2026 April eBytes
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Free Up Your Google Drive Space at No Cost With These Hacks
FCC List of Suspicious Router Companies
How to use Gemini Nano Banana 2 to create high-quality headshots for work - in minutes
Did AI Write That? 7 Signs You're Reading Content From a Bot
The Ultimate Guide to Decluttering Your Email Without Deleting Everything
To Find Images in Apple Photos, Forget Siri and Do It This Way Instead
Find out what your cat is saying
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Free Up Your Google Drive Space at No Cost With These Hacks
Clear out old emails, large files and more to free up space in your digital storage.
https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/more-google-drive-digital-storage-hacks/
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FCC List of Suspicious Router Companies
From Mike Griffin of the PCC Club info from the FCC -
Tom Kreuzer responds - This has been talked about for the last couple of years by the Fed Gov. I recommend people upgrade now before they are out of stock for the foreign routers and recommend a TP-Link. Next to no routers are currently all made in the US with US chips. The US routers cost more and this ban only cuts down on competition. Also, I can hack a US router just as easily as a foreign router. The FCC and the Fed Gov are a bunch of clueless fools. If anything this will cause foreign countries to only buy electronics each country/government has full control over. It is a joke and costs all of us more money and less competition.
******* More info on the Ban *******
Article from PC Mag - https://www.pcmag.com/news/fcc-just-banned-the-sale-of-new-wi-router-models-made-outside-us
The FCC Router Ban Sends the Wrong Signal: America First, Your Connectivity Second - Banning foreign-made networking hardware won't make us safer or keep our data more private; it'll just cut off our access to cheap, essential, high-quality tech.
I Review Routers for a Living. Don't Buy a Router Right Now - The Federal Communications Commission bans the sale of new foreign-made routers in the US to protect national security. The ironic side effect: It could stop your current router from receiving vital security updates.
https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/i-review-routers-for-a-living-dont-buy-a-router-right-now/
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How to use Gemini Nano Banana 2 to create high-quality headshots for work - in minutes
I used Gemini Nano Banana 2 to turn casual selfies into realistic, professional headshots for LinkedIn. Here's my advice.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-get-free-ai-headshots-with-gemini-nano-banana-2/
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Did AI Write That? 7 Signs You're Reading Content From a Bot - AI writing is good, but it's not perfect. Watch out for these obvious tells.
https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/did-ai-write-that-7-signs-youre-reading-content-from-a-bot
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The Ultimate Guide to Decluttering Your Email Without Deleting Everything
It's time to purge all those unnecessary subscriptions.
https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/gmail-manage-subscriptions-unsubcribe-newsletters/
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To Find Images in Apple Photos, Forget Siri and Do It This Way Instead
It sounds convenient to ask Siri to show the photos you want, but there are better strategies (that actually work).
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Find out what your cat is saying
With the free MeowTalk Cat Translator app. Launched in 2020 and down-loaded more than 20 million times, the app records a cat's sounds and translates them into a small range of phrases, such as "Feed me" and "I'm annoyed." Users can rate the accuracy of Meow Talk to help refine the underlying computer model. Experts are not convinced that Meow Talk is accurate but say it may not matter if the app encourages additional interaction between humans and cats, then it can be beneficial to people and felines alike. Available for Android and Apple.
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Links - News, Tips, & Downloads
I cracked open cheap charging gadgets from Temu - and it was worse than I expected -
Loose wires, sketchy lumps of steel, and other suspicious findings have me seriously concerned.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/temu-charging-gadgets-teardown-safety-concerns/
5 ways to use AI when your budget is tight - Yes, you can use AI cost-effectively. Here's how professionals are doing it.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-use-ai-on-a-budget-professonals/
My 5-step security checklist for every new Windows PC - I always want to make sure my new Windows PC is protected against security threats. Here are five things I do with that goal in mind.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-11-security/
A Free One-Click Fix for Slow Computers? I Put Microsoft's PC Manager App to the Test - Microsoft's PC Manager promises to optimize your machine's performance at no cost. I tried it out to see if it's good enough to replace third-party tools.
Is Your PC Running Slow? 14 Quick Fixes to Instantly Speed Up Windows 11 - Follow my expert advice to make your Windows 11 PC faster, regardless of its age or specs, without compromising the appearance and functionality of the OS.
https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/11-proven-fixes-to-make-windows-11-lightning-fast
This Windows 11 Feature Can Fill Your OneDrive Storage Without You Realizing - From surprise folder syncing to constant storage warnings, Windows 11's OneDrive integration can feel more aggressive than helpful.
Most Kids Don't Learn Cybersecurity in School. Here Are 5 Ways You Can Teach It - Kids may be digital natives, but that doesn't mean they understand online risks. Here are five practical tips to start building cybersecurity skills at home.
Need A Low-Priced Laptop? March's Chromebook Deals Have You Covered - If you haven't used a Chromebook in a while, prepare to be surprised. You can get a portable PC at under a few hundred bucks that gets the job done thanks to these deep discounts.
https://www.pcmag.com/deals/chromebook-deals-03-20-2026
Stop Paying for Tax Software Surprises: Know When to Use Paid or Free Versions - Many DIY tax software programs offer free tax filing for basic tax situations. But if your income is complex, most will prompt you to upgrade to a paid version.
https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/free-tax-software-cost-upgrades/
Major Data Brokers Tried to Hide Their Opt-Out Pages From Search Engines - Four data brokers make their opt-out pages more accessible after a US senator calls them out for indexing tricks that prevented people from asking to have their data deleted.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/major-data-brokers-tried-to-hide-their-opt-out-pages-from-search-engines
Why scammers say nothing when they call - and how to respond safely - There's a reason scammers don't say anything when they call you, at least not right away. Here's how to deal with these sneaky calls.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/why-scammers-call-you-say-nothing-how-to-respond-safely/
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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 NextDoor Member - Anyone have a slide projector we could borrow? We have about 700 slides to show my aged mother-in-law, in part to determine if we should digitize some of them. Thanks!
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. I would suggest you buy a "Digital Side Scanner" from Amazon or eBay. Prices range from as low as $10 for a simple unit that uses a smartphone to $100 to $200 that have a screen, camera, and light that do almost as good a job as a professional scanner. The units work for slides and negatives. I bought my unit for $75 about 5 years ago. It has an LCD screen to view the slide, a camera, and an SD memory slot to store the digital images and use it to transfer to a computer or other device. Over the years I have converted 1000s of images with great results.
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Q. From a PCC Member - I have been thinking of a new computer. I have a Mini which I can take back and forth on the airplane to AZ. I hope to spend less than $400.
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. Sorry you missed the presentations, they are all out on the web site like Jan 2025 and Nov 2025. You should not be using a PC running Win 10 unless you have contracted with Microsoft to get updates that stopped Oct 10, 2025. That is why for the last two years I kept saying upgrade ASAP. Win 11 has been out for five years now.
Now is the worst time to buy with the PC memory shortage and tariffs almost doubling costs in the last 6 months. For most basic users I still recommend a reconditioned laptop from Target or Walmart with 16-32 GB Ram, i5-i7 CPU, and at least 512 GB SSD. I bought this laptop from Target for $359 in July 2025 - HP Zbook Studio G5, 15.6" Laptop, Intel i7 2.6GHz (6 core), 32GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 11 Pro, Manufacturer Refurbished. Prices are now up with memory short.
You may/should upgrade your monitor to support higher resolutions along with a new web cam and new printer. Not sure if you have old VGA monitor and not certain your web cam supports 1K or Hello Windows. A laptop has updated hardware so it can be cheaper than buying all new with a desktop and new devices. Do not buy a low/cheap PC since you should plan to use it for the next five years. Some of the cheap minis from GMKtec you listed do not come with any RAM, SSD, or OS, so know what it is you are buying. PC Mag suggestions for mini PCs: https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-windows-mini-pcs
PCC Member Responds - I can either buy a desktop or laptop and plug in my 24" ASUS monitor and Logi mouse and keyboard. I just need to take one item on the airplane to plug in the same equipment we have back in MN. No games will be played on it. Just emails, your presentations plus financial documents(Quicken and Fidelity Active Trader Pro) are my goal here. I did not see anything on the Target or Walmart site.
Tom Kreuzer Responds - Your Monitor model supports a VGA, HDMI, or Display Port connection with the right cable and max resolution of 1080. If you buy a new PC that supports a higher resolution, you would want a new monitor. Your keyboard, mouse, and video camera connect with older USB A ports. Most new PCs use the newer/faster USB C ports. They may or may not have any old USB A ports or enough for you to plug in. You can buy converter cables and plugs to convert, but understand when you buy what you need and should you buy all new. Your video camera might work on a new PC, but might not support using it to login to windows using your face. A new camera that supports that can cost $40 to $100.
Not sure what you looked at Target or Walmart, but there are 984 different configurations on Target for laptops ranging from $199 to $8,000 with 16+ GB with Windows 11. I usually recommend refurbished because you can save over $1000. Like buying a used car compared to a new car. You do not want it too old and you want it to have the features you want/need. When you search for these models you need to decide to buy right away, because there are limited quantities and they go very fast. The examples I list below may be gone in an hour or day.
Example of an OK, low end, refurbished HP laptop for $369 with only 2 old USB A ports and some lower/older specs.
Example of a cheap mini on Target, but I would not recommend it since it has limited ports, slow CPU, limited ports, old WiFi, and lots more issues.
PCC Member Responds - On the WalMart website I see an HP EliteDesk 800-G5 Mini PC with an Intel Core i5-9500T. It has 16 GB RAM with 512GB NVME(?), WINDOWS 11 Pro, Built in AX210WI-FI 6E BT53 Refurbished. I do not know what Built in AZ210 means nor NVME?
I'd appreciate your thoughts as it is the same model on the outside as my current HP Mini. It is a great size to take on the airplane. If you see another Mini that would be more appropriate, please let me know.
Tom Kreuzer Responds - The 512GB NVMe is the Solid State Drive which is fine. The AX210 WiFi 6 is the chip for WiFi which when paired with a new WiFi 6 router can provide the latest and fastest WiFi connection. It also works with all older slower WiFi. Looks like this basic i5 CPU model sells for $332.13. I would upgrade to get the 32GB Ram and 1 TB Solid State Drive for $424.85 to get more speed and life out of it. Your old monitor would work at 1K resolution, but that mini supports up to 4K resolution and other things I have talked about.
PCC Member Responds - Ordered the HP with the upgrades you recommended. Thanks very much for your kind help. Due to arrive on the 13 of March. Anxious to get going with it. Not sure how to transfer my existing computer to the new computer. Same ports on both computers. I use a flash drive for Quicken so that program is easy. It's all of the emails and rest of the programs that I am concerned about. Seems like I had no issues moving all to the computer I have from the laptop but I am not that computer savvy.
Tom Kreuzer Responds - Check out the May 2023 PCC meeting "Setting Up A New PC" on things to do. https://sites.google.com/site/theminingpcc/future-meetings/past-meeting-files
I helped the member do the install and everything was working fine.
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