From The Tips Box: Shutting Down Windows, TV Reminders, Quicker Emoji

Readers offer their best tips for quickly shutting down Windows, using Google Calendar for TV show reminders, and getting Emoji in iOS 7 through the Simplified Chinese handwriting keyboard.

Every day we receive stacks of great reader tips. From the Tips Box is where we round up some of our favourites. Got a tip of your own to share? Add it in the comments or send it using our [contact text=”contact form”].

Shut Down Windows Faster Using Ctrl-Alt-Delete

FFVison shares a quick way to shut down Windows:

I have a textbook that claims that the fastest shortcut to shutting down your PC is to use the “3-finger salute” (Ctrl+Alt+Delete) and then clicking the button in the lower right corner. It’s much quicker than other ways I’ve found.

Add TV Show Reminders to Google Calendar

KnightTim offers an easy way to have Google Calendar remind you when your favourite shows are on:

I have been using Google Calendar to remind me of TV shows for the last 3 or more years. I get notifications on my mobile device and have the option to look at what will be showing in the near future.

How I did it, for those who are interested.

1. Set up an account on OnMyTv.Info (or other similar site, I have also used pogdesign.co.uk/cat in the past).
2. Set up a filter with the shows you’re interested in.
3. Copy the iCal download link.
4. Go to Google Calendar.
5. Click the dropdown menu next to “Other Calendars” and choose “Add by URL.”
6. Paste in the iCal download link.
7. [Optional] Go to calendar settings for your new TV show calendar and set up reminders.

Now you have a system that will let you know whenever a show you’re interested in is on. One small caveat: it will only show a couple of weeks into the future and a couple of days into the past.

Find Emoji Using iOS 7’s Simplified Chinese Handwriting Keyboard

Gilbert shares an emoji trick for iOS 7:

This morning I found out that in iOS 7, I can type emoji that you usually only find in the emoji keyboard using the Simplified Chinese handwriting keyboard instead. I just draw a smiley in the handwriting section and at the top of the keyboard, it will show you the emoji you can select.

Add Domain Extensions in Firefox With a Keyboard Shortcut

Fiji.siv shares a keyboard shortcut for making Firefox automatically add domain extensions in the address bar:

A tip I accidentally discovered tonight….

As you may know hitting Ctrl+Enter in your browser’s address bar automatically adds .com to the end. But on Firefox (sorry Chrome users) Shift+Enter will add .net and Ctrl+Shift+Enter will add .org.