Sunday, June 22, 2014

Setting Up The Microsoft Outlook Account

Most workplaces employ Microsoft Outlook as their standard email program. Microsoft Outlook reigns as the most popular email program because it eases the workflow and has more productivity tools than other similar applications. To setup email in Outlook, here is what you have to do.

Basic Settings

  • Open Microsoft Outlook from the Start menu and wait for it to load. 
  • Once Microsoft Outlook loads up, click on the Tools menu. 
  • Inside the Tools drop down menu, click on Accounts. 
  • Click Add a new email account option and then click on Next. 
  • You will be prompted to choose your account type. If you are not sure, a quick Google search about your email service provider will show you if its POP or IMAP. 
  • Click on the Next button and wait for the Email Accounts window to open up. 
  • You will be prompted to type in your name next. Type in your name the way you want it to appear on all your outbound email messages. 
  • Type in your e-mail address. Make sure all the letters are in lower-case. 
  • In the User Name column, type in your e-mail address again. 
  • Enter your email Password. Like every password, e-mail passwords are also case sensitive. 
  • In the Mail Server column, type mail.example.com. 
  • The Outgoing Mail server is always the same as the Incoming Mail server. For example, mail.example.com. 
  • Click the More Settings button to enter into the advanced settings. 
Advanced Settings
  • Click to open the Outgoing Server tab. 
  • Select the My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication checkbox and make sure the same settings are applied for your incoming mail server. 
  • Click on the Advanced tab and make the following changes: 
  • If you are using POP3 with SSL, click on the checkbox and select 995 for your port. Otherwise, leave the port at 110. 
  • If you are using IMAP with SSL, click on the checkbox and select 993 for your port. Otherwise, leave the port at 143. 
  • If you are using SMTP with SSL, click on the checkbox and select 465 for your port. Otherwise, change the port to 26. 
  • Select OK, Next and the Finish button respectively to save your settings and exit the wizard. 
As you can see, to setup email in Outlook is a piece of cake. Make sure you follow these settings to the word. Once the account is setup, you will receive all your emails in the email client.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Microsoft Releases A Fix For A New Bug In Windows XP

Microsoft has ended the support for Windows XP operating system last April. However, the software giant has provided a new fix for Windows XP users after a new bug came up in the Internet Explorer browser. This is a huge relief to the Windows XP users who were in search of a fix for this big threat.

The emergency fix comes after a security firm FireEye Inc. found that the new bug was being used by a group of hackers to initiate a campaign called Operation Clandestine Fox. The new fix was also released after Microsoft came under pressure from various corners. Various governments had already asked the customers to use a different browser until a fix was available.

Microsoft help & support for Windows XP ended in April 8, 2014. However, reports show that 15 to 20 percent of PCs are running on this operating system. This means that millions of PCs have still not been updated to any of the newer operating systems from Microsoft.

Windows XP was released in 2001 and since then it had been a favorite operating system of users around the world. It was the most widely used operating system until the release of Windows 7 in 2009. The operating system was being used in most of the business houses around the world. However, with the end of support for the operating system, it has become inevitable to upgrade this operating system.

However, many users say that they could not make an upgrade due to the high expense associated with the upgrade. In addition to the purchase of a new operating system, it may be necessary to upgrade the hardware of the machines. This is because other operating systems from Microsoft like Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 requires at least 1 GB of RAM and processors with higher speeds.

Another major worry is for banks. Most of the bank ATMs works on Windows XP operating system. According to Microsoft help & support center, as Microsoft has stopped the support for Windows XP operating system, the operating system in these machines too will not receive any updates. If hackers are able to crack into the embedded operating system in these machines, it could prove to be a major threat.

Even though users can still seek the help of third party technical support companies for minor issues with the operating system, other security issues could arise in the future, which might be beyond the scope of support.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Microsoft Had Plans To Integrate Kinect With Xbox, Says Ledbetter

According to a latest report, Microsoft had plans of integrating Kinect into Xbox. However, later the plan was dropped and Kinect was released only as an option for Xbox One users. According to the hardware designer of Xbox, Carl Ledbetter, “Microsoft had toyed with the idea of building Kinect into the Xbox One itself.” He added, “We pushed ourselves, can we put it all in one? Is that going to work? And the technology just isn’t there yet. As soon as you have something much bigger than the Kinect sensor people don’t want to put it by the TV, it’s too big.”

However, when Microsoft released Xbox without Kinect built into the device, Ledbetter did not seem to be sad. He says, “It’s all designed together, it’s holistic. And in the version that consumers can buy that doesn’t include Kinect, it still all works”. Also, “And so I think I share the same opinion that everybody does that by having more choice for the consumer, and a new point of entry for them, it’s great.”

Microsoft had released Xbox One in November, 2013, and has sold millions of devices since then. Xbox One will allow users to play games both offline and online. This means, you can simply use the device to play games from the disc or compete with your friends online. Since the device is portable, you can take the device with you to any location and start playing your favorite games from the disc.

According to Microsoft chat, Xbox Live is a place where you can find games and apps for the device. If you choose to become the gold member of Xbox Live, then you will have the privilege of accessing the features of Xbox One and its predecessor Xbox 360. Xbox One offers numerous personalization options. You can customize the settings of the device and decide how data ought to be used with the device and make use of various privacy settings for the best security.

By using Kinect, users can start interacting with their Xbox console without the help of a game controller. The most important feature of this device is that users can use spoken commands or gestures for interacting with the device. With numerous features added with Xbox One, keeping Kinect as an option will in no way disappoint customers. In addition, according to Microsoft chat support, users can add Kinect to their device as and when they wish.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Repairing Error 800401f3 In Windows Live Messenger

Windows Live Messenger is one of the most widely used instant messaging services. Developed by Microsoft, the program is compatible to run on Windows, iOS, Java, as well as Symbian platforms. Some of the interesting features in Windows Live Messenger include its inbuilt album viewer, social networks integration options, offline messaging, and compatibility with several games and applications. For any issues regarding this messaging application, you can contact the Windows Live technical support team anytime.

Sometimes, you may get error messages in the messenger application that restricts you from accessing the program. Most likely, you will get the error message in Windows Live Messenger saying “Error 800401f3: The service is temporarily unavailable.” According to the Windows Live technical support team, this error usually occurs when the Windows Reside utility cannot connect with the services it demands to operate. Yet sometimes, the internet connectivity errors can also trigger the error.

You can use the following instructions to fix such error messages in Windows Live Messenger.

Steps to follow
  • First, ensure that you have the correct login details for your account. Then, check if there is any issue with the Internet connection.
  • Sometimes, the antivirus or firewall program installed in your computer can also block the connection of Windows Live to the internet. Disable the virus protection on your computer and check if that is the reason for the error in the application.
  • After you have checked all the above aspects and verified that they are not causing the issues, try reinstalling Windows Reside on your computer. For this, click on Start, followed by Control Panel and then click on the Add / Remove Programs option.
Reinstalling the application will ensure that all of the files & settings the software needs to operate are replaced, and will help your computer to run the application smoothly. As stated by the Windows live technical support team, you should also use a registry cleaner system to scan through your PC. It would help to repair any of the damaged or corrupted settings in the computer, which could be causing issues in the Windows Live Messenger application.

These steps can help you in successfully fixing error messages in Windows Live Messenger service. To get more information on the features in this messaging application, feel free to contact our Windows tech support team.

What Is New In Microsoft Office 2013?

When it comes to business applications, what you cannot miss is Microsoft Office. It is one of the best business application software available in the world. It is widely being used by professionals and students around the world. The Office program includes many applications like Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Access and lot more. All these applications are designed to make your business run smoother and efficient. 

Over the years, Microsoft has released several versions of MS Office and the latest in this category is Office 2013. This updated version of the program includes numerous features about which we will discuss in detail below. First, let us find out the features that are absent in Office 2013, which we have been able to find in its predecessors. 

Removed programs

Microsoft Picture Manager, Microsoft Clip Organizer, chart styles, Microsoft SharePoint Workspace etc. are some of the programs that we no longer have in the Suite. 

Added features

With Office 2013, we can find new animations in Word and Excel programs. The graphical additions to Word will help users acquire a fresh feeling while using the program. You can find visualization while scheduling tasks in Outlook. The Start screen also looks much different with Office 2013. When it comes to PowerPoint, you will find numerous new designs for slides and new animation options. With Office 2013, you can now integrate your online accounts for SkyDrive, Yammer and Skype with the program. 

Editions

The different editions of Office 2013 available are Professional, Professional Plus, Home & Business, Home & Student and Standard. 

Standard Edition

This edition of the Suite includes Outlook, which was unavailable in the previous versions. You can purchase the Standard edition only with licensing channels. 

Home & Business Edition

Like the Standard Edition, the Home & Business has a new addition to it, Microsoft Outlook.

Home & Student

This is one of the most popular versions and this version the programs, PowerPoint, Excel and Word in it. They are available for purchase through retail outlets. 

Professional Edition

In addition to the major applications, the Professional edition has programs like Access, Publisher and Outlook in it. 

Professional Plus Edition

Some of the important applications of Professional Plus edition are PowerPoint, Publisher, Access, Excel, Word, Lync and InfoPath. 

These are some of the most important changes, which you will come across in Microsoft Office 2013. Choose your edition of the Suite according to your requirements.

Friday, May 30, 2014

How To Make Microsoft Outlook Run At Startup

The Windows operating system is used widely across the world owing to its ease of use and the user-friendly features. This operating system maintains a folder that holds the shortcuts to programs that load every time the user logs into the operating system. Some programs, including system security and instant messenger applications may place a shortcut in the folder during the process of installation. This will make sure that the program loads automatically when the operating system loads. Even though the Microsoft Outlook does not make a shortcut on its own, the user will be able to easily add the program to the list of the startup programs. After you add the program, it will open and then download the new email messages every time you start the computer.

Outlook is a part of the Office suite and it shines as an email client with good talent for organizing solid spam filters, seamless integration with to-do lists and scheduling. This is more than just a program to manage and read email messages. It operates as a personal information manager or PIM and is able to keep the users on schedule by remembering the to-do lists of the user. This program can also be purchased as a standalone program from the official website of Microsoft. The steps to make Microsoft Outlook program run at startup are discussed below in this article.

Instructions
  • Click on the Start button followed by All Programs and then select the version of the Microsoft Office suite located in the programs list. 
  • As the next step, right-click on Microsoft Outlook and then click on the Copy option. You can then scroll down through the programs list, right click on Startup and then select Explore to view the current startup programs in your computer. 
  • Right click on any blank area in the window and then select Paste. Doing this will add Microsoft Outlook to the startup programs. You may now close the Windows Explorer window. 
These are the simple steps to include the Microsoft Outlook program in the startup list. You should understand that if you have changed the default email downloading settings in Outlook, it might not download the email messages automatically at startup. If you need to get Microsoft Outlook help to finish these steps, you can contact the Outlook help and support team. They will help you get Microsoft Outlook help to add the program in the startup list.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Microsoft Introduces Improved Message Syncing Options In Skype

Over the years, we have had many Microsoft chat applications like MSN Messenger, Windows Live Messenger, etc. Of course, the availability of all these different versions of Microsoft instant messenger applications made things a little confusing for the average user, especially when they were trying to get tech support online.

Now, it seems that Microsoft has decided to streamline their entire Microsoft chat network. They have announced that they would slowly phase out all the other chat messenger networks, while promoting Skype messenger as the only Microsoft application.

About the Skype instant messenger application

Skype was first launched in August 2003. But in May 2011, Microsoft bough Skype Communications for 8.5 billion dollars. Since then, Microsoft has been cashing in on the popularity of the Skype instant messenger application, by releasing it as the default chat application in all its latest products, including Windows 8 OS and Xbox One console.

Microsoft has now merged its Windows Live and MSN Messenger chat networks with the Skype messenger service, making it one of the biggest chat works in the world in terms of the number of users.

About the newly improved message syncing functions in Skype

One of the complaints about the Skype application when it was initially launched was that it did not have good enough message syncing options. When Microsoft took over, they did promise to fix such problems. And, they recently released an updated version of the Skype application that comes with better message syncing options.

Now, it is easy to synchronise the messages on all your different mobile devices that has the Skype messenger installed. This means that whenever you receive a new message or start a conversation on one device, this information would be updated on all your other mobile devices as well. This option is very convenient for those users, who have multiple mobile devices and they would like to keep everything up-to-date on all of them.

Another of the functions newly updated and improved is the push notifications. Whenever you are engaged in a chat conversation, you would receive push notifications about any new messages. But, these notifications would not be synchronised on your other devices, instead would appear only on the device you are currently using. This would prevent the cluttering of unnecessary notifications.

For more information about the new functions in Skype and for downloading the new app version, visit the Microsoft Store webpage online.