Data Doctors Tech Tips

All the wonderful software programs that you use on your computer rarely, if ever, comes with any type of traditional printed instruction manual and for good reason. The industry standardized on dynamic manuals that can be easily changed, but that requires users to know how to find them on the company's support website. Fortunately, there's a much simpler way to get help with just about any computer program that you're using...a nearly universal shortcut to help on any Windows-based software program is available by pressing the F1 key at the top left of your keyboard. You'll either get a help screen from within the program or be sent to a specific website that has support links for the program in question. If you're using a Mac-based computer, you can access the Help menu by pressing Command-Shift and the ? key to get a help search box. Not only will you always get the specific help options for what you're running, it'll be the most up-to-date info, unlike something that was printed years ago.

If you have kids in your household, you probably have a list of chores for each of them to do on a weekly basis. If you're still using a chalkboard or some other manual method for keeping them on task, there's a better way. Since kids and smartphones are inseparable, why not use an app that keeps track of all the household chores and bugs your kids for you? An app that fits the bill perfectly is called 'ToDoist', because it goes much further than simple reminders and to-do lists. The basic free version allows you to create up to 80 projects or chores and assign each one to up to 5 people. You can create each chore, make them recurring then assign them to various members of your household. The app will remind each person via their smartphone and keep track of when they were accomplished in a progress chart. Got roommates? It works with them too. Check it out at https://todoist.com

If you love taking photos with your smartphone, you know that sometime what seemed to be a perfect shot is ruined by something you didn't see at the time you were taking it. It could be an ugly powerline in a beautiful sunset, someone that photobombed you with a goofy face or the reflection off the glass that you were standing behind at the zoo. Unless you have the luxury of going back to recreate the same image, using an image editing app can save the day. For these scenarios, my go to app is called Snapseed. Snapseed, which is owned by Google, has nearly 30 different tools that will allow you to dramatically improve your images, but my favorite one is the Healing tool. Healing lets you magically erase just about anything in your image right on your smartphone. Simply zoom into the area you want to modify and drag you finger over it to have it blended into the background. If you make a mistake, just tap the back arrow and try again. It's absolutely packed with lots of other goodies too, so if you love photography, go get the Snapseed app.

It's that time of the year where we crank up our online shopping activity, which means an increase in package deliveries. No matter where you live, the most common delivery will be to your front door, which package thieves are well are of and take advantage as a result. It's not hard to figure out if someone's not home as most delivery drivers will ring the doorbell after they drop the package at the door. When no one comes out to pick it up, that's all the porch pirates need to see. When possible, it may make sense to have all those deliveries to be sent to your place of work or a neighbor that you know will be home during the day. If you have a more secure area for the packages to be dropped off around your house, leave a note for the driver at the door with the instructions. If you're like most households, the volume of packages being delivered to your door is on increase, so you may want to invest in one of the many motion sensing doorbell camera systems that will provide real-time alerts with video and the ability to talk to anyone that approaches your door, no matter where you are.

Yesterday, I featured a special file management app for Android device, so today I'll focus on helping iPhone users do the same thing. Apple has some very useful storage management tools built into the phone, which you can access by going to Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage. The first thing you'll see is a graph with different colors to show by category what's taking up your space and where the largest opportunities are to regain space. You can also turn on an auto delete option for messages that are over 1 year old and easily review all of the large attachments you've received in messages, which is one of those previously hidden items that can eat up large chunks of storage. If you're like most users, you've probably loaded the phone with lots of apps, many of which you've only used once or really have no use for anymore. By tapping any of the apps in the list, you can delete the app but keep the associated data or delete everything associated with the app. Spending a few minutes once a month with this tool will help you keep things running smoothly!

Our smartphones are capable of so many awesome things but the challenge that this presents is that it takes lots of storage space on our phones. If you're not diligent about getting rid of old files, you can quickly run out of space. Understanding what's taking up the space is the first step, which is where the Files by Google app for Android devices can help. The app does more than just show you what's taking up the space, it makes it easy to get rid of old messages, pictures that have been backed up online, duplicate files and those apps that you aren't using anymore. It routinely points out junk and temporary files that you can delete along with lots of other suggestions to keep your device from filling up. Keeping lots of free space on your phone helps it perform better as well, so if you have an android device and want some help keeping it uncluttered, checkout Files by Google in the Google Play store. Got an iPhone? Tomorrow's tip is for you!

Anyone with kids knows the joy of seeing them create their first work of art using crayons and paper. As they grow, you'll want to save lots of projects and artwork, which means you have to keep track of where you store it all for many years to come. Well, there's actually an app just for this challenge and it's called Keepy. Keepy will organize, save and privately share those precious memories as your child grows. Whether it's artwork, schoolwork, an award, sporting events or their first school play, the app makes it easy to capture them all. You no longer have to save every physical item which reduces clutter and the need to remember where you stored it. If you've got kids, you've got memories to capture, so checkout the Keepy app at https://keepy.me

Our phones become much more than a calling device with the introduction of apps, which made our phones 'smart'. The vast majority of users when searching for an app to fill a need, will default to finding something that's free. With millions of apps in the app stores, unless you're constantly checking to see what's new, you're going to miss lots of apps that you may have found very useful. That's where an app that keeps track of newly free apps called Apps Gone Free can help. Many app developers will choose to make an app that normally costs money free for a very short period of time in an effort to get more users quickly. Without something like the 'Apps Gone Free' app, you'll have no idea of the latest offerings. It operates using editors that will research and review apps that are temporarily free and provide a synopsis so you can decide whether to give it a shot or not. The app provides daily suggestions based on the latest offerings, so you can go to one place to see the latest and greatest in free apps. Apps Gone Free (iPhone): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/apps-gone-free-best-daily/id470693788 Comparable Android App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appsfree.android

A variety of translation apps have been available for your smartphone for quite some time, but our old go-to app was our favorite because it allowed you to translate physical signs using the camera on your phone. Since it was acquired by Google some time back, it became a free app and more importantly, the technology was incorporated into the Google Translate app. Not only can you translate words using your camera, you can convert handwriting as well as spoken word using the app on your smartphone. It's an amazing combination of translation tools that every traveler should learn how to use. As with any translation app, it's far from perfect, but if you stick to a small number of words, instead of long complex sentences, you'll find it to be very effective. The real-time translations is available in many languages and if you know you aren't going to have a connection, you can download language libraries to your phone so that it still works offline. This is one of those apps that we recommend that if you're going to a foreign country, don't leave home without it!

We've all heard the complaints from parents that lament how much their kids substitute screen time for physical play time. iPads are awesome entertainment and education devices, but only if what is being used on it has value. If you have younger children that love using an iPad, take it to the next level with the system offered by the folks at Osmo. What makes Osmo different is that it uses the iPad to encourage interaction with items in the physical world, so it's a way to use what the kids love to expand their learning. It's a really interesting approach that uses a special stand and small mirror that goes over the front facing camera, which makes it possible for the app to see what's going on in front of the display. There are lots of different activities that it will encourage, such as Masterpiece, which allows your child to trace anything that is projected onto paper in front of the iPad. Osmo could be helpful for parents that want to have their iPads do more than basic game play. Learn more at:and#160;https://PlayOsmo.com