Using Advanced Search Operators to Narrow Down Search Results for Certain Computer Problems

What are Advanced Search Operators?

Advanced search operators are words that are added to online searches to help narrow down the results. There are also certain punctuation marks you can use with or without using the advanced search words. If however, the punctuation marks don’t give better results, better suggested results will be shown without the punctuation.

For example:

Operator Word	How to use it
site:	Get results from certain sites or domains. Examples: wifi problem:lifehacker.com
related:	Find sites that are similar to a web address you already know. Example: related: internet connection
OR	Find pages that might use one of several words. Example: router issues OR router problems
info:	Get information about a web address, including the cached version of the page, similar pages, and pages that link to the site. Example: info:google.com
cache:	See what a page looks like the last time Google visited the site. Example: cache:washington.edu

For punctuation examples:

Symbol	How to use it
+	Search for Google+ pages or blood types Examples: +Chrome or  AB+
@	Find social tags Example: @agoogler
$	Find prices Example: nikon $400
#	Find popular hashtags for trending topics Example: #TechTips
-	When you use a dash before a word or site, it excludes sites with that info from your results. This is useful for words with multiple meanings, like Jaguar the car brand and jaguar the animal. Examples: printer multi -function or printers -site:wikipedia.org

Advanced search operators or search words are the cornerstone of good, but old-school-type search engine optimization (SEO), that is, the art of SEO without the modern tools. What’s more these advanced search words can be used on all major search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing.

In a world that is saturated with search software tools, advanced operators are the best solution for the common human being who has no access to any type of search tool. Whether with regular or complex use the user gains a better understanding of advanced search commands and will definitely become a lot more resourceful when doing even just basic site searching, link prospecting, and finding certain search results.

In terms of searching for specific computer problems, advanced search operators can be the bread and butter of even the most amateur user searching for any type of computer problem and its solutions. In reality, most tech support professionals who need to do extra research for extreme computer cases often use advanced search operators. For those simply searching to narrow down the search parameters for specific computer problems, using advanced search operators doesn’t mean you need to memorize all advanced words or punctuation since all search engines have some sort of “cheat sheet” page listing all their specific advanced search words.

On the bottom line, using these advanced search words, the computer user can more or less find what’s wrong with the computer, and probably find the solution to it. However, knowing the problem and knowing the solution doesn’t mean the user can fix the problem. Still, the best thing to do even after doing all this advanced searching would be to call a proven and professional tech support company for help.

Some of the Reasons Why a Lot of People Fear the Internet of Things

In simple terms, the Internet or Things or IoT is the basic concept of connecting any device with an on and off switch to the Internet or to each other. This includes everything from cellphones, coffee makers, washing machines, cars, lamps, house lights, gadgets, and almost anything else you can think of.  This also applies to components of machines, for example the drill of an oil rig or the trip switch of an electrical grid. In short, if it has an on and off switch, then chances are it can be a part of the IoT. Some IT analysts predict that by 2020 there will be over 26 to 100 billion connected devices.

How Does This Impact All Human Beings?

IT analysts today see the future as, “Anything that can be connected, will be connected.” Imagine that, for example, you are on your way to a meeting so your car can access your smartphone calendar and already know the best route to take. If the traffic is heavy, your car can send a text to your office notifying them that you will be late. Or perhaps your alarm clock wakes you at 6 in the morning and then notifies your coffee maker to start brewing coffee. Or your office equipment knows it is running low on supplies and automatically re-orders from the supplier. Or your gadget or smartphone tells you when and where you were most active and productive in the workplace and shares this information with other devices that you used while working.

Lack of Universal Value

Unfortunately, most of the human race still cannot fully embrace the concept. This comes down to the current lack of any universal value proposition, and is not the fault of the technology. Remember that consumer education is an important part of the mix. Rather than expecting people to understand the need for IoT devices, companies need to get easy-to-use IoT devices into the hands of people to demonstrate their potential. However, browse through the IoT section in any technology store and you will be presented with an overwhelming array of strange devices with even stranger instruction manuals.

No Centralized Platform

Developers have been the driving force behind the Internet and the mobile revolution. However, the current lack of a centralized platform for the IoT is the main reason for the slow growth and creativity for IoT, but is common on mobile devices. For example, in Android and Apple app stores, there is a constant hub for experimentation and development. Currently 93% of developers focus on producing apps for smartphones because they make more money while there is almost zero development into even a centralized platform for IoT because it has yet to prove being a moneymaker.

No Interconnectability and Universal IoT Protocol

Another major issue for IoT developers relates to inter-device compatibility. Until connectivity is standardized, consumers will continue to face technical difficulties when trying to get their devices to interact, especially in the home environment where smart objects are very likely to come from a range of different suppliers and have different communication protocols.

Security

Not only do people need to understand about IoT, but they also need to be sure that the devices they are using are secure. This has been probably the biggest concern over IoT for many, especially in the light of recent news on high-profile hacking on Internet-enabled cars. Thus, IoT developers must recognize that every device is a potential target, which is what makes IoT security such a critical issue, before it is publicly adopted.

These Business-Related Devices or Technologies Might Become Obsolete in the Next 5 Years

As technology evolves faster and faster through the years, certain things are overtaken, outgrown, and become obsolete. For instance, though vinyl records are making a comeback, no one hardly use cassette tapes and CDs anymore. Even DVDs, Blu-Ray, and video discs are making their way to digital space and are facing near obsolescence. The smartphone alone has suddenly rendered many technologies obsolete, starting with ordinary cell phones.

So, what devices, gadgets, gadgets, and technology are now facing extinction in the business world?

Traditional Landline Phones
Sure, you could say that hospitals, call centers, emergency and police services, and sales offices still needed landline phones, but as mobile devices and smartphones improve, these can take the place of the landline phone. And if there are laptops and PCs around, think VoIP services that are cheaper than landlines.

Standalone GPS Navigation System
Smartphones are rendering standalone GPS navigation system almost unnecessary, especially if GPS is widely used for business purposes such as in trucking and delivery services or for construction vehicles. Some vehicles today are sold factory fresh with their own GPS systems that can easily hook up with any smartphone. And of course, with the improvement of Google Maps and Apple Maps, you don't need to pay a monthly fee for GPS functionality.

Alarm Clocks
Some may argue how is this business related? Well, what have you been using to wake you up in the morning to get to work? However, chances are, in the last 5 years or so, you no longer use a standalone alarm clock, instead relying on your cell phone and then later on your smartphone. With a smartphone, you can even choose your favorite tune.

Dial-up Internet Access
With today's technology, it's hard to see why anyone would use a phone line to connect to the Internet when there are so many feasible alternatives. Dial-up may seem to belong with smoke signals and carrier pigeons on the communication scrap heap, but back in the late 90s and early 2000s remember that it was all the rage.

Wristwatches
Again you could argue that professionals still wear a wristwatch to work, but let's be honest since these people grew up with watches; now watch the younger generation. Honestly, the younger ones know that smartphone and iPads or tablets can tell the time when you're out and about, and virtually every appliance in your home - from your refrigerator to your coffeemaker to your television to your DVD player - has a clock.

Business-related gadgets and devices actually are the first to become obsolete, and all you need to do is remember, when was the last time you saw a manual or electric typewriter, a fax machine, or sales professional using a beeper? These are all gone by now. Recently, aside from those listed above, even the USB Flash Drive is going to be obsolete because of cloud storage services on the Internet. Also, let's not forget the short lifespan of the PDA or Personal Digital Assistant that incorporated note taking, voice memos, and calendars, and given the fact that they used a stylus, they just disappeared pronto from the business scene.

Take Full Advantage of Your Google Account With These Useful Apps

For some, they believe that their Google account is only for accessing Gmail. Although that is correct, you should be aware that your Google account also offers lots of Google services for free. If you have a Google account, here are some not very familiar services and apps that you can enjoy to use for free. You may want to check them out and see if there's one that will suit your needs.

Google Fit

Google Fit is a free fitness app that you can use on your Android device including Android wear. This app lets you track your activities like walking, running, or biking using your Android device's built-in sensors. You can set fitness goals and track them as well as how many calories you have burned. It can also be personalized to get more accurate illustration of your activity.

Google Web & App History

Google monitors and tracks all the searches you have made in its search engine, and it can be accessed via the Google Web & App History. With the help of this app, you can check which websites you visit the most, see an Internet activity graph, and check search history. It is also separated from your browser history, which means anything that us deleted from your browser history can still be seen and accessed from here.

Google also tracks these searches to provide custom search results and relevant ads, which makes it a good way to find what Google actually know about you.

Google Photos

Need an app that you can singlehandedly use for syncing all your photos? Google Photos is the app you're looking for. This app lets you upload all your photos to Google servers, which can be accessed from any device including Android, iOS, and PC. It help you sort photos according to time, faces (face detection), and place, and even creates collages for you -- that's all done automatically. Google Photos provides unlimited storage for photos below 16 megapixels, and photos higher than that are saved in your Google Drive account.

Google Keep

Described as a note-taking app, Google Keep will surely please many people who just want a quick note-taking app with reliable features. It works well on Web. Android, and iOS devices, and you can save notes to Google Drive to be easily accessed from your PC and phone. You can take written notes, photo notes, voice notes (that will be transcribed), location-based notes and checklists. The notes are color-coded for easy categorization, and search its option is very reliable with universal search.

Google Cloud Print

The Google Cloud Print app lets you attach your printer to the web so you can print from anywhere and from any device using an internet connection. It connects to both old and new printers, including Wi-Fi enabled and dial-up printers. Aside from printing from anywhere, you can also share your printer with other users in order for them to print through it as well.

What is the Best Thing to Do When Your Laptop Suddenly Stops Working

At one time or another, someone who owns a laptop – usually one that is around 2 years and older – is working or just browsing on the laptop when it suddenly just conks out, completely turning itself off. The natural thing to do is to turn it on again, right? What if it turns itself off again? What do you do in this situation?

Try System Restore

Sometimes it’s not really your laptop that conks out but it’s Windows. It might just ground to a halt and won’t respond. After you restart your laptop and encounter the same problem, you might need to reset Windows as your only option. It won’t wipe away your files and it’s safe. It simply restores all systems on your computer when a particular ‘restore point’ was taken. You can launch System Restore from the Start Menu or the Start menu search box.

If your screen went blank but the power and battery indicator are still glowing

On top of this, you can hear the laptop humming and the hard drive spinning; you can try taking the battery and charger out, hold the power button for up to 1 minute and then tap it off and on for another minute. Allow the laptop to sit without battery power for 20 minutes and then boot up. This apparently gets rid of any static build up that is the cause of your laptop going blank or preventing further booting.

Try simply booting up without the battery

With laptops that are more than 3 years old, sometimes, the battery may be going away, and so is incapable of giving enough stored power to the laptop. Try removing the battery and then booting up using only AC power with your charger and cord. If you booted successfully, it’s time to replace your battery.

It may just need cooling off

Laptops that are more than 3 years old may tend to heat up faster, especially if there isn’t proper ventilation to allow its heat to escape and dissipate. Try cooling off the laptop for 10 – 15 minutes and then boot up. Before booting up, try putting a fan underneath and another beside it so it can stay cool faster when you’ve been working for hours on it.

Use your computer’s recovery tool

If your computer is supplied with a recovery tool or recovery partition (part of the hard drive), then you can activate this and restore your laptop to an as-new state and fix any software problems in the process. However, everything you’ve stored on your laptop since you first bought it will be lost because the restoration processor will create a fresh version of Windows, along with any pre-installed software from the manufacturer. So it’s vital that you back up anything you want to keep before selecting this option.

The best option is still a computer tech support company

When all is said and done and you don’t know or aren’t sure how to handle the above, you can always call for computer tech support and let the professionals handle it. It’s worth the time and effort after all.

Click here for more tech tips, guide and troubleshooting techniques. Feel free to comment and ask me questions.

5 Android Apps That Will Help You Stick With Your New Year's Resolution

Are you someone who's having a hard time sticking to your New Year's resolution and its spirit? Don't lose hope because now there are apps that are designed to keep you with your promise. From budget management or getting a better job to time management and health care, these 5 Android apps will help you keep on your right track to fulfilling your New Year's resolution.

MyFitnessPal

Don't know how to start your plan to lose weight? MyFitnessPal will answer all your worries. It's the fastest and easiest calorie counter app for Android. With the largest food database of any Android calorie counter (over 5,000,000 foods), and amazingly fast food and exercise entry, we'll help you take those extra pounds off! There is no better diet app than MyFitnessPal -- period. If something's not there, enter it manually or scan a UPC code. But it's the integration with fitness tracking apps and devices that really makes it a winner and gives users an overall picture of calories in, calories out.

FitStar

If you want to meet your fitness goals, FitStar is here for you. Complete with custom workouts, HD video, connectivity to fitness trackers, the app and a little determination can help you get in shape. For less than the cost of a single personal training session, get an entire year of Premium access to exclusive, personalized programs for losing weight and gaining strength, a variety of new workouts added monthly and many more. FitStar's dynamic programs continually adjust to your feedback, goals, and capabilities -- just like a personal trainer. And FitStar constantly brings you new moves and sessions to keep things fun, fresh, and fit. This is the perfect solution for your desire to lose weight and become fit this 2016.

True Food

For conscientious consumers, True Food provides a real-time guide to shopping non-GMO. The app provide updates you everyday with new alerts, news, and tips on how to avoid GMO products, and where to find suitable alternatives. With over 70% of food products in the U.S. containing GMOs, there are helpful tips on sourcing organic foods and identifying other potentially unhealthy ingredients. This app is great to have if you're concerned with keeping genetically modified foods out of your diet or if you want to learn about where they're found and why. If you go to the "More Info" section of the app (hidden under the menu), it provides information about organics, supermarkets, and GMO, and it also has a "Myths and Realities" section that you can also find interesting to read.

Overall, True Food is useful if you're looking to cut out GMO foods or interested in becoming involved in a campaign against factory farming.

Quit Smoking

Aside from the reality that it's pretty difficult to text and smoke at the same time, your phone can help you throw away that cigarette for good. Quit Smoking is a widget application "designed to gradually wean you from dependency on cigarettes." The application claims it will continuously adjust itself to your specific smoking pattern. The graphics are extensive and it appears beautifully done, but whether it actually helps you quit smoking is another matter, many users actually find it a useful app.

Using a customizable one-step-at-a-time program that compares your smoking pattern against the statistics of other users, it will gradually teach you how to minimize the number of cigarettes you take one day at a time. Track your daily cigarette consumption and manage your urges with the assistance of this great app.

Glassdoor

If your connections and resume snag you an interview, make sure you're ready for the possible questions you will likely be asked and even the scoop on whether the company's a place you want to work. The Glassdoor app has reviews of workplaces from current and past employees, salary ranges, and the lowdown that it might otherwise take you months at the water cooler to learn.

Job seekers can also get access to the latest job listings, which information were provided by those who know the company best -- the employees. You can also research for open jobs, your earning potential, and see what it's really like to work at thousands of companies worldwide. With the help of this app, looking for a new job can never get easier.

Computer Problems: Searching for an Answer to Something that is Not Even a Problem

Like any other machine, a computer problem may crop up now and then. However, not all computer problems should cause either panic or an immediate call to your tech support company. There are actually common computer problems that can be fixed with a simple Internet search. Below are some common computer problems and their immediate solutions, which you can follow by yourself. Sometimes, the problem turns out not to be a problem after all.

A Windows 10 Update Keeps Popping Up

A most recent “problem” that has bugged many Microsoft users of Windows OS below Windows 10 is the free upgrade being offered by the company. Yes, it’s free and no, it’s not a scam. It’s Microsoft’s way of thanking its legion of customers while at the same time finding retribution for the bug failures in Windows 8, so they skipped 9, and are now offering a Windows 10 upgrade for free. The popups regularly reminds the user to register and upgrade from Windows 7 or 8. However, some users are already satisfied with their present Windows OS and don’t want the upgrade. Also, this popup window still comes out even if the user purchased a computer with a pre-installed Windows 10. If the popup bothers you, a simple search on the Internet (type “how to get rid of Windows 10 popup” on any search engine) will reveal to you at least 6 ways to disable or permanently get rid of the popup window.

“My Computer is running slow”

Unless it’s an issue with the hardware or the OS itself, a computer tends to operate more slowly as time goes by or if a lot of work is being done. A simple search on the Internet can resolve this issue and there will be many suggestions to try out in order to speed up your PC such as, rebooting, closing background programs using Task Manager, deleting Temp files, freeing more hard drive space, scanning for malware or viruses, checking Windows updates, and updating the drivers. You only need to follow the instructions to go about these suggestions.

If any minor “problem” comes up, try this first

Sometimes some “problems” are merely bugs in the system. The solution may be a no-brainer: Restart the computer. Most of the time, a simple restart will freshen up your computer and gets rid of those system bugs. It seems this long standing maxim works wonders and you don’t even have to do an Internet search.

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

Website security certificates sync up with your computer’s clock and an issue crops up if you have an incorrect system clock. Follow the instructions online to enter your clock in the system tray to change date and time settings in order to correct this type of issue.