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Shutdown/Restart/Log Off desktop shortcuts
If you are one of the users who like to use shortcuts, you might want to give these a try. Today we are going to show you how to create desktop shortcuts to Shutdown, Restart and Log Off your computer quickly.
Steps to create a Shutdown shortcut:
First, we are going to show you how to create the Shutdown shortcut. Once you have this one, you can create the others using the same steps. The only difference would be the command (step 3) and name (step 4) you use. Let’s begin.
- Right-click on an empty area on your desktop.
- Select New > Shortcut
- Once you see the Create Shortcut window, go to Type the location of the item line and type Shutdown -s -t 00
Note: Make sure you type the command exactly as shown, including the spaces. Otherwise, it won’t work. You can also copy and paste it.
- Click Next. Name your shortcut Shutdown, and click Finish.
- You should see a shortcut like this on your desktop.
Steps to create a Restart shortcut:
Follow the same steps listed above with the following changes:
- On Step 3, use the command Shutdown -r -t 00
- On Step 4, name your shortcut Restart
Steps to create a Log Off shortcut:
Follow the same steps listed above with the following changes:
- On Step 3, use the command Shutdown.exe -L
- On Step 4, name your shortcut Log Off
Note: If you want to make your new shortcuts stand out more, you could change the icon image. To do so, follow the steps listed below.
Steps to change a shortcut’s icon:
- Right-click the shortcut you just created, and select Properties.
- Click on Change Icon
- Select the icon image you want to use, and click OK
- Our Shutdown shortcut now looks like this.
- Repeat the process for every shortcut created.
The Tesla Model 3 is Ready to Reserve!
The Tesla Model 3’s Price, Features, etc.
Starting at 35K before incentives, per the Tesla site, the Model 3 is aimed at the middle class. It can go from 0 to 60 in 5.1 seconds and has a 220-310 mile range. It also comes standard with a 15″ touchscreen which includes maps and navigation.
While you can reserve your Model 3 today, that doesn’t mean you will get it in a week, like you would the Model S. In fact, according to the Tesla site, you will need to wait a full 12-18 months as the company begins to climb the production ladder to be able to mass produce the Model 3.
The most common reservation I tend to hear about any Tesla is the fact that you have to charge it. I don’t really see why anyone sees that as a negative thing. You don’t have to take a trip to the gas station! 220-310 mile range? You probably don’t have to charge it that often (maybe once a week), and if you do, that’s ok. All models come with adapters that plug into any wall outlet at home. It can give your Tesla 52 miles of charge per hour.
What I see in the Tesla industry is a huge push towards progress and the future of transportation. I see many doubtful skeptics criticizing the technology of the electrically powered vehicle… but that’s almost a part of the progress. I’m sure the same thing happened when steam power gave way to gasoline and petroleum. Sure there will always be improvements to be made and all, but you have to start somewhere, right? Usually, your first draft isn’t perfect (unless you’re me, writing this blog, haha), but I can’t find a way to improve Tesla’s vehicles, which have undergone extensive engineering testing and design considerations.
To learn more (and possibly reserve your own Model 3), please visit Tesla’s site.
Disable/Enable startup items in Windows 10
Is your computer taking a long time to start? If so, you may need to clean some of your startup items. Startup items are applications or programs that run automatically every time you log on to your computer. Once they initialize, they usually stay running on your system for as long as it’s on. The more startup items you have, the more time it takes for your system to complete the startup process.
Startup Application Manager
Windows 10 offers a startup application manager that’s relatively easy to understand and use. It shows you which applications are running automatically as well as system impact of each item. To use this feature, do the following:
- Right-click the Taskbar and click Task Manager, or press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open it.
- Make sure you are using the More details version of the Task Manager.
- Click the Startup tab. You will see the list of the applications that are set to run every time Windows starts.
Tip: Look at the Startup impact column to see how much the application affects your system’s startup speed. Focus on the ones with a Medium to High impact.
- Right-click the application you want to disable/enable, then click Disable or Enable.
Note: Although following these steps can help startup time, it is important to note that disabling applications can have consequences. For example, if you disable your Google Drive, your computer won’t be able to automatically sync your files. Hence, you should do a little research before disabling any applications. To make this process easier, right-click the application and select Search Online to get more information.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) : Where are we Headed?
Intellectuals Have Differing Opinions on the Future of AI
Just today, Mark Zuckerberg slammed Elon Musk’s “irresponsible” views on AI. It seems that they disagree on how dangerous automated systems may become in the future.
Per Zuckerberg : “I have pretty strong opinions on this. I am optimistic. I think you can build things and the world gets better. But with AI especially, I am really optimistic, and I think people who are naysayers and try to drum up these doomsday scenarios — I just, I don’t understand it. It’s really negative and in some ways, I actually think it is pretty irresponsible.”
There seem to be differing camps here. On one hand, PwC’s report states that the general populace think AI will solve “large-scale issues” in medicine and society, and in the other camp, we have someone like Sam Harris lecturing that an intelligence explosion could ultimately destroy us.
Stewart Russell seems to be of the latter camp, and he may have a way to combat this phenomenon.
Bill Gates says: “First the machines will do a lot of jobs for us and not be super intelligent. That should be positive if we manage it well. A few decades after that though, the intelligence is strong enough to be a concern. I agree with Elon Musk and some others on this and don’t understand why some people are not concerned.”
Physicist Stephen Hawking states, “The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.”
Are Elon Musk’s, Bill Gates’, or Stephen Hawking’s views unwarranted? Are they merely spouting uninformed projections?
What do YOU think will happen when AI becomes super-intelligent? Leave your comments below!
End non-responding applications with the Task Manager
It happens to all of us at some point. You are working on the computer, and suddenly the application stops responding. You try to close, minimize, move, and nothing happens. It’s just frozen! What do you do then? Well, at that point, Windows might present you with two choices. You can either wait a little bit longer and see if the application responds again or you can choose to terminate the application at that time. However, there at times in which this won’t work either. At that point, you have no choice left but to use the Task Manager to end or terminate the non-responding application.
In this situation, do the following:
- Right-click the Taskbar and click Task Manager
Note: For this example we are using the More details version of the Task Manager. Just click More details on the bottom left corner to expand the window.
- Look in the list for the application that is not responding. Once you find it, right-click it and choose End Task.
If for any reason you can’t terminate the application with the above steps. Try this:
- Right-click the application again, but this time, click on Go to details
- Right-click the highlighted application, and click End process tree
Keep in mind that ending an application with the Task Manager may result in you losing your work unless you continuously save it as you go.
Tip: If your desktop is unresponsive as well and you can’t right-click the Taskbar, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete on your keyboard and select Task Manager or Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open it directly.