Month: January 2014

Well this is a bug that has been there in Windows 8 and still persists in Windows 8.1 as well. At times the HomeGroup icon is displayed automatically on your desktop without your permission. Wondering how to delete it? Its very easy if you follow the 3 steps below.

Step 1

Right Click on your Desktop and select the Personalize option.

Also read: Activating speech recognition in Windows 8.1

Step 2

Now click on the Change Desktop Icons option displayed on the left.

Step 3

If the box next to the Network is checked then uncheck it and then click on Apply or else check it and click on apply and then uncheck it again and apply to make this irritating icon to go away.

Also read: How to take screenshot in windows 8.1

Hope that Microsoft will fix this HomeGroup icon bug soon in their Windows 9 OS which is expected to be announced later this year. If you have any queries regarding this issue then please feel free to leave a comment below.

Most of us aren’t aware of the fact that there is an issue with Google’s Privacy Policy. Well the problem is that Google allows those people who add you to their circles on Google+ to email you by default without even having your email address. This is a major concern for many folks out there cause they would end up with tons of spammy emails in their Gmail inbox everyday. The good thing is you can easily opt out of this by just clicking on the gear symbol on the top right. Now select Settings, scroll down the general category to Email via Google+ and select the classes of people who are able to send you emails. Lets hope that we wont have to deal with this Google Privacy Issue anymore.

Also read:  Learn “How to use Google Effectively” in under 5 minutes!

To use your Android Phone to stream Live Video all you need to do is install the following app from Google Play and you are ready to go.
IP Webcam
Click here to Download
This app turns your phone into a network camera with multiple viewing options. View your camera on any platform with VLC player or web browser. Stream video inside WiFi network without internet access. Use IP Webcam with tinyCam Monitor on another android device or with third-party MJPG software, including video surveillance software, security monitors and most audio players. Videochat support (e.g. Skype, Chatroulette, only video stream for Windows only via an universal MJPG video streaming driver).

Also read: Battery Doctor – A real Battery Saving app

Steps to activate Speech Recognition in Windows 8/8.1

• Go to the control panel and type in “speech recognition” in the search bar and click on the “start speech recognition”.
• You will go through the starting stages where you will be needed to test your microphone settings and your voice and then you are ready to go.

Also read: Skype Audio Not Working – Fix

Few months ago I had faced a problem with my desktop Skype, my audio wasn’t audible to the other person. I checked whether my webcam was in working condition. I use MS LifeCam VX-2000 and it has a built in microphone. However after checking with other system tools like Speech recognition in Windows 8, I found that my microphone was in working condition. So I checked the Skype microphone settings and found that the default microphone setting was set to my Creative Sound Blaster. I quickly changed it as shown in the following screenshots and everything was working fine as usual.

• Open your Skype for desktop PC and then click on Tools.
• Select Options.
• Now go to the Audio option and you can set the type of audio input that you want to use.