Friday, April 4, 2014

How to Secure Your Computer With a BIOS or UEFI Password

How to Secure Your Computer With a BIOS or UEFI Password: "A Windows, Linux, or Mac password just prevents people from logging into your operating system. It doesn’t prevent people from booting other operating systems, wiping your drive, or using a live CD to access your files."



'via Blog this'

Rejoice! The Start menu is coming back to Windows | PCWorld

Rejoice! The Start menu is coming back to Windows | PCWorld: "You heard right, devout desktop lovers: The Start menu is coming back to Windows, Microsoft operating system head Terry Myerson announced at Build on Wednesday.

The details are hazy, aside from the fact that it's going to be pushed to all Windows 8.1 users as an update at some point in the future. But it's a-coming—though it's not quite the Start menu you're familiar with. Beyond the traditional mouse-friendly features, the Windows 8.1 Start menu will be crammed with Live Tiles, along with the ability to find and install Microsoft's universal Windows apps, also announced Wednesday."



'via Blog this'

How to Fix (and Adjust) Automatic Updating in Google Chrome

How to Fix (and Adjust) Automatic Updating in Google Chrome: "By default, Google Chrome automatically updates itself to make sure you’re running the safest and best optimized version of Chrome. Sometimes the auto-update process hiccups, however, and you need to manually adjust it. The process is more complicated than it should be, but don’t worry: we’re here to walk you through it."



'via Blog this'

The playbook: why Amazon's Fire TV is a guaranteed hit | The Verge

The playbook: why Amazon's Fire TV is a guaranteed hit | The Verge: "Amazon is in the hits business. The company never reveals specific sales numbers for its Kindle and Kindle Fire products except in words like "best-selling," but Amazon sells tablets and ebook readers in the millions. Starting today, it probably has a third hit on its hands: the Fire TV, its new media streamer. And that’s no accident."



'via Blog this'

4 Tips To Increase Smartphone Charging Speeds

4 Tips To Increase Smartphone Charging Speeds: "Faced with a low battery warning right before you need to leave? These neat tricks can help you charge your smartphone faster than usual so you aren’t left with a brick in your hand.
Now, these hacks are not going to get you more battery life out of the phone. We are going to concentrate only on the speed of charging, so that when you have a plug point nearby, you’ll know what to do!"



'via Blog this'

4 Simple YouTube Music Players For A Swim In The Stream Of Free Music

4 Simple YouTube Music Players For A Swim In The Stream Of Free Music: "YouTube is for watching videos, right? No arguments there. But YouTube is also an unlimited source of restriction-free music anyone in the world can listen to. While it’s easy enough to find and listen to it on YouTube itself, there are other, easier ways. These services will turn YouTube into your own personal streaming service."



'via Blog this'

How Secure Are Your Documents In Google Drive?

How Secure Are Your Documents In Google Drive?: "Matt Smith
On 3rd April, 2014
Security Matters



I use Google Drive every day. While Word is still my go-to for writing, Drive is my home base for storing documents and cataloging the test results I collect while reviewing computer hardware. There are literally thousands of documents in my drive, and I take it for granted that they’ll be available whenever I need them."



'via Blog this'

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Microsoft makes Windows free on phones, small tablets, and gizmos - but not PCs | TechHive

Microsoft makes Windows free on phones, small tablets, and gizmos - but not PCs | TechHive: "In late February, screenshots of "Windows 8.1 with Bing" leaked to the web, said to be a free version of Windows stuffed with auxiliary services to recoup Microsoft's money in other ways. Well, Microsoft announced that Windows is indeed going free for at least some devices going forward—but not for desktop users. Windows 8.1 with Bing was never mentioned once at Wednesday's Build keynote."



'via Blog this'

10 April Fools' tech gags so bizarre they might almost be true (but they aren't, sorry) | TechHive

10 April Fools' tech gags so bizarre they might almost be true (but they aren't, sorry) | TechHive: "Check your calendar and ratchet up your skepticism: It’s April 1, the day you can trust absolutely nothing on the Internet. (The other 364 days of the year, the Internet is scrupulously honest and trustworthy.) In a tradition that generates equal parts amusement and annoyance, tech companies have taken to YouTube, Twitter and company blogs to unleash their latest batch of April Fools’ Day pranks on the unsuspecting public."



'via Blog this'

Hacker risks rise as Microsoft shuts down support for Windows XP - Worldwide - 08-04-2014 - Event - Zapaday

Hacker risks rise as Microsoft shuts down support for Windows XP - Worldwide - 08-04-2014 - Event - Zapaday: "Microsoft ends technical support for Windows XP after twelve years. 

Microsoft will also stop providing Microsoft Security Essentials for download on Windows XP."



'via Blog this'