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Arrange Documents and Music in Microsoft Wind Arrange Documents and Music in Microsoft Windows Windows 7 provides an easy way to organize music and documents by a variety of selections. Two examples are listed below. To organize music by artist Click start Click Computer Click on your "Music" folder In the upper right on the screen look for "Arrange by:" Click the drop-down arrow Choose "Artist" Note: It may take a few moments for the computer to sort the information. If you want to arrange by album, you would choose "Album" . Back to Top 5 Tips to Reduce Computer Repair Bills and 5 Tips to Reduce Computer Repair Bills and Expenses 1) Register all software products and sign-up to receive updates. 2) Make sure your anti-virus definitions are updated daily. 3) Never visit or engage in peer-to-peer file sharing websites. 4) Never download "enhanced" web browsers or screen savers. 5) Invest in a quality surge protector for all expensive electronics.. Back to Top Prevent Tampering With Your Smartphone Prevent Tampering With Your Smartphone Many people are now making spyware and tracking software for cell phones and smartphones. This software can send copies of your text messages to designated people. To help prevent this, never install software unless you are absolutely sure the software is safe. Set a password on your phone and keep it locked when not in your possession.. Back to Top Windows XP Consitent Folder Views Windows XP Consistent Folder Views If you are tired of having different views for folders in Windows XP, try the following HITman Tech Tip. Right click on My Computer Left click on Explore Click the drop-down next to Views, and choose the view you desire Click on Tools Click on Folder Options Click on View Choose Apply to All Folders Click Yes when prompted Click OK to save . Back to Top Pin Programs or Items to Windows 7 Taskbar Pin Programs or Items to Windows 7 Taskbar Method 1 – The program is running In the Taskbar, right click on the program Click “Pin this program to taskbar” Method 2 – The program isn’t running Click Start Click Programs Locate the program you want to pin to the Taskbar Right click on the program Click “Pin to Taskbar” . Back to Top Increase Smartphone Battery Life 9 Ways to Increase Smartphone Battery Life
Back to Top Internet Browsing Safety 101 Internet Browsing Safety 101 Do not have any websites open which use a password such as banking sites, Facebook, or shopping websites while you are browsing. If you're unsure of the sites you will be browsing, use Mozilla Firefox in Safe Mode. Close any programs in which you might type confidential information. Think before you click that link. Never click on a pop-up that indicates your computer is vulnerable. . Back to Top Save Energy and Have Your Computer Boot Up Fa Save Energy and Have Your Computer Boot Up Faster Use Hibernate instead of powering the computer off. This may take an extra few seconds as the computer is storing open programs and files to the hard disk. The benefit is boot time is substantially reduced and the computer uses no power in Hibernation mode. Sleep mode is another option, but does use power when in this state.. Back to Top Homelink – Helpful or Harmful? Homelink – Helpful or Harmful? Many new cars come with a feature called Homelink. What Homelink does is allow the programming of a button in the car to open garage doors, security gates, and control lights. While Homelink is nice because it doesn’t require keeping a separate remote control garage door opener in the car, it has a dark side. If a Homelink equipped vehicle is stolen, it makes it very easy for the thief to get inside the garage, and once in the garage can work on breaking into the home without being seen. Remember, people are use to seeing the same vehicle pull into the driveway. . Back to Top Summer Photography Fun Summer Photography Fun Summer is a great time for family fun, vacationing and warm weather adventures AND we all want to capture those precious moments with our digital cameras. When capturing that moment to last a lifetime… follow these photo tips: 1: Watch for Interesting Angles Shoot up or down, lay down on the ground. Whatever it takes. 2: Experiment! Shooting more used to cost more, now it doesn’t. Walk around your subject. 3: Consider Black and White Some pictures just look better that way. 4: Horizontal or Vertical? Most cameras are designed to be held for a horizontal image, but your subject may look better if you turn your camera to frame up a vertical photograph. With photography there are tips and there are guidelines... but there is only one rule. Back up, Back up, Back up! Onto a CD, DVD, or external hard drive and get it out of the house. . Back to Top Flip Style Video Buying Questions Flip Style Video Buying Questions Before purchasing a new portable video recorder, consider these questions. Will the battery life be sufficient, or do you need a device with a replaceable battery? Would a device with built-in memory work or would one with a removable memory card be better? Do you need image stabilization? Would the ability of using a portable microphone be beneficial? Do you require a waterproof video camera? . Back to Top Facebook Privacy Facebook Privacy While security is important for adults, it is crucial for children. If your children use Facebook, here are some suggestions. Limit access to pictures, birthday, religious and political views. Be careful sharing information such as your address, mobile phone and home phone. Restrict access to who can post or make comments on the wall, to keep inappropriate material off the page. You can also eliminate their page from the Public Search Results. . Back to Top Social Media Safety Tips Social Media Safety Tips Do not use your real date of birth in a social media profile. Do not use the names of children in any caption or when tagging photos. Do not state you will be going on vacation or away from home. Be very careful in who you invite into your group. Be very careful about accepting invitations from others. Even though you may be careful with what you post, others may not.. Back to Top Safe Wireless Connection Tips Tips for Keeping Your Wireless Connection Safe The first line of defense is a software firewall. Many computers come with Windows Firewall. While not optimum, this is a no-cost option worth using. Use websites which are secure whenever possible. These are sites which have an https:// in front of the address and show a lock. Keep your software updated with the latest security patches. Use strong passwords and change them frequently when possible. Strong passwords include: numbers, upper and lower case letters, and symbols. Be careful sending or receiving email and using instant messaging programs. Assume someone is watching everything you type. . Back to Top Turn Your BlackBerry Into a Flashlight for Fr Turn Your BlackBerry Into a Flashlight for Free Using the method below, you can have a powerful flashlight with you everywhere you take your BlackBerry. Scroll to the Video Camera and click Press the “BlackBerry” menu button. Scroll to Options and click Scroll to Video Light and click Scroll to On and click Press the Return button Click on Save Use the following procedures to have very fast access to the flashlight you just created. Scroll to Options and click Scroll to Screen/Keyboard and click Scroll down to the Right Side and Left Side Convenience Keys Choose either key and click the item it opens Scroll to Video Camera and click Press the Return button Click on Save Now go into a dark space and try it. Enjoy. . Back to Top Easy Method for Creating Strong Passwords Easy Method for Creating Strong Passwords The best practices for passwords include; numbers, upper and lower case letters, and symbols. It is also highly recommended to change passwords often. The problem with this is many people forget their passwords or write them on paper or document them on their computer, defeating the purpose of security. An easy way to create and remember passwords is to make a sentence. Write out the sentence using proper punctuation and capitals where required. Substitute appropriate symbols if possible. Here are two examples. Sentence: I have been a Yankees fan since 1985. Password: Ihb@Yfs1985. Sentence: The Boston Red Sox won the World Series in 2007. Password: TBRSwtWSi2007. . Back to Top Track Your Work in Outlook Get The Boss to Give You Credit for All Your Work Using Microsoft Outlook Microsoft Outlook provides a good method for tracking what work you perform on a daily basis and which accounts or contacts it is for. Unfortunately this feature is not enabled by default, but this is easily remedied. Open Outlook Click Tools Click Options Click Journal Options which is about midway down the page Check the items you want recorded Check the items you want to record files from Lastly check the contacts you want them tracked for Click OK to save You will need to periodically review your contact list in this section as new contacts are not added by default. . Back to Top 3 Things Don Corleone Could Learn From The Bo 3 Things Don Corleone Could Learn About Google Search From The Boss at HITman Services 1) Someone called Don Corleone’s cell phone (his mobile phone, not the phone in his cell) and he wants to check out who called. In the Google search bar he could type phonebook:714-867-5309 because that is the number of the person who called him. (Note this only works for residences and published numbers.) 2) Don Corleone now decides he needs more information about where this person lives, so he types in the area code 714 into the Google search bar. 3) In a meeting, Don Corleone needs to calculate the VIG (interest payment on a loan). In the Google search bar he types in 253500 which is the amount of the loan, the * and .08 which is the weekly interest rate. . Back to Top An Easy Way to Switch Monitor Displays An Easy Way to Switch Monitor Displays Several high end notebooks have a button which allows changing monitor settings quickly. Windows 7 adds a new command which is almost as good and does not require purchasing an expensive notebook. Simply press the “Windows” key, plus the “p” key and choose which monitor setting you want. . Back to Top 10 Surefire Signs That You Are Infected With 10 Surefire Signs That You Are Infected With Spyware, Malware, and Viruses Since most malicious programs are designed to hide themselves, detecting their existence is not always easy. However, there are a few surefire signs that you have been infected: 1 - You start getting swamped with pop-up ads that seem to come from nowhere and constantly interrupt your use of the computer. 2 - Your computer is unstable, sluggish, locks up, or crashes frequently. 3 - Your web browser's home page changes on its own and you cannot modify the settings. You may also see toolbars on your web browser that you did not set up. 4 - You get a second or third web browser popping up behind your main browser that you didn’t open or request. 5 - Mysterious files suddenly start appearing. 6 - Your CD drawer starts opening and closing by itself. 7 - You get constant runtime errors in Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express. 8 - You find emails in your "Sent Items" folder that you didn't send. 9 - Some of your files are moved or deleted or the icons on your desktop or toolbars are blank or missing. 10 - You suddenly see your self appear in a window from your webcam. . Back to Top Alert - Internal Revenue Service Fake Notice Alert - Fake Internal Revenue Service Email Circulating The latest scam to hit is one which is especially devious as it instills fear in most Americans. The email states in the subject line something to the effect of "Under Reported Income Notice". Once opened, it starts its insidious work by downloading software to steal sensitive data such as bank information. In the event the link in the email was clicked, unplug the computer from the Internet and contact a professional to help resolve the issue.. Back to Top Keep Your iTunes Library Safe For Free Keep Your iTunes Library Safe For Free If you are one of the millions who has an iPod and is concerned about losing your music library, here is a solution. CopyTrans is a free download which will backup: music, videos, podcasts, audio books, and much more from your iPod to your computer. CopyTrans also offers other programs for iPods and iPhones which make transferring to and from a PC simple and convenient. . Back to Top Facebook Alert - Virus Targets Password Theft Facebook Alert - Virus Targeting Theft of Passwords Be advised there is a new virus which is circulating through the Internet via email. The email explains that the users password for their Facebook account has been reset and recommends they click an attachment or link to get their new password. This virus, as with all similar style emails, only works if the recipient clicks the link in the email. Remember, it is never good to click an embedded email link. For details on how to reduce threats, please visit our website as we have several free reports which can help. . Back to Top Twitter Adds Location Service Twitter Adds Location Service Twitter recently added a tweet your location option to their service. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you have a twitter account and decide to enable to location option. Your location will be stored along with your tweets. People will know where you were when you tweeted. Your tweet will be in the public domain once you post it. Even if you disable location sharing later, any tweets which were previously posted with your location will still be there.. Back to Top How Safe Are Facebook Private Messages? How Safe Are Facebook Private Messages On February 26th, a bug in Facebook’s update sent private messages intended for one person to strangers. This is just the latest in concerns over privacy. The safest method to correspond with people over the Internet is with a private email account. With free or public email accounts the security is generally not nearly as good. In addition, many free email companies review email messages in order to provide “appropriate” advertising to the account holder. As the old saying goes, there is no free lunch. . Back to Top Is a Web Beacon reporting on your email? Is a Web Beacon reporting on your email? A Web Beacon is an image which gets embedded into an email. When you open the email, the Web Beacon reports back to the person or company sending the email that it has been read. Web Beacons can also report if the email was forwarded to someone else. They also have the ability to send your IP (Internet Protocol) address along with time and date information. If you are using a newer version of Microsoft Outlook and did not modify the security settings, you should be OK. . Back to Top BlackBerry Camera and Video Tips BlackBerry Camera Tips Press or click the Camera button Press the BlackBerry (menu) button Scroll to and click Options To Enable Flash Scroll to Flash and choose On from the dropdown menu To Set the Picture Quality Scroll to Picture Quality and choose which setting you prefer from the dropdown menu To Choose the Size Scroll to Picture Size and choose the size you prefer from the dropdown menu Press the Return button and click Save BlackBerry Video Tips To Zoom In Use the trackball to scroll up or to the right To Zoom Out Use the trackball to scroll down or to the left To Start, Stop and Pause Press the trackball To send a video via MMS Press the BlackBerry (menu) button Scroll to and click Options Scroll to and click the dropdown next to Video Format Choose MMS Press the Return key and click Save . Back to Top Save Energy and Time Save Energy and Time We get asked frequently if computers should be turned off or left running. Hibernation is a good compromise. When possible, turn on hibernation by clicking the Start button, clicking Shutdown and choosing hibernation. The benefit is it will leave your computer as is. If you have Outlook open, a spreadsheet and a browser window, they will all be in the same state when you power the computer back on. The power used by hibernation mode is about the same as if the computer was simply plugged in and turned off.. Back to Top Don’t Get Locked Out Don’t Get Locked Out A great new feature in Microsoft Windows 7 is the ability to create a password reset disk in the event you forget your password, it gets reset and no longer works or for any other reason. With the password reset disk a major issue and/or cost is averted. All it takes is a few minutes of your time and following the instructions on this page. To create a password reset disk in Window 7, follow the steps below. 1.) Have a USB drive or removable memory handy 2.) Click on the Start button 3.) Click on the Control Panel button 4.) Click on the User Accounts button - (If you are using Category view, click on User Accounts and Family Safety first 5.) Insert your memory into the computer 6.) Click the link “Create a password reset disk” in the left navigation bar 7.) Choose the proper drive from the list 8.) Enter your current password 9.) Click Next 10.) Remember to stop the USB or memory service before you remove the memory device. Back to Top TV and Movies on the Web Do you find yourself working late and in need of a break? Navigate to hulu.com where they have hundreds of movies and TV programs available for free download. The quality of their videos are very good and there is no need to create an account to watch. Check with your company before watching at work as this is bandwidth intensive and may violate the company's computer use policy.. Back to Top Speed Up Your Computer Part 2 Speed Up Your Computer Part 2 Many new computers come with software called trial-ware. Examples included Quicken, Office and games. They are called trial-ware because they can be used for x amount of days or x amount of times being accessed. Sometimes these programs have processes which run in the background, causing your computer to run slow. Uninstall the trial-ware can help your computer run faster and use less disk space.. Back to Top Speed Up Your Computer Part 1 Speed Up Your Computer Part 1 Remove auto-loading software. Many times when software gets loaded, a component is installed which loads the software or a portion of the software in the auto-start section. When you log in to your computer these programs load. The more programs which load, the longer it takes for your computer to finish the boot process. These programs should be removed from the start menu or if you don't use them, deleted.. Back to Top BlackBerry Browser Tips BlackBerry Browser Tips If you have a new model BlackBerry such as the Storm or Tour, you have two browser views. One is Column View and the other Page View. To access them while on a website, press the BlackBerry (menu) button and scroll up. If you are in Page View you will see the option to change to Column View and visa versa. To add a bookmark, while on a Website, press the BlackBerry (menu) button and then click Add Bookmark. You can change the name here, then click Add. To set a different home page, go to the Website you would like as your home page. Press the BlackBerry (menu) button, then click Options. Scroll to the bottom and choose Use Current. To forward this website, press the BlackBerry (menu) button, then click Send Address. You will be prompted for how you want it sent. Choose the method, then the recipient. If you are having difficulty reading web pages, you can change the font size. While on a website, press the BlackBerry (menu) button, then click Options and General Properties. Scroll to the font size and change it to your liking. To set the BlackBerry Browser home page, from the Browser, press the Menu key. Click Options, then Browser Configuration, and type your desired web site in the Home Page Address field. Here are some shortcuts to keep in mind when browsing. To refresh the page, press r To move down, press the Spacebar To move up, press the Shift Key and Spacebar To move to the top of the page, press t To move to the bottom of the page, press b To get back to your home page, press h . Back to Top Winter Storm Preparation Winter Storm Preparation Winter is here and it is always a good idea to review plans and supplies before they are needed. The government has a very good website with valuable information for many scenarios. Their winter preparedness information can be located at www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/winter.html As it is said an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.. Back to Top RFID protection RFID protection RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. Examples of RFID in use are EasyPass, SpeedPass, passports and the New York State enhanced drivers license. Several banks also embed RFID tags into their credit cards. One of the concerns is people are able to scan for RFID’s without the knowledge of the person being scanned. A person equipped with a scanner could use it while in a movie theater to gather personal information. Since these scanners are inexpensive, this is entirely possible. The next time you are buying a wallet, check to see if it has RFID protection built in. . Back to Top Don’t Drown from Phishing Don’t Drown from Phishing Phishing has cost millions of people millions of dollars. Phishing is a method used to get someone to click on a link in an email. Once clicked, viruses or malware can be installed on the computer. Other Phishing expeditions are attempts to gather personal information. For more on staying safe from phishing, visit our blog at HITmanServices.com/blog . Back to Top BlackBerry Email and Messaging Tips BlackBerry Email and Messaging Tips Enable Spell Check Click Email icon Press BlackBerry (menu) button Scroll to Options and click Scroll to Spell Check and click Choose the Spell Check Options you want Press the Return button and click Save Select Text Easily Scroll to the start or end of the text you want to copy Press and hold the Shift key while using the trackball to highlight the text Press BlackBerry (menu) button Scroll to and click Copy Paste Text Open the item you wish to paste into Scroll to the section where you want to paste Press BlackBerry (menu) button Scroll to and click Paste Shortcut Keys Press T to go to the Top Press B to go to the Bottom Press F to Forward a message Press L to repLy to a message Press C to start a new message . Back to Top Coming in 2010 – Blu-ray Managed Copy Coming in 2010 – Blu-ray Managed Copy Managed Copy provides buyers of Blu-ray disks to make a backup to a recordable Blu-ray disk, download a copy to a Windows Media DRM-compatible player, memory card or hard drive. At the present time iPods, iPhones and other Apple devices are not included. New Blu-ray players will probably have to be purchased to take advantage of Managed Copy. . Back to Top Online Shopping Safety Online Shopping Safety With ID theft on the rise it is all the more important safe shopping guidelines are adhered to. Make sure the website uses an SSL, you can tell if there is a lock displayed on the browser. Extended Validation SSL’s have a green bar. Use websites which offer a security seal such as those offered by ControlScan or GeoTrust? Use a PayPal account instead of a credit card? Check the return policy. This is especially important if purchasing software. Make sure business offers a phone number and address. Don’t save passwords in your browser. . Back to Top Black Friday 2009 Black Friday 2009 Black Friday is coming up fast. Here are two websites which may help your shopping efforts. http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com Can be followed on twitter and facebook http://bfads.net Offers updates via an email list, facebook and twitter. They also offer a mobile version at http://m.bfads.net Next week we will offer shopping safety tips. If you have family and friends who could benefit from these tips, please have them sign up. . Back to Top BlackBerry Telephone Tips BlackBerry Telephone Tips To answer a second call coming in, press the menu (BlackBerry) button, scroll to Answer. Pressing the menu key again will let you swap between calls. Don’t remember your phone number? Press the Phone button, it is displayed at the top. To add a number to Speed Dial, open your Contacts. Press the BlackBerry button and choose Add Speed Dial. Now choose the button you want to associate with this phone number. You can also add to the Speed Dial in the Phone Log using the same method. To use Speed Dial, simply press and hold the button associated with the contact you want to call. To access your Voice Mail, press the Phone key and press and hold the 1 key. . Back to Top HDMI 1.4 on the Horizon HDMI 1.4 on the Horizon HDMI 1.4 will add the HDMI Ethernet Channel. This will allow home entertainment devices which are connected to exchange information as well as share a connection to the Internet. Also included in HDMI 1.4 is support for 4K resolution, a Micro HDMI connector and 3D.. Back to Top HDTV 1080p Seating Distance Do you have a 1080p HDTV? If so are you sitting too far away to take advantage of the enhanced picture? To determine the best seat-to-screen distance in your living room for a 1080p display, THX recommends dividing the diagonal screen by .84. For example, an HDTV display with a 65-inch screen divided by .84 equals a 77-inch viewing distance (6.5 feet).. Back to Top Use AOL IM to Send Texts to Your Phone Use AOL Instant Messenger to Send Texts to Your Phone (In the event you do not have an AIM account, go to www.aol.com and subscribe.) Open AIM Click Edit Click Settings Click Mobile Click “Register Mobile Device” Type in your mobile phone number and click Send. Look at your phone for the confirmation number Enter the confirmation number and click Confirm Enable the Turn IM Forwarding On button and choose who you would like to receive mobile messages from. When leaving your computer, keep AIM on and change your status to Mobile. . Back to Top FBI Warns of Three Hoax e-mails FBI Warns of Three Hoax e-mails The Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a warning for three hoax e-mails which are currently circulating and claim to contain confidential law enforcement reports regarding terrorism and an audio from Osama bin Laden. The FBI website states these e-mails are a fraud and may contain viruses and malicious software. The FBI does not send unsolicited e-mail or official reports. . Back to Top Wide Scale Security Breach Wide Scale Security Breach Thousands of email accounts have been compromised as a result of passwords being posted online. You should change your password ASAP, especially if you have one or more of the following accounts: GMail Google Talk Google Docs Hotmail Yahoo YouTube Additionally if you used this same password for other accounts, they should also be changed. . Back to Top Prepare For The Next Power Outage Prepare For The Next Power Outage Whether you live in a hot or cold region, the city or country, at some point there is a high probability there will be a power interruption. For whole house solutions, companies like Generac offer several options, though may be beyond the budget of many. Another solution is to use portable generators. Companies such as Troy Built, Briggs & Stratton and Honda along with others make smaller generators which depending on size can power the major appliances in your home. If you decide to use a gas powered portable generator, make sure you safely store the gasoline. . Back to Top Only Download Legal Music Make sure others using your computer are not downloading illegal music. A recent suit won by the RIAA for the amount of $1.92 million was awarded to be paid by a single mother because her children illegally downloaded 24 songs. Additionally, downloading songs from friends or sources which cannot be verified, could also contain viruses or other malware.. Back to Top Keep Your Finger Off The Trigger Keep Your Finger Off The Trigger Don’t be so fast to click the send, update, enter or ok button on the screen. Before you do, check the following: Is everything spelled correctly? Does the email, text, post, update or tweet make sense? Is it going to who you intend to send it to? Is there anything embarrassing which should be removed? Remember, just like when something is said it can’t be taken back, when something is posted on the Internet it will remain there forever, so slow down on the enter key. . Back to Top Is Paperless Really in Your Best Interest Is Paperless Really in Your Best Interest? Remember the saying the computer doesn’t make mistakes? What if someone hacks into your account and makes changes or steals money? Maybe they will remove a deposit which was recently made. By having your bank send you statements at least you have a paper copy of your transactions to refer back to if needed.. Back to Top Ease Your Comfort While Sitting at Your Desk Ease Your Comfort While Sitting at Your Desk Relax your back, shoulders and hips You can do this sitting or standing. Place your palms on the lower portion of your back. Stretch your upper body backwards. Stay in this position for five seconds. Relax. Do this five to ten times.. Back to Top Smartphone Versatility Smartphone Versatility Many Smartphones do much more than let you communicate with others and keep track of your calendar. Setup with the tethering option they become broadband modems, allowing you to access the Internet or email. Smartphones can play MP3’s and even function as a GPS (Global Positioning System). Many Smartphones also have software which let them act as dictating machines. Smartphones like BlackBerry’s can also be used as an external file storage device when equipped with a MicroSD card. . Back to Top Don’t Be a Phishing or Vishing Victim Don’t Be a Phishing or Vishing Victim Phishing is a phony email sent under the guise of a legitimate company. Vishing is the act of a person contacting you and identifying themselves as someone they are not. Both of these are forms of social engineering. Social engineering is one of the greatest threats to computer security. NEVER respond to an email asking for personal information. If you receive a call and the person is asking information about your computer system or others who work at your organization, get their number and call them back. Also as a safeguard look their number up independently to verify as people can spoof their phone number. Remember to trust your inner instincts and go with your gut. . Back to Top Better Mileage and Tire Safety Better Mileage and Tire Safety Nitrogen vs. Air Replacing the air in your vehicle’s tires with nitrogen could save you money at the gas pump and over the long haul with tire longevity. Nitrogen does not fluctuate with temperatures as much as air. The benefits include a more stable psi (pounds per square inch) in your tires which if you are not diligent about checking your tire pressure often, could save you money. Savings depend on the cost of gas, how many miles are driven and the mpg the vehicle gets. As nitrogen runs cooler, it also increases the safety of your vehicle. The small rubber contact patch on your tires is one of the most important safety aspects of vehicles. The downside to nitrogen is it typically costs about $50.00 to fill a set of 4 tires. . Back to Top Don’t Look Now, But You’re Being Followed Don’t Look Now, But You’re Being Followed Are you one of the millions of people who use Google Calendar or one of Google’s other products such as Google Search? Google collects personal information you provide plus information you don’t. Google Calendar can also combine this information with information from other Google services plus services from other companies. If you are under the impression that by deleting your cookies you are erasing traces of where you have been, think again. Google uses other methods such as your IP address to know who you are and where you’ve been. Google can also share this information with third parties and can keep your information in servers located in other countries. Google shares this information with other Google services. Based upon the information you provide, Google will send you information it thinks you need. Going to the dermatologist, Google may send you information on skin care products. Do not be under the impression that by deleting something on your calendar it will be deleted by Google, as the likely hood is it will remain in their possession for years. Big brother is here and he is not wearing red, white and blue. . Back to Top Keep Your Phone Safe at The Beach Keep Your Phone Safe at The Beach Going to a beach or pool this summer? With so much personal information being stored on cell phones these days, not to mention the cost of the phone itself and the replacement issue you’d have to deal with if your phone was lost, stolen or damaged, it may pay to invest in the proper case. Many manufacturers offer waterproof cases. Some have bands which can go around an arm while others have neck straps. If you’re concerned about where to get one, companies such as L.L. Bean and EMS carry them. While the cost is around $40.00, just imagine not being able to make or receive an important call at a critical time, or a stranger getting access to your address book. . Back to Top Handheld GPS For Your Phone Handheld GPS For Your Phone Google Maps vs. Verizon VZ Navigator We have been testing Verizon’s VZ Navigator and Google Maps for a while. Google Maps is free while Verizon charges $10.00 per month for VZ Navigator. VZ Navigator offers voice prompts while Google Maps does not. You must look at the phone or have someone read the directions to you if you use Google Maps. Google Maps uses both GPS and cell tower triangulation to pinpoint your location. VZ Navigator uses GPS. On several occasions the directions provided by VZ Navigator were very poor, all requiring using alternate methods to navigate to our destination. A better solution to VZ Navigator or Google Maps is a low cost Garmin or similar unit. Many of their models could be purchased for close to the annual cost of Verizon’s VZ Navigator.. Back to Top Recognize The Signs of a Stroke Recognize The Signs of a Stroke In the event of a stroke it is imperative that a person get to a hospital within 3 hours. SMART S - Ask the person to SMILE. M - Ask the person to MOVE in a straight line. A – Ask the person a current event question. R – Ask the person to RAISE both arms. T – Ask the person to stick out their TONGUE. Stroke symptoms include the onset of: • Numbness or weakness of the face or limbs, especially on one side of the body. • Partial or complete loss of vision. • Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding others. • Loss of balance. • Dizziness or vertigo. • Difficulty swallowing. • Memory issues. • Severe headache. If the person has a problem completing any of these, call 911 immediately. It could save a life. . Back to Top Photo Savings Tips 1 Photo Savings Tips 1 Do you like to take photos, but don’t have the software to improve them? Take a look at picnik.com. Their free version will let you fix red eye, crop, resize and rotate your photos. They also offer special effects which can be applied to your pictures. A benefit to picnik.com is it does not require software to be loaded on your computer. The downside is you need to upload your pictures to the Internet for the system to work. . Back to Top Pros and Cons of Internet Based Phones Pros and Cons of Internet Based Phones Time Warner, Vonage, Magic Jack and Skype all provide phone service called VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol). The benefits to these services over traditional POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) lines is there is a substantial reduction in costs. A phone line from Verizon could cost over $50.00 per month by the time taxes and fees are added in. By contrast, Vonage is roughly half that and magic Jack is about $60.00 including a year of service. The big advantage to traditional phones over Internet based phones is they still work in the event of power outages and do not rely on a computer to be on or a router to function correctly. If you do a lot of calling and are concerned about your security, the best of both worlds would be to combine a basic service from a company like Verizon with either Skype or Magic Jack. Your cost would be about the same as if you had Vonage, except now you have redundancy. . Back to Top Create Your Own Wallpaper Create Your Own Wallpaper Would you like to have wallpaper on your computer which is unique and has special meaning to you? A company on the Internet offers a service which will let you take anywhere from 1 to 30 pictures and create a collage out of them. To create your own customized photo collage wallpaper visit photovisi.com. Photovisi even lets you use pictures which you have loaded on flickr. . Back to Top Create a Shortcut Key Create a shortcut (hot key) to your favorite applications Click the start button Click programs Highlight the program you want to create a shortcut for Right Click on Properties Tab to shortcut key Press the letter you would like to designate for this program Click Ok To use your new shortcut key, just press ctrl + alt + the letter you used. . Back to Top Increase Performance on Windows Vista Increase Performance on Windows Vista If you would like to get Windows Vista to run faster for very little cost, try the following: Locate a USB 2.0 high speed drive or purchase a new one. Put the drive in one of the USB ports on your computer. Wait for the pop-up window to appear. Choose Speed Up My System. That's all there is to it. . Back to Top Child Internet Safety Child Internet Safety If you have children at home, you may want to review the following with them. Do not give out your email address. Never give anybody your real name, phone number or home address. Do not open any email from people you don't know. Talk with a parent before opening any attachment. NEVER setup a meeting with people you have met on the Internet. Do not give out family information. Do not share your personal diary items.. Back to Top Data Backups Safeguard Your Data Purchase 2 or 3 USB thumb drives in a capacity which will handle your documents, data, email and music. Open Windows Explorer. Put one of the drives into the USB slot. After the drive is recognized, right click on it and rename it so each one has a unique name. To rename the folder do the following: Right click on the folder. Move your mouse to Rename. Left click on Rename. Give the drive a unique name so it can be identified easily from the others. Once this is done use the following procedures to backup the data. Right click on the folders you want to copy and drag them to your USB drive. Let go of the mouse button and click copy. Once the files are copied, the drive can be removed. Remember to eject the drive before pulling it out. Do this by clicking on the icon in the system tray and then clicking eject. Put the USB drive in a safe place. If possible, keep one at a different location. If you have a DVD burner and a program like Roxio, you can use it to create data disks. Another solution is to use an Internet based service. These can be configured to backup any changed data files throughout the day. Companies such as Carbonite offer this service. . Back to Top Micro USB Initiative New micro USB initiative for cell phone chargers The GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) Association is working on standardizing cell phone chargers. Several manufacturers and providers have agreed to use the same connection for cell phone chargers. This should reduce the number of chargers people need, and are expected be meet or exceed a 4 star energy rating. . Back to Top Stay Safe From Virus’ Stay Safe From Virus’ Keeping the electronics and other items you touch and place near your face is a good first line of defense. Consumer wipes such as those from Clorox or Lysol work well. These towelettes have the proper amount of cleaners on them so that the liquid will not get into the electronics. Rubbing alcohol also works well when used with a cotton ball. Try not to over saturate the cotton ball. Some items you might want to disinfect on a regular basis include: cell phones, regular phones, pens or pencils if others use them, steering wheel, shift lever and door handles. . Back to Top Credit Card Safety Credit Card Payment Safety When writing checks for credit card payments, do not put the entire credit card account number on the check. Use only the last 4 digits in the "For" line. Credit Card Phone Numbers Document the phone numbers for your credit card companies along with the credit card number. Keep this in a different location than your credit cards. In the event you need to cancel your credit cards, you will quickly be able to locate the phone numbers.. Back to Top Stay On Top of Movies While Out and About Stay On Top of Movies While Out and About Moviefone has a nice website for Smartphones and cell phones. You can see the top movies along with movies playing near you. Moviefone also has information on upcoming releases and what’s new on DVD. The address is www.moviefone.com . Back to Top Information For The Traveler On The Go Information For The Traveler On The Go While each airline has their own website for mobile users, Orbitz has a mobile website which has information for all airlines. In addition, Orbitz has travel information for large airports and hotel availability for the top 20 cities. The address is: http://mobile.orbitz.com . Back to Top Relieve Wrist Tension and Stiffness Relieve Wrist Tension and Stiffness You can perform this stretch sitting or standing. Place your palms together at chest height as if you were praying. Push your palms together slowly while slightly lifting your elbows. Hold this position for five seconds. Repeat this stretch five to ten times.. Back to Top Credit Theft or Fraud Resolution In the event your credit cards are stolen, immediately file a report with local law enforcement. Contact the three credit reporting agencies and have them place a fraud alert on your name. Also be sure to contact the Social Security Administration. Equifax - (800)525-6285 Experian - (888)397-3742 Trans Union - (800)680-7289 Social Security Administration - (800)269-0271. Back to Top Cell Phone Suggestions Cell Phone Suggestions In meetings, while eating, at church or the movies: Turn off or set to silent. Use vibrate only if it will not disturb others. Use an appropriate ring tone. If you’re a professional keep it professional. Going into a meeting or driving soon? Rather than having family or your office call you, call them in advance. Let them know you will check back in again at your next available moment. In a car using the speakerphone or Bluetooth? Let the person on the other end of the phone know the conversation is not private. . Back to Top Travel Around the World for Free Travel Around the World for Free Google Earth 5.0 lets you travel all over the world. You can explore the Rocky Mountains, the Grand Canyon, the Atlantic Ocean. View the earth from satellite and discover buildings in 3D. With Google Earth 5.0 you can record your trips to view and share with family and friends. To load Google Earth, go to http://earth.google.com Click on “Download Google Earth 5.0” Follow the prompts Enjoy your travels . Back to Top Help Finding a Restroom Help Finding a Restroom There is a new application for BlackBerry and iPhone users which may help. Using the GPS in the device, the system will show you public restrooms in the area where you are, along with a cleanliness rating. To sign up, go to www.sitorsquat.com . Back to Top TENS Unit TENS Unit A TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) unit is a small portable electronic device. Through small sticky patches attached to an area of the body experiencing pain, electrical impulses are transmitted from the TENS unit. The impulses suppress pain by helping the brain release endorphins. Additionally nerve fibers get stimulated which can block pain. Many people get relief through the use of TENS units. If you feel one could help you, talk to your physician or chiropractor. . Back to Top New Email Appliance New Email Appliance Do you know somebody who is not able to have or operate a computer, but would like email? A new device called Presto allows people to receive photos and email sent by family and friends. While Internet access is not required, there is a fee of $12.50 per month above the $150.00 price. . Back to Top Read That Menu Easier Read That Menu Easier Have there been times when you wish you could see that menu a little better. Adding a coin-sized LED flashlight to your pocket or purse could be just the tool. Many LED flashlights have batteries which can last up to 30 hours and the LED bulbs are nearly indestructible.. Back to Top Check Safety Check Safety Use your work phone number on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a P.O. Box, list that address instead of your home address. Never have your social security number printed on your checks.. Back to Top Quick Keys Quick Keys Use these to limit your keystrokes. Use F1 for help Use F3 to search in Firefox Use F4 to get a history of where you have been in Internet Explorer Use F5 to refresh the computer screen Use F7 to check spelling Use Alt + F4 to close an active window . Back to Top Help With Avoiding Tickets Help With Avoiding Tickets A new application for GPS enabled phones could help keep you from getting a speeding or red light ticket by making you a more aware driver. Trapster is a real-time database of red light cameras and speed traps. It is updated by its users around the world. The GPS in your phone alerts you when you are in the vicinity of one of these. To get the application, go to www.trapster.com and signup. . Back to Top GOOG411 - Free Directory Assistance GOOG411 - Free Directory Assistance Dial 1-800-GOOG-411 (1-800-4664-411) from any phone. After the announcement, say the name of the business along with the city and state. The system will give you a verbal listing of the businesses matching your criteria along with a number such as 1 or 2. When you hear the business you want, simply press that number and you will be connected. . Back to Top Use Disinfectant Wipes Use Disinfectant Wipes Using disinfectant wipes before eating and after handling any of the following could help you stay healthy, as they kill the viruses which could spread a cold or flu. Phones Pocketbooks or wallets Keyboards Mice (the electronic type) Hand-held devices. Back to Top Be Prepared for the Digital TV Change Be Prepared for the Digital TV Change On February 17, 2009 broadcast television will change from analog to digital. If you are using a satellite or cable to receive TV signals, you will be ok. In the event your TV reception comes from the air you may need to purchase a new antenna and a converter box. Additional information can be obtained at www.dtv.gov.. Back to Top Emergency Winter Car Kit Emergency Winter Car Kit Besides keeping your gas tank full, the following items could be very handy in the event you get stuck. • Space or Polartec blanket • Flashlight with spare batteries • Cell phone charger • First aid kit • Snow brush • Ice scraper • Energy or candy bars • Shovel Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah from the staff at HITman Services!. Back to Top Relieve Neck and Shoulder Tension Relieve Neck and Shoulder Tension You can perform this stretch sitting or standing. - Inhale and turn your head slowly to the right until you can feel tension in your neck muscles. - Hold this position for five seconds. - Exhale while turning to face straight ahead. - Now perform this sequence on the left side. - Repeat this stretch five to ten times.. Back to Top Stay Safe and Eliminate Spam Stay Safe and Eliminate Spam Instead of using your real email address use a temporary one. This can be helpful when filling out forms when you are concerned about getting spammed. To create your own temporary email address, www.mailinator.com. . Back to Top Credit Card Protection Credit Card Protection Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead write, "PHOTO ID REQUIRED" . Back to Top Be Prepared For Winter Be Prepared For Winter The Snow is On Its way With winter just around the corner many people mount snow tires for added protection. Just as runners wear running shoes as opposed to boots when competing, the proper "footwear" can help in inclement weather. A great Internet site to get information on snow tires or to purchase them is TireRack.com.. Back to Top Black Friday Ads for 2008 Black Friday Ads for 2008 Looking to get a jump start on the Holiday Season? Some good websites which have Black Friday ads are: http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com http://bfads.net www.black-friday.net www.theblackfriday.com . Back to Top Track Your Wallet Contents Track Your Wallet Contents To Help Prevent Prevent Identity Theft Scan both sides of your drivers license, credit cards, library card, etc. Keep this in a safe place. In the event your wallet is lost or stolen, it will be easy to identify what is missing along with any phone numbers you will need to call to cancel accounts. . Back to Top Take Control of Your Email Take Control of Your Email Instead of email interrupting your work flow, only check email when you are ready. In Microsoft Outlook, use the following procedures: • Click on Tools • Click on Options • Click on the Mail Setup tab • Uncheck "Schedule an automatic send/receive" for both online and offline. • Save the settings Now when you are want to check or send your email, click the Send/Receive button. Note using the above may also prevent you from sending an email which was written in the heat of the moment.. Back to Top Fax From The Internet Fax From The Internet Do you need to send a fax, but don't have one? There are many websites which offer this service. www.faxzero.com is a fax service to the U.S. and Canada. If you don't mind their ad on your cover page it's even free.. Back to Top PASS the Fire Extinguisher Test PASS the Fire Extinguisher Test Remember this to use a fire extinguisher properly. PASS stands for: Pull the safety pin Aim the nozzle, horn or hose at the base of the flames. Squeeze the handle of the fire extinguisher. Sweep the nozzle from side to side. . Back to Top Add a vCard to Your Marketing Tools Add a vCard to Your Marketing Tools vCard is a universal standard format created for electronic business cards. vCards can be imported into many email programs. vCards can also be sent or "beamed" from smartphone to smartphone. vCards can contain much more information than you can typically fit on a paper business card and just as a printed business card can contain pictures, so can a vCard.. Back to Top Assist in The War Against Terror Train yourself to help in the war against terror. If you notice suspicious behavior make the following observations using SALUTE. Then provide the information to the Department of Homeland Security. Size - The number of people, sex, age and physical description. Activity - What is it exactly they are doing? Location - Provide the exact location. Uniform - What are they wearing, what types of shoes do they have on? Time - Give the date, time from start to end. Equipment - Describe the vehicle make, model and color. Take note of the license plate. Do they have guns or cameras?. Back to Top Stay Safe From Bluetooth Pirates Implement the following strategies to stay safe from Bluetooth pirates • Set your Bluetooth devices to non-discoverable mode. • Only pair with known devices. • Pair in a secure location. • Change the default PIN if possible. • De-activate Bluetooth when not in use. • Turn Bluetooth off when leaving GPS in a vehicle.. Back to Top Take a Day of Rest Take a day of rest and give your mind a day to unwind Commit to one day a week when you won't go on the internet, won't respond to email, and will turn off your BlackBerry, iPhone or other instant communication device. Many good thoughts and inspirations come when we are doing something totally different.. Back to Top Relieve Back, Neck and Shoulder Tension Relieve Back, Neck and Shoulder Tension You can do this sitting or standing. Inhale while raising your shoulders and touch your ears. While your shoulders are raised, push your shoulders back and exhale. Now relax shoulders. Do this five times to ten times.. Back to Top Family Friendly Movies Looking for information on family friendly movies. Try these sites for some ideas. www.commonsensemedia.org www.dove.org Happy viewing.. Back to Top Email Tips Email Tips - Maximize email to benefit you. Be sure you know exactly what you are opening. Even if the email appears to be from a friend or relative, it may not. Don't respond to unsolicited emails. Only unsubscribe if you have actually subscribed to for the newsletter previously. Turn on automatic spelling checker. This helps make your email more professional. Turn off send immediately. Doing so gives you time to think about the email before you send it. Once it's gone, it's gone.. Back to Top Transfer Data From Cell Phone to PC Transfer Data From Cell Phone to PC Items like the SanDisk MobileMate™ Micro Reader enable you to transfer pictures, video and music from memory enabled cell phones to a PC. If the phone uses miniSD cards, there are adapters which will turn the memory card into a standard SD card. Many notebook computers have built-in SD card readers which make the process even easier. . Back to Top Upper Back and Shoulder Relief Stretch Upper Back and Shoulder Relief Stretch You can perform this stretch sitting or standing. Raise your hands to your shoulders. Now keep your elbows down and pull your shoulders toward the center of your back. Hold this position for 15 seconds. Repeat this stretch five to ten times.. Back to Top Do you send or forward email to multiple peop Do you send or forward email to multiple people? If you do, use the bcc (blind carbon copy) field to enter their email addresses. This will keep their addresses hidden and is usually appreciated by everyone. . Back to Top Keep Your Inbox Clean Keep Your Inbox Clean We don't keep mail in our mail boxes, so why keep email in your inbox? Delete what is not necessary and file the rest. To create a new folder in Outlook, follow these steps: Move the mouse to the Inbox and click to highlight Click on "File" Click on "Folder" Click on "New" Name the folder appropriately Choose "Mail and Post Items" as the type Click "OK" You can create as many folders as will be useful to you. . Back to Top Hiking Safety Gear Hiking Safety Gear Several companies make battery powered cell phone chargers. They are small and light and can be a life saver if your cell phone dies while away from civilization. Depending on the model, they work with 9 volt or AA batteries. If your cell phone goes dead, these can be used to charge it in a very short time.. Back to Top Internet Travel Tips Internet Travel Tips Don't use hotel lobbies for accessing websites where you need to a user name and password. Also don't use Internet café's for accessing websites where you may need to enter credit card information. Print your email address list and bring it with you. (This is also good for backup purposes.) Taking a notebook along? Remember to bring these items. CAT5 cable, surge protector and the power supply.. Back to Top Vacation Security Tip Vacation Security Tip Take photos of your possessions before you go away. Bring the memory card where the pictures are stored with you. In the event of a break-in or fire, you can provide the card to the insurance adjuster. Even if you're not going on vacation, you can still take the pictures and leave them in another location. This should help getting claims resolved quicker.. Back to Top Emergency GPS/Directions Emergency GPS/Directions In the event you find yourself lost, need directions and do not have a GPS handy, try the following. Many new cell phones are Internet accessible. Some even have the ability to add navigation on the fly. A low cost or no cost option is to use GoogleMaps. GoogleMaps provides directions, can help locate businesses and in some cases give a close approximation to your location. Open a browser and go to www.googlemaps.com. Download their latest version. And follow the directions. Note that airtime data rates may apply.. Back to Top Lower Back Pressure Relief Stretch Lower Back Pressure Relief Stretch You can perform this stretch sitting or standing. Exhale while slowly leaning forward. At the same time bring your head towards your knees while letting your hands drop to your ankles. Hold this position for five seconds. Now inhale and slowly return to a normal position. Repeat this stretch five to ten times. . Back to Top Help When No Printer is Available Help for you when no printer is available. Open the document or item you wish to print. Click on File Click on Print Check the box marked "Print to file" Click "OK" The computer will ask for a name. Name the file appropriately. Bring the file to a computer which has a working printer attached. This method will work even if the computer you are going to print from does not have the appropriate software. . Back to Top Use text messaging instead of talking. Use text messaging instead of talking in certain situations. If you need to communicate and are having difficulty getting a cell phone connection try to text your message. The text message may go through even when voice communication is poor. Text messaging also works well when you want to communicate and would like to be considerate of those around you or the discussion is private. Text messaging can also help keep a journal for yourself.. Back to Top Make Your Computer Safer for Children Make Your Computer Safer for Children If children use your computer to browse the Internet, make sure they have a separate user account. Set this account to have limited access. This ensures that if they go on a site which tries to load a program, it will not be able to run as easily as if they had full administrative rights. If you don't know how to do this and would like some help, give us a call at 518-383-2969.. Back to Top Keep Your Cell Phone Up-To-Date Keep Your Cell Phone Up-To-Date Each carrier allows you to update the cellular towers at your will. Simply type in their number and your phone will automatically be updated with the latest cell phone towers. For example, Verizon Wireless uses *228.. Back to Top Make Email Safer Make Email Safer For Outlook Express: Use the instructions below to turn off the Outlook Express Preview Pane Open Outlook Express Click on View Click on Layout Remove the check in "Show Preview Pane" For Outlook: Use the instructions below to turn off the Outlook Preview Pane Click on View Click on Reading Pane Turn off This will help prevent malicious code from running on your computer. . Back to Top Save Money at the Pump Save Money at the Pump - Here are a few tips for you. Don't use drive-through windows when possible or if you must, turn off the engine instead of idling. Eliminate items in the trunk which are not needed. Extra weight uses more gas. Don't spend money on premium fuel unless called for in the owners manual. . Back to Top Get Your Email Read Help make sure your email gets read. Be descriptive in the subject line. An email with the subject line "Update" will probably not get read as opposed to one with a subject line of "This weeks event scheduled at HITman Coliseum" which generates much more interest.. Back to Top Cell Phone as a Flashlight A cell phone makes a handy small flashlight to find a keyhole in the dark. Keeping a cell phone in your hand also allows you to be prepared in the event of an emergency.. Back to Top Do you use a laptop? Do you use a laptop? If so, power it off when not in use as laptops get much hotter than desktops. Because heat is a major contributor to equipment failure, your notebook should last longer by doing this. . Back to Top Don't Get a Ticket Don't get a ticket for an overdue New York State inspection. Setup a task in your organizer for when your vehicle inspection is due. If you are using an Outlook or some other electronic management system, set the alarm to notify you a week or two in advance as an extra safety measure. . Back to Top Mouse causing you wrist issues? Is your mouse causing you wrist issues? Try a trackball. A trackball is a pointing device which stays in the same spot on your desk. Instead of moving the device itself, with a trackball you move a ball on top of the device instead. There are trackball models which are controlled by thumb and others by fingers. . Back to Top Reduce Monthly Internet Costs Looking to Reduce Monthly Internet Costs and find an alternative to Cable Internet Access? DSL offers good speeds and may be able to reduce your monthly costs. Verizon offers monthly service plans starting at under $13.00.. Back to Top Error on the screen? Error on the screen and you don't know what to do? Follow these procedures: Press and hold the Ctrl key. Press the PrtSc Key. Click Start Choose All Programs Choose Accessories Choose Paint Press and hold the Ctrl key Press V Click on File Click on Save As Name your file Click ok This will give you a record which can be sent to tech support or printed.. Back to Top Don't open that link If you receive an email with an embedded, link do not open the link directly from the email. Instead, copy the link and paste it into the address bar on your Web browser. This is much safer for you.. Back to Top Maximize your USB ports Using a USB hub will allow you to plug in devices, like a mouse, USB keyboard or USB printer, thereby expanding the USB ports available. Additionally, some USB hubs have slots for portable media cards, which will expand your computers capabilities even further.. Back to Top Using Tasks to For Better Mileage Setup a task in your organizer to check the tire pressure on your vehicle monthly. If the task is setup as reoccurring, it only needs to be done once. You can find the correct tire pressure on the inside door panel of your vehicle. Keeping the tire pressure set to the manufacturer's setting will increase your gas mileage and your tires will last longer.. Back to Top Black Friday Ads Looking to get a jump start on the Holiday Season? Two very good websites which have Black Friday ads are: http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com and http://bfads.net . Back to Top Document Travel Documents When traveling, take a photo of your documents and store them on your cell phone. The documents can include your passport, travel itinerary and others which you consider important. You can also send yourself a copy via email. This will assure you always have a copy available in the event of an emergency or your documents get lost. . Back to Top Emergency Tool Keep a paper clip handy for an emergency. This is a useful tool for resetting many devices and can even be used to open some interior doors. . Back to Top Voice Mail Reminder Need to remember something and don't have a pen handy? Send yourself a voice mail.. Back to Top BCC mail archive Do you use a webmail client while away from the office and a program like Microsoft Outlook when at work? If so, when responding to an email, use the bcc field and send a copy of the email to yourself. This will allow you to track the entire message and archive it when you are back at your desk. You could also use the cc field, but this looks a little weird to the person who you are responding to.. Back to Top ICE cell phone list Create an ICE list on your cell phone ICE stands for In Case of Emergency. After the name tag place " ICE or - ICE". This could be very helpful to authorities or emergency workers in the event you need assistance. . Back to Top Mouse copy and paste Use your mouse to copy, cut and paste text Highlight the text you want by moving your mouse to the beginning position. Hold down the left mouse button and move the mouse to the end of the selection you want to use. To copy - use the right button on your mouse Click the left button on copy To cut - use the right button on your mouse Click the left button on cut Move the mouse to where you want to put the text (if copying) Right click the mouse Click the left button on paste. Back to Top Try This Before Placing a Support Call Before you place that tech call Turn the device off then on This may save you a call This is applicable to all electronic devices, from computers and cell phones to cable TV boxes. Back to Top Defective Products and Recalls Are you concerned about a defective product you may have purchased? Check out the government website for recalls. Open a browser Paste the following URL into the address bar www.recalls.gov. Back to Top Saving Images Is there an image or picture on the Internet you would like to save to your computer? Right click on the image Choose Save Image as Give it a name and be sure to keep the same extension (name after the dot such as .jpg or .gif) Use a name which will be easy for you to remember Choose the location Typically My Documents Click ok. Back to Top Computer locking up? If your computer locks up or freezes, hold in the power button for more than 10 seconds to turn it off. You could also unplug the computer. Always remember this is a last chance effort.. Back to Top Keyboard Copy and Paste Use your keyboard to copy, cut and paste text Highlight the text you want by moving your mouse to the beginning position. Hold down the left mouse button and move the mouse to the end of the selection you want to use. Press Ctrl + C to copy or Press Ctrl + X to cut Move your mouse to the position where you want to place the text. then press Ctrl + V to paste . Back to Top |