Category: Microsoft

Backing up to the Cloud with CrashPlan

Another quick update this time regarding data backups. At home we run a Windows Home Server which centrally stores our data whilst backing up our computers. I do take periodic backups of the server using standard hard drives which I store offsite but I have been wanting to have a cloud backup solution as well …

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Loss of Start Screen Tiles and Desktop Icons After Installing Bitdefender

Given that Microsoft Security Essentials has copped a bit of a pasting in the press lately I thought I would review both the current offerings and my stance on antivirus products. Of course, free is a good price for many plus it is an easy way for antivirus vendors to upsell you to other bundled …

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Enabling the Safe Mode Menu Under Windows 8

Silly me let updated nVidia drivers through Windows Update which caused my computer to encounter the blue screen of death upon every boot. As a rule of thumb, I don’t accept such driver updates for this very reason despite usually being able to get out of any resulting mess. Unfortunately, because I could not seem …

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Microsoft Buys Nokia’s Devices and Services Business

This is already major news but if you’ve been under a rock then Microsoft is acquiring Nokia’s smartphone business and a ten year license arrangement to use the Nokia brand on mobile phone products. Perhaps the major kicker is access to Nokia’s intellectual property which is important as the smartphone wars heat up on both …

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Finding the Nokia Pro Cam App on Windows Phone 8

A quick tip for those who have just upgraded to GDR2 + Amber on their Lumia handsets. One of the exciting apps that you can use with GDR2 + Amber is the Nokia Pro Cam app which gives you fantastic control over the white balance, ISO, manual focus and shutter speed amongst other things whilst …

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Going for Broke – Manually Upgrading a Lumia 920 to GDR2 + Amber

That’s it, I can’t be bothered waiting anymore. I like to think I am a pretty patient guy but I just don’t understand why Nokia Australia is releasing the country variant (i.e. unbranded) firmware for the Lumia 920 after the Telstra firmware has been released. Maybe Nokia is being extra cautious and conducting testing on …

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Scheduled Tasks and Windows Account Lock Outs

Just sharing a rather frustrating experience of mine from the last few days. As is the case with many large companies, the fleet of computers is managed via Active Directory and one or more domains. Users main interaction with AD would be in the form of authentication with a username and password but also for …

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Kill the Music Player in Windows Phone 8

Here’s a quick tip for Windows Phone 8. If you’ve fired up a music player but have stopped the music and exited the app you may find that when you adjust the volume you get the larger volume control sliding down from the top of the screen with the music player controls and cover art. …

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A Raft of Windows 8 Bing Apps Arrive on Windows Phone 8

If you’ve used Windows 8 you might have noticed that it comes with a few bundled apps including four Bing apps: Bing Finance, Bing News, Bing Sport, and Bing Weather. These apps are pretty slick and set the bar high for other Metro apps in terms of interface and quality. Anyway, the team that brought …

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Windows Phone 8 Book by Paul Thurrott

I am somewhat agnostic to the mobile operating systems I use on smartphones and tablets in that I can pick up any of the mainstream platforms and start using them fairly quickly. That said, I do hold Windows Phone and Android in favour over iOS but they they all have their strengths which align better …

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