Microsoft — MomStart

Summer Travel Trends From Microsoft

May 5, 2012 By Momstart 24 Comments

I’m going on a road trip thanks to Microsoft in June and I’m starting to think about what all I need to take with me. Of course on my list is my laptop, my Windows Phone for GPS and some electronic toys for the kids. Sometimes I wish my children had their own laptops already. They always want to play on mine. While I’m sorting out my list I’ll be sure to share the results with you soon, for now I wanted to share these stats with you from Microsoft.

Men are nearly two times more likely to spend five or more hours on their laptop than females or 22% of travelers list unanswered emails as one of their top 5 stresses when returning home from vacation.

57% admit to looking at someone else’s laptop on a plane, so make sure you’ve got the best looking PC in your row. If your curious which PCs are the best for traveling, consider one of the following models:

Lenovo U300: For those of you who are stylish but still want a powerful PC with exquisite design and smart innovations this model is a great option and its simple to purchase online at the MicrosoftStore.com for $1199

Samsung Second Generation Series 9: Remember the Samsung 9 we talked about months ago? Now, its 20% thinner than before with brighter HD display screen, up to 7 hours of battery life and a 15 second boot time. For sale online for $1499

Asus Zenbook UX31: Elegant, mobile and ultra-fast and with razor-thin edges, the Asus UX31 has a curved center section and new rose gold color which provide beauty and strength in complete balance and harmony. Find this online at the MicrosoftStore.com for $1499.

Arc Touch Mouse: The Arc Touch Mouse is the first mouse designed to flatten for portability and pop up for comfort, making it ideal for anyone on the go. Scrolling is faster and easier with a touch scroll strip, where the flick of a finger starts hyper-fast scrolling and a simple tap brings it to a stop. Price: $59.95

If you are a traveler on a dime, but still want something to keep you connected on the road, check out these budget friendly PCs:

Dell Inspiron 14z: Get more from your busy life with the thin, sleek and fun Inspiron 14z. Its compact, thin aluminum design packs impressive productivity and entertainment features you want at the right price. Price: Starting at $599

Acer Aspire One 722: The 11.6" Aspire One 722 is sensationally designed to deliver amazing HD visual experiences wherever you go. Anytime, anywhere connectivity on Windows 7, plus an eco-friendly platform, round out this netbook and make it ideal for your highly mobile digital lifestyle. Price: Starting at $369

36% of those surveyed have lost vacation photos in the past. While on the road, make sure you are backing up your photos to SkyDrive so they’ll be there when you get home.

Save your photos in the cloud while you are on vacation to ensure your memories are safe and sound. With Windows Live SkyDrive, you can store or share media privately and securely, meaning that whether you’re in New York or Tokyo, you get the same great experience at your convenience. Start by setting up your account here, Hotmail users are already set up. From there, click “add files” and then your photos there with one click. So easy!

This was brought to you by Microsoft and I’m a Windows Champion.

Filed Under: Tech, travel Tagged With: Microsoft, tech, travel, windows champion

Miles Modeling Microsoft Mice

April 22, 2012 By Momstart 34 Comments

Tongue twister or not it’s true, my son was a model for Microsoft Hardware and he modeled laptops and mice. As any four year old is unpredictable from one moment to the next, my son is no exception. When we arrived that the shoot the stylist asked me what I expected and I said, with him, I have no idea.

He started out a little scared and not sure of what he was doing. He was asked to go sit with another little girl and pretend she was his sister and he said, no she’s not. He wouldn’t sit with her so they told him to go take his first break. He was working or rather not working for even five minutes and he got to take a break.

Source: Uploaded by user via Windows on Pinterest

Kristina (Windows Champion Handler) who loves Miles was able to get him distracted and he decided he would pretend the little girl was his sister after all. It helped that she was really sweet and tickled him to get him to smile a little. They took a few shots and then he got another break. Inside the house of the stylist there was food of all kinds which also helped Miles and his mood. He loves to eat.

This photo shoot took place at the stylist’s house and at a park really close to her house. She made all the preparations, she purchased clothes for all the kids at a second hand store and they all looked like they stepped out of a fashion magazine. I didn’t get Miles’ size to her in enough time so he wore his own clothes but he still looked amazing. She worked on getting the clothes looking just right and the hair had to be perfect. Crazy thing was, she wanted the hair to also look natural and for them to still look like kids. So Miles’ hair in those photos, that’s his natural hair, she didn’t do anything to his hair except run her fingers through it.

Once we got to the park, Miles started hamming it up. He really got into it and wanted to be in every picture. When he wasn’t taking pictures he was digging in the bag of food that Kristina brought for him. At the very end he even gave his sister directions for a perfect photo.

So seeing these adorable children with Mice and computers, does it make you want to go out and get a new mouse or laptop to match your new outfit?

Source: Uploaded by user via Windows on Pinterest

I’m a Windows Champion and this opportunity was presented to me as a behind the scenes of a modeling shoot. Miles was paid.

Filed Under: personal Tagged With: Kristina Libby, Microsoft, miles, Miles Model, modeling, personal, windows champion

Simply Stylish Tech Gifts for the Superhero Mom

April 21, 2012 By Momstart 20 Comments

Being the huge fan of Marvel’s The Avengers movie that is coming out May 4th right before my birthday that I am, I had to share this list of tech savvy gifts for the superhero mom that Microsoft sent to me. So if you’re looking for a mother’s day present for the superhero in your life than look no further for we have a great list of computers and accessories to fit her lifestyle right here.

Sony Vaio E: Whether open or closed, the VAIO® E Series laptop is irresistibly tempting to touch. Go right ahead; the diamond-shaped pattern embossed on the lid and matching palm rests is not only alluring, it’s fingerprint-free. Offered in two sizes—14" and 15.5"—and four distinctive colors, the E Series draws you in with its sweet aesthetics, but holds your attention with a luxe feature set and the smarts to tackle any task. Purchase this PC online for $459

HP Omni 27: Simply powerful and incredibly big—the HP Omni 27 has HP’s biggest and best screen yet. The all new deisgn of this distinctive all-in-one PC features a simple profile and a beautiful edge-to-edlge glasss monitor. Purchase this PC online for $1199.99

Lenovo U300: Style and Responsivness: Combine your impeccable sense of style and your need for substance with a laptop that showcases exquisite design and smart innovations. Purchase online at the MicrosoftStore.com for $1199

Explorer Touch Mouse Limited Edition: The sleek and chic Explorer Touch Mouse is the perfect gift for the multi-tasking Mom. It’s wireless so she has room to move without worrying about tangled wires and speeds up everyday tasks with a Touch Strip optimized for quick vertical and horizontal scrolling, letting you easily navigate spreadsheets, long documents and web pages. Better yet, it has 5 customizable buttons that let her pick the programs and files she uses most often so they’re literally at her fingertips right when she needs them. Price: $49.95

I’m a Windows Champion and sharing this information with you because I wanted to.

Filed Under: Tech Tagged With: Explorer Touch Mouse Limited Edition, gift ideas, HP Omni 27, Lenovo U300, Microsoft, mother's day tech gift ideas, Sony Vaio E, Windows, windows champion

Pin it to win it: Microsoft’s first Pinterest Sweepstakes

March 30, 2012 By Momstart 6 Comments

I recently discovered that mice come in lots of colors and my kids already both have personal picks when it comes to what color the home mouse should be and it’s all Microsoft’s fault. Microsoft Hardware expanded its collection of Artist Edition mice, by introducing five new designs intended to complement the way our users live, work and play. The new patterns gracing the surfaces of the Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500 and Arc Touch Mouse are designed by five artists who hail from Stockholm to New York City. The new mice show inspiration from the artists’ backyards, cityscapes and local culture to inform their designs. The new artists include: Kenzo Minami Stina Persson Oh Joy! Tchmo and Sally Zou.

In addition to the new artist designs, the Hardware team has also announced several limited edition colors to add a pop of color to your desk or laptop bag. The Explorer Touch Mouse will be available in Dahlia Pink and White, and the Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500 will be available in Aqua Blue, Citron Green, Cobalt Blue, Dahlia Pink, Flame Red, White and Black. If you’d like to take a closer look at the new patterns and colors available, please visit the Arc Touch Mouse, Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500 and Explorer Touch Mouse product pages.

Pin it to win it: Microsoft launched its first Pinterest Sweepstakes around the new Microsoft Hardware mouse designs and colors. To enter the Pinterest sweepstakes, visit the Windows Pinterest page and re-pin one of the new mice designs from our sweepstakes board. Then, simply create your own Pinterest board, using the mice as inspiration. Focus on the colors, the design or your favorite workspace. Mine would be focused on my kids of course.

Lastly, make sure to share a link to your board in the comments section of the Pinterest sweepstakes announcement pin. Microsoft will choose a winner at random from the entrants on March 31^st and alert you via a post in the Pinterest comments section.

This information was provided to me as a Windows Champion.

Filed Under: Announcement Tagged With: mice, Microsoft, mouse, Pinterest

Hunger Games HP Folio 13 Special Edition Laptop

March 22, 2012 By Momstart 1,759 Comments

I’m still super jealous that Ashley was able to go to the movie screening for The Hunger Games and I wasn’t. And I’m not about to wait in line with hundreds of teenagers to see the movie at midnight tonight so I’m just going to have to arrange a date night later this month to see it with my hubby. Since she’s had behind the scenes of The Hunger Games already, she wanted to do the write up for this giveaway. I just felt like I had to add my two scents because I’m equally excited about the movie as she is and I love Microsoft, in partnership with Lionsgate, they launched a Hunger Games movie companion site: The Capitol Tour, letting you experience the movie online with exclusive, behind-the-scenes content that brings the world of Panem to life. If you’re like me and not going to see the movie right away then you can visit The Capitol Tour to unlock never before movie scenes. You may recognize that exact scene from the trailer – many of the places you’ll experience on the Capitol Tour are pulled directly from the movie, giving you early access to the land of Panem.

HUNGER GAMES Special Edition Laptop GIVEAWAY – Are the Odds in Your Favor?

By: Ashley

Yep. You read that right. We are giving away a special edition Hunger Games HP Folio 13. This isn’t just any ordinary computer. This is a quick, sleek, lightweight, fully loaded, business class PC… complete with customized lid. This is not just a decorative skin, but an actual engraving of The Hunger Games movie title and the District 12 logo. This computer is exactly what you need to boast your District pride when visiting the Capitol.

What do I think is most impressive about the HP Folio 13? It is completely portable. When you’re traveling from district to district, running from a flaming fireball, or maybe even a genetically engineered monster, this computer is only 3.3 pounds, has a rubbery grip bottom, and 9 hours of battery life! Lightweight and a strong battery? That’s what every tribute needs!

SUPER fast start up time is also a great feature of this PC. My home district wasn’t big on technology, so when I read that the HP Folio 13 had a 128 GB solid state drive, I didn’t realize that meant lightning-fast bootup, shut down, and sleep-resume times. Now I know that the 128 GB solid state drive outperforms standard hard drives.

Maybe you’re more in the mood for some entertainment. Well the HP Folio 13 can handle that, too. The Intel HD Graphics 3000 with shared graphics memory and the Dolby Advanced Audio built in speakers will fill whatever arena you’re in.

Want to know more? Here are the product specs direct from the Microsoft Store.

This Hunger Games HP Folio 13 is obviously not just any old computer. To top it all off, this is a Microsoft Signature product. That means it will come ready to go as soon as it’s out of the box. Each PC includes Windows 7, Windows Live Essentials (for your photos, movies, email and more), Zune software and Internet Explorer. The PC is free from all unnecessary trialware and sample software so you can get going with a new computer that looks and acts like a new computer within minutes of unwrapping it! If you have any trouble, no need to worry. You’ve got full Microsoft support for 90 days. That’s all thanks to Microsoft Signature.

So, what are you waiting for? This is a giveaway DEFINITELY worth entering. Winners are selected at random so the odds are in everyone’s favor. Get ready, the world is watching!

This giveaway has ended. Winner to be announced soon!

Disclosure – MomStart and Ashley (of Momicles) are both Windows Champions . The information and prize for this post was provided by Microsoft or a representing PR firm. No compensation was received for this post.

About Ashley: Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and writes her own blog at Momicles.

This Giveaway ends April 23rd. All rules can be found under giveaway rules

Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: giveaway, HP, HP Folio 13, HP Folio laptop, laptop giveaway, Microsoft

Peripherals for Windows and Looking Forward to Windows 8 with Dan Laycock

February 6, 2012 By Momstart 3 Comments

Our last meeting with the Windows Champion team was so informational. I first shared with you ways to remember and think about Data Privacy on-line. The biggest key is to remember that when it’s on-line it’s hard to keep it secret so just be careful what you post on-line. Now I’m happy to share with you a sneak peek into Windows 8 and how peripherals work in the Windows ecosystem already.

Dan Laycock took us in depth with peripherals. Dan is the device guy for the Microsoft Ecosystem team You may be asking what does that mean, it means he makes sure your devices work with a Windows computer. You know printers cameras and TVs. We’re happy he does this because our TV has been hooked up to our computer for five years I think, maybe even longer. Dan’s job is to make sure the Microsoft partners create devices that enhance the Windows 7 experience. And he’s already looking forward to Windows 8.

Key Points to Consider:

Microsoft spends a lot of time working with partners to figure out how to make the PC experience great. By Finding the Windows logo on a product ensures you that it’s a legitimate MS product for hardware. The companies that put products in markets with the compatible with Windows 7 have been tested to ensure a great integrated experience for users. This ensures that the device you are buying will do all the things that it’s supposed to do.

It’s important to note that many products don’t have the Windows logo on their box even though they’ve earned it (companies are able to decide whether they want to include the logo or not). This is important for things like TVs because you don’t always see the box or think about it as something you will connect to a PC

You should also remember to use the Windows 7 Compatibility Center: The Windows 7 Compatibility site stores information on products that have earned the compatibility logo.

Now the exciting part, with Windows 8, there you will see more gadgets compatible with your PC. And I can’t wait for Windows 8 to come out.

The partners and Ecosystems will store apps in the market for easy access to users and to make installing easier. No need to add a CD.

There will be very little work on the your part as the consumer and I’ve noticed over the years that Windows has gotten a lot easier for us anyways. They are always making improvements.

And if you keep up with the Windows Champions during the #Win7Tech chat you will see new devices and more sneak peeks into Windows 8.

Dan’s favorite device: Logitech harmony remote. Dan tweets at: @DanielLaycock find him on #Win7Tech Tuesdays at noon PST.

I’m a member of the Windows Champion Program with Microsoft, this information was provided to me.

Filed Under: Tech Tagged With: Dan Laycock, Microsoft, winchamp, Windows 7 Compatiblity Center, windows champion

IE, Tracking Protection Lists, and Data Privacy with Anurag Pandit

January 31, 2012 By Momstart 2 Comments

Last week I had the opportunity to listen to a chat with Anurag Pandit. Anurag is a Product Manager with the Internet Explorer (IE) team, he looks after the security of the browsers to make sure online users are safe online. He explained what a Tracking Protection List is. I’ve actually never heard of the term before now. I’m sure my husband has mine set up for me and it’s set to not share at all.

“Tracking Protection Lists are like “Do Not Call” lists for third-party content on a website. By adding a “Tracking Protection List,” you can control whether your information is sent to third parties listed on the Tracking Protection List.”

A question was raised should we care who receives this kind of information? I mean do I really care who is watching my browser history. I don’t really care one way or the other really, but I do want to know why that site wants that information. So maybe I do care a little bit.

This WSJ article shows how online tracking is used to collect information and how it can be used by those collecting it
IE’s Tracking Protection Lists help prevent the websites you go to from automatically sending details about your visit to other content providers.
When you have a Tracking Protection List or Personalized Tracking Protection enabled, Internet Explorer 9 will send a Do Not Track preference or signal to the websites you visit. It will also send a Do Not Track preference to the third party websites that provides content on the websites you visit if those third party sites have not been blocked by your Tracking Protection List. Websites may continue to engage in activities you might view as tracking even though you have expressed this preference, depending on the website’s privacy practices.
Regarding Security: Internet Explorer has industry leading security enhancements built into it that can go a long way to help protect users. For example, SmartScreen protection can help block socially engineered malware – the types of malware that use social engineering techniques to trick users and infect computers. A study by NSS labs showed that Internet Explorer 9 was six times more effective against these types of attacks than the next browser.

For more information on how to set up Tracking Protection Lists visit: www.iegallery.com

I participate as a Windows Champion and have opportunities to listen to the experts and love sharing that information with you.

Filed Under: Tech Tagged With: Data Privacy, IE, IE 9, Internet Explorer, Microsoft, Tracking Protection Lists, Windows

SkyDrive Improved Features: Social Sharing, Document Sharing and Editing!

January 1, 2012 By Momstart 14 Comments

I’ve been using SkyDrive for quite a few years now. My husband and I use it to share files so they will be accessible outside of our home network. We share recipes, photos, documents and grocery lists. For notes, documents and recipes we mostly use SkyDrive with OneNote, Microsoft’s note taking software.

Wait, I should tell you what exactly Skydrive is. What is SkyDrive?. Skydrive is an online storage place where you can access and share documents, photos and much much more wherever you are. You can even share a document and use an on-line version of word to edit the document or have your friends who may not own a copy of word on their local machine edit the document and then you both have a copy of it.

I love having it when I’m in the grocery store and my husband has edited the list. It’s easier for both of us when he’s at work and he needs to add something to the grocery list instead of sending me an e-mail because if I have to look at two lists instead of one combined I can guarantee you I’m going forget something at the grocery store.

I remember once that I needed access to some private information while I was on a trip. It was probably some bank account information or a password because my husband would not send it to me over the internet. So what he did was we created a private folder that only the two of us have access to and shared it that way. SkyDrive has folder privileges that you can set up.

Plus they’ve made some recent updates that are really cool and social media savvy! If you have photos on SkyDrive you can share them on Facebook, Linkdn or Youtube to name a few.

You can also create a really nice slideshow of your photos and embed them in your site. A few years ago I would not recommend Skydrive, but now with their newly improved changes I highly recommend using and sharing documents over skydrive. . You can also create a powerpoint presentation and embed that in a website too. COOL! Skydrive is the best way to access content across Windows devices. I love all the improvements they’ve made recently. It’s so much easier to use and much much more versatile. I see Skydrive becoming a blogging tool here in the future since I’ll be able to embed content of all types.

I’m a Windows 7 Champion and attended a webinar with Sony and Microsoft’s SkyDrive.

Filed Under: review Tagged With: Microsoft, oneNote, review, Skydrive, social sharing

Tour The Microsoft Home of the Future!

December 27, 2011 By Momstart 24 Comments

A few weeks ago I visited the Microsoft Home of the future courtesy of Microsoft and Sony, inside this house are some things that aren’t that far from being mass marketed at a price people can afford while other things may still be a little further down in the future.

I missed the introduction to the tour where they explained that everything in the house was a possible item that we might see one day and that they weren’t even really prototypes; just ideas and illusions of what may come. However, I know some of the concepts are already real. For example, the door has a camera on it that sends a message to your phone with video of that person. This item is something that I’ve recently reviewed. Now the one I’ve reviewed needs a light to work in the dark, but there is a service that comes with this camera that sends the live video to your phone (VueZone, an easy to use camera system. Whether it’s to make sure kids are getting homework done or playing safely in the yard, VueZone helps parents stay connected to those they love most. We thought it was pretty cool.) Then after viewing the video at the Microsoft Home of the future you could then use your phone to unlock and open the door if you trust your guest. The house is a smart home that talks to you. You can give it commands and just have a conversation with her, you know like you might have a conversation with your iphone app Siri.

So inside the house you can set the temp, lights, everything by each person’s preference, even grandmas for when she comes to visit. As soon as you enter the house just dump all your devices on the counter and the counter will charge them and link them to the house routing all cell phone calls or message to your house’s interface. In the kitchen you can have a recipe pop up on the counter just by putting a few key ingredients on the counter.

All throughout the house there were different ways to interact with the house and ways for the house to interact with you. The house could keep track of your entire health record and keep track of all your vitals. If you’re the kind of person that keeps up with your heart rate while you’re working out or maybe you’re tracking your sleep habits (zeo) This house puts any kind of technology you can think of at your fingertips. Then just send all the information to the CLOUD and give your doctor access to what you want them to see. Could you imagine being completely in charge of your medical record and having all that information at your fingertips?

One of my favorite features was how you could digitally decorate the walls or have a story come to life as you read it out loud to your children.

Painting a bedroom is a pain in the rear end and yes I LOVE color on the walls. Then if grandma comes to visit and your teenager has to give up their room for her while she’s there all you have to do is tell the house to switch to grandma’s profile and bam the room is ready for grandma. And get this grandma can personalize it even further with locked features that will only appear when she gets there, plus I think the CLOUD – the network – connects all the houses together. So you can keep up with your family no matter how far away they are through your house, kind of creepy and kind of cool at the same time.

What do you think?

Photos & Video are from Microsoft. Thanks to Sony and Microsoft for allowing me to peek inside the house of the future.

Filed Under: review Tagged With: Home of the future, house of the future, Microsoft, Sony, vue, Zeo

Win a trip to CES in Las Vegas in January

December 6, 2011 By Momstart 5 Comments

Microsoft is giving away a trip to Las Vegas in January to CES. Check out the Microsoft Facebook page to enter to win an trip to CES in Las Vegas in January. Think about it, head to Vegas in January to check out some great tech and then relax at the Palazzo pool.

I hope the holiday season is treating you well and that you check out this contest. I know it’s crazy to think about January at this time, but this is such a fabulous convention. You find out all the latest and greatest gadgets from TV’s to touch screen tables. I hope to be able to go to CES as well. I’m not eligible to enter the contest because my husband works at Microsoft, but if you have any interest in technology at all then you should sign up to win a trip to CES or just buy the ticket yourself I promise you won’t regret it. To Enter all you have to do is click on the sweepstakes tab on the Microsoft Facebook page.

I am a Windows Champion and this information was provided by them.

Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: CES, Microsoft