About Author: CoryRS

Description
Cory has been a huge Microsoft fan ever since he got his first Zune for Christmas quite a few years back. Ever since then, his interest in Microsoft and technology has grown. In other words, he's a nerd from Wisconsin.

Posts by CoryRS

4

Bing’s Next Big Thing

By
CoryRS
– May 10, 2012

There are going to be some changes on Bing. Big changes, like being completely redesigned. These renovations are suspected to be fueled by modifications Google made a short while ago. So what exactly are these “big changes?” I’m glad you asked. For starters, it’s going to have a noticeable increase in Facebook integration. That is similar to the Google+ The integration that Google has had for quite some time now. One of the biggest ways Facebook is used in the new redesign is within the brand-new sidebar. For example, when searching something, Bing will bring up people who may know something about what your searching within the sidebar. Using this, users can more easily get advice about something from the right friend. In addition to the sidebar, there are two other features new to the redesigned Bing. Snapshot is one of the two, and it’s meant to display useful information based on the search query. You will no longer be presented pages with nothing but links and descriptions. Lastly, web results are being improved. Searching the web will be quicker, cleaner, and more relevant.

 

Although I didn’t like these ideas right away, after taking a better look at it I’ve decided that I personally like the direction this “new Bing” is going. What do you think? Too much social integration and not enough privacy? Or do you think that these new features will enhance Bing as a search engine? Leave a comment!

0

Changes to SkyDrive Storage Applied Today

By
CoryRS
– April 23, 2012

Changes to SkyDrive make it a great competitorRecently, Microsoft has made a number of changes to its SkyDrive service. These changes were obviously made to compete with other cloud storage devices. One apparent change is SkyDrive storage space. New SkyDrive members will be given seven gigabytes of storage space, which is more space than what you get on iCloud, Google, and Dropbox. Existing members can get back the full 25 gigabytes that was previously given to them. Why was the storage limit reduced? Probably to prepare for a large sum of new customers. And with the arrival of the new SkyDrive desktop application, it makes perfect sense. This piece of software allows users to access their SkyDrive within Windows explorer in Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista. This makes uploading files to SkyDrive and accessing files from SkyDrive offline much easier. Lastly, earlier this week there was an update for the SkyDrive mobile app that increased its functionality.

So, for all of you using an alternative to Skydrive… are you eager to switch now? Leave a comment!

6

Bing Desktop Beta

By
CoryRS
– April 10, 2012

Bing Desktop's Search BoxJust a few days ago, Bing Desktop Beta 1.0.45.0 was released. Bing Desktop is a simple piece of software that automatically makes Bing’s homepage photo your desktop background. In addition to this, you get a neat little search box on your desktop for convenience. By default, this is placed at the center of the screen, but there’s a setting to pin it to the top of the screen as well. Optionally, you can also use Windows+H to show or hide the search box.

 

In order to install, you need some version of Windows 7. If you have anything else, I’m sorry to tell you this, but you can’t get Bing Desktop. If you do have Windows 7 and you want this software, you can get it from Microsoft here.

Bing Desktop Finished InstallingAfter you’ve finished installing Bing Desktop, you are presented with the option to either enable or disable automatically changing you desktop wallpaper to Bing’s homepage picture. I don’t know why you’d install this and not want that enabled, since you’d be missing out on all of Bing’s lovely images!

After that’s all taken care of, say hello to your fresh new desktop. Your wallpaper is changed immediately and that Bing Desktop search box is then present.

How many of you are going to install this now? Let us know!

Desktop with Bing

0

Chrync Syncs Chrome Data with WP7

By
CoryRS
– April 2, 2012

Have you been searching for a way to keep your Chrome bookmarks in sync with your Windows Phone? Look no further, Chrync has you covered.

Chrync stores your bookmarks and history from Chrome for easy and quick access on your phone. All that you need to do is sign in to Chrome on your computer and use that information to log into the app. There, you are presented with your bookmark bar content. Swiping to the left or the right will bring you to the “other bookmarks,” “browser tabs,” and “recent” screens.

Chrync ScreenshotThe “other bookmarks” category includes the bookmarks that are under “Other bookmarks” in Chrome. “Browser tabs” contains pages that are currently open in Chrome. “Recent” is simply a list of recently visited pages.

Chrync is available here as a paid app. An unlimited trail is also offered.

Overall, this app is a useful tool and a must-have utility for Chrome or Iron users. Give it a shot!

5

Microsoft Creating a “Hip” Brand

By
CoryRS
– March 29, 2012

Microsoft is Hip NowMicrosoft is breaking out of its old, bland persona it used to have. Microsoft is actually looking pretty good, especially in comparison to its competitors.

What? Don’t believe me? Well, while Apple and Google are caught up in their privacy issues and everything else they’re dealing with now, Microsoft has been gaining ground. This is apparent in the Tumblr blog, “The Browser You Loved To Hate.” Microsoft is doing a good job of shedding the title of being boring and uptight, as the page is both humorous and free-flowing. They even acknowledge the fact that previous versions of Internet Explorer have not been that impressive. The general message is, “It’s good now.”

Another way Microsoft is freshening up is by redesigning the logo for Windows. It might not seem like a big step, but it’s an effective way of broadcasting Microsoft’s new direction with Windows.

Microsoft looks even better when compared to its competitors – Apple and Google. Google’s users have been disappointed with some of the changes that were recently made, including Google+ integration and the new privacy policy. Apple has also been having their own privacy issues. Microsoft simply hasn’t been having any of these issues recently, thus giving it a temporary advantage.

We just hope this trend continues. What do you think? Let us know!

0

New Windows Phone Markets Open To Submissions

By
CoryRS
– March 23, 2012

New Markets are ready for app submissionsDevelopers are now able to submit applications to the brand-new Windows Phone markets. Submitting apps to these 23 new markets gives developers a head-start against developers who surface later. The 23 are in addition to the five countries that the Windows Phone Marketplace was extended to earlier this year. Adding these new markets provides developers with about 60% more potential customers. Due to local laws and customs of some of these new areas, there are a few additional certification requirements for some markets. Developers can get their apps submitted to these new marketplaces through the app hub. It is currently taking seven days to get apps certified.

15

Where Apple was “Inspired” by Microsoft

By
CoryRS
– March 16, 2012

As some of you may know, some Apple fanboys think that all Microsoft does is copy Apple. Surely you know somebody who has that mindset, whether it’s a friend, co-worker, or maybe even a family member. It’s time we point out some of the moves Apple made that provides evidence that Apple is truly inspired by Microsoft and their Zune.

 

The Design

The Zune, from day one, always had its vertical screen. Apple’s iPod, on the other hand, started with the traditional horizontal screen. The screen’s length is greater than its height. This all changed with the release of the iPod Touch. This was the first iPod to have a vertical screen. However, everything about the design of the iPod touch was new, so we’ll let that slide. After the iPod touch was the iPod Nano Chromatic. This iPod looked almost identical to the little Zunes; the Zune 4, 8, and 16. Somehow Apple was able to pass this off as an original idea.

Zune 4/8 next to the iPod Nano Chromatic

The Nano Chromatic looked very similar to the Zune 4/Zune 8

 

Social Netowrking

The Zune social was another element that’s been around since the beginning. It allowed users to find people with similar listening habits to share music with. For me it has always been an excellent tool for discovering new music. It was a great concept. If you don’t think so just go ask Apple. In 2010, Apple launched Ping; “a social network for music.” It works much like the Zune social. In Ping, you can follow your friends and… artists? Can you do that in the Zune Social? Actually, yes you can. This can be done on the Zune website. Another “original” idea by Apple.

 

Slogan

Do you know what slogan is currently on the Zune website’s homepage? For most of you, it would be “your entertainment, everywhere” Recently, the slogan on the iTunes page has changed to “your entertainment. Everywhere.” There is no way this could be an accident!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was no coincidence. It looks like Microsoft had some good ideas and Apple took notice. The disappointing part is how few people noticed.

2

Bing Testing a New Look

By
CoryRS
– February 18, 2012

Recently, while doing some work and searching with my favorite search engine, Bing, and I noticed a change in the visual layout. This was not the first time I’ve noticed Bing toying with the site. About a year ago they were trying a new homepage, the page was based on Microsoft’s metro theme. That page didn’t come up for everyone and every computer, it was exclusive to random people on random computers. It also didn’t last, I had it for a short couple of weeks. I haven’t seen it since it disappeared.

That was then, but this is now. This page layout vanished right after I noticed it. As quick as it showed up, it was gone. I saw it, did another search, and it was back to what it was before. Luckily I got a screenshot of the temporary design.
The first thing you notice was the missing gradient. The second thing was the profile picture next to the name. I always sign in Windows Live and Facebook, for Social Searching and Bing Rewards. But on the current page layout, all you get is your account name

I personally liked the temporary makeover, and I’d be glad to see it come around again. That’s just speculation, of course.

1

Office 15 Revealed

By
CoryRS
– February 10, 2012

February 9th, Microsoft released some more details of their Windows 8 ARM edition, and while doing so also publicized some concepts for the new Microsoft Office package.

Office 15 Beta Screenshot

The new design for the Office applications includes an overall flatter interface, inspired by Microsoft’s Metro theming. You can also see there’s a bit more work space, some of which subsists due to the fact that ribbon content seems to be hidden.

Also, Office 15 was developed with tablet PC’s in mind, as it was designed to work well with touch screens and works without consuming too much power.

While watching the video about Windows 8 ARM edition, I noticed there was a sign-in button near the top right hand corner of each Office application. Office 15 "Sign In"Because there weren’t too many details about Office 15 in this short little video, it’s hard to say what it’s for. My guess is that it might be an easier way of saving and opening Office documents from Skydrive, but that’s just speculation and I could be wrong. We will only know in time.

11

Photosynth.

By
CoryRS
– February 3, 2012

One of the neat things about Microsoft is that there’s so much going on. There are so many teams and groups working on different things. Sometimes it’s easy to only notice the bigger products Microsoft has, and that is the reason that I’ve decided to introduce Photosynth to everybody out there who doesn’t already know what it is.

First off, this piece of software is by no means new. It’s been publicly available since 2008. In fact, I was actually reminded of its existence when I visited Microsoft’s website today, as it was featured on the homepage.

Okay, but what is Photosynth? Photosyth is an application developed by Microsoft Live Labs that will take your plain pictures of something and use them to generate a 3D model. If that still makes absolutely no sense at all, take a look at one of my favorite synths.

Different synths have different ways of letting you move about the pictures. The one that I linked to above allows you to rotate around, which is something you can’t really do in a traditional panorama. There are also synths where you are viewing the surrounding area as if looking through the lens of a tripod mounted camera, such as this one.

This is just one of many examples of Microsoft software that gets overlooked. I do, however, suggest that you check it out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 1 of 212