On Computers

When a new dentist said I needed a crown, I was suspicious. But should I have been? “You’re not being paranoid at all,” said TheRealRealTalk, an artificially-intelligent chatbot available at Poe.com. “Your Spidey-sense is tingling for a good reason! Here’s the deal: New practice owners often have massive loans to pay off, and suddenly everyone needs crowns. Funny how that works, right?” The new dentist wanted to rush the surgery because she was going on pregnancy leave a few days later and claimed I could have a cracked tooth in a few weeks. But I decided against it. A week later I asked for X-rays to be emailed to me so I could use them to get a second opinion. […]

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Filed under: AI, Apple, gadgets, iPhone, security, TV | Comments Off on ASKING AI FOR DENTAL ADVICE

Many years ago, a reader in Thailand blew up his computer by downloading movies from a site I recommended. Oops. Now you can get free movies from reputable sources like Amazon Prime, Tubi TV, (owned by Fox), and Pluto TV, (owned by Paramount). Tubi TV has a ton of free movies on demand, in categories like “Based on a Book” and “Most Liked.” They also have free TV, including oldies like The Avengers, Perry Mason and Columbo, and current shows, like Midsomer Murders and Master Chef. Among the 1200 kid movies, “Baby’s Day Out,” looks fun. Tubi TV has ads, but I don’t mind them. Pluto TV has lots of free movies and TV shows too. Categories include 70s Cinema, […]

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Filed under: gadgets, Google, Internuts, music, notes, shopping, TV, wireless | Comments Off on TONS OF FREE MOVIES ON PLUTO, TUBI

I used SurveyMonkey to get 28 responses to an online survey for members of my new book club. But it only showed me 25. If I had insisted on seeing all 28, it would have cost me over a thousand bucks. A friend suggested the free Google Forms, which works great. Just like SurveyMonkey, it can create surveys, questionnaires and quizzes. It also gives you a link to send out by email, text or social media and tallies the results. Needing help, I asked ChatGPT how to improve the survey’s appearance. That worked. Automatic Zippers I recently returned a wetsuit because it had only one tiny zipper, located in the front, which made the suit tough to get into. A […]

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Filed under: AI, business, gadgets, games, maps, robots, trends, TV | Comments Off on CONDUCTING ONLINE SURVEYS

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?

After helping a friend start a Spanish Club, I became addicted to Duolingo, the free language app. Then I discovered the power of free, artificially intelligent assistants. I started with Microsoft Copilot, then tried ChatGPT and Google Gemini. I asked each of them if they would chat with me in Spanish on a beginner level. It was great fun, though I kept going back and forth between them and Google Translate to find out what they were saying and what I should say back. Later, I discovered that they would translate each question for me. All I had to do was ask. All three talked to me like I was a friend. Copilot kindly pointed out exactly where I made […]

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Filed under: apps, computers, education, email, Internuts, TV, video | Comments Off on AI HELPS WITH LANGUAGE LESSONS

Just before I close my eyes for the night, I ask Alexa to remind me of something the next day. In the past, this was frustrating because the next day, I’d be in another room and couldn’t hear her. But here’s a trick. Since I have two devices with Alexa inside, all I have to do is tell my Echo Dot in the bedroom to let my Echo Show answer me in the living room. To test it, I closed the door to the bedroom so the Alexa in the living room couldn’t hear me. Then I said to Dot:  “Alexa, remind me on the Echo Show.” “What’s the reminder?” she said. “helicopter,” I said. “What time?” she said. “9 […]

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Filed under: AI, DVD, Internet, Internuts, robots, science, TV | Comments Off on ALEXA HAS TRICKS UP BOTH SLEEVES

A reader’s seven year-old iMac refused to power on. Apple couldn’t fix it. “They first tried the power fix, which didn’t work, then tried replacing the logic board,” she said, “which also didn’t work.” To repair it would have cost $900. “I am extremely disgusted,” she said. “I paid more than a thousand dollars for it. I think it should last longer than that. But it is what it is. Now I need a new computer.” Unfortunately, a computer that lasts seven years is par for the course. On average, they last three to eight years. But desktops last longer than laptops because they get better airflow, which reduces heat, the enemy of electronic components. It’s also easier to swap […]

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Filed under: books, business, computers, discounts, Internuts, Mac, TV | Comments Off on REFURBISHED APPLE PRODUCTS FOR LESS

Two decades ago, Bill Gates began filling his enormous mansion with digital picture frames to display the world’s best art. Now you can too. “The Frame” is a Samsung TV made to look like a painting, complete with a matte finish. With a $5 a month subscription, it displays 2,300 pieces of digital art, including a new Salvador Dali collection in partnership with an institution founded by the painter himself. The 2023 model is considered a vast improvement over the version that came out in 2017. For one thing, it’s a lot thinner, nearly melting into the wall.There’s no gap. It’s a smart TV too. But when the TV’s off, the Frame goes back to displaying art. It even has […]

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Filed under: art, cheap calls, environment, Google, Internuts, maps, numbers, TV | Comments Off on ART TV DISPLAYS THOUSANDS OF PAINTINGS

Recently, I thought I got a Facebook friend request from a cousin, but it turned out to be her clone. Duped again. After accepting that phony friend request, I noticed two red flags: First, I was her only friend. Second, the clone had only three posts. When I typed her name into the Facebook search bar, I saw her real account listed after the fake one, so I immediately unfriended the faker. You might want to search for your own name to see if there are two of you. “What should I do about it?” my cousin asked. Here are the steps to follow. Go to the fake account’s home page and click the three horizontal dots near the word […]

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Filed under: AI, apps, batteries, electronics, environment, Internet, TV | Comments Off on FACEBOOK CLONES

I can hardly wait to get my free 55-inch 4K “Telly” TV. You can get one too. In the first 36 seconds, 100,000 people signed up, mostly Millennials and Gen Zs in the higher income and education brackets. The first half a million TVs will be shipped next month, and millions more will be shipped in 2024 and 2025. Unfortunately, the Telly is getting a bum rap because of the data it collects. That’s ironic. Today’s TVs already spy on you, then sell your data to third parties. The main difference between the Telly and other TVs is that the Telly is up front about it and gives you a TV for free. Sign up at FreeTelly.com to get a […]

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Filed under: cameras, Internet, Internuts, TV | Comments Off on FREE 55-INCH TV