The Latest From Kevin The Tech Guy - August 8th 2025
I’ve decided to keep my home business going, but on a smaller scale. Here’s what that means for repairs, free content, and what paid subscribers will now get for $5 per month.
Hi Everyone,
Earlier this week, I announced that I was shutting down my home business. At the time, that felt like the only honest thing I could say and do. My health has made it difficult to keep pushing forward, and the paid subscription model I had in place just wasn’t working the way I needed it to. Too many expect what they find online to be free.
But after taking this week to step back and reconsider, I realized I shouldn’t have made that decision in the middle of all that frustration. What I needed was space. So, instead of walking away, I’m scaling back and shifting focus.
From here on out, computer repair is the priority. I’m still available locally in Red Deer for repairs, and that’s where most of my energy will go.
For free subscribers, I’ll continue to post occasional updates and tech-related content, but not on a set schedule. There won’t be regular blog posts like before. Additionally, lengthy blog posts will no longer appear on my website aside from what already exists. I’ll point out others and link to them. From time to time, I’ll send out a free newsletter like this one with what I think is worth paying attention to in recent weeks.
For paid subscribers (just $5/month), I’m offering a monthly email newsletter and video that breaks down some of the tech issues I’ve fixed and what the solutions were. These videos will be part of my business marketing and will be available on YouTube, but paid subs will have early access on Substack first.
Paid subs will also get a short monthly recorded Q&A video, exclusively on Substack, plus occasional bonus posts when I come across something worth sharing.
This new approach is built around what I can realistically maintain. It’s also the last thing I’m going to try to keep this business going. If this doesn’t work, I’ll be stepping away completely, but I’ll give you notice if or when that happens.
—Kevin
Here are some of the blog posts I have published in recent weeks:
Quick Tip: Using Container Tabs in Firefox or Zen Browser
You probably have several things going on that require multiple tabs open in your browser, checking your email, logging into a few websites, conducting research, and maybe even scrolling through social media.
It doesn’t take long before tabs start piling up and everything starts to blend together. Even worse, many sites assume you're the same person across all tabs, which isn’t always true.
Maybe you're logged into two different accounts, or you want to keep your personal activity separate from your work. This is where container tabs come in.
Quick Tip: How to Sign Back into WhatsApp on Your Computer Using the QR Code
Mom often uses WhatsApp to communicate with homeowners in terms of updates and photos regarding her house and pet sitting. Every few weeks, WhatsApp forces her to sign out, restart the app, and sign back in using a QR code. This is a very common practice, and it’s good for security, but it’s still annoying, and it’s not always clear what to do. So, I created a how-to guide for her, and this is a general version.
How to Make Windows 11 Actually Usable [Paid Subs]
Windows 11 is a mess that’s been forced upon many computer users. It’s full of unnecessary features, forced Microsoft services, aggressive prompts, preinstalled junk, and background tracking. Out of the box, it prioritizes Microsoft’s ecosystem and bottom line over your preferences and privacy.
This guide walks you through everything I do to make it more usable, from removing apps and ads to disabling tracking, controlling updates, and even removing the Edge browser.
Looking Back at Ten Years of Windows 10 and Where Things Go From Here [Paid Subs]
Looking back, the story of Windows 10 is far more complicated than a simple judgment of success or failure. It was a decade of constant updates, shifting visions, major experiments, and numerous changes that still influence how people use their computers today.
As of 2025, Windows 10 has reached the end of its planned lifecycle, and the industry is gradually transitioning to Windows 11, with Windows 12 rumored after that.
What You Need to Know About Windows 10 Support Ending FAQ
Windows 10 support officially ends in October 2025. Historically, that means that Microsoft stops providing updates to its current Operating System at the end of a 10-year “lifecycle”. But given the continued heavy use of Windows 10, they’re making some concessions.
That’s raising a lot of questions, and for good reason. People are wondering what will still work, whether their files and apps are safe, and what options they have moving forward. I’ve compiled the most frequently asked questions by clients, those I’ve heard on podcasts, and those I've read in blog posts. I have answered them below, based on my own use and recommendations.
Tech News
9 Excellent Built-in Windows 11 Apps and Tools You’re Ignoring—but Shouldn’t [MakeUseOf]
Tested: Microsoft Recall can still capture credit cards and passwords, a treasure trove for crooks [The Register]
Here are the laptops I’d tell any parent to consider for their back-to-school student [The Verge]
I'm finally switching from Brave to this browser (Zen Browser) [XDA Developers]
Messages on iOS 26 will make it harder to fall for phishing scams [9to5Mac]
Something Fun
Local man unsure if Canada Post is on strike or if he just doesn’t get a lot of mail
The Beaverton's satirical article titled "Local man unsure if Canada Post is on strike or if he just doesn't get a lot of mail" humorously portrays Aaron Landry, a 36-year-old Moncton resident, who is perplexed by the lack of mail in his mailbox. Despite hearing about a Canada Post strike, he wonders if the absence of mail is due to the strike or simply because he doesn't receive much correspondence. The piece playfully highlights the confusion some individuals might feel regarding postal services and their personal mail volumes.
The article is a satirical work from The Beaverton, known for its comedic takes on current events and societal observations.
Wrapping Up
That’s it for now, and where things stand. My efforts moving forward will be a smaller and more focused version of my business, but it’s one I can manage without stretching myself past my limits. Whether you’re here for the occasional free updates or you decide to join the paid tier, your support helps me keep doing this work.
If you have computer repair needs and are in Red Deer, you know where to find me. And if you just want to follow along, stick around—you’ll hear from me when there’s something worth sharing. I can also help remotely to some degree.
If you’d like to help keep this going, consider becoming a paid subscriber for $5 per month, or reach out to book a repair. Every bit of support, whether it’s a subscription, a repair job, or just sharing my work with someone who might need it, makes a difference.
Thanks for reading,
Kevin