"The Windows Guy"

Hello! I'm the public sector Windows Technical Solutions Specialist at Microsoft in the UK; anything I find that I think is useful when it comes to Windows I'll post here! If you want to find out more about me head over to my personal blog, or follow me on Twitter!

[thewindowsguy]

Windows 8 Demo - Windows To Go - HD

This video is property of Microsoft, I was just wanting to share the capabilities of one of my many favorite features in Windows 8. I will continue to recomm...

[thewindowsguy]

Typing numbers and symbols easily in Windows 8.1

jamesbmarshall's video on Instagram

I sat in on a session last week all about Windows 8.1. One of the improvements in the OS is in the on-screen keyboard.

Notice how above each letter of the top row there's a number? You can press and hold on a letter to bring up a little menu of all the secondary characters that letter can type. I'll bet you didn't know that you can simply swipe up in order to type a number though! It makes switching from letters to numbers incredibly quick and painless and means you don't have to lose your flow to switch to the number pad and back.

If you have a touch device running Windows 8.1, give it a go!

[jamesbmarshall]

I update this every day. Only 40 days until #WindowsXP end of support! #microsoft

[thewindowsguy]

Windows Store Apps - A Deployment Guide for Education

Explore Windows Store app deployment strategies and considerations for educational institutions running Windows 8.1/Windows 8.

[thewindowsguy]

How to Setup A Basic Minecraft Server on Windows Azure

A very rough and ready guide on how to setup a Basic Minecraft Server running on a Windows Azure Virtual Machine. http://www.minecraft.net Windows Azure - Po...

So this is slightly off-topic as it's not strictly Windows 8; however, this is a fun example of how Windows Azure virtual machines can be used to create a Minecraft server "in the cloud".

[thewindowsguy]

The Microsoft UK Blog for schools, featuring news for schools from Microsoft, case studies within education, and education ICT advice

[thewindowsguy]

http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/windowsexperience/archive/2014/01/29/top-5-tweaks-to-make-windows-8-1-feel-more-familiar.aspx

Lots of useful tips in here. If you've never tried Windows 8.1, maybe it is time to give it a go!

[thewindowsguy]

8 Reasons Why Your Next Tablet Should Be A Microsoft Surface

All excellent reasons!

[thewindowsguy]

Calculator² app for Windows 8

Learn more about Calculator² by Richard Walters and download it from the Windows Store

I tweeted earlier about how I still loved using my "old-school" scientific calculator - in fact, I use it more now that I ever did when I was in school!

One of my followers, and colleagues here at Microsoft, quickly reminded me of this fantastic calculator modern app for Windows 8/8.1. It's free, ad-supported (can be removed with a paid 'upgrade' for £1.39), and works really well in snap view. 

I've not spent a huge amount of time using it just yet - I only installed it today; however, I'm really impressed on first look.

[thewindowsguy]

Windows RT 8.1 - Deployment Guide for Education

Deploying Windows RT 8.1 A guide for education January 2014

Really detailed and informative guide on deploying Windows RT into education (although really mainly K-12 rather than FE or HE).

Well worth a read if you're thinking of buying Windows RT devices for your school!

[thewindowsguy]

6 Tips for Mastering Microsoft’s Surface Pro

If you’ve got your hands on Microsoft’s Surface Pro, there are a variety of things you should know. These tricks span everything from hidden keyboard shortcuts and freeing up disk space to using the pen and connecting standard headsets.

[katieh91]

The snap function in Windows 8 and 8.1 is one of my favourite for productivity, which all students can do with a helping hand in! Some of these features are only available in 8.1, so if you haven’t updated yet but are interested, drop me a note and I’ll give you hand.

P.S. Apologies for the shaky video, my stand isn’t working so it’s all handheld today!

[thewindowsguy]

Great little video from one of our Windows student ambassadors, Katie, on snap view in Windows 8/8.1. I love this feature; especially on my Dell Venue 8 Pro!

[thewindowsguy]

Give your users some useful pointers with Work Smart Guides

Dealing with the user-impact of change is probably the most challenging part of any IT project. Technology does what you tell it to, but people are unpredictable and they don't like it when things change.

Helpfully Microsoft IT has made available some great "Work Smart" guides that can be used to help your users get up to speed quickly and easily on the latest versions of Windows, Office, and other concepts like collaboration in SharePoint, using Direct Access, email best practice, and so on.

Work Smart productivity guides for Windows 8

Work Smart Guide Zip download

[jamesbmarshall]

I really love this. Switching apps on several devices at once! #windows8.1 #microsoft #bett2014 #apps

[thewindowsguy]

Pretty awesome demonstration of our technology.

This demo stand is up at our BETT Show stand to show off some of our education apps really quickly, easily and interactively. I love stuff like this!

[elmelenitas-blog]

[thewindowsguy]

Great to see these resources released for free!

[thewindowsguy]

Education app collection now in Windows Store

Great news if you're looking for some education apps for Windows 8 / 8.1.

[thewindowsguy]

Chris Jackson's Application Compatibility (App Compat) Blog