How to download and keep BBC iplayer video files DRM free

As you may be aware BBC iplayer is a fantastic way to catch up on programmes that have already been shown on any of the BBC channels. However, the video files will disappear from the player days after you first watch it. In short they are DRM files and it doesn’t allow you to save the files.

I may often like a program but be unable to watch it for a long time and by the time I get around to it, it may no longer be available to watch. I was thus looking for a solution to download the files and keep it for as long as I want and I came across this great solution. Its called as ipdl.exe and according to a video on youtube comes from Paul Battley from www.po-ru.com. So all credits to him.

All you got to do is download   and double click it to run. It presents you with an interface which asks you for the program ID. Now head over to the BBC iplayer and navigate to the program you wish to download.

Now copy the address as seen in the URL bar:

and paste it in the ipdl program ID box and click download. It then asks you where to save the video and gives it the default name of the programme. Once thats done, you are on..it downloads it..and its fast.

The file is saved as a quicktime (.MOV) file which you may then view with Quicktime or another media player such as VLC video player.

Fantastic, works like a dream !!Thanks Paul Battley .

How to choose a laptop – use Windows PC Scout

Thinking of buying a new laptop but confused by the amazing selection out there? Wish someone would just recommend the perfect laptop for you? Here`s just the tool you need – from Microsoft -  Windows PC scout

Once you get started, a screen pops up which takes you through a long and boring introduction about the whole process and what it will take you through.

You then have a choice depending on what level of user you are to go through more explanatory basics or go to the end, if you really are the confused lot, click “Start it”.

The wizard then asks you questions on how you intend to use your laptop etc. At each step, it offers an explanation of the component basics which you may choose to skip.

Finally it asks you to choose your screen size, which may be one of the most important user choices.

and finally it summarises what specification it recommends for your needs.

and based on the budget you choose and the above specification comes up with the top recommendations, which you can then compare.

Of course you could skip the wizard and use the sliders seen on the left in the above screen to choose your own specifications. If you`d rather do that straight away, just skip everything else and go Here.

All in all I`d say its a useful tool to get the topmost laptops recommended by Microsoft, it still doesn’t include the rest of the choices though.

Best Free Anti virus / Anti malware – Microsoft Security Essentials

Anti virus has always been a problem with me, Initially I depended upon the dependable AVG antivirus until it let me down on a couple of occasions. I then migrated to using 3 and 6 month trial versions of some very good anti virus and anti malware packages such as Kaspersky and Avira. However, it would always be a frantic search at the end of the trial period to unearth another trial offer to cover my computers security…The truth is I`m cheap and hate having to pay for an antivirus which I believe should be in built into the operating system.

I think Microsoft is coming around to the same idea and thats why it now ships with a sloppy Windows Defender antivirus. However, lately it has begun to take pride in what it is doing and as a result Microsoft Security Essentials emerged.

I must say that initially I had my apprehensions about this package. So as my former antivirus was expiring, I decided to try MSE out. As soon as you install it, the software intergrates with your computer and dowloads the latest definitions before it does a quick scan of your system. It wasnt ultra quick but it wasnt bad either…but was it good?

Oh yes this thing is good. It detected two trojans and the remnants of a hidden Keylogger that was on one of my PCs which didn not have any protection on it. The key logger I had installed myself and had believed I uninstalled !! MSE removed all of them effortlessly.

Once you finish the quick scan, you have the option of doing a full detailed scan which will be more thorough. You can also ask the program to do scheduled scans at selected times and dates. Updates though are automatic.

What impressed me most though was the small footprint it left. The memory consumption on my laptop never went above 6000K and when running in the background stays at around 2500k or lower.

Even while running a full scan, it remains unobtrusive, just how Microsoft intended it to be.

So far this is great and it remains as the only antivirus on both my laptop and my desktop. I`ll let you know if that changes. If you are looking for a the best free antivirus / antimalware package, get it from here.