mortiz019

Today’s How-To Guide for the computer beginner we are going attempt answer the question, ‘What is an app?” Today I will briefly explain: What is an App? What is the difference between a Native app and a Web app? Don’t worry – the difference is easy to remember! What is an App? App is short for ‘application’.  A computer application is what most have referred to in the past as a computer program.  Software program even! When the word app became popular I remember all the commercials going on and on about ‘ We have an APP for that !” My picture above is what most people see on the face of those fancy phone now days.  They are touch screen, and you push on one of the logos – and the program starts up. Yes, its like doubling clicking on a program to open it up. You use your finger instead, because the screen is meant for fingers – not mouse clicks! Just last week we had leak in the roof, and the water was coming into one of the teenager’s rooms.  I asked my daughter's b...

Today’s How-To Guide for the computer beginner  handles the question: What is the Windows Lock Screen? In the past if you have a password you had to enter into your computer before it would completely boot up?  You saw a screen similar to the one below.  I have heard this referred to as the ‘sign on screen’. As you can see below on a Windows 7 Machine?  A gentleman named “Paul” will have to enter his password to get into his account on this computer. Windows 8 starts with a lock screen similar to the one below.  When you tap, double click, or hit a key on the board…. You will get a similar screen to Paul’s sign in screen we pictured first. As you can tell with Windows 8 lock screen it gives you the most basic of information.  The time and the date are regular’s to show up!  Depending your machine widgets, known as lock screen apps, they will allow you to view information – such as new emails, weather, calendar appointments, instant messages or social u...

Today’s How-To Guide for the computer beginner is going to over Disk Cleanup in Windows 8. When you run this option Disk Cleanup you also are given an option to clear the Cache (Temporary internet files). How-To Clean up with Disk Cleanup is an older article that explains what Disk Clean up is, and explains other details about this application.  The definitions are the same even though it speaks about older operating systems. First we want to go to the Charms Bar on your start screen , and use the ‘Search’ Charm or option. Windows have an ‘app’ or program now called, ‘cleanmgr’.  Type in ‘clearnmgr’ (program name for disk cleanup) on the right side side under the search option pictured below. On the left hand side of the screen under ‘ app s’ you will see the program icon come up.  You click or tap that icon to open up the program ‘disk cleanup’ for Windows 8. The disk clean up screen for Windows 8 will open up, and you will have a pull down menu to pick the computer d...

Today’s How-To Guide for the computer beginner is Called, “What is the Windows Key or Button?  What are the Windows 8 Hotkeys or Shortcuts?” I also have a Hotkeys or Shortcut Cheat Sheet at the bottom to print out if you so wish. What is the Windows Key or Window Button? I have also heard this key being referred to as: Windows Button Windows Logo Key They are the same thing – just different nicknames! We will also go over Windows 8 Shortcuts using this button.  These shortcuts are also referred to as: Windows 8 Shortcuts, or Windows 8 Shortcut Keys Windows 8 Hot keys Win8 Shortcuts Again, same thing just a different label! In Windows 8 in particular you will be using this key to navigate around your computer.  You will be using the windows key quite a lot! Notice is has the logo most people identify for Windows Operating System Products. Above is a picture of the windows Key, or Windows Button. When you wish to return to the Start Screen you will push this windows key f...

Today’s How-To Guide for the computer beginner is about the Start menu for Windows 8. We will be covering very briefly: Where is the Start Menu in Windows 8 What is an App What Is The Charms Bar, and the Charms themselves. (I have animations at the very bottom on how to get the charms bar to appear using the mouse and touchscreen.) Where is the start menu for Windows 8? Here is a picture of a traditional start menu. Well Microsoft wants to change things UP a bit now. Microsoft no longer has what we have called in the past a ‘start menu’, but now they have what they called a start screen .  They have basically moved the entire start menu onto what was once the traditional spot for our desktop .  That is NOT to say that Windows no longer has a traditional desktop anymore.  THEY DO!  We will get to that later, but lets move on…. Here I have a picture of the start screen , but keep in mind your start screen may look a bit different. Micr...