Newsletter Archives

• How to use the Microsoft Edge sidebar

  Posted on October 23, 2023 at 02:45 CDT by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.43 • 2023-10-23

  INTERNET

  

  By Lance Whitney

  The sidebar in Microsoft Edge offers you a handy way to access frequently used tools, apps, websites, and other items.

  When it comes to browsers, I’m a dedicated Firefox user. But I have to admit I’ve been using Microsoft Edge more often. One Edge feature I like is its sidebar, through which you can easily access Microsoft 365, Outlook, Bing Search, Image Creator, and other tools and apps.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.43.0, 2023-10-23).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Internet browsers, Features, Microsoft Edge, Newsletters, Productivity

• How to upgrade your Windows 10 PC to Windows 11

  Posted on September 11, 2023 at 02:45 CDT by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.37 • 2023-09-11

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Lance Whitney

  Can you switch your computer from Windows 10 to Windows 11 without any major hiccups? Here’s how the upgrade played out for me.

  I recently decided to move my Windows 10 Lenovo laptop to Windows 11. Lately, for both personal and professional reasons, I’ve been relying more on features that are exclusive to Windows 11 — including Phone Link support for the iPhone, the new Photos app, AI integration, support for Android apps, smarter voice dictation, and screen recording in the Snipping Tool.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.37.0, 2023-09-11).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Windows 11 Newsletters, upgrade, Windows 10, Windows 11

• How to use Google Labs to experiment with AI

  Posted on August 21, 2023 at 02:44 CDT by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  AI

  

  By Lance Whitney

  Want to see how AI can work with Google Search, Docs, Gmail, and other tools? Google Labs will give you a taste.

  Google has a lot of AI projects in the works, all designed to bring or expand AI to Search, Gmail, Google Docs, and other services. For now, several of these projects are experiments that you can try out only through the company’s Google Labs service. With Google Labs, you’re able to check out AI features in Google Search, Gmail, and Google Docs. You can also play with an AI-based notebook and a musical AI that will turn your words into music. Read on to see how to access and use these different projects.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.34.0, 2023-08-21).

  AI Generative AI, Google, Google Bard, Google Labs, Google Search, Musical AI, Newsletters

• How to resolve synchronization problems in OneDrive

  Posted on June 12, 2023 at 02:45 CDT by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.24 • 2023-06-12

  ONEDRIVE

  

  By Lance Whitney

  Sometimes OneDrive fails to properly sync your files. Here’s how to deal with these annoying issues.

  I use Microsoft OneDrive to back up and sync my documents, photos, and other files. For me, it’s still the most seamless way to ensure that my files are not only backed up to the cloud but also synced and accessible across all my computers and mobile devices.

  However, OneDrive can be glitchy.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.24.0, 2023-06-12).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  OneDrive Newsletters, OneDrive, Synchronization, Windows

• Browser security and privacy — with the right extensions

  Posted on May 15, 2023 at 02:44 CDT by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  INTERNET

  

  By Lance Whitney

  Each browser offers its own settings for security and privacy, but you can often control these options better via third-party extensions.

  Managing your online privacy and security is always a challenge, especially as you browse different websites where you shop, bank, invest, and sign in to accounts personal or professional.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.20.0, 2023-05-15).

  Internet Browser Extensions, Internet tracking, Newsletters, Privacy, Security, Web Browsers

• How to manage your browser cookies

  Posted on April 17, 2023 at 02:44 CDT by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  INTERNET

  

  By Lance Whitney

  Browser cookies can be helpful or harmful, depending on how and why they’re used in your browser. The key lies in taking control of them.

  You probably already know that Web browsers use cookies to save certain information. Over the years, cookies have developed a bad rep because many websites and advertisers use them to track your online activities for the purpose of sending you ads and other targeted content.

  But cookies can also help you by storing key details at websites that you frequently use. The trick here is knowing which cookies are good and which are bad, and how to manage them in general.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.16.0, 2023-04-17).

  Internet Android, Chrome, Cookies, Edge, Firefox, iOS, Newsletters, Privacy, Safari, Security, Web Browsers, Windows

• How to take advantage of the Photos app in Windows

  Posted on March 20, 2023 at 02:42 CDT by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  WINDOWS

  

  By Lance Whitney

  The Photos app in Windows 10 and 11 will help you view and organize all the photos and videos scattered across your PC and other devices.

  After years of shooting photos and videos, you may have thousands of them stored on your phone and your computer. And now you want to be able to access them all, preferably in one single spot.

  Designed for Windows 10 and 11, the built-in Photos app is a free and convenient way to manage and view all your photos and videos, no matter where they’re located.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.12.0, 2023-03-20).

  Windows Newsletters, Photo app, Photos, Software, Windows

• How to take screenshots in Windows 11

  Posted on February 20, 2023 at 02:43 CST by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Lance Whitney

  The ability to take a screenshot in Windows can come in handy, both for personal and professional reasons.

  Maybe you’re documenting a certain process. Perhaps you need to share an image of an error message. Or maybe you’re making certain changes in Windows and want to capture the before and after. I take screenshots to supply images for the articles I write.

  Whatever the reason, Windows 11 (and 10) provides several methods to take a screenshot of an app or window.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.08.0, 2023-02-20).

  Windows 11 Newsletters, Screen capture, Snip & Sketch, Snipping Tool, Windows 10, Windows 11

• How to choose and use the best PowerToys for Windows 10/11

  Posted on January 30, 2023 at 02:44 CST by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  WINDOWS

  

  By Lance Whitney

  Microsoft packs a lot of cool tools into its free PowerToys offering. Here are some of the best.

  Microsoft’s latest incarnation of PowerToys has been around for a few years. Geared for Windows 10 and 11, PowerToys aims to add more features and flexibility to Windows.

  But now there are more than 15 individual tools in PowerToys. How do you know which ones are worth trying? Let’s check out what I think are the best of the bunch.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.05.0, 2023-01-30).

  Windows Newsletters, PowerToys, Windows, Windows 10, Windows 11

• How to set up a local account in any edition of Windows 11

  Posted on January 16, 2023 at 02:45 CST by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.03 • 2023-01-16

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Lance Whitney

  Yes, there is a way to create a local account in Windows 11, if you know the right tricks.

  With Windows 11, Microsoft has certainly made it more difficult to use a local account, especially if you’re running Windows 11 Home edition. But difficult doesn’t mean impossible. There is one clever way to sneak past Microsoft’s restrictions and create a local account in any edition of Windows 11.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.03.0, 2023-01-16).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Windows 11 Local account, Newsletters, Windows 11

• Is it time to move to Windows 11?

  Posted on December 12, 2022 at 02:45 CST by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 19.50 • 2022-12-12

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Lance Whitney

  Microsoft is increasingly aiming its latest enhancements at Windows 11 instead of Windows 10. Does that mean it’s time to jump ship to the newest version of Windows?

  I’m in the market for a new primary laptop and face a choice of outfitting it with Windows 10 or Windows 11. A few months ago, I might have gone with Windows 10, but now I’m shooting for Windows 11. The irony is that I’ve been critical of Windows 11, specifically because of the dumbing down and inflexibility of the Start menu, Taskbar, and certain other features. So why am I opting for Windows 11?

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (19.50.0, 2022-12-12).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Windows 11 Newsletters, Windows, Windows 10, Windows 11

• Windows 11 22H2: Which new features stand out?

  Posted on November 14, 2022 at 02:43 CST by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Lance Whitney

  Microsoft has beefed up Windows 11 with its first major update. Among all the changes, which ones are worth the upgrade?

  Since its debut in October 2021, Windows 11 has proven to be a controversial addition to Microsoft’s lineup. Though it boasts several improvements over its predecessor, the new operating system has turned off many people with its strict hardware requirements, its dumbing-down of the Start menu, and its lack of flexibility and customization.

  With Windows 11 finally sneaking past the one-year mark, Microsoft has released its first major update for the OS. Known as Windows 11 22H2, the annual update offers a bevy of incremental changes and enhancements. Though no single change is earth-shattering by itself, collectively the improvements beef up the new version in subtle but useful ways.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (19.46.0, 2022-11-14).

  Windows 11 Feature updates, Newsletters, Windows, Windows 11
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