Tiplet expert tips & tech support

April 12, 2009

File extension avi

Filed under: file extensions — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 5:00 pm

Extension: avi

What is it? Audio Video Interleave File

Where’s it from? Avi is an old, widely used standard for audio/video files. Avi files are uncompressed, so they take up more disk space and take longer to download than compressed files such as MP3. However, the quality of avi files is higher than compressed formats.

How do I use it? Virtually every program that plays audio/video files will play avi files, including Windows Media Player and Apple Quicktime.

Can I safely delete or move it? Yes.

Can it be dangerous? Yes. Avi files found on P2P networks such as Limewire are often infected with malware. Use antivirus software.

— David Hakala

How Do I Install a USB Hub on My Computer?

Filed under: computer hardware — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 1:00 pm

by Tina Gasperson

If you use a lot of peripheral devices with USB connections, such as flash drives, Web cams, wireless network adapters, keyboards, and other input devices, but you don’t have enough USB slots built into your computer, you can get a hub to expand your system’s USB capabilities.
(more…)

What Are Windows XP Service Packs?

Filed under: computer performance,privacy & security,Windows — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 8:00 am

by David Hakala

Microsoft releases “critical” updates to Windows every month. Those are fixes for bugs that should be fixed immediately, such as security holes in the operating system or things that can make your computer crash. Much less often Microsoft releases very large “service packs” that fix a whole lot of non-critical and critical bugs in one installation. Service packs also include new features and improvements to existing, unflawed features.
(more…)

April 11, 2009

File Extension ppt

Filed under: file extensions — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 5:00 pm

Extension: ppt

What is it? PowerPoint Presentation File

Where’s it from? Microsoft PowerPoint graphics presentation program. Many “entertaining” ppt files are passed around via email. Virtually identical to the Microsoft PowerPoint Slideshow format (pps). In fact, you can rename a pps file to a ppt file and vice versa, and it will still play. The difference is that when you double-click on a ppt file it opens in PowerPoint’s editing mode, while a pps file opens in slideshow mode and begins playing.

How do I use it? Microsoft Office; Windows (free): OpenOffice; Web-based: Zoho.

Can I safely delete or move it? Yes.

Can it be dangerous? Yes. Use antivirus software, especially on email attachments

— David Hakala

How to Customize Your Screensaver or Your Desktop Background

Filed under: Windows — Tags: , , , — admin @ 1:00 pm

by Tina Gasperson

Windows XP includes a lot of cool screensavers and backgrounds, but if you don’t know how to change them you can’t take advantage of this benefit. Here’s how to change your screensaver and desktop background, and how to set your preferences.
(more…)

Free Antivirus Download Options

Filed under: privacy & security — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 8:00 am

by David Hakala

Even though there are dozens of free antivirus programs just waiting to download, many people don’t install or use these vital protections. They have all kinds of excuses. What’s yours?
(more…)

April 10, 2009

How to Connect Your Laptop to a Wireless Network

Filed under: Internet,privacy & security — Tags: , , — admin @ 5:00 pm

by Tina Gasperson

One of the best things about having a laptop is having the ability to mobilize your computing. Instead of being tied down to your desk in your home or office, you can work anywhere there is an accessible wireless access point, such as your favorite coffee shop, the library, or the airport. However, unless you’re already familiar with the procedure for getting online at one of these wireless access providers, it can be a little bit confusing. So here’s what to do once you’ve arrived at the coffee shop and unpacked your laptop.
(more…)

How to Legally Remove Digital Rights Management (DRM) from Copy-protected Files

Filed under: digital media — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 1:00 pm

by David Hakala

Digital Rights Management (DRM) is a major bone of contention between consumers of music and video and the producers of such entertainment. Producers want to control their copyrights, dictating where, how, and even how long consumers can use their creations. Consumers – buyers or customers, to give them their rightful names – want to use their purchases, their property, as they see fit. After all, when you buy a book it doesn’t open only when you are sitting in a specific chair, and it does not burst into flames and vanish after a certain period of time. Why should digital entertainment be any different?
(more…)

Screenshots in Mac OSX

Filed under: Macintosh — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 8:00 am

by Nathaniel Poor

A longstanding and long-overlooked feature of the Mac OS that goes back many years is the ability to take various types of screenshots. You don’t need an application to do it (although there is Apple’s Grab), and you can do it from any application (except DVD-playing applications may not allow you to do so).
(more…)

April 9, 2009

How Can I Create a DVD or Other Kind of Movie File From My Digital Photos?

Filed under: applications,digital media,photos and video — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 5:00 pm

by Tina Gasperson

With the advent of digital photos, creating special presentations has become a fairly easy task for the home user. Why just print your photos out on photo paper? Now you can make a captivating multimedia show that will entertain your family and friends much more than flipping through a paper photo album.
(more…)

I Want a New Computer with Windows XP, not Vista

Filed under: Vista,Windows — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 1:00 pm

by David Hakala

New computers with Windows XP installed instead of Vista are still readily available in retail and online stores. That is supposed to end July 31, 2009, when Microsoft promises to pull PC makers’ license to sell XP and make every manufacturer offer only Vista. But don’t carve XP’s tombstone just yet; its death date may change yet again.
(more…)

« Newer Posts — Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress