Program Notes for the 2nd Week of the Month
Jul 13, 2026 | Join Online Meeting > The Gadget Gurus: I will review the current tech news. We will do our best to answer questions about computers, smartphones, apps, cameras, tablets, and the internet. Bring your tech issues and enjoy the meeting.
. > Verizon isn’t the best US carrier anymore – MakeUseOf
Mint Mobile Cell Service
With Mint Mobile, 5G is included in your plan if your plan includes 6 GB of LTE or 5G data per month.
Unlimited talk and text with 6 GB of data; 3-month $75 ($25/mo), 6-month $120 ($20/mo), 12-month $180 ($15/mo) – Plus Regulatory Recovery Fee and taxes.
Note: As of Feb 2022, the $180 plan (tax + fees) is $20.90 in zip code 19320.
They also offer a 12-month, 17 GB plan for $240 ($20/mo) and a 12-month, 23 GB plan for $300 ($25/mo).
With Mint Mobile’s bring-your-own-phone (BYOB) program, you can port your current unlocked GSM phone to Mint Mobile and keep your existing number, too. Just switch out the SIM card.
Plans start at just $15 and include high-speed data, plus unlimited talk and text. Use my unique link, and you’ll get $15 added to your Mint account, and I’ll get free Mint, too. Join Glenn on Mint and get $15 applied to your account.
This Week’s Tip or Trick
Master the art of the “Super Paste” by using.
Ctrl + Shift + V on Windows or Chromebook
or Cmd + Shift + V on Mac
To paste text without weird fonts, highlights, or background colors. This strips away all source formatting, saving you from formatting headaches across Google Docs, Word, or emails.
- How to Copy and Paste on Any Device in 2026 – technobezz.com
Here are the current shortcuts and menus for Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android, Chromebook, browsers, Office apps, and accessibility tools. - Cut, Copy, and Paste – Tutorial
BitWarden Tip & Info
Bitwarden Free provides unlimited passwords and passkeys across all your devices, along with basic vault sharing for two people. Bitwarden Premium, which costs $19.80 per year, unlocks advanced security features like an integrated authenticator (TOTP), hardware key 2FA, encrypted file attachments, and vault health reports.
| Feature | Bitwarden Free | Bitwarden Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $19.80 / year |
| Unlimited Passwords & Devices | Yes | Yes |
| Bitwarden Authenticator (TOTP) | No | Generates verification codes inside the app |
| Encrypted File Attachments No | No |
Up to 1 GB of storage for premium attachments |
| Advanced 2FA Options | No |
Hardware keys like YubiKey/FIDO2 |
| Emergency Access | No |
Allows trusted contacts to access your vault in an emergency |
| Vault Health Reports | No |
Scans for weak/reused passwords and exposed breaches |
- How To Choose Between Bitwarden Free And Bitwarden Premium [2026 Guide] – youtube.com · AJ Tech Tutorials
Q: Had difficulty turning on network protection. In mobile network security, 2G network protection stays greyed out as if not selected. If I click on the button, I get “Restricted by Advanced Protection,” and it requires this setting to be on. If I click OK, it goes back to the greyed-out button. If I click settings, it indicates that device and account protection are turned on. Sending this, noting that this is very confusing and others may struggle with it.
. > Please show us this on your phone next session. Note I have a Pixel 9 Stew R
A: > As a regular Pixel 10 user, should I use Advanced Protection?
. > To turn off 2G
. > Theft Detection Lock
What is the new theft protection on Android?
If a theft attempt is detected, the device will quickly lock the screen to help protect your data.
Remote Lock :Allows users to lock their device from any device with web access to android.com/lock, without needing to have enabled the feature in advance. Jan 2026
Tech News & Tips
- The most important file in my password manager isn’t a password – MakeUseOf
- Why are more cyber attacks targeting everyday users – PC Tech Magazine – pctechmag.com
- Lost your phone this summer? Do this in the first 5 minutes to protect your bank accounts – escudodigital.com
- How Passkeys Work Across Devices: A Simple Guide to Password-Free Sign-Ins – TechStory
- These overlooked Pixel Watch gestures tricked me into using my phone less – howtogeek.com
- Windows 11’s predictive text is the hidden typing tool I never knew I needed – howtogeek.com
- 6 wild things people plug into their phone’s charging port (that actually work) – MakeUseOf
- Here’s why removable batteries vanished — and the phones bringing them back – MakeUseOf
- Google Voice now offers paid tiers with call recording & Gemini for personal accounts – 9to5google.com
- Forget System Restore — this new Windows 11 feature is a much better safety net – MakeUseOf
- I thought eSIM was a downgrade — now I finally understand why carriers pushed it – MakeUseOf
- This Excel function eliminated hours of manual text combining – MakeUseOf
- Google Chrome will remove older Manifest V2 extensions in August – 9to5google.com
- I stopped paying for file recovery — Windows had a hidden tool all along – MakeUseOf
Deals, Sales & Reviews
Video & Audio Tips
- How to Remove PUPs and Other Unexpected Things From Your Computer – youtube.com · Ask Leo!
- Just What Is Common Sense? – youtube.com · Ask Leo!
- To Capitalize or Not to Capitalize? That Is the Question. – youtube.com · Ask Leo!
- How to Use Cloud Storage Safely – youtube.com · Ask Leo!
- Why AI Tokens are so Expensive – Computerphile – youtube.com