Six Fun Ways to Use Google

Yesterday, we talked about some useful ways to use Google's search.  Today's tip will not be nearly as useful, but it will be a lot more fun!

Before we begin, it is important to note that Google adds and removes features regularly, so some of these may not work if you reread this in a few months.  (Unless otherwise noted, they do work right now.)  I was very disappointed to see that one of my favorites, the "Kayak across the Pacific Ocean" instruction on Google Maps, had been removed.  You can read about it here if you didn't see it before.

Now, here are seven ways to have fun on Google's search pages:

1) Give Google Commands - Type "do a barrel roll" into a search box and watch the page...do a barrel roll.  Type "tilt" or "askew" and watch the page go slightly off.  Around Christmas last year, you could type "Let It Snow" and the page would snow and frost over, allowing you to draw on the window.  (But as I tell the kids on my school bus, "Keep it school appropriate!")

2) Calculate More Than Numbers -  The Google Calculator is also programmed to handle other questions, such as "what is the loneliest number" (a reference to a song from the 60's) or "what is the answer to life, the universe, and everything" (a reference from the movie, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.)  Type anything with a numerical response in and see if Google knows it.  Then, amaze your friends who don't know the references (that's what happened to me with both of those examples!)

3) Calculate a Bacon Number - No, this isn't how much bacon you should eat each day, this is a play on the "Six Degrees of Separation" game using Kevin Bacon.  Pick any actor or actress and see how many connections must be made in order for Google to connect that person to Kevin Bacon.

4) Fight Off a Zerg Rush - I had never heard of a Zerg Rush before reading this online, but apparently, this is an alien race that attack in swarms in the video game Starcraft.  Search for "zerg rush" and a whole bunch of little O's will invade your screen and eat your search results.  Keep them from destroying your screen by clicking on them to destroy them.

5) Fly Yourself Anywhere - If you use Google Earth, you can use the flight simulator option to fly anywhere in the world.  In Google Earth, click on Tools and select Enter Flight Simulator or press Ctrl+Alt+A.

6) Browse the Google Doodles - Okay, this one is fun and somewhat useful!  You have probably noticed that the Google logo often changes based on current or historical events.  These are called "Google Doodles".  Google actually produces many different doodles for events around the world.  If you go to google.com/doodles, you can browse the many recent doodles published around the world.  Not only can you have fun looking at the various doodles, but you can learn some history at the same time.

Bonus:  Google has released some doodles that are actually games.  You can play goalie in this soccer game, race a canoe in this slalom canoe game, jump the hurdles in this race, or play Pacman in this doodle celebrating the game's 30th anniversary.

Eight Useful Ways to Use Google

When most people think of Google, they usually think of the search engine first.  Most of Google's other online products are usually referred to by a different name (such as Gmail) or by something added after Google (Google+, Google Apps, etc.)  However, Google's search page has a lot of useful (and some fun but not so useful) features.  Tomorrow, I will talk about some of those fun ways to use Google, but today, I will cover some of the more useful ways to use Google's search.

As a side note, most of these work in the search boxes or address bars on Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome if they are programmed to use Google.  All of these features are available on various sites, but Google simply makes them all available with just the search box.

Here are eight ways to make your search experience more useful:

1) Weather - You can get the weather without having to leave Google.  Simply type a city or zip code followed by "forecast", and Google will display a detailed forecast for today along with simplified forecasts for the week ahead.  Type your city or zip code followed by "weather" to get the current weather along with the week's forecast.

2) Translate Words - Typing "translate <word/phrase> to <language>" will quickly access the Google translator and display the result.  Just be careful, because while Google Translate is usually pretty good with words, it can be less accurate with longer phrases.  People have made blog posts and videos of what happens when you take a poem or song and translate it through several languages before taking it back to English.

3) Check the Time - Can't remember if London is four or five hours ahead of us (it can be either due to the differences in the daylight savings time dates)?  Type "time in <location>" and Google will give you the current time and date.

4) Do Math - Instead of taking the time to locate a calculator on the internet or find the one installed on your computer, just type your math problem into a search box.  Google will do the math and display the result.

5) Conversions - Need to convert from one unit of measurement to another?  Google can handle it. Simply type "<amount> <unit1> in <unit2>"  (for example, "100 dollars in pounds") and Google will handle the conversion for you.

6) Check Flight Status - Now you don't need to go to the airport and look through many television monitors to see the status of a flight.  Simply type the airline and flight number into a search box to see the status of the flight.

7) Search Public Data - Want to see the latest population estimates or unemployment rate for a particular location?  Simply type what you are looking for and the location into the search box and watch Google give you the data.  Want historical data?  Google gives you a 10-year lookback, and by clicking on "Explore More" underneath the graph, you can view older data.

8) Define Words - If you want a dictionary definition of a word, simply type "define:<word>" to have Google give you its definition.

Tomorrow, we'll look at the fun side of Google by examining some of the little built-in tricks.

Fix a Scratched CD/DVD

As careful as we may try to be, sometimes our CDs or DVDs end up getting scratched.  However, a scratch does not automatically mean that your disc has become an expensive coaster for your living room table.  There still may be ways to restore your disc to optimal condition.

Two quick notes:  first, it is important to understand that your best option is to not let your disc get scratched.  Any of these methods for repairing a scratch may help, but they also have the potential to hurt the disc.  Second, whenever possible, it is advisable to make a backup copy of your disc on your computer or on another disc.  Burning a backup copy of a disc is legal as long as it is only for personal use and it does not circumvent any digital rights protections built in.

Once a scratch does occur, the first step to take would be to clean the surface with a jewelry-polishing cloth.  These cloths are fairly inexpensive and available at most stores that sell jewelry.  This removes some of the dust and dirt that can accumulate in the scratches and eliminates other areas of the disc as the problem.  (You might find that the light scratch isn't the problem at all).  To avoid causing further damage, rub the disc from the center to the outside and back, not along a circular path.

If this does not work, you can use a variety of substances to try to fill in the scratch.  I have heard of people using car wax, furniture polish, petroleum jelly, and even banana to fill it in.  I would recommend the car wax personally, but you can choose whatever you have available.  Once again, always be sure to rub from the center to the outside of the disc, and make sure you give it plenty of time to dry (overnight would be best) and clean it thoroughly before putting it back in your DVD player.

If you can't find any substance that will repair the scratch, then it might be time to approach it from a different angle.  If you have a cheap or older player, find a friend with a new player that was reasonably expensive.  Technology is always improving, and it might have improved enough so that the latest players can read what your older device cannot.  This might have the lowest probability of success, but it is worth a shot if nothing else is working.  If it works on your friend's player, it might be time to upgrade yours.

Finally, when you have run out of options to do it yourself, turn to your local movie rental store.  Almost all of them have devices that will buff dics and remove the scratches.  Find a friendly-looking clerk, explain the situation, and see if the clerk will help you out.  Obviously, they are under no obligation to help you, but it would make business sense for them to do so.  You could go the DIY route and buy a machine yourself, but unless you have a lot of scratched discs, your wallet would probably be better off replacing your scratched discs.

If the $500+ machine at the movie-rental store can't help you, then it is time to buy a new disc or say goodbye to your movie or music.  Obviously, with a music CD, you can always burn the unaffected tracks to a new CD to use in the meantime.

Speed Up Your Wi-Fi

Everyone wants the fastest internet speed possible at a price we can afford.  However, if your Wi-Fi is slow, the problem may not be your ISP.  There are many things that you can do to improve your Wi-Fi speeds that don't include contacting your ISP to increase your speed (which will also increase your price, of course!)  Here are four free things you can do that might improve your Wi-Fi speeds:

1) Move the Router - Many people do not know that the maximum speed decreases as you move away from the router.  To make sure you have the best speeds, move the router as close as possible to where people will be using Wi-Fi.  If you want coverage throughout your house, try to move it somewhere in the center.  If most of the Wi-Fi access is done on one side, you might want to move it closer to that end of the house.

Hiding the router away in one corner gives some of your best coverage to your yard and even to the neighbor's house.  Obviously, you will not want an unsightly mess of cables right in the middle of your living room, but moving your router closer may improve your speed.

If you must put the router in a corner or at one end of your house, you can use a curved sheet of aluminum foil or an aluminium can behind the router to reflect the signal back into your house.

2) Change the Channel - Your router can be programmed to work on eleven different channels.  If most of your neighbors are using one particular channel, that channel can slow from all the transmissions.  Access your router's control panel (for exact instructions, check the printed or online documentation for your router) and try changing the channel.  The best channels to use will be 1, 6, and 11.

A word of warning:  I had one customer whose printer required channel 1 for some reason, but his router was programmed to select the clearest channel.  If you suddenly find that a device won't connect after changing the channel, you may be stuck with the channel you are on.

3) Update Firmware - All devices contain small chips with software to operate the device.  This software is called firmware.  Manufacturers will sometimes release firmware updates for your device to protect against security holes, correct errors, and add new features.  Unfortunately, unlike Windows, your devices are rarely programmed to check for firmware updates.

Both your router and your device's Wi-Fi card have firmware that might benefit from an upgrade.  To check for new firmware, go to the manufacturer's website.

4) Check for Thieves - Earlier this week, I wrote a tip about how to check for people that might be using your Wi-Fi network.  If you did not get this tip, you can check it out here.

However, even authorized devices may be using your bandwidth without your knowledge.  Right now, WiFi Guard lists five devices connected to my router, even though I am only using my computer (and at the time I am writing this, I am the only one awake).  Shutting off Wi-Fi on your phone, tablet, or streaming device might free up more bandwidth for your computer.

Do I Really Need to 'Safely Remove Device'?

Most of us know that we should use the "Safely Remove Device" feature in Windows before removing a flash drive (or any other type of USB device) from our computer.  And most of us have probably figured out that you can simply pull the drive out and your files will still be there the next time.

If you don't know what I am talking about, each time you want to remove a USB drive (flash drive, external hard drive, etc.), Microsoft says you should go to the notification area of the taskbar (near the clock),  click on the small icon that looks like a flash drive, and then select "Eject [Name of Drive]".

That brings us to the question:  Is the "Safely Remove Device" feature even necessary?  And the answer is:  Definitely!

Yes, it is true that you can usually unplug a drive without any problem, but that is not always the case.  There are many things that could be happening in the background that could harm your data if you do not use this feature.  First, if the drive is in use, the files in use will most likely be corrupted.  Using "Safely Remove Device" will prevent you from corrupting those files.

However, sometimes the drive will be in use when you don't realize it.  The drive could be rewriting its file system (the directory of all the files on the drive).  You might think it is okay to just pull the drive out because you haven't used the drive for several minutes, but if the file system is being modified and becomes corrupted when you pull the drive out, everything on the drive will be lost.  Safely removing the drive will stop the rewrite at a safe place so you can remove the drive.

Second, you can enable performance features on a drive that make it even more important to use this feature.  Windows can be programmed to cache data being written to a drive.  This saves the data on your hard drive until Windows determines that it is best to write it to the flash drive.  (This can keep your system from becoming strained by low resources or demanding programs.)  While this feature is disabled by default, you probably cannot tell me for sure that caching has been disabled on your computer without checking.  It is best to treat your files as safe as you can!

For these two reasons alone, it is best to always safely remove your device before you remove it.  In fact, the only time you should remove a drive without this feature is if you have already shut the computer off.  Otherwise, the few seconds you save by not using this feature will be more than wasted if you have to recreate all the files on the drive or spend time and/or money trying to recover data.

Check The Value of Your Old Tech

One of my readers sent me the following question: "What do we do with our old, outdated hardware? I mainly mean modems & routers. Is there a way to recycle them? Should we just trash them? Is there a way to check if they have a resale value or not?"

Unless you are one who is constantly upgrading these devices, your old modems and routers probably have little value.  Most of us will keep our modem and router until it dies or our internet speed starts slowing down.  Even if it still works great, it is probably years behind the current standards, and it may have some security holes that the manufacturer isn't fixing.  However, it never hurts to see if your device might have some value left in it.

A good place to start is at Amazon's trade-in site:  www.amazon.com/tradein.  Some routers qualify for a credit of up to $70 (possibly more, since I didn't check each page on my search).  However, others only qualify for 25 cents.  If it isn't worth your time to trade it at Amazon, then we can check one more place.

Some people like to purchase old routers and put other software on them to expand their functionality.  If your device is still in working condition, you might find someone on eBay willing to buy it.  However, if you don't want to go through the process of setting up a listing without knowing how much it might sell for, you can check for completed listings.  Simply search for your item's model, and then scroll to the bottom of the options on the left side.  Underneath "Show Only", check the box for "Completed Listings".  This will show you only the final sale price for your item.  If you see a big price, make sure that the model number in the listing is the same before you get your hopes up!

If you know someone who likes to scrap metal, they might be interested in taking your old devices.  If you are out of options, you are not supposed to put these devices in the trash due to some of their materials.  However, many electronics stores will offer free recycling, or you can try to find a place that accepts hazardous materials for disposal.  A local environmental group or government agency should be able to help you find a place that will accept your old electronics for recycling.  (Near where I live, there is a monthly "open dumping" day where all types of materials are accepted and there is also an annual household waste clean-up day.)

Are Expensive Cables Worth It?

Go to your local electronics store and you might find the cable you need for around $25.  Go on eBay, and you can probably find the same cable for $1 or less.  This substantial difference in price probably makes you wonder if there is a difference in what the cable will do.

For the most part, the answer is no.  A cable functions like a tube that allows data to be transmitted but a more expensive cable will (usually) not provide a better experience.  Unless there is something wrong with the cable, the data entered on one end will be reproduced on the other end.  In most cases, you will want to avoid both the cheapest cables (these are usually extremely poor quality products made in China), and the most expensive ones (these might contain some extra shielding or other features, but are unlikely to be worth the cost).

Furthermore, lifespan is not usually an issue.  You can replace a $2 twelve times before you have approached the cost of the $25 cable.  If you are not going at the cheapest end of the spectrum, you will find that any reduced lifespan is minimal and does not come close to making up for the additional cost of the expensive cable.

In general, you should go with a cable toward the cheaper end, but not necessarily the cheapest one you can find.  Here are a few exceptions:

1) Active HDMI Cables - Generally, a properly-functioning HDMI cable will not make your video quality any better.  However, an "active" cable contains a chip that will help boost the signal to provide a better signal over long distances or through thinner cables.  If you need a long HDMI run or a thin cable to go around a corner, then spending extra for an active cable is a good choice.

2) USB Charging Cables - Computer USB cables also function as tubes that simply transmit data.  However, USB charging cables may not charge at the same rate.  You may find that a cheaper cable charges much slower than a more expensive cable.  (You may also find cheaper cables that work at the same rate as their more expensive counterparts, so cheap does not necessarily mean slow.)  If you are replacing a charging cable, you do not need to go for the most expensive option, but selecting one toward the expensive end of the spectrum may make sense.

3) Ethernet - CAT 5 and CAT 5e cables are certainly fast enough right now, but as average internet speeds appear set to increase at some point in the near future, using these cables may result in slower than necessary speeds.  If you are replacing your ethernet cables, it is probably time to upgrade them to CAT 6 or CAT 6a.  There is only a small difference in price, but you will have the ability to obtain faster speeds once they become available.  That said, there is no reason to go to the expensive end of the CAT 6 price range.

4) Audio Cables - Audio cables are one of the few analog cables still in use today.  Although the difference would be small, cable quality could have an effect on the quality of the sound produced.  If you work with audio or video or you have a good ear for music quality, this is one area where you might want to go with a higher-quality cable.

Three Add Ons to Block Ad Trackers

The internet has become a dream for advertisers.  A small amount of data added through your browser (called a cookie) can be used to track everything you do and send it back to companies that will target ads directly to you based on your interests and browsing habits.  In just over one month, my browser has encountered over 3900 of these trackers.  Here are three free browser add-ons that can stop these cookies from tracking you.

1) Blur - I use Blur by Abine to block trackers on all of my computers.  Blur will not only block trackers on your computer, but it can also be used to provide disposable email addresses that can keep your email account off of spam lists.  If you upgrade to a premium account, you can also take advantage of password management features and credit card and phone number masking.  Blur is available for Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari, and Internet Explorer and also has iOS and Android apps for mobile devices.

2) Ghostery - Ghostery is a simple solution that can block trackers on sites you visit.  Simply visit a site, click on the icon, and you can see the trackers on the site along with an option to shut them off.  Go into the options, and you can block tracking by default on all sites or whitelist specific sites.  Ghostery is available for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, and Internet Explorer on computers and also on iOS and Android.

3) Privacy Badger - The Electronic Frontier Foundation has an add-on called Privacy Badger available for Chrome and Firefox.  While it does not contain many of the customization options or a mobile version like Blur or Ghostery, it is a simple and effective tool to protect your privacy.

Keep Your Gadgets Safe When Travelling

Remember the days when you couldn't bring your computer with you on vacation because it was too large and bulky?  Now, most of us carry a small but much more powerful computer with us in our pockets all day.  Even for full computers, most people now prefer the mobility of a laptop to the extra power provided by a desktop.

However, the ability to take our devices with us has resulted in bad practices.  Many of us do things with our computers that can harm them or our privacy.  Here are four things we should not do when travelling with our mobile gadgets.

1) Leave without a backup - We should all know that we need to make regular backups of the data on our devices, but we all probably fail to do that on a regular basis.  However, before you leave with your gadgets, make sure your information is backed up.  When travelling, your gadget is not only susceptible to an equipment failure, but also to theft.  Forgetting your tablet in your hotel room or losing your phone in a gas station bathroom is bad enough without being exaggerated by the loss of precious photos or important files.

2) Out of sight, out of a thief's mind - Do not ever leave your gadgets on the seat or floor of your car (even when not travelling).  With the proper equipment, a thief can break a window and grab your gadget within a few seconds.  Leaving your gadgets sitting in plain sight can turn a fun vacation into an awful one.

3) Give it space - When travelling, many people put their laptops into a backpack or briefcase.  However, keeping your laptop in such a case--especially when it is still on--can damage internal components.  If you can store your laptop in a place where it has some additional breathing room, then do it.  If you must store your device in a bag, do not turn your device off and then immediately store it.  The heat from the battery can cause problems for your device, even leading to fires.

4) Charge it properly - Over the years, there have been numerous opinions about how you should charge your devices.  Much of the bad information out there is actually correct information being stated about the wrong type of battery.  Since almost all devices now use lithium-ion batteries, going through a complete discharge cycle (run it until the battery is almost completely dead and then charge it back up to 100%) can shorten the battery's lifespan.  It is much better to keep your battery power between 40% and 80% and to charge in small amounts more frequently.  Obviously, this can be troublesome when travelling, but using car chargers or portable batteries can make this easier.

Use Sway for your Next Presentation

PowerPoint used to be the standard for creating presentations.  However, new subscription sites like Emaze and Prezi have encroached on PowerPoint's space with new methods for creating presentations.  Realizing this, Microsoft developed a new presentation app called Sway.

Instead of slides, Sway presentations appear in a linear fashion.  You can scroll forward and backward through the presentation as you like, and it supports additional multimedia features such as embedded tweets, vines, and YouTube videos.  Sway will even make suggestions for additional content while you work, and you can search inside Sway for free, public-domain content to add. Plus, if you get halfway through your presentation and decide you don't like the template you chose, you can easily swap it out with another template.

Sway is available as a free download for Windows 10 devices and for iPhone and iPad.

How to do a Background Check

If you are hiring a new employee (even a household employee, like a part-time house cleaner or a babysitter), you might want to do a background check.  Even if you are not hiring someone, you might want to perform a background check on someone for other reasons, or you might want to make sure what a potential employer or landlord will see about you is accurate.

When performing a background check as a potential employer, landlord, credit provider, or insurance provider, you must use a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA).  A CRA must follow certain standards for data protection and dispute resolution.  If you reject someone based on information that was not obtained from a CRA, you could end up facing a lawsuit or fine.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) maintains a list of CRAs.  It is divided into categories such as Credit Reporting, Employment Screening, and Tenant Screening.  You do not have to get one from each category; you only need to select the categories you feel are relevant to the application.

If you are not required to use a CRA (for example, you are checking out a romantic partner or wanting to check up on a potential roommate), you can use some free resources to gather information.  PeekYou combs social media sites for information people have made available. Background check company Been Verified has an app that will allow you to make one free check per month.  Finally, you can look at the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website.  Finally, you can conduct a simple Google search, but you should be careful to make sure any information that comes up is actually about the person you are checking and not someone with the same name.

Keep Your Child Safe Online

The internet can be a wonderful tool for your children, but it can also allow them access to many things you don't want them to see.  In yesterday's tip, I discussed how you can set up a separate account for your kids that will keep them from installing software or making major changes without your approval.  (If you want to read that tip, you can read it here.)  Once you've set up that account, you can also use built-in tools to monitor and control what your kids are doing online.

In my tip yesterday, I mentioned that you could create a single account for all of your kids.  However, some of these tools work best if you create a separate account for each child.

Once you have your user account/accounts configured, go to the Control Panel (Start -> Control Panel in Windows Vista/7 or Charms -> Settings -> Control Panel in Windows 8), look for "User Accounts and Family Safety", and select the option for "Set up Parental Controls" (Windows Vista/7) or "Set up Family Safety" (Windows 8).  Then, select the first account you want to configure for parental controls.

On/Off - The first option is to turn these controls on or off.  Since you are reading this tip, I will assume you want to select "On, enforce current settings".  If you accidentally turn this on for an adult's account, you can come back here to turn it off again.

Activity Reporting (Vista/8) - If you want Windows to log the internet activity on this account, select "On".  You will then be able to come back to this page and click on "View activity log" on the right-hand side to view the logs.

Activity Reporting (Windows 7) - In Windows 7, Microsoft moved the activity log and content filtering to a separate utility.  To enable this, you will need to go here to download and install Windows Essentials.  You can either choose to install all programs, or you can choose to only install the Family Safety program.  Once installed, you can type "Windows Live Family Safety" into the search box to set up monitoring on specific accounts.  The activity reports will be accessible through the Family Safety website.

Web Filtering (Vista/7/8) - The Web Filtering tool allows you to set filters on the content your kids can see.  You can also allow or block specific websites to override the filter settings.  This is included in the Control Panel utility on Vista/8, and it is included with the Windows Live Family Settings program in Windows 7.

Time Limits (Vista/7/8) - You can limit the amount of time each account can be logged in.  This is very useful if you have several kids and need to make sure they are sharing one computer.  You can also set curfew times so your kids are not able to sneak on the computer while you are sleeping.

Games (Vista/7/8) - This allows you to control the games (and Windows Store apps in Windows 8) that your kids can use.  You can filter by rating, and you can also allow or block specific games.

Programs/Desktop Apps (Vista/7/8) - Like the Games section, you can limit the programs that your kids are allowed to use.  Although this feature may only have limited uses, it can be very helpful for a computer that is used for both work and home purposes.  If you have programs that you installed for work, you can block access so your kids are unable to get into them.

Keep Your Computer Safe From Others

A customer recently brought in a computer that was running slow and stated that her kids had installed all kinds of games and other programs on it.  This week, she told me that the computer is working much better, and she also stated that she was only letting her kids use it when they were supervised.  I told her that it was possible to create a separate user account for her kids that would stop them from installing any programs without her permission.  When I told her that I would write out instructions, I thought that this would make a great subject for a tip.

Windows comes with the ability to create several different types of accounts.  By default, most accounts become Administrator accounts.  Administrator accounts have full permission to use the resources of the computer (unless the user is blocked by other means).  Standard User accounts have permission to use most of the resources on the computer, but not to change them.  This means that standard users cannot install programs, delete system files, or change settings without entering an administrative password.  There are a few other types of users, but these are the two types you will need to know.

My suggestion was to create a password-protected administrator account for the adults and a second standard user account (which may or may not have a password) for the kids.  Here is how you would set this up:

Windows Vista/7:

1) Log in with an administrator account.  If you are not sure if an account is an administrator account, we will check that in a minute.

2) Go to the Start Menu and choose Control Panel.

3) Choose "Add or Remove User Accounts" under "User Accounts and Family Safety".

4) Check the account you logged in under and see if it says "Administrator" underneath.  If it does, continue.  If not, log out and log back in under an account that does say Administrator.

5) If the account is already has a password, you may skip this step.  If your account does not have a password, select the administrator account, and then choose "Create a password" in the next window.  Do NOT skip this step!  If you do not have a password on the administrator account, anyone using the standard user account will be able to perform the tasks of an administrator with one click.

6) Click the back arrow in the top-left corner to go back to the original screen.  Then, select "Create a new account".

7) Type in an account name (such as "Kids") and be sure to select "Standard user".  Then, click "Create account".

Windows 8/8.1:

1) Log in with an administrator account.  If you are not sure if an account is an administrator account, we will check that in a minute.

2) Go to the charms bar and select Settings -> Control Panel.

3) Click on "Change Account Type"

4) Check the account you logged in under and see if it says "Administrator" underneath.  If it does, continue.  If not, log out and log back in under an account that does say Administrator.

5) If the account is already has a password, you may skip this step.  If your account does not have a password, select the administrator account, and then choose "Create a password" in the next window.  Do NOT skip this step!  If you do not have a password on the administrator account, anyone using the standard user account will be able to perform the tasks of an administrator with one click.

6) Click the back arrow in the top-left corner to go back to the original screen.  Then, select "Add a new user in PC settings".  In the new window, select "Add a new user".

7) Follow the prompts to create either an online Microsoft account (by linking it to an email address) or a local account (by selecting "Sign in without a Microsoft account").  By default, the account will be a Standard User account unless you change it to administrator.


Now, when your kids (or anyone else) logs in with the standard user account, they will be asked to enter an administrator password if they attempt to install a program or change a setting.  If they want to install a legitimate program, they will only need to get you to enter the password for your administrator account.

Creating a separate account for your kids also gives you the opportunity to enable parental controls on the account.  I will address this in tomorrow's tip!

How to Clean Your Devices, Part 2

Yesterday, we covered how to clean a desktop computer.  Today, we will look at how to clean our mobile devices.

Laptop - Obviously, you will want to unplug the laptop and remove the battery before any cleaning.  To clean the monitor, use the same procedure for cleaning a desktop monitor.  (Monitor wipes or soap and water.)

To clean underneath a laptop's keyboard, compressed air is your best option.  If you are comfortable removing the keyboard, you may want to remove it for easier cleaning.  Next, use isopropyl alcohol to clean the keys.  (You can use a soap and water mixture, but be sure to squeeze any excess water off the towel before wiping and give your computer plenty of time to dry before starting it.)

Space has to be sacrificed in order to create a portable computer, so the ability to thoroughly clean a laptop is limited unless you are comfortable completely disassembling your computer.  Your only remaining option is to try and remove dust from any place you can.  Use compressed air to clean the vents.  Remove any panels on the bottom and blow dust out of those areas.  If you removed the keyboard earlier, blow dust out before putting it back in place.

Phone/Tablet - Smartphones and tablets are generally not made to be disassembled, so cleaning dust out of them will be difficult.  Fortunately, these devices do not attract as much dust since they have limited ventilation.  If there are any vents, try using compressed air inside of them.  I also found that my mother's smartphone had trouble charging due to dirt and dust inside the charging port.  A couple shots of compressed air in the charging port solved the problem.

If your phone has a battery that can be easily removed, take the cover off and remove it.  Then use compressed air to clean any exposed areas.  You can also clean these areas with a cotton swab using a soap and water mixture.  Use a damp microfiber cloth to clean your screen.  If the screen is cracked, use a dry cloth to prevent moisture from entering your device.  When cleaning the screen, do not use a circular motion, as this can scratch the screen.

How to Clean Your Devices, Part 1

One of the most common questions I am asked is how to clean a particular device. Most people know that they should not use a wet rag with soap, but they are unsure exactly what is appropriate.

Obviously, you will want to shut down your computer and remove the battery (if possible) prior to cleaning it.

Desktop Computer Case (Exterior) – Cleaning a desktop case is the one instance where it is appropriate to use soap and water. Use a moist (not wet) rag with a light amount of soap, and stay away or use caution around any ports or vents.

Desktop Computer Case (Interior) – Once the side panel of the case has been removed, use of water must stop! However, isopropyl alcohol is a great substitute for water, and it is safe to use around most computer components because it dries quickly and will not conduct electricity. Some people say that you can even take out most components and dip them in an alcohol bath, but I do not recommend this unless you are working with a computer that you can spare.

For a quick clean, I recommend taking the computer outside and using compressed air to blow the dust out of the case. This is a cheap and quick way to get most of the dust out. A can of compressed air usually costs between three and five dollars, and you can find them at any electronics store or Walmart/Meijer. Use short bursts of air; don’t just push the trigger and keep spraying!

If you want to give specific components a more thorough cleaning, read on:

Case Fans – Case fans are fans that are actually attached to the metal case itself. If compressed air isn’t getting the job done, use a Q-tip with isopropyl alcohol. You may want to remove the fan to be able to get both sides of it, but make sure that you make note of the arrows that point the direction of airflow and replace the fan in the same direction.

CPU/GPU Fans and Heat Sinks – Your processor is covered by a large series of metal fins, called a heat sink. In most cases, a fan then sits on top of the heat sink. If you have a separate graphics card, this it may have a heat sink and fan. Again, compressed air is best, but for a more thorough clean, use isopropyl alcohol. Be careful if you choose to remove the heat sink from the processor. If you do remove it, be sure to clean the heat sink surface and the top of the processor with isopropyl alcohol, and then reapply thermal compound (available at most electronics stores) once it is dry.

Motherboard and Expansion Cards – If compressed air is not cleaning your motherboard or expansion card, then your best option will again be a Q-tip with isopropyl alcohol. Be sure to leave enough time for the alcohol to dry before restarting your computer.

Hard Drives / Optical Drives – Due to the sensitive nature of these components, do not use ANY liquid on a hard drive or optical drive. If compressed air is not cleaning an area, try using a dry rag. Otherwise, the dirt or dust is something you will have to live with.

Power Supply – The power supply is the unit that receives the cord from the wall and then distributes power through a variety of wires. Like your hard drive, do not use any liquid with the power supply. Use compressed air and a dry cloth.

Desktop Keyboard – Use compressed air to blow out any dust or debris under the keyboard. (Flip the keyboard over or remove the keys to allow it to escape easily.) If you remove the keys, you can use isopropyl alcohol on the contacts underneath.

Mouse – For an optical mouse (with a laser), use a Q-tip with isopropyl alcohol in the area of the LED. For a ball mouse, remove the ball and wipe with alcohol. If the buttons on the mouse come off, then remove them and clean underneath with alcohol.

Monitor - The easiest way to clean a monitor is to buy a package of monitor wipes and keep them on hand. Carefully wipe the screen without pressing too hard (this can damage the pixels). If you want to do it by yourself, you can use water with a light amount of soap, but be careful not to let the water run into the bottom and sides of the screen.

Mac vs. PC, Part 2

After depressing any Apple fans who subscribe yesterday, it is now time to discuss areas where Apple's products excel.

Security, Part 2
PC users have heard it over and over from Mac fans:  Macs don't get viruses.  Macs certainly can get viruses (the first virus was written for Unix, which formed the basis for OS X), but OS X is naturally more secure.

Yes, OS X has some features that make it more difficult to write an effective virus.  However, a Mac's biggest security feature has been its low share of the overall market.  It is much easier and more profitable to attack Windows.

Apple also reviews iOS apps for malware before approving them for the App Store, although there is some dispute over how thorough Apple is with its screening process.  While Google has promised to be more effective at screening Android apps,

Mobile Software
Macs are well behind PCs in the software field, but iOS has a great variety of apps available.  Some of this may be because Apple was the first to get into the consumer smartphone market, and some is because there are a relatively small number of iOS devices.  It is much easier to test an iOS app on Apple's limited number of iPhones than to test an Android app on the large number of Android devices.

The one complaint I have with iOS apps is the fee that Apple charges developers.  While large companies like Facebook and Google won't have a problem paying the fee, small developers might choose to ignore iOS all together or to charge for an app they give to Android users for free.  I know of several free Android apps I use that charge you for the iOS version.

Stability
Because Apple develops its own hardware and software together, OS X and iOS are much more stable than Windows and Android.  Both Windows and Android have to be designed so that it can be run on a large number of hardware platforms.  OS X and iOS are both designed specifically for one hardware profile:  the one developed by Apple.  (It is possible to install OS X on a non-Apple computer, creating something popularly called a "Hackintosh".)  Apple's ability to develop hardware and software together means its products will generally experience fewer crashes and glitches.

Arts
Yesterday, I mentioned that if my life had taken a different course, I would probably be a Mac user. I studied music in college and did a substantial amount of composing and arranging music.  If I were still doing this today, I would almost certainly be a Mac user.  If there is one academic area where Macs excel, it is the fine arts.  If you are considering a career in this field, expect to need a Mac at some point.

Intangibles
A few other reasons to like Apple.  First, Apple makes nice-looking products.  I distinctly remember seeing a Mac as a kid and thinking about how cool it looked compared to the old, boxy computers we owned.

Second, I have heard good things about (although I have not personally experienced) Apple's customer care services.  I know people who have broken their screen and had Apple repair it for free, even though they should have been charged a fee under the Apple Care plans.

Finally, Apple's devices can be counted on to hold their value.  I know one couple that always purchases the newest Apple devices and then sells the previous model.  They usually end up receiving most of the cost of their new devices from the sale of their old ones.