have ignored the big amount of Windows 10 users and have released the official app in the Microsoft Store.

Just like expected, the app looks really great and moves pretty fast, you can judge for yourself in the video from below. There are no advertisements at all inside the app, as they make money through partnerships, naturally.

According to the official changelog of the Booking.com Windows 10 app, here’s what has been made new with the application:

  • The ability too securely store credit cards along with the previous ones
  • Resume recently viewed hotels in case you forgot to write it down
  • The rooms and locations have been enriched with more details and photos to make it easier for you to take the final decision
  • Touch-optimized semantic zoom feature to help you browse and navigate.

Also, the app has been updated and will now let you sign up for Booking.com deals newsletter straight from inside the app. Have a look at the video below for more inside details.

booking.com app windows 8 booking.com windows 8

The Booking.com app for Windows 10 comes with more than 290,000 properties worldwide and over 18 million reviews from real guests to make it easier for you to pick the most convenient place for your stay.

To further help with that, there are more than 8 million hotel photos at your disposal. The booking process is really fast, and security is being given special attention. So, just go ahead and follow the download links to get the app.

⇒ Download Booking.com app for Windows 10

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Review of Amazon App for Windows 10/11

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Alongside eBay, Amazon is the world’s most-known internet shopping website. You can find just about any item you want, both used and new, and at very good prices.

The online store is available for everyone worldwide, and it offers anyone the possibility to buy almost any item (depending on the seller’s shipping policy). And now there’s an Amazon app for Windows 10 and RT.

Furthermore, Amazon offers awesome deals on special occasions like Black Friday and Christmas. Also, buyers can compare prices and find the very cheapest ones.

Amazon is probably the best place to shoot this season, and be sure to look at their deals, where you will find great presents for every family member.

Amazon comes to Windows 10

Amazon has already delighted us with top-notch mobile applications for Android and iOS, and it has now come to Windows 10.

The app is free to download from the Windows Store, and it provides shoppers with lots of interesting features, but there is also room to improve. We’ll take you through the app and highlight its strengths and weaknesses.

Once you download and install the app, the main screen gives you some of the featured items on the store, which you can add to your wishlist or cart, your Sign-In and Card buttons are available on the upper right side of the screen as well as the search bar.

amazon-for-windows-8-review

Also, by scrolling to the right, you can see your Recommended items and another item that might interest you, based on your wishlists. Also, on the same screen, there are the most popular items (books, cameras , and electronics) from the online store and the most searched.

One thing that is missing from this otherwise great user interface is the view more button, as you can only see a few from each category, and also, for you to add an item to your wishlist, you will have to open it before doing so.

These would be a great addition in future app versions, and I’m sure that Amazon is already working on them.

amazon-for-windows-8-review-product-details

By opening your account, you can see your details and your wishlist and also give feedback or sign out from the app. Although these links are very well placed, they will forward you to the Amazon website (apart from Sign Out and Give Feedback).

The option to view your wishlist from the app is not yet supported, and as far as account details and information, these are also only accessible from the website, but I think this is more of a security measure then a drawback of the app.

amazon-for-windows-8-review-your-cart

You can view at any time what items you want to buy by clicking on Card button. This will open an in-app window where a list of items and their prices can be viewed, as well as the total sum you will have to pay.

We also reviewed the eBay app for Windows 10, and if you’ve seen it, you know it does not support in-app purchasing.

Well, Amazon has this feature, and you can easily buy anything from within the app without having to visit the Amazon website.

amazon-for-windows-8-review-product-search-filters

Another issue the app has, and I’d say this is more of a design flaw, is the filtering for search results. Although it works pretty well, its design is not as good as you would expect.

If you have added a filter that you didn’t want, or if you change your mind, you have to remove all the filters, not just a particular one.

Amazon app evolution

Amazon made many changes to the app after its launch. After many tests, they launched a big update with improvements and bug fixes in 2014. During the spring of 2016, they announced a new app for Windows 10 devices, to boost customers’ experience.

In the summer of 2016, Amazon stopped the support for Windows phones, but they launched the new app for Windows 10 PCs. However, the app from our review can always be used despite its age and the fact that it is “not-so-popular”.

Update: Amazon app for Windows 10 is a web wrapper that makes it similar to native site browsing. Even if this app might be the last for PC users, we observed some clues showing to a future mobile app.

In the app description, there is an Amazon icon that seems to be designed for mobile. The most optimistic users take that as a sign.

However, the Amazon app is still great for shopping, especially if you do not want to use your browser while doing it. Let’s see its strong and weak points.

Amazon for Windows 10 – Pros and Cons

These are the areas that impressed us the most about the app:

  • Easy to use
  • Clean and responsive UI
  • In-app purchase

But as good as it is, there are a few aspects that should be improved in the app:

  • No “view more” for any category of items
  • Filtering is awkward and not very intuitive
  • No possibility to edit your account from the app (might be a security feature, but still, it would have been nice to have this feature)

Final Thoughts

Although not without its issues, Amazon for Windows 10 is a great app that has many features and a very clean UI. All of these make it a must-have app for Amazon users, and thanks to its in-app buying feature, users will be able to purchase items without needing to visit the online store.

From a performance point of view, the app is rock solid, having no connection issues and no crashes during the testing period. Also, its search and share options work flawlessly and very fast.

Amazon for Windows 10 has all the ingredients of a great app, and after the developers will iron out all the minor kinks in the design of the app, it will be without reproach.

⇒ Get Amazon

HBO GO activate is not working? Try these solutions

Posted on by Vlad Turiceanu

Signing into HBO Go is pretty easy. However, many users are facing difficulties while activating it on any of their devices.

They access the HBO GO activation page and after entering the activation code that shows on the TV screen they get an error: Code not working or Code incorrect.

If you also face such issues, then look for the confirmed solutions we mention in the following article. Hopefully one of them will help you activate HBO GO and start enjoying those awesome programs.

What can I do if the HBO GO activate code is not working?

1. Try signing from different devices

  1. Exit the HBO GO app on your TV.
  2. From your computer go to HBOGO.com and from the right upper corner choose Sign In.
  3. Select your TV provider from the drop-down list.
  4. Log in using the username and password for your provider account. If you cannot remember the login credentials given by your TV provider, then reach out to them. HBO does not have access to that information.
  5. Once signed in on your computer, reopen HBO GO on your TV and choose Sign In.
  6. Open a new tab on your computer and go to HBOGO.com/tvsignin.
  7. Copy the code that appears on your TV and choose Next.

2. Clear cookies and cache

hbo go activate won't work

If the code still does not work, clear your browser’s cookies and your browser’s cache.

Clear your browser cookies and then close and reopen it. Go to HBOGO.com and try signing in again. If you cannot sign in, also try clearing your browser’s cache.

3. Try to use a different browser

  1. Try using a different browser than the one you are currently using.
  2. Follow the same activation steps as on the previous browser: type the URL you see on your TV (HBOGO.com/tvsignin or HBOGO.com/activate) and enter the activation code you’re your TV app.

We recommend opting for a browser with powerful capabilities meant to help you access content error-free. Security-oriented features, tools that boost the loading speed, incorporated ad blocks. Plus, this browser also comes with a built-in AI.

Opera One

Pick tAccess your favorite movies and series on HBO GO with this fast and modern browser!
Free Download Visit website

4. Hard reload your HBOGO.com page

fix hbo go activate browser
  1. On Chrome, hold down Ctrl and click Reload
  2. Hold down Ctrland press F5
  3. Hold down Ctrl + Shift and press R
  4. Press F12 to open the Chrome Dev Tools and click on the Reload button
  5. Choose from the dropdown menu – Hard Reload

5. Update your browser

Check for any updates available for your browser.  In order to do this, you can simply search on the Internet for updates and the name of your browser (i.e Chrome updates).

Some browsers update automatically in the background, but you can always perform this action manually. Either way, this is an important procedure that needs to be done in order for your browser to work properly.

An updated browser will benefit from the latest security measures, protecting your data while you navigate online.

6. Try a different streaming service

If you have tried all the steps above and the problem persists, we suggest you use Disney+. It is a streaming platform that has a generous library that includes Disney’s movies and shows for all ages.

For Disney’s legions of Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar fans who want to enjoy those movies, and their extra features, this streaming service is what they need. The same goes for parents who want their kids to enjoy Disney’s family movies and TV shows.

That’s about it. If you carefully follow the steps presented above, you should be able to fix your HBO GO activation problem in no time.

If you have any more questions or suggestions, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below.

How to Use VPN to Access Blocked Sites & Apps

Posted on by Vlad Constantinescu

A VPN reroutes your internet traffic to bypass web filters and blocks. It hides your browsing and app activity from your network, so restrictions can’t be enforced.

Below, we’ll explain more about this process and show you how you can quickly setup a VPN to bypass any type of web restriction.

How to use VPN to unblock websites?

  1. Sign up for a VPN subscription and download it for your device. (We recommend ExpressVPN).
  2. Install it on your device.
  3. Launch it to log in to your ExpressVPN account and verify it through email.
  4. Connect to an appropriate server. (*).
  5. Open a browser and access the website you want.

(*) – if you want to access a service that’s restricted outside of a specific country (for instance USA), you should connect to a server located in that country.

Why are some sites blocked?

Some sites are blocked because of restricting website access based on geographical criteria.

If a website got taken down, there’s nothing much you can do to access it any longer, besides checking for a cached version of it online, maybe.

However, if the site is blocked to specific regions, this limitation can be easily circumvented. We refer to this situation as geoblocking since that’s exactly what it is.

Some examples include the US version of Netflix, CBC, Hulu, and HBO GO. However, most of these entertainment platforms aren’t blocked because of political-social factors, but because of economic purposes.

Other ways to access blocked sites

1. Use a Smart DNS service

Using a Smart DNS service might prove to be more effective than using a VPN most of the time. Smart DNS services lack encryption, so it shouldn’t slow down your connection even one bit.

However, you should understand that using a Smart DNS service also exposes your connection to whoever might feel like listening to it.

Long story short, your public IP address is still the same, so your identity should stay the same. The only thing that a Smart DNS service modifies is, as its name clearly indicates, your DNS address.

It then routes all of your traffic through its private servers, tricking websites into believing that you’re accessing them from somewhere else.

Naturally, you have to make the right choice when choosing a server (e.g. select a USA server if you want to access a US-only website).

2. Use a proxy server

The good thing about proxy servers is that you can find a lot of free ones online and you can fix website is not accesible easily.

The downside is that you’re likely not the only one to use them, so you’ll have to share the same server with several other users.

This might lead to bandwidth throttling, which means that your connection will be terribly slow.

There’s also minimal protection, so you won’t benefit from the same level of security that a trustworthy VPN service would offer you.

3. Use a browser

Another option is to use a dedicated web browser that can unlock blocked sites and apps.

These browser are extra privacy feauters and often include some sort of proxy or VPN feature within their software. Good options include Opera and Brave.

Best free VPN for blocked websites

ProtonVPN is one of the best free VPN options out there.

However, keep in mind that the free plan has some restrictions with P2P applications, so if you want to do something like torrenting, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan or consider using I2P.

Wrapping up

To wrap it up, you can safely use VPNs to access blocked websites, but you should be aware that there are other ways to unblock geo-restricted content such as Smart DNS or proxy servers.

For a step-by-step example, see our full guide on Mysterium VPN Download for PC, which shows how to install and use a VPN to unblock websites on Windows.

A VPN, however, will do much more than just circumvent geoblocking, including safekeeping your online privacy, boosting the security of your connection, curbing packet loss, and even improving ping while you’re playing games or streaming media.

Keep in mind that also your ISP can restrict you from accessing a website. But it’s no different than applying geo-restrictions. Not by much, anyway. Thus, using a VPN, Smart DNS, or proxy can easily circumvent ISP website restrictions.

For more tested methods to bypass online restrictions and access any blocked site, read our full guide on how to unblock restricted websites.

Check out our best VPNs that can help you unblock websites easily. You can also visit our Unblocking Hub to discover more guides on using VPNs to unblock specific services.

Hotfix for PowerToys memory leak and more bugs now available

Posted on by Don Sharpe

Windows 10 utilities like Microsoft PowerToys let you take better care of your PC, customize your experience, or even enhance system performance.

Some perform mission-critical functions, such as damaged hard drive recovery, while others enable you to organize your schedule or plan your day, for example, weather apps.

So, if you’re a fan of PowerToys, then you’ll most probably take interest in the hotfix that Microsoft released recently for the utility.

Microsoft PowerToys v0.19.1 patches multiple bugs

Microsoft released PowerToys update 0.019.1 to fix a range of issues affecting the Windows 10 utility.

Remember the key remapping feature that PT got recently, enabling you to modify certain key roles or disable them altogether? Well, it had a bug that prevented the activation of remapped keyboard shortcuts. Now you shouldn’t experience that problem anymore.

Also, with the update, you should be able to deactivate FancyZones when the Hold Shift key command option is deactivated.

Similarly, the patch resolves a race condition bug in OS detection, on top of patching a PT Run memory leak.

Here’s the list of issues patched:

#4578 – WinKey for PT Run throws a lot of false positives

#4646 – FancyZones: When “Hold Shift key” is deactivated, Shift key should deactive FancyZones

#4625 – [Run] Search text not updating on up/down navigation

#4432 – Mitigated the race condition in os detection

#2047 – Memory leak in PT Run

#4647 – Fix remapped shortcuts not getting activated in succession

However, PT version 0.019.1 didn’t fix all previously spotted bugs. One of those is the inability to open settings after shutting down PT in minimized mode from the taskbar.

Moreover, that’s a recurring issue that Microsoft intends on fixing in the upcoming PowerToys v0.20 release.

In the meantime, if you’d like to improve your proficiency in PowerToys, check out our expertly-written guide.

How has Microsoft PT impacted your everyday PC experience? Feel free to let us know via the comments section below.

 

HBO GO Time Warner not working? Try these solutions

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Since Charter Communications acquired Time Warner Cable, many of its subscribers are facing difficulties signing in to their HBO GO app.

There is not even an error that appears on the screen. Most users are complaining that Time Warner is just not showing in the provider list.

Below, you can find a list of confirmed reasons and solutions for why this is happening. Make sure to check them and hopefully, one of them will help you regain access to your HBO GO app.

How can I fix HBO GO Time Warner not working?

1. Check that your Time Warner subscription is active

  1. Make sure to check that you have HBO as part of your TV service.
  2. You are using the correct username and password to log in.
  3. You’re in an area where the network or channel offers live streaming.

2.  Try searching for Spectrum or Charter-Spectrum

Depending on the type of device you are using, you will find the name of your provider under Spectrum or Charter-Spectrum.

If you are trying to log in from your laptop, then you should see Spectrum in the provider list. When signing in from Android or Apple phones, you should see Charter-Spectrum in the list.

3. Most of the partner apps need to be activated from a computer

HBO GO is available on the following devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Playstation 3 & 4, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, TIVo, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. Those need to be activated from a browser on a computer, not on a smartphone or tablet.

Chrome seems to be the browser that works the best.  If Chrome does not work for you try using another browser. You may need to clear your cookies, cache, and history for this process.

4. Uninstall and reinstall the HBO Go app

  1. On your Android TV, go to Settings > Apps.
  2. Under Downloaded, find and select HBO GO.
  3. Select Uninstall, and then select OK to confirm.
  4. Go to the Google Play Store, find the HBO GO app, then choose Install.

5. Try a different streaming service

HBO Go isn’t the only streaming platform out there, with other giants having a big chunk of the market, such as Disney+, Netflix, amazon Prima, Hulu, and more.

So, if you tried all the solutions listed above and HBO Go Time Warner still not working, you should consider switching to a different streaming service.

Disney+ is a streaming service that has amazing movies and TV shows for all ages.

⇒ Get Disney+

That’s about it. If you carefully follow the steps presented above, you should be able to activate your HBO GO app in no time.

Let us know in the comments below if our suggestions fixed your HBO GO Time Warner activation problem.