The Tech Guy Blog

Check the "Passwords & Accounts" in Your iPhone's Settings Menu.

Clean up or edit the accounts on your iPhone (iOS 13) by looking under Settings > Passwords & Accounts. This allows you to see what accounts reside on your iPhone, such as iCloud and Gmail. You can add new ones or delete accounts that you don't need anymore. If you have a malfunctioning auto-login process, such as one your workplace set up for you, you may want to delete the account and re-add it after consulting your IT coworkers. Random pop-up error messages can get quite annoying, after all.

Manage Music and Other Media on Your iPod

To manage music on your iPod, you will need to use iTunes (even on a Windows PC). Use the "sync" feature to only sync "checked" songs, as unchecked songs in the music library can be removed. Make sure there are copies of each of your music files on your computer. In the library. you can sort tracks by artist, album, and custom playlists. If you uncheck all, then you can basically clear your iPod of space and then pick what you want to add anew. 

Choose Wired Keyboards Over Wireless Keyboards

Bluetooth Keyboards and Bluetooth mice (or is it mouses?) are notorious for disconnecting for various reasons. Whether it's the battery dying or some kind of interference nearby, the annoyances often do not justify the benefits of having cordless keyboards/mice. Leo practically insists on going for wired keyboards for greater reliability, especially for those jobs on-the-air or for action gamers who play online.

Use YoutubeTV for Cable News After Cutting the Cord

You may have thought about cutting the cord in order to save some money, but you might miss out on your favorite cable news channels like CNN, NBC, etc. Youtube actually has a service called YoutubeTV that features Live TV from over 70 channels, including familiar brands like ESPN, Fox, and ABC. And it costs about $50 per month. Be wary, however, since trying to subscribe to too many internet streaming services like Disney+, Peacock, HBO Max, and Netflix, along with fast internet speeds, will end up costing about as much (or more) as the old cord life!

Use Android 10 & Google Assistant for Voice Dictation

Many modern Android 10 phones have a voice recording dictation system that transcribes audio as one talks. For stroke victims or elderly folk who may need voice-to-text technology, this comes in handy for sending messages. Chromebooks can bring up Google Assistant, and users can dictate with that. Afterward, a user or friend can take a look at the text and edit out any inaccuracies.

Give a Gift Card as a Holiday Present!

If you want to give a holiday surprise to a technology geek in your life, consider giving a simple gift card. It may seem lazy or low-effort, but they will undoubtedly find use in it via stores like Newegg or Amazon. Just be careful with gift cards for specific music services (like iTunes) or gaming gift cards for platforms they don't play on (get a Playstation gift card if they use a PS4).

Understanding Permissions and Terms of Service

When using an application, services, or a device, you'll be asked to accept the permissions or ToS (terms of service) in order to use said application or device. 

It's important now and days to understand what these permissions and terms of service do with your rights and data, and how third parties are using that information. So how does one understand what these permissions & terms of service do?

Take swelling iPhone batteries to the Apple Store ASAP!

If you have an iPhone battery swelling up and expanding, it's best to take the cell phone to your nearest Apple Store to get the battery replaced. The store may replace the battery for free since a bad battery can become a hazard (causing a phone to catch on fire or explode). Alternatively, an authorized Apple repair store could help fix the issue. For more on phone battery risk & safety information, check out Leo's recent episode of Ask the Tech Guy at https://youtu.be/LRfvgTFE9zk

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