Data Doctors Tech Tips

The fact that email is such an essential communication tool is why so many spammers use it to fill our inboxes up with junk with the hopes of snagging a few customers.and#160; And as if dealing with junk email wasn't enough, we're now having to deal with more and more annoying text messages on our smartphones. Despite various attempts to curtail junk text messages, the bad guys won't follow any rules that are created. Besides installing some form of app to help you manage the growing problem, there's something that each and every one of us can do to help fight the scourge. If we all were to report every message by forwarding it to 7726 (SPAM) no matter which cellular carrier we are using, it can make a dent in the problem. In order for the reporting to properly function, you need to forward just the message in it's entirety without adding anything to it. This won't eliminate the problem but it will help to keep the spammers hopping as they won't be able to continue to use the same scam that gets reported by the masses.

Unless you're a professional musician or someone that's a student of song lyrics, you've probably made up words for many of your favorite songs. Well, you don't have to become a student of lyrics if you use an app called Musixmatch on your smartphone or computer. It's designed to monitor most of the popular music playing apps and streaming services and provide real-time lyrics as the songs play. It uses many of the large music lyric databases to perform its magic, so some form of connection to the Internet is necessary in order for it to work. Musixmatch can also help you identify songs when you hear music playing in the background from virtually any source. This wonderful app is available for both Android and iPhone users at:and#160;http://bit.ly/2UWHe1R

The 'Cloud' is simply a non-technical reference to the Internet and storing your important files in the cloud is possible from a large number of companies. For the most part, the basic version of their storage accounts are free but have a storage limit so they can pitch their pay services to you for more space. As long as you aren't a voracious smartphone photographer or videographer, the storage limits may be more than you need. For those that are constantly taking pictures and videos and want to back up to the Internet automatically, today's tip is for you. Although Google is the company that created the Android smartphone platform, they offer their Photo app and service to either iPhone or Android users. All you have to do is install the app and tell it to start backing up your photos and videos automatically, generally when you are connected to Wi-Fi. The best part is that the storage is unlimited as long as you are OK with a small amount of compression. Learn more at: https://www.androidauthority.com/google-photos-937968

Amazon has become the go-to resource for so many of us and for just about anything we want to buy. Since that's the case, don't forget that you can trade with Amazon instead of just buying from them. They don't allow trades of just anything, it's more in the area of electronics and media, like books and video games. To see what your trade is worth, start by searching for it on their trade-in site: https://amzn.to/2DLzAwR When you determine that the item you have is available for trading in, you'll need to answer a few questions about the condition of the trade to determine an estimated value. The final determination of value is made when they physically inspect the item, which can be shipped to them on their dime. You're already doing business with the 800 lb. gorilla, so why not try and save some money as well!

With every new feature that gets added to our phones, a potential burden gets added to our batteries. If you're constantly on the go, you have to make sure you think ahead so you don't run out of battery power when you need your device the most. One emergency tactic when you are in a pinch and can only charge for a short period is to turn the device completely off while charging. If that's not an option, shutting off as many of the energy-sucking radios as possible, like wifi and Bluetooth, or switch to airplane mode. While traveling, you may find yourself in a situation where you have more devices that need a charge then you have outlets. That's when you should remember that most of today's TVs have a low power USB port you can use in an emergency. It will take a lot longer to charge anything, but it's at least an additional option to keep in mind. It's hot these days, so remember that heat is one of your battery's worst enemies, so avoid putting your smartphone in direct sunlight or leaving it inside of a hot car. It's also a good idea to avoid charging a phone that is hot to the touch - wait until it cools down to room temperature before plugging in the charging cable.

We all have tons of apps on our smartphones and I think some of the best apps are specifically designed to help us with photography. Just about all of them have tools that can tweak the color, contrast, lighting and sharpness, but there's only one that focuses on distortion correction and that's an app called SKRWT This app can be really helpful for those that have a wide-angle lens in their phones, which can often distort lines in photos. The slight curvature can take the focus off of the primary object in your photos as it can be distracting to the eye. This app can fix those unwanted curves that go across or up and down in an image that has been distorted by the camera lens. This company also has a cool mirroring app and they're available for both iPhone and Android smartphones at: and#160;http://skrwt.com

By now, you've heard repeatedly about something called two-factor authentication, which is one of the best things that anyone can use to protect their online accounts. This security approach requires two different ways to authenticate you, just like your debit card AND PIN are required in order to get money from an ATM. If your debit card didn't require a PIN, it would be so much easier for thieves to steal your money and the same is true for your online accounts. This simple step once activated makes it much more difficult for cyber thieves because they would have to get their hands on your username and password as well as swipe your smartphone and unlock it. An additional benefit is that it serves as an early warning system because you'll get a random text message when someone else tries to use your account. This security step is available on thousands of online accounts, but you'll need to set it up one time for each of your accounts. A handy resource for finding the specifics for each of your accounts is located at: https://twofactorauth.org

Computer problems happen... a lot, no matter how technical or technically challenged you are, they just happen. For all tech gadgets, we started telling people years ago to think about something they're used to seeing on the backs shampoo bottles and that's lather, rinse, reboot! It's just an easy to remember saying that can eliminate many nagging little tech problems. A simple shutdown and restart of just about any device can generate amazing results when those irritating little issues pop up. It's because of the way that most devices use memory and resources necessary for trouble-free functioning that this simple process solves so many problems. Swiping an app on a smartphone or closing a program on a computer can free up resources, but nothing sets the stage for the best possible performance like a reboot of your devices. More importantly, it's the most likely question that your tech support person is going to ask you, so why not save time by doing it yourself before you ask for help: lather, rinse, reboot!

There is no denying that Google Maps has become the industry standard for mapping on both our desktop computers and mobile devices, but there are times when it doesn't provide the best info. Whenever you have any situation where you need to share a map with others, the ability to annotate the map or add specific text or directions is very helpful. For those occasions, we like to use a web resource called Scribble Maps https://www.scribblemaps.com It provides a ton of tools that will allow you to modify any Google map with icons, markers, text, freehand drawing and even images from your computer or smartphone. It's great for gatherings as well as documenting trips that you have taken such as an epic hike or kayaking trip complete with pictures of your adventures. The best part is that there is no software to download and configure because it works completely in your browser and it's free! They even provide you with a video tutorial to help you get started at: https://www.scribblemaps.com

Most of us are spending a lot more time on our computers working from home and if you're like me, you do better with music playing in the background. While that may be good in some situations, music can also be a distraction depending on what is playing and what you are trying to do. Another option for sound that could be much more soothing than music is the ambient sounds of nature. The sound of rain is pretty calming for me and available whenever I want it at https://rainymood.com This simple to use tool loops a combination of sounds that include rain, thunder and dripping of water that only ends when you turn it off. For those that want more options for soothing sounds of nature like chirping birds or crashing waves, check out a website called https://www.calmsound.com Finding ways to make your screen time more productive and enjoyable make a lot of sense in this crazy time we are in and both of these websites are worth exploring!