MakeUseOf.com: “Three Live CD Antivirus Scanners You Can Try When Windows Won’t Start” plus 14 more |  |
- Three Live CD Antivirus Scanners You Can Try When Windows Won’t Start
- How To Create Attractive Professional Looking Charts Using The Chart Tools Of MS Word 2010
- StumbleUpon Redesigns & Launches Its iPad App [News]
- Cool Websites and Tools [July 12th]
- The 16 Toughest Tech Questions [MakeUseOf Answers]
- Various Little Known Quality Resources For Your Next Multimedia Project
- How To Run Multiple Skype Accounts With Multi Skype Launcher [Windows]
- ReadNow Brings Instapaper & Read-It-Later To A Sleek Mac Interface [Mac 10.6+]
- Hot Tech Deals – OCZ Vertex 2 120GB SSD for $144.99 + more
- 5 Cool Word Games You Can Play On Google Chrome & Test Your Language Skills
- Expand Your Desktop Workspace With Dexpot – Cool Virtual Desktop Software [Windows]
- CoRD – A Remote Desktop Client To Manage Your Windows PCs [Mac]
- How To Downgrade Firefox Or Internet Explorer To A Previous Version
- Gs & LTEs: Understanding Mobile Broadband [Technology Explained]
- World’s First Google eBooks Reader To Hit Store Shelves July 17th [News]
| Three Live CD Antivirus Scanners You Can Try When Windows Won’t Start Posted: 13 Jul 2011 09:31 AM PDT
Recently I wrote the manual 50 Cool Uses For Live CDs. In this manual I pointed out a variety of different disks made specifically for scanning for viruses. Five such tools are highlighted in the manual; find out about three of them below. Be sure to download the manual to read about the rest! BitDefenderPerhaps the best-known live virus scanner, the BitDefender live CD removes viruses when all else fails. This tool, which uses the same definitions that power BitDefender’s desktop scanner, runs on a version of Xubuntu.
Start the CD, update your virus definitions, run a scan. It’s simple to use, so get started. There are a number of other applications included on this disk, so it’s worth exploring a little bit. The disk also has access to Ubuntu’s repositories, so you can also install any of the thousands of programs if necessary. Read more about BitDefender’s Live CD. KasperskyKnown for it’s excellent scanning on the desktop, Kaspersky also comes in live CD form. In some ways this tool is less straightforward than BitDefender; you’ll need to remember to update yourself instead of being prompted, for example. Still, this is a well done tool that can catch a lot of malware and clean it up.
There’s not a lot on this disk besides the virus scanner, but what else do you need? Read more about the Kaspersky Rescue CD. AVGLike AVG, and trust its protection? You should check out the AVG live CD. Unlike the above tools, AVG’s live environment does not include a GUI. Instead, you’ll find a text-based interface:
Don’t be frightened, it’s easy to use. Just use the arrow keys to make your selection. Run a scan, then clean up any malware you find. You’ll want to run an update first, of course. It’s also worth checking out the “Utilities” section of this disk, as it contains a bunch of useful tools including a file browser (“Midnight Commander”) and a program for recovering deleted data. You can read more about this CD, and find a download on AVG’s official Rescue CD page. ConclusionThere you have it, three virus scanners you can run when Windows won’t boot. You can find more such tools, and a lot of information about live CDs, in our live CD guide, so be sure to check it out. Avira and Panda’s live environments are both linked too. Oh, and a tip – you can combine all of these tools, and many more, onto a single flash drive using YUMI, a tool for booting multiple live CDs from one USB disk. Do you have any other suggestions? If so, please leave them in the comments below. I love discovering new tools. Three Live CD Antivirus Scanners You Can Try When Windows Won’t Start is a post from: MakeUseOf No tags for this post.Similar articles:
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| How To Create Attractive Professional Looking Charts Using The Chart Tools Of MS Word 2010 Posted: 13 Jul 2011 08:31 AM PDT
Charts, as an illustrated way of showing boring facts and figures, has always helped to embellish professional Word documents. Charts help readers compare data and understand trends with a glance. Charts are especially useful as supporting arguments to the underlying text that can easily be ignored. Charts are more in-your-face. But how do you create that impact with a well-designed chart? Let MS Word 2010 and its Chart tools show you the way. OverviewThe automated chart feature uses data stored in a MS Excel 2010 file to plot a chart in a MS Word 2010 document. Then you can modify the style, color, and layout of the chart as you please in MS Word. You need MS Excel 2010 to be installed in your system as both the Office programs will be working together. (If you don't have MS Excel 2010 installed, Microsoft Graph will be called up.)The good news is that you don't need to know how to work on MS Excel. Inserting a Chart in a Document1. Click on the Insert tab on the Ribbon. The Chart feature lies on the Illustration group.
2. Clicking on the button opens up the Insert Chart dialog box where you can see the different types of charts you can choose from. The screen tips give you the chart names. The choice of the chart type will of course depend on how you want to portray your data. Some charts lend themselves well to specific kinds of data. Check out the available chart types on MS Word.
3. When you pick a chart type and press on OK, two things happen – Microsoft Excel 2010 opens up with some sample data and a sample chart is inserted in your Word document.
4. Entering your own data in place of the sample data in the Excel worksheet modifies the chart as the Excel worksheet is linked to the chart in the Word document. When you have entered all your data, you can close Excel. If you want to edit some more, click on the Edit Data button on the Chart Tools (or right click on the chart and select Edit Data).
Stylizing Your Chart with Chart Tools
Chart Tools gives you three extra tabs to change the appearance of your basic chart. You can free your creativity with the Design, Layout, and Format tabs. If you don’t see the Chart Tools, click anywhere on the chart to make it appear. The design options before you are too many to mention here. Here are a few that allow me to make a humdrum chart look rich. Change the Chart Type if you feel that the original isn't cutting it. Clicking anywhere on the chart area you can bring you can bring up the dialog that lets you apply effects to the chart area as a whole.
Chart Layout lets you change the orientation of the data and the Layout tab under Chart Tools gives you lot more to customize with.
The Format tools similar allow you to select each individual element from the dropdown and customize it with styles, color, and position.
The sheer number of design variations enables you to create rich aesthetically designed charts. The automated features also allow for quick design changes and customization whenever you wish. The underlying data stays the same and it's only the representation that changes according to the style applied. As a final step, place and align the chart at the right place in your document. Explore all the automated features of the chart tool in MS Word 2010 and let us know your take on it. Do you think it's a great enabler for your MS Word and MS Office tasks? Hey Facebookers, make sure to join MakeUseOf on Facebook and get access to some exclusve stuff. Over 105,000 fans already! How To Create Attractive Professional Looking Charts Using The Chart Tools Of MS Word 2010 is a post from: MakeUseOf More articles about: charts, documents, microsoft office, microsoft word, office workerSimilar articles:
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| StumbleUpon Redesigns & Launches Its iPad App [News] Posted: 13 Jul 2011 07:31 AM PDT
In the same fashion, you can move forward and backwards, from one “stumbled upon” article to the next, by swiping a page left or right. This is easier and faster perhaps than hitting the Stumble! button at the top-left of the each page. Unfortunately however, you must move your hand to the top of the page to vote up or down an article. It would be great if you could simply three-finger tap a page to “Like it,” and two-finger tap to “Dislike it.”
The Star button at the bottom of the app allows you to quickly access your list of “Liked” articles. While you’re viewing a page, you can easily switch modes, say from Friends to Photos, by tapping the Mode button at the top of the app. You can also see what others have liked and may have commented on while you explore. Similar to the prior version of Stumbleupon, you can share selected articles via email, Facebook, Twitter, Google Reader, etc.
The new version is designed for both iPad and the iPhone, running iOS 3.0 or later. Source : Stumbleupon Blog Follow MakeUseOf on Twitter. Includes cool extras. StumbleUpon Redesigns & Launches Its iPad App [News] is a post from: MakeUseOf More articles about: ipad apps, news, stumbleuponSimilar articles:
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| Cool Websites and Tools [July 12th] Posted: 12 Jul 2011 08:31 PM PDT
These are just half of the websites that we discovered in the last couple of days. If you want us to send you daily round-ups of all cool websites we come across, leave your email here. Or follow us via RSS feed. Hey Facebookers, make sure to join MakeUseOf on Facebook and get access to some exclusve stuff. Over 105,000 fans already! Cool Websites and Tools [July 12th] is a post from: MakeUseOf More articles about: cool web appsSimilar articles:
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| The 16 Toughest Tech Questions [MakeUseOf Answers] Posted: 12 Jul 2011 06:31 PM PDT
Every Friday, the Best Answer of the Week is rewarded with $50 and two runners-up win $30 and $20, respectively. Every answer automatically enters the contest. Just make sure we can contact you in case you win. Please help us out with these questions:
For regular updates subscribe to the Answers RSS Feed. Need help? Ask A Question at MakeUseOf Answers. The 16 Toughest Tech Questions [MakeUseOf Answers] is a post from: MakeUseOf More articles about: answers, Q&A websites, tech support, troubleshootSimilar articles:
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| Various Little Known Quality Resources For Your Next Multimedia Project Posted: 12 Jul 2011 05:31 PM PDT
Today, MakeUseOf offers four little-known multimedia authoring tools for your next production. What we have here is the junk drawer of your virtual artistic toolshed, and whether you are a video-maker, a graphic designer, or an audio engineer, these sites are sure to help. MovietoolsMovietools is a rare gem that every video artist should know about. With an array of over 140 video loops consisting of backgrounds, virtual studios, lower thirds, and moving objects, you will never be at a loss for your next presentation.
File formats are only Windows Media Video files, so if you’re running a Mac OS, you might want to check out a free media converter. However, if you are willing to shell out a few extra bucks, you should look at the AVS Video Converter.
All files from Movietools are made in 848×480 for 16:9 scaling and 640×840 for 4:3 scaling. Also, the lower third and moving object loops have been pre-keyed for your video-editing software. The Freesound ProjectAs mentioned before by MakeUseOf, the Freesound Project is a collectively growing community that donates sound files for you to insert into your media project. With nearly 116,000 files to date, there is nearly an endless supply of royalty-free sound.
As a given, each file is under the Creative Commons 1.0 Sampling license, and credit is required for each sound creator. Also, each file comes in the format of the user’s choice, so again, it might be good to find a sound file converter such as AudioExpert if you plan on using this online tool seriously. Another little feature offered by Freesound is the Mootcher open-source programming library. This bit of open-source software allows you to write the FreeSound library into your own video or audio editing software.
One thing to keep in mind is that the Freesound Project focuses primarily on sound bits rather than music. It is possible that you will find music on here, but it is more likely to be a simple recording of a live performance at a parade or a festival of some sort. The Internet ArchiveTaking a cue from the Library of Alexandria, the Internet Archive is an attempt to digitally archive media files that includes moving images, sound files, photographs, texts, and pretty much anything that you can use to absorb information. That being said, it also offers a variety of media sources that can be used on your next project.
Not surprisingly, this site incorporates a great deal of downloadable media that is open to the public domain or is royalty-free. However, this is not to say that all of the media on this site is for you to put your hands on. Each file has its own specific license, and many of these incorporate Creative Commons. Make sure to check both the sidebar and the bottom half of each media page to find exactly what the creator or submitter allows. Some licenses are visible, but others are not.
Detonation FilmsWhether you want to add some explosive transitions to your PowerPoint speech or a few action-packed sequences to your latest video project, the pyromania boys at Detonation Films have enough napalm and shrapnel to satisfy the Michael Bay in all of us.
Detonation Films is the ultimate zone for stock video of explosions, rockets, bullet holes, and more. Although many of their videos are for sale, there are a whole lot of freebies for you to download.
Most videos utilize a simple black background which can be done away with using a luma or screening effect, but there are a few with chroma-key green and even pre-keyed clips to easily layer on top of your source video. In addition to their main site that is full of 4:3 video clips, there is also DetFilmsHD which offers a few pricier, yet sexier, hi-definition explosions.
ConclusionHopefully, these sites will aid you in your next big production whether it be a presentation at a conference, an audio mix, or the latest YouTube viral video. Visit them often, for they are constantly updating their material. What kind of other sources of free media do you know about? Have you ever used any of these sources before with your own projects? What types of projects have you made using them? Image credits: jppi Hey Facebookers, make sure to join MakeUseOf on Facebook and get access to some exclusve stuff. Over 105,000 fans already! Various Little Known Quality Resources For Your Next Multimedia Project is a post from: MakeUseOf More articles about: downloads, media, presentations, project, sounds, videosSimilar articles:
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| How To Run Multiple Skype Accounts With Multi Skype Launcher [Windows] Posted: 12 Jul 2011 04:31 PM PDT
At any rate, what would you do if you had multiple Skype accounts and wanted to log into them simultaneously? Before, that would require altering Program Files or installing multiple instances of Skype itself, but I’ve uncovered a much simpler way to accomplish this. What Is Multi Skype Launcher?Multi Skype Launcher is a free tool that allows you to run multiple Skype instances on one computer simultaneously. When you have multiple Skype accounts, running all of them at the same time can be tough. As I alluded to in the introduction, there are some workarounds for different versions of Windows, but using them isn’t really practical.
Furthermore, all information used by Multi Skype Launcher is completely secure, meaning that they do not collect any of your personal information, in case you were wondering. How Do I Get Started With Multi Skype Launcher?The first thing you’re going to want to do if you would like to install and run Multi Skype Launcher is head over to their website and download the app.
Once you install and run the application, you will see a simple home screen that will be used to launch your different Skype accounts. Click Add and enter your Skype credentials to add an account to the list. You can always edit/delete accounts after they’ve been added.
Once you’ve added all of the accounts you would like to run with Multi Skype Launcher, just highlight the ones you would like to run (one at a time) and click the Launch button. That’s it! Multi Skype Launcher does not require any advanced settings. You can launch as many accounts as your system can handle. Anything else?To use Multi Skype Launcher it’s best to be using Skype version 4 or higher and Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7. Also, while you’re adding accounts to Multi Skype Launcher you may notice the option to have them log in automatically once your computer starts.
If you've asked Multi Skype Launcher to start your Skype accounts when Windows starts, it is recommended that you deselect this option in Skype. In order to do that, just open your Skype window, click If you’d like to learn more about Skype, you can find out how Skype works here. How many Skype accounts do you have? Would you be interested in trying this software app out? Hey Facebookers, make sure to join MakeUseOf on Facebook and get access to some exclusve stuff. Over 105,000 fans already! How To Run Multiple Skype Accounts With Multi Skype Launcher [Windows] is a post from: MakeUseOf More articles about: chat, chat client, chat tips, launchers, Skype, video chatSimilar articles:
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| ReadNow Brings Instapaper & Read-It-Later To A Sleek Mac Interface [Mac 10.6+] Posted: 12 Jul 2011 02:31 PM PDT
But if anything could make these delayed reading services just a tiny bit better, it’s the thought of accessing those articles via a native Mac application. With a native app, there’s no need to log in when you use it and it looks great on your Mac. Thankfully, there is now such an app called ReadNow. We thought you might be interested, so here’s the details. Why Get ReadNow?This application is for you if you’re a Mac user who loves native applications, uses Read-It-Later or Instapaper to store articles for later reading, doesn’t want to log in repeatedly and wouldn’t mind a menu bar icon for easy access. To get an account for Read-It-Later or Instapaper, sign up directly with the service you prefer. Instapaper users will need to have a subscription with Instapaper in order for ReadNow to work. You can use the ReadNow application for both parts of the reading later process — easily adding articles via the application or reading them in the minimalist view later. As well as opening the articles for reading, you can also move, archive and edit the articles, depending on which service you choose. The pane for reading the articles is a clutter-free minimalist design, ensuring you read without the distractions of regular online articles. The article list comes in three different themes: light grey, yellow and dark grey.
ReadNow runs on Mac OS X 10.6+, costs US$3.99 from the Mac Appstore and is also available via the ReadNow website. Using ReadNowIt’s so easy to use ReadNow. The best feature is being able to add a new article by a number of useful and easy methods:
Arrow keys can be used to navigate the articles and there’s a keyboard shortcut to launch ReadNow.
ReadNow can also allow you to save the text and images of each article for offline reading. You can choose whether to archive your articles automatically or manually. Articles can also be tagged and “liked” for future access easily using ReadNow.
Do you prefer to use Read-It-Later or Instapaper? Will you be giving ReadNow a try? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments! Hey Facebookers, make sure to join MakeUseOf on Facebook and get access to some exclusve stuff. Over 105,000 fans already! ReadNow Brings Instapaper & Read-It-Later To A Sleek Mac Interface [Mac 10.6+] is a post from: MakeUseOf More articles about: browsing tools, desktop client, readingSimilar articles:
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| Hot Tech Deals – OCZ Vertex 2 120GB SSD for $144.99 + more Posted: 12 Jul 2011 01:30 PM PDT
For more fresh hot deals, visit our Hot Tech Deals page, which is constantly updated.
Hot Tech Deals – OCZ Vertex 2 120GB SSD for $144.99 + more is a post from: MakeUseOf More articles about: dealsSimilar articles:
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| 5 Cool Word Games You Can Play On Google Chrome & Test Your Language Skills Posted: 12 Jul 2011 12:31 PM PDT
For the purpose of this article, let's take up the cause of language and words. Playing word games (and falling in love with them) starts with the normal bouts of Scrabble and crosswords. If you fall in love with words, rest assured you won't stutter with the language. Word games help to continue that love affair with the language. Let's combine English, learning, fun, and games and go over to Google Chrome's Web Store to checkout some browser games to pass time and jiggle our brains too. Here are five free, cool word games you can play on Google Chrome. Qbox – Wisdom of the Ages
Do you like quotations and wisdom speak from the famous and wise? Then you would love to wade through nearly 1500 of them arranged according to three time periods – Old Times, Middle Ages, Modern Times. It is very challenging because the quote is shuffled and you have to beat the clock. Gameplay involves clicking on two letters positioned in the same column and building up the quote. You can use hints, but you lose points. There are bonus points for completing some words; and there are 'locked tiles' too which need to be unlocked before you can go forward. This game can make you tear your hair out. Word Search Puzzle
The word search game is one of the more popular ones you can find in the Google Web Store. The simplicity of the game hides the difficulty – search for hidden words between letters of the alphabet. Each game has 20 words from 1000+ words selected randomly in a list and you have to search them out. You can choose between two difficulty levels to start with. The advanced level places the hidden words in all directions. Semantic Wars
Semantic Wars is another guess-the-word game that you can play in Chrome. You have to guess letters of words from the given categories. Each correct word nets you some gold. Each error will decrease your limited wealth (or energy if you have no gold). Use your wealth wisely to train the 3 types of warriors and send them to enemy castles. With experience and victories, you open up new levels. Draw My Thing
This is a multi-player social word-guessing game with a twist. You have to draw something on a canvas and opponents have to guess what the word is from the drawing. Players take turns with their secret words in the form of drawings. The game is just right for kids as it helps to stimulate their creativity and make them adept with word associations. It's not so easy for adults also as word images are only limited by creativity. Great Big Fancy Word Game
This word game playable on the Chrome browser is definitely for kids. Helping out the kiddies are Pinky Dinky Doo, and their little brother Tyler. This is basically a learning game for kids, helping them along with new (and fancy) words. There are few more cool word games scattered around the Web Store. Start with these popular ones and tell us about the other cool Chrome based games you enjoy. Hey Facebookers, make sure to join MakeUseOf on Facebook and get access to some exclusve stuff. Over 105,000 fans already! 5 Cool Word Games You Can Play On Google Chrome & Test Your Language Skills is a post from: MakeUseOf More articles about: chrome extensions, fun, gaming tools, online games, vocabulary, wordsSimilar articles:
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| Expand Your Desktop Workspace With Dexpot – Cool Virtual Desktop Software [Windows] Posted: 12 Jul 2011 11:31 AM PDT
Dexpot is an established player in the Windows virtual desktop space – if you've ever looked for a virtual desktop software solution for Windows, you may well have come across it. It is under active development, with the latest version released on June 29th this year. There's also a portable version which you can take along on a USB stick. Out of The Box FunctionalityWhen you install and run Dexpot, you will instantly see a few subtle changes to your system. The first thing you may notice is that the application's taskbar icon provides instant access to four workspaces. It looks like this:
If you click on any of the alternate workspaces, all of your currently running tasks will instantly disappear off the taskbar. This can be a real “a-ha” moment when showing the app to someone – it's an instant demonstration of how it can radically alter your working style and unclutter your desktop. The next change you may notice off the bat is that Dexpot adds its own menu entry for the Window menu of every app running on your system:
This is one way you can instantly get a feel of Dexpot's power. The menu lets you do all sorts of operations with the window, not all related to other virtual desktops – you can set it as always on top, or minimize it to the tray, too. But obviously, using the menu on a day-to-day basis would not be the easiest way to enjoy Dexpot's power, so now would be a great time to dive into the configuration interface and find some keyboard shortcuts! Initial Configuration
As can be expected for such a mature app, Dexpot's configuration interface is chock-full of options, tweaks and settings. I won't take you through the whole interface (half the fun is exploring!) but let's look at some of the more common options. I like how Dexpot does not automatically set itself to start with Windows – that's very polite and un-intrusive. But if you're serious about using the app, you would definitely want to check the box that says Start with Windows. Also, if you're just getting started with this whole virtual desktop idea, four desktops (the default) may be too much. I changed mine to three – I have a dual-monitor system, so plenty of windows can fit onto a single desktop, and I think three should be enough for me. Speaking of dual monitors – a “desktop” includes both monitors. It's your entire workspace, however large it is. Now, let's get back to those keyboard shortcuts I promised. You can find a boatload of these under Controls:
As you can see, the default key for switching desktops is Alt+number (Alt+2 for desktop 2, and so on). And to send (move) a window to a different desktop, use Alt+Shift+number. You can also switch workspaces using the mouse, and Dexpot also offers a complex interface for configuring what happens when you interact with a window's title bar:
Bells & WhistlesThe last thing I'd like to discuss is Dexpot's optional plugins. Most of these are disabled by default, but they can add lots of functionality. For instance, the Dexcube plugin enables a Compiz-like rotating 3D cube effect for switching between desktops:
On a dual-monitor system, the cube only shows up on one monitor. But on my system (which is not a monster gaming rig) the cube transitions were impressively smooth and quick. There are lots of other plugins, as well. Final ThoughtsAs usual in reviewing such powerful apps, I have only skimmed the surface of what Dexpot can do. I haven't even discussed customizing per-desktop wallpaper, desktop names, and lots of other things you can set and tweak. It is not often that I get to describe an application as “humble”, but that's the first word that comes to mind when I think of Dexpot. Installing it is like meeting a new person who doesn't look like much at first, but then you start talking to them and discover how truly deep they are. Out of the box, Dexpot's defaults are very sane – conservative, even. But as you dig into its myriad settings and options, you will discover it offers fantastic customization options. Simply put, this is a very powerful virtual desktop software solution. Highly recommended. Hey Facebookers, make sure to join MakeUseOf on Facebook and get access to some exclusve stuff. Over 105,000 fans already! Expand Your Desktop Workspace With Dexpot – Cool Virtual Desktop Software [Windows] is a post from: MakeUseOf More articles about: desktop, desktop enhancements, productivity, virtualization, workspaceSimilar articles:
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| CoRD – A Remote Desktop Client To Manage Your Windows PCs [Mac] Posted: 12 Jul 2011 10:31 AM PDT
There are quite a few remote desktop clients out there, and we have covered many of them. Today we are going to look at CoRD – an open-source remote desktop client which will help you take control of Windows PCs from a Mac. CoRD is able to handle multiple PCs in one session and allows you to switch between the machines. Setting Up The Mac ClientWhen you open CoRD for the first time, it offers to move itself to the Applications folder. This nice little touch will help you to keep your download folder tidy.
The main interface of CoRD is simple, there’s a big blank screen and one line of toolbar. The blank screen will be the place to display the remote computer. Click the “Servers” icon to open the server’s sidebar. This is the place to manage all remote computers.
Click the “+ (plus)” button on the bottom right corner of the sidebar to add a new remote computer. You have to provide all the requested information, such as the IP address, username, and password of the remote computer, before you can connect to it. Please consult your network administrator or your router documentation to find out this information.
The “Session Preferences” pane lets you determine the screen size, number of colors, and hotkey of the remote computer. It also lets you forward disks and printers connected to the remote computer. The ”Performance & Audio” pane lets you determine what other elements you want to include, such as the desktop background, animation, and themes.
Since these additional eye-candy elements require additional CPU power, you’ll get a better performance by disabling them. The process will also be snappier if you decrease the screen size and disable external devices from the “Session Preferences” pane. You can find more options ot one of the remote computers by right clicking it from the sidebar.
To help you acquire the network address of the remote computer within a home/work network, you can use a network detection application like the free Network Scanner on the remote computer. To use the application, start by determining the IP range, scan the network, and find the computer address from the list.
You can also use online tools like What Is My IP Address. Setting Up The Windows MachineAfter setting up CoRD on your Mac, you now have to set up the Windows machine to allow remote access. The CoRD support page provides two links to Microsoft help pages to help you set up your Windows machines. I tried to simplify the process, and it goes like this. Open the Control Panel and search for “remote setting“. Click the “System – Allow remote access to your computer” link.
Click the “Remote” tab (if it hasn’t been selected yet), check the box at the “Remote Assistance” pane, and choose the second radio button from the “Remote Desktop” pane (the one that says “Allow connections from computers running any version of Remote Desktop (less secure)“).
Click “Apply” and “OK” to confirm your action. Then you can go back to CoRD, right click on the remote computer you want to connect to, and choose “Connect” from the pop-up menu. If you’ve assigned a shortcut to this computer, press the key combination. After the computer is connected, you can control it from the CoRD interface.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have access to more than one Windows machine during my experiment, so I couldn’t try connecting to multiple Windows machines. If you have a Mac and have access to multiple Windows machines, please try CoRD and share your results with us in the comments below. Don’t forget to check out our other articles about Mac remote desktop clients, such as Join.me, Chicken Of The VNC, and Best Free Remote Desktop Apps for iPad. Hey Facebookers, make sure to join MakeUseOf on Facebook and get access to some exclusve stuff. Over 105,000 fans already! CoRD – A Remote Desktop Client To Manage Your Windows PCs [Mac] is a post from: MakeUseOf More articles about: cross platform, remote access, remote control, remote desktopSimilar articles:
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| How To Downgrade Firefox Or Internet Explorer To A Previous Version Posted: 12 Jul 2011 09:31 AM PDT
Before you proceed with downgrading your browser, you should be aware that this is a security liability. Older software versions receive limited support and security updates, making them vulnerable to malware from websites you visit. Please be sure to use sufficient security precautions to limit the potential damage on your computer. FirefoxIf your main beef with the latest version of Firefox is that your favorite add-ons are not working, don’t downgrade! Wait it out or make your add-ons compatible with any Firefox version. If, however, Firefox has become a snail or freezes or crashes regularly ever since you upgraded, downgrading may be your only option other than switching to a different browser. Before you go ahead, back up your Firefox profile to be safe. A guide on the mozillaZine shows you how to locate your profile folder. You do not have to uninstall Firefox to downgrade. Simply vist the Mozilla FTP Server using your browser, navigate to the Firefox version you want to downgrade to, e.g. > Firefox 4.0.1 > Win32 (for Windows 32-bit), > en-US (for US English version), download the > Firefox setup 4.0.1 exe file and run it to downgrade from Firefox 5 to Firefox 4. The downgrade procedure will leave your profile untouched. You can find Firefox 3.6.18 here.
To remain with Firefox 4 and not upgrade to Firefox 5 automatically, you need to disable automatic browser updates. Go to the > Firefox (Tools) > Options > Advanced > Update tab and either uncheck > Firefox or under > When updates to Firefox are found: select > Ask me what I want to do.
Internet Explorer 9 to 8Rather than downgrading Internet Explorer to a previous version, I would recommend you upgrade to another browser. If you are so attached to it, however, I will show you how to do it. If you want to downgrade Internet Explorer 8 to 7, please refer to this Microsoft Support article. Before you continue, I recommend you create a system restore point. Please refer to this article: How To Fix Your PC Using Windows Restore in XP, Vista & 7 This will serve as a backup in case sometimes goes wrong during the downgrade. You can also use this Internet Explorer Backup tool. Once you have created the restore point or backed up your IE profile, you can proceed. Go to > Start > Control Panel and under > Programs select > Uninstall a program. On the left-hand side switch to > View installed updates.
In the list on the right-hand side find > Windows Internet Explorer 9, highlight it and click > Uninstall. Note that this will not install all of Internet Explorer. It will only uninstall the upgrade to IE9 and hence downgrade you to IE8.
Once the uninstall procedure has completed restart your computer and you should have Internet Explorer 8 back. Note that Windows will attempt to upgrade you to Internet Explorer 9 again via Windows Updates. To prevent this from happening, go to > Start and type > Windows Update in the search field. From the results under > Programs select > Windows Update. In the respective window that opens, switch to > Change settings on the left-hand side. Under > Recommended updates uncheck > Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates OR under > Important updates select > Download updates but let me choose whether to install them. ChromeIf you were looking for a way to downgrade Chrome, I have to disappoint you. Other than switching between different developer channels, I am not aware of a way to downgrade to a previous stable version of Chrome. So what is your reason for downgrading your browser? Which browser are you attempting to downgrade and which version do you want to go back to? Please share your experiences and reasons with us! Image credits: Benjamin Haas Hey Facebookers, make sure to join MakeUseOf on Facebook and get access to some exclusve stuff. Over 105,000 fans already! How To Downgrade Firefox Or Internet Explorer To A Previous Version is a post from: MakeUseOf More articles about: browser tips, browsers, firefox, firefox tips, Internet ExplorerSimilar articles:
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| Gs & LTEs: Understanding Mobile Broadband [Technology Explained] Posted: 12 Jul 2011 08:31 AM PDT
Today, that's not always the case. Mobile broadband is becoming ubiquitous in major urban centers, and usually available in towns of moderate population and near major transportation hubs. There are many different kinds of mobile broadband, however – and it's not always clear how they work. Mobile Broadband Basics
Although there are different technologies used to bring mobile broadband to you, there is one particular technology that forms the basis of them all – radio. Your device receives signals from a nearby tower, and beams a signal back. Information is transferred in much the same way as it would be transferred between your home wireless router and a laptop computer with 802.11 WiFi, although the scale is obviously much different. Obviously, this means you'll enjoy the prime advantage of all wireless communications standards – mobility. You can use your mobile broadband device while walking around town or visiting a friend's house. The disadvantages are present as well, however. Mobile broadband signals are subject to interference from obstacles and other signals. The power and frequency of the signal makes obstructions less of an issue, but it's still there. Also, a reduction in signal quality might increase latency and will usually reduce bandwidth, so while mobile broadband may quote a certain maximum, your device's ability to reach it will vary depending on your location. Learning the Language – 3G, 4G & Beyond
Radio may be the basis of all mobile broadband, but it's rarely referenced by that antiquated term (this is the 21st century, after all!). Instead, exciting new abbreviations have been invented. Most common among these are 3G and 4G. These terms represent new standards of wireless technology set down by the International Telecommunication Union. In the case of 3G, the standard calls for a peak data rate of at least 200 kbit/s. According to ITU standards, 4G technology requires a 1 Gbit/s connect for devices like smartphones. If you own a 4G device, this fact might have you scratching your head. After all, you can buy 4G capable devices right now, but they don't offer bandwidth anywhere near 1 Gbit/s. That's a great point, and it's true that those devices don't actually meet the original requirements of 4G. The service is substantially quicker than 3G, however, so the 4G label is slapped on as a marketing tool to make it easy for consumers to know the difference. The ITU has officially stated that it has no problem with this. An acronym that's recently become popular, and will be only more common in the future, is LTE. This stands for Long Term Evolution, and it's used because it's a standard that is being revised over time with the goal of meeting the 4G standard set down by the ITU (the technical name for this is 3GPP Long Term Evolution). Arguably, the term 4G LTE is a bit of an oxymoron – compliance with 4G standards is the goal of LTE, but it's not there yet. WiMax – The Underdog
The prevalence of the terms 3G and 4G LTE are due to their adoption by some of the world's largest mobile networks. With hundreds of millions of smartphones already in the world, it's no surprise that the marketing of companies like Verizon Wireless are capable of keeping these terms in the public mind. There is another important mobile broadband technology, however, and that's WiMax. This is a standard developed by the IEEE, the same body responsible for the 802.11 b/g/n standards and also wired communications such as FireWire. Currently, WiMax can achieve about 40 Mbit/s in optimal conditions. WiMax has been used in various locations across the globe as a means of providing mobile broadband to laptops and even desktops. Here in Portland, Oregon, consumers can subscribe to Clear Wireless, which provides wireless broadband Internet that is intended for us both at home and around town. WiMax is also sometimes used in areas where wireless deployment is more cost effective than and nearly as reliable as wired communications, such as the American Midwest and Great Plains area. Although quick, WiMax is not compatible with 3G/4G LTE, so it's unlikely to become dominant. You'll need different modems to use WiMax and 4G LTE with a mobile device. This can be a bit confusing for consumers, because WiMax provides like Clear often refer to their service as 4G as well. Conclusion – The Remaining ConstellationCurrently, 3G/4G and WiMax are the most popular forms of mobile broadband communication. However, there are other standards. Other, less common standards include iBurst, HiperMAN and WiBro. These are a viable option in some regions of the world. Although I hope that this has provided a good introduction to mobile broadband as it exists today, I want readers to come away with one lesson – don't be seduced by the terminology. The label slapped on a service – be it 4G LTE or WiMax – doesn't guarantee the service’s speed. As 4G LTE itself proves, companies can and do play fast-and-loose with the standards. Hey Facebookers, make sure to join MakeUseOf on Facebook and get access to some exclusve stuff. Over 105,000 fans already! Gs & LTEs: Understanding Mobile Broadband [Technology Explained] is a post from: MakeUseOf More articles about: mobile browsing, mobile phones, smartphones, technology explained, wirelessSimilar articles:
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| World’s First Google eBooks Reader To Hit Store Shelves July 17th [News] Posted: 12 Jul 2011 07:31 AM PDT
The HD in Story HD comes from the display, which has a resolution of 768×1024. This compares favorably to most other eReaders; both the Kindle and the Nook have a resolution of 800×600. Readers will enjoy crisper text thanks to the higher pixel density. Besides the display, the hardware in this new device is typical. An ARM processor powers the reader and WiFi support is standard. Traveling with the device should be no problem, as it weighs just 7.3 ounces and packs a battery that can power the device for up to six weeks on a charge.
What you won't find, however, is a touchscreen. The Story HD instead uses a QWERTY keyboard and physical button interface. The decision not to include a touchscreen could be a deal-breaker for some consumers. Integration with Google eBooks means it serves as the built-in bookstore for the device, just as Amazon serves the Kindle. Users will also be able to read books directly through WiFi without downloading them to the reader. This does not mean that the company has any intention of restricting access to the store from other devices and software, however. Its eBooks will still be compatible with various smartphones, tablets and most other readers. Source: Ars Technica Need Assistance? Ask questions to MakeUseOf staff and thousands of other readers on MakeUseOf Answers! World's First Google eBooks Reader To Hit Store Shelves July 17th [News] is a post from: MakeUseOf More articles about: ebooks, Google, Google Books, newsSimilar articles:
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