Computers & Programming Features

How To: Burn a disk image file in Microsoft Windows 7

Interested in burning an ISO disk file file to a CD, DVD or Blu-ray disc? This Windows 7 tutorial will show you how it's done! It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this home-computing how-to can present a complete overview of the process in just over a minute's time. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this Win 7 user's guide.

How To: Find and install Windows PC drivers quickly & easily

This video shows us the method to find and install Windows PC drivers. Install the software from www.DirectDriverChecker.com. Click on 'Start Scan' to list the drivers you have and which ones need an update. Choose 'All Drivers' to see all drivers and 'Outdated Drivers' to see the outdated ones. Check the drivers and click 'Next' to update them. Use the 'Back Up' option to back up the drivers in case of a malfunction in the computer. Use the 'Restore' feature to restore the saved drivers whic...

How To: Setup your Macbook Pro background

In this how-to video, you will learn how to quickly set up the background image on your Apple Macbook Pro. First, right click the desktop and select Change Desktop Background. A new window will pop up where you can change it. Also, you can go to system preferences and selecting desktop and screen saver. To change the image, select any of the options available. This includes solid colors to large images. You can also go to your iPhoto albums and choose any picture in there. You can also go onl...

How To: Use date and time functions in Ruby

New to the Ruby programming language or simply looking to brush up on your skills? In this installation from his Rubyology series of Ruby tutorials, YouTube user cmatthieu demonstrates some of the cool time functions supported by the Ruby programming language. Make time for and with this how-to.

How To: Build static libraries in Xcode for an iPhone or iPod Touch app

In this clip, you'll learn how to generate static libraries within Xcode. Whether you're new to the Objective-C operating language and Xcode IDE or are a seasoned developer merely looking to pick up a few new tips and tricks, you're certain to be well served by this tutorial. For more information, including a complete overview and detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this free video Objective-C programming lesson for iPhone & iPod Touch developers.

How To: Store counters in an array index when Java programming

Want to program your own Java games and applications but don't know beans about object-oriented programming? Never you fear. This free video tutorial from TheNewBostonian will have you coding your own Java apps in no time flat. Specifically, this lesson discusses how to store variables in an array index when writing code in the Java programming language. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this helpful programmer's guide.

How To: Create a sliding door button on your website

While sliding doors is far from a new concept and will be obsoleted once we see wider support for multiple backgrounds (CSS3), it is still a good one for your bag-of-tricks. The theory is that if we have an extra hook in our markup, we can apply two overlapping background images to a single spot of text. When that text grows or shrinks, these overlapping images and reveal more of themselves creating the illusion it is a single expandable graphic. In this video screencast, we do a quickly exam...

How To: Wrap text around images in HTML 4

First of all you have to open the 'notepad'. Now you have to type in "<html>" in first line. Write "<head> in second line. Write "<title>this website contains text wrapped around images</title>". In the fourth line you have to type '<body bgcolor="#999999">'. This shall add a light orange color. Now find out the name of the image. Here the name of the file is 'image.png'. Then in the next line you have to type in "<img src="image.png">this text should hopefully wrap around the outside of the ...

How To: Create and print coloring book pages with the Epson

Have you ever wanted to make your own personal coloring book? With the Epson Artisan all-in-one printer, a project like this is a snap. Make some coloring books based on your digital pictures. Have your kids color in their memories of the last trip to Disneyland, or the silly photo of themselves goofing off in the bathtub. These personalized coloring books make great gifts for everyone!

How To: Make a keyboard vacuum with a USB or AC adapter

This video shows how to make a USB or adapter powered keyboard vacuum. You will need a piece of cardboard, scissors, a fan, a DC adapter, electrical tape, and a ruler. On the cardboard draw four triangles and cut them out. Tape two pieces together (not too tight because they will need to be folded); then tape all four together. Fold it pyramid style and tape the ends.

How To: Find out what an unknown device is in device manager

This video narrates and explains how to figure out how to install an unknown device using the device manager. The first step is to access the device manager through the control panel/system. Once in device manager you must select the show devices options. Once the device menu is visible you then find the unknown device section and copy the name of the device driver. The next step is to open Google search engine and paste the unknown device ID name. After the search is complete you will see ma...

How To: Navigate the web with VoiceOver in Mac OS X

The video is about how to use voice over in Safari for Mac OS X. To use Voice over it has to be enabled first. It can be used to read the entire html content on web page using short cut control + option + shift + Down Arrow. To move between different items on the web page use Control + Option + left or right arrows. To click any link use Control + Option + Space bar. To go back in the browser use Command + [. To stop interacting with HTML content use Control + Option + Shift + Up Arrow. After...

How To: Chain methods in your PHP object programming

Chaining methods in PHP can be simple and straightforward if you follow along with this informative video tutorial on PHP OOP methods from JREAMdesign. The key action is to return the object after running the function so that you can run another function to the object directly afterwards.

How To: Use SimpleXML to load XML into PHP

Learn to utilize SimpleXML in this PHP tutorial to load and access XML from within PHP. This video shows how to load an XML file into a PHP array variable and get values from within that array. This informative video from JREAMdesign shows you step by step.

How To: Install and run Ultimate Windows Tweaker for Windows 7 & Vista

If you're not satisfied with your out-of-the-box version of Windows 7 or Vista then get ready to tweak it up good! With this video, you'll see how to use a little program called Ultimate Windows Tweaker to wrestle your software to perform the way YOU want it to. This software lets you get into the registry in a safe and easy way if you're not a computer wizard. Remember to always back up your system before toying with the registry.

How To: Use a singleton pattern in PHP programming

This PHP newbie video with teach you what a Singleton Pattern is and how to use it in your PHP programming. PHP OOP Singleton is great for a database connection when you only want one consistent connection in your application. So, to prevent wasting space accidentally by calling it twice in different areas, this is good way to protect it. Singleton is very popular and used often in Database Connections.

How To: Use Booleans, type casting and constants when coding PHP

In this clip, you'll learn how to usebooleans, type casting and constants when coding in PHP. Whether you're new to the PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor scripting language or are a seasoned web developer merely looking to improve your chops, you're sure to find benefit in this free video programming lesson. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, take a look.

How To: Clean up a hard drive in Windows XP

In this video Dave Andrews from Help Vids will show you how to clean up your hard drive in Windows XP. A way to do that is to delete the icons from the desktop that you don't use regularly. The files that you have just deleted are located in the Recycle Bin. To permanently delete them, right-click the Recycle Bin and click "Empty the Recycle Bin" or double-click the Recycle Bin and delete them from there. Now the files are gone and your desktop is much cleaner. You can repeat this method with...

How To: Add navigation buttons to a Visual Basic web browser application

In this clip, you'll learn how to add simple nav buttons — e.g., Forward, Back, Stop — to a VB web browser app. Whether you're new to Microsoft's popular event-driven program language & IDE or a seasoned developer merely looking to improve your chops, you're sure to find benefit in this free Visual Basic programming lesson. For more information, including a complete demonstration and detailed, step-by-step instructions, take a look.

How To: Customize MXML & AS templates in Adobe Flash Builder 4

Learn how to create custom MXML and ActionScript templates in Adobe Flash Builder 4. This clip will show you what to do. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular Flash IDE (previously titled Adobe Flex Builder) or simply wish to become better acquainted with the program, you're sure to find benefit in this free video software tutorial. For more information, including specific, step-by-step instructions, take a look.

How To: Add color to your Firefox browser tabs

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to add to the Fire Mozilla browser tabs. Begin by going to the Firefox Mozilla add-ons site and search for "colorful tabs". Click Add to Firefox to install it onto your web browser. Once installed, the browser tabs will be randomly assigned to a color. In the add-on options, users are able to configure the color scheme, selected tab and miscellaneous. This video will benefit those viewers who use Firefox Mozilla as their web browser, and would like to...