Posts Tagged Microsoft
Windows 8 Developer Preview: First Look Video
Posted by Matt Fowler in Tech, Videos on September 19, 2011
Windows 8 Developer Preview: “The Desktop”
Posted by Matt Fowler in Tech on September 19, 2011
However, the Desktop isn’t completely gone. I feel it’s being very slowly fizzled out, but it still exists!
Doesn’t this look familiar? Of course! It’s the same UI as Windows 7, with the exception of a different looking Windows logo on the bottom left. That button takes you to the tile’s I showed you in the previous post.
I can’t figure out how or why they [Microsoft] would think that Windows Logo fits in with the taskbar, but apparently they think it does.
Windows 8 Developer Preview: The “Start Menu”
Posted by Matt Fowler in Tech on September 19, 2011
Start Menu is in quotations because it’s received a complete redesign. It appears to have been completely replaced with the new “tiles” (aka Metro UI). Which fairs a striking resemblance to Windows Phone 7, hmm, wonder why? Windows Phone 7 was highly based of the Zune interface, and now is seeking relations with Windows 8.
Here is the first screen you’ll run into. Like it or not, it’s here to stay.
Here are some of the “Apps” Microsoft has included in this Developer Preview.
So far, so good, but these are some awfully odd Apps to include: 
And this is the end of that screen, but never fret! I will be running some of the Apps and putting up even more of the Screenshots on this site! So stay tuned
Windows 8 Developer Preview: First Boot Part 2
Posted by Matt Fowler in Tech on September 19, 2011
You’ll go through this wave of settings (if you opt to do custom settings rather than the express settings)
You’ll notice that the “Use Windows Error Reporting” is turned off by default. Maybe Microsoft is finally starting to come out and say “We never check those, so why send them?”
Looks like they are following Google’s footsteps by trying to force users to use their Windows Live account for “personalization” Now, you don’t have to use your Windows Live account, but you might as well.
If you don’t have a Windows Live account, it’s only a click away to create one in Windows 8.
Then the first boot starts to look familiar. You get that infamous “Preparing your PC” screen.
Windows 8 Developer Preview: First Boot Part 1
Posted by Matt Fowler in Tech on September 19, 2011
Getting the system ready for it’s first launch after installation!
The folks at Redmond are getting even more clever every day. This has to be the simplest Terms of Service agreement (or license agreement) I have ever seen for a Windows Machine!
Office 365: Goodbye and Good Riddance
Posted by Matt Fowler in Everything on July 9, 2011
Received a very pleasant email from Microsoft today:
We hope you’ve had an opportunity to explore the features of your Office 365 trial. Your trial expires in 30 day(s), but you can continue enjoying all the benefits by purchasing a subscription today. If you do so within the next 30 day(s), you can continue to use the service without any interruption or data loss.
Well, that was a fun run. But sorry Microsoft.
I’d rather stay with Google Docs since it’s, ya know, FREE.
However, I get practically the same features (minus the networking and emailing) with SkyDrive, so thanks!
Trial start date
2011-06-02
Trial end date
2011-08-03
…………
It was a good run.
(Also, I was never told it was a trial — only that I was joining the BETA!)
Xbox Live Service Update: August 11th, 2009
Posted by Matt Fowler in Uncategorized on August 9, 2009
Apparently Xbox 360′s proud Xbox Live service is getting a complete update on August 11th.
From Xbox.com:
One of the amazing things about the Xbox LIVE experience is that it’s always getting better. The upcoming August 11, 2009 Xbox LIVE Update truly cranks it up a notch – with features that improve your entertainment experience and give you new ways to express your individuality and connect with friends. With this update, you can download full Xbox 360® games and play them without a disc, and you and your friends will be able to party watch movies online through Netflix! Dress up your avatar to impress with premium props and branded apparel from fashion labels. And this update allows every piece of game content on Marketplace to be rated, so add your personal ratings and see what others think is cool. But that’s just the beginning.
Seems like Microsoft is finally releasing some well needed features.
To highlight a few, “Games on Demand”, the new service from Microsoft, adding to the Xbox Live Marketplace, where users can now purchase video games, right in the comfort of their own home. This starts on the 11th, along side the update, but the same options of purchasing games will be available on the web too on August 13th. Along with that is Netflix. This was already sort-of gaining popularity through Xbox, but now it installs with the update regardless if you had it installed or not before. Let’s just hope that they don’t get too pushy with the Netflix member service. If I don’t want to join the service or rent a movie, please don’t bug me! Unless, of course, it’s free. I will always enjoy free.
And then we move onto the avatars. The poorly stolen / Wii knock-off avatars. I will give Microsoft props on this one, only because they did finally go just a little bit over the boundary with this update. Nintendo didn’t think of this — but something tells me a Wii Update in the future will present this — the avatars now has what Microsoft is calling “props” and “branded apparel” from fashion labels. The branded apparel isn’t all that interesting too me, but the props certainly opens up a wide variety for 3rd parties everywhere. Let’s see where it goes. Now, just how interactive can these props be? That is the question. We’ll find out soon enough.
Ratings. Something that I honestly never saw Microsoft allowing. They usually aren’t big on letting consumers know if the general public thinks a product is shitty. But, for some reason now the Xbox must be different. I think it’s a great tool. We can already “Submit Player Reviews”, granted most people don’t even look at those scores anymore, but all of the xbox live members out there never really got a chance to just completely down size a video game or movie (etc). But now we can!
Add PDF & XPS Export to Microsoft Office 2007
Posted by Matt Fowler in Uncategorized on February 3, 2009
If you tested out Microsoft Office 2007 when it was still in it’s beta version, then you will remember that you used to be able to export your Word (also works with Access, Excel, InfoPath, OneNote, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Visio) to either a PDF format or XPS format. When I first saw this feature offered for Office 2007 (for free) I was amazed and thought it was one of the greatest new features Office 2007 had to offer.
But, once the final release of Office 2007 had come out, you found yourself looking for this PDF/XPS export function, and that it had gone MIA.
Luckily, Microsoft quickly offered a download that brought that functionality back into Office. Why they removed it in the first place is beyond me.
This isn’t exactly new news because this add-on itself was released 11/8/2006 — But I am letting you know about it just in case you didn’t know.
It’s a great add-on that certainly comes in handy if you are constantly needing PDF exports and don’t want to spend the bucks to put Acrobat on top of Office. Kudos to Microsoft.
Anywho, here is the link: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4d951911-3e7e-4ae6-b059-a2e79ed87041
Unfettered.us – finished (the design that is)
Posted by Matt Fowler in Everything on June 29, 2007
I have finally completely re-vamping Unfettered.us
I actually scrapped two design ideas I had before finally coming up with the one that is on there now.
Give it a look over and drop a comment on the Contact section.
http://www.unfettered.us <– I found this image on Microsoft Office’s Clipart gallery. Good job microsoft. Good job. ( Click here )
Links may not work, so you might have to copy and paste them the old fashion way. Remember – I email my blog posts now. It’s much easier, and faster. It might work, but it not I’m too lazy to go edit and it put them in there…maybe I will later… Depends on what kind of mood I’m in.
Anyways.
Peace!
– Matt
Fowler Takes on Vista
Posted by Matt Fowler in Everything on June 3, 2007
Well, I finally put Vista Ultimate on one of my computers, and I have to say (for the most part) I do like it.
It's just like everyone said, XP with a New Skin. But there are some interesting features that make you go "Hey! That's cool!"
I'm working on a full review of Vista, that I don't know when I plan on releasing, but so far this is what I have come up with in a nutshell:
The Good->
- Vista seems to run really nice and secure, and the Windows Defender actually works
- Lots of new programs -> Windows DVD Maker, Windows Meeting Place, BitLocker, etc!
- New Skin, Aero, very nice!
- Windows Sidebar actually is very useful
- Pretty to the eye – Lots of Candy for your pleasure!
- Networking functionality is absolutely awesome
The Bad->
- Windows Internet Explorer runs dominant, you cannot change Firefox to default (or at least I haven't figured out how yet)
- No different commands…XP Version 2? (This can also kinda-sorta be a good thing)
- Too many Mac OS X copied features…
- OneCare…sucks….end of story
- Sound Cards….What? (I'll explain later)
- Vista…dumb name
Although I could go on and on with The Good and The Bad of Windows Vista, I decided to keep them even..
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