Data Doctors Tech Tips

One of the apps that I've spent quite a bit of time researching is one that would help with a constant issue in our lives. When it comes to picking up groceries, we've experimented with text messaging for quite a while. The problem with this approach is that when the list is long, it makes it hard to remember which items on the list I've already gotten and which ones are still to be found. If we were using the same platform on our various smartphones, the app choices would be much greater, but I needed one that supported all of our technology. What I found was the app called Wunderlist was exactly what I was looking for.and#160; It makes it really easy for anyone in the household to add items to the grocery list and more importantly, as I'm picking items up, I just have to tap the box in front of it to remove it from the list. Wunderlist is useful for a lot more than just groceries, so we've adopted it for everything that requires a list and it's become our go to. Download and start listing at:and#160; and#8232;https://www.wunderlist.comand#160;

Discovering the wonders of Mother Nature via hiking and mountain biking is one of my primary focuses when I travel. If you're like most avid hikers and bikers, you use various online resources for choosing where you'll go next, but I always start and end with https://alltrails.com The amount of granular information you can gather is possible because of the more than 60K trails available with feedback from 10 million registered users You can really drill down to specific features that a trail offers, so you can take your dog along or ride your mountain bike instead of hoofing it. Your fellow hikers and bikers will also help you understand how long it might take to complete as well as how difficult it might be if you're not up for a strenuous day. Using the mobile app makes it really easy to find interesting options all around you, whether you're at home or in an unfamiliar place. The platform is an absolute treasure chest of information that I never leave home without. If you're an outdoors person, this is a no-brainer app to have on your smartphone!

Wine is one of those things that can overwhelming and intimidating for the uninitiated, so if that's how you feel, there's a discovery option you should know about. A wine club that focuses on customizing your shipments based on your actual taste buds, called Tasting Room may be just what you need to help you start exploring great wines. You begin by going through their rating kit, which begins the process of evaluating your specific tastes. After you've tasted the samples, you go to their website and answer questions about what you liked so they can determine your key flavor profiles. This initial interaction will give them a better sense of what to send you, which you will continue to rate once you taste them, leading to a more precise focus on your preferred types of wines.and#160; If you get a bottle that isn't right or you don't like, they will either replace it with the same or different bottle so you can eliminate the chance that you'll buy wine you don't like. The more feedback you provide, the more likely you'll zero in on the types of wines that you will always enjoy. Check it out atand#160;https://www.tastingroom.com

When you see a string of odd characters in an Internet post or on social media, don't you wonder how they did it? If you scan your various keyboards, there are no obvious places that these characters live, but if you use the Alt key along with the numbers on your numeric pad, you'll discover the universe of Alt codes. Try holding down the 'Alt' key and then tapping out 0153 on your numeric pad to see what you get. With 255 characters that are available but hidden, you can forget about having them all in your head whenever you want to use any of them. A quick Internet search for Alt codes or Alt keyboard will provide you with a plethora of resources giving you each code. A better way on those occasions you want to work with these weird characters is by bookmarking the https://www.copypastecharacter.com website. By changing the default display from 'Our favorite set' to 'All characters', you'll have them all ready for you to copy and paste into whatever you're doing online. iPhone users can also checkout their 99 cent app, which has mixed reviews. Don't forget, mobile users can also copy and paste from their website.

If someone near you was suddenly in a medical situation that required you to know cardiopulmonary resuscitation, would you know exactly what you should do? Don't feel bad, most of us don't know either. With that in mind, the more of us that take the time to arm ourselves with knowledge, the better off we'll be collectively. Not everything that can happen will be a matter of life or death, but even less serioius situations can be a challenge when we want to jump in and help, but don't know what to do. That's why today's tip is to consider downloading and looking through the free "Red Cross First Aid" App. Having this app on your phone the next time you're confronted with a serious health related situation can be a real difference maker. It's content is focused on the most common emergencies and because it's downloaded to your phone, an Internet connection isn't needed to gain access to the information. Fortunately, this isn't one of those apps you'll use every day, but it is one that likely deserves a little space on your phone. Download the app at: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/mobile-apps.html or text "GETFIRST" to 90999

With just about anything that experiences wear and tear, keeping it running at its best is achieved by performing regular maintenance.and#160; In my experience, this common knowledge seems to be completely forgotten when it comes to our precious computers. If we took this 'wait until it breaks down' approach with our vehicles, we'd always be facing huge repair bills, not to mention the untimely surprises. If you're a Windows user, there's a new routine that I'd like to encourage you to adopt: run the built-in Disk Cleanup tool that's waiting patiently to be used. It's really good at tracking down those unnecessary files that build-up in every computer, especially if it's actively used on a daily basis. This will result in more free space and better performance. If your computer has been neglected in this area, the first time you run the program, it's likely to take a good bit of time to search out all the errant files, so be patient. You can simply search for 'Disk Cleanup' from the Windows search bar to locate the tool. Create a reminder in your calendar to run the utility once a month so you can stay ahead of the clutter that is just naturally building up in your computer.

Surveying your customers is an essential part of operating any type of business but there is a confusing field of tools to choose from.and#8232;and#8232; A lot of what is available is full of great features that may be more than some businesses need.and#8232;and#8232; For anyone that needs to create surveys on occasion, there's a totally free option available from Google.and#8232;and#8232; The free productivity tool from Google called Forms is a simple way to create survey's whenever you need them. The questions can be setup as text, checkboxes, multiple choice in nine different question types available.and#8232;and#8232; Both the option to have required answers and the ability to shuffle your questions for more accurate feedback are included.and#8232;and#8232; To start generating responses, simply copy the link to the completed survey and send it to your customers.and#8232;and#8232; Once you start getting responses, they will appear in spreadsheet form, which allows for sorting of the data. and#8232;and#8232;It's so simple to setup and get valuable feedback on just about anything using and#160;https://Google.com/forms

Baby monitors of some type are pretty common these days if you have small children in your life.and#8232;and#8232;There's an inexpensive alternative for people that have kids and are on the go over a traditional setup. It uses Android smartphones, like that old one sitting in your drawer through the Dormi app. and#8232;and#8232;It's an app that uses two Android smartphones or tablets and turns them into powerful baby monitors that work from any distance.and#160;and#8232;and#8232;This setup will work with both wi-fi and cellular connections, which means it's effective in the house or on the road. and#8232;It allows you to say things to your child remotely when your voice can help them feel better. Making sure that your devices are in good shape with power is also monitored by the app.and#8232;and#8232;The basic option allows for up to 4 hours of monitoring a month and it's free or for a one time fee, you can get lifetime usage that also unlimited.and#160;and#8232;and#8232;Start looking for those old Android devices so they can be put back to use by your or someone you know with small children! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sleekbit.dormi

Have you ever been using your computer or mobile device in a public setting and thought that others nearby might be trying to take a sneak at what is on your display? If so, you're not alone. This uneasy feeling that someone is spying on you from nearby actually has a name: Visual Hacking.and#160; It can be that creepy person sitting next to you in-flight or some dude that's just off your shoulder in a restaurant, but whatever it is, you can take simple action to fight this potential problem. Installing something that's been around quite a bit, known as a 'privacy screen' can keep the displays on your various mobile devices safe from those prying eyes. They provide protection because they make your display look pitch black unless you're sitting right in front of the screen, which keeps those to either side in the dark. As far as smartphones and tablets are concerned, you can also add this additional layer of protection and much more https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/privacy-screen-protectors-us/

Can you guess what math and going to bed have to do with each other? According to some researchers, including some math during bedtime stories can vastly increase a child's math skills. Their research claims that kids can improve math achievement measurably if mom and dad include an app called Bedtime Math.and#160; By combining images and math in the stories, the child learns to solve math equations in an enjoyable way. This improvement is apparently possible even if the app is only used once a week. It's easy to be uncertain about anything that is specifically endorsed, but since this app is free, there's nothing to lose in giving it a try. Another benefit will be for parents that are apprehensive about helping their kids with their math homework. Your child can sense how you're feeling, which can impact their learning. The app isn't just for very young kids, so if you're looking for a fun way to help a child under the age of 10 to improve their math skills, give the Bedtime Math a try: http://bedtimemath.org/bedtimemath-app