Recent Comments
Comment by Stephen on Geekly Update - 29 March 2023 (Are we doomed?) (March 29, 2023 10:49 PM)
The Nokia G22 Full Spec I just read sounds very attractive but does not go along with the five minute battery 'quick replacement'. It describes its 5...
Comment by Citellus on Which is Fastest: Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile? (March 29, 2023 08:41 PM)
I got a new i-phone and signed up for Consumer Cellular. No signal at all - we live 8 miles from a small town. Back to Verizon; the only thing that ...
Comment by Oldster on Geekly Update - 29 March 2023 (Are we doomed?) (March 29, 2023 07:58 PM)
Regrading cropping an image, to genuinely remove the cropped-out content, save the cropped image with another name. For example, if you have an image ...
Comment by Ken H on Geekly Update - 29 March 2023 (Are we doomed?) (March 29, 2023 07:11 PM)
So I actually read Kreb's article and nowhere do I see how to actually opt out. I have AT&T. I did change my password....
Comment by bb on Geekly Update - 29 March 2023 (Are we doomed?) (March 29, 2023 07:06 PM)
And does anyone remember *why* HAL did what he did? He was told to keep the real mission of the discovery secret, even from the crew. He was also to...
Comment by Reg on Geekly Update - 29 March 2023 (Are we doomed?) (March 29, 2023 05:59 PM)
RE: Stephanie's comment above. Does anyone remember the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey"? HAL tried to do what???...
Comment by Reg on Geekly Update - 29 March 2023 (Are we doomed?) (March 29, 2023 05:59 PM)
RE: Stephanie's comment above. Does anyone remember the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey"? HAL tried to do what???...
Comment by Stephanie on Geekly Update - 29 March 2023 (Are we doomed?) (March 29, 2023 05:45 PM)
Regarding AI : Does anyone remember the movie "Terminator"? :)...
Comment by Charley on Which is Fastest: Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile? (March 28, 2023 01:15 AM)
By the way, besides speed, latency can matter depending on what you are doing. We had some power outages due to the rain and wind in California. I had...
Comment by Charley on Which is Fastest: Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile? (March 27, 2023 10:06 PM)
Unless you really need super fast speed (and most people really don't), coverage is what really matters. In most major cities, they are equally good. ...
Geekly Update - 29 March 2023 (Are we doomed?)
Would you spend almost two hundred million dollars to add ten years to your life? Are you sharing too much with your mobile phone provider? When is a cropped photo NOT a cropped photo? And has artificial intelligence gone too far already? Get answers in today's Geekly Update... it's jam-packed with the latest tech news. This issue is guaranteed to make you 146% smarter -- you'll see why. Read, think, and, comment!
Posted by Bob Rankin on March 29, 2023 | Category: Tech-News
Which is Fastest: Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile?
When choosing a mobile phone service, you want to know which one has a good strong signal and a fast 4G (or 5G) data connection, in the places where you live and use your cell phone. In their advertising, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile all make various claims about network coverage, reliability and speed. All of them claim to ‘best’ in some way. But is there a way to honestly compare which one is best where YOU live and work? YES! Read on for that...
Posted by Bob Rankin on March 27, 2023 | Category: Wireless
How Good is Your Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting computer systems from unauthorized access, theft, damage, or disruption. Some examples of cyber threats are viruses, malware, phishing attacks, hacking, ransomware, data breaches, identity theft, and denial-of-service attacks. Read on to learn which ones are most likely to affect YOU, and best practices for defending your digital castle...
Posted by Bob Rankin on March 21, 2023 | Category: Security
Should You X-Ray Your Computer?
Do you know what's going on inside your PC? Most people don’t, and most of the time they don’t need to know. But there are occasions when a detailed inventory of a computer’s components comes in handy. Read on to learn some surprising reasons why you SHOULD know what's under the hood of your computer, even if you're NOT a techie. And also, some software tools that will let you “x-ray” your PC, so you can see what's inside without touching a screwdriver. Read on...
Posted by Bob Rankin on March 15, 2023 | Category: Hardware
How Many Windows Keyboard Shortcuts Have You Tried?
Windows 10 and 11 keyboard shortcuts can save time, wrist motions, and for some people, carpal tunnel pain. Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of two or more keys (or a key and a mouse button) that, when pressed simultaneously, perform a task that would normally require moving the mouse around, clicking, and possibly navigating sub-menus. There's even a useful super-secret keystroke that very few people know! Here are some keyboard shortcuts you should know, and try for yourself...
Posted by Bob Rankin on March 13, 2023 | Category: Windows-10
Your CD and DVD Discs May Fail Sooner Than You Think
If your precious memories or important files are backed up on CD, DVD or Blu-Ray discs, you might want to go looking for a medium that will protect your documents, photos and videos a bit better. Would you be surprised to learn that a U.S. government study concluded that standard optical discs have an expected lifespan of just 3 to 5 years? Would you like to learn about a data storage solution that promises 100, or even 1000 years? Read on...
Posted by Bob Rankin on March 06, 2023 | Category: Backup
12 Computer Facts That Are Not True
Did you know? At midnight on March 31st, the Internet will be temporarily shut down for the annual Spring Cyber Cleaning? Read on to get the scoop on this, Abraham Lincoln's opinion on fake news, and other dubious “facts” about computers and the Internet...
Posted by Bob Rankin on March 01, 2023 | Category: Reference
[PRIVACY] What's in YOUR Digital Dossier?
Thanks to the Internet and online search tools, it’s easy for ordinary people to collect copious quantities of information about nearly any person, place or topic. That is indisputably a good thing. However, when it comes to the multi-billion-dollar business of collecting and selling data about other people, that use of the Internet can take a sinister turn. Read on for the scoop on data brokers, how they operate, and what they may know about you...
Posted by Bob Rankin on February 27, 2023 | Category: Privacy
Here's How to Optimize Your Hard Drive
When things go wrong with your computer, the source of the problem is often in the hard drive. One of the best things you can do to prevent computer problems and improve performance is to keep your hard drive in tip-top shape. Here are some of the most important tasks for hard drive optimization, plus some nifty (and free) software utilities that make getting them done a breeze...
Posted by Bob Rankin on February 22, 2023 | Category: Hard-Drives
Here's How to Speed Up Your Internet Connection
An AskBob reader asked me for tips to speed up his Internet connection. Unless you enjoy watching paint dry, a slow internet connection can be very frustrating, especially when you're trying to stream a movie, play an online game, or just browse the web. Sometimes the slowdown is beyond your control; the Internet is subject to traffic jams and congestion, just like any other highway. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to speed up your internet connection. Here's a bucket of tips and tools that can help you go faster on the information highway...
Posted by Bob Rankin on February 09, 2023 | Category: Networking
Have You Made These Identity Theft Mistakes?
Identity fraud affected over 27 million U.S. consumers in 2021, with losses over $28 billion. Spikes have been noted in 'new account fraud' and 'account takeover fraud' -- two of the most damaging types of ID theft. In addition, more than 1400 data breaches at major corporations had consumers vulnerable to phishing and other forms of fraud. I haven’t found stats for 2022 yet, but we can assume they’re equally dismal. Read on for my tips on avoiding fraud and identity theft, and see if you've made any mistakes that can make it easier for scammers to victimize you...
Posted by Bob Rankin on February 06, 2023 | Category: Finance
Sending a Mass Email? (read this first)
An AskBob reader says: 'I need to send occasional email updates to a large group of people. But I've heard that if you do it wrong, you'll get flagged as a spammer, or your emails may never get delivered. What software or services do you recommend to safely and reliably send emails to a list of people?' Read on for some good mass email options, and a few you definitely want to avoid...
Posted by Bob Rankin on February 03, 2023 | Category: Email
Geekly Update - 25 January 2023
Are you ready for flying cars and self-driving baby strollers? Do you want to know what your furry friend is really thinking? And is it time to worry about artificial intelligence taking over the world? Get answers in today's Geekly Update... it's jam-packed with the latest tech news. This issue is guaranteed to make you 146% smarter -- you'll see why. Read, think, and, comment!
Posted by Bob Rankin on January 25, 2023 | Category: Tech-News
Is This the Best Month to Buy a Car?
Do you know the best time of year to shop for a new or used car? And how is the global chip shortage affecting auto prices and inventory? Today I have some some tips for online auto buying that will help you save money and get the car you want. You may not even have to set foot in a dealer showroom. Read on...
Posted by Bob Rankin on January 23, 2023 | Category: Auto
Virus Alert: Real or Rogue?
A worried AskBob reader says: “Do I have a computer virus? My computer will sometimes stop and it says I have a virus, and I must call a number on the screen. Then supposedly they will walk me through the process to fix it. Is this true? I have antivirus installed but still, it pops up now and then.” Here's my diagnosis...
Posted by Bob Rankin on January 17, 2023 | Category: Security