This question has come up rather frequently lately so decided to construct a tip from it. The problem arises when a Gmail user wants to forward a message from earlier in a Gmail conversation (group of emails about the same subject…see illustration and video). When you click a conversation, Google only displays the most recent message. If you click forward,… Read More »How to forward a specific email from a Gmail conversation – Video Tip
I had this question come up during a phone call today, and although I described it the best I could, this is truly a visual tip. Watch the short video tip below to learn how to create a desktop icon that goes directly to a web site. Hint: It’s easy to follow and do.
We use passwords to log into web sites continuously through the day. Your passwords should be long and complicated, but that makes them tough to type in accurately on the first try (since password fields are masked with dots or asterisks). Or, if you are using a netbook or mobile phone, the combination of a small keyboard and longer passwords can… Read More »How to type in your password correctly the FIRST time – Video Tip
We had a great class today and talked about many aspects of searching the web safely and efficiently. The videos below cover the material we discussed in class including some answers to questions we talked about during the class as well relating to changing your home page, working with title bar, the new Gmail compose screen and more. How to… Read More »Getting the most of searching the web and using Browser tabs – Video Tip
If you own an iPhone or iPad, learning to use keyboard shortcuts to speed up entry of commonly used words, phrases, or names can be a boon to your productivity and your relationship with your iPhone or iPad. Instead of having to always type your full email address in forms, or your full name, or mailing address, or any other… Read More »How to use keyboard shortcuts with your iPhone or iPad – Video Tip
Since 2009, Office Depot (and merged partner Office Max) along with Support.com were knowingly scamming customers into paying for repairs or “fixes” that were absolutely not needed. I won’t go into the gory details, but you can read the full story here. Just know that large retail outlets that sell goods and services don’t always concentrate on providing the best… Read More »Bogus Repair Requests at Office Depot costs them $35 million
Since I bought my first computer, I have been borderline obsessed with voice recognition, using your voice to input text instead of the keyboard. With the release of the newest version of the Apple operating system for their computers, dubbed Mountain Lion or Mac OSX 10.8 (and later), that function is now a standard feature of the system. It does… Read More »Enable dictation for FREE with new Apple OSX Mountain Lion and later – Video Tip
One new feature that Windows Vista brought to the table is an easier way to take pictures of your screen…known as screen shots. In previous versions of Windows you had to learn how to use the Print Screen button (click here for my tip on that technique) or find a third party utility to do the same thing.Windows Vista introduced a new tool called the Snipping Tool that makes taking screen shots easier and more flexible than Print Screen. Vista users can find the Snipping Tool in the Accessories menu. The Snipping Tool will also be included in the upcoming Windows 7. To see how it works, watch my video below.
I was trying to export my Netflix queue tonight and tried to find an easy to follow tutorial or tool, but found neither. Instead, I created my own! It ended up being so easy, that I’m going to share it with the rest of the web…here it is: Open your Netflix queue Select the entire queue using your mouse (don’t… Read More »How to export your Netflix queue to a spreadsheet – Video Tip
When you buy a new computer, the Internet browser comes pre-configured with a home page (first web site you see when you start your web browser). For PC’s, it is usually MSN. For Mac’s it is Apple.com. If you download Firefox (which everyone should be using), its default home page is a Firefox branded Google page. Sometimes your Internet provider’s web site takes over as your home page if you run one of their setup disks.
Through all of this, you had no say so as to what your home page is. Fortunately, it is a simple procedure to change the home page to anything you want. Here’s how to change it no matter what web browser you use (except Internet Explorer 7):
Pull up the web site you want to see first when you start Internet sessions
Click and drag the little icon next to the address of that site to the Home icon (looks like little house)
Click Yes on the confirmation dialog box asking if you really want to change your home page
That’s it. Now if you are one of the many unfortunate souls who is using Windows Vista, watch how “elegant, quick and streamlined” Microsoft has made this process with Internet Explorer 7:
Pull up the web site you want to see first
Click the drop down arrow next to the Home icon…no not the one at the end of the toolbar, the one righ next to the Home icon
Click Add or Change Home Page
Read and decide whether you want to “use this page as your only home page” or “Add this web page to your home page tabs” (a question which will befuddle many computer users)
Click the option of the answer you chose
Click Yes
See, that’s DOUBLE the intuitive steps that we have used for more than 10 years and all other browsers use! That’s Microsoft progress! That’s Vista! But Vista sure is purdy.
To see these steps in action, watch the video below:
