Initiate the Uninitiated :Godly Tricks for your Windows 8 PC

Windows 8 can be a bitter pill because of the new interface,as every thing seems to be out of their place where they used to be in windows 7.So here are few tricks which can make your daily task easier.

Easy way to access all the settings aka God Mode:

The pain in using Windows 8 is trying to find the various system settings. Here's a way to make them straight away available with a single click.

1) Go to Desktop.
2)Right click and select "New Folder".
3)Once created, rename the folder to this exact code-

                   GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
 you can replace GodMode from above code to any other name whichever you like,but the rest of the code should be written exactly as it is.

4) Open the folder to see all a whole bunch of settings.

 PS-this settings also works with Windows 7

Shutdown Windows swiftly:

Shutting down Windows 8 usually involves multiple steps, as one has to navigate to Charms bar then click "Settings",blah blah then "Power" and finally "Shutdown".In order to reduce this we can create a desktop shortcut.

1. Right click on desktop to select "New Shortcut".

2. Enter shutdown.exe-s-t 0, in the location of the item.

3. Click Next.

4. Name it Shutdown and click "Finish".

Once the shortcut is created you can even pin it to Taskbar (right click on the shotcut and select "Pin to taskbar"), Or you can also place it on the Modern(Metro) interface (Right click on the shortcut and select "Pin to Start").

Add commonly used folders and functions to Desktop

The default desktop in Windows 8 is pretty denuded, so to add commonly used folders such as "Computer" etc 

1. Right click and select "Personalize".

2. On the upper left corner of the box, select "Change desktop items".

3. In the dialog box that opens, check the icons you want on the desktop.

4. Click "Ok" to save.

Small Tablet Showdown: Apple iPad mini vs Nexus 7

iPad Mini vs Nexus 7: The Ultimate showdown of small tablet, it's Apple vs Android and for once outside the court rooms. So let the 7-inch tablet battle begin...

The 7-inch tablets- once branded as "tweeners" by Jobs, he considered them as useless unless they included a  sandpaper so users could sand their fingers down to a quarter of their size.

Despite Jobs, being so publicly against the smaller slate, Apple decided to take the fight to Amazon and Google by announcing the iPad Mini. This was a clear response to the success of the Nexus 7, while the Cupertino company did not name the tablet when comparing it's 7.9-inch device to Google-powered tablet's, but it was a clear cut indication to every one else.

So lets take a look at how the specs shape up

iPad Mini vs Nexus 7: Build

iPad Mini: Continuing the legacy of creating stunning designs with high build quality, the iPad mini is nothing less as compared, made from aluminium and glass design the iPad mini just weighs 308g which according to the company is lighter than a pod of paper . At 7.2mm thick it's as slender as a pencil and a 23% slimmer than the iPad 2.

Nexus 7: Supporting the Android black bezel display, the Nexus 7 features a rubberised dimple like removable back that makes it comfortable to grip for longer periods. Weighing in at 340g and measuring in at 10.5mm thick, the Nexus 7 is lighter than the Kindle Fire, but clearly not quite reedy as the iPad mini.

iPad Mini vs Nexus 7: Screen

iPad Mini: Putting a end to the 7.85-inch screen Apple went a little bit bigger with its 7.9-inch LED Multi-Touch display. Packing IPS display tech to deliver stunningly wide viewing angles, the Retina display is  disappointingly missing in action but the 1024x768 resolution with 163 ppi is the same screen quality as the iPad 2. The extra screen estate should mean 67% more room than the 7-inch tablet devices to browse and watch videos creamily.

Nexus 7: One thing that Asus has managed to nail on the tablet front is making a beautiful iPad-rivalling tablet screen like the one on the Transformer Prime. So, prospective wise Nexus 7 owners can expect a 1280x800 HD display with 216 ppi which might not be as good as the 9.7-inch iPad in terms of clarity and vibrancy, but does outrival the iPad Mini. The Corning glass coating should also ensure it can withstand the odd knock or two.

iPad Mini vs Nexus 7: Camera

iPad Mini: Bringing it line with the iPhone 4S in the snapping department, the iPad Mini has a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, with backside illumination for low lit photography. It also packs a front-facing FaceTime HD camera for high resolution video chats and can also shoot 1080p HD video with image stabilization to keep things steady.

Nexus 7: Finding it hard to accept the fact that people would prefer to take a snap with one over a smartphone, and clearly Google also thinks the same, opting only to include a 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera which should suitably cover all your Skype and Google+ chatting needs.

iPad Mini vs Nexus 7: O/S

iPad Mini: Set to get the iOS 6 treatment, the latest Apple OS promises a slightly tweaked user interface with a new look App Store and iCloud support, a smarter Siri that will launch apps, FaceTime over 3G and TomTom-powered Apple Maps. It's still one of the best mobile operating systems and we expect it be as slick on the smaller Apple tablet as it is on current iOS devices.

Nexus 7: Shipping with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box, the most features most notably brings a speedier performance thanks to the Project Butter, a smarter keyboard, a more sophisticated voice search and the new Google Now service. Android 4.1.2 has also just been released which now enables users to view home screens in landscape which some early Nexus 7 owners did have an issue with.

iPad Mini vs Nexus 7: Power

iPad Mini: The iPad Mini houses a powerful dual core A5 processor for  fast, powerful and power-efficient performance. Although the dualcore architecture should make it still suitably zippy, but the quadcore  that Nexus 7 packs is a powerhouse.

Nexus 7: The one thing that Nexus 7 has over others is the serious power under the hood. Packing a Tegra 3 quadcore processor to tackle multitasking and deliver smooth streaming video, the 12-core GPU should give it enough grunt to handle most graphically demanding mobile games.

iPad Mini vs Nexus 7: Connectivity

iPad Mini: With dual band 802.11n Wi-Fi on board, the performance is twice as good as previous iPad models, while LTE compatibility is an added bonus on cellular networks . the new Bluetooth 4.0 also provides a decent transfer medium.

Nexus 7: With no support of LTE as well as 3G, browsing web on the go is a little pain in the ass unless some tethering action is available as the device only supports Wi-Fi. If you can make a do with that, there is also Bluetooth support, GPS and NFC capability courtesy of Android Beam to instantly send pictures and video. A 3G model has however been tipped to land Google's press event later this month.

iPad Mini vs Nexus 7: Battery

iPad Mini: With Apple promising 10 hours of battery life, sufficiently enough to make it through the day, before you have to hook that Lightning connector up again. Which is kind of good news considering the fact that it houses a comprehensive tech.

Nexus 7: Google claims that the Nexus 7 will deliver a decent 9 hours of battery backup, if you are consuming content like HD video, but if you are simply reading or browsing the web, expect a backup of around 10 hours of Nexus 7 playtime.

iPad Mini vs Nexus 7: Price

iPad Mini: Kicking off with the 16GB Wi-Fi only model, those looking to snap up the smaller iPad will need to part with 329$ with those requiring 32GB or 64GB of internal storage will have to splurge out 429$ and 529$ respectively. On the WiFi + 3G front, owners looking to access the web will have to part with  459$, 559$ or 659$ depending on their choice of 16GB, 32 GB or 64GB storage options.

Nexus 7: One of the main factors of big selling of Nexus 7 was pricing with the 8GB version, which is available for $199 and 249$ for the 16GB model. Recent rumours suggest that Google is planing to unveil its 32GB model before the end of the year.

Verdict

The Nexus 7 was awarded Gadget of the year by many magazines for having delivered a truly impressive tablet device that didn't cost an arm of kidney to buy one. Although iPad mini looks set to build on the runway success of the current iPad and if it performs as well as the current Apple tablets, the Cupertino company could be onto a winner. The Difference in price could prove decisive, but we will have to wait to see what iPad Mini is truly capable of before passing a judgement.

Name	Apple iPad mini		Google Nexus 7
Editor Rating
Screen Size	7.9 inches		7 inches
Screen Resolution	1024 x 768 pixels		1280 x 800 pixels
Dimensions	0.28 inches		7.8 x 4.7 x 0.4 inches
Weight	10.88 oz		12 oz
Operating System	Apple iOS		Google Android 3.0 or higher
Processor Speed			1.2 GHz
Wi-Fi (802.11x) Compatibility	2.4GHZ/5GHz		2.4GHz
Bluetooth	Yes		Yes
Cellular Technology	LTE		No
GPS	Yes		Yes
Ports	Apple Lightning		micro USB
Front Camera Resolution	1.2 MP		1.2 MP
Rear Camera Resolution	5 MP		0 MP
Battery Life	10 hours (est.)		10 hours 37 minutes

Apple Unveils iPad mini

"You knew there'd be something called Mini in this presentation" Schiller joked and putting an end to all the speculations, apple dropped a mini from their iPad series. Addressing at the Apple's Special Event today, CEO Tim Cook and vice president of marketing Phil Schiller finally unveiled the company's long awaited iPad-mini-something Jobs once declared the company would never do.

So the new iPad mini which comes in both black and white, is just 7.2mm thick, a quarter thicker than the 4th generation iPad  and thinner than a pencil," Crook told the crowd. The new product has the same resolution as the larger display 1024x768, but images looks sharper thanks to the smaller screen.With a 4:3 aspect ratio the mini has an advantage over 7-inch competitors. The area measures 29.6 square inches to 21.9 on a 16:9 7-inch tablet . However for the fans of the Retina displays, that's not even close, at just 163 pixels per inch (ppi).

Coming down to the hardware section iPad mini packs a dual core A5 chip, with a front-facing FaceTime 720p camera and a 5-megapixel camera in back. It also includes Apple's new lightning connector, which debuted on the iPhone 5. At 10.9 ounces, the iPad mini is less than the full sized iPad and is just 0.28 inch thick.

"You can hold it in one hand," he said. It's not just shrunken down iPad, it's an entirely new design." Yet the new mini will run all of the software designed for the full size siblings. iPad mini starts at $329 for the Wi-Fi only version with 16GB capacity. Higher capacities and the 4G LTE options are available. Prices for the Wi-Fi only version are $429 for 32GB, and $529 for 60GB. For the cellular version, prices are $459, $559 and $659 for 16, 32 and 64GB respectively.

Pre-orders begin Oct 26. Wi-Fi devices hip Nov.2, and the cellular models will come about two weeks he later. The popular smart cover is getting shrunk as well for the new iPad, with multiple colours offered including blue, green, pink and black

Spec Comparison between iPad Mini and Nexus 7

Here's The Official Trailer

Apple's "Next-gen MacBook Pro"

Apple's WWDC 2012 marked the launch of a completely revamped MacBook-"The Next-gen MacBook Pro", basically the combination of an Air and Pro.

Addressing at the keynote conference, Phil Schiller-senior vice president of worldwide marketing at Apple, said that the new 15.4 inch MacBook Pro is thinner than his finger, coming in at 0.71- inches thick, it's just as thick as the thicker end of an Air and weighs 4.6 pounds-a little heavy for Ultrabook but definitely light for a Pro.

                                                                                 

It's display, however supports a 2880x1800 resolution, with 220 ppi (that's 5,184,000 pixels) and most importantly Retina Display, making it world's largest-resolution notebook. Although still a 16:10 display it has higher contrast ratios, higher angle of view-thanks to the new IPS technology, and 75% less glare, even tough it's a glossy screen.

The Mac OS X Lion  has been updated for the new MacBook Pro display along with the Anti-glare, Schiller said, including Mail, Safari, iMovie, iPhoto and Final Cut Pro. And thanks to the Retina display, we  can now see pixel-for-pixel 1080p video in the viewer. Although the apps need to be updated for working with the new Display but just like the iPad, pixels can automatically be doubled. According to Schiller development works have already been started, this includes Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk and Diablo 3.

Now on to the inside of the machine, two giant battery back nearly covering half of the laptop along with twin fans can be seen. Specs wise the new MacBook Pro packs  a 2.7Ghz, quad-core Intel core-i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.7Ghz, up to 16GB 1600Mhz RAM, along with the introduction of the next gen Kepler graphics via the GeForce GT 650M. There's up to 768GB of flash storage and seven hours of battery life with 30 days of standby time. So it's basically a quad-core Air.

In terms of connectivity, there's a SD slot, HDMI port, two Thunderbolt ports, a USB port which supports both 2.0 as well as 3.0 and a head jack. It also has a new power adapter along with an improved and thinner MagSafe 2 port. Both the Thunderbolt ports, by the way. not too shabby have peripherals for connection. Completely voting against the Ethernet jacks the new Pro will be using Adaptor dongles for FireWire and Ethernet. 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, FaceTime HD, dual microphones and stereo speakers are some other added features. It also uses custom engineered parts which includes the use of asymmetrical blades, which makes it sound quieter.

According to John Ive the production made the company "re-think" how it makes its machines. "It's the very best computer for today and the future," Ive concludes.

The MacBook with Retina display will start at $2,199 for the 2.3-Ghz quad-core i7 with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of flash storage. Shipping's will start from today itself, Schiller said.

UPDATE: MacBook Pro (Retina) Trackpad Update 1.0. This update addresses an issue where the trackpad may not respond consistently to user. More information is available here.

More Snaps rom the WWDC 2012

 

Windows 8 Release Preview

Windows 8 the innocent looking new operating system of the Redmond Giant, Microsoft, got updated from Consumer Preview to Release Preview this week ahead of the scheduled date. Although its just an another version of an OS, once mush loved and now much maligned,but to folks of Microsoft it means much more, to them it's a bold attempt to build an Apple-proof operating system with modern visual elements via the risky Metro Design. For Microsoft to succeed with Windows on all platforms, Windows 8 has to work.

The update, free to anyone who wants to try, offers a few notable enhancements, including a trio of new apps, a "Flip ahead" browser gesture, Flash support, and a couple of updated multi-monitor features. The OS is now available in 13 languages. Mostly this update brings performance and stability fixes, along with granular tweaks.

More Details will be blogged shortly.

Downloads

Windows 8 Release Preview 32-bit, 64-bit or Upgrade Assistant

ISO Format

English

64-bit(X64)    

Sha 1 hash — 0xD76AD96773615E8C504F63564AF749469CFCCD57

32-bit(x86) 

Sha 1 hash — 0x8BED436F0959E7120A44BF7C29FF0AA962BDEFC9

Product Key:   TK8TP-9JN6P-7X7WW-RFFTV-B7QPF 

Also available:

Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate  |  Windows 8 Driver Kit

 

Rumors-- New iPhone 5 to have a 4.0 inch screen

Although the new iPhone is likely still several months away but more concrete information pertaining to the next generation Apple handsets is already making the rounds. This news comes in courtesy of iLounge's Jeremy Horwitz.

Acc. to the editor the new sixth generation iPhone's will introduce a larger screen, most probably a 4.0 inch screen along with Gorilla Display 2. Not only this it is rumored that Apple has abandoned the long rumored tear drop design that most thought would be introduced in iPhone 4s. Instead its expected that another glass-bodied design that's somewhat similar to what's already available on current generation smart phones.

The Wall Street Journals reports that sources familiar with the matter have confirmed south Korean panel maker LG Display and two Japanese firms, sharp corporation and the government backed Japan Display, have already began the production of the new display inch. They believe all the three suppliers are likely to get production orders as early as June, making handset production possible by August and guaranteeing its arrival before the all-important Christmas holiday period.

The new iPhone is expected to be longer and thinner than the 4S, measuring  in at roughly 125mm by 58.5mm by 7.7mm. These dimension make the phone about 10mm taller than the 4S and roughly 2mm thinner while the width is largely unchanged. And because of this for the first time since the original iPhone, there will be a new aspect ratio.The back of the phone will be a departure from the norm as well. iLounge says that Apple will be adding a metal panel to the middle of the back. The panel will be completely flat and made of metal, not ceramic. The final big change is a new connector. This was rumored to be included on the new iPad but that never actually happened. The new connector is said to be slightly larger than the speaker holes on the new iPhone and eventually encompass all iOS devices moving forward.

The rumors appear more credible after Reuters claimed their own sources revealed the same three suppliers are already producing screens, however there's no information on the resolution of the display from either sources.

The reports follow rumors in March that suggested the new iPhone would feature a 4.6-inch display. If anything, the move to a 4.0-inch screen seems more likely, but we'll have to wait and see how this plays out.

Microsoft reveals Windows 8 UI--Ditches Aero Effect

In an elongated blog post, Microsoft has explained some of the logic behind Windows 8's interface. Much of the article discussed about how over the years Microsoft has modified its graphical interface, but a sizable nugget focuses on the desktop environment , including some significant changes that haven't been revealed in the Consumer Preview yet. Most notably, Microsoft says it's scrapping Aero Glass, the glossy, transparent border introduced with Vista, in favor of a flatter style that less distracting.


"In the end, we have decided to bring the desktop closer to the Metro aesthetic, while preserving the compatibility afforded by not changing the size of window chrome, controls, or system UI. We have moved beyond Aero Glass-- flattering surfaces, removing reflections, and scaling back distracting gradients.. We want desktop windows to continue feel light and airy, and we want a chrome style that doesn't distract from the contents of the app". Despite all these changes with the interface, the company doesn't appear to be worried about the issue of "learnability." Instead believes that people will quickly find the new paradigms to be second-nature."

While Microsoft admits that there have been some usability issues with certain gestures in the Consumer Preview, the company says that this is not an issue with people coming to grips with the concept, but instead a problem with the early state of the OS-- internal builds are "significantly improved," according to Microsoft, so we should see an easier-to-use Windows 8 when the Release Preview launches next month. The post also  packs a great dose of nostalgia, as the build team looks back at interface issues dating all the way to Windows 1 in 1985. Be sure to check out the source link below to take trip down the memory lane of Windows builds.

Creating Windows