Rick's Daily Tips

How to use your smartphone as a metal detector (yes, really)

Posted on July 9, 2025

Want to get my easy to follow Tech Tips in your email?

Most folks love upgrading to a new smartphone at every opportunity, and chances are you have several unused, but working phones tucked away in a drawer somewhere.

If you’re like me, you probably hate having a perfectly good portable computer (that’s really what a smart phone is) doing nothing more than gathering dust.

I’ve written several posts in the past explaining how to give an old smartphone a new life by turning it into something useful simply by installing an app. I have another such tip for you today. [Read more…]

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

Posted on July 8, 2025

Want to get my easy to follow Tech Tips in your email?

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…]

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

Posted on July 4, 2025

Want to get my easy to follow Tech Tips in your email?

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…]

Q&A: Will a ‘Modified Sine Wave’ UPS damage a computer?

Posted on July 2, 2025

Want to get my easy to follow Tech Tips in your email?

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

Question from Celina: I have a question about battery backup devices, Rick.

I went to our local office supply store to buy a battery backup for my iMac and the man I talked to said I needed to pay extra for one that provides “pure sine wave” AC current. The one he tried to sell me costs over $100 more than the one I had planned to buy.

He said the cheaper “modified sine wave” models can damage my iMac because it was designed to only accept only a pure sine wave signal. Is that true? [Read more…]

Why Grundig E-bike Locks bring revolution to bicycle transportation?

Posted on June 30, 2025

Today, many new e-bike users would appreciate having some extra security for their vehicles. Although the prices have been reduced for the new models, everyone would love to have accessories that ensure the e-bikes’ reliability. For that reason, Grundig ebike locks have been created to give users a sense of safety for their bikes no matter where they park them.

[Read more…]