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A file with the .reg file extension is a Windows Registry file. It’s a text-based file created by exporting values from the Registry and can also be used to add or change values in the Registry. What is the Windows Registry? The Windows Registry is a hierarchical database where Windows and many applications store configuration settings. You can access the Registry via the Registry Editor app into Windows. The view is divided into a list of keys (folders) on the left and values on the right....

Exposure bracketing is a technique where, instead of taking a single photo, you take three (or more) that are all exposed slightly differently; normally one is correctly exposed, one slightly underexposed, and one slightly overexposed. It’s in quite a few situations, so let’s look at how it works. The Basics of Exposure Bracketing Getting exposure right can be a complex subject. There are lots of things you have to balance: how your camera is metering the scene, your camera’s dynamic range, and of course, what settings you’re using....

“Beautygate,” the latest iPhone -gate that can make images of people seem too smoothed out, is a result of two things: the new Smart HDR feature and aggressive noise reduction. But what is digital noise reduction and why is it so important? Let’s find out. How Camera Sensors Work The digital sensor in your phone or camera is made from millions of small photosites. Each photosite corresponds to one pixel in the final image....

When you type out a message and tap “Send,” it feels like it’s sent instantly. However, there’s an even faster method called “RTT”, and it’s a valuable feature for the hearing and speech impaired. What Is RTT? “RTT” stands for “Real-Time Text,” and it’s a protocol for text calls. That’s right, it’s not text messaging as you might normally think. RTT is a way to have a text conversation in real time over a phone call....

With all the apps we have on our iPhones these days, organizing them into folders is pretty much a requirement. But why does Apple still only show nine apps per folder page, especially with screen sizes getting bigger? Apple first introduced folders in iOS 4, and you could only have up to 12 apps in a single folder—they bumped up that number to 16 starting with the iPhone 5. But the nice thing was that all 16 would appear on the screen at once....

Why Is My Battery Icon Yellow? A white battery icon means your iPhone is in “standard” power mode and red indicates a battery that is below 20%. But, when your iPhone battery is yellow, this means you’ve (somehow) enabled Low Power Mode, which is designed to preserve as much battery life as possible. Most importantly, this doesn’t necessarily indicate that there is a problem with your battery. The “solution” isn’t to replace your device’s battery or perform more in-depth troubleshooting....

Windows had long had an inferior command line environment compared to other operating systems. Windows 10’s WSL, which lets you run Bash and other Linux shells, is great. But it’s based on the old Windows Console, as seen in the Command Prompt. These windows don’t have tabs, a feature Linux and Mac terminal windows have had for a very long time. With the failure of Sets, it looks like the classic console windows won’t be getting them....

In a blog post, Spotify announced the deal for new subscribers. The company said, “Here’s the breakdown: from November 29 through December 31, 2021, eligible Spotify Free and first-time Spotify listeners can sign up for our Individual Premium plan for three months for free.” That means even if you have an existing Spotify Free account, you can switch to Premium for three months without spending a penny. Of course, you’ll have to cancel your account before the free trial ends, or you’ll be charged at the regular $9....

Google recently released the February security update for Pixel devices, which closes a hole that would allow malicious PNG files to “execute arbitrary code within the context of a privileged process.” In simpler terms, the code can run at a high level and steal your info—all you need to do is open the file. That’s it. That means any PNG that comes to you—be it in an email, a messaging client, or even over MMS—could potentially hijack the system and steal valuable data....

The ASUS ExpertBook B9 is now available for purchase, following a series of ExpertBook announcements from ASUS a couple of months ago. This specific laptop, according to ASUS, is the lightest 14″ laptop currently in the market, at 0.59 inches thin (1.49 cm). It’s equipped with Intel’s 12th gen Core i7 silicon (not the latest, but still very respectable), also making use of the vPro platform, meaning it’s a great option for business and getting work done on the go....

Reduce Motion Sickness and Speed Up Your Phone Screen animations are great, and they’re often a part of what makes a new phone seem so smooth. But animations aren’t without their shortcomings, especially on older phones with updated operating systems. See, modern operating systems use animations for every purpose imaginable. Whether you’re transitioning between apps, turning off the phone, unlocking the screen, or receiving a notification, your phone is going to play a quick animation to make things look nice....

As Microsoft revealed, only people who clicked “Check for Updates” got bitten by Windows 10’s file deletion bug. When you click the “Check for Updates” button, Microsoft gives you updates early, skipping a normal part of the testing process. “We Encourage You Not to Click ‘Check for Updates’” Don’t take our word for it. Here’s how Microsoft defended its performance after Windows 10’s October 2018 Update was found deleting some people’s files:...

December is the time of year when every single app wants you to take a look back at the year that was. Spotify is the leader of the charge with Spotify Wrapped, but Google Photos is rolling out its own year in review for your pictures. As reported by 9To5Google, Google is rolling out a Best of 2021 feature that will help you take a trip down memory lane to see some of the most interesting photos you took over the year....

Chrome 69, which marks the browser’s 10-year anniversary, is a huge release. The slick new theme is the most visible change, but there are more new features. For example, you can now personalize Chrome’s New Tab page with background images and custom shortcuts. New “Material Design” Theme You’ll know you’re using the new Chrome because you’ll see a new theme after it updates. Things mostly work the same, although there’s a new profile icon near the menu bar....

How April Fools’ Day Has Gotten Worse April Fools’ Day seems to get worse every year. And no, we don’t think it’s just us getting old. The way the Internet works—and the way everyone from tech companies to news websites approaches April Fools’ Day—is fundamentally different. The BBC’s famous 1957 hoax showed spaghetti being harvested from trees. Sure, maybe this fooled some people, but it was funny. With a bit of knowledge or research, you could discover that this just wasn’t physically possible....

People might be calling each other less, but we still use our phones for communicating over services like iMessage. Why not give your contacts nicknames for easier calling and texting? It makes them quicker to find and looks neater, too. Being able to send a message to “Mom” instead of having to find your mother’s name doesn’t sound all that amazing, but you’d be surprised how easy it is to skip right past someone when you don’t normally call them by the name that they’re saved as....

Where in Your Home to Put an Air Purifier There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the best placement for an air purifier. It depends on many factors, including the specifics of your air purifier, your home, and where you spend the most time. You should ideally start thinking about the placement of your air purifier while you are shopping for it. This is because the number of air purifiers you are buying and how big of an area they can efficiently clean will play a significant role in where you will put your air purifier....

If you’re a fan of shell scripts in macOS, you’ve probably noticed how running one will leave you with a useless Terminal window after it’s completed. You can fix this from the Terminal settings. This method only works if you’re launching a shell script outside of bash, such as by clicking on it in Finder or by setting a custom hotkey to open the program. Otherwise, you’ll just be taken back to the command prompt....

How to Get Connected with McDonald’s Wi-Fi It’s pretty simple to log onto the Wi-Fi connection at your nearest McDonald’s. The procedure is pretty much the same whether you’re using Mac, Windows PC, Chromebook, iPhone, iPad, or Android phone. Find a Location If you’re on the road and not sure where the closest restaurant is, you can use the McDonald’s locator page. Search by city, state, or ZIP code and head to the nearest location....

Including related files and calendar events in Google Docs is easier than ever. With Smart Chips, you can quickly embed a file from Google Drive, Sheets, or Slides, or a Google Calendar event. The Smart Chips feature first rolled out for contacts. This gives Google Docs users the ability to mention a contact in the document to embed their contact card. Luckily, the feature expanded to include files and events, with associated options for each....