Windows Vista Features

Want to see exactly how Windows Vista can help you? From what it will do for you and how you'll use it, to detailed descriptions of individual features, here are several ways to learn more. Or get started by seeing the top 10 things you can do with Windows Vista.

By Interest Communication Gaming Memories Music Productivity TV & Movies How will you use it? Explore detailed home and work experiences. By Benefits Easier More entertaining Better connected Safer Connected for Small Businesses Efficient for Small Businesses Future Ready for Small Businesses Safer for Small Businesses By Edition Home Basic Home Premium Ultimate Business

Windows Vista Footnotes

A. Windows Aero, Windows Flip 3D navigation, Scheduled and Network Backup, Windows Meeting Space, and Tablet Technology are available in Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business, and Windows Vista Ultimate.

B. Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption and Complete PC Backup and Restore are available in Windows Vista Ultimate.

C. Not all Windows Vista features will be available for use on all Windows Vista Capable PCs. All Windows Vista Capable PCs upgraded to Windows Vista will be able to run the core experiences of Windows Vista, such as innovations in organizing and finding information, security, and reliability. Some features—such as the new Windows Aero user interface—available in certain editions of Windows Vista require advanced or additional hardware.

D. Domain Join, Group Policy support, Windows Fax and Scan, Encrypting File System (EFS), Shadow Copy, Corporate Roaming, Offline Files and Folders, and Remote Desktop are available in Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate.

E. Initiating e-mail from within Windows Photo Gallery will launch a photo e-mail if Windows Live Mail is your default mail application. If Windows Live Mail is not your default mail application, initiating e-mail from within Photo Gallery will enable the resizing and attachment of photos as e-mail attachments using your default mail client.

G. Premium Windows Vista games, such as Chess Titans, Mahjong Titans, Purble Place, and Inkball, are available in Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate.

H. For a video conversation with Windows Live Messenger, you and your contact will need web cameras and speakers or a headset and broadband internet access.

I. Internet service provider subscription or other service fees may apply.

K. Editions of Windows Vista designated as 'N' or 'KN' versions includes the same functionality as the corresponding standard Windows Vista editions, except that they do not include Windows Media Player and related technologies such as Windows Movie Maker. You will need to separately install a media player in order to play or create audio CDs, media files, or personal videos; organize media library content; create playlists; transfer media to portable media players; share photos on a home network; or perform other media player-related tasks.

L. The ability to use the Multilingual User Interface feature to deploy a single worldwide image with all Windows user interface languages is available only in the Enterprise and Ultimate editions. See TechNet for details.

M. Windows Media Center is available in Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate. TV playback and recording features require an integrated or external USB TV tuner. Supports up to two TV tuners in all supported regions subject to Windows Vista compatibility with local TV standards; additional DTV/HDTV tuner support is available in the U.S. and South Korea with compatible hardware. To enjoy all the benefits of Windows Media Center, Internet access is recommended; for some features, such as the Microsoft Electronic Programming Guide, it is required. Internet service provider subscription or other service fees may apply. Microsoft Electronic Programming Guide is not available in all regions or countries. DVD burning, TV features, and remote control support may vary by manufacturer and/or require additional purchases. Support for the Media Center Extender or Xbox 360 will require a wired or wireless home network and additional compatible networking equipment.

N. Additional compatible networking equipment may be required to set up or access a wired or wireless home network.

O. Some Windows Live OneCare services are not available in all markets. See the Windows Live OneCare website for complete details and offer availability. Windows Live OneCare Family Safety Settings contacts list limits the child to communicate with approved contacts only when the child uses Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Spaces, and Windows Live Hotmail.

P. To place a PC-to-PC call, both users must have Messenger installed, a compatible microphone and speakers or a headset, and Internet access (webcam and broadband required for video). Computer-to-phone calling can be used for placing outgoing calls only. Recipients may be charged a fee by their mobile provider to receive calls. The ability to call phones is a pay service provided by a third party. If this is your first call from Windows Live Messenger, click the Learn More button first and complete the signup process.

S. Scheduled and Network Backup is available in Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business, and Windows Vista Ultimate.

T. Windows SideShow is available in Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise, and Windows Vista Ultimate.

U. Windows DVD Maker, HD support for Windows Movie Maker, Chess Titans, and Mahjong Titans are available in Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate.

V. Requires a microphone and speakers or headset (webcam and broadband connection for video).

Introducing Windows Vista

Windows Vista brings clarity to your world so you can focus on what matters most to you

Today's digital world is both exciting and at times overwhelming. Although the tools for managing digital information have grown in capability and richness, they still require you to invest a significant amount of time learning how to use them. And the exciting possibilities technology brings to life are sometimes overshadowed by the frustrations. For example, you need to manually organize your information into folders and use naming conventions that the PC understands. Windows Vista is different. It puts you at the center and adapts to your needs, rather than the other way around. Plus a lineup of products designed with the distinct needs of key audiences in mind—general users, small businesses, and medium and large organizations—ensures that there is a product that meets the needs of you or your organization.

For general users, Windows Vista makes it easier, safer, and more entertaining to use your PC virtually anytime and anywhere. It lets you get things done and get on with life by making it easier and faster than ever to find, use, manage, and share information on a PC or on the Web. The security and health of your PC is automated with features such as Windows Defender that protect you against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threads caused by spyware or other unwanted software. Windows Media Center expands your ability to enjoy and share your television, photos, music, and games—in your living room or around your house—all with the click of a remote control. And you can take it all with you—you're free to enjoy your entertainment and connect and share information with friends or family on the go.

For businesses, Windows Vista helps ensure that your company's PCs are more secure, reliable, and low-cost to deploy and manage. It's built from the ground up for enhanced security and the new security features further protect information-based businesses from unauthorized, accidental, and intentional misuse of intellectual property. This reduces the time and expense associated with enforcing policies and recovering from violations. Windows Vista also helps your organization's efficiency by letting your users find, organize, and share information effectively and connect to people, information, and devices virtually anytime, anywhere.

Some product features are only available in certain editions of Windows Vista and may require advanced or additional hardware.

How does Blogger Mobile work?

You send a message - which can be a photo, some text, or both - to go@blogger.com. We take care of the rest. In other words, we auto-provision a new blog and publish the post. It's that simple.

Here's how to start a mobile blog:

1. Send an MMS to go@blogger.com to create your mobile blog. The text and/or photo in your MMS will be uploaded to that blog right away. We'll message you back with the address, (so you can visit your new blog on the web) and a token (so you can claim your blog and access it from your account).

2. OPTIONAL - If you feel like changing anything on your new mobile blog or if you already have a Blogger account and want the posts to go to your existing blog, you can log in to go.blogger.com and enter the token we sent to your phone. You'll then have the option to claim your new mobile blog and merge it with your existing blog. Note to users whose blog address does not contain blogspot.com: Once you make the aforementioned switch, new mobile posts will be published to your chosen blog but mobile posts published prior to the switch will not be moved over automatically.

What types of messages can I send to Blogger Mobile from my phone?

MMS or Email - note this doesn't include email sent from a mobile device that actually passes through a webmail gateway (such as mail sent from your stanford.edu account from your phone).

What size photos can I send?

Photos are currently limited to 250K each. If they exceed that size, you’ll receive a bounce message letting you know so you can try again with a smaller picture. Note that your phone (or carrier) might have size limits of its own.

Is there a cost for using Blogger Mobile?

Mobile providers' standard rates for sending and receiving text and photo messages apply. Blogger won’t charge you for any of its services.

Requirements

Text messaging-enabled mobile device with a text messaging plan. This service is free from Google but charges from your carrier for usage may apply.
For more information send the keyword HELP to BLOGGR (256447), you can also text STOP to BLOGGR to cancel text messages.

Set your sites higher: 5 tips to update your website for success

When it comes to the internet, your website is your front door, your waiting room, your store and your office. The impression you make with a clean, professional-looking and functional website will carry over to your business dealings with customers and clients. A little common sense and care can go a long way. Try to view your site from a user's perspective, and don't be afraid to get feedback on improving the web experience. Here are some tips to help you spruce up your site design.

1) Mind the basics.

A visitor should be able to tell what your business does right from your main web page. Most web suffers don't have much patience, so you have only a few seconds to make a good impression. Keep your site updated regularly with new content, products or information, and your customers will have a reason to stick around as well as come back later. Proofread your entire website to catch spelling and grammatical errors before your customers do. Make sure your contact information is easily accessible.

2) Keep your site structure well-organized.

Be sure your website navigation is clear, simple and consistent from page to page. Overall, page sizes should be reasonably compact and blocks of text streamlined to a manageable size. Try to place the most important information toward the top of the page so that you minimize the amount of scrolling your customer needs to do to view important content or product information. In particular, watch your graphics placement, and avoid horizontal scrolling--it's an annoyance that does not generally sit well with suffers. A site map or search function can also be a handy tool to help visitors Locate the exact content they're Looking for, especially for large, elaborate websites. Good site structure translates into ease of use and satisfied customers who will want to return to your website.

3) Flashy websites with tots of spinning video, animated splash pages and automatic music may be appropriate for some businesses, but not most.

Elaborate web design can stow down the user experience and be a turnoff for potential customers. Keep the took of your website clean, and always consider the impression you're making on a first-time visitor. Do you really want them waiting around for a page to Load or frantically reaching to turn down their speakers? On a more basic level, be aware of the size of your graphics files. Keep them slimmed down so they will load fast.

4) Pay attention to the impact of different colors.

If you wouldn't print a business card with hot pink text on a black background, you shouldn't have a website that looks like that, either. Be sure to check that all text is easily readable and that your overall use of color is easy on the eyes. Businesses that already have a color scheme associated with their branding can carry that over to their websites for a consistent experience both online and off.

5) Go to a professional when you need to.

Most busy entrepreneurs don't have the time or expertise to build and maintain an elaborate website. For simpler sites, web design templates like those Network Solutions offers to its customers can be a quick and painless way to get up and running on the web. If your needs are more complex, it may be a good time to check in with a designer who can specifically tailor a site to fit your business and your budget. Network Solutions, for example, has professional web designers on staff to build your business site to meet your specific needs. A service like that is not only affordable, but can also get your site up quickly while providing the added benefit of monthly maintenance. Busy entrepreneurs will appreciate the one-stop shopping that Network Solutions offers for hosting, design and e-mail

For more information on growing your business online, go to www.entrepreneur.com/etips.

Why You Must Absolutely Have A Website?

by: Mark Gerrard

In today’s culture, a website represents your business card – even if you don’t have a business! Your child may have a website, your neighbour may have a website and even your local place of worship has a website.

A website allows you to communicate – keep in touch with as many people as possible while at the same time minimising the cost of doing so. Can you imagine the cost of consistently printing and mailing to 2000 loyal customers every month?

A website cuts down on your total cost of postage and your everyday word processing software cuts down on physically writing out every greeting or piece of correspondence.

However, a website does the one thing that you’re always looking for: a website helps to free your time.

Your time is the most precious commodity that you’ll never be able to get back. You’ll never be able to play that magnificent round of golf, go vacationing with the family or watching your child perform in their school play if you’re constantly trying to free yourself of responsibilities.

A website is a lot of work to start. That’s the truth. The best way to look at your website is to view it as your own body. When you put the right fuel (food) in your system your body runs efficiently. You aren’t constipated, you have lots of energy and you feel great. Combine this with a little exercise and you’ll live a fairly long life. When you start feeding yourself bad food, you start to feel tired and irritable. You may gain weight and start outgrowing your favourite clothing.

That’s the same thing that could happen to your website if it gets neglected. Just like your body, a website starts to deteriorate. The pride that you showed at having a website disappears and your website suffers.

If you still have doubts about having a website, think of it as your on-line sales centre. Imagine having a system that can take your orders when you are asleep. Or a system that will allow you to take a holiday and monitor your sales if you like without asking a sales manager? Maybe you don’t want to hire and train a new employee to take your orders and to know your sales process. A website helps you be better at what you do, not what you shouldn’t.

Advertlets : How to roll?

Need to make more money with your blog? Tired of international blog advertising programs that display advertisements irrelevant to your blog readers? Tired of making little money from international online advertising programs, because there aren’t enough advertisers for your region?

Advertlets provides targeted advertising through the means of real time demographics profiling for your blog - meaning, you get local advertisers, matched with the target audience for your blog. We wouldn’t show ads on your blog for make-up and high heels if we found you had 80% male visitors, for instance.

They offer you interesting formats to display advertisements - sidebar ads, and also sponsored polls. You can even make money getting paid to review local products and services.

You don’t just get paid: they also provide their innovative polling system for your use - find out what who your readers are, by putting up the demographics polls for users to submit their details. This way, you get a unique service to learn more about your blog readers even before you make your first dollar with us.

They are in a good position to do this - the developers of Advertlets, Josh Lim & Associates have been in digital marketing for many years, and have provided web design services for many prominent local clients. Hence, this existing relationship with current Josh Lim & Associates clients gives us greater confidence and credibility to procure lots of advertising for bloggers within the Advertlets Network.

Lastly, they allow bloggers to vote on new site features and advertising formats, which allows them to upgrade the Advertlets Network over time, to suit your needs even more.