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WINDOWS 11–UPDATE 7–SNAP LAYOUTS

Another handy feature of Windows 11 is the improvement to “Snap”. “Snap” is where you can have more than one application visible on the desktop at the same time.

The improvement is called Snap Layouts.

Snap Layouts gives you an easy way to arrange 2 to 4 applications open at the same in various layouts.

Simply click Win Key / Z or hover your mouse over the “Maximise/Restore” icon (Top right between the “-” Minimise and “X” Close icons).

This will bring up :

First open the applications that you want included in the layout.

Then maximise the application that you want as the first image in the layout. I did this a couple of times – so Test 3 starts out as the main pane – BUT Test 1 is the main pane in the final image (below). You can arrange any way you want.

Then open the Layout Options (Win Key / Z or hover over Maximise/Restore)

Then select the pane that you want for the first App — it will turn blue:

Clicking on the space will put the application on the screen/desktop in this position. Then a split screen will appear to choose the applications to place in the remaining spaces. Just click on them in order until you have filled all the chosen spaces in the layout.

THE FINAL with all three in the spaces as per the layout chosen:

Just like with any screen, you can slide/position the individual Apps by clicking on the one you want to move and using the sliders at bottom (For left / right) and the right (For Up and Down).

I find this handy and use it all the time.

Windows 11 – Update 6 – Settings – Your Microsoft account

I came across this on thurrott.com.

Settings has been upgraded to include a section for information on your Microsoft Account .

Go to Settings/ Accounts / Your Microsoft account :

This section has various handy details about your Microsoft Account (MS A/C).

I usually access my MS A/C via the Edge browser which I retain as the default browser.

SEE my post “Browsers and Search Engines – February 2021”.

I have checked and, as yet, there has been no update to Settings / Accounts / Windows backup

Email Scams

ANOTHER WARNING about Scams.

I recently received a Scam Email trying blackmail to extort money.

It starts like this:

Hi. How are you?

I know, it’s unpleasant to start the conversation with bad news, but I have no choice.

Few months ago, I have gained access to your devices that used by you for internet browsing.

Afterwards, I could track down all your internet activities.

Here is the history of how it could become possible:

At first, I purchased from hackers the access to multiple email accounts (nowadays, it is a really simple thing to do online).

As result, I could easily log in to your email account (one of my email addresses).

One week later, I installed Trojan virus in Operating Systems of all devices of yours, which you use to open email.

Frankly speaking, it was rather straightforward (since you were opening the links from your inbox emails).

Everything ingenious is quite simple. ……

AND SO ON …. It goes on to claim that it has evidence of access to porn sites:

As I was gathering information about you, I couldn’t help but notice that you are also a true fan of adult-content websites.

You actually love visiting porn sites and browsing through kinky videos, while pleasuring yourself.

And then demands money not to release this information.

WHATEVER YOU DO – DON’T FALL FOR IT. Note it as Spam/Junk and then delete it.

This is a link to the Australian Government site https://www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/view-all-content/alerts/sextortion-email-campaign-impacting-australians

Also this is a good YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9CYBP_yfXM

I note that the YouTube video is sponsored by a Password Manager (Last Pass). A password manager is essential these days – as is two factor authorisation / identification (2FA)

ALSO DO NOT RE-USE PASSWORDS.

The following is a list of some Password Managers (I am not recommending any – do your own research)

Last Pass https://www.lastpass.com/

1 Password https://1password.com/

Bitwarden https://bitwarden.com/

Dashlane https://www.dashlane.com/

RoboForm https://www.roboform.com/

AND IF ALL of your devices are MAC/APPLE, Keychain is a very good password manager and comes free with Apple devices. Browsers also have password managers BUT all the experts say to get a separate password manager that works everywhere.

CNET has a good article here https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/best-password-manager/

OR Tom’s Guide https://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-password-managers,review-3785.html

RING DOORBELL–UPDATE 3 – Upgrade from Doorbell 2 to 4

Please refer to my previous posts about my Ring Doorbell:

https://whysun.com/home/ring-doorbell-update-no-2/

https://whysun.com/home/ring-doorbell-update-chime-pro-wi-fi-extender-problems/

https://whysun.com/uncategorized/ring-doorbell/

I finally gave in and bought the Ring Doorbell 4. NOT that there was anything bad about the Ring Doorbell 2, especially after the Wi-Fi problems were resolved (See RING DOORBELL UPDATE No 2 ).

The main reason was that Ring sent me an Email offering a 25% Christmas discount and, apparently, I have more money than sense.

The upgrade was easy. You do get better video and a “pre roll” (you are given video of a few seconds before the detected motion) plus some other things. I turned on HDR video and this improves the quality of the videos. I now have 3 batteries so battery life is not an issue.

However, there are 4 things that I noted that may be of interest.

No 1 – Ring Plans

Having a plan is more or less essential. The basic plan for one camera device is AUD$40 per year – About AUD$0-77c per week.

Having a plan provides a number of facilities but the main one is the ability to download and save video. You could get by without one, but at 77cents a week – WHY??

I thought that my plan was attached to my Ring Account and that I could simply transfer to the new Doorbell. I don’t think this is the case. The plan appears to be attached to the device. I looked around on the site but in the end I could not find any alternative but to cancel the old plan and start a new plan for the new Doorbell. This is NOT an issue as I was given a full pro rata refund and I also was given a free month for the new device.

No 2 – Microsoft Store App

The Microsoft Store Ring App will be discontinued an the end of this month. However the new Doorbell 4 will not show on the App so mine is finished a couple of weeks early. PLEASE RING update the account web site as promised to full functionality. (A note on the App in the Microsoft Store advises that the App will be discontinued at the end of December but the web site will be upgraded to replace the App.)

No 3 – IoT Devices ( “IoT” – Internet of Things – Various devices that connect to the internet so that you can control them via an App on a phone etc.)

When I was setting up the new Doorbell, at first it would not connect to the Chime Pro. It suggested that I connect to my router. I did that and after an update it all worked as it should. (I should say that everything you buy these days requires an immediate update.)

HOWEVER, when I connected, it did not require the Wi-Fi password for that particular router. The App remembered it. THIS IS A REMINDER for one of the many reasons why you should have all IoT devices on a separate Wi-Fi Network. I only have 2 IoT devices – My Ring Doorbell and my Solar Electricity. They have their own router with a different SSID / IP address.

No 4 – Packaging

The Doorbell 4 package is less than half the size of the Doorbell 2.

They saved space by having the battery in the doorbell (with plastic protectors over the contacts) and by omitting things:

Only one extra (Corner) mount comes with Doorbell 4– There are 3 different mounts in the Doorbell 2;
The masonry bit is not in the 4;
The little level is not included in the 4;
Extra Face Plate (different colour) comes with Doorbell 2 but not with 4.

All of these items can be bought separately for a few dollars and I did not use any of them.

The Doorbell 4 screwed into the same holes that I made for the Doorbell 2.

Also, both have a screw driver for the special security screw for the battery but the Doorbell 4 is not reversable like the Phillips Head/Security screw with the Doorbell 2.

FINAL THOUGHT – WAS IT WORTH IT. The Pre Roll is worth the upgrade. I have tested it and it works well.

Windows 11 Update 5–Microsoft Store Updates

This is not exclusive to Windows 11, but the change in procedure for updates for Store Apps occurred when the new Microsoft Store App was released around the same time Win 11 was released.

Even though I have the Microsoft Store set for automatic updates, whenever I look, there are updates.

TO SET Automatic Updates:

Click on the Profile Icon immediately the right of the search bar at the top of the home page;

NOTE I did not put an image on the icon but it is the image I have on my Desktop – The wreck of the steamship SS Dicky which used to be on a local beach until the council removed it a few years ago. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicky_Beach,_Queensland

In the Drop Down click “App Settings”;

Turn on App Updates – “Update Apps Automatically”- Set the slider to ON – by sliding right.

TO CHECK ON UPDATES

On the Microsoft Store App – Home Page – Click Library

Click “Get Updates”

Windows 11 Update 4–Notifications

This is not a major issue but is another instance of a small change from Win 10.

NOTIFICATIONS – MAIL APP

As I have noted before, Notifications still appear on the right of the screen but, unlike Win 10, the icon (in the form of a blue circle with a number) only appears when there are notifications. The Mail App also shows unread Emails as a number on the icon in the Task Bar.

However, unlike Win 10, if you clear the Notifications, the unread Emails number also gets cleared from the Mail App icon in the Task Bar. (If you open the Mail App, the number of unread emails still appears on each Email Address.)

Just a small thing, but still something to be aware of if you use the Notifications to keep track of Emails.

Windows 11 Update 3 – Lock Screen

I really like those “Windows Spotlight” photos on the Lock Screen for Win 10 and 11.

When I first installed Windows 11, the Lock Screen displayed a generic image like this:

This was despite selecting “Windows Spotlight” in Settings / Personalisation / Lock Screen / Personalise Your Lock Screen.

However, yesterday when I logged on, the familiar “Windows Spotlight” images were back. These are great images and I am always careful not to click “Like” on any of them so I continue to get the full range from all different countries and settings.

Windows 11–Update 2–Control Panel–Back up

I have been looking around in the new “Settings” (Formerly “All Settings”) and things have changed a lot in Win 11.

CONTROL PANEL

You can still get to the old Control Panel via – Start / All Apps / Windows Tools / Control Panel.

AND I have certainly needed this.

BACK UP

I have an external USB drive set up for backups (plus a system image when I think of it). I also have backups and syncs to One Drive.

I use the 3-2-1 backup method. Three copies of everything – Original on the computer – Second Copy on a local backup – Third Copy “off premises” backup (On Line/ OneDrive).

Just out of curiosity, I went looking for Backup to make sure my computer was still being backed up to both the USB Drive and One Drive after upgrade to Win 11.

I found a section for Backup in – Settings / Accounts / Windows backup. However, this seems to only apply to One Drive Backup.

I then went to Settings / System / Storage / Advanced Storage Settings / Backup Options – but this took me to the same One Drive Backup mentioned above.

After that, I tried – Settings / System / Storage / Advanced Storage Settings / Storage used on other drives – and found the USB Backup Drive, but no way to access the Backup functions.

I was able to go to the old Control Panel / File History to ensure that it is still running / Set up/ turn on or off etc. However, there seems to be no equivalent to the Backup section in All Settings on Win 10.

I searched on line and could not find much apart from the suggestion that the old local backup option has been depreciated in favour of online (One Drive) back up.

I hope not.

WINDOWS 11–UPDATE 1 – Right Click Menu

Note 1 I will complete new posts when I come across something of interest with Win 11, rather than add to the original post.

Note 2 My Surface Pro 7 was updated to Win 11 this morning.

RIGHT CLICK

The menu for a right mouse click has changed.

This is the old Win 10 Right Click menu:

This is the new Win 11 menu:

OR With the new icons on top

NOTE! If you click “Show More Options” you get the old menu

The difference is the use of icons for cut/paste etc.

Hover your mouse over the icon to get the description.

However they are mostly self explanatory. From left to right:

Scissors – Cut (Naturally)
Two rectangles that look like 2 pages on top of each other – Copy
The third one had be stumped – Rename
Arrow thingy – Share (I guessed that)
Waste paper basket – Delete (Naturally)

It took me about 2 seconds to work them out apart from the rename icon. I had to hover the mouse to find out what it was.

AND when you cut or copy, an icon comes up later for paste.

I NOW HAVE WINDOWS 11

When I booted my HTPC NUC this morning, I saw this icon in the Task Bar

It was a notification that Windows 11 was available for this computer. (I thought for sure that my Surface Pro 7 would get it first.)

So I downloaded and installed it. It took about 45 minutes and was very easy.

There was nothing un-expected as I have kept up to date by reading reports of others who have been testing Win 11 in the various Insider Programs – Mainly Paul Thurrott .

The major changes are the Start Screen and the Task Bar and there is plenty of information available on line.

My only complaint so far is that Apps for things like Facebook/Instagram and other other UNWANTED programs appeared on my Start Screen. However it was easy to uninstall them (Right Mouse / Uninstall).

TASK BAR

The Task Bar is not that different with the icons now aligned by default to the centre instead of being spread out from left to right. Also the notifications icon is not visible on the far right – but when there are notifications, they still pop up as before, with an icon showing a number (for the number of new notifications) appearing on the far right. This icon goes away when you look at the notifications.

ALIGNMENT – I went to Settings / Personalisation / Task Bar / Task Bar Behaviours / Task Bar Alignment – and changed it to “Left”.

TASK BAR CORNER OVERFLOW

The one thing with the Task Bar that will take some getting used to is when you have so many apps open that the Task bar overflows. With Win 10 you simply clicked on the drop-down icon to go to a second level. With Win 11 you get a “Corner Overflow” option. The last App opened is shown here with any other over flow icons shown in the “Show Hidden Icons” pop up (with the other hidden icons as per Win 10).

START SCREEN

The Start Screen is the main difference. You now cannot group and label the pinned apps and there are no live tiles. There are just “Pinned” and “All Apps”. However there is a new “Widgets” icon on the task bar and you can add live tiles for a limited number of selected Apps to this. (Weather / News / Calendar etc.)

The Start icons are easy to drag about and I dragged the icons for various pinned programs into a similar order to my old Win 10 arrangement. (They run over into a second page but it is easy to drag from one page to another.)

SETTINGS – FORMERLY – ALL SETTINGS

All Settings is now called “Settings” and you no longer get a summary page but instead the various sections are in a left pane. MAKE SURE you just put SETTINGS in the search when you go looking for it. It is in All Apps in Start under “S”.

SUMMARY

Not much has changed and it did not take me long to get used to the new items. I will add to this post if I find any other major changes.