Data Doctors Tech Tips

If you are a regular user of Google's online office programs such as Docs, Forms and Sheets, here's a really great add-on you'll want to look into. It is called 'Save As Doc' and it makes it easy to turn any spreadsheet into a document. This is very handy when you are incorporating spreadsheet info into a report, when the text in a cell is too much to display as a spreadsheet. The add-on allows you to convert the entire spreadsheet or just a specific adjacent set of cells that gets converted into an editable document. This tool is really useful when a spreadsheet is generated through a survey or questionnaire created in Google Forms. No longer to you need to deal with formatting issues whenever you copy and paste info from a spreadsheet into a document. You can even insert page breaks after each row, making the results in your report a lot easier to digest. The 'Save As Doc' add-on is free but only works with Google's Chrome. I've posted the download link at DataDoctors.com/radio http://goo.gl/H0ed2B

If you are as big of a travel junkie as I am or you just plain love exploration, Google's Cultural Institute has a handy tool that you'll want to check out. World Wonders is a resource that Google has created that will allow you to virtually explore exotic locations, art and museum collections along with historical info all from the comfort of your PC, phone or tablet. It not only provides lots of great information and historical facts, it allows you to explore the sites like you were actually there because it includes Google's Street View technology A great use for anyone planning an adventure to world heritage sites is to get familiar with the area first using this World Wonders tool. It will allow you to get familiar with the entire area you plan to visit along with extensive detail and historical perspective so you can get the most out of your adventure. You can search their collection by a specific person, place, time or event so it can become s a great homework assignments tool as well. I think it is a travel junkie's dream! https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/project/world-wonders

The Internet has always been a great way to connect people with similar interests or needs. A web resource called 'Roomer' was created to connect people looking for a hotel room with those that have nonrefundable rooms they can't use. Think of it as the 'StubHub' of hotel rooms. Roomer makes it easy to list your unusable reservations and offer them to others that can use it. The site takes care of all the work to transfer the reservation from you to the buyer. The best deals that I found tended to be in large cities, especially when you are flexible on the days. For example, I found an option in the trendy Chelsea neighborhood of NYC for just $76 a night that normally goes for $170 a night but you'd have to be able to stay the six nights of the original reservation. With Roomer, if you just can't be flexible with the days, you probably won't find as many good deals. The next time you get stuck with a non-refundable hotel room that you can no longer use, see if Roomer can help you sell it at https://www.roomertravel.com.

If you understand the working life of the average musician, you know how appreciative they are when they get tips from the audience. Cramming bills into a tip jar in front of them is what most of us end up doing, but there are many times you may not have the cash to show your appreciation. We are all typically using a lot less cash these days, so many people in the service or hospitality industry end up suffering as a result. That is where an app called Bravo can make it much easier for those that depend on tips to get the appreciation they deserve can help out. The app makes it easy to electronically tip guides, musicians, parking valets or anyone in the service industry when you don't have cash on you. I always tell my musician friends that they should hang a sign promoting the Bravo app next to the tip jar, that way the audience can download the app and start e-tipping throughout the performance. Whether you are the 'tippee' or the 'tipper', I say bravo! to the Bravo app! https://trybravo.com

If you feel like you are spending most of your life dealing with e-mail these days, you are not alone. A really big time waster for most of us is having to replying to multiple people with the same response, especially as you get the messages throughout the day. If you're a Gmail user, I've got a great tip for you! Go checkout a free add-on that you can turn on called Canned Responses that will save you lots of time. Just turn it on in the Gmail settings and you will be able to copy any selection of text and turn it into a canned response that can then be used with the tap of your mouse. This awesome tool eliminates the need to manually type out any text, phrases or signatures that you use on a regular basis, whether you are responding to or generating a new message. The Canned Response option is part of the experimental offerings that Google makes available via the Labs section of Gmail's Settings menu. The link for the step-by-step instructions for turning on this really useful tool is posted at DataDoctors.com/radio. http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Canned-Responses-in-Gmail

All parents dream of raising the next tech superstar like a Gates or a Zuckerberg when they see their child using technology with the greatest of ease. If you'd like to see if they have any interest in computer programming, introduce them to hopscotch. I don't mean the sidewalk chalk game; I'm referring to the free iPad app that makes creating games and programs easy for anyone. Your child can learn the basics of programming without even knowing how to type because Hopscotch uses a visual programming platform. They can easily develop their own programs by simply dragging and dropping blocks of prewritten code. Let's be honest; any computer skill is very valuable these days and if you have a child that happens to enjoy creating things, then the Hopscotch app could be the start of something valuable. Anyone of any age that has a passing interest in programming can start learning from this simple to use app. You do not have to become a nerd to work with programming code with https://www.gethopscotch.com and remember to invite me to the party when your child's company goes public!

You've probably noticed that various online advertisers seem to follow you around the Internet no matter where you go. The technology is called retargeting and it is one of the many ways that the digital advertising world uses to make decisions about what you see. This type of 'personalized' content also extends to the prices you may see when you're shopping online, according to researchers at NE University. They analyzed how sites change pricing based on a wide variety of variables that range from your location to what type of device you are using. Though some of these findings have been disputed by the advertising industry, what is clear is that your pricing can change depending upon how you happen to interact with a site. I know I have seen different pricing results on occasion when I'm searching for something from my computer versus my smartphone. As a result, I've always double checked most any major online purchase by doing a quick search with both my computer and my smartphone for pricing, especially if it's a travel related purchase. It is rare to see any real difference, but for me, it's just worth the extra time to make sure.

If you are the parent of a student that will be in a higher level math course, you have probably already run into the scenario where they have asked your for help on an advanced math problem. If you could use a little help in explaining just how to solve these complex math problems, look into an app called PhotoMath. The PhotoMath app can use your phone's camera to scan any math problem, then try to solve it and shows you step-by-step how it solved the equation. Many of you will think that kids will just use the app to cheat on homework, but the very same thing was declared about the calculator when it was first introduced. While this app can clearly be used to cheat, it was designed as a learning tool to teach how things are actually solved. Remember, any student can use tools like Wolfram Alpha to solve any math equation, but without the all important explanation on how it was solved. Cheaters will cheat, but don't let that keep you from making use of this helpful parental teaching tool!: http://PhotoMath.net

If you are like most beer or wine fans, you likely stick to the brands you know, especially if you aren't much for trying new things. Even for those that are adventurous, trying to select a new brand of wine or beer from a plethora of options in a display can be intimidating. Well, there's an app for that and it's called NextGlass. The NextGlass app combines science and technology to help anticipate what you might enjoy next based on what you've told it you already like. After you build out your taste profile, you can scan any barcode on any bottle to get a personal score whenever you are shopping for something new. The app also has the 'Glass Match' feature to discover beer and wine that is similar in taste to your current favorites. The app will even tell you what is inside the bottle, such as the calories, total sugar content and alcohol levels. If you have been trying to figure out what to try next, the Next Glass app is like having a personal libation expert that knows you well right in your phone. The app is free and available for both iPhone and Android users; Cheers!

If you've ever injured yourself trying to open those irritating plastic packages that seem to be on everything these days, today's tip is for you. Smaller more expensive items seem to use those sealed clamshell containers made of hard plastic that are nearly impossible to open. More and more everyday items such as light bulbs are being entombed in the nightmare packaging. They are popular in retail because they can help fight theft and makes it easier to hang on displays. It is such a universal irritation that there is even a wikipedia page focusing on 'wrap rage'. Most people use scissors or a sharp knife to get into the package, which can get pretty dangerous as your frustration grows. Even when you do get it open, it will usually result in little nicks and scrapes from the resulting sharp edges after it's cut. Well, there is a much better and much safer way to open them: just use a can opener. It will take a lot less strength to get through that thick plastic with a can opener along the edges of the package and it is a lot safer.