How to: Tracking your package or shipment via Google

This comes way of Googlesystem Blog.
 Google has created a new card for an easy simple way of tracking packages you've sent out.
The card is extreemely simple. You just enter the tracking number in the field.

No need to goto the websites of USPS, FedEx or UPS! Check it out here: Googlesystem Blog

Try it out!

How to: Locate a Lost Or Stolen Phone

Losing your phone can be a turn any everyday situation into a frantic panic.
You've just got home running errands, and now you realize you can't find your phone. Thoughts are going thru your mind. Is it on the counter at the gas station? Did I leave it at the store?

GPS technology has made it easier to locate devices and that includes cell phones. There are many apps on the Play Store which are available to locate cell phones but this article will list two of the leading brands.

As a reminder - the apps covered here will need to be installed on your phone first. Simply install the app and ensure it is active on your phone under Settings-Security-Device Administrators. Any app which uses the security features within Android should be listed here. Ensure the app is checked.

Where's My Droid
Where's My Droid (WMD) has been around for a few years now and the app has become much more streamlined and easier to setup since I started using it in 2013. It's jam packed features include ring, camera, lock and wipe. There are two components to WMD -the app itself which is installed on your phone and the desktop utility.

Using a friends phone, you can also send a special text to your phone so it can ring at full volume, even if your phone is set to vibrate. Taking pictures, activating GPS, locking and wiping can be done the same way; using a special text from another phone.
You can locate your phone by logging into the desktop utility at
https://commander.wheresmydroid.com/
Download the app itself at the PlayStore (WMD is not available for iPhone/iPad)

Android Device Manager
Google has it's own utility to locate lost/stolen android devices, however it's not as feature rich as WMD. One drawback with Android Device Manager is that GPS/Location Services must already be on before you lose the phone as opposed to WMD where you can turn on GPS with a text.
Still...if the only thing you need to do is locate, lock or wipe your phone or tablet, Android Device Manager will do the job just fine.

As a reminder - the apps covered here will need to be installed on your phone first. That being said head over to the Play Store and search for Android Device Manager.
Simply install the app and ensure it is active on your phone under Settings-Security-Device Administrators.
Any app which uses the security features within Android should be listed here. Ensure Android Device Manager is checked.
Ensure GPS/Location Services is turned on.

Locating your phone is simple. Just log into your Google account, and head over to https://www.google.com/android/devicemanager.
A map will be displayed and Google will attempt to locate your phone. From here you can also Lock and Wipe your phone/tablet as well.

In the long run it's a good thing to be prepared before you lose your Samsung, LG or HTC. 

Installing apps such as Where's My Droid or Android Device Manager may save you alot of heartache if you ever lose your phone.

How to: Replacing A Broken Laptop Screen

Whether it's cracked or has one too many blown pixels, a broken laptop display can stop you dead in your tracks. But with the right tools, a little technical know-how, and a bit of patience you can replace a damaged LCD.

Broken laptop screen

Note: In this article, I show you how to replace the screen on an Asus UL50V notebook, which has an LED-backlit LCD.

Depending on the make and model of your laptop, the internal hardware and specific steps may vary. The general process however, should be the same.







Should you try this fix?
If accidental damage is covered under your laptop's warranty, don't do this fix yourself. Get the laptop repaired under the warranty.

Lastly, understand that if you follow the instructions in laptop screen replacement, you do so at your own risk.  I am not held responsible for injury, damage, or loss of data.

Getting a replacement screen and tools
To begin your fix, you'll need a few simple tools and a replacement LCD screen. For tools, I recommend a screwdriver with a variety of small bits, such as a Phillips #00 and a Torx T5. It's also a good idea to have a few thin metal blades or plastic spudgers. These are really handy for removing the trim that surrounds the screen.

As for the replacement LCD, you should be able to buy one either from the laptop manufacturer's authorized parts dealer or a third-party supplier. Depending the screen, they usually cost between $50 and $150 dollars—more if it's a high-end display or you buy an OEM replacement. Regardless, you'll want to buy a new screen that matches your broken one exactly. The only sure way to do this is to remove the broken one.

1. Remove the screen bezel
After disconnecting the power supply and removing the battery, carefully examine the bezel around the screen. You'll need to remove this bezel to access the screws that hold the LCD panel in place.
On this laptop, several rubber cushions hide screws, which hold the bezel in place. I'll need to remove these cushions and the screws that are underneath.

With the hidden screws removed, I used a thin metal blade to pop loose one of the bottom corners and worked my way around the bezel with a plastic spudger.










Note: Your laptop may not have cushions or hidden screws. The bezel may simply snap onto the lid or be held in place with double-side tape. Just, adapt my instructions to fit your specific laptop.
Regardless of how you do it, you'll need to completely remove the bezel.

2. Remove the broken LCD panel
With the LCD's mounting brackets exposed, you can remove the screws that secure it to the lid. Then rest the display front-side-down on the case and disconnect its cable.

If your laptop was made before 2010 and has a LCD with fluorescent backlights, it will likely have two cables. But as this is an LED-backlit LCD, it only has one.

Now, locate the manufacturer's label and note the model number. Using this information you should be able to buy an exact match for your broken screen.

3. Install the new LCD panel
Once your new screen arrives, unpack it and make sure it matches the old one.

If the dimensions, mounting brackets, and connector all match, you ready to install the screen. Connect the new panel to the cable, position the panel in the lid, and secure it using the appropriate screws.

4. Test the new LCD panel and reinstall the bezel
Before reattaching the bezel, it's a good idea to test the new panel. Reconnect the battery and power cable and turn the machine on. If the display works, you can reattach the bezel and any external screws and rubber cushions. The repair is now complete.

As fixes go, this one isn't too tough, but it does take a little patience and planning to make sure you get the right replacement screen.

Original article at Techrepublic

What is Crossfire?

Previously I worked on a customers system that had two ATI 4800 GPU's using Crossfire. It's a technology that ATI developed so up to four graphics cards can be used in a single computer to improve graphics. Crossfire has the advantage over Nvidias SLI (Scalable Linked Interface) where you don not need to have both cards the identical GPU. 

You'll usually only find systems that use Crossfire or SLI in high end gaming machines. The customer I recently visited had a quad core AMD processor running 3.2ghz, 8gb ram, 600gb HD, and CCL lighting galore in the case.....very nice.

How to: Have Cortana use Google instead of Bing in Windows 10

Windows 10 has a pretty amazing search assistant called Cortana. She comes hand in hand with Bing, as Bing is owned by Microsoft. So every search result that comes back is from Bing. That's all fine and dandy but if you're a fan of Google that's a big no-no.

Here's how you can force Cortana to use Google instead of Bing.

1. Navigate to Settings. You can get there from the Start menu.
2.Select System.
3. Click Default apps in the left pane.

4. Click Microsoft Edge under the "Web browser" heading. ...

5. Select the new browser (ex: Chrome) in the menu that pops up.











6. Great....Now that you've changes the default browser you'll need to install a Chrome Browser extension called Chrometana. You can download it here.


7. Once the extension has been installed you'll see a webpage welcoming you to Chrometana and to choose your default search engine. Simply click Google here and you're all set.

Now when searching with Cortana in Windows you'll see results from Google instead. 

If you ever feel to change the search engine or remove Chrometana click  click the triple bar button in the upper-right corner of the window, select “Settings” from the drop-down menu, and then click “Extensions” in the list of items on the left side of the “Settings” tab that displays (under “Chrome”).