iThinkDifferent » Windows Vista

Storage Solutions – Dropbox vs. Windows Live Mesh

Austin — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 07:38:46 +0000

Storage Solutions – Dropbox vs. Windows Live Mesh

When it comes to backing up files online, one of the most used services is Dropbox. However, Microsoft has recently rolled out Windows Live Mesh, which provides Dropbox with some competition. Each have their pros and cons, so I decided to test them both. Here’s what I found:

Dropbox

Strengths:

1) Available for Mac, PC, and Linux.

2) Ability to share files with those that do not have Dropbox.

3) Automatic syncing.

4) App for iOS and Android.

5) Upgradeable. 50GB for $9.99/month and 100GB for $19.99/month.

Weaknesses:

1) Slow upload/download speeds.

2) Free plan only includes 2GB of storage.

3) Only syncs contents of “Dropbox” folder.

Windows Live Mesh

Strengths:

1) Available for both Mac and PC.

2) Fast upload/download speeds.

3) Free plan includes 5GB of storage.

4) Can set any folder/s to sync.

5) Automatic syncing

Weaknesses:

1) No Linux support.

2) Can only share files with those using Windows Live Mesh.

3) Only mobile support is for Windows Phone.

4) No current storage upgrade options for Live Mesh.

Overview:

Overall, Windows Live Mesh had the best to offer. With 5GB of online storage, faster upload/download speeds, and the ability to sync any folder regardless of location, ditching Dropbox in favor of Live Mesh became an easy decision for me. However, if you use Linux or wish to share files via direct download, Dropbox is the better choice. Each have their strengths and weaknesses, so ultimately the choice between the two is personal. Personally, I’ll be using Live Mesh.

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WizMouse Brings Mac/Linux-Style Scrolling to Windows

Austin — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 06:20:50 +0000

WizMouse Brings Mac/Linux-Style Scrolling to Windows

One of my favorite features in a Unix/Linux-based OS is the ability to scroll in any window my mouse is over, whether it’s the “active” window or not. When running Windows, it can be frustrating to find that you cannot do the same thing natively. WizMouse bridges the gap by bringing a Mac/Linux scrolling style to your Windows OS.

With WizMouse running, any window your mouse hovers over can be scrolled, whether partially covered by multiple other windows or not. WizMouse is free and supported by donations. The list of useful applications for WizMouse is a long one, and to go back to scrolling without it feels awkward and clunky. Free yourself from awkward scrolling and give WizMouse a try by downloading it here. After all, it’s free!

If you enjoy WizMouse, let us know in the comments below!

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Greenpois0n RC6.1 Now Available – Fixes iBooks Error!

Austin — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 20:38:36 +0000

Greenpois0n RC6.1 Now Available – Fixes iBooks Error!

The newest Greenpois0n, RC6.1, is now available here. Greenpois0n is the untethered jailbreak tool for 4.2.1 created and managed by the Chronic Dev Team. Greenpois0n RC6.1 is available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. You can follow our guide here for jailbreaking with Greenpois0n.

After jailbreaking 4.2.1 with Greenpois0n, many iDevice users found that iBooks would not let them open any of their downloaded books. Instead, they got a screen that looks like this:

According to Comex(via Twitter), iBooks runs both unsigned and partially signed code. If the code executes, the iDevice is jailbroken and iBooks locks down. Comex also says that this has been in place since iOS 4.0, but that no jailbreak had set it off until recently. To fix the iBooks issue, simply run Greenpois0n over your existing 4.2.1 jailbreak.

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How To: Install Amnesia Custom Stories

Austin — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 05:27:37 +0000

How To: Install Amnesia Custom Stories

Amnesia: The Dark Descent is a great horror game that was independently developed by Frictional Games. Because Amnesia contains no multiplayer, no achievements, and a finite ending(although there’s more than one), it does not hold much replay value. At least, not without custom stories. Custom stories are stories made by the community for play on Amnesia. Here’s a short guide for how and where to install custom stories on your computer. Please note that this guide assumes that for Mac you installed Amnesia via Steam. For those who installed directly to Mac, the steps are similar but the location is different.

Before you start, make sure you have Amnesia: the Dark Descent installed on your Computer.

Step 1: Download a custom story you wish to use. I will be using one titled The Darkness(which I have found to be as scary as the original, if not more so).

Step 2: Extract the files using the Zip Utility or a rar extractor like Stuffit Expander(Mac) or 7zip(Win).

Step 3:

Windows: Download the custom stories installer, which you can then use to create installers to install your stories for you.

Mac: Drag the folder to /Users/*username*/Library/Application Support/Steam/SteamApps/common/amnesia the dark descent/custom_stories/

Step 4: Launch Amesia: The Dark Descent.

Step 5: From the in-game menu, select Custom Story and then select your story’s title.

Step 6: Enjoy!

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4 Useful College Computer Accessories

Austin — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 04:47:15 +0000

4 Useful College Computer Accessories

Many colleges across the U.S. now recommend, or even require, students to have some form of portable computer, usually a laptop or netbook. While having a college laptop may be a no-brainer in today’s world, here are some accessories that are just as useful/important, but can sometimes be neglected.

1) A portable flash drive. While many college students have one readily on hand, some don’t. Flash drives are one of the most useful tools at a college student’s disposal, and they’re extremely affordable. Thumb drives are super portable, and very useful. Students that don’t own one usually regret it within the first week of school.

2) A mouse. No matter how much you love that multi-touch trackpad, or don’t see a use for a mouse, they are definitely worth having. A USB wireless mouse is extremely portable and low-end models can sell for around $12-15 at your local Wal-Mart.

3) A laptop sleeve/case. While these may not seem too important, laptop protection is a high priority in college. With many colleges moving to online resources and references, and with more and more homework being done on laptops, losing access to those materials because a laptop case seemed pointless can be devastating.

4) An external hard drive. A lot of homework is done on your laptop in college. Losing all your work is devastating and discouraging. By keeping an external drive, you can back up all your files just in case. After all, accidents happen(trust me on this one).

While these may seem extremely obvious, I have encountered plenty of college students who have regretted not backing up their data or protecting their laptop(including myself). Making good use of these four accessories can help to make the college experience a little less painful.

Do you have a computer accessory that helped you through college that isn’t on the list? Feel free to mention it in a comment below!

iThinkDifferent - All things different about Microsoft, Apple, Google and the Internet.

How To: Delete Personal Data from Photos

Austin — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 03:53:11 +0000

How To: Delete Personal Data from Photos

We all enjoy our privacy, but protecting it gets harder and harder. Many new cameras, especially those found on the iPhone/iTouch and Android devices tag location data, along with what kind of camera was used, and the shutter speed. Here are some easy ways to remove personal information from your photos before sharing them.

For Windows:

Windows actually has a solution built right in, so there’s no need for an external application. Select the photo/photos you wish to remove data from, right-click them, and click on Properties.

On the Details tab, there is a link at the bottom of the window that says Remove Properties and Personal Information. Click on that link, and hit ok on the new window that pops up. You will now have a duplicate file/files in the same folder as the original/originals. Those photos that have “Copy” in the name are clean of personal information.

For Mac:

Unlike Windows, Mac OS X does not have tools built in to allow for easy information removal. Instead, use an application called SmallImage, which can be downloaded here. Snow Leopard users please note that there is a separate version specifically for Snow Leopard. To begin, open SmallImage and drag the image you wish to work on into the application window.

Next, uncheck the box next to “Recompress at quality:” because we want the image size and quality to stay true to the original. Then, just click Process, and an info-free copy of your photo will be placed in the same folder as the original.

Your photos are now ready for sites like Facebook and Twitter without any worries about privacy. Enjoy!

Original article via lifehacker.

iThinkDifferent - All things different about Microsoft, Apple, Google and the Internet.

Windows ‘Star Wars’ Telnet Command-Line Trick

Austin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 03:30:04 +0000

Windows ‘Star Wars’ Telnet Command-Line Trick

Long, long ago in a Microsoft OS far, far away… comes something that nearly all computer nerds will love. Using Telnet, any computer with Telnet can watch a command-line version of Star Wars: A New Hope. While this isn’t necessarily new, it is still somewhat obscure. Here’s an easy guide on how to do it using Windows.

1: XP users can skip this step as it only applies to Windows 7 and Vista. For Windows 7 and Vista users, go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > Turn Windows Features On and Off. From the list, check the box next to “Telnet Client.”

2: Open Command Prompt. Go to Run, type cmd, and hit Enter.

3: In Command Prompt, type telnet towel.blinkenlights.nl and hit Enter.

4: There you have it. As an added bonus, there is a reference to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy on the opening screen if you look closely.

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Common Computer Problems and Their Solutions

Austin — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 03:49:06 +0000

Common Computer Problems and Their Solutions

There is a universal truth to computers, regardless of OS, maker, or model- all computers have problems from time to time. Unfortunately, many consumers would rather buy a new computer than spend time fixing their malfunctioning one. This is a vicious cycle that can be broken, and maybe save you some money in the process. Here are a few reasons you may be tempted to upgrade your computer, and some tips on fixing the problems yourself.

1: Your computer has slowed down. This is the most common complaint about older computers, and can happen due to a variety of reasons. The most likely reason- maintenance. Computers, like cars, require maintenance from time to time. This can range from uninstalling bloatware and programs you don’t use to sweeping your computer for spyware and viruses(that even includes Mac users). For Macs, running a disk permissions repair regularly is a good start. On Windows, check to make sure your registry hasn’t become corrupted. Doing these regularly will help to speed up your computer. Make sure your computer is running the latest updates available for it. When all else fails, upgrading your RAM is still much cheaper than buying a new computer.

2: Your computer randomly reboots or shuts down. More often than not, this is due to keeping your computer’s fans clean. If your computer’s fans are coated in dust, they cannot perform properly. As a result, your computer shuts down to prevent overheating. This is especially common with desktops. Check your fans and clean them if necessary, especially if you feel more heat than normal coming from your computer. Another thing to check is whether or not your power cable is plugged in all the way. You’d be surprised just how often that is the case.

3: Your computer freezes, locks up, or gets the dreaded blue screen of death. This is a serious problem and has multiple approaches. The first and most common is to do a spyware check. Spyware and malware can reek havoc on your computer, especially if it’s a PC. Make sure to use an anti-spyware program and keep it up-to-date on definitions. An anti-spyware program out-of-date offers much less protection. If your computer checks in as spyware-free, check to see if your drivers are current. Keeping your drivers current helps your computer to communicate with your hardware. Many times, if a driver cannot be found, the computer will lock down. If neither of these methods do the trick, consider increasing your virtual memory to get the most from your RAM. More about that on Windows here. The article is dated, but the Vista steps should be very similar to Win7. Go here for Mac steps.

4: Your computer is making funny noises. This will almost always be a hardware issue. Try running your computer while it’s open to locate the source of the noise. If the noise is caused by a part that you cannot easily replace, it is still cheaper more often than not to take your computer in for repair than to buy a new one.

Do you have something that keeps your computer going and going? If so, feel free to share in the comments!

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How To: Make a Ringtone of Any Song In Your iTunes Library

Austin — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 05:42:25 +0000

How To: Make a Ringtone of Any Song In Your iTunes Library

One of the biggest complaints about the iOS mobile operating system is that it can’t be customized. In our post about things we’d like to see change in iOS 5, we mentioned the ringtones. Here is an easy guide to customizing your iPhone by making a ringtone from any song in your iTunes library.

Step 1: Open iTunes and navigate to the song you wish to use.

Step 2: Right-click (or option-click) the song, and hit Get Info.

Step 3: Click the Option tab. Where it says “Start Time” and “Stop Time,” type in the start time and stop time for your ringtone. All ringtones must be 30 seconds or less. Because the song I chose has a great intro, I will be using 0:00.00-0:26.00.

Step 4: Click OK. After the Get Info window closes, right-click the song once more and click on Create AAC Version.

Step 5: You should now have a copy of the song that is 30 seconds or less. Go back into Get Info on the original song and uncheck “Stop Time.”

Step 6: Right-click the new song file and hit Show In Explorer/Show In Finder.

Step 6: A window will open to show you the location of the song you will be using. It will be in .m4a(AAC) format. To make it a ringtone file, change the file extension to .m4r. Now, remove the ringtone version of the song from iTunes, but don’t delete it from your computer.

Step 7: Double-click on your .m4r file, and it will be added automatically to iTunes under Ringtones.

Step 8: Sync your iPhone to transfer the ringtone to it. To enable your ringtone, go to Settings > Sounds > Ringtone and select your ringtone.

Enjoy!

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Backup and Transfer Your iTunes Library With TuneSwift!

Austin — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 05:36:16 +0000

Backup and Transfer Your iTunes Library With TuneSwift!

When I got a MacBook for college, the biggest frustration I faced was transferring my iTunes library to my new laptop. I had to manually locate all my music, copy it to my laptop, and then import all the songs. For those who have faced, or looked at facing, the same problem I did, don’t. TuneSwift allows you to transfer your iTunes library to either PC or Mac, and allows you to make a backup as well. TuneSwift is currently a free program that is only available on Windows. Here’s how to backup, restore, and transfer your iTunes library through TuneSwift.

Step 1: Download and install the TuneSwift trial here. This will actually download CopyTrans Control Center, not TuneSwift.

Step 2: Because TuneSwift will not actually be installed at this point, open the CopyTrans Control Center. From here, click on TuneSwift to download and install the actual TuneSwift.

Step 3: Once TuneSwift opens, click on the tab at the top labeled “Activate.” Here you can follow a link to activate TuneSwift for free(before March 15). This link will provide you with the same code below, however, so feel free to skip straight to entering your activation code.

Step 4: Click the tab labeled “Main” where you are faced with three options- Backup, Restore, and Transfer.

a. Backup- To backup your iTunes library, click on the “Backup” button. When prompted, click “Browse” to choose an external drive to save to. You can also rename your iTunes backup by clicking the text entry box below the file browser. When you’re finished, click “Start Backup.”

b. Restore- To restore your iTunes library, click on the “Restore” button to restore your iTunes library from a backup. A screen similar to the one used to backup will prompt you to choose your backup file. Click “Browse,” navigate to your backup file, then click “Start Restore.”

c. Transfer- To transfer your iTunes library to another computer, click “Transfer.” You will be prompted to choose either PC or Mac for your destined computer. For PC, it will take you straight to a window like the one used to make a backup. Follow the same steps you would to make a backup. For Mac, it will behave the same as PC, except that the program will launch a site where you can download a Mac application for extracting your backup. Please note that your intended computer will need either TuneSwift or the Mac extractor in order to transfer your library.

Enjoy backing up, restoring, and/or transferring your iTunes library without all the hassle!

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