How to automate day to day tasks on your computer (Part 1)

In this fast paced world, it is really important to do multitasking specially when you are on your computer. A computer may take its own time in processing the information, while you may work on some other.
This way you could run multiple task parallelly, best example for this would be while your code is building you could write that important status email, or while that awesome video that you captured and edited is rendering, you could think of your next million view title.

So lets get started, this would be a series where we would be going by parts as this will involve lots of complex and easy activities.

Automate startup of your apps and initial setup.

1. The first thing you do after logging in your computer is start all those important apps in your computer, lets say you are a gamer, you want all those apps to be started saving you important minutes to jump on that all important mission of yours in the game.
Opening your gaming apps like Steam, Origin, Battle.net, chrome, logging into sites and all those important recording apps right?
This is just for gaming, imagine working as a software developer or a tester and having all those tools and apps manually start, tough right?

There is a very easy solution to this, it is as below:
1. Add your apps to windows startup.

• Select the Start Windows logo Start button button, then select Settings Gear-shaped Settings icon > Apps > Startup. Make sure any app you want to run at startup is turned On. 
• If you don’t see the Startup option in Settings, right-click the Start Windows logo Start button button, select Task Manager, then select the Startup tab. (If you don’t see the Startup tab, select More details.) Select the app you want to change, then select Enable to run it at startup or Disable so it doesn’t run. Watch the video to see how to do it. 

• In Windows 10, in the search box, type "Startup" and click startup apps, you should see this window:
• Verify whether your app is visible in here.

Windows startup apps window

2. These next step would be making your username and password to be remembered by the app, so that you don't have to manually put it in every-time.

3. For security purposes I will recommend you not to do this for apps that requires high security like banking apps, financial etc.

There are more things to come in the part 2, so it would be another week till you see it.

Be Prepared for working from home using these tools

So its April 2020 and the whole world is in the middle of a pandemic, there are front line health care workers, the police and grocery vendors and so many people helping the mankind for a greater good. In the middle of this here we are, the people who are working on a computer from home. Be it conference calls, meetings, working on various software tools, blogging and so many other things.

Below are the tools which can help you be prepared for working from home.

1. Table and chair - Ditch out working from bed
Yes, you read that right, as much as possible try sitting on a chair with your workstation on a table, this helps you be more confident in calls, has health benefits and makes your cells release those necessary energy needed for the work to be done.
This is anyways a better solution than work on bed if you need to attend meetings with your camera on.

Working from bed is a bad idea

2. Have IT support contacts and link always with you
You never know when you would need IT support to fix that issue in windows or the tools you are using, could be anything like an outlook issue, even connecting to the internet.
So, better to know who to contact in your company when you get these issues. Your phone always comes to save you.

Keep your contacts ready

3. Prepare your workstation's mic and camera - test them
The biggest and greatest issue of all time is that your microphone does not work or you can't get your camera to work on a teleconference, this wastes ample amount of time. People then tend to use in-authenticated mediums like Whatsapp calls, Skype for their work related items which could breach your NDA.
So below are the tips you can use to test your microphone and camera.
For microphone - Go to below link
https://www.onlinemictest.com/

The instructions from here are pretty simple:
1. Click the 'play' button.
2. Click 'allow' if you see a question in the browser.
3. Now the line should move when you talk into the mic!

For camera: - Go to below link
https://webcamtests.com/

The instructions from here are pretty simple here too:
1. Click 'allow' if you see a question in the browser.
2. See if you can see yourself in the camera.

4. Check your internet connectivity
This is one of the main points, internet is king, so make sure you have a good internet connection so that you can easily connect to your meetings and don't get those nasty connectivity issues.

5. Connect your TV or monitor to your workstation
Adding another screen to your workstation increases your productivity by 30%, specially if you have work which needs frequent comparison of results.
Connect your extra screen using a HDMI port.

Well that's it folks, I will compile more list if needed, please mention down in the comments below.

How to manage your day to day work using technology

Hello there guys, it is 2020 and we are all tied up with multiple responsibilities of work and leisure. It is a fast pace life all over the world, whether you are situated in any of the 7 continents, off course not Antarctica :p.

This article is specially for those people who do not have a personal advisory/secretory/helper, more like a right hand guy who takes care of you and your day to day tasks, like make you go to the gym, attend that 10 AM meeting or even tell you to take your medicines.

People like these spend their day to day life, getting up and ready, going to work or even working from home. cooking, chit chatting, watching movies, doing your hobbies, keeping healthy and so on.

Its a mixed life for everyone these days because there is SO MUCH to do these days that even a lifespan of 100 years won't be enough for us.

What do we do?:

So basically to fix this we have priorities in place where we put a list of stuff in our heads to have it properly completed, lets call them tasks, any big or small work is started with a task.
To solve a big complex problem or finish a big lengthy job you need to have it broken down with tasks.

These tasks can be managed by simply having it noted down in a book or the best way a task board which can be stuck behind your wardrobe.
Here is where the technology comes into play, we all have those smartphones, we all desire to have that Jarvis AI from IRON MAN, but we still have 5-10 years to go till that happens.

The technology:

Take out your smartphone and download the best and simplest apps that is call any.do (https://www.any.do/).
It is a nicely build, plain simple, easy to use app which reminds you of your day to day tasks, it is free to use and also has a premium version which gives an added advantage.

An average human being does not complete even 50% of their tasks because high changes are they forget about it or even possibly don't have time to do it.

ANY.DO lets you manage it, I am personally using it since 2013 when I had my first smartphone the Google Nexus 4, and my efficiency increased from 50% to 80%.

Most importantly it helps me remember the tasks I need to do, being a software engineer I have over 20-30 tasks to be done in an average day, that includes, taking my daily medicines, my important meetings, buying groceries, meeting friends.

Use of technologies like this helps us add so much value to life and makes it much more easy in this times of hustle and bustle.

If you liked the articles do share it with your family and friends, if you have suggestions or improvements you see in the article then please comment down below.

CHEERS!!

Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL will not be available in India

While I was going through the headlines in Google news stand, I saw the report that the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL will not be available in India. To my surprise and shock, with me being the owner of Nexus series its a really bad news.

Google stated that the sales are pretty low in India, the reason is the cost itself and in India you could get more or less a phone with similar features at a much lower cost, lets say the one plus.

It is a common trend in India that people think if you are spending 70-80k on a phone, then you should get an iPhone, well here comes the status symbol.

Anyways the Pixel 3a series is doing a good job and Google might think of launching them in India too for the 4.

Though these are supposed to be best phones in the world, but I am having a feeling that its an end of an era for the Pixel, since India is one of the largest smartphone using country in the world.

Please comment on your thoughts.

Why you should BUY the Pixel 4 or Pixel 4 XL

The Google Pixel phones have surely been phone of the year quality for their first and second edition, that is the Pixel 1 and 2 series. The Pixel 3/XL phones have also lived up to the hype and expectation but could not do much in terms of sales and value for money.
People around the mobile phone showrooms and retails usually laughed off when they heard this phones cost as much as an iPhone and preferred buying an iPhone over a flagship android coming at nearly the same price.

The pixel 4 with its Orange color and square cameras.

Since Pixel 4 and XL will be announced officially on 15th October 2019, we bring you the points why these are awesome phones and why you should buy them if you have the budget.

1. They will be the best android phone overall.
Its easy to judge that overall the phones rating would be 9/10, the 1 minus here is the price, there could be a chance that Google might have a competitive price.

2. Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL will have the best camera any phone ever had.
Google Pixel 1 to 3 series were rated the best camera phones, so we bet Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL will be the best too.

3. They will be the fastest phones with the best performance capabilities.
Its a flagship phone, so you could expect the phones to have the best processor and gpu to handle any apps.

4. You can play any game in the world, easily up-to two years.
Mobile gaming is important to everyone today and Pixel 4 will handle the performance like a cake walk.
It is said to have 90 Hz refresh rate, which will help in multiplayer gaming.

5. Build quality with premium feel.
Again its a flagship phone and expect it to have a premium feel. Pixels do feel like iphones running with Android :)

6. Fastest Android updates with stock.
Last but not the least, if you want OS updates faster and want to be ahead of the curve, then this is the phone you should go with.

So these were the main points on why one should buy Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL.
Do let us know what you guys think in the comments below.