WinZip and WinRAR are classic file managers for compressed archives; however, over the years, these programs have become more commercial and less useful (feel free to disagree — I don’t feel that strongly about it.) In this guide, you’ll learn about three alternatives to WinZip and WinRAR: 7-Zip, PeaZip, and TUGZip.

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Read the rest of Zip Tools: The Best Alternatives to WinZip and WinRar

Windows Vista – Customization Manual v1.3 is available for download. Here’s a list of some of the changes (what I can remember):

• Major grammar rework (thanks Larry Schwartz for your proof reading.)
• Linked table of contents and clickable sidebar contents (in compatible PDF readers.)
• Cross referencing to assist in navigation through the book.
• Notational conventions to assist in learning.
• Meets service pack 2 specifications.
• Broken links updated.
• More screenshots to assist in learning.
• Rework of layout, headings, paper size (more printer friendly), and overall consistency.
• Cleaner cover page.
• Updated contact details, to get to me, in the back.

Download Windows Vista – Customization Manual (Free Newsletter sign up required.) Direct Link for newsletter subscribers (Instructions for subscribers)

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A collection of desktop wallpapers for Windows, OS X, and Linux. If you have wallpapers you’ve made yourself or if you have any suggestions, leave them in the comments or contact me.

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RSVR85 and I got together about a month ago and put together the Windows 7 Media Center Customization Handbook. RSVR85 took his previous Windows 7 Media Center Guides, updated them, and made them even easier to follow. I just put everything together and now it’s online and ready for your reading pleasure.

I’d like to thank RSVR85 for his hard work. This book is fantastic and I can’t wait to update my Media Center PC to Windows 7 so I can put these hacks into effect. His original forum post on the topic helped me customize Windows Vista’s Media Center (and this handbook will work, mostly, for Windows Vista Media Center.)

Download the Windows 7 Media Center Customization Handbook.

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If you would like to assist a friend remotely or present from your machine and have others look in, TeamViewer is for you. Learn, in this guide, what team viewer is and where to download it.

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The Portuguese translation of Windows 7 – The Pocket Guide is now available. Thank you to the translators:

• Angelo Moretto
• Keith Johnson

Download Windows 7 – The Pocket Guide (Portuguese) Download Windows 7 – The Pocket Guide (English) (Free Newsletter sign up required.) Direct Link for newsletter subscribers (Instructions for subscribers)

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Thank you to all those who took part in the Google Wave invite competition. The winners have been randomly picked and are:

I am in contact with the winners; if you see your name on the list and have not heard from me, let me know.

I’ll be starting a new competition tomorrow, so check back for details (or take a sneak peak here.)

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Most virus checking programs rely on file signatures and blacklists to detect viruses on your computer; ThreatFire is different. ThreatFire does not rely on signatures, but instead constantly analyzes behavior on your computer to detect and block any malicious activity. No longer do you have to wait for a patch, ThreatFire will take care of a problem as soon as it arises.(...)
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If you are making a PowerPoint presentation, poster, graphic, or anything that requires typography, you may find some of these fonts useful. There many free fonts out there but it is often hard to find good ones as there is so much choice and so many fonts are not very high quality. In these collections, I attempt to find the best free fonts out there and provide direct download links to them so you can start using them straight away. If you are unsure of how to install a font, learn here.

More Fonts

Check out more font collections on Mintywhite.com. Organize your fonts with Windows Fonts Explorer.

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Read the rest of Typography: Free Stylish Fonts Collection [Set 42]

If you would like to get an invite to Google wave, comment on this post. You have until 11:59 PM ET on Friday, November 13, 2009.

Update: Winners Announced

What is Google Wave?

Google Wave is an online communication and collaboration tool that makes real-time interactions more seamless — in one place, you can communicate and collaborate using richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more.

A wave is a conversation with multiple participants — participants are people added to a wave to discuss and collaborate on its content. Participants can reply any time and anywhere within a wave, and they can edit content and add more participants as a wave develops. It’s also possible to rewind waves with the playback functionality, to see what happened, and when.

Source

What is a Wave?

A wave is equal parts conversation and document.
People can communicate and work together with richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more.

A wave is shared.
Any participant can reply anywhere in the message, edit the content and add participants at any point in the process. Then playback lets anyone rewind the wave to see who said what and when.

A wave is live.
With live transmission as you type, participants on a wave can have faster conversations, see edits and interact with extensions in real-time.

How to Get an Invite:

• Leave a comment on this post explaining why you should have the invite (you don’t have to convince me, the winners will be picked randomly anyway.)
• Leave your comment before 11:59 PM ET on Friday, November 13, 2009.
• Erm, that’s it (see, not hard at all :)

Winners Announced

How Will the Winners be Picked?

The 20 winners will be picked randomly and announced on Saturday, November 14, 2009 on Windows Guides.

Good luck!

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