All posts tagged: alternatives

I replaced 6 official Android apps with open-source alternatives — they’re all much better

I replaced 6 official Android apps with open-source alternatives — they’re all much better

Published by skeptic

I did not start this experiment out of ideology. I have a Google account; I use a stock Android phone, and I have no interest in removing Google from my life entirely. I still want Android to feel like Android. But after years of using the official apps simply because they were already there, I couldn’t bear how much they expected from me in return. I’m talking about account sign-ins, cloud habits, ecosystem nudges, and features built around what a company would prefer me to use next. So I started replacing them one by one with open-source alternatives that had active communities and enough real-world credibility to survive daily use. Some swaps faded out after a week or two because they were too awkward, too limited, or too much effort to justify. These six stayed, though. Related 5 open-source Android apps that replace expensive subscriptions Subscription fatigue is real, and these apps are the cure. Gboard for Heliboard Gboard knows too much about you, and it doesn’t need to Gboard is one of the best …

Looking to watch the World Cup in the US without shelling out for YouTube TV? Here are the alternatives

Looking to watch the World Cup in the US without shelling out for YouTube TV? Here are the alternatives

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter The World Cup is upon us and while excitement abounds, plenty of people are still wondering how they can get in on the action from home. Over 100 games set to take place over the next five weeks, as the U.S., Canada and Mexico host soccer’s most prestigious international competition. The quadrennial men’s soccer championship begins June 11, with an opening match between Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City Stadium. The 48-team tournament will be held in 16 cities across the three host countries, with the final scheduled for July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. While certain countries will be able to watch all games for free on broadcast television, the U.S. is facing a different reality. Fox and Fox Sports (FS1) will be airing all World Cup matches from start to finish. Streaming is available via Fox ONE. …

5 Raspberry Pi alternatives that are cheaper and work just as well

5 Raspberry Pi alternatives that are cheaper and work just as well

Published by skeptic

The Raspberry Pi has always been the go-to single-board computer (SBC) for hobbysists, makers, and tinkerers—and for good reason. It’s well documented, has a massive community, and runs a polished OS out of the box. The problem is that it’s not exactly cheap anymore, and you might be able to skip the Raspberry Pi without regretting it. Thanks to a relentless surge in LPDDR4 memory prices, Raspberry Pi has been hiking prices across its lineup multiple times in quick succession. If you’re looking to pick one up today, the 8 GB variant alone can cost as much as $200. The 4 GB variant, hailed as the sensible budget option, is selling for well over $100 across retailers. Cheap isn’t what it used to be, and it might be time to start considering some actually cheap alternatives. Related 7 Projects For Your New 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 Put your new, ultra-powerful Raspberry Pi 5 to good use. Orange Pi Zero 3 Why the Orange Pi Zero 3 delivers more than its price suggests Orange PiCredit: Orange Pi …

Some Republican governors are rebranding June with conservative alternatives to Pride

Some Republican governors are rebranding June with conservative alternatives to Pride

Published by Sam Flores

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — June is widely recognized as Pride Month, but a handful of Republican governors have bestowed alternative titles that both supporters and opponents view as counterprogramming. Without directly saying the idea was to replace Pride, the governors of Indiana and Tennessee rebranded June as Nuclear Family Month to celebrate units made up of “one husband, one wife and any biological, adopted or fostered children.” In Alabama, it’s Strong Families Month, intended to coincide with Father’s Day. Gov. Kay Ivey’s proclamation says fathers are “the head of the household” and “homes led by a father and mother provide children with the structure and discipline necessary to succeed throughout life.” The governors of Utah and Arkansas deemed it Fidelity Month, which emphasizes fidelity to faith, country and family — without comment on how those families might be comprised. Last week, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ X account posted a link to an article about her proclamation that declared, “Another Red State is Counter-Programming Pride Month.” She and the other governors haven’t answered questions …

7-7-7 Parenting Rule: Benefits, Challenges And Alternatives

7-7-7 Parenting Rule: Benefits, Challenges And Alternatives

Published by Sam Flores

If you’re anything like me, you’re always on the lookout for new parenting tricks and tips to help make your life calmer – and your kids happier. I recently stumbled across something called the 7-7-7 parenting rule, where parents aim to spend seven minutes in the morning, seven minutes after school or work, and seven minutes before bed connecting with their child. Over the course of the day that’s 21 minutes of undivided attention – and experts say it can work wonders for their behaviour. Dr Sasha Hall, a senior educational and child psychologist, tells HuffPost UK the idea draws on attachment theory. “When children experience regular, undivided attention, it can strengthen emotional security and support regulation,” she explains. “Over time, this can reduce behaviours linked to seeking attention, as the need for connection is being met more consistently.” The benefits of the 7-7-7 rule If you’re juggling work, household responsibilities and family life, carving out this time and embedding it into your routine can give you something concrete to aim for, rather than a …

Pope Leo XIV compares AI to the Industrial Revolution – as new alternatives to big AI firms take shape

Pope Leo XIV compares AI to the Industrial Revolution – as new alternatives to big AI firms take shape

Published by Sam Flores

(The Conversation) — With the release of his encyclical letter Magnifica Humanitas on May 25, 2026, Pope Leo XIV has signaled that he wants the church to respond to artificial intelligence much as a predecessor, Pope Leo XIII, responded to upheavals during the Industrial Revolution over a century ago. Since the first act of his papacy – choosing his name – the current pope has repeatedly invoked the earlier Leo’s 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum. That document, which waded into the political and economic debates of the time, denounced the excesses of the Gilded Age and pointed toward a more just social order. Now, Leo XIV has used his first major statement to the world to present a new Rerum Novarum for the age of AI. Rerum Novarum was more than just a theological text. It helped reshape economic policy around the rights of workers, serving as a spiritual foundation for European social democracy and the 1930s New Deal programs that still undergird economic life for working Americans today. It also spurred a movement of entrepreneurs …

As the browser wars heat up, here are the hottest alternatives to Chrome and Safari in 2026

As the browser wars heat up, here are the hottest alternatives to Chrome and Safari in 2026

Published by skeptic

Google Chrome and Apple’s Safari currently dominate the web browser market, with Chrome holding a significant share due to the tech giant’s ongoing innovations, particularly in integrating generative AI into its search functionalities.  However, users seeking alternatives will find a variety of browsers aiming to challenge these industry giants. To help navigate the competitive landscape of the browser wars, we’ve compiled an overview of some of the top alternative browsers available today. This includes browsers leveraging AI, open source browsers that promote customization and privacy, and “mindful browsers” — a new term that refers to browsers designed to enhance user well-being. AI-powered browsers Image Credits:Perplexity Perplexity’s Comet Perplexity is the most recent startup in the space to launch an AI-powered web browser. Called Comet, the company’s new product acts as a chatbot-based search engine, and can perform actions like summarizing emails, browsing web pages, and performing tasks such as sending calendar invites. It’s currently only available to users with Perplexity’s $200/month Max plan, but there’s also a waitlist where people can sign up. The Browser …

I tested the 7 best MacBook alternatives for 2026

I tested the 7 best MacBook alternatives for 2026

Published by skeptic

{ container.appendChild(contentItem); });”> The 2025 Acer Aspire 16 AI is a stellar pick for casual users with limited budgets and simple workloads, particularly those who like a larger screen. (Younger students would make great use of it.) It’s portable for its size and long-lasting, so big ups if you frequently work on the go. We can’t say that it’s better than the Neo, but we can say it’s the best MacBook Neo alternative right now. { container.appendChild(contentItem); });”> The Aspire 16 AI is my reigning favorite cheap Windows laptop. It offers great multi-core performance for the money, a healthy amount of RAM and storage, plus a smooth display and all the ports you could need. You mainly feel its “budget-ness” in its build quality. Performance: The Aspire 16 AI’s Qualcomm Snapdragon X chip is about 40 percent slower than the Neo’s A18 Pro chip in single-core scenarios, so it doesn’t feel as responsive when you’re surfing the web or working in Word docs. That said, it’s just as good as running multi-core tasks like light …

Tired of AI Overviews? I found 9 Google Search alternatives that showed me links again

Tired of AI Overviews? I found 9 Google Search alternatives that showed me links again

Published by skeptic

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Google alternatives with little to no AI still exist. Startpage and DuckDuckGo are the top options. Mojeek is best for an independent search index. I’m not the biggest AI critic in the world, but even I’ll admit it: I don’t always want Google summarizing the internet for me. Honestly, I wish I could turn off AI Overviews. I also don’t want to be nudged into AI Mode with every query. Sometimes, I just want to type a few words, get a wall of blue links, and decide what to open myself. Yes, I know there are ways to make Google feel a little more like old Google, but they’re clunky. And, sure, I could switch to a different search engine, but that’s weird, right? Also: Google’s new AI Search box is here – along with agents and 5 more upgrades I’ve been Googling for 20 years. Still, it got me wondering: Are Google’s competitors going all in on …

From solar to charcoal, Cubans look for alternatives amid outages and fuel shortages

From solar to charcoal, Cubans look for alternatives amid outages and fuel shortages

Published by Sam Flores

According to Rodríguez, renewables are projected to cover 15% of energy demand by the end of the year. Renewables currently provide 10% of demand, up from 3% in 2024. By 2035, according to Cuban officials, renewables will cover 40% of demand, and by 2050, they will fully cover energy needs. In the last few years, the government has dramatically increased the installation of solar panels with Chinese financing and equipment donations; these have been placed in public spaces and hospitals. Right now, there are 54 solar parks, and by 2028 Cuba’s government expects to have 92 parks with China’s help, the government has said. The Cuban government has not given a breakdown of how it will use energy sources, like solar, wind, biomass and hydropower, in its quest to achieve its goal. Jorge Piñon, an energy expert at the University of Texas at Austin, thinks it will be very difficult for Cuba to fulfill its plans amid the country’s economic crisis and the high cost of transitioning to renewables, especially given the deteriorated state of …