pctoolbox.co.uk

Just over 1 1/2 years ago we wrote a post titled ‘Quick Tip – Resize Multiple Images Quickly‘.  One of the programs we mentioned in the blog only worked for machines running XP.  However, a company called CodePlex have adapted the software so it can be used for Windows 7 and Vista machines!  Here is a tutorial for the software:

Downloading and Installing

1. Before you do anything you need to download the program.  The software can be downloaded from phototoysclone.codeplex.com.
2. Click ‘Download Now’ on the right
   
3. Click ‘Agree’ if you are willing to agree to the license.
4. Next save the file to your computer by clicking ‘Save File’ (Firefox Users, wording may vary between Web Browsers)
   
5. Now you need to open the downloaded file.  Internet Explorer users should click ‘Open’.  Firefox users should go to the downloads window and double-click on then file then click ‘OK’.
   
6. Click ‘Run’
7. Now follow through the installation process until the end.
8. Once the installation process is complete you’re ready to get resizing!

How to Resize One Image

1. Firstly ensure that you’ve downloaded and installed the software.
2. Secondly locate the image you wish to resize.  For example, most images on computers are stored in ‘my pictures’.
3. Once you’ve found the image you wish to resize right click on it and select ‘Resize Pictures’ (click to enlarge image)
   
4. If there is size option you’re happy with select it but clicking on it and then click OK.
   
   Alternatively, if you wish to choose specific dimensions click ‘advanced >>’.  This gives you the opportunity to create custom dimensions, ask the tool to make images smaller but not larger and also ask the tool to resize originals and not make copies.  When happy click ‘OK’
   
5. Your images will then appear resized (see example below for users who chose for copies to be made)
   

How to resize a selection of images in one folder

1. Firstly follow step 1 and 2 from the ‘How to resize one image’
2. Once you’ve located the images you wish to resize click on them all whilst holding down ‘Ctrl’ (Control) on your keyboard. If you would like to resize all press ‘ctrl + A’ (Click image to enlarge)
   
3. Next you need to Right Click on one of the images you have selected and then select ‘Resize Pictures’ (click to make the image bigger)
   
4. If there is size option you’re happy with select it but clicking on it and then click OK.
   
   Alternatively, if you wish to choose specific dimensions click ‘advanced >>’.  This gives you the opportunity to create custom dimensions, ask the tool to make images smaller but not larger and also ask the tool to resize originals and not make copies.  When happy click ‘OK’
   
5. Your images will then appear in the folder resized (click to make image bigger)
   

We’re impressed with this program!  Watch out for our review on it next week!

Hoax-Slayer is a website we discovered a couple of weeks back and a member of our team literally fell in love with it straight away.  Graham described it as a ‘website after my own heart’!  Therefore, I’ve been set the task to let you know what it’s all about!  The description on the Hoax-Slayer website pretty much sums the site up in one paragraph:

“Hoax-Slayer is dedicated to debunking email hoaxes, thwarting Internet scammers, combating spam, and education web users about email and Internet security issues.  Hoax-Slayer allows Internet users to check the veracity of common email hoaxes and aims to counteract criminal activity by publishing information about common types of Internet scams.  Hoax-Slayer also includes anti-spam tips, computer and email security information, articles about true email forwards and much more.  New articles are added to the Hoax-Slayer website every week.”

So in other words, Hoax-Slayer is out with a mission to remove any scams and hoaxes around on the internet to make it a better and safer place for all!  The site has a variety of really helpful articles and guides to help you avoid any problems!

The site is really worth browsing over to prepare you for any potentially problematic emails/scams on the internet!

Anti-Virus Software for 2 Years on 3 Computers only £44.99!

Save your money in this credit crunching time by purchasing your AVG Antivirus and Security software from Brandstar!

With Brandstar’s offers you can save up to £38.99 on AVG Anti-Virus Software!!

Want to find out more? Click on the image below!

Product	RRP	Brandstar Price	Saving
AVG Internet Security 2 Year 3 User	£83.98	£44.99	£38.99!!

Want AVG Internet Security for 2 years for 10 computers instead? RRP is £225.99! Why not purchase 4 copies of the ‘AVG Internet Security 2 Year 3 User’ package at £179.96 saving you £46.03 and leaving you with 2 copies of AVG Internet Security left over should you need them for other machines!

Want to find out more? Click on the product image!

Memeo Send is a program which can be downloaded for free from Memeo.  It enables users to send large files over email for a small charge.  The whole idea behind the product is very similar to Filemail.com which we reviewed last week.  A key difference between the two is that Filemail have attachment size restrictions, which Memeo Send do not have.

Once downloaded there is a short installation process before you can start sending files.  It is annoying to have to download the program, however it is nice that you can just open it an you’re away, whereas with Filemail.com you have to find the website etc before you can do anything.

To be able to use Memeo Send you must register your email address and password with them.  This can seem very confusing at first but literally, on your first time of using the program, just enter your email address, password and your registered name, then you’re ready to start sending.  This is a slightly different setup to Filemail.com, you just have to enter your email address in for that.  Sending is very simple in both services, just select the files you wish to send and then you’re on your way.  One great extra feature of Memeo Send is that you can send folders as well as files!

The received email is very nicely presented by both applications.  However, you can personalize and brand your Filemail.com emails with their corporate package, which cannot be done on Memeo Send.  Although, Memeo Send does have a great tracking feature which let’s you know how your email is doing and whether it has sent/been downloaded etc.  This feature is also available on Filemail’s Corporate package!

Memeo Send try to get the recipient to register with them.  However, this can be avoided by downloading the files via their web browser.  File downloading on Filemail is also very easy, simply click on the link and then download.  However, on Filemail, files do expire after a few days so you must download before then!

Prices on Memeo Send are very different to Filemail and it would be down to the sender to identify which service is best suited to them.  Memeo Send give you 3 free emails and after that you must purchase either 10 emails for £6.58 or 50 for £32.90.  This compares to Filemail’s free emails for up to 2GB messages, $4 per month (£2.43 at time of writing) for up to 10GB messages (Premium Package) or $45 per month (£27.29 at time of writing) for unlimited file size along with other features (Corporate Package)

To conclude, if you need to send lots of small emails I’d recommend Filemail.com.  However, if you want to send less frequent emails over 2GB go for Memeo Send.  Although, if you want to frequently send secure emails with personalized features then I’d say go for Filemail.com’s Coporate package.

See Also:
Filemail.com Review

Have you ever had a problem sending large emails to other people?  Many web-based email accounts have a limit to how many bytes worth of attachments you can send at any one time.  Filemail.com is an online large email sender which resolves this problem.

The service can be used for free (up to 2GB) or can be subscribed to for $4 per month (£2.41 at time of writing) or $45 per month (£27.12 at time of writing).  Obviously the more you pay, the more features you get.  For example, in the $4 Premium Package you can send up to 10 GB, have password protection and keep track of uploads/downloads.  The features are even more extensive for the $45 Corporate package, including giving your email a real brand image.

Filemail.com is really easy to use.  Simply type the recipients email address, your email address, a message, upload the file(s) and then click send!  It couldn’t be much easier!

We think Filemail.com is a great website and will most definitely resolve the forever occurring issue of how to send big files via email!

Have you ever used Filemail.com?  What do you think of it?

People are forever asking us ‘What’s new about Windows 7 Professional?’  Here’s a few of our favourite Windows 7 Professional features!

Windows 7 Professional is easier to use, more reliable, more secure and faster than Windows XP.  Windows XP is nearly a decade old, with limited support for new hardware and software.  On the other hand, Windows 7 Professional has been specifically designed to meet the growing demands of modern technology users with more sophisticated networking, mobility, entertainment, data protection, and compatibility features.  And with Windows XP Mode, you get the compatibility of Windows XP in Windows 7 Professional! Be aware though, to use XP Mode you need the right processor!

We’ve now come to the end of our Antivirus Comparison Series.  To finish everything off we’re going to give each software a rating and a rank….

Software	Rating	Rank
		6
		7
		3
		4
		2
		5
		1

From all our investigations over the past few weeks we can conclude in our opinion AVG Internet Security is the best software around!  We were really pleased and excited to see that Avira and Kaspersky have so much potential and are on the verge of being world class products.  Norton 360 and McAfee, for us, were the biggest let downs.  The quality of product and service just isn’t as good as you expect.  In many cases you’re better off going for a smaller brand or AVG!  All software used in the comparisons were the best available home software from the brand at the time of writing.

I think the interesting and most important thing to take from the investigation is that the two biggest household names are rated as last.  Consequently this whole survey really asks this question…’do the big name brands always provide  the best service and product?’

Want to find out more?  Check out the original comparison articles:

• Norton 360 vs AVG Internet Security
• McAfee Total Protection vs AVG Internet Security
• Trend Micro Internet Security Pro vs AVG Internet Security
• Avira Premium Security Suite vs AVG Internet Security
• avast! Professional Edition vs AVG Internet Security
• Kaspersky Internet Security vs AVG Internet Security

Over the past month we have been comparing antivirus software.  Below is a table which summaries our findings!  We’ve put all the results into percentages to make everything fair!

	Alternative Software %	AVG % in Comparison
	64%	86%
	63%	88%
	75%	94%
	69%	88%
	77%	82%
	67%	90%

As you can see from the table, AVG is by far the superior antivirus software when compared to the others.  Throughout the entire comparison process we were very impressed with the potential of some of the lesser known software like Avira and Kaspersky.  In a few years time they could really be battling with the rest!  Look out for our ratings table in coming weeks!

Google is developing an operating system (OS) for personal computers, in a direct challenge to market leader Microsoft and its Windows system.

Google Chrome OS will be aimed initially at small, low-cost netbooks, but will eventually be used on PC’s as well.

Google said netbooks with Chrome OS could be on sale by middle 2010.

“Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS,” the firm said in its official blog.

The operating system, which will run on an open source license, was a “natural extension” of its Chrome browser, the firm said.

The news comes just months before Microsoft launches the latest version of its operating system, called Windows 7.

To continue reading this article on the BBC click here

Watch this space!!