January Meetings 2023
Jan 5, 2023 - How to Create Windows Shortcuts, FaceTime Calls, Apple Watch Basics,
"Getting out of bed in the morning is an act of false confidence,
clicking on an unknown link is just stupidity."
- Jules Feiffer
Club Questions
"Getting out of bed in the morning is an act of false confidence,
clicking on an unknown link is just stupidity."
- Jules Feiffer
Club Questions
How to Create a Windows Shortcut
Windows allows you to create shortcuts to files, folders and websites so that you can access them with one click. The technique you use to create the shortcut will vary depending on what you're creating a shortcut for. Ultimately you will end up with an icon on your desktop that with one click will open a file, a folder or a website. To learn more about how to create Windows Shortcuts, take a look at this article.
Facetime Calls
Apple ships all of its devices with a FaceTime app built in. This app allows the user to make video calls over wi-fi or over cellular on supported devices. There are a variety of features in the FaceTime app, including; initiating a FaceTime call, call waiting during a FaceTime call, the ability to send a FaceTime call link to someone, handoff your call to another device on the fly and much more. To learn more about how to use FaceTime on Apple, take a look at this article.
Altho FaceTime is an Apple feature, it is now possible to FaceTime your friends on Android devices. Initiating a FaceTime call with an Android device is as simple as sending them a link. To learn more about how to share FaceTime calls with Android users, take a look at this article.
Apple ships all of its devices with a FaceTime app built in. This app allows the user to make video calls over wi-fi or over cellular on supported devices. There are a variety of features in the FaceTime app, including; initiating a FaceTime call, call waiting during a FaceTime call, the ability to send a FaceTime call link to someone, handoff your call to another device on the fly and much more. To learn more about how to use FaceTime on Apple, take a look at this article.
Altho FaceTime is an Apple feature, it is now possible to FaceTime your friends on Android devices. Initiating a FaceTime call with an Android device is as simple as sending them a link. To learn more about how to share FaceTime calls with Android users, take a look at this article.
Apple Watch Basics
The Apple Watch has been out for several years now, and gets better at what it does every year. There are a variety of smart watches available now, Apple Watch still leads the pack in terms of functionality and quality. Apple Watches can track your daily activity, your nightly sleep and much more. To learn more about the basics of Apple Watch, take a look at this article from Apple and click on the "table of contents" link near the top of the page to explore all the features. Or for a quick rundown on the Watch basics, take a look at the video below.
The Apple Watch has been out for several years now, and gets better at what it does every year. There are a variety of smart watches available now, Apple Watch still leads the pack in terms of functionality and quality. Apple Watches can track your daily activity, your nightly sleep and much more. To learn more about the basics of Apple Watch, take a look at this article from Apple and click on the "table of contents" link near the top of the page to explore all the features. Or for a quick rundown on the Watch basics, take a look at the video below.
Jan 12, 2023 - Email Basics Reviewed, What is a Computer Clipboard? Android 13,
"If the Force is with you, you won't even think
about clicking on any Unknown Links."
- Luke Skywalker
Club Questions
"If the Force is with you, you won't even think
about clicking on any Unknown Links."
- Luke Skywalker
Club Questions
Email Basics Reviewed
Email is one of the most common ways we currently stay in touch with friends and family, do business or connect with various groups. Most email services are provided "free" to their users. Two of the most common email services are either thru your ISP (Internet Service Provider) like Comcast or Century Link, or else you might be using an Internet based email service like Gmail or Yahoo Mail. All of these services work in a similar way, often with only minor differences in the user interface. To go over some email basics, like how to write an email and send it, take a look at this article. Or if you use one of the more popular email services, like Gmail or Yahoo Mail, take a look at the videos below.
Email is one of the most common ways we currently stay in touch with friends and family, do business or connect with various groups. Most email services are provided "free" to their users. Two of the most common email services are either thru your ISP (Internet Service Provider) like Comcast or Century Link, or else you might be using an Internet based email service like Gmail or Yahoo Mail. All of these services work in a similar way, often with only minor differences in the user interface. To go over some email basics, like how to write an email and send it, take a look at this article. Or if you use one of the more popular email services, like Gmail or Yahoo Mail, take a look at the videos below.
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What is a Computer Clipboard?
A computer clipboard, found on all computers, phones and tablets, is a location on your device that allows you to temporarily store files or other data. Once something is stored in the clipboard, it can be pasted into a new location. The item stored on a clipboard will stay there until something new is stored in the clipboard (thus replacing the old item) or when the device is turned off. The standard clipboard only stores one item at a time, but the size of that item is virtually unlimited. To learn more about how your device clipboard works, take a look at this article.
Android 13
Google first released Android 13 in August 2022, but as usual with Android operating system updates, not all devices were eligible for the update when it first came out. If you want to find out if your device supports Android 13 and how to install it, take a look at this article from CNET. Android 13 was not as big an update as Android 12, but more of a refining update, fixing many of the bugs from Android 12. To learn more about all the new features in Android 13, take a look at this article. Or go to the Video page on this site and check out the new Android 13 video.
Google first released Android 13 in August 2022, but as usual with Android operating system updates, not all devices were eligible for the update when it first came out. If you want to find out if your device supports Android 13 and how to install it, take a look at this article from CNET. Android 13 was not as big an update as Android 12, but more of a refining update, fixing many of the bugs from Android 12. To learn more about all the new features in Android 13, take a look at this article. Or go to the Video page on this site and check out the new Android 13 video.
Jan 19, 2023 - How to Clean Your Device Screens Properly, Adobe Acrobat, What is ChatGPT?
"Never worry about bad press, all that matters is that
you don't click on any Unknown Links."
- Rock Hudson
Club Questions
"Never worry about bad press, all that matters is that
you don't click on any Unknown Links."
- Rock Hudson
Club Questions
How to Clean Your Screens
With all the touching we do on our device screens, especially phones and tablets, they can end up being dirtier than your toilet. Even our computer screens can get gunky after a while, and keeping these screens clean makes using our devices much easier and more enjoyable. Cleaning your screens isn't rocket science either, there are a few basic tips to adhere to so as not to damage your screens, but keeping them clean is relatively easy and can be achieved with a minimum investment. To read more about how to clean your device screens, take a look at what CNET recommends. Or here are the cleaning tips from LifeWire.
Or take a look at the video below for computer screen cleaning tips.
Adobe Acrobat
If you've ever used a PDF file, you have probably heard of Adobe Acrobat, it's arguably the most used application for handling PDF files, and for good reason. It's been around for a long time and currently has several different versions, from a simple read-only version for free, up to a full featured version for businesses than can cost a few dollars a month. PDF files are the most common file sent thru the internet because it is the most easily read file by a variety of devices and operating systems. To learn more about all the different versions of Adobe Acrobat (including links to the free and paid versions), take a look at this article.
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is a sophisticated chatbot created by OpenAI and launched in November 2022. While the core function of a chatbot is to mimic a human conversationalist, journalists have also noted ChatGPT's versatility and improvisation skills, including its ability to write and debug computer programs; to compose music, teleplays, fairy tales, and student essays; to answer test questions (sometimes, depending on the test, at a level above the average human test-taker); to write poetry and song lyrics; and much, much more. It is possible that ChatGPT could replace search engines like Google with its ability to answer questions, rather than just recommend links to other information. To learn a bit more about how ChatGPT works, and may work for you in the future, take a look at the video below.
ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is a sophisticated chatbot created by OpenAI and launched in November 2022. While the core function of a chatbot is to mimic a human conversationalist, journalists have also noted ChatGPT's versatility and improvisation skills, including its ability to write and debug computer programs; to compose music, teleplays, fairy tales, and student essays; to answer test questions (sometimes, depending on the test, at a level above the average human test-taker); to write poetry and song lyrics; and much, much more. It is possible that ChatGPT could replace search engines like Google with its ability to answer questions, rather than just recommend links to other information. To learn a bit more about how ChatGPT works, and may work for you in the future, take a look at the video below.
Jan 26, 2023 - Best Smartphones for 2023, Best Cell Phone Plans for 2023,
Who's Cell Phone Towers am I Using?
"There’s daggers in men’s smiles, and horrors in Unknown Links."
- William Shakespeare
Club Questions
Who's Cell Phone Towers am I Using?
"There’s daggers in men’s smiles, and horrors in Unknown Links."
- William Shakespeare
Club Questions
Best Smartphones for 2023
Finding the best smartphone is always work, you need to check lots of sources, read reviews and compare prices until you find the perfect phone for you. A perfect phone for one person might not be perfect for someone else. It's important to determine what you need from your new phone; a good camera, lots of storage, a fast processor, a low price. Whatever you're looking for in a phone, there is probably the perfect device for you out there, you just have to find it. Below are some links to trusted sources and their opinions as to which are the best phones for 2023.
CNET's Best Phones for 2023
PC Magazine's Best Phones for 2023
ZD Net's Top 6 Phones for 2023
Tom's Guide Best Cheap Phones for 2023
TechRadar's Best Cheap Phones for 2023
Tech Advisor's Best Cheap Phones for 2023
Finding the best smartphone is always work, you need to check lots of sources, read reviews and compare prices until you find the perfect phone for you. A perfect phone for one person might not be perfect for someone else. It's important to determine what you need from your new phone; a good camera, lots of storage, a fast processor, a low price. Whatever you're looking for in a phone, there is probably the perfect device for you out there, you just have to find it. Below are some links to trusted sources and their opinions as to which are the best phones for 2023.
CNET's Best Phones for 2023
PC Magazine's Best Phones for 2023
ZD Net's Top 6 Phones for 2023
Tom's Guide Best Cheap Phones for 2023
TechRadar's Best Cheap Phones for 2023
Tech Advisor's Best Cheap Phones for 2023
Best Phone Plans for 2023
Once you buy your new smartphone, you'll need to get a service provider to use it. Cell phone plans have as much variety as cell phones themselves, so it's best to figure out what you need from your phone each m0nth. Most of the plan variables center around the amount of data you get each month. Even the cheapest phone plans usually provide you with free nationwide long distance calling and texting. It's also important to know that the big three; T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T are the companies with the cell towers, most all the other, smaller cell providers rent time from these big three. As always, it's best to shop around and see what all the various providers have to offer in order to make your best deal. Below are some of the top picks from trusted sources.
Tom's Guide Best Cell Phone Providers for 2023
TechRadar's Best Cell Phone Plans for 2023
The Senior List Best Cell Phone Plans for 2023
CNET's Best Unlimited Cell Phone Plans for 2023
Tom's Guide Best Cheap Cell Phone Plans for 2023
CNET's Best Cheap Unlimited Cell Phone Plans for 2023
Once you buy your new smartphone, you'll need to get a service provider to use it. Cell phone plans have as much variety as cell phones themselves, so it's best to figure out what you need from your phone each m0nth. Most of the plan variables center around the amount of data you get each month. Even the cheapest phone plans usually provide you with free nationwide long distance calling and texting. It's also important to know that the big three; T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T are the companies with the cell towers, most all the other, smaller cell providers rent time from these big three. As always, it's best to shop around and see what all the various providers have to offer in order to make your best deal. Below are some of the top picks from trusted sources.
Tom's Guide Best Cell Phone Providers for 2023
TechRadar's Best Cell Phone Plans for 2023
The Senior List Best Cell Phone Plans for 2023
CNET's Best Unlimited Cell Phone Plans for 2023
Tom's Guide Best Cheap Cell Phone Plans for 2023
CNET's Best Cheap Unlimited Cell Phone Plans for 2023
Who's Cell Phone Towers am I Using?
When you make a cell phone call on either T-Mobile, AT&T or Verizon, you're using their cell phone towers, but what about the other cell phone providers? Basically, all the other cell companies rent cell phone tower time from the big three, for example, if you use Mint Mobile, you're actually using the T-Mobile network because Mint Mobile rents time on the T-Mobile cell phone network. This can mean that at peak times, T-Mobile customers will get preference over Mint Mobile customers. Boost Mobile, another independant cell provider, rents time from both T-Mobile and AT&T's networks. To learn more about how much of the county the big three provider's cell towers cover, take a look at this article.
