windows 8.1 Archives

3 Tips For Budgeting and Taxes Using Windows Apps #WindowsChampions

April 2, 2014 by Momstart Leave a Comment

I’m a Windows Champion and receive devices and information to share with my readers.

Whether you’re interested in maximizing your refund or streamlining your finances for the year ahead, apps from Windows and Windows Phone have your back.

1. Check Your Status

Everyone has the same question as they’re filing their taxes – what’s my refund going to be?! Apps on Windows and Windows Phone remove the guesswork. Try TaxCaster on Windows Phone, utilizing the same calculator found in TurboTax, to quickly enter some basic information and watch your refund amount add up. Once you’ve filed, MyTaxRefund on Windows will allow you to quickly check the status of your return and give you an immediate estimate of when you can expect your refund.

2. Make the Most of Your Refund

Sure, you’ve probably already made plans for how you want to spend some of your refund once you get it. What about the rest? Invest and maximize your refund with Bing Finance on Windows Phone and Windows, which helps you stay on top of fast-changing market conditions so you can make the most informed financial decisions. Keep an eye on all of your investments with SigFig, and sync all of your accounts in one place to track all of your stocks, funds, 401ks and IRAs in real time, available on Windows and Windows Phone.

3. Budget Tips

Get in the mood to save more money for next tax season. On both Windows and Windows Phone, Mint helps you understand where you’re spending your money with helpful charts and graphs that make saving easy. Use Billminder on your Windows Phone or laptop to keep an eye on all of your monthly bills so you never miss a payment (and know how much you have left to spend!). Save for the next step of your life with MoBu Financial Management on Windows Phone and Windows. MoBu allows you to view your current financial assets as well as the opportunity to simulate your future savings with how much you can save in 5, 10, or 20 years!

Ways To Stay Up To Date with March Madness Using Windows Apps #WindowsChampions

April 1, 2014 by Momstart Leave a Comment

I’m a windows champion and receive devices and information to share with my readers.

Apps from Windows and Windows Phone will ensure that you not only stay on top of your game, but every game, amidst the madness this March.

Follow every remarkable three-pointer, every blind-siding upset, every single score and every heart stopping finish with NCAA March Madness Live on Windows and Windows Phone, or Bing Sports on Windows and Windows Phone. Whether you’re stuck at work or trapped running errands, it doesn’t matter anymore. Get up-to-the-minute score updates on-the-go from ScoreMobile on Windows Phone or CBS Sports, on both Windows and Windows Phone. Itching for an instant replay? Catch every basket with WatchESPN on Windows wherever you are, and check out The ESPN App, also on Windows, to supplement your experience with deeper analysis on your favorite teams.

Make sure you’re not the one missing out on any of the insanity this month.

Windows 8.1 Apps For Your Spring Cleaning Needs #WIndowsChampions

March 30, 2014 by Momstart Leave a Comment

I’m a Windows Champion and received products and information to share with my readers.

Spring has sprung or is still trying to spring and getting organized and cleaning out is at the top of my list. I’ve already cleaned out my garage, or at least cleaned out the first layer of my garage. Now I want to clean my finances, computer, files and rest of the house. Here are some Windows 8.1 apps that can help you with all of your Spring Cleaning organizational needs.

Mint: (available on Windows and Windows Phone) Offers a simple and organized way to get your finances in order and keep you on track. Set budgets, track accounts, set helpful financial reminders, track when bills are due, and do more with your money. Just link your accounts and multi-touch graphs quickly show where your money is going.

HealthVault (available on Windows and Windows Phone): Take control of your health and keep your most important health information at your fingertips with HealthVault for Windows. Track progress toward health goals, manage weight by tracking exercise and diet, monitor health information, and even discover trends in your health and fitness!

Tasks by Telerik (available on Windows and Windows Phone): Put an end to the chaos in your personal affairs with the Tasks app. It will become your best friend for planning, organizing and monitoring the progress of all your projects.

OneNote (available on Windows and Windows Phone): The key to keeping your life organized! Take notes that save to the cloud so you have them when you need them and easily sync to your Windows Phone for quick access anywhere.

AboutOne (available on Windows and Windows Phone): This popular organizing app gives you fast and easy access to the information you need to take care of your family, budget and home. Easily link to appropriate contacts when you’re organizing household paperwork or managing memories, and synchronize between your Windows device and smartphone.

ReadingList (available on Windows and Windows Phone): With IE11 and Windows 8.1, reading across devices is simple as the app and site work together side by side. The Reading List app in Windows 8.1 remembers where you left off and allows you up to pick right back up at that spot, from any of your Windows 8.1 devices. When you’re finished reading, simply swipe the article away to move on.

My Wine Lists (available on Windows ): Pair food and wine like a Sommelier! Track your favorite wines, find the perfect food pairing, and share with your friends! Search over 50,000 wines to create your own virtual cellar.

NovaMind Mind Mapping (available on Windows): Visualize your information by putting your ideas in an attractive and interactive visual format. Create to-do lists, brainstorm new ideas, plan your work, problem solve, see the big picture, and drill down important details.

SkyDrive (recently re-branded as OneDrive; available on Windows and Windows Phone): Store any file on SkyDrive and it’s automatically available to access or share from any device. With SkyDrive, your files in the cloud are just a touch away. You can easily view, upload and share your files on SkyDrive, and even access your SkyDrive files across Windows apps.

Spring Cleaning with Dell’s 8.1 Venue 8 Pro #WindowsChampion

March 29, 2014 by Momstart Leave a Comment

I’m a Windows Champion and received a Dell 8.1 Venue as part of my membership

There’s no better way to get a head start on organizing your life than using the latest technology from Dell & Microsoft! Although the arrival of spring is daunting to most, Dell’s new Windows 8.1-based Venue 8 Pro, XPS 11 and XPS 18 all offer unique tech gadgets to help simplify and reinvigorate the often grueling process of de-cluttering before summer.

Have you ever dreamt of a portable device that would allow you to manage your home improvement projects, complete your tax returns, touch up your latest PowerPoint presentation for work, and then kick your feet up and watch Netflix on when it’s all said and done? Dell’s Venue 8 Pro is an 8-inch tablet perfect for being on-the-go, allowing you to access all of your work and play essentials on a sleek and slim, lightweight device that can be held in one hand – it features all-day battery life to boot!

Keep calm, take a deep breath and ~~don’t~~ flip out! You heard us right – Dell’s acrobatic XPS 11 is a 2-in-1 that features an innovative hinge allowing 360-degree rotation, enabling you to smoothly transition from tablet to laptop in seconds. And it’s not just any 2-in-1: at 2.5 lbs and measuring less than half an inch thin, it’s the world’s lightest, thinnest and most compact 11-inch convertible. Its flexibility and QHD touch display empowers you to entertain or multitask, no matter what life throws at you.

Dell’s XPS 18 is the world’s thinnest and lightest portable all-in-one desktop, making it easy to move from room-to-room when working on the fly. It features an 18.4-inch full HD touch display, perfect for viewing and creating digital floor plans, comparing vibrant paint samples, ordering furniture and accessories – and when the projects are done, you can run a loop of photos from your last family vacation on your room’s new tech centerpiece.

Celebrate Dr. Seuss Birthday with Windows 8.1 Apps #WindowsChampions

March 5, 2014 by Momstart Leave a Comment

In celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, I wanted to find some apps that you could also find for Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 that also celebrate the birthday of our favorite cat. I found five apps that are great for you and your child to get into the world of Dr. Seuss.

The Cat In The Hat:

On a cold and wet day, two children are visited by a mischievous cat, wearing a tall, red and white-striped hat. To entertain the children, the Cat performs wacky tricks, creating a mess of the house. Will mother find out about the Cat and see the mess?
"I know some good games we could play,"
Said the cat
"I know some new tricks,"
Said the Cat in the Hat.…

Features:

Three reading modes: Read to Me, Read it Myself, Auto Play
Picture / Word association — words zoom up and are spoken when pictures are touched
Individual words highlight and are read aloud when tapped
Professional audio narration
Custom background audio for each scene

The Lorax:

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not,” proclaims The Lorax in this cautionary tale of greed and environmental destruction. The story recounts how the Lorax tries to save the Truffula Forest and its inhabitants from disaster at the hands of an insatiable factory owner. The Lorax’s pleas are ignored and tragedy follows. A Dr. Seuss classic, it also serves as an ecological warning that st…

Features:

Three reading modes: Read to Me, Read it Myself, Auto Play
Picture / Word association — words zoom up and are spoken when pictures are touched
Individual words highlight and are read aloud when tapped
Professional audio narration
Custom background audio for each scene

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish

"Did you ever fly a kite in bed? Did you ever walk with ten cats on your head?"
Such are the profound questions posed in this well-loved Dr. Seuss classic. Through his rhymes and riddles, Seuss’s intention is clear: teach children to read in a way that is both entertaining and educational. From a one-humped Wump and Mister Gump to yellow pets called the Zeds with one hair upon their heads, children will be entranced–so a…

Features:

Three reading modes: Read to Me, Read it Myself, Auto Play
Picture / Word association — words zoom up and are spoken when pictures are touched
Individual words highlight and are read aloud when tapped
Professional audio narration
Custom background audio for each scene

Green Eggs and Ham – Dr. Seuss

"Would you eat them in a box? Would you eat them with a fox?"
This timeless Dr. Seuss classic has been delighting readers since 1960. Sam-I-am never gives up trying to convince his friend that green eggs and ham are a tasty treat. He tries everything – in a house, with a mouse, in a box, with a fox, with a goat, on a boat – to no avail. Then finally, finally his friend caves in… and tries them. And guess what? "I…

Features:

Three reading modes: Read to Me, Read it Myself, Auto Play
Picture / Word association — words zoom up and are spoken when pictures are touched
Individual words highlight and are read aloud when tapped
Professional audio narration
Custom background audio for each scene

How The Grinch Stole Christmas:

The Grinch hates Who-ville’s holiday celebrations, and plans to steal all the presents to prevent Christmas from coming. But the Grinch soon discovers the true meaning of the holiday, changing his heart forever.
New features only available in this omBook include professional narration, background audio and enlarged artwork for each scene. To promote reading in young children, individual words are highlighted as the story is read and words zoom up when pictures are touched. By combining the or…

Features:

Three reading modes: Read to Me, Read it Myself, Auto Play
Picture / Word association — words zoom up and are spoken when pictures are touched
Professional audio narration
Custom background audio for each scene

Ways to Protect Your Children & Your Security On The Computer

February 25, 2014 by Momstart Leave a Comment

My daughter has asked us to give her a computer that she can have in her room. She said she wants to chat with her friends on-line. I was sort of shocked because she’s in first grade. Are first graders really on-line already? We told her that she can use the family computer but she’s going to be supervised. I guess I have to face that fact that Kids are now growing up in the digital age where they are on computers and mobile devices earlier, it is important that we teach our kids good computer security practices early.

We use Windows 8.1 and with Windows we are able to set up children’s accounts and each child has their own account. In this account we can set permissions on what they are able to do. Which games they can play and what websites they can view are completely under our control. Plus we receive a weekly report on what they do. I love this feature.

Now, perhaps you don’t have Windows 8 or higher and want to know how to protect your children. With constant security breaches in the news, it is important to teach your family the importance of being safe online and keeping devices secure. VP of Marketing for Siber Systems, creators of password management software RoboForm, and Father, Bill Carey, can offer some advice and tips for practices that can benefit your family’s younger computer users and I asked him to share a few with us.

· When you’re done with using a website, log off and close your browser. This will prevent others from gaining access to your account.

· Create passwords that are at least 6 to 8 characters long!

· Create passwords with combinations of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters.

· Try the ‘First Letter’ method when creating new passwords. Take the first letter of your favorite expression, lyric, poem or movie, etc, and put them together in a creative way. For example: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star would become TTLS.

· Don’t choose or change your passwords on a public computer or in a public place such as a café or a library.

· Avoid logging into websites on publically used computers such as library computers or Internet Café computers.

Free Disney Games Windows Phone & Windows 8/8.1 Machines #WindowsChampions

January 14, 2014 by Momstart Leave a Comment

I’m a Windows Champion an ambassador for Microsoft and when I see deals like this I have to share them with you. I do occasionally receive products to review as an ambassador.

FYI, for those you out there looking for some decent games for your Surface or Windows Phone, Disney has made several of their titles free for a limited time. Some of these I already have and my kids love. The one they love the most I think is Where’s My Perry!

So what are you waiting for, load up your Kid Zone, and tablets today! (Kids Zone is a great way to let your kids play on your phone and it’s completely protected)

Windows 8/8.1

Where’s My Perry

Toy Story: Smash It!

Avengers Initiative

Where’s My Mickey? XL

Windows Phone 8

Using Windows 8.1 Tablets In The Kitchen: The Belkin Tablet Stand

December 13, 2013 by Momstart 1 Comment

I wonder if you’re like me….

So it’s time to cook, or bake or you’re in a major hurry to get dinner done and you need a recipe so you look on the computer and your printer doesn’t print, or you don’t want to waste the paper. SO you use your computer, but if your husband were to come home and see the tablet on the counter he would FREAK!!!

(He’s afraid I’m going to spill something on it, with good reason but I don’t like to run back and fourth from the living room) So, AT&T actually came to my rescue with the Belkin tablet stand.

Tablet Chef Stand + Stylus ($40): Made especially for use in the kitchen, the Chef Stand + Stylus gives you the freedom to interact with your tablet while you cook—without worrying about touching your device with messy hands.

Look at all the counter space I got back too by using it. You do also have the option of getting a mount.

Tablet Cabinet Mount ($50): Bring your tablet into the kitchen without cluttering the counter. The Kitchen Cabinet Mount helps keep your tablet in view and securely suspended on any cabinet or shelf.

I tested out the stylus and I like it. It’s nice and chunky so it’s harder to drop, easy to grip even with slick dirty fingers. I was working with peanut butter so my hands were sticky and that saved my screen.

The case-compatible stand has a non-slip rubber base and two different angles that are ideal for countertop use. The wand allows you to follow recipes and browse the Internet without ever laying a finger on your screen. It comes with its own storage stand and is easy to grab while you’re busy handling food and other kitchen equipment. The magnetic tip works with any touchscreen and can be used to wake up an iPad® too.

I’m using the stand with my Lenovo Yoga and it’s a tight fit but it does fit. It’s awesome!

And don’t forget all the great cooking apps, like AllRecipes, How to Cook Everything, Butterball Cookbook Plus (essential this time of year), and the ever-popular Epicurious. And, More than one-third of American adults now own a tablet computer, almost double the rate from a year ago, according to a report published by the Pew Internet Center.

Windows 8.1 Apps You Should Be Using #WindowsChampions

November 7, 2013 by Momstart 1 Comment

I’m a Windows Champion and receive information and devices for review.

Windows 8.1 Apps you should be using!

Facebook: Keeping up with your friend is easier and more convenient than ever before with the official Facebook app available now on Windows 8.1. Get notifications on likes and comments, get updates on your Start screen, share photos and updates, and even have group conversations!

When I finally realized I had this app I was pretty impressed. You can still view Facebook from your browser or you can use an app, it’s your choice.

Netflix: Watch all your favorite TV shows and movies wherever you are as part of your Netflix membership! Browse sections, search titles and instantly watch as many TV episodes & movies as you want, as often as you want, anytime you want. What you start watching on one device, you can easily resume watching on another.

We don’t have a TV in our room so whenever I need to watch a movie from upstairs…..

Hulu Plus: Look no further than Hulu Plus to access the latest shows and acclaimed movies. Get unlimited instant streaming to shows like Modern Family, New Girl, Family Guy, and many more. Pin your favorite shows for instant access from the Start screen, and watch from full screen or snap to the side and watch while you work.

Adobe Photoshop Express: On-the-go photo editing was never so fun, fast and cool! Touch your way to better looking pictures with automatic fixes and filters, then upload to Adobe Revel to sync photos across your devices.

This is an amazingly easy to use app. I also love Fotor.

Nook: Get an incredible reading experience and choose from over 3 million NOOK books on your Windows 8.1 tablet and PC. Customize your reading experience to view books with different fonts, line spacing and themes, turn pages with the flick of a finger or jump to any page. Nook even comes loaded with free book samples!

Or any other reading app, like the Kindle App.

How TO Take a Screenshot in Windows 8.1 #windowschampions

October 9, 2013 by Momstart Leave a Comment

Disclosure: I’m a Windows Champion and receive products to review.

Whenever I use Windows and I need to take a screen shot I’ve been using the Snipping Tool. However, with the introduction of Windows 8 I found that I could only using the snipping tool within the desktop portion of the operating system. So how does one take a screen shot in Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 without using the Snipping tool?

To take a screen shot you will hit the Windows Start Key and the Print Screen button (PrtSc)

The screen will go dark and then you will find a new screen shot in the screen shots folder inside of the pictures folder that is located in your libraries.

Then I did a search using the search charm and took a picture of my results. Because once you are using the search charm you are in the app portion of operating system.

So I love this, because now when I’m reviewing an app like my favorite app fotor, I can do a tutorial by taking screen shots.