AliasesSymbolic linksHard links All three types of links are shortcuts to an original file system object. A file system object is usually a file on your Mac, but it can also be a folder, a drive, or a networked device. Overview of Aliases, Symbolic Links, and Hard Links Shortcut links are small files that reference another file object. When the system encounters a shortcut link, it reads the file, which contains information about where the original object is located, and then proceeds to open that object....

I’m a scribbler by nature and a fan of paper notebooks, but inked missives seem always to get lost. Moleskins get misplaced, and I’m usually at my computer, so I am still looking for an excellent digital replacement. Perhaps the most surprising thing about Journal is that it’s a product of Microsoft. The software giant is known for bloated applications, puzzling interfaces, and more features than are useful for users....

In the era of smart homes and digital assistants, rudimentary weather apps feel very last century. Today, personal weather stations are becoming a popular addition to the increasingly interconnected modern home. This market is brimming with options at the moment, ranging from serviceable budget systems to multi-instrument meteorological beasts. We recently curated a piece on the best weather stations you can buy and in this review, we take a closer look at one of the best designs out there, the Netatmo Personal Weather Station....

Netflix has rolled out its new approach to Categories, which is intended to make it easier for people to find something to watch when they may not have something specific in mind. While the previous horizontal column is full of genre image thumbnails, the new design switches it to a vertical orientation and drops the thumbnails entirely. It’s also located in the left-hand menu now, rather than being part of the main page that you have to scroll through to find....

Wireless routers technically allow dozens of computers to connect over Wi-Fi links. Nearly any residential wireless router can support the number of wireless devices found in most homes. Many (but not all) wireless network routers also allow up to four wired devices to be connected using an Ethernet cable. When installing this kind of home network, one computer should be cabled to the wireless router temporarily to allow for the initial configuration of the wireless features....

Apple recently redesigned iCloud with a more colorful and modern look, as first reported by MacRumors. The page now has an iOS-looking layout with tiles for your Apple ID account and Apple apps like Photos, Mail, iCloud Drive, Calendar, and Notes. “Apple has made iCloud a central online hub so that each Apple user can find all their data in one place,” Natalie Boese, a digital organization expert, told Lifewire via email....

In this guide, we’re going to benchmark how well Windows 7 performs as a guest OS using Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac. We chose Windows 7 for a few reasons, one of which was that it’s available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions, and it was used to benchmark comparisons between Parallels, VMWare’s Fusion, and Oracle’s Virtual Box. With Windows 7 installed, along with our two favorite cross-platform benchmarking tools (Geekbench and CINEBENCH), we’re ready to find out which settings have the most effect on guest OS performance....

This tool can scan and list all programs you have on your system that you might want to remove, and it can delete some programs automatically so that you don’t even have to click through an uninstallation wizard. You can download it for free on Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows XP, and Windows 2000. PC Decrapifier Features Here are some other features: Walks you through a wizard so you can easily see which programs it recommends removing, can be removed automatically, and those you can remove manually....

To see if that’s the case, we put PC Matic 3 through its paces with a variety of hands-on testing and in-depth research. Design: The Ghost of Antivirus Past PC Matic doesn’t give a great first impression. Its interface is extremely antiquated, with huge, chunky buttons and a style that feels like it was left behind by modern software design years ago. You have to sit through a short, but obstructive loading screen when transitioning between any menus....

Apple’s new Digital Legacy program coming in iOS 15.2 allows you to choose up to five people as Legacy Contacts. After you die, the survivors you name can access your data and personal information stored in iCloud. “Apple is acknowledging here that many of our most valued assets are now digital,” Aaron Perzanowski, a law professor at Case Western Reserve University and the author of a book on digital survivorship called “The End of Ownership,” told Lifewire in an email interview....

When Was the PSP Release Date? First released by Sony in Japan in 2004, the PSP was considered the most powerful portable video game console when it was first introduced. It received several model refreshes before being replaced by the PlayStation Vita in 2011. While all of Sony’s PSPs had—with the exception of the PSPgo—basically the same form factor, there are some important differences. Here’s a rundown of each device, and the PlayStation Vita, with links to detailed specs....

New Pokémon Snap is an interactive trip to a fantasy zoo, where you take only photos and leave only footprints. Instead of trying to fight and capture every wild animal that wanders into your direct line of sight, you’re a well-meaning assistant at an ecology lab whose job is to find and document every Pokémon on a series of isolated islands. This is the first game I’ve played in quite a while where I wished it had less plot....

What Is a POTX File? A file with the POTX file extension is a Microsoft PowerPoint Open XML Template file used to maintain the same layout, text, styles, and formatting across multiple PPTX files. Like Microsoft’s other Open XML files (e.g., PPTM, DOCX, XLSX), the POTX format uses a combination of XML and ZIP to structure and compress its data. Prior to Microsoft Office 2007, PowerPoint used the POT file format to create similar PPT files....

PSVR 2 Release Date The PSVR 2 will launch on February 22, 2023. Price The PSVR 2 will be $549.99. It includes the headset, controllers, and stereo headphones. Pre-Order Information Customers in the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg can pre-order PlayStation VR2 through PlayStation’s online store. Orders will ship throughout the launch week. PSVR 2 Features Sony revealed some details about the PlayStation VR2 in early 2022. It adds a “true next-gen experience with high-fidelity visuals, new sensory features, and enhanced tracking – along with a simplified single-cord setup....

Researchers have announced a breakthrough in quantum batteries that could eventually revolutionize how gadgets perform. Quantum batteries could be smaller and charge faster than current batteries. The new technology is just one way that the battery industry is poised for a rethink. “From a purely functional perspective, we want lighter gadgets with more storage, and new battery tech could afford us both,” Mark Falinski, an environmental sustainability scientist who was not part of the recent study, told Lifewire in an email interview....

Last week, the FBI warned that hackers could be targeting the healthcare and public health sector with ransomware. Such an assault could shut down hospitals that are already under strain from the coronavirus. Health centers have not prepared sufficiently for such attacks, experts say. “We found that 66% of hospitals do not meet the minimum security requirements as outlined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST),” Caleb Barlow, CEO of CynergisTek, a cybersecurity firm focusing on healthcare, said in an email interview....

Check Point Research announced that it had found a security hole in Qualcomm’s MSM modem chip software that some malicious apps could exploit. Researchers said the vulnerability is present in about 40% of smartphones running Android, including those from Samsung, Google, and LG. A Qualcomm spokesperson responded to the report with the following statement to Lifewire: “Providing technologies that support robust security and privacy is a priority for Qualcomm. We commend the security researchers from Check Point for using industry-standard coordinated disclosure practices....

A recruitment professional from the start, Lindsey always has loved being able to provide people opportunities, especially when it comes to jobs. Despite relishing his work, however, he felt there was a missing piece at certain companies—being able to have a voice. “Being a Black queer man in tech, we’re very few and in between, and I wasn’t really afforded the opportunity to be a part of conversations that could excel recruitment,” Lindsey told Lifewire in a phone interview....

Rise & Fall: Civilizations At War Gameplay Gameplay for Rise & Fall: Civilizations At War is primarily that of a real-time strategy game. Players control one of four ancient civilizations: Egypt, Greece, Persia, and Rome. Each civilization has approximately 20 unique units. There are four types of resources you can collect to build up your civilizations. Wood and gold are used to construct buildings, train units, and develop upgrades. The other two resources, glory and stamina, are earned during gameplay actions....

Roku has rapidly become one of the biggest players in the smart TV space since launching back in 2008. Over the last several years, the company has continued to stay relevant by revamping its platform and releasing a stream of new products. One new product they’ve recently put out is their Roku Smart Soundbar—a device that not only provides enhanced audio quality for your entertainment experience, but also smart TV features without the need for extra hardware....