Weekly Tech Tip: Learn Helpful Features

Chances are, the computer or device you are using has a series of helpful features that you aren't aware of. Commit to picking up a new trick once a week and you'll be more efficient in no time!

WINDOWS 7: Snap

Capitalize on your screen size by using the Snap feature, which automatically fits a window to half of your screen. This is especially useful when comparing documents, moving files, or working in multiple windows.

TO DO: Drag the title bar of a window to the left or right side of the screen until an outline of the expanded window appears, then release the mouse. Repeat on the opposite side of the screen with another window to arrange them side by side.

TIP: Dragging a window to the top of the screen will maximize it. To Snap a window using your keyboard, hit the Windows logo key and the left or right arrow.
iOS/Windows: Cycle Through Open Applications

Both Windows and iOS will let you quickly cycle through your open applications and windows.

TO DO: Hit the ALT+TAB keys (Windows) or CMD+TAB keys (iOS) to bring up the Cycle Window (Windows version pictured above). Keep hitting these keys or hold them and use the arrow keys to view your open windows, and release to bring your selected window to the forefront.



iPhone/iPad/Android: Drag/Drop to Create Folders
You can group apps on your iDevice or Android to declutter and streamline your experience.

TO DO: Press and hold an app until it is selected. On iDevices, the icons will start to wiggle and on Android it will "lift". Drag the app icon on top of another app icon and release. On iDevices, you will need to hit the home key one final time so save your changes. You can also rename these folders.




Get more tips here:
Apple (iOS/iPhone/iPad): http://osxdaily.com/
Windows: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/setup/windowstricks.aspx
Android: http://www.droid-life.com/category/tips/

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Weekly Tech Tip: Adjust Your View

Chances are, you spend a good chunk of your time at a computer. To avoid back, neck and shoulder pain as well as eyestrain and other overuse injuries, take some time to make sure your desk is as ergonomic as possible. Your body will thank you!


Tips & Tricks:

  • The top of your monitor(s) should be at or just below eye level. Invest in a riser to put yours at the proper height. If you are using a laptop, you will also need to invest in a keyboard/mouse set as your keyboard will also be raised. Money-saving tip: A cabinet shelf makes a great, cheap alternative.
  • Make sure you're sitting pretty. Your chair should be comfortable, include lower back support and have arms to support your elbows and forearms.
  • Your forearms should be parallel to the floor, so make sure your chair is at the proper height.
  • Your feet should rest flat on the floor. If you are short like I am, a foot rest can make sitting much more comfortable.
It's also important to take breaks!
Check out these websites from Apple, Microsoft and OSHA for more tips, tricks and diagrams.

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Weekly Tech Tip: Clean & Disinfect

You wash your car, and you wash your coffee mug, but how often to you give your tech space a once over?

Image via: ScottChan/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Given that your keyboard is dirtier than a toilet and your cell phone can give you pink eye, take a few minutes this week to clean and disinfect your work space and technology.

What you need:

  • Disinfectant wipes or spray
  • Canned air
  • Microfiber cloths or disposable microfiber cloths
  • Consider a tech putty such as Cyber Clean, or a UV Sanitizing Wand
  • Hand sanitizer - keep this on your desk to sanitize your own hands throughout the day as necessary.
What to do:
  • Start by clearing your desk and cleaning it like any other surface. As you start putting your things back in their places (phone, stapler, etc.), give them each a onceover with the disinfectant.
  • Use the canned air to get the gunk out of your keyboard and any other items with crevices for crud. The tech putty will also work wonders here. Give your keyboard an mouse a wipe with the disinfectant as well. If it's possible, you'll get the deepest clean by removing components (such as the battery cover on your mouse) as you go.
  • Give your cell phone a wipe, too.
  • IMPORTANT NOTE: Never spray a cleaning product directly on an electronic device! Always spray it on a cleaning cloth first, then wipe the device. Also, never use an abrasive cleaner.

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Weekly Tech Tip: Get a Tune Up

Last week, we made our inbox manageable; this week we'll be making a few little adjustments to speed up our equipment.

Image via David Dominici/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

1. Clear your browser's cache & cookies.
Your computer will save items (graphics, media, etc.) to make speed up your internet experience. The problem is that over time, these cached downloads can become pretty hefty and bog down your system. The good news is that emptying the cache is quick and easy; some browsers will even let you specify when the browser should empty the cache automatically! Get detailed instructions for your browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Internet Explorer) at RefreshYourCache.com.

Windows users can also opt to use the Disk Cleanup Utility, which will remove temporary internet files, downloaded program files, temporary program files, empty the recycle bin and more. Hint: I just reclaimed a whopping 11.9 GB using this tool.

2. Remove any bugs.
Ideally, you already have virus and malware protection on your computer that runs automatically, but just in case... Take a few minutes to download one of these free programs and make sure you don't have any hidden bugs on your machine. (I personally use Malware Bytes.)



3. Change your startup programs.
Do you feel like it takes forever for your computer to turn on and get going? An overloaded list of startup programs may be to blame. Please be aware that you should only stop programs that you know you do not need; some startup programs are critical to the operation of the computer. Things that are safe to remove from startup include: iTunes, Spotify, real estate programs such as the key card updater, etc.

Stop unnecessary programs from automatically opening one of several ways:

  • Within the program itself: check the settings for the program. Look for a setting related to starting when Windows launches and disable it.
  • **Use the MSCONFIG tool: Click Start > Run and type in msconfig. Select the Startup tab and uncheck the applications that you don't want to run on your next startup.
  • **Install AutoRuns for Windows: This program is considered one of the more comprehensive startup managers available. Click here to download. 
*Note: these methods are recommended for more advanced users.
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Weekly Tech Tip: Clear up your Inbox

Welcome to 2013! 


Start the year off on the right foot by clearing your inbox of emails you don't read, BEFORE they arrive, by making use of the Unsubscribe option!

Image via Stuart Miles/FreeDigitalPhotos.net


Emails you should unsubscribe from:
  • Emails that you receive on a regular basis and NEVER read
  • Vendors or services that you don't use (did you attend a conference or convention in the last year or two
  • Anything that you don't remember signing up or opting in for

HOW TO UNSUBSCRIBE:

Option 1: 
If you use Gmail or Yahoo, check out UnRoll.Me (+Chris Smith  from InmanNext wrote a great article on it). This service will scan your inbox and create a list of your subscriptions. You can then unsubscribe en masse. My favorite part is the RollUp feature, which automatically moves all of my subscriptions to a Label/Folder and out of my inbox, as well as sends me a daily digest of what I've received. This way, I don't necessarily have to unsubscribe, but it keeps my inbox clean.

Option 2:
Whatever email service you use (Gmail, Outlook, etc.), you can manually unsubscribe from emails as they come in. Simply find and click on the Unsubscribe link (this is usually at the bottom). Depending on the service, you may need to click a few more times to confirm.

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