Fun Things to Do On Your Computer. John Campbell March 17/24

Transcription

1 Fun Things to Do On Your Computer John Campbell March 17/24

2 Computer Usage Computer maintenance (updates, security, tuneup/deleting files) Life organization/information (taxes, finances, medical, insurance, gov t.) Communication ( /video call/social networking.) Hobbies - Photography (Youtube) - Music (Youtube, Pandora, Spotify, Apple/Google Music) Videos (Youtube) - For more presentations on these subjects: VCC and VCP websites

3 More Fun Options/Entertainment (Time wasters) Youtube tremendous resource for information, help and entertainment all in video format Screening tool for Youtube Websites of interest Games (Microsoft store, websites for downloading, online gaming) Browser options for entertainment Music sources

4 Fun Options - Cautions Exploring internet entertainment options can present security issues with the potential for creating problems as a result of virus and malware infections Before starting any time wasting activity use good computer security practices Antivirus and malware protection is absolutely critical I use Avast antivirus (free) and Malwarebytes (Premium -$40 yearly) Avast and Malwarebytes available from ninite.com need to subscribe to Malwarebytes for Premium/continuous protection

5 Fun/Time wasters: Youtube Tremendous resource for DIY education, help videos (eg auto/appliance repair) - instructional videos on computer subjects provide step by step instructions Previous talk by Fred Benson(vcc and vcp) explores extensive features of YouTube Incredible breadth of entertainment videos with follow-on subject suggestions make this the premier time waster Explore usage options and a screening tool

6 Fun/Time wasters: Youtube 2 options to use YouTube: with/without a Google account (ref Fred Benson talks) Why use Youtube with a Google account? - have access to video and photo editing tools - useful and free alternative sufficient for more amateur requirements - convenient way to share video/photos with friends and family - if you have a gmail address you have a google account Without a Google account: - access to Youtube videos with search - no access to editing tools YouTube usage without a google account illustrated

7 Fun/Time wasters: Youtube YouTube usage without a google account illustrated (youtube.com) the villages

8 Fun/Time wasters: Youtube video search Can restrict search results by using filters

9 Fun/Time wasters: Youtube search options Filter by time posted, length, video type. Note that filters are very effective in sorting Google search results

10 Fun/Time wasters: Youtube search aids Youtube holdings are huge!! 819,417,600 hours how many videos? At 10 minutes per video?????????? (google says 81,941,760.right???) I calculate 6 X 819,417,600 = 4,916,505,600 how to find interesting videos? Would be convenient to have a daily notification of interesting videos I use Big Geek Daddy subscribe (free) to Video of the day Provides a daily of videos of potential interest click on video to view - scenic video, comedy, historic items, sports/human achievement, travel - supported by ads

11 Fun/Time wasters: Big Geek Daddy Do a google search on Big Geek Daddy on link at bottom select get Video of the Day

12 Fun/Time wasters: Big Geek Daddy subscription no spam, daily notifications, great travel videos - example: New Zealand Ascending

13 Fun/Time wasters: Virtual Travel Virtual Travel using Google Earth Can travel to any location and view from street level Download and install Google earth software

14 More Fun Options/Entertainment (Time wasters) Youtube tremendous resource for information, help and entertainment all in video format Screening tool for Youtube Websites of interest Games (Microsoft store, websites for downloading, online gaming) Browser options for entertainment Music sources

15 Fun/Time wasters: TheVillages news.com More local news via daily notification find via search and subscribe

16 Fun/Time wasters: Comics Arcamax publishing offers various extensive options for daily notifications including comics

17 Fun/Time wasters: Useful Websites Virginiatrace.com excellent resource of information on TheVillages (250 links to clubs, entertainment Listings, sports, maps, recreation center schedules ) Social Neighborhood Website (nextdoor.com) share information (daily notification when account is set up) specific to a village (eg Collier) Talk of the villages (talkofthevillages.com) resource for wide variety of topics (eg doctors) Property owners association (Poa4us.org) and the villages homeowners association (thevha.net/villages-voice) publications dealing with homeowners issues The villages computer club, computers plus and connected villager websites computer and device info

18 More Fun Options/Entertainment (Time wasters) Youtube tremendous resource for information, help and entertainment all in video format Screening tool for Youtube Websites of interest Games (Microsoft store, websites for downloading, online gaming) Browser options for entertainment Music sources

19 Fun/Time wasters: Games Microsoft Store In the good old days some games came with Windows no longer.but games are available for Windows 8,8.1 and 10 via the Microsoft Store (as well as many other apps) Click on store icon on taskbar or enter store in search Will need a Microsoft account (likely created during operating system installation)

20 Fun/Time wasters: Games Microsoft Store Search for solitaire, minesweeper, chess.. Many free games decent selection

21 Fun/Time wasters: Games AARP Can play games online at the AARP site good selection including bridge Theory is brain exercise

22 Fun/Time wasters: Games Gametop.com Many game sites for download have only trials and lots of ads exercise care to avoid malware Gametop.com is free of trials, ads and malware (all games are free) very good selection

23 Fun/Time wasters: Games Gamehouse.com Gamehouse.com is a pay site $10/month offering a 60 minute trial on any game The unusual feature: each game has unique and intriguing graphics eg chess & solitaire

24 More Fun Options/Entertainment (Time wasters) Youtube tremendous resource for information, help and entertainment all in video format Screening tool for Youtube Games (Microsoft store, websites for downloading, online gaming) Browser options for entertainment Websites of interest Music sources

25 Fun/Time wasters: Browser options Browser home page set up with ighome account Install gadgets for specific tasks/subjects News and weather shown VCP talk for more details

26 Fun/Time wasters: Browser options Can customize home page to personal taste (wheel at upper right)

27 Fun/Time wasters: Browser options Some gadgets are location specific can get news from your home town (eg Sydney Australia)

28 More Fun Options/Entertainment (Time wasters) Youtube tremendous resource for information, help and entertainment all in video format Screening tool for Youtube Websites of interest Games (Microsoft store, websites for downloading, online gaming) Browser options for entertainment Music sources

29 Fun/Time wasters: Music Youtube is an excellent source of music: Reference Fred Benson/John Campbell VCC late 2016 Youtube search example for obscure artist : Ian and Sylvia Result 45 minute music video More suggestions

30 Fun/Time wasters: Music Streaming music services - Pandora and Spotify have free options with ads (pay versions ad free) Google and Apple offer trials pay only Free music ref Fred s talk Amazon Prime music one of many great benefits as a Prime member Go to amazon.com, select Prime and explore Prime music (2,000,000 files)

31 Fun/Time wasters: Amazon Prime Music

32 Fun/Time wasters: Amazon Prime Music Search by singer, song name or genre can create playlists, stream to multiple devices

33 Resources 1) Youtube: 2) Big Geek Daddy: 3) The Viilages-news: 4) Arcamax: 5) Nextdoor.com: 6) Talk of the Villages: 7) Property Owners Association: 8) Villages Homeowners Association: 9) The Villages Computer club (Links to other clubs): 10) Microsoft Store: 11) AARP Online games: 12) Gametop.com: 13) Gamehouse.com: 14) ighome:

34 Questions?