Thursday, March 9, 2023

Tech Tips and News for March 10, 2023

Sleepy Sun by Dall-E 2
It will probably be a little darker when we head to work Monday morning. Remember to "spring forward" on Sunday as we begin observing Daylight Saving Time. If you, your children or your students are wondering why we move the clocks an hour twice each year, there are lots of videos included in the last post below. It seems like we've long since discovered the cons outweigh the pros to this practice, but getting everyone to agree on whether to settle on standard or daylight saving time might take another century. In the meantime, I have found there are far fewer clocks to reset as atomic clocks and tech devices, including mobile phones, just automatically change. Now if I could just get my car to catch up automatically so I don't have to pull out the manual twice each year. 

Stop Using Your 4-Digit Phone Passcode in Public

This seems to be the latest scam making the rounds. Someone observes you entering a 4-digit lock code on your phone, then steals the phone when they get the chance to access all of your accounts. Find out what to do to protect yourself.

TikTok:   Why is it Being Banned from Government Devices?

Find out what the fuss is about. It might make you think twice about what you share on TikTok.

What's New in Chrome 111

What's New in Chrome 111, from How-To Geek by Joe Fedewa
Chances are good you'll be seeing the Update button soon in Chrome. Version 111 is rolling out now. There are some notable changes, such as where you'll be finding your downloads now, and how you can revoke forgotten website permissions with a Safety Check.  

Google Workspace Updates:  Refreshed Interface for Google Drive, Docs, Sheets and Slides

New Workspace Interface - workspaceupdates.googleblog.com


Get ready, a new interface is coming for Google Drive, Docs, Sheets and Slides. Things will look a little different, and some features may be moved to a new location. It seems like Google does this every other year, or so. It's always seems to be to provide a new, steamlined look, but results in a bit of user frustration during the transition. Key features include a simplified user interface at the top of the screen, which is supposed to help you find frequently used actions faster, as well as improvements to commenting, background, rulers and gridlines. The latest status info about the file, such as last edit and version history are now tucked behind a clock icon in the top right corner. In Drive, you'll notice improvements, such as key actions available inline on files for quick access, the ability to select multiple items and perform batch operations for frequent tasks, as well as new search chips to help you find files faster. You can find full details here. The update should be rolling out within the next two weeks. 

Boost Learning With New ELA Video Tutorials on IXL

IXL video tutorials are now available for select pre-K, Kindergarten, and 6th-8th grade English language arts skills! Building on the popularity of IXL’s math tutorials, these expert-led videos feature Wyzant instructors that help students master key ELA concepts. Read and watch all about it on the IXL Blog. 

Fix Your Photos with Cleanup.pictures


I recently discovered this useful tool for removing unwanted defects, people or things from photos. Cleanup.pictures is a free tool for photos for 720p resolution. For higher quality photos, pricing starts at $3/month if you pay by the year, or $5/month if you pay by the month. It's very simple to use. Just drag your photo in the box, or browse for it, then use the brush to color in the item you wish to be removed. You can change the size of the brush if you need to erase small items. As you can see from the photo above, it works better on some photos than others, but it's a great start, and the price is right. 

Edit Your Photos on any Device with Image Candy

This is another image editing tool that crossed my screen this week. Image Candy is a free, web-based image editing tool that you do not need to sign in or create an account to use. It can convert an image (including HEIC) images to popular formats, such as .jpg, .svg, .dpi, and .pdf, it can even convert a video to a .gif. Other features include, resizing, compressing, rotating, flipping, and cropping images. You can also remove backgrounds, add text, add a watermark, and generate a meme. This site doesn't store your edited photos, instead you upload, edit and download. 

"But It's Still Sunny Outside!" - Short Lessons on Daylight Saving Time

"But It's Still Sunny Outside!" - Short Lessons on Daylight Saving Time, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
Just in time to lose an hour of sleep this Sunday.

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