Category: Microsoft

Cellular Data Options for Microsoft Surface

With a pre-order for the Microsoft Surface locked in I have been considering how to get cellular data working in a convenient and efficient manner. So far, I have come up with the following options: 3G USB modem Pros: removes the need for an independent modem and power supply, no need for new hardware (already have …

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Incoming Gadget – Microsoft Surface

In a nutshell, I caved. Yesterday, I pulled the trigger on a pre-order of the Microsoft Surface which is a Windows RT tablet (an ARM only version of Windows 8). The thing that was really irking me about getting one was the lack of cellular radio in the device which meant that on the go …

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Windows 8 – Reinstalling Bundled Apps

The Windows 8 tips keep on coming! Earlier this week I found that a number of Metro apps stopped working for some reason so the obvious solution was to uninstall and reinstall them. You might think that the bundled apps that come with Windows 8 are special in that they only exist when a fresh …

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Windows 8 – App Installation Error 0x80073D05

Here’s another quick tip fo Windows 8 users out there. If you encounter error 0x80073D05 when attempting to download and install a Windows 8 app from the Windows 8 store there is a quick and simple fix. Reboot and login with your full password (not a PIN or picture password). At a glance, it looks …

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How to Search in Windows 8 Metro Apps

Here’s a quick tip for those using Windows 8 or looking to get into it soon. If you’re in a Windows 8 “Metro app” (yes, it’s a deprecated name but the one that people seem to recognise the most) you might find yourself wondering how on earth you perform a search inside the app. Right …

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Shortcuts to Restart, Hibernate, Standby or Shutdown Your Computer

Here’s a tip that might be handy for those using Windows 8 or most other recent versions of Windows. If using the charms bar in Windows 8 makes your head explode then you might fancy creating a shortcut to restart, hibernate, standby or shutdown your computer. It’s very easy to do as follows: Right click …

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Boost Windows Security With EMET 3.0

Thanks to John Tomic for this tip. While Microsoft does a reasonable job keeping on top of the various security vulnerabilities found in its software your system will still be exposed to threats between the time they are identified (if at all) and the time when the patch is successfully installed. Like insurance, it can …

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Muting Windows 8 Metro Apps

Sometimes, my desktop computer needs to do a few things at the same time and most commonly this takes the form of playing a video on the television (connected by HDMI to my computer) and playing a game be it Team Fortress 2 or even a quick game of Minesweeper on my desktop monitor. One …

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Access the Control Panel Quickly Under Windows 8

Another Windows 8 tip for you out there. Since the move away from the Start Menu to the Start Screen some user may find the process of getting to a specific control panel applet a little more involved that it used to be back Windows 7. Unfortunately, in the Start Screen you can’t just start …

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The App Count Doesn’t Reset for Windows Phone 8

Outside of the technology media, I have seen mainstream media seriously misreport the app situation for Windows Phone 8 and potentially doing Microsoft’s latest mobile OS quite a disservice. In a nutshell, pretty much any app designed for Windows Phone 7 or 7.5 will work on Windows Phone 8 and with 100,000 apps there is …

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