Introduction to the Best Portable Speakers

A portable speaker is an incredible tool, especially if you are an outdoors person. Whether you are looking for a speaker to enjoy by the poolside, camping, at the beach or anywhere else, with the best portable speaker, your experience is definitely going to be much better.

The problem, however, is that there are lots of portable speakers in the market. These come at different sizes, shapes, and prices, and although it increases the buyers’ options, it also makes it really difficult to tell the best speakers from the rest. If you don’t know what you should be looking for in the speakers, you’ll probably end up with a miserable device that will barely last a couple of weeks.

A portable speaker is designed to give you entertainment on the road. This means that the ideal speaker should be compact but not too compact to affect audio and overall build quality. Other than sound quality, the next thing you need to look into is the IP certification. So many wild activities take place outdoors and hence buying a speaker that is not water, splash, or dustproof will be a poor investment as it will limit you significantly. Secondly, you need to look into battery life. When you are out on the beach or hiking somewhere in the middle of nowhere, you’ll need a speaker that can survive for the longest time possible before you are forced to recharge them. After that, it’s all a matter of going through the extras that you can get from the speaker like connectivity options, compatibility with other speakers, multi-point pairing, and so on.

What’s the Best Portable Speaker?

The best portable speaker in the market today is the Oontz Angle 3 (3^rd Gen). This best-selling speaker offers full value for your money. For less than $30, you will get remarkable sound quality, durable construction, long battery life, and a variety of other excellent features.

Let’s take a closer look at this and other incredible portable speakers:

Oontz Angle 3 (3^rd Gen)

According to Oontz, millions of Angle 3 have been sold worldwide. That’s an insane number, and it goes a long way to show what this speaker really has to offer. In this 3^rd gen, the speaker has received an even bigger boost through improved sound quality, increased volume, better connectivity, and a more stylish design.

Looking at the sound quality, Oontz has utilized neodymium drivers that crystal clear highs while the Bass Radiator delivers the perfect balance in sound by rocking deep bass output. The sound engineers separated the two precision drivers from the bass radiator, and this has further improved audio output clarity, and it gets better. Unlike the previous generations, this particular speaker comes with even louder volume rated at 10 watts. And here is the thing, Oontz hasn’t just increased the volume for the sake of it, but they somehow managed to do that while still retaining the speaker’s clarity. It’s insane how they have achieved this in such a compact speaker while keeping the price so low.

With the loud volume of this speaker, you can easily go outdoors doing various activities, and everyone around will enjoy your music. To make sure that you do so worry-free, Oontz has also weatherproofed this speaker. It is IPX5 certified, and hence you can go on using the speaker by the beach, in the pool or even in the shower with no worries.

The Oontz Angle 3 (3^rd gen) connects to your iOS and Android smartphones via Bluetooth. This allows you to receive calls and communicate through the built-in mic.

Other Features

• 100 ft. Bluetooth range
• Weighs just 9 ounces
• 14-hours battery life
• Dimensions: 5.25” by 2.6” by 2.8”
• 3.5mm aux-in jack
• Available in four colors

Ultimate Ears Boom 3

The Ultimate Ears Boom 3 is yet another portable speaker designed to deliver 360-degree audio coverage. This speaker features a cylindrical shape with sufficient tech beneath the body for an immersive experience all around.

From all the three speakers, I have to admit that the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 is the most beautiful of them all. This speaker is covered in a two-tone fabric that looks and feels amazing. You can get it in four different colors, and it wouldn’t really matter which one you choose because they are all extremely beautiful. You can even go as far as designing your own Boom 3 through their official website. This allows you to customize the fabric pattern, volume buttons, end caps, loop, spine, and text.

The fabric exterior of the speaker doesn’t just serve us with the looks, but it has also improved durability significantly. The Ultimate Ears Boom 3 survived numerous durability tests, and the two-tone fabric plays a key role in that.

The Ultimate Ears boom 3 sound as brilliantly as it looks. The highs are super clear, and with the deep, accurate bass, you will always enjoy your music or even movies in their original crystal clear audio quality at any volume!

The IP67 rating of the Ultimate Ears Boom means that you will never have to worry about both water and dust. You could easily dive into the pool with this speaker and stay down there for up to 30 minutes, and it won’t develop any issues. We’d also like to mention that the speaker is designed to float.  Therefore, you can toss it in the water and have fun with your friends and family in the pool with the speaker entertaining you from close proximity.

Through the magic button, you can play, pause, and skip the songs in your playlist. You can also control your music streaming client through the button.

Other Features

• 150 ft. wireless range
• Weighs 28.8 ounces
• 15-hours battery life
• Wireless charging
• Dimensions: 7.2”by 2.8”
• Customizable Equalizer
• Available in different colors

Bose SoundLink Revolve Portable Bluetooth 360 Speaker

The SoundLink Revolve from Bose is designed in a cone-like shape with deflectors fitted around it to deliver true 360-degree coverage. With this speaker standing at the center of the room, everyone around should experience an immersive experience. Even if you were to place it near a wall, the drivers are still powerful enough to pump out sound which will radiate from the wall and back into the room.

The SoundLink Revolve features omnidirectional acoustic deflectors, dual-passive radiators, and a powerful transducer. These are blended to deliver incredibly clear and loud sounds. The Omnidirectional acoustic deflectors eliminate all dead-zones, ensuring that there is uniform coverage all around. The transducer helps the deflectors in distributing the sound. With the Dual-passive radiators, the low-notes are enhanced significantly, and it also helps in preventing vibration. Instead, most of the vibration will be turned into an acoustic output that we found very enjoyable.

Other than the sound quality, the SoundLink Revolve is also very popular for its durability. The speaker is made with a sturdy aluminum body, and the water-resistant design means that you can use it in the shower or by the pool without worrying about rust of damaging the interiors. The speaker is also fitted with soft bumpers. These enable the SoundLink Revolve to survive minor knocks and falls.

At the top of the Bose SoundLink Revolve are various soft buttons. The most interesting of them is the multi-function one, which gives you access to your smartphone’s assistant. While holding this button down, you can send a text, make a call, and do other stuff through voice commands. This works with both the Google Assistant and Siri. You can also receive calls directly from the speaker.

In case you are looking for more volume, Bose also offers the Revolve+ which is also bigger in size and fitted with a bigger battery and a fabric handle.

Other Features

• 30ft range
• Weighs approx. 23 ounces
• 12-hours battery life
• Dimensions: 6” by 3.2” by 3.2”
• 3.5mm aux input
• Micro-b USB port
• Available in two colors

How to pick the Best Antivirus for Mac

Some people will argue that Macs don’t need an antivirus and we’d understand where they are coming from. Mac computers are much secured compared to their Windows counterparts. They are also not as widely used as Windows PC and hence they not very appealing to most hackers. Additionally, the fact that the Mac operating system is based on Unix makes it more secure than Windows. That’s because even if malware was to find its way into the computer, it would most probably end up getting isolated and barred from reaching the computer’s nervous system. This makes it difficult for any malware to gain access to all the data that is available on your device. 

Here is the thing though cybercriminals have been getting really smart, and Macs are becoming even more popular. This significantly increases the likelihood of Mac’s getting exposed to new and advanced types of malware. Since the streaming world is also getting more and more popular and a vast majority of other activities taking place online, Mac devices continue to be more susceptible to hackers. With all that I mind, don’t you think getting an antivirus as a secondary layer of protection makes perfect sense?

What’s the best antivirus for mac?

Intego Mac Internet Security X9 is the best antivirus for mac. This software is engineered to deliver various layers of security to counter malware at different points. What makes it even better is that it combines modern security features which have proven to be very effective in dealing with modern, sophisticated viruses and malware. This should give you the peace of mind you need to shop across different online platforms and stream your favorite shows without worrying that your passwords and data will end up in the wrong hands.

Before we dive into the finer details of the Intego mac internet security X9 and some of its alternatives, we’d like to give you a few pointers on what informed our choices:

The first thing we look for in an antivirus is its ability to fight antivirus from entering your computer in the first place. If the software is powerful enough to detect and block malicious downloads at the entry-level, you’ll never have to clean your system at all. At this point, we usually test various antivirus with different types of malware from numerous points of entry, i.e., we can try to download malware from the web, through email attachments, connectivity ports, and even wireless networks. Remember that these are the things you interact with on a daily basis, and hence, it’s crucial to know that the software is strong enough to detect and fight the virus.

Secondly, we test the antivirus to see how thorough they are at scanning, detecting, and removing malware from an infected device. You want an antivirus that is really efficient at scanning for malware and removing it; otherwise, your system may live with a virus and get compromised severely before you realize that it is infected.

Another crucial thing to consider is how resource-intensive the software is. The last thing you’d want is for your computer to be almost unusable when the antivirus is running. This means that you need to look for a light software that smoothly operates from the background allowing you to proceed with your other tasks.

Finally, we start to look for all the minor but helpful features included in the package. These may include password protection, VPN, Do Not Disturb modes, and others. We also check on user-friendliness, and this is a vital aspect to consider, especially if you are not tech-savvy.

With that said, here is a breakdown of the best antivirus for mac:

Intego Mac Internet Security X9

The Intego Mac Internet Security X9 is an award-winning mac antivirus well known for its effectiveness in fighting both Mac and PC malware. This is crucial because you’re always going to be sharing files with Windows PCs and hence having an antivirus that can also fight this threat is paramount. The software offers real-time protection making sure that every file, webpage or link you’re trying to open is free from malware.

Say, for instance, an infected file found its way into your system. Some of this malware doesn’t need to be run to spread because even opening an infected file alone can be enough to do some damage. Through the fast Intego Mac X9, every file you open will be scanned in the background, and any suspicious folders will be blocked.

If you’ve created an Apple ecosystem for yourself, you’ll hugely benefit from Intego Mac Internet Security X9 because it can also protect you from iOS threats. If your iPad, iPhone, or even iPod is infected and you connect it to your Mac, the Intego X9 will ensure that the virus does not spread to your PC. But before all that, the software will alert you of any devices that are trying to get connected to your Mac. You will then have the option of choosing whether the devices should access your Mac or not.

Through the two-way firewall Netbarrier X9, this software will also protect you from home and hotspot network connections. The antivirus will detect and fight any spyware while also keeping an eye on the applications that are using your network. Any new connection will be, and you’ll decide whether you want to allow or block the connection. This should make it really difficult for any unauthorized personnel to gain access to your PC. You can also block applications in your mac from communicating with certain internet domains. This will protect you from suspicious connections without affecting their functions.

Finally, we love the Intego Mac Internet Security X9 for how easy it is to install and use. The entire installation procedure is well arranged for everyone to understand and execute. You can adjust the settings to fit with your preferences. It’s also possible to decide the devices and connections that can access your Mac. Also, the location-aware firewall will easily detect whether you are at work, café, home, or traveling, and it will automatically adjust the settings to offer the best protection for that particular situation.

System Requirements

• Mac OS X 10.8 – Mac OS 10.14
• 1.5GB hard disk space
• Internet Connection

Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac

Bitdefender Antivirus software is used by well over 500 million systems worldwide. This is an insane number, and it shows just how trusted the software is. It’s important to note that Bitdefender is also one of the best antivirus overall after years of consistently making highly-secured software for windows PC. The same expertise is also found in the special Antivirus for Mac.

The Bitdefender Shield will make your life very easy. This tool will automatically protect your system by detecting and removing any malware automatically. The best part? You will never have to worry about the tool’s operations affecting your system’s performance since it’s not resource-intensive. The antivirus also offers multi-layer ransomware protection and a Safe File. Through the multiple layers of ransomware protection, the software makes it even harder for malware to find their way to your system.

Meanwhile, the Safe File acts like a vault where you can store the most sensitive files. The files in the Safe are protected by even stronger encryption making it harder for malware and other unauthorized personnel to access your documents. In case your system ends up being infected by a ransomware, Bitdefender’s Time Machine will help you to restore all the affected files without forcing you to pay the ransom.

This antivirus also offers excellent protection against phishing websites. Through the Anti-Phishing tool, the software will keep you safe from websites or links that are trying to get your credit card numbers and passwords. This is vital, especially if you are engaged in a lot of online shopping. The adware protection will also enhance your online experience by preventing or at least reducing the number of ads you’re coming across.

Bitdefender has also introduced a Bitdefender VPN. This helps in making your online identity giving you more protection to do your online business. However, VPN offers just 200MB per day. This is just enough for you to make some vital transactions online and nothing else. If you are looking for more than that, then you may consider checking out the best VPN with a bigger limit.

Through the automatic security updates, the antivirus will always be up to date and capable of fighting the newer and more complex malware.

System Requirements

• Mac OS 10.10, 10.11, 10.12, 10.13, 10.14 or later
• 1Gb hard disk space
• Internet connection

Sophos Home Premium for Mac

The Sophos Home Premium for Mac comes with vast security features to protect your system from both the old and new threats. In case you are tight on budget, Sophos also offers a free version of the software which although it’s great in blocking threats, it is not as feature-packed as the premium alternative.

The antivirus comes with real-time protection against Trojans, bots, ransomware, phishing websites, and other types of malware. The software performs really well in keeping your browsing safe while also protecting the access to your microphone and webcam. It also monitors how different apps are behaving, and it will block any application trying to access or share your sensitive data.

Another vital feature found in the Sophos Home Premium for Mac is Parental Website Filtering. You can use this to limit the type of content that your children are accessing online. Given that you can connect up to 10 different devices (including Windows) you can comfortably use this software for all your home devices knowing you’re safe from malware while also protecting your children from cybercriminals.

System Requirements

• macOS 10.11, 10.12, 10.13, and 10.14
• 4GB hard disk space
• At least 4Gb of RAM

Introduction to the Best Camera Phone

The camera game in smartphones has been getting really exciting, and its honestly very interesting to watch different brands compete against each other. A big majority of smartphones have resorted to prioritizing camera over anything else. This is one of the reasons that you see most of the current smartphones use camera as the main selling point. Brands are not just improving camera software, but they are also increasing the number of cameras in a gadget. We have seen the introduction of wide-angle cameras and innovative utilization of AI to improve image quality. But, which of the many brands in the market have actually nailed it in this department? The question may sound simple, but it can give you one hell of a headache due to the huge number of smartphones claiming the top spot. The good news is that these smartphones come at different price points, and hence, everyone is guaranteed to get something within their budget.

In coming up with this review, we interacted with dozens of smartphones from all corners of the world. We screened for the smartphones that have made the best use of the cameras, AI, and the overall camera software. Several smartphones performed really well, but we trimmed this review to highlight just the top 3.

What’s the best camera phone?

Google Pixel 3 is the best camera phone today. It comes as no surprise that a Pixel phone tops this list. The google pixel 2 had perhaps the best camera in a smartphone back in 2017, and its bigger brother has drastically improved on that to retain the camera crown at Google. Here is a more detailed review of our top picks and the other incredible alternatives.

1.Google Pixel 3

Google Pixel 3 is a piece of technological brilliance. This smartphone has combined an array of the best tech to deliver unparalleled performance. Some people would even argue that Pixel 3 is the best smartphone of 2018. Although the Google Pixel 3 is amazing in so many ways, it is most popular for its camera, and that’s why we will pay more attention to the camera and its software than anything else.

It’s relatively easy for a brand to fit a camera with a rather high megapixel in their smartphone, but marrying the camera with the AI and software usually proves to be the toughest part. This is the one area that Google gets the upper hand over its competitors. The Pixel 3 is fitted with a 12.2MP camera and a superior software allowing the camera to capture numerous HDR+ photos rapidly. This allows you to capture excellent images in a split-second, making sure that none of your memorable moments are left undocumented. From several images, the software will quickly analyze and highlight the best photo of the lot. You can also choose to pick any of the other images and even troll your friends with some of the awkward poses that would typically go unnoticed.

The Pixel 3 also boasts of a high-res zoom delivering optical-quality images. Of course, the images are not as brilliant as an actual optical zoom – since the smartphone uses digital zoom – but the smartphone comes close. It delivers blur-free images thanks to the Visual Core chip and the powerful AI which works behind the scenes to enrich the colors and the surrounding for a stunning image.

Another department the Google Pixel 3 has improved on significantly is on the night mode or what they refer to as night sight. Google’s camera algorithms are engineered to light up your pictures, improve the colors and details. This delivers great images, even in low-light areas.

Gone are the days when the rear camera was the only impressive camera on the phone. Selfie lovers are well catered for here. The Google Pixel 3 comes with two 8MP front cameras; a standard and a wide-angle one. The wide-angle camera will make sure that everyone in your group is captured and again, the camera AI and the software will do the magic to deliver vibrant selfies.

As we said, Pixel 3 is more than just a brilliant camera smartphone. It’s also quite powerful running on 2.5GHzz Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 and 4 gigs of RAM. You can get the smartphone with 128Gb or 64GB of internal storage.

The smartphone sports a 5.5” Full HD OLED display. If you go for the bigger Pixel 3 XL, you will get 6.3” Full HD display and a notch. Both versions are almost similar except for the difference in size, weight, battery, and a few other minor details.

Other Features

• Dimensions: 5.7″ X 2.7″ X 0.3″ for the standard Pixel 3 & 6.2” by 3.0” by 0.3” for the XL
• Weight: 148g for the standard Pixel 3 & 184g for the XL
• 2915mAh for the Pixel 3 and 3450mAh for the XL
• Supports wireless charging
• Titan M Security Chip

2. Huawei P30 Pro

At a close second position, we have the Huawei P30 Pro that was released in the first quarter of 2019. This amazing smartphone could have very easily been our top pick. In the department of the camera, the P30 Pro is almost as brilliant as the Pixel 3, and most people would argue that it is the superior gadget and their arguments would have a valid basis. The differences between the two cameras are so slim. We are talking super fine margins here.

The Huawei P30 Pro comes with four rear cameras. This includes the time-of-flight TOF depth-sensing camera, 8MP telephoto camera, 20MP ultra-wide angle, and the 40MP main sensor. On its default mode, the smartphone will take photos at 10MP. You will get highly-detailed photos from this Photo Mode but in case you are looking for more professional-grade images – which is what the Huawei P30 Pro is all about – you will need to get into the settings and make some readjustments. Here, you can increase the resolution all the way to 40MP. The images captured are honestly mind-blowing, and once you get a hold of this smartphone, it’s easy to understand what the hype surrounding the camera is all about.

The zoom levels of this phone camera are on a whole new level. Not only do you get the 1X and 5X zoom found in other smartphones, but you can actually take the zoom to 50X which is as impressive as it is creepy! And here is the thing, from the 1X to the 5X zoom, the camera utilizes optical zoom. If you know anything about zoom tech, then you understand how great optical zoom is. It helps to bring objects closer while retaining the details and overall quality of the camera. At 10X zoom, the camera uses a combination of both optical and digital zoom. The 50X zoom uses digital zoom, and although the images won’t be very detailed, you will still get a decent glimpse of objects that are far away. You can check out the videos on the Huawei P30 Pro Camera 50X zoom and see how crazy it really is. The image quality at 50X is not that great, but I don’t think that it is a deal-breaker because no one really uses this zoom on the regular unless you are into some spy stuff.

The Huawei P30 Pro also excels in low light areas. When shots were taken in low-light conditions and compared to other flagships in the market, the P30 Pro made a complete joke of the iPhone XS, and it also edged out the Galaxy S10+. The Huawei Night Mode can light up images even in total darkness delivering fine details that only the Google Pixel 3 can rival. According to Huawei, this has been achieved in various ways, including switching to RYYB (Red Yellow Yellow Blue) sensor design from the standard RGB (Red Green Blue) design.

The front selfie camera is a staggering 32MP camera. Although there is no time-of-flight sensor here, the camera will still capture brilliant photos rich in details.

The Huawei P30 Pro runs on the Kirin 980 octa-core processor and 6/8GB of RAM. The internal storage is a massive 128GB, which is really important if you are going to be capturing professional-grade images.

The smartphone rocks a dynamic 6.47″ Full HD OLED display. You can get the phone in five colors, including Aurora, Amber Sunrise, Black, Breathing Crystal, and Pearl White.

Other Features

• Dimensions: 5.87” by 2.81” by 0.30”
• Weight: 165g
• 3650mAh battery
• 3.5mm ear jack
• Huawei SuperCharge
• IP53 certified

3.Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus

The Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus is the final smartphone in this competitive list. The Galaxy S10+ has a total of five cameras. Three cameras brace the rear end; a 12MP main sensor with an f/1.5 and f/2.4 aperture for the night and day shots respectively. The second camera is an ultra-wide 16MP sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and finally, a stabilized 12MP tele sensor designed for zooming. These cameras and the software deliver sharp and fine detailed images even when you zoom in. The stabilized sensor has also played a key role in keeping the images clean around the edges.

One of the most notable differences between the Samsung Galaxy S10+ and the other smartphones highlighted above is the lack of a night mode. Instead of this feature, Samsung has designed the 12MP main sensor with two apertures. These are engineered to switch automatically from the smaller f/2.4 to the wider f/1.5 when darkness is detected. This increases the amount of light hitting the lens, thus improving the quality of images being captured.

At the front of the camera are two 10MP and 8MP cameras. The latter is supposed to deliver wide-angle images, but in our experience, it doesn’t really work as good as the dedicated wide-angle cameras from the Google Pixel 3. The front camera also comes with auto-focus and superb face-tracking. The integrated AI is very great in detecting different objects and adjusting the camera settings and colors to deliver just the right details and color gradient.

The Samsung Galaxy S10+ runs on Snapdragon 855 and 8GB of RAM. You can also get the Ultimate Performance Edition which has an insane 12GB RAM. Even if you were to pick the standard 8GB RAM, you would still find its performance to be super impressive even when you’re gaming. You can get the 8GB edition with 128GB of internal storage or 512GB for the ceramic models. The 12GB RAM beast is available with 1TB of internal storage!

The screen is a vibrant 6.4” QHD screen. The punch holes are pushed to the right side of the smartphone where most of the S10+ wallpapers have done a great job to conceal the cameras.

Other Features

• Dimensions: 157.6mm by 74.1 by 7.8mm
• Weight: 175g for the glass model and 175g for the ceramic model
• 4100mAh battery
• In-display fingerprint sensor
• 4K videos at 60fps
• HDR-OIS
• 64-bit octa-core processor

How do we rate the Best Wireless Speakers

We are at that point in technology where you can comfortably cut the cord without affecting the performance of your devices. This has been achieved in true wireless earbuds, soundbars with wireless subwoofers and it has also spread to wireless speakers. In the initial generations of wireless speakers, Bluetooth connectivity was the main technology utilized. Back then, there were so many issues with Bluetooth. Not only were the connections sometimes miserable, but the range was also a big letdown. This has completely changed, though. Bluetooth technology has improved tremendously improving wireless connectivity and the fidelity of audios.

It’s also important to note that Bluetooth is not the only wireless connectivity option available. You can get wireless speakers using Wi-Fi technology instead of Bluetooth. These could use apps such as Airplay from Apple or Google Cast, while other brands have developed their own Wi-Fi technology. The good news is that it won’t really matter whether you go for a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi wireless speaker cause their performance is almost imperceptible.

With improved technology came wireless speakers of all kinds. These come at different shapes, sizes, features, and prices, which essentially means that there is something for everyone. If you are looking for stylish 360-degree coverage speakers, then there are plenty of incredible choices for you like the SoundLink Revolve+. If you are after something compact and portable, you’re also well covered with remarkable speakers like the Oontz Angle 3 (3^rd Gen) and many others some of which are covered in our best portable speakers review. If you want something slightly bigger and capable of setting the party ablaze, then you’ll also have several incredible wireless speakers, but most of these are usually not exactly portable. If the price is an issue to you, you’ll still be in a position to get incredible wireless speakers such as the Oontz Angle 3, which is retailing at a very affordable rate.

What’s the best wireless speaker?

JBL Flip 4 is the best wireless speaker at the moment. It is stylish, compact, very portable, and most importantly, it sounds great. You can also sync the JBL Flip 4 with your smartphone, and this does not just allow you to enjoy your fine tunes, but you can also receive calls directly from the speaker!

JBL Flip 4 Bluetooth Portable Stereo Speaker

The JBL Flip 4 is an advanced portable speaker designed for the modern world. The top fabric finishing is super durable and capable of handling minor knocks. The fabric is also IPX7 rated, making it waterproof. You can dive into your pool with the speaker, and it will still rock your tunes with no issues at all. You can get the speaker in six different colors ranging from the vibrant red, and blue to the elegant black and teal. Other than the six colors available on the official JBL website, you can also get the speaker in special edition colors from other retailers.

Beyond the gorgeous looks of the JBL Flip 4 are dual external passive radiators. These pumps deep, precise bases. They do not distort the original quality of your audio files, but instead, they deliver it to you with utmost clarity. Whether you are playing Trap, old school RnB, or even soul music, you will find the quality very impressive.

With Flip 4, you can have two different DJs since it can connect two smartphone or even tablets simultaneously. Therefore, you and one of your colleagues can take turns in determining what is playing in the speaker. Through the JBL Connect+, you can also increase your coverage by linking the speaker to other JBL speakers with the same capability.

When you are out in the pool having fun, you wouldn’t want anything to interfere with your fun. Not even your smartphone. To make sure that you can have your fun uninterrupted, JBL designed these speakers with Voice Assistants integration. You can access both Google Assistant and Siri through a push of a button. Just how convenient is that?

Other Features and Specs

• Dimensions: 2.8” by 6.9” by 2.7”
• Weight 1.14lbs
• 12-hours battery life
• Speakerphone

Sonos One (Gen1) Voice Controlled Smart Speaker

Coming at a close second is the Sonos One Gen 1. This is a versatile speaker that you can comfortably use in any room of your house at any position or even outdoors, and it’ll still punch dynamic sounds worth your $150 investment. Take note that you must have a power source if you decide to use it outdoors.

The Sonos One packs all features you’d ever want in a portable speaker and many other smart capabilities that will transform your experience completely.

First of all, the smart nature of the speaker means that you will gain access to Amazon Alexa in a way that very few other speakers within this price point have achieved. Not only can you do the basics of skipping songs, but you can actually tell the speaker to sing you a lullaby, increase or decrease the volume, get updates on traffic, news, and many more. You can even access music streaming services such as Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music, SiriusXM, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, and many more.

One of the biggest challenges with a voice command in most devices is that it’s usually very difficult for VAs to tell what you are saying, especially if you are not speaking from a particular direction. The Sonos One is made with Six microphones that are strategically placed. These allow you to communicate with Alexa from virtually any part of the room without any issues. This further enhanced by improved noise cancellation and voice capture tech.

Is it possible that someone could be listening to you through the six custom-made Sonos One microphones? Sonos has addressed this issue by fitting an LED indicator. This will show you when the microphones are on and when they are off. Therefore, you can use the LED indicator to make sure that the speaker is off in case you feel like someone is violating your privacy.

None of the Sonos One Gen 1 smart features would mean anything if the speaker doesn’t sound great. The good news is that the speaker is fitted with custom-built drivers and Class-D amplifiers. These have been fine-tuned to produce sounds like nobody’s business al while keeping them crystal clear.

Other Features and Specs

• Dimensions: 4.8″ by 4.8″ by 6.4.”
• Weight: 3.92lbs
• Compatible with Sonos Home Sound system
• Humidity resistant
• Access more controls through the Sonos App, AirPlay or other apps
• Stereo Sound when paired with another Sonos One speaker
• Fitted with one tweeter
• Touch controls available

Sonos Play:5

The Sonos Play:5 is approx. $500 device making it quite an expensive wireless speaker. But before you judge it, take a moment and read through this review because we believe that it has enough features to make the price a bit reasonable.

The Sonos Play:5 sounds are fine-tuned by the popular producer Giles Martin. Combine the expertise of the renowned producer with the six class-D amplifies, three custom-made woofers and the brilliant acoustic architecture which eliminates echo and reverbs and the final results are simply breathtaking. We tested the speakers with the music of different genres and movies, and they performed brilliantly. The sounds are clear, rich, and highly detailed, delivering a very immersive experience.

You can also listen in Stereo by pairing two play:5 speakers. The bad news here is that getting two Sonos Play;5 will cost you close to $1000. If you don’t have much money lying around, you can still utilize the one Play:5 to get a stereo experience by lying it horizontally but it won’t be as impressive.

The Sonos Play:5 can be controlled through the Sonos App, Apple’s AirPlay 2, and other compatible apps. You can also combine the speaker with another Alexa device and control it through voice commands.

Other features and specs

• Studio quality sounds
• Dimensions: 8.03” by 14.33” by 6.06”
• Weight: 14lbs

Touch interface controls

• LED indicators
• Supports Wi-Fi connectivity
• 3.5mm aux port
• Ethernet port
• Three tweeters
• Humidity resistant

How do we rate the Best Vlogging Camera

Why would you need the best Vlogging Camera in a world of insane smartphone cameras like Huawei P30, Google Pixel 3, Galaxy S10+, and the iPhone XS? Well, first, we want to recognize that indeed, smartphone cameras have been getting really good in the last couple of years. Almost all flagship smartphones at the moment are coming with various cameras of both standard and a wide-angle lens. On paper, yes, you can use some of the best camera smartphones to create some really good videos. However, if you are really serious about taking your YouTube or Instagram Vlogging career to the next level, then you need to do better than a smartphone camera. With the best Vlogging camera, you don’t just get stunning images, but you also receive more functionality that will improve your Vlogging experience dramatically. Take interchangeable lens cameras, for instance; these will give you a host of options allowing you to shoot different types of videos under different conditions.

Therefore, if you are serious about your vlogging career, then you really need to invest in one of the best cameras and forget about smartphones. What if I’m just starting and I’m tight on finances, you may wonder. In such a case, I’d advise you to look for the best cheap vlogging cameras. The thing, however, is that most of the cheap Vlogging cameras are not future-proof. Yes, they can give you 1080p videos and various other features, but the chances are that in a year or so, you’ll probably be back in the market looking for a better camera.

What’s the best Vlogging Camera?

The best Vlogging camera at the moment is the Canon G7 X Mark II PowerShot Digital Camera. The G7 X Mark II is a collection of great features like the fast f/1.8 to 2.8 Zoom lens with a 24-100 mm range, a modern tilt-angle touchscreen monitor and an array of wireless connectivity options. This digital camera is not just great for its powerful specs but also because it offers good value for your money retailing for around $650.

Here is a more detailed breakdown of what the Canon G7 X Mark II has to offer:

Canon G7 X Mark II PowerShot Digital Camera

Before we even get down to discussing the capabilities of this incredible camera, let’s just take a moment to appreciate its external design. The camera is very compact, making it ideal for any vlogger who is always on the move. You can comfortably hold it with one hand while recording your videos. The overall finishing is also very well-done. It looks and feels really good.

When it comes to image and video quality, very few compact digital cameras can match the Canon G7 X Mark II. The camera features a 1-inch 20.1MP CMOS sensor, bright f/1.8 to 2.8 canon lens and both a manual focus and TTL autofocus. It’s one thing for a camera to host all these features and another thing for it to actually utilize them effectively. Canon has perfectly executed this by integrating one of the most powerful image processors, the DIGIC 7 Image Processor. Whether you are looking to shoot a lot of 1080p stills or movies, the DIGIC 7 Image Processor will make sure that quality remains consistent. And it gets better. The powerful processor combined with ISO of up to 12,800, 4.2x optical zoom (24mm) and the bright canon lens work together to deliver crisp images under different light conditions. This basically means that you can go on shooting videos at any time of the day under different structures or lighting without ever worrying about the quality. It’s important to note that the camera gives you the option of choosing between different frame rates while you’re shooting your movies. These are 24, 25, 30, and 60 frames per second.

The Canon G7 X Mark has also catered for all the guys who shoot while on the move. This is achieved through the superior 4-stop optical image stabilizer engineered with Dual Sensing IS tech. With the compact nature of this camera and the fantastic image stabilizer, you can hold the camera with a single hand make gestures with the other and comfortably shoot you videos without struggling with quality issues.

The G7 X Mark can capture up to 8 fps under different modes including RAW, JPEG and even RAW + JPEG.

Finally, we’ve to highlight how easy it is to use this camera. The 7.5cm tilt-up touch screen with 1040k sRGB dots makes navigation through the different functions of the camera a breeze. Connecting the camera to wireless networks is also very easy. This can be done via Wi-Fi or NFC.

Other Features

• Customizable controls
• Auto-ND filter
• In-camera RAW Processing
• Time-lapse movie mode
• Star Mode
• Wi-Fi and NFC capability
• Fast AF
• Remote shooting
• MF Peaking
• Operating Temp: 0-40-degrees Celsius

Panasonic Lumix G7 4K Digital Camera

The Panasonic Lumix G7 is for everyone looking for an incredible vlogging camera under $500. The camera delivers DSLR-like quality and performance without the bulkiness of the traditional DSLR cameras. Not only do you get dozens of different types of features that will enhance your creativity, but you can also capture vids in 4K Ultra HD at 30fps. This tech doesn’t just allow you to capture your videos in vibrant colors, but you can also pause the videos and extract a stunning photo at just the right moment. Getting thumbnails from this should be pretty easy. Not many cameras offer such a package at this price point.

The Panasonic Lumix G7 rocks a 16MP Sensor and a next-gen intelligent image processor. This allows the camera to capture dynamic images under different conditions, including low-light areas where the ISO can get up to 25,600!

Through this camera, you can capture 4K photos in three different modes i.e.

4K Burst – This will capture 8MP photos continuously for as long as the shutter button is pressed.

4K Burst S/S – This mode allows the camera to capture a video which you can then play or pause and extract an 8MP photo.

4k Pre-Burst – This mode starts a 4K video sequence a second before and after you’ve pressed the shutter button. The mode is excellent in capturing unpredictable moments that happen just before or after you’re done recording.

The Lumix G7 also boasts of several other incredible features such as the fast autofocus that’s capable of tracking colors and motion with high precision. This ensures that even the fastest of moments are captured without any blur. You will also get a high-res 2360k-dot OLED Live View Finder which serves to boost image quality even under harsh conditions such as direct sunlight.

The screen is designed with a tilt and swivel functionality. You can get the display in different positions, making it much easier to view your videos and photos even when you are in the process of capturing them.

The controls are also strategically positioned. These buttons will give you access to different functions of the camera, and you can even program some of them to perform specific commands.

Other Features

• DFD (Depth-from-defocus) tech for fast and precise auto-focusing
• Next-gen interchangeable lens (Micro Four Thirds)
• Focus peaking
• Silent shooting
• Starlight AF
• Wi-Fi capability
• Excellent expandability options with other accessories such as Shotgun Microphone, External flash, newer SD Cards, etc.
• Operating Temperature: 0 – 40-degree Celsius
• Battery life: Around 350 images

Sony Alpha A7 II Mirrorless Digital Camera

The Sony Alpha A7 II goes for over $1000, making it the most expensive camera featured in this review. We’d like to point out that even though the camera is quite pricey, it comes with a lot of features to show for it. Actually, if you have a big budget to spare, then the A7 II might just be the best camera to invest in.

This digital camera offers outstanding full-frame 24.3MP res, extremely fast BIONZ X image processing, 14-bit RAW format (uncompressed), super wide dynamic range, low noise, and subtle gradations. All of this translates to breathtaking videos showcasing even the finest of details in all your images. This is definitely going to impress your YouTube fans.

Sony has also employed 5-axis image stabilization technology, which counters the shaking caused by roll, yaw, pitch, vertical, and horizontal movements. You should be able to capture stunning non-blurred videos and photos even when you are running, walking, or moving the camera from one position to another. Something else brilliant about how Sony has executed this tech is that even if you were to change lenses, you would still enjoy stable images. That’s because the tech is built into the camera itself. The stabilization would get even better if you were to use it with lenses that already have image stabilization tech.

If you are capturing fast motions like racing and other events, you need a camera with excellent autofocus speeds. Sony has engineered the A7 II with a Fast Hybrid Auto-Focus coming with 25 contrast-detection points and 117-phase-detection points which have had a massive impact on subject-tracking.

The Sony Alpha A7 II digital camera comes with a 3” (1229k dots) LCD tilt screen. The display is integrated with WhiteMagic technology, which improves visibility even under direct sunlight. The display also improves focusing operations, and it makes navigation through various camera settings very easy.

Other Features

• XGA OLED Tru-Finder
• Supports the E-Mount lens system
• 50-25600 ISO sensitivity
• Compatible with different professional microphones
• Supports remote control
• Customize the camera through PlayMemories Camera Apps
• S-Log2 gamma increases the dynamic range dramatically
• 1920 X 1080 video recordings at 24p, 30p, 60i, to 60p.
• Record 720p videos at 120fps with a cool 5x slow-motion effect
• HDMI output
• Wi-Fi and NFC compatibility
• Battery life: up to 350 shots

A quick intro to the Best YouTube to MP3 Converter

With the best YouTube MP3 converter, you can turn a YouTube video clip into an MP3 file so effortlessly. This basically means that you can turn your favorite vlogs into podcasts, which you can comfortably listen to through your powerful over-ear headphones. Bear in mind that YouTube terms of use prohibit illegal downloading of videos unless you have permission from the user.

The demand for YouTube to Video converters is really high. This is why we have lots of software out there made for this purpose. Some of these converters are web-based while in others, you’ll have to download and install a desktop client. Both of them work pretty well, but I personally prefer the latter as I believe that they are a better option, especially if you do a lot of converting. That’s simply because desktop converters are not just powerful, but they are also very secure, and with the right pick, you will get extra functionality that’s impossible to find in the web-based alternatives. For that reason, we paid extra attention to the desktop YouTube to MP3 converters and explored their various features in an attempt to come up with the ultimate converter.

What’s the best YouTube to MP3 Converter?

The best YouTube to MP3 Converter is the 4K YouTube to MP3 and here is a quick review on why it is the best.

4K YouTube to MP3 Converter

4K YouTube to MP3 converter is a highly versatile tool that allows you to extract audio files from different types of videos coming from various sources. Yes, the name says 4K YouTube which means that it can also get audio tracks from 4K videos, but it will also extract audio from different other videos formats such as M4A and OGG just as easily.

4K YouTube to MP3 Converter is also popular because it can easily solve all your video-to-audio needs. With just this tool, you can get audio tracks not only from YouTube but also from SoundCloud, Facebook, Vimeo, Flickr, and many others. It simply means that once you install this software, you’ll probably never require a secondary converter. This is much better as compared to all other tools that are exclusively engineered for YouTube.

Other than its insane ability to work with different platforms, we loved 4K YouTube to Mp3 Converter for how easy it is to use. First of all, before extracting the audio, the converter will provide you with a variety of bitrates to choose from. You can then select one that is ideal to you as far as quality and speed are concerned. Also, navigating the converter felt very easy. Everything is perfectly placed for you to get all the functions you need with ease. Converting videos is a simple as copying the URL link from your browser to the converter and clicking the paste option.

The 4K YouTube to MP3 Converter is available in all the popular platforms i.e., Mac OS, Windows, and Ubuntu. You can also get the tool in different international languages.

Free YouTube to MP3 Converter

Free YouTube to MP3 Converter is yet another incredible tool that allows you to download not just a single video but an entire album from YouTube. To give you the full experience, the tool will also pull and download the album cover. This way, you can listen to the album you’ve just downloaded at high-res with the beautiful artwork bracing your screen. It’s not every day you come across such functionality on a free converter.

The overall make of this converter is well-thought out. The interface is simple and very easy to use. Virtually anyone can use Free YouTube to MP3 Converter with ease. Everything is arranged logically, which makes using the converter child’s play.

In downloading audio files, you will get an option of the quality and format that you want. This can be found from clicking the drop-down menu. Downloading the audio file is all a matter of pasting your URL, selecting the quality and format you need, and clicking the download option. Just like that, you can go and play your audio files from the save folder you’ve selected.

The biggest selling points of Free YouTube to MP3 converter is the ease of the user, the user-friendly user interface, and a collection of other numerous features perfectly arranged to make your everyday experience a breeze. Unfortunately, you will have to bear with ads when using this converter. If you don’t mind the ads then you will find this tool really useful; otherwise, I’d recommend that you go for the 4K YouTube to MP3 converter.

Any Video Converter Free

Any Video Converter is another incredibly powerful tool capable of handling more than just video to MP3 conversion. While it is definitely among the best in that department, the tool is also engineered to deliver other functions such as converting a video file to any video format! Yes, any. You can easily convert a single video file between AVI, WMV, MP4, FLV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and SWF formats. And the best part is that you can even convert high-definition videos and the final results will be just as stunning.

The brilliance of Any Video Converter Free is extended to the audio department. That’s because the tool can also convert audio files between different formats including mp3, mp2, aac, AU, WMA, Wav, Ogg, DTS, FLAC, m4a, among others.

Any Video Converter Free works with different sources such as YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, Google, Nico, HowCast, MetaCafe, Vevo, Veoh, Liveleak, etc. You can also convert the videos in batches, and it’s even possible to pull the batch right from your hard drive.

It’s easy to assume that a software offering so much has to be very complicated for a standard user. That’s not the case here. While AVC does come with so many features, the developers have done a great job to keep things simple for everyone. The procedure for converting videos is almost similar to all the other converters except for a slight difference. While the other software can convert YouTube to MP3 directly, with Any Video Converter Free, you will have to download the video first (by pasting the link) before you can then select the final format to MP3 which will now initiate the conversion process. This doesn’t make the conversion that difficult, but it is a minor difference that could have made things a lot simpler.

Everything said and done, Any Video Converter Free is a remarkable tool that will benefit you in many different ways. You may not require a tool for converting a video file between different formats at the moment, but you might need one in the future and having AVC already in your system will prove very useful. The fact that all this is available to you at no cost makes it worth the shot, don’t you think?

While installing the software, you can try and avoid installing the adware, which may ruin your experience with endless ads.

Introduction to the Best Printers

What’s the best printer you can buy in 2019? The best printer for you will hugely depend on your needs. If you are out there looking for a simple printer that can handle your minor home needs, then a simple and inexpensive option is your best bet. On the other hand, if you are looking for a powerful office printer capable of making dozens of printouts per day while also handling other similar office tasks then what you need is a multi-function printer or what we also call all-in-one printers. These are printers that can handle dozens of text documents both color and black and white while also offering other functions such as photocopying, scanning, faxing while some will go as far as supporting printing of dynamic photos. These printers also come with a variety of other features for a seamless experience. For instance, a majority of them will also support wireless printing, making them even more convenient to use. In this review, we will focus on the all-in-one printers.

Inkjet vs. Laser

The choice between inkjet and Laser will hugely depend on the type of documents that you are hoping to be printing. If you don’t see yourself printing anything beyond typical text documents, then you can settle for a laser printer. It’ll get the job done perfectly while keeping the cost per page reasonable. Meanwhile, if you want to print dynamic color texts and photos, then you are better off going for an inkjet printer.

Printers Buyer’s Guide

With so many options to choose from, it is vital that you stay aware of all the essentials that you need to look for when buying a printer. The following are some of the key factors that you should keep an eye on:

Quality of Printouts

It’s important to note that while one printer may have stunning quality in a particular aspect e.g., graphics, it’s quality when it comes to text or photos may be the complete opposite. It is, therefore, in your best interest to make sure that you investigate the quality of all these outputs separately. You might not get one that nails it on all fronts but ensures that they are all at least above average.

Speed

In an office setting, speed is very crucial; otherwise, you might have to deal with a huge pile-up of work, which will ultimately affect the employee’s performance. You need to check the speed of the specific printer you are getting and see how it measures up with your office needs. On the other hand, if you barely print more than a couple of documents and you don’t see your needs changing in the near future, then you can compromise a bit on speed and perhaps prioritize output quality.

Connectivity

Getting a printer with more connectivity options improves the experience of every user in the office or at home. Such printers usually come with the typical USB port, Ethernet ports, and Wi-Fi and NFC capability, which allows mobile devices to sync and print from your printer. Getting a printer with wireless connectivity options is ideal not just because it is convenient but also due to how neat it is.

Size

Don’t forget to check the footprint of the printer. While most printers are getting compact with every passing year, some models are still relatively large. You must, therefore, consider the size of the printer to see whether you have sufficient space to house it or if you’ll need to invest on a bigger desk.

Cost

When buying a printer, you need to look at more than just the initial price of the printer. Check the cost per page on all types of documents you expect to print per year and add the total to get comprehensive data. You can then make an informed decision to get a unit that is cost effective without compromising on performance.

Our Top Picks

HP OfficeJet 3830 All-in-One Wireless Printer

The HP OfficeJet 3830 is a top-rated all-in-one printer well known for delivering laser-quality printouts. Whether you are looking for colored documents or photos, this device will make sure that the final output looks professional.

What makes the OfficeJet 3830 an even better buy is the fact that it also functions as a scanner, photocopy and faxing machine. With all these functions in a single unit, you will finally get to free up some space in your office. The only thing more interesting than how versatile this printer is its insanely compact design. At just 17.7” by 14.3” by 8.5” the printer should comfortably sit in your office desk and still leave sufficient space for your other accessories.

As a modern printer, the OfficeJet 3830 is also designed with wireless technology that allows you to conveniently print from your tablet and smartphones directly. This is achieved through the HP ePrint app that’s available for free on Android devices and AirPrint which supports wireless printing from iPhones. You can also print through Wireless Direct. These wireless capabilities should finally bring some sanity to your home office setting by completely getting rid of cables.

The HP OfficeJet 3830 features Instant Ink ready which will make sure your ink never runs out unexpectedly. It also allows you to choose between HP Instant Ink and Amazon Dash replenishments. The former attracts up to 50% in savings while the Amazon alternatives can help you save as much as 10%. You are also allowed to cancel your subscriptions at any time.

Other Features

• Optional quiet mode
• 2.2-inch mono touchscreen
• 32-page automatic document feeder
• Optional high-yield cartridges
• 8.5ppm black and 6ppm color printouts
• 60 Input and 25 Output sheets capacity
• Supports letter and legal paper sizes; 4 by 6-inches; 5 by 7-inches and 8 by 10-inches

Canon TS5120 Wireless All-in-One Printer

The Canon PIXMA TS5120 is an incredible all-in-one printer designed to satisfy all your printing needs. Whether you are looking to print black or color documents, photos, or even colored tickets, the TS5120 will help you do precisely that.

The printer supports various wireless connectivity options, including Wi-Fi (1), PictBridge, Bluetooth 4.0, and Mopria Device Printing. You can also print from your tablet or smartphone using the Canon Print app, or the AirPrint. You don’t have to download documents from your cloud just so you can print them. With the Google Cloud Print (3), you can print the documents directly from your online cloud services. You can still print via the USB slot in case you still want to go the old fashion way.

The TS5120 also comes with a couple of other features that will make your printing experience hassle-free. The automatic 2-sided printing capability, you can save yourself time and resources significantly. It also has a document removal reminder and automatic power on and off. The 2.5-inches LCD is also very intuitive.

As an all-in-one printer, the TS5120 will also allow you to scan and copy documents. The printer is very compact measuring just 14.2 x 16.8 x 5.8 inches.

Other Features

• Print borderless 5 by 5-inches photos or 4 x 6 x 7 – inches
• Versatile paper support
• Very compact
• Reduction/Enlargement of up to 25% to 400%
• Diverse wireless printing options including built-in Wi-Fi

Canon PIXMA iP110 Wireless Mobile Printer

If your primary focus is printing and you want a compact printer perfect for that job, then this is one of your best picks. The PIXMA iP110 from Canon is a brilliant printer that sports various features that boost its performance significantly. The printer has a diverse built-in wireless technology that connects with devices of a different operating system, allowing you to print your documents from anywhere in the house. Through various apps such as the Canon Print and AirPrint app, you can sync your Android and iOS mobile devices to the iP110 and print directly from your smartphone. The printer also supports Google Cloud printing that allows you to print from various online cloud services.

Something else incredible about the iP110 is the Photo Print+. This easy-to-use application software allows you to edit and print photos. All you need here is an internet connection, and you can easily turn your favorite movie clips into stunning prints. The fact that you can get them in border-less 4 x 6 inches gives the printer a huge advantage over its peers.

With up to 9600 x 2400 color dpi, you can expect to get high-quality printouts from this printer. Therefore, the printer is not just ideal for casual purposes, but you can also rely on it for professional documents.

The Canon PIXMA iP110 has a very compact design. It measures just 12.7 x 7.3 x 2.5-inches which should be compact enough even for relatively small desks or shelves.

Other Features

• Supports several online cloud services
• Easy Photo Print+ supports editing and printing of lab-quality photos
• Supports borderless printing

A Short into to the Best Linux Distros

Linux has always come third whenever a discussion on PC or laptop operating systems arises. It normally placed behind both Windows and Mac, and why is that? A big majority of consumers will tell you that Linux is an OS better suited for programmers and coders. This arises from the perception that Linux is a complex operating system that standard consumers cannot comprehend. That might have been true in the past, but it is not anymore. Developers have been working to improve Linux and make it more appealing to regular consumers. This is why Linux is now developed and made available in different forms or rather “Distros.”

There are dozens of Distros out there with each one of them engineered towards achieving a particular goal. For instance, while some distros are developed with gamers in mind, others are simply made to make the life of a random Linux beginner much easier. Some are developed for the users whose windows experience is frustrated by the resource-intensive software. You can also get some Linux Distro that is even more specific, aiming at improving the performance of e.g., scientific functions.

What’s the best Linux Distro?

Based on the discussion above, it’s fair to say that the best Linux distro will vary depending on your specific needs. Even then, it might still be very difficult to identify the right distro for you, given the huge number of options available. We have tried to make your life easy by preparing this brief review of the best distros based on various factors that the general consumer can relate to. This should save you from having to go through the headache of filtering through the dozens of Linux Distros available out there.

Linux Mint

Linux Mint is one of the leading Linus distros competing with Linux Ubuntu. There are many key reasons behind its increasing popularity, but perhaps the main one has to be the fact that it offers so much. First, installing it is pretty easy and can be done through either a blank DVD or USB. Once installed, the OS will give you a variety of software from the, and these include LibreOffice and full multimedia support. This is very crucial, especially to the people who are just switching from Mac or Windows and haven’t invested on any Linux software yet.

Linux Mint is also a favorite to millions of people due to how easy it is to use. The interface is designed to look fresh and modern, but it still retains the classic feel of friendly UI like the classic Windows Vista or Windows 7. This makes navigating around is highly intuitive. At the bottom of the interface are a panel, a menu option and a variety of quick launch icons giving you shortcuts to various functions. The system tray is also conveniently placed for a seamless experience.

From the recent Mint 19, you can get the OS version in different flavors. These come with different desktop designs. These include Cinnamon, Xfce, LMDE, KDE, and MATE. You can try the flavors and settle of any one of them that aligns with your preferences. You can also try and customize the interface and adjust the appearances of the menus and windows. Through a Timeshift, you can also restore your computer to the last proper functional snapshot should you notice that the operating system is misbehaving.

Since Linux Mint is a free open source OS, you can easily get it to your OS, and you can also recommend some of the upgrades that you think will improve the user experience.

Finally, we like the Linux Mint distro due to how safe, stable, and reliable it is. The developers are very conservative with software updates, and hence, it is rare to end up with bugs or other issues that may affect the performance of your laptop or PC. It’s also not very resource intensive, and hence it should work pretty well with most laptops.

Other Features

• Based on Ubuntu and Debian
• Its free and open source
• Community-driven
• Unique update manager
• Requires little maintenance
• Low level of expertise is required to use it

Ubuntu

Ubuntu was first released more than a decade ago, and it’s still one of the most popular Linux Distributions. Some reports suggest that it is the most widely used Linux distro, and it is easy to understand why.

Ubuntu comes with several flavors, each of which is designed to offer something unique as far as features, programs, and general desktop environment go. Some of these flavors include the Kubuntu which offers a KDE experience featuring attractive desktop for both office and home use; Lubuntu offering an LXQt experience which is light and super-fast, Ubuntu Kylin that is fine-tuned for the Chinese market; Ubuntu MATE which carries on the legacy of the simple GNOME 2 desktop experience that was discontinued back in 2010; Ubuntu Budgie offering an elegant and customizable desktop and the Ubuntu Studio which is perfectly designed for everyone who’s looking for the full multimedia experience as it supports vast audio, video and graphics functions. From all these options, you surely can’t miss one that is perfect for you. Also, the fact that you can customize most of these flavors means that you can personalize them further to match your needs.

Ubuntu users will also enjoy new versions every six months. The developers also release long term support (LTS) Ubuntu version every year. With these versions, you are guaranteed of constant maintenance updates and water-tight security for five years. For the guys who can’t get this version, the Standard alternative will only give you one year of maintenance updates and security.

Other Features

• Easy to install and use
• Stable
• Security and Updates are easy to get with the LTS versions
• It’s not resource-intensive
• Based on Debian

Elementary OS

Finally, we have Elementary OS. As the name suggests, this Linux Distro is designed to keep things simple. To that end, the interface is designed to be user-friendly, but all this has been achieved without compromising on performance and beauty. Some people may even argue that it is the most beautiful Linux distro out there. It’s also easy to draw a few similarities between its interface and the macOS.

Other than the fact that the OS is very good-looking and easy to use, you may also love it for how fast it is. If you are tired of the decades it takes for your Windows PC to open applications, then you will really enjoy using Elementary OS. The operating system fires up at lightning speeds, and all applications open just as fast.

Elementary OS also boasts of being one of the most secured operating systems in the market right now. The distro is developed on GNU/Linux, which is indeed a very secure foundation. Their website even goes as far as claiming that the operating system is powered by the software that is also used by the U.S Department of Defense. 

Elementary OS users will also enjoy a couple of other features including multitasking view which will keep you organized, Do Not Disturb feature that keeps your desktop free from notifications thus allowing you to focus on the task at hand and a Picture-in-Picture feature that will keep your tabs aside while you work on the other.

Although Elementary OS doesn’t come with as many applications as some of the other Linux distros, it does provide most of the basic applications that you will need to get started. These include Photos, Mail, Epiphany, Camera, Calendar, Video, Music, Calendar, Files, and Code.

Other Features

• Open source
• The Terminal facilitates customization
• Code
• Arrange your interface into a Gird or as categories
• Search view
• Parental controls
• User-friendly
• Based on Ubuntu

A short intro on how we rate the Best Free Photo Editor

It’s crazy how even the dullest of photos can easily transform into a stunning image thanks to a few photo editing tricks. With the very best photo editing software, it’s fair to say that there is almost nothing that is beyond your reach as far as photography goes. But then again, the best photo editors are super expensive, and if you are just starting your photography career, then a big majority of them will probably be far from your reach.

The best free photo editors are a great deal as they offer photographers a myriad of features to improve their photos without milking them dry of cash. It’s also a common notion that the best free photo editors are only good for starters. This is very inaccurate. There are several incredible software that offers brilliant features perfect for both beginner and advanced photo editors. Yes, some of this editing software may lack one or more key features, but they will still perform really well and even better than some of the paid photo editors.

So, which is the best free photo editor?

The best free photo editor is GIMP and here is why;

GIMP

This remarkable software was developed back in 1996, and it remains relevant to date not because it is free, but due to the performance it delivers. 

GIMP or GNU Image Manipulation Program has almost everything that a beginner and advanced photo editor would want. Talk of masks, layers, filters, blending modes, channels, color adjustment, and an array of other features that are more than capable of transforming your photography career completely. Perhaps this is why some people are even claiming that GIMP can completely replace Photoshop? What we love about this software is not just the inclusion of features that you’d typically find in premium software but also on how incredibly well these features are harnessed to improve your performance. While the features are very enticing for advanced photographers on a tight budget, the user-friendly UI makes sure that newbies are not intimidated. Instead, they will get to learn and work with simple software that will improve their skill-set from one level to the next. Speaking of UI, we’d also like to point out that GIMP has one of the most customizable user interfaces in a photo editor. This is highly welcomed as it makes it easier for one to create an interface that’s convenient for their unique needs.

GIMP is developed and maintained by a big community of highly-dedicated developers. This benefits the software in various ways, the key of which is in the department of plugins. With this editor, you will have dozens of extensions at your disposal, allowing you to expand the capabilities to your benefit.

The open source code nature of this software also means that you can add your own editing tools, change the program, and even fix some bugs that you may notice. It can also work with RAW files, but you will need to get all the relevant updates for it to work correctly.

The developers are also keen on giving users a comprehensive learning tool which is presented very well to avoid overwhelming you with lots of details. These learning resources are not just designed to help you learn how to use the software but also on how to improve your photo editing skills. As such, both beginner and advanced users will find them extremely useful.

GIMP is available on all the major operating systems i.e., Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Pros

• Powerful and vast editing tools
• Supports different image formats
• User-friendly and highly-customizable UI
• Zero ads
• Open source code
• Developer support
• Vast educational resources

Cons

• Rare updates
• Online and mobile versions can be better
• Some people may find the learning curve too technical or a bit steep

Alternatively, you can also try any of the two photo editing software below:

Pixlr X

Pixlr X is arguably the best beginner photo editor. 123RF develops this web application; the company that is also behind the Pixlr Editor and Pixlr Express. The Pixlr X is developed to replace the Pixlr Express by getting rid of the flash to improve the performance and security of the editor. It is also available as a mobile suite enabling you to edit photos directly from your tablet or smartphone. You also don’t have to worry about compatibility with your specific gadget because it works with both Android and iOS.

Since Pixlr X is designed to work directly from your web browser, it is a lot easier to use than most of the technical editors in the market. With this tool, you can simply upload an image, do all the editing you need through the various features available and download the fresh and refined image back to your gadget. You can do some cropping, adjust colors and saturation, blur and sharpen images, add vignettes and frames, etc. You will also have more than 80 ready-to-use filters that can bring all your photos to life with a single click. This is further enhanced by the History functions, which brings all the features you use frequently closer to you. As a result, you’ll never have to waste so much time finding your favorite editing tools. Pixlr also comes with the option of activating automatic tools that can enhance your images with a single click. In case you find the tool too intrusive for your liking, you can deactivate them and explore your full creativity by going manual.

The Pixlr X is also engineered to give you a Photoshop experience with several capabilities such as multiple blending options, transparency controls, and supporting layers. You can also include several images to your photo and even create a text. With all this capability, you might just become the King of memes in your social media timelines.

Pros

• Portable
• Mobile-friendly
• Layer blending
• Customizable interface
• Simple
• Stylish
• HTML5-based instead of flash
• Links with Facebook

Cons

• Most tools are rather basic
• Doesn’t support drawing tools

GETPAINT.NET

If photo editing is a casual thing for you that you do for fun and you don’t require any complex features, then PAINT.NET might just be the perfect fit for you. GETPAINT is a simplified photo editor that is designed to serve you will all the relevant photo editing features without overwhelming you with the extensive tools ideal for professionals. Therefore, this photo editor might not necessarily be the perfect choice for any advanced user who’s looking for more powerful software. Such guys are better off using GIMP.

Even though GETPAINT is geared towards simplifying photo editing, it still comes with incredible features that will do justice to your images. The software performs so well that it even surprised its developers by surpassing its predecessor the Microsoft Paint. The tool supports layers, several special effects, history, gradient, and numerous selection options including combined selections and magic wand. It also has an “unlimited undo” option that allows you to get rid of any mistakes that you might make. This feature is really useful if you are still learning, and you don’t want to restart the whole editing process every time you make a mistake.

The GETPAINT.NET UI is very simple to use. After interacting with the software a couple of times, you should be able to navigate, find, and use all the tools you need with ease. Also, the interface combines the looks of Adobe Photoshop and Windows paint. If you’ve used either of the tools in the past, you will find this software quite familiar, and this should make your interaction with it more seamless.

Although GETPAINT doesn’t support RAW files, you can still use it with JPEG, PNG, TIFF, BMP, and a couple of other image formats.

Conclusively, even though GETPAINT may not be particularly powerful and comprehensive in the department of features, it still does a decent job making it a great choice for all the guys who are into casual photo editing. Also, it works really well with gadgets that are not very powerful.

Pros

• Plugin support
• Easy to use
• Special effects
• Offers online support
• Provides “how to” tutorials
•  

Cons

• No mac version
• Brushwork is limited
• Not very comprehensive

Introduction to the best Free Malware Removal

A lot is said about the best antivirus both paid and free, but very less attention is given to malware removal tools. The truth of the matter is that even with the very best antivirus software, there is always a chance that malware will still find its way into your device. In such instances, you can clear your system either with an antivirus or you can use a malware removal tool. Therefore, malware removal software is very crucial, especially if you are dealing with an already infected system. However, this shouldn’t be translated to mean that the software is completely useless if your system isn’t infected. That’s not correct.

The best Malware Removal software is also capable of shielding you from incoming malware. They are engineered to detect, isolate, and remove malware from your system. It’s, therefore, fair to say that malware removal software is not just an excellent secondary clean up tool after your antivirus but they can actually be used as the main shield working hand by hand with the improved Microsoft Windows Defender. What’s even better is that some Malware Removal tools can be used with different systems, which basically means that you can use a single software to clean the gadgets of your family members or work colleagues.

What’s the best free malware removal software?

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is the best malware removal software out there. This software recorded incredible results from numerous independent lab tests showing just how effective it is. The tool performs deep scans making sure that even the most remote of malware are detected and effectively cleaned from your system. Here is a bit more of what you can expect from this software:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

Anytime you ever feel like some program somewhere is slowing down the performance of your browser or even your entire system, your one-stop-destination should be Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. This tool is frequently updated, making it one of the most effective antimalware software in the market. The continuous updates ensure that the tool is more than capable of dealing with even the newest malware or spyware on the web. These updates don’t just improve the software’s ability to detect both old and new viruses, but it also keeps on improving its ability to remove and safeguard your system. Yes, although Malwarebytes has made a name for itself as being the best antimalware software in the market, they’ve also improved the software to shield the malware from getting into your system in the first place.

When you install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for the first time, you will enjoy the services of their commercial package for 14 days. This comes with dozens of other incredible features that rival with some of the best antivirus software in the market. After the trial period, you will move back to the basic free package which doesn’t have as many features, but it still has enough tech up its sleeves to make sure that malware will be the least of your worries.

Other than getting the antimalware and antispyware protection from the free Malwarebytes package, you can also expect a few features such as anti-rootkit which is very effective in identifying and removing rootkits. The software will then go ahead to repair any files that may have been damaged by the rootkit. While browsing, Malwarebytes will still offer real-time protection detecting and blocking any malicious links you might be opening. The antimalware will also protect you from scam calls. This feature is really useful, considering that the software is available not just for windows and mac devices but also for Android and iOS.

Should you decide to get the commercial Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, you will have the options between a Personal, Business, and Enterprise packages. The prices increase as you go up the ladder but so does the functionality and performance of the software.

System Requirements

• 250MB hard disk space
• 800MHz CPU or faster
• 1024MB for 32-bit OS or 2048MB for 64-bit OS
• 1024 x 768 of better screen resolution
• Active internet connection

Bitdefender Free Antivirus

The Bitdefender Free Antivirus is our top pick of the best free antivirus, and it also ranks really high when it comes to malware removal software. Bitdefender has made a name for itself in the system protection industry, and this stems from years of making remarkable software consistently offering excellent protection against many different types of viruses.

Other than being the best free antivirus in the market, the Bitdefender Free Antivirus also has an effective malware protection tool that does a fantastic job in locating and removing malware. In essence, the Bitdefender Free Antivirus isn’t just excellent software when you are looking to protect a new or clean system but also when you want to clean an already infected one. To that end, Bitdefender has engineered this software with various tools to deal with different security threats.

With the Bitdefender Free Antivirus, you can expect to clean your system from worms, ransomware, Trojans, rootkits, spyware, and exploits. Basically, you can expect to remove any sort of malware creeping behind the scenes of your PC. Given that Bitdefender Free Anti-virus also doubles up as the best free antivirus in the market, it’s fair to say that once the cleanup is done, you will never have sleepless nights due to cyber threats. This should allow you to do your shopping, enjoy your social media life and stream your favorite premium contents with fewer worries.

Unlike a big majority of other antimalware and antivirus software in the market, you will never have to deal with the constant issue of false alarms when you are using this particular software. The Bitdefender Free Antivirus is very intelligent and precise, making sure that you are not interrupted with fake and unnecessary alerts.

Bitdefender Free Anti-virus is very gentle to your PC resources. You should be able to do your browsing, watch your TV shows and even play games while the antivirus is still active in the background.

The Bitdefender Free Antivirus works superbly in dealing with malware and offering basic protection but should you need more then we’ll recommend that you get the paid feature-packed version.

System Requirements

• 2GB hard disk space
• 1.5GB RAM
• 2 GHz Intel Core Duo Processor
• IE 10 or better

AVG Free Antivirus

AVG Free Antivirus is one of the most effective tools for detecting and removing malware. This antivirus is designed to deal with all the malicious programs in your PC, allowing your system to go faster and smoother. What more could you ask for?

With the AVG Free Antivirus, you can expect protection against ransomware, spyware, and many other types of malware. The frequent system updates from AVG make sure that the antivirus has all the muscles it needs to deal with new forms of malware.

Another reason to consider AVG Free Antivirus is the fact that it offers protection at various levels. For instance, the tool will alert you against malicious downloads that are likely to compromise your system. This should prevent malware from entering your PC in the first place. In case the download still gets into your system, AVG will further protect you by blocking the program from launching. AVG Free Antivirus can also do a deep scan, and if it detects the malware, it will automatically remove it from your system. You can also bid goodbye to emails with malicious attachments.

The AVG Free Antivirus also comes with anti-phishing tools. Although this capability is not as effective as we prefer, it still performs reasonably well.

Some of the other benefits of using this antivirus include the real-time security updates, scans for any performance issues and its light nature on system resources.

AVG Free Antivirus is available for Windows, Mac, and Android devices.

For more features and even better performance, you can get the commercial AVG Anti-Virus which is reasonably priced.

System Requirements

• 1500MB Hard disk space
• 1024MB RAM
• 1.5GHz Intel Pentium or better
• Windows 7, 8, or 10; MacOs 10.10; Android 5.0 or later