How to block websites on your computer

If you have kids, you may want to read this article.  Simple steps on what you can do to block certain websites.  If you want access to the website at certain times, the article will detail how to block websites by time of the day.  Best of all, it works for all browsers and is not software driven, meaning, your kids cannot make changes by reversing the change through the software.  Happy blocking!

21 solid tips to make your browser better

A great article link here to show you how to improve and enhance your web browser.  Check it out and happy browsing!

Finally, Firefox will stop being annoying...

I can appreciate Mozilla's attempt to keep Firefox current by rolling out new versions every 6 weeks or so.  It shows that they are paying attention to the browser and keeping it fresh, however, it has become an annoying pain in the rear to have to continually install new versions so often.  Seems like Mozilla has gotten the message and beginning in June Firefox will follow the Google Chrome lead and silently update itself!  All this means is that you will no longer get notices that Firefox is updating or needs updating, it will just do it.  Read more here.  Amen!

Extend the life of your laptop battery

Sold a laptop this weekend and the thought came to mind on how to extend the life of your laptop battery.  Many times people will buy a used laptop and expect new battery life from a used battery.  Sorry, it's not going to happen.  

Whether you’re already in the market for a replacement battery or just concerned about the inevitable day when you will be, here are three things you should know:

1. Most laptop batteries start to fail in 1-2 years. This varies depending on your usage, of course, but the average laptop battery is good for around 400 recharges (a.k.a. cycles). After that, it starts to lose its capacity to hold a charge.

That’s why the battery that once gave you, say, 3-4 hours’ worth of runtime now peters out after just 1-2 hours. And after a few years, you might be lucky to get an even an hour.

2. You can extend the life of your current battery. If you use your laptop as your primary desktop PC, you may be wasting battery cycles by leaving it plugged in all the time.

The solution: pop the battery out until you actually need to go somewhere with your laptop. As long as the latter is plugged into an AC outlet, it doesn’t actually need the battery.

Trust me on this: I’ve seen fairly new batteries that could barely last half an hour, even though the laptop rarely went anywhere. When in doubt, pop it out.

Here's some help comparing for your next phone purchase

Most of us have a good idea of what phone we want to buy.  However, there are times when you are not quite sure between a couple of models.  For those of you in that category, head over to versusio.com.  Here the site will give you a side-by-side comparison of smartphones, giving you the pros and cons of each in comparison to each other.  When you just need the facts about each phone, this is your site.

Another old media bites the dust..

It only took 244 years, but the Encylopaedia Brittanica is shutting down the print edition this year.  It will be all digital.  Seems like all of the media of my childhood is disappearing.  Kodak film, now the encylopaedia Brittanica.  What's next?  For more on the future of Brittanica, read here.