ianhulme.net
Web Design & Photography
(Cheshire, UK)

This Post is being created as a test, on Windows Live Writer Beta, which is basically supposed to be a user friendly way of posting on your blog, and if you don’t have one you are given the option to create one at the start of the installation.

(more…)

Since I’m in the Internet Business, I spend a lot of time going through websites either for work or pleasure.

One thing that tends to crop up from time to time is that some sites don’t work as intended in all browsers. Mostly due to the way the browser handles the Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). Even the change from Internet Explorer 6 to 7 (which is coming into effect through Windows Auto Update) has been causing problems with some sites. (more…)

“Windows Vista Hardware Assessment Solution Accelerator is a centralized and agent-less tool designed to assess the readiness of client computers for Windows Vista. It quickly inventories computers, identifies the supported Windows Vista experience, and recommends specific hardware upgrades as appropriate. This network-wide assessment tool is designed to run from a single networked PC to assess all PCs within the network with proper network credentials.” Microsoft

A very handy tool, as some people I’ve spoken to have trying installing Vista and had the handy message of “You need to upgrade” Saves you forking out for the software and then running to the shop for upgrades when it doesn’t work.

January 30th 2007, Windows Vista is now available to the public.

Click here for more details.

With Windows Vista Less than a week away many people will be considering whether to make the upgrade? I will be getting a new machine soon, so it include Vista, looking forward to it.

Will you be upgrading to Vista? or just buying a new PC from your favorite retailer?

Here’s What to look out for. There are four different versions, Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate. All boast Microsofts most secure windows ever, aswell as advanced searching options and IE7, but most users will be opting for the higher packages.

For Your Home

For the home user “Basic” probably won’t be enough to fill your needs. Most people use their PCs as media centres to watch their TV and Films, Premium would be the one for you including all the media functions you’ve come to expect as well as the added function of connecting to your XBOX 360 (via wired or wireless) to view your programs on your TV.

For Your Business

The Business People out there will be wanting to protect against failure, advanced networking and Remotely connecting to your office when your out and about. Vista Business would be your version. Although Business doesn’t come with the entertainment applications, so those long train rides will be quite dull.

For Everything

Vista Ultitmate is for the Person who wants everything (myself included), From the Media experience to the networking and remote desktop, Ultimate includes everything with one little extra, Windows BitLocker™ Drive Encryption. BitLocker Drive Encryption is a hardware-enabled data protection feature that addresses the growing concern that corporate and customer data could be accessed from lost or stolen computers. By encrypting the entire Windows system volume, data is better protected, which prevents unauthorised users from compromising Windows file and system protection on any lost or stolen PCs. Using BitLocker also helps your organisation comply with data privacy regulations.

The Specifications

After Choosing which version of Vista you need, you may need to upgrade?

Windows Vista Capable (minimum)

• modern processor (min. 800MHz)
• 512MB system memory
• DirectX 9-capable graphics processor

Windows Vista Premium-Ready (recommended)

• 1GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• 1GB system memory
• Support for DirectX 9 graphics w/ WDDM driver; min. 128MB graphics memory; Pixel Shader 2.0; 32 bits-per-pixel
• 40GB hard drive with 15GB free space
• DVD-ROM Drive
• Audio output
• Internet access

for more information visit the Windows Vista Get Ready website

This weekend I decided to remove a removable hard drive caddy from my machine thats been playing up. Upon doing so and restarting my machine I was met by a message from Microsoft, Your PCs hardware has changed considerably, you will have to re-activate your copy of Windows XP.

So I clicked to activate over the internet as it was a legal copy of windows. To my surprise I was then told that the CD-Key used to activate windows had be used to many times and I would have to aquire another, in three days you computer will cease to work. Thanks Microsoft.

So for the first time I went to activate over the phone, I was pleased to see it was a toll-free 0800 number. Ten Minutes, two 36 number codes (one typed into phone, other given to me by operater to type into computer) and a little bit of explaining later, my computer was genuine again, no more threats of it shutting off in 3 days.

My advise if this ever happens to you is to make sure you have everything you need infront of you when making the call , especially the Windows Genuine Product sticker on your pc, and you should have a hassle free call.

I have been a loyal user of Microsoft Frontpage for a few years now, Mainly for it’s ease of use between graphical and html interfaces.

Microsoft is however retiring the Frontpage series to bring us Expression. Made up of four main applications (available separately) Expression Studio comprises of:

• Expression Web: a professional design tool to create modern, standards-based sites which deliver superior quality on the Web.
• Expression Blend: a professional design tool to create engaging, Web-connected, user experiences for Windows.
• Expression Design: a professional illustration and graphic design tool that lets you build compelling elements for both Web and desktop application user interfaces.
• Expression Media: a professional asset management tool to visually catalog and organize all your digital assets for effortless retrieval and presentation.

Click here to learn more

“If there is one thing that can really help applications on Windows Vista run better, it’s memory.” - Jim Allchin, Microsoft Vista Blog Team.

When running XP and Vista on identical machine, you would have thought that Vista would win hands down being newer and all that. You’d be wrong to think that. XP will generally outperform Vista on machines with less memory as Vista uses a bit more memory to do the things that make it so good, like indexing your data, keeping the fancier AERO UI running using the desktop window manager (DWM), etc. Vista Begins to shine when you say put a gig or more of memory in it, especially once you have been using the machine for some time, because Windows Vista learns what you do the most often and optimizes for this (nice).

Click here to read more.

Microsofts answer to i-Pod has officially launched in America.

Retailing at $249.99 the Zune has a 3″ Colour Screen, 30GB capacity, all the usual mp3 player facilities are there with the addition of a “twist menu system” which is found at the top of the screen, and works by clicking across the different option what ever level you might be in, which means no more click back to the start of the menu system to go to something else. Preloaded Content is also to be found, and other features to make your music listening experience easier.

Looking away from the music side, you can also view your pictures, choosing one for you wallpaper to personalise your Zune. There is also Video, radio, and the big thing is the wireless sharing enabling you to send your songs to a friends Zune (with a range up to 20-40 meters, depending on inside or out), although they will expire after you have listened 3 times or after 3 days.
Click here to view the walkthrough.