"Windows Vista Pocket Reference" is the ideal guide to setting up and navigating the basics of this new operating system, from the new user interface to networking, multimedia, security, and mobility. This pocket reference offers four sections that will familiarize readers with Vista quickly: Getting Started gives a crash course in using Windows Vista, including the user interface, handling files, folders, drives and search, and working with hardware; Networking, the Internet and Wireless offers a tour of Internet Explorer 7, a wireless networking guide, and how to set up and maintain home networks; Multimedia shows how to use the Media Center, Windows Media Player, and how to handle graphics and photos, podcasts and MP3 players; and, Security, Mobility, and Troubleshooting visits the security features, shows how to tune up Vista, troubleshoot problems, and use Vista with mobile devices.

What began as an intrepid U.S. Government initiative in the early 1970's has turned into a global way of life. Indeed, with more than 500 million current users (and counting), the Internet has revolutionized the way societies function the world over. From dating and shopping online, to conducting informational research, to communicating via email, today seemingly everyone uses the Internet for one purpose or another. How, then, can something so vast and powerful be defiled by something as trivial as spam? It's true. The fact remains that despite the leading-edge technological sophistication fueling the Net, there are still many related annoyances that complicate and tarnish the Internet experience. And it doesn't matter if you're a homemaker in search of a fresh chicken recipe, or a civil engineer researching plans for a new skyscraper, the problems are the same. Internet Annoyances understands the universal nature of the Internet and strives to make its use as stress-free as possible. This insightful guide shows you how to overcome the most annoying Internet-related quirks, bugs, and hassles. You'll learn how to make a seamless connection, thwart would-be hackers, ensure greater security while surfing, eliminate pop-up ads, maximize online services, conduct more effective Google searches, better utilize digital media (music and video), and much more. In addition, Internet Annoyances discusses how to design and host a personal web site something once thought of as only possible for the technically gifted. Topics like blogs, domain names, setup, HTML, fonts, and graphics and are all dissected and analyzed for easy consumption. Unlike other books on the subject, Internet Annoyances assumes readers already possess a working knowledge of the Internet. By fully recognizing the experience level of today's Internet culture, author Preston Galla is able to cut immediately to the chase and not waste time on the more obvious points. Internet Annoyances, therefore, is a quick read that presents succinct solutions for the many glitches that still populate the Internet experience.

Whether you're just getting started with your Droid X2, or want to dig deeper into all the amazing things it can do, this book's got you covered. Learn how to get online, shop, keep in touch, take and share photos, enjoy streaming music and video, and much more. Packed with illustrations, this engaging book helps you with everything from setup to troubleshooting, with lots of expert tips and tricks along the way. * Get organized. Import your contacts and sync with Google Calendar and Microsoft Exchange. * Go online. Get your phone to act as a portable hotspot or as a modem to get your laptop online. * Play music. Purchase music from Amazon and sync your Droid X with Windows Media Player and iTunes. * Shoot photos and video. Edit and share your photos, and use them as desktop or icon images; record video and share it with your friends. * Connect to Google Maps. Use geotagging and get turn-by-turn directions.

Bigger, better, and broader in scope, the "Big Book of Windows Hacks" gives you everything you need to get the most out of your Windows Vista or XP system, including its related applications and the hardware it runs on or connects to. Whether you want to tweak Vista's Aero interface, build customized sidebar gadgets and run them from a USB key, or hack the "unhackable" screensavers, you'll find quick and ingenious ways to bend these recalcitrant operating systems to your will. "The Big Book of Windows Hacks" focuses on Vista, the new bad boy on Microsoft's block, with hacks and workarounds that also work for Windows XP. You can read each hack in just a few minutes, saving countless hours of searching for the right answer. The step-by-step instructions let you apply the solutions in no time.This book takes you beyond the operating system with hacks for applications like Internet Explorer 7 and Office 2007, and hardware such as the Zune, your wireless router, and the PC itself. "The Big Book of Windows Hacks" includes: expanded tutorials, new background material, a series of "quick hacks", and informative sidebars; security hacks, including protection at wireless hotspots, hacking Vista file permissions and user account protection, and more; efficiency hacks, such as tweaking your PC hardware, troubleshooting hardware problems, and speeding up system performance; and fun hacks, like building a custom Media Center PC or turning a PC into a digital video recorder. "Beyond Windows" hacks for running Linux inside Vista, dual-booting Linux/Windows or XP/Vista, or emulate classic video games on your PC. In all, this remarkable book contains more than 100 hacks so that the power user in you never again needs to be at the mercy of systems and hardware run by Microsoft's omnipotent Vista and XP operating systems.

Ready to unleash the Droid 2? This entertaining guide helps you take full command of Motorola's sleek new device to get online, shop, find locations, keep in touch, and much more. Every page is packed with useful information you can put to work right away, from setup to troubleshooting, with lots of valuable tips and tricks along the way.Get organized. Sync your contacts, calendar, and email with your Google Calendar and Outlook accounts. Go online. Make your phone a portable hotspot or a modem to get your laptop online. Be productive. Use Google docs to create and edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Play music. Purchase music from Amazon and sync your Droid 2 with Windows Media Player. Capture photos and video. Edit your photos and share everything you shoot--instantly.

Ready to bend Windows 8 to your will? With this hands-on guide, bestselling author Preston Gralla helps you unlock the secrets of Microsoft's new, revolutionary operating system. Learn how to customize the new user interface (or disable the parts you don't like), bring back familiar features like the Start menu, hack SkyDrive and other cloud applications, interact with NOOK and Kindle apps, and take control of networking and peripherals. All aspects of Windows 8 are covered. Hack the Windows 8 interface, including the Charm bar Provide protection at wireless hotspots, secure your home network, and track firewall activity Manage multiple Wi-Fi networks, and hack HomeGroup, sharing, and folder permissions Set up multiple monitors, uncover hidden hardware, and manage recovery drives and storage spaces Bring back features from older Windows versions, and run the Windows 8 UI and the Desktop side by side

Get the most out of Samsung's Galaxy S5 smartphone right from the start. With clear instructions from technology expert Preston Gralla, this Missing Manual gives you a guided tour of Samsung's new flagship phone, including great new features such as the fingerprint scanner, heart rate sensor, and Download Booster. You'll get expert tips and tricks for playing music, calling and texting, shooting photos and videos, and even getting some work done. The important stuff you need to know: Get connected. Browse the Web, manage email, and download apps from Google Play through WiFi or 3G/4G network. Keep in touch. Call, text, chat, videochat, conduct conference calls, and reach out with Facebook and Twitter. Capture and display images. Shoot, edit, show, and share photos, slideshows, and high-definition videos. Play and manage your music. Buy music from Google Play or Amazon and listen to it with Galaxy S5's Music app. Work anywhere. Access your files, company network, calendar, and contacts - and work with Google Docs. Connect to Google Maps. Use geolocation and turn-by-turn drive directions to find your way. Stay fit with S Health. Use this built-in app to keep track of fitness goals, walking, heart rate, blood pressure, and more.

Unleash the powers of the Amazon Fire phone with help from technology guru Preston Gralla. Through clear instructions and savvy advice, this fast-paced, engaging guide shows you how to make the most of Fire phone's innovative features - including Firefly, Dynamic Perspective, one-handed gestures, and integration with Amazon Prime. The important stuff you need to know: Gain control with Dynamic Perspective. Tilt your phone to scroll, move your head to play games, and explore maps in 3D. Take pictures further. Capture high-res, panoramic, and moving (lenticular) photos. Shoot HD video, too. Shop with ease. Use Firefly to identify music, videos, and other items, and go straight to the product's Amazon page. Get the apps you want. Load up on games and apps for productivity, health and fitness, and social networking from Amazon's Appstore. Solve problems right away. Get live tech support from Amazon via video chat with the Mayday help feature. Carry the Cloud in your hand. Access Prime Instant Video, your Kindle library, and your uploaded photos and videos.

You can do many things with NOOK HD right out of the box, but if you really want to get the most from your HD or HD+ tablet, start with this book. With clear instructions, full-color illustrations, and savvy advice from technology expert Preston Gralla, you'll learn how to use email and the Web, watch movies and shows, play games, listen to music, and enjoy your personal ebook library. The important stuff you need to know: Relax with a book. Load your NOOK library with ebooks, comics, and interactive books for kids. Play with apps. Enjoy the games and apps everyone's talking about. Go online. Browse the Web and check your email with built-in WiFi. Be social. Share books and recommendations with your NOOK Friends, and Facebook and Twitter contacts. Take in a show. Watch movies and TV series, and listen to your favorite music anywhere. Read all about it. Subscribe to a variety of magazines and newspapers.

Windows XP can be a great tool, but it is all too easy to trip over Windows XP's annoying traits more often than you leverage its productivity. Windows XP power-users troll online resources, documentation, and the expertise (or lucky finds) of friends for valuable tips and tricks--a keyboard shortcut here, an undocumented double-click there--to eliminate annoyances, save time, and take control of their Windows XP. But what if there was an easier way? This new book presents literally hundreds of problems and solutions, amazing power tips, cool tricks, and clever workarounds in one clearly organized, easy to use, and portable resource. Truly insightful and amusing, Windows XP Hints gives Windows XP users practical hints for everything from the desktop to Office programs to the registry, and includes documented (but little-known) tips as well as previously undocumented tricks. Windows XP Hints moves far beyond mere productivity and explores what's possible with Windows XP--including cool things you probably never thought of doing. An understanding of Windows XP basics will get the job done. But discovering the most useful I didn t know that! tips and shortcuts will make using Windows

Galaxy Tab lets you work, play, read, and connect on the go, but mastering its TouchWiz interface and finding the best apps can be tricky--unless you have this Missing Manual. Gadget whiz Preston Gralla provides crystal-clear explanations and step-by-step instructions to get you up to speed quickly, whether you have the 3G/4G or Wi-Fi version of this amazing device.

The important stuff you need to know: Design your experience. Add interactive widgets and mini-apps to your screen with TouchWiz.Satisfy your appetite. Download thousands of games and apps from the Android Market.Keep in touch. Chat, videochat, check email, and browse the Web.Find your way. View maps, use the GPS, and navigate turn-by-turn.Manage your media. Shoot and view photos and videos; organize and play your music.Stay informed. Read books, newspapers, and magazines.Be productive. Use Google Docs to store and share documents.

Motorola Xoom is the first tablet to rival the iPad, and no wonder with all of the great features packed into this device. But learning how to use everything can be tricky-and Xoom doesn't come with a printed guide. That's where this Missing Manual comes in. Gadget expert Preston Gralla helps you master your Xoom with step-by-step instructions and clear explanations. As with all Missing Manuals, this book offers refreshing, jargon-free prose and informative illustrations. * Use your Xoom as an e-book reader, music player, camcorder, and phone * Keep in touch with email, video and text chat, and social networking apps * Get the hottest Android apps and games on the market * Do some work with Google Docs, Microsoft Office, or by connecting to a corporate network * Tackle power-user tricks, such as barcode scanning, voice commands, and creating a Wi-Fi hotspot * Sync your Xoom with a PC or a Mac

Each year, Windows XP is pre-installed on 30 million PCs sold in the U.S.--and 90 million worldwide--making it the world's most popular operating system, and proving to frustrated users everywhere that preponderance does not equate to ease of use. There are literally thousands of programs, tools, commands, screens, scripts, buttons, tabs, applets, menus, and settings contained within Windows XP. And it has only been in the last couple of years that Microsoft's documentation has actually been more of a help than a hindrance. But it still isn't enough.

Windows XP users and administrators need a quick and easy way to find answers. Plenty of books go into detail about the theory behind a particular technology or application, but few go straight to the essentials for getting the job done. "Windows XP Cookbook" does just that, tackling the most common tasks needed to install, manage, and support Windows XP.

Featuring a new twist to O'Reilly's proven Cookbook formula, this problem-solving guide offers multiple solutions for each of its 300-plus recipes. Solve dilemmas with the graphical user interface, the command line, through the Registry, or by using scripts. Each step-by-step recipe includes a discussion that explains how and why it works. The book is also among the first to cover Microsoft's XP Service Pack 2. With these practical, on-the-job solutions, "Windows XP Cookbook" will save you hours of time searching for answers.

"Windows XP Cookbook" will be useful to anyone that has to use, deploy, administer, or automate Windows XP. But this isn't a typical end-user book; it covers the spectrum of topics involved with running Windows XP in both small and largeenvironments. As a result, IT professionals and system administrators will find it a great day-to-day reference. And power users will find "Windows XP Cookbook" a great source for information on tweaking XP and getting the most out of their systems. The bottom line is that "Windows XP Cookbook" will make just about anyone who uses XP more productive.

Galaxy S4 is amazing right out of the box, but if you want to get the most of out your S4 or S4 Mini, start here. With clear instructions and savvy advice from technology expert Preston Gralla, you'll learn how to go online, play games, listen to music, watch movies & TV, monitor your health, and answer calls with a wave of your hand. The important stuff you need to know: Be connected. Browse the Web, manage email, and download apps through WiFi or S4's 3G/4G network. Navigate without touch. Use Air Gestures with your hand, or scroll with your eyes using Smart Screen. Find new ways to link up. Chat, videochat, and add photos, video, or entire slideshows to text messages. Get together with Group Play. Play games or share pictures, documents, and music with others nearby. Create amazing images. Shoot and edit photos and videos - and combine images from the front and back cameras. Keep music in the cloud. Use Google Play Music to store and access tunes. Check your schedule. Sync the S4 with your Google and Outlook calendars.

A smart collection of insider tips and tricks, "Windows XP Hacks," Second Edition covers the XP operating system from start to finish. Among the multitude of topics addressed, this must-have resource includes extensive coverage of hot-button issues such as:

security

web browsing

controlling the control panel

removing uninstallable XP components

pop-up ads

You'll also find timesaving hacks for file distribution; digital media, such as iTunes; and high-visibility web software, services, and exploits that have emerged since the book's last edition. Each hack in the book can be read easily in just a few minutes, saving countless hours of searching for the right answer.

Now completely revised and updated to cover Service Pack 2 (SP2), the second edition of this bestseller carefully breaks down the new features that come with SP2, including IE pop-up blocker, Windows Firewall, and the new wireless client.

Written by Preston Gralla, the compact and affordable "Windows XP Hacks," Second Edition provides direct, hands-on solutions that can be applied to the challenges facing XP beginners, as well as the more experienced power user. Each year, Windows XP is pre-installed on 90 million PCs worldwide, making it the world's most popular operating system.

This unique reference thoroughly documents every important setting and feature in Microsoft's new operating system, with alphabetical listings for hundreds of commands, windows, menus, listboxes, buttons, scrollbars and other elements of Windows Vista. With this book's simple organization, you'll easily find any setting, tool, or feature for the task you want to accomplish. Along with a system overview that highlights major changes, and a tour of the basics such as manipulating files and getting around the interface, "Windows Vista in a Nutshell" offers alphabetized references for topics such as: the User Interface which covers the Sidebar, Aero Glass, the new Control Panel layout, and applets, as well as how to customize animated windows, the desktop, Start menu, pop-up windows on the Taskbar, and more; the File System, Drives, Data, and Search which discusses working with the new Windows Explorer, Virtual Folders, searches, indexing, saved searches, metadata, and sharing; and, the Internet and Networking which examines TCP/IP, RSS, tabbed browsing, and anti-phishing features of Internet Explorer, plus cookie handling, parental control features, and more. References are also provided for topics such as: Working with Hardware, which describes how to set up, maintain, and troubleshoot hardware - including keyboards, mice, monitors, USB devices, scanners, cameras, and sound devices - and how to add, install, and troubleshoot drivers; Security, which includes the Security Center, Windows Defender, User Account Protection, System Protection, Network Access Protection, WiFi encryption, Windows Firewall, file encryption, and more; Mobility which explains Mobility Center settings, plugging a secondary monitor into your computer, and the new "network projection" feature for making presentations; and, Multimedia which covers Windows Photo Gallery, Media Player, Media Center, podcasting features, connecting to and synching with MP3 players, recording TV and videos, making videos with Windows Movie Maker, and burning CDs and DVDs. References are also provided for the topic on the Command Prompt which provides commands for working with files, utilities for troubleshooting the network, and instructions on how to create your own batch files. Appendixes include information on installation, keyboard shortcuts, common filename extensions, and more. "Windows Vista in a Nutshell" is your one-stop source for everything you need from Microsoft's latest operating system.

Galaxy S II: The Missing Manual will help you get the most from your phone from the start. Veteran technical author Preston Gralla gives you a guided tour of every feature, with lots of expert tips and tricks along the way. You'll learn how to use all calling and texting features, take and share photos, enjoy streaming music and video, get turn-by-turn directions, and more. Packed with illustrations, this engaging book covers everything from setup to troubleshooting. It's the definitive guide to the Galaxy S II. - Work anywhere. Sync your contacts and files with Google Docs and Microsoft Exchange. - Get online. Make your phone act as a portable hotspot or a modem to get your laptop online. - Play music. Purchase music from Amazon, sync with Windows Media Player and iTunes. - Shoot photos and video. Edit and share your photos, use them as desktop or icon images. Record video and share it with your friends. - Connect to Google Maps. Use geotagging and get turn-by-turn directions. - Explore advanced and amazing tricks. Identify objects with Google Goggles. Snap a photo of a sign and translate it.

Surf your way to fun-filled adventure and school success in cyberspace!

Want to join in the search for real-life aliens, take a virtual trip into the eye of a hurricane, and learn magic as you master mathematics? With Online Activities for Kids, the fun never stops and the learning just comes naturally. Where else can you build research skills while creating a family Web page, or learn about world geography while going on an Internet treasure hunt? Take a journey on the Underground Railroad. Turn your room into a world-class art museum. Build a dinosaur from fossils. This easy-to-use, step-by-step guide is bursting with imaginative projects like these and many more, including:

• Design your own roller coaster
• Relive a day in the life of a Civil War soldier
• Write a letter in a language you don’t even speak
• Find out how much you’d weigh on Jupiter
• Write haiku poetry
• And much, much more . . .

With Online Activities for Kids, you’ll have a great time exploring the Internet, and you’ll amaze everyone with your fabulous projects and super cybersurfing skills.