Rick's Daily Tips

How to bypass the Logon screen and boot straight to the Desktop in Windows 10

Posted on August 23, 2020

By default, Windows 10 displays a Logon Screen requesting that you enter a password before it will finish booting up into Windows, and it will display this screen even if you haven’t created a password for your user account.

Dealing with the Logon Screen can be an unnecessary annoyance if you know you are the only person that will ever have access to your computer.

Luckily, Microsoft made it fairly easy to configure Windows 10 to skip the Logon Screen and have the machine boot straight to the Desktop. Here’s how: [Read more…]

Review: Anker Astro Mini 3350mAh Portable External Battery Charger

Posted on August 18, 2020

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

One of the biggest challenges we have when it comes to using your mobile devices is keeping them charged up and ready for use when you need them.

Sure, you can always plug them in and top off their batteries when you’re are at home, at the office, or in your car, but what if you’re in a place where there’s no electrical outlet for an extended period of time?

In all likelihood, the battery is going to die before you can get to a place where you can plug it in and charge it.

I’ve written several posts explaining how to maximize the battery life of our mobile devices, but the simplest method I know of is to keep a cordless external battery charging device on hand. [Read more…]

Q&A: Why can’t I get Netflix to stream in 4K?

Posted on August 14, 2020

Question from Perry: I recently bought a high-end Windows PC from Best Buy.

Here’s a link to it so you can check the specs.

I asked the salesman what I would need in order to watch Netflix in 4K with that machine and he said a broadband Internet connection and some type of 4K compatible streaming device.

I told him I had a DSL connection and he said that’s fine. He then recommended that I buy a Chromecast Ultra, so I did.

He told me my new computer and the Chromecast Ultra would let me watch Netflix in 4K if I used the Edge browser.

However, no matter what I try I can never get Netflix to stream at anything faster than 1080p.

I went back to Best Buy and asked what else I need to do (or buy) to get Netflix in 4K and three different people insisted that I have everything I need.

Do you have any idea what could be the problem?

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Check out Apple’s fantastic free mini-course for taking better photos with your iPhone

Posted on August 12, 2020

It’s no secret that the cameras built into Apple’s most recent iPhones are capable of producing outstanding images that rival those taken by many DSLR cameras.

In fact, a simple Google search for “best iphone photos” returns page after page featuring some of the most incredible images you will ever see.

While most any pro photographer can use virtually any camera to take pro-quality photos, the folks at Apple are on a mission to help us casual photographers use our iPhones to create the very best images possible. [Read more…]