Microsoft Live Spaces Resource Center

Inserting Video Codes Manually

Many of you know how to insert video codes into either your post or directly onto your Live Spaces sites.  However, what I want to address here is inputting code into your blog post manually by using the “Source Code” tab located in the bottom of your Live Writer.

 
Online Videos by Veoh.com

Now You know

Ok, so now you know how to insert video’s directly into your blog posts.  Some of my video’s may have commercials prior to the video itself!  Please not that since I use an independent video host that I have no control over the content of any of the advertisements.  Just know that they are safe and 100% porn free!

I hope you have enjoyed my next series of video help files and will find them useful for your collection of video’s to refer back to time and time again!  Please, if there is anything in Live Spaces or any of Microsoft’s products that you wish to see a video tutorial on…..please let me know!  If I can’t create it I will certainly do my best to locate it for you!

Happy Blogging and Spaces Development

Greg A. Hyatt

Hot Off The Press

Many of you know that I have created several blog posts on how to various item’s throughout Live Spaces as well as other Microsoft Product’s.  I have done my first “Video Tutorial” on the very basic Live Spaces customization and it deals with changing your layouts and some other basic elements.

I will be doing more video’s as a way to bring more interactivity for you and so you can see me working in action as a better way to provide you with the information on various how to’s and help files.

Take a look at my first “Video Tutorial” and let me know what you think!

Change Your Layout In Spaces

In the video below I walk you through how to change your layouts and rearrange items within your Live Spaces site.

 
Online Videos by Veoh.com

I hope you enjoyed my first of many video tutorial series that I will be working on very hard to get all my sections of previous writing’s now incorporated in video format learning sessions.

Happy Blogging and Spaces Development

Greg A. Hyatt

A New Project

Since I like to write things on the more technical side of life, I thought it would be a good idea to start up a new site for me to truly explore the inner depths of life and things that truly make me tick!  So I have created a new site and am opening it up to people who are technically inclined and love to write and share their knowledge of the IT world!  This site is not like what many of us already do in our effort’s for Microsoft’s Community Clubhouse.  This is a site for those to share a variety of item’s whether it be desktop applications, IT news and updates, technical writings and a variety of other item’s that appeal to the geeks in all of us.

Grand Opening

Although I have not added a great deal to this site as of yet, Click Here to see a “Sneak Preview” of what I am going to try and establish as a credible site for the “Technical World” that surrounds all of us.

Are You Interested

Do you have what it takes to be a “Technical Writer”?  If so, we would love to hear from you!  Click Here if you are interested in writing for us!  We will incorporate your post via an RSS fee into this site!  For right now I am only looking for 3 to 4 independent contributor’s along with myself!  Once I have enough interest in this project then you will receive an e-mail from me describing the steps that are necessary for me to aggregate your columns into this new site.

I look forward to hearing from those of you who may be interested in sharing your world further with everyone around “Live Spaces” and the rest of the world!  Just for your information I will be operating both sites so for those of my friend’s here, do not panic….I am not deserting you but only expanding my world further!

Happy Blogging and Spaces Development

Greg A. Hyatt

Watch Out Now

You never know who may be a geek around you!  I happen to be a very big one!  Obviously I spend quite a bit of time working on my post’s for Microsoft’s Community Clubhouse, however, when not busy writing for them I am on a quest of my own to find some of the coolest desktop applications and other one of a kind products to bring my desktop from dull to live.

My Latest Find

While on my quest I came across a couple of truly amazing FREE applications and desktop enhancements that just moved beyond thrilled to say the least!  I have been truly inundated with Microsoft Vista, however, the price for me to upgrade to the version that I want nearly makes if financially impossible.  A couple of the features that I have found to be incredible is the Glassy look and the ability to flip through your windows in a rotating fashion!

Well…..don’t you know it as luck would have it today I was able to find a program that enables me to have my desktop act very similar to Vista in regards with the ability to flip through various programs that you have up and running on your desktop!  

Notice here how all your windows are stacked up, now you can have a program that allows you to scroll through them and stop and open the particular application you are looking for with the click of a button!  I realize that the same thing is possible merely from your taskbar, however, for those who are truly looking to take their Desktop to a new dimension….then this is must have application!  Click Here to view more or Click Here to download the program now!  You will be simply amazed and find yourself flipping through your programs more than you know it!

Glassy and Classy

Another program that found and installed was one call True Transparency.  This wonderful application gives your desktop and various application the appearance of being transparent!  This in combination with my new Win Flip program has got me tickled beyond my wildest imagination. 

What will happen here is the fact that nearly all of your Window’s will now have a transparent effect to them, thus allowing you to see a portion of your desktop background image through the outer borders of the window itself.  Click Here to download the program now!  I have tested these for Viruses and have found them free of any of those nasty pests.

Be the talk of all your PC geeky (my word) friend’s and have them in awe!

See Some Other Cool Tools

CrystalXP.Net has got to be one of the coolest places to obtain your geekwear for your desktop!  You can obtain item’s like I have mentioned above as well as Icon packages, visual editing software and a whole host of other item’s to keep your eyes begging for more!  I am sure the developers of Microsoft Vista may be upset at this, however, for those who don’t have the extra cash to put out for the upgrade this is a marvelous way to bring the best of Vista to your XP loaded machine!

Ok, hopefully some of you geeks out there just like me will take time to visit this wonderful site and let me know what you think of some of these marvelous applications.  Enjoy them!

Happy Blogging and Spaces Development

Greg A. Hyatt

Why Do It

For those of us who are avid blogger’s and choose to incorporate either photo’s, video’s or even audio segments in our post we use various Web Browser’s as a way to see how our posts will look in each one of them!  What some of you may or may not realize is that they way a particular web browser looks at one item may be entirely different than the way another one looks at the same item as the first!

Here Is An Example

I am going to give you two visual illustrations side by side to give you an example of what I am talking about!

Notice in the illustration on the left next to the brown box on the post itself my Paragraph Heading is mis-aligned with where I truly wanted to appear!  It was raised up rather than being formatted as in the illustration on the right!  You may say to yourself “Why is this so important?”.  Well, for those who want their information to appear the same to everyone who may utilize a different browser than that you operate on to be able to see the context of your post as you intended for it to appear!

I have to admit that I have been guilty of not checking in all three of the browsers that I use to ensure that it will appear the same for everyone!  The three browser’s that I use are IE (Internet Explorer), Opera and Firefox.

Each of us have our favorites that we choose to use, however, when you are wanting the ultimate experience from your blog posts from all reader’s and user’s you may want to keep this in mind!  So with that in mind let’s take a look at some of the pro’s and con’s to each of the ones that I use.

Internet Explorer 7.0

Most everyone is familiar with IE 7.0 and is operation.  For someone who is wanting the basics of “tabbed browsing” features along with built in security elements like phishing software, ease of use and a widely accepted web browser….then this one is for you!  Obviously it is one of Microsoft’s Signature Products and is recognized around the world! 

Pro’s To IE 7.0

• Easy to use and navigate
• Simple and Intuitive
• Clean Formatting
• Simplicity of Add On’s

Con’s To IE 7.0

• Memory Intensive (If you are like me an run several program’s at one time with the system resources required to operate IE 7.0, then this one may not be for you)
• Lack’s in overall flair and personal customization
• In my opinion it crashes to frequently

Opera 9.5

One of the less known about web browser’s know about is Opera 9.5.  This sleek browser is a must have for the truly geeky (my word) person like myself that is never satisfied with with a plain looking web browser  and is always looking for a way to “Step It Up” a notch or too with some extra tweaks and flairs.

Pro’s To Opera 9.5

• Visually entertaining
• Easy Set Up
• Variety of Skins To Change Browser Theme
• Quick Launch Feature

The last of the features list above about “Quick Launch” has to be one of my favorite feature’s of Opera!  If you will notice that clicking on a new tab in this browser brings you to a screen that looks like this.

This is what is referred to my “Speed Dial” page!  This feature give you nine spots to assign your favorite web sites to.  All you have to do is click on each number and assign it a favorite site you launch frequently.  This is sort of like having a quick launch bar like many of you have come to know in Windows XP and Vista.

So all I have to do to access my favorite sites that I use is click on one of them from here and it takes me directly to it without having to go to my bookmarks or other areas of the browser!

Con’s To Opera 9.5

• Requires a little more apptitude
• Panels can be somewhat confusing until you learn basic navigation of this browser

Overall, though, Opera 9.5 is by far my “Favorite Pick” and wins my award for ease of use, appearance and extra features that are available for free download!

FireFox 3

FireFox has been a widely used browser for years.  Many developers prefer this web browser over any other on the market as it gives more flexibility to implementing designs and coding features.  Even if you are not a developer you will certainly enjoy some of the rich features that are built in to FireFox and you will not to be without this browser in close reach to you while surfing the Internet. 

Pro's To FireFox 3

• Instant Website ID (Is it safe to visit)
• Parental Control's (easily integrated with Microsoft's Family Safety Software)
• Anti-Malware (get notified immediately if you have entered a site that downloads trojans and other know viruses)

Of the above mention item's Instant Website ID and Anti-Malware have to be two of my favorite feature's that are packed into this sleek little browser!  Never again will you have to worry whether or not a site your are visiting has been guilty of downloading trojans or viruses as you will be warned immediately before you enter a specific site. 

Notice in this illustration how you get extra information from a site you are visiting is safe or not!  Just an extra feature that is built in to help you keep your and your family safe while surfing around on the Internet!

Of course you can tweak the settings in this feature even tighter to provide you with the most reliable form of online security known to mankind!

FireFox developed their browser through technologies of their founding company Mozilla.  I am more than sure that many of you have hear of them by now!  If not, you can visit the Mozilla Organization to see for yourself why they are one of the leaders in providing you with a secure and trusted browser and of the technologies that they incorporate into their products.

Another feature as I noted above is the Anti-Malware protection that is built into FireFox 3.  With this by your side and working in the background of this browser you will never again have to worry about visiting a site and then "BAM" you have a virus.  This is not to say that you need to remove your anti-virus protection programs cause that would be further from the truth!  However, with this onboard feature you can certainly rest more at east while snooping your way around the Internet!

Start using FireFox 3 today and see what you have been truly missing out on. 

East of use, protection and more, rich themes to change the visual look and a whole host of other platform rich add on's that can be acquired for this powerful web browser!

Well, there you have it.....a brief and informative view of different browser's and how they can give you greater flexibility in your every day life on the Internet! 

Happy Blogging and Spaces Development

Greg A. Hyatt