Useful Tech Tips and Solutions
Compiled below are the most-popular tech issues which we've discussed.
We'll keep updating this page with new answers and solutions!
To save you time, here's an updated index of the tips and solutions you'll find below…
1) What do do if your keyboard or mouse stops working
In many cases, your mouse or keyboard is fine — it's just lost its command connection to your computer. Here are simple steps you can take to try to get it working again…
- "Cold boot' your computer or laptop by holding down the Power button for 20 seconds, It'll go off after six seconds, but count to 20 before releasing the button. Then press the Power button once and let it come back to life and see if the mouse or keyboard has resumed working.
- If not, if you have a wired mouse or keyboard, follow the cable to your computer, and unplug it for five seconds and then plug it back in.
If your mouse or keyboard is wireless, look for the tiny nano-receiver plugged into one of your USB ports (see image), unplug it for five seconds, and then plug it back in. Also check the batteries to see if they need replacing.
If your mouse or keyboard still isn't working, try plugging the cable or receiver into a different USB port and see if that works.
If none of these steps works, try plugging the cable or receiver into a different computer if you have access to one, and see if it works there. If it does, there's a problem with your computer; if it doesn't work in another computer, the mouse or keyboard needs replacing.
2) We've had several people recently lose priceless pictures and documents when their computers or tablets died, because they didn't trust cloud backup.
Cloud backup is super secure, and easy to use, but many people are understandably hesitant to use it because they have no idea how it works,or if it's secure, or private.
To help you understand how cloud backup works, and the differences between the various cloud backup options from Microsoft, Apple, Google, and others, we've created a short illustrated guide…
4) Windows 10 users will see a monthly splash screen from Microsoft reminding that support ends in October of 2025
If your computer is running Windows 10 and is not new enough to be auto-upgraded to Windows 11, expect to see a full-screen message from Microsoft every month…
Despite what the message says, if your computer is less than seven years old, it almost certainly can be upgraded to Windows 11. ..it just has to be upgraded by a computer tech via a clean install.
If your computer still has an old spinning hard drive, this would be a good opportunity to also upgrade to a much faster solid-state drive. They're not expensive and can avoid you having to buy a new PC.
You can dismiss the splash screen by clicking on "Remind me later", but it'll pop-up again next month!
5) Updated: we now have a new, much-cheaper option for home internet and TV service
Freedom Mobile is now offering home Internet and TV service here, at prices well below what Telus and Rogers are charging — but you have to be a Freedom Mobile susbcriber to be eligible.
When Quebec-based Vidéotron bought Freedom Mobile as part of the Rogers buyout of Shaw, they also bought IPTV firm VMedia, and that company has developed their TV app. Freedom is also wholesaling Rogers internet in this area, and also Telus and Bell internet back east.
Freedom's home internet prices range from $39/month for Internet 25, to $90/month for Gigabit (Internet 1000), with the best value (for individuals) being Internet 75 for $50/month.
There's no activation fee, and no contract, and the package includes a Hitron modem and a small eero 6 Wi-Fi router (shown here), which will cover most condos and small homes.
Extra routers for larger homes are $5/month.
Service is available anywhere in Greater Victoria serviced by Shaw/Rogers.
You can get more info on Freedom Home Internet at www.freedommobile.ca/en-CA/home-internet
Freedom's TV service is IPTV (Internet Protocol TV), which means you don't get a TV box. You instead access the service via an app on your smart TV, or via a TV plug-in like an Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, or Amazon Fire stick. No contract or credit check as its a prepaid service.
Not having to supply set-top boxes is allowing Freedom to offer much lower prices than Telus and Rogers: $10/month for Starter TV which gives you at least 23 HD channels, including all major Canadian and US networks. If you want sports, that's just $19/month more. News & entertainment channels are $20/month. Or, you can order just the channels you want for $3 per channel per month or 10 for $17.50 ($1.75/channel), or 20 for $30/month ($1.50/channel).
I've created a PDF of the pricing options for both Freedom home internet and TV…
If you're happy with your current mobile service and don't want to switch to Freedom Mobile in order to get their much-more-affordable home internet and/or TV service, or if you don't have a cellphone, you can sign-up for Freedom's $5/month mobile plan, and just never use it.
Update: In the future, the Freedom TV app will allow you to record programs and stream playback off the cloud, but that option is not yet available. There is currently a way to watch many programs up to a week after broadcast by adding to MyTV from the guide. (From listener John)
6) Please replace surge-protecting power bars after three years!
Many people are unaware that surge protector power-bars only provide protection for two to three years, on average.
This is why we recommend you use a felt pen to write the month and year on the bottom of any power bar you buy, and after three years (two, if you live in an area where there's lots of construction), replace it with a new one, and use the old one for lamps and other inexpensive gear.
7b) Avoid having to clean your printer's heads by regularly printing a colour test pattern
If you don't print very often, you can avoid having to waste a lot of ink through a head-cleaning by regularly printing a colour test pattern.
You can download and save the PDF below and print it when you haven't printed anything lately…
8) We don't recommend refilling inkjet printer cartridges!
Cartridge refill kiosks used to be in virtually every shopping mall, but they've almost all disappeared, and there are several reasons for that. I've detailed the reasons why we don't recommend refilling inkjet ink cartridges in a PDF which you can download and share…
9) Updated: How to see which carrier has cell towers near you
If cell service is poor where you live or work, you can now easily see which carrier has towers where.
You can download the free TowerLocator Canada app, or you can go to Steven Nikkel's website…
While this map and app by Steven are excellent resources, because it's a volunteer project for him, the map is not always up-to-date. The current version for Victoria, for example, was last updated August 30, so it does not show new towers such as Freedom's new 5G tower in James Bay.
The map also understandably does not show where future towers are going to be located, and that's key, because all four carriers are in installing 5G towers, and many of them at different locations from current towers, because 5G signal patterns are quite different from 4G and LTE patterns.
10) Where to recycle small home appliances and tools for free
You can take electronics for recycling for free at Return-It bottle depots, and to stores like London Drugs, but what about small appliances and power tools that are not fixable?
You can now take them for recycling for free at 230 locations across BC, including 10 locations here in Greater Victoria. You'll find a list of what you can recycle, and where, at ElectroRecycle.ca.
11) If you want LED lightbulbs that stay lit when the power goes off, they have them as Costco!
One of our best finds at the Consumer Electronics Show years ago was LED lightbulbs that stay lit when the power goes out thanks to a small built-in rechargeable battery. We brought home a couple samples, and figured they'd soon be in stores everywhere, but that never happened.
Now, voila, our friend Ron Fraser discovered they're at Costco, in a package of six for $20! The printing on the package says they'll stay lit for up to 10 hours after the power goes out.
November update: currently all sold-out.
13) Relationship broken up? Separate your online accounts
Breaking up is hard to do. But the internet has made it even harder.
With couples today regularly sharing access to one another’s email accounts, streaming services, social media platforms, online photo albums, and more, the risk of a bad breakup isn’t just heartache.
Equipped with unfettered access into sensitive, shared online accounts, a vindictive ex could track someone who is actively using services like DoorDash, Uber, or Airbnb, spy on someone through a Ring doorbell, raise the temperature on a Nest thermostat, or shout obscenities through a baby monitor.
As every relationship is different, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to safely disentangling your digital life from your ex, but there are a few rules that can make the process easier.
David Ruiz at Malwarebytes has written an excellent article (albeit from an American perspective) on how to separate online accounts…
14) Keep track of key info on a Windows computer with Belarc Advisor (free)
Belarc Advisor is an easy away to keep track of the key info on your Windows computer and all the gear connected to it (including licence keys).
This tiny bit of software quickly builds a detailed profile of your installed software and hardware with serial numbers and manufacturing dates, any missing Microsoft hotfixes, anti-virus status, security benchmarks, and licence keys, and displays the results in your Web browser.
All of your computer profile info is kept private on your computer and is not sent to any web server.
To save your profile run the app (give it permission and check the "remember" boxes when asked), and then export it to PDF (Ctrl + P and change the printer to Microsoft Print to PDF) or print it.
www.belarc.com
Belarc Advisor Download - Belarc, Inc.
Belarc's products automatically create an accurate and up-to-date central repository (CMDB), consisting of detailed software, hardware, network and security configurations. Customers use our products for software license management, IT asset management, cybersecurity audits, information assurance, and more.
16) You can now create a QR code for any webpage in Edge
Microsoft's Edge browser now lets you quickly create a QR (Quick Response) code for any website or webpage. (When you point a smartphone or tablet camera at a QR code, you get a pop-up that lets you instantly go to that webpage.) To create a QR code for a website or webpage, using the Microsoft Edge browser, go to the page in question. Then, right-click in a blank area on that page and you'll see this…
...in that pop-up, click on Create QR Code for this page. You can then copy and/or save the QR code and insert it into emails, texts, documents, or any method of communication that allows images.
For example, here's a QR Code which I created for "Tech Talk" on the C-FAX 1070 website…
17) How many Canadian streaming services can you name?
Believe it or not, there are more than 80 different apps and websites available here in Canada where you can watch TV shows and movies whenever you want!
Some you have to subscribe to, while more and more let you watch for free but include unskippable ads. See how many of the icons below you recognize…
To find out which streaming service here in Canada has the shows and movies you want to watch, use the free Just Watch app, or, on a computer, go to JustWatch.com/ca.
(If you're reading this in another country, go to JustWatch.com, scroll to the bottom, and pick your country.)
19) iPhone tip: how to change the focus point on a portrait photo before or after you've taken it!
If you 've taken a great portrait photo on an iPhone 13 or later, but wish a different part of the photo was in focus, you can change that! You can use the same technique to set the focus point before taking the photo, too.
Nathaniel Pangaro at AppleInsider.com has written easy-to-follow instructions...
20) Which is the best outdoor surveillance camera?
As we promised last week, here's some help in deciding which outdoor surveillance camera to buy here in Canada, courtesy of BuyersGuide.org
Or, if you want to skip right to their recommended model, it's the Eufy Security Camera Kit, which includes two indoor/outdoor video cameras and a base. The cameras are battery-powered and offer 1080p livestream video with night vision and two-way talk and save their recordings to a microSD card. They work with both Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. It's currently on sale for $220 at Amazon.ca
Note that Eufy now has a new 4K model, the EufyCam 3 (see below).
Another great comprehensive review of security camera models is by Tom's Guide in the USA…
Tom's Guide breaks them down into best indoor camera, best outdoor camera, best doorbell camera, best no-subscription camera, and best 4K camera. Their choise for best no-subscription camera is the new EufyCam 3 4K. It co1mes in a kit with three 4K cameras and a base station for $800 on Amazon.
21) WhatsApp now lets you share your screen during a video call
Meta-owned WhatsApp has added screen-sharing for iPhones, Android devices, and Windows computers. It's a handy new feature if you want to share pics, notes, websites or other content on your phone with the person or people you're having a video-chat with. Instructions are below…
- Be aware that the info displayed on your shared screen, including usernames and passwords, will be visible to the person/people wiyh whom you're screen-sharing.
- Screen sharing isn't available during audio calls.
- Audio isn't available for shared content, such as Youtube, Netflix, or video games.
- Screen sharing is protected with end-to-end encryption and is never recorded by WhatsApp. No one outside of the call, not even WhatsApp, can see or hear what you share on your screen.
22a) If a friend has lost their iPhone, how to help them locate it
If a friend loses their iPhone, you can help them locate it, either with your phone, tablet or computer.
1) Open a web-browser and go to iCloud.com.
2) Type in the email address which is their Apple ID, and their password.
3) Click/tap on "Find Devices" at the bottom of the screen, which will look like this…
A screen will appear with a map showing where the device is — or where it last was if it's not reachable, along with a pop-up that'll look like this...
That'll give you the option to play a radar pinging sound on the device, or mark it as Lost and type a message that'll appear on the screen of the device (such as who to call to return it), or if all else fails, to erase it so it cannot be reactivated by anyone other than the owner.
This brings up a very important point: make sure you know which email address is your Apple ID, and that you know your Apple ID password. If you don't know these, the process gets much harder.
22b) What if you've lost your Android phone?
If you’ve misplaced your Android phone, you can use Google’s Find My Device feature to locate, secure, or erase it. Here’s how:
- Using a Web Browser:
- Open a web browser on any internet-connected device and go to Google.com/android/find
- Sign in with your primary Google account.
- Click on the lost phone in the upper-left corner of the screen.
- A Google Map will appear, showing the approximate location of your Android smartphone.
- Using Another Android Device:
- On another Android phone or tablet, open the Find My Device app.
- If the other device doesn’t have the app yet, you can download it from Google Play.
- Sign in with the same Google account associated with the lost Android device.
- From the list of devices, select the one you want to locate.
- You’ll find the following options:
- Play sound: Rings your device at full volume for 5 minutes, even if it’s set to silent or vibrate.
- Secure device: Locks your device with your PIN or password. You can also add a message or phone number to the lock screen to help someone return your device.
- Erase device: Permanently deletes all data on your device (note that this won’t affect SD cards).
23) You can now read auto-generated transcripts of Podcasts (including ours!) which you listen to on iPhones and iPads and Macs
One of the new features that arrived with iOS/iPadOS 17.4 this week is the ability to read a podcast transcript when using the Apple Podcasts app.
All you do is start playing a podcast, and then tap on the small Transcript icon in the bottom left, and voila, a scrolling auto-generated transcript will appear.
A screenshot of what that looks like when listening to the start of last week's Tech Talk" show is on the left.
I scrolled through it and was very impressed at how accurate it was — even when transcribing tech terms and the voices of phone callers!
You can also scroll through the transcript and tap on a part that interests you, and the podcast playback will instantly jump to that point.
24) If you have an iPhone or iPad, its surprisingly simple to capture a long webpage as a single screenshot
Our good friend Charles Martin has created a simple tutorial on how to capture and edit long webpages…
25) You can use Adobe's AI-powered "Firefly" photo object removal tool for free, and it's amazing!
If you have a picture that has an object or person in it that you wish wasn't there, you can use Adobe's "Firefly" photo tool to remove it, or to change the background, or to add other objects — for free.
Here's an example…a picture of me with our German international student Emma, and her boyfriend Jax, atop Mt. Finlayson. Note my backpack on the rocks, and the three people sitting off to the right…
Now, here's that same picture after I used Adobe Firefly to remove the backpack and the people…
Zoom in on where the backpack and people were, and see if you can spot Firefly's AI-powered generative fill!
Try it for yourself…you'll have to have (or create) a free Adobe account in order to use it. (Try to log-in first before creating an account as you may already have an account dating back to the days of Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader.)
You can remove the Adobe Firefly watermark that appears in the lower left of the free version, and get more features, for $7/month.
Because it produces results that are so high-quality, any image created or modified with Adobe Firefly will include undeletable metadata called "Content Credentials"…
- Output thumbnail: visual thumbnail of the output; displays only for outputs generated using the Text to Image feature in the Firefly web app
- Issuer: Adobe Inc., the organization responsible for issuing the Content Credential
- Content summary: a notice that Adobe generative AI was used in the creation of the asset
- App or device used: the Adobe software application or hardware device used to produce the asset
- AI tool used: the Adobe generative AI tool used
- Actions: the general editing and processing actions taken to produce the asset. Only “Created” or “Other edits” actions will be listed for assets generated with Adobe Firefly features.
656a) It is not a good idea to leave a laptop plugged-in all the time. But, it is also not a good idea to let it run out of power, either.
Andy Betts at MakeUseOf.com has written an excellent article outlining the best ways to not accidentally shorten the life of a laptop battery…
26b) How to extend the battery life of a MacBook — and also how to make sure it's fully charged on those days when you'll need that!
Charles has written a great article for AppleInsider.com on some easy things you can do to measurably extend both the battery life and battery health of a MacBook Pro and MacBook Air,
One of his tips, which initially might sound counter-intuitive, is to temporarily turn off the new built-in Battery Health Management service for when you want your MacBook Air or Pro to be 100% charged for an upcoming session away from power.
27) iPhone tip: if your vision is not great, or if you have difficulty tapping the right letters on your keyboard, you can make your iPhone "speak" the keys.
This is a promised follow-up to the solution from last week's show for a listener who didn't know how to stop her iPhone from "speaking" the keys she tapped when typing a text message. Several of you with poor vision said that'd be a really useful feature to have.
So, if having tapped keys spoken out to you is a feature which would be useful for you, you can turn it on by going to Settings, Accessibility, Spoken Content, Typing Feedback and turning on the switch next to "Characters" (red arrow).
When you do that, a new setting will appear — Character Feedback Delay (orange oval on left) — which lets you choose how quickly your iPhone "speaks" the key after you tap it.
The default is 1/10th of a second.
If your spelling is poor, you can also turn on the "Speak Words" switch.
28) If you've ever had your credit card or debit card cancelled because of fraud, start using Apple Pay on an iPhone (or Google Pay on an Android phone).
When you use Apple Pay instead of pulling-out your credit card or debit card, the merchant does not get your card number. They get, in effect, a phantom card number that's only good for one transaction. That way, if there's a skimmer in the payment terminal at the store or restautant or gas station, the skimmed info is useless to a scammer.
You can add multiple cards to Apple Pay (and Android Pay) and it costs you nothing to use, and only you can use it, because it requires your face or fingerprint to complete a purchase. So if someone steals your phone, even if it's unlocked, they can't use it to buy anything.
29) How to have iPhone/iPad text messages read out loud and translated
There are two sets of settings in an iPhone and iPad that will enable you to have text messages (and other content) read out loud, and translated.
To turn on the ability to have your text messages and other on-screen content read out loud with a tap of a button, go to Settings, Accessibility, Spoken Content, and turn on Speak Selection. You can also turn on Highlight Content.
Now, you can hold your finger on any text message and tap on the "Speak" button and it'll be read out loud. (If the speaking is too fast or too slow, you can adjust that in Settings, Accessibility, Spoken Content, Speaking Rate.)
If you want to translate the text message into another language, hold your finger on it and tap on Translate. Choose the language into which you want it translated from the language bar above the message, If you want the translated message read out loud, scroll down to the bottom of the translation and tap on the triangle-in-circle Play button…
With the Speak Selection switch turned-on, you can also have words other than text messages read out loud.
In any other app (like email or a website), just hold your finger on the first word you want read-out loud. It'll become highlighted in blue. Drag the blue dot at the right end down to the end of what you want read out loud, and then tap on Speak. If you don't see Speak as an option, tap on the > arrow at the right end of the options to see more options. You'll also see there the ability to translate that highlighted text.
30) No, you will NOT get a ticket for driving in the USA with expired BC insurance decals — as long as your insurance itself is still valid.
You may have seen posts on Facebook recently that a BC driver can get an $800 fine in Washington State for driving with an expired ICBC decal — which ICBC stopped issuing in 2022. The posts are wrong.
Washington State Patrol officers say an expired decal might get you pulled-over, but as long as you do have valid ICBC insurance, the officer will discover on running your plate and licence that you are insured, and you'll be on your way. WSP says its officers are aware that BC no longer issues insurance "tags", as they're called in the USA.
To minimize the chances of getting pulled-over, police recommend you remove the outdated insurance sticker from your licence plate.
31) If you're needing to have your iPhone serviced and you have Stolen Device Protection turned-on, we found a way to avoid the built-in one-hour delay
Stolen Device Protection is a new iPhone feature which you can turn on in iOS 17 to make it very hard for a thief to erase and reset a stolen iPhone. When activated, it imposes a one-hour delay before "Find My Device" can be turned-off, and the same one-hour delay before an iPhone passcode or Apple ID password can be changed.
That can be a problem, though, if you're having your iPhone screen replaced, or some other repair done, or if you're selling it and want to erase it.
However, London Drugs Tech Service Manager Ben Kosciuk has found a work-around: Ben says you just have to use a computer to log into your iCloud account (using a code that'll be sent to your iPhone or other Apple device), and then temporarily deactivate the Find My Device protection…
32) How long do SSD's (Solid State Drives) last, what type is best, and how can you tell when they're about to fail?
SSD's are so much faster and more reliable than traditional spinning drives (HDD's) that they're used as storage in virtually all tech gear these days. But, as with any technology, there are significant ranges in price and quality and reliability.
Andy Klein at BackBlaze.com has written an excellent "SSD 101" article with lots of useful info…
33) If you're using the Outlook Mail app and your newest emails are not on top, you may have accidentally told the app to sort them differently!
Several people have contacted us recently to say that recent emails are missing in the Outlook Mail app…on checking, we've discovered that they'd accidentally changed the "Sort By" option.
That option is under the Filter button — three lines (yellow highlighting by me) to the right of the Inbox…
If you click on that button, you'll get several useful options, such as showing you only your unread emails, or emails which you flagged, or ones that have attachments, or calendar invites.
The last option, Sort, lets you sort your emails by Name of sender, or Size, or Subject.
By default, it's set to sort by Date, with the Newest on top.
If your email inbox doesn't look right, check to see if you've accidentally change the sort option, to, perhaps, sort by Name, so emails from people or email addresses that begin with symbols or numbers are at the top!
The Outlook Mail app will remember whatever setting you choose, and display your emails in that order each time you open it.
34) You can now make ChatGPT read responses out loud, and you can also have the responses sound surprisingly conversational
If you have the ChatGPT app on your smartphone or tablet (iPhone, iPad, or Android), you can now have it read responses out loud, by simply holding your finger on a response and tapping Read Aloud.
You'll be surprised at just how human ChatGPT's AI voice sounds!
But, if you want the response to sound even more natural, type this follow-up: "Regenerate your response using more filler words like um and ah", and see what happens! Again, if you want the new response read out loud, hold your finger on it and tap on Read Aloud.
If you prefer to use Microsoft's popular CoPilot app, you can also ask it to regenerate responses using more filler words like um and ah (and 'eh' if you want to be stereotypically Canadian), but the Read Aloud command is not there yet. And if you select the text and use Siri to read it out, it doesn't sound anywhere near as natural as ChatGPT.
35) How to enable an iPhone's hidden 'night vision' red screen mode
An iPhone has a hidden "night vision" feature that turns your screen red. More than giving a spy movie vibe, a red screen reduces the harmful effect of the bright displays we stare at all day. This is especially helpful at night and when we first wake up, since the regular light the iPhone displays can cause fatigue and harm our eyes.
The colour red is more difficult to see than other light frequencies, so it tricks our eyes into thinking it's less bright than it actually is. In a dark room, for example, your pupils won't have to adjust as much to the light. Also, when you look away, your eyes adapt quicker to the darkness around you.
Here's how to enable night mode, and how to create a shortcut so you can quickly turn it on and off…
- On your iPhone, open Settings
- Tap on Accessibility, and then tap on Display & Text Size
- Turn on Colour Filters and then select Colour Tint
- Move the Intensity and Hue sliders both to the far-right position for the full red-screen effect.
Now that you know how to turn on this hidden iPhone feature, here's how to quickly turn it on and off…
Ask Siri: Just say out loud, "Siri, turn on colour filters", or, "Siri, turn off colour filters"… or…
Triple click: Go to Settings, Accessibility, Accessibility Shortcut, and tap on Colour Filters . You can now triple-click the side button to activate or deactivate this setting.
BGR
How to enable iPhone's hidden ‘night vision' mode that turns your screen red
The iPhone has a hidden “night vision” feature that turns your screen red. More than giving a spy movie vibe, a red screen could help … The post How to enable iPhone's hidden ‘night vision' mode that turns your screen red appeared first on BGR.
36) Answer to listener question: how make an Android phone's battery last longer
There are several things you can do to make an Android phone work longer before needing a change. Some of them you may choose to not do, because they involve turning-off something you find useful.
37) How to fill-out and sign forms on an iPad or iPhone
If you're away from your computer and need to complete a fillable PDF — and possibly also give it a legal signature — Charles has written an excellent article ofor AppleInisder.com on how to do that…
40) Try foam AirPods Pro ear tips for better noise cancelling, bass, and overall fit.
Amazon.ca
Foam Masters Memory Foam Ear Tips for AirPods Pro 1st & 2nd Gen | Comfortable | Secure | Better Noise Cancellation | Version 3.0 Replacement Buds (Small, Med, Large - 3 Pairs, Gray)
Foam Masters Memory Foam Ear Tips for AirPods Pro 1st & 2nd Gen | Comfortable | Secure | Better Noise Cancellation | Version 3.0 Replacement Buds (Small, Med, Large - 3 Pairs, Gray) : Amazon.ca: Electronics
It's the same price whether you buy a single size or the assorted S/M/L pack, so get the pack and share with your friends 😋
41) iPhone/iPad tip: use the Notes app to write secret messages
The built-in Notes app for iOS/iPadOS is a great secret weapon for private conversations, as long as your friends also have an iPhone and/or iPad.
Nelson Aguilar at CNet has a great walk-through…
42) If you have an EV, you're unfortunately going to need a batch of different apps to find the nearest charging stations on a road trip
Taking our international students on a nine-day road trip through the Rockies, the Okanagan, and Whistler before they flew home, we put 3530km on our new Chevy Bolt, and had no problem finding charging stations — except in Alberta, where they're not big fans of EV's because of their reliance on the oil industry! We did need to use nine diferent apps, though, to find and use various chargers.
Charging-up at a free Porsche charging station at the Mission Hill Estate Winery in West Kelowna
These are the nine apps which we used to locate and use charging stations on our trip.
We'd usually charge at night, with a stop during a long road trip through the mountain passes.
Flo has the most charging stations, but many of them are slower-speed J1772 chargers.
BC Hydro has a growing network of high-speed chargers; ElectrifyCanada is the new kid on the block, with fast, ultra-fast, and hyper-fast charging stations in great locations.
There's a network of free medium-speed Sun Country charging stations here in BC, often at municipal halls, airports, rest stgops, or at hotels or outside Tim Horton's.
Shell is now installing banks of high-speed chargers at its gas stations which have a fast-food outlet nearby where you can grab a bite while your vehicle is charging.
We got about 440km on a full charge in the Rockies — lower than here because of the high altitude.
Here I'm using one of the new ElectrifyCanada Ultra-fast chargers in Canmore, AB, because Banff (15 minutes away), has only a few free slower chargers, mostly at Parks Canada locations.
Using a high-speed charger, we'd get about an 80% charge in about an hour; the charging rate slows down after 80% to keep the bartteries from overheating.
This chart shows how far EV charging has evolved in just a few years — and why it's worth driving a bit to find a 50kW or 350kW charger! Only the newest EV's can handle the 350kW charging speeds.
If you're shopping for an EV, make sure it has a DC fast-charge Combo (CCS) jack…
Many people discouraged us from buying an EV, warning that charging stations are hard to find, and that an EV doesn't have enough range. That may have been true a few years ago, but not any more…
These are screenshots of three different EV charging apps, showing lots of available chargers here!
On our nine-day trip, we spent $67 on charging — almost all of that on fast-chargers during high-mileage days through mountain passes so we didn't have to wait. If we'd taken my gas-powered car, we would've spent at least $700 on gas, likely more — ten times what we paid!
44a) If you use Microsoft OneDrive, we recommend you throw a hidden switch to keep all your files resident on your computer
This way, if the internet goes out, or if you're using a laptop somehwere without Wi-Fi like on a ferry or a flight, you'll still have access to all your files.
OneDrive is a superb cloud backup tool from Microsoft, but the default setting on a Windows PC or a Mac is to have your files stored on the cloud to save space, and when you go to open a document or picture, it quickly downloads it from the cloud…and that won't work if you're not online.
As a result, we recommend you open OneDrive (click on the tiny white cloud icon in the bottom-right of your screen), click on Settings (gear icon), click on Sync and Backup, and then scroll down to and click on the hidden Advanced Settings option. Choose the option Download All Files which will turn off Files-On-Demand, and confirm…
If you don't have enough space on your drive, we suggest you get a larger SSD (solid-state drive) installed, so you can keep all your stuff resident on your PC, with a copy on the cloud.
44b) Microsoft OneDrive app on phones and tablets locks stops working after 30 days of you not accessing it
The Microsoft OneDrive app will automatically upload all the pictures and videos on your phone and/or tablet into a Windows or Mac computer.
It also gives you access on your phone or tablet to all the content stored on your computer.
To protect your privacy, the OneDrive app now stops that uploading and access after 30 days of you not opening it. You'll then have to re-type your Microsoft account password to re-enable it.
To avoid this, every time you return home after taking pictures and/or videos on your phone or tablet, just open the OneDrive app on your mobile device, and tap on Photos in the bottom-right. It'll then automatically upload them to OneDrive and download those pics and videos into your computer.
45) No more going to concerts if you don't have a smartphone
To eliminate people being scammed by buying fake tickets, and scammers from selling screenshoits of real tickets, Rogers Arena and most other concert venues are moving away from printed tickets, and are instead using moving QR codes.
As a result, screenshots of ticket barcodes, and printed tickets, are no longer being accepted at more and more concert venues.
This means that in order to gain admission, you'll have to show the moving QR code on the ticket app on a smartphone (or on an internet-connected tablet).
In order to speed-up transactions and avoid theft risks, virtually all concert venues also no longer accept cash, accepting only debit and credit cards and Apple Pay and Google Pay.
46) Curious if an online image is fake? Use Google's new "About This Image" feature
One new feature unveiled at Google's "Made By Google" event this week is sure to be popular with people wondering if an image they've been sent or that they find online is real, or has been manipulated.
Inside the Google app, or on the "Google Lens" app, you'll be able to circle the part of the image that has you suspicious using "Circle To Search", and then tap on a new "About this image" button, which will then use machine learning to detect if the image has been touched-up, modified, or partially or even entirely created with AI.
47) If you have an iPhone and are going travelling, you can use it to pay for transit in most cities, and skip having to buy a transit card
If you add a credit card (or cards) to an iPhone Apple Wallet, you can do more than just use your iPhone to pay for purchases without the merchant getting your card number.
You can also designate one credit card to be your Express Transit Card, and then you can just tap your iPhone to ride Translink/SkyTarin/SeaBus in Greater Vancouver, for example, instead of having to buy and load a Compass Card. Same for Seattle instead of buying an Orca Card, or a BART card in San Francisco, or a PRESTO card in Toronto, or a Tube card in London, et cetera, worldwide.
To designate a credit card which you've added to Apple Wallet as your Express Transit Card, go to Settings, Wallet & Apple Pay, and scroll down to and tap on Express Transit Card.
Tap on the card you want to use for transit, and confirm it's you with your face or fingerprint, and a checkmark will appear next to that card.
The credit card which you select (no debit cards) will now work automatically without requiring face ID or your fingerprint or passcode; just hold your iPhone near any supported transit reader.
This does NOT yet work here in Victoria, where you currently pay for transit rides via the UMO app or a UMO card, but we're told tap-to-pay is coming here in the future, too.
48) Electric bike technology has evolved a long way in the past few years, and an eBike can really help keep you active and fit
Even more than electric vehicles, electric bike technology has evolved phenomenally in the past few years, with bikes weighing less, going a lot farther on a charge, being much easier to ride, and costing less. As a result, the majority of bikes sales at most bike shops here in Victoria are now eBikes.
Joel took me out for a test-ride on the Galloping Goose Trail on a Moustache eBike powered by a gearless belt-driven Bosch motor located in the crankshaft. The controls were super-easy to use, and I could not get over how effortless it was to get going after stopping at a road crossing. We biked for half an hour out into Metchosin and back, covered 19km, and the bike — which had just a 67% charge when we started — was still at 58% (107km riding range) when we got back…
The bike which I rode is the Moustache Mardi 27.6…
Joel's bike is the Husqvarna Crosser 2…
If you have a bike of any kind, Joel recommends you register it for free with Project529.com to reduce the chances of it being stolen, and to increase the chances of it being recovered if it is stolen…
Project529 is available as a free app for iPhone and Android as well as the website.
52) CityFone, Zoomer Wireless, and SimplyConnect are all shutting-down, as part of Rogers getting out of the prepaid business
Budget prepaid Canadian carriers CityFone, Zoomer Wireless, and SimplyConnect have all announced that they're shutting down next month.
This is because they wholesale mobile service from Rogers, but Rogers and Fido are both getting out of the prepaid business, effective Dec. 16.
Virgin+, which is owned by Bell, has stopped accepting new prepaid customers — a move which is thought to be a precursor to them stopping prepaid service too, sometime in the new year.
CityFone, Zoomer Wireless, and SimplyConnect are offering special deals in partnership with Red Wireless to switch customers to over to monthly plans on Rogers, but the rates are not that good…
If you're on a prepaid service now, here are your best options:
1) Freedom Mobile has monthly, annual, and now six-month prepaid plans starting at just $5/month. The best deal is their $119/year plan (= $10/month) which gives you unlimited Canada-wide calling and texting plus 15GB of data, and they also have a $149/year plan (= $12.40/month) which gives you unlimited Canada-wide calling and texting plus double the data — 30GB for the year.
Freedom has also just started offering a six-month plan for $174, which gives you 15GB/month of data, and unlimited Canada-wide calling and international texting, which works out to $29/month. Or, if you're a really light user, you can get unlimited texting and two hours of calling/month for just $5/month...
2) Chatr, which is Rogers' budget brand, has prepaid plans starting at $15/month, which gets you 100 minutes/month of calling Canada-wide plus unlimited international texting. They also have a $100/year plan which gets you 400 minutes of calling Canada-wide plus 400 outgoing texts to Canadian numbers and unlimited international incoming texts, and a new $149/year plan which gets you unlimited Canada-wide calling, unlimited international texting, and 30GB of data...
3) Public Mobile, which is the budget brand of Telus, has a $19/month prepaid plan which gets you unlimited Canada-wide calling and messaging plus unlimited international text and picture messaging, and 1GB of data per month…
4) Lucky Mobile, which is Bell's budget brand, has a $19/month prepaid plan which gets you unlimited Canada-wide calling and messaging plus unlimited international text and picture messaging, and 500MB of data per month…
Rogers and its discount brand Fido have both announced that they'll be shutting-down their prepaid mobile service just before Christmas, on December 16.
Meanwhile, Bell's discount brand, Virgin+, has stopped accepting new prepaid service customers, and it's thought they're preparing to soon turn off that service, too.
53) If Rogers has started charging you for TV box rentals, ask them to stop, and file a complaint with the CCTS if they don't
Rogers is being accused of using a 'bait and switch' technique, promising people no rate hikes if they signed-up for a two-year Value Plan, but then hiking the rental fee for TV boxes. But people who have complained, are having the charges reversed!
TV box rentals were initially included in Rogers' two-year Value Plan packages, just as they were with Shaw, which Rogers bought. However, Rogers last month quietly started charging $7/month for each TV box other than the first one, and when asked why, they pointed to fine print which says equipment rental rates are not covered by their two-year promise of no rate hikes.
If you're on a Rogers/Shaw two-year Value Plan and have discovered that your bill has gone up because of TV box rental charges, use the Rogers Customer Care online messaging system in the lower-right at Rogers.com/contact/billing-payments — it looks like this screenshot…
Politely but firmly tell the person with whom you chat that you're not happy about the extra charges and would like them to reverse those charges, and if they won't, that you will file a complaint with the CCTS — the Commission for Complaints about Telecom-TV Services.
If the person at Rogers is still unwilling to cancel the charges, (lately, they've been offering a $50 one-time bill credit instead), politely ask for their first name, make a note of the date and time, and file a complaint with the CCTS below, including the chat transcript which Rogers will email you…
CCTS
File a Complaint
Our complaint resolution service for the phone, internet and TV industry is completely free to all consumers. If you tried to solve a problem with your service provider and were unsuccessful, we can help. We handle customer complaints about these services: telephone (mobile, home and small business), internet, and television. Filling a complaint should take about 15 minutes. We will ask you questions to help us do two things: Decide if we can accept your complaint Understand what happened and how you want the problem solved. We will share this information with your service provider, as part of our complaint
Everyone that we've heard from who has filed a complaint, has received a phone call or a letter from Rogers, reversing the extra charges and promising no extra charges for the duration of their Value Plan!
54) Westjet's $12.5 million class-action baggage fee settlement has been approved; claims can now be filed
Some travellers who checked baggage on certain WestJet flights between 2014 and 2019 may now claim their share of a $12.5 million class-action settlement, now that it's been approved by the BC Supreme Court. Westjet, at that time, was not allowed to charge a checked baggge fee.
If you paid for your first checked bag on Canadian domestic flights booked directly with WestJet for travel between Oct. 29, 2014 and July 29, 2017, you're eligible to submit a claim. For international flights, the travel time period is from Jan. 6, 2016, to Feb. 27, 2019.
Claimants who can submit proof of a baggage fee payment for flights during those time periods will get a travel credit good on any Westjet flight for up to two years. The settlement provides for $8 million in travel credits to be distributed amongst the number of eligible claims which are submitted between now and February 10, 2025. Eligible claimants will likely get a $15 - $20 travel credit per bag fee paid.
If you can find proof you paid Westjet for a baggage fee during the eligible travel window, you can submit a claim at AirlineBagFeeSettlement.com.
CBC
Claims open in $12.5M class-action settlement over WestJet baggage fees | CBC News
A statement from Evolink Law Group says anyone in the world who paid a fee for their first checked bag on domestic and international flights during certain periods when they shouldn't have been charged has until Feb. 10, 2025, to submit a claim.