In 2015, ahead of my first vacation to Italy, I wanted to learn some Italian. It’s polite to know at least some basic words and phrases when visiting a foreign country, right? Enough to get by, anyway. With about three months to learn, I landed on Duolingo—and instantly fell in love with the way it teaches a language through implicit learning and gamification. As someone who’s never been particularly academic, I still remember those days with a special fondness because I’d never had so much fun while learning something new. A lot of that had to do with the fact I could see (and feel) how much progress I was making. Duolingo has been part of my life for a decade now, but I’m falling out of love with it. What was once my favorite app has turned into something I dread, and the fun I once had is no longer there. What happened? I was using the free version of Duolingo, but liked it enough to start paying That first Italian vacation I mentioned above went pretty well and I was able to enjoy basic conversations in Italian with the locals. Duolingo actually helped, and since then I’ve used the app to learn the basics of several other languages when visiting other countries. For a long time, it was the most exciting app on my phone. Dave Parrack / Foundry And in fact I liked Duolingo enough that I started paying for the privilege of using it. It was so useful that I felt the developers deserved some compensation, and more than that it was actually entertaining. So, why not? I rarely pay for premium subscriptions, but I gladly handed over my hard-earned money for a 12-month Super Duolingo plan. Things went well for a couple of years, and I didn’t mind seeing my Super Duolingo subscription automatically renew every year… but then some frustrations started creeping in. The negative quirks of Super Duolingo For one, I became more concerned about maintaining my Duolingo streak and gaining XP—whether to make the top 3 in my current league, to get promoted to a higher league, or to avoid demotion to a lower league—instead of actually learning the languages. I found myself just doing the personalized practice session every day to earn a quick 20 XP. (For those unfamiliar, practices only review mistakes and weak areas.) With Duolingo, I could earn more total XP by completing actual language lessons where I’m learning new words and phrases, but doing so takes a lot more time and effort. In order not to break my streak, I felt compelled to take the easy way out with easy XP sources. This meant I was making zero progress towards learning new languages. Dave Parrack / Foundry The gamification was great for building my streak—but once that streak was built, the gamification started backfiring. There’s also the fact that Super Duolingo gives unlimited hearts, and that robs the whole gamified learning process of its stakes. With limited hearts, I’m encouraged to apply myself and do my best so I don’t lose any of them. With unlimited hearts, I can half-ass my way through lessons, knowing I can just try again if I mess up. I end up going through the motions without taking anything in or testing myself. Recently, Duolingo has switched from its hearts system to an energy system, where every lesson costs a bit of energy. Energy slowly refills over time or instantly refills by watching a rewarded ad. You also get bonus energy for a perfect lesson. Is this better for learning? The jury’s still out. I canceled Super Duolingo when I realized it was preventing me from learning A couple of years later, when I realized the quirks of Super Duolingo—personalized practice being the easiest source of XP and unlimited hearts making it easy to coast through lessons—were holding back my learning, I decided to cancel my premium subscription. Now I’m back to using the free version of Duolingo… and I’m actually enjoying it again. I’m actively learning new languages again, having returned to completing 1 or 2 lessons most days. With limited hearts (or now energy), I have to pay attention and do well. Consequences are a great tool for focusing the mind and putting in effort. Dave Parrack / Foundry Unfortunately, the free version of Duoling has its own annoyances to deal with, like paywalled features and advertisements. Don’t get me wrong. Both of those things make sense for any freemium app. I understand that Duolingo isn’t a charity, that they need to earn revenue to keep the lights on and the app active developed. But it is an annoyance, nonetheless, and it’s kind of ironic that it keeps prodding me to try Super Duolingo for free. I’ve already tried it! And it’s no good. I’m adapting to using the free version again, despite its many flaws I still have Duolingo installed on my phone and I still use it most days. However, I’m now doing it on my own terms, tackling lessons when it suits me. I’m no longer subject to Duo’s passive-aggressive reminders to start a lesson so as not to lose my streak. Ultimately, I’ve realized that maintaining a streak isn’t important. My streak was greater than 1,200 days at the time I canceled Super Duolingo, and losing it was the best thing that could’ve happened. It was freeing. I can now miss a day and not care less. Back to zero? Oh well. The world keeps turning and I can keep learning another day. Dave Parrack / Foundry Ultimately, I think Duolingo has got the balance wrong. The paid version encourages you to focus on the wrong stuff and takes away the good pressures that matter. You care more about keeping streaks and reaching new leagues instead of completing courses and passing actual learning milestones with real meaning behind them. As for the free version, it feels set up to annoy you enough to subscribe to the paid version. I still think Duolingo has a lot of value and can be used to learn new languages in a fun and accessible way. However, right now, it’s hard to recommend it to anyone not already using it. Read...

Screens with OLED panels are increasingly being used in laptops and PC monitors. The reason: The prices for OLEDs have fallen, and this is likely to continue in the future. A laptop with an OLED display is currently available for as little as $750, such as the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14. You won’t find top equipment here, neither in terms of components nor the screen. However, the 60-hertz display offered in this device class masters most everyday tasks without any problems, as long as gaming is not involved. A monitor with an OLED panel is often aimed at special application scenarios. It either supports creative work with outstanding detail or gaming on the computer with ultra-fast switching times. An OLED gaming monitor with a 27-inch diagonal, QHD resolution and 240 hertz refresh rate is priced at a good $700 — such as the LG Ultragear OLED 27GS95QE-B. A 4K 32-incher such as the Dell 32 Plus (S3225QC) costs upwards of $800. This means that OLED monitors are still no bargain, but their prices are increasingly moving into affordable regions. The Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLEDMatthew Smith / Foundry Stumbling block: Burn-in due to static image content Just like OLED televisions, OLED monitors also impress with their outstanding contrast. As they can dim with pixel precision and switch off the pixels completely, they display true black. The self-illuminating pixels also impress with their rich colors, very short switching times, and extremely stable viewing angles, where colors hardly change at all, even when you look at the screen from the side. What curbs the enthusiasm for OLED screens in the computer environment is the risk of burn-in. These effects can occur if image content is displayed statically for a long time. In the case of televisions, this applies to channel and program logos, for example. There are far more possibilities when working on a desktop monitor or laptop display on a daily basis. This is because many applications involve the display of static content — for example, tables, texts, or the Windows taskbar, which always remains visible in the default settings of the operating system. Even if the OLED panel is not yet a bargain for PC monitors, many gaming screens, such as the LG Ultragear OLED 27GS95QE-B shown here, are now quite affordable. LG There are different levels of burn-in effects: image sticking, image retention, or ghost image is a temporary effect. A slight shadow image or outline remains visible even though the image signal has already changed. The effect is caused by the fact that OLEDs react very sensitively to changes in the current voltage. If the threshold voltage of the pixel transistors shifts, the faulty picture can occur. Proper burn-in or image retention, on the other hand, is permanent in OLEDs. Static content that is displayed repeatedly over a long period of time leaves permanent traces on the panel. You then see them as shadow images in the background that no longer disappear. Burn-in occurs because OLED panels wear out during operation. They age and lose luminosity in the process. However, this is a very slow process. For this reason, genuine defects caused by burn-in are covered by most manufacturers’ device warranties. In addition, the panel can compensate for a deficit in luminosity by increasing the power supply to precisely these pixels. OLED maintenance support For both desktop monitors and most laptops with OLEDs, the manufacturers offer built-in maintenance measures. You should definitely carry them out in order to maintain the panel quality. In the case of monitors, you will find the integrated routines for OLED maintenance in the on-screen display (OSD). They are often located under the menu item “Other.” Laptop manufacturers often integrate the functions into the manufacturer’s own maintenance tools. Asus, for example, has added the “Asus OLED Care” section to the MyAsus utility program for laptops with OLED panels. In many cases, there are also additional apps for both device categories that support you with OLED care. However, the offer depends very much on the specific device. Lenovo, for example, limits the Lenovo Display Refresh utility to the Thinkpad X1 Fold. At the same time, an update of the respective tool does no harm. In our experience, some OLED maintenance functions are only enhanced by an update. Pixel refresh: Basic maintenance for the OLED screen A common maintenance routine that is intended to prevent the risk of burn-in from the outset is the pixel refresh, or pixel update. This measure checks and corrects the threshold voltage on the pixel transistors. This can shift in the course of OLED operation — especially when many bright areas are displayed. This is where the most current flows and the highest temperature is generated as a result. The aim of the routine is to restore the threshold voltage that was set when the panel was produced. The correction also eliminates any display errors. The pixel refresh starts automatically on most devices after a certain number of operating hours. Some monitor models, such as the Dell 32 Plus S3225QC, indicate in the OSD that a pixel refresh is necessary after just four hours. Visually, a green dot at “OLED screen status” changes to yellow. In this case, however, we do not receive an active notification to intervene. If we start the correction, the process runs automatically and takes six to eight minutes. The display switches off at the end. For good reason, the setting in the OSD cannot be deactivated. However, you can select that the refresh only starts when the monitor is in standby mode. Taking a look at the OSD from time to time and performing the refresh will benefit the lifespan of your OLED monitor. Panel refresh: Self-calibration of the OLED pixels To prevent irreversible damage caused by real burn-in, all OLED panels have an integrated self-protection mechanism — panel refresh, also known as panel compensation. The protection process starts automatically after a specified operating time. The device manufacturers are keeping quiet about when exactly this happens. However, several hundred operating hours have probably already passed. The panel refresh starts as soon as the display is switched off. For this reason, you should not completely disconnect an OLED monitor from the power supply via a switchable power strip. During panel refresh, the screen uses a memory function. The internal controller saves all the data on light duration and brightness — for each pixel. Those OLED pixels that have been shining at high brightness for a particularly long time and have therefore already diminished in brightness are given a higher power supply. This works because OLED panels do not usually light up in the maximum range, but on the basis of the Average Picture Level (APL). This describes in percent how high the average brightness of a picture on the screen is. Further protective measures: Pixel shifting, logo dimming, and more. Especially with OLED monitors and laptops intended for gaming, manufacturers integrate additional protective mechanisms for the OLED screen. However, not every model has to feature all of these processes. Pixel shifting: This function is also known as pixel orbiter. If it is activated, the displayed image is shifted horizontally and vertically by a few pixels at predefined intervals — approximately every three minutes. This changes its position on the display. This is intended to prevent certain pixels from being overused and therefore ageing more quickly. Logo recognition can be activated on some devices with OLED screens. It detects the static image content on the screen and darkens it to protect the panel from burn-in. Foundry Logo dimming/logo detection: If the operating menu of your monitor offers this function, the display automatically recognizes logos and recurring overlays and reduces their brightness. You can usually determine how much this should happen yourself using several levels. This setting is a precautionary measure that is useful for toolbars in games, channel logos, or program names. Screen saver: To protect the entire display, you can activate a screen saver via the manufacturer’s tool. It starts as soon as there is no input signal — often after just two minutes. An activated screen saver — here on a Samsung OLED monitor — protects the display from damage caused by static content when the computer is not in use.Foundry OLED protection measures for everyone With these measures, you can protect the valuable OLED screen from burn-in effects and preserve the lifespan of the pixels. Hide the taskbar: On the computer, the Windows taskbar is one of those static contents that are always displayed. To protect the OLED pixels, you can prevent this by hiding the taskbar. In Windows 11, right-click on the desktop and select “Personalize.” In the “Taskbar” area, scroll down to “Taskbar behaviors.” Tick the box next to “Automatically hide the taskbar.” Screensaver: Even if your OLED device does not have a screensaver, you can activate it in Windows 11. Again, under “Personalize,” click on “Lock screen” and go to “Screen saver.” Ideally, you should choose a dark color. You can display it in the preview and set a waiting time in minutes. Foundry Dark mode: Dark mode is a suitable means of further reducing the bright areas on the OLED screen. It is not only easy on the eyes, but also on the OLED panel. It can also be switched on in the Windows “Personalization” area. Click on “Colors” and select “Dark” under “Choose your mode.” Full screen mode: Full screen mode is particularly recommended for watching films and videos, so that the video display is scaled to fit the entire screen area. Cinema fans should therefore pay attention to the 16:9 format at the time of purchase to avoid annoying bars on the sides. Brightness control: With desktop monitors, ambient light sensors often regulate the brightness of the OLED screen depending on the conditions at the installation site. Depending on the situation, the luminance is automatically reduced. For moving images such as films, it is advisable to use existing modes — such as film mode. If you use HDR settings, don’t forget to switch them off again. This reduces the peak brightness, protects the OLED pixels and also saves energy. Related content Best laptops: Premium, budget, gaming, 2-in-1, and more The best monitors: 11 top picks for gaming, 4K, HDR, and more Are OLED laptops worth the extra price? 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Whether you’re a small business trying to promote your services, a content creator looking to polish your latest YouTube post, or simply someone who wants to experiment with making cool home videos, using the right software is essential. If it’s too complex, then it can get in the way of your creativity. Alternatively, not having enough tools to fully realise your vision is a very frustrating experience.  Adobe understands this and provides a variety of solutions so you can get just what you need. Plus, the incorporation of the latest AI technology means you can easily do a lot more than you might have thought possible. So, which is the right package for you? Adobe Firefly makes dreams a reality Thanks to its powerful generative AI capabilities, Adobe Firefly is the perfect tool for creating short videos that can boost a presentation or social media post. Using ordinary language prompts or an existing image, you can quickly transform your ideas into professional-looking clips with just a few words. There’s even a built-in prompt enhancer to help produce the results you’re after with the minimum of fuss.  Adobe You don’t need any pro video skills, as Adobe Firefly takes care of everything, but you do get a great level of creative control over aspects such as lighting, camera motion, animation timings, cinematic effects, and video style. There’s also the ability to instantly translate the audio or text in the video to another language and open up the global appeal of your content. Adobe Firefly is one of the fastest ways to generate video ideas, making it perfect for B-roll, storyboards, or just to bring a bit of sparkle to your work. Videos run for 5 seconds, all in high-fidelity 1080p, are designed to be safe for commercial use and can be downloaded as MP4 files that are easy to share or import to other software. Adobe Express brings AI power to your existing videos If you already have video you’ve shot, then Adobe Express is a great platform on which to assemble, polish and output your finished mini-masterpiece. That doesn’t mean it’s old-school though, as Adobe Express is enriched with AI-powered tools that make editing smarter, faster and more inventive. At the heart of the software are one-click tools that streamline edits such as trimming, splitting, and adjusting the speed of footage. These are joined by the option to enhance speech, add captions automatically, or record vocals over the video – all directly within the app. Clip Maker is an amazingly useful new tool that goes through an existing video and pulls out the key moments to create short-clips for sharing on social media. Something that would have taken hours before is now done in minutes. Adobe As Firefly is baked into Adobe Express, you can also use the generative AI capabilities to convert a static scene into animated video, again without the need for any expert skills. When you’re done, there are templates available to format and post videos to social media platforms, with outputs available as GIFs or MP4. Invent new worlds without astronomical prices You might think that the vast array of creative and editing options on offer in Adobe Express and Adobe Firefly would make them out of reach for normal people, but that’s far from the truth. Adobe Firefly has a free tier where you can experiment with its amazing capabilities, and if you want to create more videos then there’s the Standard plan that costs only $9.99/£9.98 p/m. Sign up to Adobe Firefly today! Adobe Express also has a free tier that includes many of the editing tools mentioned above, with a Premium plan that adds advanced features and generative AI capabilities for $9.99/£9.98p/m. If you’re still not sure, then there’s a 30-day free trial so you can get to grips with all it has to offer before you sign up to a subscription. Try Adobe Express for Free Video is the communication method of the modern internet, so make yours the best they can be, all without having to learn loads of editing commands or investing in expensive software. Let Adobe Firefly and Adobe Express take care of the hard work so you can concentrate on being creative. Read...

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