Microsoft Products

Windows 8 – A Win for Microsoft!

Yes Microsoft has taken some hits in the past 3 years, however I finally believe that they have started to get it and are turning things around.

I am extremely optimistic that their new OS (‘Windows 8′) that will cover the tablets and PC markets will be a giant hit.

Slated to be released in 2012 this is what will make the tablet market really strong and provide good competition to Apple.

We are always in favor for good old American competition as it keeps these companies on their toes and honest in the long run.

Have a look at the new Windows 8 preview.

Configure your new Internet Tracking Protection in IE9

IE9, Microsofts new browser has added an excellent new feature. “Tracking Protection”
Now this is a direction that we hope to see more of with all the players especially google.

What is “Tracking Protection” you ask?

Ads that track your behavior. Watch this video for more details.

Five Tips for faster Web Browsing

By Jack Wallen

March 18, 2011, 12:02 PM PDT

Takeaway: If you’re wasting too much time waiting (and waiting and waiting) for Web pages to load, give these tips a try. You should see an immediate, noticeable boost in speed, making your browsing experience faster and more efficient.

Click here for full article and tips by Jack Wallen at Tech Republic

Internet Explorer 9

An enormous effort by Microsoft is proving to pay off. It’s new browser “Internet Explorer 9″ gives the most space to the webpage, with a drastically cropped top-window frame that takes up just 63 pixels, compared to Chrome’s version to date.

What I really like is the direction Microsoft is going with privacy in it’s new “Tracking Protection”, which gives users more control than Chrome or Firefox’s solutions to the privacy issue.

In some performance measures, particularly graphics manipulation tasks, IE9 outperforms all comers. On two out of three JavaScript benchmarks, however, it’s bested by both Chrome and Firefox 4. Finally, IE9 tweaks tabs, search, and its unique pinned site capability that places site icons in the Taskbar.

Now it is different and has some features that a number of users may have to get used to such as Pinned Sites and reducing the Favorites box to the top right.

But all in all IE9 and Microsoft are starting to move in the right direction and gaining their focus back.

Shortcut keys for using Outlook 2010

Back in the old days when we used to walk 20 miles in the snow uphill backwards with no shoes, we also used a lot of shortcut keys due to the slowness of using the mouse.

We have found a great list from tipsandtricksforpc.com that has lsted a number of shortcut keys for Outlook 2010. If you are a key person like myself, it does make for accessing different areas within Outlook much faster than point and click.

Even if you are not a keys person, find a couple that you use a lot and make your life just that much easier.

Have Fun!

A few shortcut keys to make your work easier with Microsoft Outlook 2010.

Just follow the shortcut keys below:

CTRL+1: Switch to Mail.
CTRL+2: Switch to Calendar.
CTRL+3: Switch to Contacts.
CTRL+4: Switch to Tasks.
CTRL+5: Switch to Notes.
CTRL+6: Switch to Folder List in Navigation Pane.
CTRL+7: Switch to Shortcuts.
CTRL+PERIOD: Switch to next message (with message open).
CTRL+COMMA: Switch to previous message (with message open).
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB or SHIFT+TAB: Move between the Navigation Pane, the main Outlook window, the Reading Pane, and the To-Do Bar.
CTRL+TAB: Move around message header lines in the Navigation Pane or an open message.
Arrow keys: Move around within the Navigation Pane.
ALT+B or ALT+LEFT ARROW: Go back to previous view in main Outlook window.
CTRL+Y: Go to a different folder.
F3 or CTRL+E: Go to the Search box.
ALT+UP ARROW or CTRL+COMMA or ALT+PAGE UP: In the Reading Pane, go to the previous message.
SPACEBAR: In the Reading Pane, page down through text.
SHIFT+SPACEBAR: In the Reading Pane, page up through text.
ALT+RIGHT ARROW: Go forward to next view in main Outlook window.
CTRL+SHIFT+I: Switch to Inbox.
CTRL+SHIFT+O: Switch to Outbox.
CTRL+K: Check names.
ALT+S: Send.
CTRL+R: Reply to a message.
CTRL+SHIFT+R: Reply all to a message.
CTRL+ALT+R: Reply with meeting request.
CTRL+F: Forward a message.
CTRL+ ALT+J: Mark a message as not junk.
CTRL+SHIFT+I: Display blocked external content (in a message).
CTRL+ SHIFT+S: Post to a folder.
CTRL+SHIFT+N: Apply Normal style.
CTRL+M or F9: Check for new messages.
UP ARROW: Go to the previous message.
DOWN ARROW: Go to the next message.
CTRL+N: Create a message (when in Mail).
CTRL+SHIFT+M: Create a message (from any Outlook view).
CTRL+O: Open a received message.
CTRL+SHIFT+D: Delete and Ignore a Conversation.
CTRL+SHIFT+B: Open the Address Book.
INSERT: Add a Quick Flag to an unopened message.
CTRL+SHIFT+G: Display the Flag for Follow Up dialog box.
CTRL+Q: Mark as read.
CTRL+U: Mark as unread.
CTRL+SHIFT+W: Open the Mail Tip in the selected message.
ALT+ENTER: Show the properties for the selected item.
CTRL+SHIFT+U: Create a multimedia message.
CTRL+SHIFT+T: Create a text message.
CTRL+ALT+M: Mark for Download.
CTRL+ALT+U: Clear Mark for Download.
F9: Send and Receive.
CTRL+B (when a Send/Receive is in progress): Display Send/Receive progress.
CTRL+SHIFT+D: Dial a new call.
F3 or CTRL+E: Find a contact or other item (Search).
F11: Enter a name in the Search Address Books box.
SHIFT+letter: In Table or List view of contacts, go to first contact that starts with a specific letter.
F5: Update a list of distribution list members.
CTRL+Y: Go to a different folder.
CTRL+SHIFT+B: Open the Address Book.
CTRL+SHIFT+F: Use Advanced Find.
CTRL+SHIFT+PERIOD: In an open contact, open the next contact listed.
F11: Find a contact.
ESC: Close a contact.
CTRL+SHIFT+X: Send a fax to the selected contact.
CTRL+N: Create a new appointment (when in Calendar).
CTRL+SHIFT+A: Create a new appointment (in any Outlook view).
CTRL+SHIFT+Q: Create a new meeting request.
CTRL+F: Forward an appointment or meeting.
CTRL+R: Reply to a meeting request with a message.
CTRL+SHIFT+R: Reply All to a meeting request with a message.
ALT+0: Show 10 days in the calendar.
ALT+1: Show 1 day in the calendar.
ALT+2: Show 2 days in the calendar.
ALT+3: Show 3 days in the calendar.
ALT+4: Show 4 days in the calendar.
ALT+5: Show 5 days in the calendar.
ALT+6: Show 6 days in the calendar.
ALT+7: Show 7 days in the calendar.
ALT+8: Show 8 days in the calendar.
ALT+9: Show 9 days in the calendar.
CTRL+G: Go to a date.
ALT+= or CTRL+ALT+4: Switch to Month view.
CTRL+RIGHT ARROW: Go to the next day.
ALT+DOWN ARROW: Go to the next week.
ALT+PAGE DOWN: Go to the next month.
CTRL+LEFT ARROW: Go to the previous day.
ALT+UP ARROW: Go to the previous week.
ALT+PAGE UP: Go to the previous month.
ALT+HOME: Go to the start of the week.
ALT+END: Go to the end of the week.
ALT+MINUS SIGN or CTRL+ALT+3: Switch to Full Week view.
CTRL+A: Select all contacts.
CTRL+F: Create a message with selected contact as subject.
CTRL+J: Create a Journal entry for the selected contact.
CTRL+N: Create a new contact (when in Contacts).
CTRL+SHIFT+C: Create a new contact (from any Outlook view).
CTRL+O: Open a contact form for the selected contact.
CTRL+SHIFT+L: Create a distribution list.
CTRL+P: Print.
CTRL+ALT+2: Switch to Work Week view.
CTRL+COMMA or CTRL+SHIFT+COMMA: Go to previous appointment.
CTRL+PERIOD or CTRL+SHIFT+PERIOD: Go to next appointment.
CTRL+E: Find a message or other item.
ESC: Clear the search results.
CTRL+ALT+A: Expand the search to include All Mail Items, All Calendar Items, or All Contact Items, depending on the module you are in.
CTRL+SHIFT+F: Use Advanced Find.
CTRL+SHIFT+P: Create a new Search Folder.
F4: Search for text within an open item.
CTRL+H: Find and replace text, symbols, or some formatting commands. Works in the Reading Pane on an open item.
CTRL+ALT+K: Expand search to include items from the current folder.
CTRL+ALT+Z: Expand search to include subfolders.