November 2019 – Page 4 – Batterie Store Blog

6 Essential macOS Features for Hearing-Impaired Users

In the past, many technology companies made minor efforts to provide accessibility features for their products. Phones and computers have become a part of us, making them even more important than ever.

As the age of technology continues forward, Apple has perfected a variety of features for hearing-impaired users. From visual guides to new versions of Siri, Macs are now able to become primary tools for more individuals. This guide focuses on several macOS settings and tweaks that are perfect for anyone with hearing impairments.

6. iMessage

A free and simple solution for those who are hearing impaired is to communicate with others via a messaging service app. Apple, in an intelligent move, decided to bring the free iMessage messaging app for iPhones and iPads to Mac devices.

In the moments where you don’t have your phone by your side, this preinstalled app is the perfect alternative. The handoff feature allows those of you who own an iPhone to get iMessages on both your iPhone and Mac simultaneously. As long as you have a Wi-Fi or hotspot connection, your Mac can send and receive messages for free.

5. Mono Audio

Some individuals might have the ability to hear in only one ear. And while those of us with average hearing can use two headphones to hear directionally, macOS offers a simple solution. Mono Audio lets you play both audio tracks in each ear, allowing all sounds to be audible in all situations.

You can access this by bringing up Spotlight Search (keyboard shortcut Command + Spacebar), then typing “Accessibility” and looking under the Hearing tab for the Audio section. Make sure to check the box that says “Play stereo audio as mono” and you should now hear mono audio in both headphones.

4. Closed Captions

Apple works closely with their products to provide accessibility in all formats. For those hard of hearing, a great tool is Closed Captions. The iTunes store hosts movies, television shows, podcasts, and music that are all fully captioned.

Although not every piece of media on the iTunes store has Closed Captions, it’s always best to check. The best way to know if a product has Closed Captions is to check for the little CC icon once you are viewing it, as featured above. And if you’re into customization, you can even use different fonts and sizes to help make the text more visible.

Perhaps you already use Closed Captions due to the volume never feeling loud enough. Curious if you should get a hearing test? Consider giveing yourself a hearing test for free.

3. Face Time

While features such as phone calls are catered towards those who can hear, Face Time is perfect for anyone who can use sign language as well. Included in most Apple products, from Macs to iPod touches, this free software allows users to communicate via audio and visuals. The Mac app works seamlessly on Wi-Fi and can even be used to Face Time those who are using their iPhone.

Face Time was worked from the ground up to provide a quick frame rate and visuals that work even in low lighting—perfect for those who need to capture every detail on screen.

2. Type to Siri

Siri is Apple’s on-screen assistant, found in Macs and iPhones. With the push of a button, you can babble any request, question, or alarm you wish to set. Siri is prompted via voice, by either directly saying her name or by a button. But the new Type to Siri feature allows anyone to inquire from Siri.

First, let’s go back to the Accessibility screen under Mac settings. Under the Interaction tab, you’ll see a Siri header, select “Enable Type to Siri” and watch as you communicate to Siri and receive answers without the need for voice. She’ll even dictate her answers back to you.

1. Screen Flash

The greatest accessibility tool that Apple includes in the newer Macs is Screen Flash.

Screen Flash is a helpful tool for those who want alerts on their computers but would be unable to register the noises. You can use Screen Flash with every App and program that uses system sounds. This means a complex network of notifications can all be signified via Screen Flash, making this feature absolutely critical for those who are Hearing-Impaired.

To access this feature, first, head back into the Accessibility window. Under Hearing, click on the Audio tab. You’ll find a button that says “Flash the screen when an alert sound occurs.” Check the box and make sure to test the screen flash. If it is too bright, adjust your brightness setting to make things more comfortable.

Along with these great Mac features, many developers are working together with the operating systems of phones and computers to provide more valuable accessibility to all impaired users. These iPhone and iPad Apps help immeasurably with those who have learning, visual, and audio impairments.

Welcom to batteriestore.co.uk!We are a manufacturer representative and wholesaler that specializes in Laptop Batteries and Laptop AC Adapters . We have tested Batteries from virtually every manufacturer on the market. Our commitment is to provide our customers with the price/performance available on the market.

Please read the product details carefully to ensure that the brand, model and compatibility of the laptop battery you purchased meets your needs. If you need help, please contact us. Email: info@batteriestore.co.uk.

How to Move Installed Apps & Programs in Windows 10

If you’ve got a lot of apps and programs installed on your Windows 10 system, you might want to move them to another drive to free up space. It may also be necessary to change your default install location. Happily, all of these things are possible.

Windows has a built-in utility that allows you to move modern apps to a location of your choice. Although this method doesn’t work for traditional desktop programs, it’s still possible to move these programs to another drive.

Let us show you how to move an app or program to another drive.

How to Move Apps & Programs to Another Drive

It’s quick to move most of the native Windows apps, but the process of moving anything else will require additional work. First, we’ll outline the process for Microsoft Store apps, then we will take a look at traditional desktop programs.

Modern Apps

Press Windows key + I to bring up the Settings menu and click Apps. You should be on the Apps & features page of the left-hand navigation.

Here you will find a list of all apps and programs installed on your system. Some of these apps might have come with your system, the others you installed yourself. This method will only work with the latter group.

Scroll to the app that you want to move and select it from the list. Now, click Move. Select the new drive location from the dropdown, then click Move again.

You can repeat the process if you ever want to move the app back or to a different drive.

If the Move button is greyed out, it means it’s a Windows 10 app that can’t be moved. If you see a Modify button instead, it’s a traditional desktop program and you’ll need to follow the method outlined below.

Desktop Programs

Microsoft doesn’t recommend moving the file location of installed programs because it can cause issues, like the program ceasing to run. A safer (though less efficient) method is to uninstall the program and then just reinstall it to your desired drive.

If you do want to proceed, create a restore point so you can reverse the changes, if anything goes wrong.

We recommend using a program called Steam Mover. This was originally designed to move Steam games between drives, but will actually work on any program. You can use it to move programs from your HDD to SSD, for example.

Note that any drive you want to use with this program, whether it’s where the installed program currently sits or where you want it moved to, needs to be in the NTFS format. You can check this by loading File Explorer and then clicking This PC from the left-hand navigation. Now, right-click a drive and select Properties. Refer to the File system to see if it’s using NTFS.

Open Steam Mover. First, select the … button next to Steam Apps Common Folder to select the folder path which contains the program you want to move (for example, your Program Files). Now, select the … button next to Alternative Folder and select the folder path where you want to move the program to.

Next, select the program from the list that you want to move. You can select multiple programs by holding CTRL as you click. When ready to move, click the blue right arrow at the bottom to begin. Command Prompt will open and process the move. When complete, you’ll see the new folder path next to the program in the Junction Point column.

How to Change the Default Install Location.

If you just want to change the default install location for apps, that’s simple. Changing it for standard programs is a bit more complicated.

Modern Apps

Press the Windows key + I to bring up the Settings menu. From here, click System and then select Storage from the left-hand menu.

Underneath the More storage settings heading, click Change where new content is saved. To change the default drive for new apps, use the New apps will save to: dropdown.

You will notice that this page also allows you to change the default location of things like documents, music, and pictures.

Desktop Programs

Microsoft doesn’t recommend changing the default install path for programs. Doing so could cause problems with existing programs and some Windows features. It’s best to perform this operation on a clean system. If that’s not suitable, create a restore point so that you can roll back if necessary.

The majority of programs will let you change the install path when installing them, which might be a better solution than fiddling with the system.

If you do want to proceed, we recommend a program called Install Dir Changer. Download it from SourceForge and then run the program.

Once the program has opened, click Enable Editing and then click Yes when the User Account Control window pops up. You’ll now be able to select a default install path, using the … button to browse to a folder path if necessary.

Program Files is where 64-bit applications will be installed and Program Files (x86) is for 32-bit applications. If you’re not sure what that means, read our guide for the difference between the 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows. But you’ll probably want both of them on the same drive anyway.

Once you’ve selected your new path, click Apply Changes. Now all new programs you install will default to these folder paths.

Clean Up Your Drive

Now that you know how to move your apps and programs and how to change their default install location, you can free up space on your drives. But remember to take all precautions when using the third-party programs.

And if you want to salvage even more disk space, consider deleting old Windows files and folders. Along with having moved your programs to another drive, you’ll have a superbly organized drive.

10 Free Internet TV Channels You Can Watch Online

We all know about the various streaming services that let you watch live TV. But what about standalone TV channels? Is it possible to watch free internet TV channels from around the world?

In this article we’ll help you find the best free TV channels on the web. Every channel on the list has a legal source, which means you’re not going to get in trouble with your ISP or the law.

1. BBC Channels

The BBC makes all of its TV license-funded TV channels available for free via the iPlayer service. You can watch BBC 1, BBC 2, BBC 4, BBC News, BBC Parliament, BBC Alba, CBBC, and CBeebies.

Other BBC Studios channels that are not funded by the license fee (Alibi, Dave, Drama, Eden, Gold, W, and Yesterday) are not available. The BBC’s international channels—such as BBC America and BBC Persian—are also not available.

If you don’t live in the UK, you’ll need to use a VPN. We recommend ExpressVPN and CyberGhost.

2. Bloomberg Television

Bloomberg is one of the leading sources for business and market news. It produces four international TV channels which you can stream for free. These are Bloomberg US, Bloomberg Europe, Bloomberg Asia, and Bloomberg Australia.

All four TV channels are online. You can stream them for free via Bloomberg’s website. The US version is also available on Pluto TV.

3. Sky News

The UK-based Sky News is one of the best free internet TV channels for news junkies. You can watch it for free on the Sky News website and via the Sky News YouTube channel.

Sky News does not impose any geographical restrictions. You can watch the TV channel online no matter where in the world you are.

4. ABC

ABC is an American network. It has a focus on talk shows, dramas, lifestyle shows, and news. There is also a smattering of sports content.

ABC broadcasts international versions in many countries. However, if you want to watch the US edition of the network for free online, you can do so via the USTVNow service.

ABC is just one of five TV channels you can watch for free on the service. The other four are CBS, PBS, MyTV 9, and CW. All of the channels are only available in standard definition.

The channel is only officially available to American citizens living abroad, but there are several workarounds you can use to gain access.

5. FOX Sports

FOX Sports is a unique internet TV channel that you can watch online for free.

It is not the same version of the TV channel that you’d receive via a cable subscription or from an app like Hulu or FuboTV. Although the majority of the schedule is the same as FOX Sports 1, it does not feature any live sports.

You can, however, still enjoy highlights reels, sports commentary and analysis shows, and other regular programming.

You can watch the online-only web TV channel in the US, UK, Germany, and Austria on Pluto TV.

6. Eleven Sports Network

Eleven Sports is a UK-based sports network that’s been steadily growing in popularity and influence since its launch in 2015.

The US edition is called Eleven Sports Network. You can watch it for free on Pluto TV if you’re inside the United States. Other users will need to use a VPN.

The channel has the broadcast rights for the North American Soccer League (NASL), the Big Sky Conference, Spain’s top basketball league (Liga Endesa), the Swedish Hockey League, the World Rally Championship, the Can-Am Baseball league, and some eSports tournaments.

7. France 24

france 24 channels from around the world

If you like to watch TV channels from around the world online, France 24 is worth checking out. It’s a French state-owned national broadcaster with a focus on news and magazine content.

Four versions of the channel are produced: the French edition, along with English, Arabic, and Spanish broadcasts.

You can watch the international TV channels (as well as the French broadcast) for free on the France 24 website and on YouTube.

8. CNN

Many people wrongly assume that it’s impossible to watch CNN for free. After all, it’s part of most cable providers’ premium packages.

But it is possible! Again, Pluto TV provides the answer. As long as you’re in the US, you can stream the domestic version of the TV channel for free. Non-US residents will need a VPN.

9. ITV Channels

ITV is another British network. Unlike the BBC, ITV is independently owned. The network makes six of its channels available for free online to anyone with a UK-based IP address. They are ITV 1, ITV 2, ITV 3, ITV 4, CITV, and ITVBe. ITV Box Office and The Store are not available.

The free online channels offer the usual mix of news, drama, talk shows, and children’s programming.

Where the network excels for international cord-cutters, however, is its list of sports content. The network holds the rights to La Liga, UEFA European Championship, the FIFA World Cup, the Rugby World Cup, the Six Nations, the French Open, the Tour de France, and the Cheltenham Festival.

10. Nick Jr.

For our final free internet TV channel, we return to Pluto TV. Like its FOX Sports channel, Pluto broadcasts a specially adapted version of Nick Jr. to anyone living in the US, the UK, Germany, or Austria.

Kids’ programs on Nick Jr. include Dora the Explorer, Wallykazam, Peppa Pig, Bubble Guppies, and Nella the Princess Knight.

Don’t Forget About Paid Internet TV Channels

Although it’s possible to watch live TV and on-demand TV shows online for free, if you want a complete line-up of premium networks, you need to subscribe to one of the many paid live TV streaming apps.

Your options include Sling, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV, and YouTube TV. If you’d like to learn more, we’ve rounded up some of the best live TV streaming services.

Which Free Internet TV Channels Do You Watch?

The free internet TV channels we’ve introduced you to in the article will give you a solid mix of news, sports, entertainment, and kids’ shows. But we’d love to know which (legal!) channels we have missed off the list.

And for more information about watching TV online, here’s how to unblock live TV streaming when you’re abroad.

Wi-Fi Direct: Windows Wireless File Transfer That’s Faster Than Bluetooth

Wireless data sharing has made rapid strides over the past few years. Thanks to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC, data can be moved from one device to another with little effort

Windows 10 boasts of Wi-Fi Direct, a wireless connectivity system that helps to effortlessly hook devices up. Want to move data from PC to laptop? Easily done. Need to setup wireless printing? Connect your phone to your computer?

All this is quite simple thanks to Wi-Fi Direct. Here’s how to use Wi-Fi Direct on Windows 10 and transfer files wirelessly.

Introducing Wi-Fi Direct for PC: Wireless File Transfer

You can think of Wi-Fi Direct as a sort of Bluetooth over Wi-Fi. That is, it has the same “discover and send” functionality of Bluetooth, but the data is sent using wireless networking. As you might have guessed, this offers greater speed for your file transfer.

Bluetooth has been around since 1994, and although useful for transmitting audio and connecting devices it isn’t ideal for transferring larger files. Wi-Fi Direct has this problem covered and looks set to supplant Bluetooth in the next few years.

At this stage, Wi-Fi Direct isn’t yet as universal as Bluetooth.

However, when used successfully it is a very useful feature for transferring data between Windows 10 and other suitable hardware.

Check If Your Windows 10 PC Is Wi-Fi Direct Compatible

Using Wi-Fi Direct to send a file is faster and simpler than Bluetooth.

First, however, you’ll need to check that your device is Wi-Fi Direct-compatible. You can do this by pressing WIN+R, entering CMD to open the Command Prompt (which you should probably be using more than you are) then entering ipconfig /all.

If Wi-Fi Direct is available, you should see an entry labeled “Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter.”

Next, you’ll need to start transferring data over Wi-Fi Direct. However, this isn’t as obvious as you would expect…

How to Transfer Files From Android to Windows With Wi-Fi Direct

As you’ll need a third-party app to use Wi-Fi Direct, it’s important to choose the right option.

Feem is a software that has provided Wi-Fi Direct support to Windows PC and laptop users since the days of Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Feem is free to use, although it has various premium options. Wi-Fi Direct in Feem is free, as is live chat. However, you can pay to have iOS support, unlimited file transfers, and remove ads.

Using Feem to transfer data from Android to PC or laptop is straightforward.

Set Android as a mobile hotspot in Settings > Network & Internet > Hotspot & tethering. Then connect your Windows computer to this network.

Launch Feem on Android and on Windows too. You’ll notice that both devices are given unusual names by the app (e.g. Junior Raccoon) and a password. Keep a note of the password, as you’ll need it to establish the initial connection.

Send a file from Android to Windows using Wi-Fi Direct, choose the destination device, and tap Send File. Browse for the file or files, then tap Send.

Moments later, the data will be sent to your PC. It’s as simple as that—and it works in reverse, too!

No Wi-Fi Direct? Transfer Files From Android to Windows PC With FTP

If your computer doesn’t support Wi-Fi Direct, don’t give up.

Several tools are available in Android that will let you remotely share data with Windows without Wi-Fi Direct.

ES File Explorer is a popular third-party file manager for Android. This comes with several file management features for local and network use. Among these is FTP, which provides a direct network connection between two devices.

Use ES File Explorer’s Network > FTP feature to display your Android device’s IP address.

Paste this into a file transfer program such as FileZilla to browse the contents. You can then effortlessly transfer files between the two devices.

So, try ES File Explorer if you want to transfer data from a mobile device to your laptop through Wi-Fi and don’t have Wi-Fi Direct.

Don’t Have Wi-Fi Direct? Transfer Files With Bluetooth!

If your devices don’t support Wi-Fi Direct and you don’t want to use FTP, the smart solution (in the absence of a USB cable) is Bluetooth.

This is particularly useful if you’re trying to use Wi-Fi Direct on Windows 7 or 8 and find that the feature isn’t there or it doesn’t work.

First ensure your computer is paired to a suitable Bluetooth device (phone, tablet, computer, etc.) before sending a file to it. The methodology for this is largely the same across devices and requires that both are set to “discoverable.”

Both devices will then search for one another and if successful connect following input of a confirmation code.

For more information, here’s a list of the ways you can transfer data between a PC and Android.

If you’re not sure where the controls for Bluetooth can be found on your Windows 10 computer, open Settings > Devices.

With the second device in discoverable mode (check the documentation of your device) select Add Bluetooth or other device. Windows 10 will then poll for the discoverable device. Follow the on-screen instructions to add it.

With a successful pairing, switch to the Windows desktop and find the Bluetooth icon in the system tray/notification area. Left-click and select Send a file; you’ll be prompted to select the target device, then browse for the file.

On sending the file, the device receiving your data file will ask you to confirm that you wish to save the data. Agree to this, then wait for the transfer to complete.

Note that due to the shorter range of Bluetooth, the best results will be enjoyed by keeping both devices close together.

Data Transfer Speeds: Which Is Best?

You will probably notice while trying these two methods that Wi-Fi Direct is considerably quicker than Bluetooth. Indeed, recent tests have demonstrated that Bluetooth speed is like a tortoise in comparison.

While Wi-Fi Direct isn’t quicker than any cable data transfer (such as USB 2.0 or USB 3.0) it is certainly capable of transferring a 1.5 GB file inside 10 minutes; in contrast, Bluetooth takes almost 125 minutes to shift the same data.

Start Using Wi-Fi Direct in Windows 10 Today

Which option you choose will depend on the data you want to shift. A USB 3.0 cable with compatible hardware is the fastest option. Wi-Fi Direct is close behind, with Bluetooth coming third. Wi-Fi direct makes a good middle-ground option, but as it is not as widely available (or known) as Bluetooth, you might opt for a cable instead.

Perhaps the most important aspect of using Wi-Fi Direct in Windows 10 is its ease of use today. After all, early implementations of the technology were somewhat difficult to use.

Wi-Fi Direct is just one of the amazing wireless technologies in use in Windows 10. Want to know more? Here’s how to stream video from Windows to your TV using Miracast.