Hot Computers & Programming How-Tos
How To: Show and Hide Desktop Application Icons in Windows 8
In this Windows 8 tutorial, you will learn how to show and hide desktop application icons. The benefit of this is it allows you to quickly hide desktop icons and show them again when you need to have access via desktop.
How To: Unpin and Pin Start Menu Applications in Windows 8
Do you have too many applications on your start menu? Then this tutorial will help you better manage applications shown in the start menu.
How To: Name Groups & Rearrange Groups & Applications in the Windows 8 Metro Interface
This Windows 8 tutorial, I will show you how to change the name of groups, and rearrange groups and applications in the Windows 8 start menu metro interface.
How To: Switch Between Applications in Windows 8
In this Windows 8 tutorial, I will guide you through the methods I use to switch between applications when in desktop view versus metro interface.
How To: Open and Close Windows 8 Applications
This Windows 8 guide is for those who are new adopters of the Windows 8 operating system. Maybe you just bought a new PC with Windows 8 and you need to learn your way around, then this tutorial is for you.
How To: Use the Start Menu and Search Applications on Windows 8
This tutorial is for those who are new to Windows 8.
How To: Search for Photos on Your Computer by Exact Dimensions
As a technology writer, phone screenshots can pile up on your computer in no time. Testing out different apps, showing buggy software, and doing step-by-steps can lead to a plethora of mobile screenshots piling up on your computer's desktop. The problem with my screenshots is that they save as photo.png or photo.jpeg, as do many of my other photos. If I haven't finished a project or article, I tend to move them to different folders to save them for later. After a while, the screenshots begin ...
How To: Control the Music on Your Computer with Hand Gestures Using Flutter
Thanks to Flutter, it's now possible to control the music on your computer simply by making a few hand gestures. The app is available for both Windows and Mac and uses your computer's webcam to monitor your hand movements. Through the use of a few simple hand movements, you can play, pause, forward or replay your music. Flutter works with iTunes, Spotify, Quicktime, MPlayerX and a few other programs.
How To: Save Money Cleaning Your Gadgets' Displays with This DIY Screen-Cleaning Solution
Keeping your computer screen or smartphone display clean is impossible. And those stupid little cloth cleaners that come with your device are about as useful as the new Apple Maps (yes, I am still upset about it).
How To: Check If Someone Has Been Using Your Mac or Windows Computer
Think your roommate's been using your computer while you're not around, but don't have any proof? Worried your little brother or significant other is snooping through your stuff? Here's how to check on both Windows and Mac OS X so you can catch and confront anyone who's logging onto your computer without your permission.
How To: Change the Wireless Card on Dell Inspiron E1505 Laptop
The internet is something most people rely on, so when you buy a used laptop without a wireless card or yours needs to be replaced, it's easier to do it yourself. Having someone else do it can cost more than you think, so here's an easy way if you own a Dell Inspiron E1505.
How To: Use Perl to Connect to a Database
Note: The article assumes that the reader has a fundamental understanding of at least one other programming language and Perl. This is intended serve as a quick reference for Perl's input/output of data to databases.
How To: Protect Your PHP Website from SQL Injection Hacks
As a web developer, I often read articles about hackers (from the lowly to the knowledgeable) infiltrating websites via the dreaded 'SQL Injection' method and completely taking control, changing, gaining access, or destroying the owner's data. As a fellow web developer, I'm sure you want to know how to protect against it. Well, here it is! In this article, you will find out what SQL Injection is, what you can do to protect against it, and additional recommendations that are easy to do and onl...
How To: Run Programs at Startup in Windows XP
Do you know which programs run when you start up your computer? In this short tutorial, I will show you how you can see which programs run automatically at startup in Windows XP. You'll be surprised how many there are!
How To: Watch 3D Movies Without Expensive Hardware
In this video, we learn how to watch 3D images and movies without expensive hardware. If you have a computer with dual monitors or two computers, you can watch full-color, full resolution 3D with a simple home made device.
How To: Download & Setup Java JDK
How to install Java JDK (Java Development Kit) Go to the Oracle Java SE Download Page and click "Download".
How To: Run the Android OS on a Mac or PC with virtual machine software
If you're interested in seeing what it would be like to run Android on a real computer rather than a tablet or smartphone, you don't have to wait. This Android project has now made it possible to run Android in a virtual machine on either a PC or a Mac computer. You'll need the following command to merge the ISOs:
How To: Turn on parental controls in Mac OS X
If you want to protect your children from seeing something you don't want them to see, and they happen to be using Mac OS X, take a look at this walkthrough on how to set up parental controls on their Mac computer.
How To: Boot Ubuntu on a Macbook Using a USB, Part 2
Here is an alternative method to run Ubuntu 10.04 on a Mac without actually installing it on your internal hard disk.
How To: Pin a program icon to the taskbar in Windows 7
Did you know that you can easily pin programs that you often use and access to the taskbar in Windows 7? Pinning a program to the taskbar allows you to quickly open it without having to access the start menu or an icon on your desktop.
How To: Create a New WordPress Blog in Mac OS X with MAMP, Part 0
“Zero-zero is a big score.” Ron Atkinson "Part 0? Are we in computer science class or what? We aren't talking about arrays here, are we?"
How To: Run Windows 8 on a Mac with VMWare Fusion 4
You can give the Windows 8 Developer Preview a spin on your Mac laptop or desktop by installing and running it with VMWare Fusion 4. VMWare Fusion 4 allows you to run Windows from within OSX so that you can have access to both programs and operating systems at the same time.
How To: Enable the Start menu or disable the Metro UI in Windows 8
Windows 8, the latest version of Microsoft's flagship software has introduced the new Metro UI screen as a replacement to the classic Start menu. If you want to get rid of the Metro UI, or you want to get the Start menu back, follow the directions detailed in this video
How To: Install the Developer Preview of Windows 8 on any computer
The Windows 8 Developer Preview is available for download and can give you an early look at what Windows 8 will look like, including the new Metro UI that will replace the normal desktop experience for many computers and tablets. Here's a guide on how to install it on various kinds of computers.
How To: Perform a screenshot capture on a Mac computer
Is something interesting happening on your Mac computer that you need a picture of? This guide will walk you through the process of taking a picture or capture of your Mac screen and saving it as a screenshot. Remember that hotkey and it will help you out in the future!
How To: Customize the start menu on a Windows 7 PC
The start menu in Windows 7 is highly customizable- you can pin items to it, change it's appearance, and more. This video guide will walk you through the process of changing your Windows 7 start menu to your heart's desire.
How To: Install the Windows 8 Developer Preview in VirtualBox
If you want to run Windows 8 inside of Windows 7 so that you can give the Windows 8 Developer Preview a try, take a look at this guide on how to run Windows 8 inside of VirtualBox. This will allow you to run Windows 8 within a virtual machine.
How To: Dual Boot Windows 7 with the Developer Preview of Windows 8
The Windows 8 Developer Preview is now available. If you want to try out the beta version of Windows 8, but don't want to uninstall Windows 7, try running Windows 8 and Windows 7 at the same time on your computer with this Windows 8 dual boot guide.
How To: Install the Windows 8 Developer Preview on a Netbook computer
The Windows 8 Developer Preview is out, and judging by the system requirements, Windows 8 can run on a whole range of devices. Try running Windows 8 on your netbook with this tutorial. Pick a Windows 8 version below and watch this guide for instructions on how to install it!
How To: Create an iOS app with a Windows PC
iOS app development is not limited to Mac owners. If you want to program apps for iPhones or iPads but you only have a Windows desktop or notebook, this guide overviews the different options available to you, including the DragonFire SDK, RhoHub, and Hackintosh methods. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the Hackintosh method will require you to install Mac OS X on a Windows PC.
How To: Keep your computer safe during an electric storm
Don't let your computer get fried during the next thunderstorm. Keep it safe from damage with the right procedures and tools. Try using a surge protector that can help prevent a power surge from destroying your computer. You don't want a lightning strike to fry your laptop or desktop PC or Mac.
How To: Setup a Wi-Fi connection on a Windows 7 desktop or laptop
If you just brought home a Windows 7 notebook or desktop PC, but you can't figure out how to configure the WiFi connection to get internet on it, take a look at this guide to learn how to connect your Windows 7 computer to a home network.
How To: Share files between two Macs with Airdrop in OS X Lion
If you don't want to go through the hassle of setting up a formal network between two Macs, but still want to transfer files between the two, take a look at Airdrop. Airdrop is a built-in utility found in Mac OS X Lion (10.7) that will allow you to easily drag and drop files to another computer belonging to you or a friend.
How To: Send Fax From Computer
Advances in technology continue to make our lives easier and more convenient. If you want to send fax, for instance, you no longer need to own a fax machine. You can easily and quickly send fax directly from your computer in one of several methods, including via an Internet fax service provider or using Windows built-in Fax and Scan tools. Read on how to use an Internet fax service, one of the faster faxing methods, to send fax messages from your PC.
How To: Choose which browser is the default on Mac OS X
If you want to permanently set the default browser on your Mac notebook or desktop, take a look at this walkthrough. You can set any browser to open up by default when you click a link or try to access webpages in OS X.
How To: Connect to a network using Wi-Fi on a Mac computer
If you want to connect your Mac notebook or desktop to a wireless network, you'll need to set up the wifi connection on your computer first. Take a look at this walkthrough to find out how to find and connect to available wireless networks in OS X. This is a great skill to know if you own an Apple laptop and need to connect to the Wi-Fi networks at different locations.
How To: Organize applications in Mac OS X Lion using Launchpad
One of the many new features in Mac OS X Lion is the new Launchpad utility. Launchpad allows you to gain access to all of your apps quickly by showing an overlay on the screen with several different icons. You can organize the icons into different catagories such as "Music" and "Photography." This way, all of your apps are just a click away on your Mac computer!
How To: Use the Maps gadget on a Nokia Booklet 3G netbook to identify your location
The Nokia Booklet 3G netbook is capable of utilizing GPS when the 3G network connection is active. If you want to find your location and see a map of the area around you, try out the Maps gadget available as part of the Ovi Suite.
How To: Use the Nokia Social hub with your Nokia Booklet 3G netbook
The Nokia Social hub is a fairly useful piece of software available to owners of the Nokia Booklet 3G netbook. From the Social hub, you can connect to facebook and access several of the social network's functions, including posting an update. If you have a SIM card inserted with an active 3G connection, you can even send a text message from the netbook.
How To: Connect a Nokia Booklet 3G to the internet via a network or 3G connection
If you hit the FN + F10 keys on your Nokia Booklet 3G, you'll see the available internet connections methods for your netbook including Bluetooth, wifi, and 3G.