ClearTweak
Posted by: Tim on: 02/19/2004 12:00 AM [ Print | 0 comment(s) ]
If you own an LCD monitor, you need to tweak the contrast setting of the ClearType setting for Windows XP. Basically this means you can adjust the way fonts are displayed to make them more clear. Once you setup your shiny new LCD, you may have noticed that a lot of characters in email or word documents are harder to read than before. This can also be used on standard CRT monitors, but may make things appear blurry. You can adjust these settings at Microsoft's website, but a small, free utility called ClearTweak has been released that allows you to do this from your machine.
HERE
To HERE
The install routine explains that the program contains no spyware, adware, 3rd party programs, and does not make any communications as well as explains exactly what files will be installed all followed by a basic end user license agreement. You can choose the install folder and from there setup quickly completes and runs the program. The install creates shortcuts in the start menu including access to the program, readme and the uninstall.
The program and what it accomplishes is fairly simple and this is not lost in the program. You can simply slide a bar to determine where you want your contrast to be and what type of font smoothing. The numbers for this range are from 1,000 to 2,200 and you can set the default at 1,400 with the button provided. This makes it easy if you really want to fine tune your settings. The screenshots in this review show the lowest and highest settings. You can also choose pixel format, but this is rarely used and well explained.
[thumb]cleartweak1.jpg[/thumb] [thumb]cleartweak2.jpg[/thumb]
Options are simply load on startup and even that is clearly explained as not needed unless you change your settings frequently. For anyone who does change their settings frequently, this is a must have tool. The program appears to use roughly 6-7 megabytes of system memory. "Help" links to their website, though there is not much there except a couple of FAQ's, but this program does not need a built in help file due to the fact that the program is well laid out, everything is clearly explained and the programs main function is quite simple.
This is just one of those great freeware ideas that we love to see. While you can edit your settings on Microsoft’s website as mentioned in the first paragraph, you need to pick the box that looks best from the six shown and that can sometimes be confusing to the eye. With this tool, you can simply slide the bar around until you get to where you need to be. Their website runs no ads and the only thing I can find relating to any sort of compensation is a simple text link asking for a voluntary donation so that they can continue to provide more free tools. If they have more great ideas in the pipeline like this one, it’s worth a few bucks!
Score:
(5/5 Stars)
HERE
To HERE
The install routine explains that the program contains no spyware, adware, 3rd party programs, and does not make any communications as well as explains exactly what files will be installed all followed by a basic end user license agreement. You can choose the install folder and from there setup quickly completes and runs the program. The install creates shortcuts in the start menu including access to the program, readme and the uninstall.
The program and what it accomplishes is fairly simple and this is not lost in the program. You can simply slide a bar to determine where you want your contrast to be and what type of font smoothing. The numbers for this range are from 1,000 to 2,200 and you can set the default at 1,400 with the button provided. This makes it easy if you really want to fine tune your settings. The screenshots in this review show the lowest and highest settings. You can also choose pixel format, but this is rarely used and well explained.
[thumb]cleartweak1.jpg[/thumb] [thumb]cleartweak2.jpg[/thumb]
Options are simply load on startup and even that is clearly explained as not needed unless you change your settings frequently. For anyone who does change their settings frequently, this is a must have tool. The program appears to use roughly 6-7 megabytes of system memory. "Help" links to their website, though there is not much there except a couple of FAQ's, but this program does not need a built in help file due to the fact that the program is well laid out, everything is clearly explained and the programs main function is quite simple.
This is just one of those great freeware ideas that we love to see. While you can edit your settings on Microsoft’s website as mentioned in the first paragraph, you need to pick the box that looks best from the six shown and that can sometimes be confusing to the eye. With this tool, you can simply slide the bar around until you get to where you need to be. Their website runs no ads and the only thing I can find relating to any sort of compensation is a simple text link asking for a voluntary donation so that they can continue to provide more free tools. If they have more great ideas in the pipeline like this one, it’s worth a few bucks!
Score:
(5/5 Stars)
