Whitepages

When was the last time you received a copy of a phone book from your landline provider?  Landline provider, what's that? :-)  

Whitepages.com and the Whitepages app on my phone are what I use now when I need an address or phone number or when a friend calls for help in locating that information.

Both Whitepages.com and the app provide free as well as premium (paid) information, but I've only used the free information provided.  Cellphone numbers may be located through the "premium/paid" feature which can be accessed through a one-time fee or monthly subscription.

If you'd like to learn more about using Whitepages, take a look at my screencasts:

1. Whitepages.com on a desktop/laptop - https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/crf1liVnfCo 
2. Whitepages app on a smartphone - https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/crf1lJVnf7Y

Whitepages is one of those tools to add to your list of resources.  You probably won't use it often, but when you need it it's a great tool to have!  If you have a tool you use that you like better than Whitepages, I'd love to hear from you.

As always, have a terrific tech Tuesday and a warm and enjoyable spring day!

Jeline

All previous weekly tips are located here:  http://tuesdaytechtidbit.blogspot.com
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New Year's Resolutions for Tech - Part 2

 Hopefully, you have gotten started with last week's suggestions:  

*cleaning up your email Inbox
*reviewing and changing your passwords as needed
*sharing your passwords with someone else in your family
*reviewing your Facebook Privacy and Security settings

Today, let's add one more item to that beginning-of-a-new-year-to-do list.

Remove apps from your mobile devices and  applications from your computers that you no longer use.
Leaving unused apps, applications, and accounts on our devices can make us vulnerable to possible security breaches.  Take time to review the apps on your phone, tablet, etc. and delete them if you no longer use them. 
(iPhone Users - Go to Settings - App Store - Offload Unused Apps and make sure this setting is turned on.  This will automatically help keep unused apps off your phone.  Apps can also be viewed and deleted on an iPhone by going to Settings - General - iPhone Storage. You will see a total list of your apps.  Touch an app in the list and you will be given the choice of removing the app.) 
For other mobile devices or computers, if you are unsure how to remove apps simply do an internet search for "how to remove apps/applications from....(name of device)" to view instructions.

Another beautiful sunshiny day here for getting outside; a real treat for January!  Enjoy.

Spring cleaning of your tech devices

Now's a great time to do some spring cleaning on your tech devices.

Looking to feel productive during this time at home?  Check out the suggestions below:

1) Digitize your old photos.  Consider using Google's PhotoScan app on your phone to scan in your old photographs.  It is easy to use, the quality is great, and it eliminates the glare that is often seen when you use your phone to take a picture of a photo.  The app is available for both iOS and Android devices.  Photo Scan does such a great job!  I installed it a couple of years ago and I used it a lot when getting things together for our class reunion last summer, but I'd forgotten about it until I wanted to share some old family Easter photos with our boys on Sunday. Give it a try!

2) Check the permission settings for your apps.  Sometimes when you install an app, it asks for more information than it really needs to run.  Now is a good time to look through your privacy settings and make changes as desired:
On an Android device, go to:
Settings - Advanced - Privacy and review the settings for each app
On an iOS device, go to:
Settings - Privacy and adjust the settings for Location Services, Microphone and Camera

3) Download your Facebook information including photos.
In Facebook go to Settings - Your Facebook Information - Download Your Information. Mark items you'd like to download and then click Create File.  You will be notified when the file is ready to download.

Next week, we'll take a look at some Facebook settings you may want to change while cleaning up your devices this spring. 

Should I close apps on my phone?

No longer is it recommended that we should close apps on our phones when they are not being used.  In fact, your phone may run better if you leave apps open.

The only time you should be concerned with closing an app on your phone is when it seems to be unresponsive.  Other than that, whether you have an iPhone or an Android phone, there is no reason to close out of the apps.

So, mark that off your list of "tech things to do" today and have a terrific Tuesday!

iOS 11 - Apps that won't work any longer

Today's tip is for iPhone and iPad users:

iOS 11 is reported to be ready for release today.  We'll see.  I'm eager to download it on our phones and iPad because of some great new features!  

Once iOS 11 is installed, though, there may be some apps on your phone or iPad that no longer work....unless their developers decide later to do an update.

To check out the apps that will no longer work after iOS 11 is installed, go to Settings - General - About - Applications.  I found 45 apps that will no longer work on my iPhone, but I have to admit that I only use one of those on a regular basis, so it won't be a big loss.  I probably downloaded the others just to take a look at them when they were recommended in an article I was reading.  :-)

Keeping my fingers crossed that my phone will show the update is available later today!  (Our phones have displayed some strange behaviors the past two weeks; I'm hoping it is just because Apple is getting ready to roll out this new app!)