New laptop? Charge it to 100% and then drain it all the way to maximize the battery life. This and 4 other great tech tips for setting up your new laptop.
Electronics & Gadgets
Internet Safety For Kids & Teens: 3 Ways To Keep Your Children Safe Online
How much screen time is too much? To ensure Internet safety for kids, you need to know the risks, limit their accessibility & monitor their activity online.
Need A Car Charger For Your Smartphone? My Review Of The Nonda ZUS Car Charger (It Can Even Locate Your Parked Car!)
Before you buy a USB car charger, you might want to consider the Nonda ZUS smart car charger. It charges 2x faster, has 2 USB ports, and has GPS capabilities!
I Finally Found The Best USB Wall Charger That Doesn’t Use Valuable Plug Space: SnapPower USB Wall Outlet Charger
Most USB wall chargers are large bulky gadgets that plug into an outlet. The SnapPower USB wall outlet coverplate charges your phone w/o using an outlet plug
How To Use An Old Computer As A Backup Or Secondary Machine With A Few Simple Tweaks
Have any old computers? You can breathe new life into an old computer by defragging the system, upgrading the RAM memory & unclocking the CPU. Here’s how.
Save Money On Printer Ink! Refill Ink Cartridges Yourself – Here’s How
Buying brand new cartridges each time you run out of ink? Refill ink cartridges yourself by following these 4 easy steps. It’s a lot easier than you think!
Got A New Phone? 10 Must-Have Phone Accessories For Your New Smartphone
Take selfies? Use your phone in the car often? Time to consider which phone accessories you REALLY need. Here are the top 10 worth considering.
How To Make Your Cell Phone Battery Last Longer: 9 Simple Tips
I wish I knew these things about cell phone batteries before I burned through a cell phone battery in just under a year! You can learn from my mistakes.
How To Boot Your Android Phone In Safe Mode + How To Turn Off Safe Mode Android
If your Android phone isn’t working properly, putting it in Safe Mode may help you troubleshoot the problem. It’s how you can tell if an app is the problem.
Computer Security 101: How To Avoid Getting A Computer Virus Or Having Your Personal Info Stolen
Want to know how to stop hackers? If you get a computer virus, malware, or your personal info is stolen, then your computer security is to blame. Here’s some must-read info about how they got the info in the first place, and what you need to do to make sure hackers can’t do it again! Do these 4 things now…
Think You’ve Got A Computer Virus? My Computer Was Infected With Malware… Here’s How I Avoided Any Damage
After malware infected my computer, see how I avoided a computer virus simply by using 2 great FREE programs: AVG antivirus and Housecall by Trend Micro.
GTasks Task Management App Is The Best Task Manager… Ever!
GTasks is the best task manager! It makes taking notes, scheduling appointments, and setting reminders a cinch… using your phone OR your computer.
Google Rewards App: Yes, You Can Get Paid To Answer Easy Surveys On Your Android Phone
Google Rewards is a fun & easy way for Android phone users to earn credits in the Google Play Store – 25 cents to $1.00 for answering Google opinion surveys
Kindle Self Publishing Tips: How To Publish Your Book On The Kindle Reader
Amazon’s Kindle Reader offers a great opportunity for you publish your ebooks and achieve instant worldwide distribution. Here’s how to self-publish on Kindle – including how to format and set your prices.
Google vs Bing Review: Which Search Engine Provides The Best User Experience?
I put the two search engines through a side-by-side test for this Google vs Bing review. See how they compare when it comes to getting the best results from online search.
How To Speed Up Your Computer: 5 Things You Can Do To Make Windows Faster
Is computer speed an issue? If you want to speed up your computer because it isn’t as fast as it once was, here are 5 simple things you can do to make Windows 7 faster (or any version of Windows, really).
5 Cell Phone Accessories No One Should Ever Buy
Here are the top 5 cell phone accessories you should never buy. They may seem cool at first, but here are some reasons to think twice!
Hi-Tech Ford Cars Help You Stay Connected By Streamlining & Simplifying Info For Drivers
Bill Ford Jr. told us that Ford Motor Company strives to be a technology leader. That’s an interesting goal for a car company! Here’s how Ford is turning the car into a lifestyle tool…
Computer Virus & Malware Protection: 5 Simple Tips To Prevent Computer Malware
Don’t take a chance on getting a computer virus! Here are 5 things you can do to protect your computer against malware and keep everything safe.
Why I LOVE My Samsung Galaxy Nexus Phone & The Must-Have Apps And Widgets I Immediately Downloaded
I switched from the Droid X for the Galaxy Nexus cell phone. So did my hubby. See which apps I consider to be “must-haves” for the Galaxy Nexus, as well as all of the great things (and the not-so-great things) that hubby and I have noticed about this phone.
Pinterest Tips For Guys And Newbies
I’ve been sharing things on Pinterest for awhile now. I decided to search the social networks (Facebook, Google Plus, and Twitter) to see what people were saying about it. I find it interesting that some guys have stated they don’t feel comfortable using Pinterest. What do you think, does Pinterest work for guys? My Pinterest tips for guys and newbies.
Why I Love Dropbox For Sharing & Syncing Files… And You Will Too!
I’ve been using Dropbox for over a year now, and I love it. Perhaps you’ve heard about Dropbox, but you’re not exactly sure what you would use it for. Here’s why I like Dropbox so much, plus lots of fun ways you can use it.
Looking For A Laptop Purse? How I Found The Best Ladies Laptop Handbag
I got a new 17-inch laptop computer, so I immediately set out to find the perfect laptop handbag. Here are the messenger laptop bags that I considered, as well as my favorite laptop handbags. See which one I bought. (I actually got 2 different ones, plus a 3rd laptop bag for my mom!)
Check Out Our Fun Facebook And Twitter Pages!
Get fun ideas in real-time, helpful tips & tricks, and updates about fun things to see & do on our Facebook and Twitter pages for The Fun Times Guide!
My Favorite Android Apps For Newbies With A Droid Phone
These are my favorite Android apps that I use on my Droid X and highly recommend for other newbies to Android phones.
Apple iPhone vs Google Android Phones (I Got The Droid X After 2 Years With An iPhone)
If you’re thinking of getting an iPhone or an Android phone for the first time, then you will appreciate this summary of the similarities and differences between these 2 smartphones.
Magic Jack Eliminates Your Monthly Phone Bill, But How Well Does It Really Work?
As long as you have hi-speed Internet, you can use Magic Jack for your phone calls and never have to pay a phone bill again! Here’s a video review from someone who’s been using the MagicJack for a year now.
Want To Trade Electronics For Cash? My Experience With Gazelle & Cell For Cash
I recently utilized 2 different services to trade electronics for cash through the mail: Gazelle and Cell For Cash. I had excellent, fast, professional results with one of them. And, after a bit of a glitch within the company, the other one pulled through and paid in full as well. Here’s my advice if you wish to trade electronics for cash.
How To Cancel Cell Phone Contracts Without Penalty
Canceling cell phone contracts can be difficult, but if you really want to cancel a mobile phone contract, there ARE some things you can do. Here are the best, tried & true ways that others have used to get out of their cell phone contracts.
Before You Buy A New Laptop Computer, Think Laptop Power Cord!
I wish so badly that I had just ordered a backup AC power cord for the laptop when I bought it. And if/when the new one should ever stop working, I will make a point to order another one from the same place where I bought my laptop. Here’s why.
Yahoo Email: The Pros & Cons Compared To Other Email Programs Like Gmail, Hotmail, And Outlook
There are advantages and disadvantages of using Yahoo Email. With so many email options available, here are a few reasons why Yahoo Mail is still so popular. These are the Yahoo pros and cons, as I see it.
Top 2 Twitter iPhone Apps: Twitterific Premium vs Twittelator Pro
I have a couple of different Twitter accounts, each with an entirely different audience based on very unique interests: @FunDogs – fun dog tips for people with dogs @FunHouseHome – helpful information for homeowners – fun home & garden tips @FunTimesGuide – where the geek in me hangs out and I interact with people on a […]
Why I Prefer Google’s Gmail Account To Other Email Accounts Like Yahoo & Hotmail
Gmail has been my favorite email program for years. Here’s why…
7 Good Ebook Readers – Alternatives To The Amazon Kindle
Choosing the right e-book reader can be tricky, especially since there are so many options these days. With the popularity of e-books, the need for ebook readers for people on the go has dramatically increased in the last few years or so. As somebody who both writes and reads e-books on a regular basis, I […]
Amazon Kindle 2 Ebook Reader: The Pros & Cons
Ebook readers are becoming more and more popular as e-books in general become more popular, and Amazon’s Kindle reader is no exception to this rule. Amazon just recently introduced the new Kindle 2 wireless reader. It has some nice features, but it is debatable as to whether or not it is better than the Kindle […]
Best iPhone Apps For iPhone & iTouch Newbies
I have 60 of the best iPhone apps on my iPhone right now. I thought I’d share with other iPhone newbies — and iTouch /iPod/iPad newbies — which apps are the must-haves for me, which apps are good default iPhone apps, plus some fun ways you can organize your life and enhance your productivity with the iPhone.
Download Free Ringtones – Here Are Great Sites You Can Trust To Find A New Ringtone
I’m completely clueless when it comes to downloading free ringtones. I mean I know HOW to do it — you just upload a file to your cell phone. But I never really knew how to find decent sites that could be trusted for downloading a new ringtone to my phone. I finally found some ringtone sites that can, indeed, be trusted. And yes, they’re FREE.
Blog World Expo: A Review
Overall, the Blog World Expo conference in Las Vegas was entertaining at first, then boring toward the end. Mid-way through the first day of this 2-day conference, Jim and I both realized that the sessions were extremely beginner-level; better for new bloggers.
Try An Online Typing Test To Test Your Typing Speed
I type in the 100 wpm range. That’s pretty good, but not great. The fastest typists tend to type in the 120-150 range. Here are 3 online typing tests where you can test your own typing speed. They’re fun!
You Don’t Need A Thumb Drive… Just Use Your Email Program!
Whenever I want to get something — pictures, files, spreadsheets — from one computer to another, I just email ’em to myself. BUT… I don’t hit ‘send’. Say what?.
DIY Notebook Computer Stand Places Your Laptop Computer Keyboard At An Angle
My mother and I each got a new laptop computer. We were both having trouble getting used to the flat keyboards, as compared to the old elevated/angled keyboards we had been using on our desktop computers for years. So we built some angled computer stands for our laptops! Here’s how…
My Favorite TechTV On-Air Personalities: Where Are They Now?
Whatever happened to TechTV? Those guys made learning about computers and the Internet FUN. Shows were filled with real-life computer how-to’s and explanations that were actually fun to learn and try.
Why We Signed Up For Netflix Movies In The Mail… Again
I’m on my 3rd Netflix movies membership now. Here’s why we initially canceled our memberships… and why we recently signed up again. In brief: because Netflix has gone hi-tech.
Another Way To Go Wireless: Plug In An Ethernet Adapter & Use ‘Powerline Networking’
Three of our computers all tap into the Internet wirelessly — thanks to our secured wireless network hub. The only problem: Interrupted service. All three of those computers will mysteriously go offline on occasion. Now we’re considering an ethernet adapter that plugs in to a wall outlet, instead of a wireless router. Here’s why…
Use Belarc Advisor To See Exactly What’s On (And In) Your Computer
There is no better — or easier — way to see every single thing you have on your computer than to use the Belarc Advisor program. You download the free program online, then open it up on your computer and run it. The info it tells you about your computer is AMAZING!
Before You Buy A New Computer… What To Look For In A New PC
Are you in the market for a new computer? Before you buy a new PC, check out these tips from the experts, plus my own recommendations based on our recent computer purchases.
NetVibes: A Great Personalized Homepage And An Amazing RSS Feed Reader
See why I think personalized homepages are so cool, and why I like NetVibes the best…
How To Turn A Lego Block Into A USB Flash Drive
I found another one-of-a-kind USB drive that you can make yourself. This one is made from a Lego block! Here are directions and pictures.
Verizon vs AT&T… And How To Get Out Of Your Contract Without Penalties
See why we’ve decided to stick with Cingular — now AT&T — rather than making the switch to Verizon like we’d planned to. Plus, some of the pros and cons of both services. Plus, tips for canceling your Verizon cell phone contract — without any fees or penalties!
Should You Leave Your Laptop Plugged In?
Should you leave your laptop plugged in all the time — even when you’re not using it? Should you let your notebook computer ‘hibernate’ with the lid closed while the laptop is plugged in? Is it okay to leave your laptop plugged in while you work for hours at a time? Should you ever unplug the laptop cord from the wall? Answers here…
