Gizmo's Freeware: Top selections

How to Customize the Windows 8 Power User Menu to Suit Yourself

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:05:22 +1000

Windows 8 doesn’t have a Start menu but it does have an abbreviated menu with some commonly used functions. It is variously called the 'Power User Menu', the 'Power Tasks Menu', or sometimes the 'Quick Access Menu' (Microsoft seems to have a problem with consistency of names in Windows 8). In this tip, I’ll point out a free program that gives a quick and easy way to customize this menu to suit your own needs and usage patterns. - Vic Laurie, Tips Editor

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/how-customize-windows-8-power-user-menu-suit-yourself.htm

Easier Way to Use and Manage Libraries in Windows 7 and 8

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:46:30 +1000

Windows 7 introduced a new way to organize files called "Libraries", which was carried over to Windows 8. Libraries are virtual folders that can centralize related items from multiple locations and can be very handy. However, their benefits are lost on many PC users who find their organization and use to be confusing or annoying. If you would like an easier way to take advantage of Libraries, here is something to try:

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/easier-way-use-and-manage-libraries-windows-7-and-8.htm

Best Free Windows Store Apps for Your Windows 8 PC or Mobile

Sun, 19 May 2013 18:56:36 +1000

You may not have noticed but we have been quietly assembling a list of the the best free apps from the Windows store that you can run on your Windows 8 PC or mobile device. Already the list has 75 applications in 58 categories so there are plenty of free goodies for you to play with. Check it out, despite all the negative press abour Windows 8, I wouldn't be surprised if you found some really useful apps in this impressive list.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-windows-apps.htm

Website of the Week: Feed Your Brain

Sat, 18 May 2013 18:10:56 +1000

"Today I Found Out" is a site whose focus is on learning something new every day. There is a large array of quick facts, articles, infographics etc. that should satisfy the mildest to most intensely curious of souls.

The Today In History category is full of interesting tidbits, while the Articles section has several categories for your enjoyment such as animals, entertainment, history, language, people, science, miscellaneous and myths. The Stumble Upon link will take you to the best of "Today I Found Out."

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/feed-your-brain-today-i-found-outcom-website-week.htm

Nifty Way to Find Out What Your Windows Computer Has Been Doing

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:51:11 +1000

Have you ever wondered what has been going on in your PC? Has there ever been some strange computer activity and you wanted to know what it meant? Here’s a quick and easy way to find out.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/nifty-way-find-out-what-your-windows-computer-has-been-doing.htm

What's the Article at Gizmo's that our Users like Best?

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:06:54 +1000

The current article with the highest user rating at Gizmo's is "A Quick Way to Change or Check your DNS Setting" written by Robert Shifreen, our Hot Finds Editor It deserves its 99% rating as its really useful. Indeed I made use of its advice myself and as a result my internet access is definitely a tad faster.

Changing your DNS server is a piece of cake using the free utility suggested by Robert. Results vary from person to person but heck, the promise of zippier internet access makes it well worth a try.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/quick-way-change-or-check-your-dns-setting.htm

What's the Article at Gizmo's that our Users like Best?

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:57:13 +1000

How to Limit Ad Tracking in iPhones and iPads with iOS 6

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:05:32 +1000

When it introduced the operating system iOS 6, Apple also included an ad tracking method called “Identifier for Advertising” or IDFA, which is akin to a cookie. The default setting on iOS 6 devices is to enable this ad tracking. However, there is a way to turn it off and here’s how.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/how-limit-ad-tracking-iphones-and-ipads-ios-6.htm

Brilliant Free Text Editor Automatically Illustrates Your Work

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:14:44 +1000

A few weeks ago I wrote about a free online text editor called TextEvo (www.textevo.com). Since then, the guys behind the site have been adding lots of new features. It is now integrated with Flickr, and can automatically change the background of your writing area to a photo that reflects what you're typing! The picture updates every 30 seconds or so, and is a really neat idea.

For example I typed text about bears. A picture of a panda appeared magically.. In another test, when I was typing text about horses, some great horsey shots appeared.

TextEvo is still a powerful, free, online text editor, and you can flip between standard mode and photo mode whenever you wish. And if you like any of the photos that appear, they're all royalty-free and you can copy them to your hard disk easily. - Robert Schifreen, Hot Finds Editor

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/brilliant-text-editor-automatically-illustrates-your-work.htm

Finds of the Week

Mon, 13 May 2013 17:49:24 +1000

Finds of the Week is a list of web sites I've come across lately that are interesting, fun, or useful (or all three). I hope you enjoy them. -Rhiannon

- Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Online Catalog
- New York Times Haiku Generator
- 10 Best Websites for Troubleshooting Computer Problems
- Three Easy Ways To Backup Your Gmail Account
- How to Transfer All Contacts from Android to iPhone and Vice Versa
- Shutdown Windows 8 Easier With the Power Button

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/finds-week-free-prints-photographs-haiku-generator-troubleshooting-computer-problems-backing

Wallpaper of the Week: Lights Across the Continents

Sun, 12 May 2013 20:35:51 +1000

This weeks wallpaper shows the continents as if it were night, while populated areas show up as pinpoints of light. I like seeing where the most and least populated areas are, but what really makes this wallpaper is that it's done in shades of dark blue, making a perfect backdrop for desktop icons.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/lights-across-continents-wallpaper-week.htm

How To Write Down Your Passwords Yet Remain Secure

Sat, 11 May 2013 19:15:28 +1000

Everyone knows that you should never write down you passwords. But what if there was a way that allowed you to write them down and yet remain secure?

According to the people behind a service called Password Card, there is. It works along the same lines as a couple of commercial offerings that have been around for a while, but this is free.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/how-write-down-your-passwords-yet-remain-secure.htm

A Powerful Free Windows System Tool That You Ought to Have

Fri, 10 May 2013 19:22:59 +1000

Do you ever want to know which program is using a particular file or DLL? Or wonder what some process is doing and where it came from? You can get your answers from a powerful free Windows system utility that many know about but generally don’t take advantage of. It really is a "must-have."

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/powerful-free-windows-system-tool-you-ought-have.htm

Updated: Best Free Games for your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch

Thu, 9 May 2013 21:27:36 +1000

After a quiet couple of months editor ChuckReid87 has just completed a major update to our popular free iOS games category. Lots of fun stuff here.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/best-free-iphone-ipod-ipad-games.htm

How To Keep Your Passwords Safe

Wed, 8 May 2013 17:52:02 +1000

Our Hot Finds Editor Robert Schifreen says: "Today, as promised, I'll cover the thorny problem of how to keep all your passwords safe and secure. The problem is an obvious one. If you're like me, you probably have dozens of passwords for all the different web sites you use. Taking into account all the systems I look after as part of my day job too, I probably have over 100.

But how best to manage them all, without choosing simple passwords or writing them down? Here's how I do it, and how I advise others to do it. "

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/how-keep-your-passwords-safe.htm

A Single Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcut that Does Multiple Tasks

Tue, 7 May 2013 18:51:49 +1000

Keyboard shortcuts are essential for making Windows 8 easier to use. As described in a previous tip, the Windows key is part of many time-saving shortcuts. But there is also a different type of keyboard combination with a long history in Windows systems that is very useful. It is the versatile shortcut Alt+F4 and here are three different ways it can help make Windows 8 more efficient. - Vic Laurie, Tips Editor.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/single-windows-8-keyboard-shortcut-does-multiple-tasks.htm

How To Choose A Strong Password

Mon, 6 May 2013 19:23:09 +1000

Following some of the recent security-related postings here, some of you have asked how best to choose a strong (ie, uncrackable) password. Here's one way to do it:

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/how-choose-strong-password.htm

Easy Way to Download and Install Free Fonts from the Google Collection

Fri, 3 May 2013 20:05:49 +1000

If you are one of the many PC users who like to have a variety of fonts on your computer, now is your chance to make a big addition to your collection. For several years Google has had a very large catalog of fonts that are free and open source (link here). However, using them meant manually browsing through a large selection online to see what you wanted to download and install.

But now Google has just made its collection available for download with an app called "SkyFonts" from Monotype. The app installs fonts that you select from the collection and comes in both 32- and 64-bit versions. It works in Windows XP on up but it does require installation of the full .NET 4.0 framework. The app provides for automatic updating if new characters are added to a font. Here's how you can access the app and get the free fonts:

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/easy-way-download-and-install-free-fonts-google-collection.htm

Want To Find Out How Password Cracking Works?

Thu, 2 May 2013 21:33:35 +1000

Hot Finds Editor Robert Schifreen says "I've covered a few security-related products and services recently, and I know from our usage stats that this is a topic which many of you are interested in.

So, to end this brief run of security postings, here's something about a freeware program with a difference. The difference is that I'm not actually suggesting you download and run it. Instead, increase your understanding of the program, and others in the same genre, by reading an excellent article. Let me explain.

Have you ever wondered how password cracking works? And why it causes so much of a furore when a web site is discovered to have had its password file hacked into and stolen? If so, then here's how it works."

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/want-find-out-how-password-cracking-works.htm

How to Get a Big Collection of Free Windows Themes and Wallpaper from Microsoft

Wed, 1 May 2013 20:00:26 +1000

There have always been a lot of Windows themes and desktop wallpapers scattered around the giant Microsoft website. But the site is not always easy to navigate and finding things there can be problematical. So, if you wanted a new theme or desktop background, it could be quite a search. Fortunately, Microsoft has finally consolidated its many such offerings at a single site. It is called the Personalization Gallery and the link is here. There are separate areas for themes and for desktop backgrounds (wallpaper). The themes are for Windows 7 and 8 but the desktop backgrounds can be used in all present versions of Windows.

There are themes with a wide variety of subjects. They include animals, art, automotive, game, holidays & seasons, movies, natural wonders, places & landscapes, plants & flowers, and others. There is even an RSS feed provided so that you can have changing, live themes just like the live tiles in Windows 8. There is a similar large selection of wallpapers.

And there you have it. No need for a dull desktop any more.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/how-get-big-collection-free-windows-themes-and-wallpaper-microsoft.htm

Website of the Week: Visual News - The Cure For Eyeball Boredom

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:50:06 +1000

The site infographics, photos, various kinds of art and oh, all sorts of interesting things. Their site description states that they "....believe the planet we live on is one of continual beauty and curiosities, so each day we strive to bring you some of the most interesting stories in art, design, technology and people." Two posts that caught my eye recently are Forget Hiking! Google Maps Hits the Grand Canyon and A Journey from Pop Culture to Wild Africa. - Rhiannon

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/visual-news-cure-eyeball-boredom-website-week.htm

This Excellent URL Organizer Runs as a Chrome Browser Add-In

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:08:27 +1000

Contextinator lets you create projects, within which you can collect web URLs, tasks, people, and bookmarks. For example, I tried using Contextinator to work on the item that you're reading now. So, having installed the add-in, I clicked on its icon in the menu and created a new project. I then surfed to a couple of relevant web sites and added their tabs to the Tabs section of the project. Then I added a couple of tasks, too, such as checking out the previous add-ons I've written about. Tasks can contain URLs, so when you view a task it's easy to click on the link to which it refers.

Naturally, if you close your browser and then reopen it, all your project data is saved. So whether you're involved in a complex research project, or just considering ideas for the next family holiday, Contextinator is a brilliant way to keep your web-based research in some form of order - Robert Schifreen

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/excellent-url-organizer-runs-browser-add.htm

This Excellent URL Organizer Runs as a Chrome Browser Add-In

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:05:53 +1000

New Top Pick for Best Free Antivirus App for Android

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 18:58:02 +1000

Android's increasing popularity has led to increased security threats, ranging from common malware to advanced Phishing and ID theft techniques. In order to help Android users to deal with these issues many security software companies have launched their own security apps, but paying nearly 30 bucks a year for a complete mobile security app doesn't sound like a good deal, especially when there's a wide choice of free security apps that will cover all your needs including a group of complete security suites with Anti-Theft capabilities.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/best-free-antivirus-app-android.htm

Finds of the Week

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:53:16 +1000

Finds of the Week is a list of web sites I've come across lately that are interesting, fun, or useful (or all three). I hope you enjoy them. -Rhiannon

- Does Outlook.com Trump Gmail?
- Astronomy Picture of the Day
- New Online Weather Service Impresses
- Billions of Free Sudoko Puzzles to Play Online
- How do I Learn Programming? 10 Excellent Resources to Learn Coding
- Brit + Co; Handmade Ideas for Creative Living

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/outlookcom-vs-gmail-astronomy-picture-day-new-weather-service-free-sudoku-learn-code-finds-w

How to Add Your Favorite Folder or Program to (My) Computer in Windows 7 and 8

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:19:44 +1000

Would you like to have that favorite folder or program that you use all the time listed in Computer along with all your drives so it is really easy to access? Computer is not a regular folder so you can’t just drop a shortcut there the usual way. But there is a quick way to get a shortcut listed in Computer and here’s how.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/how-add-your-favorite-folder-or-program-my-computer-windows-7-and-8.htm

Amazing Cloud-Based System Adds A Band To Your Song

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:02:45 +1000

Do you sometimes sing to yourself when you're alone? Or perhaps you sing a song to a loved one, or your children? Or perhaps it's your children who do the singing.

Either way, have you ever wondered what that unaccompanied melody would sound like with the backing of a some professional musicians? If so, point your browser to a wonderful system called Ujam and wonder no more.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/amazing-cloud-based-system-adds-band-your-song.htm

Amazing Cloud-Based System Adds A Band To Accompany Your Song

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:59:31 +1000

Wallpaper of the Week

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:17:59 +1000

This weeks wallpaper brings us a winter image. A lone aspen tree sits in a snow covered field, with a tree covered hill rising in the background. The snow covered aspen sparkles white against the blue shadowed trees behind it. Desktop icons are clearly visible with this wallpaper.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/frosted-aspen-tree-wallpaper-week.htm

Light-hearted Links to Make You Laugh

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 19:00:15 +1000

Life can’t always be serious and, as all the cat videos show, websites don’t always have to be useful. I think it is time for some lighthearted links. So, as they used to say on the British comedy show Monty Python, "And now for something completely different:"

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/light-hearted-links-make-you-laugh.htm