About the Mac OS and Multiple RAID Types Since its early days, the Mac operating system has supported multiple RAID types using AppleRAID software that is part of diskutil, the command-line tool used for formatting, partitioning, and repairing storage devices on a Mac. Until OS X El Capitan, RAID support was built into the Disk Utility app, which you could use to create and manage RAID arrays. Apple dropped the RAID support in the El Capitan version of the Disk Utility app but kept AppleRAID available for users who were willing to use Terminal and the command line....

VR lets you voyage anywhere from Mount Everest to Machu Picchu from the comfort of your couch. All you need is a headset, an internet connection, and the right VR software. “With an ongoing global pandemic preventing most people from traveling, we’re all increasingly seeking new ways to visit our favorite places and see the sights without leaving home,” Meaghan Fitzgerald, head of experiences product marketing at Facebook Reality Labs, which makes the Oculus headsets, said in an email interview....

According to Apple rumormonger Luke Miani, Apple’s replacement for the MacBook Pro will include a high-speed SD card reader. We’ve already seen plenty of rumors that the SD card reader was making a comeback, including leaked schematics from Apple. It makes sense that Apple would put the fastest reader in its pro machines, but what are the advantages for users? “While it’s also possible to carry around an SD card reader that connects to USB or lightning ports, built-in readers are one less thing to carry around, they work more reliably, and they’re much, much faster than dongles,” Devon Fata, CEO of design company Pixoul, told Lifewire via email....

5G, primarily when used in manufacturing, blurs the line and strengthens the relationship between physical production and digital technology. 5G’s real-time data capabilities allow for next-gen applications, coupled with smart tech, cloud computing, and enhanced automation. It’s a driving force behind the Fourth Industrial Revolution. What Is a Private Network? Sometimes called NPNs (Non-Public Networks), private 5G networks are similar to the 5G that’s available worldwide—the same tech is used, and they deliver some of the same benefits....

The Game Boy (Also Known as Game Boy Classic or GB): The enormous success of the first Game Boy sent shockwaves throughout the home video game industry that secured the handheld as a standard. Never before had a system combined high-quality cartridge-based games with, for its time, high tech Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) graphics delivered in glorious black & green. GB was also the first handheld system to feature multi-link gaming via a port that connects multiple systems for multiplayer battles....

According to a reliable rumor source, Apple is weighing up the pros and cons of a giant iPad. Many folks might laugh and call such a thing ridiculous. Others—those who love the large 12.9-inch iPad Pro—are thinking a 16-incher can’t come soon enough. But what are the upsides and downsides of such a huge, thin tablet? “Large-scale computing—the type you’d normally get from a desktop—could become more of a reality on a big iPad display....

How Is My Google Data Gathered? Understanding how Google gathers information about you is a great way to demonstrate just how much the company knows about you. The truth is that there isn’t any cloak and dagger spying going on with Google. They simply store the information you give them while using their services. But they store almost everything, and they keep a historical record of it, so the data can go back years....

The main use of a CHF is to verify the authenticity of a piece of data. Two files can be assumed to be identical only if the checksums generated from each file, using the same cryptographic hash function, are identical. Some commonly used cryptographic hash functions include MD5 and SHA-1, although many others also exist. These are often referred to as “hash functions,” but that’s not technically correct. A hash function is a generic term that encompasses CHFs along with other sorts of algorithms like cyclic redundancy checks....

What Is a DJVU File? Developed by AT&T Labs, a DJVU file (pronounced like déjà vu) is a graphics file format intended for scanned images, kind of like the PDF format, which you’re probably more familiar with. Since a DJVU file can contain compressed yet high-quality color images, photographs, text, and drawings, it’s used as the format for some eBooks, as well as manuals, newspapers, ancient documents, etc. that have been scanned into a computer....

No software program is perfect and so patches are common, even years after a program has been released. The more popular a program is, the more likely rare problems occur, and so some of the most popular programs in existence are some of the most patched. A collection of usually already-released patches is often called a service pack. Do I Need to Install Patches? Software patches normally fix bugs, but they can also be released to address security vulnerabilities and inconsistencies in a piece of software....

Like all other camera types, they have their pros and cons. Features That Make Point and Shoot Cameras Attractive One of the most attractive features of a point and shoot camera is its automated functionality—the ability to quickly and easily point the camera at a subject and snap a picture. The camera does all the work from adjusting the exposure level to focusing the camera and deciding if a flash is necessary....

We’ll explain what this little green board is, why you might want one, and how it attracted such a huge following. A Visual Introduction Let’s start with a picture of the most recent version, the Raspberry Pi 4. When people tell you the Raspberry Pi is a $35 computer, they usually forget to tell that you only get the board for that headline cost. No screen, no drives, no peripherals, and no casing....

There are many uses for a sound card, like to hear sound from a video game, listen to music or movies, have text be read to you, etc. As handy as those tasks may be, the sound card, unlike the CPU and RAM, isn’t a necessary piece of hardware required to make a computer work. The terms audio card, audio adapter, and sound adapter are sometimes used in place of sound card....

Spreadsheet Cell Types Cells hold four types of information (also called data types): Numbers that can include formulas, dates, and times. Text, often referred to as text strings or just strings. Boolean values of TRUE or FALSE. Errors including #NULL!, #REF!, and #DIV/0! that indicate a problem. What Are Cell References? Cell referencing is a system that identifies data and gives it an address so that data can be located in a spreadsheet....

Although it has been supplanted in many well-connected areas by fiber internet connections, ADSL is still an important technology. Understanding what ADSL is can be an important step in choosing the right connection for your home or business. What is an ADSL Line? Newer technologies like fiber require bespoke fiber optic cables to take advantage of the faster speeds offered by such advances. However, ADSL is more flexible. It operates over the same copper telephone lines that have powered voice calls between landlines for decades....

What Is an AIR File? A file with the .AIR file extension is most likely an AIR (Adobe Integrated Runtime) Installer Package file that stores web-based applications programmed using ActionScript or Apache Flex. They’re usually ZIP-compressed and can be used across all desktop and mobile operating systems that support the Adobe AIR runtime, like Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. The M.U.G.E.N. video game engine uses the AIR file extension as a plain text file that stores animation settings....

When Should You Control Bandwidth Usage? An ISP or business network may control bandwidth as well, but it’s generally done to limit certain types of network traffic or to save money during peak hours. This sort of bandwidth control that’s not quite in your control is referred to as bandwidth throttling. While a bandwidth control option is a common find in hardware devices like routers, you’re more likely to actually need this feature when using certain kinds of software....

How Bumble Works If you’re familiar with Tinder’s iconic match and swipe system, then you’ll probably recognize a similar style used on Bumble. Fun fact: Bumble was created and founded by one of the co-founders of Tinder. Once you’ve signed up for a Bumble account, created a profile, and allowed the app to access your location, you can start seeing potential matches. As you browse through profiles, you’ll be shown at least one photo, name, age, profession, education, bio description, and potentially more details....

Who Owns Nest? In 2014, Google bought Nest, which added to company’s Internet of Things portfolio. Since then, Nest has become a household name, due in large part to the ease of use of the smart devices. The company officially branded the Nest as Google Nest in mid-2019. Google Nest Thermostat The Nest Learning Thermostat, which comes with a variety of colored rings to fit with your home’s décor, has an easy-to-read display....

Downloading the new version of Microsoft Edge on Windows 10 computers replaces the default—now legacy—version of Edge. Why Use Microsoft Edge? Microsoft Edge communicates and integrates well with Windows, unlike other options such as Firefox or Chrome. Edge is secure and can be updated easily by Microsoft. When a safety issue arises, Microsoft updates the browser through Windows Update. What’s New in New Microsoft Edge With the release of the new Edge Chromium-based browser, Microsoft added and upgraded features and capabilities to an already feature-packed Edge....