EASEUS Partition Master Home 8 now more at home on Windows 7
EASEUS Partition Master 8.0.1 has been released by Chinese software house EASEUS. The eighth major release of this popular partition tool boasts three notable new features, two of which are available in the freeware Home edition, while the third, an updated WinPE bootable disc option, is restricted to Professional and Server users only.
EASEUS Partition Master was one of the first freeware non-destructive partitioning tools to be released on the Windows platform, and allows users to partition their hard drives quickly and easily through a series of wizards, which allows them to create, delete, resize and move partitions.
Music producer rains praise on Amazon Cloud Drive and Cloud Player
As a music producer who went through the rapid changes from the "tangible content" era to the "digital content" era I am incredibly pleased with Amazon's cloud storage and personal music streaming services. Editor's Note: Amazon unveiled Cloud Drive and Cloud Player on March 29.
I had conceived of a unique service similar to Amazon's Cloud Drive around 2004. Lacking the funds and expertise to put something together I chose a career path for my music that was far from designing web and app code. After 10 years of composing, producing, engineering and performing I have amassed a very large publishing catalog of music that I own and operate.
The conversation surrounding Net Neutrality should include Device Neutrality
It is understandable to think the Net Neutrality argument is new, but it is actually rooted in legislation that first passed in 1860. The Pacific Telegraph Act, which was passed in that year, essentially stated that no individual or entity, save the government, would be given preferential access to information which they were entitled to.
While today's Net Neutrality debate is surrounded by a much more complex information infrastructure, the same basic principles apply. A consumer's right to access information to which they are legally entitled is protected, and content carriers may not prioritize one customer or content provider over another.
O&O DiskRecovery 7 Professional
If you're looking for a good undelete program then there are plenty of freeware programs to choose from. Recuva, from the CCleaner authors, is a particular favorite of ours -- fast, capable and very easy to use -- and it's tempting to assume that you don't need anything else. Are freeware data recovery tools really up to the standards of the commercial competition, though? O&O Software says no, pointing to its latest release, DiskRecovery 7, as evidence. A look at the program's feature list suggests they O&O have a point.
DiskRecovery combines multiple scanning methods to improve the chances of recovery, for instance, allowing it to locate files even on formatted or damaged partitions. There's direct support for locating and restoring more than 350 common file types. DiskRecovery can be installed on a removable drive, which means it won't overwrite the data you're trying to recover -- and it works with all Windows-compatible storage devices: hard drives, removable drives, memory cards, digital cameras, MP3 players and more.
Tip: Alter your voice on Skype calls
Used for business or pleasure, Skype provides a great cross platform means of keeping in touch with your contacts anywhere in the world. While many people use the messaging tool merely to send text based instant messages, it can also be used to conduct Internet based phone calls and conference calls. Skype Voice Changer is a free add-on that enables you to do exactly what you might assume from the name.
Once granted permission to access Skype, the program can be used to change the sound of your voice during VoIP conversations in real time. Using the application is simple enough, simply select from one of a number of predefined special effects that are included and start a voice chat in Skype. It really is that simple.
Make Windows Sysinternals work better for you
If you need to diagnose some complicated low-level PC problem then there are few better places to start looking than Windows Sysinternals. It's absolutely packed with essential free tools that are a must-have for every PC owners troubleshooting toolkit.
The sheer volume of great utilities can cause problems in itself, though. It takes a while to download what you need, and keeping your favorite tools updated also requires a little work -- unless you get some third-party assistance.
MAGIX MP3 deluxe 17: Better than a boombox
As well as being a useful tool for carrying out work and accessing the internet, many home computers are used as storage for large music collections. While the likes of iTunes and Windows Media Player include music management options, they can be cumbersome to use, and this is something that MAGIX MP3 deluxe 17 aims to help with. Covering everything from importing music from CDs and adjusting tags and album art to creating playlists and recording online radio stations, this burgeoning suite of tools has almost every MP3 related base covered.
The main program has an easy to use interface that can be used to extract music from CDs and import folders full of music files into your library. If you have already spent time working with iTunes and have therefore created a music library in Apple's software, this can be quickly imported into MAGIX MP3 deluxe 17 to help save time. Of course, the program can also be used to play back music, and there are a number of options available in this area.
Xara Web Designer 7: Rolex features on a Timex budget
Creating a modern, professional website can be a complex business, requiring a host of skills: design, HTML, scripting, Flash, graphics optimisation -- the list goes on. Which, if you've yet to master any of these, may seem just a little intimidating.
Fortunately Xara Web Designer 7 offers a much simpler alternative. It's a WYSIWYG web editor that includes a host of attractive web templates to get you started, and makes it easy to customize them with all kinds of content, even if you've no web development experience at all.
Make Firefox 4 work for you
Firefox 4 is finally here, and while those familiar with how web browsers have evolved won't be surprised to see the streamlined new interface, it can come as a culture shock to those used to plodding along with Firefox 3 for the past few years. With that in mind, we've compiled 10 tips showcasing the best new features in Firefox 4.
Better still, we don't just explain what's new in Firefox 4, we'll reveal how the functionality works, so you can start using and benefiting from it too. Except where specifically stated, the tips should work on all platforms: Windows, Mac and Linux.
Can't read this story because your Net connection is busted? There's a fix for that
There are many reasons why your Internet connection or web-related Windows components might start misbehaving, and diagnosing the problem for yourself can be difficult. So it's often easier not to try: just resetting a few key Windows settings could be enough to get your system working again.
Doing this manually isn't always straightforward, either, but fortunately Complete Internet Repair offers a simpler alternative. Just choose the fix you'd like to try, click the "Go!" button and it'll make the necessary tweaks for you.
Get what Apple won't give: TRIM support for 3rd-party SSDs
There's little doubt that solid-state drives (SSDs) are the future for hard disk-based storage. They're quicker, quieter and cooler than the drives we've come to rely on over the past few decades. But with SSDs now entering the mainstream as prices fall within the reach of consumers, there's one potential performance hurdle to overcome.
TRIM is a command designed to fix a problem whereby over time the write performance of a SSD starts to degrade to as little as 50 per cent of its original speed. Unfortunately, TRIM isn't supported on a lot of operating systems, and while newer drives boast their own technologies to combat this problem with relying on the OS, older drives rely on TRIM being supported. Apple plans to rectify this with the upcoming release of Mac OS X Lion (and possibly in the next update for Snow Leopard too), but there's still no guarantee it'll support TRIM on non-Apple SSDs. But now there's a possible solution that's small, free and quick. It's called TRIM Support Enabler.
VLC Media Player gets a facelift for Mac OS X
Non-profit organization VideoLAN has released a minor update to its open-source and acclaimed cross-platform media player, VLC Media Player 1.1.8. This release is notable largely for the fact the Mac OS X version sports a subtly redesigned interface, but also includes various codec, demuxer and language updates, some new encoder packages and various fixes that apply to all platforms.
VLC Media Player is renowned for being able to handle most video formats without requiring the installation of additional codec packs. All major formats -- including Windows Media Video, QuickTime, Real and Flash -- are supported by VLC, which is also capable of capturing, playing and even streaming video from external sources. These include online streams, DVD, DVB and supported MPEG encoding devices, making it a popular one-stop solution for video playback.
Use CyberGhost to browse the Internet anonymously
There are numerous reasons why anyone would like to browse the Internet anonymously, and there are various programs available that can clean up traces of Internet activity after the fact. There are also great concerns about IP addresses, which can be used to track users and even restrict access to web sites. CyberGhost 2011 is a free VPN tool that can be used to route web traffic through anonymous servers, hiding users' real IP addresses.
The main purpose of the program would appear to be ensuring that you remain anonymous online, but the 'Video portal' section of the software interface reveals that the tool can also be used to watch online videos that might ordinarily be subject to regional restrictions. With various servers in use around the world, CyberGhost can make it appear as if users are actually located in different countries.
Make your to-do lists fly from Springpad
It is fair to say that there is no shortage of to-do list apps and services, but finding one that is genuinely useful and easy to use means working with a much smaller list. One of the best known apps is Things, but weighing at $49.99 (and additional costs for the iPhone and iPad editions), the price tag is off-putting to many potential users. By comparison, Springpad is a comprehensive data management tool that can be used on iOS and Android devices, as well as on desktop computers -- thanks to a browser extension. Best of all, it is completely free of charge.
Despite its popularity, Things is actually much more limited than Springpad. The service can be used in a number of ways, from creating basic shopping lists or to-do reminders, to gathering information for a project you are working on. One of the major advantages of using Springpad is the fact that any data added to the mobile app is automatically synchronized online so it can be accessed through the Springpad web site or synchronized with another device.
Diskeeper 2011: Reduces fragmentation by up to 85%
Diskeeper Corporation has released a brand new version of its commercial defragmentation utility. Diskeeper 2011 comes in three editions for home users depending on computer use: Home for light users, Pro for everyday use and ProPremier for high-end, heavy users. All three editions feature two major new features -- IntelliWrite fragmentation-prevention technology and InstantDefrag, which anticipates which files are about to be accessed and defrags them if necessary.
Also new in Diskeeper 2011 is a Performance Report for each drive that clearly states how much gains have been made by the program's optimization, while Pro and ProPremier users also get two additional features: Efficient Mode, which cuts overheads by prioritizing "problem" files that require urgent fragmentation, plus a new engine for consolidating free space.
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