Throwback: How to Enable Dark Mode in Microsoft Paint

How to Enable Dark Mode in Microsoft Paint

Make Microsoft Paint easier on your eyes with Dark Mode! In just a few clicks, you can switch Paint’s bright interface to a sleek dark theme that's perfect for working at night and reducing eye strain. Learn how to enable this hidden productivity boost in Windows 11.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

July 8, 2026 (Originally published September 6, 2023)

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Do you find yourself squinting at your screen at night while using Microsoft Paint? 

If so, you're not alone. 

The light-colored interface can be harsh on the eyes, especially in low-light conditions.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Set MS Paint to the New Dark Mode in Windows 11

Master Your Investments With the New Google Finance App and AI Tools

Master Your Investments With the New Google Finance App and AI Tools

Google Finance is rolling out powerful portfolio tracking tools and a brand new Android app. Discover how custom AI briefings and smart insights can help you make better financial decisions.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

July 7, 2026

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Keeping track of multiple investments across different platforms often leads to frustration. 

Here is a Cool Tip: Automate Your Morning Market Research With The New Google Finance.

Google Finance recently updated its platform to solve the problem by consolidating your financial data and introducing smart analysis tools. 

With a new dedicated Android app and AI research features moving out of beta, managing your money is now much simpler. 

Whether you need a daily crypto briefing or a breakdown of your asset allocation, these updates offer significant value.

The New LinkedIn Features That Can Help You Get Found Faster

The New LinkedIn Features That Can Help You Get Found Faster

LinkedIn has quietly evolved from a digital résumé into a powerful platform for networking, content creation, professional visibility, and career growth. New AI-powered search, enhanced analytics, video tools, and verification features could help job seekers and professionals stand out in a crowded market.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

July 6, 2026

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If you think of LinkedIn as little more than an online résumé, you may be surprised by how much the platform has changed over the past year.

Here's a Cool Tip: Use LinkedIn's New AI Search to Find Better Opportunities.

LinkedIn has been adding new AI-powered discovery tools, deeper content analytics, video enhancements, creator features, and expanded verification options. 

These updates are designed to help professionals find better opportunities, build credibility, and better understand what content is driving engagement. 

LinkedIn continues to expand conversational AI search, content analytics, video experiences, creator tools, and verification capabilities.

Whether you're searching for a new job, growing a business, building a personal brand, or recruiting talent, these updates may help you work smarter and increase your visibility.

Use Digg’s AI News Radar to Spot Tech Trends Faster

Use Digg’s AI News Radar to Spot Tech Trends Faster

Digg is back again, but this version is less Reddit rival and more AI-powered news radar. It can help busy readers spot fast-moving tech and AI stories by scanning public signals from across the web.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

July 5, 2026

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Your tech feed can feel noisy, repetitive, and late. 

By the time a major AI story reaches a standard news app, it may already have bounced across X, GitHub, newsletters, podcasts, and private Slack channels.

That is the problem Digg is trying to solve with its latest reboot. 

Here’s a Cool Tip: Use Digg as an Early-Warning Radar.

Digg has shifted away from its short-lived Reddit-style relaunch and toward an AI-focused news aggregator built around public discussion signals, rankings, and story clusters. 

The current Digg Tech page shows Today’s Highlights, ranked tech stories, and, live-feed style indicators, video signals.

Master Your Day With the New Gmail AI Inbox

Master Your Day With the New Gmail AI Inbox

The new AI Inbox in Gmail (beta) transforms how you view your daily messages by placing a personalized daily briefing right in your left-hand navigation column. You can stop scrolling through endless promotional emails and start your day by addressing high-priority action items automatically surfaced by Gemini AI.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

July 4, 2026

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Publisher's Note: Sneak Peek!

Google is currently testing the new AI Inbox with a limited group of users before rolling it out broadly in the coming months. If you do not see this feature in your account today, consider this your exclusive first look. Read on to see how it works, and keep an eye on your left-hand navigation menu so you are ready to use this smart assistant the moment it arrives for you.

Opening an email account often feels like walking into a crowded room where everyone is shouting at once. 

Critical messages get buried under newsletters, receipts, and social media notifications. 

Managing that flow of information takes valuable time away from actual work.

Here's a Cool Tip: Click the AI Inbox in your left sidebar to see a smart daily briefing of your most important tasks.

Google recently introduced a solution to this clutter with the new AI Inbox. 

Instead of leaving you to sort messages manually, Gmail now provides a dedicated, proactive assistant space right in the left-hand navigation column.

Master Classical Music With Google Blob Beats

Master Classical Music With Google Blob Beats

Google Arts & Culture offers a browser-based arcade game that combines classical music with rhythm mechanics. You can test your reflexes while learning fun facts about historical composers.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

July 3, 2026

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Everyone needs a quick mental break during a busy day of drafting documents and answering emails. 

Instead of mindless scrolling, you can challenge your timing and learn a bit of musical history. 

Here is a Cool Tip: Play Google Blob Beats to test your rhythm and enjoy classical music.

Google released a fun web experiment a few years ago that remains a fantastic way to clear your head for a few minutes.

The game brings iconic classical compositions to life in a completely new format. 

You take control of colorful animated characters and tap along to remixed masterpieces. It requires no installation, runs entirely in your browser, and offers a surprising level of challenge.

5 Siri Tricks That Save Time on Your iPhone

5 Siri Tricks That Save Time on Your iPhone

Siri has grown into a practical assistant that can handle everyday tasks with speed and clarity. These five uses show how it can simplify messaging, navigation, organization, and quick questions.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

July 2, 2026

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You open your phone dozens of times a day. 

Send a message. 

Check directions. 

Set a reminder. 

Look up a quick fact. Each task pulls you into a different app and breaks your focus.

Here’s a Cool Tip: Talk to your iPhone instead of tapping.

Siri’s strength is simple. 

It lets you do all of that without tapping through menus. 

With newer Apple Intelligence features, it can also handle more natural conversations and more complex requests across apps.

Use Edge Journeys to Resume Tasks Instantly Anywhere

Use Edge Journeys to Resume Tasks Instantly Anywhere

Microsoft Edge Journeys organizes your browsing into task-based summaries so you can quickly pick up where you left off. It’s a simple way to resume projects across desktop and mobile without digging through tabs or history.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

July 1, 2026

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You open your browser to finish something important, then spend five minutes figuring out where you left off.

Was it a product comparison?

A set of travel tabs? Or an article you meant to revisit?

Modern browsing creates clutter. Tabs pile up, history gets buried, and resuming work often takes longer than starting over.

Here’s a Cool Tip: Let Edge organize your browsing into “Journeys”.

Microsoft is addressing that problem with Journeys in Edge, now available on both desktop and mobile.

Get Faster Answers With Google Gemini 3.5 AI Search

Get Faster Answers With Google Gemini 3.5 AI Search

Google recently upgraded its search experience with Gemini 3.5 Flash, an advanced model that provides incredibly fast and interactive answers. This upgrade transforms how you find information by handling complex, multi-step queries directly within your browser or mobile app.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

June 30, 2026

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Finding precise answers to complex questions often requires clicking through multiple websites and assembling the pieces yourself. 

Here is a Cool Tip: Activate AI Mode to Get Instant, Interactive Answers for Your Most Complex Queries.

Google announced at the recent Google I/O 2026 conference that Gemini 3.5 Flash is the default engine for AI Mode in Search. 

This update brings a massive speed increase and introduces the Neural Expressive design language, which replaces plain text walls with interactive timelines, narrated videos, and dynamic graphics. 

You no longer have to trade quality for speed when asking difficult questions. 

The new AI engine handles multi-step reasoning instantly.

Make Word Finish Your Sentences Faster

Make Word Finish Your Sentences Faster

Microsoft Word can anticipate what you’re about to type and suggest text in real time. Used well, it helps you write faster, cut repetition, and keep your momentum.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

June 29, 2026

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You begin typing a familiar phrase like “Please let me know if you have any…” and pause. 

Word quietly suggests “questions” before you finish the sentence.

That small assist adds up. 

Over the course of a long document or a day full of emails, predictive text reduces friction and keeps you moving. 

Here’s a Cool Tip: Let Word suggest the rest of your sentence.

The feature is built into Microsoft Editor, yet many users overlook it or leave it turned off.