Adding “Recently Added” back to Windows Media Player 12
Posted: December 8, 2010The “Recently Added” item has been removed from version 12 of Windows Media Player, but there’s an easy to add it back in. It involves creating an automatic playlist. Here are the steps:
1. Open Windows Media Player.
2. Hold down the <ALT> key and tap the “F” key. Then tap the “E” key. The “Create automatic playlist” window is displayed.
3. Type a name for the playlist, such as “Recently Added”
4. Click the first line that says “Click here to add criteria.” A drop-down list appears.
5. Click on “Date Added” in the list. A new criteria called “Date added to library is after Last 30 Days.
6. If you wish to change this criteria, click on the appropriate link, such as “last 30 days” and choose the appropriate value.
7. Click the OK button. “Recently Added” now appears under the Playlist menu.
Update your Adobe Flash Player!!
Posted: July 26, 2010UPDATE YOUR ADOBE FLASH!! Go right now to adobe.com, and click the “Get Adobe Flash Player” button. Allow the update to run, and turn off the extra freebie they offer – it’s often the Google toolbar. As of today, you need to be running version 10.1. There is an active exploit currently infecting computers with older versions of flash.
In fact, a couple of weeks ago, we got a virus on a computer in the Bailey household because of this very vulnerability. So don’t think it’s can’t happen. It can!! (embarrassed grin!)
Optical Character Recognition Software
Posted: June 21, 2010Q: I’m trying to scan a document to a Word file, I think I need OCR software, what do you recommend?
A: There are a couple of good choices for OCR – the least expensive accurate package appears to be ABBYY FineReader Express, which sells for $49.99. They have a professional edition as well, which is more full-featured, but I have always just used the express version, and been quite happy with it, as the pro edition costs $400.
You’ll notice on the ABBYY web page that they sell a product called ABBYY PDF Transformer. I don’t recommend that product, but rather a product called “PDFCreator” or “Cute PDF”. Both of these products are excellent substitutes for the ABBYY product, so you don’t need to spend the extra money.
Making Adobe Reader Safer
Posted: May 28, 2010Adobe Reader is a program that many people use regularly, but we may not realize that it has serious vulnerabilities. These flaws could allow malicious programs (virus or malware program) to infect your PC. There are two settings in Acrobat Reader that should be changed – this article will tell you how. MORE »
Speeding Up Internet Explorer
Posted: May 27, 2010| Microsoft’s internet browser, Internet Explorer, often begins to run slower and slower, or doesn’t work at all. This can be due to toolbars, or other add-ins. Version 7 and 8 of Internet Explorer have a very easy method for removing these troublesome additions to IE. MORE » |
