PCSwizz Blog

All The Buzz About Google Buzz

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:44:00 +0000

So Google has thrown its hat into the social media arena by introducing Google Buzz which, simply put, is an update-type system similar to Twitter inside your Gmail account. So if you use Gmail on a daily basis to chat with friends, you can now post status updates for all your friends to see.

There has been mixed reviews in the internet world about whether or not there is room for yet another social service and if Google is trying to either beat out Facebook and Twitter, or join them. Only time will tell, so in the meantime you can either use Buzz or not…I mean it’s right underneath “Inbox” in you Gmail so how can you avoid it!?

Check out this video Google created about Google Buzz:

So go ahead and follow me on Google Buzz!

Four Steps To a Stronger and Secure Password

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:01:00 +0000

Image by Simon Lieschke via Flickr

Yes, even I am a victim of having my internet accounts hacked. Although no system is 100% perfect, there are key ways to make the password(s) you use daily much stronger and much more difficult for hackers to figure out. If you use Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc., these steps for a better and more secure password will help you sleep at night knowing your accounts are safe. I recommend changing your passwords at least every 90 days, especially if you had a virus on your computer recently.

1. Do NOT use words in the dictionary: Not only should you not use words in the dictionary, don’t use names either. This is the easiest way to get hacked, even if you mix numbers into your password! If you really want to use a word you just love, read #3 below.

2. No personal information: For a strong password, avoid using birthdays, anniversaries, your dog’s name, etc. You are just asking to have your accounts compromised if you use these types of information for your passwords.

3. Mix up your password: M!x uP Y0uR p@55w0Rd 2 m@ke !t MOre dIff1cult! Notice how I typed that? If you HAVE to use a word in the dictionary, at least use upper-case and lower-case letters along with characters and numbers inside the actual word.

Remember, even if you took a word like “Florida” and changed it to “fL0R1D@”, it still isn’t the strongest password you could make and can still be figured out! However, it does make it much more difficult, right?

4. Use a phrase..with a twist: What do I mean by this? Let’s say you want to use a song quote, like “If You Like It Then You Should’ve Put a Ring On It!”. Instead of using this entire quote word for word, why not use the first letter in each word? Like “Iylitysparoi!” Make it difficult!

I hope this helps you make your passwords more secure! Go ahead and change your passwords now with these tips!

PCSwizz’s Top 5: Twitter Apps for Android

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 04:20:00 +0000

Image by Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten via Flickr

If you have an Android phone, chances are you have already visited the Market to browse through the latest applications for your phone. With over 8,000 apps to choose from, you will be looking for long time!

I decided to list the Top 5 Twitter apps for Android since there are so many to choose from on the Market. Not all Twitter apps are created equal!

1. Tweetcaster: I love Tweetcaster. It is currently my main Twitter app for my HTC Hero. The user-interface is the best out there, and it’s very easy to use. I highly recommend Tweetcaster!

2. Seesmic: Seesmic is also a really good Twitter app for the Android. Very clean interface and easy to use. The newest update adds multiple accounts for free, a feature that other Android Twitter apps charge you for.

3. Twidroid: One of the few Android Twitter apps that has a widget, Twidroid comes with a ton of features, including the option of shaking the screen to update your Twitter feed. Many of the cool features requires you to pay for the Pro version however.

4. Swift: With such a small download, you would not take the Swift App seriously. Once installed, however, you find a great Twitter client with a decent amount of features. This Twitter app for your Android phone is for the light user.

5. HTC Peep: HTC Peep comes pre-installed with the HTC Hero. The coolest thing about HTC Peep is the widget options that allow you to post directly from the home screen of your phone. Although Peep doesn’t have as many features as other Twitter apps for Android, it is definitely a solid app.

So which Twitter app do you use on your Android phone? Sound off below!

How To Connect Your Laptop or Netbook To Your Printer Wirelessly

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:24:00 +0000

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to use your printer from your laptop or netbook without having to connect it directly with the USB? It’s possible to do this without even buying a wireless printer! As long as you have already successfully connected your laptop and/or netbook to your desktop computer you are all set.

1. (Windows Vista) Open up your Control Panel and double-click “Printers”.

2. Click “Add a printer” at the top of the window.

3. Next, select “Add a network, wireless, or Bluetooth printer”.

4. If you already have your laptop/netbook connected to your desktop computer, you should see its printer in the next window. Select it and click Next.

5. After a few minutes, your printer will be installed and ready to use. Print a test page to make sure it works properly.

Remember, your desktop compuer has to be on for the printer to work on your laptop/netbook. Hope this helps!

Facebook Update Walkthrough Video

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:49:00 +0000

Facebook recently updated the Home Page with new features. I go over the new changes in this video.

PCSwizz Tutorial Video #1: Introduction to Windows 7

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:24:00 +0000

I hope you enjoy the first in a long line of video tutorials by PCSwizz! This video is an introduction to Windows 7. Recorded in HD!

New Facebook Features Begin Rolling Out Today

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:10:00 +0000

Facebook has started rolling out new changes as of today to a small number of users. TechCrunch reports that Facebook is overhauling the home page with new features such as the ability to send messages directly from your home screen via pop up window and placing more emphasis on the search bar.

Another major change is the “News Feed” and “Live Feed” merging together. The Live Feed will now be under the News Feed. Live Feeds will now be under the “Most Recent” tab.

My Facebook account hasn’t been upgraded yet, but I like what I’m seeing. It looks like there finally will be a good change to the way you use Facebook.

Icons for requests, messages, and notifications light up when there's something new you won't want to miss.

The Account Menu contains links to important settings pages. It's also where you can go to find help or log out.

The Basics — Search, Home and Profile — are accessible at the top of every page.

View the full details here.

World of Warcraft Releases Patch 3.3.2 – Lich King Dies

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 03:13:00 +0000

Image by AngryBeth via Flickr

Blizzard just released Patch 3.3.2 today, bringing with it some class tweaks and the general bug fixes. Most importantly, however, Patch 3.3.2 opens up the Lich King himself to be finally killed off. Here are the patch notes provided directly from the main website:

World of Warcraft Client Patch 3.3.2
The latest test realm patch notes can always be found at http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/patchnotes/test-realm-patchnotes.html
The latest patch notes can always be found at http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/patchnotes/

Dungeons & Raids

Icecrown Citadel
- Frostwing Halls, the final stronghold of the Scourge and their Lich King, has been added.
Halls of Stone
- Brann Bronzebeard has been getting into shape and now feels comfortable walking faster when escorted.
The Forge of Souls
- The Devourer of Souls will now cast Mirrored Souls less often.
- The Spell Reflect ability has been altered on several creatures. It now has a cast time, only has 2 charges, and has a 75% chance of reflecting spells.
The Nexus
- Anomalus will now use the Create Rift ability only once, down from 3 times.
The Old Kingdom
- Elder Nadox now only gets one Ahn'Kahar Guardian during the encounter.
- Jadoga Shadowseeker now only ascends once during the encounter.
- Several enemies between the Befouled Terrace and The Desecrated Altar have been removed or had their pathing altered.
Pit of Saron
- Players can now zone back into the instance if they are dead while encounters with Krick and Ick or Forgemaster Garfrost are in progress.
Utgarde Pinnacle
- Skadi the Ruthless can now be removed from his drake with 3 harpoon strikes, down from 5.
- Svala Sorrowgrave now casts Ritual of the Sword 1 time during the encounter, down from 3.
Vault of Archavon
- Toravon, the latest boss to join the Vault's giants and masters of the elements, is now accepting challengers in 10- and 25-player formats.
The Violet Hold
- The time between a boss being defeated and a new portal opening has been decreased.

PvP

All healing abilities (including items such as potions) will be decreased in effectiveness by 10% when in Battlegrounds, Arenas, or Wintergrasp.
Arenas
- Season 8 has officially begun featuring all-new rewards!

Druids

Talents
- Balance
  - Earth and Moon: This talent now increases the druid's spell damage by 2/4/6%, up from 1/2/3%.

Shamans

Talents
- Elemental Combat
  - Shamanism: This talent now provides 4/8/12/16/20% extra spell damage to Lightning Bolt/Chain Lightning, up from 3/6/9/12/15%, and 5/10/15/20/25% to Lava Burst, up from 4/8/12/16/20%.

Warlocks

Talents
- Affliction
  - Shadow Embrace: This effect can now stack up to 3 times, up from 2. However, the periodic healing reduction effect has been reduced from 3/6/9/12/15% to 2/4/6/8/10% per application.
- Demonology
  - Demonic Pact: The damage bonus granted the warlock by this talent has been increased from 1/2/3/4/5% to 2/4/6/8/10%. The buff granted to a raid or party by this talent remains unchanged.
- Destruction
  - Conflagrate: The damage-over-time effect of Conflagrate has been increased to 40% of the spell's total damage, up from 20%.
  - Empowered Imp: The pet bonus damage provided by this talent has been increased to 10/20/30%, up from 5/10/15%.
  - Improved Shadow Bolt: Damage done by Shadow Bolt increased by 2/4/6/8/10%, up from 1/2/3/4/5%.

Warriors

Talents
- Protection
  - Concussion Blow: The damage done by this ability has been reduced by 50%, but its threat generation will remain approximately the same.
  - Devastate: This ability now deals 120% of weapon damage, up from 100% of weapon damage.
  - Shield Slam: The damage scaling from block value for this ability now diminishes faster and diminishes starting at a lower block value. The difference should be negligible for players in high-end tanking armor. In addition, the threat caused by Shield Slam has been increased by 30%.
  - Warbringer: This talent no longer allows Charge and Intercept to break roots or snares. Intervene remains unaffected.

User Interface

The party leader is now referred to as Guide in chat when a group is formed via the Dungeon Finder.
Fixed a bug where players with Raid Assist capabilities were unable to perform a Ready Check.
Fixed a bug where the first couple of tutorials were not displaying upon logging into the game.

Items

New strength-based melee DPS rings are now available from representatives of the Ashen Verdict.
Tier-9 Sets: The Aspirant vendors at the Argent Tournament grounds have worked out a deal with merchants in Dalaran so that all item level 232 set pieces will now be available on armor vendors in the city. Set pieces which require trophies will still be available for purchase only from vendors at the Argent Tournament grounds.
Tier-10 Balance Druid 4-Piece Bonus: Fixed a bug to allow for this bonus to properly trigger.
Tier-10 Elemental Shaman 4-Piece Set Bonus: Redesigned. Successful Lava Burst casts now increase the duration of Flame Shock on the target by 6 seconds.
Tier-10 Tank Sets: The gloves and chest pieces for warrior, death knight, and paladin tanks have had their stats adjusted slightly to provide additional armor value.
Tier-10 Warlock 4-Piece Bonus: This bonus should now correctly be applied to the warlock's pet.

Technical Support

The cvar 'processAffinityMask' controls which CPU cores are available for the World of Warcraft client to use. Previously the game client was limited to 2 cores as a default which players could override in the configuration file. In the past this provided a performance boost on some CPUs and operating systems. We have identified several systems that are experiencing severe performance issues with this restriction and have removed it. Players who would like to restore the old behavior can do so by updating the Config.WTF file by adding: SET processAffinityMask "3".

Need a mirror link for the patch? WoW.com has a couple.

Mass Effect 2 Reviews From Around the Web

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:19:00 +0000

Image by Colony of Gamers via Flickr

Now that Mass Effect 2 is officially out, here are some more reviews via metacritic.com from the more popular gaming sites:

TeamXbox: 10

- “Mass Effect 2 delivers the best experience of its kind in this generation-and considering I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since I finished my initial 39-hour playthrough a few days ago, a lower score would feel disingenuous. From its mechanics to its writing to its presentation, Mass Effect 2 is the kind of game that justifies gushing clichés and superlatives. I can't recommend it highly enough.”

<<Full Review>>

Giant Bomb: 10

- “Mass Effect started with a huge stable of good ideas. Maybe the task of executing on all those ideas was too great for any one development team to accomplish in a single game, but BioWare has really gotten it right the second time around. They took those same ideas and figured out a better way to combine them into a more cohesive, more playable sequel that makes good on every bit of Mass Effect's potential and leaves me staring very grudgingly at the presumable two-year wait until my own Commander Shepard can continue his fight in the next game.”

<<Full Review>>

GameSpy: 10

- “It's the way that Mass Effect 2 expands upon the narrative established in the first game that marks a true breakthrough for interactive storytelling.”

<<Full Review>>

Game Informer: 9.8

- “The loss of RPG elements may hit some people hard, and the repetition in minigames may lead to yawns and tired eyes, but none of these faults hold Mass Effect 2 back from being a work of bold ambition, and one of gaming’s most exciting sequels.”

<<Full Review>>

GameTrailers: 9.7

- “There's just so much here to experience, and it's all uniformly excellent in execution. BioWare has delivered on its promise to let us affect this massive world through our actions, and you can bet that we'll be playing this one through several times in anticipation of how it all pans out.”

<<Full Review>>

IGN: 9.6

- “It's incredibly personal while still retaining a sense of epic sweeping scale. The combat and mission design are outstanding. The visuals, voice acting, soundtrack, and direction are miles ahead of the competition. Perhaps most impressively, Mass Effect 2 manages to fulfill its incredible ambition while only suffering from very few technical hiccups.”

<<Full Review>>

Official XBOX Magazine: 9.5

- “Mass Effect 2 overcomes its few gameplay weaknesses with a fantastic weave of dynamic combat, lavish presentation, and engaging character and weapon customization. But for all the myriad improvements that make Mass Effect 2's visuals so appealing and its combat so exhilarating, it's ultimately the way it moves us that makes it so memorable. [Feb 2010, p.56]”

1UP: 9.1

- “When Mass Effect 3 rolls around to bring this tale to its finale, I'd really like to see BioWare strike some sort of happy medium between the clumsily executed RPG mechanics of the first game and the stripped-down shooter feel of this sequel. But even with its simplified mechanics, ME2's story makes for a compelling odyssey.”

<<Full Review>>

GameSpot: 9.0

- “Once this intense and action-packed role-playing game pulls you into its orbit, you won't want to escape.”

<<Full Review>>

OVERALL METACRITIC SCORE = 96

What do you think? Do you agree that Mass Effect 2 is an awesome gaming experience?

Is Your Computer Ready For Windows 7?

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:54:00 +0000

Image via CrunchBase

Are you ready to finally upgrade your Windows XP or Vista PC to Windows 7? Let’s first make sure your computer can handle Windows 7! Follow these steps to find out how Windows 7 will work on your computer:

Visit http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/downloads/upgrade-advisor and download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.
Before you run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, be sure to plug in all the hardware you plan to use with Windows 7(keyboard, mouse, printer, etc.). That way, the Advisor can give you the most accurate results.
Once the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor finishes, you will get a report of what will and what will not work with Windows 7. Don’t worry though, many hardware providers have updated drivers that may work with Windows 7.

If you are upgrading from Windows Vista, you shouldn’t have any problems upgrading to Windows 7. Upgrading from Windows XP is a different story though, so be sure to run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor before you purchase Windows 7!

Ready to buy Windows 7? Purchase now from Amazon

College student? Purchase Windows 7 for a discount.

College Students Can Get Windows 7 Professional at a Discounted Rate

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:17:00 +0000

Image by Toratohora via Flickr

As long as you have an email address with “.edu” at the end, you can purchase Windows 7 Professional for only $64.95! Regular price? $199.99! If we do the math, struggling college students who want the latest Windows can save $135.

“Windows 7 Professional includes all the Home Premium features you love and the business features your work demands. In addition, you can connect to your school network easily using the domain join feature. You can run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode and recover your data easily with automatic back-ups to your home network.”

Click here to get your copy of Windows 7 at the student price! http://www.win741.com

PCSwizz Answers: “Why is everything on my pc screen all pixelated?”

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:45:00 +0000

Image by Pete Fletch via Flickr

Question from “xdesuehtx” via Yahoo! Answers

“My computer was having this problem, when I'd wake it up from sleep mode, everything would be all blurry and pixelated like it was set to a zoomed in resolution (although it's not). I would have to refresh the resolution or turn the monitor off and back no to fix it.
I just knew that it would eventually get worse to where I couldn't fix it, and those tricks wouldn't work. Well, I was right. Now, I am stuck with everything choppy and pixelated looking, even as I type this. Refreshing or changing the resolution does nothing. I've unplugged and replugged the hdmi cable and that did nothing.”

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

By PCSwizz: “At this point, it would be difficult to figure out if either your graphics card is overheating/bad, or your monitor is the problem.

You mentioned that you turned your monitor off and on to fix it before, so I would assume the monitor is faulty. Try replacing the monitor and see if that helps. If you still are facing this issue after replacing the monitor, then the graphics card on your computer is either overheating or faulty.”

Link to original question here.

PCSwizz Answers: “Why is my computer so slow?”

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:25:00 +0000

Image by Tom Rydquist via Flickr

Q. Why is my computer running so slow?

A. There are multiple reasons why your computer has become slow, but here are a few:

Cluttered Hard Drive(Fragmented): If your hard drive is too full, meaning you have less than 20% free space, expect your computer to run very slow. Defragging your hard drive will speed up your computer, but you will also have to consider deleting unnecessary files and uninstalling unneeded programs.

Malicious Software(virus, spyware, etc.): You may have a ton of spyware on your PC but not even notice it. Spyware and other bad software can be installed without you even knowing it. Simply visiting a website can be bad news for your computer. These viruses can slow down your PC by constantly accessing the internet, taking up memory, and using your processor.

Programs Loading at Startup: Whenever you install software, 9 times out of 10 it will run the minute you turn on your computer, and 9 times out of 10 you do NOT need it! The only program that should run the minute you start your computer is your anti-virus software and Microsoft-specific programs. Other than that, most other software can be shut off to not start the minute you hit your power button.

Not Enough Memory: You may also want to consider upgrading your memory. It is the cheapest way to speed up your PC.

Do you have a computer question you need answered? Send me your questions and I will post the answers on my blog!

The iPad and..The Grammys?

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:21:00 +0000

Pic by jose3030 via TwitPic

Stephen Colbert just so happened to have an iPad on hand during the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards. He pulls one out and uses it during his hosting. He asked his daughter if it made him cool..she shook her head no. A win for Apple? Maybe.

PC Advice: Speed Up Your Browser

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:17:00 +0000

Image by fatboyke (Luc) via Flickr

Facebook loading slow for you? What about any other websites? Try these steps for faster browsing:

Clear your browser’s cache.
1. For Internet Explorer 8: Go to your Control Panel and open “Internet Options”. Under the “General” tab in the “Browsing History”, click “Delete”. Next, make sure “Temporary Internet Files”, “Cookies”, and “History are checked. Then click Delete.
2. For Firefox 3.6: Hit Control+Shift+Delete inside the Firefox browser. Be sure to change the “Time frame to clear” to “Everything” in the drop-down box. Then click “Clear now”.
3. For Chrome 4.0: Click the Wrench in the upper-right corner of Chrome, then click “Options”. Under the “Personal Stuff” tab, go down to the “Browsing Data” section and click “Clear Browsing Data”. Where it says “Clear data from this period” change it to “Everything”.
Check your internet speed.
1. Is your internet speed at where it should be? Click here to find out how to check and troubleshoot your internet speed. If your speeds are below what you are paying for from your internet provider, you should call them immediately to troubleshoot your connection.
Remove spyware from your PC.
1. Spyware can greatly impact your internet browsing speed. Click here to learn about spyware and ways to remove them.
Reboot your PC.
1. Restarting your computer can clear your memory and potentially speed up your browsing experience.

If you have tried every one of these steps and you still experience slowness while browsing the internet, you may have a more advanced problem. Get in contact with me for more help.

My Social Media Connections

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 08:00:00 +0000

Image by HubSpot via Flickr

Let’s keep in touch! I want to be as accessible as possible to my readers/clients. I am pretty much in every popular social media site out there:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/pcswizz

Facebook: http://facebook.com/pcswizzcs

MySpace: http://myspace.com/pcswizz

FriendFeed: http://friendfeed.com/pcswizz

RSS Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/pcswizz

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/pcswizz

Am I missing any? Let me know!

Play Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online For Free

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 01:23:00 +0000

If you have ever played any of the Tiger Woods golf games on your Xbox 360 or PS3, you are in for a treat. Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online is completely free and plays directly from your browser!

The coolest thing about this Tiger Woods game is that it not only looks and plays great, but you can play online and compete with others from around the world. You can even launch the game directly from Facebook with a bookmark.

So create your character and start golfing!

Here is a promotional description from EA.com:

“Take on the most prestigious golf courses across the globe, straight from your browser, in the web-based Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online! Test your skills on the legendary St. Andrew’s course, breathtaking Pebble Beach, and recently added Torrey Pines, the home of this week's Farmers Insurance Open. To celebrate the event there will also be a free tournament for our players! “

PC Advice: Protect Your Computer From Spyware and Viruses

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:03:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

Nothing is worse than having software on your computer that you did not install. On top of that, this unwanted software causes you nothing but agony while you use your PC! This type of software is called “malware”, which include spyware and virus programs.

Do you have spyware or a virus on your computer? First we need to figure out if you are experiencing malware symptoms on your machine. Here are some questions to ask:

When you browse the internet, do you get large amounts of pop-ups? Or are you re-directed to a different website than you intended?
1. If you try to go to a common website, like facebook.com, but you are directed to another website other than where you wanted to go, chances are you have malware.
2. If every time you visit any website and you are met with a crazy amount of pop-ups, you have malware!
Is your anti-virus program alerting you that it has detected malware?
1. Hopefully you do have some form of anti-virus protection on your computer. If you do, many times it will block the malicious software from installing.
Have you installed a program directly from a pop-up?

If you did, that was definitely malware! Especially if it claims that it found a virus on your computer. BE WARNED: DO NOT INSTALL ANY PROGRAM CLAIMING TO BE AN ANTI-VIRUS WHILE YOU BROWSE THE INTERNET!
To further clarify, if you come across a pop-up claiming to be scanning your computer for potential viruses, IT IS A VIRUS!

I can go on and on, but I’m sure you get the idea. Be safe while you browse and download files from the internet.

Do not install programs you didn’t initiate yourself.
Having an anti-virus program is a MUST. If you do not have one installed, you can get one for free.
Do not click links you are suspicious of. Chances are your suspicions are correct!

Even with these precautions, you can still be infected.

If you think you have a virus, even though you have anti-virus software installed, try running a scan to see if it gets detected. Best case scenario is the anti-virus program finds the virus and erases it.
If you think you have spyware, install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and do a scan. You can also use Ad-Aware. Both are great and are free.

I can check your computer out for free if you are still unsure of the status of your computer. Shoot me an email if you have any questions.

Hope this helps!

Preview: Facebook Games and Applications Dashboard

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 05:01:00 +0000

Image via CrunchBase

Play a lot of games of Facebook? Don’t we all! It can get really crazy trying to keep up with all the games and applications you use on Facebook, so now Facebook has made a dashboard for both to help organize them.

Once you click the Applications tab at the bottom of your Facebook home page, you will see the Application and Games Dashboard options towards the bottom. The dashboard currently shows your recently used games and applications as well as your friends’. It even shows how many friends are using a certain app.

Note that it is in beta testing, so expect changes based on your feedback.

I definitely welcome the dashboards! What do you think?

Testimonials

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 04:12:00 +0000

"My computer is always freezing and when I try to play the daily recaps of my soaps and cannot get through a scene, I end up shutting the pc down and missing weeks of my soaps; at least until I have the courage to go at it again. This is a pain for any avid soap fan that tunes in to see Victor Newman, in yet, another tirade on his poor family. I knew my pc needed help, but I wasn't prepared to spend a lot of money. I heard about PCSwizz from a friend. I checked out the website and saw what services were available. I was very eager to set an appointment to get my FREE consultation. Free is definitely in my budget. I was able to set my appointment online; no need to bother calling and waiting for an operator to assist me. Patrick was prompt for my appointment and the best part..he never stepped foot into my home! Everything was done online! My pc is faster than ever and I have been able to watch an entire episode of Y&R without interruption. I highly recommend PCSwizz!”

--by Angela Mackey in Hollywood, FL

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"Thaaaaaank Uuuuuuuuu to PCSwizz! He just cured my laptop from AIDS!!!! Thank u sooo much! I love u! kiss"

--by Nikky Brown in Los Angeles, CA

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“PCSwizz Computer Consulting is the best !!!!! My computer was not working properly he fixed it all the way from Miami and I live in Houston, TX. He not only saved me time but also money because his prices are way better & more convenient than Best Buy!!!"

--by Charmaine Davis-Solomon in Houston, TX

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“Everyone who has ever had a computer virus or what u thought was a
glitch needs a pc expert. Swizz is the spot, he detected & removed
a virus the super expensive remover claimed to have quarantined."

--by Michele Goldson in Miramar, FL

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“I must say that PCSwizz Computer Support is the best. You have questions, he has the answers! I can still remember when I thought I was going to throw my laptop out the window, PCSwizz managed to reset it as if it was brand new. I have made recommendations for his services and he never disappoints. Not only does he fix the problem, he also gives great advice on how to care for your computer to keep it in the best condition. You receive great customer support and advice, all for a reasonable price. PCSwizz is #1 in my book!”

--by Nikki Higgins in Ft. Lauderdale, FL

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“This is my first laptop and I'm very excited!!!!!!!! Of course the only person I thought about to help me set up my new toy is Patrick aka PCSWIZZ. He did an AMAZING job and now I can't wait to start playing with my new laptop!!!!!! Thank you Swizz!!”

--by Tia-Fae Watkins in Lauderhill, FL

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“PCSWIZZ IS AWESOME! He really knows his stuff when it comes to computers!”

--by Temika McClarin in Liverpool, NY

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"THANK YOU PATRICK PCSWIZZ..YOU HOOKED A SISTA UP MY LAPTOP IS RUNNING LIKE NEW..I MUST OF HAD OVER 1,000 VIRUSES OR MORE AND NOW IT'S ALL GONE..THE BEST PART IS I DIDNT HAVE TO TAKE MY COMPUTER ANYWHERE..LOVE IT!!!!!! THANKS PATRICK"

--by Michelle Dawes-Smith in Plantation, FL

PCSwizz’s HDTV Guide

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:35:00 +0000

Image by William Hook via Flickr

I wrote this guide for the gamers out there, but this guide can help anyone planning on buying an HDTV!

So you finally bought yourself an Xhox 360 for your son? Grats! But wait...you're still playing on that 20" Daewoo TV that you bought your first year in college?! I'm sure you can still game on that good old TV that has lasted you this long, but its time for an upgrade! Now by no means am I dissing anyone...we are facing some tough economic times and video games help escape reality, so buying a 360 before buying an HDTV is highly understandable. But if you are in the market to purchase an HDTV or curious as to which TV's are the best, hopefully this guide will help you out!

Now this guide isn't for the well-educated in the HDTV world. This is mainly for consumers who have no idea what 1080i is or what HDMI means. I will be posting each of the 4 chapters separately over the course of this week and next week, so bookmark me!

Without further ado, here is the guide!

Chapter 1: HD Definitions

So let's talk about some keywords when shopping around for a new TV. I won't go over every keyword there is, because it does get expansive. We will discuss the things you should be aware of when hitting up your local electronics store.

1. LCD - Stands for "Liquid Crystal Display". This is the most common form of HDTV out right now. Basically, this form of TV has, you guessed it, liquid crystals inside the television that reflect colors when light is beamed upon it. Pretty inexpensive technology to have an excellent picture.

2. Plasma - Very similar to LCD, plasma televisions usually are purchased when you want a larger television. Some say the color is richer in plasma TVs than LCDs, others disagree. Plasma TVs are also slightly more expensive than LCD TVs. However, Vizio offers an inexpensive plasma TV in the 32" range here, starting at $499.99.

3. Widescreen - Also known as 16:9, this is the standard format for high definition. Your Xbox 360 displays mostly every game in this format, so if you are used to your standard square screen, time to get over it!

4. Component Cables/Inputs - These cables consists of three different colored wires: red, green, and blue. Basically these three wires sends those exact colors to your HDTV separately, causing the picture to be greatly better than the normal 1 yellow wire. These cables are also used to send your HD signal to your television. Audio cables are separate.

5. HDMI - HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface. This single cable does the same job as component cables without all the wires all over the place. Your video and audio signal is sent through the HDMI cable so there is no need for separate audio wires. I personally use HDMI for my Comcast HD receiver and never looked back. The newer Premium version of the Xbox 360 has an HDMI port on the back, unfortunately for us early adopters it was not.
6. 720p - An HD format. I go over this much more in Chapter 2 so I won't go too deep into it here.
7. SDTV - Standard Television. Basically any TV not high definition.

I think this is a good start to this guide. If there is anything I left out of this chapter as far as keywords that you feel I should include to make you a better shopper, feel free to comment below :)

Tomorrow I will post Chapter 2, which covers the HD formats!

Silverlight 4 Beta and Facebook Client Video Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:44:00 +0000

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Silverlight 4 Beta Facebook desktop application is the best Facebook client if you are tired of the look of the website! Watch this video for more details. I detail the simplicity of the app as well has info on how to download and install it!

My Remote Support Pricing

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:02:00 +0000

Free PC Diagnosis

Save yourself the hassle of taking your PC to a repair shop by having me connect to you! Within 15 minutes, you will receive a full diagnostic report from me about your computer and steps you need to take to fix it. The best part? There is NO COST FOR THIS SERVICE!

Click the button below to schedule an appointment with me!

Questions about this service? Click here to shoot me an email!

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With my Clean Up! service, I get your computer back to the way you purchased it; brand new. If you are experiencing slow performance, such as long load times and slow browsing while on the internet, you need my Clean Up! service!

Hard Drive Clean Up: Increases the speed your computer turns on and programs load.

Browser Clean Up: Increases the speed web pages load while you browse the internet.

Windows Clean Up: Makes your computer safer and limits crashes and freezes.

Spyware Clean Up: Detect and remove unwanted software and pop-ups on your computer.

Hardware Updates: Update to key components to your computer, such as your video and sound cards.

Security Check: Checks how secure your computer is from virus and hacking threats.

General Consultation: Give you an overview of the state of your computer and advice about possible upgrades/fixes.

Did I mention this is all done online? Yes! I will not have to step foot into your house to offer this service to you, nor will you have to bring your PC to me to fix! I can connect to your PC directly through your internet connection with your permission!

There’s more! My “Clean Up!” service also fixes any issues you are experiencing. So by purchasing this service, not only will you get a complete tune-up of your PC, but you also get repair service included for a flat fee of $60.00. No matter how long it takes, I will get your PC cleaned and error-free or your money back. Period.

$60.00

After successful payment, you will be automatically forwarded to my appointment calendar. Please select the date and time that is most convenient for you. You will also receive a confirmation email once you have scheduled the appointment.

If you have any questions, you may contact me via Twitter(http://twitter.com/pcswizz), Facebook(http://facebook.com/pcswizzcs), or email(support@pcswizz.com) You may also fill out my contact form.

Check out my FAQ section as well as How My Remote Support Service Works.

Thank you for trusting PCSwizz Computer Support with your PC needs. I look forward to helping you!

Internet Explorer 8 Security Issues Emerge

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:46:00 +0000

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Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 8 has been under the gun this month. Google revealed that Chinese hackers used a security flaw in the browser to hack into personal data of their employees. It got so bad, that the German and French governments warned against using the browser.

It seems that there has been yet another flaw found that hackers could use to enter into your computer.

Microsoft has stated that they are working to fix this new security threat in the browser. My recommendation? Use another browser! Firefox 3.6 and Google Chrome are good options.

PC Advice: Don’t Shutdown…Sleep It!

noreply@blogger.com (SwiZZa) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:09:00 +0000

Image by Asended via Flickr

Many people have asked me what they should do with their computer; should they shut it down completely or just put it to sleep? My recommendation? Sleep!

Why? There are a few reasons, but the main reason is saving time. It is much faster to wake up a computer from sleep mode than it is to do a “cold boot", or power it up from being turned off. It takes seconds to wake your PC up compared to minutes with a full startup.

But doesn’t the PC use power while it is sleeping? Yes it does use a very minimal amount of power, but it isn’t worth the power it takes to turn on your computer. Roughly 5-6 watts of power is used in sleep mode, compared to 1 watt when turned off(Bet you didn’t know your PC uses power when it’s turned off!). So you are only saving 4-5 watts of power when your computer is turned off. I don’t think that will break your wallet when you pay your light bill!

Now don’t confuse sleep with hibernate. Do NOT hibernate your computer! It wastes hard drive space and really is pointless in my opinion. Be sure to click Sleep.

Bottom line, use sleep instead of shutting down your PC. You save time..lots of time. The power difference with your computer being completely off to being in sleep mode is hardly noticeable, only a few watts of difference.

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TeamXbox: 10

Giant Bomb: 10

GameSpy: 10

Game Informer: 9.8

GameTrailers: 9.7

IGN: 9.6

Official XBOX Magazine: 9.5

1UP: 9.1

GameSpot: 9.0

OVERALL METACRITIC SCORE = 96

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PCSwizz’s HDTV Guide

Silverlight 4 Beta and Facebook Client Video Tutorial

My Remote Support Pricing

Free PC Diagnosis

PCSwizz “Clean Up!”©

$60.00

Internet Explorer 8 Security Issues Emerge

PC Advice: Don’t Shutdown…Sleep It!

"Thaaaaaank Uuuuuuuuu to PCSwizz! He just cured my laptop from AIDS!!!! Thank u sooo much! I love u! kiss"

“Everyone who has ever had a computer virus or what u thought was a
glitch needs a pc expert. Swizz is the spot, he detected & removed
a virus the super expensive remover claimed to have quarantined."