Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts

Let's kick off with keyboard shortcuts – the first thing every power user must memorize with working with a new operating system. In Windows 7, we’ve uncovered several new sets of essential time-saving shortcuts that will make your mouse jealous with neglect.

Alt + P

In Windows Explorer, activate an additional file preview pane to the right side of the window with this new shortcut. This panel is great for previewing images in your photos directory.

Windows + + (plus key)

Windows + - (minus key)

Pressing the Windows and plus or minus keys activates the Magnifier, which lets you zoom in on the entire desktop or open a rectangular magnifying lens to zoom in and out of parts of your screen. You can customize the Magnifier options to follow your mouse pointer or keyboard cursor. Keep in mind that so far, the Magnifier only works when Aero desktop is enabled.

Windows + Up

Windows + Down

If a window is not maximized, pressing Windows + Up will fill it to your screen. Windows + Down will minimize that active window. Unfortunately, pressing Windows + Up again while a window is minimized won’t return it to its former state.

Windows + Shift + Up

Similar to the shortcut above, hitting these three keys while a window is active will stretch it vertically to the maximum desktop height. The width of the window will however stay the same. Pressing Windows + Down will restore it to its previous size.

Windows + Left

Windows + Right

One of the new features of Windows 7 is the ability to automatically make a window fill up half of your screen by dragging to the left or right. This pair of shortcuts performs the same function without your mouse. Once a window is fixed to one side of the screen, you can repeat the shortcut to flip it to the other side. This is useful if you’re extending a desktop across multiple monitors, which prevents you from executing this trick with a mouse.

Windows + Home

This shortcut performs a similar function to hovering over a window’s peek menu thumbnail in the Taskbar. The active window will stay on your desktop while every other open application is minimized. Pressing this shortcut again will restore all the other windows.

Windows + E

Automatically opens up a new Explorer window to show your Libraries folder.

Windows + P

Manage your multiple-monitor more efficiently with this handy shortcut. Windows + P opens up a small overlay that lets you configure a second display or projector. You can switch from a single monitor to dual-display in either mirror or extend desktop mode.

Windows + Shift + Left

Windows + Shift + Right

If you are using two or more displays (and who isn’t, these days?), memorize this shortcut to easily move a window from one screen to the other. The window retains its size and relative position on the new screen, which his useful when working with multiple documents. Utilize that real estate!

Windows + [Number]

Programs (and new instances) pinned to your Taskbar can be launched by hitting Windows and the number corresponding to its placement on the Taskbar. Windows + 1, for example, launches the first application, while Windows + 4 will launch the fourth. We realize that this is actually one key-press more than just clicking the icon with your mouse, but it saves your hand the trouble of leaving the comfort of the keyboard.

Windows + T

Like Alt + Tab (still our all time favorite Windows specific shortcut), Windows + T cycles through your open programs via the Taskbar’s peek menu.

Windows + Space

This combo performs the same function as moving your mouse to the bottom right of the Taskbar. It makes every active window transparent so you can view your desktop. The windows only remain transparent as long as you’re holding down the Windows key.

Ctrl + Shift + Click

Hold down Ctrl and Shift while launching an application from the Taskbar or start menu to launch it with full administrative rights.

Ctrl + Click

Hold down Ctrl while repeatedly clicking a program icon in the Taskbar will toggle between the instances of that application, like multiple Firefox windows (though not browser tabs).

EnjOy..

MamoOn..

Microsoft closes $8.5 billion Skype acquisition

• 

  
  

  Microsoft has completed its $8.5 billion acquisition of Skype Global, giving the software company a major foothold in the growing market for Internet telephony services.

  "Skype is a phenomenal product and brand that is loved by hundreds of millions of people around the world," Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in a statement late last night. "We look forward to working with the Skype team to create new ways for people to stay connected to family, friends, clients and colleagues--anytime, anywhere."

  Microsoft announced in May the deal to acquire Skype. A final hurdle was cleared last week when European regulators approved the deal.

  Skype's voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services let people hold free video and voice calls over the Internet; Skype charges a fee for "SkypeOut," which lets Skype users dial ordinary phone numbers, and "SkypeIn, which lets people dial an ordinary phone number that actually connects through to a Skype account online. Both services are useful for bypassing steep international calling rates using conventional telephone service.

  In July, Skype had 65 million daily users, the company said last month. Collectively, they spent 700 million minutes a day on Skype audio calls, 300 million minutes a day on Skype video calls, and 30 million minutes a day on calls with ordinary phones.

  Skype CEO Tony Bates now is president of Microsoft's Skype Division.

  Skype products will be integrated into Microsoft products, but they'll continue to be offered where they are today, Microsoft said. Skype apps are available for iOS and Android, which compete with Windows Phone, and on Mac OS and Linux, which compete with Windows.

  Bates expects Skype growth to increase under Microsoft.

  "Together, we will be able to accelerate Skype's goal to reach 1 billion users daily," Bates said in a statement.

  Skype was founded in 2003, and eBay acquired it in 2005. An investor group led by Silver Lake Partners bought it in 2009. Skype also has an important partnership with Facebook that could help each company compete better with rival online services such as Google+ "hangouts," Yahoo Messenger, and Gmail Chat.

  EnjOy MamoOn..

::Make Your own Windows Shut Down Timer::

Make Your own Windows Shut Down Timer








Here it goes :

Step 1.
Right Click on your desktop and Select "New -> Shortcut".

Step 2.
In the box that says "Type the location of the item",
type in "shutdown -s -t 120" without the quotation marks and click next.

Note : Exclamation 120 are the amount of seconds before your computer shuts down. i.e.= 2 Min. & ofcourse you can change that time according to your preferences but Always Convert it into Seconds. If u want ur PC to Shutdown after 1 Hour i.e. 60 Mins. Simply multiply it with Seconds (60mins*60Secs=3600secs) So, Now you'll have 2 put 3600 instead of 120 in the above code.

Step 3.
Make up a name for the shortcut and you're done.
You can change the icon by right clicking->properities->change icon-> browse.

Now when you'll Click that Shortcut your Shutdown Timer Will start Automatically Wink.

More Info:
To abort the shutdown timer just create another shortcut and make the "location of the item" to "shutdown -a" without the quotes.

Enjoy!
MamoOn..

Adobe Photoshop for Beginners

Adobe Photoshop for Beginners

IMPORTANCE OF QUICK KEYS:

To increase your overall efficiency while using Adobe Photoshop, it is critical to apply some effort in learning 'quick-keys'.

A quick-key is in effect a keyboard short-cut. When pressed in combination with another key, a quick key will send a command to Adobe Photoshop to perform a certain action. A good example of this can be found when holding down the 'CTRL' key and pressing the 'N'. This will cause the 'New' dialogue box to appear.

There are 100's of quick-keys to learn about in Adobe Photoshop. Most of them can be found next to commands within the menu system.

It would be an unrealistic objective to try and learn all quick-keys at this point. Indeed, you might not need to know all of them, just the ones that prove to be most useful to you. If you are applying a certain action or command on a regular basis in your work flow, rather than depending upon the menu system, take time in trying to learn its related quick-key.

Do I really need to use quick keys?

If you were to measure the time it takes to perform a certain command or action or change your current tool, and strike a comparison to how long it takes to summon that same procedure while using a quick-key, you would definitely opt for the later.

Experiment

Try the following experiment for yourself to help demonstrate the importance of using quick-keys.

1. Create a new canvas (CTRL + N) and set the size at 1000 by 1000 pixels (you may need to change the unit of measurement by clicking on the small drop-down boxes next to the Height and Width boxes).
   
   
   
   
2. Zoom %1600 in to your canvas.
3. Starting from the far left hand-side, using the brush tool 'B' (with a small brush, i.e. size '1') start to draw a line across your canvas.
   
   
   
   
4. Now change tool. Use the hand tool 'H' to move your canvas along a little to the to reveal more canvas on the right. If you wish you might want to repeat this experiment later and use the scroll-bars instead of the hand tool.
5. Now change tool again. Choose the brush tool and continue repeat from step 3 until you reach the far right of your canvas. If you zoom out, you should now see a line stretching from left to right.
   
   
   
   

Now repeat the same experiment, this time using the 'spacebar' to move you from left to right across your canvas. Notice how you don't even have to change tools, you can keep on using the brush tool - the spacebar (for as long as the key is pressed) will momentary become the hand tool.

If you were to time this experiment, this first method should take about 45 seconds to complete. The second method - 5 seconds.

Using a well rehearsed quick-key will take a fraction of a second to apply, saving you time and giving you more time to spend perfecting your artwork. Such a simple philosophy - and it works!

Quick Key Map

The Following table is a useful listing of commonly used quick keys.
Note: You will need to hold the 'Shift' key to cycle though obscured tools with the tool palette.

Tool selection
	M		M		M		M		V		L
	L		L		W		C		K		K
	J		J		B		B		S		S
	Y		Y		E		E		E		G
	G		R		R		R		O		O
	O		A		A		T		T		T
	T		P		P		P		P		P
	U		U		U		U		U		U
	N		N		I		I		I		H
	Z

Viewing and Navigation
100% Magnify	Alt+CTRL+0 (zero)
Zoom in/out	CTRL + or CTRL -
Fit image in window	CTRL+0 (zero)
Actual Pixels	CTRL+Alt+0 (zero)
Move around canvas	Spacebar
Scroll up/down	Page Up or Page Down
Go to top left hand corner	Home
Go to Bottom right hand corner	End
Painting
Fill Dialogue box	Shft+Backspace
Fill layer or select with foreground colour	Alt+Backspace
Fill layer or select with background colour	CTRL+Backspace
Paint in straight lines	Shft+left click
Set flow	Shft+Numeric key (0=100%, 1=10%, 2=20%, etc)
Set Opacity	Numeric key (0=100%, 1=10%, 2=20%, etc)
Select colour from image	Alt+left click
Select Background colour from image	Shft+Alt+left click
Selecting and Moving
Move Layer	CTRL
Constrain Marquee Proportions	Shft
Draw new Marquee from Centre	Alt+left click and drag
Moves selection 1 pixel	Arrow keys
Moves selection 10 pixels	Shft+Arrow keys
Move non-selected layer	CTRL+Arrow keys
Accept changes to Transform	Enter or double left click on object
Accept Crop	Enter or double left click on object
Selections
Select All	CTRL+A
Deselect	CTRL+D
Reselect	CTRL+Shift+D
Hide/Show Selection	CTRL+H
Close Polygonal Selection	Enter
Discontinue Polygonal Selection	Escape (Esc)
Invert Selection	Shift+CTRL+Alt+I
Feathering	CTRL+Alt+D
Colouring and Correcting Colour
Levels	CTRL+L
Auto Levels	CTRL+Shift+L
Auto Contrast	CTRL+Shift+Alt+L
Auto Colour	CTRL+Shift+B
Desaturate	CTRL+Shift+U
Curves	CTRL+M
Hue & Saturation	CTRL+U
Colour Balance	CTRL+B
Cut	CTRL+X
Paste	CTRL+V
Inverse Image	CTRL+Alt+I
Various
Undo	CTRL+Z
Redo	CTRL+Shift+Z
Undo Multiple	CTRL+Alt+Z
Redo Multiple	CTRL+Shift+Z
Copy	CTRL+C
Cut	CTRL+X
Paste	CTRL+V
Apply Last Filter	CTRL+F
Extract	CTRL+Alt+X
Liquify	CTRL+Shift+X
Pattern Maker	CTRL+Shift+Alt+X
Free Transform	CTRL+T
Transform Again	Crtl+Shift+T
Photoshop Preferences	CTRL+K
Colour Setup	CTRL+Shift+K
Show Grid	CTRL+@
Show Ruler	CTRL+R
Snap	CTRL+Shift+;
Lock Guides	CTRL+Alt+;
Help	f1
File Management
Open Image	CTRL+O
Close Image	CTRL+W
Close All Images	CTRL+Shift+W
Browse	CTRL+Shift+O
New Image	CTRL+N
Save Image	CTRL+S
Save As	CTRL+Shift+S
Save For Web	CTRL+Shift+Alt+S
Page Setup	CTRL+Shift+P
Print with Preview	CTRL+P
Print	CTRL+Alt+P
Print one Copy	CTRL+Alt+P
Exit Photoshop	CTRL+Q
Layer Management
New Layer	CTRL+Shift+N
Layer Via Copy	CTRL+J
Layer Via Cut	CTRL+Shift+J
Group with Previous	CTRL+G
Ungroup	CTRL+Shift+G
Merge Down	CTRL+E
Merge Linked	CTRL+Shift+E

EnjOy..=))
MamoOn..