optimization

Built for speed

We're always a little skeptical of programs that promise to enhance Internet speed, because a lot of the time they just don't work, at least not in any noticeable way. Though we can't promise that Network Mechanic lives up to its claim of increasing network speed by up to 300 percent, we can say that it provided us with an impressively faster connection.

The program is easy to install and configure. Users simply choose which type of Internet service they have from among four choices and click Optimize Now. Windows has to be restarted in order for … Read more

Worthy PC optimizer

We test a lot of programs, but it's rare that we like one enough to keep it. But PerfectSpeed PC Optimizer has become a permanent fixture and our go-to program for keeping our computer running on all cylinders. However, it's not for newbies.

This program installs with two interfaces: a wizard and the main layout; both sleek and intuitive. Using the wizard, we were quickly able to find and fix registry errors, free up hard disk space, remove browsing traces, and optimize our disk drive. Our only complaint is that it's all or nothing with the wizard: … Read more

Two free Windows optimizers go head-to-head

It took long enough, but Microsoft now offers first-rate, free security software for Windows via the Security Essentials program. Unfortunately, the wait continues for the company to provide an effective, easy-to-use, and free Windows optimization utility.

That doesn't mean you have to live with Windows' inevitable slowdowns. For years I've relied on Piriform's free CCleaner maintenance utility to give Windows a performance boost. But when CCleaner was unable to provide my Vista laptop with more than a modest speedup, I decided to try IObit's Advanced SystemCare Free. In my unscientific tests, Advanced SystemCare Free managed a … Read more

IBM software to help states grab back taxes

States hungry to grab billions in back taxes can now call in the big guns in the form of IBM.

Big Blue announced on Monday new Tax Collections Optimizer software designed to help state governments more effectively collect money owed from deliquent taxpayers.

The software uses data analytics to determine the total amount of back taxes owed. It then compares those findings with the existing workload and available staffing at state tax agencies and recommends the best methods for collecting those taxes.

Specifically, the software analyzes certain taxpayer information, such as the total amount of money due and an individual'… Read more

'Swiss Army knife' of Mac maintenance

Xupport is another good option for people who want to optimize and fiddle with specific and global settings on their Macs. This multipurpose utility (billed as a "Swiss Army knife" for OS X) can help you navigate files, perform backups, search for Unix commands, and alter a wide array of settings on your Mac, all within a simple interface that's organized around Settings, Maintenance, Optimization, Sharing, Backup, Browser, Unix, and Info. Recent updates bring full support for Snow Leopard (important for a system-tinkering app), better stability for PPC Macs, and better performance for Intel Macs.

You can … Read more

Google admits its SEO could use a little work

Google has published a detailed, 49-page report that rates the search engine optimization (SEO) on its various properties including the Google search home page. The result? It's failing in a number of categories.

On the bright side, the company says it plans to use this information to better its own SEO, and that to help others, the company has shared some of the metrics it's used.

The report covers 100 of Google's products. The company is also planning a follow-up that will cover international localizations.

Among the items under scrutiny, one of the biggest areas of failure … Read more

Erase useless files on your Mac

Does your Mac feel sluggish? Internet surfing, downloading software, and just plain regular use are all major contributors to filling up your hard drive with useless files. As time goes by, your Mac starts to fill up with cache files, unused language files, and even leftover installers, making your whole system struggle to keep track of it all. You can go through and try to clean out a lot of these files manually, but knowing that it might take you a significant amount of time makes it easy to put off until later.

Fortunately, there are a number of utilities … Read more

Simple error detector

ZeoOptimizer offers to help your computer run to its highest performance level. By seeking and destroying errors, this easy-to-use program is a great tool for improving your PC's speed, but its trial limitations left us wanting more.

The program's interface was delightfully simple to use, as its layout reminded us of some of the more basic virus-scan programs available. However, instead of seeking out viruses, this highly readable program is on the hunt for performance-killing errors. ZeoOptimizer searched an entire computer in only a matter of minutes, and it showcased its results on an easy-to-read list that allowed … Read more

The future will be...

As we’re nearing the end of a year and the end of a decade, it’s time to look back and ahead. With at least three formative events in this young 21st century (9/11, the Tsunami, and the Great Recession) providing some sort of apocalyptic arch and instilling a profound sense of anxiety, it is no wonder that former visionaries are gathering at conferences asking “Where did the future go?” But, at the end of the day, the end of all days didn’t occur, and as the New York Magazine points out in its comprehensive review of … Read more