If you are a proud Android user who may just have been fascinated by the potential of the Siri app for Apple iOS5 like most, you are surely going to be interested in a guide that could just allow you to have atleast some features on your Android device that are..well, Siri-like. Hot off the heels of the announcement of Apple iPhone 4S, the announcement and on-stage demo of the all-new personal assistant with voice recognition features was an icing on the cake.
Yes, Siri has really made name for itself in such short timespan; yet, Android users must realize that they need not drool over iOS’s new voice-recognizing personal assistant so much-there are way too many alternatives available on Android! Definitely, you heard that right, folks. There is a wide variety of avid voice recognition options to choose from on the Android platform; although, none of those Android personal assistants able to out weigh Siri personal assistant in its potential and the way it delivers.
We realize how important it is for all those of us who are Apple-deprived to understand that possession of an iDevice (iPhone, iPad, any i for that matter) is not a binding upon us. So then, if Android has got what you need, what is the point of drooling over, an otherwise, foreign platform (The sheer mention of Apple probably blindfolds most of us-childish)? In light of all this, let us give you a brief run through a few of the best alternatives to iOS5′s Siri app.
Google Voice Actions
If you are an Android user, Google Voice Actions won’t be news for you (Atleast we expect so). Siri for the iPhone 4S certainly stirred a hornet’s nest and gave most people the impression that voice actions started and finished at the Apple iOS5-Well, we think otherwise. Google Voice Actions for Android is very much a Siri-like app for Android users that enables them to place their phone calls, get turn-by-turn navigation assistance, surf the web browser, listen to their favourite songs and so much more. Oh, and if you wish you may even get some handy information on the local weather and latest news alerts only just by a simple tap the Voice Actions icon and speak your heart out.
Nevermind if you missed Google Voice Actions as an Android user, but Vlingo is the one app that we really expect Android users to have come across atleast once in their lifetimes-reason being, it has been on the scene for quite a while now. Vlingo’s text-to-speech and speech-to-speech is the striking feature of Android’s app. Yes, it does most basics right like text messages, emails, placement of phone calls, search the web etc. Searching for the nearest locations for, say dine-in, had never been easier before (Or was it?). Also, other applications on your Android phone can even be launched by saying their names using Vlingo. Really an app which has been one of its kind, atleast in its time, Vlingo can even be told when to start listening to you and then prompt it to register your desired commands. Perhaps not deeply integrated, Vlingo for Android still has to be the most handsfree appthat comes closest to being the Siri for Android in regards to its advanced commands.
Edwin comes across as another useful Android app that brings speech-to-speech and voice response functionalities to the table. Yet another positive is the fact that the commands spoken by the Android user are passed through Google Voice Actions and spoken back to the user. Besides these new amenities that this Android app offers, its main strength lies in the detail to conversation that it comes equipped with (My my, isn’t technology shaping up to dominate mankind the act?). Of course, that means that if you ask Edwin for details regarding exactly where you are it won’t shy; in fact, resukts obtained would even squeeze down to the block no. you reside in (Fetch that!). If necessary, this Android app even searches the internet or, say, prompt you to open up an application/do the favours itself at times. Major downside to Edwin app is that since it doesn’t don too wide a variety of commands, it simply fails to process when it doesn’t understand a command prompt. Yes, it will be annoying at times but the fact that the Android app considers you worthy of talking back to might as well keep bringing you back to it over and over again.
So you Android users thought that Edwin was the only real ‘talk back to me’ personal assistant app, think again (Oh how quick you folks are at jumping to conclusions). Relatively newer and richer in its functionalities in comparison with Edwin, SpeakToIt Assistant is an Android app that not only adds a flurry of customization and configuration options to personal assistant apps on the Android platform, but it also puts on your display screen a rather curvy default cartoon librarian avatar as your personal assistant (Hopefully, that does not sound misleading). The back and forth conversational abilities and a full-fledged list of commands add a whole lot more to this personal assistant app for Android. This means, there is a real smooth learning curve attached to the app, thus it works like a charm for most. Interestingly, you can always customize and create your own assistant avatar and milk as much information as you please. Of course, just like any other app in the world, SpeakToIt Assistant is another Android app in the list of many that does not come without a few hashes here and there. A few grammatical errors and rather unnatural voice does feel a bit off; however, if you can put up with such shortcomings this Android app is sure to keep you in the groove for a good long time.
The process of malware removal is a seemingly candid one; it is only a matter of two to three clicks and all the defected material goes out of the window in just few minutes, courtesy of a decent antivirus tool. However, it must be noted that even if these few security packages, targeting malware-damage that your PC might have been going through, make your PC seem a bit ‘well-off’, in actuality they might be doing the opposite. Yes you heard that right, these security packages can actually cause some programs to work slower or; in fact, not function at all (Talk about adding insult to..malware-damaged).
Now then, question is what is the way out? We shall come to that in a bit but before that first we need to redeem the PC to a virus-free condition via restoration of a pre-infection full complement backup or re-installation of Windows. Yes it is time-consuming and even a bigger hassle for some of you, but better be safe than sorry, correct?
Second, although a more cumbersome, method is to manually sort and scold all those areas that the malware may well have damaged in the PC. Personally, the former is more preferable and most probably the one you shall choose as you may just be spending loads of time on trying to sort malware-damaged areas of the PC and finally find yourself reinstalling Windows anyway. As evident in the aforementioned paragraphs, repairing a malware-damaged PC can be a nuisance more often than not. However, this post shall guide you on how you may safely resist the temptation of dumping your good ol’ PC pal and help your PC get rid of any malware that decides to stick to it.
Getting Started
There are often times when, upon completion of a brief system scan, the antivirus installed on your PC indicates that there is no malware detected; however, the PC continues to function, unusually strange. No, we will not call it forgery on part of the PC; there are chances of malware stuck in there, afterall. Just to be on the safe side and to make sure that there is no active malware, run a full system scan on the PC with all detection options checked. Of course, it is always advisable to try other solid security packages, like G Data’s antivirus (trial). Otherwise, if you are looking for an efficient giveaway product, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware may well be a good option to try.
Do bear in mind that having more than one security packages installed on your PC might as well contribute towards the misbehaviour of your PC. Therefore, you would want to make sure that in an attempt of repairing malware, you do not end up slowing down your PC (Conflict between two antivirus packages tends to do that). You should also have Windows check itself for missing or damaged files within the system: it is easy. If you have Windows XP installed on your PC, click Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt. On the contrary, in case of Windows 7 Start > All Programs > Accessories. Now, right click a Command Prompt couple and then, Run As Administrator. Following this, a new window will open up, whereby you will be required to type SFC/ SCANNOW and press ENTER.
Restoring Default Settings
How often do we get fooled in our lifetime-aplenty. Well, a malware damage might just be another entry into the records. Why I say that is because what seems like a malware damage could be a corollary of some unapproved tweaks to some key settings in the PC. In such a case, restoration of system default settings easily resolves the issue. It is important to note here that all the customizations applied shall be lost on doing this, so you would want to make sure that these tweaks are applied only to areas that are genuinely causing problems.
Explorer is rather vulnerable to malware, so do not be ruffled if the settigns on your PC’s explorer get messed up as a result of malware or otherwise. The solution is simple: Click Tools > Folder Options > General/View/Search tab > Restore Defaults.
If a desired program seizes to load while you are, say, trying to send an email, click Start > Default Programs. Choose ”Set program access and computer defaults” and it will allow you to chose your default web browser, email program, media player and much more. On the contrary, the latter would allow you to make an application a default selection for all file types and protocols, so you won’t have to repeat the process everytime.
In case, Internet Explorer seems to be a cause of concern amidst all the malware-damaged PC speculation, click Start > Control Panel > Network > Internet. If you have the slightest of ideas about what might have gone wrong , try your hand at restoring the settings pertinent to the issue.
If you are sick and tired of going through the motions and would like to go the wham, bam and thank you ma’am way click, Internet Options > Advanced > Reset. This will fully restore all Internet Explorer defaults and clear everything that was previously saved in the IE settings.
Recovery Tools
We understand that you are only just human (No, no puppy faces please) and going through such long PC recovery procedures might just be an exercise too much for your liking. Good news is that there are even more substitutes, free recovery tools. Yes, we treat as somewhat our final resort but trust me they work like a charm if they are really required that is. However, worth-noting here is the fact that these are to be tried only if a full system back up is available with you. If you think you are good to go, Complete Internet Repair is quite a bit of a starter (Yeah, very much like the one that you get for breakfast). Not only will this repair networking issue but repairing Internet Explorer is also a plus involved.
Moreover, SMART is as smart a tool as the name suggests. It helps reset the Windows services to defaults and allow safe repairs. Moving on, the Windows Repair Tool may be the last but definitely not the least of all Recovery tools that makes repairing an easy task. Whether it is about solving Registry and file system problems or repairing icons and making changes to proxy settings, it is one utility that surely worth a try.
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We have already had a good, lengthy discussion on the XBox 360 Red Ring of Death problems, causes and solutions in the recent past. However, we strongly believe that if there is one thing that becomes a major cause of concern for most XBox 360 gamers, it is the recurring overheating problems experienced by plenty. Sure, there is always the option to switch to the all-new Microsoft XBox 360 Slim, but hey, not always for everyone. Affordability is not guaranteed for all, especially with power houses like the new next-generation consoles that aren’t exactly very generously priced for all and sundry (However, that is quite understandable..I suppose). With that said, we hope you realize that there is a vast majority (Among the less spoilt brats community, that is) that stuck to the old (FAT) XBox 360 consoles; however, in doing so they are always at risk of encountering overheating problems at any point of their gaming sessions (Yes we know how excruciating that is, truly).
There have been plenty of searches on tips to fix the XBox 360 overheating problems and there have certainly been barrages of fixing solutions coming in from here, there and everywhere (Almost as if its yet another Tsunami that the world has to battle against). All of these fixes ranging from the low-cost; yet, dangerous solutions to some more reputable and relatively expensive ones have always been the core of most discussions on issues surrounding the old XBox 360. Since we feel it’s our responsibility to guide you, to the best of our ability, as to how you can do most stuff right, we bring you yet another edition on how to fix the XBox 360 overheating problems.
The Do Nots:
Quite often, it is our own silly and ignorant attitude that leads to horrors like overheating and infact, the grand daddy of them all, the Red Ring of Death issue. Therefore, it is important to ponder upon what needs to be avoided before moving on to the main cautionary practices to exercise so as to keep the overheating problems of your beloved XBox 360 at bay. One of the silliest errors that XBox 360 enthusiasts commit is that they place a cooling agent, more specifically a pedestal fan, right behind the XBox 360 console that continually blows the air leaving the XBox 360 system back into the XBox 360 console. As per the normal functioning of the internal fans of the XBox 360, all the hot air that builds up inside the XBox 360 unit is sucked out. Now then, with another fan placed right at the point of exit of the air leaving the XBox 360 system the process is seriously hampered. Hence, instead of contributing towards preventing overheating of the XBox 360, such stunts can easily do otherwise.
Yet another issue that really needs to be highlighted here is that quite often the X-clamps, that are part of the XBox 360 console and are responsible for keeping chips in the system firmly attached to the motherboard, loosen up. Since this fairly and squarely qualifies for a hardware issue, the haunting red lights of doom take no time to warm up to the occasion (Almost as if saying, Muhahahah! So, you’re next, eh!)
Go Overheating Go:
With all our basis covered on what should NOT be done, now it is important to emphasise on what needs to be done in order to not do what does NOT need to be done (Confusing?). Thought so. To put simply, now comes the part where we highlight what needs to be done to prevent any aforementioned hazards and how. First up, a simplistic method towards overcoming the temptation of placing a fan right behind the XBox 360 console and blocking its air vents is to use a USB fan and place it in the front vents of your XBox 360 console. Not only will this prevent overheating, but it will largely catalyse the process of blowing hot air out of the XBox 360 system. Plus, another handy method would be to use compressed air in a can and blow out the unnecessary dust particles.
In regards to major hardware issues, especially accidental disassembly of parts of the XBox 360, your best bet would be to send your XBox 360 for repairs. If there is any remaining warranty on the console, you would definitely want to get Microsoft to deal with the issue themselves and fix the XBox 360, totally free of cost (So, what do they say payback is..?). On the contrary, if your XBox 360 has lost its warranty (Legitimately or due to your relentlessness), you may think twice before going for an ordeal as expensive as $140 along with additional shipping charges. Sure, there is the cost of wait attached to the entire package but you must have heard the saying, no pain no gain..fits quite well here.
Closing Comments:
Your XBox 360 requires extreme care alright, and if you plan to play it safe we would highly recommend spending your hard earned penny on a proper XBox 360 fix guide which is widely available these days. Such fix solutions shall properly guide you on how to fix your console on a step-by-step basis. Plus, what they do best is: they help maintain the performance of your XBox 360 console along with fixing all sorts of damage that overheating may have resulted in. There are plenty of them available all over the market; henceforth, make sure you make a wise choice from among the many options available.
That pretty much sums up our edition on Fix the XBox 360 Overheating Problems. We do believe that you will pay heed to all the advice we had to dolly out and will babysit your XBox 360, well and truly.
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In our not-so-ancient post on the Top Five XBox 360 Tips and Tricks, we discussed our five favourite XBox 360 secrets that Microsoft may just have decided to hold back from you. Considering how malicious and easily offended fanboys have become these days, we decided to draft five interesting tips and tricks for the PlayStation 3 (Afterall, the next-generation consoles also go through emotions these days). yet again, the theme of the post remains the same; only the subject changes from Microsoft’s XBox 360 to SONY’s own hunk, the PlayStation 3. Thus, we shall safely assume that the concept of this post would not leave you alienated (Besides, this ain’t exactly a story-based RPG, is it?). Alright, let us dig deep into SONY’s PlayStation 3 this time around and explore the top five secret amenities that it packs.
1. Transform DVDs to HD on the PlayStation 3
Let us not forget the fact that the PlayStation 3 is not just a gaming powerhouse; it also delivers largely on movie playback. Oft-well renowned for its Blu-Ray capabilities, the PlayStation 3 plays as one of the best DVD players out in the market. Yes, hardcore gamers on the PlayStation 3 tend to oversee such promising potential on the other end (Sad, but true). Also, it is hard to expect high quality from DVDs in the modern day when Blu-Ray is the name of the deal but the PlayStation 3, oozing with sheer potential, even polishes DVD imagery to a top-notch quality on a plasma screen. How you do it is a good question to ask, of course. Simply, when you are watching a DVD on a high definition device, press the triangle button on your PlayStation 3 dualshock 3 controller and jump down to AV settings. Upon choosing this, you will be able to see various options for mosquito noise reduction, frame, block and a full up-scale on DVD content. Savour this feat and enjoy the nearly HD quality visuals on your television screens.
2. Transform your PlayStation 3 into a PC
One could argue how stupid an idea it is to transform a next-generation hunk to a fat old fart but hey, do not be mislead and try and be a little more respectful here, please. We wouldn’t exactly be turning consoles into PCs with the stroke of a magic wand. Instead, the process only infuses powers of a PC into your PlayStation 3 while retaining the powers of the PlayStation 3 intact, of course. Not a tough task really. The process does requires a bit of digging up into the PlayStation 3 system but you must have heard of the no pain, no gain theory. To achieve this, surf system settings in the settings menu and jump to ‘Install other OS’. Woo, hold on a bit, before moving on any further you must back up all your data from the PlayStation 3 hard drive to a USB. Following this crucial step, you may download a copy of the operating system from any PlayStation forum and burn it to a DVD and install it to the PlayStation 3 hard drive. Then what, congratulations, you now have a full fledged PC all in one PlayStation 3 console!
3. Using PC Peripherals on the PlayStation 3
With your PlayStation 3 already transformed into a PC, it is sort of unfair to treat it like a half-baked cookie. Want more explanation on that one? Well, imagine how it feels to use the internet on the PlayStation 3 using an onscreen keyboard. A few might even argue that there have been enough accessories on the market that mitigate the issue of typing but personally, I would not prefer a peanut-sized keypad attached to my dualshock 3 to make it seem like some sort of a mini alienship gone wrong. Luckily, for all you PlayStation 3 users, the PlayStation 3 offers full support for standard mice and keyboards that not only allow for enhanced typing experience, courtesy of the inbuilt browser, but really prove their mettle in the gaming scheme of things as well. There is absolutely no rocket science involved in doing so. All you have to do is, get off your couch (Where you have been lying and gaming for hours like a bloak with no life at all) and plug your desired peripherals into the USB ports of the PlayStation 3. Oh, and did I mention that there’s also support for bluetooth peripherals? Drooling already? Hah, before you wet the whole place jump to the settings menu on your PlayStation 3 and choose Accessory Settings. Following this, slect the option of Manage Bluetooth Devices.
4. Setting up a Media Server on the PlayStation 3
If you are one of those music maniacs who just can’t resist the temptation of carrying their music, or even their favourite videos and pictures with them wherever they go, you may well be very interested to know this one. Gone are the days when overburdening the valuable space on your PlayStation was a pain in the backside (Yes, backside), say hello to media streaming across your PlayStation network. Simply download Tversity or the latest version of Windows Media Player on your PC. Moving on, tweak the settings of either software a little to allow for sharing of music, video and photo folders. Select Search for Media Servers on your PlayStation 3 and there you go. Next time your PC is switched on, a new option on the XMB would show up that will actually function as a gateway for streaming data purposes.
5. Make Video Phone Calls (FREE) on the PlayStation 3
Oh what a mouth-watering prospect this one really is. On paper, it sounds like some real technical thing to try but to be honest, there’s less technique and little more trickery involved in here. For this, you would only require a USB headset and the PS EyeToy camera. Upon plugging both the things into the USB slots of the PlayStation 3, start a new chat with one of your friends. Now here’s the trick. Type something like ‘Videochat please?’ in a message. Upon receiving this, the recipient would be given the option of accepting your videochat. Now, if your friend does have a USB handset and the EyeToy camera as well, acceptance of the invitation will open up two windows ans then starts the video chat, all of which costs you..nothing!
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We all love our mobile handsets, don’t we? Be it an extremely bland looking mobile phone or a power-performing stylish looking hunk of a mobile device, your mobile phone is always your darling (Wifeys beware, you are in for a scare). With all sorts of mobile phone technology flowing in the mobile market, competition seems to have gotten the best of most. Amidst all the fight for high specifications, battery life has become a stand-out feature for most mobile phones. It’s true that priorities change and so do people, but surely, battery life has become part of mobile buyer’s foremost preferences. However, the focus of today’s post is not the usual ‘how to increase your phone’s battery life’. Instead, it focuses on how to calibrate your mobile device.
What is Calibration?
We understand that there are plenty of people who are unaware of what calibration exactly is. This is precisely why we feel the urge to create awareness among most regarding what it is and how it benefits your mobile device. To put it simply, calibration implies discharging the battery power life of your mobile device, be it an iPhone, Android phone or even a laptop or Macbook for that matter, to the full until the device is not bootable. Since we are so generous and want to fully educate you on what we convey to you, the act of calibration is extremely handy if it is done once a month. However, it all depends on the device usage to be honest. If you are just a casual user and only use your mobile device to make occasional phone calls and send text messages on special occasions, you may only need to do this once every six months (We hope you realize the impossibility of such an incorrect fact). On the contrary, a heavy power-user should really calibrate his/her mobile device once every month. Now then, let us directly move on to how to calibrate your mobile device with our step by step calibration guide.
How to Calibrate?
Step No. 1. Fully drain the battery life of your mobile device until it completely powers off on its own.
Step No. 2. Switch your device back on and allow your mobile device to power itself off yet again.
Step No. 3. Connect the battery charger to your mobile device and allow it to charge for atleast eight full hours while the mobile device is powered off, mind you.
Upon trying the aforementioned calibration methods, users will definitely experience a noticeable increase in the battery life of their mobile devices. Surprising as it may sound, this increase in battery life will also be evident with relatively heavy usage.
Ending Note:
This one is a tried and tested method on most Android phones, laptops and the iPhone and we must admit that it really does work. With that said, we can safely recommend this to each one of you, especially those of you who have either an Android or an Apple device. So then, enjoy calibrating!
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The control panel in metro interface is there not only for tweaking your settings but also for customizing the feel and look of the Metro Interface as a whole. When you click on the Control Panel tile in the Metro Interface you immediately start the customization process.
You can change the lock screen image in right there in the first screen with User Tile that is shown at the login screen. (Swap up the screen or drag it up if you are using a PC.) User tile is the ‘picture’ that represents your account. You can also grab a fresh image using your webcam.
Keep in mind that if you are using ‘Live Account’ as your login credentials then by default your Live Account Picture would be used as a ‘User Tile’ at the login screen.
How to add users and create picture passwords in Windows 8
To create a picture password in Windows 8, all you have to do is choose a picture, draw a pattern on it, repeat and you’re good to go. Be careful with those patterns and draw something that you’ll remember afterwards because you’d be allowed to login only, if you can draw the correct pattern. To create a picture password go to Control Panel > Users > Create Picture Password
Another good way to login to your computer (for touch surface users only) is to create a pin number. Below the Pin Logon, there is a + button with Users text on it. Click on it to add a user to your Windows 8 operating system. As soon as you’ll click on Add User button it will ask you for two options. Windows Live ID, will allow you to add a user with a windows live email address. This is very handy as it allows you to sync your favorites, browsing history, shortcuts, languages and passwords for different services across different computers that are using the same Windows Live ID. The second option is of course the usual Local Account. Keep in mind that Windows Live ID account has all the features of a Local Account, plus the look and feel of being it your own account.
The biggest change that you’ll notice with the new Windows Explorer 8 is the Ribbon added to the top of it. This ribbon is a replica of the one already available in other applications of Microsoft such as, Microsoft Office and Windows Live Writer. And it also works like one. A complete context-sensitive ribbon allows you to display different sections according to your selection of file or what you are doing inside the explorer itself.
For example if you click on something in Library, it will give you the ‘Library Tools’, click on an application and it will show you a new ‘Application Tools’ section. Same goes for the pictures and there is also a ‘Shortcut Tools’ section which does nothing but allows you to open that shortcut location. These tools are very nice addition to the explorer as they would allow you to Manage Files, Run them as Administrator or even let you pin them to the taskbar.
Quick Access Toolbar in Windows Explorer
The added feature besides the ribbon in Windows Explorer is the Quick Access Toolbar. This toolbar allows you to quickly access the features that were previously hidden in a context menu. With this features like, Undo, Redo or Delete and Rename are easily accessible. If you want these more accessible, just check mark on them and they will be visible on the toolbar. You can also customize this toolbar more or add more buttons to it too. For example if you move your files a lot and want to add ‘Move To’ button to the quick access toolbar, just right click on it and select Add to Quick Access Toolbar. It definitely has to be enabled (not greyed out) for it to work. It also allows you to change the position of the toolbar or minimize the ribbon.
File Copying
The file copy/more dialog is enhanced, it gives more information about the status of the file transfer but also allows you to pause the transfer.
The file replacement dialog has also improved so its easier now for the user to decide which files to keep and which to replace.
Since there is no file menu in new Windows Explorer, you can view the folder options by following one of these methods:
Go to File > Change Folder and Search Options
You can launch Folder Options by going to classic Control Panel and then double clicking ‘Folder Options’. Some quick and most used Folder Options, like FileName Extensions and Hidden Items are also available in the ribbon.
Windows 8 didn’t crash even once in our one week long trial but if you are having some troubles and it is likely that you would face some as this is a pre-beta version of the Windows then there are some easy solutions to the problems. Metro Applications Not Running: Minimum resolution should be 1024 x 768. If you’re running a lower resolution, chances are that some of your metro applications won’t start at all.
For all other problems, try resetting or refreshing your Windows. Refreshing, installs your windows again but retains your personal files, whereas resetting is essentially similar to reinstallation the Windows again. Just go to Metro Control Panel, Select General and then choose your preferred option.
When you logon for the first time in Windows 8, the metro interface is first thing that you’d be greeted with. Metro Interface is very similar to the one already included in Windows 7 mobile. Just like the mobile version, it is packed with all kinds of applications by default. These applications are called ‘tiles’ and you’d be itching to swipe the screen to the left in order to see what is on the far right side. You can swipe on your tablet but on a regular computer you would have to rely on the scroll bar at the bottom or you can use the scroll wheel on your mouse to scroll through the tiles.
Tiles can be changed from the original arrangement. Just click on a tile and drag it to the left, right, up or down to your preferred place, as you’ll do this, you’ll see other tiles moving and giving way to the tile being dragged.
Go through the apps by clicking on them to know more about them, you can always come to the original point by pressing the ‘Windows Key’ or moving your mouse to the left bottom corner of the screen. (Keep in mind that if you had an app open and you didn’t close it, pressing ‘Windows Key’ would take you back to that app. This also goes for the desktop too, goto ‘Desktop’ from your metro interface, press ‘windows key’ and it will take you back to the metro interface and vice versa!)
Right clicking on an app would put a check mark on it and selecting ‘unpin’ would remove that from the metro interface or you can make them smaller. You can also choose to uninstall it from your computer too.
This is one of the most talked about new feature of Windows 8. As Microsoft said, “The start menu in Windows 7 is gone”, it is replaced by a more ‘simplified’ version of start menu. Settings, Devices, Share and Search are the only options in this one. You can access it by moving your mouse to the bottom left corner of your screen. Follow our article to get back the old classic Windows 7 start menu.
Windows 8 lets you search for your applications right from the metro interface as an alternative to the ‘Program Files’ of classic start menu that was present in Windows 7. (Remember no start menu in Windows 8.) To run an application, press ‘Windows Key’ and start typing the name of the application. A search windows will open up in the left page and there’d also be a list sorted alphabetically, to let you choose an app. You can run this dialog by pressing the search keys ‘Window + F’. (WIN+Q for the Applications). This is comes in handy when you want to see all the installed applications in your computer, if you want to start an application from a list.
Since you’re on the Metro Interface most of the time in Windows 8 and there is no taskbar, you are bound to loose the track of applications that you will run. Cycling between applications is pretty easy in Windows 8. Just like all previous versions of Windows, pressing ‘Alt + TAB’ would cycle through the applications that are currently running with the thumbnails of those applications. ‘Win + TAB’, unlike Windows 7 will let you switch between the next running application. And just like the mobile version of Windows 7, you can click on a tile to open an application again, if that application is already open and you still clicked the tile to open it, it will open the the previous instance of that app. As stated earlier, pressing the ‘Windows’ key on your keyboard repeatedly will cycle between the current running application and the metro interface.
Want to know which application you used last? Just move your mouse to the end on the left side and a small thumbnail of that application will appear.
You can not close an application in windows 8, well technically because there is no ‘Cross’ or ‘Close’ button in application of the Metro Interface. Applications are suspended, just like any mobile OS and they will be closed if you’re low on resources or some other application needs some more memory. If you really want to get rid of an application, just fire up the Task Manager by pressing ‘Ctrl + Shift + Esc’ and ‘End Task’ your application.
How to shutdown or restart your computer in Windows 8
This is no more the job for the ‘Start’ button. To shutdown, restart or put your computer to sleep, you need to move your mouse to the left corner, click on settings and then click on the ‘Power’ icon. This can be done while you are anywhere in the windows, be it the Metro Interface or the Desktop.
However, when in Desktop mode, you can press ‘Alt + F4’ and then choose the appropriate option in the dialog.
Using internet explorer 10 in windows 8 Metro Interface is a little bit tricky if you have no experience of touch interfaces or browsing internet on mobile devices. IE10 in metro is completely touch friendly but if you’re using a desktop computer or laptop without touch capability, it should still be pretty easy for you to operate. Just fire up the browser by clicking on the Internet Explorer tile in metro.
It will open a full screen browser with a toolbar at the bottom, not visible by default. Right click on the empty space and you can view the thumbnails of tabs and that bar at the bottom again. You can open a webpage by typing in the address and it will remember your frequently used websites and you can also pin a specific most used website to it too, using this button.
However, if you prefer the more classic internet explorer, it is available in the desktop. Switch to the desktop mode and click on the shortcut on the taskbar. You can also use the this button on the metro version of internet explorer to switching the current browsing page over to the desktop version of the internet explorer. I never imagined that I’d say this but for on the fly internet browsing, the metro version of internet explorer is pretty sleek and super fast.
How to Change the City in Weather app in Windows 8
By default the weather app is pre configured with the current conditions in Anaheim, California, but if you can add your local city too in the list. Just click Weather to launch the app, right-click and select Add City,
type the name of your nearest city, and choose it from the list, when it appears. For a detailed overview, take a look at the following video. (View it in full screen HD.)
The option to hibernate a Windows 8 computer is not available in the ‘Shutdown’ dialog, but you can restore it by following these steps.
Go to Desktop and type (powercfg.cpl) in the RUN box (WIN+R) to launch the Power Options window and click “Choose what the power buttons do” in the left
hand pane.
If you see a “Change settings that are current unavailable” link, then click it, check the Sleep and Hibernate
options, click Save Changes, and the new options should now appear in your shutdown dialogs.
Also in the same window, check on ‘Show Sleep’ option. (These options are greyed out by default.)
If you are a single user on your computer or you don’t want to give password, every time you login to Windows then follow these simple steps to enable ‘Auto Logon’:
Press WIN+R, type netplwiz and press Enter to launch the User Accounts dialog.
Clear the “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer” box and click OK.
Enter the user name and password of the account that you’d like to be logged in automatically (you may have to click on a specific user account that you want to change from the list), click OK,
reboot, and you shouldn’t be prompted for your login details again.
Win + C : displays the “Charms”: all those Settings, Devices, Share and Search options in new improved ‘Start Menu’
Win + D : launches the desktop
Win + E : launches Explorer
‘How to search for files in Windows 8?’ Just press Win + F : and start searching.
Win + I : opens the Settings, also where you go to shutdown your computer.
Win + L : locks your PC
Win + P : switch your display to a second display or projector
Win + R : opens the Run box
Win + U : open the Ease of Access Centre
Win + W: Similar to ‘Search Files’ but this shortcut will take you directly to let you search for your system settings.
For example, if you type ‘wallpaper’, it will return you settings related to ‘changing your desktop background’.
Win + Q: It will let you search for the Windows Programs both for Metro and Desktop Interfaces. Really good alternative for the search bar on classic Windows 7 Start Menu.
Win + Z : This will display the right-click context menu when in a full-screen Metro app. For example, the right-click menu in the weather application.
Win + + : This will let you zoom in at any part of your Metro Interface as well as Desktop Interface. Adds a pretty cool magnifier icon which lets you change the magnify settings.
Win + - : zoom out
Win + Tab : switch between running apps, works like ‘Alt+Tab’ in previous Windows.
What do you do to launch your favorite application in Windows 8? You definitely go to the Desktop Interface to open the shortcut on the desktop OR you search for the file using the WIN+F shortcut. This short tutorial will let you add a quick launch shortcut to your favorite application in simple steps. This is the windows 8 default shortcut, so if you press the Windows key plus a number, it will let you open your favorite app that is on the quick-launch on the Desktop. For example, by default there are two icons, Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer on the task bar. So if you press WIN+1, it will launch Internet Explorer and pressing WIN+2 will open the Windows Explorer. The good thing about this trick is that it also works on the Metro Interface. That is pretty much the trick to it. For example:
Start Windows Media Player by searching for Apps.
Pin it to the task bar.
Move it to the left of Internet Explorer, if you want this to be your number one shortcut. The one that will be launched by pressing ‘WIN+1’.
Add Shutdown / Hibernate shortcuts on Taskbar in Windows 8
Follow these simple steps to add quick launch shortcuts that will appear in ‘WIN+F’ search box.
Go to C:\Users\<AccountName>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs folder in Windows Explorer. Where <AccountName> would be your username of Windows. You can go there using the windows explorer but keep in mind that ‘AppData’ folder would be hidden by default. So either you have to ‘Unhide’ the hidden system files and folders or you can use the run dialog. Just press WIN+R and copy/paste the above address. (Don’t forget to replace <AccountName> with your username.)
This will open the Programs folder, just add a new shortcut by Right Clicking on an empty space and choosing ‘New > Shortcut’. Then type shutdown –s –f –t 00 for shutdown, shutdown –r –f –t 00 for restart and shutdown –h –f –t 00 for hibernate. -f is to force the applications to close, –t is the time before the current task will be executed so 00 would execute it at one. You can also use the time switch to schedule a shutdown.
Click Next and give your short cut a name. You can pin this to the taskbar by right clicking on the short cut and selecting ‘Pin to taskbar’. Click on the icon to shutdown your computer or Now when you’ll press WIN+Q and type ‘shutdown’ it will show you the app shortcut you just added. Click on it to shut down your computer.
Microsoft has added support for Virtual Machines in Windows 8. It will be installed by default when you install Windows 8 on your computer. Follow these two steps to enable it:
Press Win+Q and search for OptionalFeatures.exe, it will be shown on the right side as you type it.
In ‘Turn Windows features On or Off’ window, click to check Hyper-V and click OK.
Now press the windows key, go back to metro and you’ll see that Hyper-V tiles have been added at the end.
We have already discussed how gaming has gone on to the next level and with all sorts of gaming devices and games flying in and out of the gaming market, the industry of gaming has surely seen a boom period over the years. Be it a young, enthusiastic gaming freak or a part-time mid-aged casual gamer (Agreed, they are rare finds but still), gaming has certainly become the heartbeat of many. The sheer excitement and pleasure derived from all the daily gaming fodder, be it a case of a strategic game that keeps you bashing your brains or a first person shooter that keeps you on your toes at all times, it keeps most gamers go on and on at doing what they do best-gaming. In this edition of Guide on Buying the Perfect Gaming HDTVs, we will guide you on you may buy the perfect HDTV for gaming purposes but before we do move on to the topic of the day let us discuss the innovations in the gaming industry that; in fact, has paved way for HDTV(Talk about pitching in climax). So then, ride along.
Modern Gaming:
There used to be a time when PC gaming was the only real sort of gaming that most gamers could enjoy; not anymore though. The advent of next-generation gaming hasn’t put PC gaming out of commission (Certainly not!), but what it has done really well is that it has extended the approach of many more, previously quality gaming deprived, potential gamers towards state of the art games. Gone are the days when gaming meant sitting in a computer chair and sitting in front of a PC for hours without food or exercise (Yes, that puts YOU out of commission). Not-so-old entrants like SONY PlayStation 3, Microsoft XBOX 360 and Nintendo Wii have indeed taken gaming to a higher level. Gaming is not just a matter of sitting before a TV or computer screen and killing time for countless number of hours-instead it has opened the gates for cognitive skills, problem solving and a bit of creative thinking. More so, the induction of motion-sensing technology into gaming, especially in shape of Microsoft’s XBOX 360 Kinect and SONY’s PlayStation Move has allowed people to hop, skip and jump around their living rooms and work a sweat to develop their reflexes.
Gaming HDTV For The Win (FTW):
There is no doubt whatsoever in the fact that HDTV or high definition television is perfect if you wish to experience pure and polished gaming atmosphere all round. Crisp and clear sounds coupled with the unparalleled high definition clarity and sharpness is a dream come true for all gaming fans out there. It is apparent that an HDTV has all that it takes to home next-generation gaming. It is true that most HDTVs out in the market today provide a lot better picture quality than the regular home televisions but the task of buying the perfect HDTV for your home entertainment can be an overwhelming one. It really comes down to more than just the choice of the perfect HDTV. Important thing worth noting here is the fact that the perfect gaming HDTV is the one that really suits best your gaming preferences (See, that is what the topic says up there). Let us have a look at a few main HDTV features that you must have knowledge about so as to taste the best of gaming.
Enter the Perfect HDTV:
Now then, here starts all the fun and talk on the main features to look out for while choosing the perfect HDTV for gaming, and gaming only.
Size:
While buying an HDTV, the screen size is seen as one of the foremost factors to consider so as to enjoy the perfect gaming experiences. The size of whichever HDTV you are buying needs to be consistent with the space-that is paramount. Viewing distance range charts largely help in sorting this out. However, we feel that anything between 26 inches and 42 inches is round about perfect.
Game Mode:
The talk of the table for most gaming enthusiasts, Game Mode comes across as an exciting new feature that makes gaming on an HDTV a perfect and pleasurable experience. Surprisingly, this HDTV feature provides an essential combination of the majority of perfect features on an HDTV, most noticeable of which are improved resolution and shorter response time.
Input Lag:
Often termed as response time, Input lag refers to the response time between the HDTV screen and the gaming controller. An HDTV with the lowest of Input lag makes for the perfect gaming experience; hence, enhanced response time.
Refresh Rate:
Refresh rate is also a very important factor to consider when buying an HDTV specifically for gaming. This very feature of an HDTV refers to the number of per second the screen on the HDTV updates itself. The higher the better.
Contrast and Resolution:
Although two slightly different terminologies, these two, but they basically deal with the clarity of an HDTV. While contrast maintains a combination of light and color variance, the higher resolution brings out the perfect picture on an HDTV.
3D Functionality:
Following its success in featured 3D movies, 3D functionality is rapidly gaining popularity in the gaming arena; hence, an HDTV with 3D functionalities will certainly beef up your gaming environment, thereby, putting on offer the perfect setting for gaming on a quality HDTV.
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