Surf the Internet and use some favorite shortcuts

Just a few reminders to use some of the "basic" keystrokes & keyboard shortcuts so that when you are surfing the Internet - it will be easier and more enjoyable.....

• "F5" REFRESH KEY – using this function key will “reconnect" you to a website to update all the information


• "F11” FUNCTION KEY – (or Menu Bar, View, FULL SCREEN)- This is a “toggle button/key” so you can go back and forth for Full Screen which CONDENSES your toolbar at the top OR Normal Screen with All Toolbars at top and Task Bar at bottom…


• CTRL AND + OR – KEYS – Allow you to quickly and easily enlarge the screen when you are on the Internet OR use the Zoom Icon/drop down menu on the status bar at the bottom of your screen or go to your Command Bar, Page and Zoom-and change the size there - remember this doesn't change text size, it simply magnifies whats on your monitor when you are on the Internet so that it is easier to read..


• CTRL PLUS LEFT CLICKING THE “HYPERLINK” YOU WANT TO OPEN – this allows you to leave the page you are on open and it forces open another new tab so you toggle between both websites


• TABBING & FAVORITES/BOOKMARKS – these features allow you to easily multi-task and toggle from one website to another without having to “sign in” repeatedly and to visit websites you visit often

Google's How To Videos

One of my favorite Boston based tech support people, Kevin Bachleder, recently shared with us a wonderful website that we should all add to our favorites/bookmarks…

http://www.teachparentstech.org/

This great website, provided by GOOGLE, shares with us their new 54 how-to videos tutorials produced and hosted by their Google employees. Each of the video tutorials runs for just under a minute on a wide variety of topics to help us better understand some of the new (and old) computer technology..

These video tutorials are a wonderful way to reinforce the “how to steps” on a variety of topics that we ask others to help us with each and every day… They cover such basics as "how to attach a file to an email" or "how to copy and paste" through to "how to find cheap flights."

So, like our other favorite Google website: http://www.allmyfaves.com/

This new one is a great addition to our favorites/bookmarks..

And if you’d like to read a little more about the new Google video help site, read the article in December 2010 PC Magazine:

www.pcworld.com/article/213621/send_your_parents_a_care_package_of_howto_videos.html

Working With Bookmarks/Favorites In Chrome by Google

FOR THOSE OF US WHO USE “CHROME" GOOGLE'S WEB BROWSER, use the bookmark manager to organize your bookmarks and folders. Remember "Website Favorites" are called "Bookmarks" in Chrome & other browsers.. To open the manager, follow these steps:

1. Click the wrench icon (in the upper right hand corner of your chrome web page screen) on the browser toolbar. Mac users: If you don't see the wrench icon, go to the menu bar at the top of your screen and click Bookmarks.
2. Select Bookmark manager.

Here are a few tips for using the manager:

• Move bookmarks or folders around
  Simply click the item you want to move and drag it to its new destination within the folder list on the left.
• Edit the name or web address of a bookmark, or a folder name
  Select the item you'd like to edit, click the Organize menu, then select Edit. You can also easily edit bookmarks and folders from the bookmarks bar by right-clicking the item in question and selecting Rename.
• Search bookmarks
  Use the search box at the top to quickly find a bookmark within the manager.
• Add a new bookmark folder
  In the folder list on the left, right-click the location where you want the new folder to reside and select Add folder
• Delete a bookmark or folder
  Right-click the item and select Delete.

WORKING WITH FAVORITES IN INTERNET EXPLORER:

To organize your list of Favorite Websites:

If you have added to your list and didn’t put addresses into specific topic related folders you can do it anytime to make it easier to find items of similar interest… To do so…

• Left Click on FAVORITES
• Left Click on ORGANIZE and your list will appear
• To move a web address to a folder, left click on the site which highlights it
• Then left click on “MOVE TO FOLDER”; then left click on the FOLDER to put it in, OR
• CREATE NEW FOLDER” and then repeat the process and “MOVE TO FOLDER”.
• When you are finished left click OK

To alphabetize your Favorite List:

• Left click on FAVORITES on the menu bar (not the toolbar icon)
• Point to and highlight any item on the list – then RIGHT CLICK on that item
• A menu will appear – toward the bottom of the menu – choose “SORT BY NAME”
• Left Click “SORT BY NAME” - all items in your Favorite List are alphabetized
• Addresses not put in specific folders are always at the bottom of the list

What is Windows 7 Operating System?

Windows 7 Operating System, like earlier operating systems, comes with a preset list of Internet Favorites, which can be seen in the navigation pane on the left hand side. But know that you are in control more than ever.

Folders and Favorites can be added to this list or removed, you can set up new folders, or even restore the originals… So many possibilities…and it’s easier than ever… By default, the favorite locations are:

• Recent Places
• Downloads
• Desktop

And your list may include

• Recorded TV (if you set it up in the Media Centre)

So to make changes....

• To remove any of these from the list, right-click on what you don’t want, and when the action menu appears, choose “Remove” and it will be deleted
• To add your own folders to the Favorites list, when you have the website open, Right-click on Favorites in the navigation pane – when the action menu appears, choose “Add current location to Favorites” and it will be added
• Changed your mind – maybe deleted the wrong folder – to restore your Favorites list to its previous state, just Right-click on Favorites; Click on “Restore favorite links” from the action menu that appears. This doesn’t remove any of the new locations that you’ve added, it just brings back the original ones

Fun websites for May

It's Memorial Day Weekend and we thought you'd enjoy checking out a favorite Memorial Day website with lots of helpful information about the holiday and th way it is celebrated.. enjoy

www.usmemorialday.org

When I want to know which websites are “Hot” – we can always check out

www.allmyfaves.com

which we’ve been talking about for a few years now and is on our favorite list..

Another favorite website to visit that lists their opinion of the top “100 websites” is:

www.100bestwebsites.org

Want to travel from the comfort of home, then check out web cams all over the world, including spring tulip farms in Holland, the oil spill in the gulf, cape cod beaches, the Eiffel Tower and many many more:

www.earthcam.com

So check them out - and if you have a favorite website you'd like us to share with everyone - just send it to me and remember to save websites you visit to your favorite or bookmark list so they are easy to visit again in the future..

Enjoy the Internet - where we can learn & explore anytime - anywhere…

INTERNET UPDATES

Just a few reminders to help you enjoy using the internet...

When you visit a website you enjoy, be sure to save it to your favorites, so you can access it again easily... How????When the website is on your monitor:

• Go to the Menu bar, choose Favorites
• Top of the list that appears choose "add to favorites"
• Now "choose your folder" or create and name a new folder
• Now "be sure you are happy with the name" or type your own for the website
• Now click ADD and it's added to your favorite list

Next time you're on the Internet, go to Favorites, find your folder and websites you've saved will be there without having to remember the web address - just left click on it and another connection to the Internet will open and connect you to the website....

A few other reminders....

• Use the F5 function key to REFRESH any page on your monitor
• Use the F11 function key to get a FULL SCREEN (and eliminate all the toolbars) to get them back, just tap the F11 key again...