The UsefulTechnology Blog

Tips and Tactics for a Better Digital Life

The End: this blog leaps over to Windows Live Spaces

I've decided to move my blog to a new home on Windows Live Spaces. I hope you'll move with me. My...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 11/16/2006

UsefulGuides: Finding that well-loved feature in Microsoft Office 2007

There's no question about it, there's a bit of a learning curve before you get familiar with the new...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 11/10/2006

Windows Vista RTMs!

Jim Allchin has just announced to the world's press that Windows Vista is now complete and has been...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 11/08/2006

3D Mapping in Windows Live Local

Head over to https://local.live.com/ to check out the new 3D capability of this mapping service. Very...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 11/07/2006

The Official Windows Vista Preview Magazine

Phew! I'm delighted to report that the Windows Vista Preview magazine (an official joint venture...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 11/06/2006

Windows Media Player 11 - final release at last

Way back in May we released the Beta of Windows Media Player 11. Finally, after exhaustive testing...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 11/01/2006

That Windows Vista Packaging

Here's the clever bit about the new packaging. It opens like this: Very neat!

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 10/31/2006

Windows Vista and 2007 Office system packaging unveiled

Oooh, it's shiny and new. Announcing the new packaging for Windows Vista and the 2007 Office system....

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 10/30/2006

My Blogcasts on Soapbox

I've been playing with the new Soapbox on MSN Video service. It's pretty cool. I never really got...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 10/27/2006

Bring YourSELF to Work

Yes, it's true: tomorrow is Bring YourSELF to Work Day 2006. In case you're feeling confused because...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 10/24/2006

Brainfart with Vista

By our standards it's quite subtle, but there's no doubting that Windows Vista is behind this new...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 10/24/2006

Securing that wireless network

I stumbled across this helpful article from Connected Home that explains how to secure a wireless...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 10/23/2006

The Joy of Finding Big Things (in Outlook 2007)

My former boss, Bruce Lynn, asked me this weekend how he could locate all the large (>200kb)...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 10/22/2006

Voluminous Venti

Sunday, sitting in Starbucks. Note to self: a venti-sized mug of coffee is too large to drink...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 10/22/2006

Windows Live Insider Club

Confused by all this new Windows Live stuff? Yeah, me too. There's a lot of new gadgetry to get our...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 10/19/2006

Internet Explorer 7 is launched

The world's most popular browser just got better. Internet Explorer 7 was released just hours ago....

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 10/19/2006

Windows Vista Tipfest

Ah, I love the smell of a tip in the morning! I'm in New York for Digital Life and to meet up with...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 10/13/2006

Bloggers know how important it is to include relevant hyperlinks in their posts ;-) They can come in...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 10/12/2006

Screen capture the easy way

I'm often asked what tools I use to make screengrabs to include in my blog. I used to use the...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 10/12/2006

The brainless way to win a £4,000 digital makeover

What is a Personal Computer? (a) A microcomputer whose price, size and capabilities make it suitable...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 10/09/2006

Get Safe Online (and Secure that Wireless Network)

So here I am blogging from inside Windows Vista RC1. And I've never felt safer. Which is handy...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 10/06/2006

Windows Vista installation rant

I wonder if I'm the only person who finds this annoying. Whenever I install Windows Vista (or XP or...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 09/28/2006

Append a post to an email in Outlook

Sometimes even the most disciplined time management gurus cannot cope with sheer volume of emails...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 09/19/2006

Achieving your career goals with Outlook

Here at Microsoft, all full time employees have to sign up to personal commitments for their job. At...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 09/18/2006

To flag or not to flag in Outlook

Outlook has always provided an amazing amount of customisation, and it's never been better than in...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 09/15/2006

Instant search in Outlook 2007

[POST UPDATED - SEE COMMENTS FOR THE LATEST!] Those with ageing memories have long enjoyed the...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 09/14/2006

Windows Live Local - now even better

My regular reader will know how much of a fan I have become of Windows Live Local. While Google...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 09/12/2006

Office 2007 - new look icons

While I sit waiting for the 2007 Office system Beta 2 Technical Refresh to finish installing, I...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 09/11/2006

Software: it's everywhere you know - even in Frinton

I'm just back from a short break at everyone's favourite sunshine destination: the North-East Essex...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 09/11/2006

Understanding Outlook Icons

This isn't a new webpage, but a question from a colleague reminded me that I really should mention...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 08/29/2006

Dubious words emerging from Microsoft

What's going on? We seem to have a swathe of dubious sounding product names emerging from Microsoft...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 08/28/2006

Smile! You're on a Speed Camera!

I'm fascinated by the human relationship with technology and how one helps shape the other. A recent...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 08/25/2006

Internet Explorer 7 RC1 - get it now

Straight from the oven: Internet Explorer 7 (Release Candidate 1). Get it while it's hot.

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 08/25/2006

Webcast: Survive Information Overload

The Microsoft Office Online team has paired up with Laura Stack, President and CEO of The...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 08/21/2006

[FRIDAY GAG] Britain's Favourite Joke

This was recently voted Britain's funniest joke: A woman gets on a bus, carrying her baby. As she...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 08/18/2006

You Need to Get Out More

It's Friday. And Steve Clayton writes today about how his Out of Office message has taken on a...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 08/18/2006

Big Moon over Walton

That was a big moon over the North Sea the other night. And it's amazing what you can do with a...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 08/18/2006

Alfred's been asking what's the quickest way to search for stuff online. Putting aside the debate of...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 08/17/2006

Shameless Self Publicist Makes Useful Technology List

Congratulations to Blake Handler (yes, that's his real name) for the most shameless self-publicity...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 08/04/2006

Installing Internet Explorer Beta 3 over Beta 2

Is anyone else worried about whether to upgrade to the latest version (Beta 3) of Internet Explorer?...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 08/02/2006

From Zero to Hero with Outlook

I have my annual performance review in half an hour. This reminds me of a great little non-technical...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 08/01/2006

Known Issues in Outlook 2007 Beta 2

Slipstick features a comprehensive article detailing the latest known issues that people encounter...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 07/27/2006

Presentation Zen from Canada

As if by magic, my RSS feed in Outlook 2007 brings me another interesting perspective on how to give...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 07/26/2006

Presentation Tips from the Master

My colleague Darren (he's not as effeminate as his photo would suggest) has written up a great post...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 07/25/2006

Start RSSing Around

If you still don't know your RSS from your elbow it's about time you made use of this very useful...

Author: Allister_Frost Date: 07/25/2006

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