http://techreluctant.com Tips and info to make life with technology easier Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:52:56 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I haven't been around here much in the past few weeks. Very busy with other things but also the restrictions of doing certain topics on certain days wasn't conducive to what I wanted to do here so I avoided it. It turns out that something I thought would make it ... http://techreluctant.com/2009/06/08/changes-to-techreluctant/ Maybe you don't even know that your phone is probably capable of T9, or predictive text. T9 actually stands for Text on 9 Keys, which is the format of the normal cellphone keypad. If you set your phone to use T9 (check your user manual or google your specific phone ... http://techreluctant.com/2009/05/20/what-is-it-wednesday-t9/ Ever google something and down drops your past search history including "homemade hemorrhoid treatments", all while your boss is sitting next to you at the computer? No? Me either, but I have been appalled when some of my past google searches appeared onscreen. I mean the things you can conceivably ... http://techreluctant.com/2009/05/19/tips-tricks-tuesday-deleting-past-google-searches/ Okay, it's actually Saturday now but better late than never. Coldplay has decided to give their fans a thank you and is providing their live album, LeftRightLeftRightLeft, for free to download (or free CDs at their concerts). This offer is good until their last show of 2009. I'm downloading it ... http://techreluctant.com/2009/05/16/free-for-all-friday-free-coldplay-album-online/ There are thousands of recipe sites on the Internet but I always keep coming back to allrecipes.com when I'm stuck for what to have for supper. You can browse, or type search by the ingredients you have on hand. If you find something you like you can check out recipes ... http://techreluctant.com/2009/05/14/tickle-me-thursdays-all-recipes/ When we go to my parents' house in Aspen Cove for a visit, my son will always ask how to pause the TV while he goes to the bathroom. He can't because they don't have a PVR like we do here at home. The boy has been spoiled but so ... http://techreluctant.com/2009/05/13/what-is-it-wednesday-dvrpvr/ I'll be honest, I just found this one out recently. My cellphone is probably one of my least used pieces of technology, or at least it was until I just got my new phone recently, which I am loving. Anyway, maybe you don't know about this trick either. If you ... http://techreluctant.com/2009/05/12/tips-tricks-tuesday-quick-access-to-call-list-on-cellphone/ When this one came out, because I had both a small child and a pet, I got blasted with it. But I quickly checked it out and discovered that it wasn't true (didn't stop these emails coming to me, though). Wet Jet and the danger they cause Just in case you have ... http://techreluctant.com/2009/05/11/mail-monday-swiffer-wetjet-pet-poison-hoax/ When you get a new computer you often get a free trial of an office software suite such as Microsoft's Office. That's a suite of tools like a word processor, spreadsheet program, slideshow maker, and database program. Once your trial is up, though, or if you just decide you want ... http://techreluctant.com/2009/05/08/free-for-all-friday-openofficeorg/ I love Gary Larson's The Far Side comics. I think I have every anthology and have many, unforgettable favourites. Unfortunately, Mr. Lawson doesn't want his cartoons displayed online so I can't provide a cartoon here (search for Gary Larson Far Side on Google images and you'll find lots). His humour ... http://techreluctant.com/2009/05/07/tickle-me-thursday-far-side-reenactments/