UP

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?

review Book Review - Windows 8.1 Step By Step, by Ciprian Rusen & Joli Ballew

Book Review - Windows 8.1 Step By Step, by Ciprian Rusen & Joli Ballew

When I reviewed the first edition of this book - Windows 8 Step By Step - I said that it was "the kind of book to keep handy by your computer for reference, because it will give you confidence that you can do everything right. It's a winner!" Other sites, including Amazon, where reviewers are notoriously cranky, have given it 5-star and 4-star ratings
tutorial How to Set AutoPlay Defaults for Media & Devices in Windows 8.1

How to Set AutoPlay Defaults for Media & Devices in Windows 8.1

In Windows 8.1 you can also set the AutoPlay settings for your media and devices, directly from PC Settings. There you have access to almost the same customization options found in the Control Panel. This tutorial shares where to find the AutoPlay settings and how to fiddle with them. Where to Find the AutoPlay Settings in PC Settings? Open PC Settings. Then, click
tutorial How to Set How Much Data Tiles Use in Windows 8.1

How to Set How Much Data Tiles Use in Windows 8.1

If you are a tablet user with Windows 8.1 and you have a poor data plan, then you will want to limit how much data is used by the operating system, including the tiles. Depending on the apps you have installed and what updates they display on their tiles, they might end up consuming a lot of data. Luckily, Windows 8.1 provides a way
tutorial Introducing Windows 8.1: What are the Charms & How to Use them

Introducing Windows 8.1: What are the Charms & How to Use them

One of the most important features in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 are the Charms. "Charms"... in Windows? It sounds strange! Right? Actually, they are not that hard to understand. To help you out, we will share how to access them, what they do and how to use them. How to Access the Charms Simply put, Charms are a set of shortcuts to common tasks,
tutorial How to Customize or Disable Search with Bing in Windows 8.1

How to Customize or Disable Search with Bing in Windows 8.1

As mentioned in many other articles, one of the biggest changes in Windows 8.1 is related to Search and its strong integration with Bing. In this operating system, Bing provides you with search suggestions and web results when performing any kind of search, directly from the Start screen. Some users will love this but will want to tweak the way it works while others
tutorial Introducing Windows 8.1: How Does Search Work & How to Use It?

Introducing Windows 8.1: How Does Search Work & How to Use It?

Search in Windows 8.1 has been completely redeveloped. It is so different from Windows 8 and Windows 7 that some users might have trouble understanding how it works. That's why I decided to create this complete guide on Search, filled with screenshots and examples. As you will see, the integration of Bing into Windows 8.1 is both very powerful and scary. Here's how it
tutorial How to Set Up and Use Work Folders in Windows 8.1

How to Set Up and Use Work Folders in Windows 8.1

One of the many new enterprise-friendly features in Windows 8.1 is named Work Folders. Folders? Work? Sounds boring, doesn't it? :) But, to some people this feature will be very useful. Especially to people that have many devices and need to work also on their personal PCs and devices. Here's how to set up Work Folders on the client side and how to use
tutorial How to Upgrade Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 through the Windows Store

How to Upgrade Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 through the Windows Store

Microsoft has made available Windows 8.1 as a free upgrade for Windows 8 users. The procedure is performed through the Windows Store and, even though it is not very complicated, there are some important requirements and steps you should keep in mind. For the complete upgrade guide, with screenshots and detailed instructions, read this tutorial. What to do Before the Upgrade Begins There
review Reviewing the Microsoft Wedge Mobile Keyboard

Reviewing the Microsoft Wedge Mobile Keyboard

Nowadays, tablets are becoming more and more popular, and rightly so. They're versatile, and most are a lot more easily portable than even a netbook. However, typing on a tablet screen is not something that comes naturally to many people, and even the widest tablets have only so much screen real estate on which to display the keyboard. Only people with small hands have
article How to Boot to the Desktop in Windows 8 & Windows 8.1

How to Boot to the Desktop in Windows 8 & Windows 8.1

Microsoft did not provide any support for setting Windows 8 to boot straight to the Desktop and skip the new Start screen. There was no registry setting available, no group policy and most of the hacks that worked with the test versions of Windows 8 do not work in the final version. Since many people want this feature in Windows 8, Microsoft gave in
tutorial How to Install Windows 8.1 RTM On Your Computer

How to Install Windows 8.1 RTM On Your Computer

If you have gotten your hands on Windows 8.1, the final version (build 9600) or on any of the leaked builds, you can install it using this step by step guide. We will cover each step of the process and share useful information regarding more special installation scenarios. What to Expect from Windows 8.1 There are many new things in Windows 8.1. Some