Technology Tips – Published August 2022 in the Guide and Digest
By Don Trauger – Kennett
Open Microsoft Edge, select a favorite website then click the “…” (Settings) in the top right corner. In the drop-down menu move to “Apps.” Click “Install this site as an App.” In the pop-up window click Install. Next, you’ll see an option to install the current site as an App on your Taskbar, Start menu, Desktop, or Auto-start on Device login. Choose any of the selections then click Allow. Doing so allows the site to launch in its own window without the usual menu clutter. This Edge feature can change how you can use the Web. It allows you to quickly access your important or favorite sites without first opening Edge and clicking on your desired site in a large list of Bookmarks. While Chrome offers a similar capability, Edge turns web apps into a featured attraction, with a single menu for seeing what you’ve installed.
Technology Tips – Published February 2022 in the Guide and Digest
By Don Trauger – Kennett
Improve your Web Security when using Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge has recently improved its security. This Chromium based browser, like Google Chrome, has implemented a new security setting. Here’s how to set it up.
Launch Edge and click on the three dots in the upper right corner. Scroll down and click Settings to go into the Settings menu. On the left side click “Privacy, search and services.” Scroll down to “Enhance your security on the web.” Click on Strict, which boosts security for all sites. (If you have issues with any site, you can click on Exceptions and add websites you want to exclude from this setting.) I have not had any issues with the Strict setting. Above the right-hand edge of the Strict box there is an on/off switch. Make sure it is in the right-hand position to ensure the Strict box is active (with blue border around it). Turning it off disables not only Strict mode but also Balanced mode.
Other selections that I recommend that should adjusted are as follows.
Now scroll all the way to the top and under “Tracking protection,” select the Strict box. Make sure the switch above the Strict box is in the On position (blue).
Scroll down to “Privacy” and turn On “Send do not track” requests. Turn Off “Allow sites to check if you have payments methods saved.”
Scroll down further to “Search and service Improvement” and turn it Off.
Turn Off “Personalize your web experience.”
Further down, all items under “Security” should be turned On.
Finally, in the last category, “Services” all items should be turned Off.
After making the above changes, the security level of Edge will be improved. I recommend you review your settings from time to time to make sure they remain at the same point you set.
Testing the “New” Microsoft Edge Web Browser
Technology Tips – Published September 2020 in the Guide and Digest
By Don Trauger – Kennett
If you are not familiar with “Edge” it is the replacement web browser for the venerable but outdated and somewhat insecure browser – Internet Explorer. Yes, Internet Explorer remains on Windows 10 computers for those rare compatibility situations but you should not be using it routinely. The first iteration of “Edge” in 2015 was a ho hum affair. It never developed wide acceptance as most consumers gravitated toward using Chrome. In early 2020 Microsoft released the new version of “Edge” based on the Chromium engine, the same one that Chrome uses.
It was recently downloaded to me via Windows Update but you can also download it from Microsoft at: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge. It’s a free add-on to Windows 10 and is also available free for Windows 7 and 8 PC’s. You should see a download button in the center of the page after you enter the above address into your Chrome or Firefox browser. The new “Edge” file will be downloaded into your Downloads folder. Double click
“MicrosoftEdgeSetup.exe” to install “Edge”.
The setup procedure is fairly easy. Once it’s installed you’ll be presented with a few screens to get you going. If you are presently a Chrome user choose “Import from Google Chrome”. When clicking “More import options” you’ll see a window showing all of the import items available. Choose all of them to import all of the Chrome settings then click “Confirm”. Next is the setup for new tabs. You’ll see “Inspirational”, “Informational” and “Focused”. In my opinion it’s a bit overblown as “Inspirational” and “Informational” merely adds a background picture to the two windows. “Focused” just eliminates a background picture. Next, is the choice to sync your data to other devices when you are signed in to your Microsoft account. Toggle the switch to “No” if no syncing is for you. The last setup screen allows you personalize advertising sent to you, courtesy of “Edge”. You might want to set the switch to “No”.
Clicking the 3 horizontal dots at the upper right takes you to a menu of items. Scroll down near the bottom and click Settings. On the left, under “Privacy and services”, turn on “Tracking prevention” and click “Strict”. Click “On startup” and choose the setting of your home page when you start up “Edge”. “Site permissions” are preset so for almost everyone there’s nothing to change. However, it’s best to review them for your needs. Clicking “Default browser” allows you to set “Edge” as the browser that, for example, will start when you click a web site link in an email or attachment. Clicking “About Microsoft Edge” will allow you to update “Edge” if necessary. You can review other settings not mentioned above as needed.
So how does “Edge” compare to Chrome? In my testing, very favorably. Since they both are based on Chromium the use of memory is about the same. Firefox uses a bit more memory than Edge or Chrome. So which is fastest? “Edge” comes out on top by a slight measure over Chrome. Firefox was faster on some sites but slower on others by a second or less.
Give “Edge” a try – you may like it.
Technology Tips – Published June 2024 in the Guide and Digest
By Don Trauger – Kennett
Some of the concerns from average computer users is changing system settings. The concern arises from the fact they don’t understand the terminology and the result it may bring if they change something. Besides, the computer seems to be working fine. Sub-par operation is preset for you as soon as you take it out of the box and start it up. Why do the manufacturers Dell, HP and others do this? Basically, it’s a manufacturing standard that sets the conditions prior to shipment. Many factors are taken into consideration such as battery charge life, cooling, and stability for a laptop. Don’t worry about the following changes. They will not break your computer or cause new problems. They are not that aggressive. I don’t have room to explain what each change is, but try Googling them if you are interested.
- On a Windows 11 machine, open Settings, click the 3 horizontal bars at top left, select System, and then scroll down to Power & Battery. On this page, scroll down for Power Mode and set it to Best Performance. Exit out.
- Hold down the Windows key and press the “R” key. Then type in the Run field: exe Click “Adjust for best performance.” This will clear all previously checked items. Then choose only the following: Enable Peek, Show thumbnails, instead of icons, Smooth edges of screen fonts, Smooth scroll list boxes, Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop. Click OK to save the selections. The above settings are a small compromise to performance but also offer useful visual effects.
- Next, is a big point of issue with me. It’s the automatic startup of programs that you may not even know about, let alone ever clicked. Unused programs can increase startup times and gobble up needed memory. But there’s a way to control them. Here’s how: go to Settings, click the 3 horizontal bars at top left, click Apps, then click From this menu, you can uncheck every app you don’t want automatically starting every time Windows boots up. It doesn’t uninstall anything. Keep your security (anti-virus) programs On. You can check a listed program by checking to see if it appears in the main program menu. Click the Windows icon (lower left corner) then click All apps in the pop-up window. If the program appears you can set it to Off in the Startup list.
- Check the vent slots on the bottom and edge of your laptop. Make sure they are not clogged with lint. Brush away or vacuum any collected lint. Any laptop will automatically slow down to compensate for any build-up of heat due to clogged vents.
That’s it for this month’s Tech Tips. Hopefully, you will see some increased performance in your PC. My recommendation to do monthly maintenance on your PC can also help performance. Check out my previous article from March 2022 on maintenance on our website: hersheysmill.org. In the Search field type Wise Disk Cleaner and press the Enter key. Wise Registry Cleaner can also be downloaded from the links in the article.
March 2, 2023: Red-headed Woodpecker
It was suggested that I post a picture of a Red-headed Woodpecker to compare with the recent Spotlight article on Red-bellied Woodpeckers. A very unusual visitor to our area, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology describes the adult as having a bright-red head, white underparts, and a black back with large
white patches in the wings, making the lower back appear all white when perched.
The Red-headed Woodpecker is one of only four North American woodpeckers known to store food, and it is the only one known to cover the stored food with wood or bark. It hides insects and seeds in cracks in wood, under bark, in fenceposts, and under roof shingles. Grasshoppers are regularly stored alive, but wedged into crevices so tightly that they cannot escape.
Several sightings in Hershey’s Mill have been reported. If you are lucky enough to see one, please try to get a photo and report the sighting to the Nature Group so we can have a record. We submit all our monthly bird sightings into eBird for Cornell.
Happy birding!
Jado Foot
August 5, 2022: American Goldfinch
I met a resident the other day who said he was happy that the Bluebirds had a successful nesting season. He had enjoyed watching a nest box close to his house, but was a little sad that the young had fledged and activity was over. Then, he said, the yellow birds showed up.
“Yellow birds” – the American Goldfinch is the bird he was referring to. American Goldfinches are about 5 inches in size. Males change from a yellowish brown in winter to a bright yellow body, with a black cap with light yellow on their faces and chins during the breeding season. Their wings and tail have black and white bands. The females are yellowish green with black wings and tails.
Goldfinches are seed eaters and can easily be attracted to a special type of feeder filled with thistle or Nyjer seed. I’d read that they are also very attracted to yellow feeders, so I visited Amazon. Sure enough–my new little yellow feeder is busy all day.
Happy Birding!
September 10, 2021: More Shorebirds
Shorebird migration continues to be a highlight around our lagoon. The water level remains low, and the muddy edges provide a perfect feeding ground for our visitors. Spotted Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers have been joined by Lesser Yellowlegs and Solitary Sandpipers.
The Lesser Yellowlegs is a graceful, slender, medium-sized shorebird recognized by its bright yellow legs and distinctive “tu tu” call. It is an active forager, often running in shallow water to catch invertebrates, especially snails, flies, beetles, and dragonflies of all life stages.
Described by The Cornell Lab as “natty,” the Solitary Sandpiper—with its olive-gray wings, black-and-white tail, and bold eye-ring–is a distinctive exception among the many lookalike sandpipers. Its helpful habits of bobbing the back half of its body or trembling its tail (and often feet) while foraging make it instantly recognizable. In flight, look for blackish underwings against a white belly, a pattern unique among North American shorebirds. As the name suggests, this species is normally seen singly. During migration, it turns up very widely, even in very small or temporary wetlands.
Happy Birding!!
April 16, 2021: American Coot
An interesting duck-like bird has been frequenting the small pond area along the nature trail. The American Coot can be identified by its dark grey color and white beak. A small detail that’s often overlooked is a faint red strip near the very tip of its beak.
Although it swims like a duck, the American Coot does not have webbed feet like a duck. Instead, each one of the Coot’s long toes has broad lobes of skin that help it kick through the water. The broad lobes fold back each time the bird lifts its foot, so they don’t impede walking on dry land. When taking flight, they must patter across the water, flapping their wings furiously, before becoming airborne.
They eat plant material, including stems, leaves, and seeds of pondweeds, sedges, grasses, and many others, as well as a lot of algae. Insects, tadpoles, fish, worms and snails can also be part of their diet
Why we only have one Coot here at Hershey’s Mill remains a mystery.
Happy Birding!!
February 2021: Cedar Waxwings
Winter has finally settled in on Hershey’s Mill and the Northeast. Our ponds have frozen over, our wintering ducks have moved to a better feeding area with running water in Ridley Creek. Now, it’s time to turn our binoculars to the shrubs, bushes, and trees……
One of the birds you may encounter is the Cedar Waxwing. A very colorful medium-sized bird, it is tan in color with a crest, a black mask, red-tipped wing feathers that look like they have been dipped in wax, and a striking bright yellow band on their tail.
They may be seen in small flocks, on the edge of our wooded areas. They forage in the cedar cones, eating berries and then fruit and insects during summer months.
The tail of a Cedar Waxwing usually has a yellow band at the end but in the 1960s, birds with orange bands started to show up in the northeastern United States. The orange color results from red pigment found in non-native honeysuckle fruits introduced into their diet. Maybe you will be lucky enough to find one!
Happy Birding.
