Tag Archive | "Products"

Why Microsoft Should Not Be Pushing Their New Metro UI Onto Their Other Products [Opinion]


With the introduction of the Windows Phone platform in 2010, Microsoft unveiled the Metro user interface, designed to make accessing information quick and easy. Rather than litter their new mobile platform with endless rows of icons, Microsoft’s tile-based interface proved that there was another way to make mobile phones functional.

Such has been the critical acclaim for this user interface that Microsoft has since opted to roll out Metro across its other consumer products. First was its introduction on the Xbox 360 and later this year it will play a big part in Microsoft’s story as a key element of the Windows 8 operating system. But is this the best use for the UI? Surely a mobile phone user interface should stay on such a device? After all, don’t computer users want to be able use their mouse and keyboard and quickly launch their chosen apps rather than scroll through tiles?

What Is Metro? Microsoft’s Signature UI Explained

From a personal point of view, I’m a big fan of Metro on the Windows Phone. It is fast, slick, functional and logical and it has been instrumental in turning Microsoft’s mobile fortunes around. Additionally it has provided the mobile industry as a whole, a much-needed kick in the rear to pull it out of the mire of iOS cloning into which it was readily sinking.

A design language established initially for use with Windows Phone, Metro features the uniform use of the Segoe WP typeface, tiles and a general grouping of similar functions and features under a single tile. For instance, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are grouped with contacts under the People Hub on Windows Phone devices. The tile-based Start screen interface on a Windows Phone can be adjusted to suit your preferences, with users typically placing their most-used apps and hubs at the top.

Almost all Windows Phone apps use the Metro look

Additionally the fresh approach to presenting information, available by scrolling left and right, enables app designers plenty of space with which to present menus and options and discards the need for a dedicated menu button. All in all, Metro works well on Windows Phone and you can see why Microsoft is so enthralled by it. But is it suitable as a “signature user interface”?

Success On One Platform Does Not Guarantee Success On Another

The beta release of Windows 8 demonstrated how the Metro UI had been redeveloped for use on larger devices, specifically tablets. While Microsoft’s focus in this area is admirable – after all, they started the tablet computer market, yet thanks to Apple’s iPad find themselves several years behind – it can be argued that most Windows 8 users don’t want or need a finger-friendly user interface.

The new Start screen in Windows 8, powered by the Metro UI

After all, Metro is intended for use by fingers rather than a mouse and keyboard. While it might be an ideal UI for the rumoured ARM-based Windows 8 tablets, the presence of Metro as a key element of Windows 8 for desktops and high-end tablets is puzzling.

While it is possible to navigate around the tile-based Start menu in Windows 8 with a mouse and keyboard, it is a little unwieldy, much like playing a piano while wearing gloves. There is also the matter of just how important using a touch-focused user interface is to the standard user.

As things stand, Windows 7 is a perfectly good operating system that is enjoying strong user take-up and has a good reputation, particularly among corporate users. Conversely Windows 8 is being designed specifically for business users and yet there seems to be a gap between what users want from a UI and what Microsoft is planning to offer in 2012.

The Metro UI has recently spread to Xbox

Although there is the ability to switch to a version of the traditional desktop view in Windows 8 – ideal for legacy and office applications – office-based users are likely to discard Metro entirely, reducing it to little more than an overlay UI. Overlays were great for Microsoft 3-4 years ago when they needed to extend the life of Windows Mobile, but we really should have moved away from that era.

Too Much Metro Too Soon?

Why does Microsoft want to replace Windows 7 so soon? More importantly, why is it pushing Metro as a user interface so heavily?

Some might argue that Microsoft’s reputation has improved in recent years and that Metro is an embodiment of this change. While their great rival Apple has grown into a monolithic retirement fund for lawyers, Microsoft has been embracing user communities, for instance helping them to set up ways of legally unlocking its new phones.

This positive pull is mirrored in the clear typography and ease of use found in Metro, but to spread the UI across all of Microsoft’s consumer platforms is potentially dangerous. Windows 8 could founder based on its very presence; so soon after the Vista debacle this is something that Microsoft could well do without.

Image Credit: Wikimedia



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Google Takes The Axe To 10 Products [News]


class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/googleaxe2.jpg" alt="" />It seems that Google has a hand in nearly everything, from feed readers to email to smartphones, but there are limits to the company’s patience with the products under its wing. Now Google has announced that a number of under-performers will be given the axe.

Perhaps the most significant (or at least, the only dying service I’ve used for more than a few days) is class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/7-musthave-google-desktop-gadgets-productivity/">Google Desktop, which brought gadgets and search directly to the desktop experience. Though a neat trick at the time of its release in 2004, both Windows and Mac OS X now offer similar functionality, making the product redundant. Support will end on September 14 style="font-size: x-small;">th.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/googleaxe12.jpg" alt="" width="569" height="214" />

Other notable products that will be buried include Aardvark, a question-and-answer site brought under Google’s wing in early 2010, and class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/google-fast-flip-%E2%80%93-call-it-a-news-reading-experience/">Fast Flip, a service that tried to digitally replicate the style of a newspaper. While unique, neither were popular, which is no doubt why they’ll soon be gone. Less important causalities include Google Pack, Google Web Security, class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/dir/google-notebook/">Google Notebook, Google Maps API for Flash, class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/google-sidewiki-sideswipe-for-sharing-website-reviews/">Sidewiki, Subscribed Links, and Image Labeler.

It’s doubtful any of these services will be greatly missed (que hostile comments), but their disappearance points to a larger trend within the company. Google has been trying to streamline its product offerings, and has been switching focus to web apps exclusively. That leaves no room for experiments like Aardvark or locally installed software such as Google Desktop.

Farewell, sweet products. Some of us will miss you. Maybe.  Will you miss them?

Source: class="vt-p" href="http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2392394,00.asp" rel="nofollow">PC Magazine



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Do You Think Digital Pirates Purchase More Products Than Non-Pirates? [MakeUseOf Poll]


class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/polls.jpg?54167"/>Last week we asked everyone to tell us href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/tech-books-makeuseof-poll/">how many tech books you have. The bulk of people seem to have between 1-9 tech books in their collection.

We collected a total of 210 votes, which were distributed as follows: 24% have 1-9 tech books; 22% have between 20-49 tech books; the option for 50-99 was left out accidentally, but if it had been there it probably would have rested between the 20-49 and 100-249 responses or much higher (judging by the bell curve); 17% have between 100-249 tech books; 15% have an amazing 250+ tech books; 13% have between 10-19 tech books; while 9% have no tech books at all.

Full results and this week’s poll after the jump.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Tech-Books-Poll.png?54167" alt="" title="Tech Books Poll" />

This week’s href="http://www.makeuseof.com/service/polls/">poll question is: Do You Think Digital Pirates Purchase More Products Than Non-Pirates?

A recent study has deemed that href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/236214/study_casts_pirate_site_users_in_good_light.html">people pirating movies are actually the same people who purchase the most movies. A similar study concluded that href="http://torrentfreak.com/pirates-are-the-music-industrys-most-valuable-customers-100122/">people who pirate digital music actually purchased more digital music than non-pirates (although fewer physical CDs). I’ve heard many people actually consider pirating products as a try-before-you-buy deal. The entertainment industry obviously sees it differently. How do you see things from where you stand? How do the pirates you know of behave? Do they purchase things or not? More importantly, do they purchase more than the non-pirates you know of?

align="center"> />

A simple yes/no/maybe poll isn’t going to cut it if you’re keen to elaborate. Feel free to let us know more about your pirating friends’ purchasing habits in the comments!

href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/digital-pirates-purchase-products-nonpirates-makeuseof-poll/">Do You Think Digital Pirates Purchase More Products Than Non-Pirates? [MakeUseOf Poll] is a post from: href="http://www.makeuseof.com">MakeUseOf

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    Registry fix download – Quality Products


    Registry clean is a momentous-effectual track to speed up your PC. Registry clean is a good road to fix up some significant system slips. Registry clean is a required advance for significant machine functionality backing. You should registry fix download troubles and unnecessary items periodically to help significant-speed functionality. It is recommended not to attempt changing any registry items and registry fix download by yourself.

    You must have both as a registry cleaner amongst your own computer tech software package as a first-aid box or fire-extinguisher in your auto. With the aid of registry cleaner it is feasible to solve many minor PC questions. A lot of users have already chosen Security Stronghold registry cleaner applications. Independent registry clean is rather wasteful and unhealthy advance which can take some days or even weeks for an unpractised consumer. Many platform emeregencys are required by registry errors and registry clean is the only track to eliminate them.

    A user result to registry fix download is usually caused with desires to advance machine. For reason of Windows registry incompletes it is infeasible to avoid registry errors. If you decide to registry fix download and don’t desire to go deep into system configuration you can download self-acting registry cleaner and begin registry clean at once. Operating system registry is oriented to repose all information about system structure. On the back of hard and timeproof computer work there are a lot of old-hat and crashed registry components in your registry and you should not disremember to registry fix download from time to time.

    Registry clean will help you if your PC grows working significantly slower. If all of your neighborhood prate about their high-speed machines and registry clean and you get irksome of it, here you can study all about registry and registry clean and get a peculiar solution. Without registry clean your “Windows’ heart” is as disordered as a teenager’s bedroom. Whether you desire it or not, a cluttered registry forces you to make a registry fix download. There’s an easy help that settles all registry errors in a few instants and adds both the get speed of your computer and its make business.
    By registry clean your PC will hurry faster and immaculate. A great deal of registry errors slow Windows system down and incite some applications matters than such forcing you to registry fix download or forget about absolute PC lock down.

    The backup/restore occupation of the registry cleaner allows you backup the whole operating system Registry so you can use it to repair the registry to the original structure in case you come accross some platform emeregency. Here-presented registry cleaner views the system registry and discovers broken or old-hat data in registry. Make you registry squeaky clean with the aid of this registry cleaner.
    There are a lot of apt registry errors appearance reasons. Everything you do in system is recorded into your registry. Your machine will grow significantly friskier by virtue of timely registry clean. You should registry fix download with the help of a software created by experienced and reliable developers. Light-minded manual registry clean can make your machine kick the bucket.

    While solution of all your machine speed matters is near why are you in doubt to get this serious-effective automatic software so far? Security Stronghold developing family produced an easy and couth automatic solution to registry fix download without extra efforts to apart from any problems with manual registry clean especially. After geting of registry cleaner you may be sure in 100% recovering of your machine in case of any unguessed slip. If you determine to registry fix download you take a unexpected care of your computer. Unassisted deleting of registry keys and values can put to programs problems, PC instability and even Windows system fail – it’s better to registry fix download mechanically with the aid of a secure applications. Do study by many other users skills – make a opportune registry clean.

    Automatic registry cleaner is a good help both for an practised user and for some people who have not enough time and desire to study registry or who don’t wish to danger by his or her information, programs and the total Windows system life. You don’t need to resetup the whole operating system because of a littery system registry every month as you can use easy and effectual device for registry clean such as registry cleaner. Manual registry clean is rather vagarious and sad advance, besides there is a probability to remove some significant registry records.

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    Registry fix download – Quality Products


    Registry clean is a momentous-effectual track to speed up your PC. Registry clean is a good road to fix up some significant system slips. Registry clean is a required advance for significant machine functionality backing. You should registry fix download troubles and unnecessary items periodically to help significant-speed functionality. It is recommended not to attempt changing any registry items and registry fix download by yourself.

    You must have both as a registry cleaner amongst your own computer tech software package as a first-aid box or fire-extinguisher in your auto. With the aid of registry cleaner it is feasible to solve many minor PC questions. A lot of users have already chosen Security Stronghold registry cleaner applications. Independent registry clean is rather wasteful and unhealthy advance which can take some days or even weeks for an unpractised consumer. Many platform emeregencys are required by registry errors and registry clean is the only track to eliminate them.

    A user result to registry fix download is usually caused with desires to advance machine. For reason of Windows registry incompletes it is infeasible to avoid registry errors. If you decide to registry fix download and don’t desire to go deep into system configuration you can download self-acting registry cleaner and begin registry clean at once. Operating system registry is oriented to repose all information about system structure. On the back of hard and timeproof computer work there are a lot of old-hat and crashed registry components in your registry and you should not disremember to registry fix download from time to time.

    Registry clean will help you if your PC grows working significantly slower. If all of your neighborhood prate about their high-speed machines and registry clean and you get irksome of it, here you can study all about registry and registry clean and get a peculiar solution. Without registry clean your “Windows’ heart” is as disordered as a teenager’s bedroom. Whether you desire it or not, a cluttered registry forces you to make a registry fix download. There’s an easy help that settles all registry errors in a few instants and adds both the get speed of your computer and its make business.
    By registry clean your PC will hurry faster and immaculate. A great deal of registry errors slow Windows system down and incite some applications matters than such forcing you to registry fix download or forget about absolute PC lock down.

    The backup/restore occupation of the registry cleaner allows you backup the whole operating system Registry so you can use it to repair the registry to the original structure in case you come accross some platform emeregency. Here-presented registry cleaner views the system registry and discovers broken or old-hat data in registry. Make you registry squeaky clean with the aid of this registry cleaner.
    There are a lot of apt registry errors appearance reasons. Everything you do in system is recorded into your registry. Your machine will grow significantly friskier by virtue of timely registry clean. You should registry fix download with the help of a software created by experienced and reliable developers. Light-minded manual registry clean can make your machine kick the bucket.

    While solution of all your machine speed matters is near why are you in doubt to get this serious-effective automatic software so far? Security Stronghold developing family produced an easy and couth automatic solution to registry fix download without extra efforts to apart from any problems with manual registry clean especially. After geting of registry cleaner you may be sure in 100% recovering of your machine in case of any unguessed slip. If you determine to registry fix download you take a unexpected care of your computer. Unassisted deleting of registry keys and values can put to programs problems, PC instability and even Windows system fail – it’s better to registry fix download mechanically with the aid of a secure applications. Do study by many other users skills – make a opportune registry clean.

    Automatic registry cleaner is a good help both for an practised user and for some people who have not enough time and desire to study registry or who don’t wish to danger by his or her information, programs and the total Windows system life. You don’t need to resetup the whole operating system because of a littery system registry every month as you can use easy and effectual device for registry clean such as registry cleaner. Manual registry clean is rather vagarious and sad advance, besides there is a probability to remove some significant registry records.

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    Classify mp3 as any of other iPod?s products


    The most popular mp3 player, of course, is the iPod. Although iPod certainly is not limited to playing only mp3s, iPods also play AAC, MP4, and many other file types. This article will classify mp3 player as any of other iPod’s products.  

    Firstly, let’s take a look at rights. iPods are often criticized for having restrictive digital rights, which basically means that they’re not able to be used with media services other than Apple’s own iTunes. They can also be a bit overpriced when compared to other mp3 players; you’re paying for the user-popular brand name.

    With that being said, every other mp3 player on the market has its issues. Pound for pound, based on operating strength and capabilities, Creative’s Zen series might have the best claim to mp3 player glory; most of them have the following awesome features that the iPod doesn’t;

    -FM Radio

    -Voice recording capabilities

    -Customizable background

    -Ability to be used with nearly any music store on the market other than iTunes.

    However, remember that a teen is likely to be obsessed with image. The iPod has a cool status that no other mp3 player comes close to, and they’re one of the market innovators to boot. Also, the iTunes store’s integration with the iPod still hasn’t been matched by other mp3 players; for a cool mp3 player with easy setup, there’s just no beating the iPod.

    However, remember that a teen is likely to be obsessed with image. The iPod has a cool status that no other mp3 player comes close to, and they’re one of the market innovators to boot. Also, the iTunes store’s integration with the iPod still hasn’t been matched by other mp3 players; for a cool with easy setup, there’s just no beating the iPod

    However, remember that a teen is likely to be obsessed with image. The iPod has a cool status that no other mp3 player comes close to, and they’re one of the market innovators to boot. Also, the iTunes store’s integration with the iPod still hasn’t been matched by other mp3 players; for a cool with easy setup, there’s just no beating the iPod

    Article source: http://www.helium.com/items/136473-deciding-between-ipods-and-mp3-players-for-teens

    Editor: Jenny

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    The Magic of Online Fundraising With Digital Download Products


    Online fundraising is becoming increasingly prominent and accepted…and why not?  You don’t have to go door-to-door, or stand out in the cold, or by your own children’s candy just to satisfy the commitment.  With digital download products, you are not just asking for money.  You are delivering real products with real value.  It is not just looking for a hand-out (although that can be appropriate sometimes), it is giving a hand in exchange.

    So what are digital downloads?  They can be eBooks.  They can be software.  They can be still images.  They can be videos.  They can be audios.  Anything that be downloaded directly from some Web Site is a digital download product.  They are dead simple to sell online…especially when it is for a worthy cause. 

    Everyone understands selling cookies, or popcorn, or books, or candy to raise money.  You sell a box of cookies for Ten Dollars and your organization gets to keep Five Dollars for your cause.  You have to get the order.  Take the money.  Get the products.  Deliver the products.  You walked miles, or stood for hours, or physically humiliate your co-workers to get the orders.  It was all hard and not terribly efficient.

    Now, imagine this…you find a digital product…maybe a piece of software, maybe an eBook, maybe something else.  Perhaps they already have program for fundraising, or perhaps you negotiate one (it is certainly easier if they already have a program).  They establish a way for you to get a direct, online link to a Shopping Cart that is specifically established for you (this may be a unique page, or it may just a program, coupon or reference number on their standard order page).  You let your potential buyers know about the link/product.  They go and buy the product using credit cards, perhaps Paypal.  The owner of the digital product supplies it directly to the buyer.  You get the money.

    So how do you let your potential buyers know.  Here are just a few ways:

    1)       Put a link and description on your organization’s  website or in their electronic or physical newsletter;

    2)      Hand out cards or flyers, or just leave them lying around, with a brief story and a link;

    3)      Here is the best-viral email; you send a personal email with a compelling description of the cause you are raising money for and ask people to go to a link a buy the product for your cause.  Tell them how much they will enjoy the product.  Now…here is the best part…send this email to ten of your friends…ask them to copy the main body, add their personal endorsement and send it to ten of their friends.  And repeat.  Sure, at some point the chain will run out…but look at the basic math…suppose 8 of your friends do what you asked…and then for each of them 4 of their friends…and for each of their friends 2 of their friends…and then for one more friend does it.  If you could make $10 per product (a minimum that you should expect here), you just made your organization over $10,000…and you never left the house, never handled money, never handled product.  LIFE IS GOOD!  (And if you want to make this better, just imagine that instead of just you starting this, imagine that your committee of 10 people each started this the same way…you just made $100,000).

    There are literally hundreds of other ways to use digital download products for your fundraisers.  The common thread is this…it is easy, it is efficient, and it is effective.

    Here is how to get started and what to look for in using digital download products for online fundraising:

    1)      Find a digital product that will be interesting to the audience your organization touches.  Selling gambling software to a religious organization may not be a great idea (broadly).  If you are dealing with Moms, look for cookbooks, childcare books, and child protection tools.  Make sure your offering relates to your audience.

    2)      Make sure your organization gets a fair return on the sale.  If you are not getting 50% of the Suggested Retail Value, walk away.  If you are not getting at least $10.00 per sale, walk away.

    3)      Ensure that the product supplier can accept all reasonable forms of payment online.  At a minimum,  the supplier must accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, JCB and PayPal.  Accepting online checks is a nice bonus.

    4)      First use suppliers who have established online fundraising programs already established and who can provide tools like email templates, web pages, advertisement suggestions.  You should not have to do all the work yourself.

    5)      Make sure you receive funds received at least twice a month and that there is no specific limit on how long the fundraising program can be continued.  At the same time, make sure that you can “pull” the program whenever you want.

    6)      You be the boss.  This is your program, make sure it works for you and your organization.

    That’s it.  That’s all there is to it.  It isn’t hard.  It isn’t internet mumbo-jumbo.  It is real.  It works.  Try it.  Make it work for your organization today.

    Have fun!  Good luck!

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    Etsy – An Alternative To eBay For Handmade Products


    ebay alternativeIf you’ve ever wanted to purchase a hand-crafted product, like hand-sewn clothing, jewelry or even custom electronic gadgets, then you will know that eBay or Amazon are a bit limited in what you can find.

    Sure, on eBay you can probably find the latest hot items, but available products are pretty much limited to mass-produced retail products. If you’re the kind of person that likes carefully crafted, handmade items that have character and artistic value, then these old auction sites will always fall short.


    An amazing website that has been building up steam for the past few years is Etsy.  Aibek noted this impressive site in 2006 when Etsy was just a beta site. Wendy also recognized it in her article on 5 legitimate home business opportunities. The truth is, since its inception, Etsy is an eBay alternative that has fast become a phenomenon greater than anything eBay could have managed, because Etsy isn’t just about making money by selling old things – it’s about reusing and recycling and it’s about practical and artistic products you won’t find anywhere else. It’s about living a lifestyle that’s less focused on consumerism and more focused on creativity and pride in craftmanship that harkens back to the days of barter and trade.

    Browse Through Amazing Hand-Crafted Goods

    Etsy is so much more than just a place to shop or sell items. After digging through this website, I realized that there are so many valuable resources here that it warrants a fresh review. The “geekery” section alone is worth its weight in gold – I plan to spend several hours a day there.

    When you first arrive on Etsy, it actually doesn’t look much different than eBay.

    ebay alternative

    There are sections for buying and selling, and of course a list of many different categories down the left side of the screen. The review of Etsy would pretty much end here if this is all the site is about, but it’s not. If you scroll down you’ll discover a section titled “Ways to Shop” that transforms Etsy into an invaluable resource and a great eBay alternative.

    alternative to ebay

    Ann recognized the value of being able to shop by color in her article on tools to search for images online by color, so I won’t belabor the point except to say that if you have a favorite color, this is the area to start your shopping. Treasury and Pounce are sections where you can review offerings grouped by specific sellers. However, one of my favorite search features is Shop Local.

    alternative to ebay

    On Etsy, you’ll find sellers in almost every community across the world. I found lots of sellers in my local area – these are sellers you could even visit and talk with, as most of them have their own small shops in the area as well. Etsy is truly a global marketplace with sellers in countries like Britain, India and more.

    Request Custom Handmade Items

    Of course, the coolest section of Etsy is “Alchemy,” where you can place custom order requests in auction format, and the many crafters and artists on the site bid on your custom “project.” It’s a whole unique section of the site that almost stands on its own as sort of a “freelancer” marketplace for crafters.

    alternative to ebay

    This section is great for buyers, because if you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for elsewhere, this lets you ask all crafters on Etsy whether they are able and willing to create exactly what you want. You place your starting bid (the max you’re willing to pay) and then different sellers can compete by accepting your price or offering lower bids.

    ebay alternative auction site

    There is a good degree of anonymity for bidders, so any crafters that bid on an object can feel safe that the competition won’t know who is bidding – only the lowest bid is displayed next to “Ideal price.” For work-at-home crafters, this area of Etsy represents an excellent opportunity to pick up extra work and extra income.

    Sell Your Handmade Goods

    Selling your own hand-crafted items on Etsy is just as easy as on eBay – maybe even easier! Goods should focus primarily on things that you’ve built or crafted with your own two hands, but if you think about it – this includes a very wide range of potential products.

    ebay alternative auction site

    The only items not allowed are things that you didn’t actually create yourself (don’t even think about reselling yard sale items!), or illegal and prohibited items. For example, forging and loading bullets for sale is probably not going to fly.

    However, handmade items don’t just include your grandmother’s knitted sweaters and mittens – as I mentioned earlier, the “Geekery” section alone has some of the coolest, most creative tech related items I’ve ever seen – like this working desktop clock made from an old 3.5 inch computer floppy disk.

    ebay alternative

    You’ll find a whole wide assortment of awesome items like this on Etsy. Also, if you spend much of your day working at home, creating these works of art, sometimes it can be nice to talk to and collaborate with other creative artists who share your passion. The “Community” section of Etsy is huge – it’s filled with creative people of all types, and certainly many who share your interests.

    Have you ever bought or sold anything on Etsy, as an eBay alternative?  What are some of the most creative items you’ve found there? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

    Image credit: Pottery by Thad Zajdowicz

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    The new Apple Touch Screen Tablet plus iphone Pro and 60+ other Amazing Apple Concept Products



    With the speculation surrounding the Apple Tablet or Netbook, I thought it would be fun to take a look at some Apple concept products. None of these are real (yet) but aren’t they great? Which one would you like? Some of you may know me as barnesnet, well here is my new channel that I will be posting my future mac related videos to. If you subscribed to barnesnet then you may want to subscribe here also. Expect videos on the new snow leopard when I get it. My new twitter: www.twitter.com My website: intomacs.co.uk

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    Meridian Window Products


    Kenny Hammond Contact

    Our experience with Meridian was pleasant to say the least. We originally were going to go with blinds through out the whole house. Being new to the desert, we didn’t realize how hot the inside of the house gets in the summer months. Daniel explained to us what a difference it would make to have shutters at least where there is direct sunlight hitting the windows. Boy were we glad once the summer started. We had put those temporary shades up while waiting for the shutters to arrive, and the house still felt like the inside of an oven by 7 am. The shutters were installed shortly after that and the heat bothered us no more. You were the third bid we received, but the first to really take the time to explain why prices differed so much from company to company. We felt like we got a great deal and are extremely satisfied with the quality of both our shutters and blinds.
    -Kobie Richards

    Meridian Window Products Contact :I am very pleased with the product and service that Terry provided. I am a returning customer and his expertise has always been a huge help to me when making my shutter and window covering selections for my homes.
    Vicky Blatt

    Did you know that Plantation Shutters insulate the inside of your home more than any other window covering available? Blocking heat and light, they help keep the inside of your home cool in the summer, and warm in the winter. All window coverings have some insulation value, but Plantation Shutters are without a doubt the leader in protecting the inside of your home from the outside elements.

    If you are in Ventura County or the San Fernando or Antelope Valleys, our new showroom is only a hop, skip, and a jump away. Come visit us and view the many displays, you may find a product you didn’t even know existed that will give your home the look you have been searching for. Bring your window sizes, choose a sample, and we will give you a free no obligations estimate on the spot. Or give us a call, and we will bring the showroom to you! 1 (800) 625-8239

    Meridian Window Products Info Meridian Window Products
    In isolated glass yield, the term “lite”, or “light”, adverts to a glass pane, many of which perhaps used to build the final window wares. For instance, a sash unit, comprising of at least one skidding glass element, is generally drew up of two lites, while a flat window is compiled of one lite. The terms “single-light”, “double-light” etc advert to the number of these glass panes in a window.

    Meridian Window Products Website Did you know that Plantation Shutters insulate the inside of your home more than any other window covering available? Blocking heat and light, they help keep the inside of your home cool in the summer, and warm in the winter. All window coverings have some insulation value, but Plantation Shutters are without a doubt the leader in protecting the inside of your home from the outside elements.

    Posted in WindowsComments (0)

    How to install Windows XP as a guest operating system in VMware products



    kb.vmware.com This video provides steps for installing Windows XP as a guest operating system in VMware products. The video was created using VMware Workstation, but the basic steps apply to VMware ESX, VMware Fusion, VMware ACE, and VMware Player. When installing Windows XP as your guest operating system in your virtual machine, you may receive the error: “Setup did not find any hard disk drives installed in your computer.” This is because a compatible disk controller driver is not shipped with Windows XP.

    Posted in WindowsComments (5)

    How to Install Any Bluetooth Device on Windows 7/Windows Vista (even apple products)



    Thanks for watching, Please Rate, Comment, and Subscribe Links: Broadcom Drivers: www.broadcom.com Apple Wireless Keyboard: store.apple.com

    Posted in WindowsComments (25)

    The Top 5 Free WORST Microsoft Products & Why They Suck


    microsoft_logoWe all love Microsoft.

    Okay, that’s not entirely true. But the company did somehow become the most powerful software outfit on the planet, so they can’t be total morons, right? The software you’re about to see – the worst Microsoft products – suggests otherwise.

    I’m going to warn you: this article is not for the faint of heart. The things you’re about to see will irratate, annoy and otherwise decrease the quality of your life.

    It’s not too late to stop reading.

    It is now, however. Guess you’re stuck reading about the Top 5 Free Worst Microsoft Products. Sorry about that.

    #5: Internet Explorer 8

    ie

    Okay, I’ll admit this much: Internet Explorer 8 is better than Internet Explorer 7, and far superior to Internet Explorer 6. But that’s hardly a compliment.

    You’d think that, in the futuristic-sounding Year 2010, the browser offering from the most powerful software company on the planet would be an amazing thing to behold. The only thing that amazes me about Internet Explorer 8, however, is how little it seems to have learned from its competition.

    Internet Explorer 8 fails at blocking many popups, insists on opening a vast number of sites in a new window instead of in a new tab, and is overall very stressful to use—particularly if you’re already used to a quality browser. Combine this with a seemingly steadfast refusal on Microsoft’s part to include more than one search engine by default and you’ve got one of the worst Microsoft products that I’d rather avoid altogether.

    I will say one additional nice thing about Internet Explorer 8, however: it’s the most powerful Firefox downloading tool on the planet. Because that’s all I ever use Internet Explorer for: downloading Firefox.

    Do yourself a favor and download Firefox too—you’ll thank me later. Alternatively, check out Google’s Chrome, or even Apple’s Safari.

    Just please, don’t use Internet Explorer 8.

    #4: Blue Screen of Death Screensaver

    bsod

    This one’s a matter of perspective, I suppose. I discussed the Blue Screen of Death Screensaver during a recent article on pranking your parents using the family computer. I then suggested this as a great little prank, and for the perpetrator of said prank it’s as much fun as a barrel of monkeys.

    For the person on the receiving end of said prank, however, it’s akin to being repeatedly punched in the stomach by every single monkey in the aforementioned barrel. There’s nothing worse than getting to your computer and thinking it’s completely and irreversibly dead—except, that is, for thinking your computer is completely and irreversibly dead before realizing it’s just a cruel joke.

    Why does Microsoft offer this? It’s bad enough that their products crash so often as to make the blue screen of death infamous, but to then capitalize on said infamy for the sake of some sick joke? This product, I think, causes untold misery to people around the world every year and needs to be stopped.

    Don’t download the Blue Screen of Death Screensaver.

    #3: Microsoft Office Dinosaur Screensaver

    Remember those old Microsoft Office advertisements that featured dinosaurs complaining about technology issues? Me neither.

    Anyway, there’s a screensaver based on those ads.

    officead

    Yep, that’s right: the least memorable advertising campaign immortalized as a screensaver. The dinosaurs complain about technology and then try to dance their way out of their predicaments, implying all along that life would be better if only they’d purchased Microsoft Office 2003.

    Hilarious, right? Yeah, I don’t really think so either. Don’t download the Microsoft Office Dinosaur Screensaver.

    #2: Plus! Dancer LE

    Sure, you like your computer now, but imagine if you could download dancers for it. Then your desktop could be a dancing party! Look, they even have Scooby-Doo!

    scooby dancing

    What really makes this piece of software so great is that it’s not at all annoying. Having someone dance on my desktop is awesome. And it’s soooo practical! Think of how much easier getting work done will be now that Scooby-Doo is dancing in front of everything!

    Okay, yeah, that was sarcasm. File this one under “bad ideas executed poorly.” Don’t download Plus! Dancer LE.

    1. Bing Toolbar for Firefox

    Pretty much every search engine on the market offers some sort of useless, bloated toolbar, but this is just insane: Microsoft offers a Bing toolbar…for Firefox.

    bing3

    Finally, a toolbar perfect for people tech-savvy enough to be using the open-source Firefox browser, but not tech-savvy enough to realize that search-engine specific toolbars are a waste of precious vertical space.

    This unholy matrimony between awesome and awful disturbed me so much that I had to check it out. I have nothing but regrets. The toolbar, like most such toolbars, serves no real purpose other than pushing certain products and services on you.

    There’s a search bar…but it only uses Bing. There’s a news button…but it only shows MSNBC. There’s an email button…but it only connects to Hotmail. You get the idea.

    The design is awful—sure, it’s clean, but it uses up way more vertical space than a search bar and a few buttons could possibly need. It’s as if it’s trying to waste precious screen space. This would all be bad enough in and of itself, but the installation process bundles a bunch of crap I’m not interested in. First I see questions like this before installing:

    bingtoolbar

    Okay, fair enough, there’s some optional bundles I can say no to.

    But there’s more. During the installation process I noticed the Bing Toolbar took the liberty of installing Silverlight, the Windows Live ID Sign-In Assistant and the Microsoft Search Enhancement Pack without so much as asking me permission first. There was no cancel button, so all I could do is sit there and watch as software I had no interest in imposed itself on my machine.

    I was angry.

    I tried turning off the computer, but that only made my computer laugh at me manically. I unplugged the computer and pulled out its battery but somehow it just kept on installing unnecessary and useless software, as though possessed.

    Desperate to stop the installation process at this point, I grabbed my axe and swung at my computer with all my strength, only to have the axe-head shatter within centimeters of the screen.

    There is no cancelling an installation of the Bing Toolbar.

    For the love of all that is sacred, do not download Bing Toolbar for Firefox – easily one of the worst Microsoft products. It’s evil and will corrupt your computer with dark magic. I spent last night sobbing silently into my pillow, not sleeping at all.

    Don’t download the Bing Toolbar for Firefox.

    Conclusion

    Not every free offering from Microsoft is terrible. I personally think Microsoft Security Essentials is the best antivirus on the market, and it’s 100 percent free. In a few days’ time, Mahendra will prove this point by showcasing the best 5 Microsoft products.

    Having said that, there are no redemptive qualities to any of the software mentioned above. None.

    Do not download them.

    If you think you know of a worse free product from Microsoft, share it below in the comments. I won’t be downloading any of it to confirm, however, as I’ll be spending the next five days removing all the aforementioned useless crap from my computer.

    Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!


    Related posts



    View full post on MakeUseOf.com

    Posted in Useful APPsComments (30)

    The Top 5 Free WORST Microsoft Products & Why They Suck


    microsoft_logoWe all love Microsoft.

    Okay, that’s not entirely true. But the company did somehow become the most powerful software outfit on the planet, so they can’t be total morons, right? The software you’re about to see – the worst Microsoft products – suggests otherwise.

    I’m going to warn you: this article is not for the faint of heart. The things you’re about to see will irratate, annoy and otherwise decrease the quality of your life.

    It’s not too late to stop reading.

    It is now, however. Guess you’re stuck reading about the Top 5 Free Worst Microsoft Products. Sorry about that.

    #5: Internet Explorer 8

    ie

    Okay, I’ll admit this much: Internet Explorer 8 is better than Internet Explorer 7, and far superior to Internet Explorer 6. But that’s hardly a compliment.

    You’d think that, in the futuristic-sounding Year 2010, the browser offering from the most powerful software company on the planet would be an amazing thing to behold. The only thing that amazes me about Internet Explorer 8, however, is how little it seems to have learned from its competition.

    Internet Explorer 8 fails at blocking many popups, insists on opening a vast number of sites in a new window instead of in a new tab, and is overall very stressful to use—particularly if you’re already used to a quality browser. Combine this with a seemingly steadfast refusal on Microsoft’s part to include more than one search engine by default and you’ve got one of the worst Microsoft products that I’d rather avoid altogether.

    I will say one additional nice thing about Internet Explorer 8, however: it’s the most powerful Firefox downloading tool on the planet. Because that’s all I ever use Internet Explorer for: downloading Firefox.

    Do yourself a favor and download Firefox too—you’ll thank me later. Alternatively, check out Google’s Chrome, or even Apple’s Safari.

    Just please, don’t use Internet Explorer 8.

    #4: Blue Screen of Death Screensaver

    bsod

    This one’s a matter of perspective, I suppose. I discussed the Blue Screen of Death Screensaver during a recent article on pranking your parents using the family computer. I then suggested this as a great little prank, and for the perpetrator of said prank it’s as much fun as a barrel of monkeys.

    For the person on the receiving end of said prank, however, it’s akin to being repeatedly punched in the stomach by every single monkey in the aforementioned barrel. There’s nothing worse than getting to your computer and thinking it’s completely and irreversibly dead—except, that is, for thinking your computer is completely and irreversibly dead before realizing it’s just a cruel joke.

    Why does Microsoft offer this? It’s bad enough that their products crash so often as to make the blue screen of death infamous, but to then capitalize on said infamy for the sake of some sick joke? This product, I think, causes untold misery to people around the world every year and needs to be stopped.

    Don’t download the Blue Screen of Death Screensaver.

    #3: Microsoft Office Dinosaur Screensaver

    Remember those old Microsoft Office advertisements that featured dinosaurs complaining about technology issues? Me neither.

    Anyway, there’s a screensaver based on those ads.

    officead

    Yep, that’s right: the least memorable advertising campaign immortalized as a screensaver. The dinosaurs complain about technology and then try to dance their way out of their predicaments, implying all along that life would be better if only they’d purchased Microsoft Office 2003.

    Hilarious, right? Yeah, I don’t really think so either. Don’t download the Microsoft Office Dinosaur Screensaver.

    #2: Plus! Dancer LE

    Sure, you like your computer now, but imagine if you could download dancers for it. Then your desktop could be a dancing party! Look, they even have Scooby-Doo!

    scooby dancing

    What really makes this piece of software so great is that it’s not at all annoying. Having someone dance on my desktop is awesome. And it’s soooo practical! Think of how much easier getting work done will be now that Scooby-Doo is dancing in front of everything!

    Okay, yeah, that was sarcasm. File this one under “bad ideas executed poorly.” Don’t download Plus! Dancer LE.

    1. Bing Toolbar for Firefox

    Pretty much every search engine on the market offers some sort of useless, bloated toolbar, but this is just insane: Microsoft offers a Bing toolbar…for Firefox.

    bing3

    Finally, a toolbar perfect for people tech-savvy enough to be using the open-source Firefox browser, but not tech-savvy enough to realize that search-engine specific toolbars are a waste of precious vertical space.

    This unholy matrimony between awesome and awful disturbed me so much that I had to check it out. I have nothing but regrets. The toolbar, like most such toolbars, serves no real purpose other than pushing certain products and services on you.

    There’s a search bar…but it only uses Bing. There’s a news button…but it only shows MSNBC. There’s an email button…but it only connects to Hotmail. You get the idea.

    The design is awful—sure, it’s clean, but it uses up way more vertical space than a search bar and a few buttons could possibly need. It’s as if it’s trying to waste precious screen space. This would all be bad enough in and of itself, but the installation process bundles a bunch of crap I’m not interested in. First I see questions like this before installing:

    bingtoolbar

    Okay, fair enough, there’s some optional bundles I can say no to.

    But there’s more. During the installation process I noticed the Bing Toolbar took the liberty of installing Silverlight, the Windows Live ID Sign-In Assistant and the Microsoft Search Enhancement Pack without so much as asking me permission first. There was no cancel button, so all I could do is sit there and watch as software I had no interest in imposed itself on my machine.

    I was angry.

    I tried turning off the computer, but that only made my computer laugh at me manically. I unplugged the computer and pulled out its battery but somehow it just kept on installing unnecessary and useless software, as though possessed.

    Desperate to stop the installation process at this point, I grabbed my axe and swung at my computer with all my strength, only to have the axe-head shatter within centimeters of the screen.

    There is no cancelling an installation of the Bing Toolbar.

    For the love of all that is sacred, do not download Bing Toolbar for Firefox – easily one of the worst Microsoft products. It’s evil and will corrupt your computer with dark magic. I spent last night sobbing silently into my pillow, not sleeping at all.

    Don’t download the Bing Toolbar for Firefox.

    Conclusion

    Not every free offering from Microsoft is terrible. I personally think Microsoft Security Essentials is the best antivirus on the market, and it’s 100 percent free. In a few days’ time, Mahendra will prove this point by showcasing the best 5 Microsoft products.

    Having said that, there are no redemptive qualities to any of the software mentioned above. None.

    Do not download them.

    If you think you know of a worse free product from Microsoft, share it below in the comments. I won’t be downloading any of it to confirm, however, as I’ll be spending the next five days removing all the aforementioned useless crap from my computer.

    Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!


    Related posts



    View full post on MakeUseOf.com

    Posted in Useful APPsComments (30)

    The Top 5 Free WORST Microsoft Products & Why They Suck


    microsoft_logoWe all love Microsoft.

    Okay, that’s not entirely true. But the company did somehow become the most powerful software outfit on the planet, so they can’t be total morons, right? The software you’re about to see – the worst Microsoft products – suggests otherwise.

    I’m going to warn you: this article is not for the faint of heart. The things you’re about to see will irratate, annoy and otherwise decrease the quality of your life.

    It’s not too late to stop reading.

    It is now, however. Guess you’re stuck reading about the Top 5 Free Worst Microsoft Products. Sorry about that.

    #5: Internet Explorer 8

    ie

    Okay, I’ll admit this much: Internet Explorer 8 is better than Internet Explorer 7, and far superior to Internet Explorer 6. But that’s hardly a compliment.

    You’d think that, in the futuristic-sounding Year 2010, the browser offering from the most powerful software company on the planet would be an amazing thing to behold. The only thing that amazes me about Internet Explorer 8, however, is how little it seems to have learned from its competition.

    Internet Explorer 8 fails at blocking many popups, insists on opening a vast number of sites in a new window instead of in a new tab, and is overall very stressful to use—particularly if you’re already used to a quality browser. Combine this with a seemingly steadfast refusal on Microsoft’s part to include more than one search engine by default and you’ve got one of the worst Microsoft products that I’d rather avoid altogether.

    I will say one additional nice thing about Internet Explorer 8, however: it’s the most powerful Firefox downloading tool on the planet. Because that’s all I ever use Internet Explorer for: downloading Firefox.

    Do yourself a favor and download Firefox too—you’ll thank me later. Alternatively, check out Google’s Chrome, or even Apple’s Safari.

    Just please, don’t use Internet Explorer 8.

    #4: Blue Screen of Death Screensaver

    bsod

    This one’s a matter of perspective, I suppose. I discussed the Blue Screen of Death Screensaver during a recent article on pranking your parents using the family computer. I then suggested this as a great little prank, and for the perpetrator of said prank it’s as much fun as a barrel of monkeys.

    For the person on the receiving end of said prank, however, it’s akin to being repeatedly punched in the stomach by every single monkey in the aforementioned barrel. There’s nothing worse than getting to your computer and thinking it’s completely and irreversibly dead—except, that is, for thinking your computer is completely and irreversibly dead before realizing it’s just a cruel joke.

    Why does Microsoft offer this? It’s bad enough that their products crash so often as to make the blue screen of death infamous, but to then capitalize on said infamy for the sake of some sick joke? This product, I think, causes untold misery to people around the world every year and needs to be stopped.

    Don’t download the Blue Screen of Death Screensaver.

    #3: Microsoft Office Dinosaur Screensaver

    Remember those old Microsoft Office advertisements that featured dinosaurs complaining about technology issues? Me neither.

    Anyway, there’s a screensaver based on those ads.

    officead

    Yep, that’s right: the least memorable advertising campaign immortalized as a screensaver. The dinosaurs complain about technology and then try to dance their way out of their predicaments, implying all along that life would be better if only they’d purchased Microsoft Office 2003.

    Hilarious, right? Yeah, I don’t really think so either. Don’t download the Microsoft Office Dinosaur Screensaver.

    #2: Plus! Dancer LE

    Sure, you like your computer now, but imagine if you could download dancers for it. Then your desktop could be a dancing party! Look, they even have Scooby-Doo!

    scooby dancing

    What really makes this piece of software so great is that it’s not at all annoying. Having someone dance on my desktop is awesome. And it’s soooo practical! Think of how much easier getting work done will be now that Scooby-Doo is dancing in front of everything!

    Okay, yeah, that was sarcasm. File this one under “bad ideas executed poorly.” Don’t download Plus! Dancer LE.

    1. Bing Toolbar for Firefox

    Pretty much every search engine on the market offers some sort of useless, bloated toolbar, but this is just insane: Microsoft offers a Bing toolbar…for Firefox.

    bing3

    Finally, a toolbar perfect for people tech-savvy enough to be using the open-source Firefox browser, but not tech-savvy enough to realize that search-engine specific toolbars are a waste of precious vertical space.

    This unholy matrimony between awesome and awful disturbed me so much that I had to check it out. I have nothing but regrets. The toolbar, like most such toolbars, serves no real purpose other than pushing certain products and services on you.

    There’s a search bar…but it only uses Bing. There’s a news button…but it only shows MSNBC. There’s an email button…but it only connects to Hotmail. You get the idea.

    The design is awful—sure, it’s clean, but it uses up way more vertical space than a search bar and a few buttons could possibly need. It’s as if it’s trying to waste precious screen space. This would all be bad enough in and of itself, but the installation process bundles a bunch of crap I’m not interested in. First I see questions like this before installing:

    bingtoolbar

    Okay, fair enough, there’s some optional bundles I can say no to.

    But there’s more. During the installation process I noticed the Bing Toolbar took the liberty of installing Silverlight, the Windows Live ID Sign-In Assistant and the Microsoft Search Enhancement Pack without so much as asking me permission first. There was no cancel button, so all I could do is sit there and watch as software I had no interest in imposed itself on my machine.

    I was angry.

    I tried turning off the computer, but that only made my computer laugh at me manically. I unplugged the computer and pulled out its battery but somehow it just kept on installing unnecessary and useless software, as though possessed.

    Desperate to stop the installation process at this point, I grabbed my axe and swung at my computer with all my strength, only to have the axe-head shatter within centimeters of the screen.

    There is no cancelling an installation of the Bing Toolbar.

    For the love of all that is sacred, do not download Bing Toolbar for Firefox – easily one of the worst Microsoft products. It’s evil and will corrupt your computer with dark magic. I spent last night sobbing silently into my pillow, not sleeping at all.

    Don’t download the Bing Toolbar for Firefox.

    Conclusion

    Not every free offering from Microsoft is terrible. I personally think Microsoft Security Essentials is the best antivirus on the market, and it’s 100 percent free. In a few days’ time, Mahendra will prove this point by showcasing the best 5 Microsoft products.

    Having said that, there are no redemptive qualities to any of the software mentioned above. None.

    Do not download them.

    If you think you know of a worse free product from Microsoft, share it below in the comments. I won’t be downloading any of it to confirm, however, as I’ll be spending the next five days removing all the aforementioned useless crap from my computer.

    Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!


    Related posts



    View full post on MakeUseOf.com

    Posted in Useful APPsComments (30)

    The Top 5 Free WORST Microsoft Products & Why They Suck


    microsoft_logoWe all love Microsoft.

    Okay, that’s not entirely true. But the company did somehow become the most powerful software outfit on the planet, so they can’t be total morons, right? The software you’re about to see – the worst Microsoft products – suggests otherwise.

    I’m going to warn you: this article is not for the faint of heart. The things you’re about to see will irratate, annoy and otherwise decrease the quality of your life.

    It’s not too late to stop reading.

    It is now, however. Guess you’re stuck reading about the Top 5 Free Worst Microsoft Products. Sorry about that.

    #5: Internet Explorer 8

    ie

    Okay, I’ll admit this much: Internet Explorer 8 is better than Internet Explorer 7, and far superior to Internet Explorer 6. But that’s hardly a compliment.

    You’d think that, in the futuristic-sounding Year 2010, the browser offering from the most powerful software company on the planet would be an amazing thing to behold. The only thing that amazes me about Internet Explorer 8, however, is how little it seems to have learned from its competition.

    Internet Explorer 8 fails at blocking many popups, insists on opening a vast number of sites in a new window instead of in a new tab, and is overall very stressful to use—particularly if you’re already used to a quality browser. Combine this with a seemingly steadfast refusal on Microsoft’s part to include more than one search engine by default and you’ve got one of the worst Microsoft products that I’d rather avoid altogether.

    I will say one additional nice thing about Internet Explorer 8, however: it’s the most powerful Firefox downloading tool on the planet. Because that’s all I ever use Internet Explorer for: downloading Firefox.

    Do yourself a favor and download Firefox too—you’ll thank me later. Alternatively, check out Google’s Chrome, or even Apple’s Safari.

    Just please, don’t use Internet Explorer 8.

    #4: Blue Screen of Death Screensaver

    bsod

    This one’s a matter of perspective, I suppose. I discussed the Blue Screen of Death Screensaver during a recent article on pranking your parents using the family computer. I then suggested this as a great little prank, and for the perpetrator of said prank it’s as much fun as a barrel of monkeys.

    For the person on the receiving end of said prank, however, it’s akin to being repeatedly punched in the stomach by every single monkey in the aforementioned barrel. There’s nothing worse than getting to your computer and thinking it’s completely and irreversibly dead—except, that is, for thinking your computer is completely and irreversibly dead before realizing it’s just a cruel joke.

    Why does Microsoft offer this? It’s bad enough that their products crash so often as to make the blue screen of death infamous, but to then capitalize on said infamy for the sake of some sick joke? This product, I think, causes untold misery to people around the world every year and needs to be stopped.

    Don’t download the Blue Screen of Death Screensaver.

    #3: Microsoft Office Dinosaur Screensaver

    Remember those old Microsoft Office advertisements that featured dinosaurs complaining about technology issues? Me neither.

    Anyway, there’s a screensaver based on those ads.

    officead

    Yep, that’s right: the least memorable advertising campaign immortalized as a screensaver. The dinosaurs complain about technology and then try to dance their way out of their predicaments, implying all along that life would be better if only they’d purchased Microsoft Office 2003.

    Hilarious, right? Yeah, I don’t really think so either. Don’t download the Microsoft Office Dinosaur Screensaver.

    #2: Plus! Dancer LE

    Sure, you like your computer now, but imagine if you could download dancers for it. Then your desktop could be a dancing party! Look, they even have Scooby-Doo!

    scooby dancing

    What really makes this piece of software so great is that it’s not at all annoying. Having someone dance on my desktop is awesome. And it’s soooo practical! Think of how much easier getting work done will be now that Scooby-Doo is dancing in front of everything!

    Okay, yeah, that was sarcasm. File this one under “bad ideas executed poorly.” Don’t download Plus! Dancer LE.

    1. Bing Toolbar for Firefox

    Pretty much every search engine on the market offers some sort of useless, bloated toolbar, but this is just insane: Microsoft offers a Bing toolbar…for Firefox.

    bing3

    Finally, a toolbar perfect for people tech-savvy enough to be using the open-source Firefox browser, but not tech-savvy enough to realize that search-engine specific toolbars are a waste of precious vertical space.

    This unholy matrimony between awesome and awful disturbed me so much that I had to check it out. I have nothing but regrets. The toolbar, like most such toolbars, serves no real purpose other than pushing certain products and services on you.

    There’s a search bar…but it only uses Bing. There’s a news button…but it only shows MSNBC. There’s an email button…but it only connects to Hotmail. You get the idea.

    The design is awful—sure, it’s clean, but it uses up way more vertical space than a search bar and a few buttons could possibly need. It’s as if it’s trying to waste precious screen space. This would all be bad enough in and of itself, but the installation process bundles a bunch of crap I’m not interested in. First I see questions like this before installing:

    bingtoolbar

    Okay, fair enough, there’s some optional bundles I can say no to.

    But there’s more. During the installation process I noticed the Bing Toolbar took the liberty of installing Silverlight, the Windows Live ID Sign-In Assistant and the Microsoft Search Enhancement Pack without so much as asking me permission first. There was no cancel button, so all I could do is sit there and watch as software I had no interest in imposed itself on my machine.

    I was angry.

    I tried turning off the computer, but that only made my computer laugh at me manically. I unplugged the computer and pulled out its battery but somehow it just kept on installing unnecessary and useless software, as though possessed.

    Desperate to stop the installation process at this point, I grabbed my axe and swung at my computer with all my strength, only to have the axe-head shatter within centimeters of the screen.

    There is no cancelling an installation of the Bing Toolbar.

    For the love of all that is sacred, do not download Bing Toolbar for Firefox – easily one of the worst Microsoft products. It’s evil and will corrupt your computer with dark magic. I spent last night sobbing silently into my pillow, not sleeping at all.

    Don’t download the Bing Toolbar for Firefox.

    Conclusion

    Not every free offering from Microsoft is terrible. I personally think Microsoft Security Essentials is the best antivirus on the market, and it’s 100 percent free. In a few days’ time, Mahendra will prove this point by showcasing the best 5 Microsoft products.

    Having said that, there are no redemptive qualities to any of the software mentioned above. None.

    Do not download them.

    If you think you know of a worse free product from Microsoft, share it below in the comments. I won’t be downloading any of it to confirm, however, as I’ll be spending the next five days removing all the aforementioned useless crap from my computer.

    Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!


    Related posts



    View full post on MakeUseOf.com

    Posted in Useful APPsComments (30)

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