Tag: microsoft

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Microsoft Edge Allows for Web Logins without Remembering Passwords

Microsoft Edge logoMicrosoft Edge Allows for Web Logins without Remembering Passwords

 

By leveraging Windows Hello hardware, users can now log into websites using things like IR cameras, fingerprint readers, external security keys, and PINs without having to remember your passwords. Microsoft believes that having these additional means of logging in will not only allows users to log into website more easily, they also think this will assist users with security concerns, and that makes sense from the standpoint of things like key loggers (if a user doesn’t type his password into a field then a key logger can’t grab the password). While this may be true, please keep in mind that the bad buys are always on the lookout to crack the latest security ideas. Additionally you should be sure to follow existing best practices when it comes to passwords. This means be sure you have a safe backup of all your passwords, don’t use the same credentials for multiple sites, etc.

To try this you’ll either Windows Insider Preview 17723 or you can wait for Windows 10 version 1809 to be released.

Source: Windows Blog

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Xbox One X – Powerful, Small, Priced Right But Still Controversial

There has been a lot of buzz surrounding the Xbox One X since Microsoft announced it last week at E3. There have been several tech article written since and, of course, multiple different opinions. Some articles called it “boring” some said “over priced” and still others were too slanted toward its greatness. We thought we would write a simple post and keep things in the factual realm and let the reader decide if they want to spend five bills this holiday season or not.

According to Microsoft, the newest console in the Xbox One line will feature 6 Teraflops of graphical processing power, 4K gaming, and claims to be compatible with Xbox One games and accessories. It comes with 8 GB of flash memory and 12 GB GDDR5 graphic memory at
326 GB/s, 1 TB of storage, a 6 Teraflop GPU, and 4K Resolution. The console also sports advanced liquid cooling and is supposed to be incredibly quiet. Microsoft is touting it as “The World’s Most Powerful Console.”

When you read the specs and watch the trailer it’s quite an exciting offering and no doubt will fly off the shelves in November.
So how does it compare to other gaming options?

The PS4 Pro doesn’t come close in the 4K arms race with an octocore AMD Jaguar processor running at 2.1GHz, a GPU at 4.20 Teraflops, and 8GB of GDDR5 RAM.

What about simply building a custom gaming PC? This is absolutely an option and can be built to blow away the specs on both the PS4 Pro and the Xbox One X. However, at the $499 price tag for the One X, a custom PC can’t come close in a price fight.

We build custom gaming PCs all the time and even at our dealer discounts, we wouldn’t be able to build one for ourselves for less than $1,000.

One final thought/opinion, Microsoft has a history of delivering raw power with fewer game choices. So when comparing consoles this can make a huge difference because fewer games on a powerful console may not be the experience a gamer wants this holiday.

Happy gaming.

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Yikes, Are you still running Windows Vista?!

Windows Vista has officially gotten the boot from Microsoft as of April 11, 2017, and experts are suggesting you upgrade as soon as possible. The former CEO of Microsoft described Windows Vista as his biggest regret and now the company is finally cutting all support to Vista effective immediately.

If you are still running Windows Vista don’t worry it isn’t going to just abruptly stop working, but without the support of Microsoft or any of it’s updates or security patches we suggest you update to Windows 10 and we can help you do that. If you don’t upgrade then you are potentially putting your computer at risk of hacks, malware and other security risks and viruses.

Microsoft explained:
“As of April 11, 2017, Windows Vista customers are no longer receiving new security updates, non-security hotfixes, free or paid assisted support options, or online technical content updates from Microsoft. Microsoft has provided support for Windows Vista for the past 10 years, but the time has come for us, along with our hardware and software partners, to invest our resources towards more recent technologies so that we can continue to deliver great new experiences.”

As they put it nicely, Windows Vista isn’t the best software to be running especially now that Microsoft doesn’t offer support for it. Also, as more software and hardware companies begin to optimize and upgrade for the future of Windows, you can expect to encounter more apps and devices that do not work with Windows Vista.

We suggest upgrading your current computer to Windows 10, or if your current computer is not capable of running Windows 10 then it’s probably time to shop for a new computer. Either way, we can help you with this process and if you are not sure if you are running Vista then give us a call or drop by the office.

NEW EXTENDED HOURS
Monday – 8am – 5pm
Tuesday – Friday – 8am – 7pm
Saturday – 9am – 2pm

For any questions, please call our store at 806-350-TECH.

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Microsoft To Launch The Surface 2 On September 23rd – Pricing & Specs

he second generation of the Microsoft Surface tablet will be launched tomorrow (September 23rd) at an invitation only event in New York City.

Over the past month there have been many leaks as to what consumers can expect from the new Surface 2. Microsoft has neither confirmed or denied the leaked information leading people to speculate that the leaks are “on target” for what’s to come in the new generation.

As far as the look goes, there will not be anything new to brag about. It will be the same 10.6 inch screen and VaporMg casing. It will also have the same snap-on keyboard compatibility as the current Surface.

The new Surface will have exact same number of USB ports as its predecessor and will be a wifi only device.  There will be no 4G LTE support in this release. It will have a Tegra 4 processor, but the new Surface Pro (2nd gen) will have an i5 Haswell processor and get 7-8 hours of life out of the battery. The display will feature the Clear Type full HD display.

One of the more anticipated features rumored to be part of the new generation is the docking station which Microsoft had said that they were not going to release for the Surface. Granted it will only be compatible for the Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 models. You can expect it to include on USB 3 port as well as 2 USB 2 ports built into the dock.

The new Surface Power Cover is another peripheral that has got users excited is the Surface Power Cover. This new cover will be thicker and tougher and will also have a built in battery which will extend the battery life by an undisclosed amount. You can expect them to be showing this off during the announcement tomorrow.

You can expect the new Surface to be available in mid October. It’s expected that the new Surface will become available for purchase around the same time that Windows 8.1 is available to the general public. It is not known whether Microsoft will be taking pre-orders on the new Surface.

For those looking for some price reductions due to the slow sales of the first generation of the Surface, don’t get too excited. It doesn’t look like Microsoft made any real cuts to the pricing of the new version. Sources say that they are planning to keep selling their RT version along side the new version. They are expected to keep the price of the 1st gen at $350 for the 32GB version with no cover. The 32 GB Surface 2 will be listed at $500 and the 64 GB version is expected to start at $600.

The Surface Pro will continue to start at $800 and the new version will start at $900 for a 64 GB version. There will also be a 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB versions available for the Pro Version. Those models will be priced at $1000, $1300, and $1700 according to sources.

Touch, type, and docking stations will be priced separately. Do keep in mind that the pricing of the device is from leaked sources and might be a little off from what is announced during the launch on September 23rd.

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Windows 8.1 Fixes Problems & Adds New Features While Keeping ‘Touch’ The Main Focus

During the Microsoft Keynote in San Fransisco the company offered the preview version of Windows 8.1 which you can download here. There are some sweeping changes to the OS and to the happiness of PC users, upgrades to the user interface. But, if you were hoping for a return to the Windows 7 layout, you will be disappointed. Microsoft’s focus is still very much focused that the touch market. Much of the following upgrades were in response to suggestions (complaints) from users of the intial release of Windows 8.

The Start Menu will be back, in a sense.

In a move towards the touch interface, Windows removed the start button from the new interface. This was one of the biggest complaints about the new OS. While you still won’t get the exact same start button functionality that you did when using Windows 7, it is much improved and is a simple click and type to access applications. At the bottom of the pop-up menu, you will now have the return of the restart/shut down options as well. It would be nice if they would add back the control panel and device manager as well, but this is not in the current update.

Boot To Desktop

For those who primarily use their computer via keyboard and mouse, the 8.0 Touch UI is still a “thorn in the side” of users. 8.1 offers the ability to boot directly to the desktop of the UI making it easier for those on Keyboard and mouse navigation.

X-Box Music Gets More Intuitive

In the 8.0 release Microsoft allowed for the free streaming of more than 30 million songs using the XBox Music app. The new version will have better ability to redesign the player and interface. A left navigation lets the user explore music, songs, artists, and videos. You can now create Pandora-like radio stations entering an artist or song and getting a stream of similar music. This might well become your new “go-to” app for music streaming.

Upgraded Search

Now when searching you will get global results from multiple sources including your SkyDrive and other Apps. When searching for broad internet terms you will get what’s referred to as the “hero screen” which displays images, links and other useful resources regarding your search. This is all done natively in the search interface before taking you to your browser.

Snap Views Flexibility

In 8.1, running simultaneous apps will be easier as you can now resize your current app window and “snap” these views into different locations on your monitor. With a high resolution dual monitor set-up you can now run up to 8 apps simultaneously on the display at once.

Personalization

You can now personalize your device with ease. You can set your start button, preferred desktop, and even your lock screen can pull images directly from your SkyDrive.

Much Improved Camera

You now have a full set of editing tools that you can use to crop, adjust color, correct red eye and more. The new color enhancement feature will let you create rich images right in the camera app.

Windows App Store

The new Windows app store has larger images, better flow and is expected to excite developers who are writing apps for the new OS.

Will these upgrades increase popularity? Only time will tell.

 

 

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Android Phones Can Now Download Microsoft Office

Earlier this year, Microsoft Office was released for iPhone and to the applause of all who use the software. But, there was not an app for Android at the time. Seeing that Android is the world’s #1 smartphone OS, it seemed only fitting that there be an Android version as well. Well, now that has happened. Office 365 users will now be able to download the Office mobile app.

The Android version of the app doesn’t work on tablets. There are other web based alternatives to use via tablets, but as of today they have not released a version to fit large screen mobile devices. Keep in mind that in order to use the app, the users phone must be running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich or above.

The app download is free, but the user must subscribe to Office in order to run the app. Once you have subscribed you are allowed to run Office on up to 5 devices, which doesn’t include the 5 MAC or PC desktop apps that can be running.

Files can be stored and accessed using Skydrive which is a cloud based storage. Office users will receive 20 GB of storage for usage. Windows phones will still have a tad bit more accessibility rights at they will be allowed to open and edit copy-protected files.

Office mobile looks to have a nice clean interface and a good amount of functionality. It is not at the same level as Google Drive, but is a good start for Microsoft. With the expansion to both iPhone and Android users, you can bet that they will be requesting the full functionality soon.

 

 

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Microsoft To End Support Of Windows XP In 2014

For those of you who are still running it at home or in your business, know that Microsoft will no longer be offering support of Windows XP after April of 2014. The shocking thing about this is the number of people who are still utilizing Windows XP. Since XP Microsoft has released Vista, Windows 7, and now Windows 8.

If you are currently running XP, now might be the time to consider looking to upgrade. Most computers that are running XP should be able to run Windows 7. If not, that’s probably a good sign that your computer is quite outdated and might be time for a new system all together.

With the shift of technology, upgrading to Windows 7 or 8 might seem like a giant step, but it is worth it. Office 2010 is worth the upgrade alone. The ability to customize your mail software to your personal liking is immense and will make your experience all that much better, along with more productive.

For businesses who are still on an XP platform, it is a necessity. The network drivers will definitely need to be upgraded to a newer OS in order to handle newer servers and printers. Sometimes the drivers for older versions of Windows are not compatible and render your devices useless. Running Windows XP will also make your business not compliant with HIPAA. This can result in huge fines.

It may sound like a bit of an investment, but it will definitely save you bigtime in the long run. If you have any questions about upgrading your personal or business network, feel free to contact us.

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Playstation 4 Steals Xbox One’s Thunder

Just a couple weeks after Xbox made its huge announcement about the new Xbox One, Sony comes along and releases the specs and pricing on the new Playstation 4. This gaming system is stacked with the latest technology and carries a price tag $100 less than the Xbox One.

The Playstation 4 is using an eight core processor with a next-gen Radeon graphics engine. This console is designed for hardcore gaming. It’s definitely not as fast as an Intel designed chip, but stripped away from all the extra bells and whistles of a regular OS, this processor will run the most complex and processor intensive games seamlessly.

It will include the Blueray player and the good ol’ DVD player. It also has HDMI, AV, and optical output.

The Sony camera is amazing. 1280 x 800 and can even cut out players from background or separate players in front from the players in the back. Very intuitive technology.

Photo via Playstation Facebook

PlayStation 4 Specifications

  • CPU: low power x86-64 AMD “Jaguar”, 8 cores
  • GPU: 1.84 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon™ Graphics Core Next engine
  • Memory: GDDR5 8GB
  • Hard Disk Drive: Built –in
  • Optical Drive (Read only): BD 6xCAV, DVD 8xCAV
  • I/O: Super-Speed USB (USB 3.0), AUX
  • Communication: Ethernet, IEEE 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth® 2.1 (EDR)
  • AV output: HDMI, Analog-AV out, Digital Output (optical)

DualShock 4 specifications:

  • External Dimensions: Approx. 162mm x 52mm x 98mm
  • Weight: Approx. 210g (tentative)
  • Buttons: PS button, SHARE button, OPTIONS button, Directional buttons (Up/Down/Left/Right), Action buttons (Triangle, Circle, Cross, Square), R1/L1/R2/L2/R3/L3, Right stick, Left stick, Touch Pad Button, Touch Pad 2 Point Touch Pad, Click Mechanism, Capacitive Type
  • Other Features: Light Bar, Vibration, Built-in Mono Speaker
  • Ports: USB (Micro B), Extention Port, Stereo Headset Jack
  • Wireless communication: Bluetooth® Ver2.1+EDR

PS4 camera specifications

  • External Dimension: Approx. 186mm x 27mm x 27mm
  • Weight: Approx. 183g
  • Video Pixel: (Maximum) 1280 x 800 pixel x 2
  • Video Frame Rate: 1280×800 pixel @ 60fps, 640×400 pixel @ 120fps, 320×192 pixel @ 240fps
  • Video Format: RAW, YUV (uncompressed)
  • Lens: Dual Lenses, F value/F2.0 fixed focus
  • Field-of-View: 85 degrees
  • Microphone: 4 Channel Microphone Array
  • Connection Type: PS4 dedicated connector (AUX connector)
  • Cable Length: Approx. 2m (tentative)
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Everything You Need To Know About Windows 8.1

With the release of Windows 8, or Windows Blue as many call it, there were huge improvements and some other aspects that had users scratching their heads. Well, 8.1 looks to build off what works well, and call “Do-Over” on what didn’t. That’s what ‘dot’ releases are for, right?

So, here are some things that you can expect in the new Windows 8.1 release. The developers are making the interface more easy to use, adding new features, and adding support for smaller screen devices. The great thing about these upgrades is that they cost nothing.

User Interface

Start Button: Microsoft removed the start button from the first release of Windows 8 and you would have thought they were ending the world. They now realize that the functionality built behind the start button is mandatory for most users and it is coming back. Users will also be able to set their default screen to the “All Apps” screen which should appease many who utilize the start button pop-up.

New Live Tiles: Windows 8 originally only came with the two preset tile sizes. The large and small. Which allowed users to select larger tiles for features they used more often or smaller tiles for those that aren’t quite as important. Or if you had your facebook feed imported directly to your start screen you could use the large tile to display the first few messages. That was nice, but now they are taking it a step further. You can now use even a smaller tile which will fit four tiles into the same space as the initial small tile. This should calm some of the masses who complain that the start screen doesn’t offer a folder system.

Downloaded Apps No Longer Instantly Pin To Start Screen: No more will every app downloaded automatically pin itself to the start screen. You will have that option after download. This will inevitably end up with a much cleaner start screen for the average user.

All Apps Gesture: Finally, a simple gesture will show you all the apps installed on your machine. A simple swipe up and your there.

Auto Updates: Windows 8.1 will now automatically update your apps overnight while your sleeping.

Boot To Desktop: Windows 8.1 now saves you the click it takes to load the desktop version. You can change this in your settings.

More Colors & Textures: The updated OS will offer many new color schemes for your environment and will also support textures as well.

Desktop Background Image On Start: You can now match your start screen background with your desktop environment background. While it seems small, it makes a difference to some users.

New Features

Global Search: Windows 8.1 welcomes you to the omnibox experience on the new release. The global search function is one of the most used functions of any OS and you will now have access to it on your Windows machine, again. The search “Hero” will replace the Bing app.

Snap Display: This allows you to run two apps simultaneously on the same screen. One app will take up 25% of the screen while the other utilizes the other 75%. You can also snap more than two apps and run multiples on the same screen.

Better Support For Multiple Monitors: The new Settings app allows you to manually set the resolution of secondary monitors if you wish.

Reading List: In any app with content (including IE), users will now be able to save that content ‘offline’ so they can read it at their leisure, without an internet connection.

IE Improvements: IE in Windows 8.1 supports endless tabs. Also, you can make live tiles out of your favorite websites.

Active Lock Screen: The lock screen supports an intelligent slide show so it can do cool stuff like display photos on your device from exactly one year ago and make Skype calls without unlocking the device.

App Syncing Across Devices: When you log into a second Windows 8.1 device, the same apps you have on one device will automatically download and sync to the other device.

Photo Editing: The photos app gets basic photo editing in Windows 8.1.

New Microsoft Apps: Windows 8.1 introduces new Microsoft apps including a Calculator, alarm, food & drink, and health & fitness.

Apps Enhancements: the Xbox-branded apps for music, video and games all introduce new features that bring you to the content you interact with most often.

Small Screen Support

Microsoft knows and is willing to admit that it completely missed the mark when it came to small screen tablets, which have really become the more popular devices over the last two years. The issues that caused display problems on these devices have been addressed in the new Windows 8.1 release.

All screenshots courtesy of Mashable.com

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New X-Box Reveal – LIVE BLOG

The new X-Box reveal is taking place now, and we want you to have all the information now. The next generation of X-Box will integrate kinect, controller, and wireless devices. This is truly a new innovation in the gaming experience. But, it won’t just be a gaming experience anymore. It will be a full entertainment system integrating movies, television, gaming, and internet.

12:00 – When you integrate wireless, controllers, and kinect motion, real magic happens.

12:15 – Over 10 million downloads of Smart Glass. The new Xbox will have Smart Glass technology built in.

12:30 – We are taking the world’s best controller and making it better.

12:35 – The VGA camera has been replaced by a 1080p camera which is without a doubt a gigantic upgrade.

12:36 – Voice is now more conversational and will allow use by the entire family

12:36 – You can switch between a movie and a game like the flip between channels with the new OS.

12:37 – You can do group conference calls on your television using Skype.

12:38 – The new Xbox LIVE will be based on Xbox ONE which will amplify an all new generation.

12:40 – 15,000 servers now power the network over the 500 that were in use when Xbox officially launched.

12:41 – You will now have a dedicated gaming DVR to share your favorite moments.

12:42 – The television screen is still the most important screen in your house and Xbox ONE will change how you view your television.

12:44 – You’re television will now become social. You’re Xbox will become the new ‘watercooler’.

12:45 – For Me, Halo has always been more than a game. It takes place in a rich sy-fy world.

12:46 – Live action Halo television series from Stephen Spielberg.

12:47 – Xbox will now be your home for Sports. An alliance with the NFL.

12:49 – Exclusive content that will only be offered from the NFL to Xbox. Your fantasy football team integrated into your television and a live broadcast!

12:50 – Use Skype to trash talk your friends when your fantasy football pick scores a touchdown.

12:51 – The all in one system for every living room. Your games, tv and entertainment come alive.

12:52 – XBox ONE will launch later this year. My guess, just in time for Christmas.

12:53 – One of the biggest franchises in gaming history, Call of Duty. All downloadable content will launch exclusively on Xbox ONE.

12:54 – Coming up, the preview of the new generation of Call of Duty Ghosts.

12:54 – Camera crew gives you exclusive look at Call Of Duty Ghosts in the studio.

12:55 – New cast of character that feel like real people. You are the underdog fighting against superior forces.

12:56 – A new character and team member is your dog. Your teammate.

12:56 – This is a completely new Call Of Duty experience.

12:58 – New dynamic maps that change according to what you do on the level.

12:59 – We design Call of Duty for gameplay. Period.

1:01 – New generation Call of Duty Gameplay.