Last week we looked at Gmail’s General Settings.  As a result of your emails, today we move on to Gmail Labels.

You get to Labels the same way you got to General Settings last week.  You must first be logged into your Gmail account (gmail.com).  Then look to the upper right corner and hover the little "gear" icon.  It should say "Settings". If not, keep hovering until you find it.  Now click it, then "Settings."  Finally, click on the second tab, "Labels."

I think Gmail received a lot of grief because of calling them labels instead of folders because when they first created them no one understood…except for us geeks.  My guess is that in recent times Google has added, "Folders" to their icons at the top of the screen where you can "put" an email to calm everyone down.

The difference between folders in Gmail and other apps is that if you label it from your inbox, it will also have an "Inbox" label and stay in your inbox.  However, when you move it to a folder, it is removed from your inbox.  But guess what, if you move it back from the "folder" you still need to remove the label…too confusing for me, so I suggest playing in Gmail and using the one you like the best.

The only thing I don’t like about Labels (which is my own learning situation) is that if you delete an email with a label of Jokes and it is also marked with the Family label it is deleted from everywhere, not just from that label.  You should remove the label to get it "out of the folder" by selecting the email, clicking the label icon and unchecking the label you want to remove.

Tags: computer, Email, folders, Gmail, google, inbox, internet mail, labels, online, Ron Doyle, software, technology, whim, wife jokes

I did not realize so many of you are Google fans just like me.  I have received quite a few questions about some of Gmail’s settings and what they do.  So let us investigate a few of those.

To get to the settings you must first be logged into your Gmail account (gmail.com).  Then look to the upper right corner and hover the little "gear" icon.  It should say "Settings". If not, keep hovering until you find it.  Now click it, then "Settings".

There are twelve setting tabs in Gmail with hundreds of items you can adjust.   We will only look at the General tab today.  If you are interested in any of the others let me know and we will look at those over the next few weeks. 

I will only elaborate on the ones that aren’t obvious.  For instance, "Language" should be a no-brainer since you have a dropdown menu allowing you to choose the language you wish to use in Gmail. (There are currently over 50 to choose from.)  How about "Keyboard shortcuts?"  You may either set it off or on.  To get details on what the shortcuts are and how to use them click the "Learn more" link.  I keep mine set to "off" because I don’t want to keep any more shortcut keys in my head. 

"External content" will show images you get in your emails.  It only allows them from "trusted senders."  A "trusted sender" is someone you have sent email to at least twice.  If they send you an email with graphics in it, you will see the image(s) automatically. 

I believe "Browser connection" should always be set to "Always use https".  Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure is a secure protocol providing authenticated and encrypted communication or in simple language: more security and safety for your email.  Use it!

"Undo Send" is a neat feature and I have it set on, but I rarely use it.  It does what it says; you can un-send an email up to the pre-set time limit.  The default is for 10 seconds but you may change it to up to 30 seconds.  Suppose you send an email and realize you left someone off or have one more thought to add.  Just click Undo Send at the top of the screen once you send it and you get it back.  Then finish and send it again.

Drop down to "My Picture" which I recommend.  Why not upload your picture to your account?  Then people who use Gmail can see what you look like.  Also, depending on which Smart Phone you have, it will pull that picture into the phone so you can see who is calling you.  (Note to self, get a haircut before doing this one.)

"Create contacts for auto-complete" is junk in my opinion.  If you leave it on anyone you send email to will be added to your contacts list under "Other Contacts".  I recommend setting it to "I’ll add contacts myself." 

Come on now, go ahead and add a "Signature" to be sent out at the bottom of each email.  You know, a pithy saying, your favorite Scripture, phone number, address, link to your website, etc.  One of the current rules of thumb is your email signature should be no more than 5 lines of text (or a graphic no larger than that) and I agree.

OK, the last one today is "Vacation responder".  You set the start and end dates, the subject line and a message letting people know whatever you want.  I highly recommend you check, "Only send a response to people in my Contacts" so you will not let all the spammers know where you went for vacation.

Finally, once you are done changing your settings MAKE SURE to click "Save Changes" at the bottom of the screen.

Tags: dropdown menu, Email, gmail account, google, keyboard shortcuts, neat feature, Ron Doyle, security, shortcut keys, time limit, transfer protocol

For the last two weeks I wrote about some Android apps I use on my tablet and phone.  After the last one I received several emails asking what games I play on my Android devices.  Well, I am a modern business person and have no time for such absurdities. 

OK, don’t tell my boss, but I will occasionally play a game or two.  As a matter of fact don’t tell his boss but I play one of them against my boss.

I want to give you one word about games before we start…cost.  Most of the games cost something but some have a "lite" version which is free.  If you want more features and/or levels you have to pay for them.  The cost isn’t horrible; usually from around $0.99 to $3.99 each.  Also, Amazon.com offers many apps for free so go there and check, too.  Now, off to the games.

Air Control – land airplanes, jets, helicopters and even dirigibles at several different airports.  It gets harder as you land each aircraft.  

Angry Birds (all of them) – although AB Space is the latest, they are all good; however, my favorites are Rio and Space.  If you haven’t played them you should really give one a try.

Backgammon – yep, the board game in an e-version.

Hanging with Friends – great quick little word game.  You get to make up words from a few letters, send them to your online friends and they try to solve it (Hangman without the violence, oh wait, you fall into lava if you miss.) This is the one the boss and I play.

Hex Defense – one of the millions of "Castle Defense" games out there.  You know, you have a path the bad guys are going to use and you plant different weapons to try and stop them before they get to the end.

Bejeweled – this is probably one of the most popular e-only games around and has been around almost since the internet started. 

Spades – you can get all of the standard card games for your android, not just solitaire.  This is one of my favorites.  Look for the games you like most, Rook; Uno, Cribbage, Hearts and on-and-on.

Go-Go-Goat – the name is goofy and so is the game but to me it is addictive.  Your mountain goat jumps up the screen from landing areas made of grass, metal, rock or whatever and tries to go as high as he can before he falls back to the beginning.  Of course, you get helpers and hurters along the way up.

Monopoly – there are several but the one by Electronic Arts is an absolutely perfect electronic reproduction of the original board game.  Yes, it can take as long to play as the original; however, you can save your progress and come back to it later.  Also, it allows you to set up some of the rules you used years ago, you know, $400 for landing on GO, etc.

Temple Run – this one is the latest of e-games you may not have seen the likes of anywhere else.  You have to run for your life to escape the Evil Demon Monkeys nipping at your heels. You race down ancient temple walls and along sheer cliffs. Swipe to turn, jump and slide to avoid obstacles, collect coins and buy power ups.  Unlock new characters, and see how far you can run!

Write and let me know what you think and what you would like to see me talk about.

Tags: aircontrol, airplanes, amazon, android, backgammon free, board game, business, google, helicopters, jets, matter of fact, Ron Doyle

Last week I wrote about some of the Android apps I use on my tablet and phone.  I asked you to let me know if you liked what you read.  If so, I would add to the list.  First, thanks for all the comments and second, here are the next ones in my list.

Also, keep in mind that all of the apps I mention here today can be easily found at Play Google using your Android device(s).  If you want to check them first on your computer go to play.google.com, where you may also install them on devices from your PC.

To review, we covered these last week: Nook for Android, Barcode Scanner, Bible, Evernote, Facebook, Fox News, Moon+ Reader Pro and Office Suite Pro.

Here is the next batch.

Google Reader – This is one of my favorites. It allows you to keep up with all the latest news and information which interests you through RSS feeds.

Seesmic – This is for Twitter and Facebook reading, updating, etc.  It was one of the first. The market says it is still one of the best of these types of apps.  If you use both of these social networks it is good to have them in one place for access.

Soundhound – You are anywhere and hear a song.  You want to know what it is since it brings back fond memories or you want to buy it.  Within a few seconds this app identifies that song! Of course it gives you the lyrics, album cover and where to purchase it online along with other info about it, once the song is found.

StumbleUpon – this is one of the easier ways to discover new and interesting things from across the Web.  Tap the "Stumble!" button or add categories that intrigue you to discover photos, videos, web pages and more.  They are from recommendations of people sharing your interests.

TV Listings – This one’s function should be obvious.  There is also TV Guide; however, I prefer the way this looks.

USA Today – another news magazine app which keeps you up-to-date on their version of the news.  I like the Tech section best.

Wikipedia – the free encyclopedia containing more than 20 million articles in many languages.  Great informational data; however, it can be written and edited by most anyone online, so I don’t recommend it for concrete proof of anything. 

WordPress – this is for only the truly geeky of us out there.  If you have a WordPress blog you can use this app to write new posts, edit content, and manage comments on your site.

Yahoo! Sportacular – for those of you who know me well you may be amazed that I mention anything to do with sports; however, I do have a passing interest in some.  This app allows me to watch the sports and teams which interest me with as much or as little info as I want.

Keep those cards and letters coming! (Ok, emails.)

Tags: album, android, barcode scanner, bible, Evernote, facebook, fond memories, fox news, google, lyrics, moon, nook, one of my favorites, Ron Doyle, search result, social networks, twitter

I always receive emails from Android users asking what apps I like to run on my phone and tablet.  I always have to insert when I mention phones that I work for NTELOS Wireless, so there you go.

Anyway, I thought instead of writing each person individually for a while I would tell you all here.  I know many in world like iPhones and all they offer, but I am an Android lover so I won’t mention them much.  However, NTELOS started carrying iPhones just last week so when I get a hold of one my opinion may change slightly… nah.

I wrote an article about some apps back in January of this year but these are always changing.  For instance, then it was called the Android Market;s now it is named Google Play and found at a different URL: play.google.com.  I guess one of the reasons the name changed is now you can purchase more than just Android apps.

OK, here is my list of apps I use and like most.  There are others that may do the same things but I like these or have not heard of the others yet. So if you have suggestions please shoot me an email and let me know.

All of these can be found on Google play if you search for them.

Nook for Android – if you are a Barnes and Noble e-book reader you can use this app to read on your phone or tablet PC instead of your nook.

Barcode Scanner – Scan barcodes on products and look up prices and reviews. Also QR for websites, information, contact, etc.

Bible – (by LifeChurch) great bible app with many versions.  You can study; use an annual reading plan and more.

Evernote – this app lets you take notes, photos, create to-do lists, record voice reminders, etc.  You can then make them searchable and sync them across most platforms so you can find them anywhere.

Facebook -I cringe recommending this since I am not a fan, but lots of people use it, even me on rare occasions. 

Fox News – I am not much into news but this app works well and that’s the news for now.

Moon+ Reader Pro – You know me; I don’t like to pay for apps, but pay for this one I did. It reads all non-DRM e-books.  There is also a free version to try out.

Office Suite Pro – OK, here’s another I like so well I actually pay for the full version. This replaces Microsoft Office on your Android devices. It does a better than average job of it, too.

See you next week with a few more.  Remember let me know if you have some favorites!

Tags: barnes and noble, bible, e-book, ebook, Email, ereader, fox news, google, information, iphones, lifechurch, ntelos, platforms, rare occasions, reader, reading plan, record voice, reminders, Ron Doyle, scan barcodes, scanner, sync, tablet PC, thrive, thsiba

I receive questions similar to the one I got from Donna recently.  It involves something that sounds quite important in picking an e-book reader so let’s take a look and see. 

I own a Toshiba Thrive which is not actually an e-reader but I can also read books on it, so it will qualify.  My wife owns a Barnes & Noble Color Nook.

This question always involves, "which e-book reader can hold the most books?" 

For our two, the Nook advertises that it can hold around five to six thousand e-books.  It seems that all of them can hold at least three thousand and then it goes up from there.  My Thrive could probably hold that many and maybe two or more times that amount.  I’m guessing here, but I really don’t want to find out since I would have to buy a lot of books.  Yes, I know I can get the e-books and add them to my tablet but again, why?

Now all numbers given by manufacturers can vary in either direction from what they say.  No, they aren’t lying but it also depends on how many other items you store on them.  All but the purest e-readers have the ability to add other applications to them.  Those apps take up room too. 

It also gets a little more complicated as far as numbers.  If you buy a book from B&N, Amazon or anywhere else, you do not "have" to download them to your e-reader (no matter which one it is) until you are ready to read it.  You can leave it in your online "library."

I am amused by the advertising which says you can hold 3,000 – 12,000 (plus or minus) books on the various readers because, well, why would a person want to?

Do some math here. If you are my age, in my 50s, you wouldn’t have enough years left to read 3,000 books. 

If you have 3,000 books on your e-reader, pretend you read one book a week per year.  We will also say that you skip two weeks a year and don’t read due to vacation, health, etc.  That would be 3000/50.  The answer is that it will take you 60 years to complete your reading.  If your e-reader will hold 5,000 books, that would yield 100 years of reading.  I hate to be negative here, but I do not believe that the majority of us will make it that long.

These numbers are just a wonderful marketing ploy.  Most people just download a couple of recent purchases and save the rest until they finish the others.  Once a book is read you can remove it from your e-reader and it is still kept in the B&N/Amazon account for you to download and reread later if you want to.

Have a great time no matter which you finally settle on.

Tags: amazon, apps, barnes and noble, books, ebook reader, ebooks, ereader, library, math, online, reading, Ron Doyle, toshiba

Back for another look at the month in tech.  We had lots of calls and questions so to hear them check out the podcast and let me know what you think.

Here are some of the links we covered.

Thanks for taking a read and a listen and make sure you come back on May 14th for the next show with Jim Britt and myself.

Ron

Tags: desktop 3d, Double Clicks, engadget, handset, Jim Britt, locations, mysterious substance, New York, phone booth, phone booths, podcast, radio, restaurant suggestions, Ron Doyle, streets of New York, touch tone, versatile desktop, WSVA

Thanks for your emails this week about all of the Google search tips from last week.  Since I was asked to give out some more I guess this is part deux. 

When I was a lad in school (way back in the last century) I would have been so happy to have been able to come home to a computer with Google…especially when I had Algebra homework.  OK, confession time… that was literary license since I really enjoyed math and liked to struggle through some of it.  But for those of you who did not (or do not) like it, there is Google.com. 

Google can calculate from simple to fairly advanced math for you.  Try entering "2+4+8=" and search.  You will get the answer, which I hope is 14.  How about something a little more advanced?  Try something like this, "(sqrt 5)^5+91*6.3=".  Yes, the square root of five to the fifth power plus ninety-one times six point three.  Of course, we all need to perform calculations like this on occasion, but you can also calculate things in between the two aforementioned levels of difficulty.

Now here is help in the area where I fail miserably, conversions.  Google can convert numbers between huge varieties of units.  Try, "80 hectares to square yards," or "80 pounds to dollars," or "80 dollars to pounds."  The list goes on-and-on.

Would you like to find a new musical group which reminds you of another group or recording artist?  Try, "reminds me of The Beatles" and you may be surprised.

How about finding an address on a map?  Try typing, "map Panera 22801" or just "map" and any address.  You can imagine what you will get in the search.

What if you are looking for particular word/words on a specific website?  Google makes it easy by entering the words followed by the site like this; "applications will automatically site: http://doubleclicks.info/wp."  This will show you pages from the Double Clicks site containing the words, "applications will automatically."  One tip on this last one, it may locate many links but usually only the first one or two are accurate. 

Some general tips are that Google’s main search combines search terms with the Boolean use of "AND." If you enter bananas apples – it looks for bananas AND apples appearing together in the resulting pages.  If you want to find bananas or apples…you guessed it, type, "bananas OR apples."  Keep in mind that the AND/OR must be capitalized or Google considers them part of the search text.

If you are looking for a specific phrase put it in quotes, "bananas and apples are rich in".  That way you can find out what they are rich in.  Also, you must use the quotation marks on phrasal searches but not on any of the others given here. 

OK, the last one for today is that you can use a "wildcard" in Google searches.  "US income * increase * reduce," will give you searches related to US incomes, why they increase and what also may have caused them to be reduced.  Note: the * operator works only on whole words, not parts of words.

There are many other ways to use Google search.  If you want to find them out try, "How to use Google," which should be obvious.  In a few weeks maybe you will find this article online.

Tags: advanced math, algebra, confession time, conversions, deux, dollars to pounds, google, google search tips, hectares, musical group, pounds to dollars, Ron Doyle, square root

Welcome to the first show of 2012!  This is the beginning of our third year and I am certainly glad you are still listening and reading.

I want more of you this year to sign up and be members of the site. It costs (my favorite amount) $0.00, all you need is an email address and I will NOT SPAM you.  I think I sent out one email last year to all the members.

So anyway here you go with the notes from the latest show along with a link to the podcast if you would prefer to listen to the show.

Thanks for joining us.

Ron

Geocaching with Android http://www.geocaching.com/android/m
Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online.

Now you can geocache using your Android phone and Groundspeak’s Geocaching for Android Application.

Dad creates Autism App  http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/video/dad-creates-app-autistic-sons-15346472

Ron’s nephew, Joe Hill, creates an iPhone app to help his two kids, the family and the rest of the world with Autism.

I hope you are able to listen in and call in next month along with visiting the site between now and next month  on Monday, the 2oth of February, 2012.

Tags: aeir app, american life project, autism, bad news, broadcast, cable, content providers, e-book, e-reader, foxnews, internet, Jim Britt, love affair, new tv, pew trust, Ron Doyle, traditional tv, tv manufacturers, WSVA

Thanks to all of you readers who support the "Double Click" column by reading and writing.  It is very much appreciated.  Please keep it up.  I always enjoy hearing from you.

So it is that time of year again when we review all of the sites I have mentioned over the previous year.  As always, have fun remembering, discovering, or rediscovering all the info!  If you prefer to click on links and not type all of these, visit the DoubleClicks.info site and click away.

If the site addresses are too long to type I have shortened them using the, "bit.ly" app which I have discussed before.  All of these sites should be free (or have a free version) unless marked "nf".  Without further ado…here they are in their order of appearance with short descriptions of each.

• Open Office is a Microsoft Office clone that works almost as well.
• Ubuntu a free operating system which you can run alongside of or instead of Microsoft Windows.
• Ron’s video training I created a couple of videos for fun, it never went any further than these two…maybe one day.
• Change your User Account Picture one specific Double Click training video.
• VirtualBox an application that allows you to run multiple operating systems on one computer.
• Open DNS the best app out there for blocking objectionable sites from the kids.  It is slightly complicated but at the top of the features pile.
• Facebook you know about this one and if you don’t you won’t be interested.
• Windows Live Essentials a free suite of applications which do many different things from Microsoft.
• Create a Panorama an article I wrote for Microsoft about how to join individual pictures together to make a panoramic picture.
• Double Clicks my site for this column.
• eBay, TigerDirect.com, NewEgg.com, 1SaleADay.com, DealDump.com online tech stores, the sites are free but the stuff on them is nf.
• Active KillDisk application to absolutely clean your disk of personal information and everything else.
• True Crypt folder and/or file (and more) encryption software.
• XOOM this is Motorola’s entrance into the PC Tablet market, it is a good one, but later in the year I show you the best (IMHO).
• Keepass.com, LastPass.com, RoboForm.com, 1Password are some of the password recording applications around, still I chose KeePass over the rest.
• Open Wi-Fi leads to False Arrest an article showing why you should lock down your wi-fi network to stay out of jail.
• Your Home Router (192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) the IP Addresses that will most likely get you into your home router.
• Nook Barnes & Noble’s ebook reader.
• Project Gutenberg where you can download most any book that is not under copyright any longer.

OK, this took us through June, 2011.  Next week we will visit part 2 of last year’s links.

Tags: clone, different things, Double Click, ebay, free operating system, free version, microsoft, microsoft office, microsoft windows, multiple operating systems, open office, panorama, previous year, Ron Doyle, target, time of year, training, video training