You may be unaware of Scooploop's Workshop loop. You can use it to experiment with posting photos, videos links etc. You can also post any questions you may have about Scooploop. Click below to join.

https://bit.ly/48gBguW

There is no need to pay for antivirus on a Windows computer. You may see a special offer for Norton etc., but Windows protection covers everything. Unless you have some special requirement, there is no need to pay for any software, as free programs are available to cover any requirement.

If you watch streamed sport on the iPlayer, be aware that you are 1 minute behind your cheering neighbours. For technical reasons, all digital communications are delayed.

You can get many more links on the bookmarks bar by changing the text that shows, or deleting it completely to show only the icon if it is recognizable. To do this, right-click the bookmark and select edit bookmark

HTTPS before a web address does not guarantee that it is safe. It only guarantees that the information you enter cannot be intercepted between you and the website. HTTP and HTTPS sites are safe to view, it is inputting information that should be avoided, unless you are sure that it is a trustworthy site. More information here: https://bit.ly/3VnsXpS

Help!! I think I accidentally clicked something and now have Windows 11 downloaded but not yet installed. At least, I think that's what it's done. I've had a message asking me to pick a time when I'd like to restart my computer so that it can install. I haven't done this as I don't want Windows 11. I'd prefer to stay with Windows 10. Will it automatically update / install next time I close down my laptop? If so, how can I stop this from happening? Thanks anyone for any much needed help or advice.

Please note that the copper cutoff is not in 2025. December 2025 is when the last landlines will be shut down. If you understand what is happening, please explain it to others, as there are many people who are unaware.

The World Wide Web is often referred to as the Internet, but they are not the same. The Internet is the worldwide connection of computers, whereas the World Wide Web is the part of the Internet accessed by ordinary web browsers. There are other webs, such as the Dark Web. When you send/receive emails, they travel on the Internet not the World Wide Web, whether you use an email program such as Thunderbird, or access them via your email provider's website.

Be aware that your email attachments size is now part of your OneDrive allowance of 5 GB. If you exceed this, you will not be able to send attachments.

https://bit.ly/47GuspZ

I have a Samsung S22+ phone.
I use Outlook 2013 on my computer which runs windows 10.
I want to transfer my contacts from Outlook to my phone but Samsung Smart Switch doesn't complete the transfer and reports that there's a problem with Outlook.
As far as I can tell Outlook is working correctly.
I ran a web search but they suggested transferring via Google and seem to assume that I use Outlook.com or outlook 365.
I can transfer files from my computer to my phone via USB or Dropbox.
Is there some way I can copy my contacts as a file or files (such as PST, VCF, CSV etc) and then install them on my phone?

Your adblocker may not be very effective. Clicking the link below will test it with 150 ads and trackers. The percentage blocked will appear in the circle at the bottom of the page.

The top three adblockers are:
1st place uBlock Origin
2nd place AdGuard
3rd place Ghostery


Adblockers to avoid are:
1. AdBlock
2. Adblock Plus

Click below to test your adblocker with Test Ad Block: https://bit.ly/3YzYmb7

BT is testing whether the old copper-based street cabinets can be converted to charge electric vehicles. If the tests are successful, about 60,000 of its cabinets may be suitable.

If you usually only look in on the usual loop(s), then, if you don't explore Scooploop, or don't know how to, you may be missing the latest loops. If you browse loops on the website, you can see all loops with 2 or more members. However, if you use the app, you will be able to see newly formed loops with only 1 member.
To browse all loops on the website, click on the eyes icon on the menu bar, then click 'Browse Loops'.
To browse all loops on the app, tap 'Loops' in the menu, then 'All'.

Here is a link to all the loops visible on the website by using the menu bar:
https://bit.ly/3skoHKJ

Wondering if I need a new one
Fully charged but after about 3 hours gone down to 70%
is that usual ? I always used to keep it plugged in before.

DuckDuckGo now has a Windows version of its DuckDuckGo web browser. It was previously only available on Mac, iOS and Android.

Features include:

Duck Player which blocks YouTube adverts.

Blocks hidden trackers like Google and Facebook.

Cookie Pop-up Management, which automatically selects most private cookie options on a website.

You cannot yet install extensions

You can download the browser below. It will install the setup file in your downloads folder. The opening window will explain. It is still in beta (a version being tested), so there may be some bugs.



https://bit.ly/44a4lFN

To hide your email address and stop email trackers, click three dot menu, then 'Email Protection', then 'Enable Email Protection'.

Be aware, that they are requesting the donor's name and address.

' Thunderbird’s mission is to give you the best privacy-respecting, customizable communication experience possible. Free for everyone to install and enjoy!

Accomplishing that mission means maintaining expensive servers, fixing bugs, developing useful new features, and hiring talented engineers to improve the software.

Thunderbird is proud to be funded exclusively by our community, not by selling personal data or displaying ads in your inbox.

So today we’re asking for your help to keep Thunderbird alive and thriving. If you get value from using Thunderbird, please consider giving a donation to support it!'

https://bit.ly/3Ye4WE1

DDG has a built-in YouTube player that can block ads. It also does not have the distractions that Youtube has, as it shows only the video that is playing.

To always use the player, go to Settings and tick 'Always open videos in Duck Player'. If you wish, you can switch to using YouTube by clicking the 'Watch on YouTube' at the bottom right of the Duck Player.

You can download the DDG Windows browser here: https://bit.ly/3Ou7Lh0

Part 5 will be about how to use DDG to hide your email address and stop it being tracked.

What you can see and do on Scooploop depends on whether you use a computer or a phone/tablet. One example is seeing new loops. The loops listing on a computer only shows loops that have 2 or more members, whereas the App will show new loops which will have one member. Here is the latest loop, which is for Sony Xperia users, and is not listed on the website:


https://bit.ly/3Dxpw8R

For the benefit of anyone with Virgin broadband who may not yet have received the adaptor, here's what to expect.

Instead of dismissing cookies, which allows them to track you, it automatically selects the most private setting with the fewest cookies without you having to click anything. When you first visit a website that has cookies, DDG will offer to deal with them for you, so click 'Manage Cookie Pop-ups' in the window that appears. It currently blocks cookies on 80% of the top 250 sites in the UK.

Part 4 will be 'Watching YouTube without the adverts'.

DuckDuckGo browser is devoted to privacy, there is no need for a private tab as all activity can be removed with one click using the fire button, which is at the top right of the browser's window. Clicking this will:

Close all open tabs
Delete browsing history
Delete cookies
Delete cached images
Delete file downloads

Should you want to keep your data for particular websites, you can do so by using the option 'Fireproofing'. You do this by right-clicking the tab concerned, and choosing Fireproof this site'. Right-click again if you decide to reverse the choice.

Should you forget to use the fire button when closing the browser, you can prevent someone seeing the tabs you had open, by doing the following:

1. Click three dot menu
2. Click Settings
3. In the 'On Startup'section, untick the box 'Restore windows and tabs from previous session'.


Part 3 soon.

Suddenly I cannot get this on my fire tablet, was okay before and works perfectly on my phone.

There are many different browsers, and if you limit yourself to using the same one, you may be missing out on a feature that may be of use to you. For example, when I want to read a lot of text on a website, I have Edge read it to me. If I want to watch a YouTube video without the adverts, I use Brave.
If you always use Chrome, then everything you do is tracked, results in searches are the ones Goole wants you to see, and you must watch Youtube adverts. If you have an old computer, Chrome uses a lot of memory.
I am currently posting information on the new DuckDuckGo browser which is devoted to privacy.
https://bit.ly/43BCLjA

https://bbc.in/46N2t7H

DuckDuckGo's Windows web browser blocks all trackers automatically. It includes 3rd Party Tracker Loading Protection which prevents trackers from loading in the background. Other browsers load them and then restrict what they can do.

It also blocks ads without you having to install a blocker.

It will remove all the adverts and display just the text on a website, which is particularly useful when viewing newspaper links - copy the link and paste it into DuckDuckGo to see the difference.

https://bit.ly/44a4lFN

If you have either of these Android apps, you should remove them immediately:

File Recovery and Data Recovery

File Manager

https://bit.ly/3rxH9Tz

BT Line Rental Saver Discount will no longer be available after the 21st July. Your existing deal will continue until your contract expires. Thereafter you will have to pay the full price:

https://bit.ly/3Oi5SnO

Password test and advice:

https://bit.ly/3XLV97X

You may not be aware that there is an AI loop. If you are interested in AI, I have posted there how you can detect AI text and images. Click below to join the loop.

https://bit.ly/41gM4Wd

Need a new mouse, wired any make recommendation or what speed? Thanks

Several months ago I had trouble with my Gmail account on my laptop, it still doesn't work properly and says no new mail but, it works okay on my tablet.
Had new mail come through today on tablet but not on laptop.
Anyone understand what could be the problem ?
I have already cleared the cache.

Even with the phone speaker switched on and at full volume, my husband is having difficulty hearing what quietly spoken people are saying.

I've got a bluetooth speaker which we use to play music from the phone and I hoped it would work with phone calls but it doesn't.

Is it possible or not to use it in that way and if I can then what am I doing wrong?

Any info would be appreciated.

If you have any photos or videos stored in a Google Album Archive, you must download them before 19th July. The Album Archive was created to store photos and videos that were previously saved in defunct services such as Picasa and Google Hangouts.
To download your content, go to the link below, deselect everything, then tick Album Archive.

https://bit.ly/44jJEar

A portable router is a small device that enables you and others to connect to the Internet wherever you are by WiFi, provided you have a phone signal.

At home, this will enable you to use your laptop or tablet during a power cut.

https://bit.ly/43iVWPe

When your copper cable landline is removed/disconnected, if there is a power cut, you will be unable to use your landline to make phone calls*. This is because your phone will be connected to your router, and your router requires power to work. 2025 is when the process will be completed, not when it will happen. Many people have already had their landline switched to their router. To overcome the problem, you will need a battery backup. Google your provider for information. If you are BT user, they may supply you with a backup supply.

Having a backup power supply will enable you to use a laptop.

*A mobile phone will overcome this problem (if you can get a signal!), so make sure you keep it charged.

https://bit.ly/3PG0cVE

A recent update on some Android phones is causing them to call 999. This has resulted in many silent calls. A silent call can tie-up a line for up to 20 minutes. If your phone makes a call, you should stay on the line to explain.
Google is advising users to disable the feature until they fix it. Disable the feature as follows:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Go to Safety & Emergency.
3. Slide Emergency SOS button to off.

How do I get a photo from my fire tablet or my laptop into my Android phone ?

A common annoyance with iPhones is ending a call by mistake by touching the Lock button. You can prevent this by doing the following:
1. Open Settings app.
2. Select Accessibility and tap Touch.
3. Switch on the option 'Prevent Lock to End Call'.

If you are looking to buy a new or your first Android Smartphone, then the Motorola Moto G13 is all you need. It has been tested by a tech magazine, and was given 5*. It is currently available at John Lewis with a 2 year guarantee for 139.99. It has a 50MP camera, 128GB of storage, and a microSD card slot to add more memory.
It is Android 13, and can be updated to Android 14 when available. It will get 3 years of security updates from January 2023.
If video quality is important, then you need to spend more.

In August, Google Drive will stop working on all 32bit Windows 10 computers. If you have Windows 8 or 8.1, it will also stop working on 64bit PCs.

To find out if you have 32bit or 64bit, do the following:

1. Press Windows key+i to open Settings.
2. Click 'System'.
3. Click 'About' bottom left.
4. Then on the right, look next to 'System type'.

You will still be able to use Google Drive through your browser.

You may have noticed your fan going constantly in this hot weather. The more you have running, the louder it will get and the hotter your laptop and room will get. So don't leave it on if not necessary.

There is no need to worry, as Google Chrome updates automatically:
'Does the browser update automatically?
By default, Google Chrome automatically performs system and security updates. This happens when the browser is closed and an update is available for you. It never takes long, and chances are you’ll never notice when the browser updates in the background unless something huge changes.'


https://www.scooploop.com/thread/google-chrome-browser-51402

The average user has no need of high broadband speeds, so, unless you are given the opportunity of a higher speed for no extra charge, then it is a waste of money. You may even be able to change to a lower speed and save money.

If you are the sole user of the Internet, then a high speed is of no benefit to you. Downloading emails, viewing webpages etc., does not require a high speed. Having a high speed will not make a website such as Scooploop work faster, as it will only show it to you after Scooploop's system has completed all the necessary operations to be able to show you what you want to see.

Even viewing iPlayer does not require not much speed. What do you think the requirement is? Netflix is the same. The answer is here: https://bit.ly/45Tl6X9

The copper-off was announced as long ago as 2017, but it still needs publicity. The subject has been covered in this loop; see the link below. A summary of important points is below.

1. If your landline phone is connected by the old copper cables it will be disconnected.
2. If you have a router, you may be able to plug your phone in to a socket on the back. You may need an adapter. If your router does not have a phone socket, you will have to get a new one.
3. If you do not have broadband, you will have to get it so that you can continue to use your phone. You may be able to get a special broadband device for this purpose, but you cannot use it to connect to the Internet.
4. If there is a power cut you will be unable to use your phone. If your circumstances warrant it, you may be able to get a free backup battery which will last an hour.
5. In the event of a power cut, if you are a vulnerable person, you must have a charged mobile phone.
6. If you, or someone you know, have a telecare alarm or sensor, you should check that it will continue to work.
7. If your burglar alarm uses your landline you need to contact the provider.

https://bit.ly/3i92u1d

You can now only share your password with people in the same house. If you wish to share your password with people outside your house, you will have to pay 4.99.

If you have a dormant Google account, which you may use for storage of photos etc., or for some other purpose, then unless you log in and use it in one of the ways below, it will be deleted on or after 1st December 2023:

1. Reading or sending an email.
2. Using Google Drive.
3. Watching a YouTube video.
4. Sharing a photo.
5. Downloading an app.
6. Using Google search.
7. Using 'Sign in with Google' to sign in to a third-party app or service.

The BBC has started to close down its SD (Standard Definition) channels. To continue to view BBC channels you will need to have an HD (High Definition) box. Visit channel 799 to find out if you need a new box.

Here is an example of why you might need this feature.

https://bit.ly/3oHLRwL

Apparently the last successful update was on 17/6/22. All later ones are saying failed. I have just broadened the timing span from 9.00 to 17.00 to 9.00 to 19.00 but that's as far as my abilities go and I don't think it will make any difference. Is there any simple way to correct this, please, or did I inadvertently press a wrong button nearly a year ago. Reason I looked is because I received a message about updates.