Photo editors: GIMP vs Paintnet

GIMP and Paint.NET are both free image editors, but the two are quite different, so it can be tricky to know which is best for you.

The world of photo editors is a funny one. For most people, choosing the right tool is something of a balancing act. Do you want to go for a free program, or one that costs money? Go for the second option, and you run the risk of making an expensive mistake. Do you choose something simple that gets the job done, or do you go for something powerful and professional? Make the wrong choice here and you could find that you're either limited by too basic a program, or overwhelmed by something that's far too complicated for your needs.

If you choose the free software route, you'll find that GIMP and Paint.NET are two names that crop up time and time again. Both programs are hugely popular, and with good reason, but which should you install?

https://www.techradar.com/news/gimp-vs-paintnet-which-is-the-best-free-photo-editor-for-you

Removing background from images

Easy way to remove background from a photo, just upload to 
https://www.remove.bg/




If you have Microsoft Office 2016 installed, you have another easy method to remove the backgrounds from images. The process is identical for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Procedure

To get started, insert the picture into a document. Now choose Picture Format > Remove Background (in case of Mac). The app will then try to figure out the background, and mark them in purple. If the image is simple, it’ll easily cut out the background. For more complex images, use the Mark Areas to Keep and Mark Areas to Remove button to fine-tune the selection.

The marker is not intuitive to use. It just lets you draw straight lines around the object you want to keep or get rid off. Once you’re done, click the Keep Changes button to save the image.

From https://www.makeuseof.com/

Windows 10 tools

From PCWorld:

• 1. Timeline
• 2. Virtual desktops
• 3. Cloud clipboard
• 4. Nearby Sharing
• 5. Storage Sense
• 6. File History
• 7. Secret power user menu
• 8. God Mode
• 9. Dynamic lock
• 10. Windows Reliability Monitor

Audio recording devices

Our library needed to purchase USB microphones, here are recommendation from the audio engineer from theverge:

https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/5/18295732/podcast-microphone-best-top-price-specs-features-rode-blue-shure



From NPR's tiny desk crew:
https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2019/04/02/705579879/tiny-tech-tips-microphones

Linux via USB

Want to have Linux OS ready to run off of USB drive, here are some choices:

1. Linux USB Desktop for Any PC: Puppy Linux

For some time, Puppy Linux has been seen as little more than a curiosity. Designed to be used on the most austere hardware, it could comfortably chug away on early Pentium machines without breaking a sweat. But it wasn’t that practical. Many installed Puppy Linux on their antique hardware to just to see if they could.
But Puppy Linux never went away. Updates and new versions are still regularly released. Sure, it’s still stripped down and meant for low-end or underpowered hardware. But you can now install Puppy Linux on a USB stick and get stuff done.
Puppy Linux isn’t a single Linux distribution. It consists of multiple versions based on different code but using the same tool and philosophy. One version is based on SlackWare, which is one of the most well-established Linux distributions.
People continue to use it as their day-to-day operating system. People understand it. Then there are multiple options based on Ubuntu, the most popular version of desktop Linux.

2. A More Modern Desktop Experience: elementary OS

Are you a newcomer to Linux who just wants something simple and attractive to keep in your pocket? Check out elementary OS.
elementary OS offers a cross between the popular GNOME desktop environment and what you get on a Mac. The resulting experience is so intuitive, you can pick it up on your own with a few clicks.

AppCenter provides apps built only for elementary OS along with other essentials, like the LibreOffice suite, the GIMP image editor, and the Audacity sound editor. This way you can hit the ground running even if you have no idea what software is available for Linux.

10 Elementary OS AppCenter Apps That'll Make You More Productive 10 Elementary OS AppCenter Apps That'll Make You More Productive Having an app store of its own has really brought Elementary OS to life with a great choice of apps. I use these AppCenter tools to improve my productivity -- perhaps you will too. Read More Since elementary OS shares a lot in common with Ubuntu, you can be confident you won’t have to deal with any hardware compatibility gremlins. Plus, it proves to be buttery-smooth, even on low-end hardware, like laptops and cheap Atom and Celeron-powered machines.
This is important when you’re also dealing with the inherent performance bottleneck that comes with booting your operating system from an USB drive.

3. Tool for Managing Your Hard Disk: GParted Live

Hard drives consist of chunks called partitions. Your computer’s hard drive might have just one partition for all your files and folders. Or it might have one partition for your programs and another for your documents. From time to time, you might need to resize these partitions or wipe them entirely.
GParted is a common Linux tool used to manage these partitions. Many distributions come with this pre-installed. But if your computer doesn’t boot, that does you no good. You need a copy you can load from a USB stick.
It’s called Gparted Live, a USB Linux distro for your flash drive. Loading up this little program will let you reshape your hard drive as you require. Be careful though, as one mistake could potentially render your hard drive unbootable.

4. A Way to Remove Viruses: BitDefender Rescue CD

When malware strikes, it can often be game over. Your machine will run slowly, or perhaps not at all. Your files and folders will be held to ransom. Everything you do on your computer could be monitored. Worse, many viruses and Trojans are designed to actively fight removal.
They’ll prevent anti-malware programs from updating their definitions, or even running. But you have alternatives. By booting into a special Linux distribution, you can scan your system for problems, and resolve them.
One big name in computer security is Romania-based BitDefender, who boast an array of premium and free antivirus and antimalware solutions. In terms of sheer effectiveness, BitDefender’s products tend to rank quite highly. They happen to offer a Linux live CD.
BitDefender has provided helpful instructions, where they explain how you can use the Windows tool Stickifier to create one.

5. A Portable Gaming Setup: Ubuntu GamePack

Linux USB sticks aren’t all about getting work done and saving PCs. Sometimes you just want to have fun. With Ubuntu GamePack, your flash drive is like a portable gaming PC. True, you’re limited by the specs of the machine you’re borrowing, but as long as you stick to titles with modest requirements, you shouldn’t have many problems.
Ubuntu GamePack comes with software that makes gaming on Linux easier. This includes Steam, which lets you download your existing library of Linux titles. Alternatively, you can use PlayOnLinux or Wine to fire up supported Windows titles.
If you’re at a friend’s house for a LAN party, but you don’t have your own PC, Ubuntu GamePack can serve in a pinch. You can also keep copies around on different flash drives as an easy way to ensure everyone is using the same game version with the same configuration.




https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-best-linux-distros-installation-usb-stick/

Word: recovering lost files

Had a patron who closed a Word document without saving, but Autorecover was on:

For Word 2013 Users:

1. On the File menu, click Open, and then click Recent Documents.
2. Scroll to the end of all recent documents, and then click Recover Unsaved Documents.
3. If you find the Word document that you are looking for, double-click it to open it.
4. Save it immediately.

 https://www.easeus.com/

Photo editor: Polarr

Polarr has one or two shortcomings, but it’s still a program with a lot of depth. Who would use it? Anyone looking for the following:

• A free or cheap alternative to Photoshop
• Includes built-in special effects and retouching tools
• Auto image enhancer often a good quick fix for eye-catching web pictures
• Intuitive to use, especially if you are familiar with sliders in other programs
• Ideal for editing images for web or online labs
• Backed up by an extensive library of online tutorials at Polarr Wiki
• Option for more complex edits with the Pro version (subscription based, but low cost).

Polarr web based photo editor

https://digital-photography-school.com/

OCR in MS Office

OneNote supports Optical Character Recognition (OCR), a tool that lets you copy text from a picture or file printout and paste it in your notes so you can make changes to the words. It’s a great way to do things like copy info from a business card you’ve scanned into OneNote. After you extract the text, you can paste it somewhere else in OneNote or in another program, like Outlook or Word.

Extract text from a single picture

1. Right-click the picture, and click Copy Text from Picture.
   Note: Depending on the complexity, legibility, and the amount of text shown in the picture you’ve inserted, this command may not be immediately available on the menu that appears when you right-click the picture. If OneNote is still reading and converting the text in the image, wait a few moments and then try again.
2. Click where you’d like to paste the copied text, and then press Ctrl+V.

Extract text from the images of a multiple-page file printout

1. Right-click any of the images, and then do one of the following:
   • Click Copy Text from this Page of the Printout to copy text from only the currently selected image (page).
     
   • Click Copy Text from All the Pages of the Printout to copy text from all the images (pages).
     
2. Click where you’d like to paste the copied text, and then press Ctrl+V.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

From  office.com

Phone chargers

This 40-watt four-port charger is just as wide as Apple’s iPad charger but larger in its other dimensions because of its extra ports. It plugs directly into an outlet instead of using a detachable power cable, but thanks to the orientation of its prongs, it covers only a single outlet instead of crowding your power strip or wall plate. Anker’s PowerIQ technology identifies what kind of device is plugged into each port and delivers the proper amperage without your having to figure out the “right” USB port for each device.

https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-multiport-usb-wall-charger/


https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/03/smarter-living/how-to-charge-phone-faster.html

Word tutorials

Lots of places to get online tutorials for Microsoft Word:



https://support.office.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/

https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/word2016/

wifi heat maps

Freeware signal heatmapper from Ekahau:

• Find optimal location or configuration (such as channel) for your access point(s)
• Check that the settings (security, channel, SSID) of your access points are correct
• Find all the Wi-Fi networks (access points) in the area, and their locations
• Detect and locate open, unsecured networks

https://www.ekahau.com/products/heatmapper/overview/

Web-based photo tools: Photopea and VSCO

"Adobe Photoshop is the king of image editors, but it costs a pretty penny. But don’t worry, you can get most of its best features for free through a few online tools.

Photopea (Web): The Best Free Online Photoshop Alternative

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/free-online-image-editing-tools-replace-photoshop/

Founded in 2011 by Joel Flory and Greg Lutze, VSCO has pioneered our mobility at editing and stepping up our photography game. They were the first to introduce beautiful preset of filters that we would actually use and it became super trendy. There was a time where every single piece of content on the Internet had a "VSCO-inspired" set of style in their images. Another aspect I love from the team over VSCO is the ability to explore the world made by their community members around the globe. Shared creativity at its best! Nowadays the same "VSCO-inspired" style is being used and sold by many through Lightroom CC presets.

https://abduzeedo.com/lightroom-cc-v-vsco-photo-editing-app-comparison

Windows Sandbox

Windows Sandbox is a new lightweight desktop environment tailored for safely running applications in isolation.

How many times have you downloaded an executable file, but were afraid to run it? Have you ever been in a situation which required a clean installation of Windows, but didn’t want to set up a virtual machine?

At Microsoft we regularly encounter these situations, so we developed Windows Sandbox: an isolated, temporary, desktop environment where you can run untrusted software without the fear of lasting impact to your PC. Any software installed in Windows Sandbox stays only in the sandbox and cannot affect your host. Once Windows Sandbox is closed, all the software with all its files and state are permanently deleted.

Windows Sandbox has the following properties:

• Part of Windows – everything required for this feature ships with Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise. No need to download a VHD!
• Pristine – every time Windows Sandbox runs, it’s as clean as a brand-new installation of Windows
• Disposable – nothing persists on the device; everything is discarded after you close the application
• Secure – uses hardware-based virtualization for kernel isolation, which relies on the Microsoft’s hypervisor to run a separate kernel which isolates Windows Sandbox from the host
• Efficient – uses integrated kernel scheduler, smart memory management, and virtual GPU

Prerequisites for using the feature

• Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise build 18305 or later
• AMD64 architecture
• Virtualization capabilities enabled in BIOS
• At least 4GB of RAM (8GB recommended)
• At least 1 GB of free disk space (SSD recommended)
• At least 2 CPU cores (4 cores with hyperthreading recommended)

Quick start

1. Install Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise, build 18305 or newer
2. Enable virtualization:
   • If you are using a physical machine, ensure virtualization capabilities are enabled in the BIOS.
   • If you are using a virtual machine, enable nested virtualization with this PowerShell cmdlet:
   • Set-VMProcessor -VMName <VMName> -ExposeVirtualizationExtensions $true
3. Open Windows Features, and then select Windows Sandbox. Select OK to install Windows Sandbox. You might be asked to restart the computer.
4. 
5. Using the Start menu, find Windows Sandbox, run it and allow the elevation
6. Copy an executable file from the host
7. Paste the executable file in the window of Windows Sandbox (on the Windows desktop)
8. Run the executable in the Windows Sandbox; if it is an installer go ahead and install it
9. Run the application and use it as you normally do
10. When you’re done experimenting, you can simply close the Windows Sandbox application. All sandbox content will be discarded and permanently deleted

Windows 10 repair options, SFC and DISM

Using SFC and DISM for system repair

To quote TechNet, the system file checker "scans and verifies versions of all protected system files." It can tell you if it finds anything amiss if you enter SFC /scannow at the command line. You must run this utility from an Administrator: Command Prompt (press the Windows key-X combination), and then select Command Prompt (Admin) from the resulting pop-up menu. This command takes 5-10 minutes to complete, depending on your PC hardware. This command also attempts repairs if it finds anything that needs it. Figure 1 shows some sample output.

Ed Tittel

Figure 1: When SFC finds a damaged file it attempts to replace it with a good copy.

If SFC determines that a protected file is damaged or changed, it grabs a correct version of the file from the C:\Windows\system32\dllcache folder and replaces it with a good copy. SFC can even attempt to repair that file cache if it finds changes or damage there, too. See the TechNet SFC reference for complete information on this command.
But as repair tools go, SFC is fairly lightweight. DISM is much more powerful and capable. DISM can often fix things that SFC can detect but that it cannot itself fix. DISM supports a raft of capabilities with switches and parameters to match, but basic system file repair syntax is reasonably easy (though it often requires multiple passes before it can set things straight). Here's some sample syntax (consult the TechNet DISM Technical Reference for all the gory details):

dism /online /cleanup-image /checkhealth

[ Got a spare hour? Take this online course and learn how to install and configure Windows 10 with the options you need. ]

dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth [/Source: <source-info>]

As with SFC, you must also run DISM in an Administrator: Command Prompt window. The /checkhealth command simply checks the running image (that's what /online tells it to do) to see if it can detect any damage or corruption. Because it's only checking file hashes and signatures, this command completes in under one minute on most machines. The good thing about /check is that it not only tells you if it finds damage but if that damage is repairable or non-repairable. If it's repairable, you can proceed to the /restorehealth option (covered in the next paragraph); if it's non-repairable, jump to Step 2.

Ed Tittel

Figure 2: Breathe a sigh of relief if DISM finds no corruption in the component store; otherwise try the /restorehealth option.

The /restorehealth command can be tricky to use. Because it can actually repair the Windows image, it needs a source from which to attempt such repairs. You can omit the /source option, but if you do the command will try to grab its files from Windows Update over the Internet. This may or may not work, depending on firewall settings on your network. A safer bet is to point DISM at a known good source for Windows image components on the local machine (or on your local network). This can be a Windows image (.wim) file or a compressed Windows image (.esd, which is used for electronic software downloads of Windows installations, as the file extension is meant to communicate). You can also point to a copy of a WinSXS folder (the usual directory path is C:\Windows\WinSXS) taken from another PC with similar or identical hardware for which dism … /checkhealth returns a clean bill of health.



https://www.computerworld.com/article/3080839/microsoft-windows/your-step-by-step-guide-to-repairing-windows-10.html

Gboard settings

Had a patron with a new Android phone, was a bit stumped on how to get to the settings to customize the virtual keyboard.
Gboard is turned off on the Android launcher by default, so you have to get it by tapping on the  ">" button  (left of the top bar), then clicking on the "gear icon" get to settings

1. Access Gboard’s keyboard settings. Launch the Gboard app and tap "Keyboard Settings". A list of keyboard settings will appear. 
   
   
2. Toggle Glide Typing. Glide typing is a feature that allows you to type words by sliding your finger from key to key without lifting it away from the keyboard. This feature is unique to google keyboard and will not appear in the iOS settings.
   

   • The toggle will turn blue when it is on, gray color indicates that it is off.
   • 
     
      
     
3. Toggle Emoji Suggestions. This feature recommends emojis in along with word suggestions as you type (e.g. typing the word ‘happy’ will suggest a smiley face in place of the word). 
4. Toggle Auto-correction. This feature automatically changes misspelled words as you type. Keep an eye on names and places when this feature is turned on - they may not be recognized by the auto-correct dictionary and changed to something you don’t want.
5. Toggle Auto-capitalization. This will automatically capitalize words at the beginning of sentences as well as recognized proper nouns like names.  

m.wikihow.com/

Word 2016: transferring Autocorrect entries

AutoCorrect entries -- where are they kept in Word 2016?

%appdata%\Microsoft\Office\MSO1033.acl    just need to transfer that file from old PC to new one.


From answers.microsoft.com

Question:
Until today, I was using Word 2003; now I am using Office 2016. I have (yes, literally) thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of AutoCorrect entries that I want to transfer into Word 2016. Entering them all manually would be a massive undertaking. I know where to find the .acl file that they were stored in for Word 2003. My problem is where to find the corresponding file for Office 2016.

Secondarily, I'm hoping I can simply copy the old .acl file to a new location. If it's now in a different format, that becomes a second problem. But let's start with the question of where the new .acl (or other extension) file is now kept. Is anyone here able to answer that question, I hope?

Answer:
No, you can't rename your .acl file to use with the AutoCorrect template. You would have to run the equivalent program for Word 2003 from http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/Customization/ExportAutocorrect.htm in order to get a backup document in the correct format.
You may be able to substitute your 2003 .acl file for the one created by Office 2016. I don't think the file format has changed, but I'm not sure of that. It's worth a try, though.

With all Office programs shut down, start File Explorer. Type or paste into the address bar the path

%appdata%\Microsoft\Office

(The "environment variable" %appdata% automatically expands to the hidden AppData folder in your Windows profile.)

In the Office folder, you should see a file named MSO1033.acl, which is the AutoCorrect file for English (US). If your default language is something else, in the following instructions you must substitute the one with the correct locale ID number.

Move the MSO1033.acl file to a different folder, so you can move it back again if the procedure doesn't work.

Now copy the old .acl file into the Office folder, using the same name as the file you moved out.

Start Word and/or another Office program and look in the AutoCorrect Options dialog. If you see the complete list of entries that you expect, you're in luck. Otherwise, bring the original Office 2016 .acl file back into the Office folder and start adding entries the hard way.

Error: PAGE FAULT IN NON PAGED AREA

From https://support.microsoft.com/

Check for updates

Many stop errors can be fixed by updating Windows. In the search box on the taskbar, type
Windows Update, then select Windows Update. On the Windows Update page,
select Check for updates.

Update your drivers

Driver updates for Windows 10 and many devices are downloaded and installed through
Windows Update. To update or reinstall drivers, see the following support articles:
Update drivers in Windows 10 

Scan device performance and health

Windows Defender periodically scans your device for potential problems. To see the results
of the most recent scan, type “Windows Defender” on the search bar and select
Windows Defender Security Center. Select Device performance & health. If there are
problems with your device’s update history or drivers, they’re displayed here.

For more information, see the following support article: Track your device and
performance health in Windows Defender.

Android: turn off dots

If you want to quickly disable dots for an app that you currently have a notification for, it's quite easy to do so. Drop the notification shade, find a notification from the target app and swipe it just slightly left or right — but not all the way — so that you get the settings cog for it but don't clear it out entirely. Continue by following the instructions here:

Customize every app through settings

If you don't have an outstanding notification currently and / or want to go in and edit notification dot permissions for a number of apps, you need to go the long way. Enter Settings and follow the steps below:

Disable them globally

If you don't like the notion of Notification Dots at all, just disable them globally. This is done pretty easy through Settings — here's how:

https://www.phonearena.com/

permanent link service

Perma.cc is a service that helps prevent link rot. Use it to preserve the online sources you cite and to make those records accessible to your readers.


https://perma.cc/docs

Regular charger vs Turbo charger

Patron asked me if it is OK to use regular charger with new Quick charge Android phone:  Yes

There are several types of rapid phone chargers. Some work by feeding the phone at a higher voltage (9 volts instead of the 5 volts put out by standard USB chargers). Others, such as the DASH system used by the OnePlus 3 smartphone in our ratings, keep the voltage at 5V but raise the amperage (4A vs. 2A for standard phone chargers).

But although the new phone chargers are built for speed, they default to a slower charging setting that's safe for all smartphones (5 volts at 500mA to 2A) when they sense they've been plugged into an unsupported device.

Qualcomm, which is known for its Snapdragon smartphone processors, is also behind the rapid-charging Quick Charge tech found in more than 100 smartphone models, including flagship phones from Samsung, Motorola, HTC, and others. (On some Motorola smartphones, Quick Charge is branded Turbo Charge.)

“There’s a lot of intelligence built into the charging process, with algorithms that help the adapter determine what the phone can take,” says Geoff Gordon, a marketing manager at the company.

It doesn't matter if that phone charger’s amp rating is higher than the one shown in your phone battery’s specs. The phone takes only the current it can handle. Consequently, when you plug a fast-charging phone into a conventional phone charger, it will charge at a slower rate.  

Onboard microprocessors monitor and manage the battery’s state of charge and health to ensure that they get what they need at a rate they can handle. And that works across ecosystems. In other words, it makes no difference that iPhones use Apple’s lightning connector and Android phones use micro USB or the new USB Type-C connectors. If you plug the cable that came with your phone into the USB port of any phone charger, it should work safely.

https://www.consumerreports.org/


https://www.androidpolice.com/