On Computers

BlueDriver works to diagnose car engine problems

The engine warning light went on in our 14-year-old minivan, and the dealer said we should add some goop to the gas and that might make the light go off. We're giving you the short take.

Somewhere deep in there, the automatic sensors in the van's computer didn't like the engine exhaust, or the carburetor setting or something like that. This incited Bob to a fit of high dudgeon (which is common for him) because back in the old days when he drove a 1962 Morgan, he could tune the engine himself. Everything was accessible to the owner back then, but now you need a computer analysis.

Well, we have one. It turns out that every car made since 1996 has a socket under the dash for plugging in a device that will shake hands with the auto mechanic's computer. Who knew? It's called an OBD (On Board Diagnostics) port. So we got this $100 gizmo that's about the size of half a pack of cigarettes -- which is something people used to have back when they could tune their own car.

It's called BlueDriver, and it works with an app on your smartphone. When users plug it in, it connects with the app and provides all sorts of information about a vehicle's engine, including whether it can pass a smog check. However, using it can be a kind of intelligence test because the diagnostic port isn't in the same location in every car. Good luck. We finally located ours under the steering wheel.

Some of the info it gives you is the kind only a car mechanic or auto enthusiast would understand. However, if a user is dogged, the online BlueDriver Repair Database does offer more than 4.5 million fixes for problems listed in the detailed reports. More info at BlueDriver.net.

Speeding up a Slow Computer

Bob's XP computer was so slow that Joy tried to talk him into restoring it back to its factory settings. Bob wouldn't do it.

Because to do that means you're clearing the hard drive. All of a user's files and programs will be gone. Did you back up the files before you reset it to factory specs? No? Too bad. Do you still have the disks to reinstall the old programs? Who does?

Faced with the prospect of living forever slow or committing digital suicide, Bob took drastic measures: He uninstalled Google Chrome and Malwarebytes. Both of these seem to have become too demanding for old computers. Then, he switched to using Firefox as his Web browser and everything is running fast again. Joy tried Firefox, too, and also found it clean and fast.

A couple weeks later, we read that PC Magazine named Firefox as the best browser for the Internet. Of course, they were reviewing the latest version, the one Joy installed on her machine. Because Bob has an older operating system, he searched for and got an older version of Firefox to go with it. Pairing Web browsers and operating systems is just like fashion, you should have matching outfits. You should also select matching accessories.

Portable Guitar

JamStik looks like half a guitar. OK, maybe a quarter. Actually, it looks like a fat fret stem, the part where you put you fingers down to shorten the strings. It costs $299 and works with your iPad, iPhone or Mac.

The sound is interesting but not like a real guitar. Still, that's OK since many electronic instruments have their own sound and sometimes we like it that way.

Users hold the JamStik like they would a regular guitar and strum actual strings. Apple must be pretty confident it will sell, because the company is offering it in 71 of its retail stores. It can also be purchased at JamStik.com. It uses infrared transmitters to sense where your fingers are and includes Jam Tutor, for interactive lessons. The JamStik can also be used to control software, such as Apple's GarageBand. The best part is you never have to tune it.

Saving The Last Word

Sometimes, the last version of a Word document you've just saved doesn't read as well as the one you saved earlier. How do you get the old one back?

Later versions of Microsoft Word, such as Word 2010, back up multiple versions. Just right-click the file in Windows Explorer and choose "Properties." But if, like us, you have an older version of Word, you may be up a creek.

Joy saves everything to Microsoft's OneDrive, which is one of the choices in Windows 8. (You can also download OneDrive for free as an offline app in Windows 7 or XP, as well as on the Mac.) A few minutes after you close the document, it uploads automatically to OneDrive, as long as you're connected to the Internet.

Recently, we accidentally saved a document using the same name as one that was better. We still had the later document open, so for a moment, the earlier, better one seemed to be lost. But logging onto OneDrive, we were able to get it back.

Internuts

• Ranker.com/comics lets readers vote on their favorite comic book characters, plots and movies or create their own list of favorites. When we looked, the illustrated list of Spider-Man's girlfriends was No. 1. We also viewed the votes on best comic book heroes. (Batman beats Spider-Man.) The illustrations are great.

• Search on "The History of the World in 18 Minutes" to find a talk by David Christian. It's been viewed more than 4 million times. We got interested after reading that Bill Gates listened to Christian, an Australian professor, and was so inspired that he started funding Christian's high school programs.

• TellSpecopedia.com is one of those websites with a hard to remember name that usually spells doom. But if you go there, you'll find info on a thousand common food ingredients. Click on an ingredient, like propylene glycol, Vitamin H or chicory root fiber, and find the benefits or harms. This is an exhaustive site.

Bob and Joy can be contacted by email at [email protected] and [email protected].

SundayMonday Business on 09/22/2014

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