Configuring Antivirus Software for Efficient Scanning That Doesn't Slow Your PC
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.
Windows Live Essentials For Windows 8 - What You Need To Know
Microsoft is in the process of phasing out Windows Essentials, formerly known as Windows Live Essentials. Microsoft has included Modern-style replacements for many of the Essentials applications in Windows 8 – email, calendaring, contacts, messaging, photo management, and cloud file storage are all built in. However, some Windows Essentials applications have no Modern equivalent, and you may want to the desktop versions of some applications.
Everything You Need to Know About Managing Chrome Bookmarks
Chrome has a number of features to help you sync, easily access, manage, sort, and tidy your bookmarks. Some people manage just fine without bookmarks, but not most of us. If you use the Chrome browser -- and bookmarks -- we'll help you make maximum use of bookmarks in Chrome. Bookmarks are deceptively simple, but there's a lot you can do with them.
Making Linux a Genuine Windows Replacement
With Windows 8 casting a long shadow over the PC industry and Valve committing to create Linux-based gaming PCs, there's never been a better time to start using Linux. For many users, the Linux desktop is now there -- so many applications have moved to the cloud, hardware support has improved, and the desktop has been polished. You can even watch Netflix and play a variety of games on Steam -- two big holes that have been filled recently.
Not Just Search: 10+ Google Services You Have to Know About
We all know Google is more than just a search engine: It’s an suite web-based applications and services for everything from email to calendaring, document editing, and file storage. It's even an online media store. However, that isn't all Google can do. There are quite a few useful but lesser-known Google services you should know about. There’s something everybody can make use of here.
Make Windows 8 Sexier With These Background & Theme Tweaks
Does your Windows 8 system look too bland with the default settings? You can customize it in a variety of ways, changing a variety of backgrounds and colors -- whether on the Start screen, lock screen, or desktop. Your Windows 8 system can be a subdued interface with dark colors and muted backgrounds, a tableau of bright colors and colorful flowers, or anything in between.
7 Windows 8 Niggles Resolved
Windows 8 has a number of features that can be annoying to experienced users of the traditional Windows desktop. From adding a Start menu to disabling the bulky ribbon, noisy live tiles, and unnecessary lock screen, you can easily fix a variety of problems you have with Windows 8. Some of these tricks will also help you master Windows 8 as it’s meant to be used.
Making the Most of Google Drive With Integrated Apps
Google Drive can be used to sync files between your computers, but that’s just one of its many features. Google wants Google Drive to be your new cloud hard drive, accessible from any device. To help make this happen, Google allows third-party apps to integrate with Drive. A Google Drive app works like a regular web app, except that it doesn’t store its files on its own web servers – it stores them in your Google Drive account.
Get There Faster - 10 Google Maps & Navigation Tips
Google Maps is still the most powerful mapping service ever, despite what Apple might say. Whether you’re using Google Maps in a browser on your desktop or an app on your mobile phone, Google Maps is packed with useful features, some of which are a bit hidden. Even better, the Google Maps app works in concert with the Google Maps website on your computer.
Race To Your Smartphone Or Tablet's Limits With Riptide GP [Android & iOS]
Riptide GP shows just how much graphical power modern smartphones and tablets have. This game offers more than just great graphics, however – there’s a great racing game here. It even uses realistic water physics that affect the gameplay. You’ll need a device with some graphical power to really enjoy this game. We played Riptide GP on a Nexus 7 and the graphics were great – don’t let anyone tell you Android don’t have great games.
7 Windows Frustrations You Can Quickly Fix
Windows might be popular, but it isn’t perfect. There are a number of frustrating things that can occur while using a Windows desktop – from windows disappearing off your screen to annoying pop-ups and notification messages. We’ll show you how to quickly fix these common Windows frustrations and get back to work (or play).
Want Internet Explorer 9 for Windows XP? Try These Browser Alternatives
Google has dropped support for Internet Explorer 8, and they aren’t the only organization to do so. While you can’t use Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 9 without upgrading to a newer version of Windows, there are a variety of modern browsers that still support Windows XP. Let’s be honest – IE 8 isn’t much better than Internet Explorer 6. Even Internet Explorer 9 offers much better support for HTML5 and other modern technologies.
Run Multiple Operating Systems At Once With VMware Player
We’ve lavished attention on VirtualBox here at MakeUseOf, and for good reason. However, VirtualBox isn’t your only option for creating and using free virtual machines. VMware Player, VMware’s free product, is every bit as good as VirtualBox for many users. You may even prefer it to VirtualBox. VMware Player runs on Windows and Linux.
Process Explorer - The Most Powerful Task Manager Replacement [Windows]
Let’s be honest, the Windows Task Manager isn’t that great for understanding and managing the processes running on your computer. Even on Windows 8, where it’s much-improved, the task manager can’t come close to the power of Process Explorer. It’s part of the Sysinternals set of tools that Microsoft purchased – and for good reason. They’re among the most powerful system utilities for Windows.
Bring Back the Google Search Sidebar With These Tools
Change is the only constant. This is becoming even more true as we rely on web apps that can change out from under us. One day you’re using a familiar interface with features you rely on, and the next day you open your browser to realize that the interface you rely on is gone. We’re naturally wired to dislike change – even positive change – but not all change is for the best.
What You Need to Know About Securing Your Twitter Account
Twitter accounts are juicy targets for scammers and malware distributors. Once someone compromises your Twitter account, they can send out tweets with links to scams and malware, bombarding your followers with their junk. Strengthen your Twitter account’s security and prevent it from being used to attack your followers with these tips.
Modern Or Broken? Important Tips For Troubleshooting Windows 8 Apps
Windows 8 is shiny and new, bringing an entirely new and different application model and ecosystem. No matter how experienced you are at troubleshooting previous versions of Windows, you won’t be fully prepared to start troubleshooting Windows 8 when you first sit down with it. We’ve gathered some Windows 8 app troubleshooting tips. This is all still new to everyone, so this isn’t the ultimate guide to troubleshooting Windows 8 apps. That will come later.
How to Make Windows 8 Go Faster: 8 Tips For Improving Performance
Whatever you think of Windows 8 (at MakeUseOf, our opinions are mixed), it’s certainly speedy. Windows 8 boots faster than previous versions of Windows, has lower memory usage, and has a desktop that feels nice and snappy. Like all versions of Windows, Windows 8 has a variety of settings you can tweak to speed things up and make it even faster. Some of the tips here also apply to previous versions of Windows, but Windows 8 has some new tricks up its sleeve.
Top 12 Jelly Bean Tips For A New Google Tablet Experience
Android Jelly Bean 4.2, initially shipped on the Nexus 7, provides a great new tablet experience that outshines previous versions of Android. It even impressed our resident Apple fan. If you have a Nexus 7, Nexus 10, or another tablet running the latest version of Android, be sure to read these tips to make full use of your tablet.
4 Surprising Ways To Encrypt Your Data
Encryption is often considered the playground of geeks alone, but it doesn’t have to be. Encryption just means that information is scrambled and you can only access the real information with a special password or key. On an Internet where we don’t want our credit card numbers and other sensitive data exposed to prying eyes, encryption is an important tool.