NotebookLM Expands Your Research Universe with Epub Support

NotebookLM Expands Your Research Universe with Epub Support

Unlock the power of your digital library by transforming standard ebooks into interactive, AI-powered research assistants.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

March 10, 2026

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Have you ever stared at a three-hundred-page industry guide or a dense technical manual on your e-reader and wished you could just ask the book a direct question? 

For years, digital readers have been passive experiences where we highlight text and hope we remember the context later. 

But what if your entire library of professional development books and technical guides could talk back?

Here's a Cool Tip:  NotebookLM Now Supports Epub Files as Sources.

By adding Epub support to NotebookLM, the barrier between static reading and active analysis has finally vanished. 

This update marks a significant shift for anyone who manages a large collection of digital documents and needs to extract insights without spending hours flipping through virtual pages.

Clipchamp: The Built-In Windows Video Editor That’s Finally Worth Using

Clipchamp: The Built-In Windows Video Editor That’s Finally Worth Using

Short on time, long on video ideas? Clipchamp turns your Windows PC into a surprisingly capable editor without extra software. If you have Windows 11, you probably already own a solid video tool and just haven’t opened it yet.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

March 9, 2026

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Have you ever skipped a video project because you assumed you needed expensive, complicated software to make it look decent? 

For many Windows users, Clipchamp has been hiding in plain sight, quietly evolving into a real editor that can handle social clips, training videos, and quick promos without a steep learning curve.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Try Microsoft Clipchamp.

Clipchamp started life as a web-first editor and is now integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem, with a dedicated Windows app and a freemium model that covers most everyday needs. 

The result is a tool that feels approachable for beginners yet fast enough for busy professionals who just want to trim, caption, and publish.

ChatGPT 5.4: What’s Changed, What You Can Do, and Why It Matters for Web and Mobile Users

ChatGPT 5.4: What’s Changed, What You Can Do, and Why It Matters for Web and Mobile Users

OpenAI’s GPT 5.4 represents the company’s most capable foundation model yet, improving accuracy, reasoning, business productivity, and long-context workflows across web and mobile platforms. This update sets a new baseline for real-world AI tasks in both home and business settings.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

March 8, 2026

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When you ask an AI to help with a complex task, you want an answer that’s fast, accurate, and useful without repeated clarifications. 

GPT 5.4 aims to deliver that by tackling some of the hardest challenges users face: multi-step reasoning, document and spreadsheet work, tool use, and maintaining context over long interactions. 

Early adopters say it feels faster and more reliable than earlier models, whether you’re drafting presentations or asking for detailed research summaries.

Create and Code with Gemini Canvas

Create and Code with Gemini Canvas

Google recently introduced a significant update to Gemini that changes how you interact with AI by moving beyond the simple chat box into a split-screen interactive editor. This new feature allows users to refine drafts and debug code in real-time without losing the context of their original conversation.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

March 7, 2026

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Have you ever felt the frustration of asking an AI to tweak just one sentence in a 1,000-word essay, only to have it spit out the entire document again? 

It is a common digital headache that turns a quick edit into a tedious game of copy and paste. 

In the fast-paced world of software development and content creation, that friction costs more than just time; it breaks your creative flow. Google is addressing this exact pain point with a new interface called Gemini Canvas. 

By separating the brainstorming chat from the working document, Gemini is evolving from a chatbot into a legitimate collaborative workstation.

Boldly Go to Your Next Destination with the Waze Star Trek Experience

Boldly Go to Your Next Destination with the Waze Star Trek Experience

Add a touch of science fiction to your commute by navigating with The Doctor from Star Trek guiding your route in Waze.

Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

March 6, 2026

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Imagine your daily commute feeling less like a chore and more like an adventure through space. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Drive with Star Trek.

Waze has teamed up with Star Trek to make that happen for drivers, blending navigation with a beloved sci-fi universe.

Flash Your iPhone Screen for Notifications You Might Otherwise Miss

Flash Your iPhone Screen for Notifications You Might Otherwise Miss

Missed calls and texts often happen when your phone is muted or across the room. The iPhone’s flash notification feature turns your screen or camera flash into a visual alert so you always know when something important arrives.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

March 5, 2026

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Have you ever silenced your phone for a meeting and then realized hours later that you missed several important messages? 

It happens more often than people admit. 

Modern smartphones give us dozens of notification options, but most still depend on sound or vibration.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Enable LED Flash for Notifications.

Apple includes a clever accessibility feature that solves this problem with light instead of noise. 

When enabled, your iPhone can flash the camera LED or brighten the screen whenever a notification arrives. 

The result is a clear visual cue that something needs your attention, even when the phone is on silent.

For anyone who keeps their phone muted during the workday or in noisy environments, this simple setting can make a surprising difference.

Windows 11 Adds a One Click Internet Speed Test in the Taskbar

Windows 11 Adds a One Click Internet Speed Test in the Taskbar

Windows 11 now includes a built-in shortcut that lets you check your internet speed directly from the taskbar. It is a small change that saves time when troubleshooting slow connections.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor  

March 4, 2026

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Slow Wi-Fi can ruin a video call or stall a download at the worst possible moment. 

Most people jump to a browser and search for a speed test, but that takes extra steps when you are already frustrated. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use the New Internet Speed Test in the Taskbar.

Microsoft quietly added a new shortcut in Windows 11 that puts a speed test one click away. 

It is simple, fast, and surprisingly useful for both home users and busy professionals.

Create Professional Videos with Google Veo 3.1 Templates

Create Professional Videos with Google Veo 3.1 Templates

Create high-quality, consistent videos in seconds using the new Gemini-powered Veo 3.1 templates designed for business and personal storytelling. The future of AI video just got a lot more structured. Google is rolling out Veo 3.1 templates to help users skip the blank-page syndrome and generate professional-grade clips with ease.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

March 3, 2026

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Have you ever stared at a flashing cursor while trying to describe the perfect video scene to an AI? 

You aren't alone. 

Most users struggle to get the lighting, camera angles, and pacing just right on the first try. 

In fact, professional cinematographers spend years mastering the "look" that AI often misses in a basic text prompt. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Create Professional Videos with Templates in Veo 3.1.

Google has introduced Veo 3.1 templates within Gemini. 

Instead of guessing which keywords will trigger a cinematic lens flare or a smooth pan, you can now lean on pre-built structures that ensure your output looks polished and intentional from the very first frame.

Google's "Punch the Monkey" Search Surprise

Google's "Punch the Monkey" Search Surprise

Gemini sai

Google’s latest Search Easter egg celebrates Punch, the viral baby macaque from the Ichikawa City Zoo, by showering results for "Punch the Monkey" with hearts and hand-drawn icons. This interactive tribute marks the primate’s journey from being abandoned by his mother to finding comfort with a plush toy and finally integrating into his troop.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

March 2, 2026

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A heartwarming new Easter egg has taken over Google Search, and it is not tied to a movie release or a tech anniversary. 

Instead, it is a digital tribute to Punch, a seven-month-old Japanese macaque at the Ichikawa City Zoo who has become a global viral sensation.

Here's How to Do It

1. Go to www.google.com.
2. Type "Punch the Monkey" or "Punch Monkey" into the Google search bar on desktop or mobile.
3. A shower of colorful, graffiti-style hearts cascades down your screen.
4. Look closely and you will see small, hand-drawn icons of the baby monkey clinging to his famous orange plushie interspersed with the hearts.

fig. 1 - Discover Punch the Monkey Easter Egg

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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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Query your local Excel files with Copilot Chat

Query your local Excel files with Copilot Chat

Copilot in Excel is finally learning a new trick: it can now answer questions about workbooks stored right on your device. If you primarily work in local folders, this update quietly changes how you work with data every day.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

March 2, 2026

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You know that one folder on your desktop where all the “final_v3_really_final.xlsx” files live. 

Until now, those local workbooks were invisible to Copilot Chat unless you moved them into the cloud. 

That extra step was just enough friction to skip using Copilot at all.

Here's a Cool Tip:  You Can Now Query Your Local Excel Files with Copilot Chat.

Copilot can now analyze modern Excel files stored locally, so you can ask questions, clean data, and build summaries without reshuffling your storage strategy or uploading sensitive files.