Grandchildren, Germany and Great Fun!

I really thought I'd be able to share some tech tips while we are away but I'm finding most of our days are taken up with helping with the care of our 7-week-old grandchildren in Munich.  Sleepless nights, daily strolls even though the temperatures are in the 30's and 40's, sterilizing bottles and pacifiers, preparing meals for the adults, baths, snuggles, etc. are claiming most of our waking (and nighttime, too, as we take over so the babies' mom and dad can get some sleep.)  

It's a good reminder to grandma and grandpa about how time-consuming little ones can be.  But, oh, the smiles, the cooing, even a few laughs make it ALL worth it! 

I probably won't write another Tech Tip until after our return home from Germany on December 9.  

I am attaching several photos to share some of our adventures this past week. Note the beautiful old cemetery; it is really a beautiful park with many walking paths.

Have a wonderful Tech Tuesday; winter is almost here in Munich, much unlike the weather most of you are experiencing today!

Jeline











All previous weekly tips are located here:  http://tuesdaytechtidbit.blogspot.com
If you have a friend who wants to subscribe, feel free to share this link:  http://bit.ly/tuesdaytechtip2021

Doing your holiday shopping online? Be cautious.

Have you started your holiday buying? Most reports say the best time to buy is right now to ensure product availability and lower prices. Many Black Friday sales are underway. As online buying continues to increase, unfortunately, so do the number of scammers.  

You may have seen ads for holiday decorations online. The Better Business Bureau warns about those. The ads appear on social media and online search results and depict beautiful decor at very low prices. 

If you buy your decorations ....or any item..... through these ads, you probably won’t get what’s advertised. What you will get are low-quality items. You may even get nothing at all and have no way to contact the company for a refund. 

Take the following precautions if you see something you want in one of these type of ads:

• Don’t click on the link in Facebook or social media. Check out a company before buying anything. Type in a company or website’s URL to look for a solid website with contact information. 
• If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Look elsewhere. 
• Use your credit card for online purchases. This way you can dispute fraudulent charges.
• Look up company business ratings and customer reviews on BBB.org. 

I love the convenience of online shopping but I’m very cautious about where I buy.  Purchase from companies you are familiar with, and stay clear of those enticing online ads.

Shop safe. Be wise. Don't be lured in by ads on your social media.

Have a wonderful Tech Tuesday; get outside and enjoy the beautiful fall colors.

Use the correct phone to call 911!

Have you ever needed to call 911?  In the case of an emergency we probably don't give much thought about which phone we use; we just call as quickly as possible.   However, earlier this week I learned you should use the cellphone of the person who needs assistance, not your own phone, unless it is you who needs assistance.

Why does it matter which phone you use?  The director of the Lyon County Emergency Communications Center shared this week in my class that they have access not only to your location but also to the medical information on your phone once the 911 call has been made.  It gives them a lot more information about the person in need very quickly which can assist them in providing the appropriate care.  

This medical information can also be accessed on any locked phone by anyone, if needed.  If you aren't sure you have your medical information on your phone and that you have "enabled" that information to be shared in case of an emergency, check out these "how-to" articles:

On an iPhone: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207021   Make sure you follow Step #5 to enable the sharing with emergency services.

On an Android phone:  https://support.google.com/android/answer/9319337?hl=en  AND https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-add-emergency-info-to-your-phones-lock-screen (scroll about halfway down the page for Android information)

Hopefully, this is a tip that is good to know but you will never need!

Magnifier - a useful smartphone app!

Are menus with small print difficult to read? 
Is it difficult to see a splinter in your finger?
Have you been on a nature walk and wished you had a magnifying glass to take a closer look at something? 
If so, remember you always have a handy and very effective digital magnifying glass on your phone, and it even comes with a flashlight to help in low-light situations!

On an iPhone, the Magnifier can be accessed in the Control Center by swiping diagonally from the upper right-hand corner of your phone OR by simply searching for "Magnifier" in your App library.  (The App Library can be accessed by swiping left past all of your home screen pages.)   Once you open the Magnifier, play around with it to explore some of the different features.

On an Android phone, go to Settings - Accessibility - and turn on the Magnification OR download a great app in the Google Play store called "Magnifying Glass + Flashlight."  Once the app is installed, explore some of its features.

We tend to forget some of the useful features on our smartphones. In order to help you remember the magnifier, access and use it every day for the next week.  That may help get it into your working memory.  :-)

As always, I hope you can enjoy this Tech Tip Tuesday; this beautiful fall weather will be replaced by frigid wintry temperatures all too soon!

Part D Drug Plans

It's that time of year for us seniors - from October 15 to December 7 the window is open to preview/review Part D drug plans. You really should take time annually to review your plan: online at Medicare.gov, by talking with your pharmacist, or talking with your Extension Office or other local agencies who offer the service.    

All entities reviewing drug plans use the same website to evaluate the available plans in your state: https://www.medicare.gov/  But you can do it yourself!

Whether or not your medications have changed, you still should evaluate the plans and select the best one for you before December 7. 
Why?
Drug plans, drug tiers, and premiums change annually. 
The same drug can be on different tiers in different plans thus changing its cost. 
Don't just assume that what you are presently enrolled in is the best plan for you next year.  
Mail-order is not always the cheapest way anymore to obtain your 90-day prescription.

Need help? I made a screencast to show you how to navigate the 2022 website.  Click here to view it.

If you aren't interested in using the website, then make an appointment now with your pharmacist or local agency offering this service. Following the appointment, try using the Medicare website just to see if you come up with the same recommendation.

You can do this!  Visit medicare.gov on this beautiful Tech Tuesday and give it a try!  

Translate, a tool to remember!

 Are you ever in a situation, not just when traveling abroad, that you would like to have a conversation with someone who either doesn't speak English or has limited English?  On Saturday I was at the Post Office and listened to a postal worker and patron trying to understand each other.  I felt sorry for the young patron who spoke limited English and wished there was a way to help a situation that was frustrating for both parties.  A couple of days later I was reminded about an app that ALL of us have or can have on our smartphones which would have allowed me to help in that particular situation.  I could have pulled out my phone and easily have alleviated a very frustrating situation for those two people.

On the iPhone, the app is called Translate and is part of the native operating system - it does not have to be installed.The newest operating system update provides a "Conversation" mode that allows a conversation to be translated in both audio and written form in real time as people speak. Once the button is tapped, the conversation can ensue in real time. It is absolutely amazing!  Check out this link for more information:  https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/translate-text-voice-and-conversations-iphd74cb450f/ios 

For Android users -  the app is called Google Translate and must be downloaded from the Google Play Store. The app is very similar to the iPhone app allowing a conversation to be translated in real time as people converse.  Check out this link for more information: https://support.google.com/translate/answer/6142474?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid&oco=0 

*iPhone users can also download Google Translate but I recommend using the native Translate app on the iPhone.

Of course, this app can be very beneficial if traveling abroad, but maybe, like me, you can think of situations where it may be helpful in our everyday lives?  Give it a try right now so that when you need/want it you are familiar with how it works!

A beautiful fall Tech Tuesday is before us; enjoy! 

That Dirty Phone!

Yesterday we were at one of my mom's doctor appointments in Topeka and she told the doctor about her new twin great-grandchildren (he has twins, too).  She asked me to show him a picture of them on my phone.  So, I did.  And, when I took the phone back from him, I was embarrassed at how smeary the phone screen looked.  I actually don't remember the last time I cleaned it; I used to be so good about doing that.  Especially at the beginning of the pandemic.  But now, not so much.

So when we got home, I did a little searching and was reminded how best to get the smears off my phone (the newer glass on phones is so much better than the glass on our first iPhones, but it still gets pretty smeary!)

Basically, there are four things to keep your phone clean and in good shape:
1) Use a damp microfiber cloth to gently wash the screen and case
2) Use something like a Clorox wipe to gently wipe off the grease and grime and to also disinfect
3) Remove the case occasionally and clean out the gunk
4) Use a static-free soft bristle brush to gently clean out the holes and ports on your phone; I think you may be surprised at what comes out.

That's all there is to it!  Other than putting a reminder on your calendar so you will remember to clean it occasionally. :-)

Check out this short quirky 4-minute video clip that demonstrates the 4 suggestions above:  https://youtu.be/0b4cP8Sq1lQ  Or, take a look at my Tuesday Tech Tip posted at the beginning of the pandemic:  How to Disinfect your Phones

Enjoy this beautiful Tech Tuesday!