Myew

Windows 10 already retired last year, but people who sign in with a Microsoft account can access the one year of extended support. I honestly can't consider Chrome OS Flex an upgrade when it downgrades functionality. Chrome OS Flex has been available for several years now, I've tested it out, and did so quite recently when refurbishing a computer for a sister just to recompare it against Linux Mint. Since it doesn't offer Android or Google Play apps like a dedicated Chromebook, it's not much more than a Chrome browser with obfuscated Linux app support. You can do all of the things claimed without Google and locally with general Linux, so why would you want it to be cloud based? Also it can be more of a pain to get working WiFi adapters/drivers on desktops with Chrome OS vs Windows if you're not wired, but that's a Linux issue in general. I've had a Chromebook Duet in the past and loved that as a tablet 2-in-1. For replacing Windows however, you're likely still better off with any modern flavor of Linux. For most people, I recommend Mint due to familiarity, simplicity, and long term user support. Linux distros are even easier to install than Chrome OS because you don't need to sign in with a Google account. Same issue as Microsoft forcing people to sign in with Microsoft accounts, they just want your data and are taking advantage of the situation and claiming it is a benefit to the user when it's really not. 'If a service is free, you are the product'. Granted, it is important to keep your operating system up to date for security vulnerabilities. But the Linux Kernel itself is not so much a service as it is a free and open source tool that anyone can use. Most Linux distros make it easier to avoid Google along with any other corporate interest's advertisements and tracking, easier to find and install the software you need or want like Zoom, easier to run WINE for WT Library or Waydroid for JW Library, etc.

It used to have it under Message Organization, but apparently it was removed. Likely a dumb corporate reason. Unfortunate.

Messages is better. Easy to use cross platform from your tablet/PC. Not many suggestions aside from going through the settings and turning on RCS and setting it up the way you like. RCS is better and more secure than basic SMS texting. Personally, I would turn off Bubbles and Gemini.

Yes, I've been managing it for my congregation for a while. It's primarily intended to be managed through the website on a computer. The mobile app is mostly for publishers to reference and make notes while in a territory. It covers everything I can think of regarding maps, locations, assignments, records, etc. It's relatively simple to learn, but it can be very time consuming depending on how much detail/locations you add to each map. Definitely worth paying for in my case. I think it would be best if you read their help section and watch their videos. https://www.territoryhelper.com/Help

I've noticed this same issue on several systems for at least a couple of years. I'm unable to change the music/video folder locations from within JW Library on most newer Windows 11 computers, such as this desktop. On my previous desktop, I used to house the media files on a separate drive, but it was also glitched. I believe I had to move my user music/video folder locations within Windows. Running JW Library as Admin doesn't help. Dunno what to do about it. I'm not a fan of UWP apps. All I can offer is my respect for using Everything. 😺

They likely need new devices in that case, unfortunately. 🙁 Thankfully there are many modern cheaper or used devices that are adequate. Android 7 came out about 10 years ago, so it's pretty doubtful that any devices that old could be updated, aside from unlocking the bootloader and installing a custom operating system/ROM such as LineageOS, which is a process I doubt most people are willing to go through. I've done it several times in the past, but it generally shouldn't be used for essential devices, newer devices or accounts requiring security unless you're an enthusiast. I used to have a nice phone that was getting a ways behind in Android updates, and I wanted a feature in a newer update, but after getting it set up on LineageOS, when I foolishly relocked the bootloader, it became bricked and the manufacturer never released the files needed to fix it.

There are some older comments back in this thread I was recently reminded of by notifications https://jwtalk.net/topic/44995-jw-library-on-linux-mint/. However, it's actually much simpler now than it was back then. Recently when I was toying around with upgrading my ROG Ally and dual booted Bazzite, I discovered Waydroid. https://docs.waydro.id/usage/install-on-desktops#ubuntu-debian-and-derivatives It seamlessly runs Android apps in a LineageOS container, meaning once you have it installed and running, all you need to do is download the official apk from https://www.jw.org/en/online-help/jw-library/android/manually-install-jw-library-android/ , double click it and you're pretty much good to go. I was able to install it through Bazzite's package manager with no command line, but I've found tutorials for it for other distributions that are only a couple of minutes long.

Copy/paste of scriptures that I reference in regards to diet: (Genesis 3:17, 18) Cursed is the ground on your account. In pain you will eat its produce all the days of your life. 18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you, and you must eat the vegetation of the field. (Genesis 4:12) When you cultivate the ground, it will not give you back its produce* (Lit., “power.”). (Genesis 5:29) He named him Noah, saying: “This one will bring us comfort (“relief.”) from our labor and from the painful toil of our hands because of the ground that Jehovah has cursed.” (Genesis 9:3) Every moving animal that is alive may serve as food for you. (Deuteronomy 12:20) “When Jehovah your God enlarges your territory, just as he has promised you, and you say, ‘I want to eat meat,’ because you desire (your soul desires) to eat meat, you may eat meat whenever you desire it (in all the desire of your soul). (Nehemiah 5:18) Every day one bull, six choice sheep, and birds were prepared for me, and once every ten days we had all sorts of wine in abundance. (Nehemiah 8:10) He said to them: “Go, eat the choice things (fatty things) and drink what is sweet, and send portions of food to those who have nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord, and do not feel sad, for the joy of Jehovah is your stronghold.” (Job 29:4, 6) When I was in my prime, When God’s friendship was felt in my tent, When my steps were awash in butter, And the rocks poured out streams of oil for me. (Job 36:16) He draws you away from the brink of distress To a broad space, free of restriction, With rich food on your table as consolation. (Psalm 36:8) They drink their fill of the rich bounty (the fatness) of your house, And you cause them to drink of the torrent of your delights. (Psalm 63:5) I am satisfied with the best and choicest portion (as with fat and fatness), So my mouth will praise you with joy on my lips. (Psalm 65:11) You crown the year with your goodness; Your tracks overflow with abundance (drip with fatness). (Proverbs 23:20, 21) Do not be among those who drink too much wine, Among those who gorge themselves on meat, 21 For a drunkard and a glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe one with rags. (Proverbs 25:16) If you find honey, eat only what you need, For if you take too much, you may vomit it up. (Proverbs 25:27) It is not good to eat too much honey, (Proverbs 28:7) An understanding son observes the law, But a companion of gluttons disgraces his father. (Isaiah 7:22) And because of the abundance of milk, he will eat butter, for everyone remaining in the land will eat butter and honey. (Isaiah 25:6) In this mountain Jehovah of armies will make for all the peoples A banquet of rich dishes, A banquet of fine wine, Of rich dishes filled with marrow, Of fine, filtered wine. (Isaiah 30:23) And he will give the rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the bread that the ground produces will be abundant and rich (fat and well-oiled). In that day your livestock will graze in spacious pastures. (Jeremiah 31:14) I will satisfy the priests with plenty (fatness), And my people will be satisfied with my goodness,” declares Jehovah. (Habakkuk 1:16) That is why he offers sacrifices to his dragnet And makes sacrifices to his fishing net; For by them his portion is rich (well-oiled), And his food is choice. (Luke 11:11, 12) Indeed, which father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he also asks for an egg, will hand him a scorpion? (1 Timothy 4:1-3) However, the inspired word clearly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to misleading inspired statements and teachings of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, whose conscience is seared as with a branding iron. 3 They forbid marriage and command people to abstain from foods that God created to be partaken of with thanksgiving by those who have faith and accurately know the truth. (Acts 10:15) And the voice spoke again to him, the second time: “Stop calling defiled the things God has cleansed.”

The removal of processed foods and infant food from the diet is always beneficial to your health and deserves praise. It's important to make sure that you are getting an overabundance of all essential amino and fatty acids however. Getting good Omega 3 ratios and B Vitamins can be particularly hard. If you want to see optimal results with your health, look for nutrition that comes in bioavailable and digestible formats that does not require conversion, with lower levels of anti nutrients and toxicity (avoid seeds), and if possible in a low-carb high-fat ketogenic macronutrient profile. I hope you enjoy fatty fruits like avocado. Carbs and fiber affect my digestion very badly, and I require ketosis for brain function, so I am a carnivore for health reasons and simplicity (genetic connective tissue disorder, neurodevelopmental disorders and mental illness, several former autoimmune and chronic illnesses).

I haven't found a way to download them all at once or the videos as audio only unfortunately.

I don't know why it would pause unless something is interacting with your touch earbuds/screen. Your phone could potentially pause videos if the screen automatically turns off, but I don't think it should sleep by default when playing video. It isn't necessarily something to do with Android itself, it could be something your phone brand has changed in their skin or your settings. As for workarounds, if it's an issue with JW Library, you might try downloading all of the videos you want to watch in low/medium quality from the website, put them in a folder / playlist in any free and open source media player such as VLC (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.videolan.vlc or https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.fossify.musicplayer), and then delete them as you go? https://www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/categories/VODPgmEvtMorningWorship

Medical codes have recently been updated to indicate that people can put Diabetes Type 2 into remission. You can look it up. They no longer have any diagnosable markers of the disease, and thus, have reversed it. It has now been proven in research, which people already saw happening for decades. Typically the people who do so utilize methods that don't rely on the typical medicine based medical practices common in developed lands, and it is not reported. It's as simple as cutting out carbohydrates (which are non-essential), eating and burning fat for energy instead, and intermittent fasting. Insulin goes down, diabetes is no longer present.

7-Zip can unpack basically anything. It is also Free and Open Source, whereas RAR is shareware and a proprietary format, so they nag at you to buy a license after your 'trial' expires. That always bugged me back on dial up when most things online were compressed. 7-Zips right-click context menus are super simple and fast to extract/create archives, and offers much more compression customization if you desire to take the time. I pretty much only use it anymore when transferring backups between computers though. I feel that with how internet speed has changed, it's less needed and safer for people who aren't experienced to not be able to open unknown downloaded filetypes. Downloading password locked compressed archives is a common method of bypassing most malware and virus scanners. I think that's a big part of why Windows took so long to allow native .zip archives. As much as I hate Windows these days, since you have to go to the Microsoft Store to get JW Library, I typically recommend most users to grab their browser, zoom, vlc etc from there since you can set apps to auto update with Windows Update or update everything on your system at once with Winget. I don't recommend logging in with your MS account however... local accounts are still safest. Fun fact, Ninite arranges the apps from the most recommended on the top of the list to the least recommended on the bottom of the list. I actually have a shortcut to the command on my portable drives and google drive, but I don't see the option in the app to make one anymore. I use WinUtil for quickly installing/updating most apps from winget all at once, but if you just want the easy access to a ton of Windows settings tweaks, check out Wintoys on the MS Store. It's a prettier interface and I use it on most new installs as well, better for less techy folks without as much risk of breaking something. https://bogdan-patraucean.github.io/about/wintoys/

Generally speaking, assuming you're using modern Windows since you mentioned a laptop, Windows Defender is perfectly adequate for general virus protection, though you should do a full system scan from Windows Security if you're having issues. You don't need to pay anything for proper software. As mentioned, adding more antivirus can slow your system down and in some cases even add security vulnerabilities. Don't install applications just because you're offered from advertisements or browser addons that claim free stuff or coupons, and you'll generally be safe. In some cases, a one time scan from Malwarebytes (uninstall it afterwards) as listed above should be enough to detect most malware or 'potentially unwanted programs'. True modern malware doesn't generally slow down your system - they hide invisibly to steal your credentials with keyloggers, though they can occasionally slow it down with cryptominers or advertisement spam. Modern viruses tend to be things like ransomware encryption that completely lock you out of your system or intentionally overclock it to destroy it. PS @computerwiz Ninite is old news now, use winget or WinUtil. 😛 https://christitus.com/windows-tool/) https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/winutil Just teasing, I know Ninite's easier/safer to use for the less technically inclined. But WinRAR? What for? 😹 I remember the memes about how everyone used the trial and never paid for it back in the late 90s. I still use 7z personally, but folder compression has been built into Windows for years now.

More or less. Nothing should prevent you from installing an app and trying it right now. You could sort your documents by filetype and try one of each. There generally shouldn't be any issues.