How-To Geek

Marvel Successfully Argued In Court That The X-Men Were Mutants In Order To What?

1. Dodge Import Taxes
2. Ban Copycat Products
3. Protect Trademarks
4. Establish The Mutant Registration Act

Think you know the answer?

HAKINMHAN/Shutterstock.com

Several days ago, a hacker put 617 million accounts from 16 different websites for sale on the dark web. Now, the same hacker is offering 127 million more records from another eight websites.

As TechCrunch reports, the eight new websites are:

Houzz (57 million), YouNow (40 million), Ixigo (18 million), Stronghold Kingdoms (5 million), Roll20 (4 million), Ge.tt (1.8 million), PetFlow (1 million), Coinmama (450,000)

The hacker is selling all the data together for about $14,500 worth of Bitcoin. Anyone who has that much cash can buy it.

If you have an account on any of these websites—or any of the other websites that have been compromised—you’ll want to change your password right now. The same is true if you used a password on one of these websites and reused it elsewhere. That’s why you shouldn’t reuse passwords across multiple websites. We recommend using a password manager to remember all those strong, unique passwords for you.

RELATED: Change Your Passwords: 617 Million Accounts Were Stolen Across 16 Different Sites

Windows 10’s April 2019 Update brings a long-awaited feature: Support for easily accessing, viewing, and even modifying Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) files from File Explorer or via the command line.

Previously, it was possible to find your Linux files in your AppData folder, but Microsoft warns against that. Modifying files here would break things. Now, there’s an easier, official way to access these files with Windows tools—without the risk of breaking anything!

Microsoft’s Craig Loewen explains how it works: Rather than accessing these files directly, Windows runs a Plan 9 server as part of the WSL software in the background. Windows 10 has “a Windows service and driver that acts as the client and talks to the Plan9 server.” That server translates your file operations and handles Linux metadata such as file permissions, ensuring everything works properly even when you access a file with a Windows tool. But that’s just the complicated stuff that happens in the background, and you don’t have to think about it.

You can open a File Explorer window directly in the current directory from within a Linux shell environment. Just type the following command into the Bash shell:

explorer.exe .

You can work with files normally from here. Use drag and drop, copy and paste them, or even open them directly in Windows applications to modify them.

Microsoft

Microsoft may change how this works in the future. But, for now, you can also type following path into an Explorer window to access a Linux distribution’s files:

\\wsl$\<running_distro_name>\

In other words, if you’re running Ubuntu’s Bash shell, you’d type:

\\wsl$\Ubuntu\

This also works from the command line, of course. In PowerShell or the Command Prompt, the command cd \\wsl$\Debian\ changes to the root directory of your installed Debian system.

Microsoft

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If you need to total values in a Word table, you can do so without breaking out the calculator or entering the data into Excel and then copying it back. Word can do simple calculations such as summing, multiplying, and averaging.

Let’s say you have a table something like the following. You have the units sold and the per unit cost, and you want to multiply those to get a total.

Start by placing your insertion point into the blank top cell in the “Total” column.

Next, switch to the new “Layout” tab that appears toward the right end of the Ribbon (there’s a separate Layout tab just for tables) and then click the “Formula” button.

 

In this example, we are going to multiply the value in the “Units” column by the value in the “Unit Cost” column. To do this, type the following into the “Formula” field to multiply the values in the two cells to the left of the current cell:

=PRODUCT(LEFT)

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NVIDIA

We’ve made no secret of our love for NVIDIA’s SHIELD: it’s easily the best stand-alone streaming gadget around. If you still don’t have one, head over to Amazon for a great deal today.

The SHIELD, along with its minimalist remote and excellent controller (which isn’t always included), is going for just $107 plus the cost of shipping. To my location, that all comes out to a bit under $115. That’s a savings of $85 on the set-top box and controller combo and an impressive $65 off the SHIELD alone.

Note that, with NVIDIA’s excellent record of software and functionality updates, the SHIELD makes a great gift even if you have to sit on it for the better part of a year. Though it often goes on sale, it’s pretty rare that the discount gets this steep.

Buy on Amazon

Have you been holding off on that Nintendo Switch for months? Well, Nintendo isn’t about to reduce the price of the Switch, but the company is offering a $35 eShop credit with new console purchases on Amazon.

Nintendo isn’t known for slapping big discounts on games or consoles. The company refuses to sell a Switch for less than $300, and first-party games seem to be perpetually stuck at the $60 mark. But that’s what makes this $35 eShop credit so sweet.

When you buy a new game console, you have to grab some new games (otherwise, there’s no point). A free $35 eShop credit is, essentially, a fat discount on a copy of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Super Mario Odyssey.

Now, some of you keen gamers may be thinking about the Nintendo Switch bundles, don’t those come with a free game? Well, those bundles usually cost more than $360, and some of them have become collectors items that go for more than $400. The $35 eShop credit is actually a much better deal.

Buy on Amazon

Nest

If you just need a simple Wi-Fi cam that can capture video, then there are plenty of options available. However, if you want one that has facial recognition, the list gets much shorter. The good news is that there are still some great options to choose from.

Face Detection vs. Facial Recognition

Before we go over some options, it’s important to know the difference between face detection and facial recognition, because you’ll see both of these terms used in the description of Wi-Fi cams when you go look at the features. They may seem like the same thing, but one is far superior.

Face detection is when cameras can differentiate a person from another object. So while cameras can still detect motion for cars, animals, trees, and more, they can also specifically detect a person, which can be extremely valuable to the homeowner.

Facial recognition takes this a step further and not only detects a person, but can also detect who that person is, specifically. So with a little help from the user and after a few weeks of learning, the camera can eventually know who came to your door, whether it was the postal worker or your neighbor.

With that said, if this is the kind of feature you’re yearning for, here are the best Wi-Fi cams that have facial recognition technology available.

Nest Cam IQ ($299) Nest

Perhaps the best all-around option for a Wi-Fi cam with facial recognition is the Nest Cam IQ. It detect specific people and it even doubles as a Google Home of sorts.

The camera itself can record 1080p HDR video and has a 130-degree field of view. It also has night vision capabilities, and has a speaker and microphones built in for two-way talk. That same speaker and microphone array is also used with Google Assistant, so the camera has a built-in Google Home Mini.

As for the facial recognition, you’ll need to pay for Nest Aware, which is a subscription service that starts at $5/month. This will give you the facial recognition feature that makes it possible to detect specific people. Nest Aware will also give you 24/7 continuous recording and up to 30 days of video storage.

Buy Now Netatmo Welcome ($199) Netatmo

A slightly cheaper option is the Netatmo Welcome, which comes with a smaller sensor than the Nest Cam IQ, but can still do 1080p video and facial recognition.

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Samsung

High-end Android tablets are thin on the ground these days. Though Apple is all-in on the iPad Pro, Google has abandoned its Nexus and Pixel slate designs, and NVIDIA gives the SHIELD no love. Samsung is picking up the slack.

That said, even the Galaxy Tab S5e is less bodacious than some of Samsung’s earlier Android-powered tablets. At $400 for the Wi-Fi model it’s not competing with either the iPad Pro or the high-end Surface line, instead making its consumption-focused design much more attainable. The highlight of the spec sheet is certainly the 10.5-inch, 2560×1600 OLED screen—still a rarity outside of the phone market. That will make for rich, vibrant colors and deep contrast.

Samsung

But elsewhere the specs are oddly muted. The S5e is powered by a mid-range Snapdragon 670 processor, and it gets just 4 GB of RAM in its base 64 GB configuration (an upgraded 6 GB/128 GB version will be available). Cameras are 13 megapixels on the rear and 8 on the front, and as is Samsung’s wont, it’s packing a MicroSD card slot for easy storage expansion. The battery is a generous 7040 milliamp-hours, recharged via USB-C.

There’s no pen or stylus built-in, but an optional keyboard case (connected via proprietary POGO plugs) will let you bang out emails or work on your screenplay if you’d like to travel without a heavy laptop. Samsung’s Dex software, when combined with a dock, monitor, keyboard, and/or mouse, gives you an approximation of a desktop experience.

At just 400 grams (a little less than .9 pounds) and 5 mm thick, the Tab S5e is shockingly light, and it will be much easier to throw in a bag or purse. And, as if it mattered these days, it runs Android 9.0 and Samsung’s new “One” user interface out of the box. The tablet has a vague “Q2” launch window and will be available in black, grey, or gold color options.

Source: Samsung

The situation with iCloud storage would be funny if it wasn’t so ridiculous, and we’ve already made our feelings clear on whether Apple should offer more storage for free. But if you really must pay, why not save some money?

Even though Apple’s pricing of iCloud storage has improved, that doesn’t excuse the fact that it should be offering more of it for free, and there’s a school of thought that it should give away enough to fully back up any iPhone or iPad they sell. That’s problematic in many ways, not least the fact that with iPhone sales slowing, Apple is relying more than ever on its services as a way of making money.

It’s true that Apple’s iCloud storage pricing is more competitive than some, but that doesn’t excuse it from offering a paltry 5 GB of storage when it’s sat on Scrooge McDuck levels of cash. It’s for that reason that we have no qualms about sharing a couple of ways you might be able to save some money, should you absolutely need some more storage for your photos etc.

So with that said, let’s get started.

Buy Discounted Gift Cards

Apple has sold App Store and iTunes gift cards for many years, and despite the names, they’re ostensibly the same. No matter what it’s called, the card’s balance is ultimately added to your Apple ID which in turn means that you can use it for purchasing any of Apple’s services or software products. That means you can buy apps, music, or even pay for an in-app subscription if you like. And you can even pay for more iCloud storage, too.

That in itself isn’t going to save you any money, but big stores sometimes put iTunes gift cards on sale for a discount, so there may be an opportunity for saving a few dollars here and there. Remember, every little bit helps.

How Much Storage Do You Really Need?

Sometimes we’re all guilty of panic buying. Storage is one area where that can creep up, especially if you’re not really sure how much space you need. It can sometimes be easier to just pay for the highest storage tier just to never have to worry about storage again, but if you don’t quite need that much, you can save a few dollars per month by making sure you’re on the right tier.

Head into Settings, followed by tapping your name at the top of the screen.

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Instagram is probably our favorite social network here at How-To Geek. We always want our photos to look their best, so I did the research. Here’s how to make your images look as good as possible on Instagram.

RELATED: Why Your Facebook Photos Look So Bad (And What You Can Do About It)

Instagram, like Facebook, resizes and compresses your images to match their guidelines. While the algorithms seem less aggressive than with Facebook (which makes sense because Instagram is primarily a photo sharing network), it’s still better to do as much resizing and cropping as possible yourself—blunt algorithms tend to be a bit heavy handed.

Instagram supports images that are up to 1080px wide and between 566px and 1350px tall. That is, crop ratios between 1.91:1 (a wide landscape crop) and 4:5 (a square-ish portrait crop).

Anything between these two ratios is good too—they’re just the maximum values. If your image is wider, it will be resized to fit 1080px wide. Similarly, if the crop falls outside the accepted ratios, like say, a 2:3 portrait image, you are forced to crop it to 4:5.

Instagram doesn’t publish any file size guidelines but, after playing around, I found that most of my photos were compressed to JPEGs between 150 kb and 190 kb. Again, this kind of makes sense: under 200 kb is a pretty standard file size for web use.

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Body pillows are great for a number of reasons—from easing back pain to simply making you feel supported and comfortable in bed. We’ve got the best body pillows for you here.

Ever found that hugging a pillow helps your posture in bed? Or that it just feels nice to be snuggled up against a heavy object? That’s where the concept of body pillows comes into its own. Rather than using a conventional body pillow to facilitate such needs, you can buy a dedicated pillow that’s just the right size and weight to support you as you sleep. They’re great for people who struggle with back or neck pain, as well as pregnant women, and those just looking for some comfort. Here’s our pick of the bunch for every scenario.

Best Overall: Snuggle-Pedic Memory Foam Full Body Pillow ($70) Snuggle-Pedic

The Snuggle-Pedic Memory Foam Full Body Pillow is the best one size fits all body pillow out there. It’s made from shredded memory foam so it never goes flat and always feels snug to your body. Its cover is extra breathable and micro-vented with 43% viscose of bamboo, 56.4% polyester, and 0.6% lycra to keep you cool and comfy all night long. Its material is hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant too so there’s no worries there.

Size wise, it’s a bulky 20 x 54 so it supports you as you sleep on your side, stomach or even in between. Weighing about 7lb, it’s just the right weight for most people too, without being overly cumbersome to move around. It’s a great all-rounder for most people’s needs.

Buy on Amazon Best Premium Body Pillow: Moonlight Slumber Comfort U Total Body ($100) Moonlight Slumber

Want a body pillow that covers your whole body? The Moonlight Slumber Comfort U Total Body is that body pillow. It’s far from cheap, but it’s fantastic if you need something huge. It helps align your hips, neck, shoulders, and back, all while regulating your body temperature via the material it uses.

It’s definitely not something you can easily use while sharing a bed with someone, but it is great if you’ve struggled with joint pain. It’s made from premium synergic down and it’s hypoallergenic as well as odorless. Its stuffing is made from a fancy sounding material known as ‘extended polymer’ so that air flows freely through the material without losing its shape. For a premium solution, this is it.

Buy on Amazon Best For Allergy Sufferers: Aller-Ease Cotton Hypoallergenic ($20) Aller-Ease

Others listed here are good for people with allergies but we reckon the Aller-Ease Cotton Hypoallergenic is the best of the bunch. Aimed specifically at people with household allergens, its materials work hard at preventing the build-up of dust mites. The pillow is stuffed with a hypoallergenic polyester fill that offers complete barrier protection against dust, pollen, pet dander, and other common household allergens.

In addition, it’s made from 100% cotton so air passes through the fabric so you’re kept cool and comfortable at night. It forms an ideal combination of factors that means if allergies are a problem for you then this is the solution. It’s also a sturdy size at 20″ x 54″ so it supports your hips, back, neck, and stomach without any difficulty.

Buy on Amazon Best Heavy Body Pillow: Triple Cloud Body Pillow ($40) Triple Cloud

A heavier than average body pillow is useful if you’re someone that’s liable to toss the pillow around in the night, or simply want to feel extra secure. The Triple Cloud Body Pillow isn’t quite as heavy as the Moonlight Slumber but it’s a more practical size for moving in the morning. It’s still a hefty 18 x 54 size and it weighs nearly 7.5lb. The pillow is made from shredded memory foam with bamboo-derived rayon so it never goes flat.

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Chromebooks are great for anyone who uses them: they turn on in an instant, have great battery life, and updating them is a breeze. But, the day will come when your Chromebook stops getting updates from Google. What do you do then?

Google is upfront with its update policy: you can see the exact month and year a Chromebook or Chromebox will stop receiving updates. Most Chromebooks still have a long life ahead of them, but Google has started cutting off some of the oldest models already. If you have one of the older Chromebooks, you’ll need to start thinking about what to do when the updates stop coming.

Option One: Buy a New Chromebook

This one’s a bit obvious, but it’s worth stating: when your current Chromebook stops getting updates, the best thing you can probably do is buy a newer device. In addition to getting security updates for the next several years, you’ll also make a big leap when it comes to processing power, memory, and battery life, meaning your new Chromebook will be more enjoyable to use.

Chromebooks made in the past two years also have access to Android applications through the Google Play Store, as well as Linux applications. Of course, you can keep using the new Chromebook as a simple web browser, but newer models give you a few more productivity options. Here are our favorite Chromebooks.

RELATED: The Best Chromebooks You Can Buy, 2018 Edition

Option Two: Install Other Linux Distributions

Chrome OS is built on top of the Linux kernel, which is why newer models can install Linux applications. It also means that users can install Ubuntu and other Linux distributions. There are a few problems you may run into with installing other versions of Linux, but overall, it’s a great way to give your Chromebook a new life.

RELATED: How to Install Ubuntu Linux on Your Chromebook with Crouton

Option Three: Install CloudReady by Neverware

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New Apple and Samsung phones use infrared light to verify your identity. It’s like a hands-free version of the fingerprint scanner. But can the infrared lights used for Face ID and Iris Scanner hurt your eyes?

It’s a fair question. People don’t know much about infrared light, and it’s hard to find information that explains the potential risks of infrared in layman’s terms. Not to mention, Samsung’s safety disclaimer for the Iris Scanner makes infrared sound kind of scary. But what is infrared, and should we be worried about it?

What is Infrared?

Infrared (IR) is a form of invisible radiation, and it occupies the lower end of the electromagnetic spectrum. Like visible light, microwaves, and radio waves, IR is a form of non-ionizing radiation. It doesn’t strip molecules of their electrons, and it doesn’t cause cancer.

It’s important to know that IR radiation can come from a lot of places. In some ways, you could consider IR a natural byproduct of heat production. Your toaster emits IR light, the sun emits IR light, and campfires emit IR light. Interestingly enough, 95% of the energy produced by fluorescent bulbs is translated into IR. Even your fleshy, disgusting body emits IR light, and that’s how the heat-tracking cameras in spy movies work.

The IR-LED that’s built into your phone is classified as near IR (700–900 nm). It straddles the line between the visible light spectrum and the IR spectrum. Near IR is very similar to visible light, it’s just a lot more difficult for you to see.

The radiation from both visible light and near IR light can heat objects, depending on light intensity and exposure time. Prolonged exposure to high-intensity IR and visible light (staring at the sun or a bright lightbulb) can cause your photoreceptors to bleach and your lens to develop cataracts. To experience vision loss with a low intensity visible or IR light, you would need to keep your eyes open within a millimeter of the light source for almost 20 minutes. This could happen with a light bulb or an IR-LED.

The main concern with near IR is simply the concentration of your exposure. With visible light, it’s easy to tell when you’re being exposed to a blinding amount, and your reflexes cause you to squint or look away. But your eyes aren’t built to see IR light, so it’s impossible to tell when you’re being exposed to a dangerous amount. You know how you’re not supposed to stare at an eclipse, even though it doesn’t seem that bright? It’s kind of like that.

Far IR radiation (25 – 350 µm) is invisible, and it isn’t used in your phone. Far IR radiation overlaps with microwaves on the electromagnetic spectrum, and like microwaves, far IR radiation causes water molecules to heat up. As you can imagine, prolonged exposure to far IR radiation can cause burns to the eyes and skin, but we don’t need to worry about that, because your phone only uses near IR radiation.

IR Scanning is Very Simple

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The Speed Of Electricity Was First Measured By What Method?

1. Electrocuting Horses
2. Shocking Monks with a Battery
3. Monitoring Telegraph Replies
4. Photographing Lightning

Think you know the answer?

Organizing files is something that few people would identify as fun, but there are some ways you can increase the enjoyment factor while also improving organization. One of those ways is tags; here’s how to use tags on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

If you’re unfamiliar with tags, you’re in for a treat. Adding colors and labels to files lets you easily identify them at a glance, as well as sort and search them in special ways, too. If you want to be able to see all red-tagged files across your entire project folder, no problem. If you’ve ever used tags to manage photos, to-dos, or anything else for that matter, you’ll be right at home here.

How to Tag files on iPad and iPhone

You’ll have to use the Files app to tag files on an iPhone or iPad. Files is the nearest thing to Mac’s Finder that we have in the world of iPhone and iPad. To get started, open the Files app.

You’ll be presented with a list of locations, including those on your device and in the cloud.

Next, tap and hold the file that you want to tag. You’ll notice a new row of options appear above it. Tap the right-pointing arrow to see more options.

Once it is visible, tap the “Tags” button.

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Does your dog’s breath smell like a public bathroom? It may be time to hunker down and invest in some doggy toothbrushes.

Oral hygiene is just as important for dogs as it is for humans. While dogs don’t eat nearly as much processed sugar and coffee as we do, they can still develop gum disease, plaque buildup, and tooth decay. Your dog’s breath may be more than a gross inconvenience—it could be a sign of a dirty, unhealthy mouth.

RELATED: The Best Dog Toothpastes to Fix Your Dog’s Bad Breath

Luckily, brushing your dog’s teeth isn’t too difficult. You just need a good dog-friendly toothpaste, a good toothbrush, and a touch of self-confidence. But every dog has different needs (and fears), so you can’t just shove the first toothbrush that you come across into your dog’s stinky mouth. You’ll want to consider your dog’s current oral health (unhealthy gums can become sensitive), and how obedient your dog is when a non-food item ends up in its mouth.

Lucky for you, we’ve taken the time to find the best doggy toothbrushes, for every mutt’s mouth.

Pet Republique 6 Handled Toothbrushes ($8)

Nothing beats the traditional toothbrush. It’s cheap, easy to use, and very effective. If your dog is happy to practice some oral hygiene, then you don’t need to reinvent the wheel, you can stick with the tried-and-true.

Pet Republique sells a set of 6 dog toothbrushes for just $8. These toothbrushes are double-sided, with a large brush on one end and a smaller brush on the other. They’re great for reaching far back into your dog’s mouth, and they should last you for a few months.

Buy on Amazon FOMATE Gentle Silicone Brush Kit ($10)

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Many of us have a favorite scent or fragrance to wear on a regular basis, but what about if you want to switch to something new or experiment? These fragrance subscription boxes are a great way of discovering new favorite perfumes at a low price.

Like other subscription boxes, the following fragrance collections allow you to pay a monthly sum in exchange for a selection of great smells and fragrances. It’s an inexpensive way of trying out some big name brands, as well as a way to discover more niche names that you might not usually consider. Plus, there’s the bonus of feeling like you’re receiving a great gift in the mail each month.

Here’s our pick of the best fragrance and perfume subscription boxes out there.

Best Overall: Scentbird ($14.95 per month) Scent Bird

For a one-stop solution to your fragrance cravings, Scent Bird is the place to go. Each month, you get to pick from over 450 designer and niche fragrances before receiving a 30 day supply of it that month. On the first order, you also get a free case for storing future fragrances in. The sprays are travel-friendly so you can easily toss them into your bag, saving you the need to make space for a bulky full bottle of perfume.

Brands include Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Prada, Michael Kors, and many other much loved favorites. If you’re not sure what you might like, the site has a recommendation engine that determines what your dream scent match should be, as well as offers ideas for specific occasions. You’re not tied into a contract, so you can always change the frequency in which you receive fragrances or the number you receive. It’s easy enough to skip or cancel so this works well as a fun treat rather than a commitment. It’s a no hassle introduction to the fragrance subscription box world.

Subscribe to Scent Bird Best For Choosy People: Scent Box ($14.95 per month) Scent Box

On the surface, Scent Box looks very similar to Scent Bird. The same price, you get to choose from an impressive array of over 850 designer fragrances and then receive a 30 day supply of the scent. It’s contained in a small atomizer bottle again, so you can easily place it in your bag to keep with you throughout the day.

So what makes Scent Box stand out even more so? Well, it offers free exchanges. If you don’t like what you’ve received, you can easily swap it for something else, entirely free. That’s a big advantage when you’re still experimenting and trying out what works for you. Sure, it might be something you only end up using a couple of times a year but when you’re paying special for something, it’s nice to have that extra level of control.

Subscribe to Scent Box Best Niche Choices: Olfactif ($20 per month) Olfactif

Olfactif is a little different from the others and proud of it. It focuses on providing niche perfumes and fragrances via its subscription box service. That means perfume that’s hard to find unless you live in a major city. We’re talking creative and original scents that just won’t smell like anything else you can buy in a regular store.

For many, that’s going to be super appealing. It’s good to be different, right? For $20 per month, you get a curated collection of 3 fragrances from around the world. Each spray vial contains more than 40 sprays. If you like what you’ve tried, you can buy a full bottle for between 10% and 20% off the full price. It’s all wrapped up in one of the most charming subscription boxes out there, with handwritten notes telling you all about the scents you’ve acquired. It’s a classy box for people that want to be a little different from the masses.

Subscribe to Olfactif Best For A Treat: Perfume Surprise ($24.99 per month) Perfume Surprise

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With the launch of the iPhone XS and XR last year, Apple has gone all-in on Face ID. And while there may be some users who miss the fingerprint sensor, I’m not one of them.

The latest batch of new iPhones that came out in September 2018 was the first not to include Touch ID at all. After owning my first Touch ID-less iPhone for several months now, I can’t say that I’m upset by this move from Apple.

Face ID Is So Much More Convenient

Touch ID is already pretty convenient—way more convenient than typing in a passcode every time—but Face ID takes it to a whole new level. It’s like Touch ID, but you don’t even have to scan your fingerprint.

Both techniques still require a bit of action on your part to unlock the phone and get to the home screen, but with Face ID it’s just a swipe up from the bottom. Whereas with Touch ID, you have to make sure to place your finger in a specific location on the phone and then wait for it to unlock.

In other words, you don’t even really have to think about unlocking your phone with Face ID. Instead, it just happens, and that’s the kind of convenience I’m after.

It’s More Accurate Than Touch ID Ever Was

Having used Face ID for a while now, I can say that the number of times it hasn’t recognize my face has been a lot less than the number of times Touch ID hasn’t recognized my fingerprint.

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You’ve worked hard on your spreadsheet. You don’t want anyone to mess it up. Fortunately, Excel provides some pretty good tools for preventing people from editing various parts of a workbook.

Protection in Excel is password-based and happens at three different levels.

• Workbook: You have a few options for protecting a workbook. You can encrypt it with a password to limit who can even open it. You can make the file open as read-only by default so that people have to opt into editing it. And you protect the structure of a workbook so that anyone can open it, but they need a password to rearrange, rename, delete, or create new worksheets.
• Worksheet: You can protect the data on individual worksheets from being changed.
• Cell: You can also protect just specific cells on a worksheet from being changed. Technically this method involves protecting a worksheet and then allowing certain cells to be exempt from that protection.

You can even combine the protection of those different levels for different effects.

Protect an Entire Workbook from Editing

You have three choices when it comes to protecting an entire Excel workbook: encrypt the workbook with a password, make the workbook read-only, or protect just the structure of a workbook.

Encrypt a Workbook with a Password

For the best protection, you can encrypt the file with a password. Whenever someone tries to open the document, Excel prompts them for a password first.

To set it up, open your Excel file and head to the File menu. You’ll see the “Info” category by default. Click the “Protect Workbook” button and then choose “Encrypt with Password” from the dropdown menu.

In the Encrypt Document window that opens, type your password and then click “OK.”

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Michael Crider

Historically, vertical mice have been made for carpal tunnel and RSI sufferers. They’ve been functional, but clinical, lacking some of the features of more modern designs. Logitech’s MX Vertical aims to buck that trend—and succeeds.

Thoughtful choices in both hardware and software allow the MX Vertical to serve all the functions of a vertical ergonomic mouse, while still packing most of the bells and whistles that make Logitech’s high-end mice favorites among power users.

It doesn’t hurt that the thing looks like a postmodern sculpture when it sits on your desk. The design is just short of perfect, and it gets an easy recommendation for anyone who wants a comfy, functional mouse that conforms to you like a friendly handshake.

Family Resemblance

You’re probably familiar with the MX Master, Logitech’s top-of-the-line conventional mouse. We’ve already reviewed its trackball variant, the MX Ergo, and I happen to have the original to compare it to as well. Suffice it to say: they’re all pretty fantastic mice. The MX Vertical takes the smooth, premium looks of those mice and rotates them by 90 degrees.

Left to right: the original MX Master, MX Vertical, MX Ergo trackball. Michael Crider

Well, fifty-seven degrees, if we want to be exact. The MX Vertical smoothly contracts and curves up to its top edge, a striking flat oval with the still-confusing “Logi” branding on one side and a thumb button on the other. We’ll get to that button in a bit, but first: the thing just looks fantastic. And that’s no small accomplishment, considering that vertical mice like the Evoluent have a tendency to look like amorphous blobs of plastic.

Soft-touch material is everywhere your hand rests, and the back curves into your palm with an appealing wave pattern. A wide lip at the bottom of the grip keeps your hand off of your mousepad. At the time of writing, Logitech only offers the mouse in a grey-and-darker-grey color scheme.

Michael Crider

Logitech told me that a focus of the MX Vertical was to give it the same premium look as its other MX hardware, on the basis that customers who need a design that lowers RSI stress don’t necessarily want a mouse that looks like a piece of medical equipment. That attention to detail shows. Different as the mouse is from conventional design, it won’t look out of place on a designer desk or hanging out with MacBooks and Surfaces.

Hardware Covers The Basics

Extending our look past the, well, looks, the hardware in the MX Vertical is fairly basic. You get standard left and right mouse buttons, a regular clicky wheel, and two thumb buttons set to forward and back by default. Oddly, there’s no hidden button where you thumb rests for gestures or other functions. I was expecting one, as that button is present on the MX Master and my M720 Triathlon. Perhaps it was left out after ergonomic testing.

Michael Crider

The battery is rechargeable and—a nice, forward-looking touch—gets its juice via a USB-C port on the front. That’s something the older MX Ergo and MX Master don’t get. The battery on my mouse went down to 50% after a week of testing, which is in line with Logitech’s longevity claims. One minute on the charger gives you three hours of wireless use.

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