Brandon Dimmel

PC manufacturer Hewlett-Packard (HP) is advising its customers not to downgrade its computers delivered with the new Windows 8 operating system (OS) already installed. The company says that if customers install Windows 7 on HP computers originally ... equipped with Windows 8, HP will not provide them with support, drivers, or applications. Downgrading was a relatively common practice after the release of the unpopular Windows Vista in 2007, and some say it's being practiced again now that Windows 8 has received more than its fair share of criticism . Downgrading a new computer is especially ... (view more)

Foxit Office Suite 5.3.1.0606 Foxit Office Suite includes not one, not two, but four free office productivity programs that run beautifully on a Windows computer. The suite includes the popular Foxit Reader, Kingsoft Writer, Presentations, and ... Spreadsheets. These four applications allow you to read PDF files and create documents, presentations, and spreadsheets absolutely free. http://www.foxitsoftware.com SmartClose 1.3 SmartClose allows you to establish an automatic process for closing down all running programs on your Windows computer. It can also be used to open all of your favorite ... (view more)

Last week Microsoft's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) claimed that her firm has already sold 40 million Windows 8 licenses. If so, then Windows 8 is proving to be just as popular as its predecessor, Windows 7. But some critics don't buy that claim. ... Microsoft CFO Tami Reller made the 40 million Windows 8 licenses claim on November 27, 2012. Microsoft CFO, CEO: 40 Million Licenses Sold Reller, who will soon take over duties once assigned to departed Windows chief Steven Sinofsky , told guests at the Credit Suisse Annual Technology Conference that "I am pleased to announce today that we have sold ... (view more)

Microsoft Security Essentials is a free antivirus software tool, which makes it a tempting download for many Internet users. However, a new report suggests it will protect computers only from two in every three or so worm, virus, or Trojan horse ... threats. An independent computer security lab based in Germany recently carried out tests of Security Essentials' effectiveness in detecting and removing security threats affecting Microsoft's popular Windows 7 operating system (OS). The lab is affiliated with AV-Test, an independent security institute that performs tests of security products every ... (view more)

iTunes 11.0 Apple's extremely popular iTunes software has now been completely redesigned. The new interface is optimized for touchscreen use and is also easy to navigate using a mouse and keyboard. This makes it easier than ever before to find, ... download, and play your favorite movies, TV shows, and songs. http://www.apple.com Manager 12.11.4715.20376 Manager is a completely free accounting software tool for Windows. It allows you to track your income, expenditures, sales invoices, and purchase invoices. It includes a convenient contact directory and even allows you to make journal entries on ... (view more)

FocusWriter 1.4.1 FocusWriter is a special word processing program, entirely free of charge, designed to prevent distractions from affecting your computer work. To accomplish this, its interface hides all other programs and screen menus until you ... scroll your mouse to your display's edge. This program is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. http://gottcode.org Xeoma 12.11.23 Xeoma is free video surveillance software tool for Windows that allows you to quickly and easily connect to surveillance cameras installed in your home or business environment. Xeoma features an intuitive interface ... (view more)

Microsoft has officially set the price for its upcoming Surface Pro tablet computer. When it goes on sale early next year, the device will retail for $899 and up. Microsoft's Surface tablet officially launched on October 26, 2012 (along with Windows ... 8), but observers made clear that was just one of the versions of the Surface that Microsoft has been developing. The Surface released in October runs Windows RT, a slimmer version of Windows 8 designed for portable devices with more limited hardware specifications. The new Surface Pro is capable enough to run a full-fledged version of Windows 8. ... (view more)

Here's a great question we recently received from a loyal Infopackets subscriber: "Dear Infopackets Team, I just purchased a brand new Windows 8 PC. I was really excited to try out the new operating system, but I've been having trouble getting used ... to all the small changes. For example, it's been difficult figuring out just how I'm supposed to shut my new laptop down! Is there a way to do this quickly and easily? Thanks, Merrill B." My Response: When Microsoft introduced Windows 8's new user interface, it changed a great many operating system features. One major change: the shutdown process. ... (view more)

Microsoft now promises it will support its new Windows RT operating system (OS) with security patches and updates for at least four-and-a-half years. While that may seem like a long time, it's only half as long as Microsoft generally provides ... support for many of its other software products. Windows RT is designed to power a number of portable devices, including Microsoft's own Surface tablet computer . RT is a trimmed-down version of Windows 8 that requires fewer, cheaper resources from a portable device. "Mainstream" Support Phase to Last Until April 2017 Microsoft says it will ... (view more)

Free TvDB 4.8.2 Are you a big television fan? Then try out Free TvDB, a TV series database software tool for Windows computers. Its features include an automatic data download tool, fan art galleries collection support, and a search tool. Multiple ... languages are also supported. http://www.myportablesoftware.com NeoDownloader Lite 2.9.3 Do you download a lot of media files? If so, you might be interested in what NeoDownloader can do for you. This free Windows software is designed to help you download thousands of images, videos, and sound files from your favorite websites. Just specify a link ... (view more)