Author: Bill Scobie
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Importing Chrome Extensions, New StoryCorp App
If you use the Firefox browser but have been frustrated by not being able to import extensions from Chrome or Chrome-based browsers like Brave, you now have an option. Version 117 of Firefox allows users to turn on that functionality. Unfortunately, this doesn’t let you import or install all Chrome extensions, so your best bet…
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Keeping your phone cool
Lessen the heat load on your phone or table when you travel to hot places or even if you leave your device in the car or other hot places. First, keep it outof the sun; second, don’t leave it charging; third, don’t immediately try using it or at least close down all apps—or better—turn it…
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Data, Check Fraud, Email times
Despite knowing that many private companies buy all sorts of data from the thousands of data brokers in the US, it is amazing to learn that the largest purchaser of private data is actually the United States government. Many of the agencies involved in this purchasing of data are part of the intelligence community but…
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Library Tip
Use your library to avoid binge shopping, at least for physical books, ebooks, audiobooks, music, films and periodicals. It might seem like a game, but “ordering” things to download or physically pick up can scratch that itch to get something new—and it’s free. And your “shopping” will help increase circulation numbers, maybe leading to more…
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Tech Notes
Buying a new smartphone sometimes gets you so excited to get rid of the old one that you erase and sell it too soon. Keep that old phone until you have full set up your new one, especially if you rely on authenticator apps and even WhatsApp, as they only trust your current phone. Using…
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Tech Topics
Test your CPU in a fun way—warm it up by simulating the galaxy (galaxym.ovh). Controls are in French, but you can use the sliders to change aspects of the simulation and stretch the power of your computer’s processor and graphics system. As embarrassing as it might feel to fall for an internet scam, it needs…
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Bulk Uninstall
There are so many apps preinstalled in Windows it feels overwhelming to delete them. But it’s easy to bulk delete many silently in the background with BCP (bcuninstaller.com). I love apps that say what they do in the title. When you run it, you can check all of the apps you want to uninstall and…
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Tab Recovery
Unexpected browser shutdowns from crashes or hitting the wrong keys are frustrating when you’ve just finished opening a bunch of new tabs. Luckily, when you restart Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari, use ctrl+shift+t (Windows) or cmd+shift+t (Mac) to reopen the tabs. You can also set your browser to reopen all previous windows and tabs, a…
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Ads & Cameras
Ad blockers in your web browser accomplish three goals: reducing ad clutter; cutting down on malicious ads trying to inject malware; and speeding up the overall loading of many ad-heavy websites. And now, the FBI is recommending the use of ad blockers to reduce the chance of ads impersonating brands. None are perfect, but one…
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Wi-Fi Sharing
Do friends and guests ask for your Wi-Fi network and password first thing when they visit? You can make it easy for them to sign on by printing a QR code for them to scan. Two options for this are qr-code-generator.com/solutions/wifi-qr-code or qrstuff.com. I always love exploring, and now I can go to the edge…
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Tech Updates
The new mac OS system, Ventura, introduced in October, has a back-ground noise generator to play rain, stream, or ocean sounds. Go to System Settings, under the Apple logo in the upper left corner, and search for “background sounds” to choose and activate different ambient sounds. This might be enough of a reason to upgrade.…
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Router, Email & Facebook Tips
When changing to a new router, make sure to set it up with the same network name, password and encryption type. More and more routers let you do this, which means you won’t have to go around to all your other devices—printers, TVs, Alexa or Siri devices, doorbells, etc.—to teach them the new passwords. When…