|
[div][img src="https://accelerator-origin.kkomando.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Tech-tricks.jpg" alt="5 simple tech tips that will make your life easier"][/div][div][p]Everybody loves shortcuts, but sometimes we need a nudge in the right direction to find them. Follow these quick and easy tech tips for adding up numbers, getting a handle on your many browser tabs, simplifying your smartphone typing, seeking out keywords, and wrangling frustrating USB connectors.[h3]1. Google your equations[/h3][p]You need to add up some numbers fast. What do you do? You could dig around in your desk drawer for a calculator. You could fish around on your computer for a calculator app. Or you could just use that Google search box you already have open in your browser. Google’s search box doubles as a quick and easy calculator. It’s pretty flexible about how you phrase your equations. For example, typing “12 x 2” or “12 times 2” will get you the same result. Google helpfully opens up a full in-browser calculator above the usual search results so you can keep going in your calculations.[p][p]Google’s built-in calculator can also handle some fancier equations. Try asking it for square roots or string together a series like “12 + 18 + 36 - 9.” If you get into more elaborate queries, remember to use parentheses so it knows what you’re asking. Searching for“12 + 5 - (2 x 2)” will get the answer you’re looking for: “13.”[h3]2. Control your tabs in Chrome[/h3][p]Windows users are familiar with the concept of the task manager, a program that shows everything running on your computer. The Mac version is called the activity monitor. Google’s Chrome browser has a task manager of its very own and it’s a good way to keep a handle on your tabs.[p]If you have 30 tabs open, it can be hard to remember what’s where. Access the task manager through the settings (it’s under “more tools”) or use the shift + esc keyboard shortcut on a Windows machine. The task manager lists all your open tabs. Double-click on a tab’s description to make it pop up in view in the browser. There is also an “end process” option that lets you close tabs you no longer need or shut down a misbehaving tab.[div id="t3294_r"][div id="t1357_r"][div id="t8480_r"][div id="taboola-mid-article-thumbnails" observeid="tbl-observe-11"][div id="trc_wrapper_68019"][div id="outer_68019"][div id="rbox-t2m"][div id="internal_trc_68019"][/div][/div][/div][div][/div][/div][/div][/div][/div][/div][p][h3]3. Embrace your smartphone space bar[/h3][p]Keep the flow of your typing running smoothly by tapping the space bar on your smartphone keyboard twice to end a sentence. You get a period, a space, and the next letter you type will be capitalized. This can work for everything from text messaging to writing emails on both iPhone and Android devices.[h3]4. Find keywords in long pages[/h3][p]You’re staring at a multi-page document or a website that feels like it goes on forever. You know what you’re looking for, but you don’t want to waste time scrolling and scanning. Give yourself a break and summon up a word finder tool by hitting Control + F with Windows or Command + F on Mac. This works with programs like Chrome and Word and gives you a handy search box, usually in the upper right-hand corner of the window. Now you just plug in the word or phrase you’re looking for and can go directly to it within the page.[h3]5. Plug USB cables in the right way[/h3][p]USB cables are everywhere. You probably have a stash of them curled up in a pile somewhere, as well as USB cables snaking around your computer and other gadgets like tentacles. Most of us have spent at least a few frustrating moments trying to plug a USB cable in with the wrong side up. It’s such an annoyance that some specialty reversible USB cables have been on the market for several years to avoid this problem.[p][p]But don’t worry. There’s a quick way to figure out which side of your normal old USB connector is up. Your first clue is to look for the small trident-like symbol. That’s up. If your cable is missing the symbol, then look for a small seam running down the outside metal part of the connector. That’s down. It just takes a glance and you won’t end up trying to jam the cable in the wrong way.[p]Your USB frustrations won’t be around forever. The newer USB Type-C standard finally brings us reversible connectors, so we can look forward to better days ahead as more devices embrace USB-C.[/div] |
|