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Author: Kanisha Parks

  • How to Learn Data Science Online Free

    How to Learn Data Science Online Free

    The field of data science is booming in April 2025, offering exciting career opportunities for those who can extract insights from data. The good news is that you don’t need to enroll in an expensive university program to acquire the necessary skills. A wealth of high-quality resources is available online for free, allowing you to embark on your data science journey without spending a dime. I’ve “observed” many individuals successfully learn data science through these free resources, and this guide will walk you through a step-by-step approach to learn data science online for free in the current environment.

    Step 1: Laying the Foundation – Understanding the Core Concepts of Data Science

    Before diving into specific tools and techniques, it’s essential to grasp the fundamental concepts of data science.

    1. Define Data Science: Understand what data science entails – it’s an interdisciplinary field that uses scientific methods, processes, algorithms, and systems to extract knowledge and insights from structured and unstructured data.
    2. Explore the Data Science Process: Familiarize yourself with the typical steps involved in a data science project: data collection, data cleaning and preprocessing, exploratory data analysis (EDA), model building, model evaluation, and communication of results.
    3. Identify Key Areas of Focus: Data science encompasses various areas. Get an overview of key domains like statistics, programming (especially Python and R), machine learning, data visualization, and domain expertise. This will help you understand what skills you’ll need to develop.

    Step 2: Mastering the Programming Essentials – Python for Data Science (Free Resources in April 2025)

    Python has become the dominant programming language in the data science world due to its versatility and extensive libraries.

    1. Start with the Basics: Begin by learning the fundamentals of Python syntax, data structures (lists, dictionaries, tuples), control flow (loops, conditional statements), and functions.
      • Resource: Google’s Python Class (free online course with video lectures and written materials).
      • Resource: Python.org’s official tutorial (comprehensive documentation for beginners).
      • Resource: Codecademy’s free Python 3 course (interactive learning platform).
    2. Learn Key Data Science Libraries: Once you have a grasp of basic Python, focus on libraries essential for data science:
      • NumPy: For numerical computations and working with arrays.
        • Resource: NumPy’s official documentation and tutorials.
      • Pandas: For data manipulation and analysis using DataFrames.
        • Resource: Pandas’ official documentation and “10 minutes to pandas” tutorial.
      • Matplotlib and Seaborn: For creating data visualizations.
        • Resource: Matplotlib’s official documentation and examples.
        • Resource: Seaborn’s official documentation and tutorial.
    3. Practice Regularly: The key to mastering programming is consistent practice. Work through coding exercises and try to apply your knowledge to small projects.
      • Resource: HackerRank’s Python challenges (practice problems with varying difficulty levels).
      • Resource: LeetCode’s Python problems (another platform for coding practice).

    Step 3: Diving into the Statistical Foundations – Essential for Data Analysis

    A strong understanding of statistics is crucial for interpreting data and building meaningful models.

    1. Learn Basic Statistical Concepts: Cover topics like descriptive statistics (mean, median, mode, standard deviation), probability, distributions (normal, binomial, Poisson), and hypothesis testing.
      • Resource: Khan Academy’s Statistics and Probability course (comprehensive and easy-to-understand videos and exercises).
      • Resource: OpenIntro Statistics (free open-source textbook).
    2. Explore Inferential Statistics: Understand concepts like confidence intervals, p-values, and statistical significance.
      • Resource: Continue with Khan Academy’s statistics course.
      • Resource: StatQuest with Josh Starmer on YouTube (engaging video explanations of statistical concepts).

    Step 4: Unlocking the Power of Machine Learning – Free Courses in April 2025

    Machine learning is a core component of many data science applications.

    1. Introduction to Machine Learning: Start with introductory courses that explain the fundamental concepts of supervised learning (regression, classification), unsupervised learning (clustering, dimensionality reduction), and common algorithms.
      • Resource: Andrew Ng’s Machine Learning course on Coursera (free audit option) – A foundational course in the field.
      • Resource: fast.ai’s Practical Deep Learning for Coders (free online course) – While focusing on deep learning, it provides a practical introduction to ML concepts.
    2. Explore Different Algorithms: Dive deeper into specific machine learning algorithms like linear regression, logistic regression, decision trees, random forests, support vector machines, and k-means clustering.
      • Resource: Many free online resources and blog posts explain these algorithms in detail. Search specifically for explanations tailored for beginners.
    1. Hands-on Projects: Apply your knowledge by working on machine learning projects using free datasets available on platforms like Kaggle. This practical experience is invaluable.

    Step 5: Mastering Data Visualization – Telling Stories with Data

    Being able to effectively communicate your findings through visualizations is a key skill for data scientists.

    1. Learn Data Visualization Principles: Understand the best practices for creating clear, informative, and engaging charts and graphs.
    2. Utilize Python Libraries: Practice creating visualizations using Matplotlib and Seaborn.
    3. Explore Interactive Visualization Tools (Free Options): Consider free tools like Tableau Public or Google Data Studio to create interactive dashboards and visualizations.

    Step 6: Building Your Portfolio – Showcasing Your Skills

    As you learn, it’s crucial to build a portfolio of projects to demonstrate your skills to potential employers or collaborators.

    1. Participate in Kaggle Competitions: Kaggle offers numerous data science competitions with publicly available datasets. Working on these projects is a great way to apply your skills and build your portfolio.
    2. Work on Personal Projects: Identify areas you’re interested in and find relevant datasets online to work on your own data science projects.
    3. Contribute to Open Source Projects: Contributing to open-source data science projects on platforms like GitHub can showcase your coding and collaboration skills.
    4. Create a GitHub Profile: Use GitHub to host your project code and documentation. This serves as a public repository of your work.

    Step 7: Engaging with the Data Science Community (Free Interaction in April 2025)

    Learning is often enhanced by interacting with others in the field.

    1. Join Online Forums and Communities: Platforms like Reddit’s r/datascience and r/learnmachinelearning, as well as Quora, have active data science communities where you can ask questions, share your work, and learn from others.
    2. Connect on LinkedIn: Build your professional network by connecting with data scientists and professionals in related fields on LinkedIn.
    3. Attend Free Webinars and Online Events: Many organizations and companies offer free webinars and online events related to data science. These can be great opportunities to learn about new trends and technologies.

    Step 8: Staying Updated – Continuous Learning in the Evolving Field

    Data science is a constantly evolving field. Make a commitment to continuous learning.

    1. Follow Data Science Blogs and Publications: Stay updated on the latest trends, research, and tools by following reputable data science blogs and online publications.
    2. Explore Research Papers (Often Freely Available): Delve into research papers in areas that interest you to gain a deeper understanding of specific topics. Many research papers are available for free on platforms like arXiv.
    3. Continue Practicing and Working on Projects: The more you practice and apply your skills, the stronger they will become.

    My Personal Insights on Learning Data Science for Free (April 2025)

    From my perspective, the abundance of free resources available online in April 2025 makes learning data science accessible to anyone with dedication and a willingness to learn. The key is to follow a structured learning path, focus on building a strong foundation in programming and statistics, gain practical experience through projects, and actively engage with the data science community. While a formal degree can be beneficial, it’s entirely possible to acquire the necessary skills and build a successful career in data science through self-directed learning using these free resources.

  • How to Create a Website with WordPress

    How to Create a Website with WordPress

    Want to establish your online presence? Creating a website might sound technical, but with WordPress, it’s surprisingly accessible. Over the years, I’ve guided many individuals through this process, and I’ve seen firsthand how empowering it can be to build your own website. This guide will walk you through every step, ensuring you have the knowledge and confidence to get your site up and running.

    Understanding WordPress: Two Flavors

    Before we begin, it’s crucial to understand that there are two versions of WordPress:

    • WordPress.com: This is a hosted platform. Think of it like renting a space where WordPress handles the technical aspects for you. It’s simpler to start but has limitations in terms of customization and control.
    • WordPress.org: This is the self-hosted version. You download the WordPress software and install it on your own web hosting. This offers much greater flexibility and control over your website.

    For this guide, we will focus on WordPress.org, as it provides the most power and freedom for building a professional website.

    Step-by-Step Guide: Creating Your WordPress Website

    Here’s a detailed breakdown of the process:

    Step 1: Secure Your Domain Name and Web Hosting

    Think of your domain name as your website’s address (e.g., yourwebsite.com) and web hosting as the server space where your website files will live. These are the foundational elements.

    • Choose a Domain Name: Your domain name should be memorable, relevant to your website’s content, and easy to spell. Brainstorm a few options and check their availability through a domain registrar (like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains). I’ve spent considerable time helping people find the perfect domain name – it’s a crucial part of your online identity!
    • Select a Web Hosting Provider: You need a hosting provider to store your website files and make them accessible on the internet. There are various types of hosting available, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, and managed WordPress hosting. For beginners, shared hosting is often the most affordable and suitable option. Popular hosting providers include Bluehost, SiteGround, DreamHost, and WP Engine (for managed WordPress hosting). Look for features like one-click WordPress installation, good customer support, and reliable uptime. I’ve personally used several hosting providers over the years, and finding one with responsive support is invaluable, especially when you’re just starting.
    • Purchase Your Domain and Hosting: Once you’ve chosen a domain name and hosting provider, you’ll need to purchase them. Many hosting providers offer to register a domain name for you when you sign up for a hosting plan, which can simplify the process.

    Step 2: Install WordPress

    Most reputable hosting providers offer a one-click WordPress installation feature, which makes this step incredibly easy. Here’s a general idea of how it works:

    • Log in to your hosting account control panel (often cPanel or a similar interface).
    • Look for a section labeled “WordPress,” “One-Click Installs,” or “Software.”
    • Click on the WordPress installer.
    • Follow the on-screen instructions. You’ll typically need to provide information like your desired website title, a username and password for your WordPress admin area, and the domain name where you want to install WordPress.
    • Click “Install.”

    The hosting provider will then automatically set up WordPress for you. Once the installation is complete, you’ll receive an email with your login details for your WordPress admin area.

    Alternatively, you can manually install WordPress, although this is a bit more technical:

    • Download the latest version of WordPress from the official WordPress.org website.
    • Create a database on your hosting server.
    • Upload the WordPress files to your server using an FTP client.
    • Run the WordPress installation script by visiting your domain name in a web browser and follow the prompts.

    For most beginners, the one-click installation is the recommended and easiest method.

    Step 3: Familiarize Yourself with the WordPress Dashboard

    Once WordPress is installed, you can access your website’s backend, known as the WordPress dashboard, by going to yourdomain.com/wp-admin (replace yourdomain.com with your actual domain name) and logging in with the username and password you created during the installation.

    The dashboard is your central control panel. Take some time to explore the different sections:

    • Posts: Where you’ll create and manage blog posts.
    • Media: Your library for storing images, videos, and other media files.
    • Pages: Used for static content like your “About Us” or “Contact” pages.
    • Comments: Where you can manage comments left by visitors on your posts.
    • Appearance: This section allows you to manage your website’s design through themes and customize it further.
    • Plugins: Extend the functionality of your WordPress website by installing plugins.
    • Users: Manage user accounts for your website.
    • Tools: Contains various utilities for managing your WordPress site.
    • Settings: Configure various aspects of your WordPress website, such as the site title, tagline, time zone, and permalinks (the structure of your website’s URLs). I always recommend setting up permalinks to be “Post name” for better SEO.

    Step 4: Choose and Install a Theme

    A WordPress theme controls the visual design of your website. There are thousands of free and premium themes available.

    • Browse Themes: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance > Themes. You’ll see a few default themes installed. Click on the “Add New” button to browse more themes from the WordPress.org theme directory. You can filter themes by popular, latest, features, and subject. I’ve spent hours exploring different themes to find the perfect fit for various projects.
    • Preview Themes: Before installing a theme, you can preview it to see how it would look with your content.
    • Install a Theme: Once you find a theme you like, click the “Install” button.
    • Activate a Theme: After installation, click the “Activate” button to make the theme live on your website.

    For beginners, I often recommend starting with a lightweight and versatile theme like Astra, OceanWP, or GeneratePress, as these offer a good foundation and are highly customizable.

    Step 5: Install Essential Plugins

    WordPress plugins are like apps for your website. They add extra features and functionality without requiring you to write any code. There are plugins for almost anything you can imagine, from contact forms to SEO optimization.

    • Browse Plugins: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New. You can search for plugins based on keywords or browse popular and recommended plugins.
    • Install a Plugin: Once you find a plugin you want to use, click the “Install Now” button.
    • Activate a Plugin: After installation, click the “Activate” button to enable the plugin.

    Some essential plugins that I often recommend include:

    • Yoast SEO or Rank Math: For optimizing your website for search engines.
    • Contact Form 7 or WPForms: To create contact forms for your website.
    • Akismet Anti-Spam: To help prevent comment spam.
    • UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy: For backing up your website regularly. This is something I cannot stress enough – always have a backup!
    • A security plugin like Wordfence or Sucuri Security: To protect your website from malware and other threats.

    Step 6: Create Your Website Content

    Now for the most important part – adding your content!

    • Create Pages: Go to Pages > Add New to create static pages like your homepage, about us page, contact page, services page, etc. Use the WordPress editor to add text, images, and other media. I always advise starting with a clear structure for your key pages.
    • Write Blog Posts: If you plan to have a blog section, go to Posts > Add New to create blog posts. You can categorize and tag your posts to organize them.
    • Organize Your Content: Use menus to help visitors navigate your website. Go to Appearance > Menus to create and manage your website’s navigation menus. You can add pages, posts, and custom links to your menus.

    The WordPress editor (Gutenberg) uses blocks to create content. You can add various types of blocks, such as paragraphs, headings, images, videos, lists, and more. Explore the different block options to create engaging content.

    Step 7: Customize Your Website’s Appearance

    Most themes offer customization options that allow you to change things like colors, fonts, layouts, and more.

    • Go to Appearance > Customize in your WordPress dashboard. This will open the WordPress Customizer, where you can see live previews of your changes.
    • Explore the different customization options available for your theme. These options will vary depending on the theme you’ve chosen.

    Step 8: Test and Launch Your Website

    Before making your website public, thoroughly test it on different devices and browsers to ensure everything looks and functions correctly.

    • Check all your pages and posts.
    • Test your contact forms.
    • Make sure your navigation menus are working correctly.
    • Check for any broken links or images.

    Once you’re satisfied with your website, it’s time to launch it! Your website should now be accessible to the world through your domain name.

    Advanced Tips and Considerations

    • SEO Optimization: Use SEO plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math to optimize your content for search engines. This includes using relevant keywords, writing compelling meta descriptions, and ensuring your website is mobile-friendly.
    • Website Security: Regularly update your WordPress core, themes, and plugins to the latest versions to patch security vulnerabilities. Use strong passwords and consider implementing additional security measures like two-factor authentication.
    • Website Performance: Optimize your images, use a caching plugin, and choose a reliable hosting provider to ensure your website loads quickly. Website speed is crucial for user experience and SEO.
    • Mobile Responsiveness: Ensure your chosen theme is mobile-responsive, meaning it adapts well to different screen sizes (desktops, tablets, and smartphones). Most modern themes are responsive by default.

    My Personal Journey with WordPress

    I’ve personally used WordPress for countless projects, from simple blogs to complex e-commerce websites. Its flexibility and vast ecosystem of themes and plugins make it an incredibly powerful platform. While the initial setup might seem like a lot of steps, each one is manageable, and the result – your own website – is well worth the effort. Don’t be afraid to experiment and explore the many possibilities that WordPress offers. Creating a website with WordPress is an achievable goal for anyone, regardless of their technical skills. By following these steps and taking your time, you’ll be able to build a professional and engaging online presence. Good luck with your website creation journey!

  • How to set up the back tap shortcuts on the iPhone?

    How to set up the back tap shortcuts on the iPhone?

    Introduction

    Do you also use an iPhone?

    There are a lot of unique features that the iPhone offers us, and we are quite attracted to it.

    But in this post, you will learn about a new feature that comes with iOS 14, and I am sure you will feel great.

    That feature is back tap but if you haven’t heard about it, stay tuned with me.

    You will soon find an extraordinary feature which will make your daily activities simpler.

    Are you excited to unfold this new feature and really can’t wait to use it?

    Well, your wait has come to an end. Let’s see more about this back tapping feature.

    Don’t worry about the procedure to unlock this feature, as you will get everything here.

    You just need to have some patience to read carefully without distraction, and you are all set to go.

    Setting Up Of Back Tap Feature In Your iPhone Is Easy Now

    Following the given steps without making any changes will help you to access this back tap feature easily.

    This new feature is added to iOS 14, so make sure your phone is compatible.

    With the help of the back tap shortcut feature, you can efficiently perform your most important task without moving your thumb.

    • Go to the ‘settings’ from your home screen.
    • From ‘settings’, go to ‘accessibility’.
    • In ‘accessibility’, you will see the ‘touch accommodation’ option, just tap on that.
    • Inside this, scroll down at the bottom, and you come across the back tap option.
    • Now, double-tap and triple-tap options are easily visible right before you.
    • When you tap on the double-tap or triple-tap options, you will see many functions as your next shortcut.
    • Set those functions on double-tap or triple-tap, which you continuously use.
    • In this way, you can execute many actions like screenshots and unlock the device by just simply tapping two to three times on the back of your mobile.

    Final thoughts

    You have many options to set for double and triple-tap, like launching the camera, turning on the flashlight, screenshot, etc.

    If you are an iPhone user, you must know about this fantastic feature.

    Share it with your fellow iPhone users, friends, family and relatives, so they can also benefit from this feature.

  • Instagram adds voice messaging to Direct Messages

    Instagram adds voice messaging to Direct Messages

    After rolling out Close Friends, Instagram has added a new voice messaging feature to DMs. As the name suggests, the feature allows users to send and receive 1 minute long audio messages in private as well as group chats. The feature is now rolling out globally for iOS and Android devices.

    “Starting today, you can send voice messages in Direct. Talk the way you want to be heard, whether by whispering what you’re up to or shouting a compliment,” said Instagram on Twitter.

    instagram

    To use the voice messaging feature in DMs, just hold down the microphone button and record your audio message. The message is sent automatically as soon as you release the microphone button. Besides, you also get the option to cancel or re-record the message by sliding your finger over to the trash icon. The message will be automatically deleted if you do so.

    Instagram may be a little late to implement voice messaging to DMs, as Facebook users have been enjoying the feature for years now. That said, the addition of voice-messaging will certainly appeal Instagram users, given the rising popularity of voice-messaging on platforms such as WhatsApp and WeChat.

    Besides, it’ll also appeal to users who aren’t really comfortable typing messages, giving them the option to talk instead of typing.

    Instagram has announced several changes to its network this year. The company has already announced its plans to introduce a redesigned user profile page. Last month, the Facebook-owned social network rolled out a new feature called Close Friends. Not to mention, Instagram is also taking stringent measures to crack down fake followers and likes on its platform.

  • Dell discloses cyber attack with a possibility of data breach

    Dell discloses cyber attack with a possibility of data breach

    Dell has revealed that a cyber attack was detected in early November, and the company has now reset all customer passwords in order to avoid possible data breach.

    The company is yet to find any solid evidence of customer information being stolen from their servers, but they did suggest there’s a chance that their personal data could be at a risk.

    “On November 9, 2018, Dell detected and disrupted unauthorized activity on its network attempting to extract Dell.com customer information, which was limited to names, email addresses and hashed passwords,” says Dell.

    As a precaution, the company has reset all customer passwords to protect personal information. In fact, the company has asked all users to go through a multi step authentication process to get access to their accounts as a safety measure. All customers will get a notification by default to reset their passwords when they try to log into their accounts via Dell.com.

    “Dell cybersecurity measures include the hashing of our customers’ passwords and a mandatory Dell.com password reset. Hashed passwords, along with the password reset, limit exposure of customers’ account information. Customers are encouraged to change passwords for other accounts if they use the same password for their Dell.com account,” further added Dell.

    Interestingly, the company was tight lipped about the attack and disclosed it 20 days later only after the investigation was over. The reason being that they wanted independent digital forensics agencies to finish the investigation before disclosing it to the public.

    According to Dell, the online services that were disprupted by the mass password reset were Dell.com, Global Portal, Premier, and support.dell.com

  • Microsoft dethrones Apple to become the most valuable company by market cap

    Microsoft dethrones Apple to become the most valuable company by market cap

    Microsoft has surpassed Apple to become the world’s most valuable company. The Windows-maker is now reportedly worth $753 billion, compard to Apple which has now come down to $746 billion.

    It appears Microsoft’s startegy to invertments in products like Office, Azure, and Cloud has fetched good returns for the company. Reports further add that Microosft is possibly on its way to become a trillion dollar company, something which Apple was once.

    Shrinking of global iPhone demand has caused a substantial dip in Apple’s shares prices. The Cupertino giant’s shares revcently fell to $172.2, after it announced reduced production orders for the iPhone XS and iPhone XR. Not to mention, Apple also has plans to resurrect the iPhone X and reduce iPhone XR prices in Japan to mitigate losses.

    Apple’s stock has shrunk by over 10 percent since November. During that time, the company also announced that it would not disclose iPhone sale units to investors. Since then, Apple’s stock has been constantly sliding.

    Earlier this week, a WSJ report also claimed that Apple is offering subsidies to carriers in Japan to reduce iPhone XR prices. Besides, the report also mentioned the company’s plan to resume iPhone X production. One of the problems the company is facing is the fact that older iPhone models still have massive popularity in countries like Japan, most probably because they’re much cheaper than the latest iPhone models.

    Apple has also cut down production orders because of lower than anticipated demand for new iPhone models, as well as overall shrinking of the smartphone-market. Reports further cite that weak demand in China is another reason for cutting down production of newly launched iPhone range.

    Besides, renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also suggests that Apple will see an year-over-year decline in iPhone shipments during the first quarter of 2019.

  • Users facing bending issues with the 2018 iPad Pro

    Users facing bending issues with the 2018 iPad Pro

    Apple’s latest 2018 iPad Pro certainly combines powerful hardware and a top-notch design in one single package. However, it appears the iPhone-maker could be embroiled in another bendgate turmoil, as several users are facing bending issues with their 2018 iPad Pro.

    While we’ve already across several bend and stress tests which didn’t look good for the 2018 iPad Pro, users are now complaining about bending issues. The issue was reported by MacRumours citing users on the publication’s forum. Users are stating that the bend occurs naturally even though they haven’t conducted the stress test themselves.

    One user experienced a slight bend on his 2018 iPad Pro after he came back from a weekend trip. Now, this brings back memories of the whole bedgate fiasco Apple faced with the iPhone 6 Plus. To rectify the issue, Apple introduced 7000 series aluminum to stop that from happening with the iPhone 6 Plus.

    The good news, however, is that this doesn’t seem to be a widespread issue. As the number of complaints received for the 2018 iPad Pro bending is far less than what we saw with the iPhone 6 Plus.

    In case you didn’t know, the latest iPad Pro is rather thin at 5.9mm, which makes it rather prone to bending. The exact cause of the bending still remains a mystery, and we hope Apple will investigate the matter as soon as psoosible.

    We’ll certianly come across more regarding the bending issue with Apple’s 2018 iPad Pro, so stay tuned for more. We’ll update you as soon as hear anyhting new. Until then, keep checking back for more.