Entries Tagged as 'Microsoft Stuff'

Microsoft Activity Management Software

United States Patent Application: 0070300174

A unique monitoring system and method is provided that involves monitoring user activity in order to facilitate managing and optimizing the utilization of various system resources. In particular, the system can monitor user activity, detect when users need assistance with their specific activities, and identify at least one other user that can assist them. Assistance can be in the form of answering questions, providing guidance to the user as the user completes the activity, or completing the activity such as in the case of taking on an assigned activity. In addition, the system can aggregate activity data across users and/or devices. As a result, problems with activity templates or activities themselves can be more readily identified, user performance can be readily compared, and users can communicate and exchange information regarding similar activity experiences. Furthermore, synchronicity and time-sensitive scheduling of activities between users can be facilitated and improved overall.

What a PITA and resource hog. It would be interesting to see whether this comes out of the Microsoft Research usability team.

Multiple category test

Testing multiple category post from inside Microsoft Word.

Overblown tech headline of the day

Wired News: Microsoft Readies Its IPod Killer

SEATTLE — Microsoft said on Friday it plans to release a new music and entertainment player and accompanying software under the “Zune” brand this year, in a belated attempt to challenge the dominance of Apple Computer’s iPod player.

Microsoft confirmed the plans for an entertainment device and software in a statement after touting those products to record companies in recent months.

The world’s largest software maker faces an uphill climb in closing the gap on Apple’s iPod media player and iTunes Music Store, the runaway leaders in their respective areas.

The iPod holds more than half of the digital media player market, according to research company NPD, while iTunes accounts for over 70 percent of U.S. digital music sales.

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Bill Gates & Warren Buffett

have made all the other billionaires on the planet look like a bunch of self-indulgent punks.

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Test post from OneNote 2007

Wow! This is great!

Test from Word 2007

Test from Word 2007.

Prevent Windows apps from Stealing Focus

Wow — I just learned there is a Windows XP PowerToy from Microsoft called TweakUI that lets you prevent apps from “stealing focus,” i.e. jumping to the top of screen no matter what you are doing in another window. This is a huge productivity gain for me! I hate the way XP allows apps to steal focus by default.