Archive for the ‘Microsoft’ Category
WebDav share on Vista/7
Remember that if you want to have WebDav share mounted on Vista/7, first you need this update installed:
Software Update for Web Folders (KB907306)/
What I like in OWA 2010
With the release of Exchange 2010 Microsoft introduced new Outlook Web Access App (OWA), BTW. I’ve preferred old name. It’s quite amazing improvement and here is the list of things I like the most:
1. 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?

2. Built in communicator functionality. Now you can chat with your contacts same way as you would do that with Microsoft Office Communicator. You can even talk with people outside your domain if they’re using Windows Live Messenger (however they must use hotmail accounts, standard live account registered with different email wouldn’t work). But I wonder if this functionality is standard for all OWA or this was incorporated only in my mailbox as I have address in @microsoft.com domain. Anyway it’s nice to have it.

3. Now you have sharing options for your calendar available directly from OWA. You can add calendar from other source, share your calendar or even publish it on Internet. I have my private Exchange account with OWA 2007 and I really miss this functionality. I know that it can be done using Outlook, but many times I’m limited only to OWA.

New OWA is great experience and I’m looking forward to see this available widely. For now I was able to find only two companies offering hosted Exchange 2010 accounts, but it’s quite pricey. It’s only matter of time though till other service providers would start to upgrade and it would definitely bring price reduction.
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. As you’ll notice thanks to xml and simple php form you can choose between English and Polish version of text.
If you’ll examine my xml then you’ll see that I still have some problems with links, so I’m keeping it in different tags, but I hope to deal with soon. Current workaround is working fine, but it’s far from being elegant (although it’s not visible to end user at all). Enjoy!
Microsoft KIN
Microsoft announced new KIN phones. You can see them below. Take a look at the one on the left and let me say WTF?

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. Selected to start Windows normally in after crash dialog and voila my profile has been launched without problem, I have all my files and settings. Windows is strangest system, really. Next time somebody would ask me why I prefer Mac OS I’ll point him to this post. Just hope that it was single instance of this issue, will make a new backup though, just in case.
Everything is dangerous
Looks like really every program can be harm to your computer these days. I’m reading US CERT reports 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). Software leaves possibility of attack on TCP port 7777 and after gaining access such activities are possible: ability to list directories, send and receive files, and execute programs. Read more in the original report. Who would even suppose that software which shows you progress of charging your batteries can bring such vulnerability? This happens when developers don’t pay attention to security, would it ever change? Ehh.
Do you remember old Windows?
If you don’t or want to refresh your memories then you should visit this site. You can play with Windows 3.1 in your browser. It’s really cool and reminds about the past, when computer hard disk was smaller than amount of RAM in modern machines.

All Mac vs. PC ads
If you like Mac vs. PC commercials, now you have all of them on one site. Enjoy!
Sync your Mac with Windows Mobile Phone
As we know main sync software on Mac OS X is ITunes. And you’re probably aware of the fact that smartphones based on Windows Mobile (like my Samsung) are not compatible with this sync method. Have no fear! There is great app called SyncMate which will solve all your problems (at least related to syncing). In basic (free) version it syncs calendar and contacts which is really enough for me, but if you’re willing to pay for expert edition you can sync literally everything. Just tested and it’s really working! Love it!
COFEE
Microsoft developed tool which would help government agencies to retrieve data from computers of suspects. However the idea is good, I can’t stop thinking that it would be greatly abused:( More about Computer Online Forensic Evidence Extractor (COFEE) here. I believe more than to pursue really bad criminals it would be used to fight computer piracy.