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Keep Windows 10 Organized, Pretty, and Productive

Microsoft Windows can get messy. It’s not (always) the operating system’s fault. You download tons of apps and files, and create new content stuff of your own, until your “Downloads” directory looks like a landfill for old content. Your desktop is so full of icons, you can’t see your pretty wallpaper. Your Start Menu looks like an app buffet. In short, your operating system is a mess, but it’s not unfixable.

We take spring cleaning very seriously at Lifehacker. Far be it from us to let an opportunity to refresh, reorganize, and declutter our homes lives pass us by. We’re also pretty psyched to hit the reset button on our tech usage, take a close look at our finances, and give the heave-ho to the day-to-day habits that have gotten a little musty. Welcome to Spring Cleaning Week, wherein we clear the cobwebs of winter and set the stage for sunny days ahead. Let’s clean things up, shall we?

There are a few free apps you can use to add some much-needed organization to your Windows world. Here are a few of our favorites:

DropIt

Screenshot: DropIt
We covered this app a long time ago, but it’s worth resurrecting. DropIt is a great utility that can help you stay organized if you’re the kind of person who dumps everything you download (or copy to your PC) into a single folder-one giant, sprawling hub that many files enter, but rarely leave.

DropIt allows you to set up a ton of different rules that fire off whenever you drag files onto the utility’s little icon. For example, you can set the app to always move image files into your primary photos folder, video files into your videos folder, and Word documents into-you guessed it-your documents folder.

That’s just the start. If you want to get more advanced, DropIt can automatically scan folders (like your Downloads folder) and apply more advanced filters to anything it finds, like automatically unzipping archives, renaming files based on your parameters, or compressing large batches of files that are otherwise taking up a bit more space than you want.

Automation is a great way to help you stay organized in Windows, and DropIt practically gives you a virtual helper at your fingertips.

digiKam

Screenshot: digiKam
If your sprawling photo library needs some serious organization but you don’t want to pay for something like Adobe Lightroom, the open-source app digiKam is a great alternative.

Use this app to sort your photos and create (or edit) metadata so you can find exactly what you’re looking for in one easy-to-access library. If you’re also a bit of a photo perfectionist, you can use digiKam to edit your regular and RAW shots to make them picture-perfect.

This app is a much better solution for organizing shots than just dumping them into arbitrary Windows folders. Your disorganized hard drive will thank you, and you’ll be much less likely to lose (or forget about) images going forward.

LaunchBox

Screenshot: LaunchBox
We’re not going to ask why you have a bunch of emulators installed on your system, and we’re going to assume that all the ROMs spread across that nightmare of a folder structure in the “Games” portion of your hard drive are completely legal. Right? Regardless, if you just spent the last day getting your nostalgia kick by downloading archives of thousands of different retro games to play on your modern-day PC, keeping these games under control is going to feel overwhelming.

We suggest grabbing LaunchBox, which is a great “game organizer” utility that allows you to quickly find and play titles in your giant library. You can tap into the app’s crowd-sourced database to pepper your titles with useful information, like release dates, genres, publishers, and images, and you can mark certain games as favorites to make theme easier to hunt down when you have a little time to kill.

LaunchBox also makes it (somewhat) easy to import games from your favorite distribution services, like Steam, Battle.net, and GoG (to name a few). If you’re the world’s biggest gamer who plays everything you can download and always grabs new titles to try from all the major services, LaunchBox is a great way to organize your games under one digital roof.

AquaSnap
Screenshot: Nurgo Software
Everyone knows Windows’ Aero Snap shortcuts, right? Hit Windows Key + one of the arrow keys on your keyboard to send your active window flying all around your screen: minimizing, opening, shrinking to fill a quarter or half of your display, and bouncing off your primary display entirely (if you have a multi-monitor setup).

A Guide to Help You Pick the Best Air Purifier for Your Loved Ones

Holidays are around the corner. This is the time of year when people start purchasing gifts for their loved ones. If you are going to purchase an air purifier for someone you love, we have some helpful tips for you. If you want to purchase the best unit, you may be able to use this guide to your advantage. Read on to find out more.

1: Set Your Budget

Just like anything you purchase, make sure you have set your budget first. The price of the unit will vary based on a lot of factors, such as the capacity, filter type, features, and brand of the unit. If you don’t have a flexible budget, we suggest that you go for a product that is available to purchase for less than $300.

2: Consider the Needs of the Recipient

Your next move is to consider the needs of your recipient. If you are going to purchase this unit for everyday use, we suggest that you go for a unit that comes with a HEPA filter. On the other hand, if your loved one has a specific need, we suggest that you consider a specialized unit.

For example, if they are more prone to respiratory issues, such as allergies and infections, we suggest that you get a UV purifier for them. The devices are designed to neutralize viruses and bacteria.

3: Think About the Available Space

Another primary factor is to consider the available space in the office or house of the recipient. For example, if they need a general-purpose unit for a small apartment, you may want to consider a filterless unit.

On the other hand, if they have plenty of free space, you may consider a bigger unit that features a higher airflow rating. These units are powerful enough to cover a large face.

4: Consider Extra Features

Lastly, we suggest that you consider additional features that they will just love. For example, some units come with an indicator that turns on when the filter needs to be replaced. This will allow the user to change the filter so that the device continues to work properly.

So, you may want to consider these features before you place your order. These features may not be important to you, but your friend may just be over the moon.

Long story short, we suggest that you consider these four tips if you are going to purchase a gift for your loved one on these holidays. Since the air is full of pollution during winter days, nothing can make a better gift than an air purifier. Therefore, you should consider these tips before looking for an online or physical store to make your purchase decision.

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$5,000 Personal Loans With Bad Credit: Consider Some Alternative Solutions

Getting cash injection from time to time can be hugely beneficial when trying to get through the myriad of financial demands of everyday life. But with bad credit rating, getting approval for even modest loans can be tricky. However, it is possible to get even a $5,000 personal loan with bad credit.There is no doubt that a sum of $5,000 can prove to be extremely useful. It can finance a vacation, pay for college fees and also be used to clear some existing debts. But securing loan approval is impossible if the basic criteria set by the lender is not met, and tricky if the application is not approached correctly.People with poor credit ratings also need to accept some compromises if there is to be a chance of these personal loans being approved. But there are alternative loan sources to traditional banks that offer better terms.Family LoansLenders can place a number of conditions when granting a $5,000 personal loan with bad credit, ranging from higher interest rates to strict repayment schedules. The problem is this ensures the pressure is on to make repayments on time every time. But there are more informal loan options.Going to a family member, for example, can be a better choice. For a start, securing loan approval is easier because a family member is unlikely to turn another down. The only question is whether a member of the family has $5,000 to lend. Also, in most cases, there is no interest charged on the loan, making it also the most affordable loan option.But remember, it is a good idea to write the terms of any family loans down, and have both interested parties sign it. That way everything is kept clear and there is no risk of confusion. Such personal loans should not end up coming between family members.Consider Payday LoansThough rather expensive, one of the best loan options when in a hurry for fast cash is a payday loan. Getting a $5,000 personal loan with bad credit is pretty simple, with no credit check needed, and the lender approving the application within a hour. That means the financial emergency can be dealt with within 24 hours.However, the size of the loan can be a problem. Many lenders are reluctant to lend any more than $1,500, unless there is a special arrangement made with the borrower. Sometimes, borrowers may need to take out a series of payday loans instead. This can prove extremely expensive with each loan having interest as high as 30%.On the plus side, securing loan approval is almost guaranteed, and the repayment term is so short that there is no lingering debt over a number of years. In fact, 90 days is usually the longest term on this kind of personal loan.Consider a Company LoanOften, this is the last option considered by those seeking a $5,000 personal loan with bad credit. But, in fact, it is probably the most logical one. Your boss may be willing to advance the equivalent of 2 or 3 months salary, since it will have to be paid anyway. They may even be able to make a slight profit by charging a small interest rate.In terms of getting their money back, they can simply deduct the due repayments from the salary check each month. But securing loan approval is not just a good thing for your boss. As a bad credit borrower, the interest rate will be lower than that charged by any lender. Therefore, costs are lower and the loan itself is more affordable.On the down side, however, repaying this personal loan will have no effect on your credit rating, as the loan did not come from a recognized lender.

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