How To Sanitize Your Hard Disk?

Some people say with the click of delete button your hard disk gets sanitize. However, do yourself think so … well then check the recycle bin and see the list of deleted items, which you have removed and can b e recovered as well. For secure deletion of data, it is necessary to sanitize the hard disk with the help of a professional. But if you want to do it your self then buy the right hard disk erasure software. There are many companies these days offering with Free Hard Drive Eraser Software. This was in general we have talked about.

Well if you are a customer care company, then it becomes necessary to keep the confidential data about the clients, like credit card numbers, customer’s information, important policies completely secured. If you go on for a hard drive erasure, then you need to use multi pass scrubbing technique.

Beside this, there are three other ways of sanitizing the hard disk:

i) Physical destruction

ii) Overwriting the disk's data

iii) Degaussing

Some people prefer physical destruction of disk. This includes smelting and pulverizing of disk. If you think that this is an expensive method, well then overwrite the disk data using hard disk shredder. This is the proper and an economical way of secure data removal.

These all methods are suggested to those who want to sell their old hard disk, junk it or junk it then using the above methods is important. However, if you want to use the same hard disk then simple basic sanitizing is more than enough. In this you need to delete all the unwanted data, unused programs and reformat the disk completely.

How to Clean Your Laptop

Is it possible to recharge alkaline batteries like Duracell and Energizer by using some special methods?

There are battery chargers in the market that claim to recharge alkaline batteries, but you should be wary of their claims. These batteries are not designed to be recharged and the manufacturers state this very clearly on the side of each battery.

Which it may technically be possible to recharge an alkaline with a trickle current, in reality, it can be quite dangerous. Apart from unstable behavior, an alkaline battery can heat up, leak, burst or even explode, causing serious injury. This happens mainly due to heat build up while charging and is also the reason why you should never throw batteries in a fire.

Is it advisable to remove each key and clean it, like a desktop keyboard when the dust gets trapped in between the keys?

Laptop keyboards are built differently as compared to standalone keyboards used with desktop PCs. Trying to remove each key to clean under it will most likely render the keyboard useless, as doing so will break the delicate plastic bits that hold the keys in place.

To clean it, use a narrow brush with soft bristles to dislodge any stubborn dirt and use a blower (or reverse mode in a vacuum cleaner) to blow it out. You can also use a commercially-available cleaner called Cyber Clean, which is designed to remove dirt and disinfect electronics.

Cyber Clean is like soft putty that you can squeeze in between the keys; all the debris will stick to it and it pulls out without leaving any residue. It can be reused a few times before the effectiveness wears out. You should be able to get it at any good stationary store.

5 Notebook Tools While On The Go

For many these days, a notebook computer is an essential travel companion. But the computer itself is usually just the first tech tool you'll need in order to get your work done or to stay connected while you're away. What else is essential? Read on for some answers.

Adapters and chargers
No matter how long your notebook's battery lasts, you'll have to charge it at some point. So don't forget your power cable. Beyond that, though, you'll need a power plug adapter if you're traveling to a country that uses a different power plug than the one you use at home.

Most power bricks that come with notebook computers can automatically sense the voltage necessary to run the machine, regardless of where you are in the world. But, if you're traveling abroad, you may still need a simple adapter to convert your plug into the one used in your destination.

If you're also taking along your smartphone, you'll need to charge it frequently, probably every day. You can probably charge it directly from your notebook by obtaining a simple USB cable that goes from your phone's power jack to a USB port in your notebook. Be sure to pack the cord -- it'll save you from having to take or purchase a more expensive power adapter for the phone.

Remote control account
If your notebook computer is not your main machine, chances are that you'll leave some essential file or email message at home. That's where a remote access service like Logmein.com can be a life-saver.

Logmein is free, and with it you can use your internet-connected notebook to access your main computer just as if you were sitting in front of it. Before you leave, use your main machine to create a Logmein account, install the unobtrusive client software, and practice accessing your machine from your notebook.

Once logged in, you'll be able to use your main machine's email program to send yourself a file or some other information you may have forgotten. Just remember to leave your main computer turned on. And if you live in an area that experiences power outages, buy an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) for your home machine to keep it running in case the power goes out briefly.

Communication tools
Don't forget to load your notebook up with any software you need to stay connected. For aggregating instant messaging and social networking accounts, you can't go wrong with Digsby (http://www.digsby.com), which will keep you connected with friends or colleagues through AIM, Yahoo Instant Messenger, Windows Live, Twitter, and many other social networking services -- all through one interface.

Skype can also be essential, especially if you find yourself unable or, because of cost, unwilling to use your mobile or smartphone in your destination. Get a Skype account that allows you to call conventional landline or cell phones as well as other users of Skype. The cost is minimal.

To use Skype, you will need a microphone -- and a webcam if you wish to perform video calls. Many notebook computers today have a microphone built in, and some have a webcam. If yours does not, you can purchase an inexpensive but adequate USB-based headset microphone from most electronics or computer stores.

Or, if you wish to be able to make video calls, get a webcam with a built-in microphone. Test Skype out before you leave. The service will often automatically detect any microphone or webcam on your notebook, so configuration is typically a snap.

Sending photos
If a digital camera is one of your travel accessories, be sure to take along any cable necessary to connect it to your notebook. With some cameras, that cable will also act as a charger, so with it you may be able to lighten up on extra batteries.

If you transfer your travel photos to your notebook, wouldn't it be nice to be able to send them to friends or family back home? There are a few ways to do this. One is to use a free blogging service like Blogger. Create your blog in a couple of clicks, upload photos as you create them, and simply share the link with friends and family.

Or you could create a photo gallery on a popular photo sharing site such as Flickr and, again, simply share the link to your gallery. If you'd rather share your photographs by email, consider a program that automates the the job of resizing and attractively displaying your photos in the body of your message. SendPhotos (http://www.sendphotos.com) is perfect for this.

External devices
An external USB stick or thumb drive -- or an external hard disk -- can be essential for a number of reasons. You might run out of space on your notebook, so you can use the external drive to offload files. You could -- and probably should -- also have an external drive to back up your computer each day. After all, on the road, your notebook is more susceptible to misfortune -- including theft. It's one thing to lose your notebook but quite another to lose the data on it.

If you're a music lover and want to use your notebook to play beautiful music as you enjoy a pleasant evening, a portable, USB-based external speaker such as Altec Lansing's Orbit will transform your machine into a decent-sounding stereo - just the thing to turn those nights away from home into something enjoyable and relaxing.

Live Streaming Debuts on YouTube

 NEW YORK: YouTube is making its long expected foray into live streaming by launching an experimental trial with four new media partners.

The new live streaming platform will be previewed in a two-day trial beginning Monday, but is expected to later grow considerably across the Google Inc-owned website.

Four YouTube partners will participate: the celebrity-focused Young Hollywood; the online television outlet Next New Networks; the how-to guide Howcast; and Rocketboom, the Internet culture vlog.

"This is just an initial trial, a first step," said YouTube product manager Josh Siegel. "We're going to look at a whole bunch of data about the performance of our new platform and then, based on that, make decisions about how we'll open it up, with the goal of opening it up to all of our partners over time."

For the last two years, YouTube has offered numerous events live, including a U2 concert, cricket matches in India and President Barack Obama's first State of the Union address. But for all of those events, YouTube relied on third-party technology to enable the live webcasts.

Chris Hamilton, a product marketing manager at YouTube, said live streaming is ``a natural evolution to online video'' that "adds an extra level of engagement," for the site's audience.

YouTube, though, is far from the first company to step into the streaming video space. Startups such as Ustream.tv, Justin.tv and Livestream have already established themselves.

But YouTube remains the largest video platform on the Web and is expected to quickly become a considerable force in the rapidly growing live streaming video business.

ComScore recently announced the amount of time American audiences spent watching the major live video publishers grew by 648 percent in the last year. The advertising possibilities are also good, since the average live streamed video view is 7 percent longer than the average online video view, according to ComScore.

Ustream is the current leader in live video, with 3.2 million unique viewers in July. But Google video sites, which are primarily driven by YouTube, drew 143.2 million unique visitors in July, according to ComScore.

Hamilton said YouTube will be monitoring the live trial to see how well the video looks and how well servers handle any bandwidth increases.

Among the broadcasts scheduled for Monday 11 a.m. EDT is Rocketboom, which is planning an hour-long variety show, pulling from Rocketboom and its numerous spin-offs. Producer Leah D'Emilio said the site is planning a TV-like broadcast, with multiple cameras and correspondents.

She expects that live streaming will further engage the YouTube community.

"Any time you can bring your viewers into a broadcast _ like making a shout-out to someone who left a comment _ the audience really gets excited about that, on YouTube in particular," said D'Emilio. "It breaks down any kind of wall between the people on camera and the people who are watching."

Hottest Video Games

Retail sales of video games have dipped slightly in 2010, but the overall quality delivered by the interactive entertainment industry has never been higher. Major titles like "Red Dead Redemption ," "God of War III," "StarCraft II", "Mass Effect 2" and "Heavy Rain" have already established this year as a watershed for consumers who plunk down the $60 that most top games cost these days.

It will be impressive enough if publishers are able to deliver a comparable slate this fall, but perhaps the biggest gaming story over the rest of the year is likely to be the introduction of new control systems for Microsoft's Xbox 360 (called Kinect, on Nov. 4) and Sony's PlayStation 3 (called Move, on Sept. 19). Kinect and Move will be reviewed separately along with their associated initial titles, but there are plenty of interesting games on the horizon that use traditional control schemes. Here are a few highlights:

Assassin creed: Brotherhood

Last year's "Assassin's Creed II" set the player as a vigilante in Renaissance Italy out to avenge the downfall of his family at the hands of the vulpine Rodrigo Borgia (aka Pope Alexander VI). It was a bit surprising, then, that the game never let you explore the city of Rome. "Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" is designed to make up for that by letting you scale walls, flit across rooftops and otherwise parkour your way across the vast expanses of the ancient capital, kicking bad guys along the way.

Publisher : Ubisoft.

To be released on Nov. 16 for PS3 and Xbox 360.


Call of Duty: Black Ops

Over the last few years Call of Duty has emerged as one of the world’s most popular and most lucrative console game franchises. That will be put to the test this fall as the series shifts from its original development studio, Infinity Ward, and into the hands of a rival development group called Treyarch. With “Black Ops,” Call of Duty is also moving away from its recent focus on modern warfare and is instead recreating cold-war covert operations.

Publisher: Activision.

To be released on Nov. 9 for PS3, Wii, Windows and Xbox 360.

Disney Epic Mickey

Mickey Mouse is one of the few fictional characters known as widely around the world as video-game titans like Mario and Pac-Man , yet Mickey has been largely absent from popular culture for many decades now. To bring him into the interactive age, Disney acquired the talents of Warren Spector, a highly respected designer perhaps best known for creating the pioneering title "System Shock." Spector's previous work, however, has been aimed squarely at adults. Millions will be waiting to see how he handles Mickey's reinvention.

Publisher: Disney.

To be released on an as-yet-unspecified date this holiday season for Nintendo's Wii.

Gran Turismo

Under development for at least six years and with a production budget of at least $60 million (and probably far more), "Gran Turismo 5" aims to be the ultimate driving simulator. There are roughly 70 different tracks and some 1,000 driveable cars, but the real keyword here is realism. So if you think you’re actually going to be able to handle that 700-horsepower virtual Ferrari without a ton of practice, think again.

Publisher: Sony.

To be released on Nov. 2 for PS3.
Halo: Reach

Halo is perhaps the definitive console game property of the past decade. Without it, Microsoft might never have been able to establish the Xbox as a legitimate rival to Sony’s PlayStation. Amid some complicated corporate machinations , “Reach” is theoretically the final Halo game that will be developed by Bungie, the studio that invented the franchise. Bungie’s previous Halo game, last year’s “ODST” (for Orbital Drop Shock Troopers), was a disappointment. So players can expect Microsoft and Bungie to outdo themselves this time, from both aspects of game play and promotion.

Publisher : Microsoft.

To be released Tuesday for Xbox 360.

Medal of Honor

Once upon a time (around eight years ago) Medal of Honor was the top war-game franchise. Then Call of Duty came along. Now Electronic Arts is trying to reboot MOH with a new title set in Afghanistan. Courting controversy, the multiplayer mode gives users the option to play as a member of the Taliban, which strikes some as unsavory and others as merely realistic.

Publisher : Electronic Arts.

To be released on Oct. 12 for PS3, Windows and Xbox 360.

Professor Layton and the Unwound Future

With their captivating combination of affecting story lines, hilariously campy characters and mind bending puzzles, the previous two Professor Layton games to be introduced in North America have delighted both adults and children.

Google Search Goes Faster

SAN FRANCISCO: Google began scouring the Internet in real time, delivering results as fast as a person can type.

After two days of teasingly tinkering with the log "doodle" atop its search home page and ended the mystery by showing off Google Instant — a speedier route to Web results at a press event in the San Francisco Museum of Art.

As searchers type in a query, the Google search box displays a list of suggested terms and displays the actual results for the top suggestion.

"Google Instant actually gets queries and gives you search results as you type and streams those results to your computer," said Google vice president of search products and user experience Marissa Mayer.

"We are actually predicting what query you are likely to do and giving you results for that. There is actually a psychic element to it."

The Computer Helper: IE Troubles

Love it or hate it, Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE), by most estimates, still commands the lion's share of the browser market. That means a lot of people spend a lot of their day using the browser, and a lot of people encounter problems they'd like to solve. Here are a few.

Q: Internet Explorer opens up in a different size and position each time I start it. I would like it to open up maximized. How can I do this?

A: Internet Explorer - and most other web browsers - remembers the size and position it was last in, and it launches in the exact same size and position when restarted. It's likely that you or some process re-sized or moved the browser window before closing it. It's important to note that IE and other browsers remember the state of just the last browser window closed, so if you have five browser session open, it's only the last one that is closed that will be stored for the next launch of the browser.

There are a couple of ways you can force IE to open in a maximized state each time, regardless of the size and position it was last in when closed. First, go to your Start menu and locate the Internet Explorer icon. Right-click it, and select Properties from the pop-up menu. From the resulting Internet Explorer Properties dialog box, make sure the Shortcut tab is selected, and then from the Run drop-down list box, select 'Maximized.' Click Apply and OK.

You could also download and use the free IE New Window Maximizer, which will make it easy to do the same thing. The utility also gives you several other options over how IE launches, including the ability to open a new IE window in the background and to automatically close pop-up windows.

Q: Internet Explorer is showing all of my web pages in a font that's too small for me to read. It did not used to do that. Does my computer have a virus?

A: It's unlikely that your computer has a virus. Instead, you probably accidentally adjusted the zoom level in Internet Explorer. The zoom level is responsible for making text and other objects on web pages larger or smaller. Recent versions of IE have made adjusting the zoom level all too easy, especially if you have a wheel mouse. By holding down the Ctrl key and moving the wheel back and forth, you can adjust the zoom level on the fly. You can do the same thing by holding down the Ctrl key and tapping the plus (+) or minus (-) keys on your keyboard's number pad. Unfortunately, accidentally activating the zoom feature using either one of these shortcuts is a common complaint among IE users.

First, to reset the zoom level to the normal, 1:1 scale, open the View menu in IE, locate the Zoom option, and select 100% from the sub-menu. Get used to the look of the 100%, 1:1 scale, and you can quickly get back to it by using one of the shortcuts mentioned earlier.

Take a moment to inspect IE's View menu, and you'll also see that it's possible to reduce or enlarge the size of just the text on web pages without affecting the scale of other elements. Make sure the Text Size option in the View menu is set to Medium to get back to IE's default.

Q: Internet Explorer seems to freeze a lot. This is on Windows 7. It will freeze and then a dialog box saying 'Internet Explorer stopped responding' appears. All I can do is close it down. Is this a problem with Internet Explorer or the websites I'm viewing? Should I switch to a different browser?

A: Freezes such as those you describe may or may not be an Internet Explorer issue. To find out, though, start by installing one or two other browsers and visiting the same sites. Download and install Firefox and Chrome. Both of these can reside on the same computer as Internet Explorer, and at the very least you can use them to help you know whether the problems you are encountering with IE are unique to Microsoft's browser.

Even if you find that Firefox and Chrome do not crash while you're viewing the same sites, however, the fault may not lie with IE but rather with add-ons that are installed in IE. Open IE's Tools menu, click Manage Add-Ons, and from the resulting Manage Add-ons dialog box, select any non- Microsoft add-ons with a status of Enabled and disable them. You can do that by highlighting each of the add-ons one at a time, right clicking, and choosing Disable from the pop-up menu. When you're finished, close the dialog box, restart IE, and visit the same sites. If the browser no longer freezes, you can enable the add-ons one at a time until you find the culprit.

Q: Internet Explorer is not remembering my username and password at websites any more. How can I fix this?

A: There are a few things you can try to solve this problem. First, make sure you're not in InPrivate mode, which will not save user names and passwords.

Second, be sure that you have IE set up to remember user names and passwords. Open the Tools menu, and select Options. From the resulting Options dialog box, select the Content tab. Then, from the Auto Complete section, click Settings. In the Auto Complete dialog box, make sure the Forms check box is selected, as well as the 'User names and passwords on forms' sub-setting.

Third, because this problem can result from corrupted cookies, try deleting all of your cookies and starting over. To delete cookies, open IE's Tools menu, and select Internet Options. From the General tab of the Internet Options dialog box, under Browsing History, click the Delete button. Then select the Cookies check box, and click OK.

Best Laptop Touch Pads

Though battery life, keyboard, and processing power are all very important parts of the laptop experience, it's the touch pad that can really make or break a mobile PC. These tiny slabs of plastic or metal (or glass) are responsible for navigating everything from Web site buttons to document creation to photo editing--which means that a badly designed touch pad can really ruin your day.

It's true that many laptop users hook up to an external mouse when their machines are docked or parked on a desk--but in nearly every other situation, whether lounging on your couch or sitting at an airport or coffee shop, it's just you and the touch pad, attempting to replicate the wide variety of movements and tasks associated with the traditional mouse.

Fortunately, PC users have become increasingly acclimated to the idea of touch interfaces on tech products, thanks to everything from iPhones and iPads to touch-screen all-in-one desktops (and even ATM machines). We're already tuned to accept touch pads as our primary methods of input, but that also makes flawed ones all the more aggravating. So, what makes a good one?

Size: There's just no substitute for a big, wide surface. Apple has led the pack in many ways on this, eliminating the physical mouse buttons and making more room for its glass MacBook touch pads. HP followed suit recently, bumping up touch-pad sizes on some systems. On smaller laptops like Netbooks, a few extra millimeters of room can make a big difference.

Surface: There's a reason most touch pads have different surface material than the wrist rests that surround them. When the touch pad is made of exactly the same material, your fingers can't easily tell by feel where the touch pad ends--and worse, some wrists rests use a grippy, glossy plastic that makes for difficult finger control on the touch pad itself. The texture should be smooth and friction-free. A field of tiny bumps doesn't cut it.

Multi-touch: Means you can use two or more fingers to activate gesture-based commands via the touch pad. In most cases, it means using two fingers side by side to scroll down document pages. Apple again leads the pack on this, with some four-finger gestures that are usually easy to execute. We've seen other laptop makers come close, but the fatal flaw tends to be pads tuned too tightly to recognize anything but perfectly executed multi-touch gestures.

Mouse buttons: We've tried them all, and by a wide margin we favor having separate left and right buttons, rather than a single rocker-style bar that extends from one end of the touch pad to the other. Oversize buttons are clunky, but we prefer that to tiny or shallow ones that make it difficult to tell if a click has registered at all. The MacBook idea of eliminating mouse buttons altogether (the entire pad acts as a giant mouse button if clicked) is more a matter of personal taste.

Make Your Pc Run Like Brand New

There could be several hardware-related reasons for a slow computer. For example, the processor, the brain of your computer, may be too slow to run today's demanding software.

It may drag along if you have several programs running simultaneously. Then, there is RAM - the temporary memory the computer uses to do its calculations. If you do not have enough RAM, your programs will run slowly.

For better speed, you can upgrade the processor or RAM. A tune-up may also do the job. All you need to do is tweaking some settings to breathe new life into your PC.

STEP 1

For those who believe their computer lags at start up, a quick look at the MSConfig would be the place to start. MSConfig can be accessed by hitting the Windows button on keyboard along with R key.

This will bring up the 'Run' dialog. Type 'MSConfig' and you will get the 'Start Up' tab with a list of programs and executable that are launched when the computer starts up.

Starting up of too many programs when the computer boots could be a reason why the boot time is so long. The remedy would be to go through the entire list and un-check the unnecessary items.

If there are entries you are not sure about, check them on the internet, as un-checking the wrong entries could potentially mess up the functionality of some of your programs.

STEP 2

Defragment the hard drive once a month. It's like changing your car's oil - it should be the one thing on your list even if you don't do anything else. Windows stores information about your programs in the Registry.

This can get cluttered and affect performance. The solution is to download free registry cleaners from the internet (eg. CCleaner) to remove redundant program entries.

STEP 3

Indexing Services is a nifty little program that uses a large amount of RAM. This processes indexes and updates lists of files on your computer. This is done so that when you search for something, it can search faster by scanning the index lists.

So, if you don't search your computer often, turn it off would better performance. Simply go to 'Start' button on task bar, click on 'Control Panel' and select 'Add/Remove Programs'. Find the tab 'Add/Remove Window Components' and un-check 'Indexing Services'. Click Next.

Also, if there is a delay every time you open 'My Computer' to browse folders, try this.

Open 'My Computer', click on 'Tools', select 'Folder Options', click on the 'View' tab to un-check the 'Automatically search for network folders and printers' box.

Click 'Apply' and then reboot your computer for changes to apply.

STEP 4

Hard drive performance plummets as you near the drive's maximum capacity.

Assuming you don't have an additional drive to move the content to, your choices are slim. But before you take a machete to your files, you may want to compress them.

Use the built-in compression tool in Windows, which makes accessing the files no different from it currently is. Go to 'Disk Cleanup' and make sure 'Compress Old Files' is checked.

Click 'Options' and specify the age of the files you want Windows to compress - Windows will compress only the files you haven't accessed in more than six months (or as specified).

STEP 5

An important feature of Windows is its ability to return system files to the state they were in earlier. Before tweaking, users can create a new 'Restore Point'.

Go to Control Panel>Performance and Maintenance>System Restore or Start-All Programs > Accessories > System Tools>System Restore and select 'Create a restore point'.

If it is left alone, this can consume a good portion of your disk space with unnecessary restore points.

By default, it uses up to 12 per cent of each of your drives and, even if you have a big hard drive, many extra restore points can slow down processes like virus checking, disk-defragmenting, etc.

Typically, how much space you should allot to system restore depends on your system (200 MB - the minimum allowed - will hold 5 or 6 restore points) and should suffice for average users.

STEP 6

Also, the Windows XP (and Windows Vista) computers have features like smooth animated menus and transparent windows.

These use processor resources, too, which means they can cause slowdown. Right-click the 'My Computer' icon and click 'Properties'.

Click the 'Advanced' tab and under 'Performance', click 'Settings'. Choose to switch off some of these effects and see the improvement in your PC's performance.

STEP 7

Accumulated dust in computer cases a reason for over-heated PCs. Dust gets into the ball bearings in the fan and cause the fan to stop working. This may lead to overheating of processor and permanent hardware failure.

It is less common, but static charges from dust can also be a threat. A layer of dust on a memory chip can cause static electricity to build up.

This can amount to electric charge, which discharges on to your motherboard or memory chip. The best way to stop dust from building up is to open the case on your PC and vacuum it.

We recommend never tweak without knowing how to return where you began

New features in Microsoft Word 2010

After the roaring success of Windows 7, Microsoft recently unveiled the latest version of its productivity suit, Microsoft Office 2010.

Boasting of a host of collaborative features and an all-new interface, Office 2010 aims to bring back the glory Microsoft lost with Office 2007. Not only this, the software giant also plans to take on the Web's Big Daddy Google which offers free Web-based Google Docs.

In fact, Microsoft has completely overhauled its most-popular software offering Word which now offers improved features for search, editing and pictures.

Here is a look at 10 new features in Microsoft Word 2010.

Improved search

With the new and improved Find experience, you can now view a summary of search results in a single pane, and click to access any individual result. The improved Navigation Pane provides you a visual outline of your document so you can browse, sort and find what you need.

Co-authoring in real-time

Word 2010 redefines the way people can work together on a document. With co-authoring, you can edit papers and share ideas with others at the same time. Share Point Foundation Services or a Windows Live account is required.

You can also view the availability of others who are authoring a document with you and can start a conversation without leaving Word.

Share documents

Word 2010 lets you post your documents online and then access, view, and edit them from almost any computer or your Windows phone.

Microsoft Word Web App edits documents in a Web browser when you’re away from your office or home, without compromising the quality of your viewing experience. You can also stay current and take immediate action using an enhanced mobile version of Word specifically suited to your smart phone.

Add visual effects

With Word 2010, you can apply formatting effects such as shadow, bevel, glow, and reflection to your document text. You can spell-check text that uses visual effects, and add text effects to paragraph styles. Many of the same effects used for images are now available to both text and shapes.

Turn your text into diagram

Word 2010 offers you more options to add visual impact to your documents. You can choose from dozens of additional Smart Art Graphics to build diagrams just by typing a bulleted list. Smart Art enables you to transform basic, bullet-point text into visuals that illustrate your ideas.

Image editing

New picture-editing tools in Word 2010 enable you to add special picture effects without additional photo-editing software. You can easily adjust pictures with color saturation and temperature controls. You also get improved tools for easier and more precise cropping and image correction.


Recover lost draft

After working on that document for awhile, did you accidentally close it without saving? Worry not. Word 2010 lets you recover draft versions of recently edited files as easily as opening any file, even if you never saved the document.


Insert screen shots

You can now capture and insert screen shots directly from Word 2010 to incorporate visual illustrations into your work. When you use a tablet-enabled device such as a Tablet PC, you get improved tools for formatting ink as easily as you format shapes.

New File menu

The new Microsoft Office Backstage view replaces the traditional File menu to let you save, share, print, and publish your documents with just a few clicks. With the improved Ribbon, you can access your favorite commands even more quickly by customizing tabs.

Word translation

Word 2010 helps you work and communicate across different languages. It translates a word, phrase, or document more easily than before. You can set separate language settings for Screen Tips, Help content, and displays. And, get additional assistance for English as a second language with English text-to-speech playback.

Hidden Files

By default Windows hides certain files from being seen with Windows Explorer or My Computer. This is done to protect these files, which are usually system files, from accidentally being modified or deleted by the user. Unfortunately viruses, spy ware, and hijackers often hide there files in this way making it hard to find them and then delete them.

By following the steps below for each version of Windows you will be able to change the operating systems behavior so that you can see hidden and protected files. In this way you will be able to delete or replaces files for troubleshooting purposes.

Windows 95 (If Someone still Using)

To enable the viewing of Hidden files follow these steps:

1.Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
2.Double-click on the My Computer icon.
3.Select the View menu and then click Options.
4.After the new window appears select the View tab.
5.Scroll down until you see the Show all files radio button and select it.
6.Press the OK button and close the My Computer window.
7.Now your computer is configured to show all hidden files.

Windows 98

To enable the viewing of Hidden files follow these steps:

1.Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
2.Double-click on the My Computer icon.
3.Select the View menu and then click Folder Options.
4.After the new window appears select the View tab.
5.Scroll down until you see the Show all files radio button and select it.
6.Press the Apply button and then the OK button and close the My Computer window.
7.Now your computer is configured to show all hidden files.


Windows ME

To enable the viewing of Hidden files follow these steps:

1.Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
2.Double-click on the My Computer icon.
3.Select the Tools menu and click Folder Options.
4.After the new window appears select the View tab.
5.Under the Hidden files and folders section select the radio button labeled Show hidden files and folders.
6.Remove the check mark from the check box labeled Hide file extensions for known file types.
7.Remove the check mark from the check box labeled Hide protected operating system files.
8.Press the Apply button and then the OK button and shutdown My Computer.
9.Now your computer is configured to show all hidden files.


Windows NT

To enable the viewing of Hidden files follow these steps:

1.Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
2.Double-click on the My Computer icon.
3.Select the View menu and then click Options.
4.After the new window appears select the View tab.
5.Scroll down until you see the Show all files radio button and select it.
6.Press the OK button and shutdown My Computer.
7.Now your computer is configured to show all hidden files.


Windows 2000

To enable the viewing of Hidden files follow these steps:

1.Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
2.Double-click on the My Computer icon.
3.Select the Tools menu and click Folder Options.
4.After the new window appears select the View tab.
5.Under the Hidden files and folders section select the radio button labeled Show hidden files and folders.
6.Remove the check mark from the check box labeled Hide file extensions for known file types.
7.Remove the check mark from the check box labeled Hide protected operating system files.
8.Press the Apply button and then the OK button and shutdown My Computer.
9.Now your computer is configured to show all hidden files.


Windows XP and Windows 2003

To enable the viewing of Hidden files follow these steps:

1.Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
2.Double-click on the My Computer icon.
3.Select the Tools menu and click Folder Options.
4.After the new window appears select the View tab.
5.Put a check mark in the check box labeled Display the contents of system folders.
6.Under the Hidden files and folders section select the radio button labeled Show hidden files and folders.
7.Remove the check mark from the check box labeled Hide file extensions for known file types.
8.Remove the check mark from the check box labeled Hide protected operating system files.
9.Press the Apply button and then the OK button and shutdown My Computer.
10.Now your computer is configured to show all hidden files.


Windows Vista

To enable the viewing of Hidden files follow these steps:

1.Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
2.Click on the Start button. This is the small round button with the Windows flag in the lower left corner.
3.Click on the Control Panel menu option.
4.When the control panel opens you can either be in Classic View or Control Panel Home view:

If you are in the Classic View do the following:
1.Double-click on the Folder Options icon.
2.Click on the View tab.
3.Go to step 5.

If you are in the Control Panel Home view do the following:
1.Click on the Appearance and Personalization link .
2.Click on Show Hidden Files or Folders.
3.Go to step 5.


5.Under the Hidden files and folders section select the radio button labeled Show hidden files and folders.
6.Remove the check mark from the check box labeled Hide extensions for known file types.
7.Remove the check mark from the check box labeled Hide protected operating system files.
8.Press the Apply button and then the OK button and shutdown My Computer.

Simple Tips to Reduce Air Conditioning Running Costs

An incorrectly used hvac air conditioning system can be costly to run especially in a home environment. Most people don't realize that a large portion of your homes energy bill is made up from your air conditioning system. Below are 5 tips to help you cut the costs of running your air conditioning unit.

1) Set A Comfortable Temperature - Don't set the temperature to the extremes or the air conditioner will never cycle off and this will cost you money. Try selecting a comfortable room temperature to save on running costs.

2) Have Refrigerant Levels Tested - A refrigeration mechanic or contractor can test your system to determine if you have a refrigerant leak. If your system appears to be either cooling or heating less than normal, it is a good sign that you may have a gas leak.

3) Seal Off Any Droughts - Droughts and gusts of wind can really cool down your home when your trying to warm it up in winter. Drought stoppers and sealing cracks can reduce these droughts which will keep the warmth in and reduce your heating bills substantially.

4) Learn How To Use Your System - If you are not entirely sure how to use your air conditioning system, you are probably using it wrong. Speak with an air conditioning contractor for some good advice on how to run your air conditioner.

5) Clean Filters & Ducts -Finally, give your ducts and filters a quick clean. It is the simplest thing to do to get your hvac system to run better again.

Stick to these 5 tips and you will be sure to save money off your next power bill.

Are Free Software Downloads Always Safe

Who among us doesn’t love free stuff? But when it comes to free software, however, you might want to watch out. A free program you download over the Internet could contain harmful code that could do all kinds of damage to your computer or mobile device. It could mess up other software, take control of your computer, or compromise your personal data and expose you to possible identity theft.


Free software -- known as "freeware" -- is growing in popularity for computers and mobile devices because it can be easily accessed over the Internet. But there is another side to getting software for free. The old saying that "you get what you pay for" may apply to freeware.

Here’s what you need to know about freeware, the risks and how to keep your computer and its data secure:


Q. What is freeware?

A. To put it simply, freeware is free software that you install on your computer -- knowingly or not. For example, freeware can be a free game you install on your computer or a free program that helps you track expenses or even weight loss. Freeware can be delivered to you in a few ways, including on a CD or downloaded from a web site. And these days some freeware goes by another name: widget.

But what about security? Well, some freeware is safe and some isn’t. It often depends on the source. Freeware lacks some of the standard features that we have come to expect in software -- tech support, bug fixes, downloadable patches, and virus definitions, among them. Tech-savvy users might be able to understand and weigh the risks of using freeware, but more novice users might not want to expose themselves to potential hazards to their computer, their files and their personal information.

Q. Where can I find freeware?

A. Here are a few common providers of free software:

•Well-known companies: The same companies that you buy software from often also offer freeware. Sometimes the freebie comes in the form of a trial subscription so you can give a product a test drive before buying. Other times, the freebie can be used for as long as you want it, but the company is often motivated by trying to sell you product upgrades or other software -- and they may pester you. Popular freeware includes Adobe's Acrobat Reader, Apple's QuickTime and web browsers. Free software available from well-known companies is generally safe, says Jeff Godlis, spokesperson for i-SAFE, an Internet safety education organisation. "You have to agree to a licensing agreement to use those," he says. "They are reputable companies."

•Shareware makers: Many smaller software developers allow you to use software for free on a trial basis, which is known as shareware. “Commonly, shareware developers ask that you contribute something after you use it for a while -- like $15 -- but you don't usually have to," says Russell Dean Vines, chief security advisor for the Gotham Technology Group, a New York consulting firm. They also may try to sell you upgrades or other software. To verify whether a shareware maker is legitimate, you can try to see if their name is listed on the web site of a reputable organisation, such as the Association of Software Professionals, a trade organisation for software developers. But for non-tech-savvy folks, it may still be better to pay for a brand name you know.

•Widget and open-source developers: There are sites all over the web offering free widgets and so-called open source programs (meaning the techies among us can modify the software) such as games, music applications, accounting or office programs. But the security of these programs tends to be harder to verify.

Q. What are the risks of freeware?

A. You need to be cautious about which free programs you download because that freeware program can end up costing you a bundle. Here’s why: some of these no-cost applications also have spyware or adware or other malicious code -- such as viruses, worms or so-called Trojan horses -- embedded inside. So sometimes when you download some freeware onto your computer via the Internet, malware can also sneak onto your machine. One result could be the destruction of your important files. Another risk of freeware is that your computer could be attacked by botnets, which are malicious programs that take control of your computer so thieves can steal your identity.

There are also free programs that claim they protect your computer, files and information from online threats. But beware, experts say. "It is risky to use freeware for security software," Vines says. He recommends researching the company and their products before downloading, but even then it may be safer to pay for security protection and go with one of the more established security software programs. "Unfortunately, some bad guys try to masquerade as good guys," says Vines.

Q. How can I protect myself from risky freeware?

A. Here are steps to take before you download freeware:

1.Do your homework. Before even thinking about downloading freeware, research it a bit. For example, you can Google the name of the freeware or you can read about it on message boards. "Oftentimes if there is a piece of malicious software out there, different postings in different places will tell you whether this is malware," says Tim Lordan, executive director of the Internet Education Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to educating the public about Internet issues. You can also read freeware reviews from commercial sites that test the software, such as CNET or ZDNet.

2.Look for a seal of approval. Only download from well-known vendors that participate in verification programs that confirm software is legitimate. For example, TRUSTe is one such organisation that provides vendors with a seal of approval logo after a due diligence process has been completed. Look for the TRUSTe logo to confirm a site is safe.

3.Keep security programs up-to-date. It's essential to have anti-virus and anti-spyware software running on your computer before you download anything, Lordan says. But take a further step and make sure that those programs -- along with your computer’s operating system, such as Windows or Mac -- and web browser are updated. Also make sure you download and install all security patches. "A lot of this malicious software exploits older versions of your software. If there is a hole in your software, it's important to keep it patched," Lordan says.

4.Be wary of social network freeware. A growing number of social networks, such as MySpace and Facebook, also offer free applications you can use while on those sites or by downloading them to your computer. For example, Facebook has a widget that lets you check your account from your desktop (allowing you to get alerts when a friend request arrives). But there are still questions about the safety of social network freeware applications because they can’t always be verified and most of the social networks disavow themselves of responsibility.

At the end of the day, trust your gut and the old adage: There is no such thing as free lunch. So check out what the motive is behind why the freeware you want is free to begin with. Does the creator want to ultimately sell you something? Are they testing the software for bugs or did they make it for fun? Or is the freeware simply a guise to trick you into opening your computer up to a virus or spyware?

Take the steps above before you download, advises Lordan. "Protect yourself by having tools on your computer in case you do inadvertently download something suspicious.”

Ways For Efficient Web Searching

The internet is not your library and if you thought a ton of books was an overwhelming amount of information, think again.

The internet doesn’t contain just a few dozen or hundred relevant sources, no, it contains millions or billions or even more. To make things worse, there is no friendly and intelligent librarian to help you sort through all this information. It’s only you and a stupid search engine. You better act smart.

The challenge when searching online is to find only relevant information or – in other words – avoid irrelevant results on Google search. In this article I will show you 6 ways to reduce these false hits, so that you get better overall search results.


Surprisingly, the most effective way to reduce irrelevant results on Google search, may be not to use Google’s search engine in the first place. Read on to understand why.

1. Use Multiple Keywords

Use multiple keywords to receive more specific results on your first search engine results page (SERP).

2. Use Google Suggest

When you enter the first letters of a keyword into the search bar, Google will suggest popular keywords other people have used in their searches. Follow these suggestions and see whether they can help you gain better results.

3. Use Operators to Properly Connect Keywords

This is a whole article of its own and fortunately it has already been written. Please have a look at my article on Google Operators for an overview. You can use each of these “commands” to improve your search results. Here I will mention only the three most helpful ones.

Use Negative Keywords

If you’re seeing irrelevant results, identify a keyword that has nothing to do with what you’re looking for and make it your “negative keyword”. Simply add it to your search query with a minus symbol in front of it, for example if you were looking for the band Gossip, you would search for [gossip -celebrity] (without the brackets).

Use Quotes

This is most commonly used to find an exact match. Since Google already uses the AND operator to connect single keywords per default, you won’t need quotes to find exact matches in most cases.

However, if you find that Google returns results with highlighted keywords that are spelled completely different from what you entered, try to put these single words into quotes and try again. This will prevent Google from “finding” more popular keywords that are only vaguely similar to your search term.

Search Within a Specific Website

If you don’t want to search the entire internet, but instead a specific URL, this operator is of great help. Type [site:URL "your search query"], for example [site:http://wikipedia.org "brandenburg gate"].

4. Use Advanced Search

If you can’t be bothered with manually typing operators, you can use Google’s Advanced Search. It allows you to exclude words, search for results in a specific language or specific files, and search within a site or domain. As you enter the details, the search query is automatically composed for you.

5. Use Google Chrome With Quick Scroll

One of the most annoying parts of following a search result is finding the relevant part within the page that opens. The Google Chrome extension Quick Scroll helps you tackle this issue as it provides a quick way to scroll to the parts in that website that are relevant to your query.

We have profiled Quick Scroll in the MakeUseOf Directory.

In Firefox you could simply use Quick Find, i.e. “find in text as you type” to quickly find the keywords again.

6. Ditch Google

Google is the most popular search engine and as such it has a lot of power. Google naturally has full control over its search algorithm. This in turn has a great impact on what results you will see, i.e. those you actually want to see or those that Google wants you to see.

There are two major variables that determine which results are recognized as relevant for your search: Link Authority (a.k.a. PageRank) and Keyword Relevance. Keyword relevance is straight forward. How well do the keywords you entered match the result, how often do they appear throughout the website, are they included in links pointing to that site, etc? Actually, this is all that you’re looking for when using a search engine.

Google, however, is biased towards link authority. The number of links pointing to a certain page determines its “authority” or PageRank. The more, the better. Unfortunately, this means that keywords only remotely related to a high PageRank site may cause this site to appear on your SERP, no matter how relevant it really is. The advantage is that you’ll see a lot of results from reputable high impact pages like Wikipedia or MakeUseOf. On the other hand you may miss out on many more relevant results from smaller pages. That’s not necessarily what you want.

So what can you do? You cannot change Google’s algorithm. However, if you keep seeing irrelevant search results, no matter how well you tune your search, there is one more thing you can do to get better results: don’t use Google’s search engine in the first place.

Yahoo’s search engine, for example, is less biased towards link authority and will thus provide you with much better search results.

Tips For A Safe Online Experience

Using social networks and banking and shopping online have become part of our everyday lives. A generation of digital natives is living online – and offline – often without being aware of the dangers of the Internet. More than 400 million people worldwide are now on Facebook.

Children and teenagers are in particular danger of exposing personal data, such as private pictures, to the general public, and of revealing private information on social networks.

On the occasion of World Information Society Day, Kaspersky Lab provides 10 simple tips for a safe online experience.

* Keep Windows and third-party applications up-to-date.

* Back up your data regularly to a CD, DVD, or external USB drive.

* Don’t respond to email or social media messages if you don’t know the sender.

* Don’t click on email attachments or objects sent via social networks if you don’t know the sender.

* Don’t click on links in email or IM (instant messaging) messages. Type addresses directly into your web browser.

* Don’t give out personal information in response to an email, even if the email looks official.

* Shop or bank only on secure sites. These URLs start with ‘https://’ and you’ll find a gold padlock in the lower right-hand corner of your browser.

* Use a different password for each web site or service you use and make sure it consists of more than 5 characters and contains numerals, special characters and upper- and lower-case letters. Don’t recycle passwords (e.g. ‘jackie1’, ‘jackie2’) or make them easy to guess (e.g. mum’s name, pet’s name). Don’t tell anyone your passwords.

* Make sure you share your child’s online experience and install parental control software to block inappropriate content.

* Install Internet security software and keep it updated. While up-to-date protective software is essential for every Internet user, it is particularly important for those who spend a lot of time interacting with others via the Internet.