What Are All Those Updates?

If you use a Windows computer, you most likely have been prompted by a pop-up message to update your Adobe or your Java or your HP, Norton, AVG, McAffee, or a Windows Update. What does this all mean? Should you accept the updates? Read below for a tip:


I'm teaching a class on this: Monday, May 23, 9:30-11:00am, Ramsey. $25

In the meantime, here's a tip on how to adjust the Windows Update that automatically downloads or prompts you to restart:
By default Windows is set to automatically download and install updates. This saves you the trouble of checking for updates and installing them every now and then.
But the problem is that, once the updates are installed, windows needs to restart your computer (reboot).
Windows usually sets itself to reboot in 10 minutes, but it also gives you the option to postpone it. If you are working on something important, you can postpone the reboot.
If you have some important and unsaved work in progress and you have to leave your computer for a little while, and right at that moment, windows installed some updates and restarts, you lose all the in-progress work.
Here is a simple and easy adjustment to avoid the above annoyance.
1. From your Start Menu, type windows update in the search box, and hit enter.
2. Click the changes settings option at left.
3. Change the setting to download updates but let me choose whether to install them.
4. Click ok.
From this point forward, Windows won’t reboot without your permission, though it may still prompt you about installing the downloaded updates.
For more information, attend the "What Are All Those Updates?" class on 5/23/11 at The PC Teacher, Ramsey. http://www.thepcteacher.com/The_PC_Teacher/Events.html
Happy Clicking,

Betsy

The PC Teacher
http://www.thepcteacher.com/
bcoyne@thepcteacher.com





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Is Your Computer All A Twitter?

You may have heard someone say, "I read it on Twitter", "It all unfolded on Twitter", "I have Twitter on my phone", "They tweeted that...", "I follow her on Twitter" or "Follow my Twitter feed". But what exactly does it mean? Who should I follow and how ?


Twitter is a social networking service that allows you answer the question, "What's Happening?" by sending short messages up to 140 characters in length, called "tweets", to your friends, or "followers."  You don't have to be that bold though to use Twitter.  You may be the type of person who prefers to be a follower and read tweets including news and current events.  To do this, you search the Twitter site for a Twitter Feed that you want to follow.  A feed is a listing of posts that the person or business sends out in real time. 
 
Time Magazine recently published an article listing the top 140 Twitter Feeds.  People and things you can follow on Twitter include authors, technology sites, companies, new, businesses, celebrities, comedians, politicians, satire, pundits and commentators or shopping and coupons.

Want to follow Twitter feeds in the area of Technology?  Time Magazine listed these (the Twitter feed name is listed ... click the link to follow)

1. Kara Swisher @karaswisher is one of the lead writers and co-founders behind the Wall Street Journal's online publication All Things Digital, one of the Internet's speediest sites for breaking technology and start-up news.
2. Gina Trapani @ginatrapani is the founder of the quirky blog Lifehacker — a repository of time-saving tips for programming geeks — just wants to make your life easier.
3. Beth Blecherman @techmama is the founder of TechMamas.com, a tech-meets-parenting site where Blecherman muses on the state of the digital world as well as her adventures in motherhood, making her one of the most respected women in the industry.
4. Fred Wilson @fredwilson the New York City–based venture capitalist Fred Wilson promotes smart start-ups and informs his followers about new companies he thinks are doing interesting things. Want to follow Twitter feeds in the area of Technology? Time Magazine listed these (the Twitter feed name is listed ... click the link to follow)

Want to follow Celebrities? Time Magazine listed these (the Twitter feed name is listed ... click the link to follow)

1. Ellen De Genereshttp://www.twitter.com/theellenshow
2. Ashton Kutcher @aplusk
3. Taylor Swift @taylorswift13
4. Neil Patrick Harris @ActuallyNPH

Companies:

1. Whole Foods @wholefoods
2. Zappos @zappos
3. Amazon MP3 @amazonmp3 Amazon's MP3 store has a selection to rival Apple's, and, in contrast to its discount-averse rival, launches frequent specials on its Twitter feed.
4. Netflix @instant_netflix
5. Starbucks @starbucks

Clicking,
 
Betsy
The PC Teacher
bcoyne@thepcteacher.com
http://www.thepcteacher.com/