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  • How to make Alexa call 911

    If you have a device connected to Amazon Alexa, you already know how helpful they can be. You may also have some around the house, including in your family room, kitchen, and your home office.

    The voice-activated assistant connects to the Internet and is a great resource. It can be used to control smart devices, listen to music, learn when on the go, and more.

    These are just some of the fun and helpful ways Alexa can help you save time and be entertained. But can Alexa help with more serious tasks, like in an emergency? The answer is yes, now there is a skill in this that can really come to the rescue.

    That’s why you need to know how to get Alexa to call 911. Keep reading to find out how it could one day save your life.

    How to use this life saving technique
    To take advantage of Alexa’s life-saving technology, you’ll need a few items you probably already have and a new one. Let’s start with items you may already have.

    Obviously, you’ll need a device connected to Alexa. All of the following will work: Echo (1st and 2nd generation), Echo Dot (1st and 2nd generation), Echo Show, Echo Spot and Echo Plus.

    Next, you’ll need home phone service. You can either use an existing landline or VoIP service.

    VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. Basically, this means you can make phone calls over the Internet without a landline.

    Lastly, all you need is a smartphone for set up. You will need a smartphone with iOS 9.0 or higher, or Android 5.0 or higher. Then simply download the Alexa app on your smartphone and set up Alexa calling and messaging by verifying your mobile phone number.

    Those are things you may already have. Now, let’s talk about the new gadget that you’ll need to use Alexa to call emergency services.

    Making phone calls with Alexa made easy

    Amazon has a gadget called Echo Connect. With it, you can use your compatible Echo device to make calls to any number supported by your home phone service provider. including 911.

    Once you have an Echo connected, you can sync contacts from your smartphone in the Alexa app so you never have to look up a number. Simply say “Alexa call 911,” and it will call emergency services for you.

    That’s all, that’s all it takes for Alexa to make hands-free calls for you. It’s not just a great tool for emergency situations. It is also helpful for making regular calls to friends and family.

    Because the Echo Connect uses your home phone number, family and friends will be able to recognize the call. You can even answer your home phone on your Echo from across the room, so you can easily talk to anyone hands-free when you’re busy or away from the phone.

    You can buy an Echo Connect from Amazon for less than $35. It is the perfect addition to your home. While you’re thinking about it, click the link below to place your order today, you’ll be glad you did.

    Here are 5 reasons even smart TV users should have a streaming box when it comes to internet-connected gadgets

    With so many streaming services available these days, paying around $200 per month for cable just isn’t worth it. These services provide a less expensive way to watch TV that can help you save hundreds of dollars over the course of a year. However, if you’re only streaming with the Smart TV app, you’re missing out on some really amazing features.

  • How to unlock your iPhone’s secret menu

    Have you ever wondered if your iPhone has a secret menu similar to an Android smartphone? This trick may not be as useful as the user interface or graphical tweaks that the Android operating system (or for that matter, jailbroken iPhones) offers but this secret menu is interesting nonetheless.

    It even has a nice graphical tweak that some iPhone users might find extra useful.

    It is very easy to get access to this iPhone secret menu. Keep reading to learn the simple steps!

    This code opens a secret menu filled with your iPhone’s hidden field test data. Once it’s successfully processed, it will display information about your iPhone’s cell connection, its quality, and even your mobile IP address.

    If cute terms like “neighbor measurement,” “connected mode LTE intra-frequency measurement” or “serving cell information” sound like geeky vague, don’t worry, this menu really isn’t for average users.

    Since it is full of detailed data about cell towers, it is more than likely for engineers conducting field tests or cell site surveys. (For example, the PDP reference information contains information about your carrier’s access point name, APN, and your mobile IP address.)

    placing numerical signal indicator

    For the casual iPhone tinkerer, the most useful feature on this incognito menu is its use of a numerical signal strength indicator instead of the standard signal bar.

    With it, you’ll see a decibel value (for example, -115 for a weak signal or -50 for a good one) instead of signal strength in the upper-left corner of your screen.

    To bring your signal bar back to standard points, simply enter Field Test Mode again and simply exit it (by pressing the Home button) or you can reboot your iPhone.

    Note: For accurate cell tower readings, it is recommended that you turn off your iPhone’s Wi-Fi.

    Warning. Although Fields menu items are read-only and immutable, this trial mode is for professionals and, in some cases, may have the potential to disrupt your cell service.

  • Free audiobooks, saving Facebook photos, TV restaurants

    Every week, I receive tons of questions from my listeners about tech concerns, new products, and all things digital.

    Sometimes picking the most interesting questions to highlight is the best part of my job.

    This week, I received questions about how to find free audiobooks, how to save Facebook photos, the best way to find restaurants that appear on TV, and more.

    Do you have any question you want to ask me?

    Tap or click here to email me directly.

    My Amazon Public Profile
    Q: Did you say we have public profiles on Amazon like social media accounts? I did not know. How do I watch it? how do i delete it?

    A: The short answer is yes, you have a public profile on Amazon, and it’s like a social media account. You agreed to this when you signed up.

    Thought matters a lot; If you have a profile that friends and loved ones can access, they can buy wise gifts for you.

    Amazon has other little-known settings that may concern you, and the shopping experience will be much more comfortable after you change them.

    Tap or click here for five Amazon settings you should be changing now.

    leave facebook but keep my pictures
    Q: I want to leave Facebook. Is there any way to download all my photos?

    A: You are not alone. However, there are a few reasons why people hesitate before terminating their accounts: They wonder how they will keep in touch with friends and loved ones.

    They fear “missing out” at important events such as weddings, children, and even funerals. In the end, they worry about losing their photos, which symbolize a lot of memories. Over the years, Facebook users can upload hundreds or even thousands of images to their accounts, and it’s hard to imagine losing these forever.

    Naturally, Facebook doesn’t want you to leave their service, so they don’t make termination any easier. Now, there is a way to download all your photos and store them on your computer or the cloud.

    Tap or click here to download All Photos from Facebook.

    Get the FREE Komando App
    Q: Do you have an app? I want to have it on my phone.

    A: I have an app, and it’s a great way to keep track of the latest tech trends. If you have any doubts, just read some reviews: “I’ve followed Kim for over 20 years.

    This free app is the best gift you can give yourself.” Alternatively, “Get reliable tech advice you can use every day!”

    Whether you use iTunes or Google Play, search for “Komando.com” and the app should pop up. the best part? It’s free!

    Tap or click here for the link to My Free App.

    Find famous restaurants
    Q: I am a total foodie. Is there a way to see the restaurants on the TV show on a map? We are traveling across the country in an RV.

    A: I think many of my readers and listeners envy your cross-country journey. One of the great joys of traveling is certainly trying different foods, and there is so much to sample.

    In the meantime, if you’re a fan of Guy Fieri or Andrew Zimmern, you can go out of your way to try the restaurant you’ve seen in your favorite road-food chain. There have been a lot of different shows on the Food Channel and Travel Network about roadside eateries.

    You can be anywhere in the country and be able to drive to a well-filmed location. Thanks to a great site, you can easily find them all.

    Tap or click here to find the locations of restaurants you’ve visited on TV.

    free audiobooks
    Q: I listen to audiobooks. I’m tired of paying for them. Are there any decent freebies?

    A: No more clunky piles of audio cassettes, downloading an audiobook is easy and takes up very little memory on your phone. You can carry on with the audiobook without worrying about dropping the CD.

    As convenient as audiobooks are for exercise or a long trip, they can be expensive, mainly if you use a service like iTunes or Audible. Do not get me wrong; These platforms are fantastic, and you can use Audible’s credit system to get incredible deals on some pricey titles.

    But “free” is always the best price, and if you’re not satisfied with your local library’s Overdrive collection, a website offers a real steal.

    Tap or click here for an excellent source of free audio books.

    What digital lifestyle questions do you have? Call My National Radio Show and tap or click here to find it on your local radio station. You can listen to The Kim Komando Show on your phone, tablet or computer. Tap or click here for my free podcast, from buying advice to digital life issues.

    Learn all about the latest technology on The Kim Komando Show, the nation’s biggest weekend radio talk show.

  • 10 useful Gmail settings you’ll wish you knew sooner

    More than a billion people use Gmail. This is one in seven people on earth who are actively using this free email platform in 74 different languages.

    Recently, the Wall Street Journal reported that some third-party developers were collecting data on Gmail users. If you’re worried about this exercise, I’ve got your back. Tap or click here to stop it and disconnect third party apps from your Gmail account.

    This is not bad news for Gmail users.

    Google recently added a new feature to its Gmail redesign. The function is called “Confidential Mode,” and the Department of Homeland says it could present a significant security threat to users. Tap or click here to learn how this feature can be used against you.

    You might not like many of the default Gmail settings; You can toggle specific options on or off if you only know they exist. Gmail is full of shortcuts, but they can’t speed up your work when you don’t know what they are.

    Here are 10 settings that will improve your Gmail experience. Like anything, the best way to learn Gmail is by practicing and experimenting, but these options will help you hit the ground running.

    1. Let Gmail type your emails for you
    A new feature, Smart Compose, will try to save you time by guessing what you’re going to write before you even start writing. It’s similar to autocomplete in text messages, but for your inbox.

    2. Try Canned Responses to Save Time
    Another advantage of Smart Compose is the ability to create “canned responses.” These are especially beneficial if you receive a lot of messages from many different people covering the same question or topic. Instead of retyping, or forwarding, or copying and pasting, you can draft a pre-defined response and send it over and over again.

    3. Center the Composition Box
    Every time you start a new email, Gmail populates that window in the lower-right corner. This is an improvement over the traditional format, which aims to devote an entire page to the new message. However, what if you don’t want it there? Also, what if you want the box to be bigger?

    that’s no problem. Simply click on the small diagonal arrow in the top right corner of the window. A large window will appear immediately in the middle of your screen.

    4. Give Yourself Some Keyboard Shortcuts

    Most of us know your standard keyboard shortcuts for things like copy, paste, and delete. Gmail has its own keyboard shortcuts for email users. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can even create your own keyboard shortcuts.

    In classic Gmail, you’ll want to find the “Labs” tab, while in the newer Gmail you’ll look for the “Advanced” tab. Regardless, choose whichever one you need and look down on the page until you find “Custom keyboard shortcuts”. Enable them and then save the changes. The page will refresh, and when it’s done go back to your settings and find the new “Keyboard Shortcuts” tab on the right side of the top banner.

    Click on it, and a window with several options will open. Choose a shortcut (or create a new one), then save the changes when you’re done. From that moment on, you will be able to apply the shortcut whenever you need it.

    5. Get back sent email
    There are a hundred reasons why you might be sending an email before you’re ready. You may have entered the wrong address. Maybe you wrote an angry email in a hurry. Maybe you forgot that Amber’s birthday party was a surprise. Fortunately, you can prevent it from delivering—provided you act quickly.

    When you first start your Gmail account, you have five seconds to pause the message from the moment you hit “Send.” However, you can increase that number by going into your settings and finding the line for “undo send.”

    There you will see a drop-down box that gives you the option of 5, 10, 20 and 30 seconds for the duration of your cancellation. Just choose the one you want, scroll down and hit Save. If you’re indecisive by nature, you can spend half a minute debating whether the message you sent was a good idea.

    By the way, have you ever wanted to retrieve a text message? You can do this! Tap or click here for the secret to stop a text message from being sent.

    6. Keep Your Inbox Just the Way You Want It

    Not everyone wants to read emails in chronological order. There are several ways to organize your inbox: you might want to read starred messages first, or unread messages, or “priority” messages. This is a standard feature across a variety of email services, but Gmail makes ordering exceptionally easy.

    Simply hover your mouse over the Inbox tab on the left side of the screen. When a downward triangle appears, click on it. You’ll notice that there are five different types of inboxes, with a brief description of each.

  • Best low-cost cellphone plans for 2018

    Have you taken a look at your cellphone bill lately? If you’re like many of us, maybe not. Instead you set it to pay automatically and forget about it.

    In some ways this is understandable. After all, it’s not like you’re not going to pay the bill and as long as your plan offers every feature you need, it’s easy to keep it all out of sight and out of mind.

    But if you take a moment to look at your bill you can see that it is much more than you think. Also, you’ll probably be quite confused as to why, exactly, it’s so high.

    Not every plan is expensive
    When it comes to cellular service, there are a few big names that attract the most attention. This is because they generally provide the most stability and network range, both of which are important.

    But as painful as it may be, what is true for most of life applies to cellphones: We get what we pay for. If you go with the cheapest phone on the cheapest plan, you’re unlikely to be too thrilled with the results.

    Fortunately, even the most expensive carriers offer cheaper options, and while they may not be offered at the same price point as those sold by fewer carriers, they do offer top quality at a more affordable rate. Huh.

    It depends on what features you want
    Everyone uses their phones and devices for different purposes, and knowing what’s yours will help determine what’s best suited for you. Do you need a certain number of minutes or text messages? What about burning a decent amount of data?

    Unlike other major carriers, T-Mobile doesn’t offer plans that provide data sharing. Which will have to be purchased separately for each phone of the plan.

    As for plans, the T-Mobile One Unlimited plan costs $75 for the first line, with the price going up to $130 for two lines. The more lines you add, the lower the per-line price you pay, and there are great bargains for new customers who want to install four lines.

    Along with unlimited data usage, T-Mobile says their Basic plan normally streams video at DVD quality and while there’s no extra charge to turn your phone into a mobile hot spot, speeds are limited to 3G. . T-Mobile is offering free Netflix to customers who have two or more lines.

    Now, for something more you can get things like HD-quality video streaming and 10 gigabytes per month 4G mobile hot spot usage. And it’s important to note that when data is unlimited, T-Mobile can slow things down after using 50GB.

    However, it is quite low, and most are unlikely to reach that number. T-Mobile also offers a $5 per line discount for every month you sign up for Autopay and gives you the ability to text and use data in 140 countries.

    To see more on T-Mobile’s wireless plans, tap or click here.

    AT&T

    At long last in the phone game, AT&T has updated its plans in large part due to its acquisition of Time Warner. Now more TV content is offered by carriers, and thus people will need more data.

    Looking at their plans, AT&T’s new Unlimited & More option is $80 for a single smartphone line. You can add lines to the plan and as you do, the per-phone price drops, two for $145, three for $165 and four for $180.

    Making things even less expensive if you sign up for automatic payments and paperless billing, AT&T offers a $10 monthly discount for one line and $20 for two or more lines.

    It’ll only cost $5 more per month if you already have AT&T and switch to the new plan, which may seem like nothing to celebrate until you realize that you don’t have to get the most out of your money. For what else are you getting.

    Along with regular cellphone content, you’ll get access to 30 channels of live TV. Video streaming is now limited to standard-definition quality — if you want HD-quality video, you’ll want to look into the Unlimited and More premium plan, which is $90 per month and has the same increases (and discounts) as regular Unlimited. Is. More planning.

    These are some of his plans. There are others, some of which are even cheaper for fewer options or pricier with more, and it really comes down to what you really need.

    To see more on AT&T’s wireless plans, tap or click here.

    Verizon

    Generally the most expensive, Verizon recently changed its plans to add a third one that offers unlimited data.

    Verizon’s Go Unlimited plan starts at $80 per month for a single phone. With this you’ll get DVD-quality streaming while your hot spot usage is limited to 600 kilobits per second.

    If you want a little more, another $10 per month will get you Verizon’s Unlimited Unlimited plan.

  • How to check for hidden cameras on Lyft or Uber

    A disturbing story broke this week in which Uber and Lyft passengers second-guess their use of ride-sharing services. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch posted news that a local Uber and Lyft driver was live-streaming video of their customers without their knowledge or consent.

    Some drivers use cameras (something often found in taxi company cars) as a safety measure, but the St. Louis driver shared the video online for onlookers to comment. His actions were legal in Missouri, a party recording consent state, but passengers were horrified to learn his every word and the actions inside the car were live-streamed to strangers.

    While Lyft announced that it has disabled the driver and Uber said it has ended its relationship with him, we are all now very aware of the potential privacy issues surrounding cameras in ride-sharing cars. . The St. Louis driver is no different. Other Uber and Lyft drivers have done the same, though some had a practice of letting their passengers know first.

    Hidden cameras can still be a problem, but there are some steps you can take to identify cameras used in an Uber or Lyft vehicle.

    what to see
    The now-suspended St. Louis driver had a small sticker on his car warning passengers of the security cameras on board and telling them they were consenting to be recorded by entering the vehicle. The sticker didn’t mention the online broadcast aspect of the system, and passengers who spoke to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said they didn’t notice the sticker. Look for similar notices on any Uber or Lyft vehicle you plan to ride.

    The next place to check is the Dashboard. Most of the camera systems will be mounted on the dash for the driver and the occupants to see. Don’t hesitate to talk to your driver before going inside and ask if there are any cameras operating in the car.

    Uber’s official policy is to allow its drivers to install and use video cameras to “record riders for the purposes of safety”. It also warns drivers that local regulations may require them to fully disclose this and obtain consent. Lyft tells its drivers to follow the rules of their city and state when it comes to recording equipment. It says some locations may not allow recording devices, while others may require signage.

    Read this before taking another Uber.

    What to do
    You can ask the driver if the cameras are for security use only or if the video is being transmitted for other purposes. If you feel comfortable with the reaction, you can choose to ride. Keep in mind that Uber or Lyft does not guarantee privacy and behave accordingly. This is not the time to spill personal secrets or vent about your boss.

    Tap or click here to learn how Uber and Lyft can help you get to the doctor for free.

    You can also ask the driver to turn off any camera. The driver may or may not choose to honor this request. Some drivers insist on cameras to protect themselves in the event of disputes or unruly passengers. If you are not comfortable, request another driver.

    The live-streaming incident should make Uber and Lyft users more careful about ride-share use. Just remember that you can refuse a ride in an Uber or Lyft if you have privacy concerns about the cameras in the vehicle.

  • Kids are killing each other this summer

    If you’re wondering where your teen is really doing this summer, relax. They are locked on a remote island.

    killing each other.

    Twenty-seven years ago, a young video game developer named Tim Sweeney built Epic Games in his parents’ basement. For years, the company produced minor hits. Last year, Sweeney released an online game called Fortnite. Players parachute onto a deserted island, and then proceed to kill each other.

    Fortnite is now in its fifth edition. But this year Sweeney did the unexpected.

    He freed the game. And it made him a billionaire. Players play for free, but they must use real money in the outside world to buy currency to be used inside the game to buy weapons and, of course, spend their entire summer trying to kill the other guy. Fortnight is on its way to earn $2 billion this year.

    And that’s what your kids are doing.

    Tiffany Floyd was 16 years old. She starred in plays and played basketball with her summer theater camp so well that her coaches thought she would excel in the sport in college and beyond.

    Nailah Linear was also 16 years old. She loved dancing and planned to try out for her high school’s cheerleading team.

    Lamourie Gaithings was 17 years old. He never missed a fishing trip with his father and wanted to be a Louisville police officer when he grew up.

    None of them will ever get those opportunities.

    All three were among 17 children and teens killed in Louisville so far this year, the youngest casualties in a devastating public health crisis from runaway gun violence.

    More children were killed from January 1 to August 11 than in the whole of 2020, when 16 children and teens under 18 were the victims of the city’s record-high 173 homicides.

    Everyone died of bullets except this year’s child. At least 65 other teenagers were injured in the shootout.

    Legend Talifero, a 4-year-old boy who loved dinosaurs and basketball, was sleeping on the floor in an apartment in Kansas City, Missouri, when he was shot on June 29, 2020. A person who was involved in a dispute. Legend’s father awaits trial for second-degree murder. A probable cause statement said the suspected shooter was trying to find Legend’s father after that brawl.

    “Why do we have to resort to violence because we are insane?” Legend’s mother, Charon Powell, asks. “What other way can we find a problem without harming anyone?”

    In St. Louis, 9-year-old Kaion Greene died in March after someone set her family’s car on fire. There is a 17-year-old accused in this crime. Police and prosecutors declined to discuss a motive or say what led to the shooting.

    In May, two Minneapolis children were shot and killed. Nine-year-old Trinity Ottoson-Smith was shot in the head while jumping on a trampoline. Police said she was the unintended victim of a bullet shot aimed at someone else. No arrests have been made. Six-year-old Ania Allen was shot when her mother drove her car through a gunfight.

    On October 2 in Milwaukee, an 11-year-old girl was killed and a 5-year-old girl was injured when someone shot into their family’s car from another vehicle. Police did not say whether they knew the motive and were seeking information from the public.

  • 5 Google Flights tricks you need to use now

    Whispering to a great destination is one of my favorite things in life. Some of my best memories come from the holidays I took with my family as a kid.

    If you’re planning your next getaway, whether it’s for business or pleasure, there’s a good chance you’ll be flying to your destination. Unfortunately, airfare can be expensive.

    This is the reason why people put so much effort to find the cheapest flight. Believe it or not, there are ways to get really good deals on flights that usually cost a fortune. You just need to know how to find them.

    Some helpful tips include booking your flight early and making sure you’re shopping on the right day of the week. Also, make sure you fly on a day and at a time that traditionally costs less.

    One of the top search sites is Google Flights (it used to be called Google Flights Search). Like any other search site, Google Flights lets you quickly find and compare flights between airports on certain days.

    However, if you are using it, you are missing out. It has some amazing features built in that make it so easy to plan that vacation.

    Let’s talk about five Google Flights tricks you need to use to get started now.

    1. Get Destination Ideas
    If you travel a lot, you might get tired of your usual destinations. Or maybe you don’t travel much, and you’re not sure where you want to go.

    On its home page, Google Flights gives you some of the popular destinations like Portland, New York City, and Las Vegas with good deals available. If you’re not sure where you want to travel, this is a good place to start.

    Of course, maybe you’re interested in visiting a certain region or country but aren’t sure which airports or cities to go to. The answer is also with Google Flights.

    Instead of entering a specific airport as the destination, you can type in “Europe,” “France,” “Japan,” or another country or region. You’ll see a map highlighting the major airports and how much it will cost to fly there. If you zoom in, you can also see smaller regional airports. You can also narrow down the suggestions based on your interests like culture, ecotourism, food, etc.

    For example, I found that on a trip to Japan, I could save a few hundred more people flying into Osaka or Tokyo than any other airport. Of course, for an even cheaper flight into Southeast Asia, I can get to Beijing for about $500 less than Tokyo.

    2. Track Pricing Trends
    If you have time to wait to buy tickets for your trip, Google Flights can tell you when the best time is. Google will send you an alert when it predicts a decrease or increase in prices. You can also track historical prices on flights that you ask Google to monitor.

    This feature is great for people who travel to the same destination regularly for business or pleasure. To get started, just enter search criteria for departure city, destination city, and travel dates.

    Once you press enter, you will be taken to a result page. You’ll see a section labeled “Track Price.”

    Google will monitor the lowest price and you will receive price alerts and travel tips by email. This is a great way to know when is the right time to buy.

    3. Find the Cheapest Days to Fly
    Of course, prices for airports listed on area maps are based on the days you entered to fly. If you’re flexible on travel days, you can get much better deals.

    Instead of typing in specific travel dates, simply click on the date field to bring up the calendar. It will show you the daily prices of tickets for the next few months so you can see the cheapest days of flight at a glance.

    For my trip to Tokyo, I found that there are days ahead that I can save about $200 on a round-trip ticket. This is valuable information to know.

    Google will also help you out with a handy “swap” feature. If there is a cheaper flight closer to the date you selected, Google will give you a notification at the top of the search results.

    4. Find the best flight
    Finding the cheapest destination and the cheapest days to fly is great, but in your rush to save, you may find that the “cheapest flight” isn’t always the “best flight.” I have seen this happen to many of my friends and family members.

    What I mean is that the dirt-cheap ticket you bought might be that you’re flying in the wee hours of the morning and doing three 5-hour layovers. Not to mention that you could lose paying ticket savings for a checked bag.

    For example, searching for flights to Barcelona brings up a wide range of options. The least expensive one costs just under $1,700, but there’s a problem.

  • Get great free stuff at your local library

    Wouldn’t it be great to go somewhere and have access to endless hours of entertainment? All in one place, to have a great deal of information about your city, important archives, and sometimes even artifacts and exhibits?

    What if this is a place that has the ability to answer just about any question you might have? Where you can find the answers yourself, or talk to any of the amazing staff that work there and get information faster?

    This magical place exists, my friends—it’s your local library. With just a photo ID and proof of address, you can give yourself access to all the information you could ever need, and other resources you’d never guess you’d get for free. could.

    That’s right: for free. Your local library is full of things to do and see at zero cost, so yes, you have to leave the house to access some of them, but all you need to worry about is what it costs to get there. Is!

    Still need some reassurance, or just need more details? Here are some of the best free things you can get at your local library right now:

    Books
    It’s a bit of a given – it’s a library. But in addition to the large number of print books, which may come in normal or large font, and may even be requested from other libraries if your local library doesn’t have a book, libraries today still have an impressive number. I boast of e-books and audiobooks, all free with a library card.

    All you need is an e-reader, and/or an audiobook app that supports your library’s file types (like Overdrive), and you can binge books the way you binge TV shows.

    Just keep in mind that e-books and audiobooks from the library come with due dates, just like printed books do—you’ll usually be able to keep your copy for about two weeks, then you’ll need to renew your reading material. , or it will be available again to other library card holders.

    So yes, ebooks and audiobooks may not always be available. But you can place a hold request just like in print books, and get a link to download it as soon as your copy is available, so it’s still an incredibly useful and available service.

    DVD and CD
    Long before streaming, libraries tried to compete with video and music stores with one major exception—tapes, DVDs, and CDs would be free to check out with a library card.

    Of course, the selection can be somewhat limited and new releases won’t be available as quickly, and sometimes DVDs or CDs get scratched and difficult to play. But the movies will be free, and are still free at your local library.

    Still can’t find that superhero movie you want on Netflix, or want to watch a romantic comedy that just disappeared from Hulu? Try your local library’s catalog, and go ahead and grab it before your next movie date!

    Wi-Fi and workspaces
    Cafes and coffee shops get all the love when it comes to hanging out with writers and working on their novels and screenplays. Your local library also has free Wi-Fi and desks that will allow you all the same benefits of ordering water just two hours in advance and without the barista having to take up table space.

    The library, instead, is surprisingly quiet, filled with tables and desks (which also have outlets available for you), completely surrounded by reference material to you, and in the summer, even offers free A/C. Is.

    Libraries often have places you can reserve to work away from other people, or where you can meet with a group and collaborate on a project. Just make sure you reserve rooms in advance if you want to (they go away quickly, especially when students have finals and midterms to worry about during the school year).

    Need a computer too? Virtually all libraries have desktops available, and some even have laptops that you can rent on-site. These devices come with a time limit for their use, but they still come in handy for many situations, and they often have printers available for use as well. That’s why libraries make excellent work spaces.

    free images
    Need great stock images that are more historical or natural, or just need to see famous works of art, or some local maps? Libraries can help everyone with this.

    The New York Public Library has 200,000 free images that you can use for any purpose, and you can download them from your home right now. It also houses a collection of 180,000 works of art, literature and performance, many of which are in the public domain, as well as 672,000 items in general in its digital collection.

    Check out any item in your home now, and use the public domain one for just about any purpose you can think of.

  • Try this trick if your Android phone keeps losing its data

    Have you ever had this problem with your Android when you’re out and about? Let’s say you’re walking down a sidewalk as you pass McDonald’s or Starbucks. You check your phone and see and see – your data connection has apparently dropped!

    It can be extra frustrating but most of the time it is not your cellular connection that is acting funny. Chances are your phone automatically connected to a free Wi-Fi hotspot (like the one provided for free by carriers like AT&T) but it’s too weak or slow to do any work.

    To prevent this from happening, here are some tweaks that you can try on both Android and iPhone.

    Android
    Samsung phones have an option called “Smart Network Switch” that can prevent your device from connecting to bad Wi-Fi networks, however, this setting can also lead to similar issues.

    To turn it on or off go to Settings >> Connections >> Wi-Fi >> Advanced >> and then toggle “Smart Network Switch”.

    Similar to the iPhone, if your Android phone keeps connecting to hotspots in certain areas, you can try to turn on your Android phone’s Wi-Fi radio by swiping down from the top of the screen for the quick access menu. Huh.

    Again, I know this will sound like the most obvious advice – if all else fails, just turn off your Wi-Fi.

    iPhone:

    1. Turn off Auto-Join on Specific Networks
    Introduced in iOS 11, this welcome option can prevent your iPhone from automatically connecting to Wi-Fi networks with poor signal.

    More importantly, it allows you to not auto-join your iPhone to specific networks, for example, those dreaded AT&T and Xfinity hotspots that seem to be everywhere.

    Don’t get me wrong, these hotspots can be useful when you’re in a pinch but I’ll decide for myself whether I want to use them or not.

    2. Quickly Toggle Your Wi-Fi
    Sometimes even with auto-join off, these free Wi-Fi hotspots can still get in. Instead of manually turning off auto-join for each one you encounter, try this obvious step – turn off your Wi-Fi.

    One trick you can try is to quickly turn your iPhone’s Wi-Fi off and then on again immediately. Most of the time, this is enough to force your iPhone to prioritize your cellular data connection instead of a bad Wi-Fi network.

    You can do this quickly from the Control Panel (swipe down from top-right on the iPhone X, swipe up from the bottom on other iPhones) then tap the Wi-Fi icon to turn it off (color turns white).

    If your iPhone still keeps connecting to a bad Wi-Fi hotspot, simply turn off its Wi-Fi while it is in range. IMPORTANT: Remember to turn it back on when you’re back in range of your preferred Wi-Fi network!

    3. Turn on “Ask to Join Network”
    If you are traveling and are in an area that is saturated with these Wi-Fi hotspots, here is a temporary solution you can try – turn on “Ask to connect to network”.

    Setting this option to On will prevent your iPhone from automatically connecting to any new Wi-Fi networks and instead prompt you with an alert.

    However, the big downside with this approach is that you’ll get a popup every time your iPhone senses that a new Wi-Fi network is in range. It’s incredibly annoying when you’re out and about since you’ll be constantly bombarded with popups from your iPhone.

    However, combined with iOS’s auto-join tweaks, which automatically clean up networks with bad connections and those you specify, these popups can be greatly reduced.

    I’d rather set “Ask to Join Network” to Off, but this is a viable temporary fix if your cellular data connection keeps dropping in a certain area and you don’t want to turn off your Wi-Fi every time. Huh.