Showing posts with label Alternative. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alternative. Show all posts

Wednesday, 3 October 2012

Cryptocat an encrypted private chat alternative


View the original article here

Labels: , , ,

Monday, 26 March 2012

Looking For A uTorrent Alternative? Try qBittorrent

A lot of users rely on the popular uTorrent Bittorrent client when it comes to downloading files with the help of torrents from the Internet. In past years, things have changed when it comes to that client. It first was purchased by Bittorrent, and then started to integrate features into the client that were not loved by all of the program’s user base. A uTorrent Plus version was released recently for instance, that is offering additional capabilities for a price.

UTorrent users looking for alternatives might want to check out qBittorrent, a lightweight Bittorrent client for Windows, Linux, Mac OS x, FreeBSD and OS/2.

qbittorrent

When you look at the list of features you will notice that it offers a very similar feature set. From an easy to use interface that should work right out of the box for most users, to features such as torrent creation, bandwidth scheduling, IP filtering and port forwarding.

You can make the program your default application for torrent files and magnet links on the system to load them directly when you click on the files or links, or use drag and drop to load them into the program. The program window displays all the important information right in its status bar. From the current upload and download speed and totals to the system’s connection status and speed limit configuration.

A quick look in the options reveals little to be desired. From switching the interface language, notifications and download directory, to port and connection settings, and a web user interface. Everything’s there to configure the program like you want it to be.

torrent client options

There are also some advanced features available, like configuring alternate speed limits for specific days and time frames, configuration of an SMTP server to receive email notifications when torrents are finished downloading, or watching folders for torrent files to automatically download them to custom save folders.

Does uTorrent support features that qBittorrent does not? Sure it does, like the option to stream videos while they are downloaded, or the portable mode that the program is offered alternatively in.

But qBittorrent has all the bells and whistles you’d expect to find in a torrent client making it a great uTorrent alternative.

Enjoyed the article?: Then sign-up for our free newsletter or RSS feed to kick off your day with the latest technology news and tips, or share the article with your friends and contacts on Facebook or Twitter. uTorrent 3 Beta Released
Apps For uTorrent Overview
uTorrent 3 Final Bittorrent Client Released
Migrate from Bitcomet to uTorrent
How To Make uTorrent Portable About the Author:Martin Brinkmann is a journalist from Germany who founded Ghacks Technology News Back in 2005. He is passionate about all things tech and knows the Internet and computers like the back of his hand. You can follow Martin on Facebook or Twitter.Author: Martin Brinkmann, Tuesday February 21, 2012 -
Tags:bittorrent, linux software, mac software, utorrent, windows software



View the original article here

Labels: , , ,

Tuesday, 20 March 2012

System Explorer, A Lightweight Task Manager Alternative

When we first reviewed System Explorer back in 2007, we came to the conclusion that it was a great Task Manager, Process Explorer and Autoruns hybrid. The developers of System Explorer have released version 3.8.0 yesterday, and I would like to use this release to publish an updated review here on Ghacks.

System Explorer is offered as a portable version and installer. The latest version brought full support for 64-bit operating systems, making the software compatible with all versions of Windows from Windows XP on.

When you first start System Explorer you get the option to run a security scan on the system. This optional scan checks all running processes against an online database. Results are then displayed in the Processes tab next to each process.

system explorer

The program itself divides information into tabs at the top. The four tabs Tasks, Processes, Performance and History are displayed by default, with options to add new tabs with a click on the tab-bar’s plus icon. Here you can enable a good dozen additional services, from auto start entries to installed software, all open connections or installed system drivers.

The process manager displays all running processes in tree form by default so that you see dependencies right there. Each process is listed with its name, cpu and memory utilization, security status, process id and start up parameters if available. A filter at the top allows you to hide Microsoft process, services or processes from all users. A real time search lets you find process fast, and the convenient right-click context menu offers to check a file at online virus scanning services Virustotal or Jotti, or on Google, Process Library or the service’s own process database.

It is furthermore possible to change process affinities and priorities temporarily or permanently, and to end, suspend or restart processes right from within the interface.

The performance tab informs you about the processor and ram usage. One interesting aspect is the highlighting of the process that is taking up most of the system’s Ram and swap (which is Firefox in this case).

system explorer performance

The autoruns tab displays all auto-start programs and scheduled tasks. You can hide Microsoft items here to get a better overview of third party programs that are run during system start.

autoruns

You can disable programs that are loaded during log on with a single click.

You can configure System Explorer to replace the default Windows task manager. The program is then opened when you use the Ctrl-Alt-Esc hotkey to bring up the task manager.

System Explorer is one of the top task manager replacements for the Windows operating system. You can download the latest program version from the developer website.

Enjoyed the article?: Then sign-up for our free newsletter or RSS feed to kick off your day with the latest technology news and tips, or share the article with your friends and contacts on Facebook or Twitter. Task Manager Software Extension
Add Process Quick Links To The Windows Task Manager
Task Manager Replacement
How To Add Information To The Windows Task Manager
Windows 8 Task Manager, A Step In The Right Direction? About the Author:Martin Brinkmann is a journalist from Germany who founded Ghacks Technology News Back in 2005. He is passionate about all things tech and knows the Internet and computers like the back of his hand. You can follow Martin on Facebook or Twitter.Author: Martin Brinkmann, Monday February 13, 2012 -
Tags:task-manager, windows software

You are here: Home » Software » System Explorer, A Lightweight Task Manager Alternative

View the original article here

Labels: , , , ,

Saturday, 17 March 2012

ReactOS, the Windows XP Alternative

ReactOS, the Windows XP Alternative .download-info .download-button {background-image: url(http://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor/page-addon/downloadbutton.gif);}.download-info .more-button {background-image: url(http://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor/page-addon/morebutton.gif);} HomeWindowsLinuxSoftwareInternet ExplorerFirefoxChromeOperaEmailContactAdvertiseReactOS, the Windows XP Alternative

While we wait for the Windows 8 beta to be released at the end of the month questions are looming over what will happen with legacy software support and how we’ll run our older, but still useful and trustworthy, software in the future.  Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate can run the free XP Mode, a fully-licenced copy of XP Professional running in a specially modified virtual machine.  Here we can continue to use our older apps, as I do so myself, safe in the knowledge that they’ll plug right into our Windows 7 Start Menu and appear on the desktop without having to have the XP desktop open as well.

But there’s a problem looming, and it’s a biggie.  In April 2014, just over two years from now, all support for Windows XP will end.  This means that there will be no more security patches and fixes… ever!  Now if you use only XP apps that don’t connect to the Internet this won’t be a problem, but Windows 8 won’t support XP Mode at all because of this end of support and even though the operating system will include its own virtual machine, Hyper-V, we don’t know yet if plugging applications into the new Start Screen, or onto the Windows 8 Taskbar will be possible.

Then there’s the simple fact that, no matter what new IT Pro and business features the beta of Windows 8 will bring, some people will simply decide that its not for them.  Many businesses skip Windows releases after all and many are only just deploying Windows 7.  But for people who are still on XP and don’t want to move to either Windows 7 or Windows 8 because of software and hardware compatibility what will the alternative be after the April 2014 deadline?

The answer could come in the form of ReactOS, a Russian-developed Windows NT/XP clone.  On their website they describe the product as…

“ReactOS is a free and open-source operating system based on the Windows NT  architecture, providing support for existing applications and drivers, and an alternative to the current dominant consumer and server operating systems.”

This operating system, still in the alpha stage, promises to be binary compatible with all Windows XP hardware and software.  Rather than being a GNU/Linux OS with the Windows WINE emulator over the top, this is a complete Windows-clone OS.  When it’s finished the makers say that anything you can currently do with Windows XP you will be able to do with ReactOS.

As a product that’s new and currently in development there will be ongoing support too with patches and upgrades, and presumably they will make modifications to the underlying security system to rectify Windows XP’s inherent flaws.

Surely then Microsoft would go after ReactOS as aggressively as they have with other Windows clones such as Lindows?  ReactOS have several answers to that, one of which is…

“Most people  think of ‘NT’ as ‘WinNT 4', while in reality the term NT refers to the NT series, which ranges from version 3 over NT5 (2000, XP, 2003) to NT6 (Vista, 2008 and 7). The NT architecture was designed by a team lead by David Cutler, a former  lead developer of VMS. It took them more than 4 years to combine the best of  UNIX, VMS and OS/2 and create the NT architecture.”

There is also the fact that Russia, the home of the OS, doesn’t observe International copyright law and so nobody can touch them… yet!  On December 16th 2011 Russia finally joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and we can fully expect that as a condition of membership, other countries will insist they respect International patents and copyrights.  When this happens we can be sure that Microsoft will go after ReactOS.

For now though the operating system is looking like a feasible alternative to Windows XP when all support ends in two years time.  By then the new clone OS should be finished, tested and stable and any person or company looking to migrate their ageing software and hardware library in a way where everything will still run, and where they will still be able to get support will have an alternative.

Microsoft’s lawyers no doubt already have their pens sharpened however and it’s all still to play for.  Watch this space and we’ll keep you updated.

Enjoyed the article?: Then sign-up for our free newsletter or RSS feed to kick off your day with the latest technology news and tips, or share the articlewith your friends and contacts on Facebook or Twitter.

Labels: , ,

Sunday, 19 February 2012

Is it Time to Offer an Alternative to QWERTY?

Is it Time to Offer an Alternative to QWERTY? .download-info .download-button {background-image: url(http://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor/page-addon/downloadbutton.gif);}.download-info .more-button {background-image: url(http://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor/page-addon/morebutton.gif);} HomeWindowsLinuxSoftwareInternet ExplorerFirefoxChromeOperaEmailContactAdvertiseIs it Time to Offer an Alternative to QWERTY?

The QWERTY keyboard layout has been used in most western countries now since the late 1800's.  Though there are differences in some countries, such as AZERTY in France, this keyboard layout remains with modern computers even though it’s not always the quickest way for people to type.

It was invented by Christopher Latham Sholes who was an American newspaper editor.  Sholes wanted to find a way to stop the hammers in typewriters from getting clogged up all the time.  This happened because the layout that was being used allowed people to type more quickly than the mechanical parts of the typewriter could respond, with the upstroke of one letter completing before the downstroke of the previous one had finished.

And so in October 1867 he patented the QWERTY keyboard layout to solve the problem by moving letters that were commonly used together further apart so that the typewriter hammers wouldn’t need to overlap.  He sold the idea to Remington and in 1878 their Remington No. 2 typewriter popularised the layout.  Since then the uptake for this keyboard layout has been enormous and it remains the most popular keyboard layout around the world today.

Why do we still use QWERTY though with modern computers where mechanical hammers are no longer a problem?  The simple fact remains that we have all grown up using this keyboard layout and, as such, we know our way around it and changing it now would cause all manner of problems, slow everybody down and no doubt cost the worldwide economy billions in lost productivity.

The rise of the touchscreen computing device however does present the next generation at least with a solution.  Software keyboards can be laid out however you want them to be and as these are probably going to be the way that the children of tomorrow will learn to use computers, by using smartphones and tablets primarily, could and should the operating system manufacturers now be offering an alternative keyboard layout for us to use, such as an alphabetic one?

Many people believe that a standard alphabetic keyboard is easier and quicker for people to use, and that it makes it quicker for people to learn.  It would be a simple job to put an alphabetic software keyboard into modern touch-enabled operating systems, and the actual hardware keyboard equivalents wouldn’t need to follow for some years in all probability.

This way we could give children an opportunity to potentially type more quickly on their computers, increasing their own productivity.  Also anyone who prefers using an alphanumeric keyboard already, and they can be found for sale in a few places and I’m certain that some apps already exist for some platforms, will finally have the option to use one on all their devices.

So what do you think?  Could the next generation of computer users benefit from Microsoft, Apple and Google adding alphabetic or other keyboard layouts to their operating systems now?  Do you already use a keyboard layout like this or do you have experience of doing so?  Would you like to try an alphabetic keyboard on your tablet and smartphone and do you think it would be easier to type on and also, do you think that your children would benefit form typing alphabetically, or would it be better for them to learn the traditional QWERTY layout?  Why not let us know in the comments here what you think about the future of typing on computers.

Enjoyed the article?: Then sign-up for our free newsletter or RSS feed to kick off your day with the latest technology news and tips, or share the articlewith your friends and contacts on Facebook or Twitter.

Labels: , ,

Thursday, 9 February 2012

Google Search Alternative IxQuick

Ever since Google starting pumping up the results of their search engine with all kind of nonsense – read first and third party advertisement mainly but also other stuff like the unfair favoring of big brands – I have been looking for an alternative. And while I have found it in Bing, I have to admit that Bing is still not on pair with Google Search once the queries get complicated. Bing does well if you search for single or dual-word phrases like Google Docs, Hacker News or Reddit, but once you start searching for longer phrases like how to turn off JavaScript in Thunderbird you will notice that the browser won’t provide you with the necessary information. Here are the top 5 results for Bing and Google for that search:

Bing

Microsoft seems to favor ehow, one particular download site and several other sites in their search engine. Quality of those results is usually not that good. The first ehow article for instance is outdated and not applicable anymore, the four remaining answers either are not about Thunderbird or not about JavaScript.

How to Enable JavaScript in ThunderbirdHow do I turn tabs OFF in Thunderbird 3? – ANSWEREDHow do i disable archiving in thunderbird 3.0? – Will come in …In Internet Explorer, how do I enable or disable Java or JavaScript?How to Turn on Javascript in a Mac

Google

Google’s results are better. The second result leads to the information that answers your query (JavaScript is no longer supported for mail and news in the browser, and thus does not need to be turned off anymore). In Google, two of the five results give you the answer for your query. That’s better than in Bing, but not optimal either, especially since the first result leads you into the wrong direction.

Thunderbird: how to disable javascript?Thunderbird 3.0 – New Features and ChangesZyTrax Security – Email Agent FAQsHow can I enable javascript in thunderbird 3?ThunderBrowse – The browser for Thunderbird – FAQ

I have been testing other search engines, DuckDuckGo and Ixquick in particular, to find out if they provide better results than Bing or Google.

Ixquick calls itself the world’s most private search engine. Unlike other search engines, IxQuick does not record user IP addresses or share personal data with third parties. A full page with privacy related information is available on the service’s website.

ixquick

I have used Ixquick for the last week as my main search engine. There are things that I like, and things that do not work out that well. IXquick, like Bing, provides solid results for short queries. If you are looking for a particular business, software or product, you usually find it in the top spot on the search results page.

Results begin to deteriorate quickly if you add terms to the query. The first five results for the Thunderbird JavaScript query above for instance do not offer the information that you would need to get your question answered. The first result furthermore links to outdated information, just like they did on Bing (a different web property though).

Results are not always that bad though, but they are often not that great either. I also noticed that Google’s results are not always that better for longer queries, but you find pages with the information you are looking for more often there.

Back to Ixquick. Search results are always opened in new tabs instead of the same tab by default. It happened to me more than once that I clicked multiple times on a search result wondering why it would not open when in fact it was opened multiple times in new tabs in the browser. It takes some getting used to time but it is not really that bad.

You can open any page with a proxy that is provided by the search engine itself. This can be handy if a website is blocked in your country.

ixquick search results

Do not get me wrong though, search results are not always that bad or that different from other search engines. A few things need improvement though:

When I’m looking for something product related, e.g. Swtor PVP, I expect the product developer site in the top 5 results.When I’m searching for technology related things I expect recent information in the top 5 result if I do not add a version number to the product.When I’m searching for a product or business, I expect it to be the number one result in the search results (you will notice that software searches sometimes list download portals in front of the developer site).

All of this applies to Microsoft’s Bing search engine as well, and probably to the majority of other search engines out there. Google’s results are not really that much better or different, but the company somehow manages to often sneak in at least one result that you find your answer on.

I’d still suggest you give Ixquick, Bing or DuckDuckGo a try to see if these search engines return satisfactory search results for you. I for one will now move on to DuckDuckGo for a week to see how it is holding up.

Have you tried other search engines besides Google? Why do not you share your experience in the comments?

Enjoyed the article?: Then sign-up for our free newsletter or RSS feed to kick off your day with the latest technology news and tips, or share the article with your friends and contacts on Facebook or Twitter. Print Covers using Undercover XP
Adding LDAP entries from the command line
4Chan Thread Downloader
Microsoft Security Updates March 2010
Improve Firefox Private Browsing With Private Browsing Window Add-on About the Author:Martin Brinkmann is a journalist from Germany who founded Ghacks Technology News Back in 2005. He is passionate about all things tech and knows the Internet and computers like the back of his hand. You can follow Martin on Facebook or Twitter.Author: Martin Brinkmann, Sunday January 22, 2012 -
Tags:search



View the original article here

Labels: , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)