Cloud Storage – FREE – Another Service 10G FREE

We are all storage hungry – if your like me you use several cloud storage services. You always have to think about security and what your sharing with the Cloud, but if your smart it can be used as a great backup of non-sensitive information. Some are easier than others and some you might trust more than another.

I currently use Live Mesh and Skydrive from Microsoft as well as Dropbox. Live Mesh is a great product if you have multiple computers and you want to sync up your folders or specific files from one to the other with the option of having it in the cloud as well. Skydrive is a manually process but with 25G and it being used for Microsoft cloud apps – it’s a must. Dropbox is a single folder you can save information to and have it sync with the cloud and other computers. It’s fast and works really well with plug-ins for smartphones.

There are others I have mentioned in the past listed on a folder on my main page of the blog.

A new player has entered the game – CLOUD EXPERIENCE – Beta – from fist looks it seems to have most of the features of Dropbox.  Sync from multiple devices – share your files with others and access the service from anywhere.

A full length review was published on AddictiveTips today – take a read!

Related articles

• Dropbox vs. the Alternatives: Which Online Syncing Service Is Right for You? (lifehacker.com)

WAIT – WAIT – Where did my DISK SPACE GO! Windows SP1 Available

Most people get the notice about updates on their systems and say OK and don’t think about it again.  They most likely wont notice the missing 500MB of storage that’s gone.  For many power users this is no big problem, but for those people who have Notebooks with smaller drives this could make a difference.

But WAIT – you don’t want to delete these files for a few weeks of use to make sure you don’t have issue with the update.  Once you feel that you have used your system without any issue, then you might want to take a look at the following article from HOW-to Geek to remove and restore that storage.  At the same time you can remove some other stuff as well!

After you install the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 that we mentioned yesterday, you might be wondering how to reclaim some of the lost drive space—which we’ll show you how today—but should you actually do it?

Note: If you haven’t installed the new SP1 release yet, be sure to read our post explaining what it entails before you do. Spoiler: it’s mostly bug fixes.

Should You Delete Windows 7 Service Pack Backup Files to Save Space?

Wait, What Now?

It’s simple: installing the service pack will take up a bunch of extra space, because Windows is going to create a ton of backups of the pre-service pack files in case you want to roll everything back and uninstall the service pack. This could be anywhere from a few hundred MBs all the way up to a GB or so.

You can easily clean out these backups with Disk Cleanup (see more below), but don’t rush to do that. Keep reading.

Microsoft – Windows 7 Service PACK 1 – AVAIALABLE!

Well…. Microsoft released Service Pack 1 today…  For those that have  been keeping up to date and using the automatic update feature of Windows 7 – there should be very little to update.  The good thing about this is that if you use the Automatic update, the Service pack will only update the items that you have not installed over the last year.

Similar to other Service Packs – there are very few items that are new, no real new features but a few bug fixes.  The nice thing about this for those that install WIN7 often,  or like to do clean installs – this will make the hundreds of updates a lot quicker.

You can just go to Windows update and tell it to update or you can go to the Windows update web page to download it yourself.

Windows 7 SP1 now available for everyone – Microsoft BLOG

HOW TO – Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Arrives – Supersite for Windows

Related Articles

• Okay folks, prep your back-up. Windows 7 Service Pack 1 now available for all. (winextra.com)
• “Preparing for Windows 7 Service Pack 1” and related posts (windowsobserver.com)
• You: Microsoft: Windows 7 service pack available (washingtonpost.com)

Security – Protecting your HOTMAIL / LIVE Account

Hackers getting into your email account and causing problems have been in the news a lot lately, I have not been invected, but I know of others that have.  Recently Microsoft put into place many ways of keeping your account free from hackers and if you are not using them, you should be.

Windows LIVE BLOG has a great article detailing  the different methods as well as a new Wizard to help you get your account back if it has been hacked.

Protecting your Hotmail account from theft

Internet Browser – IE9 RC RELEASED – Internet Explorer 9 LIGHT – FAST – CLEAN

If your running Vista or Windows 7 you’re going to want to update your IE 8 to IE 9 and enjoy a LIGHTER – FASTER and a Cleaner experience.  Microsoft is saying they are ahead of the rest of the pack with this new release…..

Internet Explorer 9 RC Now Available: Here’s the Most Interesting New Stuff – FROM HOW-To Geek

Smartphone – Microsoft Comments on Joining forces with Nokia

By now you’ve likely heard about the announcement of our partnership with Nokia. I’m incredibly excited about its long-term potential and how it could enable us to innovate, differentiate, and combine strengths to build a new global ecosystem that creates opportunities beyond anything that currently exists today. We’re creating an entirely new ecosystem of possibilities for developers. For our part, Microsoft is first and foremost a platform company which means that nearly everything we do begins and ends with the developer community in mind. This deal is no exception. I want to share with you what I think this alliance means for Windows Phone developers.

In simplest terms, this alliance can dramatically increase the customer base for Windows Phones, and, by extension, your apps and games. This equates to both a larger and more localized consumer market for apps and games on handsets, as well as an acceleration of innovation in back-end services and core infrastructure. For example, Nokia already has strong relationships with operators in more than 190 markets. Nokia also manages an application marketplace that delivers 4 million downloads per day; a channel that will complement the existing Windows Phone Marketplace experience to bring Windows Phone developers and Nokia customers together. We will have more details to share about the marketplace strategy in the future, but our intent is to build upon the best of what both companies offer today.

READ THE ENTIRE POST @ Microsoft BLOG – What the Nokia Deal Means for Microsoft Developers

Smartphones – Microsoft & Nokia JOIN FORCES!

Two huge companies are getting into bed together to go against the NEW leaders in the smart phone arena. If these two very large companies do it right, I would think that both Apple and Google are going to have a fight on their hands… but will they – Can they?  To this point neither have shown themselves to be quick to market – Reason for them joining together!

The other questions is how long before we see product, Iphone 5 is coming, new Android O/S coming – things are changing quickly and can these players get into the game in time?  Microsoft already took too long to get into the mix, though they did bring a great product to market – one that people should be looking at as an alternative.

 

Related Articles

• Nokia and Microsoft team up to build ‘iPhone killer’ (thestar.com)
• Nokia, Microsoft to Join Forces, Shares Tumble (businessweek.com)
• Smartphone Wars: Nokia’s Rallying Cry (news.sky.com)

Windows 7 SP-1 RELEASED to OEM Partners – It’s coming!

For those already using Windows 7 this is no big deal as there is very little new and if you have been updating all along there will really be nothing of importance.  For those moving to Windows 7 this is good news as it will make the install go much faster.

It will be available to home users starting February 22, through the Microsoft Download Center and Windows Update.  If you have been keeping up to date, this update should be very quick.

Windows 7 updates deliver more bang for your buck

Product updates to get the most of out your Windows experience

Today, we’ve officially released Windows 7 SP1 to our OEM partners. We’ve said all along there’s no reason to wait for SP1, but with its official arrival, now there really is no better time to migrate. Windows 7 SP1 includes minor updates, including some made previously available through Windows Update. SP1 also includes client-side support for RemoteFX and Dynamic Memory, two new virtualization features enabled in Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1. You can read more about the desktop virtualization updates on the Windows Server Team blog and get the quick run-down on the SP1 timeline here.

If you’ve already begun your Windows 7 deployment, you should continue with your roll-out while doing an evaluation of SP1 in a test environment then update your images when you’re ready. You also can easily deploy SP1 to existing Windows 7 PCs through management tools such as System Center Configuration Manager and Windows Server Update Services.

The Windows Blog by Gavriella Schuster

Security – SAFER INTERNET DAY & Microsoft – Offering FREE downloads

 

I have always indicated that us technical people have to try to keep those less skilled safe while on the internet.  This would be great documents to pass onto your teachers, kids parents and if you have children you should review this as well. 

Free downloads for Safer Internet Day

This year Microsoft supports Safer Internet Day by offering free events, research, and downloads to help parents, educators, and caregivers better understand kids and the video games that they play. To see Microsoft’s latest online gaming research, visit Safer Internet Day 2011.

Free downloads: Learn more about online gaming

• “Play It Safe When Gaming Online” consumer brochure – XPS | PDF
• “Microsoft Tools Help Keep Families Safer Online” consumer brochure – XPS | PDF
• Get Game Smart Family PACT (a printable agreement to make it easier for parents and kids agree on media choices) – PDF
• Safer Family Gaming & Entertainment with Xbox 360: A Simple 10-Step Guide for Parents – XPS|PDF
• Xbox 360/Kinect Safer Family Gaming Guide – XPS | PDF 

Safer Online Gaming: Perceptions and Behaviors of Gamers and Parents of Gamers (December 2010, U.S.)

Overall, parents surveyed rank the risks of online gaming for their kids low compared to other online activities. And while they report that the steps they’ve taken to help protect their children are effective, most are not using available family safety settings.

• Thirteen percent of parents ranked online gaming as their top concern compared to online chatting (43%) and browsing social networks (20%).
• Forty percent report using available family safety settings. Of those who don’t use family safety settings, 54% reported not using them because they trust their child and 53% said they don’t use them due to lack of awareness or lack of understanding how to find/use them.

Even though parents ranked the concerns of online gaming low, many gamers themselves reported experiencing abuse online—and for younger gamers, the abuse has impacted their online gaming behavior.

• One in five gamers reported experiencing abuse while gaming online.
• The results showed that gamers aged 18-24 (24%) are twice as likely as gamers under 18 (12%) to experience abuse.
• Most gamers, 71%, claim they know what to do when they encounter abuse online, but many (44%) do not report it.
• Two-thirds of gamers under 18 have either stopped playing online games or play them less due to a previous bad experience

Windows – 7 – Should you – Shouldn’t you – WHY?

Came across a great article today that goes through 7 reasons you should be moving to Windows 7 sooner than later!

Summary: Evolution vs. Revolution

At the end of the day, what makes Windows 7 compelling isn’t any significant feature. In fact, it is the lack of major features that makes Windows 7 so important. Like XP, its spiritual predecessor, Windows 7 tweaks a working formula.Vista introduced the new kernel, the new interface, UAC and other features. Introducing change is painful. Windows 7 takes what works and makes it better. Windows 7 is the long term, strategic desktop decision because it is a polished system that introduces small, incremental updates and relies on established features to drive its overarching value. If Vista was revolutionary, think of Windows 7 as evolutionary.

 

The REASONS:

1. Inevitability
2. Performance
3. Security
4. Solid State Drives
5. XP Mode
6. Branch Cache
7. Direct Access

Read the details for each @

7 Reasons to Migrate to Windows 7