2026 October eBytes
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Stop Resizing Windows! This Built-In Windows 11 Trick Will Double Your Productivity
iOS 27 is finally here, with the new Siri AI beta - and 120 security patches
Don't Bother With the Microsoft Store. This Free Alternative Is Way Better
How Exposed Is Your Data, Really? A Practical Guide to Finding Out (And Fixing It)
Best Chromebook Deals Let You Snag A Portable PC For Pennies
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Stop Resizing Windows! This Built-In Windows 11 Trick Will Double Your Productivity
Hovering over the maximize button unlocks Microsoft's best-kept multitasking secret. Here's how to use it—and the hidden shortcuts that make it even faster.
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iOS 27 is finally here, with the new Siri AI beta - and 120 security patches
Even if you're not ready for iOS 27, there's an important new update for you too. Here's what's new.
https://www.zdnet.com/business/ios-27-siri-ai-beta-how-to-try/
10 New iOS 27 Features You Should Try Right Now - From autonomous agentic Siri workflows to generative AI photo reframing, these new features will have you running to grab the free upgrade.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/10-new-ios-27-features-you-should-try-right-now
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Don't Bother With the Microsoft Store. This Free Alternative Is Way Better
UniGetUI gives Windows 11 a powerful, centralized hub to discover, install, and update every app on your PC in a single click.
My favorite Windows app makes moving to a new PC so easy – and it’s free - If you're dreading the thought of downloading and installing dozens of apps on your new PC, I have some good news.
https://www.zdnet.com/tech/transfer-windows-apps-data-to-new-pc-unigetui/
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How Exposed Is Your Data, Really? A Practical Guide to Finding Out (And Fixing It)
Plugging your name into a search engine is just the start. Learn where your sensitive info is hiding online—and the simple tools to scrub it clean.
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Best Chromebook Deals Let You Snag A Portable PC For Pennies
Sick and tired of sky-high prices on Windows laptops? Google's ChromeOS is here to save the day with super-affordable Chromebooks.
https://www.pcmag.com/deals/chromebook-deals-09-24-2026
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Links - News, Tips, & Downloads
Google Wallet got a lot of new tricks in 2026 – these 5 are my favorites - You can do a whole lot more than tap to pay with Google's Wallet app.
https://www.zdnet.com/tech/new-google-wallet-features-2026/
How to Use Google Flights to Find Cheap Airfares in Under 2 Minutes - A few minutes on Google Flights can shave serious cash off your next plane ticket.
The Best Budgeting Apps of 2026: Our Top Picks for Debt Payoff, Cash Flow and Zero-Based Budgeting - I spent months testing 17 budgeting apps to see which are best at tracking your spending, boosting your savings, canceling your subscriptions and managing your personal finances.
https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/best-budgeting-apps/
The Complete List of the Best Google Voice Commands for Your Home - These are the voice assistant commands everyone should know for their Google Home and Nest speakers.
How I forced Google Search to give me the results I want and can trust again - it's easy - When looking for answers, the last thing you need is low-quality garbage in your search results.
https://www.zdnet.com/business/google-custom-shortcuts-search-easy-fix/
This Free Tool Unlocks 500+ Hidden Windows 11 Features, and Even Microsoft Execs Are Fans - From custom taskbars to secret productivity tweaks, Windhawk gives you complete control over your PC, no registry hacks required.
You’re using AirTags and other Bluetooth trackers all wrong (and it could cost you) - Simply hanging an AirTag off something does not reduce the chances of it being lost or stolen. In fact, it makes things easy for thieves. See my 9 helpful tips.
https://www.zdnet.com/tech/using-airtags-finder-tags-wrong-tips/
Microsoft Finally Lets You Dismiss the OneDrive Prompts for Good - Windows 11 25H2 adds an 'Opt out of backup' selection to dump those annoying pop-ups.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-finally-lets-you-dismiss-the-onedrive-prompts-for-good
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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 - I got a message when I started my HP laptop from SureStart. What is it?
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. The HP SureStart BIOS security warning encountered was likely due to an expired certificate for secure boot functionality, which became necessary to update after June. Tom clarified that while the expired certificate might prevent BIOS updates, it doesn't affect regular machine operation, and his friend's BIOS update resolved the issue. Tom noted that while some articles have created unnecessary concern about this issue, the problem primarily affects BIOS update capabilities rather than overall system functionality.
Tom explained the risks of BIOS updates, noting that if a machine is turned off during an update, it becomes unusable and requires technical expertise to recover. He clarified that Jerry's issue was likely due to an old certificate in the BIOS rather than an attack, and explained that secure boot functionality can be disabled in the BIOS settings if needed. Tom also mentioned that while secure boot is beneficial for government or high-security work, it's less critical for average users.
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Q. From a PCC Member - After a recent Chrome Browser update the open tabs moved from the top to the left on the window. How can it get it back?
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. To restore horizontal tabs in Chrome by right-clicking on the tab bar and selecting the “Show tabs horizontal” option. He also discussed Chrome's browser updates, explaining that they occur frequently due to critical security patches, including recent AI-powered vulnerability scanning that led to an increased number of updates from major software companies.
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Q. From a PCC Member - I am trying to load all my passwords into bitwarden and have an account set up. There are several names in it from when I tried to use Bitwarden. For the last several weeks, LastPass has been trying to keep track of my passwords although I have not really used it. Can I transfer LastPass info to Bitwarden? Also, I am unsure how to add passwords into Bitwarden when in my account. Can you advise?
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. On your Windows laptop, Export your passwords to a file in LastPass and import the file in Bitwarden. You will then have everything you set up in LastPass ready to use on any device you install Bitwarden on. Below is a YouTube video about it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5M0GZ72E1U
Check your Bitwarden entries to see if everything is there. Go into Windows "Settings\Apps\Installed Apps" and select LastPass and uninstall it from your Windows computer. This does not delete your LastPass account, but deletes it from Windows, so LastPass does not get in the way.
Install the Bitwarden Browser extension in Chrome and/or Edge, whatever you use. You can also install the Bitwarden app in Windows, but you really do not need it if you do most of your work in Chrome or Edge.
https://bitwarden.com/download/
To use Bitwarden you need to log in and should make the changes I have listed in the March 2026 past PCC presentation. Watch the demo I did or search YouTube to see how to use it.
If you log into a site you have not saved, BitWarden should ask to save the info. If it does not ask, you can manually create a new login.
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Q. From a PCC Member - I love playing YouTube videos In Duck Player without ads!
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. Usually it is a "whack a mole" with Browsers and ad blockers finding a solution and then YouTube making changes that block the feature. Sometimes it is a week, sometimes it can be months. I hope it lasts.
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Q. From a PCC Member - Check out BluHub: 9-in-1 Blu-ray Hub for Memories, Ports & Storage by BluHub on @kickstarter.com [Bluesky main server bsky.social] BluHub: 9-in-1 Blu-ray Hub for Memories, Ports & Storage: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/11185373/bluhub-9-in-1-blu-ray-hub-for-memories-ports-and-storage?ref=project_bsky
I’m thinking about supporting this project. What do you think?
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. I can not recommend it. There are hundreds of hubs available today. This one's special feature is the Blu-Ray, but most people have no need for it. If a person has old Blu-Ray movie discs, move on to better media, stream, or use a player connected to a TV. As far as the writable Blue Ray, again we have better options today. Looks cheap and not well designed to last.
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Q. From a PCC Member - People might want to know how their desire to reach sites anonymously is being attacked by governments. 'Using VPNs is not criminal:' digital rights advocates return for a second Defend VPNs Day of Action
Found the article on TechRadar’s RSS feed.
I like following a site’s RSS feed rather than obtaining the same content by surrendering my email address to subscribe to their newsletter and having my inbox deluged with emails, so to feel besieged by them. (Except finding a site’s RSS feed, often unadvertised, may require a little extra effort.) I use the NetNewsWire RSS reader app on my iPhone.
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. Using a VPN can be legal, but many people use it for illegal purposes. I wish we could remove the bad and keep the good
Legal uses:
Privacy protection (hiding your IP, encrypting your traffic)
Public Wi‑Fi safety (preventing snooping)
Remote work / accessing company networks (Like 3M)
A VPN becomes illegal only when used to hide or commit crimes:
Downloading/streaming copyrighted material (black boxes/descramblers like sold at MN State Fair)
Hacking, fraud, identity theft
Buying or selling illegal goods and services (dark‑web markets)
Evading court orders or stalking/harassment
Bypass age verification
A. From Michael Griffin, a PCC Board member. Good input. It is unfortunate and true that some will amplify one bad possibility for a technology and swing the pendulum wide to say that any use of the technology is bad. It is very common coming from those with no understanding of how it truly functions.
Another recent example is the push to have a moratorium on new data centers. 3M has three on the Maplewood campus. Every Fortune 500 company has data centers. Such a moratorium could also impact non-hyperscalar data centers used for research or general corporate processing as an unintended consequence of technical ignorance.
It is certainly better to discuss such issues than to merely react to one piece of the issue.
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