How to save data in Chrome and Firefox with Google compressor

A simple extension lets you save data in the browser, without losing almost nothing along the way.

We can not always have access to ADSL or optical fiber, there are times when our connection is very limited and it is in those moments when we realize what "weighs" a normal web page.

Load a web anyone can request all the patience in the world in these conditions, either because the images are heavy because you have to upload videos or heavy scripts that change the page completely.

Google helps you save data in the browser

Fortunately, browsers often have built-in functions that can help us right now, but it is not always enough. For example, last week we told you how Omicron disables image loading in browsers to save data.
However, most of the time need to load images, it is not something we can always disable. Here comes the data compression algorithm of Google, included by default with Chrome browser on Android.

This feature is similar to Opera Turbo compressors and other data: When we tell the browser you want to visit a website, this sends it to Google's servers. These compress the website and send it to the browser. Thus, we receive the web occupies much less and consumes fewer data.

Although it is a feature designed for smartphones, Google API also allows us to use on the desktop, we just need to install the appropriate extension for your browser.

Chrome - Data Saver

This is the official Google extension for data compression, launched after diesel users the same functionality that was in Chrome for Android.

We just have to install it from the Chrome store and see a new icon in the bar extensions. There, not to do anything else, thereafter we visit pages will be compressed.

Pressing the button can see the amount of data we downloaded since we installed the extension, and the amount of data we have saved about.

Pressing the button can see the amount of data we downloaded since we installed the extension, and the amount of data we have saved about.

Firefox - Google DataSaver

This extension is not official but uses the same API data compression Google.

Its operation is similar to the Chrome extension, nothing install notices the difference, and can press the button to check exactly how much data you've downloaded and how many have saved.

Added data useful is the amount of data we downloaded this month to know if we are going to spend the monthly fee we have contracted with our mobile operator.

Otherwise, it is a similar extent but does not have the graph shows which websites are consuming more.

A very important notice is that if you stop using the extension, uninstall it before you disable the economizer data on the own extension. That is, you have to click on the switch where it says "Data Saver".

For a bug, if you uninstall the extension without disabling this button, we will run the Internet with Firefox since the configuration will not be returned to its original state.

Privacy issues of these extensions

Before using these extensions, you must consider some very important aspects for your safety and privacy, which have to do with how the API data compression works.

As we have explained, when you use these extensions your browser asks Google servers that compress the website and you send her; therefore, it means that you're telling Google pages you are visiting and its content. If this is acceptable it is something you can just decide you, but it is important to know where to spend your navigation.

Another detail is that these extensions do not work with pages that use the HTTPS protocol, as they are encrypted and Google simply can not decipher to compress.

Some features of the compressed webs may not work, such as geo-location, and you may notice that the pages are somewhat blurred especially images, but that is compression.

If despite everything you need to save data in the browser, these extensions that can save you at specific times.

Read More

Brain Training, an expensive placebo effect does not make you smarter

Brain training industry handles around one billion dollars currently.

And no wonder, who would not like to be smarter? Previously science told us that intelligence was hereditary, and to be setting during adulthood, unable improved externally. Subsequently, some studies even claimed that methods exist for potential intelligence, especially in the areas of logic and memory. And that's where the invasion of brain training programs arrived.

Gradually have emerged studies against this type of brain training, but for now companies like Lumosity, Cogmed and NeuroNation have already been promising miracles: Higher IQ, higher cognition in old age, more memory ... And even some studies claimed that brain training could treat ADHD. Now a new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America opens our eyes about it.

The placebo effect of Brain Training, examination

To what extent have deceived us studies of brain training? One of the most recent studies on the subject, a meta-analysis of 2015, even suggested that this type of brain training increased to four points IQ. Now, is this true?

It was precisely this question that was raised in the new PNAS study where the experimental methods used in previous studies were evaluated brain training. And, surprise !, there were many biases in the sample and taking into account the effect placebo. In fact, they not even had randomized double-blind clinical trials. Something that companies have used to keep invading our mind with positive publicity, which in turn could enhance the placebo effect of brain training in an endless cycle.

Specifically, and to evaluate carefully the 19 studies included in this meta-analysis of 2015 it found that up to 17 of these studies used "open recruitment" of participants, regardless of inclusion or exclusion factors. In addition, the groups were only 25 participants (or less).

The research confirms the placebo effect Brain Training

In the new study, psychologists George Mason University recruited 50 participants in two different ways, but also using an "open recruitment".

On the one hand, they used a poster advertising the study using specific terms such as "brain training" and "cognitive enhancement" as well state that previous research had shown that this training is effective for the brain. On the other hand, in a second similar cartel, only they encouraged to participate in the study in order to earn college credit. The 25 individuals recruited by the first poster were considered "placebo group", and the second cartel recruited by acted as "control group".
All participants were passed tests to measure intelligence, and then they spent a brain training game for an hour, finally remeasuring their intelligence. With only an hour of training participants "control group" performed better on tests of fluid intelligence, between five and ten IQ points. The control group received no such improvement.

You may ask, how is this possible?

Well, when researchers asked about the beliefs of intelligence to "placebo group", it turned out that they all had full confidence that intelligence is malleable. Therefore, researchers have concluded that methods of recruitment of all previous studies on brain training have fallen into a "bias of self-selection", where individuals who have volunteered to participate are precisely those who do believe that intelligence it can be improved, and therefore are susceptible to this "placebo effect".

How does this placebo effect Brain Training work?

Unfortunately, this placebo effect has no value, as well warn researchers. can serve to study the extent actually affects brain function, but is currently not possible with current studies. To really assess the actual effects on intelligence should be randomized clinical trials and double-blind, unused self-selected participants as all who have so far participated in the studies.

At the moment, the study authors say that companies should "moderate" because the brain effects that have sold so far no scientific evidence behind.

Read More

Restoring a browser to its factory settings

Browsers have become our second operating system, and always good to know how we can 'format them', that is, how to restore a browser.

Increasingly things work over the Internet, more and more services use classic web pages to give us some use. And like it is important to know how to protect the browser threats, it is also important to know how you can restore a browser, all in case we need to fix a malfunction, or want to make a fresh start.

Chrome

To do this in Google Chrome, we must follow these steps:

    open Chrome
    Click on the menu icon, upper right corner
    Click on configuration
    We went down to the bottom and click on 'Show advanced settings'
    We go down until you find a section called 'Reset Settings'
    Press and, after reading the notice, click on Reset.

Firefox

Moreover, the process is simpler Firefox:

    We entered this help page from Firefox Mozilla
    Click on the blue button that says "Upgrade Firefox", and follow the prompts

Opera

To do the same with Opera, we have to uninstall the browser, with user-data and reinstall. So we must follow these steps:

    Uninstall the browser
    Deletes Opera profile data
    Download the latest version
    Install the downloaded version

Microsoft Edge

The process to restore Edge discovered the users themselves, and it is somewhat complicated:

    We must go to C: \ Users \% username% \ AppData \ Local \ Packages \ and remove Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe
    This breaks Microsoft Edge, so we have to open a PowerShell as an administrator and run (without the quotes) "Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | {Foreach Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -register "$ ($ _. InstallLocation) \ AppXManifest.xml" -Verbose} "

Read More

The mystery Stuart Crater on the Moon which took 50 years to resolve

Imagine the situation: Year 1953 and penchant for observing space. Suddenly a flare on the Moon that occurs consensus photograph.

This was what happened to Dr. Leon Stuart, a doctor in Tulsa (Oklahoma) amateur stargazing. He was not the first to see something rare in our natural satellite because in the twelfth century the monks who watched England had "eruptions of fire" on the moon. Later, other fans have seen sometimes like these mysterious flashes.

The experts had dismissed these reports capo fans because they saw no evidence that anything should occur on the moon capable of producing the "flashes". They could be meteorites that touched the lunar orbit without more. But last year 2002 a NASA researcher gave good reason to Stuart.

The mystery of the Moon, confirmed 50 years later by NASA

Stuart said see, and came to photograph (as you can see in the picture above) a small white spot right in the center of the Moon, caused by an explosion on the lunar surface. This doctor was fond of observing the stars, but one night in November 1953 decided to add a camera to your telescope. By pure chance, he could capture the moment of the "explosion on the Moon". He even inThe Strolling Astronomer publish a newsletter of amateur astronomy in 1956.

As you can imagine, they took crazy, desacreditándole and claiming that what he saw was how a meteorite burning in the atmosphere of Earth. Although he died in 1968 still she convinced of what he had seen, and making their mark in astronomy circles: What you saw today is known as the "Event Stuart".

Fortunately, decades later, NASA researcher Bonnie Buratti thought the incident described by Stuart deserved to be investigated again. The first thing he thought was: "If something really happened, there must be a large crater in the area" and began to work looking for that signal.

Crater Stuart, confirmed by NASA

So, thanks to images collected in the 1990s, the mystery of the Moon was about to be resolved. Buratti decades of photos looking investigated the possible location of the crater and calculating how big it could be. As described by Stuart, the asteroid causing the white point was measured as an 18-wheeler.

With the help of a graduate student, Buratti searched through thousands of images craters on the lunar surface. Finally, thanks to the spacecraft Clementine, found an image of a crater sufficiently wide and in the appropriate location for which had described the amateur astronomer. His work was published in the journal Icarus.

Later, Paul Lowman, lunar geologist at NASA, has reviewed both findings Stuart such as Buratti, concluding that both were right and that this physician and amateur astronomer had witnessed the impact of a large asteroid on the surface of the moon.

Although today many astronomers still be convinced and believe that the explosion described Stuart should have been much larger in the picture, Buratti said the evidence supported him, and this indicates how valuable it is still the work of amateur astronomers .

All this was confirmed in 2002, and today we have bigger and better methods to analyze the stars whether we are fans like we're professionals. At the moment, in astronomical circles scar impact of this asteroid has a clear name, "Stuart Crater".

Read More

Safety recommendations twitters English

a lot of time, Twitter was something that neither imagined to become the powerful tool that it is, in which we did not believe that the way in which we would find things would be something different to read the content of URLs that we stored daily in a folder of bookmarks in the browser. It was the time when we read and we kept all that interested us via RSS and we did not have that Google would discontinue Reader. And from there ... silence.

Twitter saw it as a programita, consuming data rate our phones, and seconds or minutes of our time. We looked leery serve for something more serious than where we were able to share, or content rather banal.

However, Twitter has become a much more potent and universal tool. From kilometric talks with several nominees (or above) in 140 characters, which leave little room for what you mean, transcendental reflections on life that generate a lot of RTs, communication mechanism of public figures .... as well as one of the ways that professionals in each sector can stay in touch and updated on news, events and meetings.

In our sector, security, and Alex made an excellent recommendation for years with profiles of twitter that at the time were reliable and quality content contributed to professionally we are dedicated to safety.

Currently, these recommendations remain essential in the TL of anyone who wants to keep abreast of what's happening in the industry, but in this post I want to add some more. Specifically, profiles people with names and surnames, share what u think, it is actually related to safety in a high percentage. Obviously when personal accounts, some tweet or RT may be unrelated, but generally compensates.

@securityaffairs -> Pierluigi Paganini, Italian, CISO of Bit4Id. The news newscast repeated as 24 hours, but in my view worth

@ivanristic -> Ivan Ristic, creator of mod_security who already interviewed in SBD ago. News and links about cryptography, but security in general.

@dinosn -> Nicolas Krassas, CSO of Effortel in Switzerland.

@binitamshah -> Binni Shah, India, security in Linux primarily, but not exclusively of that operating system.

@mikko -> The known Mikko Hypponen, CRO antivirus maker F-Secure. Perhaps aside from sharing security news, but being a personal account may have everything, but generally worth following.

@snowden -> hero to many, traitor to the American government, Edward Snowden former NSA employee, now exiled in Russia. They are personal opinions before news of the day, usually scandals to which we are unfortunately used to, but with the vision of one person who has been inside one of the most powerful government agencies worldwide.

Note: The profiles indicated, are recommended according to my judgment and discretion. If you follow them, for any reason you are not convinced, sorry. You know, unfollow and to something else.

Is there more desirable profiles?
Sure, better and worse than I say here. Not only do I have no doubt, but will be happy to have good sources that read daily and share with the readers of SBD.
If you think there's someone else we should recommend, let us know in comments and we evaluate.

Read More

How to create a USB to install Windows, Linux and other OS

One of the options currently used for formatting a team, given the decline of CDs and DVDs, is to create a bootable USB, or what is the same, create a USB to install Windows, Linux or any operating system distributed by image files.

1: If you want Windows 10, use your tool

If you want to install Windows 10 with a USB on your PC or on another computer, just have to download the Microsoft tool for installing the new operating system. Remember to save everything you have into the USB in another location, because you will lose all data in the process.

After downloading the tool with the link above it is recommended to run the program as administrator (right click -> Run as administrator, instead of double-clicking), after which we will show two options. The second one is what interests us, indicating "creates installation media for another PC."

    Amazon's best-selling USB sticks

Connect the USB memory you want to use any available port, and the next step you can choose which version of Windows 10 you want. If you are wondering, the 32-bit version is for equipment with less than 4 GB of RAM, and 64 bits for those with 4 GB of RAM or more.

Below is the ability to select "USB flash drive", and can choose from a list of devices which one you want to use to install Windows 10 on a USB later. If you had a problem because you do not recognize your USB, returns to the previous step and instead choose ISO file.

If the USB recognized you simply wait until the process is complete, and if not, when you have downloaded the ISO file of Windows 10 continues to read in the following section.
2: For other operating systems, use Rufus

Rufus is a tool that will allow us to create bootable USB easily, that is, thanks to Rufus create everything needed to allow our PC instead of starting from the hard disk with the system installed, do so from the software we have insert chosen our portable memory.

Only we have to download the application from its official website, making it possible to choose between the version installed or portable version that does not require this process. Just after starting Rufus ask us about updates online, and if we give permission to look for on your own.

Even if you have not introduced the USB into an available port on your PC before starting the application, if you do it once open automatically recognized and available for use. It should not be the case you should try another USB port directly try with another USB or memory, install the operating system on a memory card.

When you have everything ready you must select what your USB drive in the list of devices we see at the top of Rufus. Make sure this is the drive you want to use to create a bootable USB Linux or other operating systems, because if you had another connected selection and lose all your data by mistake.

A part of the selection of the device, unless you know what you're doing and you want to customize other options, should go directly to the text field where it says "New Label". You can specify a name for the USB, which will be displayed when you connect it to another computer for easy recognition.

In the formatting options, keep the boxes as you can see in the picture, ie, the first has to be unchecked and the other three active options. You just have to select the location of the file containing the operating system you want to use to create your boot disk.

    Problems with Windows 10? You should check your installation

To do this, the third option, which indicates "create boot disk with" click directly on the box on the right with a drive and a floppy drive. Here you will have to choose the ISO image file or other supported format, which you should have previously downloaded, such as that gives us the tool of Windows 10 that we saw earlier.

When the process is complete and you will list your USB memory boot Linux or OS you have chosen, also known as bootable USB, you can use it to repair other equipment or make formatting without CDs.

Read More

Best Android Apps for May 2016

This month it made a little late with the count (sorry for that), but it is not because we have been short of options to show. As always, they were very useful, fun and likeable applications in Google Play Store, and we have a good selection for you. Here are the best Android apps for May 2016.

Tastemates

When you meet a new person with similar tastes to yours, it is more likely to become friends. They have more topics to talk about, and it is likely that connect better. Tastemates is a social network that is betting on this: when you register, you choose a movie that you really like, and from there qualify more: if you saw them, you like them or not have seen.

After that exercise, the app recommends like-minded and shows you their profiles, from where you can connect with them. This idea is not new Last.fm unforgettable -the works with the same premise, but with music-, but certainly worth checking out.

Spaces

This application is the latest idea of ​​the company Google for collaborative work. It allows, as its name implies create and manage collaborative spaces, where members of a small group can exchange files, notes, links or content. It is a kind of private forum where you can access through your smartphone -is Android, web and other Moviles operating systems, and is ideal for planning a vacation or sharing information on any subject. It's free.

quickreply

The option to respond to a notification directly from the bar, without having to open the application, will Android in version N. But if you can not wait and have a device with Marshmallow, you can download this app. It is compatible with most popular instant messaging services: WhatsApp, Telegram, FB Messenger, Hangouts or Skype, among others, though lack Slack-. It also lets you create bubbles chat for all those services, and even means you can leave messages seen in some apps (ideal for those who enjoy making others suffer the option). It is free.

Google Science Journal

All Android smartphones have a complete set of sensors, which most of the time users do not notice but it could become an interesting physics laboratory. Science Journal provides access to the readings offered by these sensors, so you can use your smartphone as a tool to make measurements of scientific experiments. Depending on the model you can have more or less information, but the minimum is the force of gravity, acceleration, ambient light and sound intensity. If you're doing experiments, you can record then review the results. It is free.

foobar2000

The insurance audiophiles know this veteran music player for Windows, which is made to withstand professional quality audio with low power consumption of PC resources. It turns out that just came to Android, and sure to be a welcome for music fans on high quality addition: supports FLAC, WAV and AIFF files, including low compression formats. It's free.

Read More

One Plus 3, the threat of high-end

The Chinese company has presented Tuesday its new "smartphone" is now available at a price of 399 euros. It has a 5.5-inch Amoled screen, 6GB of RAM and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor with four cores at 2.2 Ghz
OnePlus always arouses great expectations. And Tuesday has again achieved. It was not for less. A new 'smartphone' was about to leave the oven: the OnePlus 3. And if anything characterizes the "startup" China is impressive for its powerful ability to manufacture terminals, with their own high-end performance, and low price.

With OnePlus 3 they have not been disappointed. "It is a device built by technology enthusiasts for technology enthusiasts," Carl assured Pei, co-founder of the company, in the corporate blog. And not without reason.

To start OnePlus 3 reinvents the rapid charge system Charge Dash, a technology that ensures a full day of battery charging only half an hour. They say it is faster, safer and efficient, since the terminal is not heated.

The "smartphone" has a Optic Amoled 5.5-inch screen, has been equipped with 6GB of RAM, something impressive, surpassing the Samsung Galaxy S7 and iPhone 6S. And mounts a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor with four cores at 2.2 Ghz.

It operates on the latest version of OxygenOS, a fast, clean and lightweight operating system based on Android Marshmallow. "It integrates several functions that give you more control to customize the experience with your 'smartphone' as gesture recognition with the screen off and customizable buttons," says the company.

On the other hand, it is the aesthetic section. we will not be fooled. OnePlus are terminal with good technical characteristics and unattractive design. But this time, the company has decided to improve the aesthetics and quality of its "smartphone" means the metal body of a piece of OnePlus 3 is carved from a single block of aluminum of the highest quality. The result? An ultra-thin and robust design.

The camera is another great achievement. With 16 Megapixel, it has an ultrafast shutter speed, a fast autofocus and "software". In addition, the company has provided the OnePlus 3 technology innovative noise reduction, ensuring that every shot is sharp and defined, while two advanced stabilization methods prevent vibration and unwanted movements.

The OnePlus 3 is now available at a price of 399 euros. The purchase also can be done in virtual reality mode. In fact, fans were able to follow the presentation of the terminal of Google Cardboard put and purchase directly.

Read More

How to resize an image in Photoshop

Undoubtedly, one of the tasks most often perform computer users, regardless of what they are engaged in, is to resize an image to fit a specific use, ie shrink it to send it by mail to upload a image hosting site or enlarge to see better.

Although there are hundreds of free alternatives on the market, the fact is that many users prefer to use mainly because Photoshop it is a tool that provides professional results. Therefore this article looks precisely like resize an image through Adobe Photoshop.

From this point, we will learn how to resize images to the dimensions you need, always bearing in mind that the result is the best possible, ie that images remain clear and sharp. Before starting, it is necessary to mention that the procedure is the same in all versions of this software. Made the clarification, we start with the tutorial.

Resize images with Photoshop

The first thing we have to do to resize an image in Photoshop is of course open the image, and after that click on the item "Image" in the menu bar of Photoshop.


This will open the dialog "Image size", in which we find two different sections: "pixel dimensions" and "Document size". At this point, the section that interests us "pixel dimensions", because from here we can change the image size.

In this section, we have information available about the actual size of the image, being in the example, 1920 x 1080 pixels, with a size of 7.03 Mb, the latter figure does not serve to make the reduction, but it will be useful in the if you want to compare the before and after resizing the image.

Now, to resize an image to the size you want, we must modify the numbers are in "Width" and "Height".


To change these settings, all you have to do is select the numbers in the boxes and replace it with the number we need. When we finished, we click the "Ok" button.

Notably we can also resize the image to a percentage of the size of the original image instead of writing a specific pixel value. To do this, click on the dropdown menu next to the box "Width" or "Height" and select the "Percent" option.

Restrict the size of width or height

Surely, we will have already realized that when we change the value of "Width" or "Height", also changes the number of other value. This allows automatically preserve the aspect ratio of the images, that is to continue to maintain the same proportion and not distorted. This is desirable to avoid having to calculate the exact dimensions of the images manually.


But what happens when we need to distort an image or simply need a certain way. The solution is quite simple, and is in the same dialog "Image size".

If we look at this picture well, we can see that the boxes "Width" and "Height" are linked together by an icon that resembles a link. This means that the images are resized considering the aspect ratio.

If we want to change this behavior, all you have to do is uncheck the checkbox labeled "Constrain Proportions".

Relationship between image size and quality

As we could see, resize an image in Photoshop is quite simple, however when you resize an image must take into account that a more important factor: preserving the quality of it.


As a rule, resize an image to a smaller size to the original is not of greater problems related to quality, however, if there is degradation of the image when you resize to a larger size, which can sometimes leave the unusable image.


Here is an example of an image. To the right of the original image and left the same image enlarged to 200%.

In the picture we can see at a glance that the enlarged image has lost a lot of detail in the image, showing blurred. If we were to expand more, the disaster could still be worse.

Basically this happens because Photoshop, when reducing the size of an image, remove pixels of it, and thanks to their algorithms, it does so precisely and without sacrificing quality.

Now when you increase the size of an image, there is a problem, is that Photoshop has to "invent" pixels that are not there, that is not found in the original image.

Despite all the technology behind Photoshop, increase the size of an image is basically to let the program guess what pixels would in a certain place, and of course this can never have a good result can be approximated, and the result serve in certain occasions, but it is impossible to use in professional or where a crisp, clear picture that is required well-defined projects.

The general rule to resize an image with Photoshop

When resize an image in Photoshop, there is a general rule that determines that the more we have to enlarge an image, the worse it will be. Instead of having a clear and well detailed, get an opaque and blurred image. That is why if we need to enlarge an image using Photoshop, is best done on a small scale, a few pixels.


In case of need to reduce an image, most likely will not have any kind of problem, as long as the result of the transformation is exported in the format right for what we're doing image, but that's the subject of another article .

Read More