win

Windows 8 promises to bring many cool and different features to your desktop. Some developers can't wait and are previewing some of those features. BlueZap's Win Lock Pro is a free screen-locking and Windows log-in application that takes its visual cues from the Windows 8 log-in and screen lock system. It's frequently updated; the version we tested (version 8) enhances security by disabling the Alt, Tab, and Win keys when Win Lock Pro is in use.

Win Lock Pro's Welcome screen walked us through the process of creating and confirming a password. Once Win Lock was … Read more

Power users will love GrepWin, a free search-and-replace tool that enables regular expression searches from context menus in Explorer. It essentially adds a sophisticated interface to the grep command-line search tool developed for Unix and used in Linux, MacOS, and other operating systems, including Windows. It can replace whole strings of text in compatible files and documents, such as text files. Regular expressions (regex) enable incredibly specific searches, such as words with a specific number of letters or sequence of vowels, or "cats" when preceded by "house" or "wild." With special characters, groupings, and … Read more

If you are a Windows user, or come from a Windows background, odds are you have heard of and used WinZip.

With the launch of WinZip for the iPhone and iPad, iOS users will now have an easy method for opening ZIP files on their iOS device. Whether those files come from the Web, or were sent as an e-mail attachment.

Once you have downloaded and installed WinZip on your iPhone or iPad, you may notice there is nothing to the app. Upon opening it, you are presented with a miniature tutorial and nothing else. Even after trying to read … Read more

There must be hundreds, if not thousands, of to-do-list management apps in the iTunes App Store, but which one should you choose?

I found a couple of new task management apps recently that add something extra to the category. But using them made me realize that an old favorite of mine still stood up to the test of time and remains a great choice for lists and tasks.

It's no secret that many people like to use lists to get through daily projects, but when you have a task manager on your iPhone, you get handy additions like alerts, notifications, and editable tasks when your goals change. Whether you're just making a grocery list or planning a big business project, a good task management app can focus your efforts and keep you on point for success.… Read more

Microsoft began distancing itself from browser plug-ins last year starting with Internet Explorer on Windows 8's Metro interface, but it spoke more definitively today: plug-ins are bad for the Web.

"Metro-style IE runs plug-in free to improve battery life as well as security, reliability, and privacy for consumers," said John Hrvatin, Internet Explorer program manager lead, in a blog post. "A plug-in free Web benefits consumers and developers and we all take part in the transition."

The upcoming IE10 browser doesn't just run in Metro, Microsoft's next-generation, touch-centric interface geared for tablets and … Read more

Once upon a time, creating a bootable floppy was high on the list of "things to do when installing Windows." Bootable floppies made system recovery much easier. WinUSB Maker creates a bootable startup disk on any removable USB drive or similar location. It does much more, too, such as creating bootable ISO image, GRLDR, and DOS disks as well as full drive backups. And it's extremely easy to use. You'll need your Windows installation disk or an existing setup disk, ISO image, or folder to use the program, and be sure to use a USB drive … Read more

Continuing to build its collection of core iOS patents, Apple's latest win comes in the form of list editing.

It's yet another example of Apple gaining stronger legal ground to defend the look and feel of iOS from competitors looking to capitalize on the popularity of the mobile operating system.

The patent, uncovered by Patently Apple, for "a computer-implemented method for displaying and managing lists on a portable multifunction device with a touch-screen display" describes, in exhausting detail, another principle function of iOS, namely list editing.

We know it better as "that easy way to … Read more

A public beta of Windows 8 will launch in late February of next year, says tech news site The Next Web.

Citing "sources close to Microsoft," TNW pointed to February for the beta's debut but said the release date for the final version of Windows 8 remains a mystery, though it's expected to ship next year.

Mary Jo Foley of CNET sister site ZDNet said she's heard that the beta would appear after next month's Consumer Electronics Show, which runs from January 10 to 13, but Foley said she isn't aware of any … Read more

There's more than one way to automate tasks in Windows, but the Task Manager and macro options fall far short of many users' needs. If you find yourself wishing you could automate any repetitive task in Windows, try WinParrot, the "Windows parrot." This portable freeware lets you create, record, and play macros automating virtually any task or process in Windows. While it's not difficult to use, beginners will find it a bit overwhelming. Those users with a passing familiarity with code and text files will get the most out of this flexible tool's many options … Read more