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How to organize all of your tabs on Chrome and other browsers

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You know the feeling. You’ve spent the last few hours digging into some research project, Wikipedia binge or Reddit rabbit hole, and now you’re drowning in a sea of tabs. Your computer slows to a crawl, and you’re at a loss on how to get things back in order. Fortunately, there are some not-so-obvious features built into your web browser that can help you out. If you often struggle to keep your web surfing in check, we’ve rounded up a few helpful tips on how to organize your tabs across Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox, including suggestions for built-in tools and time-saving extensions.

How to organize tabs in Chrome

A screenshot of the tab groups feature in Google Chrome.A screenshot of the tab groups feature in Google Chrome.

Google Chrome lets you organize and label tabs in groups. (Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget)

Google Chrome is by far the most popular web browser in the world, but some of its built-in tab management tools may not be immediately apparent. One trick is to use “tab groups,” which lets you cluster multiple tabs into groups that you can label and color-code. This makes it easier to distinguish between different topics and compartmentalize; clicking a group’s label will collapse or expand all tabs within.

You can create a group or add tabs to an existing group by right-clicking on the one you want to move, selecting “Add tab to (new) group,” then choosing where you want the tab to go. Alternatively, you can just click and drag a tab in or out of a group to add or remove it. All of this still works if you’ve selected multiple tabs simultaneously, which you can do by holding Ctrl on Windows or Cmd on macOS as you click.

If you right-click on a tab group’s label, you can change the name and color, ungroup all the tabs within it, close the group entirely or move it into a new window. (You can do the last of those just by dragging the group label out of its current window, too.) There’s also a “Save group” toggle, which lets you save a tab group and sync it across devices, where it’ll be accessible from your bookmarks bar. After turning this on, you can hit “Hide Group” to remove it from view without losing the tabs completely. If you don’t need a particular set of tabs right now, this can be a handy way to reduce clutter. If you close a group accidentally, note that you can restore it from Chrome’s three-dot menu, hovering over History, finding the group’s name and clicking “Restore group.”

With or without groups, you can quickly search through all of your open tabs by using the “Search tabs” button. This is the downward-facing arrow in the top left or right corner of your window. You can also pull this up by hitting Ctrl + Shift + A on Windows, or Cmd + Shift + A on macOS. This will show you a tidy vertical list of all your open tabs, plus a handful that you’ve recently closed. You can close them directly from here as well, and the menu will break out any open ones that are currently playing audio or video. You can also search through your open tabs directly from Chrome’s address bar: Just type “@tabs”, then hit the spacebar or Tab to initiate it.

The tab search function in Google Chrome.The tab search function in Google Chrome.

Clicking this icon in your Google Chrome window will let you quickly search through your open tabs. (Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget)

If you like to order your tabs by putting them in distinct windows, you can give each a custom name for better organization. If you have a bunch of work-related material in one window, for instance, you could call it “Work”. To do this, pull up the window you want to name, right-click the empty space next to the new tab (or “+”) icon and select “Name window.”

From that same menu, you can also select “Bookmark all tabs” to bookmark all of your open tabs and put them in a particular folder. Hitting Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + D will bring you to this same function.

Tab management isn’t as big of a hindrance on smartphones, where you might only look at one webpage at a time. But we’ll note that Chrome lets you create tab groups on Android by tapping the square “Switch tabs” button, then holding and dragging a particular tab over to whatever other tab you want to group it with.

That feature isn’t available on iPhones and iPads, but you can still search through open windows by hitting the same Switch tabs button, then selecting the Search icon in the top left corner. You can also pin and bookmark tabs from the Switch tabs menu after pressing and holding an open tab. For bookmarking multiple tabs, press Edit, then Select Tabs, check off the tabs you want to bookmark, then hit Add To… > Add to Bookmarks.

How to organize tabs in Edge

The vertical tabs mode in the Microsoft Edge web browser.The vertical tabs mode in the Microsoft Edge web browser.

Clicking this icon in Microsoft Edge will let you view your tabs in a vertical list. (Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget)

Microsoft Edge is built on the same codebase as Chrome, so its tab management features are similar to those found in Google’s browser. It, too, has a grouping feature, which works similarly: Just right-click on one or more tabs and select “Add tab(s) to (new) group.” As with Chrome, you can give each group a custom name and color, and you can quickly collapse or expand the tabs within each group by clicking its label.

Also like Chrome, hitting Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + A will pull up a search menu, which lists your current and recently closed tabs and distinguishes any media-playing tabs. You can still use the “@tabs” shortcut mentioned above — just hit the Tab key after typing it into the address bar — and assign custom names to windows as well.

Another way to access some of Edge’s tab-related tools is through the dedicated “tab actions” icon in the top left corner. To make this visible, click on Edge’s three-dot menu button, then go to Settings > Appearance > Customize toolbar, then activate the “Show tab actions menu” toggle. Here, you can find a search menu, a list of recently closed tabs and a list of Edge tabs you have open on other devices. You can also use an “Organize tabs” feature that automatically sorts your tabs into groups using AI. We’ve found the latter to work fairly well — though it’s not immune to hiccups, so you’ll still need to manually move a tab or rename a group every so often. Chrome has a similar AI auto-sorting tool, but it’s only available as an “experimental” feature as of this writing.

One set of results from using the One set of results from using the

Microsoft Edge can use AI to group your tabs automatically, though the results won’t always be perfect. (As evidenced by “Engadget Editor” Mark Zuckerberg.) (Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget)

The tab actions menu also lets you turn on Edge’s “vertical tabs” mode. This moves your tabs from their usual spot above the address bar to the left side of the window. This view won’t be everyone’s favorite, but the wider space can make it easier to identify which tabs you have open. If you prefer to keep the tab actions button hidden, you can swap between the standard and vertical tabs views on Windows by pressing Ctrl + Shift + , (Comma).

Like other browsers, Edge also lets you save tabs as bookmarks (or “favorites”). But we’ll also give a quick mention to the browser’s “Collections” tool, which you can access by pressing Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + Y or hitting the icon in the top right corner that looks like two squares and a plus sign. This is more of a native web clipper than a full tab manager, but if you want to stash web pages alongside images, text notes and the like, you can hit “+ Add current page” within a given Collection to add your current tab to it. On macOS, you can also right-click a tab to add all open pages to a Collection at once.

How to organize tabs in Safari

The tab grouping feature built into Apple's Safari browser.The tab grouping feature built into Apple's Safari browser.

You can click this icon to quickly create a tab group in Safari. (Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget)

Like Chrome and Edge, Apple’s Safari browser lets you organize tabs into distinct groups. There are a few ways to set this up. For one, you can click the downward-facing arrow in the top left of the Toolbar. From here, click New Empty Tab Group, or select New Tab Group with # Tabs to put all the open tabs in your window into their own group. (The “#” will just be whatever number of tabs you have open.) You’ll be prompted to give each group a custom name. You can find these same options under the File menu or by right-clicking any open tab.

You can click the Show Sidebar button in the top left corner to view, rename, delete and rearrange your groups as needed. You can also access this by going to View > Show Sidebar or pressing Cmd + Shift + L as well. If you right-click a group’s name in the Sidebar and select Copy Links, you’ll make a neatly formatted list of all the links in that group, which you can paste into a doc or text chat. Clicking the icon at the top of the Sidebar that looks like two overlapping squares with a plus symbol will create a new tab group as well.

To add a tab to a group, right-click the tab, select Move to Tab Group, then choose where it should go. With the Sidebar open, you can also drag a tab into a group directly. To quickly swap between groups with the Sidebar closed, click on your current group’s name in the top left corner, then select the group you want from the resulting dropdown menu. These tab collections will sync across multiple Apple devices if they’re connected to the same iCloud account.

The Sidebar can work somewhat like the vertical tabs view that’s available in Edge. If you hover over “# Tabs” at the top of the Sidebar or the name of any tab group below that, you’ll see a rightward-facing arrow. Click it, and you’ll see a vertical list of all the tabs nested within. You can access similar views for your bookmarks or Reading List at the bottom of the Sidebar. However, using this won’t hide the horizontal tab bar like it does in Edge.

A list of tab groups viewed in Apple's Safari browser.A list of tab groups viewed in Apple's Safari browser.

You can quickly swap between your tab groups in Safari by clicking the sidebar icon. (Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget)

You can select multiple tabs at once by holding the Cmd button, then dragging them out to a new window or group as needed. You can also reorganize all your current tabs by their page title or website; just right-click one of them (or go to the Window menu), then hover over Arrange Tabs By.

To more comfortably see what tabs you have open, click the Tab Overview icon. This is the symbol in the top right corner that looks like two overlapping squares. It presents all of your tabs in a grid as large thumbnails, generally making it easier to find a particular page. You can also get to this page by selecting View > Show Tab Overview, pressing Cmd + Shift + \, or by right-clicking on a tab group in the Sidebar and selecting the appropriate option.

In the top right corner of this Tab Overview screen is a search bar. This function is also available on iPhones and iPads. Unfortunately, this search is limited to just the tabs in your current group, not those in separate groups or windows. Typing a keyword in the address bar will usually suggest a few corresponding tabs you have open, too, but this isn’t comprehensive.

For sites you plan to revisit regularly, you can bookmark a tab by hitting Cmd + D, or going to Bookmarks > Add Bookmark. To bookmark multiple open tabs, select Bookmarks > Add Bookmarks for # Open Tabs.

The search tool built into the tab overview page in Safari.The search tool built into the tab overview page in Safari.

You can search through your open tabs in Safari from the tab overview screen. (Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget)

You can also use Safari’s profiles feature to break up tab congestion. This lets you separate your browsing into discrete spaces, each with their own browsing history, cookies, tab groups, bookmarks and the like. You could make a dedicated “job” profile, for instance, to prevent your work-related tabs from getting mixed up in your personal browsing. In this context, it’s like a more hardcore alternative to tab groups.

To create a new profile, select Safari > Create Profile… > Start Using Profile, type in the name you want, then select a corresponding symbol and color. Any prior browsing data will then be listed in a default profile called “Personal.” To add another profile, go to Safari > Manage Profiles, then hit the + button in the resulting menu. You can delete profiles from this same spot: Just select the one you want to trash and hit the – button. Switching between profiles is a bit cumbersome, but you can open a window under a new profile by clicking File or your current profile name in the top left corner, then selecting “New Window”. To go between two active windows that are tied to separate profiles, do as you usually would: Right-click the Safari icon in the Dock and pick the appropriate option.

Many of the tips above are applicable to Safari for iPhone and iPad. To create a tab group on an iPhone, hit the Tab Overview button, touch and hold a page, then choose Move to Tab Group. Alternatively, just long-press the address bar while viewing a web page. On iPhone, you can sideways-scroll through your tab groups through the Tab Overview as well. On iPad, you can add all of your open tabs to a group by tapping the downward-facing arrow at the top right of this same screen, then selecting one of the “New Tab Group” options at the bottom of the resulting menu.

How to organize tabs in Firefox

The tab search view in Mozilla Firefox.The tab search view in Mozilla Firefox.

Like other browsers, Firefox lets you quickly search through your open tabs. (Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget)

Mozilla Firefox’s native tab management tools aren’t quite as robust as those in Chrome, Edge or Safari. There are many extensions you can add to close the gap — we’ve noted a few below — but by default, there’s no grouping feature, custom window naming or vertical tabs mode.

You can still see a tidy list of each window’s tabs, however, by clicking the “List all tabs” button, which is the downward-facing arrow in the top right corner. Above that list you can also access a tab search function. If that’s too cumbersome, typing a relevant keyword in the address bar will display any corresponding open tabs at the bottom of the dropdown list that pops up. Alternatively, you can put a % symbol before or after a keyword search in the address bar to limit your search to just your currently active tabs.

As with most browsers, Firefox lets you pin tabs, create bookmarks, close several pages at once and drag multiple tabs into new windows simultaneously. To put all your current tabs into a bookmark folder, right-click on any tab, choose “Select All Tabs,” right-click again and choose “Bookmark Tabs.”

To open all bookmarked tabs in a folder, go to your bookmarks menu or bookmarks toolbar, right-click, then select “Open All Bookmarks.” If you want to search for a specific bookmark, put a * symbol before or after a keyword query in the address bar to limit a search to solely your bookmarks.

For a little extra organization, note that Firefox also lets you assign custom tags to your bookmarks. You can add these in the menu that pops up whenever you click the star icon for a specific web page, or by clicking Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + O to bring up your full bookmarks library then adding tags as needed. You can also get to the latter by hitting the three-line menu button on the right side, then selecting Bookmarks > Manage Bookmarks.

The Firefox View tab in Mozilla's Firefox browser.The Firefox View tab in Mozilla's Firefox browser.

The Firefox View tab displays recently closed pages in addition to tabs you may have active on other devices. (Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget)

After setting this up, you can look for a bookmark just by typing out a tag in the address bar. You can also make it so a search in the address bar only pulls from bookmarks you’ve tagged by adding a + symbol.

You can see a clean-looking list of open and recently closed tabs on the Firefox View page. To access this, just click the icon pinned in the top left corner of your browser window. It’s still possible to reopen your last closed tab with the usual Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + T shortcut as well.

Finally, we’ll also make note of Firefox’s “Containers” feature. This is similar to Safari’s profiles, though it’s aimed more at privacy than reducing tab clutter. The idea is to separate your browser cookies between distinct clusters of tabs, so you can log into multiple accounts for one website in the same window or prevent a site from seeing any information about tabs outside of its specific container. Using containers distinguishes your tabs by different color codes, though, which gives it a modicum of organizational value.

You’ll need to install this as an extension on macOS, but once it’s set, you can add one or more tabs to a container by right-clicking it, selecting “Open in New Container Tab,” then choosing the container you want. There are four presets by default; to create a new container, click the three-line menu button and select Settings. Then, look for the Tabs submenu, click the “Settings…” button next to “Enable Container Tabs,” click “Add New Container,” then choose the name, color and icon you want.

Third-party tab extensions

A screenshot of the browser extension OneTab.A screenshot of the browser extension OneTab.

The browser extension OneTab quickly collapses your open tabs, sorts them into an orderly list and makes them easily shareable. (Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget)

All of these built-in browser tools should make navigating tab hell a little more manageable, but if you’re still not quite getting what you need, there are tons of third-party extensions and add-ons that can help. Perhaps the most popular is OneTab, which is available for Firefox, Chrome, Edge and Safari. This adds a little icon by your address bar that, when pressed, quickly collapses all open, non-pinned tabs in your window into an orderly list of links on a separate page. From there, you can then open and delete pages individually or all at once, drag them into different groups of links you’ve previously saved with OneTab or turn a list of links into one shareable URL. There are other add-ons along these lines, but OneTab is clean, fast and dead simple to use. Plus, it can help make your browser a bit less of a memory hog.

Tab Session Manager for Firefox, Chrome and Edge works similarly. It saves all of your open tabs at once, regardless of whether they’re in different windows. It doesn’t close your tabs — instead, they’re displayed as a vertical list in a dropdown menu. You can add tags to specific clusters of tabs, sync “sessions” between devices and search for tabs right from its menu. You can also access tabs from windows you’ve closed.

Firefox particularly benefits from tab managing add-ons. Tree Style Tab, for instance, adds a detailed vertical tabs view, while Window Titler lets you add custom tags to windows. And while Simple Tab Groups may not be quite as intuitive as the grouping tools built into Chrome, Edge or Safari, it’s still a decent way to get that sort of functionality in Firefox.

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How to clean and organize your PC

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Your PC is likely one of the most crucial pieces of technology in your home, so it behooves you to keep it in good condition. A little bit of proper maintenance every now and then can help you get the most from your computer, not only today, but years down the road. But where to start? Here, we share some quick tips for taking care of your PC. While it’s impossible to cover this topic from every viewpoint, you can think of our guide as an introduction that can help you decide where to begin. Whether you’re looking to physically clean your desktop or digitally declutter Windows, here’s some advice to get you started.

How to clean your computer and peripherals

Back to School cleaning products

Will Lipman Photography for Engadget

Windows PCs, especially desktops, come in various shapes and sizes, but the tips we’re about to go through here will help you clean your computer whether you bought it prebuilt or put together yourself. If you own a laptop, look at our Mac organization guide. All the steps we detail there will work just as well for a Windows portable.

Before cleaning the inside of your computer, start with your display and peripherals. At this stage, all you’ll need is some distilled water in a spray bottle and a microfiber cloth. You can buy the former at a grocery store or make it yourself. And if you don’t already own any microfiber cloths, Amazon sells affordable 24-packs you can get for less than $15. Once you have those in hand, spray the water onto a clean cloth and wipe down your computer’s display before moving to the mouse and keyboard. You want to start with your screen to avoid transferring dirt and residue to the panel.

Once you’re done with those, turn off your PC and unplug everything that’s connected to it. You’ll also want to switch off the power supply unit (PSU) by flipping the toggle on its outside to the “O” position. Next, push down the power button and hold it down for about 30 seconds to discharge the capacitors. To protect your computer against static electricity, we highly recommend buying an anti-static wrist strap.

If at all possible, do most of the steps we’re about to describe outside. The last thing you want to do is go through the trouble of cleaning your computer and then let it pull in all that dust again.

Back to School cleaning products

Will Lipman Photography for Engadget

Once you’ve moved your computer, start by removing the side panels. Most modern cases allow you to do this without any tools, but you’ll need at least one screwdriver for most of the work we’ll detail in a moment. When it comes to most screws inside your computer, a 4-inch Phillips screwdriver should be all you need. Some components, such as your GPU, may include Torx screws and the like, but don’t worry about those for now since we won’t be taking them apart. If you don’t already own a decent set of screwdrivers and have something of a DIY streak in you, a driver kit from iFixit is your best bet. The 16, 32 and 64-bit kits it sells are an excellent starting point, and they’ll come in handy with more than just your computer.

If your PC has any dust filters, remove those now and give them a rinse at the sink before setting them aside to dry. Depending on how long your computer has been collecting dust, you may want to remove some components such as the GPU to make it easier to clean everything.

If that’s something you feel comfortable doing and it’s your first time removing any of the internals, use your phone to take photos of the interior. The images will help you put all the parts in their original place at the end. That’s important to do since there’s an optimal way to install many of the components in your computer. For instance, you always want to install your GPU in the fastest available PCIe lane. When it comes to removing any PCI cards, first unscrew its mounting bracket and then push the corresponding release on your motherboard before pulling the card out.

Back to School cleaning products

Will Lipman Photography for Engadget

Whether you decide to keep all your computer’s internals in place or not, you’ll need something to blow all that dust away. A can of compressed air is one option, but I like to use a Giottos Rocket Blower. It was designed for cleaning camera sensors and won’t damage any of your components. It’s also a one-time purchase.

Whatever you have at hand, use it to blow away the dust that’s been building up on your computer’s internal components, fans and grills. Pay special attention to the heatsinks attached to your PC’s CPU, GPU, chipset and voltage regulators. They will likely have most of the hardest to remove dust in your system thanks to their tight fin stacks. What’s more, especially bad buildup can make them ineffective at cooling those components, which will, in turn, affect their performance.

When cleaning any exposed PCB, use an antistatic brush (like this one from Amazon) instead of a microfiber cloth. You’ll avoid damaging any of the sensitive components on the board. You can go over any non-electronic part with a dampened microfiber cloth.

At this point, all you need to do is put everything back in its place. As one final tip, if there’s any way you can avoid leaving your desktop on the floor, you’ll end up spending less time cleaning it since it won’t be near all the dust and dander that collects there. If your desk setup or living space makes that not an option, a PC tower stand is a cheap but effective way to elevate your computer off the ground and help it pull in less debris.

How to organize your PC’s storage drives

A screenshot of Windows 11's built-in security and task manager tools in a desktop environment.

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If it’s been a while since you’ve done an audit of all the software you have installed on your computer, the best place to start is in the Task Manager. It’s here you can see how much of its resources your computer is devoting to specific processes. Since everyone will have different software installed on their PC, it’s hard to offer blanket recommendations, but using the Task Manager you can get a sense of the apps that may be slowing down your computer. For most people, there will be two main culprits: bloatware and antivirus software.

If you bought your PC from a system integrator like Dell, it will almost certainly include software your computer doesn’t need to operate. You can safely uninstall unused, preloaded apps to improve performance and save on space.

This next tip may be contentious for some: I believe as long as you avoid clicking on sketchy links and stay away from the dark corners of the internet, the Microsoft Defender tool built into the Windows Security app is all you need to protect your computer from the majority of malware that’s out there. While there are good antivirus programs like Bitdefender and Malwarebytes, the majority cost far too much for what they offer and will only slow down your computer. If you don’t feel comfortable uninstalling your antivirus software, then by all means, leave it on your computer.

While you’re in the task manager, you’ll also want to click on the “Startup apps” tab to see what programs your computer is launching when you power it on. You can speed up that process simply by limiting that list to as few apps as possible. As for the actual process of deleting any software you don’t need, always uninstall programs from the Control Panel as this will leave the fewest leftovers when everything is said and done. If you’ve used Windows for a while, you’ll have errant files all over the place. It’s possible to cull those manually, but doing so can be time-consuming. Thankfully, Windows’ built-in Disk Cleanup will help you wrangle those with ease.

If you have older mechanical drives installed in your computer, it’s good to get into the habit of defragging them regularly. First, launch the built-in Defragment and Optimize Drives app and click the “Optimize” button. Depending on the size of your hard drive, this process may take a while. Don’t defrag your SSDs, as you’ll only shorten their lifespan for little to no performance improvement.

How to organize your apps, tabs and other windows

The tab search menu for the Google Chrome web browser, populated with several open tabs, is displayed at a close-up angle on an laptop display.

Jeff Dunn / Engadget

Say what you will about Windows 11 (or 10), but the fact is it comes with some of the best window management tools built right into an operating system. You don’t need to download any additional software to organize your desktop, but there are some settings you can tweak to get even more out of its signature Snap functionality.

As you may already know, you can press the Windows and Tab keys at the same time to bring up the Task View pane. It’s here that you can add additional virtual desktops. If you’re not already using virtual desktops, they’re great for organizing your active windows so that you don’t have to constantly rearrange them when you’re trying to find a specific one. You can quickly press the Windows key, Ctrl and either the left or right arrow keys to move between desktops. But to make things even simpler, head to the Settings app and into the Multitasking section of the System menu. Under the “Desktops” heading, switch both settings to “On all desktops.” You can now use the Alt-Tab shortcut or taskbar to switch to any app on any desktop.

When it comes to wrangling your tabs, a lot of that will depend on the browser you use. We have a comprehensive guide to tab organization if you want to deep-dive into the tools available with the most popular options. But as a basic starting point, all the major players include a feature that allows you to pin tabs. I use this to keep the websites I visit most frequently throughout a workday (in my case, Gmail, Trello and Google Drive) open at all times and at the top of my tab bar. In that way, those tabs never get lost among the countless other websites I might have open for a story I’m writing. What’s more, in the case of Brave, the browser I use, I can use a handful of keyboard shortcuts to jump to those tabs quickly.

In closing, we want to highlight just how much customization Windows offers you when it comes to the organization of your computer. As just one example, you can right-click on items located on the taskbar and start menu to put the apps and shortcuts you use most frequently within easy reach. However, if you want to really dig into all the options Windows offers on that front, websites like Windows Central have detailed how-tos that are an excellent starting point.

Jeff Dunn contributed to this report.

This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.

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How to clean and organize your Mac

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The longer you use anything — your Mac included — the more cluttered it gets. One solution is to simply upgrade to a new machine, but the more economical (and environmentally-friendly) move is to make what you have work better. To help your computer feel like new, or at least cleaner and less chaotic, we put together this guide with techniques and useful apps that have helped us maintain a more civilized computer. From a physical cleaning to a hard drive spruce-up and tab management ideas, here’s how to clean and organize your Mac.

How to clean your Mac’s screen and body

While there are a lot of products you can buy that are specially made to help you with cleaning your computer, I’ve found the simplest approach works best — and it’s the one Apple recommends. To start, all you’ll need is some water in a spray bottle and a clean microfiber cloth. You can use either regular or distilled water. The advantage of the latter is that it’s far less likely to leave any residue on your Mac, particularly on the display. You can buy distilled water at a grocery store or make it yourself with some simple cookware. Either way, it’s more affordable than dedicated cleaning solutions and more versatile. If you don’t already own any microfiber cloths, Amazon sells affordable 24-packs you can get for about $14.

Two other products I’ve found that can make the job easier are Whoosh screen cleaner and a Giottos Rocket Blower. I can’t say enough good things about the latter. It will save you from buying expensive and wasteful cans of compressed air.

As for the process of cleaning your Mac, the most important tip to remember is to start with a clean cloth (that’s part of the reason we recommend buying them in bulk). You’ll save yourself time and frustration this way. Begin by turning off your computer and unplugging it. If you went out and bought a Rocket Blower, use it now to remove any dust. If not, take a dry microfiber cloth and go over your computer. Take special care around the keys, particularly if you own a Mac with a butterfly keyboard.

Next, dampen one side of your cleaning cloth with either water or Whoosh. Never spray any liquid directly on your computer. You’ll have more control this way and you’ll avoid getting any moisture into your Mac’s internals. I always clean the display first since the last thing I want to do is create more work for myself by transferring dirt from some other part of my computer to the screen. The last step is to buff and polish your computer with the dry side of the cloth. Be gentle here as you don’t want to scratch the screen or any other part of That’s it. Your Mac should be looking clean again.

How to organize your hard drive

Igor Bonifacic / Engadget

One of the hardest parts of cleaning your Mac’s hard drive is knowing where to start. After all, most of us have apps on our computers we don’t even remember installing in the first place. Thankfully, macOS comes with a tool to help you with that exact issue.

Navigate to System Settings > General > Storage. Here you’ll find a tool that separates your storage into broad categories like Applications, Documents, Music, Photos and so on. Double click on an item in the list, such as Applications, to see the last time you used a program, as well as how much space it’s taking up. You can delete the apps from the same window.

The section dedicated to applications is particularly helpful since you can see the last time you used a program, as well as if it’s no longer supported by the operating system or if it’s outdated thanks to a more recent release.

AppCleaner

Igor Bonifacic / Engadget

You don’t need me to tell you to uninstall programs you don’t use, but what you might not know is that there’s a better way to erase them than simply dragging them to the trash can. A free program called AppCleaner will help you track down any files and folders that would get left behind if you were just to delete an application.

After deleting any apps you don’t need, move to the Documents section. The name is somewhat misleading here since you’ll find more than just text files and excel spreadsheets. Documents, in this case, turns out to be the tool’s catch-all term for a variety of files, including ones that take up a large amount of space. You can also safely delete any DMGs (disc image files with the extension .dmg) for which you’ve installed the related app. The other sections in the storage space are self-explanatory. The only other thing I’ll mention is if you’ve been using an iPhone for a while, there’s a good chance you’ll have old iOS backups stored on your computer. You can safely delete those too.

CleanMyMac X

Igor Bonifacic / Engadget

By this point, your hard drive should be in pretty good shape. If you want to take some additional steps to clean it, there are dedicated apps that can help. I like one called CleanMyMac X. It goes for $40 per year, and will save you the time and trouble of doing everything I mentioned above (and then some) on your own. It also doubles as a malware removal tool.

Tips and tricks for keeping a neat Desktop and Finder

Bartender

Igor Bonifacic

Let’s start with the menu bar. It may not technically be part of the desktop, but a tidy one can go a long way toward making everything else look less cluttered. My recommendation here is to download a $16 app called Bartender. At first glance, it’s a simple program allowing you to hide unwanted menu bar items behind a three dots icon. However, the strength of Bartender is that you get a lot of customization options. For example, you can set a trigger that will automatically move the battery status icon out from hiding when your computer isn’t connected to a power outlet.

While we’re on the subject of the menu bar, take a second to navigate to System Settings > General > Login Items and look at all the apps that launch when you boot up your system. You can speed up your system by paring down this list to only the programs you use frequently.

When it comes to the desktop itself, the best advice is less is more. Nothing will make your computer look like a cluttered mess more than a busy desktop. Folders and stacks can help, but, for most people, I suspect part of the problem is they use their desktop as a way to quickly and easily find files that are important to them.

If you’ve ever struggled to find a specific file or folder on your computer, try using your Mac’s tagging capabilities instead. Start by opening the Finder Settings menu (“command” + “,”) and click the “Tags” tab. You can use the default ones provided by macOS or make your own. Either way, drag the ones you think you’ll use most often to the favorites areas at the bottom of the preferences window. This will make it so that they’re easily accessible when you want to use them. To append a tag to a file or folder, click on it while holding the ctrl key and select the one you want from the dropdown menu. You can also tag a file while working on it within an app. Keep in mind you can apply multiple tags to a single file or folder. You can even apply them to applications.

macOS tagging

Igor Bonifacic / Engadget

What makes tags so useful in macOS is that they can appear in the sidebar of the Finder and are easily searchable either directly through the Finder or using Siri. As long as you have a system for organizing your files, even a simple one, you’ll find it easier to keep track of them. As one example, I like to apply an Engadget tag to any files related to my work. I’ll add an “Important” tag if it’s something that’s critical and I want to find quickly.

One tool that can help supercharge your Finder experience is Alfred. It’s effectively a more powerful version of Apple’s Spotlight feature. Among other things, you can use Alfred to find and launch apps quickly. There’s a bit of a learning curve, but once you get a hang of it, Alfred will change how you use your Mac for the better.

How to organize your windows and tabs

Magnet

Igor Bonifacic / Engadget

If you’ve used both macOS and Windows 10, you’ll know that Apple’s operating system doesn’t come with the best window management tools. You can click and hold on the green full-screen button to tile a window to either the left or right side of your screen, but that’s about it and the feature has always felt less precise than its Windows counterpart.

My suggestion is to download an app that replicates Windows 10’s snapping feature. You have several competing options that more or less offer the same functionality. My go-to is an $5 program called Magnet. If you want a free alternative, check out Rectangle. Another option is BetterSnapTool, which offers more functionality than Magnet but doesn’t have as clean of an interface. All three apps give you far more ways to configure your windows than what you get through the built-in tool in macOS. They also come with shortcut support, which means you can quickly set up your windows and get to work.

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How to Organize Your Digital Life With Google Gemini

Google Gemini

This guide is designed to show you how you can use Google Gemini to organize your digital life. Recall those moments when your inbox seemed like a bottomless pit, the endless maze of files on your computer, and the relentless challenge of locating the exact document you need. In this era where digital information floods our daily lives, maintaining a semblance of order can often feel like trying to climb a mountain without any gear. However, you need not despair, valiant digital navigator!

Google Gemini, an advanced AI-powered ally, emerges as your valiant knight clad in gleaming armor, ready to rescue you from the chaos of digital disarray. This innovative tool is designed to restore order to your digital world, transforming the overwhelming tide of emails, files, and tasks into a harmonious symphony of efficiency and organization. With Google Gemini by your side, you are set to embark on a transformative journey, one where the complexities of digital management become a thing of the past, ushering you into a new era where organization unfolds with the grace and ease of a well-orchestrated ballet.

Beyond the Basics: Unveiling Gemini’s Power

Imagine a world where your digital life anticipates your needs, adapts to your preferences, and empowers you to achieve more. That’s the transformative potential of Gemini. This multi-faceted AI isn’t just about decluttering your inbox or taming your files. It’s about unlocking a future where:

  • Information becomes your ally: Ditch the endless googling. Gemini analyzes content, summarizing key points, extracting relevant details, and even generating questions to spark deeper exploration. Research becomes a breeze, knowledge flows freely, and insights bloom at your fingertips.
  • Productivity takes flight: Say goodbye to missed deadlines and forgotten tasks. Gemini anticipates your needs, suggesting tasks, setting smart reminders, and even drafting emails based on context. It becomes your proactive partner, ensuring you stay ahead of the curve and achieve your goals with laser focus.
  • Creativity blossoms: Unleash your inner wordsmith with Gemini’s writing assistance. Imagine dictating emails, summarizing reports, or even generating creative content based on your voice commands and preferences. The AI becomes your invisible collaborator, freeing your mind to focus on the big ideas.
  • The walls between devices crumble: Forget the frustration of siloed information. Gemini seamlessly integrates across your devices, ensuring your organized digital life follows you wherever you go. Whether you’re on your laptop, phone, or tablet, your data is effortlessly accessible and consistent.
  • The future beckons: This is just the first chapter in Gemini’s journey. As it evolves, we can expect even more revolutionary features, like personalized content creation, proactive problem-solving, and seamless integration with other AI assistants. Imagine a world where your digital tools work in concert, creating a truly unified and intelligent ecosystem.

Embrace the Transformation: Your Guide to Taming the Chaos

Ready to embark on your organizational odyssey with Gemini? Here’s your roadmap:

  • Awaken the AI: Activate Gemini within your Google account settings and grant the necessary permissions.
  • Watch your digital world prepare for a metamorphosis.
  • Craft Your Personalized Experience: Tell Gemini what matters to you. Prioritize specific emails, files, or projects to ensure they receive the royal treatment.
  • Embrace the Conversation: Don’t be shy! Ask questions, give instructions, and even show Gemini things through your camera. The more you interact, the better it understands your unique needs and preferences.

From Inbox Zero to Productivity Hero: Practical Tips for Everyday Use

  • Email Nirvana: Gemini automatically categorizes emails, flags important ones, and even unsubscribes you from unwanted lists. Drowning in emails? Say hello to inbox zero, your new Zen state.
  • File Freedom: Lost in a sea of files? Gemini tags and categorizes them based on content, making them instantly discoverable. No more frantic searches, just the information you need, right at your fingertips.
  • Calendar Confidence: Leverage Gemini’s calendar integration to set smart reminders, schedule meetings, and manage your to-do list with AI-powered suggestions. Stay on top of your schedule and achieve your goals with effortless ease.
  • Research Rocket Fuel: Analyzing research papers, summarizing articles, and extracting key information becomes a breeze with Gemini’s intelligent tools. Power through your research, gain deeper insights and become a knowledge powerhouse.

Embarking on the quest for a seamlessly organized digital existence is akin to setting sail on a grand adventure across the vast digital seas. This expedition toward digital harmony is not a sprint to a fleeting destination but a continuous voyage of discovery, improvement, and mastery. In this journey, Google Gemini stands as your steadfast companion, ensuring that the path you tread is not one of solitude but of guided support and shared aspirations. By welcoming the transformative power of the AI revolution into your life, you unlock the door to boundless possibilities, tapping into unexplored territories of efficiency and productivity.

With Gemini’s advanced intelligence lighting the way, you’re equipped to navigate through the overwhelming currents of data and information, charting a course toward a future where chaos is mastered and organization reigns supreme. This future, brimming with the promise of streamlined processes and intuitive digital assistance, is not a distant dream but a tangible reality, brought to life by the innovative spirit of Gemini. Remember, as you forge ahead in this dynamic landscape, the essence of true digital organization is not just about combating the present deluge but embracing a future where every digital interaction is empowered by Gemini’s pioneering technology. You can find out more details about Gemini over at Google’s website.

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How to use Microsoft OneNote to organize your thoughts and notes

How to use Microsoft OneNote to organize your thoughts and notes

If you’re looking to enhance your note-taking and boost your productivity, Microsoft OneNote is a tool that can help you achieve just that. This versatile application is designed to cater to the needs of students, professionals, and anyone who appreciates well-organized information. With OneNote, you can take your note-taking to the next level, making it easier and more efficient to capture and manage your thoughts and ideas.

One of the most significant advantages of OneNote is its ability to sync across various devices. This means you can access your notes on your phone, tablet, or computer, making it incredibly convenient to keep track of your information wherever you are. The app and web versions of OneNote work seamlessly together, so you can always rely on having a consistent note-taking platform at your fingertips.

For those who often work in low-light conditions, OneNote’s dark mode can be a real eye-saver. It reduces screen glare and makes for a more comfortable viewing experience. But that’s not all – OneNote also allows you to customize the appearance of your digital notebook with different paper styles, colors, and rule lines, so you can make it look just the way you like.

How to use OneNote

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Organizing your notes effectively is crucial, and OneNote offers a range of features to help you do just that. You can create customizable section tabs to categorize your notes in a way that suits you best, complete with color-coding and various layout options. Tags are another powerful feature that can help you highlight important information, making your notes easy to search and retrieve when you need them.

For those who attend a lot of lectures or meetings, the Transcribe feature can be a game-changer. It converts spoken words into text and allows you to edit speaker labels for better clarity. To save even more time, get familiar with OneNote’s keyboard shortcuts. These can help you perform common tasks, like adding a new page or searching through your notes, much faster.

OneNote’s Immersive Reader is another feature that can help you stay focused while reading. It offers customizable text and background settings and even translation capabilities to suit different user needs. The “Copy Text from Picture” feature is also incredibly useful for quickly digitizing written information from images, such as notes from a whiteboard or printed documents.

Setting Up Your Notebook

  • Create a New Notebook for Each Major Area: Start by creating separate notebooks for distinct areas of your life or work, such as “Work,” “Personal,” “Projects,” or “School.” This separation helps maintain clarity and focus within each notebook.
  • Sections and Section Groups: Use sections within notebooks like chapters in a book to organize topics or categories. For larger projects or subjects, consider using section groups to further divide these into subcategories.

Organizing Pages and Subpages

  • Pages for Specific Topics: Create pages within sections for specific topics, meetings, projects, or ideas. Use descriptive titles for each page to make them easily identifiable.
  • Subpages for Detailed Breakdown: Utilize subpages to break down complex topics into manageable parts. This hierarchy keeps related notes together and simplifies navigation.

Utilizing Tags and Search

  • Tags for Categorization and Follow-up: Use OneNote’s built-in tags to mark important items, questions, or action items. Tags make it easy to categorize and prioritize notes.
  • Search Functionality: Familiarize yourself with OneNote’s search capabilities to quickly find specific notes, tags, or text across all your notebooks, sections, and pages.

Effective Note-Taking Strategies

  • Use Bullet Points and Headings: Organize information using bullet points, headings, and subheadings to create a clear, hierarchical structure in your notes.
  • Incorporate Media and Documents: Embed images, videos, links, and documents directly into your pages. This makes your notebook a centralized resource for all related information.
  • Linking Between Pages and Notebooks: Create links between pages or sections to connect related ideas or notes, facilitating easy navigation between them.

Templates for Consistency

  • Create or Use Templates: For recurring types of notes (like meeting minutes, project plans, or lecture notes), create or use existing templates. Templates ensure consistency and save time.

Regular Review and Cleanup

  • Scheduled Reviews: Periodically review your notebooks and sections to update or archive outdated information. This keeps your notebooks relevant and manageable.
  • Archiving Old Information: Move less relevant sections or pages to an archive section or notebook. This helps in focusing on current information while retaining access to older notes.

Sharing and Collaboration

  • Share Notebooks for Collaboration: Utilize OneNote’s sharing features to work collaboratively on projects or shared interests. Ensure you understand the permission settings to control who can view or edit your notebooks.

Integrating with Other Tools

  • Use with Office Suite: Leverage OneNote’s integration with other Microsoft Office applications, like linking your notes to specific Outlook emails or meetings, to streamline your workflow.

Customization and Shortcuts

  • Customize OneNote: Tailor OneNote’s settings and options to fit your working style. Learn keyboard shortcuts for actions you frequently perform to increase efficiency.

Review and Adapt

  • Iterate Your System: Your needs and projects evolve, so regularly reassess and adjust your organization strategy in OneNote. Be flexible and adapt your notebook structure as required.

Security is a top priority when it comes to your notes, especially if they contain sensitive information. OneNote allows you to password-protect sections of your notebook for added security. Just remember that if you lose your password, it cannot be recovered, so keep it in a safe place. Sharing and collaboration are also made easy with OneNote. You can invite others to view or edit your notebooks, which is perfect for teamwork and sharing information efficiently.

Prioritization of Notes and Tasks

Prioritization is a critical skill in both personal and professional contexts, helping you focus on what’s most important amidst a sea of tasks and goals. Several methods can be employed to effectively prioritize tasks, each with its unique approach to managing workload and deadlines. Here are some widely used prioritization techniques:

Eisenhower Matrix

Also known as the Urgent-Important Matrix, this method divides tasks into four quadrants:

  • Quadrant 1: Urgent and Important (Tasks you need to do immediately)
  • Quadrant 2: Important, Not Urgent (Tasks you can schedule to do later)
  • Quadrant 3: Urgent, Not Important (Tasks you can delegate to someone else)
  • Quadrant 4: Not Urgent, Not Important (Tasks you can eliminate)

The goal is to help you focus on tasks that are not only urgent but also crucial for your long-term goals, encouraging strategic planning and time management.

Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule)

This principle suggests that 80% of outcomes result from 20% of all efforts. By identifying and focusing on the tasks that will have the most significant impact (the 20%), you can achieve more efficient and effective results.

MoSCoW Method

This technique categorizes tasks into four groups:

  • Must have: Tasks critical for project success
  • Should have: Important but not vital tasks
  • Could have: Desirable tasks but not necessary
  • Won’t have this time: Tasks that are least critical and can be deferred

It’s particularly useful in project management and helps teams understand where to allocate resources and effort.

OneNote is more than just a note-taking app; it’s a comprehensive platform that can be tailored to meet your specific needs. By using these tips and tricks, you can create a digital notebook that not only boosts your productivity but also elevates your note-taking to a higher level. Embrace the capabilities of OneNote and watch your organizational skills improve dramatically.

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How to use Monorepos or Monolithic Repositories to organize code

Learn how to setup and use Monorepos

Monorepos, or monolithic repositories, refer to a software development strategy where code for many projects is stored in a single repository. This approach contrasts with having multiple repositories, each containing the code for different projects or components of a larger system. Monorepos are becoming increasingly popular for managing multiple projects within a single Git repository.

They offer the advantage of code sharing and reduced duplication, but are typically more beneficial at a larger scale when multiple projects and packages are involved. If you would like to learn more about how to setup and use Monorepos this article provide a quick overview of its ability to simplify code sharing and minimize redundancy, making it an attractive option for developers and project managers alike.

When considering whether to adopt a monorepo, it’s important to understand the difference between this approach and the traditional polyrepo strategy. Polyrepos involve using separate Git repositories for each project, which can work well for small, independent projects. However, as projects grow and start to share code, the benefits of a monorepo become apparent. It offers a unified version control system and makes managing dependencies across projects much easier.

For growing projects, a monorepo can be particularly beneficial. It allows for the organization of applications and packages into their own folders, each with a dedicated `package.json`. This is made possible by workspace capabilities provided by package managers like Yarn or pnpm. Such a setup simplifies the process of handling multiple projects within a single repository, which can be a significant advantage.

Using monorepos to organize code

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Key aspects of monorepos include:

  1. Simplified Dependency Management: All projects or components within the monorepo can be aligned to the same set of dependencies, making it easier to manage updates and ensure compatibility.
  2. Unified Versioning: Changes across different projects or components can be tracked under a single version history. This simplifies understanding the impact of changes across the entire codebase.
  3. Collaboration and Code Sharing: Developers working on different projects within the monorepo can easily access and modify code across the entire codebase, facilitating code reuse and collaboration.
  4. Streamlined CI/CD Processes: With a monorepo, CI/CD pipelines can be set up to handle multiple projects simultaneously, allowing for more efficient testing and deployment processes.

One of the key strengths of a monorepo is the efficient management of dependencies and development tools. By centralizing these elements, duplication is reduced, and local package installation is streamlined. This not only saves time but also ensures consistency across all projects within the repository. However, it’s not without its challenges. Adopting a monorepo can introduce complexities, such as maintaining configurations and potentially slower continuous integration (CI) pipelines. Fortunately, there are tools available, like NX or Turbo Repo, that optimize builds to only affect changed areas, thus enhancing maintainability.

Monorepos are particularly well-suited for collaborative environments. They offer shared caching and unified workflows, which can significantly improve team efficiency. When deciding on the type of monorepo to use, teams can choose between an integrated monorepo, which relies on management tools like NX, or a package-based monorepo, which requires more manual configuration. The choice will depend on the team’s preferences and the specific requirements of the project.

To manage a monorepo effectively, it’s important to think ahead. Utilizing package managers that support workspaces, like pnpm, is a good practice. Additionally, organizing packages by specific concerns and employing caching can help keep the monorepo organized and efficient.

Challenges of using monorepos :

  • Scalability: As the size of the monorepo grows, it can become more challenging to manage, especially in terms of performance and tooling.
  • Complexity in Build and Test Systems: Building and testing a large codebase can become complex and resource-intensive.
  • Access Control: Fine-grained access control can be more challenging in a monorepo, as it houses diverse projects with potentially different access requirements.

Compatibility with various frameworks is another consideration. Frameworks that support on-the-fly transpiling, such as Next.js, can be particularly advantageous for monorepo setups. Building and managing a monorepo is a dynamic process that requires practice and the willingness to adapt. Refining your methodology over time is key to success.

Monorepos vs repos

Monorepos:

  • Unified Structure: All code for multiple projects or components resides in a single repository. This centralization can simplify navigation and understanding of the overall codebase.
  • Dependency Management: Easier to align and manage dependencies across all projects, as they share the same set of dependencies.
  • Version Control: A single, unified version history for all projects, which can simplify tracking changes and understanding the impact across the entire codebase.
  • Collaboration: Facilitates collaboration and code sharing across different teams working on various parts of the codebase.
  • CI/CD Processes: Streamlined setup for continuous integration and deployment, as pipelines can be configured once for the entire codebase.
  • Scalability Concerns: As the repository grows, performance issues can arise, and tooling may struggle with the large codebase.
  • Access Control: Implementing fine-grained access control can be more challenging.

Separate repositories:

  • Decentralized Structure: Each project or component has its own repository. This can make each repository simpler and more focused.
  • Dependency Management: Each project manages its own set of dependencies, which can lead to duplication but allows for independent versioning and updates.
  • Version Control: Each project has its own version history, making it easier to track changes specific to that project.
  • Collaboration: Collaboration is more focused within each project. Cross-project collaboration requires more coordination.
  • CI/CD Processes: Each project requires its own CI/CD setup, which can lead to duplication of effort but allows for tailored pipelines.
  • Scalability: Easier to scale as each repository remains smaller and more manageable.
  • Access Control: Easier to implement fine-grained access control, as each repository can have its own access settings.

Monorepos provide a robust framework for handling multiple projects, especially as they grow and require more shared code. By understanding the differences between monorepos and polyrepos and implementing best practices for organization, dependency management, and tooling, developers can improve their development process. It’s crucial to be aware of potential challenges and to select the right tools and strategies to overcome them. With careful planning and a dedication to continuous improvement, a monorepo can significantly enhance collaboration and efficiency in software development projects.

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How to Organize Your Schedule with Google Bard

Google Bard stands out as a formidable asset, yet its efficacy is notably amplified when synergistically combined with your personal planning and prioritization acumen. It’s essential to embark on a journey of self-reflection to thoroughly comprehend your unique needs, desires, and inclinations. In doing so, you can adeptly harness Bard to enhance and harmonize with your established organizational approach.

Delving into the intricacies of these recommendations and fully embracing the vast array of functionalities offered by Google Bard can revolutionize the way you manage your schedule. This isn’t just about transitioning from disarray to efficiency; it’s about transforming your daily agenda into a seamlessly functioning system. Such a transformation not only liberates valuable time but also redirects your energy towards pursuits and passions that hold genuine significance in your life. By intertwining Bard’s capabilities with your personal organizational style, you set the stage for a more productive, balanced, and fulfilling daily routine.

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How to Organize Your Digital Life with Google Bard and ChatGPT

Organize Your Digital Life

This guide is designed to show you how you can organize your digital life with the help of ChatGPT and Google Bard. In today’s digital age, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information we’re constantly bombarded with. From emails and social media to work documents and personal files, keeping track of everything can be a daunting task.

That’s where large language models (LLMs) like Google Bard and ChatGPT can come in. These AI-powered tools can help you organize your digital life in a variety of ways, making it easier to find what you need and get things done.

Google Bard

Google Bard is a factual language model from Google AI, trained on a massive dataset of text and code. It can be used for a variety of tasks, including:

  • Summarizing text: Bard can quickly summarize long articles or documents, so you can get the gist of the information without having to read everything.
  • Translating languages: Bard can translate text between over 100 languages, so you can communicate with people from all over the world.
  • Writing different kinds of creative content: Bard can write poems, code, scripts, musical pieces, email, letters, etc. in response to a wide range of prompts and questions. For example, you could ask Bard to write a poem about a sunset, or to generate a code snippet to sort a list of numbers.
  • Answering your questions in an informative way: Bard can answer your questions in a comprehensive and informative way, even if they are open ended, challenging, or strange. For example, you could ask Bard to explain the theory of relativity, or to provide a summary of the latest news on climate change.

ChatGPT

ChatGPT is a generative pre-trained transformer model developed by OpenAI. It can be used for a variety of tasks, including:

  • Generating realistic and coherent chat conversations: ChatGPT can generate text that is indistinguishable from human-written text, making it ideal for chatbots and other conversational AI applications. For example, you could use ChatGPT to create a chatbot that can provide customer support, or to develop an interactive dialogue for a video game.
  • Creating different creative text formats: ChatGPT can create different creative text formats of text content, like poems, code, scripts, musical pieces, email, letters, etc. in response to a wide range of prompts and questions. For example, you could ask ChatGPT to write a code snippet to play a simple melody on a synthesizer, or to generate a movie script based on a brief plot outline.
  • Translating languages: ChatGPT can translate text between over 26 languages, so you can communicate with people from all over the world. For example, you could use ChatGPT to translate a foreign language news article, or to write an email in a language you don’t speak fluently.
  • Answering your questions in an informative way: ChatGPT can answer your questions in a comprehensive and informative way, even if they are open ended, challenging, or strange. For example, you could ask ChatGPT to explain the concept of black holes, or to provide a summary of the latest research on artificial intelligence.

How to Use Google Bard and ChatGPT to Organize Your Digital Life

Here are a few specific ways you can use Google Bard and ChatGPT to organize your digital life:

Create a daily or weekly to-do list: Use Bard or ChatGPT to generate a list of tasks you need to accomplish each day or week. This will help you stay on track and avoid forgetting important deadlines. For example, you could ask Bard to create a to-do list for the day, including tasks such as checking email, completing a work assignment, and going to the gym.

Organize your email inbox: Use Bard or ChatGPT to summarize your emails and help you prioritize which ones to respond to first. You can also use these tools to unsubscribe from unwanted newsletters and mailing lists. For example, you could ask Bard to summarize your unread emails and identify the most important ones, or to create a filter to automatically unsubscribe you from mailing lists you don’t read.

Manage your social media accounts: Use Bard or ChatGPT to help you stay up-to-date on your social media feeds. You can also use these tools to schedule posts and automate other social media tasks. For example, you could ask Bard to create a social media calendar for the week, including posts for each of your social media accounts, or to automate the process of posting new blog articles to your social media channels.

File and organize your documents: Use Bard or ChatGPT to help you name and organize your digital documents. You can also use these tools to search for specific documents and files. For example, you could ask Bard to suggest a naming scheme for your digital documents, or to search for all documents related to a specific project you’re working

Additional Tips

Here are a few additional tips for using Google Bard and ChatGPT to organize your digital life:

  • Use both tools: Google Bard and ChatGPT each have their own strengths and weaknesses. Use both tools together to get the most out of them.
  • Be specific: When you’re asking Bard or ChatGPT a question, be as specific as possible. This will help the tools give you the most accurate and helpful answer.
  • Don’t be afraid to experiment: There are many different ways to use Bard and ChatGPT to organize your digital life. Experiment with different techniques to find what works best for you.

By following these tips, you can use Google Bard and ChatGPT to take control of your digital life and make it easier to find what you need and get things done.

Here are some additional benefits of using Google Bard and ChatGPT to organize your digital life:

  • Reduced stress: By organizing your digital life, you can reduce the stress of feeling overwhelmed by information.
  • Increased productivity: By having everything in its place, you can be more productive and get things done more quickly.
  • Improved focus: By being able to find what you need easily, you can improve your focus and concentration.
  • Greater peace of mind: Knowing that your digital life is organized can give you greater peace of mind.

In conclusion, Google Bard and ChatGPT are powerful tools that can help you organize your digital life. By using these tools to create to-do lists, manage your email inbox, and file your documents, you can reduce stress, increase productivity, and improve your focus. With a little practice, you can use these AI-powered tools to take control of your digital life and make it easier to find what you need and get things done. I hope this guide helps you organize your digital life with Google Bard and ChatGPT, if you have anu comments or suggestions, please let us know in the comments section below.

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Twelve South TimePorter helps organize Apple Watch bands

Twelve South TimePorter

If you own an Apple Watch there is a good chance that you have more than one Apple Watch band, some people have many Apple Watch bands and they change them as often as they change their outfits, this is where the Twelve South TimePorter.

The Twelve South TimePorter is designed to be the ultimate accessory for those of us who have a collection of Apple Watch bands and straps, it is designed to help you neatly organize them and each one can hold and display up to six Apple Watch bands.

The TimePorter comes with a sleek white finish, and it has been designed to compliment the interior of any space, be it a focal point in a bedroom or neatly placed within a wardrobe or walk-in closet.

Moreover, setting up the TimePorter is a breeze. The provided 3M Command Strips allow for easy attachment to walls, eliminating the need for drills or nails. This feature is particularly beneficial for those in rental properties, ensuring the option to reposition without causing damage or leaving behind any unsightly blemishes.

It’s worth noting that the TimePorter is designed to be versatile. It seamlessly pairs with any Apple Watch strap and is fully compatible with all Apple Watch versions, inclusive of the latest Series 9 and Ultra 2 models.

The new TwelveSouth TimePorter will go on sale in the UK and the end of October for £29.99 you can find out more details about this new accessory to help you organize your Apple Watch band collection at the link below.

Source Twelve South

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How to organize your digital life with ChatGPT

organize digital life

We previously showed you how to organize your digital life with Google Bard, in this guide we will show you how to do the same thing using ChatGPT. In the digital age, managing your online life can be as challenging as keeping track of your physical belongings. From emails and documents to appointments and to-do lists, the sheer volume of digital clutter can be overwhelming. Fortunately, advances in conversational AI, particularly with tools like ChatGPT, offer a unique and effective way to streamline your digital existence. This article will delve into the various methods by which ChatGPT can help you organize your digital life, offering step-by-step guidance and best practices.

ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, is a conversational agent that has evolved significantly over the years. It’s not just a chatbot; it’s a versatile tool that can assist with a wide range of tasks. Its capabilities extend from answering queries and providing explanations to assisting with planning and organization. The underlying technology, based on the GPT-4 architecture, allows for nuanced understanding and generation of human-like text, making it an ideal assistant for various organizational tasks.

Email Management

Sorting and Prioritizing

One of the most immediate areas where ChatGPT can assist is in managing your email. By integrating ChatGPT with your email client through APIs or custom scripts, you can automate the process of sorting and prioritizing your inbox. For instance, you can set up rules where ChatGPT identifies emails from specific senders or with particular keywords and moves them into designated folders.

Drafting and Scheduling

ChatGPT serves as an invaluable tool for drafting emails and crafting responses, streamlining your written communication process. When you supply it with a concise outline or a list of essential talking points, ChatGPT has the capability to generate a comprehensive and well-organized email for you. This not only saves you a considerable amount of time but also reduces the mental effort required to compose professional and coherent messages.

Beyond the initial drafting phase, ChatGPT can be further utilized to optimize your email scheduling. By integrating it with your email client, you can program ChatGPT to send out your emails at the most opportune moments. This ensures that your communications are not just well-crafted but also reach your recipients when they are most likely to engage, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of your correspondence.

Task Management

To-Do Lists

ChatGPT can assist you in creating and managing to-do lists. Simply tell it the tasks you need to accomplish, and it can generate a prioritized list for you. You can also set reminders and deadlines, You can use ChatGPT to help you set these up initially, although it will not be able to monitor them on an. ongoing basis.

Project Planning

For more complex tasks, like project planning, ChatGPT can help break down the project into manageable parts. By discussing the project’s scope, objectives, and milestones, you can use ChatGPT to generate a project timeline or even a Gantt chart if integrated with project management software.

Document Organization

File Sorting

ChatGPT can help you organize your digital files as well. Through custom scripts or third-party integrations, you can set up rules for ChatGPT to automatically sort files into appropriate folders based on file type, name, or other metadata. You can also give ChatGPT details on your files and then ask for suggestions on the best way to organize them.

Content Creation

If you’re working on reports, articles, or any form of content, ChatGPT can assist in drafting and editing. Provide an outline or key points, and ChatGPT can generate a draft for you, which you can then refine further.

Personal Well-being

Time Management

ChatGPT can also act as a personal time management coach. By discussing your daily routines and goals, it can help you create a daily schedule that aligns with your objectives, reminding you to take breaks or switch tasks as needed.

Mindfulness and Reflection

Beyond the hustle and bustle of tasks and emails, ChatGPT can assist in personal reflection. You can engage in conversations about your goals, challenges, and achievements, helping you gain insights into your own behavior and choices.

Summary

ChatGPT offers a multifaceted approach to organizing your digital life. From managing emails and tasks to assisting with document organization and personal well-being, its capabilities are vast and adaptable. By integrating ChatGPT into your daily digital routine, you can significantly streamline your activities, leaving you more time to focus on what truly matters.

Image Credit: Brooke Cagle

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