2023 December eBytes
Top 100 Products of 2023: The Tech We're Most Thankful for This Year
Surprise: Apple Will Finally Bring RCS to iPhone Next Year
Android vs. iOS: Which Phone OS Really Is the Best?
I did not expect this $180 Android tablet to be as impressive as it is
Best Streaming Device for 2023
The best App Store apps of 2023, according to Apple
Bitwarden Earns a Rare 5-Star Review
Wi-Fi Range Extender vs. Mesh Network: What's the Difference?
Passkeys: What They Are and Why You Need Them ASAP
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Top 100 Products of 2023: The Tech We're Most Thankful for This Year
Behold our annual collection of truly exceptional technology across 15 key categories, your perfect Black Friday shopping companion.
https://www.pcmag.com/picks/best-tech-products
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Surprise: Apple Will Finally Bring RCS to iPhone Next Year
Apple says it will implement Rich Communications Services on iPhones next year.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/surprise-apple-will-finally-bring-rcs-to-iphone-later-this-year
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Android vs. iOS: Which Phone OS Really Is the Best?
You've probably already picked a side, but is it the right one? Here's how Apple and Google's mobile operating systems stack up on 14 key features.
https://www.pcmag.com/comparisons/android-vs-ios-which-mobile-os-is-best
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I did not expect this $180 Android tablet to be as impressive as it is
If you're looking for a solid but cost-effective Android tablet, the Oukitel OT5 is a great option that won't break the bank.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/i-did-not-expect-this-180-android-tablet-to-be-as-impressive-as-it-is/
This solid, daily-driver Android tablet is only $109 in this Black Friday deal - For most users, most of the time, high-powered iPads are just money wasted. With so many great alternatives for so much less, here's one especially amazing tablet deal.
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Best Streaming Device for 2023
The best streaming devices work with a range of services, and some include 4K video and even spatial audio to help you enjoy TV shows and movies.
https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/best-streaming-device/
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The best App Store apps of 2023, according to Apple
Apple curated its annual list of App of the Year finalists for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. Did your favorites make the cut?
https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-best-app-store-apps-of-2023-according-to-apple/
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Bitwarden Earns a Rare 5-Star Review
Bitwarden is simply the best app we've tested for free password management, while the paid version adds extra security and storage tools at an extremely low price.
https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/bitwarden
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Wi-Fi Range Extender vs. Mesh Network: What's the Difference?
Looking to increase the power of your current wireless connection? Learn the difference between a Wi-Fi extender and a mesh system to make a better decision.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/wi-fi-range-extender-vs-mesh-network-whats-the-difference
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Passkeys: What They Are and Why You Need Them ASAP
We tell you what passkeys are, how you can get them, and where you can use them to log in securely without exposing your email address or creating a password.
https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/passwordless-authentication-what-it-is-and-why-you-need-it-asap
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Links - News, Tips, & Downloads
What Is Temu? Read Before You 'Shop Like a Billionaire' - You've probably been targeted with Temu ads or have a shopping cart full of items you're thinking of buying. Before you click buy on Black Friday, we have some answers about the shopping site that's suddenly everywhere.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/what-is-temu-read-before-you-shop-like-a-billionaire
Hoping for a Windows 10 support extension? Microsoft just quietly crushed your dreams - Microsoft announced this week that it's not changing its 2025 support deadline for Windows 10. If you missed the news, maybe you weren't looking in the right place.
The best live TV streaming services for cord cutters - The best live TV streaming services let you watch your favorite shows, news, and sports in real time. Here's how to choose between Sling TV, Hulu Plus Live TV, YouTubeTV, and more.
https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/home-entertainment/best-live-tv-streaming-service/
End of Mint: How to Download Your Financial Data Before It's Gone - The free budgeting app Mint is folding into Credit Karma. Here's how to save your financial history.
Will AI hurt or help workers? It's complicated - Scared of losing your job to AI? Take a deep breath: Most employers and business leaders see AI augmenting human workers far more than replacing them. Of course, accommodations are needed.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/will-ai-hurt-or-help-workers-its-complicated
Keep Your Eyes on the Road: 13 Apple CarPlay Tips Every Driver Should Know - CarPlay can do a lot more than just deliver driving directions. Here are some easy tips to help turn your car's dashboard into the ultimate mobile command center.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/apple-carplay-hidden-tips-tricks
Stop Oversharing: How to Make Your Social Profiles Private - Your public posts online can make you an easy target for criminals of all kinds. We tell you how to lock down your social media accounts and why you should.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/please-stop-oversharing-no-really
Running Low on iPhone Storage? Here's How to Make More Space - Deleting old photos (after backing them up of course) and offloading apps can go a long way.
https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/clear-your-iphone-storage-with-these-easy-tricks/
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Ask a Question - Send any Tips & Downloads, Ask a Question, For Sale, or articles to: TheMiningPCC@gmail.com
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Q. From a PCC Member - What is the best/easiest way to send several electronic pictures to someone ?
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. Easiest and best is to send them a link to where you store your photos on the web which you should be doing. If you have an Amazon prime account you can upload/backup an unlimited number and organize them into albums. If you have Microsoft 365 with 1 TB of storage use that. Google gives you 15 GB of free storage along with Google Photos to edit and organize if you do not have many photos or plan to buy more storage. Some people pay for other sites like ShutterFly, Adobe, and many others.
For the PC Club I use Google Photos. Example from the last dinner: https://photos.app.goo.gl/12DTKc1w9zwWgzfC6
I never recommend people send a photo in an email or text message unless you have only one photo and low quality is ok. All the sites let you set permission on who can see. Most of my albums, I set the permission to public so anyone can view, but if you need to limit it to certain people you can.
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Q. From a PCC Member - Does the PC Club have a deal to buy Microsoft Office?
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. Short answer is we have no deal, but do provide options. There are several versions of Office with different features like online vs local, cloud storage, versions (yearly updates vs just patches for current version), pro, student, etc. There are also a number of free options of packages that many people use like Google Docs, Apple Docs, LibreOffice, etc. Look at the handout and video on PCC site for the Aug 2021 meeting on the subject MS Office & Alternatives.
https://sites.google.com/site/theminingpcc/future-meetings/past-meeting-files
Popular with the PCC members that I have recommended is a version from StackSocial for Office 2021 Pro https://www.stacksocial.com/sales/microsoft-office-professional-plus-2021-for-window
That can be installed on one PC and was on sale for $29.95 the end of last year and most of this year. I would expect a similar sale to start soon. Currently it is $50-$70.
Be very careful doing a Google search and seeing even lower prices or deals. Most of the sites with low prices are scams. The StackSocial deal was recommended by PCMag or CNet and is a good company. I bought several copies myself for my desktop and laptop.
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Q. From a PCC Member - How to setup Alexa Emergency contact setup?
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. The emergency is used if a use asks Alexa to call for HELP. It will call and also send a text message to the contact. You can only setup one contact as your emergency contact. Link to set up:
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Q. From a PCC Member - Do you have to have been a 3M employee to join the 3M PC Club?
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. Anyone can join the club. The 3M PCC web site along with the videos and handouts is free and open in anyone in the world: https://sites.google.com/site/theminingpcc/ or for a link to the past meeting info: https://sites.google.com/site/theminingpcc/future-meetings/past-meeting-files
If they would like to get the email invites I send out or attend in person or online, they can join. We allow anyone to join the club. They do not need to have worked at 3M.
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Q. From a PCC Member - Suddenly in the last two days I get a 4X4” banner in the lower right corner of my monitor from McAfee. I use Norton so I am not concerned about viruses. The banner reads Critical Virus Alert and says my PC is at risk. It reoccurs about every 30 seconds with a bell. I looked in my programs list so I could uninstall McAfee but it does not show up. I am thinking it rode in on Microsoft Edge but I cannot find McAfee on it either. It is annoying and I want to get rid of the reoccurring warning. Can you suggest some way to uninstall McAfee? I already googled the issue and there is a McAfee uninstall but it is from McAfee and I am afraid to download it.
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. That is a notification/scam/virus that you are seeing. They want you to click on it and will either ask for money or install a virus.
If it only shows when you have a browser (Chrome or Edge) open, it is a pop-up that you installed or gave permission to. You need to be very careful what you click. To remove a pop-up follow these instructions. McAfee provides these instructions, but it is not their software that is causing it.
https://www.mcafee.com/learn/how-to-stop-the-popups/
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