I hope everyone had a pleasant and refreshing holiday break. Well, as much as we could in the pandemic and recent events. I spent most of the time, updating articles to reflect recent software changes.
And since this is still a new format, please let me know what you like or don’t like. I’m trying to keep it to under 10 items.
Chrome & Edge: Highlighting Web Passages
Have you ever wanted to send someone a link to a specific passage on a page and highlight the text? It can make it easier for folks, especially if it’s a long article. You can do this using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge with a Google browser extension called Link to Text Fragment.
You highlight the text, right-click, and select Copy Link to Selected Text. You’ll get a URL that looks long and strange. I’ve shortened the example link using Bit.ly. It should take you to one of my tutorials, but partway down.
Example: https://bit.ly/3i2IJ6M
Cool Tool: Paperlike iPad Screen Protector
If you have both an iPad and an Apple pencil, you should consider a Paperlike screen saver. Although they are pricy, it’s worth it. The texture is similar to writing on paper. You don’t get that sliding on glass effect, which seems artificial. And yes, it works with the Logitech pencil too.
Decisions: Seth’s Simple 2 x 2 Choices Grid
I’ve always admired Seth Godin’s writing. He seems to come at issues from a different and revealing perspective. The article below on making decisions is insightful and offers some common traps.
https://seths.blog/2021/01/a-simple-quadrant-for-choices/
Privacy: Just Get/Delete My Data
Nice article in Vice that presents two tools that help you find how to download your data from various websites or delete the account.
Goals: S.M.A.R.T vs. F.A.S.T.
This is the time of year where people remind you that your goals should be “SMART”. (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound ). If you’re responsible for setting goals for a group, the article below provides a different perspective.
The “FAST” stands for Frequently discussed, Ambitious, Specific, and Transparent.
https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/with-goals-fast-beats-smart/
How To: Overcome Phone Addiction
This is a thorough article about the problems with phone addition and 9 ways to overcome it. It seems the quarantine has made use more addicted. I didn’t know there was something called “phubbing,” which is where you snub someone in favor of your phone. Actually, the article includes a picture that may qualify.
The article also includes a list of problematic phone use.
https://cognitiontoday.com/phone-addiction-coping-solutions-research-statistics
Shortcuts: New Google Keep Note
If you’re a Google Docs or Google Sheets user, you know can type doc.new or sheet.new in your browser to create a new file.
Now you can do the same with Google Keep. Just type note.new.
Need for Speed: Cloudflare’s Speed Test
Yes, there are many online speed tests. But, the latest one from Cloudflare is very fast and offers info on latency and jitter. Easy to see if you’re getting that advertised speed.
History: Amazon’s Big Bets
Present-day, we all think of Amazon as the 800lb gorilla that can’t fail. Except it nearly did as the Twitter thread below chronicles. What caught my eye, was the idea of selling excess capacity which led to AWS.
It’s also interesting to see the market cap of some of those companies back then. And some of them no longer exist.
Offer: Techsmith Camtasia 10% Off
I’m a fan of Techsmith products and own both SnagIt and Camtasia. And once I get my headphone issues resolved, I plan to do more recordings. Anyway, you can get 10% off of the video recording software till 1/20/2021. You need to use code SHARECAM.