Windows Tools, Help & Guides

A couple of weeks ago, we asked you if you used Windows XP Mode and many of you responded by saying you didn’t know about it. In the past, we showed you how to Windows XP Mode but didn’t really explain the purpose of it. This guide serves as an update to the previous guide; in this guide, we’ll cover the following:

• What is Windows Virtual PC?
• What operating systems can I install with Windows Virtual PC?
• What is Windows XP Mode?
• Why do I need Windows XP Mode?
• What are the system requirements of Windows Virtual PC?
• Where can I download Windows Virtual PC and XP Mode?
• How do I install Windows Virtual PC and XP Mode?
• How do I use Windows XP Mode?
• What else should I know about Windows XP Mode?

If you get to the end of this guide and still have questions about Windows Virtual PC or XP Mode, please ask them in the Windows 7 forum.

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As a hobbyist photographer, I only bring my camera along when there is an event/gathering/photography session. However, there are always times when an interesting scene or idea that’s worth a capture comes across my mind but the camera isn’t with me at that moment, and I have to rely on my mobile phone’s camera feature. While the camera on the phone isn’t that bad (upcoming Nokia N8 has a 12 Megapixels sensor), one of the big disadvantages for most of the phone’s camera is their poor light sensor (to compensate the small size of the phone), and under low light conditions, some of the photos taken have to deal with noise. In order to remove those noises to yield higher quality shots, post-processing is needed, and this is where Imagenomic Noiseware comes into play. Read the rest of this entry »

Ever heard of EXIF ? Neither had I until recent. EXIF (Exchangeable Image File) is data stored in JPEG and TIFF image files, such as shutter speed, date and time, focal length, exposure compensation, metering pattern, image source, date for edit and if a flash was used a the time a photo was taken.

But EXIF also stores more information than that.

If you’re a fan of the CSI series (or any other crime fighting series), you have undoubtedly seen that they from time to time try to verify if a photo has been altered in any way. What they draw their conclusion on, is the EXIF Data stored in the file. What they don’t tell you is that some equipment also stores your GPS-position which may lead someone to your home adress, phonenumber, income etc.

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[Ed note] Recently, we suggested seven free alternatives to iTunes and Songbird made the list. In this guide, we take a look at why this media player is so good.

This funky Free music player gets you geared up and keeps you conscience clean.

Songbird is a Web Player—a music program on your computer that utilises the internet constantly to give you many features. This makes Songbird superior to other major players as you can view artist bio’s, lyrics, concerts and videos as you listen to them. Then upload your files to you music player or mobile or publish what your listening to your IM, twitter or last.fm account for your friends to see. Pretty damn cool eh?

Did I mention it monitors your music directory and actively imports and corrects files locations for songs?

Read on for the list of life-saving features, cool add-ons and smooth skins.

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I’ve done a major rework on the PC Security Handbook and the second edition is now available as a free download. Below is a changelog of some of the changes you’ll see in the new edition. As always, feedback–whether positive or constructive–is always welcome.

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The addition of a TV Tuner card turns your PC into a full “DVR” – a Digital Video Recorder. For those familiar with it, your PC becomes just like a “TiVo” box providing high quality record and play-back options from broadcast TV.
This tuner card also brings in all the available FM Stations.
In the US there are a wealth of stations to tune into and each of them has an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) transmitted along with the picture and sound and picked up by Windows Media Center for presentation in WMC on-line TV Guide.
The EPG is an essential part of a recording system because it provides a schedule of up-coming programs and allows you to schedule the recording not just of the show itself, but every show in the series (like all the episodes of “Family Guy” ) – you can even instruct the guide to record episodes of the show even if they are seen on different channels and at different times.

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