PUSH Articles - May 2024

A Low-Battery Alarm App for Apple Portables John Krout (approx. 1223 words). John reviews the Don't Let Me Die app (Google & Apple). He includes a QR code at the end of his article for readers to quickly find it.

AI – What Next? Tom Burt (approx. 1346 words). Tom's article covers Intel's new Core Ultra and Xeon chips with onboard support for AI, plus his question – What is ARM doing?

Another Day. Another Scam Don't Fall for it. Kurt Jefferson (approx. 356 words). The USPS scam.

Another Look at Artificial Intelligence, Joel Ewing (approx. 2111 words). Thoughts about AI from two discussion groups Joel belongs to

Apps You Run on Your Computer are ".eve" files Jim Cerny (approx. 579 words). Your device runs "apps," a term short for "applications." Although apps can run on any device, to keep it simple, let's look at how an "app" runs on a Windows computer (almost the same on any device).

Backup Tools and Procedures Tom Burt (approx. 1916 words). It's been a few years since I've written about backups. The backup landscape has changed somewhat, so it seemed a good time for an update.

Burned by Another Security Breach? Kurt Jefferson (approx. 355 words). Info about the AT&T breach.

Can Two Files Have the Same Name? Jim Cerny (approx. 487 words). It was the usual family gathering, and, as usual, Uncle Backup and Aunt Fowlder were arguing. Uncle Backup said no, and Aunt Fowlder said yes. Who's right?

Clean Your Dirty Laptop David Kretchmar (approx. 1024 words). After being used regularly for months or years, our laptops accumulate dust, grime, skin oils, sneezes, and who knows what else. David shows you how to turn into a shining, newly cleaned laptop: a joy to use.

Cyber Security David Kretchmar (approx. 1390 words). Review of Malwarebytes article.

Default Apps, Where and What are they? Phil Sorrentino (approx. 926 words). Default apps is a choice in the Apps section of Settings. This is where you can choose what Apps will be used for certain types of files.

Do You Use Two-Factor Authentication? Sorrentino (approx. 984 words). If not, you might want to consider it for specific accounts if it is offered.

Does the Control Panel still exist? Phil Sorrentino (approx. 990 words). Good question. When Settings appeared in Windows 8 in 2012, it looked like Microsoft may have been laying the groundwork for moving most of the Control Panel features over to Settings.

Exploring Linux, A Backup Solution for Linux Systems (approx. 685 words). While several disk imaging programs are available to back up Linux systems, very few feature a GUI: enter Foxcclone.

Firefox Browser – What is new and improved Jasmine Blue D'Katz (approx. 470 words). Firefox constantly receives updates with new features and improvements, so some new features might depend on which version you are using. The article has some noteworthy features that were recently added to Firefox.

Getting Ready for Winter Photography Lynda Buske (Approx. 521 words) While winter photography might take a bit more prep time regarding what to wear, it is well worth the effort to take advantage of a completely different environment from summer.

HEIC File Type – Should I care about this file type? Phil Sorrentino (approx. 1003 words). HEIC is the name of the file format Apple uses for images taken with an iPhone or iPad. It is a more efficient format than JPEG because it is created in a smaller image.

Hit the Streets! Linda Buske (approx. 519 words). Street photography features subjects in candid situations in public places. Linda's article has tips about this topic.

How Not to Remove Win11 MS Copilot Preview John Krout (Approx. 1394 words) Automatic installation of un-requested software is a behavior that I do not favor.

How to Find Files Al Williams (approx. 2089 words). Have you ever wanted to find a file but couldn't remember where you put it? Or perhaps you couldn't remember all of the file names? Al reviews Everything.

LibreOffice Basic Programming using ChatGPT Alan German (approx. 813 words). Alan has a list of topics covered over the past three years and wanted to automate the main ODT index file. He saw a YouTube video of an individual using ChatGPT to create computer code in a number of programming languages and thought it would be worth a shot to see if he could use ChatGPT to develop the code for my macro.

Microsoft Windows 11 Copilot: How not to remove it John Krout (approx. 1394 words). I do not favor the automatic installation of unrequested software. On February 17, MS forced a double-whammy on my Win 11 desktop computer.

My Smartphone, My Friend Greg Skalka (approx. 1281 words). Greg got his first smartphone, a low-cost ($150) Samsung Balaxy J3, in 2017. It wasn't that powerful, and he was a bit apprehensive about this new device, so he used it mainly for phone calls, texts, and select apps. Over time, the benefits became so compelling that he made that bargain with the Google devil and accepted being tracked in exchange for its navigation capabilities.

Online Grocery Shopping Tom Burt (approx. 1005 words). Tips from Tom for his recurring weekly activities include provisioning his larder with sufficient food to sustain him for all the activities of retiree life in Sun City.

Pack your bags! Linda Buske (approx. 282 words). Tips from Linda.

Patching My PC with Patch My PC Alan German (approx. 592 words). With the demise of both Secunia's Personal Security Inspector and Software Update Monitor, Alan needed an app to keep his programs up to date. He reviews Patch My PC (my favorite/JT).

Printing your photos Linda Buske (approx. 619 words). Despite our digital world, it is nice sometimes to print a photo that you can stick on your fridge, display on your wall, or even frame and give as a gift. Some tips from Linda.

Private Browsing: Is it all it's cracked up to be? Chris Taylor (approx. 494 words). For over 10 years, web browsers have offered private browsing, designed to keep your browsing—well—private. Does it prevent all tracking? Read Chris' article to find out.

Really, really deleting files Chris Taylor (approx. 837 words). When you delete a file in Windows, the actual on-disk data is not removed. It has been moved to the Recycle Bin, where we can recover it. What happens when we delete everything in the Recycle Bin?

Recover Your Wi-Fi Password David Kretchmar(Approx. 615 words) Computer users often seek technical support when they cannot access the Internet via their home wireless system.

Rescuzilla – A Flexible Backup Solution Alan German (approx. 1020 words). Alan has used Macrium Reflect's free edition for many years and greatly prefers Linux over Windows. Alan reviews Rescuezilla.

Starlink – It may be in your future, Phil Sorrentino (approx. 1059 words). Starlink is a satellite constellation built and operated by SpaceX, currently providing internet access coverage to over 52 countries using a low-earth orbit. Phil's articles cover more about Starlink.

The Artificial Intelligence Explosion, an ever-changing topic Jim Cerny and Hewie Poplock (approx. 846 words). Many people see the AI revolution as bringing huge benefits. This article includes a list of free AI internet sites and shows the results of your inquiries.

Three very short articles Kurt Jefferson – Unplug your laptop. The battery will thank you. Save Your Apple Watch Battery. Spring Cleaning: Organize Your Desk.

To Charge or Not to Charge? (That's Only One of Many Questions) Greg Skalka (approx. 1453 words). We have many batteries in our lives because we use many battery-powered technology. Is charging battery-powered devices fairly straightforward? Learn more about this in Greg's article.

Two-Factor Authorization Fiasco Greg Skalka (approx. 1586 words). What is 2FA, and should you use it?

Unchecky: A Review Jasmine Blue D'Katz (approx. 462 words). As it says, A Review.

Using the Windows Start Button, Jim Cerny (approx. 641 words). The "start" button on Windows is a very useful way to access your computer's apps or controls. Left-click—right-click they both help us.

Using Zoom for Meetings Joel Ewing (approx. 1378 words). Zoom tips & tricks.

Verify the Safety of Websites Terry Harvey (approx. 244 words). Verifying the safety and legality of a website is crucial for online security. Terry gives us steps to follow.

Where to Get E-Books Tom Burt (approx. 760 words). As we approach summer, the e-book format makes it easy for us to find the right title, purchase it, download it to a book reader, smartphone, or tablet, and read it. Oops, things aren't quite that simple.

Why I am a morning person Linda Buske (approx. 519 words). Linda's article discusses the non-technical advantages of shooting pre-dawn rather than post-sunset.

YouTube as a Knowledge Resource Tom Burt (approx. 932 words). This article has a few examples of YouTube videos that quickly convey helpful knowledge in an audiovisual format.

YouTube, an Online Video Sharing Service Ron Sherwood (approx. 962 words). Learning via YT.

These articles have been provided to APCUG by the author solely for publication by APCUG member groups. All other uses require the permission of the author (see e-mail address above).