2024 March eBytes
How Much Internet Speed Do You Really Need?
How to Edit Images in the Windows Photos App (and Enhance Them With AI)
The Best Apps in the Windows 11 Store for 2024
The Best Online Photo Storage Services
How to Figure Out If Your Phone Has Malware
What to Expect in Windows 12: Leaks, Rumors, and More
I turned my laptop into a desktop PC and I've never been more productive
Sluggish Browser? Here's How to Speed Up Google Chrome
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How Much Internet Speed Do You Really Need?
Don't just automatically shell out for your ISP's fastest tier of service. The perfect balance of throughput and value in a home internet connection isn't easy to find, but our simple tips will help you figure it out.
https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/how-much-internet-speed-do-you-really-need
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How to Edit Images in the Windows Photos App (and Enhance Them With AI)
Looking for a free alternative to Photoshop? Microsoft's Photos app offers some helpful editing tools, including AI-powered features for Windows 11 users.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-edit-images-in-the-windows-photos-app-and-enhance-them-with-ai
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The Best Apps in the Windows 11 Store for 2024
You'll be surprised by how much excellent software is in the Microsoft Store, and the selection keeps growing. These are the best Windows 11 apps, or at least the ones you should install first.
https://www.pcmag.com/picks/best-apps-in-the-windows-11-store
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The Best Online Photo Storage Services
Don’t leave your photos scattered among various cameras and phones. Use one of the top online photo storage services to keep them all together and accessible from anywhere. We've tested them all and here's who wins.
https://www.pcmag.com/picks/best-online-photo-storage-services
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How to Figure Out If Your Phone Has Malware
Has your phone been acting up? Here's how to check if malware is to blame, and what to do if it is.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-figure-out-if-your-phone-has-malware
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What to Expect in Windows 12: Leaks, Rumors, and More
More AI-powered features and modular system design are just a couple of the leaks and rumors swirling around Microsoft's not-yet-announced Windows 12.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/what-to-expect-in-windows-12-leaks-rumors-and-more
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I turned my laptop into a desktop PC and I've never been more productive
When is a desktop not a desktop? When it's a mobile workstation connected to a Thunderbolt 4 dock. Here's how I've combined this technology in my home office.
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Sluggish Browser? Here's How to Speed Up Google Chrome
Does your Chrome browser feel like it's running slower than usual? These tips and tricks can help you give Google Chrome a speed boost.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/sluggish-browser-heres-how-to-speed-up-google-chrome
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Links - News, Tips, & Downloads
Running Out of Storage? Clean Up Apple Messages to Free Up Space - Don't let videos, photos, GIFs, and stickers buried in text messages fill up your storage. We show you how to dig them out of the Messages app on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/running-out-of-storage-clean-up-apple-messages-to-free-up-space
Clear the Clutter: How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad - Is the storage full on your Apple device? Here's how to figure out what's taking up the most space on your iPhone and iPad so you can decide what to delete.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-free-up-space-on-your-iphone-or-ipad
Google Urges Businesses Still Running Windows 10 PCs to Adopt ChromeOS Flex - Flex is a version of ChromeOS that can be installed on old Windows PCs and Mac systems for free. Google is now offering businesses an auto-updating version for Windows machines.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/google-urges-businesses-still-running-windows-10-pcs-to-adopt-chromeos
Sparky Linux is a blazing-fast distro that can keep your older machines running for years - If you have old computers sitting around, why not give them new life with this Debian-based Linux distribution that's as easy to use as it is quick?
Streaming vs. Cable: Which One Saves You More Money? - Battle of the Budget: As streaming prices climb, you may be wondering if it's better to stick to cable. We do the math.
How to Lock Down Your Microsoft Word Documents and Excel Spreadsheets - Want to protect an important Word document or Excel spreadsheet? Here's how to add a password, make documents read-only, and tap into other tricks to safeguard sensitive files.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-lock-down-microsoft-word-documents-excel-spreadsheets
22 Google Maps Tricks You Need to Try - Google Maps is the Swiss Army Knife of apps, chock-full of navigation, geospatial-search, and customization tools. These tips and tricks will help you unlock its full potential.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/google-maps-tips-tricks
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
Passkeys Are Here: We Just Have to Convince People to Use Them - A FIDO Alliance exec acknowledges that people can still balk at the concept of passkeys, but insists that password authentication is 'fundamentally flawed.'
https://www.pcmag.com/news/passkeys-advocate-the-end-goal-is-youre-getting-rid-of-passwords
The Best Tax Software for 2024 - We test and rate the top online tax services to help you find the best one for filing quickly and accurately—and for getting the largest possible refund.
https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-tax-software
The best TV antenna you can buy: Expert tested - ZDNET tested the best antennas that give you a cheap way to watch free TV, including live news, sports, and more.
https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/home-entertainment/best-tv-antenna
How to Do a Reverse Image Search From Your Phone - Google's reverse image search is a breeze on a desktop, but what about when you're on a mobile device? Google, Bing, and others have options.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-do-a-reverse-image-search-from-your-phone
3 million smart toothbrushes were not used in a DDoS attack after all, but it could happen - What's next, malware-infected dental floss? But seriously: It's a reminder that even the smallest smart home devices can be a threat. Here's how to protect yourself.
Every Amazon Alexa Voice Command for Your Home Security Devices - Learn all the ways Alexa can interact with your home security device -- and even make you safer with the right voice commands.
Should You Pick Up? How to Find Out Who's Calling You - Get a random call from an unknown number? Here's how to do a reverse phone lookup.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/who-called-me-from-this-phone-number
How to Add Emergency Info to Your Phone's Lock Screen - This simple tip could save your life: Make your emergency medical information and contact numbers visible on your locked phone.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-add-emergency-info-to-your-phones-lock-screen
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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 - Can password managers be hacked?
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. Short answer is impossible unless you give a hacker your master password or they guess it. They can not steal your master password from the service, no one at the service can reset your password or ever see your password, all your accounts and passwords at the service are encrypted so anyone else just sees 1s and 0s.
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Q. From a PCC Member - A Security update was created by Windows which requires 250 MB space. I apparently possess a "recovery partition" that will not accommodate a 250 MB file. According to the Microsoft "fix" instructions, my particular WIN 10 computer needs to acquire the 250MB needed space for the file in my partition for the update to be successful. Have no idea how to resize partitions, and the directions are beyond my comfort level of understanding. Looks complicated and was thinking of bringing it to Best Buy. Or is this something you could guide me through without too much problem?
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. I have not seen that problem before, but it looks like the January update caused problems on some computers with limited hard drive space. The solution looks like a few steps to create a new partition. Since you have Geek Squad I would bring it there if you are not comfortable making changes.
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Q. From a PCC Member - A suggestion for future talks is how to put an App on a smartphone. I would like to get an App for Uber but don't know the proper procedure.
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. Below is a YouTube video on how to install an app on an iPhone. If you have an Android phone you can search for a video which is very similar. You will need your Apple ID account and password to use the "App Store" app. Once Uber is installed you will then have to create an Uber account with a password and connect it to your bank account or a credit card. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ejwu4k3nCVw Let me know if you have any questions
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Q. From a PCC Member - When I send an email to a Century Link address it will not go thru, I have been sending it for 30 years with no problem, I get no feedback and the address is still good.
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. Since you get no email message back with an error that means that the address is valid and was delivered and is in some folder in the email. All email systems today have automatic features to identify “Spam” or filter mail coming into other folders. Example: In Gmail if you start to delete mail sent by my address without reading them, it will automatically delete future email from my address. The person would need to add your email address to “Contacts” or go into their Trash and identify your email as valid. Spam filters also constantly change based on rules like Bcc, words in subject, words in body, attachments, and many other things.
Call the friend with the Century Link address and have them send you an email and then reply to it and see if that shows up in their email. It could be the friend no longer has that email account and someone else has it who is never going to respond? I always recommend people do not use their Internet providers email because when you leave CenturyLink or Comcast you no longer own that address and someone else now has it. Much better to use a free Gmail account that you can own for life.
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