June 25, 2015

Windows 10 Transformation Pack Gives a Facelift to Windows 7 & 8

For those running legitimate copies of Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1, you can now reserve your free upgrade to Windows 10 which is coming at the end of July. But what if your computer isn’t compatible to upgrade to Windows 10 or you’re not ready to take the leap, yet? Does that mean you’re out of luck?
Well, yes and no.
Windows 10 is ever-evolving with new features, including a new Windows 10 gaming backbone, and while some of these functions can be replicated within Windows 7 and 8, not all of them can. If you desire the fullness of Windows 10, but you can’t upgrade, then yes, you’re out of luck.
But if you’d be happy with a reasonable approximation, then we have good news for you: there’s an easy-to-use transformation pack that will make you feel like you’re running the newest version of the operating system—even if you’re still on Windows XP, 7, or 8.

A Complete Change, Inside and Out

WindowsXLive, a website dedicated to all kinds of Windows interface tweaks and modifications, recently came out with version 3.0 of their Windows 10 Transformation Pack. If you think the name is an overstatement, it isn’t. It really gets down deep.
All you have to do is download the installer file, set the configuration options according to what you want, and let it do it’s thing behind the scenes. Various Windows 10 features can be toggled with the relevant checkboxes.


windows-10-transformation-pack


So what exactly does the pack change?
  • Implements genuine Windows 10 system resources.
  • System files are kept up-to-date and auto-repaired.
  • Themes, wallpapers, and login screens from Windows 10.
  • Relevant sounds, cursors, icons, and fonts.
  • Multiple desktops (also known as virtual desktops).
  • New Start Menu design with Cortana-like search.
The tricky part about the Windows 10 Transformation Pack is that it tampers with system files. Doing so is what allows it to give you the deep emulation of what Windows 10 offers, but altering system files is always risky, so we recommend setting up a System Restore point before giving this a try.
The Transformation Pack works with all versions starting with Windows XP. If you try it and don’t like it, simply re-run the uninstaller and it will revert everything back to the way it was. If it doesn’t, fall back on the System Restore Point that you made.

A Safer Alternative: The UX Pack

Not everyone is open to the risks of system tampering, which is why WindowsXLive provides a not-as-risky, but not-as-awesome alternative in the Windows 10 UX Pack.
Just to be clear, the UX Pack is still a full-blown visual makeover that will make you feel like you’re running Windows 10. But if we think of the Transformation Pack as a 90% faithful replication, then we can think of the UX Pack as a 70% faithful replication. It’s not perfect, but it’s certainly good enough.


windows-10-ux-pack


So what’s included with the UX Pack?
  • Themes, wallpapers, and logon screens from Windows 10.
  • Relevant sounds, cursors, and fonts.
  • Start Orb built from authentic Windows 10 resources.
  • Multiple desktops (also known as virtual desktops).
  • New Start Menu design with Cortana-like search.
Again, without the system files, you won’t get the full experience. It will be easy to tell that you’re running a re-skinned Windows 7 or 8 whereas the Transformation Pack makes it almost indistinguishable from Windows 10 for anyone who isn’t specifically looking for inconsistencies.
Which brings up another point: while the Transformation Pack is available for Windows XP and beyond, the UX Pack only works with Windows 7 and 8.

Which Features Are Still Missing?

Even with the Transformation Pack, there are a few features of Windows 10 that simply can’t be ported over to earlier versions without expending a considerable amount of blood, sweat, and tears. Two of the more desirable features are the notification center and the Cortana personal assistant.

The new notification center is a central place where all system alerts and messages will reside. While there’s no way to get an exact replica of its functionality, there is a third-party tool that offers something similar: Growl for Windows. Be warned that it will require a bit of setup to get right, and the latest release is from 2013.
As far as Cortana is concerned, you won’t find one that lives up to the same level of comprehensiveness. After all, Cortana does have the full backing of Microsoft’s resources behind its development.

That being said, you might want to try out Braina Virtual Assistant. The developers claim right off the bat that Braina is not meant to be a Siri or Cortana clone, but rather a productivity enhancer. It has dictation mode, can search for files and information, performs math calculations, controls windows and programs, and more:
In addition to all of the above, there are a couple of other novel Windows 10 features that you may want, including the OneGet Package Manager (our OneGet preview), which makes it easy to manage the programs installed on your system.

If your computer is able to make the upgrade, but you’re avoiding it for some reason, we recommend that you reconsider. It turns out that Windows 10 will be the final version of the operating system, meaning that sooner or later you’ll need to migrate over anyway (unless you switch to Linux), so why not take advantage while it’s free?

Source: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/windows-10-transformation-pack-gives-facelift-windows-7-8/

June 22, 2015

FocusWriter: Good Distraction-Free Writing Tool For Windows

There are plenty of free tools around that offer full-screen, distraction-free writing environment for Windows users. While some of the popular word processing tools such as Microsoft Word can also be used as distraction-free writing tool by tweaking its default settings, dedicated distraction-free applications offer more options and are actually free-to-use.

FocusWriter

FocusWriter is a free, full screen distraction-free writing application for Windows operating system. FocusWriter, unlike some other distraction free tools, allows you access each and every option using keyboard shortcut.


FocusWriter free


The interface includes nothing but a full-screen window with wood-finish theme as the background. You can access menus and toolbar by moving the mouse cursor to the top edge of the screen. Move the mouse cursor to bottom-edge of the screen view word count, time, and all open tabs (documents).
The ability to customize the interface is one of the highlights of the software. You can either choose one of the four themes or create your own one by selecting a background picture of your favorite one. And if you rather prefer a solid color for background, you can do so as well.


FocusWriter free picture1


You can set your daily goal (word count or time) by navigating to Preferences. Under preferences, you can change the default settings for format, spell checking, daily goal, and toolbar. The last tab under preferences includes all keyboard shortcuts and also enables you edit the default hotkeys.
FocusWriter is bundled with plenty of small but useful features. It offers timers and alarms, automatically saves the document that you’re currently working on (optional though), and remembers cursor position.


FocusWriter free picture3


Focused text is another worth mentioning feature of FocusWriter. The feature highlights only the line or the paragraph you are currently editing. You can set focus to one line, three lines or one paragraph. The feature is helpful while editing lengthy documents.


FocusWriter free picture2


Overall a good piece of software if you’re looking for a free distraction-free software. Although it’s hard to pick a good full screen, distraction free writing software as most of the distraction free writing tools offer similar set of features, FocusWriter is certainly one of the best distraction-free writing tools out there for Windows.
If you prefer a portable version of the software, you can get the same on the download page. In addition to Windows, FocusWriter is available for Mac OS X and Linux as well.
Do you use distraction-free writing tool?


Download FocusWriter

Source: http://www.intowindows.com/focuswriter-good-distration-free-writing-tool-for-windows/

June 20, 2015

How to grab a free genuine copy of Windows 10

The newest version of Windows, Windows 10, will be released on July 29 to a worldwide audience. It is Microsoft's attempt to win back unsatisfied users who did not like the Windows 8 operating system.
The company wants to achieve that through various means, for instance by moving away from the two interfaces of Windows 8 or by re-implementing a start menu, but also by offering the operating system as a free upgrade to Windows 7 and Windows 8 users.
Updates were released for Windows 7 and 8 that promote the free upgrade to Windows 10 to reach most "home" customers and get them to upgrade to Windows 10.
While it is unclear at this point in time how successful the promotion will be, it is very likely that it will push Windows 10 to millions of systems.
It was not clear up until now how Microsoft would handle systems that run Insider Builds of Windows 10. These preview builds of the operating system can be installed on PCs meeting the system requirements for free.
Microsoft's Gabe Aul revealed in a new blog post published on the official Blogging Windows blog yesterday that these installations will receive the upgrade to Windows 10 final and remain activated under certain conditions.
As long as you are running an Insider Preview build and connected with the MSA you used to register, you will receive the Windows 10 final release build and remain activated.
The only requirement is that a Microsoft Account is linked to the operating system. The Insider Build of Windows 10 final remains activated (read genuine) if that is the case.

windows-10

This means in turn that anyone interesting in a free copy of Windows 10 can grab one by installing a Windows 10 Insider Preview on a compatible PC and linking it to a Microsoft Account.

Aul notes furthermore that users may do a clean install at any time after they have installed and activated the build successfully to start over again with a clean install.
Once the final version has been activated, Inside Preview users may leave the program and stay on the final build. There is no requirement to remain an Insider after activation and it seems as if there are not any drawbacks to leaving the program after installation and activation of the final Windows 10 build.

It should be clear that the version will be linked to the PC it was installed on and the Microsoft Account it was linked to.

This means that anyone with compatible hardware and a Microsoft account can grab a free copy of Windows 10 and use it indefinitely on a single machine. Considering that Windows 10 Pro retails for $199, that is an interesting proposition which should further boost the operating system's reach especially during the first few months of general availability.

It is unclear -- but likely -- that the offer is only available in a time-limited window. Microsoft has not revealed yet any restrictions but if you are interested in the free copy, you may want to install an Insider Preview build as soon as possible on a PC and link it to a Microsoft account.
Starting with the next Insider build, Insiders who have not linked a Microsoft Account to the operating system will receive notifications to do so to continue receiving new Windows 10 Insider Preview builds.

You can download the Windows 10 Preview here:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/preview-iso?OCID=WIP_r_May_Body_DLISO

Source: http://www.ghacks.net/2015/06/20/how-to-grab-a-free-genuine-copy-of-windows-10/