On Computers

“If I am sitting in my recliner and decide to make a quick copy of something from my iPad, I would like to do that without having to go to the other room to fire up the printer,” a reader wrote. Like most printers, his connects over Wi-Fi. “So what would be a good battery-operated printer that I could place on a nearby table, to bring the power switch within easy reach,” he asked. I recommended leaving his current printer on instead. Both laser printers and inkjets use only three-to-five watts of electricity in idle mode, much less than other appliances. There wouldn’t be the slightest blip in his electricity bill.  What’s more, keeping a printer on all the time […]

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Filed under: apps, education, Internuts, iPad, printer, social networks, Uncategorized, YouTube | Comments Off on LEAVE THE PRINTER ON TO EXTEND ITS LIFE

When my Pixel 8 phone died in a pool of salad dressing, I sold it to Gazelle. They gave me $52, though it wouldn’t turn on. Besides iPhones, Gazelle also buys used iPads, Macbooks and phones made by Samsung, Google and Motorola. Whatever you send them, it will be carefully repaired, inspected and certified before being sold on their site. I got an instant quote, good for 30 days, and a swift payment. They even sent me a box with a free shipping label. All I had to do was check off options to describe it. I was glad I didn’t have to check the one that said “cracked screen,” though I did check off “won’t turn on.” The company […]

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Filed under: 3D Printing, AI, books, business, gadgets, Internuts, kids, printer, trends, Windows | Comments Off on CASH FOR YOUR STUFF

A magician asked me to make him a website. But what about a free business page on Google, Facebook or both?  Years ago, I created a Google business page for testing purposes. Though people thought I was a computer store, I was still getting legitimate calls until I finally removed it. For small businesses, a free Google page is often enough. With a Google Business page, people can easily find you. For example, they could type “magician near me” to find my friend.  A Google or Facebook business page can include hours and services, as well as photos, videos and responses to good or bad reviews. Some restaurants use only a Facebook business page for their online menus. Over 200 […]

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Filed under: AI, art, career, facebook, Internuts, printer, security, TV, voice recognition, web, YouTube | Comments Off on NEED A WEBSITE?

A reader asked me how he might safely donate a computer to a local refurbishing group. “Our son-in-law takes the hard drive out and destroys it with a hammer,” he said. “Is that the best way?” Unless you have business secrets or a celebrity past, you probably don’t need to destroy or remove perfectly good equipment. Instead, try the free Windows program “Eraser,” which uses Department of Defense-level data destruction algorithms to get rid of files permanently. For Macs, there’s “Clean My MacX Shredder,” $40. Both are highly recommended by TechRadar. But for most people, a factory reset is enough. Even for an expert, it would take specialized software to restore your files after a reset, which often doesn’t work. […]

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Filed under: 3D Printing, AI, apps, art, career, printer, robots, science, security, text messaging, trends, voice recognition | Comments Off on GIVING AWAY OLD COMPUTERS

I’ll never forget being stuck in North Carolina without enough cash to pay for a bus to a remote retreat. When a fellow passenger lent me the money, I immediately paid her back using the Venmo app. That turned me into a Venmo fan. Now I have their new credit card. The Venmo card offers three percent back in your favorite category, such as groceries. It also gives you a virtual credit card number, which protects your real card number from prying eyes. What’s more, you get 10 percent back at 95 golf courses. My favorite perk is the crypto option, which gives you cash back in Bitcoin, Ethereum or one of the other major cryptocurrencies. Though the most I could invest […]

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Filed under: browsers, Google, phones, printer, robots | Comments Off on NEW VENMO CREDIT CARD PAYS OFF IN CRYPTO

I asked Google to draw me a frog on a beach, a man with a rose, and a woman in a forest. Presto, they arrived, but not from any website. A robot made them on the spot. It’s all part of the “Search Generative Experience,” or SGE, a free add-on to your regular Google search in Chrome. To set it up, go to Labs.Google.com and scroll down to “Search Powered by Generative AI.” Click “Getting Started,” then enable it. Now every Google query in Chrome will have an optional AI answer plus the usual links. I asked it to “draw a chair on a raft going down Niagara Falls,” and a Mona Lisa in Tahiti. Both were fantastic. But sometimes an image […]

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Filed under: AI, apps, art, browsers, health, Internuts, printer | Comments Off on DRAW ME A PICTURE

The free app Thumbtack saved the day. I needed to help a disabled friend get a new TV mounted on her wall. Then my freezer warmed up. Thumbtack is a free service that helps you find and schedule whatever you need. You can contact them from a free app for iPhone or Android or use thumbtack.com. They offer everything from moving services to personal training, web design, electricians, app development, plumbers, weddings, roof repair and more. The technician I chose for the TV job was as great as his ratings. After the TV was mounted, he downloaded its software, made sure all the channels were there, and taught my 78-year-old friend how to use her first smart TV. He even […]

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Filed under: Amazon, apps, music, phones, printer | Comments Off on FINDING A HANDYMAN OR WOMAN

Most people rely on their phones to take pictures. But professional cameras, such as DSLRs, do a much better job.  Professional cameras have sensors about the size of 12 Lego bricks. Your phone’s sensor is probably about half of one, according to CNET.  But phones are catching up. Some have sensors the size of two Lego bricks. Meanwhile,  Xiaomi, the world’s third largest phone maker after Apple and Samsung, is developing one that lets you mount a Leica M lens. It’s been dubbed the “12S Ultra Concept Phone.” In other news, LG Innotek is introducing a new telephoto zoom camera module at this month’s Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas. The module’s moving lenses will be similar to professional camera […]

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Filed under: apps, cameras, DVD, environment, Internuts, keyboards, passwords, printer | Comments Off on PHONES CATCHING UP WITH CAMERAS

California just approved a new kind of license plate. It uses e-ink to display messages, like: “This car has been stolen.”  It could be the beginning of a trend. With the “RPlate,” by Reviver, you control your license plate’s messages from an app on your phone. Compared to a personalized license plate, the RPlate can display much more info, such as your business’s website and phone number. The new plate uses a monochrome e-ink screen protected by a cover six times stronger than glass. Its battery lasts five years, and it works with Bluetooth, allowing the plate to join the “Internet of Things.” The cost is $20 a month or around $215 for four years. A wired version for fleets […]

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Filed under: Amazon, Android, apps, cameras, Internuts, printer, trends | Comments Off on E-INK LICENSE PLATES FOR CARS

When I wrote about cellphone texting from a Windows PC, I left iPhone owners in the lurch. There’s no easy way for iPhone users to to text from a Windows computer, though a Mac works fine. “Why not use a portable keyboard with your cell phone?” several readers asked. I like a foldable keyboard when I travel without a laptop. Mine is similar to the iClever BK06, $40 from Amazon. There are dozens of cheaper models you can find by searching on “Bluetooth keyboard for phone.” I like mine because it connects to my phone as soon as I open it. Plus, it feels roomy and has the keys were I expect to see them. I also have a phone […]

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Filed under: keyboards, printer, web | Comments Off on TEXTING THE EASY WAY