Download a little flair to personalize your PC and phone
It's 11 o'clock. Do you know what your kids are downloading? Cell phone ringtones, skins, dingbats, emoticons, clip art—the choices are endless. And it's big business, too. In 2006, for example, JupiterResearch estimates that U.S. teenagers alone rang up $3 billion in downloads. That's not even counting free downloads—and the trend is only going up.
What's the appeal? Greg Weir, content manager at Tucows, which for a decade has maintained a site where users can download freeware and shareware, says, "Users are keen to download anything that will help them personalize and customize. This includes everything from graphics and wingdings to games and clip art—and, wisely, anti-spam and antivirus programs, too."
But how do you ensure that the files your kids (or you, for that matter) are downloading are okay? No matter what you download, make sure that your antivirus software is up to date and that a firewall is installed. See Microsoft Security at Home for more information.
Now, let's see what you can toss into your cyber shopping cart.
Jazz up the look of your programs and icons
Would you like a close-up of Russell Crowe to greet you at your computer each day? Or is a soothing rainforest scene more to your liking? The choices of wallpaper, screen savers, and skins (images to customize your Windows Media Player, desktop, or messaging program, for example) are endless. For instance, try Customize.org, which has thousands of customizing options.
Liven up Windows Media Player by downloading funky skins, plug-ins, and visualizations.
If you're into photo-sharing, visit Webshots, a site which allows you to download photos and to make your own wallpaper and screen savers.
And, if you're a fan of screen savers, visit Freesaver.com.
For some really funky icons (pictures that represent folders, files, or programs), point your browser to The Icon Factory.
Quick tip: Change the look of your folders.
Each folder on your desktop or in My Documents is represented by an icon. You can easily replace them with icons that you have downloaded. Here's how:
Windows Vista
Right-click the folder or shortcut that needs a new icon, and then click Properties.
Do one of the following:
To change the icon for a shortcut, click the Shortcut tab.
To change the icon for a folder, click the Customize tab.
Click Change Icon, and then choose the new icon that you want to use.
Windows XP
Right-click the folder that you want to change, and go to Properties.
Select the Customize tab.
Under Folder Icons, click Change Icon. You can select from the list of Windows icons that come with your operating system or choose an icon that you have downloaded.
To do the latter, go to Browse, and locate the folder that contains your downloaded icons.
Click the icon that you want, click Open, and then click OK.
This will bring you back to the Site Images Properties box. From here, click Apply, and then click OK.
Convey your emotions with emoticons
The next time you're instant messaging, insert an emoticon—a graphic that expresses the way that you really feel. Don't just pick the standard happy face when a bolt of lightning, a hug, or a wilted rose better reflects your mood. There's a comprehensive list on ways to create these emoticons with your keyboard on Windows Live Messenger.
Quick tip: Add new emoticons to illustrate your Windows Live Messenger conversations.
Create personalized emoticons from your own images to add to your instant messaging conversations. Here's how:
Windows XP or Windows Vista
To download emoticons, open Windows Live Messenger.
Click the Tools menu, and choose Emoticons.
Click Create.
Select Find Image, and navigate to the folder where you saved your downloaded images (any image you have will work).
Enter a keyboard shortcut/code (make one up) for this particular emoticon.
Click OK.
Find an almost endless selection of fonts
Is your writing style formal, or is it sassy? If it's the latter, choose the Art Deco-styled ITC Arecibo, a trendy release available on Font.com. Jazzy fonts, including dingbats, can also be found on Font Freak and Bravenet.com.
Quick tip: Install new fonts on your computer.
Enhance your written documents with exciting new fonts. Here's how:
Windows XP
To install a new font, download the desired font, and save it on your computer.
Click the Start menu, and then click Control Panel. Double-click Fonts, go to the File menu, and then click Install New Font.
Navigate to the location where you saved the downloaded or unzipped font (double-click to unzip a file).
In the List of Fonts box, click the font that you want to add, and then click OK.
Windows Vista
Open Fonts: Click the Start button, click Control Panel, click Appearance and Personalization, and then click Fonts.
Click File, and then click Install New Font.
If you don't see the File menu, press ALT.
In the Add Fonts dialog box, under Drives, click the drive where the font that you want to install is located.
Under Folders, double-click the folder containing the fonts that you want to add.
Under List of fonts, click the font that you want to add, and then click Install.
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