Quick Productivity Tips

This section covers articles that provide quick tips as opposed to the longer tutorial section that mostly covers Microsoft and Google products.

This master list is presently comprised of 6 categories:

This section is several pages long so be sure to use the blue Next Page >> button at the bottom or the search box to the right.

Create Distribution Lists in Gmail

Sometimes Gmail’s simplicity makes people think it is missing features. A case in point is distribution lists or group lists. Many people think that it’s not possible to send an email to a group of contacts or email addresses. The truth is that you can create personal Gmail distribution lists in a couple of easy steps by using Gmail groups.
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The Many Ways to Type Special Characters

I recently attended a meeting where an agenda item was to review a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation. One bullet point showed a daily cost of 37 cents. Several people wanted the bullet point to show 37¢. Others commented that there is no way to use these symbols as the cents sign since they weren't on your computer keyboard. This got me thinking about the different methods you can insert special characters in Windows .
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Connect to FTP Sites with a Web Browser

The acronym FTP may sound new, but it is a well-established transfer protocol. Webmasters use FTP software to upload files from their computer to a web server. Some companies use FTP to distribute software updates, patches and forms. Although you can use dedicated FTP clients such as CuteFTP, WS_FTP and others, it's easy to connect to FTP servers using your browser if you know the FTP browser syntax.
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Taking Control with the Hosts file

One of the lesser known, but important files included with Windows is the hosts file. It's a simple text file without a file extension that was designed to map or override IP addresses before accessing a domain name server. Recently, it's taken a more protective role in ad blocking and stopping spyware.
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Results of ipconf command and highlighted addresses.

MAC Addresses and Filtering Devices

MAC addresses are one of those terms that few people know, but many could benefit from learning. While some people equate them to a Macintosh computer, others know this unique bit of information can help define your wireless network.
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2 column HTML signature displayed in web browser.

How to Add Your Outlook HTML Signature

Email signatures can be a great marketing tool. However, I often run into people and business owners who struggle with trying to get their HTML versions into Microsoft Outlook. The process to add the code to emails is a bit different. Included are two ways you can add them.
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How to Handle Fake Security Warnings

Fake virus alerts that appear in your web browser appear to be on the rise. The objective of these alerts is to have you buy a service you don't need. There are ways you can spot these annoyances and get rid of them.
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Finding Big Ideas with Philosophers Notes

Today, many of us are time-starved. We have too many things to do coupled with too many distractions. This can be a hindrance to learning. It’s at these times that we look for solutions that help us stay even or ahead. One problem area for me was reading. I didn’t want to give it up, but I felt like I didn’t always have time to complete a book, let alone process it.
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Keeping it Simple with Momentum

If you've ever been overwhelmed by task managers or to do applications, you should check out the Momentum extension that works with Google Chrome or Apple Safari. It provides a simple dashboard with changing images and quotes. Includes a short video that highlights the key features.
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Printing Text in Reverse

Sometimes it’s the little things that trip you up like figuring out how to print text in reverse. I’m not trying to imitate Da Vinci and his mirror fonts. Instead, I was trying to do a t-shirt transfer with a quote. It seems there are many ways to solve this problem. You could also use this technique to baffle your boss with backwards emails.
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