WiFi Hotspot Creator Turns a PC into a Hotspot
Last Updated on Tuesday, 28 February 2012 09:54 Written by Alan Wednesday, 29 February 2012 07:00
One thing thing that is in huge demand today is WiFi connectivity. We all have countless devices from laptops, to smartphones, to tablets that are all hungry for a connection. Fortunately there is a way to turn a PC into a WiFi hotspot, which is called, appropriately enough, Wi-Fi HotSpot Creator. You can then share this connection with as many users as you choose. I took it for a spin and here’s what I found.
To get started you will need to download the 1.6 MB file and then install the software. The app comes with the Yahoo Toolbar and NetAssistant and there is no way to prevent the toolbar from being installed, which was strike one. You can, however, remove it from the Firefox Add-on menu, so it isn’t a deal-breaker. You will want to do a “custom install”, which will allow you to prevent your homepage from being set to Yahoo, NetAssistant from being installed, and Yahoo being set as your default search.
From this point on I can continue to explain the steps for setting up a WiFi hotspot, but Wi-Fi HotSpot Creator has a simple, easy to follow guide right on the their website, which you can find here. I would recommend following their guide, but I wanted to point out what you needed to watch out for during the installation. They have also created a video, which you can find below.
As long as you do a custom install to prevent the third-party software and then remove the Yahoo Toolbar (unless you want it) then the app is certainly a good deal, seeing as it’s free. It also worked quite well in my quick tests with both an Android phone and tablet. It’s compatible with Windows 7, Vista, and XP.
Download: WiFi Hotspot Creator
Windows 8 Server Build 8180 Screenshots Leaked
Last Updated on Saturday, 14 January 2012 01:11 Written by Alan Saturday, 14 January 2012 01:11
Windows 8 Server is expected to be released in conjunction with the next version of the Windows operating system. While Microsoft was busy this week showing off Windows 8 at CES, they were also hard at work getting both of the OS’s ready for their public Beta debut next month. Server technology isn’t really mainstream, and to that end, we have seen considerably less information leaked about Windows 8 Server.
Yesterday though, a whole boatload of new screenshots of the latest build of Windows 8 Server were released by WinUnleaked.tk. These are from Build 8180, which has a build date of January 9th (8180.0.WINMAIN.120109-1245_X64FRE_SERVER).
We don’t see a whole lot what is new here, but there have been some Metro style changes to the interface, especially in places like the Server Manager Dashboard. The login page has also changed slightly, from the to previous from the previous green color with a “Submit” button to a slate-grey color with a simple arrow to click for submitting your password. Some nice screenshots of the Storage Space feature were also included in the leak. The Storage Space runs on the latest Microsoft file system, known as ReFS.
Windows 8 Server is expected to be released by Microsoft in the Fall of 2012, and will be released in conjunction with the Windows 8 operating system. We have posted a couple of screenshot below, but there are a lot more over at WinUnleaked.tk, including some comparison shots showing the differences between the Developer Preview and the new Beta.
Syncing.net Allows Syncing of Files Between Multiple PC’s
Last Updated on Tuesday, 27 December 2011 08:05 Written by Alan Monday, 9 January 2012 06:00
These days every home has multiple computers and the need to share files in a way that previously was the domain of business users. All operating systems – Windows, Mac, and Linux – come with built-in sharing options. They aren’t all that difficult to set-up and they work pretty well, but they aren’t always the best solution for every user. Thankfully there are other solutions, and even free ones, that you can use.
One such syncing solution is Syncing.net. They are a Microsoft “Gold Certified” partner, which means they “provide you with the highest levels of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and hands-on skills”. At least, that’s what Microsoft says.
Once you have downloaded and installed the app, you can fire it up for the first time. You will first be asked if you already have an account. If you do then enter your user name (email) and password.
If you don’t already have an account you will prompted to create one. Enter your name, email address, and password and click Next. You will need to use the same account for all of your computers. You are limited to 5 computers.
If you’re account registration is successful you will receive a confirmation message. The message will open a browser window to Syncing.net. There isn’t actually anything to do here, so you can close the window and proceed with setting up the files and folder you want to sync.
Now choose a folder that you want to sync. You can choose a folder, choose the location, or create a new folder. This is the folder you will use for all of your syncing. All files and sub-folders within it will be synced as well. Choose your option and click Next.
The files and folders will appear in the main interface of the application. From there you can view the details of files and folders and set individual sharing permissions on them. Click Next to begin syncing files.
Now you can begin syncing files and folders in real time. Other recipients, who you can grant access to, will receive an email whenever a file or folder is added to the Sync Folder. Syncing.net is a free service that you can install by visiting the Syncing.net website. There is a 3 GB limit per month. Now there’s no excuse not keep all of your files in sync on every computer.
