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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?

The Microsoft Sculpt Touch Mouse Review - A Great Scrolling Experience

  • review
  • Radu Tyrsina
Reading about the Microsoft Sculpt Touch Mouse and its specifications made me really curious. At least in theory, it seemed to offer everything I wanted from a good mouse. The Sculpt Touch Mouse has a smooth metallic strip in its center and that strip can be used for up and down and side to side scrolling, plus it comes configured as not one but three useful buttons—page up, page down,

What is the Public Folder & How to Use it?

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
The Public folder was first introduced in Windows Vista and it has appeared in every version of Windows since. It is not much of a feature - just a folder with a slightly special setup that can be useful in certain scenarios. To help you understand what the Public folder is, how to use it, and when it is useful to use it, we created this guide which explains the

The Microsoft Wedge Touch Mouse Review - Is it Worth Buying?

  • review
  • Radu Tyrsina
I've never been a fan of trackpads. I wanted to find a good mouse to attach to my netbook so I could turn off the trackpad and type in peace. I've been experimenting with Microsoft mice (is the plural of a computer mouse "mice" or "mouses" or what?) and this is the first of a series of articles about the quest for the perfect mouse. First, I decided to try

What to do When Windows 8 Says Your Genuine Product Key is Not Valid?

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
If you installed Windows 8 on a computer and you then changed its hardware configuration (e.g. upgraded the processor, memory or other important components), it can happen that Windows 8 no longer accepts the product key bundled with your original installation disc. This happens also when you buy a new computer and you install the Windows 8 edition you purchased and stop using the old computer. What can you do

How to Add a Clock Showing the Time on the Windows 8 Start Screen

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
One of the things I do not like about the Start screen in Windows 8 is the fact that it doesn't show the time and date, as the taskbar does on the Desktop. I wish Microsoft had provided an easy way to add a clock in a live tile. Luckily there are quite a few apps available to fill this gap. The better ones cost money but there are also

How to Schedule a Virus Scan with Windows 8's Built-In Antivirus

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
If you've spent any time looking at Windows 8's Defender interface, you've likely noticed that it doesn't include any options for scheduling a scan. While Windows Defender provides most of it's protection in real-time, if you're like us, you'll want a back-up scan occurring regularly. Though the user interface does in fact omit a simple way to schedule a scan, this option exists within the Windows 8 Task Scheduler. Read

Introducing Windows 8: The Complete Guide to the Messaging App

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Chatting has become a very large part daily computer usage for many people. Whether messaging on Facebook or with a chat client, you've likely spent a significant amount of time messaging with friends back and forth. Using separate clients to chat with contacts can get annoying, so Windows 8 has taken a step to try and make it easier. The Messaging app allows you to aggregate your contacts from both

Introducing Windows 8: How to Manage Your Mail App's Inbox & Messages

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
While we've already covered the basics of configuring and using the Windows 8 Mail app in quite a few guides, there's more to it. Once you've got your accounts set up and you're receiving emails you may want to dig into the intricacies of this useful app. At first glance you may think there isn't much more to the Mail app than folders and inboxes. This is a simple mistake
tutorial Introducing Windows 8: How to Configure Mail App Accounts

Introducing Windows 8: How to Configure Mail App Accounts

When adding accounts to the Windows 8 Mail app, most of the account settings are configured automatically. For most providers all you'll need to do is enter your email address and password to get the account configured, synced and functional. While this is preferable to many users, some would rather take a firmer hand with their account configurations. If you fall into this group,

The Complete Guide to Pinning Everything to the Windows 8 Start Screen

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
The new Start screen is by far the most controversial feature in Windows 8. Personally, I view it as a glorified full-screen app launcher, which makes it easy to start any app you want. But, until you see things my way, you will need to learn how it works, experiment and work with it for a while. To help you become productive, I would like to show how to pin

The Windows 8 Customization Guide for the Traditional PC User

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Even though Windows 8 is hybrid in nature, it doesn't mean you cannot use iton traditional desktops and laptops. It works just fine and, most times, faster than Windows 7. But Windows 8 does things quite differently from what you may have been used to in previous versions of Windows. You will need to experiment, and you will probably want to do more customization than you have been accustomed to

How to Use the Action Center in Windows 8 to Keep the PC Running Smooth

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
In a previous article we talked about Action Center in Windows 8, its general features and improvements and we also covered the Security checks made by it to keep Windows 8 secure. Today we will take a detailed look at the Maintenance role of the tool and all its new elements and features in this area. [DC-SUMMARY-BREAK] Which Maintenance Aspects are Monitored by Windows 8? First, let's see what kind

Reviewing the LifeCam Studio - Microsoft’s Top HD Webcam

  • review
  • Radu Tyrsina
Recently I have found myself in need of an HD webcam. I did a bit of research, found a few models and ended up picking the Microsoft LifeCam Studio due to the unrivaled driver support offered by Microsoft for its devices. But was I wrong to choose this webcam? Does it really deliver HD quality? Does it work well? Let's find out from this review. [DC-SUMMARY-BREAK] The Unboxing Experience The

The Desktop Tile Missing from the Start Screen? How to Add it Back

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
It can happen that your Desktop tile is gone missing from the Start screen. Accidents happen and you will want to have it back. Fortunately, Windows 8 makes it easy to add its tile back to the Start screen. Here's how: [DC-SUMMARY-BREAK] How to Add the Desktop Tile to the Windows 8 Start Screen The Desktop tile shows your current wallpaper and, by default is found on the Start screen,

Introducing Windows 8: The Complete Guide on How to Use the People App

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Most of our web savvy readers likely have more than one contact list. One for each email account, one for each social networking account and maybe even more. While that may seem like an accomplishment in this digital age, isn't it really annoying? If you have ever tried to email a person only to find that their address is stored in a contact list you don't have access to, then

How to Sort & Manage Contacts in the Windows 8 People App

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
After you've added your email and social networking accounts to the People app, you may find that your list of contacts is getting a bit unruly. Even sorted by name and including pictures may not be enough to help you find the person you need quickly. Luckily, the Windows 8 People app has a number of built-in ways to help filter, sort and search through your list which makes finding

How to Use the People App to Manage Social Networking Accounts

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Essentially, the Windows 8 People app is an all-inclusive contact list. You add your various accounts and the app stores contact information for everyone you know, regardless of whether they're an email contact or a Facebook friend. While that is useful enough on its own, the People app doesn't end there. It's also a window into your social networking life allowing you to view notifications, follow friends and even post

Introducing Windows 8: How to Manually Add and Edit Contacts in People

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
When working with the Windows 8 People app, your contacts will typically be entered in bulk lists by adding your social networking accounts and email accounts. Their information will all be added automatically, you'll only have to type your usernames and passwords. However, times will arise when you'll need to manually add, alter or combine entries to keep things organized. Perhaps you have a new acquaintance, or a current contacts

Introducing Windows 8: How to Add & Sync Accounts to the People App

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
The Windows 8 People app is a tool for aggregating all of your contacts from all around the Internet. You can pull contact information from email accounts, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and other social networking accounts as well. Having to add each contact individually would most likely be a monumental task, but People takes care of that for you. All you have to do is sync your various accounts with the
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