Tag: apps

I’m annoyed with Windows Phone Link

Carl Setzer
Microsoft vs Google

Ok, on the whole, I like Phone Link. Being able to send texts from my computer, with my keyboard, is something I deeply appreciate. I used to use a tool called MightyText, but then Microsoft launched Phone Link, and it’s hard to beat free. But Phone Link has a glaring weakness, one that’s been getting on my nerves the past few weeks.

Somehow, I got on the Republicans’ spam list. I assume one of their tactics is to annoy folks like me. Which, I guess, means they’re successful. I’m annoyed. They’re averaging about 10-15 texts per day! Now, my phone’s spam filters are working pretty darn well, and somewhere around 90% of spam messages are caught. On My Phone! For some daft reason, Microsoft opted for ALL messages on the phone to be synced. Why did they think that syncing spam messages was a good idea? Ugh!

Rubbing salt in the wound, as I was researching if there was any way to fix this (some setting I’d missed, perhaps?), I found several complaints about this issue…going back to 2023! So, it’s been a known issue, but not a priority to fix? Sigh…

Google opted to win this battle. I discovered that Google has their own app, Google Messages for Web. Google was able to build their app so that spam caught by their filters stays filtered. Huzzah! So, this pleases me greatly. Now if Google’s app let me delete these messages from the computer, it would be perfect. Oh well…

I’m lobbying for spammers to be deported. Not likely, in this case. But one can hope.

Some Key Tools I Recommend

Carl Setzer

I’ve been pretty successful at my coursework, and I attribute that to a few key tools. Here are the 4 I use every day, and would deeply struggle without.

  1. Evernote: this is my note tool, and so much more. I add articles I’ve read, reading notes, lecture notes, and I can scan handwritten notes which are able to be searched (for the most part). It is also my journal and where I brainstorm/mindmap for projects and other workflows.
  2. Todoist: Organizes my task list. Since I have more on my plate than just school, I use Todoist to input everything I need to get done. I have mine synchronized to my Google calendar, so I can have it all in one view. Assigning times to tasks is really important for me so that they become done.
  3. Acrobat Reader, Adobe Creative Cloud Student Edition: I use various Creative Cloud apps regularly including Photoshop, InDesign, and PremierPro. I also work some in Illustrator. Reader, though, is the thing I use the most. I mark up articles, presentations, and the like. I expect I would find a cheaper alternative if all I was doing was work in Reader, but as I use the whole suite, it’s a handy product.
  4. Grammarly: I love this grammar and spelling checker. It has upped my game as a writer, which is rather important in this student thing.
  5. Quizlet: I use this to create flashcards. Great for reviewing content before a quiz, or to review content for any reason. It’s also nice that I have this on my phone and iPad. Makes reviewing while I’m out and about (which isn’t very much right now) easy. Or if I want to chill out on the couch.

Anyway, those are the main tools I’m using right now. I find these critical to my current life. What digital tools are part of your daily work? Whether you’re a student or not, I’m curious to know.

About the featured image: Photo by Andrew Neel from Pexels