Windows Tips Features
How To: The 5 Best Social Networking Windows 8 Apps (for Free)
Many social networks have become a part of our daily routine. Checking Facebook or sending out a Tweet are things millions of people do every single day. So, one would think that having a great app offering for Windows 8 would be a no-brainer. But, and this is a huge but, there are still no official Twitter or Facebook apps for Windows 8.
How To: Get Your Computer Ready for the Windows 10 Update
The day has finally come, and after quite a bit of hype and buildup, Windows 10 is now officially available. The update itself is on a staged rollout, which means it will be slowly becoming available to users over the coming weeks and months, so don't panic if you haven't already received an update notification. Besides, you have until July 29th, 2016 to download your free copy of Windows 10 if you're eligible, so there's plenty of time to get your ducks in a row.
How To: Hack Windows XP into Giving You 5 More Years of Free Support
Windows XP will always have a special place in my heart—it's the operating system I grew up on. It guided me through the glory days of AIM, Napster, and MySpace, but now it's dead. The OS that had been supported by Microsoft for twelve years officially lost its support on April 8th, 2014. Just like that, Microsoft has killed the beast, but for those of you who stubbornly refuse to cooperate, you can resurrect the dead. If you have Windows XP, this little known hack will get you further suppor...
How To: Automatically Add Bing's Daily Background Images to Your Windows 8 Lockscreen
Windows 8 gives you a few different options for the image you want to appear on your lockscreen, whether it's a PC or Surface, but if you're the kind of person who gets bored easily, you may want more to choose from.
How To: Remove Facebook Ads from Internet Explorer 10 on Your Microsoft Surface
I think most people can agree that advertisements are just annoying. There is only one day out of the entire year when commercials and advertisements are actually welcomed, and that's the Super Bowl. But, since it can't be the Super Bowl every day (if only), those ads that float around on your Microsoft Surface's screen are just obnoxious. Luckily, there is a way to get rid of them, on Facebook at least. Facebook is one of the most visited sites in the world, so having the ability to hide ads...
How To: Scan Removable Drives for Malware with Windows 8's Built-In Antivirus Scanner
Windows has its own built-in antivirus program called Windows Defender, which kinda sounds like a sweet arcade game, but it actually does a pretty good job of protecting your Windows PC from spyware and malware.
How To: Block Ads in Microsoft Edge
Although they're often times the primary source of income for websites, on-site advertisements can annoy even the most tolerable reader. That's why ad blockers have been some of the most popular downloads on Firefox and Chrome for some time now, demonstrating that when it comes down to it, most people just want nothing to do with ads shoved in their face.
How To: Run Windows 8's Desktop and Metro Views Simultaneously Using a Second Monitor
The new Windows 8 operating system pushes the Metro interface hard, but not all of your apps will play nicely in Metro, which means you'll need to resort to the traditional desktop environment for some of your favorite programs. As a result, it has left many users picking between the two—Metro or traditional? Fortunately, there's a way to run them both simultaneously with the use of second monitor. In the video below, Donald Bell of CNET explains how you can run both interfaces simultaneously...
How To: Conserve Data in Windows 10
As mobile devices become more and more popular, service providers have unfortunately resorted to capping data. What this means is that, depending on the plan you have with your ISP, you could have limits placed on how much data you can use for a set period of time. Once you've hit the limit, your ISP could drastically slow down or throttle your internet speed or charge you outrageous overage fees.
ASUS Transformer Book: The Tablet That Wants to Be Your Next Windows Laptop
We've had the pleasure of test driving the ASUS Transformer Book T100T for the last couple of weeks, and for a $400 Windows 8 machine, it's impressive to say the least.
How To: Pin Your Favorite Websites to the Windows 8 Start Screen for Faster Browsing
Speed—not only is it a great movie, it's something we need from our computers; launching, downloading, uploading, etc. Fast speeds is one of the most important things for any computer process. But that's not all. We also want to get to our favorite sites faster, and in Windows 8, it's as easy as creating a shortcut on your Start screen.
How To: Use Hot Corners More Easily in a Dual Monitor Windows 8 Setup Using Mouse Trapper
Using a second monitor is great for multitasking, especially if you tend to max out your computer's brain power on tons of simultaneously running apps that you want to see, well, simultaneously. That second screen becomes more like a lifesaver.
News: Windows 10 Gets Its First Major Update—Here's All the Cool New Stuff
Microsoft's "Fall Update" to Windows 10, code named Threshold 2, has a lot of new tricks up its sleeve. It's the biggest update we've seen since Windows 10 was released this summer, and it's rolling out to all users right now.
How To: New to Windows 8? See How the Start Screen, Charms Bar, and Quick Access Menu Work
Microsoft's newest operating system, Windows 8, will hit stores everywhere on October 26th, and they hope this new version will shift the way we think about computers and their interfaces. In an effort to get as many early adopters as possible, Microsoft is even making their OS cheaper than usual, offering upgrades from previous versions for as low as $40 for a limited time.
How To: Set a Personalized Picture Password for Signing into Windows 8
Windows 8 comes with a bunch of new features, and none may be cooler than the new Picture Password option. If you're tired of the old lock screen and login options, or don't want to remember any more passwords, than you'll like this great new addition to Windows.
How To: Build Your Own Apps for Windows 8 from Practically Any Touchscreen Device
TouchDevelop is a browser-based programming tool that allows anyone to build your own Windows 8 apps directly from any touchscreen device, including iPad, iPhone, Windows Phone, Android, PC and Macs. Once the script is created and the app proves to work, it can be placed in the Windows Store for free or purchase.
How To: "Should I Remove It?" Helps You Rid Your Windows PC of Bloatware and Unwanted Programs
A lot of computers come with a ton of pre-installed software from the manufacturer, some of which you need and some of which you could most certainly live without. And over time, you may have downloaded and installed a bunch of programs and apps that you probably can't even remember. Now, you could go ahead and uninstall everything that you don't think you need, but then you run the risk of removing something that could really mess up the system. When I open up my Programs folder, I feel like...
How To: Get Your Free 90-Day Trial of Windows 8 Enterprise Edition Today
Yesterday, Microsoft announced that Windows 8 RTM is available to its MSDN subscribers and TechNet Professionals. But they've also included a free 90-day trial for developers that anyone can download, no subscription needed. The download is actually for the Enterprise version, so after the 90 days are over you won't be able to upgrade, you'll have to do it from your original operating system when the non-Enterprise version is released in October.
How To: Add or Prevent Programs from Starting Automatically When Booting Windows 8
Programs that run automatically every time you start your computer can slow down your boot time—or just be plain annoying. Many of these programs are rarely used and don't even need to be running for your computer to function properly. So, if you want to disable these auto-run programs and increase your computer's startup speed, here are a few ways you can do it in the new Windows 8.
How To: Set Up Parental Controls with the Family Safety Settings in Windows 8
The internet is full of information and entertainment, but if you have children, you might want to put a cap on what sites they have access to. While it may be a free world out there, it doesn't mean that little Mickey should be free to roam the web during his downtime (or uptime, if you know what I mean).
How To: The 7 Best Discovery and Wonder Apps for Your Windows 8 Device
There is never a dull moment when it comes to the internet. You can find practically anything you want, whenever you want it. To make that process even smoother and more direct, companies have created a bunch of apps designed to help you find what you're looking for, or enlighten you on a subject you may not have even thought of yourself.
How To: Find and Install New System or App Updates in Windows 8
Keeping your operating system up to date is essential to keeping it bug-free and running properly. Windows regularly pushes out patches and security fixes through Windows Update, so making sure to turn on Automatic Updates or checking at least once a week is strongly advised.
How To: The Top 8 Free News and Information Apps in the Windows Store
"You can never know too much" is a saying you hear all the time. Funny thing is, I have no idea where it originated, and neither do most of the people who continually say it. Nevertheless, it's a statement that very few would argue with.
News: Pushbullet for Windows Updated to Include Easy File Sharing with Other Devices
If you own an Android device and a Windows computer, there is absolutely no reason you shouldn't have Pushbullet installed. With the Android app and a companion Chrome plugin, you can easily send files between all of your supported devices, and there's even a notification mirroring function so that you never miss an important update.
News: Microsoft Opens Its First Flagship Store in New York City
Apple isn't the only retailer that can boast futuristic-looking storefronts.