UC Browser and UCloud Storage

UC Browser
http://www.ucweb.com/ucbrowser/

I had always used Chrome browser all along, for my PC and Android smartphone.

However, Chrome could not load over a slow WiFi network, even after I removed all unnecessary extensions from my PC.

Then I came across UC Browser for my Android smartphone. I downloaded and tried it. It worked faster, Facebook loaded faster. I enjoyed using UC Browser on my Android.

UC Browser icon is an orange squirrel. The tail is bushy.

I'm uncertain where UC Browser originates. I thought it was Indian, but when I installed, it displayed .cn which stands for China.

I was reading the UC Browser website. The company had just released the PC version. So I downloaded UC Browser for one of my laptops - an old Acer Aspire 4740G.

I am using UC Browser for the first time since yesterday, 22 March 2016.

I'm trying out its features and comparing UC Browser versus Chrome.

I'm checking out Facebook and Blogger on my new UC Browser since I use them a lot for my research work, contact and updates.

Facebook is loading very slow today (23 March 2016). The Notifications pull down menu won't display at all.

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UCloud Storage

Here are some useful details about UC Browser and UCloud if you are thinking about using UC Browser, which comes along with massive cloud storage.

UCloud Cloud Storage
http://cloud.ucweb.com/en/netdisk/index

UCloud

My Files 2G

Temporary Files 4G

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Do I have concerns using UCloud Storage? Definitely, yes.

Is UCloud Storage Indian or Chinese? It is Chinese/China's.

Is computing safe in India and China? I don't know about IT safety & security in China (or India).

Will my data which I store in UCloud Storage be leaked out and enter the public space? I don't know. If Wikileaks is possible, anything is possible.

I don't know about the security issues of UCloud Storage since I haven't used it before or long enough to share notes about its behaviour.

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UCloud Storage versus Dropbox

I am currently using Dropbox 3.16.1, and have been using it for quite some time. Dropbox is simple, but sometimes confusing as I have it set up on one PC in my office and 2 laptops at home. Once set up, Dropbox is good and useful - it opens fast.

Dropbox is limited for my daily use - for my academic work. Every time I get close to 1G, I get persistent and annoying messages, telling me to upgrade. All I need is temporary use of cloud storage, and not anything permanent, less if I have to pay subscription. I then just transfer out photos to my external harddisk (EHD) - Transcend (465 GB, FAT 32). Then I can continue to use Dropbox.

UCloud Storage is twice the capacity of Dropbox and with 4 times capacity for temporary files. Sounds good but I'm still cautious since I don't know performance and security of UCloud Storage. More storage comes with higher risk of security compromise. There is always worry of sensitive data. It should be safe for academic purposes.

How to fix USB not detected

Problem: Laptop cannot detect USB

Error in Device Manager: Both the VIA USB 3.0 Root Hub have a yellow exclamation mark

How to fix this problem

1. First, download this generic USB3.0 driver from this Lenovo website:
http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/downloads/ds029835
It says Intel USB3.0 Driver exe 4.89MB Windows 7 (32-bit) version 1.0.0.199 Released 18 April
2012. Just click Download Now.

2. After download, open Control Panel, click Device Manager.

3. Right-click each USB drive with an exclamation mark and Browse for the downloaded Intel USB3.0 driver to install it.

(a) If you tried the old VIA USB 3.0 Root Hub driver, it will return a Failed response.

(b) Try again and click on the recently downloaded Intel USB3,0 driver. This shows up as Generic USB Hub. Click it.

4. Repeat for each USB that has an exclamation mark.

5. Now check whether the USB driver was installed properly for each USB drive.

6. Push a USB device in the USB drive and check whether this USB shows up on the screen. It should.

7. Now check again. Open Control Panel, and click Device Manager.

8. The USB driver icons will not have the yellow exclamation mark anymore.

All done.

How to fix images not displaying icons

Sometimes the image files (.jpg, .gif) will not display their icons, but thumbnails (or the same placeholder with frame).

To fix this problem, read and do the following:


To make image files .jpg and .gif display icons and not thumbnails on the Desktop and all folders.

Go to Control Panel.

Click Tools.

Choose Folder options ...

Click View tab.

Under Files and Folders, untick Always show icons, never thumbnails

Click Apply.

Click OK.

ReadCube

ReadCube for Researchers is available at https://www.readcube.com/

File size to download is 17.9 MB.

ReadCube enables adding notes & annotation in PDF.

This is good for research as we can add notes to existing research findings for classroom teaching.

If it cannot check, download and install new updates, it will give an error message. This is difficult in areas where Internet access is difficult or slow. Can't proceed past this message.

Start Menu X

Start Menu X

You can spice up the normal Start Menu with Start Menu X.  Use the free version. Give it a try.
http://www.startmenux.com/registration.html

PhotoFunia

Use PhotoFunia to create various effects for your photos. Snow writing and writing on Book spines are interesting to try.
http://m.photofunia.com/categories/all_effects

Books

Snow writing

American football

XnSketch

Use XnSketch for converting photos to cartoons or sketches.

http://www.xnview.com/en/xnsketch/

XnSketch is good for converting landscape and scenery into sketch or cartoon.

Original photos are on the left. Converted photos (sketches) are on the right.