New Technology : How to Buy Refurbished Mac Laptops and Save Money

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It’s a truism: Macs cost more than PCs. It’s less obvious if you only compare Macs to well-built, business class laptops, but the cost-to-spec ratio a PC is going to win almost every time. Apple’s natural stranglehold on the Mac market means discounts on their hardware aren’t frequent. That said, you can get a Mac for less — you just need to know where to look. And before you flood the comments with “GET A PC LOLZ!” know that there are reasons even budget-conscious consumers might want a Mac. Maybe it’s the build quality of the hardware or the flow of the...

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New Technology : 7 New Google Drive Features Every Student Must Know

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Let’s open up our laptops and turn to Page Larry. School is in session and Google is ready to make things easier for students with Google Drive. New features have been introduced and some old ones refined. Not only is it free and cross-platform, but the Google Drive suite has become quite powerful, recently. You can now even use it offline on PC or mobile. Students are the future, so Google is adding student-centric features. The cool part? They’re useful even if you aren’t a student! Type with Your Voice Perhaps the coolest new addition is the ability to dictate in Google...

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New Technology : The Weather Doesn’t Have to be Dull With These iPhone Apps

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Being British I have a dangerous obsession with the weather, but I’m sick of the same old weather apps. I know it’s going to rain — but isn’t there a more engaging way of breaking the news? It turns out there are many unique and creative ways your iPhone can let you know you’ll have to cancel your plans due to possible flash flooding. Here are six original iPhone apps that each have their own unique way of scratching the meteorological itch. CARROT ($3.99) This app made a rather memorable first impression when it called me a “meatbag”. Yes, my phone was insulting me. Has it never heard of first impressions? Undeterred,...

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New Technology : Is Microsoft Gathering Data From You in Windows 7 and 8?

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You haven’t upgraded to Windows 10 because you’re worried about privacy and you’re using Windows 7 or 8? Microsoft has released a series of updates for your operating system that essentially replicate Windows 10’s diagnostics tracking. The good news, though, is that in Windows 7 and 8 you can control which updates are installed. We have reviewed the updates in question and will show you how to get rid of them. Diagnostics & Telemetry Tracking in Windows Isn’t New This is how Microsoft describes its diagnostics tracking: The diagnostics tracking service collects diagnostics about functional issues on Windows systems that participate in the...

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New Technology : How to Convert Any File Format Online with Free Tools

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If you want to turn a FLAC into an MP3 or a PDF into a Doc, you don’t need to download fancy software. Just fire up your browser, head to one of these websites, and you’ll be done in a jiffy. And completely free too! Web apps are far safer than installing software that can carry malware with it. Plus, by avoiding installations, you don’t need to decrap your computer or uninstall stuff from your Mac. So if you need to convert a file, here’s the ultimate list of sites you should turn to. Convert Anything to Anything: Zamzar One...

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New Technology : 7 Little Known Secrets to Get Cheap Vacations on Groupon

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When it comes to getting great deals on vacations, a lot of people head to Groupon first. And why not? Everything there is highly discounted . . . right? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. You can find great deals, but you need to make sure you’re not getting fooled into spending more money than you need to. Groupon makes money by using a few marketing tricks to make you think you need to grab their deals immediately. Don’t fall for those tricks and get into “oh-no-I-need-to-buy-this-right-now!” mindset that Groupon is trying to create. Instead, use these 7 tips to get the best possible deals on...

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New Technology : Code Black HD-Camera Drone + Crash Pack for 51% Off! Perfect for Beginners

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Surely you’ve seen those YouTube videos of people flying a drone around and looking at the world from impossibly awesome camera angles. They are among the coolest things to watch on the Internet, and as it turns out, you can make your own videos like that, and you don’t need to spend an arm and a leg to do it. For a limited time, you can snag a Limited-Edition Code Black HD-camera drone with a crash pack for just $115. This would normally sell for a whopping $237, but if you get it from MakeUseOf Deals while this special lasts, you...

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New Technology : How to Use Windows Defender Malware Protection on Windows 10

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Your Windows 10 system is nice and shiny, but like any Windows operating system it is open to abuse and vulnerable to online threats. It doesn’t matter whether you upgraded from Windows 8 or purchased a brand new Windows 10 PC, laptop or tablet – the threats exist and probably always will. Rather than enabling online attackers to freely copy your data, siphon off your personal details, and possibly destroy your reputation or credit rating (or both), you need to have some security software installed. The best place to start is on Windows 10 itself, where you will find the...

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New Technology : 5 Stock Market Games That’ll Teach You How to Make Money

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Personal finance has many facets, starting with budgets and good money habits, building up to a debt-free lifestyle, and eventually moving onto making healthy financial investments. A lot of people think that investments are akin to casinos due to the unpredictable nature of the future, but there are plenty of lower-risk alternatives like bonds and index funds. That being said, nothing can match the thrill and excitement of playing the stock market, especially if you hit the jackpot. But before you dive in with real money, you should get yourself acquainted with all the nuances. Use these virtual stock market games...

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New Technology : Apple Accepts Ad-Blockers, Google Fights Back… [Tech News Digest]

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Blocking ads is bad for business, Netflix rejects offline viewing options, watch Disney Movies Anywhere, Steve Jobs garners great reviews, and Star Wars vs. Star Trek… again! Ad-Blockers Are Evil, Obviously A new round of skirmishes in the war between ad-blockers and advertisers is beginning. On the one side we have Apple, turning to the Dark Side and allowing ad-blockers on iOS for the first time. On the other side we have Google, which is punishing AdBlock users for blocking ads on YouTube. First up is Apple, which is set to welcome ad-blocking extensions on the iOS version of Safari...

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