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Ubuntu may get the limelight a lot in Linux circles, but it has several cousins. One of them is Kubuntu Linux, and it has some unique qualities that might lead you to make it your primary operating system. If you have trouble keeping up with the names of all the different Linux distributions out there, you’re forgiven. They number in the thousands, and sometimes, their differences seem only slight. Their names can be confusing too, likeKubuntu, which is distinct from Lubuntu and Xubuntu....

Summary I’m completely bald, which makes it weird to buy hairspray at my local grocery store, but the cashier doesn’t know this is my secret weapon to making perfect 3D prints every time. Hairspray Saved My Adhesion Problems Adhesion problems are the bane of many 3D printing projects, and there are a huge number of solutions to this issue. Some people use special grippy beds, others print special adhesion mats and then the actual model is printed on top of that....

Summary Ever since sci-fi author Neal Stephenson coined the term “metaverse” in 1992, we technophiles have been eagerly waiting for the idea to come to fruition. Despite the hype, we’re still far from what’s typically envisioned in words like “metaverse.” Yet, as one of many VR pioneers myself, I believe we have some solid foundations to build upon in the near future. Where We Stand Today Currently, I think there are a few existing examples worthy of mention when it comes tothe conceptual metaverse....

Summary Windows Update is a pretty good resource for keeping your PC up to date, but updating the rest of your programs and apps on your computer can be a bit more of a toss-up—there’s no reliable centralized update solution for your apps. Microsoft wants Windows Update to be able to help with that, too. Microsoft is working on a new update orchestration platform designed to streamline and unify the update process for apps, drivers, and system components on Windows....

Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGA) can now create AI images based on Google Search queries. This is very similar toBing’simage-generating functionality—simply enter a prompt like “draw a chicken in the style of Van Gogh” into Google Search, and you’ll be met with four AI-generated images. To enjoy this feature, you mustopt into SGAthrough Search Labs. This is a very intuitive take on AI image generation. If you use Google as your default search engine, you may type a prompt into your address bar and get immediate results....

Quick Links People usually call the software on the Google Pixel phones “stock Android.” Google makes the phones, and Google also makes Android, so why wouldn’t it be? As a matter of fact, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Stock Android, as you know it, or as you think you know it, doesn’t exist anymore. And in fact, if you go way back, you’ll probably find it never actually existed....

Quick Links From setting a timer that pauses music, using the hidden backspace key in the Calculator app to leveling surfaces using the hidden Spirit Level—there are a lot of hidden features in your iPhone that can change how you use the device. If there’s one thing about iPhones that anyone can bet on, it’s thenever-ending list of hidden features. Apple doesn’t necessarily equip the iPhone with hard-to-find tools, but there are too many features to keep track of, which leads you to discover some more than others....

Quick Links I don’t need to remind you why losing your phone sucks, but I do need to remind you of the plethora of security features you’re not using on your Samsung phone that can help prevent theft and data loss. This is your complete guide on how to maximize security on Galaxy. Set Up (and Test) Find My Mobile Devices connected to your Google account can be found via itsFind My Deviceservice (now renamed to Google Find Hub), but Samsung adds its own implementation called Find My Mobile (now integrated with SmartThings Find) to Galaxy devices to offer more control....

Quick Links macOS 15 Sequoia is here and available as a free download for compatible models. In addition to standout features like iPhone mirroring and better Reminders and Calendar integration, here are some changes you might have missed. 1Window Tiling Previews and Shortcuts Window tiling is new for macOS 15, integrating the sort of functionality you get fromapps like MagnetandRectangleinto the operating system. However, the feature gets far more useful with a few simple keyboard shortcuts....

Chromebooks are unique since they can run web apps, Android apps from the Google Play Store, or Linux apps through the Terminal. To improve the Chromebook user experience, Google has created apps specifically aimed at Chromebook users. Some of these are apps unique to Chromebooks, while others are web apps that are available on other devices, but optimized for Chromebooks. In this article, I’ll highlight some of the bets apps Google has made to improve the Chromebook experience....

Quick Links Star Trekwas one of my geekiest influences, and it inspired real scientists and engineers to make some of its tech a reality, but not everything in Star Trek is that impressive anymore. Some of our tech is even better. Star Trek Is Prophetic, But We Can Do Better Star Trek has been a beacon of futurism since its inception in 1966. It showcased technologies that were miraculous for the era it was born in....

Quick Links Your Mac has many native apps that are underutilized, and Apple’s Keynote presentation software is among them. So let’s look at what Keynote does better than its biggest competitors, Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides. 1Keynote Is Free for Apple Users One of the main reasons why you might find that usingKeynoteas a Mac user feels easy is because it is a native app. Keynote settles in well with the rest of your Mac apps and the rest ofthe iWork productivity suite(Pages and Numbers)....

Summary The laundry list of issues I have with theAcer Chromebook Plus Spin 514makes this 2-in-1 laptop sound dreadful. However, given the excellent execution of its tablet mode and an unbeatable price, this may be the best value-for-money device of its kind. Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 A 2-in-1 laptop-tablet hybrid from Acer that runs on ChromeOS and includes cloud-based AI features. Price and Availability The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is available starting at $549....