Computer Class Notes 7-21-2021

Watch the video https://tinyurl.com/ynwppe3d
Read the notes https://tinyurl.com/33rh434a  

What Happens to Your Online Accounts When You Die?
We’re all going to die someday, but the same can’t be said for our online accounts. Some will persist forever, others might expire due to inactivity, and some have preparations in place for when you pass away. So, let’s have a look at what happens to your online accounts when you go offline forever.
https://tinyurl.com/uzr6b3v2

Microsoft Won’t Call You About Your Computer
“Hi, I’m from Microsoft and we’ve noticed your computer has a lot of viruses.” This is how the Microsoft tech support scam starts. By the end, the victim has probably paid hundreds of dollars and had their computer infected. This cold-calling telephone scam has been going on since 2008 but shows no sign of going away. If you have any relatives who might fall for it, be sure to let them know Microsoft won’t actually call them.
https://tinyurl.com/4nnvecy4

Your PC Won’t Support Windows 11? Maybe It’s Time to Try Linux
Did you check to see if your PC is eligible for an update to Windows 11, only to be let down? One of your few options for continued use of your laptop or desktop beyond Windows 10 is to install Linux. Here’s why that’s not a bad thing.
https://tinyurl.com/fuwbymy7

What’s New in Linux Mint 20.2
The Linux Mint operating system has long been known for its user-friendliness and stability. Uma maintains that legacy, bringing only a few changes to Mint’s update manager and the stock app collection, in addition to several improvements under the hood. Below are the highlights.
https://tinyurl.com/486mh22u

Can A Chromebook Be Your Full-Time Computer?
Chromebooks have the reputation of being “just a browser” on a laptop. After all, “Chrome” is in the name, and that was mostly how they started out. But Chromebooks have come a long way since then. They’re no longer “just a browser.”
https://tinyurl.com/v7eery9k



The Print Shop Of The 1980s
In 1984, Brøderbund Software released “The Print Shop,” a pioneering desktop publishing app that allowed anyone with a PC to easily make large banners, signs, and greeting cards at home for the first time. Here’s what made it special.
https://tinyurl.com/256euvfu

TinyURL -- this is a repeat from last week's notes

How To Get Tiny URL Shortcut in The Bookmark Bar
Click https://tinyurl.com/2yan4h42 to open the old site from the Wayback site. This gives the link to create the shortcut that no longer appears on tinyurl.com.



Follow the instructions and you will have a shortcut on your Bookmark Bar

THEN make the following correction

Right-click on the shortcut it created.

Click Edit

Click in the URL box

Ctrl+A

Backspace to clear the box

Now copy the following line into that box

javascript:void(location.href='http://tinyurl.com/create.php?url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href))

Then click Save

Photos
How can we send a series of photos by email without them being placed in a zip folder that the recipient has up zip to view them. Simply said you have to turn them into a movie file. When the recipient receives the file they just open it to view all the photos.

Open Photos


Click New Video



Click New video project



Give the project a name

Click + Add





Locate the pictures you want to use and click Open

Drag them to the storyboard



When you have moved them all, click Finish video

The resulting file can be sent as an attachment and the recipient can open it to view all the pictures.

Spoofing
https://tinyurl.com/r7rdv3t6

Suspicious Emails or Webpages regarding Amazon

To report a phishing or spoofed email or webpage:

Open a new email and attach the email you suspect is fake.

For suspicious webpages, copy & paste the link into the email body.

If you can't send the email as an attachment, forward it.

Send the email to stop-spoofing@amazon.com

Note: Sending the suspicious email as an attachment is the best way for us to track it.

Computer Class Notes 7-14-2021

View the class https://tinyurl.com/w693dsks 

Read the notes https://tinyurl.com/2tt5pf38

A Good Video on Passwords
Thanks, Rosemary for sending this
https://tinyurl.com/49sajnuy

Got any old video games hanging around?
https://apnews.com/article/business-lifestyle-games-346aec3d0c6710062656807e77604372?utm_source=morning_brew

How to Manage and Free up Google Photos Storage Space
Google Photos doesn’t offer free unlimited storage, which means you may find yourself running out of space. Thankfully, Google has some easy-to-use tools to help you maximize the storage space you have—free or otherwise. Here’s how to identify image types and clear your Photos storage.
https://tinyurl.com/ye8vrvv2

How to Find and Delete Large Files across Google Drive, Photos, and Gmail
If you’re running out of free space on your Google account, you can easily find and delete the largest documents in your Google Drive, Gmail, or Photos accounts.
https://tinyurl.com/23dndv67

Have an Amazon device? 

Take action now or you may be sharing your internet with neighbors. If you have an Amazon device in your home like an Echo, Alexa, or Ring doorbell or floodlight camera, Amazon wants to create a shared wireless network by using your internet. If you don't take action, Amazon is about to share your internet with your neighbors. It's called Amazon Sidewalk, and the company says it's supposed to help devices work better.
https://tinyurl.com/4n52yknv

What Is Amazon Sidewalk, and Should You Disable It?
On June 8, 2021, most Amazon smart home devices—as well as certain other connected gadgets—will become part of a nationwide network called Sidewalk. Here’s what you need to know, and how to opt out if you choose to.
https://tinyurl.com/23zvyw3r

Amazon may be sharing your Internet connection with neighbors. 

ere’s how to turn it off. You have no control over what sort of data flows over Amazon’s new Sidewalk wireless network, which has been lying dormant in Echo smart speakers and Ring cameras ... until now
https://tinyurl.com/3mxm4ydv

How to Back Up Photos and Never Lose Them Again
Everyone with a smartphone has a camera, and they’re using ’em right and left to snap photos and shoot videos. Add in digital cameras from inexpensive to professional, and there is a lot of digital media being created every day. Much of it isn’t getting backed up. The goal? Multiple copies of your photos and videos in multiple places. If it’s in only one place, it’s not backed up.
https://tinyurl.com/fdte49bs

How to Create a Strong Password
Need to create a secure password that hackers can't guess? Use a passphrase! Make an easy to remember, yet hard to crack, password with our tips.
https://tinyurl.com/wytfsdx8

And let’s remember the Secret Word approach to passwords
https://tinyurl.com/wc259yvt

What Is a Hamburger Menu Button?
Hamburger Menu—or Hamburger Icon—is a term commonly used when talking about apps. It might make you hungry, but it has nothing to do with food. Where did this silly name come from, and what does the menu do?
https://tinyurl.com/2upwd6z

How Secure Is My Password?
The #1 Password Strength Tool. Trusted and used by millions.
https://tinyurl.com/scsaphnu

External Hard Disk for Backups
An external hard drive is nothing more than its name suggests a hard drive that exists externally of your computer. You connect it to your desktop or laptop using a USB connection. Many don’t even require an additional power connection. Just attach it, and you’ve got lots and lots of storage available. Nothing to sign up for, no accounts to create; it’s almost the literal definition of “plug and play”.
https://tinyurl.com/yn7vx4wn

WiseCleaner Checkit
Checkit helps you to check whether your current PC meets the minimum requirements, such as Processor, Memory, Storage, UEFI, TPM 2.0, etc.
You can download a copy of this portable application and quickly determine where your computer stands in the Windows 11 arena.

The download comes as a zip file. Unzip it and then open Checkit.exe.

How To Get Tiny URL Shortcut in The Bookmark Bar
Click https://tinyurl.com/2yan4h42 to open the old site from the Wayback site. This gives the link to create the shortcut that no longer appears on tinyurl.com.




Follow the instructions and you will have a shortcut on your Bookmark Bar

THEN make the following correction

1. Right-click on the shortcut it created.
2. Click Edit
3. Click in the URL box
4. Ctrl+A
5. Backspace to clear the box
6. Now copy the following line into that box

javascript:void(location.href='http://tinyurl.com/create.php?url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href))

Then click Save

Microsoft puts PCs in the cloud with Windows 365
Microsoft is putting Windows in the cloud. Windows 365 is a new service that will let businesses access Cloud PCs from anywhere, streaming a version of Windows 10 or Windows 11 in a web browser. While virtualization and remote access to PCs has existed for more than a decade, Microsoft is betting on Windows 365 to offer Cloud PCs to businesses just as they shift toward a mix of office and remote work.

Microsoft has inadvertently revealed one pricing option, allowing businesses to use a virtual Windows PC in the cloud for $31 per user, per month.
https://tinyurl.com/ywve2eyh

Computer Class Notes 7-7-2021

View the video https://tinyurl.com/yunssnr3
Read the notes https://tinyurl.com/thbb88



Want to be able to back up and synchronize your files with Microsoft OneDrive but aren’t sure where to start? Here’s a primer on getting started with OneDrive.

Microsoft OneDrive is an effective tool for automatically backing up and synchronizing your documents, photos, and other files. By backing up your files to OneDrive in the cloud, you can recover them in case you accidentally delete or lose them. And by synchronizing your files, you ensure that they’re accessible from any computer or device running OneDrive.
https://tinyurl.com/5mxu5n3b

What Backup Type Do I Want: Full, Incremental, or Differential?
Backing up your computer means making a copy of what’s on it. A full backup (often called a full image) contains a copy of everything. An incremental backup contains a copy of only those things that have changed since the previous backup. A differential backup contains a copy of only those things that changed since the most recent full backup. Unless you know otherwise, monthly full plus daily incremental backups is a good place to start.
https://tinyurl.com/j6ybsn4

Google Sites
Building a new website seems like an impossibly hard task, something that'd take a few hours at best and a few weeks or months at worst. You'd never make a new website just to share a couple of reports or write about a project you're working on. You could, however. With the newly redesigned Google Sites—one of Google's best yet least known apps—you can build a full website for free in minutes. It's one of the best-hidden features in your new G Suite account, and a simple way to build a modern intranet for your company.
https://tinyurl.com/4sfjk4px
Direct access at https://sites.google.com/new

To Download YouTube Videos With VLC
I learned a new way to download YouTube videos by just using VLC. Decided to try it. Here are my end results. This requires VLC media player from: https://www.videolan.org/vlc/ So first go to YouTube to get your video link.
https://tinyurl.com/7e7hvhdu

What is a PNG file?
A PNG file is an image saved in the Portable Network Graphic (PNG) format. It contains a bitmap compressed with lossless compression similar to a .GIF file. PNG files are commonly used to store web graphics, digital photographs, and images with transparent backgrounds.
https://tinyurl.com/6ry4t9tn

Save Images Directly To Google Photos
When anyone receives a Gmail message, includes attachments will appear in a row below the body of the message. Users would then see a download or “Add to Drive” option when hovering on these items, which is quite handy. Google has now added a “Save To Photos” button, which allows the photo attachment to be directly saved to Google Photos.
https://tinyurl.com/298c44rf

Secure File Deleter
We store a lot of personal information on our computers; if you don't organize your files, you may be surprised at what you can find on your system. The importance of data will of course vary based on its content, e.g. financial statements, medical records, contracts or receipts.
https://tinyurl.com/3u2cx2d4

How to Get Wi-Fi on the Road
Staying connected when traveling can be tricky if you’re not in a hotel, but it’s possible. Whether you’re on a cross-country road trip or going camping, or even if you just need some Wi-Fi on a long drive, there are ways to stay connected while you’re on the road.
https://tinyurl.com/y5k5tr63

Don’t Click Those Pop-Ups That Say You’ve Been Infected!
Don’t Be Scared Right Into A Scam. There’s probably nothing more underhanded than for someone to trick or fool you by pretending they want to help, or for someone to masquerade as a good guy, when in fact they’re out to do you harm.
https://tinyurl.com/pbfrn8s2

Download Problems? 9 Ways to Troubleshoot and Fix Them
Most issues that you will encounter while trying to download a file have simple solutions. Whether you’re using a computer, a smartphone, or a games console, here are nine things to try the next time you have an issue.
https://tinyurl.com/ypu24d4c

The Secret Life Of Your Data: What You Need To Know

• Alexa: By default, Amazon keeps a copy of everything Echo smart speakers record.
• Browser extensions: Add-ons and plug-ins can see and share everything you do on the Web.
• Cars: Automakers use hundreds of sensors and an always-on Internet connection to record where you go and how you drive.
• Credit cards: A half-dozen kinds of companies can grab data about purchases, from your bank to the store where you’re shopping.
• Don’t sell my data: The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) can help even residents of other states see and delete their data — and tell companies to stop selling it.
• iPhones and Android phones: Hidden trackers in apps share personal information — even while you and your phone are asleep.
• TVs: Once every few minutes, smart TVs beam out a snapshot of what’s on your screen.
• Web browsers: Google’s Chrome loaded more than 11,000 tracker cookies into our browser — in a single week.

Texting in Windows 10



Craig brought up a new feature in Windows 10 that connects 10 to your smartphone and allows you to view, reply, and compose text messages on your computer.





Open Settings > Phone > Add a phone

Computer Class Notes 6-30-2021

View the video https://tinyurl.com/vw32fnzs
Read the Notes https://tinyurl.com/9mek4v88

Add Caption to Picture
Another approach. Create it in Word, LibreOffice Writer, or even in Wordpad. Then while viewing the document Shift+Ctrl+S and draw a box around what you want as a picture. It is then in your clipboard ready to paste it to Facebook or an email...

Validate Email Address
Enter an email address below to check in real-time if it's real, using our free online email validator. We'll let you know if it's properly formatted and verify that its mailbox exists and is able to receive mail. We'll get you a detailed response without ever sending an email!
https://tinyurl.com/yzj7z6sx

Thank Harold B for this info from a European Newspaper's Website:

It looks Like These Functions Will Be Canceled In Windows 11
A long list of functions of Windows 10 has fallen victim to the red pencil and will be missing in Windows 11. On the one hand, these are features that are unpopular with users anyway, such as the tiles in the start menu, which probably no one will miss.

Internet Explorer is long gone
Internet Explorer has lived on as a second browser in many Windows 10 installations. With Windows 11, it is finally history: Internet Explorer is no longer preinstalled, for compatibility reasons, there is instead an "IE Mode" for the successor Microsoft Edge

Cortana is silent now
No one who has ever had to set up a Windows 10 PC will miss this: Microsoft has banned its voice assistant Cortana from the installation process and also deleted the Cortana button on the taskbar. The language assistant only exists as an app that you have to install separately.

No more tablet mode
With the tiles in the Start menu, the screen-filling version in tablet mode also says goodbye. Because, according to Microsoft, the entire Windows 11 operating system was designed with a focus on touch and pen operation, the special mode for 360-degree notebooks and tablets with docking keyboards is now obsolete. However, there will continue to be adjustments for such devices, predicts "PC World".

No notifications on the lock screen
If you like, Windows 10 can display information about newly-arriving emails, calendar entries, or other notifications on the lock screen. This is also the end of Windows 11: Windows connoisseurs assume that the new widgets will replace this feature.

Start menu size now fixed.
The size of the Windows 10 Start menu could still be changed: If you removed the tiles and reduced them in size, you had a user experience comparable to Windows 7. This is over with Windows 11, the Start menu now has a non-changeable size.

If you don't like the new Start menu, however, third-party tools - as in Windows 8 times - should have the opportunity to adapt Windows 11 to your needs.

Timeline was deleted
Only about two years ago, the timeline function of Windows 10 fell victim to the red pencil again in the successor. Microsoft is moving individual functions to other applications: For example, tabs used on another device in the Edge browser can now be opened directly in Edge itself, instead of doing so via the Timeline function.

The taskbar can only be used at the bottom
If you like to place your Windows taskbar on the left, right or top of the screen, you have a problem: In Windows 11 - at least in the leaked version - it is fixed to the lower edge of the screen, an alternative placement is not provided. At least: the new, centered layout can be changed and the start button can be placed on the left again.

Paint 3D, Skype, and OneNote are gone
From the pre-release version that has already been leaked, a few other small changes are known: For example with the Snipping Tool, which helps to take screenshots. This will be deleted, instead, a successor tool called "Snip & Sketch" will be available, which should be able to do more than its predecessor.

Home version with a compulsory online account 

In addition to the Snipping Tool, some other tools that are still pre-installed in Windows 10 will be deleted, specifically: the 3D viewer, OneNote for Windows 10, Paint 3D, and Skype. The latter is likely to be replaced by the pre-installed Microsoft Teams. Paint 3D and the 3D viewer, including the "3D Objects" folder in the file manager that is empty for most users, will probably be missed by a few Windows users anyway.

Hidden Chrome Features
If search engines are our window to the internet, a web browser is the window frame. A good browser should support basic search functions, but the most popular choices act as their own operating system for accessing the web. However, no option has become more ubiquitous with online living than Google's Chrome browser, which has about 65% of the market.
https://tinyurl.com/3fjatz6v

How To Download All Photos From Google
If you have uploaded photos to your Google account in the past, you may wonder how to download all photos from Google at a later point in time. Google users may upload photos, videos, and other media to Google using desktop and mobile applications. The system is very convenient, especially on mobile devices running Android, as it can be automated so that all media that is captured on a device is uploaded to the cloud.
https://tinyurl.com/39fabb9c

Facebook Too



BTW you can do a similar thing on Facebook and download not only all your photos but everything else.

Click view and then check off what you want to backup to your computer and Facebook will send it to you in a zip file.

Try Out ‘Super Mario World’
Few classic video games brought more delight to gamers than Super Mario World. Playing it today is still fun, but the black bars that fill the void on modern flatscreens kinda suck; thankfully someone created an expanded widescreen version that looks great!
https://tinyurl.com/j9da75yw

A Visual History of Windows Icons
Over the past three-plus decades, the icons of Microsoft Windows have evolved alongside improvements in screen resolutions and color depth. Here’s a look at how the size and style of Windows icons have changed over time.
https://tinyurl.com/5csvxhre

Spell Check For WordPad
TinySpell is a small utility that allows you to easily and quickly check and correct the spelling in any Windows application. TinySpell can watch your typing on the fly and alert you whenever it detects a misspelled word. It can also check the spelling of text that you copy to the clipboard. TinySpell installs itself in the system tray for easy access. It comes in both installable and portable versions.
https://tinyurl.com/tinyspell

Turn Word Documents into Google Docs Format
In Google Drive, there’s an option to convert all uploaded files to the Google Docs editor format. This converts your Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files to Google’s Docs, Sheets, and Slides formats, respectively. OpenOffice formats are also supported, but Apple’s iWork formats are not.
https://tinyurl.com/edhs9rdz

Free Ransomware Decryption Tools
Our free ransomware decryption tools can help decrypt files encrypted by the following forms of ransomware. Just click a name to see the signs of infection and get our free fix.
https://tinyurl.com/ssnsuuwc

Just What Is a Hack?
In the past, hackers hacked mostly for bragging rights and bravado. That has since morphed into two common directions. The first is to target attacks at specific individuals for some purpose — usually revenge for perceived injustices. More common of late is, of course, money. Hacking computers to place ransomware might be the most obvious example of the latter.
https://tinyurl.com/reyr5bfy

Why Your System is Slow
I get a lot of pushback from people who are absolutely convinced the System Idle Process is somehow evil and must be eradicated simply because their computer is slow and “System Idle Process” is at the top of the CPU usage list. They are wrong.
https://tinyurl.com/eefbhn8r

Computer Class Notes 6-23-2021

Notes https://tinyurl.com/n4fn4x99

Video https://tinyurl.com/4mcnbs3m

In an article Fran sent today, Microsoft Windows has now dropped to 73% with the Chrome OS and MacOS rising.
https://tinyurl.com/pkjz75db

Microsoft Windows 11 Event TOMORROW
Microsoft will live stream the event starting at 11 a.m. Eastern time on June 24, 2021. Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella and Chief Product Officer Panos Panay will both be presenting at the event. If you can’t tune in at the time of the live stream, you can head to Microsoft’s website and watch it later on your own schedule.
https://tinyurl.com/3f73dt36

Printer Problems
I have been using the same HP Envy 6075 printer and my computer HP Pavilion for about 4 months with no problems. All of a sudden I cannot print wireless or wired.

Here are the steps I take to resolve printer issues:

1. Win+I to open Settings
2. Click Devices > Printers & scanners
3. Locate your printer
4. Click on it > Remove device
5. Turn off computer
6. Plug Printer in with USB
7. Turn the computer back on

Windows should see the printer and reinstall the driver.

One Photo Viewer
This viewer is easy to use and has a clean interface. Free with no ads. Designed to be used as Windows 10 default photo viewer app. One Photo Viewer has many customization options and features such as slideshow, color adjustment, crop, resize, rotate, copy/paste clipboard, and more. All accessible by right-click menu or keyboard shortcuts. It is also touchscreen compatible.
https://tinyurl.com/4aue6vva

Fixdows Is An Open-Source Utility
Many PC users will have at some point, experienced problems while trying to update Windows. And when these errors occur, it can be due to various reasons.
https://tinyurl.com/895bpa6x

How to Add Family Members to Your Microsoft 365 Plan
The Microsoft 365 family plan allows you to get Microsoft Office for up to six people at just $100 per year. Here’s how to add family members to your Microsoft 365 plan.
https://tinyurl.com/xuyv85cp

Highlight A Box Of Text In Word
I am sure you have had an instance where you just wanted to highlight a certain area of text in your document for one reason or another and instead ended up feeling frustrated because you were unable to do so.
https://tinyurl.com/5bs9tysr

How To Show Formatting In Word
I wish I had a nickel for every time someone has lamented how they could always see their formatting in WordPerfect but cannot in Microsoft Word.
https://tinyurl.com/2tjv2fb3

Make Microsoft Edge Show Downloads at the Bottom of the Window
Beginning with version 90, Microsoft Edge now shows downloads at the top of the window instead of the bottom. If you don’t like this, you can place downloads at the window bottom with a shortcut in Windows 10. Here’s how.
https://www.howtogeek.com/729623/how-to-make-microsoft-edge-show-downloads-at-the-bottom-of-the-window/

Image Resizer Utility
Image Resizer is a Windows shell extension for bulk image-resizing. After installing PowerToys, right-click on one or more selected image files in File Explorer, and then select Resize pictures from the menu.
https://tinyurl.com/5ncycz6x

6 Hidden Windows 10 Tools You Should Be Using
Microsoft PowerToys sounds like it should be a new videogame franchise or children’s interactive device. No, Microsoft hasn’t shifted its focus towards kids, but it has given some adults new things to play with inside Windows.
https://tinyurl.com/83t6949w

LibreOffice Impress
How to Insert a Google Photos Album

You cannot import an album from Photos to Impress directly. Open the album in Photos and Shift+D to download the album to your computer. Unzip the compressed folder and then...



Insert > Media > Photo Album

Now locate the picture and select them all. They will each be placed on separate slides. When that is successful you can delete the zip file and the unzipped images.

Convert Foreign Language Page



When you open a webpage in Google Chrome that is not in English, right-click on the page and select Translate to English.

Google Calendar
Can I access my Google Calendar that I have updated on my cell phone on my computer?




Yes, open google chrome. Click the menu button and the the Calendar icon. You must be logged into your Google account.

Top 10 Keyboard Shortcuts In Windows 10
These shortcuts are designed to help you eliminate a mouse click, and accomplish some common tasks in Windows, without clicking through menus.

Win+E: Open File Explorer
Win+L: Lock PC
Win+ (.): Open The emoji picker 🚚
Win+V: Search through clipboard history
Win+I: Open settings
Win+ 1, 2, 3: Launch a Taskbar pinned
Ctrl+Shift while clicking a program icon to run as admin
Win+ Alt+D: Open time and calendar
Win+G: Xbox Game Bar to record screen
Win+Shift+S: Quick Screenshots

https://tinyurl.com/4p5p7y4z

Computer Class Notes 6-16-2021

View the Video https://tinyurl.com/7tt3zcha 
Read the Notes https://tinyurl.com/rtjk2a8p  

Read the article here

Windows 11 Build Leaks
Although Microsoft’s upcoming event is still a few days away, details about the upcoming build of the next version of Windows have already leaked. Also, the screenshot leaks confirm that rumors about the Windows 11 branding are true.
https://tinyurl.com/vyw69yru

Hands-on With Windows 11
If you want to know the biggest thing I’ve noticed in my few hours with Windows 11, it’s all the things that haven’t changed. Start digging in, and you’ll see that everything is mostly the same. The settings panel is the same, and the control panel is too. Because, of course, we still have to deal with both a modern Settings UI and an aging control panel.
https://tinyurl.com/4n3xnnej

Amazon Sidewalk Is Here
Maybe You Should Consider Leaving It On...

If you own an Echo or Ring device and you didn’t know to opt-out, Amazon already turned on its new Sidewalk network feature for you. Look around, and you’ll find plenty of advice on how to opt-out or turn it off as soon as possible. But should you? Like a lot of things, the answer is “it depends.”
https://tinyurl.com/y5gfvjbr

Turn Off News and interest
Right-click on the taskbar, then...



Create A Scratchpad In Chrome
You can give Chrome its own quick-access scratchpad that’ll let you jot down thoughts right within the browser—no extensions required. All you have to do is paste a snippet of code into Chrome’s address bar. Select the code below and Ctrl+C to copy it to the clipboard.

data:text/html;charset=utf-8, <title>Scratchpad</title><style>body {padding: 5%; font-size: 1.5em; font-family: Arial; }"></style><link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://ssl.gstatic.com/docs/documents/images/kix-favicon6.ico"/><body OnLoad='document.body.focus();' contenteditable spellcheck="true" >

Right-click in the address bar and Paste the code, then press enter. Drag the URL to your bookmarks bar for easy access. The scratchpad supports text formatting (Ctrl- or Cmd-B for bold, Ctrl- or Cmd-I for italics, and Ctrl- or Cmd-U for underlining) and even has a built-in spell check feature. Just open it and start typing—and if you want to save your thoughts for later retrieval, hit Ctrl+S.

Useful Things You Didn’t Know Chrome Could Do
Give your internet experience a jolt of fresh energy with these easily overlooked features, options, and shortcuts for Google’s browser.
https://tinyurl.com/5tarbhrx

How to Create an Animated GIF of a PowerPoint Presentation
Want a great way to share your Microsoft PowerPoint slideshow on social media, your company intranet, or a blog? You can create an animated GIF of your PowerPoint presentation and share it with the world.
https://tinyurl.com/2nxf9y42

Find Your Windows Product Key
Do you know what your Windows product key is? Well, you paid for the Windows license. Should you build a new computer, and no longer plan on using the old system, you don't have to pay for the operating system twice, you may be able to activate your old copy of Windows on the new PC.
https://tinyurl.com/ajejuhp8

Or



Win+Q (or Win+R) > type CMD > press Enter

Copy and paste the following

wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey

Press Enter and the product key displays

You can also use a program called Belarc Advisor to give you all the keys on your computer as well as a list of the programs installed and many other facts.




Volts And Amps Combine To Confuse
Can I Use a Charger With the Same Voltage but Different Amperage Rating?

For power supplies or chargers:
The voltage must match.
The amperage must match or exceed that required by the device.
The polarity of the connection must be correct.
The input line voltage (ie: 120v) must be supported but is unrelated to compatibility with the device being charged or powered.
https://tinyurl.com/42u4f525

What’s the Difference

• Between an Email Account, an Email Address, an Email Program, and an Email Service?
• An email service is the company, servers, and software handling your email to route it to its destination.
• An email account is your relationship with an email service, and all the storage, features, and functionality included.
• An email address uniquely identifies your mailbox as provided by your email service.
• An email program is computer software you run to download and manage email on your computer.

https://tinyurl.com/tjt5bs7u

How Should I Back Up My Email?
You should back up your email so that even if your account is lost, you won’t lose any of the data within it. You can use remote fetch with a different online email provider to make a copy, but a more robust solution is to have an email program running on a PC using IMAP to download copies of your mail.
https://tinyurl.com/wr6pcwz2

What Happens If I Go Over My 15 GB
Google comes with 15 GB of free allocated cloud space. This is big enough for most of us, but… Now that Photos uploaded after June 12, 3021 count the available allocated space may diminish quickly. If you are a Gmail user, your emails and their attachments have always counted against that allocation. And if you use Google Drive all files not created with the Google formats (Google Docs, etc) also count.

If you run out of available space (ie: use up that 15 GB), you will not be able to receive any more email or add anything to Google Drive or have your photos automatically upload to Google Photos.



Go tohttps://myaccount.google.com/ to see how much space you have.

I spend $19.99 per year to have 100 GB instead of the free 15 GB.

Every Google Account starts with 15 GB of free storage that’s shared across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. If you become a Google One member, your total storage increases to 100 GB, or more, depending on the plan you choose. Google One members also get access to support from Google experts and extra benefits.


Click on Account Storage and then Storage to see where your usage is.

How To Build A Video With Photos
Video Projects can transform a selection of images into a movie-like presentation with audio. It has you drag images onto a window, arrange them as needed, then provide custom narration, transitions, zooms, pans, audio soundtracks, and/or custom auto-generated music, then export the result as an MP4 file.
https://tinyurl.com/2j992h59

=======================================

In addition to my own research, I want to give thanks to Harold, Fran, and Craig at the Club, Ghacks Newsletter, AskLeo, AskWoody, tomshardware, TechConnect, Major Geeks, Lifewire, PCMag Lab Report,and DavesComputerTips.com for the useful ideas we take a look at each week.

Computer Class Notes 6-9-2021

View the Video https://tinyurl.com/xf6cse36
Read the Notes https://tinyurl.com/42jfutup  

Another Browser Shortcut
Pressing the spacebar when on a page scrolls down to the next page. Shift-Spacebar does the reverse.
Ctrl+T opens a new tab and Shift+Ctrl+T reopens the last tab closed.

Microsoft To Reveal Its Next Generation Of Windows On June 24th
Microsoft is planning to detail its “next generation of Windows” at an event later this month. The software giant has started sending invites to the media for a Windows event on June 24th. Both Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and chief product officer Panos Panay will be presenting at the Windows event. Microsoft’s Windows event will start at 11 AM ET / 8 AM PT on June 24th.
https://tinyurl.com/4sferjuv

Google Photos Top Alternatives
Free unlimited photo and video storage from Google? That deal is over, as of June 1. Here are seven options for storing photos if you don't want to pay Google.
https://tinyurl.com/bvtatmzj

Google Photos’ Unlimited Storage Ended
You might be angry that Google is killing off another super handy feature. But there are no free lunches. So what are your options? We’ll address all your questions such as exporting your data and choosing an alternative service in this article.
https://tinyurl.com/hvnzjnax

A Rapid Desktop Search Utility
Everything is a desktop search utility for Windows that can rapidly find files and folders by name.
https://tinyurl.com/24kbaxsp
Download at https://www.voidtools.com/support/everything/

Another Internet TV Station fro Canadians
GlobalTV.com is the online destination for Global Entertainment show information, episodes, web exclusives, and more. The website is home to full episodes of popular shows like Chicago Fire and The Blacklist.
https://www.globaltv.com/

Car thieves have found a new way to steal your vehicle.

Thefts occurred because the owners left their keys in the vehicles. However, there is a new brand of high­ tech thieves who use technology to their advantage.

"The key fob is constantly broadcasting a signal that detects your vehicle once it is close enough to the vehicle, even if the fob is in your home," the video states. "If the key fob is right near" "your front door, or 30 feet or less from the vehicle, a detection device will pinpoint it.

"The vehicle 'thinks' that the key fob is near the vehicle, and it allows the doors to be opened and the vehicle started...Once the vehicle has been stolen, a new fob can be programmed to operate the vehicle," it said.

Thieves Find A High-Tech Way To Steal Vehicles
https://tinyurl.com/cfz8d6hc for the article

A video describing this kind of theft can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk_fTTlGcMA.

How To Send Multiple Pictures
You can open each picture and then copy/paste it into the body of the email or you can open File Explorer (Win+E) and select the group of pictures to be sent and then drag them to the body of the email.

However, there is a limit to how many MBs you can have attached to an email. For my Yahoo account, it is 30 MBs. With images now coming from our cell phones at 3-4 MBs each that does not allow too many pictures.

A better approach is to use the sharing capability of the various cloud services like Google Photos, OneDrive, Dropbox, and even Snapfish. I demonstrated sharing an album in Google Photos. It sent a link to my album to an email address which allowed the receiver to view and even to download the images.

Sharpen A Picture
We found a website that takes a picture you upload and sharpens it.
https://www3.lunapic.com/editor/

Also irfanview is a program that will sharpen an image on your computer, You can use the link to download it or get it from ninite or patchmypc.

How To Send A Video On Facebook To Someone Else



Click the Share button



Click Copy link

Open your email and compose an email. In the body of the email right-click > paste and the link will appear. When your recipient opens their email they just have to click the link to view the video.

You can also paste the link to a document on your computer to save it for later… or even paste it to your address bar and save it as a bookmark.

How Long Will My SSD Last?




We keep hearing that SSDs and other flash-based drives wear out. Particularly when it comes to SSDs, there are ways you can see how close to wearing out your drive might be.
https://tinyurl.com/mmz7ttu8

Samsung Magician
Another way to see your disk usage
https://tinyurl.com/56s9mvhm


==============================

In addition to my own research, I want to give thanks to Harold, Fran, and Craig at the Club, Ghacks Newsletter, AskLeo, AskWoody, tomshardware, TechConnect, Major Geeks, Lifewire, PCMag Lab Report,and DavesComputerTips.com for the useful ideas we take a look at each week.

Computer Class Notes 6-2-2021

View the video https://tinyurl.com/3mycb3th
Read the notes https://tinyurl.com/3d54v7a9

Demonstrated Taking A Photo Off Google Photos
And editing it, adding a caption, and then emailing it.

Locate the photo in Google Photos. Select it. Shift+D to download it.

1. Open the downloaded picture in Photos to edit it and save a copy
2. Open in Paint to add a caption and save it
3. Open your email app and compose a new message. Add the picture as an attachment.

OR

1. Open the picture in Photos to edit it and save a copy
2. When in Paint, Select All > Copy
3. Open your email app and compose a new message. Paste the picture.

Demonstrated The Concept Of Albums In Google Photos
An album is a great way to organize photos in your photo cloud. Pictures that were not taken on the same date can be gathered with other pictures under the same category or album. The pictures are not moved to the album and the same picture can appear in multiple albums.

On our computer, we create folders and place photos that we want to group together into one named folder. The photos in that folder are not in any other folder and if we drag a photo from one folder to another it moves out of the from folder to the new folder. Folders do not work the same as albums.



I demonstrated using an album approach in Windows by creating a folder and using a right-drag to move pictures into that folder saving them as shortcuts. This is what an album does. When we looked at the contents of that folder we could see the pictures, although they had a shortcut arrow on them. The actual picture was not in the folder, just a shortcut to access the picture. Delete the shortcut and it would not appear in the folder anymore but would still be in the original location.

View and access your recently closed tabs
Did you know that Firefox has a hotkey to reopen a closed tab? Press Ctrl + Shift + T and the tab comes back. This can be a lifesaver, but if you close several tabs, and then realize you need one of them back, that's when it becomes a problem. Works with Chrome and Edge as well.
https://tinyurl.com/434w2j3r

Create Your Own Portable Toolbox
PortableApps is a platform for installing portable applications on a flash drive that you can take with you anywhere. Everything offered by PortableApps is free and safe, from the platform itself to the many portable applications available. Of course, you don’t necessarily need to be traveling around in order for your PortableApps flash drive to be useful — it is just as handy to have at home to use on your own PC. One of the appealing aspects of PortableApps is that it provides portable editions for quite a few software titles that are not otherwise available as portable.
https://tinyurl.com/dn9czhuk

Change Image Dates
Attribute Changer freeware is a powerful Windows Explorer add-on, available at your fingertips whenever you right-click on files and folders in Windows Explorer.
https://tinyurl.com/vm43d9zm

PrivaZer: User Guide And Review
PrivaZer is a superior junk file cleaner and privacy tool that will not only declutter your system and free up space on your hard drive but also enhance privacy via a process of secure deletion.
https://tinyurl.com/2s9a8rth

How to Use Smart Compose in Google Docs
Almost identical to the Text Predictions feature in Microsoft Word is Smart Compose for Google Docs. The feature uses machine learning to provide you with suggestions to help you write your documents quickly. Here’s how it works.
https://tinyurl.com/t3cjd7rr

How to Screenshot on Chromebook
Chromebooks and Chromeboxes are intended to be easy-to-use computers, but that simplicity can lead to confusion. Taking screenshots is one feature that isn’t super well explained, and there are several different ways to do it in Chrome OS. We’ll show you all of them.
https://tinyurl.com/rspnba8f

Recent Email Scams/Spam
Watch out…

• If your name is not on it
• If the sending email address is strange
• If the link address is strange
• If you don’t own the product
• If you are offered something for nothing (no free lunch)

I do NOT even use Norton. This is a scam and I reported it as spam.






Sure I have… strange from address. I spammed it.



I do not think I want to send money to this person. Another scam.






Easy to fall for this one when you have your own website and email. ALWAYS go directly to the site to change your password. They will never send out something like this.




This is not a scam, just spam. I did not ask for this and will NOT unsubscribe because I never subscribed in the first place. I marked it as spam.


Be Mindful Of Cloud Storage
Thoughts from an article in https://www.askwoody.com/newsletter/free-edition-other-apple-privacy-practices/

"When storing files in the cloud, be mindful of the nature and importance of the content. Remember that any server you don’t own is in someone else’s control.

"I still store some content in major cloud storage services such as iCloud and Dropbox, but lately I’ve moved much of my critical content to the smaller, yet well-established, cloud storage provider WebMate. Another name for this is not putting all your eggs into one basket. Do keep in mind that if you use a service outside your country of residence (WebMate is UK-based), privacy policies may be different, and you should understand them in advance.

"For those who wish to be extra cautious, many hard-drive and NAS (Network Attached Storage) solutions are available. You can use them as a “personal cloud.” These can usually be set up for remote access. Of course, this data is not removed from your locality (i.e., your home), so you'll need to adopt some basic "data center skills" such as keeping good backups."

Some ideas Donna picked up at Tech For Seniors:

Krisp Noise Canceling App
Krisp removes background noise and echo from meetings leaving only human voice. Krisp app makes remote workers more professional. Register now! Free to get started. AI-powered app. Trusted by professionals. Acoustic echo removal. Room echo removal.
https://tinyurl.com/atpxz7vz

Create Your Own Lifeline Necklace
Save PDFs with your important medical and other information on a USB flash drive and hand it on a chain around your neck. Any emergency and those assisting can use those files to know about you. You could also make that information available as a QRcode. They could use their cell phone to read the QRcode and access the data. You could also print the QRcode on a wallet-size card and have it in your wallet.

Tech for Seniors is a one-hour show co-hosted by Ron Brown and Hewie Poplock. It is sponsored by the Silvercom Computer and Technology Club @ Silveridge Resort in Mesa. Each week we will answer your questions, talk technology, and have a GREAT time socializing with Zoom technology.

All Episodes of Tech for Seniors
https://tinyurl.com/4k4usjms

Computer Class Notes 5-26-2021

View the class video https://tinyurl.com/4jjk9j36
Read the notes https://tinyurl.com/dp7trh8n

Microsoft teases a ‘next generation of Windows’
Microsoft isn’t talking about its big Windows plans at Build 2021 this week, and that’s because the company is preparing to detail what’s next for its PC operating system separately. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella teased this announcement during his Build keynote this morning, revealing he has been testing “the next generation of Windows” in recent months.
https://tinyurl.com/42tba3bv



https://tinyurl.com/7rkuk7sf to see ICON changes

What is an IP address?
Every time you are on the internet, IP addresses are playing an essential role in the information exchange to help you see the sites you are requesting. Yet, there is a chance you don’t know what one is, so we are breaking down the most commonly asked questions below.
https://tinyurl.com/yhhz6rnw

What Is a “Computer Bug”
You’ve probably heard it before: There’s a “bug” in the software, causing something to malfunction or misbehave. What exactly is a computer bug and where did the term come from? We’ll explain.
https://tinyurl.com/38v4w2yw

A free, online PDF reader, editor, form filler, & form designer.
A new way to open and edit PDF files online, PDFescape frees users from the typical software requirements for using the de facto document file format. Completely online, PDFescape requires no more than a modern internet browser and an active internet connection. Select any of the major features below to learn more.
https://www.pdfescape.com/

Every tool you need to work with PDFs in one place
Every tool you need to use PDFs, at your fingertips. All are 100% FREE and easy to use! Merge, split, compress, convert, rotate, unlock and watermark PDFs with just a few clicks.
https://www.ilovepdf.com/

EaseUS PDF Editor **NEW**
Use our PDF Editor to customize documents your way with our easy-to-use editing tools. Modify the pages, layout and content of your PDF now.
https://tinyurl.com/3ey6phb9

How to Copy the URL Addresses of All Open Tabs in Chrome
By default, Google Chrome doesn’t offer a direct way to copy the addresses (URLs) of all open tabs at once. But there’s a workaround for Windows, Linux, and Mac, and we’ll show you how to use it.
https://tinyurl.com/u5dpt8

Creating Online Forms
PDFescape is a free, online PDF reader, editor, form filler, & form designer. It is a new way to open and edit PDF files online, PDFescape frees users from the typical software requirements for using the de facto document file format. Completely online, PDFescape requires no more than a modern internet browser and an active internet connection. Select any of the major features below to learn more.
https://tinyurl.com/25a6sehc

JotForm is a powerful online application that allows anyone to quickly create custom online forms. Its intuitive drag-and-drop user interface makes form building incredibly simple and doesn't require you to write a single line of code.

https://www.jotform.com/

Collect and organize information big and small with Google Forms. ... and Forms will pick just the right colors to complete your own unique form, or choose from …
https://tinyurl.com/6udu63at

How To Colorize A B&W Photo


There are a number of ways to take that old B&W photo and add color.


I used the Photomyne website to create the above.

Find A Grave


A great way to organize your family tree. Add pictures and details.

Find the graves of ancestors, create virtual memorials or add photos, virtual flowers and a note to a loved one's memorial. Search or browse cemeteries and grave records for every-day and famous people from around the world.
https://www.findagrave.com/

Computer Class Notes 5-19-2021

View the class:  https://tinyurl.com/r3ckj9tk

Read the Notes:  https://tinyurl.com/2wcfpa95

Posting Photos To Google Photos
Please review Posting Photos to Google using Android Cell Phone, Chrome book, and Laptop.

Cell Phone: Install the Google Photos App
Computer: Open photos.google.com and in the upper right corner click Upload

Review the white paper at https://tinyurl.com/2p8jzcaw



Rose will be holding a class on Google Photos at the CCCGC Office on June 21st.

HEIC Files
I received a file that Windows would not open. It turns out that an HEIC file contains one or more images saved in the High Efficiency Image Format (HEIF), a file format most commonly used to store photos on iOS devices. There is an extension that allows them to be opened in Windows 10. Here is an article that shows how to do that:
https://tinyurl.com/ewu78vwp

Without that extension, here is a website that will convert it to a JPG.
https://heictojpg.com/

Windows Update Message



What are the possibilities that are causing this message?

The error, which is displayed on a blue screen, usually occurs when Windows Update fails. This can happen either due to files not being downloaded properly or other reasons like corrupted system files. Some of the well-known factors include:

• Incomplete download
• Lack of sufficient disk space
• Corruption of system files

The Windows update was interrupted during the installation of files.

See complete article with suggested fixes at:
https://tinyurl.com/9ekpux3u

21H1 Available 5-18-2021
There are only a handful of new features in Windows 10 21H1, including support for multiple Windows Hello-enabled cameras; Windows Defender Application Guard improvements, and improvements in Windows Management Instrumentation via Group Policy. The new Chromium-based Edge browser also is available as part of today's 21H1 release. Like Windows 10 2004 and 20H2, Windows 10 21H1 is a minor feature update. For users already running 2004 or 20H2, Windows 10 21H1 will install quickly -- and hopefully, painlessly -- thanks to an enablement package that will activate the new features.

Shift-Right-Click
You can create a shortcut to just about anything on your computer. If you can pin it to the Taskbar, then you can create a shortcut for it on Desktop.

Once pinned to the Taskbar, Shift-Right-click it and choose More in the Context menu. There will be a “Create shortcut” option waiting for you.

Word Processing Basics
Some of us are using Microsoft Word. Others have a variety of other applications from using Google Docs, to LibreOffice (OpenOffice), to WordPerfect, and others. (Click for a list of 25 Best FREE Word Processor | Word Processing Software in 2021)

They all work in a similar way to achieve the task of us writing down or even dictating our thoughts onto a piece of paper or document held on our computer or in the cloud somewhere for others to read.

Let’s look at the many tasks each of us should have a handle on to work with our word processor. We can fight with it to get the job done. Or we can learn enough so that the job is easily done and the application is working for us rather than us working for it.

We will look at the basic functions and see how they apply across the following applications: MS Word, LibreOffice Writer, Google Docs, and AbiWord.

Subjects covered in the video include:

• Menus vs. Ribbons
• File Formats
• Save/SaveAs
• Page Setup
• Fonts/Size
• Color
• Three Nevers
• Copy/Paste vs Drag
• Margins/Tabs
• Random Text
• Hyperlinks
• Shortcuts
• Printing
• Pictures
• Tables
• Header/Footer

Computer Class Notes 5-12-2021

View the class https://tinyurl.com/mxjttak9
Class Notes https://tinyurl.com/2dnehjek

How to Add Live Closed Captions to Zoom
Video calls and meetings are great, but they leave a lot to be desired when it comes to accessibility. Fortunately, Zoom has the ability to create live closed captions in real-time during meetings. We’ll show you how it works.
https://tinyurl.com/wtcww7sx

Upcoming Edge Update Lets You View Office Files
On May 1st, Microsoft shared an upcoming version of its Edge browser with testers in the Dev Channel. Though it doesn’t have an official release date, Microsoft Edge version 92 contains several new features, including a native Office Viewer, Windows Search integration, and a tool that lets you send tabs between your PC and Android phone.
https://tinyurl.com/uxnju96c

How to Check How Much OneDrive Storage You Have Left
Microsoft OneDrive is a popular cloud storage service that boasts deep integration with Windows 10. If you’re a OneDrive user, you probably want to keep tabs on how much storage you’re using. We’ll show you how to check.
https://tinyurl.com/emakwv5u

How to See (and Delete) All of Your Google Activity
Most of us use Google for almost everything: Navigation, scheduling, shopping, games, research, and of course, search. We search for recipes, vacation destinations, historical facts, medical information, news stories, and almost every piece of information a human living in 2021 might ever need to know. It’s all on Google.
https://tinyurl.com/5car9ecp

How to Add Captions to Images in Google Docs
It’s easy to add an image to your document in Google Docs, but including a caption is another story. Until Google adds a caption feature to Docs, here are a few ways you can create and add captions to your photos.
https://tinyurl.com/ej36v2ps

I still like to use the Paint program to add captions to an image.

• Win+Q and type Paint.
• Press Enter
• Paste the image
• Drag down a section under the picture
• Use the A to insert the caption

Maintenance Update

Instead of using ninite.com, I am using Patch My PC to update the programs on my PC. When you run it, it looks at all your programs and if any are included in the 300 programs available through PMP, it checks to see that you have the latest version and if not, downloads and installs the latest without any questions or extra apps just like ninite does. PCM has many more programs available.

Simply stated, here is what I recommend you do once a week.

• Run Patch My Pc to update your maintenance programs
• Run SuperAntispyware
• Run Malwarebytes
• Run Wise Disk cleaner

If any of your non-Windows programs call for an update, just run PCM to do the update for you. Then you will not have any questions to answer or have to be careful of installing any extra apps.

I just wrote a 2021 update to the Running the Maintenance Programs white paper and here it is: 

https://tinyurl.com/y8vwr2zm

Talking to Customer Service
How often do we call a CS line and have to answer 20 questions to a computer before getting to speak to a human being? Sometimes we never get to one. This site gives you the path you need to find a person.
https://gethuman.com/

Truecaller App
With the Truecaller app, both calls and text messages can be blocked. Truecaller is able to identify and flag unknown numbers with its caller ID. This app also has the capability to automatically identify every unknown SMS. After downloading the app, it will ask you to enable phone permissions for Truecaller to work. If you allow Truecaller to block text messages, it will create a separate folder for Spam or Junk text messages received in your messaging app. You can look up numbers to identify who they are with Truecaller as well. Truecaller is a free app and is available in the Google Play Store for Androids and the App Store for iPhones.

Desktop Shortcuts
Many times we install a new program and we never get an icon on the desktop. Sometimes it does not even appear on the Start menu.

• Win+Q to open Type here to search
• Type the name of the program
• It appears selected on top of the list, right-click it
• Choose Open file location
• Right-drag the file to the Desktop
• Let go and choose to Create shortcut here

Xfinity Flex Remote
Xfinity Flex lets you easily access all your favorite apps and networks, including Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video, Paramount+, Spotify, HBO Max, and more. You also have access to over 10,000 free shows and movies, including 200 channels, from free apps like XUMO, Tubi, and Pluto.

What services do I get with Choice TV with Xfinity Flex compared to other Xfinity TV products?

XR16 Button Functions