hacks

Paul and Laura are back in action and here to bring you the hot stories that 'Softies are pinging each other about. Stories like these:   Microsoft on the ones and twos! Hacker hired Xbox 360: Not just for games Panoramic street views

Did you know you can change your Media Center background? Neither did I until I read this recent post. Although not officially a part of the Media Center software, there is a way to do it. It’s not the easiest thing in the world as it involves applying a new registry file and editing permissions.…

The folks over at hack7mc.com have just debuted a new section of their website: a central location for Windows Media Center themes created both by the site’s authors as well as individual contributors like yourselves. The new theme directory is available at Theme7MC.com. Now, theming your Media…

There are so many things you can do with Outlook, but I have to admit, I've never fully explorered all its features. However, the more I "live" in my Outlook at work, the more I've become obsessed with finding new and useful ways to get things done as efficiently and quickly as I can. On…

Hack #1: Multi-Extension Support mod - This hack makes the Zune program support more types of video, audio, and image extensions. This mod converts files for use on the Zune. Files are automatically converted to the exact specifications used on the Zune device, so no guesswork is involved. It…

Would you like a way to keep track of all the conversations that you initiated in your Outlook email? This can be done by combining an Outlook view with a search folder. Follow the steps below and you will have a folder that shows your email as conversation threads: Create a new search folder…

Think your secrets are safe because you removed incriminating text messages or phone numbers from your cell phone's SIM card? Think again! A new tool, called the Cell Phone SIM Card Spy, lets you retrieve that deleted data. To use the device, which is a USB key, you just put the SIM card into the…

If you're looking for a little more out of your Windows 7 network activity indicator, HowToGeek.com has a tweek that will get you back to the classic twin monitor indicator with the screens that light up when there is network activity. The tweek includes downloading a file, extracting to…

The Home Server Hacks blog has just announced a new Windows Vista Sidebar gadget just for Windows Home Server users. This gadget, called "ShareMaster for Home Server," gives you quick access to the Windows Home Server's standard shared folders (Music, Photos, Public, Software, Users and…

If you're a fan of Wikipedia, you're going to love this Windows Vista hack I found on ITworld.com. You can add a "Search Wikipedia" option from the Vista's Instant Search box that's on your Windows start menu. It's really not that hard, if you are familiar with using the Local Policy…