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⑥ Computer and Mobile Phone. Update: 09 Octr 2021 update)
The following headings in order as in text and, for topical reading, use search & find or scrolling down.
⑥ Computer and Mobile Phone. Update: 09 Octr 2021 update)
The following headings in order as in text and, for topical reading, use search & find or scrolling down.
What are the Computer's truly useful functions?
What Have Computers Replaced?
What Have Computers Replaced?
Apple Computers are Best Buys
Warning on Buying Laptop
Warning on Buying Laptop
Desktop vs. Laptop
iPad
iPad
Keyboard and Shortcuts
Keyboard and Touchpad Problems
Keyboard and Touchpad Problems
The Internet
Browsers
Email Address - Stability & User Friendly
Email Etiquette
Browsers
Email Address - Stability & User Friendly
Email Etiquette
Malware - viruses, bad uses
Phishing
Forgetting Password
Twitter & Other Social Media
Facebook
Skype
Skype
Google Wikipedia as Dictionary, Encyclopedia, Technical Knowledge
A Flash Drive Memory Clip
Glitches: Computer Specific Glitches, Power-Off Glitch, Glitch from Shutting Down, Loss of Mouse-Piece Directioning, Loss of Sound, Loss of Taskbar, Typing-key glitches (See common keyboard problems, above), Internet Glitches, Browser Glitches with Accessing Website, Email glitches, Computer Crashing
Mobile Phone
Texting by phone number
Texting by phone number
What are the Computer's truly useful functions?
1) The word processor function of your computer, essentially a typewriter, with memory that allows electronic storage of writing and hugely improves editing, updating and rewriting.
And 2) Internet, a communications sending-receiving system in touch with the world - past, present and future, visual and literary, personal and impersonal - through email, information-facts, news and entertainments.
What Have Computers Replaced? Electronic digitals have obsoleted atlas maps; dictionaries, encyclopedias & thesaurus; alarms, personal telephone with face photo/video, game machine and more. In the case of the blind, a computer may replace and restore ability for reading and writing and emailing.
And the computer is replacing paper printed words in books, magazines and newspapers.
It is useful to point these replacements because many computer/laptop owners still pay for cable TV, HBO & Netflix; still use separate timepiece as wristwatches or alarms; still pay to view movies instead of watching free at home; still pay for stand telephone at home, etc. But some of the applications (apps) are time-wasters. You can save much by not adding-on what you really do not need. But you can save even more by not redundantly buying stuff you already have in your computer.
1) The word processor function of your computer, essentially a typewriter, with memory that allows electronic storage of writing and hugely improves editing, updating and rewriting.
And 2) Internet, a communications sending-receiving system in touch with the world - past, present and future, visual and literary, personal and impersonal - through email, information-facts, news and entertainments.
What Have Computers Replaced? Electronic digitals have obsoleted atlas maps; dictionaries, encyclopedias & thesaurus; alarms, personal telephone with face photo/video, game machine and more. In the case of the blind, a computer may replace and restore ability for reading and writing and emailing.
And the computer is replacing paper printed words in books, magazines and newspapers.
It is useful to point these replacements because many computer/laptop owners still pay for cable TV, HBO & Netflix; still use separate timepiece as wristwatches or alarms; still pay to view movies instead of watching free at home; still pay for stand telephone at home, etc. But some of the applications (apps) are time-wasters. You can save much by not adding-on what you really do not need. But you can save even more by not redundantly buying stuff you already have in your computer.
Apple Computers are Best Buys The Apple Corp. manufactures, licenses and markets its computers under the name MacIntosh (the Mac). The Apple is superior to competitors and not just in the machine. Apple sells from its own stores in major cities and the service is superior. The Apple way to use a computer is different from the Microsoft but easy to learn.
Warning on Buying Laptop: If you buy a laptop, be sure from the salesman that there are no hidden 99-day free samples of software. I bought a Microsoft laptop and was not told of a 99-day free software sample, and, 99 days later, the laptop stopped working and I had to purchase the needed software.
Desktop vs. Laptop: In the 1980s and 90s most persons depended for a computer on a desktop, a bulky machine with separate computer box, monitor and keyboard. Today it is used mostly in offices because the portable laptop (aka "Tablet") better serves private user needs.
iPad is a portable tablet with a tap screen replacing the keyboard, (24 by 17cm, c. 5mm thick, medium size of several choices) and it has many apps. I find it useful for situations where a portable comes in handy (Stuck in bed, in a car or train, free WiFi in stores or cafes). The latest have built-in WiFi, a tremendous convenience for writers.
Warning on Buying Laptop: If you buy a laptop, be sure from the salesman that there are no hidden 99-day free samples of software. I bought a Microsoft laptop and was not told of a 99-day free software sample, and, 99 days later, the laptop stopped working and I had to purchase the needed software.
Desktop vs. Laptop: In the 1980s and 90s most persons depended for a computer on a desktop, a bulky machine with separate computer box, monitor and keyboard. Today it is used mostly in offices because the portable laptop (aka "Tablet") better serves private user needs.
iPad is a portable tablet with a tap screen replacing the keyboard, (24 by 17cm, c. 5mm thick, medium size of several choices) and it has many apps. I find it useful for situations where a portable comes in handy (Stuck in bed, in a car or train, free WiFi in stores or cafes). The latest have built-in WiFi, a tremendous convenience for writers.
Keyboard and Shortcuts: Often overlooked. Be sure you get a laptop with typing-keys not smaller than 15 mm square. (Smaller keys increase typing errors) Get keyboard lighting for use in dark; it is very convenient.
Learn Keyboard Shortcuts (Apple's and Microsoft's differ) for your computer. The Shortcuts speed the writing. As Shortcuts are so useful and so frequently unrealized by new users, let us demonstrate on our Microsoft computer a few of the easiest to remember and most useful. Most of the important Microsoft Shortcuts are done by pressing the Control (Ctrl) key plus a letter key at the same time. (Hold down the Ctrl and hit the letter key) For examples:
To highlight a whole tab do Ctrl + A. And, as I often do, if you wish to make the whole text bold, follow with Ctrl + B (Keep holding the Ctrl down and switch to hit the B key). Note that successive hits on the B key (or other 2nd key) reverse your shortcut.
In addition to Bold, you may Italicize or Underline with the Ctrl + I key or the Ctrl + U key. In these last 2 cases you do not usually wish to do the whole text so you need to locally Highlight only what you wish to change. (To Highlight part of a text using your computer mouse, do a left click and hold down the left click over the part you wish to Highlight and immediately do the Shortcut)
A common problem is receiving an email attachment document or image upside down or on its side.
In that case, you need to download the attachment (How you do it depends on your email server; for G-mail you click on the Download-down arrow in the attachment and then you go to the download section in the Windows explorer, and open up the downloaded image to rotate it; for Apple MacBook, it's a different system)
You may reverse a Shortcut by Ctrl + Z. Try it now by highlighting with Ctrl + A and immediately reversing by hitting the Z key while holding down Ctrl. Ctrl + Z is very useful in restoring an inadvertently deleted text but must be used immediately following the deletion (or other previous key).
Ctrl + T is very useful for Tab. Say you are typing a text and are not sure of the spelling or meaning of a word you are about to type? Instead of going off your screen by clicking on the right upper corner x and then wasting time getting back, you just hit Ctrl + T and then you can get right back to your text by clicking its Tab along the top Tab line.
A useful if rarely used shortcut is Ctrl + Esc, which will restore a disappeared task bar.
Oh yes, one of the most important shortcuts is using the Enter key in place of clicking on an OK for password or instruction.
These are just a few shortcuts. At leisure study them through Google.
Keyboard and Touchpad Problems, A common keyboard problem that develops for users who like to snack over their computer is that crumbs and fluids accumulate between keyboard keys and, literally, gum up the works. In fact just today, I stupidly brought an open can of soda to my laptop table and then, inadvertently, knocked it over and the soda got into my touch-pad clicker and ruined the machine. The best solution is never to drink over your machine. And another solution is, right from the moment of your starting a new desktop computer or new keyboard, keep the soft, transparent plastic cover of the keyboard tautly stretched over your keyboard and touch-pad. You will find it does not interfere with typing and completely protects your keyboard from the noted problems. (Note: after using a plastic cover for several months, you may get a greasy feel to the keyboard after removing the cover; but just wipe it away with a moist tissue)
Desktop computers use the attached piece I called a mouse to move the cursor screen pointer and click commands but most laptops dispense with the mouse in favor of a touchpad centered just below the keyboard. With desktops or laptops it is important to have a replacement mouse that can easily be USB-plugged-in if the old mouse malfunctions or in laptops if the touchpad malfunctions and stops giving you a cursor on touch.
I just recently suddenly lost the function of my Microsoft HP laptop's touchpad and couldn't, for the life of me, figure out how to regain it. It was quite an emergency because I was in a hospital where I depended completely on this laptop for taking care of my business. First off, if I had a replacement USB-plug-in mouse, I could have immediately plugged it in and solved my acute problem, which turned out to be a loss-of-function touchpad. A day later, my brilliant assistant who is a kind of guru, immediately repaired the function. The cause of the lost touchpad function in this case was my having inadvertently double-tapped the left upper corner of my touchpad which on my particular laptop disabled the touchpad. (To be done when one wants to substitute a mouse for the touchpad) Its solution was simply to double-tap again on the same spot which gives a light-up signal when disabled and light-off when re-enabled. This could be a life-saver for those of us who have no experience with this problem.
Learn Keyboard Shortcuts (Apple's and Microsoft's differ) for your computer. The Shortcuts speed the writing. As Shortcuts are so useful and so frequently unrealized by new users, let us demonstrate on our Microsoft computer a few of the easiest to remember and most useful. Most of the important Microsoft Shortcuts are done by pressing the Control (Ctrl) key plus a letter key at the same time. (Hold down the Ctrl and hit the letter key) For examples:
To highlight a whole tab do Ctrl + A. And, as I often do, if you wish to make the whole text bold, follow with Ctrl + B (Keep holding the Ctrl down and switch to hit the B key). Note that successive hits on the B key (or other 2nd key) reverse your shortcut.
In addition to Bold, you may Italicize or Underline with the Ctrl + I key or the Ctrl + U key. In these last 2 cases you do not usually wish to do the whole text so you need to locally Highlight only what you wish to change. (To Highlight part of a text using your computer mouse, do a left click and hold down the left click over the part you wish to Highlight and immediately do the Shortcut)
A common problem is receiving an email attachment document or image upside down or on its side.
In that case, you need to download the attachment (How you do it depends on your email server; for G-mail you click on the Download-down arrow in the attachment and then you go to the download section in the Windows explorer, and open up the downloaded image to rotate it; for Apple MacBook, it's a different system)
You may reverse a Shortcut by Ctrl + Z. Try it now by highlighting with Ctrl + A and immediately reversing by hitting the Z key while holding down Ctrl. Ctrl + Z is very useful in restoring an inadvertently deleted text but must be used immediately following the deletion (or other previous key).
Ctrl + T is very useful for Tab. Say you are typing a text and are not sure of the spelling or meaning of a word you are about to type? Instead of going off your screen by clicking on the right upper corner x and then wasting time getting back, you just hit Ctrl + T and then you can get right back to your text by clicking its Tab along the top Tab line.
A useful if rarely used shortcut is Ctrl + Esc, which will restore a disappeared task bar.
Oh yes, one of the most important shortcuts is using the Enter key in place of clicking on an OK for password or instruction.
These are just a few shortcuts. At leisure study them through Google.
Keyboard and Touchpad Problems, A common keyboard problem that develops for users who like to snack over their computer is that crumbs and fluids accumulate between keyboard keys and, literally, gum up the works. In fact just today, I stupidly brought an open can of soda to my laptop table and then, inadvertently, knocked it over and the soda got into my touch-pad clicker and ruined the machine. The best solution is never to drink over your machine. And another solution is, right from the moment of your starting a new desktop computer or new keyboard, keep the soft, transparent plastic cover of the keyboard tautly stretched over your keyboard and touch-pad. You will find it does not interfere with typing and completely protects your keyboard from the noted problems. (Note: after using a plastic cover for several months, you may get a greasy feel to the keyboard after removing the cover; but just wipe it away with a moist tissue)
Desktop computers use the attached piece I called a mouse to move the cursor screen pointer and click commands but most laptops dispense with the mouse in favor of a touchpad centered just below the keyboard. With desktops or laptops it is important to have a replacement mouse that can easily be USB-plugged-in if the old mouse malfunctions or in laptops if the touchpad malfunctions and stops giving you a cursor on touch.
I just recently suddenly lost the function of my Microsoft HP laptop's touchpad and couldn't, for the life of me, figure out how to regain it. It was quite an emergency because I was in a hospital where I depended completely on this laptop for taking care of my business. First off, if I had a replacement USB-plug-in mouse, I could have immediately plugged it in and solved my acute problem, which turned out to be a loss-of-function touchpad. A day later, my brilliant assistant who is a kind of guru, immediately repaired the function. The cause of the lost touchpad function in this case was my having inadvertently double-tapped the left upper corner of my touchpad which on my particular laptop disabled the touchpad. (To be done when one wants to substitute a mouse for the touchpad) Its solution was simply to double-tap again on the same spot which gives a light-up signal when disabled and light-off when re-enabled. This could be a life-saver for those of us who have no experience with this problem.
The Internet is the worldwide web (www) of information brought to your eyes, ears, and issuing from your mouth and fingers. It is based on electronic, digitally-based memory giving a fantastically literal ability to hugely classify and sort and distribute. It is brought to your computer via telephone line, cable TV and/or wireless, and the computer re-assembles it and you can see and hear it on the screen. You may interact with the Internet by inputting search/request.
The internet gives access to encyclopedic knowledge: finding childhood friend, getting the movie-cast and review of every movie ever made, summarizing biography of person in the news, every definition and piece of info you desire, finding delightful free book to read at leisure without storage problem, listening to music and song and watching good movies free at home or anywhere and viewing other video entertainment. And electronic mail (Email). But Internet also opens the door to assaults on your eyes and ears by junk; to abuse and fraud (False emergency requests to send money to stranded relative or friend), and may fray your nerves because of the irritation and stress of interacting with it.
The free email providers are Google, Hotmail and Yahoo. None charges for email address or service but you need a contract with a commercial provider for personal home access to the websites. These sites are convenient for use in the free public venues from libraries and schools on wireless, or from a friend or neighbor’s computer.
Browsers: A browser is an interface between your personal computer and the internet. In other words, if you turn on your computer with the intention of getting the internet - email, YouTube, a website URL address -, you will first get the opening screen, which usually contains a number of icons (small symbols you click on) along the left side or at the bottom. To get to the internet you will need to click on the browser icon that your computer or your network or company uses. Then you will get a screen with URL website space that allows you to access email or whatever internet application you need. The main browsers are Safari (Apple computers), Internet Explorer (the icon with the big E that is normally on Microsoft Windows), Google Chrome and Firefox aka Modzilla. The browser you use may be determined by your computer or your employer, or may have been installed after purchase. A browser at intervals needs update and you should not ignore that because, if you do, you may start having internet problems like long delays or inaccessibility of websites.
Whenever you update your browser be sure to pay attention to the security setting which is usually a choice of high or low security. If you choose high security, your privacy may better be protected but at the risk of being cut off from much free WiFi at airports or hotels or other public venue. I prefer a low security setting.
Finally, where a glitch involves inaccessibility of a formerly accessible website, suspect a browser update complication (sometimes the updating will be the problem or sometimes it needs updating). To check if it is a browser problem, try accessing your inaccessible website using another browser for internet entry. The moral: be alert to your browser and its updating and tell your computer guru or whomever updates your browser to carefully check that he is not disconnecting you from your URL free accesses.
Email Address - Stability & User Friendly: Get an email address from each of the free email providers - Hotmail, Gmail, and Yahoo - as backup in case of email glitch even when you buy a commercial address.
Hotmail in my experience is the best in terms of user-friendly. Without going into particulars, Hotmail has a superior e-mail format to both Gmail and Yahoo. It doesn't mean you should never use Gmail or Yahoo; it means, at least in my opinion, that Hotmail should be preferred as primary server.
In your home you have choice of several routes to Internet:
Browsers: A browser is an interface between your personal computer and the internet. In other words, if you turn on your computer with the intention of getting the internet - email, YouTube, a website URL address -, you will first get the opening screen, which usually contains a number of icons (small symbols you click on) along the left side or at the bottom. To get to the internet you will need to click on the browser icon that your computer or your network or company uses. Then you will get a screen with URL website space that allows you to access email or whatever internet application you need. The main browsers are Safari (Apple computers), Internet Explorer (the icon with the big E that is normally on Microsoft Windows), Google Chrome and Firefox aka Modzilla. The browser you use may be determined by your computer or your employer, or may have been installed after purchase. A browser at intervals needs update and you should not ignore that because, if you do, you may start having internet problems like long delays or inaccessibility of websites.
Whenever you update your browser be sure to pay attention to the security setting which is usually a choice of high or low security. If you choose high security, your privacy may better be protected but at the risk of being cut off from much free WiFi at airports or hotels or other public venue. I prefer a low security setting.
Finally, where a glitch involves inaccessibility of a formerly accessible website, suspect a browser update complication (sometimes the updating will be the problem or sometimes it needs updating). To check if it is a browser problem, try accessing your inaccessible website using another browser for internet entry. The moral: be alert to your browser and its updating and tell your computer guru or whomever updates your browser to carefully check that he is not disconnecting you from your URL free accesses.
Email Address - Stability & User Friendly: Get an email address from each of the free email providers - Hotmail, Gmail, and Yahoo - as backup in case of email glitch even when you buy a commercial address.
Hotmail in my experience is the best in terms of user-friendly. Without going into particulars, Hotmail has a superior e-mail format to both Gmail and Yahoo. It doesn't mean you should never use Gmail or Yahoo; it means, at least in my opinion, that Hotmail should be preferred as primary server.
In your home you have choice of several routes to Internet:
1) Telephone line that today is “Broadband”, which means a line for speediest, highest content internet transmission. If you have a stand-telephone at home you can call the company’s business office and order an Internet connection.
2) Cable TV Line is optical laser cable, speedy with high-content capacity and eliminates glitches by telephone problem. This is arranged through your Cable TV company.
3) WiFi or “Wireless Fidelity” via microwave sent out by the internet server. Depending on your location WiFi Internet may be free – at some airports or other places as amenity, and even in your home if a neighbor is kind enough or careless enough to have an unlocked WiFi service. WiFi also frees from the need for telephone or Cable TV.
Email Etiquette: With persons in friendly email communication, it is good etiquette to always acknowledge receiving an email. It can be as simple as an "OK" or "Noted".
2) Cable TV Line is optical laser cable, speedy with high-content capacity and eliminates glitches by telephone problem. This is arranged through your Cable TV company.
3) WiFi or “Wireless Fidelity” via microwave sent out by the internet server. Depending on your location WiFi Internet may be free – at some airports or other places as amenity, and even in your home if a neighbor is kind enough or careless enough to have an unlocked WiFi service. WiFi also frees from the need for telephone or Cable TV.
Email Etiquette: With persons in friendly email communication, it is good etiquette to always acknowledge receiving an email. It can be as simple as an "OK" or "Noted".
Malware - viruses, bad uses: A computer virus originates as a program that has been put into a computer with bad intent and it takes over key commands. It may be as simple and irritating as constantly turning off your computer against your wishes. Or it may cause unpredictable loss of document from the memory or it may send hundreds of the same message you intended to send only once. Infection with computer virus means you will have to either buy a new computer or delete all the software and re-install uninfected software. Most viruses come through email attachments or website addresses to email. (Any address with http://www is website)
All internet providers filter out malware or classify risky email as “junk”. But none are perfect. Once you click to open a malware email or website you are hooked and may lose all your software and even your computer. Junk mailers will try to lure you into opening up the email by trick. Most often is for you to read in the From box something like “I am Mike not Junk.” Or “Open this dammit!” Always hit the delete. My policy is: Do not open any email unless you identify its source as safe. Any email you cannot identify should be deleted. If it is truly good for you, it will be re-sent with better identification. With website, only if sure no malicious intent should you open it. With email attachments even if you know the sender, be sure (By sending him or her an email on the question) what the attachment contains and that the sender deems it safe.
An example I recently experienced was a change in my name as it appears on every email I send by Hotmail. In the Hotmail format, all emails you send have an identification at top line after the "From" (e.g., From: Edward Stim). Suddenly one morning my boss pointed out my email letters now were headed “From: I like to suck dick Stim.” The change had slipped by my notice and at the time it was pointed out I had sent ten such emails. Although I never determined who did it, it was someone who got into my personal Hotmail, either because I carelessly revealed my password or because I’d left it open on the screen in a public library when I’d gone to the WC. On the Hotmail Homepage in right upper corner is “Options” and, clicking that, you can immediately go to Change of Name or Password. In this case my first name had been changed from “Edward” to the obscene phrase. It could be done in less than a minute. And my not being observant contributed.
Preventives, in addition to the obvious care of one’s password or other access to personal email page, are to check, before making an email, that one’s name is as one wants it to be and to check each email after you send it by viewing Sent Item box. Furthermore, your email password should be changed if you worry it is too well known. (In Google, for changing password, go to the Gmail page and click in right upper corner, the gear icon, go to Account and under it find change password; in Hotmail, go to Option)
Phishing is when you get an apparent request from what seems an official source for your personal information including password but actually it is a scam to get data that can be used to defraud you or get into your personal mail.
Forgetting Password: Simplest solution is to use one password for all your passwords and keep it simple and memorable. (I know this has risk but still it is better than troubles from forgetting passwords. In this age of surveillance better to assume big brother has your passwords and is reading all your mails)
Preventives, in addition to the obvious care of one’s password or other access to personal email page, are to check, before making an email, that one’s name is as one wants it to be and to check each email after you send it by viewing Sent Item box. Furthermore, your email password should be changed if you worry it is too well known. (In Google, for changing password, go to the Gmail page and click in right upper corner, the gear icon, go to Account and under it find change password; in Hotmail, go to Option)
Phishing is when you get an apparent request from what seems an official source for your personal information including password but actually it is a scam to get data that can be used to defraud you or get into your personal mail.
Twitter & Other Social Media: Twitter started in 2006 and has become wildly popular. It is a private network that users must register for and they get a free account, and the posts were limited to 140 characters (Now doubled to 280) called tweets. Its great benefit is for celebrities who want to get followers - so for example, a twitter user can get on Lady Gaga's twitter line and read her constant, self-promoting tweets. It is also attractive for mass movements, high interest news or trendy topics - like a million Japanese sending out traditional New Year's greetings or tweeting what team won a soccer game. For simple, quick communication,Twitter offers no advantage over your own personal-message on cell phone. What it does offer is a massive loss of your privacy (data based on registration and usage patterns are sold by Twitter or given freely to government snoops) and also a huge cluttering up of your precious time with visual and mental trivia (It has been called psychobabble).
Facebook is another social media website and is mainly a place where adolescents (of any age) post narcissistic self-advertisements in an attempt to make friends via the Internet. It may be useful in attracting a following for one's writing or finding a long lost buddy but should not be used as a social tool, i.e., to meet strangers. LikeTwitter, Facebook is essentially psychobabble but also many unintelligent users reveal dangerous things about their opinions that later result in inappropriate relationships, blackmail and suicides. Avoid Twitter and Facebook unless you are a leader who wishes an audience for your product or idea.
Skype is a computer/cellphone application (app) that allows you to carry on visual and oral conversation with others who are registered for the service. It is, essentially, a free television telephone to anyone in the world who also is registered in the service.
Google Wikipedia as Dictionary, Encyclopedia, Technical Knowledge: To access Google, type www.google.com into the website URL address space and click on it. Most computers have Google's click-on name for direct access. It is valuable for getting every fact you need, from simple spelling to higher math functions. Just type what you want to know into the Google info request space at upper center of the Google screen. And for complete covering of a subject - like a biography, a famous book, a medical diagnosis - go to Google's Wikipedia. Following is a very technical example of information from Google:
A Flash Drive Memory Clip is the shape and size of a finger's pinkie (70 mm by 15 mm) and it plugs into USB socket in side of computer. It can tap documents from a computer and transfer the material to other computer. Its memory system is called “flash memory,” because it is electronic. It is the portable library of the Future. For example you may put up to 100 books in one clip that can be carried on you or sent in the mail and be read on any computer any place. The cost is trivial.
Facebook is another social media website and is mainly a place where adolescents (of any age) post narcissistic self-advertisements in an attempt to make friends via the Internet. It may be useful in attracting a following for one's writing or finding a long lost buddy but should not be used as a social tool, i.e., to meet strangers. LikeTwitter, Facebook is essentially psychobabble but also many unintelligent users reveal dangerous things about their opinions that later result in inappropriate relationships, blackmail and suicides. Avoid Twitter and Facebook unless you are a leader who wishes an audience for your product or idea.
Skype is a computer/cellphone application (app) that allows you to carry on visual and oral conversation with others who are registered for the service. It is, essentially, a free television telephone to anyone in the world who also is registered in the service.
Google Wikipedia as Dictionary, Encyclopedia, Technical Knowledge: To access Google, type www.google.com into the website URL address space and click on it. Most computers have Google's click-on name for direct access. It is valuable for getting every fact you need, from simple spelling to higher math functions. Just type what you want to know into the Google info request space at upper center of the Google screen. And for complete covering of a subject - like a biography, a famous book, a medical diagnosis - go to Google's Wikipedia. Following is a very technical example of information from Google:
Calculator Function If you need any higher calculation than you can get on your digital calculator, for example, the higher power of any number, like 132 to the 6th power (1326) or any root of any number, say the 5th root of 33 (the number multiplied 5 x by itself that gives the multiplication product 33), type the following formula into the Google info space: Start with the number whose power or root you seek, followed by the exponent sign (^) followed by the power number, or if you seek a root, the exponent sign followed by the fraction root number in brackets, e.g., for square root (1/2). At end, put the equals (=) sign then for answer, hit the Enter key. So, for 1326, type 132^6= and hit Enter, or for 5th root of 33, type 33^(1/5)= and hit Enter and you will see the answer out to 6 decimal places. You cannot get this on a usual priced digital calculator. For simple calculations, the symbols that tell your computer to divide or to multiply are, for division, the slash mark, / (e.g, on Google 4/2= and hit “Enter” will give answer “2”) or, for multiplication, the asterisk, * (e.g., 4*2= and “Enter” will give answer “8”).
Note that this advanced computer usage can also be gotten without the access to internet by using the Excel function/app in your computer (All computers have it in the Start icon menu). The only difference in the calculation is that, in Excel the equals sign (=) comes upfront, e.g., 4 x 2 = 8 is done by typing in =4*2 and hitting Enter to give the correct answer, in this case 8. And with Excel calculation you use the fx top line space.
Note that this advanced computer usage can also be gotten without the access to internet by using the Excel function/app in your computer (All computers have it in the Start icon menu). The only difference in the calculation is that, in Excel the equals sign (=) comes upfront, e.g., 4 x 2 = 8 is done by typing in =4*2 and hitting Enter to give the correct answer, in this case 8. And with Excel calculation you use the fx top line space.
A Flash Drive Memory Clip is the shape and size of a finger's pinkie (70 mm by 15 mm) and it plugs into USB socket in side of computer. It can tap documents from a computer and transfer the material to other computer. Its memory system is called “flash memory,” because it is electronic. It is the portable library of the Future. For example you may put up to 100 books in one clip that can be carried on you or sent in the mail and be read on any computer any place. The cost is trivial.
Glitches: First, before even defining a glitch one big preventive: Look at your wall outlet plug! You see the plug-in connected to an extension cord. A major source of a power-on glitch happens because users get in the habit of winding the wire too tightly around the plug when the plug is not in use. Inevitably the connecting wire breaks and you get stuck needing a replacement. So make it a habit, if you are going to wind the wire around the plug, to do it loosely so that there is no tension at the connecting point of plug and wire.
A glitch is when your computer screws up. Your manual should troubleshoot but here are common problems I experienced.
Computer Specific Glitches : If you use more than one computer always check if your glitch is generalized to all your computers or specific to only one. For example, one day I was unable to access my subscription to the online study/read Access Medicine. A notice told me repairs were in progress and advised patience. But after 1 week I became impatient and checked on my laptop and - Lo! - the glitch was only on my desktop. It turned out to be due to an out of date browser on my desktop. (The usual case when a glitch is machine-specific)
A glitch is when your computer screws up. Your manual should troubleshoot but here are common problems I experienced.
Computer Specific Glitches : If you use more than one computer always check if your glitch is generalized to all your computers or specific to only one. For example, one day I was unable to access my subscription to the online study/read Access Medicine. A notice told me repairs were in progress and advised patience. But after 1 week I became impatient and checked on my laptop and - Lo! - the glitch was only on my desktop. It turned out to be due to an out of date browser on my desktop. (The usual case when a glitch is machine-specific)
Power-Off Glitch: One day my Laptop turned off and I was unable to turn it back on. Its plug was in wall outlet; it seemed there should be no power problem and I tried it on battery and it still would not turn back on when I pressed the power-on switch so I figured something had shorted out inside. I showed it to my boss. Testing it, he plugged one end of the power cord into wall outlet and the other end into laptop and pressed ON button. Nothing happened as I expected. After all, it was a hopeless glitch, or so I thought. Immediately he reached down to the rectangular box-shaped AC/DC transformer that all laptop electric power extension cords have between wall-power outlet and computer-power cord plug-in, made sure its parts were firmly plugged-together and – Eureka! – when he again pressed the ON button, the laptop turned on and lit up. Suddenly I realized my stupidity! What had happened? The connection into the transformer from the wall outlet electric-power cord had come loose, not enough to be obvious but enough to cut off power from the wall outlet. (Some models give a green on-light in the transformer or the computer plug-in that tells you its wall outlet power connection is OK but mine did not) So from the moment I turned on my Laptop after the loose connection I was no longer getting power from wall outlet, but I thought it was powered on, because the Laptop operated even without wall power, using battery power. But, after several hours of non-recharge use, the battery drained and the machine shut itself off and would not turn on again until Sir Boss checked the connection and firmly reconnected it. So an important troubleshoot is: if your power cuts out, the first thing to check is electric power cord. Is it plugged in and plugged together firmly?
Another power cord glitch can occur with Apple laptops because the magnetic power plug-in may suck in a metal staple or clip and block power input and you may not be aware of the blockage. So if your power plug-in end seems not to fit into the machine, look into the plug-in opening and you may see the staple and remove it.
Glitch from Shutting Down Laptop the Wrong Way The 3 ways to shut down your laptop in order of correct choice are: 1) the standard way (in Microsoft machines) of clicking the Start icon at bottom left corner of screen and shut down. (On Apple laptops you follow other instruction) If for any reason your machine freezes, you 2) simply press the power-on button for longer than 4 seconds. Finally 3) you may disconnect the machine from its power source. Always try to shut down your laptop the standard way because the other ways may cause operating glitches and disable your laptop. (I lost the use of a laptop because of impatiently doing a nonstandard shutdown) If you have no choice because your computer freezes, of course you must, but never do it simply out of impatience.
Loss of Mouse-Piece Directioning Here, your computer mouse suddenly stops controlling your screen-monitor arrow and your arrow just disappears. First check your mouse's plug-in; then, if that is OK, turn your mouse over and make sure no small object is blocking its red signal opening. Most often some crumbled piece of food gets in the red-light opening and blocks. In worst case with no seeming solution replace with new functioning substitute mouse.
Another power cord glitch can occur with Apple laptops because the magnetic power plug-in may suck in a metal staple or clip and block power input and you may not be aware of the blockage. So if your power plug-in end seems not to fit into the machine, look into the plug-in opening and you may see the staple and remove it.
Glitch from Shutting Down Laptop the Wrong Way The 3 ways to shut down your laptop in order of correct choice are: 1) the standard way (in Microsoft machines) of clicking the Start icon at bottom left corner of screen and shut down. (On Apple laptops you follow other instruction) If for any reason your machine freezes, you 2) simply press the power-on button for longer than 4 seconds. Finally 3) you may disconnect the machine from its power source. Always try to shut down your laptop the standard way because the other ways may cause operating glitches and disable your laptop. (I lost the use of a laptop because of impatiently doing a nonstandard shutdown) If you have no choice because your computer freezes, of course you must, but never do it simply out of impatience.
Loss of Mouse-Piece Directioning Here, your computer mouse suddenly stops controlling your screen-monitor arrow and your arrow just disappears. First check your mouse's plug-in; then, if that is OK, turn your mouse over and make sure no small object is blocking its red signal opening. Most often some crumbled piece of food gets in the red-light opening and blocks. In worst case with no seeming solution replace with new functioning substitute mouse.
Loss of Sound: if you get no sound, check sound icon in the task bar for a mute or low-volume setting or check the Start icon on the control-panel to be sure that volume control is not set on Mute. Also check earplug and its connection.
Loss of Taskbar: The taskbar is the horizontal row of icons at the bottom of your screen that includes the Start icon. If the taskbar suddenly seems to disappear, just do the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Esc and it will reappear.
Loss of Taskbar: The taskbar is the horizontal row of icons at the bottom of your screen that includes the Start icon. If the taskbar suddenly seems to disappear, just do the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Esc and it will reappear.
Typing-key glitches occur and are completely disabling. In a desktop computer, the keyboard is separate so you can switch over to a backup keyboard if your keyboard goes wrong but with a Laptop the whole machine is ruined. (Actually you can buy an accessory keyboard but it is not convenient) When you shop for a Laptop, check each typing key’s degree of freedom by depressing it and also type a full set of key symbols. The keys are vulnerable to dust, to tiny pieces of food or drink that fall between and also to too rough pounding typically by single-finger typist. Try to type gently, gently! A remediable keyboard glitch is suddenly the typing keys do not type as the label says each one should, e.g., an especially obvious one is that the @-key will not type @ but types the : (a colon) instead and then you cannot send email. This may be due to your inadvertently having depressed the Number Lock setting. Locate the Number Lock key (top row to your right) and press it once, and you may solve the problem. A common key glitch is in a bilingual Operating System, for example Japanese and English. The keyboard is usually set for one language and if you inadvertently change the setting to the other language it will be disabled. It is corrected in a second by hitting the Change-Language key (Usually top or next below row to your left).
In Japan
Internet Glitches: First, always be sure your usual browser is updated when you get that notification. Then, if you click on your browser icon and get a printed screen that says you have no Internet connection, it may depend on your Internet route. If it is via telephone wire jack at home, check first that your telephone instrument is plugged-into external wall outlet, check your external modem and then check if the connection is firm. Some telephone connections are very iffy and you have to pull out the jacks and firmly reinsert them. Also be sure your phone’s receiver is on hook, and you have dial tone. If you use a telephone line, you must have functioning phone to get Internet. And unless you have your internet connected with your telephone via a circuit divider, you will have trouble because when someone else is using the line or a fax comes in, your Internet may be interrupted.
An important internet glitch is when you start having difficulty seeing video broadcasts, movies and YouTube entertainment - either they won't come on or seem to block and stop and start. This is almost always due to your having overloaded your computer memory; or else it is due to using a not-broad-band internet server. Check how full the memory is and delete all unnecessary memory material and your difficulty will end. If due to a too-narrow-band internet connection, you may diagnose it by seeing what happens when you access a different internet venue.
Browser Glitches with Accessing Website: A browser may become obsolete or just old fashioned during your computer's life and in that case you will start getting a top screen message that advises installing a new browser or updating. Do not ignore the message because eventually you will start having problems accessing your important websites. It is easy to ignore the message because it is not in strong advice terms. But, also, be aware that when you update or change a browser it may invalidate certain of your software applications or your website access. So seek advice from a Guru. Also a browser problem may be loss of URL address space access - You type an address and click on it but the site does not appear. This is due to an overloaded browser memory. You must delete your computer Cookies (Google will tell you how to delete Cookies)
Finally a recent access glitch I experienced, I call the temporary glitch. This happened with an online book reading subscription, the kind that gives one access to read many books. One morning I clicked the access site and got into it, selected my book and got into it but when I tried to access the chapter pages, it would not go; it just stuck where it was. From previous experiences I guessed this was just a temporary glitch, something internal in the website that was being worked out. So I decided to wait an hour and, sure enough, after waiting, the glitch was gone. The lesson here is not to immediately complain to your website supervisor who may respond by shutting down your access for days while her techies work on it; but just have a little patience and, as they say, tincture of time may solve the problem most simply.
An important internet glitch is when you start having difficulty seeing video broadcasts, movies and YouTube entertainment - either they won't come on or seem to block and stop and start. This is almost always due to your having overloaded your computer memory; or else it is due to using a not-broad-band internet server. Check how full the memory is and delete all unnecessary memory material and your difficulty will end. If due to a too-narrow-band internet connection, you may diagnose it by seeing what happens when you access a different internet venue.
Browser Glitches with Accessing Website: A browser may become obsolete or just old fashioned during your computer's life and in that case you will start getting a top screen message that advises installing a new browser or updating. Do not ignore the message because eventually you will start having problems accessing your important websites. It is easy to ignore the message because it is not in strong advice terms. But, also, be aware that when you update or change a browser it may invalidate certain of your software applications or your website access. So seek advice from a Guru. Also a browser problem may be loss of URL address space access - You type an address and click on it but the site does not appear. This is due to an overloaded browser memory. You must delete your computer Cookies (Google will tell you how to delete Cookies)
Finally a recent access glitch I experienced, I call the temporary glitch. This happened with an online book reading subscription, the kind that gives one access to read many books. One morning I clicked the access site and got into it, selected my book and got into it but when I tried to access the chapter pages, it would not go; it just stuck where it was. From previous experiences I guessed this was just a temporary glitch, something internal in the website that was being worked out. So I decided to wait an hour and, sure enough, after waiting, the glitch was gone. The lesson here is not to immediately complain to your website supervisor who may respond by shutting down your access for days while her techies work on it; but just have a little patience and, as they say, tincture of time may solve the problem most simply.
Email glitches are 1) Thinking you sent an email when it did not actually get sent and, not being aware of that, losing it. Or 2) Losing a complete text of an email you are in process of typing. A preventive for the first type email glitch is to make it a rule to read the notification that tells you your email has been sent and to check in the Sent Item box; and a preventive for the second type is to be careful whenever you need to hit the A-key that you do not also hit the just-below-it Ctrl key. A combination of the Ctrl and the A key hit simultaneously will highlight your text and next key you hit will delete it all. After such loss, immediately try keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Z to reverse. Also, if you use Hotmail, always click on "Save draft" if you worry about losing text or being interrupted. The draft will be saved in its folder. (Some servers save draft automatically; a saved draft is also a way to check if your message has been sent.)
Computer Crashing (Your computer loses software program and refuses to follow orders and data get lost) is due to your rough, careless handling or to an aging computer. Do not bang on it when you are angry, do not spill fluid on it (eat far from it), keep it clean of dust by frequent vacuuming and a cover, and especially in summer be sure it does not overheat because you have it sitting by window in sun. And change your computer at latest every 5 years. A troubleshoot initially, when Glitch hits (“freezes” and you can’t type or give command with mouse), is to turn off your computer and then turn it back on, called a “re-boot”.
Mobile Phone
can now, in its smartphone advance, replace home phone, still camera and videocam, alarm, clock or watch, calendar, radio, TV and many computer functions like accessing Internet. Also it can be GPS earth positional finder, strobe light for use in dark, and a face mirror.
At store here is what to look for and inquire of:
Check the ease of removing and replacing battery. It should be by simple flip of finger. Ask to demonstrate email and be sure letter font can be made large enough for you to easily read and has capacity enough for long-size message.
If you listen to portable radio, get FM. Also a visual clock-seconds indicator to get seconds rates for clocking your pulse.
If you listen to portable radio, get FM. Also a visual clock-seconds indicator to get seconds rates for clocking your pulse.
Texting by Phone Number Your new cell phone should be computer compatible via USB cable and easily transmit photo by email. Smartphones like iPhone are now standard and accomplish this plus giving you additional route for messaging by texting via cell phone number alone. Texting does not involve an email; you send message direct to the cell phone number which is copied down in place of email address. Message appears on your iPhone message screen. It is a very convenient way to send a text message, especially replying to some else's telephone call to you.
Concerning telephone and email surveillance, keep aware that government snoops have their computers keyed to your use of certain dangerous words so avoid suggestive names and limit your words on internet, especially your emails. For best privacy send your secret thoughts by postal mail. Or, better yet, do not express them except directly to the person they are meant for. And remember this! When you pass through airports, you are always liable to being stopped and questioned for hours and your electronics copied.
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