Tips ‘n Tricks »
Here you will find tips, tricks, and guides on various different topics, but mainly focused on computers.
Switcher: Get Mac OS X’s Exposé on Windows Vista/Win7
If your friend has a Mac, then you’ve most likely heard bragging about how switching windows with Exposé is the best thing since sliced Safari. Switcher is a really cool free Windows app that takes that feature and implements it beautifully in Windows. (Windows Vista and higher only, though, since [...]
Enable/disable codecs and DirectShow filters with InstalledCodec
You became overjoyed by reading about the solution to your Windows Media Player woes. So you had a few clicks and ended up with a mess of codecs on your hands. Now Windows Media Player or [insert player name here] will no longer play your beautiful media files anymore, instead [...]
Read More »Enhance graphics performance with 3D-Analyzer, a graphics card “emulator”
[The following article has been written by Jason. Some dotTechies may know him as Jyo. Be sure to thank him in the comments below for the write-up and tip!]
Ever been in that situation where you just spent countless hours (legally) downloading a game or shelled out a day’s [...]
Read More »Make Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, AOL, Google Apps, or any other webmail the default mailto: client in all browsers with GmailDefaultMaker
Firefox has this nifty feature that allows users to set mailto: links to open in Yahoo or Gmail. But what if you aren’t a Firefox user? Or, what if you are a Firefox user and want to open mailto: links in a webmail service other than Yahoo or Gmail? That [...]
Read More »Tip: Looking to purchase a laptop? Ask for advice at NotebookReview
Buying a laptop can be a tough decision: You have a limited budget, you have specific needs, and there are literally millions dozens of laptops to pick from. You could, of course, go ask your local techie at your local computer store for help. However, I have found many of [...]
Jealous of your Mac friends? Get multitouch on Windows with the latest Synaptics drivers.
There are several cool things about owning a Mac: for one, you get to look cool in front of the rest of the café; you can be unique. But if I had to choose one feature from a Mac that makes me want to admire Apple’s polish and thoughtfulness, I’d [...]
A new kind of spam: Developers pretending to be users, “reviewing” their own products, and asking bloggers to post about it
We see spam in our inbox. We see spam on forums. But have you seen forum spam… in your inbox? Lately I have been receiving this new kind of spam, and have decided to share it with the world, so we can all laugh at and ridicule the spammers who [...]
Read More »Startup Applications List: Database of over 20,000 startup programs allows users to quickly research at-Windows-boot startup apps
Every program and its grandmother wants to start up automatically at Windows boot. Why? I have no bloody idea. Apparently developers think forcing their program down the throats of users is the best way to gain popularity and loyalty. To combat this pro at-Windows-boot startup culture, there are many programs [...]
Read More »114 rogue security software you don’t want on your computer, how to protect oneself against such threats, and how to clean up after infection
Rogue security software are probably one of the most popular ways for scumbags to swindle money out of computer users. Indeed, it takes just a simple advertisement proclaiming “your computer is infected, clean it now” to trick users into downloading fake anti-viruses. Once a rogue security program is on one’s [...]
Read More »New v2 of Microsoft Security Essentials brings new features, makes improvements
Reviewed by dotTech, and used by many, Microsoft Security Essentials is a terrific product created by Microsoft to help address the ever growing malware issue. Being fairly new, until yesterday MSE was only v1; now, Microsoft has released v2 of MSE, adding few features and making improvements.
Although Microsoft seems [...]
Read More »Freemake Video Converter & Downloader: Two great freeware utilities that convert videos, burn DVDs & BDs, download streaming videos, and more
Between freebies and freeware, dotTech has talked about many, many video converters and quite a few video downloaders. So, you ask, what is the point of talking about more video converters and downloaders? Well, first of all, it never hurts to spread the word about freeware software. More importantly, however, [...]
Read More »New v1.9.0 of Unlocker adds 64-bit support
Last October I compared and contrasted two file “unlocking” software, LockHunter and Unlocker. Back then Unlocker was only supported on 32-bit machines whereas LockHunter was available for 32-bit and 64-bit. This, however, has changed because v1.9.0 – the latest version of Unlocker released yesterday – has added 64-bit support to [...]
Read More »How to destroy (remove/change) forgotten Windows passwords [Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7]
Forgot your Windows password? Need to recover/get rid of it? One solution is using Ophcrack. However, Ophcrack has a few problems with it. For one, it can only crack passwords which are 14 characters or less in length. Secondly, any passwords that have extensive use of special symbols Ophcrack won’t [...]
Rainlendar: Brilliant multi-platform task management application
You have a bazillion things going on in your life. You think you can manage them all using just your hippocampus. In reality, you can’t. That is why there is Rainlendar.
Rainlendar Overview
Rainlendar is a terrific multi-platform task management tool that allows users to easily and efficiently manage their [...]
Read More »XBoot: Put multiple utilities/Linux distros/disc-based AVs on one bootable CD/DVD/USB drive
How many CDs, DVDs, and/or USB drives do you take with you when you go help someone with their PC? One? Two? Fifty-seven? Cut that number down with XBoot.
Image credit: One and Two –>
XBoot Overview
XBoot, a relatively new program created by an enthusiastic Indian programmer, is a [...]
Read More »How To: Jailbreak your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch (and get lots of cool stuff)
Apple makes cool toys. However, Apple has not-so-cool restrictions on these toys. Apple likes to build a “walled garden” around its gadgets: You can’t buy or download apps they don’t approve of, and don’t even think about setting custom ringtones. Don’t like that icon? That’s too bad, as Apple won’t [...]
Recover (crack) forgotten Windows passwords with Ophcrack
Forget your Windows password? Yes? How are you going to log in! If you don’t know your password, it can really take away from that whole “using of the computer” idea. Thankfully, a bunch of Swiss developers have put together Ophcrack, a free and open source program that will crack [...]
HostICan = StealICan
During my unannounced getaway from dotTech, there was a time when I wasn’t sure about the status of this website. What will happen to dotTech? Would I continue to update dotTech? Has dotTech officially reached its point-of-no-return? During this time the only thing I knew was that at the moment[...]
Read More »Tip: Use a free .TK domain for custom e-mail address, website
Last year I wrote an article on how to get your own custom e-mail address using a free CO.CC domain; last week I added on to that article by explaining how that CO.CC domain can be used for a custom e-mail address and a website at the same time. Today [...]
Read More »dotTech Picks: The best of the best software/apps/services of 2010
2010 is coming to an end; dotTech has reviewed and featured dozens upon dozens of programs/apps/services in the past twelve months. It is now time to recap the best ones.
The following list – in no particular order – contains shareware and freeware programs for Windows, websites/services, and apps for [...]
Read More »How To: Replace ugly icons on your iPhone/iPad/iPod
You have a pretty new iPhone/iPad/iPod; and for the life of you, you cannot figure out why Apple would invest so much in the physical design of the device but leave so much to be desired when it came the the icons*. Yawn! Those icons are so last year! Anxious [...]
Four ways to access your iDevice’s (iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch) file system from your computer
Part of breaking out of Apple’s walled garden is to access the root file system on your iDevice (iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch). Fortunately there are a lot of ways to do it, some being harder than others. In this article I will teach you several ways: Using iPhoneBrowser while being plugged in [...]
Read More »How To: Use a free CO.CC domain for your own free custom e-mail address and website at the same time
Last year I wrote an extremely popular article on how to create your own custom e-mail address for free using a free CO.CC domain and Google Apps. Recently some people have asked me if it was possible to use that CO.CC domain for a custom e-mail address through Google Apps [...]
Read More »Balesio FILEminimizer Pictures is now freeware
Remember FILEminimizer Pictures? You know, the software that allows users to compress pictures/images? (If you don’t remember, read my full review on it.) Back when I reviewed FILEminimizer Pictures, I stated it is an excellent program but the price-point of $34.95 is a bit steep. Maybe Balesio heard my cry [...]
[Firefox Add-on] NoSquint allows users to zoom in/out and change the color of text and background on websites
Ever wish you could slap a web developer for choosing a particular color theme, or for making their text so small you have trouble reading it? (Ha!) While there is no perfect solution to the ah-my-eyes-hurt-when-I-visit-your-website problem (aside from forcing the webmaster to change the design), NoSquint is an add-on [...]
Read More »Agnitum’s new Outpost Security Suite Free combines anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-spam, and firewall components into one sweet, free package
Many people were extremely disappointed when Agnitum stopped supporting Outpost Firewall Free, especially considering Outpost firewall is dotTech recommended. Well, friends, worry no longer. Last week Agnitum released Outpost Security Suite Free, the freeware version of Outpost Security Suite Pro.
Previously Outpost Firewall Free provided users with top-notch firewall services. [...]
Read More »Tip: Speak to the Retentions department for large discounts on your cell phone bill
While we patiently wait for the passage of the 1and1 Internet inspired domain propagation woes, here is a quick tip that can potentially save everyone a good chunk of cash on their monthly cell phone bills. Note that this tip is designed for people in the United States; because of [...]
Read More »Do you use Dropbox? Get 1,018 MB extra free storage within 10 minutes
How many dotTechies use Dropbox? I use Dropbox. How many dotTechies love Dropbox? I love Dropbox. Dropbox has been featured on dotTech multiple times in the past and is definitely my go-to service for file hosting/sharing. While many of us may be content with the free 2 GB of storage [...]
Read More »Dexpot creates virtual desktops/workspaces… with virtual eye candy
Anyone that has ever taken part in an operating system discussion (i.e. Windows vs. Mac OS X vs. Linux) must have experienced how Linux users often cite “features” Linux has that Windows doesn’t. Multiple virtual desktops/workspaces is one of these features; Compiz (an “eye candy” tool for Linux) is another [...]
Modify and cleanup the right-click context menu with ShellExView
Nowadays it seems like every program and its grandmother adds an entry into the right-click context menu. Don’t hate you it when you right-click on something and it takes around 10 seconds just to load the context menu? Or, maybe you dislike the fact how cluttered your context menu is? [...]
How To: Change Firefox 3.6′s new, annoying habit of opening new tabs next to the active one
Yesterday when I realized that I was running Firefox 3.5.7 even though Firefox 3.6 was out, I updated my Firefox – as fast as my fingers could click – to v3.6. After the update I went about my business surfing the web, doing some of this, doing a little of [...]
Read More »Paragon Partition Manager Free Edition: How does it stack up?
For the longest time Paragon Software products has been associated with shareware software only. In other words, unless you were lucky enough to find a product by Paragon Software via a promotion (such as GOTD, freebie, etc.), you would have to shell out cash to make use of their (usually) [...]
Run tasks (restart/shutdown computer, run a program, play audio sound, etc.) automatically based on a schedule with TimeComX
Marxio Timer, a program that allows users to automate tasks, has been discussed on dotTech in the past.Although not as powerful as Marxio Timer, TimeComX is another automation tool that allows users to run a select amount of tasks automatically based on a schedule:
TimeComX allow users to automate any [...]
Read More »How To: Remove backgrounds/extract objects from pictures
Do you need a single object from a picture, say, a beach ball or a dog? With GIMP (a freeware, powerful image editor) and a little patience, you can extract the object from the picture. Tell me, which of the following images is the original?
(It is the second one, [...]
Read More »Virtualize applications with Cameyo
Here on dotTech we have talked about virtualization technology plenty of times. However, all previous articles have discussed computer-level virtualization. In other words, they talked about virtual machines, how users can virtualize their computers, etc. What if a user wanted to use virtualization technology but on an applications-level as opposed [...]
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