Microsoft

O365 first impression

Since yesterday I’m a happy subscriber of Office 365 P1 plan. I now have 25 GB Exchange mailbox (using only 0,5 GB), Lync IM (awesome), Sharepoint site (quite useless), and access to Office web apps (which are free anyway). As I’m “half American” I was able to buy it for only 6,38 USD, which is a little less than what I was paying Apps4Rent (6,95). I’m pretty happy with the service, setup went smooth.

What I (don't) like in IE9

I’ve downloaded Internet Explorer 9 beta lately and must say that it’s quite improvement from version 8, but still not the browser for me. What do I like about it? It’s visibly faster than previous version, especially with aspx apps. We have proprietary application for time tracking at work and performance have risen significantly. Add-ons are finally here! Well, I haven’t seen any however;) But at least there is mechanism to install and manage them, may be a step in the right direction as add-ons are main power of FF.

Wake up your PC from WD MyBook WE

Do you want to have access to your PC from remote location, but don’t need it to be on 24h per day? And you happen to have WD MyBook WE? Then here is solution how to wake up your computer using your network storage device. Follow steps below. Enable Wake on LAN functionality on your PC - description here. Obtain MAC addressof your network card - ipconfig /all. Your MAC will be visible as Physical Address.

Office 365 for 1 user

I’m subscribing Technet Magazine (both US and Polish) and recently I’ve read that Office 365 is planned to be available for single user (well one person company). It was good news for me as I’m currently using Hosted Exchange from third party provider and I would really want to switch to Microsoft Exchange Online (which currently is offered to minimum 5 users). But in the same post there was written that 5 user minimum would still be valid, so I was confused.

What I don't like in OWA 2010

Few posts ago I’ve written about things I like in new Outlook Web App. Now I must write about something I don’t like. New Outlook (and OWA as well) introduced view called conversations which means that your emails exchanged with given person and on given subject would be gathered in one group. It’s pretty convenient and I like it. What I don’t like is the fact that if you have conversations switched on in OWA you can’t use Set Date and Reminder option for emails, it’s simply disabled as visible on the picture below.

What I like in OWA 2010

With the release of Exchange 2010 Microsoft introduced new Outlook Web AccessApp (OWA), BTW. I’ve preferred old name. It’s quite amazing improvement and here is the list of things I like the most: Tick boxes when selecting messages. Now you can simply select multiple items without necessity of holding Control button. Really nice functionality, I wonder why Outlook 2010 doesn’t have it? Built in communicator functionality. Now you can chat with your contacts same way as you would do that with Microsoft Office Communicator.

Remote Desktop Gateway

Remote Desktop Gateway is a role of Windows Server that allows you to connect with hosts in your network through its encrypted gateway. I’m quite impressed by this service and decided to write a little HowTo, so it would be easier for others to deploy it. I’ve actually hit two birds with one rock, because I’ve written it using xml and php, so it was opportunity to learn something useful. Final effect can be seen here.

Microsoft KIN

Microsoft announced new KINphones. You can see them below. Take a look at the one on the left and let me say WTF?

Everything is dangerous

Looks like really every program can be harm to your computer these days. I’m reading US CERTreports regularly and yesterday I’ve read this one. Long story short software included with the Energizer DUO USB battery charger contains a backdoor that allows unauthorized remote system access. It’s very serious as attacker can gain complete access to machine (however with privileges of currently logged user, so if you’re not using admin account all the time it’s not so serious, but how many Windows users do that).

First fail of Windows 7

I’m using Windows 7 on my desktop for some time now, I’ve upgraded from Vista. Yesterday I’ve shutdown the system normally, without any problems. Today after start and logging into I’ve noticed that wallpaper is changed and then message appeared that I was logged into a temporary profile and have no access to my files. WTF?! I’ve logged off and started my Mac to catch up with few things meanwhile. Log off process was on for about 15 minutes, so I’ve finally gave up and turned off machine then turned it on again.