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• How to Find Your Lost Android Phone, Even if You Never Set Up a Tracking App

  - by Chris Hoffman

  Android doesn’t come with a “find my Android” feature, so there’s no official way to track your phone if you lose it. You should prepare your phone for loss by setting up such a tracking app — but what if you didn’t? Your first instinct may be to download Lookout’s Plan B, which has been the go-to app for this purpose. However, Plan B only runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread and lower, so modern Android phones will require a new solution. If you are still running 2.3 or lower, you should definitely check it out, but everybody else can keep reading.    

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• Minimize Apps to the System Tray in Windows with MoveToTray

  - by Asian Angel

  Would you like an easy way to minimize apps to the System Tray in Windows and keep your Taskbar clear of clutter? Then all you need is the MoveToTray app to make it happen. MoveToTray does not require installation. Just double click on the exe file or create a shortcut to the app to activate it. When you see the icon for MoveToTray appear in the System Tray you are ready to minimize those apps. To minimize the active app window use the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl + Alt + M” and watch it instantly disappear to the System Tray. To maximize the window simply double click on the app’s icon in the System Tray. Sometimes an app’s regular icon will not display in the System Tray and a copy of MoveToTray’s icon will appear in its’ place (i.e. Paint.NET in our example). Note: There may occasionally be an app that will not minimize to the System Tray. Only one (CubicExplorer) would not minimize during our tests. Download MoveToTray at Softpedia View the Original Blog Post on MoveToTray HTG Explains: What’s the Difference Between the Windows 7 HomeGroups and XP-style Networking?Internet Explorer 9 Released: Here’s What You Need To KnowHTG Explains: How Does Email Work?

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• Ask the Readers: How Do You Score Free Wi-Fi While Traveling?

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  The holiday season is in full swing and that means many of us will be traveling–and searching for Wi-Fi nodes in the process. Help your fellow readers out by sharing your best Wi-Fi finding tips and tricks. Internet access is a necessity for the modern traveler but finding it is a bit more difficult than simply plugging into your home Wi-Fi. This week we want to hear all about your tips, tricks, and methods for scoring free Wi-Fi service in your interstate (and even international) travels. How do you keep the bounty of the internet flowing to your laptops, netbooks, tablets, and smart phones as you traverse the world? Sound off in the comments with your best tips and then check back on Friday for the What You Said roundup. HTG Explains: Understanding Routers, Switches, and Network Hardware How to Use Offline Files in Windows to Cache Your Networked Files Offline How to See What Web Sites Your Computer is Secretly Connecting To

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• How to Disable or Uninstall Android Bloatware

  - by Chris Hoffman

  Manufacturers and carriers often load Android phones with their own apps. If you don’t use them, they just clutter your system and sometimes in the background, draining resources. Take control of your device and stop the bloatware. We’ll be focusing on disabling – also known as “freezing” bloatware here. It’s a safer process than uninstalling the bloatware completely, and is also easier to accomplish with free apps. HTG Explains: Learn How Websites Are Tracking You Online Here’s How to Download Windows 8 Release Preview Right Now HTG Explains: Why Linux Doesn’t Need Defragmenting

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• How to Lock Down IE 10 by Disabling Flash in Windows 8

  - by Taylor Gibb

  Microsoft now includes Flash along with their Internet Explorer browser in Windows 8. Flash has been known as a big culprit when it comes to security vulnerabilities in the past, so here’s how to disable it. Note: We have outlined two methods for achieving the same goal, there is no need to do both. HTG Explains: What Is RSS and How Can I Benefit From Using It? HTG Explains: Why You Only Have to Wipe a Disk Once to Erase It HTG Explains: Learn How Websites Are Tracking You Online

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• Old Lock Retrofitted for Wireless and Key-free Entry

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  What do you do if the old key your landlord gave you is poor fit for your apartment’s lock? If you’re the geeky sort, you build a wireless unlocking module to do the work for you. Instructables user Rybitski writes: The key to my apartment never worked quite right because it is a copy of a copy of a copy. I am fairly certain that the dead bolt is original to the building and the property manager seems to have lost the original key years ago. As a result unlocking the door was always a pain. Changing the lock wasn’t an option, but eliminating the need to use a key was. To that end, he built the device seen in the video above. An Arduino Uno drives a servo which in turn opens the deadbolt. The whole thing is controlled by a simple wireless key fob. Hit up the link below for the full build guide including code. Key Fob Deadbolt [via Hack A Day] How To Delete, Move, or Rename Locked Files in Windows HTG Explains: Why Screen Savers Are No Longer Necessary 6 Ways Windows 8 Is More Secure Than Windows 7

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• 9 Gigapixel Photo Captures 84 Million Stars

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  The European Southern Observatory has released an absolutely enormous picture of the center of the Milky Way captured by their VISTA telescope–the image is 9 gigapixels and captures over 84 million stars. From the press release: The large mirror, wide field of view and very sensitive infrared detectors of ESO’s 4.1-metre Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) make it by far the best tool for this job. The team of astronomers is using data from the VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea programme (VVV), one of six public surveys carried out with VISTA. The data have been used to create a monumental 108 200 by 81 500 pixel colour image containing nearly nine billion pixels. This is one of the biggest astronomical images ever produced. The team has now used these data to compile the largest catalogue of the central concentration of stars in the Milky Way ever created. Want to check out all 9 billion glorious pixels in their uncompressed state? Be prepared to wait a bit, the uncompressed image is available for download but it weighs in at a massive 24.6GB. 84 Million Stars and Counting [via Wired] How Hackers Can Disguise Malicious Programs With Fake File Extensions Can Dust Actually Damage My Computer? What To Do If You Get a Virus on Your Computer

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• AllSparkCube Packs 4,096 LEDs into a Giant Computer Controlled Display

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  LED matrix cubes are nothing new, but this 16x16x16 monster towers over the tiny 4x4x4 desktop variety. Check out the video to see it in action. Sound warning: the music starts off very loud and bass-filled; we’d recommend turning down the speakers if you’re watching from your cube. So what compels someone to build a giant LED cube driven by over a dozen Arduino shields? If you’re the employees at Adaptive Computing, you do it to dazzles crowds and show off your organizational skills: Every time I talk about the All Spark Cube people ask “so what does it do?” The features of the All Spark are the reason it was built and sponsored by Adaptive Computing. The Cube was built to catch peoples’ attention and to demonstrate how Adaptive can take a chaotic mess and inject order, structure and efficiency. We wrote several examples of how the All Spark Cube can demonstrate the effectiveness of a complex data center. If you’re interested in building a monster of your own, hit up the link below for more information, schematics, and videos. How Hackers Can Disguise Malicious Programs With Fake File Extensions Can Dust Actually Damage My Computer? What To Do If You Get a Virus on Your Computer

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• How to Use the New Task Manager in Windows 8

  - by Chris Hoffman

  The Task Manager in Windows 8 has been completely overhauled. It’s easier-to-use, slicker, and more feature-packed than ever. Windows 8 may be all about Metro, but the Task Manager and Windows Explorer are better than ever. The Task Manager now manages startup programs, shows your IP address, and displays slick resource usage graphs. The new color-coding highlights the processes using the most system resources, so you can see them at a glance. Make Your Own Windows 8 Start Button with Zero Memory Usage Reader Request: How To Repair Blurry Photos HTG Explains: What Can You Find in an Email Header?

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• How to Add a Business Card Image to a Signature in Outlook 2013 Without the vCard (.vcf) File

  - by Lori Kaufman

  When you add a business card to a signature, an image of the business card is inserted into the signature and the vCard (.vcf) file is attached. If you don’t want to attach the vCard file, you can insert the image only into your signature. To insert only the image of your business card without the .vcf file, click People on the Navigation Bar at the bottom of the Outlook window. To get a business card image we can use, we must view the contacts in any form other than People, so we can open the full contact editing window. To do this, click on a different view in the Current View section of the Home tab. We chose to view our contacts in the Business Card format. Double-click on your contact in the current view. The full contact editing window displays with an image of the business card on the right. Right-click on the business card image and select Copy Image from the popup menu. To close the contact editing window, click the File tab and click Close in the menu list on the left. NOTE: You can also click the X in the upper, right corner of the contact editing window to close it. To open the signature editor, click the File tab. Click Options in the menu list on the left side of the Account Information screen. On the Outlook Options dialog box, click Mail in the list of options on the left side of the dialog box. On the Mail screen, click Signatures in the Compose messages section. NOTE: You can also access the Signatures and Stationery dialog box from the Message window for new emails and drafts. Click New Email on the Home tab or double-click an email in the Drafts folder to access the Message window. For more information, see our article about assigning a default signature. In the signature editor, right-click and select Paste from the popup menu. The image is inserted into the signature. You can also use this method to copy a business card image for use in other documents and programs. It’s also possible to insert the vCard (.vcf) file into a signature without the image. We’ll cover that topic tomorrow.     

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• How to Add a Taskbar to the Desktop in Ubuntu 14.04

  - by Lori Kaufman

  If you’ve switched to Ubuntu from Windows, it may take some time to get used to the new and different interface. However, you can easily incorporate a familiar Windows feature, the Taskbar, into Ubuntu to make the transition easier. A tool called Tint2 provides a bar at the bottom of the Ubuntu Desktop that resembles the Windows Taskbar. We will show you how to install it and make it start every time you log into Ubuntu. NOTE: When we say to type something in this article and there are quotes around the text, DO NOT type the quotes, unless we specify otherwise. Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open a Terminal window. To install Tint2, type the following line at the prompt and press Enter. sudo apt-get install tint2 Type your password at the prompt and press Enter. The progress of the installation displays and then a message displays saying how much disk space will be used. When asked if you want to continue, type a “y” and press Enter. When the installation has finished, close the Terminal window by typing “exit” at the prompt and pressing Enter. Click the Search button at the top of the Unity bar. Start typing “startup applications” in the Search box. Items that match what you type start displaying below the Search box. When the Startup Applications tool displays, click the icon to open it. On the Startup Applications Preferences window, click Add. On the Add Startup Program dialog box, enter a name for the startup application. This name displays in the list on the Startup Applications Preferences window. Type “tint2” in the Command edit box, enter a description in the Comment edit box, if desired, and click Add. Tint2 is added as a startup program and will start every time you log into Ubuntu. Click Close to close the Startup Applications Preferences window. Log out and log back in to make the Taskbar available on the desktop. You do not need to reboot the computer for this change to take effect. Now, when you minimize a program, an icon for it displays on the Taskbar at the bottom of the screen, just like the Taskbar in Windows. If you decide that you don’t want the Taskbar to display every time you log into Ubuntu, you can uncheck the Tint2 startup program on the Startup Applications Preferences window. You don’t need to delete it from the list.

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• Classic Video Game Characters Race Against Each Other Parts 1 & 2 [Videos]

  - by Asian Angel

  Have you ever wondered who might win if all of your favorite video game characters were pitted against each other in a race? Then sit back and enjoy not one, but two races to the finish with this awesome pair of videos! Why Does 64-Bit Windows Need a Separate “Program Files (x86)” Folder? Why Your Android Phone Isn’t Getting Operating System Updates and What You Can Do About It How To Delete, Move, or Rename Locked Files in Windows

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• How to Send and Receive Faxes Online Without a Fax Machine or Phone Line

  - by Chris Hoffman

  Some slow-moving businesses and government agencies may not accept documents over email, forcing you to fax them in. If you are forced to send a fax, you can do it from your computer for free. We’ve previously covered ways to electronically sign documents without printing and scanning them. With this process, you can digitally sign a document and fax it to a business — all on your computer and without any printing required.    

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• Dropbox Doubles Referral Credit; Score 500MB for Each Friend You Refer

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  Dropbox is doubling the amount of free storage you get per-referral to 500MB, doubling the previous 250MB credit–better yet, the bonus is retroactive and applies to referrals you’ve already made. From the DropBox blog: How much space is that, exactly? For every friend you invite that installs Dropbox, you’ll both get 500 MB of free space. If you’ve got a free account, you can invite up to 32 people for a whopping total of 16 GB of extra space. Pro accounts now earn 1 GB per referral, for a total of 32 GB of extra space. Have you already invited a bunch of people? Don’t worry. Within a few days, you’ll get full credit for every referral that’s already been completed. Boom! Hit up the link below for the full announcement. Dropbox Referrals Now Twice As Nice [Dropbox] How to Sync Your Media Across Your Entire House with XBMC How to Own Your Own Website (Even If You Can’t Build One) Pt 2 How to Own Your Own Website (Even If You Can’t Build One) Pt 1

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• 5 Tips and Tricks to Get the Most Out of Steam

  - by Chris Hoffman

  If you’re a PC gamer, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with Valve’s Steam and use it regularly. Steam includes a variety of cool features that you might not notice if you’re just using it to install and launch games. These tips will help you take advantage of an SSD for faster game loading times, browse the web from within a game, download games remotely, create backup copies of your games, and use strong security features. HTG Explains: What Is Windows RT and What Does It Mean To Me? HTG Explains: How Windows 8′s Secure Boot Feature Works & What It Means for Linux Hack Your Kindle for Easy Font Customization

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• Download the Hummingbirds Theme for Windows 7

  - by Asian Angel

  Are you looking for a new nature theme for your desktop? Then make your desktop hum with perfection using the Hummingbirds Theme for Windows 7. The theme comes with eleven images featuring the wonderful photographic work of Desiree Skatvold. Download the Hummingbirds Theme [Windows 7 Personalization Gallery] HTG Explains: Is UPnP a Security Risk? How to Monitor and Control Your Children’s Computer Usage on Windows 8 What Happened to Solitaire and Minesweeper in Windows 8?

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• How to Run PowerShell Commands on Remote Computers

  - by Chris Hoffman

  PowerShell Remoting allows you to run individual PowerShell commands or access full PowerShell sessions on remote Windows systems. It’s similar to SSH for accessing remote terminals on other operating systems. PowerShell is locked-down by default, so you’ll have to enable PowerShell Remoting before using it. This setup process is a bit more complex if you’re using a workgroup – for example, on a home network — instead of a domain. How to Make Your Laptop Choose a Wired Connection Instead of Wireless HTG Explains: What Is Two-Factor Authentication and Should I Be Using It? HTG Explains: What Is Windows RT and What Does It Mean To Me?

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• How to Use a PIN Instead of a Password in Windows 8

  - by Taylor Gibb

  Entering your full password on a touch screen device can really become a pain in the neck, luckily for us we can link a short 4 digit PIN to our user account and log in with that instead. Note: PIN codes are nowhere near as safe as using an alphanumeric password, however, they do still have a purpose when you don’t want to enter your 15 character password on a touch screen device. Creating a PIN Press the Win + I keyboard combination to bring up the Settings Charm, then click on the Change PC settings link. This will open up the Modern UI PC Settings app, where you can click on the Users section. On the right hand side you will see a Create a PIN button, click on it. Now you will need to verify that you are the owner of this user account by entering your password. Then you can choose a PIN, remember that it can only contain digits. Now when you get to the login screen you will have the option to use a PIN. How To Boot Your Android Phone or Tablet Into Safe Mode HTG Explains: Does Your Android Phone Need an Antivirus? How To Use USB Drives With the Nexus 7 and Other Android Devices

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• The Ultimate Nexus 7 Troubleshooting Guide: 6 Potential Problems and How to Fix Them

  - by Chris Hoffman

  Have you had any issues with your Nexus 7? We’ve run into quite a few problems and fixed them all – from bad performance and touch-screen responsiveness issues to tablets that won’t power on and separating screens. Some of these problems may not be common – or may be fixed with newer hardware or software updates — but they’re all problems we’ve run into. We’ve collected the solutions here so you don’t have to dig through forum posts. Secure Yourself by Using Two-Step Verification on These 16 Web Services How to Fix a Stuck Pixel on an LCD Monitor How to Factory Reset Your Android Phone or Tablet When It Won’t Boot

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• How To Extract Individual Files From a Windows 7 System Image Backup

  - by Chris Hoffman

  Windows 7’s backup control panel has the ability to create full system image backups. While Windows says you can’t restore individual files from these backups, there’s a way to browse the contents of a system image and extract individual files. System image backups are meant for restoring an entire system. If you want to easily restore individual files, you should use another type of backup – but you don’t have to restore an entire system image to get a few important files back. HTG Explains: How Antivirus Software Works HTG Explains: Why Deleted Files Can Be Recovered and How You Can Prevent It HTG Explains: What Are the Sys Rq, Scroll Lock, and Pause/Break Keys on My Keyboard?

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• What You Said: How You Share Your Photos

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  Earlier this week we asked you to share your favorite tips, tricks, and tools for sharing photos with friends and family. Now we’re back to highlight the ways HTG readers share their pics. Image available as wallpaper here. By far the most popular method of photo sharing was to upload the pictures to cloud-based storage. Many readers took advantage of sizable SkyDrive accounts. Dragonbite writes: I used to use PicasaWeb (uploaded from Shotwell) until I got the SkyDrive w/25 GB available. My imported pictures are automatically synchronized with SkyDrive and I then send out a link to whomever I want. I have another (desktop) computer where all of the pictures are stored from mine and my wife’s camera’s imports so if I need to free up some space on SkyDrive or my Windows 7 laptop, I double-check they are in the desktop computer before deleting them from my laptop (and thus from SkyDrive as well). I wish SkyDrive enabled some features like rotate, or searching by Tagged person. 8 Deadly Commands You Should Never Run on Linux 14 Special Google Searches That Show Instant Answers How To Create a Customized Windows 7 Installation Disc With Integrated Updates

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• Can Dungeons & Dragons Make You More Successful? [Video]

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  Dungeons & Dragons gets a bit of a bad rap in popular culture, but in this video treatise from Idea Channel, they propose that Dungeons & Dragons wires players for success. There are some deeply ingrained stereotypes about Dungeons & Dragons, and those stereotypes usually begin and end with people shouting “NERD!!!” But the reality of the D&D universe is a whole lot more complex. Rather than being an escape from reality, D&D is actually a way to enhance some important real life skillz! It’s a chance to learn problem solving, visualization, interaction, organization, people management… the list could go on and on. Plus, there are some very famous non-nerds who have declared an affinity for D&D, so best stop criticizing and join in if you want to be a successful at the game of life. While we’re trying not to let our love of all things gaming cloud our judgement, we’re finding it difficult to disagree with the premise that open-ended play fosters creative and adaptive thinking. Can Dungeons & Dragons Make You A Confident & Successful Person? [via Boing Boing] HTG Explains: What is the Windows Page File and Should You Disable It? How To Get a Better Wireless Signal and Reduce Wireless Network Interference How To Troubleshoot Internet Connection Problems

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• Add Multiple Types of Items to the Desktop Context Menu in Windows 7 or 8

  - by Lori Kaufman

  The context menu in Windows provides a convenient place to start programs, access websites, and open folders. There are several ways to add programs to the menu including a registry method and a free tool. We’ve found another free tool, called Right Click Context Menu Adder, that allows you to add more than just programs to the desktop context menu and the folders context menu. It allows you to add folders, web addresses, and files to the menus, as well as programs. Right Click Context Menu Adder is portable and doesn’t need to be installed. To run it, simply extract the .zip file you downloaded (see the link at the end of this article) and double-click on the .exe file. How to Banish Duplicate Photos with VisiPic How to Make Your Laptop Choose a Wired Connection Instead of Wireless HTG Explains: What Is Two-Factor Authentication and Should I Be Using It?

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• 5 Cmdlets to Get You Started with PowerShell

  - by Taylor Gibb

  PowerShell is quickly becoming the preferred scripting language and CLI of Power Users as well as IT Pros. It’s well worth learning a few commands to get you started, so we’ve got 5 useful cmdlets for you to learn today. HTG Explains: What Is Windows RT and What Does It Mean To Me? HTG Explains: How Windows 8′s Secure Boot Feature Works & What It Means for Linux Hack Your Kindle for Easy Font Customization

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• How to Disable Application Switching in Windows 8

  - by Taylor Gibb

  Application switching allows you to quickly switch between your open Metro apps by sliding your finger across the left side of the screen, or moving your mouse to the corner. If you don’t like this behavior, it’s easy to disable. How to Stress Test the Hard Drives in Your PC or Server How To Customize Your Android Lock Screen with WidgetLocker The Best Free Portable Apps for Your Flash Drive Toolkit

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