Hello, and welcome…
Rick’s Daily Tech Tips Update for Monday, January 17, 2022.
Topics covered in this issue…
• Still have a 3G phone? It’s about to stop working (if it hasn’t already).
• Q&A: How do I hide my Facebook profile picture from strangers?
• Q&A: Can you give me advice on choosing a new laptop?
• Doing this now can help guarantee a more comfortable retirement
• Info about my photo / file recovery service
Today’s Sponsor…
UBreakiFix – Fast, reliable computer repair. We’re your one-stop repair solution for computers and laptops of all kinds.
Have something you’d like to tell thousands of awesome subscribers?
Click here to sponsor the next available issue.
Welcome, new subscribers….
You can make sure these updates keep landing in your Inbox by adding my email address to your Address Book or Contacts List. Click here for instructions.
Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Click here to subscribe.
Today’s Quick Tip….
Still have a 3G phone? It’s about to stop working (if it hasn’t already).
Do you still use an older smartphone that works on 3G cellular networks? If so, you’ll need to make plans to replace it with a new phone in the very near future.
The three biggest cellular providers are shutting down their 3G networks on the following schedule:
• Verizon has already shut down their 3G networks as of December 31, 2021.
• AT&T is planning to shut their 3G networks down next month (February 2022).
• T-Mobile will be shutting down Sprint 3G networks on March 31. They’re planning to turn off their own 3G networks by July 1.
If you use a different cellular company than the ones mentioned above this change will likely affect you as well since the smaller carriers typically piggy-back off the “Big Three” towers and networks.
Affected smartphones will still be able to be used as small tablets via WiFi connections, but once the cellular providers shut off 3G network access they’ll no longer be able to place regular cellular-based voice calls, send/receive SMS text messages or access the Internet via a cellular data connection.
And guess what? The 3G shutdown will affect a lot more things than just cell phones. It will also affect cars, security systems and even medical devices that use 3G networks to send and receive data.
Bottom line: If you still have any devices that depend on 3G cellular networks for normal operation you’ll need to make plans ASAP to replace them with newer devices that use 4G and/or 5G.
The latest from Rick’s Daily Tips…
• Q&A: How do I hide my Facebook profile picture from strangers?
A reader wants to know how to hide her Facebook profile picture from people who aren’t on her Friends list.
• Q&A: Can you give me advice on choosing a new laptop?
A reader asks for help with picking out a new laptop.
• Click here to see today’s ‘Picture of the Day’.
Every morning I post a new photo that I find inspiring, intriguing, or just plain beautiful to look at. Jumpstart your day by checking it out.
Pro blogging tip…
Rick’s Daily Tips is hosted by InMotion Hosting. Click here to find out why.
Rick’s Daily Pick…
Takagi 6′ Lightning Charging/Data Cable (3-pack) (#ad)
Does it seem like you can never find a cable to charge your iPhone or iPad when you need one?
If so, you need this affordable 3-pack of lightning cables from Takagi so you’ll always have a spare cable at the ready.
Today’s post from ‘My Daily Smile’…
Doing this now can help guarantee a more comfortable retirement
Many retirees end up wishing they had more retirement income to live on. This post explains how to ensure that you’ll a little extra coming in after you retire.
Tech news that caught my eye…
• Tesla starts accepting once-joke cryptocurrency Dogecoin
• North Korean hackersstole nearly $400 million in cryptocurrency last year
• Apple faces class action lawsuit over Powerbeats Pro charging issues
• Here’s another reason you should be careful about what you post online
• Ranking the fastest internet speeds around the country
Wondering how you can help me keep doing what I’m doing?
1 – If you’d like to help support my work, you can do so by leaving me a tip.
Every penny of your tip will go towards my blog’s web hosting and other related fees, which are substantial.
2 – You can Forward this email to a friend along with a short note of recommendation. (Just click the “Forward” button or link.)
Rest assured that anything you can do to help me keep helping folks will be greatly appreciated.
Rick’s Photo / File Recovery Service…
Do you have precious photos and/or other irreplaceable files that you’d like to recover from a non-working computer?
Chances are I’ll be able to recover them for you, even if the machine won’t turn on or start up correctly.
Have a question, comment or suggestion? Hit the Reply button and reply to this email. I love hearing what you have to say…
Thanks so much, and have an amazing day.
Your tech buddy,
Rick Rouse
https://www.RicksDailyTips.com