Rick's Daily Tips

Q&A: Is it possible to buy an Android app without owning an Android device?

Posted on April 21, 2014

Question from Sheila T.: I have an iPhone right now but in three months I can get a new phone for free on my Sprint plan. I plan to get an Android phone and there’s a specific app that I really want to get for it.

That app is on sale right now at a great price, but when I go to the app’s page in the Play Store it tells me that I can’t buy the app because I didn’t log in with an Android device.

I’d really like to buy the app now and save over 70%, but Google won’t let me because I don’t have my Android phone yet. Is there any way around this?

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Change your most-used settings right from your Android phone’s Pull-Down Menu with ‘Notification Toggle’

Posted on April 21, 2014

By default, the typical Android phone will let you change 4 or 5 settings from the handy Pull-Down Menu. But if you’re like me you probably have several settings that you change on a regular basis that aren’t accessible from the Pull-Down Menu.

For example, I put my phone in Airplane mode and adjust the screen brightness several times on a typical day, and on my Samsung phone I have to open up the expanded settings menu every time to perform either of those tasks. [Read more…]

Ensure that your important files are always backed up in Windows 8.1 with ‘File History’

Posted on April 20, 2014

windows-8-1 I have written several posts in the past that explain various ways to back up your primary hard drive because it’s extremely important to always have a current backup of your entire boot drive available.

That being said, Windows 8.1 also has a pretty nifty feature that makes it extremely easy to keep multiple, up-to-date backup copies of just your user-created files. [Read more…]

Q&A: Do I need to worry about the Heartbleed bug even though I use an iPad?

Posted on April 19, 2014

Question from Lisa K.: Hi Rick. I have a very simple question for you. Should I be worried about the Heartbleed bug even I only connect to the Internet with my iPad? I never use a computer anymore, only my iPad.

I’m asking you about this because I use several online services that I have to log into on a fairly regular basis and I’m afraid of having my identity stolen. Do you think I should be or am I just being paranoid?

Thanks for taking the time to answer my question Rick. I really love this site and I tell people about it every chance I get!!

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Make sure Windows 8.1 is up to date by May 13 or you won’t receive any more Windows Updates!

Posted on April 17, 2014

windows-8-1 If you have a PC running Windows 8.1, make sure you have all the current Windows Updates installed by May 13 or you’ll no longer receive new updates after that date.

Microsoft has decided that it’s so important to keep Windows up to date that they’re going to make it mandatory if you want to keep your Windows 8.1 installation protected from future security threats as they arise. My advice: Do it, and ASAP.

All you really need to do is make sure your Windows 8.1 installation is set to install updates automatically. Here’s how: [Read more…]