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7 For 7: 7 Useful Gadgets for Windows 7

Brian — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 22:40:16 +0000

Next up in our 7 for 7 series is a spotlight on some really useful Desktop Gadgets that you can download free for Windows 7. If you are not too familiar with Desktop Gadgets, they are basically widgets, or small programs that run in the background that you can keep on your desktop. I use a variety of gadgets to monitor information, get updates from social networks, and keep up to date on news. Below are 7 gadgets I found that I can see being very useful.

Weather Underground

Download Weather Underground Gadget – Weather Underground is my pick out of all the weather widgets. First of all, it is nice and small on my screen, I can glance at it quick, and check out the weather for the next 3 days, and find out the current conditions. Also included on this small window is any weather alerts in your area, which is also great. You can expand the window, and have access to more in depth conditions, a radar, and even webcams for your area.

Password Vault

Download Password Vault Gadget – Here is hands down my favorite gadget. Password Vault! This is a great tool for keeping all your password’s organized. If you have a few different passwords for Various reasons, then this is a great tool for you. Easily access your passwords when you need them with this time saving gadget.

Atom / RSS News Feed Reader

Download Atom / RSS News Feed Gadget - This is one of the best RSS Feed Gadgets I have found, it updates very quickly, while also keeping a low profile. Keep on top of all your news by setting up this gadget to pull news from your favorite sources. You can even set this gadget to give you a notification when there is something new, so you never miss a beat.

Pandora

Download Pandora Gadget – Chances are you already know what Pandora is, But if you don’t Pandora is a site where you can create a custom streaming radio station based on Music you already like. With the gadget you don’t even need to load Pandora.com to listen. Just launch the gadget and jam out all day long.

Earth Phase

Download Earth Phase Gadget – No windows in your office? Stay on top of the day with this cool gadget. It shows you in real time what planet earth is looking like. With the Earth Phase gadget you get a 3D model of the current earth phase.

Twitter Explorer

Download Twitter Explorer Gadget – Check out this gadget if you are a Twitter User. Right now there are a lack of gadgets for us Tweeters out there but this one does a pretty good job of getting you what you need. Send Tweets, and follow your friends all on this great little gadget.

SideTris

Download SideTris Gadget – It’s always nice to take a little break and play a game for a few minutes while you are working. With SideTris you don’t even have to open a new window check out this gadget so you can play a little bit of Tetris while you get through the workday.

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More Windows 7 Zero Day Surface

Brian — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:54:12 +0000

Another Zero Day vulnerability has surfaced resulting in Windows 7 Users seeing blue screens of death, and code execution attacks. This all sounds rather scary, however Microsoft is already working on a patch, even though this problem still occurs after last weeks emergency security patch. Experts also say we won’t see a fix in tomorrow’s regularly scheduled patch. The Zero Day issue is easy to be exploited by local attackers, which could allow them entry into secure data so be wary. Below is the official cause of the problem from VUPEN a french computer security outfit.

This issue is caused by a buffer overflow error in the “CreateDIBPalette()” function within the kernel-mode device driver “Win32k.sys” when using the “biClrUsed” member value of a “BITMAPINFOHEADER” structure as a counter while retrieving Bitmap data from the clipboard, which could be exploited by malicious users to crash an affected system or potentially execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.

7 For 7: 7 Awesome Themes For Windows 7

Brian — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:18:51 +0000

In our new 7 for 7 series we will periodically be bringing you seven awesome (and free!) upgrades for Windows 7. In today’s addition we jumped over to Deviantart.com to find 7 awesome themes. Check them out.

Click on the Theme Preview to Download.

Mac OSX Theme For Windows 7

Nature Style Theme for Windows 7

Nightfall Theme

All Black Theme

Zune Theme

The Very Clean Blend Theme

Old School Theme

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A Brief History On – Microsoft

Justin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:42:42 +0000

This week for “A Brief History On,” we celebrate one of the most (in)famous software companies of all time: Microsoft. From humble beginnings in a small, downtown Albuquerque office to one of the largest corporations in the world, Microsoft has paved the way in software development. Love them or loathe them, Microsoft’s influence on the world cannot be denied and it has played a pivotal role in the advancement of the personal computer.

Micro-Soft and BASIC Programming

To begin, we must go back to 1975 Harvard University where a young sophomore student named William Henry Gates III teamed up with childhood classmate Paul Allen to create a BASIC interpreter for the Altair 8800. Together the two formed a partnership and named it Micro-Soft. Quickly the program gained acclaim from computer hobbyists all over and the team officially registered the trade name “Microsoft”—this time without the hyphen—with the Office of the Secretary of the State of New Mexico on November 26, 1976.

Over the next ten years Microsoft continued to write programs for dozens of computer systems. Back at that time, each manufacturer used its own proprietary components and software needed to be designed for each individual machine. It would be like having to formulate a new type of gasoline for every car model released. Luckily, in the early 80s, Apple Inc. established its Macintosh and IBM its IBM PC as the two standards for consumer-level computers. This allowed Microsoft to focus more on the features of its software and not the hardware compatibility.

Welcome to Windows

On November 20, 1985 Microsoft launched its first retail version of Windows. It was with this program that Microsoft became a household name. From its conception in the 80s to its latest release of Windows 7, Windows has gone through countless updates, modifications, and improvements to better meet the needs of the user. This strict focus on anticipating and producing what the customer wants—better and cheaper than the competition, mind you—is largely the key to Microsoft’s success.

There Ain’t No Party Like an Office Party

Microsoft has never been satisfied with solely one project. Before Windows was flying off the shelves, Microsoft decided to jump on the office productivity software bandwagon with a program called Multi-Tool Word (later just Word) and compete with such rivals as WordPerfect and WordStar. Microsoft’s productivity programs later got bundled into the Microsoft Office suite and were, interestingly, launched first for Macintosh systems in 1989, with a release for Windows’ then latest version, 3.0, in October of 1990. This trend of Macintosh versions being released before the PC counterpart continued up until the release of Office 97 (PC) on November 19, 1996 followed by Office 98 for Mac over a year later. From then up until today, with the recent release of Microsoft Office 2010, the PC versions have been launched first.

Branching Out: Video Games and Hardware

The latter part of 2001 brought with it a whole new realm for Microsoft to conquer. Microsoft continued its reign as the software king through its entering the video game market by acquiring Ensemble Studios (creators of the Age of Empires series) and shortly thereafter introducing Microsoft Game Studios to represent the company’s video game publishing interests. But more than just mere software in the multi-billion dollar industry, Microsoft cut its teeth with its own video game console, the Xbox. It was a smash success and was followed up with the Xbox 360 in 2005.

Microsoft also dipped its hand in the music and mp3 player market with the Zune. Although not as successful in taking a large chunk of the market as the Xbox has, the Zune has earned a reputation for being a quality music player in an iPod dominated society.

Microsoft Made for TV Movie?

Believe it or not, there is actually a movie based on the birth of Microsoft and Apple, Pirates of Silicon Valley. What’s even more surprising: it’s actually a decent flick. Sure, it’s all nerd jokes and computers, but watching the story of these two tech giants is quite fascinating—that is if you’re into that kind of thing. I don’t know if I’d pop it in for a date night; unless, of course, the first half of the evening consisted of you and your significant other participating in a tag-team Slayer round. But, hey, who am I to judge?

I hope you’ve enjoyed this journey into Microsoft’s past and learned a couple things along the way. Check back here soon for the next installment of “A Brief History On.” And remember, if there’s a company you’d like to see showcased, just suggest it in the comments below.

enjoy.

Great Gifts For Grads

Brian — Mon, 24 May 2010 21:01:23 +0000

It’s that time of year again; coast to coast graduates are receiving their diplomas and degrees, which means celebrating their success with friends and families. If you are having trouble figuring out what to get your recent Graduate, then we have a suggestion: Software. Many recent graduates receive new computers to start their next chapter in life, and software is the perfect compliment. Help them load their new computer with the coolest new multimedia software, useful financial management software, and security software to help them protect their new toy. If they didn’t get a new computer help them improve their old one with the latest software avaliable. Below are some of our suggestions for great software gifts for grads.

Office 2007 Home and Student: Office is a must have for any recent graduate. With the best Word Processing, Email, and Presentation tools available, it’s a necessity on any computer.

McAfee Total Protection 2010: Protect their new computer with one of the best Total Protection solutions available. Total protection will keep their computer running fast and safe for as long as possible.

Windows 7: So your graduate didn’t get a new computer? Help them refresh their old computer with Windows 7. The upgrades and new features will make them feel as if their using an entirely new computer.

CS5 Design Premium: Give your graduate access to the best design tools available. CS5 Design Premium features new and improved versions of Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Flash, and InDesign. This is the perfect gift for any recent Graphic Design or Web Design major.

Quicken Starter 2010: Prepare your graduate for financial independence, with one of the best money management programs around. Quicken Starter is the best way to get them started with tracking their money.

Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrades: Unexpected Easter Egg

Lansia — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 00:34:14 +0000

Did you know, it’s actually quite simple to upgrade your existing Windows 7 platform to a heftier version? Ina Fried at CNET’s Beyond Binary blog says:

Computers running Windows 7 have all of the features of the high-end Ultimate edition built in. A feature called Windows Anytime Upgrade lets users buy a code and unlock new features, a process that the software maker says can be done in just 10 minutes. Unfortunately, Microsoft hasn’t had much luck making users aware of or interested in such upgrades.

Well, find an unexpected “Easter egg” this Easter Sunday!
(Sorry, that was a horrible pun, but funny enough in my mind that I had to write it down…)

Microsoft is unleashing special pricing for “Windows Anytime Upgrade” on Sunday. For users that are buying new computers that don’t quite meet their OS expectations, Microsoft allows the simple opportunity to do so at a discounted price.

Windows 7 Starter may be upgraded to Windows 7 Home Premium for $49.99 (compared to the typical $79.99 price tag)
Windows 7 Home Premium may be upgraded to Windows 7 Professional for $79.99 (compared to the typical $89.99 price tag)

Now, why would you care about which version of Windows 7 you have? Perhaps you wanted a computer for entertainment purposes (Windows 7 Home Premium) or a computer to use for work (Windows 7 Professional), these are the reasons Microsoft points out in their blog post.

Act fast as this offer expires June 3, 2010 in the United States. Be advised, not all dealers will be participating in this special offer.

After purchasing your upgrade, follow step-by-step directions on how to implement your upgrade here.

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Oscar Showcases Interesting Tech Commercials: iPad and 3D TV

Lansia — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:08:27 +0000

I’m going to come right out and say it. The Oscars were boring last night! Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin are two hilarious talents, but last night… I was not amused. Where did Neil Patrick Harris go the rest of the night? That made no sense at all. Just because Hugh Jackman did a successful number last year doesn’t mean you should repeat it — especially if the singer is not also going to be the host the rest of the night! What happened, Academy?!

Well, all is not lost I suppose. I’ve got a blog post out of it! While sort of paying attention to the Oscars last night, my friend Alex screamed out, “What?! They have a 3D TV now?!” Yep, it’s true. According to Gizmodo, Best Buy will be rolling out a couple Samsung LED 3D HDTVs on March 21st.

What’s made even bigger headlines today is the iPad commercial. Announced not too long ago, it’s probably safe to say it’s one of the year’s most anticipated tech products. Unfortunately, since the Oscars weren’t all that interesting last night, we seemed to have missed the broadcast. I don’t remember seeing the iPad commercial at all. No fear, that’s what YouTube is for:

Do know that HP is coming out with a similar product (with a much better name) called the Slate. And hey, it runs on a Windows 7 OS and supports Flash — whereas, iPad does not.

Experience Windows 7 on Mobile: Windows Phone 7 Series

Lansia — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 23:25:02 +0000

Microsoft is finally giving Apple some competition. At the Mobile World Congress today in Barcelona, Spain, Microsoft unveiled its next generation of Windows phones, the Windows Phone 7 Series. Has Microsoft hit the jackpot with lucky number Windows 7?

The interface is stunning and the features are a brilliant combination of firsts and smart design. Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer at Microsoft, tells us, “In a crowded market filled with phones that look the same and do the same things, I challenged the team to deliver a different kind of mobile experience.” It’s a phone that’s been designed for life in motion. “Windows Phone 7 Series marks a turning point toward phones that truly reflect the speed of people’s lives and their need to connect to other people and all kinds of seamless experiences,” Ballmer continues. The Windows Phone 7 also brings Xbox LIVE games and the Zune music and video experience to mobile phones for the first time.

Unable to attend the Mobile World Congress and review the product myself, I point you in the direction of TechCrunch, Gizmodo and Business Insider.

Windows Phone 7 phones will hit stores by the holiday season this year. For those who are antsy to play with the interface, head over to the Windows Phone 7 Series site for an interactive demo. Steve Ballmer’s press conference at Barcelona can also be replayed in full at Microsoft.

Microsoft Windows 7 Battery Test Findings Contradict Its Users

Lansia — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:12:06 +0000

Are you “considering replacing your battery” since you’ve upgraded to Windows 7? Then decided to wait it out to see what Microsoft’s testing would uncover? Well, a blog article from Microsoft revealed that they “see nothing more than the normal course of battery degradation over time.”

The blog reminds us that “batteries usually have a warranty of 12 months, which is about the length of time when statistically we expect to see noticeable degradation.” And goes on to explain how Windows 7 calculates the battery life… Basically, the threshold is set at a 40% performing capacity or 60% degradation. If a battery originally had 5 hours of charge, it would now deliver an average 2 hours of charge. If a battery fails to perform at 40% capacity, the warning message appears. When testing systems that displayed the warning message, Microsoft concluded, “we’re simply seeing batteries that are not performing above the designated threshold.”

The test report discovered “only a very small percentage of users are receiving the ‘Consider replacing your battery’ notification, and as expected, we are seeing systems older than ~1.5 years.” However, if you’re still having issues contrary to these findings, Microsoft encourages you to send it in. TechNet, Microsoft Answers forum or the Microsoft Support page are their suggested means for reporting problems.

Upgrade to Windows 7 Without Buying a New Computer

Lansia — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:52:32 +0000

Do you want to upgrade your Vista or Windows XP computer to a Windows 7 system? But you don’t want to spend the money for a new computer? Past versions of the Windows operating system have all grown “more resource-hungry than the last,” reports the Sydney Morning Herald. Each time a PC user wanted the latest Windows system, that user usually had to buy a new, better computer — more RAM, better processor, etc., whatever the need may be for running the new Windows system. Then came the acclaimed Windows 7 OS.

Zazz, an online retailer, refurbishes a number of computers running Windows XP. And since “Customers started asking how these computers would run Windows 8,” Zazz media manager Scott Lewis had his team run a few tests. The results of his tests? Upgrade to Windows 7 already! Upgrading is especially recommended for computers running a dual-core processor and at least 2GB of RAM. However, those with less are also encouraged to upgrade. Surprisingly “Photoshop ran faster on Windows 7 even with 1GB or RAM,” says Lewis.

If you’re ready to upgrade, be sure to read Jeremy’s post on Windows 7 Upgrade Eligibility and Paths. Also, check out the Sydney Morning Herald article for more information on Lewis’ findings and a few useful links.