Taylor Swift deepfakes spark calls in Congress for new legislation

Explicit images of the popstar were spread millions of times on social media before being removed.

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15 Best Canva Alternatives For Photo Editing in 2024

Social media posts with attractive images grab 75% more shares than content without visuals. It doesn’t matter whether you are a Social media manager, internet marketer, blogger, or YouTuber; you should know ways to create attractive images. Creating beautiful images for social networking platforms is not difficult; you need to know the proper methods.

Canva is one of the best online photo editors, which bloggers and YouTubers massively use to create article cover images, YouTube video thumbnails, etc. The online editor has everything you need to give your pictures a new touch. The only drawback of Canva is its hefty price tag. If the price restricts you from editing your images, you can use the ten best canvas alternatives given in this article.

Also Read: 30 Best Photo Editing Apps For Your Android Device

15 Best Canva Alternatives For Photo Editing

There are possibly hundreds of Canva alternatives available out there. Some of them are software, and others are web-based editors. Below, we have shared some of the best photo editors that can be used instead of Canva.

1) Lunapic

Lunapic is less popular, but it’s a free online photo editor. The web tool requires no signup, login, or installation.

All you need to do is access the site from a web browser and edit your images immediately.

Regarding photo editing features, Lunapic lets you crop images, draw on images, etc. Also, it lets you change the colors, adjust the brightness/contrast, apply filters/effects, etc.

2) Easil

Easil is one of the best tools for web designers and graphic editors. Compared to Canva, Easil has more professional-looking templates. The site has a pretty attractive user interface and lots of design materials.

What’s more valuable is that Easil offers lots of Adobe Photoshop-type features like a layer-based editor, color picker tool, custom size selection for graphic creation, and more. Currently, Easil has three plans – one free and two paid. The free one is good, but it doesn’t let you download the transparent PNG images.

3) Stencil

Stencil might be your best pick if you are searching for an easy-to-use graphic design tool. Since Stencil focuses more on simplicity, it has limited features. You can create a unique graphic design with Stencil, but no animation, interaction capabilities, or video backgrounds exist.

Stencil is the best pick for creating social media content quickly. Overall, Stencil is an excellent Canva alternative that you can consider.

4) Snappa

If you have been searching for the best Canva alternative for creating only social media posts, you need to try Snappa. Snappa can share many similarities, but Canva is much superior to Snappa.

There are limited templates and visual effects, but Snappa can still create basic social media images in easy steps.

5) Polarr

The photo editing software is available for Windows, MAC, and Linux computers. It also has a web version. The web-based image editing suite is for those searching for an easy way to create attractive images on their own.

Since it’s a full-fledged photo editor, you won’t find a single template on the site. Polarr is available in two versions – Free and Pro. The free version adds a watermark to every edited photo.

6) Gravit

Gravit is a full-fledged photo editing suite that brings lots of unique features. It offers three different apps – Cloud, Klex, and Designer. All three tools serve different purposes, and all of them are free to use.

Out of three different tools, the Klex is more geared toward graphic designers. What makes Gravit different from its competitors is its templates. Gravit has templates for almost every major social networking platform.

7) BeFunky

It is a web-based photo editor that has an Android and iOS app. If we talk about the image editing capabilities of BeFunky, the web-based photo editing tool allows users to create a collage, thumbnails, cover photos, etc.

The great thing about BeFunky is that it categorizes all editing elements like a grid, icons, emoticons, etc. After editing the images, you can directly save the edited pictures to different cloud storage services.

8) Fotojet

The great thing about Fotojet is that it offers many design elements for free. What’s more interesting is that it allows users to edit the design elements, change the color and transparency, make it large, etc. Fotojet has many pre-made template designs for YouTube, Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, etc.

9) Picmaker

Picmaker is just another AI-based graphic design platform similar to Canva. With Picmaker, you can create amazing banners and eye-catching designs in just a few minutes.

Since it’s a subscription-based service, it offers a wide range of ready-to-use premium design templates. You can easily edit the templates to fit your elements.

Apart from these, Picmaker also offers you access to over 100 million stock images, 100,00+ icons, and more. Overall, Picmaker is one of the best Canva Alternatives you can use today.

10) VistaCreate

VistaCreate is one of the best Canva alternatives you can use today to create eye-catching visual content for your social media accounts & business. Although VistaCreate is mostly free, some elements and design templates require a premium account.

With VistaCreate, you can easily design an Instagram post, Video Post, Poster, Banner image for your website/business, and more.

11. Fotor Photo Editor

Fotor Photo Editor is a full-fledged online photo editor that lets you edit your favorite photos in just a few clicks.

Regarding photo editing tools, Fotor Photo Editor provides you with almost all photo editing tools you can think of.

For free, You can crop, resize, and add text to your photos. Also, there’s an option to create photo collages and graphic designs.

12. Pixlr Photo Editor

Pixlr Photo Editor is another great online photo editor and template designer tool you can use now. With Pixlr Photo Editor, you can easily create collages, YouTube thumbnails, Facebook cover images, etc.

The web tool provides almost all the photo editing features you will need. The only drawback is that most tools are locked behind a paywall on the free version.

To use Pixlr Photo Editor at its full potential, you need to purchase the Pixlr Photo Editor premium version.

13. PicsArt Photo Editor

While PicsArt Photo Editor claims itself to be free, most of the most used tools and elements are locked behind a paywall.

It’s an online photo editor with all the photo editing tools you need to make your pictures stand out. The recent version of PicsArt Photo Editor also lets you use AI technology to edit photos.

Also, if you don’t know how to start, you can pick a pre-designed template and edit it immediately.

14. PostermyWall

PostermyWall is basically a graphic design tool that lets you create beautiful & meaningful marketing graphics and videos.

You don’t need to be a pro photo or video editor to create amazing graphic design. This one has ready-to-use templates you just need to pick and edit.

However, like Canva, PostermyWall requires a premium subscription to unlock all editing materials.

15. Fotor

Fotor is by far the best Canva Alternative on the list that lets you create graphic design online for free.

This one is pretty advanced, much like Canva, and you can use it to create impressive banners, logos, ads, social media graphics, and much more.

To reate amazing pictures, it provides you wide range of design elements, massive amoung of free templates to create social media contents, stock images, and more.ac

These are the best Canva alternatives that you can use right now. Let us know in the comment box below if you know any other best image editors. I hope this article helped you! Please share it with your friends also.

The post 15 Best Canva Alternatives For Photo Editing in 2024 appeared first on TechViral.

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Meta tool to block nude images in teens' private messages

The move is designed to help stop teenagers receiving inappropriate pictures, even in encrypted chats

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Vodafone-Three merger faces competition probe

The Competition and Markets Authority will judge whether the deal would harm the UK telecoms market.

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Apple to allow rival app stores on iPhones and iPads in EU

Users in the EU will soon be able to download apps from places other than the App Store.

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Microsoft video games division lays off 1,900 staff

The announcement comes three months after the firm closed its huge merger with Activision-Blizzard.

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Virgin Media most-complained about broadband provider

The company says the latest data from regulator Ofcom "falls far short of our expectations".

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Palworld: Pokémon Company to investigate copying claims

The people behind Pikachu and friends finally comment on the wildly successful "Pokémon with guns".

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How to Launch Apps At Startup in Windows 11 (4 Methods)

On Techviral, we have already shared a detailed guide on stopping apps from starting at startup. However, what if you want to launch a specific set of apps during the startup process? Yes, loading too many apps in the startup can slow down the boot time, but you can run quite a few apps you mainly use without worrying about the slow boot.

So, if you are looking for ways to launch apps during startup on Windows 11, you are reading the right guide. In this article, we will share a step-by-step guide on launching apps during startup on Windows 11.

How to Launch Apps At Startup in Windows 11

Please note that there are quite a few ways to launch apps at startup on Windows 11, but we have listed the one that works and requires no registry editing. Let’s check out.

1. Launch apps at Startup via Settings

In this method, we will use the Windows 11 Settings apps to launch apps automatically at startup. To do that, you need to follow some of the simple steps shared below.

1. First, click the Windows 11 Start button and select Settings.

2. On the Settings app, click on the Apps section, as shown in the screenshot below.

3. On the right pane, scroll down and click on the Startup section as shown below.

4. You will see a list of apps you can launch at startup. You need to go through the list of apps.

5. Simply turn on the apps you want to launch at startup automatically. Once done, restart your PC.

That’s it! You are done. This is how you can launch apps during startup on the Windows 11 operating system by making some changes to the Settings.

2. Launch Apps at Startup via Task Manager

In this method, we will utilize the Windows 11 Task Manager to launch apps at startup. Here are some of the simple steps you need to follow.

1. First, open Windows 11 Search and type in Task Manager. Next, open Task Manager from the list.

2. On the Task Manager, switch to the Startup tab, as shown in the screenshot below.

3. On the Startup page, right-click on the app which you want to launch at startup and select Enable.

That’s it! You are done. This is how you can enable apps to launch at startup in Windows 11 via Task Manager.

3. Adding Apps to the Startup Folder

On Windows 11, you get another option to launch apps during startup. You can manually add apps to the startup folder to launch them at startup. Here’s what you need to do.

1. First, press the Windows Key + R button to open the RUN dialog box.

2. On the RUN Dialog box, type in shell:startup and press the Enter button.

3. This will open the Startup folder on your File Explorer. Now right-click anywhere on the screen and select New > Shortcut.

4. On the Type the location field, click the browse button and locate the .exe file of the program you want to launch. Next, click on the OK button.

5. Once done, click the Next button and type a name for this new shortcut. After assigning the name, click on the Finish button.

That’s it! You are done. You can add more apps to the Startup folder to launch them automatically at Startup.

4. Configure the Apps to Launch Automatically at Startup

Well, most apps available for Windows provide you an option to launch automatically at startup. So, you also have an option to configure an app to launch automatically at startup from the in-app settings.

The steps may vary depending on the app you’re using, but the option to launch at Startup usually resides on the General or Startup Settings of the app. Here’s an example to enable the Spotify app to launch at startup automatically.

1. Launch the Spotify app on your Windows computer.

2. When the app opens, click on the three dots at the top left corner.

3. On the menu that appears, select Edit > Preferences.

4. On the Preferences, scroll down to the Startup and Window behavior. Next, click on the drop-down and select Yes.

That’s it! Now, the app will launch automatically at startup. You need to find the same settings on whichever app you want to launch at startup.

Adding apps to the Startup folder on Windows 11 is pretty straightforward. You can follow these three methods to launch apps during Startup on Windows 11. I hope this article helped you! Please share it with your friends also. If you have any doubts about this, let us know in the comment box below.

The post How to Launch Apps At Startup in Windows 11 (4 Methods) appeared first on TechViral.

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Twitch announces new deal to pay streamers more

The streaming service, primarily used by gamers, will now give more money to its most popular users.

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How to Set Up VPN on iPhone (iOS 17)

You may want to use a VPN service for various reasons. Let’s say you are browsing the web and suddenly come across a site that failed to open due to geo-restrictions. At that time, you can connect to a VPN app and switch servers to unblock the site.

Other reasons for using a VPN include creating a secure connection over the internet, masking the IP address, encrypting your data, and eliminating a wide range of trackers from the web page.

While VPN is good and available for all platforms, have you ever wondered what a VPN is and how it actually works?

What is a VPN?

VPN is basically a Virtual Private Network that masks your Internet Protocol (IP) address. It hides your IP address and makes tracking difficult.

Since it switches your device’s IP Address and makes it look like it’s from a different location, it can unlock various websites.

VPN for iPhone also does the same and ensures the guarding of your data. There are a few key things to consider while choosing a VPN service.

How to Choose the best VPN Service?

Purchasing a VPN service is pretty easy; you just go to the VPN provider’s website, purchase the VPN plan, download the app, and start using it on your device.

However, that isn’t all you should know before purchasing a VPN service. There are some crucial points a user needs to consider before purchasing any VPN service, like the Encryption Level, VPN speed & server availability, and more.

In one of our articles, we have mentioned all the important factors you should consider before purchasing a VPN service. You can check out that article here.

How to Connect VPN on iPhone (Apps)

Like Android, hundreds of VPN apps are also available for iPhones. You will find VPN apps on the Apple App Store; some are free, while others are premium.

If you want the best results, it’s recommended that you purchase a reputable premium VPN app to use on your iPhone. Below, we have shared the steps to use ProtonVPN on iPhone, which is free to download & use.

1. Open the Apple App Store on your iPhone.

2. Now search for the VPN app you want to download & use. For example, we have used the ProtonVPN. Tap on Get to download the VPN app on your iPhone

3. Now launch the VPN app on your iPhone. You will be asked to sign in to an account. If you have purchased a VPN plan, log in with the same account you used.

4. Once logged in, you can see the main interface of the ProtonVPN.

5. Select the server you want to connect to and tap Connect.

6. Now, the iPhone will ask you to add the VPN configuration. Tap on Allow.

7. This will connect to the VPN server. You can confirm this by opening your iPhone’s Control Center. The VPN icon will appear at the top, below your network information.

8. To close the VPN Connection, tap on the Disconnect button.

That’s it! This is how you can connect to a VPN on an iPhone with the help of a third-party app.

How to Manually Configure VPN on iPhone

While connecting through a mobile app is super easy, not all VPN providers have a dedicated app. If you have the VPN configuration, you can manually configure the VPN on an iPhone.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

2. When the Settings app opens, tap on General.

3. On the General screen, tap on the VPN & Device Management.

4. Next, tap on the VPN.

5. On the next screen, tap on the Add VPN Configuration.

6. Now, choose the Type and fill in all details. You can grab these details from your favorite VPN provider’s website or contact support and ask for the configuration.

7. After filling in the required details, tap on Done.

8. Now select your newly configured VPN and enable the Status toggle. If everything you’ve entered is correct, you will be connected to the VPN without error.

That’s it! This is how you can manually configure & connect to a VPN on an iPhone.

So, this guide is all about how to set up a VPN on an iPhone. Let us know if you need more help connecting to a VPN on your iPhone. Also, if you find this guide helpful, don’t forget to share it with your friends.

Also read: How to Take Scrolling Screenshots on iPhone

The post How to Set Up VPN on iPhone (iOS 17) appeared first on TechViral.

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How to Fix Windows 11 Updates Not Downloading (9 Methods)

Windows 11 updates are important, and they are released quite often. If you are using a Beta or Dev Builds of Windows 11, you shouldn’t miss any updates as they mostly contain bug fixes and new features.

However, the problem that Windows 11 users are facing now is ‘Updates Not Downloading’. Several Windows 11 users have reported that Windows 11 updates not downloading on their computers.

So, if you are a Windows 11 user dealing with the same problem, continue reading the article. Below, we have shared a few best ways to fix Windows 11 updates not downloading or installing issues.

Why is Windows 11 Update Not Downloading?

Windows 11 update issues are usually linked to internet connectivity and problematic system files. A few other things can trigger Windows 11 update problems as well.

We have listed some major reasons for the Windows 11 update not downloading.

• Bug or Glitch
• Your Internet is not working.
• Windows System Files are corrupted.
• Windows Services are disabled.
• You are using VPN/Proxy Server.
• Less Storage Space.

These major reasons lead to Windows 11 updates not downloading or installing.

How to Fix Windows 11 Updates Not Downloading Issue?

Now that you know all possible reasons for Windows 11 Updates Not downloading, you can troubleshoot the issue more effectively. Here’s how to fix the Windows 11 Updates Not Installing issue.

1. Restart your Windows 11 Computer

If you haven’t restarted your Windows 11 device for a while, it’s the perfect time to restart. Restarting will rule out the bugs and glitches preventing the Windows Update service from running.

Restarting the computer is the best way to eliminate temporary glitches and bugs. It will also refresh the memory and will restart the Windows Update Services.

So, click the Windows 11 Start Button, Power Menu, and select ‘Restart’. After the Restart, run the Windows Update again.

2. Check Your Internet Connection

 

Well, an internet connection is required for downloading Windows Update. If your internet is unstable, the Windows Update tool will face problems downloading files from its servers.

So, if Windows 11 updates are not downloading on your device, you need to check for internet issues. You can use any speed test websites to determine your internet speed and stability.

3. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Microsoft’s Windows 11 has an Update troubleshooter that scans and fixes every Windows Update service-related problem. You can run it to fix Windows 11 updates not downloading.

1. Click on Windows 11 Start Menu and select Settings.

2. On Settings, switch to the System tab. On the right side, select Troubleshoot.

3. Next, on the Troubleshoot, click on the Other troubleshooters.

4. On the Other Troubleshooters, click the Run button beside the Windows Update.

That’s it! This will run the Windows Update Troubleshooter. You need to follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process.

4. Enable the Windows Update Services

Malicious apps can sometimes turn off the Windows Update services. When the Windows Updater services are disabled, Windows 11 won’t check for updates.

Even if you manually run the Windows Update tool, it will fail to download the updates. So, you must ensure that the Windows Update Services are enabled and running.

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the RUN dialog box. On the RUN dialog box, type services.msc and hit the Enter button.

2. This will open the Services App. You need to find and double-click on the Windows Update service.

3. On the Windows Update Properties, select Automatic on the Startup type drop-down and click the Apply button.

4. Now, find and double click on the Background Intelligent Transfer Service.

5. Next, on the Background Intelligent Transfer Service Properties, select Automatic on the Startup type and click the Apply button.

That’s it! After making the changes, restart your Windows computer.

5. Check Your Storage Space

Windows updates are often huge, and it’s recommended to have at least 20GB of free storage space to install the updates smoothly.

If you can download the updates but are getting errors while installing them, check the storage space.

Windows may fail to download or install the system updates if you have limited storage space. So, free up the storage space before downloading the Windows updates.

6. Disable Metered Connection

You may have set the WiFi as the metered connection. When you set any network as a Metered connection, you reduce data consumption. To reserve the WiFi data, Windows may stop searching for the available updates.

• You can fix the problem by disabling the metered connection. Here’s how to do it.
• Open Settings and switch to the Network & internet.
• On the right side, click on the WiFi/Ethernet.
• Next, select your connected WiFi/Ethernet and turn off the Metered Connection.

That’s it! This is how you can turn off the metered connection on a Windows 11 computer.

7. Delete Update Files from SoftwareDistribution Folder

SoftwareDistribution is a folder where Windows 11 stores all update files. Update files are stored in this folder and automatically installed on your set time and date.

If Windows 11 is not downloading or installing an update, you can try deleting the existing update from this folder to resolve the problem. Here’s what you need to do.

1. First, click on Windows 11 search and type in Services. Next, open the Services app from the list.

2. On the Services, right-click the Windows Update and select Stop.

3. Now open the RUN dialog box (Windows Key + R), type the following path, and press Enter.

C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution

4. This will open the SoftwareDistribution folder.

5. Right-click on all files and select Delete.

6. Now open Services again, right-click on the Windows Update, and select Start.

That’s it! After making the changes, make sure to restart your computer.

8. Temporarily Disable the Third-Party Security Program

On Windows 11, you don’t need a dedicated security program to get rid of viruses & malware. The built-in Windows Security app is good enough for security protection.

However, if you’re still using any third-party security program to protect your Windows 11 PC, it’s best to disable it for some time temporarily.

Third-party antivirus or security softwares often conflicts with the Windows update. So, if Windows 11 updates are not downloading, the security program may be preventing the Windows update services from functioning properly.

So, just disable any third-party antivirus or security program you’re using and run the Windows update tool again. After the update is completed, enable the security program again. This should solve the issue.

9. Run the System File Checker

System File Checker utility is designed to find and fix corrupted system files. It’s useful and easily fixes Windows 11 Updates Not Installing problems. Here’s what you need to do.

1. Click on Windows 11 search and type CMD. Right-click on the Command Prompt and select ‘Run as administrator’.

2. When the Command Prompt opens, paste the command and press Enter.

SFC /scannow

That’s it! This will run the System File Checker utility on your computer. You need to wait patiently for the scan to complete.

These are a few simple methods to fix Windows 11 updates not downloading or installing problems. We are sure these methods will help you install all Windows 11 updates easily. If the methods didn’t help you, you can raise a question on Microsoft Forum or roll back your OS version.

Also read: Windows 11 ISO Free Download Full Version

If you need more help resolving Windows 11 update issues, let us know in the comments below. Also, if the article helped you, share it with your friends.

The post How to Fix Windows 11 Updates Not Downloading (9 Methods) appeared first on TechViral.

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