HotMail is going away... Outlook.com is taking it's place

Microsoft's venerable but tarnished consumer Hotmail service is being replaced with a new service with a familiar name, Outlook.com.  If you have an existing Hotmail or Live.com account you can continue to use it at the new Outlook.com.  However, if you wish to create a new account you may do so and since it is new you will want to head over to the site so you can create and obtain the account name you wish before it is taken.  Microsoft is taking aim at Google's GMail service which is now 8 years old and lacks many of the new features users have come to expect.  In addition to the new email service you get free Word, Excel and PowerPoint apps built in and 7 GB of free cloud storage.  The most exciting feature about the new Outlook.com is the not only does it work on your PC, it also works on your Mac, phone and tablet.


To try the new interface or create an account head on over to Outlook.com


To read more in detail click here.


More Reading:
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9229834/Microsoft_s_Outlook.com_may_be_one_two_punch_against_Google

Google Fiber, iPhone 5 and Microsoft's Surface Tablet

Google Fiber Offering Super Fast Internet for $70 Per Month

On July 26, 2012 Google officially launched Google Fiber and in the process became a service provider.  The service will provide 1 Gigabyte Internet access and TV service.  Initially the service will be available only in Kansas City.  The service will only roll out after enough people have pre-registered within a neighborhood.  Pre-registration is open until September 9 at which point Google will see how many people have signed up and decide if an area qualifies to make it cost effective to roll out.  Neighborhoods need between 5-25 percent of homes to sign on in order for it to be cost effective.

I pre-registered but was notified that Fiber was not available in my neighborhood, however I know that it is close.  To pre-register click here.

The service will be offered in 3 packages:

1.  Web only Gigabit Internet plan at $70/month.  It includes network box with advanced Wi-Fi and 1TB of cloud storage.

 2.  Gigabit Internet and Google Fiber TV, $120/month.  It includes hundreds of channels and on-demand shows as well as 2TB of DVR storage.  In addition subscribers will get a new Nexus 7 tablet which will function as a remote control.

3.   Free!  Google is also offering free Internet service to those who pay a $300 construction fee.  The service will offer 5 Mbps Internet access at no monthly charge.  The $300 fee can be paid over 12 months and the free service will be available for 7 years.

For more detailed info on Google Fiber check out this LINK

Sneak Preview of iPhone 5

A Japanese Apple repair lab says that they have simply collected all of the repair parts and put them together to construct a complete iPhone 5.  The result is a longer, slimmer phone than the current 4S and it has a larger screen and smaller dock connection.  The link mentions that this could all be a smokescreen, that Apple may have released some fake parts to throw speculators off.  Click on the links and see for yourself.

Microsoft Surface to land October 26 alongside Windows 8

Microsoft's highly anticipated Surface Tablet will make it's debut October 26, 2012, the same day as Windows 8 is slated for release.  Surface RT ARM tablets will appear on October 26 followed within 90 days by the Intel based Surface Pro (January, 2013).  Surface Tablet prices are rumored in the $500-$1000 range.

Newest version of Microsoft Office Public Preview

07/17/2012 - Microsoft Office 15 (2013) has arrived.

Microsoft announced yesterday the public preview for the upcoming Office 15.

 

 

http://www.microsoft.com/office/preview/en

The latest version of Microsoft’s Office suite was redesigned with both touch screens and desktops in mind.  It will be available in Cloud and traditional Suite formats.  I am currently reading news releases and using the public preview.  I will post later in the week and try to present a more informed opinion of the latest Microsoft offering.

In the interim please feel  free to utilize the following links to educate and prepare yourself and your organization for the latest incarnation of Microsoft’s venerable Office software.

FAQ: Microsoft previews Office 2013, suite sub plans

  

Microsoft pops preview of 'biggest, most ambitious' Office yet

 

 

Microsoft shifts main Office product to the cloud

 

 

Does it still make sense to buy Microsoft Office?

Microsoft Office Home & Business 2010 Traditional Disc, 2 PCs T5D- 

CRASHPlan Computer Backup

If you are yet to established a computer backup plan, here is an affordable option available that you cannot overlook.  I'm sure that everyone has heard of Carbonite and MozyPro or seen their commercials on TV.  CrashPlan is an alternative option whose features and prices are far beyond what the other two offer.

CrashPlan offers support for not only Windows but Mac, Linux and Solaris as well.  There are no file size limits, backup frequency and unlike the other two, CrashPlan holds deleted files forever.

CrashPlan Offers several plans.

CrashPlan is free and includes Onsite & Offsite computer backup.  You can use an external hard drive and through CrashPlan's pioneering social backup concept you can easily backup to computers belonging to your network of friends or family for offsite security. 
http://www.crashplan.com/consumer/crashplan.html

If you choose CrashPlan and want to implement a simple external drive backup, Driving Force recommends a LaCie 2TB ruggedXL external drive, LaCie drives are great in performance and reliability.

CrashPlan+ offers realtime backup (continuous) as well as secure cloud backup & online storage.  Plans start at $1.50/month for 10 GB or $3/month per computer for unlimited storage.  Plus there is a household plan for $6.00/month for up to 10 computers, unlimited GB.
http://www.crashplan.com/consumer/crashplan-plus.html

CrashPlanPro, for Business Users a 100GB plan for 1 computer is available for $27.46/month, 250GB is $62.46/month.  These are incredible prices when compared with MozyPro and Carbonite not to mention the features that are unavailbe with the other competitors.  Use the onscreen calculator to see how much your plan would cost.  Simple enter the number of computers to be backed up and then use the button on the slider rule to pick the amount of storage needed.
https://www.crashplanpro.com/business/store.vtl

There is CrashPlanPROe for enterprise storage needs.
http://www.crashplan.com/enterprise/

So if your data has not been backed up or you are unhappy with the performance/price of your present system be sure to check out Crashplan.

For a full feature comparison between the 3 competing products click on the link below:

http://www.crashplan.com/business/compare.html#stackup