All posts tagged: alternative

I thought VLC was peak until I found this cleaner alternative

I thought VLC was peak until I found this cleaner alternative

Published by skeptic

I have been using VLC for so long that I forgot it was even a choice. A few weeks ago, though, I was watching a film late at night and, for whatever reason, I looked at the screen a bit more critically, and all I could see were buttons everywhere. Playback controls, equalizer icons, and a menu bar stretching across the top. Even though you can customize the look and layout of VLC Media Player to hide parts of it, none of it helped me watch the movie; it was just there, demanding attention. That small, slightly irrational irritation sent me down a bit of a rabbit hole. I’d found MPV earlier and stuck with it for its minimalism, but along the way, I stumbled upon Glucose Media Player. I wasn’t expecting much, but after a few minutes, it became obvious this wasn’t just another VLC alternative. It felt noticeably cleaner. OS Windows Developer(s) Vincent L Price model Free (open-source) Glucose Media Player is a lightweight Windows video player with a clean interface and support …

Boost heart health, learn new skills and fall in love with cardio with this athlete-approved alternative to road running

Boost heart health, learn new skills and fall in love with cardio with this athlete-approved alternative to road running

Published by Jenni Sidey

In February, Anna Gibson finished fourth for Team USA alongside mixed relay partner Cam Smith as ski mountaineering (aka skimo) made its Olympics debut. It capped a remarkable rise for the Wyoming native. A prodigious runner from an early age, Gibson had only entered the sport 18 months earlier at the behest of teammate Smith. Rather than in skis and skins on snowy slopes, it was on the dusty running trails of Grand Teton National Park and the vertical kilometer of Palisades Tahoe where Gibson, 26, forged her athletic prowess. Article continues below You may like Now the Olympian is setting her sights on climbing to the top of the sport she first fell in love with, a sport she believes all runners would benefit from trying. Here the 26-year-old explains why we should all head for the trails this summer. Five reasons why you should try trail running 1. It’s mentally stimulating “You will never do the same run twice,” Gibson tells Fit&Well. “Even if you run the same trail every single day, the …

I stopped using Google Docs on mobile after finding this free Microsoft Office alternative

I stopped using Google Docs on mobile after finding this free Microsoft Office alternative

Published by skeptic

Microsoft Office may be one of the best ways to deal with documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, but it clearly isn’t the only option. People have been looking for Microsoft Office alternatives for a while, and different options appeal in different ways: better privacy, compatibility, or features. I often feel I am not paying Microsoft enough, but that hasn’t stopped me from looking for viable alternatives. However, I have found something problematic with almost all Microsoft Office alternatives: the editing experience in their mobile apps. For what it’s worth, the Android and iOS apps for Microsoft Office do a decent job of letting us edit documents with ease. However, things change quite drastically when we consider the alternatives to Microsoft Office. Related You Can Now Use Microsoft Office for Free, but There’s a Catch Microsoft 365 is now free on your PC, but there are some limitations. Mobile editing on most Office alternatives is still frustrating The gap between desktop and mobile is wider than it should be Alvin Wanjala/MakeUseOfCredit: Alvin Wanjala/MakeUseOf Let’s take Google Docs, for …

I love AirTags, but this alternative slips right in my wallet and solves their biggest flaw

I love AirTags, but this alternative slips right in my wallet and solves their biggest flaw

Published by skeptic

pros and cons Pros Tough polycarbonate construction built to last in a wallet or purse. 5-month battery life with wireless recharging. Simple to use, no third-party app needed Cons High price (but on par with similar tracker cards). I wouldn’t use this as a luggage tag. more buying choices Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. Once again, I’m waxing lyrical about Apple AirTags. I absolutely love them. They’ve been the one piece of tech that has truly transformed my life. But as much as I adore them, they’re not perfect. One thing that hasn’t changed in the nearly five years since their release is their shape. No matter how big of a fan I am — and I consider myself their No. 1 fan — even I have to admit that their little UFO-like design doesn’t fit well into a wallet or purse. Also: This AirTag alternative with a 130dB siren and strobe light has my name written all over it I’ve tried all sorts of solutions to make AirTags work for …

How I turned my Android tablet into the ultimate Kindle alternative – for free

How I turned my Android tablet into the ultimate Kindle alternative – for free

Published by skeptic

Kerry Wan/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. It’s been a rough week for Amazon Kindle users, with ebook prices continuing to climb and a series of older models no longer receiving software and security updates.  That’s where repurposing comes in hand. Tablets already do everything e-readers like Kindles do. So turning one into an e-reader is easier than you think. With a few tweaks, any iPad or Android tablet can feel pretty close to an e-reader.  Also: Your Kindle’s not obsolete, it just needs a jailbreak – and I’ll show you how it’s done Your tablet can become your personal library and even do a better job than a dedicated device. Like e-readers, tablets let you read digital books, but they also tend to have more storage than dedicated devices, so you can carry thousands of titles at once. Here’s how I converted mine. How to turn a tablet into an e-reader Look through the apps on the tablet you plan to use as an e-reader and remove any that will be …

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie’s ‘alternative’ Easter plans without the royal family

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie’s ‘alternative’ Easter plans without the royal family

Published by Daniella Wilson

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are making “alternative” plans for Easter Sunday, after it was revealed they won’t be attending the royals’ traditional service.  King Charles and Queen Camilla are confirmed for the church ceremony at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, with the Prince and Princess of Wales and other members of the royal family also expected to attend.  It’s likely that the Princesses, who have been lying low since the publication of Epstein files in January, will quietly be celebrating the day at home with their families, as HELLO! understands they are making “alternative” plans for Easter this year.  The two daughters of Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor still have grace-and-favour homes – potential options for where they will be spending the day.  Beatrice, who is married to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, has her main home in the Cotswolds, but still has an apartment in St James’s Palace in London. They have two daughters, Sienna, three, and Athena, one. Beatrice is also stepmother to Edo’s son Wolfie.  Princess Beatrice’s royal role ‘could be questioned’ in the …

I tried to destroy this AirTag alternative, but it wouldn’t crack – unlike others

I tried to destroy this AirTag alternative, but it wouldn’t crack – unlike others

Published by skeptic

pros and cons Pros These touch tags can withstand life on key chains and being dropped. They feature a USB-C rechargeable battery, so there are no button cells to mess with. They work with both iPhone and Android devices. Cons The little cover for the USB-C port isn’t attached, so it could become lost. Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. Yes, once again, I declare my undying love for the Apple AirTag. Overnight, that little plastic disc has pretty much eliminated the stress of losing things like keys and bags. But if you’re an Android user, you’re not invited to the AirTag party. Thankfully, a host of third-party makers have stepped in to fill the void. And while no tag is quite as good as the AirTag — precision finding that takes you directly to the tag feels like magic — there are still some great alternatives out there. But there’s one big problem: durability. Life on a keychain is tough. Keys are hard, sharp, and they get dropped, stepped on, …

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie to make ‘alternative plans’ at Easter amid family crisis

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie to make ‘alternative plans’ at Easter amid family crisis

Published by Daniella Wilson

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie won’t be attending the royal family’s traditional service at Easter on Sunday, it has been revealed.  The sisters, who are the daughters of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, have regularly attended the Matins service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor in the past.  However, they have increasingly withdrawn from public life following revelations about their parents’ friendship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.  HELLO! understands that, with the agreement and understanding of The King, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have made alternative plans for this Easter. However, they are very much part of the family, as seen during their recent appearance at Christmas in Sandringham, and will be seen at future family celebrations.  In January, the US Department of Justice released three million further documents in the so-called Epstein files, with emails showing Sarah took her daughters to visit Epstein shortly after he was released from prison in 2011. Princess Beatrice & Eugenie battling ‘complete and utter personal crisis’ The sisters also didn’t attend Cheltenham Racing Festival earlier this …

I tried this Shokz alternative for my runs, and the price-to-performance ratio surprised me

I tried this Shokz alternative for my runs, and the price-to-performance ratio surprised me

Published by skeptic

pros and cons Pros Six-hour battery life Intuitive buttons IPX8 water resistance Low price for bone-conduction tech Cons Not designed for swimming Requires a proprietary charging cable Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. With the arrival of nicer weather, it’s time to get back outside. If you’re like me then you enjoy music, podcasts, and audiobooks while out and about. One of the best ways to improve safety while listening to audio is with a bone conduction headset like the H2O Audio Tri Run. Also: I finally found bone conduction headphones that stay on while swimming (and they sound great) H2O Audio has several bone conduction headsets, with the new Tri Run being its most affordable for $100. This low price is compelling for bone conduction technology and after biking with it over the past few weeks, I’m convinced it’s an excellent option for anyone new to the format.  Fit and usability  There are a few key aspects I look for in bone conduction headsets for exercise: the most important being fit, battery life, …

Windows’ default file copy is embarrassingly slow compared to this free open-source alternative

Windows’ default file copy is embarrassingly slow compared to this free open-source alternative

Published by skeptic

Windows Explorer does basic file operations just fine. Drag and drop a few files, and they move in an instant. However, if you are moving a large folder with mixed file types, it chokes and slows to a crawl. This comes from a design choice in how Windows stages file operations. While you can use a third-party app like FastCopy to move large files faster, Windows has always had RoboCopy, a built-in command-line utility that handles large transfers significantly better. But it’s less popular due to its command-line interface. ChoEazyCopy wraps RoboCopy in a proper GUI, making it accessible without you needing to memorize a single command. What’s RoboCopy, and why is it faster than File Explorer? A powerful built-in copy tool hidden behind the command line There’s a simple reason why File Explorer takes forever to start copying files. It stages every operation before transferring, processing files one at a time. This approach works for a handful of files, but with thousands of small files or deeply nested folders, the progress bar slows to …