Power Downloader

When Power Downloader gets a download request in an e-mail from a friend, he always searches for the perfect software for his friend's quandary. Recently, when a friend who lived in a hurricane-prone area asked if there was a way to track storms, Power Downloader knew exactly what type of program she needed.

Nobody likes to hear there is a storm brewing if they live in a place where hurricanes ravage the coast frequently. That's why Power Downloader knows that a simple storm-tracking program can put a person's mind at ease, or in a worst-case scenario, give them more time to plan for a possible evacuation.… Read more

Recently Power Downloader was working on a top-secret project, which required him to grab screenshots of Internet criminals off the Web. Some pages had individual shots of the criminal in question, while other sites showed multiple photos on a page. As he slogged through the Web pages, Power quickly began to realize that the method of pressing the Print Screen key to capture what's on the screen was pretty inefficient. Once you have the screenshot in the clipboard, you still have to paste it into another program, and then name it and save it. Power realized that, when you have a lot of images to deal with, using the Print Screen process can be downright frustrating.… Read more

If there's one thing Power Downloader has learned while working with computers and software, it's that there will inevitably be problems. With new viruses and new strains of spyware set loose onto the Web every day, Power knows he needs to stay on top of updates and the latest definitions for his programs. But even with the best protection available, occasionally something can sneak through Power's defenses, leaving his computer unusable.

To make sure he's prepared for the worst, Power Downloader keeps a bootable CD with a variety of programs meant to troubleshoot an otherwise unusable … Read more

During a recent mission, Power Downloader was working on some top-secret documents that he could only entrust to his superhero-grade hard drive. The only problem was, when Power went through the usual steps for saving and storing secret documents, he found that his most secure hard drive was almost totally full. He quickly realized he had no choice but to find a way to make room on his hard drive.… Read more

With the weather getting warmer, Power Downloader decided that it was time to get away from his computer and take a little vacation with his niece, Kitty Kilobyte. Of course, the thing he worries about the most when leaving the Power Lair unattended is some would-be criminal getting in and stealing his top-secret documents.

Power Downloader is especially concerned about certain items on his desktop, which need to remain top secret when he and Kitty Kilobyte go on vacation. His plans for thwarting villains, programs that map secret locations, layouts of evil lairs, or other top-secret stuff could mean disaster if they get into the wrong hands.… Read more

When Power Downloader recently sat down to check his e-mail, he quickly noticed a message from his niece, Kitty Kilobyte. In the message, Kitty explained that she would soon be attending a summer English class, which would mean she would probably be writing a lot of papers. She went on to explain that though she was embarrassed to admit it, spelling wasn't her greatest skill, and any software he could recommend would be a big help.… Read more

As a software superhero, Power Downloader knows that not all software is the perfect fit. In fact, some programs can be downright disappointments, unworthy of his hard drive. Though he's made his name downloading and installing programs, Power Downloader sometimes needs to get rid of software just like every other user.

Windows comes with an Add/Remove control panel, but anyone who has used it can tell you that it's not always the most efficient tool for removing software. It's often slow to load, produces strange errors when removing certain programs, shows countless Windows updates that you will probably never uninstall, and can leave remnants like registry entries behind to gum up your system.… Read more

In the rapidly changing world of computer technology, the laptop Power Downloader purchased only a couple of years ago has quickly become obsolete. In order to keep up with the most advanced Internet criminals, Power decided that it was time to upgrade his trusty laptop. Once he found the right one with the fastest processor, extra RAM, and the latest features, he brought it back to the Power Lair for the most important part of the process: downloading software!

While it seems like his computer goes out of date rather quickly, Power Downloader's favorite programs for a new computer … Read more

In his years battling spammers, hackers, and other ne'er-do-wells, Power Downloader has always been quick to capture important information on his digital camera. His pal Francois Foto has been invaluable in analyzing details from Power's snapshots to break big leads and gain an edge on criminals. Power and Francois usually exchange images and other files over a secure FTP connection, and pass notes via encrypted e-mail.

However, sometimes Power has to alter digital images in order to protect individuals or conceal confidential information. In the case of a digital photo that exposes a secret operative, releases personal information, or compromises anyone's safety, Power often needs to remove parts of images before he shares them with anyone else.… Read more