Zune Pass

I have the x64 Zune software installed on my home computer, work computer, and laptop; so I am using the three total already that you are allowed. The annoyance I had was syncing the new content between all of my computers. Microsoft’s website and support says that you have to manually click the “Restore All” option when you are at a computer with out of date content.

Zune - Restore All

And that works ok… but there is a much better way that syncs everything automatically, without ever having to manually update it.
I am referring to the new Windows Live Mesh software.

Windows Live Mesh

For those of you who might have tried this software earlier and disliked it, try it again as they have improved it a lot. Basically what we are going to do is setup Windows Live Mesh to sync our subscription folder between computers.

Step #1

Install Windows Live Mesh on each computer you have your Zune Software on.
(Download wlsetup-web.exe)

Step #2

Windows Live Mesh is part of Windows Essentials, and if you are like me, you don’t want all of the software. So after you launch wlsetup-web.exe, select “Choose the programs you want to install.”

Windows Essentials

Step #3

Choose Windows Live Mesh, uncheck everything else, and click install.

Windows Live Mesh Selection

Step #4

Login to Windows Live Mesh.

Sign in to Windows Live Mesh

Step #5

Click on “Sync a folder”.

Sync Folder - Windows Live Mesh

Step #6

Browse to your Music folder and click on your “Subscription” folder, then hit sync.

Live Mesh - Subscription

Step #7

Repeat this procedure on your other computers and anytime you download new music, podcasts, etc… they will immediately sync with Windows Live Mesh to your other computers. I have been using this method for about 3 months and it works great!

What we can hope for is that Microsoft mention’s VCSY in press conference and then things will really skyrocket. Also, Windows 7 has already become Amazon’s biggest pre-order to date; outselling Harry Potter.

“Vertical Computer Systems, Inc. (VCSY) is a provider of Internet core technologies, administrative software, and derivative software application products through its distribution network.
VCSY’s primary Internet core technologies include SiteFlash™, ResponseFlash™, and the Emily XML Scripting Language, which can be used to build web services.
VCSY’s main administrative software product is emPath®, which is designed to handle the most complex Payroll and Human Resources challenges.”

(Taken from www.vcsy.com.

Microsoft settled on VCSY’s 744 patent which looks to be all that Microsoft’s Cloud Computing Platform Azure is. Read the latest from the Chicago Tribune about Microsoft’s endeavor into Cloud Computing:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/chi-mon-burns-microsoft-1012-oct12,0,3048264.column

In the most recent Microsoft 10-K from July 30th, Microsoft has a credit facility that was taken right after the VCSY settlement which was originally set to expire on March 22nd but had been extended to November 6th, right before the Microsoft PDC.
“This credit facility expires on November 6, 2009.”

I guess we will have to wait till November and see. I know that I have already grabbed a couple thousand shares of VCSY just in case. They are currently at $0.02 so you don’t have very much to lose. Leave a comment if you would like an invite to Sharebuilder with free $25.00 to start trading with.

Vertical Computer Systems

walmart

Step #1

The first step is to simply decide what you want to order in a bulk purchase at Walmart. My brother and I drink a lot of soda and so we decided to order 50 liters of Mountain Lightning. We figure we would purchase that much eventually anyways, why not get it all at once and not have to keep checking back.

Step #2

Once you know what you are going to purchase go to your closest Walmart store.

Step #3

Once inside the store you will want to travel to the information desk, usually at the front of the store.

Step #4

Now ask for an assistant manager, and say you want to make a bulk purchase. There are no fees involved, free ship to store, and no minimum order required.

Step #5

Tell the assistant manager what you would like to purchase, pay the price plus tax, get your receipt and leave the store satisfied.

Step #6

It usually takes from 2 days to a week to get your order in and then Walmart calls you letting you know it has arrived. Bring your receipt back to Walmart and show it to the person at the information desk. Depending on what you ordered, they might have you pick your items up at the loading dock.

Dell Restore CDs
https://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/backupcd_form

HP Restore CDs
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=bph07143#N280

Lenovo Restore CDs (You must call)
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/YAST-3P2QYL.html#PCD

Acer Restore CDs (No longer available from Acer, this is third party)
http://www.user-guides.co.uk/Acer/Recovery/Aspire/Acer-Aspire-Recovery-CD.htm

Apple Restore CDs (Must call, only charge nominal shipping fee)
(800) 767-2775

Dell Logo

Open the preferences
Tick advanced in the lower right corner
Go to “Input/Codec”
Go to “other codecs” subcategory
Go to “FFmpeg”
Put the “skip-filter for H264″ to all
Restart VLC

vcard logo

<div class=”vcard”>
     <a class=”url fn n” href=”http://brianleejackson.com”>
          <span class=”given-name”>Brian</span>
          <span class=”additional-name”>Lee</span>
          <span class=”family-name”>Jackson</span>
     </a>
     <div class=”org”>Brianleejackson.com</div>
     <div class=”title”>Interactive Designer & Developer</div>
     <div class=”adr”>
          <div class=”street-address”>201 SW 1st St., Sittner Hall #243</div>
          <span class=”locality”>College Place</span>
          <span class=”region”>WA</span>
          <span class=”postal-code”>99324</span>
          <span class=”country-name”>USA</span>

     </div>
     <div class=”tel”>
          <span class=”type”>Cell</span>
          <span class=”value”>360.624.5393</span>
     </div>
</div>
<div class=”vcard_download”><a href=”http://technorati.com/contact/http://brianleejackson.com/aboutme.html” title=”Download vCard with contact information”>Download vCard</a></div>

This will show you how to re-add the quick launch toolbar on the bottom left hand side of the screen.

1. Right-click the taskbar, choose Toolbars / New Toolbar
2. In the folder selection dialog, enter the following string and hit OK:
%userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
3. Turn off the “lock the taskbar” setting, and right-click on the divider. Make sure that “Show text” and “Show title” are disabled and the view is set to “small icons”.
4. Use the dividers to rearrange the toolbar ordering to choice, and then lock the taskbar again.

Quicklaunch on Windows 7 Beta Taskbar