While watching the Doctor Who prequel trailer for The Name of the Doctor, the music used reminds me of the ringtone "Walk in the Forest" included in Samsung phones. Judge for yourself and see.

The trailer: Link to the video for backward compatibility on mobile phones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wqt7e_gVHpM

The "Walk in the Forest" ringtone from Samsung:

but to get the full experience of HTML5, upgrade to a modern browser like Internet Explorer 9 or later. Firefox, Google Chrome, or Opera. In addition to the support for HTML5, modern browsers come with many additional benefits, such as speed and security.

After installing some Android apps, you may notice that the "default" home page has been changed to www.searchmobileonline.com or the likes. To get rid of the "default" home page, perform the steps below.

1. Open Settings > Applications > Manage applications > All (tab on top) or Settings > Application manager as shown
   
2. Go to the "All" tab on the top and scroll down to "Internet"
   
3. Click "clear data" in the resulting window
   

Status: Solved by Microsoft. Early fix provided by sting251. Modified by Thu Win (me).

Starting on March 5, 2013, the Weather gadget in Microsoft Windows 7 was showing "cannot connect to service as shown:

I have found a fix. Credits for the fix goes to sting251. He posted the fix at http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-desktop/weather-gadget-not-working-cannot-connect-to/6707d8b4-1a37-4412-a609-5677c9b99a7a?page=4. I have simplified his instructions and removed unnecessary files.

To fix this problem, first download the file from my Google drive at https://docs.google.com/uc?id=0B1Tan13i1a63OGxTYkVvZGdvS3c&export=download. Download the individual files to the desktop. The directions for the fix can be found in the zip file itself (directions.txt). For your convenience, it will be posted here as well.

1. Run "fixit.bat." Make sure you have the entire zip file and extracted it to the same place.
2. Press "enter" to close the Window.

I'm trying a new "batch (.bat)" file to automate the fix. If it does not work, the old instructions can be found below

Old Instructions

1. Close all running Gadgets by clicking on the "x" in the top right hand corner of the Gadget. An easier way is to launch Windows task manager. Then click on "processes." Click on show processes from all users. Select "sidebar.exe" and click "End process."
2. Double click on "Cache - Shortcut" in the zip file. Or else go to Start --> Run and type in
   "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows Live\Services\Cache\" without the quotation marks. Drag and drop the config.xml file into the file. If Windows ask whether you want to replace the file, click "Move and replace."
3. Press start and then type in "Gadget." Select "Desktop gadget gallery." Launch the Gadgets you want.
4. If the above steps do not fix the problem, continue with the following step, repeating steps 1 to 3. Double click on "Windows Sidebar - Shortcut" in the zip file. Or else go to Start --> Run and type in
   "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows Sidebar" without the quotation mark. Drag and drop the Settings.ini file into the file. If Windows ask whether you want to replace the file, click "Move and replace."

If you have time, please fill up a survey regarding this fix.

Credits

Credits for the fix goes to sting251. I have simplified his instructions.

Credits for the "batch (.bat)" file goes to TheRipper

Please SHARE this article to everyone you know.

Blackberry (formerly Research in Motion) has released the Blackberry Z-10, a new Blackberry phone. It's a radical departure from traditional Blackberry phones or just about any smart phones. For one thing, there are only 3 physical buttons on the phone: a centralized power / standby button on the top of the phone, a volume rocker on the right-hand side, and a mute / voice command button between the two volume rockers. You heard me. There is no back button, home button, or anything. Not even a software button like the Google Android. This can pose a bit of a problem for most people. Even I am stumped with how to exit the camera app. Do I press the power button to exit? Nope. That merely turns off the phone. How about the small button between the volume up and volume down keys? Nada. That merely mutes the phone and long pressing it launches a Siri like voice command. After 5 minutes of poking and prodding and random tapping, I found out to exit, you have to swipe upward. Apparently swiping is all the latest craze. Ghee I wonder who they got that from? Microsoft, where to "exit" a metro or sorry Windows 8 style app, you have to drag the program downward.

In Blackberry 10, to get pass the start screen you swipe upward. To exit an app, swipe upward. To get to the Camera from the lock screen, hold down the camera icon for about 3 second.

In summary, Blackberry 10 is a bold leap forward for Blackberry (formerly Research in Motion) and they are backing all their money on the project. However, in their zest to create a "modern" smart phone they removed most of the buttons, leaving behind not even a software buttons. Instead they relied on swipes and gesture to get around the phone. It may "look" cool in advertisements, but it can pose some difficulties for most people who just want to use a phone.

Blackberry picture is taken from the article An imperfect ten: the BlackBerry Z10 smartphone review.

This blog post was posted from a Windows 8 PC! However, it was expanded and edited on a Windows 7 PC.

Windows 8 is released today on October 26, 2012. I went to my local PCWorld store to test it out. My first impression of it is that it is "different." It marks a radical difference from the Windows we use to know. Starting from Windows 95 up to Windows 7, the basic Windows interface looks pretty much the same: the start menu in the lower right hand corner and the desktop.

Boot up process

With Windows 8, the first thing you would notice upon booting up is that the BIOS splash screen is gone. So as the Windows start up screen. These are now combined into one. Windows 8 start up sound is disabled by default but if you turn it on, it sounds exactly like Windows Vista. Also, it boots up into the Metro Windows Start Menu (or as Windows call it Modern UI) rather tan the desktop. Note: For legal reasons, Microsoft wants users to call the Metro UI as Modern UI. In addition, if you want to go back to the traditional desktop, you have to click the desktop icon on the Modern Start Menu. That will throw you to the desktop, which feels like an app since it too can be closed by dragging downwards. There isn't any way to bypass the start menu and boot straight into Windows (well there are many ways but they are merely hacks as they're not "official" i.e. not supported natively)

Windows 8: A tale of two interfaces

Windows 8 feels bolted on. Settings made in the Windows 8 metro screen does not necessarily translate to the desktop app and vice versa. Thera are different settings for metro app. For example, when I log out of Chrome on the desktop app, it still signs me in in the Modern UI Chrome app. Also, I can't delete users from Chrome app.

I feel Windows is designed for touch as I find it easier to browse Windows 8 on a touch PC than with a mouse and keyboard. For example, with the Internet Explorer Modern UI app, to bring up the URL bar after it disappear, on a touch PC, you just swipe downwards. However, with a mouse and keyboard, I spent about 10 minutes doing various actions. I even consulted the PCWorld sales guys and he doesn't know. In the end of random clicking, I found that right clicking on a blank space in the app brings up the start menu. Another example is that to close Modern UI apps, you will have to click on the top and drag it downwards or press "alt+f4". I also do not like all the sideways scrolling that is involved in Windows 8.

Another chagrin I have with Windows 8 is that stuffs are thrown all over the place and it's hard to find it. Also, searching for the stuff is also one step longer Windows 8 search does not search files. There is an extra step to choose that. In Windows 7 to find the option to delete Internet Explorer history, I have to click on start and then type in "delete"--> Start --> Delete to find the option to delete IE histories.

In Windows 8, it's right hand corner (or lower right hand corner or the start button on your keyboard) --> Search. Then type in "delete" and select settings and then you will find the option to delete the history.Win8 Start --> Select Settings --> Delete

Windows Explorer (or in Windows 8 lingo File Explorer) now sports a new ribbon UI. This interface was first introduced in Microsoft Office 2007. Gone are the menus. File Explorer with Ribbon showing:

I find this irritating since file options is hard to find. In Windows 7 it's tools --> Folder options:

However, in Windows 8 it's View --> Folder options

In the desktop settings, aerosnap to view two windows side by side still work.

The option to switch apps remains as alt+tab. It can be used to switch between desktop and metro apps.

Windows 8 task switcher:

Windows 7 task switcher:

However, aero switcher no longer present. Just in case you guys don't know what that is, this is aeroswitcher in Windows 7:

Pressing that combo brings up this screen:

Windows in Windows 8 feels flatter and more "digital looking." Unlike Windows 7, which sports a glossy look, the Windows 8 windows feels flat and bland. Here are the two Explorer windows shown side by side with the Windows 7 window on the left and the Windows 8 window on the right. Click on the image for the full view.

As well as a new Explorer window, Windows 8 feature a revamped task manger, which is certainly better than Windows 7's as shown.

Creating program shortcut is a pain in the arse. To do that, right click the app. A menu will open at the bottom listing the options available for the app / program. Click on the 'Open File Location' button. You'll be kicked out to Windows Explorer to the folder containing the app, and it will be highlighted for you. Right-click on it and select "Send To->Desktop (Create Shortcut)". You will now have a Desktop shortcut for your app!

Final remarks

Windows 8 feels faster and slicker, although I did manage to "freeze" an Internet Explorer window on the store PC (I think I broke it cause every time I bring up Internet Explorer, it freezes). However, it feels more touch orientated. Doing things on Windows 8 is a series of just trial and error. Files and settings are thrown all over the place and there is a steep learning curve. The user have to click various things before, a ha! I found it. Also, the upper right hand corner or lower right hand corner is the new start menu. Ther isn't any "visual" cue with Windows 8 unlike earlier windows. It's all hover and out pops the Window. Oh here's some advice of how to turn off Windows: to turn off, upper right corner, power, turn off. Or go to desktop and press alt+f4.

Note

I'm using Google Chrome rather than the native Internet Explorer since it's easier to simply junk all the settings after I use it. I feel it's more "portable" as I can easily sync all my settings to it and delete it in one go after I'm done. Also, it has Adobe Flash Player bundled so no need to worry about outdated Flash Player. In addition, it doesn't need admin privileges to install.

Hardware Requirements

Useful links:

• Windows 8 survival guide: http://gizmodo.com/5955139/windows-8-survival-guide-all-the-tips-tricks-and-workarounds
• How to Not Get Lost in Windows 8: The Best Shortcuts and Tricks: http://lifehacker.com/5955162/how-to-not-get-lost-in-windows-8-the-best-shortcuts-and-tricks
• 8 Things We Hate About Windows 8: http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/8_things_we_hate_about_windows_841
• Windows 8 Review by MaximumPC: http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/windows_8_Review