We have all accidently closed down a tab in Google Chrome browser at some stage, this can be very frustrating.

Well using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+T, Chrome will open the last tab that was closed on a Windows system. Likewise, command+Shift+T reopens to the last tab on a Mac system.

Also you can right-click on the window frame above the toolbar and select Reopen closed tab.

By now you will see that Google has deployed a new compose window.

While for you some, this is an improvement others will see this as inconvenient popping up at the bottom of the page so I thought I would share my knowledge on a few tricks that might help you.

Firstly, while holding “Shift” when you press the compose button will open your new compose message in a new window, this can also be accomplished by pressing Shift + c (as long as you have keyboard shortcuts enabled, at the end of this post will be instructions to turn these on), or alternatively press d

If you’re a keyboard fanatic then here are some more shortcuts to bypass the mouse in a compose window :

Send message : Ctrl + Enter or Mac: ⌘ + Enter
Add Cc recipients : Ctrl + Shift + c or Mac: ⌘ + Shift + c
Add Bcc recipients :  Ctrl + Shift + ⌘ + Shift + b
Change “from” address : Ctrl + Shift + ⌘ + Shift + f

Instructions to enable keyboard shortcuts in Gmail :

1. Click the gear icon in the upper right, then select Settings.
2. Find the “Keyboard shortcuts” section and select Keyboard shortcuts on.
3. Click Save Changes at the bottom of the page.

Not many of us like thinking about death — especially our own. But making plans for what happens after you’re gone is really important for the people you leave behind. Google have come to the party and are launching a new feature that makes it easy to tell Google what you want done with your digital assets when you die or can no longer use your account.

The feature is called Inactive Account Manager — not a great name, we know — and you’ll find it on your Google Account settings page. You can tell Google what to do with your Gmail messages and data from several other Google services if your account becomes inactive for any reason.

For example, you can choose to have your data deleted — after three, six, nine or 12 months of inactivity. Or you can select trusted contacts to receive data from some or all of the following services: +1s; Blogger; Contacts and Circles; Drive; Gmail; Google+ Profiles, Pages and Streams; Picasa Web Albums; Google Voice and YouTube. Before Google’s systems take any action, they will first warn you by sending a text message to your cellphone and email to the secondary address you’ve provided.

Google hope that this new feature will enable you to plan your digital afterlife — in a way that protects your privacy and security — and make life easier for your loved ones after you’re gone.

This will only be released for Gmail customers and not Google Apps Customers.

McDonalds-IT thought it’s blog readers would be interested to learn that they figured in the Top 10 of a recent survey carried out by IDC.

This is great news for McDonalds-IT and lets hope 2013 will be just as successful.

If you have a iPhone 3GS or later or even an iPad with a sim card, then you can create what Apple calls a wireless Personal Hotspot.

This will enable you to connect other wireless devices e.g. laptop, to your iOS device to share your Internet (cellular data).

To enable this feature follow these simple steps or contact McDonalds-IT for assistance:

1. Tap Settings > General > Mobile Data:

Scroll down and tap Personal Hotspot, and turn it on.

Note: the Name of your wifi will be the name of your iOS device

After configuring Personal Hotspot, you will be able to access the settings directly from Settings > Personal Hotspot

To connect devices

On the other device, navigate to the wifi connection settings and from the Wifi list select your iOS device name, enter the wifi password listed on your iOS device. Once connected your iOS device will have a blue status bar with the number of connected users.

To change Password

You can change your password by tapping Settings > Personal Hotspot or Settings > General > Mobile Data > Personal Hotspot and then tapping the Wi-Fi password.

In case you missed it on stuff here’s a great article on storing data in the Cloud.

If the term “cloud computing” makes about as much sense to you as “cumulonimbus” (for the record, a cloud type associated with thunderstorms), you’re not alone.

Many Americans believe “the cloud” is weather-related, or something to do with pillows, heaven, drugs, outer space and toilet paper, according to a survey of more than 1000 consumers there last year by market research firm Wakefield Research.

Cloud computing, also referred to as “the cloud”, is when you access programs rather than having them stored in and running from your computer. With cloud computing the programs and your data can be stored on servers located anywhere in the world.

The cloud computing trend accelerated with the spread of broadband and the growth in connected mobile devices such as smartphones, netbooks and tablet computers – which are not designed to store oodles of data and run resource-hungry programs, but simply access them over the web.

Many of us use cloud services without even realising it. The Wakefield Research survey found 95 per cent of consumers were using cloud services, even though a third said the cloud was “a thing of the future”.

Commonly used cloud services include online banking, web-based email services such as Hotmail and Gmail, Facebook, Apple’s iCloud service and online storage services such as Dropbox and Microsoft’s SkyDrive.

PROS

❏ You don’t have to store chunky, memory-hungry programs on your computer and device.

❏ Many cloud services let you store more data or files – such as photos , documents and videos – over the web than your home devices have capacity for.

❏ You can access your programs and data from any web-connected device regardless of where you are – on your own computer at home or in a cyber-cafe in Geneva.

❏ Some cloud services allow you to easily share documents, photos and videos with family, colleagues and friends by giving you the option to make these files public or accessible online through a password.

❏ You won’t lose data stored on cloud services should something happen to your computer.

CONS

❏ You need an internet connection to access cloud services – not always easy if you’re out and about – and using the services will eat into your monthly home/mobile data allowance.

❏ Because your data is sent over the internet, stored on remote servers, and not on your hard drive, and often accessed with passwords – which can be hacked – security for your photos, documents and other data is taken out of your hands. This does not necessarily mean your data is unsafe and many cloud service providers take steps to keep it secure, such as encrypting data when it is sent over the internet and when it is stored on servers.

Keeping safe in the cloud:

❏ It’s a good idea to check out a cloud service’s security policy before signing up and do a quick Google to see if there have been any security issues.

❏ If you’re accessing your cloud service through a web-based app – this is commonly the case – such as an online banking site then look out for “https” in the browser bar (before the URL) when you’re on the site. This basically means that the site is using a more secure form of communication for your data than just “http”.

❏ If you’re using a password to access your cloud service, try and change it regularly and make it as difficult as you can – try not to use words found in the dictionary, but random collections of letters, symbols and numbers.

❏ If you’re worried about security, don’t store highly sensitive data in the cloud. Instead investigate other options including storing it on an external hard drive that you keep secure in your home.

The full article is here