A great walkthrough of Windows 8′s amazing sync features and RTM news…

I came across this demo of Windows 8′s built-in sync features for those who sign in with Microsoft accounts. The sync features are nothing brand new now – they debuted in February with the Consumer Preview, I think – but this walk-through simply shows how brilliant they are:

To access these features, you need to sign into Windows 8/RT with a Microsoft account (formerly known as a Windows Live ID). It’ll ask you to do so in the first time setup of your PC, but if you choose not to then you can easily upgrade your local account in Charms – Settings - Change PC Settings – Users. I really recommend it. Synced items include:

• Colours, [start screen] background and user account picture
• Themes, taskbar, high contrast and more
• Passwords (once you’ve ‘trusted’ your PC – i.e. confirmed that it’s yours by logging on to an alternate email account for example)
• Ease of access
• Languages
• App settings like high scores and in-app purchases
• IE settings like history and favourites
• Other Windows settings like Windows Explorer (ribbon state, quick access toolbar etc.), mouse settings and more

All these let me sign into a PC for the first time and minutes later be productive/browse the web. Especially when you combine it with the SkyDrive for Windows desktop app for my files, and the fact that the Windows Store easily lets you download apps you already own.

Moving on. In other news, Microsoft appears to have signed off Windows 8 with the build number…

9200

It was going to be 8888 (which would be awesome, being Windows 8), but it turns out there was a bug or something like that. But wait, you may think, why such a big jump? And isn’t 8888 such a great coincidence? And weren’t the other recent builds 85XX? Well, Microsoft always artificially bumps up the build number, usually to something round. Don’t ask me why it’s 9200 though. And no, it’s not a post-RTM/Windows 9 build – it’s confirmed to be Windows 8.

So Windows 8 will probably RTM sometime next week, with TechNet/MSDN subscribers getting it next week if we’re really lucky, or maybe the week after. I really hope its next week, because I’m dying to try out the new metro desktop theme and I’m kind of bored of the bugs in the Release Preview. Just mere days left…

And remember, YOU, yes you, can get Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro on 26th October 2012. Want a countdown? Check out the sidebar of my blog! Only 91 days to go as of 27/07/12, or 07/27/12 for you Americans.

Windows 8/RT vs. iPad – multiple users

Tablets available today are pretty rubbish at several things, but one particular one is multiple users. Tablets are often shared amongst families, and this means you all have to share the same Angry Birds high score, apps, wallpaper and more. Apple encourages you to add your email accounts to the Mail, Calendar etc. apps so you even end up sharing your private email (unless you don’t set it up, then you have to access it through the browser in a poor experience). Current tablets are made for one, but used by many.

However, Windows 8/RT devices will be different. They allow, just like traditional Windows, multiple user accounts. You sign into your device with a Microsoft or local account for the first time, and if you choose the former, all your email and more is automatically synced down. If/when you want someone else to be able to use the device, simply create a new user account for them in PC Settings. Every user has these separate things:

• Apps installed (with the exception of desktop apps)
• Desktop/start screen background/colours and patterns
• Passwords
• Email etc.
• High scores
• Lock screen pictures
• And more…

While the iPad does offer multi-user in some apps (e.g. Facebook) it’s not system wide.

Another feature Windows 8/RT offers is parental controls. Full-fledged parental controls. When you add another account, one check box turnsMicrosoft Family Safetyon, and by default it’s just monitoring. But you can easily set up time limits, “curfew”, website filtering and more. And you are not affected by these limits at all, because you’re on a completely separate user account. Awesome, isn’t it?

Of course, if you all want to share one user account like with the iPad, you can also do that. When setting up your PC for the first time, choose to create a local account (if you choose Microsoft account your settings, email etc. will sync down and that stuff’s not for sharing!) and call it Family tablet or something. Then just use it as you would an iPad.

So, if you want multi-users, my suggestion is wait until later this year and get a Windows RT or Windows 8 device.

Windows 8 isn’t just about metro… the new desktop features

A lot of people seem to think that Windows 8 is just about touch screens, and is rubbish when just using a mouse and keyboard. This isn’t true in the Consumer Preview (the beta), but even if you want to completely avoid metro-style apps etc., the desktop offers a lot of improvements over Windows 7 that makes it worth upgrading:

• Windows Explorer has the ribbon - this makes file management a lot easier and quicker. Also, the copy experience has been improved (pause/resume, multiple copies in one window) and deleting, for example, no longer requires confirmation (the file is sent to the Recycle Bin so it can be recovered, and confirmations can be turned on).

• Faster startup: true, this isn’t really a desktop feature, but it certainly makes Windows boot faster (restart, unfortunately, is as slow as ever )
• Improved task manager: the default interface is simpler and more user friendly, and clicking a button gives power userswaymore features. This is perhaps one of Windows’ most used features, so it’s good that it has got an update.

• Built in anti-virus software: you may have heard of Microsoft Security Essentials. Well, it’s got a new name and is built into Windows 8 – yes, you don’t need to install another anti-virus program. You can if you want to, though – it will automatically disable if you do.

• Finally, pin to start. Even quicker access to your files!

So those are just a few improvements to the Windows 8 desktop. All Windows 8 computers can run both the desktop and metro apps if they have a resolution of at least 1024×768 – this means netbooks are stuck in the desktop environment.

I recommend you take a look at Paul Thurrott’s article on the Windows 8 desktop:

http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows8/windows-8-feature-focus-windows-desktop-142642

My Amazon Kindle experience

I suppose another title for this post could be “the pros and cons of using a Kindle (or any other e-reader)”. A while before getting my Kindle Keyboard 3G (more on that device and why I chose it over the newer models later), I loved to read real books. I still do. But there are some cons to using ‘real’ books:

• They’re heavy (especially big hardbacks). Try holding one above you when trying to read at night!
• They take up space – one of the main reasons I got a Kindle was because I am running out of bookshelf space.
• This may sound silly and obvious, but you can only carry a certain amount around (e.g. on holiday).
• If you finish a book and order the next one straightaway, the soonest you’ll get it is that evening or the next day (if you pay a lot) or, more likely, a few days away. Enough to start a new book, and when you eventually read the sequel to the original book you’ll have forgotten what happened in it.

But there are some advantages to a real book:

• Super high contrast
• Battery life that is endless (well, it’s until the book falls apart so it’s quite a few decades of reading)
• Never go out of date

But I decided the bad outweighed the good so I got a Kindle. Disadvantage of a Kindle:

• Have to charge it (though battery lasts about 2 months)
• Costs around £89-£149 (in the US, the Kindle e-reader line-up ranges from $79-$149 with ads, and $109-$189 for the non ads version – note that the UK version has no ads, the US prices I’ve put don’t include the Kindle Fire, which is a tablet and is $199)
• No colour (at least not yet!)
• Not as high contrast

Advantages of a Kindle:

• Lightweight
• Can hold 1,400 books to 3,500 books on the device depending on the model (but there’s free cloud storage for all your books, so you can remove ones you’ve read and download them for free later – effectively unlimited storage)
• Long battery life
• Cool design
• Get books in 60 seconds over WiFi (all models) or free 3G (selected models)
• Can sample books before you buy

So those are the advantages and disadvantages of Kindles and ‘real’ books. I decided the Kindle was better, so I got that one. Now for why I chose the Kindle Keyboard 3G…

It’s complicated. Basically:

• Kindle Keyboard is the 2010 model of Kindle (it was previously known as Kindle 3). It came in WiFi and WiFi + free 3G models (I’ll refer to these models simply as 3G from now on).
• Amazon introduced a new Kindle lineup in 2011, consisting of the Kindle (no keyboard, 1 month battery life, 1,400 books storage, WiFi model only, most countries), Kindle Touch + Kindle Touch 3G (touch screen, 2 month battery life, 3,000 books storage, WiFi and 3G models available, US only) and Kindle Fire (a US only 7 inch tablet like a mini iPad).
• I wanted a decent Kindle that had 3G, so my only option was Kindle Keyboard 3G because the only other UK model – the basic Kindle – had shorter battery life and didn’t have a 3G option.

So that’s basically Kindles for you. Do I recommend you get one? Certainly if you like to read books. If you’re in the UK, see this page to buy Kindles:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kindle-Wi-Fi-6-Ink-Display/dp/B0051QVF7A/ref=amb_link_162945927_2?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=0Z5HYNVFAKKKBE4ANFZB&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=281838027&pf_rd_i=468294

And if you’re in the US, see this page (look for the other Kindles at the top of the page – I strongly recommend the Kindle Touch W-Fi with special offers:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051QYGXA

What are your thoughts on Kindles, or e-readers in general? Do you prefer ‘real’ books, or ebooks?

My Kindle's home screen, just so you know

A lonely blog

Imagine getting 5 visits a day. Not nice. That’s rubileaks for you. It’s a great blog… with not very many readers.

Take a look, and maybe even like a post or two.

http://rubileaks.wordpress.com

All of time and space now available in different languages

As part of the re-launch of All of time and space, I wanted more people to be able to read this blog, and to give existing readers the chance to read it in the language they choose.

Now they can. By clicking here, or visiting the link below, people can read in whatever language they choose.

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=en&tl=de&u=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorwhofan98.wordpress.com%2F

This link is now available in the sidebar on the home page, under the ‘blogroll’ section.

I hope you enjoy reading this in whatever language you choose!

Some amazing blogs out there on the web

Some amazing blogs:

• petradragon (http://petradragon.wordpress.com/)
• The Change Revolution (http://thechangerevolution.wordpress.com)
• The World As Seen From My Eyes (http://fotojenix.wordpress.com/)
• Hanna Wilbur’s (http://hannawilburs.wordpress.com/)
• My random spoutings (http://sayswhom.wordpress.com/)

Those are just a few…

The seven food groups

I’m in a kind of science-y mood today, so here are the seven food groups:

1. Carbohydrates
2. Protein
3. Fat
4. Vitamins
5. Minerals
6. Fibre
7. Water

And I think that is it for today. I just wanted to put you in a science-y mood today. Oh, and what are your best/worst memories of school? If you are still at school, what are your best/worst memories so far? Let me know in the comments!

Be organised

A quick post today, just to say:

Be organised.

Organisation is the key to a lot of things. Tips include:

• Do homework etc. on the night you get it, instead of later
• Manage your time effectively
• Don’t leave something until tomorrow or any other day
• Leave time to take a break
• Everyone will be happier if you stay organised!

Have a nice day!

Keeping safe on the web

Image via Wikipedia

The internet can be very dangerous. There can be horrible consequences if you don’t use complicated passwords, change them regularly etc. 

A lot of people have passwords such as 123 or password or their cat’s name. Criminals can guess easy passwords, find out info on the web such as your cat’s name, or use software to get your password. Also, security questions need to be hard.

So, change your passwords today. Include capital letters and numbers. Try not to make all your passwords the same or very similar, and don’t write them down.

Below is a security video for Hotmail users. Have a nice day!