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.

Microsoft, please take a look at Gmail’s themes

For those of you who don’t know, I’m a big Microsoft fan. I use Hotmail, SkyDrive, Messenger, Windows 8, Office 2010 and more. But there are some things they really need to improve on, and today I’m looking at Hotmail’s themes. Here they are:

Current Hotmail theme selection

They’re not great. At all. As you can see from the screenshot, there’s a bunch of ‘static’ themes and a limited selection of themes that change from the weather. There’s one thing in common with all of them: they’re all kind of childish. And there’s no customisation within a theme – you can’t change the colour of the text, for example.

People have long asked for a Bing theme, which changes each day and is based on the Bing.com image of the day. But that’s never appeared. Same for requests about customising themes and adding your own. It’s basically rubbish.

Gmail, however, is very different. With the recent-ish new look update, they added a bunch of lovely HD themes. Now they’ve added custom themes, which let you upload your own photos. This is what us Hotmail users would love, but Microsoft simply haven’t listened.

But there is some hope. Microsoft is currently doing a re-design of all it’s Windows Live services, making them follow the metro design principles in all Microsoft’s products (Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows Phone and Xbox 360 all use metro) and removing the Windows Live branding. Here are some screenshots. Microsoft does have a chance to add HD themes. Admittedly, it’s unlikely because it won’t follow the metro design principles, but I really hope that Microsoft will take a look at Gmail and provide some nice themes.

On a side note, I think I may stop the mostly-weekly format of this blog – as I’ve started focusing on technology, waiting up to a week to write things doesn’t really work. So expect posts from me any time, and don’t be surprised if you don’t get one for a week now and then.

On a second side note, if any of you have any good names for this blog other than a standard “doctorwhofan98′s blog” please let me know. Thanks.

Have you ever lied about your age?

Facebook logo

Um, I don’t think so. Oh, wait, I did. Once, to Windows Live. Complicated story. Basically, to get it working, I needed to make myself a year older. It was changed back straightaway, once the problem had been fixed. Why did I do it? Well, to fix the problem. I’ve already explained that.

Any other times? Nope, don’t think so. I’m happy with my age, and I don’t really need to lie.

Have you ever lied about your age? If you have, was it to get a job, a privilege, or something different? Why did you lie about your age?

Sometimes age rules are for a reason. Like having to be 18 to drink alcohol is so young people don’t get very drunk. Though that sometimes happens… You have to be at least 13 years of age to get a Facebook account. That is to restrict age appropriate content. People sometimes lie to get access to services like Facebook.

So, have you lied about your age?