There’s no shortage of ways that you can play games from classic consoles such as the Game Boy, but few methods offer as authentic of an experience as this $69.99 enclosure for the Raspberry Pi Zero.
Sold by Retroflag, the GPi Case resembles an old school Game Boy and lets you use a Raspberry Pi Zero to play Game Boy games in a form factor that should feel comparable to playing on Nintendo’s original 1989 handheld.
This isn’t the first time someone has used a Raspberry Pi to play classic video games or to replicate the experience of certain handheld consoles. However, the Retroflag GPi Case is noteworthy for how easy it makes the process: there’s nothing to solder and you don’t need to own a 3D printer.
Instead, the GPi Case comes with a small cartridge akin to that of a Game Boy game. This cartridge holds your Raspberry Pi Zero and then you slide that package into the GPi Case to begin your session—after loading your Raspberry Pi Zero with ROMs and an emulator, of course.
Retroflag
Features include a 2.8-inch IPS screen, a 3.5 mm audio jack, a power switch, an LED power indicator, an integrated speaker, volume and brightness controls, a USB port for firmware upgrades, as well as all the buttons you’d expect to see on a Game Boy (and a few extras): A, B, X, Y, shoulder buttons, Start, Select, and a D-pad.
The Retroflag GPi Case measures a bit smaller than the original Game Boy at 5.3 x 3.2 x 1.3 inches (less tall and wide but the same thickness) and it also weighs a little over an ounce lighter. It’s powered by three AA batteries or through the included DC-to-USB adapter.
Note that the device is specifically compatible with the Raspberry Pi Zero (Pi0 and Pi0-W, but not the Pi0-WH). The Retroflag GPi Case ships from Amazon for $69.99 and comes with a 12-month warranty.
It’s handy to save websites and articles as PDFs so you can read them later. Here’s how you can quickly generate a PDF on your iPhone or iPad, and then save it with a service like Pocket.
How to Save a Full-Page Screenshot as a PDF
In iOS 13, iPadOS 13, and newer, you can take a full-page screenshot of a website in Safari and save it as a PDF in the Files app.
There are two notable points about this new method:
The PDF generates as one continuous page without any page breaks.
Instead of a regular PDF, with an A4 page width, the PDF is the same width as the iPhone or iPad on which you’re viewing it.
If you want to generate a cleaner PDF of the page—without the ads and formatting—switch to Reader Mode first. To do this, tap and hold “AA” in the upper-left corner, and then tap it again to customize the text layout.
Open the website on your iPhone or iPad and take a screenshot. If you have an iPhone X-style device with a notch, or an iPad Pro with Face ID, press and hold the “Side” and “Volume Up” buttons together until you see the screenshot animation.
If you’re using an iPhone or iPad with a Home button, press it, along with the “Power/Sleep” button to take a screenshot.
You see a little screenshot preview in the bottom-left corner—tap it.
Khamosh Pathak
You’re now in the screenshot editor. Tap “Full Page.”
Smart tags can be very useful in Excel to quickly change the action a spreadsheet performs on your data. They appear automatically as you work in Excel, but each smart tag can be removed if you do not use them.
What Are Smart Tags?
A smart tag is a small button that appears as data is entered or selected on a spreadsheet. This button provides actions based on the data in the cells. The image below shows the Paste Options smart tag that appears when data is pasted.
When the smart tag is clicked, different paste options are provided.
All smart tags work in this way. The options you see will be dependent upon the smart tag and the data in the cell(s).
They provide a quick way to change the action that Excel performed on your data. Excel has a few available smart tags: Paste Options, AutoFill, Flash Fill, error checking, and Quick Analysis.
Smart tags are only temporary. They appear immediately as you select, type, or paste data into a cell. They disappear as soon as you perform another task.
Open-back headphones are a product still firmly planted in the audiophile niche. But if you’re looking to see what all the fuss is about with a set from a reliable brand that won’t break the bank, then Sennheiser’s HD 6XX is a perfect place to start.
Technically these headphones are a collaboration between Sennheiser and Drop (AKA Massdrop), which has a sizable catalog of audiophile offerings. A somewhat customized version of the HD 650, the HD 6XX rings up at $220, with optional upgrades for things like VELOUR EARCUPS. If you’re expecting frills, you’ll be disappointed: this is a wired set without extras like a single-side cord or travel-friendly rotating earcups.
But that’s okay, because the HD 6XX isn’t designed to replace conventional headphones. It’s a way to explore your high-quality music and movies in extra fidelity, without spending a ton of money or using a ton of space that a huge array of speakers would. And in that very specific capacity, it delivers.
What’s Different About Open Back?
If this is your time seeing an open-back or “backless” headphone design, check out this guide on How-To Geek. And if you want to ignore my suggestion and make me feel bad, I’ll explain it here: whereas the exterior housing of the earcups on conventional headphones are solid plastic or metal, open-back headphones use a grille or slot design that exposes the back of the driver and other components to the air.
See how you can see the inside of the headphones? That’s the “open-back” part. Michael Crider
Why? It creates a more open, balanced sound experience. Whereas conventional headphones are all about isolation, closing you in with your music, open-back designs allow for a more natural sound profile, as if you’re listening to performers in a “real” space rather than inside your head. The difference is almost impossible to get across in text; the best way I can describe it is that they sound less like headphones and more like speakers that just happen to be sitting on the sides of your head.
There’s a downside to this sound profile: noise, both internal and external. Open-back headphones allow in more ambient noise from the environment, with almost zero noise cancellation effects. For example, even at a high volume, I can still hear my keyboard through the music in the headphones as I’m typing this. Open back headphones also allow much more noise out into the environment; if you’re listening to a podcast, someone else in a small room would probably be able to quote the host word-for-word.
Massdrop
For both of these reasons, open back headphones are unsuitable for environments where you want to keep the music to yourself. Don’t bring them to a library, an airplane, or a Starbucks. Unless you’re a jerk, I guess. Then feel free to sing along while you gargle your Frappuccino.
Amazingly Natural Sound
Not being a “true audiophile” myself, the HD 6XX is my introduction to open-back headphones. But even given the limited utility of headphones that don’t travel well (and aren’t intended to do so), I have to say that the experience is pretty fantastic. On paper, the set’s 10Hz-40kHz range is amazing—almost certainly better than your natural hearing ability. In use, the sound is more dynamic than any set I’ve ever used before, with clearer mids and highs, and better differentiation of specific voices and instruments. The illusion of “space” instead of isolation is unlike anything else I’ve ever used.
Note that you can see the mesh exterior casing right through the driver. Michael Crider
The set won’t blow you away with pure volume without a dedicated amp, and the open nature of the cups means that it doesn’t preserve head-thumping bass like a conventional headphone design. If you like to rattle your fillings when the bass drops, these aren’t the headphones for you. And as previously discussed, noise cancellation and sound isolation are almost zero.
You downloaded pictures from your camera, phone, or USB drive. Now you want to share these galleries with friends and family in a nice presentation. This guide shows you how to view a slideshow on Windows 10 using native tools.
This guide explains two built-in methods: using the Photos app and using File Explorer. The benefit of the Photos app is that you have immediate access to other albums and folders without digging through File Explorer. Meanwhile, the File Explorer version provides built-in slideshow controls not present in the Photos app.
Use the Photos App
Normally, all you need to do is double-click on an image file to launch the Photos app. If Photos isn’t set as the default image application on your computer, right-click on a photo, hover over “Open With,” and select “Photos.”
Once the app loads, you’ll see the static picture on your screen. Hover your mouse over the picture’s left or right side and you can advance or “rewind” to another image using the virtual arrow overlays.
To start a slideshow, click the three-dot button located in the top-right corner. This expands a drop-down menu listing a “Slideshow” option at the top. Click this option to start the show.
Once the slideshow begins, it will cycle through all images stored in the initial photo’s associated folder. The slideshow will not add pictures stored in sub-folders.
For controls, you can press the Right Arrow key to move to the next picture or press the Left Arrow key to rewind back to the previous image.
Microsoft Office is constantly working to improve its software. Still, there might be times when Word just refuses to start. Here are a few ways you can get Word up and running again.
Update Microsoft Office
It’s always a good idea to keep your software up to date as companies constantly issue fixes for bugs and vulnerabilities that hinder the performance of the application.
Since Office 2013, Microsoft issues any updates to its Office applications automatically unless you told it to do otherwise. If that’s the case, and you’re experiencing startup issues with Word, you might want to update it to the latest version and see if that fixes the problem.
The good news is you can do this from any of your Office apps. So, if Word won’t start, you can update through Excel, PowerPoint, or any other Office programs you happen to have.
To update, open your Office app, click the “File” tab, and then click “Account” at the bottom of the left panel.
Under the “Product Information” section, click “Update Options” next to “Office Updates.” In the drop-down menu, select “Update Now.”
Office checks for and applies any updates. After the update completes, you see a success message.
There are many ways to make caramel apples right at home. To be clear, we’re talking about apples covered in buttery rich caramel that will cover your teeth with each bite—not the bright red and hard candy-coated apples that might send you to the dentist. For a rundown on the difference, check out this quick look at caramel and candy apples.
How to Make Caramel Apples
Making caramel apples is a fun fall tradition in many homes, but if you have yet to try it, we’ll walk you through the steps. From preparing your apples to choosing tasty Halloween toppings, we’ve got something yummy for you to try.
Making caramel apples isn’t a supply heavy task, but you do need a few things:
A candy thermometer: Depending on which recipe you choose, you may need a candy thermometer to ensure your caramel sauce is at the right temperature.
Lollipop or Popsicle sticks: You’ll need to pierce your apples after removing the stem to create a handle for this sweet treat. Sturdy skewers, chopsticks, or sticks from outside also do the trick. If you want your apples to look as professional as possible, you can always buy stout bamboo skewers made specifically for the task.
Supplies in hand, you’re ready to prep!
Prepare the Apples
Emilee Unterkoefler
Wash your apples thoroughly to remove all the wax from the skin and then dry your apples completely before dipping. Cortland, Empire, and Granny Smith apples are all popular for this yummy snack.
Remove the stems and use a Popsicle stick, lollipop stick, or skewer to pierce through the apple as a way to hold your delicious treat. You’ll want to pierce through the section of the apple where you just removed the stem.
Get the Cooling Station Ready
Emilee Unterkoefler
Place a piece of parchment paper on a large cookie sheet. Using room temperature butter, generously grease your parchment paper. The butter will help keep the caramel apples from sticking after being placed on the parchment paper.
