Tips

We’re about to enter the holiday week madness. Before you kick back and enjoy a cold one at the barbecue, I want you to have your tech life in order! Use these techy tips to make this Fourth of July a breeze.

On desktop

• Just tell me how long to cook the wings: Find the perfect recipe online but don’t want to read all the fluff preceding it? Use Ctrl + F (Windows) or Cmd + F (Mac), then search for “ingredients” or “print.” This will shoot you right down to the recipe.
• Ready to close those work tabs? Leave your mouse alone and close the tab with your keyboard. On Windows, press Ctrl + W. On a Mac, it’s Cmd + W.
• Give your tech a vacation: A restart ends background processes, clears the cache and RAM, and speeds up things. After you read this newsletter, turn your phone off and back on. Do the same with your computer for extra credit!

On your phone

• For action shots, kids and pets: Try Burst mode. On an iPhone XS or later, swipe the shutter button to the left. Now, lift your finger to stop Burst mode and select the best pics by tapping Burst > Select > Done. On Android or iPhone X or earlier, hold down your shutter button.
• Remember to respond to the family chat: Mark a text as unread just like you would in your email inbox so you remember to respond. On iPhone, swipe right on a conversation. On Android, hold down on a conversation, tap the three dots, then select Mark it as unread.
• Read the fine print on the fireworks: Your smartphone has a digital magnifying glass to make minuscule text crisp and clear.
  • On iPhone, search for Magnifier. Use the slider to zoom in and tap the flashlight icon in low-light conditions.
  • On Android, it’s under Settings > Accessibility > Magnification.

With your smart assistant

• Forgot why you walked into the kitchen? Love this trick to use with your smartphone assistant. Say, “Remind me to do [task] when I get to [location].” Perfect for when you need to do something specific when you arrive at a place, like, “Remind me to defrost the chicken when I get home.”
• Find your crew in a crowd: If you’re lost, ask your smartphone where you are — really! You’ll get your current location on a map, which you can then share to help folks find you. Just say, “Hey, Siri” or “Hey, Google,” followed by, “Where am I?”
• Don’t forget the mustard: Say, “Hey [voice assistant name], add condiments to my shopping list.” To create and update your grocery list with Amazon Alexa, check your list in the Alexa app under Lists & Notes. For Google Assistant, find your list in the Google Keep app.

🥩 I was thinking of trying my hand at the smoker this Fourth of July, but the steaks are too high. I’m not gonna brisket.