Windows Aero

There’s been a long silence on Click—but it’s all for a good cause: We’re all beavering away on the next version of Windows. Someday, I’ll happily reveal all. Meantime, I want to talk about a Windows-related development that’s generating a lot of press these days: Windows Vista Service Pack 1.

Officially released earlier this month, Service Pack 1 (or SP1 for short) is the first major update to Windows Vista. That alone makes it a big deal. But as I read over blogs and newsgroups, it’s clear some people remain confused. They’re wondering: What the heck is SP1, anyway? Do I really need it? Where can I get it?

If this sounds like you, then I urge you to take a look at the new Vista SP1 website my colleagues recently put together on Windows Help and How-to.  Written in friendly, geek-free language, the new site is designed to help you understand what SP1 is all about and how to install it.

Check it out and tell us what you think. If there’s something important we didn’t cover, we’d like to know that too.

<Michael Stroh>

There’s been a long silence on Click—but it’s all for a good cause: We’re all beavering away on the next version of Windows. Someday, I’ll happily reveal all. Meantime, I want to talk about a Windows-related development that’s generating a lot of press these days: Windows Vista Service Pack 1.

Officially released earlier this month, Service Pack 1 (or SP1 for short) is the first major update to Windows Vista. That alone makes it a big deal. But as I read over blogs and newsgroups, it’s clear some people remain confused. They’re wondering: What the heck is SP1, anyway? Do I really need it? Where can I get it?

If this sounds like you, then I urge you to take a look at the new Vista SP1 website my colleagues recently put together on Windows Help and How-to.  Written in friendly, geek-free language, the new site is designed to help you understand what SP1 is all about and how to install it.

Check it out and tell us what you think. If there’s something important we didn’t cover, we’d like to know that too.

<Michael Stroh>

When I travel, I like to take advantage of high-tech tools to make life easier on the road. Here are a couple tips for your next vacation:

Turn your digital camera into a travel companion

There’s no reason why your fancy digital camera has to be reserved solely for touristy snapshots. My Canon Powershot SD630, for example, is also an indispensable record keeper and navigation tool.

When I go somewhere, I first take photos of my passport, flight or hotel reservation, and other essential travel documents. Since I carry my camera everywhere, it serves both as a reminder of confirmation dates or codes—and as proof in case any of that stuff goes missing. (Under the lost and stolen section of its passport web site, the U.S. State Department notes: “If you can provide the U.S. embassy or consulate with a photocopy of your passport identification page, that will make getting a new passport easier….”)

I also snap high-res photos of handy tourist information, such as this subway map (above) from a recent trip to Toronto. Once the map is stored on the camera’s memory card, I can pan and zoom to specific details. It’s like having my very own custom travel atlas—without the hassle of carrying one around.

Worry-free recharging

One big hassle for high-tech travelers is how to keep their rechargeable devices powered up overseas.

But what you might not realize is that some devices can

run on a range of electrical inputs. For example, the battery recharger for my Powershot camera can handle an electrical current of 100 to 240 volts and alternating current frequencies of 50 and 60 hertz. This is also true for my laptop’s AC adapter.

This means that you can use most of the world’s electrical outlets without a pricey power transformer. (You might still need an outlet adapter, but these are inexpensive and easy to find.)

Scope out the perfect beach spot

Before I leave home, I use Live Search Maps as a key resource for travel planning. I especially like the bird’s eye views.  These low-angle, high-res aerial images give me a sense of the overall terrain and key landmarks I’ll encounter when I arrive. It creates a mental map that helps keep me from getting lost.

I recently stayed aboard the Delta King, a riverboat anchored in the Sacramento River. Using Live Maps, I was able to get a real feel for Old Sacramento and its surroundings before my trip. I also use Live Maps to revisit places I’ve once lived or traveled. A recent search turned up the Arlington, Massachusetts house I’d lived in for five years.  I also relived a favorite vacation memory through this bird’s eye (right) of Rockport, MA.

Give Live Maps a try and see if you can find those special places that you want to keep remembering.

<Lorin Catudio>

When I travel, I like to take advantage of high-tech tools to make life easier on the road. Here are a couple tips for your next vacation:

Turn your digital camera into a travel companion

There’s no reason why your fancy digital camera has to be reserved solely for touristy snapshots. My Canon Powershot SD630, for example, is also an indispensable record keeper and navigation tool.

When I go somewhere, I first take photos of my passport, flight or hotel reservation, and other essential travel documents. Since I carry my camera everywhere, it serves both as a reminder of confirmation dates or codes—and as proof in case any of that stuff goes missing. (Under the lost and stolen section of its passport web site, the U.S. State Department notes: “If you can provide the U.S. embassy or consulate with a photocopy of your passport identification page, that will make getting a new passport easier….”)

I also snap high-res photos of handy tourist information, such as this subway map (above) from a recent trip to Toronto. Once the map is stored on the camera’s memory card, I can pan and zoom to specific details. It’s like having my very own custom travel atlas—without the hassle of carrying one around.

Worry-free recharging

One big hassle for high-tech travelers is how to keep their rechargeable devices powered up overseas.

But what you might not realize is that some devices can run on a range of electrical inputs. For example, the battery recharger for my Powershot camera can handle an electrical current of 100 to 240 volts and alternating current frequencies of 50 and 60 hertz. This is also true for my laptop’s AC adapter.

This means that you can use most of the world’s electrical outlets without a pricey power transformer. (You might still need an outlet adapter, but these are inexpensive and easy to find.)

Scope out the perfect beach spot

Before I leave home, I use Live Search Maps as a key resource for travel planning. I especially like the bird’s eye views.  These low-angle, high-res aerial images give me a sense of the overall terrain and key landmarks I’ll encounter when I arrive. It creates a mental map that helps keep me from getting lost.

I recently stayed aboard the Delta King, a riverboat anchored in the Sacramento River. Using Live Maps, I was able to get a real feel for Old Sacramento and its surroundings before my trip. I also use Live Maps to revisit places I’ve once lived or traveled. A recent search turned up the Arlington, Massachusetts house I’d lived in for five years.  I also relived a favorite vacation memory through this bird’s eye (right) of Rockport, MA.

Give Live Maps a try and see if you can find those special places that you want to keep remembering.

<Lorin Catudio>