Windows Experience Pack
Undoubtedly, one of the aspects of Windows 7 that has generated a lot of user enthusiasm, and for good reason, is related to customization. The latest iteration of the Windows client comes with a range of personalization options, with the new Theme feature, and the actual themes released by Microsoft, being extremely well received. Still, the Redmond-based company is taking it one step forward with the release of a free Windows 7 Theme tool dubbed the Windows Experience Pack. And to top it all off, the Windows Experience Pack is not only designed to allow users of Windows 7 to customize their desktops, but also the software giant’s free instant messaging client: Windows Live Messenger.
“While we can’t send all of you on vacation, we can give you something special to help you daydream and customize your PC and online experience,” revealed Brandon LeBlanc, Windows Communications Manager on the Windows Client Communications Team. “With the Windows Experience Pack, you are able create an alter-ego of yourself in a specific destination – a beach, mountain, safari, or city. When you create your alter-ego, you create a fully customized avatar for that destination that becomes a part of a Windows Live Messenger and Windows 7 theme for your PC. You’ll also be able to download a .jpg image of your avatar to share, print, or use as your icon on social networks.” Read more
Free Windows 7 Porsche Theme
For all those that have jumped at the chance to download the Ferrari theme for the latest iteration of the Windows client, Microsoft has released new materials to customize the OS, and the company is promising that additional goodies are in store for end users. For the time being, users of Windows 7 will be able to personalize their copy of the operating system with a Porsche theme. Christian Kirchesch, international site manager, Windows International Online, has made the Windows 7 Porsche theme available for download through Windows Live SkyDrive at no charge.
In addition, Kirchesch has promised that the Redmond company will introduce additional content to enable end users to personalize their copy of Windows 7. The new Windows 7 themes will be published on the personalization webpage for the operating system. Read more
Most popular downloaded programs?
For an upcoming post, I’m putting together a list of the programs that someone is most likely to download and install after completing a clean installation of Windows.
Here are the programs that I come up with quickly:
* Firefox
* Picasa
* Skype
* iTunes + QuickTime
* Windows Live Essentials
* Adobe Reader
* Flash
* Java
Of course, I have more entries on my list of personal faves, and there are some essential categories where there isn’t a clear leader antivirus and security programs, for example. There’s also a second tier of popular but not essential software, like file compression tools, disk utilities, and disk-burning software. But right now I’m looking for the ones that are really , where someone is very likely to want a quick download link. Read more
How to show off your summer photos to the whole family
No doubt as soon as you got back from your holidays you were impatient to import your holiday pics into Windows Photo Gallery. However, once you’ve played around with them, it’s a real shame to leave them just sitting on your PC. Using Windows Vista we’ve found 10 ways you can share your snaps, and make sure those summer memories never die.
1. Account sharing
When you import your photos to Windows Photo Gallery members of your family with different user accounts won’t be able to see them as they’ll be saved on your profile. Let them join in by sharing the folders.
2. Shared folders
To share your snaps with people who don’t use your computer, try Windows Live Messenger. In a conversation look at the toolbar, click Share Files > Open your sharing folder and drag and drop any files or folders you wish. These will transfer to your friend’s PC in seconds.
Read more
Remove Windows Live Messenger
Different programs can cause different changes to your computer, but some of the changes you may not like. When you install windows live messenger on your computer it will create a web shortcut under My Computer in windows xp.
In order to remove these My Sharing Folders icon from my computer, follow the procedure given below
First you need to know the complete version number of windows live messenger you have installed on your computer.
1. Open Live Messenger and go to Help >> About Windows Live Messenger ( you will a window like one shown below )
2. Run the following command in run prompt on xp – and substitute you full version number here Read more
MSN and the City
Microsoft has overhauled its MSN City Guides online destination providing users with a range of enhancements better suited to connect them with locations, businesses, and events across US cities. MSN City Guides is a local offering from the Redmond company tailored specifically to the US market. The main aspect of the evolution of MSN City Guides is that the service is now designed to go well beyond MSN and integrate Windows Live and Facebook. Over 5,000 cities in the United States have been reviewed, with the content available to users immediately.
“The new MSN City Guides puts city life at your fingertips,” promised Scott Moore, U.S. executive producer, MSN. “All the information you need about a city or neighborhood is there easy to find, easy to use, easy to share. Our goal is to deliver the best resource for navigating U.S. cities, whether you’re a die-hard local or just visiting.” Read more
Using camera-readable barcodes
Microsoft has released both a new highly reliable & resilient computer-readable graphical code called “Tags” that are designed for rapid recognition and interpretation to enable people to post graphical objects on web sites, business cards, corporate literature, etc. and enable the average cell phone to:
1. READ/INTERPRET A TAG
It will enable the camera on the cell phone to capture the graphic through a viewfinder that is shown on the phone’s screen and interpret it into an Internet URL.
2. VISIT/SAVE/EMAIL THE URL
Once interpreted, the URL is then fed into the phone’s Internet browser for immediate resolution. The URL can also be automatically emailed or stored for future reference. Read more
Windows Live Essentials for Windows 7
On the path to Wave 3, the Windows Live collection of services and applications debuted into Beta earlier this year, and has been crawling toward RTW ever since. As of December 15, 2008, Windows Live made yet another step forward, but still managed not to lose the Beta tag. At the start of this week, Microsoft introduced the Windows Live Essentials Beta Refresh. A number of Windows Live applications, including the company’s instant messaging, email, and photo viewer clients are now available for download as Beta Refresh builds.
“About three months ago, we released public betas of the Windows Live Essentials – our suite of downloadable programs for your Windows PC, including Messenger, Mail, Photo Gallery, Movie Maker, Writer, Toolbar, and Family Safety,” a member of the Windows Live team revealed. “Since then, we’ve received a ton of great feedback and we’ve been using that information to update these programs. We’re getting very close to the final release. But before we get there, we’re refreshing the beta versions one more time, to make sure we’ve ironed out all the kinks.” Read more
Windows Live Messenger 9.0 (2009) RTW
Microsoft is gearing up to make available for download the gold version of Windows Live Messenger 9.0/2009. The Redmond company has so far managed not to indicate a delivery deadline for the next version of its instant messaging client. In this regard, Microsoft’s Brandon LeBlanc only mentioned that the next version of Windows Live Messenger, along with the additional services and applications making up the Windows Live Wave 3 release, would start being rolled out to end users soon.
“Windows Live Messenger, the No. 1 instant messaging service worldwide with more than 330 million active customers, now includes more personalization, a “what’s new” feed with updates from contacts across the Web, drag-and-drop photo sharing in the conversation window, a favorites list to designate the most important contacts, and group IM to chat simultaneously with up to 20 people at the same time,” Microsoft revealed. Read more
Windows Live SkyDrive
Microsoft is increasing the capacity offered by its storage service in the Cloud fivefold. This means that users of Windows Live SkyDrive will be able to enjoy no less than 25GB of free online storage. The move comes as a natural evolution of the Windows Live suite of services and applications towards the full implementation of Wave 3. Microsoft indicates that it is currently hammering away at the finishing touches for Windows Live SkyDrive Wave 3, and offers users a taste of what it is in store for them.
“You asked us to make it easier to organize and download your files, so we’re answering you with four key new features to address your needs: download photos directed to your to Windows Live Photo Gallery; download as a .zip file. Read more
