🧠 Excel in PowerPoint: Incredible. Google’s NotebookLM can now make video explainers in over 80 languages using your uploaded notes. Slides, voiceover, zero hallucinations. It’s like a multilingual teacher who lives in your laptop. It’s not sexy, but it’ll explain your white paper while you fold laundry.
🔍 Track down contact info: Type “Jane Doe” with keywords like “email, phone or profile” into Google. If you know where they work, narrow it down with “Jane Doe” site:company.com. For social media, try site:linkedin.com Jane Doe, site:facebook.com Jane Doe or site:instagram.com Jane Doe. Still nothing? Reverse image search.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: In Gmail on desktop, you can change how closely emails are spaced in your inbox. Go to Settings > Density and choose Default, Comfortable or Compact.
📚 Reading help on Kindle: Struggling with long pages? Kindle has a special font that makes words easier to follow. Open any book, tap near the top and select the Aa icon. Under Font > Font Family, choose OpenDyslexic. FYI: You can also adjust Boldness and Size here to suit your eyes. Cool, right?
✍️ Add a signature in Gmail: Go to Settings > See all settings > General > Signature. Click Create new, give it a name and type in details like your contact info and job title. You can also insert an image of your real signature. Then choose whether it appears on new emails, replies or both. Scroll down and hit Save Changes.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: In Chrome, quickly mute a noisy tab by right-clicking it and selecting Mute site. Saves your ears from those annoying autoplay videos that pop up out of nowhere. You’re welcome.
Send Chrome pages to your phone: On your computer, open the website you want and click the three-dot menu (top right). Go to Cast, save and share > Create QR Code. A QR code will pop up. On your phone, open the Camera app (or Scan QR code), and the link opens in your mobile browser. Nice.
Protect your Word doc: Got sensitive info you’d rather keep private? Lock the file with a password. Go to File > Info > Protect Document > Encrypt with Password. Enter and confirm your password, then click OK and Save. Just don’t forget it, because Microsoft can’t recover it for you.
WhatsApp’s new Writing Help: Rewrite your messages in different styles to make them sound more professional, funny (think Kim jokes) or supportive. To try it: Tap the icon on the right of the text, then the pencil icon under your message and select the tone you want.
✍️ On the dotted line: Sign PDFs fast without extra apps. On a Mac, open the PDF and select Show Markup Toolbar (circle with a pin icon) at the top. Hit Signature (cursive icon) to sign with your trackpad or camera. For Windows, open the PDF in Microsoft Edge and click Draw (pen icon) in the toolbar to sign.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Some TVs let you watch two shows at once. Go to Settings > Display (or Picture) and look for Multi-View or Picture-in-Picture.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Need a new Google Doc or Spreadsheet? Skip the menus. Type “doc.new” or “sheet.new” in your browser. Instant blank page, and it saves you a few clicks. I use this one a few times a day!
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: In Google Docs, right-click a word and select Define for a full definition and synonyms. It’s a built-in dictionary without having to leave the document.
📧 Take back that Gmail oops: Sent the wrong message? Click the Gear icon in the top-right > See all settings > under General, find Undo Send and set the Send cancellation period to 30 seconds. Next time you slip up, just hit Undo in the bottom-left.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Download a PDF? Make sure the file name ends with .pdf. If it says .exe, delete it immediately. That’s an executable program and malware in disguise. Yikes.
📺 Lost your Roku remote? Open the Roku app, tap the microphone icon, and say “Hey, Roku, where’s my remote?” The remote will beep so you can track it down. Press any button to stop the sound. FYI: This only works with remotes that have built-in speakers, like the Roku Voice Remote Pro.
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⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Printer acting weird? Unplug it, hold the power button for 15 seconds, then plug it back in. This clears its memory and often fixes common errors. Ink-credible.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: You can send your Roomba back to its dock mid-clean by pressing the Dock or Home button. Or open the app and tap Send Home or Dock.
📺 Calibrate your TV: Most TVs come way too bright out of the box. Go to Settings > Picture (or Display) and switch to Movie or Cinema mode instead. Then adjust the Brightness, Contrast and Sharpness to match your room’s lighting. Warmer color tones are easier on your eyes.
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