Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 184
Warning: mktime() [function.mktime]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 117
Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 184
Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 184
Warning: mktime() [function.mktime]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 117
Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 184
Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 184
Warning: mktime() [function.mktime]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 117
Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 184
Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 184
Warning: mktime() [function.mktime]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 117
Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 184
Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 184
Warning: mktime() [function.mktime]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 117
Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 184
Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 184
Warning: mktime() [function.mktime]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 117
Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 184
Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 184
Warning: mktime() [function.mktime]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 117
Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 184
Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 184
Warning: mktime() [function.mktime]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 117
Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 184
Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 184
Warning: mktime() [function.mktime]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 117
Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 184
Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 184
Warning: mktime() [function.mktime]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 117
Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 184
Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Australia/Melbourne' for 'EST/11.0/DST' instead in /var/www/vhosts/yourpcmatters.com/httpdocs/libraries/joomla/utilities/date.php on line 184 BlogYour PC Matters provides expert computer repairs, laptop repair, virus clean, spyware removal & PC help services in Melbourne. Brisbane and Sydney.http://www.yourpcmatters.com/2012-02-05T10:47:50ZJoomla! 1.5 - Open Source Content ManagementGONE PHISHING: Your Guide On How To Detect And Avoid Phishing Scams2012-01-29T23:12:25Z2012-01-29T23:12:25Zhttp://www.yourpcmatters.com/blog/security/gone-phishing-your-guide-on-how-to-detect-and-avoid-phishing-scamsYour PC Mattersservice@yourpcmatters.com<div style="background-color: transparent;"><strong><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br />Phishing. This is not a typo error. But just the same, there is a bait. Go for it, and you’re hooked. Your identity shall flash before you, and taken away in a zap, You’ll be trapped in an intricate net of identity theft and fraudulent cyber activities, where you are nothing but a hapless victim.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now to define ‘phishing’ in it’s true essence: </span><a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/89096/Phishing"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Computerworld.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> states:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<p style="margin-right: 104pt; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Phishing</span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a technique used to gain personal information for purposes of identity theft, using fraudulent e-mail messages that appear to come from legitimate businesses. These authentic-looking messages are designed to fool recipients into divulging personal data such as account numbers and passwords, credit card numbers and Social Security numbers.</span></p>
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scary, isn’t’ it? Yes, indeed, but you can fight it with knowledge and skills as your first line of defense against these deceiving traps, which more often come through those harmless looking emails.</span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5873050/how-to-boost-your-phishing-scam-detection-skills?utm_source=Lifehacker+Newsletter&utm_campaign=f17b4be4f6-UA-142218-1&utm_medium=email"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Lifehacker.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> tells us to look out for and be cautious of the following:</span></p>
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Check the URLs</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Phishing emails come like wolves in sheep’s clothing. They’re masters of deceit -- looking like ‘official emails’ and ‘official websites’ from actual and legitimate companies. Their email addresses, website urls look slightly different from the actual company that they’re pretending to represent.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p>
<div style="background-color: transparent; "><strong>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">As illustrated, check the URL by pointing your cursor on the link requested for clicking. At the bottom of the page, you will see a URL display. Now use your better judgment, if the URL looks doubtful.</span></p>
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span><br />
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">How to detect a fake URL? For instance, the URL of paypal is </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia; color: #333333; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia; color: #333333; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">http://www.paypal.com o</span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">r sometimes you may see </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia; color: #333333; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">http://subdomain.paypal.com. </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">However, if you see something like </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">http://paypal.anotherdomain.com, </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">this should give you a red alert that something is wrong.</span></p>
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span><br />
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">2. Always Go Direct</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Instead of clicking links sent to you from an email that require you to fill-out forms and divulge your personal data, why not go direct to the website of the company itself. If you don’t find any form related to the service or information you are trying to avail or data required from you by the company, then you’ll know that it’s a phishing scam.</span></p>
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span><br />
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">3. What Your Browser Can Do For You</span></p>
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span><br />
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">a. Turn Off Form Autofill: </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">It may be a great web browser feature to auto fill or remember data that you’ve previously encoded in e-forms, that when you fill-out another form, your data easily and automatically pops-out again. If you want to take an extra precautionary measure against phishing, then it would be best to turn-off this feature from your browser.</span></p>
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span><br />
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">b. Utilize Browser’s Built-In Tools</span></p>
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span><br />
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><a href="http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/17/2012/01/60ce498b5634acd4c4e6a6e9da64329d.jpg"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/17/2012/01/60ce498b5634acd4c4e6a6e9da64329d.jpg</span></a></p>
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span><br />
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Browsers like Google Chrome and Firefox come built-in with phishing detection systems that flash warning signs whenever a phishing site is detected. This isn’t turned-on by default. It would be best to set it up for your protection.</span></p>
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span><br />
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">c. Bump Up Your Phishing Detection with Web of Trust</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Most browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, Opera, has</span><a href="http://www.mywot.com/"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Web of Trust</span></a><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">as a browser extension. This extension can give an indication whether a website is trustworthy or not. Install it as a browser extension, then a trust rating shall be displayed on the toolbar whenever you open a website.</span></p>
<span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Now to borrow words of wisdom from an old proverb about teaching a man how to fish: </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Teach a man phishing detection skills, and keep his life and identity safe and secure.... </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Got any other phishing scam detection tips?</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span></strong></div>
</strong></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><strong><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br />Phishing. This is not a typo error. But just the same, there is a bait. Go for it, and you’re hooked. Your identity shall flash before you, and taken away in a zap, You’ll be trapped in an intricate net of identity theft and fraudulent cyber activities, where you are nothing but a hapless victim.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now to define ‘phishing’ in it’s true essence: </span><a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/89096/Phishing"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Computerworld.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> states:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<p style="margin-right: 104pt; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Phishing</span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a technique used to gain personal information for purposes of identity theft, using fraudulent e-mail messages that appear to come from legitimate businesses. These authentic-looking messages are designed to fool recipients into divulging personal data such as account numbers and passwords, credit card numbers and Social Security numbers.</span></p>
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scary, isn’t’ it? Yes, indeed, but you can fight it with knowledge and skills as your first line of defense against these deceiving traps, which more often come through those harmless looking emails.</span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5873050/how-to-boost-your-phishing-scam-detection-skills?utm_source=Lifehacker+Newsletter&utm_campaign=f17b4be4f6-UA-142218-1&utm_medium=email"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Lifehacker.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> tells us to look out for and be cautious of the following:</span></p>
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Check the URLs</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Phishing emails come like wolves in sheep’s clothing. They’re masters of deceit -- looking like ‘official emails’ and ‘official websites’ from actual and legitimate companies. Their email addresses, website urls look slightly different from the actual company that they’re pretending to represent.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p>
<div style="background-color: transparent; "><strong>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">As illustrated, check the URL by pointing your cursor on the link requested for clicking. At the bottom of the page, you will see a URL display. Now use your better judgment, if the URL looks doubtful.</span></p>
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span><br />
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">How to detect a fake URL? For instance, the URL of paypal is </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia; color: #333333; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia; color: #333333; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">http://www.paypal.com o</span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">r sometimes you may see </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia; color: #333333; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">http://subdomain.paypal.com. </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">However, if you see something like </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">http://paypal.anotherdomain.com, </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">this should give you a red alert that something is wrong.</span></p>
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span><br />
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">2. Always Go Direct</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Instead of clicking links sent to you from an email that require you to fill-out forms and divulge your personal data, why not go direct to the website of the company itself. If you don’t find any form related to the service or information you are trying to avail or data required from you by the company, then you’ll know that it’s a phishing scam.</span></p>
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span><br />
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">3. What Your Browser Can Do For You</span></p>
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span><br />
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">a. Turn Off Form Autofill: </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">It may be a great web browser feature to auto fill or remember data that you’ve previously encoded in e-forms, that when you fill-out another form, your data easily and automatically pops-out again. If you want to take an extra precautionary measure against phishing, then it would be best to turn-off this feature from your browser.</span></p>
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span><br />
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">b. Utilize Browser’s Built-In Tools</span></p>
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span><br />
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><a href="http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/17/2012/01/60ce498b5634acd4c4e6a6e9da64329d.jpg"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/17/2012/01/60ce498b5634acd4c4e6a6e9da64329d.jpg</span></a></p>
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span><br />
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Browsers like Google Chrome and Firefox come built-in with phishing detection systems that flash warning signs whenever a phishing site is detected. This isn’t turned-on by default. It would be best to set it up for your protection.</span></p>
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span><br />
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">c. Bump Up Your Phishing Detection with Web of Trust</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; " dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Most browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, Opera, has</span><a href="http://www.mywot.com/"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Web of Trust</span></a><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">as a browser extension. This extension can give an indication whether a website is trustworthy or not. Install it as a browser extension, then a trust rating shall be displayed on the toolbar whenever you open a website.</span></p>
<span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Now to borrow words of wisdom from an old proverb about teaching a man how to fish: </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Teach a man phishing detection skills, and keep his life and identity safe and secure.... </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Got any other phishing scam detection tips?</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span></strong></div>
</strong></div>HOW TO NEVER GET A VIRUS ON YOUR COMPUTER, Yes, It’s Easy!2012-01-22T13:11:25Z2012-01-22T13:11:25Zhttp://www.yourpcmatters.com/blog/security/how-to-never-get-a-virus-on-your-computer-yes-its-easyYour PC Mattersservice@yourpcmatters.com<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" id="internal-source-marker_0.07446069495724172"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Here are 9 easy, simple-to-follow ways on how to avoid getting a virus into your computer</span></p>
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Believe it or not, your computer could be virus free! Following the heels of our previous blog post about protecting your computer from getting viruses from emails, (see related blog post:</span><a href="blog/security/youve-got-virus-in-your-email-3-ways-how-computer-viruses-enter-through-emails"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: underline;">You’ve Got Virus in Your Email! 3 Ways How Computer Viruses Enter Through Emails</span></a><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">) there are ways and means on how to completely thwart the invasion of viruses and malware on your computer You don’t have to be a geek or a techie dude. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/9-easy-ways-virus/"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: underline;">Makeuseof.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> recommends these easy to do and follow, 9 simple steps to a virus-worry-free computer and internet usage:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Beware of Fake Download / Play Buttons:<br /></span>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="fake play button" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tWGHH2dMqDI/S_wi57yN-iI/AAAAAAAAA0U/Wwe5YbAQMx8/s1600/download_button.jpg" width="300" /></span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.07446069495724172">Be wary or think twice before hitting or clicking any “play’ or “download” button. Torrent sites or sites where the ‘download’ keyword is often used, fake download / play buttons are usually present in these sites in order to play a dirty trick on site visitors. When in doubt, check the status bar. Makeuseof.com says that “If the domain in the status is different to the site you’re on, it’s probably a malicious advert.” Also use your best judgement or logic. For instance, after you’ve downloaded a software, then you see a ‘play button’ that looks odd and different from the visual style of the website, it’s a sign that it’s unrelated or a fake.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.07446069495724172">2. Don’t use Internet Explorer:<br /><img alt="internet explorer" src="http://malcommc.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/no-ie-400.png" width="200" /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.07446069495724172">Internet Explorer has always been a hackers’ easy target, simply because a good number of users don’t bother switching browsers. Don’t be an easy prey. Remember to switch browsers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Hang Up on Cold-Calling Indian Technical Support Agents:<br /><br /><img alt="tech support scam" src="http://askbobrankin.com/fake-tech-support-scams.jpg" width="200" /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.07446069495724172">If you get a call that starts with something like this conversation:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“ </span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A:</span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Hi there, I’m from (indecipherable) and we’ve registered an error from your Windows – have you been experiencing any issues with it lately?” </span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Don’t give in. If you take the call and follow the instructions, you’ll unknowingly give the hacker a “remote control access to your PC”. <br /><br /><strong><br /></strong></span><strong><span style="font-family: arial black,avant garde;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.07446069495724172">4. Ignore Pop-Ups That Have Anything To Do With Security or Viruses:<br /><br /><img alt="virus alert" src="http://www.pc1news.com/articles-img/small/fakealert.jpg" width="200" /><br /><br /></span></span></strong><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.07446069495724172">Makeuseof.com simply advises this basic rule of thumb: “ignore any and all security related messages if you didn’t initiate them yourself...” <br />This is tricky because if you’ve got your own anti-virus (AV) software, your first instinct would be to think that your AV has detected an infection. Don’t fall into the trap of clicking anything, just ignore. If you get a pop-up message from a windows AV that you’ve never installed, chances are, you’ve already been infected.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Avoid Public Torrent Sites Like The Plague:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Makeuseof.com recommends these</span><a href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-bit-torrent-search-engines/"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: underline;">best new torrent sites</span></a><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Download from sites with a private tracker.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Fake Torrents That Need a Specific Video Player:<br /><br /><img alt="VLC player" src="http://images1.videolan.org/images/largeVLC.png" width="200" /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.07446069495724172">If you’ve download a movie from a public torrent site and asks you to download a specific video player in order for you to view the video content, this is already a dead giveaway that you’re being led into the virus black hole. Checking a video content through a VLC player is your best defense. VLC players have built-in codecs that only plays genuine movies or video content.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">7. Don’t Open Anything Forwarded To You:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Be wary of emails with attachments that come in the form of flash games, .exe files, or even photos. Most of the time, these emails carry the email addresses of your friends. You know your friends better. If there’s something fishy about the tone of their email messages, never fall into the bait of opening attachments.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.07446069495724172">8. Don’t search for common utilities in Google:<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If you’re searching for common utilities like ‘the best video player’, never do it via Google search. Chances are, you’ll be led to a high ranking site jam-packed with malware. Do more research and ask for expert advice before downloading.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 24px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.07446069495724172">9. Create a non-admin account for general use and family members:<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A computer admin account should not be free-for-all. Limit privileges and access by creating a user account for users other than yourself.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The internet is somewhat a dangerous place. Yet, as they say, knowledge is power. Just be armed with these basic knowledge and training, and you’re on your way to the road leading to a virus-free computer haven.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" id="internal-source-marker_0.07446069495724172"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Here are 9 easy, simple-to-follow ways on how to avoid getting a virus into your computer</span></p>
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Believe it or not, your computer could be virus free! Following the heels of our previous blog post about protecting your computer from getting viruses from emails, (see related blog post:</span><a href="blog/security/youve-got-virus-in-your-email-3-ways-how-computer-viruses-enter-through-emails"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: underline;">You’ve Got Virus in Your Email! 3 Ways How Computer Viruses Enter Through Emails</span></a><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">) there are ways and means on how to completely thwart the invasion of viruses and malware on your computer You don’t have to be a geek or a techie dude. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/9-easy-ways-virus/"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: underline;">Makeuseof.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> recommends these easy to do and follow, 9 simple steps to a virus-worry-free computer and internet usage:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Beware of Fake Download / Play Buttons:<br /></span>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="fake play button" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tWGHH2dMqDI/S_wi57yN-iI/AAAAAAAAA0U/Wwe5YbAQMx8/s1600/download_button.jpg" width="300" /></span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.07446069495724172">Be wary or think twice before hitting or clicking any “play’ or “download” button. Torrent sites or sites where the ‘download’ keyword is often used, fake download / play buttons are usually present in these sites in order to play a dirty trick on site visitors. When in doubt, check the status bar. Makeuseof.com says that “If the domain in the status is different to the site you’re on, it’s probably a malicious advert.” Also use your best judgement or logic. For instance, after you’ve downloaded a software, then you see a ‘play button’ that looks odd and different from the visual style of the website, it’s a sign that it’s unrelated or a fake.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.07446069495724172">2. Don’t use Internet Explorer:<br /><img alt="internet explorer" src="http://malcommc.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/no-ie-400.png" width="200" /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.07446069495724172">Internet Explorer has always been a hackers’ easy target, simply because a good number of users don’t bother switching browsers. Don’t be an easy prey. Remember to switch browsers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Hang Up on Cold-Calling Indian Technical Support Agents:<br /><br /><img alt="tech support scam" src="http://askbobrankin.com/fake-tech-support-scams.jpg" width="200" /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.07446069495724172">If you get a call that starts with something like this conversation:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“ </span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A:</span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Hi there, I’m from (indecipherable) and we’ve registered an error from your Windows – have you been experiencing any issues with it lately?” </span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Don’t give in. If you take the call and follow the instructions, you’ll unknowingly give the hacker a “remote control access to your PC”. <br /><br /><strong><br /></strong></span><strong><span style="font-family: arial black,avant garde;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.07446069495724172">4. Ignore Pop-Ups That Have Anything To Do With Security or Viruses:<br /><br /><img alt="virus alert" src="http://www.pc1news.com/articles-img/small/fakealert.jpg" width="200" /><br /><br /></span></span></strong><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.07446069495724172">Makeuseof.com simply advises this basic rule of thumb: “ignore any and all security related messages if you didn’t initiate them yourself...” <br />This is tricky because if you’ve got your own anti-virus (AV) software, your first instinct would be to think that your AV has detected an infection. Don’t fall into the trap of clicking anything, just ignore. If you get a pop-up message from a windows AV that you’ve never installed, chances are, you’ve already been infected.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Avoid Public Torrent Sites Like The Plague:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Makeuseof.com recommends these</span><a href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-bit-torrent-search-engines/"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: underline;">best new torrent sites</span></a><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Download from sites with a private tracker.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Fake Torrents That Need a Specific Video Player:<br /><br /><img alt="VLC player" src="http://images1.videolan.org/images/largeVLC.png" width="200" /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.07446069495724172">If you’ve download a movie from a public torrent site and asks you to download a specific video player in order for you to view the video content, this is already a dead giveaway that you’re being led into the virus black hole. Checking a video content through a VLC player is your best defense. VLC players have built-in codecs that only plays genuine movies or video content.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">7. Don’t Open Anything Forwarded To You:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Be wary of emails with attachments that come in the form of flash games, .exe files, or even photos. Most of the time, these emails carry the email addresses of your friends. You know your friends better. If there’s something fishy about the tone of their email messages, never fall into the bait of opening attachments.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.07446069495724172">8. Don’t search for common utilities in Google:<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If you’re searching for common utilities like ‘the best video player’, never do it via Google search. Chances are, you’ll be led to a high ranking site jam-packed with malware. Do more research and ask for expert advice before downloading.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 24px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.07446069495724172">9. Create a non-admin account for general use and family members:<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A computer admin account should not be free-for-all. Limit privileges and access by creating a user account for users other than yourself.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The internet is somewhat a dangerous place. Yet, as they say, knowledge is power. Just be armed with these basic knowledge and training, and you’re on your way to the road leading to a virus-free computer haven.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>You’ve Got Virus in Your Email! 3 Ways How Computer Viruses Enter Through Emails2012-01-14T09:51:52Z2012-01-14T09:51:52Zhttp://www.yourpcmatters.com/blog/security/youve-got-virus-in-your-email-3-ways-how-computer-viruses-enter-through-emailsYour PC Mattersservice@yourpcmatters.com<div><strong>
<p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn to how spot viruses attached to your emails and block them instantly<br /><br /><img src="http://blog.supportsquad.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/email_outlook_pc_virus_worm.jpg" width="400" alt="virus in email" /> </span></p>
<span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Viruses are every computer users’ sworn arch-enemy. Their mission is to replicate, spread, and damage. Just like any other virus on this planet, they populate and multiply by looking for carriers, and pass on from one carrier to the next by modes of interaction. In the computer world, one of the most common ways of interaction is through the harmless little thing that most netizens do -- email. Remember the “I Love You Virus” phenomenon? Indeed, a simple email that had on its subject line the words “I Love You”, caused one of the most devastating and widely spread damage to computer machines and files worldwide. By merely opening a simple email attachment with the filename </span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"LOVE-LETTER-FOR-YOU.txt.", it damaged the machine, files, and multiplied by sending a copy of itself to the first 50 email addresses in a Windows Address Book.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn how to spot these innocent-looking and sounding emails. Makeuseof.com has identified the</span><a href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/top-ways-people-infected-email-virus-case-wondering/"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">3 Top Ways People Get Infected by An Email Virus:</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/top-ways-people-infected-email-virus-case-wondering/"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;"></span></a><br /><span style="font-size: 20px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. A Virus As An Email Hoax</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oh how we easily fall for chain letters and do not hesitate on forwarding them to all our contacts. A heartbreaking story of a parent asking for an organ donation of his sick child; a threatening note that says if you don’t forward it to your friends, you will lose your job... we all fall prey to these email hoaxes. Viruses are not always programs. The email is the virus itself. They clog-up our inboxes and mail servers, they make us feel gullible, they waste our time and energy. Think twice before you hit the forward button. Here are sites that could help:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a. About.com: </span><a href="http://netforbeginners.about.com/od/antivirusantispyware/l/blvh_alerts.htm"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #0477cd; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Top 10 lists</span></a><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of latest viruses, virus alerts, and virus hoaxes</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">b. </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="http://www.hoax-slayer.com/"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #0477cd; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Hoax-Slayer</span></a><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: get information about email hoaxes, verify credibility of your email sources</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 20px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. A Virus In An Email Attachment</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The “I Love You Virus” is a classic example. The virus, which comes as an email attachment, has self-replicating characteristics. These a</span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ttachments that contain viruses are :</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a. Executable Programs with file types: .com, .exe, .vbs, .zip, .scr, .dll, .pif, .js</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">b. Macro Viruses with file types: .doc, .dot, .xls, .xlt</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reading the email won’t do any harm, but opening the attachment opens up the virus for hatching. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So the best line of defense is to read the email, and if it looks suspicious, press delete.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 20px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. A Virus In The Email Body</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HTML is now commonly used in email to embed images and links. However, they can also be used as carriers by </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">embedding scripts that can execute a virus and infect your computer. Hence, mail programs block HTMLs and first ask for your consent to display these content and ask you if these come from a trustworthy source. This is a safety precaution that you should always enable. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">URLs can also come as wolves in sheeps’ clothing. What seems like a harmless link could either be a doorway that leads to a website of a malicious script, or you may unknowingly download and launch a self-executing virus.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another basic rule of thumb: Verify your sources. Never open links from suspicious sources.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a gist, Makeuseof.com recommends you to keep a ‘safety first’ state of mind by doing the following:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 16px; color: #3b3128; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Act smart, not fast.</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 16px; color: #3b3128; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Verify the source of any suspicious email before you act.</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 16px; color: #3b3128; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Generally, do not blindly forward emails, open attachments and links, or view HTML content.</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 16px; color: #3b3128; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get an antivirus program and regularly update its virus definitions.</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 16px; color: #3b3128; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make sure your mail program is set to not automatically download and open attachments or display HTML content.</span></li>
</ul>
<br /></strong></div><div><strong>
<p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn to how spot viruses attached to your emails and block them instantly<br /><br /><img src="http://blog.supportsquad.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/email_outlook_pc_virus_worm.jpg" width="400" alt="virus in email" /> </span></p>
<span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Viruses are every computer users’ sworn arch-enemy. Their mission is to replicate, spread, and damage. Just like any other virus on this planet, they populate and multiply by looking for carriers, and pass on from one carrier to the next by modes of interaction. In the computer world, one of the most common ways of interaction is through the harmless little thing that most netizens do -- email. Remember the “I Love You Virus” phenomenon? Indeed, a simple email that had on its subject line the words “I Love You”, caused one of the most devastating and widely spread damage to computer machines and files worldwide. By merely opening a simple email attachment with the filename </span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"LOVE-LETTER-FOR-YOU.txt.", it damaged the machine, files, and multiplied by sending a copy of itself to the first 50 email addresses in a Windows Address Book.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn how to spot these innocent-looking and sounding emails. Makeuseof.com has identified the</span><a href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/top-ways-people-infected-email-virus-case-wondering/"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">3 Top Ways People Get Infected by An Email Virus:</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/top-ways-people-infected-email-virus-case-wondering/"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;"></span></a><br /><span style="font-size: 20px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. A Virus As An Email Hoax</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oh how we easily fall for chain letters and do not hesitate on forwarding them to all our contacts. A heartbreaking story of a parent asking for an organ donation of his sick child; a threatening note that says if you don’t forward it to your friends, you will lose your job... we all fall prey to these email hoaxes. Viruses are not always programs. The email is the virus itself. They clog-up our inboxes and mail servers, they make us feel gullible, they waste our time and energy. Think twice before you hit the forward button. Here are sites that could help:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a. About.com: </span><a href="http://netforbeginners.about.com/od/antivirusantispyware/l/blvh_alerts.htm"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #0477cd; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Top 10 lists</span></a><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of latest viruses, virus alerts, and virus hoaxes</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">b. </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="http://www.hoax-slayer.com/"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #0477cd; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Hoax-Slayer</span></a><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: get information about email hoaxes, verify credibility of your email sources</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 20px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. A Virus In An Email Attachment</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The “I Love You Virus” is a classic example. The virus, which comes as an email attachment, has self-replicating characteristics. These a</span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ttachments that contain viruses are :</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a. Executable Programs with file types: .com, .exe, .vbs, .zip, .scr, .dll, .pif, .js</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">b. Macro Viruses with file types: .doc, .dot, .xls, .xlt</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reading the email won’t do any harm, but opening the attachment opens up the virus for hatching. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So the best line of defense is to read the email, and if it looks suspicious, press delete.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 20px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. A Virus In The Email Body</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HTML is now commonly used in email to embed images and links. However, they can also be used as carriers by </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">embedding scripts that can execute a virus and infect your computer. Hence, mail programs block HTMLs and first ask for your consent to display these content and ask you if these come from a trustworthy source. This is a safety precaution that you should always enable. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">URLs can also come as wolves in sheeps’ clothing. What seems like a harmless link could either be a doorway that leads to a website of a malicious script, or you may unknowingly download and launch a self-executing virus.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another basic rule of thumb: Verify your sources. Never open links from suspicious sources.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a gist, Makeuseof.com recommends you to keep a ‘safety first’ state of mind by doing the following:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 16px; color: #3b3128; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Act smart, not fast.</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 16px; color: #3b3128; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Verify the source of any suspicious email before you act.</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 16px; color: #3b3128; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Generally, do not blindly forward emails, open attachments and links, or view HTML content.</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 16px; color: #3b3128; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get an antivirus program and regularly update its virus definitions.</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 16px; color: #3b3128; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make sure your mail program is set to not automatically download and open attachments or display HTML content.</span></li>
</ul>
<br /></strong></div>SOFTWARE vs. SOFTWARE: Apps To Help You Break Free from Online Distractions2012-01-06T12:04:18Z2012-01-06T12:04:18Zhttp://www.yourpcmatters.com/blog/software/software-vs-software-apps-to-help-you-break-free-from-online-distractionsYour PC Mattersservice@yourpcmatters.com<div><strong>
<p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Increase work productivity with online software that block your access to addictive and distracting websites.<br /><br /></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><strong>
<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; display: inline !important; "><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; "></span></p>
<div style="font-weight: bold;"><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instead of writing a haiku poetry, you “tweet”. In lieu of introducing yourself to someone, you “+1 Add Friend”. You no longer watch funny movies on the big screen, you “LMAO” at viral videos on YouTube. You can’t help but sneak in a quick “RT” or raise your thumbs up to “LIKE” or express yourself with a “comment”. Admit it, you’re an addict. And this form of addiction has greatly affected your productivity and focus on the more important pursuits of life--- like a doing your job, finishing your tasks, making a living...making friends, nurturing relationships, going on dates, bonding with family...</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If the internet has somehow put you in dazed and distracted state, the internet also offers antidotes that could help you curb your appetite for these online distractions. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This report from technology website, </span><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/01/03/block-internet-distractions-apps/#view_as_one_page-gallery_box3669"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Mashable</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, says, “</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #474747; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">what’s better to fight a software addiction than software itself?</span></strong></div>
<br />
<div style="font-weight: bold;"><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #474747; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. </span><a href="http://macfreedom.com/"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">FREEDOM</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></strong></div>
<strong><img src="http://macfreedom.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/logos/Freedom_Windows.jpg" width="221" alt="freedom" /></strong>
<div><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recommended for those who want to quit cold turkey. Touted as the “</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #474747; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal; color: #474747;">grandaddy of the Internet restriction programs”. This software can bar you from surfing the net for up to 8 hours at a time. The $10 program is such a small price to pay for bringing back your productivity.<br /><br /></span>
<div><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. </span><a href="https://www.rescuetime.com/" style="color: #474747; text-decoration: none; "><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">RESCUETIME</span></a><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: bold; color: #000099;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><img src="http://www.timedoctor.com/blog/images/2011/01/rescue-time-comparison.jpg" width="221" alt="rescue time" /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #000000;">This website gives it to you in-your-face. At the end of the day, the software reads out your online web activities, making you realize how much of your time was spent on sites that steered you out of focus.<br /><br /></span>
<div><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. </span><a href="http://www.hogbaysoftware.com/products/writeroom" style="color: #000000; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">WRITE ROOM </span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(for Mac) and </span><a href="http://they.misled.us/dark-room" style="color: #000000; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">DARK ROOM</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (for PC)<br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="color: #000000;"><br /></span><span style="color: #000099;"><img src="http://www.hogbaysoftware.com/static/writeroom/header.png" width="221" alt="write room" /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Getting a spell of writer’s block? Well, perhaps you should focus on nothing but --- writing! The Write Room (for Mac) and the Dark Rom (for PC) are programs that allow you to use your PC only as a word processor for a certain period of time.</span><span style="color: #000000;"><strong><br /></strong></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="color: #000000;"><strong><br /></strong></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now that’s what you call ‘getting a dose of your own medicine’. These apps could help save the day and get you a life -- a quality and productive one at that. <br /><br />Got any other helpful tips on how to make your computer time more productive?</span></strong></div>
<span style="color: #000000;"> </span></span></strong></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal; color: #474747;"> </span></span></strong></div>
<strong> </strong>
<p style="font-weight: bold;"> </p>
</strong></div>
<p style="font-weight: bold;"> </p>
</strong></div><div><strong>
<p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Increase work productivity with online software that block your access to addictive and distracting websites.<br /><br /></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><strong>
<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; display: inline !important; "><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; "></span></p>
<div style="font-weight: bold;"><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instead of writing a haiku poetry, you “tweet”. In lieu of introducing yourself to someone, you “+1 Add Friend”. You no longer watch funny movies on the big screen, you “LMAO” at viral videos on YouTube. You can’t help but sneak in a quick “RT” or raise your thumbs up to “LIKE” or express yourself with a “comment”. Admit it, you’re an addict. And this form of addiction has greatly affected your productivity and focus on the more important pursuits of life--- like a doing your job, finishing your tasks, making a living...making friends, nurturing relationships, going on dates, bonding with family...</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If the internet has somehow put you in dazed and distracted state, the internet also offers antidotes that could help you curb your appetite for these online distractions. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This report from technology website, </span><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/01/03/block-internet-distractions-apps/#view_as_one_page-gallery_box3669"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Mashable</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, says, “</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #474747; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">what’s better to fight a software addiction than software itself?</span></strong></div>
<br />
<div style="font-weight: bold;"><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #474747; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. </span><a href="http://macfreedom.com/"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">FREEDOM</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></strong></div>
<strong><img src="http://macfreedom.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/logos/Freedom_Windows.jpg" width="221" alt="freedom" /></strong>
<div><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recommended for those who want to quit cold turkey. Touted as the “</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #474747; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal; color: #474747;">grandaddy of the Internet restriction programs”. This software can bar you from surfing the net for up to 8 hours at a time. The $10 program is such a small price to pay for bringing back your productivity.<br /><br /></span>
<div><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. </span><a href="https://www.rescuetime.com/" style="color: #474747; text-decoration: none; "><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">RESCUETIME</span></a><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: bold; color: #000099;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><img src="http://www.timedoctor.com/blog/images/2011/01/rescue-time-comparison.jpg" width="221" alt="rescue time" /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #000000;">This website gives it to you in-your-face. At the end of the day, the software reads out your online web activities, making you realize how much of your time was spent on sites that steered you out of focus.<br /><br /></span>
<div><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. </span><a href="http://www.hogbaysoftware.com/products/writeroom" style="color: #000000; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">WRITE ROOM </span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(for Mac) and </span><a href="http://they.misled.us/dark-room" style="color: #000000; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">DARK ROOM</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (for PC)<br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="color: #000000;"><br /></span><span style="color: #000099;"><img src="http://www.hogbaysoftware.com/static/writeroom/header.png" width="221" alt="write room" /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Getting a spell of writer’s block? Well, perhaps you should focus on nothing but --- writing! The Write Room (for Mac) and the Dark Rom (for PC) are programs that allow you to use your PC only as a word processor for a certain period of time.</span><span style="color: #000000;"><strong><br /></strong></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="color: #000000;"><strong><br /></strong></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now that’s what you call ‘getting a dose of your own medicine’. These apps could help save the day and get you a life -- a quality and productive one at that. <br /><br />Got any other helpful tips on how to make your computer time more productive?</span></strong></div>
<span style="color: #000000;"> </span></span></strong></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal; color: #474747;"> </span></span></strong></div>
<strong> </strong>
<p style="font-weight: bold;"> </p>
</strong></div>
<p style="font-weight: bold;"> </p>
</strong></div>The Lists That Mattered In Tech 2011: A Countdown Of Some Of The Digital Technology Breakthroughs and Innovations of 2011.2011-12-29T07:16:22Z2011-12-29T07:16:22Zhttp://www.yourpcmatters.com/blog/home-and-office/the-lists-that-mattered-in-tech-2011-a-countdown-of-some-of-the-digital-technology-breakthroughs-and-innovations-of-2011Your PC Mattersservice@yourpcmatters.com<div><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The year that was...2011, a year that brought in more innovations and trends in computer, digital, and internet technology. Some may have come and gone, and some are here to stay. We may have experienced a love-hate relationship with some of them, or we may have moved on to replace them with a new found love. At one point in our lives, they made us gasp in awe, shriek in horror, scratch our heads in confusion, or throw our hands up in frustration. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are a compiled list of countdowns of gadgets and gizmos galore that marked the year 2011:</span><br />
<h1 dir="ltr"><a href="http://mashable.com/2011/12/21/top-facebook-games-2011/"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Facebook Names Top Games of 2011<br /><img src="http://5.mshcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/CityVille-Image-Mashable.jpg" width="360" alt="top facebook games" /> <br /></span></a></h1>
<div><strong><ol>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gardens of Time</span><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (by Playdom)</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Sims Social </span><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(by EA)</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cityville</span><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (by Zynga)</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">DoubleDown Casino</span><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (by DoubleDown Entertainment)</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Indiana Jones Adventure World</span><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (by Zynga)</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Words With Friends</span><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (by Zynga)</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bingo Blitz</span><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (by Buffalo Studios)</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Empires & Allies</span><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (by Zynga)</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Slotomania-Slot Machines</span><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (by Playtika)</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Diamond Dash </span><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(by wooga)</span></li>
</ol><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How about you, were you still plowing the fields of your farm or grooming your pet in 2011? Guess it’s time to move on...</span><br />
<h1 dir="ltr"><a href="http://mashable.com/2011/12/23/top-10-apps/"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Top 10 Apps Downloaded in 2011</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h1>
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mashable reports that a mobile analytics app company called </span><a href="http://www.distimo.com/"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #1e598e; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Distimo</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> surveyed and gathered data from platforms such as iOS and Android to round-up the 10 Most Downloaded Apps of 2011. The Angry birds are flying high and lording over this list.<br /><img src="http://7.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/top-10-downloaded-apps-of-2011/angrybirds.jpg" alt="top apps 0f 2011" width="360" /> <br /><br />
<div><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Angry Birds</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Facebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Skype</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Angry Birds Rio</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Google Maps</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. iBooks</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. Angry Birds Seasons</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. Fruit Ninja</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. Talking Tom</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10. Twitter</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This year, have you learned how to fly, through a sling shot, and kick some mean and green egg-stealing pigs?</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5864942/most-popular-how+to-guides-of-2011"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Most Popular How-To Guides of 2011<br /></span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><img src="http://cache.lifehacker.com/assets/images/17/2011/12/a748161c75760ded952fc5f642b004d2.jpg" width="360" alt="top how to guides" /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lifehacker.com is a go to website for a multitude tips and tricks on how to make your computer use more productive. Here’s a compilation of the most popular how-tos and walkthroughs that may have made digital life much more rosy for you in 2011:<br />
<div><strong>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5843969/facebook-is-tracking-your-every-move-on-the-web-heres-how-to-stop-it"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook Is Tracking Your Every Move on the Web; Here's How to Stop It</span></a></h4>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5789397/the-always-up+to+date-guide-to-rooting-any-android-phone"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Always Up-To-Date Guide to Rooting Any Android Phone</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h4>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5815715/how-to-build-a-hackintosh-mini-for-less-than-600"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to Build a Hackintosh Mini for a Less Expensive, Faster Mac</span></a></h4>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5744113/learn-to-code-the-full-beginners-guide"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn to Code: The Full Beginner's Guide</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h4>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5796318/the-cheapskates-guide-to-getting-free-dropbox-space"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Cheapskate's Guide to Getting Free Dropbox Space</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h4>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5840963/the-best-pcs-you-can-build-for-600-and-1200"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Best PCs You Can Build for $600 and $1200</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h4>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5822590/turn-an-old-computer-into-a-networked-backup-streaming-or-torrenting-machine-with-freenas"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Turn an Old Computer into a Networked Backup, Streaming, or Torrenting Machine with FreeNAS</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h4>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5772420/how-to-make-ios-more-like-android"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to Make Your iPhone (or Other iOS Device) More Like Android</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h4>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5863380/how-to-completely-anonymize-your-bittorrent-traffic-with-btguard"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to Completely Anonymize Your BitTorrent Traffic with BTGuard</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h4>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5828747/how-to-build-a-computer-from-scratch-the-complete-guide"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to Build a Computer from Scratch: The Complete Guide</span></a></h4>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">11. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5849802/how-to-get-ios-5s-biggest-features-in-android-right-now"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to Get iOS 5's Biggest Features in Android Right Now</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h4>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5803975/what-is-upnp-and-how-do-i-use-it-to-stream-media-to-my-tv"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What Is UPnP and How Do I Use it to Stream Media to My TV?</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h4>
<h1 dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.geek.com/articles/games/geek-top-games-of-the-2011-20111221/"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Geek.com’s top games of 2011</span></a></h1>
<img src="http://www.geek.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/skyrim_geek_001-580x362.jpg" width="360" alt="top games of 2011" /></strong></div>
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<div><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The games that geeks play. Check out if your game belongs to this A-list of the video games: </span>
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bastion</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Batman: Arkham City</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Battlefield 3</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deus Ex: Human Revolution</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gears of War 3</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Infinity Blade 2</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LA Noire</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Limbo</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Minecraft</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Portal 2</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Super Mario Land 3D</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sword and Sorcery EP</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Uncharted 3</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Witcher 2</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Zelda: Skyward Sword</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This list doesn’t stop with a countdown. Geek.com has come up with special awards for the games that defined the year 2011:</span><br />
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best Game in App Form: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mega Mall Story</span></h3>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best Handheld Game (non-app): </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Super Mario Land 3D</span></h3>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best Downloadable: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bastion</span></h3>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Biggest Disappointment: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Duke Nuke Forever</span></h3>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 vs. Battlefield 3… FIGHT: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Battlefield 3</span></h3>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sleeper Hit: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yakuza 4</span></h3>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best Rogue-like: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dungeons of Dredmor</span></h3>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best Game without Bloodshed: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Forza 4</span></h3>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most Overrated Game: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deus Ex: Human Revolution</span></h3>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Game of the Year: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim</span></h3>
<div><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />Now for gadgets and gizmos, here are some of CNET.com’s countdowns -- The Winners, The Forgettables, and The Maybe Next Years.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.cnet.com/2300-33506_1-10010530.html?tag=mncol"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">The Winners:</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “The game-changers of 2011”. The cream-of-the-crop gadgets, considered to be the best in it’s category.</span></strong></div>
<br /><img src="http://www.mobilephoneconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/apple-iphone-4s.jpg" width="300" alt="iphone 4s" />
<div><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. The iPhone 4s </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Motorola Droid Razr</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Android Ice Cream Sandwich</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. iPad 2</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Kindle Fire</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. Kindle</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. MacBook Air</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. Roku LT</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. Nest Learning Thermostat</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10.Voice Control: Siri and Kinect </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you filled your shopping cart with these winning gadgets?</span></strong></div>
<br />
<div><strong><a href="http://www.cnet.com/2300-33506_1-10010497.html"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">The Forgettables</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> There was much ado about these gadgets, yet nothing came out of it. They’re now here relegated to the archives of 2011’s forgettables.</span></strong></div>
<img src="http://www.minilaptops.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Acer-Iconia-Touchbook-6120-dual-screen-laptop.jpg" width="300" alt="acer iconia" /><br /></strong></div>
<div><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Acer Iconia dual-screen laptop</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Blockbuster movie pass</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Dell Streak 7</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Dual-screen phones</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Lenovo ThinkPad X1</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. Motorola Xoom</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. Nintendo 3DS</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. Rage, Brink, Duke Nukem Forever</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. Sony Ericsson Xperia Play</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10. Toshiba glasses-free 3D laptop</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">11. Bonus: Qwikster</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12. Bonus: Dell XPS 14z</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">13. Bonus: Chromebooks</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you happen to have one of these gadgets? Are they tucked somewhere in your closet now?</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.cnet.com/2300-33506_1-10010508.html"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">The Maybe Next Years</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: The geek prophets of tech foretold of their coming, yet, we’re still here waiting for their market debut. Well, maybe next year....</span></strong></div>
<img src="http://www.mobileread.com/upload/custom/E_Ink_Color_Prototype_Gutenberg_1005_MD.jpg" width="300" alt="color e ink e readers" /></span></strong></div>
<div><strong><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Glasses-free 3D TVs</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. All-day batteries </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Alternative-energy products</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Great cloud storage</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Color e-ink e-readers</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. True intelligent voice recognition </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. A password solution</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. A true iPad alternative</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. Smarter TVs</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10. Next-gen game consoles</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ever seen the movie “Back To the Future 2”? A lot of the stuff in there are still part of our imagination. But who knows, they just might pop-up next year...</span></strong></div>
</span></strong></div>
</strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The year that was...2011, a year that brought in more innovations and trends in computer, digital, and internet technology. Some may have come and gone, and some are here to stay. We may have experienced a love-hate relationship with some of them, or we may have moved on to replace them with a new found love. At one point in our lives, they made us gasp in awe, shriek in horror, scratch our heads in confusion, or throw our hands up in frustration. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are a compiled list of countdowns of gadgets and gizmos galore that marked the year 2011:</span><br />
<h1 dir="ltr"><a href="http://mashable.com/2011/12/21/top-facebook-games-2011/"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Facebook Names Top Games of 2011<br /><img src="http://5.mshcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/CityVille-Image-Mashable.jpg" width="360" alt="top facebook games" /> <br /></span></a></h1>
<div><strong><ol>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gardens of Time</span><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (by Playdom)</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Sims Social </span><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(by EA)</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cityville</span><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (by Zynga)</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">DoubleDown Casino</span><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (by DoubleDown Entertainment)</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Indiana Jones Adventure World</span><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (by Zynga)</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Words With Friends</span><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (by Zynga)</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bingo Blitz</span><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (by Buffalo Studios)</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Empires & Allies</span><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (by Zynga)</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Slotomania-Slot Machines</span><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (by Playtika)</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Diamond Dash </span><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #474747; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(by wooga)</span></li>
</ol><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How about you, were you still plowing the fields of your farm or grooming your pet in 2011? Guess it’s time to move on...</span><br />
<h1 dir="ltr"><a href="http://mashable.com/2011/12/23/top-10-apps/"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Top 10 Apps Downloaded in 2011</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h1>
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mashable reports that a mobile analytics app company called </span><a href="http://www.distimo.com/"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #1e598e; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Distimo</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> surveyed and gathered data from platforms such as iOS and Android to round-up the 10 Most Downloaded Apps of 2011. The Angry birds are flying high and lording over this list.<br /><img src="http://7.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/top-10-downloaded-apps-of-2011/angrybirds.jpg" alt="top apps 0f 2011" width="360" /> <br /><br />
<div><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Angry Birds</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Facebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Skype</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Angry Birds Rio</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Google Maps</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. iBooks</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. Angry Birds Seasons</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. Fruit Ninja</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. Talking Tom</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10. Twitter</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This year, have you learned how to fly, through a sling shot, and kick some mean and green egg-stealing pigs?</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5864942/most-popular-how+to-guides-of-2011"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Most Popular How-To Guides of 2011<br /></span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><img src="http://cache.lifehacker.com/assets/images/17/2011/12/a748161c75760ded952fc5f642b004d2.jpg" width="360" alt="top how to guides" /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lifehacker.com is a go to website for a multitude tips and tricks on how to make your computer use more productive. Here’s a compilation of the most popular how-tos and walkthroughs that may have made digital life much more rosy for you in 2011:<br />
<div><strong>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5843969/facebook-is-tracking-your-every-move-on-the-web-heres-how-to-stop-it"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook Is Tracking Your Every Move on the Web; Here's How to Stop It</span></a></h4>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5789397/the-always-up+to+date-guide-to-rooting-any-android-phone"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Always Up-To-Date Guide to Rooting Any Android Phone</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h4>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5815715/how-to-build-a-hackintosh-mini-for-less-than-600"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to Build a Hackintosh Mini for a Less Expensive, Faster Mac</span></a></h4>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5744113/learn-to-code-the-full-beginners-guide"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn to Code: The Full Beginner's Guide</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h4>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5796318/the-cheapskates-guide-to-getting-free-dropbox-space"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Cheapskate's Guide to Getting Free Dropbox Space</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h4>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5840963/the-best-pcs-you-can-build-for-600-and-1200"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Best PCs You Can Build for $600 and $1200</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h4>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5822590/turn-an-old-computer-into-a-networked-backup-streaming-or-torrenting-machine-with-freenas"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Turn an Old Computer into a Networked Backup, Streaming, or Torrenting Machine with FreeNAS</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h4>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5772420/how-to-make-ios-more-like-android"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to Make Your iPhone (or Other iOS Device) More Like Android</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h4>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5863380/how-to-completely-anonymize-your-bittorrent-traffic-with-btguard"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to Completely Anonymize Your BitTorrent Traffic with BTGuard</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h4>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5828747/how-to-build-a-computer-from-scratch-the-complete-guide"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to Build a Computer from Scratch: The Complete Guide</span></a></h4>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">11. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5849802/how-to-get-ios-5s-biggest-features-in-android-right-now"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to Get iOS 5's Biggest Features in Android Right Now</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h4>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5803975/what-is-upnp-and-how-do-i-use-it-to-stream-media-to-my-tv"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0000ff; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What Is UPnP and How Do I Use it to Stream Media to My TV?</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h4>
<h1 dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.geek.com/articles/games/geek-top-games-of-the-2011-20111221/"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Geek.com’s top games of 2011</span></a></h1>
<img src="http://www.geek.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/skyrim_geek_001-580x362.jpg" width="360" alt="top games of 2011" /></strong></div>
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<div><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The games that geeks play. Check out if your game belongs to this A-list of the video games: </span>
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bastion</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Batman: Arkham City</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Battlefield 3</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deus Ex: Human Revolution</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gears of War 3</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Infinity Blade 2</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LA Noire</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Limbo</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Minecraft</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Portal 2</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Super Mario Land 3D</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sword and Sorcery EP</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Uncharted 3</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Witcher 2</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Zelda: Skyward Sword</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This list doesn’t stop with a countdown. Geek.com has come up with special awards for the games that defined the year 2011:</span><br />
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best Game in App Form: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mega Mall Story</span></h3>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best Handheld Game (non-app): </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Super Mario Land 3D</span></h3>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best Downloadable: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bastion</span></h3>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Biggest Disappointment: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Duke Nuke Forever</span></h3>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 vs. Battlefield 3… FIGHT: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Battlefield 3</span></h3>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sleeper Hit: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yakuza 4</span></h3>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best Rogue-like: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dungeons of Dredmor</span></h3>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best Game without Bloodshed: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Forza 4</span></h3>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most Overrated Game: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deus Ex: Human Revolution</span></h3>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Game of the Year: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim</span></h3>
<div><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />Now for gadgets and gizmos, here are some of CNET.com’s countdowns -- The Winners, The Forgettables, and The Maybe Next Years.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.cnet.com/2300-33506_1-10010530.html?tag=mncol"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">The Winners:</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “The game-changers of 2011”. The cream-of-the-crop gadgets, considered to be the best in it’s category.</span></strong></div>
<br /><img src="http://www.mobilephoneconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/apple-iphone-4s.jpg" width="300" alt="iphone 4s" />
<div><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. The iPhone 4s </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Motorola Droid Razr</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Android Ice Cream Sandwich</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. iPad 2</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Kindle Fire</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. Kindle</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. MacBook Air</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. Roku LT</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. Nest Learning Thermostat</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10.Voice Control: Siri and Kinect </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you filled your shopping cart with these winning gadgets?</span></strong></div>
<br />
<div><strong><a href="http://www.cnet.com/2300-33506_1-10010497.html"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">The Forgettables</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> There was much ado about these gadgets, yet nothing came out of it. They’re now here relegated to the archives of 2011’s forgettables.</span></strong></div>
<img src="http://www.minilaptops.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Acer-Iconia-Touchbook-6120-dual-screen-laptop.jpg" width="300" alt="acer iconia" /><br /></strong></div>
<div><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Acer Iconia dual-screen laptop</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Blockbuster movie pass</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Dell Streak 7</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Dual-screen phones</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Lenovo ThinkPad X1</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. Motorola Xoom</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. Nintendo 3DS</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. Rage, Brink, Duke Nukem Forever</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. Sony Ericsson Xperia Play</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10. Toshiba glasses-free 3D laptop</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">11. Bonus: Qwikster</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12. Bonus: Dell XPS 14z</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">13. Bonus: Chromebooks</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you happen to have one of these gadgets? Are they tucked somewhere in your closet now?</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.cnet.com/2300-33506_1-10010508.html"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">The Maybe Next Years</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: The geek prophets of tech foretold of their coming, yet, we’re still here waiting for their market debut. Well, maybe next year....</span></strong></div>
<img src="http://www.mobileread.com/upload/custom/E_Ink_Color_Prototype_Gutenberg_1005_MD.jpg" width="300" alt="color e ink e readers" /></span></strong></div>
<div><strong><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Glasses-free 3D TVs</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. All-day batteries </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Alternative-energy products</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Great cloud storage</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Color e-ink e-readers</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. True intelligent voice recognition </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. A password solution</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. A true iPad alternative</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. Smarter TVs</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10. Next-gen game consoles</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ever seen the movie “Back To the Future 2”? A lot of the stuff in there are still part of our imagination. But who knows, they just might pop-up next year...</span></strong></div>
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</strong></div>Are You A Geek On A Budget? Cool Geeky Gifts You Can Give For The Holidays2011-12-24T14:36:26Z2011-12-24T14:36:26Zhttp://www.yourpcmatters.com/blog/home-and-office/are-you-a-geek-on-a-budget-cool-geeky-gifts-you-can-give-for-the-holidaysDaniel Smithdaniel@propagandahouse.com.au<div><span id="internal-source-marker_0.38986360491253436">
<p dir="ltr" style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><a href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/6-great-geek-gifts-holidays-cost/"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">MakeUseOf </span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">recommends these 6 great geeky gift ideas that are easy on the pocket<br /><br /><img alt="geeky santa clause" width="300" src="http://cyberarms.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/geek-gifts.jpg" /> <br /><br /></span></p>
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<div style="font-weight: bold;"><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tech and geek gadgets could normally cost you an arm and a leg. When Christmas shopping budget is limited, yet you want to share and spread some techie spirit this Christmas season, you’ve got to be creative and practical. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fill your friends’ Christmas stockings with these awesome and geeky gift ideas...</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Flash Drives</span></strong></div>
<strong><img alt="christmas flash drives" width="300" src="http://www.usbmemorysticks.net/wp-content/gallery/christmas-flash-drives/christmas-stocking-flash-drive.jpg" /></strong><br /><strong> </strong>
<div><span id="internal-source-marker_0.38986360491253436"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Give the gift of storage. Your friends will surely love 16gb drives that would give them more room for their files. You can score this super useful device for under $20. Now if you really want to impress, you better pimp that drive! Load it up with software of your favorite programs. Your non-geeky friends could be eternally grateful to you for introducing it to them. And yes, some of the best software are free! Find some of them here: </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/pages/the-best-of"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0477cd; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">best of Windows, Mac and Linux pages</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/6-great-geek-gifts-holidays-cost/www.makeuseof.com/pages/download"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0477cd; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">free technology manuals</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; font-family: Arial; color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">.<br /><br /></span></span>
<div><span id="internal-source-marker_0.38986360491253436"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Games</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong>Nintendo Selects</strong></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="nintendo games" width="300" src="http://www.geekmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/New-Nintendo-Selects-660x3301.png" /><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nintendo still has got great games that are now only $20. For someone who owns as Wii, give them the gift of fun and challenge with Twilight Princess or Super Mario Galaxy.</span><span style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"> </span></span>
<h2 style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strong Bad’s Cool Game For Attractive People<br /></span><strong>
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<h2 style="display: inline !important;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">For $30, </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #3b3128;">Strong Bad’s Cool Game For Attractive People is an online game for your friends who may have forgotten that this game is a source of delight.<br /><br /></span>
<div><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple’s Refurb Store</span><br /><span style="color: #000000;"><img alt="apple refurbished store" width="300" src="http://images.macworld.com/images/article/2011/11/apple_refurbstore-263885.png" /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="color: #3b3128;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A is for awesome and Apple! </span><a style="color: #3b3128;" href="http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0477cd; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Apple’s refurbished store</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a treasure trove of goodies. Apple products are indeed pricey, but buying from their refurb store could sometimes save you about $300. And what’s more, you still get Apple’s one year warranty. That’s safety, reliability, and security tucked under your belt, compared to buying used Apple gadgets.</span></strong></div>
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<div><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Flip HD Cameras</span><br /><span style="color: #000000;"><img alt="flip camera" width="300" src="http://videouniversity.com/files/FLIPCAMERA.jpg" /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you have a youtube sensation or viral video star for a friend, who’s still strutting his/her stuff on a web cam? For only about $50, you can give the gift of freedom and movement. Yeah, let your friend’s star shine brighter on video with this pocket-sized flip HD camera.</span><span style="color: #3b3128;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="color: #3b3128;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How about adding your own geeky gift ideas to this list? </span></strong></div>
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<p dir="ltr" style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><a href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/6-great-geek-gifts-holidays-cost/"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">MakeUseOf </span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">recommends these 6 great geeky gift ideas that are easy on the pocket<br /><br /><img alt="geeky santa clause" width="300" src="http://cyberarms.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/geek-gifts.jpg" /> <br /><br /></span></p>
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<p style="font-weight: bold; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; display: inline !important;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p>
<div style="font-weight: bold;"><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tech and geek gadgets could normally cost you an arm and a leg. When Christmas shopping budget is limited, yet you want to share and spread some techie spirit this Christmas season, you’ve got to be creative and practical. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fill your friends’ Christmas stockings with these awesome and geeky gift ideas...</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Flash Drives</span></strong></div>
<strong><img alt="christmas flash drives" width="300" src="http://www.usbmemorysticks.net/wp-content/gallery/christmas-flash-drives/christmas-stocking-flash-drive.jpg" /></strong><br /><strong> </strong>
<div><span id="internal-source-marker_0.38986360491253436"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Give the gift of storage. Your friends will surely love 16gb drives that would give them more room for their files. You can score this super useful device for under $20. Now if you really want to impress, you better pimp that drive! Load it up with software of your favorite programs. Your non-geeky friends could be eternally grateful to you for introducing it to them. And yes, some of the best software are free! Find some of them here: </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/pages/the-best-of"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0477cd; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">best of Windows, Mac and Linux pages</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/6-great-geek-gifts-holidays-cost/www.makeuseof.com/pages/download"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0477cd; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">free technology manuals</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; font-family: Arial; color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">.<br /><br /></span></span>
<div><span id="internal-source-marker_0.38986360491253436"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Games</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong>Nintendo Selects</strong></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="nintendo games" width="300" src="http://www.geekmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/New-Nintendo-Selects-660x3301.png" /><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nintendo still has got great games that are now only $20. For someone who owns as Wii, give them the gift of fun and challenge with Twilight Princess or Super Mario Galaxy.</span><span style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"> </span></span>
<h2 style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #3b3128; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strong Bad’s Cool Game For Attractive People<br /></span><strong>
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<h2 style="display: inline !important;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">For $30, </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #3b3128;">Strong Bad’s Cool Game For Attractive People is an online game for your friends who may have forgotten that this game is a source of delight.<br /><br /></span>
<div><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple’s Refurb Store</span><br /><span style="color: #000000;"><img alt="apple refurbished store" width="300" src="http://images.macworld.com/images/article/2011/11/apple_refurbstore-263885.png" /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="color: #3b3128;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A is for awesome and Apple! </span><a style="color: #3b3128;" href="http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #0477cd; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Apple’s refurbished store</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a treasure trove of goodies. Apple products are indeed pricey, but buying from their refurb store could sometimes save you about $300. And what’s more, you still get Apple’s one year warranty. That’s safety, reliability, and security tucked under your belt, compared to buying used Apple gadgets.</span></strong></div>
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<div><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Flip HD Cameras</span><br /><span style="color: #000000;"><img alt="flip camera" width="300" src="http://videouniversity.com/files/FLIPCAMERA.jpg" /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you have a youtube sensation or viral video star for a friend, who’s still strutting his/her stuff on a web cam? For only about $50, you can give the gift of freedom and movement. Yeah, let your friend’s star shine brighter on video with this pocket-sized flip HD camera.</span><span style="color: #3b3128;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="color: #3b3128;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How about adding your own geeky gift ideas to this list? </span></strong></div>
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</span></div>YOU’VE GOT GMAIL! How To Master The New Gmail With Tips, Tricks, and Shortcuts2011-12-08T06:22:14Z2011-12-08T06:22:14Zhttp://www.yourpcmatters.com/blog/website/youve-got-gmail-how-to-master-the-new-gmail-with-tips-tricks-and-shortcutsYour PC Mattersservice@yourpcmatters.com<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The new Gmail is not all about looks. Check out how it can help you improve </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">your email and task management effeciency.<br /><br /></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTS29uhRlw4KsgoGV3X_nebK3sXSKxb8NyZ7ahZrVhDk4SueXKH5w" width="400" alt="Gmail logo" style="vertical-align: middle;" /></p>
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907">In the past few months, Google has been undergoing major developments, particularly in the areas of social media -- with the launch of Google+ and Google+ pages for business. These business development moves by Google also furbished-up some make overs in Gmail -- Google’s email platform. They stealthily revealed the changes in Gmail with an unobtrusive simple text that says "Switch to the new look" -- a link appearing in the bottom-right corner of Gmail.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gmail’s Got the Look!<br /> </span></div>
<img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/help/images/newlook_new_large.png" width="300" alt="Gmail new look" /><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Clicking on "Switch to the new look" will take you to a cleaner and a more modern look. Yet, colours are placed in all the right places where emphasis is required. The ‘compose’ button, the labels, the ‘stars’ add color to the minimalist interface.<br /><br /><img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/help/images/newlook_search_large.png" width="300" alt="Gmail - conversations" /><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907">The ‘conversations’ panel now resembles that of a social media’s comment section where the profile picture of the sender is visible.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /><img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/help/images/newlook_search_large.png" width="300" alt="Gmail - filters" /><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907">Search and filters are simpler, streamlined, with easy and slick navigations.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /><img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/help/images/newlook_themes.png" width="300" alt="Gmail - Images" /><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907">Images of themes are now in HD and is spread all across the screen.</span></div>
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<div style="background-color: transparent;"><br id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907" /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907">Gmail’s Got the Moves!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907">Like Jagger, Gmail -- both old and new, has got tried and tested tricks in the bag that could help you effectively manage and organize your emails, thereby saving you time and effort.</span><br /><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5861810/master-the-new-gmail-with-these-tips-shortcuts-and-add+ons"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;"> Lifehacker.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is now taking you to the floor where can learn the moves and groove your way to master Gmail’s best features:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Customize the look and feel of your inbox. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Click here to find out more about </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5861810/master-the-new-gmail-with-these-tips-shortcuts-and-add+ons#layouttweaks"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #719602; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tweaking Gmail's New Layout</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><img src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/lifehacker/2011/11/tweakgmaillayout.jpg" width="300" alt="Gmail inbox" /><br /><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907">2. Even a mouse could learn some tricks. Put an end to never-ending mouse clicking. Drag and drop, shift-click are </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5861810/master-the-new-gmail-with-these-tips-shortcuts-and-add+ons#mouseshortcuts"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #719602; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mouse Shortcuts</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that you’d definitely find amusing.<br /><img src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/lifehacker/2011/11/dragdroplabels.jpg" width="300" alt="Gmail mouse short cuts" /><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907">3. If you are married to your keyboard, then Gmail has ‘enabled keyboard shortcuts’ that could make your keyboard use a carefree and blissful experience. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Check this out to find the most useful </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5861810/master-the-new-gmail-with-these-tips-shortcuts-and-add+ons#keyboardshortcuts"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #719602; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keyboard Shortcuts</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to enhance your productivity.<br /><img src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/lifehacker/2011/11/gmailnandp.jpg" width="300" alt="Gmail keyboard short cuts" /><br /> <br /><br /><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family: Georgia; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907">4. Seek and you shall find...Gmail is fulfilling this promise by enabling a “</span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family: Georgia; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">search-based philosophy, in which you can perform very advanced searches throughout your entire inbox using operators”. Click here to learn more about </span><a style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;" href="http://lifehacker.com/5861810/master-the-new-gmail-with-these-tips-shortcuts-and-add+ons#searchtechniques"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #719602; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Advanced Searches and Filters</span></a><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family: Georgia; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><img src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/lifehacker/2011/11/advancedgmailsearch.jpg" width="300" alt="Keyboard shortcuts" /><br /><br /><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family: Georgia; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907">5. Oh, so those stars and small arrows mean something! ...Yes, in fact, it might just save your day, your job... help keep your important emails from falling through the cracks. </span><br style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family: Georgia; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A must: </span><a style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;" href="http://lifehacker.com/5861810/master-the-new-gmail-with-these-tips-shortcuts-and-add+ons#usefulsettings"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #719602; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Useful Settings You Should Enable</span></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><img src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/lifehacker/2011/11/superstars.jpg" width="300" alt="Gmails stars" /><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. Canned Responses, Quicklinks, Unread Message Icons, Multiple Inboxes, Smart Labels... these are some of the advanced functionalities or ‘Labs’ developed by the Gmail Team for your testing and experimentation. Find the fuctionalities that best suit your needs. Here are the recommended </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5861810/master-the-new-gmail-with-these-tips-shortcuts-and-add+ons#gmaillabs" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #719602; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gmail Labs You Should Enable</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><img src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/lifehacker/2011/11/unreadfavicongmail.jpg" width="300" alt="Gmail Labs" /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. Gmail’s settings are loaded with customization options. You can further push and tweak these functions using extentions for your browser. Find more about using </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5861810/master-the-new-gmail-with-these-tips-shortcuts-and-add+ons#extensions" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #719602; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Extensions and Userscripts</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5861810/master-the-new-gmail-with-these-tips-shortcuts-and-add+ons#unifiedinbox" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #719602; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Manage All Your Email Accounts from Gmail</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The topsy-turvy days of opening multiple windows and/or tabs are over. If you’ve got email addresses from different email platform providers, Gmail embraces them all and can put them all together as one big happy family. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><img src="http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/17/2011/11/dd81ee9852c082110810d294a7140159.png" width="300" alt="Gmail - email management" /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. Majority of Gmail’s functions rely on the internet, but it could also manage and work together with your desktop while you’re not in your browser. Find out how to </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5861810/master-the-new-gmail-with-these-tips-shortcuts-and-add+ons#desktopintegration" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #719602; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Integrate Gmail with the Desktop</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you want to go and explore Gmail further, check out Gmail's </span><a href="http://mail.google.com/support/" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #719602; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">support pages</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and read up on the </span><a href="http://www.google.com/mail/help/tips.html" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #719602; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Become a Gmail Ninja</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page.</span></div>
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<p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The new Gmail is not all about looks. Check out how it can help you improve </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">your email and task management effeciency.<br /><br /></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTS29uhRlw4KsgoGV3X_nebK3sXSKxb8NyZ7ahZrVhDk4SueXKH5w" width="400" alt="Gmail logo" style="vertical-align: middle;" /></p>
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907">In the past few months, Google has been undergoing major developments, particularly in the areas of social media -- with the launch of Google+ and Google+ pages for business. These business development moves by Google also furbished-up some make overs in Gmail -- Google’s email platform. They stealthily revealed the changes in Gmail with an unobtrusive simple text that says "Switch to the new look" -- a link appearing in the bottom-right corner of Gmail.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gmail’s Got the Look!<br /> </span></div>
<img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/help/images/newlook_new_large.png" width="300" alt="Gmail new look" /><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Clicking on "Switch to the new look" will take you to a cleaner and a more modern look. Yet, colours are placed in all the right places where emphasis is required. The ‘compose’ button, the labels, the ‘stars’ add color to the minimalist interface.<br /><br /><img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/help/images/newlook_search_large.png" width="300" alt="Gmail - conversations" /><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907">The ‘conversations’ panel now resembles that of a social media’s comment section where the profile picture of the sender is visible.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /><img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/help/images/newlook_search_large.png" width="300" alt="Gmail - filters" /><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907">Search and filters are simpler, streamlined, with easy and slick navigations.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /><img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/help/images/newlook_themes.png" width="300" alt="Gmail - Images" /><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907">Images of themes are now in HD and is spread all across the screen.</span></div>
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<div style="background-color: transparent;"><br id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907" /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907">Gmail’s Got the Moves!</span></div>
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<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907">Like Jagger, Gmail -- both old and new, has got tried and tested tricks in the bag that could help you effectively manage and organize your emails, thereby saving you time and effort.</span><br /><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5861810/master-the-new-gmail-with-these-tips-shortcuts-and-add+ons"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;"> Lifehacker.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is now taking you to the floor where can learn the moves and groove your way to master Gmail’s best features:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Customize the look and feel of your inbox. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Click here to find out more about </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5861810/master-the-new-gmail-with-these-tips-shortcuts-and-add+ons#layouttweaks"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #719602; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tweaking Gmail's New Layout</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><img src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/lifehacker/2011/11/tweakgmaillayout.jpg" width="300" alt="Gmail inbox" /><br /><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907">2. Even a mouse could learn some tricks. Put an end to never-ending mouse clicking. Drag and drop, shift-click are </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5861810/master-the-new-gmail-with-these-tips-shortcuts-and-add+ons#mouseshortcuts"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #719602; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mouse Shortcuts</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that you’d definitely find amusing.<br /><img src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/lifehacker/2011/11/dragdroplabels.jpg" width="300" alt="Gmail mouse short cuts" /><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907">3. If you are married to your keyboard, then Gmail has ‘enabled keyboard shortcuts’ that could make your keyboard use a carefree and blissful experience. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Check this out to find the most useful </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5861810/master-the-new-gmail-with-these-tips-shortcuts-and-add+ons#keyboardshortcuts"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #719602; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keyboard Shortcuts</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to enhance your productivity.<br /><img src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/lifehacker/2011/11/gmailnandp.jpg" width="300" alt="Gmail keyboard short cuts" /><br /> <br /><br /><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family: Georgia; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907">4. Seek and you shall find...Gmail is fulfilling this promise by enabling a “</span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family: Georgia; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">search-based philosophy, in which you can perform very advanced searches throughout your entire inbox using operators”. Click here to learn more about </span><a style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;" href="http://lifehacker.com/5861810/master-the-new-gmail-with-these-tips-shortcuts-and-add+ons#searchtechniques"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #719602; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Advanced Searches and Filters</span></a><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family: Georgia; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><img src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/lifehacker/2011/11/advancedgmailsearch.jpg" width="300" alt="Keyboard shortcuts" /><br /><br /><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family: Georgia; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.2652295830193907">5. Oh, so those stars and small arrows mean something! ...Yes, in fact, it might just save your day, your job... help keep your important emails from falling through the cracks. </span><br style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family: Georgia; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A must: </span><a style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;" href="http://lifehacker.com/5861810/master-the-new-gmail-with-these-tips-shortcuts-and-add+ons#usefulsettings"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #719602; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Useful Settings You Should Enable</span></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><img src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/lifehacker/2011/11/superstars.jpg" width="300" alt="Gmails stars" /><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. Canned Responses, Quicklinks, Unread Message Icons, Multiple Inboxes, Smart Labels... these are some of the advanced functionalities or ‘Labs’ developed by the Gmail Team for your testing and experimentation. Find the fuctionalities that best suit your needs. Here are the recommended </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5861810/master-the-new-gmail-with-these-tips-shortcuts-and-add+ons#gmaillabs" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #719602; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gmail Labs You Should Enable</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><img src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/lifehacker/2011/11/unreadfavicongmail.jpg" width="300" alt="Gmail Labs" /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. Gmail’s settings are loaded with customization options. You can further push and tweak these functions using extentions for your browser. Find more about using </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5861810/master-the-new-gmail-with-these-tips-shortcuts-and-add+ons#extensions" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #719602; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Extensions and Userscripts</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5861810/master-the-new-gmail-with-these-tips-shortcuts-and-add+ons#unifiedinbox" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #719602; background-color: #ffffff; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Manage All Your Email Accounts from Gmail</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The topsy-turvy days of opening multiple windows and/or tabs are over. If you’ve got email addresses from different email platform providers, Gmail embraces them all and can put them all together as one big happy family. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><img src="http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/17/2011/11/dd81ee9852c082110810d294a7140159.png" width="300" alt="Gmail - email management" /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. Majority of Gmail’s functions rely on the internet, but it could also manage and work together with your desktop while you’re not in your browser. Find out how to </span><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5861810/master-the-new-gmail-with-these-tips-shortcuts-and-add+ons#desktopintegration" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #719602; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Integrate Gmail with the Desktop</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you want to go and explore Gmail further, check out Gmail's </span><a href="http://mail.google.com/support/" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #719602; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">support pages</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and read up on the </span><a href="http://www.google.com/mail/help/tips.html" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #719602; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Become a Gmail Ninja</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page.</span></div>
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</div>HOW TO USE GOOGLE SEARCH MORE EFFECTIVELY (INFOGRAPHICS)2011-12-02T08:27:39Z2011-12-02T08:27:39Zhttp://www.yourpcmatters.com/blog/website/how-to-use-google-search-more-effectively-infographicsYour PC Mattersservice@yourpcmatters.com<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<p dir="ltr" id="internal-source-marker_0.48913544742390513" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong>Very helpful tips and tricks on how to maximize the power of <br />Google in your internet life. <br /><br /></strong></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.48913544742390513" style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students doing research papers who are reading this, pay attention! This one might just be your saving grace to get that passing grade, or manna from heaven that could give you a grade of A+.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: transparent;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Google it.” “I’m googling it.” Google has not only become a household word. It is now a verb used in everyday conversation. It is a destination. It is a fulfillment of the promise ‘seek and you shall find’. It is like powerful life force or energy that we use and encounter everyday, yet internet statisticians say that “3 out of 4 students could not perform a well-executed search on Google.” There is so much Google power to be unlocked, for us to utilize its full potential.<br /></span><br /><a href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tech-fun/how-to-use-google-search-more-effectively-infographics/" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Makeuseof.com</span></a><span style="text-align: left; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> has published this infographics by </span><a href="http://www.hackcollege.com/blog/2011/11/23/infographic-get-more-out-of-google.html" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">HackCollege</span></a><span style="text-align: left; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Here are :</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: transparent;"></span>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The basics of “how to google” and how “operators” produce more specific results compared to generic search terms</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meet the “Google Scholar” which could unearth for you a wealth of academic and scholar resources -- giving you credible citations and references for your research work</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pull out a bag of Google tricks or quick solutions to definitions, calculators, and unit converters</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make life easy with keyboard shortcuts using the command or control keys on your computer.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="text-align: left; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yup, Google has ‘em all! Google = Awesome.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: transparent;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #000099;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="Google research tips infographics" width="400" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/tech-fun/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/getmoregoogle2.jpg" /></p>
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</div><div style="background-color: transparent;">
<p dir="ltr" id="internal-source-marker_0.48913544742390513" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong>Very helpful tips and tricks on how to maximize the power of <br />Google in your internet life. <br /><br /></strong></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.48913544742390513" style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students doing research papers who are reading this, pay attention! This one might just be your saving grace to get that passing grade, or manna from heaven that could give you a grade of A+.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: transparent;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Google it.” “I’m googling it.” Google has not only become a household word. It is now a verb used in everyday conversation. It is a destination. It is a fulfillment of the promise ‘seek and you shall find’. It is like powerful life force or energy that we use and encounter everyday, yet internet statisticians say that “3 out of 4 students could not perform a well-executed search on Google.” There is so much Google power to be unlocked, for us to utilize its full potential.<br /></span><br /><a href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tech-fun/how-to-use-google-search-more-effectively-infographics/" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">Makeuseof.com</span></a><span style="text-align: left; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> has published this infographics by </span><a href="http://www.hackcollege.com/blog/2011/11/23/infographic-get-more-out-of-google.html" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: underline;">HackCollege</span></a><span style="text-align: left; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Here are :</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: transparent;"></span>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The basics of “how to google” and how “operators” produce more specific results compared to generic search terms</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meet the “Google Scholar” which could unearth for you a wealth of academic and scholar resources -- giving you credible citations and references for your research work</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pull out a bag of Google tricks or quick solutions to definitions, calculators, and unit converters</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make life easy with keyboard shortcuts using the command or control keys on your computer.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="text-align: left; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yup, Google has ‘em all! Google = Awesome.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: transparent;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #000099;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="Google research tips infographics" width="400" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/tech-fun/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/getmoregoogle2.jpg" /></p>
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<p> </p>
</div>Guide to Buying A Tablet: 5 Questions To Ask + The Pros and Cons2011-11-28T13:37:15Z2011-11-28T13:37:15Zhttp://www.yourpcmatters.com/blog/hardware/guide-to-buying-a-tablet-5-questions-to-ask-the-pros-and-consDaniel Smithdaniel@propagandahouse.com.au<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<p dir="ltr" id="internal-source-marker_0.47062379331327975" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #000000;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Weigh the options and know the factors to consider before you join the tablet bandwagon.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #000000;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="tablets" width="400" src="http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/scanrail/scanrail1103/scanrail110300071/9102689-set-of-tablet-computers.jpg" /></span></span><br /></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #000000;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.47062379331327975" style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tablets -- they’re also the kind the you can buy over the counter, over the internet. They’re everywhere. Everyone is hooked. You are mesmerized by it’s sleek and seductive frame. Compared to your laptop or desktop computer, this baby is really sexy. Research firm Gartner says that over 63 million tablets were purchased in 2011 alone. You are now convinced that you should make yourself count, be part of this whopping statistics. But hold on to your horses for a while. There are a myriad of choices now -- a slew of brands, features, and a range of prices. Which is best? Or better yet, consider if it could best serve your needs compared to purchasing an upgrade or new laptop?</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><a href="http://blog.laptopmag.com/tablet-buyers-guide-5-questions-to-ask-before-you-buy-a-slate"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Laptopmag.com </span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> provides a prescription of 5 Questions to ask before buying a tablet:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">iPad or Android? </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s Google Android operating system vs. Apple’s IOS</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ipad + IOS Pros and Cons:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- most intuitive interface</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- more than 14,000 dedicated apps from games, to videos, to productivity tools, and music</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- best selection of accessories</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- iCloud synchs media and documents across multiple devices</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- only comes in a single size</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Android has more variety in terms of product features and specifications</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Android Pros and Cons:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- easy task switching</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- hi-res display</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- multiple homescreens customizable with widgets</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- more hardware choices</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- some varieties can run with a pen input like </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the ThinkPad Tablet, others can include keyboards like ASUS Eee Pad Slider</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- offers much fewer apps compared to the iPad</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- the Honeycomb interface can be complicated to use</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Windows 7 tablets are not recommended due to ‘touch un-friendly’ system, higher priced, shorter battery life</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- best to wait for a Windows8 system in 2012</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. How much do you want to spend?</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- 7 inch tablet ranges from $200 - $300</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- 10 inch tablet 16GB with wifi ranges from $400 - $500</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- 32GB iPad 2 cost $599; 64GB iPad 2 costs $699</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-save your files on a cloud and save your money too by getting the 8GB or 16GB memory</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- 10 inch Android tablets cost less than the iPad, sells for less than $400</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. What size screen do you need?</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- a 7inch tablet is lightweight and can easily fit in a purse, yet you may not get the full experience</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- an 8 to 10 inch tablet has a bigger canvas and works best for surfing the net, watching videos, editing documents</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- 10 inch tablets work best for entertainment and productivity tasks</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Do you need mobile broadband?</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- consider 3G or 4G when your usage is within an area where wifi is always available</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- the mobile broadband-enabled varieties are more premium priced, plus you need to pay for your carrier’s broadband charges</span><br />
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Where will you get content?</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- iPad has iTunes where the Apple Store offers music, videos, games, apps, books, magazines</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- the Android tablets carry their own stores. Brands like Samsung, HTC, Sony, Kindle, have their own stores where they sell music, videos, books, apps, games. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Third party apps are also available to download</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can your tablet replace your trusty old laptop, or would it be wiser to upgrade or buy a new laptop instead? Here are the Tablet pros and cons:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Tablets have more battery life.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Tablets are lighter, smaller, easier to carry than a laptop.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Tablets are more affordable, starting as low as $199</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Productivity and storage software are now available like Quickoffice and cloudservices such as Dropbox. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Since apps are reliant on the internet, tablets are not very reliable without internet connectivity</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. Laptop keyboards are more comfortable to use compared to a tablet’s touch screen interface.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. Laptops are more reliable for specific tasks such as word processing and photo and video editing.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. Laptops have bigger and sharper screens</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. Laptops make it easier for you to multi-task because you can open and switch on multiple screens</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Laptopmag.com offers yet this simple and quick guide to keep in mind in order to help you decide: “</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tablets are better for play and some work, and laptops are better for work and some play.”</span></div>
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<p dir="ltr" id="internal-source-marker_0.47062379331327975" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #000000;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Weigh the options and know the factors to consider before you join the tablet bandwagon.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #000000;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="tablets" width="400" src="http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/scanrail/scanrail1103/scanrail110300071/9102689-set-of-tablet-computers.jpg" /></span></span><br /></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #000000;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.47062379331327975" style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tablets -- they’re also the kind the you can buy over the counter, over the internet. They’re everywhere. Everyone is hooked. You are mesmerized by it’s sleek and seductive frame. Compared to your laptop or desktop computer, this baby is really sexy. Research firm Gartner says that over 63 million tablets were purchased in 2011 alone. You are now convinced that you should make yourself count, be part of this whopping statistics. But hold on to your horses for a while. There are a myriad of choices now -- a slew of brands, features, and a range of prices. Which is best? Or better yet, consider if it could best serve your needs compared to purchasing an upgrade or new laptop?</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><a href="http://blog.laptopmag.com/tablet-buyers-guide-5-questions-to-ask-before-you-buy-a-slate"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Laptopmag.com </span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> provides a prescription of 5 Questions to ask before buying a tablet:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">iPad or Android? </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s Google Android operating system vs. Apple’s IOS</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ipad + IOS Pros and Cons:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- most intuitive interface</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- more than 14,000 dedicated apps from games, to videos, to productivity tools, and music</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- best selection of accessories</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- iCloud synchs media and documents across multiple devices</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- only comes in a single size</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Android has more variety in terms of product features and specifications</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Android Pros and Cons:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- easy task switching</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- hi-res display</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- multiple homescreens customizable with widgets</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- more hardware choices</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- some varieties can run with a pen input like </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the ThinkPad Tablet, others can include keyboards like ASUS Eee Pad Slider</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- offers much fewer apps compared to the iPad</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- the Honeycomb interface can be complicated to use</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Windows 7 tablets are not recommended due to ‘touch un-friendly’ system, higher priced, shorter battery life</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- best to wait for a Windows8 system in 2012</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. How much do you want to spend?</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- 7 inch tablet ranges from $200 - $300</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- 10 inch tablet 16GB with wifi ranges from $400 - $500</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- 32GB iPad 2 cost $599; 64GB iPad 2 costs $699</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-save your files on a cloud and save your money too by getting the 8GB or 16GB memory</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- 10 inch Android tablets cost less than the iPad, sells for less than $400</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. What size screen do you need?</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- a 7inch tablet is lightweight and can easily fit in a purse, yet you may not get the full experience</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- an 8 to 10 inch tablet has a bigger canvas and works best for surfing the net, watching videos, editing documents</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- 10 inch tablets work best for entertainment and productivity tasks</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Do you need mobile broadband?</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- consider 3G or 4G when your usage is within an area where wifi is always available</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- the mobile broadband-enabled varieties are more premium priced, plus you need to pay for your carrier’s broadband charges</span><br />
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Where will you get content?</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- iPad has iTunes where the Apple Store offers music, videos, games, apps, books, magazines</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- the Android tablets carry their own stores. Brands like Samsung, HTC, Sony, Kindle, have their own stores where they sell music, videos, books, apps, games. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Third party apps are also available to download</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can your tablet replace your trusty old laptop, or would it be wiser to upgrade or buy a new laptop instead? Here are the Tablet pros and cons:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Tablets have more battery life.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Tablets are lighter, smaller, easier to carry than a laptop.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Tablets are more affordable, starting as low as $199</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Productivity and storage software are now available like Quickoffice and cloudservices such as Dropbox. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Since apps are reliant on the internet, tablets are not very reliable without internet connectivity</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. Laptop keyboards are more comfortable to use compared to a tablet’s touch screen interface.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. Laptops are more reliable for specific tasks such as word processing and photo and video editing.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. Laptops have bigger and sharper screens</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. Laptops make it easier for you to multi-task because you can open and switch on multiple screens</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Laptopmag.com offers yet this simple and quick guide to keep in mind in order to help you decide: “</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tablets are better for play and some work, and laptops are better for work and some play.”</span></div>
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</div>What’s The Buzz All About on Google+ Business Pages? 2011-11-20T14:41:01Z2011-11-20T14:41:01Zhttp://www.yourpcmatters.com/blog/networking/whats-the-buzz-all-about-on-google-business-pagesYour PC Mattersservice@yourpcmatters.com<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<p dir="ltr" id="internal-source-marker_0.40644155722111464" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">5 Easy Steps To Set-up Your Own Google+ Business Page<br /><br /></span></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"></div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="google+ business pages" width="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FjeJ8aichZw/TrglpOV-4XI/AAAAAAAAFBM/aJv28hbNXJ0/google-pages-local.png" /></p>
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.40644155722111464" style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s no denying that Facebook was one of the catalysts that revolutionized the way businesses or brands interact with their consumers. Facebook has created some sort of a megaphone for businesses to communicate with their consumers; while in turn, consumers have been given a platform to air or vent out their thoughts and opinions directly to these businesses. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few weeks ago, Google has come up with their own Facebook-like social media platform intended primarily for business -- Google+ business pages. With Google’s stature as the tycoon of search engines and search queries, you, as a business or brand would definitely want to be easily ‘searchable’ on Google. An article from </span><a href="http://socialmediatoday.com/david-amerland/384862/google-pages-finally-g-and-they-are-available-everyone"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">socialmediatoday.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> reports that Google created “Google Direct Connect </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">which allows those who look for a business page to find its G+ profile straight from Google search”. This can be done by simply typing in “+company or business/brand name”, which will then lead the searcher to the brand’s Google+ profile page.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you were a business, you’d definitely want to be part of Google’s search ‘circles’. Here are </span><a href="http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/28624/How-to-Create-a-Google-Business-Page-in-5-Simple-Steps.aspx"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hubspot.com’s </span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5 Easy </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Steps To Set-up Your Own Google+ Business Page:</span><br />
<h2 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Choose an Accessible Gmail Account</span><span style="font-size: 27px; font-family: Arial; color: #e36f1e; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h2>
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">= set-up a separate Gmail account that can be accessible to multiple users in your marketing team.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Create a Page with the Desired Account</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #414141; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Visit </span><a href="http://plus.google.com/pages/create"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #e36f1e; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://plus.google.com/pages/create</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #414141; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and find the option to get you started. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #414141; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Find the appropriate classification for your business.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #414141; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fill-in your basic information such as business name, website URL, and other required information.</span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #414141; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #414141; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<h2 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Customize Your Public Profile</span><span style="font-size: 24px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h2>
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Add your tagline, profile image / business logo.</span><br />
<h2 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Promote Your Page</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Google has a built-in access button for you to ‘get the word out / spread the word’ about your page. But before you do this, do your homework. Optimize your page by sharing updates, adding and sharing links.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<h2 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Get Going!</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Engage your users, share content regularly, encourage them to share their reactions, then respond to their comments and questions. Your page should be able to generate leads for your business. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook fanpages + Google+ Business pages = “Likes” and “Circles”</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Media and bloggers have often highlighted the face-off between these two platforms. But let’s look at it from the perspective that ‘the king of search’ vs. ‘the king of users/page visitors’ may just be the winning formula that could spell social media marketing success for your business.</span></div>
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</div><div style="background-color: transparent;">
<p dir="ltr" id="internal-source-marker_0.40644155722111464" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">5 Easy Steps To Set-up Your Own Google+ Business Page<br /><br /></span></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"></div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="google+ business pages" width="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FjeJ8aichZw/TrglpOV-4XI/AAAAAAAAFBM/aJv28hbNXJ0/google-pages-local.png" /></p>
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.40644155722111464" style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s no denying that Facebook was one of the catalysts that revolutionized the way businesses or brands interact with their consumers. Facebook has created some sort of a megaphone for businesses to communicate with their consumers; while in turn, consumers have been given a platform to air or vent out their thoughts and opinions directly to these businesses. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few weeks ago, Google has come up with their own Facebook-like social media platform intended primarily for business -- Google+ business pages. With Google’s stature as the tycoon of search engines and search queries, you, as a business or brand would definitely want to be easily ‘searchable’ on Google. An article from </span><a href="http://socialmediatoday.com/david-amerland/384862/google-pages-finally-g-and-they-are-available-everyone"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">socialmediatoday.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> reports that Google created “Google Direct Connect </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">which allows those who look for a business page to find its G+ profile straight from Google search”. This can be done by simply typing in “+company or business/brand name”, which will then lead the searcher to the brand’s Google+ profile page.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you were a business, you’d definitely want to be part of Google’s search ‘circles’. Here are </span><a href="http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/28624/How-to-Create-a-Google-Business-Page-in-5-Simple-Steps.aspx"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000099; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hubspot.com’s </span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5 Easy </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Steps To Set-up Your Own Google+ Business Page:</span><br />
<h2 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Choose an Accessible Gmail Account</span><span style="font-size: 27px; font-family: Arial; color: #e36f1e; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h2>
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">= set-up a separate Gmail account that can be accessible to multiple users in your marketing team.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Create a Page with the Desired Account</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #414141; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Visit </span><a href="http://plus.google.com/pages/create"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #e36f1e; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://plus.google.com/pages/create</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #414141; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and find the option to get you started. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #414141; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Find the appropriate classification for your business.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #414141; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fill-in your basic information such as business name, website URL, and other required information.</span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #414141; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #414141; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<h2 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Customize Your Public Profile</span><span style="font-size: 24px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h2>
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Add your tagline, profile image / business logo.</span><br />
<h2 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Promote Your Page</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Google has a built-in access button for you to ‘get the word out / spread the word’ about your page. But before you do this, do your homework. Optimize your page by sharing updates, adding and sharing links.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<h2 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Get Going!</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Engage your users, share content regularly, encourage them to share their reactions, then respond to their comments and questions. Your page should be able to generate leads for your business. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook fanpages + Google+ Business pages = “Likes” and “Circles”</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Media and bloggers have often highlighted the face-off between these two platforms. But let’s look at it from the perspective that ‘the king of search’ vs. ‘the king of users/page visitors’ may just be the winning formula that could spell social media marketing success for your business.</span></div>
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