Seven Free Ways to Speed Up Your Computer

One of the most common complaints people have about their computers is that they are getting too slow. It's true that over time, the more you use your computer and the more you store on it, the more it has to work. It's also true that once a computer is a few years old its hardware can become obsolete and might not meet the expectations of software developers. To fix these kinds of problems you might need to buy a hardware upgrade, such as more RAM (Random Access Memory), a bigger hard drive, or maybe even a new computer.

Before you go chucking your laptop into the garbage though, there are some other things that you can do to speed up your computer. Here I present you with seven easy and FREE ways for you to keep your computer running at its fastest.

1) Close unused programs and tabs: This one is kind of a no-brainer. The more jobs you give your computer to do at once, the fewer the resources it can give to each one. Sometimes it's easy to forget that you still have a Word document or PDF open from yesterday, and when combined with open sessions of Firefox, iTunes, Outlook, and Skype, your computer's memory usage can get pretty high. Solve this by closing unused programs, or programs you might not use for another few hours. Similarly, web browsers that use tabbed browsing (which is pretty much all of them, now) typically require more memory when more tabs are open. This is less of a problem with Google Chrome because of how it deals with memory, but is definitely a problem with Firefox. The same solution can be used here: close the tabs you are no longer using.

2) Choose which programs run at startup: You may or may not realize it, but many programs have a default setting which tells them to start running every time you turn on your computer. This is convenient for antivirus programs or others that you will always be using, but often it's unnecessary. On Windows 7, to better control which programs run at startup open up Control Panel, click on "System and Security," choose "Administrative Tools," and in the new window open up "System Configuration." (Alternatively you can just open the start menu, type "msconfig" into the search bar, and press the Enter key. This also works with Vista.) If you are using XP, open the start menu, click "Run," type "msconfig," and click OK. In this window you will click the "Startup" tab, which will show you the list of programs that automatically run when your computer turns on.

DISCLAIMER: If you are not sure what one of the Startup Items is (even I'm not sure what half of them are) DO NOT MESS WITH IT. It might be something you don't want, but it's equally likely that it's something important that needs to run.

If it's something that you recognize that you don't want automatically starting every time, uncheck the box next to it. When you are done, click OK to exit. Personally, I have disabled iTunes, Quicktime, Adobe Reader, Skype, and a few others because I know that I might not use those programs immediately when I start my computer. By disabling a few of these programs, your computer should take less time to boot than it did previously.

3) Keep your computer malware-free: Viruses and spyware can cause some of biggest slowdowns to your computer. By always running one antivirus program (we recommend Microsoft Security Essentials, but most well-known ones will do the job), keeping the virus definitions up-to-date, and running a virus scan at least once a week, you will most likely keep your computer clean. I say "most likely" because some forms of malware can slip by antivirus programs. This is why we also recommend using Malwarebytes to scan for and get rid of some of some of the trickier Trojans and spyware. Keeping your computer free from malicious programs designed to infiltrate and slow down your computer does wonders not only for the speed of your computer, but also for its security.

4) Run Disk Cleanup: The Disk Cleanup utility will help get rid of the temporary files, internet files, and files in the Recycle Bin which you no longer need. To access it on Windows XP, Vista, or 7, open the start menu, click on "All Programs," then "Accessories," and then "System Tools," which is where you will find "Disk Cleanup." (You can also use the search bar in the Start Menu in Windows 7 or Vista.) If it asks, select the C: drive to cleanup, and check the boxes next to each type of file you want to remove. On the right side of the window you can see how much space each type of file is taking up, which will help you decide how much of an effect the cleanup will have.

5) Defragment your hard drive: Many people don't know what it means to defragment a hard drive, so they won't see its importance and won't do it. As an example, you can basically think of your hard drive as a bookshelf. The shelf starts off clean, and as you collect books you line them up in neat, organized rows, left to right. Now say you want to get rid of a small, paperback book. It's removed from the shelf, but a space remains where it used to be. The other books do not get moved over. Now you want to put a dictionary on the shelf. You must now rip off a section of the dictionary to fill the hole where the book you just removed was, and continue filling in gaps like this until you reach the end, where you will put the remainder of the dictionary. Now, next time you want to use the dictionary, you have to pull out each section you separated, and put it back together before you can begin using it. On your hard drive, sections of your data are stored this way on a disk, so each time you need to run a program or retrieve data, each section is found and retrieved individually, taking more time than if it was all stored in one location. Defragmenting your hard drive reorganizes how your data is stored so that programs and large files are all kept in one place.

Now that you (hopefully) understand what defragmentation does you can see why it's important to do. In Windows 7 and XP, you can open up My Computer (just called "Computer" on Windows 7), right click on your Local Disk (C:), click "Properties," open the "Tools" tab, and click "Defragment Now." (Like the last few tips, you can also just search for "Disk Defragmenter" in the Start Menu on Windows 7.) Here you can analyze your C: drive to see if you need to defragment it, and defragment your hard drive if the analysis recommends it. On Windows 7 you can even schedule this task to run automatically so that you don't have to keep remembering to do this.

6) Move files from your desktop: On newer, faster computers this is not a very big issue, but on older computers this can be a great trick to get your computer to start up faster. By storing files (installation files, photos, documents, videos, etc.) directly on your desktop, your computer must load them all as it's booting up. It's already loading the operating system, connecting to the internet, and starting all of the necessary programs and services it needs to run, so why give it extra work to do? By storing these items in your Documents or Pictures folders you will save some time starting up. Note that shortcuts to start programs or go to folders (like Documents) do not add time to startup, because they do not need to be loaded -- they just point to where the program or folder is actually located.

7) Restart: This is probably the simplest one on the list, and it does wonders. Many people leave their computers running for days or even weeks without shutting them down or restarting them. Restarting a computer frees up memory that was being tied up in processes running in the background, some of which didn't even need to be running anymore. Restarting a computer is like getting a good night's sleep for a person -- when a computer starts back up it is better-able to handle more intensive tasks than if it had been on for a really long period of time.


These tips won't make your old computer lightning-fast, but you should see some improvement in speed. Replacing hardware or getting a new computer is typically the best way to greatly improve the speed, but these methods can be complicated and expensive. Performing some of these tasks I have just highlighted every once in a while should keep your computer running the best it possibly can, and should give you quite a few years of happy computing.

Five Items for Your Tech Go-Bag

People living in areas prone to earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornados are probably pretty familiar with the concept of a go-bag (also called a bug-out bag). The idea is for you to have a bag already packed with emergency items like water, non-perishable food, a first aid kit, blankets, medical records, cash and any other things you might need if you must immediately evacuate your house in an emergency. These have been around for years, and people have gotten pretty good at figuring out what you might need if you must quickly leave home for a few days or if it might take some time before disaster relief organizations can reach you.

When Hurricane Irene was about to strike New York City, my aunt asked me what electronic items I would recommend packing. Most of the lists that I had seen neglected to include many tech items, which seems a bit old-fashioned, so I decided to make my own list. So to answer your question from two weeks ago about a storm that has come and gone, Aunt Claire, here are five things that I would bring in my tech go-bag.

1) Hand Crank Flashlight/Radio: These made a few of the other lists that I looked at. It's obvious why flashlights and radios are useful in times of emergency, and the fact that these do not run on batteries is a major plus. Some hand crank devices now even come with adapters so that you can charge your cell phone if you don't have access to power. Don't get caught in the dark or without emergency information!

2) Solar Powered / Car Cell Phone Charger: If you're in a situation where you might not have electricity for a while your cell phone's battery might not live to see the end of it. Assuming this emergency does not involve the destruction of the sun, a solar powered charger might be a good investment. If you have a car and plan on using it while you don't have electricity, a car charger would also be a smart solution. Keeping in touch with loved ones is very important in times of crisis, and if you have a smart phone and the cell towers are doing their job, you'll be able to keep and touch AND stay up to date about what's happening around you.

3) Flash Drive / External Hard Drive: Since so much of our lives revolves around the data on our computer it could be tragic to lose it. Even many people who back up their data do it locally and keep a copy near their computer. If you don't see a problem with this, imagine making copies of a whole photo album (for safety), and then keeping it on the same shelf as the original. Your tech go-bag should include either a flash drive with copies or scans of important personal and/or work documents, contact information for friends, family, and anyone you might need to get in touch with, and anything else too important to lose or be without for long. You could also pack an external hard drive with family photos and videos, because in the end, your computer can be replaced but these personal items cannot.

(While it's not really a go-bag item, I feel I must plug our backups page with multiple backup solutions, including remote storage which removes the risk of losing your data in a fire or flood.)

4) Laptop/Netbook: If situations aren't TOO dire, it would be a good idea to grab your laptop before evacuating your home. A smartphone is a nice substitute, but there are still things that can only be done on a real computer. Of course if you plan on living off the wild or in some kind of evacuation center you might not have time for playing around on your computer, but if you have room in your bag, why not pack one of your most useful belongings?

5) eReader/iPod: Last but not least, you have to keep yourself occupied. Rather than packing a bag full of books and CDs, include some of these entertainment storage devices so that you can still enjoy some of the creature comforts of your everyday life without taking up valuable space. Surviving a disaster is pretty tough if boredom is driving you crazy.

Admittedly, you might not want to keep an unused laptop or eReader in a prepared go-bag year round of the off chance that a disaster will strike, but they are things that I would definitely recommend trying to include at the last minute if at all possible. Also, you should remember to pack everything in watertight packaging. Waterproof bags can be found on Amazon, and really nice ones for outdoor use can be bought from stores like REI. Small objects like flash drives can be kept in watertight jars, or you could even use Ziploc bags in a pinch if what you're trying to protect isn't too valuable.

Obviously, don't forget to pack other essiential go-bag items (like all of your hair barrettes and a sleep mask if you are my little cousin) if you have to leave your home. Survival should be your #1 goal in a disaster, but keeping your life in order is also key. With these tips you can start packing for the next emergency. Hopefully you'll have a very, very long time to prepare.

Five Great Sites for Bookworms

I love books. I love the way the feel, the way they smell, the way they look on a bookshelf, and most of all I love the stories and knowledge they contain. I also love technology. It's only natural that I would be fascinated by the way that these two intersect. In my life I have seen the world of books transform rapidly in many ways, from where you buy books to how you read them. Today we seem to have less free time than ever, which causes many to think "I don't have time for reading!" Hopefully the following resources will simplify the reading process and show that reading doesn't need to be as time consuming as it used to be.

1) Amazon/eBay: I've plugged both of these well-known sites before, but hopefully when I bring them up I can introduce a new or lesser-known feature. One of the main reasons I like Amazon is because of the Amazon Marketplace, where small businesses and individuals sell new and used copies of the products you are searching for. I mentioned a few weeks ago that this is great for electronics and cables, but it is also a great place to go if you are searching for a specific book. If you are not looking for a brand new book you can often find lightly used copies for over 50% off the original price. Popular books go for as little as $0.01 (plus shipping). Kindle users already know about buying eBooks from Amazon, one of the largest eBook sellers on the web.

eBay is also a great place to find physical books. A trick that I have found for buying books on eBay is to search for an author or series you are interested in along with the word "lot" or "books." Often you can find people selling multiple books in one listing for very little money. I've done this a few times, allowing me to build a nice little library of a few of my favorite authors for very little money, sometimes getting about five books for around $12 - $15 total. We're talking the prices of a thrift store with the selection of the internet.

One thing I would caution you from buying on eBay is eBooks. Digital books for $0.01 are often scams (either to get your personal information or to inflate their ratings) and often the books are pirated. Of course we don't condone illegal downloading of intellectual property yourself, but we are ESPECIALLY against giving money to people who do this to make a profit.

2) Audible/iTunes: Books on tape are a thing of the past, but that's saying more about tapes than recorded books. Audiobooks live on through iPods and CDs, although CDs seem to be going the way of the cassette tape, as well. There are plenty of options for downloading audiobooks, two of the most popular being Audible and iTunes. Both of these services offer audiobooks (often costing less than an book on CD bought from a bookstore) which are fantastic for people who "don't have time to read." With a book on your iPod you can listen to a chapter or two on your way to work or in line at the post office. (You could probably get a whole novel done if you have to go to the DMV.) iTunes also offers iBooks (which are different from the iBook) which are eBooks that can be read on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch.

3) Project Gutenberg: If you are looking for the fan site for Steve Guttenberg I might direct you elsewhere, but if old, classic literature is what you are after, I would highly suggest checking out Project Gutenberg. This website offers free digital copies of books whose copyright has expired for your computer or eReader and offers a wide variety of choices, from Sherlock Holmes to The Art of War to the 2010 CIA World Factbook. The Top 100 list on their site is enough to keep you occupied for at least a few years.

4) Google Books: Surprise: Google does books, too! Google Books has traditionally been very helpful from an academic standpoint, allowing users to search for subjects through the text of millions of books. Excerpts from the book containing the search terms (or sometimes whole books if the copyright has run out or if the publisher allows it) are displayed, which is great if you are trying to identify a book based on a quote or if you need more context than what has been provided to you elsewhere. Also, links are given as to where you can purchase the book, either online or in a store.

Google has lately gotten into the eBook game, selling these digital books and storing the books and your progress in the cloud so that you can easily switch platforms without any trouble. They also provide the option of buying their eBooks through local, independent bookstores, supporting businesses typically hurt by these new digital advances.

5) Goodreads: Goodreads is unlike my other picks in that it is a social media network for readers. Once you register an account you can start rating and reviewing books you've read and making lists (called "shelves") of books that you would like to read, your favorite (or least-favorite) books, books sorted by genre, or anything else you want. You can read reviews from other members and recommend books to people with similar tastes. Goodreads is a great place to learn about books you may have missed and to keep track of what you have read and what you would still like to read in the future. The only problem that I have run into on this site is that I typically add books to my "to read" shelf at a much higher rate than I am able to finish them!

The digital age has done wonders for books, increasing access to dozens of new platforms like computers, smartphones, tablets, and eReaders. As it becomes easier to access books, it also becomes easy to forget about the "old" way of doing things. If you still want traditional bookstores to exist (both independent and chain bookstores...remember Borders?) you should remember to support them and give them business. This doesn't mean that you should disregard all new technology, though. If reading is one of your favorite hobbies, or perhaps it is something you would like to get back into, I hope these resources can give you some new ideas.

Five Internet Services to Help You Adjust to Moving

I guess I should have introduced myself a month and a half ago when I started writing for this blog. My name is Kevin Terraciano, and in the spring I graduated from Christopher Newport University, getting my Bachelor of Science degree in computer science. I have been working for 127TECH in one way or another for over five years. This past week I moved from Richmond to Atlanta to start working towards my Master's Degree at Georgia Tech. This is by far the biggest geographical change in my life, but like any good geek I won't let that get me down -- not when the internet is here to help! Today I will reveal five websites and services that I have been using to help me get settled in a new land.

1) Google Maps: If you don't have many connections in this new city it can be intimidating to find your way around. Of course, Google Maps is great at giving you directions from point A to point B, but what if you don't even know what point B is? You can search "groceries near [your address]" and a map with a handful of the nearest grocery stores will come up with distances to each. It also works if you know the name of the store you want to find -- to find the closest Target just substitute "groceries" for "Target" in the previous example. This is a real timesaver, and it certainly beats driving around until you find what you are looking for!

2) Restaurant Rating Sites: Websites like Yelp and UrbanSpoon allow users to look for restaurants by neighborhood, cuisine, price, and even special features (outdoor, live music, etc). Customers can rate and review their experiences and possibly give you an indication of whether or not you should even give it a try.  Often there is a link to the restaurant's menu so that you can see if any dishes look irresistable, how much you might be spending on a meal, and if there's something the kids would eat. It might not be the most adventurous way to discover new restaurants, but why not at least look if you have this resource available?

3) Craigslist: By now nearly everyone knows about Craigslist, but for those who don't it can basically be described as your community's bulletin board...times a billion. Once you navigate to your city's page you can find ads for products, services, jobs, personals...you name it and it's probably there somewhere. People sell furniture, cars, appliances, electronics, books, and anything else that is legal to sell. There are often great deals on second-hand items that people are trying to get rid of, so for someone new in town who's looking for an inexpensive desk or microwave this can be a great resource. Of course you should be careful when dealing with strangers on the internet (didn't your mother teach you anything?) but if you play it safe you can really hit the jackpot.

 4) Reddit: This one is a bit complicated, so please bear with me. Reddit describes itself as "a source for what's new and popular on the web." Users submit links and content and people can "upvote" or "downvote" things to make them more or less popular. Usually Reddit is just a fun time-sink and is full of silly internet trends and fads, but it can also be useful for learning about a city and meeting people. There are thousands of "subreddits" (pages where people submit content only relating to a specific topic, like videogames, books, or politics) including many for specific cities. For example, here's one for Richmond, and here's one for Atlanta. Typically these pages have information about meetups, tips on local activites and events, and news from around the area. I found that this is a great way to stay up to date about interesting things that are happening around me.

5) Social Media/Skype: Part of moving away is figuring out how to stay connected to your friends and family. Thankfully, it has literally never been easier to stay in touch with these people...if anything it's hard to escape them! Anyone with Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Tumblr, or any of the other popular social media and blogging websites can constantly stay up to date on the lives of their friends and quickly interact with them. It's even easy to forego the traditional phonecalls now in favor of face-to-face video chats on Skype. Obviously these are no substitutes for real-life interactions, but it's comforting to know that you are by no means losing these people forever.

Moving 468 miles from home certainly wasn't easy, but having these resources at my fingertips took away much of the fear of the unknown. Even if you are not moving, you can still use any and all of these tools to discover new things around your hometown. If you are in an unfamiliar area though, I hope some of these tips come in handy. Good luck!

A Plan for Busy Parents

Do you have a shoebox or laundry basket of printed photos in the back of the closet? How many full memory cards are sitting in a drawer with countless unseen pictures? Busy parents have good intentions but no real time to create a scrapbook. Memories are boing stored in areas that they may never be seen again.

I saw a Google Chrome video recently which gave me some great ideas for busy parents. Click here to take a look: Dear Sophie Lee

How can you start something like this?

1) I'd recommend setting up a Gmail or Google App account. You can set up a simple Gmail account for free with an email address like "dear.childname@gmail.com" or if you want to be more advanced, set up a Google App account. My family uses Google Apps Standard which is a free service. Our domain is icallaghan.com so that we can use a personalized email address. We do have to pay around $10 to GoDaddy in order to retain the icallaghan.com domain.

2) Another great option is a Tumblr account. www.tumblr.com You can create a private account and upload videos, photos, audio, and more!

3) Start posting! Take a minute each day to post. You can upload a picture from your phone or send a love letter to your child while standing in line at the bank.

Five Great Shopping Websites for Electronics

Remember the days of driving from store to store all over town to find the best price on that computer or television that you've had your eye on? It wasn't long ago that we spent the afternoon burning gas (it was so cheap!) and talking to sleazy salesmen (they were so sleazy!) to find the perfect model and to save a buck. Now you can just boot up your computer, go to one of the many popular shopping websites, add that item to your cart, and wait for it to show up at your doorstep in a few short (or long, depending on how exciting the item is) days. You could even do it in your underwear...or so I'm told. The problem is that there are quite a few more shopping websites than there are Best Buys, Circuit Cities (R.I.P. stores), and Costcos in the immediate area. So how do you know where to shop? Here's a list of my five favorite sites to shop for electronics and why I like them.

1) Crucial.com: Crucial is crucial (ha!) when upgrading the RAM (Random Access Memory) on your computer. If your computer is running slow but you still have plenty of hard drive space and the rest of the hardware is still relatively recent, a memory upgrade may be all you need. You tell Crucial the make and model of your computer, and it will tell you how much memory it came with and what possible upgrades you can make. You buy your memory upgrade directly from Crucial, which offers affordable options and products which are generally of great quality. There are even videos and tutorials on how to install the memory yourself if you are daring enough to poke around inside your computer. If you want to shop around for your RAM, or if you maybe want to go ahead and just get a whole new computer, I would recommend looking at...

2) Newegg.com: While it sells all kinds of electronics, Newegg is probably best known for selling computers and computer parts and accessories. This website gives the user the ability to narrow down exactly what they are looking for and offers intelligent, comprehensive user reviews to help in the decision process. The prices are always fair, and there are often special daily deals to be had on great products. If all that isn't enough for you, I've heard story after story about how great their customer service is and how quickly they ship things out.

3) Amazon.com: If you haven't heard of or used Amazon.com then you must have been living under a rock (and one without wi-fi, to make matters worse). I probably don't need to sell you on Amazon, but perhaps I can turn you onto the Amazon Marketplace. When you find a product on Amazon that you like you may notice that there are a number of new or used ones found toward the top of the page. This is where other people or businesses can sell that product for whatever price they choose. I have found that this is an excellent place to shop for a lot of things, including books, DVDs, and especially CABLES. For whatever reason, cables are one of the most overpriced pieces of technology, but they do not have to be. Most cables can be found on Amazon for under $0.50, while products that deliver the same EXACT quality can be found for $50 at Best Buy (I'm looking at you, HDMI cables). Amazon also has great customer service, so if you have a problem with a seller (which I have encountered maybe once in the last five years) it can be dealt with swiftly. Of course, if you're keen on buying new and used products from other people there's always...

4) eBay.com: Again, you probably already know all about eBay, but some people forget that it isn't just about selling your "I Love Lucy" novelty plates or NASCAR bobbleheads. While I wouldn't START my shopping on eBay, if you are not too worried about receiving a used product or one that wasn't shipped directly from the safety of a warehouse, it's worth checking out. Some of the best deals on just about any product, including computer parts, TVs, Blu Ray players, cell phones, and other electronics can be found on eBay if you are willing to participate in the bidding process and you read the description carefully.

5) Google Product Search: What kind of blog post would this be if we didn't mention Google? Google Product Search (formerly known as Froogle) is a bit different from the previous four websites mentioned. This is more of a shopping aggregator, collecting the prices and reviews of the same product from multiple stores. If you know what product you are looking for you can search it here and compare prices to find the best deal and read reviews from around the web, all on one page. 

While online shopping is an invaluable tool, one must admit that there is nothing like going into the store and getting your hands on the actual product. Many people prefer to shop this way, but it is important to think about the resources you have online which could save you a considerable amount of time and money. These sites can also be used with store-shopping, as research done online can help you pick out which item to buy in the store. Last night actually, my family was about to buy a small TV for the kitchen from Amazon when I looked on Google Product Search to find more reviews. I saw that the reviews were very positive, but then I noticed that Wal Mart was selling the same TV in stores for the same price. Now we have the TV set up on the counter and we didn't have to pay and wait for shipping. While online shopping doesn't need to totally replace stores, you can still use these sites listed above as tools to help you shop smarter.

Five Different Uses for Google Searches

Recently on the Google Search blog, Daniel Russell made an entry on creative ways to search Google. I found one of his examples very interesting. He said that, since we are now able to meet so many people from around the world online, we are sometimes presented with a name we have never heard before. Since you might not know the gender of Nikhil or Xiaomei and do not want to address them incorrectly, the solution he proposes is to search the name on Google Images and see if men or women come up. This is a quick, elegant solution that might save some embarrassment.

This post got me thinking about the different ways that I search and that many people might not realize that Google is great for more than just finding websites or pictures. There are many lesser-known search features built into Google which can make your life easier if you know how to use them. Here we list five of the most useful ones.

1) Dictionary: Two of the main functions of a dictionary are to learn how to spell words and to find definitions. Luckily for us, Google can help with both. Often, if you spell a word incorrectly in a search, you will get the familiar "Did you mean: ____________?"prompt at the top of your results. Usually it has a pretty good idea of what you meant, so an educated guess about how to spell the word will lead you to the correct spelling. Sometimes you don't even need to perform the search, as popular searches will pop up based on what you have typed so far, giving you an indication as to whether the "i before e" rule applies in this case or not.

As I mentioned before, Google can also be used to define words. By typing "define" and then a word you wish to search, the first result will be a dictionary style entry for the desired word or term. There will also be several links to dictionary websites if you want more information.

2) Calculator: Rather than digging out your calculator from one of your desk drawers, let Google do the math! Type out the formula you would like to solve ( "/" means divide and "*" means multiply) and Google will instantly return the solution. Easy as pi!

3) Unit Conversion: Sometimes we need to know something like how many cups are in two liters, and rather than taking the time to look at a chart and performing the conversion in our heads, we can be lazy and just Google it. Google makes it very easy to convert between just about any units if you are in a rush or if you do not know the conversion rates offhand. It's also great for currency conversion, as well!

4) Sports Scores: If the big game (or any game, for that matter) is going on right now but is not on TV, Google has an easy way to see what's happening. Instead of exploring the depths of mlb.com or nfl.com to find your team or wading through all of the news and ads on your team's website, just search the team's name on Google. If they are playing right now, the top of the screen will have the score and basic stats from the game. If they are not playing, it will show their current record, the score of the most recent game, and the time of the next game. You will have to go to the team's website for more detailed information, but Google is great if you only need a quick update.

5) Weather: Wondering if you'll melt when you go outside this morning? Google "weather" and the name of your city or your zip code to find the current conditions and the weather for the next few days. Links to a few weather websites are also provided for more detailed forecasts and information.

Now that you know a few of the less obvious ways to search with Google, you can spend less time scouring the internet for information. Happy Googling!