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Google Set to Say Goodbye to Chrome Apps From March This Year

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Google has announced that it will begin phasing out support for Chrome apps across Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms starting this year. From March, Chrome Web Store will stop accepting new Chrome apps, while developers will get the option to update their existing apps through June 2022, the company said in a blog post. The new development is a follow-up of the announcement that Google made back in August 2016 to reveal the departure of Chrome apps. The search giant had cited “less usage” as the primary reason for its decision to kill the apps that were initially designed to take on traditional Web apps.
The timeline provided by Google has confirmed that Chrome Web Store will no longer accept new Chrome apps from March. The company will also end support for Chrome apps on Windows, macOS, and Linux starting June this year. However, customers on Chrome Enterprise and Chrome Education Upgrade will get a policy in place to extend support through December.
Chrome OS users will continue to receive support for Chrome apps until June 2021. Support for NaCI, PNaCI, and PPAPI APIs will also go offline from June next year. Moreover, Google will end support for Chrome apps on Chrome OS for all users from June 2022.
The changes pertaining to Chrome apps won’t impact support for Chrome extensions.
“Google will continue to support and invest in Chrome Extensions on all existing platforms. Fostering a robust ecosystem of extensions is critical to Chrome’s mission and we are committed to providing a useful extension platform for customising the browsing experience for all users,” said Anthony Laforge, Technical Director, Chrome Platform Team, in the blog post.
A dedicated hub has been provided for developers to help them migrate their Chrome apps to Web apps or build Android apps for Chrome OS. Developers also have the option to transform their experiences by working on Chrome extensions or build Progressive Web App (PWA) solutions.
Google believes that developers would move from Chrome apps and start using open Web standards such as PWA over time. This would eventually help users avail similar experiences of Chrome apps across all modern browsers.


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4 Amazing Video Editors For Your Phone!

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When it comes to editing on the PC, there are a ton of good video editors to choose from but when it comes to mobile devices, finding the right one to use can take you a very long time. So, in this article we will be looking at some 4 apps you can use to produce videos on the go.
FilmoraGo: It is a really good video editor app that gives you the primary features like cutting, adding themes, music, trimming, etc. can be done. You make videos fit for Instagram or YouTube, you can reverse videos, add transitions, slow down the motion and even add text to personalize your video.
Adobe Premiere Clip: Is the mobile version of the popular Premiere Pro for Pc and what makes this unique is the automatic video creation capability, i.e., the app can automatically create videos for you with any photos or clips that you choose and you can also create your videos with multiple video editing functions like cutting, trimming, adding transitions, music, filters, effects, etc.
Power Director: Has an easy-to-use timeline interface that still needs some getting used. However, once you become an expert with this app, you can good looking videos with effects within seconds. It has over 30 different effects and transition effects to choose from and add to your video.
KineMaster: Has a well-designed interface that adopts the use of drag and drop and also gives you a remarkable amount of control over your project. But if you wish to remove the watermark from the pic you’d have to upgrade to the premium version.
Well here are my top 4 video editors to use when you want to edit on your phone or on the go. What do you think? Do you have other favorites you wish we listed? Share with us in the comment


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Best Linux distros of 2020: for beginners and advanced users

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Linux is traditionally associated as being an operating system for coders and programmers, but over the years there have been real attempts to make Linux more attractive to general consumers. This is not least due to general consumer dissatisfaction with Windows security issues or even Apple’s walled garden.
However, Linux comes in many different forms, known as ‘flavors’ or ‘distros’. This is simply because Linux is so incredibly configurable that different forms tend to be developed for different userbase needs or interests.

For example, as mentioned, some have moved toward trying to entice disgruntled Windows users into something more familiar. However, others remain focused on specific environments that may favor programming or scientific applications, or other concerns such as security, resource use, and similar.
Different Linux distros can all work with Linux software and applications, and of course, any cloud-based apps that run through a browser. However, Linux distros come with a variety of different ranges of bundled software. Some might come with a lot of basic applications already pre-installed, while others will have the barest minimum.
And, as mentioned, Linux is very customizable, far beyond what normal Windows or Mac users may be used to.
Altogether, this is why it helps to have a good idea of what different Linux distros can offer. Do you need a GUI more familiar to Windows? Are you more concerned about privacy? How comfortable are you with typing commands rather than clicking icons?
All these concerns may determine which Linux distro is best for you, and here we aim to help you with that decision.

The very best Linux distros are tailored to specific types of users. Ubuntu for instance is very easy to use, as it’s designed for newcomers. Arch Linux on the other hand appeals to experienced users who can take advantage of using the Terminal to type commands to perform tasks such as installing apps. This guide focuses on picking out the very best distros overall.

Elementary OS
(Image credit: Elementary OS)

1. Elementary OS

Probably the best looking distro in the world

Smartly designed and looks great
Excellent desktop environment
Not many preinstalled apps
If you’re after a distro that gets you as far away as possible from the image of a nerdy hacker type bashing away at a terminal interface, Elementary OS is what you need. It’s probably the most attractive distro around, with a style similar to that of macOS. This operating system’s superb desktop environment is known as Pantheon, and is based on Gnome.
The latest version of Elementary OS is called Loki, which as well as being that bit prettier and neater than its predecessor Freya, has its own application installer UI called AppCenter. It’s a delightfully simple way to install apps outside the terminal, which is handy as there aren’t very many preinstalled.
Elementary OS does, however, come bundled with the Epiphany browser, the Geary email client and a few basic ‘tool’ apps. You may need to add more programs, but this is easy to do using the integrated AppCenter, which contains paid programs designed specifically for the OS such as Quilter for budding writers or Spice-Up for composing presentations. The inconvenience of buying and downloading additional apps is balanced by Elementary OS’ Elegance.


Linux Mint
(Image credit: Linux Mint)

2. Linux Mint

A strong option for those new to Linux
Ideal for those switching from Windows/Mac
Good media support out of the box
Impressive amount of customisation options
Linux Mint is a great ‘default’ distro for new Linux users, as it comes with a lot of the software you’ll need when switching from Mac or Windows, such as LibreOffice, the favoured productivity suite of Linux users. It also has better support for proprietary media formats, allowing you to play videos, DVDs and MP3 music files out of the box.
You can download three main starter flavours of Mint 19, each of which uses a different desktop environment, the top-most layer of the interface allowing you to change elements such as the appearance of windows and menus. Cinnamon is currently the most popular, but you can also choose the more basic MATE, or Xfce.
Linux Mint 18.3 was the last release to have an official KDE version. Unfortunately, this is no longer available with Linux Mint 19, but it can still be installed on top of version 19 if you miss it.
While Timeshift was introduced in version 18.3 and to all Linux Mint releases, it is one of the main features of Linux Mint 19. Timeshift enables users to restore their computer from the last functional snapshot.
All these desktop environments offer a good deal of customisation options, so feel free to download a few and boot as Live CD prior to installing to see which works best.


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Arch Linux
(Image credit: Arch Linux)

3. Arch Linux

Arch Linux or Antergos are sterling Linux options

Massive potential for customisation
Antergos represents a more user-friendly spin
Arch Linux itself isn’t for the faint of heart
If you’re willing to try a slightly less user-friendly distro, Arch Linux is one of the most popular choices around. Arch allows you to customize your build using the terminal to download and install packages, and it’s particularly handy for developers and those with older machines who may not want unnecessary packages taking up space.

The main aim of Arch Linux is to keep things simple, not so much for users as much as ensure code is clean and correct, with a minimalist approach to everything. There’s not so much bundled with it as other distros, so users will be expected to download any additional software they need, as well as customize Arch Linux according to their needs.

While it may make the distro a little complicated, the lack of bloat can make it especially attractive to users who want a clean Linux experience with little or no clutter.

The result is a Linux experience that definitely favors more experienced users rather than beginners, so keep that in mind.

There was originally a version built to be more user-friendly, named Antergos, but that has now been discontinued.

Another feature of Arch Linux is that rather than major releases, it follows a rolling release model that it’s continually updated.


Ubuntu
(Image credit: Ubuntu)

4. Ubuntu

One of the most popular distros for good reasons

Very accessible for novices
Security and stability of LTS version
Lubuntu spin is great for underpowered PCs

Ubuntu is one of the most popular flavors of Linux and along with Mint is strongly recommended for Linux newbies, as it’s extremely accessible.

New versions of Ubuntu are released every six months, and every other year the developer Canonical releases an LTS (long term support) version of Ubuntu. These guarantee five years of security and general maintenance updates, so you can carry on using your machine without the hassle of running a full upgrade every few months. Standard releases are supported for one year only.

The current LTS version of Ubuntu uses the Gnome 3 desktop environment, which may be less familiar to Windows and macOS users.

There are variations of Ubuntu which employ different environments such as Lubuntu, which uses a minimal desktop environment based on LXDE and a selection of fast, lightweight applications. This places far less strain on system resources than the graphic-intensive Unity.


Tails
(Image credit: Tails)

5. Tails

A distro for the privacy-conscious

Emphasis on security and privacy
Yet maintains a user-friendly UI
Something of a niche OS

Tails is a privacy-oriented Linux distro which has the aim of concealing your location and identity as much as possible. Even Edward Snowden used it.

The OS routes all its internet traffic through the anonymising Tor network, which is designed to prevent data from being intercepted and analysed. Underneath all the security measures, it’s based on Debian Linux and uses the Gnome desktop so the interface is still clear and user-friendly.

Tails isn’t for everyone, but this niche OS does give you some peace of mind if you’ve been fretting about all the worrying privacy-trampling legislation being passed these days.


CentOS
(Image credit: CentOS)

6. CentOS

Offshoot of Enterprise version of Red Hat Linux

Built for stability
Ideal for a server
Not so great for daily desktop usage

CentOS is a community offshoot of the Enterprise version of Red Hat Linux, and its focus is on stability rather than constant updates. Like Red Hat, security and maintenance updates for CentOS are pushed out up to 10 years from the initial release of each version.

CentOS is designed to be super-reliable, which is why it’s a great choice for a server. It’s not quite such a good bet for someone looking for a new OS for daily use on their desktop PC or laptop.

On the plus side, you can enjoy the pleasure of having something for nothing – packages compiled for the commercial version of Red Hat Linux are fully compatible with CentOS, so you can use them free of charge.


Ubuntu Studio
(Image credit: Ubuntu Studio)

7. Ubuntu Studio

Spin on Ubuntu aimed at audio and video production

Great alternative to costly production software
Support for audio plug-ins and more
Still allows access to packages in main Ubuntu OS

If you want a home music recording studio or a video production workstation without spending the thousands of pounds involved with industry standard software, consider installing Ubuntu Studio.

This officially recognised flavour of Ubuntu Linux has been designed for audio and video production, as an alternative to paid software such as Pro Tools. Support for audio plug-ins and MIDI input is built in and a virtual patch bay comes preinstalled.

Ubuntu Studio’s repositories have access to the packages in the main Ubuntu OS as well as a few digital audio sequencers. Its main strength is in audio recording through tools like the JACK Audio Connection Kit.


openSUSE
(Image credit: openSUSE)

8. openSUSE

Primarily targeted at devs and sysadmins

Very polished distro
Nicely secure
Can create your own version of the OS

Previously known as SUSE Linux and subsequently SuSE Linux Professional, openSUSE is aimed at developers and system administrators. For that reason, it’s extremely stringent on security protocols.

The operating system is divided into two main distributions: openSUSE Leap and openSUSE Tumbleweed. Leap uses the source code from SUSE Linux Enterprise, which makes it much more stable. New versions are released roughly once a year and are supported for three years, making Leap perfect for business applications.

Tumbleweed (pictured above) is based on Factory, openSUSE’s main development codebase. It follows a rolling release model – in other words, packages are made available for download as soon as they’ve been tested in Factory. This means Tumbleweed contains the latest stable applications and is good for day-to-day use.

The OS makes uses of the shiny KDE Plasma desktop, which is perfect if your machine can handle the more advanced graphical features.

One of the more polished Linux distros around, openSUSE is consistently ranked in the top five distros on DistroWatch.com. What’s more, the SUSE Studio Express website allows you to create your own version of openSUSE, complete with tailored preinstalled software packages, desktop and system settings.



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4 Best Premiere Pro Alternatives!

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In the world of video editing, Adobe Premiere Pro is without a doubt one of the most popular editors out there amongst production houses, filmmakers and even beginners, but the costly monthly subscription charge is enough to make people look the other way.
There are a lot of very capable video editors out there that are either free to use or would require a one-time payment. In the last few months, there has been a ton creator switching to these alternatives and in this article, we going to be looking at some of the top choices you might be faced with.
Final Cut Pro X is more or less on top of the list of competitors of Premiere Pro. Its clean and intuitive interface and experience make it easy to learn for beginners and also helps get out projects fast and it all comes at an upfront price of $299. But unless you own a Mac, you would want to look elsewhere.
DaVinci Resolve 16 has been around for some time now but as a color grading software, but in recent years they have added more editing tools their software and it has been picked by a lot of creators. With tabs like Fusion and Fairlight, you can work on VFX, compositing and even on general audio improvements without having to leave the app. Even though there’s a paid version of this program that costs $299, you can also get most of these professional features on the free versions even without watermark on the final work.
HitFilm is also a free program that also has a paid version which also goes for $299 but just like DaVinci Resolve, the free version is also very capable. It has an interface that is very similar to the one of Premiere Pro
Vegas Pro 17 is also a capable video editor that is loved by some users and even though it has most of the features that most people would need for their projects, it still has a user interface that looks a bit outdated. And it’s the one with a bit high price on the list. It will cost you $399 for the basic package and $599 for the Pro.
These are some of the alternatives to Adobe’s Premiere Pro out there. What do you think about these? And do you have any in mind you would have loved to see on this list? Tell us in the comment section.


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