programs

In Computer Science -- more specifically, in the creation of software programs -- there are efficient ways of achieving a result, and there are not-so-efficient ways of doing the same thing. In fact, many refer to Microsoft Windows as bloatware: ... software that "is so overloaded with functionality that its performance suffers." (Source: techweb.com ) Unfortunately, Microsoft isn't the only one to blame. In the race for profit, many software developers are guilty of adding useless and abundant features to their programs for nothing more than a marketing tactic. (Source: wikipedia.org ... (view more)

Have you ever played the game, "What If?" For example: 1. What if your PC crashed and you lost all your data? 2. What if you unsuspectingly downloaded a Spyware-infected program and it proved near impossible to remove -- all the while slamming your ... PC full of pesky popup ads and slowing your computer down to a crawl? 3. What if Windows suddenly stopped working properly and refused to boot? 4. What if you opened a malicious email attachment that installs a nasty virus, worm or keylogger that steals your personal information? The list goes on. The fact is, these are real life scenarios regular ... (view more)

In what's being labeled by some as an attempt to deflect questions surrounding their floundering Vista reception and sales, Microsoft is threatening law suits aimed at open source distributors and users, claiming that Free Open Source Software ... (FOSS) violates 235 of their patents ... and they want royalties from it. If they get their way, free software won't be free any more. According to Microsoft , the Linux kernel violates 42 Microsoft patents, the Linux graphical user interface (GUI) violates 65 patents, the Open Office suite of programs violate 45 patents, Email programs violate 15 ... (view more)

After submitting yesterday's review of RegistryBooster , there has been a flood of comments from readers. Infopackets Reader Denise N. writes: " I have been a long time fan of your pages and advice, and like you, have been enjoying Registry Mechanic ... for some while. My question is will Registry Booster be OK to run on the same machine as Registry Mechanic -- or to put it simply, will the two programmes clash with each other? I would really appreciate an early reply and thanks again for your terrific advice which I pass on to friends who have an open mind! Thanks. " Similarly, David L. wrote ... (view more)

If you know me personally, then you might say that I'm a creature of habit. The clothes in my closet all look similar (except they're different colors); my entire house is painted the same color, and on the weekends, I go to the same local pub to ... meet up with the same friends -- week in, and week out. So you might say I live a simple life, and things are pretty habitual. Well, the same can be said about the type of software I choose to review and recommend to our readers. I typically look for stuff that does what it says, is competitive in the marketplace, and adds value to the overall PC ... (view more)

If you've been subscribed to Infopackets for any length of time, you've undoubtedly seen a program called "SpeedUpMyPC" recommended in our email newsletters. Judging by name, one might think that SpeedUpMyPC is just another run-of-the-mill system ... optimizer -- but don't click away just yet, because this may be one of the most demystifying articles you'll ever read. ;-) Allow me to elaborate. Back in 2003, I reviewed SpeedUpMyPC 1.0 when it debuted: and it impressed the pants off me -- not just because of the results, but also because it's such a unique product. But I wasn't the only one to ... (view more)

Microsoft Corp. warns that for three weeks in March and April, their calendar programs may be unable to function properly due to expected complications with the passing of new legislation regarding daylight-saving time (DST) changes. While Microsoft ... is already preparing consumers for the imminent defects during this three week period, they are not the only ones that will be faced with problems. In fact, all software that was programmed before 2005 is expected to experience some type of complication. (Source: topix.net ) The reason for this is due to the passing of a law in 2005 that stated ... (view more)

Just when you thought it was safe to browse the Internet -- A recent examination of Microsoft's new virus and malware protection software, OneCare, has revealed that the product is already out of date. That means there are plenty of threats floating ... around the web that can bypass OneCare's defenses and infect a computer. The study was performed by British computer publication "Virus Bulletin", which is widely respected for its "VB100" tests. These examinations are considered a benchmark in accurately displaying the potential threats for a program like OneCare. (Source: astalvista.com ) So, ... (view more)

One day after the release of Microsoft's 6 billion dollar operating system, and there are already reports from UK's PC Advisor that the Windows Vista DRM is being cracked by a Canadian kernel developer. On the eve of the Windows Vista launch, ... numerous retailers opened their doors at midnight. However, very few consumers actually showed up for the event. The excitement and hoopla surrounding the launch seems to have disappeared. The Dallas Morning News and numerous other sources are reporting the luke warm response to the official Vista launch. Upgrading To Vista Unless you're running Windows ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Paul D. writes: " Dear Infopackets Team, I was impressed by the reviews of Genie Backup that I read through infopackets. However, one thing is unclear: can Genie Backup Manager (GBM) also backup installed programs and ... applications? I ask this because backing up an installed program is not as obvious as just copying over the folder where the program is installed to; it is a well known fact that many programs install to multiple [unknown] locations on a PC, including the system registry. I have Paint Shop Pro 9 and a few other applications I'd like to backup but am worried ... (view more)