Differences between Apple TV 3 and 4 (Which one is better ?)

Differences between Apple TV 3 and 4

Apple reported the 4th Generation Apple TV on September 9, 2015. The Apple TV 4 is a noteworthy update from the 3rd Generation TV and incorporates numerous new components not found on its ancestor.

First off the fourth-era is pricier beginning at $149 for the 32GB model, and $199 for the 64GB model. The third-era TV, which is as yet accessible for procurement, is just $69. Here's a couple of the new components found on the Apple TV 4 that are not accessible on the Apple TV 3. 

The fourth-era Apple TV ships with Apple's voice right hand Siri for seeking content over all applications that bolster the general pursuit choice, it additionally incorporates its own App Store for introducing outsider applications and recreations, and it underpins outsider controllers. 

The Apple TV 4 remote has likewise been updated with a "glass touch surface," double receivers for Siri, an accelerometer and gyrator for movement controls, Bluetooth 4.0 and a Lightning connector for charging. It likewise includes new Home and Menu catches, and a devoted catch for actuating Siri. 

Different contrasts incorporate stature, Apple TV 4 is 1.4 inches (35 mm) tall contrasted with 0.9 inch (23 mm), Apple TV 4 ships with Dolby Digital 7.1 and it is fueled by Apple's A8 chip. The Apple TV 3 highlights Dolby Digital 5.1 and it is outfitted with Apple's A5 chip. Both set top boxes have a video yield of 1080p. 

The greatest contrast is the capacity to download outsider applications and computer games. This makes the Apple TV 4 altogether superior to the Apple TV 3, since before Apple TV clients were stuck utilizing just stock applications included by Apple. 

Comparison Chart ( Apple TV 3 vs 4)

Here is a chart that explains all the major difference between both generations of apple tv in detail

Comparison of different aspects of Apple TV 3 and 4

Apple TV (2015) versus Apple TV (2013): Design 

The new Apple TV (in fact called fourth-gen Apple TV) looks precisely like the third-gen demonstrate, yet it's substantially taller and heavier. It weighs 272g and has the accompanying measurements: 33 x 98 x 98mm. 

The third-gen Apple TV weighs 272g and has the accompanying measurements: 23 x 98 x 98mm. With zero catches and just a solitary status light on the front, it has a basic plan and can't be controlled from the discovery itself. The back is the place you'll discover different ports for interfacing it to your TV. 

As the two look so comparable, we can't generally name a triumphant box for this area. We'd get a kick out of the chance to offer it to the old one, just on the grounds that it's littler, yet the Apple TV isn't intended to be versatile, so measure shouldn't generally matter. 

- External and Connectivity Differences 

Remotely, the Apple TV third Gen (underneath) and Apple TV fourth Gen models (above) would be anything but difficult to mistake for each other, and they have a similar impression, yet the later model is generally a large portion of an inch taller and 33% of a pound heavier than its antecedent. 

The Apple TV third Gen and Apple TV fourth Gen have altogether unique availability. Contingent upon your point of view, the more current model might be better or more awful in such manner. 

Both models have a power connector and a 10/100Base-T Ethernet port, however generally shift. 

The Apple TV third Gen models have a HDMI port, an optical sound out port, and a Micro-USB port that formally is for "indicative utilize just" and also bolster for 802.11a/b/g/n remote. It likewise bolsters Dolby Digital 5.1 encompass sound by means of go through. 

The Apple TV fourth Gen models, then again, have a HDMI 1.4 port and a USB-C port formally "for administration and support." It additionally has 802.11ac Wi-Fi with MIMO ability, yet it doesn't have an optical sound out port. It bolsters Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Plus 7.1. 

Power Differences

The new Apple TV highlights 32GB or 64GB of interior stockpiling for each one of those applications and tunes you plan to stream. It additionally has the A8 processor, Apple's 64-bit framework on-a-chip that can be found in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. 

The third-gen Apple TV highlights 8GB of inner stockpiling, 512 MB of RAM, and the A5, a 32-bit framework on-a-chip composed by Apple and fabricated by Samsung. The A5 appeared in 2011, with the arrival of iPad 2. 

It's important the third-gen Apple TV initially discharged in March 2012, with 1080p video bolster and upgraded programming. A moment rendition of the case propelled the next January, with a littler A5 chip and nothing else changed. 

The new Apple TV is obviously a great deal more effective and able (on paper in any event), so it wins this round. 

Remote Differences 

Both the Apple TV third Gen and Apple TV fourth Gen bolster remotes, however the resulting model is substantially more progressed. 

The Apple TV third Gen incorporates a silver shaded aluminum "Apple Remote" with a devoted directional key catch, Menu, and Play/Pause catches. 

The Apple TV fourth Gen, then again, has a dark shaded aluminum "Siri Remote" with a propelled "Glass Touch" surface for directional control, an inner accelerometer and whirligig for extra control choices (especially for recreations as spearheaded by the Nintendo Wii), and committed catches for the Menu, Home, Up/Down, Play/Pause, and Siri. Siri Voice Command bolster doesn't generally function admirably, yet it's slick when it fills in as planned. 

In any case, despite the fact that the "Siri Remote" is more best in class, it likewise is significant that it is very delicate and does not have a replaceable battery like the more straightforward "Apple Remote." 

The Apple TV fourth Gen likewise bolsters outsider controllers, which ought to open up extra gaming and perhaps profitability potential outcomes.

- Software Differences 

In spite of the fact that they are both in light of iOS, the Apple TV third Gen and Apple TV fourth Gen run diverse working frameworks. 

The Apple TV third Gen initially dispatched with Apple TV 5.1 with support for various implicit "channels" and specific "application like" usefulness while the Apple TV fourth Gen runs an all new "tvOS" with support for an application store and undeniable applications. 

Apple keeps on refreshing the Apple TV third Gen programming, yet it is sure thing that it won't be refreshed any longer as most by far of consideration will concentrate on the tvOS going ahead. 

Port Differences

The new Apple TV has the accompanying ports: control in, HDMI 1.43 out, Ethernet, and USB‑C for administration and support. 

Around the back of the third-gen Apple TV, you'll see the accompanying ports for associating the container to your TV: control in, HDMI out, optical sound out, Ethernet, and Micro-USB attachment. 

We like that the new box has USB-C over Micro-USB. It's the most recent innovation, all things considered, helping it to gobble up this segment. 

Things being what they are, which one of these Apple TV models is best for me? 

The Apple TV fourth Gen is superior to the Apple TV third Gen show in about each way. It's quicker, more competent, and has endlessly extended programming support. It is another stage, however, and feels determinedly deficient in many regards. Undoubtedly it will turn out to be better as the product is refined and outsider applications are discharged that take full preferred standpoint of its abilities. 

Therefore, most clients who feel the longing for an Apple TV ought to buy the Apple TV fourth Gen. The Apple TV third Gen is well worth thought for somebody who has less complex needs - for the most part to sling 1080p video from a Mac or Apple gadget and utilize content inside Apple's biological community (or who locate the optical sound port especially helpful) - or potentially who might want to spare a touch of cash, 

App Store

remember that product bolster for the Apple TV third Gen app store likely will be constrained, so it presumably won't be as usable for whatever length of time that the Apple TV fourth Gen, which to some degree mitigates the forthright investment funds when designated over the life of the gadget. 

Site support PowerMax has new Apple TV models free of offers assessment.

Here is a video that explains all the major differences between Apple TV 3 and 4

So which one is better ? (Apple TV 3 Or Apple TV 4)

The major difference is the incorporation of Siri for voice control rather than having to use a keypad to laboriously key in when searching for something. It also has had a major makeover regarding interoperability and runs on its own OS so that developers can develop specific apps for Apple TV. This cannot be achieved on the previous versions of Apple TV. I purchased a 64GB version today and it looks superb. The 'aerial' screensavers are really beautiful. From here on out Apple TV can only get better.

Do leave comments , Feel free to ask anything about the differences of these two Apple TVs

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Sony Xperia M review: cheap Android phone is okay, but there are better budget phones

Sony Xperia M review: What it is - just another budget Android?

The Sony Xperia M is a decent but inexpensive Android smartphone. Shop around and you can pick up an Xperia M for as little as £100, although more typically it retails for around £130, new and SIM free.

It fits into an ever increasing market: that of the the budget smartphone for first-time buyers. At the top of the market most people who want an iPhone, Samsung Galaxy or Sony Xperia Z smartphone  have already purchased one. They may upgrade every year, but they won't contribute to overall smartphone market growth.

That's why phone makers are continually pushing down the prices of decent quality smartphones, using components that get cheaper as years go buy. So it is that Motorola's Moto G and the Windows-toting Nokia Lumia 520 can be totally respectable, full-featured smartphones that offer solid performance and cost around £100. And that's the market in which the Sony Xperia M must compete.

It's a tough market. Is the Xperia M worth the money?

Sony Xperia M review: Interface and screen

The display is arguably the most important component of a smartphone - it's the bit you look at and use as your interface. And it's also the difference between cheap and budget - with a good display you can feel that you have a proper smartphone, with a poor one a toy. With early inexpensive Androids in particular a low-resoution, low-quality display makes the whole handset feel like more of a toy than a sophisticated tool.

In the case of the Sony Xperia M there is bad- as well as some good news. On the one hand the 4in 480x854 TFT capacitive touchscreen is by no means a 'bad' display. But it's not great. For one thing four inches just doesn't feel like enough (stop sniggering).

These days 5in is standard for a high-end smartphone, and arguably 4.3in is the acceptable minimum for an Android handset. We just couldn't get along with the Xperia M's display. It may be the wide bezel into which it is set but it just feels unnaturally small - even when used next to the relatively small iPhone 5.

It's possible that the problem is the touchscreen. Using the Xperia M it feels as though the elements you 'touch' through the screen are a long way away. It feels deep. It's like trying to grab something through water, and it makes the screen real estate feel unaccountably far away. Not great.

On the plus side? Well that 480x854-pixel resolution is by no means outstanding, but it does mean that the Xperia M offers a pixel density of 245ppi. This is unable to compete with the Moto G (326ppi) but for photos and video it is perfectly acceptable. And colours are the usual Sony mix of accuracy without the eye-bleeding power of Samsung's OLED displays. Just don't expect to enjoy reading text on the Xperia M - when you focus in it is bluey and pixelated.

Our problem with the Xperia M's display could also relate to the interface. This is Sony's take on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Sony's version of Jelly Bean is sufficiently recent to be decent, but it is no KitKat. And that combined with the small screen underneath what feels like a yard of toughened glass it is not a great experience. This makes typing a nightmarish trial. Shame.

Sony Xperia M review: Specification and performance

But hey. It's not all bad. The Xperia M is not badly tricked out in terms of performance. It pairs a dual-core Krait Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus MSM8227 CPU with 1GB RAM, the chip running at 1GHz and paired with an Adreno 305 GPU. And even with the older Android it feels perfectly zippy in use. Synthetic benchmarks are not to be relied upon, but they do give a good broad strokes view of performance.

In the case of the Xperia M that means a Geekbench 3 average of 630, nothing like the Moto G's 1,100+ scores, but in the same ballpark as the Samsung Galaxy Ace. That makes sense: the Moto G is the outstanding budget phone of this or any era, and the Xperia M is marginally better than the Galaxy Ace - an older, cheap smartphone.

Graphics performance is similar. We ran the GLBenchmark 2.7 T-Rex test onscreen and got an average score of 12fps. This puts it at the top of the bottom rank of smartphones and chimes with our experience of the Xperia M: it will handle gaming, but is no-one's idea of a gaming smartphone.

The SunSpider Javascript benchmark completes the picture. Here the Xperia M did okay - its score of 1867ms is broadly similar to that of the Lumia 520 with 1646ms (lower is better here). Again, the outstanding budget phones beat the Xperia M, but it does okay when next to other less well regarded cheap handsets.

Overall then there is nothing to get angry about in terms of the Xperia M's performance. Nor is there anything to get excited about, however. It's a budget phone with budget performance. Fit for purpose in our experience, but that is about it. Check it out: The 6 best budget smartphones: what's the best budget smartphone?

Sony Xperia M review: Storage

Onboard storage is a miserly 4GB, or which only 1.5GB was available for use on our virgin test unit. Not nearly enough if you like to use your phone for, well, just about anything beyond the occasional phone call.
 Fortunately you can add in a 32GB SD card, which is a good - if by now expected - feature.

Sony Xperia M review: Design and build

The Xperia M is distinctly Sony. A blocky oblong box of a phone, with curved edges that somehow look square. The model we tested is mostly white, with a silver Sony logo at the top above the display, and with the camera aperture cleverly incorporated into an approximation of the Walkman motif alongside. The bezel is thick at the top and the bottom but relatively narrow along the sides. Glass is laid in to the plastic to cover most of the front panel.

Around the back is a smooth white expanse broken only by another silver Sony logo and the speaker grille. The sides have silver panelling designed to make the Xperia M look thinner than it is. An attempt that is largely successful. The righthand side hosts hardware volume, power and camera buttons. And here the small screen is a virtue, as you can operate the Xperia M one handed - even when using it as a camera.

The Xperia M measures 124x62x9.3mm and weighs in at 115g. It is certainly not a thin phone, although it fits comfortably in the hand and feels plenty light enough. It also feels like it could stand up well to the rough and tumble of modern smartphone life: one of the benefits of being constructed principally of plastic.

Overall the Xperia M feels well put together, and subjectively at least we quite like the distinctive design. It's not premium - obviously so - but the Xperia M at least looks a little different to the me-too black Androids that proliferate.

Sony Xperia M review: Main camera

The Xperia M sports a 5Mp camera with an LED flash. Default images are captured at 3Mp / 16:9. To take 5Mp pics you have to change the settings, and accept a 4:3 aspect ratio. HDR mode is present, although you'll want to avoid using it indoors. There's a decent list of software features including manual settings for white balance and ISO, as well as a range of filters. Other features include Ggeo-tagging, touch focus, image stabilization and panorama.

Author -
Pavan Tiwari

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20 Must-know Windows 8 tips and tricks

 Windows 8 is rife with features and behaviors that conspire to perplex even the most experienced PC users. Not all of them are bad, per se, but few of them are immediately intuitive. Making matters worse, the OS was primarily designed for touch control, and as a result, many mouse and keyboard commands feel like tacked-on afterthoughts.

We've assembled a list of our favorite Windows 8 shortcuts, tricks, and workarounds. Many focus on making the most of the OS on a traditional desktop PC, so if you're interested in touch gestures, please check out our article that focuses directly on the Windows 8 touch experience. Now let's start our journey of discovery with a look at easy-to-use (though often tough to remember!) Windows 8 hotkey commands.

The Hottest hotkeys we know :-

Hold down the Windows key (normally located between Alt and Ctrl) when (Windows) is shown.

• Press (Windows) to enter the tiled Start screen.
• (Windows) + M minimizes everything that's showing on the desktop.
• (Windows) + E opens Explorer for quick access to folders.
• On the Start screen, press (Windows) + D to instantly get to the desktop.
• (Windows) + Tab opens a list of currently running programs.
• (Windows) + Print Screen takes a screenshot and saves it in a Screenshots folder nested in your Pictures folder. 
• To take a screenshot on a Windows 8 tablet, simultaneously press the Windows button and the volume-down button on the tablet chassis.
• (Windows) + Q opens a global search menu. Type what you're looking for and where you would like to look.
• (Windows) + W opens a search in your system settings to quickly locate and change system properties.
• (Windows) + F opens a file and folder search.
• (Windows) + Pause opens the system properties page to show you a quick rundown of your specs.
• (Windows) + "," (that's the comma sign!) makes all current windows transparent, giving you a peek at the desktop as long as you hold down (Windows).
• (Windows) + "." (the period) snaps a window to the right or left side (toggling each time you press ".").
• (Windows) + R prompts the Run commanduseful for quickly launching apps and other routines with a command prompt.
• (Windows) + X opens the Quick Access Menu, exposing system functionality such as the Command Prompt, Disk Management, File Explorer, Run, and more. It's perfect for people who Start Menu. Alternately, you can right-click on the bottom right corner of the screen to spawn the Quick Access Menu.
• (Windows) + I opens the settings menu, giving you quick access to the Control Panel, Personalization, and your Power button, among other features.
• (Windows) + O locks orientation on devices with an accelerometer.

Zoom in tight

The Start Screen is full of nice, big, chunky tiles that represent all your apps. The tiles are easy to see in small groups, but what if you have hundreds of apps installed? Most will be hidden from view, unless you want to do a lot of scrolling. Enter the new semantic zoom feature. If youre using a touch display, simply squeeze the Start screen with two fingers to receive a birds eye view of your entire screen contents. And the feature is also available to mouse and keyboard users: Simply hold down the Ctrl button, and use your mouse wheel to zoom in and out.

Categorize your apps

Your Start screen can become a cluttered mess if you collect too many apps and other elements that have been pinned to the screen as tiles, so take advantage of built-in organization tools that let you divide everything into labeled groups.

First, drag all the tiles you want to assign to a single group to the far right-hand side of your Start screen in vacant territory; the OS should sequester the tiles together. Once you're satisfied with your assembly, use semantic zoom (described above) to get a bird's eye view of your desktop. Now right-click the group (or simply drag down on it) and select the "Name group" option on the left of the bar that appears below. Type in the name and enjoy your newly organized Start screen!

Close an application

Closing an app sounds simple enough, but you'll quickly notice that close buttons are hard to find in Windows 8. That's because Microsoft encourages us to run apps in the background where they'll take up minimal resources, but still be accessible at any time.

Nonetheless, if you insist on being rebellious, you can close an app by dragging it with your mouse or finger from the top of the screen all the way down to the bottom. As you drag, the app will miminize into a thumbnail, and when you reach the bottom it will disappear from view. Alternately, you can still close apps via Alt+F4 and through the task manager.

Centralized, contextual search

The Search function located on the Charms bar is packed with power, letting you search the directories of not only your Windows 8 machine, but also the greater Windows ecosystem. Simply choose the bucket of data you want to sift throughit could be all your installed apps, your system settings, your files, your mail messages, or even an external service like the Windows Store or Bing Mapsand then type in a keyword and hit Enter. The Search function will then return the results, perfectly contextualized for the database youve addressed

Oh, and how's this for cool: You don't even need to hit the Charms bar to access Search. From the Start screen, simply start typing, and you'll be quickly whisked to the text-entry field for search queries. Try it. It works!

Adjusting privacy settings

A lot of apps tap into very personal information by default. Indeed, your pictures, location and name are libreally woven throughout the system, and like many users you may not be comfortable trusting your machine with that much sensitive data. To adjust the settings, press (Windows) + I, and go to Change PC Settings. Select the Privacy option and personalize the settings for your personal data there.

Adjust SmartScreen settings

SmartScreen warns you before running an unrecognized app or file from the Internet. While it's helpful to be aware of a file's source, constant warnings can also get a little annoying. By default, you need an administrator's permission, but this can easily be adjusted to just a warning or no indication at all. Using the magic search function described above, type "security" at the Start screen and find the "Check security status" in the Settings tab. From this area, you can adjust various security settings, including the Windows SmartScreen.

Quick Access Menu

Right-clicking on the lower left of the screenwhether youre in the Windows 8 Start screen or in the desktopwill bring up the Quick Access Menu, which enables a direct line to many key system management chores, including Disk Management, Task Manager, Device Manager and Control Panel.

Use Windows 8 apps and your desktop simultaneously

Because the Windows 8 experience is split between new Windows 8 Store apps and old-school desktop apps, the operating system is prone to some strange behaviors. Case in point: When running a multi-monitor set-up, Windows 8 apps will consume your main screen, leaving your secondary screen running the desktop. This arrangement would seem to allow full-screen multitasking among both types of appsa modern app on the left side, a desktop app on the right sidebut this isnt the case. Indeed, as soon as you begin using the desktop on your secondary screen, the new-style Windows 8 app disappears, and your primary screen begins running the desktop.

But heres a workaround. On your primary screen, use the new Windows 8 split-screen snapping function to run the desktop and a new Windows 8 Store app together. The desktop can take up the left-hand sliver, while the Windows 8 app consumes the majority of the screen. Now use your second display for a full desktop view. In this arrangement, you can fully multi-task between new-style apps and desktop apps, and both windows will be large enough to be useful.

Startup items are now on task manager

You no longer have to run the MSCONFIG program to change startup items. Startup items now show up in a tab on Task Manager. Simply hit Ctrl+Alt+Del and select Task Manager. Click the "More details" tab at the bottom and find the Startup tab at the top.

Share and share alike

Windows 8 is Microsofts first social media-aware PC operating system. Using the Share button located on the Charms bar, you can pick any number of elements from your Windows 8 Store appssay, a location from your Maps app, a news story from the Finance app, or a even a contact from your People appand then distribute that item to friends via other Windows 8 programs.

Perhaps most conveniently, you can quickly sharing a photo via email or Twitter, or to your own SkyDrive or Windows Phone. The Share button is contextual, and the more you use it, the more youll discover which apps share with each other, and which dont. (Hint: None of your desktop apps offer sharing opportunities through the Charms menu.)

Create a picture password

Using a picture password is a fun way keep your device secure while not having to remember a complex password. To enable it, press (Windows) + I to get to the settings charm. Click "Change PC settings" at the bottom right, and go to the Users tab. Under "Sign-in options" will be the "Create a picture password" button. This will give you the option to choose any picture, and then define three gestures anywhere on the image. Your gestures can be circles, swipes and clicks.

For example, to set a picture password for the image above, you could click on the highest palm tree, draw a circle around the island, and then swipe down from the lens flare in the upper right. Just beware: The direction of each gesture matters! After confirming it a couple times, your picture password will be set.

Boot to the desktop without an app

One of biggest complaints about Windows 8 is that it boots straight to the Start screenan annoyance for many committed desktop users. The Start8 utility helps you avoid this indignity (among other cool features), but you can actually boot straight to the desktop without installing anything extra.

Go to the start screen and type in "schedule" to search for Schedule Task in Settings. Click on Task Scheduler Library to the left, and select Create Task. Name your task something like "Boot to desktop." Now select the Triggers tab, choose New and use the drop-down box to select to start the task "At log on." Click OK and go to the Actions tab, choose New and enter "explorer" for the Program/Script value.

Hit OK, save the task and restart to test it out!

Log in without a username or password

To speed up the log in process, you may want to disable the username and password log in screen. This can be done by opening the run windowwhich you can do by hitting (Windows) + Rand typing in "netplwiz" to access the User Accounts dialogue. Un-check the box near the top that says "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer." Click OK and enter the user name and password one last time to confirm your choice, and you are all set for easy access to your system.

Refresh your PC

If your system is feeling a little sluggish, it may be time for a refresh. In the past we would have to find our copy of Windows 7, back up all of our data and perform a fresh install to enjoy that back-to-factory-fresh feeling. But now Windows 8 allows you to perform a fresh install from within Windows without losing any data.

In order to perform the refresh, go to Settings and click the Change PC Settings tab near the bottom. Select the General tab and find the "Refresh your PC without affecting your files" section near the middle (you may also select "Remove everything and reinstall Windows" to get the true factory settings treatment). Select "Get started" and press "Refresh." After a few minutes the PC will restart and you will have a fresh copy of Windows 8.

Start in Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a great way to get into your system when something won't allow you to start up normally. Troubleshooting becomes a breeze when corrupted drivers and files aren't loaded that prevents a system from functioning. It used to be as easy at pressing F8 when the system starts up, but doing so with Windows 8 will take you to the Automatic Repair mode. The trick to getting back to good old fashioned Safe Mode? Hold down the Shift key and press F8 while booting up.

This takes you to the Recovery mode. Select "advanced options," then "troubleshoot," then the "advanced options" again (there are a lot of advanced options). Select "Windows Startup Settings" and finally the "Restart" button. This will reboot the computer and give you the option to boot into Safe Mode.

If you need to get into Safe Mode from within Windows, open the dialogue box ((Windows) + R) and type "msconfig" (no quote marks). Select the "Boot" tab and check the "Safe boot" box. The system will continually boot into Safe Mode until you go back and uncheck the box.

Turning Live Tiles on and off

When looking at the plethora of tiles on your Start screen, the view can get stagnant, despite all the pretty colors.This is where Live Tiles come in. They offer real-time data right on your Start screen, and you don't need to open any apps. For example, the Weather tile will show you the current conditions, and Mail will show you the subject of the latest message you've received.

You can customize which apps are live and which aren't by right-clicking on the tiles. A settings bar on the bottom will pop up with an option to turn the Live Tile on or off. Simply select the preferred option, and you're all set. Note, however, that not all apps have a live, real-time data streaming option.

Windows games folder

Currently, the games folder used in Windows 7 isnt present in Windows 8. Fear not, if you install any current-generation PC game that would regularly save to this folder, it's automatically created. For a quick way to find it, right-click on the game icon on the Start screen and choose Open file location at the bottom.

Family safety

Want to avoid some nasty surprises on your credit card? Create a separate, standard account on the device for your kids (Family Safety can't be applied to an administrator account). You can activate Family Safety by going to the Control Panel, User Accounts and Family Safety and selecting the account you would like to apply it to. From these settings you can get reports on the accounts activity, set a level of web filtering, set time limits and enforce Windows Store, game and app restrictions.

Shut down with one click

Windows 8 hides the Power button in the Settings menu, forcing a multi-step process just to shut down one's PC. But thanks to a crafty shortcut trick, you can pin a Shutdown button right to the bottom of your desktop. Here's how.

Create a shortcut on your desktop (right -click, go to New, then Shortcut). Enter "shutdown /s /t 0" (with no quotes, and, yes, that a zero not an "O") as the location of the item, and hit next. Now name the shortcut (prefereably "Shutdown") and hit Finish.

Right-click the shortcut and navigate to Properties. Choose "Change Icon" in the Shortcut tab, and OK out the warning box. Choose an icon of your choice from the list. In the screenhot above, you'll see we chose a Power button.

Right-click the shortcut again and select "Pin to Start." You can place the icon on your Start screen wherever is convenient. Hitting it will instantly shut down your computer.

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# 25 Tips To Make Your Games Run Faster And Smoother

All computers eventually start to creak in their old age, but with a few quick tweaks and techniques, you can prolong their life for years – especially if you're willing to lose a bit of modern glitz to play the games that work them the hardest.
Here's our guide to enjoying the best entertainment, without necessarily spending a fortune on new hardware.

1. #Clean your PC :-

Like all applications, games benefit from a clean system. Before you even think about buying new hardware, do some spring cleaning.

Even Windows 7 benefits from a slash-and-burn reinstall every few months to get rid of the cobwebs, memory-resident apps and other shackles that so easily accumulate over time. If games are running slower than they used to, it's a very good first step to take.

2. #Install more memory :-

Any major component of your PC can be a drag on your system if it isn't powerful enough. Memory is one of the cheapest to upgrade, and the easiest – you simply pop in new sticks and you're done.If you have 4GB RAM and a 64-bit version of Windows installed, you should be good for anything on the market

3. #Change your video card :-
If you didn't buy a dedicated gaming PC, or your PC is a couple of years old, the graphics card in it is likely to be mediocre to terrible. Any 3D game relies on having a powerful graphics card to crunch the numbers, but buying one isn't necessarily as easy as just plugging one in.
Graphics cards can be incredibly big, and your case needs both the space and the cooling to handle that. They also need to be connected to your PC's power supply, and if that's not powerful enough, the card won't work even after you fit it.
Be sure to check all the specifications before ordering. Given a choice between ATI and Nvidia cards, we currently recommend Nvidia.


4. #Update your drivers :-
It's easy to forget, but the best video card in the world will struggle without the most up-to-date drivers.
If you have trouble with a game, updating the drivers should always be the first step – it'll expect you to have everything ready for it. This can be a pain, but a necessary one.


5. #Boost your CPU :-
If you don't have a decent video card, there's little that any CPU will do for you on its own. However, it still plays a key role in determining how fast your system performs.
Dual-core is fine for the overwhelming majority of modern games, but quad-core is obviously better if you can afford it. You don't realistically need anything more than that at the moment, though.


6. #Forget about overclocking :-
It may sound like heresy, but overclocking your CPU is unlikely to make any real appreciable difference to most games – a difference, yes, but generally one that will be measured in a few extra frames.
If you plan to try it anyway, make sure your cooling can stretch that far. Generally, though, overclocking has become something you do because you enjoy overclocking, and it can safely be avoided if you're not comfortable getting your hands that dirty.


7. #Clean up :-
On the other hand, if you don't mind a little dirt, this is a great time to check the state of your case. If it's full of dust and the airways are blocked, it won't be getting cooled properly, which can seriously affect the performance of your components.

8. #Consider solid state drives :-
With all the pieces in place, it's time to look at your hard drive. This is the perfect time to look at a solid state drive for both Windows and your game files. They're smaller than regular drives, but the performance more than makes up for that.
We recommend having two drives, the second one a nice, big, traditional terabyte model to hold things like videos and photos, leaving the main drive entirely for the applications it does so well. You'll want a large one though – modern games are incredibly big, and they're only going to get larger as the graphics improve.


9. #Cut back :-
If your games are still running slowly, it's time to start switching things off . Be aware that when you do this, you're going to notice the effect of it much more.
A lack of something like anti-aliasing is incredibly obvious when you're intentionally staring at a jaggy object. When the bullets are flying, you're unlikely to notice as much. As a case in point, many console games don't bother with it at all.


10. #Check your PC's v-sync settings :-
Now for the mysterious v-sync. This is vertical-synchronisation, and when it's switched off , you can encounter problems if your graphics card is churning out data faster than the monitor can display it.
This gives an effect called 'tearing', which can make it look as though the game is stuttering or lagging when it's actually performing above and beyond. Leave v-sync alone.


11. #Turn off filtering :-
Anisotropic filtering is similar. It looks good, but it's the kind of looking good that you don't really notice in the middle of a game. It does slow down rendering, though. Switch it off for an immediate performance boost.


12. #Remove reflections :-
Real-time reflections are one of the most intensive graphical effects around, but you won't lose much by switching them off. We're all so used to water being just a coloured plane that you're more likely to notice an effective reflection for being good than to chafe at its absence.


13. #Tone down shadows :-
Shadows are a fundamental part of many games' atmospheres, and it's a shame to lose them. Instead, you normally get to tone them down to something easier for the game to render – for instance, switching off soft edges, or replacing the carefully rendered shadow with something simpler, like a blended circle.


14. #Turn down your effects :-
Before you start switching things off, try turning them down. We don't actually recommend losing all anti-aliasing if you can avoid it, but you probably don't need it at 8x power. Try dropping down to just 2x and seeing if that makes any difference.


15. #Tinker with your graphics card settings :-
If the game itself doesn't give you any options that you can tweak to improve its performance, your graphics card might.
The ATI Catalyst Control Center, for instance, offers an option called Overdrive, which lets you do basic graphics card overclocking on the fly, without you having to open up your computer's case.


16.  #Tweak the resolution :-
This is the easiest thing to turn down if you need a performance boost, but also one of the most problematic. LCD screens are designed to work with a specific resolution, and setting it lower will make your game smeary. If you do crank it down, don't go too far.


17.  #Turn it down :-
Other options vary from game to game, but the standard advice is easy – if it can be lowered, try lowering it.

Games aim for a mid-range system by default. Turning down texture quality is a great way of speeding up games with lots of close-up action.


18.  #Shut down other apps :-
Before launching your game, press [CTRL]+[ALT]+[DELETE] to bring up the Task Manager and shut down any memory-hungry applications. Web browsers, mail clients and office apps are a particular drain. Leave your antivirus and firewall applications, though!


19.  #Software solutions :-
There's a diverse range of applications out there that claim to be able to speed up your PC, but most of them can safely be ignored. If you have the basics covered, your performance will be fine. If you don't, software tweaks won't make much difference.


20.   #Check for malware :-
Malware could be getting in your way, without being as obvious as the viruses of old. You should be running antivirus software, but if nothing else, get something like Windows Security Essentials.


21.  #Online issues :-
In online games, the best PC in the world will struggle if it doesn't have a good network connection. If you're wireless, make sure the signal strength is solid, or look into upgrading your router/receiver. If you still have Wireless G (or worse, B), it's time for Wireless N.

22.  #Wire it up :-

Look into getting a wired internet connection. Depending on how your house's electricity is wired up, you may be able to use a pair of HomePlugs to create a wired network using the power lines, getting faster performance and removing wireless interference issues.

23.  #Check your PC's ping :-

When online, the easiest way to check your performance is to look at your 'ping'. The lower it is, the better. Under 100 is essential for fast action games. If it's higher than that, you need to play on better/closer servers, or check what else you have running.

24.  #Get a gaming router :-

Look for a dedicated gaming router, or one capable of prioritising certain types of traffic. This will give the lion's share of the connection to any games, where every packet counts, while letting more laid-back applications do their jobs as well.

25. # Choose games carefully :-

If you can't get games running smoothly, look for titles that are more friendly. Casual games have low system specs and can still look and play well. Check out PopCap's range or the indie Diablo clone Torchlight .

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Here are 10 reasons why buyers should steer clear of Nokia X phone

#AFTER A LONG TIME NOKIA HAS RELEASED THE ANDROID  PHONES AFTER WINDOW PHONE :-

Nokia’s much hyped Android phone, Nokia X has been launched in India with the company deciding to price it at Rs 8,599. Nokia has said the new phone will act as a ‘feeder’ for its Lumia phones.
It has priced the phone above the Asha feature phones and just below the Lumia smartphones (the Lumia 520 is available at a cheaper price ranging between Rs 7,500 - 8,000 unofficially via e-commerce retailers). The company will also introduce the Nokia X+ and XL Android phones in the next two months which are not very different from the Nokia X.
But do the X series phones from the house of Nokia offer a true Android experience? 

1. #An Incomplete Android Phone :-

Nokia X is based on an open source version of Android 4.1, but is stripped of everything you usually associate with Google’s mobile OS. 

The phone doesn’t come with Google services like Google Maps, Gmail, Google Drive and YouTube, and even the Google Play app and content store. Instead, Nokia wants to force-feed Microsoft’s services such as OneDrive, Outlook and Skype.

You can download Android apps from third party app stores. However, Nokia X also doesn’t include Google APIs, which means that apps that use Google services like Maps or Wallet (for in-app payments) won’t be fully functional unless they’re ported to Nokia’s Store by their developers.



2. #Confusing User Interface :-

Nokia X borrows heavily from both the Asha series (which itself is based on Nokia N9’s Meego Harmattan) and Windows Phone. 

It features two home screens – one that combines notifications, frequently used apps and settings, widgets and running apps, and a tile-based app launcher that offers shortcuts to all installed apps at one place. 

Some of the tiles offer glance-able information, but are nowhere close to Windows Phone Live tiles. 

We didn’t find it to be very intuitive. This mishmash of a UI will take some time getting used to, especially for the first time smartphone users and senior citizens.



3. #More Susceptible To Malware :-

The absence of Google’s Play store and reliance on third-party app stores and sideloading means there are more chances of you downloading and installing a malware app.

Like most Android phones, the Nokia X disables installation of apps from unknown sources by default, but after you turn it on, you leave the phone exposed to malware, spyware and other malicious threats.



4. #Software updates :-

Android phones have a notorious reputation for not receiving software updates on time.

While it is not clear if Nokia will offer regular software updates and bump up the version of Android powering its software, it is worth pointing out that it will take more time to package the OS and customize it whenever a new version of Android is released.

Also, even the current version of Nokia X software is based on Android 4.1, a three generations old version of Android which has not been optimized for devices like Nokia X that feature low-end hardware.



5. #Low-end hardware :-

Nokia X comes with a 1GHz dual-core processor and 512MB RAM. It comes with 4GB storage expandable via microSDcard. The Nokia X+ and XL come with the same processor and 768MB RAM, respectively.

With low-end hardware specifications and an old version of Android, Nokia X phones will offer anything but a sub-par, sluggish user experience. Unlike Windows Phone, which doesn’t need high-end hardware to run smoothly, Android hogs a lot of resources and tends to lag as more apps are installed and used..



6. #Better value-for-money alternatives available :-

In the same price range, you can get phones like the Xolo Q800, Zen Ultrafone 701 HD or Micromax Canvas 2, all of which offer satisfactory performance.

Plus, these phones come with quad-core processors, bigger screen and 1GB RAM. These phones offer a full-fledged Android experience and have access to the Google Play Store.

If you’re not a fan of Android, Nokia’s own Lumia 520 is a great Windows Phone handset in the same price range.



7. #Underwhelming camera :-

Nokia X sports a 3MP rear camera with fixed focus and no LED flash. The absence of a flash renders the phone’s camera useless if you want to capture images in dark or low-light conditions.

The phone also doesn’t include a front-facing camera so the chance of taking a selfie is as bleak as the capabilities of the phone’s optics.



8. #Absence of Google services :-

Google has a dominant presence in emerging markets like India and Nokia X doesn’t include the search giant’s apps and services.

More users prefer Gmail over Outlook or Google Drive over OneDrive. Google Maps offer the better location data in India complete with traffic and transit information, compared to HERE Maps. Microsoft services like Bing don’t offer the same level of functionality they offer in the US.

Google Now, Google’s voice-based assistant available on Android 4.1+ phones that also offers alerts based on location and user activity, is also missing on Nokia’s Android phones.



9. #Uncertain future after Microsoft acquisition :-

Microsoft has inked a deal to acquire the devices business of Nokia and the deal is expected to close in less than a few weeks.

While Nokia X replaces Google services with Microsoft’s, it still is an Android-powered phone. Microsoft already offers apps for services like Outlook, Skype and OneDrive on Android and iOS, so the Nokia X is not helping the cause of getting more users.

We don’t see a plausible reason for Microsoft to continue making these phones.



10. #Awkward positioning in the market :-

Sandwiched between the Lumia and the Asha range of phones, Nokia X’s positioning is pretty ambiguous. Of late, Nokia is facing the heat with budget smartphones from Indian OEMs eating into its feature phone pie. However, instead of replacing its Asha feature phones with the Nokia X, the company has decided to position it as a stop-gap.

Why should a first time smartphone buyer choose a product that delivers sub-par user experience?

We don’t understand why Nokia needed the X series, especially when the Lumia 520, its entry-level Windows Phone handset, is doing well and Microsoft has managed to populate its app marketplace with apps from Indian and global developers.

Perhaps, the Nokia X is just part of an experiment in the company’s R&D lab.

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9 Tips To Help You Keep Your Windows XP Safe After End-Of-Life

1. Back Up Everything, Every Time

Not a tip specific to Windows XP but a valuable one nonetheless. It should be emphasize that although the tips here will help you mitigate risk, they will not eliminate them and therefore,having a regular, working backup is crucial in case anything goes wrong.

Make sure you back up what you cannot afford to lose, properly and securely if case your XP machine runs into an exploit that could corrupt your data. XP doesn’t come with its own backup tool but there are multiple ones available online.

2. Keep Your Antivirus Updated

XP may not be getting any updates anymore but that doesn’t mean that it won’t be getting antivirus updates. The majority of security vendors will still be providing update to their softwarerunning on XP, including Microsoft’s own Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE).

This won’t help you if an exploit targets a vulnerability in the operating system but will protect your system from day-to-day malware.

3. Don’t Use Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer 8 was the last version of IE to be released for Windows XP. The OS never got a newer version of the web browser so XP is stuck with an outdated and unguarded attack gateway via browser.

If you are on Internet Explorer, but have the option to change to another, more modern and secure browser, consider changing to browsers like Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome. Unlike IE, these browsers are still being maintained for XP and will be for the near future.

4. Remove Java, Adobe Flash And Reader

Many security breahes nowadays use third-party plugins as an attack vector, with Java, Adobe Flash and Adobe Reader being the usual suspects. If you are not using any of them on a regular basis,remove them completely and you will remove the biggest attack vector on your computer.

However, if you still need them because of the good work that they do, compromise by installing only the Java functions you need; opt for HTML5 or use click-to-flash add-ons to replace Adobe Flash and do consider third-party PDF readers that are available for free online.

5. Choose Your Software And Keep It Updated

Installing third-party software will always introduce a new attack vector into your PC so choose what you install carefully. Remove those that are no longer being used. Also, make sure you keep those programs updated as developers will always add in bug fixes and patches with the latest updates.

6. Always Scan Your USB Drives Before Connecting

Perhaps the most common way to spread malware is via the unassuming USB drive. Computers you find in colleges and cybercafes are common victims of USB-transmitted malware as they are passed around unawares by one user to the next. If you have no idea where that USB drive has been, always scan it before using them with your XP machine.

7. Use A Limited Account

A study done by Avecto states that 92% of severe vulnerabilities reported by Microsoft can be mitigated by removing admin rights from your account. An attacker can only execute an exploit if they can get the access to do so and using a Limited account is the easiest to block them.

Consider creating a Limited account (find out what a Limited account is here) for your day-to-day activities as most of the time you will only be using your admin rights to install or update programs on your computer.

8. Use XP In A Virtual Machine

Here’s another reason many users are reluctant to upgrade their Windows XP to a newer OS version – they lose out on the third-party software that they are using on their Windows XP because a newer version is not available on the latest OS; or they have to repurchase a newer version.

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If this is the case with you, consider running third-party software on a virtual machine. This will put the OS in its own self contained system within your computer. Microsoft provides a free "XP mode" for those who have Window 7 Professional and above. If you don’t have the version required, try VMware Player, which is free for personal use (you will need a copy of XP to install).

9. Disconnect From The Internet Completely

When all else fails, and you are bent on keeping your XP machine unchanged, consider cutting off all connection between your computer with the World Wide Web. If you take this route, you can ignore the majority of the tips mentioned above. If the only reason you are running XP is to support legacy software or hardware and you don’t need the internet, simply disconnect.

This will remove virtually all the ways that an attacker can exploit your computer. If they can’t reach it, they can’t attack it.

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