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ModernMix 1.0

Still feeling the Windows 7 blues? Ever wish you could take your apps out of Win8's Modern UI and onto your desktop? ModernMix is a utility that enables Windows 8 Modern-centric apps to run inside a windowed frame, resulting in a more traditional experience like previous versions of Windows. Regardless of your feelings about Microsoft's current direction, ModernMix is an attractive utility made especially for the classically desktop dependent.

When running multiple Modern apps, the applications are not normally running or visible in desktop view. Instead, the charms bar acts as your standard task manager for Modern apps. … Read more

ModernMix 1.0

Modern Mix is a tweak for Windows 8 that brings users one step closer to the classic Windows experience inside the Modern UI environment. Stardock's latest release removes the barrier between the Start Screen and desktop by enabling Modern apps to run inside a window. The result is a user experience more in line with the traditional Windows 7 way of displaying windowed applications. Regardless of your feelings about Microsoft's OS, Modern Mix is a utility that is genuinely useful for the desktop dependent.

After installation, you'll be introduced to ModernMix's config menu. By default, any … Read more

Silence your Mac when it boots with StartNinja for Mac

If there is a single thing on Mac computers that hasn't been changed through time and countless iterations, it is the existence of a signature "boing" startup chime. If you're tired of the well-known Macintosh startup chime, then you will certainly like to try StartNinja for Mac. It will effectively silence your Mac during the startup and allow for silent booting.

A small utility app, StartNinja for Mac installs with a classic drag-and-drop and will reside in your applications folder. The app is very simple and it only consists of a single preference window. Simply check … Read more

Blow then start: The future of alcohol and driving (CNET On Cars, Episode 13)

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We have the best from the Geneva auto show in this episode, including LaFerrari, Lamborghini's Veneno, and the Corvette Stingray convertible.

Our Car Tech 101 explains "connected cars," which is a term that has come to mean a lot of things. You'll understand them all.

Cooley blows hard into the current in-car booze detectors, but then shows you the future that may put alcohol lockout tech in every car: a federal initiative called DADSS that would radically … Read more

Four months in, Windows 8 needs help

After four months of tepid Windows 8 PC sales, maybe it's time for Microsoft to make a few changes.

During a conversation I had this week with IDC analyst Bob O'Donnell, he volunteered the following statement, which sounded strangely like my experience.

There were certain decisions that Microsoft made that were in retrospect flawed. Notably not allowing people to boot into desktop mode and taking away the start button. Those two things have come up consistently. We've done some research and people miss that.

And there are a lot of people that as soon as they boot … Read more

How to bypass the Office 2013 start screen

Some of the applications in Microsoft's Office 2013 suite launch with a start screen by default. On the left side of the start screen is a list of recent documents and on the right side, a list of templates. It's a useful feature, but if you prefer, you can bypass the start screen and go right to the edit screens of those Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Here's how:

From within the main edit screen, go to File > Options or use the keyboard shortcut, ALT+F, T. Under the General Options tab, go to Startup options … Read more

Start Your Sleep helps to block out noise

We could all use a little rest and relaxation, even if it means catching a little shut-eye in your car on your lunch break. Start Your Sleep offers soothing sounds and a timer to help you sleep. We can't make any promises, but it's worth a try if you need something to block out noise.

Start Your Sleep is pretty easy to navigate. A simple menu walks you through the steps of turning your phone into a white noise machine. First, select a sound. The list is small, unless you want to pay to unlock more options. But, … Read more

Microsoft offers online help to Office 2013 users

Office 2013 users who need a helping hand can find one through Microsoft's Quick Start Guides.

Now available online, the nine guides offer advice on using each of the applications in Office 2013, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, OneNote, Project, Visio, and Publisher.

Each guide comes packaged as a PDF that you can download or view online through Adobe Reader.

The guides provide screenshots and descriptions of the new features and layouts in Office 2013. They also clue you in as to what's changed in the new applications compared with previous versions. As with any PDF, you … Read more

Restore the classic Start menu in Windows 8

There's no doubt that Microsoft upped its game with Windows 8. The tile-based Metro layout is stylish, yet it puts function before form. But some early adopters miss the familiar Start menu, which made its debut way back in Windows 95. Many longtime users simply don't want to make the change. Some probably can't. It could be a productivity issue. But not to worry: the good old Start menu is easy to restore with ViStart 8.1. This free app not only restores the classic Windows Start menu in Windows 8 but also lets you customize your … Read more