What’s the best way to install Windows 8?

Ahh, Windows 8. If you’ve decided you’re ready to plunk down your hard-earned cash to give this modern UI a shot, you’ll want to spend a few minutes considering just how you take your first steps into the Windows 8 experience.
You have three ways to install Windows 8 after you’ve purchased it: (a) Run it as a virtual machine on your current operating system; (b) dual-boot it alongside your current operating system; or (c) perform a full install and overwrite the OS you’re currently rolling with. While the installation methods vary in complexity, all three are within the grasp of even Windows novices, and each brings its own pros and cons to the table.
Let’s take a deeper look at each option.

Running Windows 8 in a virtual machine

One of the easiest ways to play with Windows 8 without having it affect your current operating-system setup is to install it in a virtual machine. While you can get fancy and purchase premium VM software like Parallels Workstation for this purpose, a completely free program called VirtualBox accomplishes the same thing, minus a few bells, whistles, and advanced options.

A virtual machine is exactly what its name suggests. VM software allows you to install and run a virtualized operating system within your existing operating system, and everything you do in that Inception-like second operating system is contained within its own individual environment. Once you’re done playing around with your virtualized OS, you can eradicate it with just a few clicks of the mouse—the virtualized OS is really nothing more than a series of files on your normal system’s physical hard drive.
We can’t stress this enough: What you do within your virtualized OS has absolutely no bearing on your actual operating system. Delete files. Change settings. Do whatever you want! Once you’re done tinkering around for the day, all you have to do is shut down your virtualized version of Windows 8 to return to your normal operating system’s desktop.
The downsides? First, running a virtualized OS requires more configuration steps than installing Windows 8 directly. For example, most VM software requires you to have a processor that supports hardware virtualization to run Windows 8, and you’ll have to make sure that virtualization is enabled within your system’s BIOS. A quick and easy way to check all of this is to download Microsoft’s official Hardware-Assisted Virtualization Tool and run it as an administrator on your PC. If you’re ready to virtualize, the tool will let you know.
Second, you’ll need to make sure your that PC’s core components are up to the task of virtualization. Not only must the machine fulfill the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 8, it must also be able to handle not one but two concurrently active operating systems. That’s right: The virtual machine will use the same physical hardware resources as your normal OS, and because both systems will be running simultaneously, we recommend virtualizing Windows 8 on rigs with hefty system specs to ensure that you have enough resources to dedicate to both operating systems. In an ideal world, you’ll allocate at least 3GB of RAM to each OS.
Even with a beefy system, running Windows 8 virtually will likely deliver a slightly less than perfect experience on a standard PC, with occasional graphical lags, performance hiccups, and the frustration of having to move a mouse cursor between operating-system environments if you run the VM in a window rather than in full-screen mode. And Windows 8′s Internet connection sometimes glitches out momentarily in VirtualBox.
Our advice? Virtualizing Windows 8 is a great way to get a feel for the OS before you’re ready to commit for good, but it’s no replacement for a full-fledged installation.

Dual-boot Windows 8

Dual-booting Windows 8 alongside your current operating system is an easy process—so don’t be scared if you’ve never done it before. We’ve already published a guide that can walk you through creating a new, Windows 8-ready partition on your hard drive and starting the installation process itself.

Allocating partitions to prepare for a dual boot installation.

Once the secondary operating system is up and running, you’ll be given a “choose-your-own-adventure”-style screen whenever you boot up your PC, asking you whether you’d like to boot into Windows 8 or the other OS stored on your hard drive. If you don’t pick an option, your system will default to Windows 8 after a brief period of time.
The benefits of dual-booting are obvious: You gain access to two operating systems instead of one, and the performance of neither system is impacted by the other, because each is just a simple, separate partition on your hard drive.
The drawbacks? Once you opt to dual-boot, it can be a real hassle if and when you decide to remove Windows 8, and go back to a single-boot system using your older Windows operating system. Spoiler: You’ll have to poke around in Windows’ Boot Configuration Data Store Editor (bcdedit.exe) just to ensure that you have a means for booting back into your legacy OS after you’ve tossed Windows 8.
In other words, don’t just delete the Windows 8 partition!
You’ll also be sacrificing room on your hard drive to run two operating systems that are completely independent from one another. It almost goes without saying, but installing an app like Steam on Windows 7 doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to run it through Windows 8—they’re two separate worlds. You’d have to install Steam on Windows 8 as well, duplicating your efforts on a single drive.
All that said, dual-booting is a tried-and-true process for making the most out of two different operating systems if you absolutely can’t live without each. We recommend the process wholeheartedly unless space is of the utmost concern on your system. And if that’s the case, maybe it’s time for a second hard drive.

Fully installing Windows 8

Here we go. The biggie. You’re ready to take the full plunge and wave goodbye to your legacy operating system forever. Windows 8 has arrived, and it is the conqueror on your desktop. Let no other operating system stand in its path.
Installing Windows 8 is extraordinarily easy and extraordinarily quick. First, though, pay heed to the gentle but firm notice that you get only one shot at this if you’re doing a clean install. Make sure that you’ve backed up all important files from your existing operating system before you wipe it and start a new.

Upgrade or fresh install? Choose wisely, young Padawan.

You’ll also need to decide whether you’re going to upgrade from your existing operating system or go with a completely clean installation. In short, an upgrade installation will do its best to preserve your files and settings from one operating system to the next. Just how much of your existing OS experience is preserved depends on what you’re running: When upgrading from Windows 7, Windows 8 will attempt to preserve all your personal files as well as your applications. But if you’re upgrading from Vista or XP, Windows 8 will preserve only the files, and you’ll have to reinstall your apps afterwards.
The other option is to perform a clean installation, which completely wipes your existing OS and all the files on your hard drive partition, then follows up with a fresh, brand-new installation of Windows 8. Scorched earth.
So which do you pick? The jury is out. More experienced computer users who really enjoy the clean slate of a wipe-and-install—or who are otherwise terrified that they aren’t going to get peak performance from whatever drivers Windows 8 keeps around from Windows 7—should opt for the clean installation. A clean install is also a great way to give your PC a “do-over” to clean out the clutter that accumulates over the years. Indeed, on the second go-around of app installations, you might be less likely to install programs you don’t actually use much.
Otherwise, Microsoft has improved the upgrade process so that it’s not all that scary transferring information over to a new Windows (Windows 8) installation. You’ll still want to go into the nooks and crannies of Windows 8 itself to ensure that all of your major settings have transitioned over. We also recommend that you go straight to the manufacturers’ sites for new drivers for your various system components—video card, sound card, motherboard, and so on.
And, once again, please save your settings before you upgrade. For example, while your preferred Internet browser might make the journey to Windows 8, the operating system might not keep your bookmarks.
I love installing apps, so I love the thrill that a fresh install brings to the table. That being said, we have no official recommendation for which Windows installation process—clean or upgrade—would best work for you. There definitely are trade-offs in either scenario. Now that you know what’s on the table, the choice is yours.

Wrap-up

You’ll be staring at this screen no matter which method you choose!

And there you have it! If you’re most concerned with having an easy exit and don’t mind trading a bit of performance in the process, then virtualizing Windows 8 is a great way to get familiar with the OS—and tweak it in all sorts of crazy ways—without doing any damage to your existing OS. Dual-booting Windows 8 is a compelling option for mixing the old and the new; you’ll just give up a bit of space to do so. And going the distance with Windows 8 will give you the option to upgrade or start from scratch.
No matter which method you choose, you may want to check out our guide to optimizing your first 30 minutes with Windows 8 to ensure you make the most of your new OS.

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Opera acquires Skyfire Labs for faster mobile video delivery

Skyfire says its Rocket Optimizer software, which compresses multimedia content, gives mobile networks a 60 percent increase in bandwidth capacity

Browser developer Opera Software will acquire Skyfire Labs, which develops technology to speed video delivery over mobile networks, the companies said Friday. The deal is valued at $155 million, which includes a mix of cash and stock and expected performance based earn-out payments over the next three years, Opera said in a news release. The deal is expected to close before March 15.
Skyfire, based in Mountain View, Calif., supplies three large U.S. mobile operators with its Rocket Optimizer software, which compresses video and other multimedia content for faster delivery over 3G and LTE networks. The company says its software gives mobile networks a 60 percent increase in bandwidth capacity, which helps when mobile networks are experiencing high traffic. It says Rocket Optimizer detects and intervenes when users are experiencing poor-quality connections.
Skyfire also makes Horizon, which it describes as a mobile browser extension and toolbar that allows people to personalize their browsers. It’s a white-label product that operators brand themselves. Toolbar extensions can be customized by operators, which Skyfire said can act as a “beach front” for promotions and advertising that can bring in revenue. Opera said video is expected to consume two-thirds of available mobile bandwidth within two years. Skyfire’s technology will be integrated into Opera’s Web Pass, which is a product for operators for offering mobile data packages to subscribers.
In February 2012, Opera moved more deeply into mobile advertising, acquiring the companies Mobile Theory and 4th Screen Advertising, as it sought to increase revenue from ads on its Mini and Mobile browsers. Opera also announced on Friday its results for the fourth quarter of 2012. Revenue came in at $60.7 million, up 39 percent from $43.5 million for the same quarter in 2011. A bright spot for Opera was revenue from mobile advertising, which generated $19.6 million, up from $4.1 million a year before.
As far as the number of users of its browser software, Opera said it lost about 4 percent of its users on the desktop compared to the same quarter a year prior, down to 55 million. But the company said the total number of Opera users on mobile devices came in at 229 million, up 30 percent over the fourth quarter of 2011.
VIA | infoworld.com

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Android Key Lime Pie Launching During Spring?

 

A leaked document from technology giant Qualcomm suggest that Android 4.2 Key Lime Pie will be launched this Spring. The rumor spread quickly over the internet while Qualcomm was trying to manage the damage by using lawyers requesting the copyrighted materials to be pulled from the internet. There is no better way to confirm a rumor by panicking about it Qualcomm! So we can say with quite a bit of confidence that Google will release it’s next desert flavored OS during Google I/O in May. Just a few more months to wait!
In the mean time, you’ll have to do it with Android 4.1 Phones and Tablets which you can get at an extreme low wholesale price from www.electroshopworld.co.za

Navigate Web Forms Faster by Using the Tab Key

The other day I spotted something that made my eyes hurt. A woman was filling out a lengthy Web form. After she’d complete one field, she’d reach for her mouse, find the cursor, carefully click inside the next field, and type more data. Then she’d repeat the entire process.
Think about the last time you filled out a form in your Web browser. Usually this happens when you’re buying or registering for something; you need to type in your name, address, and all that. After you completed one field, did you reach for your mouse, find your cursor, drag it to the next field, click in that field, and then start typing again?
That’s four steps too many.

You need to get acquainted with my good friend, the Tab key. With it you can jump easily from one Web-form field to the next, no mouse required.
It works like this: When filling out an online form (or even one in, say, a PDF), use Tab to jump from your currently selected field to the one right below it (or, in some cases, alongside it). Type…hit Tab. Type…hit Tab. Repeat as needed until you’re done.
Make it habit and you’ll soon wonder why you wasted so much time reaching for the mouse.
By the way, pressing Tab moves you to the next field in any given form. If you need to move your cursor to the previous field, press Shift-Tab.
And here’s one final form-filling tip: when you’re done with a form, you can usually press Enter in lieu of clicking the OK or Submit button. Now you can keep your fingers on the keys where they belong!

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How To Secure Your Wireless Network

We’ve all stolen some internet from an unprotected Wi-Fi network at one point or another. However, connecting to an unsecure wireless network can be quite dangerous. Not only that, if you’re the owner of that unsecured network, you internet could be slowed down, someone could access your personal data or even worse, someone might perform some shady activities on your network and you would get the blame for them. While securing your wireless network might seems extremely difficult, it is in reality rather simple. All it takes are a few mouse clicks and a strong password.

To start with
When connecting to a wireless network, you connect to the router behind it, sending the wireless signal. If unsecured, any computer within range can connect to this network.
Most routers can be accessed by entering “192.168.1.1” in your browser’s address bar and filling in a username and password. Default passwords vary from router to router and from company to company so we advise you to have a look in the router’s manual or on the back side of your router. If you can’t seem to find the login details, try http://www.routerpasswords.com/ or http://www.cirt.net/passwords to find the default password for your router. You will need to log in to your router to change the security parameters of your wireless network.

Encryption
As a first line of defense, encrypt the data sent wirelessly between your device and the router. There are two main types of encryption you can use:
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP): Introduced back in the ’90, WPA was one of the first encryption algorithms to protect a wireless network. Although some older routers might still support this type of encryption, we do not recommend this one since it’s heavily outdated and has demonstrated numerous flaws over the years. It’s better than nothing, but extremely easy to crack.
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA & WPA2): As successors of WEP, WPA and WPA2 are two of the most commonly used advanced security encryptions for wireless networks. The encryption keys used change each time a device accesses the network, making it much harder to hack than WEP. If you have to option to choose between WPA and WPA2, go for WPA2.
When setting up your wireless network for the first time, your computer should automatically prompt you to ask which encryption you wish to use. If not, head over to the security setting of your router and turn it on there. And remember, your security is only as strong as the weakest link, your password. Make sure to choose a password with more than 10 characters, preferably a mix between letters and numbers.

Change the router defaults
Make sure to change your router’s Admin login and password to something more secure to prevent break-ins. You might also want to turn change the Service Set Identifier (SSID) name. Most manufactures just name the router after the company, for example “Broadcom” but to increase security, we advise to change the name so others don’t assume you’re using the router’s default username and password as well.

Turn off SSID broadcasting
Turning off SSID broadcasting is turning off the function which broadcasts a message to notify you (and everyone else within range) of the presence of the router. It’s not a big security feature but at least, the daily user won’t be able to connect to your network since he won’t be able to see it. However, some devices might have problems connecting to the network if it’s not sending out its SSID.

Allow access based on MAC address
Every network enable device –From Android Tablets to Desktop PCs- has its own, unique MAC address which helps the router to identify that specific device. Most routers can be configured to filter Machine Access Code (MAC) and only allow access to recognized MAC addresses. You can preset the MAC addresses of all your devices you use and add some to the list later when your collection grows.
To find your PC’s MAC address, open a command prompt, type cmd, and hit Enter. Then type ipconfig .all and hit Enter once again. The MAC address will show as “Physical” address or as 6 pairs of alphanumeric characters set apart by double points.
On other devices, such as Android Phones and Tablets, the MAC address can be found in the Advance Wi-Fi options, under MAC address.

Disable remote administration privileges
Disabling remote administration privileges is a great way to keep anyone out who is looking to access your security setting. This can be found in your router’s setting and once turned on, security settings can only be change when connected through a wired connection.

Try a mix of these
It is hard to completely secure a wireless network, but if you follow the steps above, you can rest assured that your signal will be better protected. Preferably, use all of the above steps to secure your Wi-Fi network instead of just one and make sure to turn off your wireless router when going on a holiday as an extra form of security.

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Free Office Suite Includes Popular PDF Reader Too

Not content with producing a free PDF reader that can put up a good fight against Adobe, and which has 190 million users, Foxit Software also produces a free office software suite.
Foxit Office Suite comprises the eponymous PDF reader along with three other bundled apps from Kingsoft. These are a word processor, spreadsheet and presentation graphics package, each claimed to be compatible with Microsoft’s own. Foxit Office Suite is a perfectly acceptable alternative for anyone who doesn’t need the size, complexity or expense of Microsoft Office. It’s a 51 MB download, should run on all recent versions of Windows, and does everything that you’ll probably need an Office suite to do. And the inclusion of the PDF reader scores it an extra point over Microsoft too.
Foxit Office Suite is free of malware and viruses, according to my up-to-date copy of Avast. You can get it from http://www.foxitsoftware.com/downloads/ (it’s currently the second link on the page).
VIA | techsupportalert.com

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EXPECTED SOON: Get TWO more SIM card slots without replacing your Phone or Tablet!

If you want your Android phone or iPhone to accommodate 2 more SIM cards at the same time, or you would like to make calls, send SMS and search the internet on your iPod, iPad or any Android tablet anywhere anytime,then KaKa, a tiny companion device is right for you.
Thanks to the slim design and wireless Bluetooth connection technology, KaKa can be easily slipped into any small pocket or wallet, acting as an invisible companion of iPod, iPad or Android tablet.
Simply insert one or two SIM cardsinto KaKa to make a phone call, send a message, or surf the Internetusingyour iPad or an Android tablet. To add one more Dual SIM/standby mobile phone feature to the tablet, you only need to download the apps and then connect the tablet with it via Bluetooth!
Check out these pictures of the KaKa taken by our Sourcing and QC team!

Key Features

• Turn your iPad, or any Android tablet into a Phablet.
• Compatible with Apple iOS 4.0, Android 2.2 above.
• Transform your phone into a triple SIM phone.
• Slim, light weight, fashion design.
• 850/900/1800/1900MHz.
• Bluetooth.

 

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