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Top 4 Budgeting Applications to Explore as Alternatives to Mint

ChatGPT suggestions for saving money indicate that utilizing a high-quality budgeting application can eliminate much of the uncertainty. For years, Mint was regarded as the benchmark — being one of the earliest and most reputable methods to manage your spending and your accounts.

However, in March 2024, Intuit, the parent company of Mint, discontinued the standalone application to encourage users to transition to its other service, Credit Karma. This closure left numerous users pondering the reasons behind it and seeking alternatives to replace Mint. Whether you’re in search of a straightforward budgeting app similar to Mint, something entirely different, or just a FinTech application that’s more beneficial than Robinhood, there’s plenty to evaluate.

Quicken Simplifi

Overall, Quicken is a favored option for small business proprietors and accountants due to its robust business tracking features and detailed reporting. Quicken Simplifi, as suggested by its name, is genuinely intended as a more straightforward option for individuals wanting to budget for their personal finances. Unlike some of Quicken’s other offerings, Simplifi is accessible through a web browser, allowing you to check in without needing to install an application. Naturally, there is also a mobile app that provides many similar functionalities.

Quicken aims with the Simplifi app to offer a more “automatic” method to budgeting. Instead of manually setting spending category objectives, the app uses your entered accounts and spending history to manage the tracking for you. It provides what Quicken refers to as a Spend Plan tailored to your habits each month. This makes it perfect for someone who desires a comprehensive perspective of their budget and actionable steps, but doesn’t want to invest excessive time analyzing and adjusting. Many happy users appreciate the simplicity, particularly when contrasted with intricate spreadsheets.

Monarch Money

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Divulged Online: Sneak Peek Trailers for Each of the Four Avengers: Doomsday Movies

Multiple “Avengers: Doomsday” leaks have surfaced over the past weeks, suggesting that Marvel plans to attach the film’s inaugural teaser trailer to “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” Initially, reports indicated that the clip would be released on December 11, but that date was later postponed to December 19. Furthermore, the number of rumored “Doomsday” teasers has grown from one to four. A new teaser is expected to premiere in front of “Fire and Ash” weekly, likely aimed at building excitement for Marvel’s largest crossover film since “Avengers: Endgame,” which is set for release on December 18, 2026. Days prior to the “Avatar: Fire and Ash” release, descriptions of the four “Doomsday” trailers have leaked, and as of this writing, at least one has made its way online.

The anticipated trailer promotional campaign for “Doomsday” shouldn’t astonish long-time fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). In late March, Marvel hosted a five-and-a-half-hour livestream on YouTube for the upcoming “Avengers” film, showcasing a new chair with a cast member’s name every few minutes. Marvel announced a total of 27 actors set to star in “Avengers: Doomsday,” and Robert Downey Jr., portraying the film’s primary antagonist, Doctor Doom, made a live appearance. This event generated 3.1 million mentions across social media and amassed 275 million views, according to Marvel.

What’s intriguing about the initial “Avengers: Doomsday” teaser trailer is that Marvel has chosen to reveal a significant spoiler—one that many filmgoers may have anticipated. It’s unlikely that anyone will escape this revelation, but if you’re looking to avoid spoilers or wish to maintain an element of surprise before the “Avatar” premiere this week, you should skip the details that follow.

Avengers: Doomsday trailer release schedule

A few days ago, The Hollywood Reporter mentioned in a newsletter that “Avengers: Doomsday” would unveil four trailers during the theatrical run of “Avatar 3.” Several prominent Marvel insiders teased the four clips and provided additional details online as low-quality footage of the first trailer leaked. If the information holds true, each of the initial three clips will concentrate on a specific character, one of which will spotlight Doctor Doom. However, RDJ’s significant reveal will not happen in the first clip. That’s the major twist Marvel has in store for audiences.

The first teaser will spotlight none other than Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), the MCU’s original Captain America, who was last seen at the conclusion of “Endgame,” retiring in an alternate reality with Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell). Marvel did not mention Evans’ name during the livestream. He has been refuting rumors regarding his return to the MCU since 2019. The clip is already making rounds on social media, with Marvel quickly removing it through copyright claims as fast as it appears. Interestingly, someone utilized AI tools to recreate a portion of the first trailer and enhance it to 4K. That version of the trailer remains available online.

The second teaser is expected to highlight Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the second of the MCU’s big three and “Avengers” stars. The trailer is set to release in “Avatar 3’s” second week in theaters, around December 25. The third character-focused “Doomsday” trailer will feature Doctor Doom, with Marvel planning to launch it a week later, approximately on January 2nd. Finally, rumors suggest that the fourth “Doomsday” trailer will debut in the fourth week, or around January 9th. This should be the first complete “Doomsday” trailer.

How to watch the Avengers: Doomsday trailers online

Marvel’s “Doomsday” trailer promotion serves a dual purpose aside from creating hype. It aims to encourage more moviegoers to purchase tickets to see “Avatar: Fire and Ash” multiple times, which will benefit Marvel’s parent company, Disney. However, you need not be concerned about rewatching James Cameron’s film multiple times merely to catch the brief trailers featuring your favorite Avengers.

As demonstrated by this week’s developments, the trailers are bound to leak online, either prior to their theatrical debut or once they begin airing with “Fire and Ash.” It is relatively straightforward to locate the leaked trailers, despite Marvel’s persistent efforts to remove them. Nevertheless, you should be cautious not to fall for fake, AI-generated “Doomsday” clips, which are also circulating.

At this moment, it’s uncertain when Marvel will publish the four trailers online. The studio may choose to wait until all four trailers have hit theaters before uploading them to YouTube, but this is purely speculation based on the statements from leakers. There has been no official announcement from the studio thus far.

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“Albiriox Assault Allows Cybercriminals to Manipulate Android Gadgets and Reach Bank Accounts”

malware release Android users have experienced, yet it certainly ranks highly. The malware in question is named Albiriox, and once it is installed on a smartphone, it can potentially seize full control of the device.

Research conducted by security experts at Cleafy indicates that the malware is presumably supported by Russian-speaking cybercriminals — a conclusion they reached after uncovering linguistic indicators and chat logs from forums. Cleafy’s analysis of this emerging threat also reveals that it is not limited to banking applications; it additionally targets crypto applications and is engineered for on-device fraud, leveraging Android’s embedded accessibility features to enable attackers to remotely manipulate the devices on which it is installed.

Particularly troubling about this malware is that Albiriox is marketed as a “malware-as-a-service” subscription. Essentially, this enables anyone to subscribe and gain access to the malware, granting them the ability to disseminate it at will. This amplifies its danger, as various threat actors may attempt to distribute it through numerous methods.

How to protect yourself from Albiriox

Creative Methods to Reuse Your Old Apple Watch

Apple Watch Series 11 can offer an enjoyable experience, but then you may face the dilemma of what to do with your old device. You certainly can recycle or sell it responsibly, but it’s useful to know that there are additional options at your disposal.

Examining the list below, your old Apple Watch can serve as a wonderful gift for a grandparent, assist in improving your sleep, function as a backup for specific activities, or even be reimagined into a vintage-style Apple product. Most of these suggestions will just need you to have the Apple Watch, however, at least one suggestion necessitates acquiring an additional accessory. We have also made an effort to inform you when particular ideas might demand further investigation concerning the specific model of your Apple Watch.

From Apple Watch features that might not be well-known to watchOS 26 offering numerous incentives to upgrade, getting a new one is undoubtedly a good choice — yet there are still many experiences to enjoy with your old device. Explore the ideas below to discover if any of them can ignite some creativity for your old device, as an Apple Watch collecting dust in a sock drawer isn’t the best scenario.

Turn your old Apple Watch into a specialized sleep tracker

User-Identified Smart TVs to Steer Clear Of: 4 Affordable Options

fantastic, budget-friendly smart TVs that are available for purchase, of course, but if you’re not well-informed, it’s simple to make a costly error by choosing models that have caused issues for prior customers. No matter the price tag, you shouldn’t acquire a TV now only to have to fix it in the upcoming year, or be compelled to buy a new model because the one you selected malfunctioned.

In reality, affordable TVs can endure for several years. This is more likely if you steer clear of models that receive low ratings, and those that previous customers advise others against buying. We have searched the web to identify cheap smart TVs that you should definitely avoid, based on user feedback, focusing on quality concerns and durability in particular.

Panasonic W70 Series

Panasonic was a powerhouse in the plasma TV industry and, at one time, dominated the category in the U.S. market. After stepping away from the U.S. market for nearly a decade, it made a comeback and has been launching new TVs in the U.S. since 2024. If you’re looking for an economical model from the brand, the W70 series may appear to be an ideal choice, as it is available in multiple screen sizes, starting at 43 inches. The 43-, 50-, and 55-inch versions are quite affordable, priced at under $400 without any discounts.

All versions feature a 4K LED panel with HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG support, four HDMI ports, including one HDMI 2.1 port for increased bandwidth, and

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How an Erroneous HDMI Configuration Can Diminish Your Smart TV Experience

Having the ability to manage various electronic devices in an entertainment center simultaneously, all without having to leave your seat, is quite appealing. In today’s age of smart TVs and interconnected systems, accomplishing this has become more straightforward, and indeed, many smart TVs come with the essential setting to enable it. However, this specific feature, known as HDMI-CEC, can be somewhat inconsistent and may ultimately disrupt your viewing pleasure rather than enhance it.

HDMI-CEC stands for “HDMI Consumer Electronics Control,” and it is a crucial setting that permits you to manage external devices linked to your smart TV through an HDMI port. When it functions correctly, it’s incredibly handy, allowing you to handle devices such as Blu-Ray players or soundbars with just one remote. On the other hand, if your devices do not cooperate, you may encounter annoying issues like sound not coming through or your TV failing to receive a signal due to this HDMI setting.

HDMI-CEC provides enhanced control over your entertainment setup

Experts Suggest Removing These 12 Common Windows Applications Without Delay

**12 Widely Used Windows Applications You Should Remove Right Away, According to Experts**

Windows frequently comes with various applications pre-installed that a lot of users deem unnecessary. These apps can drain system resources, hinder performance, and may even pose privacy risks. Below is a list of 12 widely used Windows applications that specialists advise removing for better system optimization:

1. **Microsoft Solitaire Collection**: Although it features classic games like Solitaire and Minesweeper, it is heavily laden with advertisements and requires a subscription for full-screen access.

2. **Microsoft News and Weather**: These applications are redundant given their integration into the Windows 11 taskbar and Start menu. They function slowly and use unnecessary system resources.

3. **Outlook**: The new Outlook application is essentially a web wrapper that uses more memory compared to the older Mail app and includes advertisements disguised as emails.

4. **Microsoft 365 Copilot**: If you do not utilize Microsoft’s 365 services, this application is unnecessary and can be intrusive, launching at startup without providing meaningful functionality.

5. **Xbox App and Game Bar**: Unless you are a dedicated PC gamer, these applications are unnecessary. The Game Bar, especially, can operate unwanted background processes.

6. **Media Player**: It lacks modern capabilities and codec support when compared to alternatives like VLC, which offer improved functionality and compatibility with newer formats.

7. **Third-party Antivirus Software**: The built-in Windows Security is sufficient for most users, making third-party antivirus programs redundant and often obtrusive.

8. **Microsoft Clipchamp**: While it is useful for basic video editing, it lacks advanced features and does not justify the premium price over free alternatives like DaVinci Resolve.

9. **Microsoft To Do**: It falls short of features available in alternatives like Todoist or TickTick, such as natural language input and advanced search functions.

10. **Movies & TV**: With Microsoft shutting down its digital storefront, this application is only beneficial if you have existing purchases. Otherwise, it can be removed.

11. **Maps**: This application has reached the end of its support and serves minimal purpose, particularly with superior alternatives like Google Maps available.

12. **Sound Recorder**: It provides basic functionality but lacks advanced features such as transcription, rendering it less helpful compared to mobile applications or specialized software.

Removing these applications can streamline your Windows experience, enhance performance, and free up essential system resources.

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Google’s Latest Easter Egg Disrupts Online Searches

Google Search frequently features references to significant occurrences. The “Pluribus” Google Search Easter egg exemplifies this. As reported by 9to5Google and showcased in the video below, the Google Search “6-7” Easter egg can be triggered by entering “6-7” or “67” into the search bar. Once activated, Google Search will mimic the hand gesture associated with the “6-7” meme — the palms-up weighing motion — by causing the search results to jiggle up and down. The only element absent is the accompanying sound, as Google Search doesn’t vocalize the phrase “six seven.”

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