Hello, and welcome…
Rick’s Daily Tech Tips Update for Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Topics covered in this issue…
• Make your battery backup work longer during a power outage
• Q&A: Where can I download Microsoft Office for free?
• Q&A: What should I do if my Facebook account gets hacked?
• How ‘Shrinkflation’ is sneakily inflating your everyday expenses
• April’s Tech Tips Giveaway: Anker 521 300W Portable Power Station
Today’s issue is sponsored by…
Express VPN is the VPN that just works. We’re the #1 trusted leader.
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Monthly Tech Giveaway….
We have a winner for April…
Congratulations to Gary M. from Warren City, Michigan for winning the Anker 521 300W Portable Power Station in April’s Tech Tips Giveaway.
May’s winner will receive a TP-Link Deco AXE4900 Tri-Band WiFi 6E Mesh WiFi System (click for details).
The prizes featured in my Monthly Tech Giveaways include a combination of the best items I have received for testing and review and brand new items provided directly by partner companies.
All winners are selected at random. All Standard subscribers have an equal chance to win. All Premium subscribers have double the chance to win (their email addresses are added to the pot twice).
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Today’s featured tech tip….
Make your battery backup work longer during a power outage
Do you have your computer gear plugged into a battery backup device? If so, you know that your machine should stay up and running for a while the next time your power goes out.
Well here’s a little tip that will extend the amount of time that your battery backup will be able to supply power to your computer during an outage…
Make sure that only your computer, monitor, modem and router are plugged into the “Battery” or “Battery+Surge” outlets on the device.
Everything else should either be plugged into a stand-alone surge protector or one of the “Surge Only” outlets on the battery backup unit.
Important: If you have a laser printer it’s best to keep it plugged into it’s own dedicated surge protector instead of one of the the “Surge Only” outlets on the battery backup device.
Whatever you do, never plug a laser printer into one of the “Battery” or “Battery+Surge” outlets on a battery backup because laser printers draw more current than a typical consumer-grade battery backup device can safely provide.
Bottom line: The only truly essential pieces of your computer system are the computer itself, the monitor, your modem and your router. Therefore, those should be the only devices drawing power from your battery backup during a power outage.
Having other non-essential devices drawing power from your battery backup’s battery will simply drain it dry faster, and that means your essential gear won’t work as long.
The latest from Rick’s Daily Tips Tech Blog…
• Q&A: Where can I download Microsoft Office for free?
This post has my best answer.
• Q&A: What should I do if my Facebook account gets hacked?
There are several steps you should take.
• 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.
Rick’s Daily Pick…
Eminta Dual-Sided Artificial Leather Desk Pad
Is your office desk looking a little worn and disheveled? This will fix that in a jiffy.
Today’s post from ‘My Daily Smile’…
How ‘Shrinkflation’ is sneakily inflating your everyday expenses
No, it isn’t just your imagination.
Tech news that caught my eye…
• Car companies are giving location data to police without a warrant
• Huawei’s next smartwatch is a blatant Apple Watch ripoff
• Netflix starts forcefully pushing Basic users to other plans
• Screenshots suggest TikTok is circumventing Apple App Store commissions
• Microsoft fixes bug behind incorrect BitLocker encryption errors
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Thanks so much, and have an amazing day.
Your tech buddy,
Rick Rouse
https://www.RicksDailyTips.com