10 secret WhatsApp tricks

WhatsApp. Wonderful, wonderful, WhatsApp. The messaging service that made BBM look boring and text messages redundant.

Of course there are now heaps of messaging services around, but WhatsApp has had a massive head start on almost all of them, meaning it has tonnes of features.

You can read all about what it is and how it works in our WhatsApp feature, but for those who already know the beauty of the service, here are some secret tips you might not know about.

Hide the blue ticks

Those blue ticks can get you in a whole world of trouble, especially when you don't reply instantly and someone sees you have read their messages. You can turn them off, but it's worth noting that if you do, you won't get read receipts for your messages either.

iOS: Settings > Account > Privacy > Toggle off Read Receipts.

Android: Settings > Account > Privacy > Untick Read Receipts.

Turn words bold, italic or strikethrough

Sometimes certain words need more emphasis and shouty caps just isn't going to cut it. Don't worry, WhatsApp allows you to make whichever words or phrases you want bold, italic, or strikethrough them altogether.

iOS and Android: Add an asterisk either side of the word or phrase for *bold*. Add an underscore either side of the word or phrase for _italic_. Add a tildes to either side of the word or phase for ~strikethrough~.

Find who you talk to most

Who is really your favourite person? It might not be who you think. On iOS, there is a way to find the people you send the most messages to and how much storage each person takes up, among other things.

iOS: Settings > Account > Storage Usage > Select Contact

Add dates to your calendar automatically

If you're prone to forgetting dates mentioned in various chats, it's possible to automatically create an event directly from WhatsApp on iOS.

iOS: Press and hold date within chat > Create Event

Mark chats as unread

Ever been out and about, read a chat and then completely forgot to reply? We do it all the time. There is a way to mark important chats with dot to remind you to go back to it though.
iOS: Chats >  Swipe left to right > Mark as Unread

Android: Long press chat > Open Menu > Mark as Unread

Save your data allowance

If you've got a limited data allowance, you don't want WhatsApp munching it all away. Thankfully, you can customise when media is allowed to download, as well as ensure calls use as little data as possible.

iOS and Android: Settings > Data Usage

Stop people seeing your messages

Ever passed your phone to a friend and instantly panicked about the messages they might see come through? Yeah, we haven't either. For those that have, you can turn off message preview on iOS so only the contact's name will appear, rather than their life story.

In Android, it's not possible through the WhatsApp app but you can stop private information showing up on your lock screen in Android itself.

iOS: Settings > Notifications > Toggle off Show Preview

The computer is frozen

The computer is frozen

Sometimes your computer may become completely unresponsive, or frozen. When this happens, you won't be able to click anywhere on the screen, open or close applications, or access shut-down options. 

Solution 1 (Windows only): Restart Windows Explorer. To do this, press and hold winlogo+Xon your keyboard to open the Task Manager then press T. Next, locate and select Windows Explorer from the Processes tab and click Restart. If you're using Windows 8, you may need to click More Details at the bottom of the window to see the Processes tab. 

An application is running slowly

An application is running slowly

Solution 1: Close and reopen the application.

Solution 2: Update the application. To do this, click the Help menu and look for an option to check for Updates. If you don't find this option, another idea is to run an online search for application updates. 

Method 2

Solution 1: Run your virus scanner. You may have malware running in the background that is slowing things down.
Solution 2: Your computer may be running out of hard drive space. Try deleting any files or programs you don't need.
Solution 3: If you're using a PC, you can run Disk Defragmenter (called Optimize Drives in Windows 8). Doing so will make sure all pieces of each file or program are stored close together in your computer, so the computer will be able to access them more quickly. In most versions of Windows, the Disk Defragmenter can be found in the Start menu. In Windows 8, you can find it by typing defragment from the Start screen.

Dialog Box Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts (Windows) 2

Dialog Box Keyboard Shortcuts

CTRL+Tab (Move forward through the tabs)

CTRL+Shift+Tab (Move backward through the tabs)

Tab (Move forward through the options)

Shift+Tab (Move backward through the options)

Alt+Underlined letter (Perform the corresponding command or select the corresponding option)

Enter (Perform the command for the active option or button)

Spacebar (Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box)

Arrow keys (Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons)

F1 key (Display Help)

F4 key (Display the items in the active list)

Backspace (Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box)

What are the differences between hardware and software?

What are the differences between hardware and software?

Computer hardware is any physical device used in or with your machine, whereas software is a collection of code installed onto your computer's hard drive; it is intangible. For example, the computer monitor you are using to read this text and the mouse you are using to navigate this web page is computer hardware. The Internet browser that allowed you to visit this page and the operating system that the browser is running on is considered software. 

Nearly all software utilizes hardware to operate properly. A video game, which is software, uses the computer processor (CPU), memory (RAM), and video card, all of which is hardware, to run. Word processing software uses the computer processor, memory, and hard drive to create and save documents. 

In a computer, hardware is what makes a computer work. A CPU processes information and that information can be stored in RAM or on a hard drive. A sound card can provide sound to speakers and a video card can provide an image to a monitor. All of this is hardware. 

On that same computer, software can be installed and allow a person to interact with the hardware. An operating system, like Windows or Mac OS, is software. It provides a graphical interface for people to use the computer and other software on the computer. A person can create documents and pictures using software.

I can’t open email attachments

I can’t open email attachments

If you have ever encountered an attachment that you couldn’t open, it was probably because you didn’t have the software necessary to view the file. 
If you don’t have Adobe Reader or another PDF-compatible program, you won’t be able to open that TPS report. 

The usual suspect is the .pdf file, for which you can download a free PDF reader. If your problem involves a different file format, a quick search on the attachment’s file extension (the three letters after the period in the filename) should tell you what type of program you need. If the attachment lacks a file extension (which might happen if it was renamed), adding it back should set things right.

Blue Screen Error

Problem: Blue Screen Error

Solution: The usual villains are beta GPU drivers and overclocked CPUs (but feel free to Google specific error messages). GPU drivers see the most frequent changes in enthusiast PCs, and beta versions are sometimes shaky. You can uninstall these drivers in the Add or Remove Programs section of your Control Panel (Programs and Features in Windows 8), where the files are labeled according to your brand (usually Nvidia or AMD, sometimes Intel). Then reboot and install an older version of the driver obtained from the manufacturer's website, preferably the drivers labeled "WHQL" (for Windows Hardware Quality Labs), Microsoft's seal of approval. Didn’t write down the BSOD info? Check out BlueScreenView .

I keep seeing ‘There is a problem with this website’s security certificate’

I keep seeing ‘There is a problem with this website’s security certificate’

Sometimes the biggest problems have the easiest fixes. According to support technicians, the lion’s share of issues are due to an incorrect system clock. 
The problem is probably with your computer. Website security certificates sync up with your computer’s clock. Old computers in particular run the risk of having a dead CMOS battery—the watch battery in your computer that keeps its system clock ticking. Click the clock in the system tray and select Change date and time settings to correct any issues.

My Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting

My Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting

Spotty wireless connections can be a puzzler. Is it your computer? Your router? Your ISP? Try a few things before calling your Internet service provider. 

Windows Network Diagnostics may not always solve your problem, but it will usually point you in the right direction. 

Confirm that your computer is within range of your wireless router. Weak signals mean weak connections. Next, make sure your PC’s wireless card has the latest drivers. Try letting Windows troubleshoot for you by right-clicking the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar and selecting Troubleshoot problems.

Photoshop Shortcuts PC / Mac - CS6 CC

Photoshop Shortcuts PC / Mac - CS6 CC

SELECTING

Draw Marquee from Center..............................................................Alt-Marquee
Add to a Selection........................................................................................Shift
Subtract from a Selection................................................................................Alt
Intersection with a Selection....................................................................Shift-Alt
Make Copy of Selection w/Move tool.........................................Alt-Drag Selection
Make Copy of Selection when not in Move tool...................Ctrl-Alt-Drag Selection
Move Selection (in 1-pixel Increments)...............................................Arrow Keys
Move Selection (in 10-pixel Increments).....................................Shift-Arrow Keys
Select all Opaque Pixels on Layer..........................................Ctrl-click on Layer Thumbnail (in Layers panel)
Restore Last Selection........................................................................Ctrl-Shift-D
Feather Selection....................................................................................Shift-F6
Move Marquee while drawing selection.....................................Hold Space while drawing marquee

Installing applications

Computers

Installing applications 

In order to work, an application usually has to be installed on your computer. Typically, installation is as simple as inserting the installation disc and following the instructions on the screen. For software downloaded from the Internet, you can usually double-click it after it is finished downloading and then follow the instructions on the screen. Many applications include a readme file (for example, readme.txt), which includes installation instructions and other information.

Files and applications 

Each application on your computer has a group of file types—or formats—it is able to open. You generally won't have to figure out which application will open your files. When you double-click a file, your computer will automatically use the correct application to open it, as long as the application is installed on your computer. 

If you don't have the correct application installed, you may not be able to open the file. However, in some cases you can open the file with a web application that runs in your browser. For example, if you don't have Microsoft Word, you can open Word documents with Google Docs. To learn more, you can visit our lesson on Understanding the Cloud.

What is CD-ROM?

Hard-Ware

CD-ROM

Short for Compact Disc-Read Only Memory, a CD-ROM (shown right) is an optical disc which contains audio or software data whose memory is read only. A CD-ROM Drive or optical drive is the device used to read them. CD-ROM drives have speeds ranging from 1x all the way up to 72x, meaning it reads the CD roughly 72 times faster than the 1x version. As you would imagine, these drives are capable playing audio CDs and reading data CDs. Below is a picture of the front and back of a standard CD-ROM drive. 

Interfaces 

Below are the different interfaces that allow a CD-ROM and other disc drives to connect to a computer. 

IDE/ATA - One of the most commonly used interfaces for disc drives.

Panasonic - Older proprietary interface.

Parallel - Interface used with old external CD-ROM drives.

PCMCIA (PC Card) - Interface sometimes used to connect external disc drives to laptop computers.

SATA - Replacing IDE as the new standard to connect disc drives.

SCSI - Another common interface used with disk and disc drives.

USB - Interface most commonly used to connect external disc drives.

What is an application?

Computers

What is an application?

You may have heard people talking about using an application or an app. But what exactly does that mean? An app is a type of software that allows you to perform specific tasks. Applications for desktop or laptop computers are sometimes called desktop applications, and those for mobile devices are called mobile apps. When you open an application, it runs inside the operating system until you close it. Most of the time, you will have more than one application open at the same time, and this is known as multitasking. 

Types of desktop applications 

There are countless desktop applications out there, and they fall into many different categories. Some are more full-featured (like Microsoft Word), while others may only do one or two things (like gadgets). Below are just a few types of applications you might use: 

Word processors: A word processor allows you to write a letter, design a flyer, and create many other types of documents. The most well-known word processor isMicrosoft Word.Personal finance: Personal finance software, such asQuicken, allows you to keep track of your income and expenses and create a budget, among other tasks. Most personal finance programs can automatically download information from your bank so you don't have to manually type in all of your transactions.Web browsers: A web browser is the tool you use to access the Internet. Most computers come with a web browserpre-installed, but you can also download a different one if you prefer. Examples of browsers include Internet Explorer,Firefox, Google Chrome, and Safari.Games: There are many different games you can play on your computer. They range from card games such asSolitaire to action games like Halo 2. Many action games require a lot of computing power, so they may not work unless you have a newer computer.Media players: If you want to listen to MP3s or watchmovies you've downloaded, you'll need to use a media player. Windows Media Player and iTunes are popular media players.Gadgets: Sometimes called widgets, these are simple applications you can place on your desktop (or on theDashboard if you're using a Mac). There are many different types of gadgets, and they include calendars, calculators,maps, and news headlines.

My machine keeps restarting

My machine keeps restarting

Hardware problems are hard to diagnose and solve. First, confirm that you aren’t just getting the latest wave of Windows updates, which can automatically restart your computer during installation. Then work on updating all of your critical system drivers. Your graphics card, motherboard, and network card drivers are crucial. 

“Sometimes it can be viruses, sometimes it can be adware, sometimes it can be overheating, and sometimes it can be something as simple as making sure your video card is updated,” Geek Squad’s Meister says. 

Is your computer making weird noises? If you’re lucky all you’ll need to do is give the machine a thorough cleaning. Modern computers have safeguards that shut down the system if a component is overheating, which can be the cause of frequent restarts when you’re running resource-intensive programs or video games.

My computer makes strange noises

My computer makes strange noises

If your computer suddenly starts to buzz or vibrate, it can be due to a hardware failure. High, whining noises may indicate problems with the electrical components, while buzzing noises are often caused by lack of ventilation. 

Tips: 

Clean the filter and fan for dust and make sure that all air inlets are free. If you have a laptop, you can try to uninstall and reinstall your sound drivers. If it is a desktop, it may be that the sound card needs replacement.

Creating Files on Google Drive

Creating Files on Google Drive 

Google Drive doesn't just store your files; it also allows you to create, share, and manage documents with its own productivity apps. If you've ever used a suite like Microsoft Office, some things about Google Drive's apps might seem familiar. For instance, the types of files you can work with are very similar to files that can be created with various Microsoft Office programs. 

These are the types of docs you can create and share with Google Drive:

Documents: For composing letters, flyers, essays, and other text-based files (similar to Microsoft Word documents)Spreadsheets: For storing and organizing information (similar to Microsoft Excel worksheets)Presentations: For creating and presenting slides (similar to Microsoft PowerPoint slideshows)Forms: For collecting and organizing dataDrawings: For creating simple vector graphics or diagrams

What is a printer?

Printer

A printer is an external hardware device responsible for taking computer data and generating a hard copy of that data. Printers are one of the most used peripherals on computers and are commonly used to print text, images, and photos. The picture is the Lexmark Z605 Inkjet, an example of a computer printer. 

Types of printers 

Below is a list of all the different computer printers. Today, the most common printers used with a computer are Inkjet and Laser printers. 

All-in-one (AIO) printer 
Dot Matrix printer 
Inkjet printer 
Laser printer 
Multifunction printer (MFP) 
Thermal printer 
LED printer 
3D printer 

Printer interfaces 

There are different interfaces or ways a printer can connect to the computer. Today, the most common way a printer connects to a computer is using USB. 

Cat5 
Firewire 
MPP-1150 
Parallel port 
SCSI 
Serial port 
USB

What is Google Drive?

What is Google Drive? 

In the spring of 2012, Google introduced Google Drive, a cloud-based storage system that allows you to keep your documents, photos, videos, and other files online. Whenever you place files on Google Drive, they are stored on Internet servers rather than on your computer's hard drive. You can then access those files from any computer with an Internet connection or even a mobile device, like a tablet or smartphone. Drive even allows you to share files with your family, friends, and coworkers.

Why use Google Drive? 

Google Drive is one of the most advanced cloud storage services available today, offering  gigabytes (15GB) of free storage space. If you've never used a cloud-based storage service like Google Drive before, take a moment to consider the advantages of keeping your files online. Because files can be accessed from any computer with an Internet connection, Google Drive eliminates the need to email or save a file to a USB drive. And because it allows you to share files, working with others becomes easier than ever. With Google Drive, you can: 

Create and edit documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more.

Open your files from any computer with an Internet connection.

Invite others to collaborate on your documents.

Retrieve your files even if your computer is lost, stolen, or broken. Your documents will still be safe in the cloud.

Access, create, and edit documents on the go with the Google Drive apps for your smartphone or tablet.

Save and edit files that you've created using Chrome's web apps, such as SlideRocket or AutoCadWS, right in the Drive.

Upload, share, and view many other types of files. Although Google Drive isn't designed to edit every file type, it's actually able to display previews for various types of videos, images, and other document formats.

How to fix slow startup pc

Reinstall the Operating System

Some people think that computers become slower over time and eventually need to be replaced – it’s sad, but true. Other people may take the computer to a repair place when it starts slowing down. When dealing with a computer that’s become bogged down by startup programs and toolbars, a simple Windows reinstall is often the fastest, easiest solution. 

This can also help if you’re experiencing other problems with your computer, such as file corruption or weird errors. While it’s often possible to troubleshoot these things by replacing corrupted files and bad drivers, it’s usually faster to just reset Windows back to its factory state. 
Most new computers come with factory restore partitions, which you can access by pressing the correct key during the boot process (check your computer’s manual). You may also have CDs or DVDs you can restore your computer from. If you installed Windows yourself, you can use the Windows installation disc. On Windows 8, use the Refresh or Reset feature to easily reinstall Windows. 

Be sure to back up your important files before doing this. Some places may back up your important files for you, while some may ask you to back them up ahead of time – that’s because they’ll just be reinstalling Windows for you.

Pictures will be upload.

How to synchronize smartphone with pc?

My smartphone will not synch with my PC

In order to ensure backup of your smartphone, it is important that you regularly synch your phone content with your computer. When synchronisation does not work as expected may be due to various factors, depending on the type of smartphone and PC. Sometimes it is required that all programs are closed, during synching or backup. 

Tips: 

Close open applications, if required. Be sure to download or reject the proposed updates that pop up along the way, so synchronization can be done. Look for the icon of synchronization to appear and check if for example the latest photos on your smartphone have been transferred to the computer. Verify the user manual for your device.