Allow me to introduce you to Learning Snacks from Microsoft.  Learning Snacks are small educational introductions that are in small chunks of information instead of a long drawn out lesson plans.

They allow you to consume the information much quicker and then move on.

The first Learning Snack I want to share with you is about working with information on your Windows 7 system.

This module covers:

Microsoft has recently posted an update for Bing Maps that will let you view map data in a three dimensional view to help you locate what your looking for:

Bing Maps 3D brings you another step closer to knowing "what it is like out there". You can search, browse, and organize local information viewed in three dimensions, just the way it exists in the real world. This enables you to . . . → Read More: Bing Maps 3D]]> Tweet

Microsoft has recently posted an update for Bing Maps that will let you view map data in a three dimensional view to help you locate what your looking for:

Bing Maps 3D brings you another step closer to knowing "what it is like out there". You can search, browse, and organize local information viewed in three dimensions, just the way it exists in the real world. This enables you to more effectively find the data that is relevant to you, making Bing Maps more useful than ever. Even better — it’s just plain fun!

Supported Operating Systems: Windows Vista; Windows XP

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, Windows Internet Explorer 7 or later, or Firefox 2.0 or later
• 250 MB or more hard disk space
• A 1 GHz processor (2.8 GHz or faster recommended)
• 256 MB of system memory (1 GB recommended)
• 32 MB video card (256 MB recommended) that supports Microsoft DirectX 9
• A high speed or broadband Internet connection

Add realistic 3D capabilities to your online Bing Maps.

Related Posts:

• Bing Toolbar – The Toolbar Formerly Known as MSN Toolbar
• Download Internet Explorer 8 Optimized for Bing and MSN
• Bing Mobile App Updated for Windows Mobile 6.X Devices
• Windows Mobile Bing App Updated
• Bing Travel Planner for Outlook

As I usually do, I have been hoarding away RSS feed links and other stories I come across as I browse the web.  Many of these I find interesting or want to explore more in depth later when more time is available – which actually seems very rare.

Anyway, what I tend to do with all these little tidbits is draft up a blog post and thrown the links here and leave . . . → Read More: What I Have Been Reading Lately]]> Tweet

As I usually do, I have been hoarding away RSS feed links and other stories I come across as I browse the web.  Many of these I find interesting or want to explore more in depth later when more time is available – which actually seems very rare.

Anyway, what I tend to do with all these little tidbits is draft up a blog post and thrown the links here and leave it up to you to click on what might also interest you and go from there.

So with that being said – here is a list of things from my current collection:

• Windows Live to replace Mail, Photo Gallery, and Movie Maker in Windows 7
• User Interface: Starting, Launching, and Switching
• Photo Gallery Beta Cheat Sheet
• Microsoft Tinker Extra Released to Windows Vista Ultimate Users
• Yahoo unveils Messenger 9.0
• Usernamecheck knows where your name is still available
• Wallpapers from MSN – Beta
• Live Space Talk Now Available 24/7 On NASA Web Site
• Enhance Windows XP Look & Feel the Easy Way
• Send your name on the Glory Satellite
• Windows Home Server Add-In: WHS Outlook Beta 2
• Nero Liquid TV: TiVo for your PC
• Why Windows Home Server Does Not Use RAID
• Stupid Geek Tricks: Shrink the XP Volume Control
• A New Resource about Windows Update is Available
• The Countdown has begun to the billionth tweet
• Custom Themes for your Micro Blog
• Ford ‘MyKey’ to limit teens’ speed,
• Windows Home Server Add-In: My Movies for Windows Home Server v1.0.0.3
• Flight 4 Launch Update
• What really happens when you shutdown Windows?
• Windows Home Server Add-In Update: TiVo Publisher for Windows Home Server 1.31
• Xbox Fit
• Windows Desktop Search
• Open Office 3.0: download officially out
• Xbox 360 Experience: discounted hard drives and free memory
• I’m a PC – Messenger Theme Pack
• Microsoft to deliver Windows Vista SP2 before Windows 7
• MSN Groups to Close: Windows Live Groups to begin Nov. 17

And that is my inbox caught up with.  The latest stuff is down here on the bottom.  Enjoy!

Related Posts:

• Windows Live Beta Roll Out Is Here Finally
• Windows Live Essentials Beta Released
• Windows Live Essentials and Windows 7
• Link Sharing – El Salvador Version
• Critical Windows Update Released for Vulnerability KB2286198

The Live Search team have just blogged about an update to the main Live Search homepage at http://www.live.com/.

As you can see in the above picture it is a very graphical page now with a high quality picture that not only contains the live search box we have seen in the past but there is also hotspots that you can click on to learn more about the region, object, thing . . . → Read More: New Live Search Homepage Revealed]]> Tweet

The Live Search team have just blogged about an update to the main Live Search homepage at http://www.live.com/.

As you can see in the above picture it is a very graphical page now with a high quality picture that not only contains the live search box we have seen in the past but there is also hotspots that you can click on to learn more about the region, object, thing in the photo background.

The new design features background images that will change frequently, augmented with what we call "hotspots." These interactive areas highlight parts of the image and help you explore search results related to the highlighted area. Users who have tested this new home page have found it both engaging and a great place to start a search.

Related Posts:

• Is Google Directly Copying Bing’s Homepage Background Image Feature?
• My New Twitter Profile Background
• Windows Live Search and Rolex 24 at Daytona
• Get a Free Copy of Windows 7
• CES 2009: Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer Keynote Summary

I love it when elements of my geekness cross paths with other areas of my life which have absolutely nothing to do with computers, etc.

Yesterday I attended the beginning of the Rolex 24 Hour Race at Daytona International Speedway with a friend.  After spending a few hours walking around the garages, pit road and the fan zone (amazing how much access they allow you to have) we went to  watch the . . . → Read More: Windows Live Search and Rolex 24 at Daytona]]> Tweet

I love it when elements of my geekness cross paths with other areas of my life which have absolutely nothing to do with computers, etc.

Yesterday I attended the beginning of the Rolex 24 Hour Race at Daytona International Speedway with a friend.  After spending a few hours walking around the garages, pit road and the fan zone (amazing how much access they allow you to have) we went to  watch the start of the race from the portion of the track called the Western Horseshoe.

Well as the cars were zipping around I noticed that one of them had a Windows Vista Orb on the side and so I tried to get a good picture of it from that spot and missed it.

However, just before we left for the day we were at Turn 4 of the speedway and I was just snapping shots as cars came by during a race caution and I got a couple of great shot of the Windows Live Search car as it went by.

P1263310

P1263310a

P1263320a

The team is called Team Seattle. The sponsorship by Microsoft certainly makes sense considering where they are based.

Another mingling of technologies is that I used SnapFoo.com to post pictures throughout the day.  You can see all of them at the above link.  I will posting some additional photos later today that I took with my Blackjack and did not upload initially.  By the way, if your interested I have a few invites to SnapFoo.com – just leave a comment and I will give them out until they are gone.

Related Posts:

• New Live Search Homepage Revealed
• Windows Live Writer Technical Preview Available for Download
• Windows Live Mesh for Everyone!
• Update to Windows Live Mesh Released
• Is Windows Seven for Real?