Sunday, December 10, 2023

Unlock Google Bard - Now Powered with Gemini Pro

Google Bard - Gemini Pro
Have you ever wondered how to make the most out of your Google Bard experience? 

Are you ready to unleash the full potential of Google Bard, the revolutionary AI platform? 

Here's a Cool Tip.  Try Google Bard which is now powered by Gemini Pro.

Yes, Google Bard is now powered by the Gemini Pro Large language Model (LLM). 

It's available for free in Bard, allowing users to experience its text-based capabilities. 

Gemini Pro makes Bard better at Understanding, Summarizing, Reasoning, Coding and Planning


Google Bard - Powered by Gemini
fig. 1 - Google Bard - Powered by Gemini

Here's how to use it.
  • Navigate to the Google Bard website.
  • Log in with your Google account.
  • Type anything you want to ask.
  • Bard replies using the power of Gemini Pro.
Note:   Bard only supports the text-based version of Gemini Pro. You'll have to wait for multimedia interactions in future updates. 

With the release of Gemini Pro, users now have access to a range of advanced features that promise to enhance productivity, creativity, and information access. 

In the previous version of Bard, a prompt to ask Bard to generate basic text formats like poems, scripts, and musical pieces often lacked originality and coherence.

Gemini produces outputs that are more original, engaging, and consistent with the style and tone requested.

Here's an example to request Bard to write a poem about the beauty of nature.

Old Bard
The flowers are blooming, 
The birds are singing, 
The sun is shining. 
Nature is beautiful.

Gemini Pro:
Beneath the sun's warm gaze,
A canvas stretched so wide,
The earth awakes, a masterpiece,
Where vibrant colors hide.



fig. 2 - Google Bard, Now Powered by Gemini Pro


The improvement is dramatic.

In addition to Gemini Pro, Google also announced a version for mobile devices, Gemini Nano, and
a version for highly complex tasks called Gemini Ultra,

Both will be available at a later date.

So check Gemini Pro out and see the difference.

It's available in English in the US but will roll out to other languages and countries in the future.

Enjoy!


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Saturday, December 9, 2023

Unleash Your Inner Artist with Meta's New AI Image Creator

Have you ever dreamt of conjuring breathtaking images from the depths of your imagination? 

Ever wondered how artificial intelligence could aid in your creative pursuits?

Here's a Cool Tip.  Use Meta's revolutionary new AI Image Creator.

This new AI tool empowers anyone to turn their wildest ideas into stunning visuals.

Here's how to use it.
  • Navigate to imagine.meta.com and log in using your Facebook, Instagram, or email credentials.
  • Describe your desired image using clear and concise language
    • The more details you provide, the more accurately the AI can render your vision.
  • Select your preferred artistic style from a range of options, including realistic, surreal, or impressionistic.
  • Adjust parameters like composition, lighting, and color palette to perfect the image to your liking.
  • Click "Generate" and watch as the AI brings your vision to life before your eyes.
Generate an Imagine Meta Image
fig. 1 - Generate an Imagine Meta Image
  • Save your masterpiece to your device and share it with the world on social media or in your projects.
Imagine Meta AI
fig. 2 - Imagine Meta AI - Downtown St. Louis

Here are some fun ideas:
  • Turn your favorite quote into a captivating visual.
  • Visualize your dream vacation destination.
  • Create a unique logo for your business or brand.
  • Generate background images for your website or blog.

Imagine Meta joins a number of AIs that now create images, including ChatGPT (DALL-E) and Microsoft Windows Copilot (formerly Bing Chat).

Let's take a look.

Here are new images created with this AI prompt:
Create a realistic image of sunrise in Cancun Mexico looking ocean and sand.  A Catamaran is gliding across the waves.

AI Image Creation Comparison Bing Meta Dall-E

fig. 3 - AI Image Creation Comparison - Bing,  Meta, DALL-E

Which one is your favorite?

Let us know in the comments below.

Enjoy!


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Friday, December 8, 2023

Checkmate Your Way to Glory: Play Chess Online

Chess.com
Do you dream of checkmating your opponent in style? 

Or perhaps you'd prefer to sharpen your strategic mind through the timeless game of chess? 

Here's a Friday Funday, Cool Tip.  Play Chess online against a friend, online or computer!

Chess.com is a massive online platform dedicated to the game of chess, offering a comprehensive experience for players of all skill levels. 

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There is a free version while paid subscriptions offer more features and ad-free playing.

For beginners, honing your skills against the computer is an excellent way to learn the ropes. 

Here's how to do it.
  • To start, you’ll need to create an account on Chess.com. It’s free and easy to sign up.
  • Once you’re logged in, you can choose to play against other users or the computer. 
    • If you’re new to chess, playing against the computer can be a great way to learn and practice.
  • When playing against the computer, you can set the level from 1 to 10, from easy to grandmaster
    • This allows you to customize the challenge to match your skill level.
  • Once you’ve chosen your opponent and set the difficulty level, you’re ready to start the game.
  • Make your move and watch as your opponent responds.

Benefits to playing against the computer.:
  • Learn the fundamentals of chess at your own pace.
  • Experiment with different strategies and openings without pressure.
Benefits to playing against other players:
  • Experience the thrill of real-time competition.
  • Learn from the diverse playing styles of other players.
  • Improve your chess rating by defeating opponents.
Chess

fig. 1 - Play Against Opponent or Computer


That's it!

Enjoy!

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Thursday, December 7, 2023

Who Represents You? How to Find Your Elected Officials

USAgov
Have you ever felt lost in the political labyrinth, unsure of who represents you and their stance on crucial issues? 

Do you know how to contact your elected officials?

Here's a Cool Tip.  Use the USA.gov and its Elected Official Search Tool.

The USAGov Elected Official Search Tool is a powerful weapon in your democratic arsenal.

Imagine: knowing who votes on your local school board, which senator speaks for your state, and how to contact your representatives about matters that concern you directly. 

This tool unlocks a whole new level of civic engagement, empowering you to participate in shaping your community and country.

Here's how to do it.
  • Navigate to the USAGov website, the official guide to government information and services.
  • Go to "About the U.S. and its government".
  • Select "Find and Contact Elected Officials" tool.
  • Enter your physical address, including your street number, apartment number (if applicable), city, state, and zip code.
  • Select "Find my elected officials".
  • USAGov displays a comprehensive list of your federal, state, and local elected officials.
  • Select from Federal, State or Local officials.
  • Select the "+" icon to open the list.
  • Each official's profile includes their contact information (phone number, email address, website).
USAgov - Find Your Elected Officials

fig. 1 - USAgov - Find Your Elected Officials


Knowledge is power, and this tool equips you to be an informed and active participant in your democracy.

The site also has information regarding agencies and programs.

Check it out!

Enjoy!


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Wednesday, December 6, 2023

How to Get the Word Count in Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word
Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a writing project, wondering how many words you’ve written so far? 

Or perhaps you’re working on a document with a strict word limit, and you need to keep track of your progress. 

Here's a Cool Tip.  Use the Word Count Keyboard Shortcut.

Here's how to do it.

Click the Status Bar Word Count
  • Open your Microsoft Word document.
  • Look at the bottom left corner of the Word window. 
    • You should see a count of the words in your document.
  • If you don’t see the word count, right-click on the status bar at the bottom and click on ‘Word Count’.
  • Click the Word Count on the status bar to display the Word Count screen.
Keyboard Shortcut
  • Press and hold CTRL + SHIFT + G to display the Word Count screen.

Microsoft Word - Word Count

fig. 1 - Word Count Keyboard Shortcut
CTRL + SHIFT + G

The word count feature is a great tool for keeping track of your word count without interrupting your workflow. 

That's it.

Enjoy!


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Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Preserve the Quality of Your Memories on WhatsApp for iPhones

WhatsApp Messenger
Have you ever shared a high-resolution photo on the iPhone WhatsApp app, only to find that its quality was significantly reduced? 

Or perhaps you’ve sent a video, but the recipient complained about the poor resolution? 

If so, you’re not alone. 

But what if there was a way to preserve the original quality of your photos and videos when sharing them on WhatsApp?

Here's a Cool Tip.  Use the newest version of What'sApp Messenger app for iPhone.

WhatsApp Messenger, the popular messaging app, has introduced a feature that allows users to send photos and videos at the original quality of the media files. 

Here's how to use it.
  • Ensure you have the most recent version, 23.24.73 or greater, of the WhatsApp Messenger app for iPhone.
  • Save the photo or video.
  • Open WhatsApp and access the chat where you want to send the image or video.
  • Tap the "+" icon and select the “Document” option.

Select Document
fig. 1 - Select Document
  • Tap “Choose Photo or Video”.

Choose Photo or Video
fig. 2 - Choose Photo or Video
  • Select the image or video and tap Send to confirm your choice.
The primary benefit of this feature is that it allows you to maintain the original quality of your photos and videos. 

When you send photos as documents, WhatsApp Messenger does not compress the images. 

This ensures that the recipient receives the photos in their original quality. 

You can also select multiple photos and send them as a single document, making it easier for your recipients to view and download them.

This feature is rolling out to users over the coming weeks.

That's it!

Enjoy!

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Monday, December 4, 2023

How to Unlock Age Calculation in Excel

Have you ever wondered how to calculate someone’s age in Excel? 

Or have you tried to do it but found it more complicated than you expected? 

Here's a Cool Tip.  Use the DATEDIF in your formula, 

DATEFIF a hidden gem in Excel that makes age calculation a breeze.

www.OneCoolTip.com Back to Work Monday

Here's how to do it.
  • Open your Excel spreadsheet where you have the names and birthdates.
  • Insert a new column for ‘Age’.
  • Click on the first cell under the ‘Age’ column.
  • Type the DATEDIF formula: =DATEDIF(B2,TODAY(),"Y")
    • B2 should be the cell containing the birthdate
    • "Y" calculates the difference in complete years.
  • Press Enter and the age will be calculated.
  • Drag the fill handle (small square at the bottom-right of the cell) down to copy this formula to the rest of the cells in the ‘Age’ column.

Calculate Age in Excel with DATEDIF

fig. 1 - Calculate Age in Excel with DATEDIF


DATEDIF is a simple and easy to use once you understand how it works.

And it automatically updates the age as time progresses.

Enjoy!

Note:  Microsoft provides this functionality to support older versions of Excel.  It's possible that they will stop supporting it.


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Sunday, December 3, 2023

Master Google Keep with These Keyboard Shortcuts

Google Keep
Are you a Google Keep user? 

Do you find yourself spending too much time navigating through your notes? 

Is there a faster, more efficient way to use Google Keep? 

Here's a Cool Tip.  Use Google Keyboard Shortcuts.

Google Keep, Google’s note-taking service, is a powerful tool for organizing your thoughts, lists, and reminders. 

But did you know that you can navigate and edit your notes even faster with keyboard shortcuts? 

Here's how to do it.
  • Go to keep.google.com.
  • At the top right, click the Gear icon.
  • Select Keyboard Shortcuts.
  • You can also use a shortcut, Ctrl + /, to display the Keyboard Shortcuts screen.

Google Keep Keyboard Shortcuts - First Screen
fig. 1 - Google Keep Keyboard Shortcuts - First Screen


Google Keep Keyboard Shortcuts - Second Screen
fig. 2 - Google Keep Keyboard Shortcuts - Second Screen


These shortcuts are clear: they can significantly speed up your workflow, allowing you to navigate and edit your notes quickly and efficiently. 

This can be particularly useful for heavy users of Google Keep, or for those who use it for work or study.

And best of all, Google Keep is free to use.  

While other note taking apps have reduced their free services and now pester users with ad after ad after ad (I'm looking at you Evernote), Google Keep is a great tool that works well with other Google services.

We've told you about Google Keep and its many features so check out the links below to learn more.

Enjoy!

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Saturday, December 2, 2023

Protect Your Privacy. How to Disable NameDrop on iPhones

Have you recently updated your iPhone to iOS 17.

Did you notice a new feature called NameDrop? 

Are you curious about what it does and how it can affect your privacy? 

NameDrop is a new feature introduced in iOS 17 that allows iPhone users to share their contact details simply by holding their iPhones close to each other. 

Here's a Cool Tip.  You can Disable the Feature.

It’s designed to make sharing contact information quick and effortless. 

But like any feature, it has its pros and cons.

For most users, this is an unneeded feature.

Here's how to disable NameDrop
  • Open the Settings app.
  • Tap General.
  • Tap AirDrop.
  • Toggle the switch next to Bringing Devices Together on or off.

NameDrop Settings

The primary benefit of NameDrop is convenience. 

It eliminates the need to manually type in contact details, making the process of sharing information faster and more efficient.

However, many users have privacy concerns. 

Many police departments around the country warned residents to turn this new feature off.

Although NameDrop requires both parties to agree before any information is shared, the feature could potentially be triggered accidentally. 

If you’re worried about this, you can choose to disable NameDrop.

And if it's not a concern to you, leave it on!

That's it.

Enjoy!


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Friday, December 1, 2023

How to Make Google Search Do a Funky Spin

Google Search Barrell Roll
Have you ever wondered if you could make Google Search do something a little more exciting than just providing you with search results?

Here's a Friday Funday Cool Tip.  Do a Barrell Roll!

With a simple command, you can make Google Search perform a barrel roll, transforming your ordinary search experience into a fun and entertaining one.

Here's how to do it.
  • Open Google Search.
  • Type in the phrase "do a barrel roll".
  • Press Enter.
Watch as Google Search performs a 360-degree barrel roll animation

Google Search - Do a Barrell Roll

fig. 1 - Do a Barrell Roll


This Cool Tip adds a touch of fun to your search experience.

Enjoy!


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