How to Create a Shortcut for Locking the Computer Screen in Windows 7

There are many ways in which you can lock the computer screen in Windows. The most popular as well as the fastest way to lock it is to use a keyboard shortcut. The keyboard shortcut used to lock the computer screen is Win+L. A few of the people choose to utilize the mouse to lock it. And of course many people like to use both the options.

There is another method in which we can lock the computer screen by double clicking on a shortcut. You can use the same method for locking the computer screen in Windows 7, XP and Vista too. Follow these steps in order to create a shortcut for locking the computer screen in Windows 7 as well as other editions:

Right-click on the desktop where you would like to create the shortcut.

Read the rest of the article here - How to Create a Shortcut for Locking the Computer Screen in Windows 7

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Has the Sound on Your Computer Disappeared?

Has your computer system lost its sound? If yes, then you might be surprised to know that it is a fairly common problem. Usually it'll happen after a system crashes or an unexpected shut down. This is because unexpected shut downs or system crashes can cause your drivers to get corrupted. This problem can also occur when you reinstall your operating system. There are a number of reasons why your computer might lose its sound, but using updated sound card drivers is one viable solution.

A driver problem with your sound card is an issue that is fairly common, especially where it concerns loss of sound. One of the biggest problems that you may encounter while trying to remedy it, is finding the appropriate drivers for your sound device, if you have the original driver CDs that came with your system, then it's likely using them will work, but in many instances they won't.

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There could be a number of reasons why the original drivers don't work, such as you upgrading your version of windows or installing a new service pack. The most foolproof way of solving this problem is to find the latest drivers for your sound card. However, installing the wrong drivers can affect the stability and functionality of your operating system.

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There are currently two viable ways of finding the appropriate drivers for your computer system.

a) By adopting the manual approach of searching for the drivers on the internet. Using this method can be quite time consuming, especially if you're new to computers.

b) By running an automated driver program that will automatically scan your system and find missing drivers to specific components on your computer. This method takes minutes at the most and is relatively easy to use, even for the beginner.

Top 5 Android Phones

The Android Phones were at the center of attraction for many like us with their great potential to be the #1 Operating System for Smart phones. Android powered phones like HTC Hero has the capability to take on any smartphone like iPhone with its nice interface and other features like usability and stability issues etc. It also has good apps to start with and more are expected to be released soon. This is why Google expects that as many as 18 Android phones might be launched this year. We have collected the best 5 Android phones available in the market and we also listed 2 more of them as a bonus which are going to be launched very soon. Have look at the list.

1. HTC Hero

This is the best Android Phone released so far. We reviewed this phone and found it to be a genuine competitor to the iPhone.
htc-hero

* Display : 3.2 inches, 320 X 480 pixels, 65K colors
* Touchscreen : TFT capacitive touchscreen
* Camera : 5MP autofocus
* Quad Band GSM
* Dual Band 3G HSDPA
* GPRS, EDGE, WiFI, Bluetooth, GPS

Price

About $660
2. Samsung i7500 Galaxy

This is a nice Android phone with an excellent AMOLED display.
samsung-galaxy

* Display : 3.0 inches AMOLED, 320 X 480 pixels, 16M colors
* Touchscreen : AMOLED capacitive touchscreen
* Camera : 5MP autofocus, LED Flash
* Quad Band GSM
* Dual Band 3G HSDPA
* GPRS, EDGE, WiFI, Bluetooth, GPS

Price

About $680
3. HTC Magic

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I don’t need to explain anything about this awesome device.
htc-magic

* Display : 3.2 inches, 320 X 480 pixels, 65K colors
* Touchscreen : TFT capacitive touchscreen
* Camera : 3.15 MP autofocus
* Quad Band GSM
* Dual Band 3G HSDPA
* GPRS, EDGE, WiFI, Bluetooth, GPS

Price

About $480
4. Motorola CLIQ (DEXT MB220)

This is also a capable Android phone from Motorola.
moto-cliq

* Slide Out QWERTY keyboard
* Display : 3.1 inches, 320 X 480 pixels, 262K colors
* Touchscreen : TFT capacitive touchscreen
* Camera : 5MP autofocus
* Quad Band GSM
* Dual Band 3G HSDPA
* GPRS, EDGE, WiFI, Bluetooth, GPS

5. HTC Dream

HTC should be the brand when purchasing Android Devices.
htc-dream

* Display : 3.2 inches, 320 X 480 pixels, 65K colors
* Touchscreen : TFT capacitive touchscreen
* Camera : 3.15MP autofocus
* Quad Band GSM
* Dual Band 3G HSDPA
* GPRS, EDGE, WiFI, Bluetooth, GPS

Price

About $500
Bonus : These phones aren’t available yet but they surely look to be a winner.
1. LG GW620

lg-gw620

* Slide out QWERTY keyboard
* Display : 3.0 inches, 320 X 480 pixels, 65K colors
* Touchscreen : TFT resistive touchscreen
* Camera : 5MP autofocus
* Quad Band GSM
* Dual Band 3G HSDPA
* GPRS, EDGE, WiFI, Bluetooth, GPS

2. HTC Tattoo

htc-tatoo

* Display : 2.8 inches, 240 X 320 pixels, 65K colors
* Touchscreen : TFT resistive touchscreen
* Camera : 3.15MP autofocus
* Quad Band GSM
* Dual Band 3G HSDPA
* GPRS, EDGE, WiFI, Bluetooth, GPS

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Apple’s IPad – Not IPod. What is it?

IPad is the next device from Apple in line with IPod, IPod Touch and IPhone.

IPad has a large touch screen and makes internet browsing, emailing easier and much more interesting. Almost 140000 applications are available on IPad from day one. Listed here are the features of IPad. IPad maynot be available commercially in your countries. But it is sure to come with a bang.

Features of Apple IPad

Safari

The large Multi-Touch screen on iPad lets you see web pages as they were meant to be seen — one page at a time. With vibrant color and sharp text. So whether you’re looking at a page in portrait or landscape, you can see everything at a size that’s actually readable. And with iPad, navigating the web has never been easier or more intuitive. Because you use the most natural pointing device there is: your finger. Scroll through a page just by flicking your finger up or down on the screen. Or pinch to zoom in or out on a photo. There’s also a thumbnail view that shows all your open pages in a grid, to let you quickly move from one page to the next.

Mail

See and touch your email in ways you never could before. In landscape, you get a split-screen view showing both an opened email and the messages in your inbox. To see the opened email by itself, turn iPad to portrait, and the email automatically rotates and fills the screen. No matter which orientation you use, you can scroll through your mail, compose a new email using the large, onscreen keyboard, or delete messages with nothing more than a tap and a flick. If someone emails you a photo, you can see it right in the message. Nokia Mobile Price in India. You can also save the photos in an email directly to the built-in Photos app. And iPad works with all the most popular email providers, including MobileMe, Yahoo! Mail, Gmail, Hotmail, and AOL.

Photos

With its crisp, vibrant display and unique software features, iPad is an extraordinary way to enjoy and share your photos. For example, the Photos app displays the photos in an album as though they were in a stack. Just tap the stack, and the whole album opens up. From there, you can flip through your pictures, zoom in or out, or watch a slideshow. You can even use your iPad as a beautiful digital photo frame while it’s is docked or charging. And there are lots of ways to import photos: You can sync them from your computer, download them from an email, or import them directly from your camera using the optional Camera Connection Kit.

Video

The large, high-resolution screen makes iPad perfect for watching any kind of video: from HD movies and TV shows to podcasts and music videos. Switch between widescreen and full screen with a double-tap. Because iPad is essentially one big screen, with no distracting keypad or buttons, you feel completely immersed in whatever you’re watching.

YouTube

The YouTube app organizes videos so they’re easy to see and navigate. To watch one, just tap it. When you’re watching in landscape, the video automatically plays in full screen. And with its high-resolution display, iPad makes the latest HD YouTube videos look positively amazing.

iPod

With the iPod app, all your music is literally at your fingertips. Browse by album, song, artist, or genre with a simple flick. To play a song, just tap it. iPad even displays album art at full size. Listen to your music with the powerful built-in speaker or with wired or Bluetooth wireless headphones.

iTunes

A tap of the iTunes store icon lets you browse and buy music, TV shows, and podcasts — or buy and rent movies — wirelessly, right from your iPad. Choose from thousands of movies and TV shows (in both standard and high definition), along with thousands of podcasts and millions of songs. Preview songs before you buy them. Or just sync iPad with the content you already have in your iTunes library on your Mac or PC.

App Store

iPad runs almost 140,000 apps from the App Store. Everything from games to business apps and more. And new apps designed specially for iPad are highlighted, so you can easily find the ones that take full advantage of its features. Just tap the App Store icon on the screen to browse, buy, and download apps wirelessly, right to the iPad.

iBooks

The iBooks app is a great new way to read and buy books.* Download the free app from the App Store and buy everything from classics to best sellers from the built-in iBookstore. Once you’ve bought a book, it’s displayed on your Bookshelf. Just tap it to start reading. The high-resolution, LED-backlit screen displays everything in sharp, rich color, so it’s easy to read, even in low light.

Maps

Finding your way is a completely new experience on iPad. Tap to view maps from above with high-resolution satellite imagery, up close with street view, or with topography in a new terrain view — all using Google Services. Search for a nearby restaurant or landmark, then get directions from your current location.

Notes

With its expansive display and large, onscreen keyboard, iPad makes jotting down notes easy. In landscape view, you see not only a note-taking page but a list of all your notes. iPad even circles the current note in red, so you can see where you are at a glance.

Calendar

iPad makes it easy to stay on schedule by displaying day, week, month, or list views of your calendar. You can see an overview of a whole month or the details of a single day. iPad even shows multiple calendars at once, so you can manage work and family schedules at the same time.

Contacts

The Contacts app on iPad makes finding names, numbers, and other important information quicker and easier than ever before. A new view lets you see both your complete contacts list and a single contact simultaneously. Need directions? Tap an address inside a contact and iPad automatically opens Maps.

Home Screen

The Home Screen gives you one-tap access to everything on iPad. You can customize your Home Screen by adding your favorite apps and websites or using your own photos as the background. And you can move apps around to arrange them in any order you want.

Spotlight Search

Spotlight Search allows you to search across iPad and all of its built-in apps, including Mail, Contacts, Calendar, iPod, and Notes. It even searches apps you’ve downloaded from the App Store. So no matter what you’re looking for, it’s never more than a few taps away.

New features in Open Office

Open Office is an open source software that resembles Microsoft Office in terms of features. As it is open source, tons of volunteer programmers worldwide improve and add features to it continuously. Some of the new features in Open Office are:

1. Ribbon Style Interface: When Microsoft introduced ribbon style interface in its Office suite of applications, it was a bit difficult to get adjusted to it. However, it has proved to be easy to use and has improved user experience. Hence, the same interface type is now available in Open Office as well. This is called Ribbon Style Interface 3.3
2. Thesaurus on right click: Open Office now includes a context menu that gives useful utilities on right click such as Thesaurus.
3. Find Bar: A Find bar has been included which enables easy searching especially in a large document.
4. Calc Sheet Tabs in different colors: This may seem as a simple feature. But when you implement this and use this in a calc spreadsheet you will know the real use.
5. Some of the other features are distributed SCM, SVG, Importer, Flash Animation, More fonts, templates, Clip arts, builders and much more. Best Android Phones in India

FAQ - USB 2.0 - Hi-Speed USB

As an aside, USB mice and keyboards need only 1.5Mbits/s to function. That performance level is also named 'USB' by the USB Promoter Group.

To sum it up, USB 2.0 specification incorporates three speeds: Hi-Speed, Full-Speed and Low-Speed. You as a consumer don't need to figure out all the jargons. Just keep in mind that only 'Hi-Speed USB' and 'USB' host and devices exist.

How do I know if my PC has USB 2.0?
You can identify whether your PC has Hi-Speed or not relatively easy. Open Device Manager and expand the Universal Serial Bus section. There should be an "Enhanced" USB host controller present.

Windows 98 systems may use a different name, because Hi-Speed USB drivers in these operating systems are not provided directly from Microsoft (Windows ME, 2000 and XP get their drivers through Windows Update).

These drivers are provided by the manufacturer, and may carry the maker's name (i.e. ADS, Belkin, IOGear, Siig, etc.). There should also be two standard version USB host controllers present as well. They are embedded in the USB chip which routes the differing USB speeds accordingly without user intervention.

There are currently 6 manufacturers of the Hi-Speed USB host silicon themselves:

• ALi (Acer Labs)

• Intel

• NEC

• SiS

• VIA

• nVidia (shows as "Standard" controller

Any other brand name that appears in Device Manager would likely be an add-in Hi-Speed USB PCI card. The makers above do not make add-in cards, but they do make the chips that are used in them.

How do troubleshoot "unknown device" error listed in Device Manager?

• The USB device or the USB adapter requires its own power source. If your USB device or adapter came with an AC power "brick", try connecting it.

• Here's a likely one - the front USB ports on your PC case may be misconnected. I've seen them that way from the factory. It's a good idea to check the connections against specifications. The standard order of connection is Red, White, Green, and Black. No more than 4 wires per USB bank are needed.

• Defective device. Do not assume that all PC components work correctly out of the box. I've seen many new USB devices that do not work. If you can, try the device on another PC.

• All drivers are not installed. Some devices will require installing the driver package before plugging in the device. Some devices will also require basic USB files from the Windows CD before the unit will function. The general rule is to always follow installation directions precisely and to have the Windows CD ready.

How fast is USB 2.0?
USB 2.0 has a raw data rate at 480Mbps, and it is rated 40 times faster than its predecessor interface, USB 1.1, which tops at 12Mbps. Originally, USB 2.0 was intended to go only as fast as 240Mbps.

How will consumers benefit from USB 2.0?
With speed 40 times more than that of USB 1.1, USB 2.0 broaden the range of external peripherals that can be used on a computer. Even with multiple high-speed peripherals connected to a USB 2.0 bus, the system will less likely to hit the bandwidth bottleneck. The new specification also inherits the current USB's Plug and Play and hot-swapping capability as well as providing backward compatibility for USB 1.1 hardware, allowing existing user base to upgrade seamlessly.

Do USB 2.0 & USB 1.1 hardware work interchangeably?
You may have heard that USB 2.0 is "backward-compatible" with USB 1.0/1.1 (Full-Speed USB). While that's true, USB 1.1 is also forward-compatible with USB 2.0. Whenever a system has USB 2.0 ports, you'll find the "Enhanced" USB controller in Device Manager, but you will also find two other USB controllers. These two to maintain backward compatibility to USB 1.1 devices. Each USB 2.0 host actually has 3 chips onboard. The USB controller routes signals to the correct controller chip depending on how a device is recognized. Where a device is physically plugged in has no bearing on how it is routed. All ports on a USB 2.0 motherboard can host any USB devices at all as long as the system and devices are healthy.

The vast majority of USB 2.0 devices will work on older PCs and Macs. None should flat-out fail unless there are other issues with the system. Hi-Speed USB devices will revert to Full-Speed operation when connected this way. Understand that Hi-Speed is at least ten times faster than Full-Speed in actual operation, so the speed difference is quite noticeable - unless you have never experienced Hi-Speed, of course.

When it comes to USB hub compatibility between USB 2.0 and USB 1.1, here some facts:

• A powered hub is always preferable to unpowered.

• USB hub ports are not as capable or flexible as real PC ports so it's best not to expect the world of them.

• USB 1.1 (obsolete) hubs will work fine on USB 2.0 ports, but they cannot utilize USB 2.0 capabilities. They will default to slower speeds.

• Hi-Speed and Full/Low-Speed USB devices can coexist nicely on USB 2.0 hubs. Connecting such a hub to a USB 2.0 port is recommended.

• USB 2.0 hubs can be used on older USB 1.1 computers.

• Although it is said that you can "cascade" up to 4 hubs, problems may start to arise after two hubs, it's best to minimize hub usage if possible.

• Many USB devices don't work well on hubs. Cameras, scanners and especially USB drives are known to have problems with hub connectivity.

• Remember that "active USB extensions" are really just one-port hubs.

Will USB 2.0 replace USB 1.1?
Not entirely, because many products such as generic keyboards, mice, joysticks and audio speakers do not require the faster speed of the new USB 2.0 technologies. Only bandwidth-hungry devices, such as web cams and high-capacity storage systems, will need all the speed. However, next-generation systems will come with USB 2 ports rather than USB 1.1.

How do I distinguish between a USB 2.0 and a USB 1.1 devices? New logos designed by the USB Promoter Group allow consumers to easily identify the new USB 2.0 products. The new colorful logo for USB 2.0 is labeled USB Hi-Speed, and the new logo for USB 1.1 is labeled with USB Basic Speed. However, most people won't miss it as manufacturers often label USB 2.0 READY Or 40 times faster than USB 1.1, on the boxes.

Will USB 1.1 devices run any faster on a USB 2.0 bus?
No. However, the new USB 2.0 archiclecture allows more high-speed USB 1.1 devices, such as web cams, audio devices, to share the bandwidth. Developers need to follow USB 2.0 spec in order to design higher speed peripherals that can take advantage of the extra bandwidth. USB 1.1 devices still operate at 12Mbps at full-speed and 1.5Mbps at low-speed on a USB 2.0 bus. Even though USB 1.1 devices won't run any faster, they can work alongside of USB 2.0 devices on the same bus.

What are USB Hi-Speed and USB Basic Speed logos?
These logos are part of USB Promoter Group's branding program that ensures the quality of USB products. The USB 2.0 certified products would display a blue, white and red logo, bearing the words Certified and Hi-Speed. The classic USB 1.1 certified products would display a black and white logo with the words USB and Certified.

Under a license from USB-IF, products must pass the compliance tests before manufacturers can use one of the two trademarked logos. The Promoter Group will take legal actions on manufacturers that label either logo on their products, which have not passed the tests.

What happen if a USB 2.0 devices are plugged into a USB 1.1 systems?
The entire bus under the USB 1.1 root hub will slow to 12Mbps. The operating system will probably notify the user about the sub-optimal configuration and recommend for a better course of action.

If several USB 1.1 hubs are connected to a USB 2.0 bus, then each of the USB 1.1 hubs will get a full 12Mbps bandwidth.

What is the max? Length of a USB 2.0 cable?
5m. however, if you cascade 5 hubs with 5m USB cables, this will allow you to connect a device 30m away.

What do I need to use a USB 2.0 device?
The requirement is similar to that of USB 1.1, but all components will have to be USB 2.0 compliant. A successful USB 2.0 connection requires a USB 2.0 host controller card, a USB 2.0 driver and a USB 2.0 peripheral.

How much will it cost to upgrade to USB 2.0?
Around $80 to $150. Currently, Orange Micro., Adaptec and IO Gear are shipping USB 2.0 PCI cards, some of which even have FireWire ports. Interestingly, almost all USB 2.0 PCI cards include an internal port, which is probably for connecting internal USB 2.0 IDE enclosure or USB 2.0 front panel.

Will USB 2.0 arrive on mobile computers?
Yes, but not in integrated solution on laptops. You will need a USB 2.0 Card Bus card. Orange Micro. is shipping USB 2.0 compliant 4-port Card Bus card. Eventually, notebook vendors will adapt to USB 2.0 technology, and we will see USB 2.0 ports on laptops. This transition won't happen until 2002 at the earliest.

Which operating systems support USB 2.0?
Microsoft has released the official USB 2.0 driver for Windows XP and Windows 2000. The version is 5.1.2600. The software is available on-line at Windows Update website. (If you don't have a USB 2.0 card installed in your system, Windows Update won't list the USB 2.0 driver as an update.)

The software company is still considering USB 2.0 support for Windows ME, but technical tips already has decided not to bring USB 2.0 to Windows 98 and Windows 98 SE. If you have Windows 98, you will have to rely on 3rd party USB 2.0 support from USB card manufacturer.

Do USB 1.1 cables work with USB 2.0 devices?
Ideally, yes. USB 2.0 architecture uses the same cables and connectors as USB 1.1 compliant products. Unfortunately, only 3 out of 11 cables on the market are certified as USB 1.1 compliant. You may run into the cables that cause problems connecting high-speed peripherals. To avoid negative user experience, most vendors include USB 2.0 compliant cables with their USB 2 PCI cards and peripherals.