The mobile operating system showdown is entering into a new level of competition as the iPhone, Windows Phone 7 Series, and Android platforms all take the stage to battle it out.  The Android has been quite a resounding success, despite the seeming monopoly of Apple and the iPhone.  Android is a Linux-based mobile operating system that is now owned by Google.  Since its first release in 2007, Android has garnered much success and acclaim, especially due to its open-source, free nature.  It has gotten much support from application developers.  In this article, we will cover some of the best apps currently available for the Android mobile operating system.

ASTRO File Manager

In practically any gizmo or gadget that deals with file structures and large amounts of data, a file manager is one of the most essential and useful software that you will need.  For Android phones, one of the best file manager solutions is ASTRO File Manager, which allows you to navigate through the files and data on your phone's internal memory, as well as your memory card.  The best part about this app is that it isn't just a well-developed file manager, but it also has some other great features.  With ASTRO File Manager, you also get a task killer, shortcuts for sending files as e-mail attachments, and a means of backing up your applications and data.  This file manager can also work as an image and file viewer, it has support for .zip and .tgz files, and it has handy search functions--all for free.

Listen

Listen is an application that has been developed by Google for the Android.  This app has had some ups-and-downs in the past, but now it has been revamped and fixed into a more formidable and more impressive podcast app.  With Listen, you can search for, subscribe to, and manage podcasts with ease.  You can even back up your subscriptions through the export features, then you can manage them through Google Reader.   There are a number of other great podcast apps out there, but what makes this one interesting is that it is made by Google, so you can expect that it will continue to be developed to have increased functionality and compatibility with other Google and Android services.

Layar

Layar has come to be known as one of the best augmented reality apps out there.  This Android version has many of the features and services that you will find in the iPhone version of the app.  Basically, what this app allows you to do is view various types of information in an augmented reality interface, meaning that all you have to do is point your phone's camera around and the screen will display information based on Internet and positioning services.  Layar works through "layers," which are the parameters for your augmented reality information.  For example, you can get Tweeps, which shows information about Tweets posted by Twitter-users in nearby locations, or you can try MIMOA, which shows information on nearby restaurants, museums, sights, events, etc.

Media streaming is a great technology that allows you to view or listen to various forms of media from remote locations.  This service is usually provided over Wi-Fi, although there are other networking technologies, such as Bluetooth and 3G, that have streaming capabilities.  If you are into media streaming, especially for your music, then you may want to check out some of these popular media streaming services:

Lala

Don't be fooled by this web-based service's simple and playful name.  When it comes down to it, Lala is a convenient, easy-to-use, solid, and cheap music streaming service.  What makes Lala a powerful music streaming web app is that it has a two-in-one solution to all of your audiophile needs.  First, it offers a free, web-based music streaming client, which means you can stream music from your computer at home to practically any device that has Internet browser compatibility.  Second, Lala has its own music database where you can purchase DRM-free MP3 music files for $0.79, or you can purchase them for online play at $0.10 each.

Grooveshark

Like Lala, Grooveshark is a web-based, free music streaming service.  One of the main advantages of Grooveshark, however, is its impressive interface and its ease of use.  The interface looks just like a software music player and it works much like one too.  The unique thing about Grooveshark is that you can start compiling playlists as soon as the website loads, or you can create a free account with the site to access more features, such as saving and sharing of playlists, song flagging, and music suggestion services.  You can also access the Grooveshark Radio or upload your own music files to add to the Grooveshark database.

Pandora

Pandora is a much-celebrated web-based music streaming platform.  As a part of the Music Genome Project, Pandora has a huge database of songs and song information.  For example, you can analyze up to 400 different music attributes to look for songs that you search for and song suggestions that are similar to whatever your search is.  The great thing is that you can search using phrases and sentences, such as, "Play the song 'Red House' from the 'Blues' album by Jimi Hendrix," which will then probably result in a perfect match for the song you were looking for as well as a number of other similar songs to choose from.  Also the Music Genome Project allows you to easily rate and create personalize streaming radio stations.  You can use a basic version of Pandora for free or pay $36 per year for the fully-featured premium version.

Other choices

Some of the other great music streaming services out there include Spotify (although Spotify no longer provides services to US residents due to legal disputes), Last.fm, and Slacker Radio.

If you are a PC user who has relatively good experience and technical know-how about Windows operating systems, then you are probably well aware of what is called the registry.  If you have ever encountered problems on your computer such as your system slow downs, malware, or the dreaded blue-screen-of-death (BSOD), then you've probably come across troubleshooting guides that talk a lot about the registry.  However, even for well-experienced individuals who are familiar with Windows operating systems and how they work, the registry can be quite a confusing and mysterious thing. In this article, we are going to cover the basics of what the registry is, what it's purpose is, and how you can maintain your registry in good shape.

What is the registry and what does it do?

The registry is a part of the Windows operating system that acts as a database for storing settings such as Windows settings, application settings, passwords, device driver information, and other settings and options on your computer.  The main advantage of this type of system is that the Windows operating system can recall and manipulate the data stored in the registry much faster than if it used separate files for storing such data.  Typically, the registry makes use of files called .reg files, which are simply tiny files that contain information to be added to the registry.  To access the registry on your machine, all you have to do is click on the start menu and use the "Run..." feature to run the program called "regedit.exe."  You can also access the "Run..." feature by using the shortcut Win+R.  In the registry, you will find a hierarchy folder structure with many of the folders containing registry entries that you can edit from the regedit interface.  It's extremely important that you be careful about editing data in your registry or your system or certain application may cease to work properly.

Backing up your registry

A good practice to keep your registry well-maintained is to back up your registry periodically to ensure that you can always revert your registry to a previous state if things go wrong on your system.  Your registry is composed of numerous files, which means it would be hard to track down all of these files to backup the registry.  Microsoft has implemented the System Restore feature in the latest versions of Windows, making it easy to back up your registry and other system information.  All you have to do is create a restore point and you are set to go.  You can also use a system maintenance suite that has features for backing up, restoring, and cleaning your registry.  Just remember that it can be quite dangerous to make use of so-called "registry cleaners," because they may delete, move, or duplicate registry entries and cause performance problems on your system.  The best way to clean your registry is typically to perform a fresh install of your operating system for a fresh start on your computer.

These days, interconnectivity between devices is one of the most sought after feature by consumers.  It would be quite useless to have a bunch of gadgets and gizmos with great features without the compatibility to communicate, transfer data, and "speak" with one another.  As such, a number of standards for interconnectivity, networking, and data transfer have been developed, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Infrared.  One of the best uses of these networking platforms is to use portable devices, such as mobile phones or laptops to control desktop systems.  In this article, we will be taking a look at some of the iPhone apps that have been designed with this concept in mind: to use your iPhone as a remote control for your Mac or PC.

Snatch

This helpful app is compatible with either Mac or PC systems.  With this app, you can use your iPhone or iPod Touch as a wireless keyboard, trackpad, and remote control.  Like many of the other similar apps out there, Snatch can be used as a multi-touch trackpad, a full keyboard, and a customizable remote control.  You can design your own layouts, place your own remote control keys, and save various layouts as you please.  This app also allows you to see a list of some of the applications running on your system, so that you can easily access them.  This works in both landscape and portrait mode.  It costs $3.99, or you can download the trial version to check it out.

HippoRemote Pro 2.0

HippoRemote Pro 2.0 is one of the most popular remote controls for the iPhone.  One of the best things about this app is that it comes in three versions, first is the Lite edition, which is a limited version that comes for free, then the basic version that costs $0.99 and has the bare necessities, and the Pro version for $4.99, which has all of the features offered in the program.  This is compatible with Mac, Linux, Windows-based systems.  Like Snatch, HippoRemote Pro allows you to create app profiles and customized remote control layouts.  You can create macros, wake up devices through LAN, use international keyboards, and switch apps easily.  There are also some nice plugins such as a browser, Boxee, and Twitter plugin.

Remote Jr.

Like HippoRemote, Remote Jr. comes in multiple versions, two to be exact.  First is the full version that costs $7.99 and other is the lite version for $1.99.  Although this app doesn't have support for keyboard, trackpad, or airmouse functionality, it does work as a Virtual Network Computing (VNC) app.  This basically means that you can see and control the interface of your remote computer, and manipulate it just as though you were right in front of your desktop.  Remote Jr. can connect to your Mac or PC through 3G, GPRS/Edge, or Wi-Fi.  Also, the newest version of the app has support for audio streaming and Apple TV functionality.

In this segment, we continue our weekly tradition of giving you the scoop on the top app releases for the iPhone and iTouch.  Continue reading for some of the best releases on the Apple App Store for the first week of March 2010.

Gibson Learn & Master

Playing the guitar is loads of fun and the iPhone currently has a bunch of guitar-centered applications that can be used to help you out in your guitar playing, wherever you go.  Gibson Guitars, one of the most well-known guitar manufacturing companies in the world, has partnered up with a software development company named Legacy Learning Systems to create and release one of the newest iPhone apps for guitar players and other musicians.  This application is called Gibson Learn & Master, a handy application that has essential features such as a tuner with various tuning schemes, sample tones for tuning, metronome with various time signature settings, support for tap-tempo setting, a chord library, links to video lessons from the Learn & Master Guitar course, and links to Gibson.com, where you can find news, updates, and events on everything Gibson.  Although this application isn't particularly better than GuitarToolKit (one of the leading apps for guitarists), it is a feature-packed package that comes free of charge.

Vogue Stylist

Vogue Stylist is great for the fashionable woman who likes to keep up with the cutting edge fashion industry.  This app was produced and released by the internationally-acclaimed fashion conglomerate Vogue.  Basically, Vogue Stylist is a fashion adviser and stylist that presents you with pictures and information on some of the hottest monthly trends in fashion.  You can use the app to mix and match different clothes and looks from Vogue catalogues, you can create virtual wardrobes by taking pictures of your own clothes and adding them to your library.  You can save products from the Vogue catalogue to your virtual wardrobe, and you can look for stores near you that sell some of the products featured and advertised in Vogue.  This is a great lifestyle and fashion app that you can download all for free.

Final Fantasy 1 and 2

Final Fantasy is one of the best-known and most highly acclaimed franchises in the realm of role-playing games.  Final Fantasy 1 & 2 are the first two parts in what is soon to be a 14-part franchise that has taken the world by storm.  If you want to get a little nostalgic with these two classics, the iPhone how has some worthy ports of both Final Fantasy 1 & 2.  Final Fantasy 1 comes with five bonus dungeons, such as the Labyrinth of Time and the Soul of Chaos, and Final Fantasy 2 also comes with five bonus dungeons, like Arcane Labyrinth and Soul of Rebirth.  You can buy each game for $8.99.

We are going back a few years and wanted to let windows users know a little more of the packages and differencies of Windows Vista as we have not been writing about that particular subject before.

Windows vista different versions

Windows Vista comes in following different versions Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate. These versions are also available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

Windows vista different features

The below main features can be seen as microsoft sales pitches for the windows vista operating system when it was officially launched.

- Most secure windows ever, with windows defender and windows firewall.

- Quickly find what you need, with instant search and windows internet explorer 7.

- Elegant windows aero desktop experience, with windows flip 3D navigations.

- Best choice for laptops, with enhanced Windows Mobility Center and Tablet Pc support.

- Collaborate and share documents, with Windows Meeting Space.

- Experience photos and entertainment, in your living room with Windows Media Center.

- Enjoy Windows Media Center, on TV's throughout your home with Xbox 360 and other devices.

- Protect against hardware failure, with advanced business backup features.

- Business networking and Remote Desktop, for easier connectivity.

- Better protect your data, against loss or theft with Windows Bitlocker Drive Encryption.

Only Windows Vista Ultimate contains all above features and 64-bit version is included in the Vista Ultimate media box.

Have you ever accidentally deleted a file or edited a file only to find that you want to undo your changes but, alas, the undo button is greyed out?  You get frustrated with yourself, thinking you should have made duplicate copies of the file or you should have never touched it at all to begin with.  Believe it or not, this type of situation occurs all the time. Whether it has to do with personal files, office files, or project files, if you work with a computer, you are bound to make a mistake with your files at some point in time.  The problem is, going back in time isn't possible, which leaves you in a predicament.  Well, fortunately for Windows 7 users, Microsoft has revamped their system restore service, making it more useful than ever.  One of the best features of the new and improved system restore service is that you can now restore files to previous states or restore after a permanent deletion.  Read on to learn how you can use System Restore to restore files on your Windows 7 system.

An introduction to System Restore

For the uninitiated, System Restore is a service that was first popularized in Windows XP as a service that creates system backups, called "restore points", which you can restore later on.  The service became popular for rolling back a certain system state.  For example, if you made changes to your applications or registry, you encountered a nasty virus, or you started experiencing system problems, you could restore your system to a previous state to try and remedy the problem.  In Windows 7, the System Restore service has been reinvented to be more convenient, useful, and functional.  In this article we will be giving a short guide to the "Restore Previous Versions" feature, which is a new addition to the Windows 7 System Restore service.

How to use Restore to Previous Versions?

Step 1:  Browse to the file that you want to restore or, in the case of a deleted file, browse to the folder that once housed that file.

Step 2:  Right click on the file or folder and select "Restore previous versions" from the context menu.

Step 3:  You will be presented with the "Previous Versions" tab under the properties dialogue and in the menu, you will find previous changes that were made to that file or folder.  Click on the time, under "date modified", that you want to restore to and choose between opening, copying or restoring the folder.

Three simple steps is all it takes to get your files and folders back to the state that you want them in.  Just remember that you shouldn't always rely on the System Restore and Restore Previous Versions features.  Make sure to always back up your files and perhaps make multiple copies as you edit important files to make sure that you can see your progress and that you can always open up earlier copies if needed.

At its core, the iPhone is exactly that: a phone.  Beyond simply being a mobile phone, however, the iPhone has the technology, tech specs, features and functions to go well beyond the simple role of being a phone.  One of the roles that the iPhone has taken on is as a gaming machine.  With its impressive screen size, silky touchscreen technology, and huge developer support, the iPhone has become quite an impressive portable gaming machine.  In this article, we will cover three impressive games that have just recently been released for the iPhone.

Brothers in Arms 2:  Global Front

Brothers in Arms has been a rather successful franchise in the console gaming world.  On February 22, Gameloft, Ubisoft Entertainment, and Gearbox Software released Brothers in Arms 2: Global Front for the iPhone.  This game has gotten rave reviews from a number of popular game review websites, such as Kotaku, Pocketgamer, and IGN.com.  The theme of the game is a World War II shooter that will have you battling it out in locations in both Europe and Africa.  With 6-player multiplayer support, five maps, three different modes, thirteen levels, and three different vehicles to use, this game is packed with great features, great gameplay, and a great pricetag at only $7.99.

Alice in Wonderland

Released by Walt Disney, Alice in Wonderland is a game for the iPhone that is based on Disney's latest take on the classic book.  In this game, you take control of Alice and you will be taken off to whimsical settings, where you will solve puzzles, and meet some of the most memorable Alice in Wonderland characters, including the White Rabbit and the Mad Hatter.  You can also make use of special abilities that you get with the help of Alice's friends.  The game is entertaining and loads of fun for adults and children alike.  You can purchase the entire game for $4.99 or download the free trial that includes two levels of play.

Knife Toss

Have you ever seen one of those circus acts wherein someone is strapped to a wheel, then spun around while a knife expert starts throwing knives at the wheel?  Have you ever wanted to be that person throwing the knives?  If you answered yes, then this is the perfect game for you.  Knife toss will have you giggling with glee as you throw knives and other unlockable weapons at balloon targets posted around a clown on a spinning wheel.  There are three levels of difficulty, over 25 achievements, and unlockable weapons.  Oh, did we mention that the game's free?  Download it now.

Because so many iPhone games are being released, fans will surely enjoy fiddling with their iPhones for hours and hours. And since the technology behind iPhone is quite amazing, you won't have to worry about lag time when downloading stuff from the Internet or when playing your favorite game.

One of the best things about the iPhone is that it has a huge and ever-growing database of applications that you can buy or download for free.  These apps do a great job of taking full advantage of the powerful piece of hardware that is the iPhone, and it also helps you get the most out of your phone, enhancing its functionality and flexibility.  In this segment, we will go over some of the best pieces of software that we found for the iPhone this week.

Autopark

So you park your car along the sidewalk, put a couple coins into the parking meter, and go along your merry way to get done whatever it is you have to do.  An hour later, you return to your car only to find a parking ticket clamped under your windshield wiper.  Fifty dollars for being a couple of minutes late to your car and the meter that's running beside it.  Autopark is a handy little app that will help you avoid such situations.  Basically, this app keeps track of the time left on your meter, allowing you to set alarms at various times to remind you of your running meter.  You can also use the app to set the location of your car through the app's built-in GPS functions.  To be more precise, you can set the parking level and parking slot of your car to help you find your parking spot after a long day at the mall or any other place with a multi-level parking structure.  Finally, you can also use this app to find nearby public restrooms, banks, gas stations, and other services.  There are a bunch of other features in this practical app, but you better be ready to cough up $5.00 for it.

Sling Player Mobile

Sling Player Mobile is one of the more expensive applications in the app store, selling for about $30, but it's an app that packs quite a punch.  With Sling Player Mobile, you can use your iPhone to connect to a Slingbox machine, such as the SOLO, PRO, or PRO-HD.  The app makes use of either Wi-Fi or 3G to connect to your Slingbox, then the app streams whatever is playing on your Slingbox to your iPhone.  You can even use the app to control your digital video recorder, change channels on the Slingbox, and control video sources such as satellite boxes, cable boxes, IPTV boxes, basic cable TV, Apple TV, Tivo, home security cameras, and digital Over-the-Air broadcasts.

Plants vs. Zombies

For those who love using their iPhone as a gaming machine, Plants vs. Zombies is an addictive, fun, and easy-to-learn tower defense game that will have you playing for hours on end.  Basically, you build flowers as towers to defend against the incoming hordes of zombies.  At just $3, this game is a steal.

Media centers are amazing pieces of software that can turn your computer into a full-on entertainment system.  This is especially useful if you have a home theater setup to work together with your computer, where your TV is your monitor and your surround sound system is hooked up to your computer for the full, home theater experience.  Windows Media Center is one of the best softwares out there for turning your computer into a home theater personal computer (HTPC).  Basically, Windows Media Center is a software for Windows-based systems that gives you a sleek, intuitive, and all-in-one solution to your media needs.  With Windows Media Center, you can import all of the media files on your computer, allowing you to view videos and pictures, listen to music and sound files, and watch TV, if you have a tuner on your computer.  To get more out of Windows Media Center, however, you may want to install some plug-ins and make some tweaks.  Here's a short list of some great plug-ins and tweaks that you may want to try on your Windows Media Center system:

MediaBrowser's nifty features

MediaBrowser is a great plug-in that helps you take full control of your media library.  Formerly known as Video Browser, Media Browser enhances your Windows Media Center interface by adding some key features and visual enhancements in a simple, fast, and convenient plug-in.  Perhaps the best feature of this plug-in is that it scans your media - including digital files, ripped files, and recorded files - and automatically retrieves metadata on your files.  The plug-in then presents the metadata in a sleek manner, providing you with information about the file, display pictures, and even streaming online trailers for movies.  Some of the other great features of Media Browser include media bookmarking (for resuming play), Vodcast support, themes, folder playlists, and customizable layouts.  Furthermore, this plug-in is open-source, meaning you can expect some great updates for it in the future.

What WebGuide has to offer

Windows Media Center is a good software for recording and managing your media.  One problem you may encounter, however, is that you are not at your computer when you want to record something important.  WebGuide is an add-on that allows you to remotely control your Windows Media Center from practically anywhere.  In fact, you can even use WebGuide to view and listen to your media from a remote location.  All you have to do is install WebGuide on your personal computer, then you will be able to access your Windows Media Center through any other computer or smartphone that has a browser.  This is great for remote viewing or setting up your media center to record things while you are away from your computer.