Adobe Flash Player is one of the most popular computer software today.  No matter what operating system you use, be it Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris, or even a Pocket PC operating system, you bet, the Adobe Flash Player will be an invaluable program for the system.  Just recently, Adobe announced the upcoming release of their newest version of Flash Player, version 10.1.  Currently, Adobe Flash Player 10.1 is still in the beta stages, but you can easily download and test the beta software for yourself.  Read on to learn more about Adobe Flash Player 10.1 beta, what it can do, and why you should be excited about the upcoming release of the full version.

What is Adobe Flash Player?

Basically, Adobe Flash Player is a computer program that allows you to view multimedia such as videos, animations, clips, and movies through other software.  The most common use of the Flash Player is through web browser integration.  Installing the Adobe Flash Player will allow you to view videos and animations, like those found on websites like YouTube, through your web browser.  Aside from this, the Flash Player is also used for viewing and using Flash applications, Internet applications, streaming applications, and other types of software.

What's so great about Adobe Flash Player 10.1?

When the Flash Player was first developed, it was originally designed for handling small applications with little memory and processor usage.  As demands grew, however, the Flash Player was developed to handle more complex and more demanding needs.  Today, with high definition viewing becoming a norm, older versions of the Flash Player had difficulty managing the resources needed to handle such heavy loads.  With Flash Player 9 or 10, the application would have to rely primarily on processor power to run videos and other applications, eating up precious resources and essentially slowing down your computer to a crawl.

In Adobe Flash Player 10.1, however, the Player now takes advantage of your Graphics Processor Unit (which is part of your video card or integrated graphics processor) in order to take the load off of your central processing unit.  The Flash Player will then run more smoothly, take up less system resources, and enhance the functionality of Flash-based applications.  In some instances, the Adobe Flash Player 10.1 beta has reduced central processor unit utilization by over 40%.  In other words, the newest Flash Player will allow you to view your favorite videos or clips from Hulu or YouTube in full screen, high definition (1920x1200, 720p, 480p, or 360p), without having to stress your processor and your system as a whole.  As Adobe Flash Player 10.1 beta continues to get tweaked for the full release, you can expect to see even better performance, functionality, and flexibility of this software.

Ever since Microsoft and Apple entered into the computer industry, things have never been the same.  New gadgets, gizmos, and software have been released one after the other in an attempt to beat the other company.  In recent years, Apple has made a big upsurge in the market with their iPod, iPhone, Macbooks, and Mac desktops, among other popular products.  Apple's Mac units have gained popularity and recognition for their sleek designs, intuitive interface, and user-friendliness.  Now, Mac-users will have another Mac-praise to sing about as the third-party program called Parallels Desktop for Mac gets a new release.  Parallels Desktop brings new, unparalleled heights of flexibility and versatility to Mac units around the world.

About Parallels, Inc. and their software

On June 15, 2006, a software developer that goes by the name Parallels, Inc. changed the meaning of "versatility" for Mac computers.  Specializing in the development of virtualization software, Parallels, Inc. developed the first hardware virtualization software to Apple's Macintosh.  The software was called "Parallels Workstation for Mac OS X," which basically allowed users to emulate a virtual machine on their Macintosh.  The virtual machine made use of the same hardware as the Mac, because the hardware on the host Mac computer would be mapped to be used as the virtual machine's resources as well.  This essentially meant that Mac users had the ability to run two different computer-instances on a single machine.  Although this type of software had already been achieved for Windows-based operating systems, Parallels Workstation was the first of its kind for Mac.  Due to the strong Mac-consumer opinion against the use of the word "Workstation" in the software's name, Parallels, Inc. decided to officially change their software to "Parallels Desktop for Mac."  Half-a-year after the release of Parallels Workstation for Mac OS X, Parallels, Inc. wins the "Best in Show" award during the MacWorld 2007 display.

About Parallels Desktop for Mac 5.0

Just recently, a new version of Parallels Desktop for Mac was released.  Version 5.0 is the best, smoothest, and most detailed version of Parallels Desktop yet.  The biggest improvement made to Paralels Desktop 5 is the integration of Windows 7 and Snow Leopard support.  Basically, Parallels Desktop allows you to boot up your computer as you normally would enter into your OS X operating system.  Then, through the Parallels Desktop software, you can create a virtual machine that is running another operating system, such as Windows 7 or Linux.  In other words, your Mac will be running two operating systems at one time.  What's great about Parallels Desktop 5 is that it offers you viewing options, including one that makes your Windows virtualizations look and work similarly to OS X.  You can even use Mac mouse gestures in your virtual machine, meaning that the Mac mouse gestures you have gotten used to, such as swiping, rotating, and pinching gestures, will all work in your Windows virtualization.  You should definitely check out Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac if you want to make the most out of your Mac computer or laptop.

Cyber-security has become one of the most essential and significant forms of security in this day and age.  There are literally millions of possible threats that can invade your computers and your networks. Be it in the form of viruses, malware, spyware, phishing, worms, trojans, or hacker intrusions, it is safe to say that it takes a lot of work to keep your information and data secured.  Luckily, there are software developers out there who are concerned about addressing and answering many of these security threats in the form of anti-virus software.  These days, it doesn't matter whether you are using your computer for entertainment, business, or personal use, as one thing remains: you still need to protect your data with a good anti-virus software.  So in this article, we will cover three of the top-rated anti-virus softwares for Windows-based personal computers.

AVG

Ever since AVG came onto the anti-virus software scene in the 1990s, it has been on a steady climb to success.  Today, AVG is one of the most renowned and awarded anti-virus software suites in the market.  The current offerings of AVG come in two packages, first is the freeware version of the software and the second is the premium version that costs $54.99 per year.  This anti-virus software is comprehensive, light on resources, and extremely good at its job of detecting, cleaning, and preventing viruses, hacker invasions, and malware.

ESET NOD32 anti-virus

Another heavy-weight in the world of anti-virus software is ESET NOD32 anti-virus.  ESET has become one of the most popular developers because of their NOD32 software.  Not only is the software extremely light on resources, but it also has fast scan times and features a nifty system called ThreatSense.  ThreatSense is a community-sourced detection system, which allows NOD32 users to automatically share information on new viruses, while continuing to compile data on old viruses to ensure a lower rate of false positives and a higher rate of early detection.  The only downside to ESET NOD32 anti-virus is that there is no freeware version of the software, so you will have to pay $39.99 per year if you want this great anti-virus solution.

Avira

Avira is an anti-virus software that has made a name for itself in a market dominated by long-standing competitors, like AVG, Norton, and McAfee.  Like AVG, the Avira anti-virus software comes in both a freeware version and a premium version.  The freeware version of the software isn't able to offer as many functions and tools as other freeware anti-virus programs, but still offers a good set of tools that can handle virus and malware threats.  The $30-per-year Avira Premium comes with a Linux Live CD, which allows you to recover your data and your system functionality if you are unable to fix the problem from Windows itself.

One of the best setups you can have for your entertainment center is to hook up your computer to your home theater system.  What has been dubbed the "Home Theater Personal Computer" (HTPC) has become one of the hottest and latest trends in home entertainment.  There are numerous advantages of connecting your computer to your entertainment system, including the ability to watch your videos and view your pictures on your large screen television, listen to your music on your living room's surround sound set, and get Internet connectivity from your favorite couch.  One problem that you may encounter, though, is having to squint at the tiny fonts on your huge display.  While Windows 7 and various applications have special features to make icons and fonts larger for easier viewing on your HTPC system, not all applications have these featured.  If you have ever tried to watch YouTube from across the living room, you probably have a good idea of how frustrating this can be.  ortunately, for all of you HTPCers out there, YouTube has released an HTPC-friendly version of their popular website called YouTube XL.

Why the need for YouTube XL

When you make use of high-definition displays, such as LCD and plasma displays, you gain a huge amount of viewing space on your computer.  Instead of only having resolutions of 800x600 or 1024x768, high-definition displays are able to give up to 1920x1080 resolution, making for extra-fine graphics displays that give you a huge amount of working space.  The problem is, when your computer is placed into higher resolutions, your fonts, icons, and other interface elements shrink to size.  This can cause problems for people who don't have perfect eyesight and for those who don't want to be sitting close to the screen just to read fonts and see the display.

What makes YouTube XL special

YouTube has decided to address this common issue by developing and releasing YouTube XL.  This website is just another version of YouTube that has been optimized for viewing on large screens.  The entire design of YouTube XL has been changed from the regular YouTube site.  Instead of making use of a white background, YouTube XL makes use of a sleek, black background.  This change in color schemes is a great move, because having a black background causes much less eye strain in comparison to white backgrounds, especially when you are viewing the site from a large screen.  Another change is that the site has been minimalized and streamlined, giving you access to all of your favorite YouTube features, while offering a layout that is easy to navigate and read.  When you view a video, you are presented with a large viewing area, with large control and navigational buttons to make everything a lot easier and more intuitive than trying to view the regular YouTube page from your HTPC.

Interconnectivity and networking have become so important in the way that we live our daily lives.  Whether it's the home networks we share with our families, the office networks at work, or the Wi-Fi we enjoy at the coffee shop, interconnectivity is playing an increasingly larger role in our day-to-day existence.  Not only do these networks allow us to share and pool resources and data, but it also allows us to enjoy and live life to the fullest.  Multimedia streaming is an exemplary form of interconnectivity and networking that gives us the freedom of being able to access our files from practically anywhere, giving a sense of continuity and stability in what often seems like a fast-paced and hectic digital age.  Orb is an application for Apple Macs that can give you the best of multimedia streaming.

The buzz on Orb

Orb is a software developed and edited by the company Orb Networks from Emeryville, California.  Orb Networks first gained popularity in 2005, when the company released a Windows-based version of their streaming software.  Then, in 2008, the company started making waves in the Apple community when they developed the first streaming media player for the ever-popular iPhone.  Sometime last year, the company announced a version of the software for Macs.  One year later, still continuing on their successful path, Orb Networks has released a freeware streaming application for Apple Mac units.

Orb software for Mac

The newest version of Orb software is version 2.50+, which has been released in both a Windows and Mac version.  Engineered for OS X, the Mac version of Orb brings streamlined multimedia streaming to your Apple computers and laptops.  After MyCasting your data, you can then access it through the Internet from other gadgets that have Internet connectivity.  From iPhones and pocket PCs to laptops and gaming consoles, practically any device with an Internet connection will be able to access your MyCasted files.  This is great for anyone who wants 24/7 access to their music, videos, photos, and other digital content.  As long as your Mac is on and you are connected to MyCast and Orb, then you will be able to access your files at any time.  In fact, if you have a TV tuner installed in your Mac, then you can stream live television content from your computer to your other devices.  Also, you can stream your media to your entertainment system or console so that you can watch your favorite videos on the big screen or listen to your music from your living room audio setup.  Orb is definitely a great piece of software that anyone should try, even just for the experience of having your multimedia library available from anywhere at any time.

When Adobe Photoshop was released on the Apple App Store, it was just one among the over 100,000 applications available to iPhone and iPod Touch users.  After making over one million downloads in the first week after its release, it was clear that Adobe Photoshop's application was in a league of popularity of its own.  With applications for both Apple's iPhone and Microsoft's Windows Mobile devices, Adobe Photoshop had only one more major mobile operating system to conquer: Android.  In the spirit of mobile app domination, Adobe Photoshop has just released a Photoshop mobile phone application for Android phones.  If you are in need of a great photo editing application for your Android mobile, then you definitely need to check out the Photoshop.com Mobile App for Android.  Here are some of the reasons you should get Photoshop.com Mobile for Android now:

1.  Get the professionalism you expect from Adobe.

Adobe Systems has been in the business of creating professional software for over 25 years.  Specializing and focusing in multimedia and creativity software, Adobe Systems has come to develop and release some of the best software for everyone, from casual users to the top professionals in the fields of photography, art, graphic design, publishing, film, videography, and other multimedia-related industries.  Adobe Photoshop is just one of the many prized software families that has come from Adobe Systems.  With Photoshop.com for Android, you get the professionalism, attention to detail, and expert experience that Adobe has to offer in the form of a mobile app that allows you to edit and manage the digital images stored in your Android device.

2.  Get the functions that you want and need.

Adobe's Photoshop.com App allows you to take control of many of the basic image-editing tools that you need.  First, the app allows you to adjust color levels, crop picture, apply various image effects, and rotate images with just the touch of your fingers.  All you have to do is select a tool and start editing your picture through the touchscreen display on your Android.  Aside from image-editing, the Photoshop.com Mobile App for Android also gives you quick and easy access to sharing functions.  Once you create an account with Photoshop.com, you will gain access to a number of online tools through your Photoshop.com App.  You can upload your images, store them online, and share them with your loved ones.  The app even has an "Auto Upload" function that will send any new photos from your Android to your Photoshop.com account.

3.  Get it for free.

Perhaps the best thing about the Photoshop.com Mobile App for Android is the fact that it is free.  Just like the version of the app released for the iPhone, the Android app can also be downloaded and installed, free-of-charge.

If you have ever installed a new operating system on your computer, then you are probably well-aware of the hassle of hunting down, downloading, and installing all of the software that you love.  With Microsoft's Windows 7 hitting store shelves all across the globe, it's safe to assume that many computer users will be performing a clean installation of the operating system, running into the problem of installing software from scratch.  If you plan on installing Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP, then you may want to check out the software called Ninite.  Ninite is a helpful piece of software that makes finding, downloading, and installing software as easy as pie.

What is Ninite?

Ninite is a program that was developed and created by two San Francisco-based programmers named Patrick Swieskowski and Sascha Kuzins.  The program runs on the three latest version of Windows operating systems:  Windows 7, Vista, and XP.  Basically, Ninite is a free, web-based application that allows you to choose from a list of some of the most popular freeware applications, which will then be downloaded and installed on your system.  This eliminates the need for you to hunt down each and every piece of software that you normally install on your computer.  Considering that fresh installations of operating systems require you to format your hard drive partition, Ninite gives you an easy and convenient way of getting your system up-to-speed with the latest versions of the freeware applications that you use.

How does Ninite work?

1.  Visit the Ninite website at www.ninite.com, where you can read about Ninite and get started using it.
2.  Browse through the list of software that Ninite has made available for you and click on the checkbox of each piece of software that you want to download and install.
3.  Once you have selected all of the software that you want, scroll down to the button that says "Get Installer."
4.  A new window should pop up asking if you want to download the Ninite installer file.  Accept the download and save it to your hard drive.
5.  Locate the Ninite installer, open the file and the program will then run, automatically downloading and installing all of the programs that you chose in step 2.

Advantages of using Ninite

-  You don't have to look for each piece of software individually.
-  Ninite itself needs no installation, it just downloads and installs the programs that you choose.
-  Automatically uses the default installation paths and settings, making it easy for those who don't need to customize such settings.
-  Installs all applications at once, so you don't have to babysit and install each program one at a time.
-  It is extremely easy to use.

Once upon a time, personal computers dominated the market by landslide figures.  In the past decade or so, however, Apple has successfully risen to great heights in the computer industry, giving personal computers a run for their money.  Today, Apple's Mac computers and laptops are among some of the most desirable computing systems in the market.  With their sleek designs, innovative engineering, convenient functionality, and intuitive designs, Apple Macs are becoming a popular choice for both personal and commercial use.  Another reason that Macs have gained popularity, fame, and droves of supporters is because the Mac is less prone to malware and other forms of cyber attacks.  McAfee wants to take Mac security to a whole new level with their new software called McAfee Endpoint Protection for Mac.  Here's an overview of this new piece of software for the Mac.

1.  Gain universal protection from McAfee

McAfee has long been one of the top contenders in security software and the company is making a bold move with their new software.  Although Apple loves to advertise that Macs are generally safer from malware than PCs, this doesn't mean that Macs are completely free from threat.  McAfee Endpoint Protection, however, provides universal protection against all kinds of malware including viruses, phishing attacks, exploits, and spyware.

2.  Security compliance and management is a cinch

Another likable feature of McAfee's Endpoint Protection is that it makes it easy and convenient to manage and monitor security features across multiple computers.  The software allows you to set your security standards that other computers must meet.  When you set your security policies, the program will report on and enforce these policies depending on your settings.  Furthermore, McAfee Endpoint Protection for Mac also gives you access to a web-based console for managing both your Mac and Windows endpoints.  The software is also fully functional and integrated with the McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator.

List of other features in McAfee Endpoint Protection for Mac

-  Mac look and feel:  One of the things that many Mac-users like is the intuitive layout of Apple operating systems and programs.  McAfee does a good job if imitating the convenient and intuitive look and feel of Apple software in the Endpoint Protection program.
-  Proactive desktop firewall:  The software comes with a firewall that covers both inbound and outbound traffic to help prevent attacks coming through your network.
-  Anti-spyware protection:  Spyware can lead to numerous security, privacy, and performance issues, which is why McAfee has included anti-spyware functionality to help stop and prevent any spyware threats to your Mac.
-  Application control:  McAfee Endpoint Protection also allows you to monitor, allow, or deny certain applications on your Mac, giving your control over potentially malicious programs that may change your system settings.
-  Top-notch anti-virus technology:  McAfee is a big name in the anti-virus industry and Endpoint Protection for Mac gives you that reliable, proven, and comprehensive virus protection that consumers have come to expect from McAfee.

Discuss this another things in ixdownloads security forum.

The long-standing battle between the personal computer and the Mac has only intensified with the recent release of Microsoft's Windows 7 and Apple's Snow Leopard, which are the two newest operating systems in the market.  It doesn't always have to be about which operating system is better, however.  Sometimes, it's nice to be able to take advantage of the great features of both Windows 7 and Snow Leopard.  This article will give a short tutorial on how to get Windows 7 running on a Mac with the use of Apple's Boot Camp software.  Now, for some die-hard Apple fans, this may seem like sacrilege, but for others it is a great way to explore and use the features and functions of both of these operating system heavyweights.  So here it goes.

1.  Basic system requirements

To install and run Windows 7 on your Mac without any hiccups, your system will have to meet these minimum requirements:
-  An Intel-based Mac
-  The Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard or 10.6 Snow Leopard installation disk
-  10 GB of free hard drive space
-  Windows 7 installation disk

2.  Access Boot Camp and get started

If you meet the minimum system requirements, then you can initiate the procedure by opening Boot Camp Assistant on Mac.  Just search for the application with the Spotlight feature.  Boot Camp will then walk you through the installation.  Before actually starting the Windows 7 installation, Boot Camp Assistant will remind you that it would be ideal to back up your hard drive.  Backing up your data is the best way of ensuring that you can restore your files and your system in case something goes wrong.

3.  Create a partition

After the backup warning, Boot Camp Assistant will then go into the next step, which is partitioning.  You will have to create a separate partition on your hard drive for your Windows 7 installation.  It is advisable to make this partition at least 5 to 10 GB.  But if you plan on making full use of Windows 7 by installing applications and games, you may want to bump up the partition space to around 30 to 50 GB.  Select your partition space, click "Partition," and let Boot Camp Assistant do the rest.

4.  Installing Windows 7

Now that your system is partitioned and ready for the Windows 7 installation, you need to grab your installation disk and insert it into the disk drive.  The actual installation of Windows 7 will probably take a while and it will have a few settings and options for you to configure along the way, so don't go too far from your Mac while the installation is in progress.  After accepting the terms and agreements, choosing your language settings, and selecting the type of Windows 7 installation you want, you will then have to select the partition you created with Boot Camp in step 2.  The partition will then be formatted into the NTFS file system, and the installation of Windows 7 will commence.  After the installation is done, all you have to do is select the Windows boot up option from the OS X boot screen, which can be accessed by holding the Alt key while the system is booting.  You may need to install some drivers from your OS X installation disk, which is easy enough once you get into Windows.

To further get into this operating system on mac computers you might be interested in visiting ixdownloads windows 7 forum where you both can ask questions and help other.

With Windows 7 hitting the shelves of stores all around the world, the new operating system is set to take the personal computer industry by storm.  Slick features, unmatched security, improved stability, an upgraded interface, and improved functionality are just some of the things that make Windows 7 so desirable.  If you already have a licensed version of Windows Vista on your computer, then you may qualify for the Windows 7 upgrade option.  The Windows 7 upgrade option is probably the easiest and most cost-effective way of getting Windows 7 on your machine, but some people have been having problems with getting their machine up-to-date with the latest operating system from Microsoft.  Here are some tips on how to get the Windows 7 upgrade option installed and working on your computer.

The first and most important thing to understand about the Windows 7 upgrade option is that it is only available for those who have previous installations of properly licensed Windows Vista operating systems.  Although there are ways to install Windows 7 without having a previous version of Windows installed, doing so will result in a violation of the licensing terms and agreements.  If you don't have a properly licensed version of Windows Vista on your computer, then you should buy the full copy of Windows 7 instead of using the upgrade option.

Performing an "in-place upgrade"

Perhaps the easiest way to use the Windows 7 upgrade option is to do what is referred to by Microsoft as an "in-place upgrade."  Basically, an in-place upgrade allows you to install Windows 7 without having to format your entire drive.  In other words, the new operating system will be installed while still retaining your installed software, your files, and some of your settings.  It's important to know, though, that in-place upgrades only work if you meet these requirements:

1.  You are upgrading from a 32-bit version of Windows Vista to a 32-bit version of Windows 7
2.  You are upgrading from a 64-bit version of Windows Vista to a 64-bit version of Windows 7
3.  You are not moving from a higher-end version of Windows Vista to a lower-end version of Windows 7

Performing a clean install

If you don't meet the requirements for an in-place upgrade, then you will want to perform a clean install.  When you do a clean install, the hard drive partition you install Windows 7 on will be formatted, meaning that all of the data on that partition will be erased, hence the term "clean" installation.  It's important to back up all of your data on another hard drive or on some sort of removable media (e.g., DVD, flash drive) so you can restore the data after the installation.

You might find more answers and be able to discuss this operating system in our windows 7 forum.