Computer Tips and Guides » Software http://mypctechzone.com © mypctechzone.com Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:31:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 en hourly 1 How to Transfer Files Over Wi-Fi with Dropbox http://mypctechzone.com/software/how-to-transfer-files-over-wi-fi-with-dropbox/ http://mypctechzone.com/software/how-to-transfer-files-over-wi-fi-with-dropbox/#comments Sun, 10 Oct 2010 07:48:12 +0000 admin http://mypctechzone.com/?p=1450 ]]> How to Transfer Files Over Wi-Fi with Dropbox

We recently went through some of the best ways to share files with a nearby computer, and many of you noted that Dropbox can still be a viable syncing method, even over Wi-Fi. Here’s how to set it up.In our rundown, we noted that Dropbox, while one of our favorite services ever, isn’t ideal for sharing with your friend sitting right next to you. While you can use Dropbox to share files with anyone, you usually have to upload it and download it from Dropbox’s servers first (which takes longer than sharing over Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or the other sharing options we mentioned). However, if both you and your friend have a Dropbox account, you can, in fact, use it to share files over your Wi-Fi network.

All you need to do is share a folder from Dropbox’s web interface. From the My Dropbox view, hit “Share a folder” and choose the one containing the files you want to share. You’ll be prompted to invite your friend to view the folder. Once your friend accepts the email request, the folder will show up in his or her Dropbox and they’ll start to download the files. If you’re on the same Wi-Fi network, Dropbox will transfer the folder over Wi-Fi instead of the internet, thus speeding up the process.

dbsharedfolder

Note that each computer also needs internet access for this to work, so it won’t work with the ad-hoc method unless both computers are wired up to the internet, or if one computer is wired up and sharing the internet over the ad-hoc connection. It’s generally most useful for the first method we mentioned, when you’re both on the same secure local network.

We still don’t know if this is the most useful method for everyone (after all, it only works if you friend also has a Dropbox account), but if the conditions are right, it’s probably the method that requires the least set-up—just create a shared folder, drop the files in, and go. Hit the link to read more about how it works.


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]]> http://mypctechzone.com/software/how-to-transfer-files-over-wi-fi-with-dropbox/feed/ 0 Taskbar Items Pinner Pins Anything to the Windows 7 Taskbar http://mypctechzone.com/software/taskbar-items-pinner-pins-anything-to-the-windows-7-taskbar/ http://mypctechzone.com/software/taskbar-items-pinner-pins-anything-to-the-windows-7-taskbar/#comments Wed, 29 Sep 2010 05:36:37 +0000 admin http://mypctechzone.com/?p=1439 ]]> Taskbar Items Pinner Pins Anything to the Windows 7 Taskbar

Windows 7: Free utility Taskbar Items Pinner adds pre-defined or user-defined folders, files, and even web pages to the Windows 7 taskbar.

Adding one of the pre-defined folders (like, say, your Recycle Bin) is easy enough: Just run the app and tick the checkbox next to the folder. Adding other folders, files, or webapps requires a little more work, but is still pretty simple. Browse to the path of the item you want to pin, add an app icon (as FreewareGenius points out, you actually have to choose your icon for everything you pin, which is a little annoying), and click the big Add Item button.

We’ve detailed a software-free method to pin any item to the Windows taskbar that requires a little more work, but this is a nice alternative.

Taskbar Items Pinner is a free download for Windows 7 only.


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]]> http://mypctechzone.com/software/taskbar-items-pinner-pins-anything-to-the-windows-7-taskbar/feed/ 0 How to Show More Sites On the Internet Explorer 9 New Tab Page http://mypctechzone.com/software/how-to-show-more-sites-on-the-internet-explorer-9-new-tab-page/ http://mypctechzone.com/software/how-to-show-more-sites-on-the-internet-explorer-9-new-tab-page/#comments Wed, 29 Sep 2010 05:31:42 +0000 admin http://mypctechzone.com/?p=1433 ]]> How to Show More Sites On the Internet Explorer 9 New Tab Page

The new version of Internet Explorer finally adds a new tab page that shows your most recently used sites, but sadly you can’t customize the display from the options panel. What you can use, however, is a registry hack.To make the change for yourself, you can simply head over to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TabbedBrowsing\NewTabPage key in the registry editor, and then change the value of NumRows to the number of rows you’d like to see on the new tab page. You’ll have to restart Internet Explorer before the change kicks in.

If you’d rather not mess around with the registry editor, you can simply hit the link for a set of downloadable registry hacks for each number of rows. You’ll need to restart Internet Explorer after making the change.


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]]> http://mypctechzone.com/software/how-to-show-more-sites-on-the-internet-explorer-9-new-tab-page/feed/ 0 Create Synchronicity Is a Tiny, Portable Backup and Sync Utility http://mypctechzone.com/software/create-synchronicity-is-a-tiny-portable-backup-and-sync-utility/ http://mypctechzone.com/software/create-synchronicity-is-a-tiny-portable-backup-and-sync-utility/#comments Sun, 19 Sep 2010 01:34:44 +0000 admin http://mypctechzone.com/?p=1383 ]]> Create Synchronicity Is a Tiny, Portable Backup and Sync Utility

Windows only: Portable, open-source backup utility Create Synchronicity is a tiny but powerful way to run backups or synchronize folders on your system, an external drive, or to another PC on your network.Once you’ve launched the utility, you’ll need to click on the New Profile icon and type in a name for the profile, which will open up the settings window where you can choose the source and destination folders and choose the other options you might want. Once you’re done, you can easily run the backup profile, or setup scheduling options to happen automatically. Create Synchronicity is free and open source, works on Windows systems only.


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]]> http://mypctechzone.com/software/create-synchronicity-is-a-tiny-portable-backup-and-sync-utility/feed/ 1 Make Sure TRIM Is Enabled for Your Solid State Drive in Windows 7 for Better Performance http://mypctechzone.com/software/make-sure-trim-is-enabled-for-your-solid-state-drive-in-windows-7-for-better-performance/ http://mypctechzone.com/software/make-sure-trim-is-enabled-for-your-solid-state-drive-in-windows-7-for-better-performance/#comments Sat, 18 Sep 2010 15:20:26 +0000 admin http://mypctechzone.com/?p=1404 ]]> Make Sure TRIM Is Enabled for Your Solid State Drive in Windows 7 for Better Performance

One of the best way to take full advantage of your solid state drive (SSD) is to use the performance-maintaining TRIM command. Technology blog GHacks shows us how to make sure TRIM is enabled in Windows 7.While using something like Intel’s previously mentioned Toolbox application to TRIM your drive is extremely useful, you need to make sure Windows 7 has enabled it first. And, while Windows is designed to automatically detect most SSDs, sometimes it doesn’t work as intended. If you find the performance of your SSD is degrading (or just want to make sure TRIM is properly enabled), run Command Prompt as an administrator and type:

- fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify

It will give you one of two results, either a 0 or a 1. A zero indicates that TRIM is enabled correctly, a one means that it is not. If you have a TRIM-compatible SSD, but find that Windows 7 hasn’t enabled the command, you can easily do so by running this command:

- fsutil behavior set disablenotify 0

Note that TRIM is only supported in Windows 7, so if you have an SSD but are running an older version of Windows, it’s probably a good idea to upgrade.

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]]> http://mypctechzone.com/software/make-sure-trim-is-enabled-for-your-solid-state-drive-in-windows-7-for-better-performance/feed/ 0 The Gaia ‘10 Desktop http://mypctechzone.com/software/the-gaia-10-desktop/ http://mypctechzone.com/software/the-gaia-10-desktop/#comments Sat, 18 Sep 2010 15:16:19 +0000 admin http://mypctechzone.com/?p=1408 ]]> The Gaia ‘10 Desktop

Reader Mango Sango’s desktop uses the Gaia customization set to completely revamp the Windows interface into a work of art, complete with visual styles, icons, wallpaper, and Launchy skins.The desktop is comprised of the following elements, all of which can be downloaded from the Gaia 10 web site:

This desktop not your style? Why waste time complaining? Instead, get started creating your own killer desktop with the easy-install Rainmeter 1.2 package and show the world what you can do. Of course, using Rainmeter isn’t a requirement—you are more than welcome to use any of the best desktop customization tools to turn your desktop into a productive work of art.

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]]> http://mypctechzone.com/software/the-gaia-10-desktop/feed/ 1 Apple Finally Approved a Native Google Voice iPhone App (Again!) http://mypctechzone.com/software/apple-finally-approved-a-native-google-voice-iphone-app-again/ http://mypctechzone.com/software/apple-finally-approved-a-native-google-voice-iphone-app-again/#comments Sat, 18 Sep 2010 15:10:57 +0000 admin http://mypctechzone.com/?p=1411 ]]> Apple Finally Approved a Native Google Voice iPhone App (Again!)

Ever since GV Mobile was pulled from the App Store, we’ve been hoping for its return. And while Apple has not approved that particular third-party app again, they did approve GV Connect. It’s three bucks, available now, and looks great.The app includes just about all the features you could want from a native Google Voice app, save for push notifications:

•Place calls using your Google Voice number rather than your mobile number – enter number directly, select a contact from your device’s contacts, or call back any number in your history.
• Send and receive text messages (SMS) from your Google Voice number.
• Listen to voicemails and recorded conversations right on your device (allowing you to pause, rewind, or fast forward to any point within the message) – voicemails will also show the transcription of the message when available.
• Mark messages as starred, attach notes to conversations, block/unblock senders, or delete conversations.
• Easily search in your history by contact, message, or note.
• Messages are stored on your device for offline access.
• Composing notes and text messages can be done in landscape mode.
• Quickly change various Google Voice account settings (call forwarding, do-not-disturb, message notifications, …) directly from within the application.
• Automatic checking for new messages while the application is active.
• Direct access to your device’s contacts without needing to synchronize them with Google
• All communication is done with the Google Voice website directly, no need to hand over your account information to a third-party.
• Full support for fast app switching in iOS4 and high-resolution graphics for retina displays.
• GV Connect stores your account password securely in your device’s keychain for faster login when launching the application – communication is done via secure connections (SSL) to the Google Voice servers and no contact information (other than the contact’s phone number which is required to place a call or send a message) is sent to Google. All operations are fully synchronized with your Google Voice account.


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]]> http://mypctechzone.com/software/apple-finally-approved-a-native-google-voice-iphone-app-again/feed/ 0 RightToClick Enables Right Clicking on Sites that Disable It http://mypctechzone.com/software/righttoclick-enables-right-clicking-on-sites-that-disable-it/ http://mypctechzone.com/software/righttoclick-enables-right-clicking-on-sites-that-disable-it/#comments Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:48:12 +0000 admin http://mypctechzone.com/?p=1365 ]]> RightToClick Enables Right Clicking on Sites that Disable It

Firefox: Some sites (like IMDB) prevent you from performing certain actions, like right clicking, on their pages. Firefox extension RightToClick disables these scripts, giving you the ability to right click, select text, or perform other actions forbidden by a given web site.After installing the add-on, you’ll notice a new green cursor icon in your toolbar or status bar (depending on your Firefox setup). If you stumble upon a site that won’t let you perform certain actions on their pages, just click RightToClick’s icon to disable that JavaScript. The icon will animate and you’ll be able to bring up the context menu, select text, drag and drop, and do any of the other things the site originally disabled. There aren’t a ton of web sites out there that disable these actions, but it’s a handy add-on to have around if you frequent a site that does.

RightToClick is a free download, works anywhere Firefox does.


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]]> http://mypctechzone.com/software/righttoclick-enables-right-clicking-on-sites-that-disable-it/feed/ 1 Use a Simple Web App as a Live Countdown Timer http://mypctechzone.com/software/use-a-simple-web-app-as-a-live-countdown-timer/ http://mypctechzone.com/software/use-a-simple-web-app-as-a-live-countdown-timer/#comments Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:40:57 +0000 admin http://mypctechzone.com/?p=1372 ]]> Use a Simple Web App as a Live Countdown Timer

Whether it’s quitting time at your job or the remains of the 15 minutes you gave yourself to clean your inbox, it’s handy knowing how much time you’ve got left. This minimalist URL-based web timer provides exactly that service.The page at cd.justinjc.com, cobbled together by an unknown coder, watches for the text you put after its root domain. Enter cd.justinjc.com/5p, and you’ll get a countdown timer to 5 p.m. in your current time zone, with a progress bar and percentage count shown on the page. You can also enter specific timer counts, like cd.justinjc.com/3h15m30s for a count of three hours, 15 minutes, and 30 seconds. For a raw minute count, just enter cd.justinjc.com/80. The live count is also kept in the page’s title, visible in your browser tabs.

There might be 300 JavaScript countdown timers out there, but this one just happened to catch our eye for its convenience and adaptability.


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]]> http://mypctechzone.com/software/use-a-simple-web-app-as-a-live-countdown-timer/feed/ 3 iPhone 4 Case Program Lets You Pick and Ship Your Free Case from Apple http://mypctechzone.com/software/iphone-4-case-program-lets-you-pick-and-ship-your-free-case-from-apple/ http://mypctechzone.com/software/iphone-4-case-program-lets-you-pick-and-ship-your-free-case-from-apple/#comments Sat, 24 Jul 2010 15:26:24 +0000 admin http://mypctechzone.com/?p=1319 ]]> iPhone 4 Case Program Lets You Pick and Ship Your Free Case from Apple

iPhone 4 only: Last Friday Apple announced they’d be handing out free cases to iPhone 4 owners in response to reception problems. Today, you can download the official iPhone 4 Case Program application, which will verify your iPhone 4 and allow you to choose a bumper or other case.

Only iPhone 4 owners are eligible for this program. The app will check the IMEI and serial number to verify that you have an iPhone 4. Once eligibility is confirmed, you will be able to choose an iPhone 4 Bumper or other case. The Bumper or case will be shipped to you at no charge

All iPhone 4 purchases must be made by September 30, 2010, to qualify for this program. For iPhone 4 purchases made before July 23, 2010, you must apply no later than August 22, 2010; otherwise, you must apply within 30 days of your iPhone 4 purchase.

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