New Technology Reviews!.: Tools

New Amazon Kindle format to supercharge e-books

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Amazon has detailed a new e-book format for use on the Kindle Fire, which is set to offer up a more interactive experience for things like comic books, children's novels and cookbooks.</div>
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New enhancements that make up the format include HTML5 support, fixed layouts, nested tables, callouts, sidebars and Scalable Vector Graphics.</div>
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In short, Amazon is hoping that its new e-book format will show off the potential of the Kindle Fire, and hide the fact the tablet's screen is not made from e-ink so is not as easy on the eye for reading like the Kindle e-book reader.</div>
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KF8 is going to rock ya</h4>
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Amazon is calling the file format KF8 (Kindle Format 8) and has revealed that it will be replacing Mobi 7.</div>
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In all there are over 150 new formatting capabilities and the good news is that a new version of Kindle Publisher Tools is just around the corner, so devs can start utilising the new format shortle.</div>
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Amazon is keen to point out that all versions of Kindle books will be available on the Kindle Fire, but using KF8 will add a little je ne sais quoi to books.</div>
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There is still no Kindle Fire UK release date – but we are hoping the device (or an iteration of it) will be released sometime in 2012.</div>
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New Amazon Kindle format to supercharge e-books

Amazon has detailed a new e-book format for use on the Kindle Fire, which is set to offer up a more interactive experience for things ...

Tutorial: Microsoft Excel shortcuts to save you time

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Start speeding up the way you use Office Excel by setting it up to reflect your personal needs.</div>
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Open Options from the Tools menu, File ribbon or Office button, then work your way through the options on offer. Set up how many worksheets you prefer new workbooks to contain from the General section, and choose a default format and location new files are saved to from the Save section.</div>
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When entering data, make use of the Fill Handle to dramatically speed up data entry - just type in a figure, then click and drag the fill handle down or to the right to duplicate the number or formula in each of the selected cells.</div>
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The Fill Handle can also speed up entering a row or column of consecutive dates, including days, months or years. Type the first entry as normal, then click and drag using the right mouse button - if you've typed Monday, for example, you can fill out weekdays or all seven days of the week as you drag by selecting the appropriate option.</div>
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The Fill Handle isn't much use for entering the same figure in non-adjacent cells, but there's a workaround. Select the cells you wish to include by Ctrl-clicking each, then type the cell reference, number or absolute formula before pressing Ctrl and Return.</div>
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Navigating a large spreadsheet can be a real hassle, so instead of manually scrolling to the cell in question, simply type it into the Name box and press Return to jump straight to it.</div>
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If you frequently use a specific figure, such as VAT, in your workbook calculations, save time by defining it as a constant - switch to the Formulas ribbon and choose Define Name. Type the term (VAT in our example) into the Name box and its amount (20) into the Refers to box before clicking on OK. Now just type VAT instead of 20 into your formulas, and when the VAT rate next changes, you can update the entire workbook to the new rate simply by changing the figure for VAT in the Name Manager.</div>
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The quickest way to enter an unknown formula is to click the fx button and then follow the wizard to choose the appropriate one for your needs. Office Excel 2007 and 2010 users will also find a host of formulas conveniently organised into categories on the Formulas tab.</div>
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When copying and pasting formulas from one cell to another, they're treated as relative, which means the cell references are based on where the cells are in relation to the cell containing the formula. Quickly create absolute formula references using the $ character, so cell A1 becomes $A$1, for example.</div>
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Last, but not least, if you need to style your spreadsheet in Office Excel 2007 or 2010, make use of the Cell Styles function instead of manually highlighting or colouring cells. Select an already formatted cell, then click the Cell Styles button on the Home tab and choose New Style. Name it up and click OK - in future, click Cell Styles again to format your cells from the Custom section.</div>
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Quick-fire charts</div>
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The quickest and easiest way to create a chart in Office Excel isn't Chart Wizard - just select the cells you wish to include in your chart and then press F11. The Chart Wizard is bypassed and a chart instantly appears on the screen.</div>
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Once that's done, just right-click on the various elements to customise the chart.</div>
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Excel shortcuts</div>
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Alt and Return: Start a new line in the current cell instead of moving to the next one.</div>
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F11: Generate a chart from the currently selected data.</div>
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Shift/Ctrl and Space: Select the current row/column.</div>
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Alt and =: Total the selected cells.</div>
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Ctrl and Shift and $: Format selected cells as currency with two decimal places.</div>
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Ctrl and ;: Insert current date.</div>
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Ctrl and Shift and ': Paste value from the cell above.</div>
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Shift and F11: Insert a new worksheet.</div>
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Ctrl and PageDown/PageUp: Move between worksheets.</div>
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Ctrl and D/R: Fill cell with the contents of the cell either above (D) or to the left (R).</div>
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Tutorial: Microsoft Excel shortcuts to save you time

Start speeding up the way you use Office Excel by setting it up to reflect your personal needs. Open Options from the Tools menu, Fil...

Proven Security Tips, Tools, and Tactics To Stay Safe Online (Part 1 of 2)

The Internet serves as an incredible tool for educators and students to communicate, research information, and learn. The widespread availability of computers and connections to the Internet provides everyone around-the-clock access to information, credit and financial services, and shopping.   Unfortunately, there exist individuals who exploit the Internet through their criminal activities and other harmful acts. Cybercriminals use creative measures to gain unauthorized access to your computer and then use that access to steal your identity, commit fraud, or even launch cyber attacks against others.   Staying safe online is no longer a given, but a necessary extracurricular activity. Here are nine security measures you can employ immediate to protect yourself, your family, and your business. By following the recommended cyber security measures outlined here, you can limit the harm cyber criminals can do not only to your computer, but to everyone's computer. However, keep in mind that there is no single cyber security measure or technological solution that will prevent their cybercrime. These recommended cyber security measures highlight that using a set of common-sense precautions that include Internet habits as well as technology solutions can make a difference.   The National Cyber Security Alliance recommends eight measures. To that, I have added an additional. They are practical steps, in no particular order, you can take to stay safe online and avoid becoming a victim of fraud, identity theft, or cyber crime.   1. Protect your children online. Implement parental control tools that are provided by some Internet Service Provider (ISPs) and available for purchase as separate software packages. Remember: No program is a substitute for parental supervision. Also check your browser to see if it would allow you to set some parental controls. (Internet Explorer allows you to restrict or allow certain web sites to be viewed on your computer, and you can protect these settings with a password. To find those options, click Tools on your menu bar, select Internet Options, choose the Content tab, and click the Enable button under Content Advisor.)   2. Back up important files regularly. No system is completely secure. If you have important files stored on your computer, copy them onto a removable disc, and store them in a secure place in a different building than your computer. If a different location isn't practical, consider encryption software. Encryption software scrambles a message or a file in a way that can be reversed only with a specific password. Also, make sure you keep your original software start-up disks handy and accessible for use in the event of a system crash.   3. Protect your valuable personal and financial information. Don't open unsolicited or unknown email messages. If you do get an email or pop-up message asking for personal information, don't reply or click on the link in the message. To avoid opening such messages, you can turn off the "Preview Pane" functionality in email programs, and you can set your default options to view opened emails as plain text to avoid active links or pop-ups in the messages. Most importantly, do not respond to solicitations for your personal or financial information.   If you believe there may be a need for such information by a company with whom you have an account or placed an order, contact that company directly in a way you know to be genuine. Never send your personal information via email because email is not a secure transmission method.   4. Use strong passwords or strong authentication technology to help protect your personal information. To further increase the security of your online identity and to help protect you from account hi-jacking, take advantage of stronger authentication tools wherever available. This may take the form of two-factor authentication - the combination of a password or PIN number (something you know) with a token, smart card, or even a biometric device (something you have).   Stronger authentication can also come from a behind-the-scenes identity-verification process, which uses various data to establish whether or not a user is genuine. Ask your bank, your regular online retailers, and your Internet Service Provider (ISP) if they offer stronger authentication tools for more secure transactions.   5. Know who you're dealing with online. Every day, millions of computer users share files online, either as email, documents, or photos. File-sharing can give people access to a wealth of information, including music, games, and software. You download special software that connects your computer to an informal network of other computers running the same software. Millions of users could be connected to each other through this software at one time. Often the software is free and easily accessible, but file-sharing can have a number of risks.   (a) If you don't check the proper settings, you could allow access not just to the files you intend to share, but also to other information on your hard drive, like your tax returns, email messages, medical records, photos, or other personal documents.   (b)In addition, you may unwittingly download pornography labeled as something else. Or you may download material that is protected by the copyright laws, which would mean you could be breaking the law.   Therefore, downloading file-sharing software is not advisable and could place your personal information and computer at risk. If you do decide to use file-sharing software, set it up very carefully. Take the time to read the End User License Agreement to be sure that you're sharing files legally and that you understand the potentially high risk of any free downloads. For example, some license agreements include an agreement to allow spyware to be installed on your machine.   Although the Internet basically provides a positive and productive experience, cyber-attacks against our personal privacy and security are reaching epidemic proportions. These attacks are occurring in our own homes and businesses. Our own computers are being used are being used as zombies to attack other people, businesses, and even our nation itself. As an average Internet user, you may not be aware of these threats nor have any idea about the dramatically increasing risks you face when connected to the Internet.   On a campaign for internet safety awareness and protection, my mission is to bring critical awareness to individuals, families, and small business owners, and to provide access to the necessary tools and ongoing expertise to secure your computer and help you stay protected.   I invite you to join the many thousands of others who have tested their computers, discovered these threats are real, and taken the necessary steps to protect themselves.   Now that you have become aware of these issues, I encourage you to share this vital information with your families, friends and communities. Together, we can reach many millions of people and inform them about the threats to their privacy and security, and help them get the protection they desperately need.   Remember: When you say "No!" to hackers and spyware, everyone wins! When you don't, we all lose!© MMVII, Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Internet Safety Advocate and Educator

Proven Security Tips, Tools, and Tactics To Stay Safe Online (Part 1 of 2)

The Internet serves as an incredible tool for educators and students to communicate, research information, and learn. The widespread avail...

Proven Security Tips, Tools, and Tactics To Stay Safe Online (Part 2 of 2)

6. Learn what to do if something goes wrong.(a) If a scammer takes advantage of you through an Internet auction, when you're shopping online, or in any other way, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov. The FTC enters Internet, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.(b) If you get deceptive spam, including email pishing for your information, forward it to "spam at uce.gov" (replace "at" with the @ sign).Be sure to include the full Internet header of the email. In many email programs, the full "Internet header" is not automatically included in forwarded email messages, so you may need to take additional measures to include the full information needed to detect deceptive pam.(c) If you believe you have mistakenly given your information to a fraudster, file a complaint at the FTC's website and then visit their Identity Theft website to learn how to minimize your risk of damage from a potential theft of your identity.7. Use anti-virus software, a firewall, and anti-spyware software to help keep your computer safe and secure. Don't be put off by the word "firewall." It's not necessary to fully understand how it works; it's enough to know what it does and why you need it. Firewalls help keep hackers from using your computer to send out your personal information without your permission. While anti-virus software scans incoming email and files, a firewall is like a guard, watching for outside attempts to access your system and blocking communications from and to sources you don't permit. Some spammers search the Internet for unprotected computers they can control and use anonymously to send unwanted spam emails. They refer to these as "zombie computers".If you don't have up-to-date anti-virus protection and a firewall, spammers may try to install software that lets them route email through your computer, often to thousands of recipients, so that it appears to have come from your account. If this happens, you may receive an overwhelming number of complaints from recipients, and your email account could be shut down by your Internet Service Provider (ISP).Some operating systems and hardware devices come with a built-in firewall that may be shipped in the "off" mode. Make sure you turn it on. For your firewall to be effective, it needs to be set up properly and updated regularly. Check your online "Help" feature for specific instructions.8. Be sure to set up your operating system and Web browser software properly, and update them regularly. Hackers also take advantage of unsecured Web browsers (like Internet Explorer or Netscape) and operating system software (like Windows or Linux). Lessen your risk by changing the settings in your browser or operating system and increasing your online security. Check the "Tools" or "Options" menus for built-in security features. If you need help understanding your choices, use your "Help" function.Your operating system also may offer free software patches that close holes in the system that hackers could exploit. In fact, some common operating systems can be set to automatically retrieve and install patches for you. If your system does not do this, bookmark the website for your system's manufacturer so you can regularly visit and update your system with defenses against the latest attacks. Updating can be as simple as one click. Your email software may help you avoid viruses by giving you the ability to filter certain types of spam. It's up to you to activate the filter. In addition, consider using operating systems that allow automatic updates.9. Subscribe to a managed security services. As the best form of protection available today, you get much more than just software. You get professional grade technology coupled with having a team of security experts available to help with any security problem. This level of protection has never been available for homes and small businesses until now, and, because of the increase in online security threats, risks, and attacks, it is becoming the future of Internet security.Although the Internet basically provides a positive and productive experience, cyber-attacks against our personal privacy and security are reaching epidemic proportions. These attacks are occurring in our own homes and businesses. Our own computers are being used are being used as zombies to attack other people, businesses, and even our nation itself. As an average Internet user, you may not be aware of these threats nor have any idea about the dramatically increasing risks you face when connected to the Internet.On a campaign for internet safety awareness and protection, my mission is to bring critical awareness to individuals, families, and small business owners, and to provide access to the necessary tools and ongoing expertise to secure your computer and help you stay protected.I invite you to join the many thousands of others who have tested their computers, discovered these threats are real, and taken the necessary steps to protect themselves.Now that you have become aware of these issues, I encourage you to share this vital information with your families, friends and communities. Together, we can reach many millions of people and inform them about the threats to their privacy and security, and help them get the protection they desperately need.Remember: When you say "No!" to hackers and spyware, everyone wins! When you don't, we all lose! © MMVII, Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Internet Safety Advocate and Educator

Proven Security Tips, Tools, and Tactics To Stay Safe Online (Part 2 of 2)

6. Learn what to do if something goes wrong. (a) If a scammer takes advantage of you through an Internet auction, when you're shoppin...

Latest humanoid robots learn to use objects as tools

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/world%20of%20tech/Robot%20using%20tools.jpg-200-200.jpg"> The latest humanoid robots being developed in Japan are learning to use obstacles in their way as tools to help them achieve specific tasks. In what may well be seen in the future as a major breakthrough for robotics AI, the humanoid robots are also learning to walk in a way that is very similar to an elderly person. HRP-2 is your friend The HRP-2 robot learns to use obstacles blocking its path to its advantage. The HRP-2 has been developed at Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Tsukuba. The new robot made its public debut at the rececnt <a href="http://www.humanoids2010.org/index.php">Humanoids 2010</A> conference in Nashville, Tennessee. The new robotics paradigm The Institute's <a href="http://staff.aist.go.jp/sebastien.lengagne/">Sébastien Lengagne</A> argues that: "Roboticists usually just see objects as obstacles to be avoided…But they can help us." "If I ask you to look below your desktop, you will put your hand on the desktop for support," he adds. "But most methods will try to get the robot to do the task without touching the desktop." It can perform basic tasks such as leaning on a table to balance itself while kicking a ball, as New Scientist reports. You can see a <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/articlevideo/dn19901/718897381001-robots-learn-to-walk-like-a-senior-citizen.html">video of the HRP-2 in action over at New Scientist's website.</A> <a href="http://www.techradar.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Source</A>

Latest humanoid robots learn to use objects as tools

The latest humanoid robots being developed in Japan are learning to use obstacles in their way as tools to help them achieve specific tasks....

Easy Site Creator Tools

<a href="" title="#jsArticleStepImageCredit1 rel=thinbox></A> Having your own web address is an exciting part of building your own website.Building your own website can be daunting, especially if it is your first time. With so many types of code, it can often seem like <A">the Internet</A> is in a completely different language, and speaking technically, it is in a number of different languages. You do not have to understand CSS or HTML to design a professional-looking website with all of the tools available to consumers in 2010. With a little patience and a planning, you will be able to build a nice looking site without a lot of heartache. Blog hosting, such as Blogger, WordPress, Tumblr and Blogspot all provide free and easy websites in a simple blog format. Blogs generally consist of one main page and can have additional features along the sides, top and bottom---like a calendar, comments or a Twitter feed. If the site you want to design is for personal use (similar to a journal or diary), a blog is a very easy way to get started. All of the aforementioned blog hosts provide step-by-step tutorials and offer a selection of layouts and themes for you to choose from at no charge. Your website's address will include the name of the blog engine, meaning that it might read: yourname.wordpress.com (unless you purchase a separate domain). Wix.com and Weebly.com are two highly recommended drag-and-drop website creators. These services are web-based and allow you to edit your site from any <a href="">computer</A>. Everything is stored on their servers, meaning that you do not need to have additional hosting. Both of these services offer free starter sites and incrementally priced upgrades. These builders are extremely user-friendly and cost nothing to get started---and your site goes live immediately. A person with very limited technical knowledge can still build a basic site with either of these services easily. Unless you buy a private domain name (URL), your site's address will include the name of the service you are using to host it. There are more website building software programs available all the time and at every price-point imaginable, so take into consideration how much money you want to spend on software. Since you won't be using a free hosting platform like Wix.com or a blog site, you'll also probably need to buy web hosting and a domain name (www.yournameor businesshere.com). Intuit Website Creator offers an affordable monthly online service and is ranked first overall and in ease of use. Other recommended software for purchase includes Web Easy Professional and Web Studio, both of which are full one-time-purchase software packages. While these are a one-time cost, they are a higher initial investment, so if you're not sure building a website is for you, you might be better off with a free site or monthly site builder initially.

Easy Site Creator Tools

Having your own web address is an exciting part of building your own website.Building your own website can be daunting, especially if it is...

Tutorial: Windows 7 hidden options and tools

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.cover.art-200-200.jpg"> Microsoft has done a fine job with Windows 7. All you need do is pop in an installation disc and provide the installer with some internet access information, then you can leave the room and make a cup of tea. When you come back you'll have a fully working PC, replete with features that make working and playing easier. Windows 7's Taskbar makes it quicker to find, launch and manage your apps. There are also Libraries, which help you locate related files so you can view your work without spending ages browsing your hard drive. You get improved security, a host of new and revamped applets, low-level tweaks that improve performance and much more. However, for PC power users, there's a lingering question: life might never have been easier, but could it be better? With a little effort, some digging and a bit of clever tweaking, could we squeeze more from our machines? With this in mind, we've gone on the hunt for Windows 7's hidden options and tools, which will enable you to tailor the operating system around your personal style of computing. Take your PC knowledge to a whole new level as you learn how to make Windows work your way! Unlock your apps Let's start our quest for hidden power in a familiar and frustrating place – program lockups. One moment your application is ticking along nicely and the next it's completely unresponsive. In the past there was nothing you could do other than wait an aeon and then close the program manually, often losing valuable data. <img alt="wait chain" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.waitchain-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If this happens to you, launch Windows 7's Resource Monitor (resmon.exe). When it's running, you'll see a list of processes that are plodding along happily. Look down the list and you'll probably see one process highlighted in red. This is likely to be your troublesome program. Right-click it, select 'Analyse Wait Chain' and if the program is waiting for something else, you'll see it here. You'll be able to close that process in a few clicks. If you opt to close a process, be careful. Kill a critical component and you'll bring your PC to its knees. Conversely, if you know the process in question isn't important, shut it down and your locked PC might start working again. There you go – proof that a little digging and taking control of your PC can save time and future hassle. Windows remote access Being a Windows 7 power user is generally a very good thing. You understand how everything works, know all the shortcuts and can freely bend Windows to your will. However, with this power comes responsibility. As news of your guru-like status spreads, friends and family will start expecting you to solve their computer problems. Heading next door to fix your neighbour's PC isn't too much of a hassle, but if the system is much further away then you'll want an easier alternative. That's where Windows Remote Assistance can help. This tool enables you to see the desktop on a remote computer, run programs, find the problem and make the tweaks needed to fix it, all from the comfort of your PC. Preparations The configuration process starts on the remote PC – the one that you're trying to view. First, ask your friend to click 'Start', then right-click 'Computer' or 'My Computer', select 'Properties' and view their Remote Settings. The 'Allow Remote Assistance connections' box must be checked, and if they click 'Advanced', the 'Allow this computer to be controlled remotely' box must also be checked. <img alt="remote access" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.remote1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Once its core functionality is enabled, your friend can launch Remote Assistance (msra.exe). They should click 'Invite someone you trust to help you' to do this. If both of you have Windows 7 then, in theory, they can click 'Use Easy Connect' to get Remote Assistance working. However, this relies on Windows 7 being able to work with both your routers, and it's prone to being disabled for other reasons. A more reliable option is to ask them to click 'Use email to send an invitation'. This will launch their email client with an invitation file attached, and they'll need to send this to your email address. Taking control Either way, Windows Remote Assistance should open a new window on your friend's PC with a 12-character connection password. They'll have to pass this to you separately, and you'll then have everything you need to log in. If you've opted for the email approach, wait for the email attachment to arrive, open the file with Windows and Remote Assistance should fire up. Enter the password that your friend is looking at and you'll be connected. If you're trying Easy Connect, you need to launch Remote Assistance (msra.exe) manually. Click 'Help someone who has invited you' and select 'Use Easy Connect'. If this works, Remote Assistance will then ask for your friend's password. If it doesn't, try the email method instead. Your copy of Remote Assistance can't simply log in to your friend's PC, even if you have the necessary password – that could be a security issue. Instead they'll receive an alert, warning them that someone is trying to use Remote Assistance. This alert asks whether they're willing to allow you to connect to their PC. This dialog will display your account username for reassurance that it's you, although if your username is something anonymous like PowerUser then it's best to tell your friend this in advance. They'll need to click 'Yes' to permit this connection. That's the first stage complete. You should now be able to see the remote desktop. It may not look very pretty – the background will have been removed and colour will be set to 16-bit for bandwidth reasons – but it's adequate. If you simply want to watch and understand what your friend is doing, then you can use the 'Chat' button to tell them so (it's text chat – no microphones required). Your friend can then fire up whichever application is causing them problems and attempt whatever they're trying to do, while you observe. It's far more effective than relying on descriptions, which they may give you later, and could be enough for you to figure out exactly where they're going wrong. If you need to take charge, click 'Request Control' on the Remote Assistance toolbar. Your friend will then be asked if they'll allow you to take control, and if they say yes, you'll be able to run programs on their PC yourself. You can browse the Start Menu, launch Control Panel, check their Registry, open the command line and generally apply whatever tweaks are necessary to get their system back into full working order. How to set up a Virtual Private Network 1. Open the door <img alt="VPN step 1" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.vpnwalk1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a secure way to connect PCs over the internet. First, configure a PC to accept incoming connections. Go to the 'Network and Sharing Centre | Change Adaptor Settings', press [Alt] + [F] and select 'New Incoming Connection'. Choose the user account belonging to the remote person, or add one now. Click 'Next', check 'Through the internet' and click 'Next | Allow Access | Close'. 2. Make the connection <img alt="VPN step 2" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.vpnwalk2-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> On the other Windows 7 PC, go to 'Network and Sharing Centre | Set up a new connection | Connect to a workplace'. If you're asked if you want to use an existing connection, choose to create a new one. Click 'Use my internet...', enter the remote computer name or IP address, then click 'Next'. Enter the username and password for your account on the other PC, click 'Connect' and watch the connection dialog. 3. Troubleshooting <img alt="VPN step 3" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.vpnwalk3-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Can't connect? Configure your firewalls to open the Point-to-Point Tunnelling Protocol (PPTP) port 1723. If you have a router, turn on 'PPTP' or 'VPN' (or 'VPN pass-through'), and 'Generic Route Encapsulation'. You may need to create a port forwarding rule to pass port 1723 traffic to your PC's local IP address. Check your firewall/router logs – they may report incoming connections and reveal where any problem lies. How to share files easily with IIS 1. Getting started <img alt="ISS step 1" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.iiswalk1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Install Windows 7 and you get a functional copy of Microsoft's internet Information Services (IIS) – a web server that you can use to share files over the internet, or locally on your network. IIS can be enabled in a moment. Click 'Control Panel | Programs | Turn Windows features on or off', check 'Internet Information Services', then expand and select all the boxes for FTP Server and Web Management Tools. 2. Welcome screen <img alt="ISS step 2" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.iiswalk2-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Click 'OK' and Windows will install IIS and configure its settings. When it's done, confirm that it's working by entering http://localhost in your browser. If all is well then you'll see the IIS welcome page. The same applies to other PCs on your network. If they can access you normally, they should be able to see the same screen by entering http://, followed by your PC's network name: http://MyPC, for instance. 3. Directory browsing <img alt="ISS step 3" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.iiswalk3-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The default folder for your site is C:\inetpub\wwwroot. You'll see two files there: iisstart.htm and welcome.png. Copy these to a backup folder (or delete them – they're not important), then drag and drop some files into the wwwroot folder. Click 'Start', type IIS and click 'Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager'. Click 'Default Web Site', double-click 'Directory Browsing' and click 'Enable' in the right-hand Actions pane. 4. Share freely <img alt="IIS step 4" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.iiswalk4-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Return to a network PC, enter http://MyPC (using your host PC's network name) and you'll see an HTTP folder and the files it contains. Click on these to view or download them. This isn't attractive, but it lets you share files locally with any http-capable device that can connect to your network: Linux systems, Macs, phones and more. To make it look better, you could create an iisstart.html file that provides links to the files. 5. MIME Types <img alt="IIS step 5" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.iiswalk5-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> IIS only allows you to share files for which it has a MIME type – a mapping standard that tells the system what it is. Place an MP4 file into your wwwroot folder, for instance, and people will be able to see, but not download it. To fix this, return to the IIS Manager and double-click 'MIME Type'. To add support for .MP4 files, click 'Add', then type .mp4 in the 'Extension' box and enter video/mpeg as the MIME type. 6. Going global <img alt="IIS step 6" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.iiswalk6-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If you'd like to share your files over the web then IIS must be allowed through your firewall. You'll also have to enable port forwarding in your router, passing http traffic (port 80) through to the internal IP address of your PC. Then anyone can enter your connection's IP address into their browser and view the files. Opening your PC in this way does constitute a security risk, so launch IIS Help and read the IIS checklists first. Windows 7 will generally do its best to work fully automatically, managing your PC with no intervention. There are, however, situations where a more hands-on approach pays dividends. The Fault-Tolerant Heap (FTH), for example, is a smart feature. It looks out for processes that are particularly unstable, detects those that seem to crash due to memory issues and applies several real-time fixes that may help solve the problem. If these work, great; if not, it reverses the changes. Although it's an excellent tool, FTH can be confusing because it makes application behaviour seem inconsistent. From your point of view, a program will seem horribly unstable, then start working again for no apparent reason. Or, if you've made some tweak yourself, you may think you've fixed the problem when the FTH deserves the credit. To check for a situation like this, run REGEDIT, go to HKEY_ LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\ Microsoft\FTH and examine the State key. Any executable protected by FTH will be listed there. To turn off FTH monitoring, set the 'Enabled' value to 0. Your PC will probably be less stable, but if there are crashes you'll be able to spot the program responsible – FTH won't be masking things. Experimentation is key here – you need to change the FTH monitoring algorithm to suit your needs and computing style. Drop the 'CrashVelocity' value from 3 to 2, for instance, and increase 'CrashWindowsInMinutes' from 60 to 120. FTH will now intervene if an application crashes twice in two hours, rather than three times in one hour. This will make it more likely to detect and fix problems. The system does have its limits. If the crash isn't heap-related it'll do nothing, but there's no harm in trying and tweaking further. Find out more about FTH by visiting Microsoft's <a href="http://blogs.technet.com/b/askperf/archive/2009/10/02/windows-7-windows-server-2008-r2-fault-tolerant-heap-and-memory-management.aspx">Ask The Performance Team blog</A>. Windows 7 has many other weapons in its fault-finding arsenal. Chief among these are the management and monitoring tools. These do a great job of monitoring your PC's boot and shutdown processes, and will alert you to any programs that are slowing things down. Launch the Event Viewer (eventvwr.exe) and browse to Applications and Services Logs\ Microsoft\Windows\Diagnostics – Performance\Operational to take a look. Scroll down the list and you'll see many services, programs and processes that are listed as compromising your computer's performance. Many of these will be essential drivers or Windows components, but if a program you've installed seems to be causing regular system slowdowns, consider uninstalling or updating it. <img alt="resource monitor" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.resmon-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If you want a more in-depth look at how your PC is being used, the upgraded Windows 7 Resource Monitor is a useful tool. To access, it, click 'Start', type resmon.exe and press [Enter]. You'll find tabs that detail your running processes and their use of CPU, RAM, hard drive and network bandwidth. Do you want to know which programs are accessing the internet? Click 'Network | TCP Connections' to view them all. Is your hard drive thrashing for no apparent reason? Click 'Disk | Disk Activity' to spot the culprit. Perhaps a file is locked, making it impossible to move or delete. If this happens, you'll need to know which program is to blame. Click 'CPU | Associated Handles', type the file name in the Search box and press [Enter]. The more you use Resource Monitor, the more you'll grow to love it. It gives you a great handle on what's happening under the hood and is an indispensable tool. Monitor calibration 1. Launch the wizard <img alt="Step 1" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.caliwalk1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If you use your monitor's default settings, there's no way to be sure it's displaying images accurately. Your photos may look great to you, but appear washed out or with poor colour balance to everyone else. The solution? Calibrate your display. Use any software that came with your monitor first, otherwise launch the Windows Display Calibration Wizard, either from Control Panel or directly (it's dccw.exe). 2. Gamma <img alt="step 2" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.caliwalk2-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The program is a straightforward wizard, albeit in the slightly odd Windows Vista/7 style (the 'Back' button is top-left on the screen, making it easy to miss). Read the instructions and keep clicking 'Next' until you reach an explanation of the first test: the gamma check. You need to use the slider on the next page to minimise the visibility of the dots in the centre of each circle. Click 'Next' to give this a try. 3. Brightness <img alt="Step 3" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.caliwalk3-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The next test is for brightness. You'll need to access and tweak the brightness control on your monitor so that you can distinguish the man's black shirt from his black jacket, while keeping the 'X' in the background at a point where it's only just visible – it shouldn't stand out, as it does here in the right-hand 'too bright' picture. Click Next and adjust your brightness, clicking 'Back' to remind yourself of the sample images. 4. Compare and contrast <img alt="Step 4" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.caliwalk4-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Click 'Next' and you'll be presented with the contrast test. Turn your monitor's brightness setting up so that the two colours in the background are a bright white and deep black (neither should be tending towards grey). Go too far, however, and the creases in the man's shirt begin to disappear. You need to turn the contrast up as far as you can, but stop just before the point where you start to lose detail. 5. Colour balance <img alt="Step 5" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.caliwalk5-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The colour balance test follows. Click 'Next' after this explanatory screen and you'll see a range of grey bars – or at least that's the idea. If your colour balance is incorrect then you may see a slight colour tint to the greys, which will also influence colour images. Use your monitor's colour balance controls to correct this. Click 'Next', and if you're happy with what you've done, click 'Finish' to recalibrate your display. 6. Tune your text <img alt="step 6" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.caliwalk6-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Windows 7 now displays the ClearType Text Tuner, which checks that your PC is displaying text as clearly as it can. A range of text samples is displayed and you need to click the ones that look best. Windows should now display images and text accurately and clearly. Bear in mind that this calibration is affected by variables such as room lighting, and you should calibrate the monitor again if there are any dramatic changes. The Windows 7 incarnation of Media Center is streets ahead of its Vista cousin. The interface has been tweaked to make navigation easier, and there's a Media Center Gadget for simpler control. But the more time you spend in Media Centre, the more you become aware that it's good, but not perfect. However, with a little power user trickery you can make it a whole lot better. <a href="http://mychannellogos.com/TunerSalad.aspx">TunerSalad</A>, removes the four-tuner limit. It does this by modifying system files, so although it's well-regarded, you should always save any work and back up your PC before you start. If you don't have a TV tuner, Media Center won't show you much. Install TunerFree MCE for instant access to live TV. You can stream content from BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, 4 on Demand and Demand Five at 720p resolution, as well as BBC Radio and BBC HD. Media Center may provide higher image quality than you get on your TV. Configure your Windows PC as a media server 1. Getting started <img alt="Media step 1" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.mediawalk1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> You've probably built up a sizeable collection of multimedia files, so why limit them to your PC? Apply a few tweaks and you'll be able to access them from anything connected to your network. However, this will only work if your PC currently accesses your network using the Home or Work Network type. Right-click the network icon in your system tray and select 'Open Network' and 'Sharing Center' to take a look. 2. Sharing the right way <img alt="Media step 2" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.mediawalk2-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If your main network is labelled 'Public network', but it's only used to connect trusted PCs in your home, click the 'Public network' link and choose 'Home or Work network' instead. Make the same check on any other Windows 7 PCs on your network. This will provide access to shared Media Player music libraries. Open Media Player on one of the network PCs and it will discover the tracks on your main computer. 3. Tuned sharing <img alt="Media step 3" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.mediawalk3-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> To share all your media across the network, launch Media Player and click the 'Stream' button. Then click 'Automatically allow devices to play all my media' to enable full-scale media sharing. If that's not appropriate, you can click 'Stream | More Streaming Options' and decide which devices can access your media files. Remember, this is for secure networks only – don't turn it on unless you trust every system. 4. Make it available <img alt="Media step 4a" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.mediawalk4a-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> <img alt="Media step 4b" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.mediawalk4b-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Click 'Stream | Allow remote control of my player | Allow remote control on this network'. If you have any other Windows 7 PCs in your network, repeat this and the previous step on each of them. (They must be in a HomeGroup, too.) Now right-click a song, video, picture or other media, choose 'Play To' and you'll be able to send it to another PC, a DLNA-certified device, or a media extender such as the Xbox 360. 5. Playlists <img alt="Media step 5" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.mediawalk5-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Windows Media Player will display a 'Play To' window that enables you to add other media, then push it directly to your chosen PC or device. That's good, but there's a better way to share a playlist. Windows Media Player now enables you to share your media collection online, making it accessible from almost anywhere. Click 'Stream | Allow internet access to home media' to start setting this up. 6. Remote access <img alt="Media step 6" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.mediawalk6-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> You can also access your media from a PC not on your network. To do so, click 'Link an Online ID | Link Online ID' and sign in with your Windows Live ID account. Then select 'Allow Internet Access to Home Media'. Remember, business networks may block the necessary ports, or you might have to configure your router manually. See Microsoft's guide (www. bit.ly/bpcMuP) for details on how to do this. Handy Windows 7 shortcuts Many of Windows 7's features appear straightforward, yet have considerable hidden depths. The Taskbar, for instance, is far more powerful than many people realise, and mastering its secrets can make a real difference to your PC. Taskbar icons can launch more than applications. They can also represent folders, drives – anything that you can place in a shortcut. To try this, create a text file on your desktop, rename it to example.exe, then drag and drop it onto your Taskbar and delete the original file. Right-click the shortcut, right-click its file name and select 'Properties'. Change the 'Target' and 'Start In' boxes to point at the drive or folder of your choice, and click 'Change Icon' to choose an appropriate icon. Click 'OK', and that's it – the drive or folder you've specified is now accessible with a single click. <img alt="Jumplists" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.clickdrag-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If you prefer keyboard shortcuts, hold down the [Windows] key and press 1 to launch the first Taskbar icon, 2 the second and so on, up to 0 for the 10th. Alternatively, press [Windows] + [T] to move the focus to the Taskbar, then use the left and right arrows to select an icon and press [Enter] to launch it. Once an application is running, hold [Shift] and click or middle-click its Taskbar button to launch another instance. Holding down [Ctrl] while you click on a Taskbar button cycles through all instances of that application (an app-specific, faster version of [Alt] + [Tab]). <img alt="Keyboard shortcuts" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20301/PCP301.feat1.taskbarposition-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If this becomes too chaotic, you can hover your cursor over a Taskbar button, then middle-click an Aero thumbnail to close that application. Libraries If your hard drive is untidy, try Libraries – another underused feature. Libraries aggregate the contents of several folders and list them in a single view. This enables you to collect related documents, wherever they're stored on your hard drive. Best of all, it lets you search only those folders, so you'll always get results quickly. To begin your exploration, Click 'Start', type Libraries and click the 'Libraries' link, then double-click the 'Documents' Library. Initially the Library says it includes 'Two locations', but click that link, then 'Add' and you can include any other folders that you like. These stay in the same disk location – the only change is that the contents will be visible in the Documents library. To create custom locations, right-click in the Libraries folder, select 'New | Library', and add a library for your projects. Next, add folders from across your PC to bring all your work files together. Libraries take a little getting used to, but when you understand their benefits you'll wonder how you ever lived without them.

Tutorial: Windows 7 hidden options and tools

Microsoft has done a fine job with Windows 7. All you need do is pop in an installation disc and provide the installer with some internet ac...

Bandwidth Meter Tools

<a a="" broadband="" connection="" in="" larger="" result="" title="#jsArticleStepImageCredit1 rel=thinbox><IMG title=" will=""></A> A broadband connection will result in a larger bandwidth.Your <a class="StrongLink"" href="http://www.ehow.com/internet/">Internet</A> connection's bandwidth determines how quickly you can download information. Bandwidth is more often bottle-necked by your Internet connection than your <a class="StrongLink" href="http://www.ehow.com/computers/">computer</A> itself, and upgrading from dial-up to broadband will result in substantial bandwidth gains. You can verify the speed of your bandwidth by using a number of online tools.Speedtest.netSpeedtest.net offers a user-friendly interface, particularly when it comes to selecting a server to ping against. After the interface has loaded, you'll be presented with a map of the world zoomed into your current location. Nearby servers will be depicted at nodes, and you can test the speed of your bandwidth by clicking on one. It's important to select the nearest server as it will result in optimal speeds. Speedtest.net hosts servers around the world and can be used to verify bandwidth accurately from most locations.Cnet's Bandwidth MeterCnet will automatically ping you against the nearest server, which is a mixed blessing. In most cases, it will provide you with accurate results and it will do so quickly without you having to input a server location. However, if you feel that the results do not accurately reflect your bandwidth speed, you should try manually selecting a server with Speedtest.net. Aside from being automated, Cnet's meter is notable for its ability to compare results. After the test, you can simply click on the green "Compare Results" button to see how your connection ranks amongst others.Tracert's Bandwidth MeterLike Cnet's meter, Tracert's is automated. The main reason to select Tracert's meter is that after the test, it provides you with information and links about how to boost your bandwidth further. To you, this might be irritating, as it's essentially advertising. If you want an easy prescription on how to improve your computer's Internet performance, though, Tracert will provide a solution you can use. References <a href="http://www.speedtest.net/about.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Speedtest: About</A> <a href="http://reviews.cnet.com/internet-speed-test/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CNET: Bandwidth Meter</A> <a href="http://www.tracert.org/bandwidth_meter/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tracert: Bandwidth Meter</A>

Bandwidth Meter Tools

A broadband connection will result in a larger bandwidth.Your Internet connection's bandwidth determines how quickly you can download i...

Steganography Linux Tools

<a data="" hides="" in="" steganography="" title="#jsArticleStepImageCredit1 rel=thinbox><IMG title="></A> Steganography hides data in files, which users cannot detect.Steganography involves concealing information in a way that it's hard for someone to know that it's there. It hides this information in common formats and data files, including documents and images. While steganography is commonly associated with hackers, it is also used to copyright or watermark documents. Linux is a free operating system. If you are using this operating system, then you must use steganography tools compatible with it.SteghideSteghide is a free program that allows you to hide bits of data in other data files, including image and audio files. It is compatible with JPEG, WAV and BMP file formats, as well as the AU file format, a Sun Microsystems audio format. The Steghide tool allows you to encrypt and compress embedded data. This tool is released under the GNU General Public License, which means that you can change and share this program without paying a licensing fee. You must have these libraries installed on your <a class="StrongLink"" href="http://www.ehow.com/computers/">computer</A> to use this tool: libjpeg, libmhash, libmcrypt and zlib. This tool is compatible with Linux and Windows, and you can download it from the author's website.SnowdropIf you have a text file that you don't want used without your permission, then you can add a hidden watermark to the file using Snowdrop. Snowdrop is a Linux command line tool, which means that it runs from the Linux command prompt. This tool hides the watermark in four independent logical channels. It helps you trace who used your data without your permission, and it can help you prove that you are the source of the material. Snowdrop also watermarks C sources, including licensed software programs, limited distribution programs and open source code. You can download this program for free either from the Linux App Finder site or the author's website.OutGuessYou can use OutGuess to hide data in any type of data source. It is also a command line tool and supports both JPEG and Portable Any Map (PNM) files. OutGuess tracks frequency count statistics, which means that even statistical frequency count tests will not detect the hidden data. A frequency count tests calculates the frequency of ciphertext letters and is used for frequency analysis. The tool figures out how much data it can hide while still keeping the frequency count statistics. This tool is released under the Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) software license, which means that it is free to use for both commercial and personal use. Download it from the author's website. References <a href="http://steghide.sourceforge.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Steghide: Steganography Program</A> <a href="http://linuxappfinder.com/package/snowdrop" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Linux App Finder: Snowdrop</A> <a href="http://www.outguess.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">OutGuess: Steganography Program</A>

Steganography Linux Tools

Steganography hides data in files, which users cannot detect.Steganography involves concealing information in a way that it's hard for s...

Language Identification Tools

<a title="#jsArticleStepImageCredit1 rel=thinbox><IMG title="></A> Don't guess at an unknown language, use a language identification tool.Find the language of any document with free language identification tools. Correctly identifying foreign words is the first step to translating and understanding a text when corresponding with pen pals or <a class="StrongLink"" href="http://www.ehow.com/business/">business</A> contacts from other countries. Free online websites and software you can download for <a class="StrongLink" href="http://www.ehow.com/computers/">computers</A> offer efficient, fast and accurate language identification tools; they can also identify similar languages when dealing with uncommon dialects.Online Tool: Google Language DetectionThe free Google language detection tool is part of Google's online translation services which automatically translates any text which is typed or pasted into the empty box. The Google API software supports 57 languages including Yiddish, Welsh and Urdu and offers a variety of detection and translation services, such as searching for websites in specific languages and offering another blank box in which you paste or type the website address, or URL, to find the language. This is especially useful for sites which do not permit users to copy texts. Remember to use as large a portion of text as possible, since Google tells us,"The accuracy of the automatic language detection increases with the amount of text entered." Find the Google language detection tool by directing your browser to the Google homepage and selecting the "translate" option from the drop-down menu.Online Tool: What Language is ThisMore sophisticated and secure tools for recognizing foreign languages are also available online. For private correspondence and sensitive business documents, ''What Language is This" offers a service which does not send the text across <a class="StrongLink" href="http://www.ehow.com/internet/">the Internet</A>, avoiding the chance it could be intercepted. Text detection all takes place within your Internet browser. To use this service, simply cut and paste, or type into the blank box a section of text and press the "Go" button for an instant identification of a language. Disadvantages of this service are a weakness in recognizing some Chinese pinyin script, although it does correctly identify Indic languages. The "What Language is This" tool supports 57 languages including Polish, Esperanto, Ukrainian, Arabic, Icelandic and Afrikaans.Desktop Tool: Polyglot 3000Polyglot is a user-friendly desktop based language recognition tool for computers using Windows 95, 98, NT, ME, XP, 2000, 2003, 2008, Vista, and Windows7 operating systems. This means it requires no Internet access to run. Supported languages number over 400 and include many less common ones, such as Sanskrit. The free download takes approximately five minutes, is available from their Website and requires 2.1 MB of free disk space. Custom setting include quick searches for common languages only. References <a href="http://www.translation-guide.com/language_identification.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Translation-Guide: Language Identification</A> <a href="http://www.androidtech.com/html/google_translate.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Andriod: Google Translate</A> <a href="http://whatlanguageisthis.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What Language Is This?: Home</A> <a href="http://www.polyglot3000.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lika Soft: Polyglot 3000</A> <a href="http://translate.google.com/support/?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Google Translate: Help</A> <a href="http://www.google.com/language_tools?hl=EN" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Google: Language Tools</A> <ABBR title=""></ABBR>

Language Identification Tools

Don't guess at an unknown language, use a language identification tool.Find the language of any document with free language identifica...

In Depth: Best Linux backup software: 8 tools on test

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/Linux%20Format/LXF%20138/LXF138.round.exthardd-200-200.jpg"> Have you been burned before and lost important data? Or do you lose sleep because of the fear of one day joining the ranks of those who have? Fear not, worried and jaded souls – there's a range of Linux backup tools that can help. Such tools avoid the pitfalls of common data storage strategies, particularly those that begin and end with burning files on to optical media to free up a single hard disk. Such a method won't protect you from random disk failures or accidents, or back up your important configuration and temporary files. Backup tools, however, enable you to identify important files and directories that are then constantly monitored and regularly backed up. If you back up the same directories regularly, how do you prevent redundancy of data in backup files, though? Well, backup tools can perform incremental backups, which – after making a complete initial imprint of the directory – will then only make copies of new files or those that have changed since the last backup. So, for example, a backup of the Pictures directory on Tuesday will only contain files added or changed since last Saturday's backup. Most backup tools nowadays also offer to compress your data so you can store it more efficiently. Then there are tools that will encrypt your data when making copies. There are also GUI and command line flavours – so use these pages as a guide to pick the best tool for your needs. So what's the best Linux backup tool? Let's find out. Pybackpack <img alt="Pybackpack" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Linux%20Format/LXF%20138/LXF138.round.pyback-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> A vailable in most software repositories, Pybackpack is designed to be a friendly backup tool, and is notable for being easy to install manually thanks to its bundled Python installer script. Its dependency list includes Python, PyGlade and PyGTK and a few other readily available tools. Once installed, you'll find it listed under System > Administration as 'File Backup Manager'. Using Pybackpack is simple too. The default Home tab enables you to back up your /home directory. Clicking Go will burn its contents to a disc. You'll need the nautilus-cd-burner package before you can do this, though. Most backup tools refer to each backup as a set. You can easily create your own sets via the Backup tab. This features a handy Exclude From Set button too, enabling you to specify particular files to leave out of backups made of a full directory. It's useful for trimming the fat. When the New Backup Set wizard exits, press the Backup button at the bottom-right of the main window. This will create your backup in the specified directory. Make sure to provide a unique destination path for each backup set. The backup creates two directories in the destination path – home and rdiff-backup-data. The former contains a copy of the files, while the latter holds data about incremental backups, error logs and so on. Pybackpack remembers each set you create and the files it contains, backing up only new or modified files thereafter. When restoring a backup, you only need to specify the parent directory that contains the two directories. In case of incremental backups, you get the option to restore backups done on a specific date and time. Verdict Pybackpack Version: 0.5.8 <a href="http://andrewprice.me.uk/projects/pybackpack/">Website</A> Price: Free/GPL A lack of active development and compression options hold this back Rating: 7/10 Fwbackups <img alt="Fwbackups" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Linux%20Format/LXF%20138/LXF138.round.fwbackups-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> With Fwbackups, you can either perform on-demand backups or create sets and task Cron with automatically backing up your data. All this is conveniently offered from a slick graphical interface. The buttons at the top of the interface enable you to choose which type of backup to use. Click One-Time Backup to create a backup of your data immediately. Note that Fwbackups will not treat this data as a set, so it can't be backed up incrementally. You can choose an archive type, though – be that a tarball, compressed archive, or just a basic copy of the files. All the options are well explained and you can optionally set a Nice value too. This value denotes the importance of a process, and you can use it to prioritise resource allocation. It's especially useful when you're backing up large volumes of data and using compression. When creating a backup set, in addition to opting for incremental backups, you can also specify Cron settings. In the Configure Set dialog box, click the Times tab to specify backup times. Then Fwbackups will automatically back up any changes made to the files in the specified directory at the times you chose. You can save your backup to a local folder, a USB drive or to a remote server (using SSH). If you so command, Fwbackups will back up all subdirectories and hidden files in the backup path as well. Back in the main interface, click the Backup Set Now button on the left to create the backup. Use the Restore Set button when you're ready to restore your backups. For incremental backups, you can also select the backup version to restore. Verdict Fwbackups Version: 1.43 <a href="http://www.diffingo.com/oss/fwbackups">Website</A> Price: Free/GPL It's fast and with great options and documentation. Highly recommended. Rating: 8/10 Déjà Dup <img alt="Deja dup" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Linux%20Format/LXF%20138/LXF138.round.dejadup-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Duplicity, the command line gem that offers such features as remote backups and encrypted incremental archives, is just too exhaustive to cover here. Still, we've managed to find the best graphical front-end to Duplicity around: the brilliant Déjà Dup. It isn't the only option, though. In fact, if you really insist on using a terminal, try Duply – an Ncurses-based Duplicity front-end. There aren't many dependencies to worry about here, but you will need NcFTP, which is available in Ubuntu's software repositories and is the default Gnome backup tool of Fedora 13. Like all other tools we've discussed so far, Déjà Dup enables you to store backups on the local filesystem or a remote location using SSH. When you launch Déjà Dup from the Applications > System Tools menu, don't let the simplistic interface throw you off. Use Edit > Preferences to fill in settings such as backup location and the files you'd like to back up. In the Preferences window, check the Automatically Backup On A Regular Schedule box and select Daily, Weekly, Biweekly, or Monthly from the How Often To Backup: drop-down list. It's worth noting that Déjà Dup doesn't give you the option to create backup sets, even though it does support incremental backups. You should also know that, depending on the Backup Location specified under Preferences, Déjà Dup only offers the respective backups to restore. For example, if you back up your pictures in a directory called pics and your videos in vids, when the Preferences dialog is pointed to pics, you'll only restore your pictures backup. That's cool, but where's the documentation explaining this, eh? Verdict Déjà Dup Version: 14.1 <a href="https://launchpad.net/deja-dup">Website</A> Price: Free/GPL A podium contender that offers encryption and incremental backups Rating: 9/10 Backerupper <img alt="Backerupper" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Linux%20Format/LXF%20138/LXF138.round.backeru-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Although not available in the software repositories of any big-league distributions yet, Backerupper is still popular having received extensive blogosphere coverage. The tarball contains an install.sh script if you wish to install Backerupper to disk, but it works just as well without installation. Simply double-click the backer executable file. The first step when working with Backerupper is to create a profile. To do this, click New. Provide a name and fill in the information required, such as the destination directory. Unfortunately, Backerupper won't back up individual files – it only works with directories. Another shortcoming is that it doesn't perform incremental backups. Still, it does offer to automatically back up a specified directory if you so wish. When creating a profile, carefully choose the Max Backup Copies value. Instead of creating incremental backups, Backerupper creates a compressed tarball of the specified directory each time it creates a backup. So, with the Max Backup Copies option you get to specify how many older versions of the backup to retain. For example, with Max Backup Copies set to one (default), a backup. tar.gz containing the Pictures folder would be replaced with backup-1.tar.gz the next time you back up the Pictures directory. If disk space isn't an issue, you may wish to keep at least two or three older backup copies. With a backup in place, click the Restore tab at the top of the Backerupper window and then select a profile and, if you've set Max Backup Copies to a value of two or more, the associated backup you wish to restore. Verdict Backerupper Version: 0.24 <a href="http://sourceforge.net/projects/backerupper/">Website</A> Price: Free/GPL Not actively developed and pales in comparison to others here Rating: 5/10 Simple Backup Suite <img alt="Simple backup suite" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Linux%20Format/LXF%20138/LXF138.round.sbackup-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The Simple Backup Suite, or Sbackup, is a set of Python scripts that provide two graphical interfaces: simple-backupconfig and simple-restore-gnome. Don't panic if it isn't part of your distro's repository – with its tiny dependency list, it's easy to install, even from source. The simple-backup-config tool is named somewhat inappropriately, since you use it to create backups as well as for configuration. Once installed, launch it via System > Administration or the terminal. By default, Sbackup is configured to back up your /home, /etc and a few other directories. If you'd rather define your own backup settings, click the Use Custom Backup Settings radio in the General tab. The tabs at the top enable you to define the files and directories you wish to include or exclude from the backup. The Exclude tab offers you the option to exclude files based on regex matches, file size and file type. You can choose to save your backups to a remote location (SSH or FTP) or a local directory. If you'd like to automate the backups with Cron, click the Time tab and Sbackup will create incremental backups for you. Unless you wish to create a one-off backup, click Save at the bottom of the window. The settings are saved in the /etc/sbackup.conf file. Please note that Sbackup doesn't create profiles, so /etc/sbackup.conf is overwritten each time you click Save. This means you can't schedule different Cron jobs for a range of backups – your Pictures directory on Tuesday and Videos on Wednesday, for example. The Simple Backup Restore tool under System > Administration identifies different backups by their timestamp. Handily, Sbackup will let you select individual files to restore too. Verdict Simple Backup Suite Version: 0.10.5 <a href="http://sourceforge.net/projects/sbackup/">Website</A> Price: Free/GPL This isn't designed to be a home solution but it's ideal for system data Rating: 6/10 Back In Time <img alt="Back in time" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Linux%20Format/LXF%20138/LXF138.round.backintime-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Originally intended as a replacement for scp and the rcp tools, rsync is now often used for performing backups. There are many graphical tools that use it and Back In Time is just one. The project website has extensive installation instructions for Fedora, Ubuntu and Mandriva. Once installed, you can launch Back In Time from the Applications > System Tools menu on a Gnome desktop. Because Back In Time relies on rsync, it can't be used to back up single files, only directories. You can use Exclude to specify files you don't wish to back up, though. Back In Time creates snapshots of the directories you want to back up. This means that it copies the entire directory contents into the backup, but only if the contents have changed. So, if you create a snapshot of a directory now, it won't create another 20 minutes later if you haven't made changes. You can and should add a name to each snapshot to enable easy comparison. The diff tool can then be used to compared the different snapshots. To do this, click the Snapshots button on the far-right of the interface. Now pick two snapshots from the Diff With drop-down list. Clicking the Diff With button now will display a comparison of the files in the snapshots. If you like, you can restore individual files instead of the complete directory. Select a snapshot in the panel on the left, browse to the file you wish to copy in the right-hand panel, and you can either drag and drop or copy the file from here. Alternatively, click the Restore button. This will recreate the directory from the snapshot instantly. Verdict Back In Time Version: 0.9.26 <a href="http://backintime.le-web.org/">Website</A> Price: Free/GPL Very fast. If you don't care for compression, this is a great tool. Rating: 7/10 LuckyBackup <img alt="LuckyBackup" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Linux%20Format/LXF%20138/LXF138.round.luckybackup-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> LuckyBackup crams almost all the features of the tools we've covered so far into a single package, while trying to keep its interface clean and simple. Great tooltips and a comprehensive user manual help you to make sense of all that's on offer here. LuckyBackup is probably already available from your distro's software repositories, but the Repositories page on the project's website is the place to go to find out more. Also on offer are 32- and 64-bit packaged binaries for Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, and others. When you launch LuckyBackup for the first time, create a new profile. You can then store different backup sets within each profile. For every profile, you must create a task. LuckyBackup treats backing up and restoration as separate tasks. When you create a backup task, check the Also Create A Task For Restore Purposes box. This will reverse the source and destination directories for your backup task for use with the restoration task. LuckyBackup won't be able to restore your backups if you don't use this option. One particularly great feature you'll find here is the option to do a dry run, which is handled by using the Simulator checkbox in the main LuckyBackup interface. After a test, you can scan the Information Window (bottom panel) and the command output to review your settings and ensure all the files will go where you want. Unfortunately, we don't have enough room to cover all the other features LuckyBackup puts at your fingertips here. You should, however, note that although the option to schedule a task isn't offered when creating a backup task, you can do this via the Schedule button on the task bar. Verdict LuckyBackup Version: 0.44 <a href="http://luckybackup.sourceforge.net/">Website</A> Price: Free/GPL Poor performance and too many pitfalls hold this back from greatness Rating: 7/10 Keep <img alt="Keep" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Linux%20Format/LXF%20138/LXF138.round.keep-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Just like rsync, rdiff-backup is a command line utility to back up a directory to another location, even over a network. It's also similar to rsync in that it has inspired many graphical front-ends, and Keep is our weapon of choice for KDE. What makes rdiff-backup unique and a great backup tool is that, in addition to keeping incremental backups, it also stores the reverse diffs. Suppose you back up a directory that contains 11 files on Thursday. When you back up this directory, the backup will also contain all the files. However, if you delete three files and back up again on the following Thursday, the backup directory will only contain eight files, because the backup reflects the current directory. What if you now wish to recover the three files you deleted? Rdiff-backup stores the changes to a backup, whether incremental or reverse diffs, in the rdiff-backup-data directory, so you can effectively restore the three deleted files even though they aren't in the backup directory. Click the Add Directory To Backup button to begin. If you wish to pick or leave out specific files, you can use the Inclusion/Exclusion list. Keep enables you to define a unique backup plan for individual directories. While it doesn't support profiles, click the Backup Now button in the main interface and it will present a list of all the configured directories, then ask you to select the ones you wish to back up. When adding a backup directory, click the Use Advanced Configuration checkbox and the Configure button if you wish to describe settings such about compression, symbolic links and so on. Restoration is simple too. Verdict Keep Version: 0.4.0 <a href="http://jr.falleri.free.fr/keep/wiki/Home">Website</A> Price: Free/GPL Easy and fast. Offers compression and good documentation. Rating: 8/10 The best Linux backup tool: Déjà Dup - 9/10 <img alt="Winner" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Linux%20Format/LXF%20138/LXF138.round.verdict-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> There's no shortage of backup tools available for Linux, but restricting ourselves to those geared towards home users and not including too many graphical front-ends for the same commands brought us to our shortlist here. The stability of all the tools – even those that are yet to reach the big 1.0 milestone – came as a surprise to us. We think it's another factor that finally puts to rest the argument that Tar archives of directories, compressed with Gzip and transferred to a remote location with SSH or an FTP client is a decent enough backup strategy. While functional, this approach seems archaic when faced with the convenience of a robust program that integrates well with Cron, a compression tool such as Gzip and often supports many different file storage features too. After putting all the tools through our tests, we were half tempted to ignore ease of use as a deciding feature. That's because all the tools here, not just the top three, have very appealing and useful interfaces. Despite the barrage of features and options on offer, the tools present all the information and seek user input in a way that won't overwhelm you, no matter what level of expertise you posses. Triumphant triumvirate Which, however, is the best? Well, that mostly depends on your needs, but we feel that Lucky Backup, Pybackpack and Back In Time constitute the middleweights in this test. Each is just a feature or two away from being a title contender and the aspect of all of them we found most disappointing is that they don't offer compression. Lucky Backup in particular is sitting on a virtual gold mine. With just a little love, it could become the all-time best. Its dry run feature is a great idea and we reckon all tools should offer it. Our winner, though, stands apart from the second and third-placed Fwbackups and Keep, despite sharing quite a few features with both, because it offers encryption. Indeed, Déjà Dup is the only tool for home users that offers to encrypt files. Sure, restoring encrypted backups with Déjà Dup can seem tricky, especially if you've created multiple encrypted backups. Panic not, though – to handle them, you simply need to change the Backup Location in the Preferences dialog to whichever backup you wish to restore. For example, if you create a backup of the Pictures directory first and then backup the Videos directory, you'll need to switch the Backup Location back to whatever you specified for the Pictures directory before you attempt to restore it. Remember this rule and the power of encrypted backups, along with a rich selection of other features, will be at your command.

In Depth: Best Linux backup software: 8 tools on test

Have you been burned before and lost important data? Or do you lose sleep because of the fear of one day joining the ranks of those who have...

Patch Panel Tools

<a a="" patch="" rack-mounted="" title="#jsArticleStepImageCredit1 rel=thinbox><IMG title="></A> Fotolia.com</A>">A rack-mounted patch panelA patch panel is a receptacle box that houses network cable connections. The panel is usually rack-mounted. Individual device cables plug into the front of the panel; a single thick cable comes out the back of the panel. The panel collects the signals from multiple circuits on the front and passes those signals down the larger cable in the back. When building a cable network, technicians use a set of specialized tools not typically found in an electrician's toolkit.Cable DresserA cable dresser, also known as a cable comb, is used to bundle cables in a way that prevents them from becoming tangled. The dresser consists of two semi-circular pieces of thick, grooved plastic that snap together to form a band with the cables running through the center. Cable dressers come in sizes suitable for combing up to 12, 24 or 48 cables.Punch ToolA punch tool is a small hand tool that is used to cross-connect jumpers and terminate cable runs. Most are spring-loaded impact devices that terminate and trim at the same time. A punch tool is sometimes called a "krone tool," named after one of the original manufacturers.Butt SetA butt set is used to test and monitor network lines during installation, repair and troubleshooting. Originally used by telephone linemen, butt sets have been adapted for <a class="StrongLink"" href="http://www.ehow.com/computers/">computer</A> networks and converged voice and data networks. Butt sets are also known as a lineman's handset. In addition to testing and monitoring functions, butt sets have integrated receivers, transmitters and dialing functions. This tool allows a repair technician to tap into phone lines and use them as a normal subscriber does.CrimperA crimper is a pliers-like tool used to install crimps, a type of solder-free, waterproof connector used to terminate wire strands. Crimp pliers and dies are color-coded, similar to Philips and Robertson screwdrivers. There are many different types of crimps including blade, ring and butt, and many different types of cable. This accounts for the need for specialized crimpers. References <a href="http://datacomtools.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">DatacomTools.com: Home Page</A>

Patch Panel Tools

Fotolia.com ">A rack-mounted patch panelA patch panel is a receptacle box that houses network cable connections. The panel is usua...

Audible Format Conversion Tools

Audible Format Conversion Tools | eHow.com @media screen and (max-width: 1050px) {.ChannelBanner { padding:0 5px; }.ChannelBanner .leftArrow, .ChannelBanner .rightArrow { display:none; }}</style> <body id="Template3a" class="US"> <a class="jsNoFollow" rel="http://www.ehow.com/blog/"></a> <a href="http://www.ehow.com/" title="eHow - How to Videos & Articles"><img alt="eHow - How to do just about everything" src="/ehow-logo.png" /></a> <a class="jsNoFollow" rel="http://www.ehow.com/"></a> <a class="jsNoFollow" rel="http://www.ehow.com/ehow-family/">Family</a> <a class="jsNoFollow" rel="http://www.ehow.com/ehow-food/">Food</a> <a class="jsNoFollow" rel="http://www.ehow.com/ehow-health/">Health</a> <a class="jsNoFollow" rel="http://www.ehow.com/ehow-home/">Home</a> <a class="jsNoFollow" rel="http://www.ehow.com/ehow-money/">Money</a> <a class="jsNoFollow" rel="http://www.ehow.com/ehow-style/">Style</a> <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how-to.html">More</a> <a class="jsNoFollow" rel="http://www.ehow.com/forums.aspx"></a> <a class="jsNoFollow" rel="http://feedback.ehow.com"></a> <a class="jsNoFollow" rel="http://www.ehow.com/members.html"></a> <a class="jsNoFollow" rel="http://www.ehow.com/groups.aspx"></a> <a class="jsNoFollow" rel="http://www.ehow.com/blog/" target="_blank"></a> <a class="jsNoFollow" rel="http://www.ehow.com/community.html"></a><a class="jsNoFollow" rel="http://www.ehow.com/share.html"></a> <a class="jsNoFollow" rel="http://www.ehow.com/ehow-black-friday/"></a><a class="jsNoFollow" rel="http://www.ehow.com/ehow-holidays/"></a><a class="jsNoFollow" rel="http://www.ehow.com/ehow-beauty-guide/"></a><a class="jsNoFollow thinbox" rel="http://www.ehow.com/account/simple_login.aspx"></a><a class="jsNoFollow thinbox" rel="http://www.ehow.com/account/simple_register.aspx"></a><a class="jsFacebookConnect FacebookConnectButton"></a> <a href="http://www.ehow.com/">Home</a> » <a href="http://www.ehow.com/computers/">Computers</a> » <a href="http://www.ehow.com/list_7526993_audible-format-conversion-tools.html">Audible Format Conversion Tools</a> Top 5 To Try <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_6685393_convert-media-player-videos-psp.html">How to Convert Windows Media Player Videos to PSP</a><a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2087451_call-audible-play-football.html">How to Call an Audible Play in Football</a><a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_6402249_change-audible.html">How to Change an Audible</a><a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_4743669_convert-movies-play-psp.html">How to Convert Movies to Play On PSP</a><a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_6199236_convert-file-pes-format.html">How to Convert a File to Pes Format</a> Audible Format Conversion Tools By <a class="jsNoFollow" rel="http://www.ehow.com/members/ds_091df494-222a-4b25-9e8f-f1fa8c433a40.html">Lee Johnson</a>,eHow Contributorupdated: November 20, 2010<a class="Button3a button thinbox jsNoFollow" rel="http://www.ehow.com/account/simple_login.aspx">I want to do this!</a><a class="jsWhatsThis">What's This?</a> <a rel="thinbox" title="#jsArticleStepImageCredit1"><img alt="File conversion is an ever-present problem for digital music lovers" src="/audible-format-conversion-tools-11-120X120.jpg" title="File conversion is an ever-present problem for digital music lovers" /></a>Fotolia.com</a>">File conversion is an ever-present problem for digital music loversThe specific encoding of a particular audio file may render it inaccessible on portable music devices, CD players or even your chosen <a class="StrongLink" href="http://www.ehow.com/computers/">computer</a> audio player. Thankfully, there are many programs available online to help you convert audio files so you can enjoy them on the device of your choosing.Switch Plus Audio ConverterSwitch Plus Audio Converter can read files in 29 different audio formats, and save them as 17 different formats. These include MP3, M4A, AMR and OGG, and the program can also extract audio from video files. To convert files on the program, you find the desired source file, select the format you wish to convert it to, then adjust your settings. CNET commented that Switch "won us over with its simplicity and ease of use." The program is free to download, but the trial period is only 14 days, after which time you have to pay $34.99 (as of November 2010) to regain full functionality.FreeRIPFreeRIP is a program simply designed to rip audio from CDs, and generally convert them into MP3 format. It has expanded from this basic starting point, though, and the program now supports other file formats such as WMA, WAV and FLAC. The program is suitable to use as a general audio converter and is free. You can get a professional edition that is faster and optimized for multi-core processors, but it costs $29.75 as of November 2010.WAV to MP3 EncoderThis is a basic audio converter that is used to convert your WAV files to MP3 format. While it is limited in functionality, it is free, and accomplishes its admittedly very specific <a class="StrongLink" href="http://www.ehow.com/careers/">job</a> efficiently. The layout is basic, and it may be a better choice for inexperienced users.Koyote Free MP3 WMA ConverterThe Koyote audio converter is another free converter, and supports file formats such as OGG, AAC, FLAC and WAV, along with the obvious MP3 and WMA. It placed third in CNET's rundown of the best ripping and converting software.Digital Music PadDigital Music Pad is audio converter software that can read files from 28 different formats and save them into any of 19 formats. These include WMA, MP3, M4A and AAC. Through the conversion, the track, artist, album and genre details will be kept. You also can convert a mixed batch of files into one unifying format without having to go through them individually. Digital Music Pad can also be used to play back tracks and convert video. References <a href="http://www.nch.com.au/switch/kb/747.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NCH: What File Formats does Switch for Windows Support?</a> <a href="http://download.cnet.com/FreeRIP/3000-2140_4-10050140.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CNET: FreeRIP</a> <a href="http://download.cnet.com/WAV-to-MP3-Encoder/3000-2140_4-10060500.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CNET: WAV to MP3 Encoder 2.5</a> <a href="http://download.cnet.com/Koyote-Free-Mp3-Wma-Converter/3000-2140_4-10442362.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CNET: Koyote Free MP3 WMA Converter</a> <a href="http://www.e-soft.co.uk/AudioConverter.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">eSoft: Digital Music Pad</a> Resources<a href="http://download.cnet.com/Switch-Plus-Audio-Converter/3000-2140_4-10327491.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CNET: Switch Plus Audio Converter 2.04</a><a href="http://www.freerip.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FreeRIP</a><a href="http://www.koyotesoft.com/indexEn.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Koyote Soft</a>Who Can HelpSponsored<a class="jsNoFollow" rel="http://clk.atdmt.com/TLC/go/262430452/direct/01/" target="_blank">Identity Theft. Have you been a victim of identity theft? Get proactive protection with LifeLock. www.LifeLock.com</a><a class="jsNoFollow" rel="http://www.servicemagic.com/ext/3114864" target="_blank">Find Computer, Electrical and Telephone Services Here. Compare Up to 4 Quotes, Free Service & No Obligation.</a>Photo Creditmp3 player and cd image by Warren Millar from <a href="http://www.fotolia.com">Fotolia.com</a><a class="Button3a button thinbox jsNoFollow" rel="http://www.ehow.com/account/simple_login.aspx">I want to do this!</a><a class="jsNoFollow" rel="http://www.ehow.com/print/list_7526993_audible-format-conversion-tools.html" title="Print"></a>print<a class="addthis_button_email" title="Email"></a>email<a class="jsNoFollow thinbox" rel="/account/simple_login.aspx" title="Add this article to your eHow favorites"></a>favorite<a onclick="return addthis_open(this, '', '[URL]', '[TITLE]')" onmouseout="addthis_close()" title="Share"></a>share<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="horizontal" data-text="Audible Format Conversion Tools" data-url="http://www.ehow.com/list_7526993_audible-format-conversion-tools.html" data-via="ehow" href="http://twitter.com/share"></a><a class="IconFlag1 thinbox jsNoFollow" rel="/account/simple_login.aspx" title="Flag as inappropriate">Flag Article</a> <a class="IconRSS" href="http://www.ehow.com/articlerss.aspx?id=7526993">Subscribe</a>Post a Comment<img alt="" id="captchaImage" src="/pixel.gif" />Word Verification* <a class="SubmitButton Button3a jsNoFollow thinbox" rel="/account/simple_login.aspx" style="width:100px">Comment</a> <a class="jsNoFollow" rel="http://www.ehow.com/print/list_7526993_audible-format-conversion-tools.html" title="Print"></a>print<a class="addthis_button_email" title="Email"></a>email<a class="jsNoFollow thinbox" rel="/account/simple_login.aspx" title="Add this article to your eHow favorites"></a>favorite<a onclick="return addthis_open(this, '', '[URL]', '[TITLE]')" onmouseout="addthis_close()" title="Share"></a>share<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="horizontal" data-text="Audible Format Conversion Tools" data-url="http://www.ehow.com/list_7526993_audible-format-conversion-tools.html" data-via="ehow" href="http://twitter.com/share"></a>Related Ads Related Articles & Videos<a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_6685393_convert-media-player-videos-psp.html"><img alt="How to Convert Windows Media Player Videos to PSP" longdesc="http://i.ehow.com/images/ehow/cat/hobbies_games_toys/hobbies-games-toys1.jpg" src="/pixel.gif" />How to Convert Windows Media Player Videos to PSP</a><a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2087451_call-audible-play-football.html"><img alt="How to Call an Audible Play in Football" longdesc="http://i.ehow.com/images/ehow/cat/sports_fitness/sports-fitness1.jpg" src="/pixel.gif" />How to Call an Audible Play in Football</a><a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_6402249_change-audible.html"><img alt="How to Change an Audible" longdesc="http://i.ehow.com/images/a06/3c/69/change-audible-60X60.jpg" src="/pixel.gif" />How to Change an Audible</a><a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_4743669_convert-movies-play-psp.html"><img alt="How to Convert Movies to Play On PSP" longdesc="http://i.ehow.com/images/a04/go/fl/convert-movies-play-psp-60X60.jpg" src="/pixel.gif" />How to Convert Movies to Play On PSP</a><a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_6199236_convert-file-pes-format.html"><img alt="How to Convert a File to Pes Format" longdesc="http://i.ehow.com/images/a05/t5/u4/convert-file-pes-format-60X60.jpg" src="/pixel.gif" />How to Convert a File to Pes Format</a> Have you done this? 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Audible Format Conversion Tools

Audible Format Conversion Tools | eHow.com @media screen and (max-width: 1050px) {.ChannelBanner { padding:0 5px; }.ChannelBanner .leftA...