Got Windows 8? Check Windows Updates Frequently!

Microsoft launched Windows 8 on October 26th, and as of the middle of November they have already released 12 important updates – as well as many more recommended updates. Security holes have been fixed, Internet Explorer has been patched, core operating system files have been updated and you may be dangerously out of date with your barely one month old operating system if you haven’t run Windows Update recently.

Before I go too far into the DOOOOOM!!! speech, let me say that this is a very normal thing for new operating systems. Even though Microsoft makes every effort to test and verify the software before shipping, there are hundreds of thousands of possible hardware and software combinations. There are even more possible uses for each of those combinations, and as security holes, bugs and feature flaws are found it’s typical for a rash of patching to take place the first few months of an operating systems launch. The term “early adopter” is used with people who buy operating systems at or near product launch due to the chance of running into these bugs and frequent patches.

Changing Network Adapter Security Settings in Windows 7

While connecting a laptop to a wireless network at a coffee shop or a friend’s house is a fairly simple process, you may run into problems if the network is using different security settings than your computer’s operating system. Not all routers provide the same security setting options, and some network card and operating system combinations aren’t capable of using the latest and most secure security features.  For instance, some Atheros network cards installed on Windows Vista laptops cannot use the “WPA2” security type, and the router of a local network may be configured to use a lower security setting compatible with all laptops.

If you need to connect your Windows 7 enabled computer to a network using different security settings, you will need to manually change your existing settings through the operating system before accessing any websites or checking your email. Your computer’s wireless network security settings are accessed by navigating to the “Control Panel” button in the “Start” menu.

Adjusting Android Stock Camera Photo Quality

While it may not include all the bells and whistles available in some camera apps, the flexibility of the photo quality adjustments found in the stock Android camera should be enough to satisfy most casual photographers. In fact, with the exception of certain missing features (particularly the timer and optical zoom), the Android stock camera is as good–or better–than my compact digital camera. I decided to take a look at the photo adjustment settings in mine (Android 4.0), and discovered some that had been unused, ignored, or missed completely.

An earlier Android stock camera is displayed below.

iDevice Equalizer

I’m a bit of a sound nut, and as such all my auditory enjoyment must be equalized to exacting specifications. I just got a new CD from my favorite band, but the speakers in my car just don’t cut the mustard when it comes to playing back stuff on my iPod/iPad.

Thankfully Apple has a built-in way around this, and thanks to the wonders of touch-screen technology, it’s easier than ever to EQ your tunes!

So, go into your music player and fire up a song – any song will do, but keep in mind that each EQ setting in the next step is built specifically for different kinds of music.

Scroll Here in Windows 7

If you’re like me you’ve got a lot of folders, all chock-full of various file types. Also, (if you’re like me, that is), you have a pretty good understanding of where everything’s at, too. So you open Windows Explorer, grab the slider and scroll down to where the file you need is at and you’re all set, right?

Well, did you know you can also right-click your destination on the Windows Explorer scroll bar and choose Scroll Here to zap around, too? There are also options for Page up, Page Down, Top and Bottom, too!

It’s kind of fun, plus it gives you an alternative to the boring ol’ grab and scroll!

Try it out today, Windows 7 Users!

Disable the Zoom Slider in MS Office

So, here’s the scenario… you’re happily working in one of the newest versions of an MS Office program and things are progressing nicely.

Then suddenly it happens – the program window goes “wacky” and you find yourself looking at the file after a zoom in or zoom out.

What happened there?

To be quite honest it could be several things but the cause I’d like to discuss today is the Zoom Slider addition found the on the status bar of the newest Office programs.

Windows Live Mail for Outlook Express Users

Outlook Express has been an email client offered free and bundled with Windows since 1997. With the introduction of Windows Vista and 7, Microsoft repackaged and released it under the name Windows Live Mail.

This article will introduce you to Windows Live Mail; a second article will describe how to get your old email imported into Windows Live Mail. Despite the change, any long time user of Outlook Express will have no problems with the transition.

The first thing we need to do with Windows Live Mail is find it. Click the “Start” menu, then hold the mouse cursor over the “All Programs” menu. When the programs list pops up, scroll to the bottom and click on “Windows Live.” Under that, you will see “Windows Live Mail.”

Hitchcock Movie Review

Alfred Hitchcock is the type of public figure for whom the term "the man, the myth" was created. With his unique voice, iconic silhouette and love of the macabre, the zaftig cinematic genius is one of the most recognized directors in the history of the medium, and his prodigious and varied filmography is nearly unparalleled. At the same time, he was also notoriously reclusive. There are the popular conceptions of Hitchcock as a perfectionist with the fetishistic obsession with his blonde leading ladies. The slight biopic "Hitchcock" aims to shine a light on the man (the myth) at a pivotal time in his career.

In 1959, Hitchcock was at the top of his game. He had a string of successes, including a popular TV series, and he just released the classic "North by Northwest". But Hitch was uneasy. "Style", he thought, "is self-plagiarism". And so, he sets out to find his next project - something to shake things up.

His curiosity is piqued by the novel "Psycho", Robert Bloch's thriller about Norman Bates and a certain Motel, which was loosely inspired by the serial killer Ed Gein. Against the wishes of pretty much everyone, Hitchcock begins the process of making what will become one of his most famous films, and one that is considered to be the genre-defining forefather of modern slasher films.

Life of Pi Movie Review

"Life of Pi", Ang Lee's latest after a hiatus of three years, is hardly a movie that can be said to have been "made". Instead, it draws to mind phrases like "painstakingly crafted" and "stunningly staged". The care that went into this two-hour parable is clear from the onset. Set in the context of a conversation between a young writer (Rafe Spall) and an adult Pi (Irrfan Khan, most recently seen stateside in 2012's Spiderman reboot), who retells his incredible journey from India.

The story starts in an idyllic sepia postcard town in French India, where Pi spends the first part of his life, helping out with the family zoo. Deeply spiritual, young Pi (newcomer Suraj Sharma) has embraced pretty much every religion he's come across (sometimes to his parents' chagrin) - from Hiduism to Islam to Christianity. Times are changing, though, so Pi's family packs up the zoo and heads to America on a Japanese freight ship.

Xbox 720? It’s about time!

Rumors are starting to swirl about Microsoft’s next console, the Xbox 720, and where phrases like “it seems like only yesterday” and “do we really need a next generation console already?” were being doled out like playing cards last time a video console announcement hit the Internet, I think the timing is just right this time around. After all, the Xbox 360 released all the way back in 2005! We’re huggin’ the end of 2012, people! That’s a heck of a cycle!

FolderSync – High Res Cloud Photo Storage

You want to store your all-important camera photos, but don’t have the time to transfer it to your desktop or external device. Or better still, you would rather want it as it is – without any compression – in the cloud. Google Drive does it, but compresses your data.

But you don’t need to fret when there is FolderSync. This Android app will allow you to store full resolution photos in any of the many cloud storage services like SkyDrive, Dropbox, SugarSync, Ubuntu One, Box.net, LiveDrive, HiDrive, NetDocuments, Amazon S3, FTP, to name a few.

MS Outlook: 1 Contact With 2 or 3 E-mail Addresses

Many of us have multiple e-mail addresses… one for home (friends and all the “good stuff”), one for work and yet another for when you’re forced to give one to sign up for something but don’t want all the clutter in with the rest.

It then follows that there are times when you add a contact to Outlook and you want to enter several addresses for the same person.

Sounds simple enough…

We’re off to the Contact section of Outlook, New Contact button and we’re faced with this:

Missing Volume Control Icon?

Hey, Windows 7 users. Have you ever lost your volume icon? You go to change your volume by using the little icon that sits in the bottom right hand corner of your desktop (right next to your clock) and it’s nowhere to be found?

So aggravating!

Well, If you’re using Windows 7, the fix is easy! First, click the Start orb, and in the search box (which appears directly above), type System icons. This should populate a list. Click the one that says “Customize icons on the taskbar.”

Nintendo Says Game On With Wii U

Nintendo wants to once again own the holiday season. While the Nintendo GameCube had to share the holidays with Microsoft's original Xbox in 2001, and the Wii battled for holiday video game dominance with Sony's PlayStation 3 in 2006, this year is all about Nintendo.

The Wii U, which looks to build on the success of the Wii, will be the only major new console introduced in 2012.  It was launched today and will available this holiday season as a Basic Set for $299.99. This includes a white Wii U console with 8GB of internal storage, a single white touch-screen GamePad controller, AC adapters for both the console and controller, sensor bar and an HDMI calble.

The Wii U Deluxe set will also arrive for the holidays for $349.99 with its components in black. It will include all the elements of the Basic Set but also add in the Nintendo Land game, 32GB of internal storage, console stand, GamePad stand and GamePad charging cradle. Those consumers who purchase the Deluxe Set will also be enrolled in the Deluxe Digital Promotion, which will allow owners to earn points that can be used to purchase downloadable content including games.

The Wii U features the tablet-like GamePad controller, and also supports first generation Wii games.

Control Your iPad Notifications

My wife, bless her heart, is always downloading new apps for our iPad to try out. However, one app in particular likes to play a sound every time there a “reminder” for something – even when the tablet’s just sitting on my desk.

It scares the pants off me, so here’s how to put some control on the situation:

Tap Settings>Notifications. In the resulting screen you’ll see which apps are currently in the Notification Center. These are apps that have permission to make beeps and the like, so tap on whichever one you’d like to silence.

Google Cloud Connect Add-in for Microsoft Office

There are tons of desktop apps available for managing Google Docs documents, but recently Google has released an official add-in which integrates Google Docs with Microsoft Office. Named Google Cloud Connect, the Office add-in lets you create Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents from Microsoft Office 2003, Office 2007 or Office 2010 and lets you automatically sync these documents to your online Google Docs account.

Let’s quickly learn how to use Google Cloud Connect with Microsoft office.

Setting Up Google Cloud Connect With Microsoft Office

Go to the Google Cloud connect page and click Download Google Cloud Connect to launch the web installer.

Google Chrome for iPad

You know me, I’m a big Google Chrome fan. It took awhile for it to catch on, but once I experienced the speed and simplicity, all of my browsing standards were soon switched over.

Take my iPad, for example. Google just released Chrome for mobile devices, but alas, my smartphone isn’t quite up to snuff to be able to run it.

But my trusty, new iDevice is!

So, if you’re interested, head into the app store and do a search for Google Chrome. Download and install and I’m pretty sure you’ll never even look at Safari again. Heck, I took my icon right off the home screen!

How can I reset my Windows 8 Administrator Password without using a 3rd party utility?

If you have forgotten your administrator password or any local account password on your machine, follow these quick steps to regain access to your machine. This process also works for Vista and Windows 7.

The only thing required is a CD/DVD/USB of your Windows Vista/7/8 ISO.

Start your computer with the above USB/DVD attached and ensure you press a key when prompted “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD” :

Emergency Fire Response Video Game

It's easy to see why many kids fantasize about being firefighters when they grow up, since firefighters must bravely battle danger and rescue civilians. Emergency Fire Response is a fairly simple fire-fighting simulation that manages to capture much of the thrill, energy, and suspense often associated with the profession.

Driver Review Video Game

Driver's core game design is so strikingly original and fun that it can be enjoyed without embellishment.

Like many console-to-PC ports, Driver suffers from being translated verbatim and taking little advantage of the more powerful PC platform. However, Driver's core game design is so strikingly original and fun that it can be enjoyed without embellishment.

Darksiders II Video Game

Darksiders II follows the exploits of DEATH, one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, in a weaving tale that runs parallel to the events in the original Darksiders game.

Merge Duplicate Gmail Contacts

Duplicate contacts are generated several different ways, including–according to some reports–entire contact lists replicating themselves. Often (at least in my case) contacts are duplicated when–rather than updating an existing contact–a new one is added to update phone number, email, or address changes. However it happens, the information below should help.

With Gmail open, click the little arrow to the right of the word Gmail and select Contacts.

Removing Unwanted Apps from the iPad

With more than half a million applications available on the iTunes App Store, it’s tempting — and easy — to fill up your iPad with apps you use once or twice and quickly lose interest in. Fortunately, Apple makes it easy to delete unwanted apps and free up space for the killer apps you can’t live without.

Make sure the iPad is turned on and unlocked. On the home screen, or the screen containing the app you want to delete, touch and hold your finger on an app until all the apps onscreen start shaking. You’ll see an “X” in the upper left corner of each app. It will look like this:

This Apple Fell Far From The Tree

With over 100 million iPad’s sold and Microsoft releasing their own tablet, Surface, this holiday season, Apple has been rumored to be developing a smaller version of its popular iPad tablet…

…and on October 23rd they announced it to the world.

PasswordCard – Secure Passwords Made Easy

If you’ve heard it once you’ve heard it a million times: “use a secure password.” Let’s be honest, though – can anyone remember 8gh4LnGpO? What about Hccf9GR2? So what do you do? You write it down or you forget it, right? But if you write it down you’re basically throwing the security out the window, and if you forget it you’re stuck without a way to access your password protected accounts and files.

Your PasswordCard makes all of this a thing of the past. This fantastic website lets you print out a grid with random numbers and letters which you use to make your password. So how is this any more secure then writing your password down? Well you can remember 2nd star right? Go down to the second row, go over to the star and start typing the next 8 characters.

Have A Laptop With HD Graphics? Don’t Upgrade To Windows 8

WorldStart, always wanting to bring you the latest and greatest tech information, recorded a 2 hour Windows 8 upgrade walk-through video of one of our Intel I5 series laptops. However, when the upgrade was finished I found an interesting bug in Windows 8 which rendered the PC virtually useless.

The below screen is what we saw once I typed my password into Windows and clicked sign in.

Internet Explorer 9 Keyboard Shortcuts

Continuing along with our Internet Explorer 9 Keyboard shortcuts, here are some that use the Alt key!

Windows 8

Seventeen years ago I stood in a CompUSA at midnight to welcome the launch of the biggest change to computing since the graphical user interface: Windows 95. Windows 95 introduced the start menu and look to the Windows operating system that has endured to Windows 7. On Friday, October 26th we welcome Windows 8 and ready or not the world of Windows is about to change in a pretty dramatic way.