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15 Awesome Dual-Monitor Wallpapers You Should Check Out

Posted on 22 March 2011. Tags: Awesome, Check, DualMonitor, Should, Wallpapers

class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/intro2.png" alt="dual monitor wallpaper" />Having multiple monitors can sometimes help you be a lot more productive, helping you digest more information at once, but this usually requires a bit of configuration, which you can easily achieve with href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-useful-programs-that-help-manage-multiple-monitors/">these programs.

Having more screen real estate also gives you an excuse to beautify your now extra-long desktop, which shouldn’t be too hard, as there are many resources out on the web that only collect dual-monitor wallpapers for your convenience. Among these sites are href="http://www.makeuseof.com/dir/dualscreenwallpaper-hot-dual-screen-wallpapers/">Dual Screen Wallpaper, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/dir/multimonitorgroup-multiple-screen-wallpaper/">Multiple Monitor Group, etc.

We’ll go ahead and make it even easier for you to get started exploring wallpapers for your multiple monitor setup. While you’re at it, you should also check out href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/use-videos-as-screensaver-or-wallpaper-windows/">how to go a step further and href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-tips-improve-desktop-wallpaper/">create animated wallpapers in Windows 7, because sometimes static images just aren’t exciting enough.

Hit the jump for some great landscape wallpapers, which I thought would be apt for dual-screen setups.

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href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2489/a_place_in_the_sun.html">A Place in the Sun

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/1aPlaceSun.jpg" alt="dual monitor wallpaper" width="580" height="232" />

style="text-align: center;">Taken in the Maldives

Dimensions: 2560 x 1024

Available at href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2489/a_place_in_the_sun.html">Interfacelift

href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2481/ocean_on_the_rocks.html">Ocean on the Rocks

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/2oceanOnRocks.jpg" alt="free dual monitor wallpaper downloads" width="580" height="232" />

style="text-align: center;">Taken in Palm Beach, Florida

Dimensions: 2560 x 1024

Available at href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2481/ocean_on_the_rocks.html">Interfacelift

href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2522/monument_valley.html">Monument Valley

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/3monumentValley.jpg" alt="free dual monitor wallpaper downloads" width="580" height="232" />

style="text-align: center;">Taken at Monument Valley, Utah

Dimensions: 2560 x 1024

Available at href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2522/monument_valley.html">Interfacelift

href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2514/the_hills_of_munnar.html">The Hills of Munnar

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/4hillsMunnar.jpg" alt="free dual monitor wallpaper downloads" width="580" height="232" />

style="text-align: center;">Taken at Munnar, India

Dimensions: 2560 x 1024

Available at href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2514/the_hills_of_munnar.html">Interfacelift

href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2509/uluru-ayers_rock.html">Uluru-Ayers Rock

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5uluru.jpg" alt="free dual monitor wallpaper" width="580" height="232" />

style="text-align: center;">Taken at Uluru ““ Ayers Rock in Australia

Dimensions: 2560 x 1024

Available at href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2509/uluru-ayers_rock.html">Interfacelift

href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2496/a_demain%2C_fontvieille.html">A Demain, Fontvieille

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/6fontvielle.jpg" alt="free dual monitor wallpaper" width="580" height="232" />

style="text-align: center;">Taken in Monaco

Dimensions: 2560 x 1024

Available at href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2496/a_demain%2C_fontvieille.html">Interfacelift

href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2494/hachinohe_sunrise.html">Hachinohe Sunrise

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/7hachinoSunrise.jpg" alt="free dual monitor wallpaper" width="580" height="232" />

style="text-align: center;">Taken in Japan

Dimensions: 2560 x 1024

Available at href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2494/hachinohe_sunrise.html">Interfacelift

href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2492/great_ocean_road.html">Great Ocean Road

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/8greatOceanRoad.jpg" alt="" width="580" height="232" />

style="text-align: center;">Taken at Victoria, Australia

Dimensions: 2560 x 1024

Available at href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2492/great_ocean_road.html">Interfacelift

href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2488/calm.html">Calm

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/9calm.jpg" alt="" width="580" height="232" />

style="text-align: center;">Taken in Bavaria, Germany

Dimensions: 2560 x 1024

Available at href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2488/calm.html">Interfacelift

href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2487/misty_water.html">Misty Water

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/10mistywater.jpg" alt="" width="580" height="232" />

style="text-align: center;">Unknown location but possibly Portugal

Dimensions: 2560 x 1024

Available at href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2487/misty_water.html">Interfacelift

href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2471/jasper_from_mt._whistler.html">Jasper from Mt. Whistler

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/11jasper.jpg" alt="" width="580" height="232" />

style="text-align: center;">Taken in Alberta, Canada

Dimensions: 2560 x 1024

Available at href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2471/jasper_from_mt._whistler.html">Interfacelift

href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2499/old_pier.html">Old Pier

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/12old-pier.jpg" alt="" width="580" height="232" />

style="text-align: center;">Unknown location

Dimensions: 2560 x 1024

Available at href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2499/old_pier.html">Interfacelift

href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2461/african_sunset.html">African Sunset

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/13africansunset.jpg" alt="" width="580" height="232" />

style="text-align: center;">Taken at Save Valley Conservancy, Zimbabwe

Dimensions: 2560 x 1024

Available at href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details/2461/african_sunset.html">Interfacelift

href="http://nature.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/611165/">Beautiful Sky

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/14beausky.jpg" alt="" width="580" height="363" />

style="text-align: center;">Unknown location but possibly China

Dimensions: 2560 x 1600, 1920 x 1200, 1680 x 1050

Available at href="http://nature.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/611165/">Desktop Nexus

href="http://www.dualscreenwallpaper.com/index.php?act=view&id=138">Earth View

style="text-align: left;"> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/ee.jpg" alt="dual monitor wallpaper" width="580" height="181" />

style="text-align: left;">Dimensions: 3360 x 1050

Available at href="http://www.dualscreenwallpaper.com/index.php?act=view&id=138">Dual Screen Wallpaper

For more wallpapers, be sure to pay a visit to href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/the-best-resources-to-pimp-your-wallpaper/">these sites (especially href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/8-sites-funny-computer-wallpapers/">these top-rate sites for funny wallpapers) to find new and href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/best-sites-to-download-very-high-resolution-wallpapers/">high-quality href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/4-great-places-find-free-beautiful-photo-desktop-wallpapers/">eye candy for your desktop. If you prefer to be surprised with random wallpapers from a specific RSS feed, see href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-set-a-bing-wallpaper-desktop-slideshow-in-windows-7/">this post on how to easily achieve that with Bing images in Windows 7 and href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-wallpaper-changer-apps-for-linux/">Linux, though you can use any other source, of course, like href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/take-flickr-straight-to-your-desktop-with-interactive-wallpaper-updates/">Flickr, for which href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/8-simple-ways-flickr-wallpaper-downloads/">there are many ways to download wallpapers from. There’s also href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/personalize-desktop-wallpaper-social-wallcast/">Wallcast, which is a my favorite new app with a cool twist: not only does it help you create a cool collage of photos on your desktop, it also lets you easily share photos with your family and friends, whom will see your pictures right on their desktops.

Speaking of collages and collections, be sure to see more of our very own collection of handpicked wallpapers:

- href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-beautiful-green-grass-wallpapers-for-your-desktop/">Top 10 Green Grass Wallpapers

- href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/15-cool-facebook-wallpaper-themes-windowsmaclinux/">15 Cool Facebook Wallpapers

- href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-sexy-wallpapers-significant-approve/">10 Sexy Wallpapers Your Significant Other Will Approve Of

- href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/cool-windows-7-wallpapers-check/">Cool Windows 7 Wallpapers You Have To Check Out

Now, if you perhaps want to try your hand at creating your very own wallpapers instead of hunting for others’ creations, you can start making wallpapers in href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/create-cool-desktop-wallpapers-quickly-microsoft-word/">Microsoft Word and href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-tutorials-amazing-wallpapers-gimp/">GIMP.

Care to share your favorite or current dual-monitor wallpapers? Let us know in the comments! />
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More articles about: href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/desktop-enhancements/" title="desktop enhancements" rel="tag">desktop enhancements, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/dual-monitors/" title="dual monitors" rel="tag">dual monitors, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/wallpaper/" title="wallpaper" rel="tag">wallpaper />

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How To Check If Someone Else Is Accessing Your Facebook Account

Posted on 16 February 2011. Tags: Accessing, account, Check, else, Facebook, Someone

class="align-left" style="border: 0px none; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 5px; float: right;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/2011-02-03_1804.png" alt="someone else accessing my facebook account" width="250" height="184" />What’s the number one issue people have with Facebook? That’s right, privacy. Ever since there’s been a Facebook, people have been voicing their privacy concerns about it, and we’ve been there every step of the way. Over the past year, we’ve given you 16 steps ( href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/8-steps-to-regain-control-of-your-facebook-privacy-part-1/">8 here, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/8-more-steps-to-regain-control-of-your-facebook-privacy/">8 there) to regain control of your Facebook privacy, taught you how to href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/secure-facebook-settings-easy/">secure your settings, given you href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/protect-privacy-facebook/">tips to protect your privacy, introduced you to apps like href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/control-facebook-privacy-privacydefender/">PrivacyDefender, and shown you how to tweak your href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/handle-facebook-places-security-settings/">Facebook Places security settings. And after all that, we finally broke down and wrote an href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/download-unofficial-facebook-privacy-guide/">Unofficial Facebook Privacy Guide.

So what’s the problem now? Nothing, technically. In fact, Facebook has recently given us a way to see if someone else has been accessing our Facebook accounts (without our permission). Is that something you’d be interested in? Follow me.

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What Does This Mean For Me?

Have you ever suspected that someone else was logging into your Facebook account? It’s not a good feeling, mostly because it would drive you crazy if you were unable to prove it. Whether you have an easy password to guess (like the word “password”) or you accidentally left your login information saved on a public computer somewhere, it would be reassuring to be able to check whether or not anyone has been signing in under your name.

Sure, you could always change your password, but lets face it, you aren’t going to do that unless you absolutely have to – unless your password really is the word “password”, in which you should change it immediately (I’m serious). I don’t blame you, but there has to be another way of uncovering suspicious activity on your account.

The feature I’m about to show you is a nice little security setting built into Facebook that will help you quickly detect if anybody else has been secretly logging into and using your Facebook account.

Where Are These Security Features?

class="align-left" style="border: 0px none; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 5px; float: left;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/2011-02-03_1748.png" alt="someone else accessing my facebook account" width="218" height="263" />To get to the security settings I’ve been alluding to, log into your Facebook account and click on Account at the top right of the page. When the drop-down box appears, click on Account Settings.

There’s a good chance you know exactly where I’m taking you, but your settings should look a little different this time since the last time you’ve visited.

On your My Account page, scroll down to where it says Account Security and click the change link.

Now you should see a list of all computers (and mobile devices) that have logged into your Facebook account, their location, and when this happened. Rather than an IP address, it displays the approximate geographic location of the device, which is based on the device’s IP.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/2011-02-03_1756.png" alt="" width="559" height="335" />

If you come across an unknown or suspicious device in your list, just click “end activity” on the device and you will automatically be logged out of that machine.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/2011-02-03_1757.png" alt="someone else accessing my facebook account" width="551" height="216" />

Also, if you would like to add an extra layer of protection on your account, you can enable email/SMS alerts for when someone else tries to log into your account from a previously unknown computer or mobile phone. Features like one-time passwords and secure browsing using the HTTPS protocol are also at your disposal.

Would you like to see all of these advanced security features in action? Check out this YouTube video if you’re seeking further explanation:

classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="580" height="430" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"> name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /> name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kZ9160NOKIw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" /> name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /> type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="580" height="430" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kZ9160NOKIw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true">

Conclusion

I think this is a pretty solid move by Facebook. If you didn’t know these security features were there you may be pleased to find the added level of security that’s there for you to enable. One interesting aspect of this is what you do if you confirm a suspicious machine has been logging into your account and you think it’s someone you know? I’ll leave the creativity up to you, but you could theoretically let it slide, enable alerts, and then catch them in the act the next time it happens. Or something like that.

What do you think of Facebook’s privacy features? />
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The 4 Best Websites To Check Out New Music Releases First

Posted on 12 February 2011. Tags: Best, Check, first, Music, Releases, Websites

class="align-left" style="border: 0px none; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 5px; float: right;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/2011-02-08_0859.png" alt="new music releases" width="200" height="199" />How do you find new music releases? We’ve shown you plenty of tools over the months that make it easier to find some new jams. Between href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-music-services-search-engines-discover-music-musicians-bands/">music search engines, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/complete-list-hottest-music-exploration-sites/">streaming sites, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/top-10-free-ways-discover-music-online/">music discovery web apps, and services like href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/muzic-place-discover-music-online/">Muzic you should have unearthed lots of interesting bands and artists by now. Heck, we’ve even shown you how to href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/itunes-imixes-create-great-music-playlists/">use iTunes to discover new music.

After you find a bunch of artists you like, however, how do you keep up with all of their new releases? New music albums get released every week, so it’s quite easy to miss a release from one of your favorite artists, even if you’re paying attention. There are plenty of sites out there that house this type of information, but which sites should you be checking out first?

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1. href="http://www.billboard.com/#/">Billboard

If you’re looking for all the newest releases, Billboard is the official place to be. Billboard is the center for music information related to popular artists and if your goal is to merely see what’s popular or currently trending you need look no further.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/2011-02-08_1221.jpg" alt="new music releases" width="580" height="466" />

Click on the Charts tab to view the ‘Hot 100′, ‘Billboard 200′, and the top digital and radio songs in the US. They also have news and reviews of the latest albums and song releases, and you can listen to most of the latest tracks.

Find a song or artist you like? With the rest of the sites on the list, you should be set with new music for a while.

2. href="http://www.music-alerts.com/">Music-Alerts

Music-Alerts is a really simple webapp that we covered once in the href="http://www.makeuseof.com/dir/musicalerts-monitor-album-release-dates-rss/">directory. Essentially, it notifies you when your favorite music artist releases a new CD.

It’s not uncommon for even casual music listeners to have more than 50 artists in their music collections, and keeping track of everything those artists release on a regular basis can be a lot of work.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/2011-02-08_1305.png" alt="top new music releases" width="580" height="459" />

With Music-Alerts, you can add your favorite artists one by one, name your feed, and click create feed! You will receive a link to your feed that you can add to your favorite RSS reader to get notified of new music releases.

If you’re using Google Reader, I also suggest you check out href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/grain-simple-desktop-notifications-google-reader/">GRaiN for desktop notifications. Also, be sure to check out href="http://www.albumreminder.com/">Album Reminder, too.

3. href="http://newalbumreleases.net/">New Album Releases

This next site is a personal favorite of mine and something I found a long time ago when looking for new music. New Album Releases, as it’s aptly named, posts new album releases every day.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/2011-02-08_1218.jpg" alt="top new music releases" width="580" height="377" />

Categories consist of Rap, Rock, Metal, Pop, Electronic, Folk, Indie, Jazz and Blues, etc. Clicking on an album will take you to a page where you can see album information such as artist, track names, format, and size on disk.

Here’s the kicker: you can download every album you find on this site. I’m not sure how, strictly speaking, legal it is, but each album page includes download links to the individual album. The site does have a DMCA policy listed, which is far more legit than a lot of the other sites I’ve seen.

4. href="http://www.youtube.com/music">YouTube Music

YouTube, believe it or not, is a great place to find new music releases. It’s not as easy to locate what you’re looking for right away, which is why I have the site lower on my list, but once you’ve discovered some of the new releases you’re interested in from the sites above, you can definitely use YouTube to check them out.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/2011-02-08_1149.jpg" alt="top new music releases" width="580" height="530" />

On href="http://www.youtube.com/music">YouTube’s Music page, you can search via categories like ‘Easy Listening’ or ‘Rap’, or you can view the day’s hits. You can even view events near you, so if one of your favorite artists is coming to town you’ll be able to catch them.

But wait, isn’t YouTube all about videos? Well, yeah, but with over 35 hours of new videos being uploaded to the site every minute, you can definitely use it to find some new music releases.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/2011-02-08_1153.png" alt="new music releases" width="566" height="334" />

If you’re familiar with href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tech-fun/search/?cx=009717636731598800244:qhe4rh7wuxs&cof=FORID:11&q=download+youtube&sa=">downloading YouTube vids, in fact, you can actually rip the audio right from them to download the latest songs you come across. We’ve covered many services capable of doing this, but all you need is a simple site like href="http://flvto.com/">FLVTO.

What are some of your favorite sites to keep up on new music releases?

Image Credit: rel="nofollow" href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-23454844/stock-vector-volume.html">Terry Chan />
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5 New Android Phones From CES That You Have To Check Out

Posted on 17 January 2011. Tags: Android, Check, from, Phones

style="border: 0px none;margin-left:20px;float:right;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/android.jpg" alt="new android phones"/>With the dust settling from the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) it’s hard to decide which new flashy gadget to focus on first. The number of new Android phones alone will have any self-respecting geek dying to get their hands on any one of the latest and greatest models.

HTC, LG, Motorola, Sony and Samsung are all vying for the Android market’s attention, with what seems to be the new fad of much bigger phones. With screens ranging from 4 to 4.5 inches, the latest Android version, Gingerbread, and some even sporting the fastest processor technology yet, we thought we’d give you an idea of what to expect with each of these handsets that are due to launch, at the latest, during the first and second quarters of 2011.

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HTC Thunderbolt 4G

Officially announced by Verizon, the HTC Thunderbolt 4G is almost identical to the currently available HTC Desire HD. From the 8 megapixel camera to the 4.3 inch WVGA screen, to the 1GHz processor, the phones are pretty much identical. The significant differences are that the Thunderbolt features a front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera for video calls, an internal phone storage of 8GB, integrated Skype, and its biggest selling point – the HTC Thunderbolt will let you browse up to 10 times faster on the 4G network. Another feature HTC Thunderbolt owners can enjoy is a small kickstand on the back of the phone that makes it easy to prop it up on flat surfaces. Running Android 2.2 (Froyo), with HTC’s Sense UI on top, users can turn their phones into a WiFi hotspot, subject to Verizon’s control of course.

style="text-align: center;"> src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/thunderbolt.jpg" border="0" alt="new android phones" width="577" height="408" />

See the Thunderbolt in action at CES 2011 here.

width="500" height="306"> name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NxqIfEacEp0?fs=1"> name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NxqIfEacEp0?fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500" height="306" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true">

LG Optimus 2X

One of the first dual-core smartphones, the LG Optimus 2X, also dubbed the LG Star, is twice as fast as any other smartphone on the market thanks to its Tegra 2 processor. Running Froyo (with a promised upgrade to Gingerbread), the phone sports a 4 inch WVGA screen, with 480 x 800 resolution, an 8 megapixel camera, as well as a front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera, 8GB internal memory (expandable up to 32GB with a microSD) and 1080p playback and recording. Available in Korea first, and Europe and Asia next, there are rumours that the phone could be available in the US by March, 2011.

style="text-align: center;"> src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/LG-Optimus.jpg" border="0" alt="android phones" width="580" height="309" />

As is to be expected, the fastest processor in a smartphone comes at a hefty price, and from what we hear, the phone will set you back over $700.

Check out LG’s promo video for the phone below.

width="500" height="306"> name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YwLoHxeqNUk?fs=1"> name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YwLoHxeqNUk?fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500" height="306" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true">

Samsung Infuse 4G

Since 4G is the next big thing in the mobile world, it’s no surprise that 3 of the newest Android phones are made for 4G networks. Thanks to its 4.5 inch Super AMOLED screen with a resolution of 480×800, using the Infuse when your outside on a sunny day is no big deal. Like the LG and HTC, the Samsung model features an 8 megapixel camera and a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera for video calls. The processor on the Samsung is a 1.2GHz single-core Hummingbird processor – and if it weren’t for the latest dual-core processor phones – this would have been one of the fastest phones on the market. The Infuse is also running Froyo, with Samsung’s TouchWiz UI on top. The phone will be available in the US through AT&T, and they’re marketing it as the mobile network’s thinnest phone yet. So far, AT&T have kept quiet on the price and launch date.

style="text-align: center;"> src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/infuse.jpg" border="0" alt="android phones" width="331" height="500" />

Check out the Samsung Infuse 4G in action at CES.

width="500" height="306"> name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aKUNHfILq14?fs=1"> name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aKUNHfILq14?fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500" height="306" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true">

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc

Launching with the latest Android version, Gingerbread, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc features an 8.3 megapixel camera, with 720p recording, and a 4.2 inch screen with a resolution of 854×480, and a 1GHz snapdragon processor. The phone comes with an internal memory of 512MB, expandable up to 32GB with a MicroSD. The Xperia Arc may be a step in the right direction, allowing Sony Ericsson to redeem themselves and finally get up to speed with their competitors, after a misfire with Sony Ericsson Xperia X10. An interesting feature that Sony Ericsson brings to their latest phone is their Reality Display, which of course is already being pitted against the iPhone 4′s retina display. According to Sony, Reality Display is meant to bring the same experience to your phone that you would have watching a Bravia TV.

style="text-align: center;"> src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Arc.jpg" border="0" alt="android phones" width="505" height="454" />

To get a better feel for just how slim this phone is, check out Sony’s promo video.

width="500" height="306"> name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gmeTvxGVzZg?fs=1"> name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gmeTvxGVzZg?fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500" height="306" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true">

Motorola Droid Bionic

Another Verizon offering, the Motorola Droid Bionic might just be the fastest phone to hit the market yet. Not only does it run on Verizon’s 4G network, it features a dual-core processor and 512MB RAM. Besides blazing speeds, Droid Bionic users will also be able to enjoy an 8 megapixel camera, a 4.3 inch screen, with a resolution of 960×540, full 1080p support, and HDMI connectivity.

style="text-align: center;"> src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Droid-Bionic.jpeg" border="0" alt="new android phones" width="238" height="450" />

Check out the Motorola Droid Bionic in action at CES 2011.

width="500" height="306"> name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/r-8QEKRBZ4A?fs=1"> name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> src="http://www.youtube.com/v/r-8QEKRBZ4A?fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500" height="306" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true">

Are you planning on getting a new Android phone? Let us know which one in the comments.

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Student DOG Organizer – A Superb Digital Organizer You Should Check Out [Windows]

Posted on 13 January 2011. Tags: Check, Digital, Organizer, Should, Student, Superb, Windows

class="align-left" style="border: 0px none; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 5px; float: right;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/intro.png" alt="digital organizer" width="150" height="150" />There are many class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/task-manager/">task managers, such as class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/8-easy-ways-to-manage-tasks-with-remember-the-milk/">Remember The Milk and class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/toodledo-an-online-task-management-app-with-iphone-integration/">Toodledo that have been praised for helping users get things done in an class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/delicious-completely-organize-student-life/">organized fashion, but a lot of times, a task manager isn’t enough. Most likely, you need to integrate task managers with other programs, such as your class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/organized-semester-google-calendar/">calendar application. This is especially true for class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/gradegurus-top-ten-student-tools-2010/">students that constantly need to be organized without dying in the swamp of tasks. Finding a task manager that works without sucking the little time you’ve got (because of its complex inputting syntax or what not) may be a challenge, but not for long.

class="vt-p" href="http://download.cnet.com/Student-Dog-Organizer/3000-20415_4-75289356.html?tag=mncol;1">Student DOG Organizer (version 2.1) is a class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/top-10-downloaded-student-tools-movers-shakers/">popular download that contains a handy digital interface for organizing tasks that most students get day by day. Think of it as a digital student planner, complete with contacts, calendar, tasks, grades, notes and schedule sections.

id="more-62685"> /> What makes this program a gem is also the Overview section, which is actually the first one, so you can see a summary of the most immediate appointments, classes, tasks and even birthdays.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/11.png" alt="digital organizer" width="580" height="390" />

Of course, this Overview section certainly works better provided you actually fill out all sections of the application. Most sections work the way you’d expect, but the next ones are worth mentioning because they’re especially helpful.

Notes

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/21.png" alt="free task list organizers" width="580" height="393" />

The Notes section lets you create notes and place them in specific categories, which could be certain classes or even random notes. The best way to go about creating notes would be to first create a category and then the note, which will ask you for the note title before opening Wordpad, with the file saved according to the title you provided. If you’re not too keen on using Wordpad, you can select a different program in the Settings tab. You can either select the built-in editor (a simple WYSIWYG composing window), Microsoft Word, or use a EXE program to which you will specify the path in the next field.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/32.png" alt="free task list organizers" width="559" height="448" />

The tooltips of the icons actually showed information in what I believe is Czech, but otherwise, the Notes section is truly a godsend as it displays links to note files on the computer while still organizing them by categories. In other words, it helps you tag documents and also automates the organizing and sorting beautifully.

Tasks With “Tagging”

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/4.png" alt="free task list organizers" width="580" height="398" />

The Tasks section allows you to create a simple to-do list sorted by categories. You basically just need to create categories first before creating a new to-do, much like how you do in the Notes section. You can move items up and down to prioritize them, as well as insert lines to separate items and make groups if you so wish.

Grades

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/5.png" alt="task organizer" width="580" height="389" />

In the Marks section, you can keep up with your grades and averages for each class to easily determine your progress in the class. Included is a list of 12 subjects that you might need to edit if you’re using the tool for college. To do that, you’ll have to go into the Settings tab and click on Edit Subjects List to alter any class.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/6.png" alt="task organizer" width="506" height="481" />

Schedule

You can also create a visual representation of your class schedule on the Timetable tab of the program. You can set a different color for each class and set the start and end of this schedule. In the Settings tab, you’ll also be able to choose between high school-style and college-style schedules, which differ in that high school classes run in consecutive periods while you set your own schedule in college.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/7.png" alt="digital organizer" width="579" height="500" />

The best part about Student DOG Organizer is that the program brings together what could be several different applications all in one package and so it offers a sort of dashboard where you can see an overview of everything you’ve inputted in one view. What I would love to see in this application though, is the ability to export or backup the data should my laptop ever get stolen while all my work is on it, or should I need to use another computer in a university lab and need access to my data.

What applications or methods do you prefer to keep up with your student tasks? />
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6 Chrome Web Apps You Should Really Check Out

Posted on 19 December 2010. Tags: Apps, Check, Chrome, Really, Should

class="align-left" style="border: 0px none; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 5px; float: right;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/chromewebstore.png" alt="" width="298" height="185" />As class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/google-chrome-8-introducing-chrome-web-store">previously mentioned, Chrome recently launched its new Web Store. Many of the apps included are, to the typical end user, little more than an icon for launching websites already known and loved. A few, however, give Chrome users access to something that more closely resembles iPad apps than traditional websites.

It’s these web apps that show clearly what the Chrome Web Store could become, and the direction of the web in general and Chrome OS specifically. If you want a look at that future, here it is.

If you’re less high minded than that, though, and just want to play with some cool new technology, you’re still in the right place. Below are just a few apps that I think bring something new to the web; a few even work without Chrome itself.

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News

There were two main newspaper apps on the web store’s launch day: The New York Times and USA Today. Both apps are similar to their iPad counterparts, and both support offline reading.

The New York Times app is my favorite, but that’s mostly because I prefer their content to USA Today. In many ways it’s simply a faster version of the class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/times-reader-perfect-cross-platform-nyt-desktop-reader/">Adobe Air based Times Reader, but without the Adobe Air’s crappiness or the paywall. Launch the app and articles are presented to you:

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/chrome-nytimes.png" alt="" width="579" height="206" />

The real beauty of this app is the keyboard shortcuts. The arrow keys behave exactly as you’d expect them to, allowing you to “turn the page” quickly, as well as to browse the articles. class="vt-p" href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ecmphppfkcfflgglcokcbdkofpfegoel?hl=en-US">Check out the NY Times app for Chrome here.

The USA Today app is similar, albeit with a more feature-filled home page:

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/chrome-usatoday.png" alt="" width="580" height="318" />

The addition of weather and sports scores is a very nice touch, particularly because you can customize both. For example, in the above screenshot the scores are from my sport of choice: ice hockey. Great perk, and very well presented app. class="vt-p" href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/aggljnipbdiebhbmadknfbjlhehbohbn?hl=en-US">Check out the USA Today app for Chrome here.

Weather

Remember The Weather Channel? Me neither. The web is simply the best way to stay up-to-date about the weather, and Chrome’s webstore had two great apps for seeing it at launch. As you know, class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/weather-underground-weather-site-web/">Wunderground is the best weather site on the web. Well, they’ve got a Chrome app now:

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/chrome-wunderground.png" alt="" width="580" height="258" />

As you can see, there’s not much here. Just a pretty picture reflecting the area you life in and a little bit of information. class="vt-p" href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pjejbgheonogbpfkkjigbmahaljipoej">Check out the Wunderground App for Google Chrome.

If you want a little more detail, I recommend WeatherBug’s offering. Sporting a similar “pretty picture” interface, this app gives you one-click access to forecasts and maps, making it a little more useful than Wunderground’s offering:

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/chrome-weatherbug.png" alt="" width="575" height="240" />

class="vt-p" href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ihdkejbciahopmbagpnjmmkkdpfpaaak">Check out the Weatherbug app for Google Chrome.

TweetDeck

Oh TweetDeck. Such a great program, but based on the always-slow Adobe Air.

Until now.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/chrome-tweetdeck.png" alt="" width="580" height="215" />

TweetDeck is a great tool for managing multiple Twitter/Facebook/Buzz/Foursquare accounts, and it works beautifully in Google Chrome. Launching in seconds and combining your social networks, this new app just might be the highlight of the Chrome store’s launch. class="vt-p" href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/hbdpomandigafcibbmofojjchbcdagbl">Check out the TweetDeck app for Google Chrome here.

Writing

I like this one because it’s simple, and shows what Chrome Apps can do. Write Space is a minimalistic text editor, similar to class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/customize-write-focus-writer/">FocusWriter. It runs in the browser, but stores no information on any server; everything is contained within Chrome. Here you can write something, close the tab, and find it back later.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/chrome-writespace.png" alt="" width="579" height="130" />

There’s really not much else to this, but it’s a good example of how desktop applications might work on Chrome OS. class="vt-p" href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/aimodnlfiikjjnmdchihablmkdeobhad">Check out Write Space on Google Chrome.

Conclusion

I could go on and on, of course, but that would take a long time. The point is, these apps are cool and point to the sort of future Google imagines the world of computing heading in. In many ways I’m reminded of class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/customize-write-focus-writer/">Jolicloud, the web-centric OS for netbooks.

Do you guys have any favorite apps for Chrome? Share them below. Also feel free to discuss the coolness of the Chrome Web Store, or its suckiness if you prefer. I look forward to hearing what have to say!

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2 Alternative File Managers You Should Really Check Out

Posted on 04 November 2010. Tags: Alternative, Check, File, Managers, Really, Should

class="align-left" style="border: 0px none; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 5px; float: right;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/i.jpg" alt="comparison of file managers" width="241" height="239" />I have learned to love Windows Explorer from being able to class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/upload-sync-files-skydrive-windows-explorer/">map Skydrive on my desktop, but it can be slow at times, showing me that “Not Responding” message that I really dislike seeing. I’m almost positive that’s one of the reasons applications such as class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/forget-windows-explorer-explorer-perfect-powerful-alternative/">Explorer++ and other class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/replace-windows-explorer-with-a-more-powerful-alternative/">Windows Explorer class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/the-5-best-windows-explorer-replacements/">replacement file managers exist. There’s even more dedicated class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/fresh-approach-organizing-multimedia-files-fresh-view/">file browsers for multimedia, as well as open-source alternatives, such as class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/qmmander-replace-your-windows-explorer-with-an-open-source-alternative/">QMMander.

Here are two more file browsers that carry handy features that Windows Explorer lacks. The first one may even be hidden within your installed programs, while the second one is a new application with a twist.

id="more-57225">

7-Zip File Manager (Cross-Platform)

You probably already have downloaded one of the best file compression/decompression tools out there, class="vt-p" href="http://www.7-zip.org/">7-zip, which shines with its high compression rate (and fares well compared to class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/the-top-3-file-compression-extraction-softwares/">other free file archivers), but did you know it also bundles a lightweight file manager? Me neither, up until it was mentioned on class="vt-p" href="http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/stupid-geek-tricks-using-7-zip-as-a-blazing-fast-file-browser/">How-To Geek.

The 7-zip two-pane file manager just works and doesn’t get stuck like Windows Explorer might if you try to copy or move an enormous file around.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/17.png" alt="comparison of file managers" width="522" height="517" />

If you already have 7-zip installed, you can start using the file manager by simply typing ” 7″ in the Start Menu search box. If you want faster access, you can right-click on it > Send To > Desktop.

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Best Features

No delays whatsoever: If you’re looking for a fast file manager, you’ve found it.
You can browse ISO files as if they were folders. In this screenshot, I’m browsing the ISO file that contains the setup file for Microsoft Expression Studio Ultimate, which I got class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/retail-software-free-student/">free for being a student.

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Quickly perform common tasks with keyboard shortcuts, including some that you usually need class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-more-tools-to-bring-power-to-the-right-click-menu-windows/">dedicated programs for.

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Quickly navigate to frequently-accessed folders with keyboard shortcuts (by adding that folder to your Favorites).

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Change folder and file views with hotkeys (default view is Details).

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There’s also a way for you to omit the cascaded menu when you right-click on say a zip file and instead, have the 7-zip options when you right-click.

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To fix that, you just need to head to Tools in the File Manager menu bar and adjust your Options.

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Nemo Documents (Windows)

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/91.jpg" alt="" width="580" height="435" />

class="vt-p" href="http://www.nemo-docs.com/">Nemo Documents is also a lightweight, unobtrusive file manager that displays your file structure à la Google Calendar (which is supported!) or Outlook, that is, in a calendar view and provides more intuitive ways to find files, period. I can see the calendar view being useful to anyone that is GTD-conscious and may want to review files that s/he is working on.

Nemo Documents can also double up as a search tool as it integrates with the built-in Desktop Search function in Vista and Windows 7 to help you search for keywords or phrases inside documents.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/101.jpg" alt="" width="579" height="643" />

Thus, as the author’s website indicates, if you can’t remember the name of some file, you can combine these keywords along with “other clues that you can remember about the document, such as a specific month or the file type” to help you find a file.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/111.jpg" alt="" width="580" height="517" />

Windows 7 can class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/windows-7-libraries-%E2%80%93-and-why-you-want-them/">bundle search results by month (as you can see in Jim’s screenshot), but now WinXP and Vista users can get this and additional views with the file manager in question.

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Another cool thing is that you can tag or label files, regardless of the file type.

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Usually, you can only add tags to Microsoft documents, JPEG images and nothing else in Windows Explorer, unless you are using third-party applications, such as class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/create-tags-for-your-windows-files-with-taggedfrog/">TaggedFrog or class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/tag2find-%E2%80%93-tag-your-windows-files-with-web-like-tags/">Tag2Find. Thus, if you’re into tagging or could use more efficient file searches with tags, Nemo Documents might be for you.

Nemo Documents is as small as downloads come (the class="vt-p" href="http://download.cnet.com/Nemo-Documents/3000-10743_4-75285596.html?tag=mncol;1">download file size is about 672 KB) and occupies 1.77 MB once installed. It seems like this product is pretty young so it might implement additional features later on as more feedback becomes available to the authors.

Have you got any alternative file browsers you’re extremely fond of? Share it with us in the comments!

Image credit: class="vt-p" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewcurrie/4643619466/">Andrew Currie />
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2 Android Apps To Quickly Check How To Spell A Word

Posted on 11 September 2010. Tags: Android, Apps, Check, Quickly, Spell, Word

class="align-left" style="border: 0px none; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 5px; float: right;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/android_sp.png" alt="how to spell a word" />As a child I was never a real good speller. I never participated in any spelling bees to save myself from the embarrassment. I’ve improved a bit through the years but there are still always going to be those words whose spelling is going to elude me. For those of you who are in the same occasionally-can’t-spell-a-hard-word boat, there are Android apps for that.

If you ever catch yourself in a situation where you need to quickly find a correct spelling, your trusty class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/google-android/">Android can come to your service! The next time your pals are sitting around arguing about the spelling of some obscure word (happens all the time, I’m sure), try out some of these Android apps that will help you figure out how to spell a word.

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Spell Checker (Voice)

The first app I tried out and loved was Spell Checker (voice).

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/spellcheckervoice.png" alt="how to spell a word" width="496" height="450" />

This app is very quick to access because it sets up a shortcut for you right off the bat. Once installed, all you have to to is long-hold the search button and up pops the option to open it.

class="align-left" style="border: 0px none; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 5px; float: left;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/spellcheckervoice_code.png" alt="spell a word" width="94" height="96" />From there, for further ease, you can even choose to speak the word. How awesome is that? Alternatively, if you find some text on a website, copy the text and then just open the app and the copied text is automatically entered for you. With support for nine languages, I’m sure this app is bound to help a lot of people.

ASpell

class="vt-p" href="http://www.simonjudge.com/android.html">ASpell is a very simple spell checking app and that happens to be its appeal. It checks words by the class="vt-p" href="http://aspell.net/">GNU ASpell dictionary. Its basic function is to tell you if the word in question is spelled correctly and to give you a list of alternatives.

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Another helpful feature is that, although English is the only language supported, it has a check box to check for the British spelling.

Aside from spell checking apps, try out these games that make spelling fun.

Speak & Spell

Do you remember the children’s spelling game from the 80’s? I don’t but perhaps some of you do. The class="vt-p" href="http://www.appbrain.com/app/au.id.weston.scott.SpeakAndSpell">Speak and Spell Android app is basically an emulator of that game. They say it’s for nostalgic reasons but try it out, you might like it.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/speakandspell.png" alt="how to spell a word" width="329" height="233" />

If you don’t know anything about the game, it basically tells you words and you need to spell them. Being an emulated game from 30 years ago, the graphics seem corny and the voice is a very annoying computer voice. This is because that was how the original game was so don’t go hatin’!

Seek ‘n Spell

class="vt-p" href="http://www.seeknspell.com/index.html">Seek ‘n Spell is a newer game that makes use of GPS technology on your Android phone or iPhone. The idea is somewhat similar to Scrabble but outdoors. The game scrambles a bunch of letters across the fields, gives you a map showing their locations, and the players race to collect the letters. When they make words with those letters, they score points. This almost looked fun enough for me to go out and try all by myself.

Check out this video to get a somewhat better visual.

width="580" height="434"> name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/vofSU97GWfA?fs=1&hl=en_US&hd=1&border=1"> name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/vofSU97GWfA?fs=1&hl=en_US&hd=1&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="580" height="434">

What apps on your Android do you use to find out how to spell a word? />
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Check Out MakeUseOf’s New T-Shirt!

Posted on 08 September 2010. Tags: Check, MakeUseOf’s, TShirt

class="align-left" style="border: 0px none; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 5px; float: right;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/tux.png" alt="" width="223" height="215" />Sales are brisk at the class="vt-p" href="http://www.splitreason.com/makeuseof">MakeUseOf T-Shirt store and so we have decided to expand on our selection a little bit by offering a new design. This is one for all of our Linux and Mac fans out there!

The class="vt-p" href="http://www.splitreason.com/product/makeuseof/1016">“Tux Pad” shirt shows the Linux penguin holding an Apple iPad. The shirt is a very nice dark grey colour with the MakeUseOf logo on the arm.

And for the first time, this T-shirt is also available in class="vt-p" href="http://www.splitreason.com/product/makeuseof/1015">“Baby Tee” size for all the discerning ladies out there.

Check them out below!

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Each T-shirt is only $16.95 and shipping. If Linux and Apple are not your thing, then check out class="vt-p" href="http://www.splitreason.com/makeuseof">the T-shirt store for our other bestselling designs! />
/> Hey Facebookers, make sure to check out href="http://www.facebook.com/makeuseof">MakeUseOf page on Facebook. Over 24,000 fans already!

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3 Handy Sites To Check Out Before You Buy A Car

Posted on 27 August 2010. Tags: Before, Check, Handy, Sites

class="align-left" style="border: 0px none; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 5px; float: right;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/carsale.jpg" alt="where can i research or buy a new car" />Buying a car can no doubt be a stressful experience. There are just plenty of things to worry about, from whether or not you’ve picked the right car, what the reviews are saying, if it’s going to be reliable, and if you’re paying too much. Let’s not forget about the unfortunate reality of having to deal with car salesmen either.

Yes, the car buying experience can be a little overwhelming sometimes, but it doesn’t have to be. With the Web, it’s easy to simplify everything to avoid some of the hassle and frustration altogether.

Here’s 3 handy sites to check out before you buy a car.

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class="vt-p" href="http://www.carzen.com/">CarZen

First, perhaps the most important thing to do is to research a new car and figure out what kind of car is right for you. With so many makes and models out there to choose from, how do you make that process easier? That’s where CarZen comes into play.

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The site allows you to quickly select a vehicle that fits your specific needs. All it takes is just a few simple steps. First, just pick any of the body styles you are interesting in along with your price range.

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A list of possible cars for you is shown below and from there, you can go on and select your personal preferences, including your specific needs, wants, and style, to narrow down the list further. Once completed, just review your results to check out the cars that are perfect for you.

Displayed for every match in your results is the percent match based on your needs, along with basic information about the car, including MSRP, invoice, and MPG. Below that, you can review the report card of how the vehicle was scored followed by a helpful overview of the model, basic stats, styles, and features.

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class="vt-p" href="http://motormouths.com/">MotorMouths

Next, now that you have an idea of exactly what car you want, head on over to MotorMouths. The Web is chock full of various car reviews and ratings from different providers, and that’s where this website can come in handy.

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Just type in the make or model of the car in the search box at the top. If you have yet to decide on a car, you can also browse for vehicles.

Once on the car’s page, you’ll find the unique overall score, which is based on the scores critics awarded the vehicle in published online reviews. The site also displays the individual scores and the gist of the review, along with who reviewed the car, the critic’s credibility, and the style reviewed. Simply hit the link for the full review or the video review if there is one.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/mm2.jpg" alt="new car buying tips" width="570" height="368" />

class="vt-p" href="http://www.truecar.com/index.html">TrueCar

If the reviews check out and you’re all set, be sure to check out TrueCar before you take the plunge. The site features the real prices of new cars and trucks so that you can be certain you’re not overpaying.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/truec1.jpg" alt="new car buying tips" width="570" height="396" />

Once you find your vehicle’s price report page, the interactive chart pretty much says it all. The comprehensive curve includes the dealer cost, sticker price, and factory invoice. What we’re really interesting in though is the average paid, which gives you at least an idea of what a good price for the car is.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/truec2.jpg" alt="where can i research or buy a new car" width="570" height="434" />

Karl has also shown you class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/websites-to-help-you-research-or-buy-a-new-cars">three websites that can help you buy a car and when you finally have a vehicle, you will want to keep a perfect class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/perfect-car-maintenance-schedule-mycarmonitor">car maintenance schedule won’t you?

What websites do you visit before you buy a car? Have any of these helped you? Let us know in the comments.

Image Credit : class="vt-p" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/3059349393/3408075836/">emilio labrador />
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Check Out the Craze for Online PC Repair Services

Posted on 06 August 2010. Tags: Check, Craze, Online, Repair, Services

Any interruption in smooth going work on computer can be a cause of irritation for anyone. Well! Your computer is also machinery like any other. It can also witness a breakdown. The responsibility to keep it in working condition lies with you as you are its master. Just installing antivirus or PC security products will do no good. Your computer needs care and regular dose of services like PC Repair , PC optimization and PC health check up.

There are many online resources available to help you determine what, if anything is wrong when you think there may be a problem with your computer. They work 24×7 and have call centers where technicians offer support through live chat, telephone or email and remote assistance. Your computer can lead to default working and face technical errors over time, due to routine usage or human error or your negligence. However, you can get any of such computer problems resolved; it just depends on time and budget.

These computer repair resources offer you the best of services at the most competitive prices. Here, you have an access to experts and save your money at the same time. Whether your computer is suffering from PC errors or needs to tune performance or needs antivirus protection, online computer repair resources serve as one stop shop for you.

With online PC repair resources, you don’t have to worry about hauling your Pc to any office store and then wait for weeks to get it back. These shops offer you instant help which ensure you to get your PC fixed within an hour. The process through which they access your computer is known as remote desktop connection. Some people may consider it unsafe but you being the computer owner can control the actions taken on your system in case you feel security violation.

On the other hand, companies offering remote technical support render their customers a chance to get acquainted with the intricacies of their computer system. Since you can watch each and every step the technician takes to solve your problem, you can also perform the same steps in case the same error bothers you again.

Posted in UtilitiesComments (0)

5 Things You Must Check Before Disposing of Old Computers

Posted on 04 August 2010. Tags: Before, Check, Computers, Disposing, MUST, Things

Computers are essential tools today. Software demands and hardware capability tend to grow exponentially. So if you want to stay on top of things, it’s a good idea to get a new computer every two to three years. Now what do you do when disposing of old computers?

Whatever you do, there are a few things you must check before giving away, trashing, or recycling a computer. Backing up information and securely deleting private data is one major concern. You may also be able to reuse parts or the entire computer. This article provides a quick overview of your options when it comes to disposing of old computers.

1. Backup Data

Obviously, you will want to keep a copy of your data. Here is a quick list of information you should not forget to backup:

Personal Files
Pictures, Music, Movies, anything entertaining you have on your computer, don’t lose it. Same goes for any documents or files you have downloaded.
The Best FREE Backup Software for your PC
Browser Data
This includes bookmarks, saved logins & passwords, extensions, and other personal settings. It’s much easier to transfer the data than to set it all up again, don’t you agree?
Backup & Restore Your Internet Explorer Browser Settings
Back up your Firefox Profile with MozBackup
Email
If you’re using a desktop eMail program like Thunderbird or Outlook, do backup your profile and take your conversations and your address book with you.
5 Easy Ways To Back Up Your Microsoft Outlook Data
Archive Your Browser & Mail Settings With MailBrowserBackup
Program Data
Did you create databases, make specific settings, or save other data with any of the programs you’re using? Think of calendars, bibliography tools, image editing software, games, or music playlists. Any of that information can be backed up and transferred to your new computer. Usually, these data are saved under documents & settings or in the respective program files folder. The easiest way would be to backup these two folders entirely.
Fonts
Have you downloaded and installed any additional fonts? They are likely compatible with your new computer, so save you the time of tracking them down again and just backup the fonts folder. In Windows, it’s found under C:/Windows/Fonts.

Is your computer no longer booting or is the hard drive dead? Check out the following articles:

2. Serial Numbers & Registration Keys

This point deserves special attention because losing a serial number or registration keys can actually cost you money. If you’re not sure where you stored that information, retrieve it before it’s too late:

3 Ways To Recover Serial Numbers In Windows

disposing of old computers

If you purchased software online and downloaded the installation file, rather than having it on a CD, be safe and back that up, too.

3. Wipe Private Data

If you seriously don’t want to keep your hard drive or can’t be bothered to remove it from your old computer, make sure all your private information is gone. Your data in the wrong hands could result in humiliation, financial loss, or worst of all: identity theft.

Neither deleting files, nor emptying the trash, or formatting your hard drive is enough! To be on the safe side, you must shred and overwrite your data. Follow the steps described in this article: How To Completely & Securely Erase Your Hard Drive [Windows]

disposing of old computers

Some great suggestions on how to delete, shred, and terminally wipe your private information are also given in the replies to this question on MakeUseOf Answers: How can I clean a laptop before donating it?

4. Strip Out Useful Parts

Basically, all parts of your computer, if still functional, may be useful for you or someone else. So think twice before you trash anything. If computer parts are alien to you, read this article first: The Basic Parts Of A Computer & How To Upgrade Them [Technology Explained]

Monitor
Keep it as a backup, set up a dual screen if your graphics card supports it, or hook it up to your laptop for a better screen.
Cables and External Devices
Keep one set of everything as a backup. Nobody wants a used mouse or keyboard anyways.
Hard Drive
Put it into a USB case and use as an external hard drive, hook up internally to your new computer, or wipe it clean before you give it away.
RAM
If your old RAM is compatible with your new computer’s motherboard, you may as well use it. However, never mix different RAM modules. Read the answers to this MakeUseOf Answers questions for some leads: How can I upgrade my RAM and hard drive?
Power Supply Unit
An often searched for replacement part.
Motherboard & CPU
You won’t need that with your new computer. But someone else may use it as a replacement.

disposing of computers

CD / DVD drive
Card Reader
Floppy drive
Graphics Card
Sound Card

Try to sell the parts you can’t use yourself on eBay, and give away leftovers via your local FreeCycle.

5. Re-Use Entire Computer

This may be the most important point! Maybe you can actually still use your old computer. So check out the possibilities before you submit it to the trash.

If your old computer is still running, it can serve many purposes. If it can connect to the internet, you could donate the CPU time. Your could also give it to someone who needs it or turn it into an entertainment center. These and many more ideas are summarized in my article Top 10 Cool Uses For Old Computers And Laptops. Finally, if your machine is really old, maybe the local tech museum is interested in it.

Can you think of any more uses of old computers or parts or alternatives for disposing of old computers? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Image credits: speedy2, forwardcom, drizzle, Vyolett

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A Check Scanning Device – The Truth About Checks Scanners!

Posted on 31 July 2010. Tags: about, Check, Checks, Device, scanners, Scanning, Truth

If you are in the process of searching for a check scanning device and you are not really sure which scanner to buy, join the club! fortunately, there is a way of determining what you need which should be of great assistance in your quest for the perfect scanner. Handheld scanners give you flexibility and security in your daily and weekly data-handling routine, including when the safeguarding of valuable documentation is of the utmost importance. Before you decide to buy a compact scanner, you really ought to keep in mind the following points.

Comparable to any current and sophisticated hardware device, handheld scanners have been designed to be less complex and simpler to use. They can be used for a variety of scanning needs such as cards, photos, receipts, passports, checks or bank statements, etc. With very little time and effort, they yield exceptional pixel resolution in a format to meet your every need. At the moment, the minimal expense of a check scanning device can fit a reasonable budget both for companies and individuals.

Among the many and varied advantages of these portable usb scanners is that they’re so user-friendly and convenient anywhere you happen to be. Scanners are conveniently loaded with tailored scanning software that enables you to scan printed documents and pictures alike and then save the files to use in various ways. In the case of id cards, the scanner will separate the full card image, face image, signature image and full text data of the identification and then categorize it in various files, which can then be exported to a clipboard or another software program.

Before committing to a check scanning device be sure to pay attention to the following guidelines: (1) determine what you’ll be using a scanner for; (2) use your favorite search engine to look for appropriate scanners; (3) take a close look at the scanners’ capabilities; (4) do a little background research on the company itself and see what past customers have to say about it; (5) look into delivery methods/charges and returns.

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High Definition Audio Driver For Windows Xp – Check Your Files !

Posted on 27 July 2010. Tags: Audio, Check, Definition, Driver, Files, High, Windows

I’m about to introduce you to an interesting solution that assists you to simply get a high definition audio driver for Windows XP without the inconvenience of internet searches. Unfortunately, the majority of users haven’t learned how to go about searching the web in order to get appropriate drivers for their components. Be sure to read this brief report as it’ll assist you to unearth the exact driver(s) you require from just about any company you can imagine (and more!).

Click here to get a high definition audio driver for Windows XP now!

Most computer users never give any thought to the truth that driver designers always make improvements to their drivers due to functionality problems, supporting system updates, supporting new software versions, … Always use the correct drivers – not only for the effective use of a single peripheral, but also for the entire performance of your windows. Just what does a driver do? Drivers are programs that include unique information for a hardware device (or software) so other software will be able to interact with that particular sw or hw. It just so happens that there is a new solution on the web that can instantly detect, repair, and bring up to date virtually any driver on your pc. Conveniently, you can set the utility to systematically (and automatically) do a scan and update of all your drivers at regular intervals – you’ll always be up to date.

There’s no doubt that drivers are crucial elements that need your care, in the same way that you (hopefully) manage and safeguard your windows system. One key aspect of this useful tool is that it makes sure your pc is functioning at its highest level while purging it of inconsistencies due to outdated or damaged driver(s). It’s okay to do driver(s) installations the old-fashioned way, but be careful you spend a moment to confirm that the selected driver(s) is entirely compatible with your version of windows.

Try it and see – when you use such program to get a high definition audio driver for Windows XP, you’ll notice how in need of ‘tlc’ your pc is when you happen to consider the driver(s) situation. Always remember that it is enough for just one incompatible driver to set off some major problems and possibly even crash your windows os. As they say, don’t knock it till you’ve tried it – experiment with this application and find out just what it can do for you – after all, you’ve got nothing to lose. It is always fascinating to find state-of-the-art programs that actually give you the ability to make those annoying and sometimes difficult chores simple and, dare i say, fun? I wonder… will the material supplied in this quick guide enhance your driver finding methods? I have no idea…, but it sure changed mine.

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How To Check Out The Android Mobile OS On Your Computer

Posted on 27 July 2010. Tags: Android, Check, Computer, Mobile

Buying a smartphone can be a big deal. No longer responsible for the mere task of making phone calls, today’s smartphones are essentially pocket-sized computers. Laying down the money for a smartphone – never mind the cost of the associated contract – can be a bit nerve racking. What if it doesn’t do what you want? Returning a smartphone isn’t necessarily impossible, but cell phone carriers don’t like to take products back without a hassle.

If you’re considering an Android phone you can take off some of the pressure by taking a tour of Android on your PC. This won’t give you perfect emulation, but it will give you a good idea of how Android’s interface works and what you can do with Android based devices.

Installing The Android SDK

In order to run Android on your PC you will need to first install the Android SDK. This is a tool targeted at Android app developers, and as a result it isn’t the most user friendly program in the world. Follow these instructions carefully and you should have no problems.

After you have downloaded the Android SDK zip file, unzip the android-sdk-windows folder. Open the folder and then open SDK Setup.exe. The Android SDK does not come with any version of the Android OS available, so you will be prompted by a window that scans Google’s servers to find out what is available.

You will probably run into the error message displayed above. If you do, close the window. In the main Android SDK window click on the Settings option. Two check boxes will appear near the bottom of the window, one of which is labeled “Force http:// … sources to be fetched using http:// …” Click on that checkbox. The Refresh Sources window will appear again for a moment and then disappear.

Now a new window will appear asking what packages you would like to install. You will see a list of various Android OS versions that are available. You can install them all, or you can simply chose to install the Android OS that comes with the phone you’re interested in. Either way, pressing Install will start the download of the Android OS version(s) you selected.

If for some reason you cancel the process before you selected and installed an Android OS you can bring this window back by going to Installed Packages and then clicking Update All.

Emulating An Android Phone

Now that you’ve downloaded the Android OS you want to mess with you need to emulate a phone using that OS. To start, go to the Virtual Devices section of the Android SDK and then click New. This will open up the below window, which contains several options.

First, name your phone. It doesn’t matter what the name is – this is just a means of identifying the emulated phone so you can select it later.

Next, click the Target drop down box and select an operating system from the list. Again, you’re best off choosing the Android OS that will be installed on the smartphone you’re curious about.

Now you need to input a size into the field under the SD Card section. The size that you select really does not matter for the purposes of this experiment. I suggest a nice, round number like 512 or 1024. Next, you need to select a display from the Built-In drop-down menu in the Skin section. Again, this doesn’t really matter for evaluation purposes. The default (HVGA) will be fine.

When you’re done, click Create AVD. The following prompt will appear.

Now your emulated phone will appear in the Virtual Devices menu.

Select the emulated phone and then click on Start. A prompt will appear asking if you want to scale the display. I don’t recommend messing with these settings – just click Launch.

Once you do so the emulated Android phone will appear. To the left you will simply see a black screen with Android spelled out in gray letters. You are going to have to let it sit for a few minutes while the emulation loads. Eventually the Android boot animation will appear, and then the OS will appear.

The emulation will let you do most of the things you could normally do with an actual Android smartphone. You can use the web browser, change phone settings, send or receive emails, and add contacts. These features are, for the most part, fully functional – you actually can check your real email using your real email address and you can browse the Internet at your leisure.

There are some things that won’t work. Opening the camera caused my emulated Android phone to crash every time. You can type in phone numbers and press the call button, but no actual call takes place. The music player won’t have any music to play. Perhaps most importantly, there is also no Android Marketplace, although you can still install apps that are available through the web browser.

Conclusion

Emulating an Android phone with the SDK won’t give you a perfect representation, but it will help you understand the nuts-and-bolts mechanics of the phone and provide you with another tool that can be used to make sure you spend your money wisely. Now, if only you could emulate iOS for a comparison!

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Things to Check Before you Download Vista Windows

Posted on 20 July 2010. Tags: Before, Check, download, Things, Vista, Windows

Vista, the new operating system from Microsoft, is being marketed as a revolution for the personal computer. All the enticing benefits the new system offers have spurred lots of people to download Vista Windows. If you’re contemplating upgrading your XP-running PC, here are some factors you need to address first.

1. Check your PC.

Before you download Vista Windows, check your computer if it’s ready for upgrades. To do this, you need to download and run the Windows Upgrade Advisor tool. This will assess your computer and give you a list of the Vista versions that are compatible with your unit. To be able to download Vista Windows, your computer must have at least 800MHz. Premium-ready PCs need at least 1GHz.

2. Make sure you have enough memory and hard drive space.

Another thing to note before you download Vista Windows your PC must have at least 512 MB of RAM. The minimum requirement for a premium-ready PC is 1 GB of system RAM. Plus, to be able to download Vista Windows, your hard drive size and free space must be no less than 40 GB and 15 GB, respectively.

3. Determine graphics adapter capability.

To enable you to download Vista Windows, your graphics adapter must be DirectX 9 capable. Premium-ready machines need at least 128 MB of video RAM to be able to download Vista Windows. Cards that are Vista-capable should have a minimum 64 MB of video RAM. These requirements need to be met if you plan to exploit the Aero Glass graphics. Otherwise, if your existing video adapter is Vista-capable, there is no need to upgrade it. It should be noted that a notebook computer with graphics card that is not compatible has a lesser chance of a successful upgrade to the new system.

4. Your computer must have a DVD drive.

So you can download Vista Windows, your PC should have a DVD drive in which you could install Vista.

5. Determine the version of Vista your computer is capable of running.

Before you download Vista Windows, determine first the version most appropriate for your computer. The five different editions are:

· Windows Vista Home Basic – provides basic operating system usability; suitable for average home users; will sell for $200 for new PCs, and $100 as an upgrade for those with existing Windows license

· Windows Vista Home Premium – offers more functionality than previous Vista Home Basic version; best choice for most PC users; features Aero and Media Center interface, DVD Maker, Movie Maker HD, backup scheduler, SideShow that allows use of auxiliary displays, comes with a Sync Center to synchronize files with other PCs over a home network, and parental controls; premium costs $240 for new computers and P160 as an upgrade if you have an existing Windows XP Home license

· Windows Vista Business – useful for standard business needs; comparable to Windows XP Professional; will be a staple on the corporate desktop.

· Windows Vista Enterprise – has advanced features like BitLocker Drive Encryption for laptops, application compatibility tools, and multi-language support

· Windows Vista Ultimate – has all the features of Vista Home Premium; features support for dual CPUs (multi-core are supported in lower versions), remote desktop host, file encryption (with full-drive BitLocker capability), faxing, domain-based networking for office networks, and web hosting; will sell for $400 for new PCs and $260 as an upgrade if you have an existing Windows XP Home or Pro license.

6. Existing applications must be capable of running under Vista.

To ensure that you can download Vista Windows and install it successfully, run the Application Compatibility Toolkit to help you distinguish the applications that may not be operate under Vista.

7. Back up your data.

Before you download Vista Windows, do not forget to back up your data. Prior to installation of the new operating system, be sure to check that you have all the installation media from your existing software and the proper licensing information.

The steps above are all essential requirements that you need to consider before you download Vista Windows. Also, notebook computers and desktop PCs should be able to meet all the hardware specifications.

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