If you’ve used your PC for any extended period of time, you’ve probably run into frustrating errors, pesky viruses, and unexplainable slow performances. These often result from the fact that programmers and developers (like all humans) make mistakes, misjudge what people will need, or simply fail to add features that would make your PC work so much better. Thankfully, the world is full of coders devoted to filling these gaps with their own applications that cover various tasks, from fixing the inherent errors that lie within the operating system to completely reorganizing how you surf and access the web.
Even better, many of these are free.

The point of this article is to use your PC to its full potential. While these apps may not save a dying and decrepit computer, they will certainly improve anyone’s PC and give you a second wind.

#1 – CCleaner (Available from Piriform.com)
Description: The mother of all optimization apps, this one is a must and features on dozens of Top Applications lists year after year. With a single click, CCleaner can run through your PC and start cleaning out unneeded data and unclog memory hogging programs. These can even be customized, ensuring that things you would like to keep (like saved passwords) will not be deleted but everything else (like Temporary Files, Recycle Bin, old Cache Data, etc) will be cleaned out completely. CCleaner also hosts several other functions, like checking your registry for errors, uninstalling and modifying programs, and handling your startup programs.

#2 – Defraggler (Available from Defraggler.com)
Description: From the same company as CCleaner, Defraggler helps you when you need to defragment your hard drives (something you should do on a regular basis). Unlike the built in Windows defragmenter, however, Defraggler does a much cleaner job in a much smaller time frame. Instead of leaving your computer on all night to complete defragmenting, Defraggler often gets the job done in less than an hour (even less if you use Quick Defrag; times will vary with hard drive size).

#3 – Browser (Multiple Choices Available from Mozilla.com, Opera.com, and Chrome.Google.com)
Description: Although this may seem like an obvious choice, a shocking number of people still use Internet Explorer for their browsing needs. Not only does Internet Explorer(IE) have a large number of security exploits that are unfixed, a meager amount of features, and a tendency to crash you when you need it the most, IE users are missing out on whole new ways to surf the web. The three main alternatives to IE are Mozilla Firefox, Opera, and Google Chrome, each with their own benefits. Firefox is known for its reliability and incredible customizability (with millions of add-ons freely available). Opera comes bundled with tons of built-in features. Chrome has a speedy and simple interface that many people enjoy. While the choice is ultimately up to you, researching each browser will be of great benefit to you.

#4 – AVG (Available from Free.AVG.com)
Description: The Internet has become a dangerous place, with viruses, malware, and spyware lurking everywhere. Thankfully, AVG has provided a free way to handle these problems. Not much more really needs to be said on the subject. Just install, scan, and let it do its own thing.

#5 – Secunia PSI (Available from Secunia.com)
Description: Sooner or later, your programs will be out of date. Instead of worrying about when new patches are released and how important they are, download this application instead. The personal version of Secunia will scan your computer and let you know which apps need to be updated in order to keep your system safe and secure.

#6 – Dropbox (Available from Dropbox.com)
Description: When you need to store files online or want access to certain documents, photos, or music from anywhere in the world, there are plenty of backup services to help you. Dropbox, however, stands out from the competition by giving you 1 GB completely free and integrating its services into the Windows operating system.

#7 – VLC (Available from VideoLan.org)
Description: Ever try opening a media file only to have a codec error? With VLC, all of these problems should go away without any hassle. In a nutshell, if VLC can’t play the file, it’s probably corrupted or not real.

#8 – Notepad++ (Available from Notepad-plus.SourceForge.net)
Description: While most people don’t see the need to replace the standard text editor Notepad, Notepad++ brings to the table a plethora of features without sacrificing disk space or system memory. If you code HTML, C++, Java or any other programming language, Notepad++ will also natively conform to the syntax of your chosen language. Notepad++ also supports plugins.

#9 – 7-Zip (Available from 7-Zip.org)
Description: With files getting bigger and more numerous by the minute, archives such as .zip, .rar, and .ace have become increasingly popular. Instead of having to download a program for extracting each of those formats and needing another to create archives, simply download 7-Zip, which covers all of these tasks.

#10 – WinDirStat (Available from WinDirStat.info)
Description: Finally, while you can buy copious amounts of hard disk space for fairly cheap prices nowadays, there’s no reason not to take care of your files and to clean up every once in a while. Download WinDirStat to see a graphical representation of what folders are taking up space on your machine, and what folders are hiding unnecessary files that you no longer need on your PC.

Web conferencing products have many capabilities that will be valuable to your organization. They can facilitate the way you conduct business, leading to more savings and better management, all which will contribute positively to your bottom line. But in order to maximize the benefits of web conferencing, one must choose the right tools. Because various products have different strengths, you should keep a few things in mind as you select these tools.

Different web conferencing programs are created for different tasks. Thus, knowing what your organization needs is the first step in the selection process and an integral part in successfully implementing and integrating the software as part of your business.
Web conferencing products can be basically categorized into four main groups. Firstly, there are those products that are used for General Business Communications. These products are all-inclusive meaning their capabilities are multi-faceted yet integrated. For example, they can host meetings, do broadcasts, hold training sessions and perform customer service and support tasks.

Another group of products can help you in designing Collaboration Strategies. These products are geared more towards meetings and work which requires a high level of collaboration between various teams. They focus more on the specific functions required by small to medium enterprises. Project Management Focus software meantime allows people to map out how one task leads to another and who is doing what on a particular project. This is ideal for projects that require the collaboration of different databases and run in different locations. Finally Training tools are interactive programs where web conferencing can be used as a training medium.

To begin with, it is important to determine exactly what it is you intend to achieve with a certain tool. You should know the end result that has to be accomplished. You should also ask yourself the sort of activities one intends to carry out to meet these goals. For example, will you require a brainstorming session or a presentation lecture? It is also important to know the number of people you will need to connect with. Will you be delivering your presentation to a small or large group of people? Once you have determined this, it will also be helpful to know what sort of computers the people you intend to conference with have. Having this information can help you decide if you will pursue software that can support different types of computers or operating systems. Similarly, having an idea of the type of Internet connection the attendees of your conference have can help you eliminate some conferencing solutions. For example if many of your participants have dial-up connections, you may choose to no longer consider those conferencing tools that will work only with high-speed connections.

You will also need to decide if you want a web conferencing program that you can purchase and install on your computers or if you will opt to pay for the service each month. A web conferencing provider may be ideal as this can liberate you from the technical matters and you can concentrate on your presentations and deliveries.

Choosing the latter option however opens up a new set of questions to consider: choosing a web conferencing provider. Here are a few helpful guidelines to aid you in this phase of the selection process. Providers offer services at price per minute formulas or at a flat rate. Most experts agree that a flat rate can offer the same level of functionality. You should look for openings that will let you call conferences as many times as you want without suffering extra costs. It may also maximize the potential of the concept of web conferencing if you select a provider that offers Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). VoIP allows you to make long distance calls over the Internet, making your sessions more fruitful than if they were conducted only through text chat. It is also important to choose a provider that gives you easy access to customer service in case you run into technological glitches. The degree of interaction your vendor or provider takes in setting you up and guiding you through your web conferencing journeys will keep you from getting lost in this rapidly expanding sector of the computer industry.

Whatever you decide, you should always make sure to try the technology before actually committing and purchasing it. A mere demo on how the technology works may not be sufficient to give you an idea of how well the tool works or more specifically how the tool will work for you.
Choosing a conferencing provider such as GoToMeeting which offers a free trial period is a good way to be sure you choose the right option. A GoToMeeting Promo Code can be applied to increase the trial period or receive an additional discount.

BloShock was a game that invigorated the first-person shooter genre and engaged garners in a unique adventure in the dysfunctional underwater city of Rapture. The title was a great success and left fans eagerly anticipating a sequel. Fortunately, BioShock 2 brings back most of what made the original a hit and adds new elements that definitely warrant a play-through.

Plot and Gameplay
The story has you waking up as Subject Delta — the original Big Daddy — 10 years after the events of BioShock. You journey through Rapture, now a dystopia of the briny deep, in search of your long-lost Little Sister, Eleanor. Along the way, a psychiatrist — Dr Sofia Lamb — who now controls the city and most of its inhabitants, constantly thwarts you by sending hordes of mutants after you. Audio diaries and the few sane citizens that you encounter, help drive the plot forward, which is often eclipsed by elements such as the overwhelming atmosphere, political and psychological intrigue, and emotional tethers of the game’s revelations.

Regardless, the story is strong, characterized by difficult choices that may result in any of the six possible endings to the game. Newcomers to the series will be easily immersed into the game’s environment, while veterans will feel at home.

BioShock 2 recycles many elements from the prequel — weapons, Plasmids and Tonics etcetera. You’ll be exploring and scavenging the derelict environment, rescuing Little Sisters, hacking vending machines and jabbing your trusted drill into anyone who stands in your way of completing objectives that unlock the next area. This time, the gameplay is more linear — if you miss anything along the way, the opportunity is lost for good.

Combat is more complex and requires more thinking on your part, and the ability to simultaneously wield guns and Plasmids are welcomed. The Big Sisters are very agile and formidable enemies, though encounters with them feel scripted and predictable. Adopting Little Sisters will help you procure ADAM — the resource that upgrades your arsenal of Plasmids and Tonics. Though Little Sisters can guide you, they also have to be protected. Choosing to either rescue or harvest them at any point, affects the gameplay, so choose well.

Enhancements
Perhaps the most obvious upgrade in BioShock 2 is its story-driven multiplayer mode, which allows you to assume the role of a Rapture inhabitant in competitive fights — game modes now feature variation. The game adds exploding corpses, the ability to take pictures of victims and the use of multiplayer specific Plasmids, to let you experiment during combat. The hacking mini-games have been completely reworked for real-time operation and items are scattered throughout levels, making the interplay between gunfights and looting much more enjoyable. Maintaining your perishable health adds another tactical layer, making med-kits extremely valuable resources. The real skill is the management of different powers and ammo types for the best advantage.

Verdict
The world of Rapture sounds and looks as mesmerizing as it did in the original title. The spooky and eerie setting is magnetic, as is the top-notch art direction and voice-acting; it is disappointing how each environment fluxes into the other, clouding the uniqueness of each. As far as character designs go, the crazed Splicers look extremely disturbing, the Big Daddies are imposing, and the Big Sisters give one the chills.

BioShock 2 is a game that constantly evokes feelings quintessential of its predecessor. The title has great combat; entertaining multiplayer modes, some brilliant set-pieces, and a story that’ll keep you coming back for more. The original may still be engraved in the hearts of garners, but this is a title worth playing on its own merits.

Mario Kart Wii – Race For Your Life. Charlie… I Mean Mario

Oh, how the mighty has fallen. Instead of following up on the successes of Mario Kart Double Dash for the Gamecube and Mario Kart for the Nintendo OS. Nintendo has hammered the notion into our old-school skull that the next iteration of Mario Kart will be tailor-made for the Nintendo Wii’s target spectators: your grandmother, mother, and siblings. No two-guys-one-cart action, no innovation and tweaks needed; just good old fashioned racing and item—using,,, only neutered so much that it loses meaning as being a skill-based racing game that can be enjoyed by all.

Blue Shell-shocked
Let’s emphasize the positives first though. The new tracks are superb. Even if they recycled a lot of the maps from the previous games (do we really want to see Ghost Valley or the GSA Mario Kart tracts? Really?), the new ones stand out like gems because of the multiple paths and shortcuts laid out, in addition to how said maps have subtle changes as you go through laps. Coconut Mall and Grumble Volcano are good examples that highlight these key components.

The addition of bikes, even if it’s seemingly out-of-place, is handled well. The bikes themselves are light, turn way sharper than the karts, and can speed-boost on a straight path via popping a wheelie, while at the same time requiring much more practice than the stable body of the kart. Plus, if you shake the Wii Wheel or Wiimote while jumping off of a ramp, you can do tricks which give you a speed boost upon landing.

The online multiplayer mode is also great and accessible. While adding Friend Codes might instill confusion among many you can choose to play with strangers around the world via a few clicks of the Wiimote. Regardless, the online experience is completely smooth with nary a hitch before, during, and after a race.
The new additions aren’t all a bed of roses and sunshine like the game’s art style and music. The plastic Wii Wheel that comes mandatory with the game is Nintendo’s way of making everyone play equally bad against each other with the same horrendous control scheme, lt is nice for a novelty l5- minute spin, but it you want to actually win, the Nunchuk and Wiimote is the way to go.
“Mario Kart Wii feels a little too shallow for its own good, thus alienating players who rely on their skill rather than luck when playing Mario Kart games.”

Nintendo’s further reinforcing of their egalitarian ruleset is also apparent with the game’s default item appearance rate in both single player and multiplayer mode. Until you’ve tuned down the settings in custom games, you’ll be screwed more often than usual with the first-place-seeking Blue Shells and the new-and-not-welcomed-at-all P-Block which stuns everyone and takes away the item they’re holding. Every race feels even more like arbitrary luck than previous Mario Karts. No need for actual practice on how to drift properly and get sparks, people; anyone can just set it to Automatic (for auto-drifting), hold the accelerate button, and pray for the best.

Chop Shop Material
The online component and the new tracks are about the saving grace of this fallacious attempt at a next-gen Mario Kart. While I understand Nintendo policy of going back to basics, Mario Kart Wii feels a little too shallow for its own good, thus alienating players who rely on their skill rather than luck when playing Mario Kart games. However, it is still one of the better and well-made kart games in the market. It is just unfortunate that compared to the high-profile and polished gameplay of its gold-laden legacy, the latest Mario Kart feels content in claiming the bronze medal.

Luckily the Nintendo Wii is backwards-compatible, so you can go back and play the superior Mario Kart Double Dash instead.

Here’s a basic but thorough tutorial on how to back up your hard-drive data – from NewEgg. Looking for NewEgg Coupons? click the link.

The wait is over! Bioshock 2 is finally out! But does it live up to all of the hype and fame of its predecessor? Fans certainly hope so.

The bizarre story takes place 10 years after the events of the first game. This time you take on the role of a Big Daddy who is looking for the Little Sister he was originally paired with. Bid Daddies were featured in the first game and were heavy hitting enemies, as well as the Little Sisters. Big Daddies are seemingly human like creatures with their skin and organs grafted to an atmospheric diving suit. You will be playing the role of one of the original Big Daddy creations.

He searches for his Little Sister amidst the underwater city of Rapture, a utopian city gone wrong that is full of awful genetic experimentations. You soon learn of a new leader of Rapture, a psychiatrist named Sophia Lamb, who is soon to be the reason for the annihilation of Rapture. It’s up to you to find your Little Sister and to stop Sophia Lamb… if you can. Along the way you will learn new horrors about Rapture as well as discover the reasoning behind little girls being taken off the Atlantic coast and down to Rapture.

The feel of the game is the same. Dark, violent, and menacing environments, as well as constant battles with genetically engineered Splicers, other Big Daddies, Big Sisters, and of course Little Sisters.

You can destroy the Little Sisters so that you can harvest ADAM from them. ADAM is used to level up your Plasmids, which are special abilities. Or you can adopt the Little Sisters. If you adopt them, the Little Sister will help you look for corpses to harvest ADAM from. But if you adopt a Little Sister, be prepared to protect her from the vast and many threats found in rapture. Killing a Little Sister for their ADAM or saving them is a moral decision that does affect the game. Big Daddies were in fact originally created to protect the Little Sisters after all.

Some of the Plasmids you will be able to use are:

Hypnotize: Targeted enemy attacks another enemy

Electro Bolt: Electrocutes enemies

Decoy: Creates a decoy to distract enemies

Along with Plasmids you can also make use of tonics. Tonics can raise melee attacks or defenses. They can also raise the amount of ADAM your Little Sister collects from a corpse. There are even tonics that cause elemental damage as well as protect you from it.

There are many types of weapons and ammunition to destroy your foes with. Battle is engaging and quite frightening. But you will find the controls to be easily managed and as fluid as they were in the last game. You can gut them with a drill, or even blow them to pieces with a launcher. You will also have use of a hack tool that can hack security cameras and turn enemies into friends. Lastly make use of a research camera to give you bonuses to aid you in battle.

The environments of Bioshock 2 are gorgeously made. The soundtrack and voice acting is as superb as always. But where it will really shine is with the story, which gets creepier as you progress along.

Bioshock 2 is unfortunately a short game. It will only take about ten or twelve hours to complete it. Another issue is that you have to be close to the end of the game before your Big Daddy realizes all of his true abilities and potential. At this point of the game however, you will be met with a jaw dropping plot twist that was well worth the wait.

Although the game is short, there is the possibility of having one of four endings. Since the endings are unique and the game itself is short, I suggest you play though another time to see a different ending or two. The ending you see is based on decisions you made as you played through the game. Were you a soulless killer, or were you merciful?

One aspect many fans of the series will enjoy is the multiplayer mode. There are 7 different ways to play in multiplayer mode such as: ADAM grab, Civil War, Capture the Sister, etc . In multiplayer mode, the story is actually a prequel that takes place before the events of the first game. At this time the people of Rapture were at civil war with each other.

Bioshock 2 is available for XBOX 360, Playstation 3, and for PC. It has an ESRB rating of M for mature. This is because the game features: blood, intense violence, strong language, and sexual themes.

Have you heard about the new broadband speed test?
Check your connection and how it compares with what your ISP promises.

FCC Consumer Broadband Test.

Just for the record, my results:

Download Speed 19647 kbps
Upload Speed 4522 kbps
Latency 46 ms
Jitter 51 ms

Heavy Rain, a newer release for the PS3, has been widely speculated upon for a long time up until its recent release. Now that the game is out, you may find yourself asking what the fuss is about. Well, you will be pleasantly surprised. This game is definitely a change of pace as it is unlike anything else out on the market.

Heavy Rain is not your typical game. This game is about a story and watching it unravel. It isn’t about leveling up or recruiting teammates. It is a psychological thriller revolving around a hunt for a criminal called the Origami Killer. The mystery of the game unravels as you follow the story of 4 characters whose paths intertwine. Each of these people has their own story and path to follow as they each try to find clues leading to the Origami Killer. They all have their own perspectives, actions, and decisions that affect the path of the game.

The first character is Ethan, a troubled father whose son has gone missing and will soon be the next victim of the Origami Killer. Ethan must go through a series of trials the Origami Killer has left for him in order to get clues as to his son’s location. The other three characters that you will play are an investigative journalist, a private investigator, and an FBI profiler.

As you go through the game, you’ll switch between the 4 characters as you look for clues and try to track down the criminal. As you play, on screen prompts will appear letting you choose one decision or another. Some of these decisions seem simple enough, like whether or not to let your son win at a game. Other decisions will leave you biting your nails while trying to decide what is best, like deciding whether or not to fire your gun. These decisions in fact will dramatically impact the game in some situations. How they will impact the game depends on all of the other decisions you made previously. The possibilities seem almost endless.

It is possible for your characters to die in the game. If a character dies, due to some decision you made, you will just move on to the other characters. However, you won’t see the entire story, you won’t be able to get all of the clues, and you will only see the remaining character’s perspectives. It is actually possible for all of the characters to die! In this case… you probably will get a bad ending to the game. Speaking of endings, this game has multitudes of them. The ending you see will be decided on what decisions you made and what paths you chose.

Heavy Rain goes through chapters. Although it is possible to replay chapters to see different outcomes, I would suggest just playing all of the way through. The game can be beaten in about eight or nine hours. If you want to see another ending, play through it again and make different decisions! The replay value is high as there are so many paths to take and outcomes to see!

This game is slow to get going, but once it starts you won’t want to put the controller down. The story is intense and emotional. You literally watch as your decisions shape the story around you. The onscreen prompts sound as if they may be annoying, but they actually flow with the story seamlessly. You really will feel like you are right there in the story!

The soundtrack has a tempo that fits the mood of the game superbly. The voice acting is good, but the dialog itself is excellent and well written. As for the graphics, well let’s just say you can tell what the characters are thinking based on their facial expressions! In fact, the visuals are quite impressive and well ahead of its time.

If you want to play a game unlike any other, then this is the game for you. Never has there been a game so captivating and enthralling as Heavy Rain. Nor has there been a game that has looked this good in a while!

Heavy Rain is available for the Playstation 3. It has an ESRB rating of M for mature. This is because the game features intense violence, blood, strong language, sexual content, nudity, and use of drugs.

HeavyRain is available at Newegg.com for $56.99 with free shipping.

With the rise of the technological age, laptops have become as commonplace as the home computer once was. In some instances, the laptop has replaced the desktop entirely. One of the primary reasons for the laptop’s popularity is its mobility. This mobility, however, can lead to increased wear and tear, and unexpected damage.

Because laptops are designed to be mobile, they are more prone to being damaged. Aside from the typical wear and tear resulting from the laptop’s mobility, the laptop is at greater risk of damage from an accident. There are many common ways to damage a laptop: accidentally pouring coffee on it, dropping it, running it over, or even sitting on it. Laptops can be rendered unbootable by physical damage to the case.

Mostly, laptops are used as secondary computers, or are wired to office networks; this allows data on laptops to be backed up in other locations. In the case of data loss, the important data from the laptop is stored in a different location. Backup utilities use this connectivity to schedule the automatic backup of files to a desktop computer, or a file server.

In most cases, laptop purchases include a recovery disk CD. The recovery CD contains the version of the hard disk that exists before the laptop is ever used. If the user’s hard disk fails, or the user wants to re-write or re-install the laptop, a full reinstall is performed by booting up the laptop from a recovery CD. In the case of data recovery, after the system has been re-installed, a full restore can be performed from an existing backup.

It is important to note that the laptop recovery CD is not the same as the Windows recovery disk. The data recovery disks are different from data recovery programs. When the computer fails to boot then we use the Windows recovery disk. It is used in both desktop and laptops. It restores the system files in Windows to their original versions. Users can boot up the disk and recover data by using recovery disks to restore hard disk data; such disks are available at backup and recovery software vendors.

Some laptops come with intelligent hard disks, which help to prevent loss of data. The Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology – or SMART technology – informs the computer’s user of the likelihood of hard disk failure. A user with a laptop containing SMART disks would be informed if a hard disk crash were inevitable. This affords the user enough time to back up important data from his or her hard disk. Additionally, it gives the user the luxury of having the service center diagnose the computer before the hard disk fails.

Laptop recovery services are available to owners in case of accidental damage. These are full service repair bureaus, in that they check not just the hard disk, but all of the computer’s parts. The laptop’s owner sends it out to the service center for a checkup, a diagnostics test, data recovery, or some other kind of repair. In the case of laptop data recovery, the hard disk is isolated, and a copy of it saved prior to the start of repairs.

Laptop data recovery process is longer than desktop data recovery. There are also several additional causes of laptop damage and hard disk failure. There are, however, different laptop recovery solutions available depending on the scenario, whether it be hard disk failure, boot up failure, or data loss.

In the case that you have lost really significant data on your PC, you’re going to have to think about looking for a data recovery business near you. The accidentally erased data can be recovered by recovery service providers. Good services offered by different data recovery service providers will help you get back lost emails, photos and important documents.

There are two types of data recovery service providers: one is a data recovery software service and the other is a hard drive repair service. Generally data recovery services chage more money and they take much longer time to recover data. When considering using a data recovery service, consider if the value of the data is worth the time and amount of money you will have to pay.

Obviously, the majority of data recovery businesses each work at a differing pace. The retrieval of your lost information can be accelerated if you are willing to pay more money. The data recovery service provider will review the time required before their service starts. If you want a faster appraisal, you might have to pay an extra fee, but it will decrease the cash that you spend in the end.

Generally, two kinds of data recovery services exist: full-service data recovery businesses and independent experts. Independent professionals can be more affordable than the big data recovery businesses when you figure in the turnaround time. Once data is recovered, there are a number of security issues in the material that should be immediately addressed no matter what type of service is used. Who would you trust to repair your damaged hardware?

The bottom line is, when considering data recovery services, one needs to think about the amount of time that it would take, the entire price tag and the significance of the lost information. A lot of individuals would say that the relief of retrieving their lost information cancels out any possible danger. When considering employing a data recovery company, consider the amount of time and the price to replace all of the data that was lost. A professional data recovery service may be needed to recover some lost data such as photos and emails that you might never see again without their help.

If you can’t recover your lost information on your own, it might be a good idea to look into employing a business which specializes in data recovery services in order to get your data back in one piece.