New Technology : Arduino and Raspberry Pi Beginner? Here’s How To Write Clean Code

clean-code-arduino-raspi

When you start to read more and more about software development, you frequently come across the phrase “clean code”. In its purest form, this is code that’s easy for other people to read. It’s expressive and beautiful, and you can easily discern its intent simply by looking at it. Writing clean code is easier said than done. Whether you’re an Arduino tinkerer, or you’re building Raspberry Pi applications with Python, or you’re even a web developer, there are some useful tips to follow that’ll make your code easier to read by others. Here’s what you need to know. Be Consistent...

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New Technology : How to Spot & Avoid 10 of the Most Insidious Hacking Techniques

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In this ongoing arms race between security specialists and hackers, hackers are still finding new ways to get around our defenses. Attacks used by famous hackers in the past are used as starting points or even inspiration. Oftentimes, security specialists just can’t develop new defenses as quickly as hackers develop new attacks. With most of the computer users throughout the world rather ignorant when it comes to online safety, many often fall victim to attacks and don’t know how to avoid them. While information regarding how to stay secure online is a little more mainstream these days, techniques past having...

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New Technology : Input is an iPhone Command Line for Evernote, Gmail & Much More

Imagine if you could create notes, add calendar appointments and keep your to-do list up to date using a single intuitive command line. That’s the idea behind new iPhone app, Input. Rather than accessing each service you want to use on an individual app basis, Input offers an opportunity to perform common tasks for services like Evernote, Google Calendar and Wunderlist all from the same interface. Here’s how a rather excellent concept translates into a functional app. Download: Input – The cloud console for free. A Command Line for Everything What do you do when you want to, say for example, create a new calendar appointment?...

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

refurbished-mac

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

weather-apps-iphone

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?

microsoft-collecting-data

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

file-conversion

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

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

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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