Quick Links Despite the growing prevalence of emails and other tech-based forms of communication, everyone will have to type a formal letter at some point in their lives. Whether you’re writing a letter of complaint, applying for a job, or formally expressing gratitude, it’s a handy tool to have in your locker. Although Microsoft Word has hundreds of templates, I prefer to create most of my documents—including my letters—from scratch. This means I can tailor them more specifically to my requirements and save my formatting and layout for later use....

Summary Many of us struggle to get up in the morning, especially on a cold Monday. While a cup of freshly brewed coffee helps, I’ve discovered that nothing motivates me to get out of bed faster than the prospect of playing video games. Starting the Day With Games Makes Sense for Me Before I dive in, let me say that playing games before work isn’t for everyone. If you’re up at 5 am and have a long commute, you’re already pressed for time and can’t risk being late because you spent an extra 15 minutes in a tight match....

Quick Links Summary Modern social media apps rely on algorithms to determine which content you see in your news feed. Algorithms are informed by machine learning, and contrary to how it may feel, you are in charge of training and teaching the algorithms to serve more of the content that you actually want to see. Why the Algorithm Matters Have you ever watched a video that your friend sent you, and then noticed that you started seeing more and more videos by that creator, even though you didn’t follow their page?...

Summary Have you got backlog dread? Do you stare at your pile of games forlornly as you swipe your credit card once again to put even more on the pile? I’m here to tell you that your “backlog” shouldn’t be weighing you down. What’s This “Backlog” Stuff? The word “backlog” implies a couple of things, but the most pertinent things that pop into my head are “work” and “obligation.” You might have a backlog of reports to work through, or a backlog of videos to edit....

In the world of speed, there is one nameplate that consistently sets the benchmark for performance. Since its inception, every sports car has thrived to reach the level of success that the Porsche 911 has garnered itself. However, not everyone can afford such a premium sports car. If you’re looking for similar levels of pace at a fraction of the price, the only place to go is the used market. There are plenty of fantastic sports cars out there capable of keeping pace with the legendary 911....

I love playing classic games from decades gone by, but sometimes I want something that feels old without actually being old. Modern games showcase modern design philosophies, but I still want to play something that reminds me of the old days. Thankfully, these games fit the bill. 7Axiom Verge Some people would claim that a game from 2015 is already “retro”, but come on—anything that released on the PlayStation 4 needs a few more years before earning that title....

Quick Links While social media platforms make it easy to stay connected with friends, they also bring a range of downsides. It can affect your mental health, reduce productivity, encourage impulsive spending, and more. I’ll share some of the reasons why I took a step back from social media and how doing so has improved my life. 1I Have Improved My Mental Health I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my mental health since quitting social media....

Quick Links With internet-connected devices scattered around our homes, it’s handy to send content from device to device. Apple AirPlay and Google Chromecast are the two most popular standards for casting music and video. Which one is right for you? What Is AirPlay? Apple AirPlayis a protocol for streaming music and videos, andscreen mirroringwirelessly between devices on the same network. It’s a proprietary standard made by Apple, first introduced in 2004 as “AirTunes,” and later renamed to “AirPlay” in 2010....

Quick Links A virtual assistant can call and text people, turn off the lights, play music or TV shows, start your coffee maker in the morning, and so so so much more. In short, a virtual assistant makes your life easier. If you’ve already written off Apple’s Siri, your top two options are Alexa and Google Assistant. But which is better? As with any comparison, some features are objectively better, while others are more subjective based on a specific user’s needs....

Looking to upgrade your home security? A smart lock is a good starting point. It’s a simple yet effective way to keep an eye on the coming and going of entry points, and more importantly, no more hiding spare keys. With smart locks, you can open your main door with more options than necessary: PIN codes, fingerprints, NFC, mobile apps, or even voice assistants. Smart locks also make it much easier to share temporary home access to families and friends....

Quick Links New Macs can be pricey, so it’s often a good idea to look towards a nice refurbished unit instead. However, regardless of their condition, there are some Mac models that are best left on the shelf, unless you have a very specific use for them. The reasons to avoid these models of Mac on the refurbished or used market vary, but all of them have an Achilles heel....

Microsoft is creating a new AI-based search feature for Bing called “Copilot Search.” Instead of showing the usual blue links, this feature will present search results as summaries generated by AI. This change follows the earlier addition of AI search summaries through Microsoft’s Copilot technology. It is similar to what Google is testing with its own AI Mode for search. The Copilot Search mode will show a summary of what the user is searching for right on the page, including links to sources as well as to image and video searches....

Summary Building your dream PC on PCPartPicker is exciting—until the final cost wipes the smile off your face. But it doesn’t have to be this way. You can still get most of the performance with slightly older hardware at a fraction of the price. Last-Gen Hardware Is Still Relevant Before we dive in, let’s quickly define what last-gen hardware actually means. “Last-gen” is a term tech enthusiasts use to describe hardware that is a generation behind the outgoing model....