What Is a PNG File? A PNG file is a Portable Network Graphics file. The format uses lossless compression and is generally considered the replacement to the GIF image format. However, unlike GIF, PNG files don’t support animations. The very similar MNG (Multiple-image Network Graphics) format does, but it has yet to gain the kind of popularity that GIF or PNG files have. PNG files store graphics on websites. Some operating systems such as macOS and Ubuntu store screenshots in the PNG format by default....

What Do Different Sector Sizes Mean? Every sector takes up a physical location on the storage device and is usually made up of three parts: the sector header, the error-correcting code (ECC), and the area that actually stores the data. Usually, one sector of a hard disk drive or floppy disk can hold 512 bytes of information. This standard was established in 1956. In the 1970s, larger sizes such as 1024 and 2048 bytes were introduced to accommodate larger storage capacities....

While it may seem like your only option is to manually swap cables whenever you want to use a different device, there’s a simple solution that requires minimal effort once set up—an HDMI switch. What Is the Use of an HDMI Switch? An HDMI switch is a dedicated piece of hardware that allows multiple HDMI-compatible devices to connect to a television through a single HDMI port. An HDMI switch does this by only sending signals from a single source, despite how many separate sources are connected to the switch....

Before you buy a laptop with eMMC storage, consider if eMMC storage has the features you need and if you can accept its limitations. The type you choose determines the overall performance and speed of your computer. What Is eMMC Storage? eMMC stands for embedded MultiMediaCard. It’s a type of internal storage embedded or attached to a device or a PC motherboard. eMMC storage uses the MultiMediaCard standard and is based on NAND flash memory....

Generally, LCD refers to a type of monitor utilizing the LCD technology, but also flat-screen displays like those in laptops, calculators, digital cameras, digital watches, and other similar devices. How Do LCD Screens Work? As liquid crystal display would indicate, LCD screens use liquid crystals to switch pixels on and off to reveal a specific color. Liquid crystals are like a mixture between a solid and a liquid, where an electric current can be applied to change their state in order for a specific reaction to occur....

Do You Need PowerPoint? Presentation software is the easiest way to create and show the kinds of slides you’ve likely seen in meetings or classroom situations. There are several free options, including LibreOffice, Apache OpenOffice, and SlideDog. However, if you need to collaborate with others on a presentation, integrate with other Microsoft programs (like Microsoft Word), or create a presentation that’s viewable by anyone, purchase Microsoft PowerPoint. Microsoft PowerPoint comes with all the features you need to create presentations....

The Google Podcasts app is just one of many podcast apps for Android and iOS. A goal of Google is to use artificial intelligence to improve the listening experience. How Google Podcasts Works The Google Podcasts interface is similar for Android and iOS, while the web version, at podcasts.google.com, is simpler. The app has three tabs: Home, Explore, and Activity. The first time you use the app, your Home screen is blank except for a prompt to add your favorites....

Boot Manager—often referenced by its executable name, BOOTMGR—eventually executes winload.exe, the system loader used to continue the Windows boot process. Where Is Windows Boot Manager Located? Configuration data required for Boot Manager rests in the Boot Configuration Data store, a registry-like database that replaced the boot.ini file used in older versions of Windows like Windows XP. The BOOTMGR file itself is both read-only and hidden. It is located in the root directory of the partition marked as Active in Disk Management....

Although nothing is yet official, we expect Apple to launch its widely rumored 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros at Monday’s Unleashed event, along with (possibly) an upgraded Mac mini and a big-screen iMac Pro. Many—perhaps all—details of the MacBook already have leaked, as we shall see in a moment, but one detail remains a mystery: What is the M1X? “I’m very excited about the rumors that there will be two versions of the new M1X chip....

Here’s all the information you need to plan your island time in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. When Does a New Day Start in Animal Crossing: New Horizons? Things happen on your island at different times all day, so several times are important. The main one, however, is 5 a.m., when a lot of activity occurs. At that time, your island “resets” to its neutral state. Here’s what happens: Isabelle or Tom Nook will appear to give the morning announcements....

Which Is Cheaper: Uber or Taxis? Taxi fares vary drastically by location, and the same is true for Uber fees. Uber also offers different levels of service based on your preferences. Here’s how local rates compare to the standard UberX: In New York City, a taxi charges an initial fee of $2.50, 50 cents per 1/5 mile, and various surcharges. UberX charges a base fare of $2.55, a per-minute charge of 35 cents, and a per-mile charge of $1....

For example, whenever you venture outside, you’ll see people with charging cables running from their phones to a battery pack in their pocket or purse. You even see battery packs clamped to phones with rubber bands. With Apple’s planned MagSafe battery, the entire solution is more elegant: you’ll just stick it to the phone and forget it. This magnetic battery pack is another example of the superior accessories that Apple can make—because it owns the whole system, it can add deep-rooted features not available to other manufacturers....

Apple accessories are known to be both expensive and great. The Magic Keyboard for iPad starts at $299, but it’s amazing. AirPods Pro are similarly great, similarly expensive, and universally popular. But when it comes to high-end speakers, Apple can’t seem to pull it off. That’s because they’re too expensive, and too good at the wrong thing. “Apple headphones and speakers are absolutely too expensive for what you’re getting,” Rex Freiberger, CEO of Gadget Review, told Lifewire via email....

The latest beta of Ableton Live adds a few neat features for Mac users. If you own an M1 Apple Silicon Mac, it now loads plugins that were built for the iPad and iPhone. This opens up a whole slew of amazing, low-cost music apps to Mac users and could make it a lot easier to switch between Mac and iPad when making music. “AUv3 support in Ableton is BIG,” musician Pynchon said in the Audiobus Forums....

Last week, the White House issued an executive order aimed at anti-competitive practices. It includes a provision that would give you the right to repair your own cell phones and other devices. Many manufacturers make repairing devices difficult. Experts say that such measures are unfair to users. “When you buy a product, you own it, so this means you should be able to do with it what you want,” Lauren Benton, the managing director of Back Market, a marketplace for refurbished electronics, told Lifewire in an email interview....

What Is an XFDL File? A file with the XFDL file extension is an Extensible Forms Description Language file. It’s a secure type of XML file developed by PureEdge Solutions (a company acquired by IBM in 2005) as a way to create secure and legal electronic forms. These files are most commonly used in a business or government context when transferring data or buying and selling things over the internet. The data contained in one typically consists of things like transaction information and digital signatures....

Researchers say they have discovered self-repairing nanocrystals that can be used in semiconductors. The nanocrystals are aimed at solar panels but could have a wide range of uses in electronics. It’s part of a growing effort to find materials that repair themselves to reduce waste. “Users will now be able to repair cracks on previously inaccessible circuits by hand,” tech expert Jonathan Tian told Lifewire in an email interview. “Usually, when such breaks occur, the entire chip (or even the entire device) could be discarded....

We found it to be slower than most other online file converters, but if you’re disappointed with some other file converters or really need to complete your file conversion online, give Zamzar a try. Zamzar Features Works on any operating system since it just requires a browser to run (i.e., Zamzar works with Windows, Linux, Mac) You can upload a file from your computer or enter a URL to an online file Converts between many document, image, video, archive, audio, and CAD formats....

What Is a 000 File? A file with the 000 file extension is most likely an Indexing Service data file used to store file locations so that the Windows operating system can perform file searches. Another type of file that uses the 000 file extension is the Virtual CD ISO format. You’ll almost always see these alongside a VC4 file. The Trend Micro antivirus program uses this extension, too, for a format that stores patterns that help it recognize new malware threats....

If your computer has been compromised and infected with a virus or other malware you need to take action to keep your files from being destroyed and also to prevent your computer from being used to attack other computers. Here are the basic steps you need to perform to get back to normal after you’ve been hacked. Was your smartphone hacked? Here’s what to do. Isolate Your Computer In order to cut the connection that the hacker is using to “pull the strings” on your computer, you need to isolate it so it can’t communicate on a network....