Showing posts with label Latest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Latest. Show all posts
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The new MacBook is a great travel laptop

Posted by MN Farani at 10:58:00 am
There are a lot of innovations crammed into Apple's latest MacBook, including a 12-in. Retina display, a new Force Touch trackpad, a full-size keyboard that's been redesigned to compensate for the device's size, the introduction of USB-C (a new USB standard featuring a reversible connection) and cleverly stacked batteries for maximum space efficiency. Also, for the first time, Apple is offering the MacBook in space gray, silver and gold, the same colors it offers in the iPhone and iPad lineup.

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But looking past the specs, the question is: What is the new MacBook like as a day-to-day system? I spent a month with the MacBook -- including two round-trip car rides between Orlando, Fla. and Providence, R.I. -- in an attempt to find out.

The unit I reviewed is the $1,299 model, which is equipped with a dual-core 1.1GHz Intel Core M processor (designed around the Broadwell system architecture); the built-in Turbo Boost can clock the processor to 2.4GHz on an as-needed basis. An Intel HD Graphics 5300 chip powers the 12-in. 2304 x 1440 Retina display that has an aspect ratio of 16:10. This entry-level model also comes with 8GB of 1600MHz LPDDR3 memory (that cannot be upgraded) and 256GB of PCIe-based onboard flash storage. There is also a $1,599 version that features a dual-core 1.2GHz processor and 512GB of PCIe-based onboard flash storage.

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The only configurable option is to upgrade the processor to a 1.3GHz dual-core Intel Core M (Turbo Boost up to 2.9GHz) for an additional $250 on the entry model or $150 more on the higher-end model. All other features are locked into place.

The rest of the new MacBook's features include a 480p FaceTime camera for video calls that's hidden in the center of the display's black border; a stereo port on the right side; a backlit keyboard with ambient light sensor; Bluetooth 4; 802.11ac Wi-Fi; stereo speakers above the keyboard; and dual microphones (used for noise cancellation).


A small laptop with a full-size keyboard

This is a computer that makes the MacBook Air look huge. When I wrote my first impressions regarding this computer, I said that reading the dimensions (7.74 x 11.04 x 0.14-0.52 in. when the lid is shut, weighing in at slightly over 2 lb.) hardly does it justice. After using it for nearly a month, the size and weight are still a surprise.

It's also surprising how quickly I became accustomed to the MacBook's edge-to-edge keyboard, which had to be redesigned to fit the device's profile. Instead of going with a traditional scissor mechanism for the keys, a new butterfly method was invented that resulted in a shorter throw without the wobbly key travel that usually happens if you press the edge of a key while typing. Apple also enlarged the keys by 17%, leaving much smaller gaps between each.

The combination of short key travel, larger keys and the rigid behavior of key presses due to the new design really changes the feel of typing -- something not everyone will like. Some reviewers have panned the new keyboard: For example, one blogger stated that pressing the keys feels like pressing an iPhone's home button. And that's actually a pretty accurate comparison. As for me -- after a while, I grew accustomed to it, and now I prefer it.

Another redesigned element is the new Force Touch trackpad. The MacBook's glass-coated trackpad shares a similar aspect ratio to the display -- but that's not what makes this tech special. The trackpad -- also available in the 13- and 15-in MacBook Pro lineup -- is built around four force sensors that can detect how much pressure is applied; this, in turn, can trigger different behaviors, depending on which application is in use.

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For example, unlike the previous trackpad, which used a spring mechanism for tactile feedback when clicking, the Force Touch's haptic engine produces physical feedback that simulates a click when the trackpad is pressed. When pressed harder than a normal tap, the trackpad responds with a double-tap, triggering contextually sensitive results: Force-clicking a link in Safari, for instance, will open the link in a preview window; force-click on a word and OS X will display its definition. In the QuickTime app, the amount of pressure exerted when pressing will adjust the speed at which movies are fast-forwarded and rewound, while applications like iMovie offer haptic feedback in the form of a subtle tap when you reach the end of a clip. (The force feedback sensitivity and feedback can be adjusted in the System Preferences / Trackpad pane.)

As with the keyboard, there's just enough give to provide mechanical feedback, but the new trackpad definitely has a different feel -- a feel that some long-time users might not like. I took to it right away, and the more I used it, the more I appreciated it. I love the multitouch trackpad on Apple devices, and while haptic feedback has been around in game controllers for a long time now, the way the Force Touch tech is implemented just makes Apple's notebook lineup better. I'm really looking forward to what app developers do with this technology.

A great Retina display

The MacBook has a Retina display with over 3.3 million pixels squeezed into its 12 inches, adding up to 226 pixels per inch. OS X's High Dots Per Inch (HiDPI) feature scales the interface to fit on the display; it can be adjusted under System Preferences / Displays by selecting Scaled interface instead of Default. On the MacBook, you can scale the resolution to 1024 x 640, 1152 x 720, 1280 x 800 (the default setting) or 1440 x 900.

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In use, the display produces text and graphics that are sharp and easy to read, even on the small screen and no matter which resolution you choose. Colors are crisp and bright. If you're accustomed to Apple's Retina displays, you shouldn't be disappointed.

Long battery life, reasonable performance

The MacBook features battery cells that have been designed to take up as much space within the device as possible. Apple states that you can get up to nine hours of Web browsing and 10 hours of movie playing, and my tests weren't that far off the mark. With light MacBook use, the battery lasted for days. As a continuous use test, I played a 55GB video file of all three Lord of the Rings extended cuts; I was able to watch the first nine and a half hours in iTunes before the battery cut out. (I could have squeezed more out of it, but I kept the display at 80% brightness and left features like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.)

The size and weight of the MacBook is fantastic for travel, but it comes at the expense of performance. The MacBook's speed is fine for tasks like Web browsing, email, editing text and even editing videos; throughout it all, the UI remains pretty responsive, mostly thanks to the PCIe-based system architecture and flash storage. However, the system trips up when it comes to processor-intensive tasks -- so you can edit a movie using iMovie, but actually exporting the project will take a while.

I exported a couple of projects and compared the MacBook's timing to that of my 2013 15-in. MacBook Pro. The results weren't pretty: The first project, a three-minute video of my father chasing a stubborn rooster that I shot using a drone, took one minute and 34 seconds to export using the MacBook but only 46 seconds using the Pro. A complex 20-minute video assembled from family vacation footage exported in eight minutes and 49 seconds using the Pro, yet took nearly 40 minutes to export from the MacBook.


On the other hand, this computer is almost eerily silent; it makes zero noise. You will never have to worry about the sound of a fan whirring away or the click-clack of a hard drive being accessed.

Considering USB-C

One thing I will really miss is the MagSafe connector, which, because of its easy detachabilitly, has saved my bacon on many occasions in the past. Besides the stereo port on the right, the only physical connector on this computer is the USB-C port, which doesn't detach when pulled.

USB-C is nice. It will be better when it catches on and more peripherals use it. Meanwhile, users might find a need for an adapter or two, as that sole port is also used to power the machine.

Apple sells a USB-C to USB converter for $19. You can purchase a USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter or a USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter that lets you connect to power, a USB device and external video out via HDMI or VGA, respectively, for $79 each. There is also an external USB SuperDrive ($79) if you want DVD/CD writing/reading, but you must also purchase the USB-C to USB cable for it to work. If your lifestyle involves traveling often, without needing accessories that are not wireless, this will work; but some might want to look into using a hub of sorts at home base.

Bottom line

The new MacBook is Apple skating to where the puck will be, and for that reason, it may not be suitable for every user. But, as a whole, it's a gorgeous, tiny, full-fledged OS X computer. It's a wonder that Apple was able to provide a high-resolution Retina display, a full-size keyboard and a full-size multitouch trackpad with such a long-lasting battery on a device this size.

The new MacBook isn't the fastest Mac ever -- but then again, with a size and weight perfect for traveling, it doesn't need to be. The MacBook offers a full OS X 10 experience in a package nearly as portable as the iPad. If your digital lifestyle is mostly on-the-go with an emphasis on wireless, this could be the computer for you.
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Best Tech Gift Ideas for High School Graduates

Posted by MN Farani at 11:37:00 am

No matter where the next phase of life is taking them, high school grads appreciate tech gifts. Laptops have been a gift staple for years, and graduates still love them. With prices starting as low as $399, an Apple iPad also may be a sound investment. Apple has teamed up with publishers to bring more textbooks to the iPad, so it’s a particularly good choice for college-bound grads.
After high school, many students leave the nest, which makes a cell phone a great gift choice. Apple’s iPhone is popular on college campuses because it lets professors interact with students in much the same way as an iPad.  An iPhone isn’t ideal for reading textbooks but does allow students to access the administration’s information when and where they want.
The Samsung Galaxy Note from AT&T is another phone worth a look. This Android device, which sports a 5.3-inch screen, is sometimes called a “phablet” – a hybrid of a phone and a tablet. In addition to the large screen, the device features what Samsung dubs an S-Pen — something we would have called it a stylus back in the day.  The S-pen lets you jot notes on the screen, leave yourself reminders and more.
Or…how about giving your favorite grad a housekeeping assistant? The iRobot Roomba series ($349 to $599) of robotic vacuums may sound a bit crazy at first, but what grad wouldn’t love to be freed from housekeeping chores?  It certainly could be a conversation starter with roommates.
For some grads, an alarm clock will be essential. If he already has an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, give him an iHome alarm clock dock. Ranging in price from $60 to $170, iHome offers a solution for just about every need and space consideration.
Another cool idea: Give your grad a Skype Premium account. As long as she and her friends have access to Internet devices with cameras (phone, tablet or computer, in most cases), she can host group video chats. Who knows? She may even Skype with you!
Photo Credit: iStockphoto
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PTCL Double Play Packages Details Internet & Minutes

Posted by MN Farani at 12:56:00 pm
The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) is introducing a Double Play packages for voice and data segments of the market along with its Double Up packages throughout the country.This PTCL double play packages propose convenience and speed with six diverse economy packages ranging from 1Mbps to 10 Mbps.

Below are the PTCL Double-Play Packages with Capped Voice Minutes:

Double-Play 1Mb @Rs 1,499 with 750 On-Net voice minutes
Double-Play 2Mb @Rs 1,799 with 750 On-Net voice minutes
Double-Play 4Mb @Rs 2,499 with 750 On-Net voice minutes
Double-Play 6Mb @Rs 5,499 with 750 On-Net voice minutes
Double-Play 8Mb @Rs 7,499 with 750 On-Net voice minutes
Double-Play 10Mb @Rs 10,499 with 750 On-Net voice minutes
Note: All the packages have Unlimited Broadband downloads

All off-net calls (local, NWD, Mobile and International) & other services will be charged as per the existing tariff and all prices mentioned above are exclusive of GST. As mentioned above, these double play packages are in addition to double up package that were introduced last year. Detail of Double Up Packages is given below:

Packages Detail:
Voice quality at lowest call rates
PTCL Broadband offers service is available in over 1000 cities and towns across the country

PTCL Double Up Packages:
Unlimited On Net Calls + 1 MB Broadband = Monthly Rental Rs. 1,999
Unlimited On Net Calls + 2 MB Broadband = Monthly Rental Rs. 2,999
Unlimited On Net Calls + 4 MB Broadband = Monthly Rental Rs. 5,999
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Learn more about your computer's specifications

Posted by MN Farani at 8:41:00 am
Knowing how fast your PC is or how much RAM it has shouldn't be information that's limited to übergeeks. Having a clear idea about your system hardware specifications is important, and may come in quite handy in different situations: when trying to sell your computer to someone else, buying a new videogame or checking the system requirements of that huge program you're about to download, to name but a few.


While Windows does offer this data, it's not always easy to find. It's scattered all over different system areas, and you usually have to browse quite deep in system menus and submenus in order to find it. Luckily there are some applications that do the hard work for you, digging out the information you need and displaying it in a nice, user-friendly way. Here are some of these system analysis tools you can use to learn more about your computer's capabilities:



•PC Wizard - Though it's perhaps the most complex tool in this list, PC Wizard makes up for it with an outstanding analysis of your system, focusing mainly on hardware. It also shows information about the process0r's activity and offers many benchmarking possibilities to put your computer to test.

•Belarc Advisor - This analysis tool scans your system upon start and displays the results in your default web browser. The list is so detailed that newcomers may find it a bit off-putting. With a little time however, you'll find tons of interesting and useful information in it, covering hardware, network settings, software versions and more.

•Speccy - Developed by the creators of CCleaner, Speccy features a nicely designed interface and it's probably the simplest of the three. On the downside, it doesn't include as many options as the two previous ones. It does have a useful snapshot function that lets you save system snapshots for future reference.
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Operating System X Lion Released

Posted by MN Farani at 2:46:00 pm
After a couple of weeks of anticipation, OS X 10.7 Lion, the latest operating system for Macs, has been released by Apple today. Lion is available via the Mac App Store and costs $29.99 to upgrade.



Before you rush into upgrading however, don't forget to check out our words of advice (especially if you run old applications on your Mac) and also read our full review of Lion. If you're one of the many Quicken 2007 users that are affected by incompatibility issues with Lion, don't miss our guide to Top Quicken Alternatives on Mac.

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Operating System X Lion Released

Posted by MN Farani at 2:46:00 pm
After a couple of weeks of anticipation, OS X 10.7 Lion, the latest operating system for Macs, has been released by Apple today. Lion is available via the Mac App Store and costs $29.99 to upgrade.



Before you rush into upgrading however, don't forget to check out our words of advice (especially if you run old applications on your Mac) and also read our full review of Lion. If you're one of the many Quicken 2007 users that are affected by incompatibility issues with Lion, don't miss our guide to Top Quicken Alternatives on Mac.

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Is You have a DSL or SSL

Posted by MN Farani at 10:12:00 pm
With so many broadband choices available today, it can be overwhelming when selecting the best choice for you. Satellite internet is a great broadband choice, but it's not the best option for everyone. How do you know if Satellite's right for you? Here are a few questions that will help you decide:


Do you have access to a telephone line or a cable TV line? For those that aren't plugged into these networks, satellite internet is the way to go. Satellite internet delivers internet access through over-the-air satellite waves, and therefore aren't limited by the physical infrastructure the same way DSL, Cable, and even Fiber Optics broadband services are. That means, for those in remote parts of the world, or those that are in a mobile set-up (e.g. mobile home), satellite internet makes plenty of sense.

Do you have space for a satellite dish? Sounds obvious, but it's necessary to have space to install an outdoor dish with a clear line-of-sight to the southern sky. If unsure, it might be worth it to consult with a provider's technician on whether your set-up is optimal for satellite service before signing any agreement, especially for multi-story apartment or condominium units.

Do you live somewhere with inclement weather? On the flipside, the fact that satellite internet is not tied to a physical infrastructure means its subject to connectivity problems with moisture and precipitation in the atmosphere. Heavy storms may even cause prolonged periods of signal outages. It's, therefore, important to take into consideration the normal weather patterns in and around your area.

Is speed a priority? Satellite internet, while considerably faster than traditional dial-up internet, ranges slower in download/upload speeds relative to other broadband solutions. Consumers can typically get 5mbps at the high-end for satellite service. Compare that to 15+mbps for cable, DSL, and fiber optics services. For casual internet users that require internet to email, browse the web, and chat with friends, satellite internet should be sufficient. But for heavier users, online gamers, those that download lots of media or stream video frequently, and business professionals that require VPN or VoIP connections, it might make sense to look elsewhere. Particularly for hard-core gamers, transmission latency in satellite internet might make for a frustrating experience.

How much are you willing to spend? With satellite internet access, you get mobility and freedom from physical infrastructures. However, on average, the monthly rate of satellite service per mbps is the most expensive out of all the broadband solutions.
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The best free mind mapping software

Posted by MN Farani at 1:12:00 pm
Whether you are studying, in business or you’ve got a complicated plan to execute, and you’re having trouble getting your thoughts in order, you should take a look mind mapping software. Mapping the mind - ordering thoughts as a diagram - is an excellent way of organizing your thoughts, forming plans and completing a job and, best of all, there are excellent free tools available to help you.




SimpleDiagrams



SimpleDiagrams is an uncomplicated mind mapper that’s easy to pick up and use. It’s a bit light on features, but if it’s your first run in with a tool of this type, it’s a good place to start.



Freemind



Some would argue the original and best. It’s hugely popular and simple to use, but it’s not the most advanced free mind mapping software out there. Ironically for something that should help you organize, its interface suffers from a lack of organization and clarity.





Cayra



Cayra is open source and very attractive. While totally functional for basic tasks, like organizing personal plans and study, people who want mind maps for business or multi-leveled tasks might want to look elsewhere.



XMind



This is a great tool that is suitable for more complex tasks. It’s perfect for working in groups, as XMind is compatible with other mind mapping tools such as MindManager and FreeMind and, if you sign up for an account, can also be shared online.



Bookvar



Bookvar is another simple app, but don’t let that deceive you. This app stands out for its full multimedia support, making it the perfect app if you want to add video, music or images to your master plan.



CMapTools



What CMapTools lacks in looks, it makes up for in functionality. Any kind of map or diagram is absolutely no problem, and the app makes even the most complicated maps simple to edit and use. It’s perfect for users who are looking for a no-frills, straightforward experience.
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Spring clean your files and folders

Posted by MN Farani at 5:17:00 pm
File have a nasty habit of getting very messy, very quickly, especially if you are a keen downloader, photographer or music buff. If your folders look like the computer equivalent of a teenage girl’s bedroom, take a look at my guide to keeping your files in top condition.
Get rid of the duplicates - this should definitely be step 1 in any re-organization. Duplicate Cleaner is top of my list - it’s fast, free and has all, if not more, of the features of its pay-for cousins.
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Protect sensitive data - if you want to prevent your info from falling into the wrong hands, erase any secret files that you no longer need with Freeraser. Now create safe folders for the files you do want to keep with My LockBox.
Get rid of unnecessary folders - use Suction. This pint-sized app will suck the files out of your folders, so it’s prefect if your folder structure has become messed up over time and you want to start over.
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Take care of major renaming - Batch File Rename Utility will help you get your file management back on track. It’s perfect for large collections of photos or music and is really flexible, so you’ll have no problem finding a quick and easily-accessible naming convention for your files.
Move blocked and locked files - they’ll only hinder your spring cleaning, so try using Unlocker Portable to shift them out of the way. If you get too enthusiastic while organizing, Recuva is your best option to recover deleted files.
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By now, your files and folders should be model examples. Keep them that way by installing a few apps that will allow you to handle your file management like a pro. Q-Dir is a file explorer that’s a step up from Windows Explorer - it gives you considerably more control over your files, and will even let you color-code them, which I find really helpful.
Last but not least, help yourself find all these beautifully managed folders  Google Desktop is a powerful search utility. It’s as user-friendly as Google’s other products and if you’re still struggling with pre-Vista search, it’s a revelation.
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Turn a Scanned Document Into Microsoft Word Document

Posted by MN Farani at 6:16:00 pm
turn a scanned document into microsoft word document

Turning a scanned document into a Word document is fairly easy, and this process will show you how to turn a scan into editable text. For the purposes of this step-by-step procedure, I used Microsoft Word 2003 running on Windows XP Professional SP2, a Lexmark scanner and Adobe Photoshop. However, any scanner or version of Word should be fine, and Paint can be substituted in lieu of a more professional photo or image editor.
Instructions: 
  1.  Prepare your document to be scanned. If possible, select the option to scan a black and white document. It is not required, however this will allow for a more accurate read of the text later on. After this is complete, scan the document. 
  2. Open the file you've scanned with any type of image editor that can save .TIFF files. Microsoft Paint and Photoshop can both do this. Adjust the picture so that it is upright, if necessary. 
  3. Click on "File," then click on "Save As," name your file, and next to "Format", save the file as a ".TIFF."
  4. Click on the "Start" button. Go to "Programs > Microsoft Office > Microsoft Office Tools" and select "Microsoft Office Document Imaging." 
  5. Click "File," then "Open." Open the folder where you saved your scanned image, click on the file, then click "Open." 
  6. Go to "Tools" then click on "Send text to Word." It will prompt a message asking where to save the file (click on "Browse" to choose where you want it to go), then click "OK." At this point, it may prompt a warning that it will take a while to process. The overall process shouldn't take more than a minute or two. Additionally, it may prompt to install the feature that allows the Word conversion to work. In this instance, you may need a copy of your Microsoft Office Installation CD, as it may prompt for it as well. 
  7. Look for your file to open in Word automatically once the process is complete. If it does not, go to the folder where you saved it, and open the file from there. The document will not be the exact format of the original document, but it will recognize all the words and lay them out for you automatically.
Tips & Warnings
  • Sometimes after converting the scan into Word, you may see some misspellings in the Word file. This occurs because the document scan is hazy, or if your scanner saves the scan as a regular photo or color image. If you can scan as a black and white document, the amount of misspellings should diminish greatly, if not completely.
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5 tools to improve your typing speed

Posted by MN Farani at 12:41:00 pm

5 tools to improve your typing speedIf you’ve been using computers for as long as me, you can probably type quite well without looking at the keyboard. Improving your typing speed and accuracy has become increasingly important in today’s world, where computers, smartphones and other keyboard-equipped devices are almost omnipresent.

Typing faster means you can get your work done more quickly, answer your emails in a few minutes and update your blog by the end of the day, all in a much more efficient way. However, there are still people who use just two fingers to type. If you’re among them, don’t worry: you can count on software utilities, web apps and other tools to help you improve your speed and accuracy when typing. These are some of them:

  • RapidTyping - Improve your typing by learning the right hand position and training specific groups of letters. The program then lets you use custom texts for advanced typing training, and keeps detailed statistics about your performance and improvement. There’s also a portable version of RapidTyping.
  • GS Typing Tutor - Great typing tutor for beginners and advanced users. Learn to type from scratch with basic two-finger lessons, or acquire professional touch typing speed and skills with the program’s lessons and games. GS Typong Tutor keeps stats of your progress and focuses on practicing your most problematic letters.
  • Bruce’s Unusual Typing Wizard - Learn to type and improve your speed and accuracy with this simple, efficient tool. It support multiple users and customizable practicing tests, includes a bunch of lessons with different difficulty levels and keeps statistics of your improvement.
  • MaxType Typing Tutor - An advanced tutor to improve your typing speed. You can use any TXT file as training test, compete against a computer-controlled opponent in a speed test and record your own typing in order to keep track of your performance. The program measures up to 20 parameters of your typing.
  • Klavaro Touch Typing Tutor - This tool helps you improve your speed and accuracy when typing. It includes lessons that become increasingly difficult as you make progress through them, from practicing two letters to writing full texts. Klavaro Touch Typing Tutor has support for many different keyboard layouts and languages.
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How to: Stop a Windows shutdown

Posted by MN Farani at 9:47:00 am

We’ve all been there. In fact, I was there just yesterday, happily pressing “next, next” in a long installation process. Just a microsecond too late, however, I realized I had accidentally told the program to restart my system. Unsaved documents, half-finished reviews and long strings of tabs disappeared before my eyes. I looked frantically around for some way of stopping it, a big red button perhaps, or a giant STOP lever. Of course, there wasn’t one. To make sure you don’t fall victim to the same problem, I’m going to show you how to stop an unwanted system shutdown or restart.

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The easiest way is to create an abort shutdown/restart shortcut. To do this, right click on the desktop and select New > Shortcut. In the box that appears, type shutdown.exe -a. Then call the shortcut whatever you like, and place it somewhere easy to access- in the taskbar if you like. The next time you accidentally tell your computer to shut down or restart, double click the shortcut and you’ll prevent the restart. Just don’t be too trigger-happy with the “Nexts” next time!

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A look at Paltalk for Windows and Mac

Posted by MN Farani at 9:42:00 am

paltalk-logo.pngIf you like chat rooms where you can chat anonymously with different people from around the world on a huge variety of topics, then Paltalk may interest you. Note that Paltalk is also confusingly known as PaltalkScene and on Mac and Linux, where it only works in a web browser, it’s also known as PaltalkExpress.

Paltalk is a US based service that claims to have over 4 million users. One of the biggest attractions of Paltalk to those users is that you can log on at any time, activate your webcam, and chat away in high quality audio and video. A few years ago however, Paltalk hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons after a British user committed suicide online after receiving a barrage of insults in an “Insult” chat room. Since then, Paltalk have placed greater restrictions on adult content and added an adult content blocker switch to the top of the interface which you can activate at any time.

Let’s take a look at the Windows version first then. When you first install Paltalk, note that it will try and install the Paltalk toolbar but you can easily de-select this. You also need to sign-up for a Paltalk account which simply involves entering a username and password:

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Once you are logged-in, Paltalk open as an Instant Message style client sidebar. There are three options - Click with your clique, Chat face-to-face and More fun stuff:

It’s best to start with Click with your clique and then select Browse chat rooms when the option appears. There are a huge number of chat rooms to choose from with topics ranging from sport to politics. Note that one of them takes you to an adult chat room although this is clearly la labeled and as mentioned earlier, you can deactivate all adult content on Paltalk by using the Adult Content switch in the top right corner.

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Once in a chat room, you can choose to activate your webcam or even transmit audio to other users. Although the users can be from anywhere, the topics of chat rooms suggest that most users are in the USA.

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Paltalk is quite an overwhelming application because there are ads all over the place and more often than not, you enter a room only to hear music or ranting from a user. Note that you can see who is speaking by where the microphone symbol is next to the names of people in the chat room down the right hand side. More often than not however, the messages that are exchanged are just a jumbled mass of random soundbites and its hard to tell how anyone can be genuinely communicating within such an environment. You can though open a private dialog with someone by right clicking on their name. You can also have multiple chat rooms open in different tabs.

The interface on the PC version is a little cheap for my liking and the web version (PaltalkExpress for Mac and Linux) looks much better:

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The chat dialogs are also far more polished and easier to use than in the Windows version too:

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Paltalk is a hugely popular application and if you like talking and webcam chatting with random people on different topics then you’re sure to enjoy it. Be aware however that it is all a bit much to take-in at once and it will take some time before you feel competent with it.

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Top 10 tools to restrict access to your PC

Posted by MN Farani at 11:03:00 am

Folder lock logoIf you share your PC then sometimes it’s nice to know that you’ve got some control over what happens on it when you’re not there. Maybe you want to stop your kids accessing certain sites, or maybe you’ve got some confidential information on there that you don’t want prying eyes looking at. Whatever the reason, there are tons of mini-applications out there to give you a bit more peace of mind.

  • Folder Lock - Protect folders and files from unauthorised access
  • Anti-Porn - Prevent your kids and minors from viewing explicit pornography
  • Clean Slate - A network administrators dream - roll-back any activity performed on a PC
  • PC Locker Pro - Block access to your PC whilst you’re away from your machine
  • iNet Protector - Restrict both internet and program access for children or employees
  • BananaScreen - The ultimate security procedure? Unlock your PC with your face!
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How to change your voice in Skype

Posted by MN Farani at 10:54:00 am
f you fancy having a bit of fun next time you use Skype then why not try out a voice-changing app? You’ll be able to do all sorts of cool things, from prank-calling your pals as Darth Vader to faking a sore throat in order to get a day off work. There are a number of software tools around that can change your voice in Skype, and none of them are particularly difficult to use.

Skype Voice Changer is a free app that does exactly what its name suggests. Install the application on your PC, open up Skype and agree to the permission request. You’ll then be presented with an effects panel that lets you alter your voice. There are a range of presets and you can tweak each of them using the sliders to change various aspects of the sound.

A more comprehensive and easier to use solution is MorphVOX Pro. The program has some really cool preset voices, including a demon, robot, woman, kid and even a dog! You can also apply background noises to your voice as you’re talking, such as a shopping mall or a traffic jam (perfect for a call to your boss saying you’ll be late for work). Another great thing about MorphVOX Pro is the ‘Voice effects’ section, where you can apply various filters to your dulcet tones, including nasal, growl, underwater and monotone. All of the presets can be customized using the ‘Tweak Voice’ control panel. The downside of MorphVOX Pro is that it costs $39.95, although you can try the program free for 30 days.

Funny voices are easy with MorphVOX Pro

If you really want state-of-the-art then check out AV Voice Changer. This app is loaded with a multitude of options that let you really fine-tune your fake voice. There are lots of preset voices to make you sound young, old, sexy, patronizing, joyful or sarcastic. The program includes a ‘Parady Mixer’, which lets you sample celebrities voices before calling people up and pranking them. The tinkering you can do with AV Voice Changer is more akin to a professional audio production app, including a formant morpher (to alter acoustic resonance), voice equalizer and noise reduction settings. The only trouble with AV Voice Changer is the trial is pretty limited, and the program is more expensive than MorphVOX Pro.

If you really want an idea of the fun you can have with voice changers, then you must watch this video of a guy using MorphVOX Pro with some hilarious consequences.


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Ad blockers: Are they harming the websites you love?

Posted by MN Farani at 10:42:00 am

A while ago, I reviewed a program called AdBlock Plus, a popular Firefox add-on that nukes the annoying ads that get in the way when you’re browsing. It is super-effective, stripping ads from the screen and leaving only clean, white space in their place. As anyone who has ever spent more than 30 seconds on the internet knows, you’ll soon be assaulted by blinking, buzzing and flashing ads, my personal favorites being the ones that slide out and cover whatever it is you’re trying to read.

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I thought AdBlock Plus was really cool and gave it a great rating, but just the other day I read this article by Ars Technica which made me stop and think. Could blocking ads be hurting my favorite websites?

Once you think about it, it’s obvious that websites that don’t charge for content have to make money some other way. One of these ways is advertising, and if we get rid of that advertising with an ad blocker, it can’t generate the revenue that maintains the website. As the article points out, some argue that they never click on ads anyway, so there’s no harm in getting rid of them. Well, the truth is that many large websites are paid by advertisers on a per view basis, not per click. Surely once you realize that, it changes everything.

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I wonder how many people will get rid of their AdBlock Plus after reading the Ars Technica article? There’s a problem here, and its the same one I see when people get into the illegal download debate. We have spent a long time taking full advantage of the internet and all the free and accessible stuff it offers, and old habits are hard to break. The internet broke into the mainstream more than 15 years ago, but back then content providers, vendors and producers didn’t think of the future and what would happen if they gave users (or allowed them to take) their products for free.

Most users don’t think of the consequences unless we’re made to - downloading, watching and reading online are too ingrained. You turn on your computer and there it is. We expect to get lots of our content for free and see nothing wrong with sweeping ads aside in order to get it. Likewise, if users feel that advertising is too intrusive, for example, they don’t think twice about complaining. But think about it: it’s a bit like being invited around to somebody’s house for dinner and then complaining about the food.

If content providers want people’s attitudes towards paying (however they do - or don’t- do it) for their content to change, it’s going to take a lot of effort. An internet-wide change would never work, so it is going to require the long, hard slog of educating users and appealing to their better nature. Do you think it will work?

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Five ways to create your own homepage

Posted by MN Farani at 4:17:00 pm

Having a good homepage is important. After all, they’re the first thing you see when you launch the web browser, and usually the starting point of your working day. There are many different options and possibilities when it comes to choose the right homepage for you, so let’s take a look at some of them:

  • About:blank – The classic option. It’s the perfect homepage for those who can’t stand overloaded designs and don’t really need a specific point to start from. The blank page gives you total freedom to choose a different path in your web browsing every day.

Five ways to create your own homepage

  • iGoogle – The traditional option. Pretty much everyone has a Gmail account these days, so it’s only natural that iGoogle is another traditional choice for your homepage. It’s connected with all Google services, and you get lots of gadgets and themes to customize it with.

Five ways to create your own homepage

  • Fav4.org – The minimalist option. A recently launched service that displays four direct links to your four favorite or most used websites. You have to choose from a list of predefined web services, but you can also suggest ones. Clean, minimalist design for those who like to go straight to the point.

Five ways to create your own homepage

  • Flavors.me – The ‘Web 2.0′ option. Another recently launched tool that lets you tailor a totally personal starting page with links to your user accounts and profiles in various social networks (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, Last.fm, and many more) and a highly customizable appearance.

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  • Genieo - The DIY option. Genieo is a small software app that generates a custom homepage automatically, based on your past browsing history and site preferences. You can then tweak this first draft homepage to adapt it to your needs: add new feeds, remove others, pick your favorite sites and so on.

Five ways to create your own homepage

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Download and convert YouTube videos

Posted by MN Farani at 11:18:00 am

Along all these years as software reviewer I’ve come across many applications that let you download videos from YouTube and other popular online video websites. But it wasn’t until yesterday that I tried out a handy little Firefox add-on called Video DownloadHelper, and after only a few hours of usage I’ve already decided this is the only app I’ll ever use to download YouTube videos.

Video DownloadHelper is installed just like any other Firefox add-on. After the ubiquitous Firefox restart you’ll notice a new button on your Firefox toolbar that will light up with colors and move every time you’re on a web page with embedded videos. Click the button and you’ll access download links for all the videos included in the page, both in FLV and MP4, as well as a series of available actions for each selected video. There’s also an icon beside the video’s title that lets you access the same menu. All you have to do is click the link of the video you want to download, and you’ll be prompted for the target folder. That’s all!

How to: download and convert YouTube videos

But what about all those other options available in the context menu? They let you perform several different actions with the selected video, besides downloading it straightaway to your hard drive:

Download & Convert - Helps you convert the selected video to a handful of formats, including WMV, iPod and iPhone, 3GP, MOV and AVI. This tool requires the installation of a third-party video converter - ConvertHelper, also developed by the Video DownloadHelper guy. You can easily get this tool in the extension’s settings menu: go to Tools > DownloadHelper > Preferences and then click the Conversions tab.

Tweet this video - Lets you send a message about the selected video to your Twitter account. You need to fill in your Twitter credentials (username and password) in the extension’s settings menu, inside the Services > Twitter tab.

Copy URL - Copies the video’s URL to the Windows clipboard so that you can use it elsewhere. Note that this option doesn’t copy the standard YouTube URL you see on your web browser, but the address that points to the actual video file - either in FLV or MP4.

Add to black list - This option enables you to add certain websites to a blacklist and thus block them from appearing on the list of available media generated by Video DownloadHelper. It’s a smart way to avoid advertising videos, for example. You can also check the complete blacklist in the settings menu.

Send to mobile phone / Send to locker - Lets you upload the selected video (or only its audio stream) to your mobile phone or your personal web locker via a special online service called MP3tunes. You need to set up an account though. Video DownloadHelper lets you create one in the Services > MP3tunes tab inside the settings menu.

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Easier access to your contacts with Mailbrowser

Posted by MN Farani at 3:24:00 pm

A few months ago I installed Xobni and since then my experience of Outlook has improved tenfold. I was looking for something similar for Gmail in order to better navigate my bulging inbox, and I came across MailBrowser. This free little extension for Firefox and Internet Explorer adds an Xobni-style sidebar to Gmail, giving you a much clearer view of your contacts and allowing you to sift through attachments much more easily.

After installing MailBrowser, open up Firefox (or IE) and you’ll see the MailBrowser sidebar displayed on the right of the browser. You can toggle this sidebar on and off using the MailBrowser icon that appears underneath it. Click ‘Add an account’ and enter your Gmail credentials. The app will then begin indexing your contacts and files, which can take a while if you have a big inbox. Make sure you have plenty of memory, because all this data is downloaded to your hard drive.

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Your contacts are displayed in the sidebar à la Xobni, and you can ’star’ any that you wish to mark out. Now, if you want to manage your Google contacts or schedule Google Calendar events with any of your contacts you can do so simply with the click of an icon.

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Click on a contact and you can view all manner of information about your dealings with this person, including a log of previous conversations, exchanged emails, and details extracted from their email signature. You can even apply tags and notes to a contact to facilitate better searching in future.

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There are a few settings you can tinker around with using MailBrowser, available via the ‘Preferences’ icon. For instance, you can choose to show only received files or display all inline signatures and images too. To further streamline your contacts list you can choose to show Google contacts only, or only display contacts to whom you have sent at least one mail. MailBrowser supports multiple Gmail accounts, and lets you set specific rules for each one.

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Create and edit PDFs for free!

Posted by MN Farani at 1:18:00 pm

If you’re looking for PDF utilities, you’ve got plenty of choice if you want to open and view without paying a fortune. What’s not so easy is creating and editing them, a problem that leads lots of users to avoid this handy file format altogether.

Just remember: creating PDFs may not be as easy as creating other types of document, but there are still lots of tools that will help you get the job done!

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Creating PDFs is most easily achieved by using a PDF ‘printer’ like PDFCreator. Once installed, this program appears like another printer on your printer list. You create the document in your usual Windows application and once you are ready to turn it into a PDF, send it to the PDFCreator printer. This tool will convert your document into a portable, professional PDF, while PdfFactory Pro and Bullzip PDF Printer will do the same job.

What if you have a PDF that you’d like to edit or a form you need to fill in? This one’s a bit harder, as there are very few free apps that do the job well. Obviously there are master programs designed specifically for the purpose, but unless you have a spare $500, you can kiss that option goodbye.

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If you have just one document that you want to modify, the trial versions of programs like PDFill PDF Editor and PDF Suite will do the job. If you need a less limiting - and free - option, PDF-XChange Viewer will give you plenty of editing powers. Also bear in mind that some office suites, such as OpenOffice, have PDF functionality built in.

As a final option, you could give online editors like PDF Hammer and PDFescape a try. Just remember that these tools get mixed reviews and only offer basic editing tools, especially in the case of PDF Hammer.

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