How to stop websites from asking to send notifications

 Imagine looking up something urgent on Google, only to be faced with a bunch of unavoidable pop-ups that have to be declined or disabled before viewing the content. We’ve all been there and we hate it.

As soon as you visit a website for the first time, you need to agree to the cookie policy, then decline notification access and close the newsletter requests. 

Notifications used to be cool at the start and rapidly became one thing that most of us hate, especially when it is coming from a website on a desktop. Whenever you visit a new website for the first time, there are a few hurdles you need to cross and one of them is opting in/out of push notifications. 

As soon as you enter a website, you first have to agree on the cookie policy, and a few seconds later, a pop-up comes in asking for “xxx website wants to send you a notification with latest news/product/score/update, etc” While these may be useful in some cases, it’s often annoying as a reader to have to click on block/no every time you visit a new website.

In case you are looking for a one-stop solution to block websites asking to push notifications, we have made this guide to completely block the notifications that most websites ask for as soon as you start consuming the content.

We have included how to stop notifications for all the popular desktop browsers such as Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge, so you can live a peaceful life regardless of your platform.

How to block website asking for notifications on Chrome desktop 

                                                                                           (Image credit: Future)

1. Open Chrome browser
2. Click on more button (three dots on the top right corner)
3. Select settings 
4. On the left, select ‘Privacy and security’
5. Click on site settings 
6. Select ‘notifications’
7. Turn off ‘Sites can ask to send notifications’ toggle

Or you can copy-paste: chrome://settings/content/notifications on chrome desktop directly and turn off. 

How to block website asking for notifications on Firefox desktop 

1. Open Firefox browser
2. Click on more button  (three lines on the top right corner)
3. Select ‘Privacy and security’
4. Scroll down to the permission section 
5. Select the Settings option next to the notification (A new window will open)
6. Click on the check box which says ‘Block new requests asking to allow notifications’
7. Click on save

                                                                                         (Image credit: Future)

How to block website asking for notifications on Edge browser on desktop

1. Open Microsoft Edge browser
2. Click on more button (three dots on the top right corner)
3. Select ‘Cookies and site permissions’
4. Scroll down to notifications 
5. Turn off the toggle that says ‘Ask before sending (recommended)’

  (Image credit: Future)

How to block website asking for notifications on Safari

1. Open Safari browser
2. Click on Safari on the menu bar
3. Select ‘Preferences which opens the settings tab
4. Click on Website on the top bar and select notifications on the left
5. Uncheck the ‘Allow websites to ask for permission to send notifications’

                                                                          (Image credit: Future)

Once you have done this, you won’t ever be asked to opt-in for push notifications from any website. We have tested this by ourselves on all four browsers and tested it out and it works on each browser if you follow the steps given. 

How to change your iMessage phone number

 Switch your iMessage number (or email) with ease

One of the greatest benefits of Apple’s ecosystem is Messages, especially when used between multiple users. With optional read receipts, it’s own App Store, and support for threaded conversations in iOS 14, it’s come a long way.

One of the most confusing aspects, though, can be how your Messages are tied to you. Often when setting up a new iPhone it’ll default to your Apple ID email address, and while that may allow you to chat away, you’ll soon want to swap it for your phone number to make it easier to contact you.

You may also find that if you’ve changed your mobile number, you’ll need to get this switched over via this process, too. Here’s how to do just that.

1. Open settings 

As with any tweaks you make to iOS, you’ll need to head into your Settings menu, rather than messages itself. You’ll need to go to Settings - that's the one with the grey cog icon - then scroll down to Messages.

From here, you can switch off iMessage entirely, or change whether your photo and name are shared with new contacts. For now, though, head into Send & Receive.

2. Send and receive settings 

Here you’ll find two lists, with all associated contact information for your Apple ID. Here, you can set your iMessage up to only work for email addresses, phone numbers, or any mix of the two.

You can also change your number or email address by pressing on them in this menu. This can be handy if you have an email address that only a certain contact can reach you on, for example. 

It’s worth noting, though, that people won’t be able to email your associated ID to reach you on iMessage – it’s strictly for that platform, so they’d need to send a proper email instead.

As for messages you send, most people simply start conversations from a phone number to prevent confusion alongside your other, non-Apple device messages.

Text message forwarding (optional)

 

If you’ve got an iPad, MacBook, or anything else that you want to be able to access not just your iMessages, but your normal texts as well, you’ll need to switch on Text Message Forwarding.

In Settings, then Messages, head to Text Message Forwarding to enable or disable other devices. These devices will need to be approved before they’ll appear on this list, so grab your iPad or Mac first.

* All Images Credit: Apple 

Google Lens can now automatically translate screenshots

Google Lens can now automatically translate texts in screenshots for devices running Android 11 or above.

Google Lens has begun to appear in the Pixel Launcher’s search bar side-by-side with the Google Assistant, in a new test.

Users can now take a screenshot of a foreign language and let Google Lens do the translation without any intermediate step, reported 9To5Google.

The translate button will become visible on the screenshot and a click on it will detect and translate the required text quickly.

Google continues to release innovations that are bound to help it maintain its edge among its competitors, GizmoChina reported on Tuesday.

In addition to translating the text, users can also copy the text on the screenshot, which can then be downloaded for offline access or shared on the Google Translate app or social networks like Twitter or Instagram.

Users can also download the current language for offline access and can also swiftly send the screenshot to the full Google Translate app, the report said.

Google Lens was first unveiled at Google I/O 2017. It is an image recognition tool that was first integrated with Google Assistant on Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.

The app was released as a standalone app on the Play Store in June 2018 and as of January this year, the app had recorded over 500 million downloads.

10 things to check when buying a refrigerator online on Flipkart, Amazon and other websites

 While buying a refrigerator there are several things to consider like the form-factor, size, capacity, cooling technology, energy efficiency and more. Remember that it is important to carefully consider a refrigerator model that suits your household needs. A refrigerator is a long-term appliance and not something that you will replace every couple of years. And if you are choosing to buy online then you should pay more attention to the details of the product. Here are 10 things to check when buying a refrigerator online on Flipkart, Amazon and other websites.

Decide where you want to place the new refrigerator in your house

Before buying a new refrigerator decide which area of your house you would like to place the fridge in. It is important to have an idea of the available space, head-room and availability of three-pin power sockets before clicking the buy button. Depending on the available space decide what kind of fridge you want. Note that you should consider that there’s enough space to open the doors of the refrigerator and the slope of the room floor should be aligned in a way that helps the door to get shut on its own freely. This ensures that you won't have to slam the door every time you open it.

Decide your budget and the type of refrigerator you want

There are a lot of choices when it comes to form factors-- single-door, double-door, side-by-side, and mini refrigerators. Here’s a rough idea of the price to help you decide on the right fridge for you.

Mini fridge price-- up to Rs 8,000

Single-door fridge price-- Rs 11,000 to Rs 20,000

Double-door fridge price-- Rs 20,000 to Rs 35,000

Side-by-side fridge price-- Rs 40,000 to Rs 1,50,000

Consider the size of the family and accordingly choose the capacity of the refrigerator

Buy a new fridge depending on the size of your family. It is highly advisable that you do not opt for a model that offers less than 160 litres of fresh food storage capacity. Also, while checking the capacity note the ratio between the freezer and fresh food storage space. Fresh food capacity is the actual storage area for food while the remaining storage is meant for the freezer. So, instead of seeing the combined storage capacity, see specifications properly to know the actual fresh food capacity.

Up to two family members-- Fresh food capacity of a minimum of 150 litres

Up to three family members-- Fresh food capacity of a minimum of 180 litres

Four and above family members-- Fresh food capacity of a minimum of 300 litres

Six family members and above- Fresh food capacity of a minimum of 400 litres.

Buy a mini-fridge only for limited purpose and bar requirements

Even if you are buying a fridge for a single member avoid buying a mini-fridge for day-to-day usage. Instead, opt for a single door 160 litres fridge by paying slightly more as it would offer more value. Mini-fridge is mostly suited for bar requirements and are not made to fit utensils used in Indian households.

Opt for a stabiliser-free model while buying a high-capacity fridge

If you are spending on a slightly expensive high-capacity fridge that is above 200 litres opt for a stabiliser-free model. This helps in dealing with voltage fluctuations due to frequent power cuts.

Consider the finishing, colour and design of the refrigerator

If you want to buy a fridge with stainless steel finish then note that it will easily attract fingerprints and you will have to clean it very often. Also, stainless steel finish means you won't be able to attach magnets as the material is non-magnetic. Similar, opting for certain plastic body models attracts scratches and dirt. Also, ensure the floral patterns or other design of the fridge goes well with your kitchen or room. Typically, opting for a burgundy colour model with a basic pattern design looks cleaner for a longer time.

Frost-free vs direct-cool refrigerators: which one to consider

If your budget is restricted then you will most likely have to stick to direct-cool refrigerator models. This is because frost-free models are a bit expensive. With direct-cool fridge models, you will have to clean ice occasionally. These are usually meant for lower capacity models. Frost-free models offer better cooling and keep food fresh for a longer time. Direct-cool fridge models are available only up to Rs 15,000.

Consider other storage features for bottles, vegetables and more

Make sure there are enough storage racks, preferably adjustable, for vegetables, bottles, etc. Also, consider the quality of the shelves, storage racks and compartments.

Digital Inverter technology vs smart connect inverter: what are these

Digital Inverter technology automatically adjusts the speed of the fan depending on cooling demand. It helps save power, makes less noise and lasts longer. On the other hand, smart connect inverter is a technology that helps in keeping food cold and fresh during power cuts.

Take a note of the BEE star-rating while buying a new fridge

If you are buying a low capacity fridge then the BEE star-rating doesn’t matter much and won't affect your electricity bill by a large margin. But for high-capacity models, opt for a model with at least a 3-star rating.

Twitter Spaces: How to Create and Join Twitter’s Audio Chat Rooms

Audio-based social networking has become the hottest trend in the world right now, and to cash in on the virality, Twitter has introduced audio chat rooms called Spaces within the app. Twitter Spaces is almost like talking to people in real-time via voice notes. It lets you join, listen, and speak. These Spaces are public, so anyone can join as a listener, including people who don't follow you. You can invite up to 10 listeners to your Space by sending them a link.

Who can use Twitter Spaces

If you have an iOS or an Android device, you can join, listen to, and talk in a Space, but only a small group of people on iOS can currently create Spaces. Twitter says the feature will be made available to everyone by April this year.

How to create your Twitter Space

Twitter Spaces can easily be created on iPhone via the app. Here's how.

1. Open Twitter on iPhone and tap on your profile picture at the top left corner of the screen.

1. Scroll to the far right and tap Spaces.

1. Pick who can speak by choosing from Everyone, People you follow, or Only people you invite to speak.

1. Now, tap Start your Space.

1. You can now add up to 10 speakers to join your Space.

1. Your Twitter Space will start. You'll now have the option to add a description or name to your Space.

1. Now, tap on the three dots at the bottom and go to Adjust Settings to make changes according to your preference. You can choose whether or not you want to see captions by enabling or disabling View Captions.

1. You can then allow mic access to Speakers by toggling Allow mic to on.

1. Get started chatting in your Space.

1. When you wish to end the session, tap Leave at the top right corner.

How to join Twitter Spaces

It's quite easy to join Twitter Spaces. You can do this from Twitter for Android and iPhone. Here's how.

1. Open Twitter.

1. You'll automatically see if someone has started a Space at the top of your timeline, just beside Fleets.

1. Tap the profile of the person who has started Space.

1. Tap Join this Space.

1. You will be connected and added to Space.

1. When you wish to speak, you can request mic access from the host.

1. Once the host accepts your request, your mic will be on. You can now start speaking.

The Host of a Space will have control over who can speak. They can also remove, report, and block others in the Space.

How to Send Voice Messages in Twitter DMs

 Twitter allows users to send a voice message up to 140 seconds.

Twitter is a popular social media platform for important conversations and announcements. Most businesses and people use Twitter to make announcements and share life updates, using its microblogging format. While Twitter lets you have open conversation threads through tweets, it also offers a direct message (DM) feature to connect with people more privately. Twitter DMs are often used to connect with business colleagues, share sly memes with friends, or just have private chats. Recently, Twitter introduced the ability to send voice messages in DMs as well.

Announced over a month ago, Twitter rolled out the ability to send and receive voice messages in DMs. This feature was initially introduced in few markets, India being one of them.

How to send voice messages in Twitter DMs

If you are a user in India, Brazil, or Japan, you should be able to send voice messages in direct messages easily. Twitter released this feature in February and said that it will be made available in a phased manner. It only seems to work on the mobile app version of Twitter and you won't be able to send voice messages through the desktop site. Ensure that you install Twitter from Google Play store or App Store and register to start using the platform. In any case, follow the simple steps below to send voice messages in Twitter DMs.

1. Open Twitter, click on the DM (Envelope) icon on the bottom right corner of the tab bar.
2. Click on the New Message icon showing up on the bottom right corner.
3. Search for a user that you want to send a voice message to. You should be able to send a voice message to any user on Twitter, irrespective of whether you're following them or they are following you, as long as their DMs are kept open for communication.
4. Click on the Voice Recording icon showing up at the bottom, next to the text bar.
5. Twitter should ask for permission to record audio. After enabling permissions, start recording your voice message. Twitter allows for about 140 seconds of recording per message.
6. Once you're finished speaking, release the Voice Recording button. An audio message should show up in your text bar. You can play it once to see how it sounds. If you don't like it, a Cancel option is also made available to discard the recorded audio and restart once again.
7. If the voice recording is fine, click on the Arrow icon showing up next to the clip to send the voice message. You can play it after you send it as well.

Google Pay: How to Send Money Using Bank Details, Phone Number, UPI ID or QR Code

Google Pay, earlier known as Google Tez, lets you send and receive money online using four different methods — UPI ID, phone number, bank details and bar code. It allows you to do online shopping, mobile recharges as well as make payments at offline stores. The app enables contactless payments and supports regional languages, so you can choose to access its features in your native language.

If you are new to Google Pay, then here's a simple guide on how to send money on the app using various payment methods. Take a look below.

How to send money using bank details

1. Open Google Pay on your Android or iOS device.
2. Tap the New Payment option at the bottom of the screen.
3. Choose the Bank Transfer option.
4. Now, enter the account number of the person you wish to send money to, re-enter the same account number, fill in the IFSC code and lastly, type the name of the recipient.
5. Tap Continue.
6. Enter the amount and select the bank account that you would like to use to make this payment.
7. Tap Pay and enter your UPI PIN.
8. Your payment will be made.

How to send money using phone number

1. Choose the Phone number option under Transfer money.
2. Now, enter the mobile number of the person you want to send money to or tap the small contact icon to choose the phone number.
3. Tap the blue Pay button at the bottom.
4. Enter the amount and add a note.
5. Now, choose the bank account you would like to use to make this payment.
6. Tap Pay and enter your UPI PIN.
7. Then, tap submit and your transaction will be successful.

How to send money using UPI ID

1. Choose UPI ID or QR and enter UPI ID.
2. Tap Verify > Ok.
3. Now, tap the Pay button at the bottom.
4. Enter the amount and add a note.
5. Choose the mode of payment.
6. Tap Pay.
7. Enter your UPI PIN and it's done

How to send money using QR code

1. Choose the UPI ID or QR option to pay.
2. Scan the QR code and enter the amount.
3. Now, select the bank account that you want to use.
4. Tap Pay, and enter your UPI PIN.
5. Click submit.

How to Upload Documents to DigiLocker

 DigiLocker is a cloud storage service for your government-issued documents created by Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) under Digital India Corporation (DIC). It uses your Aadhaar Card as identification and allows you to digitise your documents and make them available to you at all times, provided you have an Internet connection. These digitised documents are considered to be at par with original physical ones and are accepted by railways, traffic police, and most recently, for passport services. So, we have put together a step-by-step guide on how you can upload documents to DigiLocker.

DigiLocker can have issued documents and uploaded documents. Issued documents are e-documents that have been issued by government agencies to an individual directly from the original source. These documents are stored as URLs in the issued documents section. The uploaded documents, as the name suggests, are the ones that an individual uploads to a DigiLocker account. These can include .pdf, .jpeg, and .png files that are below 10MB in size.

How To Upload Documents To DigiLocker via website

1. Head to the DigiLocker website and click on Sign Up in the top right corner.
2. You will be asked to enter your full name, date of birth, gender, mobile number, email ID, and Aadhaar number. You will also be required to set a six-digit PIN that will act as your password. Click on Submit when done.
3. An OTP will be sent to your registered number.
4. Enter the OTP and click on Submit.
5. You will now be asked to enter a username. Click on Submit when done and your account should be created.
6. You will be redirected to your DigiLocker homepage. Click on Uploaded Documents option on the left side of the page.
7. Click on Upload.
8. Select the file you want to upload from your computer and click on Open. You can select multiple files as well.
9. These files will now be available in the Uploaded Documents section.

You can also select a document type for the uploaded files. In front of the files, there will be a Select Doc Type option. Click on it and it will show a list of present document types that you can use such as electricity bill, dependency certificate, integrated certificate, identification certificate, and more.

How to upload documents to DigiLocker via app

1. Sign in to the DigiLocker app.
2. On the dashboard, tap on the burger menu on the top left.
3. Select Upload Documents.
4. Tap on the upload button on the top next to the menu button.
5. You will be asked to give the app access to your files.
6. Next, select Files or Content from other apps, depending on what you want to upload.
7. Selecting 'Files' will take you to your phone's storage (within the app) from where you can navigate to where the file is, select it, and tap on Upload.
8. Content from other apps will open the default file browser of your phone.

Instagram Music: How to Add Songs and Lyrics to Stories

Instagram introduced the ability to add music to Stories back in 2018 but the feature was limited to some countries and not available for everyone. The company then expanded the feature in 2019 in India with a bunch of new soundtracks, including Punjabi and Bollywood. Now, after three years of wait, users in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Middle East and North African regions can add music to their Instagram and Facebook Stories.

If you are wondering how to use this feature on Instagram, then here's a quick step-by-step guide on how to do that. We have also done several other tutorials on Instagram, so make sure you check them out as well.

Add music to Instagram Stories

1. Open Instagram on your Android or iOS device and swipe left to put a story.
2. Now, capture an image or shoot a video using the Instagram camera app or choose the same directly from your gallery.
3. Then, swipe up and choose the Music sticker. You will now see a complete music library with two categories namely, For You and Browse.
4. Choose a soundtrack according to Genres such as Pop, Punjabi, Rock, Jazz or themes like Travel, Family, Love, Party, etc. You can also alternatively search for your favorite songs and add them.
5. Once you have selected the song, select the part of the song you want to add to your story.
6. You can also add lyrics and choose from various formats.
7. Now, tap Done. You can now share the music story with your followers or close friends.
8. Tap Share and your story will be added.