Ever since hero Edward Snowden's bombshell document leaks, the technology world has wide eyes for encryption. Sure, it was a topic prior to Snowden, but many failed to give it the focus it deserved. Thankfully, companies are now better implementing encryption, and some of them, such as Apple, are fighting for our rights too.

Today, the encryption initiative, 'Let's Encrypt', finally leaves beta. Josh Aas, ISRG Executive Director says "we set out to encrypt 100 percent of the Web. We're excited to be off to a strong start, and with so much support across the industry". If you are wondering what he means, please know that big players such as Cisco, Akamai, HP, Mozilla, Google, and Facebook are sponsoring it. But what exactly is Let’s Encrypt?

There are many cloud storage providers nowadays, but I choose to give Dropbox my money. While there are alternatives that are free, I'd rather spend money on quality, and to support a company that supports Linux. Not to mention, Dropbox is secure, available on many platforms, and the company is constantly introducing new features.

Speaking of new features, today, the company announces that its cloud storage is now officially supported by the wonderful Facebook Messenger. Users of the chat program can now directly share files from Dropbox on both Android and iOS. You must have both the latest version of the Dropbox and Facebook Messenger apps installed for it to work.

As someone born in the 1980's, I grew up with MTV. Quite frankly, before I bought my first cassette or CD, I got my music fix by watching these classic music videos. While MTV has since moved away from music videos, websites like YouTube have stepped in to fill the void.

Even though music videos have evolved with innovative cinematography and cool effects, they are still largely the same old thing -- a mix of audio and video. Today, Google Play announces a collaboration with musician Elizabeth Rose to create something more appropriate for tech-focused millennials -- an interactive music video.

According to Google, 20 percent of people in the USA will experience a disability at some point in their life. Let's think about this for a moment -- that is one in five people. In other words, people with disabilities are a significant part of the population. While there are many laws on the books protecting the disabled from discrimination, this group of people can still be underrepresented.

Today, the search giant highlights some of the ways it is helping users with disabilities. Google is focusing on multiple platforms, such as Chromebooks, Android, and the web.

If you are happy with your current keyboard, but it isn't a mechanical variant, you probably could be happier. In other words, you probably don't know what you are missing. Mechanical keyboards offer a very satisfying typing experience, plus potentially better performance when gaming.

Mechanical keyboards are often an expensive affair, however. They are totally worth the investment, but sometimes they have extra features you don't really need or want, which inflates the price. Today, SteelSeries announces the APEX M500 mechanical keyboard with a very reasonable price. It has Cherry MX Red switches, which are ideal for gaming. The eSports-focused keyboard is fairly basic by design, which makes it affordable for many.

Linux-based operating systems are rock solid -- reliable and secure -- but not infallible. The Mumblehard malware, for instance, targets servers running the open source kernel, installing a backdoor, and then turning them into part of a powerful spam-focused botnet. Surprisingly, Mumblehard was rather widespread, infecting 4,000 Linux-powered servers.

Of course, had administrators patched the systems appropriately, there is a good chance that some of them would have avoided infection. I say this, because ESET found that some machines were infected through known exploits, in things like WordPress. Thankfully, ESET successfully terminated the botnet on February 29th, 2016 by taking control of the home IP.

About a year ago, I declared Windows 10 was "the final nail in the coffin for the Linux desktop". What I meant by this was not that Linux on the desktop was really dead, but that the Linux community had failed to capitalize on the negative sentiment towards Windows 8x. What I didn't expect at the time, however, was Microsoft's privacy faux pas with Windows 10. While there are more than a quarter billion installs of the latest operating system, plenty of folks have serious concerns about spying.

Maybe Linux has a chance on the desktop after all. Ubuntu is being integrated into Windows 10, and Android seems to be headed towards the desktop. In other words, Linux is making significant moves. Heck, even Linus Torvalds is prepared to keep fighting the good fight, and he declares that he is still "working on it".

Illegal street racing is totally dangerous. Quite frankly, not only can you injure or kill yourself, but even worse, you can impact innocent pedestrians. Luckily, if you have the need for speed, video games can give you your racing fix in a safe environment.

Today, Thrustmaster announces the TMX Force Feedback racing wheel for Xbox One and Windows 10 (plus Vista, 7, and 8x). For under $200, you can take your games to the next level with a feedback-focused racing wheel.

If you are a PC builder, you know that we are in the middle of a shift to DDR4. While DDR3 is perfectly fine for now -- and the only option for current AMD builds -- DDR4 is certainly the future. Believe it or not, prices for this newer RAM can sometimes be lower than DDR3 at the same capacity.

If you are planning to do a new Intel build, G.SKILL -- a very well-respected manufacturer -- has a new RAM kit that will certainly interest you. This 16GB DDR4 CL15 kit runs at an insane 3600MHz, making it perfect for things like gaming.

While learning a second language is probably very rewarding -- I wouldn't know -- it is becoming less necessary. Thanks to technology, people can easily translate languages while on the go with a smartphone or tablet. The problem? Many translator apps require an internet connection. This is a problem, as many people need these apps when traveling abroad, where they may not have a data connection.

Today, Microsoft updates its Translator app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch making it infinitely more useful for those traveling without data. In addition, the app is getting a new Safari extension, so users can easily translate webpages when needed.

While life can be a glorious thing, there are many scourges that can make it more difficult. Between things like cancer and heart disease, it can be impossible to get through the minefield of life unscathed. Unfortunately, there are many more health risks out there than just those two aforementioned examples.

One particularly heartbreaking condition is Parkinson's Disease. While many people have the affliction, Michael J. Fox is one person that comes to mind when discussing it. The disease causes him, an others, to lose body control, making day-to-day activities a tiring chore. Today, Pfizer announces that it is partnering with IBM to focus on improving Parkinson's Disease care by using the Internert of Things.

As a PC builder, Newegg is a website on which I spend a lot of time. Not only does this online retailer offer great prices, reliable customer service, and a large amount of available products, but it is a great resource for learning too. Even if you aren't looking to spend money, you can "window shop" at the new offerings, as a way to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies.

Today, Newegg enables a new feature that is really cool and forward-thinking. You can now interact with the retailer's customer service using Facebook Messenger. In other words, the social network's messenger service has value that expands beyond casual chatting -- it is also a legit business tool, dubbed "Messenger for Business".

Building a PC can be a really fun project. Not only does it allow you to pick all of the components, but the design of the case/chassis too. Long gone are the days of beige towers. Modern cases come in a multitude of colors, sizes, and shapes. Some even glow thanks to LED lighting.

Unfortunately, many cases have become a bit too liberal with their designs -- they can look like funky spaceships or lava lamps! In other words, sometimes a more mature and reserved chassis would be more appropriate for a build. Today, Lian Li announces the PC-J60 -- an ATX mid tower with a focus on class, maturity, and cable management.

Quality virtual reality content is starting to come fast and furious. Earlier today, I was was watching an amazing video of YouTube sensation, Barnacules, playing VR horror game, Brookhaven Experiment, with the HTC Vive. The immersive experience made me start to salivate for HTC's VR offering.

Today, Google announces another intriguing program that takes advantage of the Vive. Called "Tilt Brush", the software lets the user virtually "paint" in a 3D environment. While it may seem like nothing more than a cool demo, I see it as much more than that -- the potential future of art.

If you are looking for a quality laptop without breaking the bank, HP's ENVY line is definitely worth a look. The line combines solid performance with attractive designs -- perfect for home, school, or small business.

Today, HP announces a refresh of its popular ENVY line, featuring three distinct models. There is a 360 degree convertible, a 15-inch workhorse and a surprisingly light 17-inch portable workstation.