Getting Comfortable With The Basics

2021 Archive

Join Online Meeting| The Gadget Gurus | We do not have any prerequisites. Just come, ask questions about previous topics. I will also review the current tech news. We will do our best to answer computers, smartphones, apps, cameras, tablets, and internet questions. Bring your tech issues and enjoy the meeting.

Jan 4, 2021, at 12:45 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting
Navigating Google, Gmail, Calendar, Maps, Wallet, Docs… | Google provides Internet services that let you search the web, send an email, word processing, and spreadsheets. Type With Your Voice | You can type and edit a document by speaking in Google Docs. Note: This feature is only available in Chrome browsers.

Jan 11, 2021, at 12:45 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting
Learn What A Chromebook Can Do | If you own a Chromebook, here is where you start learning how to use it. Interested in buying a Chromebook, learn what to look for.
In The Groves Pavilion at 2:30 PM  | Tips for connecting to the Lee County Vaccination appointment system.

Jan 18, 2021, at 12:45 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting​​
Use Google Photo To Manage Your Digital Pictures | All your photos are organized and easy to find. Pictures on your computer or smartphone are backed up safely, organized, and labeled automatically. Google Photos my favorite tool for managing photos to share with friends.
In The Groves Pavilion at 2:30 PM  | Tips for connecting to the Lee County Vaccination appointment system.

Jan 25, 2021, at 12:45 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting
Low|Cost Wireless Providers | Project Fi is a wireless service offered by Google directly to users with coverage in 200+ countries. Mint Mobile uses fast nationwide 4G LTE data coverage and unlimited talk and text as low as $15 a month.  Ting Their slogan is ‘Mobile That Makes Sense.

Feb 1, 2021, at 12:45 and 7 PM  | Join Online Meeting
Streaming Video Your Best TV Entertainment Value | Streaming video is content sent over the Internet and displayed in real|time. The user needs a player that can be either a browser, a set|top box, or built into a Smart TV.

Feb 8, 2021, at 12:45 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting
Use strong Passwords |
Your passwords are the keys to your internet life. Use strong passwords and keep the bad guys out.   LastPass Free Password Manager | You can finally use long, complex, different passwords for each site and no longer need to worry about forgetting them.
Privacy.com Virtual Credit Cards | put the control in your hands when you make a purchase online. Protect your card details and money by creating virtual cards at each place you spend online or for each purchase.

Feb 15, 2021, at 12:45 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting
Do You Think Your PC Has a Virus |
A computer virus is malicious code; viruses may also be malware. Browser hijacking is a form of unwanted software that modifies a web browser’s settings. A browser hijacker may replace the existing home page, error page, or search engine with its own.

Feb 22, 2021, at 12:45 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting
What’s a Podcast? The new on|demand radio and video service
Podcasts can be videos or audio|only. I personally mostly listen to audio podcasts. I use a podcast player Pocket Casts app.

Mar 1, 2021, at 12:45 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting
Two Factor Authentication  | Two|factor authentication means using two authentication methods. It is one of the best things to make sure your accounts don’t get hacked.

Mar 8, 2021, at 12:45 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting
United States Post Office – USPS |
Consider creating an account on USPS.com; they have many services, including printing your own package shipping labels with postage, getting mail notification to be delivered, holding mail during vacations, and changing address.
GotFreeFax.com | Free Fax Service | Fax cover page plus 3 pages per fax maximum free, 2 free faxes per day maximum.

Mar 15, 2021, at 12:45 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting
Optimize Your Computer, E|mail, and WEB Use | 
Windows 10 has built|in real|time antivirus named Windows Defender. It automatically runs in the background, ensuring all Windows users are protected against viruses and other nasties.
Wyze Bulb Color | Smart Home Shop at Wyze  

Mar 22, 2021, at 12:45 and 7 PM  | Join Online Meeting ​​
Back To The Basic |
And the “basics” aren’t just for beginners.  You always hear something new, or something you have forgotten because you haven’t used it for a long time.
What to Look for in a Laptop | Laptop shopping help!

Mar 29, 2021, at 12:45 and 7 PM  |  Join Online Meeting ​​
Remote Support for Windows, Mac, and Android phones and tablets. | 
We have implemented a software system/tool to connect to your computer remotely. This allows us to provide remote help installing a program, using an application, fix a problem.
A Mesh Home Network?  | Google WiFi

Apr 12, 2021, at 12:45 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting   
Navigating Google, Gmail, Calendar, Maps, Wallet, Docs…
| Google provides Internet services that let you search the web, send an email, word processing, and spreadsheets. Type With Your Voice | You can type and edit a document by speaking in Google Docs. Note: This feature is only available in Chrome browsers.

Apr 26, 2021, at 1 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting  
Let’s Look At Mobile Apps – If you have a smartphone or another mobile device, you probably use apps. To play games, get turn-by-turn directions, access news, weather, and more.

May 10, 2021, at 1 and 7 PM  | Join Online Meeting
Services, Shopping, Entertainment, and Apps I use. – Here are many of the services I enjoy regularly. You may also find some interesting and useful.

May 24, 2021, at 1 and 7 PM  | Join Online Meeting
Low|Cost Wireless Providers | Project Fi is a wireless service offered by Google directly to users with coverage in 200+ countries. Mint Mobile uses fast nationwide 4G LTE data coverage and unlimited talk and text as low as $15 a month. Ting Their slogan is ‘Mobile That Makes Sense.

Jun 7, 2021, at 1 and 7 PM  | Join Online Meeting
What is a Chromebook? –  Is powered by Google’s Chrome OS and featuring built-in, up-to-date virus protection along with Google apps and services like Gmail, Google Calendar, and Docs.

Jun 21, 2021, at 1 and 7 PM  | Join Online Meeting
Online Shopping – Everyone loves saving money, and online shopping makes it easy. If you wanted to save a few bucks in the pre-internet age, you either had to visit several stores to compare prices or spend an entire Sunday afternoon cutting coupons.

Jul 5, 2021, at 1 and 7 PM  | Join Online Meeting
Google Photos Assistant Is A Must Have ToolOne of the best features of the Google Photos app is Assistant. There is a lot to learn in Google Photos, but the new Assistant feature is here to help.

Jul 19, 2021, at 1 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting
Secure Your Digital Life – Protect your critical online services like banks, credit unions, email accounts, social networks, and shopping sites, each with a unique and robust password. Using two-factor authentication, along with a strong password, is your best protection from online hackers.

Aug 2, 2021, at 1 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting
Low Cost Land-line Phone I use Google Voice with the OBi200 adaptor for a one-time cost of less than $50. I do pay for GV911.COM $12 per year for E911 service.

Aug 16, 2021, at 1 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting
E-Mail – What is Bcc? – BCC stands for Blind Carbon Copy. It refers to the practice of sending an email to multiple recipients without disclosing the individual email addresses.

Aug 30, 2021, at 1 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting  –
Settings…  Settings are important if you expect to have the best experience running programs from the web or directly on your computer.  Web services, social networks, webmail, even your banking service will have settings you should pay attention to.  Many of these settings have a large influence on how secure and private your online experience will be.

Sept 13, 2021, at 1 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting
ICE = In Case of Emergency – Use your mobile phone as an identity bracelet. ICE stands for “in case of emergency,” and it’s what emergency responders have been taught to look for if someone needs medical attention. What if that person is you? Where is your ICE info? One of the most accessible and most convenient places to keep emergency information is on your smartphone so that someone can see it without having to unlock your phone. Make sure you and everyone in your family have ICE info on their phone.

Sept 27, 2021, at 1 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting
Browser – Search – Research   A web browser or Internet browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web.

Tuesday, Sept 28, 2021, at 7 PM | In-Person Tech Group Meeting at the Phoenixville Library.

  • Back To The Basic | And the “basics” aren’t just for beginners.  You always hear something new, or something you have forgotten because you haven’t used it for a long time.
  • Low|Cost Wireless Providers | Project Fi is a wireless service offered by Google directly to users with coverage in 200+ countries. Mint Mobile uses fast nationwide 4G LTE data coverage and unlimited talk and text as low as $15 a month.  Ting Their slogan is ‘Mobile That Makes Sense.

Oct 11, 2021, at 1 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting
Highlighting – Cutting – Copying – Pasting – Resizing Windows  Some of the very basic skills one has to master to work with computers. Unlike typewriters, while writing in computers if you make a mistake, you can easily erase it (by backspacing) or cut it to remove it. You can also

Oct 25, 2021, at 1 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting
Using Search Tools How big is the Web? X
Size of the Web: over 2 million websites
Eric Schmidt, the CEO of Google, the world’s largest index of the Internet, estimated the size at

Nov 8, 2021, at 1 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting
Introduction To Spreadsheets – Spreadsheets have a number of uses in the organization and maintenance of information.   We use them extensively as we collect and store information for future analysis or research.

Nov 22, 2021, at 1 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting
Freezing Credit Is Now Free. Here’s Why You Should Do it Now. – Turning on a credit freeze is now more straightforward and more friendly to activate and temporally lift than ever. Placing a security freeze on your account makes it difficult for criminals to use stolen data to open fraudulent accounts, or borrow money, in your name. Freezing Credit Is Now Free.

Dec 6, 2021, at 1 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting
Financial Management, Budget, and Tracking Tools – Financial Tools, Mint, Privacy, Touch and Pay, Budget, and Tracking

Dec 20, 2021, at 1 and 7 PM | Join Online Meeting
Services Mostly Free  –
 These are some free or mostly free services that I use on a regular basis. I think you might find some of these useful also.

Dec 27, 2021, at 1 and 7 PM | No gathering this week. Enjoy the Holidays!


The Gadget Gurus
 – We do not have any prerequisites. Just come, ask questions about previous topics. I will also review the current tech news. We will do our best to answer computers, smartphones, apps, cameras, tablets, and internet questions. So bring your tech issues and enjoy the meeting.

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