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.

Supercharge Your Spreadsheets with Gemini in Google Sheets

Supercharge Your Spreadsheets with Gemini in Google Sheets

Stop struggling with complex formulas and manual data entry; let Google’s AI build your trackers, write your syntax, and analyze your data for you. Google Gemini in Sheets transforms your static spreadsheets into an intelligent data partner that can build tables, write formulas, and clean data through simple conversation. Whether you are a business pro or a home user, this AI integration eliminates the tedious "blank grid" problem forever.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 9, 2026

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Have you ever stared at a blank Google Sheet, knowing exactly what data you needed but having no idea how to structure the table or write the necessary VLOOKUP to find it? 

You aren't alone. 

For decades, spreadsheets have required users to speak the language of "Cell C4" and "Nested IF statements."

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use Google Gemini in Google Sheets.

With the 2026 rollout of Gemini 3 into Google Workspace and Google AI Pro plans, the spreadsheet has finally learned to speak human. 

Instead of hunting for tutorials, you can now simply ask your sheet to "Create a 12-month budget tracker" or "Calculate the variance between these two columns." 

It is the most significant shift in how we handle data since the introduction of the Pivot Table.

MyLow: Lowe’s AI Assistant That Helps You Finish Home Projects Faster

MyLow: Lowe’s AI Assistant That Helps You Finish Home Projects Faster

MyLow turns confusing home improvement questions into clear, step by step guidance, right when you need it most.  Lowe’s new AI assistant, MyLow, is designed to guide shoppers through home improvement projects with plain language help and product suggestions. It brings expert style advice to your phone before you even walk into the store.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 8, 2026

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Home improvement projects rarely fail because of motivation. They fail because of uncertainty. 

Which tool is right? Which part fits? Did you miss a step?

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use MyLow, Lowe's AI Assistant.

MyLow is an AI-powered virtual home improvement assistant, built to answer practical questions, recommend products, and help customers move from planning to completion with fewer mistakes.

Amazon Alexa Plus Turns Your Smart Speaker Into a Real AI Assistant

Amazon Alexa Plus Turns Your Smart Speaker Into a Real AI Assistant

Alexa Plus upgrades Amazon’s familiar voice assistant with generative AI, smarter conversations, and context awareness that finally makes Alexa feel helpful again. If you use Alexa daily, this update changes how much you can ask and how little you need to repeat yourself.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 7, 2026

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Have you ever asked Alexa a follow-up question and felt like it forgot the entire conversation? 

Or tried to coordinate reminders, shopping, and routines only to hit a wall of rigid commands? 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Try the new Alexa+ AI.

Amazon claims Alexa Plus fixes those long-standing frustrations by rebuilding Alexa around modern AI rather than scripted responses.

Watch Sesame Street for Free: How to Access the New Digital Library

Watch Sesame Street for Free: How to Access the New Digital Library

The sunny days are officially here for streaming. You can now access over 100 full-length episodes of Sesame Street for free on YouTube.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 6, 2026

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If you grew up with a television, you likely have a core memory of a giant yellow bird or a cookie-obsessed monster. 

For over 50 years, Sesame Street has been the gold standard of educational media, but finding full episodes without a pricey cable package or specific streaming subscription has often been a scavenger hunt. 

Parents and nostalgic fans frequently find themselves stuck behind paywalls just to see a classic clip.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Watch Sesame Street for Free.

As of January 15, 2026, YouTube has officially become the largest digital home for Sesame Street content. 

Through an expanded partnership between Google and Sesame Workshop, a massive library of full episodes is now available to stream for free. 

This is not just a collection of short clips or songs; we are talking about full-length, historical, and modern episodes available at the click of a button.

Visual Intelligence Turns Your iPhone Camera Into a Real-Time Research Tool

Visual Intelligence Turns Your iPhone Camera Into a Real-Time Research Tool

Your iPhone camera can now recognize what you are looking at and surface useful actions in real time. Visual Intelligence in iOS 26 blends camera input with on-device intelligence so you can copy text, identify objects, translate languages, and look up information without opening a browser.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 5, 2026

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Have you ever pointed your phone at something and wished it could simply tell you what it is, translate it, copy it, or explain it? 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use Visual Intelligence on the iPhone.

Visual Intelligence in iOS 26 treats the camera as an input device for understanding the world.

This is not a new app. 

It is a system capability built into the camera experience that works whenever text, objects, landmarks, plants, animals, or products appear in view.

Quick Machine Recovery in Windows 11: Your Safety Net For Boot Failures

Quick Machine Recovery in Windows 11: Your Safety Net For Boot Failures

Quick Machine Recovery in Windows 11 uses Microsoft’s cloud services to repair certain widespread boot issues with minimal user effort. Learn what it does, how to configure it, and how to be ready before disaster strikes.

Byline: By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 4, 2026

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You press the power button, wait for Windows to appear, and instead you get a spinning circle that never ends. 

For many users, that moment means panic, lost work, and a frantic search for recovery media.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Quick Machine Recovery in Windows 11.

Quick Machine Recovery in Windows 11 aims to change that story. 

Instead of leaving you alone in a broken boot loop, Windows can detect certain widespread issues, enter the Windows Recovery Environment, connect to Microsoft’s cloud, and automatically apply a targeted fix if one exists. 

It is not magic, and it will not solve every problem, but when it works, it can turn a potential outage into a short coffee break.

Gemini Navigation Expands to Walking and Cycling in Google Maps

Gemini Navigation Expands to Walking and Cycling in Google Maps

Google Maps just got a major brain transplant for your morning commute and weekend treks. AI-powered navigation is no longer just for drivers.

Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 3, 2026

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Have you ever stared at a blue dot on your phone while spinning in circles trying to figure out which way is North? 

Even with augmented reality, urban canyons, and winding bike paths can be disorienting. 

Navigation has historically focused on the four-wheeled experience, leaving those on foot or two wheels to squint at tiny lines and hope for the best.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use Google Gemini for walking and cycling.

Google is bridging that gap by integrating Gemini into Google Maps specifically for walking and cycling. 

This update transforms the map from a static document into a conversational partner. 

It understands the context of your surroundings and helps you find specific landmarks or points of interest using natural language while you are on the move.

Turn Word Into Your AI Writing Partner With Agent Mode

Turn Word Into Your AI Writing Partner With Agent Mode

Agent Mode in Word lets you describe your goal and have Copilot do targeted edits, rewrites, and formatting inside your document. Once you learn where to find it and how to steer it, Word starts to feel less like a blank page and more like a collaborative editor.

Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 2, 2026

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How many times have you stared at a messy draft and thought, "I wish someone could just fix this for me"? 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use Agent Mode in Microsoft Word.

Agent Mode in Word is Microsoft’s answer to that feeling: a way to talk to Copilot as if it were a colleague sitting beside you, editing the document in real time.

Instead of copying text into a chat window and pasting results back, you stay in the document while Copilot restructures sections, tightens language, and applies Word styles for you. 

For busy professionals, that shift from "AI on the side" to "AI inside" is a big deal.