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Productivity

What does it mean to use technology productively? Which apps and gadgets make your work easier? How to personalize the computers and other gadgets you’re using?

article What is Windows 10 Creators Update and why should you install it?

What is Windows 10 Creators Update and why should you install it?

When Windows 10 was released for the first time, Microsoft said that this would be their last operating system. And they have kept their promise up until now: they have developed no new operating systems. However, that doesn't mean that Windows 10 is stalling. Quite the contrary! Windows 10 is probably the most dynamic operating system created by Microsoft. Last year, Microsoft gave us

What version of Java do I have installed? 3 Ways to learn the answer

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
The Java runtime software for Windows computers and devices is responsible for allowing us to run programs and apps that were developed using Java. Because many apps still use Java, you probably already have it installed on your Windows PC. Either because you've installed it in the past, because some software asked you to, or because your PC's manufacturer pre-installed it for you, Java is probably there. Did you ask
tutorial 11 things you can do to fix webcam issues on Skype

11 things you can do to fix webcam issues on Skype

Are you having problems with your webcam while using Skype? You can hear the people to whom you speak, but they can't see you? Or maybe the only thing they can see are blurred lines or gray images? Whether you use an external webcam that's connected to a USB port on your computer, or you rely on the built-in webcam from your notebook, there

Reviewing ASUS VivoMini UN65U - A small PC with a big heart

  • review
  • Radu Tyrsina
Some people love a clean, tidy and clutter-free working space more than anything. If you're one of them and you do most of your work on the same desk every day, using a big desktop PC, you might want to consider the idea of buying an all-in-one or a mini PC to unclutter your space. The good news is that there are many options available on the market. One of

How to view and use PDF, XPS and TIFF files with the Reader app in Windows

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
You've probably worked with a lot of PDF files. The format is user-friendly, easy to view and easy to print. The are a lot of apps capable of opening this type of file but few people know that there's an app developed by Microsoft for this purpose, called Reader, included in the standard Windows experience. The app was first introduced with the release of Windows 8.1 and it's also available
article What are the F1, F2, F3 to F12 keyboard keys used for?

What are the F1, F2, F3 to F12 keyboard keys used for?

If you have used a computer, then you have also used a computer keyboard. And if that's true, you surely saw and probably also used its function keys. They are the F1, F2 to F12 keys that are found on the top row of most keyboards. Although you're likely to know what a few of these keys do, there could be some F keys

Best free weather apps for Windows computers and devices

  • misc
  • Radu Tyrsina
Ever hear the old saying "Everyone complains about the weather but nobody does anything about it?" Today, although we still can't change the weather, we have many ways of checking the forecast so we can at least be prepared for what's coming. Every operating system offers a variety of weather apps to suit nearly anyone's needs. After checking out the offerings for Windows 8.1, iOS and Android over the years,

Comparison: Is the Windows ribbon interface more efficient than the old-school menus?

  • misc
  • Radu Tyrsina
When we talked with others about the new versions of Windows, we unwillingly started a debate about the ribbon and its efficiency. Some people do not like the fact that Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 use it more widely than Windows 7, and there are still people who complain that it is way less efficient compared to the older interface from Windows XP. In order to put an end to

Reviewing the ASUS ZenBook 3 UX390 - The thinnest ultrabook from ASUS

  • review
  • Radu Tyrsina
ZenBook UX390 is one of the most popular ultrabooks that were recently launched by ASUS. Many have shared their opinion about this device: some loved it, some said that it follows Apple's approach with the new MacBook, while others had negative reviews about it. We were very curious to test it for ourselves and form our own opinion about this ultrabook. After more than a week of daily use, here's

3 Steps to restoring your Windows PC to a working state, with System Restore

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Did your Windows computer just crash because of a faulty driver or Windows Update? Did you install an app that causes you problems? If this is the kind of trouble you are dealing with, then restoring your computer or device to a previous working state, with System Restore , is the first step in fixing it. Here's how to use System Restore to go back in time and have your

How many key presses and mouse clicks do you perform in a day?

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Do you need to know how many keys you press in a day? What about how many clicks you make with your mouse? Do you want to get stats about how you use your computer? Luckily, there is an app called WhatPulse which works on Windows, Linux and Mac OS X, that you can use to gather the necessary data to answer these questions. Here's how it works and what

Canyon CNS-HKB4 review - How's the cheapest multimedia keyboard you can find?

  • review
  • Radu Tyrsina
Nowadays it's quite clear that mobile technology has surpassed the plain old computer. Still, there are many cases when it is much easier to get something done using a computer, may that be a laptop or a desktop. One of the most widely used peripheral for computers is the keyboard, as touch-based text entry is just far less comfortable and easy to use. Since most people use a laptop daily,

Reviewing the Kingston SSDNow UV400 - Generous SSD storage on a budget!

  • review
  • Radu Tyrsina
One bullet-proof way to speed up an aging computer is to replace its traditional hard disk with an SSD drive. Until recently, SSD drives were a lot more expensive than hard disks and many users avoided upgrading their hard disk with an SSD drive. However, as SSD technology has evolved, prices went down and now we have drives with generous storage and respectable transfer rates, at an affordable price. Kingston

How to troubleshoot problems with the DirectX Diagnostic Tool

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Not many people know about the DirectX Diagnostic Tool ( dxdiag.exe ) that is included in every modern version of Windows. With it, you can identify the source of the problems you may have with the hardware used by multimedia applications, such as video games or audio and video players. In this tutorial you will learn how to start the DirectX Diagnostic Tool and how to use it to gather

How to make Windows 10’s File Explorer start in any folder you want

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Windows 10 offers an easy way of changing the start location for File Explorer. However, it only gives you two starting locations to choose from: Quick access and This PC. But what if you want File Explorer to start in another location? What if you'd like your File Explorer to start in your OneDrive folder , your Dropbox folder, one of your Libraries or any other folder from your Windows
article 5 Things you can do with the OneDrive app from the Windows Store

5 Things you can do with the OneDrive app from the Windows Store

OneDrive is Microsoft's cloud service that's available for free to all the owners of a Microsoft account . OneDrive offers users a simple way to store, sync and share all types of files, with other people and devices. Besides storing your files in the cloud, there are a lot of cool things you can do using this app and we have decided to share

What is a file's metadata and how to edit it in Windows?

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Very few people are aware that for each file stored on your computer there is a set of metadata associated with it, that gives information about its source, author and other important details, depending on its type. In this article I am going to discuss metadata, what it is and how it can be used. Then, I will cover how to add, remove and maintain metadata for your files. The
article 5 Issues that make Microsoft Edge a worse web browser than others

5 Issues that make Microsoft Edge a worse web browser than others

Not a very long time ago , we talked about what makes Microsoft Edge a better browser than other browsers for Windows. But, like everything on Mother Earth, Microsoft Edge has both good and bad sides. In this article it is time to mention the issues that we believe make Microsoft Edge a worse browser than others. Let's begin: 1. Browsing problems The
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