You are currently browsing the Firecoresoft Blog blog archives for November, 2013

Key Features of Windows 8.1

November 29, 2024 Tech Review
1 comment

Microsoft’s final version of Windows 8.1 has been released for over a month. Introducing a slew of new features, the Window 8. 1 was a free update designed to address some users’ concerns and enable a faster pace of Windows releases. Since most people prefer to use laptops and desktops, Microsoft hedged its bets and built a desktop mode so as to bridge the gap between old and new, between mouse and touch screen.

The first look at the Windows 8.1, it looks and feels mostly the same as Windows 8, but of course, there are some significant updates or new functionality on the latest version 8.1, hinting at the future of Microsoft’s vision for its own computing platform. Here are the key features of Windows 8.1 as below:

1. Return of the Start Button

Right after launching the Windows 8.1, users will surprised to find the ultra-familiar Start Button which acts as a portal to switch between the desktop and Start Screen worlds. Have to say that, the Start Button has replaced Microsoft’s odd looking square tip from Windows 8. However, there is no Start Menu in the Windows 8.1. Clicking on the Windows 8.1 Start Button, users will be directed into Modern UI Start Screen or the Apps Screen, on which all of the Windows Store and desktop apps are displayed. The most shining point is that, users can set the desktop wallpaper as the backdrop for the Start Screen.

2. “Right Click” Menu

A “right-click” menu is included in the new Start Button. Click the menu, users can easily access to many major functions such as System, Device Manager, the Control Panel, and a revamped, more streamlined Task Manager. Besides, users can also shut down or restart their computers by using the menu.

3. Customizable Start Screen

On the Start Screen, users are also allowed to arrange the live tiles in groups, that is to say, they can assign group names to the tiles when swiping up from the bottom of the screen, and then access the Customize icon. On the other hand, all of the apps are able to support a new small size which is about a quarter of that of a standard one. More interestingly, some apps like the Weather app can be up to twice larger than the standard tile. To get a simpler views and multitasking, users can scale the horizontal size of app windows in the Windows 8.1 freely. Additionally, users are allowed to use the same wallpaper both in Start Screen and the desktop.

4. SkyDrive Integration

Now that the Windows 8.1 is integrated with SkyDrive, all of the apps and files can be stored in Microsoft’s cloud. In this way, users can easily transfer their documents, files or apps between different Windows 8.1 machines.

5. Slicker Built-In Browser

Touted as faster and more stable than the Internet Explore (IE) 10 browser built into Windows 8, IE 11 also gets rid of the earlier 10-tab limit on open pages and lets you view pages side-by-side. Users can also sync Favorites and other browser settings though their Windows account to other Windows 8.1 systems. A new Reading View is designed to improve — what else? — The readability of Web sites.

6. Easier PC Settings

Through a new Change PC Settings link, users can make changes to settings for power, display, network configuration and more without being relying on the legacy Control Panel. To simply get to this link, swipe in from the right and access Settings.

Tips on How to Buy a Suitable Tablet PC

November 26, 2024 Tech Tips
No comments

Ever since the releasing of Apple iPad—the first consumer-friendly tablet, a slew of different brand of tablets have emerged like mushrooms. Nowadays, tablet has become a must-have device for most people thanks to its great capability, which can be used as a mobile PC amazingly.

The fact is that, a flood of tablet PCs are available on the market with different prices, such as iPad 4, iPad Air, Amazon Kindle Fire, Sony Xperia Tablet Z, Google Nexus 7, Samsung Galaxy Note 8, As the saying goes, “You get what you pay for”. Generally speaking, the higher the specs, the higher the prices will go. Needless to say, high specs are good, but when comes to the actual purchasing of a tablet PC, the budget matters a lot and other factors also count. So, what should you consider carefully before buying a tablet PC? Read the following tips to find out more.

1.Your Actual Requirement

You know what, new models of tablet PCs are released every 3-6 months, which is the tactics of manufacturers who would like to interest users with the new versions. That means, you have tons of choices. And you should think carefully about your actual requirement, do you want a tablet PC for basic usage such as, enjoying music, watching movies, playing games or the one with advanced photo/video editing features? By considering these demands, it helps to narrow down your choices and you will not be carried away by the bunches of new models.

2. Your Budget

Budget always plays an important role in the purchasing. Looking around the tablet PCs industry, the price starts from $99 to $900. Let’s say, the newest 9.7-inch iPad Air comes with a price tag of $499 while the new Microsoft Surface Pro 2 will cost you up to $899! Yes, the price differs widely, thus, you need to set your own budget and make it flexible to go up or down $50 to get a good deal.

3. The Tablet Size

So far, tablet PCs are available in many sizes. For example, Amazon Kindle Fire HDX and Google Nexus 7are in the same size of 7-inch; the 9.7-inch iPad Air is the lightest tablet in its size class while the Microsoft Surface Pro 2 is perhaps the largest one with a 10.6-inch display. Before making the decision of getting a tablet, think about what size you need. After all, a sole purpose of a Tablet PC is that it’s easy to carry along.

4. Operating System

Basically, there are three operating systems: Google Android, Apple iOS and Microsoft Windows RT. Admittedly, all these OS have got their own advantages and work quite well with the products produced by their parent company. For example, the Apple iPad Air is featured with iOS-arguably the simplest and most easy-to-learn interface around, which provides a great sync and user experience. Similarly, the Android works better with Google Services. Therefore, you have to decide what your favorite operating system is.

5. Tablet Apps

Like we said above, choosing the operating system is very important. WHY? Just imagine that, you would like to a particular app, but it turns out that it is not acceptable for the OS your tablet is running. Yes, there are many such cases where an app is available for iOS but not for Android and Windows or an app is available for Android but not for iOS. Therefore, don’t rush to the final decision, please check if the app is available on the Platform you are going to buy as there is no way back once you buy a Tablet PC.

Well, there are also other factors to be considered for getting a suitable tablet PC, say, the brand you like(Apple, Samsung, Sony, Acer, LG, Amazon, etc), the connectivity to the internet(3G or Wi-Fi)and more. Anyway, try to think about what comes to your mind before making your decision for purchasing a favorite tablet PC.

Easy Things to Do before 2013 Thanksgiving Day

November 21, 2024 Uncategorized
No comments

Every fourth Thursday in November in the United States comes the annual Thanksgiving. Traditionally, Thanksgiving is a reminder to give thanks for all good things and people in our lives. You can give regards to the friends far away by making a telephone call, or creating a unique animated Flash photo slide show as the Thanksgiving Greeting Card, which will surely make the traditional holiday more special. Click here to get the free trial version of Firecoresoft Flash Slideshow Maker to make your own Thanksgiving Flash E-card.

For most people, Thanksgiving is also a day about spending time with family members or friends together and enjoying delicious food. If you would like to host a good dinner party for all the people you love, you really need to make the advanced preparation right now. Actually, there are many things you can do before Thanksgiving walks into your house and welcome it with twinkle in your eyes.

1.Finalize the Guest List

Are you planning to host a big dinner or just a small one? You need to draft a name list of the people you want to invite, so that you can have everything in control such as how much food needed, how many tables and wine glasses, etc. Advance planning is always good to pin down what you’re getting yourself into!

2.Check Your Cooking and Serving Gear

Another most important thing is to review your recipes, making sure that you are stay on the budget and reduce the waste. For example, how many people are there, how many courses you are going to make, what ingredients you will need. Beside, think through the cooking gears, do you need a roasting pan or a potato ricer? Additionally, check if there are enough serving ware such as bowls, dishes, forks, spoons and plates.

3.Clean Your Fridge and Freezer

Chances are that you will buy lots of ingredients ahead of time. Hence, it is necessary to clean your fridge and freezer for keeping the materials under sanitary conditions. You can accomplish this task about a week before Thanksgiving.

4.Clean the Oven

As we all know, a clean oven cooks food better while the dirty one will probably give off bad smell. It is too bad, especially when you are cooking the big turkey. Besides, it is the best to clean the oven around 10 days ahead of the Thanksgiving day, so as to let the smell to disappear from the air.

Well, of course, there are many other things to do in advance for the big holiday meal. Hope what listed above can be of some help to you guys. Last but not least, always remember that, the message of Thanksgiving is not all about enjoying a bunch of good food, it is about reflecting on the things in our lives that we are truly grateful for. Happy Thanksgiving! Cheers!

An Overview of Sony PlayStation 4

November 19, 2024 Tech News
2 comments

Every day, we welcome the new smart phones, digital cameras, tablets and even laptops, so do the new game consoles. Right on November 15 this year, Sony’s PlayStation brand has entered the “next generation” with the newly-released multitalented, speedy PlayStation 4, naturally, the video game world has been significantly different than the it used to be: HD is now standard, online multiplayer an expectation and multitasking a given.

Without any doubt, the PS4 is remarkably better-looking than the PlayStation 3 — or the Xbox One, or the Xbox 360. The most obvious feature is how small it is—more than 2 inches tall, 12 inches deep and 10 inches wide, making the PS 4 super slim and much smaller than any version of its processor PlayStation3 that ever made. Besides, it’s around 5 pounds lighter than the first-gen PS3 and 1.5 pounds heavier than the final PS3. Have to say that, the newest model really upholds Sony’s reputation for snazzy hardware design.

A console, of course, has to do more than just how it looks. It’s really what’s on the inside that counts. There’s no denying that, what’s inside the PS 4 box is surprisingly impressive. A speedy customized processor with eight AMD Jaguar CPU cores and a next-gen Radeon GPU are equipped in the PS 4. Some great features which bring many benefits to the users have already empowered to the PS4, for example, the option for voice-chat regardless of what game they’re playing. Besides, Sony has also improved the responsiveness of the new DualShock controller, making it more smooth and convenient for the game play. Embracing the same traditional PlayStation button layout as its predecessors, there are several new features and important tweaks added on the one of the PlayStation 4. The mold of the controller however, sees the biggest and most long overdue change, dropping the old school DualShock design from 1997 (when it was first introduced on the original PlayStation in Japan) and embracing anergonomic, more rounded design with better grips. It’s light weight, smooth and slick.

On the other hand, Players are allowed to send the audio through the controller’s headphone jack, which should be a good option for late-night gamers who don’t want to wake the rest of the household. The fact is that, the newest PlayStation 4 has got less entertainment options than Microsoft’s Xbox One which would be released on Nov. 22. Whereas, Sony’s game console including the PS 4 does support apps for video services such as Netflix and Hulu Plus. It also has an Internet browser, which is good for light Web surfing but definitely won’t become your primary way of looking things up online. Stunningly, the PS4 is able to record the last 15 minutes of game play at the maximum 720p at all times, users are allowed to trim the recorded video down into short clips or upload the whole video to Facebook for sharing.

The Best Alternative for Frash

November 14, 2024 Tech Review
No comments

The iOS devices ( iPhone, iPod, iPad, iPod Touch, etc) are always enjoying great welcome by a majority of fans. Sleek design, awesome features, reliable performance, etc, all of these make the i-devices one of the best choices. However, one very big drawback in the iOS devices is that, they have nothing to do with the Adobe Flash, in other words, we cannot view Flash contents from video websites on the i-devices such as iPhone or iPad. It is really a big disappointment, especially for the video junkies who have got many interesting Flash videos/games. Delightfully, the good app called “Frash” developed by Comex(maker of jailbreaking tool JailbreakMe.com) will likely to change the sad story and put a smile on our faces.

Specially designed for the iOS devices, Frash is a free program which adds Adobe Flash compatibility to the iOS devices and allows you to play the Flash contents on your i-devices smoothly. Frash is not available in the App Store, but it’s still easy to get it on a device that’s been jail broken through one of the third-party application installers. It is a breeze to set up the app, after installation, reboot your i-device and see the app in action for yourself. However, the great app doesn’t do the complete magic since it also has got some drawbacks. Firstly, it doesn’t support the playback of all Flash contents on any website; you may not able to watch some Flash at some points. Secondly, when running the Fresh, it will crash at times. Undoubtedly, there is loophole that needs to be fixed. The problem is, its developer Comex, is now working for Apple Inc and Apple has never want Flash on its i-Devices, so, please, don’t expect any improvement, update or new release of the Fresh. Thirdly, there can be some delay or the Flash content may be sluggish. Last but not least, the Fresh app is incapable of doing most videos or any sort of Flash games at all. What described above is arguably the main reasons for some users looking forward to an alternative for the “Frash”, so that they can play any Flash contents including Flash videos and Flash games on iOS devices smoothly.

I have the current version or Frash and it doesn’t do much. I was curious if there was a better app to download or a different tweak to install that does a little better job.. Delightfully to say, yes, there is. Firecoresoft SWF video converter for Mac is exactly the best alternative for Frash. It is capable of converting almost all SWF Flash contents to the i-devices compatible formats with super-fast speed and zero quality loss. Remarkably, it has got comprehensive editing functions which allow users to edit the source Flash videos such as cropping, adding watermark, etc. The free trial version is available now, why not just give a shot?

2013 Top 5 Android Phones for Christmas Gift

November 7, 2024 Tech Review
No comments

2013 Christmas will come in less than two months, but many people have already had the bother of buying Christmas gifts. In my opinion, buying a cell phone will be an exciting thing that many people eagerly await. You may find a mobile phone listed on your friend or family’s wish list.

However, with a wide variety of mobile phones available on the market, most people would be dazzled and find it tough to pick a good one. Of so many devices, Android phone has grown to the version 4.1 Jelly Bean, which features a better camera, a more powerful processor and much more memory, making Android mobile phone an ideal choice in every way. So, which Android phone will you buy as 2013 Christmas gift? Have no idea yet? Why not take a look at our selections of the Top 5 Android Phones for Christmas Gift below.

1. Samsung Galaxy S4

The Galaxy S4 is way ahead of the S3 with almost the same size. It is a great phone with outstanding hardware such as plastic body, replaceable battery and memory slot as well as the great performance. At £500 it’s far from cheap, but those who like it love it.

2. Sony Xperia Z1

It looks very much like its predecessor Xperia Z but there are some noteworthy changes. It is a little bigger and heavier but nicer. It has a decent 2 GB of RAM but has a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. It’s a quad-core processor with an impressive clock speed of 2.2 GHz, the highest we’ve seen on a smart phone to date. It comes with a high price tag of around £599, making it probably one of the most expensive cell phones as of the end of this year.

3. HTC One mini

The 4.3 inch display screen HTC One mini is little shorter than the HTC One, making it more suitable for the users who would like to smaller screen (like iPhones) It has got same awesome hardware including sleek aluminum body and details in design. It is tagged at about £379, although it is not as good as HTC One, it is still considered to be a good handset at a decent price.

4. Motor X

It was released in the mid-2013. As the first Mobile phones built in the US, users are allowed to do many customizations. Its key features are as below:

1. Jelly Bean (Android 4.2.2)
2. Motorola X8 computing system, consisting of a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro dual-core clocked at 1.7GHz, a quad-core Adreno 320 GPU, and two low-power processors, one that is used for natural language and the other for contextual computing
3. 4.7-inch AMOLED HD 720p display
4. 10MP rear camera, 2MP front camera
5. 16/32GB internal storage
6. Wireless charging

Motor X

5. LG G2

As LG’s flagship smartphone, the LG G2 offers many high-end features which cannot be seem on most other devices. The impressive design, real-world performance and stunning handy software features makes it a must-have device. Currently, it is priced at about £400, which is considerably cheaper than most of the top-end rivals.