Connectify Lite 6.0 sports new look, adds random password generator

Virtual router Connectify Lite 6.0 has been released, boasting a redesigned look, more flexible user interface and new menu bar alongside a random password generator. Connectify makes it possible for users to turn their computer’s network connection – wired or wireless – into a personal Wi-Fi hotspot through their PC’s wireless network adapter. There is also a Pro version with enhanced and exclusive features not found in the free build. Connectify Lite 6.0’s most visible change is its new look. The user interface, which is accessed via the program’s Notification area icon, can now be resized and dragged anywhere on the desktop for ease of access. It’s also no longer always on top of other windows, so can be hidden when not required. Users...

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Posted in: Software Tips

How to Burn a CD in four ways

Method One 1. Open your optical drive drawer. On the front of the computer (or side of your laptop), there will be a small "drawer," with a rectangular button to the lower right. This is your CD-burning device (It might be a CD or it might be a DVD, which can burn both). If you don't see this, your computer doesn't have the capability of burning a CD directly. However, an external CD or DVD burner can easily be hooked up through the USB slot.  2. Get a recordable CD disc. There are two types of CDs that you can use. A CD-R (Compact Disc-Recordable) can be burned once, and can not be erased. This type disc is usually used for permanent storage. For example; a music CD, a picture CD, or any other type of data that you want...

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Posted in: Computer Tricks,Software Tips,Tips

Family Tree Builder 7.0 adds two-way sync, record matching

MyHeritage Ltd has released Family Tree Builder 7.0, a major new version of its free Windows app for recording, managing and sharing a family tree. Version 7’s major new features tighten its links with the MyHeritage.com website by introducing two-way sync and providing access to the billions of historic records held at the website, some free, but most requiring a subscription. Version 7.0 also implements full Unicode support, tweaks the user interface and extends language support to four additional countries in the Mid and Far East. Family Tree Builder 7.0’s headline new feature is the implementation of two-way sync. Previously users could upload their tree to the MyHeritage.com servers – free account holders are limited to 250...

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IObit Advanced SystemCare Free 6.2.0 promises improved protection, performance and stability

IObit has released Advanced SystemCare Free 6.2.0, a minor update to its freeware system optimisation and maintenance tool. The program, which can be upgraded to a Pro version with enhanced malware protection, deeper cleansing and automatic optimisation, offers PC users a wide range of tools for maintaining, cleaning, optimising and securing their computer. Version 6.2 is a minor maintenance release that promises improvements across many of the program’s individual components. It also promises better compatibility with Windows 8. Version 6.2 offers better protection from online threats through improved Malware Removal and Surfing Protection tools. Also improved is the Pro-only Internet Boost tool, which can accelerate downloading,...

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Discover what’s changed on your PC recently with DiffView

Even when they appear idle, PCs are forever buzzing with background activity, as Windows and application processes save data to log files, tweak Registry keys and carry out assorted other updates. Normally this can be safely ignored, but sometimes – if you think you’ve just installed malware, say, and would like to check what it’s done – then you might wonder what’s changed on your system in the past few minutes. And that’s where DiffView comes in. If you want to find out more about recent activities on your PC, then you’ll first need to tell DiffView where you’d like it to scan. Clicking the Files tab reveals an Explorer-type view where you can select particular folders – \Windows, say, or \Program Files – while the Registry tab...

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jAlbum 11.2 fine-tunes web album builder with useful tweaks and bug fixes

Version 11.2 allows users to include video without first processing it, adds play button for better identification and includes numerous bug fixes. It’s the third minor update to jAlbum in just 10 days, following on from builds 11.1 and 11.15. New features in jAlbum 11.2 include a new Project ordering option – accessible via dropdown menu, users can now sort their projects by name or last used. This is joined by an option allow users to embed videos directly into albums without first processing them – right-click the video clip in jAlbum and select “Include original” to do so. Version 11.2 also adds a prominent play button onto video clip thumbnails to make them more easily identifiable compared to photos. Users will also notice...

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Remove ransomware easily with Hitman Pro KickStart

No matter how strong your PC’s defences, there’s still a chance that a virus will be able to bypass them, eventually. And so it pays to have a Plan B, a “second opinion” malware remover which you can turn to in an emergency: something like Hitman Pro, in fact. The tool is a relatively small download at under 10MB, and doesn’t require any installation. Just launch it, click Next > Next, and the program will quickly scan your system, looking for suspicious files. Anything it doesn’t recognise is sent to the program’s Scan Cloud, where it’s checked by multiple engines (Bitdefender, Emsisoft, G Data, IKARUS) before a verdict is given. This first element of the program is entirely free, and useful enough in itself; anything which...

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Migrate quickly, simply and securely to a new PC with three great deals from the Downloadcrew Store

The time has come to move on to a new PC, but before jettisoning your old computer, you need to make sure you’re ready for the big move. That means two key things: getting your data, programs and settings migrated across to your new computer, and making sure there’s nothing sensitive or incriminating left on your old PC before you dispose of it. Thankfully, both tasks can be made simple with the help of two or three superb tools, all of which are heavily discounted in the Downloadcrew Software Store this month. Step forward Laplink PCmover Professional 8, O&O SafeErase Professional 6 and for those looking to migrate to Windows 8, O&O Migration Kit for Windows 8. The first thing to worry about is getting everything across...

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Ashampoo’s Photo Commander 11 adds auto backups, 3D support, new effects

Ashampoo has announced the release of Photo Commander 11, its all-in-one tool for organising, editing and sharing digital images. New features this time start with the program’s automatic backups. Images are preserved as you work, and with a click you can restore a previous copy, or return to the original file. Elsewhere, a new Effect Centre gives easy access to effects, with real-time previews. There are many new effects on offer, including a Tilt-Shift, Motion Blur, Zoom Blur, Glass and Video. And an Effect Pen enables you to “draw” any effect directly into the image, for the maximum possible control. Browse, edit and share your images from a single application Improved compatibility means new support for Adobe XMP metadata,...

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XnSketch transforms photos into paintings, sketches and more

Most photo editors have a few filters which can turn regular photos into instant works of art: an oil painting, say, or a pencil sketch. But if you’d like more – or you just want the arty effects, without the photo editing overhead – then XnSketch is a simple free tool which just might be able to help. The program runs almost everywhere (Windows, OS X, Linux, iOS, Android), and is very easy to use. We tried the Windows build, and it came with no adware or other unwanted extras – just unzip the download and you’re ready to go immediately. The XnSketch interface is clean and simple. Open an image (there’s support for more than 50 file formats) and it’s displayed in a preview window. You can apply one of 22 effects – pastels and...

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Give your hard drives a free physical health check with CrystalDiskInfo 5.5.0

Data loss can take many forms, but one of the most devastating is through physical drive failure. There’s no knowing how long your hard drives will last – one drive might last well beyond its projected five-year lifespan while another identical model fails within six months. But it’s not just bad luck that can shorten a drive’s life – it’s the physical environment it operates in (hotter hard drives die sooner) and how well it’s maintained (a fragmented hard disk works a lot harder, and the physical stress again shortens its life). Windows can provide some built-in tools for monitoring hard drives, but you’ll need a good third-party program to check on its physical status. The good news is, keeping an eye on your hard drive doesn’t...

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Firefox 20 FINAL adds panel-based download manager, per-window Private Browsing

Mozilla has released Firefox 20 FINAL for Windows, Mac and Linux, and version 20 promises to be something of a landmark new release with a number of notable new features migrating across from the beta version. The headline new feature has to be the long-awaited panel-based download manager, but Firefox 20 also debuts per-window Private Browsing, plus new developer features including an option to view Developer tools in a separate window to Firefox itself. The new download manager is represented by a dedicated down arrow button that appears to the right of the Search bar. Clicking this or initiating a new download reveals the new panel-based manager, listing all current downloads with progress bars for those not yet complete. Right-clicking...

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Which password manager best protects your data?

Here’s the contradiction: you need secure, unique and hard-to-remember passwords to protect your online (and offline) accounts from being hacked. However, remembering those secure, unique and hard-to-remember passwords is another matter entirely. Thankfully there is a solution, and it’s called a password manager. There are dozens of password managers to choose from, but in this guide we’ll showcase four of the better ones, ensuring that you set safe, secure passwords without having to worry about remembering them. Most password managers work like this: you set up an encrypted file – or vault – into which all of your unique passwords are stored. This vault is “locked” with a master password, so as long as you can remember that, you’ll...

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CyberLink PowerDVD 13: better image quality, easier to use and faster than ever

  CyberLink has unveiled PowerDVD 13, the latest edition of its popular media player. And it’s an interesting upgrade with new features wherever you look. New support for APE and AVCHD 2.0 1080p/3D extends your playback support, for instance, while everyone will benefit from a new focus on performance. The media player has been optimised to deliver an “instant start”, while new BD-Live Bypass technology means Blu-ray playback is 58% faster than PowerDVD 12. A new Movie Library organises your MKV and MP4 files, DVD and Blu-ray discs in a single folder, with cover art, and links to more information on the movie. New conveniences include the ability to resume watching a movie just where you left off, and you can add comments...

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Find the URLs of streaming media files with URL Snooper

If you’d like to download a YouTube video then there are plenty of options available, from web services like KeepVid to dedicated tools like Free YouTube Download. Capturing streaming videos from other sites can be a challenge, though, as their URLs are often concealed by scripts and similar tricks. Examining the page source will sometimes give you clues, but URL Snooper could be a simpler option: the program just watches your internet activity, and displays a list of any streaming URLs it finds. Getting started with URL Snooper is surprisingly easy. It’s a small (3MB) download, and portable, so there’s no installation required. And while the program uses WinPcap to capture your network traffic, there’s no need to install that, either...

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