How to fix 7 Windows 8.1 upgrade issues

While upgrading to Windows 8.1, you may face seven major problems. Here are some tips to tackle them efficiently.

Microsoft recently released Windows 8.1, an upgrade to Windows 8 which arrived with mixed reviews. Most people see Windows 8.1 as a type of Service Pack. The updates introduced by Windows 8.1, however, are much more pervasive and consequently seem to be causing more trouble than Service Packs in previous Windows versions.

Windows 8.1 can cause several issues during the process of upgrading and even more afterwards. If you're faced with one of them, read on to see if there's a potential fix. Alternatively, if you're considering an upgrade, make sure to prep your computer for Windows 8.1 beforehand.

Hardware support

An issue that is often experienced is reduced hardware support. For one reason or another, Windows 8.1 changes something deep in the system that can affect drivers, resulting in unrecognized or malfunctioning hardware. In this case, the backlight of the laptop was no longer controllable — it was ridiculously too dim, and the brightness buttons on my keyboard wouldn't change the setting.

Ultimately, to fix issues like this, make sure that all of your drivers are up to date via various channels. The best places to look are at the manufacturer's website or Windows Update, as sometimes it can deliver driver updates. A personal issue here was resolved when Samsung released a "brightness fix patch" via their SW Updater software package. Make sure to check your respective sources as well.

Bad drivers

On a related note, Windows may refuse to upgrade to 8.1 if it doesn't like certain drivers. For example, a select number of people have a specific driver which Windows asks you to remove in order to upgrade. Of course, you'll need to do so in order to continue. Alternatively, you may be able to just update your drivers to a possibly Windows 8.1-friendly version, so that you don't have to remove it completely.

SkyDrive files gone "Online Only"

If you're an avid SkyDrive user, you may come across an issue where SkyDrive claims that all of the files that were once downloaded to your computer are now "online only". This is incorrect, and the files are actually still on your computer as they previously were. All you need to do to resolve this "blemish" is to open Windows Explorer, right click on SkyDrive in the left-hand pane of common folders, and click on "Make available offline". This should make sure that all your SkyDrive files will be synchronized, or just mark them as synchronized if they're already present.

Upgrading from Windows 8.1 preview

If you were a user of the Windows 8.1 Preview, you will probably face issues upgrading to the real release. Microsoft already announced the problem ahead of time, stating that you'd most likely be able to upgrade to the final code, but you would have to reinstall all of your desktop and Windows Store apps. If that's the case, you might as well go ahead and do a complete reinstall when upgrading to the final code, as clean installs are much less buggy than upgrades.

Error screens

If you received a "Couldn't update to Windows 8.1″ error with a code of 0xC1900101 - 0x40017 or something similar, you can attempt to get around the problem by unplugging all of your peripherals — except the necessary ones like your mouse and keyboard, obviously — and make sure that your graphics card driver is up-to-date before performing the upgrade. The bug still remains at large, but these tips can give you a better chance at beating it. The good thing about this error, at least, is that the installer rolls your system back to Windows 8, so you're not stuck with a bricked system.

If you receive an error stating "Sorry, it looks like this PC can't run Windows 8.1. This might be because the Users or Program Files folder is being redirected to another partition.", and this is actually the case, then you'll need to move your User or Program Files folder back to the primary system hard drive/partition. Since this error wouldn't show up without you having changed the location of those folders, just follow the same instructions to move them back.

Secure boot watermark

If, after successfully upgrading to Windows 8.1, you see a watermark in the corner of your desktop saying "Secure Boot isn't configured correctly", then you'll need to head into your computer's BIOS and mess with the Secure Boot settings to enable or configure it. Afterwards, Windows should stop complaining.

Conclusion

Windows 8.1 introduces many new and improved features, including the option to boot to the desktop, deep SkyDrive integration, and an updated UI, which now supports dynamic Snap for multiple apps or sharing the desktop wallpaper with the Start screen. Most of the changes, however, are behind-the-scenes, which may be why so many people are having issues. Generally, it is recommended that you stick with Windows 8, unless you read about a Windows 8.1 feature that you absolutely need. In that case you should prepare to upgrade to Windows 8.1 with the option to roll back.

How to create secure Cloud storage with Seafile

Seafile is a secure way to create a Cloud storage for your important files and documents. Here are some easy steps through which you can achieve the same using Seafile.

If you have tried online cloud storage solutions before and found that you'd prefer a self-hosted file sharing solution, it's time to check out Seafile. With Seafile, you can run your own private server to share documents with groups of colleagues or friends.

What is Seafile?

Seafile have created a completely open-source private cloud-sharing system designed for use by groups collaborating on projects. It's absolutely ideal for small business purposes, as you have the flexibility of group sharing and multiple projects, without necessarily using a public server like you do with the big cloud storage companies. And as you will soon see, they are really flexible.

First impressions of Seafile

My first impression of Seafile was that they were a well-organised bunch of people who have built a great product. Looking at the downloads page, you can see that they really care about compatibility with as many devices and operating systems as possible, even if you're using older hardware. This is absolutely crucial when you're talking about software for sharing files with multiple people.

As people who have collaborated on projects before well know, if even one key person can't use the software, the whole group of collaborators need to find a different product. Seafile have done a great job of ensuring this won't happen to your group.

I also contacted support with a minor query and got a lightning-fast reply, so I have no doubt at all that Seafile care a great deal about their customer support.

Private Seafile servers

One of the most important things to remember about Seafile is that you can choose to host your data in the cloud, or you can choose to run your own Seafile server. The latter option is usually preferred by businesses concerned with data privacy and trade secrets, so this is a very important distinction to make when comparing Seafile to other cloud sharing.

However, if you want to jump straight in and try Seafile, you can do so immediately using their Seacloud web service. You can connect to Seacloud storage using a desktop or mobile device, too. There is no need to run your own server - it's an option.

The Seafile Windows server 2.0.x has just been released, so it's a great time to give it a try. The Windows server 1.x requires Python to be installed first, then the server software. It's actually not at all complicated to do, and there is great documentation about the process on the Seafile website.

Download clients

Seafile is available to download in a variety of formats for many different devices and operating systems. Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, iOS, and a generic terminal client are all supported for the desktop client, while the server side is available for Windows, Linux and Raspberry Pi. Full details of version 1.0 for server and desktop client are also listed in case you have an older machine to work on.

How do you use Seafile?

When you upload your documents using Seafile, you can organise them into libraries of content. You can then choose to share either individual documents or entire libraries of files with your friends or colleagues, as you wish.

You can create groups of people in Seafile with which to work on projects. Group discussions about files or libraries of files can take place within Seafile, which makes it easy to trace why certain changes were made.

Documents can be edited within Seafile itself, so you don't need to keep track of file versions. It also makes Seafile a great alternative to Google Drive, as all of the collaborative tools and editing tools are built in. Files will be synchronised to all of your devices automatically.

Creating & sharing Seafile libraries & documents

When you first create a library in Seafile, you can choose to encrypt it with a password. This is a very valuable added security feature, especially when you consider that your colleagues may leave their phone apps logged in. At least you know whenever anyone accesses any of these documents, they'll need to re-enter the password.

Documents can also be encrypted individually, but obviously if you have encrypted the library itself you may instead decide this is enough security.

When you share a library or individual file, you can choose whether to grant read-write access to the files or to limit your share to read-only access. This is absolutely fantastic news if you want to share read-write access with the team who need to have access, then offer only a read-only view for other stakeholders, such as your boss and other project teams who need information.

The Shares tab is a quick way to see which of your files are shared with other users, but it doesn't show files that have been shared with you. When you share a single document with another Seafile user, it will show up under "Private Shares". You can also share a public link to an individual file, which will show under "Links". Shared libraries are listed under libraries.

Under My Home, you can see tabs for libraries of yours, libraries shared with you and your favourite, starred files.

Using Seafile groups

To make sharing easier, it is recommended that you create groups of people you will share files with. For the most part, you will probably have a whole library of files to share with a corresponding set of people, such as your family, colleagues working on Project X with you, or friends who share a hobby with you. Whether you're sharing the files individually or as a library, having the groups set up is far easier than sharing to each and every person individually.

Private server deployment options

Currently, deploying your very own self-hosted server with the Community Edition of Seafile is completely for free for anyone to try. Again, it's open source software. For businesses, there's a paid option, which includes more features (scalability, AWS S3 backend support) and priority support (you can ask Seafile staff to log in and debug your private server if there are any issues). Take a look and the differences between the Community and Business Editions of Seafile. Also note that only one user needs to pay for the account. Other users can be connected to the shared library.

Seacloud web service prices

If you don't have the means to manage your own Seafile private server, there's always the hosted version, Seacloud. The free Seacloud accounts come with 1 GB of storage and 5 GB/month traffic on shared links. For $10/month you can bump that up to a whopping 100 GB of storage and 50 GB traffic, or for $50/month you can get the large business plan of 500 GB storage and 250 GB of traffic. This includes unlimited libraries, unlimited groups, unlimited members in each of your groups.

Using the web client, Mac client and Android client

I happen to be a Mac user with an Android phone, so I can give first-hand accounts of the way these three clients work and interact with each other.

If you begin by using Seafile's web service, it may not be entirely clear which service to use when you start the Android and Mac applications. Choose SeaCloud.cc and enter in your login details, then you'll see your libraries. For Mac, this means typing in https://seacloud.cc/ as your server, then using the web login details.

At any stage, you can add more Seafile accounts from private web servers. It's quite easy to then switch between the accounts as you require.

When you log into Seacloud on the web, you can see a tab with a list of clients. This should show details IP addresses of any client devices connected to your account, such as Mac, Windows, Android and iOS clients.

Why choose Seafile?

After many years of using a variety of cloud storage offerings, I can wholeheartedly say that Seafile does offer something a little different. The security and sharing options available on Seafile documents are better than many others, and the ability to run your own Seafile server for free is absolutely the most important thing to note.

If you are concerned with data privacy, security and want fine-tuned sharing options, Seafile is for you. If you have a small to medium sized team and associated storage needs, you'll also find that the Seacloud pricing system is very modestly priced.

3 easy steps to check performance of Windows 8.1 PC

Microsoft has removed the graphical interface to the Windows Experience Index from Windows 8.1

Windows Experience Index benchmark tool measures a PC's performance in terms of its processor, memory, graphics, gaming graphics and hard disk, but finding it in Microsoft's latest Windows 8.1 OS is a little tricky but still available.

The tool has been around since Microsoft first introduced Windows Vista and although, it is not an accurate measure of PC performance, it can still be useful to identity a hardware deficiency.

According to Cnet, Microsoft has removed the graphical interface to the Windows Experience Index from Windows 8.1, however, users can search for its through command prompt by typing 'winsat preop' that will run the benchmark and store results on the PC as XML files.

Users can then open the Windows Powershell as administrator, and type "Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_WinSAT" and press Enter, which will analyze the results in the XML files, and present them as scores for each category.

The report said that CPUScore is the score for the processors on the PC, D3DScore is for the 3D graphics capabilities, DiskScore is the score for the sequential read throughput on the system hard disk, GraphicsScore is for the graphics capabilities, and MemoryScore is for the memory throughput and capacity of the PC.

The base score is displayed as the number next to WinSPRLevel, which is just the lowest score of the five categories

How to hide your Gmail ID from 'Google+ strangers'

Since the feature isn't as tough to undo as it appears, users can simply opt-out of it without much hassle.

Google recently announced a Google+ integration with its email service that allows people to send emails to any Google+ user without knowing their email ID.

The feature would not expose a user's email address until they reply to that email, but it may lead to an undesirable spam-like clutter in the Gmail inbox.

However, since the feature -- which is to be rolled out in a couple of days -- isn't as tough to undo as it appears, users can simply opt-out of it without much hassle.

According to CNET, users need to click the Settings menu, and turn off the 'by default email via Google+ feature' under the General tab; they can choose a setting they are most comfortable with. They can select from options like 'Circles', 'Extended Circles' or 'No One' and save the changes to switch back the old email receiving settings.

One rank, one pension: Ex-servicemen welcome the scheme

Ex-servicemen have welcomed 'one rank, one pension' scheme announced in interim Union budget. However, they feel that the decision has been inspired by forthcoming general elections in country.

Air Marshal (retired) Harish Masand said it is a very good gesture from government. Finally, he said, the struggle in battle filed has borne fruits. Recalling the days of dharnas at Jantar Mantar and India Gate, Masand said, "More then 21,000 medals (gallantry) were returned by ex-servicemen to President as part of their protest."

He added that jawans and junior commissioned officers of all three forces will be benefitted.

Brig (retired) Madan Mohan Bhanot said it is the best decision taken by government for the welfare of ex-servicemen but the time is not appropriate. He said the decision seems to have been inspired by the forthcoming elections. "The same provision was always there for officers of the rank of lt general and above in all three forces," said Brig Bhanot adding that real beneficiaries would be those in other ranks especially the jawans, who would now be able to provide better education for their children and improve the quality of life.

Col (retired) Virendra Kumar Saini said, "Jawans retire after giving the prime of their youth for the cause of nation and get peanuts in return. He is also not trained to get suitable remunerations in corporate sector, therefore the chances of his respectable earnings are reduced. For such people, this decision will really mean a lot and they will be able to lead a quality life."

List of Central Government Job Opportunities for Engineering Graduates

Jobs opportunities for engineers in different government organizations

In our country every year there are millions of students who are completing their BE/BTech courses and from our state itself almost 2 lakh students are completing their engineering course every year and entering into the job market. But many of them are not having proper awareness about the jobs being offered in the state or central government for the engineering students. So in this scenario let us checkout the employment opportunities available for the BE/BTech candidates in the government organizations and the qualifications required to apply for those jobs on completing their course.

Jobs for Engineers in Maharatna, Navaratna and Miniratna companies…..

Every engineering student dreams about getting a job in the Maharatna and Navaratna companies as one can get best remuneration in the starting of the career as well as other facilities to reach a top position in their career. To those who have completed their BE/BTech course have many job opportunities in the central government Maharatna, Navaratna and Miniratna companies. But for recruiting almost all the companies take the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) score as a standardand along with that based on the company some may also conduct group discussion and interview to fill the entry level vacancies (Trainee engineer/ Junior engineer). To apply for these jobs one should have completed their engineering course with a good percentage of marks else should be in their final year. There is also an age limit to apply for these jobs and to the specified job one should not cross the age limit. Moreover, one should also have applied for the Gate examination. But most of the jobs in these companies are available for Civil/Mechanical/Electrical/Electronic core branches only.

GATE Examination Pattern:

In this computer based examination which is conducted for a 3 hours time there shall be given 65 questions for a total of 100 marks. Some questions are given in the objective method while some may come in the numerical answer method.

Remuneration: Initially one can earn a salary of 8 to 9 lakhs rupees per annum plus shall be entitled to all the facilities of a government job.

Indian Air Force:

In the Indian air force there are job opportunities in three departments for the engineering qualification like flying branch, technical branch and ground duty branch.

Flying branch:

Those who are qualified in this branch should perform duties like fighter pilot, helicopter pilot or transport pilot.

Through Graduation with CDSE

The BE/BTech candidates can join the flying branch by qualifying in the Combined Defence Services Examination conducted by the UPSC.

Eligibility:

Unmarried

Only male candidates

BE/BTech passout. 10+2 should be done with maths and physics

Those in the final semester studying related courses are also eligible

Age limit: 19-23 years to the specified date

Notification: Twice in a year (June, October)

For more details visit website: www.upsc.gov.in

NCC special entry:

National cadet corps (NCC) who has a “C” grade certificate can enter the flying branch as a special entry.

Eligibility:

Unmarried

BE/BTech qualified with 60% marks from a recognized university. 10+2 should be completed with maths and physics

Should have “c” certificate from the NCC air wing senior division

Those in the final year with related course are also eligible\

Age limit: 19-23 years to the specified date

Application form: Should apply through NCC air squadrons/director general, NCC. Notification regarding this is released in employment news and other newspapers.

SSC (Short Service Commission) entry:

Both male and female candidates are eligible and can join through the AFCAT.

Eligibility: Unmarried

BE/BTech pass out with 60% marks. !0+2 should be done with maths and physics.

Age limit: 19 to 23 years.

Notification: For the air force common admission test notification shall be released every year in the month of June and December.

For more details one can login to www. careerairforce.nic.in

Through UPSC Indian Engineering Services Exam

Different engineering posts in the central government organizations are also filled up through the Indian engineering services (IES) exam being conducted by the UPSC. Engineers shall be taken in different sections of the four departments like –civil, mechanical, electrical, electronics and communication.

Jobs through UPSC IES exam:

Indian railway service of engineers, Indian railway stores service, central engineering service, Indian defence service of engineers, Indian ordinance factories service, central water engineering grade “A” service, central engineering service (Roads) group-A, assistant executive engineer-border roads engineering services, assistant executive engineer P & T building works grade “A” service, Indian naval armament service, central power engineering service- grade A, Indian telecommunication service.

Eligibility: Pass out from recognized university in BE/BTech

Age limit: 21 to 30 years to the date specified. Relaxation in age for 3 years to OBC category candidates and 5 years to SC and ST candidates

Selection: Written test and Personal interview

Written test: Shall be conducted in two sections. First section contains total objective questions whereas Second section descriptive based questions. Those who have qualified in the written test shall have the interview.

Website: www.upsc.gov.in

Research organizations:

Engineering graduates have so many opportunities in Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), BABA atomic research center (BARC), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), department of science and technology (DST), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), and Department of Space so on. Let us see the details….

Entrance into BARC through GATE

BARC under the central government offers many scientist level jobs to the enthusiasts taking GATE score as a standard. For this it has started a special training school. First it shortlists candidates based on the GATE score for entering into the training school and those on completion of training in the specific duration shall be appointed as scientists in their BARC center. Right now two training schemes are being offered.

For the engineering graduates and science post graduates an orientation course is offered for duration of 1 year: Those candidates who finish the training course with at least 50% marks shall be taken as scientific officer in different units of the atomic center.

DAE graduate fellowship program for engineering graduates and physics post graduates is also being offered: Those who are able to get seats in M.Tech or ME (chemical) in the institutes recognized by the center shall get their tuition fee and stipend being paid by BARC. For these candidates job is guaranteed in the DAE. As soon as these candidates complete their first year post graduate study should do their internship in different departments of the atomic center.

Eligibility: Minimum 60% marks in BE/BTech/BSc (engineering) pass/BE or BTech (engineering physics) with 60% pass out. Along with the academic qualifications Gate score card is mandatory.

For more information on OCES / DGFS

Website: oces.hbni.ac.in

Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology:

Those candidates who have passed out in first class from the Thiruvananthapuram IIST BTech aerospace engineering, Avionics and Physical sciences shall be appointed as junior engineer/Scientist in the rocket research centers under the space administration department. Selection shall be based on the academic record and interview.

Website: www.iist.ac.in

Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO)

DRDO plays a very important role in the research and development of weapons, missiles and other advanced technical equipment to enhance the country’s defence system. There are almost 50 laboratories working under its control and there are so many job opportunities in these centers for the engineering graduates as junior engineers and scientists.

DRDO Entry Test

Campus recruitment:

Previously for recruitments into DRDO a Scientist Entry Test (SET) used to be conducted. But due to some reasons there is no SET now and are providing job opportunities through campus recruitment. Students doing their BE/BTech courses from reputed institutes like IIT/NIT/IISC are being selected for jobs through campus recruitment. Those who passed out BE/BTech with 65% marks in the first attempt are eligible for the scientist –B jobs and DRDO conducts an interview to select them.

Aeronautical Research and Development Board Fellowship: Through this also one can enter into DRDO in the scientist-B category. Those doing B.tech courses in aeronautical engineering from national level colleges are being offered fellowships by ARDB. After completing their course if they can qualify in the DRDO interview a job is guaranteed to them.

Lateral Entry Scheme in DRDO:

Those who are having research experience along with qualifications can find career opportunities from scientist-B to scientist-G. Based on the academic merit and work experience interviews are conducted to finalize the selection. Notifications regarding this are given in the employment news.

Website: www.drdo.gov.in

AP Genco, A.P Transco

There are also many opportunities in the Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation (AP Genco) and Andhra Pradesh Transmission Corporation (AP Transco) for the engineering graduates.

Those who have done BE/BTech in electrical engineering can apply for these posts. Selection shall be based on a written test and notifications to fill in these vacancies are advertised in different newspapers.

Website: www.aptransco.gov.in,www.apgenco.gov.in

In Andhra Pradesh state through APPSC

In A.P State to fill various Assistant Executive Engineer posts (AEE) APPSC is conducting the exams on behalf of the engineering departments. Based on the vacancies notifications for recruitment are released.

Recruitment for departments: AEE (civil, electrical, mechanical)- “ I and CAD” engineering service, R&B service, AEE panchayati raj, Triabal welfare engineering service.

Eligibility: BE/BTech pass out in the concerned branch

Selection process: Written test

Written test: Total three papers and all questions are given in multiply choice pattern.

Website: www.apspsc.gov.in

How to password protect your iWork documents for web sharing

The updates rolled out for Pages, Numbers, Keynote and iWork documents allows for an added layer of security to web sharing.

Apple recently updated its iWork office suite, allowing users to password protect specific documents for web sharing, however, despite iOS interface appearing a little tricky otherwise, adding password to iWork data is extremely simple.

The updates rolled out for Pages, Numbers, Keynote and iWork documents allows for an added layer of security to web sharing.

According to Cnet, to add a password to the iOS, iCloud or Mac version of the iWork app, a user open the respective document and tapping on the settings icon and select the 'Select Password'.

One can also choose to make the iOS app or Mac device to remember the password, however, a password for one device is specific to that device and there is no syncing across platforms or iCloud connected devices.

The report said that adding a password on OS X is a little different, as a user doesn't need to open the document, but instead click on File in the toolbar, followed by 'Set Password' option.

User can also select the Share icon, then 'View Share Settings' and set a password by selecting 'Add Password' for OS X.

The updated features allow users to share password-protected iWork documents using an iCloud.com link and any changes made to an iCloud -shared document will sync across all devices, the report added.

How to prepare for the end of Windows XP

Microsoft has two suggestions for those still using Windows XP: upgrade the operating system or buy a new PC.

As Microsoft has been reminding its customers for many months, support for its Windows XP operating system ends on April 8. While your Windows XP computer will continue to run, Microsoft will not be providing security updates and other patches to keep the system safer from viruses and other malware attacks. The company also announced that it would not be providing an XP-compatible version of its Microsoft Security Essentials software on its site, either.

Microsoft has two suggestions for those still using Windows XP: upgrade the operating system or buy a new PC. The system requirements for Windows 8.1, the latest operating system, may be a little high for older hardware.

You need a machine with at least a 1-gigahertz processor, 1 gigabyte of memory, 16 gigabytes of hard drive space and a graphics card compatible with DirectX9 and the Windows Display Driver Model software.

Microsoft's site has a tutorial on potentially upgrading from Windows XP, including links to an upgrade assistant program that checks your current machine to see if it can run Windows 8.1. You can check to see if your older programs work on Windows 8.1 on the Compatibility Center page.

If neither of these options sounds appealing or possible, you have other choices. You can continue on with Windows XP with third-party security software, although you may find fewer sites, services and programs that continue to work with an operating system that was first released in 2001.

Although it may take some heavy lifting and expertise, some people have found extended life for old hardware by installing the open-source Linux operating system, which tends to have less-intensive system requirements than other operating systems.

How to type out into PDF forms

Static or “flat” forms that do not accept text input are often scans of paper documents or files intended for printing.

Some PDF files are created to accept and save the text you type in on your computer. These interactive PDF files are typically referred to as "fillable," and they can be made with several programs, including Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Word. Static or "flat" forms that do not accept text input are often scans of paper documents or files intended for printing.

But even if a form is flat, you may be able to add your own text using different programs. Although you can add comments and notes to files, the free Adobe Reader software cannot enter and save text on its own unless the form was created to be fillable.

People with the full Adobe Acrobat program, though, can use the Typewriter option. In recent versions of Acrobat, under the Tools menu on the right side of the screen, go to the Content menu and select "Add or Edit Text Box" to get to the Typewriter tool, then click into the form fields and start typing.

The full version of Adobe Acrobat XI Pro costs $450 and even though a free 30-day trial is available to download, there are other ways to fill in flat PDF forms.

In many cases, Mac users can use the free Preview app that comes with OS X; the app can often recognize text fields in forms and includes text annotation tools, although some users report having to resave the file as a PDF so other programs can see the text.

How to type out into PDF forms

How to print photos from your smartphone

Here are tips on how to print photos which are saved in your smartphone's SD card or internal storage.

Unless your phone and printer are compatible for wireless printing (through technology like Google's Cloud Print or Apple's AirPrint, for example), one approach is to first transfer a full resolution copy of the photo to a computer.

You can do this by emailing it to yourself, uploading it through a Bluetooth or USB cable connection between phone and computer, or using a file-transfer app. Once you have transferred the file, decide how you want to print it. If your computer's printer has an adjustable tray that accepts photographic paper (available at office supply stores) in the size you want, you can try printing it there.

If your printer is not equipped to handle photographs or you are dissatisfied with the quality, you can upload it to one of the many online services that outputs photo files and mails back the prints. You can also copy the photo onto a portable USB flash drive and take it to a drugstore or shop that has a photo printing machine available.

Such a machine will let you plug in a portable drive, select the photos and create prints, usually for less than 50 cents for each 4-by-6-inch copy. Some drugstores, (like CVS and Walgreens), even have their own apps that let you order prints from your smartphone for store pickup later, which allows you to skip the step of copying the photo file to the computer for printing.

The same online photo services that let you upload photos and receive prints by mail — including Snapfish, iPhoto and Shutterfly — have apps for ordering prints right from the smartphone, too.

Courses To Advance Your Career

Online classes can be fascinating. They cover everything from comic books to financial markets, and can be taken from the comfort of your home.
But they also require a big time commitment that can take away from doing other things. So for many considering online classes as an inexpensive form of professional development and career advancement, the key questions is: Is it worth your time investment?
The answer is rarely, says Lou Adler, a hiring expert and CEO of the Adler Group. Adler believes that online courses are only helpful for career advancement when the course-taker can demonstrate to an employer how the knowledge or skills obtained in the class could apply to their job.
For job seekers looking to capitalize on additional online education, Adler says this might mean creating sample work that you can show. Instead of telling him, "Hey Lou, I've just taken a statistics class," he explains that the person can do some statistical analysis based on what was learned, and submit it as part of an interview or application.
For those already employed in stable jobs, Adler says it could be valuable to use online courses to stay abreast of the latest in their field. "If someone is past the entry-level kind of positions, if they're constantly evaluating some of the latest data trends or technical trends related to their position, I would give that person a plus," he says.
He adds that any STEM class would probably be somewhat useful to take, and have broad applicability in the workplace.
The bottom line: There's certainly nothing wrong with taking online courses. But in terms of your career, they're only valuable if you can prove to employers that what you learned isn't just helping you - it's also benefiting them.

Five steps for a better-looking TV

New TVs ship with settings to make them look good in the store, not in your living room. Here are some some easy ways get your picture looking the way you want it.

TV factory settings are generally designed to look good in bright, fluorescent retail stores -- not your living room. To get the best TV picture, you'll need to make some adjustments.

This guide begins with some of the simpler (but impactful) settings -- like disabling unnecessary features and adjusting basic options -- before diving into some of the more in-depth calibration techniques. Give it a whirl; if you make it through the fifth step, you're sure to have a better-looking TV.

1. Disable any extras, like the "Soap Opera Effect"
TVs purchased any time over the last few years are likely stocked with seemingly arbitrary features, like "Motion enhancement,""Noise filtering," and "Motion Eye Care."

"Motion enhancement," (also known as "Auto Motion Plus" on Samsung TVs) is a feature that attracts polarized opinions. When enabled, the setting makes anything playing look like a soap opera, as it attempts to reduce motion blurring and introduce a more real-life quality.

Noise filtering, along with Motion Eye Care, and even MPEG Filtering, should, for the most part, be disabled. Disabling these settings, along with the Soap Opera Effect, will improve the quality.

2. Check the aspect ratio

Maybe you wanted to get rid of the black bars. Or, maybe you were watching a older 4:3 format show. Whatever the case, your TV's aspect ratio might not currently match the input source (like a cable box or DVD player), and may be cutting off parts of the picture.

As you switch between sources, be sure to check the aspect ratio, a setting that can be found in the general settings menu or through a dedicated button on your remote (usually "P. Size" or "Aspect").

3. Adjust the basic (most impactful) settings
Sometimes, changing a few basic settings can make a big impact on your TV's settings.

Like aspect ratio, make a habit of accessing your TV's picture modes as you switch between programming. For instance, many TVs have a "Movie" mode, while some even have "Gaming" and "Sports." These presets are designed to optimize the picture settings for the content you're watching -- and they're usually accurate.

These presets can also act as foundations for fine-tuning. For example, you could choose "Dynamic," then dive into the picture settings and make adjustments for brightness, backlight, contrast, and color temperature.

4. Get a settings cheat sheet from the pros
If freestyling menu options sounds like a daunting task, CNET might have a cheat sheet for you.

Whenever CNET's TV expert, David Katzmaier, reviews a new TV, he also posts recommended picture settings based on his testing. His cheat sheets include all the basics, but also dive into some of the more advanced settings, like white balance, along with those extra features (like the Soap Opera Effect).

If you can't find David's settings for your TV specifically, give TweakTV a try. It's another trusted resource with an expansive library of recommended settings.

5. Pick up a calibration disc
While you can achieve great results by calibrating your TV by eye, more accurate adjustments can be made with a calibration disc.

S N M REDDY

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Five steps for a better-looking TV

New TVs ship with settings to make them look good in the store, not in your living room. Here are some some easy ways get your picture looking the way you want it.

S NAGA MALLESWARA REDDY

S Naga Malleswara Reddy

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