Best Products of 2012: Mobile

Mobile has been used in our daily life just not only for communication, making a call, sending messeges. Till now, it can also be used for play games, add apps, shopping, do bussiness or even make relationship.

A purchasing misstep like that will sow trouble and hassle throughout your entire mobile ecosystem. You won't be able to buy the apps you really want, you'll be barred from using the services you really need, and you'll feel like a complete doofus when you pull out that white elephant in a crowd and someone asks, with a raised eyebrow, "How's that workin' out for ya?"

Here I have created a list for you  help avoid the stigma and potential chaos that can come with choosing the wrong mobile product.

  Apple iPad, 3rd generation (tablet)

The iPad ranks first on this sublist and third overall. Why the third-generation tablet when the fourth-gen product is already available? Because it had the biggest impact on the tablet market—it was the first to feature Apple's high-resolution Retina display. But if you want to buy a full-size iPad now, get the fourth-gen model: It has a faster processor, better Wi-Fi capabilities, and improved LTE circuitry.


Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (e-reader)

Amazon has the best e-reader in the Kindle Paperwhite; in fact, the Paperwhite is so good that it ranked fifth in our entire list. The Paperwhite's best feature is the integrated light that brightly and evenly illuminates the page, even in daylight. But Amazon has made other improvements to its e-reader: The E Ink display boasts higher resolution, the fonts are better, and the underlying software has been significantly overhauled.




Samsung Galaxy S III (Android smartphone)

You don't get to be the best-selling Android phone by being average, and the Galaxy S III definitely has what it takes to move ahead of the Android pack—not to mention the iPhone 5, which didn't crack the top 10 on our overall list (the Galaxy S III came in sixth). With a speedy processor, an eye-catching display, and loads of attractive features, it's our favorite smartphone of 2012.

Apple iPhone 5 (smartphone)

It’s the best iPhone yet, improving on its predecessors with features such as LTE connectivity, an improved camera, and a larger screen. It might not have the best map program, as you may have heard, but we have no doubt that the iPhone 5 is still one of the best smartphones of 2012. While we don't like it as much as Samsung's Galaxy S III, it remains high on our list at the number 22 slot.

Google Nexus 7 (Android tablet)

We saw plenty of cheap Android tablets in 2012, but not one that was a worthy contender for this list. Then along came Google’s Nexus 7, which brought top-flight performance, features, and great design to an inexpensive tablet—along with a lovely, optically bonded display. It placed 14th overall.

Microsoft Surface RT (tablet)

As Maxwell Smart might have said, the Surface RT misses our top 10 by that much. That’s no surprise, considering that this is Microsoft’s rookie effort at building a retail computer; it's number 11 because the Surface has successfully redefined what a tablet can be.

Apple iPad Mini (tablet)

While it lacks a Retina display, Apple's smallish tablet is a joy to use, delivering a higher resolution than the first two generations of iPads. It would rank much higher than 48 on our master list if it carried a price tag closer to that of the Nexus 7.

B&N Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight (e-reader)

Thoughtful design and an ethereal yet effective built-in reading light make this e-reader one of the best you can buy. It’s also the most flexible, with a MicroSD card slot on board. And unlike Amazon, B&N doesn’t charge extra for an AC adapter. On the full list, the Simple Touch is number 26.

How to Encrypt Removable USB Flash Drives with BitLocker?

BitLocker was Microsofts first transfer to full disk file encryption with support included in Windows Vista. Since then BitLocker has evolved and enhanced into a great softwarebased full disk file encryption resolution. New for Windows 7 is support for removable disks. By means of BitLocker on a removable USB flash drive gives a good way to defend your computer data in the event the drive was missing or thieved.
Not only will your data always be protected but it is possible to gain access to your computer data on Windows XP and Vista using a read-only interface that's installed during the initial encryption. Now you are able to get your data anywhere, not just on your Windows 7 computer.
Then, how to encrypt the removable USB flash drive with Bitlocker?
Step 1: Insert your USB flash drive and open Computer so you can view all your drives. Then, right click on your drive and select Turn on BitLocker.
Step 2: Select the way that you want to protect the drive.  There are 2 options for you to protect your USB flash drive:  using a password to unlock the usb or use the smart card.
Step 3: Click Next to continue. In case of the password lost or forgotten, just backup your recovery key so that you can always retrieve data.
Step 4: Click Next to continue and then click Start Encrypting. Your drive is now protected when the encryption completed.
Additional knowledge, with a USB flash drive, you can not only take it for keeping your data in a safe place, it can also help you to create a password reset disk to unlock the password if you forgot Windows 7 password or even  need to solve your Windows 8 password recovery issues.

Article resource from: http://www.passworddecrypt.com/how-to-encrypt-removable-usb-flash-drives-with-bitlocker/

What Are the Best Apps in Windows 8?

Windows 8 has many interesting new features, but the most important has to be the Store.
It's now easy to enhance your PC with a host of powerful apps - games, multimedia, tools, productivity and more - and these can then automatically be installed on all your other Windows 8 systems in a click or two.

This article is going to introduce some of the best apps in Windows 8, and hope you will like it.

1. Metro Commander

One immediate advantage of the Store is it makes it very easy for developers to plug whatever gaps Microsoft might leave. So don't waste time wondering why Microsoft hasn't provided a file manager for the Start Screen, for instance - just install Metro Commander, instead.
The program provides a dual-pane interface on your files and folders, provides easy access to all the usual core functions - View, Rename, Copy, More, New Folder, New File and more - and offers integrated SkyDrive support, too.

2. Norton Satellite

Easy integration with online services such as Facebook is a plus point for Windows 8 - but you need to keep an eye on your security. And the free Norton Satellite can help.
The program uses apps to scan your Facebook links and Dropbox files, for instance, alerting you to threats before they have a chance to infect you. And if your worries lie elsewhere, then Satellite can scan particular files or folders on demand.

3. Multimedia 8

If you're missing Windows Media Centre, then fear not, the Store does have some interesting alternatives - and Multimedia 8 is one of the best.
The program makes it easy to browse your music, video and playlists, for instance. In a click (or a touch) you can access files on a media server, or the web.

4. Free Books

Which cloud services are right for you?
There's more to ebooks than Amazon and Kindle: no, really. And by way of evidence, look no further than Free Books. This attractive app offers more than 23,000 free books (mostly old classics), neatly organised by category and author, with an interesting selection of "Featured" books if you just want to browse.
Double-click any book to download it to your library. Double-click again to read it; tap right or left to turn the appropriate page; and of course the app remembers your current page, so if you leave it and come back later then you'll be able to carry on where you left off.

If you want to get or learn more apps in Windows 8, just visit its official site of Microsoft: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/apps

How to get the Start menu back in Windows 8

Microsoft lopped off the Start menu in Windows 8 to force people to use the Start screen. And I'll admit it, the Start screen does offers several benefits.

Live Tiles can clue you in to the latest e-mails, appointments, news, and other information. You can easily search for any app, setting, or file just by typing its name.
But I still find the folder-structured Start menu the quickest and easiest way to launch any application when I'm already working in the desktop.

Those of you who'd like the old menu back, at least as an option, can choose from a range of Start menu replacements. Most are free or offer a free version. Many go beyond just replicating the Start menu by letting you customize their look and feel.
Here's a rundown of the latest Windows 8 Start menu replacements that you can take for a spin.

Power8

Billed as "yet another Start menu replacer for Windows 8," the free Power8 displays a Start button in the usual spot on the desktop. Clicking on that button brings up the familiar two-pane menu. From the left pane, you can pin your favorite applications and access all your programs via the Programs menu. From the right pane, you can open specific folders, such as Computer, Libraries, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, and Network.

A handy search field at the bottom can track down any application, file, or other item on your PC. The familiar Run command lets you type the name of a program, folder, or file to open it. The menu offers easy access to the Shutdown, Restart, Sleep, Hibernate, Log off, Screensaver, and Lock PC commands.
Right-clicking on Power8's Start button triggers a pop-up menu with several options. The Settings command lets you customize the software's behavior. You can set it to auto start each time you log in to Windows 8. You can also resize the button or change its image.

You can block all "Metro" features, which means your mouse will no longer trigger the Start screen thumbnail or the Charms bar. Even with that option enabled, you can still click on the Windows key to get to the Start screen or press Win+C to activate the Charms bar.
Created by a team of developers in the Ukraine, Power8 is a simple but effective Start menu replacement.

Win8 StartButton 

Also free, Win8 StartButton lets you tweak the look and feel of the Start menu with several customizable features. Clicking on the program's Start orb displays the usual two-pane menu with access to your programs and folders and commands for search, run, and help.

You'll also find options to shut down, restart, or hibernate your PC. Right-clicking on the orb leads you to a Settings window where you can change the layout of the menu and a variety of other features. For example, you can disable Windows 8 hot corners if you wish, add or remove commands in the menu, and change its skin.

Win8 StartButton is a handy program with a basic Start menu and several ways to customize advanced features.

What' more, there are some other ways to get the start menu back in Windows 8, such as Pokki for Windows 8, ViStart, StartMenu7, Classic Shell  and so on.

5 Facebook Pages and Apps for Election Day

As Americans head to the polls Tuesday to cast their vote in the 2012 presidential election, Facebook hopes it will be the go-to site for up-to-date news and results coverage.

If you’re of voting age, Facebook will show you a reminder that it’s election day at the top of your news feed when you log in. You’ll be prompted to mark whether you’ve voted, and that action will be broadcast to your Facebook friends on both Web and mobile versions of the site.

Beyond its efforts to encourage you to vote, Facebook has partnered with and is promoting a handful of apps and pages to ensure you’re up-to-date on the latest news. Here’s a look at how you can use Facebook for Election Day coverage.

U.S. Politics on Facebook

The U.S. Politics on Facebook page aggregates the use of Facebook by politicians, elected officials and political campaigns. You’ll also see a number of reshared Facebook posts from sites such as C-SPAN, as well as Mitt Romney, President Barack Obama and other well-known figureheads and celebrities.

In addition to aggregating posts from others, the U.S. Politics on Facebook page also posts Facebook-specific election stats, such as the top trending terms on the social network in the U.S.

Lastly, the U.S. Politics on Facebook page includes an app that helps you find your polling location by entering in your address.

CNN Politics I’m Voting App

This summer, Facebook and CNN announced a partnership to create an app that lets Facebook users declare that they’re voting and broadcast what issues are important to them.

In addition to sharing your support of a candidate on your Timeline, which is optional, you can browse and answer a series of questions on the candidates ranging from, “Who has the most compelling vision for America’s Future” to “Has Superstorm Sandy changed your preference in presidential candidates?” Other question topics include the economy, immigration, health care, foreign policy, social issues, gun control and more.

iSideWith.com Facebook App

Still undecided about who to vote for? Before you head to the polls, check out the iSideWith.com Facebook app, which shows you which presidential candidate you side with based on the political issues that you say are the most important to you.

After you give the app permission to access your profile, you’ll answer a number of multiple choice questions and select how important each issue is. The app will then match your answers to the candidates and display which issues you agree or disagree on.

The app also lets you share, compare and discuss your results with your Facebook friends.

Barack Obama’s Official Facebook Page

Follow President Barack Obama’s Facebook page. for the latest information and campaign photos. You can also donate to President Obama’s campaign from within Facebook, visit his store for Obama gear such as bumper stickers, buttons and coffee mugs, and commit to vote for the President.

Mitt Romney’s Official Facebook Page

In addition to news and photos, you can also donate to support Mitt Romney’s campaignfrom Facebook, “Commit to Mitt” to vote for him, purchase Romney-branded gear and upload a photo of yourself supporting Romney for president. There’s also a petition you can sign supporting small businesses and job creation.

11 Winning Alternatives to Windows 8's Built-in Apps (Part 1)

Windows 8 comes preloaded with plenty of apps for basic productivity and entertainment, but they're not necessarily the best you can do. We've already mentioned the apps you should download first, but now we want to share some third-party apps that you might like more than what Microsoft includes in its basic Windows 8 installation.

None of the following apps is perfect, but the same holds true for the apps built directly into Windows 8—hence the point of this article in the first place.

People

Part contacts list, part social media hub, Microsoft's People app is a central bucket for all the personal associations you make via email, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Although this built-in app shares Facebook and Twitter updates, it's confusing in the way it jumbles together all your services.

Likewise, People is definitely not a worthy Twitter client. And no worthy Twitter clients are available in the Windows Store yet. An official Twitter app is in the works; but until it arrives, we'll all have to make do with third-party alternatives.

Video

Microsoft's Video app has a split personality. It's a storefront for purchasing the latest movies and TV episodes, as well a video player for your own personal content. Unfortunately, when we tried it, shilling commercial content seemed to take precedence, leaving many PCWorld editors wishing for a deeper, more robust video-player app.

PressPlay is an excellent alternative for viewing your local files. It supports great touch controls that allow you to adjust the volume, change the video's position, and browse videos with the flick of a finger. It doesn't offer any videos for sale, but that's a good thing—and a thing best left to the app built into Windows 8. PressPlay is free in the Windows Store.

Messaging

Microsoft's Messaging app lets you quickly chat with anyone in your contacts or Facebook list, and it even supports video chat. That's great for communicating with the friends you have on those networks, but you'll probably want to chat with people on myriad other services too.

IM+ facilitates messaging through nearly every imaginable service, from Facebook to ICQ. It supports photo sharing, text messaging, and multiple accounts per service, making for the most comprehensive messaging app we could find on the Windows Store, all for free.

Calendar

The built-in Calendar app does exactly what you'd think it would, but not much more. You can check the day's events, add an event with reminder options, and...that's about it. You can use Microsoft's app to sync up your own personal Google calendar, but you're out of luck if you need to sync Google calendars that have been shared with you.

That's why, as with the Mail app (see below), we recommend using the tried-and-true Google calendar as the alternative. You have to access it via your browser, of course, but you'll be able to see all your schedules at once without worrying about hacking the app. And yes, you can put Google Calendar on your Start screen: Just pin it to Start as you would any other URL, and pretend that it's an app.