Tips

Computers are incredibly powerful productivity, entertainment, and communications tools. It’s difficult to imagine life without them. Maybe that’s why it’s so frustrating when a computer doesn’t act as expected and apparently fails to work.  I’m Aaron, and I...

Your laptop can beep for many reasons, ranging from normal operational beeps to critical fault beeps. Discerning which is which can be a frustrating and difficult process, if you don’t know what to look for. I’m Aaron, a lawyer turned technologist. I’ve parlayed my...

You’ll need to open your computer and take a look. Unfortunately, there’s no way other than to look at your power supply to check what power supply you have.  I’m Aaron. I’ve been tinkering with PCs for over 30 years. I believe that the best way to learn how to...

There are a few reasons your PC download speed may be slow, ranging from computer performance issues to network performance issues. Diagnosing and resolving the problem can be difficult and frustrating. I’m here to help! Hi, I’m Aaron. I love technology and love...

Yes! With a little bit of work. Fortunately, it’s pretty straightforward to connect an Xbox controller to a PS4 and PS5. Why you’d want to is up to a matter of preference I guess. And bragging rights! Who doesn’t want to be able to tell their friends about their...

Yes! There are a number of options for getting content from your mobile device or computer to a TV. Many of them are usable without the presence of a local WiFi network.  I’m Aaron, a technology enthusiast who loves experimenting with technology. I’ve been doing...

Tracking an iPhone without iCloud is tricky but possible under certain circumstances. The best way to track an iPhone without iCloud is to use a third-party location-tracking app like LIfe360. I’m Andrew Gilmore, a former Macintosh administrator, and I’ll show you the...

Backing up your iPhone without iCloud requires plugging the device into a PC or Mac and then using iTunes or Finder, respectively. The computer stores the iPhone backup on its local hard drive. Hi, I’m Andrew, a former Mac administrator, and I’ll cover both of these...

Your photos might fail to upload to iCloud for various reasons, including low iCloud storage, low battery, or a spotty internet connection. Never fear; I’ll detail these reasons and more and guide you on how to fix the problem. I’m Andrew, a former Mac administrator....

The process for canceling your iCloud storage plan varies by platform. To cancel your iCloud storage subscription on an iPhone, tap Change Storage Plan, then Downgrade Options in the iCloud pane of the Settings app. Hi, I’m Andrew, a former Mac administrator, and in...

Likely because of internet connectivity issues, but it could also be Google service issues.  Google Drive, like Apple’s iCloud or Microsoft Azure, is a powerful productivity and storage tool. It lets you access your files anywhere you have an internet connection....

Yes, but you’re going to need additional equipment. Fortunately, it’s very straightforward to set up Zoom on your Smart TV. If you’ve used Zoom on a computer, you can use it on a TV! Hi, I’m Aaron. I love working with technology and turned my passion for it into a...

There are many factors that can impact your internet speed. Some of those issues can temporarily manifest on your local computer, on your switch or router, or even with your ISP.  I’m Aaron, a technologist and attorney with almost two decades of experience...

Currently, no major web browser supports Flash. There’s a good reason for that: Flash is a security nightmare. In fact, it was intentionally deprecated in favor of HTML5 multimedia delivery. What led to Flash’s downfall and why can’t you use it anymore? I’m Aaron and...

Yes! Sort of. When FreeSync first launched, it was only compatible with AMD GPUs. Since then, it’s been opened up–or rather Nvidia opened up its technology to be compatible with FreeSync.  Hi, I’m Aaron. I love technology and I’ve turned that love into a career...

Maybe, but probably not. This was a much bigger problem a decade ago, for reasons I’ll highlight below, but time and experience have resulted in patches for most email content-based threats.  Hi, I’m Aaron! I’ve been in cybersecurity and technology for the better...

Short answer: you can’t! Not without taking to some other communication method to confirm your suspicion that your email is blocked. Hi, I’m Aaron. I’ve worked in and around technology for the better part of two decades. I also used to be a lawyer! Let’s dig into why...

If your iCloud storage is filling up, you might have the temptation to delete your iPhone’s iCloud backup. After all, those files are taking up quite a bit of space. But is it safe to delete the iCloud backup? Will you lose contacts? Photos? Losing your ability to...

If you have synced your contacts to Apple’s cloud service, you might wonder how to get those contacts from iCloud. Whether you want to download your address book on a new device or want to back it up, retrieving your contacts from iCloud is easy. To download contacts...

Downloading text messages from iCloud can seem like a convoluted process. Nevertheless, because Apple provides limited options for message download, the methods are pretty straightforward. One method allows you to retrieve your messages on a new device. Say, for...

Yes, it is possible to recover deleted messages on iPhone without using iCloud in many scenarios. But successful recovery depends on a variety of factors. The best solution is to use the Show Recently Deleted option from the Edit menu in the Messages app. What if your...

Although you can sync and back up your messages to iCloud, you can only view conversations on an Apple device using the Messages app. To view text messages on iCloud from an iPhone, tap the Sync this iPhone switch in the Messages pane of iCloud settings. After doing...

To turn off iCloud Music Library on your iPhone, toggle the Sync Library switch to the off position in the Music screen of the Settings app. Hi, I’m Andrew, a former Mac administrator. Keep reading for more details, screenshots, and instructions for disabling iCloud...

To change your iCloud email address, sign in to appleid.apple.com and click “Apple ID.” Enter your new email address and then enter the verification code sent to the email. Hello, I’m Andrew, a former Mac administrator, and iOS expert. In this article, I’ll expand...

If your iCloud is low on storage, you could upgrade to iCloud+ to increase your storage. However, you are kicking the can down the road. If you use iCloud long enough, eventually, your storage will run out. Therefore, you need to know the best way to free up space. To...

One of the most important aspects of any book design project is selecting the final size of your book. Also known as the “trim size”, choosing the correct size for your book can make a huge difference in its page count - and its success.  Larger book sizes are...

Most of the time it’s your computer (or phone, or tablet), but it might be Google services.  There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to upload something to your Google drive and it doesn’t work immediately. There are a few reasons that may happen and some...

You can’t, at least not directly. There are ways you can create folder-like items which are password protected and you can password protect individual files, but you can’t password protect Google Drive folders. You may not need to, though. Hi, I’m Aaron! I’m a...

The quick answer is: You’ll have to pay for it or use an educational account.  Google Drive is a great way to access your files anywhere you go, so long as there’s an internet connection. Google even built a technology infrastructure around it via Chromebooks –...

It’s quick and easy to download pictures from Google Drive and Google Photos. Knowing how to do so can also be used to download other content from Google Drive and Google Photos!  I’ll also show you how to download those photos on your computer, iPhone or iPad,...

Google makes this easy for you and provides a tool to integrate Google Drive with Windows File Explorer. Google is not unique in doing so: Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, and Box are a few other examples of cloud storage that integrates with Windows File Explorer via a...

The short answer is: in pieces. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to just transfer ownership of a google drive to another account. That’s because of the way Google structured its drive services. Microsoft, Apple and Amazon also have similarly structured services, so...

It Depends. There are numerous factors that contribute to the processing time for a video uploaded to Google Photos or Google Drive. Some of those factors are within your control, while others are not. Ultimately, patience will persevere and with time, you’ll get...

If you’re shopping for a used or refurbished iPhone or iPad on third-party websites, you may have encountered the phrase “iCloud locked” in the product’s description. Just what does “iCloud locked” really mean? iCloud locked means that Apple’s anti-theft mechanism,...

Whether you’re transferring data to a new iPhone or simply want to ensure your messages are safe if you lose your device, Apple’s iCloud service allows you to back up your messages with just a few easy steps. To back up messages to iCloud from your iPhone, open the...

Is your name incorrect on your iCloud email account? Perhaps you changed your last name or want to go by a nickname. Is it possible to change the sender name on iCloud email? Yes, it is possible. To change the name on iCloud email, go to Accounts in the preferences...

It isn’t safe to email banking information without additional encryption. You should never email any sensitive personal information without additional encryption.  Hi, I’m Aaron, an information security professional with almost two decades of experience keeping...

A VPN connection is one of the few ways to prevent your ISP from seeing your internet usage. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can see all the devices you connect to the internet and almost everything you do on the internet. There are ways to hide what you do on...

Restoring deleted files from Google Drive is straightforward and can save you a lot of headaches trying to recreate a document from scratch. You can recover anything you delete intentionally or accidentally, but be careful! There are limits. My name’s Aaron and I’ve...

If you know there’s a local wi-fi connection and your laptop cannot connect to it, then you might have network adapter issues. One sentence into the article and you’re probably asking yourself: What does that mean? How can I fix it? I’m Aaron and these days I limit my...

Yes, employers can see your internet traffic while you’re connected to your company’s Virtual Private Network (VPN). They can see this traffic by virtue of how VPN works. However, it’s unlikely that they see your internet traffic while you’re not connected.  I’m...

No, if you forward an email, the sender cannot see that you did so. This is because of how email works. The recipient may see that you forwarded it, however, and might inform the original sender.  I’m Aaron and I love technology. I use email everyday, as do most...

Don’t panic, you’re probably ok.  We’ve probably all fallen for it. We’re mindlessly browsing our email, click on a link in one of them and are redirected to a page where we’re asked to enter our username and password. Or a popup comes up with some junk ads and a...

While nothing in the cybersecurity world is 100%, it’s almost impossible at the time of writing this article for the Xbox to get a virus. To date, there have been no successful reported widespread compromises of Xbox consoles.  I’m Aaron and I’ve worked in...

You can check if a file or link has a virus before you download it and there are great free resources on the internet to do so. Nothing beats safe internet usage practices and smart browsing, though.  I’m Aaron, an information security evangelist and lawyer with...

You can replace a household internet connection with a mobile hotspot. Whether you want to or not really depends on what you’re using the internet for, how many people are using the internet, and why you’d want to avoid household internet connection.  My name’s...

Yes, you can, but there are some features you’ll miss out on. If you care about those features, I’d recommend that you play Minecraft while connected to the internet. But if you want a blissful and relaxing experience of mining and building in your own private world,...

Fear not! Your parents can’t see your internet history on the internet bill. There are certain things your Internet Service Provider (ISP) may tell them through other avenues, but they can’t get your internet browsing history from the internet bill.  Hi, my...

Ventura is the latest release of Apple's famed macOS. With all of the new features, you may be tempted to upgrade. But can you upgrade if you own an older Mac—and should you? I’m Tyler Von Harz, a Mac technician and owner of a store specializing in Mac repairs. After...

Google Drive is safe to store photos and confidential information. Companies large and small and individuals worldwide rely on Google Drive to store their confidential information and other personal information like photos, documents, and other files.  I’m Aaron,...

VPN, or Virtual Private Networking, is a way to browse the web safely and prevent websites from seeing your general location. But it can be hacked as well, and you are not truly safe when browsing the internet when using a VPN. I’m Aaron, a lawyer and technology...

Wireless internet seems to be ubiquitous today. Businesses provide it as a benefit to employees and customers. People provide their wireless passwords to visitors in their homes. It’s a way to keep us connected when our devices may otherwise be unable to access the...

Viruses, also known as malware or malicious code, are a significant risk in today's computing environment. There are billions of different types of viruses and over 560,000 new viruses are detected each day (source). Cybercriminals use creative methods to deliver...

Yes! But getting a virus from opening an email is very unlikely–so unlikely, in fact, that you’ll have to take active steps to infect your computer with a virus. Don’t do that! I’ll tell you why it’s unlikely and what you have to do (for the purpose of avoiding it) to...

One of the most frequently asked questions in information security is: should I avoid using hotel Wi-Fi or any other public Wi-Fi hotspots? Well, the quick answer is: Hotel Wi-Fi is not safe even though it is okay for general web browsing. But you should consider...

Whether you have misplaced your MacBook or suspect it might have been stolen, your first inclination might be to panic. Not only are MacBooks valuable in monetary terms, but also the computer contains your precious photos and documents. Is there any hope of recovering...

Non-linear editing (NLE for short) is the standard mode of editing today. It is ubiquitous and ever-present in our modern post-production world. In fact, most have forgotten that there was even a time when editing non-linearly was entirely out of reach, particularly...

We live in a world where screens are everywhere and devices are in everyone’s hands. With the demand for video at an all-time high, there has truly never been a better time to become a video editor. In this article, we are going to break down why now is the best time...

The need to edit a photo can often arise these days, whether for marketing materials, tutorials, or casual photos. Luckily, macOS includes a native app for photo editing called Photos! In addition, there are also many third-party Mac photo editor apps to fit your...

Whether you want to make sure you have the latest version of a web page or clear up some hard drive space, it can be beneficial to clear the cache on your Mac from time to time. Although macOS stores multiple different types of cache, your browser cache is the one you...

The Recents folder in macOS Finder can be convenient when you need to find a file you have worked on lately. But what if your recent files contain embarrassing or confidential files? Is it possible to remove those? The best way to clear the "Recents" folder on your...