Last year, Microsoft announced a detailed plan to become carbon negative by 2030 and committed to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The company has recently shared an update on its pledge, noting that it has successfully reduced its carbon emissions by 6%.
“First, while we’ve naturally spent much of the first year building the foundation for the decade ahead, we’ve also started to make real and measurable progress in reducing Microsoft’s carbon emissions. During our first year, we reduced our emissions by 6%, from 11.6 million metric tons to 10.9 metric tons. By 2030, our goal is to cut our emissions by more than half. This means that if we sustain and then improve upon these reductions for 10 consecutive years, we will reach and hopefully exceed this goal,” Microsoft President Brad Smith explained in a press release.
To help with this commitment, Microsoft has paid 15 suppliers across 26 projects worldwide to remove around 1.3 million metric tons of carbon from the atmosphere. In addition, the press release mentions that the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions during this past year.
Up until now, Microsoft has been taking a principled approach in order to curb and track its carbon emissions. These include investing in renewable power, electric vehicles, and battery systems to replace diesel generators used to back up its data centers. The Redmond giant has also imposed an internal carbon tax on emissions caused by its suppliers and customers.
Microsoft released its annual sustainability report last week, and you can head over to the official website to read the document. What do you think about Microsoft’s progress to becoming carbon negative in ten years? Sound off in the comments section below.
Steven Sinofsky had a long career at Microsoft, joining the company after finishing his Master’s Degree in 1989. He started out as a technical assistant to Bill Gates, rising to lead the Office division, and then becoming president of Windows. Sinofsky took over from Jim Allchin after the notorious Windows Vista launch, cleaning up the code and “making the trains run on time,” and releasing Windows 7 in July of 2009. Sinofsky was instrumental in the Windows Live initiative, in developing the first Surface devices, and led the development of Windows 8. Sinofsky left the company shortly after Windows 8 was launched, and has been working in venture capital since then.
Sinofsky published one book on his time at Microsoft back in 2009, titled One Strategy: Organization, Planning, and Decision Making, and was well known at Microsoft for his 2,000 word internal blog posts, but now he’s ready to talk more about his time at Microsoft. As noted by Ed Bott at ZDNet, Sinofsky has just released a first installment of a new “book,” titled Hardcore Software: Inside the Rise and Fall of the PC Revolution. The serialized book is being published, one or two sections per week, at Substack, the new subscription model blogging platform.
The first installment, 001. Becoming a Microsoftie, is now out, and a subscription for $10/mo or $100/yr is available, with a 20% discount for Microsoft employees or alumni, or a “no questions asked” 75% discount if you’re interested but feel that the price is out of reach.
It will be interesting to see what Sinofsky has to say about his time at Microsoft. Although he officially left the company on good terms, the departure was sudden and rumors swirled as to whether he left on his own accord. His style of management in many ways was typified by the famous drawing of the Microsoft org being a tier of divisions all with guns pointing at each other, and his relationship with the tech press was tenuous at best. Still, he had a major influence in the rise of the PC revolution he’s writing about, from building Office into the powerhouse it has become, to cleaning up Windows Vista and launching probably the most successful version of Windows ever, Windows 7, to then introducing a whole new set of problems with Windows 8.
We’ll continue to report on Hardcore Software as the installments come out.
Some Windows 10 users have been troubled by another annoying DLL error, and they wish to get rid of it immediately. Thankfully, we’ve got the solutions for it in this article.
Reportedly, a few users said that they encounter a strange bug when they boot up their computers. Some others said they get the error message saying wsclient.dll is not a valid win32.
Others got the error message saying error in wsclient.dll Missing entry: RefreshBannedAppsList appears on every startup. However, what is this wsclient.dll problem?
The message doesn’t affect the system, as it disappears when you close it, but since it shows up on every boot, it’s really annoying.
WSClient.DLL errors can sometimes occur, and speaking of these errors, here are some common issues that users reported:
WSClient.dll error Windows 8.1 – wsclient.dll error can appear on Windows 8.1 as well. Since Windows 8.1 and 10 are so similar, you should be able to apply all of our solutions to Windows 8.1 as well.
WSClient.dll error has occurred – This is just a variation of the original error, and in most cases, you can fix the issue by running the WSReset command.
WSClient.dll refreshbannedappslist – Sometimes certain tasks in Task Scheduler can cause this issue to appear, but you can fix it by finding and removing the problematic task.
Rundll32.exe WSClient.dll wsptlr licensing – If this error message occurs, you might be able to fix the issue simply by re-registering the problematic file.
WSClient.dll not found – In some cases, this file might not be even present on your PC. To fix that, perform SFC and DISM scans. In case that doesn’t work, you might have to reinstall your system.
How do I fix WSClient.DLL error in Windows 10?
1. Use a specialized tool
A go-to solution for fixing WSClient.DLL errors is using dedicated repair software because it can proceed with this task automatically.
In addition, it can scan other stability issues on your PC and replace them with healthy parts, thus increasing its overall performance.
2. Perform a WSReset command
Open Win + X menu. You can do that by right-clicking the Start Button or by using Windows Key + X shortcut.
Choose Command Prompt (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin) from the menu.
Enter wsreset and press Enter.
After a couple of moments, the process will be finished and the issue should be resolved.
If you’re having issues with the WSClient.DLL error starting Windows, you might solve them simply by running a WSReset command. This is quite straightforward to do, and you can do it by following the steps above.
3. Disable the WSRefreshBannedAppsListTask
Press Windows Key + S and enter scheduler. Select Task Scheduler from the list of results.
Under Task Scheduler, go to Microsoft>Windows>WS.
Right click on the task WSRefreshBannedAppsListTask, and choose Disable.
After disabling this task, check if the problem is still there. In case this task isn’t available in Task Scheduler, you should skip this solution and move to next one.
According to users, sometimes certain tasks in Task Scheduler can cause problems with WSClient.DLL. However, you can fix this issue simply by disabling these tasks.
It’s also worth mentioning that you can remove this task using the Command Prompt. You can just remove it by running a single command. To do that, follow these steps:
Start Command Prompt as administrator. We showed you how to do that in the previous solution.
When Command Prompt starts, run the following command: schtasks /delete /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\WS\WSRefreshBannedAppsListTask" /F
Both methods are similar, but if you’re an advanced user or if you want to do it quickly, you might use the command line method.
4. Re-register the problematic DLL file
Start Command Prompt as an administrator.
When Command Prompt starts, run the following command: regsvr32 /u WSClient.dll
Then, run another command:regsvr32 /i WSClient.dll
Close the Command Prompt, and you should be set.
After running both of these commands, you’ll re-register the problematic DLL file and the issue should be resolved.
Sometimes you might be able to fix the problem with WSClient.DLL simply by re-registering the problematic DLL file. This process is relatively simple and you can do it by following the steps above.
4. Run SFC and DISM commands
Start Command Prompt as an administrator.
Now run the following command: sfc /scannow
The SFC scan will start. Keep in mind that this scan can take about 15 minutes, so don’t interfere with it.
Once the scan is finished check if the problem is still there. In case the issue is still present, or if you weren’t able to run the SFC scan, you’ll have to use DISM scan instead. To do that, just follow these steps:
Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
Type the following command: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
DISM scan will now start. The scan can take up to 20 minutes, so don’t interfere with it.
Once the scan is completely finished, check if the problem is still there. If you weren’t able to run an SFC scan before, perhaps you should try to run it again and check if that solves the issue.
In some cases, problems with WSClient.DLL can occur because your Windows installation is damaged. However, you might be able to repair it by performing an SFC scan.
5. Change your DNS servers
Click the network icon on your Taskbar and choose your network connection from the menu.
Now select Change adapter options.
A list of available network connections will appear. Right-click your network connection and choose Properties.
Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click the Properties button.
Select Use the following DNS server addresses option.
Enter8.8.8.8 as the Preferred.
Now enter 8.8.4.4 as the Alternate DNS server.Click OK to save changes.
After making these changes, you’ll switch to Google’s DNS and the problem should be resolved. If you want, you can use a different DNS server such as OpenDNS.
Your DNS servers play a large role, and sometimes issues with your DNS can cause WSClient.DLL error to appear. Several users reported that they managed to fix this issue simply by changing their DNS servers.
6. Perform a System Restore
Press Windows Key + S and enter system restore.
Now select Create a restore point.
When the System Properties window appears, click System Restore button.
System Restore window will now open. Click Next to proceed.
If available, check Show more restore points option. Choose the desired restore point and clickNext.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the restoration process.
After your PC is restored to its original state, check if the problem is still there.
If the problem with WSClient.DLL started occurring recently, you might be able to solve it simply by performing a System Restore.
In case you don’t know, System Restore is a built-in feature that allows you to restore your system to the previous state and fix all sorts of issues.
Select Download and install updates (recommended) option and click Next. This step isn’t mandatory, so you can skip it if you want.
Follow the instructions on the screen until you reach Ready to install screen. Select Change what to keep.
Select Keep personal files and apps and click Next.
Follow the instructions to complete the process.
Once the process is finished, you’ll have a fresh installation of Windows 10, all your files and applications will be preserved, and the problem should be resolved.
We also have to mention that this process will keep all your files and applications, which is also a big plus.
In some cases, the only way to fix WSClient.DLL error is to perform an in-place upgrade. In case you don’t know, an in-place upgrade will reinstall Windows and update it to the latest version.
Performing one of these solutions should solve the problem with WSClient.DLL error message. You can also learn how to deal with the msstdfmt.dll missing error. If you noticed some other bug in the build 11099, let us know in the comment section below.
When Windows starts it loads a bunch of system DDLs and will throw an error message if there was an issue with any one of them.
The OccidentAcrident.dll startup error, as the name implies, is an error you’ll face on startup. The most common way you’ll receive this error is after upgrading to Windows 10 or installing some program.
How to fix the OccidentAcrident.dll startup error?
1. Use a third-party tool
If you wish to restore important files to your PC, a specialized repair tool will get the job done in no time. This type of software is packed with cleaning features, and it can also restore corrupted system files.
These tools may correct faulty messages and give useful PC repairs whenever they are required. When you boot your computer and encounter the OccidentAcrident.dll startup problem, they may repair and rebuild the Windows operating system.
They also can repair and replace DLL files. That’s why we recommend utilizing a third-party program that can automatically analyze your device for corrupted or damaged files and then repair them to restore stable functioning.
If you have 32-bit Windows, you should right-click on Autoruns.exe, or you should right-click on Autoruns64.exe if you have a 64-bit Windows.
Click Run as an administrator after right-clicking on the file.
After Autoruns opens, locate the entries with a yellow color and anImage Path that begins with File not found. This signifies that there is a rule that specifies running a certain program at startup but the file that is supposed to be executed is not found; those files could contribute and relate to the error you are facing.
On finding any such entry, right-click on it and choose delete from the drop-down menu.
Double-check that you’ve deleted all the entries and then restart the computer, and you should be good to go.
As mentioned above, this is a startup problem. That’s why this program is immensely useful. It lets you look at what processes run at startup, when built-in Windows programs start, and how they are configured.
It is basically a one-stop shop for anything related to Windows startup. We’ll see how we can use Autoruns to fix this problem.
Note: You should create a system restore point because we are treading dangerous grounds. If you don’t know how to do it, you can follow our tutorial.
Use Autorun to disable third-party entries
Start Autoruns with administrator privilege.
Examine whether the publisher of an entry is Microsoft Corporation or not.
If it has a third party publisher, uncheck the entry and restart your computer.
If the problem still persists, that means that application wasn’t the problem, and you should enable it again.
Repeat step 1-4 for all the third party entries one by one. If you didn’t face the error after disabling a certain program, most likely, it is the culprit.
Note: This is a tedious method that will involve you restarting your computer a dozen times so we recommend that you try all the other options before this one.
3. Manually register with the Microsoft Register Server
Press Windows Key + X and choose Command Prompt (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
Enter the following line into the Command Prompt, and press Enter:
regsvr32 /u XAudio2_6.dll (this command will un-register the file)
Now Enter this command, and press Enter:
regsvr32 /i XAudio2_6.dll(this will register the file again)
Close the Command Prompt, and try to open the game associated with XAudio2_6.dll again.
Maybe XAudio2_6.dll is present on your computer, but it’s just not registered. In most cases it (and all other .dll files) should be registered automatically, but in some cases, there could be complications.
Therefore, you can try to register this file on your own and see if there are any improvements. Follow the steps above to do so. If this does not solve your issue, move to the next solution.
4. Use the System Restore
Right-click on the Start button and select Control Panel.
Open Recovery by searching for it.
Click on Open System Restore.
Click Next and you’ll see a list of restore points. The best restore point would be one that is recent and predates the error.
Select the restore point and click Next. Windows will show you a list of hard drives that will be affected.
Click Finish to begin the restoration process.
If you’ve started getting this error recently, you can restore your computer to a prior state using System Restore. The only hurdle would be that there must be a restore point dated before the error that you can go back to.
Thankfully, Windows creates restore points when it updates your system, and many programs, like Office and 3ds Max, automatically create restore points during their installation.
5. Use the Windows installation media
Reset your computer using an installation media
Connect the installation media to your computer and then restart it.
Boot from the installation disc or USB. How you do this depends on the manufacturer.
Starting the installation, choose the language you prefer and click Next.
Choose Repair your computer, then click Troubleshoot.
Finally, select Reset this PC. This should reset your PC and solve your problem.
You can reset your computer to its default state. This will remove all of the installed applications and restore all the settings, but lets you keep your files if you choose to.
Reinstall Windows
Reinstalling Windows will delete everything, including applications; updates; drivers; and personal files, so you should think it through.
If you are sure, then you can follow the detailed instructions provided in this article to do it.
Using installation media gives youtwo new ways to recover your system. Before we start, naturally, you must have either a disc or USB with Windows installation files on it.
OccidentAcrident.dll error is a DLL error and those are generally quite hard to fix. We hope these methods have helped you get rid of it.
Use the comments section below to tell us how your efforts went, if there has been another DLL error you faced in the past, and if we’ve forgotten to mention an easier way to get rid of this error.
Updating Windows 10 is a very important element when it comes to keeping your PC in top shape and protecting it against potential malware.
However, users have sometimes reported problems with missing DLL files as a result of updating their systems.
It seems that the most common missing files are MSVCP100.dll, OpenCL.dll, MFPlat.dll, and ext-ms-win-gdi-desktop-|1-1-0.dll.
So let’s see if there’s a way to fix this problem.
How do I fix missing .dll files after update?
1. Perform Clean Boot
Press Windows Key + R and enter the following code then click OK: msconfig
Select Selective startup and uncheck Load startup items.
Go to the Services tab and check Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all button.
Go to Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
You’ll see a list of startup applications. Right-click each item on the list and choose Disable.
After disabling all startup applications, close Task Manager and click Apply and OK in the System Configuration window.
Restart your computer.
If the ext-ms-win-gdi-desktop-l1-1-0.dll was not found error is not fixed after performing Clean Boot, you need to repeat the same steps and enable services and apps until you find the one that is causing this issue.
Sometimes third-party applications can interfere with Windows 10 and cause missing .dll error messages to appear. To fix this issue some users are suggesting performing Clean Boot.
2. Use a third-party DLL fixer
Professional repair software is designed to keep your PC in top-notch shape, by keeping you safe from malicious sites and viruses and using advanced technology to repair damaged files.
With these tools, you can restore your PC to its optimum state, they allow you to easily solve BSOD and they help you fix the situations when your computer freezes without having to reboot your system.
3. Copy the OpenCL.dll from Windows.old directory
OpenCL.dll file is related to your graphic card, and if you installed the new Windows 10 updates, it’s very likely that the original OpenCL.dll file was removed from your installation.
To fix this error you can simply install the latest graphic card drivers. Alternatively, you can copy this file from windows.old directory.
Downloading updates for your operating system means that a new version of Windows 10 will be installed on your hard drive while keeping the old version in case you want to roll back.
Windows.old folder contains all your data from the previous version of Windows 10 including the OpenCL.dll file.
To fix the problem with the missing OpenCL.dll file simply go to the following folder: C:WINDOWSsystem32eed.ec.dll Locate the missing .dll file and copy it to this folder: C:WindowsSystem32
After performing these actions the ext-ms-win-gdi-desktop-l1-1-0.dll is missing error should be fixed, but if it persists try our next solution.
4. Update your OS
Go to Start, then select Settings.
Access Update and Security, and click on Windows Update.
Choose Check for updates
If the update is not available through the Check for updates function, you can try to get the latest updates by downloading the Update Assistant from the official Microsoft site.
It is common if you encounter issues during the update process or if you had issues with previous major updates you can learn how to handle them from our article on fixing Windows 10 update error.
Make sure you have enough disk space before you begin the installation process, we also recommend you use some specialized tools in order to free some space on your hard drive.
5. Wait for the next update from Microsoft
App developers discovered that certain functions such as DeviceCapabilitiesExW (unicode only) are being redirected to ext-ms-win-gdi-desktop-|1-1-0.dll file.
According to app developers, this function used be handled by gdi32.dll, but now it’s using a different .dll file.
If you still encounter errors, the best thing you can do in this case is to never miss any new available downloads from Microsoft, related to a recent major update.
Any Microsoft update is always followed by various improvements such as security patches, new features, and bug fixes
If your favorite application isn’t working due to a certain error, you might have to wait until app developers update it and release a proper fix.
Windows updates include many amazing features, but the ext-ms-win-gdi-desktop-l1-1-0.dll issue can break certain applications completely.
If you’re having these problems, we suggest that you try some of our solutions, but if the problem persists, we advise that you keep both Windows 10 and your favorite applications up to date and wait for an official fix.
We’d like to hear more on this matter so feel free to drop us a comment in the comment section below.
The mfc100u.dll type of errors can pose a serious issue, especially for vivid gamers that need redistributables to run most of the games.
The one problem that’s quite frequently reported in Windows 10 introduces an error prompt that informs a user that the mfc100u.dll file is missing.
As you might know, DLL files are important secondary files that enable a certain application to work on the Windows platform.
The special emphasis goes to DirectX and Virtual C++ runtime and their DLL files placed in the System32 folder. If only a single one is missing, you won’t be able to run the program at hand and the system will prompt you with an error.
Luckily, we prepared more than a few solutions that should help you resolve this issue. If you’re stuck with a missing DLL file, make sure to check them out below.
How do I fix mfc100u.dll is missing error in Windows 10?
1. Use third-party software
Broken or missing DLLs can wreak havoc on a computer, fixing them is not easy or without risk. The best solution is to use specialized system repair software.
These tools will greatly simplify the process and reduce the risk of anything going wrong by simply replacing the corrupted or missing files with fresh ones from their database.
2. Add all the Redistributables available
Go to the Microsoft official site and download the latest version of Visual Studio.
Select the preferred Visual C++, with emphasis on proper architecture and language.
Download and install various versions and restart your PC.
Try to start the troubled program again.
Now, even though users aren’t forced to use all iterations of Visual C++, it will cost you nothing to install all available versions.
If one version, say Visual C++ 2015, supports one application or a game for that matter, that doesn’t mean that other, older games will work just as fine.
They may as well prompt you with the above-mentioned DLL error and you’ll get stuck in the never-ending cycle.
So, for that purpose, in order to make sure you fix the navigation to the official support site and download all Visual C++ iterations. Make sure to install as many redistributables as you can and restart your PC.
Once you’ve dealt with it, the programs should start without the mfc100u.dll is missing error reappearing every time.
3. Install the latest Windows updates
Press Windows key + I to summon the Settings app.
Choose Updates & security.
Click on the ‘Check for updates button.
Install updates and restart your PC.
Once you install a certain feature that’s vital for Windows 10 performance in various categories, you can expect updates to come via Windows Update.
Most of the time, those are security, cumulative updates of Visual C++, but they can serve you well mfc100u.dll redistributable.
As you’re well aware, Windows 10 updates are mandatory and automatically provided within inactive hours. But, since we’re having a problem here, you might speed up the procedure and check for updates manually.
4. Reinstall the problematic program
Type Control in the Windows Search bar and openControl Panel.
In the Category view, choose to Uninstall a program.
Right-click the troubled program or game and choose Repair.
Follow the further instructions and, after it’s done, restart your PC.
Still, on some rare occasions, the Visual C++ installation or reinstallation won’t suffice. Namely, the program installation might be culpable for the error at hand.
Related files stored in the installation folder can get corrupted or incomplete, which will, consequently, result in errors. To address this matter, you’ll need to either repair or reinstall the program.
Since the majority of affected programs are games, you can repair them easily, either by navigating to Control Panel or by using desktop client tools that come with Steam, Batttle.net, etc.
With these tools, you’ll be able to scan for installation integrity and repair the installation if needed.
However, if you’re running a game without clients, you should follow the instructions below to repair the troubled program or game:
After that, in combination with previous solutions, you should be relieved of the mfc100u.dll is missing error in Windows 10.
5. Scan your system for malware
Open Windows Defender from the taskbar notification area.
Choose Virus & threat protection.
Click on the ”Run a new advanced scan” option.
Choose Windows Defender Offline Scan and click on the Scan now button.
Finally, this last solution isn’t a solution per se. This is more of a precaution you should take in case you’re missing DLL files, including mfc100u.dll.
Namely, malware infections are mostly the reason for the sudden disappearance of DLL files. Yes, there’s a chance you’ve deleted some of them on your own, but those are isolated cases and virus threat is a problem reported daily.
What you’ll need to do is to perform a deep scan and check for malware presence on your PC. You can use third-party antimalware solutions or Windows Defender – it’s your choice.
There are various causes of the mfc100u.dll errors but most of the time a corrupted file or program is at the root of the issue. Make sure to follow our steps correctly and we ensure you that you will fix the problem with no headaches.
In case you have further issues, questions, suggestions, or remarks, don’t forget to share them in the comments below.
More than a few users run into this or similar problems, especially avid gamers.
They try to start the application or, let’s say a game of some kind, and they’re suddenly prompted with D3dx9_42.dll is missing error in Windows 10.
Even though it looks scary, there’s nothing to worry about.
This is one of many DirectX errors that are quite common for all iterations of the Windows platform, including Windows 10.
So, in case you run into it, make sure to check the solutions below.
How can I fix DirectX error D3dx9_42.dll is missing?
1. Reinstall the problematic program or game
In the Windows Search bar, type control and open Control Panel.
Choose Uninstall a program.
Right-click the troubling program or game and uninstall it. Before that, you might want to backup your saves.
Now, navigate to the installation and AppData folders, and clear all remaining files.
Start the setup and install the program again and look for changes.
Sometimes, the problem with the d3dx9_42.dll files in Windows 10 may lie in the game or application you’re running, rather than in DirectX.
Such complex programs can easily get corrupted or can suffer from repetitive incomplete files.
On top of that, if we assume that other games or applications are working, it’s simple to conclude what’s the culprit.
In addition, before we move to a complete reinstallation segment, it’s worth mentioning that certain game desktop clients, like Steam or Origin, offer the integrity-checking tool.
With this tool, you can check for the integrity of the installation files and fix possible corruption.
On the other hand, if that’s taking you nowhere, reinstallation should be your next step. Follow the instructions below to reinstall the affected program or game.
2. Use a professional .dll fixer
A dedicated tool can repair your PC by removing files affected by malware and recovering corrupted files. It is also the best solution for fixing d3dx9_42.dll not found errors.
A reason why a professional tool is crucial for your PC is that it has the ability to detect harmful OS files and replace them with fresh components from a comprehensive database.
You can also use it to optimize the registry and most importantly to stop your PC from crashing or freezing.
Some other perks are that it can help you repair those annoying error messages and also recover and replace DLL files.
Moreover, you must know the fact that missing DLL files can be easily found using an automated repairing tool. Plus, you are able to repair this issue effortlessly.
That being said, take care of any system problems that involve Windows errors by choosing complete PC patching features.
3. Check GPU drivers
Finally, if both of the aforementioned solutions were futile regarding the d3dx9_42.dll is missing error, then all our suspicion gets redirected to drivers.
The outdated or unsuitable GPU drivers can also provoke or similar errors.
They are directly related to DirectX and the functionality of all related applications heavily depends on the GPU properly doing its job.
Most of the time, the generic GPU drivers provided via Windows Update won’t suffice. So, in order to get the proper drivers, you’ll need to look at the OEM’s official site.
In the end, after you install the proper drivers, restart your PC, and run the program again.
We hope that this was a helpful read and that, with the included steps, you’ll be able to overcome the D3dx9_42.dll message error.
In case you have questions, suggestions, or remarks, make sure to post them in the comments below.
This problem is associated with the NVIDIA GeForce Experience, in turn, related to NVIDIA Capture Server Proxy which is a proxy server used whenever streaming or recording takes place in ShadowPlay.
However, NVIDIA ShadowPlay is used to record and share gameplay videos, screenshots, and live streams with people. Disabling NVIDIA GeForce Experience worked like a charm so here’s what you do:
How can I fix nvspcap64.dll not found on Windows 10?
1. Disable NVIDIA GeForce Experience from startup
Press the Windows and R key at the same time to launch the Run program.
Type msconfigwithout quotes and click on OK.
Now, click on the Services tab.
Here, uncheck the NVIDIA GeForce Experience Service box (or any other NVIDIA application programs) and click on OK.
The startup error nvspcap64.dll can be fixed by disabling NVIDIA GeForce Experience service from the startup. This will remove the application from startup programs.
Alternatively, you could try fixing or repairing the affected DLLs using third-party repair software, since doing so manually poses too many risks to be worth it.
In fact, Microsoft themselves recommend that users never attempt to modify or replace DLLs manually unless they have backups made, precisely because the task itself is very delicate.
2. Update NVIDIA Drivers
Press the Windows and R key to launch the Run program.
In the Run windows, type devmgmt.msc and click OK to open Device Manager.
From the Device Manager left the panel, expand the Display adapters’ category and right-click on NVIDIA driver.
Select Update Driver and follow the prompts to apply the update.
Finally, after NVIDIA driver on your PC has been updated, restart your PC.
3. Uninstall using a removal tool
Another method of fixing nvspcap64.dll is by using the CCleaner uninstaller program. This utility program is ideal for removing stubborn software applications and cleaning up all their traces.
Microsoft constantly releases Windows updates so as to improve the system’s stability and fix various issues and errors associated with startup errors.
This isn’t the only problem you can experience with Nvidia, and a few users reported that cudart64_90.dll is missing, but we have a guide that tackles this issue.
In conclusion, the solutions listed above can help you to fix nvspcap64.dll startup problem on your Windows 10 PC. Comment below if you have any questions.
Even though we are all trying to reduce the amount of paper used in our companies, the reality is that businesses still need to use paper. And so do individual users.
As an example, in case you’re planning on writing a recommendation letter for one of your employees or sending an official notice regarding your company, the presentation of the letter is extremely important.
As you might know, the first impression is very important in any domain, as it sets the stage for how people will perceive you and what kind of relationship can be built.
This idea is especially important when it comes to companies both big and small, that’s why the way you present your company can make the difference between success and failure.
No matter if you’re using a physical paper document or a digital document, in order to achieve good results and make a good impression, all the official company documents have to include a professional-looking letterhead.
Using basic letterheads that were created in Microsoft Word will not do the trick.
If you want to step up your game regarding the way you present yourself and your company on the market, we recommend that you try these letterhead software options that we will explore in this article, next.
Which are the best tools to make great letterheads?
Adobe Creative Cloud Express is another great software option that can help you obtain professional-looking letterheads to represent you and your company.
This software was designed to be simple to use with an easily understandable user interface.
Creating letterheads in Adobe Creative Cloud Express takes just a few steps and in order to make the job even easier for you, it includes a great range of pre-made professional-looking templates.
You can customize every aspect of your newly created letterhead, save it in the cloud, or even generate templates from it for your next projects. Photos, shapes, and text can be easily added to create the perfect design for your company.
Adobe Creative Cloud Express comes in 3 different versions, one free, and two paid. The free version of this software gives you all the tools you need to get started in creating great letterheads but has some limitations.
The paid versions are also split into two categories, one for individual use, and the other for commercial use. Let’s explore some of their best features.
Adobe Creative Cloud Express Premium for Individuals incorporates all the features found in the free edition.
It gives you the ability to change the Creative Cloud Express logo to one of your companies and allows you to add your brand to include graphics, web pages, etc.
You can customize all aspects of the text, the font coloring, and you also have access to custom branding templates. This tool allows you access to live phone, chat support, and dedicated email support.
With Adobe Creative Cloud Express Premium for Teams, your company gets ownership of the user licenses and it provides billing features for all licenses on the account.
You can also reassign licenses through the web management tool included and you get dedicated 24/7 technical support by phone, email, chat, and forums.
Even though Adobe Creative Cloud Express is easy to use, you might find a tutorial to be useful. There is a good number of tutorials on the Adobe official site.
Adobe Creative Cloud Express
Professional letterheads can have a great impact for those that you are communicating with. Use the best tools on the market for them!
Canva is a great letterhead maker app for PC that allows you to easily create custom letterheads, by choosing one of the great numbers of templates offered and then editing it to your needs.
This tool has a wide selection of professionally designed fonts, layouts, and images that allows you to create great-looking letterheads.
The free version of Canva offers you a good range of features that enable you to create letterheads easily.
The paid version also allows you to customize your project with your brand and also unlocks access to more layouts and filters.
In order to get started with creating your custom letterhead, you just need to open Canva and select the letterhead from the design types.
Now you can choose one of the provided layouts, upload your own images, edit them, and then easily save and share your project.
Canva offers you access to over 1 million photographs, graphics, and illustrations, and also more than 130 great-looking fonts. These options make Canva one of the easiest tools that you can use to create letterheads.
Canva
When it comes to designing graphical elements to make documents look professional, few tools will be as useful to you as Canva!
SpringPublisher Pro is incredibly powerful and useful publishing software that allows you to design and also print a wide range of formats.
You can create flyers, business cards, postcards, and also professional-looking letterheads that will surely improve the image of your company.
This software has a good range of out-of-the-box templates, and also allows you to download even more from the online store in the paid version.
SpringPublisher was released in 2 different versions, the Free edition has only basic capabilities and limited template downloads, and a Pro version.
SpringPublisher Pro includes all the features of the Free version and also gives you the possibility to download additional templates and create high-quality results at 350dpi.
All the templates found in this software can be edited in any way you see fit. You can remove and add specific elements, add shapes, text, and also images, with just one mouse click.
You can also edit the images you upload, select the font size, color, and formatting options for your text, and also insert QR codes, barcodes, etc.
After you’re done editing every aspect of your chosen template, you can easily choose to export your work either by creating a weblink or by downloading it to your PC.
LucidPress is an online platform that was designed to be easy to use, includes drag-and-drop features, and can create a large array of designs with the use of templates, and customization options.
You can create brochures, flyers, business cards, letterheads, so why not choose to start with one of the 350 professional-looking templates, or with a blank canvas and create something truly original.
One of the best aspects of this letterhead design software for pc is that is free to download. You can enjoy working along with your team from one screen, in the same way, Google Docs works.
In order to communicate with your colleagues and choose the best design, colors, and fonts, you can use the built-in chat and comment feature.
This is an incredibly useful tool if you are part of a team of designers, or just want some guidance from your friends.
Everything you create will be stored with encryption in the cloud, and the fact that you don’t have to install anything on your computer comes very usefully, especially for growing companies that need storage space.
You can also see an overview of the history of revisions, and set custom permissions to different users.
GraphicSprings is another great software option that allows you to easily create letterheads and other types of professional-looking documentation.
The letterhead maker from GraphicSprings is very easy to use and has a great range of templates created by their graphic designers. You have the option to start by either using a template or creating everything from scratch.
If you want to use one of the professional-looking built-in templates, the team at GraphicSprings sorted the entire list into different categories – creative, corporate, accounting, business, legal, etc.
Having all the templates sorted into categories allows you quickly choose a suitable option from your activity domain.
To start making letterhead, the first step is to browse the template database and choose the one that fits your needs.
Then, you can edit every aspect of the template and add your custom logo. After you are done editing you can simply choose to download or print your letterhead directly from the software.
The tools we explored in this article will help you create great-looking custom letterheads, that will represent your company entirely and make a good first impression.
The features found in the letterhead software we presented today, cover a range of topics, but most importantly, they offer a great set of professional-looking elements that can help you customize the look of your company.
We would love to know what your opinion is on the software we presented in this Top 5. Please feel free to let us know in the comment section below.
Wireless mouse issues are pretty common. In fact, there have been several instances of the mouse behaving erratically once you have upgraded to Windows 10.
Luckily, the problem can be easily dealt with so that you can have your mouse up and running within minutes.
Mentioned below are some of the most common reasons that could be preventing your mouse to perform optimally on your Windows 10 device, along with ways to get around it quickly.
Also, since your wireless mouse is down, you will need to have other pointing devices such as a USB mouse, touchpad, or such to carry out several of the steps mentioned below. Unless your device is touchscreen enabled.
So if you’re asking yourself why is my wireless mouse not working, let’s solve this problem right now!
What can I do if the wireless mouse is not working?
1. Check the compatibility with Windows 10 and the hardware
This happens to be one of the most common errors you are likely to face on a Windows 10 device. So, the first thing for you to do will be to ensure your mouse is compatible with Windows 10.
Most new models should be. However, if the mouse is more than five years old, chances are that it isn’t compatible with Windows 10. If that be the case, you have no other option but to go for a complete replacement.
If the mouse is of a recent make and is still not responding, the other option for you will be to ensure the wireless receiver is attached to a port that is working or has adequate power.
For this, try changing your ports and see if things change. Also, ensure you attach the receiver to your PC’s native ports instead of external port replicators.
Further, you can attach the port to a different PC to ensure it is working. This is a common issue so you could fix the problem right away.
Oftentimes, reconnecting the wireless connector too can help solve things. With the PC running, detach the receiver, wait for 10 seconds and reattach it again. This should help restore things.
However, if things still aren’t working, check if the battery within the mouse has enough juice in it before you move on to the next step. Once you are done with the basics, you can now move on to the more serious stuff.
2. Reinstall the driver
Press the Windows button + X on the keyboard and select Device Manager.
Locate and expand Mice and other pointing devices.
Right-click on your wireless mouse and click Uninstall.
In the confirmatory box that follows, click on Uninstall.
There will be another box that will appear on your screen stating the system needs to be restarted for the changes to take effect and will seek your consent for the same. Let it restart.
Once the system reboots, the mouse driver will be installed afresh.
This should solve the issue. However, if it doesn’t, here is what you can do next.
3. Check mouse driver compatibility with Windows 10
Launch Device Driver as shown in the previous solution.
Locate and expand Mice and other pointing devices.
Right click on your wireless mouse and click on the Update driver option.
In the window that appears next, select Search automatically for updated driver software. The system will search both your computer as well as the internet to select the most appropriate and updated software. Restart when prompted.
Alternately, you can go to the official website of the mouse manufacturer and download the latest driver manually.
In that case, select the second option after clicking on Update Driver, that is, Browse my computer for driver software. Provide the path where the software is located for Windows to install it. Again, restart when asked to.
Manually reinstalling and updating the driver is not really a piece of cake and if you download the wrong driver you will have the same problem all over again.
However, you can also fix this problem by using a third-party tool to automatically install any missing drivers or repair the problematic ones.
Type msconfig in the search box and choose System Configuration.
Select the Services tab and uncheck the Hide all Microsoft services check box.
Click on the Disable all button.
Select the Startup tab from the top and click on Open Task Manager.
In Task Manager, select each item by clicking on it and change the status to Disable.
Close Task Manager.
In the main System Configuration dialog box, click on OK.
Restart your PC to let the changes take effect.
Once the PC has restarted, connect the mouse. you will now have to single out the program that might be hampering the mouse performance. For this, go to the next step.
5. Find the problematic software
Launch the System Configuration like shown in the previous solution.
Select the Services tab and click on the Hide all Microsoft services check box.
Manually select only one half from the services list.
Click on OK to close the System Configuration dialog box.
Click on restart when prompted to let the change take effect.
If it does still doesn’t work, repeat the above steps but with another set of services selected from under the Services tab until you zero in on the particular program that is causing the issue.
However, if the problem is still there, the culprit is among the selected services. Repeat the same procedure but with lesser number of services to pinpoint on the exact service that is likely causing the problem.
It is sort of the binary search algorithms often used to search among sorted arrays.
Once you have found the program that is preventing the wireless mouse from functioning, keep it unchecked and re-start the device. Things should work fine from here onwards.
Meanwhile, you can also get in touch with the developer of the particular problem that is colliding with the wireless mouse to see if they have a workable solution.
You can also perform a clean boot with just the minimum number of drivers to rule out the chances of any other software conflicting with that of the mouse.
6. Re-install Windows 10
If the same wireless mouse has worked fine with another version of Windows, you can roll back to the same before going for a fresh install of Windows 10.
In the end, what is evident is that it is not too big a chore if you find yourself faced with a mouse that is playing dead after you have made the transition to Windows 10.
You can easily get out of the hole by following any of the methods listed above. If you have any other suggestions, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below.
The SNMP (System Network Management Protocol) Service processes SNMP protocol requests. However, some users who have updated Windows 10 to version 1809 have said that SNMP is missing in the latest build version. That is not entirely surprising as SNMP is an optional feature in Windows 10 1809. Users can’t utilize SNMP in Windows 10 when that service is missing.
How do I enable System Network Management Protocol (SNMP) in Windows 10? Firstly, install SNMP with PowerShell. That should restore the missing Windows Feature. Alternatively, add SNMP via Settings or via Control Panel.
Users have confirmed that they’ve restored SNMP in Windows 10 1809 by installing it via PowerShell. To do that, open Cortana by pressing the Type here to search button on the taskbar.
Enter PowerShell as the keyword in the search box.
First, enter Get-WindowsCapability -Online -Name “SNMP*” in PowerShell, as in the shot directly below, and press Return.
Input Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name “SNMP.Client~~~~0.0.1.0” and press Enter.
Then enter Get-WindowsCapability -Online -Name “SNMP*” in PowerShell, and press the Return key.
Thereafter, press the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut.
Input services.msc in Run, and click the OK button.
Then users can check if the Services window includes the SNMP Service. If so, the above fix did the trick.
Double-click SNMP Service to open the window directly below.
Then check the service’s Startup type is configured to Automatic.
Click Start if the service is currently stopped.
Select the Apply and OK options.
2. Use third-party tools
One of the easiest ways to fix missing SNMP on your Windows 10 PC is to use specialized tools, such as PRTG Network Monitor. The software works as a network monitor and it can monitor all devices in your network.
Using this software you can easily monitor both bandwidth or databases. Cloud, server, LAN, and SNMP monitoring are also available.
PRTG Network Monitor is a powerful software for network monitoring and if you’re a network administrator or you just want to fix SNMP problems, be sure to try it out.
Alternatively, users can enable SNMP in Windows 10 1903 via the Settings app. First, click the Start button; and then press the Settings button.
Select Apps to open options shown below.
Then click Manage optional features to open the Settings page in the snapshot below.
Press the Add features button.
Then select the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), and press the Install button.
4. How to turn on SNMP in Windows 10 1803
Users who need to enable missing SNMP in Windows 10 1803, or earlier build versions, can do so via Windows Features. To do that, open the Run accessory.
Open Programs and Features by entering ‘appwiz.cpl’ in Run and clicking OK.
Click Turn Windowsfeatures on or off to open the window in the image directly below.
Then check the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) option, and click the OK button.
So, that’s how users can restore a missing SNMP Service in Windows 10 1903 and earlier build versions. Then users can utilize SNMP in Windows 10.
Nobody would ever need monitoring software for all kinds of systems if all devices in the world were as hard-working and as trustworthy as yourself.
But machines have their own flaws and their own performance issues and whims, and the best thing you can do is to monitor them every now and then before anything should happen that cannot be fixed.
Here are 12 monitoring tools for your hard drive, your USB drive, and also for your network, which you can use to make sure that everything that’s related to these systems keeps working as smoothly as possible.
If you plan on building a network you will have to start with architecture, then draw the design and in the end analyze and choose the hardware that best suits your requirements.
Many organizations need their network up and running correctly for generating revenue so having the best set of tools for monitoring and for managing the one you created with so much effort is quite critical.
If you’re wondering how exactly will you winnow out the best monitoring tools for your network from hundreds or even thousands of options we can help you.
Today, there are various commercial products, freeware tools, and open-source software to choose from. There’s also a lot of debate regarding free tools versus paid ones and there are both of them tried and tested and well recommended.
Open-source choices are also a good option and they can even match the commercial tools.
On the other hand, you should be aware of the fact that using an open-source monitoring tool will require a high level of involvement with that particular tool which may not best suit all of your needs.
For one, open-source tools require a significant investment of time and resources for learning, installing, configuring, and using that tool.
Another thing is that some features may have to be built with the help of community support or with the support of an in-house IT team.
Another consideration is security, and this can very easily become an issue in case your enterprise features some strict security guidelines.
Immediate customized fixes may not be available unless you spend some time on their development and so on. There are cases in which some major security flaws are not discovered in the auditing process.
So, our advice is to stick with the free/paid tools for monitoring networks because they’re much more convenient.
Which are the best hard drive health monitoring tools?
In case you are not aware of the state of your hard drives, you may not be able to save all of your precious data, before something nasty happens and then it becomes too late.
You must surely know that not all hard drive crashes are random and this way you have to make time to backup your data before it fails for good.
All the modern drives have a monitoring technology which is called S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology) and this is targeted at continuously monitoring particular parameters on a hard drive.
Various parameters can be monitors by this technology, and they include read/write error dates, seek error dates, temperatures, spinup time, and so on.
In order to be efficiently warned when some of these parameters are becoming degraded or are on the verge of reaching their threshold, you need a program that is able to track down all these changes that are involved and then that will display them for you.
Such monitoring software should be able to allow you to test and to see whether the hard drive is able to store your data in the safest manner possible, it should give you plenty of time to backup your important files and to start looking for a replacement drive.
The monitoring software is not completely able to show you whether the integrity of all your data can be preserved on a particular hard drive.
The best thing you can do is to scan for unreadable blocks of data once a month in order to make sure that your drive is not degrading and your data that you have stored in your system is not being lost.
The first software on our list that deals with the management and limiting of data access from USB devices is Device Control Plus from ManageEngine.
The product is incredibly reliable and it can be used by a wide range of users, from common ones just looking to avoid USB-based viruses to administrators that need to monitor device access to data.
Excessive access privileges will no longer be an issue thanks to Device Control Plus’ zero-trust policy, as it scans every single device before granting it any form of access, regardless if it’s the 100th time you connected it.
Device Control Plus
USB device management and monitoring is crucial for the well-being of your entire PC system. Get Device Control Plus!
The tool offers centralized cloud monitoring for DevOps and IT operations, and it monitors the experience of real users accessing websites and apps from desktop and mobile devices.
The in-depth monitoring capabilities enable DevOps teams to control and troubleshoot apps, servers, and network infrastructure, including both private and public clouds.
The end-user experience monitoring is done from over 50 locations across the world and various wireless carriers.
The Site24x7 software monitors the performance of Internet services such as HTTPS, DNS, FTP, SSL, SMTP, POP, URLs, and APIs.
It offers comprehensive monitoring for critical network devices such as routers, firewalls, and networks. It can help network teams to get deeper performance visibility that is required for managing complex systems.
Site24x7
Monitor the metrics necessary to improve user experiences on your websites with this professional software.
The PRTG Network tools will monitor every aspect of your IT infrastructure including all devices, systems, traffic, and apps using various technologies.
These technologies include the following: SNMP (ready to use and custom options), WMI and Windows Performance Counters, SSH (for Linux/Unix and macOS systems), Flows, and Packet Sniffing, Ping, HTTP requests and push data, SQL and more.
The tool is able to scan network segments by pinging defined IP ranges and this way PRTG will recognize a broad range of devices and systems in an automatic manner, and it will create sensors from predefined device templates.
All of these will save you lots of configuration work, and you will be able to start monitoring everything right away.
The tool also allows you to create web pages with up-to-date monitoring data in your desired design. You will also be able to create maps with your monitoring data publicly available.
PRTG will alert you when it discovers warnings or important metrics. You will also be able to get push notifications straight to your mobile device and you can set up the notifications via email and SMS the best way to suit all of your needs.
Using the powerful API, you are allowed to even write your own scripts.
PRTG Network Monitor
A complete solution to monitor everything: network, devices, systems, and applications. Setup filters and custom alerts.
USB devices are a prime location for malware to infect your PC since most of the time they instantly gain access to your entire PC’s database of files, so limiting access is the best way to prevent such situations.
Gilisoft USB Lock is a third-party tool specialized in doing just that, as it can easily limit, access of external media to your PC, and you can even use it to shut down PC ports entirely, preventing accidental connections.
More so, the product features an incredibly simple interface, with most of the information being handed to you the moment you connect a new device to your PC, making it extremely beginner-friendly.
Gilisoft USB Lock
The name says it all, and Gilisoft USB Lock will quickly limit the access of any unauthorized USB device.
Cacti is a network monitoring tool that allows you to collect data from almost any network element there is including switching and routing systems, load balancers, firewalls, and servers, and it will put all of the data into graphs.
If you own a device, it is possible that Cacti’s active community of developers has created a monitoring template for it.
This tool supports SNMP polling which covers a broad range of network devices.
You will also be able to extend Cacti’s capabilities to use scripts, queries or commands for data collection and then save it as a template and then to use for polling other devices for similar data sets.
Cacti leverages the power of RRDTool. This is an open-source data logging and graphing system which is designed for storing polled data in the database. It also creates graphs from the stored data sets.
RRDTool’s data consolidation allows you to store the collected data forever and it is limited only by the size of your storage. Cacti leveraging on RRDTool can generate any type of graph for any data set.
The graphing used in Cacti is the standard used by various open-source and commercial tools.
Cacti also allows you to add more users and to give them access with or without edit permissions. This is just perfect for service providers and enterprises with a large NOC team.
Cacti leveraging on RRDTool can generate any type of graph for any data set. The graphing used in Cacti is the standard used by various open-source and commercial tools.
Cacti allows you to add more users and to give them access with or without edit permissions. This is just perfect for service providers and enterprises with a large NOC team.
This is a traffic probe that uses libpcap for packet capture to report on network traffic.
You can install it on a server with various interfaces and use port mirroring on a network tap to feed ntopng with the data packets from the network for analysis.
The software can analyze traffic even at 10G speeds; to report on IP addresses, volume, and bytes for each and every transaction.
It can also sort traffic based on IP, protocol, and port, it generates reports for usage and even on AS information.
Such a level of traffic analysis will help you make some informed decisions about capacity planning and QoS design, and it will also help you find bandwidth-hogging users and apps in your network.
The tool has a commercial version that is called ntopng pro which comes with some additional features, but the open-source version seems to be good enough to quickly gain insight into traffic behavior.
The tool will integrate with external monitoring apps such as Nagios for alerting and it will provide data for monitoring.
The program also features some limitations, but its level of network traffic visibility makes it worth your money and efforts.
This is an excellent program for monitoring the temperature and health of your hard drive. The software is able to warn you if the temperature and if the health of your drive is deteriorating.
The program’s default temperature warning is set to 50 degrees Celsius, and it can also be adjusted.
It features graphs of the accumulated S.M.A.R.T. data, and it doesn’t have any problems telling users anything there is to know about the drive.
CrystalDiskInfo lists both the Power On Count and the total Power On Hours. The software is open-source, and there is a portable version of the program and also an installer.
The main advantages of the program include resident monitoring, alarm for temperature and health, showing the temperature for each and every drive in the system tray, S.M.A.R.T. and general info about internal/external hard drives and setting for adjusting AAM/APM.
Its minuses include the fact that you must set it up to be a resident and to startup in the system tray for constant monitoring.
This is quite an amazing piece of software even if its interface needs a little getting used to. One of its best features is the Graph when you are scanning the surface for unreadable blocks of data.
It is able to list the blocks by response time and this way you will get to see how many blocks are getting close to being unreadable before the data in those blocks is lost. It will warn you about un-checking the box that disables the maps dynamic update.
You are advised not to have any other programs running at the same time you are scanning, and there is also the Conveyance text that will turn out to be great in case you receive a new or an old internal/external hard drive.
The program also features settings for adjusting the AAM (Automatic Acoustic Management), the PM (Power Management), and the APM (Advanced Power Management).
Its main features include monitoring temperature, alarm for temperature, showing the temperature for each drive, S.M.A.R.T. offline conveyance and more tests, surface scan, information about internal and external hard drives, and the ones that we have already described above.
The temperature monitor must be selected for each and every drive for it to be able to be continuously monitored and this must be done each time you start the program.
HD Tune is quite a useful benchmark to test your hard drive performance. Its free version provides block scanner capabilities, and it works with both internal and external hard drives.
This utility features a graphical benchmark to bench internal/external hard drives performances and it scans for bad data blocks on internal and on external drives with graphical diagrams.
It can also display power-on hours, S.M.A.R.T., and general info only for internal drives.
You can also make the program portable, and all you have to do for this is to copy HDTune.exe to the folder you like after you install the program.
The program’s free version is not updated anymore, and you have to go for a paid-for Pro version with some more complex features.
The free version of the program does not include any external USB hard drive S.M.A.R.T. monitoring, temperature, and information as it is not updated.
Which are the best USB flash drive monitoring tools?
Whenever you buy a new piece of computer hardware, whether it is the memory, a CPU, a hard drive and so on, one of the main factors that will help you determine your buying decision would be the performance of that certain component.
Regarding the hard drives and the SSD drives you will have to look at their capacity and read/write speeds.
The story will be quite similar in case you decide on purchasing a removable memory card or a USB flash drive.
Besides from having to worry about USB drives being at their full capacity and not being fake in case you get them from places such as eBay, the performance of a flash drive can vary by massive amounts.
This will strongly depend on the manufacturer and the type of memory that is used.
Now, the modern devices are reaching up to 64GB and even more than this and, if you purchase a slow USB flash drive with a high capacity, this could literally take hours to fill it up completely.
Besides being incredibly frustrating, this could also turn out to be a total waste of cash if you have to go and buy something else that will be faster and will fit all of your needs.
Many users make their purchases based on the storage size without considering the speed of the drive.
In case you already have some USB flash drives you might like to be able to find out how fast they actually are at writing and reading. In case a 16GB drive only writes at 3-4MB/s it could take forever to fill it.
If you own a fast USB3 flash drive it could do exactly the same tasks in only a matter of minutes.
Check out these tools to benchmark your USB flash drives or also your media cards to find out just how fast they actually are.
FAQs
What is system monitoring software used for?
System monitoring tools track the health and performance of devices such as hard drives, USB drives, and networks. They help prevent data loss, detect failures early, and optimize performance.
Which software is best for network monitoring?
Popular options include Site24x7, PRTG Network Monitor, CACTI, and NTOPng. These tools provide real-time traffic analysis, alerts, and detailed reports to help you manage bandwidth and detect issues.
Do I really need monitoring tools for my PC?
Yes. Even modern hardware can fail unexpectedly. Monitoring software gives you time to back up data, replace faulty components, and keep your system running smoothly.
How can I monitor my USB devices?
You can use tools like Device Control Plus or Gilisoft USB Lock to manage access and prevent malware from spreading through USB drives. For speed testing, benchmarking tools can measure read/write performance.
Browse through all the software tools listed above and choose the ones that best suit your needs for monitoring the performance of your hard/USB drives and of your network.
Microsoft news recap is a weekly feature highlighting the top Microsoft news stories of the past week. Sit back, grab some coffee, and enjoy the read!
Microsoft’s Surface Duo may come to more markets in February, with a potential 8GB RAM variant
The Surface Duo was expected to come to additional markets in early 2021, but now a new report is suggesting a firmer timeline of February. As a result, the Surface Duo could be arriving in Canada, France, Germany, and the UK, this February. A French retailer’s product listing has also suggested that the 256GB storage option could come with 8GB RAM, whereas the existing US model only gets 6GB RAM.
Xbox Game Pass crosses 18 million subscribers
Microsoft’s game subscription service continues to see strong growth, with the service having now crossed 18 million subscribers. That’s 3 million more subscribers than reported in September, suggesting a rough increase of 1 million subscribers per month.
Microsoft Q2 2021 earnings: Game Pass bet paying off, Surface hardware hits $2 billion in revenue
On the back of the impressive growth in Xbox Game Pass susbcribers, it’s only natural to assume that earnings from the service have helped the company. And in Microsoft’s Q2 2021 earnings, Xbox content and services revenue increased by 40%, whilst overall the company increased its revenue by 17%. You can see the full earnings details here.
Leaked Microsoft transcript leads to public scrutiny of the company’s lobbying efforts
With recent political turmoil in the United States, several companies have pulled back on their financial support for congresspeople and senators, particularly those who supported the insurrection at Capitol Hill. Microsoft, however, has been less keen to hold back on its funds for lobbying, and Microsoft’s President, Brad Smith, has caught some flak for comments made in a meeting with employees which were leaked.
That’s it for this week. We will be back next week with more Microsoft news.
WhatsApp is the most popular instant messaging cross-platform app that is being used for text chats, voice chats, voice calls as well as video calls by over 1.3 Billion people around the world. It is easy to use, and that is one of the reasons why it became so popular among users.
While WhatsApp does have its advantages, certain countries have blocked access to WhatsApp due to government censorship. In some countries the censorship is partial. The users can send a text message but cannot make voice (VoIP) and video calls.
VPNs can help you in unblocking WhatsApp censorship in any country. However, not all the VPNs work the same. Authoritarian states have even blocked VPNs making it challenging to use WhatsApp without switching to a new VPN, every other day.
The easy to solution to this problem is to find a VPN provider who has thousands of server in different countries and can route your Internet traffic through the countries that do not have any restriction on WhatsApp.
In this article, we take a look at the best VPNs to unblock WhatsApp so that you can get back in touch with family and friends through WhatsApp.
Even though some countries have tried to restrict internet access and what apps you can use, a VPN like Private Internet Access can allow you to bypass these restrictions with ease. Once you’ve signed up and installed the client, just select one of the thousands of servers and start browsing.
PIA’s military-grade encryption ensures that your data remains safe, being passed through a secure VPN tunnel and even in the event that it is intercepted, it would be unreadable by anyone.
Moreover, you can try PIA and see how well it protects your data and helps you bypass geo-restrictions with the guarantee that if you’re not satisfied with the results, you have a 30-day period to get reimbursed. We’re sure you’ll love using it, but the safety net is there if you’re unsure.
Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access allows you to use services like WhatsApp is regions where the app has been restricted. Enjoy a major discount right away!
NordVPN is fast and reliable. Slightly less expensive than ExpressVPN, it is based out of Panama making it the safest of the lot, and it comes with all the essential features to ensure your security and privacy online.
NordVPN is fast and maintains the speed consistently. On a 100Mbps connection, we got the following result on the EU server.
Upload Speed: 48 Mbps
Download Speed: 76 Mbps
We tested it for DNS leak and did not find any instance where it has been found unprotected.
Other add-ons that come with NordVPN include IP hiding for anonymous surfing, Kill Switch that disconnects the Internet if the VPN is interrupted and you can connect up to six devices at a time with one account which is better than 3 device limitation on ExpressVPN.
NordVPN has over 4800 servers located in 60+ countries which is good but not on par with ExpressVPN.
NordVPN is still expensive for monthly plans, but if you opt for yearly plans, the charges fall sharply. It also comes with a 30-days money-back guarantee.
Surfshark has fast speeds and stable, secure connections. It’s available in over 50 countries with 800+ servers to choose from. This VPN provider does not restrict the use of torrents and provides you with the ability to access an extensive network of Netflix libraries as well as WhatsApp, Amazon Prime, and other popular applications.
You won’t see any skimping on encryption with this VPN. It offers the latest 256-bit technology and includes a no-logging policy so that only you know about your activity when you’re surfing or downloading a torrent. A kill switch will keep you anonymous if the server you’re using ever gets disconnected.
You’ll find the interface at all of the apps intuitive and easy to use, and speaking of apps, you’ll also find that Surfshark has done an excellent job providing private access to the internet for users who want to utilize all types of platforms, which range from Windows and macOS to Android, iOS, and Linux.
Surfshark doesn’t have a free trial, but it does have a 30-day guarantee that you’ll get your money back if you’re not happy with the VPN service. You can choose from three different pricing options when signing up for a subscription.
Surfshark
Worried about your privacy being breached while using WhatsApp? Try Surfshark.
ExpressVPN is among the most recommended VPNs on the Internet, and that is for all the right reasons. The company is located in British Virginia; it is a fast, secure, and feature-rich VPN that allows you to unblock services like Netflix and WhatsApp with ease.
ExpressVPN has a strict no-logging policy and comes with an IP hiding feature. We also did not detect any data leak or DNS leak in our testing.
When tested on a 100 Mbps connection, ExpressVPN offered exceptional speed with the following stats :
Download Speed: 82 Mbps
Upload Speed: 52 Mbps
Server: EU
On the privacy and security front, ExpressVPN comes with features like Kill-Switch, strong AES-256 encryption based on OpenVPN tunneling protocol, Linux support, and more.
You can unblock not only WhatsApp but also Geo-restricted services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC Network, etc. It also has torrenting support and compatible with TOR.
On the flip side, you can only connect up to 3 devices at a time using one account which can be a deal-breaker if someone wants to share it in a group. The monthly plans are also expensive when compared to other VPNs.
You can use the free trial on your smartphone to test it out, and it also comes with a 30-days money-back guarantee, just in case you are not satisfied with the service.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN can keep your privacy safe, even while using WhatsApp.
If you want to keep your identity under wraps, IPVanish can help you do it with its state of the art encryption and security protocols, and it’s strict no logging policy.
However, since the company is located in the US, you need to take the word of IPVanish that it won’t share your browsing data with the intelligence agencies.
The advantages of IPVanish over other VPNs include its state of the art security protocols and 10 simultaneous connections allowed on multiple devices which higher than any other VPN in the market.
IPVanish is fast. On 100 Mbps connection, we recorded the following result.
Download Speed: 82 Mbps
Upload Speed: 43 Mbps
The speed is better than CyberGhost and on par with ExpressVPN. But, if you use any US based server, the speed drastically goes down to 33 Mbps for download and 20 Mbps for upload which is also the case with other VPNs.
The user interface is not the best of the lot, but doable. The users can select the servers based on country and city manually or let IPVanish find the best one for them. You can also view the upload and download usage stats through the app.
IPVanish does not log user data. It comes with the strong AES-256 bit encryption which is currently the best in the business.
While IPVanish does support torrenting and Netflix unblocking, it does not come with Tor compatibility.
IPVanish monthly plans are lower than any other VPNs mentioned until now. It also comes with a 7-days money-back guarantee. With all the features on offer, IPVanish definitely worth a try but only for those who are okay with their VPN provider being located in the USA.
IPVanish
Want to feel that your privacy is safe while using WhatsApp? Give IPVanish a try.
Torrenting allowed and Netflix unblocking supported.
Up to 5 devices simultaneous connection
Cons
Some logging issue
Pricey monthly plans
Hotspot Shield is a free VPN that you can download on your smartphone as well as on your computer. It also comes with a premium Elite version which costs $12.99 per month.
Hotspot Shield is popular and has over 650 Million around the world making it one of the most popular VPN clients in the market today.
The free version of Hotspot Shield comes with a bandwidth cap. It also shows ads on the browser at times which means Hotspot Shield stores some user data to show relevant ads.
These issues do not exist in the premium Elite version. What sets Hotspot Shield apart from other VPNs is its speed.
We tested the VPN using a 100 Mbps connection and got the following results for the EU server.
Download Speed: 92 Mbps
Upload Speed: 45 Mbps
The speed is even better on the UK server and marginally slower on Asian servers. However, for the US server, the speed is not good.
The user interface of Hotspot Shield is one of the best things about this VPN client. It displays the connection status, connected server and country, IP address along with up and down data usage stats.
You can download torrents and unblock Netflix using the VPN. However, it does not support Tor at the time.
Hotspot Shield is recommended if you want the fastest VPN for a short time and also if you are looking for a free VPN. It also comes with a money-back guarantee in case you bought the Elite plan and did not like the service.
Hotspot Shield
Hotspot Shield can keep your privacy safe, even while you're using WhatsApp.
Apart from state authorities, WhatsApp is also blocked by educational institutions and private companies to prevent the employees and students from using WhatsApp.
As of now, there are at least 13 countries in the world, where the state authorities have completely banned WhatsApp for various reasons while some countries have only blocked the voice calling features of the app.
We have included VPNs that offer robust security and privacy features such as 256-AES encryption and Kill switch to keep your connection private and prevent any data leak while also allowing you to bypass any restrictions from the ISPs.
It is important that you select the right VPN as per your requirement and budget. Make sure that you go through all the points carefully before committing to any one of the VPN services recommended by us.
Microsoft is holding a special digital event themed towards Microsoft 365 on Thursday, February 4 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time. The event is set to feature CEO Satya Nadella and Jared Spataro, who will both apparently “discuss ways to transform the employee experience.”
Not many details are known about what’s expected, but it is likely to include news about Microsoft Teams, and Microsoft 365 Business or Enterprise. Many Microsoft executives or employees, including Microsoft 365 CVP Jeff Teper, and GM of Office 365 Product Marketing, Seth Patton have been spotted promoting the event on Twitter.
You can currently save the date for the event and add it to your calendar. The calendar invite mentions that the event is about Microsoft’s commitment to “empower people and teams be their best.” Microsoft also mentions that you’ll “see new ways to bring together communications, knowledge, learning, resources, and insights with everyday work.”
It’s been a while since we had a dedicated digital Microsoft event, themed towards Surface, or even Microsoft 365. Microsoft last had a closed-door press event for the Surface Duo late last year. Then, before that, the company held another closed-door event on March 30 which was themed towards Microsoft 365 Personal and Family, and the rebranding of most Office 365 subscriptions to Microsoft 365.
Since this event is being promoted on Twitter, it’s likely to be public, for everyone to see. We’ll be keeping an eye on this and plan to watch, so be sure to keep tuned to OnMSFT next week for more.
If anonymity and privacy are your foremost concern, you should be using VPNs to browse the Internet. However, only VPNs are not enough.
With Tor, your connection is routed via a number of nodes (relays) maintained by volunteers all over the world. And VPN will protect your IP address from the ISP as well.
Not all VPNs support Tor. This is why we have looked at the best VPNs with Tor support and reviewed them for speed, data leak, IP Hide, and security features.
Why use a VPN with Tor?
In authoritarian countries, the government heavily monitors user behavior online. Journalists, activists to ordinary citizens might get into trouble for accessing any data that is censored by the govt.
While the govt agencies ask Internet Service Providers to block access to websites and services, people usually use VPN to bypass the restrictions to access contents that are otherwise blocked in the country.
Even if you are using VPN, the VPN provider knows your IP address and locations. You have to take your VPN provider’s word for the privacy policy and trust them blindly.
If you are looking for the best VPNs that work with Tor, this article will help you find the ones with the most features and affordable price tags.
ExpressVPN offers top-notch security, and reliable speed as well as thousands of servers in over 90 countries that allow you to bypass censorship and unblock geo-restricted content.
For security, ExpressVPN relies on 256-AES encryption. Along with that, you can connect via multiple VPN secure protocols such as OpenVPN or Lightway.
This Tor-supported VPN also has a strict no-logging policy, none of your activity is tracked by ExpressVPN.
This VPN is also very reliable when it comes to speed. We tested it and were able to reach a maximum of 84 Mbps download, and 52 Mbps upload speed over a 100 Mbps connection.
One of the most notable features of this VPN is that it can unblock geo-restricted content on Netflix and Amazon Prime, as well as other geo-restricted platforms.
It also offers basic VPN features such as IP hiding, Killswitch, P2P server support, and cross-platform support.
✔️ Pros
Tor over VPN supported
2000+ servers in 94 countries
Multi-platform support
Unblock Netflix
Strong encryption protocol
❌ Cons
Pricier than other VPNs
Only supports 5 simultaneous connections
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is a solid VPN service that works great even with Tor.
NordVPN is one of the highly rated VPNs that comes with all the security features, reliability as well as speed. It comes in both monthly as well as yearly plans for short-term and long terms users.
For that extra layer of protection, NordVPN supports Onion over VPN which allows you to route your traffic through VPN and then send it to the onion routers.
NordVPN relies on 256-AES-CBC encryption to protect user data and supports OpenVPN along with other tunneling protocols.
During the speed testing, NordVPN performed better than average reaching 74 Mbps down and 46 Mbps up on the EU server.
SmartPlay features in the VPN allow you to unblock Geo-restricted content on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and BBC, etc.
It also comes with DNS leak protection and Kill-Switch to terminate the connection when the VPN connection is interrupted.
✔️ Pros
Tor support
Netflix unblocking supported
Kill Switch available
Six devices simultaneous connection
❌ Cons
Expensive monthly plans
NordVPN
NordVPN is an excellent service that goes great with Tor.
Private Internet Access is the perfect VPN to use in conjunction with Tor Browser.
While keeping your data secure, you also benefit from all the other features of PIA and you can connect to one of their thousands of servers worldwide.
Using the Tor Browser is a good way of keeping your data safe. IP theft has been on the rise in the last years and taking precautions against this is common sense.
For much better online security, you pair Tor with this VPN and benefit from both layers of security.
Your initial IP is masked by the VPN, which is then routed by the Tor browser, and out the other end comes a secure and encrypted stream of data.
✔️ Pros:
Military-grade data encryption
P2P support
WireGuard®, PPTP, OpenVPN and L2TP/IPSec protocols
SOCKS5 Proxy Included
Multiple VPN gateways
No traffic logs
Unlimited bandwidth
Protection for up to 10 devices simultaneously
❌ Cons:
Can’t unlock all streaming apps
Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access and Tor Browser work together to keep you completely safe and anonymous when online!
With over 2900 servers in 59 countries, CyberGhost is a popular VPN client. CyberGhost is compatible with Tor and other proxy services and makes your connection a little more secure than using a bare VPN.
It comes with all the essential features of a VPN including IP hiding, Killswitch and multiple device connections to up to 7 devices simultaneously.
We did not find any instances of data leaks in our testing. The user policy is clear regarding data logging as well.
Moreover, it is a cross-platform software that can be used on your computer as well as portable handled devices like smartphones.
If you want to use CyberGhost for downloading torrents, its Torrent Anonymously feature helps you to download torrents using untraceable servers.
It also uses dedicated IP addresses for unblocking streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime.
On the speed front, CyberGhost is not the fastest of the lot. Upon testing, CyberGhost reached a maximum download speed of 52 Mbps and upload speed of 23 Mbps which can again vary depending on the server.
✔️ Pros
Tor and proxy server compatible
No log files saved
Simple user interface
Torrenting supported
❌ Cons
Short-time plans can get costly
CyberGhost
Want a trustworthy VPN that will work with Tor? Try CyberGhost VPN.
If you only want Tor support for web browsing on a VPN, then IPVanish can be a good choice. It comes with all the essential features related to security while offering good transfer speed as well.
IPVanish is a US-based company but does have a strict no-logging policy. We did not find any case of data leak while using the VPN.
One of the advantages of using IPVanish is its speed. On a 100 Mbps connection, we reached a maximum download speed of 83 Mbps while the upload speed was decent at 44 Mbps.
The software comes with a simple user interface. You can manually select the servers based on the country and city or let the software find the best-performing server for you.
IPVanish uses the AES-256 encryption protocol to safeguard your data even from brute force attacks. For tunnelling, it uses SOCKS5 Web proxy along with other protocols including OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TP.
Another advantage of using IPVanish is that it supports up to 10 devices with a simultaneous connection which is more than other VPNs is offering.
You can download Torrents without any problem and also unblock online streaming sites like Netflix with ease.
IPVanish offers everything you need in a VPN. Speed, security, Tor support as well as affordable plans that come with a money-back guarantee.
✔️ Pros
Limited Tor support
Up to 10 simultaneous connections to multiple devices
Unlimited torrenting
Strong encryption
❌ Cons
US-based
IPVanish
Your old VPN doesn’t seem to get along with Tor? Why not upgrade to IPVanish?
Tor is an incredible tool to protect your privacy and comes in handy when you want to deal with sensitive data and don’t want the authorities to get hold of it.
However, using Tor with VPNs will provide ultimate protection. You can not only keep your activities from your ISP safe but also everyone else.
We have selected only VPNs that are compatible with Tor so that you don’t end up buying a VPN that is not compatible with Tor.
Do let us know your favourite VPN service provider in the comment below.
Adobe Indesign e-book creator that you can run on Windows and Mac platforms.
The software is an advanced EPUB e-book editor that has plenty of options and tools for editing digital book layouts.
This tool is about creating experiences through powerful designs and media instruments like audio, video, slideshows, and animations.
Authors find it very intuitive as it helps build from head to toe the digital publications by resizing and adapting their layout in order to have perfect spacing and custom styles.
For an attractive appearance of e-book style, you can choose from Adobe Indesign’s fonts, so you can be sure that you will have the typography style.
A book without a catchy design cover is not worth opening, so Adobe Indesign easily integrates with Photoshop, XD, Premiere Pro, and Illustrator so you can put creativity into action with the help of these tools.
Publishing is also not a problem, as Adobe has flexible ePub formats for Apple iBooks, Kindle and many other more.
You definitely can make an impression with Adobe’s instruments.
Adobe InDesign
Team up with the best layout and page design software to create and publish an e-book that truly reflects your style!
Scrivener is e-book-publishing software for the Windows, macOS, and iOS platforms.
This is a flexible content generation software that probably has all the options and tools you’ll need for compiling e-books.
Scrivener’s editor includes extensive text editing and formatting options. Its feature rich text editor enables users to add tables, bullet points, pictures, custom font styles and footnotes to their e-books.
Furthermore, you can incorporate video, audio and graphics in your e-books with this software.
Scrivener also includes a novel corkboard, or cork noticeboard, with which you can organize synopsis index cards for e-books.
When you’ve done the book, you can export it to various e-book formats, such as EPUB or MOBI, with the software’s Compile tool.
Scrivener
All the tools you need to create and publish your perfect e-book are now gathered in one place. Explore Scrivener!
If you want to create and publish really stunning e-books or catalogs for that matter, then the PDF to Flash Catalog is the right tool for you.
This software allows you to create flash page flip online catalog and e-books using PDF documents.
You can also insert hyperlinks, logos, and icon images to pages, which is a very useful feature.
We like this product because it supports full customization. You can add background sounds, background images (including animated backgrounds), custom navigation buttons, you name it and the PDF to Flash Catalog can deliver.
The tool also offers free themes for those moments when you’re running out of ideas.
Finding the information you’re looking for is essential when reading any written material.
For this reason, the PDF to Flash Catalog allows you to import bookmarks and add or edit your own bookmarks in order for readers to easily browse your material.
Motion capture also known as motion tracking or mo-cap refers to the process of digitally recording natural movements in order to transfer them to character models later on.
You can use it to trace the movement of any element in your footage. Then, simply set other layers in your composition to follow your tracked object(s).
Hugely popular in the entertainment field and game development, motion tracking serves as the starting point for the stunning animations and breath-taking visual effects we all know and love.
Let’s make this simpler. Remember Neytiri from Avatar? Good.
Now, how exactly did she effortlessly jump from ridiculously high trees straight on to the back of a dragon? That’s the mo-cap magic in action. And that is exactly what motion capture tools do best.
Go through our top picks and choose the software that can make your next project truly astonishing.
If we’re talking about visual effects, there aren’t many software that can match Adobe After Effects’ powerful capacities.
While motion capture is not a standalone effect, it helps to create the most hyperrealistic of animations. After Effects tracks motion by matching previously selected image data from succeeding frames.
Thanks to the integrated 3D camera tracker, you can also track camera motion or insert 3D objects in 2D footage effortlessly and these are just some of its remarkable tools, perfectly adapted to capture motion.
Let’s quickly go through its key features:
3D Camera tracker
Warp Stabilizer (to transform shaky footage into smooth shots or to hold a moving object still in the frame)
Combining elements filmed separately
Animate still images to match the motion of action footage
Animate effects to follow a moving element
Adobe After Effects
Get your characters to move naturally with the best motion graphics and visual effects software.
MotionBuilder is a 3D character animation software that enables users to manipulate and refine data efficiently.
Both responsive and interactive, this tool has an optimized display and powerful features that allow you to capture motion, edit, and playback complex character animation.
Let’s quickly go through its key features:
Real-time 3D engine (create realistic movements for your characters with the fastest animation tools)
Its motion tracking feature allows you to track different objects in your clips in order to impregnate movement to pictures, titles, and other elements. You can even use it to blur faces.
Handling this powerful capacity is amazingly straightforward, beauty lies in simplicity more often than not. All you have to do is drag your clip on the timeline and click on the Track Motion icon from the toolbar.
Then, you can make use of the trackers to pinpoint the position or area you want to track. You can even set a multi-point tracker to censor objects.
Of course, you can also remove the trackers, save the created paths, match an image or video with tracked motion and finally, add transitions to the matched object to create a softer, more gradual effect.
The PowerDirector 365 is a professional video editing suite that delivers best-in-class editing tools wrapped in a streamlined interface that does not intimidate the average user.
The motion tracking feature is particularly intuitive and easy to work with allowing you to achieve spectacular results.
You can easily track both people and objects in your footages using motion trackers to obtain super-realistic effects that emulate natural movement to perfection.
While motion tracking in itself is not a visual effect, it is quintessential for the creation of visual effects.
By recording natural movement and playing it back on a digitally created model, motion capture software have proved indispensable for the gaming, animation, film-making, and overall entertainment industry.
If you’re aiming to really bring your characters to life and make them move it, move it, have a go at one of the finest software for the job.
Let us know how what worked for you in the comments section below.
Most of the available drawing software tools have set a new standard for what is possible and the level to which art can be produced.
There are many such great available programs out there, each with different functionalities and features included.
We have gathered a list of the best layer painting software to use with your Windows 10 device or Mac computer, which will make it easier for you to choose the one that best fits your artistic needs.
Without a doubt, Adobe Fresco is still the number one choice for many professionals out there, since it brings together the most impressive collection of vector and raster brushes.
Additionally, you will have access to live brusher different from anything you can find on other programs, which help you achieve natural painting results.
If you work with watercolors or if you are using oil, Adobe Fresco helps give a natural touch to both of them thanks to its highly customizable tools.
You can draw with an unlimited number of layers designed to help you explore your creative ideas and make unique combinations using the effects, blending colors and models and many more.
Moreover, thanks to the constant updates and improvements, this software remains a top competitor on the market, ensuring the highest quality level possible.
Adobe Fresco
That’s your chance to create unique paitings with the unlimited number of layers Adobe Fresco has to offer!
Clip Studio Paint is another fantastic painter software tool that comes with a variety of layers to help you better manage all your projects.
With the layer mask, you can hide unnecessary parts or limit the area if needed and work on the other areas of the painting.
Although there is not a certain way of knowing how many layers this software has, the maximum number though is around 10.000.
In order to create a new layer in Clip Studio Paint, you simply need to go to the layer menu and select the new layer option. From there on the steps are extremely intuitive.
Clip Studio Paint
Clip Studio Paint lets you enhance your paintings with the amazing layers available. Eager to try it out?
Corel Painter has its main focus on the artistic painting for cartoons, anime, or canvas art. Other features such as photo editing and image manipulation are present too.
One of the main strengths of Corel Painter is its layer features. Thanks to this feature you can merge, group, and blend elements. Moreover, the app has pixel-based, media-based, or vector-based.
Additionally, you have dynamic and reference layers available but as a side note, the default layer for Corel Painter is the pixel-based one.
On this pixel-based layer, you can only use watercolor and liquid ink brushes. The pixel-based layers allow for more specialized operations, such as building an image hose nozzle or creating an animation.
Corel Painter
Corel Painter helps you create paintings and animations with ease. Are you ready to give it a try?
We hope that all the details offered in our list will help you make the best decision on which layer painting app for Windows 10 or Mac could enhance your creative skills.
If you have other recommendations or suggestions, we would love to hear them all. Just use the comments section below in that regard.
Many users have reported that Silhouette Studio won’t update. This is an extremely frustrating issue in case you need to use some newly developed features for your projects and can’t get access to them.
For these reasons in this article, we will explore the best way to troubleshoot the issue caused by Silhouette not updating.
Please make sure to follow the steps in the order that they were written to avoid any unnecessary problems.
How can I fix the Silhouette update problems?
1. Update Windows 10
Click on Cortana search box in your desktop toolbar, and type inWindows Update
Choose the first option from the top of the search results.
In the newly opened window, click on the Check for Updates button, and wait for the process to complete.
Try to see if the issue persists.
2. Scan and repair system files using SFC
Press the Win + X keys on your keyboard, and selectWindows PowerShell (Admin).
Type the command sfc /scannow (without quotes), and press Enter.
After the process is completed, Windows PowerShell will give you valuable information about your system, and also try to fix any error it encounters. It will look something like this:
3. Use an alternative third-party tool
Despite seeming like such a niche software, Silhouette Studio is not the only program out there specialized in silhouette designs.
Other premium products such as Adobe Illustrator are equally capable of handling such a job, and arguably better too.
Illustrator is not just your typical vector-based image editor, as it holds the tools that allow it to be anything, from a graphics designer to a digital artwork tool, all within the same interface.
In Adobe Illustrator, there are various methods for creating silhouettes. Image Trace and the Pen Tool are two tools that are frequently used for this purpose. The pen tool is ideal for drawing basic silhouette shapes, whereas Image Trace is ideal for creating silhouettes from complicated images.
Because there are so many complex details, it would take you long to produce a silhouette of a building if you use the pen tool to outline it. However, utilizing Image Trace, you may do the task in less than a minute.
More so, the files can be easily exported and imported to and from other Adobe products, such as Premiere Pro or Adobe Photoshop.
4. Reset and fix Windows Update components
Download the officialWindows Update Troubleshooter.
Once the download process is completed, run the application by double-clicking it.
Select the option Windows Update from the window that opens, and click Next.
After the process is completed, click the Close button.
Open Windows Update Troubleshooter again, and now select the second option in the list Windows Network Diagnostics.
Click the Next button.
After the process is completed, click the Close button.
Restart your PC, and try updating Windows again.
5. Clean boot your Windows 10 PC
Press the Win + R keys on your keyboard, type in msconfig, and click Ok.
Inside the General tab, select Selective startup.
Deselect the Load startup items check box.
Inside the Services tab, select Hide all Microsoft services option found at the bottom.
Click Disable all.
Inside the Startup tab, click Open Task Manager.
On the Startup tab of Task Manager, right-click all enabled processes and select Disable.
Click OK.
Select Restart.
Check if the problem is still there.
In this article, we explored some of the best ways to troubleshoot Silhouette Studio not being able to update to the latest version. Please make sure to follow these steps carefully in order to avoid any other issues.
Feel free to let us know if this guide helped you by using the comment section below.
4K videos are the latest industry-standard in video recording, although 8K quality is also starting to emerge as well.
However, 4K is the new industry-standard, being far more present in households than it was a few years back. That being the case, users not only want to watch 4K videos, but they also want to edit them as well.
That being the case, we’ve decided to create this guide that will show you exactly what you need to do in order to edit 4K videos.
Vieweing and editing 4K videos
The only difference per se between a 4K video and an HD or SD video is strictly the image quality and the resolution.
However, since more pixels need to be processed per frame at any given time, the CPU and GPU load is exponentially higher with 4K videos than with HD or SD videos.
That being the case, you will an above-average PC with a crystal-clear monitor in order to video the 4K video.
Of course, this requirement also translates itself to video editing as well, since the CPU and GPU requirements are even higher than when you are just plain viewing the video.
How can I edit 4K videos?
Use a professional-grade video editor
The software also differs when talking about 4K videos, since not any crummy freeware that you can download off of the Internet will be able to handle 4K video editing.
That being the case, your only solution is to go with a borderline professional software solution, and no tool is better for this job than Adobe Premiere Pro.
This timeline-based video editor from Adobe is perfectly capable of handling 4K videos (and even 8K for that matter), the only limitations being your hardware and whether it is capable of handling the load.
You can use Premiere to do anything with the video, from taking the raw footage to cropping it, adding a different soundtrack to it, adding special effects (with a little help from Adobe After Effects), and more.
Normally, this tool would only be available with a subscription, but we consider that the program is well worth the money, especially if editing 4K videos is something that you do for a living.
More so, the program can now be tested for free for 7 days, so why not take advantage of this irresistible offer? Who knows, after the Trial is over, Premiere Pro may just become your new favorite program.
Adobe Premiere Pro
Edit 4K video like a pro with all the features you need only with Adobe Premiere Pro. Try it out now!
Lenovo Yoga Book did not disappoint its users with this innovative model that falls somewhere between a laptop and a notebook.
For those that enjoy creating and drawing, let’s just say that Lenovo Yoga Book is a perfect choice, considering its capabilities, features, and overall design.
Finding and choosing the best drawing software though can be a tedious task but you don’t have to worry about that anymore.
We have tested a few software and in this article, we will give you more details about the best drawing app to use with Lenovo Yoga Book.
Can Lenovo Yoga be used as a drawing tablet?
Lenovo Yoga Book is a good device and it is also called a 2-in-1 tablet, as you can utilize it as a laptop or a tablet.
Regarding the drawing aspect, it is pretty decent to use. You can draw on the keyboard with its stylus pen after you enable the AnyPen mode from the settings tab.
However, if you want to enhance your drawing experience, we also recommend reliable drawing software with a wide variety of customizable brushes, color palettes, beautiful templates, and many more.
What are the best drawing software for Lenovo Yoga Book?
What makes Adobe Illustrator so popular are its vector graphics features that help create amazing scalable graphics.
Moreover, Adobe Illustrator is part of the Abode Creative Cloud subscription model which makes it easier to integrate with the other Adobe programs.
Without a doubt, this software has set the standard for creating web and mobile graphics pretty high.
It’s constantly updated and improved and thanks to the new Adobe Sensei AI you can now automatically extract colors from photos, and images, and add them to your design.
Cloud document management with offline access, enhancement tools, and smart glyph snapping are some of the newest additions to the software.
Other best features include:
Interactive interface
Great editing tools
Beautiful templates
Adobe Illustrator
Fully compatible with Lenovo Yoga Book this fantastic drawing software will help you create amazing digital art.
If you don’t want to start spending just yet a lot from your budget on painting software and don’t want to compromise on features and quality available, then Clip Studio Paint is a perfect choice.
If you have already invested in a Lenovo Yoga Book then you will be thrilled as this painting software is fully compatible with it and allows for complete use of features.
With Clip Studio Paint you will have over 1000 new materials each month in its Assets section thanks to it being constantly updated and improved. Moreover, you can fully customize every aspect of your brushes until the desired outcome is reached.
Clip Studio Paint comes with an intuitive interface, and it’s suitable for all users, both beginners and professionals.
Other best features include:
Smooth and precise brush strokes
Customizable 3D reference models
Realistic pens
Clip Studio Paint
Use this software on your Lenovo Yoga Book and enhance your painting skills.
Although not as popular as other drawing software, Autodesk SketchBook is yet an excellent drawing software for artists and technical illustrators.
In the Pro version of the app, you have access to over 100 brushes, all highly customizable that come with special effects, such as synthetic, glow, and smudge.
Additionally, you can also create a canvas up to 100mpx without losing any of the zoom-in feelings of the traditional drawing.
Imports from paper to digital scans, multiplatform support, compatibility with drawing tablets, and multiple media platform integrations are some of the other key features of this software.
If you have a tablet such as Lenovo Yoga Book that usually means that you can create stunning art with the right drawing program.
All it takes is some imagination and a good understanding of the used programs, such as Adobe Illustrator and Autodesk SketchBook.
Let us know in the comments section below if you have other recommendations or suggestions or which one of the presented drawing software you like using the most.
Gdiplus.dll is another of those Windows DLL (Dynamic Link Library) files that provide instructions for third-party software to call upon.
DLLs are shared files that software can call upon for various things. For example, the software will call upon the printer DLL for printing documents.
The gdiplus.dll file is a component of the Microsoft Graphics Device Interface Library that handles graphics components for image handling, anti-aliasing, filling gradients, etc.
As such, gdiplus.dll missing error messages on Windows 10 are probably more likely to pop up when running graphics design software or games.
One of the more prevalent gdiplus.dll error messages states: This application failed to start because gdiplus.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.
Those error messages can pop up when you launch some software, and then the programs won’t start in Windows. This is how you can fix gdiplus.dll errors in Windows 10.
These kinds of system repair tools come with features that will help you keep your operating system files clean and uncorrupted.
Plus, many have features that will protect your OS from viruses, while also making your internet browsing safe. Not only are they capable of scanning, but they repair it and make the PC run faster by improving its overall performance.
2. Scan system files
First, press the Cortana taskbar button.
Enter the keyword Command Prompt in Cortana’s search box.
Right-click the Command Prompt to open its context menu, and select the Run as administrator option.
Enter DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth in the Prompt first, and then press the Return key.
Thereafter, input the command: SFC /scannow
Press Enter to initiate the System File Checker scan, which might take up to 30 minutes.
A gdiplus error highlights that the gdiplus.dll file, and perhaps other system files, might be corrupted. You can easily fix these if you use the in-built cmd commands for checking system files.
So the System File Checker, which repairs corrupted system files, is one utility that can feasibly fix gdiplus errors in Windows. You can fix it by following the steps above.
3. Update the Graphics Card Driver
To manually update your driver, download it from the manufacturer’s website. You can also open the Device Manager on your PC, Click on Display adapters, right-click on your Graphics card driver, and click Update driver.
Be careful when you download drivers manually because installing a mismatched driver can cause severe system issues. A safer and quicker solution would be to use dedicated driver updater software.
Fortect Driver Updater allows you to update your Graphics Card Drivers with just one simple click. The software will scan your computer for available drivers, then it will list them to you. Upon your approval, it will install the driver within minutes.
The software can also detect missing or damaged drives and fix them. On top of that, you can set it up to make regular scans and fix your drivers automatically.
4. Check for Windows Updates
Open Cortana’s search box.
Enter the keyword Windows update in the search box.
Select Check for updates to open the Windows directly below.
Press the Check for updates button on that window.
Then you can press a Download button if there are any updates available.
Windows updates replace and update Microsoft DLL files, and some updates might include the gdiplus.dll. Thus, it might be worth checking for Windows updates to fix gdiplus errors.
The Windows Update service usually automatically updates the platform (if configured for automatic updates), but you might still miss a few updates. You can manually check for further updates by following the steps above.
5. Re-register the DLL File
Open the Win + X menu with the Windows key + X hotkey.
Select Command Prompt (Admin) to open the Prompt as administrator.
Unregister the DLL by entering regsvr32 /u gdiplus.dll in the Prompt, and press the Enter key.
Input regsvr32 /i gdiplus.dll and press Enter to reregister gdiplus.dll.
The Microsoft Register Server, otherwise Regsvr32, is a command-line tool that you can reregister DLL files with. You need to make sure that the command has been registered.
If the gdiplus.dll has not been correctly registered, reregistering it with Regsver32.exe will likely resolve the error. This is how you can reregister gdiplus.dll with Regsver32.
Then click Download to save the ZIP for the latest gdiplus.dll, which is at the top of the DLL file list. Select to download a 32 or 64-bit DLL dependent on your system type.
Press the File Explorer on the taskbar, and open the folder you saved the DLL ZIP.
Press the Extract all button to extract the compressed folder.
Open the extracted folder, and select the gdiplus.dll file.
Press the Copy to button, and then select to copy the gdiplus.dll to System 32. Alternatively, you can also drag and drop the gdiplus.dll file to: C:WindowsSystem32C:WindowsSysWOW64
After, it will be in another folder.
Press the Continue button if a Destination Folder Access Denied window pops up.
Then you can delete the extracted gdiplus.dll folder by right-clicking it and selecting Delete.
Register the new gdiplus.dll file by entering regsvr32 gdiplus.dll in an elevated Command Prompt.
Gdiplus errors can occur if that DLL file is missing. To check if the gdiplus.dll has been deleted, enter the keywordgdiplus.dll in Cortana’s search box. Cortana usually shows you the gdiplus.dll file as the best match:
Note: If the gdiplus.dll file is missing, you can download a replacement from DLL-Files.com, which is among the more reputable sources for DLLs.
Open CCleaner’s setup wizard to add the registry cleaner to Windows.
Launch CCleaner and click Registry to open the software’s registry cleaner.
Select all the registry check boxes for the most thorough scan.
Press the Scan for Issues button.
Then press the Fix selected Issues button, and you can click the Yes option to back up the registry.
Click the Fix All SelectedIssues option to fully repair the registry.
DLL errors can often be due to invalid registry errors. So scanning the registry with system optimizer software might also fix gdiplus errors.
There are plenty of freeware system optimizers you can utilize for registry scanning. CCleaner is a highly-rated registry cleaner with a huge user base. Follow the aforementioned steps to learn how to fix it.
8. Restore Windows 10
Input Run in Cortana to open the Run accessory in Windows.
Enter rstrui.exe in Run and click OK to open System Restore.
Click the Next button.
If there are lots of restore points, you can usually select a Show more restore points option. So select that setting to expand the number of listed restore points.
Select a system restore point that will revert Windows to a time when your software wasn’t crashing with a gdiplus.dll error.
Press the Scan for affected programs button to see what software will be deleted for a selected restore point.
To confirm your selected restore point, press the Next and Finish buttons.
The System Restore utility saves restore points that you can roll Windows back to. Restoring Windows to an earlier time will restore system files and registry settings.
System Restore can also fix gdiplus errors so long as you select to roll Windows back to a date when there weren’t any gdiplus.dll error messages popping up on your desktop or laptop.
So there are various potential resolutions for gdiplus.dll errors. Aside from those fixes, there are other numerous DLL fixer apps, such as DLL Suite, that can resolve gdiplus errors.
Make sure to give us any feedback regarding the subject in the comment section below.
Yesterday, 343 Industries kicked off a series of monthly “Inside Infinite” updates to provide insights on the development on the next Halo game, now expected in Fall 2021 on Xbox consoles and PC. The blog post is a long interview with members of the Sandbox team, which is tasked with creating all the vehicles, equipment, weapons, and objects players will interact with in Halo Infinite.
While the blog post is pretty light on new details overall, the Sandbox team shared some interesting comments about 343 Industries’ in-house Slipspace Engine, which has apparently been rebuilt after the prior version was too focused on optimizing things for last-gen Xbox One consoles. Here’s what Game Foundation Architect Daniele Giannetti said in yesterday’s blog post:
Here’s something that excites me as an engineering architect: For Halo Infinite, we rebuilt the engine multi-threading solution to ensure high execution efficiency across all platforms and PCs, instead of running optimally just on Xbox One. We used this new system to transition the renderer to a massively parallel multi-threaded framework to support the increased cost of all our new rendering features and achieve high graphics efficiency on PC CPUs of various size as well as Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One X/S hardware. In practice, this means that we are doing our very best to make sure Halo Infinite runs optimally on any device you may choose to play on! –
Halo Infinite was officially announced at E3 2018, which was before Microsoft revealed its next-gen Xbox consoles. The first E3 2018 cinematic trailer was made with 343 Industries’ brand new Slipspace engine and looked really impressive at the time. However, the visual downgrades were quite obvious in the first Halo Infinite gameplay demo we saw back in July, which was actually running on a PC. The poor reaction led 343 Industries to delay the game to 2021, and after seeing Cyberpunk 2077’s horrible performance on last gen consoles last month, many Halo fans are still wondering if shipping Halo Infinite on Xbox One is actually a good idea.
According to the Sandbox team, things seem to be doing well within 343 Industries right now. “All of our launch content is in-game and being played daily but it takes a strong effort to get something from 90% to a full 100% ship quality. So, we are pushing hard to squash bugs and tune our toys so they are in a good spot as we get closer and closer to launch (and public flighting before that),” said Quinn DelHoyo, Lead Sandbox Designer at 343 Industries.
We’re really looking forward to getting more details about how Halo Infinite will run across platforms. 343 Industries announced back in July that the game would run in 4K at 60FPS on the Xbox Series X, and that’s pretty much all we’ve heard so far. 343 Industries also announced yesterday that Halo Infinite would allow players to fully rebind and remap their controls regardless of platform, which will be a first for a Halo game.
We hope the team will be back with more exciting information next month. Future “Inside Infinite” updates should be published on Halo Waypoint, the last Thursday of every month going forward, and we definitely recommend Halo fans to take the time to read the first one here.
In 3D model painting, a user can add color and details to their paint, rotate the objects, adjust their placement, and even apply 2D objects as stickers.
Suffice to say that this type of painting takes the 2D painting to the next level creating art close to perfection.
In this article, you will find more information about the best 3d model painting softwarewhich will help you make an informed decision.
Adobe Photoshop offers a vast pallet of features that allow you to perform photo editing, digital painting, animation, and graphic design.
This software allows you to paint directly on a 3D model and the process is similar to painting on a 2D layer. First, you will need to select the needed tools to target the specific areas of the model that you want to paint.
Adobe Photoshop provides three painting levels in 3D: Live 3D Painting, Layer Projection Painting, and Projection Painting.
You can choose which ever best suits your needs as working with any of them is easy and the workflow is intuitive.
Adobe Photoshop
Choose any of the 3D model painting available and create amazing works of art with this fantastic software.
Autodesk Maya is a powerful tool that comes with complex features that allow you to create realistic effects to your 3D objects.
This software is the first choice for many professional thanks to how they can create fabulous complex characters, scenery and stunning effects.
You can create some amazing environmental details, from snow to sand and dust, explosions and many more. everything through the available to use graphs.
All the above is possible thanks to the dynamic solvers that allow the creation of blockbusters unto which you can quickly add the desired effects.
Autodesk Maya
Create the most fantastic and fabulous characters and effects with this versatile software. Get the best deal now.
Corel Painter offers blank canvas painting and diverse photo-art tools for professionals working with Windows 10. The software features are constantly improved and aligned with its users needs.
Thanks to one of the most recent improvement Corel Painter registers how you paint and allows for much greater control and performance for your hardware setup.
The software puts at your disposal a wide number of realistic brushes that can be used for painting, illustrating and create complex works of art. Thanks to the customization feature you can create your own brushes, textures, pallets and even more, on an empty canvas.
Of course, you can at any time simply use the preset brushes form the toolkit in case you don’t need or want to customize them, and there is no additional cost for them.
The Thick Paint workflow, the new AI styles, Clone Tinting are some of the latest improvements that bring a considerable performance improvement.
Corel Painter
This software enables you to create unique 3D model paintings with the helps of effects and customizable brushes.
Autodesk Mudbox is another rather powerful tool from the Autodesk suite that could not miss from our recommendation list. This time we would recommend you use it as one of the best 3D model painting software.
One of the best utility for Autodesk Mudbox has everything to do with creating stunning characters and environments thanks to the available 3D geometry and models.
The software comes with an intuitive interface and exquisite tool set while the workflow has been mostly optimized taking into consideration the best efficiency and productivity results.
Maya, 3D models, Max, Arnold, and many more are some of the integrated tools available.
Also, when using Autodesk Mudbox, you can paint directly on your 3D models across multiple channels and use the smooth brushes from the available toolkit.
Autodesk Mudbox
Industry-leady 3D model painting software that help you create amazing visual effects and modeling elements.
Lastly, but definitely not the least, Adobe Substance Painter is the leading software solution for 3D materials. With the included tools you can bring all your creation to life, in a way that can equal your imagination.
The integrated tools will allow you to directly paint the 3D models and bring that realistic touch. Thanks to the available brushes from Adobe Photoshop you can experiment as much as you like until the desired touch is found.
Adobe Substance Painter comes with a vast premium library of 3D materials, all created by professionals in the field.
Thanks to these you can generate as many textures as you want in order to fill all the creative applications from your project.
Additionally, you can create new work projects by scanning photography or images. You can even modify existing materials if any are available and you’d like to give them a different touch.
Adobe Substance Painter
Bring your creation to life in unique ways with this 3D industry-leading model software.
The new Chromium-based Edge browser is now receiving new features at a much faster pace, with Microsoft opting for a 6-week release cycle. The company has maintained a Microsoft Edge release schedule for the Beta and Stable channels and an Enterprise roadmap for customers for quite some time.
In a new blog post published yesterday, Microsoft has reiterated its ambition to keep enthusiasts and consumers informed about upcoming features. As it turns out, the company has redesigned the “What’s Next” page available on the Edge Insider website, and we now have a more detailed feature roadmap for the browser.
“We have been working on improving the release notes and will continue to investigate changes that we can make to be more immediate and descriptive. For the roadmap, we are happy to announce that in addition to the Enterprise focused roadmap we have revamped the What’s Next page on our insider website,” the company explained.
The updated “What’s Next” section details almost all the new features the company aims to ship in the first half of 2021. “We published the first set of items there before the end of the year and will be updating with each Beta release as they come out,” the Microsoft Edge team said yesterday.
Microsoft believes that this should be a useful resource for people going forward, and it will keep them informed about when the Microsoft Edge team plans to release important updates for the Beta and Stable channels. You can find more details about upcoming features on the Microsoft Edge Insider website.
In this article, we’ll show you the best programs for laser cutting that can also create vector files.
Very few of these are made especially for laser cutting, but they allow you to create precise vector graphics that you can use in your laser cutting projects.
In our opinion, the best applications to design your laser cutting project are the following, keep reading.
Adobe Illustrator is the best-known vector editing software, and it allows you to create vector graphics for any project, taking advantage of the precision and efficiency of professional drawing tools.
Besides having a complex range of vector paths and rendering features of shadows, blurs, and outstanding effects, Adobe Illustrate is coming with an innovation for iPad.
So, you can start to create your drawing with the help of touch or Pencil. You can also choose between many available fonts, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
This tool is designed for industry professionals, so whatever vector graphics you want to create, Adobe Illustrator is the right choice for you.
As for supported formats, Illustrator works with AI, PDF, DXF, DWG, SVG, EPS.
Moreover, Adobe Illustrator is adapted to different laser cutting techniques like Vector Cutting. Vector Engraving and Raster Engraving.
This tool allows you to set the parameters for final cutting material using one or more artboards. In this way, you will simplify the overall process of laser cutting.
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator has a wide array of features, but all your standard features such as various shapes and objects are there, so try it out!
CorelDRAW has all standard features that vector graphics editors have, allowing you to create various shapes and objects with ease.
The application offers a simple and friendly interface, so you can easily see all your tools and organize your objects and paths. The latest version of CorelDRAW brings support for PDF/X-4.
As for the tool itself, it’s incredibly versatile, and it allows you to create any kind of graphics, ranging from logos to professional prints.
This software also has some new features such as non-destructive effects, symmetry mode, objects docker, and pixel perfect mode.
These are some of the features that CorelDRAW offers, but if you’re a professional, feel free to consider this tool as your software of choice.
AutoCAD is a professional tool for architects, but it’s also useful for electricians or mechanics. The software allows you to choose from a palette of blocks and add various objects.
In addition, there’s a quick measurement tool available ensuring that all your objects are at the right size.
It’s worth mentioning that AutoCAD has implemented various performance improvements, and now it offers 50% installation time.
Speaking of performance, this software has a purge feature that allows you to easily remove unneeded objects and reduce the project size.
This is just a tip of the iceberg when it comes to AutoCAD and its features, but if you’re a professional, this tool will be perfect for you. As for supported formats, this tool works with DWG, DXF, 3DS, WMF, (DWF), PLT.
Another tool that you can use for laser cutting is Archicad. The tool is designed for architects to model various buildings with simplicity and ease.
The tool also supports the Solibri connection allowing you to collaborate with other users with ease.
The application also offers an enhanced performance, so you’ll be able to draw and create various models faster than before.
Another feature that we have to mention is the improved CineRender Engine and enhanced the user interface.
Overall, Archicad is perfect for experts, so be sure to try it out. As for supported formats, this application works with PLN, DWG, DXF export PDF, 3DS, OBJ.
These are the best tools for laser cutting. If you’re looking for an affordable solution, we recommend Inkscape, but if you need a more professional tool, feel free to try any other application from the list.
Back in 2015, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates gave a much talked-about TED talk where he predicted that the world wasn’t ready to handle a worldwide pandemic. Fast forward to 2021, it turns out that Gates pretty much hit the nail on the head as the world is still dealing with a brutal COVID-19 outbreak that has now claimed the lives of over 2 million people.
If this pandemic has led to unprecedented breakthroughs with several vaccines being already available, we’ve also seen an unprecedented amount of conspiracy theories about the origins of the virus, with many of them claiming that the Microsoft co-founder and his allies created this pandemic to make money and take control of people through vaccines.
In a recent interview with Reuters, Bill Gates said that he had been appalled by the propagation of these “crazy” and “evil” conspiracy theories, which also accused US immunologist Anthony Fauci of many terrible things. “Nobody would have predicted that I and Dr. Fauci would be so prominent in these really evil theories,” Gates said. “I’m very surprised by that. I hope it goes away.”
‘Do people really believe that stuff?’ — Bill Gates is speaking out about the absurd COVID-19 conspiracy theories that he and Dr. Fauci have faced during the pandemic pic.twitter.com/oWPOgtPD9D
Through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Microsoft co-founder has so far pledged to contribute at least $1.75 billion to support the various efforts to put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic, including better diagnostics, new treatments, and vaccines. Gates is also supportive of the new Biden administration, praising the fact that the new US president has “appointed smart people, and the fact that Dr. Fauci won’t be suppressed.”
The various conspiracy theories about Bill Gates probably won’t go away anytime soon, and the Microsoft co-founder seems to be still scratching his head about them to this day. “But do people really believe that stuff?,” Gates asked. “We’re really going to have to get educated about this over the next year and understand .. how does it change peoples’ behaviour and how should we have minimized this?”
One of the benefits of being 65 is that I’m eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. I got my first dose this week, and I feel great. Thank you to all of the scientists, trial participants, regulators, and frontline healthcare workers who got us to this point. pic.twitter.com/67SIfrG1Yd
Last week, Bill Gates, who is 65 years old, made public the fact that he received his first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. “I got my first dose this week, and I feel great. Thank you to all of the scientists, trial participants, regulators, and frontline healthcare workers who got us to this point,” the Microsoft co-founder said.
A WiFi channel scanner is informative software that elevates the security level of your wireless connection.
This kind of software provides information about WiFi problems, the best channel for your router, the best place for installing the router, and more.
Also, a WiFi scanner for Windows 10 and 11 is not hard to find in the current market. But not all are up to the standards or they may even create a breach in the security system of your connection.
With a Wi-fi channel scanner, you can see what wireless networks are available near you, what channel they’re using, or the power of wireless signals for each network.
A WiFi scanner for Windows 10 or 11 is ideal for people that have problems with their connection due to interferences with other networks across them.
If you encounter connection problems with other neighbors’ networks, you can use this tool to your advantage by changing network channels.
Usually, the channel for your wireless network will be set at startup on your router device.
Thus, a WiFi channel scanner is the most efficient way to monitor your network channels and resolve connection issues effortlessly.
This tool is developed by one of the biggest network security companies in the world. It will let you maintain an overview of all your devices that are connected to a wireless network.
It will help you check the speed, load, traffic, status, signal strength of your routers. Basically, it is your best friend when you need to check what’s happening on your WiFi pipes.
First, of all, PRTG will allow you to see when your routers are not available so you could fix this and re-establish the WiFi connection.
This is a crucial factor for a network with multiple devices connected for sync or sharing purposes, even if it is only your home network and the connected devices.
You will also be able to see when your network is too loaded so you could avoid disruptions. Just keep an eye on the bandwidth markers from PRTG and see what device and what app is consuming most of your connection.
One of the most needed features is to see where the WiFi connection is lacking strength.
If a router has some problems with its emitters, then you will be able to see it on the software’s dashboard.
Another crucial feature is seeing the last access to a device. It is really useful to monitor what device from the network accessed the WiFi during the night or when normally there shouldn’t be any access.
This will help you remove the unneeded devices that are consuming the internet and bandwidth.
You can try this program for 30 days and you can go on the free (but limited) version after that or you can continue by upgrading to a pro plan.
PRTG
Get the best Wi-Fi scanner and verify your network traffic and keep your device safe. No more exposed data with this amazing tool!
This application is developed by Matt Hafner and has an average of 4.3 out of 5 stars obtained from the feedback of more than 800 people.
The first thing that you have to do when you open this software is to set your location.
WiFi Analyzer will show you a pop-up where it will ask you for that. It has 3 different tabs for 3 different actions: Connected, Analyze, and Networks.
The Connected page is providing you with information about the current Wi-Fi connection.
On the top area, you will find a graphic of the connection quality based on link speed and signal level in negative dBm.
It also shows different icons that indicate bad link speed, bad channel, bad connection, the absence of internet connection, and unsecured connections.
On the bottom menu, you have a button to toggle between the State and Link Speed indicator.
The Link Speed shows the current and the top speed on the current session and the State mode shows only the improvement percentage. If this percentage is 100% it means that your connection quality was not affected.
The Analyze page is the place where you can make changes for a better connection.
You can access the graphics and the channel ratings, you can switch between channels and also toggle between the frequency bands.
To better understand the evolution of your connection you have full access to customize the colors of the graphics and the SSID/MAC.
You can also filter the SSIDs shown in the graphics by the minimal signal bars, frequency band, overlapping, WiFi method, and network type.
This software has different features like enabling an adapter, preventing the screen to turn off, and enabling vendor detection of access points. The only disadvantage of this program is the high number of ads.
WiFi Analyzer
Identify Wi-Fi problems and find the best channel for your router effortlessly!
Wi-Fi Commander software has achieved an average of 4.6 points out of a total of 5 from 490 feedbacks.
The interface is very easy to use for any category of users because the facilities are divided into 4 categories: Networks, Monitor, Analyze 3D, and Settings.
The Network tab contains the list with all available connections and their details. To see all the details available for a certain connection all you have to do is click on that connection.
This will open a pop-up where you will find everything you need to know about it, such as BSSID, beacon interval, and time discovered.
From the same pop-up, you can connect or disconnect from the SSID.
The network tab also has a system that scans the quality of the connection. This provides details of the last scan.
It is useful only when you want to find out some details about the connection quality. If you want to watch its progress in real-time, the Monitor and Analyze 3D page will display details about the connection quality regularly.
On the upper area of this tab, you will find details such as the time of the last scan and the total number of access points. From that menu, you can also customize the information displayed.
The Monitor tab is devoted exclusively to the study of the connection. On that page, you find different graphics that will show the evolution of connection in real-time.
This tab has different filters that will help you customize the details displayed and switch between the 2.4 and the 5 GHz bands.
On the Analyze 3D tab you can find a 3D type of channel usage graphs for both 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz on the same page.
This tab also has customizable filters for details and specifications. Graphs can be viewed in a classical or modern style in order to reduce the difficulty of reading them.
From the Settings tab, you can change the visual theme for the GUI and select the WiFi adapter.
WiFi Commander
3D channel distributions analyzer, real time signal monitoring and more!
Wi-Fi Monitor is software published by the developer of the VoiceWake and GrooveGrid, Mark Rizzo. It has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 from more than 100 feedbacks.
This program is structured into 5 tabs to streamline its work: Dashboard, Graph, List, Speed test, and Ratings. All pages have come accompanied by suggestive names and icons to be used even by the most inexperienced users.
The Dashboard tab is more like the main menu where it displays details about the current network. These include the network name, signal strength, frequency, encryption, uptime, beacon interval, and more.
By default, the software takes you to the Graph tab where you can see a graphic with the signal of each network
In the bottom area, you have a button for changing between the 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz bands and adjusting the bar threshold to fade out low signals.
On the List tab, you will find a list with all the available networks and a few details about them. If you click on the network you can view the detected access point vendor and you can connect to them through the application.
From the Speed Test tab, you can run a measuring network speed process. In this way, you can see the speed of download and upload files at any moment.
WiFi Monitor
Inspect nearby WiFi networks and choose the one that best suites your needs!
Wi-Fi Tool is published by the developer of the Network Data and HD-POS applications, Helge Magnus Keck. It has the highest rating of all the programs presented so far.
He managed to get an average of 4.7 out of 5 from almost 300 feedbacks. The interface is structured in 4 tabs (WLAN, Analyze, Traffic, and Settings) that can be found on the left side of the dialog box.
The WLAN tab will display a list with all the available SSIDs with the corresponding details. When you are connected to a network, the SSID will be displayed on the top of the dialog box.
In the same area, you will find shortcuts and filters to customize the information displayed and also a disconnect button to end the connection any time you want.
When you click on any SSID from the available networks it will open a new menu on the left side of your dialog box. You will find here all the information you need to be structured in graphics and tables.
All you have to do to connect to one of the available networks is to right-click on the desired network.
On the Analyze page, you can find different graphics that show the evolution of your connection which can be flipped between 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz.
The first graphic is the channel usage but you can also change it to a line graph which will show you the signal power over time.
You have a set of filters at the bottom of the dialog box to adjust and customize the information displayed. More than that, you can choose a 3D presentation for each graphic.
On the upper area of the dialog box, you can find a shortcut to a feature that activates the split view mode where you can view two kinds of graphics at the same time.
Furthermore, in that area you will find a shortcut to a list of networks, so you do not have to switch to the WLAN tab. You can combine this feature with the split view to have 2 graphics and a network list on the same screen.
The Traffic tab is dedicated to the data usage area. This feature is measuring the number of uploads and downloads from every session as a bar graph.
From the main graphic menu, you can select the time period you want to be analyzed. This attribute is available even for networks to which you previously connected.
In the live tile, you can select 2 fields to be displayed. Furthermore, you can customize the Wi-Fi Tool to send a notification every time you connect or disconnect from a wireless network.
WiFi Tool
Team up with the most powerful WiFi analyzer and discover the best channels for your network.
In the first place, the WiFi channel software tells you how the network channels are used for other connections, so you can change your network channel to avoid interferences.
Mainly, this software can scan your Wifi connection in two separate ways:
The first method is active scanning and it runs with the client device searching for wireless networks by transmitting probes and giving results from the access points in range. The results include the configuration and capabilities of the networks managed by the access point.
More so, you have the passive scan that works differently by listening to beacons, specific data transmitted from the access points to report their presence.
It is recommended to use the active scan method to get the best results of available networks that you can use to enhance the wireless connection quality.
In this article, we presented the best Wi-Fi scanners that will make life easier for you.
They will help you with monitoring your traffic, upload speed, and the strength of your router’s signal among other amazing features we already detailed above.
FAQs
What is a WiFi channel scanner used for?
A WiFi channel scanner shows nearby wireless networks, their signal strength, and channel usage. It helps you choose the best channel to reduce interference and improve connection stability.
Do I need a WiFi channel scanner for Windows 10 or 11?
Yes. If you experience slow speeds or frequent drops, a WiFi channel scanner for Windows 10 and 11 can identify overlapping channels and guide you to the optimal settings.
How does a WiFi channel scanner improve internet speed?
By detecting congested channels and recommending less crowded ones, the tool reduces interference from neighboring networks. This often results in faster speeds and a more reliable WiFi connection.
Is active scanning better than passive scanning?
Generally, yes. Active scanning transmits probes to access points and delivers more detailed results. Passive scanning only listens to beacons, which may miss some networks.
If you also need more insights about your wireless connection, you can simply use highly efficient WiFi analyzer tools and resolve any network matters.
Check them all out, and if you have any additional suggestions or questions, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below.
The Medium, the first Xbox Series X|S exclusive game of 2021 has been released yesterday on Microsoft’s next-gen consoles, in addition to Windows PCs. The game is also available on day one on Xbox Game Pass, and it will be followed later this year by other exclusive titles from third-party developers such as Scorn or Warhammer 40K: Darktide.
The Medium is the latest game from Polish developer Bloober Team, who earned praise for its psychological horror games including Layers of Fear and Blair Witch. Even though The Medium isn’t an AAA game, it already has a special place in Xbox history as the first high-profile game from a third-party developer launching exclusively on Microsoft’s next-gen consoles.
Bloober Team actually delayed The Medium’s release date from December 10 to January 28 due to COVID-19, and to prevent the game from being overshadowed by CD Projekt Red’s much-anticipated Cyberpunk 2077. January is indeed a pretty quiet month for new games releases, and The Medium launching on day on Xbox Game Pass for Console and PC should also really help it to get more exposure.
Microsoft released its Xbox Series X|S consoles last fall without a big new exclusive game, and with Halo Infinite having been delayed to Fall 2021, many early adopters are still waiting to be blown away by a game with true next-gen graphics. The Medium isn’t exactly the best-looking game you can play on Xbox Series X|S consoles right now, but according to Bloober Team, it’s doing some unique things that wouldn’t have been possible on the previous console generation.
One of The Medium’s unique features is the dual reality gameplay that let you simultaneously move in the material world and the spirit world at certain points in the game. When that happens, the screen is split either vertically or horizontally to render both worlds at the same time, and that requires additional resources Xbox One consoles are lacking.
“Most other games that support split-screen displays two different instances of the same location. In The Medium, the real and the spirit worlds look completely different and use their own sets of graphical assets, such as models or textures. This is much more demanding in terms of memory, storage, and the rendering cost. Additionally, such effects as motion blur or ambient occlusion need to be calculated and rendered twice. All in all, the game requires a significant amount of VRAM and fast storage, much faster than what was used in the previous generation of hardware,” the Bloober Team explained.
I played The Medium on both the Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S, and it’s a good looking game overall with the Series X version supporting ray-tracing reflections in select locations. According to Digital Foundry’s technical analysis, the game uses a dynamic resolution on both consoles: The Series X shows variations between 1440p and native 4K, while the Series S can vary between 900p and 1080p. However, the resolution drops significantly during dual-gameplay sequences, with the Series X reaching a minimum of 900p and the Series S sometimes dropping to an even lower 648p.
The game targets 30FPS on both consoles, and there’s no 60FPS Performance mode even on the Series X. Since The Medium is mostly a contemplative experience with close to none action sequences, I think it’s acceptable to trade smoother frame rates for a more detailed world. So far, I didn’t encounter any noticeable frame rate drops on both the Series X and the Series S, even during the more demanding dual reality gameplay sequences.
If The Medium is a third-person game, be aware that the game doesn’t use an “over-the-shoulder” camera. Instead, the game uses a dynamic camera that will follow you throughout the environment, and this can be quite disorienting at times. For me, this was an instant throwback to the old-school Resident Evil games and their even more obnoxious fixed camera angles, though The Medium didn’t inherit from these games’ tank controls.
Bloober Team’s game stars Marianne, a Medium who has the ability to see the world from two perspectives. The game doesn’t give you much about Marianne’s background, and it starts with its lead protagonist getting ready to go to a funeral home to say a last goodbye to her father. That’s when you’ll first experience The Medium’s dual-reality gameplay, with Marianne being able to speaker to her father in the alternate world before sending his spirit away.
After this short prologue, Marianne will get a phone call from a mysterious man named Thomas, who gets Marianne’s attention by mentioning details about her recurring nightmares. The man will ask Marianne to meet him in Niwa, a derelict vacation resort where Thomas is apparently being threatened by a mysterious force.
The Medium seems to be a very linear game overall, though you’ll often need to use Marianne’s “Insight” power to reveal clues like footsteps on the ground, or echoes from the past. Some objects in the game have auras, and Marianne can sense their stories by touching them. When arriving in Niwa, Marianne describes the soviet-looking complex as a landfill of memories, with strong energy all around.
You’ll encounter some of the game’s puzzles during the dual-reality gameplay sequences, and when you’ll exist in these two realities, you’ll be affected by both them: This means that when a door is locked in the real world, you won’t be able to go through that passage in the astral world even though this door is absent in this alternate reality. Solving the game’s puzzles will often require you to do some things in the astral world that will have consequences in the real world.
I didn’t go far enough to see if the game has a lot of these puzzles, but The Medium becomes really interesting once you reach the Niwa complex, a mysterious place that is also the subject of urban legend, the “Niwa massacre.” The Medium can feel like a walking simulator at times, especially if you try to find all items that still have traces of the people who were there, but the Niwa hotel instantly looks like a fascinating world to explore.
You probably shouldn’t expect big jumpscares or exciting action sequences, The Medium is a slow-paced game and that’s actually fine. The gameplay feels somewhat dated at times, with a camera that can get frustrating in closed spaces, but I’m still excited to spend more time in the game over the weekend.
The Medium is probably not going to be a system seller for Microsoft’s next-gen Xbox consoles, and I actually wouldn’t be surprised if the game eventually makes its way to the PlayStation 5, which reportedly has a bigger install base. It should still be good filler content for Xbox Game Pass, and you should definitely check it out if you’re looking for a new next-gen to play on your Xbox Series X or Series S console.
Lens correction software is your savior if you have a shot you don’t want to give up on. We found tools that offer both manual and automatic correction options.
They let you adjust images based on content, lens type, focal length, and even camera model.
Sounds good? Check them out!
What are the best tools to correct lens distortion on PC?
Adobe Photoshop – industry leading editing with lens correction tools
Renowned for its powerful photo editing, Adobe Photoshop is ideal if you like in-depth, manual adjustments, but it also supports automatic lens correction.
Once you load a photo, go to Filter>Lens Correction> Custom> Auto correction. If you prefer more advanced options, you can fix the lens barrel and pincushion distortion.
Key features:
Easy to find and use interface
Real-time adjustment preview
Fix lens barrel
Pixel adjustements
Adobe Photoshop
Correct digital photo errors with industry-leading features!
DxO ViewPoint – advanced perspective and distortion correction
DxO ViewPoint is the latest version of DxO Labs’ volume deformation and perspective correction tool.
This can successfully be used as a standalone app and as a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop as well and for more popular programs. It includes automatic distortion correction via the tool’s Optic Modules.
Key features:
Automatic distortion correction based on lens profiles
Manual correction
8-point perspective correction tool
Detailed instructions for beginners and advanced users
RadCor – dedicated software for radial distortion correction
RadColor stands for Radial Distortion Correction, and this is a dedicated piece of software targeted at lens distortion correction. It comes with lots of options for correcting distortions that are caused by various camera lenses.
This tool provides both automatic and manual correction options, and it offers surprising results. Take a look at the most interesting features that are included in this tool below:
GIMP – open source image editor with lens correction
Lens distortion correction in GIMP is straightforward to manage, and it can be performed for images with small to medium lens distortion.
All the lenses distortion correction in GIMP will have to be performed manually by adjusting a few parameters, but things are really effortless to carry out.
These are our best five picks for tools that can fix lens distortion for your photos. All of them are able to do a great job fixing your photos, so no matter which one you will end up using, you will be extremely pleased. Good luck!
Video editors are essential for recording lots of footage with cameras or for vloggers and content creators.
Having recorded a video, you can edit and refine the final output with video-editing software and export it to numerous file formats for playback on various devices.
Most standard video editors include timelines that display linear layouts of videos, transitions and effect options, themes and templates, and text options for adding titles and credits to footage.
However, the best video editors also include audio mixers, video stabilizers, motion tracking, masking, multi-cam modules, and 3D video-editing tools.
They are also compatible with the latest 4K, 8K, and 360-degree video technologies. These are some of the best Windows video editors that include most of those tools.
Adobe Premiere Elements is a non-subscription alternative to Premiere CC that simplifies video editing for its users.
The new version of the software includes new tools for extracting images from the footage, adding motion titles to frozen frames, and adding bounce-back effects to videos.
The software is compatible with 64-bit Windows 10/8/7 and Mac OS platforms.
Adobe Premiere Elements provides Quick and Guided editing modes for more straightforward video editing.
In Quick mode, you can simply select the media to include for Premiere Elements to arrange on the video timeline.
You can add more than 400 transitions, effects, and objects to the footage when editing in Adobe Premiere Elements.
Elements users can apply video stabilization, add more contrast to landscape videos with Dehaze, replace solid colors in footage with images, drop their videos into templates, and many more.
So there are loads of editing tools at your disposal in Premiere Elements.
Premiere Elements also scores highly for export and production. You can export videos to about 19 file formats and add them directly to YouTube, Facebook, and Vimeo from within Elements.
The software enables you to set up DVD and Blu-ray discs for your videos with customized menus and themes. You can also select to optimize videos for mobile and TV playback.
Adobe Premiere Elements
Easily create amazing-looking videos with the versatile Adobe Premiere Elements.
Adobe Premiere Pro is another of the industry-standard editors with which you can edit almost any type of video format, including 8K and virtual reality.
Unlike Premiere Elements, the latest Premiere Pro CC version supports multi-cam and 360-degree editing.
The software has a decently-priced monthly subscription, and for that, you also get plenty of regular updates and Adobe Media Encoder.
You can run the software on 64-bit Windows 10/8/7 and macOS platforms, and you’ll need at least eight GB RAM for it.
Adobe Premiere Pro CC includes a huge toolset for editing all the latest video formats this year.
Premiere Pro probably has the most comprehensive video and audio format support of any editor, and its users can import footage from almost any type of recording device.
The software doesn’t include the widest selection of transition options, but you can always add more with additional plug-ins.
This is one of the best editors for multi-cam editing as it accommodates any number of angles. Premiere Pro’s Lumetri Color Tools provide a huge amount of scope for adjusting colors in the footage.
CC also includes extensive text options and a great selection of fonts for adding titles and captions to footage.
Premiere Pro does include its own export options, but it also comes with the Adobe Media Encoder package. That provides Premiere Pro CC users with a wide variety of presets optimized for various output formats.
You can configure your own presets if AME doesn’t have one you need. Furthermore, you can also export videos to DVD and Blu-ray and share them on Twitter, Youtube, Vimeo, and other sites with AME.
Adobe Premiere Pro
Take your video editing to the next level with the Pro version of Adobe Premiere today!
Movavi is truly one of the finest PC video-editing software for Windows 10, thanks to its simple interface, a variety of ready-made effects, filters, stickers, backgrounds, and much more.
It has a Quick Video option that lets you build a video out of photos and enhance it with background music in a matter of minutes.
Enabling you to modify and reduce the volume on each audio clip is a major advantage, as it allows the music to fade in and out as required. This is very effective when moving from photo to video message snippets that you’ve provided.
The animation option, which actually brings the project to life, is the most fascinating feature.
You may use Movavi’s Chroma Key to simply transform the background of your video to anything you like. Explore lightning-fast file processing and rendering, as well as attractive titles, transitions, stickers, and other additional material designed by professionals.
The trial version, however, imposes some limitations, like placing a watermark on the files it generates and installs desktop icons without asking.
Movavi Video Editor
Movavi is a great video editor that has all of the elements you’ll need while building a dynamic project.
Corel VideoStudio Pro is a user-friendly video editor that’s ideal for casual users. The latest version is also one of the few editors that include tools for editing 360-degree videos.
Corel VideoStudio Pro includes a premium special effects pack and a Mask Creator tool, but aside from that, there’s little difference between the versions.
Corel VideoStudio Pro is a good choice for novice users as it includes the template-based video creator FastFlick.
This tool can automatically set up a video from your clips, and an Instant Project tab that you can quickly set up finished videos with.
The software provides you with more than 2,000 transitions, effects, and animated titles.
It includes a plethora of invaluable editing tools such as its multi-camera for syncing multiple footages, motion tracking to apply effects to specific moving subjects, and chroma key for adjusting backgrounds.
VideoStudio Pro users can also balance audio levels between clips and lower background sound with the editor’s audio tools.
This editor has plenty of output and sharing options. The software’s MyDVD disc authoring tool enables you to export clips to DVDs with themed templates.
You can export videos for playback on Apple TV, iPad, Xbox, and other devices. VideoStudio Pro also enables its users to set up AVCHD 2.0 videos for SD card output.
Corel VideoStudio Pro
Create awe-inspiring videos with this easy-to-use and efficient tool.
CyberLink PowerDirector is one of the most highly rated prosumer video editors for Windows 10/8.1/8/7 that’s compatible with all the latest video technologies.
It’s an ideal choice for both novice and professional users who need a full suite of video-editing tools.
There are separate PowerDirector 19 Ultra and Ultimate versions, which are priced differently according to what is included.
PowerDirector 16 Ultimate has more templates and effects, but aside from that, there isn’t much difference between the versions.
PowerDirector has all the editing tools you’ll need. You can add plenty of templates and effects & transitions along with titles and credits to videos with the software’s design tools.
The editor includes design tools for fusing video clips together, overlaying animated objects, and even setting up video collages.
PowerDirector also packs in an audio mixer, video stabilizer, chroma-key, MultiCam Designer module, 360-degree video, and motion tracking editing tools.
The application supports all the latest formats for both importing and exporting videos. This software is 4K compatible and enables its users to export 2K and 4K videos to 15 file formats.
You can upload your videos directly to six social media and video websites, such as YouTube and Dailymotion.
Furthermore, the software incorporates both DVD and Blu-ray authoring so that you can add videos to CDs, DVDs, or Blu-ray discs.
Power Director 365
With this professional software, you can get access to powerful instruments as well as to Shutterstock’s plentiful collection, so you can invigorate your video-editing skills.
VideoPad is a lightweight editor with which you can edit and export both 2K and 4K videos.
This is among the best budget video editors for 2021 that’s available for a small price on the publisher’s site, but the software is freely available for non-commercial usage.
The VideoPad Master’s edition is also compatible with external VirtualDub plug-ins.
You can add this editor to Windows (XP to 10), Android, Kindle, and Mac OS X platforms by clicking the download links on the software’s homepage.
VideoPad might lack some of PowerDirector 16’s more advanced tools, but it has still got all the essential tools you’ll need for video editing.
The software enables you to import footage from almost any kind of input device, apply more than 50 stunning visual effects, adjust the playback speed, add new images to video sequences, and many more.
VideoPad offers a decent selection of device optimization profiles for exporting videos. The software enables you to optimize and export output for a wide variety of devices, such as PSP, iPod, iPhone, and 3GP mobiles.
VideoPad users can also export their videos to DVD, Blu-ray, HD-DVD, or CD or add them directly to YouTube, Flickr, and Facebook websites.
VideoPad Masters Edition
VideoPad has advanced editing features such as video stabilization, 3D editing, and motion tracking.
Icecream Video Editor is another app from the bestselling software company that comes on the market to help you edit your favorite videos absolutely for free.
This tool allows you not only to edit your videos but also to create your own videos using photos, images, and audio files from your library.
As free software, it does not have every tool on the earth, but it comes with enough interesting features that you might use. Here they are:
Single timeline to merge your multimedia files
15 free transitions
Add movie effects (blur, old movies, etc.)
Simplified trim feature
Flip and rotate
Changing video speed
There are more interesting features, but these are enough to create a simply stunning video without being a pro. More than that, you can share these videos through Youtube, Google Drive, or Dropbox directly from the app.
By choosing Icecream Video-editor you have essential video editing tools you’ll find in the subscription-based software. Plus, there are multiple video and image formats you can use without limitations.
The software is available on different Windows versions, starting from Windows 7 to 8, 8.1, and 10.
If you want to know more about this amazing software, you can download it from the Icecream Apps website.
Icecream Video Editor
Combine videos and images, create transitions, edit films, apply visual effects, speed up, and let your imagination run wild!
Wondershare Filmora 9 Video Editor is a simple but powerful video editing software, which makes it perfect for both first-time users and professional video editors.
The application has a simple-to-use interface that allows you to combine audio, video, and various effects.
To create your own videos, you just have to drag and drop your media files to the timeline to combine them.
To make the editing process faster and simpler, the application already has a number of available audio, text, transitions, filters, and overlays available to use out of the box.
If you need more effects, transitions, or audio files, you can always download them from the Effect Store.
It’s worth mentioning that Wondershare Filmora9 Video Editor can work with up to 100 video tracks, so you can create complex videos.
Of course, the application offers fast export and import of videos, so you’ll easily import media or save your creations.
There’s also full 4K support, so you’ll be able to create crystal clear videos with ease. In order to provide you with a smooth user experience, the application supports real-time rendering, so you should be able to easily render 4K videos.
The application also has improved video stabilization, which is perfect if you’re editing clips that are filmed outdoors or without a tripod.
In addition to stabilization, there’s improved chroma key support, so you’ll have an easier time working with the green screen.
As for audio, the application has support for up to 100 audio tracks, so you can easily organize background music and audio effects. As for additional features, there are keyframing, noise removal, and equalizer.
In addition, there’s an audio mixer available, so you can easily adjust audio and video volume.
When it comes to exporting, you can choose between many popular video formats, and you can even customize settings for each format.
This allows you to easily change your encoder, resolution, bitrate, and other settings. Of course, you can also export your videos directly to YouTube or Vimeo or burn them to a DVD.
Overview of key features:
Sleek and simple user interface
4K support
Support for up to 100 audio and video tracks
Cross-compatibility between PC and Mac
A plethora of video effects, overlays, and text effects
Overall, Wondershare Filmora9 Video Editor offers an incredibly simple and sleek user interface, and with a wide array of effects, transitions, and audio files, it will be perfect for both first-time and professional users.
Wondershare Filmora
Create one-of-a-kind videos on your PC by using this amazing software today!
HitFilm is a freeware video editor and VFX package that’s ideal for indie filmmakers and YouTube enthusiasts.
You can add lots more special effects to videos with HitFilm than most alternative software.
Although this is freeware, the software’s add-ons are not freely available, and there’s also a Pro version that includes all the add-on packs.
You can add HitFilm to Windows 10/8/7 by clicking theGet Hitfilm Free link on the website page down below.
HitFilm is an editor with some revolutionary effects that will transform your videos. The freeware version boats more than 180 visual effects.
You can just add more basic transition effects, but HitFilm also enables its users to add pre-built 3D effects, customizable lens flares, gunfire effects, and temporal effects to their videos.
This editor also boasts both 2D and 3D compositing so that you can combine different visual elements from alternative sources into video sequences.
Even if you don’t need to create Hollywood blockbusters, you can still refine and fine-tune your videos with the software’s timeline editor that offers an unlimited number of tracks.
While not as popular as some of the tools listed above, DaVinci Resolve is a feature-rich video editor that deserves your attention.
DaVinci Resolve 17 perfectly combines offline and online editing, color correction, audio post-production as well as visual effects. Yes, all these features are available in one tool.
The software is perfect for collaboration purposes. You can easily edit your videos and instantly share the results with the whole team. There is no need to export files or use a third-party tool to do that.
DaVinci Resolve supports multiple editors, assistants, colorists, VFX artists, and sound designers. The best part is that everybody can work on the same project at the same time.
DaVinci Resolve 16 is suitable for advanced and professional users only.
Sure, certain functions require the Premium Upgrade, but it is mainly for teamwork and if you require more special effects. However, the free version is strong and feature-rich enough to make any type of video.
Lighter, more efficient export files make it easier to compress and archive with Resolve, and you spend less time uploading to YouTube or any other online video site.
Resolve is a well-known and widely praised program for all aspects of editing, not only grading and online editing.
Those are 10 must-have video editors for this year. Of those, Wondershare Filmora 9, Adobe Premiere Elements, and Adobe Premiere Pro CC have the most comprehensive editing toolkits.
All being said, consider this software guide anytime if you need more effective video editor tools with minimal system requirements.
Adobe is most famous to the general public for the Acrobat Reader and Photoshop. However, they also have another drawing and painting app that is growing more successful by the day.
Adobe Fresco was created with stylus and touch devices in mind and it first came out for the Apple iPad.
Back in November 2019, Adobe launched the app for Microsoft Surface devices. They were technically Windows devices but now, the app is expanding to all Windows 10 devices.
To be exact, that means it’s also available for your Windows 10 laptop or PC running version 1903 or later. Your computer will also need to have DirectX 12.1 to download the Adobe app.
How can I install Adobe Fresco on Windows 10?
1. Download and install Adobe Fresco
It’s pretty easy to get the Adobe Fresco app and it starts by clicking on the Visit website button below to get to the Adobe website.
By clicking next on the Get free app button, you will be presented with three options.
You can install the free trial app for Adobe Fresco, or you can get the Photoshop app that includes Adobe Fresco.
The third option, All apps, will give you access to the whole Creative Cloud suite that includes all the Adobe apps in free trial versions.
Adobe Fresco has a 30-day trial period so you can test its limits. The learning curve for this excellent app is pretty steep.
Adobe Fresco
Adobe Fresco is an excellent drawing app that will instantly click with your immagination and creativity.
2. What are the requirements to install Adobe Fresco?
If you want to install Adobe Fresco on your Windows 10 PC, you will need an Adobe ID account. If you don’t have one, don’t worry because you will be prompted to create one during the installation process.
You will also need Internet connectivity because you will need to activate the software, validate any potential subscriptions, and, of course, accessing the online services.
You will also need a minimum of 3 GB of free space on your PC to install and run the application. However, Adobe recommends you to have 16GB of available storage for best performance.
3. What are some of the newest features of Adobe Fresco?
Adobe not only brought the app to your friendly PC but in 2020 they also introduced some new features like a Clipping Masks tool a Brushes Management tool to name the most important.
The Clipping Masks Tool is a feature that makes it a lot easier to clip one or more layers to another layer or layer group. Here’s a clip from Adobe that shows you exactly how to use the new Clipping Mask feature.
Brushes Management feature was needed because you have a lot of brushes to choose from and this is a new way of setting up a personalized set of brushes.
Another interesting feature is the Brush Stamp Preview that helps you know exactly how much area you will be covered with the stamp.
It’s a simple indicator for Photoshop, Pixel, and Eraser brushes that will appear when you touch the screen with a stylus or finger.
If you succeeded in installing Adobe Fresco, leave us your feedback in the comments section below.
Because trading stocks is a hard area of business as it is, you’ll need all the help you can get.
By teaming up with the best software to track stock trades, you will be able to better coordinate stocks and make decisions based on real-time data.
This type of software allows you to perform advanced-level analysis of the stock market, can set custom reminders, and alerts regarding a price stock limit, and much more.
It is worth mentioning that not all stock market software allows you to buy and sell stock from the app.
However, you needn’t worry if this feature is not included. These stock market software programs are fully compatible with brokerage tools.
Having real-time information is one thing, making quick decisions is another, and selling or buying stocks is the final element.
You can gather real-time information by using the software we will list in this article, creating your own charts, and creating custom settings for the stock filter used to get relevant information.
Let’s explore some of the best software to track stock trades on the market.
eToro is a multi-asset platform, offering both investing in stocks and crypto assets, as well as trading CFDs. You should know that only real cryptocurrencies are available for US users.
Besides, the company is considered one of the pioneers in cryptocurrency trading. They offer the largest range of cryptos anywhere and are focused on expanding this market whenever an established token reaches the mainstream.
For beginners, eToro is the best place to start trading. It also offers a fully functional demo account, with a $100,000 virtual portfolio to find one’s strategy before trading independently or copying other traders.
eToro also provides a free mobile trading app, so you can trade on the go, anytime, anywhere.
Note that the platform is geo-limited; it accepts traders from most countries, except Iran, Turkey, Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
eToro USA LLC does not offer CFDs, only real Cryptocurrencies are available for US users.
eToro
A leader in the fintech industry for over a decade and the perfect crypto trading platform for beginners.
Disclaimer: 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. eToro USA LLC and eToro USA Securities Inc.; Investing involves risk, including loss of principal; Not a recommendation.
TradingView is a freemium social network for traders and investors on Forex, Futures and Stock markets. The platform offers Live quotes, stock web-based charts and expert trading ideas.
It is best appreciated for the ease of use of their charts, having a modern, sleek and practical interface, with a lot of functionalities in one charting package.
Some of the other notable features are:
A wide library of technical indicators that are routinely being added to and updated
An alert system for any indicator or drawing; highly customizable
Volume profile indicators to all paid members
Proprietary, easy to learn, a scripting language (Pine Script)
Great free permanent plan
One of the few drawbacks of TradingView is the fact that only a very small amount of brokers offer in-the-box trading with this platform.
TradingView comes in four plans. The free one offers most features that you would get with the paid plans, only at a slower data flow and with fewer indicators available. Yet the free plan is great to start with.
Moving upwards with the paid plans – Pro, Pro+ or Premium, one gets access to an increasing number of charts, faster workflow, and certain exclusive features.
TradingView
Learn the ropes of trading stocks with this modern user-friendly charting web-based system.
TC2000 is a fully featured software stock option that covers all your needs when it comes to scanning charts and also trading stocks.
The scanning feature found in TC2000 is incredibly fast and gives you a perfectly structured report of all stocks that meet your requirements and are also based on the risk involved in that transaction.
This software allows you to use notes and flag stocks, by remembering which charts you were using and organizing them into a comprehensive and easy-to-access list.
TC2000 has a smart scaling feature, and you can visually compare trends and the difference between swing sizes as well.
Here are some other very useful features found in TC2000:
Easily modify and place orders by dragging on the charts
Can keep an overview over positions and orders in your watchlists
Can overlay underlying stocks with option strategies
Great projections of P&L zones (profit and loss statements)
Easily set up step-limit orders that help you get a better price
Can access your portfolio anywhere – mobile platform, Windows, or online Web Trader
Trading is done by using top of the range types of trendlines, channels, and indicators
EquityFeed’s features are similar to the TC2000 software, but with a different software structure and with some different skills.
As in the case of TC2000, EquityFeed offers you access to all the tools you need to order to stay informed, make informed decisions, and see real-time results of your stock transactions.
One of the best features found in EquityFeed is its ability to scan for stock in depth, with the power to customize the scanning filters.
These filters are so efficient that they can reduce the time spent searching for the stock you’re interested in, from 10-20 minutes to a few seconds.
Having this feature at your disposal allows you to make informed decisions without risking to lose your funds.
Another very useful tool found in EquityFeed is the professional-level trade alerts. These alerts are generated automatically by EquityFeed by using the powerful built-in pattern recognition tool.
Using this feature allows you to stay ahead of the curve by staying informed in real-time regarding any price variations for your selected stocks, breaking price average, moving large block trades, etc.
As we all know, the most important stocks are the ones we put in our portfolio or the ones we targetted for future transactions.
In order to have unlimited access to these items without any issues, EquityFeed gives you the power to keep the entire range of information safe.
You can also create an unlimited number of watchlists, and check each of them out as the stocks are sold/bought.
Optuma is another great analysis software for the share market that offers you real-time information about the stocks you are interested in, with built-in alerts for price changes and variations of stocks.
Let’s explore some of the best options found in Optuma:
Single security charts (a chart that is calculated on the price history of single security) – contains all the single chart styles – bar, candle, point & figure, swing charts, etc.
QuantShare is another great stock market software that allows you to perform a variety of tasks – charting, backtesting, optimizing, composites, etc.
The wide range of tools found in this program gives you the power to display charts, add indicators, create custom watchlists.
You can apply specific trading strategies, and can even create portfolios based on the choices of strategy that you made.
This software was designed with traders and investors in mind and integrates perfectly with Forex, Futures, Options, and also ETFs trader software.
When using QuantShare, you can access a wide range of pre-made data downloaders, watchlists, trading systems, and also get personalized support through the process.
Here are some of the best features found in QuantShare:
Can work with multiple accounts and databases
More than 25 drawing tools
Charting features
Advanced money management
News/Data plugin
Easily share items and ideas with other QuantShare users
In this article, we explored some of the best software options on the market to help you with real-time data gathering and also actual selling and buying stocks.
Please feel free to let us know what your experience with these software options was by using the comment section below.
Adobe XD is a popular UI/UX design app that can be used to create wireframe, animation, prototype, and even collaborate with other creators. Similar to other Adobe software, Adobe XD is also part of the company’s Creative Cloud.
Adobe Creative Creative cloud service offers a collection of 20+ apps for photography, design, video, UX and more. Adobe requires the users to install the Creative Cloud desktop app to be able to install XD and other apps.
CC desktop client is also responsible for managing Adobe subscription, keeping the apps upto date, cloud synchronization and more. While the app is a useful utility, some users may prefer to install Adobe XD without Creative Cloud.
Unfortunately, Adobe does not offer a standalone Adobe XD installer for the latest version. So, is there a workaround to install Adobe XD without Creative Cloud? Well, let us find out.
How to install Adobe XD without Creative Cloud?
Contact Adobe for a direct download link
Make sure you have an active Adobe XD subscription.
Go to Adobe Help page and click the Chat icon in the bottom right corner.
Sign in to your Adobe account with valid credentials.
Once logged in, ask the Adobe agent to provide you with a direct download link for Adobe XD installer. You can use the below template if required: Hello, I need the direct download links (offline installers) for the new 2021 releases of Adobe XD Could you please help me?
Use the temporary download link provided by the agent to download Adobe XD installer.
Extract the Zip file and click on the setup.exe file to install the Adobe XD without Creative Cloud.
If the Adobe agent refuses to provide a direct download link, simply exit the chat and try to connect with another agent.
Although rare, at times you may have to try your luck a few times before getting the direct download link.
Adobe XD
You don’t need Creative Cloud to install Adobe XD, but you still need a subscription to install it regardless.
Press the Windows key on your keyboard and type Task Manager.
Open the Task Manager app and click the Startup tab.
In the Startup tab, select Adobe Creative Cloud app and click the Disable button.
Once disabled, close Task Manager. Also, exit the Creative Cloud app by expanding the System Tray icon.
As discussed earlier, the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop does more than just manage Adobe creative software. It can keep all the 20+ Adobe up to date, manage cloud synchronization, and offer access to additional Adobe assets.
However, at times the app can cause high system resources usage due to various active background processes. This can impact system performance and make your system slow.
To fix the problem, you can disable the Creative Cloud app from running in the background. If it does not work, check out additional steps to stop the Creative Cloud from running at start.
Uninstall Creative Cloud desktop application
Download the latest Creative Cloud desktop app uninstaller.
Once downloaded, extract the Zip file and then run the uninstaller.
Click the Uninstall button when the pop-up window appears.
Click OK once the app is uninstalled.
Before installing the Adobe XD app using the offline installer, make sure you have uninstalled the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop app.
To completely remove the Adobe Creative Cloud, use a dedicated Uninstaller listed in the steps above. Make sure to reboot the computer after uninstallation to apply the changes.
While Adobe requires the users to install the Creative Cloud desktop application to install its software like Adobe XD, at times, installing the app is not feasible.
Fortunately, Adobe does provide an offline installer for individual Creative Cloud apps with temporary download links to install the apps without the CC desktop app.
Adobe is widely known to the general public thanks to its extraordinary suite of programs, and mostly known are Acrobat Reader and Photoshop.
Photoshop was created for photo editing, digital painting, animation, and even graphic design. All these can be easily done with the help of a single tool.
In the January 2021 release of Photoshop desktop (version 22.1.1) and Photoshop on iPad (version 2.0.3), you will see the most reported bugs solved. Make sure to check out the Fixed issues page for more details.
As for those of you who want to install Adobe Photoshop without Creative Cloud, rest assured that there is a way to do that. Just read the lines below.
How can I install Photoshop without Creative Cloud?
In Creative Cloud, there is a generous collection of 20+ desktop and mobile apps that meet almost any need related to photography, design, video, UX, and many others.
The Photoshop brushes, content-aware fill, and photo effect features are among the most appreciated and utilized by professionals all over the world.
They help you enhance your skills and create amazing works of art within an elegant and easy-to-use interface.
Adobe Photoshop
Photoshop lets you discover all kinds of creative tools designed to put your creation on the map.
Photoshop comes with a complete suite of features and tools that are constantly improved and updated in order to satisfy the most complex needs of any professional using it.
Additionally, don’t forget to check the Photoshop Learn & Support section in order to get started with the help of the available guides and tutorials.
Thanks to this software, it’s never been easier to create valuable works of art. Let us know if you think the same by using the comments area below.
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