Tekee Tim's Tips

Taking a screenshot of your device

If you want to capture some information that’s displayed on your screen, such as a receipt, it can often be helpful to take a screenshot.

Luckily this is easy on all devices, Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.

Using Malwarebytes to clean up your computer

If you think you might have malware on your computer but your regular anti virus isn't showing anything, running Malwarebytes can help you find and remove anything that might be hiding on your computer. Below, we'll run through how to install and run it on Mac and Windows.

Converting an image file in macOS Monterey

One of the new features included in macOS 12 Monterey, is the ability to convert an image file into a different format, as well as changing the size of the file and removing any metadata attached to the file.

In this tip, we'll show you how to do this with just a few clicks,

How can I safely recycle my computer?

If you've replaced your PC or Mac and would like to dispose of the old one or sell it, then you need to be careful that you've erased all the data on the disk so that no one else can access any of your files.

Most people store a lot of private and sometimes sensitive documents on their computers and if someone else gets the machine, it's possible that they could recover this information so you do need to take some steps to ensure this doesn't happen and we'll show you some of those steps here.

Get Smart with your filing

If you like to keep your files and emails organised, the Mac has great features to help you do this automatically, with Smart Folders and Smart Mailboxes.

Smart Folders allows you to create a folder on your Mac that looks like a normal folder, but instead of you having to move or copy your files into it, it will ask you for a set of rules and automatically display files that match.

Removing unwanted software from your Windows PC

Every PC comes with a lot of handy software installed, such as Adobe Reader and iTunes but after a while you often find that other software has been installed on your PC either as a trial that you never got round to removing or something that got downloaded as part of something else but isn't actually required. Occasionally cleaning up this unwanted software can help keep your PC running fast and stop it getting cluttered.

Caching updates with macOS

If you have a house or office with multiple Apple devices, iMacs, MacBooks, iPhones, iPads etc it can be a pain to have to download all the updates for each device separately. This tip will help you get around that problem.

Using Reader View to make websites easier to read

If you're reading a long article on a website, all the surrounding adverts, pictures and links to other pages can get distracting, most modern web browsers now have a Reader Mode or Reader View which lets you get rid of the distractions and concentrate on what you're trying to read.

In this Tekeez Tip, we'll show you how to turn this mode on to make it easier to read the story you're trying to focus on.

How can I set my default printer?

If you have more than one printer, perhaps a mono laser for letters and an inkjet for photos, you will often print to one of them more often than the other and selecting the correct printer each time can become annoying.

On both Windows and Mac you can set the default printer easily so when you print you don’t need to change anything.

How can I silence my devices quickly?

If you're going to the cinema, into a meeting or running a presentation, you'll need to quickly silence your devices and stop any notifications popping up on the screen. This is usually just one or two taps or clicks and we'll run through all the ways to do it here.

Do more with desktop apps

When you're looking to get more from your PC or Mac, the best place to start is by installing new applications that can expand the things that your computer can do. For example, you might want to install a game to play, install an app to allow you to access Twitter or Facebook without having to keep visiting their websites or install an app to help you keep notes or keep your photos organised.

Where did my application go?

If you have a lot of applications running on your computer, it can sometimes be difficult to find the one that you’re looking for.

Fortunately both Mac and Windows have an easy to use shortcut for switching between your applications.