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Showing posts sorted by date for query Download. Sort by relevance Show all posts

Download VLC Media Player The Latest Version 2015 Free

05:46 0
VLC Media Player is the most popular and robust multi format, free media player available. The open source media player was publically released in 2001 by non-profit organization VideoLAN Project. VLC Media Player quickly became very popular thanks to its versatile multi-format playback capabilities.


Download VLC Media Player The Latest Version 2015 Free

It was aided by compatibility and codec issues which rendered competitor media players like QuickTime, Windows and Real Media Player useless to many popular video and music file formats. The easy, basic UI and huge array of customization options have enforced VLC Media Player’s position at the top of the free media players.

Flexibility

VLC plays almost any video or music file format you can find. At its launch this was a revolution compared to the default media players most people were using that often crashed or displayed “codecs missing” error messages when trying to play media files. VLC can play MPEG, AVI, RMBV, FLV, QuickTime, WMV, MP4 and a shed load of other media file formats. For a full list of compatible file formats please click here. Not only can VLC Media Player handle loads of different formats, VLC can also playback partial or incomplete media files so you can preview downloads before they finish.

Easy to Use

VLC’s UI is definitely a case of function over beauty. The basic look does however make the player extremely easy to use. Simply drag and drop files to play or open them using files and folders then use the classic media navigation buttons to play, pause, stop, skip, edit playback speed, change the volume, brightness, etc. A huge variety of skins and customization options mean the standard appearance shouldn’t be enough to prevent you choosing VLC as your default media player.

Advanced Options

Don’t let VLC Media Player’s simple interface fool you, within the playback, audio, video, tools and view tabs are a huge variety of player options. You can play with synchronization settings including a graphic equalizer with multiple pre-sets, overlays, special effects, AtmoLight video effects, audio spatializer and customizable range compression settings. You can even add subtitles to videos by adding the SRT file to the video’s folder.

Summary

VLC Media Player is quite simply the most versatile, stable and high quality free media player available. It has rightly dominated the free media player market for over 10 years now and looks like it may for another 10 years thanks to the constant development and improvement by VideoLAN Org.

DOWNLOAD VLC Media Player 2.2.1 (32-bit)

How to Speed Up Logging Into Windows

How to Speed Up Logging Into Windows

20:36 0
However, there are situations where you simply can’t disable everything. Maybe you working in a corporate environment and are required to have certain programs startup when you login. If you’re a business owner or professional, you might have certain business applications that you want to start up when you login.
In this type of case, you need something different. One interesting solution to this problem is to delay the loading of the startup programs by the few minutes after you login. In this article, I’m going to talk about a program called Startup Delayer, which does exactly that.

Startup Delayer

Once you download and install the program, it will show you a dialog the first time you run the program. Here you have to choose how you want Startup Delayer to behave.
startup delayer behavior
Note that you can change whatever settings you picked here later on in the program settings. The dialog has a slider where the far left means you want your programs to load as fast as possible and you don’t mind your computer running slow or sluggish. There really isn’t any point to using this application if you choose the far left because all the programs loading immediately is what’s happening by default when you log into Windows.
As you move the slider to the right, you’ll see it’s pretty much the same except for the CPU and Disk Idle values. By default, its set to 30%, which means the program will wait till your computer is at least 30% idle before launching the delayed applications you have chosen.
Moving to the far right means your delayed applications will start later, but smoother. You might have to wait a minute or so before the application will launch. Startup Delayer manages all of this and will automatically launch the applications when the desired idle value is reached.
Once you click Save, you’ll get to the main program interface. Here you will see 3 tabs across the top:Startup ApplicationsRunning Tasks and System Services. As the name of the first tab implies, any startup applications that start with Windows will be listed here.
startup delayer gui
The startup items are broken down into three different categories: Delayed, Normal Startup and Disabled. You can simply drag and drop the items to the section you like. To delay an application, just drag it from Normal Startup to Delayed like shown below.
delayed startup items
The first item you drag and drop will be given the first priority when loading. As you add more items, they will be added to the queue. When Startup Delayer loads the programs, it will launch then in the order listed. You can change the order of the items by dragging and dropping the items.
When you select an item, you will see that Automatic Delay is selected and the default values for CPU and DISK idle are listed. You can change the idle values for each application individually if you like also by simply selecting the item and typing in new values.
If you double-click on any of the delayed applications, you can configure the advanced settings. TheGeneral tab lets you edit the target in case you want to add any command line parameters to the program.
launch details
On the Delay tab, you can again edit the idle values or choose to do a Manual Delay if you like, but the program developers don’t recommend using manual delays.
delayed program wait
On the Wait tab, you can check a box to ensure that the application has completed loaded before Startup Delayer continues loading other applications. You can also set it so that Startup Delayer will wait until the current program is terminated or a user gives confirmation before launching the next application.
delayed program advanced
On the Advanced tab, you can configure options so that the program launches on certain days only, doesn’t launch if another instance is already running, or launches if an Internet connection is detected. This option can be useful in certain situations. For example, do you really need Skype to launch if there is no Internet connection?
Finally, going back to the main screen, you can click on the green Add New button to add a program that is not already listed. This can be really useful for things like launching a web browser or a MS Office application or any other program that may not automatically startup when logging into Windows.
The Running Tasks lists out all of the current processes running on the system. Again, if something is not listed in the main tab, you can go to Running Tasks, select a process and then click the small round plus button. I would be very careful about adding anything from here to the delayed section because many of the processes listed are Windows processes.
Luckily, they have a filter that lets you hide all the Microsoft processes so that you see only processes created by third-party programs. Just click on the Filter button and then click Hide all created by Microsoft.
hide microsoft processes
The last tab is System Services, which lets you stop, start and disable Windows services, but for the purposes of this article, you should just leave it alone unless you know what you are doing.
Before we get into whether this program actually works well or not, there are a couple of other small items to mention. Firstly, you can click on the Options button at the top right of the main interface to change how the program behaves. I personally haven’t had to mess around with any settings here, but if you want more information during the login process, you can click on the Launch Process tab and select Show always during Startup and check the Show Launch Process Window on Startup.
launch options
By default, the program keeps itself very well hidden and only pops up during the login process if something goes wrong. Otherwise, you won’t even know anything is going on. What’s nice about the program is that it has a plethora of options so you can see more info if you like.
Secondly, you can click on the Tools button to do even more stuff like create startup profiles, view the last launch log, view the last performance graph, create a backup of all your settings, etc.
startup delayer tools

Performance Results

So does this program really work? Well, when I tried it out back in 2008, it didn’t work all that well. Back then, it simply did a manual delay, which didn’t work very well. However, in the ensuing years, the program has gotten a lot more advanced and in my tests on Windows 7, it made a significant difference in the user experience.
Instead of sitting around waiting for the desktop to become clickable or waiting for the Start menu to appear after clicking on it 10 times, Startup Delayer can make everything seem snappy. You obviously have to wait a bit longer for some programs to load up, but I have never once felt I needed one of those startup programs to load immediately after logging in.
It’s also worth noting that the program becomes more useful if you have a larger number of startup items. If you only have a couple of things loading up on startup, it’s probably not going to make a major difference. Let us know if the program helped on your system or not. Enjoy!
How to Back Up Windows App Settings Before Upgrading to Windows 10

How to Back Up Windows App Settings Before Upgrading to Windows 10

09:48 0
Now that we all know the upcoming version of Windows, i.e. Windows 10, will be free for anyone, it gives us even more reason to upgrade. Time and again, I have always mentioned the fact that flashing an Android OS is way easier than formatting/upgrading a Windows operating system. Data backup of photos, music, and other important files can be easily performed on both the operating systems, but Android gives the ability to take backups of app settings to be restored after an upgrade.
Saved app data on Android, when restored, takes away the hassle of going to every nook and cranny of the settings in order to make them just like you had it before flashing.
Well, till just a few months back, there was no software available that could pull that stunt on Windows. But not anymore. Just in time for most of us to upgrade to Windows 10, there’s a tool that can back up your installed application settings.

The CloneApp for Windows

CloneApp is a nifty tool that can easily back up and restore application-based settings of some popular Windows applications. The app is portable in nature, so you can extract it to a folder when you download it – Although it’s advisable not to extract the app in the system directory.
clone app
After you download and run the application, the very first thing you will notice is that the interface resembles CCleaner.

Creating Backups on CloneApp

Under the Clone settings, you will find a list of all the apps supported by CloneApp. The complete list can be found at this link, but some of the most useful are Google Chrome, Microsoft Office, iTunes, uTorrent. Now all you need to do is select the apps you have installed on the system and click on the button Start CloneApp. The Select Installed option automatically selects the apps that you have installed on the system and makes sure you don’t miss out on anything.
start clone app
See What’s Being Backed Up
The app makes a backup of all the files and registry settings it has on your computer. The backup doesn’t include the installed files, but related files used by the app or any profile data it has on your system. Like in the case of iTunes, the app backs up the entire library along with user settings from the registry. The backup is saved to the same folder where you extracted the app.
Note: Registry backups are quick, but if files have to be copied, it might take some time to copy all the related files. If the process is interrupted in between, please delete all the items in the backup folder and start the process again.
backup folder
Backup Settings
To restore the settings after all the apps have been installed, click on the Restore button.

Added Bonus

Officially, the app supports around 138 applications, but additional apps can be added in the future using simple plugins. If you know the backup path of a particular app, click on custom and create a manual backup. Select the files, folders, and registry keys and add it into the list of backups.
backup settings
Manual Back Up
Another interesting feature of the app is the ability to create a list of all the apps that are currently installed on your system. This list can then be used to keep track of every app you require after your system is upgraded. The list can be created by hitting the Windows button and clicking on the option Export Apps to Test File.
windows list
Create a list of installed Windows Apps

Let’s Collaborate to Upgrade to Windows 10 Effortlessly

Ninite, DriverMagic, and now CloneApp. The combo of these three free utilities can really take away the pain of initial configuration after installing a fresh version of Windows. Make a cloud backup of the data from these apps and you are covered for years to come. Additionally, if you would like to recommend a tool that would help in the Windows 10 migration, please drop a comment. It would help me and our readers to have a smooth transition.
6 Awesome Android Apps Not Available on Google Play Store

6 Awesome Android Apps Not Available on Google Play Store

09:42 0
At the recently held annual Google I/O conference, Sundar Pichai announced that out of every 10 phones shipped worldwide, 8 were running on Android. What’s more, there are more than 1 billion active users on the Google Play Store. Surprisingly though, not all great apps that you can run on your Android device are available directly on the Play Store itself. There are some that are available elsewhere and Google will not publish these due to their nature or non-compliance of certain Google policies.
Bloomua / Shutterstock.com
To make matters simpler, we’ve divided the article in 2 separate sections. The first for non-rooted phones and the second for rooted devices.
To Root or Not to Root? We explore the pros and cons of rooting and talk about whether it’s right for you. Do check it out.

Unrooted Devices

1. Popcorn Time

Love watching TV Shows & Movies? Well, who doesn’t. Popcorn Time lets you do just that with the convenience of a simple yet elegant app. Once installed, it gives you easy access to the most popular Movies and TV shows by a simple swipe from the right. There is also a third category for Anime as well, if you’re into those.
Popcorn Time_Main Screen Popcorn Time_Sidebar Menu
There’s a built-in VPN option for those who want to use the app securely. There are plenty of options to customize the look and feel of the app, from the color and size of the font, to the total number of connections and maximum download speed. The whole service runs on torrents, so ensure you have good bandwidth while choosing which movie to stream. Get Popcorn Time here.
Note: Needless to say, the movies you watch using the above app may or may not be legal. At Guiding Tech we neither condemn nor condone piracy. So do check the laws of your land before you decide to use any torrent-based app, including the one we mention above.

2. MiXplorer

A free non ad-supported file browser with great functionality built right into it – that’s the easiest way to describe MiXplorer. The app looks like it’s running Material Design, but is compatible with Android devices running OS v2.0+ (if they’re still around).
MiXplorer_Menu MiXplorer_Settings
Not only does it have a theme engine to customize the looks of the app, but it also has cloud integration with more than a dozen services. Although you may require root access to enjoy some of the more advanced features of this app, even so, this is a great app, well worth exploring. Get MiXplorer here.

3. QuickLyric

Ever wanted an app that gives you the lyrics of all the songs in your library? Well, this is the perfect app for you, and even though there are some alternatives available on the Play Store, they don’t all scan your music library and download the lyrics for offline use.
Quick Lyric_Main Quick Lyric_Download
It also appears that the devs of this app have tried their best to stick to Material Design, although it’s not a uniform experience throughout. But who’s complaining for an app that’s free and works like a charm every time. Get QuickLyric here.

Rooted Devices

1. Adaway

Ads by Google
Tired of all the ads that keep popping up in those ad-supported apps? Well, there is an easy fix to this problem. Simply install Adaway! Naturally, Google has never been fond of such apps and you will never find these in the Play Store. But how hard is sideloading an Android app anyway? Once installed, it simply checks for updated files and merges them with the current list.
AdAway Splash Screen Adaway Main Window
Once installed, there’s nothing else that needs to be done. The app does all the hard work automagically, while you can enjoy all your (ad-supported) apps without interruptions and annoying pop-ups.
Helpful Note: If you wish to know how to make your Android phone completely ad-free, then refer to our article.

2. Market Helper

Want to install those tablet-only apps on your smartphone? Or vice-versa? Well, Market Helper is just the app that you’re looking for. Once you install the app, just go about selecting what device you want emulated, even if you wish to select a different carrier. Once selected, hitActivate, and voila! You’ve got a notice that your device is registered as the one you wanted.
Market Help_Setup Market Help_Confrimation
Not all carriers in countries with an asterisk are supported, but hey – something is better than nothing, right?! Also, if you feel that your phone has been transforming a bit too much and you can’t even recognize it anymore, all you have to do is a simple reboot. It goes back to whatever it was before it started shape-shifting. Err, you know what I mean!

3. Lucky Patcher

Want to remove ads? Check. Want to modify permissions given to apps? Check. Want to bypass premium license verification and still do more? Check, check, and check! This is the ultimate all-in-one amazing app that you’ve been waiting for.
Lucky Patcher_Menu Lucky Patcher_Options
Lucky Patcher also gives you unlimited access to reading apps like NYT and The Wall Street Journal, but since everything is done via a ‘patch’, it will find no place in the Play Store. Get Lucky Patcher here.

Wanna Play Outside the Play Store?

Even though the Play Store is filled with millions of apps (and hundreds are added every day) there are still a few around the world wide web that are not published there, for one reason or another. Have you tried any of these? What has your experience been? Do let us know in the comments section below.
How to Edit Your MP3 Files On PC

How to Edit Your MP3 Files On PC

03:24 0
It's sometimes useful to be able to edit an audio MP3 file on your PC. For example, you might want to remove the applause from the end of a downloaded track, or cut out the preamble from the start. Or maybe you want to increase the volume, or standardize the volume so that there are no sections which are inaudibly quiet.
The "Audacity" program is synonymous with free audio editors for Windows. Trouble is, I've never really liked it much. It's large, very complicated, and full of amazing features which, frankly, you'll never use. Unless you're a professional audio person, being able to cut, copy and paste audio, and adjust the volume settings, is probably all you'll need.
Acoustica MP3 editing windowAcoustica is a commercial audio editing program for Windows. The standard edition costs a very reasonable $40 or so. Even better news, however, is that there's also a completely free version available too. And if you really only want the basic functions I mentioned above, plus a handful of others for good measure, it'll do you just nicely.
The program is only a 5 MB download, and is way more simple to use than Audacity. You'll find the download at http://acondigital.com/downloads/ and you'll need to follow the link to the Basic edition. The program is malware-free according to VirusTotal and Web of Trust, and should work on Windows Vista and above.
I don't edit audio files very often. But when I do, I'll be using Acoustica from now on.
Start Learning Windows 10 With A Free Book

Start Learning Windows 10 With A Free Book

03:22 0

Windows 10 book cover

The final release of Windows 10 will start to hit PCs at the end of July, and will be available to almost everyone as a free upgrade. A good place to start understanding some of the new and different features in this version is to check out a book by well-known journalist Ed Bott, called "Introducing Windows 10 For IT Professionals".
The book is currently published as a preview edition, pending the final version of Win10. It will be updated later on. You can download the current version as a free PDF file right now (and the updated version when it's finished, too). Just go to http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/ebooks#9780735696969 and you'll find the title listed. It's a 6 MB download, and of course you'll also need a PDF reader program installed too.
How to Update PSP Firmware

How to Update PSP Firmware

00:03 0
I always have and always will believe that it’s worth installing an upgrade to firmware for any device, whether it be a computer, wireless router, or game console. In this article I am going to walk you through the steps required to upgrade the firmware on a PSP device.
Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as double-clicking an EXE file and watching the magic happen. With a PSP, in order to update the firmware, you have to follow a couple of steps. However, they are fairly simple steps that don’t require much technical know-how.
Note that there are three ways to update the firmware on a PSP: using a computer, network update, and update using a UMD. I am going to talk about the first method.
Step 1: First, download the latest PSP firmware from the PSP System Software site.
Step 2: Once you download the update to your computer, you need to copy it to Memory Stick Duo media. You can either plug the Memory Stick Duo card into your PSP and then connect the PSP to your computer, or if you can copy it to the memory stick some other way, that’s fine also.
Step 3: Before you copy the file to the Memory Stick Duo, you first need to create a few folders. On the stick, create a folder called PSP, then create a folder inside that called GAME, and finally create a folder inside GAME called UPDATE.
Note that all of the folder names need to be capitalized or else it will not work.
upgrade psp firmware
Step 4: Make sure to copy the firmware update file into the UPDATE folder on the memory stick.
Step 5: Now make sure to fully charge your PSP and plug it into a wall outlet. If you do not fully charge it, the update could fail due to a glitch.
Step 6: Insert the memory stick into the PSP if it’s not already there and then click on Game from the home menu and choose Memory Stick by pressing X. You’ll now see the version of the PSP update about to be installed.
psp update version
Step 7: Choose PSP Update Version and you’ll get a screen that has a Start button on it. Press Start to begin the firmware upgrade. DO NOT press a single button on the PSP or even touch it while it is updating.
Step 8: To make sure the update worked, go to Settings from the Home menu, then System Settings, then System Information. You should see the new version number for System Software.
software version psp
Upgrading your PSP is a good idea because there are a lot more games and software applications that run on the new versions. You can also update your PSP using a wireless Internet connection, but I find this method much easier and safer.