2025 August eBytes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Best Apps in the Windows 11 Store: Unleash Your PC's Potential
Google Is Combining ChromeOS and Android, and I Can't Wait
How passkeys work: The complete guide to your inevitable passwordless future
Putting Your Emergency Info on Your Phone’s Lock Screen Could Save Your Life
An OpenAI Web Browser Is Imminent, Report Says. That Would Really Shake Up the Web
Gmail's New 'Manage Subscriptions' Feature Makes Cleaning Up Your Inbox a Breeze
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Best Apps in the Windows 11 Store: Unleash Your PC's Potential
The number of excellent apps in the Microsoft Store might surprise you, and the selection continues to grow. These are the best apps to install first.
https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-apps-in-the-windows-11-store-unleash-your-pcs-potential
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Google Is Combining ChromeOS and Android, and I Can't Wait
Finally! A combined mobile and desktop platform! As a longtime OS reviewer, I think this move makes more sense than ever.
https://www.pcmag.com/opinions/google-is-combining-chromeos-and-android-and-i-cant-wait
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How passkeys work: The complete guide to your inevitable passwordless future
Why are passkeys so much safer than passwords? And how exactly does this sorcery work? We go behind the scenes of this still-evolving authentication process.
How to set up and use passkeys across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac - Looking to move from passwords to passkeys across all your Apple devices? Here's how to do it.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-set-up-and-use-passkeys-across-your-iphone-ipad-and-mac/
How I easily set up passkeys through my password manager - and why you should too - Using a password manager is a quick and convenient way to store and synchronize passkeys.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Putting Your Emergency Info on Your Phone’s Lock Screen Could Save Your Life
This simple tip could save your life: Make your emergency medical information and contact numbers visible on your locked phone so you’re prepared if the worst happens.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-add-emergency-info-to-your-phones-lock-screen
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An OpenAI Web Browser Is Imminent, Report Says. That Would Really Shake Up the Web
An AI-powered browser from the ChatGPT maker will inevitably compete with Google Chrome.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gmail's New 'Manage Subscriptions' Feature Makes Cleaning Up Your Inbox a Breeze
If your inbox is drowning in newsletter subscriptions, this new Gmail subscription will get it back on dry land.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Links - News, Tips, & Downloads
Download your photos before AT&T shuts down its cloud storage service permanently - In October, AT&T's Photo Storage service will stop backing up your files - get them before they're gone.
I've Been a Photographer for Most of My Life. Here Are My 10 Best Tips for Beginners - I've also tested and reviewed scores and scores of cameras. If you're just starting out, follow my advice and you'll be shooting share-worthy snaps in no time.
https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/10-quick-tips-to-fix-your-bad-photos
I Never Pay Full Price for a Laptop. Follow My Tips and You Won't Either - In an era of roller-coaster tariffs and inflation, saving money has never been more important. After reviewing hundreds of laptops, I've gleaned some pretty handy tricks for getting the best price on the right PC.
https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/money-saving-tips-for-laptop-buyers
Gigabit Internet: Is It Worth Splurging for a Faster Internet Plan? - Plenty of internet providers offer gig-level plans, but you might not actually need that much speed.
Want a Path to Cheaper Internet? Stop Renting Your Equipment - You can get faster Wi-Fi and lower your internet bills by owning your router.
https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/want-a-path-to-cheaper-internet-stop-renting-and-own-your-router/
Need a New Passport? Now You Can Renew Online, and It's Faster Than Ever - Since launching its new online passport renewal system, the US State Department has dramatically reduced processing times.
Why Buy Flagship Phones if 'Budget' Phones Are Just as Good Now? - Commentary: It's making less sense to pay more for tech with minimal spec bumps.
https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/why-buy-flagship-phones-if-budget-phones-are-just-as-good-now/
Running Out of Google Drive Space? Try These Expert Hacks to Boost Your Storage - These tricks could help you save money on digital storage.
102 Expert iPhone Tricks You Should Know - Think you know iOS inside out? Trust us, there's way more to uncover. Unlock your iPhone's full potential with these hidden tweaks.
https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/expert-apple-iphone-tips-tricks-to-know
Got an Old Android Phone? These Quick Fixes Might Make It Feel Brand New - You can breathe new life into your old Android phone in just a few quick steps.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ask a Question - Send any Tips & Downloads, Ask a Question, For Sale, or articles to: TheMiningPCC@gmail.com
**********************************
Q. From a PCC Member - I am planning to NOT use Google anymore. I've heard they are doing more tracking, snooping, whatever and paid for ads are what appear first in searches. Is this true? DuckDuckGo seems to be better. Kagi is described as best for security, but it's a subscription browser.
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. Google is a combination of 40+ sites and services, so not sure if you are just talking about Google Search? Myself and billions of people love Google and have no fear of the data it uses and collects. If the DuckDuckGo search or the browser does what you need, great use it. Each search is different from every other search. Google search gives an AI answer first that I like and use a lot. I usually skip over the paid results that have the word "Sponsored" and love that my searches, results, and history is shared on all my devices. Does Google capture info and use it to market ads? Yes, I have no problem. If you go to the 3M web site, Amazon, or any site they capture and use your info. Every web site you go to, you pass 100s of pieces of info to the site. Most of the data is to make the Internet and your device work and give you better results. 3M buys and sells lots of Internet data. DuckDuckGo and things like a VPN can reduce or change the info, but they can not stop tracking and snooping. If you want to talk more, give me a call.
Member Responds - From Kim Cammnado - Google’s Gemini AI will tap into your Phone, Messages, WhatsApp and more, even if you’ve opted out of activity tracking. Google calls it “good news.” I found the secret steps to stop this nonsense. Otherwise, your texts will be stored, scanned and possibly read by a human along with the things, up to and including being sold to who knows who. Not cool. Tom - Is this as scary as it seems ???
Tom Kreuzer responds - This type of info capture has been going on since the start of the Internet in the 90s. It would be great if companies like Google, Microsoft, Apple, State of MN, and millions of others did not track. Every feature and function we do on the Internet relies on data and some of it is personal. Companies count on revenue from selling info. Some people argue that Google tracking isn’t necessarily a bad thing because it powers the convenience we’ve come to expect. Think about it: personalized search results, real-time traffic updates, YouTube recommendations that actually hit the mark—all of that is made possible because Google knows a lot about you. Here’s why some folks might say it’s “not important” or not worth worrying about:
Enhanced user experience: Google uses your data to tailor services to your preferences, making them faster and more intuitive.
Free services: Gmail, Google Maps, and Search are all free because they’re funded by targeted advertising, which relies on user data.
Data controls exist: Users can manage, limit, or delete their data through Google’s privacy settings, including auto-delete and incognito modes.
Widespread practice: Data collection isn’t unique to Google—most companies do it, so opting out entirely can be difficult without sacrificing functionality.
That said, this doesn’t mean there aren’t valid concerns. Privacy advocates argue that the trade-off isn’t always transparent or fair, and lawsuits have challenged how Google handles consent and location tracking.
So the real question might be: What level of privacy are you comfortable trading for convenience? Want to dig into how to tighten your settings or explore alternatives to Google services? The European Union is much more strict on privacy, and these services have not been shut down there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. From a PCC Member - I've got 200 (or less) digital pictures, already on my Windows 11 laptop/Google Drive, as well as a few digital home video files, as well as digital music files, also on my laptop. I want to put them all together in a video file, to display at church. It will run 10-20 minutes. I can add or subtract photos. As best I can tell, the obvious video editor, "slideshow" assembly software I should use is Microsoft's own ClipChamp software. Microsoft says is already loaded on my laptop. It might be able to do what I need with the free version, or I might have to pay $12/month for the premium version. I'll start with the free version. Does this plan make the best sense for me?
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. You are correct. ClipChamp is a fine basic editor and you can give it a try. The free has limits on things like length of 30 minutes and resolution of 1080P, but sounds like that should not be an issue for use. One of the best video packages is DaVinci Resolve that also has a free version, but it is much more complex to learn and use.
ClipChamp has limited photo transitions and timing settings, but it will create something for you. Be aware that any video editing in any package uses large amounts of disk space and large amounts of CPU/Graphics.
Personally I still use the old and unsupported Google Picasa to create photo slideshows. If it was just photos it still works great and is easy to use. Since you also have old videos you best try ClipChamp.
Good luck, let me know any questions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. From a PCC Member - I have been trying to find a way to print 4x6" photos from my iphone Photo app. I can print from the iPhone to my printer but it all is 8x10. Do I need to buy Adobe Photoshop to print 4X6's?
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. I assume you are using the iPhone Photos app. By default the Photos app looks at your selected printer and your default paper set on the printer (letter (8x10)). For some printers the Photos app lets you change the paper size to 4x6 then check other options for the printer like color, type, etc. and then print. Photos may not let you change the paper size for your printer in which case you need to use another App to print that lets you see and change print options. Some of the printer control apps like from HP or Canon will let you select and print files or photos and may be able to let you change printer settings and print.
You could also try manually making changes on your printer to set and load your 4x6 paper. If you are trying to print multiple 4x6 photos on one 8x10 sheet of photo paper you will need to use a more advanced app.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. From a PCC Member - Why in Facebook on my iPad do I need to double tap to select an action?
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. The Facebook app on iPads does not generally require a double tap to interact with elements. If you're experiencing a double-tap requirement, it's likely due to a setting like AssistiveTouch being enabled. AssistiveTouch, an accessibility feature on iPads, can sometimes cause unexpected double-tap behavior. Solution: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch and turn it off.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. From a PCC Member - I got a new Android phone and did not transfer info. I would now like to transfer info?
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. You could Reset the phone and start all over or looks like this may work. Connect both phones to wifi. Goto "Google Play Store" and install MobileTrans by Wondershare on both phones and follow directions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. From a PCC Member - I find the PCC meetings very helpful. I am wondering about this change to auto fill on the android. If I understand correctly, it seems more secure to use LastPass to auto fill and it seems like this update to Android will help. I know that we heard recently about password managers. I have LastPass but I haven't fully gotten away from Google password manager.
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. I last gave a presentation on password managers and security in April 2025 and you can view the video or look at the handout in the Past PCC web site.
https://sites.google.com/site/theminingpcc/future-meetings/past-meeting-files
I recommend the use of auto fill in a password manager and not in Chrome or any browser. You have many more features, functions, and security than in the browser. LastPass is a good password manager, but years ago they required you to pay if you wanted to use it on multiple devices. I recommend the software BitWarden which has a free version if you do not want to pay for LastPass.
If you want to talk more, send any questions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. From a PCC Member - On an iPhone in the Text Message app can delete a item without deleting the entire conversation?
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. Yes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcS-HcNOPp0
Here's a detailed breakdown:
Open the Messages app: Locate and open the Messages app on your iPhone.
Find the conversation: Tap on the conversation that contains the message you want to delete.
Tap and hold the message: Touch and hold the specific message bubble you want to remove.
Select "More...": From the menu that appears, tap the "More..." option.
Choose messages for deletion: Tap the circle next to each message you want to delete. A blue checkmark will appear indicating they are selected.
Delete the messages: Tap the trash can icon at the bottom of the screen.
Confirm deletion: If necessary, confirm your choice by tapping "Delete" or "Delete Message" in the pop-up menu.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------