5 Ways to Add Touch to a Windows 8 Computer
Windows 8's Start screen and "Modern" apps can feel awkward to use on a non-touch PC, but they really start to make sense when paired with a touch PC. If you're not ready to go out and buy a new Windows 8 laptop with touch, tablet, convertible, or all-in-one PC, here are some ways you can add touch support to your existing system. There is a reason Microsoft is pushing hard to integrate touch support into all future PCs. None of these methods is as ideal as having a PC that comes with native touch support.
Better Than a Notepad: The 3 Fastest Ways To Jot Down Notes on Android
Whether you need to jot down ideas for your next project or items you want to pick up at the store, it's always good to have something ready for taking notes. Many people carry around a pen and paper in addition to their smartphones -- a pen and paper is just faster than many note-taking solutions. We'll try to beat a physical notepad by looking at the fastest way to take notes on Android.
How To Sync Your Windows 8 Settings Via The Cloud
Logging into your Windows 8 computers with a Microsoft account enables access to the Windows Store and other Modern apps, but it's also used to sync Windows 8 settings with the Cloud. Your settings will be synced between all your Windows 8 computers and tablets, or backed up with your Microsoft account. Syncing is enabled by default. However, you can choose to disable sync entirely or sync only certain types of settings between your computers and tablets.
Has Windows 8 Failed in the Market, or Only in Your Mind?
Is Windows 8 a failure? People who dislike Windows 8 generally say it is. But has Windows 8 really failed in the marketplace, or do we just think Windows 8 has failed? One thing's for sure: Windows 8 definitely hasn't succeeded in the short term. However, Microsoft is playing the long game with Windows 8 -- they're laying the groundwork for future success. Whether they'll succeed is unclear, but Windows 8 hasn't failed yet -- it's preparing for the battle to come.
How To Do Your Research Before You Download Free Software
Before downloading a free program, you should be sure it's trustworthy. Determining whether a download is safe is a basic skill, but one everyone needs -- particularly on Windows. Use these tips to ensure you download only trustworthy and safe free software, not bad software that will infect your computer with adware, spyware, or maybe even something worse.
Avoid Window Overload: 5 Great Tools To Manage Multiple Windows
Using the Windows desktop involves managing windows. Some people may use full-screen windows, but power users know that the key to being productive is having multiple windows visible at a time, whether you're using multiple monitors or the side-by-side Aero Snap feature in Windows. Sadly, the Windows desktop still lacks many useful window-management features. However, you can get many great new Windows desktop features by installing third-party utilities.
Upgrading to Windows 8? Get Settled In Faster with these Tips
If it's about time you purchase a new computer, that computer is probably going to come with Windows 8. Microsoft hasn't included a tutorial with Windows 8 -- aside from the cryptic "move your mouse into any corner" line -- so you'll need to do a bit of research to get up to speed with the latest version of Windows. Most users agree the key to getting along with Windows 8 is ignoring as much of the new interface as possible. Start with finding the desktop.
8 Features Missing in Windows 8 and How to Get Them Back
Microsoft removed a variety of features from Windows 8. Many of them aren't great losses to most people, but they are if you depended on them. Luckily, Windows 8 isn't yet a locked-down mobile operating system, no matter how hard Microsoft is trying to make it into one. Most important features can be restored with high-quality alternatives, but replacements for other features are nowhere near as polished as Microsoft has removed the necessary theming code.
The Clean Droid: How To Bulk Uninstall Android Apps You Don't Use
If you're like me, there's a good chance you install lots of Android apps to try them out. From the latest popular mobile games to new and potentially useful utilities, these apps build up over time. They eventually begin to clutter your app drawer with icons you never tap and fill your storage with app data you'll never use. Luckily, there's a fast way to uninstall multiple apps at once.
Is the Microsoft Fix It Service Really Any Good? [MakeUseOf Tests]
Have computer problems? Microsoft's Fix It service attempts to fix them for you. If you've browsed Microsoft's help pages, you've probably seen a variety of "Fix It" programs you can run to quickly fix a problem without walking through a complicated troubleshooting process. We've covered the Fix It Center in the past, but now we're really going to put Microsoft's Fix It service to the test.
Did You Know Windows 8 Has a Built-In Time Machine Backup?
We sometimes forget with all the focus on Windows 8's new "Modern" interface, but Windows 8 has a variety of great desktop improvements. One of them is File History, a built-in backup feature that functions similarly to Apple's much-loved Time Machine. Enable File History and Windows will automatically back up your files to an external or network drive. You'll be able to restore previous versions from these backups.
Connect Your Xbox 360 Controller To Your Linux Gaming Rig
Linux gaming rigs? Yup, they’re happening. With Valve’s Steam on Linux and a forthcoming Valve Steambox using Steam to run Linux games, the future is looking up for gaming on Linux. You can even install Ubuntu and Steam on a computer today, plugging it into your TV and using the big picture mode interface. The missing piece of the hardware puzzle is a controller. Luckily, Microsoft’s ubiquitous Xbox 360 controller functions well with Linux.
5 Ways To Improve YouTube Comments
YouTube's comments section is one of the worst places on the web. On an Internet already full of nonsense no sane, intelligent person would want to spend their time reading, YouTube's comment section stands out. Whenever you're using YouTube, you might accidentally scroll down and see the stream of useless, nonsensical, and obnoxious comments. The people who left comments on bathroom stall walls in the days before the web seem to have migrated to YouTube.
How To Resolve Windows 8 Boot Issues
Windows 8 uses a new "hybrid boot" feature to improve boot times. When you shut down, your computer doesn't actually shut down normally - it performs a sort of limited "hibernate" that stores a state with drivers, services, and other software loaded into memory. When your computer boots, it doesn't need to reinitialize all your hardware, load drivers, and load services - it simply loads the state from your hard drive and continues the boot-up process.
2 Tools For Converting Movies For Viewing On a Smartphone
Movie files are generally not optimized for the smartphone. They often take up too much space and may be encoded in a format that the smartphone can't play back very easily. If the movie in question is on a physical DVD, it will need to be "ripped" into a standard video file before you can play it. Video conversion isn't as essential as it used to be when playing videos on a modern smartphone.
Amazing Windows 8 Themes You Need To See
Windows has always had an active community of enthusiasts who customize everything about it, including its desktop theme. Although Microsoft tries to prevent this, Windows 8's desktop can be themed just like Windows 7's. We've covered tweaking your Windows 8 PC's appearance before, but you can go much farther than just changing the desktop theme's colors.
6 Ways To Add & Remove Modern Apps In Windows 8
Modern apps on Windows 8 work very differently than traditional Windows desktop apps. They're always installed from the Windows Store (unless you're a developer or on a corporate network) and aren't uninstalled from the traditional Control Panel. Windows 8's Modern interface doesn't quite offer the same wealth of app stores available for the Windows desktop - the Windows Store is the only game in town.
What You Need to Know About Removing Android Bloatware
Lots of phones come with annoying pre-installed software, but you can remove it. Here's how.
Wondering Why Windows 8 Doesn't Have A Modern Explorer App? Try These
Windows 8 doesn’t come with a Modern file explorer app, forcing tablet users to peck at the small targets in the File Explorer window on the desktop. But this is Windows 8, not Windows XP Tablet PC Edition – you can install a Modern file explorer app and have a much better touch experience.