So many things to change on the fly in macOS, installing OnlySwitch will help you access things otherwise scattered around in Preferences or Settings. Things like hiding unwanted menu bar icons at the top of the screen, turning on Dark mode outside of normal dark hours, preparing your mac for presenting by hiding the dock and desktop icons, and turning on Keep Awake. You can customize what you can see by going into the settings and hiding actions you don’t use. More at https://github.com/jacklandrin/OnlySwitch
Users of the DuckDuckGo browser can now sync passwords and bookmarks via their end-to-end encrypted backup and syncing service. Unlike, some services that force you to use an account, DDG enforces privacy with either a QR code or one-time code to make the connection (you will also end up with a lengthy backup code you store somewhere safe.) The whole encryption process is done on your computer or smartphone, DDG doesn’t handle any of that process. They can’t even help you if you lose that backup code, they won’t have it.
I got excited on learning that Microsoft was coming back with a movie editor, they discontinued Movie Maker seven years ago. Clipchamp is the new official video editor for Windows 11, with a catch of two pricing tiers. The free tier does include a range of decent basic video editing tools and for most home use, it will suffice. Since it is there on up-to-date Windows 11 machines, you should at least try it, or look at the free version of DaVinci Resolve (the free or non-Studio version) from https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve
If you have jumped into Signal for securely messaging others, they are releasing a set of a new features to help hide your phone number, allowing you to create a username that you share, rather than people only finding you with your phone number. You do still need a phone number to sign up for Signal but you will be able to create your unique username that you can share. Find out more at https://signal.org/blog/phone-number-privacy-usernames/
Maps over such an interesting reflection of human thought and worldviews. I have been wowed by the interactive map created from the world map Fra Mauro made in the mid 15th century. Start at https://mostre.museogalileo.it/framauro/en/ and see how long it takes to notice that south is up, not down as we are now used to.
It can be the little things that make Windows nicer to use, like making the Taskbar translucent or totally transparent. If so, try TranslucentTB at https://github.com/TranslucentTB/TranslucentTB
If you have trouble downloading videos from online sites, try pasting the video URL into https://cobalt.tools/ to make the downloading easier or even possible. Experiment with the settings at the bottom of the cobalt site to adjust resolution or video type.
Staying safe from malicious and spammy emails and texts will benefit from old fashioned “wait a bit” before reacting. Spammers want to make you angry about some unknown charge, or scared that your computer is already infected. Wait a bit, walk away, explain it to someone else, in other words calm down and you may well save yourself money and time wasted.