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Don’t listen to Gwyneth Paltrow – IVs are not a shortcut to good health

<p>Actor and businesswoman Gwyneth Paltrow <a href="https://jezebel.com/gwyneth-paltrow-iv-drip-1850227472">declared</a> “I love an IV!” recently, calling herself an “early adoptor” of intravenous infusion during a podcast. Both she and the show’s host were hooked up to drips during an interview in which they discussed bone broth, skipping meals and infrared saunas. </p> <p>The Goop boss has been criticised for her “beauty from the inside out” ideas, which she says are <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2023/03/18/gwyneth-paltrow-refers-to-her-long-covid-when-responding-to-bone-broth-backlash/?sh=35eacdbf14f0">helping her</a> recover from long COVID and reduce inflammation. </p> <p>Lots of TikTok users are <a href="https://pagesix.com/2023/03/14/gwyneth-paltrow-dragged-on-tiktok-over-wellness-tips/">not having it</a> – but IV supplements have hit the mainstream in recent years. Here’s why they are not a quick fix and can be deadly. </p> <h2>What is IV vitamin therapy?</h2> <p>IV vitamin therapy administers supplements directly into the bloodstream via a needle inserted into a vein. Fans of the therapy believe this route leads to higher nutrients in the body compared with oral supplements or food-based nutrients as it avoids nutrient losses through digestion and excretion. </p> <p><a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/australian-beauty-clinic-businesses-speak-out-following-medical-regulator-ahpra-crackdown/4fded160-8f07-48f1-afc2-58b6e09863ac">Providers of these injections</a> say they customise the formula of vitamins and minerals depending on the patient’s perceived needs. Many do this without an initial blood test, making it close to impossible to know if you have a pre-existing vitamin deficiency. A typical session in a shopfront or home visit can take 30–90 minutes and cost anywhere between A$80 to $3,000.</p> <p>Popular drip “cocktails” include blends of vitamin C and B complex “for energy”, B complex and zinc “for skin”, vitamin C, magnesium and amino acids “for happiness”, and a supposedly “anti-ageing” blend of glutathione. Many of these contain mostly water-soluble vitamins C and B, which are processed by the kidneys and excess nutrients excreted through urine when the body has received the amount it needs to work properly.</p> <h2>What does the science say?</h2> <p>IV therapy is not new and has been used in the medical profession for decades. In hospitals, it is used to <a href="https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg174">hydrate patients</a>and administer <a href="https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-2891-2-18">essential nutrients</a> if patients have difficulty eating, drinking or absorbing them. Single nutrient deficiencies like vitamin B12 or iron are often treated with infusions under medical supervision.</p> <p>The “cocktails” that IV vitamin therapy clinics create and administer are not supported by scientific evidence. There have been no clinical studies to show vitamin injections of this type offer any health benefit or are necessary for good health. </p> <p>Very few studies have looked at their effectiveness in adults. In those that have, they are either of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC420479/">very poor scientific quality</a>, found <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19250003/">no significant differences</a> and involved only a handful of people, were <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17515022/">missing a placebo group</a>, or contained only <a href="https://altmedrev.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/v4-1-37.pdf">anecdotal evidence</a> from single cases.</p> <h2>What’s Gwyneth on about then?</h2> <p>Paltrow <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gwyneth-paltrow-her-wellness-protocol-for-longevity/id1539535133?i=1000603890093">recently</a> shared her enthusiasm for glutathione as her favourite IV vitamin therapy. </p> <p>Glutathione is heralded as the “master antioxidant” in the body and is naturally produced by our cells, working to prevent oxidative stress and tissue damage. The body’s demand for this nutrient is believed to increase as we age. Studies have reported that taking an <a href="https://rdcu.be/c8Agw">oral glutathione supplement</a> doesn’t increase <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21875351/">blood levels</a> in humans.</p> <p>In 2015, <a href="https://rdcu.be/c8AdX">a trial</a> reported some beneficial effects on immune function with long-term glutathione oral supplementation, but the authors said more studies were required to further understand the nature of these effects. </p> <p>It is important to note that no research has supported the claim IV therapy with glutathione slows down ageing or reduces oxidative damage.</p> <h2>What could go wrong?</h2> <p>Injecting anything straight into your bloodstream comes with some big risks, especially if those administering the drips aren’t medically trained. </p> <p>Medical doctors tend to avoid inserting IV lines into people unless it’s absolutely necessary (such as for medical emergencies). Air bubbles (or embolism) accidentally introduced via IV <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/186328">can be fatal</a>. </p> <p>Another major risk is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/hypervitaminosis">hypervitaminosis</a>, or consuming too high a dose of a vitamin. Unusually high stores of vitamins in fat tissue can, over time, cause problems like <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-019-0375-7">Alzheimer’s disease</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2657096/">cancer</a>, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128012383994911">kidney issues</a>, muscle spasms, pain, burning and itching. </p> <p>And any time you have an IV line inserted, it creates a direct path into your bloodstream and bypasses your skin’s defence mechanism against bacteria. This can put you at risk of <a href="https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/full/10.12968/bjon.2017.26.14.S4">dangerous systemic infection</a>.</p> <p>IV therapy also puts your wallet at risk. If you are not vitamin deficient, supplements (oral or infused) may just create very expensive urine. </p> <p>There is no regulation of IV therapy by the Therapeutic Goods Act in Australia, so ultimately you could be paying to receive sugar water, rather than the advertised formulas for “anti-ageing”. </p> <p>Many advertisers quote their patients as feeling or looking better after an infusion. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) believes there is little or no accepted evidence to support such generalised claims and they are, therefore, misleading and in breach of national laws.</p> <p>In November last year, Ahpra <a href="https://anmj.org.au/wellness-industry-put-on-notice-over-unproven-intravenous-infusion-treatments/">warned businesses</a> about making misleading health claims in relation to infusions. It is also illegal in Australia to misrepresent yourself as a medical practitioner or nurse.</p> <h2>Don’t believe the hype</h2> <p>While it sounds logical that consuming more of a good thing would be good for you, research shows this is not necessarily the case. In a healthy person, nutrient digestion and absorption are carefully regulated to release them into the bloodstream from the gut and liver. Excessive amounts of nutrients entering the bloodstream without undergoing this process may result in harm, and the long-term consequences remain unknown.</p> <p>Most of us are far better off trying to get vitamins and minerals by eating a balanced diet with a wide variety of vegetables and fruits. It’s also much easier, cheaper and safer.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/dont-listen-to-gwyneth-paltrow-ivs-are-not-a-shortcut-to-good-health-202621" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Caring

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The most useful iPhone and iPad keyboard shortcuts

<p>It’s time to give your tired thumbs a break.</p> <p>With keyboard shortcuts on iPhones and iPads, you can save time when typing messages to your family, friends and colleagues.</p> <p>Changing your keyboard’s settings is simple and quick, even for the least tech-savvy users.</p> <p>Here’s how to set up and customise text shortcuts on your iPhone and iPad keyboards – and the handiest shortcuts to try.</p> <p><strong>What are keyboard shortcuts?</strong></p> <p><span>Keyboard shortcuts are text replacement tools for the busy iPhone or iPad owner. </span></p> <p><span>Similar to how autocorrect works for spelling, a shortcut automatically replaces any brief abbreviation with a longer word or phrase as you type. </span></p> <p><span>Just customise your shortcuts in the Settings app to start using them. </span></p> <p><span>Not only does this feature speed up your texting time, but it can also save you from accidental or embarrassing typos.</span></p> <p><strong>How to create keyboard shortcuts </strong></p> <p><span>To make a new shortcut, launch the Settings app  – &gt; General  – &gt; Keyboard  – &gt; Text Replacement and choose the “+” symbol in the top right corner. </span></p> <p><span>Enter the abbreviation you’d like to use in the “Shortcut” field, and then type in the entire phrase you want it to be replaced with in the “Phrase” field. </span></p> <p><span>Tap “Save” at the top right once you’re done. </span></p> <p><span>N</span><span>ow when you type that abbreviation and tap the space bar, it will be replaced with the phrase you saved in the settings. </span></p> <p><span>Pro tip: To stop your phone from autocorrecting certain words by mistake (“lick” instead of “luck,” for example), fill in the “Phrase” field with the word and leave the “Shortcut” field blank. These 40 iPhone tricks will make your life easier, too.</span></p> <p><strong>How to edit and customise keyboard shortcuts</strong></p> <p><span>If you find yourself typing a shortcut by accident or one of your shortcuts has a typo, there’s an easy fix. </span></p> <p><span>Edit and customise any shortcut by going to the Settings app  – &gt; General  – &gt; Keyboard  – &gt; Text Replacement. Select the shortcut you want to edit, type in the new phrase, and hit “Save.”</span></p> <p><strong>How to delete keyboard shortcuts</strong></p> <p><span>No longer using a keyboard shortcut? You can get rid of it with a swipe of your finger. </span></p> <p><span>In the Settings app, hit General  – &gt; Keyboard  – &gt; Text Replacement, and swipe left on the shortcut you want to delete. </span></p> <p><span>Then tap on the “Delete” button to make the shortcut disappear. </span></p> <p><span>This trick is also good to know if pranksters ever get a hold of your phone and secretly change your shortcuts.</span></p> <p><strong>Most useful iPad and iPhone keyboard shortcuts </strong></p> <p>Thanks to text shortcuts for iPhones, you can communicate fast while out and about.</p> <p>If you are constantly running late, try the shortcut “OMW” to say “On my way,” or “FMIN” to say “I’ll be there in five minutes.”</p> <p>Personal information that you often share, like your email address, phone number, and home address, can be programmed to appear when you type EML, PHN, or ADDR, respectively.</p> <p>You can also create your own abbreviations for names or places that you frequently type or text, such as a favourite restaurant or your child’s school. Consider adding any words you often misspell or mistype, like “should” rather than “shoukd,” as well.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article first appeared in <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/true-stories-lifestyle/science-technology/the-most-useful-iphone-and-ipad-keyboard-shortcuts" target="_blank">Reader's Digest</a>. </em></p>

Technology

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“Hey Siri, I’m getting pulled over”: The iPhone shortcut that lets you record police encounters

<p>Amid worldwide protests against police brutality, an iPhone shortcut that allows people to record their encounters with authorities has gained traction.</p> <p>The shortcut, which must first be <a href="https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/cc95be30b285469ea22b7cff11ce0737">installed on the device</a>, is activated by saying: “Hey Siri, I’m getting pulled over”. It will then pause any music, dim the brightness of the phone, turn on the Do Not Disturb mode, open the device’s front camera to start a video recording, and send your location in a message to a predesignated contact.</p> <p>Once the recording stops, it will send a copy of the video to the predesignated contact and give you the option to upload the clip to iCloud Drive or Dropbox.</p> <p>The “I’m getting pulled over” shortcut was created by Robert Petersen in 2018.</p> <p>Petersen said the feature could be “a very huge help” for those experiencing “improper police interaction”.</p> <p>“I just wanted a way for anyone to have proof of their version of events in the unlikely scenario that something unexpected happens during a police interaction,” he told <em><a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/apple-siri-shortcut-ios12-lets-you-secretly-record-interactions-with-police/">CBS News</a> </em>in October 2018.</p> <p>“And if one in 10,000 people find my shortcut useful at all I’d be glad.”</p> <p>Petersen recommended <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/shortcuts/comments/9huqiw/getting_pulled_over_by_police/">putting the phone on a dashboard mount</a> when using the function.</p> <p>The feature has been brought back into the spotlight on social media amid protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.</p> <p>Taking pictures or videos of police carrying out duties in any public place is legal in <a href="https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2019/12/is-it-legal-to-film-police-officers-in-australia/">Australia</a> and <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/109993747/police-apologise-after-officer-threatens-to-ticket-filming-teenager#:~:text=Filming%20police%20carrying%20out%20duties,complaint%20was%20passed%20to%20police.">New Zealand</a>.</p> <p>Here’s how to install the shortcut on your iPhone device:</p> <ol> <li>Download the Shortcuts app.</li> <li>Open <a href="https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/cc95be30b285469ea22b7cff11ce0737">this link</a> in the Safari web browser.</li> <li>Once it opens, scroll down and select “Add Untrusted Shortcut”.</li> <li>Select a contact whom you would like to send your location and video recording to.</li> </ol>

Technology

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6 strange but effective shortcuts to get a better night’s sleep

<p>While digital detoxing and skipping your nightly caffeine can assist in drifting off, achieving uninterrupted and high-quality sleep can prove to be a challenge.</p> <p>If proper sleep is evading you, try one of these six (slightly left-of-centre) techniques, for good quality zzz-ing every night.</p> <p><strong>1. Brain dump</strong></p> <p>Quieting a busy mind can be a nightly sleep hurdle for many. “Do a brain dump,” says Dr Simone Laubscher PhD. “It means you can sweep away any thoughts or unresolved issues that are consuming you.”</p> <p>Make the habit of always having a notepad and pen by your bed, suggests Laubscher. “Open to a fresh page and draw a line down the middle, and at the top of one column write “things I can change’, and on the other ‘things I can’t change’. It is a very effective way of letting go of thoughts and problems, especially those out of our control, or impossible to resolve at 1am.”</p> <p><strong>2. Lights out</strong></p> <p>Light pollution, no matter how minimal, can make drifting off and staying asleep impossible. “I always install curtains rather than blinds in the bedroom,” says interior designer Nina Maya. “They are more effective because you can take them floor-to-ceiling so they extend the full height of the wall, and horizontally wall-to-wall. It is the best way to properly block out any light.”</p> <p>Maya suggests two layers for effective block-out. “The top layer is always a beautiful light fabric, and, beneath it, a heavy-duty backing that acts as an effective block-out,” she says. “Not only does it completely blacken the room, it makes the space appear more airy, just like a beautifully cocooned hotel bedroom.”</p> <p><strong>3. Body clock</strong></p> <p>According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the body has a 24-hour clock that tracks the body’s energy flow, allowing each organ its own time to renew and rejuvenate. “If you wake regularly during the night, take note of the time,” says Laubscher. “Waking consistently at the same time every night can be a red flag telling you that certain body organs require attention.”</p> <p>Waking between 1am–3am can be your liver waking you, between 3am-5am is usually your lungs, and between 5am–7am your large intestine. “The liver is associated with the emotions of anger, frustration and rage and the lungs are linked with grief and sadness,” she says. “Once nourished and taken proper care of, hopefully uniterrupted sleep will return.”</p> <p><strong>4. Perfect placement</strong></p> <p>Where your bed is placed in your bedroom can have a real impact on your ability to harness harmony and inner peace, says Mina Zheng, a Chinese Feng Shui master from Feng Shui Australia.</p> <p>“Your bed should always be positioned far away or diagonally from the door,” she says. “Your feet should never point directly at it. This position in Feng Shui is known as ‘coffin position’. I don’t advise it!”</p> <p>Ensure your bed backs onto a solid wall, not a window. “A wall offers better stability and keeps out the yang, like noise and light,” she says. “If your only choice is a window, seal it up with heavy plantation blinds or heavy curtains to create a solid backing for your bedhead.”</p> <p><strong>5. Sunglasses at night</strong></p> <p>Tinted sunglasses, says Laubscher, can be useful when preparing for a solid night’s sleep. “Studies have shown that different colours can have a significant impact on us psychologically, as well as physically with different colours possessing the ability to rejuvenate body organs,” she says. “Blue, for example, is often associated with peace and helps to induce sleep. For others, red, which sits at the other end of the blue spectrum, is effective. Unusual, I know, but wearing the right colour tinted sunglasses before heading to bed can have a calming effect for a restful night’s sleep.”</p> <p><strong>6. Stretch and flex</strong></p> <p>Personal trainer Ricardo Riskalla, from Rawfit, says that stretching before sleep is key to unwinding the body and achieving a better night’s sleep.  “Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) is a key method to improving sleep,” he says. “When we hold a yoga pose for a period of time, our muscles move into a relaxed state via the Golgi tendon organs (the series of muscle fibres, located in the tendons that attach muscle to bone). It is a method that was developed in the 1940s to treat neurological dysfunctions. Simply choose any yoga pose, hold for at least five minutes without moving, focus carefully on your deep breathing, then sleep deeply.”</p> <p>What are the shortcuts you use to fall asleep quickly? Share them in the comments below.</p> <p><em>Written by Elizabeth Clarke. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.domain.com.au" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Domain.com.au.</span></strong></a></em></p>

Home & Garden

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5 keyboard shortcuts that will change your life

<p><em><strong>Lisa Du is director of <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://readytechgo.com.au/" target="_blank">ReadyTechGo</a></span>, a service that helps people gain the confidence and skills to embrace modern technology. In this piece, she reveal five simple keyboard shortcuts that will change the way you use your computer.</strong></em></p> <p>I love keyboard shortcuts! Knowing keyboard shortcuts can really help you work efficiently as you can use the keyboard instead of the mouse.</p> <p>Here are five useful keyboard shortcuts that will change your life!</p> <p><strong>1. Close a tab in an internet browser</strong></p> <p>Quickly close unwanted pages/tabs in your browser</p> <p><strong>WINDOWS:</strong> Press Ctrl + W</p> <p><strong>MAC:</strong> Press Command + W</p> <p><strong>2. Reopen a closed tab in a browser</strong></p> <p>Accidentally closed a page/tab in your browser, and need to get back to where you were?</p> <p><strong>WINDOWS:</strong> Press Ctrl + Shift + T</p> <p><strong>MAC:</strong> Press Command + Shift + T</p> <p><strong>3. To delete one word at a time</strong></p> <p>Written text, and want to delete one word at a time?</p> <p><strong>WINDOWS:</strong> Press Ctrl + Backspace</p> <p><strong>MAC:</strong> Press Option + Delete</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/37369/image__498x245.jpg" alt="Image_ (326)"/></p> <p><strong>4. Select words</strong></p> <p>Need to highlight words without using your mouse or trackpad?</p> <p><strong>WINDOWS:</strong> Press Shift + Ctrl + Left or Right Arrow Keys</p> <p><strong>MAC:</strong> Press Shift + Left arrow to select one letter at a time, or Command + Shift + Left arrow to select the entire sentence</p> <p><strong>5. Bold, italicise or underline</strong></p> <p>Now that you've selected the words, you can quickly bold, italicise or underline the words</p> <p><strong>WINDOWS:</strong> Press Ctrl + B (bolding), Ctrl + I (Italicising), Ctrl + U (Underlining)</p> <p><strong>MAC:</strong> Press Command + B (bolding), Command + I (Italicising), Command + U (Underlining)</p> <p>What are your go-to keyboard shortcuts? Let us know in the comments below.</p>

Technology

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Shortcut tips all iPad users need to know

<p>If you’re feeling a little befuddled by your iPad, you’re not alone! Getting to grips with any new form of technology can be tricky but fortunately Apple make products almost as user friendly as they come. Read on for our favourite shortcuts that are guaranteed to make your iPad navigating that little bit simpler.</p> <p>NOTE: If these tips aren’t working, open your “SETTINGS” app, tap the “GENERAL” category and enable “MULTITASKING GESTURES”.</p> <p><strong>1.     Four- finger swipe right or left – Switch apps</strong><br />Switching between recently used apps is a snap on an iPad. Simply place four fingers anywhere on the screen and smoothly swipe to the left or right. Your current app will appear to slide sideways and another recently used one will appear.<br /><strong>2.     Five finger pinch – Go home</strong><br />To exit an app and return to your home screen, place five fingers on your screen and pinch them together.<br /><strong>3.     Four-finger swipe up – App switcher</strong><br />You can also open the app switcher using four fingers on your screen and swiping upwards to access recently used apps.<br /><strong>4.     Extended press on the home button – SIRI</strong><br />Press the ‘home’ button and hold it when you want to access SIRI. This allows you to easily perform voice searches or ask questions.<br /><strong>5.     Swipe down on home screen – Spotlight</strong><br />On your home screen, place your finger in amongst the icons and swipe down to open the search feature. This allows you to quickly search your device, Google and your email.<br /><strong>6.     Swipe down from top – Notification centre<br /></strong>Swipe down from the top of any screen and you’ll have immediate access to the notification centre which displays notifications of activity along with things like the weather and events from your calendar.</p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/technology/2016/01/great-tip-for-using-youtube/">YouTube tips you didn’t know</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/technology/2016/01/how-to-spot-fake-apple-products/">How to spot fake Apple products</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/technology/2016/01/microsoft-windows-turns-30-gallery/">In pictures: Microsoft’s Windows operating system through the ages</a></em></strong></span></p>

Technology

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10 computer shortcuts to save you time

<p>These keyboard shortcuts will speed up your productivity and save you time on the computer.</p> <p><strong>1. Copy text</strong></p> <p>This will copy any text that you have highlighted or selected.</p> <p>PC: CTRL + C</p> <p>Mac: Command + C</p> <p><strong>2. Paste text</strong></p> <p>This will paste the highlighted text or selected item you copied.</p> <p>PC: CTRL + V</p> <p>Mac: Command + V</p> <p><strong>3. Cut text</strong></p> <p>Unlike copying text, cutting text will mean the highlighted text or selected item will be “cut” and reappear where you paste it.</p> <p>PC: CTRL + X</p> <p>Mac: Command + X</p> <p><strong>4. Undo</strong></p> <p>Use this shortcut to undo your last action. So if you accidentally deleted a work or cut something you were meant to copy, pressing this will undo it.</p> <p>PC: CTRL + Z</p> <p>Mac: Command + Z</p> <p><strong>5. Print preview</strong></p> <p>If you want to print the current document or internet page you’re on simply press this. It will open the print window.</p> <p>PC: CTRL + P</p> <p>Mac: Command + P</p> <p><strong>6. Select everything</strong></p> <p>This will highlight everything in a folder or document to be quickly deleted or to be copied over.</p> <p>PC: CTRL + A</p> <p>Mac: Command + A</p> <p><strong>7. Switch between programs</strong></p> <p>To quickly switch between open programs on your computer (for example, between a web browser and a word document), simply press this:</p> <p>PC: CTRL + Tab or Alt Tab</p> <p>Mac: Command + Tab</p> <p><strong>8. Go directly to the start or end of document</strong></p> <p>This will take you straight to the top or bottom of a document or web page.</p> <p>PC: CTRL + Home (to move cursor to the beginning) and CTRL + End (to move to the end of document.)</p> <p>Mac: Command + upwards arrow (to move to the top) and Command + downwards arrow (to move to the bottom.)</p> <p><strong>9. Show desktop</strong></p> <p>If you have lots of programs and windows open on your computer and you want to quickly access your desktop, use this shortcut.</p> <p>PC: Windows key + D</p> <p>Mac: F11 </p> <p><strong>10. Take a screenshot</strong></p> <p>Capture what’s on your screen with this shortcut.</p> <p>PC: Print Screen button</p> <p>Mac: Command + Shift + 3</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/technology/2015/12/top-tips-and-tricks-for-using-skype/">Top tips and tricks for using Skype</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/technology/2015/12/google-write-emails-for-you/">Google can now write email replies for you</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/technology/2015/12/ways-to-make-facebook-safer/">4 tips to make your Facebook safer</a></em></strong></span></p>

Technology

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Ingenious tips and tricks for using your tablet

<p>Get more from your tablet with the following tips, tricks and shortcuts.</p> <p><strong>1. Create folders</strong></p> <p>This is a good idea for those who have loads of apps on multiple pages – it allows you to organise, group and categorise your apps. To create a folder, tap and hold onto the app until it starts to shake. Next, drag it on top of another app and release. The tablet will create a folder containing those apps. To add more apps to the folder, simply drag apps into the folder (if it doesn’t work, hold down your app again until it shakes. This indicates it can be moved.) You can rename the folders to your liking as well.</p> <p><strong>2. Multi-touch gestures</strong></p> <p>The sensitive touchscreen of tablets makes it fun to swipe, tap and zoom (pinch in our out with thumb and fingers). But once you’ve mastered those, there are many more shortcuts to learn.</p> <p>For iPad only, go to Settings &gt; General &gt; Multi-tasking gesture. <br /> Now you can add these to your repertoire:</p> <ul> <li>Place four fingers on the screen and swipe upwards to reveal the multitasking bar. Swipe down to close it again.</li> <li>Swipe left or right with four fingers to switch between apps.</li> <li>Pinch four fingers together to close the running app and return to the homescreen.</li> </ul> <p><strong>3. (Grand)parental controls</strong></p> <p>We’re guessing your grandkids love spending hours playing on your tablet. While there are some great apps for kids, there’s also plenty of reasons you might want to enable the parental controls.</p> <p>For iPads only, head to Settings &gt; General &gt; Restrictions menu. There you can choose which apps you want to restrict your grandkids from. Once set, the Restrictions settings are pin-protected so only you can change them.</p> <p><strong>4. Copy and paste text</strong></p> <p>See something you like and want to share it? To copy text double tap (or tap and hold) on the area you would like to copy. A highlighted word will appear with “anchors”. Adjust the anchors to the portion you’d like to copy. Tap Copy and move to the app where you want to paste the text. Double tap the screen until a pop-up menu appears. Click Paste.</p> <p><strong>5. Find something specific</strong></p> <p>Rather than wading through all your apps, music, movies, contacts or text when you’re looking for something specific, just search for it.</p> <p>For iPad only, access the Spotlight Search by swiping down on the screen when you’re on the homescreen (not in an app). Just be careful not to swipe down from the very top of the screen as that will bring up the Notification Centre rather than Spotlight Search. Type in what you’re looking for and it will bring up all relevant searches.</p> <p><strong>6. Lock screen orientation </strong></p> <p>Tablet screens continually rotating between portrait and landscape can be annoying when you don’t need it too! Luckily, locking it to one view is easy.</p> <p>For iPad, go to Settings &gt; General &gt; Lock rotation</p> <p>For Android tablet, go to Setting &gt; Device &gt; Display &gt; Uncheck “Auto-rotate screen” </p>

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