TECHNOLOGY AIM

Do you need You Need A Budget? While that might seem like a typo (or some kind of obscure Zen koan), we’re simply posing a question regarding the app called You Need A Budget, which we’ll call YNAB (like they do) from here on out to eliminate any confusion. YNAB does pretty much only one thing – help you create a budget and stick to it – and it does it really well. But is it worth its relatively steep annual fee? Let’s take a look. After installing YNAB, you’ll be asked to connect your banking and credit accounts if you’d like. Doing so lets the app pull in all of your financial transactions which can then be assigned to different spending categories. If you aren’t comfortable handing over this information, you can also enter transactions manually, although the company uses some pretty serious encryption algorithms, so security doesn’t seem like an issue. In either event, you can initially assign transactions to any of the app’s five categories: immediate obligations; true expenses; ...

Remember the old days when you used to have to go outside to see what the weather was like? Well, Weather Dock, a desktop app for Mac, eliminates that need by placing a handy little icon in your dock that can show you the current conditions, or a range of other information.  Of course, nothing beats getting a little bit of fresh air to find out what the weather outside your window is like. But if that’s simply not practical, Weather Dock is a great stand-in. Once you download it from the Mac App Store, it automatically appears in your dock. Allow it to know your location and it will instantly bring up the current weather conditions. Depending on the number of icons in your dock, this can be a bit difficult to see, as more dock apps makes each icon a bit smaller, but still, you should be able to at least be able to see the current temperature at a glance. Weather Wizard Things get really interesting when you click on the icon, though. Do so and you’ll be presented with a colorful...

  Thanks to ever-advancing technology, it’s become easier than ever to keep track of your personal finances using a wide range of software solutions, apps, and cloud-based programs. One service that consistently stands out in this space is Getting Started When you fire up Mint for the first time, you are asked to add any accounts you are interested in tracking. These include checking, savings, investment and credit card accounts. To link an account, you simply enter the login details for each and the software does the rest, bringing your transactions directly into the Mint interface. While it might sound a bit scary to turn over those credentials to a third party, the software takes extra precautions to safeguard your data, including storing login details in a separate database protected with multi-layer encryption. Mint is also owned by Intuit, the same company that owns TurboTax and QuickBooks, so they’re no strangers in handling and protecting sensitive data – and they are ce...

There are almost as many travel apps out there as there are travel destinations. In general, they all do some things well, and some things not so well. WikiCamps is certainly in the same, erm, camp. With a focus on – you guessed it – camping, the app can help you find nearby places to pitch your tent, park your RV, or take in some local sites. And while it can certainly be helpful, the app also suffers from so not-so-great features that might make it not worth paying to own it. Free Trial Like many apps, WikiCamps comes with a 14-day free trial. After that, it costs a one-time payment of $1.99 for lifetime access. The free trial period is well worth it because you can try out different destinations to see just how well it will work for you. Many users report a lack of data on local attractions and campsites, while our tests were data rich, so it might just depend on where you’re looking. It seems WikiCamps has a strong following in Australia, so the crowd-sourced information it relie...

Most travelers these days use their phones to navigate. Perform a simple Google search on an address, and a detailed map with voice directions, nearby attractions, gas stations, restaurants, hotels and more is just a tap away. Still, there are companies that build additional features into mapping to try to stand apart from the reliable, but maybe not-so-sexy Google Maps. Wayze and Tripit are two examples, while Roadtrippers is still another. So is it worth adding Roadtrippers to your crowded app drawer? Maybe. Nearby The major benefit of Roadtrippers is its friendly, easy-to-navigate interface. When opening the app, you can tap the “Nearby” button and you’ll be presented with large icons ranging from “Breakfast” to “Take a Walk.” Tap one of those and you’ll see what’s in your location in that category on a map. Tap further and you’ll get a description of the destination along with reviews and hours of operation, if available. In our tests, the app provided useful information just abo...

Sygic Travel Map is a competitor in the map and navigation space. While Google Maps tends to reign supreme in this category, Sygic has tried to distinguish itself by offering features that make it more traveler friendly. But most of the stand-apart features require a subscription, so functionality in the free version of the software remains limited. Still, it might be a good place to start to see if an alternative navigation tool is right for you. Free Version In the free version of Sygic Travel Maps, you’ll have the option of either exploring a map of your immediate area or planning a trip. Exploring will take you to a map overview dotted with small icons and images. Click on one of these, and you discover an interesting attraction such as a park, historic monument, museum, movie theater and more. The icons will also lead you to nearby hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, train routes and bus stops. It is by no means exhaustive, but definitely clues you in to lots of destinations in ...

If you’ve been hesitant to dive into the world of photo editing beyond applying simple filters in Instagram, you might want to check out Pixlr. It’s a truly powerful online photo editing software program with loads of options that never overwhelm you with their complexity. The result is that even those new to the world of photo editing can get started fast, greatly improve or change their photos, and have fun doing so. Oh, and the best part? The program is completely free. Pick a Pixlr path Getting started with Pixlr begins with choosing either Pixler X, which is a more basic and easy-to-use version of the software, or Pixler E, which provides more tools, but might be a bit much for those new to photo editing. Both versions are free. Next, simply open a photo, which you can do by either navigating to one stored on your device, or by entering a URL for a web-based image. Alternatively, you can start from scratch by selecting from one of Pixlr’s many blank templates which include hand...

In many sectors of modern life, technology has made things easier (we’re looking at you robot lawn mower). But when it comes to travel, it can be a little more complicated these days to get where you’re going without having to open multiple emails, scan multiple bar codes, and use your phone’s navigation feature to figure out how to get where you need to be. The TripIt app attempts to make all of this easier for you by aggregating your travel information in one place. And the free version of the app certainly does that. But to make TripIt really sing, you will likely want to upgrade.  What you get with the free version When you sign up for a free TripIt account, you’ll be asked whether or not you want to populate the app automatically as your travel confirmations hit your inbox, which you can do if you have a GMail, Yahoo or Outlook mail account. Say yes, and the app will scan your email box every 24 hours and add any flight, hotel or car reservations it detects. If you don’t wan...

It’s not too often you check out an app’s homepage and see an endorsement by Edward Snowden. Yet that’s exactly what you get when you visit Signal’s page, and Snowden’s endorsement makes a lot of sense considering that this is a secure messaging app.  Unlike other secure messaging apps like Viber, Signal is open sourced, peer reviewed and it is funded through donations rather than through ads or purchases. Plus, Signal is a non-profit organization, so it’s not looking to impress shareholders. All of this adds up to super-secure software that’s constantly monitored for flaws and has only one focus – keeping your communications encrypted from the time they leave your device until they arrive at the intended recipient. Along the way no one – not even Signal – can read or listen to them. Installation Setting up Signal is pretty straightforward. Once downloaded to your phone or tablet, the app will ask for permission to access your contacts and other media on your phone as well as th...

LogMeIn is well-known software that allows you to access your computer from remote locations using either mobile devices or another computer. The company’s Hamachi offering is slightly less well-known, because it is tailored toward business users, but if you have the need to network multiple computers together securely as a personal user, it might be worth a look.  What it does LogMeIn Hamachi allows you to create a VPN – virtual private network. While you might be familiar with VPNs as a way to tunnel into the internet from a remote location to guard your privacy, in this case, the VPN is used to create a network accessible by a particular group of users. Upon launching the very bare-bones software, you simply navigate to Network/Create A New Network, enter a password, and click Create. Once the network is formed, clicking on Manage/Manage Networks will take you to a web-based portal where you can control the network.  One of the key elements that can be set here is the t...

When it comes to protecting your PC, you can go a bit software crazy. There’s VPN software that lets you surf securely from an offsite computer; nanny software that lets parents control what their kids can access online; anti-malware software that protects against things like ransomware and phishing attempts; ad-blocking software; and, of course, anti-virus software. Or there’s Norton 360 that wraps all of this up in a neat little software bundle. It’s not cheap, but it is complete.  Level up Norton 360 offers four different levels of protection that range from affordable to ouch. But, depending on your needs and how many other software programs you may be able to stop paying for, even the maximum subscription level might still be a bargain for you. The Standard level costs $29.99 per year and includes protection against viruses and other online threats; a secure virtual private network (VPN); ad-blocking; anonymous browsing and bank-grade encryption for all your surfing activi...

With video taking up more space on the internet than ever before, it’s becoming increasingly important to have a good video editor in your digital toolbox. Whether you want to improve the quality of casual videos of family and friends or move into having your own channel on YouTube, the right video editing software can make your work look professional, even if you’re not. One of the standout video editors in terms of its price-to-value proposition is Filmora by Wondershare. Not only does it have a truly impressive array of tools to help boost, edit and enhance your video clips, but it provides it all at a price that doesn’t require a Hollywood salary.  Image features Although you might never need it, Filmora allows you to work on up to 100 different layers – both audio and video – at one time. If you’re just starting out as a video editor, that might seem overwhelming, but as you grow in your skill, you’ll definitely appreciate the possibilities this opens up in terms of making p...

If you’re even a moderate gaming enthusiast, you’ve likely heard of Discord, a messaging app that prides itself on near-instant voice chat as well as the ability to communicate via text and instant messaging. If you don’t game, chances are you’re thinking “Discord, what?”  While the completely free app has somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 million users, somehow, in the non-gaming community, it’s pretty much unknown. And that’s a bit of a shame because in terms of free voice/video/texting software, group collaboration tools, and ease of use, it’s hard to beat. In fact, even among paid messaging software, it stands up to all of the big boys.  Getting started Head to the Discord website, and you’ll have the opportunity to either access chat right through the web, or you can download a desktop app for machines running Windows 7 and up, or MacOS 10.10 (Yosemite) and up or Linux. Alternatively, you can download the mobile apps for iOS 10.0 and above at the Apple App Store or ...

If you’re a regular reader of FileHippo’s articles, you already know that we really think you need a VPN if you have any concerns at all about being tracked or having your personal data stolen. But for those of you who might have missed it, we’ll reiterate: you need a VPN!  Put simply, a VPN is a set of servers located in different countries around the world. Once you install VPN software on your computer, you can connect to these external servers and do all your surfing from there. This hides your real IP address, and lets you browse securely and anonymously. And when it comes to VPN software, ZenMate offers the whole package at a reasonable price.   Unlimited devices/platforms Many VPN services out there limit the number of devices you can connect to their servers at any one time – or, in fact, the number of devices on which you can even download the software. ZenMate is different because with one subscription, you’re allowed to install the program on all the devices you ...

Cryptojackers. Worms. Bots. Keylogers.  It might sound like the plot of the next installment in the Star Wars franchise, but in fact, it’s just a short summary of the dangers of modern computing. All a type of malware, these nasty bugs can at best get on your computer and slow things down and at worst, expose your personal information to hackers that could lead to identity left and a lifetime of hassle. Fortunately, there are a whole host of malware fighters out there, including Malware Defender from iObit. In its latest release – version 7 – it’s got even more power to deflect incoming cyber threats.  What’s New You can read our previous review of iObit Malware Defender here , so we’ll just focus on what’s new in this post. Perhaps best of all, the software has gotten speedier. iObit says that their testing shows an increase of 300% on average from the time the software detects a threat till the time it removes it. As with most malware programs, this one always starts wit...

According to online social media publication, Social Media Today , 78% of people watch video online each week and video streaming on mobile devices increases by 100% every year . On top of that, it’s predicted that one million videos per second will come online by 2022 , accounting for 82% of all internet traffic. In short, video is big – and set to get bigger. If you want to participate in this boom, whether to share personal videos, build a brand, or advertise a product or service, you’ll need good video-production software. VEGAS Pro fits the bill for thousands of users a year, and with its latest release, VEGAS Pro 17, the software is stronger than ever. While you can read our overview of VEGAS Pro here … in this article, we will focus on the improvements the company has made to the software in its latest release – which number over 30. Organization VEGAS Pro 17 benefits from several workflow improvements that make it easier and faster to create and edit videos. Chief among ...

Ask a friend about which messaging app she uses and you’re likely to hear Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and maybe Hangouts by Google (although that’s a lot less likely). But since 2013 there’s been another messaging tool out there called Telegram, which offers several key benefits over its more commercial competitors . Here’s what you need to know. Privacy first Telegram prides itself on not taking any money from advertisers, so that means the conversations you have using its service do not get passed along to corporations looking to sell you something – unlike Facebook and WhatsApp.  Additionally, Telegram provides two levels of encryption – server/client for all open chats and end-to-end encryption for “Secret Chats” (see below). The first level of encryption is actually not as robust as the general chat feature on WhatsApp, which encrypts all communications from one user to another directly.  But Telegram truly shines with its “Secret Chat” feature . While this feature ...

Even though Macs have a reputation for security, the number of malware attacks on Macs surpassed those on Windows machines for the first time in 2020 , according to an article in Vox . So there goes the idea that if you have a Mac, you don’t have to worry about installing software to protect it. The fact is, hackers have gotten more devious in sidestepping the inbuilt protections in all our computers, so having an extra level of security – for Macs and PCs – is just plain smart . AntiVirus for Mac from trusted software developer TrendMicro delivers this protection and much, much more . Get TrendMicro AntiVirus for Mac here.  Disclosure: Our team is always looking for things we think our readers will value. We have received compensation for publishing this article. Don’t be held hostage   As with all antivirus software products out there, TrendMicro’s product will alert you when it finds malware on your Mac or when you attempt to download a potentially troublesome file. ...

Free software usually comes with a catch. The programs are typically only usable for a certain number of days, have limited functionality, embed watermarks, or otherwise build in limits that eventually lead you to upgrade to the full version. When it comes to LibreOffice, however, what you get is a full, unrestricted software suite that can easily replace Microsoft Office and save you a bundle in the process. What is it? LibreOffice is a collection of open-source software programs to help with general office productivity. Downloads are available for Mac OS, Windows, and Linux, and each download includes six programs: Writer (word processor); Calc (spreadsheets); Impress (slide shows); Draw (vector graphics creator); Math (formula builder); and Base (database builder). How does it work? Launch LibreOffice and arrive at the “Start Center,” which lists available programs along the left edge, and has a large field on the right into which you can drag a document and get to work. So you ...

Typically, when you download free software, it tends to have limited functionality. Either it’s not very robust or it is missing key features that are only available with an upgrade. Audacity audio editing software is the exception to that rule. With a feature set that rivals larger, costlier programs, it is a powerful tool to mix, edit and convert a multitude of audio files. Loading files Getting files into Audacity is a straightforward affair. You can either open an existing file on your desktop, or you can use your computer’s microphone to record new audio content. You can also import files through a mixing board. Each file you load or open appears as a waveform across the screen. You then have the option of playing them together, merging them or editing them as you need. Audacity can handle a wide range of audio files including: WAV, AIFF, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, MP3 and MP2. An optional plug-in library opens the support to AC3, AMR(NB), M4A, MP4 and non-DRM-protected WMA files. Not o...