UP

Productivity

What does it mean to use technology productively? Which apps and gadgets make your work easier? How to personalize the computers and other gadgets you’re using?

tutorial How to Add, Edit and Remove Alarms in Windows 8.1

How to Add, Edit and Remove Alarms in Windows 8.1

If you are looking for an easy way to use your Windows 8.1 device to keep track of time during certain activities, the operating system offers an easy and friendly way of doing this - the Alarms app. It enables you to set alarms, timers or use a stopwatch for managing your time, waking up for work in the morning or even timing your
tutorial Simple Questions: What is Hands-Free Mode in Windows 8.1?

Simple Questions: What is Hands-Free Mode in Windows 8.1?

If you have used Windows 8.1 or at least read about it, you might have encountered a feature named Hands-Free Mode. As the name implies, it is about using your Windows 8.1 device without your hands. But how does it work? Is it any good? Let's find out from this guide. What is Hands-Free Mode in Windows 8.1? This feature is designed for
tutorial The Complete Guide to the Weather App in Windows 8 & 8.1

The Complete Guide to the Weather App in Windows 8 & 8.1

Knowing the weather is essential to planning anything from an upcoming weekend away to which route to drive to work. While many users watch the news for their weather information and others might check the Internet, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 provide a great alternative with their bundled Weather app. Once configured, this app provides extended forecasts, hourly forecasts, weather maps and even historical
tutorial What the Reading List App in Windows 8.1 is & Why You Should Use it

What the Reading List App in Windows 8.1 is & Why You Should Use it

Let's face it, no matter how much the Internet has improved and eased the way you get informed, it is still full of recycled, misunderstood or erroneous information. You will likely need to carefully filter through all the information you find on the web in order to read the news, blog posts or any other kind of content that is both useful for you
review Book Review - Windows 8.1 Step By Step, by Ciprian Rusen & Joli Ballew

Book Review - Windows 8.1 Step By Step, by Ciprian Rusen & Joli Ballew

When I reviewed the first edition of this book - Windows 8 Step By Step - I said that it was "the kind of book to keep handy by your computer for reference, because it will give you confidence that you can do everything right. It's a winner!" Other sites, including Amazon, where reviewers are notoriously cranky, have given it 5-star and 4-star ratings
tutorial How to Set AutoPlay Defaults for Media & Devices in Windows 8.1

How to Set AutoPlay Defaults for Media & Devices in Windows 8.1

In Windows 8.1 you can also set the AutoPlay settings for your media and devices, directly from PC Settings. There you have access to almost the same customization options found in the Control Panel. This tutorial shares where to find the AutoPlay settings and how to fiddle with them. Where to Find the AutoPlay Settings in PC Settings? Open PC Settings. Then, click
tutorial How to Set How Much Data Tiles Use in Windows 8.1

How to Set How Much Data Tiles Use in Windows 8.1

If you are a tablet user with Windows 8.1 and you have a poor data plan, then you will want to limit how much data is used by the operating system, including the tiles. Depending on the apps you have installed and what updates they display on their tiles, they might end up consuming a lot of data. Luckily, Windows 8.1 provides a way
tutorial Introducing Windows 8.1: What are the Charms & How to Use them

Introducing Windows 8.1: What are the Charms & How to Use them

One of the most important features in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 are the Charms. "Charms"... in Windows? It sounds strange! Right? Actually, they are not that hard to understand. To help you out, we will share how to access them, what they do and how to use them. How to Access the Charms Simply put, Charms are a set of shortcuts to common tasks,
tutorial How to Customize or Disable Search with Bing in Windows 8.1

How to Customize or Disable Search with Bing in Windows 8.1

As mentioned in many other articles, one of the biggest changes in Windows 8.1 is related to Search and its strong integration with Bing. In this operating system, Bing provides you with search suggestions and web results when performing any kind of search, directly from the Start screen. Some users will love this but will want to tweak the way it works while others