October Meetings 2019
October 3, 2019 - Smartphone Hand Gestures, Has Your Smartphone Been Hacked?, Moving Smartphone Apps
Did you hear what happened to the guy who clicked on an Unknown Link? I think he's in jail now. - random guy talking in Fred Meyer
CLUB QUESTIONS
Did you hear what happened to the guy who clicked on an Unknown Link? I think he's in jail now. - random guy talking in Fred Meyer
CLUB QUESTIONS
Hand Gestures on Smartphones
Just like a secret entrance will allow you access to a hidden room, hand gestures can open otherwise hidden menus and functions on your smartphones. Each operating system (iOS and Android) have similar gestures available on their respective devices, take a look at the videos below that cover some basics for the more recent smartphones from each manufacturer.
Just like a secret entrance will allow you access to a hidden room, hand gestures can open otherwise hidden menus and functions on your smartphones. Each operating system (iOS and Android) have similar gestures available on their respective devices, take a look at the videos below that cover some basics for the more recent smartphones from each manufacturer.
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How to Tell if Your Smartphone has been Hacked
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With more and more of us relying on our smartphones, keeping your device hack-free is a modern necessity. This video goes over all the possible signs of your smartphone having been hacked. Good basic security advice for both Android and iPhone users.
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Moving Apps, Making Folders
Studies show that the average smartphone owner has about 80 apps on their device, with all those apps you need to know how to move them around and organize them to make best use of them. The two videos below go over how to do all that and more for both Android and iPhone.
Studies show that the average smartphone owner has about 80 apps on their device, with all those apps you need to know how to move them around and organize them to make best use of them. The two videos below go over how to do all that and more for both Android and iPhone.
Android iPhone
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October 10, 2019 - Skin Vision App, Clipboard History, Windows 10 Privacy Settings & Security Updates
There is Absolutely NOTHING wrong with Unknown Links! - The Spam Master
CLUB QUESTIONS
There is Absolutely NOTHING wrong with Unknown Links! - The Spam Master
CLUB QUESTIONS
Skin Vision
SkinVision is an iOS and Android app that lets users assess and track skin spots for changes over time. It works by asking users to snap a photo of concerning spots on their skin using their smartphone camera. Within 30 seconds of submitting this photo for review, an artificial intelligence algorithm then delivers a risk assessment: Either low, low with symptoms, or high. It does this by looking for telltale signs of skin cancer in spots, such as irregular patterns, multiple colors, asymmetry, size, and uneven borders. In the event that the app raises concerns, users can then visit a medical professional to get advice on what to do next. For more on Skin Vision, take a look at the videos below.
SkinVision is an iOS and Android app that lets users assess and track skin spots for changes over time. It works by asking users to snap a photo of concerning spots on their skin using their smartphone camera. Within 30 seconds of submitting this photo for review, an artificial intelligence algorithm then delivers a risk assessment: Either low, low with symptoms, or high. It does this by looking for telltale signs of skin cancer in spots, such as irregular patterns, multiple colors, asymmetry, size, and uneven borders. In the event that the app raises concerns, users can then visit a medical professional to get advice on what to do next. For more on Skin Vision, take a look at the videos below.
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Clipboard History on your Computer
We all know that The Clipboard is that virtual place we can temporarily store a file, folder, photo or just about anything from your computer. And then re-copy it to somewhere else on your computer. But did you know that you can look at the history of your clipboard? It's not necessarily a one trick pony after all. Take a look at this article for the How To of Clipboard history. And mind the ads in between the article as you scroll down the page.
We all know that The Clipboard is that virtual place we can temporarily store a file, folder, photo or just about anything from your computer. And then re-copy it to somewhere else on your computer. But did you know that you can look at the history of your clipboard? It's not necessarily a one trick pony after all. Take a look at this article for the How To of Clipboard history. And mind the ads in between the article as you scroll down the page.
Windows 10 Privacy Settings
There's a lot you can do to improve the security and privacy of your computer. Here's an article that goes over the settings you might want to look at now. These are the important privacy settings on Windows 10 according to Wired Magazine.
There's a lot you can do to improve the security and privacy of your computer. Here's an article that goes over the settings you might want to look at now. These are the important privacy settings on Windows 10 according to Wired Magazine.
Windows 10 Security Update
This is the one we talked in the Club today, it's Windows update for its servicing stack. What's a "servicing stack" you ask? Servicing stack updates provide fixes to the servicing stack, the component that installs Windows updates. If your servicing stack isn't working properly, you won't get your updates, and as we all know, updates are important.
You can take a look at this article which talks you thru which update to install first (Obviously knowing what the servicing stack does now, it's easy to see why they'd want you to install it first). Or if you've been having any error problems at all with your Windows computer, take a look at the video below (he also goes over servicing stack updates).
You can take a look at this article which talks you thru which update to install first (Obviously knowing what the servicing stack does now, it's easy to see why they'd want you to install it first). Or if you've been having any error problems at all with your Windows computer, take a look at the video below (he also goes over servicing stack updates).
October 17, 2019 - Smartphone Basics for Seniors, Smartphone Printing, Smart TVs and Your Privacy
An Unknown Link is like getting the "Zonk" prize on my show.
- Bob Barker
CLUB QUESTIONS
An Unknown Link is like getting the "Zonk" prize on my show.
- Bob Barker
CLUB QUESTIONS
Smartphone Basics for Seniors
Smartphones may be like carrying a super computer in your pocket, but they aren't always the easiest devices to use on a practical level. But there are ways to improve your smartphone experience built in to both Android and iPhone devices. Popular Science has a thorough article covering how to improve appearance and usability on both smartphone styles.
Smartphones may be like carrying a super computer in your pocket, but they aren't always the easiest devices to use on a practical level. But there are ways to improve your smartphone experience built in to both Android and iPhone devices. Popular Science has a thorough article covering how to improve appearance and usability on both smartphone styles.
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How to Print from Your Smartphone
There are as many ways to print from a smartphone as there are smartphones, many. Some methods require a cable connection of some sort, others are done wirelessly and most of them require you using some kind of third party service/app. The video shown here shows very specifically how to connect most Android phones to most HP printers via a cable. For more printing from your smartphone videos click here. And for setting up Apple devices (iPhone, etc), take a look at these videos (scroll to the bottom of the list). |
Privacy and Your Smart TV
This all started with a question about Smart TV cameras and what to do about them, but a Smart TV is just as smart as a Smartphone and just as likely to steal your data, if you let it. Here's a good article from Consumer's Reports that goes into all the ways you can regain your privacy from different Smart TVs. As for those Smart TV cameras, here's an article that goes even deeper into the privacy issues that these devices bring up. My solution, stick a post-it note on the camera.
This all started with a question about Smart TV cameras and what to do about them, but a Smart TV is just as smart as a Smartphone and just as likely to steal your data, if you let it. Here's a good article from Consumer's Reports that goes into all the ways you can regain your privacy from different Smart TVs. As for those Smart TV cameras, here's an article that goes even deeper into the privacy issues that these devices bring up. My solution, stick a post-it note on the camera.
October 24, 2019 - SoundHound and Shazam, Translate with your Phone, Nomorobo
Q: What happens if the Missing Link clicks on an unknown link?
A: __________.
CLUB QUESTIONS
Q: What happens if the Missing Link clicks on an unknown link?
A: __________.
CLUB QUESTIONS
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Shazam vs SoundHound
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What's the Name of that Song?
It's happened to all of us, we're listening to a song on the radio and we can't remember the name of the artist. That's where SoundHound and Shazam apps come in, they both allow you to ID a song with the touch of a button (and data connection). Both these apps can listen to a live song and give you all the details and both are available for Android and iPhones for free. |
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Using Your Phone to Translate
They've been around for many years now, but have more recently become very useful for travelers not versed in the local dialect. The number one translator, arguably, is Google Translate, available online as well as a stand alone app for both Android and iPhone. This video will show how to use it for real-time conversations. But there are other options as well, check out this article that goes over several other translation apps. |
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Nomorobo vs Robocalls
We've talked many times now about robocalls and the various ways to slow them down (sorry, there's no real way to stop them). Nomorobo is an online service and stand-alone app that won the FTC challenge to stop robocalls. Their technology is good, as is explained in the below video, but some of the companies business practices are up for discussion. For more on the dark side of Nomorobo, take a look at this forum of Verizon users, or take a look at these TrustPilot reviews, or this detailed article going over the Nomorobo service as well as some robocall basics. And finally, here's a great article from CNET with a laundry list of things you can do right now to help stop robocalls.
We've talked many times now about robocalls and the various ways to slow them down (sorry, there's no real way to stop them). Nomorobo is an online service and stand-alone app that won the FTC challenge to stop robocalls. Their technology is good, as is explained in the below video, but some of the companies business practices are up for discussion. For more on the dark side of Nomorobo, take a look at this forum of Verizon users, or take a look at these TrustPilot reviews, or this detailed article going over the Nomorobo service as well as some robocall basics. And finally, here's a great article from CNET with a laundry list of things you can do right now to help stop robocalls.
October 31, 2019 - Selling Your Smartphone, Manage Google Activity, How to Sign in with Apple
Q: What happens if I click on an Unknown Link?
A: No Candy For You!
CLUB QUESTIONS
Q: What happens if I click on an Unknown Link?
A: No Candy For You!
CLUB QUESTIONS
Selling Your Smartphone (or giving it away)
With all the information that your smartphone knows about you, it's important how you handle that info when you're ready for a new phone. Whether you use an Android device or an iPhone, the process is about the same. First you will want to backup all the info on your device, or at the very least, transfer all the data/files/pics/etc you want to keep, onto your computer or some other device, at least temporarily. You want to save all the important data from your phone because the next step is to 'wipe' your phone of data so that it will look like it did when you took it out of the box for the first time. Below are a couple of videos that go over some basics for Android and iPhone owners. Because of the wide variety of Android devices, you might need to search YouTube for a video related to your specific make/model of Android phone.
With all the information that your smartphone knows about you, it's important how you handle that info when you're ready for a new phone. Whether you use an Android device or an iPhone, the process is about the same. First you will want to backup all the info on your device, or at the very least, transfer all the data/files/pics/etc you want to keep, onto your computer or some other device, at least temporarily. You want to save all the important data from your phone because the next step is to 'wipe' your phone of data so that it will look like it did when you took it out of the box for the first time. Below are a couple of videos that go over some basics for Android and iPhone owners. Because of the wide variety of Android devices, you might need to search YouTube for a video related to your specific make/model of Android phone.
Android iPhone
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How to Manage Your Google Activity
Google is a very big company, in part because of all the data it collects from its users. If you have a Google account (Gmail, YouTube, Google+, etc, etc) you might be interested in seeing just what information Google has collected about you. This CNET article breaks down everything you need to do to adjust the way Google collects data on you. It includes helpful links and videos and and simple numbered steps to finding everything Google has on you. CNET also explains how to change the preferences in your favour. There is currently no way to make your Google account totally private, but this article goes thru all the best current options you have for better privacy.
Google is a very big company, in part because of all the data it collects from its users. If you have a Google account (Gmail, YouTube, Google+, etc, etc) you might be interested in seeing just what information Google has collected about you. This CNET article breaks down everything you need to do to adjust the way Google collects data on you. It includes helpful links and videos and and simple numbered steps to finding everything Google has on you. CNET also explains how to change the preferences in your favour. There is currently no way to make your Google account totally private, but this article goes thru all the best current options you have for better privacy.
Sign in with Apple
For those of you Apple users looking for a little less tracking than "Sign in with Google" (or Facebook), you might want to consider "Sign in with Apple" a new feature release by Apple. We've talked about the added privacy that Apple includes in "Sign in with Apple", now take a look at the video below on how the new feature compares to the alternatives. Or take a look at the step by step video on how to use "Sign in with Apple."
For those of you Apple users looking for a little less tracking than "Sign in with Google" (or Facebook), you might want to consider "Sign in with Apple" a new feature release by Apple. We've talked about the added privacy that Apple includes in "Sign in with Apple", now take a look at the video below on how the new feature compares to the alternatives. Or take a look at the step by step video on how to use "Sign in with Apple."
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