360tech: 2015

Saturday, 12 September 2015

Windows 10 Tips and Tricks: Things to Do After Installing Windows 10

With Windows 10, Microsoft made the biggest change to the Windows platform ever, in its history. Right from integrating their digital assistant into the OS, to shifting to a subscription (Windows as a service) model, Windows 10 marks the end of the conventional release cycles. Be it DirectX 12 to boost gaming performance or Microsoft Passport for authentication, Windows 10 packs a lot of new features that help it stand out.

In this article we will take a look at Windows 10 Tips and Tricks that every user must know.

1. Open Windows Explorer to “This PC” instead of “Quick Access”

On Windows 10, the Windows Explorer opens to the Quick Access view by default, which may be great for some users who want to keep track of their recently used files, but maybe not for all. In order to disable this, click on view on the toolbar and then click on Options. From the list saying “Open File Explorer to: select Quick Access.

2. Download Updates from more than One Place

Fan of the bittorrent protocol/torrent websites, you will be glad to know that Windows 10 integrates the P2P protocol enabling it to download updates not only from Microsoft servers but also from already updated PCs on the internet or on your local network. To enable the setting, launch the Settings app. Under Updates, Click on Advanced options and then click on Choose how updates are delivered. By default, the option would be enabled, in case if it disabled (unchecked) then click on PCs on my local network and PCs on the internet.
Windows Update

3. Reclaim your hard disk space by deleting the old Windows Installation

Most of the users who migrated to Windows 10 made the move by performing and upgrade which meant they have an option to roll back, just in case you are among the many who are completely enjoying the experience and will not downgrade, you can just delete the old OS installation which Windows saved in case you wish to downgrade. To do so, search for disk cleanup and launch it when the option for drive selection pops up, select C: drive, wait for it to initialize. From the menu, select “Previous Windows Installations” and “Temporary Windows Installation Files” and click Ok.
REMEMBER: This process cannot be undone so unless you are ready to make the switch to Windows 10 completely, DO NOT TRY THIS.
Reclaim Hard Disk Space

4. Take Control of the Start Menu by Removing Unnecessary Shortcuts

If you are not a fan of the cluttered start menu and would like to keep it minimal and unobtrusive, we’ve got you covered. Open the Settings app and go to Personalization. Now click on Start and uncheck all the options in the list. Once that is done just go ahead and scroll down to the option Choose which folders appear on start and unselect everything. Now head over to the Start menu and unpin all unnecessary apps manually by right clicking on them.
Personalization

5. Resize the Start Menu According to Your Needs

On Windows 10 you get a nifty little option of resizing your start menu, just hover over the border to reveal the resize pointer and drag across the screen to make it wider or taller.
Start Menu Resize

6. Enable/Disable Transparency

It has already been stated that Windows 10 packs in the best of both Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. To prove it once more Windwos 10 brings back the Aero transparency which is enabled by default but just in case you liked the flat Metro theme from 8, you can switch the transparency off. Go to Settings -> Personalization -> Colors and uncheck Make Start, taskbar and action center transparent. Now when you open start you would get the Windows 8.1 style flat UI.
Personalization Colors

7. Command Prompt Keyboard Hotkeys

If you have ever used the command prompt on Windows, you definitely would have craved for the Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V hotkeys to work. That changes with Windows 10, you can use the familiar clipboard hotkeys on the command prompt. To enable them in case they aren’t, launch the command prompt, right-click on the taskbar and go to Properties. Under Options, click Enable Ctrl key shortcuts. And now the clipboard shortcuts will work on the command prompt.
Command Prompt Keyboard Hotkeys

8. Enable Cortana to Respond to Your Voice Only

If you have been a Windows Insider, using preview builds for a while you are no stranger to Cortana. Even if you started using Windows 10 for the first time, you still know what she does and how is she different from Siri and Google Now. Well this section isn’t about Cortana commands. There is one trick which most users are unaware of and that is the fact that you can key Cortana to your voice so that she responds only to you when you say “Hey Cortana”. To do so, launch Cortana by pressing Win+S / Win + Q. Click on Notebook and go to Settings, you will find an option that says “Respond best”. Click Learn my voice, you will have to go through a series of phrases so that she learns your voice. Once that is done, she will only respond to your voice.
Enable Cortana

9. Enable Dark mode on Microsoft Edge

Microsoft finally released a replacement for the aged Internet Explorer. It is awesome, apart from being fast and full of future proof features it also offers customizations (limited for now but will be extended in future updates). You can make Edge go dark to suit your needs. Launch Edge and then click on the three dots on the tool bar to reveal the overflow menu. Click on Settings. Under choose a theme select Dark and Dark mode is now enabled.
Enable Dark mode on Microsoft Edge

10. Enable God Mode

God mode is sort of like an Easter-egg to the Windows platform. It gives you access to the settings and options which are generally buried deep inside the menus. To enable God Mode, create a new folder and rename it to:
GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
This would change the New Folder to a God Mode App. Launch it to gain access to over 260 Settings.
Enable God Mode Step 1

11. Record Gameplay using Game DVR

Gamers who put their clips on websites like YouTube have always used a third party screen recorder app to record their gameplay. With Windows 10, they can use the Game DVR feature to do the same natively. To use Game DVR first sign in to the Xbox app. Now whenever you want to record your screen, press Win+G to launch the Game Bar, hit record and it will start recording the screen.
Record Gameplay using Game DVR Step 1

12. Disable Wi-Fi Sense

One of the most controversial features on Windows 10 is Wi-Fi Sense which lets you share your Wi-Fi password with your Facebook, Skype and Outlook contacts. To disable this go to the Settings app and click on Network and Internet. Click on Manage Wi-Fi settings and then uncheck all the networks.

Other Useful Tips

1. Reveal All Apps Alphabetically

On the start menu if you click on any letter above the name of the app in the All Apps section, it would reveal alphabetical quick access to all your installed apps.
Reveal All Apps Alphabetically

2. Mount and Burn ISO Images Without Any Software

Windows 10 deals with ISO images natively i.e. you don’t need a third party app to mount or burn it. Just right click on the ISO image to mount it or burn it to a disk.
Mount and Burn ISO Images

3. Remove Login Authentication

If you want to remove the login authentication, hit Win+R and type “netplwiz”, In the window that follows, untick “Users must enter a username and password to use this computer“, hit apply and a screen will appear to type in your password. This does not bypass the login screen, just disables authentication.
Run netplwiz Command

4. Remove Internet Explorer

After years of mockery and endless memes, Microsoft decided to switch their browser by releasing Edge. But if you wish to retire it completely, type “Turn Windows features on or off”. In the window that follows uncheck Internet Explorer and confirm.

Conclusion

Windows 10 justifies its purpose by the improvements it offers to the core Windows experience and the features it packs to lure users. While this is by far the most complete version of Windows, the operating system would be subjected to constant update cycles to enhance the experience even further

Wednesday, 2 September 2015

11 unforgettable Childhood Games Every True Nigerian Gamer Remembers

Ah, childhood in 90s Nigeria! Those idyllic days of playing “Catcher”, “Ten-Ten”, and skipping rope with your friends after school, and getting lots of sunshine and fresh air, as all healthy, growing children should….
Enter Nintendo with their smash hit, Super Mario Brothers. The game was the beginning of a wave of video games that would make their way into Nigerian consciousness and shape our gaming history and culture.
It’s been many years since this beautiful world of gaming opened up and sucked us in, and we have evolved with these games to become the gaming pros we now are.
We have put together a list of games that every Nigerian child of the 90s deployed for target practice. Time to go back. Waay back.

1. Super Mario Brothers

Photo Credit: freshyill via Compfight cc

*Platform (s): SNES
No one would forget the plucky guy in the red plumber overalls, journeying through eight worlds and pounding goombas to rescue Princess Peach.
This title can’t be anywhere else but at the top of the list. This game arrived in Nigeria about the same time it became fashionable for every middle class Nigerian family to own a colour teevee. With its simple controls and catchy theme song, it was the first to win an eternal place in our childhood memories.

2. International Super Star Soccer Deluxe

Source: retrogamerz

Platform (s): SNES
Forget FIFA, PES and other shiny graphic-rich titles we now tote, this is the best darn soccer game ever.
For some guy folks whose parents just refused to get this one for the house, they found respite at the hair shop — 90s barbershops had them plenty. It was come-for-the-game-and-maybe-get-a-haircut.

3. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Souce: game-oldies

Platform (s): Game Boy Color
TMNT was on the Nintendo Entertainment System, but the one most pervasive in the 90s was the one on the 8-bit Game Boy Colour. Game Boy; that clunky plastic contraption was the source of many a high schooler’s pride. Good times.
#FunFact: Mike, Leo, Raphael and Donatello are all named after very popular renaissance artists and philosophers. Leo, for instance, is named after Leonardo da Vinci. Mind blown.

4. Contra

Source: appsync

Platform (s): PC, Sega Mega Drive, SNES
This gun-action platformer was everywhere in the 90s. It was on the slow-assed home PC, the Game Boy and even bundled with DVD players. It was hard to ignore. And the cooperative team-play was how some of us first learned teamwork and sacrifice.

5. Mortal Kombat

Souce: arcadesushi

Platform: Sega Mega Drive
This list would be a sore disappointment without MK. This one got us hooked for endless hours. Most people I know don’t agree, but in that awesome listing of kickass ninja assassins, Liu Kang is the coolest. He doesn’t have the over-the-top fatalities like you’ll see in Scorpion, for instance, but his endless bicycle kick is always on fleek. Who needs flourish fatalities with that in the box?

C’mon Baraka, get a grip.

6. Tetris/Brick Game

Source: leondel via Compfight cc

The minimal handheld Brick Game is easily the console that began the gaming journey of many a millenial. It was handy, accessible and cheap to manage. Of course, it didn’t afford the level of hauteur the Game Boy did at the time, but it was so much fun. Tetris was the star title in that very limited catalogue.

Er…this is not the Tetris I am talking about

7. Duke Nukem

Source: retrogamingaus

Platform (s): Game Boy, PC
Duke Nukem was most popular on the Game Boy before the shareware version became popular on PCs in Nigeria at the turn of the millennium.
Resident bad boy, Duke Nukem is the eponymous hero of the game. The RPG platformer has been reprised a lot and more recent versions have retained the unreconstructed 90s-style action hero, complete with his signature douchbaggery that remained just as striking as his alien-dispensing proficiency.

8. Street Fighter

Source: streetfighter.wikia

Platform (s): SNES
Even though the arcade fighting game, Street Fighter (SF) became popular before Mortal Kombat, it wasn’t as imaginative. What with all the gore and shilling fatalities in MK. But no one cared really.
In the series with the notorious maximum-damage punching wave, Hadouken, Ryu is probably most plain-looking character in the title but was the most effective at dispensing with opponents.

The Street Fighter 2 was the most popular then, and it racked up more than $1.5 billion in sales revenue for Nintendo in 1993.

9. Tomb Raider

tomb-raider-1996-screenshot-1500x991 (1)

Source: digitaltrends

Platform (s): PC, Game Boy
The valorous Lara Croft won many a gamer’s heart, because, well, great body. We began to notice and appreciate the resident badassness in the character much later.

10. Tekken

tekken-tag-tournament-2-roster-wallpaper (1)

Source: videogamesblogger

Platform (s): PC, Playstation, Game Boy
The third arcade fighter game on this list – Tekken was a huge hit in the mid to late 90s with a massive Rolodex of combinations, special attacks and damaging moves.
This fighter really sated our knuckle-busting urges back in the day.

11. Crash Team Racing

Source: emuparadise

Platform (s) PC, Playstation More of a personal favourite than anything else, Crash Team Racing is the fourth title in the Crash Bandicoot series and more than others before it, this one caught on quickly in Nigeria. I am willing to bet that was because of the surfeit of offensive (read, pure evil) power ups that shipped with it.

Low Tech Bonuses

Remember these games that came to the rescue when power was out and the Game boy’s AA batteries went out as well?

Biro Game

Actual bic biros going at each in a battle of tenacity. It was the ultimate gladiator sport of high school, forget the bullies in the school cafeteria stealing your lunch. The high school oblong desk is the colloseum. The last pen on the table wins.

Table Soccer (Not Foosball)

Soccer has been bae for a very long time and the table soccer with its many variations was our way of owning the game. Sorta. Whether cutting out a pitch on foolscaps with painted-on formations or hitting crown corks against what used to be our shirt buttons, it was innocent fun. But it was strictly NSFH (not safe for home), because mom, shirt button

Check Out Apps that lets you Listen to Nigerian Radio Over the Internet for free

There are over 200 radio stations in Nigeria, and quite a few of them have online streaming capabilities as well as apps that make tuning in very simple. There are also apps that aggregate multiple radio stations so you can listen to Nigerian stations in one place. We’ve made a list of the ones that we think you should check out right away. Don’t forget that using these apps require internet access.