BRINING QUICK ACCESS MENU IN WINDOWS 8

The secret Start button for power users is hidden at the bottom-left.
Right-clicking on the lower left of the screen—whether you’re in the Windows 8

Start screen or in the desktop—will bring up the Quick Access Menu, which

enables a direct line to many key system management chores, including Disk

Management, Task Manager, Device Manager, and Control Panel.

HOT KEYS FOR WINDOWS 8

  • Press the Windows key to enter the tiled Start screen.
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  • The Windows key + M minimizes everything that's showing on the desktop.
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  • The Windows key + E opens Explorer for quick access to folders.
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  • On the Start screen, press the Windows key + D to instantly get to the 
  • desktop.
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  • The Windows key + Tab opens a list of currently running programs.
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  • The Windows key + Print Screen takes a screenshot and saves it in a 
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  • Screenshots folder nested in your Pictures folder. 
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  • To take a screenshot on a Windows 8 tablet, simultaneously press the Windows button and the volume-down button on the tablet chassis.
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  • The Windows key + Q opens a global search menu. Type what you're looking for and where you would like to look.
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  • The Windows key + W opens a search in your system settings to quickly locate and change system properties.
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  • The Windows key + F opens a file and folder search.
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  • The Windows key + Pause opens the system properties page to show you a quick rundown of your specs.
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  • The Windows key + "," (that's the comma sign!) makes all current windows transparent, giving you a peek at the desktop as long as you hold down the Windows key.
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  • The Windows key + "." (the period) snaps a window to the right or left side (toggling each time you press ".").
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  • The Windows key + R prompts the Run command—useful for quickly launching apps and other routines with a command prompt.
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  • The Windows key + X opens the Quick Access Menu, exposing system functionality such as the Command Prompt, Disk Management, File Explorer, Run, and more. Alternatively, you can right-click on the bottom right corner of the screen to spawn the Quick Access Menu.
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  • The Windows key + I opens the settings menu, giving you quick access to the Control Panel, Personalization, and your Power button, among other features.
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  • The Windows key + O locks orientation on devices with an accelerometer.

HOW TO SHUTDOWN WINDOWS 8

To shut Windows 8 down, just move the mouse cursor to the bottom right

corner

of the screen, click the Settings icon - or just hold down the Windows key and

press I - and you'll see a power button. Click this and choose 'Shut Down' or

'Restart'.


Some of the tricks available in previous versions of Windows still apply. Press

Ctrl+Alt+Del, for instance, click the power button in the bottom right-hand

corner and you'll be presented with the same 'Shut Down' and 'Restart' options.


And if you're on the desktop, press Alt+F4 and you'll be able to choose 'Shut

Down', 'Restart', 'Sign Out' or 'Switch User' options.
Windows 8 tips, tricks and secrets

Find your applications IN WINDOWS 8

The Win+X menu is useful, but no substitute for the old Start menu as it doesn't

provide access to your applications. To find this, hold down the Windows key

and press Q or either right-click an empty part of the Start screen or swipe your

finger up from the bottom of the screen and select 'All Apps' to reveal a

scrolling

list of all your installed applications. Browse the various tiles to find what you

need and click the relevant app to launch it.
Windows 8 tips, tricks and secrets

HOW TO Open from the lock screen IN WINDOWS 8

Windows 8 opens on its lock screen, which looks pretty but unfortunately

displays no clues about what to do next.


It's all very straightforward, though. Just tap the space bar, spin the mouse

wheel or swipe upwards on a touch screen to reveal a regular login screen with

the user name you created during installation. Enter your password to begin.

Use a picture password to log into your computer

Windows 8 includes a new feature called Picture password, which allows you to 

authenticate with the computer using a series of gestures that include circles, 

straight lines, and taps. Enable this feature if you want a new way to access 

your computer or have a hard time with passwords.
  1. Open the Windows Charms.
  2. Click Settings and then More PC settings
  3. In the PC settings window click Users and then select Create a picture password
Bonus tip: A four digit pin password can also be created and used to access your computer.

Running two apps side by side IN WINDOWS 8

Any app can be pinned to the left or right-hand side of the screen. For example, 

open the People app and then press the Windows Key + . (period) to move 

that app to the right-hand side of the screen, pressing the same keys again will 

move it to the left-hand side, and pressing the same keys again will make it full 

screen. While an app is pinned, any other app or program can be opened and 

loaded into the available space on the screen. For example, in the below picture, 

we've opened a browser window and have the People app running to monitor 

our social networks.
Windows 8 People
Any open app can also be pinned using your mouse by clicking at the top of the 

tile and dragging it to the left or right-hand side of the screen.
 

Bonus tip: The Desktop can also be pinned to the left or right-hand side of the 

screen.
 
Note: In order for snap to work properly your resolution must be at least 1,366 x 768.

Windows 8 keyboard shortcuts

  • Press the Windows key to open the Start screen or switch to the Desktop (if open).
  • Press the Windows key + D will open the Windows Desktop.
  • Press the Windows key + . to pin and unpin Windows apps on the side of the screen.
  • Press the Windows key + X to open the power user menu, which gives you access to many of the features most power users would want (e.g. Device Manager and Command Prompt).
  • Press the Windows key + C to open the Charms.
  • Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings, which is the same Settings found in Charms.
  • Press and hold the Windows key + Tab to show open apps.
  • Press the Windows key + Print screen to create a screen shot, which is automatically saved into your My Pictures folder.

Turn on Night Mode for Every App


When using the iPhone 5 at night, the screen can often be too bright, even at the lowest setting. Some apps feature a night mode that turns white sections of the screen black, but not all apps offer it.
Turn on night mode on the iPhone 5 for any app with inverted colors.
Turn on night mode on the iPhone 5 for any app with inverted colors.
There is a hidden feature that lets users turn on night mode for any iPhone app, or the closest thing to night mode. Apple lets users invert colors, which results in some weird colors in select apps, but makes it easier to use a web browser at night.
Go to Settings -> General -> Accessibility -> Invert Colors to On.
An easier way to turn this DIY night mode on and off is to set a triple click of the home button to invert colors. This won’t work with the other option to triple click for a home button, but this option may prove a better use for the triple click shortcut.

Skip Songs, Use Siri and More With Headphone Controls

The headphones that come with the iPhone 5 do more than just push music to your ears. The built-in microphone and control switch lets users perform a variety of actions without taking the iPhone out of a pocket.
Tap here to do more with the iPhone 5 headphones.
Tap here to do more with the iPhone 5 headphones.
The most common control is to use it to change volume, but it does much more. Here are a few things you can do with the iPhone headphones.
  • Launch Siri – Hold for about 2 seconds
  • Pause Music – 1 tap
  • Skip a track – 2 taps
  • Remote Shutter – one tap of volume up while the camera is open.
This works with the standard Apple headphones and many made for iPhone replacement headphones as well.

Use the iPhone’s Built-in Scientific Calculator


The iPhone features a built-in calculator that handles the basics like tipping percentages and standard math, but not many users know that turning the iPhone on its side reveals more functionality.
The iPhone 5 holds a scientific calculator when swiveled to landscape.
The iPhone 5 holds a scientific calculator when swiveled to landscape.
By rotating the iPhone into landscape mode users get a scientific calculator. This may not replace a TI 83+ calculator, but it is a handy hidden feature.

Better Late Night Listening


iPhone 5 Hidden Features - Night modeIf you listen to music with the built-in Music app on the iPhone 5 late at night, turn on the Late Night mode. This dials down the bass and tones the music for a more relaxing sound.
Go to Settings -> Music -> EQ -> Late Night.
Unfortunately, the EQ settings only work on the built-in Music app, not on apps like Pandora or Songza.