Microsoft Support & Discussions

Today, as part of Update Tuesday, we released 11 security bulletins. We encourage customers to apply all of these updates. For more information about this month’s security updates, including the detailed view of the Exploitability Index (XI), visit the Microsoft Bulletin Summary webpage. If you are not familiar with how we calculate the XI, a full description can be found here.

It’s been a good run, but the decade-old SQL Server 2005 is about to ride off into the sunset. Before support ends on April 12, 2016, you’ll need a plan to migrate any remaining instances of SQL Server 2005. But why wait to migrate “when you have an opportunity to provide new value to your business now with a modern data platform?” asks the SQL Server team. Many customers are already experiencing the benefits of SQL Server 2014, including GE Healthcare, which uses SQL Server 2014 and Microsoft Azure to accelerate time-to-market, cuts costs and enable compliance for more customers. Read more about SQL Server 2005 end of support on the Official Microsoft Blog and star…

Are you still running SQL Server 2005? We know it’s hard to let go, but it’s been 10 years. In its time SQL Server 2005 was a great choice for your departmental and mid-market IT needs. Over the last decade, Microsoft has continued to invest and SQL Server has evolved to be an enterprise-class solution to support your growing business needs. If you haven’t yet moved on to take advantage of these capabilities, now is the time to start planning. After 10 great years, extended support for all versions of SQL Server 2005 is coming to an end on April 12, 2016. A year sounds like plenty of time to plan your migration, but, depending on the type of application, the migration …

I spent six years working with secondary-aged (14-21 years old) students with autism. It was one of the hardest and most rewarding things I've ever had the privilege to do. At that time, the state of technology for these types of uses was woefully behind where it is today. Granted, we're talking about 1999-2005, but stay with me. The technology that non-verbal students used to communicate, for instance, was a huge, heavy piece of metal and plastic that had barely programmable capabilities for certain words and phrases that would be spoken upon selection through a garish sound system rivaled only by 1980s clock radio speakers. This equipment was exorbitantly priced, and…

The new MacBook sports not so much a radical redesign as a radical refinement. Apple's new MacBook represents nothing more nor less than the next stage of evolution of the laptop, at least how Apple imagines it. With a 12-inch screen, it should be slightly smaller than both the 13-inch MacBooks Pro and Air, but it manages to be much smaller, thinner, and lighter, all while packing in a high-density Retina display. Even though it's smaller the unibody is even stronger. The metal doesn't just come in space gray, gold, and silver now — it goes all the up the back. Where previously there was a black backed hinge, now there's just back. The logo is metal now as well,…

Google values iPhone owners so much they make sure most of their apps run on iOS, and that can be a big advantage. The apps that Google has released for the iPhone include YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, Hangouts, Google+, Google Authenticator, Chrome, Google Search, Google Drive, Google Play Music, and more. Having them all on the App Store makes it easier for Android owners to switch to iPhone. The pros and cons of deep integration The most often cited advantage for using Google apps on Android is the integration. Google Play, for better or for worse, has become one half the sandwich that makes up almost all Android phones outside of China. That means Google app…

Research firm Slice Intelligence estimates Apple received just shy of one million Apple Watch pre-orders on Friday's launch day in the US alone. According to the report published by Slice Intelligence: "According to ereceipt data from 9,080 online shoppers, each Apple Watch buyer ordered an average of 1.3 watches, spending $503.83 per watch. Those ordering an Apple Watch Sport spent $382.83 per watch and those ordering the Apple Watch spent $707.04." Slice Intelligence notes that from a panel of two million online shoppers, 957,000 US consumers pre-ordered the Apple Watch on launch day, with 62 percent of those who placed an order favoring the more afforda…

Sprint is rolling out a more personalized customer service program that involves its representatives visiting a location of your choosing to deliver and configure your new iPhone. The initiative, called Direct 2 You, includes the transfer of content such as contacts, pictures, videos and apps from your old device to the new one. The service is available for free to all customers upgrading their handsets, and is aimed at alleviating any issues encountered when switching from another platform. Here's how the program works, as detailed by Sprint: Qualified customers receive an offer via text or email to upgrade their phone. Customers call the Sprint phone number…

The 2015 versions of the MacBook and 13-inch MacBook Pro come with Apple's all-new Force Touch Trackpad, and that comes with Force Click. A Force Click lets you not only click like you would on a traditional, mechanical trackpad, but press harder to engage a second click, or a range of pressure-sensitive clicks. For example, click on an icon and then Force Click to get a QuickLook, or click on a word and then Force Click to get a dictionary definition. All of this comes enabled by default on the new MacBook and on the 2015 13-inch MacBook Pro but you can toggle it off or back on in System Preferences. How to enable or disable Force Click on OS X How to adjust Forc…

Own a selfie stick? You might want to replace it with the GoTech Ion. This selfie stick fits easily in a pocket or small pocketbook. It folds into less than 8 inches but stretches to 35 inches when it's time to take those fabulous selfies. It makes selfies even more convenient. Watch our GoTech Ion hands-on video to see it in action. Most selfie sticks in the market have to be unscrewed from their phone holders for storage. The GoTech Ion lets you fold the phone holder onto the stick. The GoTech Ion comes in two models. One version comes with built-in Bluetooth remote and the other one is wired for battery-free usage. They are now available for pre-orders at th…

This lightweight hard shell case features impact resistance in an extremely slim profile design, showcasing your iPhone's form and style. The back sports an easy-grip texture with access to all your ports and buttons. Yours today for only $4.95! Continue reading...

Another day, another CEO from a "security software" company pens a "guest editorial" saying Apple needs to open up to — guess what? — "security software". Just like the last time, the premise is self-serving, the headline spit-take inducing, and it's absolutely not worth rewarding negative attention seeking with attention. But because every time something like this posted, we get contacted by concerned readers, some of the fear-mongering needs to once again be addressed. The CEO starts off by saying iPhone and iPad owners aren't concerned enough about the safety of their devices, despite the "constant news" of hacks and online security breaches. That might be becaus…

As devices and capabilities changes, so too does the very definition of "apps". Messages used to be an app I launched constantly. Now it's often something I access through Siri or, more often than not, interactive notifications from anywhere on my iPhone. Likewise, PCalc used to be an app I hunted to find amid pages of icons and folders. Now it's a widget I can swipe down at any time. Apps have been unbundled and, in large part, their functionality has been set free. No longer hidden or lost, specific interactions can now manifest everywhere — our iPhone, iPad, AirPlay-enabled TV, CarPlay-enabled dashboard, and soon, the Apple Watch. When Apple originally announced …

When we think about what it takes to build a successful business, there were three main eras which characterized important shifts in the global marketplace. The first was the industrial revolution when people began to mass produce and distribute goods with tremendous scale and efficiency. Since everyone received information at the same time and speed was not an issue, change wasn’t particularly fast. What followed was the Information Age where people weren’t just using technology to drive production efficiencies, they were using it to drive information efficiencies. During this time, competitive advantage began to shift to our access to information. Today, information and…

One of the most important features of iCloud is the ability to sync, backup, and restore. Over the years, Apple has added more and more layers onto the iCloud service. It integrates with iMessage, makes photos more accessible than ever with iCloud Photo Library, and even lets us share purchases with loved ones via Family Sharing. However, for the mass majority of people out there, its the convenience of being able to get a new device and instantly have access to all our apps, calendars, contacts, and media in a few taps that makes iCloud stand out from other services. Like magic, everything is exactly as we left it on our old iPhone or iPad. If you're just setting u…

Are you looking for a good deal on Mac and PC games this weekend? Check out MacGameStore.com's "Pay What You Want" bundle. MacGameStore.com is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the new bundle, and it's also donating 10 percent of the proceeds to the "Stand Up To Cancer" charity. The 10th Anniversary Bundle includes eight games, all of which can be played on the Mac and PC, and all of which are DRM-free. You also get an optional Steam key, if you'd like to activate the games on the popular gaming service. $1 or more get you: Deponia The Night of the Rabbit Edna & Harvey: Harvey's New Eyes 1954 Alcatraz Pay more than the average and you'll als…

This iPhone 6 bumper features 4-corner protection against drops, and keeps the display and back of your device safe from scratches by elevating it away from flat surfaces. Get yours in any color today and save 67% Continue reading...

Starting today you can make an appointment at your local Apple Retail Store — or simply drop by — and try on an Apple Watch. Orders are online only for now, but the idea of the Apple Watch try-ons is to help you decide if you really want one and which one you really want. It's a way to get some eyes- and hands-on time with the hardware and software, so you can see the cases, feel the bands, experience the interface and interactions, and get as much of the Apple Watch experience as possible. When you first walk in you're greeted by a table, wooden like all Apple Retail tables, but with glass covering two rows of Apple Watches, one of 38mm and one of 42mm. They face…

The Electronic Frontier Foundation on Friday announced victory against a patent troll that demanded money from podcasters. And while the EFF says that it's a key victory, the non-profit organization says that there's much left to do. What's more, the company at the center of the controversy remains in business. A ruling from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) invalidated key claims in the "podcasting patent" held by a patent troll called Personal Audio, LLC, according to a press release from the EFF. The EFF said the ruling came down after it filed a petition for review. Personal Audio, LLC has, since 2013, demanded licensing fees from prominent podca…

Apple CEO Tim Cook stated today in a quick interview that pre-orders for the Apple Watch have been "great". In a chat with CNBC at the Apple Store in Palo Alto, California, Cook said he has been receiving reports about the Apple Watch from around the world this morning and says the reaction from consumers have been "extraordinary". He added "Customers have been giving us great feedback and orders have been great, as well." Cook was wearing the stainless Apple Watch with white sport band, as he's often done, during his Palo Alto Apple Store visit. Cook said this particular band is the one he wears the most. "I love it. I exercise in it and wear it mos…

Apple's iPhoto and Aperture photo editing and management applications have been removed from the Mac App Store. Following the release of OS X 10.10.3 earlier this week, which included the new Photos app for OS X, Apple has removed iPhoto and Aperture from the Mac App Store. Both apps are now unavailable for purchase, though they can still be downloaded from the Purchases tab in the store by those who already own the applications. While Photos will serve as the primary way to manage and edit your photos on OS X going forward, dedicated users of iPhoto and Aperture might want to hold on to those apps for right now. If you're feeling ready to make the jump, however, ch…

Apple is reportedly in talks with both Taylor Swift and Florence and the Machine to offer exclusive releases on its rumored upcoming streaming service. Along with the above artists, the report mentions that Apple is in talks with over a dozen others for exclusive releases on the as well. Bloomberg reports: Apple Inc. has asked Florence and the Machine and more than a dozen other artists for exclusive deals to promote a revamped Beats Music, and persuade people to ante up for what they're accustomed to getting pretty much for free. The company's in talks with the British group, which is set to release an album in June, about giving Apple limited streaming right…

Microsoft has launched a revamped design for its Bing.com homepage for iOS browser users, with a number of new features and changes. Safari browser users can now swipe up to see the sections on the Bing.com home page. They will also notice a new translucent color scheme. Users can tap on the Image of the Day's caption to bring up a card revealing more information on that photo. The "Popular Now" section that was visable on the Bing.com desktop homepage is now available on the mobile homepage. Microsoft says: News consumption is a common activity on mobile devices. We also know that on Bing.com desktop, the homepage news carousel at the bottom of the page is o…

Rogers is expanding its popular 'Roam Like Home' program to now include 35 countries across Europe. On April 15 Rogers will expand on their popular 'Roam Like Home" program to include 35 countries across Europe. In the new countries, Rogers will allow customers to send emails, picture messages, make phone calls, and browse the internet for a flat $10 per day fee. Previously Rogers offered the plan for customers who were traveling to the US, and wanted to use their Rogers data and minutes. "Canadians used to be afraid to use their devices when travelling – it was just too complicated and they were worried about their bills. Six months ago we fixed this with a uniq…