Tech Savvy Life

How to Use Bionic Reading in Chrome

We are all constantly absorbing information online. Bionic Reading is an approach to reading that can help you read faster, retain more information, and boost your productivity in your favorite web browser, like Chrome.

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
June 6, 2023

This is for desktops using Chrome or other browsers. Screenshots are from Windows 10

We are all constantly absorbing information online. Bionic Reading is an approach to reading that can help you read faster, retain more information, and boost your productivity in your favorite web browser, like Chrome.

Bionic Reading Explained

Bionic reading is a method of reading that combines traditional reading with technology-assisted tools. This helps readers increase their reading speed, improve their comprehension and retention, and ultimately become more productive in their reading activities.

Was the above paragraph easier and quicker to read? If you said yes, then you have just experienced some of the benefits of Bionic Reading. Now, imagine that but for a whole article, essay, or book.

Your brain does not always read every letter of every word. It only intakes enough information for you to understand a word, and then it moves on to the next one. The bolding of the first half of each word lets your mind fast-track through paragraphs.

The bolding aspect is the most notable factor in Bionic Reading, but there’s more as well. A lot of apps and extensions also remove colors from images and change white or black backgrounds to gray. These changes help your eyes focus on the text.

Why Use Bionic Reading

Using Bionic Reading in Chrome, or any other web browser, can offer several benefits.

It can help you read faster and more efficiently, which allows you to cover more material in less time.

Bionic Reading can also help you retain more information by training your brain to focus on the most important parts of any text.

As a result of the two above-mentioned benefits, it can improve your productivity by allowing you to process information more effectively. This can be particularly useful in academic or work-related settings.

Bionic Reading in any browser can be a valuable tool for anyone looking to optimize their online reading experience.

Think of Bionic Reading as akin to Speed Reading but they are different in their approach. Speed Reading is the process of rapidly recognizing and absorbing phrases or sentences on a page all at once, rather than identifying individual words.

How Bionic Reading Helps You

Bionic Reading helps you read faster and more efficiently with techniques including skimming, scanning, chunking, and altering images to be easier on the eye. Refer to the below image:

Bionic Reader 1 — Bionic Reading example from Chrome Web Store

For example, when you skim a text, you quickly glance through it to get a general idea of the content without reading every word. Similarly, when you scan a text, you search for specific keywords or phrases that are relevant to your reading goals.

By using these techniques, you can save time and energy. Bionic Reading tools like web browser extensions or apps can help automate some of these techniques.

Bionic Reading Trains Your Brain to Retain Information

By using Bionic Reading, you can begin to retain more information by training your brain to focus on the most crucial parts of any text, such as key concepts, arguments, or evidence.

Through using techniques like skimming or scanning (as mentioned above), you can quickly identify the main points of the text and decide what information is relevant to your reading goals. In turn, this uses less mental energy.

By consistently applying these techniques, you can train your brain to become more efficient at processing and retaining information. Studying, researching, and editing your own work can become easier as a result.

Bionic Reading Improves Your Productivity

Before we go into how Bionic Reading increases your productivity, you need a frame of reference for how your productivity can suffer through everyday means.

Using your eyes takes up about 50% of your brain power. That’s more than any of your other senses. We, as humans, heavily rely on our vision for pretty much everything we do.

As your brain becomes able to retain more information, you will need to re-read the same text less often.

Reading faster and more efficiently drastically cuts down on the stress your eyes and brain suffer while researching, writing, and doing similar work, especially when you are mentally digesting new information.

To summarize, by improving your reading efficiency and training your brain to better retain information, your productivity should increase.

Bionic Reading Chrome Extension

You can get the Bionic Reading extension for Chrome on the Chrome Web Store. See the below image:

Bionic Reader 2 — Adding Bionic Reading Chrome extension

At the top of a Chrome window, click the Menu icon (the 3 dots) to open the Menu. Now, click More Tools > Extensions to view the extension. See the following image:

Bionic Reader 3 — Bionic Reading Chrome extension

After installing it, you can manage the Bionic Reading extension through the Extensions menu at the top-right of your window (click the little jigsaw piece icon). Refer to the below image:

Bionic Reader 4 — Activate Bionic Reading

You are now ready to begin using the Bionic Reading extension! When you want to activate it on any given webpage, all you need to do is click the jigsaw piece icon at the top-right of your window and then click the Bionic Reading icon. To turn Bionic Reading off, do the same thing again. See the below image:

Bionic Reader 5 — Bionic Reading example

Everything is removed from the web page but the text. That’s all there is to it! Start saving your energy for tougher tasks by letting Bionic Reading do the heavy visual lifting.

Disclaimer

Technology is always changing and rarely is there static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.

Quote For the Day

I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact.
Elon Musk

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Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life. Please mention the device, app, and version you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

Author’s E-Book

You can access the e-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.

The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath

Using a Keyboard Shortcut to Clear Your Browser History

Want to clear your browser history quickly? There’s a keyboard shortcut for that. It works in any browser, including Google Chrome, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox (on both Windows PCs and Macs.)

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
May 30, 2023

This is for popular browsers on a PC or Mac

Want to clear your browser history quickly? There’s a keyboard shortcut for that. It works in any browser, including Google Chrome, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox (on both Windows PCs and Macs.)

Depending on your web browser of choice, you can speed things up in the future by activating the Clear button with a few keystrokes. You may have to tab through the interface to select the Clear button before hitting Enter.

Here’s how it works on a few popular browsers on a Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC:

Google Chrome: Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete and press Enter.
Mozilla Firefox: Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete and press Enter.
Microsoft Edge: Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete and press Enter.

You can now configure exactly what you want to delete. Your browser will remember the settings you pick here, so you will only have to set this up once.

You can pick a time range, or history from a time period like the last hour, last 24 hours, last week, or from all time. You can also pick the types of data: browsing history, download history, cookies, cached files, and more.

When you are done, click the Clear data or Clear now button. Refer to the below image for Chrome:

Clear Chrome 1 — Selecting to Clear data in Chrome

Incognito Mode

In the future, you can eliminate the need to clear your browser history by browsing in a private-browsing mode, like Incognito Mode in Chrome. You will just have to close the private-browsing window, and your browser will immediately forget the history associated with your private browsing.

You can use keyboard shortcuts to open and close a private-browsing mode window, too.

Google Chrome: Press Ctrl+Shift+N
Mozilla Firefox: Press Ctrl+Shift+P
Safari or Chrome on a Mac: Press Command instead of Ctrl; for example, press Shift+Command+N.

When you are done, press Ctrl+W to close a single tab or Ctrl+Shift+W to close an entire window. (On a Mac, press Command instead of Ctrl.)

Just remember that Incognito Mode does not offer complete privacy online. It only prevents your web browser from storing your browsing history locally. You may want to combine it with a VPN to boost your online privacy.

Disclaimer

Quote For the Day

Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.
Anton Chekhov

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The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath

How to Use Hidden Reader Mode in Chrome

Most web browsers have a built-in “Reader Mode” that converts web pages into a more reader-friendly view. Strangely, Google Chrome does not have this feature; unless you know how to find it.

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
May 23, 2023

Most web browsers have a built-in “Reader Mode” that converts web pages into a more reader-friendly view. Strangely, Google Chrome does not have this feature; unless you know how to find it. Let’s find out where it is.

This is for devices running Google Chrome. Screenshots are from Windows 10

Google Chrome has included a hidden Reader Mode all the way back to version 75. However, it’s never been upgraded to a stable, standard feature. Even Microsoft Edge; which is also based on Chromium; has a Reader Mode. So let’s enable it in Chrome.

Enable Hidden Reader Mode

First, we will need to enable a Chrome feature flag. Open the Chrome browser on your computer, and type:

chrome://flags

in the address bar, and hit Enter. Refer to the below image:

Chrome Reader 1 — Accessing Chrome flags

Next, search for “Reader Mode” in the text box at the top and enable the flag titled “Enable Reader Mode.” See the below image:

Now, after enabling the flag, click the “Relaunch” button at the bottom of the screen to apply the changes. See the following image:

Next, when you now visit a webpage that has a lot of text, you will see a little book icon on the right side of the address bar. Click it to switch to Reader Mode.

You can also click:

Menu > Enter Reader Mode

to activate it. Refer to the below image:

Chrome Reader 4 — Selecting the Reader Mode icon

Now, you are now looking at a much simpler, less cluttered view of the webpage. Images still appear, but ads and some other items are removed. To adjust the view, click the “A” icon in the top right. See the below image:

Next, from here you can change the font, text size, and background color. See the following image:

Chrome Reader 6 — Customizing appearance

That’s all there is to it! You can now minimize distractions while reading long articles in Chrome. It’s strange that Google has kept this a hidden feature for years, but at least you know how to enable it yourself.

Disclaimer

Quote For the Day

Man is still the most extraordinary computer of all.
John F Kennedy

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The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath

How to Make Google Chrome Fast

Google Chrome is a very popular browser despite being infamously greedy with your computer’s resources. If you feel like Chrome is starting to get slow, let’s speed it up.

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
May 16, 2023

Google Chrome is a very popular browser despite being infamously greedy with your computer’s resources. If you feel like Chrome is starting to get slow, let’s speed it up.

This is for devices running Google Chrome. Screenshots are from Windows 10

Update Chrome

The simplest thing you can do is make sure Chrome is up to date. This will ensure that you always have the latest improvements and optimizations for Chrome. The browser will usually install updates automatically, but you can update manually to be sure.

To manually update Chrome, head to:

Menu (3 dots) > Settings > About Chrome

If not up-to-date, Chrome will automatically update. Refer to the below image:

Preload Images

Chrome has a feature that allows it to “predict” which links it thinks you might open and preload in the background. That way, if you do click the link, it will already be partially loaded.

If you want to enable this feature. First, head to:

Menu (3 dots) > Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and Other Site Data

Next, toggle the switch ON for Preload pages for faster browsing and searching. See the below image:

Tabs Under Control

Chrome has some built-in tools to help mitigate the performance impact of having a lot of tabs open, but keeping your tabs tidy on your own will help even more.

There are a couple of things you can do if you are someone that constantly has tons of tabs open. The easiest thing to do is use Chrome’s Reading List and Bookmarks features. That way, you can save pages for later without actually keeping them open in a tab.

Use Energy Saver

As the name implies, Chrome’s Energy Saver feature is intended to help improve battery life when your laptop is unplugged. However, it can also be used to speed up performance in a pinch.

Energy Saver limits background activity, visual effects, and video frame rates. Limiting those things helps stretch out your battery, which is a result of Chrome not asking your computer to work as hard. You can only use Energy Saver if your computer is running on battery or below 20% power. Head to:

Menu (3 dots) > Settings > Performance

and toggle ON the Energy Saver switch.

Memory Saver

With the latest release of Chrome on the desktop, there is a new performance setting so Chrome uses up to 40% and 10GB less memory to keep your tabs running smoothly.

If you have a bunch of tabs open in Chrome that you plan to come back to later; Memory Saver mode frees up memory from tabs you are not currently using so the active websites you are browsing are fast. This is especially useful if you are running other intensive applications, like editing family videos or playing games. Any inactive tabs will be reloaded when you need them. Head to:

Menu (3 dots) > Settings > Performance

and toggle ON the Memory Saver switch. See the following image:

Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration is a feature that allows Chrome to take advantage of your computer’s GPU to speed up processes. Hardware can perform some functions faster than software running on the CPU alone.

When enabled, Chrome will utilize your computer’s GPU for graphics-intensive tasks, like playing games and watching videos. It’s typically enabled by default but can be disabled if there are driver compatibility issues. You can ensure it’s enabled by heading to:

Menu (3 dots) > Settings > System

and toggle ON the option Use hardware acceleration when available. Refer to the below image:

Fast Chrome 4 — Select to Use Hardware Acceleration

Check Task Manager

If you feel like Chrome is particularly sluggish, there might be a rogue extension causing it. Chrome has its own built-in Task Manager that lets you see what’s running in the browser; extensions, web pages, and apps; and how many resources each individual thing is using.

Chrome’s Task Manager shows each tab and all the extensions that are currently running. You can see the memory footprint and CPU usage. If a process uses too much CPU, you can simply tap the End Process button and see if that fixes the problem.

The Task Manager can be found in:

Menu (the 3 dots) > More Tools > Task Manager

Just click on the option from the drop-down menu. See the below image:

Check Extensions

Similar to how you might have apps on your phone that you do not use anymore, there are probably some Extensions in Chrome that you could get rid of. They could be running in the background and eating up resources.

Regardless of performance, it’s generally a good idea to routinely check up on your Extensions. Chrome gives you the option to “Disable” by turning the Toggle to OFF or “Remove.” Disabling will keep the Extension installed, but it cannot run. To check your Extensions, head to:

?Menu (3 dots} > More Tools > Extensions

See the following image:

Clear Your Browsing Data

Chrome collects a lot of data while you are browsing to improve your experience. All this site data, cookies, and cached images and files can add up over time. Occasionally clearing this data can potentially lighten up your browser, but it also means you will need to re-sign into websites.

There are two ways to do this. First, head to:

Menu (the 3 dots) > More Tools >Clear Browsing Data

Second, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Del. Both methods will bring up a menu with options (Basic or Advanced) for clearing the data.

Checkmark any option(s) and click Clear data. Refer to the below image:

Fast Chrome 7 — Clear your Browsing Data

Reset Without Uninstalling

The “nuclear option” for speeding up Chrome is performing a browser reset. This will essentially bring Chrome back to the way it was when you first installed it while still saving some of your personal stuff.

A browser reset will reset the search engine, homepage, startup tabs, new tab page, pinned tabs, content settings, cookies, site data, extensions, and themes. However, it will not erase your bookmarks, browser history, or saved passwords.

To perform a browser reset, head to:

Menu (3 dots) > Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults

See the below image:

Just click the option. Next, you will see a confirmation screen. Here, click on the Reset settings button. See the following image:

Fast Chrome 9 — Reset Settings confirmation. Use with caution

Disclaimer

Quote For the Day

“While we’re all very dependent on technology, it doesn’t always work.
Bill Gates

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Author’s E-Book

You can access the e-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.

The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath

Amazon RxPass for Your Prescriptions

Hot on the heels of shutting down the AmazonSmile charity platform, a new add-on to Amazon Prime has been revealed. It aims to fill prescriptions for generic medications for one low monthly price.

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
May 11, 2023

Hot on the heels of shutting down the AmazonSmile charity platform, a new add-on to Amazon Prime has been revealed. It aims to fill prescriptions for generic medications for one low monthly price.

This is for devices using Amazon

Amazon already runs a pharmacy through its online store, bolstered by the purchase of PillPack in 2018, but now the company is going a step further. Instead of buying each drug individually, Amazon is launching an optional subscription called RxPass, priced at $5 per month in the United States. No health insurance is required, but most (if not all) of the medications are controlled substances that require a prescription from a doctor.

RxPass does not cover every drug Amazon sells, but it does provide access to “commonly prescribed generic medications that treat more than 80 common health conditions.” There’s a full list on the RxPass website (scroll down to see the list), which includes anti-inflammatory drugs like Piroxicam and Naproxen, nine medications for high blood pressure and cardiac dysrhythmias, and even some drugs for treating Parkinson’s disease.

The new subscription could potentially save some people a lot of money, but there is a darker side to RxPass. CNN reports the subscription is almost certainly a loss leader for Amazon, meaning it’s intended to maintain subscriptions to Amazon Prime rather than be self-sustaining. You are probably going to be less likely to cancel Amazon Prime on the next price hike if it’s responsible for your access to critical medication, and Amazon’s FAQ page says canceling Prime will also cancel RxPass.

Disclaimer

Technology is always changing, and rarely is there static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.

Quote For the Day

We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology.
Carl Sagan

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Author’s E-Book

You can access the e-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.

The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath

What is the New Rapid Response from Apple

Rapid Security Responses are a new software release for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. They deliver important security improvements between software updates — for example, improvements to the Safari web browser, the WebKit framework stack, or other critical system libraries. They may also be used to mitigate some security issues more quickly, such as issues that might have been exploited or reported to exist “in the wild.”

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
May 9, 2023

This is for iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Rapid Security Responses deliver significant security improvements between software updates.

Rapid Security Responses are a new software release for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. They deliver important security improvements between software updates; for example, improvements to the Safari web browser, the WebKit framework stack, or other critical system libraries. They may also be used to mitigate some security issues more quickly, such as issues that might have been exploited or reported to exist “in the wild.”

New Rapid Security Responses are delivered only for the latest version of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS — beginning with iOS 16.4.1, iPadOS 16.4.1, and macOS 13.3.1.

By default, your device allows Rapid Security Responses to be applied automatically and, if necessary, will prompt you to restart your device. To check your device settings:

On iPhone or iPad head to:

Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates

Then make sure that Security Responses & System Files are turned on. Refer to the below image:

On a Mac head to:

Apple menu  > System Settings >General > Software Update > Show Details button next to Automatic Updates

Then make sure that Install Security Responses and system files are turned on.

When a Rapid Security Response has been applied, a letter appears after the software version number, as in this example: iOS 16.4.1 (a).

Suppose you choose to turn off this setting or not to apply Rapid Security Responses when they are available. In that case, your device will receive relevant fixes or mitigations when they have included in a subsequent software update.

Source: Apple Support

Disclaimer

Quote For the Date

Even in such technical lines as engineering, about 15% of one’s financial success is due one’s technical knowledge and about 85% is due to skill in human engineering, to personality and the ability to lead people.
Dale Carnegie

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Author’s E-Book

You can access the e-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.

The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath

How to Check if Your Smartphone Has 5G

With 5G frequently being portrayed as a game-changer in cellular technology, you may wonder: is my phone 5G?

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
May 4, 2023

This is for Android and iPhone. Screenshots are from Android and iPhone Pro 14 running iOS 16+

With 5G frequently being portrayed as a game-changer in cellular technology, you may wonder: is my phone 5G? Let’s find out in a few simple steps.

5G Explained

5G, a successor to 4G, is a moniker used to describe the fifth-generation cellular network technologies used by carriers worldwide. It comes with a promise of faster data speeds, greater bandwidth, and reduced latency than previous-generation cell networks. So if you use 5G on your phone, you should be able to download content faster, stream high-definition movies and TVs without buffering, play online video games without connectivity issues, and do much more.

But like any new major technology, it needs new hardware. Carriers are upgrading hardware on their end to deliver 5G networks, and as a consumer, you need a 5G-compatible phone to enjoy its benefits. Any 5G compatible phone has specialized hardware, such as newer cellular modems that can connect to the 5G networks. So how do you check if you have a 5G phone?

How to Know if Your Smartphone Has 5G

As of March 2023, pretty much all new high-end and mid-range phones being launched can use a 5G network. And the same is true for quite a few budget phones as well. But if you are unsure whether your phone is 5G, it’s pretty easy to check.

But remember, apart from having 5G hardware, a phone must be certified to work on a carrier’s 5G network. So if your 5G phone did not come certified to work on your carrier, it would need that certification, which often accompanies a software update to enable carrier support. Otherwise, you will not be able to use 5G on your device.

Is My iPhone 5G Compatible

Apple has included 5G hardware in every iPhone shipped since iPhone 12 series, including the iPhone SE (3rd gen). So if you own iPhone 12 series or newer, your phone is 5G-compatible. Apple’s relatively simple iPhone lineup makes knowing if your iPhone is 5G compatible easy. But as mentioned earlier, it’s not as simple as having 5G hardware in the phone; you also need the necessary software to support your carrier.

To check if your iPhone can work with your carrier’s 5G networks, first, navigate to:

Settings > Mobile Data > Mobile Data Options > Voice & Data

Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data

If you do not see either one, go back one screen. You may see that you have an eSIM. The Cellular Data option will point to Primary or Secondary. Under eSIMs section, tap the corresponding option. Refer to the below image:

iPhone 5G 1 — Selecting your Primary option

Next, tap the Voice & Data option. See the below image:

iPhone 5G 2 — Selecting Voice & Data option

Now, if you see 5G Auto or 5G On options listed, your iPhone can work with your carrier’s 5G networks. But if only LTEor 3G options are listed, your iPhone will not work with your mobile operator’s 5G network. See the following image:

In case you own an iPhone 12 series or newer iPhone, but there is no 5G on the Voice & Data page for your carrier, you will have to wait for Apple to update iOS to include the necessary support for your cell carrier.

What is 5G+

If you happen to be lucky enough to see this symbol in your status bar, you have access to a multi-gigabit connection. 5G+ indicates you’re connected to a mmWave 5G NR tower, short-range radios that deliver breakneck speeds. Performing a speed test will reveal download speeds of 1–3 Gbps.

Is My Android 4G or 5G Compatible

The process of checking 5G compatibility on an Android phone is similar to iPhone, but given the diverse nature of Android handsets, the options and their location in the phone software can differ depending on your device manufacturer.

So if you own an Android phone, you can confirm whether your phone is 4G or 5G by navigating to:

Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Preferred Network Type

If you find 5G listed as one of the options, then your phone supports 5G. Otherwise, see if you have 4G or LTE listed; their presence will indicate support for 4G. Refer to the below image:

Android 5G — Your Android phone supports 5G

However, if you do not see 5G option on your phone even though it’s marketed as a 5G phone by the manufacturer, it’s not currently certified to support 5G on your carrier. You will have to wait for the phone manufacturer to release a software update adding the necessary support, or it’s possible your phone supports some 5G bands, but not the ones used by your mobile operator.

Another way to confirm 5G support on your Android phone is to check its specifications on the manufacturer’s website. But this will only tell you whether your phone has 5G hardware or not. For carrier-specific compatibility, the previously-mentioned method is the best way.

Is 5G In My Area

5G compatibility is only one part of the equation when it comes to enjoying 5G data speeds and other benefits. You will also need 5G network coverage at your location. As of 2023, 5G networks are still being deployed in the US, so not every city or town has extensive 5G coverage. But carriers are gradually rolling out 5G networks, so the places that do not have 5G coverage right now may get it in the coming months or years.

If you want to check if your carrier offers 5G in your area, the best way is to contact them directly. You can call their customer service or ask a representative at their store. Alternatively, you can check the network coverage maps available on their websites. All three major carriers in the US—AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon—allow you to check their 5G and 4G coverage on their website. You can even search your address or zip code for coverage information.

Disclaimer

Quote For the Day

Technology is both a tool for helping humans and for destroying them. This is the paradox of our times which we’re compelled to face.
Frank Herbert

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Author’s E-Book

You can access the e-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.

The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath

How to Dry a Wet Kindle

You might have noticed Kindle ads feature waterproof Kindles now. Want to know if your model is beach-and-bath friendly and how to dry a wet one?

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
May 2, 2023

You might have noticed Kindle ads feature waterproof Kindles now. Want to know if your model is beach-and-bath friendly and how to dry a wet one? Here’s what you need to know.

This is for the Amazon Kindle

Is My Kindle Waterproof

First, a word on the concept of waterproof gadgets is in order.

No gadget is truly waterproof in the sense that it is completely impervious to the effects of water exposure. Gadgets are never waterproof but merely water resistant, and the degree to how resistant they are is spelled out by the ingress protection (IP) rating they qualified for. Those ratings range from the equivalent of “Yeah, you can wear it in the rain” to “Sure, wear it while you go scuba diving.”

In the case of the Kindle models that have a water resistance rating, they have a rating of IPX8. That means the manufacturer has tested the product and asserts it can withstand continuous immersion in water to a depth of 1 meter (3.28 feet) or greater for a period specified by the manufacturer.

The water-resistant Kindles resist water ingress for up to 60 minutes in fresh water up to 2 meters deep (6.56 feet) and up to 3 minutes in salt water up to 0.25 meters (0.82 feet) deep. Amazon does not specify chlorinated water conditions in its documentation, but we recommend you treat it like salt water, as chlorine is corrosive.

Models That Are Water Resistant

As of early 2023, the following Kindle models are water-resistant with an IPX8 rating. We have noted the version of the Kindles listed below using both the generation and iteration terminology Amazon uses. Generation refers to the broader Kindle family, and iteration refers to the version of that particular model.

The Kindle Oasis — 8th Generation/2nd Iteration (2017) and up.
The Kindle Paperwhite — 10th Generation/4th Iteration (2018) and up.
The Kindle Paperwhite, Signature Edition— 10th Generation/1st Iteration (2021) and up.

If you have any other model of Kindle or you have an older version of the models listed above (such as the first version of the Kindle Oasis) your Kindle is not water-resistant. If your model is not listed here, it does not have an IPX8 rating and should not be exposed to water in any form without a suitably water-resistant protective case or enclosure.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Dry

You can wipe your Kindle off with a clean, dry towel to take care of light freshwater splashes. If your Kindle ends up fully dunked in the water or anything is spilled on it, there are a few extra steps and precautions, however.

After freshwater submersion, retrieve the Kindle, wipe it down, remove the case (if applicable), and then allow it to dry fully before using the USB port. It’s recommended to dry your Kindle in an upright position with the USB port tilted down to allow the water to exit the port fully.

If your Kindle is submerged in salt water, chlorinated pool water or another liquid is spilled on it (such as soda), you should remove the case and gently rinse your Kindle with fresh water immediately after exposure to the liquids.

If your Kindle is not a water-resistant model, you should dry the Kindle as thoroughly as possible and put the Kindle in a warm, dry place, preferably with a desiccant to accelerate the drying process.

Do not use high-pressure water like the sprayer on a sink. Just run cool fresh water over the Kindle until it is fully rinsed. Then wipe it dry with a clean towel and let it fully dry before using the USB port.

Will My Kindle Stop Working

It depends. Typically IP ratings and manufacture claims are fairly conservative, so if you exceed them a little bit, your device should survive the experience.

There would be a good chance if your Kindle slipped off the pool float you were napping on and sunk to the bottom of the shallow end of your pool that it would survive longer than an hour. Though that’s certainly not recommended, you should consider yourself lucky if you wake up from your pool nap with a functional Kindle.

Also, note that we said the shallow end of the pool. Water pressure increases substantially with depth, and finding your lost Kindle sitting covered in a half inch of rainwater in a serving tray beside your pool is a much different story than it spending the night at the bottom of the deep end.

On the other hand, it’s unlikely your Kindle would survive an extended dunk in the ocean (even if it was just sitting in the shallows along the surf line) because salt water is far more corrosive.

My Kindle Dropped In a Hot Tub

Water temperature plays a role in how well water resistance works. IP ratings are based on room temperature or colder water. Hot water increases the chance of water ingress. So if you drop your Kindle into your hot tub and do not immediately retrieve it, there’s a much higher chance the seals will fail, and water will get inside your Kindle.

There’s no need to stress about hot tub water splashing on it or even accidentally dropping it in for a moment, but it’s best not to let your Kindle be exposed to hot water of any kind.

My Kindle Is Not Water Resistant

You can pick up a small dry-bag case for your Kindle if you are worried about it getting splashed at the pool or want to read in the tub. But, having used such cases in the past, we are not big fans as they really diminish the Kindle experience.

It makes it harder to use the screen, and the shiny plastic has so much glare compared to the nice matte screen of the Kindle. We would recommend just upgrading your Kindle if you have an older model. The newer models are a significant upgrade over the older ones and you will gain that nice IPX8 rating.

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Quote For the Day

Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning.
Rick Cook

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The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath

3 iPhone Settings to Check

Year after year, Apple rolls out new features and settings for its iPhones, adding more customization options that change how we use our phones.

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
April 25, 2023

Year after year, Apple rolls out new features and settings for its iPhones, adding more customization options that change how we use our phones.

Now is a good time to review some settings. Take a few minutes to peruse these three settings and make sure you are getting the most out of your iPhone.

This is for the iPhone. Screenshots are from iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 16+

Check Individual Settings

First, if a factory reset is too drastic, you can handpick the settings that need a refresh. Head to:

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset

Next, tap Reset All Settings to refresh your iPhone’s network settings, keyboard dictionary, location settings, privacy settings, and Apple Pay cards all in one shot, without deleting your photos, contacts, or other data and media. Refer to the below image:

Or update them one by one (the preferred method).

Having connectivity problems? Choose Reset Network Settings to remove previously used networks and VPNs (that were not installed using a configuration profile).
If there’s an issue with your phone’s layout, try Reset Home Screen Layout to return Apple’s built-in apps to the Home screen, like they would be on a new phone out of the box.
Each time you tap on a word or spelling the phone does not know, it notes it and saves the information to your dictionary. If something goes wrong, try Reset Keyboard Dictionary to erase all the words you have added and reset the suggested words you see while typing.
To revoke location access for people or apps, tap Reset Location and Privacy to restore those settings to their default. (For people, this can also be managed from the Find My app.) When you re-open apps that used your location, like Uber or Google Maps, they will likely ask you to grant them access to your location again.

Enable Safety Check

In iOS 16, Apple added Safety Check to quickly disconnect from people and apps that may be tracking you, either with or without your knowledge. In the case of domestic abuse or other harmful situations, this feature can help restore control of the iPhone to its owner.

It can also be helpful to revisit share settings that you made in the past and forgot about to disconnect from anyone who may still have access to your content, location, or settings.

First, to review the people and apps you are sharing information with, head to

Settings > Privacy & Security > Safety Check > Manage Sharing & Access

to see your current settings and decide if you want to change anything or not. See the below image:

Fix Notifications

If there are some apps that are not notifying you when you think they should be, there is no single solution to fix those settings. Instead, you will have to change things manually for individual apps: First, head to:

Settings > Notifications

to find a list of all the apps on your phone. Next, choose Scheduled Summary to see if any apps have been set to deliver notifications at a specific time.

You can also inspect an individual app. An app’s notifications can be enabled or disabled from the Allow Notifications toggle at the top of the screen. You can also decide whether the app notifies you on the Lock Screen, Notification Center, and uses Banners.

If you scroll to the bottom of the Notifications section, you can turn off, or back on, AMBER Alerts, Emergency Alerts, and Public Safety Alerts. See the following image:

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Quote For the Day

Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world.
Louis Pastuer

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Author’s E-Book

You can access the e-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.

The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath

How to Get Relief from Bug Bites

Yes, the weather is warmer and the sun is out more. Unfortunately, that also means it’s bug bite season. While, of course, there are bug sprays and other deterrents, you can not ward them all off. But if you get bit, there’s a solution to all that itching.

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
April 18, 2023

This is for anyone using a Bite Away device

As it turns out, heat can help relieve bug bite itchings, and there’s a handy, portable tool that does just that. The Bite Away from Amazon offers relief from stings and bites from insects (particularly mosquitos and biting gnats) by applying heat to a specific area. The small, pen-shaped tool features a ceramic head that heats up to 124 degrees Fahrenheit and is applied for 3-5 seconds. While those seconds are not going to be the most comfortable moments of your life, they will alleviate the itch for several hours. Refer to the below image:

This device can be purchased from Amazon or Target at 29.98, or Walmart at $19.98 (limited price).

Bite Away is appropriate for all ages (just be sure to be delicate with small children as this does have some sting to it) and is approved by the FDA. Plus, unlike traditional treatments such as creams, it makes zero mess and has no medicinal smell.

So how does it work? According to Bite Away, an insect’s bite triggers an immune reaction and our bodies produce histamine which binds to nerve cells and can cause itching. Bite Away works by using heat as a “counter-irritant” that stops the signal to itch from traveling to your brain. The pen also works via heat shock which could slow the release of histamine and other inflammatory responses that cause itching.

Whether you plan to be camping with the family, lounging by the lake, or just generally being outdoors during bug season, Bite Away could help with some pretty much inevitable itching.

Disclaimer

Technology is always changing and rarely is their static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.

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We are stuck with technology when what we really want is just stuff that works.
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Is My Kindle Waterproof

Models That Are Water Resistant

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Dry

Will My Kindle Stop Working

My Kindle Dropped In a Hot Tub

My Kindle Is Not Water Resistant

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