Daily Archives: November 30, 2015
Free up iPhone storage space
by Ryan Johnson, technology training coordinator
Your iPhone automatically saves all multimedia attachments you send or receive via text in hidden galleries within your Messages app. If you like to share videos or other large files, these attachments might be taking up more storage space than you realize, since they’re tucked away and not saved in your Photo Stream or Video gallery.
That’s kind of a big deal, especially for those of us with 16 GB iPhones. Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to locate and clear out these files to free up some storage space.
To see how much space your Messages app is taking up, go to Settings > General >Storage & iCloud Usage > Manage Storage. You’ll see a breakdown of how much space each of your apps uses, and, chances are, Messages will be one of the heaviest.
Now that you know how much room your attachments are taking up, go root them out! Open Messages and click on any of your current message threads, as if you were going to send a text to that contact, then tap on Details in the top right:
Under Details, you’ll see information about the contact from that message thread, as well as options to share your location, mute the conversation and, lastly, view your Attachments.
To purge one of these files, tap and hold on it. You’ll see three options: Copy, Delete or More. Tap Delete, and the attachment will be erased.
If you want to delete multiple attachments at once, tap the More option, and you’ll be able to select as many files as you want. Once you’re done, click the trash icon in the bottom right and you’ll delete all those items.
Tech Update reminder
The next Tech Update will be held from 10:30 a.m. – noon, on Dec. 1, in Foster Auditorium and MediaSite Live
Agenda:
- Ryan Wetzel from ETS will be discussing the 3D printing lab, the Innovation Lab in the Knowledge Commons and LittleBits.
- Karen Estlund will discuss Two-Factor Authentication(2FA)
- Binky Lush will provide the latest Drupal update.
- Ryan Johnson will be providing information on the new EDUROAM Wireless Available at Penn State and various Universities and how to connect.
If you cannot participate in person please join us via MediaSite Live: http://live.libraries.psu.edu/
Once logged in, click “I-Tech” on the left nav bar in the Mediasite catalog.
LHR News: Nov. 30
Please join us in welcoming the following new hires:
Full-time:
11/30/15 Daniel Peters – IT Support Specialist, ITech
Weather reminder
As the winter months approach, it is good to reacquaint yourself with the University’s policies for dealing with inclement weather. University guideline HRG-10 “Handling ‘Weather Day’ Absences” and Libraries guideline UL-HRG-09 “Weather/Emergency” provide guidance for days when bad weather threatens. Please read and be familiar with them. The University has several official channels of communication for information about campus closures. They include:
• PSUAlert (news alerts sent to cell phones as SMS messages). Employees must register to receive the message (http://psualert.psu.edu/) Libraries’ employees at all locations are strongly urged to register for this service.
• WPSU Radio (91.5 in central Pennsylvania, other frequencies throughout the state)
• WPSU website (wpsu.org)
• Penn State News
Employees at campuses other than University Park should check for the preferred communication channels at their campus.
It is our responsibility as employees to monitor appropriate communication channels when bad weather conditions are threatening and look for closure or delayed opening information.
Only the President, Chief Executive Officer, or Campus Dean has the authority to declare a closure, delayed opening, or early dismissal. At the same time, we encourage all employees to use sound judgement and decide for themselves if travel conditions are safe. In the absence of an official closing, if you do not come to work because of unsafe conditions, you will need to use vacation or personal holiday time to receive pay for work time missed.
When an official closing is declared, University policy describes how employees in “essential services” are handled. The Libraries are not considered essential services under this policy. In the event of a closure, Library employees are not required to work. In rare instances the Libraries may decide to remain open during an official closure. Supervisors have defined minimum staffing requirements to continue operations, and will work with employees to identify who is willing and able to safely stay at/come to work under these circumstances.
If for any reason you miss a closure announcement, and come to work and find the Libraries closed, you should return home if it is safe to do so. Staying on campus presents a number of safety concerns. In addition, OPP crews are working hard to clear roads, sidewalks and parking lots. Your presence may create an obstacle to them doing their jobs effectively. If you find that it is unsafe to return home, and want to stay and work, it is important to know that you must get your supervisor’s approval to do so. If they are not in the building it is appropriate to contact them at home.
Departments are encouraged to talk about the potential impact of closures, delayed openings, and early dismissals in advance, especially when bad weather is in the forecast.
Events: Nov. 30
Mon., Nov. 30, noon: Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow Presentation on “Teacher Education in El Salvador, Iran, & the Philippines,” Foster Auditorium.
Tues., Dec. 1, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.: Tech Update, Foster Auditorium. Agenda:
- Ryan Wetzel from ETS will be discussing the 3D printing lab, the Innovation Lab in the Knowledge Commons and LittleBits.
- Karen Estlund will discuss Two-Factor Authentication(2FA).
- Binky Lush will provide the latest Drupal Update.
- Ryan Johnson will be providing information on the new EDUROAM Wireless Available at Penn State and various Universities and how to connect.
Wed., December 2, 5:30–6:30 p.m.: Identity Theft, Protecting Yourself, Mann Assembly Room, Paterno Library. Identity theft can compromise your personal and financial records and disrupt your life, and it can take years to restore your good name and financial reputation. In this workshop, Penn State’s Financial Literacy Manager, Daad Rizk will help you learn how to protect yourself and what to do if identity theft happens to you.
Wed., Dec. 2, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.: United Way Craft Sale, Mann Assembly Room.
*** The Dec. 3 web migration forum has been postponed. The next forum is planned for 10:30 a.m., Jan. 13. ***
Farming in Peru — Dan Tobin
Thurs., Dec. 3, noon: New Markets, Old Ways: Value Chains and Native Potatoes in the Peruvian Highlands, presented by Dan Tobin, Foster Aud. and MediaSite Live. In the Peruvian highlands, smallholding farmers conserve thousands of varieties of native potatoes using traditional methods and indigenous knowledge. This seminar will present a case study that investigated how new market opportunities influence production.
Tues., Dec. 8, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Penn State Press Annual Book Sale, Kern Building Lobby. 30% off all titles! Also open to the public. See blog post for details.
Dr. Marcus Whitehurst
Thurs., Dec 10, 2-3 p.m.: Dean’s Diversity Forum, presented by Marcus A. Whitehurst, vice provost for Educational Equity, Foster Auditorium and Media Site Live. Whitehurst, who has nearly 20 years of experience in educational leadership, was appointed Penn State’s vice provost for Educational Equity on Sept. 1, after holding the position in an interim capacity for more than a year. The vice provost for the Office of Educational Equity oversees 13 units with 75 staff members, in addition to working collaboratively with a number of offices both within and outside the University. That includes overseeing the Office of Disability Services, the Equal Opportunity Planning Committee, the Multicultural Resource Center, the Office of Veterans Programs, and a number of student support services and programs.
Sun., Dec. 13 through Tues., Dec. 15, 3–8 p.m.: DeStress Fest. Volunteers needed for some shifts. Sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040b4cada929a13-destress
Mon., Dec. 21, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Cookies Around the World, Mann Assembly Room. Do you have a favorite cookie recipe to share? Would you like to sample some traditional cookies made by your colleagues? Join the Diversity Committee for this tasty pre-holiday event with a global theme. It will be held over lunch, so bring your lunch too. Sign up information coming after Thanksgiving: stay tuned!
Save the date:
Discovery Day will be held on Thursday, June 2, 2016 this year. If you would like to be a part of this year’s committee please contact Ann Snowman, ams32@psu.edu