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Windows tip: Take a quick “Peek” at your bare desktop

Windows tip: Take a quick “Peek” at your bare desktop

by ben patterson | Feb 10, 2014 | desktops, laptops

Want to take a quick look at the files, folders and icons sitting on your Windows desktop, all without having to minimize all your open windows? If so, here’s a neat trick. Try this: just slide your mouse pointer to the very end of the Windows taskbar (for most...
Mac tip: How to disable the Caps Lock key for good

Mac tip: How to disable the Caps Lock key for good

by ben patterson | Feb 5, 2014 | desktops, how-tos, laptops

Sick of hitting the Caps Lock key by accident—and suddenly finding yourself typing IN ALL CAPS? Me too. Well, there’s an easy way to change the behavior of your Mac’s Caps Lock key—or even disable it altogether, if you wish. Related: Make your Windows PC...
Android tip: How to zoom the entire display on your Android phone

Android tip: How to zoom the entire display on your Android phone

by ben patterson | Feb 4, 2014 | how-tos, phones

Leslie writes: Just saw your tip on how to zoom an iPhone display. Any way to do this on my Android phone? Thanks! Hi Leslie! Yes, you can absolutely zoom the display on your Android handset. In fact, the only difference between the screen-zoom features for iOS and...
iOS 7 tip: How to zoom the entire display on your iPhone or iPad

iOS 7 tip: How to zoom the entire display on your iPhone or iPad

by ben patterson | Feb 3, 2014 | how-tos, phones, tablets

Having a hard time reading the tiny type on your iPad or iPhone screen? Believe me, you’re not the only one. Indeed, after a long day of iPhone swiping, my aching eyes feel like they might get stuck in a perpetual squint. Related: How to zoom the entire display...
Facebook tip: Reframe your photos just the way you want

Facebook tip: Reframe your photos just the way you want

by ben patterson | Jan 29, 2014 | how-tos, social networks

My wife recently posted an especially cute snapshot of our two-year-old on Facebook, but when the photo appeared in her news feed, something was missing: namely, our little one’s head. Sure, you could see the snowflake on our cutie’s sweater perfectly, as...
Android tip: Turn on “autocomplete” for the phone dialer

Android tip: Turn on “autocomplete” for the phone dialer

by ben patterson | Jan 23, 2014 | how-tos, phones

Still tapping out phone numbers on the dial pad of your Android phone? I like your style—and just to prove it, here’s a time-saving tip you’ll probably appreciate. Hidden deep in the dialer settings for your Android device is a feature that’ll...
iPhone alerts, badges, and banners—what’s the difference?

iPhone alerts, badges, and banners—what’s the difference?

by ben patterson | Jan 22, 2014 | how-tos, phones, tablets

Your iPhone and/or iPad has several different ways of notifying you about a new text message, calendar event, a friend’s Facebook update … well, the list goes on. Sometimes, you’ll get a little iPhone alert and a banner appears briefly at the top of...
Mac OS X: All the basics, plus 40 must-know tips & how-tos

Mac OS X: All the basics, plus 40 must-know tips & how-tos

by ben patterson | Jan 21, 2014 | desktops, how-tos, laptops

Need a little help figuring out your new iMac or MacBook? You’ve come to the right place. Check out our updated survival guide for the basics on Mac OS X, including details on the latest “Mavericks” features, illustrated guides for updating and...
Windows tip: 3 ways to take charge of your mouse buttons

Windows tip: 3 ways to take charge of your mouse buttons

by ben patterson | Jan 16, 2014 | desktops, how-tos, laptops

Ever wish you could right-click with the left mouse button, double-click a bit more slowly, or highlight some text without straining your finger tendons? Do a little digging into your Windows system settings and you’ll find a trio of settings that could make...
Android tip: Find out which version of Android is installed on your phone

Android tip: Find out which version of Android is installed on your phone

by ben patterson | Jan 15, 2014 | how-tos, phones, tablets

Ray writes: Hi Ben—just bought a Samsung Galaxy Golden phone, do you know what version of Android it uses? Thanks and regards. Hi Ray! A quick Google search reveals that the new Galaxy Golden (a flip-style Android phone on sale now in South Korea, but apparently not...
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