yWriter

Jill Duffy, Gabriela Vatu — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 21:59:28 +0000

A writing app for data lovers

Rich with stats and heavy on structure, yWriter encourages you to compose scenes rather than chapters because the former are more manageable. It also gives you dozens of places to store details about your work and compiles all this metadata into useful charts and tables. If that level of information …

Proton Promises Secure Streaming With VPN App for Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro

Joe Hindy — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 18:38:37 +0000

Proton VPN offers 8,500 servers across 112 countries at launch, letting you stream content on Apple TV in private.

Regional restrictions are a pain, and with ISPs playing fast and loose with customer data, it's natural to want some protection. Proton has officially launched its VPN app on Apple TV to help users do just that.

"Today, we're excited …

DxO ViewPoint

Michael Muchmore — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 20:10:20 +0000

An indispensable tool for getting photo geometry right

DxO ViewPoint tackles among the more intractable problems in photography—the perspective and geometric distortions that result from using certain lenses (especially wide-angle ones) and capturing subjects at indirect angles. The latest version adds tools for manually correcting specific areas of an image, and we like how ViewPoint works both by …

Sam Altman's Worldcoin Launches 'Deep Face,' New Eye-Scanning Orb

Kate Irwin — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 13:45:20 +0000

The eye-scanning project that doles out crypto updates its Orb and app. It's also shortening its name to just 'World' as it tries to get more people to sign up for digital identities on the blockchain.

Sam Altman's "proof-of-human" ID-verification scheme on the blockchain is rebranding from Worldcoin to just "World," according to the project's website. The news was announced Thursday at a San Francisco event. Worldcoin.org now redirects to world.org.

The open-source nonprofit is also releasing a new edition of its eye-scanning …

Best Early Prime Day Deals on Media Streaming Devices

Jibin Joseph — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 16:36:33 +0000

Streaming devices bring new meaning to the phrase 'plug and play,' but on Prime Big Deal Days, it's time to plug and pay...a whole lot less money to update your home entertainment center.

Streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ are not limited to smart TVs. Yes, you can access these services on your aging TV just by using a plug-and-play media streaming device. Some of the best media streamers from Amazon and Roku are on sale during

The website promised “secret rewards” to buyers of the fake coin and redirected them to a website that was taking payments in Ethereum, one of the most …

How to Turn Off Annoying Apple TV Sports Notifications

Tyler Hayes — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Inundated with sports notifications on Apple TV? Tweak these settings to curb the interruptions.

A feature that allows you to follow sports teams across Apple News and Apple TV can result in incessant notifications that interrupt your video streaming or smartphone browsing. Luckily these alerts can be turned off. Here are the settings to adjust …

Trump Teases Launch of His Own Cryptocurrency Platform

Michael Kan — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 20:29:26 +0000

The platform is called 'The Defiant Ones,' a play on the term decentralized finance. It appears to be focused on cutting out middle-men banks from money transactions.

As he tries to win back the White House, Donald Trump is also teasing the arrival of his cryptocurrency platform.

On Truth Social, Trump posted about the mysterious platform, which is called “The Defiant Ones,” an apparent play on the cryptocurrency-related term

20 Things You Didn't Know Your Google Chromecast Could Do

Chandra Steele — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 20:22:15 +0000

Google might have discontinued the Chromecast but if you have one, you can still get the most out of it.

After 11 years of streaming success, Google's Chromecast has been canceled. The company announced that it's discontinuing the device, which is now only available "while supplies last," and has replaced it with the Google TV Streamer. …

Apple Brings Podcasts App to the Web

Tyler Hayes — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 19:24:01 +0000

Listen to and manage Apple Podcasts across Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.

Long limited to dedicated apps, Apple Podcasts is now available on the web.

Sign in to your account at podcasts.apple.com, where you can play, subscribe, and save podcasts; anything you do on the web will sync across other devices where you have the Podcasts app, like iPhone, …

Google TV Streamer Replaces Chromecast in Media Hub Lineup

Will Greenwald — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 13:00:00 +0000

The $99 device swaps the hanging dongle for a set-top box and adds Gemini AI, but it lacks the most up-to-date Wi-Fi standard and leaves Google without a budget streamer.

The Chromecast With Google TV has long been one of our favorite media hubs, but it hasn't seen much of an update since the scaled-back 1080p Chromecast With Google TV …

Google's Next Chromecast Could Be a Set-Top Box, Not a Dongle

Jibin Joseph — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 19:57:32 +0000

Google may also drop the Chromecast branding and call its device the Google TV Streamer.

UPDATE 8/6: Google unveils the $99 TV Streamer, which swaps the hanging dongle for a set-top box, adds Gemini AI, and drops the Chromecast name. Preorder now ahead of a Sept 24 ship date.

Original Story:
Google's next Chromecast device might …

Still Going: The Best Amazon Prime Day Deals on Streaming Devices

Chloe Albanesius — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 17:50:45 +0000

Streaming devices from the likes of Amazon and Roku bring new meaning to the phrase 'plug and play,' and these streamers are still available at their Prime Day prices. Grab them while you can.

The proliferation of smart TVs means fewer people are in need of media-streaming devices these days. But those who are will find it's more affordable than ever to turn an aging set into an internet-connected entertainment hub. Even thought Prime …

Best Amazon Prime Day Deals on Streaming Devices

Chloe Albanesius — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 17:12:57 +0000

Streaming devices from the likes of Amazon and Roku bring new meaning to the phrase 'plug and play,' but on Prime Day, it's your chance to plug and pay...a whole lot less money.

Remember Mt. Gox? Failed Bitcoin Exchange Set to Repay $9 Billion in Crypto

Emily Price — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 19:01:47 +0000

The payments come more than a decade after the exchange went bankrupt.

Japanese Bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox was an online marketplace where people could buy and sell Bitcoin. At one point, it was considered the largest Bitcoin exchange in the world, but after losing 950,000 Bitcoin in 2011 due to a hack, it went …

IRS Finalizes Rules for Crypto Tax Reporting

Emily Price — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 15:28:10 +0000

The agency hopes the new rules will help cut own on tax evasion.

The US Treasury Department finalized new regulations this week designed to ensure that everyone pays the right amount of taxes when they sell cryptocurrency.

You've always had to pay taxes on your crypto earnings; however, the government didn't have some rules in place for the process. Now, cryptocurrency platforms will be …

Microsoft Brings Xbox Gaming to Amazon's Fire TV Sticks

Michael Kan — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 17:08:16 +0000

Players will need a Bluetooth-enabled controller and an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.

No console needed: To reach more casual gamers, Microsoft is bringing Xbox’s cloud gaming to select Amazon Fire TV Stick devices.

Next month, Microsoft will release the Xbox app for the 2023 versions of the Fire TV Stick …

An AI-Generated Elon Musk Just Stole Bitcoin From Viewers Via YouTube Live

Emily Price — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 03:55:03 +0000

A deepfaked Musk promised viewers he would instantly double their money.

Just a few days after rapper 50 Cent’s website and social accounts were used by hackers to promote a fake cryptocurrency, it looks like something similar is happening to Elon Musk.

A YouTube Live video today displayed a video …

No, 50 Cent Doesn't Have His Own Crypto

Emily Price — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 20:04:40 +0000

The $GUNIT coin advertised on the rapper's website and social media is fake.

On Friday, hackers took control of 50 Cent’s social media account in an attempt to sell a fake crypto coin.

The hackers accessed the rapper’s X account and his website, Thisis50, which they used to promote a crypto coin called $GUNIT, Engadget reports. The only problem …

CCleaner Professional: Everything You Need to Know

Pcmag — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 06:09:20 +0000

PC Optimisation made simple. Find out how to boost your performance and free up space on your PC PC optimisation made simple. Find out how to boost your performance and free up space on your PC.

IRS Direct File App to Return for 2025, Welcome Taxpayers in More States

Rob Pegoraro — Thu, 30 May 2024 22:41:40 +0000

The tax agency also says it will add support for more filing situations to its free tax-prep app.

The Internal Revenue Service is moving Direct File out of beta and taking that free tax-prep app nationwide—or at least to a larger selection of states.

The IRS announced Thursday that after a successful 12-state …

Tornado Cash Co-Founder Gets Over 5 Years in Prison for Money Laundering

Kate Irwin — Tue, 14 May 2024 13:12:35 +0000

A Dutch court finds Alexey Pertsev guilty of helping launder over $2 billion because he co-developed the crypto mixer Tornado Cash, which the court calls a tool for 'crimes and terrorism.'

The Netherlands' Oost-Brabant district court sentenced Russian Tornado Cash co-developer Alexey Pertsev to 64 months in prison Tuesday because of his involvement in creating and maintaining a crypto mixing tool the court says enables criminal activity and terrorism.

"The operation is completely their responsibility," the court said in a

Web.com Website Builder

Jeffrey L. Wilson, Jordan Minor — Thu, 09 May 2024 15:33:03 +0000

A worthwhile web builder/web hosting mash-up

Web.com is a terrific URL, but as a traditional web hosting company, it doesn't always live up to its big name. However, by emphasizing its intuitive website-building features, Web.com becomes a more appealing option for quickly creating a website or online …

IRS: Direct File Pilot Program Exceeds Usage Expectations

Emily Price — Sat, 27 Apr 2024 20:28:50 +0000

More than 140,000 taxpayers filed their taxes directly with the IRS this year.

The US Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service announced numbers from the IRS’s Direct File Pilot this week, and they’re a lot better than the agencies anticipated.

The Treasury had a goal of 100,000 people using …

HostMonster Web Hosting

Jeffrey L. Wilson, Gabriel Zamora — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 17:13:44 +0000

Mid-tier web hosting

Despite its imposing name, HostMonster isn't particularly monstrous in any way. In fact, it's a good, albeit unremarkable, web hosting service that offers the core tools you need to build personal or small business sites. HostMonster has respectable shared, dedicated, and virtual private server …

Ashampoo Photo Commander

Michael Muchmore — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 16:20:59 +0000

Inexpensive, basic photo editing and organizing

Ashampoo (which takes its name from its disk cleaning utility, said to be "a shampoo for your disk") makes a wide range of software, from antivirus and ZIP utilities to photo editing. The company's Photo Commander application provides a decent toolset of image corrections and …

Malware Hits Fujitsu, Possibly Stealing Customer Data

Michael Kan — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 14:18:05 +0000

The malware was found on several company computers, the Japanese firm reports. Fujitsu provides IT services across the globe, including to governments.

Hackers have managed to infiltrate the Japanese technology firm Fujitsu by secretly spreading malware to the company.

“We confirmed the presence of malware on several of our company's work computers,” Fujitsu quietly posted in a statement last Friday.

The company’s investigation also discovered that the malware …

IRS Direct File Free Online Tax Tool Goes Live in 12 States

Joe Hindy — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 17:17:17 +0000

If you're eligible, Direct File will let you skip the expense of traditional tax-prep software.

Tax season is upon us, and if you live in one of 12 states, you can bypass traditional tax software and use the IRS' new direct-file system.

The first iteration of Direct File is fairly barebones, and currently

If that last part sounds familiar, it’s because the FTC

Apple Podcast Bug Prevents New Episodes From Showing Up in Libraries

Emily Price — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 20:00:47 +0000

If your queue is missing the latest episode of your favorite podcast, you're not alone.

If you’ve been having trouble finding the newest episodes of your favorite podcasts on Apple Podcasts, you’re not alone.

A bug with Apple Podcasts is reportedly preventing the latest episodes of a podcast from showing up in a user’s library. These episodes are also not being …

Readers’ Choice: The Top Tax and Personal Finance Apps for 2024

Ben Gottesman — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 15:45:30 +0000

If you need software to get your taxes filed and your finances in order, these are the brands and products worth your time investment, according to hundreds of PCMag readers.

It's not often we get a chance to survey readers on a new topic, but this is a first. In our latest PCMag Readers’ Choice survey, we asked you to rate your satisfaction with four different types of finance tools: tax prep software,

Motu Digital Performer

Jamie Lendino — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 20:20:06 +0000

The DAW of choice for scoring films

If a single digital audio workstation (DAW) package is more closely associated with the Mac than any other, it's Motu's Digital Performer. In the digital audio-enabled version's 11th iteration, Motu's flagship DAW remains a premier tool for MIDI composition and film scoring, and it contains enough …

Texas Man Indicted for Failing to Report Hefty Bitcoin Earnings on Tax Forms

Michael Kan — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 18:14:34 +0000

Frank Richard Ahlgren III allegedly used his $3.7 million in bitcoin profits to buy a house, but he underreported the gains he made on his tax forms, according to federal investigators.

Don’t forget to report your cryptocurrency earnings on your taxes. A federal grand jury has indicted an Austin, Texas, man for underreporting his bitcoin earnings on his tax forms.

Frank Richard Ahlgren III, also known as Paco, allegedly filed false tax returns “that underreported or did not …

TurboTax Restricted From Marketing Itself As Free to Users

Michael Kan — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 16:39:24 +0000

The FTC upheld its earlier ruling that found TurboTax's parent Intuit engaged in deceptive advertising by marketing itself as free when most consumers had to pay up.

The Federal Trade Commission is cracking down on TurboTax for marketing itself as free to consumers.

On Monday, the federal regulator upheld last September’s ruling from an FTC judge that found TurboTax’s parent Intuit engaged in deceptive advertising by claiming its tax …

CES 2024: Amazon Now Lets You Cast Streaming Content to Fire TVs

Joe Hindy — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 17:57:18 +0000

Matter Casting will let people send content from streaming apps on iOS and Android to Fire TV devices or the Echo Show 15, similar to Google Cast or Apple AirPlay.

One of the biggest reasons to buy a Chromecast or Apple TV is the ability to cast media to the streamers from any modern smartphone via Google Cast or AirPlay, respectively. Amazon is now getting in on that with Matter Casting for its Fire TV and …

The Best Podcasts for 2024

The Pcmag Editorial Team — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 15:53:28 +0000

Whether you listen at the gym, on the job, or somewhere in between, check out the top podcasts entertaining and informing the PCMag staff.

There’s a podcast for everything. And why not? Podcasting is an inexpensive hobby that allows anyone to have their own platform on a global stage.

PCMag’s collection of suggested podcasts is small but diverse, and there are many more quality podcasts out there. Download a …

SoftMaker Office

Edward Mendelson — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 18:33:08 +0000

A more affordable alternative to Microsoft 365 that's just as nice to use

SoftMaker Office NX Universal may be the best office suite you’ve never heard of—it has more of a presence in Europe than in the US. Even so, SoftMaker should be at the top of your list if you don't want to use Microsoft’s Office apps. Why? Because it’s powerful, quick, …

Simplenote

Justin Pot — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 16:52:53 +0000

Exactly what its name implies

A lot of note-taking apps pile on features. Not Simplenote. This application is the embodiment of the "do one thing well" mantra. With Simplenote, you write text notes, sync them to other devices, and that's basically it. It's not a suitable app if you need …

Google Keep

Justin Pot — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 16:51:13 +0000

Little more than virtual sticky notes

The best note-taking apps recreate the feeling of a well-organized notebook. The free Google Keep is closer to a fridge covered in haphazardly written sticky notes. Everything about Keep's design suggests it's meant to host notes and lists that you write down quickly, …