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Rick

How to enter common data faster on your iPad or iPhone – Video Tip

Almost two years ago, Apple added the ability to create keyboard shortcuts for entering frequently typed information on our iPads or iPhones. I take full responsibility for not sharing this tip with you sooner! And when you see how easy this tip is to implement and use, I sincerely hope you are not angry with me for not sharing it… Read More »How to enter common data faster on your iPad or iPhone – Video Tip

Open Multiple Home Pages with Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, OR Internet Explorer – Video Tip

Now that Internet Explorer has caught up (sort of) with modern browsers, I wanted to point out yet another function of tabbed browsing (click here for the popular and informative tabbed browsing tip ). If you like to check multiple sites every day or maybe use your browsing sessions for research, let your browser do some of the work for you by opening multiple pages at the same time.

Mozilla Firefox

  1. Open the first page you would like to see every time you start Firefox
  2. Click File –> New –> Tab (or Ctrl + T) to open a new tab
  3. Open the next page you want to see every time you start Firefox
  4. Repeat steps 1-3 for as many pages as you want to open automatically
  5. Click Tools –> Options from the menus
  6. Click the "Main" button at the top of the options screen
  7. Click "Use Current Pages" button in the Startup section
  8. Click the OK button at the bottom of the screen

Internet Explorer 7 (IE7)

  1. Open the first page you would like to see every time you start IE7
  2. Click File –> New –> Tab (or Ctrl + T) to open a new tab, or click the new tab button next to the current tab
  3. Open the next page you want to see every time you start IE7
  4. Repeat steps 1-3 for as many pages as

Disable MalwareBytes purchase nags

If you use MalwareBytes, it can nag you for payment. Unless you want the hands-off functionality (automatic scans and updates), you can disable it. You can quickly and easily run and update it anytime you like and not get nagged to purchase it. Here’s how to stop getting the upgrade pop-ups: Start MalwareBytes, then: 1.  Click Settings from list of options on… Read More »Disable MalwareBytes purchase nags

Reading: How to make your iPad your ONLY computer – Wired Magazine

It didn’t take me long to understand and appreciate the simplicity and utility of an iPad. There are many tablets on the market, but only the iPad, in my opinion, offer the range of features and simplicity to warrant a purchase. Today, I came across this article that outlines the idea of making an iPad your only computing device. Over… Read More »Reading: How to make your iPad your ONLY computer – Wired Magazine

How to take advantage of your smartphone’s address book – Video Tip

If you use a smartphone (iPhone, Android, etc) or tablet, then you have the world’s best and most convenient address book! Using your mobile devices address book to its maximum starts with making sure that you are adding all the information about a person that you might need. Consider including all or some of the following in your digital contact… Read More »How to take advantage of your smartphone’s address book – Video Tip

How to get Gmail to show you search results from the trash – Video Tip

My brother asked this question earlier this week and at his suggestion, I’m sharing the answer here. He mentioned that he thought the search in Gmail wasn’t very good (which is preposterous since it has no match). He went on to explain that his searches weren’t finding items he had deleted. “au contraire”, I quickly retorted. I told him Google’s… Read More »How to get Gmail to show you search results from the trash – Video Tip

Gmail Search – Video Tip

I have written and recorded many, many Gmail tips, but I came across this concise and informative Gmail tip about searching your Gmail account made recently by Google. Check it out!

Your one stop troubleshooting spot

In the almost 14 years that I have devoted to helping computer users, I have discovered a few computing standards:

          • Many computer problems can be solved by simply restarting the computer.
          • In the event of a mouse, keyboard, monitor, sound, printer or Internet problem, always triple check your cables to make sure everything is plugged in securely.
          • Much to the dismay of computer users, almost all problems were caused in some way by something we did or didn’t do…usually unknowingly or inadvertently.
          • Your neighbor/co-worker/family member/ cannot fix your computer.
          • Very few computer users backup their important data.

With these five basic rules established, use my basic troubleshooting tips for printers, sound, Internet (click here) and other problems BEFORE panicking and before calling tech support. You will be pleasantly surprised how either performing rule #1 above or using these guides can dig you out of a problem rather quickly.