Hello All,
This is a re-post of an announcement that I received today from APCUG
Ralph Sutter

February 22, 2025
SATURDAY SAFARI
9 am PT, 10 am MT, 11 am CT, 12 pm ET
 
TAX PREPARATION SOFTWARE ? TAX YEAR 2024
Presenter: Tom Burt, Vice-President
Sun City Summerlin Computer Club
 AND
 SMARTPHONE BASICS
Presenters: Chris and Jim Guld
GeeksOnTour
 
Register once here ? https://tinyurl.com/2j3s94b7
 
After you click Submit, you will receive a pop-up acknowledgment of your registration. On February 21, after registration closes at 6 pm Pacific Time, you will receive the encrypted Zoom link.
 
TAX PREPARATION SOFTWARE. Two of the most popular programs for preparing your income tax return are H&R Block and Turbo Tax. You can run these programs on your PC or Mac or work with the online versions. Purchase one of these software programs, install it on your PC (or go to the maker's website), and answer the step-by-step questions. When you've finished, either program will provide you with a finished tax return ready for filing. You can even choose to file your return electronically! Happily, for 2024, the tax law changes for individuals were few and minor.
 
In this year's seminar, Tom discusses both programs briefly and then demonstrates the excellent H&R Block Deluxe program. He will create a 2024 tax return for a fictitious senior couple with typical financial transactions such as wage income, self-employment income, retirement benefits, interest and dividends, social security benefits, income from a rental property, capital gains, itemized deductions, required minimum distributions, etc. You may be surprised how easy it is to prepare and file your tax return. We'll also learn how to set up electronic payments on the IRS EFTPS.gov website.
 
SMARTPHONE BASICS. The Geeks begin with a Smartphone Learning Checklist and then give their best practical tips for using Android and Apple smartphones.
 
In today's world, it is often taken for granted that you know everything you need to use your smartphone, but ? maybe you missed that class in high school :-)? In this presentation, they'll teach the basics like how to know your phone's make and model, organize your Apps and keep them up to date, display emergency contact info on the lock screen, take screenshots and read QR codes, and use the flashlight. Chris and Jim will also give some of their favorite tips about using the camera, managing your photos, and using Google Maps. Come with your phones in hand, and be ready to ask questions!
 




 



   



   

Hello All,
This is a re-post that I received today from APCUG
Ralph Sutter

February 12, 2025
WEDNESDAY WORKSHOP
9 am PT, 10 am MT, 11 am CT, 12 pm ET
 
NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY ALLIANCE/STAY SAFE ONLINE
FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION
with
 Shivani Cowper, Operations Manager; Jen Cook, Sr. Director of Marketing; Creative Director Arturo "Efe" Morales; and Content Director Barry Eitel
 
SMARTWATCH HARD FALL DETECTION
with
John Krout, Presenter & Newsletter Contributor
Potomac Area Technology And Computer Society
 
Register once here ? https://tinyurl.com/3d2zw7x2 
 
After you click Submit, you will receive a pop-up acknowledgment of your registration. On February 11, after registration closes at 6 pm Pacific Time, you will receive the encrypted Zoom link.
 
Stay Safe Online Focus Group Discussion. Our first Workshop is a special open discussion with representatives from Stay Safe Online (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency ? CISA ? a part of DHS). They highly value your unique insights about your peers and seek your input during a focus group sharing of ideas on several key questions. This feedback will help shape a presentation designed for seniors and contribute to developing a new website, printed workbook, and direct mail piece. Additionally, volunteer-led sessions to help attendees do things like check for operating system updates, enable MFA on essential accounts, etc.
 
We made a big impression on Lisa* at her presentation on Cyber Security. "It's a big investment, so that's why we're hoping for input from your group. Your participation is invaluable, and we look forward to your contributions!"
*Lisa Plaggemiera, Executive Director, National Cybersecurity Alliance (A Whole Lot of BS (Behavioral Science) about Cybersecurity)

Smartwatch Hard Fall Detection. Smartwatches are micro marvels. The hard fall detection feature,  though, is not yet perfected.
 
You will learn the basics of how a hard fall is detected, what the watch does to nudge its users, and find help when a hard fall is detected.
 
Your presenter bought a refurbished smartwatch and did not know Hard Fall Detection was enabled. He was awakened more than once when the smartwatch falsely detected a hard fall. After the first time, he researched ways to control that feature.
 
Learn the options to control Hard Fall Detection, your presenter's chosen option, and why it works well for him. No more sleep interruption!
 ##########
?   What are your biggest challenges with technology in general? For peers that you help with their tech (who are not as tech-savvy), what do you think their biggest struggles are?
?   How do you keep other seniors abreast of the latest scams targeting them? Who do people listen to? Where do they usually seek out or learn about this type of information?
?   Do you think configuring MFA on most apps is easy? (Gmail, Amazon, Meta, your bank, etc.) What would make it easier?
?   Do you use a password manager ? why or why not? What do you think would increase password manager use among seniors?
?   Who do you look to for information about staying safe online?
?   Would you use or recommend a "how to" guide (online or printed workbook) for basic cyber hygiene best practices to a friend?
?   When trying to implement security best practices (MFA, reporting a scam or phishing, using long, unique passwords, running updates, etc), what are your biggest challenges or barriers to those actions? What do you think they are to your less tech-savvy peers?

How to Disable Copilot in Microsoft 365
https://office-watch.com/2025/how-to-disable-copilot-in-microsoft-365/

What Microsoft 'forgot' say in an email to Microsoft 365 customers
https://office-watch.com/2025/what-microsoft-forgot-say-in-an-email-to-microsoft-365-customers/

Microsoft Office for Home
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/buy/compare-all-microsoft-365-products

DeepSeek - is a Chinese artificial intelligence company that develops open-source large language models.
https://www.deepseek.com/
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=DeepSeek&iar=news&ia=news
 
DeepSeek R1: This Free AI Model Changes Everything!
https://youtu.be/Ysu2BTBH3Uk

The All MSI Gaming Setup!
https://youtu.be/4L_psS1MVk8

World?s FIRST AI-Tracking iPhone Gimbal for Filming Pro video!
https://www.insta360.com/product/insta360-flow2-pro

Hello All,
Here are the Notes of Alan Raul for the SLO Bytes Photo Group Meeting of 01/12/2025

Notes from the Meeting of 01/12/2025
TOPIC: San Luis Obispo Photo Shoot

Kaye Raul showed shots of different locations in San Luis Obispo including the Odd Fellows Hall and the Grange Hall where SLO Bytes previously held meetings and BBQ's.
She also gave some history on other shots around town.

Alan Raul shot pictures of the San Luis Obispo Train Station (Built in 1894).
His pictures included the Coast Starlight, Pacific Surfliner and a freight train.
He used his new Sony 28-70 F/2.0 zoom lens. Although heavier and more expensive than his previous 24-70 F/4.0 lens, it produced sharper and more vivid images.
The lens also focuses faster due to more and updated linear motors.
He used the latest ON1 Photo RAW 2025, Photoshop and ACDSee to enhance and modify his images.

Stanford Brown showed pictures of Mission San Luis Obispo, the Free Library, trees, different architecture types and his favorite restaurant, Novo..

John Waller showed the original French Hospital, Palm Theatre, San Luis creek area with bridges, Chong?s Candy Shop closed in 1978, now a real estate office. He then ventured to Poly Canyon to look at different architecture designs.

The topic for February is Tourist Destinations.
What follows are the meeting dates for 2025
  March 9
  April 13
  May 18 (May 11 is Mothers' Day)
  June 8
  July 13
  August 10
  September 14
  October 12
  November 9
  December 14

See the Links Page;  https://www.slobytes.org/digital/links.html for tutorials and other resources

Alan Raul

Hello All,
What follows is a re-post of an announcement that I received today from APCUG
Ralph Sutter

 
WEDNESDAY WORKSHOP
January 8, 2025
9 am PT, 10 am MT, 11 am CT, 12 pm ET

EXTEND YOUR LITHIUM-ION BATTERY LIFE
Part 1. Introduction to Smart Plugs
John Krout, Presenter & Newsletter Contributor
Potomac Area Technology And Computer Society
 
Touring the Web #11: End of 2024 Edition
JB Burke, President, Prescott Computer Society
 
Register once here - https://forms.gle/QyYtgTuTmNR2PjX27
 
After you click Submit, you will receive a pop-up acknowledgment of your registration (see below). On January 7, after registration closes at 6 pm Pacific Time, you will receive the encrypted Zoom link.
 
Extend Your Lithium-Ion Battery Life, Part 1?Introduction to Smart Plugs. John will cover the following topics: What is a smart plug? How long have they been around? Why are smart plugs helpful? Can you mix brands of smart plugs? How to use them while on the go, and other forms of smart devices.
 
Touring the Web #11: End of 2024 Edition. On this Tour, you will learn what OneDrive really is, see some iconic photos from the 20th Century, and learn how an 8-story 11,000-ton building was turned 90? while work went on inside. Plus, a bit about WWII innovations, worldwide favorite ice cream flavors, how to launch a satellite without a rocket, historic aircraft, and why you should switch to a Chromebook. Unsure of AI? We'll have some tips about how to get into it. Plus, videos, links galore, and much, much more.