eXtraButtons Adds 9 Useful Buttons In Windows Explorer Title Bar

eXtraButtons is an application which provides users with 9 handy buttons offering numerous functions in window’s title bar. Along with Always on top, Minimize to tray, and transparency, it allows you to roll-up window to defined size, copy window – open another instance of an active application, set window opacity percentage, and to minimize application to system tray.

Once the application is installed, you can see all the added buttons in the Windows Explorer and in other application windows.

The application preferences and button settings can be accessed from system-tray menu, click Options to access the main configuration.

Options dialog carries all application parameters and button settings at left sidebar. To add/remove any button from title bar, click Buttons Set to open button manger where you can change the arrangement  and add/remove unnecessary buttons.

The application also enables user to register hotkeys for frequently used functions, select the required button from left sidebar to add the hotkey and change other available options.

Unlike Chameleon Windows Manager, it allows user to not only toggle transparency but also opacity of an active application which can be selected on the fly without having to open main configuration window.

During testing, it threw several COM Surrogate exceptions for Windows Explorer. Hopefully, the errors/bugs will be addressed in the next iteration. It works on all versions of Windows was tested on Windows 7 x64 system.

Download eXtra Buttons

The 3 Best Multiplayer First Person Shooters Of All Time [MUO Gaming]

First person shooters are one of the biggest genres in the video game world today. With games like Call of Duty setting sales records across all of entertainment, not just gaming, I think it is safe to say first person shooters are here to stay. Obviously, since there are so many first person shooters being released, narrowing it down to the three best is no small task, but when I really thought about it, these choices were actually a no brainer. Remember, I am only looking at these games in regards to their multiplayer prowess; their single player side is of no concern for the purpose of this article.

Halo: Combat Evolved

I will start this off by saying I am not a great Halo player. I have played every Halo, and no matter how much time I spend with them I just cannot get good. I reached a point where I realized that Halo just is not for me. However, I would be insane to leave the original Halo list off any top list of first person shooters.

Game developers had tried to make a good FPS for consoles for a long time and no one could seem to nail it. Then Bungie stepped into the picture and completely flipped the gaming industry on its head. They took a completely PC dominated genre and made it work on a console better than anyone imagined. Bungie brought incredible graphics, a silky smooth frame rate and a control scheme that was adapted perfectly to a game pad instead of mouse and keyboard. Even though Halo features no online play, it is still one of the best multiplayer shooters in history.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Call of Duty was a fairly successful PC shooter before the first Modern Warfare game came out. Then the dynamic shifted, and Call of Duty became a massive franchise that breaks every sales record in the book every year when a new game comes out.

COD4 added so much to the first person shooter genre. The core game play in Call of Duty isn’t that revolutionary. What makes it so special is all the things it added in terms of multiplayer features outside of the actual game. They gave their game a sense of purpose that is not often seen in a multiplayer game. They added a level progression system that many other shooters are borrowing now.

Infinity Ward also added kill streaks, which is a genius way of rewarding players for doing well. If you are getting a lot of kills, what better way is there to be rewarded besides earning more kills!

Their perks system, which allows you to change specific attributes about your soldier based on your play style, is something that kept myself, and millions of other gamers coming back for more.

Battlefield 2

This is without question the video game I have spent the most time with in my life. I can’t even begin to imagine the number of hours I have spent playing Battlefield 2, and I think if I knew the number it would terrify me. Battlefield 2 was the game that finally broke first person shooters out of their World War 2 rut. I cannot stand playing WWII shooters because the guns always feel old and slow.

Battlefield 2 took the systems Dice originally laid out in their earlier shooters Battlefield 1942 and Battlefield Vietnam, expanded them and put them in a modern setting.

What truly makes Battlefield so special is their emphasis on large-scale teamwork. It is one of the first games to bring giant 64 player battles to the player, and more importantly, they did it in a way that didn’t feel like an unmanageable cluster.

Dice took classes to a whole other level. Having people play as medics to revive and heal teammates, support classes to provide ammo and even engineers to repair damaged vehicles.

Did I mention vehicles? Battlefield 2 merged vehicle-based combat with on-foot combat in a way that I still don’t think has been replicated. They offered all kinds of vehicles like ATV’s, tanks and airplanes. The scope of the game is tremendous. One minute a player could be running around shooting a squad of enemies on foot, and the next flying around in an airplane dropping bombs on the very same squad.

For me, Battlefield 2 is the single best first person shooter ever made, and honestly, one of the best video games ever made. The only game that might top it could be Battlefield 3.

Conclusion

There have been hundreds of first person shooters released throughout the years. Pretty much any one of those shooters released in the last ten years borrows something from these three games. Not only are they revolutionary in their genre, they are also downright great games. Even today, going back to these games is still fun. And the best part? They all have sequels coming out in the near future.

What are your favorite first person shooters? Do you think my list is asinine? Let me know in the comments.

Will Watching Movies In 3D Affect Your Health?

People suffering from eyes diseases such as amblyopia or lazy eye cannot see movies in 3D. However, that is the least of the vows of people suffering from headaches, nausea and dizziness after watching 3D. As this technology enters the cinemas, games and even our TV sets, we look at the implications of 3D technology and possible health hazards that it may cause.

Although there is news that the first installment of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows may not be released in 3D, however, it is quite likely that not just the next part of Harry Potter (Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows  2) will be released in 3D but also many other mainstream movies in the near future. People are already divided in two opposing segments comprising of the fans and haters of 3D movies and technology. It is a well known fact that people with eye problems can not only find it difficult (if not impossible) to watch 3D based imagery, but also suffer from health issues.

A few weeks ago Samsung posted a warning on their Australian website, saying that, “Some viewers may experience discomfort while viewing 3D TV such as dizziness, nausea and headaches. If you experience any such symptom, stop viewing 3D TV, remove 3D Active Glasses and rest. A responsible adult should frequently check on children who are using the 3D function. If there are any reports of tired eyes, headaches, dizziness, or nausea, have the child stop viewing 3D TV and rest”.

It has also been learned that watching 3D for some people can even lead to Photosensitive and Epileptic seizure. While a list of other possible side effects associated with watching 3D for a long period of time include:

Eye or muscle twitching, headache, vomiting, nausea, cramps, disorientation, loss of awareness and sleeplessness. Among the horde of large corporations cashing in with 3D technology, Samsung has indeed made a brave and praise worthy move of warning people regarding possible health hazards of watching 3D TV.

As we get swept away by the wonders of watching mind blowing 3D imagery in cinemas and now at home, it is worth asking the question about the nature of problems that it may bring along with it. On a personal basis I find the idea of 3D to be quite discomforting as there is no telling what effect it might have on the human brain itself when it is exposed in a state of self inflicted “ecstasy” of imagery. One question that I have not seen anyone ask as yet is the effect of such technology on people with mental illnesses and the possibility of ending up the same road due to 3D addiction. I don’t mean to jump to conclusions, however, I believe that there is extensive research necessary into the effects of this technology before we start embracing it freely and allowing vulnerable minds of our children to be exposed to it.

What do you think? Does 3D harm you any how?