Computer Tips Archives - Page 174 of 177

How to automatically start up Firefox in Private Browsing mode

Posted on January 4, 2013

If you value your online privacy above all else then you’ll probably enjoy using Firefox’s Private Browsing mode.

Private Browsing prevents Firefox from saving any of your Internet history in its log files which in turns makes it difficult from a third party to see what you’re been doing on the Internet.

Most people who use Private Browsing simply clicking the “Start Private Browsing” option on the main Firefox menu, but this only turns on Private Browsing for the current session only. But there is a simple way to instruct Firefox to turn on Private Browsing automatically every time the program is started. Here’s how: [Read more…]

Have you visited your local Amazon.com showroom yet?

Posted on January 4, 2013

Did you know that your nearest city or large town probably has at least one Amazon.com showroom for tech products, and larger cities almost certainly have several? Well, they do. They’re called Best Buy, Fry’s, Hhgregg, Radio Shack, Gamestop…

By now you’re probably shaking your head and wondering just what I’m talking about, but think about it for a moment. How often have you visited one of these stores and saw people taking pictures of items with their cell phones, scanning QR codes or taking notes the old fashioned way with pen and paper? Well, many of them are “shopping” for items to purchase from Amazon.com. And why not? After all, Amazon almost always sells the same items you can buy at brick and mortar stores at lower prices, with better return policies, and in many cases free shipping. [Read more…]

Edit your photos for free with Photoshop Express

Posted on January 3, 2013

photoshop-express By now you probably know that Adobe Photoshop is the big dog when it comes to photo editing software. It really is the cream of the crop.

You also probably know that Photoshop Elements gives the casual user much of Photoshop’s functionality at a greatly reduced price.

But did you know that you can save even the $100 or so you’d have to cough up for Photoshop Elements and still be able to edit your images using advanced Adobe technology? [Read more…]

How to enable HTTPS secure browsing on Facebook

Posted on January 2, 2013

Hackers, crooks and busybodies are always on the prowl for sensitive information on unsuspecting Facebook users, and one of their favorite hangouts is at venues that offer free, unsecured Wi-Fi service such as restaurants, airports and libraries. And if you have an unsecured wireless router in use inside your home (not recommended!) they can even steal your info while sitting in your driveway!

You can protect yourself and your Facebook account from hackers, thieves and other scoundrels by securing your account using HTTPS encryption. Here’s how to turn it on: [Read more…]

Rick’s Picks: 6 of my most visited websites

Posted on December 31, 2012

I spend a lot of time on the Internet both for work and pleasure, and over the years I have come to rely on a number of websites that help me with both. Here are six that I find myself visiting over and over:

1 – TodaysPhoto.org – Yep, this one actually belongs to me, but I enjoy posting the “Picture of the Day” every morning and reading all the wonderful comments left by members of the TodaysPhoto community. I hope you’ll check it out and stop by yourself as often as possible! I post a new photo every morning at 7am eastern time.

2 – Pandora – I love listening to music and Pandora allows me to listen to just the kind of music that suits my mood at the moment. I have created “stations” that play nothing but Bluegrass, Bluegrass Gospel and Country. If I don’t like a song (or it doesn’t fit the genre of the station) I can give it a “thumbs down” and it will never be played on that station again. If I like one particularly well I can give it a “thumbs up” and Pandora will seek out and play more songs that are similar to it. I love Pandora! [Read more…]