One application that I have been using for years is Agent Ransack, a fabulously fast free search utility from Mythicsoft.
Continue reading Agent Ransack—a faster search for WindowsAgent Ransack—a faster search for Windows
Category: Computer
PC stuff
Groupy—grouped tabs for any application in Windows
Every now and then I discover a Windows utility that really makes my life easier and my tasks more productive. My latest discovery is Stardock Groupy.
Groupy allows Windows users to drag and drop multiple applications and documents together to group them into a tabbed interface for easy access and reference.
Continue reading Groupy—grouped tabs for any application in WindowsUsing a 4K ultra HD TV as a PC monitor
Over the last couple of months I’ve been considering buying a TV to also use as a PC monitor. I’ve been surprised to find relatively very little information online about it so here’s what I’ve discovered and my experiences so far.
My experience has been great, so far.
Continue reading Using a 4K ultra HD TV as a PC monitorWindows 10 timeline fixed
One of the features of the latest Windows 10 April 2018 update that I’ve been most looking forward to is Timeline.
Unfortunately, Timeline hasn’t worked for me since the upgrade. But today I fixed it.
What is Timeline?
Timeline lets you see a list of all the documents and applications (that support Timeline) going back about a month. The idea is that this feature should make it easier to find documents you’ve been working on.
The problem I had was that after the upgrade (which only took about 30 minutes) it didn’t work. All I saw was a list of the virtual desktops I had (which is usually two), the currently open applications, and then a message saying that I needed to use my PC more before timeline would start showing me results.
How I fixed it
This is the combination of things that I did to fix it.
Note that my user account is a Microsoft account, not a local PC account.
Settings > Activity history
The first thing was to make sure Windows was collecting my activities.
- Open Settings
- Go to Activity history
- Make sure Let Windows collect my activities from this PC is checked.
- Make sure Let Windows synchronise my activities from this PC to the cloud is checked.
- Make sure the Microsoft accounts you want synchronised are set to On.
Registry settings
I next checked that the following Windows Registry settings were present in the following registry location:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System
EnableActivityFeedPublishUserActivitiesUploadUserActivities
Make sure these are all DWORD 32-bit Value entries set to 1.
To start RegEdit press Win + R and type regedit and click OK.
Restart the PC
Some people have recommended that at this point you should restart your PC to let these settings take effect. Note, not just restart but switch off, wait a few seconds and then switch it back on.
That didn’t work for me.
Create a local user account
It wasn’t until I did the following that Windows suddenly started the Timeline feature. I’m not sure why but this, in combination with the steps above, got it started.
- Open Settings.
- Go to Accounts.
- Select Family & other people from the options on the left.
- Under Other people click Add someone else to this PC.
- In the pop-up window select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
- Click on the link Add a user without a Microsoft account.
- Enter a new username and password. Then select three security questions and answers. Finally click Next.
- Once your account has been set up. Switch off the PC.
- Switch the PC back on and now log in with your new local username.
- Wait for Windows to set up your account for first use, then check the Timeline (Win + Tab). It should be working. Browse a few pages in Microsoft Edge just to make sure.
- Log off and now log on with your standard Microsoft account.
- Once the account has loaded, Timeline should now be working.
I offer this in the hope that it may help someone in a similar situation to mine. Good luck!
RAVPower 30W 3-port USB UK wall charger review
The RAVPower RP-PC020 is a 30W 3-port USB wall charger that, as the name suggests, allows up to three devices to charge simultaneously.
Each port offers the same output: DC 5V at a maximum of 2.5A, so it should be suitable for charging anything from the most humble feature phone to a smartphone or tablet; I’ve used mine to charge all three without incident. The built-in iSmart technology adjusts the output automatically so that each device charges quickly and safely.
The charger comes packaged in a small, sturdy white box with a simple and attractive design. It already looks and feels like a quality product.
Opening the box I was greeted by the quick start guide (written in six languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian and Japanese) draped over the charger, and a friendly “Hello” written on the cover. I like it already.
Inside the box, the charger was wrapped in a plastic sleeve and nestled between two cardboard arms within the box, offering excellent protection for transit or an accidental drop. The only other item in the box is a small card with details about a free 12-month extended warranty.
The charger itself seems solid: this feels like a quality product. The model I have is encased in hard, shiny white plastic with RAVPower written on one side and iSmart on the other. On the side closest to the floor when plugged into a wall socket is written model name and number, input and output values plus various other health and safety icons. The remaining sides offer the UK 3-pin plug and opposite it three USB type A ports.
When plugged in and switched on the USB ports light up, a light blue/white colour, which makes plugging USB cables into it in the dark a little easier — even if you always try to plug it in the wrong way first… oh for when USB C becomes the standard).
One niggle I have with many computer-related plugs is that when plugged into a multisocket block many plugs are too long and so obscure the socket opposite, reducing the number of available sockets by one. Happily this is not one of them: the body of the charger does not extend beyond the height of the plug meaning that you can always plug in something else opposite. The whole unit is really neat and portable; I wouldn’t think twice about throwing this in my bag and taking it with me — it takes up hardly any space at all.
All in all, I am delighted with this adapter. As I’ve already said, it feels like a quality product, I love that the sockets light up, and that it can handle three cables at once means that I now use this as my primary adapter for my smartphone and tablet, with a spare socket for guests or my children’s Amazon Fire tablets. I would wholeheartedly recommend this adapter.
In the interests of transparency: I was sent this product by RAVPower for review. I am not connected to the company in any way apart from having been a former customer.