The holiday season is upon us once again. This year we’re adding to the holiday traditions, and inviting you to participate in the 12 days of Soluto Holiday Trivia.

Here’s how it works: log into the app and like our Facebook page to get started. Each day, starting December 9, we’ll reveal a new trivia question to see how well you know Soluto. Each correct question gives you a point. Plus, each time you share the Soluto holiday trivia with your friends, and one of your friends starts playing as a result, you get an additional point for each friend that registers. Every point you earn increases your chance of winning. Winning what, I hear you ask? When you play Soluto trivia you’re playing for a chance to win a brand new iPad mini. This way you won’t have to wait for Santa or Chanukah Harry or Techie Timothy to leave this gadget under your Chrismakwanza tree/bush. Get started with The 12 days of Soluto holiday trivia to see how much you know about Soluto and for your chance to win. Happy Holidays and Good luck. The Soluto Team

In about a week, on December 13, the Soluto web service will celebrate its 1 year anniversary. We’ve come a long way since the launch of the web service. Since launching it, we’ve added new apps to the product, like Skype and Dropbox, and a bunch of new features too, including the ability to help someone else with their PC remotely, email notifications, Quick Question, and a Windows 8 section.

You, our users, have been the best part of making the web app great, and as we approach this Soluto milestone we’d like to thank you for returning and staying active in Soluto. We hope you continue to enjoy using Soluto to keep your PC working great and to help others with their PCs too. We’d also like to take this time to ask you, our users: how are we doing? Drop us a line and let us know if there’s anything you’d like to see in Soluto, or if you have any questions or feedback about using Soluto. We always love to hear from you. Happy 1 year (and many more), for you and us. The Soluto Team

We’d like to take this opportunity to wish our American users and friends a Happy Thanksgiving. While not everyone in the world celebrates the holiday, Thanksgiving is a good time for us all to stop and appreciate what we have. The Soluto team would like to take this opportunity to thank you for continuing to use our service. We appreciate your support and will continue our mission of making technology better for everyone.

Thanksgiving also marks the official start of the holiday season. Soluto has quite a few treats in store for the upcoming month, so stay tuned for some holiday goodies that will make the next month a lot of fun. As we usher in this holiday season, we’d like to make a general wish for peace – we hope that this time will be a peaceful one for people everywhere. The Soluto Team

With college in New York, an internship in California, parents in New Jersey and Grandma in Florida, Chris’ life stretches across every corner of the United States. But distance makes the heart grow fonder, right? That may well be true, but from Chris’ experience, distance simply makes providing tech support more difficult. While Chris undoubtedly loves his grandmother and thinks she’s wonderful, he doesn’t care for the hour long phone calls he receives whenever something goes wrong with her computer (that she only uses for browsing the internet and checking email, but that’s another story). With little free time and patience running thin, he had to find another way to help her. Luckily Chris found Soluto and has been able to take on a more proactive approach to keeping Grandma’s PC running well and her support calls at bay. Chris uses Soluto to update Grandma's Windows, ensure her apps are up-to-date, check that she hasn’t turned off her antivirus (again) and to reassure Grandma that he’s taking care of her computer so she can carry on emailing, worry-free. So what does Grandma think of her grandson’s new tool? “She seems incredibly impressed; from her perspective, Soluto's fixed everything that was ever wrong with her PC. She considers it to be magical.” But Grandma’s not the only one who relies on Chris’ tech expertise. His “not very tech inclined” Dad runs his entire company from his laptop, so Chris feels a responsibility to ensure his Dad’s business stays up and running. That’s a lot of pressure! Just a few months ago when his Dad’s applications kept crashing and he couldn’t figure out why, Soluto helped Chris identify the culprit that was jeopardizing his Dad’s business. Even from 3,000 miles away Chris came through for his Dad and kept his PC, and his business, from going down. Just as Soluto helps his Dad get back to work, Soluto helps Chris get back to studying. Soluto emails Chris whenever there’s something that requires his attention, which makes monitoring remote PCs one less thing he needs to worry about in his busy college life. So even when he’s buried in schoolwork, all Chris has to do is click a button in the email and return to his books, knowing for certain that “Soluto will take care of it”. Chris even credits Soluto in helping to improve his relationships with his parents and Grandma because now when they talk they finally catch up and don’t just talk about computers computers computers. So with all this newfound time, which was once spent on the phone or monitoring PCs, maybe Chris will finally get to fly across the country in a small airplane like he’s always wanted.

How has Soluto helped you? Share your Soluto story with us and we’ll share it with the world.

Using Windows 8 yet? If you’re a very early adopter, you’ve probably been using Windows 8 preview, released in March, for a while now. Or, maybe you installed Windows 8 when it was released to the public at large a few weeks ago. Either way, using the Soluto Modern App will help make Windows 8 feel like home, in addition to giving you what you know and love about Soluto on your screen in the Modern UI. The Soluto Windows 8 app has a new UI that makes using the app even simpler. Getting started with the Soluto Modern app is easy. Once downloaded, you can pin it to your start screen, and sign in to get started. When you click on the app from your Windows 8 start screen, you can log in with your existing Soluto account. Or, if you don’t have a Soluto account, you can register for one in a few clicks.

Just like the Soluto web app, you can easily check up on hardware to catch issues before they cause problems on your PC. You can also remotely install apps like Skype and Dropbox.

Just like with the Soluto web app, all you need to do to add another person’s PC is enter their email, customize your message, and press send and an email will be delivered to the person’s Inbox inviting them to start using Soluto, with your support.

Plus, just like with other Windows 8 modern apps, you can use Windows commands to navigate around the app easily. For example, pressing the Win Key +Z will bring a settings menu for the app on the bottom of the screen. Depending on which section of the app you’re using, you’ll see a specific set of settings for that section.

If you’re in the PC view of your own computer or someone else’s, it’s easy to get back to your PC dashboard, just click the arrow in the top left corner of the screen, and you’ll get back to your PC dashboard. As with classic Soluto, it’s free for up to 5 PCs, and can be installed on your Windows 8 PC in just a few minutes. Questions about the Soluto Modern App or Windows 8 in general? Visit our support page for more info on the Soluto app, or visit our Knowledgebase to get your Windows 8 questions answered. For those who haven’t made the switch to Windows 8, you can download and install the Soluto web app. Enjoy, Larissa  

In case you haven’t heard, Windows 8 is finally out and it’s very different from anything you've seen before with Windows. It looks different, acts different and even feels different. While some have embraced the changes with open arms, others are having a little more trouble getting used to the new OS, which still has a ways to go before it wins everybody over. Christopher is among those finding it hard to adapt, here’s his story. Off to a good start, Christopher installed Windows 8 in what he described as a pretty smooth and easy process. Then, when Christopher tried to start using the new system - well, we’ll let him tell you what happened: “When I started trying out the new UI, my first thought was ‘I need a touchscreen to use this’, it just doesn't feel right with a mouse. After a while of tinkering and playing around I was pleasantly surprised with how full my battery still was...the battery time is amazing. That is definitely a big plus. But the real problems for me started when I tried working productively. I study Computer Science and so I have to work with IDEs (integrated development environments) and the browser and consoles and (the list goes on).... Eventually I arranged all the windows on my screen and started working. ‘Oh I need to open that PDF’ BAAAM! Fullscreen reader app on metro UI. Okay, getting back to the Desktop. ‘I need to move that window’ BAAAM! Charms bar in my way. After I had given up working productively I tried shutting down. Many people might not know this but it’s not very intuitive to do this in Windows 8." Well that’s quite a list of frustrations. So what’s the bottom line for Christopher? “Windows 8 feels schizophrenic and unfinished. You have to search a lot for your settings and the two UIs mix together but not completely. I really hope Microsoft improves this in Windows 8 and doesn't wait for Windows 9.” Can you relate to Christopher’s experience?  Or have you had a completely different experience of Windows 8?  Tell us what Windows 8 has been like for you and we’ll share your story with the world. If, like Christopher, you’re finding it a bit hard to get used to Windows 8, Soluto can help you bring back your Classic Desktop and Start menu so you can restore some of the familiar comforts of your previous Windows. Sticking to Windows 7, XP or Vista for now? Soluto can help you enjoy a faster boot and better PC experience no matter what version of Windows you’re using.

At barely a week old, Windows 8 has already won some people over. Although not everyone is an immediate fan of the new OS, Jeffrey thinks it is “definitely a step up from Windows 7”. Jeffrey has been using Windows 8 for several weeks now, and enjoying the faster boot up and new Start screen.  However Jeffrey acknowledges that the interface is not very intuitive and it did take some to get used to, but encouragingly he adds that the Modern UI “is actually pretty good once you get the hang of it”. So don’t give up too soon - you might really like it once you learn the ropes. What’s Jeffrey’s takeaway? “Overall I am satisfied with my experience with Windows 8 and I hope everyone else can get the same experience I got”. We hope so too Jeffrey. But for those of you finding it a bit more difficult to adapt to Windows 8’s new look, Soluto can help you get used to it by bringing back your Classic Desktop and Start menu so you can enjoy your new OS with the traditional Windows features you know and love. Not sold on Windows 8 quite yet? No worries, you can still enjoy a faster boot and better PC experience with Soluto too. So, do you agree with Jeffrey? Tell us how your experience with Windows 8 has been so far and we’ll share it with the world.

Halloween is usually all about mischief, scares, candy, and of course trick or treat. This Halloween, Soluto invites you to play Tricks for Treats instead. In between trick or treating, dressing up, and bobbing for apples, take a minute or two to leave your most savvy Windows 8 trick(s) for your chance to win a real treat: A Microsoft Surface.

Here’s what to do: post your trick on the Tips and Tricks Contest forum, share it with your friends on Twitter and Facebook, and get them to vote it up. The post with the most votes wins a Microsoft Surface, and 10 runners-up get an exclusive Windows 8 Soluto t-shirt. Click here for the full contest guidelines. Just think of it as an alternative to trying to fill up your pillowcase full of candy. It’s Soluto’s way of saying Happy Halloween.

A few exciting days later and Windows 8 is off the ground. If you’ve already started using the new Operating System, you know that it’s not like anything that’s come before.  Or maybe you’re still hanging onto Windows 7 or Windows XP and wondering if you should take the big leap to Windows 8. Here at Soluto we’ve dug into the data to show you how Windows 8 measures up, so you don’t have to wonder anymore.  Check out all the facts on the Windows 8 live page, which will tell you all you need to know about how Windows 8 measures up to Windows 7 and Windows XP. Does Windows 8 really boot up faster? The full boot time (from the moment you turn on the PC until the Desktop mode finishes loading) for Windows 8 is a full 19 seconds faster than Windows 7, and 48 seconds faster than Windows XP. Tired of apps crashing? Then you’ll probably be delighted to hear that Windows 8 users experience less crashes on average per month at 5.4, while Windows 7 users experience 7.1. Windows 8 was designed for tablets, and early adopters are already trying it out with 5.6% using Windows 8 on a tablet device versus only 1.4% using Windows 7 on a tablet. And speaking of early adopters, Vietnam is the country that takes the lead in adopting Windows 8, with 3.8% of users already using the new operating system. If you already love Windows 8, make sure to drop us a line and let us know how you’re using it. Looking for Soluto for Windows 8? Search for the Soluto Modern-style app in the Windows 8 store.  Or, download the Soluto web app now to take advantage of our new Windows 8 features.

Windows 8 is finally here, with one operating system to rule them all; PC, tablet, and mobile. What’s so different about Windows 8?  If you’re looking for the start button on Windows 8, you won’t find it.  And if you’re wondering what that pop-up menu bar is on the side, say hello to the Windows 8 charm bar.  Need to find an app in the Windows 8 app store, or a personal document on your PC? Simply start typing and you’ll see that searching on your computer has never been easier. Plus, Windows 8 is designed for use on touch-screen devices as well as PCs. I started using Windows 8 about a year ago on my beloved 7 series Samsung tablet (an amazing device, I might add, just under two lbs. with laptop capability.)

At first, I couldn't get used to the Windows 8 interface (actually, I hated it.) After about 4-5 months I found myself really liking the new OS.  And now I love it, I can’t imagine life without it. Still, some people might prefer to stick with their current OS, to avoid change. That’s why Soluto has added a Windows 8 feature, to help you keep the best bits of the old Windows while enjoying all the new stuff in Windows 8. With Soluto you can bring back the Start button and Start menu for easy, familiar access to frequently used apps and functionality by switching your default boot from the Windows 8 Start screen to the Classic Desktop - all in one click.  Learn more about the new Soluto Windows 8 feature, or if you’re already on Windows 8 try out this new feature for yourself.

If you want to learn more about the new operating system before diving in, make sure to check out the Soluto Knowledgebase, which is filled with tips and tricks to make your move to Windows 8 much easier. Already using Windows 8 on a PC, mobile, or tablet device? Then we’re eager to hear what you think of it and how you’re finding the Windows 8 features in Soluto. Tell us about your experiences. Enjoy, Tomer