Techpack» Tips And Tricks

Convert and Read Gmail Messages Automatically in Your Mother-tongue

Prashanth KV — Wed, 02 May 2012 05:47:31 +0000

Gmail team has announced a new auto translation feature to Gmail. It will be available for Gmail users globally in coming days. The new auto translation feature in Gmail is useful in many ways. The first advantage of the auto message translation in Gmail is that it allows you to read any message you received in Gmail in your native language. Also if you subscribe to RSS feeds (email news letters) of different web sites, no matter in which language they are, that content also you can read in your mother-tongue on Gmail. If you are bilingual, for example, if you can follow English and Hindi, if you subscribed to a Chinese website’s feeds you can automatically convert it to English or Hindi. I will explain you how to do it.

First check your default language settings in Gmail. Do you know how to change default language settings? To do this just head to the settings page in Gmail. Click the “Gear” icon for this purpose. And on the Settings page, under “General”, click on the “Language” drop down menu. There set your language to Hindi or your native language. Next time when you receive a message other than Hindi or the language you have set, Gmail will automatically translate it to Hindi (or the set language).

This is an existing Gmail Lab feature. Based on the feedback Google considered that it’s matured enough to introduce to the public. So you will get the feature as default in coming days.

When Gmail detects one of your message in a language other than your default language it will display you a control box at the top of the message. You can control the Gmail auto translation settings from the box.

Hope you liked this quick gmail tips. Share it with your friends and drop your views in the comments.

Via : Gmail Blog

How to Install and Use Apps on Google Drive Cloud Storage

Prashanth KV — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 05:15:36 +0000

We have already reported the news about the launch of Google Drive immediately after the launch of it. If you have not read it find it below.

Google Launched Google Drive – Download Links and Intro Video

Here I am detailing you how to install apps on Google Drive. Google Drive is going to be an ultimate cloud storage service by integrating more features to it. Google has already included Google Doc in Google Drive. Also you can access and share Google Drive Stored photos on Google Plus Social Networking site of Google.

Google Drive supports apps. I am not talking about the Google Drive apps for desktop which enable to access Google Drive from your desktop. You can install apps on Google Drive to do different tasks within Google Drive or on the web with the stored files on it. The only apps by default installed on Google Drive at present is the Google Docs. You can do different tasks with your newly installed apps on Google Drive.

Where from you get Google Drive apps? Apps for Google Drive are available in Chrome Web Store. There are few good apps now available there for free. Install the apps from the Chrome Web Store. After that no need for Chrome to use this apps. You can open Google Drive apps from within Google Drive and use it on any modern browser.

Link : Chrome Web Apps Supports Google Drive

Go to the above link and download and install the required apps by clicking on the install button on Chrome Web Store.

How to Use Apps on Google Drive

To use apps on Google Drive, click on the red “Create” Button (see the screenshot above). You can see the installed apps by pointing your mouse to “More”.

Hope you get the point. Thanks for being with us. Share your thoughts below.

Get 25 GB Free Cloud Storage from Microsoft SkyDrive [Limited Time Upgrade]

Prashanth KV — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:04:38 +0000

I had written a lengthy article last year detailing the use of Windows SkyDrive and Windows Live Mesh. I request you to go through it first, if you are not familiar with Windows Live Mesh (sync service app) and SkyDrive (cloud storage). The article below will details how to use Windows Live Mesh to sync your SkyDrive (Microsoft’s Cloud Storage Service) files securely.

Free and Secure Mass Online File Syncing Between Two or More Computers

Earlier SkyDrive offers 5 GB free online storage space for users. Now it has been changed to 7 GB and for a limited time Microsoft is allowing users to upgrade it to 25 GB free storage. I’ve just upgraded my account from 7 GB to 25 GB. I’m sure it will fulfill my all cloud storage requirements.

How to Upgrade Existing SkyDrive Account to 25 GB Free

It is just simple. Go to your SkyDrive storage page. There you can see a message “SkyDrive’s free storage is changing – claim your free 25GB”. Click on it. On the next screen click the “Free Upgrade” Button and voila!

Microsoft has also introduced some awesome new features to SkyDrive. Now it comes to desktop in the form an app. Install the SkyDrive app on (in Windows 8 CP, it is pre installed) PC or Mac. By doing this now you can access your SkyDrive cloud storage files online/offline right from the desktop. Also the upload file size is increased to a maximum of 2GB.

New SkyDrive Download Link for Windows and Mac

SkyDrive for Windows (Preview)

SkyDrive for Mac

Source : Microsoft

How to Change IE 10 Address Bar Search Engine from Bing to Google [Default Search Engine Change]

Prashanth KV — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 08:01:29 +0000

You agree it or not, Internet Explorer 10 (IE 10) is the best browser available for Windows 8 at present. It is amazingly fast and stylish compared to its earlier versions. Of course you can install and use Firefox, Chrome or any other browser on Windows 8. But IE 10 is built specially for Windows 8. I am really surprised with the speed IE 10 offers. Either you may be using IE 10 Metro or IE 10 desktop variant on Windows 8, probably you may be noticed that Bing is set as the default search engine in it. As a result when you search from the IE 10 Address Bar the search result will be provided by Bing. If you want to change the IE 10 address bar search engine (search provider), i.e. the default search engine, from Bing to Google just follow the below tips.

Steps to Change IE 10 Address Bar Search Engine.

Go to Internet Explorer Gallery on IE 10 Desktop Browser (IE 10 Metro doesn’t support add-ons)
Click the button labeled “Add to Internet Explorer”
It will popup a small window titled “Add Search Provider”. Make a tick mark against “Make this my default search provider” and click “Add”

That’s all. It will change IE 10 address bar search (default search) engine from Bing to Google. Both IE 10 Metro and Desktop versions are correlated. So the above method will change the default search engine in both browser.

If you want to change the default search engine from Google to Bing later in IE 10, go to Tools->Manage Add-Ons->Search Providers. You can change it from there.

IE 10 in Windows 8 – Change Default Browser to Chrome or Firefox, Security Features and Tips and Tricks

Prashanth KV — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 04:22:55 +0000

This tutorial will take you through some key features of IE 10 connected with Windows 8 CP like change the default browser from IE 10 to any other, IE 10 AppContainer and a complete IE 10 keyboard shortcuts list. So lets begin with the option to change default browser in Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

Change Default Browser in Windows 8 from IE 10 to Chrome, Firefox, Opera or Any Other Browser

I know many of you may have problem with setting Chrome or Firefox as your default browser in Windows 8. You may have set it as your default browser but still not functioning right? I have a solution for you.

Internet Explorer 10 (IE 10) is the default browser in Windows 8. I have been using Windows 8 for the last four weeks and now I’m familiar with IE 10 that Microsoft released for the Pro users. If you are using Windows 8 you may have probably used either the desktop version or the metro version of IE 10 already. Because there is no other option left with you other than using IE 10 when you want to open an external link. Because in Windows 8 IE 10 is set as the default browser and all the external links are set to open in it. It is probably difficult to change the default browser in Windows 8 Consumer Preview. But if you are very much particular, then you can do it.

In Windows 8 I have installed Google Chrome. During the installation of Chrome when Chrome showed me an option whether I want to set it as my default browser, I opted not. After installation of Google Chrome in Windows 8 the first thing I have done was syncing all of my Chrome bookmarks and web apps from my already installed Google Chrome in Windows 7 to Chrome in Windows 8. I have used the Google Chrome Sign in feature for this purpose.

It took only few minutes for Chrome to sync all my available information from my Google Chrome installation in Windows 7. Then I decided to set Chrome as my default browser from the Chrome Wrench Menu (Spanner Icon)->Settings. But to my surprise there I could see that Chrome is already my default browser when it is not so in real case. I tried to open an external link (Google Talk) to check, but it opened in IE 10!

Now the solution is to change the default browser from IE 10 to Chrome or any other browser in Windows 8 is to set it from the Windows 8 Control Panel. In Windows 8 it is pretty easy to access the control panel settings. Just search on the brand new Charms Bar (Win + C) for “Default Programs”. It will bring the Windows 8 “Default Programs” icon in front of you in a flash. Click on the icon to open the Default Programs window. Then click on “Set your default programs”. Your all installed browsers will be there in the default programs list (if you can’t find your browser in the list, don’t worry the solution follows). Click on the browser name that you want to set as the default browser in Windows 8 to open your external links. Then click on “Set this program as default”.

Here also there is something Microsoft kept to surprise you. Some of you may complain that you have installed Chrome, Firefox or any other browser in Windows 8 but not appear in Default Programs list. So take care the below things during installation of your browsers in Windows 8.

During the installation of Google Chrome or any other browser in Windows 8, when prompt to set it as the default browser opt it. It will not make it as your default browser. But then only you can set it as your ‘real’ default browser from Control Panel->Default Programs.

I have Installed Firefox and Chrome in Windows 8. But in the below screenshot you can see that Firefox is there in the Default Programs list but not Chrome. The reason obviously I’ve selected Firefox as my default browser during installation but not Chrome.

How to Enable Enhanced Protect Mode in IE 10 Desktop to Run Tabs in AppContainer [Security Features of IE 10]

IE 10 offers tight security against different threats originating online. There is a SmartScreen filter in IE 10 (in earlier versions too) that protects users from malicious downloads. It is one of the best weapon against socially engineered tricks to trick a user to download malicious files. HTML 5 Sand Box is another notable feature Microsoft brings in IE 10. This Enhanced Protect mode in IE 10 helps you to protect your personal information by restricting IE 10 access locations in your computer containing your personal information. When this feature is enabled tabs in IE 10 desktop runs in AppContainer which is the default settings for IE 10 metro. This helps prevent exploit code from accessing your personal information without your permission. You can enable this settings for your IE 10 desktop too from your IE 10 desktop settings . Tools (Alt+X)->Internet Options->Programs->Enable Enhanced Protect Mode. Take care! It will disable incompatible add ons from the IE 10.

IE 10 Complete Keyboard Shortcuts

Recently I’ve covered a full list of Windows 8 keyboard shortcuts. If you have not checked it so far you can find it below.

Complete List of Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts in Printable Format

Now here I’m introducing you a full list of Internet Explorer 10 (IE 10) keyboard shortcuts. Hope it will be very useful for you.

Ctrl + Tab or click an empty area -> Tab – Cycle through open Tabs

Ctrl + Shift + P or Right-click an empty area -> 3 dots -> InPrivate - Open an InPrivate Tab

Ctrl + T or Right-click an empty area -> ( + ) - Open a new Tab

Ctrl + F4 or Right-click an empty area -> Tab (x) - Close the active Tab

Tab – Move forward through items on a Web Page.

Shift + Tab – Move backwards.

Enter – Activate the selected item

Ctrl + P – Print page.

Right-click an empty area -> Page tools (spanner icon) -> View on the Desktop - View page on Desktop IE (good for opening pages with Adobe Flash).

Ctrl + L / Alt + D – Open Address bar (includes frequent and pinned pages).

Backspace or Move mouse to mid-left edge -> Click back - Go back to previous Web Page

Shift + Backspace or Move mouse to mid-right edge -> Click forward – Go forward to previous Web page.

That is all for now. See you all again with another useful tutorial.

Complete List of Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts in Printable Format

Prashanth KV — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:01:44 +0000

Many of my friends have started using Windows 8 Consumer Preview on their laptop and their feedback is really good. All they have installed Windows 8 CP without jeopardizing their stable Windows 7. It is true that they did not make a permanent shift to Windows 8 due to various reasons like Windows 8 is still in beta, the limited number of metro apps available in Windows Store, need to install Office Suites and other programs, installation of printer driver, network set up etc. But they still prefer to run Windows 8 frequently. The fact is that I have given them the inspiration to test Windows 8. They impressed with the Metro interface and began asking me about keyboard shortcuts to control it. So for them and to all of my lovable readers I have conceived all the Windows 8 keyboard shortcuts in a printable form. Just go to the below link and Print the full list of Windows 8 Keyboard shortcuts. Also bookmark this page or the below link page for frequent reference.

Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts

Learn it before the final version of Windows 8 hit the market, right?

Julie Larson-Green, Corporate Vice President, Windows Experience, discusses the Metro style UI at the Windows 8 Consumer Preview event in Barcelona, Spain. February 29, 2012.

If you enjoyed this article don’t forget to share it on social networks. Thanks and enjoy. [Source]

How to Remove Personal Info from Tiles [Windows 8 Quick Tip]

Prashanth KV — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:28:43 +0000

It is easy to remove personal information from the Windows 8 Tiles on the start screen. Windows 8 App tiles shows personal information. If you have already started using Windows 8 you may have noticed it. Your Video app on the start screen shows your last watched video information, Photo app the last opened photo and your music app shows your last listened music. Similarly if you use third party apps these apps will also shows your personal info on the start screen tiles. For example I am using Dictionary app, it shows the last checked words on the tile. The problem is when you have shared your computer the other person can get a lot of information about your app usage behavior. So if you think it is necessary to remove the personal info on tiles just follow the below tips.

You can quickly remove personal info from Tiles. To remove personal information just go to your Windows 8 Start screen (Windows key is the keyboard shortcut for this). From there, access the Charms Bar (Windows Key + C) and click Settings. Click on “Clear”. That is all you need to do.

Share this Windows 8 Quick Tip with your friends.

How to Block Unauthorized Access of Windows Store

Prashanth KV — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 08:20:47 +0000

Want to block Windows Store on Windows 8 Consumer Preview? Read on.

Windows Store is the only home of Windows 8 Metro Apps. It is in its premature stage. At present the number of apps available in this Market is limited. But once the Final Version of Windows 8 is available, that is expected by October this year, the number of apps will be significantly increased. In Windows Store you can find free as well as paid apps.

Windows Store is accessible from the Start screen of Windows 8 by clicking the Store live tile. By default whoever has access to your Start screen can easily access Windows Store and install apps on behalf of you. So as a precaution, if you wish, you can disable the Windows Store quickly. Thus you can block or avoid unauthorized access of Windows store from your computer. Disabling Windows Store is equal to lock Windows Store, right?

Steps Involved :

Access Windows 8 Charms Bar (Windows Key + C)
Search for “gpedit.msc” group policy editor and open it. It may take few seconds to open. Once the editor is opened, go to “Windows Components” (refer the screenshot below).

Now double click on “Store” and from the right side of the window screen double click on “Turn off the Store application”.
It will open “Turn off the Store application” window, there select “Enabled”. This is the place where you can enable or disable Windows Store app.
Click OK and close all the relevant Windows. Restart your PC and voila.

Hope you liked this quick tip to block windows store.

Add Videos Stored on Your Computer to Windows 8 Metro Video App

Prashanth KV — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 07:14:15 +0000

Windows 8 CP comes with some metro apps pre installed. Among them Video is a preview edition released by Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft has provided all the flavors of Metro to this app. Video app allows you to buy, rent, and watch just released movies and TV shows in HD. It is quick and fluid. You can also add your favorite videos stored on your computer to this metro Video app. It gives you the comfort of selecting your videos quickly from the big thumbnails. If you are using a touch screen it will be fast and fluid to choose your favorite videos to play. But you can also use your mouse scroll bar and buttons for this purpose. It is a visual pleasure watching the tnumbnails of all of your added videos on the Video metro app. I like the Video metro app because I enjoy the Windows 8 multitasking feature. If your kid wants to enjoy a nursery rhyme you can play the same on one side of the screen without affecting your browsing on IE 10 (or working on any other app) on the other side.

How to Arrange or Add Videos to Video Metro App in Windows 8

It is just simple to add videos to your Video metro app in Windows 8. Search and go to Windows Explorer from the Charms Bar. Keyboard shortcut for the same is Windows Key + C.

Related Reading : Windows 8 Quick Navigation Tips

Next step is to find the folder where you have stored your media files. Right click on the folder to access the context menu. Move your cursor over to “include in library” and click on “Videos”.

That is all. The very next time you open the video app, you can see all the videos in your selected folder available for your access there.

Hope this post will be useful for newbies.

Create Chrome Themes Using Free My Chrome Theme App from Google

Prashanth KV — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:56:02 +0000

Google Chrome web store has many themes, from Google itself and also from third parties, that you can choose to decorate your browser. But what about creating your own themes. I am not undermining the fact that there are third party online tools and desktop applications available for this purpose. But one thing lacking was a simple easy tool for creating beautiful Chrome themes. Chrome Team has filled that area by releasing a superb Chrome app called My Chrome Theme. With this app installed, any one can easily create stunning Chrome themes with in minutes. Yeap! It is an official Chrome app to create and share mind blowing themes for your browser.

Want to create beautiful Chrome themes using your own background images and share? use My Chrome Theme. It is a free Chrome App released by Google Chrome Team today. You can create your own lovely Chrome themes by following simple three steps using this app.

The steps involved in this three step theme creation using My Chrome Theme app are;

Import a beautiful image from your computer to use as the theme background
Secondly you need to add some color to customize other area of your browser including the tabs and Chrome OMNI box (address bar)
Finally name your theme. Your new customized theme is ready. Install it on your Chrome browser or share it via email or social networks using a unique URL that Google provides.

Hope you have enjoyed this post. Create some beautiful themes and share it with your dear and near ones. As the developer of this app (Google Chrome Team) says “let your creative juices flow!”

Link : Download My Chrome Theme App from Chrome Web Store