TECH CORNER

12-01-2025

By Max Trenck

Readers: With this column, there is a new section, DEEP DIVES, for more detailed information on some topics. The section is meant to cover some topics in more depth. I hope this is found to be interesting and informative. For Suggestions of ideas, contact me at MaxTrenck@AustinGenealogicalSociety.org. (Caps are strictly for readability purposes.) -Max

HINTS & SHORTCUTS

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Searching for documents on Google? Add filetype: to your search. Try filetype:pdf tax form, filetype:docresume template, or filetype:ppt marketing slideshow. You really need to remember this one. It’s a time saver.

Speak to ChatGPT: You can talk out loud instead of typing. I use it when I want to work through a longer thought and like feeling there’s someone on the other side (you can also choose a voice type). To try it, open a new chat and tap Use voice mode. Your convo will show up as text afterward. Oh, and don’t forget to hit the mic.

Keep your iPad organized: Download a ton of apps? Your screen can get cluttered fast. Head to Settings > Home Screen & App Library. Under Newly Downloaded Apps, toggle App Library Only. Then under Dock, turn on Show App Library in Dock. New apps will skip your home screen but stay easy to find in your Dock.

Note: I chose to create “folders” for apps, such as Microsoft, Google, Weather and Travel. Create a folder by dropping one app on top of another. For instance, Travel has Uber, Lyft, Paris Transit system, Hotel & Airline apps and the like. This is works for my mind. There are as many ways to organize something as there are organizers. – Max

📱 Bedtime rebellion: All that “blue light is ruining your life” talk might’ve been exaggerated. Research now says heavy bedtime screen users actually slept better than the moderate dabblers. Turns out it’s not the phone, it’s the content. If your nightly scroll is cozy instead of crazy, your sleep might be just fine.

Designer baby drama: Sam Altman and his husband are funding Preventive, a startup aiming to gene-edit embryos to prevent inherited diseases, something illegal in the U.S. and most of the planet. They’ve raised $30M and will set up shop abroad to run trials. Critics warn of designer-baby territory, but investors say it’s the next medical revolution.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Clear your Amazon search history to hide gifts or questionable clicks. On desktop, under Hello, [Your Name], click Browsing History. Find the item you want and select Remove from view

Screenshot shield: Imagine sharing sensitive slides in a meeting and someone tries to screenshot. Now that window goes black. Microsoft’s new “Prevent Screen Capture” for Teams Premium stops screenshots and recordings on Windows and Android during selected meetings. Yes, you can still whip out your phone and snap the screen because nothing’s foolproof.

🍏 Record your own iPhone tutorials: Tired of family asking you how to do things on their phones? Open Control Center and tap the Screen Recording icon (white dot inside a circle) to make a video with your voice. To include audio, long-press the icon and turn the mic on.

Investigators uncovered one of the museum’s weakest links: the surveillance system password. No fancy encryption. No trip wires. Guess what they used to protect national treasures. Was it: A) 123456, B) CrepeHappens, C) Louvre or D) EiffelForThat?! The answer: C) Louvre. Yes, the literal name of the building was the surveillance password protecting $102 million in jewels. Somewhere, an IT administrator fainted. Fun fact: The most commonly used password in the world is still, wait for it,“123456.” 

Lazy-day win: In maybe the best news in a while for incessant returning folks, you may soon be able to skip the whole “find a box, print a label, drive to UPS” thing. Amazon’s testing a partnership with USPS that lets you hand off returns right from your doorstep. Eligible items are under 15 pounds, and it’s rolling out quietly.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Keep your iPad healthy. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health and turn on 80% Limit. It caps charging at 80% to reduce wear and extend your battery’s life.

Measure without a tape: Your iPhone has a built-in measuring tool. Open the Measure app and move the circle to a starting point, then tap Add a Point and drag to the other edge. It’ll draw a pretty accurate line that’s great for checking furniture sizes in-store. Or switch to Level to test if something’s straight.

🚨 Chrome alert: Google dropped a new update that fixes a serious security problem. Hackers could crash Chrome, bypass protections or run harmful code on your computer. The patch rolls out automatically, but it might take a few days to reach you. Get ahead by going to Settings > About Chrome > Relaunch.

More updates to install: It was Patch Tuesday, so Microsoft also rolled out fixes for 63 flaws on Windows. Go to Settings > Windows Update to make sure you’ve got it. One more thing: Windows 10 received its first Extended Security Update since support ended last month. You can still enroll, but save yourself some stress and upgrade for free (here’s how).

One endless page: If you use Google Docs for notes, meeting minutes or blog drafts, you don’t need those page breaks getting in the way. Click on Format > Switch to Pageless format to turn it into one continuous scroll. Bonus tip: Head to View > Text width to adjust how wide your text appears on the screen.

📱 Google vs. phishing factory: Google’s going full Liam Neeson, suing the China-based crew behind “Lighthouse,” a subscription service for scammers. For a monthly fee, users get templates to make fake USPS or bank websites that steal your info, even without hitting submit. It’s basically a plug-and-play scam factory (paywall link). A Squarespace for criminals, if you will. In 20 days, they made 200,000 fake sites and hit over a million victims. The only square space they need is behind locked bars. 

No more updates, pal: If you’re still on Windows 11 Home or Pro (version 23H2), security updates stopped, as of this week. Microsoft warned us, but now it’s official. You need to update for protection from bugs, hacks or whatever chaos the internet throws at you next. Head to Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates, hit “Download and install” if 25H2 pops up, and done.

LinkedIn’s AI upgrade: Instead of guessing job titles or drowning in filters, LinkedIn lets you (if you’re paying for Premium) search in plain English. Meaning you can do stuff like “find fintech founders in Austin, Texas” or “find social media managers open to work.” Maybe this update can make the average LinkedIn person speak like a human. I’m looking at you, “thought leaders.”

🙏🏻 This is phenomenal: Brad Smith has ALS and can’t move or speak, but he watches his kid’s soccer games and snaps photos only by thinking, thanks to a Neuralink brain chip + a custom Insta360 camera setup. It tracks his gaze and pans around like he’s behind the camera himself. Sounds like sci-fi, but it’s a real story out of Gilbert, Arizona. 

Pick your favorite calling app: With iOS 26, you don’t have to stick with the regular phone app anymore. Go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Calling and choose something like WhatsApp or FaceTime instead. Bonus: Set your default email, messages and browser while you’re there.

💸 Save big on tech: Why pay full price for your gadgets when you can find deals on Amazon Renewed? It’s where big brands sell open-box, pre-owned and refurbished gear like MacBooks for a lot less. Everything’s tested, inspected and looks practically new. And yes, you get a 90-day guarantee, so if it doesn’t work, you can send it back.

⚠️ Can you guess how many cyber threats U.S. Cyber Command detects or blocks every single minute every single day? Is it: A) 75, B) 600, C) 1,500 or D) 7,000? The answer: D) 7,000. That’s not a typo. U.S. Cyber Command, with help from some wizard-level AI, detects and blocks more than 7,000 cyber threats every minute. That’s over 10 million cyber events a day, from annoying phishing scams to full-on state-sponsored hacking attempts. Basically, while you’re deciding whether to reheat pizza or cook, someone in a bunker (probably an office) is saving the internet.

📖 Tell your story: The Library of Congress Veterans History Project gives a permanent digital home to our veterans’ voices. It was created so future generations can hear directly from those who served to understand the true price of our freedom. It relies on volunteers, family, friends, you, to record an interview, capture their voice, their letters and their memories for all time. Because every vet’s story is a national treasure. 

⚠️ Fake “found” texts: You lose your iPhone, panic sets in, then, boom, you get a text saying it’s been found. Feels like hope, right? Don’t fall for it. Swiss cyber folks say scammers are using that Find My feature to trick you into typing your Apple ID into a fake site. That’s how they unlock your phone for resale.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Have a legal document that’s confusing? Paste it into a chatbot and ask for a plain-English summary. Then ask what certain paragraphs mean. FYI: If it’s serious, call a lawyer, not a bot.

💳 Watch out for this new scam: Ever checked out of a hotel, then realized your card got hit again? That’s the “I Paid Twice” scam in action. Hackers email fake “bank verification” links to hotels, drop malware and snag booking credentials to bill guests twice. Now you know to double check all links.

Pause those surprise updates: Windows 11 can decide to install a big patch right when you’re in the middle of something important. The good news is you can delay it for a bit. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Pause updates. When you’re done, head back and click Resume updates to keep things secure.

Turn it down a notch: If your iPhone’s speaker is too loud for your liking, you can set a limit. Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Volume Limit > Limit Maximum Volume. Use the slider to cap it anywhere from 20% to 80%. Even at full blast, it won’t go past your chosen level. FYI, this only applies to media, not calls or alarms.

Clean up your Android: Your phone probably came with a bunch of apps you don’t use that are eating up your storage. You might not be able to delete them, but you can turn them off so they stop running or updating. Go to Settings > Apps > [app name] > Disable. Goodbye, random photo editor you never opened.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Need a quick charge? Switch your phone to Airplane or Flight mode. It turns off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other background processes, so your battery fills up faster. Handy when you’re racing out the door.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: TV remote not working? Before tossing it out, try this quick reset. Remove the batteries, then hold the power button for one minute. Then press every button three times to loosen any that might be stuck. Pop in fresh batteries and test it out. All better.

Hide-and-seek: You’re shopping online for your kiddo or spouse, and they walk in. Quick! Hide your open browser windows. On a PC: Windows key + M. (Use Windows key + Shift + M to reopen.) On a Mac: Cmd + Option + H + M. 

🎬 Drop Windows default video players: The OS comes with Films & TV and Media Player, but they’re known to crash. The alternative? VLC. It’s free and plays almost any video or audio format. Plus, it won’t bog down your system and supports subtitles for your movies. And yes, you can get it on Mac, too.

Try these Safari shortcuts on iOS 26: If you need to jump back more than one page, long-press the back button to see your recent sites and tap the one you want. If you’d like to return to your All Tabs view, double-tap the ellipsis in the bottom-right corner. To create a new tab, swipe left on the address bar at the bottom of the screen.

📱 Thumb-believable phone secrets

iPhone user? Stop jabbing the screen to fix typos. Press and hold the space bar instead. The keys vanish, and the keyboard turns into a mini track pad. Now slide your thumb to drop that cursor exactly where you want it. So much easier.

Android users, I’ve got three hidden gems for you:

Turn on Guest Mode: Handing your phone to a kid or friend? Don’t risk them digging through your messages. Set up “Guest mode.” It’s a clean version of Android, no access to your stuff.

• Samsung: Settings > Accounts and backup > Users. If you see an option for new users, toggle it on. Then, select Add Guest. 
• Pixel: Settings > System > Users > Allow multiple users > Add guest

🖥️ Control freak mode for your PC

Is your Windows screen frozen or black, but the PC’s still on? Don’t yank the power. Try this instead: Press Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B. You’ll hear a beep, the screen flashes, and boom, your graphics driver resets. One second, no reboot.

Here’s the ultimate power move: God Mode.

1. Right-click your desktop > New > Folder. 
2. Rename it to: GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}. 
3. The icon changes. Open it, and voilà: every single Control Panel setting in one place.

Using a Windows laptop? There’s a way to track or lock it if it ever gets stolen. Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Find my deviceand toggle it on. If your laptop disappears, sign in to your Microsoft account from another device to see where it is. FYI, it needs an internet connection, or it will show the last known spot.

DEEP DIVES

NEW TOPIC – PHONE POWERS UNLOCKED

T something smart for you. Get a free, private second phone number you can use on your smartphone. It’s perfect for keeping your personal number personal.

With Google Voice, you can get a real U. S. phone number that rings to your cell, computer or tablet. You can call, text, screen calls and get your voicemails transcribed to text, all without revealing your main, real number.

WHY YOU WOULD WANT ONE

• Selling something online? Don’t give strangers your real number.
• Want a business line without paying for another phone? Done.
• Dating? A second number lets you keep control.
• Sick of spam? Get a new Google Voice number anytime, not your real one.
• Traveling abroad? Call and text for free over Wi-Fi

HOW TO SET IT UP

• Go to voice.google.com on your phone or computer.
• Sign in with your Google account.
• Pick a phone number, you can search by area code or city.
• Link it to your mobile number (or any number you want it to ring.).

Download the Google Voice app for iPhone or Android

Now, when someone calls your Google Voice number, it’ll ring your real phone.

FEATURES YOU WILL LOVE

• Voicemail transcriptions: Read your messages like texts.
• Call forwarding: Route calls to multiple devices.
• Custom greetings: Set different ones for different callers.
• Do Not Disturb: Silence calls when you need space

Call screening: Hear who’s calling before you pick up.

For personal use, Google Voice is totally free. Calls and texts to the U.S. and Canada cost nothing. You only pay for international calls, and rates are low. The business version starts at $10/month. It adds auto-attendants, call routing for teams and admin tools.

Bottom line? If you don’t already have a second number, it’s free and easy to use.