Rick's Daily Tips

How to make full-screen YouTube videos always fill the entire screen

Posted on July 8, 2025

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Do you enjoy watching YouTube videos on your smartphone or tablet?

If so, you’ve probably noticed how some videos don’t fill the entire screen even when you’re watching them in full-screen mode.

Most videos are formatted to cover the entire screen, but the ones that aren’t show up with black bands on at least two sides.

You can always use the “pinch and zoom” technique to expand the video to fill the screen, but there’s a simple setting in the YouTube app that will automatically force oddly formatted videos to cover the entire screen by default. [Read more…]

Amazon Prime Day is here. This is why it’s awesome

Posted on July 7, 2025

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Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

Well, today Amazon kicks off Prime Day 2025, and this year it’s bigger and better than ever because it’s going to last a whopping four days (July 8-11).

If you’re new to shopping at Amazon, Prime Day is a veritable shopper’s holiday with steep discounts and special deals in virtually every category. It’s almost like Christmas in July!

Whether you need a new laptop, a new recliner, an entire new wardrobe or virtually anything else that Amazon sells, you’re sure to find a fantastic deal waiting for you during this Prime Day period.

If you’re already a Prime member you’re all set. Just head over to the Amazon Home page and start shopping. You’ll see the huge discounts offered right on the item details pages.

If you aren’t yet a Prime member and you’d like to take advantage of this once-in-a-year opportunity, simply head over to the Amazon Prime page and sign up. In addition to the special discounts and deals available during this four day event, you’ll also qualify for all of the many outstanding Prime benefits for an entire year.

I’ve been a Prime member for years and I’ve never regretted it for a second. And Prime Day is one of the many reasons why!

Here’s an easy way to fool burglars into thinking you’re at home

Posted on July 5, 2025

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Did you know that many burglars actually knock on the victim’s door or ring their doorbell before breaking into a home?

Well, it’s true, and there’s a reason why: If no one answers the door, they know there’s a good chance that nobody’s home.

But you don’t have to fall victim to burglars in this way. Simply install a Ring Wi-Fi Enabled Video Doorbell and you’ll be able to answer your door from anywhere in the world. [Read more…]

How to disable all apps and games (and block game requests / app notifications) on Facebook

Posted on July 4, 2025

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Lots of folks love playing games and using apps on Facebook, but many others would rather drink a glass of spoiled milk through a dirty straw.

If you fall into the last group you probably aren’t all that thrilled to see a game or app invitation pop up in your notifications area.

And with all the malicious apps, quizzes and games there are these days, I don’t blame you. After all, malicious games and apps account for a large percentage of the hacks and data theft taking place on the Facebook platform.

As luck would have it, you can easily disable all apps and games as well as block all game and app invitations/notifications, now and forever! [Read more…]