Category: Tips

You can do a lot of things in Google Search. From Easter eggs to handy shortcuts that give you want you want and what you need almost instantly, Google Search is the tool.

Play “Atari Breakout”(Google Images)

Go to Google Images, type “Atari Breakout”, hit the Search button, wait for a second for the game to start.

Play Zerg Rush

Type “zerg rush” and click Search in Google Search to play this cheeky game. Your page is taken over by little o’s and you have to click on them destroy them, before they destroy your search results.

Input Handwriting for Translation

Did you know that on Google translate, you can write input words you want to translate via handwriting? Go to Google Translator, click the pencil option at the bottom left side of the text box and write the word by hand. This is helpful when translating from character-based languages.

How to Pronounce Big Numbers

To have Google Search teach you how to pronounce big numbers, just type in the figure then add an equal (=) and the language you want it to be pronounced in. This works for up to 13 digits only.

Solve Geometrical Shapes

With google search you can solve for geometrical shapes such as circle, rectangle, triangle, trapezoid, ellipse etc. Type “solve” and add a shape e.g. “solve triangle”, click the search button and it will return you with a calculator to solve that shape. You can choose to solve for area, perimeter, gamma, height, side (a) or side (c). Each shape carries a different calculator.

Calculate the Waiter Tip with Google Tip Calculator

If you are poor with math but not with tips, use Google’s Tip Calculator to do the math for you. Search “tip calculator” , enter your bill amount, tip % and select the number of people contributing to the bill to get the tip.

Currency Conversion

Although currency conversions could be done via Google Currency Converter but if you want to perform currency conversion directly from Google search bar then just type the currency you want to convert from and into like this: 100 gbp to usd. The search result will return with the converted amount.

Conversion of Units for Different Quantities

Apart from currency you can also convert units for different quantities such as: lbs to kgs as an example. There are 9 categories you can do conversions in: temperature, length, mass, speed, volume, area, fuel consumption, time and digital storage.

Translation between Languages

Want quick translations of a short phrase or just a few words? Type the language you want to translate from and the language you want to translate into to turn your search bar into a temporary translator. In this example, we tried “French to English”.

Use Google Timer Right from Search Bar

Need a timer? Type in Google Timer and a box will pop up, allowing you to enter any amount of time, for example 45 seconds. Google Timer will start the countdown and a beeping alarm will ring once it reaches 0. Google timer can be set for full screen as well.

Get Sunrise & Sunset Timings in Your City

You can get sunrise and sunset timings in your city or even any other international city. Search sunrise or sunset in city_name like so: “sunrise in kuala lumpur”, or “sunset in kuala lumpur”, and the search result will return with the exact time.

Weather Forecast

Heading out or want to know how the weather is like in a place you are visiting soon? Check out the weather forecast by typing the city_name and adding “forecast” at the back e.g. LA forecast.

Check Your Flight Status

A handy trick for frequent fliers. If you have someone picking you up at the airport, just give them your flight number and they can check your flight status. e.g. PK304. It will also show the terminal and gate where you will arrive.

Search the Release Date of A Movie

Find out when your new favorite movie is coming to cinemas near you. Type “movie_name” and add “release date” e.g. “transporter refueled release date” to find out when it will be showing.

Search Books by an Author

Found a new author you like? Find all the books written by the author by typing “books by author_name” e.g. books by John Green. All books written by the author will be displayed, along with the year it was published.

Move Google Search

Type “do a barrel roll” or “tilt”.

Go Retro

If you are craving to see how the very first version of google looks like way back when, type “google in year” e.g. “google in 1998” and hit the search button.

Shortcut	Description
Windows key	Open and close the Start menu.
+1, +2, etc.	Switch to the desktop and launch the nth application in the taskbar. For example, +1 launches whichever application is first in the list, numbered from left to right.
+A	Open the action center.
+B	Highlight the notification area.
+C	Launch Cortana into listening mode.[1] Users can begin to speak to Cortana immediately.
+D	Switch between Show Desktop (hides/shows any applications and other windows) and the previous state.
+E	Switch to the desktop and launch File Explorer with the Quick Access tab displayed.
+H	Open the Share charm.
+I	Open the Settings app.
+K	Open the Connect pane to connect to wireless displays and audio devices.
+L	Lock the device and go to the Lock screen.
+M	Switch to the desktop and minimize all open windows.
+O	Lock device orientation.
+P	Open the Project pane to search and connect to external displays and projectors.
+R	Display the Run dialog box.
+S	Launch Cortana.[2] Users can begin to type a query immediately.
+T	Cycle through the apps on the taskbar.
+U	Launch the Ease of Access Center.
+V	Cycle through notifications.
+X	Open the advanced menu in the lower-left corner of the screen.
+Z	Open the app-specific command bar.
+ENTER	Launch Narrator.
+SPACEBAR	Switch input language and keyboard layout.
+TAB	Open Task view.
+,	Peek at the desktop.
+Plus Sign	Zoom in.
+Minus Sign	Zoom out.
+ESCAPE	Close Magnifier.
+LEFT ARROW	Dock the active window to the left half of the monitor.
+RIGHT ARROW	Dock the active window to the right half of the monitor.
+UP ARROW	Maximize the active window vertically and horizontally.
+DOWN ARROW	Restore or minimize the active window.
+SHIFT+UP ARROW	Maximize the active window vertically, maintaining the current width.
+SHIFT+ DOWN ARROW	Restore or minimize the active window vertically, maintaining the current width.
+SHIFT+LEFT ARROW	With multiple monitors, move the active window to the monitor on the left.
+SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW	With multiple monitors, move the active window to the monitor on the right.
+HOME	Minimize all nonactive windows; restore on second keystroke.
+PRNT SCRN	Take a picture of the screen and place it in the Computer>Pictures>Screenshots folder.
+CTRL+LEFT/RIGHT arrow	Switch to the next or previous virtual desktop.
+CTRL+D	Create a new virtual desktop.
+CTRL+F4	Close the current virtual desktop.
+?	Launch the Windows Feedback App.

[1] If Cortana is unavailable or disabled, this shortcut has no function.

[2] Cortana is only available in certain countries/regions, and some Cortana features might not be available everywhere. If Cortana is unavailable or disabled, this command opens Search.

* THESE TIPS IF VIEWED ON A SMARTPHONE ARE BEST VIWED IN LANDSCAPE MODE.

 

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• Microsoft will never call you to let you know your computer is having problems. These scammers are saying “we are from the Windows team” or “We are Windows calling” or something like that, to scare you into letting them into your computer. These “fake technicians” AKA “Computer Terrorists” as I like to call them, always usually have a foreign accent.

• Be careful when you Google for help, be sure the companies are reputable and be sure you are calling the right companies. Nowadays, you can Google “Microsoft support” and get a fake company! This is VERY common.
• Do not call the  numbers on pop up ads when you are browsing the internet, these are fake alerts that you have a virus.

• Never let anyone remote in your computer that called YOU. If you called me for an appointment, this is ok or calling a local computer repair store, but just someone calling you out of the blue is NOT OK.

• If you called them and are not sure, just hang up and call ME and I will let you know if it’s a scam or real. 561.452.6132.

• If your guts says no or you feel weird, hang up or turn off your computer immediately. Even if you allowed them in your computer, they will say things to scare you into paying. Turning off the computer and calling a professional IT company or me immediately is what I recommend. Remember, if they are in the computer and you don’t pay, this is when this happens…

Destruction and deletion of data, Computer inoperable

• Do they steal your data? This is not common but a maybe. They mostly they want to get your credit card and charge you for fake services. If you did this, you can call your credit card company and they should charge back that service. Remember if they are remoted in and you don’t pay, it is TOO LATE. They will destruct data or lock you out of your computer!

• Do they destroy your data? YES!! Usually this happens if you ask for your money back and they are remoted in. This just happened to one of my clients. He said he wanted his money back and i went to see what happened, all data gone.

• Do they lock you out of your computer? Yes, and sometimes they put a virus on your computer if you don’t pay or say you want your money back

Thanks to Lisa of “Call That Girl”

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