February 17, 2013
When I'm listening to music downloaded to a local drive, I don't need Spotify or iTunes in charge of my music. I've slowly started to fall in love with a new, free, and portable alternative to Winamp Lite that seems to incorporate the same elements of simplicity while also offering some really awesome extra functionality. Let me tell you about Hokrain!
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February 16, 2013
It's been about three months since Microsoft released Windows 8, and people have had lots of time to hear about what's new and decide whether they wish to upgrade. If you have decided to commit to the upgrade, you need to be sure that your system is capable of handling the new software, or else burn a useless hole in your wallet.
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February 15, 2013
One of the fastest ways to clog up your hard drive is to store duplicate files. Most of the time, you probably aren’t even aware that you have duplicate files. They come from a variety of places: accidental copies, misplaced files, multiple downloads, etc. But one thing is for sure: they can really bog you down.
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February 14, 2013
Windows 8 hasn’t quite taken off yet, but this shortcoming certainly isn’t due to a lack of apps. After all, there are several years’ worth of traditional Windows desktop apps to fall back on! As for those optimized for use under the Start screen and the Modern UI, however, there are several that really take advantage of the platform and its new visual style.
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February 13, 2013
I continue suggesting to everyone that running Ad-Aware is a good idea. It doesn't necessarily have to be run exclusively as the only anti-virus software, but I've found that the Ad-Aware team has done a fantastic job identifying the adware that exists out there, and it's always Ad-Aware that spots it, when the standard AV software remains silent.
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February 10, 2013
One thing that has managed to turn me away from Spotify for quite a long time is its limited support in hotkeys and media keys. Spotify works great with a select few Logitech keyboards, but not so much with hundreds of others. For years, I've been a loyal user of Winamp Lite because of the awesome support for global hotkeys. Spotify has yet to improve in this area, but luckily enough there are third-party developers who are willing to pick up that slack for them.
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February 9, 2013
Play a new version of Windows classic Minesweeper, complete with XBox achievements and a brand new adventure mode. Yep, I'm writing an article about Minesweeper. And why shouldn't I? It's a game that's been included by default with Windows since forever, a comforting relic from the 90's that until recently came with every new PC . No longer though. Windows 8 is the first version not to come with Minesweeper at setup.
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February 9, 2013
Great software can be hard to come by. That is why there are a select few that stand out and become increasingly popular. What defines "great software"? Typically a program should be practical and useful, lightweight - even portable, feature-packed, and to top it all off, free. Fotografix is all of those and that is why it landed a spot in the Image Editors and Viewers category on our Best Of Portable Apps page.
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February 8, 2013
Antivirus software is important on Windows, but it can slow down your computer. The on-access scanning that protects you from malware means your antivirus has to scan every file you access before it actually opens. Luckily, there are a variety of ways to speed things up without losing security. Heavy antivirus programs can slow down a computer - particularly an older computer running an older, poorly optimized security suite.
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February 8, 2013
Whichever way you look at it, Windows 8 has been a controversial release. The latest version of Microsoft’s domestic operating system has built in touch and no Start button on the Desktop view, something that has led many to avoid it. This is a shame as beyond the Start screen and Charms bar, things run pretty much as they always did. One area in which Windows 8’s Desktop isn’t quite the same as Windows 7, however, is in the selection of themes.
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February 8, 2013
I've run into a bit of a problem lately. I've started using one browser for basic purposes, then another for everything Flash-based (such as games). Flash just feels faster in one browser, without heavy add-ons or extensions, compared to another. And then how many IM clients do we all use? I personally still use ICQ! I've got friends there who refuse to budge. Skype is also a necessity. How many programs must we run, simultaneously, that ultimately do the same job?
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February 7, 2013
Make Windows 8 usable for people who think it's not. Add a start menu to the desktop and tweak the way Explorer and Internet Explorer behave, all thanks to a piece of software called Classic Shell. If you like tweaking your user interface, and miss the options provided by previous versions of Windows, you'll love this software.
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February 6, 2013
TrustedInstaller is a built-in user account in Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista. This user account "owns" a variety of system files, including some files in your Program Files folder, your Windows folder, and even the Windows.old folder that is created after you upgrade from one version of Windows to another. To rename or delete these files, you’ll have to take ownership of them away from the TrustedInstaller user account.
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February 6, 2013
Photoshop virtuosos who can work their magic with the clone tools, know what a mask and content fill is will probably appreciate the labor it takes to touch up a photo. Inpaint flattens out the learning curve while helping you to keep your savings from bottoming out. It costs only $19.99 and comes for both Windows and Mac. But you can claim one of 18 free licenses using your MakeUseOf points!
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February 5, 2013
Every now and then I'll learn a little tip that makes me think "well, if I known that a year ago then it'd have saved me hours of time". I vividly remember learning how to use the copy and paste functions, all on my own, as a kid. It was like the entire Internet had just become twice as easy for me. Environment variables are a little-known detail of Windows, if you're a novice user. They belong in this same realm of time-saving conversation.
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