Windows 8 - The Most Secure Windows OS Ever

We all know, Windows 8 did not get that good a reception as anticipated, after all the pre-launch hype that the Operating System’s release had gathered. But, some do feel that, the criticism has been a little harsh, since there are certain factors about the latest Windows installment which make it superior compared to the previous Operating Systems. Therefore, before ignoring the new OS, you need to consider the protection the latest OS is offering to guard against security threats like malwares. But, even as we consider the security aspect of the latest OS, there are many other things (that will be mentioned later in this article) which you need to know so that you can take an informed decision on whether to buy the new OS.

You might not think it as important, like most people who do not consider the protection from security threats like malware offered by Operating Systems as a big deal. But, to be frank it should be one of the most important factors that you should consider before choosing an Operating system. The world’s largest software company wants you to know that Windows 8 is the most secure version of Windows ever.

According to the software maker, the latest Windows version is 21 times more secure than Windows XP, and 6 times more secure than Windows 7, its previous version.

This may not actually come as a surprise because the number of threats depends on the time the hackers had to find the vulnerabilities in order to exploit them. If you consider Windows XP, the OS was launched 12 years ago, whereas Windows 7 is 4 years old, and compared to that the latest one-year-old Operating System is brand new.

Apart from that, the new Windows edition does come with more security features, Chris Hallum, the Senior Product Manager for Windows mentions those benefits like Secure Boot, for instance, disallows malware from starting as the system loads. The new OS also supports a new type of drive, which is called encrypted hard drive, also Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0. Windows OS 8.1, which was just released adds additional security features.

Now, you might think these are not that great upgrades, but even a little bit of additional security is a good thing, mainly if you use your computer for your business or office use. So, you may now make up your mind about whether or not to upgrade to the new Windows OS.

Get Rid Of Fax Numbers From The Address Book In Outlook

If you have already used Outlook, you would be familiar with almost all the features in it. Using it, you can send email messages, manage contacts, update calendars and do many other things. You would also be familiar with the Outlook address book, which comprises of all the contact information pertaining to the recipients. Sometimes you may have Fax number in these fields and you could easily remove them from it and place it separately. If you are not using the fax number any more, you could add it to another box or field as you like. Follow the set of instructions given below that will help you remove the fax number from the Outlook address book.

Instructions

• You need to open Outlook and click on File menu that you would find at the top of the window. Now choose Import and Export.
• Select Export to a file and select Next.
• Choose Comma Separated Values(Windows) in the dialog box.
• Select Contacts and click Next.
• You need to choose a location to save the file and select Save exported file as box and select Next. It will help you to recover the file if you delete it accidentally.
• You need to open Microsoft Excel and get the exported file that you have already saved.
• Now look for the column that has the fax numbers and the heading can be changed to OtherPhone and the original column with the OtherPhone heading can be deleted. If you have an OtherPhone column with some information in it, you can select another blank column and delete it. Now the Fax column name can be changed and you can provide the name of the deleted column for this.
• Now save the changes. When you receive prompt whether to save, click Yes and close Microsoft Excel.
• In Outlook, select File menu and select Import and Export.
• Choose Import from another program or file and choose Next.
• Select Comma Separated Values(Windows) in the dialog box, then Import a File and select Next.
• You need to provide the location and give file name for Excel file and select Replace duplicates with items imported and select Next.
• Select Contacts and click Next. Now select Finish. Now you will not find the fax number any more. 

These changes will help you remove the fax number from the Outlook address book.

Mimaki Releases Software Updates For Windows 8

Since its launch last year, many customers have upgraded their operating systems to Windows 8. Windows 8 upgrade was an easy task as Microsoft offered numerous techniques to make the upgrade. Hardware developers too started to release software programs that will enable their hardware equipments to function well with the operating system. With the release of more and more drivers for the operating system, many people have upgraded their existing Windows operating systems to explore the features of Windows 8.

Latest in this list of manufacturers is Mimaki. The company has now released software programs, which will enable Windows 8 users to run its inkjet printers. With the latest release of RIP software programs, users can use all versions of inkjet printers in Windows 8. We had seenn RasterLink Pro 5 in Windows 7 computers, and the company has now released RasterLink 6, which will help users to RIP files more quickly and efficiently.

You can acquire these latest software programs by two methods. Hybrid services, who are the exclusive dealers of Mimaki products in UK and Ireland says that you can either download the programs from the official website of Mimaki or use the update feature included in the existing program. You may download and install the new updates on any of the printers from Mimaki and these include UJF-3042, CJV series and JV33 series.

According to Steven Barrance, who is the technical support officer of the company, "This simple-to-use feature is available for customers running RasterLink Pro 5 and all customers who have full versions of RasterLink 6. It allows users to benefit from the latest Windows operating system, along with other performance and profile updates as they become available."

The latest packages from Mimaki, RasterLink Pro 5 and RasterLink 6, are designed to function exclusively for its wide range of printers. With the new RIP packages, the company hopes to enhance the spot color support and the editing functions. This will in turn ensure superior results for the user.

With Mimaki’s latest release of software programs, we may soon see its competitors releasing similar updates for their printers. After the Windows 8 upgrade, many customers have been in search of supported programs for the various hardware applications. However, Microsoft has released Windows 8.1 just one year after the release of Windows 8, and we are yet to find out whether the new operating system would support the latest releases from the company.

Instructions For Using Outlook Tasks

Microsoft Outlook is a personal manager program with an email manager program, a calendar option, a note-taking feature and a tasks’ manager. Follow the simple instructions given below for creating a new task in Microsoft Outlook.

Instructions

• For creating a new task in the Outlook program, click on the File tab located at the menu bar found at the top of the application window and then select the Task option found under the New option in the drop down menu. 
• When the new task window appears, fill in all the details about the task you wish to create like the start date of the task, subject, status and contacts for the task. You can also open this window by clicking on the Tasks icon found in the clipboard. You can enter the task beside the option that reads Click to Add a New Task. 
• Now finish the Outlook setting configuration of the task by clicking on the To-Do List found in the Tasks window. 
• The Outlook program also allows the users to make a completed task active again. The completed tasks can be viewed by clicking on the option named Completed Tasks found under the Tasks tab. Double click on the task you wish to revive and then change the status of the task to reflect the progress of the present situation. 
• If you wish to assign the new task created to some users, you can do so by following the simple Outlook setting instruction given here. Click on the File tab and then on the Task Request tab found under the New option of the File drop down menu. In the To field of the message, type in the email address of the recipient. 
• After including all details about the task like the start data, time and status option, click on the Send button for sending the invitation to the recipient. 
• If you would like to view the task created by another person, you can check that by clicking on the Open Shared Tasks option found under the Tasks tab. If the user has not given you permissions to view or change the task, you can ask the users to grant you permission by sending a notification message. 

If you follow the simple instructions given above, you will be able to create a task in the Outlook program with ease.

Change The Color Of Emails Sent To Certain Users In Outlook

Microsoft Outlook is a complete personal manager program with a scheduler, calendar, contacts and note taking feature even though it is better known as an email client. Follow the simple instructions taken from the Outlook help web site for changing the color of an email sent from Outlook.

Instructions

• If the Outlook program is not already open, launch it by double clicking on its shortcut icon found in the desktop. 
• When the application window appears on the screen, click on the File tab found in the menu bar found at the top of the application window and then click on the Manage Rules & Alerts option from the drop down menu. 
• Select the option named New Rule found under the Rules and Alerts tab. 
• Choose the option named Apply rule on messages I send found in the window and then click on the Next button to continue with the configuration process. 
• In the page that appears next in the window, look for the option named Sent to people or public group and put a check mark in the check box found next to it for selecting the option. Now you have configured the Outlook program in the Step 1 section of the process window. 
• Under the Step 2 section of the window, click on the option labeled people or public group and select the people that you would like to add to this specific rule to apply from the Outlook address book. You also have an option to select only a single contact or a group of contacts for sending an email with the new rule applied on it. 
• Click on the Next button in the Step 1 and select the option named Assign it to the category in it. 
• Click on the Category option and then select the Color Category option found in the window. Select the color category you wish to select from the drop down menu and then click on the Ok button to save your settings. 
• If you would like to make any exceptions in the rule, click to select those in the screen and click the Next button to move forward. 
• If you would like to apply the rule you have created just now, Outlook help team advises you to click on the option labeled Run this rule now on messages already in 'Inbox’. 

If you follow the simple instructions given above, you will be able to change the color of emails sent to specific users in the Outlook program.

Installing XP On A Vista OS System

Even though Windows Vista introduced a lot many new features, there were not quite user-friendly when compared to XP. The XP users who shifted to Vista found that certain features of XP were better and hence they preferred to use XP. After purchasing a computer that came preinstalled with the Vista platform, you might want to install XP on it. Well, you could definitely install XP and even get both of them functioning well.
Let us see the instructions that will help you to install XP on a Vista OS platform.

Instructions

• You need to close all programs on your computer and insert the disk for Microsoft XP installation. You need to click on the Start button on your desktop and click on My Computer. Now double click on the CD dive and open the setup.exe file.
• When the screen starts up, you need to click Next. You need to type in the product key of Windows XP installation disc and click Next.
• The next screen requires you to provide the name of the organization, your initials and the username and then  click Next.
• You need to accept the License Agreement and then click on I Agree and click Next.
• You need to then select Typical Install and you will be then be asked about the installation type that you prefer. If you wish to install only the Microsoft Office programs, then you need to select the Custom Install option and choose the Microsoft Office programs that you wish to install to your system and click Next. 
• The XP installation will continue for some time and you need to wait. It would take around 10 to 15 minutes and after its completion, you need to click the Finish button to complete the installation procedure.

These are the steps that you need to perform for installing Windows XP on your computer. If you have any concerns regarding this, you may contact the tech support team for assistance. They could help you with your issue.

Software Giant Promises Xbox One Controller Support For Windows

Microsoft, one of the best in software engineering, is also a producer of gaming consoles. Their famous gaming brand, Xbox, was first launched in 2001. It was an instant success. Later on, with the launch of Xbox 360, which revolutionized the gaming experience, they became an important player in the gaming console making circuit. They’ve been giving tough competition to Sony’s Playstation (series of video game consoles developed by Sony Computer Entertainment).

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 controller has been dominating the personal computer gamepad market during this console generation. Since now we’re witnessing the launch of new platforms, even dedicated PC gamers are starting to worry about which gamepads will work with their rig in the future. The software giant has officially confirmed that the Xbox One controller will work with all Windows OSs. But apparently this will only happen sometime this year.

GamesBeat, a gaming division of VentureBeat (a technology news website), is reporting that Microsoft actually intends to keep up the same level of gamepad support. But then again, the company added that the work required to deliver a proper software solution will require a few extra months after the Xbox One launch. A Microsoft spokesperson specifically mentions the newly implemented WiFi Direct standard, and also the addition of a “wired mode,” the new impulse triggers, and also the backwards compatibility that can be attributed as the cause of the delay.

At this point in time, most large-scale PC game releases ship with built-in Xbox 360 controller support. While the 360 controller will still be working just as before, it can prove to be a colossal disappointment for the gamers, since they would not be able to take advantage of the new controller right off the bat.

Probably the one good thing is that the software giant seems to be taking this seriously. According to a Microsoft representative, they are going to “make sure that existing PC games that support the Xbox 360 controller will work with the Xbox One controller.” But still a long wait for official support for the Xbox One controller can be pretty annoying, but the upside is that it is nice to see that Microsoft’s is not planning on providing just any shoddily made driver to placate the gaming crowd.

We hope that this article was helpful. For additional clarification or information on this topic or any topic related to Windows or Microsoft, you can go to Microsoft tech support websites. You can also go to the official Microsoft tech support website for more news or help.

Tips To Clear The Mozilla Firefox History

Due to the number of features available and user friendliness, many users make use of the Mozilla Firefox web browser. As the web browser stores a lot of history, if others operate on your system, they will know about the events of your browsing, especially if a public computer is made use of. Your browsing details can be used by others and it can be used to create havoc as well as to get personal details. Keeping the history un-cleared saves you a lot of time by not having to input a ton of information every time you visit a site. The history details that are saved in the Firefox are,

Cookies

The details of the login as well as the preferences of the site are stored. The sites to which you have navigated to, and its details will also be saved.

Browse History

To whichever sites that you have navigated to, the details will be displayed in this list.

Download History

The details of the downloaded files from the internet will be displayed.

Cache

While opening pages, to speed up the process, certain components from the internet are stored.

Offline Website Data

To your system, files are stored from a website so that when the internet is not being used, the files can be accessed.

Site Preferences

The preferences of the site, permission for the sites etc can be seen here.

So if you do not want others to know about your browsing history, well it can be easily deleted. In order to delete the history, Firefox has to be accessed by accessing the desktop shortcut icon or from the Start menu. When the Firefox window opens, the Tools menu should be clicked. The Clear Recent History option should be selected from the menu.

The time duration of the history to be cleared will be asked like 1 week, 2 hours, etc. According to your wish, you have to select the duration. The different history details like caches or forms and searches, site preferences and cookies that should be deleted can be chosen. The check box corresponding to the different types of history should be check marked.

If you have issues with the Mozilla Firefox web browser, and require Mozilla support, you may contact our customer support center. Our customer support center will provide the best Mozilla support that you may require for all relevant queries.