Sphero’s Designed Car-Shaped Robot to Teach Kids Programming

 This car-shaped robot comprises puzzles that are necessary for computers to giving logical instructions.

Sphero, which is a robotic toymaker company for a long time, has launched a robotic car (toy) that’s designed to teach young kids about the fundamental concepts of programming (through Gizmodo). It’s named the Sphero Indi, and young children can try distinct-colored silicon tiles to render the instructions to the toy car, allowing them to take courses and puzzles (and hopefully learn to solve the problems logically while doing so).

The Indi harnesses a color-sensor to inspect which tile it’s driving over, for instance, the green tiles telling it to raise the speed, pink tiles instructing it to turn left, purple tiles instructing it to stop, and so forth. The toy car comes with challenge cards that involve patterns with hidden tiles, so they’ll need to find out which color tile will help the toy car reach its destination.

The Sphero Indi can follow the instructions of tiles without any type of connection to a computer or phone, but if your young ones are prepared for a little more control, then the Sphero Edu Jr app will allow them to use a block-concept language to customize the behavior of the car.

As a company, who has taught young children programming fundamentals, block-based coding, and possessing kids design paths for a character to adhere all sounds very acquainted, for instance, Scratch programming language from MIT, renders young students a playground to find out how computers use logic, with several exercises including puzzles-solving and mazes with code. However, we also know that watch a character moving on screen isn’t as interesting to young ones as watching a real-life or tangible toy move through the house. Additionally, a sprite impinging into a virtual wall isn’t as exciting as watching a toy collide into something or roll off a study table.

This time, Indi is available for pre-order, and Sphero estimating that shipping of the toy car will begin in September. An individual scholar kit, which consists of the car, 20 tiles, a case, and 15 challenge cards, prices $125. While a class set that comprises stuff for eight students and involves a bulk charging case costs $1,200.

Robotic products for educational purposes are not new: the Cozmo robot, previously developed by Anki, now being followed on by Digital Dream Labs, utilized a Scratch-based programming concept to keep young children in control of a small tractor kind of robot, Fisher-Price has a somewhat terrifying Code-a-pillar, and Lego owns a Boost and Mindstorms robot kits, which includes kids add and delete segments from a bug to provide it instructions. Sphero itself even has its Mini robot, which comprises more play-style alternates, at just $50.

Though, like several other toys out there, the Sphero Mini (and its brother the Bolt) needs the utilization of a phone, tablet, or computer, which the Indi doesn’t. For parents out there who are looking for options to get their young kids away from the iPad for a bit, the Indi could be an option to do that while even providing them a learning experience.

Source:https://communitybynorton.com/spheros-designed-car-shaped-robot-to-teach-kids-programming/

THE BEST KINDLE DEALS FOR READERS IN 2021

 When you intend to find a device to read your e-books, certainly a few options strike in your mind to choose from. You can simply purchase a tablet or utilize your smartphone, but these devices are multi-purpose and can be used for a variety of tasks, like web surfing or scrolling through Facebook, or Twitter. If you are specifically looking for something merely to read books, then e-readers, a niche piece of tech, are purposely designed to pile up all of your e-books in an electronic or e-library without any other functionality.

Amazon has ruled the market for many years with its Kindle products. At present, there are three Kindle versions available you can choose from, each comes with some pros and cons.

We’ve prepared a list for each of the present Kindles models available to buy. We are mentioning the most-latest sale price to let you know when is the best time to purchase the e-reader at the cheapest rate. But most of the time, there’s some deal going on. No matter, if you’re searching for a new version or to buy a bundle that consists of a few extras, currently these are the best Kindle deals.

KINDLE’S 10TH GENERATION

Amazon’s one of the most affordable e-reader is the kindle 10th generation, generally costing $90. Launched in 2019, this base Kindle version comprises a front light, comes in a storage configuration of 8Giga Bytes, and comes with or without ad support. Despite involving the same 167ppi resolution as its predecessors, this product has a bit higher contrast than earlier versions.

At present, you can purchase a 10th-gen Kindle model with lockscreen ads, pricing for $90, which is its general cost. If you want one without any ads, you can get it for the general price of $110. Both Kindle models also include a promotion where you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited without any additional charge.

If you are intending to save money on additional gears for the e-reader, Kindle Essentials Bundle from Amazon is $120 ($15 discount on its usual price); it consists of one of the three printed covers and a power adapter.

KINDLE EDITION for KIDS (2019)

The starting level Kindle and Oasis versions were not the merely ones that got a refresh in 2019, Amazon also announced and launched a new version named “Kindle Kids Edition Bundle”, which offers age-appropriate content for younger users who prefer e-books for $110 ($20 higher than the entry-level Kindle).

The Kindle Kids Edition includes things such as the device, a two-year replacement guarantee, a case, and Amazon’s FreeTime Unlimited service for one year. The latter is the greatest selling spot of the device apart from the kid-friendly patterns, as it enables parents to give their kids access to a digital or e-library of kid-friendly books such as Percy Jackson and The Hobbit without any additional charges. You can buy one for its usual price of $110.

Currently, Amazon is also providing the Kindle Kids Edition Essentials Bundle, usually costing $128 and consists of all of the stuff as mentioned above, plus a screen guard and power adapter.

Kindle’s Fourth Edition (Paperwhite)

Amazon has launched its fourth-generation Kindle Paperwhite in 2018. Initial costing of $130, kindles’ Paperwhite comes in three different configurations: 8GB Wi-Fi, 32GB Wi-Fi, and a second 32GB model that eliminates the ads from the lock screen.

The Paperwhite includes a six-inch, pin-sharp backlit display, which is the major reason to buy one over the base Kindle. The Paperwhite model added some useful specifications usually found on Amazon’s flagship reader, the Oasis, such as Audible audiobook support and water resistance.

No discounts are currently available, but if you are willing to purchase one in the future, the Kindle Paperwhite is on discount for the price it generally aims to sell for; you can grab an 8GB Paperwhite with ad support for $130 and for $150 without ads. If you want more storage, Amazon is selling the 32GB Kindle Paperwhite with ads for $160; if you need an ad-free model, you can grab this configuration for $180. Similar to the base Kindle, Amazon presently running a promotion where you can buy the e-reader with three months of Kindle Unlimited without any additional cost.

Amazon also avails deals on its Paperwhite Essentials Bundle, which features either an 8GB e-reader bundle for a cost of $170 or $200 on purchasing the 32GB (with ads). If you like the Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games trilogy, Amazon also provides a bundle that comprises a Kindle Paperwhite, a power adapter, and a Mockingjay-emblazoned case cover. It’s now available in two colors and ad-supported configurations such as an 8GB version for $160 and a 32GB model for $190, both of which save you $20.

KINDLE’s THIRD EDITION (OASIS)

Amazon’s Kindle Oasis is the super costly model of the list, starting at $250. The device comes in two different storage configurations as 8GB or 32GB, and similar to the other versions, you can grab the model with or without ads on the lockscreen.

The Kindle Oasis model, launched in 2019, seems very similar to its earlier model. It comes with, seven-inch, waterproof, 300ppi E Ink display and also supports Audible audiobooks by pairing to Bluetooth. However, the major change to the Kindle Oasis 2019 is that it is able to adjust the color temperature to a yellow-toned display, making it convenient to read at night.

Previously, we have watched the Kindle Oasis decrease down to $200 if you grab the 32GB product, which is the lowest cost it has ever been for that configuration till now. While there are presently no discounts on just the Oasis itself, you can get one of the several configurations with three free months of Kindle Unlimited for the usual cost starting at $250. The ad-supported 8GB Oasis is just for $250 and the kindle oasis without ads is for $270. If you want more space, the 32GB model is for $280 with ads or $300 without ads.

Source:https://enbitdefender.com/blog/the-best-kindle-deals-for-readers-in-2021/

The Best Video Calling Apps for Free 2021

 Things may be getting back on track somewhat, but right now, the COVID-19 pandemic on-goes to limit face-to-face meet-ups, and a majority of people are still depending on video calls to get in touch with office colleagues, family, and folks. And for most of us, particularly those who are experiencing financial problems — free is best. Zoom app has been able to secure the top position in the list of videoconferencing apps, but there are a group of video conferencing applications available out there that will enable you to meet others online for free.

We prepared a list of some well-known video conferencing apps. While most of them already provide free versions, some are giving access to additional qualities for people who are presently working from home or who want to get in touch with friends and relatives online.

There are hundreds of apps we have not added to the list, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and FaceTime, that let you make video chats. We have not included them because they need that all participants be members of a particular social network (like Facebook, WhatsApp) or using a particular sort of device (FaceTime, which is for Apple users only).

It is a better idea to try out some apps for yourself to check how well they adjust with your style and those of your friends. This list is a good way to pick.

1.   Zoom: The Most Popular Meeting App

Zoom app is the topmost popular videoconferencing app. Its name is speedily becoming synonymous with videoconferencing. Prior to the pandemic hit, the company promoted Zoom majorly for corporate use, but it also gives a free version for individuals. Initially, Zoom didn’t expect its emergent popularity among non-business users. There, were many missteps involving security and privacy; the company quickly introduced a variety of changes and updates to address these issues.

Its free version lets up to 100 users meet, but there is a limit of 40-minute meetings for more than two people, which can be quite limiting. At first, Zoom was not providing any special features for the people working at home, but it runs a page offering help and advice to new users.

FEATURES OF FREE VERSION

• Maximum participant limit: 100
• One-on-one conferencing: Unlimited time
• Group video calls: 40-minute limit
• Screen sharing: Allowed
• Record meetings: Allowed

2.   Skype

Skype is a popular platform for one-on-one communications since the beta version was released in 2003. Its “Meet Now” feature (which can be accessed by tapping on the “Meet Now” button on the left side of the application) enables video chats, and up to 50 people can meet with an abundance of four-hour time limit for meetings.

There is also a particular page that allows you to make a free video meeting without actually signing up for the service. However, you will find more features while using the app, so if you’re fine with signing up for a free account, you’re good at doing that.

FREE FEATURES

• Participants Limit: 50 people
• One-on-one calls: No time limit
• Group conferencing: Four hours/call, 10 hours/day, 100 hours/month
• Screen sharing: Yes
• Record meetings: Yes

3.   Cisco WebEx

WebEx is a video calling app that is being used since the ‘90s; later it was acquired by Cisco in 2007. However, it’s been notably known as a business application and keeps focus on serving companies. It has fair features in the free version that’s worth checking out. Due to the Covid-19, it has pushed the features of its free version from 50 to 100 participants limit, and you can arrange a meeting for up to 50 minutes.

FREEMIUM FEATURES

• Participants Limit: 100
• One-on-one video calls: 50-minute limit
• Group conferencing: 50-minute limit
• Screen sharing: Yes
• Record meetings: Yes

4.   Google Meet

Google Meet provides a very convenient and effective way to video chat with office folks, friends, and family, assuming they all own Google accounts, which is a need for both hosts and participants. Google is not merely making people use its Meet video calling app in place of Zoom but also instead of its own soon-to-be-disappear Hangouts app. (Initially, we had added Hangouts to this list, but its users are now being pushed to use Google Meet app for organizing video meetings.) You can get a Meet link in the Gmail app, and in every appointment you make through Google Calendar.

FREE VERSION FEATURES

• Participants Limit: 100
• One-on-one video calls: 24-hour limit
• Group conferencing: 24-hour limit
• Screen sharing: Yes
• Record meetings: No

5.   Microsoft Teams

Teams app from Microsoft was developed as a competitor to Slack and is a good concept if you’re part of the Office environment. However, the application is notably focused on business use. Microsoft has walked out of its professional concept and unveiled a personal freemium version of Teams, which allows anyone to chat, talk, or create video meetings. You just require to make an account with Microsoft to use teams. At present, because of the pandemic, Microsoft has increased the maximum participants limit from 100 to 300, and also, it has extended the time limit from 1-hour to 24 hours, which offers it an edge over a majority of other free videoconferencing apps.

FREE VERSION FEATURES

• Participants Limit: extended from 100 to 300 during the pandemic
• One-on-one video meetings: generally, 1-hour limit; extended to 24 hours due to pandemic
• Group conferencing: Normally 1-hour limit; extended to 24 hours due to pandemic
• Screen sharing: Yes
• Record meetings: No

Source:https://help7mcafee.uk.net/the-best-video-calling-apps-for-free-2021/

Caption Instagram Stories With A Sticker Easily: Here's How

 Instagram Stories provide an excellent way to share videos quickly throughout the day. You can add automatic captions and make them accessible for everyone. Here’s how

Captions are the most impressive and essential accessibility features available on any smartphone. When it comes to Instagram, the users can easily add captions to the videos they want to post on Instagram Stories, and that too just using a sticker.

Since its first launch in August 2016, Instagram stories have become widely popular among users. It is still the most popular Instagram feature. Roughly out of 1 billion users active monthly on Instagram, 500 million users use Instagram Stories to share their short videos and photos.

Here, it is worth noting that one-third of the most-viewed Instagram Stories come from businesses. It is excellent and fantastic if someone wants to share less important video content that you don’t want to post on the Instagram timeline.

Here, all users active on Instagram know that all uploads on Instagram Stories expire automatically after 24 hours. Instagram Stories is easy to use the feature without any long-term commitment to whatever you have shared.

Apart from these, the social media network also offers tons of stickers and effects to users. So, the users can customize their Stories content and posts with endless possibilities virtually. Recently, news came about the social media network focusing on creating a  Vertical Stories feature. The newly added feature will help the users to swipe down or up to see the stories posted by the users that they often follow.

The Caption sticker is the most exciting and essential when it comes to stickers available on Instagram Stories. The users can use the Captions sticker to add captions automatically to their video content they record on Instagram Stories.

It makes the video clip more accessible to the users and viewers that are hard of listening and deaf. Also, it is more accessible to the viewers who prefer watching videos without turning on their sound.

If you want to add the caption to your video content, it is pretty simple and can be done with a few clicks. Here, you have first to complete the recording of a video on Instagram Stories. Then, search for the Stickers icon on the top of your screen.

It will appear to you a smiley face. Further, wait for the pop-up menu to appear and then click on the ‘Captions’ sticker. Similarly, the video and photo-sharing platform will automatically transcribe any speech in the video and create captions.

Instagram Stories: Captions Can Be Edited & Customized

Similar to various stickers on Instagram Stories, the users can customize captions stickers in many ways. For example, you can reposition the captions and change the text color as Instagram provides captions in four animation styles. Moreover, Instagram allows the captions stickers to be zoomed out, zoomed in, rotated, and moved without any restrictions virtually.

More importantly, if the automatic transcription software of Instagram finds something wrong,  the captions can be edited themselves instantly. To do this, the users have to click on the captions sticker. But, first of all, you have to add captions to a story.

Then, click on the word that you wish to edit. Here, a keyboard will appear to you to quickly enter the word that should be appeared. Now, click on the ‘Done’ option displayed on the screen top after completing the required edits. At last, the users have to click on Save.

There is only one downside to the captions sticker. The captions sticker is available to limited countries. Currently, caption stickers are available and limited to only English and English-speaker countries. However, the social media network is planning to roll out it to more regions and languages in the future.

Facebook that also owns Instagram, is also working on an end-to-end encryption feature for Instagram Direct and Facebook Messenger. End-to-end encryption is the most sought-after feature for messaging apps. The social media giant is also working on long-term goals to provide additional protection to users against unwanted messages and unwanted intrusions. Plus, it wants to enable more safety controls for Instagram direct and Facebook Messenger.

For the users active on Instagram who do not live in the regions or area where automatic captions are available, it’s an easy and fast way to ensure that every user can enjoy Instagram stories regardless of their hearing.

Source:https://avery3086.wordpress.com/2021/05/28/caption-instagram-stories-with-a-sticker-easily-heres-how/

Apple Watch Battery Level: Here's How To Check It

 There are many ways to check the battery status of your Apple Watch that includes on a connected phone also. Here’s everything that you need to know.

There are several ways to check the existing battery level of your Apple watch. You can check it on both the connected iPhone and the smartphone. There are a variety of reasons that compel a user to buy an Apple Watch. However, battery life always remains a problematic area for the users.

Apple Watches often do not give as much battery life as Apple smartphones. So, if you are knowing in advance how much battery is left will help the users to ensure that the wearable does not run out of battery before you charge it again.

In general, an Apple Watch is often able to last long throughout the day for most users. However, the exact minimum charge cycle of battery per charge can vary among the models, but it does not vary that much. For example, the Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 6, and even the Watch Series 3 have been rated, offering up to eighteen hours of battery usage before the users need to charge it.

No doubt, these are the maximum battery limits offered by the smartwatches and vary depending on how an individual uses these smartwatches. The easiest and convenient way to check the battery level on your Apple Watch is to swipe upon its face. It will help you to open the Control Center on your device.

Here, you can see the remaining percentage of your smartwatch battery on the screen. If you have not worn the watch at the time, and it is on charging, then you can tap on the icon appearing as lightning. It will allow you to view the current battery percentage. Alternatively, the Apple Watch wearers can add a battery complication that entirely depends on the watch face. It will help them to view the current level of the battery directly on the display of their smartphone.

Add Battery Widget To Your iPhone Home Screen.

You can check the battery level of your Apple Watch in many ways. Besides, you can also check the battery level on any connected accessory, including on an iPhone or the Apple Watch. It is possible through the added Widget support that came with iOS 14. Adding a widget is quite easy if your connected iPhone is running iOS 14 currently at a minimum.

You will need to tap and hold an empty area on your device’s home screen until the apps start performing a jiggling effect. Then, click on the Add(+) sign visible in the upper left corner of your screen. From here, you can add any widget to the Home Screen. It includes those that are designed to measure the life of the battery.

Specifically, for the battery widget, click on the Battery option visible from the list. Now, choose Apple Watch to be displayed as the accessory. Then, select the widget size and then click on the Add Widget option. Once done, you will be able to check the existing battery status of your Apple watch directly on your iPhone.

Overall, the tech giant has made it easy to check the battery status of your Apple Watch. Even though the battery percentage on the screen is not shown directly, you can view it by swiping to the Control Center. Then, tap on the charging icon while adding a watch face supporting a complication related to a battery or charging it. In addition, you can monitor the battery level of your Apple Watch throughout the day on your iPhone by adding an iOS battery Widget to its home screen.

Source:https://avery3086.wordpress.com/2021/05/28/apple-watch-battery-level-heres-how-to-check-it/

Troubleshoot: Google Chrome Keeps Crashing and Doesn’t Start

 Google Chrome doesn’t open and keeps crashing problem could be very disturbing and mind-numbing. Some users go through this problem, and they eventually stop using their browsers. However, that’s not the solution to the situation, as it can occur in any browser that you use. Whether you are using Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, or others, automatically crashing and unable to open issues can occur on any application.

If you wish to resolve your Chrome browser when it acts up, you must know what is causing your browser to crash.

If Chrome doesn’t start and crashes repeatedly, you can fix it by updating to the latest version, restarting your device, or reinstalling.

This page will help you troubleshoot Google browser crashing problems.

Fix 1: Restarting Your Device

Sometimes the Chrome automatically stops and won’t start problem can be treated by restarting your device. By restarting your computer, you can reset the RAM memory and remove unnecessary temporary files that can interfere with Chrome. So restarting your device might eventually troubleshoot Chrome’s repeatedly crashing error.

Fix 2: Updating to the Latest Version

If you can open the Chrome browser for a few minutes, you should update it to the latest version even though it stops automatically. Sometimes outdated and corrupted files on the installation folder can cause automatically closing issues. The latest update for Chrome includes bug fixes that can terminate the crashing and other issues. Therefore updating your browser to the newest version can troubleshoot the problem.

To update the Chrome browser, you can use the simplest way given below:

1. Navigate to the Chrome browser.
2. Click on the three vertical dots located on the top right corner.
3. Choose the about option.
4. Click on the relevant options to update your browser.
5. After updating, restart your device and check if the browser works fine.

If you are not able to open the Chrome browser, you may find it hard to update it. You can update it even if it doesn’t open at all using the instructions given below:

1. Open any other web browser on your computer and search for Chrome download.
2. Select the most relevant result.
3. Navigate to the Download button.
4. When the download finishes, open the file and start the installation.
5. The new installation will ask you to overwrite the current installation.
6. You have to make sure the newest installation replaces your current installation.

Once the installation is done, reboot your computer and then try opening the Chrome browser. Check if the browser works fine.

Fix 3: Uninstalling and Reinstalling

The final solution to this problem is uninstalling your current Chrome browser from your device entirely and reinstalling the fresh version. The below tips will help you remove the existing app and get the latest version on your computer:

1. Go to the start menu and search for the control panel.
2. Click on the control panel icon from the results to open it.
3. Click on apps and programs.
4. Go to uninstall a program.
5. Now you will see all programs installed on your computer.
6. Select the Chrome browser from the list and follow the instructions on the screen to remove it.
7. Restart your device after the removal process, and then open your default browser.
8. Search for ‘Download Chrome latest version.’
9. Navigate to the Chrome website to download its latest version.
10. Initiate the downloading process.
11. When the download completes, open the downloads folder and double-click the chrome.exe file.
12. Click the next button to accept the installation.
13. Go to the license agreement and agree with it.
14. Hit the install button and wait for a few minutes.
15. The installation process may take a while.
16. Once the process finishes, close all windows and shut down your computer.
17. Wait for a minute and then start your computer.
18. Launch the Chrome browser and see if you have effectively solved the Chrome crashing error.

The instructions that we shared in this article were only for illustration purposes, and the practical steps could be a little different as per the version you are installing. The steps may also vary as per your computer model and operating system. Thank you for coming here, and we hope you have enjoyed our association.

Source:https://nortoncomsetup.citysearchwiki.com/troubleshoot-google-chrome-keeps-crashing-and-doesnt-start/

Solved: Recycle Bin Doesn’t Get Empty on Windows 10

 If you cannot empty the recycle bin on your Windows 10 computer, you are facing a technical glitch. This issue is pretty common amongst Mac and Windows users, and it can happen due to some undefined reasons. Today, we will show how to empty Windows 10 Recycle Bin when it doesn’t get clean.

Since there is no single problem that can trigger this issue, we will be using multiple ways to troubleshoot it.

Please carefully go through the troubleshooting instructions in this article to effectively clean the Recycle Bin on your PC.

Fix the Recycle Bin if it Doesn’t Get Empty

1. Close Running Processes

If your Recycle Bin contains any file that your computer is currently using, you won’t be able to empty your Recycle Bin. First, you will need to check if any application or process is linked with the file you are trying to clean using Recycle Bin. It could be possible that some processes or apps may use the files stored in Recycle Bin. Remember, if anything is getting used on your computer, you won’t be able to delete it or its linked files. It’s a fundamental nature of computers. As long as something is operating, you won’t be able to delete its essential files even if they are inside the recycling bin. Some people have noticed that a few particular applications may interfere while emptying the Recycle Bin. One search app is OneDrive by Microsoft. According to some developers, it is linked with Recycle Bin’s vital deleting procedures and may interfere while deleting files.

Hence, you should stop all applications and processes on your computers that could interfere with the recycling bin cleaning process. Please follow the below steps for better understanding:

1. Navigate to the task manager on your computer. It is as simple as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting the task manager option.
2. Once you see the task manager on your computer screen, make sure you are on the processes tab.
3. Find and select the OneDrive process or application.
4. Right-click on it and quickly select the end task option.
5. Continue and give your consent to stop the application and its processes.
6. You should be able to terminate the OneDrive application from these instructions. If you cannot stop it using the task manager, please stop it using the command prompt.

To stop the OneDrive application using the command prompt, continue with the below instructions:

1. Go to the start menu and search for the command prompt.
2. Right-click the command prompt app and then select the Run as administrator option.
3. Put in the below-given command and hit the enter button.
   1. taskkill /f /im onedrive.exe
4. Wait for the command to succeed.

Once the command successfully finishes, close the command prompt and try to empty your Recycle Bin.

2. Removing Third-Party Applications

Some applications could interfere with the Recycle Bin. So you must find out such applications and delete them from your computer. Try to remember when this problem started. Did you install an application, and then you began to see this problem? If you find any application suspicious for causing this problem, immediately delete it from your system using the control panel.

3. Clear Recycle Bin Using Settings

Please follow the below instructions to clean your Recycle Bin using a different method:

1. Navigate to the settings on your computer by selecting the cog-like button from the start menu.
2. Go to the system option from the left side navigation bar.
3. Go to the storage option and then go to temporary files.
4. Make sure to check the Recycle Bin option and hit the Remove Files button.
5. See if you can clear the data inside the Recycle Bin from here.

Hopefully, the methods we have shared in this article were helpful and practical.

source:https://webrootcomsafe1.com/solved-recycle-bin-doesnt-get-empty-on-windows-10/