Google is the undisputed king of search engines, but using this powerful tool comes at a cost to your privacy. Search is such an important tool for us on a daily basis, so if you'd still like the power of Google search without the tracking, check out the offering at Startpage. They've created a way for you to avoid the tracking when you're wanting to search for something with what they claim is the world's most private search tool. In general, most every search engine is gathering lots of info about what you're searching for, your location via your IP address as well as which results you clicked on. All of this get's scraped away when you use Start Page because they don't track any of it. If you want to avoid having your personal information harvested whenever you use a search tool, you can change your default search engine to Startpage by visiting their home page: https://startpage.com

If you're in business, you spend your days, night and weekends looking at your email inbox. If you just take it as it comes in, it can be like drinking from a firehose, but there are tools that can help you manage it all. Most companies incorporate some form of customer management relationship (CRM) whether it's a platform or just paper and pencil, but you can use Gmail in the same way. The folks atand#160;https://www.streak.comand#160;have created a tool that allows you to use Gmail as your CRM. They created this tool because so many people spend so much time bouncing between their Inbox and other programs to stay on top of time-sensitive tasks. When you add their tool to your Chrome browser, useful templates are at your fingertips for those repetitive tasks you do throughout your workday. The snippets tool allows you to build a library of commonly written messages to save time when responding. They also provide mobile apps to extend the power of their platform which you can learn more about at: and#160;https://www.streak.comand#160;

If you're like most people, your primary form of communication has gone from making phone calls to sending text messages. It's so much more efficient, which is why it's become so popular and why it's now another scammer/spammer targeting tool. Legitimate text messages can come from those that aren't in your contacts so you can't simply dismiss any message that comes from an unknown number. Scam phone calls are also on the rise thanks to robocalling, so you can fight both these challenges with an app from Truecaller: https://www.truecaller.com It's a community-based reporting app a.k.a. a crowdsourced database of junk and scam calls and messages from millions of users around the world. It can also provide some more details for calls and texts that aren't in your contact database, so you can make better decisions about them. It's another company attempting to stay ahead of the bad guys that you can try for yourself at: https://www.truecaller.com

The iPhone has become one of the best devices for taking pictures, not only because of the extraordinary technology but because you always have it with you. Often times the images that you snap with your iPhone come out blurry, which can be frustrating. Part of the problem is that the actual process for taking the picture can create movement just as the camera is snapping the picture. Taking a number of pictures in succession can help improve the odds, but if you aren't holding still while tapping the screen indicator, all bets are off. There are alternatives to the screen button for taking pictures including either of the volume buttons, which is useful in either portrait or landscape mode. Those old-school wired Apple headphones can also be used by pushing the volume buttons as well. The headphones are especially helpful when prop up your phone on a real or impromptu tripod, such as a rock. This single biggest skill that will have the biggest impact will always be focusing on holding still for a longer period of time.

If the middle-of-the-week doldrums have started to creep in, why not do something fun and entertaining to brighten things up?and#8232;and#8232; An app called ChatterPix may do the trick because it makes it easy to make anything in your pictures look like it's talking.and#8232;and#8232; It's really easy to use as you can draw a line in your images where you want the mouth to be, then record yourself with the message you want it to say.and#8232;and#8232; When you're happy with the talking side of the image, you can embellish it even further using filters, frames and stickers before you share it in all the usual places or just save it to your camera roll for later.and#8232;and#8232; There's also a limited version for younger kids called 'ChatterPix Kids' that eliminates the ability to share the images.and#8232;and#8232; The folks that offer this app have lots of other apps that are made just for kids that can help keep them occupied and laughing atand#160;https://bit.ly/3andxgt

Anyone that's trying to improve their athletic movements has probably seen the expensive technology that pros use to study themselves in slow motion. Thanks to the incredible technology in an iPhone and an app known as Hudl Technique, you can replicate this helpful process for any athlete. Coaches, parents or athletes themselves can use the app to study the various motions involved in swinging a bat, golf club or tennis racket in slow motion. These videos can be shared with coaches or have notes attached if you're the one helping an athlete to improve their technique. The ability to place videos on a split-screen to watch for differences in either the same person or compared to how a pro moves is pretty awesome. There are lots of other useful features in the app that are designed to help anyone looking for those small but significant improvements in their technique to do so. Learn more at: https://www.hudl.com/products/technique

The most popular email services live in the cloud instead of on your computer, which provides users with security, data backup and access from any computer connected to the Internet. Google's offering known as Gmail is by far the most popular because it's so powerful and feature-packed. Making use of all those wonderful features is made easier through the use of shortcuts, which allows you to access them without reaching for your mouse. Gmail shortcuts have to be turned on in the Settings menu under the General heading. Once they're activated, some of the more useful shortcuts start with the letter G for Gmail followed by any number of other letters. The All Mail view is accessed with G-A or see your draft messages by pressing G-D. Open contacts with G-C while sent messages can be displayed with G-T. There are actually many dozens of useful shortcuts for things you'll regularly use in Gmail, which are listed here: https://bit.ly/3rYagtR

More and more options exist to add video cameras to our doorbells and spotlights, which is amazing when it works and frustrating when it doesn't. The sense of security that comes from having an app on your phone that will alert you whenever the camera or the doorbell sense any activity is awesome, but it relies on having a solid wireless signal from your router. Common complaints about performance on many of the popular models is often not an issue with the device, but an inadequate wifi signal for streaming live video. This means that anyone considering the purchase of any of these devices should first thoroughly test the wifi signal in the areas that they intend to set them up. It's also important with video doorbells to know if you'll have power wired to the door so you'll know whether to purchase a battery-operated version instead. All security cameras are going to have challenges in the afternoon if they are pointing due West because of the setting sun. The easiest way to check the signal quality where you plan to install a camera is by putting your phone in airplane mode and turning on wifi to do the test.

Gathering with your coworkers to come up with new ideas or to solve a common problem, whether in-person or virtually means that someone has to be responsible for taking all of the notes for the session. If you're that someone, there's an app that was designed for lots of business uses that could be a big help. The Microsoft Office Lens app allows you to gather notes from handwritten pages, whiteboards, on a screen or chalkboard and convert everything into a PDF file. Some of the cleanup tools like off-angle image straightening can seem downright magical when you use them. Once you captured the notes and images, they can remain images or be converted to a variety of document formats for editing and distribution. Even if you're not the designated note-taker, this app is great for capturing business cards and converting them into contacts. It's a great app for any business professional for mobile devices and desktops alike: and#8232;Android Devices -and#160;https://bit.ly/2Z4MzUnand#8232; Apple Devices -https://apple.co/3p2WZyw Windows Computers -and#160;https://bit.ly/2yIPfgr

One of the best ways to break out of the pandemic's "lockdown blues" is to get out and get some fresh air. Hiking trails are one of the best ways to get some exercise and commune with nature. Most of us have a few trails that we love and use on a regular basis, but I'm always interested in trails that I've never been on to discover new areas. The way we've done this for years is through an app called AllTrails. and#160; With millions of avid users and tens of thousands of trails around the world, the helpful information can help you weed through the ones that don't work for you. Whether you want to bring your dog on the trail or ride your bike instead or avoid strenuous options, the AllTrails app and website are my go-to: https://www.alltrails.com No more guessing about how long the trail is, how difficult it might be, how heavily trafficked it is or how much time it'll take to enjoy with this app. It's really great when you are in unfamiliar areas because it can quickly show you what trails are near you. If you're an avid hiker, it's worth paying for the premium services such as recordings from previous hikers so you don't get lost!