Note: links to all the sites we talked about are at the end of this summary.
We talked about using the cloud today and it is a great place to store backups of your data including pictures. There are a lot of free cloud storage places. The first x gb are free. For additional fees you can get more space.
Dropbox free 2 gb
Google drive 15 gb
Amazon 5 gb
Live 15 gb
Join amazon prime and you get unlimited storage for your pictures.
To backup to the cloud try Mozy. You get 2 gb free and can choose what gets backed up. Or iDrive that starts you off with 5 gb.
Then we looked at cloud software. Google docs replaces office software including word and excel. But if you like those use those programs, goto live.com for free word and excel cloud aps. Zoho.com is a full featured office suite that is totally in the cloud. And a site called RollApps contains I've 100 apps like OpenOffice that can be run from the cloud.
Received this email from RollApp.
First of all, a big thanks for signing up and welcome to rollApp!
During the first 14 days, you’ll enjoy full-featured trial of premium subscription for OpenOffice Writer, and the entire applications collection available at rollapp.com/apps.
After the trial you can continue using rollApp for free with some functionality limitations or upgrade your account to premium. Learn more about benefits of premium subscription at rollapp.com/plans.
So this tells the story. Full features of 15 days. THen you get to decide to buy it or continue to use it with less features for free forever.
Talked about using keepass to manage your passwords. And yogile to share photo for free with no signup required. And to edit and create collages of photos, try fotor.
Next week we will see how to rip music to your computer and then to make your own mix--a cd of just the songs you like.
Links:
Mozy for backup: http://www.mozy.com/free use code GFBU22
Dropbox: http://tinyurl.com/b87mha8
Live: www.live.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com
Zoho: www.zoho.com
iDrive: www.idrive.com
Google Docs: docs.google.com
keepass: http://keepass.info/
Yogile: www.yogile.com
Fotor: www.fotor.com
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Friday, March 20, 2015
Class Summary 3-18-2015
We continued on with the Basic Computing handout finishing up with #13, using PDFs. Next week will continue on talking about "the cloud". If you do not have a PDF reader or writer, go to www.ninite.com and select Adobe Reader and PDF Creator.
The Reader allows you to open and print and PDF formatted file. The PDF Creator installs as a printer on your PC. When you want to create a PDF instead of a printed hard copy, just select PDFCreator from your list of "printers" and a PDF file will be generated that you can save or send to someone else.
We had a question about Skype from one member trying to follow a suggestion from the newspaper about restricting all but those in your contact list from sending you messages on Skype. She was using the Windows 8 App for Skype and we could not find out how to do it. I demonstrated using the desktop version of Skype and located the tools menu and where to be sure only contacts can access your Skype account. I suggested she go to the desktop and download/install Skype from there.
Was asked about printing from Yahoo Mail. Either Ctrl+P to bring up the print dialog box OR select the portion you want to print and then Ctrl+P. Do NOT use the Yahoo shortcut, P or you well get a screen shot of the visible page only.
Another asked about getting movie files overt to a CD or DVD. The process is quite simple. Insert a blank CD or DVD into your writable drive. Opening it will display an empty File Explorer window. Simply drag the files you want on the CD into the empty space. When you have all of them copied there, locate the "write files to disk" tool and click it. You can also attempt to open the CD drawer and it will automatically write them before the drawer opens. Remember a CD will only store 700 mb of data. A DVD will store about 4 gb of data depending our your burner, software and type of DVD. If your files are larger than that, copy them to a USB flash drive that has enough room. 16 gb ones have been selling for about $12.sre
We also discussed re-sizing images by downloading PrishResizer and demonstrating using it. Also showed how to batch rename a number of pictures to organize them. I suggested creating a folder in MyPictures for each event you take pictures at. Then rename the pictures in that new folder to describe who the picture are of.
And we spent a lot of time on Facebook questions. Demonstrated using the Newsfeed shortcuts keys--J to scroll down and K to scroll up. We showed how to pull down the menu in the upper right of each post in the newsfeed to stop getting ads or game requests and for un-following someone in the newsfeed without un-friending them. Also talked about changing your profile to not have email notifications sent. And many other FB questions; too many to remember.
Check the class notes (see link above) for the full handout.
The Reader allows you to open and print and PDF formatted file. The PDF Creator installs as a printer on your PC. When you want to create a PDF instead of a printed hard copy, just select PDFCreator from your list of "printers" and a PDF file will be generated that you can save or send to someone else.
We had a question about Skype from one member trying to follow a suggestion from the newspaper about restricting all but those in your contact list from sending you messages on Skype. She was using the Windows 8 App for Skype and we could not find out how to do it. I demonstrated using the desktop version of Skype and located the tools menu and where to be sure only contacts can access your Skype account. I suggested she go to the desktop and download/install Skype from there.
Was asked about printing from Yahoo Mail. Either Ctrl+P to bring up the print dialog box OR select the portion you want to print and then Ctrl+P. Do NOT use the Yahoo shortcut, P or you well get a screen shot of the visible page only.
Another asked about getting movie files overt to a CD or DVD. The process is quite simple. Insert a blank CD or DVD into your writable drive. Opening it will display an empty File Explorer window. Simply drag the files you want on the CD into the empty space. When you have all of them copied there, locate the "write files to disk" tool and click it. You can also attempt to open the CD drawer and it will automatically write them before the drawer opens. Remember a CD will only store 700 mb of data. A DVD will store about 4 gb of data depending our your burner, software and type of DVD. If your files are larger than that, copy them to a USB flash drive that has enough room. 16 gb ones have been selling for about $12.sre
We also discussed re-sizing images by downloading PrishResizer and demonstrating using it. Also showed how to batch rename a number of pictures to organize them. I suggested creating a folder in MyPictures for each event you take pictures at. Then rename the pictures in that new folder to describe who the picture are of.
And we spent a lot of time on Facebook questions. Demonstrated using the Newsfeed shortcuts keys--J to scroll down and K to scroll up. We showed how to pull down the menu in the upper right of each post in the newsfeed to stop getting ads or game requests and for un-following someone in the newsfeed without un-friending them. Also talked about changing your profile to not have email notifications sent. And many other FB questions; too many to remember.
Check the class notes (see link above) for the full handout.
The Free Upgrade to Windows 10
Just read this and thought I would pass it on.
If you're running Windows 7 Service Pack 1 or Windows 8.1 S14 (that's the “Windows 8.1 Update” from last April), you'll be able to get Windows 10 straight from the Control Panel's Windows Update utility. In other words, you won't have to mess around with installation disks, and all your files and programs will remain intact.
Your data won't be erased if you're running an older version of Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1, but you'll have to download an ISO and create an installation disk. It's just a little more of a hassle.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2898794/heres-how-windows-10-upgrade-paths-will-work.html#tk.nl_pcwbest
If you're running Windows 7 Service Pack 1 or Windows 8.1 S14 (that's the “Windows 8.1 Update” from last April), you'll be able to get Windows 10 straight from the Control Panel's Windows Update utility. In other words, you won't have to mess around with installation disks, and all your files and programs will remain intact.
Your data won't be erased if you're running an older version of Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1, but you'll have to download an ISO and create an installation disk. It's just a little more of a hassle.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2898794/heres-how-windows-10-upgrade-paths-will-work.html#tk.nl_pcwbest
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Reduce iPhone Data Usage
Great article on how to setup your iPhone so it uses less data. I don't know about you, but I pay for 2 gb and like to keep my usage under that. These tips help a lot. If you have unlimited data then it will not apply to you. And if you are paying for more than 1 or 2 gb perhaps these tips will allow you to cut your bill by reducing your data amount with your carrier.
http://www.howtogeek.com/212295/how-to%C2%A0reduce-your-iphone%E2%80%99s-cellular-data-usage/
http://www.howtogeek.com/212295/how-to%C2%A0reduce-your-iphone%E2%80%99s-cellular-data-usage/
Monday, March 16, 2015
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