Exercise caution when attempting to use ‘free’ trials

Free trials aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be. I almost got burned.

A Facebook friend showed off the restoration of an old family photo using an app called “Photomyne.” It looked good.

At Photomyne.com, I clicked “try it for free.” After a bunch of questions about my intended use, the site asked if I preferred a recurring payment that I can cancel at any time or a free service with ads, among other options. I mistakenly chose the first option, thinking that the charge would start after the free trial. But my credit card statement immediately registered a recurring $39.99 charge. Eek. What happened to my free trial?

After testing the app, I decided that Photomyne isn’t worth paying $40 a month for, despite stellar reviews. When I compared it to the free editing tools in Google Photos, I thought Google Photos did as well or better.

Normally I cancel a free trial before it ends, unless it’s something I’m sure I want, like my Planta app for gardening guidance. But Photomyne wasn’t even in my subscription list in the Google Play app.

Thirty hours later, when Photomyne still hadn’t answered my query, I called my credit card company, which canceled the payment and the card. Later, Photomyne confirmed my refund.

GOOD NEWS

Did you know you can say “Alexa, good news,” and she’ll give you some?

Recently, after asking Alexa for good news, I heard about an e-bike giveaway by MrBeast, a guy who has 248 million subscribers on YouTube. The story was a year old, but it led me to search for “MrBeast.” He’s now filming a new game show for Amazon Prime with over 1,000 contestants, a $5,000,000 prize, and other record-shattering events.

Alexa comes with every Echo device and Fire tablet. Or, you can get the Alexa app on the Google Play store, the iPhone/iPad app store and the Windows Store. On Macs you can use Alexa in the Safari web browser.

PRICEY UPDATES FOR WINDOWS 10

To get security updates for Windows 10 after this year, you may have to pay for them.

According to a post on the Windows IT blog, business users will pay $61 for the first year of security updates, $122

for the second and $244 for the third, for a total of $427. But education customers will pay just $1 per license for the first year, $2 the following year, and $4 the third year. There’s no news yet on prices for ordinary users.

BYE BYE WORDPAD

Word Pad is a bare bones version of Microsoft Word which comes with Windows. It’s great if you don’t need many features. But Microsoft is getting rid of it later this year.

An alternative is Notepad, which will continue to be part of Windows, though it lacks all the usual word processing features. Alternatively, consider Google Docs, Open Office, Libra Office or Microsoft’s free version at Office. com. If you prefer working offline, there’s Ashampoo’s Office 8, which is easy to use and offers super-responsive tech support. Right now, it’s $19 at Ashampoo.com.

LOST PHONE UPDATE

If my phone is on “Do Not Disturb,” it won’t ring when I call it. That’s a problem if I’m calling it to find out where it is.

Google has just begun to roll out an expanded “Find My Device” network, to make phones findable even when they’re offline. In the meantime, you can leave your phone on all the time and create exceptions to “Do Not Disturb,” by changing the settings so that your favorite contacts can get through, either by calling, texting or both.

To start, I added my landline number to my contacts, then made it a favorite by tapping its star. Next, I went to Settings and found Do Not Disturb under “Sound & Vibration.” Then I tapped “People,” “Calls,” and “Starred Contacts.” Finally, I tapped the gear icon to change who was listed as a starred contact. Now my phone will ring when I call it from my landline, even if Do Not Disturb is on.

USING GOOGLE VOICE

I’ll never forget the time Google Voice saved me after I left my phone in a cab. Phoneless for three days, I made calls from my laptop. Google Voice’s free phone service works great and has many options.

For example, after you sign up for a free number at Voice. Google.com, you can click the gear icon to get to Settings, then have all voicemail messages forwarded to your email address. You can also hide your caller ID on outgoing calls, record incoming calls, and add money to your account for international calls beyond Canada. There’s also a setting to allow you to hear a caller’s name when you pick up. Anyone who’s leery of giving out their cell number might consider giving out a Google Voice number instead.

INTERNUT

Search on “Microlino Lite” to see a tiny electric car that can go 28 mph. When available later this year, it will cost $169 a month to lease. At eight feet, two inches long and four feet, 11 inches high, and a weight of 1,320 pounds, it can go 62 miles before needing a charge, or 110 miles if you get the larger battery pack. It has a sunroof and a 61 gallon trunk.