Author: Martin Brinkmann

When I was young, I studied German, History and English at Essen University in Germany. I worked in computer support for several years at the time to help other computer users when they ran into issues. Writing started out as a passion project, as I wanted to help more users and not just the ones that I handled in support. This lead to the founding of Ghacks Technology News in 2005. First, as a side-project, but shortly thereafter as a full-time project as the site's popularity exploded. I sold Ghacks to Softonic some years ago, but stayed on as Editor. You can still read my articles on the site. I do publish on Betanews as well. In recent years, I started to write and publish technology books, including my latest book "Windows 11 From Beginner to Advanced", which is available on Amazon. I'm also a freelance writer for the German publisher Gamestar. Chipp.in is my newest project. I want to use it to talk about my book projects, sell my books directly, and write about technology, as this is what interests me.
Android

Google Play Store could soon takeover updates for sideloaded apps

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Android Authority reports that Google is working on a new Play Store feature to take over ownership of sideloaded apps. This would allow Google Play to update apps not installed via the official Store.

A feature introduced in Android 14 allows application stores to update ownership of apps. When you download an app from a Store, this store has ownership. This means that it is responsible for pushing updates and other changes. It may also have the power to delete apps.

The option to change ownership was designed initially to prevent the installation of apps from a store that differed from the original.

Now, it appears that Google is working on a feature that allows Play Store to take over ownership. It seems that this is a manual process, for now at least.

The main benefit of this is that users may then update apps through the Play Store, provided that the app is also hosted on Google’s store for Android.

A leaked screenshot shows the listing of an app that was not installed from Google Play. The app shows an “update from Play” button. When users activate the button, Play Store is taking over ownership to update the app. Future updates will then be provided via Play Store and not the original Store.

Third-party app stores may also be able to use the feature in the future.

Closing Words

While the changing of ownership may be useful in some cases, for example when the original owner is no longer available or an app is no longer available in the original store, it may also cause issues for certain apps, especially if they differ from the Play Store version.

This should not work for apps that are not offered on the Play Store. Certain kinds of apps, including apps that let users download videos from YouTube, are disallowed on the Play Store. They can, however, be installed from third-party stores.

The best option to avoid this for now is to ignore the “update from Play” button when browsing the Play Store. It remains to be seen if Google will implement other changes related to the taking of ownership.

Do you sideload apps on Android? If so, what is your preferred download source for apps? Feel free to leave a comment below.

Logitech Mouse

Mouse as a Service – Logitech thinking about the “endless mouse”

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

If you thought that we are at a point where every company under the sun has introduced a subscription-based service, then you may not have heard of Logitech’s idea — Mouse as a service (MaaS), also called the “endless mouse”.

The idea behind endless mouse is simple: create a mouse that buyers may use forever, but link software updates to a subscription plan.

In other words, if you want to keep the software of your mouse up-to-date, you need the subscription plan. Endless mouse therefore does not only mean a mouse that you use until you die, it also means endless money in the pockets of Logitech. Brilliant!

It is arguable if software updates make or break a mouse. There is a chance that Logitech is going to design the mouse in a special way. Take a cue from HP and require Internet connection before the mouse starts working and Logitech can check that the user has a valid subscription.

It sounds like a nightmarish idea. A toned-down variant could be a replacement service. Whenever your mouse dies or misbehaves, you will get a replacement mouse immediately from Logitech.

Logitech is probably not the only company that is trying to come up with ideas to improve revenue by creating new subscription services.

ArsTechnica has the details. The endless mouse is not a product that Logitech is working on currently, but it is discussed there. Once the idea is planted, Logitech could very well test the waters. Ars speaks of a $200 mouse for enthusiasts plus subscription money. Though, the subscription could be used to subsidize the price of the mouse.

Closing Words

Mouse as a Service, or endless mouse, sounds like something that could never work. The real question here is this: what is in it for the user? What advantage does a user have when that specific mouse is bought with that subscription plan in tow?

What does it offer that justifies the price and frequent payments? It cannot just be the mouse’s hardware and technology, as other mouse manufacturers offer similar functionality. This leaves software as the only differentiating factor. Good luck with that.

Why not buy three of four mice that are good for most users and tasks, and be done with that. Sustainability may be an argument for some.

What is your take on this? Would you pay for hardware that is linked to a subscription fee?

Skype

Skype is getting the Anti-Windows treatment: Microsoft removes all ads

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Is anyone still using Skype? Microsoft has just released a new development version of Skype and it comes fully loaded with new features and improvements.

Probably the biggest one is that Microsoft is removing all ads from Skype. The company announced the new Skype release on its Answers website.

There, Microsoft bids farewell to “ads in Skype channels and beyond”. It confirms that Skype is going ad-free, which means that users will no longer see ads in channels, in chats, or elsewhere.

We’re excited to announce that Skype is now ad-free! Our latest update removes all ads from Skype channels and the entire Skype platform, ensuring a smoother, decluttered and more enjoyable user experience.

Note: The change has not yet landed in stable versions of Skype. Microsoft has not revealed when it plans to make that version of Skype ad-free.

The new beta version of Skype includes other improvements, some of which are definitely noteworthy:

  • OneAuth for Skype supports Android and iOS now. The system unifies sign-ins. In other words, if you are signed into a Microsoft app, you will automatically be logged into Skype as well.
  • Revamped AI Image Creation. Now accessible via the chat window or the top bar. Microsoft says it does offer an enhanced user interface and better navigation as well.

Closing Words

I have to admit that I have not used Skype in a long time and I do not know how popular the solution still is. It is probably miles away from its prime, but it could still be the go-to tool for millions of users.

These will benefit from the removal of ads. While it is unclear when the change lands in the stable version of Skype, it cannot be too far away.

What about you? Do you still use Skype or do you prefer a different platform for chat and calls? Feel free to leave a comment down below.

Cassettes

This private media converter runs locally in your browser

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Sometimes, you may need to convert a file to another format. Maybe it is because the original file format is not supported by your application or a service, or because you would like to reduce its size.

Plenty of tools exist to do that using dedicated programs on all major operating systems. Many are easy to use, but it may still be necessary to download and install a program before it can be used.

File Converter is a free private online service that supports media conversions without all of that. Just launch the dedicated website of the service and start converting. There is no need to install software or extensions, and the developer says that everything happens right in the browser.

The main file converter interface.

In other words, you do not need an active Internet connection to convert files. In theory at last. Here is why:

  • To access the site, you do need to be online (there is no offline mode)
  • Furthermore, the FFMpeg WASM file needs to be downloaded.

Good news is that your files are not transferred to a server on the Internet during the process.

As far as file support is concerned, it is pretty good. The service supports a wide range of image, video, and audio file formats. To name a few: job, png, webp, webm, mp4, or mp3.

Use of the service is super-simple. Drop files on the designated area on the webpage, or click on it to open a file browser. Once you have added at least one supported file, pick the desired output format from the convert to menu.

Last step is to click on the convert files button to get the process started. Since it happens locally, performance depends on the local machine.

What are the downsides?

There are not many, but if you have converted media in the past you may have noticed that I did not mention customizations.

The reason for that is simple: there are not any. You cannot change anything, including:

  • Quality of images or audio files.
  • Resolution of videos.

If you need that, you need to find a different tool for the job.

Also, the digital file needs to be on the local device already. This is true for the majority of converters, maybe even all though.

Closing Words

If you need to convert a batch of media files to a different format, without changing anything else about them, then File Converter may be a suitable tool for the job.

If you need more control, you could check out the native FFMPEG or other programs, such as Handbrake for video, fre:ac for audio, or XnConvert for images.

What about you? Do you use online or offline media converters? If so, which do you use and why? Feel free to leave a comment with your preferred tools below.

Windows 11 Start Menu Companion Phone Link

Microsoft should add an option to hide the Windows Start menu

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

I use the Windows Start menu a few times per year. It is been replaced by the taskbar and other means to launch programs.

While I run a few searches per year, which open in the Start menu, I do not really use it for anything else. Also, I prefer to use the third-party tool Everything Search for searches, as it is better in most regards.

I have no need for the Start menu anymore

The Windows Start menu offers just a few functions:

  • Launch pad for installed apps.
  • Interface for search results.
  • Shutting down, logging out, or switching users.

I do not need these, with the exception of the occasional use for searches. Also, Microsoft is adding more and more elements to the Start menu that I do not need or want.

I’m talking about the recommendations section that you cannot disable fully, as well as various placements for what I would call advertisement for Microsoft-owned subscription services.

Launch pad for installed apps

All apps that I use regularly are pinned to the taskbar. To launch apps not pinned there, I have the following options:

  • Runbox: using Windows-R to launch, is fast. You need to know the name or shortcut though.
  • Terminal: not as straightforward as Runbox, still might appeal to some.
  • Search: the Search is linked to the Start menu, but it does not need it.
  • File Explorer: manually launching an executable, e.g., a portable app that is not listed in the Start menu by default anyway.

Interface for search results

Search and Start menu are two separate functions, but they are linked as they use the same hull.

It would probably be easy enough to separate them, or split them again. Also, tools like Everything offer a better search experience in many cases.

Sign out or shut down

Windows offers plenty of options to do these, including:

  • Right-clicking the Start button.
  • Using Ctrl-Alt-Del.
  • Running shutdown /f from the command prompt window.

The Start menu is not going anywhere, quite the contrary

Microsoft works constantly on changing the start menu of its Windows operating system. It introduced the dual layout of the start menu in Windows 11 and has tweaked it since then.

It is also working on adding new account functionality to the start menu and extensions, which display content on the sides.

I do not really know how many Windows users use the Start menu on a regular basis. Many might. An option to hide the Start button would be an option to give users the option.

What about you? Do you use the Start menu on Windows? If so, for what specifically? Feel free to write a comment down below.

Google is testing a compact mode in Chrome

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Whenever there is an option to turn on a compact mode, I pick it. The main reason for that is that compact mode removes whitespace so that more content is displayed on the screen at the same time.

Google is testing a compact mode for its Chrome web browser. An experimental flag was added in Chrome Canary that adds the mode to the browser.

Compact Mode reduces the height of the user interface elements tabstrip and other toolbars, including the bookmarks toolbar. Google says that this frees up space for web content.

Here is how you enable it:

  1. Load chrome://flags/#compact-mode in the browser’s address bar.
  2. Set the status of the experimental flag to Enabled.
  3. Restart Google Chrome.
  4. Right-click on a blank spot on the tabstrip and select Toggle Compact Mode.

The change is immediate, a restart of the browser is not required. Repeat the steps listed above to restore the regular interface of the Chrome browser.

Chrome Compact Mode vs. Normal Mode

Here is a before and after screenshot for comparison:

The normal Chrome user interface
The normal Chrome user interface
The new Compact interface of the Chrome browser
The new Compact interface of the Chrome browser

The height of the toolbars is reduced, which means that they take up less space. It is a useful feature for users who want compact toolbars to free up room for web content displayed in the browser.

Note: Google lists compact mode as a prototype right now. Since it is an experimental flag, it is not guaranteed that the feature will make it into stable Chrome. It could change before it lands or it could be pulled entirely by Google before Stable users can set their sights on the feature.

Closing Words

I prefer compact modes, but this is not enough to convince me to make Chrome my default browser. It would go too far to list my reasons here, but I prefer browsers that are not run by advertising companies.

What is your preference? Compact Mode all the time or do you prefer other modes? Feel free to leave a comment down below.

X Data Sharing AI Grok Setting

X’s AI Grok uses your data for training by default – here is how you can turn that off

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

If you use X, you may have heard about the AI Grok already. Currently, xAI and Grok are playing catch-up with the current AI allstars. Plans are to push Grok to first place by the end of the year.

Whether that is going to happen or not remains to be seen. What is clear is that Grok, like any large language model, needs access to as much data as possible.

One source for such data is X itself. If you use X, your data on the site is used to train and fine-tune Grok by default.

X says that it is using posts, interactions, inputs, and results to train the AI on the site.

Block X from using your data to train the AI

If you do not want that, you may make a change in settings and also delete your conversation history.

Here is how that is done:

  1. Click on this link to open the setting directly on X.
    • If you prefer, you may also go there manually (Menu > Settings and privacy > Privacy and safety > Grok.
  2. Uncheck “Allow your posts as well as your interactions, inputs, and results with Grok to be used for training and fine-tuning”.
  3. Optional step: click on Delete conversation history to delete all interactions with Grok.

Note: Grok access is limited to X-subscribers at the time of writing. Your data may still be used to train the AI, even if you are not a subscriber or have used Grok in the past.

Once you have made the change, Grok will no longer use your posts on Twitter for training.

Now you: do you use X? What is your take on the default setting? Feel free to leave a comment down below.

Microsoft Bing

Microsoft working on next step to make AI centerpiece of Bing Search

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

In some years from today, search engines will likely look completely different. The traditional way of showing links to websites that match the search query best, at lest according to the search engine that you are using, is being phased-out.

The replacement comes in form of AI generations. AI takes the user’s query, generates a response and returns it to the user.

Microsoft revealed a new experiment that it runs on Bing currently that is shifting towards this.

When a user runs a search, Bing will use an AI-generated response for the search results page. It is the first thing that the user sees. While there are regular web links attached afterwards, most searches tend to focus what happens above the fold.

So, AI generates a result and Bing shows it to the searcher first. This includes links to sources and Microsoft says that this will drive more traffic to sites than regular search pages. The claim is not backed up, though.

AI generated results do not work equally well on all types of user searches. Search for something new or unique, and you may not get an answer that you find sufficient.

Search for common knowledge, and you may get an answer that you find useful. AI may still hallucinate and display answers that are factually incorrect.

The future of search

For sources to be included in the answers of AIs, they need to allow them to be crawled. Any source that does not, either for exclusive deals with certain companies or for other reasons, won’t have their pages linked by the AI.

While Microsoft says otherwise, it seems clear that this new type of search format benefits larger websites more than smaller ones. Lesser known sites will be pushed further down still, which will likely reduce traffic further to them.

Google, Microsoft, and other search companies are interested in keeping searches on their properties. Direct answers, integrated tools, and other services are added constantly to search engines to keep searchers, and their eyes on ads, on the search engine’s site.

Plenty of smaller publishers have given up in the past already. Remember Freeware Genius? An excellent site for freeware recommendations. The site was heavily punished by Google Search for unknown reasons and died because of that.

Samer, the creator of the site, never found out why his site tanked in first place.

The trend will continue. Bing, Google, and others will use AI to keep searchers longer on their sites.

What about you? Do you find AI results useful?

AMD Frame Latency Meter

AMD released a new open source tool that works on Windows PCs, even those with NVIDIA cards

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

AMD has released the first version of Frame Latency Meter, an open source tool for Microsoft Windows devices that is measuring the latency of the mouse.

Technically, Frame Latency Meter helps getting insights into a system’s performance by measuring the mouse’s response time from the moment it is moved to the moment the frame is displayed on the screen.

Who is the target for the tool? This is an advanced tool that aims at game developers, but also power gamers who like to squeeze as many FPS as possible out of their rigs.

Here are the details:

  • Frame Latency Meter is compatible with devices running Windows 10 or 11.
  • It works on AMD, Intel, or Nvidia devices.
  • Data can be exported to CSV files.
  • Hotkeys are available and configurable.
  • Screen capture region can be customized.

The main advantage of AMD’s tool is that it does not require any special equipment.

AMD has a quick start guide on the project’s GitHub repository. While you can simply run the program after download, it does not need to be installed, you end up with the default configuration.

AMD suggests the following steps:

  1. Configure the primary monitor to run the game on — Set to free sync or a manual refresh rate. AMD suggests to start with 60Hz first.
  2. Run the application.
  3. Press the right Alt-key to set the capture region bounding box. (only shows if the game is running in windowed mode).
  4. Run the game.
  5. Use the shortcut Alt-T to enable and disable the capturing.

In theory, you could use the tool to optimize gaming performance on any Windows system that meets the requirements.

Most gamers won’t, but it is nevertheless an interesting tool, especially for game developers who want to make sure their games run fine. Game developers who used high speed camera setups in the past may want to give this a go to see how it stacks up. It is a much cheaper option, after all.

Gamers who want to optimize their systems may run game-specific benchmarks to do so. This is a good way of adjusting game settings to improve performance.

What about you? Do you play computer games on your Windows systems? Feel free to leave a comment down below to let us know.

Windows 11: Microsoft bundling controls for recommendations and offers

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

One of the main points of criticism in regards to the ever increasing number of recommendations and offers in Microsoft’s Windows 11 operating system is that they cannot be managed from a central location.

If you want to turn them all off elegantly, you either have to go through various sections, or use a third-party application like WinAero Tweaker, or O&O’s ShutUp10++, or one of the many other tools that help users do that.

Recommendations & offers in Windows 11 Settings

Windows 11 Recommendations & Offers Setting
New group of Settings to control ads and promotions in Windows 11. Image source: Phantom of Earth

Microsoft is working on introducing a central location for recommendations and offers. While it is doubtful that this will cover all promotions that Microsoft throws at users nowadays, it at least merges related settings from various locations into a single group in the Settings app.

Discovered by Phantom of Earth and published on X, Recommendations & offers provides the following options at the time of writing:

  • Personalized offers — Get personalized tips, ads, and recommendations based on Windows activity.
  • Allow websites to access my language list.
  • Improve Start and search results — By tracking which apps get opened.
  • Show notifications in Settings.
  • Recommendations and offers in Settings — Allow Windows to show product recommendations and offers in Settings.
  • Advertising ID.

The new group is found under Settings > Privacy & Security. You do need to run the latest Beta of Windows 11 and may need to enable it by running the command .\vivetool /enable /id:49666228,48433719 from an elevated PowerShell prompt.

Closing Words

Clearly, this new group of Settings is still inferior to what tweaking apps offer. It may still expose more of these settings to users who do not use the tweakers or configure their systems using Registry tweaks or policies.

What is your take on this new group of settings? Move in the right direction? Feel free to leave a comment down below.