Windows 7 guide for ex Windows XP users

You might have taken the final step of upgrading Windows XP to Windows 7. It is beyond doubt that you have taken the right decision. You might have that starting trouble but believe it or not, Windows 7 would impress you for sure. We would help you to get used to it. 

Live Taskbar  

This has witnessed several changes. It also features live previews of each window. As you would move the mouse over the preview, you would get see a temporary full size view of the window. Click preview in order to open the window.

Windows Search

Start Menu consists of a handy search bar that finds programs, Control panel and files. Now hit Windows key on the keyboard and cursor would by default go to the text field. 

Libraries

Do you have files everywhere and then put them into a single library without moving them. The by default libraries is inclusive of Documents, pictures, Music and Videos. You can create own custom libraries.   

Jump Lists

Jump lists give an easy way to check the recent files opened with a program by right-clicking on the Taskbar icon. In order to pin a file or a folder just drag it to taskbar. 

Shake, peek and Aero – Snap

Aero effects helps user to view windows side by side via snapping them right and left. It minimizes all the active windows by shaking it. It peeks at the desktop temporarily by hovering over lower right edge of Taskbar.

Windows 7 comes in 32-bit and a 64-bit version. If the hardware is not upgraded, you would have to use 32-bit version. You would not get the benefits of the 64-bit and there would be no compatibility issues. 

You can also get the Windows XP look and functionality back. You can use the Windows XP Luna theme, set up Windows 7 and set up the theme using Universal Theme Patcher, adjust Taskbar, get Classic Shell, change Start Menu style, change Start Button and customize Windows Explorer look.  

Compatible issues

Infectious software or absence of proper hardware drivers are irritating issues of upgrading to new operating system.  

Windows 7 has a wide selection of hardware drivers. If your hardware is not recognized, search the website for a Windows 7 driver. You can also depend on several third part tools. In case software does not cooperate Windows 7 has compatibility mode. Just right click program shortcut, choose properties and open Compatibility tab. You can run compatibility troubleshooter or run program in compatibility mode for Windows XP.

In case you are using Windows 7 Professional, you do not require a Windows XP license. You can install Microsoft’s Windows Virtual PC and run the XP Mode.  


Protect and Access provides useful windows 7 tips and technical support for users in their  website.

Screen protector for Smartphone! Is it required?

Smartphones are pricey. You would surely not like to develop any scratch on the screen. What would you do if it happens? There are several users who purchase screen protectors to protect screens but is it required?

Once these protectors were compulsory but ever since sophisticated coatings and glass have been come into use its usage has shrunken. When you get a phone a screen protector is not required. This protector is a plastic sheet that sticks to the screen of the Smartphone. The plastic is cut to fit exact shape of the device along with holes for buttons as well as the speaker.

In order to use a screen protector, clean the screen with microfiber cloth, use little soapy water and press it on top of the screen. It should be positioned properly and it has to be ensured that the screen protector is applied flat. No bubbles or cracks should appear under it. 

If the plastic has developed a scratch it is easier to replace than the glass on the screen’s device.  

As modern devices have advanced integrated screen protection this is not required. Most of the smartphones use Corning’s Gorilla Glass. This is a hard glass which has resistance to high scratch. Over the years corning has been releasing new gorilla glass versions. The third version was introduced in 2013 and it was claimed to be more resistant to scratch than Gorilla Glass 2.

The smartphone’s screen is scratch resistant. This is obviously assuming that you have the latest smartphone and not the old one. If you have the keys in the pocket it should not be able to scratch a Gorilla Glass display. Gorilla Glass is actually harder than the metal used in keys or any other household metal items. 

However Screen protectors give a complete different experience of using your smart phone’s touch screen. This protector actually picks up the unpleasant scratches that would not have scratched the smartphone’s screen. However the protector needs to be put properly. Else you would end up with bubbles as well as cracks under that thereby having to apply another again. 

There are some common materials which can scratch Gorilla Glass. Sand is one of them. Hard rocks are there in this list. Other glass materials, diamond or even rare metals can scratch gorilla glass screen. These protectors have the anti-fingerprint coatings. The modern phones have “oleophobic” coatings which is resistant to the oil on your fingers. Even if there are prints you would have to wipe the screen with a microfiber cloth.

This item is not a must-have. However it also depends on the phone type and how you take care of it. 

If you have a smart phone and need smart phone  maintenance and warranty support contact www.protectandaccess.com.

Make logging simple in Windows 8.1

The login process of Windows 8.1 has been enhanced by Microsoft. New techniques have been added and the ability to get app details from lock screen has been made simple. If you log in to the system with default set up then make use of Windows account info. This can be laborious as each time you can enter full password each time. To execute the tips you would have to go in settings in Windows 8 update 1. Below given ways on how you can make the login process simple:

Create a PIN  

Windows 8 had introduced the ability to create a PIN to log on. This feature is also available in windows 8.1 update 1. The PIN would be only for your local machine and you would have to enter the MS account login password while accessing other MS services. Just go to settings and sign-in options. Under Pin header choose the Add button. 

You would have to verify the MS account by typing in the MS account password. Type in four digit code which you want to use twice. The best thing is that you are logged in after typing four digit of the code. You need not press enter or even click or tap anything else at login screen. Just try and check whether you like it or not. If not it can be changed back always.

Set it to for automatic logon

This is recommended if you are the only user on the PC and not using any public place for security reasons. You surely do not want any other user or even passerby to log in to the system. Hit Windows key +R on the keyboard which would open run dialog as well as type : control userpasswords2 and hit Enter.

This would open the User Accounts screen. Just uncheck the box which is next to “Users must enter a username and password to use this computer” and click OK. You would be prompted to enter in the user name as well as password twice and click OK. 

Auto Login

You can lock your system by enabling Auto login. The easiest way to lock it is by using the Windows key+L combination and once the system is locked the password or PIN would be unlocked.   

Add More Apps to Lock Screen

You need not login at all. If you just want to get weather or have a brief look at how many emails you have just add different apps to lock screen. Just go to settings, then PC and devices and then Lock Screen. Now add the apps which you want to run in the background and give data to you.

Though from each you would not get a ton of details but that might be enough to avoid the long process. 

Know more tips a like how to set customize image for ICON in windows 8. 

Use Facebook on Android privately

Have you ever thought about what is done with your online information? A Smartphone also tracks you in several ways. However it is hard to discard the social network from your life. Facebook traces everything done online. You can make use of alternate apps to access Facebook without being tracked. Tinfoil for Facebook is one such Android app at your disposal.

Permissions are a defense between the phone and an app. If an app has malicious plan, all allow it on the phone with all-encompassing permissions to create issues. Brightest Flashlight Free requires several permissions; none of them are required to perform as a flashlight. It is used to access users’ locations as well as sell them to advertisers. You should be careful with the apps that you install.

Google has changed the way Android permissions works in Play Store recently. Each of them is grouped together by type. Google made it less visible. An app update can add new permissions without your approval if they belong to same group.

  

Facebook have an access to contacts, calendar events, exact location, where you are at what time, your camera text messages, calls internal storage and so much more.  

The social networking giant is known to sell user data to serve more relevant advertisements by accessing all the user information on the devices which has its Android App. Don’t you think its terrifying?

Know how to run your android phone in 2G mode for saving battery.

Audio Identification

Facebook had invasive features in its app and has added some more. Apps like SoundHound identify music to which you’re listening. The app can determine as to which song you are listening and would tag the user’s status with this minute detail.

This is an opt-in feature. Facebook is not good at opt-in features. Users were persuaded to accept Graph Search an opt-in feature.

Tinfoil  

Now you might be bent upon deleting the app. You can surely get rid of this and have a wonderful experience while social networking. TinFoil does not run in the background constantly therefore does not consume much battery. It is smaller in size app. This app would access the location if you permit. You would have to enable check-in feature which is not compulsory. It creates a wrapper for mobile version of Facebook’s website. It can be discarded from the menu once done which would stop its syncing.

You can post status as well as upload pictures. It can access all groups, settings, events. The buttons are a bit hidden but it can be slided away from the right to open up Tinfoil’s menu. You can go to the News Feed or notifications and access the few options as well as close it. Messages can be send, friends can be tagged in comments and search can conduct for places and people.  

Shortcomings

However it does have few negatives. It is just a wrapper for mobile version of Facebook, so any issues come up, Tinfoil is helpless. It looks a little less sophisticated than the Android polished. It lacks notifications. If you need FB notification instantly someone who needs Facebook notifications in real-time, this might not be for you.

IFTT

IFTTT, released an Android app which makes Android automation simple. With the help of new notification channel create your own alerts while you get a Facebook notification. First You would have to get a personalized notification RSS feed,. Log into FB and go to notification page.

After you click on the RSS link, a group of text appears. Just copy the URL which is the personal notification feed. You would require an IFTTT Recipe to send them to the phone. When you would get a notification on Facebook, it would send it right to the notification bar on your phone.

Get rid of Official App

Even if you use Tinfoil it would not be of much use in case the official app is there on your phone. So get rid of it from the device. Uninstall it by heading into Settings > Apps, Facebook, and clicking “Uninstall”. If the app is built into the phone then this is not the method. All Android devices are different and therefore the instructions would vary.

If you are not able to disable Facebook, just uninstall its updates and go back to the version where it had less permissions. This button is on the app page like the Disable button. Now remove the Facebook account from Sync menu off Phone, just go to Settings > Accounts and Sync > Facebook and click “Remove Account.”

These methods would ensure that the social networking giant’s data is not synced over official app.  

Happy private browsing  

If you are concerned about your privacy, want to enhance phone’s battery life then Tinfoil is the best. Most important if you do not want Facebook to rule your life lives, Tinfoil is the answer. You might miss on or two features from mobile app but you can sacrifice to get something better. If you’re looking to read more about Facebook’s practices, Philip has explained how Facebook might be used to spy on you.

How to prevent auto playing HTML5 and flash in Chrome

It is irritating when you see that the videos are being auto played. Just consider when you are starting a browsing session and suddenly from nowhere a video plays in the background. You curse it to hell. If it turns out be something, you end up being embarrassed. 

You should avoid using Chrome extensions so that the videos are prevented from being played automatically. This would keep you way from embarrassment as well as save bandwidth. It also ensures that you have an enjoyable browsing experience by averting such interludes.

Flash

Flash is one of the main ways as to the way the videos are rendered. It can be disabled with the help of chrome extension. Go to settings and scroll down to ‘Show Advanced Settings’ in Chrome menu. Click it and under Privacy heading, click ‘Content Settings’. A pop-up window appears which can be scrolled down to Plug-ins and chooses the Click to play ‘radio button’. This would stop flash player plugin. If you click on blocked plugin area the videos would play then. 

You can also make use of Chrome flash blocker extension. In case of Chrome extension on has the control over what would play and what would not.

HTML 5

Though Flash is the most popular as far as videos are concerned. HTML5 is also used for instance YouTube uses it. HTML5 does not use flash. Therefore you cannot prevent the videos from auto-playing by using flash blocker. You can use a free Chrome extension Chrome extension: Magic Actions for YouTube. Download it from the web store.

Open the Options page. After setting it up click on purple “Options” button. You can also go to chrome menu, scroll down to Tools and choose Extensions. Look for the Magic Actions extension. Thereftaer click on options. Now click Options button. You would be directed to developer’s site to select the settings. Scroll down to Stop Autoplay option. Magic Actions also allow customizing every aspect of YouTube. Other than this it also:

·         Choose resolution

·         Control video volume  

·         Make use of wide player

·         Choose customizations through simple interface which consists of checkboxes

·         All advanced setting scan be accessed through bar which appears under all YouTube videos.

 

To keep your bandwidth, automatic loading should be prevented through Chrome extensions.