Microsoft unveiled a new and easier way to install additional display languages in Windows 8 — according to the company it’ll be easier than in current versions of Windows.

The software giant has built a new preferences section in Control Panel called — you guessed it –  Languages that will be the “one-stop” place to find, set and download all the supported languages in Windows 8. The goal and the benefit is that Windows 8 users with the need to install additional languages will not have to jump around websites, Microsoft Download Center or Windows Update in order to get a language pack.

Another benefit for users is that the language on the PC will no longer need to be considered when it comes the time to choose a model to buy. Also users will be able to switch between languages back and forth in their accounts or create a new account with a different language.

Microsoft will support an additional 14 new display languages in Windows 8, bringing a total of 109 display languages, including a new English version for the United Kingdom. The company is adding 13 other countries, including Punjabi (Pakistan), Sindhi (Pakistan), Central Kurdish (Iraq), Uyghur (People’s Republic of China), Belarusian (Belarus), Kinyarwanda (Rwanda), Tigrinya (Ethiopia), Tajik (Tajikistan), Wolof (Senegal), K’iche’ (Guatemala), Scottish Gaelic (United Kingdom), Cherokee (United States), Valencian (Spain).

While these packages remain different in how they’re installed, users don’t need to understand those differences. Language preferences in Control Panel is the one place where they’ll go to get new Windows display languages, and it handles download and installation seamlessly. — Ian Hamilton Customer Connection Program Manager at Microsoft says.

This is a new move from Microsoft is to target new emerging PC growth in different parts of the world, and providing native language version of Windows for over 4.5 billion people is one way to stimulate sales.

Source Building Windows 8 blog

The best video player of all, VLC 2.0 code name “Twoflower” has been released and it is ready for download on Windows, Linux and Mac. What is new? A lot. But not to worry, VideoLan still plays, like always, almost any file you try to watch or listen.

Out of the box VideoLan 2.0 has support for “experimental” Blu-ray playback. Now it plays video quicker and seeking is faster with improved decoding on multi-core CPUs and GPUs, more HD formats are supported, higher-quality audio processing, better subtitles, and new video filters. And, of course, VLC 2.0 fixes tons of bugs making more stable that its previous version.

Windows users will still see the same video player look and feel, with just a tiny enhancement that you’ll notice in the media control. Mac users will be the one that will see a major update in the user interface. VLC UI has been redesigned and now it looks more like if it was an Apple product.

The link below will take you to the download page, where you can also explore all its new features.

Download link

• Oh! VLC still free to download and use — Get it now.

Microsoft is bringing the SkyDrive to Windows 8 by making it a full-featured Cloud storage service, with Windows 8 SkyDrive Metro style app and Windows Explorer integration.

As published by Mike Torres (Group Program Manager SkyDrive Apps) and Omar Shahine (Group Program Manager SkyDrive.com) in a new article at Building Windows 8 website, Microsoft is in the works on combining its SkyDrive and Live Mesh services in the next release of SkyDrive. (Live Mesh is the Microsoft’s Dropbox like service.)

SkyDrive will go from a web storage service to a true Cloud service that will integrate to Windows 8 with a new Metro style app — touch friendly interface — and with a desktop application, that according to the software maker is only going to take 10 second to install. The benefit that you are going to have are: easy drag-&-drop upload and download, anywhere access to your data, offline access, and the support to manage your SkyDrive files from the Windows Explorer. The ability to “fetch” remote files using SkyDrive.com is on the works too. Microsoft says that users will be able to upload files as large as 2GB through Windows Explorer, and that the desktop app will automatically sync any changes with SkyDrive.

The SkyDrive app will also be available for use with the Windows 8 chrams, which Metro style app developers are going to be able to take advantage of and add the capability to save data to SkyDrive.

Users are also going to be able to access files from PCs that do not have SkyDrive configured, through the use of the feature called Fetch (or internally known as Forgot something?), and it will allow users to fetch or copy files and folders from any PC to the Cloud service. To add an extra layer of protection, the service will use a two-factor authentication, requiring an additional code that can be delivered to a mobile phone or to an email account, before the untrusted PC can access any data. 

Microsoft goal is to make the SkyDrive app available on February 29, together with the release of Windows 8 Consumer Preview. But desktop sync and remote file fetching will come after on Windows 8. Windows Vista and Windows 7 users can also expect SkyDrive desktop when the app is released for Windows 8.

Source Building Windows 8 blog

Redesigned and plain simple: Microsoft’s new Metro style logo for Windows 8 is surprisingly grabbing good attention, more than you would expect from four squares shaped as an angled window.

Windows 8 “Consumer Preview” is about to be available to the general public at the end of the month, February 29th. The new operating from Microsoft is set to reimagine the way we use computers today and it is meant to be a multi-platform OS, which means the same Windows experience “without compromises” across PCs, tablets, laptops, and phones. 

One of the steps from Microsoft to transition from the traditional desktop to “Windows reimagined” was the introduction of the new Metro style user interface that is fast and fluid, and utilizes live tiles that provide useful information and access to applications. Then was the removal of the iconic Start button, that was part of the operating system for more that 15 years — and, of course, tons of new features has been added to the most popular Microsoft OS.

In a previous article, we mentioned that Microsoft was in the works to change the red, green, blue and yellow Windows wavy logo that we have seen for so many years. Now it is official, the company unveiled the new Windows 8 logo; it uses flat colors, clean lines and shapes that looks much like a window and it matches the new Metro style concept, designed by the firm Pentagram. Also the logo will change colors based on the color used on the theme set by users. 

[...] if you look back to the origins of the logo you see that it really was meant to be a window. “Windows” really is a beautiful metaphor for computing and with the new logo we wanted to celebrate the idea of a window, in perspective. [...] We did less of a re-design and more to return it to its original meaning and bringing Windows back to its roots – reimagining the Windows logo as just that – a window.

We wanted the new logo to be both modern and classic by echoing the International Typographic Style (or Swiss design) that has been a great influence on our Metro style design philosophy. Using bold flat colors and clean lines and shapes, the new logo has the characteristics of way-finding design systems seen in airports and subways. — Sam Moreau said in a new article at Blogging Windows.

Here is a look back to other versions of Windows’ logos

Windows 1.0 logo:

Windows 98 logo (4.x):

Windows XP logo (5.x):

Windows Vista logo (6.0):

Windows 7 logo (6.1.7601):

Windows 8 logo (6.2.8xxx.x):

If you notice, the new Windows 8 logo shares some similarities to the Windows 1.0 version, both simple and Metro style, using lines and uncomplicated design.

The reactions are all mixed, a lot of people are OK with it, because the logo should match the Metro design, and because it is also true that previous versions of the Windows’ logo looked more like a flag rather than a window. Other people just feel that it is too simple and basic, almost colorless, and too much Metro design.

So, What do you think about the new Metro style Windows 8 logo? Leave your comments in the section below.

Source Windows Blog

This week on Pureinfotech: you learned another way to get rid of Facebook Timeline, we heard the news that Microsoft is going to change the iconic Windows flag (logo) for a flat Metro style version; you learned how customize Google’s search results page to be simpler, and much more.

It is inevitable, Facebook is slowly rolling out Timeline to its users. In the past you learned how to “disable Timeline” using a workaround, now with a simple but powerful plugin that supports most web browsers, you have the ability to once again get rid of Facebook Timeline by redesigning the way the feature looks. Check the article to learn how to get this done (video included) — How to get rid of Facebook Timeline – This is the other way.

This week on Microsoft news, the software giant is on the works to change the iconic Windows flag (logo) with a simpler Metro style version of the flag. To see the new design follow this link — Windows flag logo to change in Windows 8 for a flat Metro style version.

If you like simple search results and you don’t want all the new fancy features from Google, this how to — How to customize Google search results page and turn-off unwanted features [Google Chrome] – is going to teach you how to turn off Instant predictions and Personal results, and more. Plus in this article you’ll learn some CSS tricks to fully customize Google search results page to make search simple again.

Here is more of what you might have missed:

• Desktop Fun: Ghost Town theme for Windows 7
• PicPick: Awesome screen capture tool for Windows [Download]

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Pureinfotech software giveaway!

Pureinfotech is giving away 5 full featured copies of PDF Converter Elite. If you didn’t sign up yet, you still have the chance!  This is an awesome PDF management tool that comes with most used functions that you can expect to create, edit, convert and manage PDF files. This is a great alternative to Adobe Acrobat and it is a lot cheaper. Read the article to learn more about this tool and don’t forget to sign up to enter the contest to win one of copies — [Giveaway] PDF Converter Elite 3 a great alternative to Adobe Acrobat.

If you have any tech question or suggestions contact us here!

Users are starting to get upgraded to the new Facebook Timeline, and as cool as this new feature is for many, there still a ton of people who don’t approve the new changes. In a previews article (How to disable Facebook Timeline [Temporary workaround trick]) I told you a little trick to bring back the old profile view, now I am going to show you how to get rid of Facebook Timeline in another way.

First things first with this other way, you won’t be getting the old Facebook profile design, but it will change the Timeline design by making it less clutter removing the new cover photo, friends box, and the two-columns view will get replaced with a single column.

All that is required for this to work is a web browser extension called Social Fixer and it is supported by most browser (Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, and Opera) but Internet Explorer. Alright, let’s get down to business:

1 The first thing you need to do is to visit Socialfixer.com and get the extension for the web browser you use.

2 Once the extension is installed, head over Facebook.com. A bunch of new stuff will appear in your profile, for now just click the new wrench icon and select Social Fixer Options.

3 STOP! Before continuing, navigate every item on the menu from the left and uncheck all the options. Social Fixer comes with a tons of great features, but you can explore them later, now we are focused in Timeline. Just uncheck everything for the moment.

4 Click on the Timeline item, and check all the options (“Display posts in a single column”, “Hide cover photos”, “Hide the friends box”, and “Hide maps of check-ins) but leave uncheck the fist option from the top. Then click the Save button.

5 Refresh your Facebook profile and you’ll see that Timeline still there, but it has been improved, now it is cleaner and a lot of annoying sections aren’t there anymore like the cover photo, map box, friends box, and now there is only one column.

As you know, Facebook is not letting anyone disable Timeline once you have been upgraded, so this is another way to improve your profile. Just remember that you are the only one who will see the changes on the Facebook profile. Also whenever you have a chance, explore all the options that Social Fixer has in its tool belt, they are pretty cool and they will help to make the most out of your profile, e.g., hiding the ticker, changing font size, turn off Facebook chat, add a new theme in your profile and much more. In the case you change your mind and want the Timeline back, just uninstall the extension from the web browser (on Firefox from the Add-Ons page, and typing chrome://settings/extensions in the address bar on Chrome).

Do you want to learn more about Facebook Timeline? Check all our coverage, you’ll find Tips & Tricks, workaround, news and more.

If you’d like to see the guide instead of reading, here is the video on how to get rid of Facebook Timeline:

Do you have other tips to make Timeline more useful? Let us know in the comments below.

Source Lifehacker

Old, abandoned buildings lean in the oppressively constant western sun.

Bring some amazing images captured by Tracy Hymas from the renowned ghost town of Bodie, located in the  Bodie Hills east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Mono County, California (recognized as a National Historic Landmark) to your computer desktop.

This FREE theme from the Microsoft comes with 13 high-definition wallpapers, and you’ll find images with a mix of sepia and black-and-white tones of old style side-by-side buildings, woody house and many other old western style structures.

If you want to learn more about Bodie, check this Wikipedia entry.

You can find more great themes in Pureinfotech — Desktop Fun section and from the Windows Personalization Gallery.

• Ghost Town theme direct download link

Learn how to turn off Google search features (e.g., Instant predictions and Personal results, and more), plus in this How-To you’ll learn some CSS tricks to fully customize Google search results page to make search simple again.

We all have noticed for sometime that Google has been adding many new features to search, Google Instant predictions, Personals results, Results details, and many others. These tools may be useful for many users, but I just like a simple search result page with a list of good links that contain the answer I am looking for, and nothing more. Google provides the good search results capability, but additional features can be a little bit annoying for some.

The break down: First, do you really need “Instant predictions”, when you know that clicking the search button, results will just come up in a split second? Also, have you ever noticed that having this feature enabled often words may get mistyped, because the search box flies to the top-left corner of the screen when you start typing a search term?

Next is “Personals results” – Google unveiled this feature not too long ago and basically it combines your social activities (Google+) with search and then a new listing of results will be shown to you, but prioritizing your social activities first. This was not very well received by many people, because results may be different from the organic ones.

Last is “Results details” – This is the preview of the web page that you can check before clicking the link, the preview (or Results details) will appear to the right side of a particular link on the results page, when clicking the double-arrow button. As useful as this feature can be, how many times have you ever previewed a link before clicking? — We all want to get to the answer we are looking for fast.

Another issue I have found is that Google list its results on the far left side of the screen, today most websites — including this one — are centered on the screen for better viewing. Google listing results on the left can present some viewing angle problems when using large and wide screens.

While we cannot just drop into Google’s headquarters, knock on the door and ask them to remove these features, you can easily turn off most of them from your Search Settings by clicking the gear button, located on the top-right corner of the Google search results page.

From the Search Settings you can control:

• Safe Search filters: How much filter you want in your results? No filtering, moderate or strict.
• Google Instant predictions: When Google will start displaying results — In this option choose “Never show Instant results” to show the search result when I click the search button.
• Results per page: Control how many links results are shown per page. The fewer the better!
• Personal results: Google will combine search with Google+ information to provide a different type of related content. To turn OFF this feature, simply select “Do not use personal results” — remember that you need to be singed in to your Google account to make this option available. For more information check our previous article (How to disable the new Google’s personal search results – Kind of…).
• Where results open: This is interesting, personally I like my links to open in a new tab, that way if I visit a webpage and then I start visiting other links inside that page I don’t have to click the back button many times.
• Blocking unwanted results: This option requires to be signed in, then you can block sites that you don’t want in your result page.
• Web History: Also this option requires to be signed in, then you can control whether or not Google saves your Web History to personalize your results.

OK, you’ve seen that changing the Search Settings, you won’t be bothered with Instant predictions, Google will not display combined results with Google+ information by turning off Personal results, and many others if you decide to change additional settings.

The last two things left to do to fully customize Google search results page for a simpler search experience, is to move the results page to the center of the screen and remove Results details. The question remains to how do we do this? The answer is simple, with a Google Chrome extension.

Searching for a long time I’ve found Stylebot and I think it is a great extension to address these last two “issues”. This is a Chrome extension that helps you to inject your own CSS style to any web page, locally in your web browser. For many of you that don’t know, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is a style sheet language used to describe the presentation of web pages (color, font, width, height, etc.). But don’t worry, you don’t need to be an expert to get this working, just follow these steps:

1 Install Stylebot in Google Chrome from the Google Store.

You can learn more about how Stylebot works in this video:

2 With the extension now installed and enabled, do a search on Google, and in the search result page open Stylebot by clicking css link that appears on the right-hand side of Chrome’s search box (onmibar) or use the keyboard shortcut Alt+M.

3 At the bottom of the Stylebot CSS editing box that opened on the right side of your screen, click Edit CSS and copy and paste the following CSS code:

.mw {
    margin: 0 auto;
}

.msel .kls {
    border-left: 5px solid #fff;
    font-weight: bold;
}

#appbar {
    margin-top: 0;
    margin-right: auto;
    margin-bottom: 0;
    margin-left: auto;
    width: 1250px;
    border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;
}

div.gbqfr {
    margin-top: 0;
    margin-right: auto;
    margin-bottom: 0;
    margin-left: auto;
    width: 1000px;
    border-bottom: 0;
}
div.vspii {
    visibility: hidden;
} 

The CSS code described above will center the search results page on the screen, it will hide the red mark on the left side of the selected item on the menu (Everything, Images, Maps, etc.) and it will also hide the Details result button.

4 Click Save at the bottom of the Stylebot CSS editor box and refresh the search results page if necessary to see the new changes.

This is a normal view of the Google search results page:

This is how your search results page should look like:

Now search is simple again! No fancy instant search, search personalization, or previewing a page, just a good old centered result page with the answers you are looking for. I went through many steps in this article, but in reality is pretty simple and it shouldn’t take more than 2 minutes, including the installation of Stylebot, to customize Google results page.

We all like to hear if it worked for you, so try it and let us know in the comments below. Thanks!

You’ll find a vast number of screen capture tools to use in Windows, but it’ll be hard to find one like PicPick. This tool has many options, built-in image editor that look really similar to Microsoft Paint, features a FTP client to upload your images, and best of all is FREE to use.

PicPick come with all the necessary features to save you time and money. This screenshot tool offers great set of options for both creating screen captures and editing images. You can choose from 8 different methods to take screenshots, and each of those methods can be customized with its own keyboard shortcuts. Also, you can configure shortcuts for different tools available in PicPick.

You can include or exclude the mouse cursor from appearing in the screenshot, select default folder path to save a file automatically and choose a file format and quality for the screenshot.  Also PicPick has a built-in image editor, not complicated to use, with a FTP client to upload images to a remote server; you can annotate on images, add arrows and much more.

It does take some time to get used to this tool, you’ll find many little things that can be a little bit annoying when editing images — but there is almost not learning curve. For example, when trying to pixelate or blur something out, you first need to select the area and then apply the effect. When adding text, you need to stretch the dotted text-box enough so you can see the text being applied, if not it will seem like you aren’t adding any text. Or when you need to add a rectangle, by default it looks like a call-out, in this case from the Shapes menu, you’ll have to change the Fill option to No Fill. Although there are little things to get used to, overall it is a great screenshot tool for Windows that is worth trying and at the end it won’t disappoint you.

Feature highlight

• Take screenshots of the entire screen, an active window, specific region of the screen, free hand, and more.
• Customize your own keyboard shortcuts — Using only the “Print Screen” key is supported as well.
• Add annotations to images: text, arrows, and more with the built-in image editor that includes a Ribbon style menu with many options such as color picker, color palette, pixel-ruler, protractor, crosshair and whiteboard.
• Resize, crop and rotate your screenshots anyway you like.
• Effects are supported as well. Blur, hue, sharpen, brightness, color balance, pixelate, and more.
• Screen magnifier to be more precise when capturing a screen.
• Sharing via FTP, Web, email, and even Facebook and Twitter.
• And much more!

Useful links

• Download PicPick for Free!