Indexing, trash bins, folder positions – OS X keeps track of all these things, on every drive connected to your Mac, by creating files. These files are fine on a Mac – OS X uses them regularly, and hides them from the user. Plug a drive mainly used with Windows into a Mac, however, and in Windows you’ll see a variety of useless files cluttering things up. Do you want to stop the madness? You can.

Free up some space on your Mac – delete languages you will never use. Monolingual is a simple Mac app that anyone looking for more hard drive space should check out. Modern hard drives are big, but sometimes we all need just a little more space on our primary drive. Whether you’ve installed a solid state drive in your Mac or simply filled up your primary one, sometimes a little extra space can help a lot.

Access sites like Hulu, CBS, iTV and Pandora regardless of which country you’re in. Even better, there’s no need to change your DNS settings or set up a VPN. Hola Unblocker is an Android app, a browser extension and a program for Windows that makes bypassing region restrictions a snap. Seriously, this app could not get any easier to use. The web is full of great media content – if you live in the right country. Otherwise, it’s blocked for most of the world.

Bring the best features of Windows to OS X. You did not read that incorrectly. Many Mac users won’t admit it, but there are some pretty nice features in Windows – particularly Windows 7 and later. Maximizing apps in a way that isn’t seemingly random, resizing your windows by dragging them to a particular side or easily hiding notification icons are just a few things Microsoft’s brought to the desktop that Apple hasn’t got around to (yet?)

So you’ve installed Windows 8. You’ve figured out how to get your favorite desktop programs working, and now you’re wondering what the Metro environment has to offer. Say what you will about the new Windows 8 Metro interface – called “Modern” by Microsoft – but one thing it’s done is create an ecosystem of apps. [...]

Do you want to get more out of your iPhone? Check out the second part of our in-depth guide to Apple’s premier phone. The second of a three part series from author Tim Brookes, this 12-lesson guide outlines everything from the camera to the App Store. Lesson-by-lesson, we’ll take you through your phone’s many functions, from the very basics to more advanced operations and features you might not have even been aware of.

Tweak Gmail to work exactly the way you want it to. Whether you want to integrate social media icons in your signature, see more information about your contacts, or deal with an email later instead of now, Chrome’s seemingly endless collection of extensions has you covered. If you’re looking to get the most out of Gmail, you’ve come to the right place.

Strip down YouTube until only what you want is left – the videos. Cleanr Video is a simple extension for Chrome, Firefox and Safari that removes everything – and I mean everything – from YouTube beyond what you absolutely need. Comments, recommended videos, ads – all gone, and in their place white space. If minimalism sounds good, this is one to check out.

Securely store your passwords. Complete with encryption and a decent password generator – not to mention plugins for Chrome and Firefox – KeePass just might be the best password management system out there. If you read our password management guide you will know the importance of having diverse passwords. Sure, using one password for all of your online services is simple…until someone compromises one of your accounts.

You insert a DVD into your Windows 8 computer – you want to watch a movie. Nothing happens. You try opening Windows Media Player. It can’t play the disk. What’s going on with Windows 8 and DVDs? And for that matter, Blu-ray discs? You’re not the first person to ask this, and you won’t be the last. The answer, basically, is that Windows 8 cannot play DVDs or Blu-Ray disks out of the box.

Re-live the thrill of playing classic games like Mario, Sonic and Megaman for the first time – thanks to fan creations. If you want to play new versions of your favorite retro classics – but don’t want to wait for the company behind them to put something out – it’s time to dig into the vast array of fan-made, free to play retro remakes from around the web.

Quickly make an animated GIF of anything. GifCam is a free, portable app for Windows that provides you with a simple frame. Resize and position it, then hit record – everything that happens within that frame will be recorded. It’s the easiest way to create your own GIF of just about anything — from desktop demonstrations to clips from any video, online or off. If you love creating GIFs, but wish the process was quicker, you need to check this app out.

Are you struggling to learn the basics of your iPhone? If so, then check out our free, in-depth beginner’s guide to Apple’s premier phone. The first of a three part series of manuals from author Tim Brookes, this 14-lesson guide outlines everything from the lock screen to Safari. Lesson-by-lesson we’ll take you through your phone’s many functions, from the very basics to more advanced operations and features you might not have even been aware of.

What’s up with user accounts in Windows 8? It’s not complicated – Microsoft wants everyone to use an online account to sign into their desktop operating system. Sure, they offer an offline equivalent, but they also made a few features available only to online accounts – the entire app store, for example. It’s clear Microsoft would rather you use an online account, regardless of what you yourself would prefer.

Remember when SimCity first came out? When you sank days into what by modern standards is a simple simulation? Nothing quite like it existed before, and it took the world by storm – and killed more than a few of your weekends. Well, you can experience the original city simulation all over again – free of charge. Micropolis is a free city simulator you’ll almost certainly find familiar – but it’s not just some clone.