The Google Fit app is available on Android phones to keep track of your exercise and activity throughout the day. If you don’t see it installed, go to the Play Store to install it.
Setting Distance Units
The setting for distance units may show up as kilometers. Follow the steps below to set distance units for the Google Fit app.
STEP #1
Start at the main screen for Google Fit as shown below.
STEP #2
Tap on the Profile icon in the lower right corner. This will reveal the main Profile screen as shown below. Note that personal entries below have been hidden.
STEP #3
Tap on the gear icon in the upper right corner. This should reveal the Profile Settings options page as shown below.
STEP #4
Tap on Distance to reveal a pop-up selection menu as shown below. Then select Miles (or Kilometers) to set your preferred unit of measure.
STEP #5
Confirm your selection. You will be returned to the Settings page where your new Distance selection will appear as shown below.
Further Reading
Some people who have Android phones may not be aware that the operating system on their smartphone is called Android. Examples of Android phones would be smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy, Motorola Moto, Google Pixel, LG, or some other brand and model.
This document refers to Android 8 – Oreo. This is the version currently installed on Moto G6 phones. At present, the current version is Android 9 – Pie. Presumably these instructions would work with some older or newer versions of Android.
The DYMO LabelWriter Wireless Printer will sometimes show up as offline and not available on Apple Mac computers. This can happen even when thee printer has already been setup and is turned on. The print button will be gray instead of blue and the printer icon will be gray as shown below.
When this happens, follow these instructions:
These steps assume you’ve already installed the printer and software for your Apple Mac.
Make sure the printer is on. The middle power button on the right of the unit should be illuminated. Once the printer is turned on, the WiFi icon on the right side of the printer will illuminate.
From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences and then select Printers & Scanners. Click on the Demo LabelWriter. This will cause the system to check the printer’s status. It should say Idle with a green dot as shown below.
The DYMO Label software should now show the Print button as blue with white text and the printer icon should show a blue WiFi icon on the right in the software as shown below. The printer should now work properly.
Comments
Feel free to comment below to share your experience with the printer. Thanks!
Apple has a well written support document with recommendations for about a dozen settings you’ll need configured properly to enable the ability to unlock your computer with your Apple Watch. The document also covers system requirements. [Read it Here]
However, you may find that despite following all the instructions in the support document, the system setting is missing that allows your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac as shown below. It should appear in System Preferences as a checkbox item in on the Security & Privacy General tab. You may have seen it there before, and now it’s gone.
If the option to unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch is missing, try restarting the computer then check Security & Privacy again.
You may also want to try restarting your watch and your iPhone just to make sure all devices are properly connecting to your iCloud account.
You can restart your Apple Watch by pressing and holding the crown and side button at the same time.
You can restart your iPhone by pressing and holding the power button in older iPhones or in newer iPhones you can go to Settings > General > and scroll to the bottom to find Shut Down.
In recent years, software, operating systems, and web interfaces have embraced a design trend where menus and controls are hidden unless you reveal them. When you move your mouse over just the right area of the screen, some controls, icons, or menu options will appear. You’ve likely seen this on your computer.
With Apple Mac computers, if you have a laptop or iMac with a trackpad connected the vertical and horizontal scroll bars will only appear if you move your fingers on the trackpad. If you’re not quick enough. The scroll bars disappear before you can click on them.
The default setting for showing scroll bars is set as: “Automatically based on mouse or trackpad.”
This is particularly a problem if you’re in a spreadsheet. With a mouse, you can move the scroll wheel on the mouse to reveal the vertical scroll bar. However, to move left and right within the spreadsheet, you’ll need to use a trackpad to reveal the horizontal scroll bar.
To have both the vertical and horizontal scroll bars visible all the time regardless of whether you use a mouse or trackpad, go to System Preferences > General and choose “Always” as shown below.
There was an App Store update today for Microsoft OneDrive on the Mac. If you installed the update, you may have experienced the finder opening repeatedly. Attempting to close the finder Window would result in it opening again in the foreground making other programs non-operative.
You may have also seen a message like the one shown below that states “We couldn’t find the location of your OneDrive folder.”
After clicking the OK button, you would then be prompted to find your OneDrive folder or create one.
However, selecting the OneDrive folder as directed won’t stop the Finder from popping up.
Also, the OneDrive icon in the Menu bar in the top right of the screen becomes non-responsive to a left click or right click.
If you are having these issues, removal of the OneDrive program seems to be the only way to remedy the problem until a more stable update becomes available.
The default setting for Gmail accounts on Apple iPhone and iPad devices is to archive messages rather than delete them when you swipe left. To correct this, follow these steps:
Go to settings.
Tap on Passwords & Accounts.
Tap on the Gmail account to change.
Tap on Account to expand out the options for the account.
Tap on Advanced at the bottom.
In the middle section of the Advanced options list you’ll find the “Move Discarded Messages Into” option. There is most likely a checkmark next to Archive Mailbox. Tap on Deleted Mailbox.
Go back to Account.
Tap Done.
Now when you swipe left for an email you’ll see Delete is an option.
Many common computer and tech problems that arise could be avoided with some basic maintenance. Here’s a list of suggested tasks to perform regularly.
As a consultant, I usually instruct people on these things whenever I meet with them – providing a personalized strategy that meets their needs.
Daily
If you use your computer regularly, it’s a good idea to have automated daily backups. In many computers these run every hour to backup any recently created or changed files.
When writing longer articles or books that are time-intensive, consider saving frequently using the Save As feature and give the file a name that includes a revision number such as My Great Book Rev 7. Each new version you save provides a backup of the work done so far allowing you to go back in time to a previous version.
A common and sad problem is when people mistakenly select all, delete, and then save their blank document or presentation by mistake. When you save overtop of an existing file, it will be very difficult to recover it.
Weekly
Computers are usually configured to update their software and operating system automatically. However, these updates sometimes don’t happen. For example, if you use your computer for short periods of time, and otherwise have it turned off completely, then the updates won’t happen. Consider leaving your computer on overnight once a week.
In addition to operating system updates, there will be updates to Java, Adobe software, Microsoft software such as Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and others. It may be necessary to manually check for updates to these.
There are utility programs that scan your computer for software, check the versions, then check with the provider to see if a newer version is available, but this requires an additional program. Sometimes it’s easier just to simplify life and do a few things manually.
Monthly
Virus Scan. Some people seem to get computer malware quite frequently. Other people can go for years without getting malware. You’ll want to determine how often you seem to be getting into trouble with malware and scan accordingly. Monthly scanning is a good place to start. A program like Malwarebytes protects in realtime and also can conduct scanning. Some malware will remove antivirus software so make sure your antivirus is still installed and actively protecting your computer.
Software Inventory. If you’ve ever installed some software and subsequently decided to stop using it, or gradually used it less and less, then you may want to check your list of installed programs to make sure there are no unnecessary programs. Also, it’s a good practice to ensure that no programs have slipped into your computer as the result of infected websites.
Browser Extensions, Plug-ins, and Add-ons. There are a number of names given to the software that runs within browsers. Some of these applications are useful. Others are malicious or slow down the computer. Programs like Adblock Plus and AdBlocker Ultimate are considered to be okay. Malicious browser extensions can get added without you being fully aware of what is happening. So, it’s good to check for these regularly. Antivirus software isn’t good about blocking these.
Backups. Monthly or perhaps weekly, you may want to check and make sure your backups are running. Be sure the external drive hasn’t become disconnected. Perhaps go through a trial run of restoring a file. Even if you have a cloud synchronized drive (like Dropbox, Box, OneDrive or iCloud) it’s a good idea to have a local backup as well. If a catastrophic failure requires restoring terabytes of data, it will go more quickly with a local drive. Also, if you have huge files to backup, that can take a while to upload those to the cloud given that upload speeds are usually 10% to 20% of your download speed.
Speed Test. It’s a good idea to check your Internet speed on a realgar basis. A clean ad-free way to do this is to go to Bing.com and search for speed test. You can then use the Bing speed test service.
Data Use. Being mindful of your data usage is important, both for your mobile devices and also your home internet service. Excessive spikes in data usage can be a sign that a neighbor is using your WiFi to download illegal movies that you’ll be legally responsible for, or perhaps a virus has taken over your computer for use as a global file server for illegal unsavory content. If you’re a Mediacom customer, you can go to Mediacomtoday.com/usagemeter/
Hard Drive. Checking your hard drive monthly can help you ensure it isn’t filling up to capacity with data. For each person the frequency of this will be different. If you work with video production, this could be a weekly task. For most people it could be done monthly.
Subscriptions. It’s a good idea to have a spreadsheet where you can keep track of various subscriptions for software and services that may be expiring. This could include antivirus software annual renewals. It could include website hosting and domain registration renewals. These monthly check-ins are a good reminder of when to expect certain fees to be charged. This is also a good time to check your bank and credit card statements for unexpected charges, and when you see renewals coming up, consider cancelling any services you don’t use.
Microsoft charges an annual $99 fee for their Office 365 subscription plan.
If you’re an iPhone user, check for recurring subscriptions purchased through the phone. To do this, go to Settings > iCloud (not labeled but found at the top of the Settings screen – tap on your name) > Tap on iTunes & App Store > Tap on your Apple ID email at the top of the screen > select View Apple ID > scroll to bottom of screen and select Subscriptions. From there, try to cancel any undesired subscriptions.
Also, make a note of any discount or free trial periods that may expire. For example, Sirius XM satellite radio has a $5 per month offer. When that expires, you’ll start getting charged $16 per month.
Yearly
Cloud Data. Once a year, it’s a good idea to download all the data that services have on you. For example, you can download an archive of everything stored in the cloud of companies like Google or Facebook. That way, you’ll have a backup in case their systems go down, get corrupted, or get hacked.
Email Archive. Most email services maintain every email you’ve ever sent or received. These can go back years. You may want to use an email client to periodically copy those emails to your computer. Perhaps once a year, copy all the emails that are older than one year. These could be saved on your local hard drive and backed up. This would allow you to delete them from the cloud service. So, if your email account gets hacked, the hackers have limited access to all your personal communications. There have been billions of accounts hacked in recent years. Hackers use that information to contact all your friends with spam and phishing emails. They can also get insights into what services you use, where you bank, where you go on vacation, door codes you may have given to service people, and other details about your life.
File System. Some information on our computers grows from one year to the next, such as software that contains libraries and collections of music or photos. There may be documents and spreadsheets that contain many years of data. However, other than these dozen ongoing projects and files, there are many documents that can just as well be archived into a time capsule for the year. One method of managing files is to keep top-level folders by year that contain all the files from that year. At the end of December, copy forward any ongoing project files or folders. Leave your music and photo libraries alone (assuming you use software for these). In this way, previous years’ folders become time capsules for that year. If you keep your original photos in folders named by date and event, location, or trip, then you can leave those originals in the relevant year. It’s nice to begin each year with a clean folder structure. Using this method also makes it easier to backup only the current documents from the current year. Previous years can be copied or backed up once since they will remain mostly unchanged.
Passwords. Managing passwords is something that could be done on a monthly basis, but most people are just too busy to commit to a long list of weekly or monthly tasks. At a minimum, it’s important to review your passwords annually. Make sure you have all your login information recorded either using a password management program, or a password protected spreadsheet, or perhaps a bound book. You’ll want to date every entry in your password list. This lets you know when a password was last changed or updated. Keep all the other account information recorded as well, such as security questions. Consider changing your passwords once a year. This could be as simple as adding a unique number to the end of every password. Be sure to use unique and complex passwords for every service you use.
Continuity Planning. If something happens to you, do you have a plan regarding how you want your data and online services to be managed? Once a year, it’s a good idea to review your various online accounts. Choose one or more people to update, maintain, or shut down those accounts if something happens to you. Have a plan for what becomes of your data. For photos, writings, audio, videos, and other content that you’d like to share with family or others, consider having that information already stored on an external hard drive, or even better, create a personal blog where you share everything in real-time. Then all your insights, humor, wisdom, and so on can be available on the web needing no additional management to distribute. Whatever you decide to do, it’s a good idea to review those plans each year.
THANKS
Thanks to Nicholas Johnson for helpful input that was used to develop this document.
DOCUMENT HISTORY
This document was originally published on 28 Nov 2018 at 1:11 PM CT. Below are notes about modifications and additions since then.
20181226we1158 – Added information about checking monthly for unwanted software and browser extensions.
20181225tu1205 – Added tip about checking monthly data usage.
The AutoSleep app runs on your iPhone and uses heart rate and other data from your Apple Watch to automatically determine when you sleep and wake, and also evaluate the quality of your sleep. This document describes a problem that may arise and how to fix it.
No Watch Data Available
After using the app for a while, you may get a message that the app is unable to access the watch data. This could be a result of app updates or other factors. In the app, you’ll see “No Watch Data Available” at the top.
Wizard Reports 0% Sensor Information
If you go into Settings and run the setup Wizard, you’ll see the following message.
Problem Resolution
To fix this problem, try the following steps:
Go into the the Apple Health app (white icon, red heart), select sources tab, select AutoSleep and then turn off all of the permission switches.
Reboot the iPhone:
iPhone 6s and earlier: Press home + sleep wake button until you see .
iPhone 7 volume down button + sleep wake button until you see .
iPhone 8/X quick press up volume, let go, quick press down volume, let go, then press and hold sleep wake until you see .
Reboot the Watch by pressing the crown and side button simultaneously until you see
Go back into the the Apple Health app select sources tab, select AutoSleep and then turn on all of the permission switches.
Now go into AutoSleep app and this should restore all permissions.
This often completely fixes the problem.
Additional information on this issue and how to resolve it can be found on the Tantsissa website:
If you’re using Google WiFi and encounter network connectivity problems, with multiple hotspots blinking orange or red, you may need to rebuild your network.
Reset your network devices by holding the reset button until the units blink blue. Then begin the setup process again using the app.
When you’re done, the old network will still show up in the app. You’ll want to remove it by following these steps:
From the three horizontal line menu (top left) choose the inactive network.
Of the three available menu tabs in the app, choose the right one then under Settings select Network & General.
Tap on WiFi Points
Tap on Factory reset.
Confirm the process by tapping on Factory Reset and the network will be deleted from the Google WiFi app.
Many people have recently had trouble logging into the Starbucks app. Deleting the Starbucks app and then reinstalling it has been known to solve the login problem.
Note: If you tried multiple incorrect passwords to access the app, you may be locked out. According to Starbucks customer service, there is a 24-hour lockout period although the app will not give you any indication you’re locked out. However, reinstalling the app is the best way to ensure best results.
If you’re on a smartphone and login to the Starbucks website, it’s possible to use the mobile version of the website to make purchases using your Starbucks card. It’s also a way to confirm that your username and password are working correctly.
If this works for you, or doesn’t, feel free to post your experience in the comments below.
Iowa City Technology Services 