OS MANAGEMENT TIPS TO GIVE YOUR PC A BREAK

In the United States alone, 87% of households have at least one computer. For many, their computer is an excellent source of entertainment, social media interaction, and work. But PC operating systems are fickle things, and they need some degree of maintenance. Inadequate system optimizations will cause your PC to become slower over time as it fills with data and becomes outdated. However, PC maintenance is relatively simple. Here are three easy things you can do to give your PC a break and increase its speed and efficiency. 

Downgrade Your Operating System 

Your computer’s operating system (OS) is what you use to control it. For example, your PC probably comes with Windows10, soon to be Windows 11. Or your macOS can be upgraded to whatever version is currently available. Unfortunately, operating systems are becoming more complex with each version. Increased complexity requires more resources such as hard drive space, RAM, and CPU power. Fortunately, it is straightforward to downgrade your operating systems with the tools. For example, macOS was recently updated to Monterey. 

However, Monterey requires a lot more RAM and will slow down older machines. You can downgrade to Big Sur (click here) to free up some resources and improve your macOS’s speed. You can also downgrade your Windows PC to Windows 7. However, you should be aware that as of January 2020, Windows 7 is no longer supported and could expose your machine to malicious vulnerabilities. 

Keep Software Up-to-Date 

Speaking of vulnerabilities, one of the most common intrusion methods is the exploitation of outdated software. Therefore, it is best if you keep your installed application and programs up-to-date to prevent malicious intrusion. This is quickly done by updating to the latest patch versions of each utility. In addition, you should keep your OS updated since hackers often exploit OS vulnerabilities to gain access to machines. 

Updating software is relatively simple. Programs typically allow you to update themes manually. You can usually access update options via the File or About menus. Additionally, you can download updater apps that routinely scan your machine and update programs and drivers automatically. However, these apps aren’t free, yet the Professional version of CCleaner comes with an update utility. Most will offer a free trial, so you can take advantage of it and get your updates by using a new tool each time. 

Be Proactive with Optimization 

Over time, your PC will become bunged up with redundant data, used apps and programs, and cached items. These can take up a lot of space if not kept in check and result in slow computer performance. Fortunately, you can optimize your PC easily with the right tools and a little proactive action on your part. CCleaner is the best free tool available. In addition, Malwarebytes offers a free version that will provide basic but adequate virus and malware protection. 

Malwarebytes will run quietly in the background and alert you to any critical issues. CCleaner can also monitor your PC and will inform you when space is being unnecessarily used. The free version of CCleaner is adequate for most users. The pro version isn’t really necessary for all but the most dedicated power users. Running CCleaner once per week will keep your computer in tip-top shape by safely removing files that don’t need to be there. You can also use CCleaner to defrag your hard drive, delete white space, and uninstall programs.

Video Game Utilizes Football To Teach People On Being Financially Savvy

Reading the Sunday morning newspaper this last weekend I noticed that stories about people being ripped off because they weren't very financial savvy or literate and that analyzed how competitive the Detroit Lions may be in this upcoming football season dominated the headlines.  With the new school year in Michigan officially starting today and the Lions battling the San Diego Chargers in their first game of the season this week, it seemed like a good time to highlight a fun video game that utilizes a football theme to teach people on being financially savvy. Financial Football which was created in partnership between the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, Visa's Practical Money Skill's for Life program, and the NFL  lets children, teens, and adults test their money management skills by answering questions that allow you to move down the field and score touchdowns when you make the correct choices.

Available to play online via your personal computer or laptop for FREE, Financial Football puts players fiscal knowledge to the test in an online simulation game environment by combining the structure and rules of the NFL with financial education questions of varying difficulty. Visa has also released the game as a FREE iPhone app on iTunes, along with an optimized HD iPad version.  The game can be played in single player mode or against a friend in head-to-head action. It really is a fast-paced, fun game that can be challenging for all ages.

To start the game you can pick its length ranging from 5 minutes to 20 minutes plus select which NFL team you want to play as.  Difficulty settings are also available with Rookie (Ages 11 -14), Pro (Ages 14-18) and Hall of Fame (18+) to choose from.  Players are than able to select defensive and offensive plays with difficulty levels of easy, medium and hard which are followed up with questions about financial literacy and money management that correspond to the selected play's difficulty.

If  you get a question right you than your team is successful with their play, but if you get the question wrong than your QB will get sacked, your running back hit for a loss, or a wide receiver drops the ball.  The harder the successfully completed question the better your players do so an easy question might get you one or two yards, a medium question 5 yards and a hard question could get you ten yards or maybe even a break away touchdown.

This game takes a topic that can be boring and mundane for many kids and adults and adds some excitement to it that will help ingrain important tips and information into people's heads as their competitive instincts get them involved with this game.  As a parent, I'm always keeping an eye out for opportunities that combine entertainment and education to assist getting kids to embrace learning.  Financial Football is a great way to catch children and teens' interest and help them become financially savvy.

For more information about the FINANCIAL FOOTBALL video game, CLICK HERE.

Internet Arcade Brings 900 Classic Video Games To Your Web Browser

I recently took some time to visit the Internet Arcade and it was like a time warp to the after school hours of my elementary school and junior high years when my friends and I would rush over to the ice cream parlor that also served as our town's arcade and spend hours playing video games.  The Internet Arcade is a web-based library of more than 900 arcade (coin-operated) video games from the 1970s and 1980s.  Wow! you can really see how far technology has advanced when you spend some time playing these classic games that were state-of-the-art during their time and compare them to those we can play now on home video game consoles, tablets, or even our phones.  Still while the games in the Internet Arcade may not have high def graphics or dazzling special effects, they can still provide you with a lot of fun. Oh, and by the way did I mention they are also all FREE to play!

Capcom's AVENGERS

One of my all time favorite video games was called AVENGERS and I spent countless hours and an unimaginable amount of quarters enjoying brawling through its levels with my friends when I was in eight grade.  I haven't seen this game since junior high though I've always kept in eye out for it over the years...even considering looking to maybe buy one of the original arcade machines for my house if I could fine one.  Lo and behold the first game I stumbled across on the Internet Arcade was the AVENGERS! how about that...I just blew through an hour before writing this post having a blast fighting my way through Paradise City feeling like I was twelve years old again.

The game that was right next to AVENGERS at my local arcade hangout is also on the Internet Arcade: INDIANA JONES & THE TEMPLE OF DOOM.  I thought that game was so cool at the time and you look at the graphics now and just winch, but it is still fun running around a maze on the screen snapping at snakes and bad guys with your whip in one level and racing through tunnels in a mine car through the next one.

Atari Indiana Jones & The Temple of Doom

These games work through emulating the original software through the processing power of an Internet browser.  While they work on most browsers the most effective ones to use are Firefox and Chrome to obtain the best game play.  Also these games don't work on tablets or phones even if you have Internet access...at least not when I tried to access them via my iphone and ipad...so you'll need to access them through a PC.

A nice feature is that if you have a game controller for your computer the games will recognize it and you can play like you are using an arcade machine's joystick.  If you don't have a video game controller for your computer...like me... than most of the games use the arrow buttons, Ctrl, Alt, and Space Bar tabs on your keyboard to control the action.  Each game is different though and unfortunately they don't do a good job of informing you of what the control buttons are so lots of time it is learning by just pounding keys til you get a grasp of things...which can be very frustrating.

Taito Jungle Hunt

I wish I had a game controller because the keyboard controls just aren't as much fun but they are doable, especially for games like Burger Time, Frogger, Jungle Hunt and Pacman.  I had a good time playing these games with the arrow buttons as my primary controls.  Unfortunately, I found not every game works with the keyboard. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi just would not work!  On the other hand the racing game Outrun worked great!

SEGA Outrun

For some retro fun take a moment to swing by the Internet Arcade to play some video games old school style.  Visit  archive.org/details/internetarcade for all the fun of going to an arcade without the expense of the quarters.  These games are all FREE to play but you do have to click on an insert coin button to start each game just to keep the experience legit.

For more information on exactly how these game platforms work through your web browser or if you are having trouble getting them to work CLICK HERE for "A Quick Guide on How to Play on the Internet Arcade"