Author: sparta

    • sparta
    • Comments Off on Five Complimentary Applications to Substitute Your Microsoft Office Subscription
    Five Complimentary Applications to Substitute Your Microsoft Office Subscription

    This represents a noticeable 45% increase in pricing for Microsoft 365, as Microsoft claims that the addition of new AI features in all Office applications through Copilot is the cause for this rise. This encompasses what Microsoft refers to as vibe working, an AI-enhanced method to assist in document creation for users.

    If you prefer the traditional Office experience, you still have the option to buy Microsoft Office 2024 and gain lifetime offline access to the complete office suite; however, this edition does not come with regular feature updates. It also demands a substantial fee of $149.99, and although it is frequently offered at a discount, it is still significant to pay for tools that are readily available for free. Below are some popular alternatives to what Microsoft 365 charges exorbitantly for, all being entirely free of cost.

    LibreOffice — The comprehensive all-encompassing solution

    <source media="(min-width: 429px)" srcset="https://www.bgr.com/img/gallery/5-free-apps-that-can-replace-your-microsoft-office-subscription/libreoffice-the-com

    Read More
    • sparta
    • Comments Off on The SR-71 Blackbird Jet: Surpassing Every Commercial Airplane
    The SR-71 Blackbird Jet: Surpassing Every Commercial Airplane

    somewhat challenging Boeing 737 Max, cruise at velocities ranging from 520 to 560 mph. The Boeing 737-700, a favored variant utilized by Southwest Airlines and others, boasts an average cruising speed of 528 miles per hour. To put it another way, the SR-71 Blackbird jet is an impressive 4.1 times swifter than the Boeing 737-700.

    Even when considering commercial aircraft beyond Boeing, the SR-71’s velocity is unmatched. The Airbus A380, for instance, achieves a maximum speed of 634 mph. And while that’s nearing the speed of sound, it still falls short when compared to the Blackbird’s performance. Even with the anticipated resurgence of supersonic commercial flights, the predicted cruising speed of Mach 1.7 appears sluggish in comparison to the SR-71.

    Why commercial airplanes are not as fast as the SR-71

    <div class="slide-key image-holder gallery-image-holder credit-image-wrap" data-post-url="https://www.bgr.com/2047337/lockheed-martin-sr-71-jet-fly-faster-commercial-flight/" data-post-title="The SR-71 Blackbird Jet Was Faster Than Any Commercial Plane" data-slide-num="1" data-post-id="204733

    Read More
    • sparta
    • Comments Off on Comparative Examination: Apple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch SE 3 for Festive Season Acquisitions
    Comparative Examination: Apple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch SE 3 for Festive Season Acquisitions

    Apple refreshed its complete range of Apple Watch models this year, unveiling the Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Series 11, and Apple Ultra 3. If you are looking to purchase for a gift or treating yourself this holiday season, here’s what you should understand about Apple Watch SE 3 compared to Apple Watch Series 11.

    Additionally, you can currently save $200 on the Apple Watch Series 11 for your holiday shopping.

    ## Apple Watch SE 3

    The Apple Watch SE 3 stands as Apple’s most budget-friendly Apple Watch model. It received a significant update this year with features such as an Always-On display, sleep apnea alerts, temperature sensing, new interactive wrist flick and double tap gestures, and more. It even incorporates the same S10 chip as the Apple Watch Series 11.

    The overall look of the Apple Watch SE 3 remains unchanged. It comes in 40mm and 44mm sizes with an aluminum casing.

    Battery performance stays at up to 18 hours, but it can now extend up to 32 hours in Low Power Mode. Unlike its predecessor, Apple Watch SE 3 also offers fast charging, allowing it to go from 0-80% in approximately 45 minutes.

    Most importantly, Apple added these features without increasing the starting price of the Apple Watch SE 3.

    With the introduction of the Always-On Display, the Apple Watch SE 3 is an exceptionally appealing choice. This is particularly true for individuals new to the Apple Watch ecosystem. You can now acquire an Apple Watch model with the most essential display feature and health monitoring capabilities for less than $250.

    The Apple Watch SE 3 is the ideal Apple Watch for the majority this holiday season.

    **Amazon:**

    | Spec | **Apple Watch SE 3** | **Apple Watch Series 11** |
    |————————-|——————————————–|——————————————|
    | Sizes | 40mm and 44mm options | 42mm and 46mm options |
    | Display size | **40mm**: 1.57-inch display
    **44mm**: 1.78-inch display | **42mm**: 1.79-inch display
    **46mm**: 1.99-inch display |
    | Chip | S10 chip. | S10 chip (flagship model) |
    | Always-On Display | Yes. | Yes. |
    | Display brightness | Up to 1000 nits | Up to 2000 nits |
    | Hypertension notifications| No. | Yes. |
    | ECG app | No. | Yes. |
    | Blood oxygen app | No. | Yes |
    | Water temperature sensor | No. | Yes. |
    | Depth gauge | No. | Yes. |
    | Battery life | Up to 18 hours | Up to 24 hours. |
    | Colors | Starlight and midnight | Aluminum: Space gray, rose gold, polished Jet Black, silver
    Titanium: Gold, natural, slate |
    | Normal price | From $249 | From $399 |

    ## Apple Watch Series 11

    The Apple Watch Series 11, in contrast, presents several important enhancements over the Apple Watch SE 3. It boasts a brighter and larger display in 42mm and 46mm case sizes. It also provides up to 24 hours of battery life and up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode.

    Regarding health features, the Apple Watch Series 11 incorporates support for hypertension notifications along with the ECG and Blood Oxygen apps.

    The Apple Watch Series 11 caters to individuals seeking the finest Apple Watch experience without fully committing to the larger and more rugged Apple Watch Ultra 3. It’s an excellent choice for those already within the Apple Watch ecosystem who have not upgraded in several years. It can track numerous health aspects while presenting a sleek edge-to-edge display, thinner design, and all-day battery life for under $400.

    **Amazon:**

    Read More
    • sparta
    • Comments Off on X for iOS Unveils Widgets Five Years Following First Tease
    X for iOS Unveils Widgets Five Years Following First Tease

    **X for iOS Unveils Home Screen and Lock Screen Widgets**

    X for iOS has at last launched widgets for both the Home Screen and Lock Screen, improving the user experience on iPhone and iPad devices. This eagerly awaited feature was first hinted at over five years ago during the WWDC20 event, where a Home Screen widget for Twitter was exhibited in the iOS 14 reveal video. However, it did not come to fruition until now.

    ### Home Screen Widget

    This latest update brings forth a single Home Screen widget option called “X News Highlights.” This widget showcases trending headlines from the platform, enabling users to tap on a headline to access the relevant topic within the app. The “X News Highlights” widget is offered in three distinct sizes, allowing flexibility for users to choose how they want it displayed on their Home Screen.

    ### Lock Screen Widgets

    Unlike the Home Screen, X presents a wider array of widgets for the Lock Screen. The available options consist of:

    1. **X Notifications**: This widget indicates the current count of notifications.
    2. **X Messages**: This widget reveals the number of unread messages in X Chat.
    3. **Grok Widgets**: Two widgets are designed for Grok, one offering quick access to chat and the other for voice communication.

    Each of these Lock Screen widgets is available in both larger and smaller sizes, granting users the ability to customize their Lock Screen to their liking.

    ### Conclusion

    The addition of these widgets signifies a major improvement for X users, aligning with the expectations established during the initial announcement at WWDC20. The Home Screen widget, while akin to the original idea, provides a more streamlined method to access trending news. The diverse Lock Screen widgets further enhance the user experience, offering quick access to notifications and messages. As users engage with these new features, feedback on their functionality and design will likely influence future updates.

    Read More
    • sparta
    • Comments Off on iOS 26.2: Summary of Fresh Features Accessible for iPhone Users
    iOS 26.2: Summary of Fresh Features Accessible for iPhone Users

    # iOS 26.2: An In-Depth Look at New Features

    Following weeks of beta testing, iOS 26.2 is now accessible to all iPhone users. This update brings a host of new features and improvements, especially for Apple Podcasts and Apple Music, alongside design changes and system-wide enhancements. Below is a comprehensive guide to the features introduced in iOS 26.2.

    ## Table of Contents

    1. [Fresh Features in iOS 26.2](#new-features)
    – [Reminders](#reminders)
    – [Apple Music](#apple-music)
    – [Apple Podcasts](#apple-podcasts)
    – [Sleep Score](#sleep-score)
    – [Apple News](#apple-news)
    – [EU Modifications](#eu-changes)
    – [Liquid Glass](#liquid-glass)
    – [CarPlay Enhancements](#carplay-updates)
    – [Other Adjustments](#additional-changes)
    2. [Apple’s Official Release Notes](#release-notes)
    3.

    Read More
    • sparta
    • Comments Off on Variations and Safety Evaluation Between TikTok and TikTok Lite
    Variations and Safety Evaluation Between TikTok and TikTok Lite

    TikTok, which recently faced the potential of a US ban, is a platform that speaks for itself; it has emerged as one of the most prevalent social media networks and video streaming applications globally, with its Android version surpassing a billion downloads on the Google Play Store alone. However, not every user owns the latest smartphone that can stream TikTok content for hours on end, which is the reason why the brand provides TikTok Lite. TikTok Lite is designed to be a more streamlined version of the app for lower-end devices, though this comes with the trade-off of some essential safety features like the identification of harmful activities or AI-generated content.

    The primary intended distinction between the standard TikTok app and TikTok Lite is that the Lite version is expected to occupy less space on your device, making it an appealing option for those with limited storage or who have not opted for an unlimited mobile data plan. Nonetheless, that reduced size does not come without its implications. TikTok Lite is indeed smaller in size but only due to the omission of crucial content labeling and browsing functionalities that certain users might be hesitant to engage with the platform without.

    TikTok Lite has a reduced size

    <img class="gallery-image " src="https://www.bgr.com/img/gallery/tiktok-vs-tiktok

    Read More
    • sparta
    • Comments Off on How AI Web Browsers Track User Behavior
    How AI Web Browsers Track User Behavior

    **AI Web Browsers: A Double-Edged Sword in Privacy and Personalization**

    In a pioneering study showcased at the 2025 USENIX Security Symposium, researchers revealed the complex dynamics of AI-driven web browsers, featuring well-known names such as ChatGPT for Google, Sider, Monica, Merlin, MaxAI, Perplexity, HARPA, TinaMind, and Microsoft’s Copilot, in their handling of user data. The results provoke substantial concerns regarding privacy, as these AI browsers scrutinize, retain, and retrieve user information in potentially obscure ways.

    **The Experiment: Real-World Scenarios and Privacy Tests**

    The research group recreated a range of real-world browsing situations, including reading news articles and viewing YouTube videos, alongside more sensitive endeavors like accessing adult content and completing tax forms. These scenarios took place in both private and public environments to assess the strength of privacy protections. The outcomes were disturbing, showing that numerous AI extensions recorded not just visuals and textual information but also sensitive data, such as medical histories, social security numbers, and preferences on dating platforms.

    One of the most troubling discoveries was that the Merlin extension sent out banking information and health records, while others like Merlin and Sider AI logged activity even in private browsing modes. This raises doubts about how much users can trust these applications with their personal data.

    **Data Transmission and Storage: A Closer Look**

    By decoding data traffic, researchers found that multiple AI assistants sent webpage content to their own servers and external trackers. Specifically, Sider and TinaMind sent user prompts and identifying details, including IP addresses, to Google Analytics, facilitating cross-site user tracking. Microsoft’s Copilot was observed to save chat histories from earlier sessions in the browser’s background, implying that these records could remain across various browsing sessions.

    Additionally, AI tools like Google, Copilot, Monica, ChatGPT, and Sider employed user activity data to create profiles based on age, gender, income, and interests. This profiling was leveraged to tailor responses during browsing sessions, emphasizing the compromise between personalization and privacy.

    **Perplexity: The Most Private Option?**

    Among the AI assistants examined, Perplexity emerged as the most privacy-aware choice. It could not remember past interactions, and its servers did not access private data. However, it continued to assess page titles and user location, suggesting that even the most private options are not entirely devoid of data collection.

    **Conclusion: Navigating the Privacy-Personalization Trade-Off**

    The research highlights the necessity for enhanced transparency and user command over data collection within AI web browsers. As these tools become further embedded in our digital lives, users need to recognize the potential privacy hazards and make well-informed decisions regarding which tools to adopt. The findings also advocate for more stringent regulations and standards to guarantee that AI technologies uphold user privacy while providing the advantages of personalization and improved browsing experiences.

    Read More
    • sparta
    • Comments Off on Comprehending the Essential Icon on Your Android Device’s Display and Ways to Turn It Off
    Comprehending the Essential Icon on Your Android Device’s Display and Ways to Turn It Off

    N icon on your Android display appears when utilizing the integrated NFC feature, and a rectangle with a Wi-Fi icon shows up during screen mirroring sessions. Another icon in the status bar you might see is one that resembles a key.

    The key icon on your Android display signifies that you are connected to a VPN service. VPN — which stands for Virtual Private Network — provides a secure connection that protects you from online tracking and permits access to websites restricted by region. This is facilitated by concealing your actual IP address and utilizing the IP address of the VPN server. Every occasion you activate the VPN service on your Android device, a key icon will be displayed in your status bar. However, you can easily turn it off as well.

    How to disable the key icon on Android

    If you installed a complimentary VPN application on your Android device, such as Windscribe or ProtonVPN, and enabled it, it is quite simple to remove the key icon from your status bar. Just open the third-party VPN app and press the off or Disconnect button on the main screen.

    If you configured a VPN directly through your phone’s settings and connected to it, you can also turn off the key icon on your Android using the Settings app. Open Settings, input VPN in the search field, and choose the result that appears. After that, deactivate the active VPN service you are connected to.

    Some Android devices like the Google Pixel 7 and newer models also offer a built-in VPN service. To deactivate VPN on Pixel devices, follow these steps:

    1. Access the Settings app.
    2. Choose Network & internet from the
      Read More
    • sparta
    • Comments Off on Top 4 Budget-Friendly Smart TVs Strongly Endorsed by Costco Members
    Top 4 Budget-Friendly Smart TVs Strongly Endorsed by Costco Members

    differentiating between affordable and expensive televisions is a different topic altogether. Generally speaking, selecting the premium models is straightforward since you merely need to choose a flagship product from leading smart TV manufacturers and that’s it. On the contrary, if you are working with a tight budget, the process becomes quite challenging as opting for a lower price on a smart TV might result in acquiring a subpar device.

    Fortunately, you can depend on user reviews from Costco to determine what to select and what to steer clear of. To assist you in making a well-informed decision, we’ve curated a list of the best inexpensive smart TVs, as ranked by Costco patrons. These models feature brands such as LG, TCL, and Hisense, all boasting solid ratings and priced between approximately $100 to $350.

    TCL 55-inch Q77K

    The TCL 55-inch Q77K QLED is a budget-friendly smart TV that is the top-rated choice among Costco members, and upon examining its specifications, it becomes evident why. The Q77K features a QLED panel that supports multiple HDR formats, including Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG, and HDR10 for enhanced picture quality. Being a QLED, the panel also provides good viewing angles. It operates on Google TV, thus granting access to a range of applications to begin with and the option to install additional ones.

    Although it is an economical television, it comes equipped with several gaming-oriented functionalities that can be useful when you wish to play on a PC or gaming console. To begin with, the panel boasts a native refresh rate of 144Hz, and in addition, the TV features TCL’s Game Accelerator 240, which allows for variable refresh rate (VRR) to minimize screen tearing. The Q77K also incorporates features such as auto-low latency mode and four HDMI 2.1 ports, with one port supporting HDMI eARC.

    The HDMI eARC port is crucial for enabling the television to connect directly to a soundbar and

    Read More