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.

Instant messaging is one of the most convenient, quick, and easy ways of communicating with friends, loved ones, and practically anyone else on the Internet.  Not only does instant messaging allow you to send messages, but it also allows you to send files, such as pictures, videos, documents, songs, or applications.  One of the biggest problems with instant messaging, however, is that there are so many different networks and softwares out there.  From AOL and Windows Live Messenger to AIM and Yahoo! Messenger, there is a wide variety of messengers to choose from.  In many cases, you cannot communicate with those under a different network, which means that you have to download, install, and make accounts for various networks and instant messengers if you want to keep in touch with contacts using these other networks.  One program that seeks to integrate these various networks and instant messaging softwares into a single, seamless application is Meebo.  Meebo's motto is "instant messaging everywhere", and this handy piece of software truly gives you the power to get and send instant messages from anywhere, to anywhere.  Read on to learn more about Meebo and its many great features.

What exactly is Meebo?

Meebo is basically a technology and service that allows you to communicate with practically every popular instant messaging networks out there.  Some of the instant messaging networks that Meebo allows you to use include Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, AOL, and ICQ.  Aside from giving you the flexibility to communicate between these instant messaging networks, Meebo also allows you to communicate with others through popular chatting and social networking sites, such as Facebook Chat, MySpace IM, and Google Talk.  Originally founded in 2005, Meebo has grown in both popularity and functionality, offering a wide range of softwares and platforms to its users.

How can you start using Meebo?

There are a number of ways that you can make use of Meebo services.  The simplest and perhaps the easiest way to start using Meebo is to browse over to Meebo.com, where you can make use of the web-based application to chat with your friends straight from your browser.  If you use Firefox, you can install the Meebo Firefox extension, which places Meebo right in your sidebar.  Meebo has a great feature called "Meebo rooms", which allows you to group chat and share media.  You can even put a Meebo room on your website to use as a way of communicating with your patrons.  Another feature, called "Meebo me", allows you to do one-on-one chatting with your website visitors.  The Meebo bar is a cool feature you can install on your website to allow you to quickly and conveniently drag and drop share files, customize buttons, and use Meebo IM.  You can also install the Meebo notifier that creates a system tray icon to notify you of incoming messages and other information related to your instant messaging accounts.  Finally, Meebo is available for your iPhone, making it the perfect application for keeping in touch through the Internet on your mobile.

With the proliferation of digital cameras and the seemingly countless number of devices that can be used to view digital images, it seems that everyone is a digital photographer in their own right.  Whether you like to take pictures, look at pictures, or simply share pictures with your friends and family, you can find numerous photo sharing services out there.  One of the relatively new and extremely easy online photo sharing services to hit the Internet is called Divvyshot.  If you love taking pictures and sharing them with others, then you may want to give Divvyshot a try. Read on to learn more about Divvyshot, its features, and why you might want to sign up right after you go through this article.

What is Divvyshot?

In 2009, three men came together with a mission to rethink and reinvent the way that we share digital images. Divvyshot, Inc. was born out of the efforts of founder Sam Odio, developer Paul Carduner, and designed Michael Yuan.  Basically, the main idea behind Divvyshot is to offer the easiest, most convenient, and quickest image sharing service on the Internet. The Divvyshot web site and service was developed using Python, the Django framework, Amazon Web Services like EC2 and S3, as well as PostgreSQL. Divvyshot, Inc. is based in San Francisco, California.

Features of Divvyshot

*  Intuitive, smooth, and clutter-free interface - One of the great things about Divvyshot is that it offers a clean interface for you to work with.  Nothing can be more distracting and screen-space-consuming than a website or web app that is cluttered with ads, links, and other objects that are unrelated to your task.  Divvyshot gives you a simple interface with a dark gray background, large thumbnail views of your pictures, and an easily navigable interface to work with.

*  Easy picture management feature -  In line with the app's mission to provide the easiest and most convenient photo sharing service, Divvyshot gives you easy picture management. The pictures are grouped into customizable events, such as "college grad party" or "family vacation to Canada."  Once you choose a group to work with, the app opens up that event and shows large thumbnails of the pictures in that group.  From the thumbnails, you can rename or rotate your photos on the fly, and you can then click on a picture to show the full view.

*  Streamlined uploading and sharing -  Divvyshot allows users to upload pictures straight from their computer or their Flickr account. After uploading the pictures, you can share them with your family and friends, download full resolution versions of the picture, and take control of privacy by setting password-protected events and private pictures that are only visible to friends.

*  Free -  Perhaps the best thing about Divvyshot is that it is completely free. Signing up only takes one simple step and you can start using the service straight from your Firefox, Safari, Chrome, or Internet Explorer browser.

For most of you who have been following the computer and technology industries, you are probably well-aware of Google's efforts to slowly, but surely, take over the world.  Google has revolutionized the way that we use our computers, utilize the Internet, do business, communicate with others, and it has simply changed the way that we live our lives.  With all of the Google apps, products, and services out there, it's quite easy to get caught up in the Google craze that seems to never end as the company continues to release innovative technologies.  In this article, you will learn about a number of Google settings that you can use to take full control of your Google use.

Turn off Google's search history logging

Google keeps a log of your search history, tracking what phrases you have entered into the search bar, the web pages that you have visited, and some of your other activity on Google.  Basically, the web history feature is meant to make users' search experience more personal and customized.  If you want to turn this feature off, for privacy purposes or otherwise, all you have to do is sign in to Google and visit Google.com/history.  From this site you can access the settings on your search history, and you can clear your web history, pause the tracking of your history, or permanently turn the service off.

Take control of Google Buzz

Google Buzz is a relatively new technology that helps to integrate your social networking, email, and chat features.  Through Buzz, you can share videos, pictures, updates, and conversations, right from your Gmail account.  The main difference between Buzz and other similar services is that Buzz gives you control to be more private or public about your sharing.  One feature that you may want to monitor and set up properly is the follower/followed settings.  Make sure to check your profile to ensure that Buzz isn't sharing private information, such as private email messages, private email addresses, and your public profile.

Turn off the auto-display feature for images sent from Gmail contacts

Now, as many of you may already know, spammers and malware often make use of tracking tactics through attachments and embedded data, such as embedded pictures.  For privacy and security, Gmail blocks images sent from unknown contacts.  For convenience, Gmail auto-displays images from contacts that you have sent email to in the past.  This can be quite frustrating and harmful to your privacy, especially if you have friends or relatives who are always sending you forwarded emails, chain mails, and spam disguised as humor or some supposedly life-changing email.  If you want to disable all auto-displayed pictures, whether from unknown sources or other Gmail contacts, then you can do so by heading to the "external content" setting in your Gmail settings page.

The Internet has completely revolutionized the way that we communicate, do business, view the world, and live our lives on a day-to-day basis.  Not only has the Internet made it easier and more convenient to communicate across the globe, but it has also given us the ability to share our lives with others in a completely seamless and integrated manner.  One of the newest things to hit the Internet is Opera Unite, a new platform that has the potential to reinvent the way that we use the Internet.  Continue reading to learn more about Opera Unite and why you might want to use this incredibly useful and powerful technology.

What is Opera Unite?

Opera Unite is a new technology developed by Opera, one of the leading Internet browser software developers.  Opera Unite streamlines the process of sharing files with friends, family, and the Internet in general.  Opera Unite makes use of JavaScript and HTML technologies to build a simple, intuitive platform where people can share files, communicate with one another, and synchronize their data over numerous and varied devices.   This technology is integrated into the latest version of Opera desktop browser, making the software a great, all-in-one solution to your Internet needs.  This means that you just have to download and install the free Opera browser, make an Opera account at their website, and start making use of Opera Unite.

Features that put Opera Unite above other file sharing services

*  No need to upload to share files -  Perhaps the best thing about Opera Unite is that it takes the time-consuming task of uploading out of the file-sharing equation.  Instead of having to upload files to the Internet for other users to get, Opera Unite allows users to connect to your Opera Unite server from which they can view and download content straight from your computer.  In other words, data are shared directly from one user to the next.

*  Unique ability for expansion and customization -  Another great feature of Opera Unite is that it supports an application system.  Developers can make applications (much like add-ons or extensions) for Opera Unite, allowing users to download and use these applications easily.  Applications range greatly from simple note-taking apps to social networking tools and even instant messenger chat apps.

*  Media player and photo sharing capabilities -  Aside from sharing data, such as office documents or notes, another great feature of Opera Unite is that it allows you to access your music library straight from your browser.  The media player web application built into Opera Unite allows for the streaming of files from the source straight to your web browser or streamed to your media player of choice.  Photo sharing has also been streamlined, allowing you to compress, upload, and share your pictures with just a few clicks of your mouse.

When the iPhone was first released, it garnered widespread acclaim and praise from hardware critics, mobile phone industry specialists, and, most importantly, from consumers.  The iPhone took off and dominated the market for smartphones.  On the other side of the story, Microsoft seemed to have gone silent.  Sure, Microsoft had Windows Mobile, but it was a platform that was harshly criticized for being bulky, sluggish, and not user-friendly at all.  Developers turned to the Apple iPhone as a new platform that was relatively easier to develop, had great support from Apple, and had a huge user base.  Until today, the iPhone is dominating the smartphone industry.

Just recently, however, Microsoft finally held the first-ever public preview of its new mobile operating system dubbed Windows Phone 7.  Microsoft went with the name branding of its latest personal computer operating system, Windows 7.  If Windows Phone 7 follows suit in the resounding success of its bigger brother, Windows 7, then consumers should expect a great contender to the smartphone title that is currently held by Apple.  In this article, you will learn about some of the amazing features previewed at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the first public preview of Windows Phone 7.  Will this finally be the iPhone killer?  Read on and decide for yourself.

The interface

When you are dealing with a gadget that is as powerful and multi-faceted as a smartphone, it is important that you have an interface that is intuitive, inventive, and user-friendly to make it easier for users to take advantage of all of the phone's hardware and software.  Windows Phone 7 does exactly that.  Microsoft created the "Metro" interface, which makes use of "Hubs" such as Pictures, Music + Video, Office, People, or Marketplace.  Once you have selected your hub, you can easily scroll through the panoramic menu system that spills off the sides of the screen, where you can find other shortcuts, files, and functions related to the hub you are browsing.  The start screen is also fully customizable, allowing you to set the shortcuts of your choice in the position of your choice.

Amazing multimedia capabilities

Another great upgrade made in Windows Phone 7 is that the software makes your hardware function just like a Zune HD player.  This means you have quick and easy access to all of your music, podcasts, videos, radio stations, and even the Zune marketplace, straight from your phone.

Xbox Live on your phone

Xbox Live has been quite successful for Microsoft, and Windows Phone 7 integrates Xbox Live features straight into your phone.  You can access and manage your account, earn achievements, get in touch with friends, and play multiplayer games straight from your phone through your Xbox Live account.

Windows Phone 7 Series is set to take the industry by storm, and it seems as though Microsoft has finally gotten things right for their mobile operating systems.  With multi-touch browsing, integrated social networking, a beautiful interface, and numerous other innovative functions and features, Windows Phone 7 Series is practically a dream-come-true wrapped into a tiny operating system.  Let's just hope that the developers agree so that this amazing mobile operating system can get some awesome applications made for it and its users.