Derrik Diener, Author at Make Tech Easier

How to Make a Watermark on Videos in Kdenlive

Using Linux and want to create a video watermark? No problem. Kdenlive is the most powerful open source video editor available for Linux. Here’s how it works.

Should You Use the Proprietary Video Driver on Linux?

When it comes to Linux, you have open source drivers & proprietary video drivers that come directly from a manufacturer. Wondering which to use? Read on.

Speed Up Firefox By Enabling HTTP Pipelining

Firefox sends only one HTTP request per HTTP connection. See how to speed up Firefox by enabling this hidden feature to send multiple requests at a time.

Is Chromium a Suitable Alternative to Chrome?

Both Chrome & Chromium are offered on Linux. Both have their pros & cons. Find out if Chromium is a good alternative to Chrome & if it’s a better browser.

Re-enable Upstart on Ubuntu 15.04

Some people are unhappy about systemd in the new Ubuntu release. If you’re one of those people, here’s a trick that will remove Systemd & put Upstart back.

Should You Upgrade to Ubuntu 15.04?

Still using Ubuntu 14.04 or 14.10? Not sure whether it’s worth upgrading to Ubuntu 15.04? In this article we’ll help you decide which is best for you.

3 Great Alternatives to Google Music

Google Music is a very powerful service that many people like, but this type of streaming technology isn’t limited to Google. Here are some alternatives.

Control Your Data Usage and Save Bandwidth Data on Google Chrome

Does your ISP impose a bandwidth cap for your Internet connection? Here is how you can control data usage and save bandwidth on Google Chrome.

Make Your Audio Sound Better with Pulse Audio Equalizer on Ubuntu

You might find yourself disappointed that you can’t tweak your Linux sound setup to have an equalizer. Luckily, Pulse Audio Equalizer can help with the rescue.

The 4 Best Email Clients for Linux

So, you need an email client for Linux. There are a many – maybe too many, honestly. It’s because of this that we’ve made it easier for you to decide.

Back Up and Restore Your Hard Drive Easily with Gnome Disk Utility

Having only one hard drive to hold your personal files can be dangerous. This is why backing up your hard drive via Gnome disk utility is essential.

How to Disable GTK3 Client-Side Decorations on Ubuntu

Outside of Gnome Shell, client-side decorations on windows can be quite annoying. Luckily, someone has created some software to bypass these decorations.

How to Remove White Noise from Audio in Audacity

Have you ever recorded a vocal track in Audacity only to find that your recording has a ton of white noise in it? Try using this quick trick to remove white noise.

How to Decompile a Video File Into Images with FFMPEG on Linux

Ever recorded a video clip and then wondered “How do I turn this entire thing into individual images?” This guide will show how to decompile videos on Linux.

How to Add Steam Chat to Pidgin or Empathy on Linux

It is kind of a pain to have to open Steam just to chat with your friends. Here is how you can bypass this by adding Steam chat to Pidgin on Linux.

The Difference Between Window Managers and Desktop Environments

This article goes over window managers and desktop environments. You’ll learn the pros and cons of each to help you better decide which is right for you.

How to Map a Crouton Installation to An External Device (Chromebook)

The problem with a Chromebook is its low storage space. The good news is, you can easily setup Crouton installations (for Linux) on an external device. Here’s how.

Lightweight Desktop For Linux: What’s the Best One for You?

Most people love a pretty desktop, but for those who prefer something light, here is a list of all the different lightweight desktop environments for Linux.

How to Run Linux in a Window on your Chromebook

You might be aware that it’s possible to run a Linux distribution on your Chromebook. but what if you could run Linux in a window? Well, now you can!

5 Great Openbox Themes

Openbox is one of the best window managers for Linux, and you can easily make it your own with the themes. Here are 5 of the best themes for Openbox.

Nova Launcher Prime for Android – Is It Worth Your Money?

One of the best way to customize Android is through a custom launcher, and Nova Launcher is one of the most popular one. However, is the premium version worth your money? Let’s check it out.

How to Make a Linux USB Live Disk with the Terminal

While there are plenty of graphical tools for you to create a Linux USB live disk, nothing beats the command line for its easiness. Here’s how to do it.

Otter Browser – A QT-Based Browser with Classic Opera UI

Otter browser is an ambitious project to keep version 12.x of the Opera browser user interface alive. Let’s check it out and see if it is a good browser alternative.

How to Install the GTK3 Version of MATE on Arch Linux

The Mate desktop is pretty great, but the software it’s built on is getting pretty dated. Here is how you can upgrade Mate to GTK3 in Arch Linux.

How to Install the Official Telegram Desktop App in Linux

Looking for a messaging application that is open source, but has a major focus on security and encryption? Look no further than Telegram.

Give the GIMP User Interface a Refresh with Flat GIMP

GIMP is a good program, but it isn’t exactly the most modern looking. Flat GIMP is an icon theme that makes GIMP more modern and relevant-looking.

How to Download Instagram Videos

Have you ever come across a creative Instagram video and wish you can download it? Here are some of the ways you can download Instagram videos.

9 YouTube Features You Probably Haven’t Heard of

Along with the great content, YouTube has also got a lot of great features. Here’s a list of 9 really useful YouTube features that you probably haven’t heard of.

Podkicker Pro: A Solid Podcast Manager for Android

There are plenty of podcatching apps for Android, but the one that has always stood out to me is Podkicker Pro. Check out how awesome it is here.

5 of the Best Places to Find RPMs For Redhat-based Linux Distros

Sometimes, finding RPMs for RedHat-based Linux distro can be difficult and frustrating. Here are the top 5 best places where you can find RPM package files.

How to Install the Budgie Desktop Environment on Linux

Looking to try out Budgie without installing the whole Evolve OS distro? Here is how you can install Budgie on Ubuntu, Arch Linux, Fedora and OpenSUSE.

5 Great AUR Helpers for Arch Linux

AUR clients for Arch Linux make installing PKGBUILDs super easy. There are quite a few helpers out there, and here is a list of 5 great AUR clients.

The Best Terminal Emulators for Linux

There are many terminal emulators available. Perhaps too many. Here are 5 great terminal emulators available on Linux.

5 of the Best File Managers for Android

There are plenty of file manager apps in the Play Store, which one is for you? Here are some of the best file managers for Android. Check them out.

How to Convert DEB Files to RPM

RPM packages are just not as abundant as DEB files – It’s a fact. To solve this, simply convert the deb packages to the rpm format using Alien.

Why You Should Use DuckDuckGo

Good Google alternatives are really hard to find. One that respects your privacy as a user is DuckDuckGo. Here is why you should use Duckduckgo.

5 Great IRC Clients For Linux

IRC, even though is old, still plays a major role in Linux. There are many, many clients out there and here are 5 really great IRC clients you should check out.

How to Download Vine Videos

So, you’ve found a couple of Vine videos online and you want to keep them. Here’s how you can download VIne videos in both desktop and mobile.

Enable HTML5 Playback in Google Play Music

The default settings of Google Play Music in a web browser make uses of Adobe Flash. Alternatively, you can switch it over to run on HTML5. Here’s how you can enable HTML5 playback in Google Play Music.

5 Great Tiling Window Managers for Linux

If you’re looking for a way to use Linux that is bloat free, tiling window managers might just be what you’ve been looking for.

How to Create Swap on a Chromebook

Chromebook doesn’t come with a lot of memory, but here’s a quick fix. You can create swap to solve the memory issue. Here’s how it is done.

Enabling Laptop Mode in Ubuntu

Ubuntu is great operating system, but can drain the battery fast on a laptop. Here is how you can enable laptop mode in Ubuntu and other power saving options.

Get the Latest Version of Gnome on Ubuntu

New releases of Ubuntu no longer contain the latest version of Gnome 3. For fan of both Ubuntu and Gnome, you can get the latest version of Gnome on Ubuntu with this method.

How to Disable a Laptop Touchpad on Startup for Linux

While you can temporarily disable the touchpad, wouldn’t you rather have the ability to fully shut it off at startup? Here is how to do so in Linux.

How to Fully Integrate Firefox into Gnome Shell

Firefox doesn’t integrate well in Gnome Shell desktop theme. Here are some ways you can use to make it looks like it truly belongs on the Gnome 3 desktop.

Stream Games on Twitch with Linux Using Castawesome

Are you a Linux gamer looking to stream gameplay to Twitch? It is not an easy task, but with Castawesome, you can get it done easily.

5 Useful PPAs for Ubuntu

A PPA allows you to install third party software, games, proprietary drivers that are not in the Ubuntu repository. Check out these useful PPAs for Ubuntu.