Melissa Popp, Author at Make Tech Easier

Upgrading to Windows 8.1 – What Have Changed For the Default Apps

Many default apps in Windows 8 were upgraded with additional functionality with the Windows 8.1 upgrade. Let’s look at the changes to Windows 8.1 apps.

5 Reasons Why You Should Use a Password Manager

Many people scoff at the idea of using a password manager as hey feel they’re too complicated to use. The truth is, password managers are one of the best ways to manage your passwords on the Web. We’ll show you why.

Addicted to Twitter/Facebook? 7 Ways to Beat the Addiction

If you’re addicted to Facebook or Twitter, or both, you can beat the social media addiction with these seven tricks and get yourself back to the real world.

Upgrading to Windows 8.1 for Every Windows OS

Windows 8.1 is here. We’ll show you the basic process to upgrading to Windows 8.1, starting with Windows XP and all the way to Windows 8.1 Pro Preview.

Gain Complete Control Over Windows Sound Profiles With SoundVolumeView

Imagine having one sound profile for listening to music and another for watching videos. SoundVolumeView gives you complete control over your Windows sound profiles.

Is Leaving Mobile Devices Turned On During a Flight Really Dangerous?

Does leaving mobile devices on can really cause a hazard? Or is it a conspiracy theory that the authority leads you to believe?

Add Self-Destruct (And Many Other) Features to Gmail with mxHero

Gmail is great, but it definitely can be better. Being able to send messages at a later date, send self-destructing messages, tracking attachments and more options would make Gmail the perfect email service. That’s where mxHero Toolbox comes in handy for Gmail users.

Enhance the Windows Clipboard with ClipJump

If Microsoft invested even a fraction of the amount of time it does on Windows 8, the Windows clipboard could be something revolutionary in the computer world. Instead, the Windows clipboard is a dull, barely functional tool for the majority of users. ClipJump is a supercharged Windows Clipboard add-on that helps make it different.

Search Windows Easier and Faster with SwiftSearch

One of the biggest memory drains on a Windows computer is search indexing. If you’re looking for a more intelligent way to search Windows PC without having to index it, take a look at SwiftSearch.

How to Find Lost Emails in Gmail

Every once in a while, you just can’t seem to find the email you’re looking for. For most users, the emails are lost because they’re deleted or filtered into a Spam or Trash folder. We’ll show you how to find lost emails in Gmail.

Maximize Application’s Performance in Windows with FullThrottle

Most OS set the CPU to run at a third of its speed so as to save battery life. If you are looking to run an application at full CPU speed, FullThrottle is a useful app for you.

How to Prepare for the Windows 8.1 Release

Microsoft will release Windows 8.1 to the public on October 17, 2013. Whether you were waiting for the final release or you upgraded to the Pro Preview already, we will show you how to prepare for the first major upgrade to Windows 8.

How to Set Individual App Languages in Windows 8

Dealing with languages in the Windows 8 is cumbersome and buggy at best. We showed you how to change the overall language in Windows 8, now we’ll show you how to set individual app languages.

Font Changer Lets You Change Every Font on the Web

Fonts play an important part of a website. If a particular website has font that irks you, you can now make use of Font Changer to change the font on the Web.

Remove Cookies Per Tab with Tab Cookies for Chrome

Browser cookies are generally harmless but for those don’t want web sites to access to your personal information, you can now remove cookies in Chrome on a per-tab basis.

Add Events to Google Calendar From Anywhere in the Web

One of the biggest complaints about Google Calendar is that you can’t add events to Google Calendar without visiting the site. With Spot – Calendar’s Best Friend, you will be able to add events to Google Calendar, whenever you come across one anywhere in the Web.

How to Remove Folders from “This PC” in Windows 8.1

Windows 8.1 introduced a variety of folders to This PC, and some of them aren’t really necessary. Check out how you can remove folders from This PC in Windows 8.1.

How to Share Clipboard Items Between Chrome Browsers

For those of us who use multiple computers for one reason or another, being able to copy from one of them to another is extremely beneficial. Clipboard Sync for Google Chrome provides a good solution for users to copy and paste information between the browser from PC to PC.

How to Install Windows 8 Apps Without the Windows Store

Windows 8 only allows users to install apps from the Windows Store. You will need to do a modification to install windows 8 apps without the store. Here’s the way.

How to Recover From a Virus Attack [Windows]

Your computer can get infected by virus easily if you are not careful. Don’t worry, following these steps, you can recover from a virus attack quickly.

Get a Better Extension Manager In Chrome With SimpleExtManager

The extension manager in Chrome has always given users the bare minimum to work with when dealing with extensions, themes and apps. The SimpleExtManager for Chrome gives users the functionality they deserve.

Speed Dial with Full Online Sync For Firefox

Even being a veteran browser, Firefox has not been able to implement the Speed Dial function well. That’s where FVD Speed Dial comes into play. This fully functional Firefox addon fundamentally changes the Speed Dial feature to what it should have been all along.

6 Reasons Why Windows 8.1 Failed Users

There’s been a lot of talk about what the changes in Windows 8.1 have done right for Windows 8. Very few users have talked about why Windows 8.1 actually failed them. We were not impressed with Windows 8.1 and here are some of the reasons why there are still tons of improvement need to be made in Windows 8.1.

Make the Firefox Download Panel More Useful

When Firefox introduced the Download Panel in Build 20, they didn’t include any customization options for it. While the Download Panel was a welcome addition to the browser, the add-on Download Panel Tweaks makes it more functional in Firefox.

Use Bloody Vikings! to Quickly Create a Disposable Email in Firefox

Disposable email addresses can be used to check out mailing lists, prevent spam and help avoid having to give out your real email address. Bloody Vikings! for Firefox enables you to create disposable email addresses quickly and efficiently within your browser.

Manage Gmail from a Dedicated Panel in Firefox

We’re always looking for ways to better manage Gmail, whether it’s using Gmail offline or automatically backing up your Gmail attachments to the cloud. If you use Firefox, you can take advantage of Gmail panel to manage your e-mail account in a single panel.

How to Allow Windows 8 Apps to Access Files on External Drives

When you are running Windows 8 modern apps, you will find that the Windows 8 apps have no access to files on external drives. It is unclear why Microsoft impose such limitation to their apps, but you can easily get around this issue by tricking Windows 8 into thinking your external drive is actually a Windows library.

Upgrading to Windows 8.1: What You Need to Know

Microsoft has released the Windows 8.1 Pro Preview. It’s available as an upgrade to all Windows 8 users. In the meantime, users can make the choice if they want to take advantage of Microsoft’s beta test of the first Service Pack for Windows 8.

How to Clear App Notifications When Logging Off Windows 8

One of the common issues with Windows 8 is that app notifications keep appearing after you have seen them. You may restart your PC and see the same notifications you did when you logged off. Using the Local Group Policy Editor, you can clear these app notifications when you log off your computer.

How to Use Popular Aero Features in Windows 8

Windows Aero became a popular interface for PC users with the release of Windows Vista in 2007, but only a portion of it still remain in Windows 8. For users who want to utilize Aero features in Windows 8 and are not sure how to do so, here are the methods you can use to enjoy Aero features.

How to Enable Mic Boost on Windows 8

Have you ever used Skype and your voice can barely be heard by those you call? If so, you may need to boost your mic. Boosting your mic in Windows 8 can make it much easier for those you’re on a call with to hear you. If someone on the other end says you’re speaking too low, boosting your mic is a quick and easy solution.

Get Detailed Information About Wifi Networks Around You

Knowing detailed information about the WiFi networks around you can be beneficial for diagnosing problems and just getting an idea of what others are doing in your area. WifiInfoView is a free utility that lets you see detailed information about Wifi networks from SSIDs to MAC addresses to router models and more.

Use Clueful to Learn Your Privacy Risk on Android

Do you know what your Android apps have permission to do? Many Android users skip through what permissions an app needs in order to start using it as quickly as possible. However, Clueful is a powerful app that helps you learn your privacy risk, identifying Android apps that can potentially abuse your privacy.

How to Avoid Malware Apps in the Google Play Store

Malware has become a concern for Android users. While Google has a rigid policy in place to protect users by screening apps that go live, they can’t catch them all. How can you avoid malware apps in the Google Play Store and not be one of those people who get infected?

Securely Delete Files in Windows with DeleteOnClick

Many PC users believe that when you delete a file and empty your Recycle Bin, you’ve securely deleted any file or folder within it. This just isn’t true. Those files can still be recovered with the right software. In order to securely delete files in Windows, you need to rely on third party program. DeleteOnClick is one of them.

How to Add or Remove Language Packs in Windows 8

Most Windows PCs come with English as their default language. However, you can add or remove language packs as necessary and Windows 8 makes it easier than ever. While in Windows 7, only the Ultimate or Enterprise version comes with the ability to install additional languages via Windows Update, language packs in Windows 8 can be quickly downloaded and installed without much trouble.

How to Optimize Drives in Windows 8 to Improve Performance

Microsoft has revamped the functionality of its Disk Defragment tool. Optimize Drives in Windows 8 not only defrags your disks but can also help TRIM SSDs. This can free up a lot of space not being reintegrated into your PC as well as help improve the overall performance of Windows 8.

How to Backup Jump Lists in Windows

If you’re used to using jump lists in Windows, being able to backup jump lists and restore them on another PC can be beneficial. This article shows you how.

Manage Your Windows Libraries with WinAero Librarian

Windows lets users create, modify and even delete libraries, but for those who don’t know exactly how to go about it, it can be a confusing process. That’s where WinAero Librarian comes in handy and takes control of how you work with your Windows libraries.

Save Websites for Offline Viewing with WebCopy

There are some websites that we refer to regularly. Those websites could be handy to have offline in the event you can’t get on the Web, and WebCopy can make that happen. WebCopy allows you to not only save websites for offline viewing but allows you to customize how they download for optimal offline performance.

Open Source vs. Proprietary License: What You Need to Know About Software Licenses

When it comes to using, developing and promoting software online, the numerous licenses that accompany them can be confusing for even the most adept computer user. Can Open source and proprietary license work well together or are they destined to drive developers and users even further apart?

How to Conserve Space When Using Spotify on Android

With a large music library at your disposal, using Spotify Premium on your mobile device can quickly consume your available storage space. Here are a few ways to conserve space on an Android phone when using mobile Spotify offline which can enhance your experience with the service.

How to Manage Windows 8 Apps Directly From the Desktop

Windows App Boss is a handy tool to manage Windows 8 apps from the desktop. You can install, uninstall and even request a developer license from Microsoft through this program. It makes it easy for developers and the average PC user.

Add Extra Useful Menu to App Window With Windows Menu Plus

With Windows Menu Plus, you can add powerful new options to the Windows app title bars. If you ever wanted to be able to kill processes, change the transparency of windows or even free up unused menu from an app, Windows Menu Plus is the solution.

Troubleshoot Your PC Problems With the Reliability Monitor in Windows 8

Windows 8 introduced several nifty tools to diagnose and troubleshoot issues on your PC. The Windows 8 Reliability Monitor allows you to see system errors, warnings, informational events and critical events that can help you troubleshoot problems in Windows.