Hotmail switching over to Microsoft Outlook (FAQs)

Microsoft is moving all of its Hotmail users to Outlook.com by this summer. Here's what the hundreds of millions still using Hotmail need to know about the transition.

Microsoft announced earlier this week that it is closing Hotmail and moving the "hundreds of millions" still using it to Outlook.com by this summer.

The move isn't unexpected, but perhaps more sudden than some anticipated. Hotmail users, once they move (or are moved) will get Outlook.com's clean, Metro-Style interface for their mail -- and ultimately, calendars. (For a walk-through of the UI changes Hotmail users will see, check out this Microsoft FAQ.)

Given that many of the new features in Outlook.com -- Microsoft's new Web-mail service that is no longer in "preview," as of this week -- are already part of Hotmail, the Outlook.com experience (beyond the UI itself) shouldn't be too jarringly different.

Microsoft provided guidance last summer for those who wanted to proactively make the Hotmail-to-Outlook.com move. There's not much required on users' parts to make this happen. But some users still have questions. And different folks around the Web have answers.

Q: How much warning do users get before Microsoft move an existing Hotmail account to Outlook.com?
A: There will be several e-mails first prompting people to upgrade on their own.

Q: If I move my Hotmail account to an Outlook.com account, can I change my mind and go back?
A: At this point, no. (When Outlook.com was still in "preview," Microsoft did allow this.)

Q: What happens to all my stored Hotmail once I am moved off Hotmail to Outlook.com?
A: Everything moves over. If you click the upgrade button it takes maybe a few seconds, but all your existing messages auto-populate and carry over.

Q: Which browsers support Outlook.com?
A: Outlook.com is optimized for Internet Explorer 8, 9 and 10; Google Chrome 17 and higher; Firefox 10 and higher; Safari 5.1 on Mac. It also works relatively well on IE 7, Google Chrome 16 and 5; Firefox 9 and 5; Safari 5.1 on Windows and Safari 5 on Windows and Mac. It doesn't work at all on IE 6 and older; Google Chrome 4 and older; Firefox 4 and older; and Safari 4.X and older.

Q: What happens if my Microsoft ID/Windows Live ID is tied to Hotmail? Do I have to get a new one and change my accounts?
A: No. If you use an @hotmail.com, @msn.com or @live.com e-mail address as your Microsoft account, you can keep it, even after Hotmail is shuttered. "Think of this the same way as you would changing your mobile phone carrier. You are simply moving to a better service, but your 'number' (in this case your Microsoft account and email address) stays the same," a Microsoft spokesperson explained.

Q: I already created a separate, new Outlook.com account. So once my existing Hotmail account is moved to Outlook.com, what happens? Will my two Outlook.com accounts be merged?
A: There is no way to actually "merge" these accounts. But you can connect these two accounts and then toggle back and forth by linking them. To do this, go to account settings and select the permissions tab. Click on "manage linked accounts."

Q: Users are being allowed to keep their Hotmail addresses if they want. Wasn’t a big part of creating Outlook.com a plan to get rid of the tired/tainted Hotmail brand?
A: "The simple fact is that many people are attached to their email address. We do expect a certain number to want a new Outlook.com address (which is great); others will want to keep their Hotmail address. Either is fine since they will all get to use the new service," a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed.

Q: When will Microsoft update the calendar in Outlook.com so that it is Metro-Style, instead of Hotmail-Style?
A: Microsoft officials aren't saying anything other than what they've said since summer 2012, which is "soon."

Q: When will Outlook.com be integrated with Skype?
A: Also "soon." No further word from the Softies on the timing.

Read this full story here:  http://www.zdnet.com/microsofts-hotmail-phase-out-whats-a-user-to-do-7000011688/

For more information on anything you have read please contact the IT Support Glasgow experts at Click Networks email info@clicknetworks.co.uk or visit our website http://www.clicknetworks.co.uk

What tablet to buy this Christmas?

We start with Microsofts Surface’s 1366 x 768, 10.6in IPS LCD screen which may only boast a pixel density of 148dpi but its 16:9 aspect ratio is shared with most laptops and TVs so you feel right at home from the off. This is a tablet that unashamedly delivers a PC experience, which I take to be A Good Thing. With an Nvidia Tegra 3 under the bonnet, a choice of clever attachable keyboards-cum-covers, a built-in kickstand, a proper USB port and an SD slot good for cards up to 64GB, it’s a device both powerful and versatile.

And don’t forget, the Surface comes with Microsoft Office pre-loaded. That’s the sort of productivity offering you just don’t get with Android or iOS.

On the downside, at £400 it’s not cheap; the OS takes up a huge chunk of the advertised storage space; both the Touch and Type keyboards are optional extras; there’s no GPS; and the Windows RT app store is close to empty at the moment.

Even the most devout fan of Android would have to concede that it has failed to repeat its smartphone success in the tablet arena but in the second half of the year Google came out swinging to try and fix that.

In the summer, it launched a Tegra 3-based 7in, 1280 x 800 tablet at a staggeringly low price. The Google Nexus 7 immediately won friends thanks to it’s powerful quad-core processor, excellent IPS LCD screen and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS, which debuted on the new tablet.

Just last month, the 16GB version dropped to £159 replacing the 8GB model yours truly bought, while a 32GB 3G device was also introduced at a very reasonable £239. The price changes have made something that was already very attractive even more so.

Being a Nexus 7 owner I’ll admit to a bit of bias here, but for gaming, e-book reading, web browsing, watching HD video - the stuff most of us do on our tablets most of the time - the Nexus 7 is hard if not impossible to beat.

How to trump that? Easy. Launch a 10in version with a screamingly fast dual-core Cortex A15 chip, a higher than hi-def screen and charge £319 for the 16GB version. That would be the Samsung-made Google Nexus 10 then.

The standout feature of the Nexus 10 is the 2560 x 1600, 300dpi screen, which clobbers even the “retina” 264dpi Apple iPad 4 in the pixel density stakes. I defy anyone to gaze at the Nexus 10’s screen, or listen to the sound from its front-facing stereo speakers, and not be thoroughly impressed.

It’s lighter and thinner than the iPad 4 too and more pleasant to hold thanks to it’s rounded shape. Probably harder to sue, too, for that same reason. If you want a 10in tablet for media consumption, this is the one you should buy.

Both Nexus tablets offer one sign-in syncing for your Picasa photographs, Google-bought books and movies, Google Docs and Drive content. This is cloud integration second to none. And don’t forget that Google Music has now arrived in the UK so you can upload 20,000 songs into the cloud too. And all for free.

For more information on any of the tablets mentioned in the article please contact our IT experts either call us on 0141 530 9116 or email at info@clicknetworks.co.uk for more IT support in or around Glasgow.

Read the full article here: http://www.theregister.co.uk/

Google Nexus launch event delayed by Hurricane Sandy

Google's Android event planned for New York yesterday afternoon has been cancelled because of Hurricane Sandy but Microsoft will launch Windows Phone 8 in San Francisco this evening. 

 The event was expected to be the announcement of a new Google Android handset, the LG-made 'Nexus 4', as well as at least one new Android tablet and, possibly, an update to the Android operating system.

 The event was due to be held on the west side of Manhattan at 10am local time but with Hurricane Sandy approaching the east coast of the United States, Google has been forced to cancel the event. In a statement, it said: "We are cancelling our Monday morning event in New York due to Hurricane Sandy. We will let you know our plans as soon as we know more. Stay safe and dry, The Android Team.”  

The cancellation gives Microsoft the opportunity to focus all attention on its Windows Phone 8 launch event in San Francisco this evening. Though some manufacturers have shown off Windows Phone 8 handsets already, details of the operating system have not been fully revealed. Microsoft is expected to do that this evening. 

 Some details of Google's planned announcements appear to have leaked over the weekend. On Friday, Carphone Warehouse published a page on its website that gave details of the Google Nexus 4 handset.  

Google was also expected to have planned to announce a new, 10-inch Nexus tablet at today's event. Over the weekend, pictures were published online purporting to show a Samsung-manufactured 10-inch tablet. The tablet would join the Asus-made Nexus 7 tablet that Google launched in the summer. 

 For the full article read it here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/9640311/Google-Nexus-launch-event-delayed-by-Hurricane-Sandy.html

For more information about tablets, cloud technology and IT Support Glasgow visit the Click Networks website: http://www.clicknetworks.co.uk 

Microsoft's Windows 8 OS

Microsoft's next operating system will come in just three different flavours, the company has announced. For those with Intel-compatible machines, the OS will be available in two versions - Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro.

And for those with devices, largely tablets, powered by ARM-designed chips there will be a Windows RT version. Microsoft wants to simplify how it markets Windows 8, which is expected to launch in autumn 2012.

The complex flavours of past Windows - from basic to home, premium to ultimate - have become something of a joke among tech experts. Microsoft has called Windows 8 the most significant redesign of the Windows interface since its groundbreaking Windows 95 OS.

 The ARM version of the OS is the newest edition and reflects Microsoft's desire to unify the engine known for running desktop computers with that for tablets and smartphones. Windows RT will sit alongside Apple's iOS and Google's Android operating systems.

Source: BBC News

Expanding Team - Stuart MacDonald

Hello,

My name is Stuart Macdonald and my new role within Click Networks is Sales and Marketing Manager, so I am responsible for the business development of the company as well as all Social Media and Marketing activities.

I will hopefully be in touch over the next few weeks to discuss any potential opportunities we can work on together, but in the meantime I have drafted a brief overview of what we offer, please note this list is not exhaustive as we are adding to our portfolio all the time.

I am confident that we can address most IT requirements, but where we have any gaps I will be looking to fill these with business partners and professional contacts as appropriate.

I look forward to speaking with all our new and existing clients and meet up soon to discuss my exciting new role and what Click Networks and I can do for you and your clients.

If you or any of your business contacts are interested in reviewing their current IT Support arrangements or other IT Services, please let me know by clicking on my contact details below.

Our Services

This is a brief snapshot of the current services we can offer:-


Microsoft Office 365 hosted services
Microsoft Sharepoint design and development
Virtual Infrastructure services both Hyper V and VMware 
Bespoke Click Cloud and Hosted services from our Glasgow data centre
Network Installation and Support Services
Bespoke Managed IT Services 08.00-6.00pm- (24/7 available)
Hardware & Software procurement
Security Management – Internet, Spyware, Anti- Virus, Anti- Phishing & more
Project Management – Office moves, Implementations and more
Structured Network Cabling provision
Internet connectivity solutions-Data & Voice
Mobility – remote access anytime anywhere
Business Continuity – Disaster recovery
WEEE provisioned Secure collection and destruction of Hardware
Microsoft and Application Training
Bespoke Web Development and Hosting services


Kind regards,
Stuart Macdonald
Sales & Marketing Manager

M: 07714 769 253
T: 0141 530 9116
SMS: text click to 60060 (we call you back) 
E: stuart@clicknetworks.co.uk

W: www.clicknetworks.co.uk

Click for a free Office 365 trial

IE9 Platform Preview - SVG, HTML 5, CSS3; looks like pigs do fly

Microsoft released a preview of their next browser at the MIX conference in Las Vegas on Tuesday. Although it can only muster a 55/100 score in the ACID tests I must say I'm impressed with Microsoft's progress to put right years of piss-poor browser releases. The JavaScript engine is fairly sprightly too beating Firefox 3.6 on the SunSpider benchmark.

CSS3 support is there but without too much digging I don't know if this is an MS implementation or if they have followed standards (suggestions on a postcard please) but given the commitment to SVG, which is a direct competitor/replacement to Silverlight and Flash it's likely the browser devs are actually listening to users.

On the edge of the blade side of things we see the IE engine using the Direct2D API's to offload graphical processing tasks to a compatible GPU; a nice touch. They have also added some neat new DOM events and objects and support for a multitude of HTML 5 goodness although we don't currently have evidence of the <canvas> tag support everyone is looking for, here's hoping eh?

If you want to give the preview a shot and check out the differences between it and MS's old browser engines (IE6 - 8) then click below:

http://ie.microsoft.com/testdrive/info/ThankYou/Default.html

If not then, like me, you already have a better, more compliant browser which you are probably using to read this. But still, kudos to MS and the IE team, keep up the good work.

Browser Wars - The European Commission Strikes Back

From today, if your a UK or European user of a Windows machine you may be asked if you would like to switch to another browser. Microsoft is to release a software update via its Windows security patches website prompting users to select a default browser for their desktop.

Microsoft has made the update for XP, Vista and Windows 7 users. Users of Firefox, Safari, Chrome Opera and other alternative browsers will apparently not receive the prompt.

Only those users who have IE set as their default browser will get the pop-up window outlining the alternative choices available for installation. The prompt window is the result of a deal Microsoft cut with the European Commission after its antitrust investigation.

Microsoft's Internet Explorer already has a 60% share in the world browser market so it remains to be seen how effective the new patch will be in providing an opportunity to Redmond's growing list of competitors.