Page 1030 • Windows Report

Sudden packet loss Diablo 3: How to test and fix it?

Posted on June 23, 2020September 20, 2025 by Vlad Constantinescu

Diablo 3 is a popular hack’n’slash game developed and released by Blizzard Entertainment. It’s the third title in the Diablo series and was released way back in 2012. That’s 8 years ago and the game is pretty much still alive.

But that shouldn’t exactly come as a surprise, considering that even Diablo 2 still has a lot of active players.

In Diablo 3, players create a character by choosing one of the 7 classes available in the game and embark on a journey to defeat Diablo, the demonic overlord. You can do that solo, or join others.

If you’re familiar with previous releases, you’ll know that teaming up doesn’t mean it’s going to be easier. In fact, the difficulty of the game increases as more and more players join your server.

However, we didn’t gather to discuss Diablo 3‘s awesomeness. Instead, we’re going to analyze one of its less-fun parts: sudden packet loss.

What is sudden packet loss in Diablo 3?

Packet loss is usually the same, no matter where you encounter it. Packets of data that are transmitted through your connection never make it to their destination. As a result, you can experience more noticeable issues.

For instance, the game slows down to a pulp, you rubberband all around the map, you can’t really use your inventory, and the game simply stops responding to your commands.

If the packet loss is severe (what we like to call a packet loss storm), you might even disconnect from the game. And that’s not exactly something you’d want happening while you’re battling Diablo or any of its spawns, believe me.

How to see packet loss in Diablo?

1. Use pathping

Go to the pathping article page on the Battle.net website
Select Diablo III from the combo menu
Write down the IP address you want to run the test on
Launch an elevated CMD instance
Type pathping x.x.x.x (replace x.x.x.x with the IP you wrote before)
Wait for the test to come to an end
Check if there’s any packet loss and where is it located

2. Use Blizzard’s Looking-Glass tool

Head over to the Blizzard Looking Glass website
Select your region from the menu
Choose Diablo 3 from the service menu
Make sure at least MTR is selected
Hit the Run Test button
Wait for the test to complete
Check if there’s any packet loss in the Test Result screen

How to fix sudden packet loss in Diablo 3?

1. Try using a VPN

Download Private Internet Access
Install it on your PC
Launch it and log into your account
Connect to a low ping server
Run any of the tests above
Check if the problem still persists

Private Internet Access is a great all-round VPN service from Kape Technologies that can help you tackle packet loss in Diablo 3. However, note that it might not work if the problem is not on your ISP’s side.

Private Internet Access

Experiencing sudden packet loss in Diablo 3? PIA could come in handy.

$2.85/mo. Buy it now

On the bright side, a VPN can help you solve many other issues such as privacy concerns, securing your connection, and circumventing geo-restrictions.

2. Perform manual troubleshooting

Restart your router and/or modem
Try connecting straight to your modem or home line
Use a wired connection instead of wireless (Wi-Fi leaks packets often)
Check and replace/repair/update/upgrade any faulty component on your end (drivers, cables, PC, router)
Avoid peak hours if possible
In the Battle.net launcher window, click the Diablo 3 Options button and select Scan and Repair
Restart the game
Call your ISP if it seems the problem is on their side
Contact Blizzard and inform them if the server seems to be having problems

Keep in mind that the most frequent cause of packet loss is network congestion. There’s pretty much nothing you can do about it, except if you’re a network administrator and know how to optimize routing and manage subnets.

Thus, the best way to improve packet loss is more often than not waiting for it to fix itself.

Diablo 3 packet loss can be solved

To wrap it up, you’ve learned how to check for packet loss in Diablo 3 and discovered a bunch of quick fixes for this issue. If the issue lies on your ISP’s side, the most effective fix would be investing in a trustworthy VPN.

However, there are many potential causes for packet loss, and your ISP might not be responsible for all of them. Thus, you might need to rely on your troubleshooting skills to improve, if not fix packet loss altogether.

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Following Mixer’s demise, Xbox head Phil Spencer wants to allow Xbox gamers to stream to other places

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

Witch Microsoft announcing yesterday that it would pull the plug on Mixer next month, it’s safe to say that Xbox gamers are quite confused about how to stream games on the console going forward. Microsoft is currently recommending Xbox streamers to switch to Twitch, which is the only Xbox One app that lets you stream games while providing a limited amount of technical settings.

Still, using the Twitch app to stream games on Xbox consoles is not as convenient as using Mixer, which has the advantage of being built into the OS. But now that Mixer is going away, could Microsoft make it easier to stream to other game streaming platforms in the future? It does seem like it, according to what Xbox head Phil Spencer said on Twitter today.

In a reply to a tweet about streaming options on Xbox consoles, Phil Spencer said today that “we absolutely want to give gamers the choice of where to stream from Xbox.” It’s not clear yet if Spencer was referring to third-party apps or something more integrated, but with the Xbox Series X controller coming with a dedicated Share button, it does make sense to offer more game streaming options at the system level.

Yes, we absolutely want to give gamers choice of where to stream from Xbox.

— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) June 23, 2020

As you may know, Sony’s PlayStation 4 consoles offer the ability to stream to Twitch and YouTube right of the box, with everything being built in the OS. Sony’s PS4 controllers also already come with a dedicated Share button, making it really easy to start streaming your game. Hopefully, Microsoft took some inspiration from that for future Xbox One OS updates.

Microsoft announced a new partnership with Facebook Gaming yesterday, but some details are still unclear, including the ability to stream to Facebook from Xbox One consoles. Perhaps, more Importantly, Spencer also told VentureBeat yesterday that Xbox’s partnership with Facebook Gaming wasn’t an exclusive one, and that Microsoft is free to team up with other streaming platforms if deemed necessary.

Microsoft probing data files error prompt in Outlook update

Posted on June 23, 2020October 4, 2023 by Don Sharpe

Microsoft Outlook, which recently got a Poll update, is generating a data files error prompt for some users. The bug message requires the user to close the application altogether.

According to Microsoft, the problem affects users that updated to version 2005 Build 12827.20268 or higher.

Outlook data files error prompt

Microsoft says that, when affected users launch Outlook, they get an error about a problem with one of their data files. Apart from that, the user is prompted to click ok to initiate repair.

Something is wrong with one of your data files and Outlook needs to close. Outlook might be able to fix your file. Click OK to run the Inbox Repair Tool.

There’s an initial solution to the problem, though. According to Microsoft, the insider beta version 13004.10000 has the fix.

But this solution is not available to all users yet. Moreover, it’s not yet clear whether Microsoft will push the fix via a Windows 10 or Outlook update.

In the meantime, the Outlook and Windows teams are jointly looking into the matter.

Still, the issue has a workaround that involves modifying the registry. Since Microsoft warns that the process is risky, you may want to consider backing up the registry before proceeding.

If you don’t know how to create registry backup in Windows, check out our detailed guide.

Next, to fix the Outlook issue, follow these steps that Microsoft recommends:

Right Click the Windows Start button, and then choose Run.

In the Open box, type regedit, and then select OK.

In the left pane, expand Computer and then expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\PST

Under the PST key delete the registry keys below and then restart Outlook:

“LastCorruptStore”=”C:\\Users\\user.REDMOND\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\Outlook\\***

Email address is removed for privacy ***”

“PromptRepair”=dword:00000001

Are you experiencing any problems after updating to a recent version of Microsoft Outlook? You can always let us know via the comments section below.

Microsoft closes Mixer, moves everything to Facebook Gaming

Posted on June 23, 2020October 4, 2023 by Claudiu Andone

Mixer, Microsoft‘s gaming live streaming service, was launched as Beam back in 2016, and then rebranded it into Mixer.

After Microsoft bought it, the company started to integrate the service into Windows 10 and Xbox One through the Game-Broadcasting feature.

The result seems to be a success even if it faced strong competitor platforms such asAmazon’s Twitch and Google’s YouTube Gaming.

Now, Microsoft announced on a blog post that it’s going to discontinue Mixer.

Microsoft is shutting down Mixer on July 22nd 2020

Why is Microsoft closing Mixer? Because they realized that they are too slow on their efforts to scale the platform quick enough to match the demand from the gaming world.

Ultimately, the success of Partners and streamers on Mixer is dependent on our ability to scale the platform for them as quickly and broadly as possible.

It became clear that the time needed to grow our own livestreaming community to scale was out of measure with the vision and experiences that Microsoft and Xbox want to deliver for gamers now, so we’ve decided to close the operations side of Mixer and help the community transition to a new platform.

What’s next for Mixer’s users?

To better serve our community’s needs, we’re teaming up with Facebook to enable the Mixer community to transition to Facebook Gaming.

This is a key part of a broader effort that Xbox and Facebook Gaming are embarking on, bringing new experiences and opportunities to the entire world of gaming

, said the Mixer team.

Xbox and Facebook Gaming team up for the future

At the same time, on an Xbox blog post, Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox announced that

Facebook Gaming will make it easy for anyone in the Mixer community to join if they choose to do so. We will work to transition the Mixer community over the next few weeks. Starting on July 22, all Mixer sites and apps will redirect users to Facebook Gaming.

Are you using Mixer? How do you feel about Mixer being shut down? Leave us a comment below.

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Microsoft is replacing its Skype Microsoft Store app with the standalone version

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

The days of Microsoft having two separate Skype apps on Windows 10 are finally over. With the release of Skype version 8.61 this week (via Neowin), Microsoft announced that it was introducing an “enhanced Skype for Windows 10,” though that’s actually a bit misleading.

For those unfamiliar, Skype for Windows 10 is the version of the app that ships with the OS and gets updated via the Microsoft Store. The new “enhanced” version of Skype for Windows 10 that has now started rolling out is the same app as the standalone Skype client that can be installed manually, though Skype for Windows 10 users will lose some features along the way.

“Skype for Windows 10 and Skype for Desktop are becoming one so we can provide a consistent experience. This lets us give the newest updates and improvements regardless of where you get Skype, from the Microsoft Store or from skype.com,” the Skype team explained on a support page. “We tried to preserve all the functionality of existing Skype for Windows 10 experience, but there are a couple of things that are not yet supported on this platform.”

Indeed, the previous Skype for Windows 10 app had unique features like Share Charm integration, and it also was one of the few apps that supported the now deprecated My People feature on Windows 10. These two features are gone in the latest Skype for Windows 10 update, though the change is all about consistency.

Microsoft now releases Skype updates at the same time across platforms, though some features now ship first on the desktop versions of the app. As an example, the ability to blur your background during video calls is only coming this week to Skype for iPhone and iPad, while the new 3×3 grid views for video calls is not available on mobile yet.

Outlook on the web will now let you send emails later

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft has started rolling out a new “Send later” feature for Outlook on the Web that allows you to schedule your emails to be sent at a later time or date. Microsoft’s Product Manager Mike Tholfsen announced the feature on Twitter yesterday (via Neowin), though you may not see it right away.

NEW! Now you can schedule a mail to be sent at a later time or date using Outlook for web.

Just drop down the "Send" button and choose "Send later" and then choose a date and time ????

???? https://t.co/bb7CoJseGL #edtech #MIEExpert #MicrosoftEDU pic.twitter.com/H8Ca1qhahx

— Mike Tholfsen (@mtholfsen) June 22, 2020

For those who don’t know, the schedule an email option is already available on the Outlook desktop client, and it will be a welcome addition for users of Outlook on the web who prefer to compose emails in advance and want to send them at a later date. To access this feature, navigate to the dropdown arrow beside the send button, click on the ‘Send later’ option, and you will now see a pop-up that will allow you to choose the time and date for scheduling the email.

If the feature is now gradually rolling out to all the Office 365 enterprise subscribers, Microsoft’s Mike Tholfsen also confirmed that Send Later would also be available on the Outlook.com webmail for consumers. Have you spotted the feature on your PC? Sound off in the comments section below.

How to use To Do in Outlook with Microsoft 365 for your productivity advantage

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

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If you’re a Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Business subscriber, you might have noticed a little checkmark at the bottom right corner of your mailbox when looking at the sidebar in Outlook on the web. If you also click the Try the new Outlook switch, this is a link that will take you to try out a preview integration with To Do, Microsoft’s new task management tool.

This tool is something that small business owners, students, parents, or teachers alike could find it useful. It can pull your important flagged emails, show you things that are planned, and even pull your assignments in Microsoft Planner. Here’s a look at all that, and how you can use it to your productivity advantage.

My Day and Tasks in To Do

The first thing that noticeable in To Do is what is known as “My Day.” My Day is a fresh clean slate to add certain tasks that you want to accomplish each day. You can manually add common tasks with the Add a task button, or you can see suggested itineraries and other items for your day with the lightbulb icon at the top of the screen. Suggestions will be grouped by Yesterday, Later, and Earlier, based off when To Do thinks you should add them. You can click the + icon next to the task to add it, or the circle box to complete it. Other options available from the My Day page include options to sort. You’ll see options to sort by importance, due date, alphabetically, or creation date.

Also of note is the “Tasks” section in To Do. This appears at the bottom of the sidebar and is your list of all the things you’ve added To Do from across all the categories which we’ll be discussing next.

Important in To Do

Next up in To Do is what is known as “Important.” Important in To Do are a collection of tasks that you’ve marked as urgent, say to attend that important meeting, or grade papers, or even feed the kittens. These will get extra visual attention thanks to the star icon you’ll see next to them. Important tasks work just like other tasks, though. After creating one with the Add a task button, you’ll see it populate the list and you can mark as important with a star. You’ll be able to complete it by clicking the circle checkbox. All tasks in To Do will also have an icon next to the task to tell you where it came from — be it My Day, or an email.

Planned in To Do

A third area in To Do is what’s known as planned. As the name suggests, planned tasks are tasks for the future. You can create these tasks with the + icon, and then click add. Once added, you can change the due date by right-clicking, and choosing another date. A traditional left click on the task, meanwhile, will give you reminder options, steps, and more options to set a different date. You even can attach files or leave notes if you need to.

Assigned to you and Flagged email in To Do

If your small business or school is subscribed to Microsoft 365 and using Microsoft Planner, then this section of To Do is for you. The “Assigned to you” section will show you tasks assigned to you by management through To Do or Microsoft Planner.

You might need to see it up by clicking the Create button in the pop-up in the sidebar, to link your Planner account to To Do. Once set up, all Planner tasks will show in To Do. You even can see old ones by clicking the . . . and then choosing Show completed tasks. It’s a nifty little feature that gives you a good productivity boost and a look at all the tasks you need to finish for the day.

We’ll also talk about the Flagged email section too. If you’ve flagged any emails in Ourlook, they’ll show up in this section of To Do. From here, you can right-click the task to add it to the “My Day” list, remove the importance, or change the due date. Doube clicking it, meanwhile, will show you the information from the message, and allow you to open it in Outlook. Again, it’s a nice little shortcut to avoid having to click through multiple things to find what’s important.

Other aspects of To Do

We’ve touched on the core aspects of To Do, but you also can leverage the Lists function of the service too. Once you add a task to To Do, you can create a list for it. Say, if the task is to go shopping, you can right-click the task, and then create a list for it. The list will show up in the sidebar, and you’ll be able to check things off as you complete them. It’s a really nifty way to manage complicated situations, like grading papers, or even an inventory of stuff.

If you’re finding To Do useful, let us know in the comments below. And feel free to check out our news hub, where we talk about the other Microsoft 365 apps and services.

Opinion: Apple seems poised to succeed where Microsoft failed with Windows 10 on ARM

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

Apple’s WWDC introducing keynote was quite a rollercoaster yesterday, and it ended up on high note: The company finally announced the Mac’s upcoming transition to Apple’s custom-designed ARM chips, which follows a previous transition to Intel chips back in 2005.

The change has been a decade in the making at Apple, and it should allow the company to get even better at what’s it’s really good at: Tightly integrating hardware and software to squeeze more performance out of its Mac components. Moreover, the transition will allow Apple to innovate faster on its Mac line as the company will no longer depend on Intel’s chips and inconsistent release cycle.

It’s been 10 years since Apple released its first-designed ARM SoC, which was the A4 chip that debuted on the iPhone 4. Since then, Apple has delivered 2 billion of its own SoCs on its iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches, and the company also claims that CPU performance on its own silicon has improved by 100x, while GPU performance has been multiplied by 1000.

By bringing its ARM chips to the Mac line, Apple’s goal is to offer the highest performance at the lowest power consumption. Apple’s ARM SoCs also come with high-performance GPUs, a Secure Enclave for security, and a neural engine for AI-powered tasks, and many other things you can’t find on Intel or AMD processors today.

Apple won’t be the first company to make laptops with ARM chips, but it will likely be the first company to make it work without a lot of asterisks, unlike Windows 10 on ARM PCs. As we’ve seen with Microsoft’s Surface Pro X last year, Windows 10 on ARM still has lots of issues, including the inability to run 64-bit legacy Windows apps, and the incompatibility with standard Windows drivers.

Apple said yesterday that it expects to transition its whole Mac family to Apple silicon over the next two years, though the company is not done releasing Intel-based Macs. The first ARM-powered Macs will ship later this year, and the ARM version of macOS 11 won’t have the compatibility issues that have plagued Windows 10 on ARM so far.

First of all, Apple’s macOS apps have already been recompiled for the ARM architecture, including professional apps like Final Cut and Logic Pro. Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom are also ready for this new ARM version of macOS, and Apple said that it has built all the tools into its Xcode IDE to make the transition as easy as possible for developers.

Apple showed Microsoft Excel running on an ARM-based Mac yesterday.

“With everything built into Xcode 12, such as native compilers, editors, and debugging tools, most developers will be able to get their apps running in a matter of days. Using Universal 2 application binaries, developers will be able to easily create a single app that taps into the native power and performance of the new Macs with Apple silicon, while still supporting Intel-based Macs,” the company explained yesterday.

Apple also mentioned Rosetta 2 yesterday, a new version of the emulator that the company shipped during the PowerPC/Intel transition 15 years ago. Rosetta 2 will automatically translate existing Mac apps at install time, and these apps should work just like they do on Intel-based Macs. Rosetta 2 will support complex apps with plugins, as well as video games.

In addition to native ARM64 apps and emulated apps, ARM-based Macs will also be able to run iPhone and iPad apps unmodified. Apple said that these apps will be available on the Mac App Store, though it remains to be seen how apps optimized for touch will adapt to mouse and keyboard input. However, Apple is still pushing Project Catalyst, a new set of tools making it easy for developers to transform their iPad apps into Mac apps.

iPhone and iPad apps are coming to macOS.

It’s pretty crazy to think that the new ARM-based Macs will be compatible with more types of apps compared to Intel-based Macs: That includes existing Mac apps, new ARM64 Mac apps, iPhone apps, and iPad apps should all run great on these new Macs, and this is all possible because all of Apple’s devices will use the company’s ARM chips. The situation is quite different on the Windows 10 on ARM side of things, as devices like the Surface Pro X have only access to a limited pool of native apps. Emulated Win32 apps offer lackluster performance and drain the battery, and it’s also not possible to run PC games or mobile apps.

As the company emphasized yesterday, this transition is all about establishing “a common architecture across all Apple products, making it far easier for developers to write and optimize their apps for the entire ecosystem.” ARM64 apps are clearly the future for Apple, even though the company will continue to support macOS for Intel-based Macs for many years. But the company will make it easy for developers to create universal Mac apps that can run on both ARM-based and Intel-based Macs, something that Microsoft hasn’t been able to do so far.

Microsoft lost many years convincing Windows developers to drop their Win32 apps in favor of Metro-style apps, then UWP apps, with little success. Now, the company is working on unifying its Windows Developer platform with Project Reunion, which should allow developers to modernize their Win32 apps with UWP components. It’s not really clear how that will help Windows 10 on ARM, though. Even Windows 10X, Microsoft’s new OS designed for dual-screen and Chromebook-like devices has been designed for x86 processors, not ARM ones. And yes, Microsoft’s dual-screen Surface Neo, which has now been delayed to next year, will use an Intel processor.

Windows remains a complex desktop OS designed for x86 processors, and Microsoft has been working closely with Intel for years, hence the “Wintel” portmanteau. On the other hand, Apple has successfully transitioned its Mac line from Motorola processors to PowerPC processors to Intel ones, and the upcoming switch to Apple Silicon should allow the company to innovate faster while making the platform more attractive for developers and consumers as well.

Apple is often criticized for better executing on ideas that it stole from competitors, but the Mac’s transition to Apple Silicon is making Windows 10 on ARM PCs look really bad. The whole initiative has always looked like a side project for Microsoft and other PC OEMs, and these PCs won’t take off until Microsoft fixes the app compatibility issues that should have never been there at launch.

New Xbox One and Xbox Series X cross-platform logo used in recent video game trailer

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

While watching the new trailer for the recently announced Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time video game, eagle-eyed gamers may have spotted a new Xbox logo (see above image) on the final screen used to communicate what consoles the title would be playable on.

Until now, recent Xbox video game trailers and teasers have used an Xbox logo, an Xbox One logo, an Xbox Series X logo, or a combination of the latter two if a game would be playable on both the Xbox One and Xbox Series X consoles (as seen in the Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla trailers). It’s clear that Microsoft is experimenting with how best to communicate cross-platform titles going forward and it’s possible that this may be the style they’ve settled on.

This new logo, as you can see in the above image which has been taken from the end of the Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time trailer, features the Xbox logo and specific mentions of both the Xbox One and Xbox Series X afterwards. This is arguably the best style to use as it promotes the Xbox brand and confirms, in an easy-to-understand format, what consoles the game can be played on.

Curiously, this logo is only used on the trailer hosted on the Crash Bandicoot YouTube channel. The version of the video on the official Xbox YouTube channel uses the ambiguous Xbox logo (see below).

There’s still several months until the launch of the Xbox Series X console so the exact way in which game compatibility will be marketed to consumers in videos, store listings, and on physical packaging is likely still being locked in.

Clear labelling is important though if Microsoft wants to avoid confusion as right now the majority of Xbox One games should be playable on the Xbox Series X console but many future Xbox One games will also be getting separate Xbox Series X versions as well and some people may buy the wrong version.

How do you think Microsoft should label Xbox video games going forward? Do you think casual consumers will be confused? Let us know in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest for more Xbox gaming news.

Digital pre-orders open for Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time video game on Xbox One and Xbox Series X

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

A brand new entry in the popular Crash Bandicoot video game series, Crash Bandicoot™ 4: It’s About Time, has just been announced for Microsoft’s Xbox One and Xbox Series X consoles and it’s now up for digital pre-order.

The trailer, which you can view below, mentions both the Xbox One and Xbox Series X consoles though it’s unknown if the game will be playable on the Xbox Series X via backwards compatibility or if it will be getting its own separate release and support Smart Delivery.

Here’s the official game description:

Buy digitally and get the Totally Tubular Skins for Crash and Coco. It’s About Time – for a brand-wumping new Crash Bandicoot™ game! Crash fourward into a time shattered adventure with your favorite marsupials.

Neo Cortex and N. Tropy are back at it again and launching an all-out assault on not just this universe, but the entire multiverse! Crash and Coco are here to save the day by reuniting the four Quantum Masks and bending the rules of reality. New abilities? Check. More playable characters? Yep. Alternate dimensions? Obviously. Ridonkulous bosses? For sure. Same awesome sauce? You bet your sweet jorts. Wait, are they actually jorts? Not in this universe!

Are you a Crash fan and are you hyped for this new game? Share your thoughts in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest for more Xbox gaming news.

Download
QR-Code

Crash Bandicoot™ 4: It’s About Time

Developer:
Activision Publishing Inc.

Price:
$19.79

Passport Photo Software for Professional IDs: 5 Best to use

Posted on June 23, 2020October 4, 2023 by Teodor Nechita

In a world where traveling is easier than ever before, documentation has to evolve too. This includes the good old passport that you need to carry when you travel between countries, as it has to follow certain guidelines in order to be valid. Of course, the centerpiece of any passport is your photograph, and you want to make sure that it is impeccable if you don’t want issues at the border. That being said, if you want to provide your own photo when creating the documentation, then at least make sure that it looks good. That being said, here are some software tools that we consider to be the best when it comes to creating your own passport photos.

What are the best software to create passport photos?

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is the ultimate photo editor on the market, and while it is not specifically designed to create passport photos, its versatile toolset allows you to also do that.

More so, you don’t have to prepare beforehand, since you can pretty much take any photograph where your face appears, and manipulate it to the point where it can be a valid ID photo.

This includes changing the lighting, deleting background, editing the clothes, and more.

More so, you won’t feel limited with Adobe Photoshop at all, since the license will give you the freedom to do pretty much anything you can think of, not just create ID photos like the dedicated tools.

Finally, those of you that are skeptical regarding the product’s quality are free to test it before they buy it by going for the free 7-day trial that each Adobe account can benefit.

Here are some of Adobe Photoshop’s main features:

Can manipulate any image file
Great at creating ID photos
A world-class image editing tool
Intuitive UI for Adobe veterans
Works with well-known file formats

⇒ Download Adobe Photoshop free

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator can be described as Adobe Photoshop, but with a few extra twists. While admittedly it does have a lot of Adobe Photoshop’s tools, Adobe Illustrator is a vector-based image editor.

This allows the images created to be expanded indefinitely without fear of quality loss. However, this particular trait is almost useless when it comes to ID photos since there is a limit to how much you can expand the photo of someone’s face.

However, if you have a very good camera, and you want to use your ID photo on something else as well, like a banner or billboard, then you can’t go wrong with Adobe Illustrator.

Here are some of Adobe Illustrator’s main features:

Can manipulate any image file
Great at creating ID photos
The world’s best vector-based image editor
Compatible with all other Adobe products
Can be tested for free for 7 days

⇒ Download Adobe Illustrator free

Passport Photo Maker

Unlike the previous entries on our list, Passport Photo Maker is a dedicated tool specifically designed for those that want to create and edit ID photos.

This means that the program has all the basic tools needed for this particular task, but it also means that it is useless for anything else. However, if you work as a professional photographer and you create ID photos for a living, a dedicated tool like this one can be extremely handy.

The UI is extremely simplistic to the point of being almost entry-level.

Here are some of Passport Photo Maker’s main features:

Can handle ID formats for US, UK, Australia, and 130 other countries
Comes with Auto crop and biometric features detection
Supports several convenient printing layouts
Comes with a built-in photo editor
Features a clothes and background replacement tool

⇒ Download Passport Photo Maker

ID Photos PRO

Yet another lightweight software tool for creating ID photos made it on our list. It comes with a similarly simplistic UI just like the previous entry, while still maintaining the toolset necessary to create professional ID photos.

It boasts formats from several different countries in the form of photo crop-out templates, so you don’t have to google each country’s size. More so, the editing process is greatly simplified thanks to the built-in facial recognition.

More so, it supports several ePhoto formats with electronic signatures, so it isn’t limited just to printed IDs.

Here are some of ID Photos PRO’s main features:

Supports formats from different countries
has a built-in automatic face recognition feature
Enhanced with several controlled security settings
Your photos are safe thanks to secure cloud storage
Detailed interface adjustment to suit your taste

⇒ Download ID Photos PRO

ID Photo Creator

Last but not least is yet another dedicated ID photo editor called ID Photo Creator. The great part is that it features all the tools that you would expect from a dedicated tool like this one, but you can also export photos to other image editors, like Photoshop.

More so, it manages to perfectly balance simplicity with complexity, as it features an intuitive UI while still being capable of more complex tasks, such as orders management, print shop logos and creating new ID types.

Here are some of ID Photo Creator’s main features:

ID types from over 200+ countries
Comes with automatic background replacement
Built-in basic photo editor
Easy navigation between files
Good for business and homeowners

⇒ Download ID Photo Creator

Thanks to the programs listed above, you should be able to create professional-looking passport photos that will give you no problems when crossing the border.

More so, if you own a business that makes money out of ID photos, all of the entries mentioned below are just as useful.

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Chromatic Aberration Filter: 5 Best Software to use

Posted on June 23, 2020October 23, 2025 by Teodor Nechita

Chromatic aberrations are a common phenomenon in photography and video recordings. Fortunately enough, there are plenty of software tools that can handle imagery that has this issue, without having to repair or buy new camera lenses.

That being said, we have compiled a list of the best software tools that can handle this problem, and we will be ranking them based don multiple criteria.

These include the software’s availability, how easy it is to use, how efficient the end-results are, and more.

What are the best software to remove chromatic aberrations?

Adobe Photoshop

When it comes to image editing, no software tool is as recognizable as the best of the best: Adobe Photoshop.

This professional raster-based image editor has all the tools you may ever need to manipulate, enhance, or fix digital photos.

That being said a common lighting issues such as chromatic aberrations are easy to handle, especially since the program has a dedicated menu for it.

As you tweak your photos, you can preview in real-time what the photo will look like post-editing, so that you always know you will be getting the best result.

More so, you can try out this professional tool before you buy it by getting a free 7-day Trial for all Adobe products.

Here are some of Adobe Photoshop’s main features:

Professional raster-based image editor
Adobe users will get used to the UI fast
Has a dedicated section for removing chromatic aberrations
Can be tested during a 7-day trial
Compatible with most other image editors

Adobe Photoshop

Save potentially great shots with the advanced editing tools provided by this full-feature image editor.

Free trial Visit website

Aurora HDR

Aurora is the first on our list to not be part of the Adobe family, and among all entries, it is alose probably the newest. However, this tool has proven itself that you don’t need to be a bulky program in order to get the job done.

It does this by being extremely lightweight in both looks and feel while being perfectly capable of producing fantastic digital results.

In fact, Aurora HDR is so good at removing chromatic aberrations, that it can do it on HDR photos where even the slightest color variations are noticeable.

You can also use the extensive filter library to create beautiful results within seconds. Aurora HDR has basic filters, color filters, glow filters, and more.

This software doesn’t compromise picture quality. It can help you rescue shots with all sorts of problems, including chromatic aberrations, lack of clarity, lack of depth, and more. All these can be fixed by using the HDR Enhance tools within the UI.

Here are some of Aurora HDR’s main features:

An entry-level image editor
Works well with complex HDR images
Removes chromatic aberrations without an issue
Lightweight
Has both layer and mask support

⇒ Get Aurora HDR

Adobe Lightroom

If you’re a fan of the Adobe family, then this entry will overjoy you. Lightroom is a program that you use together with Adobe Photoshop in order to produce fantastic photographic results.

That being said, Lightroom’s UI is a bit more simplistic, but its use is also greatly reduced compared to Photoshop.

However, the entry made it on our list primarily because it can handle chromatic aberrations quite easily, especially if you know how to fix them using Photoshop.

All in all, the program is quite good for this particular task, and you can also try it out during the 7-day trial mentioned earlier.

Here are some of Adobe Lightroom’s main features:

Works well with Adobe Photoshop
The UI is easy to handle
The program is great for professionals
Easily takes care of photo issues such as chromatic aberrations
Can be tested out for 7 days before you buy it

⇒ Get Adobe Lightroom

Luminance HDR

If your main concern is your budget, then you’ll be glad to know that you don’t need to pull any money out of your pocket if you want to fix your photos.

Luminance HDR’s main highlight of this tool is that it is extremely easy to use and that it is also free of charge.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that the program’s capabilities are lacking, just that the number of features that it brings considering that it is free is amazing.

While processing the images is a bit slower compared to the other entries, the pros more than outweigh the cons.

Here are some of Luminance HDR’s main features:

Completely free
Easy image manipulation
Intuitive controls
Great results for a free program
Can handle chromatic aberrations if handled properly

⇒ Get Luminance HDR

Photomatix Pro

Even though it makes the last entry on our list, Photomatix Pro is still one of the best software that you can use to fix chromatic aberrations.

The program earned its position thanks to the long history that it has in which it never failed to deliver great results. The UI is extremely well arranged and intuitive, and you never feel like anything is too cluttered.

More so, there is nothing bad that we can say about the program as far as sheer results are concerned, as it can remove chromatic aberrations as if they were never there.

This software has a very simple UI which makes it suitable for beginners. Despite the simplicity, it can help you create high-quality pictures.

It has HDR features that ensure great clarity, lightning, and color. You can use them for multiple picture HDR merging, but it works on single pictures as well.

Other key features of Photomatix Pro include:

Exposure adjustements
Tone blancer
Contrast optimizer
HDR presets
Brush tools
Lightroom plugin
Multiple HDR styles

The software has a free version that never expires. It is however limited and places watermark on top of your images. The licensed version is a one-time purchase with free upgrades.

⇒ Get Photomatix Pro

Conclusion

We hope these software suggestions can help you enhance the quality of your pictures. Feel free to let us know what you think in the comments below.

For more similar guides, check out our dedicated Graphic and Design page.

Apple TV to get support for more Xbox controllers with tvOS 14 update

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

During Apple’s WWDC 2020 conference, Apple announced that their Apple TV streaming boxes would be gaining support for Microsoft’s Xbox Adaptive Controller and the Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 in the new tvOS 14 operating system update coming later this year.

Apple TVs already support regular Xbox-branded video game controllers for playing video games on the platform.

While this added support may seem odd to the casual Apple TV owner who may not play that many video games, it’s important to remember that the Xbox Game Streaming (Project xCloud) app is already being tested for iOS devices and that it will likely become available for Apple TVs too. Once it does, Xbox controllers will be getting a lot more usage by Apple TV owners.

Do you use Xbox controllers with your Apple TV or are you waiting for something like Project xCloud to rollout? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest and Twitter for more Xbox gaming news.

How to use Python in browser

Posted on June 23, 2020August 26, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

Python is a popular programming language, but did you know that you can run and test your Python code in a web browser?

That’s right, there are various websites that will compile your Python code, and in today’s article, we’re going to show you how to use them.

Quick Tip:

If you want to run Python on your browser, you probably want the choice that is the fastest and most efficient.

As far as those criteria are concerned, Opera is your best bet, especially since you can automate the Opera browser with Selenium WebDriver and Python.

The browser uses the Chromium engine, so you have guaranteed speed and frequent updates to come.

Opera

Write Python code in Opera without any major headaches thanks to its unique design and Chromium build that allows easy automation.

Free Visit website

How do I run Python in the browser?

1. Trinket.io

Trinket.io allows you to compile your Python code and run it in your browser with a single click. On the left side, there’s your code and on the right, you can see the rendition of your code.

For debugging, you can open the console or pause the code. Of course, you can easily share your creations with others.

2. Skulpt

Another website that can easily run Python is Skulpt. The website offers a simple interface, and you just need to enter your code and press the Run button.

Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut. The website is minimalistic and simple to use, so it’s perfect for running Python snippets.

3. Repl.it

Repl.it is an online IDE for Python and it comes with advanced features. The web app allows you to create multiple files and folders, as well as add various packages.

Debugging and version control is also there, as well as a quick preview of your rendered code. Of course, file sharing is available, so you can easily collaborate with others.

Compiling and running Python code can be demanding on your resources, therefore it’s advised to use a browser with low resource usage, such as Opera for example.

Opera is quite humble when it comes to system resources, so it should handle any website without issues.

The browser has its own tracking protection, so it will block all tracking cookies and scripts and make your browsing experience faster.

Opera also has its own ad blocker, so you won’t have to deal with ads anymore. It’s worth mentioning that Opera is based on Chromium, so it works with Chrome extensions.

Opera is available on all desktop and mobile platforms, and with browser synchronization, you can easily continue browsing on any other device.

Editor's choice

Opera browser

Fast browsing technology
Free VPN
Includes Messenger Apps
Has Dark Mode
Built-in Ad-blocker

Download Opera now

Python is a great programming language, and if you want to try it out from your web browser, we strongly suggest using one of the websites from this article.

Before running Python online, it’s always good to confirm that your local setup works properly. You can easily do this by following this guide on how to check Python version in Windows CMD.

Adventure Sync not working – Pokemon GO [Fixed]

Posted on June 23, 2020October 4, 2023 by Teodor Nechita

Who said you can’t get fit by playing video games? You can. And Adventure Sync does just that. It encourages you to walk for miles to get exclusive rewards in Pokemon Go.

Adventure Sync is a feature in Pokemon Go that connects to Google Fit on Android or Apple Health on iOS, depending on your device. From there, it pulls data about your walking distance.

However, there are times when Adventure Sync is not working. We are going to see in the next article what you need to do when Adventure Sync is not working in Pokemon Go.

How can I solve Adventure Sync not working in Pokemon Go?

1. Make sure that Adventure Sync is enabled in Pokemon Go

Start Pokemon Go app on your smartphone.
Touch the Poke ball icon.
Go to Settings and check the Adventure Sync button.
Tap Turn it on when the message requesting confirmation pops up.
Now, you should receive a message that Adventure Sync is enabled.

2. Check that Adventure Sync has all the permissions needed

In iOS, go to Apple Health and in Sources and verify that Adventure Sync is allowed.
- Also, in Settings-> Privacy-> Motion&Fitness turn ON Fitness tracking option.
For Android, install Google Fit and allow it to access Storage and Location.
After, allow Pokemon Go to pull Google Fit data from your Google account.

Want to try out some new games?? Here are 14 new titles for you to try.

3. Battery Saver enabled for Android users

This fix is only for devices running on Android. Adventure Sync doesn’t run if Battery Saver is active. So, disable Battery Saver in Pokemon’s Go Settings.

By following these steps, you should be able to make Adventure Sync work again, and therefore gain its benefits withing the Pokemon Go game.

Let us know which troubleshooting steps mentioned above helped you by leaving us a message in the comment section below.

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Microsoft Teams mobile app now supports video calling

Posted on June 22, 2020October 4, 2023 by Don Sharpe

The Teams mobile app is getting a couple of consumer-focused features, starting today. These include the ability to chat and make video calls.

In the recent past, Microsoft has added multiple features to Teams, especially to empower remote workers worldwide. For example, the functions below either exist in or are coming to Teams:

Pop-out apps: The ability to pop out apps into separate windows is soon coming to Teams.
Meeting participants: Currently, Teams supports up to 250 meeting participant. That limit is set to change to 300 according to some reports.
Asana integration: Asana users can now access Teams conversations to track tasks.

But most of these upgrades are either enterprise-oriented or not available on the Teams mobile app altogether. That’s going to change with the incorporation of more consumer-centered features into the application.

Microsoft Teams mobile app gets new features

Microsoft is rolling out the new Teams mobile app features in preview over the next few weeks, starting today.

According to the company, Teams will now be offering some of its core features to individual users instead of just enterprises.

Whether you’re a busy parent managing daily family life or just trying to stay connected and in sync with those who matter most, the new features are designed to alleviate the need for disparate tools and instead offer one central hub for individuals, groups, and families to collaborate and stay connected and organized.

In brief, the new updates to the Android and iOS versions of Teams include:

Enhanced communication: The app lets friends, families, and loved ones communicate via video, text massages, and chat.
Collaboration: You can now collaborate on Office-365-powered documents, including Word and Excel in the Teams mobile app.
Location sharing: You can now share your physical location via the app.
Personal task management: The new Teams mobile app lets you organize your life and share your to-do lists, docs, and even calendars.

What do you think of the consumer-oriented features that the Microsoft Teams mobile app is getting? Kindly share your opinion or any user concerns via the comments section below.

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Edge for Windows 7 update doesn’t alter your default browser

Posted on June 22, 2020October 4, 2023 by Don Sharpe

Microsoft Edge for Windows 7 and 8.1 is now available. It’s about two weeks since Microsoft released the new Chromium-based browser for the more recent versions of the OS, including, theWindows 10 May 2020 update.

The Redmond-based tech giant acknowledges that Edge may not be the most popular Windows 10 browser right now. So, it has been shipping it without forcing it to users as the default browser.

This policy continues, according to the release notes for the Edge update.

So, if you’re a Windows 7 or 8.1 user, you can install Edge without having to replace Chrome or your favorite browser.

The new Microsoft Edge for Windows 7 and 8.1

The new Microsoft Edge for older versions of Windows automatically creates taskbar and desktop shortcuts after installing on your PC. Also, the update doesn’t interfere with Internet Explorer.

In addition, you have to manually make Chromium Edge your default browser since the update doesn’t support automatic transition.

Here are the changes that the Edge update for Windows 7 and 8 brings:

The new Microsoft Edge will be pinned to the taskbar and add a shortcut to the desktop. If your current version of Microsoft Edge already has a shortcut, it will be replaced.

The new Microsoft Edge will not replace Internet Explorer.

This update will not change your default browser.

Microsoft is pushing Edge on Windows 8 and 7 PCs via Windows Update. This version became available after Microsoft announced that it had deprecated the old Edge on Windows 10.

Windows 7 already reached end of support on January 14, 2020. As such, the OS is no longer receiving free security updates from Microsoft.

Also, while you may receive security fixes for Edge on Windows 7, the OS itself may expose your entire browsing experience to threats. That’s why Microsoft still recommends that users move to Windows 10.

Are you still using Windows 7, and do you like the new Microsoft Edge for the OS? You can always leave your feedback in the comments section below.

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Google Chrome experiment warns of malicious add-ons

Posted on June 22, 2020September 13, 2025 by Don Sharpe

Browser extensions should enhance your browsing experience every day, from password managers to VPNs. But some are malicious, as the Google Chrome extensions checkup experiment currently warns.

For example, when you install a VPN extension, you expect it to guarantee your privacy and protect your anonymity online. However, some of these tools can share your information to other entities.

Quick Tip:

If browsing the Internet privately is your main priority, then switching to a browser that features built-in security features is the next logical step.

As such, we recommend you give Opera a try. It comes with an ad and tracking blocker as well as a VPN service.

These security features can be further enhanced by the wide selection of extensions that are available thanks to the browser’s Chromium-based engine.

Opera

An excellent web browser that offers many useful tools, including the ability to save and print your web pages.

Free Visit website

Google Chrome experiment warning

Google Chrome recently added an extensions checkup experiment that may warn you about the possibility of some extensions compromising your security and browser performance. You have to enable the feature to get the warning, though.

In addition, the feature gives you multiple warning message options depending on how it’s enabled.

For example, the Enable on Startup setting can offer a neutral, performance, or privacy-focused message.

So, depending on the setting you choose, you may receive the warning that some extensions can monitor your browsing activity. Also, the warning messaging advises you to deactivate any add-on you didn’t install.

It appears that some malicious extensions may also cause your browser to behave abnormally. You should consider turning off the extension in question in such a case too.

Google takes down malicious Chrome extensions

The extensions checkup warnings are joining Chrome’s list of experimental features a few days after reports that Google took down about 106 malicious Chrome add-ons.

Before this move, cybersecurity firm Awake had uncovered 111 illegitimate Chrome extensions. Users had downloaded these malicious browser add-ons about 33 million times.

According to the firm, the extensions were part of a broader privacy breach. The now-removed apps could take screenshots of the user’s device or read user input.

In addition, some of the extensions delivered malicious payloads.

Google Chrome uses numerous security techniques, including sandboxing, to prevent malware from affecting the user’s PC. However, it seems that the bad extensions bypassed all these features.

What do you think Google Chrome should do to enhance browser privacy and security? You can always let us know via the comments section below.

For Honor packet loss: How to fix high packet loss?

Posted on June 22, 2020September 29, 2025 by Vlad Constantinescu

For Honor is a popular action video game released by Ubisoft in 2017. The game gathered quite some traction in the past few years thanks to its intuitive combat system that took fighting games to a whole nother level.

In For Honor you can pick a hero from various factions (knights, Vikings, and samurais), and wreak havoc to your enemies. Imagine a medieval fighting game that uses a third-person perspective.

Add a bunch of objectives, an awesome combat system, perks, and AI minions, and you got For Honor.

What is packet loss in For Honor?

Like many other online games, For Honor is subject to certain technical issues including high ping, network congestion, jitter, and packet loss. The latter is what we’re going to focus on today.

Packet loss occurs whenever some of the packets that you send and/or receive never make it to their destination. Thus, instead of receiving the full set of data, the destination (you or the server) retrieves only a part of it.

This situation triggers a series of subsequent issues, depending on the gravity (i.e. how high the packet loss count is).

Some of them include high lag/latency, rubberbanding, in-game slowdowns, no responsiveness, and even crashes or connection timeouts.

More often than not, network congestion is the main culprit when it comes to packet loss. In which case, the wisest way to tackle this challenge would be simply waiting it out.

However, if you can’t afford wasting time waiting for the packet loss situation to fix itself, here’s how you can take care of it yourself.

How to fix high packet loss in For Honor?

1. Use a VPN

Download Private Internet Access and install it on your PC
Launch it and log into your account
Connect to a server of your choice (make sure it’s a low ping one)
Relaunch For Honor
Check if the problem still persists

Experiencing issues with For Honor? Our comprehensive guide can help you fix common errors.

Private Internet Access is an excellent VPN service from Kape Technologies that can help you improve packet loss in no time. Usually, all it takes is launching it and connecting it to a random server.

Private Internet Access

Experiencing For Honor packet loss? PIA could be of help.

$2.85/mo. Buy it now

However, note that if the packet loss issue doesn’t occur on your ISP’s side, using a VPN won’t do much. Thus, it won’t work if you’re the one leaking packets or if the game server has high packet loss.

It’s worth mentioning that using a VPN can also improve your ping, boost your privacy, secure your connection, and even circumvent geoblocking.

Therefore, even if it doesn’t solve packet loss, it’s still a wise decision to invest in a trustworthy VPN.

2. Troubleshoot the connection manually

Run a packet loss test using the pathping x.x.x.x (replace x.x.x.x with the server’s IP address) command
Call your ISP if the tests show that they’re leaking packets
Contact the For Honor server host if they’re the ones with high packet loss
Switch to wired instead of Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi leaks packets more often)
Check and replace/update/repair/upgrade any faulty component of your network (PC, drivers, software, cables, router)
Restart your router and/or modem
Try connecting straight to your home line or modem (bypass the router)
Avoid peak hours if possible
Upgrade your Internet subscription if it’s a low bandwidth one
Try closing any other bandwidth-consuming processes on your PC

These suggestions aren’t guaranteed to solve your packet loss situation since leaking packets can have an awful lot of causes. However, it can’t hurt trying them all and ruling them out one by one.

More often than not, packet loss is caused by network congestion. However, sometimes even something as little as upgrading your CAT 5 cables to CAT 6 can improve packet loss dramatically.

For Honor packet loss can be fixed

All things considered, if you’re experiencing packet loss in For Honor, it would be a wise thing to see where exactly does this leak occurs by running a pathping test.

Once you got that out of the way, you can start considering the best approach.

If you’re the one leaking packets, try checking every component of your network and repair or replace it if necessary. Even outdated drivers or older Ethernet cables can play a huge role in triggering high packet loss.

If, on the other hand, the leak seems to be on your ISP’s side, try using a VPN. Sometimes your ISP might throttle your bandwidth.

Using a VPN re-routes all your traffic through its private servers, away from your ISP’s malevolent bandwidth limitations.

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BF4 packet loss: How to test and get rid of it?

Posted on June 22, 2020September 27, 2025 by Vlad Constantinescu

BF4, short for Battlefield 4, is a popular first-person game developed by EA DICE. This game was released in late 2013 and followed the 2011 Battlefield 3 title.

Maybe the most popular trait of Battlefield 4 was, and still is, its multiplayer mode. As far as its singleplayer campaign goes, it wasn’t so well received by the series’ fans.

That’s why it’s safe to say that BF4 was heavily-focused on online playing. While that’s not inherently bad, the game was and still is subject to a series of technical challenges that many other online services face.

Namely, these issues are high ping, jitter, network congestion, and the dreaded packet loss.

What is packet loss in BF4?

Packet loss is the same regardless of where you encounter it. It occurs whenever data packets you transmit (send/receive) never make it to their destination.

As a result, it triggers other issues such as rubberbanding, slowdowns, and even connection timeouts.

In Battlefield 4, packet loss can make the difference between glorious victory and crushing defeat.

You might be familiar with placing your enemy right in the middle of your crosshairs and pulling the trigger, only to discover it rubberbanded and you missed the shot.

That can be frustrating or downright infuriating. More often than not it’s caused by packet loss. This issue is usually caused by network congestion, which means that the best way to fix it is often waiting for it to pass or avoiding peak hours.

How to test for packet loss in BF4?

Locate the IP address of the server you suspect of packet loss
Launch an elevated (Administrator) CMD instance
Run the pathping x.x.x.x (replace x.x.x.x with the BF4 server’s IP address) command
Wait for the test to come to an end
Locate the hop that’s leaking packets

This test will run a traceroute to the BF4 server while also pinging each hop along the way and returning the values back to you, along with packet loss percentage.

If you want to log the results to a file on your PC instead of displaying them within the CMD window, simply add > C:packetloss.txt (replace packetloss with a file name of your choice) at the end of the pathping command.

Thus, the full command should look like this:

pathping x.x.x.x > C:packetloss.txt

How to get rid of packet loss in BF4?

1. Use a VPN service

Download Private Internet Access and install it
Run it and log into your account
Connect to a fast server (low ping ones are best)
Launch BF4 and check if the problem still persists
Run the test above and check if packet loss improved

Private Internet Access is an excellent VPN service brought to you by Kape Technologies. It can cover a lot of ground regarding connectivity issues, ranging from reducing packet loss, to even improving ping or eliminating jitter.

However, it can take care of even more such as safekeeping your privacy, securing your connection, or helping you circumvent geoblocking.

Private Internet Access

Getting packet loss in BF4? PIA might come in handy.

$2.85/mo. Buy it now

Note that using a VPN might not work every time. In fact, if you leak packets on your end, or the game server does, using a VPN won’t do any good.

Therefore, for this fix to work, the packet loss must occur on your ISP’s side (bandwidth throttling or improper routing).

2. Troubleshoot your connection manually

Restart your router and/or modem
Try connecting straight to your modem or home line
Switch to wired instead of Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi packet loss happens more often)
Check and replace/update/upgrade/repair any faulty component on your side (PC, cable, drivers, router)
Call your ISP if you pick up something wrong on their side and ask them to look into it
Contact the BF4 server owner if there’s something wrong on its side of the connection
Try to avoid peak hours if possible
Switch the BF4 server if it’s possible

BF4 packet loss can be improved

All things considered, even using a VPN can improve packet loss, but only if the issue is on your ISP’s side. Other times it might just be the byproduct of network congestion and fixes by itself.

Last, but not least, you might want to try some of our manual troubleshooting suggestions.

They might not help you improve packet loss all of the time (especially if the leaks occur on your ISP’s side or the game server’s), but keeping your home network in top shape never harmed anyone.

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3 best VPNs for Dying Light to fix lag and reduce ping

Posted on June 22, 2020September 15, 2025 by Elena Constantinescu

If you have Dying Light lag and high ping, you can easily fix it with a VPN.

Dying Light is a first-person shooter and survival horror game that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world. You can freely roam the open world, look for supplies, build weapons, and do everything you can to escape the zombie invasion.

The game features a single-player mode together with online PvP and co-op for multiplayer. You can play it on Steam, Windows, Mac, Linux, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

However, many players have trouble with Dying Light lag in the multiplayer mode. If you’re one of them, you can use a VPN to improve your ping and get back to enjoying the game with your friends.

What you need is a premium Dying Light VPN with a vast network of servers, superior connection speed, and excellent security features. Besides, you can also minimize packet loss with a VPN.

What are the best VPNs to fix Dying Light lag and ping?

Private Internet Access

If you’re looking for a quick Dying Light lag fix, choose Private Internet Access (PIA). It’s a superior VPN service created by Kape Technologies, which can help you bypass geoblocks and access blocked sites using an extensive network of VPN servers.

You can quickly connect to the recommended server of PIA to get the best speed. Furthermore, the tool keeps your device safe from DDoS attacks during gameplay. You can set up an ad and malware blocker, as well as host game servers for you and your friends.

In addition, PIA is one of the few virtual private network solutions that support port forwarding and 24/7 live chat, so that you can get help as soon as you need to deal with Dying Light lag.

More about PIA to reduce Dying Light high ping:

Works with Windows, macOS, Linux, PS4, Xbox One
+3,300 VPN servers in 48 locations
10 connections at once
No logs
30-day money-back guarantee (no free trial)

Private Internet Access

If Dying Light is running slow on PC, use PIA to quickly fix this issue.

Check price Visit website

CyberGhost VPN

Whenever Dying Light starts lagging on your PC or PS4, you can turn to CyberGhost VPN for assistance. Owned by Kape Technologies, this VPN service offers you a huge network of servers to reduce jitter and boost your gaming experience.

If you don’t know how to begin, simply connect to the VPN server recommended by CyberGhost VPN to test your new Internet connection speed. It’s one of the best Dying Light VPN apps that can not only fix latency and lag issues but also handle network congestion.

Moreover, CyberGhost VPN supports split tunneling, a practical feature for managing your bandwidth resources in case you don’t want to redirect all network traffic through VPN.

More about CyberGhost VPN to lower Dying Light ping:

Compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, PS4, Xbox One
+6,500 VPN servers in 89 locations
Up to 7 connections at the same time
Zero logs
Up to 45-day money-back guarantee (1-day free trial)

CyberGhost VPN

If you need a Dying Light lag fix on low-end PC, use this powerful VPN tool.

Check price Visit website

NordVPN

NordVPN offers a fast and easy Dying Light lag spike fix to help enhance your gaming experience. Operated by Tefincom & Co., NordVPN is one of the fastest VPN apps on the market that can also fix Wi-Fi packet loss.

Besides connecting you to the nearest VPN server, the tool adds security to your browsers by keeping your safe from malware (CyberSec). You can also use it to get around VPN blocks by connecting to obfuscated servers, as well as to repair Xbox packet loss.

What makes NordVPN a great Dying Light VPN is the fact that it can not only speed up your Internet connection but also protect your device from hackers. And, whenever you want to go back to your regular connection, you can quickly turn off the VPN.

More about NordVPN to fix Dying Light lag:

Install it on Windows, macOS, Linux, PS4, Xbox One
+5,100 VPN servers in 59 countries
Supports 6 simultaneous connections
No identifying logs
30-day money-back guarantee (no free trial)

NordVPN

Get rid of Dying Light multiplayer lag and high ping using this dependable VPN app.

Check price Visit website

Dying Light is an awesome game that can be best enjoyed with your friends in PvP or co-op mode. But it can be impossible to do so when you have to handle lag issues.

You don’t need to switch back to the single-player mode when you can get rid of Dying Light lag and high ping with a trustworthy VPN service. It’s also a great way to fix packet loss in games.

Surface Duo to support PC syncing via Your Phone

Posted on June 22, 2020October 4, 2023 by Don Sharpe

Microsoft has in the past published the design principles it wants developers to follow when creating apps for its upcoming dual-screen devices. We all know that, for example, applications on the Surface Duo should support multiple screen modes.

Apart from that, the tech giant should be done developing the hardware aspects of the device by now. So, it’s currently concentrating on building pre-installed apps for the futuristic form factor.

Well, it appears that Microsoft is now working on a dual-screen version of the Your Phone app. If the application comes pre-installed on the Surface Duo, the device will have the ability to pair with a PC, out of the box.

Surface Duo could get the ability to sync with PC

According to images that Twitter user Alumia shared recently, Your Phone is getting multi-screen support.

The images showcase the app’s frame in single-screen and two-screen modes.

Spoiler: Your Phone will be getting support for dual-screen devices (TwoScreenDeviceFrameDouble) pic.twitter.com/00G6wEV7tv

— Aggiornamenti Lumia (@ALumia_Italia) June 20, 2020

While the tweet does not categorically state that this version of Your Phone is coming to the Surface Duo, it would be unimaginable for the device to ship without PC syncing support.

Logically, if Surface Duo can sync to a PC, it has to use Your Phone, the only Android application Microsoft has for this function.

The Surface Duo isn’t the typical smartphone, so all the other apps it’s getting support multiple screen modes too.

For example, it recently emerged that a two-screen version of Microsoft Edge will be the default browser for the device. As such, the Chromium-based app will have the ability to span across the two displays of an open Surface Duo.

It shouldn’t be long before the device finally ships, according to the expectations of many. Holiday 2020 is the official release date for the device, though. Unsurprisingly, Microsoft remains tightlipped as to whether this has changed.

What are your expectations of dual-screen user experiences on the Surface Duo? Feel free to let us know via the comments section below.

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Windows 10 version 2004 defrags your SSD too often

Posted on June 22, 2020January 29, 2024 by Claudiu Andone

There’s nothing wrong with defragmenting your drive once in a while to optimize your system’s speed.

However, if you updated to Windows 10 version 2004 and you’re using an SSD, you will notice that the system defragments your disk every day if you restart your computer.

It’s not recommended to defragment your SSD too often as it might result in shortening its life.

Why is Windows 10 defragging my SSD every day?

If you check the Automatic Maintenance feature in Windows 10, you will see that the OS performs some maintenance tasks based on a schedule.

And these include, of course, checking the drives for optimization (defragging and trimming) and other diagnostics.

You can check that for yourself by going to Control Panel, then System and Security, and then clicking on the Security and Maintenance.

As you can see from our example, the Automatic Maintenance just run in the morning.

After it optimizes the drives, Windows 10 records the last time it did that so that it doesn’t perform the process too often.

However, as the members of WilderSecurity realized, after the release of Windows 10 2004, the Optimize Drives feature simply doesn’t remember the last time a drive has been optimized.

The drive needs optimization

And the proof is that when you go into Windows Defragger, you will notice that our SSD drive clearly points out that it needs optimization even though the optimization already run this morning.

Microsoft stated that with the Insider Preview Build 19551 they have fixed this issue:

Thank you for reporting that the Optimize Drives Control Panel was incorrectly showing that optimization hadn’t run on some devices. We’ve fixed it in this build.

Well, it seems that it hasn’t been fixed yet, so Windows 10’s automatic maintenance will defrag an SSD drive more often than once a month, as it should.

There is a slight workaround for this. If you launch an optimization directly from the Optimize Drives, the SSD will only perform the Trim function and not defragging.

To learn more about this feature, we have a guide that answers if trimming SSD is safe, so don’t miss it.

Did you experience this problem? If so, let us know in the comments.

CrossfireX closed beta is now available on Xbox One, with open beta to follow on June 25

Posted on June 22, 2020 by davew

CrossFireX is now available on Xbox One for Xbox Insiders with Xbox Live Gold subscriptions as a closed beta. The game will be available for everyone else as an open beta starting on June 25, 2020. CrossFireX offers gameplay similar to Counter Strike, and is a massively popular online PC game title throughout Asia.

Here’s a look at the CrossFireX Open Beta Announcement Trailer.

As noted in a post on Xbox Wire, the CrossfireX open beta is available starting June 25, 2020, with the closed beta available starting today for Xbox Insiders with active Xbox Live subscriptions. CrossfireX is available exclusively on Xbox One.

Here is how you can install the CrossFireX closed beta:

On Xbox One, sign-in and launch the Xbox Insider Hub app.
Navigate to Insider content, select Games, then search for/select the CrossfireX BETA.
Select Join.
Wait for the registration to complete to be directed to the Store and install the CrossfireX Beta.

Remedy Entertainment, the game developer behind Alan Wake and Quantum Break, is currently working on a single player campaign for CrossFireX. Xbox Insiders can join the closed beta today via the Xbox Insider Hub app on Xbox One. Act fast, there are limited spots available!

Fix: Error 111 ‘insufficient memory available to run setup’

Posted on June 22, 2020October 4, 2023 by Tashreef Shareef

When installing a game or software on your Windows machine, you may encounter the error 111 insufficient memory available to run setup error.

This error can occur due to several reasons, including permission issues as well as compatibility issues.

Users were able to resolve this error by running the game in compatibility mode, as an administrator or simply by extracting the content of the file to a folder and running the setup.exe file.

In this article, we explore the best solutions to help you resolve the insufficient memory available to run setup error in Windows.

How do I fix error 111 insufficient memory available to run setup error

1. Run the program as administrator

Open File Explorer and navigate to the location where the game or program file is saved.
Right-click on the .exe file.
Select Run as Administrator.
Click Yes if prompted to confirm by UAC.
Wait for the installation to complete.

Programs and games developed for the older version of Windows may run into permission issues during installation. The best way to troubleshoot this problem is to run the program in administrator mode.

2. Extract the CD/ISO file to C drive

If you are trying to install from a CD or ISO, do the following.
Right-click on the CD drive or ISO.
Select Extract.
Extract the contents of the package to C drive.
Open the extracted folder.
Run the setup.exe file.
If it fails, run the setup.exe file as administrator.

Several users have reported that extracting the contents from the ISO file or CD to a new folder, and then running the .exe file has resolved the error.

3. Install in compatibility mode

Open File Explorer and navigate to the location where the installer is saved.
Right-click on the installer and select Properties.
Open the Compatibility
Click Change settings for all users button at the bottom.
Check “Run this program in compatibility mode for” box.
Click the drop-down menu.
Select an older version of Windows OS.
Also, check Run this program as an administrator under Settings.
Click Apply and OK to save the changes.

Close the Properties window. Run the installer and check if the error is resolved.

4. Run Memory Diagnostic tool

Press the Windows key.
Type memory diagnostic
Click on Windows Memory Diagnostic tool.
Click on Restart now and check for problem option.

The system will restart and detect any issues with the memory. At times, you may face issues when installing programs or even Windows OS if one of the memory sticks on your system is defective.

Windows Memory Diagnostic tool will scan the system’s memory for issues and show the results. If you miss the result, you can view it from Even Viewer.

Press the Windows key.
Type Event Viewer and open the Event Viewer app.
Go to Windows Logs > System.
Open the most recent log with MemoryDiagnostic-Results.

If there no errors, then the error is occurring due to other reasons. However, if there is an error you may need to replace your memory stick or run without the spare one.

The insufficient memory available to run setup error can occur if there is a bug in the program, or due to compatibility and permission issues. Follow the steps in the article one by one to fix the error. Do let us know which method helped you resolve the issue in the comments.

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GoG Galaxy blurry text / vision [Full FIX]

Posted on June 22, 2020October 4, 2023 by Teodor Nechita

GOG Galaxy is the gaming client for the GOG platform. Gamers like it mostly because it has a simple and lightweight design. For all it’s simpleness, it’s not clear of issues.

One of them is the blurry text. So, if you’ve come across GOG Galaxy’s Blurry text/vision problem, you are in the right place. In this article, we give you solutions to get rid of this drawback.

How can I remove the blurry effect on GoG Galaxy?

1. Verify what version of GOG Galaxy are you using

Sometimes, updating GOG Galaxy is enough to solve this issue. Updates come with all sorts of patches for reported problems. However, if the problem persists, check our other solutions.

2. Disable display scaling on high DPI settings in Windows 10

Go to the GOG Galaxy installation folder.
Find the Galaxyclient.exe file, right-click on it and go to Properties.
Now, in the Compatibility tab, click on the button that says Change high DPI settings.
Check the Override high DPI scaling behavior box. In the list below the box leave Application selected.
Click OK, then Apply.

This is a common and well-known fix for issues related to blurry images or fonts in applications. It works very well for GOG Galaxy, too.

Having issues launching GOG Games? Check out this guide to solve all your issues.

3. Disable FXAA in Nvidia Control Panel for GOG Galaxy Client

Open the Nvidia Control panel and go to Manage 3D Settings.
Position yourself in the Program settings tab. Select GOG Galaxy client in the applications field, make sure the Nvidia processor is selected, and then turn off FXAA in the Settings area. However, this works only for those who own a system with an Nvidia GPU.

We hope that you find in this article a way to get rid of GOG Galaxy’s Blurry text/vision issue once and for all.

Try the solutions above and tell us what you think in the comments section below.

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Amazon checkout Rewards Points not showing up [2 Solutions]

Posted on June 21, 2020October 4, 2023 by Vlad Turiceanu

If you’re a frequent Amazon user, you probably know already about the rewards program they have with Chase.

Using the Chase Ultimate Rewards points might seem an easy thing to do, but those who are really into reward programs insist that at the end of the day your points have a monetary value that shouldn’t be used for less than they are worth.

That’s when your reward points show up on the payment page, of course…

Because after enrolling in the Amazon rewards program, there’s a lot of doubt about how to see the points balance, how to redeem the points, or how to use the points.

Why can’t I see any Amazon Rewards Points at checkout?

1. Make sure you are still enrolled in the program

As you might know, if you are enrolled in the rewards program, you should be able to use your Rewards Points on the payment page, when ordering on or off Amazon.com.

That is, when you choose your credit card, you’ll also be prompted about using your available points.

At this stage, make sure that the card linked to the purchase is the same as the one registered in the program.

If you don’t see your Rewards Points, refresh the page. If there’s still no change, check the Shop with Points page on your account, to make sure you can see your credit card registered.

It is possible that your bank has not updated Amazon on the existing reward points balance or that your closing statement for the respective card has not been updated.

Your card issuer, and not Amazon, will deal with any trouble with the respective credit card. Actually, according to members of the program that have had the same issue, mentioned that Amazon advised them to call their bank.

2. Keep the score of your points

According to the Rewards Program rules, your Rewards account points balance reflects your points balance as of your last billing cycle.

As mentioned above, points earned in a billing cycle are available for use once the billing cycle has ended and your card issuer has sent this information over to Amazon.

On the other hand, if you use your points to shop at Amazon.com, your points are deducted from your account when the order ships. And if you redeem points on Chase.com, these are immediately deducted from your points balance.

While you might not play around with your Rewards Points that much, it is useful to always know how the balance around specific dates.

Last but not least, keep in mind that when you share the rewards program details with other family members, they might also use the points. More than once customers were asking about recent points only to find out that their partner had already used them all.

Have you got any other ideas on this topic? We’d like to hear from you so use the comments section below.

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Retriable error on DoorDash [Solved]

Posted on June 21, 2020October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

DoorDash is frequently listed among the top food delivery services in North America and Australia due to the good variety of collaborations they have with local and national restaurants, as well as for the in-app recommendation feature that allows customers to discover new eateries.

As far as the service functionality is concerned, it seems that customers frequently report problems with the DooDash website, but mostly with their app.

DoorDash app users often get very general errors – unknown error or retriable error – that don’t necessarily have a specific solution, but rather a set of troubleshooting steps. Customers are advised to take them in turns, and see which one works.

What’s more, both customers and Dashers (delivery workers) have complained about the app.

What can I do if I get a retriable error on DoorDash?

1. Uninstall and reinstall the app

Although this might be a last resort, a lot of users recommend uninstalling the app to get rid of all the possible in-app glitches and also to make sure you get the latest version available upon reinstalling.

Additionally, both the service and the users recommend that after uninstalling the app, you turn off the phone for a few minutes. Reinstall the DoorDash app from App Store or Google Store after powering the phone on.

2. Force quit the app

To force quit the app, you have to double-tap the home button and swipe up on the Dasher app.

If there’s no home button on your phone, just force swipe up on the screen and swipe up on the Dasher app.

3. Check Internet connection

To efficiently use the DoorDash app, you need a very good Internet connection.

So turn off and on the WiFi option on your phone to force reconnection. If you’re not using WiFI, make sure the mobile data is working.

To test the connectivity, try to log into your DoorDash account from a browser instead of using the app. If it’s working, the problem might be with the app, so check for updates in the App Store or Google Store, or uninstall as mention above.

4. Mind the area or time of day

According to DoorDash, the app is overloaded at certain times of the day such as around lunchtime or dinnertime, so it’s possible that the app crashes.

Also, the service recommends that if you are a Dasher, you try and go to areas that are not marked as hotspots, as those attract a large number of Dashers, again making the app perform badly.

5. Check DoorDash social media accounts

DoorDash has proved quite responsive on social media, especially on Twitter, when it comes to problems related to their platforms. So take a look there to see if the problem is on their end.

Hopefully, one of these solutions will help you bypass the error you have encountered. However, if you’ve used another method, feel free to share it with us.

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MTG Arena ‘invalid command line’ error [Solved]

Posted on June 21, 2020September 26, 2024 by Milan Stanojevic

Magic: The Gathering Arena, also known as MTG Arena, is the digital adaptation of the hugely popular card game Magic: The Gathering (MTG).

It’s a rather new-comer to the digital world; the beta version of the game was launched in 2017, and the final version for Windows users was released at the end of 2019.

Ever since the launch of the repeated testings, users complained about a recurring error. Namely, after each update, when they were trying to run the game they got an invalid command line error.

The publisher, Wizards of the Coast (WotC), acknowledged the error and launched patches that were supposed to fix the problems. However, they still persist.

How can I fix the invalid command-line error on MTG Arena?

1.Uninstall and reinstall the game

Open the Start menu.
Go to Settings, then to App.
Find Magic: The Gathering Arena in the app list, click on it and hit Uninstall.

Some users noticed that even after uninstalling and reinstalling the game, the issues persisted. Therefore, a more thorough uninstall process was necessary. This can be done using the Registry Editor. If you’re not sure how to do this, check out our detailed guide for cleaning the Windows 10 Registry.

While this is a useful method to truly clean everything related to an unwanted or faulty app, it is also a risky process, so make sure that you know what you are doing.

Click the Search bar and enter Regedit. You can also open the Search bar by using the Windows Key + S shortcut.
Using the left side navigation panel, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER and then to Software.
If any registries are left from the app that you have uninstalled, you will find them here. If that is the case, right-click on the file and hit Delete.

This is a method that WotC repeatedly recommended to all users complaining of the invalid command line error. It is also a solution that seemed to work for most players.

However, there were some that mentioned that the error reappeared after a few weeks. So it might only be a temporary fix.

If that is the case, try the next solution.

2.Run the installer from Temporary folder

Press Windows Key + R to open the run dialog box.
Now type %temp% to access AppData temporary folder.
Find MTGA and run the MTGAinstaller located there.

This proved to be a solution that worked all of the time.

Hopefully, you’ll find at least one of these solutions helpful so that you can fully enjoy the game. As annoying as the mentioned error might be, the game is still new, and the publishers have proved quite responsive to the community’s feedback.

So to help them out, you should report any issues here to let the MTGA team know of any ongoing problems.

On the other hand, we’d like to hear your feedback as well, so if there was any other thing that you tried to bypass this problem, please let us know in the comments section below.

Before you leave, don’t miss our latest guide on MTG Arena network error to see how to fix it. We also have an article on Asset error detected in MTG Arena so you might want to check it out.

Letter recognition games online [Best selection]

Posted on June 21, 2020October 4, 2023 by Radu Tyrsina

Letter recognition games or alphabet games are useful for pre-school or primary school children to help them recognize letters and how they sound. Additionally, they can be used as an alternative to similar educational activity books, workbooks, or coloring books.

The aim of such games is to improve children’s reading and writing skills.

You will find plenty of games online. They come in various difficulty levels, they can be static or with more action, and some are focused on specific letters or letter types.

Most of them don’t just train the recognition skills, but also the hearing and matching capabilities, and even digital tracing skills. One can even say that some games resemble certain word games that adults play online.

Note that these games can expose your child to a longer period of time in front of a computer/tablet/phone screen.

Best letter recognition games online

Abcya

Abcya.com is a website with a good variety of letter recognition games for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten children.

For each game, in the right-upper corner of each thumbnail, you can see the recommended grade. Many games are suitable for more stages.

Most of them are puzzle-type games.

The owners of the site even included strategy or skill games for all ages they address, including pre-kindergarten.

⇒ Try some games on Abcya

ABC Match

ABC Match is a letter-matching game offered by ReadWriteThink, in which children have to match letter cards and picture cards that begin with the same letter.

The purpose of the game is to accelerate the learning process for how letters sound, and so to also create the path for better reading skills.

The game comes in two player modes – with or without timer.

What is interesting is that kids can’t turn upwards all cards in a category. They can only see an object card and then a letter card. This way they can also memorize where they’ve seen a certain letter.

⇒ Play ABC Match

Alphabet Tracing Game

Alphabet Tracing Game on Learningapps.com is exactly what its name says – kids train their digital drawing or tracing skills, using both capital and lowercase letters.

The board is wide and clean enough to keep them focused. Children can use various colors and an eraser, in case something doesn’t come out as it should.

There’s no background music or any type of sound when the letters are finished or upon turning the page.

⇒ Play the Alphabet Tracing Game

Alphabet Games

The Alphabet Games on Education.com are an excellent resource of all kinds of letter recognition games for various ages, similar to our first suggestion, but perhaps cleaner in terms of design and arrangement.

Games are grouped by grades, by subject, and by core. Inside the Alphabet category, you can find games grouped by letters. This way, you can direct kids to certain games as they are learning the alphabet.

⇒ Play some Alphabet Games

With such a good selection, it will be hard to unglue kids from the computer.

We’d like to hear your opinion on this selection; use the comments section below.

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5 Rummy card games online [Best choices]

Posted on June 21, 2020October 4, 2023 by Vlad Turiceanu

Rummy and its other popular variant Gin Rummy are some of the most popular casino games. While nothing compares to the adrenaline felt while sitting up at a real rummy table, when you don’t have such an option, taking part in an online game might do the thing. You can pick from the many options available online that will help you either sharpen up your skills or experience the real deal from behind a screen. So let’ take a look at some of the best options to play rummy online. All for free.

What rummy games can I play online?

Rummy on VIP Games

This platform not only offers the classic rummy game, but they have also built a community of rummy fans.

First, you can try out your hand in a game against 3 computer opponents. You don’t have to create an account or anything.

But if you want to join the community and look at the ranking, perhaps even be part of the leaderboard, you have to sign up.

⇒ Play rummy on VIP Games

Gin Rummy on MSN Games

Microsoft’s official Game Zone is one of the first platforms with free online games. Gin Rummy was among the first card games to be introduced along the more popular Solitaire or Spades.

Playing doesn’t require an account, but if you have a Microsoft account and want to use it, you can personalize your experience a bit more.

Once you open the game, you can either observe or play. You can select from a couple of themes and you can also pick your opponent if somebody from the Microsoft community that you know is online.

⇒ Play Gin Rummy on MSN Games

Gin rummy online

A click-and-play option to play a quick round of Gin Rummy.

It is suitable for beginners since it has a very clean board and written instructions. You always play against a computer.

From the Appearance option in the Menu, you can change the board color or theme, as well as the card design.

It’s a bit challenging since you never see the opponent’s melds and they don’t see yours, so neither of you can lay off cards on an existing meld.

⇒ Play Gin Rummy online

Rummytastic

Yet another easy-to-access Gin Rummy table, also suitable for beginners. In this one, you actually see the melds, unlike in the previous option.

Game options are simpler here, or rather you have none. You just play.

⇒ Play Gin Rummy on Rummytastic

Cash Rummy

Indians are avid rummy fans and they are usually playing Indian Rummy, a variation of Gin Rummy.

A lot of websites where you can play rummy are Indian. RummyCircle is the second most popular such site, with one of the largest communities of rummy fans.

A particular aspect of this site is that you can play (legal) cash rummy. After a mandatory account creation, you will join the community and you can enter a rummy lobby. Here you can observe or play, cash-free at first.

When you are ready, you can invest some money, using one of the payment options. The minimum contribution starts at Rs. 25 (about $0.33). The platform sets default monthly and daily cash limits (in terms of cash addition).

⇒ Play Cash Rummy on RummyCircle

So these were our recommendations for the best options to play rummy online. If you found this helpful, share your comments with us.

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Looking to play a Clue-like game online? 4 Best web games

Posted on June 21, 2020October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

Clue/Cluedo is a classic murder mystery board game, with a history that spans over 70 years, and that has been played by millions. The storyline includes a horrible murder, a grand mansion, and a gathering of suspicious characters. The aim of the game is to find the murderer.

In the digital era, it was only natural that given the popularity of the game a web game should be released.

While the original game has been substantially altered by owner Hasbro, fans wanted to keep exploring the mystery-game genre in online games similar to Clue.

For copyright reasons, similar games thrive on the murder plot, but the characters, the setting as well as the name of the game are different. Note that most of the games don’t come for free.

Best Clue games to play online

Clue/Cluedo: The Classic Mystery Game

This is the official digital adaptation of the classic board game of the same name.

The aim of the game is to determine who killed the game’s victim, with what weapon and in which room. This version can be played by up to 6 players (also the number of the characters).

The game is available for Nintendo, as well as for Android and iOS devices.

⇒ Get Clue/Cluedo on Steam

Mysterium

Mysterium is an official adaptation of the famous board game of the same name. It’s also a cooperative deduction game in which a ghost guides a group of psychics to solve a murder mystery.

The group has to uncover the murderer, as well as the weapon and location of the murder, using only visual clues. It comes in three play modes: solo, local multiplayer, and online multiplayer, the number of possible payers being from 1 to 7.

The game is available for Windows, Android and iOS.

⇒ Get Mysterium

Cluedo in Java

This is an open-source alternative to the classic game, developed in Java.

It includes several maps (and mapping tools), AI players, configurable cards, and sounds. In the pipe-line: networking support, improved graphics, and advanced artificial intelligence.

⇒ Play Clue in Java

Agatha Christie – The ABC Murders

This is an adventure and investigation game adapted from Agatha Christie’s detective stories with Hercule Poirot (just as Clue/Cluedo bears a striking resemblance with Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None).

It is a single-player game, in which you embody Hercule Poirot, and you have to explore many crime scenes in various cities across the United Kingdom.

The game is available for Xbox, PC, PlayStation 4, Android, and iOS.

⇒ Get Agatha Christie – The ABC Murders on Amazon

And that’s about it. Actually, you can find a lot of detective games, spiced up with a horrible murder, but most of them are not multiplayer and you only get to play the detective. With each game, the storyline is farther away from the multiplayer idea.

We’d like to hear your opinion on these alternatives, though, so if you have any suggestions, please use the comments section below.

Windows 10 news recap: May 2020 Update gets printing bug fix update, Microsoft Edge sees memory usage reduce, and more

Posted on June 20, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

Welcome back to our Windows 10 news recap, where we go over the top stories of the past week in the world of Microsoft’s flagship operating system.

Microsoft touts reduced memory usage for Microsoft Edge on the Windows 10 May 2020 Update

Following the release of the Windows 10 May 2020 Update, Microsoft Edge is said to use up to 30% less memory, thanks to some under-the-hood improvements, making the browser run more efficiently.

Surface Go 2 gets June firmware updates with pen performance improvements

A new firmware updated has been released for the Surface Go 2 that improves the performance of pen input.

Windows 10 May 2020 Update gets new patch to fix printing issues

If you were facing issues with printing since updating to the Windows 10 May 2020 Update, Microsoft has released a new update that aims to fix these printing issues.

That’s it for this week. We’ll be back next week with more Windows 10 news.

Microsoft Outlook gets a pre-installed polling tool

Posted on June 19, 2020October 4, 2023 by Don Sharpe

Microsoft Outlook is more than just an email client. Over time, it’s grown into a multi-purpose resource that supports task management, note-taking, and calendar functions.

It even promotes workforce collaboration, thanks to its integration with Office 365 tools like Teams Meetings.

As the email client continues to evolve, Microsoft Outlook now offers a pre-installed polling tool.

Poll in Microsoft Outlook

The ability to create polls within Microsoft Outlook has existed for a while now.

Thanks to its existing integration with Microsoft Forms, you can insert a poll into an email in Outlook and distribute it to employees across your organization. But the Poll feature was only available as an add-in, previously.

Now Microsoft says that Poll comes pre-built into your Outlook mailbox. As such, the feature is ready for use without any extra configurations.

As usual, respondents can vote within the email you sent them. Or they can open the poll in a separate browser tab to participate.

Now you can create a real time poll in seconds when composing an email in Outlook. Once sent, recipients vote directly in email or click on an included link and vote in a browser window. You can then check poll results in real-time using the voting card. Poll is now pre-installed to your Outlook mailbox so you no longer need to install the add-in yourself.

Moreover, the voting card in the body of the email displays poll outcomes in real time.

The latest Microsoft Outlook update should help you get started with online surveys a bit faster.

In other related news, Microsoft Forms now supports the sharing of survey form design and results with specific users. The feature minimizes the risk of survey content falling in the wrong hands within your organization.

To organizations that use Microsoft Outlook, do you find the pre-installed Poll feature particularly useful? As always, you can leave your feedback or any questions in the comments section below.

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You can now let specific users edit your Microsoft Forms

Posted on June 19, 2020October 4, 2023 by Don Sharpe

Microsoft Forms is increasingly becoming useful to organizations unable to carry out in-person polls in recent times. It’s an Office 365 app based in the cloud, making it ideal for conducting surveys among remote workers.

The polling tool, which boasts integrations with apps like Teams and Outlook, received new features recently. Notably, the application now lets you collaborate on Forms with specific users, rather than your entire organization.

Microsoft Forms sharing with specific users

Now you can choose a specific user or group in your organization with whom to share any Form, Microsoft has revealed.

As such, you may involve an individual or several workmates in creating a Form. Similarly, you can pick out specific colleagues to include in the analysis of poll results.

The new feature is something of a survey confidentiality or privacy measure in Microsoft Forms. It should make it more difficult for the wrong persons to view your poll contents (questions/responses).

Before this change, Microsoft Forms offered general access restrictions, such as to only people in your organization.

Similarly, the app let you limit Form viewing and editing privileges to persons with Office 365 school or work accounts. This generalization changes with the ability to pick your collaborators based on their email addresses.

There’s now a new option available to let you specify Specific Users or Groups within your organization to collaborate with. You can specify one or more co-authors using their email address. As this is more restrictive than existing collaboration styles, this setting is optimal for forms with more sensitive content.

So, if you’re handling sensitive poll content, the risk of the wrong person in your organization seeing or changing it is now minimal.

Besides enforcing survey confidentiality, Microsoft Forms includes automatic anti-phishing features. These make it more difficult for scammers to use the platform to collect your private, sensitive information.

Do you think Microsoft Forms is a secure tool for conducting online surveys? Kindly share your views via the comments section below.

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Microsoft Teams conversations plug into Asana app

Posted on June 19, 2020October 4, 2023 by Don Sharpe

There’s no doubt that the COVID-19 situation is responsible for the spike in remote working in recent times. And Microsoft Teams is one of the leading providers of SaaS collaboration tools that have cranked up innovation in response.

Unlike rival Slack, Teams’ growth and success depend more on the depth and breadth of Office 365 than third-party app integration. But that’s not to say that Teams isn’t integrating with solutions from other tech firms.

Little wonder, then, that Asana announced a new integration with the Office 365 SaaS tool.

Microsoft Teams integrates with Asana

Asana’s integration with Microsoft Teams should enable teammates to automate workflows even as they collaborate remotely, the company said.

At a time when teams around the world are physically apart, a shared sense of clarity, transparency, and accountability is needed now more than ever. We’re thrilled to deepen our integration with Microsoft to deliver tools that streamline and automate workflows, empowering teams to stay connected and achieve their most important initiatives.

Microsoft Teams/Asana integration should deliver the following perks:

In particular, the new integration gives Asana users visibility into Teams conversations. It enables them to streamline task management as a result.
Another benefit is the incorporation of a bot that auto-generates notifications about Asana task changes. Teams users can receive and personalize that information accordingly.
The Teams user interface lets teammates track and share info on the status and progression of Asana tasks.
Within Microsoft Teams, colleagues can find and share Asana tasks.

Plugging a workflow automation tool into Teams should make latter a little more powerful than it is already.

Don’t forget that the Office 365 solution is soon receiving an RPA injection, thanks to Power Automate integration. Microsoft announced that during the recently concluded Build 2020 event.

What do you think about the new Microsoft Teams/Asana integration? Kindly share your views or ask any questions via the comments section below.