Fortunately, turning off a vacation auto-reply and preventing new replies from being sent is even easier than setting it up was in iCloud Mail. (If you thought of a particularly clever and useful text for your auto-reply, you need not remember or save it elsewhere; iCloud Mail will keep it for the next time you want it to mail automatic replies.) Example Vacation Auto-Response For example, you may have a vacation auto-responder set up that sends reply emails stating “I will be out of the office until January 2....

Depending on the specific home theater receiver, video connection options may include HDMI, Component Video, S-Video, or Composite Video. However, does that mean that you are required to connect all your video source signals (such as VCR, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, and cable/satellite) to your home theater receiver? The answer depends on the capabilities of your home theater receiver and how you want your home theater system to be organized. If you prefer, you can bypass the home theater receiver for routing video signals and instead connect the video signal source device directly to your TV or video projector....

What You’ll Need Before You Begin Depending on the complexity of the job, you’re likely to need: Wire strippersSoldering iron or crimping toolDigital multimeter (or a test light in a pinch)Solder or butt connectorsProperly sized gauge wireElectrical tape or heat shrink Check the Circuits Use a wiring diagram (if you have one) to find the wires to connect your new equipment. Use a digital multimeter (DMM) to check that you have the right wires, check the circuit polarity, and verify the proper voltage....

Multimeter A multimeter’s measurement flexibility combined with its precision and accuracy makes multimeters a useful tool in any electronics lab. Multimeters measure both AC and DC voltage and current as well as resistance. Multimeters are often used in troubleshooting designs and testing prototype circuits. Multimeter accessories include transistor testing modules, temperature sensor probes, high voltage probes, and probe kits. Multimeters are available for as little as $10 and can run several thousand for a high-accuracy, high-precision benchtop unit....

While any Qi-certified wireless charger can provide basic charging speeds, the best wireless chargers are not only widely compatible, but also deliver the fastest charging speeds for your iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, or other Android smartphone. After all, one of the benefits of wireless charging it being able to simply drop your smartphone down for a quick top-up, and in that case, you want to get as much power into it as quickly as you can....

Facebook continues to deal with fallout over its decision to allow right-wing activists and militia groups to organize counter-protests on the platform in response to the most recent Jacob Blake BLM uprising in Kenosha, Wisconsin. In response, non-binary software engineer Ashok Chandwaney resigned from the company, citing Facebook’s continued failure to curb hate and the spread of violent rhetoric. “I’m quitting because I can no longer stomach contributing to an organization that is profiting off hate in the US and globally,” they wrote in their resignation letter published by The Washington Post....

The new AI-powered tool is called Conflict Alerts and is meant to help group administrators have more control over their communities. The AI tech will notify an admin if it spots “contentious or unhealthy conversations” so an admin can take needed action quicker. For the average Facebook user, this new tool means you’ll most likely see less bickering and arguments within posts of Groups you follow, so things will be less negative, overall....

What Causes Bad TV Antenna Reception? The antenna may have difficulty picking up your favorite stations over the air for several reasons. The causes mostly come down to the basic idea that the signals reaching the device aren’t strong enough. You may be too far from the broadcast location, or something physically blocks the signals. The antenna could be in a less-than-ideal place or facing the wrong direction. Or, in some cases, the antenna might not be strong enough....

Fortunately, there are cataloging software tools you can use to quickly build up a searchable database. The following free software programs have been selected for their use in archived digital music collections, but can also be used for other types of media. It even includes a playlist generator that negates the need to have any music files already on your hard disk. This can save heaps of time when your media files may be hidden away in an archive file....

The company showed off some of the nifty features that will be included with the headset in an official YouTube video. The biggest new tool? Project Cambria headsets will support a full-color and highly-detailed pass-through. For comparison’s sake, current Meta Quest 2 headsets only offer an extremely grainy black and white pass-through for viewing the real world during use. The emphasis on that full-color pass-through leads us to the next Cambria innovation, a robust suite of mixed reality applications....

Considerations in Choosing Wireless Speakers The quality of wireless speakers varies depending on the model. While cheaply-made ones often sound tinny and distorted, higher-end models can deliver good audio quality. Better-made units also last longer. Other characteristics of good wireless speakers include: Compatibility: Capable of connecting to a range of other devices via industry-standard technologies.Portability: Lightweight enough to move from location to location, with good battery life (for battery-powered ones).Style: Aesthetic appeal....

What’s this? There are two ways to work with more than one app at a time on iPad, called Slide Over and Split View. Slide Over puts a second app in a dismissible column on the right or left side of your iPad screen, while Split View puts two regular-style apps next to each other on the same screen. How to get it: iPad multitasking for Google apps is on by default, and is available immediately for all regular and G Suite app users....

Apple has very few forced schedules these days. Now that it controls all the hardware and software in its devices, it can release things when they’re ready and not before. Except the iPhone. Apple announces a new version of its biggest moneymaker every September, and along with it comes the latest version of iOS and iPadOS, ready or not. This year, Apple has decided that iPadOS 16 needs more time and will most likely release it along with this year’s version of macOS in October....

A recent announcement from Google explains that the company has launched a new website to help schools begin or enhance their own Chromebook repairs. According to Google, knowing what devices can be repaired has been a sticking point for some IT administrators, and its new program should address that problem. While many schools already have Chromebook repair programs or even computer repair classes, Google has created its own Best Practices guide for beginning such a program and to encourage and assist with the creation of more programs....

Google is launching a Maps feature to make it easier for users to see wildfires. The new wildfire layer on Maps will show most major fires, and those demanding evacuations, around the world. It’s one of an increasing number of apps aimed at warning people of wildfires as the threat grows. “Knowing that a fire is just behind a ridge or above on the hills is very important information,” Albert Simeoni, a professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute who researches wildland fire behavior and impact, told Lifewire in an email interview....

The thick plastic frames look pretty cool, and they have one killer feature: real-time transcription, and translation, of the world around you. Instead of trying to be an all-purpose computer, like a cellphone, and squeeze every possible function into a wearable device, these AR Translation glasses are focused on one task. The reality of battery life and connectivity might take a while to catch up, and privacy-wise, these are a nightmare, but the core premise is excellent and easy to understand....

The move to make 2FA default was introduced back in May and has been steadily making headway. The company also will require 2 million YouTube creators to turn on 2FA to access its Studio website to boost security. Chrome Password Manager also is becoming available for iOS, giving those users new security features like auto-filling passwords, according to a post on Google’s Safety & Security blog, The Keyword. For users who can’t enable 2FA, Google is working on a new technology that offers a similar secure authentication process....

Security firm Avast has reported that torrent downloads of popular PC games such as NBA 2K19, GTA V, and Far Cry 5 are being used to install “mining malware” on gamers’ PCs. The malware, which Avast refers to as “Crackonosh,” takes advantage of Windows Safe mode to skirt around antivirus software. It then disables system security features in order to make itself more difficult to detect or remove. One major red flag to look out for is your PC unexpectedly restarting in Safe Mode, which Avast notes could take several restarts after installing the infected downloads....

The metaverse concept is a shared virtual platform that people can use to move through digital environments. At the moment, you can think of Horizon Worlds as a casual multiplayer game with the potential to be much more. The software requires a Facebook account and lets you hang out with up to 20 people at a time in a virtual space. You can zip between different “worlds” within the software by clicking your controller....

No one expected the Berlin-based software company to launch a new mobile app last week, let alone something so focused and polished. If you’re expecting a touchscreen version of the Ableton Live digital audio workstation (DAW), then you—like many serial music-forum complainers—will be disappointed. But if you want somewhere to quickly sketch out your musical ideas on the go, then move them into Live later, you’re in for a huge—and inexpensive—treat....