Tips To Google Better

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You have used Google for years, and you understand how to use it, right? You generally find what you are looking for, right? Maybe not, there are a few tricks you can use to make your Googling skills more effective and efficient. After learning about some of these trick in articles from the How-To Geek website and the Atlantic we decided to share the few we found to be helpful.

Operators are key

If you are trying to find very specific information through a Google search, operators are the best way to find what you are looking for. The example that the How-To Geek site used is as follows. Say a user wants to find stories only published by the New York Times pertaining to college test scores. That is very specific and feels like it would take a lot of digging. Not if you utilize operators. By inserting the operator “site:” in front of the words “nytimes.com,” Google will only search in that site. Then by adding quotation marks around exact phrases they are looking for, in this case “test scores,” Google will search for that specific phrase only. If the user wishes to add a date range, they can add 2008..2010 and it will narrow the search further.

Google Scholar

Google Scholar is another great way to narrow search results. It prompts Google to only search academic and scholarly work, which would be great for research papers. To do this you can use operators. As an example, if you are searching for a paper written by Dr. Breit about the evolution of coding languages, you’d input the operator “author:” in front of “Breit” followed by the phrase “evolution of coding languages” into Google Scholar.

Control F

“Control F” is a great little trick to assist you to narrow your search results. For instance, if you’re looking for recipes for a theme dinner party, like the 4th of July, but you are most interested in desserts, you can search for 4th of July recipes. After completing your search you can hold down control and hit “F” on your keyboard. This will make a little search bar appear at the top or bottom of your computer screen. Then by typing in desserts, it will narrow the current search results down highlighting all the desserts!

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How To Remove Email Addresses To Avoid Mishaps Due To Autocomplete

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Sometimes programs that are developed to make life simpler actually make it more embarrassing. Just look at the autocomplete feature that comes with Apple’s Mail app. The app monitors your email address book as you type email addresses into the “to” line of your email messages. If the app identifies an address from the initial few letters you type, it will autocomplete it for you. Usually this is good. However, it can also lead to problems.

Autocomplete embarrassments

Obviously, if you do not double check the “to” field before sending the email it could go to the wrong person. You might say, but I do not have that many people I email. Well, may very well not realize that you may have a number of old contacts in your address book that you never email. Brian Sawyer discussed this issue on the O’Reilly Answers website. This issue can cause you to send a crucial business email to someone you never speak to, and you might never even know it.  The person you meant to send it to will never receive it and an email containing delicate information could be read by the wrong person.

Removing autocomplete email addresses

Fortunately, removing autocomplete email addresses from Apple’s Mail app is a fairly simple task. To do this, from within Mail, click the “Window” tab. Then click on “Previous Recipients.” Hunt for the email address that you would like to remove. Once you have found it, highlight it and press the “Remove From List” button. That’s easy, and quick. And it will reduce any future email address embarrassments.

Monitoring is key

Removing an address does not ensure that it won’t return to your address book. Even collaborating with a person on a Google Doc could add the address to your address book. So, the easiest way to ensure that these confusions don’t happen in the future is to make sure you check your address book, and check the “to” field before clicking “Send.”

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Windows 8: A Few Neat Features

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The new version of Microsoft Windows, Windows 8, only recently hit the market. And the tech press already have combed through the software. That’s good news for you: The editors at computing publications across the Internet have already given Windows 8 a test drive. And these editors are now publishing their findings online. It’s a smart way for new users to learn the ins and outs of this new operating system. For example, InfoWorld writer J. Peter Bruzzese recently wrote about various nifty things about Windows 8. Here’s a glimpse at some of what Bruzzese found:

The charms bar

This is a great addition to Windows. It is a shortcut bar that sits on the right side of Windows 8. It offers quick and easy ways for users to put their computer to sleep, switch to the Windows 7 desktop, share documents and more. This can really be a time saver for users that take the time to learn a couple of these shortcuts.

Retrieving lost files

Loosing a file is the worst. Thankfully, Windows 8 has a couple ways you can protect your documents. You can recover lost files or different versions of the same file. If you are acquainted with OS X’s Time Machine utility, the feature in Windows 8 works much the same way.

Windows on the go

This is a really cool feature if you are on the go but don’t want to take your whole computer with you. If you have the Enterprise Edition of Windows 8 you can put your entire Windows environment onto a USB drive and take it with you. You can then pull it up on another machine that is compatible with Windows 7 or 8.

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Travel Smarter With Your Smartphone

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When you travel internationally you most likely rely on your smartphone, maybe more then you do when you are on your home turf. And why not? It helps you navigate strange cities; translate signs, change reservations, and much more. The one issue with this dependence is that the cost can be very high when you use your smartphone outside of your home country.

The pain of international texting

The New York Times’ Frugal Traveler blog fairly recently covered the outrageous costs that smartphone users might encounter when traveling abroad. Among them? How about 50 cents for every text message you send or receive? And then there are international roaming rates that can soar to $2, $3, or $5 a minute. It could set you back $15 to retrieve a megabyte of data through your smartphone, based on the blog post. Fortunately, there are ways travelers can save when traveling. And the Frugal Traveler blog was kind enough to list some of them.

Stay disconnected

Of course, the simplest way is to stay disconnected to your cell phone throughout your trip overseas. The thing is, that’s easier in theory. As the blog indicates, many international hotels no longer have in-room phones. And pay phones have become scarce across the globe. A more helpful solution might be to rely on your hotel’s free Internet connections or on Wi-Fi networks to check emails and send messages. Needless to say, even if your web browsing and email activity is free, phone calls can still be an issue. A solution? Set up an account with an app such as Skype or Google Voice to help you make your calls. This won’t be free, but as the Frugal Traveler blog says, it’s far less expensive than making standard roaming calls on your cell phone. Generally speaking, expect to pay one-tenth the price of a standard cellphone plan when you’re counting on services such as Skype and Google Voice.

International SIM Cards

If your cell phone company allows you to use other providers, you could always buy a SIM card. The Frugal Traveler tried two out, Telestial’s Passport card which costs $19 and OneSimCard’s Standard card costing $30. They reported that both of these work effectively and give you a main phone number that is not from your home country.

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Protect Yourself From Hackers: Disable Java

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This may come as a shock to you but one of the simplest ways to safeguard your computer from hackers it to turn off Java on your machine. Java is software that allows websites to run interactive software. However, Java has been criticized for being a backdoor for hackers to get into your system. Business Insider pointed out that earlier this year 700,000 Apple computers were contaminated with the Flashback Trojan malware. One thing these computers had in common is that they were all running an out-of-date version of Java.

Security flaw

In an earlier version of Java there was a security flaw that hackers took advantage of. Fortunately, Oracle quickly honed in on the issue and fixed it in a recent version, but not before the damage was done. The ongoing problem is that if you still have an old version you might be vulnerable. Your best option is to disable it. This is not a big deal since most websites do not require Java anymore to work.

Turning off Java

Turning off Java requires different steps depending upon what web browser you use. In Firefox users must first select “tools” from their browser’s main menu. They should then click “add-ons” and the disable buttons next to any Java plug-ins.

Safari users must first click “Safari” in the main menu bar and then “Preferences.” Once they’ve done this, they can select the “security” tab and make sure that the button next to “enable Java” is not checked.

Google Chrome users need to type “Chrome://Plugins” in their browser’s address bar. They can then click the “disable” button listed below any Java plug-ins.

Don’t touch JavaScript

Here’s a warning, though: Java and Javascript are not the same thing. If you accidentally disable Javascript on your computer, you won’t do anything to protect yourself from hackers. However, you might make it so that the websites you visit no longer work properly.

Improve Your Productivity With These Chrome Extensions

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When we work on a computer all day we have a tendency to take breaks and visit humorous sites like The Chive, or news sites like CNN. It can be healthy to take breaks, but if you find that you are visiting them often, this could be seriously affecting your productivity. If you work in Chrome a lot, there are several extensions you can use to assist you with your productivity. Fairly recently The Huffington Post wrote a story that showcased several add-ons. We have picked our favorite 4 and discussed them below.

Stay Focused

This add-on is ideal if you find that you visit unproductive sites often throughout your day. It allows you to set a timer for particular sites. As you visit these, the timer counts down. Once the time you have designated expires, this extension blocks the site from being opened in Chrome for the remainder of the day.

Cool Clock

Cool clock is a good add-on for Chrome if you find that you miss meetings or appointments. It comes with a clock, calendar, alarm, timer and hourly desktop time notifications. You can use this for more than just a tool to remind you about meetings. It can also remind you of important tasks you must complete.

Last Pass

It can be very hard to remember all of your passwords; which ones have numbers or letters, and which letters are capitalized. Last Pass is a Chrome add-on that helps you with this. It manages your online passwords for you so that you don’t have to waste your time struggling to remember them.

Turn off the Lights

If you must watch videos regularly as part of your job but get sidetracked easily, this extension can come in handy. Turn off the Lights dims everything else on your screen but keeps your media player bright so that you have to concentrate on the video you are watching instead of the other things you have open.

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Use These Two Tricks to Make Your Computing Life Easier

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Let’s be honest: Computer users today need all the help they can get, whatever makes their lives easier. You have to appreciate that. That’s why we’re happy to point you to a pair of helpful hacks that can get rid of at least some stress from your busy days.

Forcing Android to check for system updates

The makers of tablets, laptops, and smartphones are constantly updating their operating systems. And these updates seldom come in on a standard schedule. Consequently you could be missing out on new features or fixes while you’re waiting for an update to hit your computing device. If you have an Android device, checking for updates can be a slight hassle. That is because update releases vary based on your manufacturer and carrier. You may know that Android has updated its system, yet you do not see any updates to your particular device. Certainly, you could just wait for the update to come over, but if you would like that update now – there maybe a particularly juicy new service coming with this particular update – you can force Android to check for that update. Here’s a suggestion from website Ghack: Go to your device’s “Settings” menu. Click “Apps” and select “Show All.” Then find “Google Services Framework” and click on the “Clear Data” option. Finally, click the “Force Stop” button. If there is an update, your device should now retrieve it.

Protecting your eyes

You likely have heard that computer screens are bad for your eyes, and many of us spend considerable time on one device or another. Fortunately the Atlantic not too long ago posted a list of tips you can use to help prevent long-term damage to your eyes. Number one, make sure your screens are clean and are the brightest things in the area. Another trick is to take a “20-20-20” break. Every 20 minutes take a 20 second break and focus your eyes 20 feet in front of you. And lastly, if you can high-five your computer, you are sitting too close.

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Your Lifestyle and Your Technology

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As technology moves faster and faster, bigger and better mobile devices emerge. It wasn’t long ago that tablets were introduced; now they are common. And most individuals in the business world have smartphones. As these newer, more robust tablets and smartphones are released to the market, you may feel some pressure to buy these new devices.

Diff’rent folks, diff’rent tech

But, not everybody needs the latest and greatest. Some people may, but others can get by with employing the same tech for years. Before acquiring your next piece of technology it can be useful to analyze your lifestyle to determine what tech is necessary.

Tablets

Tablets can be fun little gadgets, and they are very handy. But are they important for every consumer? If you check your mail, work on excel sheets, or write mostly from home or work, you may not need a tablet. Perhaps you want to avoid working on your commute to get some much needed alone time, then you may not want to get a tablet. If you are an individual who works mostly on the go, at coffee shops or from your car between meetings with clients, a tablet can make your life much easier.

The Smartphone revolution

Smartphones are handy devices that let us send and receive email and surf the web. Many people in the business world have them nowadays. But do we all need them? Some of us may just need a normal phone. This, again, involves what you need access to while on the go. If you receive many emails that are time sensitive you may need a device, like a smartphone, that alerts you when you get an email. However if you only check your email while in the office, then it may be beneficial to only have a normal phone so you aren’t reminded of work during your off hours.

Next time you learn about the next version of the iPad, or the newest and fastest smartphone, consider how you live your life. This will help you decide if you need to make the investment.

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Ransomware: What It Is And How To Protect Yourself

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Have you ever read about ransomware? It is a especially frightening new form of malware. A recent story published by Slate goes into the details of how it attacks your computer. After clicking on a dubious link from an email or a webpage, your screen will instantly turn grey. Then a message pops up that is branded to look like it’s from the FBI. It also has you on a live webcam feed!

If that wasn’t unnerving enough, the next part is even scarier. You’ll then receive a message on your screen telling you that you have violated federal copyright laws. You are given two choices, pay a fine, or deal with three years in prison. You are then given a deadline with which to pay the fine, usually this is 48 to 72 hours. The message further threatens you by saying you will get locked out of your computer permanently if you don’t pay.

A real threat

The part about your infraction is a scam, and it is just a way for these thieves to make money. However, there is one piece of this that is very damaging. You could be locked out of your computer if you do not pay says a senior security advisor quoted by Slate. So might it be wiser to just pay their demands? Which is usually in the $100 range. Even if you did pay, there is no telling whether or not they will unlock your computer. They may just demand more money.

True protection

So how can you protect yourself? The same way you always have, with up-to-date antivirus software. Also, be aware of what sites you visit and don’t click on links in emails from people you don’t know.

And if your computer is infected? This is a pretty complex type of malware. To revive your computer, you might need to enlist the help of a computer security expert. Slate also suggests that you contact the real FBI by filing a complaint at www.ic3.gov.

Microsoft Word Alternatives

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We all need to use a word processor every now and then. Generally the one we turn to is Microsoft Word. Unfortunately Microsoft Word can be troublesome to use and it can run slowly. And many users don’t utilize all of the features it offers.

Too many features with Word?

The downside of all this excess stuff? Microsoft Word is clunky. It can be slow. And it can be frustrating. The program will automatically indent numbered columns, for instance, even when users don’t want this done. It often underlines “grammar mistakes” that are not really mistakes. Then there are the times when Word forcibly capitalizes words that users don’t want capitalized. There may be ways to turn these features off, but most users will never find them in the many buttons and links stretched across the top of Microsoft Word.

If you do not use all of the features of Word and are looking for the best alternative, there are a few out there. The best thing about them is that they don’t cost anything.

Free Word alternatives

One of the best may be WordPad. The odds are good that it’s already available, for free, on users’ Microsoft-powered desktops. The program, which has been available to PC users since the introduction of Windows 95, has steadily evolved from a basic text editor to a more advanced word-processing program that probably offers more than enough features for almost all users. Users can access WordPad by clicking on Windows’ start button to bring up the “All Programs” option. WordPad will be located in the “Accessories” file.

Word’s online competitors

An online program that may be a lot better then WordPad is OpenOffice.org Writer. It offers most of the features of Word and is extremely intuitive. If you are looking to explore some alternatives to Word, OpenOffice.org Writer is worth a shot.

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