Welcome to One Cool Tip

Welcome to OneCoolTip.com

OneCoolTip is for people who use technology every day and want it to work better, faster, and with less frustration.

One practical tech improvement. Every day. In under two minutes.

One Cool Tip shows you small changes that make a real difference; new features, smarter settings, and overlooked tools that save time and reduce friction across the tech you already use.

What You’ll Find Here

• Windows 11 - Productivity boosts, hidden settings, and quiet improvements you probably missed
• iPhone & iOS 26 - Everyday shortcuts that save taps and time
• AI That’s Actually Useful  - Practical uses of ChatGPT, Gemini , and Copilot
• Work & Home Tech – Smart, realistic tips for daily digital life

What makes One Cool Tip different?

• No fluff, no hype, no vendor agendas
• Written by a working technology expert, not a content farm
• Focused on changes you can apply immediately

Read by thousands of professionals, home users, and curious tech users every day.

Start with the latest Cool Tips below, or use the topic links on the right to jump straight to what matters to you. 👉

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Never Miss Important News Again: How to Create Google Alerts in Minutes

Never Miss Important News Again: How to Create Google Alerts in Minutes

Track topics, competitors, and your own name automatically with Google Alerts. This free tool turns Google into your personal research assistant.  Google Alerts automatically monitors the web for new content about topics you choose and sends notifications directly to your inbox. It is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to stay informed without constantly searching.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 17, 2026

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How often do you search Google to see if someone mentioned your company, published new research, or released a product update? 

Most people rely on memory and occasional searches, which means they miss critical developments.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Google Alerts.

Google Alerts eliminates that problem by monitoring the internet continuously and notifying you the moment something new appears.

Whether you run a business, manage investments, publish articles, or simply want to track your favorite topics, Google Alerts gives you an early warning system for information that matters.

Feature Explanation

Google Alerts is a free monitoring service from Google that automatically scans the web for new content matching keywords you specify. 

When new results appear, Google sends you an email or RSS feed notification.

Users can create alerts for topics, names, brands, competitors, or any keyword and customize how often notifications arrive and which sources are included.

Google Alerts works by continuously indexing new web pages and comparing them against your alert criteria. 

When a match is found, it delivers a summary with links to relevant content.

Why this matters:

• Eliminates repetitive manual searches.
• Provides near real-time awareness.
• Helps you react faster to news, trends, or threats.

For technology professionals, journalists, investors, and business owners, it provides a major productivity advantage.

What You’ll Gain

With Google Alerts, you can:

• Monitor your name, company, or brand reputation automatically
• Track competitors and industry developments
• Discover new content ideas for articles or newsletters
• Receive early warnings about cybersecurity threats or vulnerabilities

Step-by-Step Instructions

Web / Desktop

1. Open your browser and go to: https://www.google.com/alerts
2. In the search box, enter a topic.  Examples:
• Your Company Name
• "Your Home Town"
• "A New Product You're Thinking About"
3. Click Show options.
4. Configure alert settings:
• How often: As-it-happens, Once a day, Once a week
• Sources: News, Blogs, Web, Video, Books, Discussions
• Language: Select preferred language
• Region: Choose geographic focus
• How many: Only best results or All results
• Deliver to: Email or RSS feed
5. Click Create Alert
6. Your alert becomes active immediately.

fig. 1 - Never Miss Important News Again

iOS (iPhone, iPad) / Android

1. Google Alerts does not have a dedicated mobile app, but works through your browser.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Free and easy to use
• Highly customizable monitoring
• Immediate notification options
• Supports email and RSS feeds
• Excellent for journalists, researchers, and marketers

Cons

• May miss some niche or restricted content
• Can generate too many alerts if keywords are broad
• Requires careful keyword selection for best results

Feature Access

• Free to use.
• Available worldwide.
• Accessible through any browser.
• Requires a Google account.
• No subscription or paid plan is required.

Score

Criterion | Score (0–10) | Justification 

Value | 10

Provides automated intelligence gathering with zero cost. Extremely valuable for business and personal monitoring.

Usability | 9

Simple interface with minimal setup required. Works on all platforms via browser.

Wow Factor | 8

Powerful automation capability that many users overlook, but delivers major productivity gains.

Total: 27 /30   |  🌟 Excellent

Google Alerts remains one of the most powerful free monitoring tools available, offering capabilities comparable to paid media monitoring services.

Key Takeaways

Google Alerts transforms passive searching into active monitoring. 

It delivers relevant information automatically and helps users stay ahead of trends, competitors, and news. 

This free tool can dramatically improve productivity and awareness.

Cool Tip Snapshot

• Feature Name: Google Alerts
• Platform(s): Web, iOS, Android, Windows, Mac
• Quick Benefit: Automatically monitor the web for new content
• Access Type: Free

Try It Yourself

Create your first Google Alert today at https://www.google.com/alerts and start monitoring your name, company, or favorite topics. 

Share this tip with your team and subscribe to the One Cool Tip newsletter for more productivity insights.

READ MORE

• How to Remove Your Explicit Content from Google Search Results
  
• Explore Search Trends with Gemini
  
• The New Google App for Windows: Your Digital Sidekick Just Got a Promotion
  

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Rodger Mansfield, a seasoned technology expert and editor of OneCoolTip.com, transforms complex tech into practical advice for everyday users. His Cool Tips empower readers to stay productive, secure, and one step ahead in the digital world.

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🚨 Chrome Zero-Day Alert: Update Immediately 🚨

🚨 Chrome Zero-Day Alert: Update Immediately 🚨

Google has released an emergency patch for CVE-2026-2441, a serious zero-day vulnerability affecting Chrome’s CSS font value processor.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 16, 2026

This flaw allows attackers to execute arbitrary code inside a sandbox via a crafted HTML page, and it’s already being exploited in the wild.

Update your Chrome browser NOW to protect your PC and data.

What’s Affected

• Chrome version 145.0.7632.75/76 (Windows & Mac).
• Chrome version 144.0.7559.75 (Linux).
• Other Chromium-based browsers like Microsoft Edge, Vivaldi, Opera, and Brave may also be impacted.

Turn Excel Chaos Into Clarity With Copilot’s Summarize And Categorize Superpowers

Turn Excel Chaos Into Clarity With Copilot’s Summarize And Categorize Superpowers

Copilot in Excel can scan thousands of rows, surface the story in your data, and organize it into meaningful categories with just a few natural language prompts. If you work in spreadsheets all day, this feature is like having a data analyst sitting in the ribbon.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor  

February 16, 2026

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You open a workbook with 18,000 rows of sales data, customer comments, and dates, and your manager wants a one-page summary before lunch. 

You know Excel can do it, but building the right formulas, PivotTables, and filters feels like a project, not a quick task.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use Copilot to Summarize and Categorize Your Data.

Instead of hunting for the perfect function, you describe what you want: “Summarize this data by category.” 

Copilot reads the table, proposes a summary, and can even build the supporting PivotTable for you.

Excel stops being a wall of cells and starts acting like a conversation about your data.

How to Remove Your Explicit Content from Google Search Results

How to Remove Your Explicit Content from Google Search Results

Take control of your digital footprint by requesting the removal of sensitive personal images and information from Google Search results.

Byline: By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 15, 2026

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Have you ever searched for your own name only to find a photo that felt like a punch to the gut? 

Perhaps it is an old image shared without your consent that you never intended to be public. 

In an era where a digital first impression is often the only one that counts, finding explicit personal content of yourself online is more than just embarrassing. 

It is a security risk and a violation of privacy. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Remove the Content from Google.

Google has significantly expanded its toolset to help users claw back their privacy, but many people still believe that once something is on the internet, it stays there forever. 

That is not entirely true. 

While Google cannot delete a file from a third-party website server, it can effectively bury the link so it no longer appears in search results for the world to see.

Control Your Threads Feed With the New “Dear Algo” Feature

Control Your Threads Feed With the New “Dear Algo” Feature

Threads now lets you directly instruct its algorithm using a simple “Dear Algo” request. This AI-powered feature puts you in control of your feed instead of passively accepting what the platform decides to show you.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 14, 2026

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Have you ever opened Threads and wondered why your feed is full of topics you barely care about, while the conversations you actually want are buried or missing entirely? 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Update your Threads feed.

That frustration is exactly what Meta is trying to solve with a new AI-powered feature called Dear Algo.

Instead of relying solely on likes, follows, or engagement signals, 

Threads now allows you to directly tell its algorithm what you want to see more or less of. 

This is a major shift in how social feeds work. 

For the first time, you can explicitly guide the algorithm using natural language instructions.

Master the Art of Spotting Scams with Google’s New Interactive Game

Master the Art of Spotting Scams with Google’s New Interactive Game

Discover how to sharpen your digital defense skills using a free, browser-based simulation that trains you to identify modern phishing and fraud tactics.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 13, 2026

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How confident are you that you can spot a fake text from your bank or a fraudulent "urgent" email from a coworker?

As digital threats become more sophisticated, the traditional advice to just "look for typos" no longer cuts it. 

Scammers now use high-quality branding and psychological triggers to bypass our natural skepticism. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Play the "Be Scam Ready" Game from Google.

This "Be Scam Ready" game puts you in the hot seat to test your instincts against realistic, real-world scenarios.

Turn Your Lock Screen Into a Live Weather Dashboard

Turn Your Lock Screen Into a Live Weather Dashboard

See current conditions the moment you pick up your iPhone. iOS 26.3 makes weather more visible, faster to access, and easier to customize. iOS 26.3 adds a dedicated Weather category to the Lock Screen wallpaper picker with new preset layouts. Here’s how to turn your iPhone into a real-time weather dashboard in under a minute.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 12, 2026

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How many times a day do you check the weather? 

Before a walk. 

Before a meeting. 

Before school pickup. 

Before a flight.

Now imagine seeing current conditions, animations, and forecast details the instant your screen wakes up. 

No app tap required.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use the Weather Lock Screen.

With iOS 26.3, Apple separates Weather from Astronomy in the Lock Screen customization menu and introduces new preset Weather layouts, making it easier to create a glanceable, live weather dashboard right on your Lock Screen.

This is not just cosmetic. 

It changes how quickly you access useful information throughout the day.

A New Emoji Icon Lands in the Windows 11 Taskbar

A New Emoji Icon Lands in the Windows 11 Taskbar

Windows 11 now includes a small emoji icon in the system tray that gives you faster access to expressive typing. It is rolling out slowly to certain groups, so availability may vary.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor  

February 11, 2026

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Most people know the keyboard shortcut for emojis only after someone shows them. 

Windows key plus period is easy to remember, but millions of users never discover it. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Enable the Emoji Panel in the System Tray.

Microsoft has decided to fix that by placing a small emoji icon directly in the Windows 11 taskbar. 

It is a tiny change that solves a surprisingly common problem. 

If you spend your day in Teams, Outlook, Slack, or social apps, this new icon might save you more time than you expect.

Finally! How to Change Your Primary Gmail Address Without Losing Your Data

Finally! How to Change Your Primary Gmail Address Without Losing Your Data

Stop living with that embarrassing high school email address. Google finally lets you swap your primary @gmail.com handle while keeping every single message and photo intact. Discover how to transform your old Gmail identity into a professional new address without the headache of manual migrations. This update ensures you stay connected to your past while moving forward with a fresh digital name.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 10, 2026

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Are you still using the "coolguy92" or "sparkle-pony-fan" email address you created two decades ago? 

For years, the standard advice for anyone wanting a more professional Gmail identity was a digital shrug and a suggestion to start over from scratch. 

That meant moving thousands of photos, losing years of archived chats, and manually updating every single subscription service you own. 

It was a massive technical hurdle that kept millions of users tethered to usernames they outgrew long ago.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Pick a New Gmail Address Without Losing Your Data.

A new Gmail rollout is hitting accounts that allows users to pick a new @gmail.com address while automatically turning the old one into a permanent alias. 

You no longer have to choose between a professional look and your digital history.