Personal Tech

I've been reading that passkeys are what we should be using for security even beyond 2FA. I've read some procedures on how to do this but my concern is that I'll do something wrong and can't get into websites I need. I've confirmed that my password tool (Roboform) can handle passkeys but I am still nervous about using them. What guidance can you give me?Alan

 I am planning to buy a new iPhone at the apple store, but apparently the apple store will not assist with data transfer anymore. As a senior with limited technical skills, I want in person assistance. I understand it does not take long. Has anyone been able to obtain assistance from the apple store when purchasing a new iPhone?

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Signed up for newsletters, but, get message to confirm my email so I click send verification email but, I never get the email from aarp, yet, my email address is the same that that I use for my id when logging in to my account.  Also, happens when I signed up for aarp rewards.  Have talked to to people in tech support who tried to help but still does not work.  Yet they could send me emails and I also got an email when I requested a copy of my chat with aarp.  Problem happens when aarp asks me to verify my email address and I click on the link and get message to check my email but, I do not get an email verifying.  Also happens when I want to change anything in my profile.  I use both Edge and Firefox and my cache clears daily. also, the emails from aarp are not in my spam.  Very frustrating that I am not receiving the newsletters that I signed up for and that I cannot verify my email address for rewards and when trying to adjust my profile.  I w

I've noticed (what I consider to be) 'bot' or 'canned' responses lately, from @AARPConsumerCare. These responses are quite generic (obviously 'programmed' based on certain keywords), and seemingly ill-fitted to the original poster's (OP's) post. What is going on?  Is @AARPConsumerCare an AI Chatbot? Is this a new AARP AI tool being used in the AARP forum? And, when will 'we' (users and/or 'concerned members') stop being AARPs' guinea pigs for every new feature that's rolled out? Only to be given 'canned' responses with every concern. This is 'live' tweaking before our very eyes. Call it beta, call it whatever you want...but this is only the beginning. If you're not concerned, you're not paying attention. Thanks, in advance, for any input (and hopefully there'll be no AI Chatbot/'canned' responses here).

Hello. I use FB on my phone only and am told I was hacked.  I have changed my password in the past with no issues.  Aparently, the last time I didn't record this latest new password.  When I go to change it your old password is required.  It tells me this was my "previous" password.  Is there a way to get around this so I can update to a new password?  Any help or advice is appreciated...

Hello,I am considering trying Apple AirPods for mild hearing loss, but unsure if I should just buy a "proper" hearing aid that's only made to be a hearing aid.What have been the good and bad things about using AirPods for hearing loss? How's the fit/volume/etc.Are you using them every day or just when you absolutely need them? How does it work with the app and is that confusing?Would be very grateful to hear your stories.

Using AirPlay from my iPad to TV , I watched a 3 hour Italian opera .   Being a native English speaker , it sure would be a plus if I could display English subtitles .  I tried several setttings changes with no success.   Does anyone else have this issue or have a fix ? 

TrueLane® app is not sending a four digit pin to my phone. Anybody know why.

  long story short, you MUST have a FULL, paid version of Microsoft Office 365 in order to complete the MS Office basics course, this is not something you are currently told when starting the course. the longer part... So, I decided that since it was now free to me through AARP I would take an MS Office basics classfor the third time since 1996 as I am unfamiliar with powerpoint and have used open-source solutionsfor word processing and spreadsheets for the last 20 years and have not used a Microsoft product in ages... but as it turns out, Microsoft no longer includes installed program versions of Word or Excel, offering instead, access to their online versions which ARE NOT compatible with the current MS Office course offered by mindedge through AARP.  I see this as WAY more of a Microsoft problem and less so a Mindedge problem...but do be warned. all the best.  

I am looking for suggestions for types/brands of computers that offer simple features for seniors. I have a senior parent that uses the computer for emails, looking up things on the internet and occasional letter writing - nothing else. The current computer needs updating and/or replacement and technical support has often left this senior in tears. Not looking for online classes because that would only confuse. Your input would help.Thank you -

Hello everyone, I’m looking for advice on how to help my 86 year old Mom stay connected. She Is used to seeing and feeding her extended family multiple times during the week. But for the last 2 weeks plus no one has or will go to her house. Her food is delivered and she talks to everyone on the phone everyday. She seems to be in okay spirits right now. But especially with holidays coming up I’m concerned that she is going to get depressed and feel very isolated. She has Comcast for her tv but does not have internet. She also does not have a cell phone or computer so she can’t video chat. And that is the problem. I am hoping that someone knows of a VERY EASY device we could get for her. Something she could set up herself. So that she could video Chat with her family. She also has hearing issues.  Thank you so very much for any help or advice you could give me.  

As a senior and a member of AARP, I wonder why obtaining a subscription or purchasing the Microsoft aware package does not have a covered senior discount for members? I find this advantageous for seniors to still get used to learn and be confident in using the Microsoft softwares for personal use.

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Brandon Sanderson, born on December 19, 1975, in Lincoln, Nebraska, has become one of the most renowned authors in the genre of epic fantasy. Famous for his Stormlight Archive and Mistborn series, Sanderson's imaginative storytelling, intricate world-building, and innovative magic systems have garnered a massive global following. His works continue to shape and expand the landscape of modern fantasy literature, influencing both readers and fellow writers alike.The Beginnings of a CareerFrom an early age, Sanderson was drawn to the world of books, particularly fantasy. He attended Brigham Young University (BYU), where he studied English and creative writing. There, he began to hone his craft under the guidance of notable mentors like Orson Scott Card. After completing his MFA, Sanderson set his sights on becoming a professional writer. His breakthrough came in 2005 when he was chosen to finish Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series after Jordan's passing. Sanderson’s handling of the intri

Today is October 5, 2021 and Windows 11 is officially released. I got notice this morning that I could get a free update on my laptop. One of the new feature of running Android apps natively is not ready yet, so I am not that anxious to upgrade. I will wait a bit until  MS has some of the initial bugs fixed. I may try it on my spare laptop but I think the hardware is a bit too old and likely not compatible. So what do you think? Wait or upgrade now?

Is it possible to passcode the Bluetooth mini-speaker (CSF-S10) that AARP gifted subscribers so that it CAN'T be publicly accessed (i.e., "paired") by nearby neighbors? Once paired, my phone notes that it's "currently visible to nearby devices." It seems to be a grave oversight that the device is not inherently protected.Posting 3/19/2024, 3:40pm

FROM THE ARTICLE - SEE ARTICLE FOR MORE!!! Unlock Some Media Paywalls With a Subscription to a News Aggregator. Apps and sites give you access to numerous newspapers and magazines. By Chris Morris and Lexi Pandell, AARP. Published August 19, 2024. How many times have you clicked on a link to an enticing news article only to be denied access? The days of unlimited free news from many legitimate websites are gone. Paywalls, which became popular among publishers about 15 years ago, often keep nonsubscribers from reading content. https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/news-aggregator-paywalls.html

If your PC is slightly older, it might not meet the MS hardware requirements for Window 11 upgrade.. But with Tiny 11, a stripped down Windows 11, you can switch to Windows 11 with a PC merely with 2 Gb ram and 8 Gb storage. However, the PC must have a 64 bit processor. Tiny 11 is developed by NTDev (not MS). It does not have bloatware and reported it runs very fast. If you want to give it a try, download the Tiny 11 "iso" file from NTDev and burn it into a bootable usb (8Mb min) drive using Rufus. Boot your PC with the usb drive and you will be in business. Tiny 11 does not include Edge or any other browser, so you have to download your favorite 3rd party browser and install it yourself. 

The major update of Windows11 this year to 24H2 is released early this month. You can update now, or some of us want to wait until bugs are worked out, that is fine too.To update, you might have received a notice from Microsoft and just follow the link.If you don't want to wait and want it sooner, there are ways too.Go to settings, windows update and click the link on upper right and check for update. If the update is ready for you, just follow the link and get it updated.If that did not work, go to this site: https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/software-download/windows11Check the first "download now" button under Windows 11 Installation Assistance. Just follow the instructions. You will be given the choice of keeping you personal files and apps or install new. I wanted to keep my files butI was not given the choice to keep the file. I aborted the update and tried that again afterwards. The second time did go through without any issue.Good luck! 

how to use goole on.mobole phone

This is a bug.  Numerous users are having the same problem even though they have different makes and models of hearing aids.  The problem is with iOS 18. I never had a problem with previous iOS releases.  I tried numerous times to pair my Jabra hearing aids using the prescribed Settings > Accessibility page or the Jabra Enhance Pro app.  A couple of times it seemed to accept the pairing of each hearing aid but nothing happened. Let Apple know.  Email accessibility@apple.com. 

According to new research, green turtle hatchlings "swim" through the sand to emerge rather than digging with a head-up rocking motion. Recent research suggests that green turtle hatchlings 'swim' through the sand to reach the surface after hatching, rather than 'digging' their way out. These findings have significant implications for the conservation of the world's declining turtle population.Scientists from UNSW's School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences used a small device known as an accelerometer to discover novel findings about hatchling behaviors as they emerge from their nests, as published in Proceedings B. Sea turtle eggs are buried in nests 30 to 80 cm deep. The newly hatched turtles take three to seven days to reach the sand's surface. However, because this all takes place underground, we know very little about a hatchling's first few days of life.  

Researchers have captured the first images of a brain network designed to eliminate waste, potentially protecting against diseases such as Alzheimer's.This glymphatic system was imaged in surgical patients, confirming theories that had previously only been seen in animals. The study emphasizes the system's ability to transport metabolic byproducts, including harmful proteins, out of the brain via perivascular spaces, suggesting that lifestyle changes may enhance this natural protective mechanism.  Groundbreaking Brain Pathway ImagingScientists have long speculated about the existence of a network of pathways in the brain designed to clear metabolic proteins that would otherwise accumulate and cause Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. However, until now, no one had definitively observed this network in humans.A new study involving five patients undergoing brain surgery at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) has produced the first images of this network of periva

When I use my computer to view the posts on the enclosed link, the page down and up keys go too far so a few lines of text are skipped. I have tried 2 browsers and changed screen resolutions with no change. Most of your other screens scroll ok with these keys. Thanks https://community.aarp.org/t5/forums/recentpostspage/post-type/message