Facebook annoyances: auto-play video
Facebook recently updated the news feed to include videos that play automatically. If you aren't a fan, or are concerned with videos eating up too much of your data plan, then here is how to turn them off.
Google’s new one click picture-friendly email
Here’s another reason to use Auto Backup for the pictures you take with your cell phone (Android or IOS.) Google has added a new insert button that instantly accesses all of your photos from within the Gmail window.
Top five apps for travelin’ light
I try to be ready for anything on the road, a tendency that was burned in during my scout leader years of "Being Prepared." Smartphones make it easy to bring along maps, itineraries, tour guides and resources – so all the information you need is in your hip pocket.
Here are my favorites, in Part Two of the "Travelin' Light" series.
Should you trust online reviews?
Online reviews can be helpful, when they are true. Online review sites have been in the news recently, plagued by revelations that businesses have been manipulating the system, paying for great reviews of themselves and, sometimes, hit pieces on their competition.
Microsoft finally responds to the masses, the Start menu is coming back
An update to Windows 8.1, expected later in 2014, will see the return of the Windows Start button and old-style menu, with the addition of Metro-style tiles.
Microsoft Office 365 subscription on sale at Amazon
If you have been waiting to try an Office 365 subscription, now might be a good time to jump in. Amazon is offering a Home Premium one-year subscription at a 33% discount. That subscription is good for installation on up to five devices, including the just-released Office Web App version for iPad.
Teaching Siri how to pronounce difficult names
Siri is awesome but she can really Travoltify names at times. This can lead to a frustrating experience when you want to use voice commands, and the occasional panicky hang-up when Siri dials the wrong number. Fear not, it’s actually really easy to teach Siri how to recognize the name you are speaking, and say it back to you surprisingly well. There are two ways to go about it. I’m going to show you both.
Passwords: a love-hate relationship
Good passwords are an inconvenience and we hate having to have a different password for each of our accounts. There, that’s out of the way. It’s the price we pay for living in an online world. So if you love peace of mind, here are some good tips for staying ahead of the hackers.
Countdown to Zero-Day for Windows XP
Microsoft will no longer provide security patches and updates for Windows XP after April 8. The aging operating system is obsolete, and users who still have XP need to upgrade—or face an increasing risk of exposure to malware and viruses. Learn more about the options you might have for upgrading your software, or purchasing a new computer. Microsoft is offering a $100 discount on selected new devices through June 15, 2014.
Think Facebook is a waste of time?
Think again. While our kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, etc., are all abuzz about this thing called social media, you might be thinking, “it’s not for me, I’m too old for that,” or “I don’t need that.” Recent research on the use of social media from the University of Arizona provides a very good reason to think otherwise, and in fact, encourages embracing social media as part of your life. Why?