Computer Doctor Tips

2011-12-27T23:00:00.000-05:00

From PCWorld article:

When Is a Baked-Bean Can a Wi-Fi Network Antenna?

You can make high technology from anything when you're competing in Intel's International Science and Engineering Fair.

By Erik Larkin, PCWorld May 13, 2005 12:00 pm

Is using an empty baked-bean can to grab a Wi-Fi signal from a mile away high technology? The answer is yes if you're an entrant in Intel's International Science and Engineering Fair being held this week in Phoenix.

Steven Buss, an 18-year-old Wi-Fi buff from Palm City, Florida, built three different types of antennas to see which provided the greatest range for his wireless network. The best performer, made from a "biquad" antenna and a used DirectTV satellite dish bought on EBay, picked up the wireless signal 1.3 miles away.

But the cheapest and easiest, the one he calls a "cantenna," made from an empty baked-bean can, let him connect to his 802.11b wireless network from almost as far--a mile away.

Buss ran his experiments using an IBM ThinkPad on a long, straight Florida road to avoid obstacles that can block a wireless signal.

CFS Weekly Newsletter #565

2011-07-02T15:59:00.000-04:00

Web Site:http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com
E-mail 1: editor@completelyFREEsoftware.com
E-mail 2: cfs@people.net.au
___________________________________________________

We have some terrific programs in our line-up for you this week. My favorites are SpeedyFox, a small utility that speeds up the Firefox Web browser, GumNotes, an annotation tool for documents, Websites, e-mails, and contacts, Studio-Scrap, a scrapbooking and photo collage tool, Square Privacy Cleaner, a privacy protection tool, and MPC-2d-3d, offering real-time 2D to 3D video display.

We also have our regular columns -- Dr T's excellent Computer Tip of the Week, and our ever popular Smile of the Week.

To get access to the best downloads, why not take a minute and become a member of arguably the best freeware-only site in the world. More details from our members' page:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/join.html

What are you waiting for -- become a CFS "lifer" now, or try out the site with a 1-month, 1-year or 2-year membership. We are still half the price of most other sites and I think we offer the best value for your hard earned dollar.

One small point. If you sign up for a Lifetime membership through 2CheckOut.com you might be surprised to see that, according to them, a "lifetime" is only 12 years. That is because the number 12 is the highest number option they have -- 12 weeks, 12 months, 12 years. Don't worry, at the end of 12 years you will NOT be cut off if you are a CFS 'lifer' -- your membership will continue indefinitely...

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/faqs5.html#15

See you all next week.

Keep smilin'

Regards

Graham Pockett
Editor
Completely FREE Software

SPECIAL OFFER FOR SUBSCRIBERS

As a special offer to newsletter subscribers, anyone with a current 1-year membership can update to a Lifetime membership for just $25. Members with a current 2-year membership can update to Lifetime for just $15.

Please note that this is for current members only and can be used at any time during the period of a membership. Don't put it off because this offer may not continue indefinitely.

Make the appropriate payment ($25 or $15) using your credit card and tell us your username so we know which account to update. Click on this address to update your membership through PayPal:

http://www.completelyfreesoftware.com/paypal.html

(Payment is made through our parent company, Kooronya Holdings.)

COMPLETELY FREE SOFTWARE
RetroRaider II v20100712 -- Win98/ME/WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
RetroRaider II is a retro platformer with VGA-style graphics. It features 6 levels, a level editor to create additional levels, a good assortment of enemies to avoid, good traps & puzzles, some powerups to collect, and more. The author describes this as a "copyright infringing retro game". He also says that you take "one part Pitfall, one part Tomb Raider, and mix in a little Indiana Jones, and this probably wouldn't be the first thing that springs to mind". So true. This is a game with a mid-eighties look 'n feel. It is a basic platformer where you go from level to level collecting items. Along the way you come across a wide assortment of animals and birds that will rob you of your health. They can be jumped, or killed. Not always obvious, there are some lightweight challenges along the way to keep you playing, and the level editor will help you create your very own levels. While RetroRaider II could have been terrible, in fact it is a playable little game that could keep you amused for some hours. The retro aspect is both a positive and a negative -- graphics are chunky but the animation is surprisingly good for a game like this. It is not just for people who yearn for the "good ole days" when men were men and computer characters were a few chunky pixels that staggered across the screen (albeit a 12 inch 16-color CRT screen with text permanently burnt onto it -- you really did need screensavers those days!). We probably shouldn't have liked RetroRaider II as it does not live up to modern gaiming expectations, but we did. You don't have to remember those heady mid-eighties days to enjoy RetroRaider II. Grab a copy now! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 4.17MB download from:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gg41_w95.html#RetroRaiderII_32

SpeedyFox v1.5 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
SpeedyFox is a small utility that speeds up Firefox Web browser by compacting the SQLITE databases used to store many settings. This means that it loads faster, browsing history will become faster, and performing operations with cookies will be quicker than before. This optimization tool requires no installation and can select the profile to optimize if more than one is used on the computer. Our tests showed that SpeedyFox speeded up initial loading by 25%, though ours is a newly installed browser which means that the SQLITE databases should not be too fragmented. The author claims that it can speed up Firefox by up to three times (300%). Even though the author doesn't tell us, we assume that SpeedyFox should be used regularly (monthly?) to ensure that the databases remain defragmented. From our experience using SpeedyFox, we are happy to keep it as a once-a-month defragmenting tool. We loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or
ME. Access this 458kB download from:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/ir3_w95.html#speedyfox32

Hanso Burner v1.4.0.0 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (4 doves)
Hanso Burner is a CD/DVD burner. It supports ISO & BIN/CUE disk images, disk copy, dual-layer DVDs, creates CDs from audio files (MP3, WMA, WAV, etc), generates audio & mixed-mode projects, creates rewritable & multisession disks, shell extensions, and more. This is a simple-to-use disk burner that offers much. We spent considerable time with this program and found that some tasks it did well, and others we could not get to work at all. For example, it copied disk-to-disk with ease and it burnt data disks without trouble. Unfortunately we could not get it to burn audio CDs and video DVDs. We aren't sure if it was us or the program, but as it carried out other tasks as specified we can only assume that there is either a flaw in this program, or an incompatibility with Windows 7. This was very much a disappointment because we liked the clean, simple interface and the promise to do so much. Even in areas where it did seem to work OK it presented problems. For example, you cannot just select individual files from a folder to burn -- it must be the entire folder and then you manually remove the ones you don't want. Cumbersome. We tried very hard to like Hanso Burner but, in the end, we were too disappointed with its rough edges. We hope that they can sort out the problems with Hanso Burner because it is potentially a superb CD and DVD burner. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 2.12MB download from:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gp17_w95.html#hanso-burner32

Studio-Scrap v2.2.2 -- Win98/ME/WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Studio-Scrap is a scrapbooking and photo collage tool. It features over 400 editable templates, 230 embellishments (buttons, labels, tags, flowers, frames, stickers, etc), 340 high-quality backgrounds (colored papers, imitation leather, sand, textiles, etc), 1000 picture shapes (for image cropping), freeform text labels, you can print/e-mail/PDF finished scrapbooks, and more. This is an amazing program with so many resources it is impossible to list them all. You can create traditional scrapbooks of your photographs, or build photo collages. There are additional backgrounds you can download (1.5GB!) or you can grab them directly off the Internet as you need them. The main program starts as a 316kB download, but that is just a download starter for the whopping 145MB you will be downloading. Studio-Scrap is enormous in every way. It offers a huge number of templates, picture shapes, etc -- so many that a hundred users could scrapbook the same photos and no two would be similar.
There is an on-line tutorial video which is worth watching, and lots of gallery scrapbooks on the author's site to give you ideas. Studio-Scrap can also be used in place of regular DTP (desktop publishing) programs (like Microsoft Publisher) to create calendars and cards. We were amazed at the scope of Studio-Scrap. The huge download is justified by the depth and power of this program. In a word, awesome! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 145MB download from:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/grp5_w95.html#studio-scrap32

MPC-2d-3d v2.0 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
MPC-2d-3d is a media player, based on Media Player Classic (MPC), which can carry out real-time video conversions from 2D to 3D. Similar in appearance to the standard MPC player, it displays videos in an electronically created 3D format. The author says: "MPC 2d-3d uses a real-time algorithm to recover the depth information from the common 2D video. The recovered 3D video is not as good as the true 3D video. But it's a good method to play the 2D video in 3D mode." We used the program to open a number of AVI videos to judge the quality of the resultant 3D video, and we were impressed. It cannot save a video to 3D -- it is a real-time converter that takes a 2D video and converts it on the fly. Unfortunately, on our test computer the video ran slower than normal, distorting sound and making the video jerky. However, the 3D effect was superb, much better than we had anticipated. It might run smoother on a faster computer that is not multi-tasking. The biggest problem with MPC-2d-
3d is that you need red/green Anaglyph 3D glasses, and the right eye should be viewing through the red side. More common are red/cyan glasses, with the red on the left. While they are partially inter-changeable, for the best results you need the correct glasses. We were amazed at the quality of the 3D rendition, though the jerky video spoilt the effect for us. If you want to see Aunt Bertha in all her 3D glory, then grab a copy of MPC-2d-3d and have fun. We loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 18.0MB download from:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/mp6_w95.html#mpc-2d-3d32

Square Privacy Cleaner v1.1.0.0 --WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)Square Privacy Cleaner is a privacy protection tool. It features extensive cleaning of traces (Windows, Internet, IE, Firefox, Opera, Google Chrome, Registry MRU lists, Windows temp directories & log files, application histories, etc), terminates running processes, commandline support, cleans on next re-boot, cleans when Windows shuts down, and more. There is also a portable version available (347kB). This is one of the most extensive privacy cleaners we have seen. It covers a massive number of items and is configurable so you need not delete all traces, just the ones you want. Of course, if you are using an Internet cafe or public Internet source you may wish to delete all traces, histories, lists, logs, etc. In that case you would probably want the portable version. One of its options is to try to delete index.dat files on the next reboot, and also locked files. One of the best privacy cleaners we have seen, Square Privacy Cleaner is a "must have" if you are using public co
mputers. Get it now! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 696kB download from:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/du3_w95.html#spcleaner32

GumNotes v0.9.6.544 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
GumNotes is an annotation tool for documents, Websites, e-mails, and contacts. It optionally stays on top, notes are saved in an XML data format, and more. This is an interesting "sticky note" type program except that this one links the notes to their associated documents, etc. Open up a Webpage, make a note, and next time you visit that Website you will be reminded that there is a note attached. You can add notes to your e-mails, to ordinary documents -- to virtually any program you require. Simple in operation, and extremely handy in usage, GumNotes is one of those "how did I ever live without it" type programs. We loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 5.04MB download from:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/tp4_w95.html#GumNotes32

Big Solitaires 3D v1.4 -- Win9x/ME/WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)Big Solitaires 3D is a collection of 3D solitaire cardgames. It features 40 games in 10 main groupings (Canfield, Doubles, Forty Thieves, Freecell, Golf, Klondike, Montana, Rail, Spider & Yukon), a choice of 4 decks, a choice of 4 backgrounds (or use your own PNG file), 2 camera angles (3D & 2D top down), full undo/redo, optional automatic card movements, a Helpfile for each game, and more. The games are: Canfield; Canfield Two Decks; Canfield Superior; Corona; Doubles; Doubles 13; Easthaven; Emperor; Forty Thieves; Forty Thieves and Eight; Forty Thieves Three Decks; Forty Thieves Four Decks; FreeCell; FreeCell Two Decks; Golf; Golf A-K; Golf A-K Two Decks; Indian; Klondike (one & three cards); Klondike Two Decks; Lucky Fans; Montana Three Redeals; Ocean's Eleven; Rail One Deck; Rail Two Decks; Russian; Russian Relaxed; Scarab; Scorpion; Simple Simon; Spider; Spider One Suite; Spider Two Suites; Spider Three Decks; Spiderette; Spiderette Relaxed; Towers; Yukon; Yukon Relaxed;
and Z-Four. This is a nice collection of popular solitaire cardgames. There is a quasi 3D effect, specially when starting a new game, but we felt that the 3D effect in the game itself detracted from the gameplay. Fortunately, there is an optional "Standard View" which is the usual top-down, 2D format. There is little real choice in decks, but the default is quite acceptable with good clear cardfaces that are easily read. Overall, Big Solitaires 3D is an excellent solitaire cardgame collection with sufficient variation between the games to keep you playing, and playing, and playing. Worth checking out! Access this 6.69MB download from:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gg39_w95.html#BigSol3D32

UPDATE

Fotobounce -- a photo organizer, with built-in face recognition -- has been updated to version 3.1.0 with a slightly larger download size of 14.9MB. The author advises that changes in this version include: photo sharing with privacy; more user-friendly features without sacrificing function; and high-quality photo products (printed direct from Fotobounce via the LifePics network). Get this update from:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/grp12_w95.html#fotobounce32

COMPUTER TIP OF THE WEEK
from Dr T -- RTemlak4dds@aol.com

Q. How do I remove McAfee from my computer completely, to install a different anti-virus?
A. McAfee offers products for home and business users alike. Both can be removed from any computer, but sometimes it takes more than just a few steps. Products available for home computer use include; Internet Security, VirusScan Plus, and Total Protection, to name a few. For business computers, there are a multitude of downloads for corporate products, betas, virus definition files, patches, and even removal tools for viruses.

Most downloads available through McAfee can be used on a trial basis, before you decide to purchase them. If you decide to buy one, subscription renewals are provided for each product. This will allow you to continue using the security product you prefer - instead of it expiring, causing you to have to download something new. There's even an option to upgrade a trial, in case you require a different type of security for your computer. Whichever type of software you've chosen, you should be able to uninstall it with relative ease.

Updates for each type of product are offered, when they become available. If you don't update often, sometimes your software won't provide as much protection as you'd hoped. This can allow viruses through and make it seem like your software isn't as good as you thought it was. This is often why many people decide to uninstall their current anti-virus program. They feel it isn't doing its job, when all it actually needed was an update.

Uninstall in XP

To begin removing McAfee, you'll need to click on the Start button at the bottom left corner of your desktop. When the box opens up, go to the Control Panel link and click on it. In the Control Panel, click on Add or Remove Programs.

The list of programs to add or remove will appear in a smaller box on your monitor. You can scroll down the entire list, until you find the McAfee program you want to uninstall. Click on the desired program once and there should be a button or two that appear as the program name is highlighted. The buttons are usually Change or Remove, but sometimes there is only a Remove button. You'll want to click on the Remove button.

Once the uninstall is complete, close all the programs that you have running and then restart your computer. After the computer has rebooted itself, check to see if the program has actually been removed. You can look in the Add/Remove programs list. If it is still there, then it has not been removed and you can again try the removal process described above, or download a removal tool. A McAfee Consumer Product Removal tool is available and described on the McAfee Website athttp://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=TS100507, but they apparently no longer provide, or support the device.

Uninstall in Windows 7

To remove McAfee from Windows 7, you also begin at the Start button and the Control Panel. However, the Control Panel will be slightly different (see below). Click on Uninstall a program, and the list of programs described above will appear. You can then select McAfee and begin the removal process.

Once the removal is successful, you can install the anti-virus software of your choice. If the new software is on a disc, just insert the CD and follow the prompts on the screen. Downloading new software takes you through the same process. The screen will tell you which buttons to push and when it's time to restart your computer.

A word of warning; before you can remove McAfee Security Center, you need to uninstall SpamKiller, Privacy Service, Personal Firewall, and Virus Scan first. If any of these components are left in place, the uninstall process won't be completed and the new program installed won't work properly. Make sure you are actually removing the McAfee program and aren't accidentally clicking on something else. This might cause another program to quit working, which can lead to a huge mess.

I hope this removal process is helpful and you are able to uninstall your McAfee program successfully!

[Source: Worldstart.com & The Angellmore Newsletter]

SMILE OF THE WEEK

(contributions for this section are most welcome)

=: How to Photograph A new Puppy :=

1. Remove film from box and load camera.

2. Remove film box from puppy's mouth and throw in trash.

3. Remove puppy from trash and brush coffee grounds from muzzle.

4. Choose a suitable background for photo.

5. Mount camera on tripod and focus.

6. Find puppy and take dirty sock from mouth.

7. Place puppy in pre-focused spot and return to camera.

8. Forget about spot and crawl after puppy on knees.

9. Focus with one hand and fend off puppy with other hand.

10. Get tissue and clean nose print from lens.

11. Put cat outside and put peroxide on the scratch on puppy's nose.

13. Put magazines back on coffee table.

14. Try to get puppy's attention by squeaking toy over your head.

15. Replace your glasses and check camera for damage.

16. Jump up in time to grab puppy by scruff of neck and say, "No, outside! No, outside!"

17. Clean up mess.

18. Sit back in chair with lemonade and resolve to teach puppy "sit" and "stay" the first thing in the morning.

[author unknown]

Tech--for Everyone

2011-07-02T15:29:00.000-04:00

Please Help Me Access My Hotmail – I’ve Been Hijacked

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 10:43 AM PDT

I receive frequent requests to recover hijacked email accounts or retrieve the information in them, and/or to reset lost passwords. Here’s my answer: No. There is nothing I can do. But here is what you can do: 1) Contact your email service provider and tell them what has happened. They should have some way of [...]

Special EASEUS Software giveaway promotion

Posted: 27 Jun 2011 01:21 PM PDT

Participation Gift You can choose one of these three EASEUS product as a free gift as soon as taking part. Partition Master Professional $39.95 Todo Backup Workstation $39.00 Data Recovery Wizard $69.95 Interested? (who doesn’t like free software?) Well, you do have to “take part”.. here’s the 4-1-1: http://www.easeus.com/special-offers/easeus-gift.htm. It an easy, and fun, way [...]

Sunday Beauty 47

Posted: 26 Jun 2011 09:48 AM PDT

Today’s pretty picture: “Paysage à Port-Goulphar”, by Oscar-Claude Monet. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Today’s quote: “If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.” ~ Thomas Edison Sunday Ugly: Attn Mr Walid Sami: please check your Inbox. Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved. >> [...]

Tech--for Everyone

Mix and Match Saturday

Posted: 25 Jun 2011 10:29 AM PDT

aka Weekend Grab Bag * For Facebook users: June 2011: The Definitive Facebook Lockdown Guide “June 2011 edition of The Definitive Facebook Lockdown Guide. Helping you to protect your privacy, your social network security and to manage your network safely.“ * Better Late Than Never: I didn’t have time to post a Friday Fun video [...]

Ethical Hacking

More than 100 website defaced having domains of UNITED KINGDOM by blackzero

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 10:45 PM PDT

More than 100 website defaced having domains of UNITED KINGDOM by blackzero Recently i got a news from the website http://pastebin.com which is used by hackers now a days that more than 100 websites of co.uk and org.uk domains are defaced by black zero. The list of website is posted by THE HACKER NEWS http://pastebin.com/tVVzXMbf

Tech--for Everyone

A Friday In June

Posted: 24 Jun 2011 08:32 AM PDT

Folks, I mentioned back in January that I decided to make changes in my life this year (see, Goodbye 2010. I'll Miss Ye Not.) So today I am doing something extraordinary (for me, anyway). Here’s one of the reasons why.. .. stuff is getting .. old. Friday is here! Have a super fantastical weekend everybody! Mark [...]

Ekiga ~ Free Your Speech

2011-05-28T22:54:00.000-04:00

Ekiga ~ Free Your Speech

Ekiga (formely known as GnomeMeeting) is an open source SoftPhone, Video Conferencing and Instant Messengerapplication over the Internet.

It supports HD sound quality and video up to DVD size and quality.

It is interoperable with many other standard compliant softwares, hardwares and service providers as it uses both the major telephony standards (SIP and H.323).

Would you like to know more?

Free Download
Windows 7 (3.2.7, 17MB)

Other downloads.

Free Online Image-editing Suite

2011-05-23T14:32:00.002-04:00

Aviary is a free online image editing suite. Check it out below.

Welcome to Aviary's editing suite!

Aviary is a powerful suite of browser-based design tools, now available right from within Google Apps. Learn more!

New Freeware from CompletelyFreeSoftware.com

2011-04-20T00:10:00.001-04:00

Space Fights v2.0 -- Win9x/ME/WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Space Fights is a space shooter where you must destroy waves of alien attackers. It features 9 bonuses to collect, it has multiple levels, good animated graphics & sound effects, keyboard & mouse control, there is fullscreen & windowed modes, it has light-hearted background music, and more. In the style of Space Invaders, Space Fights is a 21st Century take on the old classic shooter. It boasts good animated graphics and lots of bonuses to collect. You are faced with a huge number of alien invaders, plus a number of asteroids. Controls are best used on the mouse where the left mouse button fires the primary weapon and the right mouse button fires a secondary weapon. The ship itself is moved with the mouse. The bonuses are: Armor; Ionic Gun; Missiles; Life; Laser Gun; Mega-Skull; Energy; Plasma Gun; and Mega-Bomb. While this is not the most spectacular space shooter available, never-the-less Space Fights is lots of fun to play and is surprisingly addictive. We loved! CFS membe
rs can get this 2.41MB download from:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gg38_w95.html#spaceflights32

DPWipe v1.1 -- Win98/ME/WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
DPWipe is a small utility that securely deletes files and folders. It features 7 different deletion methods (overwrite with zeros or pseudorandom data, RCMP DSX 3x overwrite, DoD 5220.22 compliant 3x & 7x overwrite, & Gutmann's 35-pass wiping method), files & folders are added via drag 'n drop, it includes HTML Helpfiles in English & German, and more. This is an awesome way of securely deleting sensitive data. Deletion methods vary from the most basic single overwrite with zeros, to the 35-pass Gutmann's Maximum Security for the most paranoid user. For the average user either of the triple pass methods should be more than sufficient to prevent unauthorized access to your information but, if you are even slightly paranoid, the US Department of Defense 7x method should suffice. If you are seriously paranoid then Gutmann's Maximum Security is for you. We were most impressed with DPWipe. It offers a level of data deletion security that should suit all users. It is easy to use and
fast in operation. A "must have" for your utility toolbox. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 421kB download from:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/du3_w95.html#dpwipe32

Stellarium 0.10.6.1 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Stellarium is a real time, 3D photo-realistic virtual planetarium. It features a catalog of over 600,000 stars, it displays constellations, has a powerful zoom, offers time control, fisheye projection, telescope control, displays equatorial & azimuthal grids, shooting stars, eclipse simulation, skinnable landscapes, it is highly customizable, and more. If you have ever looked up at the heavens and wondered what is up there then Stellarium is for you. It offers so many functions that you could spend a month just learning them all. It can be used like a telescope, or you can use it to create a spheric mirror projection for your own dome. If you want information about stars or planets it is all there, and you can set it for any location in the world you want. There are add-ons and plug-ins you can get for this program that enhance it even further. Words cannot express the awesome wonder of your own glimpse into outer space through Stellarium -- with you in full control. Stellar
ium is impressive from all angles. It did everything demanded of it, and did it easily. We loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 43.4MB download from:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gp4_w95.html#stellarium32

Broken Shortcut Fixer v1.0 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Broken Shortcut Fixer is a tool that removes or repairs broken shortcuts. It features a one-click scan for each drive, displays location information about the broken shortcut, no installation is required, it is simple to use, and more. This is a great way of locating, and removing, broken shortcuts. Nominate the drive, click on the scan button and, a few seconds later, you will be prompted to delete any broken links found. These links are deleted to the Recycle Bin so they are recoverable, if required, until you decide to empty the Recycle Bin. The only aspect of this program we didn't like was the requirement to scan each drive separately -- we have five partitions on our hard drive and each one had to be scanned individually. However, because Broken Shortcut Fixer is so fast, this was not onerous. Without needing to be installed, Broken Shortcut Fixer is fully portable and can be run from a USB pen drive if required. We liked! Note: we have been advised that this program is
not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 1.02MB download from:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/we8_w95.html#BrokenShortcutFixer32

LightMan Player v1.1.0.0 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (4 doves)
LightMan Player is a multimedia player for video, audio and images. It supports all popular media formats, includes standard audio playback functions, offers playlist support, plays single files or the contents of a folder, offers fullscreen & windowed modes, built-in codecs, and more. LightMan Player is a standard multimedia player that is reported to play most popular file formats. It will play your MP3s, your videos and even display your images. Codecs are added when you install the program and the player does what is expected of it, most of the time. Having successfully opened AVI and WMV videos, we tried to open an FLV file and the program locked up. We re-installed it a number of times, even re-booted the computer, but from that point on we could not get it to work again! We are assuming that there was a conflict with this particular video file (which plays normally in other programs) but we could not remove it from the list so every time the program was opened (even af
ter a re-install) it fell foul of this video file which still appeared in its playlist. We even spent quite some time trying to clean out Registry entries, etc to remove the listing for this file but were unsuccessful. Aaaarrrggghhh!!! LightMan Player might work well for you but we can only base our review on what we found, so this is not a program we can recommend. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 6.09MB download from:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/mp17_w95.html#lightman-player32

TetraEdit v3.24 -- Win9x/ME/WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
TetraEdit is a tabbed RTF editor with multimedia and Internet functions. It features a spell checker (external on-line source), autocorrect, opens TXT docs, has its own image viewer, music player, video player, SWF player, Internet browser (IE-based), VBScript controller, skin maker (3 skins included), RSS reader, and more. This is an unusual, multifunctional program that presents as an RTF text editor which can also play many multimedia sources, and is also a Web browser. You can select from nine different on-line dictionary sources (Google Definitions, Merriam-Webster, Cambridge, Dictionary.com, etc) and three different on-line thesaurus sources. Results are displayed in a side window. TetraEdit can even create and playback macros. It can also play M3U audio playlists, and a wide selection of video formats including SWF Flash files. TetraEdit includes its own skin maker, and RSS reader and a VBScript controller. There are two major problems with TetraEdit. The first is that
it tries to be all things to all people, and never quite succeeds as successfully as a top-line dedicated tool. The second is that the author's site has disappeared and this has caused some minor problems with the program automatically looking for updates (obviously not now available). In spite of its shortcomings, TetraEdit is a great multifunctional RTF text editor. We liked! CFS members can get this 6.41MB download from:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/tp2_w95.html#TetraEdit32

TdhCad v11.01.02 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
TdhCad is a simplified 2D vector graphics editor. It creates entities of many shapes, you can move/rotate/resize entities, move points to reshape entities, create groups containing entities & other groups, create paths containing lines & curves, copy 'n paste entire entities or points between entities, change properties, apply color gradients to entities & groups, add a note to any entity, use any number of layers, merge drawings, export drawings to SVG/PNG/PDF formats, save drawings within project databases, it includes a 12 page user's manual, and more. If you are looking for a basic vector drawing editor then TdhCad is probably exactly what you want. While it uses the term "CAD" in its title, it is not a typical CAD program that can create 3D ray-traced graphics -- this use of the term CAD is basic, computer aided design. It may lack some of the bells and whistles of other vector drawing programs but TdhCad is surprisingly powerful within its own right, and includes a 12-p
age PDF Helpfile. It offers layers and other fancy tools, but lacks a toolbar which means that you must squirrel down through menus to find what you are looking for. Even the most basic toolbar would enhance TdhCad enormously. If you create vector drawings but don't want to use a massive, and complex, tool that has all the bells and whistles you may never need, then grab a copy of TdhCad. Like us, you may be pleasantly surprised at this unpretentious program. We loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 7.27MB download from:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/grp6_w95.html#TdhCad32

Balancing Building v1.0 -- Win98/ME/WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Balancing Building is a construction-themed balancing game where you must build a structure that doesn't topple. It features 20 progressively harder levels, uses real-time physics, has excellent animated graphics, addictive gameplay, background music, and more. This is a fun way to kill an hour or two. In this Tetris-like puzzle, you must build a structure that doesn't topple using different shapes provided by the game. Like Tetris, there is a next piece notification so you know what is next but, in many ways, this is more challenging (and more fun!) than Tetris. Pieces must be carefully placed (never dropped!) within the allotted timespan and you must use them to build a strong structure that won't topple. You can rotate pieces using the left mouse button, and you also use the mouse to position the piece in your structure. The first level requires 11 pieces to be placed, but this rises to 30 on level 20 (an extra piece added for each level). It starts with 5 different shaped
pieces rising to 9 on level 20, and you must complete a level before embarking on the next level. Confused? It really is easy to play, just hard to win. Balancing Building can suck the hours out of you faster than you'll probably admit, and we feel it should contain a label: "Warning: this game is highly addictive! Set a time limit before you start." In case you hadn't already realized it, we loved Balancing Building. Now go away so we can play another level... Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 4.83MB download from:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gg41_w95.html#BalancingBuilding32

UPDATES

Free Window Registry Repair -- an easy-to-use, one-button Registry cleaning tool -- has been updated to version 2.5 with a new download size of 780kB. The author advises that this version adds some ignore keys, plus bug fixes and stability improvements. Grab a copy of this excellent program from:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/we2_w95.html#Regpair32

Extra DVD Copy Free -- a tool that copies unprotected DVD movies to DVD-9 (dual layer), DVD-5 (single layer) or hard disk -- has been updated to version 7.02 with a size of 1.83MB. The author has not advised the changes in this version. Get this updated version from:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gp10_w95.html#ExtraDVDCopyFree32

Windows 7 Tweaker -- a System tuneup & tweaking tool -- has been updated to version 3.6 with a new download size of 3.58MB. The author advises that changes in this version are mainly bugfixes. Access this great tweaker from:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/we4_w95.html#Windows7Tweaker32

HDClone (Free Edition) -- a tool for moving contents of entire hard disk drives onto bigger ones -- has been updated to version 4.0.2 with a new download size of 11.3MB. The author advises that changes in this version include: a new, task oriented user interface; and fixed problems with partition size adjustment. Access this latest version from:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gp11_w95.html#hdclone32

COMPUTER TIP OF THE WEEK
from Dr T -- RTemlak4dds@aol.com

=: Calling For Computer Help :=

Sometimes the pleasure of owning a computer is overshadowed by the need to ask for assistance with a computer issue. Calling for technical support does not have to be an unpleasant experience. Preparing yourself before you make that call, and knowing what to expect while talking to support representatives, can help ease the way.

1. Before you pick up the phone, have as much information at hand as possible. Any product serial numbers should be within easy reach and be prepared to answer these questions:

What version of Windows are you using?

What, if any, changes did you make to your system before the problem occurred? Include both hardware and software changes, and be honest!

What is the exact wording of any error message you receive?

What steps have you taken to try to resolve the issue on your own?

2. Make your call to tech support when you are relatively free from distractions. Being able to focus on what is discussed will go a long way to aiding both you and the tech you are talking to. Do not yell, insult or use profanity no matter how frustrated you are. Most companies advise their techs to hang up on any caller using abusive language. No matter how frustrated you are at the hold time before your call is answered, remember that the tech you are talking to was helping someone else, not ignoring you.

3. Be prepared to verify your address, phone number and even your e-mail address before moving on to your issue. The technician is not being nosy by asking, but rather doing their job. After all, verifying your statistics ensures that your computer is still in your hands and not those of a thief. Many companies require techs to log all calls. If you have called for support before, your statistics may be used to bring up your records and help the technician deal with your issue. Also, if you are using e-mail support, make sure your e-mail address is correct and complete. Otherwise, the tech won't be able to get ahold of you.

4. Be frank about your level of computer expertise. Support technicians talk to customers with vast differences in their skill levels, from the beginner to the expert. If the tech is moving too fast, ask them to slow down. If you don't understand something, ask them to clarify. Don't be embarrassed to admit you are in unfamiliar territory. Likewise, try not to second guess where the tech is leading you and jump ahead. Working together is the surest way to a resolution.

5. Listen carefully to everything the tech is telling you. Most techs have a wealth of knowledge they are more than willing to share with attentive callers.

6. Stick to the subject. Unless you are involved in a long procedure with lots of down time such as a complete Windows reinstall, avoid chit chat. There are many other people waiting to have their call answered (just as you were) and while you may not be working, the tech is.

7. Make sure you get all the help you need. If you have called for assistance with installing hardware, the technician should also help you install the drivers for that hardware. If you have more than one question, jot them down ahead of time so you don't forget them and have to call back.

8. Don't ask your support person to do something that is not their job. For instance, if you have called your computer manufacturer for assistance, don't also ask them to help you with an AOL problem. If you have called for help with installing software, remember it is not the technician's job to train you on that as well.

9. If your computer issue can not be resolved with one phone call, ask the technician to take ownership of it. Many techs are willing to go the extra mile for a friendly customer and will research your problem, then get back to you when they have the solution.

10. Say thank you. Support technicians are people too! If your tech has done an especially good job or kind act, ask if you can send an e-mail to their supervisor to express your appreciation, and then follow through.

Having to call for support on today's technology will probably never be a truly pleasant experience, but it doesn't have to be a painful one either. Don't be intimidated. Being prepared for the call and knowing what to expect ahead of time will make it easier for you and the technician on the phone. And you might just learn a tip or two along the way!

[Source: JoAnn Sommer]

Gizmo's Tech Treats: April 10 -19, 2011 Summary

2011-04-19T23:11:00.003-04:00

Restoring Vista’s “Show Desktop” Launcher Icon

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 09:38 AM PDT

Undoing an accidental delete.. Last week I had a client who had somehow or another deleted some Quick Launch shortcuts, and – now – wanted them back: most notably, the “Show Desktop” icon. (“Quick Launch” are the “shortcuts” [icons] next to the Start button, on the left of your Taskbar.) Turns out they missed the [...]

The Weekly Roundup (April 19, 2011)

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 02:43 PM PDT

Live Eagle Cam Gets Worldwide Audience

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 05:32 PM PDT

A Few Quick Tips + Friday Fun

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 08:23 AM PDT

Today a few “quick tips” for you on this TGIF. QT#1: Quick Tip One is a “keyboard shortcut”: You can quickly change the size of the icons on your Desktop by holding down the Ctrl key and scrolling your mouse wheel. Scroll forward to shrink them (to make room for more, maybe) or scroll back [...]

2011-02-25T09:59:00.000-05:00

Check out SchoolGenius.com

Freebies galore, inspiration and motivation to see yourself in a new light. See the people who took NOTHING and turned it into SOMETHING!

Read about the FAILURES who became SUCCESSFUL!

We all have dreams. Are we motivated enough to get past the rough stuff?

Lots of educational freebies for parents, teachers and students!

See especially the
BEST EDUCATIONAL DEAL ON THE INTERNET! KIDS! TEACHERS! PARENTS GRANDPARENTS! FOR LESS THAN $22 CAD you can access and download for the rest of your life the software created by the U.K.'s WONDERFUL GREYOLLTWIT!!

I am a former teacher who knows great software. I gave seminars on the topic!

Simon Hensby is a successful "failure" in my eyes. He gave up his regular job because his autistic kid was having trouble and could not cope in regular school. He lived on part-time jobs just to keep going. In the meantime he was creating useful educational software that an autistic child could use. Now millions of people and schools enjoy what he sacrificed to create! Now to me that is success!

SEE MORE AT SCHOOLGENIUS,com

Fwd: KLAB Daily Digest, February 25, 2011 - Don't Forget to Vote!

2011-02-25T09:49:00.001-05:00

If you have trouble viewing this email. Click Here.

Good Morning,

About.com Voting Open until March 8! Help Kaspersky WIN!
Vote for Kaspersky PURE Total Security for "Best Internet Safety Tool" - We are only 1% above one of the competitors... Let's boost that up today!
Vote for Kaspersky Internet Security for "Best Internet Security Suite"
Vote for Kaspersky Antivirus for Mac for "Best Mac Antivirus"

Lock up your passwords with ease
Today Tech, February 24, 2011
Suzanne Kantra of Techlicious published an article on easy ways to prevent password theft and how to manage passwords. She highlights Kaspersky Password Manager as one of her favorite products to use to keep passwords safe, secure, and manageable. Her article was syndicated to TODAY: Tech.

PayPal E-Mail Scam Phishes For Your Funds
MSNBC.com, February 24, 2011
A new batch of PayPal emails are targeting users of the site, snatching victims by posing as critical security warnings, Matt Liebowitz reports. Kaspersky Lab research is mentioned in this article. Read on to learn more.

Cybercrime Outlook 2020 From Kaspersky Lab
Securelist, February 21, 2011
Kaspersky Lab presents its forecast for the IT threat landscape for the period 2011-2020. The forecast is based on an analysis of the main changes and issues in the sphere of IT security over the past decade, as well as emerging trends in the development of personal computers, mobile phones and operating systems.

Have a good day,
Katie Boucher

Corporate Communications
PR-Americas@Kaspersky.com

Stay Connected to Kaspersky Lab

CFS Weekly Newsletter #569

2011-02-25T09:06:00.000-05:00

COMPLETELY FREE SOFTWARE

Alien Arena v7.45 -- Win9x/ME/WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)

Alien Arena is a multiplayer on-line deathmatch & stand-alone first-person shooter that combines a 1950s-era sci-fi atmosphere with gameplay similar to Quake. It features 3 levels of difficulty (single player mode), over 60 levels, 9 weapons (with alt-fire modes), 6 player characters, mutaters, 6 game play modes, in-game server browser, IRC client, excellent graphics, great sound effects, and more. This shooter rocks! With a similar 3D look 'n feel to Quake II, and old fashioned 1950s-style sci fi imagery, Alien Arena can either be played on-line as a deathmatch game or in single player mode. In single player mode it is fast action, with aliens attacking from all directions. Many times you only know they are there because you die. Graphics are fun, with "Mars Attacks!" style aliens waiting to take you out. While we didn't play Alien Arena in on-line deathmatch mode, the single player mode is superb, and quite challenging, specially on the higher levels of difficulty. Most Quake II trickjumps, such as strafejumping, will work in Alien Arena. If you love 3D corridor-style first person shooters then Alien Arena is a "must have". A sensational shooter! Access this 263MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gg9_w95.html#alienarena32

Boxoft PDF to Word v1.0 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)

Boxoft PDF to Word is a tool that converts Adobe PDF files to well-formatted Microsoft Word documents (compatible with Word 97 or later). It converts encrypted PDF files, it does not require Word or Adobe Acrobat to be installed on your computer, it can batch convert up to 200 PDF files, there is a Hot Directories mode, and more. This is an excellent way of converting PDF documents into Word DOC files that can be read by virtually all versions of MS Word (including Word 6.0, Word 97 and WordPad). The quality of the result depends on the amount of text and images in the original PDF file, but we were extremely impressed with this program when documents containing lots of text were converted. Because Boxoft PDF to Word is compatible with earlier versions of MS Word, what it lacks in layout ability it makes up by having output that is able to be read by a huge number of word processors, not just MS Word. It includes the Hot Directories mode which will monitor a location. Minimized to a tray icon, it works quietly in the background, automatically converting any PDF files placed in that location. If you want to convert PDF files to an editable file format, then Boxoft PDF to Word should be very high on your list of programs to use. We loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 1.75MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/tp4_w95.html#pdf-to-word32

BitDefender Free Edition -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)

BitDefender Free Edition is an on-demand virus scanner, best used in a system recovery or forensics role. It features virus scanning & removal, scheduled & immediate scanning, quarantine for infected files, reports (includes statistics about the scan process), integrates into the right-click Explorer context menu, a skinnable interface, and more. Unfortunately CFS was unable to review this program. The author says: "BitDefender Free Edition is your chance to use one of the world's most effective antivirus engines for free! BitDefender Free Edition uses the same ICSA Labs certified scanning engines found in other BitDefender products, allowing you to enjoy basic virus protection for no cost at all. BitDefender Free Edition is an on-demand virus scanner, which is best used in a system recovery or forensics role." The author also says that "By isolating the infected files in quarantine, the risk of getting infected diminishes. You also have the possibility to send these files for further analysis to BitDefender Labs". It should be noted that this version does not offer real-time protection against viruses. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 58.4MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gp3_w95.html#bdfree32

Sofonesia Image Watermark v1.0 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (4 doves)

Sofonesia Image Watermark is a program that adds watermark text to an image to protect it from being mis-used. It supports all popular image formats (JPG, BMP, PNG, TIF, EMF, WMF & EXIF), offers control over the look 'n feel of text (font, size, color, opacity, etc), you have control over the text position, and more. Adding a watermark to your images, specially if they are being posted on-line (for example, in your blog), is a good idea because people do copy many images for their own purposes. A watermark gives you an ownership of an image that is otherwise almost impossible to achieve. While Sofonesia Image Watermark does add a text-based watermark to your images, it is not very attractive and you cannot embed an image. Control over the placement of the text is not easy as the text seem to have a mind of its own if you click on the "Set" button. If you skip that stage then it does save your text where you positioned it. The only option for saving an image is the format in w
hich it was opened -- Sofonesia Image Watermark cannot save image to another format. If you want to add some text to your images, and you don't mind spending some time to get it exactly right, then give Sofonesia Image Watermark a look. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 444kB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/grp17_w95.html#SofonesiaImageWatermark32

PlayPad Digital Audio Player v1.12 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
PlayPad Digital Audio Player is an audio player. It supports all popular audio formats (MP3, WAV, WMA, M4A, VOX, GSM, RA, RAM, AU, AIF, FLAC, OGG, etc), offers playlist support (create & import), minimizes to the tray, track shuffle & repeat, drag 'n drop, and more. This is an excellent audio player for most audio files, though it doesn't play audio CDs (CDA). With playlist support you can import existing playlists, or create your own, and it can show or hide the library panel. Best of all it can minimize to the tray so that it can play in the background while you do other things on the computer. It offers all the regular functions, like track shuffle, repeat, pause, skip forward or back, etc. Unfortunately PlayPad Digital Audio Player lacks a good Helpfile. While the assistance available is poor, most people shouldn't need much help as it really is easy to use. Included with this program are button links to the author's other software for ripping and burning CDs, etc, but these are not free. One of the best audio players we have seen, PlayPad Digital Audio Player lacks only the ability to play audio CDs. We loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 278kB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/mp5_w95.html#PlayPad32

Gadget Gerz Clock v2.4 -- Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Gadget Gerz Clock is a screensaver displaying a desktop clock and calendar. It features a choice of over 35 clock styles, 4 calendar styles, weather for selected cities (mainly European), RSS feeds, reminder messages, it is highly configurable, and more. This is a nice screensaver with a functional clock and calendar face. Some features, like the weather information, might have limited appeal due to the lack of cities represented, but the message reminder is a great feature that many will find valuable. With a good selection of clock styles (both analog and digital) and the inclusion of a calendar on the screen, Gadget Gerz Clock is more than just a screensaver with a pretty face -- it has some value. Worth checking out if you like screensavers! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98, ME or XP. Access this 5.12MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/we9_w95.html#Gerz_Clock32

Task Manager Fix v2.0 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Task Manager Fix is a small utility that restores the Windows' Task Manager after it has been disabled by malicious software (virus, trojans, spyware, etc). To prevent the user from closing it, some malware (malicious software) disable the Windows' Task Manager. This tool restores the functionality of the Task Manager so malicious software processes can be identified and killed. Hopefully, Task Manager Fix is not a utility that you would use often, but you will be thankful if it is needed and you have already installed a copy on your computer. We liked! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 76kB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/du12_w95.html#TaskManagerFix32

Magic Encyclopedia v1.0.0 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Magic Encyclopedia is a Hidden Object game where the pieces are used to solve cunning puzzles. It features over 25 levels with more than two dozen mini-games, there are hundreds of hidden objects to locate, it has stunning animated graphics, a tutorial, and more. This is a spectacular game with many types of puzzles and mini-games to solve, all the time finding objects hidden amongst the scenery. Some of the mini-games and puzzles are quite challenging, others are relatively simple, but Magic Encyclopedia is not a game you will play in 5 minutes. The game itself is reported to be 78MB, but you must first download a 720kB "helper" file that downloads and installs the Free Rides Games Player, another 7MB, before downloading the full game. Magic Encyclopedia includes advertising, similar to TV adverts, and this is annoying more than intrusive or malicious. Playing Magic Encyclopedia is fun. It presents some serious challenges in some areas, but other parts are easy. The animated graphics are sensational and, overall, we felt the game was worth the enormous bandwidth. We loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 78MB+ download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gg15_w95.html#Magic_Encyclopedia32

UPDATES
PNotes -- a light-weight, flexible, skinnable manager of virtual "sticky" notes -- has been updated to version 7.0.107 with a download size of 905kB. The author advises that changes in this version include: enhanced search; search for selected text on the Web; option to hide "X" (Delete) button on note; trimming spaces & tabs from new note's default name; ability to insert date/time stamp; downloadable help files; and some bug fixes. Access this updated version from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/tp5_w95.html#PNotes32

Keyboard Indicator -- a set of 3 tray icons that indicate if the Caps Lock, Insert or Scroll Lock buttons are "on" -- has been updated to version 1.4.0.0 with a download size of 40kB. The author advises that changes in this version include: added more animations to choose from; added option for animation speed; and some bug fixes.This this latest version from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/du21_w95.html#KeyboardIndicator32

Freecorder -- a video downloader, audio recorder & converter -- has been updated to version 4.1 with a download size of 10.4MB. The author advises that this version now saves videos as MP3 files with one button click, and that deleting stored videos frees more disk space. Access this latest version from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/mp15_w95.html#Freecorder32

COMPUTER TIP OF THE WEEK
from Dr T -- RTemlak4dds@aol.com
Q. What does streaming mean?
A: You may have seen the word streaming in various places. Streaming often has to do with audio and video formats, so if you deal a lot with music or video in your daily computing activities, you may run across streaming quite a bit.
Basically, streaming is when a multimedia file is able to be played back on your computer without it being fully downloaded. It takes quite a bit of time to download media files, so streaming comes in to help display the data before the full file is transmitted onto your computer. For streaming to run smoothly, the data must be able to be sent as a steady stream while converting it to either sound or picture. If the data goes too fast for what your system can handle, that's when buffering (http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/787) comes into play.
On the other hand, if the data is not processed quickly enough, the stream will not run smoothly and it may be choppy while you listen to it or view it. An example of streaming is when you go to one of your favorite music artist's Web sites and they have a sample of their new song for you to listen to. This would be a streaming file, because you never actually downloaded the song. The option on the Web site is just a way for you to hear part of the song, so you will be interested in getting the whole thing later on. Files from Real Audio (http://www.real.com/dmm/superpass/entertainment.html?src=cj&pcode=cj&cpath=aff&rsrc=aff) or QuickTime (http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/win.html) are often streaming documents as well.
But, if you use shareware software from the Internet, or if you often download software updates, those are not streaming data, because you went through the complete download process of them for extended use.
[Source: Worldstart.com]

SMILE OF THE WEEK
(contributions for this section are most welcome)
WHY A DOG CAN'T USE COMPUTERS
~ He's distracted by cats chasing his mouse.
~ SIT and STAY were hard enough; CUT and PASTE are out of the question.
~ Three words: carpal paw syndrome.
~ Involuntary tail wagging is a dead give-away that he's browsing www.alpo.com instead of working.
~ The fire hydrant icon is simply too frustrating.
~ He can't help attacking the screen when he hears "You've Got Mail."
~ It's too messy to "mark" every Website he visits.
~ He can't stick his head out of Windows 7.
[author unknown]

CFS Weekly Newsletter #569

[ISSN 1441-6840]

Web Site: http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com

HOWDY

Great to be back with you for another week of fabulously fresh freeware.

We have an excellent line-up of free programs for your perusal below -- something for everybody. My personal favorites are PlayPad Digital Audio Player, an audio player, Boxoft PDF to Word, a tool that converts Adobe PDF files to Microsoft Word documents, and both the games we listed -- Alien Arena and Magic Encyclopedia. However, you may find that other programs tick more boxes for you.

We also have our regular columns -- Dr T's excellent Computer Tip of the Week, and our ever popular Smile of the Week.

To get access to the best downloads, why not take a minute and become a member of arguably the best freeware-only site in the world. More details from our members' page:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/join.html

What are you waiting for -- become a CFS "lifer" now, or try out the site with a 1-month, 1-year or 2-year membership. We are still half the price of most other sites and I think we offer the best value for your hard earned dollar.

One small point. If you sign up for a Lifetime membership through 2CheckOut.com you might be surprised to see that, according to them, a "lifetime" is only 12 years. That is because the number 12 is the highest number option they have -- 12 weeks, 12 months, 12 years. Don't worry, at the end of 12 years you will NOT be cut off if you are a CFS 'lifer' -- your membership will continue indefinitely...

Is your CFS membership going to expire soon? If you wish to extend an existing membership (without creating a new account) read this FAQ:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/faqs5.html#15

SPECIAL OFFER FOR SUBSCRIBERS

As a special offer to newsletter subscribers, anyone with a current 1-year membership can update to a Lifetime membership for just $25. Members with a current 2-year membership can update to Lifetime for just $15.

Please note that this is for current members only and can be used at any time during the period of a membership. Don't put it off because this offer may not continue indefinitely.

Make the appropriate payment ($25 or $15) using your credit card and tell us your username so we know which account to update. Click on this address to update your membership through PayPal:

http://www.completelyfreesoftware.com/paypal.html

(Payment is made through our parent company, Kooronya Holdings.)

Tech--for Everyone

2011-02-25T08:41:00.000-05:00

Tech--for Everyone

A Quick Announcement…

Posted: 23 Feb 2011 09:34 AM PST

Tech – for Everyone Honored With Prestigious Award Folks, I am very happy to share with you the news that this website was today awarded recognition from technology writer Rick Robinette on his What’s On My PC.. website’s 100th “Geek Squeak”. I am distinctly honored to receive the first ever Geek Squeak Award. Rick is [...]

Tech--for Everyone

2011-02-25T08:40:00.000-05:00

Tech--for Everyone

Service Pack 1 and Polite Phishing. OddJob & Meow.

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 09:59 AM PST

Service Pack Released. Holdouts can migrate to Windows 7 now. Last night my Win7 machine told me that there were Updates available. So, like I always do, I clicked to view the details. I noticed that one of the “Important” updates was not checked. So I looked closer and saw that it was indeed the [...]

Tech--for Everyone

2011-02-25T08:37:00.000-05:00

Tech--for Everyone

What is a “Virtual Machine”?*

Posted: 27 Jan 2011 08:36 AM PST

Yesterday’s article brought up the topic of VM’s (virtual machines). The following article was one of my early Tech – for Everyone efforts, and while it references XP frequently (the main OS of the day), required only slight updating. I hope you will enjoy it. One of the hot topics in the IT industry is [...]

Broadband Speed

2011-02-25T08:20:00.000-05:00

Broadband Speed

Is Google Dying?

2011-01-26T21:22:00.000-05:00

	FORUMS \| BLOG \| RSS \| MY PROFILE \| PRIVACY

Vol. 1, #53 - Jan 25, 2011 - Issue #463
	Is Google Dying?

Editor's Corner

Is Google Dying?
Follow-up: Laws regulating online life
Quotes of the Week

News, Hints, Tips and Tricks

To shorten or not to shorten; that was the question
New eBook application for XP and above
Apple removes XP (and Vista) from Boot Camp options
IT pros are still using XP

How To: Using XP Features

How to change the Categories arrangement in Control Panel

XP Security News

Mandatory Windows Live Messenger and Essentials Refresh for XP

XP Question Corner

Is there a way to automatically delete the contents of the paging file?

XP Configuration and Troubleshooting

Administrator can't unlock a locked computer

Fav Links

This Week's Links We Like. Tips, Hints And Fun Stuff

Product of the Week

DriverHive: Keep Your Drivers Updated - 80% of PC Crashes are Caused By Conflicting Device Drivers

VIPRE Antivirus is the Fastest Antivirus

VIPRE has the fastest real-time protection against 5 major competitors according to a comprehensive test by a leading independent testing organization in November 2010.

VIPRE processed 4,500 megabytes of file data in 195 seconds, compared to a benchmark of 127 seconds; the next closest competitor processed the same data in 233 seconds. Complete results are available upon request from GFI.
http://www.wxpnews.com/110118-SpeedMatters

Editor's Corner

Is Google Dying?

That might seem like a silly question, given the Internet behemoth's presence in almost everything. Google is still by far the top search engine, despite slow inroads being made by Bing. Their Android phone OS has overtaken Apple's iPhone in market share. They're preparing to release a new netbook operating system to compete with Windows and Linux on low powered laptops.

On the other hand, their stock is down 14.94 (or 2.38%) as I write this (but that's from a two year high of $639 in December). More troubling, perhaps, is the reason for this downward turn. Last week saw a major management shakeup within the company, with Larry Page taking over the CEO reins from Eric Schmidt:
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Schmidt

Next came the news that Schmidt, while not leaving the company, filed to cash out $335 million in Google stock. Remember the outcry, when Steve Ballmer sold $84 million of his Microsoft stock, about how it was an indicator that the company was in trouble?
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Sfgate

Companies go through reorganizations all the time; Microsoft has recently seen the departure or announced the pending departure of several key employees, such as Server and Tools Business (STB) Division president Bob Muglia and marketing chief/vice president Brad Brooks.
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Softpedia

http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Biz-Insider

Although Schmidt is staying with the company, some of Google's best and brightest have departed over the last year. Lars Rasmussen, co-creator of Google Maps, left to join Facebook. Key architect Matthew Papakipos also went over to Facebook. Android senior software engineer Cedric Beust left for LinkedIn.
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Tech-Crunch

http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Chrome

http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Android

Why are they leaving? The chief complaint we've heard from inside is that the company has grown too big and bureaucratic - the same problem that plagued Microsoft and before it, IBM. http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-NY-Times

Google is weathering storms on several fronts, too. Oracle filed a suit against the company last summer, alleging that Android infringes on their Java patents. Now we're hearing that there's evidence that Google directly copied some of the Java code.
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Guardian

If Oracle/Sun wins the lawsuit, will that kill Android? Probably not - but it could cost Google a pretty penny.

Google has been trying to position itself to own the cloud, but it has ignored the fact that a) a large number of consumers and businesses don't want the cloud in the first place and b) it faces some formidable competition from Amazon, IBM, Microsoft and others in that space - and these are companies with far more experience working with the enterprise market (where the real money is).

Google is also trying to position itself as the ultimate innovator, and has come out with lots of new technologies and services. However, many of these didn't go over too well. Business Insider named four of them - Buzz, Wave, Google TV and the Nexus One phone - in its list of the 15 biggest tech flops of 2010.
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Nexus

Even Google's prominence as the Search King is coming under attack. Many users are complaining that Google's search results have deteriorated recently, at least in part due to the way search optimization, content farms and paid advertising have skewed search results. Here is Google's response to those complaints:
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Google

Some analysts are even speculating that social media could eventually replace - or at least cut heavily into - the search business. In their vision of the future, when you want to find content, you just ask via a social networking site. This has the advantage of not being subject to manipulation as automated search results are.
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Social-Replace

Is this idea completely far-fetched? There is a lot buzz right now around a new social site called Quora. It's a Q&A site, somewhat like Yahoo Answers - but it connects to your Twitter and Facebook accounts and gleans from them the topics it thinks you would be interested in, and shows you questions pertaining to those topics. Something similar to this could be used to ask for pointers to various types of content. Check out Quora here:
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Quora

Tell us what you think about Google's future. Is it all downhill from here? Will the company turn itself around? Will Android thrive, or will Oracle bring it down? Will Chrome OS be a big success, or will it be on next year's list of the biggest tech flops? Is the management shakeup a good thing or a bad thing for the company? If you own Google stock, is it time to sell? Is there room for Google, Microsoft and Apple at the top of the tech heap, or will only one emerge victorious? Have you noticed a recent deterioration in the quality of Google searches? Tell us what you think in our forum at
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Discuss-This-Weeks-WXPNews-Here

Follow-up: Laws regulating online life

Last week's feature article addressed the increasing control being exerted over online behavior by governmental laws and regulations. There were a number of comments indicating that many people are not happy with this tightening of the reins, especially when it comes to rules made by an agency like the FCC that do an end-run around the legislative process.

George95662 made an interesting statement: "I'd love to sit down with some folks who have the teeth of law enforcement and show them how easy it is to flush out criminals on the 'net. They are literally everywhere, especially if $ is involved. Why they can't do this on their own is a better question." It happens that I'm currently working on an article for my Cybercrime column, published monthly by TechRepublic, that will provide some answers to that question. It's called What Makes Cybercrime Laws so Difficult to Enforce and explains some of the obstacles that law enforcement officials encounter, including jurisdictional issues and the nature of the evidence in such cases. Watch my Facebook page (Deb Shinder) or follow me on Twitter to be notified when it's published.

In response to fbanta, who quotes the fourth amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure to support his contention that a husband has no right to search his wife's "papers" without her permission: The constitutional protection applies only to governmental agencies, not to private persons, and applies only to search for evidence of a crime. While there may be statutory privacy laws in some jurisdictions that prohibit private persons from accessing others' "papers," the Bill of Rights doesn't. (And yes, I know what I'm talking about; I taught U.S. Constitution as a college criminal justice instructor for many years). For the record, I do agree with most of fbanta's other points.

As always, thanks to everyone who participated in the discussions!

'Til next week,
Deb Shinder, Editor
feedback@wxpnews.com

PS: Did you know this newsletter has a sister publication called Win7News? You can subscribe here, and tell your friends:
http://www.wxpnews.com/3UDXV2/100518-Win7News

And for IT pros, there's our "big sister," WServer News, at
http://www.wxpnews.com/3UDXV2/100518-WserverNews

Look up the WXPnews Fan Page and join us on Facebook!

Quotes of the Week

Bureaucracy defends the status quo long past the time when the quo has lost its status. - Laurence J. Peter

Bureaucracy gives birth to itself and then expects maternity benefits. - Dale Dauten

Every revolution evaporates and leaves behind only the slime of a new bureaucracy. - Franz Kafka

News, Hints, Tips and Tricks

To shorten or not to shorten; that was the question

I mentioned last week that three readers had requested that I be less "long winded" and keep the editorials shorter. Based on the responses I got to that, it seems they're in the minority. Many of you wrote to urge me to stick to the chattier and more in-depth format. In fact, those who prefer the "long form" outnumbered the "shorties" by over twenty to one. I want to give you what you want, but I know I can't please everybody, every time. I'll be trying to strike a happy medium when it comes to the length of the articles, and I thank you all for your input and for the kind words.

New eBook application for XP and above

Ebooks are becoming more popular all the time, and it's no wonder. Carrying around an armload of heavy hardbacks gets old fast, but you can carry hundreds of books on a tiny SD card when they're in electronic format. There are plenty of ebook reading applications out there - Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader and more - but now there's a new player in that game. KooBits offers some features that will appeal to those who still feel torn between ebooks and the paper variety. It lets you create custom categories for your books and drag them around to arrange them on virtual bookshelves. You can also bookmark, highlight and clip notes from your books, and the company wants to add more sophisticated features such as narration, animations and interactive elements. The software is available for Windows computers running XP and above. Find out more about it here:
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-PR

Apple removes XP (and Vista) from Boot Camp options

Apple's Boot Camp feature allows users to install Windows in a dual boot configuration on their Apple computers. The newest version of Snow Leopard has apparently removed support for Windows XP and Vista, and now requests only a Windows 7 installation disk. Whether or not you can ignore the text and install XP anyway isn't clear, but if any of our readers have tried doing so, please let us know your results. Read more here:
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Boot-Camp

IT pros are still using XP

This month, TechRepublic put up a poll to ask IT professionals what version of Windows is being used in their organizations. The assumption was that IT pros would be using the latest and greatest - i.e., Windows 7 - but so far the results have proven otherwise. As of the time of this writing, 66% responded that they're using Windows XP Pro, compared to 29% running Windows 7. You can keep up with the ongoing results and put your own vote in here:
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-IT-pros

How To: Using XP Features

How to change the Categories arrangement in Control Panel

Personally, I don't like the Categories view of Control Panel; I always immediately switch back to the "Classic" Control Panel view. But some folks find the categorization useful - yet don't necessarily agree that Microsoft has put everything into the right category. Well, if you're brave enough to venture into the registry, you can actually assign a different category to a Control Panel item. Here's how:

In your registry editor, navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Control Panel \ Extended Properties \ {305CA226-D286-468e-B848-2B2E8E697B74} 2
Now in the right pane, find the item that you want to recategorize. Double click it to bring up its properties box.
Change the DWORD value to the number that corresponds to the category where you want to place it. See the list below for the numbers for each category.

Other Control Panel Options - 0

Appearance and Themes - 1

Printers and other Hardware - 2

Network and Internet Connections - 3

Sounds, Speed and Audio Devices - 4

Performance and Maintenance - 5

Date, Time, Language and Regional Options - 6

Accessibility Options - 7

Add or Remove Programs - 8

User Accounts - 9

XP Security News

Mandatory Windows Live Messenger and Essentials Refresh for XP

If you're running Windows Live Messenger and other Live Essentials programs on your Windows XP computer, Microsoft has made it mandatory for all XP users to update the software. The update includes security updates as well as performance improvements and some bug fixes and it's been available for a while, but Microsoft is just now making it mandatory, and that's because of the security issues. You can find out more here:
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Messenger

XP Question Corner

Is there a way to automatically delete the contents of the paging file?

QUESTION:
I work with confidential information on my XP Pro computer, and even though I'm diligent about deleting files that contain something sensitive as soon as I'm finished with them, I worry that someone could find out information that's stored in the paging file or swap file or whatever you call it. I can delete the file before I shut down the computer every night but is there a way to make that happen automatically? Thanks! - Dean L.

ANSWER:
There is a registry edit that you can use to clear the page file whenever you shut down the computer. Here are the instructions:

In your registry editor, navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Session Manager \ Memory Management
Double click the item ClearPageFileAtShutdown to display its properties box.
Set the value to 1.

Note that if the item doesn't exist, you can create it as a new DWORD value. Also note this will make your system shutdowns slower. That's because all the data in the paging file is being overwritten with zeros.

XP Configuration and Troubleshooting

Administrator can't unlock a locked computer

When you restart your XP computer, you can't log on and you get an error message, telling you that the computer is in use and has been locked. But even though you're an administrator, you can't unlock it. What's up with that? This happens when the default screen saver is set to use a non-existent screen saver program or you use a corrupted screen saver that's password protected? What to do? KB article 242917 has the answer. Check it out at
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-MS-Support-242917

Fav Links

This Week's Links We Like. Tips, Hints And Fun Stuff

Disclaimer: WXPNews does not assume and cannot be responsible for any liability related to you clicking any of these linked Web sites.

The great Facebook dilemma
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Facebook-Dilemma
Surfing in the dark
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Gizmodo
Now THAT is brand loyalty
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Brand-Loyalty
Going off the grid
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Grid
Cool tiny robots
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Robots
The eyes have it
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Eyeball
Stunning, interactive 360 degree video view from a helicopter flying over Nimmo Bay. You can change the viewpoint in real-time:
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Helicopter
Lioness trusts man with her newborn cubs. The ultimate trust between man and beast:
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Cubs
Amazing acrobatic performance during halftime of the Alabama/Kentucky basketball game:
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Chinese

Product of the Week

DriverHive: Keep Your Drivers Updated - 80% of PC Crashes are Caused By Conflicting Device Drivers

80% of PC crashes are caused by outdated or conflicting device drivers. Out of date and incorrect system drivers can lead to driver conflicts, system errors, system crashes, poor operation, and slow PC performance. In the old days, Windows driver Issues typically resulted in the dreaded Blue-Screen-of- Death (BSOD). Today, things have changed. While faulty windows drivers or driver conflicts can still result in blue screen crashes, there are numerous other, less intuitive performance issues that can result, including: hardware not working properly, slow web surfing, slow boot times, system crashes, and overall sluggish computer performance Hardware manufacturers regularly update their drivers, in many cases to correct conflicts, stability, and performance issues. DriverHive will scan your computer, identify any out-of-date drivers you have, set a system restore point, and then download and install the most current drivers on your PC, transforming a typically tedious and time consuming task into a few quick clicks of the mouse. Maintaining updated drivers on your PC is one of the best ways to ensure top PC performance. Protect your system with DriverHive! Get a Free System Scan with DriverHive here to see if your PC drivers are out of date.
http://www.wxpnews.com/110124-Product-Of-The-Week

About WXPnews

If you have feedback or wish to write to the editor, write to us at feedback@wxpnews.com

Sunbelt Software
33 North Garden Avenue
Clearwater, Florida USA 33755

CFS Weekly Newsletter #568

2011-01-26T21:12:00.000-05:00

CFS Weekly Newsletter #568
[ISSN 1441-6840]
Web Site: http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com

COMPLETELY FREE SOFTWARE
Air Assault 3D v1.70 -- Win98/ME/WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Air Assault 3D is a fast action 3D helicopter shooter. It features 5 missions (incl tutorial), 5 landscapes, 20 levels, 5 levels of difficulty, 10 unique helicopters to fly, lots of weapons & power-ups, night missions & weather patterns, 1- & 2-player modes, excellent 3D graphics, various camera views, great sound effects, and more. Air Assault 3D is a frenetic war-based shooter where you pilot a helicopter through enemy territory, blasting away at everything that moves, and lots of things that don't. You collect powerups along the way, which includes missiles, health, new weapons, etc. While this is a standard shooter in many ways, the excellent 3D graphics and equally excellent sound effects put this shooter in the same category as the best of this genre. It is so much fun to play we felt that Air Assault 3D should carry a health warning -- "Playing this game is highly addictive!" If you enjoy fast action shooters with great graphics and sound effects then Air Assault 3D is a "must have". We loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 10.9MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gg11_w95.html#Air_Assault3D32

JaBack v9.03 -- Win9x/ME/WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
JaBack is a program that can automatically backup, synchronize and/or archive files & folders. It will backup to a standard ZIP format, file copy, it can automate multiple tasks, the scheduler can handle over 1,000 tasks per day, it can transfer backups via FTP or e-mail, it has an optional e-mail notification of task failure, and more. This is a great, but not-so-little, backup program that incorporates virtually all the bells and whistles anyone could want in a backup scheduler. Its list of functions is extensive and it includes a detailed Helpfile to ensure you get the best from this tool. Like most tools of this type, JaBack requires a small amount of education before you can get the best from it. However, once you are over the small learning hump, you will find that it is a powerful backup tool that offers a great number of worthwhile functions. We liked! Access this 39.0MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gp6_w95.html#jaba32

Clementine Music Player v0.5.3 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Clementine Music Player is a music player with an easy-to-use interface. It features an optional OSD (on screen display), you can listen to Internet radio (Last.fm, SomaFM or Magnatune), it has tabbed playlists (import & export M3U, XSPF, PLS & ASX), visualizations, it can carry out file conversions (into MP3, Ogg Vorbis, Ogg Speex, FLAC or AAC), it can edit MP3 & OGG tags, download album cover art, there is a queue manager, and more. This is an excellent music player that handles a wide range of playlists, a good range of audio formats, and it can convert between those formats,. It can be minimized to a tray icon so it is hidden away and plays in the background while you continue with whatever else you are doing on your computer. Even though it is still a beta program, it appears robust and stable, and the features we checked worked as they should. One of the better music players we have seen, Clementine Music Player is worth checking out. Note: we have been advised that thi
s program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 14.4MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/mp1_w95.html#Clementine32

SearchMyFiles v1.55 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
SearchMyFiles is a powerful, fully portable, desktop file search tool. It can search files on your computer by wildcard, by last modified/created/last accessed time, by file attributes, by file content (text or binary search), and by the file size. As the author says, it can "search all files created in the last 10 minutes with size between 500 and 700 bytes". Once you have created your file list, you can select one or more files, save the list to a file (text, HTML, CSV, or XML), or copy the list to the Clipboard. In many ways, this is a much more powerful search than the Windows "Search For Files And Folders" module, though it cannot search for text within a file. It also lacks an indexing feature. This means that it is an adjunct to the existing Windows search and not a replacement for it. SearchMyFiles includes a duplicate file finder so it can ensure that you aren't duplicating your files and wasting valuable hard drive real estate. It is also fully portable and requires no installation. It runs just as happily from a USB stick drive as it does from your hard drive. With its tiny size, we suggest that you keep a copy on your hard drive, and also another copy on your USB pen drive (the one with your backup on it that you carry at all times!). We loved SearchMyFiles and suggest you grab a copy for yourself. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 60kB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/du2_w95.html#searchmyfiles32

Greatis Image Print Wizard v1.0 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Greatis Image Print Wizard is a program that prints large images in multipage mode. It features a simple 3-step Wizard, you have control over image size (varies the number of pages required to print image), it has image zoom, you can print images on a single page, and more. This is an excellent way of printing a large image across multiple pages so they can be taped together for a poster-sized image. But it can also be used for printing images on a single page -- either full page or part of a page. When printing an image across multiple pages you can set a border so that you can allow for printers which cannot print to the edge of a page. These need to be trimmed before the pages are joined. Simple to use, Greatis Image Print Wizard is a terrific way of printing images -- either a single image to a page or a large image across multiple pages. We liked! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 361kB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/grp15_w95.html#GreatisImagePrintWizard32

SportPlayer v4.1 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
SportPlayer is a program that gives access to hundreds of live sport events broadcast across the Internet, sorted by sport or time. It supports Sopcast, TVU, JustinTV, Freedocast, BoxLive, and other formats. If you love sports, specially various sports from around the world, then check out SportPlayer. It gives you a huge selection of sports, and quite often multiple access points for each game. Some games are not described in English, depending on the country which is broadcasting the sport. This may not be the country where the sport is being played. Many of the broadcasts start with an advertisement, but these seem to come from the broadcasting site and not from this program. Check out your favorite sports with SportPlayer. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 3.57MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/ir7_w95.html#SportPlayer32

Baku v4.2.3933 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Baku is a small but powerful utility that repairs System Registry errors, and removes unneeded & duplicated files. It features a simple-to-use interface, it has 4 separate searches (unneeded files, Registry errors, MRU lists & duplicate files), the searches can be tweaked by the user, and more. With the four searches, Baku puts the maximum control back into the user's hands. Before a search you can tweak the search criteria and, when the search is complete, you have the option of selecting all files for deletion or only selecting certain files. Once you have removed all unwanted links, empty folders, 'History' folder contents, 'Recent documents' folder contents, cookies, temporary Internet files, etc you can use Baku to compact or compress the Registry, saving hard disk space and making Registry access faster. It automatically backups the Registry before changes are made and gives you the option to create a Restore point as well (always worth doing). Baku also has a small app let that lists hidden installations and allows you to uninstall any found, or check their Registry keys. It can also backup and restore System device drivers. Even though it has a plain Jane face and does not look very inspiring, Baku is a fantastic tool that all PC users should have. We loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 1.06MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/we2_w95.html#baku32

Puzzle RailWay Deluxe v3.0 -- Win98/ME/WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Puzzle RailWay Deluxe is a terrific puzzle where you build a railway track to keep the train rolling, while picking up all the workers, and arriving at the final station. It features 3 levels of difficulty, timed-based gameplay, a challenging puzzle, good graphics, fullscreen & windowed modes, and more. This is a great puzzle with blocks that must be moved (left mouse button) or rotated (right mouse button) so the train can continue to its destination, picking up passengers along the way. You also have to pick up coal, and contend with traffic lights and tunnels. If the train wasn't moving then Puzzle Railway Deluxe would be relatively easy, but because the train is on the move you have limited time to make your choices and move the blocks containing the track. Of course, the more you play it the easier it becomes because you learn what blocks to move, and where, but the course is quite involved and it would take a long time to master every junction. Fun to play, but not too easy so you get bored, Puzzle Railway Deluxe is a great puzzle and a great way to kill an hour or three. We loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 3.46MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gg26_w95.html#PuzzleRail32

UPDATE
Keyboard Indicator -- a set of 3 tray icons that indicate if the Caps Lock, Insert or Scroll Lock buttons are "on", etc -- has been updated to version 1.3.0.0 with a download size of 36kB. The author advises that changes in this version include: the ability to change the font; more label positions to choose from; and opacity control. Access this latest version from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/du21_w95.html#KeyboardIndicator32

COMPUTER TIP OF THE WEEK
from Dr T -- RTemlak4dds@aol.com
Q:
When filling out a form online, why do I always have to fill in my e-mail address and password more than once? It's not hard to do, but it is a hassle. Got any explanations?
A:
I'm sure you're not the only one who has ever wondered that. It is true. Most of the time when you go to fill out an online form, you're asked to enter in your e-mail address and your password twice. Why is that? It just doesn't seem to make much sense. It's not that big of a deal and it's easy to do, but you're right, it is somewhat of a hassle, especially if you're in a hurry. So, there must be some valid reason why you're required to do this. Well, as a matter of fact, there is and it's actually all very plain and simple.
Most Web sites that have you fill out forms require you to enter your e-mail address twice simply for the purpose of making sure it was entered correctly. Perhaps your finger slipped when you were typing it in the first time. If you didn't have to enter it again, you wouldn't receive any of the informative e-mails from the Web site. But, since you typed your address twice, the Web site knows if everything matches up or not.

This is also done to eliminate any fake e-mail addresses. Any Web site who requires a form doesn't want a whole bunch of bogus e-mail addresses filling up their database. If they have to deal with a lot of phony addresses, it just takes longer for them to e-mail their information out to all of their customers. This is especially true if they have a huge list of clientele. If the e-mails with the fake addresses aren't able to go through, it holds up the process, wastes disk space and it just takes up too much time.

For example, you're obviously a subscriber of WorldStart's newsletters since you're reading this. Let's say we had a major problem with people entering in bogus e-mail addresses on our Web site. We send our newsletters out every single day (more than one newsletter at that) and if we had to wait on all the fake addresses, it would take forever for all of them to go out. Therefore, anyone who entered a correct address would have to wait extra long just to get their newsletters. What a pain, right?!
Now, for the password part of your question. You are required to enter your password twice for security purposes, obviously. Web sites want to know that you aren't trying to scam anything from them and by you putting in the same password twice helps them to rest at ease. It's also protection for you, because you can be sure your password is correct once you type it out twice. And hey, it gives you another chance to remember what exactly you chose to use as your password!
So, next time you're filling out a form online, don't feel hassled by having to duplicate your e-mail address and password. Feel safer knowing that Web site is going to protect you! Got it? Good!
[Worldstart.com]

Tech--for Everyone

2011-01-26T21:08:00.000-05:00

Tech--for Everyone

"This seems like a fairly simple question…"

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 09:36 AM PST

“Hi Paul, I’m just a single user with a question I apparently can’t get answered very easily by searching for it via the Internet. I’m hoping maybe you can ‘square me away’ by answering it. On it’s face, this seems like a fairly simple question. If I’m using an excellent antivirus program (which I am; [...]

CFS Weekly Newsletter #567

2011-01-25T20:15:00.000-05:00

(Mailing list information, including unsubscription instructions, is located at the end of this message.)
___________________________________________________
CFS Weekly Newsletter #567
[ISSN 1441-6840]
Web Site: http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com

My favorites are Wondershare DVD Slideshow Builder, a program that turns digital photos into movie-style slideshows, Chameleon Window Manager which adds up to six customizable buttons to the titlebars of all program windows, Steel Storm: Episode I, a frenetic, top down arcade shooter, Word Artist, a small tool that creates excellent 2D & 3D text effects, and... Well, check them all out because what floats my boat may not float yours.

We also have our regular columns -- Dr T's excellent Computer Tip of the Week, and our ever popular Smile of the Week.

To get access to the best downloads, why not take a minute and become a member of arguably the best freeware-only site in the world. More details from our members' page:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/join.html
COMPLETELY FREE SOFTWARE
Steel Storm: Episode I v1.00.01723 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Steel Storm: Episode I is a frenetic, top down arcade shooter with score oriented competitive gameplay. It features single & multiplayer modes, deathmatch & coop game modes, 6 missions of various difficulty, mission editor, hordes of enemies to destroy, vast numbers of destroyable structures & obstacles, huge territories to reclaim, quick games, highly configurable, and more. This is a game for people who have limited time and want fast-action shooter. You control an advanced hovertank, packed with the most advanced and sophisticated weapons (of course) which is set in an alternative universe. You are fighting with, as the author says, "presumed extraterrestrial invaders". The action is fast and furious, and you must expect to lose many battles before you can hope to win this war. If you don't have a gamepad you can play using mouse and keyboard, but the default movement keys are WASD. These can be changed to, say, the arrow keys if, like us, you find the arrow keys easier to use. Graphics are excellent, animation very good, and the game has a high addictive index -- you'll find yourself coming back to Steel Storm: Episode I regularly as you master the strategies required to overcome the enemy. If you enjoy fast-action games that are over in a few minutes (one way or the other) then Steel Storm: Episode I is for you. We do, and we loved this not-so-little shooter. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 258MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gg18_w95.html#steelstorm-ep1_32

Chameleon Window Manager v1.0.0.113 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Chameleon Window Manager is a small utility that allows the user to add up to six customizable buttons to the titlebars of all program windows. These allow the user to minimize a window to the tray, minimize a window to the title bar, keep a window always-on-top, it offers variable window transparency, and it will position a window at the left or right of screen (with an optional half screen window so you can run two program windows side-by-side). It adds a group of buttons next to the normal titlebar buttons on the top right hand side of a program's window. These allow the user to better control the window. The buttons are customizable, you can change the order of the buttons, and Chameleon Window Manager will auto-start with Windows. This is an extremely handy tool that, once used, you will wonder how you lived without. Simple to use, Chameleon Window Manager puts more power back in the hands of the user by allowing better control over program windows. We loved! Note: we ha
ve been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 3.77MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/we3_w95.html#cwindow32

Yadis! Backup v1.9.17 -- Win98/ME/WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Yadis! Backup is a simple file/folder backup. It features a Wizard-style interface, it copies files or folders anywhere on the computer, marked folders are backed-up real-time (no scheduling needed!), and more. This is a neat little backup program that copies selected files or folders to a specified location (often a USB drive). Backed up files do not need Yadis! Backup to access them as they are simply copied to the new location. If that location is not currently available, the backup will occur when the location next becomes available (ie a USB pen drive is inserted). While Yadis! Backup lacks many of the bells and whistles of many other backup tools, its appeal is in its simplicity -- you don't need to hold a PH.d in Computer Science to use it. If you are looking for a basic backup tool that does not archive or compress files (ie copies them without change) then Yadis! Backup could be exactly what you are looking for. We liked! Note: we have been advised that this program
is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 1.07MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gp9_w95.html#YadisBackup32

Driver Identifier v3.0 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Driver Identifier is a small tool that scans a PC for outdated drivers. It features automated driver installation, driver update capability, updates previously installed drivers to their latest versions, simplifies downloading new drivers from the Internet, and more. Updating drivers on a computer can be a laborious task, but Driver Identifier helps to take the pain out of it by scanning your computer, comparing your existing drivers with its database on the Internet, and giving you a list of all drivers with links to updated versions if any exist. Simple. Of course, like most products of its type, you get a few false readings and, when you download those driver sets (often more than 50MB each) you may find they are not for your computer. However, generally the driver list is accurate and you can update your computer's drivers with the minimum of fuss. Driver Identifier requires an active Internet connection so it can access the updated database. One of the easiest to use dri
ver updaters, Driver Identifier is worth checking out. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 411kB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/du10_w95.html#driveridentifier32

Wondershare DVD Slideshow Builder v6.0.2 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Wondershare DVD Slideshow Builder is a program that turns digital photos into movie-style slideshows for DVDs, YouTube and mobile devices. It features over 130 Hollywood-like movie styles, more than 60 DVD menu templates, includes a timeline to organize & edit content, text effects create animated titles, an image editor, you can add music with or without voice-over, it offers a full-screen preview, supports 4:3 & 16:9 aspect ratios, captures photos from cameras or other connected devices, and more. It isn't often we see a program that makes us simply say "Wow!" Wondershare DVD Slideshow Builder is one such program. It creates professional slideshows of still images, with full fade-in and fade-out effects (select from a list or use the random option), full control over DVD menus, and much more. Images can be edited within Wondershare DVD Slideshow Builder and there is even an automated image "repairer". You can add pre-audio (a sound clip at the very start), clip art, and lots of other effects. It includes a large number of clip art and pre-audio clips. The final slideshow can be burnt directly to a DVD, saved as an ISO file (great for making multiple DVDs to share with your friends), or as a video file. It supports FLV, F4V and SWF Flash video formats suitable for YouTube, FaceBook and most mobile devices (PSP, Android & Nokia phones, etc) and it also supports common AVI, WMV. MPG, etc video formats, including HD versions of them. There are some limitations which are lifted in the Pro version, but we found little that wasn't available in this free version. There is so many features and functions included with the free version of Wondershare DVD Slideshow Builder that we could not list them all. Let it be suffice to say that this is a superb program and one that anyone with a digital camera will love. Grab a copy now! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 41.8MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/mp2_w95.html#freedsb32

CodeLobster PHP Edition v3.6.1 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
CodeLobster PHP Edition is a PHP, HTML, CSS & Javascript editor. It features code highlighting, HTML inspector, debugger, dynamic help, advanced autocomplete, portable option, pair highlighting, browser preview, and more. Unfortunately CFS was unable to review this program. The author says: "Codelobster PHP Edition streamlines and simplifies PHP development process. You don't need to keep in mind names of functions, arguments, tags and their attributes; methods etc -- we've implemented it for you in the autocomplete feature for PHP, HTML, JavaScript and even CSS. Also, you can always get necessary help information by F1 or using special Help control. Internal free PHP Debugger allows validating code locally. It automatically detects your current server settings and configures corresponding files in order you can use the Debugger." CodeLobster PHP Edition can be used with a a number of plug-ins which are available for purchase. These are CakePHP plug-in, CodeIgniter plug-in, D
rupal plug-in, Facebook plug-in, JQuery plug-in, Joomla plug-in, Smarty plug-in, and WordPress plug-in. CodeLobster PHP Edition requires free on-line registration before it can be used. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 13.7MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/ir6_w95.html#CodelobsterPHPEdition32

Word Artist v1.2 -- Win98/ME/WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Word Artist is a small tool that creates excellent 2D & 3D text effects. It features over 170 editable effects' templates, an effects' editor to create your own effects, the effects can be varied by changing font/color/attribute, it saves effects to any of 5 popular image formats (BMP, JPG, GIF, PNG & TIF), text effects can be printed, and more. This is a cool little program that creates amazing text effects. You can use any of the preset templates (all of which can be edited) or you can create your own effect with the effects' editor. Even using the preset templates, your text can be altered dramatically by changing the font, font size, font attribute, or any of the three basic text colors plus the background color. The angle of the text (and its background) can be altered, and even the background canvas size can be changed. We were most impressed with Word Artist. For such a simple little tool, that anyone could use, we found the effects amazing. If you are looking to creat
e text effects then Word Artist should be high on your list. We loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 526kB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/grp5_w95.html#WordArtist32

Babobab Solitaire v1.0 -- Win98/ME/WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Babobab Solitaire is an unusual solitaire cardgame where you must get a score of 21 either vertically or horizontally. It features timed gameplay, it is easy to play but challenging, good instructions, has excellent graphics, good background music & sound effects, and more. This is a great way to kill an hour or two. In this game you are faced with a 4 x 4 grid and a stack of cards. Click on any of the 16 squares and the top card will be moved there. Get exactly 21 points (Aces are 1 or 11, court or picture cards are 10, and all others are their numeric value) either vertically or horizontally. If you go over 21 points in either direction (column or row) you lose those cards, and some points. With its good graphics and pleasant background music (which can be muted if you like), Babobab Solitaire is one of the better solitaire card games we have played. Simple in its gameplay, but challenging to gain high scores, Babobab Solitaire makes a good change from the perennial Freecel
l, or Klondike. Grab a copy and see what everybody's talking about. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 3.27MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gg27_w95.html#baobab-solitaire32

UPDATE
TranslateMe -- a translation & dictionary utility - has been updated to version 0.1.0.3 with a slightly smaller download size of 1.94MB. The author advises that changes in this version include: adding a settings option in the tray icon context menu, and some bug fixes. Get this excellent little program from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/tp2_w95.html#TranslateMe32

COMPUTER TIP OF THE WEEK
from Dr T -- RTemlak4dds@aol.com
Q: I lost my icon in bottom right hand corner that shows I'm connected to the Internet. How do I get it back?
A: Sometimes your Internet connectivity icon (located in the bottom right hand corner of your screen) can seem to disappear as if by magic. This is annoying when you want to find out information about your Internet connection like speed, packets sent and received or even just which provider you are connected too.
It's solved quite simply, though. It's different depending on which version of Windows you are currently running.
Windows XP:
- Click Start icon
- Scroll up to Settings
- Then click on Control Panel
- When the screen has loaded, click on the Globe icon called Network Connections
Now this part might be a little tricky if you use several Internet providers, but should not be a problem for most users.
- Right click on your preferred network then click Properties (It will be the one which has "Connected" status)
- When the new screen loads, make sure you are in the General tab.
- At the bottom, make sure the box is ticked which says "Show icon in notification area when connected". While you are here, you can also choose to get your computer to start or stop informing you about limited Internet connectivity by ticking the other box.
- Click OK and the icon should now appear.
Windows Vista/7:
If you are using Windows Vista or 7, then it is a completely different set of instructions, but just as simple.
- Click the right mouse button on the Windows task-bar
- Click Properties
- Change the tab over to Notification area
- Now, you have several options here. You can choose to show or hide Clock, Volume, Network and
Power by ticking or removing the tick from the boxes. (Note: Windows 7 has drop-down boxes)
- Put a tick in the Network box and make any other changes you wish
- Whilst here, you may also want to change the option where icons are removed from the task-bar if they are not clicked often. This should not be a problem if you click the Internet icon regularly though but is worth consideration.
- Click Apply
- Click OK and the icon should now appear
Also...
Just because the Internet Icon has disappeared does not necessarily mean the Internet is not connected. I always find it easier to open a Web Browser, search something and see if it loads to check connection. If you were looking to check connection speed then there are plenty of free tests available online with a Google search for "Free Internet Speed Test".
Your computer also might be set up with a setting that hides icons that are inactive. This is helpful if you have a lot of icons at once but can be an annoyance when you are trying to find one. This is easily solved by right clicking the task-bar, going to properties and looking for a ticked box which says something along the lines of "Hide Inactive Icons" and removing the tick.
If none of the above techniques work there are a few things you can do. If you have the settings of your system saved then you can revert back to those. This is likely for those of you with programs like Norton Anti-virus. Also, as a very last resort, you can save your files to an external hard-drive and reinstall your Windows system as the original settings include the icon on the task-bar.
[Source: Worldstart.com]

SMILE OF THE WEEK
(contributions for this section are most welcome)
=: 14 Signs You're Drinking Too Much Coffee :=
~ Starbucks is accepting bids for a franchise located in your house.
~ The National Bank of Columbia has offered you a Platinum Visa card with zero percent interest.
~ Folgers has offered you a "distributors" franchise for your block.
~ Your co-workers are getting rich buying stock in companies that manufacture foam coffee cups.
~ You just went to the store and bought ten cases of non-diary creamer "to get you through the week".
~ Those strange footprints in the ceiling of your office.
~ You haven't slept in a week and no one notices, not even you.
~ You find yourself sneezing Folger's Crystals.
~ Juan Valdez starts sending you hand-written Thank You notes.
~ You eat garlic to overcome coffee breath.
~ Your dentist upgrades to a belt sander.
~ Alvin & the Chipmunks start to sound like Barry White.
~ Auctioneers begin to make sense.
And the number 1 Sign You've Had Too Much Coffee...
~ YYoouu ssttaarrtt ttyyppiinng lliikkee tthhiiss..
[author unknown]

COMMENTS
We would like to thank the regular visitors to the CFS site who have told us their favorite freeware. If you have a favorite program which isn't listed on the CFS pages we invite you to share that information with everyone through this site and this newsletter.
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CFS Weekly Newsletter #566

2011-01-13T12:23:00.002-05:00

CFS Weekly Newsletter #566

3D Ant Attack v1.02 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
3D Ant Attack is a retro arcade game where you rescue people from a 3D city swarming with giant ants. It features challenging gameplay, simple 3D graphics, multiple camera views, multiple color schemes, multiple screen resolutions (including widescreen), and more. This is a remake of the classic 1983 Sinclair ZX Spectrum arcade game of the same name which was seen at that time as a breakthrough in 3D graphics. 3D Ant Attack is much harder to play than its simple graphics might indicate. You have to wend your way through a city infested with these giant ants, rescuing people as you go. As you progress through the game the people you save are harder to find. You can use a grenade to stun or kill the ants, or you can jump on them to stun them long enough to get to the next place of safety. Controls are simple, with the arrow keys for movement, the spacebar to jump, and the right Ctrl key to throw grenades. When throwing grenades, the distance they travel equates to how long you hold down the Ctrl key before releasing. Release too soon and the grenade will fall short and kill you. You will also get killed if the ants bite you often enough -- and you will become ant food. Even though this is a relatively faithful reproduction of this old game, 3D Ant Attack holds up well today. What it lacks in fancy eye candy it makes up for in challenge, and this is one remake that is very much still playable today by people who never played the original (unlike many remakes that rely on nostalgia for their popularity). 3D Ant Attack is a great way to kill an hour or three. We loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 5.73MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gg24_w95.html#AntAttack32

Easy Image Modifier v3.0 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Easy Image Modifier is a batch photo editor. It processes single images or entire folders, supports common image formats (JPG, BMP & PNG), offers basic image editing (resize, realign, change format, set watermark, rename, sort, resize unproportional, remove meta information, filter images, change file date, set JPG compression level, etc), and more. This is a simple photo editor which is designed for batch processing. It will resize all your images (optionally keeping the proportions correct), add a watermark, rotate images, and more. While Easy Image Modifier is not an alternative to Photoshop or other sophisticated image editors, for basic editing it is very good, and very fast. It supports three popular image formats, loading and saving to them, and converting between them. We also noticed that it processed GIF and TGA images too, but didn't allow you to save to those formats. The watermark feature was appreciated, but you could not change the opacity of the watermark, though you could change the location of the text, the font, and the font attributes (including color). While Easy Image Modifier is not designed to be a competitor to the commercial photo editors, as a batch image processor it works extremely well within its own limitations. Small, fast and efficient, Easy Image Modifier is worth having around for those quick batch jobs on your digital photos. We liked! Note we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 375k download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/grp8_w95.html#EasyImageModifier32

BitDefender Rescue CD -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
BitDefender Rescue CD is an ISO disk image that creates a bootable, Linux-based CD. It is designed to scan and disinfect all existing hard drives when the operating system is not working properly because of virus infections. The ISO image can also be mounted on a USB drive after following the instructions on the program's support page. Useful when virus infections have crippled your computer, this is a tool you will need to have downloaded before you have a problem. After the disk has been created, simply ensure that your computer will boot from your CD drive (this is set in the BIOS) and allow the computer to boot up using this Linux-based rescue disk. Once booted up, it will seek the internet to download the virus definitions, etc to be able to scan your computer. This is about a 15MB download. It will then scan your computer (all drives) and resolve any virus issues. While we were able to successfully boot up using BitDefender Rescue CD, we didn't have any virus activity that needed to be removed so we cannot comment on the value or otherwise of that part of the system. The Linux interface you see once the disk is booted up is very close to what you normally see with Windows, so most non-Linux users should have no trouble using this rescue CD. However, we suggest that, once the disk is created, a new user should boot into it and see what happens. You can stop the scan once it has started if you don't want to wait while it scans the entire computer. Once you have familiarized yourself with the disk you will feel more comfortable using it if there is a problem on your computer. The CD includes a few other tools, like a Web browser, but its primary task is to scan and clean your computer of malware. The biggest problem with BitDefender Rescue CD is that it needs an active Internet connection to get the updates, and there have been instances where it hasn't been able to access the network. This makes a pre-problem test all the more worthwhile. We were impressed with BitDefender Rescue CD. It is a large file to get, and you will have to burn the disk image onto a CD or DVD, but if you ever have problems with viruses (virii?) you will be pleased you took the trouble to be prepared. Grab a copy of BitDefender Rescue CD now! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 319MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gp5_w95.html#bitdefender-rescue-cd32

SSDLife Free v1.0.12 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
SSDLife Free is a compact SSD (solid state drive) diagnostic tool. It displays general & technical information about an SSD, checks the SSD health status, displays a detailed on-line SSD health status report, and more. Unfortunately CFS was unable to review this program. The author says: "Today, more and more users decide to replace conventional hard drives in their desktop PCs and laptops with modern, silent and fast solid state drives (SSD). Since the price of these new devices is still rather high and they are often used for storing sensitive data, regular checks of the status of these drives can be an efficient means of early problem detection and can prevent potential data loss. Among all other disk management tools, there are specialized applications that are created specifically for SSD devices and support the majority of controllers and storage devices available on the market. If you take SSD's seriously and have already replaced conventional hard drives with SSD units, don't forget that their life expectancy is considerably shorter than that of regular hard drives. The age of these devices is relatively short and you should be financially and organizationally ready to replace them when the time comes." There is a Pro version and a Free version of this product. The author says: "The main feature of the paid version is the possibility to run disk checks (scheduled) in the background mode, display detailed information about SMART attributes and tweak the system for use with SSD drives." If you have a solid state drive (SSD) then grab a copy of SSDLife Free. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 1.55MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/du8_w95.html#SSDlife-Free32

Hewbo Video Converter v1.50 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Hewbo Video Converter is a tool that converts videos to AVI, DivX AVI, XviD AVI, 3GP, 3G2, MP4, WMV, MKV, TS, FLV, SWF, MOV, GIF, MP3, MP2, OGG, WMA, WAV, AAC, AC3, AU, MMF & M4A formats, as used on iPhone, iPod, iPad, Apple TV, Android devices, PSP, PS3, XBOX360, ZUNE, Nokia, BlackBerry, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, LG, Samsung, Blu-ray disc, NTSC DVD, PAL DVD, and more. This is a video to video (and audio) converter that covers virtually every filetype you can imagine. It will even convert a DVD's VOB file to any of the supported formats, though most movies have multiple VOB files (usually of 1GB each) so you might have to convert them separately and then combine them using a video editor. Hewbo Video Converter is extremely simple to use, and is suitable for both novice and experienced PC users. We had a couple of issues with Hewbo Video Converter. We assume that you must have all the appropriate codec library (like K-Lite) preloaded on your computer to attain the full range of
supported conversions. This is not outlined within the program, or on the author's Website. However, some codecs are included with the program, and some come with Windows, so most basic conversions should be covered. We were also disappointed in the consistent nagscreen for you to register (and pay) for the Pro version. Apart from the nagscreen, we could not find any restriction in the use of the free version, even though the nagscreen says that registering will: "Remove all limitations of free version." Maybe that is talking about the lack of batch processing... With its bland interface, a lack of any real information, and the annoying nagscreen, we didn't want to like Hewbo Video Converter. However, it works so well, and is so simple to use, it is hard to dislike. If you don't mind being nagged, and not being able to carry out batch processing, you will find Hewbo Video Converter an excellent conversion tool. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 3.55MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/mp8_w95.html#hewbo-video-converter32

KeepNote v0.6.5 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
KeepNote is a note taking application that stores all types of notes. It features rich-text formatting, you can include images, it uses an hierarchical organization for notes, it offers a full-text search, you can add an integrated screenshot & file attachments, it offers backup & restore, auto-saving, and more. This is a great way of storing class notes, TODO lists, research notes, journal entries, paper outlines, etc. Using an hierarchical system, you can sort your notes easily, but still find what you are looking for quickly using the search function. You can add a screenshot to your notes, add highlighting to the text, and even share your notes with users of KeepNote using other operating systems (Linux & MacOSX) as notes are implemented in Python and PyGTK. You can also archive your notes to a ZIP file. One of the better hierarchical notetakers, KeepNote is worth a look. Check it out now! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 7.43MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/tp3_w95.html#keepnote32

Tapin Radio v1.20 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Tapin Radio is an Internet radio station player. It features over 10,000 preset stations sorted by country & genre, includes worldwide air traffic control & rail radio traffic transmissions, you can record the active station (including separate song files), save stations as Favorites, it supports most Internet radio formats (MP3, WMA, OGG, AAC+, etc), there are regular station preset updates, and more. This is a great way of accessing radio stations from around the world -- and even recording their output. It offers over 60 categories of station (genres), each sorted by country, and a growing list of Internet radio stations. You can also listen to many air traffic control transmissions from around the world. To make it even better, it can record individual song tracks, automatically separating them. Cool. Sound quality is generally excellent, though this does depend on the quality of the transmitted audio of the individual station. While the interface is a little bland, it is very functional and the program can be minimized to the tray and run in the background. We were impressed with Tapin Radio. The navigation is a little clumsy but you can easily select the station you wish to hear and even save it as a Favorite for fast access next time. If you enjoy listening to the radio through your computer then grab a copy of Tapin Radio. We liked! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 7.70MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/ir4_w95.html#tapinradio32

Mudding Racer v1.0 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (4 doves)
Mudding Racer is a top-down, dirt track, 4x4 racing game. It features an intelligent opposition that is able to recover from scuffles with greater ease & get back onto the course, improved physics, customizable 4x4, and more. In Mudding Racer you use the arrow keys to move your vehicle -- up/down for forward and reverse, left/right for steering. You play the game looking down on a very bland track with some straights and a few hair-pin bends. Because you are trying to control your 4x4 with the arrow keys from a different perspective it is awkward to play. Combined with boring scenery and childish vehicles, Mudding Racer is not a game that will bring you back to play it again unless you have masochistic tendencies. We don't, so we were happy to uninstall Mudding Racer from our computer. Save your download bandwidth for a better racing game (of which there are many!). Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 2.50MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gg56_w95.html#muddingracer32

COMPUTER TIP OF THE WEEK
from Dr T -- RTemlak4dds@aol.com
Q:
I would like to remove some programs from my computer, but when I go to the Add/Remove Programs section of the Control Panel, the Change/Remove button that's normally there is missing. What can I do to get it back so I can get these programs uninstalled from my PC? Any help you have would be greatly appreciated!
A:
Wow, that has to be so frustrating! I have to admit that I have never had this happen to me before. (On another note, I also have to admit that I don't go through and remove my programs like I should sometimes. Shhh! Don't tell on me!) Either way, I still feel your pain with this one and after a little research, I was able to find a quick fix for this. Let's check it out, shall we?!
First of all, if some of you aren't quite sure what I'm talking about, go to Start, Control Panel and select the Add/Remove Programs link. There you will see a list of all the programs you have installed on your computer. If you run down through that list and highlight your programs, there should be a Change/Remove button for each of those applications. With that button, you can control all that you do with your programs.
You can either change them or completely remove them from your computer. So, as you can see, if that button isn't there, all your control is gone and that is what's ailing the person who asked today's question. With all that said, let's get on with the show!
Warning: For this tip, you will be working in your Registry Editor, so before you begin, make sure you're comfortable using it. The Registry Editor is not a tool to just play around with. If you make a mistake, you could risk messing up other parts of your computer and so on. If you're not 100 percent sure you can do this, please ask someone who is for some help.

When you're ready, just simply follow these steps to get your Change/Remove buttons back:

1.) Go to Start, Run and type "regedit" (without the quotes) into the box. Click OK and the Registry Editor will open for you.

2.) Then navigate to this location: "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\<Program Name>." (Note: for the program name, you'll want to look for the program you want to remove from your computer).

3.) In the right pane, double click the NoRemove choice (REG_DWORD) and set the value to 0 (zero). If it happens to be set to 1, the Remove button will not be available.

4.) Back in the right pane, double click the NoModify option (REG_DWORD) and set it to 0 (zero) as well. If this happens to be set to 1, the Change button will not be available.
Now, you will need to do this for each program you want to remove, but once you change those two values, click OK and close everything else out. Then go back to the Control Panel and look through your list of programs.
All of the Change/Remove buttons should be back for you and you can then continue removing all those unnecessary programs from your computer. No more missing buttons. Oh yeah!
[Source: Worldstart.com]

www.completelyFREEsoftware.com

CFS Weekly Newsletter #556

2011-01-10T21:58:00.001-05:00

___________________________________________________
CFS Weekly Newsletter #556
[ISSN 1441-6840]
Web Site: http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com
SPECIAL OFFER FOR SUBSCRIBERS
As a special offer to newsletter subscribers, anyone with a current 1-year membership can update to a Lifetime membership for just $25. Members with a current 2-year membership can update to Lifetime for just $15.

Please note that this is for current members only and can be used at any time during the period of a membership. Don't put it off because this offer may not continue indefinitely.
Make the appropriate payment ($25 or $15) using your credit card and tell us your username so we know which account to update. Click on this address to update your membership through PayPal:
http://www.completelyfreesoftware.com/paypal.html
(Payment is made through our parent company, Kooronya Holdings.)

COMPLETELY FREE SOFTWARE
Sky Battle: WW2 v1.0 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Sky Battle: WW2 is a World War II dogfight flight simulator. It features 3 game modes (Campaign, Quick & Training), a choice of playing as Allies or Germans (Campaign mode), 25 planes, 3 levels of difficulty, 10 missions to fly (Campaign mode), you also attack Zeppelins & ground targets, OSD (including radar), good 3D graphics, and more. This is an excellent flight simulator where you have dogfights with enemy aeroplanes and Zeppelins, and attack ground based targets. The mouse-based controls are simple to use, though it takes a while before you become an Ace pilot. The main guns are fired using the left mouse button. The aeronautical physics are excellent, though you cannot climb your plane above 3,500 feet. When climbing, planes slow down and can stall, and they accelerate when diving. Unfortunately Sky Battle: WW2 is spoilt by the inclusion of intrusive advertising using the Ask toolbar in your Web browser, as your homepage, and using Ask as your search engine. While the Ask toolbar is often automatically disabled by the Internet security tools built into most modern anti-virus programs, we consider it "intrusive" because this type of advertising is separate to the host program and is not removed when the host program is uninstalled. It also runs independently of the host program. Sky Battle: WW2 cannot be played unless you agree to the Ask advertising being installed. That aside, Sky Battle: WW2 is an excellent flight and dogfight simulator, and a fantastic way to kill an hour or three. In spite of the Ask advertising, we loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 28.6MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gg8_w95.html#SkyBattleWW2_32

Free Image Printer v1.0.2 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Free Image Printer is a printer driver that "prints" to PDF or an image. It can export to HTML/RTF/XLS, it supports 7 image types (BMP, GIF, JPG, PNG, TIF, EMF & WMF), can print & e-mail in one operation, it is simple to use, and more. This is an interesting program that can be found as a "printer" in your printer control dialog box so, when selected, sits between the printer and the document. You can use it for normal printing, or it can convert your printable document into a PDF file or an image. It can create a single HTML page of your printable document, though it displays the document as a series of PDF images, one for every page of your document. Those page images are formed into what could be a very long HTML page. It can also create an XLS or XLSX (Excel) Workbook of your document though, like the HTML page, it simply places an image on the XLS or XLSX page. However, the main function of Free Image Printer is to turn a printable document into either a PDF file or into
one of the seven supported image types. If you want to convert a printable document (or even an image) into a PDF file then Free Image Printer is an excellent way to carry this out. We liked. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 6.47MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gp3_w95.html#freeimageprinter32

Free Video Converter Factory v2.0 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Free Video Converter Factory is an easy-to-use video converter. It supports over 100 file formats (including HD & most mobile device formats), extracts audio from video, batch conversions, user-defined profile, thread priority for CPU for fast conversions, customizable output, and more. This is a fabulous multimedia converter that not only supports a huge variety of video and audio formats, but is extremely fast. You can use it to convert between audio formats, between video formats, or to extract the audio from a video. Free Video Converter Factory supports DVD movie formats too, so you can rip DVD VOB files and convert the video to a more appropriate video format, or even extract the audio from a DVD. Cool. It lacks some handy features, like video cropping and merging, though, surprise, surprise, these features can be found on the Pro version. We really liked Free Video Converter Factory. It is an excellent too for all multimedia file conversions. Try it for yourself! Note:
we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 7.67MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/mp1_w95.html#video-converter32

RunScanner v2.0.0.47 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
RunScanner is a startup and hijack analyzer which scans your system for all configured running programs. It features scanning of more than 100 startup/hijack locations, Beginner & Expert modes, on-line malware analysis, powerful process killer, file filtering, host file editor, analysis of file certificates, and more. With the proliferation of malicious software (malware), Web users are more and more subject to attack from a variety of sources. RunScanner is a powerful tool to analyze running processes and give the user the opportunity to stop them. However, it is the on-line services which make this an exceptional tool. You can post a copy of your processes to a forum. An expert then advises which (if any) processes are suspect and which to kill. RunScanner is one of those "why didn't I have this before I lost all my data" tools and we consider it a "must have" for both beginners and expert PC users. Awesome! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for W
indows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 1.57MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/we2_w95.html#runscanner32

MP3 Free Downloader v2.5.9.2 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
MP3 Free Downloader allows the user to listen on-line and/or download MP3 songs for free. It features a Hot Songs category, you can search over 100 million on-line MP3 tracks, preview as many songs as you want before downloading the ones you want, it is simple to use, and more. If you enjoy downloading music from the Internet then MP3 Free Downloader is worth checking out. The free version has limitations -- like you can only download one track at a time, there is a limit of five downloads per day, and there is no Advanced Search function -- but generally it provides an excellent service for music lovers. The author claims that you can download the MP3 legally free but, while the program might be legal, the sites providing the downloads may infringe some copyrights on commercial music. In this program, the site that supplies the music is hidden from the user so you cannot select specific download sites or check to see the legality of the downloaded music. We urge caution when
downloading any commercial track. That said, MP3 Free Downloader is an easy way to access some of the best music tracks freely available on the Internet. However, it is the limitations of the free version that make this of lesser value than it could have been. If you don't mind being limited to just five downloads per day then grab a copy of MP3 Free Downloader. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 6.80MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/ir5_w95.html#MP3FreeDownloader32

Lingoes v2.7.1 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Lingoes is a dictionary and multi-language translator. It supports text translation to over 60 languages, built-in dictionary & on-line dictionary lookup, hotkey activated single-word dictionary lookup, text can be spoken out loud, access 23 different search engines & information sites (like Wikipedia & Encyclopaedia Britannica), 6 separate tools (currency conversion, unit conversion, International dialing codes, International time zone converter, International phonetic alphabet & Periodic Table of Elements), and more. This is an excellent tool that most Internet users will find invaluable. Apart from being a regular dictionary, it offers definitions and information from a number of Internet sources, including a text translation service into over 60 languages. Lingoes gives the definition of any word under the cursor when the hotkey is activated. The definition is displayed in a popup window which does not interfere with what you are doing. The default hotkey for this activat
ion is the right mouse button and the Control key so it should not be accidentally activated. It also offers six small tools which should be well used in their own right. In fact, those six additional tools are worth the download on their own! It is hard not to be enthusiastic about Lingoes. It offers such a raft of features and functions that it should appeal to virtually every on-line PC user. We loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 5.12MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/tp1_w95.html#lingoes32

PassMark DiskCheckup v3.0.1002 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
PassMark DiskCheckup is a small utility that monitors the SMART (Self-Monitoring Analysis & Reporting Technology) attributes of a hard disk drive to determine a possible future hard drive failure. It also displays device information, such as the drive geometry, serial number, model number, media rotation rate, and supported features of the hard drive, and can notify the user via e-mail when an attribute has been detected to be less than the allowable threshold value. This is a useful tool for keeping a watch on your hard drive so you get a warning of a possible disk failure. It offers a massive amount of data, much of it unnecessary for the majority of users. This can mean that PassMark DiskCheckup is not used to its fullest potential, which is a shame because it offers a very valuable service. We were also a little disappointed in the quality of the information provided. For example, under Raw Read Error Rate the Helpfile says "Represents the rate of uncorrected read errors.
Lower values indicate that there is a problem with either disk surface or read/write heads." This is valuable information but there is no indication how to interpret the data. If your hard drive was reported as having a Raw Read Error Rate with a value of, say, 115 and a "worst" value of 99, is this good, passable, bad, or disastrous? There is no indication within the program to advise a worried user, even though it might still be within acceptable tolerances. Until the authors can offer more valuable information about the data being collected, we urge caution. While we regularly decry programs that treat users like idiots and don't give sufficient data, in cases like this the raw data can be confusing unless it is fully explained. PassMark DiskCheckup is an excellent program that suffers from a lack of detailed Helpfile to assist users to interpret data. We suggest it is used with caution unless you are technically competent and already understand the data. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 648kB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/du3_w95.html#diskcheckup32

Diner Dash Hometown Hero v5.0.0 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Diner Dash Hometown Hero is a role playing game (RPG) where you must revitalize your hometown by bringing 5 restaurants back to life. It features over 50 story mode levels, superb graphics, addictive gameplay for the whole family, and more. This is a strange game because you, as Flo, start off by being a waitress and you must serve customers (and keep them happy) while your Grandma, Florence, cooks their meals. This is surprisingly addictive and, if you've never done any waitressing work, might come to realize that it isn't always the easiest job to do. Graphics are excellent, and the game really does draw you in and keep you playing. The biggest annoyance with Diner Dash Hometown Hero is that the bulk of the game must be downloaded when you start to play -- the initial install file is just a starter for the main program, which is over 31MB in size (the starter is a 720kB download) plus you will automatically download a 7MB Free Rides Games player unless it is already install
ed on your computer. If you don't mind the game size, and you don't mind trying your hand at running restaurants, and you enjoy role playing games, then Diner Dash Hometown Hero is for you. We liked it more than we thought we would so grab a copy and try it for yourself. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 720kB (plus another 38MB) download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gg8_w95.html#Diner_Dash_Hometown_Hero32

COMPUTER TIP OF THE WEEK
from Dr T -- RTemlak4dds@aol.com

Q. Should I turn off my computer at night?
A. There are several reasons why it may be a good idea to turn off your computer at night. For some, it may not matter whether the computer is on or off. Most newer computers have a sleep mode when they are inactive which doesn't use much power.
However, in businesses or at home, it may be wise to turn off the computer at night for security reasons.

For example, computers connected to the Internet via DSL or cable modem are vulnerable to hacking if they are still connected. You can either turn off the connection or turn off the computer. You may need to keep the computer turned on, conversely, if the computer is used as a fax machine as well.

However, if you work from home and log into a business, you should definitely turn off the computer at night, or at the very least, log out from the business. Not only does leaving the computer on threaten the security of your personal computer, but it could also give hackers entry to your business.

Sleep mode on computers still uses some electricity, and the most economic thing to do is to turn off the computer at night, especially if you're is penny pinching. Saving electricity also has environmental benefits. Older computers may not have the sleep feature, so if you have an older computer you might want to turn it off to save money.

Obviously, laptops, which run on a battery, will have a longer battery life if they are turned off when not in use.

You may turn off the computer out of the common misconception that this will protect the computer from power surges. Actually, this is not the case. Even when people turn off their computer, the computer is still vulnerable to power surges if it's not hooked up to a surge protector. Be sure to purchase a good surge protector and do not skimp on money in this case. Find a well rated one that will protect your computer whether off or on from power surges.
Some computer experts suggest that certain programs benefit from getting a break at night, like Windows. Turning off the computer at night may help eliminate crashes during the day, since the program is rebooted when the computer is turned on again in the morning.
If you aren't concerned about money, computer security, and crashes, then you don't have to turn off the computer at night. But, since at least one of these issues is usually a concern, you might want to turn off your computer at night.
[Source: www.wisegeek.com]

*** Note: it is also advisable to turn off your computer at least once per day (and overnight is best) because some programs use the boot-up and shutdown process to check for updates and/or to install them. If the computer is not turned off regularly you may be missing out on important updates. CFS Editor.

Gizmo's Tech Treats: 40+ Solitaire Games You Can Play Online For Free

2011-01-10T21:48:00.000-05:00

Gizmo's Tech Treats: 40+ Solitaire Games You Can Play Online For Free

40+ Solitaire Games You Can Play Online For Free

Posted: 01 Jan 2011 06:44 PM PST

Gizmo's Tech Treats: Worms, Trojans and Malware: What Are All Those Security Words and What Do They Mean?

2011-01-10T21:39:00.000-05:00

Gizmo's Tech Treats: Worms, Trojans and Malware: What Are All Those Security Words and What Do They Mean?

Worms, Trojans and Malware: What Are All Those Security Words and What Do They Mean?

Posted: 08 Jan 2011 01:53 PM PST

Tech--for Everyone

2011-01-10T21:38:00.000-05:00

Tech--for Everyone

Sunday Beauty XXIV

Posted: 09 Jan 2011 01:24 PM PST

Today, for some weird reason, I wanted an image that conjured up the sense of warmer climates… Photo by Luisovalles, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

[ComputerFreeTips] Weekly Hot Computer Tips

2010-12-30T23:01:00.000-05:00

Computer Free Tips will give you practical advice, great tips and
tricks every week day. This newsletter is sent out computer Tips and
is designed for those who love to learn Computer in detail.

1- How to restore the windows XP to a previous working state?

Today tip is very useful to recover the windows XP problems and then restore it in previous working state. You can recover the windows critical components and return your computer to earlier state without loss of personal data using windows XP built-in system restore feature. With new programs being installed.
http://www.computerfreetips.com/windows-xp/XP-Previous-State.html

2- How to Burn a Data CD or Data DVD in Windows 7 Using Media
Player?

You can burn a data CD or data DVD in Windows 7 using Media Player. An audio CD can contain just approximately eight minutes of music. On the other hand, if you burn a data CD or data DVD in Windows 7 using Media Player, it will be able to hold numerous hours of music. Video files and pictures can also be added to the data discs.
http://www.computerfreetips.com/Windows-7-tips/Burn-CD-DVD-Windows7.html

3- How to remove the text from the Desktop icon?

Desktop is the interface of Windows, which contain the icons, taskbar etc. that allow the user to interact with the computer to perform different operations. Usually the picture of icon represents its purpose so if you want your desktop looking very clean then you can remove the title under the desktop icons.
http://www.computerfreetips.com/rrw/remove_text_desktop_icon.html
http://www.ComputerFreeTips.com

Tech--for Everyone

2010-12-30T22:58:00.000-05:00

Tech--for Everyone

Great News For Your Thursday.. Maybe.

Posted: 30 Sep 2010 12:45 PM PDT

Police in the U.K. have arrested 19 individuals believed to be part of an organized cybercrime network that used the Zeus trojan to steal six million pounds ($9.5 million) from U.K. bank accounts (in just three months). “Security experts consider Zeus, also known as Zbot, the most prevalent financial malware on the Internet today. Often [...]

Gizmo's Tech Treats: Find Out Where Shortened URLs Lead To Without Clicking

2010-12-30T22:55:00.000-05:00

Gizmo's Tech Treats: Find Out Where Shortened URLs Lead To Without Clicking

Find Out Where Shortened URLs Lead To Without Clicking

Posted: 29 Sep 2010 03:49 PM PDT

Create a Personalized Slideshow in Windows 7

Posted: 29 Sep 2010 02:35 PM PDT

Bits and Pieces September 28, 2010

Posted: 28 Sep 2010 05:29 PM PDT

Tech--for Everyone

2010-12-30T22:54:00.000-05:00

Tech--for Everyone

The cigar box

Posted: 29 Sep 2010 06:07 AM PDT

The other day I came across a dusty, ratty, old cigar box, in a pile of junk, and fixtures, and fittings, outside a home that is being gutted for renovation and sale. It rattled when I picked it up. A long time ago (I have been told) people used to use cigar boxes as catch-all [...]

Tech--for Everyone

2010-12-30T22:52:00.001-05:00

Tech--for Everyone

Twitter. Hacked. Again. (yawn).

Posted: 28 Sep 2010 10:29 AM PDT

"To get something done a committee should consist of no more than three people, two of whom are absent." ~ Robert Copeland Well, I think this headline says it all: Twitter recovers after second worm attack in a week “Twitter is cleaning up from another fast-spreading worm that took advantage of a popular class of [...]

TV of the Future: What Comes Next?

2010-12-30T22:52:00.000-05:00

	FORUMS \| BLOG \| RSS \| MY PROFILE \| PRIVACY

Vol. 10, #38 - Sep 28, 2010 - Issue #448
	TV of the Future: What Comes Next?

Editor's Corner

TV of the Future: What Comes Next?
Follow-ups: This & That
Quotes of the Week:

Cool Tools

Tools We Think You Shouldn't Be Without

News, Hints, Tips and Tricks

Blast from the Past: The Internet is only a passing fad
Microsoft exec says Blu-ray will be "passed over"
Microsoft reduces number of TechNet product keys
Bing Rewards program: get points for searching

How To: Using XP Features

How to enable Remote Desktop on an XP Pro computer - remotely

XP Security News

Don't install third party security patch for Acrobat

XP Question Corner

What happened to "View Source?"

XP Configuration and Troubleshooting

XP crashes when you copy an image to the clipboard
XP doesn't recognize all available disk space

Fav Links

Product of the Week

Registry Reviver: Registry Reviver Cleans, Repairs and Optimizes Your PC.

NEW! VIPRE^® Antivirus Premium 4.0

VIPRE is the only antivirus software that does not slow down your PC, and now it comes with integrated firewall!

VIPRE Antivirus Premium 4.0

Does not slow down your PC

New antivirus + antispyware engine with firewall

Advanced anti-rootkit technology

Cutting-edge Proactive Protection

Full email protection: Outlook and Windows Mail

Ideal for Netbooks that need malware protection

No automatic credit card charge each year!

Try VIPRE Antivirus Premium now for 30-days FREE!
http://www.wxpnews.com/3UDXV2/100727-VIPRE-Antivirus

Editor's Corner

TV of the Future: What Comes Next?

At our house, we resisted the lure of high definition for quite a while. Those around us were spending thousands on HDTV sets, and paying high cable bills for the HD channels, but we didn't watch TV all that much and when we did, we thought standard definition was "good enough." That was then. Once we broke down and experienced HD on a really good set (Sharp Aquos), we became believers. The picture sharpness was just so amazing - more "real" than real life. When we first got the TV and HD service, we would sometimes just sit there with the sound off and watch a program we didn't even like, marveling at the picture quality (admittedly we didn't do that often or for very long, but we did do it). After a couple of years of HD, we've almost forgotten what SD looks like.

But we've been similarly resistant to the latest trend in TV technology: 3D. It seemed (as HD did in the beginning) like a bunch of hype to persuade folks to throw out perfectly good (and expensive) TV sets to replace them with even more costly new ones. We had watched 3D movies before, Blu-ray releases that came with their own little cardboard glasses. They looked somewhat three dimensional, but the color was all washed out. It was an interesting experiment, but we weren't particularly impressed.

We wait for movies to come out on DVD and almost never go to the theater, for a number of reasons. Thus we missed the recent blockbusters in 3D, such as Avatar and Clash of the Titans (we watched both in regular HD when they came out on DVD). We didn't know or care what all the fuss was about. Then last weekend, I was at Fry's with my son and had some extra time to wander through the aisles. They had a couple of 3D TV demos set up and for once, there were no other people crowding around them. I decided to take a look at a Sony model that was displaying a rather incredible picture in 2D mode. I put on the glasses (which were far from cardboard - they reminded me of Jordi's visor on Star Trek Next Generation) and hit the "3D" button.

Wow.

This is not your grandfather's 3D. The hot air balloons drifted past one another at different depths on the screen in all their full, glorious color. The saltwater fish seemed to swim right out of the screen toward me. There was no decreased luminosity as I'd seen with some 3D displays; everything was bright and beautiful. And I didn't feel any eye strain, nausea, or other physical discomfort that is sometimes associated with viewing 3D stereoscopic images. Of course, I wasn't drunk, tired or pregnant at the time.
http://www.wxpnews.com/3UDXV2/100928-3D

And granted, I only watched for a short while. Of course the demo was optimized to show off the technology at its finest, and it did. Am I going to run out and plop down a few grand for a 3D set? Not just yet. But I'll confess that 3D is on my radar now; I'm interested. I expect there will be plenty of 3D sets at the next CES (Consumer Electronics Show), and the technology has had a year to mature and get better (and cheaper) since it hit the electronics show floors last January. I was actually surprised that the Sony set, a 55 inch Bravia LED 3D, was selling for well under $2500. When I first checked out 3D sets a year ago, I didn't see anything under $3000. Of course, the one I really want if I were to consider replacing our 65 inch Aquos would be the backlit 60 inch model, which is over $4000. Sharp has just introduced its Aquos Quattron series with the 60 incher going for more than $5000. Yes, I think I'll wait a while for prices to fall a bit more.
http://www.wxpnews.com/3UDXV2/100928-aquos

Some people are waiting for 3D that doesn't require the dorky glasses, and TV makers are hard at work on that. It's already here, with something called lenticular lens technology, but it's not ready for prime time yet. Another method for achieving this is head tracking 3D. These are being developed for handheld games, but there are still major obstacles to overcome before they can be used for multiple viewers as is the norm with a TV set.
http://www.wxpnews.com/3UDXV2/100928-nintendo3d

Whether we're talking about today's glasses-required 3D or tomorrow's 3D without glasses, what about the 3D content? Will 3D DVDs cost significantly more than regular HD discs, as Blu-ray costs more than SD DVDs? That may be a key factor in the successful adoption of the technology. We're already being charged $29 for many new Blu-ray releases ($10 more than the SD counterpart). How much higher will consumers go? Would you pay $40 for a movie? I guess some folks would ... I dimly remember the early days of Betamax and VHS, when commercially released tapes of movies were $50-80 each. Ouch! At those prices, building a movie collection was only for the wealthy.

However, we can probably expect 3D movies to follow the pricing patterns of Blu-ray and SD movies. That is, new releases will command premium prices but if you care to wait a few months, you'll probably be able to buy them in the bargain bin for much more reasonable prices. And some of the 3D TVs, such as one made by Samsung, can convert 2D movies to simulated 3D, similarly to the way the best Blu-ray players can upconvert SD DVDs so that they look almost as good as HD. Another thing to think about: you probably won't have to buy discs to get 3D content; expect it to be delivered over the Internet like its HD and SD predecessors are now.

Which brings us to the fact that 3D isn't the only thing that's new in the television world. And that's a good thing, since apparently a small percentage of people are "stereo blind" (aren't able to process stereoscopic imagery) and can't even see the 3D images:
http://www.wxpnews.com/3UDXV2/100928-gizmodo

So what about other technologies that are making TV better? High def will inevitably get higher def, with the new ultra definition standard that goes beyond 1920 x 1080 all the way to 3840 x 2160 resolution. Large screens with UD technology will allow you to zoom into a part of the picture to get a closer view of the center of the action.

Many HD sets are now Ethernet and/or wi-fi enabled, so that they can connect to your home network and access the Internet to display streaming video content without having to connect a computer to the TV. This may be a welcome change for those who have struggled to set up Windows XP Media Center Edition with their TVs; it certainly simplifies the process of getting online with your TV. However, you can still do much more with Media Center, including recording and playing back programs.

It's a safe bet that the TVs of the future will almost all be connected to the Internet, one way or another. Google TV is a new service that's expected to come out next month, which will come built into some sets (Sony and Logictech are set to launch the first Google TVs in the next few weeks) or can be added via a set-top box. It integrates a web browser into the TV experience and runs Android (and Android apps). It will likely be easier and require a lower up- front expenditure than connecting a Windows Media Center computer to the TV, but you'll have ongoing monthly charges that you don't have with WMC.

Meanwhile, I've noticed that while TVs are getting thinner and thinner, they aren't getting much bigger in screen size - at least, not in the consumer space. While the old rear projection/DLP sets could be found in sizes up to 82 inches, it's hard to find a 65 inch flat screen, except those made for commercial purposes that are available at 100 inches and bigger and cost tens of thousands of dollars. Another new development is WindowWall, which uses multiple 46 inch panels to create a huge screen for high end home theaters. Unfortunately, you need a high end income to afford it:
http://www.wxpnews.com/3UDXV2/100928-windowwall

We've come a long way, baby, since the old 19 inch black and white TV set that tuned in a handful of OTA broadcast channels, which many of us grew up with. If you were impressed the first time you watched "I love Lucy" on the neighbor's RCA color TV, prepare to be floored by what's available today and what will be available in the near future. Now, if only there was some good programming to watch on these fancy sets.

Tell us what you think. Has television become irrelevant, or is it an important part of your entertainment life? Are you thrilled with HD, or are you still sticking with your old standard definition set and programming? If the latter, is it because of cost or lack of interest? Have you tried the new 3D technology? Did it make you want to take a 3D set home, or did it make you sick (literally)? What's the price point at which you would consider buying? Are you waiting for 3D without glasses? Do you not care about 3D at all? Is your TV connected to the Internet (either via a computer or directly)? Do you prefer to keep TV and computing separate? How big should a TV set be? If price were no object, what size set would grace your family room? How many sets do you have in your home (if any)? Do you just do your TV watching on your computer monitor now? We invite you to discuss these and any other TV-related questions in our forum at
http://www.wxpnews.com/3UDXV2/100928-DiscussThisWeeksWXPNewsHere

Follow-ups: This & That

In last week's editorial, I asked whether smart phones will kill the dedicated device market. Reader opinions were mixed. Some of you said that you do indeed use your laptops less now that you have smart phones. Someone mentioned running out of space for storage. I haven't really had that problem with my phone. 32 GB micro SD cards are available now at a reasonable price (around $100) and 64 GB cards should become widely available soon. You can always carry multiple cards and switch them out, although it's a bit of a pain with many of the new phones that require you to pop the back off to change the card. I preferred the way my old i760 worked, with a card slot on the side that was easily accessible - but I guess that did make it more likely that you'd pop the card out accidentally and lose it.

Others mentioned the limitations of smart phone displays and keyboards, and those are the real kickers. I would love to be able to output the display to a hotel TV, for instance, and you can connect a Bluetooth keyboard with some models. As for the audio, if your phone has a standard 3.5 inch ear phone jack, you can connect stereo speakers to it for better sound.

On another subject: In last week's newsletter, we published instructions on how to change the region for playing DVDs. This can be an issue if you travel and want to watch a DVD from a local outlet in your computer. A couple of readers wrote to note that they had discovered that you can only do this a limited number of times, depending on the drive. Drives with RPC 2 firmware will only let you make five region changes. When you reach that limit, your drive is permanently locked into the region in which it was last set. There are third party resetting tools that you may be able to use to remove the region lock. It is also possible to load new firmware that disables region code protection but this is only for advanced users. See this site for more info and a utility to let you find out whether your drive has region protection:
http://www.wxpnews.com/3UDXV2/100928-dvdsplayingregion

'Til next week,
Deb Shinder, Editor
feedback@wxpnews.com

PS: Did you know this newsletter has a sister publication called Win7News? You can subscribe here, and tell your friends:
http://www.wxpnews.com/3UDXV2/100518-Win7News

And for IT pros, there's our "big sister," WServer News, at
http://www.wxpnews.com/3UDXV2/100518-WserverNews

Look up the WXPnews Fan Page and join us on Facebook!

Quotes of the Week:

Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity. - George S. Patton

They are ill discoverers who think there is no land, when they can see nothing but sea. - Francis Bacon

You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. - Jack London

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News, Hints, Tips and Tricks

Blast from the Past: The Internet is only a passing fad

It's always interesting to look back in time at how right some folks were in their predictions - and how wrong others were. Here's a Newsweek article from 1995 that shows just how much the Internet has changed since this assessment was made. My favorite line: "Even if there were a trustworthy way to send money over the Internet - which there isn't ...". Today I feel safer entrusting my credit card to Amazon than to the waiter at the restaurant, who disappears with it into the back of the building and does who-knows-what with it. So, do you think most of these comments still hold true or have technological innovations that we didn't even dream of a decade and a half ago make them obsolete? Read it here:
http://www.wxpnews.com/3UDXV2/100928-theinternet

Microsoft exec says Blu-ray will be "passed over"

When Blu-ray beat out HD-DVD in the high definition disc format war, it was supposed to replace standard definition DVDs and become the next big thing. Many folks have bought Blu-ray players but many others haven't bothered. We have one, but we use it mostly to upconvert standard DVDs, which then look very close to Blu-ray quality at 2/3 of the price. Blu-ray disc sales certainly aren't what the movie companies had hoped they would be. And one reason is that many folks have dumped the idea of buying movies on disc altogether; they're downloading them (both legally and illegally) instead. Now Microsoft's Xbox/entertainment division director in the U.K., says Blu-ray is going to be passed by as a format. Read more here:
http://www.wxpnews.com/3UDXV2/100928-blueray

Microsoft reduces number of TechNet product keys

IT professionals buy TechNet subscriptions not only for the information about Microsoft products, but (in many cases primarily) for the free product licenses that allow them to run Microsoft software at a greatly reduced cost for product testing. Subscribers are sure to be unhappy to learn that Microsoft has recently reduced the number of keys a subscriber gets for each product from ten to five, effectively halving the value of a TechNet subscription for many people. As far as we know, no such reduction has been made for MSDN subscribers, leading some to conclude that it's all part of the company's increasing favoritism toward developers in comparison to IT pros.
http://www.wxpnews.com/3UDXV2/100928-msdowngrade

Bing Rewards program: get points for searching

Airlines do it, credit card companies do it, and now your search engine is doing it. Microsoft has launched a rewards program for its Bing search engine that gives you points for joining the program and more points for using Bing for your searches. The credits can be redeemed for a variety of goods - or you can donate them to charity. Find out more here:
http://www.wxpnews.com/3UDXV2/100928-bingpoints

How To: Using XP Features

How to enable Remote Desktop on an XP Pro computer - remotely

It's easy to set up an XP Pro computer so you can access it across the local network or Internet - if you're physically sitting at the computer. You just go into System properties from Control Panel, click the Remote tab and check the "Allow users to connect remotely to this computer" checkbox. But what if you want to connect to the desktop of a computer that hasn't been set up this way? Are you out of luck? Maybe not. Here's how to change that setting remotely:

From another computer on the network, open the registry editor.
On the toolbar, click Rile, then Connect Network Registry.
Enter the IP address or name of the computer to which you want to connect.
Enter the user name and password of an administrative account on the other computer to log onto the computer to which you want to connect.
Now the other computer's registry will be shown in the registry editor console.
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server
In the right pane, double click the entry DenyTSConnection. Set the value data to 0. If the item doesn't exist, create it as a new REG_DWORD value).
Close the registry editor. You should now be able to connect to the other machine using Remote Desktop. If it doesn't work, you may have a firewall on the other machine with settings that are preventing the connection. As always, back up the registry before you make any changes.

XP Security News

Don't install third party security patch for Acrobat

Earlier this month, Adobe cautioned Acrobat users not to install a third party security patch that claimed to fix a vulnerability in the PDF program. In fact, this should be a reminder that patches can sometimes be as dangerous as the bugs they attempt to fix, and it's always risky to install a patch that isn't officially released and approved by the vendor of the software that's being fixed.
http://www.wxpnews.com/3UDXV2/100928-securitypatch

XP Question Corner

What happened to "View Source?"

QUESTION:
I used to be able to view the source code for a web page in Internet Explorer. This no longer works. What happened and how can I get it back? - Tony H.

ANSWER:
The most common cause of this has to do with the Temporary Internet Files. You can usually fix it by deleting all the files in that folder. In Windows Explorer, go to c:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files. Click Edit and then Select All. Press the DEL key. Click Yes when the confirmation dialog box appears. Close Explorer. Close and restart IE. You should now be able to view the source code again.

XP Configuration and Troubleshooting

XP crashes when you copy an image to the clipboard

This is an annoying problem - when you copy an image file to the clipboard, the computer crashes. You may get a stop error (blue screen) and a message that Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer. What's up with that? It has to do with the Win32k.sys driver. There's a hotfix that you can download to resolve the problem. Find out how to get it in KB article 872797 at
http://www.wxpnews.com/3UDXV2/100928-configandtrouble

XP doesn't recognize all available disk space

Recently a friend had this problem when reinstalling XP on an older computer. If you have a large hard disk and find that XP is only "seeing" a part of it in Windows Explorer and/or the Disk Management tool, there are several methods for fixing the problem. Warning, though: you may have to reinstall XP to resolve this, and you need to have your Windows XP setup disk. Read more about it in KB article 316505 at
http://www.wxpnews.com/3UDXV2/100928-availdiskspace

Fav Links

What it's like to own an Apple product (from one who does)
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Creative pacifier design
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Free fun handwriting fonts
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Amazing photos of field mice
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Micro sculptures
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10 Silliest iPad cases
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The Milky Way as you have never seen it before: Two and a half billion pixels from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope stitched together to create this infrared portrait of our own Galaxy:
http://www.wxpnews.com/3UDXV2/100927-milkyway

L'Autodrome near Paris, built in 1924, features banks as steep as 51 degrees - more than double the standard incline of NASCAR ovals. A perfect setting for 'Gymkhana' - an automotive sport that takes places on an open field and requires drivers to skillfully maneuver their cars around a series of cones, slaloms, turns, figure eights or other obstacles - using extreme acceleration, braking and drifting:
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Some of the funniest bloopers in the history of golf.
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Product of the Week

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About WXPnews

What Our Lawyers Make Us Say
These documents are provided for informational purposes only. The information contained in this document represents the current view of Sunbelt Software on the issues discussed as of the date of publication. Because Sunbelt must respond to changes in market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Sunbelt and Sunbelt cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented after the date of publication.

INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND FREEDOM FROM INFRINGEMENT.

This newsletter and website and may contain links to other websites with whom we have a business relationship. Sunbelt Software does not review or screen these sites, and we are not responsible or liable for their privacy or data security practices, or the content of these sites. Additionally, if you register with any of these sites, any information that you provide in the process of registration, such as your email address, credit card number or other personally identifiable information, will be transferred to these sites. For these reasons, you should be careful to review any privacy and data security policies posted on any of these sites before providing information to them.

The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and the use of this document. This document may be copied and distributed subject to the following conditions: 1) All text must be copied without modification and all pages must be included; 2) All copies must contain Sunbelt's copyright notice and any other notices provided therein; and 3) This document may not be distributed for profit. All trademarks acknowledged. Copyright Sunbelt Software, Inc. 1996-2010.

WXPnews Archives
Looking for a past issue? Missing an issue? Accidently deleted an issue? Trying to find that article that pointed you to that cool site? All our newsletters are archived and are searchable:
http://www.wxpnews.com/archives.cfm

If you have feedback or wish to write to the editor, write to us at feedback@wxpnews.com

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Tech--for Everyone

2010-12-30T22:46:00.000-05:00

Tech--for Everyone

How To Remove Internet Explorer 9

Posted: 27 Sep 2010 10:35 AM PDT

“…for some reason should want to uninstall it, you need to know a little trick..“ If you read this series, the odds are good you read other tech-type websites as well, and so you probably know that Microsoft is getting a lot of good press over their latest release of their web browser, Internet Explorer [...]

Gizmo's Tech Treats: Ten Tips on Getting Lost or Stolen Gear Back

2010-12-30T22:45:00.000-05:00

Gizmo's Tech Treats: Ten Tips on Getting Lost or Stolen Gear Back

Ten Tips on Getting Lost or Stolen Gear Back

Posted: 25 Sep 2010 09:54 PM PDT

Tech--for Everyone

2010-12-30T22:44:00.000-05:00

Tech--for Everyone

Sunday Beauty XI

Posted: 26 Sep 2010 12:01 PM PDT

This image was submitted by a reader. The thin smoke from a far-off brush fire produced this spectacular sunset, outside of Provo. (Click on image for Hi-Res.) In other news: it’s rough being a niners fan…

[ComputerFreeTips] Mobile of the Week

2010-12-30T22:43:00.000-05:00

Visit for Mobile of the Week!
http://www.computerfreetips.com/mobile_week.html
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You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Computer_Free_Tips" group.

TechCrunch Giveaway: A Google Nexus S #TechCrunch

2010-12-25T16:20:00.000-05:00

TechCrunch Giveaway: A Google Nexus S #TechCrunch: "

We have a Christmas surprise for all of you.

As you have seen us do in the past, we feel it’s only fair to give away some of the new, fancy, amazing items we so often write about, and this time we are giving away a Google Nexus S to one lucky reader.

You can read our full review on it here or watch Erick Schonfeld and John Biggs review it on Fly or Die (also embedded below). It is really simple to set up, includes all of Google’s various apps (like 3D Maps and Google Voice), and is incredibly fast.

Simply put, this is the best Android phone on the market right now. You want it? To enter is simple. Just fan the TechCrunch Facebook page and then do one of these two things: retweet this post (making sure to include the #TechCrunch hashtag), or leave a comment below telling us why you think this phone needs to be yours. The contest will end tomorrow, December 25th at 12pm PST. Please only tweet the message once or you will be disqualified. We will go through the comments and tweets, make sure you have become a fan of our Facebook page, and contact you this weekend with details if you are chosen. Anyone in the world is eligible to enter, as long as you can receive delivered packages.

Just for fun, check out our very own Jason Kincaid playing with the world’s largest Nexus S and watch Schonfeld and Biggs debate the merits of the Nexus S below.

Good luck everyone and Merry Christmas!

Facebook Overthrows Yahoo To Become The World’s Third Largest Website

2010-12-25T16:19:00.000-05:00

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Who wouldn't know?

(:-) (:-) (:-) (:-) (:-)

Facebook Overthrows Yahoo To Become The World’s Third Largest Website: "

We’ve seen this one coming all year. Facebook is now the third largest website in the world, taking the No. 3 spot from Yahoo, according to comScore. Facebook drew an estimated 648 million unique visitors from across the globe in November, 2010, compared to 630 million for Yahoo. In October the two sites were dead even with 633 million worldwide unique visitors each (actually Facebook had already passed Yahoo by a smidgeon in October with about half a million more visitors). The only two Web properties left which are bigger than Facebook are Microsoft (869 million worldwide visitors) and Google (970 million) when you look at all of their sites collectively.

The evidence leading up to this overthrow has been building up for a long time. Facebook became the fourth largest Website in the world nearly 18 months ago, and quickly passed Yahoo in pageviews. Today, Facebook accounts for nearly a quarter of all display ads in the U.S., which is more than twice as much as Yahoo.

Facebook also recently passed Yahoo to become the second largest video site in the U.S., and is also the ssecond largest source of traffic (after Google) to other video sites on the Web. No wonder Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz sees Facebook as her biggest competitor, not Google.

In the U.S., however, Facebook is still No. 4 in terms of total monthly visitors (with 152 million), and Yahoo is No. 1 (with 181 million). So not all is lost. Note also that these comScore visitor estimates are different than Facebook’s official user numbers which are somewhere north of 500 million worldwide, but they are better for making apples-to-apples comparisons between sites.

CrunchBase Information

Facebook

Yahoo!

Information provided by CrunchBase

Logitech freezing production of Revue over Google TV?

2010-12-25T16:17:00.000-05:00

Have you heard of Google TV? Check this out!

Logitech freezing production of Revue over Google TV?: "Digitimes.com reports that Logitech has ordered Gigabyte Technology to temporarily suspend shipments of Revue set-top boxes."

What is Mobsync and how do you disable it?

2010-09-25T22:18:00.000-04:00

Tech--for Everyone

What is Mobsync and how do you disable it?

Posted: 25 Sep 2010 10:50 AM PDT

One of the most popular topics here has been how to make Vista boot up faster. And one of the ways you do that is by controlling what programs automatically load at startup. (See, Manage Startup programs in Vista.) Readers of that article have been sending me questions about a program they have found running [...]

Gizmo's Tech Treats: How to Control Windows Startup Programs Without Special Software

2010-09-25T22:17:00.000-04:00

Gizmo's Tech Treats: How to Control Windows Startup Programs Without Special Software

How to Control Windows Startup Programs Without Special Software

Posted: 24 Sep 2010 02:41 PM PDT