Convert FLV, Flash Videos, to MP4 Using Handbrake

Posted on December 14, 2014 by garysch

At one point Flash videos were the way to watch videos on the Internet and I created loads to load up onto many websites for clients I created videos for. However, we want videos to play on many more devices so MP4s are more useful and can be used on the Internet and many other devices. They could also be used I’m presentations. So the problem for me, and I guess many others is that we need to convert some of those old videos and convert them to MP4s.

Thankfully there is a great program and it is free. It is called Handbrake and you can download it from http://handbrake.fr. Handbrake is also available for both Windows and Mac.

Below is a video showing you how to use it. It works the same on Windows and Mac. In this video I use a Mac but it does not matter.

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Useful Site of Excel Functions

Posted on December 11, 2014 by garysch

Excel is such a useful program but many people using it only scratch the surface. One of the most useful things about Excel are its functions for doing calculations. They are basically built in formula to work out everything from adding up a row or column to calculating loan or mortgage repayments. There are many scientific, engineering, financial and other functions too. One you get the hang of a few you will see how they work.

You can also use functions to look up text or values and return information. You can also cleverly combine functions known as nesting. Check out the combining HLOOKUP and VLOOKUP tutorial.

Aside from doing calculations they can display the current date or even extract text from part of a string of characters.

Here is a page of Excel tutorials I have created that have a number of functions including getting started with functions in both Windows and a Mac. I’m adding more to it regularly http://www.jargonfreehelp.com/excel-functions/

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Convert a Pages Document to Word or PDF

Posted on December 2, 2014 by garysch

Pages is such a useful app, and nicely priced too. It has the advantage of connecting up with the iCloud which means I can work on documents on my Mac, iPhone or iPad. It all seems to work seamlessly. However, not everyone I know has Pages. Many people use Word so if I want to share with them I need to convert it. By the way, I use Word a lot too.

The other reason I might want it in Word or as a PDF is if I need to upload it to a website. I know students have to upload assignments and in many instances they prefer Word or PDF, especially if it is to check for plagiarism.

Here is a little video I made to show you how to export from Pages to Word or PDF.

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Mail Merge Using Microsoft Word and Excel

Posted on November 2, 2014 by garysch

We see it everyday, personalised emails, letters and brochures sent to us. It makes it feel like someone has made the extra effort to write to us. As it happens this is quite easy to do using a feature in Microsoft Word call Mail Merge. It allows you to create a letter, label, email or other document and using a database of names and information add that to create individual documents. The document can then be printed, saved or sent out as an email.

Excel is very popular and is often used to create lists of information, also known as a database. Although a mail merge can be done from many other databases I have chosen to use Excel here as it is popular and easy to use. See the videos below on how to use it. The videos are similar but one is a mail merge to a letter for printing and the other is to send by email.

Coming up for the holidays you might find this useful for dropping a personalised line to all your family, friends and colleagues.

Mail Merge to Letter

Mail Merge to Email

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A Quick Look at Instant Hotspot and Handoff on Your iOS Device and Mac

Posted on October 25, 2014 by garysch

One of the things that really used to bug me was if I was out and needed to connect my MacBook Pro or iPad to my iPhone so I could go the internet. I know wifi is in a lot of place but there are times I need it to connect through my iPhone. I had to switch on my Personal Hotspot and if someone was looking they could see my password. But most annoyingly is it could take ages to connect. That has now been fixed with Instant Hotspot. As long as you are using the same iCloud account on the devices it will connect to your iPhone or iPad if it has a mobile account and you don’t have to worry about passwords. It seems to connect up quickly too. Bluetooth needs to be on and you have to be near you device for it to work. The same applies to Handoff.

Handoff, also known as continuity, allows you to be doing something on your iPhone and for it to pop up in the same place on your iPad or Mac (MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac Pro). So if you are looking at something on Safari or any one of a number of other apps including Mail, Maps, Notes, Reminders, Keynote, Contacts, Calendars, Pages, Number or Keynote, then it will automatically pop up on your lock screen on the iPad or in the dock on your Mac. This also works from your iPad to your Mac.

You do need the latest software for the iOS device and also Yosemite on your Mac. It is also dependent on how old your device or computer is.

The easiest way to demonstrate this is to watch the video below.

Posted in Handoff, Instant Hotspot, iOS, iOS 8, iPad, Iphone, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, mac os x, Yosemite | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to Use the SUMPRODUCT Function in Excel

Posted on October 19, 2014 by garysch

Many people will have at least two columns or rows of numbers that first need multiplying together and then totalling up. In most cases they will create a formula that multiplies them together and then use the SUM function to total them up. However, there is a function that will do just that in one go. It is the SUMPRODUCT function.

Here is a video tutorial to show you how it works.

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Swapping SIM and Keeping Number

Posted on September 21, 2014 by garysch

SIM swap O2

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The iPhone 5S is Still a Good Phone

Posted on September 19, 2014 by garysch

As people scramble to get the latest iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus there are many who are just getting into the idea of getting an iPhone like my aunt. She’s retired and is really embracing the iPad she has but feels that iPhone would be useful for her. She’s reluctant to get an iPhone 6, and by the way I’m intrigued by the iPhone 6 plus, yet I’m very happy with the iPhone 5S and if it wasn’t for what I do and being so tech crazy I would probably stick with it. It works really well. So for her and people like her who want an iPhone at a lower price this is fantastic option.

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iCloud Backup Extra Space

Posted on September 18, 2014 by garysch

I have been using iCloud to back up my iOS devices like my iPhone and iPad and needed more than the free 5GB capacity. Although this works for many my devices needed more than that. I always felt it was a bit on the expensive side to purchase more space. Well Apple have listened and lowered the price significantly but they have a also massively increased the capacity way beyond any expectations.

I guess this has a lot to do with the idea you will need a lot more space if you are going to use Pages, Numbers and Keynote more for creating your word processing, spreadsheets and presentations. These are not to bad and well priced making them a better option than Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Word and Excel and way ahead but the Apple offerings are adequate and certainly enough for many people like students who are watching their pockets. Keynote is great and certainly gives PowerPoint a run for its money.

Anyway back to the iCloud storage. Whatever the reason this extra capacity at a lower price is very welcome and if you are finding that 5 GB of free storage is not enough then this will help and keep your devices backed up with that all important information.

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iOS 8 Features

Posted on September 17, 2014 by garysch

Are you ready for iOS 8. Hope you’ve backed up you iOS device already or at least do it before you upgrade.

Anyway as it is due out today I thought I’d point out some of the features that perhaps a Apple haven’t really drawn attention to. A bit like the iPhone 5S when it came out, little mention of the slo-mo video camera which I like using. For iOS 8 I’ve not heard much about the time-lapse feature in the camera. Maybe that is not something I will use as much as the slo-mo camera. Speeding up something using the the time-lapse is something I might use once in a while but some things look great in slo-mo and a great tool for watching back sport and analysing what someone is doing.

A useful feature the camera now has is a self timer which must be in direct response to the desire for selfies. So now you can press the button and wait a few seconds before it takes the photo. This does mean you can hold it steadier as pressing button can cause shake. It also means you can pop it on something like a tripod and get a better selfie. Their are small tripods like the Joby GorillaPod that have models for iPhones or you can get a little holder made by Glif and add to more or less any tripod big or small.

The new predictive text is better and gives your more choices rather than just one word. It also works slightly differently in rather than taping to cancel the word it is suggesting you tap to select the one you want. The option is also larger so easier to tap on. I have liked this feature.

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