This week, I want to share with you a few handy Google search commands and shortcuts. Hopefully, they will enhance your future Google searches. Simply type in the commands in the Google search window and then hit enter to see the results.n Getting a weather forecast is an easy task on Google search. Simply type weather followed by the zip code or city and state (i.e. weather Danville, KY).n Searching residential phonebooks for a person can be a cinch. Simply type rphonebook: person’s name and state (i.e. rphonebook: Henry Jones KY).n If you need help finding the definition of a word, simply type define: followed by the word (i.e. define: technology).n To find more information about a movie, including reviews, clips and showtimes of nearly any given movie, simply type movie: followed by the title of the movie (i.e. movies: Shrek).n Google search can also come in handy as a basic calculator. It can perform basic math, convert units and more. For example, to find a percentage of a number type in the Google search box the percentage followed by of and the number (i.e. 40 percent of 50).Google Guide’s Quick Reference: Google Advanced Operators’ Cheat Sheet can be found at www.googleguide.com/advanced_operators_reference.html. It features a nice collection of Google search commands that may help streamline your searching efforts.In closing, I hope your holiday season has been a delightful one so far, and I wish you all the very best new year ever! Have a very techie 2012!
Free stuff
Get free software with a fun twist. Rescue Santa Claus for a free copy of Wondershare’s Vivideo Video Editor. Play a game, enter the special passcode along with your name and e-mail address. The program is available for both Windows and Mac.For more details, visit www.wondershare.com/topic/christmas/giveaway.html.
Net buzzz
** Facebook’s Timeline profile has finally been rolled out. CNET has a very helpful how-to, complete guide to Facebook’s Timeline available at http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-20113031-285/your-complete-guide-to-facebooks-timeline/?tag=TOCcarouselMain.0. n Several big named companies are planning to no longer participate in the annual Consumer Electronics Show. Among those companies are Google, Apple and Amazon. According to an official Microsoft blog post last week, Microsoft will follow suit and will no longer be participating after the 2012 show. Read more at http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_blog/archive/2011/12/21/2012-marks-final-ces-keynote-for-microsoft.aspx.
Roku corner
** The Amazon Instant Video channel on the Roku has been updated. The user interface offers seven choices: Search, Prime Instant Videos, Movies, TV, Your Video Library, Special Deals and Getting Started. Free content for Amazon Prime members can be found the Prime Instant Videos section. The Special Deals sections offers content on sale. All the other sections are self-explanatory.Learn more at www.rokuguide.com/articles/new-improved-user-interface-amazon-instant-video-roku-channel.n First generation Roku players have received their latest firmware update. Among the new features in software version 3.1 are support for The new Amazon Instant Video channel update, mobile support for the official Roku iPhone app and improved MP4 playback. In addition, the Shop Roku Deals section is available in the Roku Channel Store and improvements were made to channel navigation. n Read more at http://blog.roku.com/blog/2011/12/21/software-update-3-1-available-for-first-generation-roku-players/.
E-mail me at sheila@amnews.com; fax me at (859) 236-9566; or write me snail mail at The Advocate-Messenger, P.O. Box 149, Danville, KY 40423-0149.
