Brandon Dimmel

Here's another question from a long-term Infopackets.com reader: "Hello to the crew at Infopackets, I'm new to Windows 8 and I really miss the old Windows 7 user interface. Is there any way to make it so that every time I log into Windows 8, I see ... the traditional UI? Thanks a million for all the news and information, Maggie D." My response: Maggie, you're one of many people to complain about Windows 8's radically different user interface (UI), and to wonder if you can set things up so you never see it again. Fortunately, you can. Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8 If you're determined to ... (view more)

System Ninja 2.4 System Ninja is designed to optimize your Windows computer system's performance by removing all unnecessary files. Removing files and programs with System Ninja is quick and painless, and allows your computer to devote more of its ... resources to servicing the application(s) you are actually using. This program works with Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7. http://singularlabs.com WinSpell 1.8 Have problems with spelling? Then you should check out WinSpell, a free software utility which will monitor your spelling behavior and correct any errors you make while entering information ... (view more)

Video streaming service Netflix has named Google Fiber the fastest Internet Service Provider (ISP) in America. Unfortunately, at the moment Google Fiber's service remains limited to the Kansas City area. High installation costs make it likely that ... Google will take its time about expanding its super-fast service to other geographical areas. Netflix has an interest and expertise in high-speed Internet service because it sells access to its huge catalog of movies and television shows only through Internet-connected computers, video game consoles, DVD or Blu-ray players, and streaming set-top ... (view more)

Microsoft has released a series of updates designed to fix several 'critical' security vulnerabilities in its software. Adobe has also released a new security patch for its Flash Player software. Both Adobe and Microsoft are urging their users to ... make sure their computers have installed these repair modules, and if not, to install them manually as soon as possible. Microsoft says most of the ten vulnerabilities addressed by this week's Patch Tuesday updates have been rated 'critical,' the firm's highest security threat level. Adobe has also rated its patch as 'critical.' Internet Explorer ... (view more)

Prey 0.5.9 Having your laptop or smartphone stolen can be one of the most frightening and frustrating experiences. Prey is a free software tool that lets you keep tabs on your device after the theft has taken place, helping you or the authorities to ... track down the person who has it. http://preyproject.com Nokia Suite 3.6.36 Nokia Suite will allow you to quickly and easily connect your Nokia device with a computer. Using this special program and user interface, you can easily move photos, videos, and other data from your Nokia smartphone to a computer (and vice versa). http://www.nokia.com ... (view more)

A security researcher says he's found a major vulnerability in Samsung's new high-definition Smart televisions that could transfer control of a TV from the person with the remote control to an unknown, distant hacker. Smart TVs are, arguably, the ... most advanced HDTVs on the market right now. They provide viewers with a high-resolution Light Emitting Diode (LED) screen capable of displaying two- and three-dimensional video, and they also give users access to downloadable applications, including Facebook, Twitter, and Google Maps. These capabilities have made Smart TVs hot items with the deep ... (view more)

NoScript 2.6.3 NoScript is a free utility designed to protect computers running Internet browsers made by Mozilla, including the very popular Firefox browser. It blocks Java and Flash plug-ins executed by all websites unless you have given them ... permission to run. This significantly limits the possibility of your computer becoming infected by malware. http://noscript.net Writemonkey 2.4 Writemonkey is a simplified word processing program for Windows computers. It features a minimalist interface intended to keep you focused on your work, rather than any distractions. Writemonkey is completely ... (view more)

A newly-unveiled password-cracking system can reportedly guess billions of unique passwords every second. At that rate, it's entirely practical to have the device attempt every possible eight-character Windows password. The password-cracking system ... is a Linux-based graphical processing unit (GPU) 'cluster' that uses a special type of virtualization software which allows it to use not one, not two, but 25 Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Radeon graphics cards. 350 Billion Passwords Guessed Each Second That kind of GPU power enables the cluster to guess passwords at an astonishing rate: 350 billion ... (view more)

A prominent tech industry analyst has predicted that an update to the iPhone 5, the iPhone 5S, will ship in June 2013. Aside from improved hardware specifications, the analyst believes the new device will also come in a number of different colors. ... Jeffries analyst Peter Misek recently unveiled his predictions for a new version of the iPhone 5. Misek believes the device will come equipped with a "super HD" camera and screen and will feature a longer battery life. iPhone 5S to Receive Long-Awaited NFC Technology Misek also believes an updated iPhone 5 will receive Near-Field Communication (NFC ... (view more)

Sigil 0.6.2 Sigil is designed to help you write the best ebook you possibly can. It incorporates a comprehensive guide that will help you through each stage of the often-confusing process of creating an ebook. Other program features include a table ... of contents generator and multi-level heading support. http://code.google.com Earth Alerts 2012.1.15 Now you can monitor natural hazards with this exciting new software tool. Once installed, it brings you notifications every time a major weather system emerges. This tool is particularly useful for people living in areas where bad weather can pose a ... (view more)