The one good thing about Windows Vista Themes is that customization is entirely possible. And when you can customize you can naturally personalize. That’s right. Vista allows you to select your own themes in a few easy steps. This allows you to tinker with your computer to make it more attractive and less monotonous – when you want it and how you want it.

A Windows Vista theme is simply a group of customized tweeks that span the entire gamut of menu appearance, icons, colors, fonts, screen savers, background, and yes – even paints!

Let’s start with your desktop because it’s the most logical place to start. To select a desktop theme, perform the following steps:

• go to your desktop. In any blank area, right click.
• scroll down to “personalize” and click.
• a dialogue box will come up that says: “Personalize appearance and sounds.” Right below it are seven headers. Choose “theme” which is the sixth item, or second to the last item.
• a dialog box appears with the title “theme settings.”
• under “theme”, you have a small box with a drop down menu. If you click on the arrow, Windows Vista gives you four choices: current theme, Windows Vista, Windows Classic and browse (the browse option allows you to get a theme that you saved in a specific folder. When you choose browse, Vista automatically takes you to your downloads folder where you saved the theme).
• when you click on any of the four choices, you get a preview of the theme. Choose one by clicking “apply” or “OK”. If you don’t like any of what you see and decide to stick to what you have, simply click “cancel” or close the dialog box.

Windows Vista Themes: Few Things Worth Noting

• Windows Vista does not come with a large pre-built bundle of themes. This shouldn’t stop you from creating your own. You can still change the background (or wallpaper), colors, screen saver and how your menu will look. Save what you’ve created by clicking the Save As button. This button is in the dialog box we mentioned earlier called “Theme Settings.”
• Don’t confuse Windows Vista themes with the pre-built themes in Word 2007, Power Point 2007 and Excel 2007. Each of these programs has its own themes bundle.
• If you happen to like a theme you saw on the Web, make sure that your virus program is up-to-date before you download a theme. Some viruses are disguised as themes so be careful.

Remember that even if Word, Excel, and PowerPoint already have predefined document themes, you can create your own by customizing an existing document theme and then saving it as a custom document theme.

If you’re really into themes and like to create your own for fun, then you must be a “skinning fan” (themes are sometimes called skins). According to Andy Rathbone, noted Windows expert, you can use a third party program like WindowBlinds and can download any theme they have at a very modest fee. What’s even better is some of these themes are free. By typing “Windows Vista Themes” in any search engine, you’ll get a whole array of company names that specialize in Vista themes. But like we said, be careful when downloading.

Copyright © MyVistaThemes.com

Page Rank is based on links between your site and other sites, in fact specifically between web pages, since it is links between individual pages rather than complete websites that interests Google. That is because Google lists individual pages and not domains. There is a formula that Google uses to determine the value of each link to your site, which is based on the PageRank of the web page providing the link and also the number of other links leaving that page.

You can see the page Rank in the Google PageRank bar on the Google Toolbar - it is the green bar that shows a numerical value of 0 to 10 when you hover your cursor over it. This value is logarithmic, which means that if it takes 10 links to reach PR 1, then it takes a lot more to reach 2. If Google uses a logarithmic factor of 8, as it might do (nobody knows), then it will take 8 links to your site to get to PR 1, 64 to reach PR 2, 512 to PR 3 and so on. This is very basic, since, as I have stated, it also depends on the PR of the page providing the link and the number of other links leaving that page.

About sound files

Microsoft PowerPoint supports media clips, which include sound and video files. The computer playing your presentation will need a sound card and speakers. That doesn’t mean just the system you use to create the presentation, but any system on which you might play the presentation. Today, most systems come with everything you need, but older systems might need an upgrade. (It’s highly unlikely that you’ll encounter such an old system, but don’t rely on that — check it out first!)

Table A lists the media files PowerPoint supports, although this article deals only with sound files.

Table A: Media support

File	Explanation	Attributes
MIDI	Musical Instrument Digital Interface	Sound
WAV	Microsoft Windows audio format	Sound
MPEG	Motion Picture Exerts Group	Standard video format with a constant frame per second rate
AVI	Microsoft Windows video format	Video format with a constant frame rate per second
GIF	Graphical Interface Format	256 color picture that supports animation.

Like most special effects, sound can catch the attention of your audience and convey a message or emotion in a way words or pictures can’t. On the other hand, used poorly, sound can be distracting or even annoying. As always, your purpose will determine how much, if any, sound your presentation needs.

The basics — inserting sound

Including sound is as simple as selecting a file:

Use existing clips by double-clicking one of the Title, Text and Media Clip layouts from the Slide Layout task pane. Double-click the media clip icon shown in Figure A to launch the Media Clip dialog box.

Figure A

Choose a media slide from the Slide Layout task pane

When you double-click a WAV or MIDI file, PowerPoint displays the prompt shown in Figure B. The options Automatically and When Clicked are self-explanatory.

Figure B

PowerPoint will play the sound file when the slide is current, or you can click the icon to play it

Work with unique sound files by choosing Movies and Sound from the Insert menu and then selecting Sound From File or Sound From Clip Organizer. You can also record sound or play a track from a CD. After selecting a file, PowerPoint prompts you to specify how to execute the file (see Figure B).

If PowerPoint doesn’t support a clip’s format, choose Object from the Insert menu and choose the appropriate object type. Alternately, you can convert the file to a supported type. Use a search engine to search for “video file conversion.” However, don’t be surprised if the converted file is less than satisfactory. It’s difficult to maintain quality when converting media files.

In PowerPoint 2007, you’ll find the Sound option in the Media Clips group on the Insert tab.

PowerPoint displays a sound clip as a small icon, which shows during Slide Show view. When the presentation plays the clip automatically, you might want to hide the icon. There’s really no good reason to display it.

To hide the icon, right-click the icon and choose Edit Sound Object from the resulting submenu. In the Sound Options dialog box, shown in Figure C, check the Hide Sound Icon During Slide Show option, and click OK. Double-click the icon in PowerPoint 2007 to find these options.

Figure C

Edit the file’s attributes

If you choose the click option, it’s worth mentioning that clicking the icon a second time doesn’t disable the sound — the file plays from beginning to end once you click it. In PowerPoint 2007, clicking the icon restarts the file.

To learn just how long a file lasts, right-click the icon and choose Edit Sound Object. The file’s playing time is in the Information section at the bottom (see Figure C). If you want the file to play continuously, while the slide is current, check the Loop Until Stopped option. Moving to the next or previous slide will cancel the loop.

Narrating a presentation

To record a unique sound or message, you’ll need a microphone. Unfortunately, some microphones that come with today’s systems aren’t very sophisticated. If you record someone talking, it may sound distorted when played. Suddenly, you may have a lisp or an accent! Specialized software can clear up some problems, but they’re expensive and that’s just one more piece of software you’ll have to learn. It might be more efficient to invest in a better microphone.

PowerPoint makes it easy to narrate a presentation, which is a plus in a Web-based, automated, or on-demand presentation. You might also use this feature to include a statement from an individual, such as a celebrity or your company’s CEO.

Don’t jump right into recording. First, write a script and rehearse it. Once you’re comfortable with your speaking part, you can record your narration:

1. Choose Record Narration from the Slide Show menu to open the Record Narration dialog box. In PowerPoint 2007, this option is in the Set Up group on the Slide Show tab.
2. Click Set Microphone Level to check your microphone. Read the sentence that appears in the Microphone Check dialog and let the Microphone Wizard adjust your microphone automatically. Click OK.
3. If you need to adjust the quality to CD, radio, or telephone, click Change Quality to open the Sound Selection dialog box. Just remember that quality increases the file’s size. If file size is a concern, you may have to compromise quality just a bit.
4. By default, PowerPoint stores the narration with the presentation. To store the sound file in a separate WAV file (in the same folder) check Link Narrations In. Click Browse to change the location of the separate WAV file, but use caution when doing so — only store the two separately when you have a good reason for doing so. If a sound file is over 50MB, you must link it.
5. Click OK and start recording. As PowerPoint displays your presentation, you narrate just as you want the message played. Continue to narrate each slide until you’re done.
6. At the end of the presentation, PowerPoint will prompt you to save the timings with each slide. This can be helpful if you didn’t get each slide just right and you need more practice.

Step five mentions linked files. If you’re using the same system to both create and show the presentation, linked files are fine, but not necessary. Linked files are a good choice if the sound files are large or if you plan to change the source file. By default, PowerPoint automatically links sound files that are larger than 100KB.

To change this setting, choose Options from the Tools menu, and then click the General tab and update the Link Sounds With File Size Great Than option. PowerPoint 2007 users will find this option by clicking the Office button, clicking the PowerPoint options button (at the bottom right) and then choosing Advanced. The option is in the Save section.

Use the Package for CD (PowerPoint 2003) or Pack And Go Wizard (PowerPoint 2002) to make sure you save linked files with the presentation. Names can be problematic: A linked file’s path name must be 128 characters or less.

More options

Narration is only one type of recoding you might consider. If you can record it, you can include it in your presentation. To record a single message or unique sound, choose Movies and Sound from the Insert menu and choose Record Sound. In PowerPoint 2007, this option is in the Sound option’s dropdown list, in the Media Clips group on the Insert tab.

In the resulting Record Sound dialog box shown in Figure D, enter a description and name. Click Record when you’re ready to begin. Click Stop when you’re done. Use Play to listen to the new recording. Click OK to save the sound with the presentation. Or, click Cancel to exit and try again. If you save a sound, it appears as an icon, which you can use anywhere in the presentation you like. Mix this capability with action settings for a unique effect. Just don’t over do it!

Figure D

You can record sounds inside PowerPoint

Playing a CD

Playing music is a great way to begin or end a presentation. However, the music doesn’t have to be a top 10 tune. It only needs to be appropriate. For example, you might play Mendelssohn’s Wedding March if your presentation is about catering receptions. Or, pleasing dinner music might be the way to go. It’s really up to you; just keep your audience in mind. To include a song from a CD, do the following:

1. Insert the CD.
2. From the Insert menu, choose Movies and Sound. Then, select Play CD Auto Track to open the Insert CD Audio dialog box. In PowerPoint 2007, choose Play CD Audio Track from the Sound option’s dropdown list. You’ll find this option in the Media Clips group on the Insert tab.
   • The Start At Time and End At Time fields let you capture just part of a track instead of using the entire track.
   • Use the Sound Volume button to control the audio’s volume.
   • Check the Hide While Not playing option in the Display Options section if you don’t want the audio’s icon to show when the music isn’t playing.
3. Click OK when you’re done. PowerPoint lets you play the track by clicking or displaying the slide.

Like other sound files, Power Point displays a CD icon on the current slide. Just be careful that you don’t violate any copyright laws when including someone else’s music in your presentation.

A word on animation

You can use custom animation to control sound files to add a unique and creative dimension to your presentation. To get started, select a sound icon and display the Custom Animation task pane. PowerPoint offers a ton of options, and does a good job of disabling inappropriate choices for the selected clip.

Creating custom animation can be complicated and the truth is most presentations won’t need that much energy. However, the feature’s there and you might as well learn a bit about it. There’s an entire tab dedicated to animation in PowerPoint 2007. Click the Custom Animations option in the Animations group to create custom effects.

Design for effect

Multimedia files can liven up any presentation and sound is definitely part of that mix. You can play an appropriate tune or your company’s jingle. With one click, you can play your company’s latest radio ad for the head honchos. Whether you’re pitching a new product or sharing photos of your new baby, use sound to set the mood.

Susan Sales Harkins is an independent consultant and the author of several articles and books on database technologies. Her most recent book is “Mastering Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express,” with Mike Gunderloy, published by Sybex. Other collaborations with Mike Gunderloy are “Automating Microsoft Access 2003 with VBA,” “Upgrader’s Guide to Microsoft Office System 2003,” “ICDL Exam Cram 2,” and “Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Microsoft Access 2003″ all by Que. Currently, Susan volunteers as the Publications Director for Database Advisors at http://www.databaseadvisors.com . You can reach her at ssharkins@gmail.com.

SOURCE: Author: Susan Harkins.   http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/msoffice/?p=462&tag=nl.e132

The vendor is still recommending that most consumers wait until mid-April when SP1 will start being pushed out through Automatic Updates, since that will make the whole download process easier for them, said Elliot Katz, product manager for Windows Client with Microsoft Canada Co. in Mississauga, Ont. However, "tech enthusiasts" can get the update now by running Windows Update, which will automatically determine if SP1 is appropriate for their PC. Business customers wanting to install SP1 on more than one PC can go to the Download Center, he said.

In his Windows Vista blog, Nick White, Vista product manager for Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft, said that if customers do not see SP1 listed when they run Windows Update, this could be due to one of eight reasons. One of them is that the customer has not yet installed all the prerequisite packages necessary for SP1. To install them, the user must visit the Windows Update control panel and click on "check for updates," White said. Katz added that for customers that choose to wait for SP1 to download via Auto Update, all of those prerequisite installations will be automatically pushed down to them before they can install SP1.

In a previous blog entry announcing the release to manufacturing (RTM) of SP1, White mentioned some conflicts SP1 was experiencing with a small number of device drivers. "These drivers do not follow our guidelines for driver installation and as a result, some beta participants who were using Windows Vista and updated to Service Pack 1 reported issues with these devices," he said. According to Katz, in most situations customers encountered slower performance on their PCs.

Microsoft has spent the last couple of months examining reports of driver problems and held off public availability of SP1 until this month, said White. "We've completed our analysis and are happy to report that many of these issues were fixed between the release candidate (RC) and the final version." The vendor has identified a small number of device drivers that may still be problematic after an update to SP1.

There's a "really easy fix" to the driver problem, said Katz. "You just uninstall the driver and reinstall it, and you're off to the races." While this solution may not pose a challenge to IT departments or tech-savvy individuals, Microsoft wants to smooth out the process for typical consumers so that they don't have to worry about the uninstall/reinstall process. "When Windows Update is run against their PC, and when we're distributing SP1 via Auto Update...if they have any of those drivers, we will not offer the (SP1) update at that time," Katz explained. "As the drivers get fixed by peripheral or hardware manufacturers, we will push notifications out to users that the drivers been fixed." When they install those fixed drivers, they will be able to install SP1 the next time Auto Update runs, he said.

SP1 addresses concerns customers raised about Vista around compatibility, performance and reliability, said Katz. For instance, the operating system (OS) will now exit sleep mode faster, and file copying, whether from one spot on the hard drive to another, or between the PC and the network, will also be quicker. Microsoft has provided a number of automatic updates around those concerns since the OS's release, but SP1 wraps all of them up into one package.

The release of SP1 gives channel partners a great reason to revisit the topic of switching to Vista with customers that have not done so already, Katz noted. "They didn't need to wait...but now that (SP1) is there, this is an excellent time to go back to customers and talk about evaluating or deploying Vista."

SOURCE: 19 March, 2008.  By Patricia Pickett.  www.echannelline.com

While there's some perception that securing a mobile infrastructure is very costly, Alec Taylor, director of mobile communications business at Microsoft Canada, said that the security features of Microsoft Exchange Server or Small Business Server can be extended to Windows Mobile devices. Those devices in the field can be remotely managed, password access can be enforced and, in case of lost or theft, they can be remotely wiped by IT administrators.

"That's the out-of-the-box value in Exchange and Windows Mobile," Taylor said.

For more mobile security options, Taylor suggested companies deploy Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager, which offers administrators even more flexibility in how they manage corporate mobile devices. However, he said it's mostly larger companies that deploy many devices at a time that get the most out of System Center Mobile Device Manager. SMBs don't necessarily need it.

According to Taylor, the point is that mobile device security doesn't have to be expensive. Businesses can make use of the infrastructure they already have in place (that is, if they have Exchange Server or Small Business Server in place). Exchange or Small Business Server combined with Windows Mobile is "absolutely enough" security for peace of mind, he said.

Through Microsoft and its partners, there are also a variety of hosted mobile security options in case they decide they don't want to manage the technology in-house. Just as there are hosted Exchange options through Microsoft and its partners, some of those partners also offer services that extend Exchange's security functions out to Windows Mobile devices, Taylor explained.

The technology doesn't eliminate the human element of security breaches, though. While IT administrators can remotely wipe a Windows Mobile device that's connected through Exchange Server or Small Business Server, end-users can still compromise devices through unsecure online behaviour.

Whether AMD is about to ship the chips or has already begun to ship them is a little unclear. Industry reports suggested major OEMs Dell and Hewlett-Packard would use the Phenom 8600 for respective lines of business desktops.

Regardless, AMD is shipping triple-core Phenoms and the other channel players should expect to see the chipsets within a couple of weeks.

"We launched Phenom with our 3800 series graphics cards back in November . . . we had OEMs with systems on shelves globally in January. We got good reviews on the processor but there was certainly a desire for additional frequencies and we're going to meet that need in March," explained Leslie Sobon, director of product and brand management for AMD desktops. "We've gotten a lot of feedback from the channel and our OEM customers wanting to design sleeker, smaller systems especially in the desktop space."

Warren Shiau, associate partner, lead IT analyst, The Strategic Counsel, said there's a solid consensus that Phenom isn't going to be taking back the performance crown for AMD. Moreover, the whole avenue for marketing and sales through price/performance reputation doesn't, and hasn't worked for AMD and its partners for quite a while.

Not that anyone says AMD's design path is bad -- conceptually many experts believe AMD has the purer design philosophy.

"The major problem it seems is the effectiveness of the design for mass volume manufacture," Shiau said. "The word is that AMD simply can't get a high enough yield for its Barcelona-based products at the clock speeds it needs to be competitive with Intel.

"Meanwhile Intel is pressing ahead moving over to a 45-nm process and a quad-core line-up; Intel is already ahead of AMD pretty much throughout its entire line with 65-nm dual-core; so when AMD gets things sorted out it's still going to be playing catch-up, maybe even more so than currently."

Sobon said AMD won't have the highest frequency quad-core chip on the market.

"Will it outperform the top product from Intel? No. What we have is a very good line up that beats on price-performance for quad-core. So where we're focusing the effort isn't in technology . . . it is a focus on the mid- to high-end mainstream part of the market with good profitability and high volume," she said. "We'd rather focus in that area and frankly focus our direction on low-power 65-watt quad-core versus going to get a 3.5 or a 3.8 Gig quad-core.

"In terms of the nanometer process . . . our competitor has historically started first. But when you look at when we've converted 100 percent over, we're roughly around the same time. Yes, they started 45-nm before us, we'll start shipping product in the back half of this year in 45-nm. If history proves [correct], we'll be 100 percent converted around the same time they will be."

Shiau added everyone's pretty much given up on AMD staging a miraculous comeback. The great hope now is AMD targets its opportunities and maintains its' position.

"The big OEMs are never going to want to be beholden to Intel like they were before getting AMD in there, so they're going to keep AMD-based product lines around," he said. "The server shops that have gone the AMD-based route are going to stick with AMD. And there's always a portion of the channel that'll stick with AMD too."

Regarding the channel and Phenom, Shiau said there would be great Phenom-based machines available. "It's far less of a pickle than what the channel would have been facing if Phenom had been delayed out to say Q2 or Q3. And it looks like AMD is going down the route of developing lines that are specifically consumer (and channel) targeted."

However, he added Phenom is more channel relief than channel opportunity at the moment. As the new products come out from AMD, the opportunity isn't necessarily going to be enterprise (which had always been a big push before).

"It's back to AMD's consumer roots for the channel," Shiau said.

"From a channel perspective, initially that's true," Sobon remarked. "You will see commercial grade CPUs coming from us both in triple and in quad for the commercial market in the channel next quarter.

"For the products that are launching in a couple of weeks, those are consumer-focused."

"A lot of them are driven by applications," said Gary Bixler, director, worldwide channel development, AMD. "The reality is for quad-core products, the applications that are leading the way have been multi-threaded, more to the entertainment applications such as gaming.