Dumb Microsoft!

Cant imagine that Microsoft can go so dumb. [Source]

QR Code & Microsoft Tags

Heard about QR codes (QR stands for Quick Response) today at this post on Google Docs Blog. QR Code is another way of storing information, like Bar Code, through 2-D images developed and popularly used in Japan.

One can create an image like the one shown aside. This image is for this very blog.There are QR Readers available (most of the phones now a days are coming with QR Reader embedded). When the reader scans this QR Code on their cell phone (with GPRS enabled), it will get one to this blog.





The fields & patterns correspond and convey a particular information. The image beside gives some insight into it.

Wiki has got all the information in short and crisp fashion, worth a read.

One can create this code by using Google API.

URL for creating code for this blog was: http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?chs=250x250&cht=qr&chl=http://robadilavoro.blogspot.com/

Change the url and have yours! :)

This template is the QR Code Gadget template available in Google docs. They say

Make a QR code of your data. Just put in the data and instantly a QR code is created matching a comma separated list of your data.

Surely worth a try.
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Microsoft has got a similar one called Microsoft Tags


Signup, Create Tags and share them. Need not worry if you dont have a Windows Live login id. One can Signup with Gmail Id as Windows Live ID and use it for all future purposes.

The Tag created for this blog by Microsoft Tag looks like the one shown aside





If these were not enough, Wiki gives a list of other types of codes existing. The list is as below:

• Aztec Code
• Barcode
• Data Matrix
• E-Reader
• CueCat
• High Capacity Color Barcode
• PDF417
• Semacode
• ShotCode

Browsers powered by user choice?

As one may wonder how does this question exist, there is this interesting post on Google Public Policy Blog: Browsers powered by user choice where they have come out with some interesting statements... Dont miss reading the comments following it... Google got a run for its hypocrisy!

Remove arrow from shortcut icons

There are some softwares to do this, but manual tweak to Registry is enough to do it. Since following steps involve Registry Tweak, it is suggested that you backup your registry before doing these to undo any changes that you don’t like



Steps:

•    Type regedit in the Run box to open registry editor.
•    Navigate to the following keys
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\piffile
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut
•    Delete the IsShortcut key (if you are facing problems in finding that entry then you can also search them) from each of them.

Reboot to see the deleted arrows from the shortcuts

Less-known excel shortcuts

A short list of less know Excel shortcuts

1. Apply the outline border to the selected cells. [ Ctrl-Shift-& ]
2. Apply the Date format with the day, month, and year.[ Ctrl-Shift-# ]
3. Apply the Time format with the hour and minute, and AM or PM. [ Ctrl-Shift-@ ]
4. Enter the current time. [ Ctrl-Shift-: ]
5. Enter the current date. [ Ctrl-; ]
6. Hide the selected rows. [ Ctrl-9 ]
7. Hide the selected columns. [ Ctrl-0 ]
8. Alternate between displaying cell values and displaying formulas in the worksheet. [ Ctrl-` ]
9. Display the Find and Replace dialog box, with the Replace tab selected. [ Ctrl-H ]
10. Display the Insert Hyperlink dialog box for new hyperlink. [ Ctrl-K ]
11. Display the Print Preview window. [ Ctrl-F2 ]
12. Switch to the next workbook window. [ Ctrl-F6 ]
13. Display the Macro dialog box to create, run, edit, or delete a macro. [ Alt-F8 ]
    

Vulnerabilities in Google Chrome

GChrome does have promising features which are not part of any browser till date like Task Manager (which shows each open window as a process, the way it deals with each tab. This helps when a window/website crashes since each Tab/NewWindow is a separate process and crash of one window/website will crash only that process saving all other tabs. It displays the memory taken by each site apart from CPU usage implying 'blame where blame belongs'); drag tab out to a window; defining which all sites to be opened on startup; incognito browsing; creating own Desktop, Menu, Quick Launch icons reserving the whole window page for this application; added heavy Java engine compatible for all heavily loaded Web Applications.

Before its launch, a 38-page online comic book was released discussing Google Chrome

This article talks about Five best features of Google Chrome

A article to not get carried away with GChrome: Dont get hooked on Google Chrome hype

Vulnerabilities GChrome are discussed here. Indeed a good read
DoS vulnerability hits Google's Chrome, crashes with all tabs
Google Chrome vulnerable in carpet-bombing flaw
Google Chrome, the security tid-bits

Microsoft has incidentally released, as expected, buggy next IE, IE8.
Details here: A look at Microsoft's release of IE8 beta 2


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Office Hair by Chrome Window

GChrome: Sure all have heard already about Google's release of yet another product - Google Chrome, its new browser. Few highlights are there, but it still has quite a long way to go to become best. But we do know it will live upto it.

• News on Google Chrome
• its Download page.

Few things that I liked hearing about it are: Non empty blank page on New Tab or Window, Thumbnails preview of most visited sites, Contents of this page, all-in-one search box...

HairCare: Who does not want to look good with hair on top of our scalp. But its always the lack of info that leads to that situation or maintains us there or worsens as expected. Dr. Reddy's has come out with a site to popularize the facts of this Hair Loss and its treatment. Went through the site. Was impressive. Here is the link (Hair Aware). Worth a go.


Web Windows Office Live: Ah! Microsoft's answer to Google Docs - Web based access to Microsoft office utilities. Folder Explorer UI looks similar to GDocs. Did not work out any documents on it. They claim one can have 1000+ documents online. Arent we happy with unlimited documents online with GDocs! Here is the link. For logging-in, you do not have to have a Windows LiveID, any mail id can be used as a log in.

Microsoft products - subscription basis?

Microsoft is going to sell its products on subscription basis starting mid-July - Microsoft Office + OneCare for $70 per year. This, they hope, will reduce piracy of their products. At the same, help consumers with easy upgradation of their newer release as well.

Many say, with this move, Microsoft will be improving Google's popularity with GDocs!

Story here.