Tips ‘n Tricks »
Here you will find tips, tricks, and guides on various different topics, but mainly focused on computers.
Free CZ.CC domains for life (no credit card required)!
In November of last year I wrote about how everyone can get free CO.CC domains. Well now I am here to tell you about another very similar offer, except this time it is about free CZ.CC domains.
Like the CO.CC offer, users are allowed to register free CZ.CC domains and [...]
Read More »dotTech Picks: The best of the best freebies of 2010
Although dotTech likes to think of itself as a review website (and likes to think it is an animate object capable of intelligent thought), freebies are an intricate part of dotTech. The following list lists the best of the best freebies that were available in 2010, some of which are [...]
DonationCoder’s (annual) N.A.N.Y. event for 2010 is now live
In light of my recent article on DonationCoder, no dotTechie has an excuse for not being (at least) remotely familiar with the website =). However, what some of you may or may not know, DoncationCoder holds an annual New Apps for the New Year (N.A.N.Y.) challenge where programmers are encouraged [...]
Programming for newbies, Part 2: C++
Hi dotTechies,
Last time I did a write up on Python. Here is my short treatise on another programming language, C++. Bear in mind that I’m not an expert C++ boy, but I have enough to pass knowledge to newbies. I’m still learning it and I’ll probably keep learning . [...]
Read More »Firefox Only: Memory Fox constantly recovers RAM/memory wasted by Firefox
As great of a browser as it is, Firefox is probably the most notorious memory leaking software known to man to date. With no time to spare, a user can easily be losing dozens – often hundreds – of megabytes of memory to Firefox. To help address this memory issue, [...]
Read More »Malwarebytes vs. IObit fiasco comes to a close
Last month the interwebz was jolted by Malwarebytes’ claims of IObit stealing their intellectual property and using it in IObit Security 360. Now, it seems, the fiasco has come to a happy (sort of) ending:
Some weeks ago we presented evidence demonstrating that the Chinese company IObit had stolen Malwarebytes’
[...]
Read More »
Easily create photo collages with Photovisi
Remember Rollip, the free online web service which allows users to turn their photos into classic Polariods? The makers of Rollip have once again banded together to create a free online web service; this time, however, the web service is called Photovisi and it allows users to create photo collages. [...]
Read More »The best (freeware) programs to come out of DonationCoder
I am sure many dotTechies have heard of DonationCoder. For those that have not, let me give you a brief introduction. DonationCoder.com is a website where many programmers feature their freeware software. What makes DonationCoder different, verses other freeware providing websites, are three main aspects:
- All the software on DonationCoder
[...]
Read More »New, redesigned Google.com – check it out yourself
Google redesigned their search page for just a limited few. Want to get it for yourself? Read more to find out.
Open It Online: Handy Firefox and Internet Explorer add-on/plugin allows users to open and edit files online
Last week I wrote about a Ghostery, a Firefox add-on aimed at helping users protect their privacy. Well in the comments section of Ghostery, there was an excellent discussion going on about Firefox add-ons (I am still surprised by how many privacy related add-ons I learned about by reading the [...]
Read More »Insight from Denmark, Part 3: Solutions to Windows’ memory woes on older computers
Ever seen this Window’s warning:
How many times have I had to see that warning when I run 2-3 programs simultaneously (even small programs)!
I thought I had overcome all problems when I looked at the registry and uninstalled all useless programs completely, but no – Bill Gates won’t let [...]
Read More »Wireless external hard drives are here. …Say what?
Yes you read the title properly. Companies, more specifically Imation, are now making wireless external hard drives. Meet the Imation Pro WX:
The Imation Pro WX is a 1.5 TB, 3.5 inch form factor external hard drive that connects to the computer wirelessly (it has a the ability to connect [...]
Read More »How to: Get and try Google’s (new) Chrome OS yourself (for free of course)
Most everybody has heard of Google’s new ambition: Chrome OS. Chrome OS is a Linux distribution which Google is developing; currently Google claims Chrome OS is specifically targets netbooks but we all know the true target of Chrome OS – Microsoft.
Yesterday Google had a “Google Chrome OS event” where [...]
Read More »Internet Explorer 9… already?
Locutus may have beaten me for the news break about Office 2010 beta, but I’ve got him on the break of the first news about Internet Explorer 9!
Whether you like it or not, IE has had big impacts on the Web, some which they aren’t given credit for. For [...]
Read More »Office 2010, latest version of Microsoft Office, enters public Beta – get it for free
Do you use Microsoft Office? There’s a good chance you do. There’s also a pretty good chance you have heard about the new and upcoming Microsoft Office 2010. However, you probably didn’t know about the public beta Microsoft is running for Office 2010; anyone and everyone can use Microsoft Office [...]
Read More »How to: Block Flash ads in Internet Explorer (no add-on/plugin needed!)
It seems that I and 64 other dotTechies use a version of IE. YAY us. Now the rest of you dotTechies can read this article but I can’t say it will be very useful.
Now while I agree in principle with Ashraf about Ads but at the same time I [...]
Read More »Firefox add-on: Know who is watching when you visit a website (and optionally block them) with Ghostery
If you did not know this already, let me tell you now: The Internet is not a private place. It was never designed to be a private place. The architecture, the core and the pillars, of the Internet was built in a very transparent manner. If you desire privacy, the [...]
Read More »Microsoft issues an apology for stealing open source code and will release the source code for Windows USB/DVD Download Tool
From the time it was announced to when it was discovered that Microsoft used open source code in WUDT without following proper license guidelines, we, we being mostly Samuel with a little of Ashraf sweeping in to take credit like a punk, have covered Microsoft’s new Windows USB/DVD Download Tool [...]
Read More »How to: Use alias email accounts with Outlook
An alias email account is an email address that doesn’t store emails. Instead it forwards e-mails to one or more email addresses (which can also be aliases). An alias is useful in that you don’t have to worry about checking multiple accounts – you can get all your emails in [...]
Read More »How to: Get the 1 year free license for a-squared Anti-Malware Pro
As I posted about yesterday, Emisoft is running a 24-hour promotion giving away free 1 year licenses for a-squared Anti-Malware Pro. Since I have never taken advantage of an Emisoft promotion in the past, I did not realize how complicated they make it. I have been busy all day and [...]
Read More »Microsoft removes the new Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool… because it stole from open source software?
Okay, okay – technically speaking, you can legally take source code from a GNU GPLv2 licensed software (with various stipulations of course such as keeping the license of the new product as GNU GPLv2 and providing the source code) so code taken from a GNU GPLv2 software is not necessarily [...]
Read More »Ninite: Install multiple programs in seconds with one click
Setting up a new computer is sometimes fun. But installing tons of applications takes a while, so sometimes you set that aside and forget to install them, just to find you’ve got to read a PDF but you don’t have a PDF reader. Or maybe you need to see a [...]
Read More »Free CO.CC domain for life!
Anyone remember my post on how to get your very own custom e-mail address for free? Well for those that don’t, let me sum up really quickly: I posted about how users can get a free CO.CC domain, and use Google Apps to get their very own custom e-mail address. [...]
Read More »Google Chrome nows comes as the default browser for some computers
As Lee Matthews of DownloadSquad.com recently discovered, Google has stuck deals with some OEMs (OEMs are companies like Dell, Sony, HP, Gateway, Toshiba, etc.) to ship computers with Google Chrome preinstalled. To make things more juicy, the Chrome icon is put on the desktop and is pinned to the taskbar [...]
Read More »Nero releases a free, stripped down version of Nero 9
Nero is popular for their feature filled, yet expensive, burning software. Well today Nero has released a stripped down free version of Nero 9:
To be honest, sure this may look like Nero is being generous finally offering a free version of their software, but, and I am being very [...]
Read More »Is IObit Security 360 too good to be true? Malwarebytes claims theft of intellectual property.
You know when you have big dreams to do something, then you hear you won’t be able to attain what you want and all your hope and dreams come crashing down around you? Well this is how I feel when it comes to security software for my computer. I am [...]
Read More »Paragon Backup & Restore Free vs Macrium Reflect Free vs EASEUS Todo Backup vs DriveImage XML vs Acronis True Image Home: Which one should you use?
As mentioned in my recent article on Paragon Backup & Restore Free, I have written about many free image backup software – 10 to be exact. Out of all my articles, three were my top picks: Paragon Backup & Restore Free, Macrium Reflect Free, and EASEUS Todo Backup. I decided [...]
Read More »Insight from Denmark, Part 2: Use third party uninstallers
During my first days on the computer I only used Windows and the software that came with Windows. After a few months I discovered the endless possibilities third party software can open up, so I started installing third party software and searching for more, and more software. After few months [...]
Read More »Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool: Windows 7 Installer for Netbooks
One of the big things about Windows 7 is how well it runs on netbooks. The only problem with installing Windows 7 on netbooks is many netbooks don’t have CD/DVD drives. Microsoft has really been thinking hard how not to screw up the Windows 7 release because Microsoft has come [...]
Read More »Do It Again: Simple, easy-to-use free macro recorder that gets the job done
I am sure you have all heard of Easy Macro Recorder, a commercial macro recording software. Now I am going to tell you about a freeware macro recording software which is more simple than Easy Macro Recorder (doesn’t have any “macro editing” features) but more easier to use. dotTechies meet [...]
Read More »New Stickies v7.0a comes with new features, changes, and fixes
Recall Stickies, one of dotTech’s most favorite sticky note programs. Back when I reviewed Stickies it was v6.7a. Since then the developer of Stickies has been hard at work and has released v7.0a. v7.0a brings new wonders to us Stickies fans:
What’s new since version 6.7a
New features
- Image stickies
[...]
Read More »
Insight from Denmark, Part 1: Portable registry cleaners
Hello there and welcome here. My name is Peter and I live in Denmark. This is, of course, my first post on dotTech.
I learned of Ashraf via Giveaway of the Day and have followed his blog, dotTech.org, for a long time. I work with computers doing maintenance and/or troubleshooting [...]
Read More »TubeMaster++: automatically download, and convert, streaming media (audio and video) off the internet
Tubemaster++ is an open source, freeware, easy-to-use, streaming media downloader (FLV, MP4, MOV, and MP3). Similar to URL Snooper and WebVideoCap, TubeMaster++ works by monitoring network traffic via different types of protocols (and therefore is browser and website independent also). The difference, however, is TubeMaster++ has a (more) user friendly [...]
WinPatrol vs AnVir Task Manager: clarification on the different editions, and differences and unique advantages of both
Today a dotTechie posted an interesting comment:
Ashraf, as I read your review, something tickled a few neurons regarding your usage of WinPatrol as an alternative. I did a little research, and low and behold, in your “Prevention, detection, and cure: 9 programs…” article you recommend WinPatrol for use as
[...]
Read More »
Testdisk & PhotoRec: One of the most powerful data/partition recovery duo you will ever use
I remember long ago, in my Linux phase, I used to mess up my Windows partition about twice a day (don’t ask me how… it just happened). Back then, I discovered Testdisk and used it to recover/boot my Windows partition when I had problems (it was usually very successful). Since [...]
Read More »