December 2017

Tuesday Class Computing For Seniors by Jane Quinn will have it's last day Dec 12th is the last class until Jan th 2018

Thursday Windows 10 and Anything Google by Ed Beaulac will return

in 2018 Date To Be Announce. Please send an eMail if you'd like a topic addressed to one4cugr@gmail.com

SMARTPHONE APPS OF THE MONTH

Snapseed

NextRadio

Google Trips
AirDrop

Windows Window's 10 Creator update

The Thursday class is studying the enhancements from Windows 10 update. There are many useful and improved tools to work with other devices. I was curious how difficult it would be to pair my laptop with my Bluetooth headset after learning this feature is one of the updates. I have been using my LG phone headset to pair to my smartphone to listen to radio stations and my music. But never thought to attempt to connect my headset to my computer.

I found it is simple. If I chose to listen to music with my headset while working on my computer I can. With the Groove Music App I can listen to all my music.

To make this work, from Action Center >All Settings> Bluetooth and other devices. Click the + plus symbol to Add Blue Tooth device. Make sure your device is on and discoverable.

Once you have connected to your Bluetooth device, you can use Music Groove or File Explorer to play your music. Here is an example of playing music from File Explorer. Once you choose the music by highlighting it, right click anywhere in that frame to select Cast to device.

November 2017

Smartphone Apps of the month

Snapseed

NextRadio

Google Trips

Windows Window's 10 Creator update

I found it is simple. If I chose to listen to music with my headset while working on my computer I can. With the Groove Music App I can listen to all my music.

To make this work, from Action Center >All Settings> Bluetooth and other devices. Click the + plus symbol to Add Blue Tooth device. Make sure your device is on and discoverable.

Night light feature. This softer light emanating from my monitor is so refreshing to me. It is the warmer colors lets me star at the monitor longer. Which is great for my spreadsheet input.

Microsoft update addresses these concerns in Creators Update with Night Light (Windows Settings > Night light settings). This feature warms the color temperature of the screen to make it appear more orange than blue. Try it. You will be amazed how reading for a length of time with warmer colors on your screen is life changing.

You can set Night Light to trigger automatically at sunset until sunrise or manually set the hours. Just be aware that you might want to deactivate this setting if you’re editing photos after sunset.

Note: Bluetooth with Android phone.

I was able to connect my Android phone to my computer. Use the same process above, and with your Android change your settings to in the Network > Settings>Share and Connect > Media Server to be turned on. Check mark all the files types you want to share. The surprise is your phone access is just your Messages, Music and Photos. It is much like using DLN with your TV. It does not mirror you phone aka an AppleTV or Google Chromcast device. But the bad news is, it reset my computer sound settings. I had to reset them to find my computer speakers.

Google Backup and Sync

If you are a Google photo user- On a computer, to access Google Photos you go to the website Photos.Google.com. To see your library of photos, you click on the Photos button. If there are images in your photo library that you’d rather not see in your main stream of memories, you can “Archive” them. For example, if you don’t want to see your screenshots mixed in with your photos. Select the photos to be archived, then click the 3-dot menu in upper right and choose Archive. Think of it like a back room for your images. To see those archived images, click the 3-line menu in upper left and choose Archives. These will stay there, they will not be deleted, they are just out of sight in the main library.

If you have pictures on your computer and you want them to be uploaded to your google photos – you used to use an app called Google Photos Backup or Desktop Uploader. That is gone and it has been replaced with “Backup and Sync.” To get Backup and Sync, go to photos.google.com, click the 3-line menu and at the bottom find App Downloads.

Once it’s installed there are settings. It will automatically upload all files in your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures sections of your computer. That’s great if you want ALL the photos on your computer uploaded, but if not – or if you’ve already uploaded them, you may get lots of duplicates, and you may just be overwhelmed with the number of photos you get. We recommend unchecking the boxes for Desktop, Documents, and Pictures. Then click the Choose Folder button and specify one folder where you will put the photos you want uploaded automatically. This can even be on an attached USB drive.

What’s a Widget? Episode 31

They are little apps that give you access to frequently used features of a main app. You must have the main app installed in order to get the widget

Document :

A YouTube video link explaining Widgets

https://youtu.be/lvXuF_fpdvs

Google Widget -Drive Scan

Create a PDF file automatically with this Android widget. It works with Google Drive, so this must be activated by you already.

Find the widget as Drive Scan, in the D’s . To be demonstrated in class in the App of the Week segment.

A YouTube video link explaining use of Google Drive Widget to Scan and create PDF files.

https://youtu.be/1jmA5REUtQg

CHROMEBOOKS

THE VIRTUAL CHROMEBOOK MEETUP

This website is the home of the Virtual Chromebook Meetup. The Meetup is open to any computer or technology user group or anyone interested in learning about Chromebooks.

Chromebook runs the free Chrome OS, and once you log into your Google account you'll access all your on-line stuff. Because Chromebooks stay in sync with all your Android phones and tablets, you can pick up where you left off. Check out this group to see how others are using Chrombooks.

Link to website information

http://cb4s.net/site

Windows 10 advice and tips

I’m often asked where do I find information to build on my computer skills. Here is one of those resources I have signed up for their newsletter. I get a weekly email with the latest link to their blog updates. On this site, I find all sorts of help for learning and using Windows 10.

Link to website information

https://www.windowschimp.com/blog/

You may have updated already to this version of Windows. It’s easy to recognize the change if you did. The addition Settings >Notifications & actions has added Night Light to the action center. The Settings panel has added Projecting to this PC. So you can connect to your PC screen from your Windows phone and also use a other devices like a keyboard, or mouse.

Link to website information

https://www.windowschimp.com/fall-creators-update/

A YouTube video link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mKTiD02v3M

October 2017

November 2017

Smartphone Apps of the month

Snapseed

NextRadio

Google Trips

Windows Window's 10 Creator update

I found it is simple. If I chose to listen to music with my headset while working on my computer I can. With the Groove Music App I can listen to all my music.

To make this work, from Action Center >All Settings> Bluetooth and other devices. Click the + plus symbol to Add Blue Tooth device. Make sure your device is on and discoverable.

Night light feature. This softer light emanating from my monitor is so refreshing to me. It is the warmer colors lets me star at the monitor longer. Which is great for my spreadsheet input.

Note: Bluetooth with Android phone.

Google Backup and Sync

What’s a Widget? Episode 31

They are little apps that give you access to frequently used features of a main app. You must have the main app installed in order to get the widget

Document :

A YouTube video link explaining Widgets

https://youtu.be/lvXuF_fpdvs

Google Widget -Drive Scan

Create a PDF file automatically with this Android widget. It works with Google Drive, so this must be activated by you already.

Find the widget as Drive Scan, in the D’s . To be demonstrated in class in the App of the Week segment.

A YouTube video link explaining use of Google Drive Widget to Scan and create PDF files.

https://youtu.be/1jmA5REUtQg

CHROMEBOOKS

THE VIRTUAL CHROMEBOOK MEETUP

This website is the home of the Virtual Chromebook Meetup. The Meetup is open to any computer or technology user group or anyone interested in learning about Chromebooks.

The meetings will be announced soon and will be available live on line. The meetings will be recorded and those recordings will be available on this web site

Link to website information

http://cb4s.net/site

Windows 10 advice and tips

Link to website information

https://www.windowschimp.com/blog/

Link to website information

https://www.windowschimp.com/fall-creators-update/

A YouTube video link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mKTiD02v3M

September 2017

Streaming Music

I’ve been using Pandora paid version for years. The best method to learning how to use Pandora is through their Help website.

But I can make recommendations after using this site for many years. I have the paid version, which eliminates the ads. I have found if I don’t like a song, just applying the Thumbs Down will minimize that type of sound from reappearing. . Don’t use the thumbs Up, because it builds a list of your favorites to start playing. It’s annoying. You have difficulty streaming your music. The last few pages are trouble-shooting this App on a smartphone. You can find all the assistance you need on their site under Help.

Below is a link to a document I created.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bw_tdNeIcnueVkdKOHNxVGNXMzg/view?usp=sharing

In and out Smart Repair – store in Redding

I just wanted to pass along this information about a service here in town. A reliable source used this service to fix her iPhone and was truly satisfied.

Sometimes, our gadgets just run into problems that we are unable to solve on our own. It’s good to know there is a place here in Redding that have an in-store stock of repair parts for most models of the iPad and iPhone (4, 4S, 5 series, and 6). And they also stock parts for most Android phones so they can have your phone back to you as soon as possible—without waiting for parts to come in. Below is a link to their website and contact information

https://www.phonerepairstore.com/locations/redding

Facebook announces News Feed interface changes, new features for Camera

Facebook recently has announced a host of updates for both mobile and desktop users. Most notably, the company is making changes to how users go about navigating the News Feed on desktop and mobile, while the Camera functionality is also gaining a handful of new features. Check it out.

In October, the Tuesday Class will feature FB tips and advice. If you want to reserve a seat just contact one4cugr@gmail.com Personally I have used great Picture editing tools from the FB Camera App. You will be amazed what you can do in addition to adding fancy text.

https://9to5google.com/2017/08/15/facebook-announces-news-feed-interface-changes-new-features-for-camera/

How Should you be charging your smartphone??

A new report from The New York Times points out that your charging habits could be causing damage to your phone:

Habit #1: Charging overnight.
Habit #2: Frequent charging.
Habit #3: Using the wrong charger.

Why? As a phone charges, the lithium ions in the battery travel from one end of the phone to the other. The more these ions travel, the more wear and tear they cause on the battery, ultimately limiting the lifespan of an otherwise perfectly good battery.

Therefore, if you're using an iPad Pro charger for your iPhone, the ions travel faster since the iPad Pro charger is more powerful than that of the iPhone. Use the wrong charger overnight or all the time, you'll gradually see your battery life diminish - usually after two years.

Don't worry if you're not ready to change your charging habits just yet.

Solutions? The fix isn't guaranteed, but make sure you're using the right charger for your gadget. Charge less frequently and if you can avoid it, don't charge your phone overnight.

For example, don't use an iPad charger for an iPhone. If you can, leave it on a less powerful charger if you're going to leave it overnight.

Or, if you don't want to do anything, you can do that too. A 2015 Gallup survey cited by the Times shows that 44 percent plan to upgrade their phone within two years, which is when battery life begins to show signs of fading. If you fall into that category then you have nothing to worry about.

10 Android Hidden Features

Watch this interesting if you have an Android phone. Here are some very useful tools and settings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=8mKTiD02v3M

3-WAYS TO STREAMLINE WINDOWS 10 START MENU

The Windows 10 Start Menu has a lot going on. Fortunately, you can customize it and make it easier to navigate by choosing which folders appear, hiding apps, and using the menu full screen

Begin by Opening Settings, Click Personalization then START.

1. Next Click the link Choose Which Folders Open on Start. Turn Off Folders that you don’t want to have active. And Add Personal folder you wish to see

2. Turn on Full Screen – now your Tiles will fill the screen making it easier to see

3. Turn Off Apps. Make choices on which Apps you see from your Start tiles, choosing between seeing more Tiles, show the App list in the Start menu, and much more

Here’s a link from Kim Komandos’ site about this tip

https://youtu.be/UXtWWYZsYpg

Notes:

To Recover Desktop icons. In the same control panel under Personalization Settings choose Themes. Here’s where you can reclaim those icons you had in previous versions of Windows

Themes > Related> Desktop icon settings.

From this panel select Desktop Icons such as Computer; User’s Files; Recycle Bin; etc……..

June 2017

Check our Classroom schedule. Summer is approaching and for me even sooner. I won’t have any Tuesday classes in June. But will return in July.

June 2017

This class is taught by a Member from the Computer User’s group of Redding http://cugr.apcug.org.

Check our Classroom schedule for the Summer dates

CHANGES TO WINDOWS 10 – THE SECOND MAJOR UPDATE

Windows 10 has a major update called Creators Update.

Before you upgrade you can view the changes on Microsoft’s website. In this article, I touch on a few of the enhancements.

To actually download the upgrade, you must have a licensed version of Windows 10. Below is the link to that dedicated website to download.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

These links will get you to the guide on the changes in this new release and tutorial videos on the new features.

https://www.windows10update.com/2017/05/windows-10-creators-update-ultimate-guide/

Note: If a Microsoft pop up ad appears, simply click any spot not on the Ad itself to return to the videos

https://www.windows10update.com/creators-update-video-training/

There are some General overall changes, some are in the System App settings specifically. There is a new setting for Pairing Bluetooth accessories and changing permissions for installing Applications. The Start menu’s latest change is called Live Folders.

The tiles are simply short cuts to applications on your computer( appear as 2 icons in 1 tile next to the “e” tile ) . Taking one tile and dropping it onto another tile creates a “Folder” or “new tile “ . If you have a smartphone or an iPad you have done the same thing, grouped your Apps into one folder. When I added Google Apps to my smartphone, all of them came onto my phone in one tile. So I had 5 different Apps in one little square tile. It bugged me because I couldn’t find the App when I needed it. So I dragged that App out of the group and put it by itself on my home screen. I guess Windows 10 thinks this is a feature you want, a method to organize you Apps by grouping them.

Another change to the Start panel is the ability to turn off the list of APPS in the left edge. To achieve this, go to the Settings > Personalization > Start screen. Here simply choose to Turn Off the App List in Start Menu. Now you will only see the tiles, and not the list of Apps. But you can turn them back on by clicking a button on the very far left. The list of Apps will reappear.

There are some changes in the bundled applications, specifically in the Edge Browser. Now you can add several tabs and organize them. It is very similar to Apple’s Safari browser. And you can also purchase and read books in the new version of Edge. A new feature lets you read books aloud. You will find eBooks in a new section for EBooks in the Windows Store.

The Edge browser has changes for Maps. Now you can draw on them. If you draw points from one location to another on a map you can convert those sketches into distance measurements or text directions. If you’ve ever used Google Maps, you will understand this feature.

The is a new App for 3-D painting or drawing. This is in the Paint App and you can use it to build 3 dimensional objects and artwork.

There are more features to study before jumping into this upgrade. The sites listed above have videos and text to read about the various changes you will enjoy when you upgrade.

Facebook Timeline Issue

This article by Hewie Poplock explains clearly how to control your timeline and posting from people you’re following.

I like to read my Facebook timeline with the most recent items at the top and successive postings in chronological order. Of course, Facebooks interjects with sponsored ads and what appears to be older posts, but have recent replies. Facebook’s default is to show the as “Top Stories” and it determines what those are. Every so often, FB changes my selection back to theirs. I don’t like that.

When I mentioned this to a few friends, they looked at me strangely and I realized that they had no idea of what I was talking about. Here is an explanation of what I mean & how to change the choice.

https://hewie.net/facebook-timeline-issue/

May 2017

This class is taught by a Member from the Computer User’s group of Redding http://cugr.apcug.org.

Check our Classroom schedule. Summer is approaching and for me even sooner. I won’t have any Tuesday classes in June. But will return in July.

Did You Know??

Windows 10 version 1507 will no longer receive security updates

After May 9, 2017, Windows 10 devices running version 1507 will no longer receive security and quality updates. Microsoft recommends updating devices to the latest version of Windows 10 by visiting the Software Download site and selecting Update now to manually update your device. For additional info, check out the Windows lifecycle fact sheet.

How do I know which version of Windows 10 I'm running?

In the search box on the taskbar, type winver and then press Enter. This opens the About Windows dialog box, where you'll see the version of Windows 10 that's running on your device.

Discovered Useful Apps for Androids

Google’s Android operating system recently beat Microsoft Windows to become the world’s most popular OS. It’s no wonder then that developers are clamouring to make new apps for the platform. This year hasn’t even reached its halfway mark, and we already have some amazing new tools out there.

One of the good things about Android compared to Apple’s iOS is that most apps are free, and you can choose to pay to remove ads. Of course, you can always try a paid app in this list and get a refund from the Play Store if you don’t like it. But it’s nice to avoid that hassle.

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/best-android-apps-2017/

April 2017

This class is taught by a Member from the Computer User’s group of Redding http://cugr.apcug.org.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE SMARTPHONE CLASS?

Google Maps – Tips and Tricks

From the Geeks On Tour lessons we studied how to use Google Maps. It works on all your devices, including your laptop. From this video you can see demonstrated. You can find Help from the Google Maps website on each instruction. But this video is helpful to see the instruction in action.

Android tips

1. Directions with multiple waypoints

2. Share Location or Trip

3. Find your way back using History

4. Navigate to location’s Photo

Here’s a Youtube video on using Google Maps

https://youtu.be/oq9eQtzhrd8

Add a photo

Add a photo from a place's page

1. Open Google Maps and search for a place.

2. After you've selected a place, click Add a photo. You might have to scroll down to see this.

3. A box will appear. Drag the photo that you’d like to upload, or click Choose photos to upload.

Notes:

· If you're using Maps in Lite mode, you can't add a photo.

· You can only add photos for points of interest, like businesses or parks, but not addresses or coordinate

https://support.google.com/maps/answer/2622947?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en

Share your real-time location with others

You can choose who can see where you are and for how long.

If they have a Google Account

1. If you haven't already, add their Gmail address to your Google Contacts.

2. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Maps app and sign in. Learn how to sign in.

3. Tap the Menu, Share location, People

4. Choose how long you want to share your location.

5. Tap Select People.

6. If you’re asked about your contacts, give Google Maps access.

7. Choose a person.

8. Tap Share. The person you chose will see that you shared your location with them.

Computing for Seniors Tuesdays

Classes by Instructor Jane Quinn Tuesday door is opened at noon, class starts at 12:30pm – 2pm. These classes are 3-times a month on the on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm. We also meet for lunch every 4th Thursday of the month. To get on that list send an eMail to one4cugr@gmail.com

Windows 10 and Google will continue through March.

Taught by Ed Beaulac. It’s an open forum on Google and Windows 10. So bring your questions or eMail them to one4cugr@gmail.com. It’s every Thursday from 1pm – 3pm

Class instruction will cover ;

· How to Use the Start tiles, the taskbar, and change the appearance of your desktop

· How to use File Explorer

· How to setup Accounts

· How to Use the Windows Photo App

· How windows 10 works with your Smartphone or other devices.

· Add Apps or remove them

Redding Computer Club

December 2017

Tuesday Class Computing For Seniors by Jane Quinn will have it's last day Dec 12th is the last class until Jan th 2018

November 2017

Google Widget -Drive Scan

THE VIRTUAL CHROMEBOOK MEETUP

Windows 10 advice and tips

October 2017

Google Widget -Drive Scan

THE VIRTUAL CHROMEBOOK MEETUP

Windows 10 advice and tips

September 2017

How Should you be charging your smartphone??

June 2017

May 2017

Windows 10 version 1507 will no longer receive security updates

How do I know which version of Windows 10 I'm running?

In the search box on the taskbar, type winver and then press Enter. This opens the About Windows dialog box, where you'll see the version of Windows 10 that's running on your device.

April 2017

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