ImOn Insider

With the new year upon us, you might be dusting off that old scale and forcing yourself to go to the gym before the sun’s up. But wellness is more than just dropping some weight (although that can help) and it can look different for everyone. Wellness can be a way of taking control of our lives and making conscious decisions about how we want to live. Of course, this is much easier said than done, so we’ve compiled a list of apps that can make your wellness journey smoother and easier.

Long gone are the days of having to look up information in an encyclopedia or going to the library to research something. Now we simply ‘Google it’. Google is one of the most used search engines in the world, performing more than three billion searches a day. In a fraction of a second, Google can give you links to hundreds of millions of websites for answers to all of your questions. But did you know there are tricks you can use to help Google narrow down your search to help you find your answer faster? Here are just a few tips to help make your searching more efficient.

• Use the tabs.
  Across the top of every search page, there are tabs labeled Web, Images, Videos, News, Shopping, etc. While many people already use these search tabs, it is an easy way to help define what kind of search you want to do. You can use the Image tab to search for just image files, or the News tab to look for recent news articles. While these tabs are meant to give you more general search results, they can help reduce your search time.
  
• Use quotation marks to find the exact wording.
  When you are trying to search for something specific, try using quotation marks around the phrase you are searching for. By putting your search parameters inside quotation marks, it tells Google to only look for the words you entered in the exact order you entered them. This helps Google know exactly what you are looking for and narrows down your search results for a better match.
  
  
• Use a minus sign to remove words from a search.
  To help narrow down your search results, use the minus sign to tell Google to omit certain words from your search. This trick comes in very handy when you are searching for a word that may have a double meaning or when you are getting a lot of search results that aren’t of interest to you. Simply add the “-" symbol in front of the word(s) you don't want your search results to include. For example, if you search “ Mustang,” Google will give you results for both the Mustang car and the Mustang horse. But you only want results for the Mustang car. Instead, use the minus sign and search for “Mustang – horse." This tells Google to search for mustangs but to remove any results that have the word horse in them. This tip can save you lots of time when doing searches.
  
  
• Use “OR” to combine similar searches.
  By using “OR” between two different search words or phrases allows Google some flexibility in its search. The “OR” means Google will search and show results for one term or the other, or both. This usually comes in handy when you are searching for two similar words or subjects. An example might be searching for “chocolate” OR “White Chocolate”.
  
  
• Use the asterisk wildcard.
  Use an asterisk in your search when you are searching for quotes, titles, expressions, or song lyrics and you are unsure of the exact/entire phrase. Google uses the asterisk as a placeholder for an unknown or variable word. It will then search for all variations of that phrase. It is kind of like a wild card!
  
  
• Use “DEFINE:” to learn the meaning of words.
  Forget the dictionary, Google can also provide definitions for words, including slang words. Just type in “DEFINE:” and a word, and Google will give you the definition, pronunciation, and more.

While these are all tricks to help make your Google searches more efficient, there are also some fun things you can do with Google. It has a host of built-in games, including Pac-Man, tic tac toe, Solitaire, Minesweeper, and Snake. There are also tools like a calculator, metronome, breathing exercises, and more. What can’t Google do?

Your home is your family’s safe space. Knowing what to look for when it comes to alarms, cameras, and security systems for your home can give you piece of mind and make your family even safer.

Looking for ways to improve your home’s security? Let’s review some of the choices you have when it comes to affordable and reliable residential Wi-Fi security systems, as well as information on how/where to report any suspicious activity in your neighborhood.

Most Wi-Fi security systems recommend an internet speed of 1-2mbps for each camera unit. By choosing ImOn’s high speed Internet for your home you’ll be certain to have high quality streaming camera footage and security alerts whether you’re at home, work, on the road, or even if you finally decide to take that vacation you’ve been planning for years. ImOn also offers no data caps, so your security camera surveillance footage will never stop alerting you to potential threats due to data usage.

You’ve likely finished up and returned home after your long-planned summer vacation, and the last thing you want to do is lose the relaxed and refreshed feeling you brought back with you. Back-to-school time seems to creep up on parents and students each year and staying on top of shopping and preparing can make it a smooth transition for everyone.

As we all learned last year, there’s no predicting how the school year will look until COVID-19 is a thing of the past. The majority of classroom learning this year is planned to be in-person and on-campus, but it’s important to stay prepared for remote learning as well.

The Season of Outdoor Living and Landscaping is Upon Us

The bags of mulch are getting opened, decks are being stained, outdoor lights are getting strung up, no more frost covered lawns to greet us in the morning (fingers-crossed anyway). The season of outdoor living is finally here. Chances are your landscaping and lawncare to-do lists probably look a bit more extensive this spring due to the natural disaster our community suffered last fall. ImOn’s list sure does.

A slow Internet connection can be frustrating – videos buffer, downloads take forever, and websites do not load. Most of the time, the blame is put on your Internet connection and Internet service provider for the issues. But there are a lot of things that could be affecting your Internet speed, like the website you’re visiting, the device you are using, or your Wi-Fi connection. So, if you are experiencing a slower than normal Internet connection, the first step is to do an Internet speed test. Here are a few tips to help ensure you get the most accurate speed readings possible from your Internet speed test.

Over the last decade, the Internet has really changed the way we live, socialize, and stay informed. Nowadays, there are two ways you can access the Internet. The first is by using an Ethernet cable to connect your device directly to your modem. This wired connection offers a reliable performance with faster speeds and more security. However, being tethered to one spot is not always convenient. That’s why most people use a router to connect to the Internet wirelessly.

Chances are your routines have changed up quite a bit during the various stages of the pandemic this past year. One thing that hasn’t changed is our need to eat good food. COVID-19 protocols have limited us from getting a table at our favorite local hot spots, and “business lunch,” “celebratory dinner” or “date night” certainly have taken on a new look. Luckily ImOn’s high-speed Internet has the same reliability to keep you connected to your favorite local restaurants.  

It’s no surprise that overheating can affect and damage your smartphones, tablets, and laptops. But, did you know that the dropping temperatures outside can take a toll on them as well? All smartphones, tablets, and laptops have been designed to work within safe temperature ranges. Below is a chart showing some of these safe ranges.

It felt like most of us spent 2020 just trying to get through the year. Well, we made it and now we are ready to make the most of 2021! Below are a few apps to help you tackle those New Year’s resolutions.