Microsoft Whiteboard

Since OneNote not suit my need, I found another software by Microsoft which is Microsoft Whiteboard. It has similar features as OneNote which make me think it is strip down feature of OneNote. 

Currently the software only available in Desktop installed from Microsoft Store and iOS. Still no news when it will available for Android.

As the name suggested, it is more on the drawing then note taking which is what I want. I can open the whiteboard across devices using my account but I wasn't able to find where the file is stored at.

The structure is very simple. It use whiteboard concept similar with Google Jamboard but Jamboard has terrible pen writing smoothness. 

For now I will keep using it until it prompt some tricky issue that might force me give up the software like OneNotes did.

OneNote by Microsoft

OneNote is a note taking software from Microsoft. It was suppose to be the top of its field with its free to use and rich features. But too bad the software suffer from the Microsoft's curse. If it has potential of being good, they will destroy it from their own side.

The major issue I have with the software is it's file size. If you insert any images to the page, your file size will still consider holding the image size even you already delete the image. This will rapidly increase your note file size to a very huge size and subsequently cause the synchronization of the file hit error.

This bug has been reported since 2014 but until now Microsoft won't admit it or fix it.

Another issue is the synchronization of the file, if you using it in multiple devices, you will hit the synch error especially if you delete a pages or section from other devices. Your only solution is to close the notebook and reopen again to fix it.

The so-called multi devices cross platform is terrible also. Each feature in different has different feature being removed and there is no specific date when these features will be added.

This software really have potentials but too bad it was Microsoft that kill it.

Windows Update - disable it

Not all user have unlimited or large speed to download gigantic file size update that Microsoft keep sending out on regular basic. In order to prevent Microsoft from forcing you to download the update, we can set our network property into metered. This is designed for those who have internet quota that cannot afford to waste the quota to Microsoft's update.

But this is not always 100% proof of work as some critical update determine by Microsoft will bypass the setting and download.

Media Creation Tool

We can download Windows 10 image file from Microsoft. To do this, we need to install media creation tool from https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10

After download done, install the software.

Run the software and you can select your windows version and you can either direct create USD installation file or IOS images file.

For USB, Microsoft has a very weird issue, the drive cannot be NTFS but must be FAT32 else the drive won't able to boot.

Return to Linux?

Still in consideration whether to switch my OS back to Linux. Last time I use Linux due to I dont have legal copy of Windows. The price is too high for me to afford.

But due to my work's benefit, I able to obtain a license Pro which I used until now.

Lately the Windows has came with very very huge update and each update is like a gamble of either live or die to my computer.

Surface Pro 7

Microsoft will be announcing their newly Surface Pro 7 in Oct 2th. Everyone is guessing whether they still stubborn and not including USB Type-C to the device or they felt the time is right now to implement the interface.

But one time I think my estimate will be always right, after 1 year, their type cover keyboard and battery issue will be in the Microsoft Community posting.

Microsoft's Windows Mobile

Microsoft is one of the largest tech company in the world who dominate the personal computer market. Either you like it or not, you will mostly be using Windows OS compare to others as it is still the cheapest solution for computing. Mobile phone are still far from able to replace it in coming years.

One of the bizarre regarding the company is that they unable to create better consumer level products. Most of their consumer product either way way ahead of its time or far far behind from their competitors. They created the first tablet way before iPad is announced. They are the pioneer of smart devices, way before iPhone exist. They have the largest developer ground that will write any software for their OS.

Windows Mobile is the mobile OS that I had a chance to use it. One of the craziest stuff that I encounter is once your device is out of battery or power, it will delete all the installed software. The UI is in a very very small screen and you need to use a stylus to click the screen or type. It is a very popular mobile devices and dominate the smart devices along with Blackberry. The screen is resistance which mean you need stylus to operate it. The benefit of this is screen is durable.

Then Apple launch the iPhone with iOS. How they solve the stylus? By creating a large button to allow user to click it using finger as they use capacity screen that is a creation of Nokia. The world go nuts when Apple provide the simple solution for user to operate a small device. It is the Columbus Egg of IT world.

The rest is history. Apple then launch App store that storm the developers to create apps for the devices. After a few years since Windows Mobile is disappear in the consumer world, left in industry level as Apple didn't involved in that area.

Microsoft tried to fight back the market with its belated Windows Phone but that is another epic decision disaster that finally kill of Nokia.

Surface Pen and Screenshot

My Surface Pro 3's cheap OEM cover keyboard doesn't have functional Print Screen button which is a problem for my usage. I tried to use the Send Screenshot to OneNote which they said can direct save a screenshot on OneDrive folder. But the method doesn't work and I don't want to use OneNote. Most of my usage is offline mode and I don't have that huge bandwidth to do synchronize.

Now I found a workaround using some coding.
I need to install a software called Greenshot and set the new HotKey to screenshot full screen to Ctrl+D which a hotkey that I seldom use.

Then there is some scripting to do.

Open a notepad and type:
Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.SendKeys "^d"

Then save it as filename.vbs

After that we will create a batch file that run the scripts.
start "filename.vbs"

and save the file to filename.bat

Double click on the .bat file to test the code. If it work, then we will create an exe file using iexpress.exe

In your C:\Windows\System32\ folder, there is a file called iexpress.exe.

Right-click it an Run as administrator.
Create a new SED and select "Extract files and run an installation command."
Add the script you want, and make sure that on the next screen, you set the install program to cmd /c [your_script.bat] where [your_script.bat] is the script file you want to execute. If you don't do this, windows will try to use Command.com (the old version of Command Prompt) which hasn't been in use for quite a while.
Select preferences (you might need to select "Store files using Long File Name inside Package), set an output path (to the .exe file you want to create), and select "No restart".
Click next and you should have your .exe!
Just a note, this file actually only acts as a wrapper for your script, and the script itself actually gets executed in a temp folder created on execution (and deleted afterwards), so make sure you don't use any relative paths.

After all is done, place your exe file to a suitable folder. Open the Setting->Devices->Pen & Ink
At the bottom of Surface Pen setting for double or single click. select open with classic app and brows to the exe. Once done you can test it.

So now I can do a direct save screenshot by clicking my Surface Pen.

Surface Pro 3

I was once praising this device as excellent but too pricey. But fate had let me own one with free, I just need to purchase the super slim cover keyboard. I thought I was the most lucky guy in the world but....

Not long after I own the device, Windows 8 and 8.1 has a lot of issues which make the device useless. It is very not touch mode friendly. Not so much apps that support touch.

Then I upgrade to Windows 10 and nightmare start to happen. The cover keyboard die out. I have search a lot of forum for the issue and it appear that it is a common issue that Microsoft ignore. Then the highlight of the issue, the battery drain after shut down. The back of the device keep warm even you have shut down the device. There is no solution for this issue.

A lot of people report the matter but no official fix from Microsoft.

So with draining battery after shutdown, the device is technically can be certified as desktop. It lose its portability. With no keyboard and faulty battery, the device is worst than a normal traditional laptop.

I was once tried to impress my friend who own MacBook with the devices but Microsoft kill themselves with these issue.

Throughout the year, I just leave it in dust hoping that Microsoft can issue a fix for it but one can only hope. I also notice that the same issue for Surface Pro 3 also happen to the rest of future release devices.

Now, even I want to send to repair, Microsoft have ended the repair for the device. I cannot repair the device even I want to pay around RM1.3K. But luckily I didnt, as I read some reports that the same issue keep happening even the refurbished unit. Some already paid a few times end up the same issue.

For a device with 64Gb, it is a scam in current year as the update for Windows is getting larger. I once join the Windows Insider Program and each update will consume around 20Gb. It always keep a backup version that eat up your storage. And without the backup, you will lose the ability to restore your Windows if anything happen, but to be honest, when you need to restore your Windows, you might have a huge chance of unable to restore it as the restore process encounter error which end up you performance a clean reinstall of Windows.

I don't know when I will throw away the device. As comparison, if you use it to read comic, it lack the proper app to read the comic. If you use it to read Magazine, it lack the touch features to navigate the page, Edge is still weak in pdf reading. I was so shocked that it cannot restore the last page you viewed even though this should be the basic feature for any document reading apps. As usual, Microsoft tried to set it as default pdf reading apps that cannot function properly.

As media consuming device, the weak battery cannot allow you to watch in long duration. The battery is only lasted around 3 hours Maximum and you have to charge from time to time which end up kill your battery quicker.

Their strong sales for this device is the Surface Pen that luckily it still ship with the device, unlike currently you have to purchase separately. As input, it does what it does but don't expect Wacom or Apple Pencil level performance when came to drawing as not much apps can support it properly. How ironically. GIMP cannot support it properly, Krita keep getting hang. Others seem very lag and the latency is very noticeable. Drawing in quick will cause the phantom drawing.

Overall, Surface line is just a better design laptop/tablet but not in performance. 

The road is still far and with iPad OS in the horizon, the Surface line is going to have a huge impact. iPad OS is what Microsoft have envision since Surface 1.

Windows 10 In ARM

After a few years of failure, Microsoft finally able to run X86 software in ARM processor. The long waited super phone finally can be archived.

But how well it can really support in real world performance is still remain in question. 

One thing can be sure, this is the next milestone for Microsoft.

Now waiting for the rumored Surface Phone...

Hololens

This morning I read about what happen in Microsoft Build 2015. One of the mind blowing tech is the HoloLens.

It finally has what most sci-fi lover love about features, AR.
The most awesome part is you can pin these tiles to your house wall. Making it a virtual home deco.

Don't know how much real is these technology as nobody has seen it.

Just hope Microsoft can launch the device soon.

Lumia 535 - A Microsoft Oddysey

Lumia 535 is the latest device by Microsoft after they buy Nokia mobile division. The device is still carry on the signature Lumia design which is not bad. This device has its own selling point which is 5x5x5 - 5" Screen with 5MP Front and Rear camera.

Inside the device is a lower power CPU, snapdragon 200, with generous 1Gb ram and 8Gb of internal storage. 

One dead spot of the device is it has a touch issues which Microsoft already working hard to fix it. But with the latest update, the device is still felt a bit lag compare to others Lumia device. What a shame to Microsoft.

I get a chance to do a quick hand on. Since all the Windows Phone OS is the same, so I focus on the hardware built up. Summary is it offer more that the price tag. 

The battery life is great since the screen resolution and CPU is not so power consumption. Even thought the resolution is not HD in big screen, you can still have a decent screen image.

 

Microsoft Surface Pro 3

Silently Microsoft have announced the new Surface Pro 3 which is 12" tablet.
Now this time they have packed it with 2K screen and a powerful CPU.

What I like the most about Surface Pro series is get to see Panos Panay making the presentation. It always make me feel a bit funny about the way he make the presentation.

This time he make a drop test to show people how durable the device are.

Lucky the device still working as in presentation, shit happen.

Anyway the Surface is a very nice device but expensive also.Too bad.

*The Man

Windows 8.1

I start to use Windows 8 since it is still in the developer preview version.
I think it is a breakthrough in the OS history like from Windows 3.11 to Windows 95.
From Dos base to mouse-click base and now touch base.

A lot of my friends cannot accept this kind of changes because they need to relearn how to operate the OS. It is a bit sad when I heard them complain how bad the UI are.

Sometimes, old habit really die hard.

But with the new 8.1 free update, hope I will have second changes to prove to them the greatness of Windows 8.

Windows NT

With the new Windows Phone 8 that is backed with Windows NT core, now they are part of Windows family.

They can perform like a normal windows can and people are excited with this changes.

But one thing that people forget, is how to perform Alt+Ctrl+Del. Don’t know if Microsoft will give us a command to be use for the phone?

The Secret Experiment is over

When Nokia Lumia 900 was launched at USA a few months back. Nokia said that all along we are in a secret experiment that allow them to design the ultimate device, the Lumia 900. Nokia was so excited that now the experiment has over. They thanks all the current user for involving their experiment.

But what Nokia didn’t know is that actually they are in a secret experiment conducted by Microsoft. And today Microsoft finally reveal their experiment has finish,

They finally manage to come out the new Windows Phone 8. The ultimate OS that even the latest Lumia 900 phone cannot support. How nice.

Now everyone in Microsoft is very excited.

Don’t know what Nokia side will think about this experiment’s result.

R.I.P Mozart

After all the excitement of WP7 to get the new update of WP7.5 aka Mango. We thought Microsoft is coming back and able to complete with Android and iOS. With all the features that able to be upgrade by all the WP devices, it is a one big slap to those android and ios devices which only able to get partial of update for each update.
But after the announcement of WP8, all are flushed to the toilet drain.
“All current windows phone will not get the new update”
It is like an arrow that strike to all the current wp devices owner. Suddenly all these user are like a dumbass that being abandoned by Microsoft.
R.I.P my Mozart.
p/s: although I know that my devices already being abandoned by HTC way long ago after the Mango update. But for those Lumia owner, my damage is no where near them.

No more update

Today is the day that Microsoft announce the newly excited  Windows Phone, the Windows Phone 8 aka APOLLO.

The APOLLO is so nice with its 8 new features. Those feature are so great that it has a very strong backfire to current user.

My heart stop beat for a while when I heard they said “Current Windows Phone will not get the Windows Phone 8 update”

I don’t know what others people said about the news but I know what I will say to Microsoft,

 

“FUCK YOU”

And one more thing to NOKIA, “Eat your face”

Apollo, countdown 3..2..

In a few more moment, the mighty APOLLO will be launce. Don’t know what Microsoft will bring to their user.

Surface by Microsoft

Today, Microsoft drop a boom to the world. They announcing the new tablet for Windows 8, the new Microsoft Surface. It come with two model, the one that loaded with Windows RT and Windows 8 Pro.

These tablets are so nice, especially with the nice touch cover that match with the tablet.