Question 17: How to check your EPF balance in 6 easy steps?

Solution: 

Do you know the total accumulated balance in your employees provident fund (EPF)? In case you want to know the balance and are unable to do so, it is an easy process if you have been allotted an Universal Account Number (UAN) by the EPFO.

In case you do not have your 12-digit UAN, you can get it activated through your employer to know the summary of PF deducted through EPFO portal. All employees need to have only one UAN during their entire working life irrespective of the number of companies they change. It is a universal account number (UAN) which enables in linking of multiple EPF accounts of a member.

To check your EPFO account and access your provident fund passbook online, you need to follow these simple steps:

Step 1

Employees need to login the member portal by visiting the EPFO website (unifiedportalmem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface/). You need to enter your 12 digit Activated UAN number and the password to view your account details. If you have not activated your UAN, you can do it by clicking on the tab below. Once you have entered the right credentials, it takes four days to activate your UAN.

Step 2

Once you have entered into the portal, you can find all kind of online services that are available on the EPFO website. From there you can track your queries related to claim status, transferring request, which is required in case your current employer has created another UAN number to track your PF account.

Step 3

You can see various tabs present on the dark green ribbon above. Clicking on the ‘view’ tab will take you to visit your profile, service history, UAN card and your passbook address. This passbook address is a separate website link where you can view your PF account.

Step 4

To view your PF passbook, you need to visit epfindia.gov.in website. This is a different website where you can view various other details related to EPFO. You need to go to the ‘our service’ tab and under our service tab, you need to click on the ‘for employees’ link. To view the EPF contributions done by your employer every month you need to then click on the ‘member passbook’ link.

Step 5

Once you click on the member passbook link, you will be sent to a different tab, where you need to again enter your activated UAN and same EPFO passwords which you used for the EPFO member login portal.

 Step 6

Once you have entered your credentials, you can visit your EPF passbook and view your PF contribution made by the company.

 

Question 16: Pin World Click Tile to Start Screen in Windows 10.

Solution:

Click Start, click Alarms & Clock.

Click World Clock and click the (+) glyph icon at the bottom



Type in the city name and select one from the auto-suggested list of entries that appear as you type.

This shows the day and time for the city you added. Right-click on the city and click Pin to Start. Click Yes when prompted for confirmation.





A live tile is now added to the Windows 10 Start screen that shows the day/time for that city. You can add as many cities as you’d like.

Question 15: Pin Recent Files to the Windows 10 Start Screen.

Solution:

Pinning “Recent Files” to the Windows 10 Start screen can help you get to the recent files list quickly, and can be a productivity booster. To do that, you don’t need registry tweaks this time.
Open File Explorer and navigate to the following folder by typing the path in Address bar:

%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows

Alternately, type shell:recent in the Run dialog (WinKey + R), and then go back one level up, to the parent directory.

For the complete list of shell: command shortcuts to access special / shell folders in Windows, check out post Shell Commands to Access the Special Folders in Windows.

Right-click Recent items, and click Pin to Start

Unfortunately, adding Recent files or Recent documents as a cascading menu (as in the Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 Start menu) isn’t possible without using a 3rd party Start menu replacement utility.

Quick access (Home View) is another area where you can view the recent files list.



The Quick access / Home View shows only the recently opened files, whereas the “Recent” shell folder lists recently accessed files, folders, drives, and even your recent searches. The Quick Access “Recent files” view is only a subset of the Recent items special folder.

Question 14: How to Add a Written Signature to Google Docs?

Solution:

Using the Built-in Drawing Tools

This is a good option if you have a drawing tablet or a touchscreen. It’s also quite usable if you only have a mouse but may not look as good as a regular signature would.
To use the drawing tools for a signature, go into the Google document you want to insert a signature into. Click “Insert” at the top of the document, then click “Drawing…”

This opens a drawing canvas which is a handy tool for when you want to draw a picture for your document. You can add lines, arrows, shapes, text, and even import an image into the tool for editing. For the time being, however, we’re just going to use the “Scribble” tool to write our signature.
Find the Line tool, then click the downward-pointing arrow button to its right. In the menu that appears, click “Scribble.”

This allows you to draw lines onto the canvas in freeform, meaning you can scribble whatever you like onto it, like your signature!
If you have a drawing tablet or a touchscreen, you’ll be able to draw a pretty like-for-like signature onto the canvas. When you draw your first line, a series of tools appear at the top right.

These allow you to set thickness, colour, and consistency of the line you just drew, as well as the lines you draw after it. You can tell which line you drew last because Google highlights it in blue.
Once done, click “Save & Close” at the top. It’ll insert the image into your document.

Using an Add-on

If drawing using Google’s tools doesn’t produce the results you want, you can try an add-on instead. Just click “Add-ons” while in a document, then “Get add-ons …” to search for Google Doc extensions to help you write your signature.

Once an add-on is installed, click “Add-ons” again, then select the add-on you want to use.
While you’re free to experiment to search and use the add-on that suits you best, there are a few particularly good examples. The add-on called “Dotted: Signature Creator” is a nice tool that adds a pen effect to your signatures. You can use it as many times as you like, and the results are often visually pleasing.

At the same time, the add-on “HelloSign” is also great and produces a pleasing signature by using only a mouse. Once you’ve written the signature once, HelloSign then saves it so you can insert it into different documents without having to repeat the signature each time. However, they only give you three free signature insertions per month before you have to buy their premium package and unlock infinite uses.

Inserting an Image

If computerised drawing isn’t doing it for you, perhaps going back to paper is the solution. Of course, we’ll need to get that paper signature into a digital space so you can use it in your document. Ideally, this will be done with a scanner, so if you have one on hand, you’re ready to go.
The easiest way to do this is to sign a piece of blank white paper or get a letter with your signature on it. Use the scanner to scan it in, then crop the image so that only the signature remains. Import it into Google Docs by clicking “Insert,” then “Image…” and importing your signature.

You could also save the document, print it, sign it on paper, then scan the whole thing and use that instead. However, you might notice a drop in the quality of the text after the printing and scanning process.

Question 13: How to Embed a Document in a WordPress Post?

Solution:

1. First, install the plugin by navigating to “Plugins -> Add New” and enter “Embed any Document” as your search query. Install and activate the “Embed Any Document” plugin.

2. Upon activation, go to “Settings -> Embed Any Document” to configure the plugin’s settings. You can customize the width and height of the embed on your site and choose whether to show a download link for everyone, logged in users only or no download link at all.

3. Once satisfied, you can test the plugin by creating a new post: “Posts -> Add New.”

4. Click the “Add Document” button which should be somewhere beside “Add Media.”


5. A popup should appear on your screen. In the free version you have the option to upload a document or add it from a URL. If you want to embed a document stored in Google Drive, Dropbox, or Box, you’ll have to purchase the pro version to unlock those features. A possible workaround is to grab the document from your cloud storage and upload it using the “Upload document” option.

6. Once you have selected the document to upload, you will be given the opportunity to control some options before inserting the document. Click the “Insert” button to add the document shortcode to your post.

7. Finally, save the post and preview it to see how the embedded document looks on your website.

KB 2: Best Screen Recorder Software.

Have you ever wondered how those YouTube tutorials are made wherein they show you how to do something on your computer? Many people think that these videos are made by placing a camera in front of the computer screen. But that is not true. For making such computer tutorials, all you need is a screen recording software.

Screenshot capturing and screen recording is not only popular, but has become a necessity for professional and personal use. Whether it is product training or classroom training or professional blogging, you need a screen-recording tool to capture the processes efficiently and professionally before making it available to the end users. Most built-in screen capture tools bundled with the OS have limited features, so finding a good free or paid third party tool becomes a necessity. This article will list some of the best screen recorder software. We will include both free and paid tools in this list. These tools will help you create professional looking screen recorded videos.

1. Camtasia Studio – The Best Screen Recorder
2. CamStudio
3. ActivePresenter
4. Snagit
5. Icecream Screen Recorder

1. With Camtasia Studio, you can record your screens and then turn those recordings into professional looking videos with ease. After video editing and tweaking, you can directly share your videos with YouTube, Google Drive, and screencast.com. Having used Camtasia for years, it definitely tops my list of best screen recorders. With Camtasia, you can set the program to record either the screen or a PowerPoint presentation. The clear and perfect recording provides you with an excellent framework to add your final professional touches.

2. CamStudio is an open-source Screencasting program for Microsoft Windows released as free software. It is a tool to create quick demos and screencasts on your computer in AVI and, if required, convert them into Flash format. Main features include options to highlight the cursor path during a recording session, automatic panning, and recording with sound. You can also annotate and append videos with comments, and add a time stamp or watermark and capture screenshots.

Overall, CamStudio is a great free screen recording tool that helps you take advantage of open source software to produce instructional videos and screen captures for your professional and personal needs.

3. ActivePresenter is a free screen recording tool to create manuals, e-learning materials, presentations, screencasts, and demonstrations for training, education, business presentations, customer support, and similar applications. It is compatible with SCORM and supports a number of file types. ActivePresenter's free version supports all the common features that we expect in a good screen recorder software. The Standard and Pro editions include features like export capability, definable events, and MS-Office compatibility. It also includes user documentation in PDF format. For a free version, ActivePresenter has enough options and settings to meet your requirements. It is worth a try.

4. Snagit is another great tool from Techsmith. I have used Snagit also for many years — and according to my experience it deserves a rating at the fourth spot for its amazing capabilities. For a price of $49.95, it is definitely worth a try. You can also download the full trial version for 15 days.  With Snagit, you can easily create custom images and videos for demos, feedback, and reviews etc. These videos can be enhanced with various effects. Audio can be included in your videos from either a microphone or your computer's system audio. Snagit allows you to toggle between webcam and screen recording during a video. I found the tool intuitive and never required support. The videos created, are shareable  with Snagit's wide range of outputs.

5. Icecream Screen Recorder is a screen recording software that records any on-screen activity and saves it as a video file or screenshot. You can record the screen to create video tutorials, record both audio and microphone, capture webcam, record games or streaming videos, schedule screen recording, take screenshots of a selected area. It supports zooming in and out and you can save the videos in MP4, MKV and WebM formats. Icecream Screen Recorder also includes customization tools for your specific needs.

KB 1: Tim Berners-Lee wins AM Turing Award 2016.

Berners-Lee who invented the World Wide Web is this year’s recipient of the A.M. Turing Award, computing’s version of the Nobel Prize. He is 61. The award, announced by the Association for Computing Machinery, marks another pinnacle for the British native, who has already been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and named as one of the 100 most important people of the 20th Century by Time magazine. The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the organization that awards the $1 million prize, announced the Turing Award winner earlier this week. 

The computer science rockstar has picked up more than a dozen major prizes and honorific titles over the years; for instance, he's earned a place in the Internet Hall of Fame and has been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. That invention not only transformed the world in unimaginable ways but was also a technically and conceptually challenging feat, ACM noted.  Berners-Lee invented the unique system for locating data on the web (such as the now-ubiquitous URLs that help users navigate to a specific page).  

Question 12: How to Connect Your PC to a TV?

Want to show off your latest vacation photos, play video games or browse the web on a huge screen? How about accessing all of the “smart” features of the latest and greatest TVs without spending money on a new TV? You could buy one of the many media streaming boxes that have flooded the market in recent years. But what if you could use something that is more powerful and has less limitations? What if I told you you’ve probably have one already? Connecting a PC to a TV is easy, and there are a ton of good reasons to do so.

Advantages

Traditional PCs have a number of advantages over the little streaming boxes people normally plug into their TVs. While they may not have the sleek interfaces that the streaming boxes have, they more than make up for it in functionality.

• Use any service – Unfortunately, some streaming services are only available for certain platforms. For example, iTunes content can only be accessed on an Apple TV. A PC connected to your TV can circumvent these limitations by accessing services via web browsers and desktop apps.
• Play video games – Sure, your Roku can play some popular mobile games. A Chromecast can mirror Angry Birds from your phone. What about the games that require the sort of horsepower only your PC can provide? Connect your PC to your TV for a big-screen PC-gaming experience.
• File compatibility – Media boxes often only support certain video files types. Download a player like VLC that can handle virtually any file format thrown at it onto your PC and connect it to your TV.
• Do anything – Imagine everything you do with your computer. Now imagine doing all that on your big-screen TV.

Ready to connect your PC to your TV? Read on to find out how to do it.

Connect via HDMI

Hands down the easiest way to connect your PC to your HDTV is via an HDMI cable. HDMI carries both video and audio at the same time, eliminating the need for more than one cable. In addition to less wire clutter, HDMI supports 1080p resolution, otherwise known as high definition, allowing you to take full advantage of your TV. Connecting your PC to your TV with an HDMI cable is easy. Simply run the cable from the HDMI output port on your PC to a free HDMI input on your TV, and you’re in business.

Connect via VGA + 3.5mm Audio

HDMI support is common on most modern computers, but if you’re stuck using older hardware, there’s a good chance HDMI is nowhere to be found. Don’t fret, you’ll still be able to connect your PC to your TV, although you’ll need to use two cables instead of just one. Before you get started (or buy the cables), check to make sure that both your PC and your TV have a VGA port. They look like trapezoids with fifteen little holes in them. VGA ports are most commonly blue, but they can be black or grey in color. On your TV, a VGA port is sometimes labelled as “PC In.” If you have VGA ports on your TV and computer, you’re ready to roll.

Run a VGA cable from your PC to your TV and you’re halfway there. Since VGA can only transmit the video, you’re going to need a 3.5mm audio cable to handle the audio. Plug one end of the audio cable into your computer’s headphone jack and the other end into the audio-in jack of your TV.

How to Display Your PC’s Screen on Your TV

Whether you are using an HDMI cable or a VGA cable in conjunction with a 3.5mm audio cable, the following steps will walk you through how to get your PC on your TV.

1. Connect the HDMI cable or the VGA/3.5mm cable to your PC and your TV.
2. Switch on your PC and your TV.
3. Select the input (HDMI/VGA) that corresponds to your PC through your TV’s AV menu.
4. Your PC’s screen should now be displayed on your TV.

Most modern operating systems will be able to detect your TV as a display and automatically adjust the display settings to whatever is best for your TV. However, sometimes things can look a bit off. To tweak the display settings manually, head to the “Control Panel” for Windows, “System Preferences” for Mac, or “Display Settings” for Linux.

Note: There are other ways of connecting your PC to your TV, such as connecting with component cables or through USB. However these methods often require expensive adapters or additional software to work properly. If you can, stick to the above methods as the cables are cheap, there is little to no configuration, and the end result is the same. You should also be aware that connecting a Macbook via VGA or HDMI can require a relatively inexpensive display adapter.

Connecting Wirelessly

It’s a fact that everyone hates wires. Surely there has to be some way that users can connect their PCs to their TVs without wires. While it is possible, there are some significant limitations that go along with this method. There are four main players in the wireless PC-to-TV space: AirPlay, Miracast, WiDi and Chromecast.

• AirPlay is Apple’s wireless display standard. With an Apple TV hooked up to your TV, you can mirror the display of an iPad, Mac or iPhone. The good news is that it works very well. The downside is that you have to invest wholeheartedly into Apple’s ecosystem. AirPlay does work on non-Apple machines that have iTunes, but only to stream iTunes content.
• Miracast was hailed as a universal standard for wirelessly mirroring a display on a TV. To do so, one only needs a Miracast-supported device connected to their TV and an Android device or Windows PC. However, support for the protocol is spotty, and the results are a bit hit or miss.
• WiDi is Intel’s effort to compete with Apple’s AirPlay. The idea behind it is essentially the same; however, it was never embraced by users or manufacturers. WiDi has pretty much disappeared.
• Google’s Chromecast is an inexpensive way to “cast” content from your PC or smartphone to your TV. It has the ability to mirror your entire desktop and is quite stable. Be aware that the Chromecast’s stability and performance relies on the strength of the WiFi network it is operating on.