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DuckDuckGo is a privacy-focused search engine that’s been online since 2008. Find websites, maps, videos, news, and more—without tracking your searches and serving you targetted ads. Here’s how to make the switch from Google, Bing, or any other search engine. Most Browsers Already Include DuckDuckGo as a Search Option DuckDuckGo has been gaining ground for over a decade, finally breaking through to the “mainstream” in September of 2014 when Apple offered it as a default search engine option in Safari for iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite. Later, in November of the same year, Mozilla added it to Firefox 33.1. RELATED: What Is DuckDuckGo? Meet the Google Alternative for Privacy Since then, almost every major browser has recognized DuckDuckGo by making it an optional default search engine. This includes Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera. Google Chrome Launch Chrome, click on the “three dots” menu icon in the top-right corner of the window, and click “Settings.” … [Read more...] about How to Switch to DuckDuckGo, a Private Search Engine

Google Assistant speakers and displays can play scheduled announcements with a feature called “Family Bell.” But what happens if your routine is going to be different for a while? There’s an easy way to pause these announcements. If you’re unfamiliar with the Family Bell feature , it’s a great way to keep your household on schedule. Simply enter a phrase such as “it’s bedtime,” select days and times, and choose a smart speaker or display. Google Assistant will make the announcement at the selected time. RELATED: How to Schedule Announcements on Google Assistant Speakers and Displays It’s possible to disable a Family Bell announcement if you don’t need it, but if you intend to turn it on again later, you can pause it instead. We’ll show you how. Open the “Google Home” app on your iPhone , iPad , or Android smartphone or tablet, then tap your profile icon in the top-right corner. Select “Assistant Settings” from the menu. Select “Family Bell” from the … [Read more...] about How to Pause Family Bell Announcements From Google Assistant

Signal is a secure encrypted messaging app. Think of it as a more private alternative to WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Skype, iMessage, and SMS. Here’s why you should seriously consider switching to Signal. Why Signal Is Special Signal is available for Android, iPhone, and iPad. There’s also a Signal desktop client for Windows, Mac, and Linux. To join, all you need is a phone number. It’s free. The user experience of Signal is just like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and other popular chat apps. It’s a messaging app with features like one-to-one messages, groups, stickers, photos, file transfers, voice calls, and even video calls. You can have group chats with up to 1000 people and group calls with up to eight people . Signal isn’t owned by a big tech company. Instead, Signal is developed by a non-profit foundation and is funded by donations . Unlike Facebook, Signal’s owners aren’t even trying to make money. Signal doesn’t try to gather a bunch of data on you or show … [Read more...] about What Is Signal, and Why Is Everyone Using It?

When you’re working remotely, you need to let people know if you’re available or not. Microsoft Teams has a visible status you can change depending on your availability so your colleagues know whether they can bother you or not. Your status is displayed as a colored circle next to your profile. You can see this at all times in the top-right corner of Teams. You can also see a person’s status in their profile next to a chat. Microsoft Teams will change your status automatically under certain circumstances, such as when you’re in a meeting or video call, or if you’ve been inactive for a period of time. But you can also change it manually as well. To do this, click on your profile in the top-right corner of the Teams application, select your current status, and change your status to whatever you want. You can also set how long you want to remain in a particular status by clicking “Duration.” Choose the status that you want and how long you want to remain in … [Read more...] about How to Change Your Status in Microsoft Teams

If you’ve ever used a computer, you’ve probably seen it: A grid of numbers and mathematical operators on the far-right side of a keyboard. It’s a numeric keypad—but how did it get there, and why is it laid out the way it is? Let’s explore its origins. It’s All About the Math Computers have numeric keypads because they make repetitive data entry easier. They allow you to type numbers and perform mathematical operations rapidly, with only one hand. The modern design of numeric keypads may seem obvious today, but it is the product of decades of refinement in adding machine technology, most of which took place over 100 years ago. The modern numeric keypad layout—sometimes called a “tenkey” layout—can trace its roots back to David Sundstrand, whose company released the first commercial tenkey mechanical adding machine in 1914. In Sundstrand’s adding machine key layout, you can see the rudiments of now-standard setup: ten numeral keys, arranged in three rows of three with the … [Read more...] about Where Did the Numeric Keypads on PC Keyboards Come From?

CES looked a bit different this year after going all-digital, but that didn’t stop companies from unveiling new products. After careful deliberation, the How-To Geek and Review Geek teams have awarded the following 11 products with How-To Geek’s Best of CES 2021 awards. Before jumping into the awards, Review Geek has been hard at work covering all of the CES 2021 announcements that you need to know about. Head on over there if you’ve missed anything from the internationally renowned trade show. Best in Show: Kensington StudioDock In order to stand out from everything announced at CES 2021 and win Best in Show, a product needs to make an entrance. The Kensington StudioDock did just that, causing most of the team to say, “I want that.” Using the StudioDock in conjunction with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, you can turn your iPad Pro or Air into an iPadOS iMac. Use the two built-in wireless chargers and the optional Apple Watch charger (which is coming soon) and … [Read more...] about Best of CES 2021: The Top Products Coming This Year