Have you ever wished you could review a conversation with your doctor? Or your lawyer? Or your financial adviser? Or......? A smartphone can easily record those conversations or meeting for future review.
What apps should you use?
On an iPhone, use Voice Memos; the app is already on your phone, but it may be hidden;
On an Android device - Voice Recorder, available from the Google Play Store.
How does it work?
1) If you are in the office of your doctor, lawyer, etc. simply touch the app to begin recording. Even long meetings do not take up a large amount of storage on your device.
2) If you want to record a phone conversation, Voice Memos /Voice Recorder will need to be installed/run on a second device. The call will need to be completed on speakerphone, then the second device (another smartphone or tablet) will record the conversation. You can not record on the phone you are using for the conversation.
We have found these recordings to be valuable when reviewing hour-long meetings and appointments at a later date. These voice recordings have also made it easy for me to share information with my brother after some of my mom's appointments. This morning friends of ours who were having a videoconference with an oncologist were able to record the audio to share with their children.
The hardest thing about recording: REMEMBERING to turn on the app when the meeting/conversation begins! :-)
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Facebook security - now and later
Like most social media platforms, postings on Facebook have increased with both credible and less than credible information. Because of this, activity from scammers, hackers and other unsavory people has also increased.
Don't misunderstand: I love Facebook and I'm guessing you do, too! It allows us to easily stay in touch with family and friends and, it can be a good source of information. HOWEVER, good judgment should always be used before interacting on FB and you should also check your Facebook settings following some of the reminders below.
1) Every time you post or interact on Facebook, you have shared some information about yourself - your likes, your age, where you live, etc.. The seemingly innocent requests to "post your graduation photo to share support for this year's seniors" or "take this quiz to see what type of personality you are", etc. can use information provided by you to access your Facebook account or other accounts or even target you with "unauthorized" advertisements. Have you ever thought about who created those requests or quizzes and why they might be posting? Do not assume it is just to help someone pass their time on Facebook; there is always always a reason.
2) Check your Facebook Security and Privacy settings. Review who you are sharing your posts with and who is allowed to see your posts. Take a few minutes to access your Settings and review them; this is something you should do occasionally. Do not allow other apps access to your Facebook account and do not use your Facebook account login to access any other apps when asked.
3) If a post contains unbelievable information and encourages you to "share with all of your friends," please don't. That language often indicates a hoax or a scam. Don't further it by sharing. Consider using snopes.com and factcheck.org to validate items in question. OR, simply copy and paste part of a post into your browser and often it will take you to a site discrediting the information.
4) Don't accept Friend requests from people you don't know. Also be cautious if you receive a Friend Request from someone you are already friends with; it could be an imposter wanting access to your data and your Friends list. Do not respond.
As with anything on the internet, we have to remain vigilant and cautious. We are truly never "safe" online, but there are certain things we can do to improve our security.
Don't misunderstand: I love Facebook and I'm guessing you do, too! It allows us to easily stay in touch with family and friends and, it can be a good source of information. HOWEVER, good judgment should always be used before interacting on FB and you should also check your Facebook settings following some of the reminders below.
1) Every time you post or interact on Facebook, you have shared some information about yourself - your likes, your age, where you live, etc.. The seemingly innocent requests to "post your graduation photo to share support for this year's seniors" or "take this quiz to see what type of personality you are", etc. can use information provided by you to access your Facebook account or other accounts or even target you with "unauthorized" advertisements. Have you ever thought about who created those requests or quizzes and why they might be posting? Do not assume it is just to help someone pass their time on Facebook; there is always always a reason.
2) Check your Facebook Security and Privacy settings. Review who you are sharing your posts with and who is allowed to see your posts. Take a few minutes to access your Settings and review them; this is something you should do occasionally. Do not allow other apps access to your Facebook account and do not use your Facebook account login to access any other apps when asked.
3) If a post contains unbelievable information and encourages you to "share with all of your friends," please don't. That language often indicates a hoax or a scam. Don't further it by sharing. Consider using snopes.com and factcheck.org to validate items in question. OR, simply copy and paste part of a post into your browser and often it will take you to a site discrediting the information.
4) Don't accept Friend requests from people you don't know. Also be cautious if you receive a Friend Request from someone you are already friends with; it could be an imposter wanting access to your data and your Friends list. Do not respond.
As with anything on the internet, we have to remain vigilant and cautious. We are truly never "safe" online, but there are certain things we can do to improve our security.
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
5 Things You Must Know for the Day
CNN's "5 Things" daily newsletter is a great way to start your day!
Don't be quick to discount this resource if you're not a fan of CNN. Actually, I found I have to restrict both my reading and viewing of the news to help reduce stress and worry during this time. However, I stumbled across CNN's "5 Things" Newsletter that is delivered to my Inbox early each morning Monday-Friday, and I love it! The content includes:
1) the top 5 news stories, each summarized in an easy to read one-paragraph format
2) "Breakfast Browse" - 5 topics people are talking about
3) a number fact
4) a quote
5) a short light-hearted video
The formatting of the daily emails make them very readable; if you'd like to take a peek at the web version and/or also sign up, use this link. You can always unsubscribe if you find you don't like it!
Don't be quick to discount this resource if you're not a fan of CNN. Actually, I found I have to restrict both my reading and viewing of the news to help reduce stress and worry during this time. However, I stumbled across CNN's "5 Things" Newsletter that is delivered to my Inbox early each morning Monday-Friday, and I love it! The content includes:
1) the top 5 news stories, each summarized in an easy to read one-paragraph format
2) "Breakfast Browse" - 5 topics people are talking about
3) a number fact
4) a quote
5) a short light-hearted video
The formatting of the daily emails make them very readable; if you'd like to take a peek at the web version and/or also sign up, use this link. You can always unsubscribe if you find you don't like it!
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Don't click on that link!
Please don't click ANYWHERE in an unsolicited email!
Recently I've noticed an increase in emails from companies from which I've previously ordered, and that is certainly to be expected in this temporary shift away from in-store purchases. Unfortunately, though, hackers and scammers are also increasing their email efforts taking advantage of the increase in online traffic.
It's really best to just delete unsolicited emails without even reading them, but if you do open one-- for your safety, do not click on any links in the email. Do not click on any links in the email. Do not click on any links in the email. Got it?
Why? When you click on a link in the email three things may/could happen:
1) Clicking may initiate the download of a harmful piece of software on your computer; you will not visually see this happen.
2) Clicking sends a cookie back to the company to verify that you are indeed a "live" person which encourages them to only send additional mail.
3) Clicking can take you to a website that has been created as a clone; the website may look authentic as a way to encourage you to go ahead and login with your account information. Then the sender will have captured your login information to use on the "real" site.
What should you do?
1) If an email contains a link asking you to verify your personal information, access that site directly by opening your browser and entering the URL yourself (not via the link in the email). This assures you are on the legitimate site, and if there is anything wrong with your account, a message will appear on that site.
2) Delete the suspicious email immediately.
3) If you mistakenly click on a link and then give them your login information, immediately change your passwords on any site where you've used the same password.
Unfortunately, scammers and hackers will probably always be at work so this is a tip to remember even after we make it past this pandemic.
Hope this finds you safe and healthy. As many of you, we here in Kansas are in a stay-safer-at-home mode. Hope you are able to use this time to tackle all of those "I'll do it when I have the time" tasks. :-)
If you have a friend who wants to subscribe, feel free to share this link: https://bit.ly/tuesdaytechtip2020
Recently I've noticed an increase in emails from companies from which I've previously ordered, and that is certainly to be expected in this temporary shift away from in-store purchases. Unfortunately, though, hackers and scammers are also increasing their email efforts taking advantage of the increase in online traffic.
It's really best to just delete unsolicited emails without even reading them, but if you do open one-- for your safety, do not click on any links in the email. Do not click on any links in the email. Do not click on any links in the email. Got it?
Why? When you click on a link in the email three things may/could happen:
1) Clicking may initiate the download of a harmful piece of software on your computer; you will not visually see this happen.
2) Clicking sends a cookie back to the company to verify that you are indeed a "live" person which encourages them to only send additional mail.
3) Clicking can take you to a website that has been created as a clone; the website may look authentic as a way to encourage you to go ahead and login with your account information. Then the sender will have captured your login information to use on the "real" site.
What should you do?
1) If an email contains a link asking you to verify your personal information, access that site directly by opening your browser and entering the URL yourself (not via the link in the email). This assures you are on the legitimate site, and if there is anything wrong with your account, a message will appear on that site.
2) Delete the suspicious email immediately.
3) If you mistakenly click on a link and then give them your login information, immediately change your passwords on any site where you've used the same password.
Unfortunately, scammers and hackers will probably always be at work so this is a tip to remember even after we make it past this pandemic.
Hope this finds you safe and healthy. As many of you, we here in Kansas are in a stay-safer-at-home mode. Hope you are able to use this time to tackle all of those "I'll do it when I have the time" tasks. :-)
If you have a friend who wants to subscribe, feel free to share this link: https://bit.ly/tuesdaytechtip2020
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Tech Tools to use Now!
As many of us continue the stay-at-home mode of operation (by choice or mandate), now is the time to think about how your tech tools can help us. I've received several questions this past week beginning with "How can I/What's the best way.......?" So let me share some of my recommendations:
1) Thank heavens we have tools to help us stay in touch with friends and family! For video chatting, all of the apps below allow multiple users and most will work on any device
2) Now is the time to switch to "contactless payment" solutions. They allow you to use your phone or watch to pay at the store or online WITHOUT you having to use the touchpad at the store's checkout. We've used Apple Pay for the past year because it is safer than using our credit card. The merchant never has your credit card number; Apple generates a different account number for each transaction.
3) Schedule a pick up or delivery for your groceries. I'm so thankful we began using Walmart Pickup last fall (not many options here in our town). I place the order online and then at the selected time, we simply pull up in our car and the groceries are placed in our car. Now......in the past several weeks, items have been limited or are out of stock and pickup times have been shortened. But, it still keeps us out of the store. You may want to checkout these options:
Walmart Pickup - order online or with the Grocery app
Instacart
Your local grocery may have their own pickup/delivery service
4) Start checking out books digitally and read them on your phone, tablet, Kindle, or computer. These are the apps I use. Registration will require your library card number and in the state of Kansas, we also have a State of Kansas library card available for free that allows additional access.
Libby (newer version of Overdrive; I think it is easier to use)
Overdrive
CloudLibrary
If you want to learn how to use any new tools, the links I provided will take you to a website where you can learn more. If you need more help, let me know.
If there are tools you are presently using that you think others might find beneficial, please share.
Use this week to learn and grow in your knowledge of tools that can help you navigate the next few months. Consider limiting your time on digital news sources; none of us need the anxiety produced by that activity!
Need some encouragement? Enjoy this video from Portugal that our older son shared with us a few days ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70tcUNgd8IM&feature=youtu.be
1) Thank heavens we have tools to help us stay in touch with friends and family! For video chatting, all of the apps below allow multiple users and most will work on any device
- FaceTime - Apple devices
- Skype - multi-platform
- Facebook video chat (or FB Messenger) - multi-platform
- Zoom - multi-platform; we are using this for our Sunday School class to continue meeting and doing our lessons weekly; last Sunday we had 15 people successfully join the session and most of them are older than me! It is my new favorite tool as I get ready to teach my university "Computing for Seniors" class online rather than in person. Zoom has wonderful tutorials and if you are in a group, only one person needs to create an account and then send the session link to everyone else in the group. The free version allows for 40-minute sessions, but if you need longer, you would just end the session and reconnect at the end of that time.
2) Now is the time to switch to "contactless payment" solutions. They allow you to use your phone or watch to pay at the store or online WITHOUT you having to use the touchpad at the store's checkout. We've used Apple Pay for the past year because it is safer than using our credit card. The merchant never has your credit card number; Apple generates a different account number for each transaction.
- Apple Pay - Apple devices
- Google Pay - Android devices
- Venmo - all devices
3) Schedule a pick up or delivery for your groceries. I'm so thankful we began using Walmart Pickup last fall (not many options here in our town). I place the order online and then at the selected time, we simply pull up in our car and the groceries are placed in our car. Now......in the past several weeks, items have been limited or are out of stock and pickup times have been shortened. But, it still keeps us out of the store. You may want to checkout these options:
Walmart Pickup - order online or with the Grocery app
Instacart
Your local grocery may have their own pickup/delivery service
4) Start checking out books digitally and read them on your phone, tablet, Kindle, or computer. These are the apps I use. Registration will require your library card number and in the state of Kansas, we also have a State of Kansas library card available for free that allows additional access.
Libby (newer version of Overdrive; I think it is easier to use)
Overdrive
CloudLibrary
If you want to learn how to use any new tools, the links I provided will take you to a website where you can learn more. If you need more help, let me know.
If there are tools you are presently using that you think others might find beneficial, please share.
Use this week to learn and grow in your knowledge of tools that can help you navigate the next few months. Consider limiting your time on digital news sources; none of us need the anxiety produced by that activity!
Need some encouragement? Enjoy this video from Portugal that our older son shared with us a few days ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70tcUNgd8IM&feature=youtu.be
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
How to Safely Disinfect Your Smartphone
I just read there are 10 times more germs on your smartphone than on your toilet seat!! Yuk!
So let's talk about how to clean it (your phone, not your toilet seat) :-)
In an unprecedented move yesterday, Apple Computer edited its recommendations for cleaning your iPhone. You may find their update helpful:
"Using a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, you may gently wipe the exterior surfaces of your iPhone. Don't use bleach. Avoid getting moisture in any openings, and don't submerge your iPhone in any cleaning agents."
Additional cleaning tips for iPhones can be found here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207123
What about Android devices? I chatted with a Samsung rep just a few minutes ago and they "haven't yet released recommendations for disinfecting your phone". But, from all I've read online, I believe the Apple tips in the article above can be followed for most Android phones. If you want to research it yourself, just Google "how to disinfect Samsung Galaxy" or whatever model you have. I'm guessing within a day or two Samsung recommendations will be forthcoming.
Hope you can enjoy your week despite all that is going on in the world. :-/
So let's talk about how to clean it (your phone, not your toilet seat) :-)
In an unprecedented move yesterday, Apple Computer edited its recommendations for cleaning your iPhone. You may find their update helpful:
"Using a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, you may gently wipe the exterior surfaces of your iPhone. Don't use bleach. Avoid getting moisture in any openings, and don't submerge your iPhone in any cleaning agents."
Additional cleaning tips for iPhones can be found here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207123
What about Android devices? I chatted with a Samsung rep just a few minutes ago and they "haven't yet released recommendations for disinfecting your phone". But, from all I've read online, I believe the Apple tips in the article above can be followed for most Android phones. If you want to research it yourself, just Google "how to disinfect Samsung Galaxy" or whatever model you have. I'm guessing within a day or two Samsung recommendations will be forthcoming.
Hope you can enjoy your week despite all that is going on in the world. :-/
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