WhatsApp is the most favored and extensively used messaging
application. It has undoubtedly transformed the way mobile gadgets have
been employed for advertising. Here are some tricks that you can apply
to your WhatsApp advertising campaign.
Change your contact number:
If
you are planning to change the contact information linked to your
WhatsApp account, WhatsApp provides an amazing feature to change the
existing contact number with the new one.
All you need to do is,
go through 'Settings' and click on 'Account'. You will find an option
"Change number", tap on it and enter your existing and new contact
number. This contact number update process migrates your account
information, groups and settings to the new number.
Disable WhatsApp's Last seen feature:
WhatsApp's
last seen feature is a good way to know the last seen availability on
WhatsApp of your contacts. To hide your last seen, you need to go to the
'Settings' and opt for 'Account'. Tap to 'Privacy' tab and select 'Last
seen' and then choose whom you want to show your last availability on
WhatsApp.
There are three options available, you have to mark one
among 'Everybody, My contacts and Nobody' according to your
requirements.
Lock Your WhatsApp account:
Locking
your WhatsApp is an amazing feature to make you feel secure about your
messages and information. To lock your WhatsApp account, you need to
install "Chat Lock application" from the Google Play Store.
In
Chat Lock application, there are many messengers, including WhatsApp.
You can lock WhatsApp and other messengers using different auto lock
timing and passwords to protect your messages and data.
Retrieve Your deleted WhatsApp conversations:
Sometimes
when we delete the unwanted chats and information from WhatsApp, we
also delete important messages and data and may to recover them back.
WhatsApp provides a backup feature that allows you to take advantage and
recover and restore your previous conversions.
All you have to do
is uninstall and reinstall your WhatsApp account. At the time of
installation, WhatsApp will ask you to restore your history and
conversations, tap OK to get your old messages back.
There are so
many other tricks some as knowing WhatsApp statistics to get all the
information about your account, setting up pop up notifications, using
WhatsApp without a number, hiding WhatsApp images and videos from the
phone gallery, extending WhatsApp trial pack, blocking unwanted users,
hiding your status and profile picture etc., but here is a last one you
may like.
How to use WhatsApp on your PC and synchronize it with your phone
WhatsApp
doesn't work only on mobile devices; it also works on your PC. If you
have a WhatsApp account, you can synchronize its content to use it on
your PC. This feature is only available with Google's Chrome browser.
When you synchronize between your mobile device and PC, the information
of WhatsApp is also synchronized as well.
lundi 28 décembre 2015
jeudi 24 décembre 2015
5 Tips to Boost Your Android Phone's Performance
If you're thinking of changing your android smartphone only
because it is not as fast as it used to be, think again. The outdated
specs do play the spoil sport, but a few tweaks can get things back to
normal.
In this short guide, I am going to describe five tips to making your smartphone snappier than it was ever before.
Tip 1: Never flush Cached Data
There are many experts who tell you to clean up the cache of your phone regularly, but there is a reason why cached data resides in your phone. It allows a quick access to the applications you frequently use.
When you remove the cached data, android loads an app from the storage space of your phone, and this leads to a slow launching of the app. So, in an attempt to speed-up your smartphone, you may end up doing the contrary.
Tip 2: Uninstall Useless Applications
It is better to uninstall those apps you rarely use, so as to refrain them from running in the background and using the smartphone's memory (RAM).
To see the list of installed apps and to uninstall them, follow these steps:
Settings < Apps < See the List of Apps in 'Downloaded' tab < Select any App < Uninstall
Tip 3: Disable Animations
You must have noticed some transition effects when a pop-up appears or when you move back and forth in your android phone. These animations also consume RAM. If your phone is slow, you are better off disabling such effects.
You need to first activate the developer options, and to do so, go to the phone's settings, select "About phone", go to "Build number" and tap on it 7 times. Android will make you a developer (easiest course ever, right?).
Now, press "back" button, and tap to open "Developer options". In the Drawing section of "Developer options" you will find "Window animation scale", "Transition animation scale", and "Animator animation scale".
You can select all three of them one by one and turn off their animation effect.
Although the transitions will not be as aesthetic as they were, you will notice the improvement in your phone's performance.
Tip 4: Disable Pre-loaded apps
If your phone is an android and not a nexus, then its manufacturer may have passed on some useless apps to you that you don't use but cannot uninstall. Not an issue! You can always disable such apps.
To do this, long press any pre-loaded app and drag it to the "App info" icon on the home screen; then, tap on "Disable". Although the app will continue to occupy the storage space, it will, at least, not run in the background.
Tip 5: Send Files to Cloud
If the gallery of your phone takes forever to open, you need to find a new place to store your video and image files safely.
You can download "Google drive", or "Dropbox", or any other cloud service on your smartphone and send your files to the cloud. It will not only allow you to release some storage space but also enable you to access your photos and videos from any other smartphone or PC.
These 5 tips may convince you to keep your good old android buddy for at least some time to come.
In this short guide, I am going to describe five tips to making your smartphone snappier than it was ever before.
Tip 1: Never flush Cached Data
There are many experts who tell you to clean up the cache of your phone regularly, but there is a reason why cached data resides in your phone. It allows a quick access to the applications you frequently use.
When you remove the cached data, android loads an app from the storage space of your phone, and this leads to a slow launching of the app. So, in an attempt to speed-up your smartphone, you may end up doing the contrary.
Tip 2: Uninstall Useless Applications
It is better to uninstall those apps you rarely use, so as to refrain them from running in the background and using the smartphone's memory (RAM).
To see the list of installed apps and to uninstall them, follow these steps:
Settings < Apps < See the List of Apps in 'Downloaded' tab < Select any App < Uninstall
Tip 3: Disable Animations
You must have noticed some transition effects when a pop-up appears or when you move back and forth in your android phone. These animations also consume RAM. If your phone is slow, you are better off disabling such effects.
You need to first activate the developer options, and to do so, go to the phone's settings, select "About phone", go to "Build number" and tap on it 7 times. Android will make you a developer (easiest course ever, right?).
Now, press "back" button, and tap to open "Developer options". In the Drawing section of "Developer options" you will find "Window animation scale", "Transition animation scale", and "Animator animation scale".
You can select all three of them one by one and turn off their animation effect.
Although the transitions will not be as aesthetic as they were, you will notice the improvement in your phone's performance.
Tip 4: Disable Pre-loaded apps
If your phone is an android and not a nexus, then its manufacturer may have passed on some useless apps to you that you don't use but cannot uninstall. Not an issue! You can always disable such apps.
To do this, long press any pre-loaded app and drag it to the "App info" icon on the home screen; then, tap on "Disable". Although the app will continue to occupy the storage space, it will, at least, not run in the background.
Tip 5: Send Files to Cloud
If the gallery of your phone takes forever to open, you need to find a new place to store your video and image files safely.
You can download "Google drive", or "Dropbox", or any other cloud service on your smartphone and send your files to the cloud. It will not only allow you to release some storage space but also enable you to access your photos and videos from any other smartphone or PC.
These 5 tips may convince you to keep your good old android buddy for at least some time to come.
mardi 22 décembre 2015
How to Fix Windows 10 Error Code 0x8024a000
What is Error Code 0x8024a000?
Error code 0x8024a000 can present itself in many ways while using Windows. This error message can appear in Windows 2000 to Windows 10, and primarily deals with an error in the update process. It can appear while a Windows update is running, at startup or shutdown, and even during the installation process of a windows operating system. It is caused by corruption in the windows registry (a full list of complete processes running on your computer), after incomplete downloads or corrupt downloads, or if windows update information was deleted.
What happens when error code 0x8024a000 appears?
There are several symptoms of this particular error code to watch out for as not all of them will stop all computer usage but the issue should be dealt with quickly. The most common symptoms of this error code are:
• Error Code "0x8024a000" appears and crashes the active program
• The computer freezes, or process are slowed significantly
• The computer recognizes the mouse and keyboard input slowly
• "Windows Update Error 0x8024a000" is displayed
• Your computer crashes while running the same program
What to do when this happens?
There are several steps that you can take after any of these symptoms are displayed. It is helpful to know when during the normal use of your computer the error occurred because that could help you determine which of the following methods to use. If programs or downloads seem to crash in the middle of use, it may be malware. If happens during the startup of a specific program, it may be corrupt downloading and you may want to skip to method three and so on. I suggest that you follow the methods serially to try and solve the issue.
· Method One
Method one deals with the easiest step to try and solve these issues. We suggest that you run the windows defender program builtin to your PC to scan for malware or viruses. After the program has identified any malware, you should then remove it from your PC and attempt whatever process you were when you received the error code, if it did not work or did not turn up any malware, please move on to the next method.
· Method Two
This next method cleans up your computer from files that may be conflicting with the update, or it may lighten the load of an overloaded hard drive. After using internet programs and mail programs for an extended time, the hard drive becomes overloaded with information. This is because every time you use these programs, files store small bits of information on your computer to make the next time you do the same process easier. This could clog up your system. To solve this issue, follow these steps:
1. Click Start button
2. Search "command" and while holding CTRL-Shift on the keyboard press the enter button.
3. You will be prompted for permission, Click Yes.
4. Type "cleanmgr" and press the enter button.
5. The command box will now ask you what you would like to clean up. Select Temporary Files by hitting the checkbox next to it, and any other areas you would like to clean up.
6. Click OK and the process will begin.
7. Retry the program update that was giving you issue.
Error code 0x8024a000 can present itself in many ways while using Windows. This error message can appear in Windows 2000 to Windows 10, and primarily deals with an error in the update process. It can appear while a Windows update is running, at startup or shutdown, and even during the installation process of a windows operating system. It is caused by corruption in the windows registry (a full list of complete processes running on your computer), after incomplete downloads or corrupt downloads, or if windows update information was deleted.
What happens when error code 0x8024a000 appears?
There are several symptoms of this particular error code to watch out for as not all of them will stop all computer usage but the issue should be dealt with quickly. The most common symptoms of this error code are:
• Error Code "0x8024a000" appears and crashes the active program
• The computer freezes, or process are slowed significantly
• The computer recognizes the mouse and keyboard input slowly
• "Windows Update Error 0x8024a000" is displayed
• Your computer crashes while running the same program
What to do when this happens?
There are several steps that you can take after any of these symptoms are displayed. It is helpful to know when during the normal use of your computer the error occurred because that could help you determine which of the following methods to use. If programs or downloads seem to crash in the middle of use, it may be malware. If happens during the startup of a specific program, it may be corrupt downloading and you may want to skip to method three and so on. I suggest that you follow the methods serially to try and solve the issue.
· Method One
Method one deals with the easiest step to try and solve these issues. We suggest that you run the windows defender program builtin to your PC to scan for malware or viruses. After the program has identified any malware, you should then remove it from your PC and attempt whatever process you were when you received the error code, if it did not work or did not turn up any malware, please move on to the next method.
· Method Two
This next method cleans up your computer from files that may be conflicting with the update, or it may lighten the load of an overloaded hard drive. After using internet programs and mail programs for an extended time, the hard drive becomes overloaded with information. This is because every time you use these programs, files store small bits of information on your computer to make the next time you do the same process easier. This could clog up your system. To solve this issue, follow these steps:
1. Click Start button
2. Search "command" and while holding CTRL-Shift on the keyboard press the enter button.
3. You will be prompted for permission, Click Yes.
4. Type "cleanmgr" and press the enter button.
5. The command box will now ask you what you would like to clean up. Select Temporary Files by hitting the checkbox next to it, and any other areas you would like to clean up.
6. Click OK and the process will begin.
7. Retry the program update that was giving you issue.
jeudi 17 décembre 2015
9 Tips to Prevent Phishing Attacks
In addition to having the right tools in place, a company must
understand the role their employees play in information security.
Employees possess credentials and overall knowledge that is critical to
the success of a breach of the company's security. One of the ways in
which an intruder obtains this protected information is through phishing.
The purpose of phishing is to collect sensitive information with the intention of using that information to gain access to otherwise protected data, networks, etc. An attackers success is contingent upon establishing trust with its victims. We live in a digital age, and gathering information has become much easier as we are well beyond the dumpster diving days.
There are various phishing techniques used by attackers that can negatively affect an organization and its employees. Common phishing techniques include:
In order to protect itself against phishing attacks, a company can take the following steps:
Companies can implement multiple measures to protect themselves against phishing attacks that threaten the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their data. They must keep a pulse on the current phishing strategies and confirm that their current security policies and solutions can eliminate threats as they evolve. It is equally as important to make sure that employees understand the types of attacks they may face, the risks associated with these attacks, and how to address them. Informed employees and properly secured systems are key when protecting your company from phishing attacks.
The purpose of phishing is to collect sensitive information with the intention of using that information to gain access to otherwise protected data, networks, etc. An attackers success is contingent upon establishing trust with its victims. We live in a digital age, and gathering information has become much easier as we are well beyond the dumpster diving days.
There are various phishing techniques used by attackers that can negatively affect an organization and its employees. Common phishing techniques include:
- Embedding a link in an email that redirects an employee to an unsecure website that requests sensitive information.
- Installing a Trojan via a malicious email attachment or advertisement, allowing the intruder to exploit loopholes and obtain sensitive information.
- Spoofing the sender address in an email to appear as a reputable source and request sensitive information.
- Attempting to obtain company information over the phone by impersonating a known company vendor or IT department.
In order to protect itself against phishing attacks, a company can take the following steps:
- Educate employees and conduct training sessions with mock phishing scenarios.
- Deploy a Spam filter that detects viruses, blank senders, etc.
- Keep all systems current with the latest security patches and updates.
- Install an antivirus solution, schedule signature updates, and monitor the antivirus status on all equipment.
- Develop a security policy that includes, but is not limited to, password expiration and complexity.
- Deploy a web filter to block malicious websites.
- Encrypt all sensitive company information.
- Convert HTML email into Text Only email messages or disable HTML email messages.
- Require encryption for employees that are telecommuting.
Companies can implement multiple measures to protect themselves against phishing attacks that threaten the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their data. They must keep a pulse on the current phishing strategies and confirm that their current security policies and solutions can eliminate threats as they evolve. It is equally as important to make sure that employees understand the types of attacks they may face, the risks associated with these attacks, and how to address them. Informed employees and properly secured systems are key when protecting your company from phishing attacks.
dimanche 13 décembre 2015
Cryptowall 4.0 Virus - How to Decrypt Your Files
Over the past few years an insidious malware has infected computers
around the world in a sophisticated manner that has managed to stay one
step ahead of most antivirus platforms. Cryptowall has been used mostly
against businesses along with end-user machines to block the information
that is stored until a ransom is paid.
This relatively simple method of extortion is led by one of the most complex computer virus or malware programs that have been developed in recent years. Cryptowall is part of a family colloquially called ransomware in which the result profits come from the extortion paid to the hackers by those whose computers have been affected.
Origin & History
Cryptowall 4.0 is the latest variant of the feared Cryptowall malware which has spread around the world attacking various computer systems where it basically prevents access to the information until a ransom is paid. The 3.0 version of the malware has caused at least $325 million of damage in the US alone.
The new 4.0 will actually alter the file names for the now encrypted data so that it becomes virtually impossible to tell what is affecting the program. Add to this that all system restore points are deleted and this new threat is now even more dangerous.
It is believed that Russian hackers are behind the Cryptowall because the malware does not affect computers that use a Russian language. In addition, the spam servers that generate the Cryptowall have been located within the Russian border.
So far, the countries that have been affected by the Cryptowall malware include the following countries;
China
France
Germany
India
Italy
Kuwait
Philippines
South Africa
Spain
United States
Infection Techniques
In essence, the program blocks access to the information stored on computers and servers by encrypting it in a manner that makes it very difficult, if not impossible to remove without the proper encryption key which only the hackers know. Until the ransom is paid to the hackers, the block will stay in place which may cripple the ability of businesses to do their jobs.
In most cases, the hackers select a particular business or corporation that may offer the promise of a great reward and then infect the computer systems. The Cryptowall is quite efficient at sealing up the information that is stored. Because it does not try to destroy, but instead encrypt the information it can slip past most antivirus or antimalware systems.
Our Tips about Removal Methods
There are very few techniques that work against the Cryptowall 4.0 simply because of its sophistication to slip by most antivirus and antimalware programs and ability to encrypt information once inside.
This relatively simple method of extortion is led by one of the most complex computer virus or malware programs that have been developed in recent years. Cryptowall is part of a family colloquially called ransomware in which the result profits come from the extortion paid to the hackers by those whose computers have been affected.
Origin & History
Cryptowall 4.0 is the latest variant of the feared Cryptowall malware which has spread around the world attacking various computer systems where it basically prevents access to the information until a ransom is paid. The 3.0 version of the malware has caused at least $325 million of damage in the US alone.
The new 4.0 will actually alter the file names for the now encrypted data so that it becomes virtually impossible to tell what is affecting the program. Add to this that all system restore points are deleted and this new threat is now even more dangerous.
It is believed that Russian hackers are behind the Cryptowall because the malware does not affect computers that use a Russian language. In addition, the spam servers that generate the Cryptowall have been located within the Russian border.
So far, the countries that have been affected by the Cryptowall malware include the following countries;
China
France
Germany
India
Italy
Kuwait
Philippines
South Africa
Spain
United States
Infection Techniques
In essence, the program blocks access to the information stored on computers and servers by encrypting it in a manner that makes it very difficult, if not impossible to remove without the proper encryption key which only the hackers know. Until the ransom is paid to the hackers, the block will stay in place which may cripple the ability of businesses to do their jobs.
In most cases, the hackers select a particular business or corporation that may offer the promise of a great reward and then infect the computer systems. The Cryptowall is quite efficient at sealing up the information that is stored. Because it does not try to destroy, but instead encrypt the information it can slip past most antivirus or antimalware systems.
Our Tips about Removal Methods
There are very few techniques that work against the Cryptowall 4.0 simply because of its sophistication to slip by most antivirus and antimalware programs and ability to encrypt information once inside.
mercredi 9 décembre 2015
5 Steps in the Software Testing Process
Nowadays, in such a highly competitive industry, demand for new
applications and functionality is becoming more important and with the
increase in demand, quality assurance companies are improving their
skills to meet deadlines.
Testing is a part of the software development life cycle. A complete testing process involves the following basic steps:
1. Planning and Control
2. Analysis and Design
3. Implementation and Execution
4. Estimating Exit criteria and Reporting
5. Test Closure Activities
1. Planning and Control
Planning and control involves the following main activities.
I. To evaluate the scope, risk and identifying the goals
II. To plan the basic approach.
III. To implement the test strategy and policy. Basically it is an important part of the software development cycle. It is designed to inform tester, developers and project manager about some key issues about the testing process. This consists of the testing objectives, its approach, total time and resources required for the completion of project.
Test control involves following important activities
I. To analyze the results of testing
II. To estimate the test coverage, documentation and exit criteria
III. To give complete project information
IV. To make decisions
2. Analysis and Design
Test Analysis and Design
Activities involved in this phase are:
To examine the test basis, basically it is the information that is needed to start test cases and analysis. This documentation helps to create test cases, design specifications, such as requirements, risk analysis, interfaces and architecture.
I. To determine test cases
II. To design the work flow
III. To examine testability of the system and requirements
3. Implementation and Execution
In this phase, we convert the test requirements into test cases and writing scripts for automation. In test cases we specify conditions under which we check whether a software is returning correct output or not.
4. Estimating Exit criteria and Reporting
Depending on risk analysis of the project we fix the criteria for each test level. The fixed criteria vary from software to software and is called exit criteria.
Exit criteria take place when
1) Maximum test cases are executed with certain pass percentage.
2) Number of bugs falls down at a certain level
3) When achieved the deadlines.
5. Test Closure Activities
Test Closure Activities are performed when the project is delivered. It contains the following list of activities.
I. To determine that planned outcomes are actually deliver to make sure that reports and bugs has been resolved.
Testing is a part of the software development life cycle. A complete testing process involves the following basic steps:
1. Planning and Control
2. Analysis and Design
3. Implementation and Execution
4. Estimating Exit criteria and Reporting
5. Test Closure Activities
1. Planning and Control
Planning and control involves the following main activities.
I. To evaluate the scope, risk and identifying the goals
II. To plan the basic approach.
III. To implement the test strategy and policy. Basically it is an important part of the software development cycle. It is designed to inform tester, developers and project manager about some key issues about the testing process. This consists of the testing objectives, its approach, total time and resources required for the completion of project.
Test control involves following important activities
I. To analyze the results of testing
II. To estimate the test coverage, documentation and exit criteria
III. To give complete project information
IV. To make decisions
2. Analysis and Design
Test Analysis and Design
Activities involved in this phase are:
To examine the test basis, basically it is the information that is needed to start test cases and analysis. This documentation helps to create test cases, design specifications, such as requirements, risk analysis, interfaces and architecture.
I. To determine test cases
II. To design the work flow
III. To examine testability of the system and requirements
3. Implementation and Execution
In this phase, we convert the test requirements into test cases and writing scripts for automation. In test cases we specify conditions under which we check whether a software is returning correct output or not.
4. Estimating Exit criteria and Reporting
Depending on risk analysis of the project we fix the criteria for each test level. The fixed criteria vary from software to software and is called exit criteria.
Exit criteria take place when
1) Maximum test cases are executed with certain pass percentage.
2) Number of bugs falls down at a certain level
3) When achieved the deadlines.
5. Test Closure Activities
Test Closure Activities are performed when the project is delivered. It contains the following list of activities.
I. To determine that planned outcomes are actually deliver to make sure that reports and bugs has been resolved.
mardi 1 décembre 2015
Can Windows 7 and 8 Systems Benefit From Free Registry Cleaners?
The short answer to the question posed in the headline is: Yes,
they can. Depending upon the free programs one is using. But the real
question needing to be asked is: Are free registry cleaners worth
bothering with in the first place? Especially with advanced operating
systems like Windows 7 and 8.
Because the registry can be a very complicated area to work with in a Windows system, the level of application-specific knowledge needed by an effective registry utility is high indeed. And anyone who has worked with free utilities such as Eusing or CCleaner knows that these only target the safest of entries to fix, while leaving a massive amount of empty outdated entries alone and untouched.
You can find this out for yourself by running your favorite free utility up against the trial version of any of the commercial applications to find out which registry repair does the more thorough job. If you're not a very heavy user of your computer - meaning you don't do a lot of downloading, uninstalling, or changing and moving files from folder to folder - then perhaps a free registry fix tool will be more than enough to handle the work you do.
On the other hand, if you typically download any amount of music, photos, or video files on a regular basis, or are otherwise making regular changes to the files on your system, then you might be wise to consider finding and purchasing a reliable cleaner. Even radio personality and computer guru Kim Komando recommends using a commercial product rather than free applications to help keep your registry in tip-top shape.
Of course, one of the other advantages to using a commercial product are the added capabilities that sometimes come bundled with a registry repair tool. While most paid utilities have a registry back up capability along with a start-up manager, few have the capability to recover a deleted file or to find and retrieve your passwords from MSN, Outlook, Google Talk, and other accounts.
Then again there are a few commercial registry cleaners that offer a free Lite version of their product for users to check out and evaluate. Downloading and using one of these utilities can be the best of both worlds. Not only will it give the user an opportunity to see how the commercial utility can perform, but it can also be tested against any free cleaner to compare repair capabilities. If the user chooses not to purchase, the Lite version of the cleaner can still be used without a time limitation to augment the job that other free utilities provide.
If you are interested in trying out a free Lite version of a registry cleaner, one that you can keep and continue to use even if you don't end up purchasing the full version, there's a link to one of the best and highly rated utilities in the resource box below.
Because the registry can be a very complicated area to work with in a Windows system, the level of application-specific knowledge needed by an effective registry utility is high indeed. And anyone who has worked with free utilities such as Eusing or CCleaner knows that these only target the safest of entries to fix, while leaving a massive amount of empty outdated entries alone and untouched.
You can find this out for yourself by running your favorite free utility up against the trial version of any of the commercial applications to find out which registry repair does the more thorough job. If you're not a very heavy user of your computer - meaning you don't do a lot of downloading, uninstalling, or changing and moving files from folder to folder - then perhaps a free registry fix tool will be more than enough to handle the work you do.
On the other hand, if you typically download any amount of music, photos, or video files on a regular basis, or are otherwise making regular changes to the files on your system, then you might be wise to consider finding and purchasing a reliable cleaner. Even radio personality and computer guru Kim Komando recommends using a commercial product rather than free applications to help keep your registry in tip-top shape.
Of course, one of the other advantages to using a commercial product are the added capabilities that sometimes come bundled with a registry repair tool. While most paid utilities have a registry back up capability along with a start-up manager, few have the capability to recover a deleted file or to find and retrieve your passwords from MSN, Outlook, Google Talk, and other accounts.
Then again there are a few commercial registry cleaners that offer a free Lite version of their product for users to check out and evaluate. Downloading and using one of these utilities can be the best of both worlds. Not only will it give the user an opportunity to see how the commercial utility can perform, but it can also be tested against any free cleaner to compare repair capabilities. If the user chooses not to purchase, the Lite version of the cleaner can still be used without a time limitation to augment the job that other free utilities provide.
If you are interested in trying out a free Lite version of a registry cleaner, one that you can keep and continue to use even if you don't end up purchasing the full version, there's a link to one of the best and highly rated utilities in the resource box below.
For an example of a free Lite version of the software we've been
discussing, check out this additional article where you'll be given
instructions about how to obtain the Lite version of the product Registry Easy.
jeudi 26 novembre 2015
No More Spam Please, I'm Full
You have this consistently refilling folder in your email account
entitled "Spam"; but you never touch it. Perhaps you've clicked on it
once or twice, maybe even regularly to make sure nothing of importance
accidentally ended up there. But that's virtually the extent of your
involvement with the mysterious folder. The best way to fight the battle
against spam infiltration is to invest in secure email hosting with a
reputable system administration solution.
From the Spam folder and Junk E-Mail folder to the Trash folder, incoming messages can get lost in translation and not replied to in a timely manner. Business web hosting services with a customizable and user-friendly email platform will allow helpful options to direct certain senders to the best folders for your team.
Mr. Robot-o or Mr. Spambot-o
Who flags these incoming emails as unwanted spam? How do they know it is spam? Filters just do! Spam filters are programs created to decipher and redirect incoming emails considered as unwelcome or potentially dangerous from reaching your inbox. These automated digital programs that attack websites, in this case email providers, to monitor the circulation of dangerous content, links and annoying spam are known as Spiders or Bots. There are different "spiders", "bots" and algorithms for the various online activities but sites are rarely 100% exactly how we hope for them to be.
Sometimes it is frustrating to have to go hunting for misdirected incoming emails but at least your inboxes are:
- Secure
- Protected
- Organized
- Safer
Taking the Control Back
If too many important emails are getting redirected and causing a workflow problem, or are simply frustrating, invest in email options for business. Tailor your email choice to your organization's needs and size. Using an email platform that all of your employees can operate with ease is a handy connection tool that allows for even more security while sharing documents, files and correspondence internally.
Spam protection means privacy and ad-free emailing. Fraudulent activity is at an all-time high and spammers and scammers alike are on the hunt with their own agendas.
Email Host with the Most
Spammers will even use bots to find your email address and sell your information to the highest advertising bidder! It is so important to connect with a solid systems provider that offers email hosting. The perks include:
1. Security - The exclusivity and privacy of email hosting services keep your information protected (both ingoing and outgoing) and shielded from the potentially dangerous elements of the digital world.
2. Professionalism - Using one of the common and free email hosts for business is viewed as lacking the credibility of being an established business entity consumers can entrust their information to.
3. Organization - The categorization and structuring of your email account provides increased productivity and reduces the overlooking of pertinent correspondence.
You don't have to put up with spam, viruses, and other hazardous messages cluttering, or worse hacking, your inbox. Invest in email hosting for your business today!
From the Spam folder and Junk E-Mail folder to the Trash folder, incoming messages can get lost in translation and not replied to in a timely manner. Business web hosting services with a customizable and user-friendly email platform will allow helpful options to direct certain senders to the best folders for your team.
Mr. Robot-o or Mr. Spambot-o
Who flags these incoming emails as unwanted spam? How do they know it is spam? Filters just do! Spam filters are programs created to decipher and redirect incoming emails considered as unwelcome or potentially dangerous from reaching your inbox. These automated digital programs that attack websites, in this case email providers, to monitor the circulation of dangerous content, links and annoying spam are known as Spiders or Bots. There are different "spiders", "bots" and algorithms for the various online activities but sites are rarely 100% exactly how we hope for them to be.
Sometimes it is frustrating to have to go hunting for misdirected incoming emails but at least your inboxes are:
- Secure
- Protected
- Organized
- Safer
Taking the Control Back
If too many important emails are getting redirected and causing a workflow problem, or are simply frustrating, invest in email options for business. Tailor your email choice to your organization's needs and size. Using an email platform that all of your employees can operate with ease is a handy connection tool that allows for even more security while sharing documents, files and correspondence internally.
Spam protection means privacy and ad-free emailing. Fraudulent activity is at an all-time high and spammers and scammers alike are on the hunt with their own agendas.
Email Host with the Most
Spammers will even use bots to find your email address and sell your information to the highest advertising bidder! It is so important to connect with a solid systems provider that offers email hosting. The perks include:
1. Security - The exclusivity and privacy of email hosting services keep your information protected (both ingoing and outgoing) and shielded from the potentially dangerous elements of the digital world.
2. Professionalism - Using one of the common and free email hosts for business is viewed as lacking the credibility of being an established business entity consumers can entrust their information to.
3. Organization - The categorization and structuring of your email account provides increased productivity and reduces the overlooking of pertinent correspondence.
You don't have to put up with spam, viruses, and other hazardous messages cluttering, or worse hacking, your inbox. Invest in email hosting for your business today!
dimanche 22 novembre 2015
Choosing An Ideal Tablet For Your Use - 3 Major Considerations To Make
Tablets are popular because they offer pleasant experiences watching videos, playing games, browsing the internet and others. There are so many cheap tablets in the market today, meaning that anyone could get a tablet without spending too much on it. However, even when choosing the cheaper tablets, you also need to make sure that they offer you good quality. By looking at the three major factors of your tablet, you definitely should have an easy time making a good decision with your device.
1. Operating system
Just like your smartphone, the operating system your tablet runs on can determine the kind of user experience you will have with it. Android tablets seem to be very popular just like it is the case with smartphone, but remember that you also have the option of the Windows operating system and iOS that covers Apple's devices. They are all systems that come with their pros and by checking out them one at a time, you will be able to make a good decision with the tablet you are about to buy. Choose a system that has an interface that's easy to use and one that has tons of apps available to you. You can relate your tablet needs with what the system has to offer you to choose the best.
2. Specifications
Different tablets use different specs and you cannot ignore them because they make your tablet what it is. If you want a tablet that functions to your preferences, then you should make sure that all specifications match your individual preferences. Remember that the tablets are now from different manufacturers and they therefore can be very different in the specs. The most important specifications you should look at are;
Processor- It is the chip that basically drives your tablet and one of the most important to check out. Tablets that have quad-core processors are better performers compared to those with dual-core processor, so have this in mind when choosing.
RAM - This is a memory that makes it possible for the tablets to handle multiple tasks and run apps that are memory-intensive. It is a very important spec to check especially when you are choosing android tablets.
Storage - It is the space that your tablet has to make it possible for you to store all the apps, media and other types of documents and files that you need. It is a spec that creates a difference between tablets so consider it when choosing. Check whether your tablet support MicroSD or SD to expand the space. Battery life, resolution and camera are other spec you might find important to consider.
3. Size
The tablet size cannot be forgotten because it determines your user experience. Large tablets for instance, offer excellent video watching experience, whereas smaller tablets offer plenty of convenience when it comes to carrying them around. The most popular tablets are the 10 inch and the 7 inch tablets, but you can also find 9 inch tablet. Choose a size that matches your personal preferences.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9230222
jeudi 19 novembre 2015
Computer Virus Removal Process That Works
his process will remove all major viruses that you might have downloaded onto your Windows computer.
Step 1 - Downloading & Install
There are two excellent and FREE computer virus removal programs we use. Download and install these programs to your desktop.
* Malwarebytes
* CCleaner
You should not have to pay for these - there is no need to upgrade from the free version that is offered.
Step 2 - Safe Mode
Reboot your computer into safe mode.
For most Windows based systems, you can use F8 to access the Safe Mode menu when you reboot.
How: Go to the start button, select restart. Once the computer/laptop turns off and back on, immediately hit the F8 key over and over again even if the computer starts beeping at you keep pushing the F8 key. It should bring up the menu to ask you if you would like to boot into safe mode.
If this does not work, you can always do a hard reboot - pull power while your computer is on. If you are using a laptop, make sure you pull power and the battery while it is on. This should force you to the Safe Mode menu.
Step 3 - Run Programs & Reboot
Once in Safe Mode, run Malwarebytes and CCleaner. One right after another. If one program doesn't catch the virus, the other program will.
After both programs run in safe mode, reboot your computer and your virus should be removed. It is really that simple - 3 steps!
Now we recommend you remove these programs once your virus is gone. You will always need to download the newest version from the website if you get a virus again.
*Bonus - Free Anti-Virus Program
You can use AVG for a free anti-virus program to hopefully stop you from downloading another virus in the future. It is extremely important you keep your anti-virus program updated often as thousands of new viruses are created each day.
Step 1 - Downloading & Install
There are two excellent and FREE computer virus removal programs we use. Download and install these programs to your desktop.
* Malwarebytes
* CCleaner
You should not have to pay for these - there is no need to upgrade from the free version that is offered.
Step 2 - Safe Mode
Reboot your computer into safe mode.
For most Windows based systems, you can use F8 to access the Safe Mode menu when you reboot.
How: Go to the start button, select restart. Once the computer/laptop turns off and back on, immediately hit the F8 key over and over again even if the computer starts beeping at you keep pushing the F8 key. It should bring up the menu to ask you if you would like to boot into safe mode.
If this does not work, you can always do a hard reboot - pull power while your computer is on. If you are using a laptop, make sure you pull power and the battery while it is on. This should force you to the Safe Mode menu.
Step 3 - Run Programs & Reboot
Once in Safe Mode, run Malwarebytes and CCleaner. One right after another. If one program doesn't catch the virus, the other program will.
After both programs run in safe mode, reboot your computer and your virus should be removed. It is really that simple - 3 steps!
Now we recommend you remove these programs once your virus is gone. You will always need to download the newest version from the website if you get a virus again.
*Bonus - Free Anti-Virus Program
You can use AVG for a free anti-virus program to hopefully stop you from downloading another virus in the future. It is extremely important you keep your anti-virus program updated often as thousands of new viruses are created each day.
lundi 16 novembre 2015
Finding the Best Price for a Solid State Hard Disk Drive
Whether you are buying online or offline, getting a great deal is a
top priority for many people who are looking to invest in a solid state
HDD or a SCSI drive. These pieces of equipment can come with a
considerable price tag depending on their features and specifications,
so shaving a little money off the total bill here and there can make a
big difference.
The first thing to know if you are looking to save a little money is that the best way to do this is by shopping around extensively before making your purchase. It is possible to find a bargain - even when shopping for a high quality solid state HDD that seems universally expensive - but this will require a higher investment of time and effort.
The best way to do this is by getting really clear on the product that you want, and then systematically beginning your search for prices at various different online and offline stores. Check auctions sites like eBay, look at online specialist SCSI and SAS stores, and then try your local computer hardware shops, ringing them up and asking for a quote.
Make sure that whilst you are collecting information on the range of prices available hat you are thorough in investigating shipping costs and any importation duties if they apply. These can lead to your costs sky-rocketing, or at the very least mean that that "great deal" turns out to be the equivalent of all the others that you were looking at.
In addition to this, remember to check up on the reputability of the company that you are buying from, even though they have the best price and low shipping costs. Looking through real customer reviews of the company will give you insight in this department, or you may alternatively wish to have an email or telephone exchange with the company before buying.
Although this is a lengthy and effort-intense way of getting the best deal on your solid state HDD purchases, there are some other tips to bear in mind that can help you make savings. The first of these is to look out for special offers that take place throughout the year.
If you find a good retailer, the best thing that you can do is ask them if they have regular promotions, and if so, how these work. Although many people buy their solid state HDD equipment after the device they are currently using fails, buying a back-up in advance whilst the item is on sale is a great idea - not only will you have a spare on hand, but you can make great savings too.
This works best when you know exactly what you need and are not planning on changing your make or model of device very soon. Keep an eye out throughout the year for special offers on the products you like, and then snap them up as soon as you can.
You may also want to look for a vendor that offers some kind of loyalty scheme for their customers that allows them to make savings on repeat or bulk purchases. Not all stores have this, so if you find a seller that seems good, it is worth enquiring as you may be able to accumulate some loyalty points over time with the company, which can pay off significantly long-term.
The first thing to know if you are looking to save a little money is that the best way to do this is by shopping around extensively before making your purchase. It is possible to find a bargain - even when shopping for a high quality solid state HDD that seems universally expensive - but this will require a higher investment of time and effort.
The best way to do this is by getting really clear on the product that you want, and then systematically beginning your search for prices at various different online and offline stores. Check auctions sites like eBay, look at online specialist SCSI and SAS stores, and then try your local computer hardware shops, ringing them up and asking for a quote.
Make sure that whilst you are collecting information on the range of prices available hat you are thorough in investigating shipping costs and any importation duties if they apply. These can lead to your costs sky-rocketing, or at the very least mean that that "great deal" turns out to be the equivalent of all the others that you were looking at.
In addition to this, remember to check up on the reputability of the company that you are buying from, even though they have the best price and low shipping costs. Looking through real customer reviews of the company will give you insight in this department, or you may alternatively wish to have an email or telephone exchange with the company before buying.
Although this is a lengthy and effort-intense way of getting the best deal on your solid state HDD purchases, there are some other tips to bear in mind that can help you make savings. The first of these is to look out for special offers that take place throughout the year.
If you find a good retailer, the best thing that you can do is ask them if they have regular promotions, and if so, how these work. Although many people buy their solid state HDD equipment after the device they are currently using fails, buying a back-up in advance whilst the item is on sale is a great idea - not only will you have a spare on hand, but you can make great savings too.
This works best when you know exactly what you need and are not planning on changing your make or model of device very soon. Keep an eye out throughout the year for special offers on the products you like, and then snap them up as soon as you can.
You may also want to look for a vendor that offers some kind of loyalty scheme for their customers that allows them to make savings on repeat or bulk purchases. Not all stores have this, so if you find a seller that seems good, it is worth enquiring as you may be able to accumulate some loyalty points over time with the company, which can pay off significantly long-term.
jeudi 12 novembre 2015
Tips to Fix PC Registry Problems
Spending a lot of time on your computer means your computer must be
very valuable to you. That's why you will want to fix PC registry
problems with a registry cleaner.
Taking a chance on making a mistake in the registry is a real gamble. It doesn't take much to throw everything off and have a computer that no longer works. When you use your computer for work, you will want to play it safe so you can keep it running at maximum performance. The only other option would be to reformat the hard drive, or have a technical person solve these issues for you.
Follow These Strict Guidelines To Fix PC Registry Problems
Either use a professional or registry cleaner software.
It's always fun to learn something new, but this isn't one of them unless your going to be trained in the art to fix PC registry problems.
If you spend a lot of time on the computer, making sure it runs at peak performance, will ensure you experience many hours of enjoyable surfing. Fixing computer registry problems is simply done quicker, better, and more efficient by using a registry cleaner.
Knowing what to do when you have registry problems is half the battle. There are many different kinds of registry problems that could affect your computer. Figuring out what sort of problem you are dealing with would be step one.
The Process
To fix PC registry problems, you are going to have to learn the function of your registry. Basically, this is what holds all of the information on your computer together.
This includes updates, installs, uninstalls, programs, device drivers, and documents. It is the most important part of your computer system! The registry is the brain of the computer. It controls everything! Sometimes the registry gets overloaded and you will need to clean and optimize it. One of the programs that is free and built into your computer system is to go to start, accessories, select system tools, and run disk cleanup and disk defragmenter. These are two excellent programs you can run that will help speed up your computer. If your registry is corrupted, a good registry cleaner, will eliminate all errors and problems in the computer. This will have a dramatic affect on the performance by replacing the corrupted files with good clean files. This in turn will allow the organization of all your computer programs.
Best Way To Fix The PC Registry
It is a good idea to learn what the registry is and how it functions in order to fix PC registry problems. Remember, if you are having computer problems, the best and quickest way to solve all your registry problems would be to invest in an effective registry cleaner. A registry cleaner will scan, identify errors, remove them, fix and optimize your computer in about 3 minutes. Using a registry cleaner will guarantee it will be done right the first time! You can stop worrying about causing more damage to you computer system! Isn't it worth your peace of mind to have your computer running at optimum speed instead of having to worry about a corrupted registry? Fix PC Registry Problems now and give your brain a rest.
Taking a chance on making a mistake in the registry is a real gamble. It doesn't take much to throw everything off and have a computer that no longer works. When you use your computer for work, you will want to play it safe so you can keep it running at maximum performance. The only other option would be to reformat the hard drive, or have a technical person solve these issues for you.
Follow These Strict Guidelines To Fix PC Registry Problems
Either use a professional or registry cleaner software.
It's always fun to learn something new, but this isn't one of them unless your going to be trained in the art to fix PC registry problems.
If you spend a lot of time on the computer, making sure it runs at peak performance, will ensure you experience many hours of enjoyable surfing. Fixing computer registry problems is simply done quicker, better, and more efficient by using a registry cleaner.
Knowing what to do when you have registry problems is half the battle. There are many different kinds of registry problems that could affect your computer. Figuring out what sort of problem you are dealing with would be step one.
The Process
To fix PC registry problems, you are going to have to learn the function of your registry. Basically, this is what holds all of the information on your computer together.
This includes updates, installs, uninstalls, programs, device drivers, and documents. It is the most important part of your computer system! The registry is the brain of the computer. It controls everything! Sometimes the registry gets overloaded and you will need to clean and optimize it. One of the programs that is free and built into your computer system is to go to start, accessories, select system tools, and run disk cleanup and disk defragmenter. These are two excellent programs you can run that will help speed up your computer. If your registry is corrupted, a good registry cleaner, will eliminate all errors and problems in the computer. This will have a dramatic affect on the performance by replacing the corrupted files with good clean files. This in turn will allow the organization of all your computer programs.
Best Way To Fix The PC Registry
It is a good idea to learn what the registry is and how it functions in order to fix PC registry problems. Remember, if you are having computer problems, the best and quickest way to solve all your registry problems would be to invest in an effective registry cleaner. A registry cleaner will scan, identify errors, remove them, fix and optimize your computer in about 3 minutes. Using a registry cleaner will guarantee it will be done right the first time! You can stop worrying about causing more damage to you computer system! Isn't it worth your peace of mind to have your computer running at optimum speed instead of having to worry about a corrupted registry? Fix PC Registry Problems now and give your brain a rest.
dimanche 8 novembre 2015
Contact Professional Computer Repair Experts for Laptop Virus Removal
If you have found a problem with your computer there is no need
to panic as most of the repairs is minor and can be deftly handled by
professional computer repair experts. It is common that over a period of
time you may encounter any software or hardware problems in the system
and it doesn't mean that you have to think about a replacement as they
can be handled by the computer repair technicians. In case you have a
laptop cracked screen repair or a cracked computer screen repair you can
immediately contact the computer repair experts who can fix the problem
within no time. As the screen cracks due to an accidental fall or slip
you should immediately turn off the power and wait for the technician.
The repair expert depending on the damage shall either try to fix it or
carefully remove the cracked screen for replacement. They follow a
systematic procedure in removing and installing the new screen so that
your laptop or computer functions normally without any errors.
The computer repair technicians also handle all kinds of repairs whether hardware or software issues and you can schedule their appointment either for an on-site repair or take your system to their workshop. In case you encounter a computer virus attack it is necessary that you avail their services as virus attack may cause irreversible loss of your data. As you bring the system to them, they shall perform an extensive scan to detect all viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware and malware to successfully remove from the system and install the system with new antivirus software that guards your computer from any more virus attacks. The laptop virus removal enhances the functionality and speed of your system.
Similarly, you can contact the computer repair experts for network troubleshooting services as they can help you connect to the routers, network and wireless printers, switches, transfer of files and documents to other systems etc. either for home or professional work place systems. The technicians also offer their remote services through phone so that any minor repairs can be handled by you on the spot. For any other major repairs they ensure that the job is done within 24 hours' time as they know your productivity is affected if the computer is down for repair. You can fix an appointment online for the computer repair services or maintenance to enjoy uninterrupted services on your computer.
The computer repair technicians also handle all kinds of repairs whether hardware or software issues and you can schedule their appointment either for an on-site repair or take your system to their workshop. In case you encounter a computer virus attack it is necessary that you avail their services as virus attack may cause irreversible loss of your data. As you bring the system to them, they shall perform an extensive scan to detect all viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware and malware to successfully remove from the system and install the system with new antivirus software that guards your computer from any more virus attacks. The laptop virus removal enhances the functionality and speed of your system.
Similarly, you can contact the computer repair experts for network troubleshooting services as they can help you connect to the routers, network and wireless printers, switches, transfer of files and documents to other systems etc. either for home or professional work place systems. The technicians also offer their remote services through phone so that any minor repairs can be handled by you on the spot. For any other major repairs they ensure that the job is done within 24 hours' time as they know your productivity is affected if the computer is down for repair. You can fix an appointment online for the computer repair services or maintenance to enjoy uninterrupted services on your computer.
mardi 3 novembre 2015
Get a Good Tablet Without the High Prices
When shopping for a good tablet we see many excellent choices with an almost countless list of features.
It can be difficult to buy the right tablet when the goal of the
manufacturer is to convince us to buy the most expensive one we can
afford. And many of us are convinced that we cannot live without a
popular brand tablet. But there are a few good points that should be
considered. The main one is price. For that wonderful portable computer
we will most likely pay a wonderful price to go with it. The cheapest of
these is in the $500 range and it scales up from there to $1,000 or
more. Maybe we see our friends or neighbors or someone at Starbucks with
one which just seems to make us want one all the more.
Besides paying out for features we will never use, we should consider how long we will actually own our tablet. Most of these devices already are obsolete the moment we hand over the money for them. In about six months after purchase (give or take) there will be an improved version of it on the market. And about that same time it may be discovered that the one we bought has a serious security problem or something else that somehow escaped notice. There will be other reasons brought to our attention why we have to spend lots of our money on a new and improved tablet.
For the purpose most of us use tablets, fortunately, there are better choices we can make if we don't want to have several hundred dollars added to the price tag.
What has made the tablet so attractive is its compact size, in addition to the ease of working with a touchscreen interface. More than anything, users have tablets to surf the web, check email, and to use media.
For someone in the market for a tablet, it is important to know what to look for, including which options are essential and which ones a person can live without.
The Operating System
Probably the most important consideration when looking for a tablet is the operating system (OS). There are four basic operating systems in use.
Apple
Although the Apple OS has become popular over the years, it is used exclusively on Apple products. The upgrades have become more restrictive in customization.
Google Android
This is the same OS used on many smartphones. While similar in feel to Apple's OS, it is not quite the same. Android can be easier to use and offers greater customization than Apple.
Microsoft Windows
Although only holding a small share of the tablet market, the Windows OS has the advantage of being fully compatible with the Windows OS used on desktop and laptop computers. This provides easy file transfer for people who use tablets as portable computers.
Blackberry
RIM, the manufacturer of BlackBerry smartphones, has developed its own OS for its tablet computer: the BlackBerry Tablet OS. This tablet is fully compatible with the BlackBerry cell phone, making it the perfect complementary tablet for BlackBerry phone users.
Memory
Tablets come with internal memory ranging anywhere from 1 GB to 500 GB. Although more memory is preferable, if you're working from a budget and probably don't need extra memory anyway, Tablets expandable with a memory card to 32 GB is sufficient for most needs.
Screen Size & Resolution
Tablets come in sizes ranging from 5 inches to 12 inches. The smaller tablets are essentially large smartphones. Larger tablets provide more screen size, at the cost of being too big for a pocket or purse. Midsized tablets (7 to 8 inches) are intended to provide a compromise between being portable and still having a screen large enough to show an entire page of a book. The higher the resolution, the sharper the images appear.
Wireless Connectivity
Virtually all tablets have some wireless capability, which usually means being Wi-Fi capable. However, there are two versions of Wi-Fi. Some tablets only support the 802.11b/g specification. For streaming a lot of video and downloading large items, this may not be adequate. If those activities are part of the intended use, it is best to buy a tablet that is compatible with the 0802.11n specification. A tablet that supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio bands provides the most complete Wi-Fi connectivity.
Camera
Most tablets come with one or two cameras. With two, one is to use the tablet as a camera and the other is the webcam, or front-facing camera. However, when looking at a tablet with only one camera, know where the camera is located, whether on the back or front of the device.
With camera resolution, essentially, tablets have the same types of digital cameras as smartphones. As a general rule, 4 MP is the minimum specification for printing an 8x10 image, without cropping or distortion.
Speakers
While most tablet owners use headphones, there are times when it is necessary to use the internal tablet speakers. These speakers are tiny, so they are not going to produce a big speaker sound.
Inputs and Outputs
Tablet computers are not intended to provide a lot of connectivity to the outside world, except through wireless connections. Nevertheless, many come with a 3.5mm headphone jack and a USB port making it possible to transfer files with a flash drive or cable. In addition, some manufacturers provide a docking port for connection to keyboards and docking stations.
Battery Life
As tablets are portable units, tablet battery life is extremely important. Three things affect tablet battery life: size of the battery, brightness of the screen backlight, and amount of time the tablet is on. Most users leave their tablets on when not using them and merely put them in "sleep" mode. Therefore, there are two different battery life metrics to take into consideration: amount of time the battery powers the unit in sleep mode and amount of time the battery powers the unit while in use.
Protecting your Tablet
When considering which tablet best fits your needs, it is a good idea to consider one that comes with its own tablet case. These tablets tend to be a little more costly than those that don't come with one, but will be worth it if you plan on taking your tablet with you when you travel.
Buying a Tablet You Can Afford
With so many tablets out there to choose from, We can become overloaded with information about which one to buy, and if you are on a budget or just don't want to spend a small fortune on a tablet, it can be helpful to narrow down the choices by considering what is really important when purchasing.
You can find tablets that are hundreds of dollars cheaper than the leading brand and can do all of the things that a tablet is essentially used for.
Some come with a long list of features including capacitive multi-touch display, excellent screen resolution, front and back facing cameras, Windows or Android OS and some come with their own case and keyboard. Most have a built-in Bluetooth connection so you can connect them without wires to a headset, speaker, keyboard or any other Bluetooth enabled device. They are self-intuitive and very easy to learn how to navigate. They work well for both children and adults. Most are expandable to 32 GB so there is enough room to store all your pictures, music and videos. It's perfect for home, office, or travel.
Besides paying out for features we will never use, we should consider how long we will actually own our tablet. Most of these devices already are obsolete the moment we hand over the money for them. In about six months after purchase (give or take) there will be an improved version of it on the market. And about that same time it may be discovered that the one we bought has a serious security problem or something else that somehow escaped notice. There will be other reasons brought to our attention why we have to spend lots of our money on a new and improved tablet.
For the purpose most of us use tablets, fortunately, there are better choices we can make if we don't want to have several hundred dollars added to the price tag.
What has made the tablet so attractive is its compact size, in addition to the ease of working with a touchscreen interface. More than anything, users have tablets to surf the web, check email, and to use media.
For someone in the market for a tablet, it is important to know what to look for, including which options are essential and which ones a person can live without.
The Operating System
Probably the most important consideration when looking for a tablet is the operating system (OS). There are four basic operating systems in use.
Apple
Although the Apple OS has become popular over the years, it is used exclusively on Apple products. The upgrades have become more restrictive in customization.
Google Android
This is the same OS used on many smartphones. While similar in feel to Apple's OS, it is not quite the same. Android can be easier to use and offers greater customization than Apple.
Microsoft Windows
Although only holding a small share of the tablet market, the Windows OS has the advantage of being fully compatible with the Windows OS used on desktop and laptop computers. This provides easy file transfer for people who use tablets as portable computers.
Blackberry
RIM, the manufacturer of BlackBerry smartphones, has developed its own OS for its tablet computer: the BlackBerry Tablet OS. This tablet is fully compatible with the BlackBerry cell phone, making it the perfect complementary tablet for BlackBerry phone users.
Memory
Tablets come with internal memory ranging anywhere from 1 GB to 500 GB. Although more memory is preferable, if you're working from a budget and probably don't need extra memory anyway, Tablets expandable with a memory card to 32 GB is sufficient for most needs.
Screen Size & Resolution
Tablets come in sizes ranging from 5 inches to 12 inches. The smaller tablets are essentially large smartphones. Larger tablets provide more screen size, at the cost of being too big for a pocket or purse. Midsized tablets (7 to 8 inches) are intended to provide a compromise between being portable and still having a screen large enough to show an entire page of a book. The higher the resolution, the sharper the images appear.
Wireless Connectivity
Virtually all tablets have some wireless capability, which usually means being Wi-Fi capable. However, there are two versions of Wi-Fi. Some tablets only support the 802.11b/g specification. For streaming a lot of video and downloading large items, this may not be adequate. If those activities are part of the intended use, it is best to buy a tablet that is compatible with the 0802.11n specification. A tablet that supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio bands provides the most complete Wi-Fi connectivity.
Camera
Most tablets come with one or two cameras. With two, one is to use the tablet as a camera and the other is the webcam, or front-facing camera. However, when looking at a tablet with only one camera, know where the camera is located, whether on the back or front of the device.
With camera resolution, essentially, tablets have the same types of digital cameras as smartphones. As a general rule, 4 MP is the minimum specification for printing an 8x10 image, without cropping or distortion.
Speakers
While most tablet owners use headphones, there are times when it is necessary to use the internal tablet speakers. These speakers are tiny, so they are not going to produce a big speaker sound.
Inputs and Outputs
Tablet computers are not intended to provide a lot of connectivity to the outside world, except through wireless connections. Nevertheless, many come with a 3.5mm headphone jack and a USB port making it possible to transfer files with a flash drive or cable. In addition, some manufacturers provide a docking port for connection to keyboards and docking stations.
Battery Life
As tablets are portable units, tablet battery life is extremely important. Three things affect tablet battery life: size of the battery, brightness of the screen backlight, and amount of time the tablet is on. Most users leave their tablets on when not using them and merely put them in "sleep" mode. Therefore, there are two different battery life metrics to take into consideration: amount of time the battery powers the unit in sleep mode and amount of time the battery powers the unit while in use.
Protecting your Tablet
When considering which tablet best fits your needs, it is a good idea to consider one that comes with its own tablet case. These tablets tend to be a little more costly than those that don't come with one, but will be worth it if you plan on taking your tablet with you when you travel.
Buying a Tablet You Can Afford
With so many tablets out there to choose from, We can become overloaded with information about which one to buy, and if you are on a budget or just don't want to spend a small fortune on a tablet, it can be helpful to narrow down the choices by considering what is really important when purchasing.
You can find tablets that are hundreds of dollars cheaper than the leading brand and can do all of the things that a tablet is essentially used for.
Some come with a long list of features including capacitive multi-touch display, excellent screen resolution, front and back facing cameras, Windows or Android OS and some come with their own case and keyboard. Most have a built-in Bluetooth connection so you can connect them without wires to a headset, speaker, keyboard or any other Bluetooth enabled device. They are self-intuitive and very easy to learn how to navigate. They work well for both children and adults. Most are expandable to 32 GB so there is enough room to store all your pictures, music and videos. It's perfect for home, office, or travel.
dimanche 1 novembre 2015
How To Keep Your Computer Clean With CCleaner
How can I keep my computer clean and tidy?
When we are asked by friends and family how can they keep their computer clean, the one tool we always recommend is CCleaner. CCleaner differs from antivirus tools as it designed to keep your computer tidy - think Jacques from Finding Nemo!
CCleaner will search through your computer and clear out all of the files that have been created when you surf the internet or install software. The majority of these files are benign and pose no threat to you, but they do take up space on your computer so let CCleaner remove them for you. CCleaner will not delete documents and photos from your desktop of the common document folders.
CCleaner will work on Windows; IOS (Apple) and Android mobiles.
Tell me more about CCleaner and what it can do for me!
When you open CCleaner, you will immediately see an 'Analyse' button which when pressed, CCleaner will calculate how much space can be recovered from deleting temporary system files. Once you are happy, press the 'Run Cleaner' button and all will be removed from your system. NOTE - if you have an internet browser such as Internet Explorer or Chrome open while you run the CCleaner tool, you will be asked to close the browser to allow the files to be removed.
Under the 'Tools' button (the spanner icon), you will find some very useful tools that you may, depending on your technical knowledge or confidence,
Uninstall - Click on Uninstall and CCleaner will show you all the different programs that have been installed on your machine and when this was installed. Some of the very common names you may wish to look for and remove include:
Delta Search
MyWebSearch Toolbar
If you do stumble across a program name that you would like to remove, click on the program name and select the 'Uninstall' button on the top right of the CCleaner screen.
Startup - This is a great feature, but you will need to understand what it is you are doing before pressing any buttons in here. Startup, as the name suggests, will list all the software that will start when your computer starts; web browser(s) and Scheduled Tasks. It is very likely that when you click on the Windows tab you will see a substantial list of names of software that starts each time your Windows computer starts. You can disable software by selecting it and pressing the 'Disable' button. We will not be advising which you should or shouldn't disable as each computer is very different.
When you click on the 'Scheduled Tasks' within Startup, this is where you will get a good feel as to whether or not your computer is running malicious software. The individuals or organisations that produce malicious software often use your computer to schedule the infection to run at certain times, and CCleaner will help you see this. Again we cannot advise you which to disable as each computer will have different tasks running depending on the software you have running. One to look out for though will be listed as just "At1" although the numerical digit may differ from one; if you have this please backup all your precious documents and photos then run antivirus.
When we are asked by friends and family how can they keep their computer clean, the one tool we always recommend is CCleaner. CCleaner differs from antivirus tools as it designed to keep your computer tidy - think Jacques from Finding Nemo!
CCleaner will search through your computer and clear out all of the files that have been created when you surf the internet or install software. The majority of these files are benign and pose no threat to you, but they do take up space on your computer so let CCleaner remove them for you. CCleaner will not delete documents and photos from your desktop of the common document folders.
CCleaner will work on Windows; IOS (Apple) and Android mobiles.
Tell me more about CCleaner and what it can do for me!
When you open CCleaner, you will immediately see an 'Analyse' button which when pressed, CCleaner will calculate how much space can be recovered from deleting temporary system files. Once you are happy, press the 'Run Cleaner' button and all will be removed from your system. NOTE - if you have an internet browser such as Internet Explorer or Chrome open while you run the CCleaner tool, you will be asked to close the browser to allow the files to be removed.
Under the 'Tools' button (the spanner icon), you will find some very useful tools that you may, depending on your technical knowledge or confidence,
Uninstall - Click on Uninstall and CCleaner will show you all the different programs that have been installed on your machine and when this was installed. Some of the very common names you may wish to look for and remove include:
Delta Search
MyWebSearch Toolbar
If you do stumble across a program name that you would like to remove, click on the program name and select the 'Uninstall' button on the top right of the CCleaner screen.
Startup - This is a great feature, but you will need to understand what it is you are doing before pressing any buttons in here. Startup, as the name suggests, will list all the software that will start when your computer starts; web browser(s) and Scheduled Tasks. It is very likely that when you click on the Windows tab you will see a substantial list of names of software that starts each time your Windows computer starts. You can disable software by selecting it and pressing the 'Disable' button. We will not be advising which you should or shouldn't disable as each computer is very different.
When you click on the 'Scheduled Tasks' within Startup, this is where you will get a good feel as to whether or not your computer is running malicious software. The individuals or organisations that produce malicious software often use your computer to schedule the infection to run at certain times, and CCleaner will help you see this. Again we cannot advise you which to disable as each computer will have different tasks running depending on the software you have running. One to look out for though will be listed as just "At1" although the numerical digit may differ from one; if you have this please backup all your precious documents and photos then run antivirus.
vendredi 30 octobre 2015
How Do I Remove A Virus From My Computer?
How do I remove a virus from my computer for free?
Firstly - What is a computer virus and how do I get rid of it?
If I had a pound for every time I have been asked "How do I get rid of a computer virus?" I would be living on a small desert island sipping a cold one!
I will tell you what you need to know and what you need to do to ensure you and your family are better protected from viruses. If your computer is already infected, the best tools to remove them.
If there are any technical words that you are unclear on, I have a created a small glossary at the bottom of this article to help you out.
What is a computer virus?
A computer virus is a piece of software installed on your machine without your consent and can possess a variety of behaviours from slowing your machines performance to potentially destroying all your data, including those treasured family photos. While the world has an infatuation with the word 'virus' other names you may hear include Trojans; Bots; Adware; Browser Hijackers and more frequently now, Ransomware. Viruses and the names I just listed are all members of the same nasty software family called 'Malware'. Confused? Check the glossary at the bottom of this post for a summary on each of the terms.
There are many software tools on the internet specially produced to detect and neutralise viruses and restore your system back to its pre-infection performance level - and the best bit is some of the good ones are FREE! You do not need to pay that £60 a year subscription for the software that comes preinstalled on many computers and expires after a year!
The companies that write these tools have a monumental task trying to produce a 'fix' for every virus. There is something like 85,000 new viruses released to the world each day, so there is no way they can keep up, and some tools can detect a virus that others may not identify. I always have two antivirus tools installed and up this to three if I am removing a virus for a friend or relative.
How do I know if my computer is infected?
Some clear signs that your computer is infected include:
Your system running much slower than usual
Lots of annoying pop-ups
Or the most likely - random websites opening
But sometimes there are no symptoms at all - these are the sneaky ones!
It is always recommended that you install a good antivirus tool and ensure it's 'signatures' are kept up to date. If you opt for the paid version of an antivirus tool you can set scheduled and allow the scans to run at your preferred times.
How did my computer become infected?
This can be very difficult to diagnose, but the common forms of infection are:
Clicking on a malicious 'advert' while browsing the internet
Opening a malicious email attachment
An infected USB stick - this is now so common.
Downloading music or films from dodgy sources
The best tips to keep yourself protected are:
Always keep your operating system i.e. Windows, up-to-date. The companies that developed the OS - short for the operating system spend a vast amount of time writing 'patches' to close vulnerabilities in their software. Always ensure you keep your system updated!
Always keep your wits about you when you are online and never click on an advert or pop-up if it is not from a trusted source. If in doubt - ignore it. Here are some examples of malicious adverts that if pressed, are a sure way to pick up an infection!
Unless you know the sender of an e-mail, never open the attachment! Many of the big email companies provide a certain level of protection but with an estimated 92% of all global mail being either Spam or virus-related, the companies have an uphill challenge. If in doubt - delete it!
Infected USB sticks are a nightmare. You carry them with you from machine to machine and happily plug them into a printer in the supermarket and then the computer at the internet café - they transfer viruses as quickly as head lice in a classroom! Always run a full scan of a USB stick when you have used this on another machine. Que? Not sure what I mean? Read my article here on how to do this.
Downloading music and films from the internet is in short, asking for trouble unless it is from one of the major players that charge a premium. Free films from a Torrent site may seem like a great idea, but you do run the risk of paying a quite hefty emotional price if you lose your files as a result.
How can I remove a virus?
To delete a virus, you are going to need some software. There are many antivirus tools out there, but some are quite frankly hopeless. I have spent many years trialing and testing a variety of products and return to a few time and time again - and they are free!
1) Malwarebytes - Free!
The best free product is Malwarebytes. The people behind Malwarebytes also offer a premium product that is chargeable but for now we will concentrate on the free version.
2) SuperAntiSpyware - Free!
This product is another lifesaver and has some excellent functionality and little extra features that make this product as a must. The team behind this software do have a premium version that is available for about £30.
3) FreeAVG - Free!
This is a fantastic product that offers so much more than just a tool to remove an infection. I recommend to my friends and family they keep this running as it also scans websites as you browse them to detect viruses embedded on the site.
A warning though before you go and run ANY antivirus tool...
Sometimes Malware, including viruses, can be so deeply rooted within your computer files that when the infections are cleaned, your computer may suffer adverse effects and data may be lost. I strongly suggest you backup and critical files you can access on a clean USB stick before you run any virus removal tool. I have used these tools many times but cannot be held responsible for any loss of files as a result of running them. You can purchase a good sized USB external drive to backup all your precious documents from online resellers like Amazon. Western Digital are an excellent brand that I recommend. Oh, and when you next plug this USB drive into a computer, make sure you scan it for viruses!
Useful Glossary (These may even impress your friends and family when you drop them in a conversation!)
Adware - Short for advertising-supported software. Adware in the context we are discussing here is pop-up advertisements that appear on your computer screen trying to sell you products. When you close one, you are usually greeted with many more!
Antivirus - A piece of software that scans your computer files to detect and remove infected files.
Bot - Derives from the word robot. A bot is a computer that has been infected and can be remotely controlled by the hacker to perform tasks on their behalf.
Browser - This is the program you use to browse the internet. The most common browsers are Safari if you are an Apple MAC user or Chrome, Firefox and even Internet Explorer if you are a Windows user. Read my article on browsers here - especially if you are using Internet Explorer!
Browser hijacking - So you now know what a browser is. A very common form of malware is Browser Hijackers. Hijackers change your internet search settings and redirect you to the pages they want you to see.
Embedded - Some websites have viruses hid within them which are copied or 'downloaded' to your computer while browsing - this is known as embedding. An excellent malware tool can detect these for you and prevent the infection from occurring.
Fix - A piece of software the remediates or neutralises an infection.
Full Scan - Within most antivirus tools, you have options to scan your entire files contents for infected files not just the most common locations.
Malware - Short for malicious software. Malware is a piece of software designed to disrupt the operation of a computer device. Malware comes in the forms of viruses; Trojans; worms; spyware; adware and ransomware.
Pop-ups - Small windows or adverts that appear 'on top' of your web browser.
Phishing - Pronounced fishing, is an illegal attempt to try and obtain sensitive data such as credit card details or passwords via emails and sites masquerading as legitimate companies. The fraudster then reuses the details captured for their gain.
Firstly - What is a computer virus and how do I get rid of it?
If I had a pound for every time I have been asked "How do I get rid of a computer virus?" I would be living on a small desert island sipping a cold one!
I will tell you what you need to know and what you need to do to ensure you and your family are better protected from viruses. If your computer is already infected, the best tools to remove them.
If there are any technical words that you are unclear on, I have a created a small glossary at the bottom of this article to help you out.
What is a computer virus?
A computer virus is a piece of software installed on your machine without your consent and can possess a variety of behaviours from slowing your machines performance to potentially destroying all your data, including those treasured family photos. While the world has an infatuation with the word 'virus' other names you may hear include Trojans; Bots; Adware; Browser Hijackers and more frequently now, Ransomware. Viruses and the names I just listed are all members of the same nasty software family called 'Malware'. Confused? Check the glossary at the bottom of this post for a summary on each of the terms.
There are many software tools on the internet specially produced to detect and neutralise viruses and restore your system back to its pre-infection performance level - and the best bit is some of the good ones are FREE! You do not need to pay that £60 a year subscription for the software that comes preinstalled on many computers and expires after a year!
The companies that write these tools have a monumental task trying to produce a 'fix' for every virus. There is something like 85,000 new viruses released to the world each day, so there is no way they can keep up, and some tools can detect a virus that others may not identify. I always have two antivirus tools installed and up this to three if I am removing a virus for a friend or relative.
How do I know if my computer is infected?
Some clear signs that your computer is infected include:
Your system running much slower than usual
Lots of annoying pop-ups
Or the most likely - random websites opening
But sometimes there are no symptoms at all - these are the sneaky ones!
It is always recommended that you install a good antivirus tool and ensure it's 'signatures' are kept up to date. If you opt for the paid version of an antivirus tool you can set scheduled and allow the scans to run at your preferred times.
How did my computer become infected?
This can be very difficult to diagnose, but the common forms of infection are:
Clicking on a malicious 'advert' while browsing the internet
Opening a malicious email attachment
An infected USB stick - this is now so common.
Downloading music or films from dodgy sources
The best tips to keep yourself protected are:
Always keep your operating system i.e. Windows, up-to-date. The companies that developed the OS - short for the operating system spend a vast amount of time writing 'patches' to close vulnerabilities in their software. Always ensure you keep your system updated!
Always keep your wits about you when you are online and never click on an advert or pop-up if it is not from a trusted source. If in doubt - ignore it. Here are some examples of malicious adverts that if pressed, are a sure way to pick up an infection!
Unless you know the sender of an e-mail, never open the attachment! Many of the big email companies provide a certain level of protection but with an estimated 92% of all global mail being either Spam or virus-related, the companies have an uphill challenge. If in doubt - delete it!
Infected USB sticks are a nightmare. You carry them with you from machine to machine and happily plug them into a printer in the supermarket and then the computer at the internet café - they transfer viruses as quickly as head lice in a classroom! Always run a full scan of a USB stick when you have used this on another machine. Que? Not sure what I mean? Read my article here on how to do this.
Downloading music and films from the internet is in short, asking for trouble unless it is from one of the major players that charge a premium. Free films from a Torrent site may seem like a great idea, but you do run the risk of paying a quite hefty emotional price if you lose your files as a result.
How can I remove a virus?
To delete a virus, you are going to need some software. There are many antivirus tools out there, but some are quite frankly hopeless. I have spent many years trialing and testing a variety of products and return to a few time and time again - and they are free!
1) Malwarebytes - Free!
The best free product is Malwarebytes. The people behind Malwarebytes also offer a premium product that is chargeable but for now we will concentrate on the free version.
2) SuperAntiSpyware - Free!
This product is another lifesaver and has some excellent functionality and little extra features that make this product as a must. The team behind this software do have a premium version that is available for about £30.
3) FreeAVG - Free!
This is a fantastic product that offers so much more than just a tool to remove an infection. I recommend to my friends and family they keep this running as it also scans websites as you browse them to detect viruses embedded on the site.
A warning though before you go and run ANY antivirus tool...
Sometimes Malware, including viruses, can be so deeply rooted within your computer files that when the infections are cleaned, your computer may suffer adverse effects and data may be lost. I strongly suggest you backup and critical files you can access on a clean USB stick before you run any virus removal tool. I have used these tools many times but cannot be held responsible for any loss of files as a result of running them. You can purchase a good sized USB external drive to backup all your precious documents from online resellers like Amazon. Western Digital are an excellent brand that I recommend. Oh, and when you next plug this USB drive into a computer, make sure you scan it for viruses!
Useful Glossary (These may even impress your friends and family when you drop them in a conversation!)
Adware - Short for advertising-supported software. Adware in the context we are discussing here is pop-up advertisements that appear on your computer screen trying to sell you products. When you close one, you are usually greeted with many more!
Antivirus - A piece of software that scans your computer files to detect and remove infected files.
Bot - Derives from the word robot. A bot is a computer that has been infected and can be remotely controlled by the hacker to perform tasks on their behalf.
Browser - This is the program you use to browse the internet. The most common browsers are Safari if you are an Apple MAC user or Chrome, Firefox and even Internet Explorer if you are a Windows user. Read my article on browsers here - especially if you are using Internet Explorer!
Browser hijacking - So you now know what a browser is. A very common form of malware is Browser Hijackers. Hijackers change your internet search settings and redirect you to the pages they want you to see.
Embedded - Some websites have viruses hid within them which are copied or 'downloaded' to your computer while browsing - this is known as embedding. An excellent malware tool can detect these for you and prevent the infection from occurring.
Fix - A piece of software the remediates or neutralises an infection.
Full Scan - Within most antivirus tools, you have options to scan your entire files contents for infected files not just the most common locations.
Malware - Short for malicious software. Malware is a piece of software designed to disrupt the operation of a computer device. Malware comes in the forms of viruses; Trojans; worms; spyware; adware and ransomware.
Pop-ups - Small windows or adverts that appear 'on top' of your web browser.
Phishing - Pronounced fishing, is an illegal attempt to try and obtain sensitive data such as credit card details or passwords via emails and sites masquerading as legitimate companies. The fraudster then reuses the details captured for their gain.
Playing Online Games Pro-Style Even if you don't know what you're doing.
Playing Online Games Pro-Style
Even if you don't know what you're doing...
One of the most intimidating parts of getting started with online gaming is getting over the fear of screwing things up for other players. It's one thing to play a game and make mistakes at home, but it's an entirely different thing to play a game and make mistakes that can cause failure in the game plays of others. But there's no reason to let this fear stop you or another gaming newbie from having fun. This article will give you the in's and out's of online gaming so that you can start with the confidence you need to continue on.
The first step anyone new to online gaming should take is to first, learn how to play offline. You can read the game's manual and save yourself from seeing the infamous acronym, "RTFM" scroll across your screen. Know what that acronym stands for? It stands for "Read The Fu**ing Manual" and its spewed by serious gamers to vulnerable newbies who interrupt a game with questions like, "What is this place?" or "What am I supposed to do?"
You could search the web for game related discussion groups, FAQ's, and walkthroughs. And you could learn more from game specific Usenet newsgroups. In other words, you could do your "homework." Some of the kind of information you want to learn includes how to play, how to create characters, how to gather equipment, and how to implement some smart strategies. Trust us when we say your gaming comrades will appreciate it!
In addition to reading how to play an online game, you can familiarize yourself with the game's interface. Just as you searched the net for a game's textual instruction, you can additionally search the net for a game's screenshot (or series of screenshots). Having a graphical representation (.gif or .jpg image) of a game on your screen gives you a chance to memorize where all the game's controls are. Knowing where everything is on a game before you play will speed things up not only for yourself, but also for everyone else. No one wants to wait for you to search for an inventory panel or message screen in a game when the location of these items is obvious to everyone else.
Once you start with a game, don't let the pressure of staying in the game prevent you from doing the unthinkable: dying. A character dying in a game is inevitable at certain points, and unless you willingly let go of a lose-lose situation, you'll run the risk of holding the game up for everyone else. It's like a game of chess. If it's checkmate - it's checkmate. Call it a day and start anew. Whatever you do, don't hang around waiting for some magical fairy to come to your rescue. Please let your character die with dignity.
On the same token, you don't want to take dying personally. Remember that online gaming is still just a game. A character that dies in a game is not representative of your character as a person. Turn a death into learning experience. At the very least, you'll learn your way around an online game by learning all the things that you aren't supposed to do!
Above all else, ensure that your computer has what it takes to maintain the current pace of an online game. Don't try to play an online game with a slow computer or slow Internet connection. In fact, if you're still using dial up, find another hobby. A slow processor and connection will ensure instant death because other players aren't going to politely wait for their own defeat. They're going to squash you like a bug.
Hunt around for a computer that was built for online gaming and get a DSL or ISDN Internet connection. You'll need a fast processor, a high quality graphics card, and a sound machine to match.
By following these simple suggestions, you will have passed the "newbie" test and earned respect as a serious gamer much more quickly than if you stumbled your way through what others pride as "the ultimate hobby."
Even if you don't know what you're doing...
One of the most intimidating parts of getting started with online gaming is getting over the fear of screwing things up for other players. It's one thing to play a game and make mistakes at home, but it's an entirely different thing to play a game and make mistakes that can cause failure in the game plays of others. But there's no reason to let this fear stop you or another gaming newbie from having fun. This article will give you the in's and out's of online gaming so that you can start with the confidence you need to continue on.
The first step anyone new to online gaming should take is to first, learn how to play offline. You can read the game's manual and save yourself from seeing the infamous acronym, "RTFM" scroll across your screen. Know what that acronym stands for? It stands for "Read The Fu**ing Manual" and its spewed by serious gamers to vulnerable newbies who interrupt a game with questions like, "What is this place?" or "What am I supposed to do?"
You could search the web for game related discussion groups, FAQ's, and walkthroughs. And you could learn more from game specific Usenet newsgroups. In other words, you could do your "homework." Some of the kind of information you want to learn includes how to play, how to create characters, how to gather equipment, and how to implement some smart strategies. Trust us when we say your gaming comrades will appreciate it!
In addition to reading how to play an online game, you can familiarize yourself with the game's interface. Just as you searched the net for a game's textual instruction, you can additionally search the net for a game's screenshot (or series of screenshots). Having a graphical representation (.gif or .jpg image) of a game on your screen gives you a chance to memorize where all the game's controls are. Knowing where everything is on a game before you play will speed things up not only for yourself, but also for everyone else. No one wants to wait for you to search for an inventory panel or message screen in a game when the location of these items is obvious to everyone else.
Once you start with a game, don't let the pressure of staying in the game prevent you from doing the unthinkable: dying. A character dying in a game is inevitable at certain points, and unless you willingly let go of a lose-lose situation, you'll run the risk of holding the game up for everyone else. It's like a game of chess. If it's checkmate - it's checkmate. Call it a day and start anew. Whatever you do, don't hang around waiting for some magical fairy to come to your rescue. Please let your character die with dignity.
On the same token, you don't want to take dying personally. Remember that online gaming is still just a game. A character that dies in a game is not representative of your character as a person. Turn a death into learning experience. At the very least, you'll learn your way around an online game by learning all the things that you aren't supposed to do!
Above all else, ensure that your computer has what it takes to maintain the current pace of an online game. Don't try to play an online game with a slow computer or slow Internet connection. In fact, if you're still using dial up, find another hobby. A slow processor and connection will ensure instant death because other players aren't going to politely wait for their own defeat. They're going to squash you like a bug.
Hunt around for a computer that was built for online gaming and get a DSL or ISDN Internet connection. You'll need a fast processor, a high quality graphics card, and a sound machine to match.
By following these simple suggestions, you will have passed the "newbie" test and earned respect as a serious gamer much more quickly than if you stumbled your way through what others pride as "the ultimate hobby."
visit my blog / http://www.registrycleaners2015.blogspot.com
mercredi 28 octobre 2015
How To Create Remarkable And Creative Photo Books
Making our own photo book, be it for any reason is overwhelming
for some and if you want memories to get that tender loving care (TLC)
and cherish them. To make your own photo book more amazing and creative
so that you have good experience viewing it, here are some useful tips
that will be of great help.
Firstly get an overview of your project by dividing your task into manageable pieces. This help to give you a better picture of what is required to be done and other things around it.
Managing in pieces
Make a to - do - list of things which will give you a better idea of your workload and what is to be done next. You should also keep in mind that this is list is flexible enough that it can be worked upon whenever necessary. This is because as you make your own photo book, the design would probably changes in the process.
Focusing on the album
It is important to consider the manner in which you present your content. Take the base of the purpose for which you are making your book eg, timeline or event based.
Attractive themes
Selecting an attractive yet simple theme makes your photo book look great and further helps in arranging your content.
Content
This is the most important part of your photo book. Almost all work has been carried out in this phase. You should start by selecting out the photos you want to upload in your album, putting them in the manner you want to present them.
Again go through the photos incorporated in the album and remove the repetitive ones. Organise the photos in such a sequence as you want them to be seen in your album. Photo book designer auto flow is such a feature which you can take advantage of in doing so.
You should make your photo book such that even a 20 page album looks amazing and makes it easy to read the story behind it rather than 40 pages of irregular pictures.
Arrangements of Templates
Making a rough draft of your photo book so as to decide on how you want to arrange your content is essential. After completion of the above, align your photos in a way as you are telling a story.
The flow of words
Once you are finished with alignment of your photos, incorporate appropriate text for a better creation of your photo book. This helps to make the story you are trying to indicate with your photos more clearly making your album more attractive.
Captions are not the compulsory but it does the work that a photo can't alone do it. Inserting dates, place or location, names etc may add up to the elegance of the story.
Separating the topic
In order to give a moment to breathe while going through the photos and without even breaking the continuity of the story you should divide your content into various sections, irrespective of the flow style whether time line or event based.
Proof reading
This is a very important aspect of your photo album. One cannot under estimate or overlook such a thing. Here you will be taking into consideration any oversights or any typos etc. after the completion of the project. Going through the album to check loopholes if any, like left out image place holders, arrangement mistakes if any and so on.
Make it a habit to review your project. This provides you a clear picture of something that you may have missed out. Alternatively you can ask for opinion by giving a chance to other to have a look at your album.
Firstly get an overview of your project by dividing your task into manageable pieces. This help to give you a better picture of what is required to be done and other things around it.
Managing in pieces
Make a to - do - list of things which will give you a better idea of your workload and what is to be done next. You should also keep in mind that this is list is flexible enough that it can be worked upon whenever necessary. This is because as you make your own photo book, the design would probably changes in the process.
Focusing on the album
It is important to consider the manner in which you present your content. Take the base of the purpose for which you are making your book eg, timeline or event based.
Attractive themes
Selecting an attractive yet simple theme makes your photo book look great and further helps in arranging your content.
Content
This is the most important part of your photo book. Almost all work has been carried out in this phase. You should start by selecting out the photos you want to upload in your album, putting them in the manner you want to present them.
Again go through the photos incorporated in the album and remove the repetitive ones. Organise the photos in such a sequence as you want them to be seen in your album. Photo book designer auto flow is such a feature which you can take advantage of in doing so.
You should make your photo book such that even a 20 page album looks amazing and makes it easy to read the story behind it rather than 40 pages of irregular pictures.
Arrangements of Templates
Making a rough draft of your photo book so as to decide on how you want to arrange your content is essential. After completion of the above, align your photos in a way as you are telling a story.
The flow of words
Once you are finished with alignment of your photos, incorporate appropriate text for a better creation of your photo book. This helps to make the story you are trying to indicate with your photos more clearly making your album more attractive.
Captions are not the compulsory but it does the work that a photo can't alone do it. Inserting dates, place or location, names etc may add up to the elegance of the story.
Separating the topic
In order to give a moment to breathe while going through the photos and without even breaking the continuity of the story you should divide your content into various sections, irrespective of the flow style whether time line or event based.
Proof reading
This is a very important aspect of your photo album. One cannot under estimate or overlook such a thing. Here you will be taking into consideration any oversights or any typos etc. after the completion of the project. Going through the album to check loopholes if any, like left out image place holders, arrangement mistakes if any and so on.
Make it a habit to review your project. This provides you a clear picture of something that you may have missed out. Alternatively you can ask for opinion by giving a chance to other to have a look at your album.
Michael Waugh, a professional tech blogger and is expert in writing blog contents on online photo album maker, web designing, online marketing etc. He has a good experience in marketing field especially in IT Industry.
vendredi 23 octobre 2015
Essential Info on Booking Engine Software
Planning to visit somewhere cool? Not getting enough time to sit and
plan the stuff? Hire a travel agent who will work on behalf of you and
plan the trip properly. Planning a vacation is extremely important and
so is the proper implementation of the same. Even when you are done with
short listing the name of the place and some of the attractions that
you are willing to explore, the real work lies in booking of the hotel.
Although it seems to be an easy task, you cannot just take anything for
granted, of course it takes too much effort to plan a holiday but it
takes even more hard work to create a planning schedule that will
benefit you in the proper manner.
Book yourself a great hotel which will make you feel thoroughly energetic all the time. You will definitely feel blessed to come across to the fact that most of the hotels have their individual sites which will ease up your task to quite an extent. You do not have to travel across every corner of the streets to find yourself a hotel. Everything is right there on the internet. Book yourself a hotel that has got all the necessary factors that are aimed at making you feel thoroughly special from within.
A hotel is such a place that can offer you with greatest comforts and the homely feel which you miss during the vacation. You can check the facilities and amenities that are offered and can also get the opportunity to compare the prices on the hotel booking websites. There are plenty of them on the internet. These days, booking the hotel has become an easy task and more so because of the fact that the hotels always have this strange exquisiteness which makes them stand out among others. The hotels can be booked from the websites which are available on the internet. All you need to do is to find yourself one good website that has a proper booking engine for hotels.
The booking engine software for hotels lets you book your temporary abode without any worries. Things tend to get smoother and more interesting when you have the accessibility to check out every hotel properly. Listed below are some of the marketing strategies and functions that are included by the booking engine.
Book yourself a great hotel which will make you feel thoroughly energetic all the time. You will definitely feel blessed to come across to the fact that most of the hotels have their individual sites which will ease up your task to quite an extent. You do not have to travel across every corner of the streets to find yourself a hotel. Everything is right there on the internet. Book yourself a hotel that has got all the necessary factors that are aimed at making you feel thoroughly special from within.
A hotel is such a place that can offer you with greatest comforts and the homely feel which you miss during the vacation. You can check the facilities and amenities that are offered and can also get the opportunity to compare the prices on the hotel booking websites. There are plenty of them on the internet. These days, booking the hotel has become an easy task and more so because of the fact that the hotels always have this strange exquisiteness which makes them stand out among others. The hotels can be booked from the websites which are available on the internet. All you need to do is to find yourself one good website that has a proper booking engine for hotels.
The booking engine software for hotels lets you book your temporary abode without any worries. Things tend to get smoother and more interesting when you have the accessibility to check out every hotel properly. Listed below are some of the marketing strategies and functions that are included by the booking engine.
- The project analyst guides you thoroughly for creating an entire set up that will help you in making the system more fun-filled. The content management system will help create some good contents that are aimed at making the visitors of the websites more informed about every developmental changes.
- The Google maps are integrated on the sites for letting the clients understand their exact location, they can also check out the directions of the sightseeing attractions that are located nearby.
- If the policy permits, the existing reservations can be modified. This policy lets the visitors change their reservations with the hotel.
- Some information icons are there on the website which gives you the benefit to customize the search options as per your own wishes.
- The online bookings can be included on the list of scheduled bookings.
samedi 17 octobre 2015
Everything About Data Recuperation
At some point in time, every person that possesses a computer will
experience the trials and tribulations of the hard drive failing. For
many years, the need to recover information that has actually been lost
or ruined has made data recovery such a beneficial profession.
Occasionally, due to age or bad components, the aperture arm in the hard drive can fall short, or the plates could end up being damaged and also drop the data that they hold. If you can't recover the info with software, you'll need to send out the hard drive as well as have it either rebuilt or have specialists recover your data.
Data recovery is constantly a choice, from hard disks that are 2 GB in size to the largest of over 300 GB or more of information. Regardless of what size hard drive you have, the information can usually be recovered. Remember that if you've had a computer system crash, you should send the hard disk off to have the information recovered by professionals.
One of the crucial benefits of information recovery is the reality that details could additionally be retrieved from the recycle container. Partition recovery, and even info that has actually been lost someplace on the disk could be recovered. Although it might look like your data is gone forever - the professionals that specialize in information recovery could get it.
From Windows to Mac, everything could be recovered. There are various filing structures as well as formats, including NTFS and also FAT32.
Those of you that have numerous hard drives in your computer system, could relax assured that RAID configurations could likewise be recovered.
Anytime your hard disk crashes or malfunctions, information recovery is there to assist you to obtain back your data. Whether they are documents or crucial files that are need for your company - you can count on information recovery and recognize that you'll get everything the back the way it was.
For lots of years, the need to recover data that has been lost or damaged has actually made information recovery such an extremely important possession.
If you can't recover the information with a software application, you'll need to send out the hard drive and also have it either rebuilt or have technicians recover your data.
Occasionally, due to age or bad components, the aperture arm in the hard drive can fall short, or the plates could end up being damaged and also drop the data that they hold. If you can't recover the info with software, you'll need to send out the hard drive as well as have it either rebuilt or have specialists recover your data.
Data recovery is constantly a choice, from hard disks that are 2 GB in size to the largest of over 300 GB or more of information. Regardless of what size hard drive you have, the information can usually be recovered. Remember that if you've had a computer system crash, you should send the hard disk off to have the information recovered by professionals.
One of the crucial benefits of information recovery is the reality that details could additionally be retrieved from the recycle container. Partition recovery, and even info that has actually been lost someplace on the disk could be recovered. Although it might look like your data is gone forever - the professionals that specialize in information recovery could get it.
From Windows to Mac, everything could be recovered. There are various filing structures as well as formats, including NTFS and also FAT32.
Those of you that have numerous hard drives in your computer system, could relax assured that RAID configurations could likewise be recovered.
Anytime your hard disk crashes or malfunctions, information recovery is there to assist you to obtain back your data. Whether they are documents or crucial files that are need for your company - you can count on information recovery and recognize that you'll get everything the back the way it was.
For lots of years, the need to recover data that has been lost or damaged has actually made information recovery such an extremely important possession.
If you can't recover the information with a software application, you'll need to send out the hard drive and also have it either rebuilt or have technicians recover your data.
jeudi 15 octobre 2015
Windows 10 Tips and Tricks
Windows 10 came out and millions of people all over the world
immediately started using it. If you have already started running it, or
you are contemplating to run it, there are some hidden tricks that may
enable you to have a clear understanding and easy operation of this
latest Operating System in the market. If at all you were still on the
fence, it's now time to take note. Widows 10 combines the best features
of Windows 8 which are (improved security and super fast startup)
together with what made Windows 7 to be popular and familiar (it is
user-friendly). If at all you fall in the category of computer nuts,
then tweaking this Operating System will always be the fun and enjoyable
part. When you discover and implement the power user tricks and tips,
you will absolutely love this new OS version. Any person who loves
computers a great deal, especially the software bit of it, will always
find a new OS to be more enjoyable during that time when they are
learning and implementing those new tips they never knew about
previously.
All you need to know about Windows 10 before you install it and take your machine to the next level is discussed below.
Task view & virtual desktops
Among the most impressive things associated with this new OS is how the virtual desktops are handled by it. In fact, the fact that all of them are finally handled, out of the box is absolutely an impressive step.
This is because the users of Mac OS X together with those Linux users are the only ones who have been enjoying that capability for quite a long time. With Windows 10, you join that league. By this OS, you are able to set up a series of windows together with tasks on your desktop, an email & twitter window on another as well as a third one for general internet browsing together with research. Click on the Task View icon that's on the task bar in order to get started. The Task View icon is located immediately at the right side of the search box. Alternatively, you can hold down Win key (Windows key) together with the Tab.
Configure your privacy settings
When one is first setting up this OS, they need to ensure that they select a Custom installation thereby allowing them room for the modification of the privacy settings. If at all you have already installed your Windows, worry not. You can still fix the issue from the Settings. Without such modifications, you may end up sharing your data with people you never intended to share your data with.
Print to PDF
A document can finally be saved or printed as PDF without having to use a third-party utility. This is an aspect that makes it easy for documents which are not easily modified to easily be saved and distributed. This is another unique, long overdue feature that makes the OS to be under the radar.
Ensure the Wi-Fi Sense is off
You certainly don't entertain the idea of everyone being allowed access to your Wi-Fi network if at all you haven't shared your password with them. Ensure your device is not allowing access.
Run it in a virtual machine
In the event that you are contemplating to take the Windows 10 plunge without having to disturb the machine which is in fine operation, you need to first know how Windows 10 can be installed in a virtual machine. Note that this is a virtual system that is used to synchronize the entire operating system with your existing operating system.
Windows Explorer's Home tab & Quick Access
The Windows Explorer tab is more useful in this Operating system than in previous ones. This can be credited to the new Home tab that has been pictured above. There is a new Quick Access group at the top left of this window. This allows easy navigation to the recent accessed folders thereby making copying of files a cinch hence a faster workflow due to easy navigation around one's computer and its filing system.
Customization of the Start Menu
The Start Menu of Windows 10 is a great improvement when compared with what was designed with Windows 8.1. Description of the relief from the former is almost impossible. The start menu combines the best features of its predecessors Windows 8 together with Windows 7. This menu can fully be customized to look like the menu of Windows 7 as pictured above. The Recycle Bin can be pinned on the Start Menu.
Command prompt tweaks
Most of the utilities in the Windows 10 still look the same as they did appear in Windows 7 & Windows 8. The Command Prompt is however among the hidden tweaks that allow you to customize a number of features which include re-sizing the window, word wrap and creating a transparent background.
Battery saver
In the event that you are on a laptop or other mobile devices and you battery happens to be running low, this OS begins to throttle back the background services among other threads thereby squeezing the very last bits of your battery life out of your device.
Background scrolling
Go to Settings> Devices> Mouse & Touch pad and when you move the cursor of your mouse over a window as you try to scroll; your operation will be executed.
Keyboard shortcuts
Below are a number of shortcuts that may be important especially when you start having bulky daily work:
• Windows Key & Tab is a shortcut for Task View
• Windows Key & Right-Up is a shortcut for Moving app to the top right quadrant
• Windows Key & Ctrl &Left or Right is a shortcut for virtual desktop
• Windows Key & Ctrl & D is a shortcut for new virtual desktop
• Windows Key & Ctrl & C is a shortcut for Cortana listening
• Windows Key & S is a shortcut for Daily Glance for sports, weather, news
• Windows Key & Ctrl & F4 is a shortcut for closing virtual desktop
• Windows Key & Up or Down is a shortcut for snapping apps to top or to the bottom of the screen or maximizes
All you need to know about Windows 10 before you install it and take your machine to the next level is discussed below.
Task view & virtual desktops
Among the most impressive things associated with this new OS is how the virtual desktops are handled by it. In fact, the fact that all of them are finally handled, out of the box is absolutely an impressive step.
This is because the users of Mac OS X together with those Linux users are the only ones who have been enjoying that capability for quite a long time. With Windows 10, you join that league. By this OS, you are able to set up a series of windows together with tasks on your desktop, an email & twitter window on another as well as a third one for general internet browsing together with research. Click on the Task View icon that's on the task bar in order to get started. The Task View icon is located immediately at the right side of the search box. Alternatively, you can hold down Win key (Windows key) together with the Tab.
Configure your privacy settings
When one is first setting up this OS, they need to ensure that they select a Custom installation thereby allowing them room for the modification of the privacy settings. If at all you have already installed your Windows, worry not. You can still fix the issue from the Settings. Without such modifications, you may end up sharing your data with people you never intended to share your data with.
Print to PDF
A document can finally be saved or printed as PDF without having to use a third-party utility. This is an aspect that makes it easy for documents which are not easily modified to easily be saved and distributed. This is another unique, long overdue feature that makes the OS to be under the radar.
Ensure the Wi-Fi Sense is off
You certainly don't entertain the idea of everyone being allowed access to your Wi-Fi network if at all you haven't shared your password with them. Ensure your device is not allowing access.
Run it in a virtual machine
In the event that you are contemplating to take the Windows 10 plunge without having to disturb the machine which is in fine operation, you need to first know how Windows 10 can be installed in a virtual machine. Note that this is a virtual system that is used to synchronize the entire operating system with your existing operating system.
Windows Explorer's Home tab & Quick Access
The Windows Explorer tab is more useful in this Operating system than in previous ones. This can be credited to the new Home tab that has been pictured above. There is a new Quick Access group at the top left of this window. This allows easy navigation to the recent accessed folders thereby making copying of files a cinch hence a faster workflow due to easy navigation around one's computer and its filing system.
Customization of the Start Menu
The Start Menu of Windows 10 is a great improvement when compared with what was designed with Windows 8.1. Description of the relief from the former is almost impossible. The start menu combines the best features of its predecessors Windows 8 together with Windows 7. This menu can fully be customized to look like the menu of Windows 7 as pictured above. The Recycle Bin can be pinned on the Start Menu.
Command prompt tweaks
Most of the utilities in the Windows 10 still look the same as they did appear in Windows 7 & Windows 8. The Command Prompt is however among the hidden tweaks that allow you to customize a number of features which include re-sizing the window, word wrap and creating a transparent background.
Battery saver
In the event that you are on a laptop or other mobile devices and you battery happens to be running low, this OS begins to throttle back the background services among other threads thereby squeezing the very last bits of your battery life out of your device.
Background scrolling
Go to Settings> Devices> Mouse & Touch pad and when you move the cursor of your mouse over a window as you try to scroll; your operation will be executed.
Keyboard shortcuts
Below are a number of shortcuts that may be important especially when you start having bulky daily work:
• Windows Key & Tab is a shortcut for Task View
• Windows Key & Right-Up is a shortcut for Moving app to the top right quadrant
• Windows Key & Ctrl &Left or Right is a shortcut for virtual desktop
• Windows Key & Ctrl & D is a shortcut for new virtual desktop
• Windows Key & Ctrl & C is a shortcut for Cortana listening
• Windows Key & S is a shortcut for Daily Glance for sports, weather, news
• Windows Key & Ctrl & F4 is a shortcut for closing virtual desktop
• Windows Key & Up or Down is a shortcut for snapping apps to top or to the bottom of the screen or maximizes
mercredi 14 octobre 2015
What Is Power Query In Microsoft Excel?
Do you spend a lot of time building dashboards and reports in
Excel?. Do they take a lot of time and effort to repeat the same task
over and over again? It sounds like you could really benefit from using
Power Query. This article will walk you through this Add In for Excel
explaining what it is and what it can do for you to free you to
concentrate on analyzing and gaining insights form your data.
It is part of Microsoft's Business Intelligence (BI) took kit or their Power BI along with Power Pivot, Power View and also Power Map. This powerful Add In can be used to extract, clean, transform and aggregate data from many data sources. It can load the result of the query directly into the Excel worksheet or load it into the Excel Data Model.
Power Query needs to be downloaded and installed after Excel has been installed on your machine. If you do not see the Power Query Tab then you may have to manually enable the Add In.
There are a few restrictions installing it on your PC. You will need Windows Vista or later if you want to use it on a PC and Windows 2008 or later if installing on a server. Be sure to choose the correct version, 32bit or 64bit depending on which version of Excel you are running and finally you will need.NET 3.5 Service Pack 1 and Internet Explorer 9 or later. You will automatically be notified by the Power Query Tab lighting up if an update or a new version is available for you to download.
Power Query will be available for you if you have one of the following products
In essence Power Query allows you to connect to a variety of data sources, extract the data really quick and easily. You then can define a series of repeatable steps to clean and filter the data all before it even gets into Excel.
These repeatable steps are the 'query' part of Power Query and are carried out in a specific order. These steps are defined in it's own expression language known as 'M'. This language is nothing like Excel formulas, functions or even VBA, but unless you are a programmer (and interested in the coding) you probably will find you do not have to go near the coding or write any code yourself to carry out any activities in Power Query.
Power Query will probably be the first component part of the BI suite you use as normally the first part of building reports and dashboards is collecting the data, cleansing and aggregating in readiness for analysis.
It is part of Microsoft's Business Intelligence (BI) took kit or their Power BI along with Power Pivot, Power View and also Power Map. This powerful Add In can be used to extract, clean, transform and aggregate data from many data sources. It can load the result of the query directly into the Excel worksheet or load it into the Excel Data Model.
Power Query needs to be downloaded and installed after Excel has been installed on your machine. If you do not see the Power Query Tab then you may have to manually enable the Add In.
There are a few restrictions installing it on your PC. You will need Windows Vista or later if you want to use it on a PC and Windows 2008 or later if installing on a server. Be sure to choose the correct version, 32bit or 64bit depending on which version of Excel you are running and finally you will need.NET 3.5 Service Pack 1 and Internet Explorer 9 or later. You will automatically be notified by the Power Query Tab lighting up if an update or a new version is available for you to download.
Power Query will be available for you if you have one of the following products
- Excel 2013 standalone version
- Office 2013 Professional Plus Licence for your desktop
- An office 365 subscription that give you access to the Office 2013 Professional Plus desktop tools.
In essence Power Query allows you to connect to a variety of data sources, extract the data really quick and easily. You then can define a series of repeatable steps to clean and filter the data all before it even gets into Excel.
These repeatable steps are the 'query' part of Power Query and are carried out in a specific order. These steps are defined in it's own expression language known as 'M'. This language is nothing like Excel formulas, functions or even VBA, but unless you are a programmer (and interested in the coding) you probably will find you do not have to go near the coding or write any code yourself to carry out any activities in Power Query.
Power Query will probably be the first component part of the BI suite you use as normally the first part of building reports and dashboards is collecting the data, cleansing and aggregating in readiness for analysis.
samedi 10 octobre 2015
How To Keep Your Computer Clean With CCleaner
How can I keep my computer clean and tidy?
When we are asked by friends and family how can they keep their computer clean, the one tool we always recommend is CCleaner. CCleaner differs from antivirus tools as it designed to keep your computer tidy - think Jacques from Finding Nemo!
CCleaner will search through your computer and clear out all of the files that have been created when you surf the internet or install software. The majority of these files are benign and pose no threat to you, but they do take up space on your computer so let CCleaner remove them for you. CCleaner will not delete documents and photos from your desktop of the common document folders.
CCleaner will work on Windows; IOS (Apple) and Android mobiles.
Tell me more about CCleaner and what it can do for me!
When you open CCleaner, you will immediately see an 'Analyse' button which when pressed, CCleaner will calculate how much space can be recovered from deleting temporary system files. Once you are happy, press the 'Run Cleaner' button and all will be removed from your system. NOTE - if you have an internet browser such as Internet Explorer or Chrome open while you run the CCleaner tool, you will be asked to close the browser to allow the files to be removed.
Under the 'Tools' button (the spanner icon), you will find some very useful tools that you may, depending on your technical knowledge or confidence,
Uninstall - Click on Uninstall and CCleaner will show you all the different programs that have been installed on your machine and when this was installed. Some of the very common names you may wish to look for and remove include:
Delta Search
MyWebSearch Toolbar
If you do stumble across a program name that you would like to remove, click on the program name and select the 'Uninstall' button on the top right of the CCleaner screen.
Startup - This is a great feature, but you will need to understand what it is you are doing before pressing any buttons in here. Startup, as the name suggests, will list all the software that will start when your computer starts; web browser(s) and Scheduled Tasks. It is very likely that when you click on the Windows tab you will see a substantial list of names of software that starts each time your Windows computer starts. You can disable software by selecting it and pressing the 'Disable' button. We will not be advising which you should or shouldn't disable as each computer is very different.
When you click on the 'Scheduled Tasks' within Startup, this is where you will get a good feel as to whether or not your computer is running malicious software. The individuals or organisations that produce malicious software often use your computer to schedule the infection to run at certain times, and CCleaner will help you see this. Again we cannot advise you which to disable as each computer will have different tasks running depending on the software you have running. One to look out for though will be listed as just "At1" although the numerical digit may differ from one; if you have this please backup all your precious documents and photos then run antivirus.
We strongly suggest that you do not use the 'Registry fix' tool with the CCleaner software unless you are very competent system user and you have a full backup of your data.
Like most software tools, CCleaner also offers a 'Pro' version of the software that comes with a charge. The Pro version will offer you support via the Piriform (the people behind CCleaner) and the software will automatically update itself. The free version will notify you when an update is released, but you will need to visit their website and download the latest version.
BIG NOTE - CCleaner is a tried and tested software that is a must have but I would like to say we cannot be held responsible for any system issues or data loss as a result of running this or any other software we recommend.
When we are asked by friends and family how can they keep their computer clean, the one tool we always recommend is CCleaner. CCleaner differs from antivirus tools as it designed to keep your computer tidy - think Jacques from Finding Nemo!
CCleaner will search through your computer and clear out all of the files that have been created when you surf the internet or install software. The majority of these files are benign and pose no threat to you, but they do take up space on your computer so let CCleaner remove them for you. CCleaner will not delete documents and photos from your desktop of the common document folders.
CCleaner will work on Windows; IOS (Apple) and Android mobiles.
Tell me more about CCleaner and what it can do for me!
When you open CCleaner, you will immediately see an 'Analyse' button which when pressed, CCleaner will calculate how much space can be recovered from deleting temporary system files. Once you are happy, press the 'Run Cleaner' button and all will be removed from your system. NOTE - if you have an internet browser such as Internet Explorer or Chrome open while you run the CCleaner tool, you will be asked to close the browser to allow the files to be removed.
Under the 'Tools' button (the spanner icon), you will find some very useful tools that you may, depending on your technical knowledge or confidence,
Uninstall - Click on Uninstall and CCleaner will show you all the different programs that have been installed on your machine and when this was installed. Some of the very common names you may wish to look for and remove include:
Delta Search
MyWebSearch Toolbar
If you do stumble across a program name that you would like to remove, click on the program name and select the 'Uninstall' button on the top right of the CCleaner screen.
Startup - This is a great feature, but you will need to understand what it is you are doing before pressing any buttons in here. Startup, as the name suggests, will list all the software that will start when your computer starts; web browser(s) and Scheduled Tasks. It is very likely that when you click on the Windows tab you will see a substantial list of names of software that starts each time your Windows computer starts. You can disable software by selecting it and pressing the 'Disable' button. We will not be advising which you should or shouldn't disable as each computer is very different.
When you click on the 'Scheduled Tasks' within Startup, this is where you will get a good feel as to whether or not your computer is running malicious software. The individuals or organisations that produce malicious software often use your computer to schedule the infection to run at certain times, and CCleaner will help you see this. Again we cannot advise you which to disable as each computer will have different tasks running depending on the software you have running. One to look out for though will be listed as just "At1" although the numerical digit may differ from one; if you have this please backup all your precious documents and photos then run antivirus.
We strongly suggest that you do not use the 'Registry fix' tool with the CCleaner software unless you are very competent system user and you have a full backup of your data.
Like most software tools, CCleaner also offers a 'Pro' version of the software that comes with a charge. The Pro version will offer you support via the Piriform (the people behind CCleaner) and the software will automatically update itself. The free version will notify you when an update is released, but you will need to visit their website and download the latest version.
BIG NOTE - CCleaner is a tried and tested software that is a must have but I would like to say we cannot be held responsible for any system issues or data loss as a result of running this or any other software we recommend.
vendredi 2 octobre 2015
How Do I Remove A Virus From My Computer?
How do I remove a virus from my computer for free?
Firstly - What is a computer virus and how do I get rid of it?
If I had a pound for every time I have been asked "How do I get rid of a computer virus?" I would be living on a small desert island sipping a cold one!
I will tell you what you need to know and what you need to do to ensure you and your family are better protected from viruses. If your computer is already infected, the best tools to remove them.
If there are any technical words that you are unclear on, I have a created a small glossary at the bottom of this article to help you out.
What is a computer virus?
A computer virus is a piece of software installed on your machine without your consent and can possess a variety of behaviours from slowing your machines performance to potentially destroying all your data, including those treasured family photos. While the world has an infatuation with the word 'virus' other names you may hear include Trojans; Bots; Adware; Browser Hijackers and more frequently now, Ransomware. Viruses and the names I just listed are all members of the same nasty software family called 'Malware'. Confused? Check the glossary at the bottom of this post for a summary on each of the terms.
There are many software tools on the internet specially produced to detect and neutralise viruses and restore your system back to its pre-infection performance level - and the best bit is some of the good ones are FREE! You do not need to pay that £60 a year subscription for the software that comes preinstalled on many computers and expires after a year!
The companies that write these tools have a monumental task trying to produce a 'fix' for every virus. There is something like 85,000 new viruses released to the world each day, so there is no way they can keep up, and some tools can detect a virus that others may not identify. I always have two antivirus tools installed and up this to three if I am removing a virus for a friend or relative.
How do I know if my computer is infected?
Some clear signs that your computer is infected include:
Your system running much slower than usual
Lots of annoying pop-ups
Or the most likely - random websites opening
But sometimes there are no symptoms at all - these are the sneaky ones!
It is always recommended that you install a good antivirus tool and ensure it's 'signatures' are kept up to date. If you opt for the paid version of an antivirus tool you can set scheduled and allow the scans to run at your preferred times.
How did my computer become infected?
This can be very difficult to diagnose, but the common forms of infection are:
Clicking on a malicious 'advert' while browsing the internet
Opening a malicious email attachment
An infected USB stick - this is now so common.
Downloading music or films from dodgy sources
The best tips to keep yourself protected are:
Always keep your operating system i.e. Windows, up-to-date. The companies that developed the OS - short for the operating system spend a vast amount of time writing 'patches' to close vulnerabilities in their software. Always ensure you keep your system updated!
Always keep your wits about you when you are online and never click on an advert or pop-up if it is not from a trusted source. If in doubt - ignore it. Here are some examples of malicious adverts that if pressed, are a sure way to pick up an infection!
Unless you know the sender of an e-mail, never open the attachment! Many of the big email companies provide a certain level of protection but with an estimated 92% of all global mail being either Spam or virus-related, the companies have an uphill challenge. If in doubt - delete it!
Infected USB sticks are a nightmare. You carry them with you from machine to machine and happily plug them into a printer in the supermarket and then the computer at the internet café - they transfer viruses as quickly as head lice in a classroom! Always run a full scan of a USB stick when you have used this on another machine. Que? Not sure what I mean? Read my article here on how to do this.
Downloading music and films from the internet is in short, asking for trouble unless it is from one of the major players that charge a premium. Free films from a Torrent site may seem like a great idea, but you do run the risk of paying a quite hefty emotional price if you lose your files as a result.
How can I remove a virus?
To delete a virus, you are going to need some software. There are many antivirus tools out there, but some are quite frankly hopeless. I have spent many years trialing and testing a variety of products and return to a few time and time again - and they are free!
1) Malwarebytes - Free!
The best free product is Malwarebytes. The people behind Malwarebytes also offer a premium product that is chargeable but for now we will concentrate on the free version.
2) SuperAntiSpyware - Free!
This product is another lifesaver and has some excellent functionality and little extra features that make this product as a must. The team behind this software do have a premium version that is available for about £30.
3) FreeAVG - Free!
This is a fantastic product that offers so much more than just a tool to remove an infection. I recommend to my friends and family they keep this running as it also scans websites as you browse them to detect viruses embedded on the site.
A warning though before you go and run ANY antivirus tool...
Sometimes Malware, including viruses, can be so deeply rooted within your computer files that when the infections are cleaned, your computer may suffer adverse effects and data may be lost. I strongly suggest you backup and critical files you can access on a clean USB stick before you run any virus removal tool. I have used these tools many times but cannot be held responsible for any loss of files as a result of running them. You can purchase a good sized USB external drive to backup all your precious documents from online resellers like Amazon. Western Digital are an excellent brand that I recommend. Oh, and when you next plug this USB drive into a computer, make sure you scan it for viruses!
Useful Glossary (These may even impress your friends and family when you drop them in a conversation!)
Adware - Short for advertising-supported software. Adware in the context we are discussing here is pop-up advertisements that appear on your computer screen trying to sell you products. When you close one, you are usually greeted with many more!
Antivirus - A piece of software that scans your computer files to detect and remove infected files.
Bot - Derives from the word robot. A bot is a computer that has been infected and can be remotely controlled by the hacker to perform tasks on their behalf.
Browser - This is the program you use to browse the internet. The most common browsers are Safari if you are an Apple MAC user or Chrome, Firefox and even Internet Explorer if you are a Windows user. Read my article on browsers here - especially if you are using Internet Explorer!
Browser hijacking - So you now know what a browser is. A very common form of malware is Browser Hijackers. Hijackers change your internet search settings and redirect you to the pages they want you to see.
Embedded - Some websites have viruses hid within them which are copied or 'downloaded' to your computer while browsing - this is known as embedding. An excellent malware tool can detect these for you and prevent the infection from occurring.
Fix - A piece of software the remediates or neutralises an infection.
Full Scan - Within most antivirus tools, you have options to scan your entire files contents for infected files not just the most common locations.
Malware - Short for malicious software. Malware is a piece of software designed to disrupt the operation of a computer device. Malware comes in the forms of viruses; Trojans; worms; spyware; adware and ransomware.
Pop-ups - Small windows or adverts that appear 'on top' of your web browser.
Phishing - Pronounced fishing, is an illegal attempt to try and obtain sensitive data such as credit card details or passwords via emails and sites masquerading as legitimate companies. The fraudster then reuses the details captured for their gain.
Preinstalled - Software installed by the manufacturer and is present when you first switch on your device.
Ransomware - A piece of software that once installed, lock or 'encrypts' your files and will only provide you with access in return for a fee.
Patches - A small piece of computer code designed to address a specific issue identified within a piece of software.
Safe Mode - A very restricted version of Microsoft Windows that can be used to access a system encountering issues when starting in the usual manner.
Signatures - A small computer file that contains details of a specific computer virus to allow it to be detected on an infected machine.
Software - A program on a computer that allows a user to complete a set of actions or instructions.
Spam - Unsolicited emails are often containing advertisements. Want to see some spam? Check your email! More than 90% of the global emails are spam.
Tools - Not the DIY type! A piece of software that allows a task to be performed i.e. removal of a virus.
Torrent - A file sharing platform that allow files such as movies to be shared or downloaded.
Trojan - A piece of malware that has an alternative motive to what is advertised. Many 'trojans' allow for your computer to be remotely controlled or accessed by a hacker.
Firstly - What is a computer virus and how do I get rid of it?
If I had a pound for every time I have been asked "How do I get rid of a computer virus?" I would be living on a small desert island sipping a cold one!
I will tell you what you need to know and what you need to do to ensure you and your family are better protected from viruses. If your computer is already infected, the best tools to remove them.
If there are any technical words that you are unclear on, I have a created a small glossary at the bottom of this article to help you out.
What is a computer virus?
A computer virus is a piece of software installed on your machine without your consent and can possess a variety of behaviours from slowing your machines performance to potentially destroying all your data, including those treasured family photos. While the world has an infatuation with the word 'virus' other names you may hear include Trojans; Bots; Adware; Browser Hijackers and more frequently now, Ransomware. Viruses and the names I just listed are all members of the same nasty software family called 'Malware'. Confused? Check the glossary at the bottom of this post for a summary on each of the terms.
There are many software tools on the internet specially produced to detect and neutralise viruses and restore your system back to its pre-infection performance level - and the best bit is some of the good ones are FREE! You do not need to pay that £60 a year subscription for the software that comes preinstalled on many computers and expires after a year!
The companies that write these tools have a monumental task trying to produce a 'fix' for every virus. There is something like 85,000 new viruses released to the world each day, so there is no way they can keep up, and some tools can detect a virus that others may not identify. I always have two antivirus tools installed and up this to three if I am removing a virus for a friend or relative.
How do I know if my computer is infected?
Some clear signs that your computer is infected include:
Your system running much slower than usual
Lots of annoying pop-ups
Or the most likely - random websites opening
But sometimes there are no symptoms at all - these are the sneaky ones!
It is always recommended that you install a good antivirus tool and ensure it's 'signatures' are kept up to date. If you opt for the paid version of an antivirus tool you can set scheduled and allow the scans to run at your preferred times.
How did my computer become infected?
This can be very difficult to diagnose, but the common forms of infection are:
Clicking on a malicious 'advert' while browsing the internet
Opening a malicious email attachment
An infected USB stick - this is now so common.
Downloading music or films from dodgy sources
The best tips to keep yourself protected are:
Always keep your operating system i.e. Windows, up-to-date. The companies that developed the OS - short for the operating system spend a vast amount of time writing 'patches' to close vulnerabilities in their software. Always ensure you keep your system updated!
Always keep your wits about you when you are online and never click on an advert or pop-up if it is not from a trusted source. If in doubt - ignore it. Here are some examples of malicious adverts that if pressed, are a sure way to pick up an infection!
Unless you know the sender of an e-mail, never open the attachment! Many of the big email companies provide a certain level of protection but with an estimated 92% of all global mail being either Spam or virus-related, the companies have an uphill challenge. If in doubt - delete it!
Infected USB sticks are a nightmare. You carry them with you from machine to machine and happily plug them into a printer in the supermarket and then the computer at the internet café - they transfer viruses as quickly as head lice in a classroom! Always run a full scan of a USB stick when you have used this on another machine. Que? Not sure what I mean? Read my article here on how to do this.
Downloading music and films from the internet is in short, asking for trouble unless it is from one of the major players that charge a premium. Free films from a Torrent site may seem like a great idea, but you do run the risk of paying a quite hefty emotional price if you lose your files as a result.
How can I remove a virus?
To delete a virus, you are going to need some software. There are many antivirus tools out there, but some are quite frankly hopeless. I have spent many years trialing and testing a variety of products and return to a few time and time again - and they are free!
1) Malwarebytes - Free!
The best free product is Malwarebytes. The people behind Malwarebytes also offer a premium product that is chargeable but for now we will concentrate on the free version.
2) SuperAntiSpyware - Free!
This product is another lifesaver and has some excellent functionality and little extra features that make this product as a must. The team behind this software do have a premium version that is available for about £30.
3) FreeAVG - Free!
This is a fantastic product that offers so much more than just a tool to remove an infection. I recommend to my friends and family they keep this running as it also scans websites as you browse them to detect viruses embedded on the site.
A warning though before you go and run ANY antivirus tool...
Sometimes Malware, including viruses, can be so deeply rooted within your computer files that when the infections are cleaned, your computer may suffer adverse effects and data may be lost. I strongly suggest you backup and critical files you can access on a clean USB stick before you run any virus removal tool. I have used these tools many times but cannot be held responsible for any loss of files as a result of running them. You can purchase a good sized USB external drive to backup all your precious documents from online resellers like Amazon. Western Digital are an excellent brand that I recommend. Oh, and when you next plug this USB drive into a computer, make sure you scan it for viruses!
Useful Glossary (These may even impress your friends and family when you drop them in a conversation!)
Adware - Short for advertising-supported software. Adware in the context we are discussing here is pop-up advertisements that appear on your computer screen trying to sell you products. When you close one, you are usually greeted with many more!
Antivirus - A piece of software that scans your computer files to detect and remove infected files.
Bot - Derives from the word robot. A bot is a computer that has been infected and can be remotely controlled by the hacker to perform tasks on their behalf.
Browser - This is the program you use to browse the internet. The most common browsers are Safari if you are an Apple MAC user or Chrome, Firefox and even Internet Explorer if you are a Windows user. Read my article on browsers here - especially if you are using Internet Explorer!
Browser hijacking - So you now know what a browser is. A very common form of malware is Browser Hijackers. Hijackers change your internet search settings and redirect you to the pages they want you to see.
Embedded - Some websites have viruses hid within them which are copied or 'downloaded' to your computer while browsing - this is known as embedding. An excellent malware tool can detect these for you and prevent the infection from occurring.
Fix - A piece of software the remediates or neutralises an infection.
Full Scan - Within most antivirus tools, you have options to scan your entire files contents for infected files not just the most common locations.
Malware - Short for malicious software. Malware is a piece of software designed to disrupt the operation of a computer device. Malware comes in the forms of viruses; Trojans; worms; spyware; adware and ransomware.
Pop-ups - Small windows or adverts that appear 'on top' of your web browser.
Phishing - Pronounced fishing, is an illegal attempt to try and obtain sensitive data such as credit card details or passwords via emails and sites masquerading as legitimate companies. The fraudster then reuses the details captured for their gain.
Preinstalled - Software installed by the manufacturer and is present when you first switch on your device.
Ransomware - A piece of software that once installed, lock or 'encrypts' your files and will only provide you with access in return for a fee.
Patches - A small piece of computer code designed to address a specific issue identified within a piece of software.
Safe Mode - A very restricted version of Microsoft Windows that can be used to access a system encountering issues when starting in the usual manner.
Signatures - A small computer file that contains details of a specific computer virus to allow it to be detected on an infected machine.
Software - A program on a computer that allows a user to complete a set of actions or instructions.
Spam - Unsolicited emails are often containing advertisements. Want to see some spam? Check your email! More than 90% of the global emails are spam.
Tools - Not the DIY type! A piece of software that allows a task to be performed i.e. removal of a virus.
Torrent - A file sharing platform that allow files such as movies to be shared or downloaded.
Trojan - A piece of malware that has an alternative motive to what is advertised. Many 'trojans' allow for your computer to be remotely controlled or accessed by a hacker.
lundi 28 septembre 2015
What Is Custom Software Development and How to Get the Best Out Of It
In today's world, businesses can be different in a lot of ways
and being unique is one key to success. However, if you're the one
running the business, the uniqueness can also be a disadvantage for you
when looking for tools to manage it better.
That's where software can help you achieve success faster, by providing help tailored to your needs.
What is Custom Software Development?
Custom Software Development is a process if designing a tool (software) to assist you with your specific needs for your business or organization. This is designed to precisely provide you the service you need instead of making off the shelf or pre-made software work for you, with little or no flexibility.
Why Should I Use Custom Software?
Having software designed to give you the exact solutions your company needs can enhance productivity. You can get a lot more things done in less time with high accuracy. With technology, you don't need to adjust yourself to it, it adjusts to you. You won't have to continuously modify it (which is not always available with off the shelf software, anyway) to make it work exactly how you want it.
How to Get the Best Out of It?
Your Custom Software is only as good as your chosen developer. Even if your specifications are discussed thoroughly, without expertise, everything can go wrong. That said, it's wise to get to know your developer thoroughly. Discuss their experience, their skills, and ask for their portfolio. Also, don't forget to ask for references. But that's just the basics.
With all these technology around us, people are expecting us to provide a more efficient service, faster booking, and delivery, and be able to do so faster. With a custom software for your company, cause or product functions, you can run your daily operations more efficiently and accurate while being organized.
Running your business might be costing you way too much compared to using a custom software program. While technology may seem like bigger initial investment, this software can save you more in the long run helping you avoid excessive use of papers, unjustifiable labor expenses for employee tasks that can be done by a custom software, and even lost customers due to failure to meet their needs.
Growing your business is all you want, but it would be hard to achieve it without investing on valuable items that can help us through the goal. Use technology as a tool to move you closer to your dreams, and technology will also guide you in achieving success.
That's where software can help you achieve success faster, by providing help tailored to your needs.
What is Custom Software Development?
Custom Software Development is a process if designing a tool (software) to assist you with your specific needs for your business or organization. This is designed to precisely provide you the service you need instead of making off the shelf or pre-made software work for you, with little or no flexibility.
Why Should I Use Custom Software?
Having software designed to give you the exact solutions your company needs can enhance productivity. You can get a lot more things done in less time with high accuracy. With technology, you don't need to adjust yourself to it, it adjusts to you. You won't have to continuously modify it (which is not always available with off the shelf software, anyway) to make it work exactly how you want it.
How to Get the Best Out of It?
Your Custom Software is only as good as your chosen developer. Even if your specifications are discussed thoroughly, without expertise, everything can go wrong. That said, it's wise to get to know your developer thoroughly. Discuss their experience, their skills, and ask for their portfolio. Also, don't forget to ask for references. But that's just the basics.
With all these technology around us, people are expecting us to provide a more efficient service, faster booking, and delivery, and be able to do so faster. With a custom software for your company, cause or product functions, you can run your daily operations more efficiently and accurate while being organized.
Running your business might be costing you way too much compared to using a custom software program. While technology may seem like bigger initial investment, this software can save you more in the long run helping you avoid excessive use of papers, unjustifiable labor expenses for employee tasks that can be done by a custom software, and even lost customers due to failure to meet their needs.
Growing your business is all you want, but it would be hard to achieve it without investing on valuable items that can help us through the goal. Use technology as a tool to move you closer to your dreams, and technology will also guide you in achieving success.
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