New Technology : 6 Underappreciated Features of the Windows Operating System

underapreciated-windows-feat

While Windows 7 and 8/8.1 aren’t brand-new, they do offer a lot of cool features that are noticeable right away. From Windows staples like the Taskbar and Windows Explorer to the new Start screen and modern tiles, Windows is constantly evolving with new goodies to try. However, not everything useful in the operating system will jump out at you. As Ryan has discussed, years after release there are Windows 7 features you might have missed; today we’re going to dedicate some time to looking at the under-appreciated tools Windows 7 and 8/8.1 have to offer. While these might not be unknown...

Read the full article: 6 Underappreciated Features of the Windows Operating System



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/1I9JbtF

New Technology : How To Lock Individual Apps on Android Using Hexlock

lock-apps-android

It can be time consuming and annoying to keep a PIN or password lock on your phone all the time. Sometimes you just want quick access without having to type in a code! But at the same time, there’s definitely information on your phone that you want to keep private. So, what about if you could lock individual apps like your Messaging or Photos app? That’s where Hexlock comes in. Setup First, download Hexlock from the Play Store. Once that is installed, open it up, and you’ll be prompted to set a PIN or Pattern lock. This is the lock...

Read the full article: How To Lock Individual Apps on Android Using Hexlock



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/1Coi0F8

New Technology : Need a Free Online Calendar for Yourself or a Group? Try Teamup!

group-calendar

Keeping track of things is hard, especially when you’re working in a team. Don’t fear: an online service called Teamup has your back, making it a breeze to schedule events and share them with others. An easy-to-use and clean interface, along with incredibly quick sharing options, make Teamup a great choice for hosting your calendar. Depending on the plan you choose–a free option is available–, you can use it with an unlimited amount of users or just for yourself; it works great either way. Be sure to pop into the comments section afterwards to let us know if you’ve used Teamup...

Read the full article: Need a Free Online Calendar for Yourself or a Group? Try Teamup!



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/1SCQddw

New Technology : 5 Alternatives to Windows Media Center for Windows 10

windows-media-center-alternatives

Windows 10 is coming, and with it a bunch of new features. But wherever you find new features, you’ll also find holes, where old favorites have been deprecated. With Windows 10, the Windows Media Center will no longer be supported. This means that if you have it installed, WMC will stop working when you upgrade to Windows 10. Not ideal, especially if Windows Media Center was your favored solution after cutting the cord. The time has come, therefore, to find a new media center application compatible with Windows 10 to take you forward. Microsoft’s Deprecated Media Features It isn’t just Windows Media...

Read the full article: 5 Alternatives to Windows Media Center for Windows 10



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/1H6gkWx

New Technology : Inatech 3-port USB Hub and KM Switch Review and Giveaway

Inateck-Feature

USB hubs aren’t the most exciting of tech products. I mean, they’re USB hubs, right? They do one job. They add an extra few USB ports to what you’ve got already. Boring. Right? Not necessarily. Meet the Inateck 3-port USB3 Hub with Magic Port. It’s rare you see an interesting take on something so utilitarian and tedious as a USB port, but somehow they managed to do it. The Inateck 3-port hub is more than just a USB hub, though. Costing just $24.99 on Amazon, it allows you to share files between computers, without having to use an external hard drive or Dropbox....

Read the full article: Inatech 3-port USB Hub and KM Switch Review and Giveaway



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/1Fwmh9y

New Technology : Which Free Firewall For Windows Is Best For You?

windows-firewall

When it comes to computer security, we place a lot of emphasis on antivirus solutions and malware removal, but there’s one more piece of the pie that we can’t ignore: firewalls. While you don’t need to know how firewalls work in order to use them, that knowledge can help you to better understand how to keep yourself secure. Long story short, firewalls are like gatekeepers that control which programs are allowed to receive and send out over the network. Let’s take a look at the best free firewalls that are available on Windows, comparing them for ease of setup, ease...

Read the full article: Which Free Firewall For Windows Is Best For You?



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/1SCxsa0

New Technology : Google Bans Revenge Porn, Uber Bans Guns, Etsy Bans Spells, & More… [Tech News Digest]

men-banned-sign

Technology companies go on a banning spree, Apple changes policy because of Taylor Swift, Amazon updates its customer reviews algorithm, and the life and death of an Apple iPhone. Google Cracks Down on Revenge Porn Google is cracking down on revenge porn, promising to remove “nude or sexually explicit images” from search results when requested to do so. Revenge porn is when someone (usually an ex-partner or someone with an ax to grind) posts explicit pictures online without the person’s consent. In order to counter the rise of revenge porn, Google will, over the next few weeks, introduce a Web...

Read the full article: Google Bans Revenge Porn, Uber Bans Guns, Etsy Bans Spells, & More… [Tech News Digest]



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/1CnJpqT

New Technology : Which Game From E3 2015 Are You Desperate to Play? [MakeUseOf Poll]

e3-games-poll

E3 2015 provided gamers with a veritable smorgasbord of video games they can look forward to playing over the coming months and years. But which, dear reader, is the one game shown at E3 2015 that you desperately want to play as soon as humanly possible? Welcome to this week’s MakeUseOf Poll. A Big Meh to Apple Music To answer this week’s question please scroll down the page until you see the poll staring back at you. But first, we need to look at the results from last week, when we asked, “Will You Be Subscribing to Apple Music?” Out...

Read the full article: Which Game From E3 2015 Are You Desperate to Play? [MakeUseOf Poll]



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/1H6FW7y

New Technology : 5 Sites That Teach You New Skills Quickly – Guitar, Mod Minecraft, & More

cwa-minecraft

Today there’s only one reason not to learn new things: because you don’t want to. The Internet is a never-ending series of sites and apps designed to help you to acquire new skills, painlessly If you want to improve yourself, it’s seriously wonderful. Last month we went over sites that quickly teach you new skills, and you guys seemed to really like it. Knowing this, today Cool Websites and Apps will show you five more sites with five more skills. Learn to play guitar, mod Minecraft, touch type and more – easily. Instinct: Guitar Tutorials with Realtime Feedback Playing guitar...

Read the full article: 5 Sites That Teach You New Skills Quickly – Guitar, Mod Minecraft, & More



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/1BC5U0q

New Technology : How to Turn Your Commute Into a Time of Productivity

Having a commute on public transportation can be boring. You sit there for some amount of time waiting to get

Read the full article: How to Turn Your Commute Into a Time of Productivity



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/1LkSwAW

New Technology : Coding in the Fun — 7 Creative Ways to Teach Programming with Toys

kid-playing-with-robot

Over the years, toys have proved to be a remarkable tool when educating young children, especially when it comes to more complex subject matters. Toys can cleverly disguise the act of learning through an immersive and interactive activity, which makes developing  a new skill fun for your kids. This is the fun way many kids are learning the basics of how to code. Considering that the industry is growing at twice the national average, there has never been a better time for children (or adults) to start coding. Why Is It Beneficial to Learn Programming? As I’m sure you’ve noticed, the...

Read the full article: Coding in the Fun — 7 Creative Ways to Teach Programming with Toys



from MakeUseOf http://ift.tt/1Ip8unl