Plus, WhatsApp screen share, YouTube bug, Walmart AR shopping
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August 9, 2023

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Hey, hey, Wednesday! Alice asked, “How long should I stay with Windows 10? Has Windows 11 gotten all the bugs out?” You’re good to go. At this point, it’s really just preference. You will need to update by October 2025, so might as well get used to it now.

⌛ Quick tip: There’s an easy way to open a web link in a new browser tab: Click it with your mouse’s scroll button. That’s it. Bonus tip: Click an open tab with that same button to close it instantly. Share that with someone and you’ll look super smart. — Kim

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IN THIS ISSUE

  • 🏎 Turbocharge your browsing
  • 🎧 Apple Music upgrade
  • ⌨️ Scroll with the spacebar

TODAY'S TECH HACK

Feeling sluggish? Might be your background apps

Feeling sluggish? Might be your background apps

Nothing is more frustrating than having to wait (and wait and wait) for pages to load. Sometimes, it's a momentary glitch, but more often than not, a sluggish browsing experience means something is amiss behind the scenes.

It might be apps running in the background that eat up a ton of resources and slow your entire system. Let's take a look at the usual suspects. 

Syncing with the cloud: Constantly transferring files (especially large ones) can suck up a lot of resources and, yes, slow your speed.

🛠️ The fix: Customize your cloud settings to prioritize what kinds of documents are worth backing up and which aren't. You might be surprised what you're automatically syncing. You can also set your backups to happen overnight.

CPU and RAM hogs: Sometimes, your system runs background apps that can tax your device's CPU and RAM. That, in turn, can affect the internet and browsing speed. We're talking video-editing software, virtual machines and other resource-sucking applications.

🛠️ The fix: If you’re on a Mac, check the Activity Monitor and turn off any CPU-sucking apps. On a PC, check Task Manager. Get in-depth steps here.

Streaming issues: Ah, the ol' stop, start, stop, start. Streaming taxes your bandwidth like (almost) nothing else. 

🛠️ The fix: Make sure you aren’t streaming in more than one window. Change your video settings to a lower resolution to free up some bandwidth. Still choppy? Consider downloading your movie or show instead.

I wish you speedy browsing! (P.S. While looking into your bandwidth issues, make sure you also know all the signs your phone or computer is infected with a virus or keylogger.)

I’ll leave you with these wise words: “The main problem with the internet is that there is no way to validate most facts.” — Abraham Lincoln, 1865.

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DEAL OF THE DAY

Problem: Too many messy cords

Problem: Too many messy cords

Condense your most-used cables to one device. Solution: This 4-in-1 fast-charging cord has multiple connectors, including Lightning, USB-C and micro-USB. That means you always have the right cable handy. It’s durable and six feet long, perfect for anywhere in the house.

It’s only $14!

YOU SHOULD KNOW

WhatsUp: Meta’s WhatsApp has a handy, new video-calling feature: Document, photo and even shopping cart sharing. Look for the Share icon and display a specific app or your entire phone. Good for business calls? No, but I can see some smart uses, like helping an older relative with a tech issue.

☕ Add a latte: Target is luring people into using curbside order pick-up with caffeine — and I bet it’s going to work. At more than 1,700 locations, you can add a Starbucks drink to your order. Yep, you stay in the car, and someone will bring out your toilet paper and a frappuccino.

About time: Apple Music just introduced a killer feature Spotify’s had for years: The Discovery Station. Think of this as curated music the algorithm predicts you’ll like based on what you listen to most. To try it: Open Apple Music > Listen now > Stations for You > Discovery Station.

It’s not just you: Reddit is full of people complaining the YouTube TV app for iOS and iPadOS keeps freezing. If the loading icon is driving you up the wall, you're not alone. YouTube says it knows things are busted, and it's working on a fix.

🛋️ AR shopping: Walmart’s augmented reality (AR) app lets you (digitally) place furniture in your home. Now, it’s even more useful — you can add multiple products (there are over 7,000 to choose from) and get recs for what works well together. Try it now in the Walmart app for iPhone. Sorry, Android folks — it’s not ready for you yet.

🎙️ Stay tech-savvy in just 2 minutes!

I turn tech complexity into simplicity with my Daily Tech Update podcast. I’ll give you the top tech news and a useful digital life hack, all in under two minutes. It's the perfect match for your daily routine — no tech expertise required.

👉 Your journey to tech confidence is a click away!

TECH LIFE UPGRADES

Spaced out: You can navigate websites with just your keyboard. I like this when I’m reading something long. Tap the spacebar to scroll down and spacebar + Shift to scroll back up. Speaking of space, I’m reading a book about anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down.

🔕 Respectfully, shut up: You’re in a meeting and your phone rings. Instead of hitting “Ignore,” press the volume down button to mute the ringer. Bonus: The person calling won’t get immediately sent to voicemail and think you’re ignoring them.

Storage saver: Use Excel often? Save big files as .XLSB format instead of .XLS. The file size will shrink up to 75%. Yep, size matters.

🔋 Forgot the charger?: No worries if you’re at a hotel and all you have is a USB cable and not the wall adapter. Most hotel TVs have a USB plugin you can use. More ways to use a hotel and Airbnb TV here.

Listen carefully: As one smart reader pointed out, hearing your written words out loud makes it easier to spot mistakes or sentences that sound off. It’s easy to correct errors subconsciously when you read your own work. Solution: Paste it into Google Translate and hit the speaker icon.

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ASK ME YOUR QUESTIONS

I need a UPS for my router

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I live in the north Georgia woods. Power outages are an occurrence one has to live with in the mountains. I have a home generator to keep my water hot and my refrigerators and freezers cold. I do need a UPS for my Wi-Fi router. What do you recommend? — Bert in Georgia

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Two things to consider: The capacity of the uninterruptible power supply (UPS), or how much power it can provide, and its run time, or how long it can provide power. Given that a router typically doesn't draw a large amount of power, even a relatively small UPS should be able to keep it running for several hours. I like these:

  • CyberPower CP685AVRG: This is a slightly larger UPS with a 685VA/390W capacity. CyberPower is another well-known brand, and this model includes automatic voltage regulation (AVR), which can help protect your router from power fluctuations.
  • APC UPS Back-UPS Pro (BR1000MS): If you're looking for a higher-capacity UPS that could run your router for longer, this model from APC has a 1000VA/600W capacity and includes AVR.

💡 Don't joke about power outages. It’s just too dark.

❓ Have a question for me? Drop it right here, or leave me a voicemail at 602‑381‑8200 ext. 290.

FREEBIE OF THE DAY

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TheFreeSite.com links to offers and freebies for consumer products like snacks, over-the-counter medicines and office supplies. Offers are active only for a limited time, so try to catch the ones you want before they disappear. Membership to TheFreeSite.com is, indeed, free.

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BYTES OF HUMOR: LOADING LAUGHS

Why do Adam and Eve use Android?
Because Eve violated the apple’s terms and conditions.

☀️ Another issue in the books. See you in your inbox bright and early with tomorrow’s tech news! Subscribe here if you haven't already. I’m sharing important stuff this week. — Kim

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