Report - Using Microsoft Windows Live

Most if not everyone who has ever used a computer should be familiar with Microsoft.  This is a report discussing their extremely large online web application called Microsoft Windows Live.  Some people may recognize the application through their hotmail email service.  This book covers in-depth the contents and usability of Windows Live and its services, from an introductory tour to thorough explanations of their services.  This book provides various aides such as interactive videos.   People who may already be familiar with what Windows Live provides may find this book to be a review whereas for people who are only familiar with a specific service, like Windows Live Hotmail will find some new additional information regarding the services they are using.

The first part of this book starts with Windows Live Essentials and how to get started.  Now, I myself may look pass a lot of these programs.  There is Windows Live Family Safety which is a family based program set up for the most basic guard against web threats; although the standard anti-virus program will be sufficient enough without this.  Using this program may also enable people to block sites to prevent access to.  Again, this is something that could just as easily be done through the web browser.  Next, they introduce Windows Live Messenger, the most commonly used program within Windows Live.  I could spend a large portion talking about all the small functions that this program provides people, along with their mobile version that can be accessed by virtually any small digital device that has WIFI access.  There’s maybe more in this program worth discussing than most of their compilation of programs.

Through Windows Live Messenger, files can be transferred to other people.  It usually has around a 6~8 megabyte limit.  Mail can also be jumped to from the Windows Live Messenger.  Windows Live Mail, again, is among the most common programs.  There’s not much more to explain here than there is for Google Mail, as function wise, they’re very similar.  Next we get into the production programs, such as Windows Live Movie Maker and Photo Gallery.  The functionality of the Movie Maker is a bit more limited than other video editor applications such as YouTube.  Photo Gallery is another image storage service.  It’s a bit more privatized than the standard image host (Imageshack), but allows some handy photo editing like what you can do at Walgreens to customize photos.
 
The rest of the programs through Windows Live feature programs like Windows Live Writer which is similar to Blogger.  Only main difference is you’re not restricted to being on the service (Blogger) to construct a blog post, but you still need to be logged into Windows Live to really make use of it.  So I hardly see that much of a difference.   And finally there’s the Bing Bars, which I don’t like.  I rarely use all these added plug-ins attached to my browser and I find that they take up memory even when they are not in use.

The second part of this book works with how to install and know what is worth downloading from Windows Live Essentials and how to make use of it.  Although, by the time anyone begins installing any of the services, they’ll already know the basics of how to use them.  If they wanted to know more, they would simply consult their program’s help menus.  The third and fourth parts of this book cover the above mentioned programs and services into excessive explanations of them.  Now, particularly the only web service listed to note of that hasn’t already been introduced is SkyDrive, which caught my attention.
 
What is SkyDrive?  SkyDrive is essentially a Microsoft supported FTP which enables the creation, storage, and transfer of Microsoft documents.  Now, most of the programs, like PowerPoint may require that the programs be installed before using them; but when accessed, they open up within the SkyDrive user interface. Beyond that, there’s not much more to explain which wouldn’t be understood within the same minute of using it.
 
The remainder of the book is all appendices and glossaries so if anyone got lost in the technical terms and concepts, they can look back here.

Using Microsoft Windows Live

by Mark Edward Soper

published December 9, 2011

by Que.

Screencast - Talk to the Screen

This is a screen-cast about YouTube.  I figured of all the things to screen-cast, why not make it on a video-cast and/or host?  With already a take on image hosting and a screen 'host' of sorts, it'd fit well to attempt it with a video host.

Now, this was quite an interesting experience.  The greatest challenge I find in any oral presentation is being able to cover all the material without speaking too fast or too slow.  It's funny, because having to explain a document or lengthy presentation; in this case a PowerPoint gets a little nerving because you never know how it's going to sound.  But certainly a fun experience with talking to the screen.

Software Flickr - Managers Behind the Screen

Primarily this is experimentation on a photo web application called Flickr, but just as a demo, it will make a miniature slideshow of what manages the input/output that goes on screen.  Geeks everywhere may recognize what any of them are at first glance.  But not everyone buying a computer may know they can access some of these areas to know what is going into the computer and to make changes, provided they know how.  Knowing is everything--- especially when working with complex machinery; and that knowledge aides in being cautious of any consequences there may be when altering data.  Always know what to do before taking action.  Here is my demo-slideshow.

Screenshow