Tech Tips [How Programs Sneak Onto Your Computer + What’s A Start Button? + Making Memory Cards Work With Windows 8.1] 07-10-14

WorldStart Tech Tips 2014-07-10 Having trouble viewing parts or all of the newsletter? View the entire newsletter here! Zel writes: When I see instructions for Windows 7, often times it will say to use the "start button." I always thought the "start button" was the button that turned the power off and on. But when I press that, the computer just restarts. Is this button on the computer or somewhere on the keyboard? Is it found only on lap tops? Your assistance would be much appreciated. Zel, the Start Button isn't a physical button, but just the name given to an icon that access a menu in Windows 7. You'll find it in the lower-left of your Windows 7 computer. Click on it and you'll see a your recently used programs, a menu with shortcuts to important functions on your computer and a search box at the bottom that will allow you to search for things on your PC. ~ Cynthia Click here to rate this tip | Printer friendly version Isn't it great how technology marches on? Almost everything in our lives has improved over the last few decades... Except ice cube trays. I know, it seems silly, but in a minute I'll change the way you look at ice cubes forever and you'll wonder why the heck someone hadn't thought of this sooner! I mean, we all know how it goes with regular ice cube trays - you freeze your water and then have to get those frozen cubes out. Only they usually don't just fall out do they? Nope - they stick, you have to bang or twist the tray - and eventually they fly out - and usually land on the floor. That's no way to live! We have these ingenious Silicon Ice Cube Trays and let me tell ya - I only wish I had thought of it! It's pretty simple really. You fill it with water and freeze it just like any regular ice cube tray, but when it come time to extract those little frozen cubes, that's where the fun starts! Check out this quick little video that shows you WAY better than I can tell you. In fact, I dare you to watch it - once you see how cool this is, I promise you'll want two to these: I know it's just a little thing, but hey, why not? This is how ice cube trays should have been made all along. Plus, the price is dirt cheap - we're talking just $6.97 - and it's Buy One Get One FREE!!! For that kind of money, grab a few - and never fight with an ice cube tray again! http://store.worldstart.com/product/9811 PS - This really is WAY COOL (if you'll pardon the pun). You gotta give it a try - if nothing else, it makes getting ice cubes more fun! Where Did THAT Come From? How Companies Trick You Into Installing Unwanted Programs Ever opened up your browser, and all of the sudden your home page is different or there is a tool bar at the top you don't recognize? You probably recently installed some new program, and it had extra software "wrapped" up with it. You probably agreed to install it, without even knowing it, as annoying as that may be. When you do a search for something you'd like to download, you likely find several links. It's always good to look for the actual creator in the address to verify it's the real version. Notice on this screenshot for my search of Avast (an antivirus program) download the first two are from avast.com, but the third is from download.com. Downloading from the main source can reduce the risk of extra programs being added. But not always. More on that later on. First, let's take a look at how you may be tricked into this software installation. Let's say I want to download a program called Magic Camera (just an example, I didn't test the program itself, so this is not an endorsement to download it). I did a web search and found a site to download it from. I click on Download now, ignoring the little blue "Direct Download link" that's so tiny I missed it. Now I'm able to go through the installation steps. First, it will download the installer, then I click on the downloaded file to run the installer. One of the first screens I see is this: I just read the top that says Click Accept to continue the installation. But read and see what I'm actually installing. The main screen says that Search Protect will change the home page of IE, Google Chrome, and Firefox, AND prevent 3rd parties from making changes. At the bottom it says, "By clicking 'Accept' you confirm that you have read and agree to the Search Protect Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and agree to install Search Protect." But who reads that stuff? Click Accept. Next screen… Another accept window. I just click Accept, because, again, who reads all this? But by clicking accept, I have just agreed to install GreatArcadeHits, which will serve "advertising through in-text, pop-up/under, transitional, and banner ads in your web browser". Yes, I just agreed to this. So now they have hijacked my browser home page and will give me pop ups and banners. This just goes to show you to be careful what you download. Read ALL those windows, don't just blindly accept. But also, be careful when you uninstall. When testing these installation techniques, I downloaded a program called Drive Boost (again, not a promotion for the software.) When installing I saw this window at the end of the installation. I saw that tiny little check mark that tried to get me to install an additional program, but I was smart enough not to leave that checked! Once I decided I didn't need the program, I went to uninstall it and saw this window: The instinct is to immediately click on the BIG RED BOX! But stop and look at what it says. Uninstall and Get Advanced SystemCare FREE. The same program they tried to get me on when I installed. What I really want to do is click that tiny link below that says "No, I want a full uninstall." Can you see how easy we get suckered in? But it's not just downloads from small companies, big business suck us in too. Have you run a Java update lately? It is recommended to keep it up to date, but be careful, because every time you update, you will see this screen: Those check marks are there automatically, so if you just hit next, you may find the Ask toolbar at the top of your browser, and your default search will be set to Ask as well. Keep in mind, every time you need to update Java, this window comes up and is checked by default, so pay attention if you do not want that option. This type of software can be added to any installer, even well known companies. Just be careful where you download from, and read those dialog boxes and windows that come up to be certain what you are installing. It's easy to get fooled but now you will be wiser to these tactics. -Audra Click here to rate this tip | Printer friendly version Do you have a question for us? Ask it here! John E. from Ontario, Canada writes: Just starting to use WIN 8.1. I have some photos on a SD card and a Sony memory stick. How do I transfer the pixs off the cards and onto my PC. It seemed a lot easier with XP. Keep up the good work. Good news, John. It's not complicated at all. First of all, put your card or memory stick into your computer or a card reader that you have plugged in to your computer. Windows 8.1 should detect the card and put up this notice: Tap or click on the notice and you'll be offered a choice of what you'd like to do with the card. Since you want to import photos, choose Import photos or videos. The photos will automatically be imported into your photos file into a folder named with the date of the import. If your computer doesn't recognize the memory card immediately, type This PC in the Search Charm and then click or tap on the icon... Head on over to WorldStart for more on this tip! Tom from Evansville, Minnesota writes: I recently purchased your guide to Windows 8 and it's is so helpful for me as I now have Windows 8 from Win XP. The question I have is with my Facebook. I was always able with Win XP to just click on Facebook from Internet Explorer and it took me right to Facebook now with Win 8 I have to sign in each time. I have checked keep me logged in, but I still have to sign in each time. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Tom, the issue could be your settings on Internet Explorer. Click the little gear in the upper-right of Internet Explorer and choose Internet Options from the drop-down menu. Choose Content tab and then select Settings under AutoComplete. Make sure you've given Internet Explorer permission to remember passwords and user names. Go to WorldStart to learn more! Eliminate Noisy Tabs With Google Chrome No one really enjoys opening a web site only to be bombarded by a video or audio playing in the background. If you tend to have multiple tabs open at a time to stay on top of email, Facebook and checking for deals on Amazon, it might be difficult to determine which tab is suddenly making noise. Google Chrome understands your frustrations and has finally come up with a way to help you eliminate noisy tabs. While it isn't perfect yet, at least it will help you silence tabs faster. Identify With Chrome You don't have to open each tab in Chrome to see which tab is making noise. If Chrome detects a video or audio file playing on a site, you'll see a speaker icon to the far right of the noisy tab. Click the tab and locate the video or audio. You should see a pause or stop button. Chrome also lets you know if a tab is using your webcam or streaming to your TV. If you see a red record icon at the end of a tab, the site is using your webcam. If you haven't given the site permission to do so, close the tab immediately. If you see a blue rectangle TV icon at the end of a tab, a site is casting it's content to your TV. This is most common with streaming media sites if you've connected your TV and computer. If you don't see these icons on your tabs when you know you should, you may need to upgrade Google Chrome. The new feature just came out in January 2014. Upgrade by opening Google Chrome and clicking the... Want more? Head on over to WorldStart! For stories, jokes, quotes and cartoons every day, sign up for our Just for Grins newsletter. All Acronyms The first thing I noticed when I arrived at this site was the amazing number of acronyms and abbreviations that it offers definitions for. A whopping 2,884,000 covering over 2,000 topics! This site is an awesome resource to bookmark for future reference! Whenever you need to look up an acronym or abbreviation you can just come back to it and type it into the search field at top of the page. When you arrive at the site you'll notice the search field is in the top right corner of the page, just to the right of the other navigation options: Topics, Popular, Random, and Suggest. You also have the option of browsing acronyms and abbreviations via the featured content on the main page. There you'll find Just Searched, Daily Top 5, and By Category. Just beneath those options, you'll find an alphabetical index you can also use to navigate by. This site is filled with definitions for acronyms and abbreviations, go check it out for yourself today! http://www.allacronyms.com/ ~Amanda Click here to rate this tip | Printer friendly version Do you have a cool, non-commercial site that you want to share? Send it to Amanda at amanda@worldstart.com Aren't you TIRED of these dark rooms and halls? Seriously! It's been years and you've tried everything! This corner there, that pantry, the attic... wherever it is, you just CAN'T figure out a graceful solution to it being way too dark! At first it was just an inconvenience, but occasionally it's a health hazard! Trips, falls, and bruised knees are getting a little too frequent! Well, let me just start off by saying do NOT call out an electrician. It almost always costs a fortune to run new wires for new lighting! And if it wasn't worth it before, it certainly isn't worth it now... because I found an amazing "anywhere" light with a classic look that fits in any room or space! You know what you can do with this? ANYTHING! Stick it a wall, a ceiling, a cabinet, a closet, a door... the list goes on and on! (Heck, you can even keep one in your car or carry it in your hand like a flashlight! When I call this an "anywhere" light, I mean it!) The beauty is in the simplicity! Here's the whole setup! 1. Insert some batteries! 2. Peel open the adhesive! 3. Stick it where you need it! Is that easy or what? And turning it on is as simple as tugging on the pullstring! It's the same light you've been using for DECADES... except this one is way more versatile! You can even adjust the angle of the light to make sure it fits where you need it AND The best part is the elegant design! I can't think of a single room in my house that this doesn't fit in! Some wireless lights look too strange to put in a nice room, but this one works EVERYWHERE! It's even packed with modern LED technology! We go ON AND ON about LEDs here at WorldStart... and for good reason! They're brighter, more efficient, and they last forever! That means you can adjust it without concern even if it's been on ALL day! Find me a standard lightbulb that does THAT! Good luck! Yeah - you get THREE of these awesome lights for just $10.97 - WOW! Of course, if you don't click the link soon, you might be the first one to see the big "Out of Stock" notice when they sell out completely! http://store.worldstart.com/product/9814 July Wallpaper Is Ready! The featured desktop wallpaper for July is ready to go. Check out the featured images below and stop by the site - hundreds to choose from! All can be found here and are 100% free: http://www.backcountrygallery.com/wallpaper/ Oh, and if you enjoy these images, please tell your friends! Perfect Pounce I really love coyotes. I know, not everyone is a fan, but I can't help it – they're one of my favorite animals. I think the reason for this favoritism might stem from my admiration of the aerial pounce they sometimes use when pursuing prey. Their approach is decidedly cat-like in its execution and incredibly graceful to watch. For example…(More) Stormy Sunset At Sleeping Bear Talk about a last chance! We had been trying for three days to get something – anything – at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It doesn't seem to be a great morning location, so that left us with just three chances - one for each evening we were there. The first evening saw...(More) Daybreak The waterfall you see in the photo is the final plunge for Chapel Creek before it empties into Lake Superior. It always makes an interesting cut through the sand – but – you just never quite know what path it'll take. Most of the time, it likes to wind off to the right, but a gale force weather event pushed the sand back in, making the new cut anybody's guess. Even with that wildcard in mind, I decided to...(More) For these and other great selections of desktop wallpaper, head to: http://www.backcountrygallery.com/wallpaper/ As always, the wallpaper is 100% free, so enjoy! PS - I also want to thank all the people who helped support the wallpaper with a voluntary contribution over the last few months. Your support helps to keep the wallpaper comin' every month! THANK YOU! ~Steve

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