Get Windows 8 For Dummies E-book free from Dell

If you have Windows 8 and were just as confused as I was when I tried Windows 8 yesterday, then I have good news for you. Dell is giving away one free copy of the E-book Windows 8 For Dummies if you fill out a basic form. I've already got my copy saved to my hard drive ready to send to my Kindle app. If you want to get your hands on it too, then head to Dell's website and grab ...

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I tried Windows 8...

I've read a lot about how much people hate Windows 8 but I have never read much about how it actually works. I've seen screen shots and promo videos, but those never tell the true story. I read how Valve hates Windows 8 calling it a "disaster" but I've never seen videos from games played on Windows 8. Honestly I haven't even used Windows 7 that much. I primarily use Macs but I did buy a Windows 7 laptop last year for my wife and I have been using it more and more recently. I am not a fan of Windows...at least on the desktop platform. I love...

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Monday is video tutorial day!

This week's video tutorial will show you step by step how to back up your Windows 7 PC using Windows Backup and Restore. Before watching it you will need a few things. Things you will need: PC running Windows 7 External hard drive Approximately 1-2 hours Once you have everything in the list you can get started. If you are backing up a laptop, make sure you have the power plugged in. ...

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Pre-orders for black/white iPad mini sold out.

Both the white and black versions of the iPad mini are sold out. Apple has them listed on their site as shipping in two weeks. Hopefully you guys got your pre-orders in! ...

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White iPad mini first shipment sold out - shipping 1-2 weeks

If you haven't heard yet, Apple is releasing a smaller version of it's massively popular iPad called the iPad mini. You might find that if you want to get one you can head over to The Apple Store and pre-order one. However, you will notice the white one is listed as "Available to ship: 2 weeks" which means the first wave of them is already sold out. The black one is still showing "Delivers 11/2" which means you still have time to get this...

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Windows 8 now available

Microsoft's newest version of their desktop operating system, Windows 8, is available for download or you can have it shipped to your home or office. If you are upgrading and choose to download the OS you will pay only $39.99. If you want a physical copy of the OS then it will cost you $69.99 to have it shipped to you. If you are unfamiliar with what's new in Windows 8 head over to their website. Tablet running Windows ...

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Hurry up and pre-order the iPad mini!

Pre-orders started today for Apple's newest iPad, the iPad mini. In the past pre-orders for the iPad have been shut down in about 24 hours. So if you want to be in on the first batch of iPad minis then head over the Apple's website and reserve yours! Why are you still reading thi...

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Google Chrome is my browser of choice

Internet Explorer has been a dominant force in web browsers for over a decade. It is the only web browser bundled with the most widely used OS in the world, Windows. The fact that people don't have to download it makes it the obvious choice for most people. Many websites require that you be on a certain version of Internet Explorer in order for them to display properly. Corporations use it almost exclusively because network administrators don't need to download and install it on thousands of computers. It is just convenient! However, convenience...

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Post pictures to your blog from you WP7 using updatemyfeed

Remember MySpace? Looks like they redesigned it to resemble Windows 7. I don't know how long ago they did it. I mean, I haven't checked my profile on MySpace for years. Anyhow, it looks like Microsoft doesn't mind, unlike another computer company. I'm looking at you App...

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Updatemyfeed is a Blogger client for WP7

I'm posting this from my Nokia Lumia 900 right now from the app. This is my first attempt so we will see how it goes. You are able to post with pictures, but I will test that feature in my next post. Leave comments about this app if you have used it before and tell me what you thi...

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Is the new iPad mini worth it?

Just one day after the announcement of Apple's latest gadget, the iPad mini, the dust is beginning to settle but the excitement is still fresh. Is the iPad mini worth the trouble? I'm not sure, but I am sure of one thing and that is no matter if the iPad mini is worth the money, people will buy them...lots of them. Before we start getting into why I think the iPad mini is or is not worth your time and money, let's review a little bit about it. iPad...

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I love YouTube!

My YouTube channel is up and running. Head on over and search for "Chuckles the Techie" and check it out. I will be posting my tutorials here so please subscribe so you can get the latest advice on how to make technology work for y...

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Check Out The New iPad Mini!

Apple just announced the new iPad Mini today. It's basically an iPad 2 but in a smaller package. It starts at $329 and pre-orders start on October 26. Tell me what you think about the new iPad Mini. Head over to Apple's iPad Mini page to check it out. ...

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Tips For Creating Better Passwords

More and more websites are requiring more complex passwords to create an account. Your cat's name is no longer a good option (it wasn't a good one in the first place) for a password to create an account. Google requires a password that is at least 8 characters long with at least 1 number and 1 upper case letter. For example "newyorkjets15" is not a good password, but "NewYorkJets15" is a good password. The reason websites are requesting more complex passwords is that it is much harder to use "brute force" to get into an account. "Brute force"...

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The Best Games For iPhone and iPad

Bejeweled Blitz (Free) This game is probably the most popular match three game ever. You are given one minute to create as many matches of at least three like colored gems and get the highest score. Compete against your friends on Facebook to add the fun. Angry Birds ($.99 iPhone, $2.99 iPad) If you haven't heard of Angry Birds then you probably just got your new iPhone or iPad recently. Trust me, just download it. There are hundreds...

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3 Reasons to Sign Up For a Google Account

If you have an Android device you have probably noticed that your phone asks you to sign up for a Google account. If you haven't already I'm going to give you 3 reasons to get one. I'll also tell you how to get the most from your Android device and Google account. 1. Automatic backup of contacts With your new Google account on your Android device, you can backup your contacts automatically to Google's secure servers. This is especially helpful...

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Jellybean!

When I say jellybean do you think of candy or cell phones? I'm talking about the latest version of the mobile OS Android. The latest version is 4.1 codenamed "Jellybean". My problem with this latest version is that it was released when only about 10% of all Android devices were running the previous version, 4.0. In fact, even now the most common version is two years old, version 2.3 or Gingerbread. This is ridiculous! Apple releases a new version of iOS every year and with the latest version 6.0, more than 50% of all devices have it. Even with...

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5 Reasons to Buy A Smartphone and 5 Reasons to Keep Your Dumbphone

5 Reasons to Buy a Smartphone 1. Save time and money With the ability to stay connected to the internet wherever you go you have tremendous money and time saving tools in your hand. If you need to get gas, you can use your phone to find the cheapest gas nearest you. Forgot to clip coupons? There are plenty of websites and apps that you can use to digitally clip coupons and add them to your discount card. If you have lost your way to an event that is out of town and you need directions, a smartphone has GPS built right in so you can find your...

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5 Must Have Free Windows 7 Programs

If you just bought a computer or you just don't want to spend money on quality programs to get you started then this is the list for you. Let's go! Open Office (Productivity Suite) If you don't want to drop $130 for Microsoft Office, Open Office is a great substitute. It comes with its own variations of PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Access and more. It's everything you need for school or work without spending a dime! How is this possible? Well, Open Office is...um...open. It is open source which means anyone can input their ideas into the software...

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The New iPhone Sucks!

I have a lot of friends in the technology industry. Friends that work for cell phone carriers, friends that build apps for cell phones and tablets, computer science engineers, IT professionals, etc. On the other hand I have just as many if not more friends in other industries that utilize technology for their businesses and professions. I hear opinions from all areas of the spectrum so I would say I have a great idea of what type of people would...

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SketchParty TV from Magnate Interactive

Technology has a way of connecting people even though there are vast distances between them. However, this is being distorted to actually make people more distanced from their real personal relationships between friends and family. People are spending more time on their iPads and smart phones and less time having face to face conversations. Don't think this is an anti-tech post, after all we are all about the best technology here at Chuckles the Techie. This is all about an app from up and coming developer Magnate Interactive called SketchParty...

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How To Change Your Default Search Engine In IE 9

For most beginner computer users the most commonly used web browser is the only one bundled with Windows, Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer's default search engine is Microsoft's Bing. Say what you will about Bing, I personally like it, but many people will want to change it to some other search provider like Google. In this video I will show you how to change your default search engine to Google. ...

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5 Basic Things Everyone Should Know About Their Computer

1. Backup your files This is something simple that can help you in the event of a catastrophic failure of your computer. In the event that your computer gets a fatal virus or your main hard drive fails from use, having a complete system backup will be crucial to restoring all your personal or work files. Before you start you will need a few things: an external hard drive and backup software. An external hard drive is where you will store your backup image that you can use to restore your computer in the event of a fatal error or system...

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Welcome!

Hi everyone! My name is Chuckles and welcome to Chuckles the Techie. If you are here then you probably don't know much about technology or are just desiring to learn more about how technology can help you in your everyday life. My goal is to help you quickly and easily utilize technology so you can get the most out of your gadgets and devices. I will have short video tutorials that will clearly explain how to use and set up different devices and services. I will also post reviews on software and gadgets based not on what is the "best" or "most...

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