Tag: technology, tech tips

Your smart TV is also spying on you — turn it off

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/01/02/amazon-fire-sony-vizio-smart-tvs-spying/2792152001/ Your smart TV is spying on you. Here are step-by-step instructions to stop it Jefferson GrahamUSA TODAY0:000:59 Those smart TVs that sold for unheard of low prices over the holidays come with a catch. The price is super low, but the manufacturers get to monitor what you're watching and report back to third parties, for … Continue reading Your smart TV is also spying on you — turn it off →

Want to stop Amazon, Google, and Facebook from always listening?

If you’re as creeped out as I am by the concept of any faceless stranger or group listening to every word you say, here’s how to remove that power. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2019/12/31/stop-google-home-amazon-echo-facebook-portal-listening/2777408001/

A little drop will do you with a broken smartphone screen

Duct tape, WD-40 and nail polish have been used for many unexpected tasks over the years. https://www.thelist.com/179827/put-nail-polish-on-your-broken-phone-screen-and-watch-what-happens/ Put nail polish on your broken phone screen and watch what happensNail polish and cell phone ShutterstockBy Maria Scinto Have you ever dropped your phone and picked it up, only to find — oh no! — this time … Continue reading A little drop will do you with a broken smartphone screen →

The three big techs joining to develop smart-home device standards to ensure compatibility

This move makes sense to anyone who remembers the days of battles like VHS vs Betamax for video standards. Everyone's hurt, including the customer, if different companies' products don't work together. https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-amazon-google-partner-on-smart-home-tech-2019-12 Here’s a followup derailing then terms of the agreement that are becoming visible: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/12/apple-google-and-amazon-team-up-for-joint-smart-home-standard/ In a rare move, Apple, Amazon, and Google just … Continue reading The three big techs joining to develop smart-home device standards to ensure compatibility →

Tweak these Google Chrome settings to improve your internet experience

There's always more you can do to tweak your browser experience to improve your day. Tweak These Google Chrome Settings to Level Up Your Browsing Get the most out of Google's Chrome browser with these tips and tricks. Photograph: Dimitri Otis/Getty Images Chances are you spend a lot of your computing time inside a browser … Continue reading Tweak these Google Chrome settings to improve your internet experience →

Useful news if you have an Apple Card — 6% discount & iPhone financing

Apple offers iPhone financing for Card holders Dec. 10, 2019 9:12 AM ET|About: Apple Inc. (AAPL)| Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Card holders can purchase an iPhone in 24 monthly payments with no interest. The payments will be bundled in with the minimum Card payment in the Wallet app. Apple is also offering a 6% discount at its retail stores for purchases … Continue reading Useful news if you have an Apple Card — 6% discount & iPhone financing →

Want to go crazy? Try signing up for several streaming services

Hasn’t it occurred to any of the streaming services that we can add? AND notice the number of bills showing up in our mail or email? I love going to the movies. So before I go into the irritation of monthly bills, here's a shout-out to my nearby single screen theatre showing foreign, documentary, and … Continue reading Want to go crazy? Try signing up for several streaming services →

If you’re using emails to be more green, here’s some sad news

There's nothing that doesn't have an environmental cost -- nothing. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/shortcuts/2019/nov/26/pointless-emails-theyre-not-just-irritating-they-have-a-massive-carbon-footprint? Pointless emails: they’re not just irritating – they have a massive carbon footprint More than 64m unnecessary emails are sent in Britain every day. Along with clogging up our inboxes they are also damaging the environment Stephen Moss @StephenMossGdn Tue 26 Nov 2019 10.56 EST … Continue reading If you’re using emails to be more green, here’s some sad news →

Simple way to scan QR codes in iOS 11, 12, or 13

https://www.appleworld.today/blog/2019/11/25/how-to-scan-qr-codes-in-ios-11-12-and-13 How to scan QR codes in iOS 11, 12, and 13 November 25, 2019/ Dennis Sellers Apple added QR support to iOS 11. Now with iOS 11, 12, 13, or iPadOS, you can scan QR codes without the need for a third-party app. Here’s how: Open the Camera app and make sure the rear … Continue reading Simple way to scan QR codes in iOS 11, 12, or 13 →

If you’re above age X, you probably have no idea not to text “ok”

The conclusion -- that using "OK" is apt to be considered rude or dismissive by younger people was a total surprise to me. In fact, I thought this first article was a joke. So I'm including two articles. Maybe they're both kidding, but I doubt it. Of course I'm vastly amused by the "While I … Continue reading If you’re above age X, you probably have no idea not to text “ok” →

Microsoft allowing the import of multiple Google products into Outlook

The Verge is a trusted source, at least for me, so I have to believe that Microsoft is essentially turning many of its functions over to Google products. But I am definitely surprised. (Happily,) I haven't used Outlook in many years, but this has to be good news to Microsoft users. https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/20/20973889/microsoft-outlook-web-gmail-google-drive-calendar-integration-support-features Microsoft is bringing … Continue reading Microsoft allowing the import of multiple Google products into Outlook →