On Computers

Someday we’ll all use our smartphones instead of credit or debit cards, says Joy. A lot of techie types agree. Not bloody likely, says Bob.

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Filed under: apps, trends, wireless | Comments Off on THE END OF THE CREDIT CARD?

If it annoys you to type a password every time Windows starts or wakes up from a nap, try this:

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Filed under: troubleshooting, Windows | Comments Off on TIPS AND TRICKS

Dozens of free programs have been collected in one place at NiNite.com. You can install them all in one swoop if you want. Check off the boxes for the freebies you want and click “download installer.” The rest takes place automatically.

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Filed under: apps, free stuff, photos, storage | Comments Off on BUNCH A FREEBIES

A reader asked us a question we’d never heard before. How do you trim the boring parts out of your duck-hunting video? (You know: when there are no ducks.)

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Filed under: graphics, Microsoft, photos, video | Comments Off on SITTING DUCKS

“Easy Windows 8,” by Mark Edward Soper, $25, is by far the best and easiest of the Windows 8 books we’ve seen. It’s from QuePublishing.com and has screen shots on every page to help step you though.

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Filed under: books, Windows | Comments Off on EASY WINDOWS 8 BOOK

All right already. With all this talk about Windows 8 and what a turkey it is, we realized it was our duty to the readers to get in there and suffer. Well, there’s good news, and still bad news.

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Filed under: computers, Windows | Comments Off on WE BITE THE BULLET

The Google Chromebook comes in four versions, one by Samsung, another by Acer, one by HP and the new “Chromebook Pixel.” Acer, by the way, is one of world’s largest computer makers, and just reported that it sells more Chromebooks than Windows 8 computers.
Acer said laptops based on the Chrome operating system accounted

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Filed under: cloud computing, computers, web | Comments Off on WIN SOME, LOSE SOME

“Passbook” on the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch lets you electronically store boarding passes, movie tickets, retail coupons, and loyalty cards. It’s very high-tech. If you step into a Starbucks, for example, your Starbucks card automatically appears on the phone. Make sure you’ve got the latest operating system: iOS 6. If you have an Android phone, there’s PassWallet. We couldn’t figure it out but maybe you can. Not quite ready for prime time.

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Filed under: apps, discounts, shopping | Comments Off on STORE TICKETS AND COUPONS ON YOUR PHONE

“Urgent Care” for Android or iPhone connects users to a registered nurse and a doctor, for advice, diagnoses and possibly a prescription. The app is free to download, but the service is $4 per call.

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Filed under: apps, health | Comments Off on URGENT CARE

“iMadeFace” is a free app for iPhone, iPod Touch, and the iPad 2 and 3. It lets you make a cartoon face with a message, like “I love you.” Joy had fun choosing a heart-shaped face, a pony tail, arched eyebrows, nice eyes, small mouth, normal nose and glasses, before emailing it to Bob. You can make it look like yourself or not. It can also be shared on social networking sites.

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Filed under: apps, facebook, social networks | Comments Off on MAKE A FACE