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Vol. 3, # 35 - Sep 1, 2011 - Issue # 103 |
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Little by Little, Windows 8 is Revealed
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- Editor's Corner
- Little by Little, Windows 8 is Revealed
- Changes Galore
- Quotes of the Week
- News, Hints, Tips and Tricks
- Whatever happened to SideShow?
- Cool "seamless computing" software ties together different Windows devices
- Tune your onscreen text with the Windows 7 ClearType Tuner
- Help Nokia decide what to call their Windows phones
- How to: Using the New Windows 7 Features
- How to shut your computer down automatically at the same time every day
- Windows 7 and Vista Security
- Keeping up with the hack attacks
- Question Corner
- Windows 7 Configuration and Troubleshooting
- When names collide: Incorrect error message
- Delay reading/writing data to 1394 device with multi-processor computer
- Fav Links
- This Week's Links We Like. Tips, Hints And Fun Stuff
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Editor's Corner |
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Little by Little, Windows 8 is Revealed
In many ways, it feels as if I've been using Windows 7 for a long time. I
participated in early beta testing and I started using it as my primary
operating system long before it was officially released. In other ways, it seems
brand new. I'm still discovering cool new features, and it seems like just a few
months since we held our launch party. But it's been three years since Steve
Sinofsky unveiled Windows 7 at the All Things Digital event (D6) in 2008.
Now that Windows 8 has been introduced to the world (at the D9 demo on June 1),
the next Windows OS is more than a mysterious unknown - although there is still
plenty that we don't know about it. Little by little, though, Microsoft is
giving us sneak peeks, and it reportedly won't be long until a beta will be
released - although no date has been given. In case you missed the D9 demo when
I wrote about it in June, here's the link again:
http://www.win7news.net/110901-D9-Video
There's a lot of speculation that developers attending the BUILD conference in
September (which took the place of the Professional Developers Conference or PDC
of previous years) may get their hands on Windows 8 first. There are even rumors
going around that those who attend will receive not just the software, but a
Windows 8 quad-core tablet, as well:
http://www.win7news.net/110901-Windows-8-Tablet
The idea isn't as crazy as it might sound. At the PDC in 2009, Microsoft gave
each paid attendee an Acer Aspire 1420P convertible tablet PC running Windows 7
(well before that model was available to the public for purchase). No doubt
many of those who shelled out the $1595 early registration fee for this year's
conference are hoping to take home a nice little souvenir. Tablet or not, BUILD
had already sold out by August 1 (the date that the fee was scheduled to go up
to $2099).
Meanwhile, we're beginning to get a little more information about Windows 8
features, beyond what we saw in the D9 demo. Microsoft is always being accused
of copying Apple (even though it goes both ways, with many of the "new" features
in Leopard and Lion being features that were already available in Windows). This
time, even Apple fans are noting that the Windows 8 design is radically
different from OS X:
http://www.win7news.net/110901-Windows-8-Design
Many aspects of the Windows 8 interface are also a radical departure from
previous versions of Windows. Of course, as with all changes, there are some
folks who don't like the new ways of doing things. There has been a recent
outcry in the tech press about the ribbon that has been added to Windows
Explorer. This is the same type of ribbon as was introduced in Office 2007 and
caused much weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth back then. It seems to be one
of those things that you either love or hate. Personally, I like it in Office
and think I'll like it in Explorer, but many are calling it clunky and cluttered
and some think it's downright bizarre:
http://www.win7news.net/110901-Explorer-Design
Many of the critics long for the "minimalist" approach of OS X. Not me - when I
try to use a Mac, I get frustrated because I can never find what I want. It's a
matter of personal preference, of course, but what the ribbon-haters seem to be
missing is that you can "roll up" the ribbon with one simple mouse click (and
bring it back the same way), getting it out of your way when you don't need it.
Here's a new feature in Windows 8 that I'm really excited about: the ability to
natively mount ISO and VHD files. I have TechNet and MSDN subscriptions and
often download software from those sites. Microsoft puts it in ISO format, which
means I either have to burn it to a DVD or install and use some third party
program in order to run and install it. That's just a pain in the behind. Yes,
there are some free programs for this, but I'm frequently doing this on
different machines, so I have to download and install those programs every time.
I must have said to Tom a hundred times, "If Microsoft is going to put these
things in ISO, why don't they make Windows capable of mounting ISOs?" I've heard
from some people who said that they have installed OpenOffice instead of Word
not because of the cost, but because OO provided an .exe installation file
instead of an ISO. Well, now that problem is behind us. Windows 8 is going to
let you mount an ISO file from within Windows Explorer. That alone is almost
worth the price of admission to me.
http://www.win7news.net/110901-ISO-VHD-Files
We've known for a while that Windows 8 was going to have an App Store, thanks to
an internal slide presentation that was leaked to the public way back in June
2010. That has been pretty much confirmed now. I haven't yet seen a lot of
details about how it will operate, but I don't think Windows 8 will be like iOS,
where you aren't allowed to install software that wasn't purchased through the
official store (without jailbreaking your OS and voiding its warranty). The App
Store will just give you another, convenient source for finding and buying (or
downloading free) the applications you need. There are, however, both pros and
cons to this approach, as discussed in this article:
http://www.win7news.net/110901-Windows-8-App-Store
Generally, I tend to be one of those people who likes and thrives on change (at
least when it comes to technology) but I'm going to be whining and moaning with
the rest if one rumored change should turn out to be real. Earlier this month,
Ars Technica created a bit of a panic when they reported that the latest beta of
Windows 8 was missing a very important (to many of us) element: Windows Media
Center. As those who have followed my articles know, I'm a big fan of WMC; we
use it as our only DVR and record numerous TV programs for later playback on our
big media room TV or any computer in the house. If Windows 8 dropped WMC, I
know at least one computer in my household that wouldn't be upgrading to the new
OS anytime soon. However, betas often don't contain all the features that are to
appear in the final product. Or maybe, since only a subset of us use WMC, it
will become a free add-on as Windows Mail, Photo Gallery and other applications
that were built into Vista became in Windows 7. In this article, Garry Whittaker
does a good job of explaining why there's no need to get upset - yet.
http://www.win7news.net/110901-Media-Center
There have also been rumors that Windows 8 will still have WMC, but will drop
the support for broadcast tuners in favor of DLNA-connected tuners and Internet
TV. I hope that one isn't true either; I've invested quite a bit of money and
effort in installing multiple tuner cards in my media PC:
http://www.win7news.net/110901-Windows-8-Preview
When it comes to the user interface, it seems Microsoft is working hard to
provide the "best of both worlds" - giving us the simplified Metro style for
touch-enabled devices while still allowing us to seamlessly switch back to the
more traditional Windows 7 style interface for existing apps and less touch-
friendly machines. As I'm writing this, Steven Sinofsky just posted a great
explanation on the "Building Windows 8" blog of the philosophy behind the
Windows 8 dual purpose design:
http://www.win7news.net/110901-Metro-Style
However, some people believe Microsoft should "cut the ribbon" and start all
over with the Windows 8 interface instead of keeping one foot in the past:
http://www.win7news.net/110901-Fresh-Start
Tell us what you think! This edition of the newsletter will be posted on our new
site, where you can give your opinions and thoughts about any of the topics:
www.WinNews.com
Changes Galore
The changes (and rumored changes) that I've discussed here are just the tip of
the iceberg. Over the coming weeks and months, I'll be writing more about
Windows 8 in our brand new WinNews publication, which will consolidate the
current WXPnews and Win7News. Those who are subscribed to either newsletter will
be automatically subscribed to WinNews, and we will screen out duplicate
addresses so that you don't get two copies at the same email address if you're
subscribed to both.
But even though Windows 8 is hot news right now, we aren't going to abandon the
older operating systems. We recognize that many of you will still be using XP
and Windows 7 for a long time to come, and the new newsletter will address all
versions of Windows (including Windows Phone). I'm excited about the new format
for our web site, which will allow me to publish the newsletter directly to the
web, instead of sending it to someone else to format and post, which means it
will get to you sooner. The new Wordpress system will also make it easy for me
to correct typos, or add new information if it becomes available. Readers will
be able to comment and I'll be able to easily reply directly, without logging
into a forum. That will eliminate the need for a "follow-up" section. We've been
testing the new site and all this starts in earnest next week, so please come
along for the ride!
'Til next week,
Deb Shinder, Editor
feedback@win7news.net
PS: Did you know this newsletter has a sister publication for XP users called
WXPnews? You can subscribe here, and tell your friends:
http://www.win7news.net/110303-WXPnews
And for IT pros, there's our "big sister," WServer News, at
http://www.win7news.net/110303-WServerNews
Look for the Win7News fan page on Facebook!
Quotes of the Week
"Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death." - Albert
Einstein
"There are no great limits to growth because there are no limits to human
intelligence, imagination and wonder." - Ronald Reagan
"All growth depends upon activity. There is no development physically or
intellectually without effort, and effort means work." - Calvin Coolidge
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News, Hints, Tips and Tricks |
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Whatever happened to SideShow?
One of the things that I thought was really cool about Vista was the new
SideShow feature. At CES the year Vista was released, I saw all sorts of devices
that used this technology to give you useful information on little secondary
screens on the outside of a laptop that you could access without opening and
firing up the computer (for instance, it would display how many email messages
you had and other notifications). Somehow it got lost along the way, although
the capability is still there in Windows 7. I agree with Mike Halsey's point of
view in this article:
http://www.win7news.net/110901-Forgotten-Feature
Cool "seamless computing" software ties together different Windows devices
Wish it were easier to transfer information between your Windows 7 tablet,
Windows phone, Kinect, and even a Microsoft Surface computer (if you're one of
the fortunate few who has the big bucks to buy one)? This software from Nsquared
shows us just how that could work:
http://www.win7news.net/110901-New-Tech
Tune your onscreen text with the Windows 7 ClearType Tuner
I do a lot of reading on my PC screen: web sites, PDFs, Word docs, email and so
forth. So it's important to me that the text be as clear and easy to read as
possible. ClearType is the technology built into Windows that improves the
appearance of text on the screen. It was introduced first in Microsoft Reader
and then included in the XP OS. It generally works well, but different eyes see
things differently. Windows 7, for the first time, includes a "ClearType Tuner"
that allows you to fine tune this feature to fit your preferences. It works a
bit like a visit to the optometrist, where you have to pick which of the eye
charts looks better until you home in on the optimum correction. This article
explains how to use it:
http://www.win7news.net/110901-ClearType
Help Nokia decide what to call their Windows phones
Nokia is getting ready to release their first handsets based on Windows Phone 7,
but they need to come up with the perfect name. Certainly the name can affect
sales; wouldn't you prefer to tell others you're carrying a Thunderbolt rather
than a Kin - regardless of the phone itself? It seems Nokia wants your opinion;
they've posted a poll provided some choices and are asking the public to vote
for the name you like best. Find out more, and a link to the poll, here:
http://www.win7news.net/110901-Name
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How to: Using the New Windows 7 Features |
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How to shut your computer down automatically at the same time every day
Want to make sure your Windows 7 computer shuts down at the same time every day
(or night) without having to go through the shutdown process manually? All you
have to do is create a scheduled task. Here's how:
- Click the Start button and in the search box, type
Scheduled tasks
- Click the item when it appears in the search results list under "Control
Panel."
- In the Task Scheduler console, in the Actions pane on the right, click
"Create Basic Task ...".
- In the Wizard page that opens, give the task a name such as "Shutdown" and
write a description (if you want) such as "Shuts down the computer at 1:00 a.m.
every day."
- Click Next.
- On the Task Trigger page, select "Daily" and click Next.
- On the Start Date and Time page, fill in the date and time you want to begin
(such as 9/10/11 and 1:00 a.m.) and click Next.
- On the Action page, click "Start a Program" and click Next.
- On the Start a Program page, in the Program/script field, type:
C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe
- Windows is installed on a drive other than C, substitute that drive letter.
- Click Next.
- Review the Summary page and click Finish.
Now Windows will automatically shut down at 1:00 a.m. each day. You'll get a
pop-up notification telling you, before it does so, that "Windows will shut down
in less than a minute."
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Windows 7 and Vista Security |
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Keeping up with the hack attacks
It seems as if we read about a new big hack or attack every day and it's getting
hard to keep up with what organizations have been attacked and the nature of
those attacks. CNET put together a chart to help you sort them all out. It
includes major attacks that have occurred since March 17 of this year, with the
target, alleged or suspected source, method of attack and what harm was done, as
well as links to more details. It makes for some interesting - and scary -
reading. You'll find it here:
http://www.win7news.net/110901-Hacker-Chart
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Question Corner |
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Streaming video problems
QUESTION:
I'm having a lot of trouble playing streaming video on my Windows 7 laptop. It
plays but it stops to buffer often, which is maddening! I have a 10 Mbps
broadband connection so I don't think the Internet speed is the problem. Can you
help?
ANSWER:
It's hard to make a definitive diagnosis since this could be caused by several
things, but my first suspect would be your home network. Are you plugging into
your broadband switch or router via Ethernet, or using a wi-fi connection? Make
sure you have the latest driver for your network card, and you might need to
update the firmware on your router and/or wi-fi access point. If the videos are
Flash, make sure that is updated, too. You can also try adjusting the buffer
size in Windows Media Player, as well (Tools | Options | Performance). Hope this
helps!
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Windows 7 Configuration and Troubleshooting |
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When names collide: Incorrect error message
If you use your Windows 7 computer to make a shared network folder available
offline and then move a folder into it or create or rename a folder inside the
shared folder, you might get an error message that says the folder is in use.
There's a hotfix available to rectify the problem, which is caused by two
folders in the same folder having the same name (name collision). The hotfix
won't allow you to have duplicate names, but will give you the correct error
message so you can correct the problem. For more info, see KB article 2182005:
http://www.win7news.net/110901-Incorrect-Error
Delay reading/writing data to 1394 device with multi-processor computer
If your Windows 7 (or Server 2008 R2) computer has multiple processors and you
have an external hard drive connected to it via a 1394 port (Firewire), you
might find that you experience a delay of up to 60 seconds if you perform a
number of read/write operations. What's up with that? It turns out to be due to
a "race condition." You don't even have to know what that means to fix it - just
get the hotfix referenced in KB article 2275019:
http://www.win7news.net/110901-Delays
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Fav Links |
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This Week's Links We Like. Tips, Hints And Fun Stuff
Disclaimer: Win7News does not assume and cannot be
responsible for any liability related to you clicking any of
these linked Web sites.
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Copyright © 1996-2013 Sunbelt Media Services. All rights reserved.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Other products and companies
referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or mark holders.
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