The freeware allows you to quickly download videos from Google Video, Metacafe, YouTube, and other locations. If you use Internet Explorer then there’s a plug-in synced directly with the program. The app runs directly from your system tray so it’s out of the way and easy to reach.

The video download in FLV format, so if you you do use the program make sure you have a player that reads these files.

With Autoruns you can discover which programs are set to load up during login. It will also provide information relating to how Windows processes them. A slew of information is also provided along the lines of:

- Startup Folder
- Run (programs)
- RunOnce (programs)
- Registry keys

With Autoruns you can also monitor Internet Explorer and show what shell extensions, and other plug-ins that load at start.

After using these various utilities, it’s vital to only load the programs that are of high importance at boot up. This leads to better computer safety and allows your computer to run faster.

Just like the Add/Remove feature all of your installed programs will be displayed in a list. Entry name, product name, version history, description will all be present, and I actually even like the interface more than the Windows app. Here are some extra features with the program you can take advantage of:

- Delete an uninstall entry.

- Save a list of all installed apps into a text or HTML file

- There is information provided in UnInstaller that is absent from the Add/Remove app.

The UnInstaller program is free so you can try it without consequence. It might not be for everyone, but if the features listed above strike your interest then give it a shot.

The Windows 7 Launch Party is an event that Microsoft is hoping will create some buzz for their OS. To entice people to host these events, Microsoft will be giving away a free copy of Windows 7 Ultimate. Of course, there are limited entries so be sure and get signed up as soon as possible. Here are a list of rules in the fine print:

The Sweepstakes is only open to entrants who, as of the entry date, (a) are permanent legal residents of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia, (b) are at least eighteen (18) years old, and (c) have been selected by House Party, Inc. (“HPI”) to be a host of a “Windows® 7 Launch Party” on the national HPI party date of October 22, 2009

The Sweepstakes entry period begins at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) on September 17, 2009 and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on October 1, 2009 (the “Entry Period”). Sponsor’s computer is the official timekeeping device for the Sweepstakes.

There are four different themes for hosting your party and are:

- PhotoPalooza
- Media Mania
- Setting up with Ease
- Family Friendly Fun

If you’re looking for a free option, then you’ll find no better program than TeamViewer. You can remote control your PC from anywhere, and access more options. First, you can share files, chat, etc. If you’re using the program for personal use it is absolutely free.

Installation isn’t required either. All you have to do is run the application from both sides and you’re connected. If you have your system logged out, Teamviewer can remotely connect a system as well. You can also reboot, or restart.

For more information, you can visit TeamViewer’s official website.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: August 11, 2009
Contact: Moira Vahey, Free Press, (202) 265-1490 x31

WASHINGTON — Today, six consumer and public interest groups sent a letter to FCC Chair Julius Genachowski presenting a list of priorities for policy changes in broadband data collection. The letter calls for the completion of an open proceeding that would expand collection of broadband availability data and for the coordination of data-collection efforts between the NTIA broadband grant programs and the FCC.

The letter commended Genachowski’s recent commitments to bring a fact-based and data-driven focus to the FCC and offered three key recommendations for the agency to make good on its promise:

* Issue a Report and Order Revising Form 477. The Commission should require all providers to report census block-level broadband availability data. This data is necessary for effective broadband policy at the FCC and aligns with the data collection plans at the NTIA.

* Coordinate with the NTIA on Data Collection. The FCC should coordinate with the NTIA to access the data submitted to the NTIA’s mapping program, as authorized under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This data will be valuable for formulating the National Broadband Plan and other policy work at the FCC in the coming months. The FCC should also collaborate with the NTIA to address any problems relating to uniformity and standardization of data collection by NTIA state grantees.

* Conduct a Wide Review of Broadband Data Collection. In addition to broadband availability, the FCC should look at other critical broadband data such as speed, price, cost, revenue, location, capacity and middle-mile data. This data can be used to produce a complete picture of the nation’s information infrastructure, market competition and consumers’ online experience.

The groups that signed on to the letter include Free Press, Consumer Federation of America, New America Foundation, Media Access Project, Public Knowledge and Consumers Union.

“The FCC needs a short-term plan of action for broadband data collection,” said Ben Scott, policy director at Free Press. “We are offering these policy changes as priorities for the public interest. We applaud the agency for its focus on data collection and look forward to working with the Commission on these issues.”

CCleaner is a freeware that optimizes your system, protects your privacy, and cleans out unnecessary files. The first function that CCleaner provides you is that it removes unused files from your system. It’s quite staggering how many files you have on your computer that you really don’t use. Sometimes you’ll forget about them, or they’re hidden in some remote folder. Well, CCleaner tracks those files down and gets rid of them for you.

For your online security, CCleaner will completely clear out your internet history. While this helps with keeping people from seeing where you’ve been, it also helps performance of your system and browser.

Finally, CCleaner provides a means to clean out your registry. Here is where you’ll find your best means to improve your system’s performance. Cleaning out your system’s registry is a function very few people undertake, and can solve so many problems for you.

CCleaner page

What’s great about Anicore is that you can utilize hardware based rendering. This way you aren’t using up CPU to render your windows, and instead will run of the video card. You can also use more quality animations using this method as well.

Here are the requirements for the program.

· .NET Framework 2.0
· 1GHz Processor or higher
· 256MB RAM or higher
· Microsoft Visual Studio

If you’re interested, you can check the program out here.

TweakNow’s WinSecret 2009 can safely change your registry values, so you can increase your performance without the negative outcomes. There’s a wide variety of settings that can be adjusted, here are some examples:

* Applications
* Control Panel
* Desktop
* Miscellaneous
* Network & Internet
* OEM Info
* Special Folders
* Start Menu
* User Accounts
* Windows Core
* Windows Explorer

For more information, check out the official WinSecret page.

The main objective of the Harris Poll was to find out which devices users have in their homes. The Blu-Ray, winner of the format war just isn’t making penetration into the market like was originally hoped.

What’s even more staggering than that was a question that Harris asked poll takers.

“You indicated that you do not own a Blu-ray disc player. How likely are you to purchase one within the next year?”

and here are the results…