Microsoft OneDrive now at 10 Gigabytes of Storage

I just received this email from Microsoft:

"We’re excited to announce that you can now upload files up to 10 GB from desktop, mobile, and the web! Our goal with OneDrive is to provide a single place for all your files, and we don’t want you to be limited by file size.

Thanks,
The OneDrive Team"

10 Gigabytes of Storage - yikes, I don't know if I have that much. ;>

If you do not know what it is, "OneDrive" used to be "SkyDrive", and it is a Microsoft Cloud based storage area. You can upload pictures, videos, files to OneDrive either as your main working space (as opposed to saving to the Desktop, for example) or it can be a backup area. Either way, this is free disk space essentially ...

Wordpress 4.0 is Out!

In another world [Windows Azure], I am using WordPress. I really love WP - it is not only the top blog site software these days, it is the top CMS as well. Put the acronyms aside - WP powers millions of sites worldwide and is basically at the tops of all the charts.

The new + always improved WordPress (4.0) is out!
I always like the 'under the hood stuff', as opposed to 'bells and whistles' stuff ;>

Straight from WP:

Under The Hood

General

• Performance and effectiveness improvements to wptexturize()
• Ensure custom post types nested under top-level menu items get the proper classes
• Added a src parameter to the embed shortcode
• Fixes for handling nested shortcodes
• Make default 'template' argument of the_taxonomies() and get_the_taxonomies() translatable
• Remove a redundant condition for comment feeds from WP_Query::get_posts()
• The Customizer now properly honors theme support defaults for background images
• Installed Themes search now shows a proper "no results" message
• Improved, more consistent styling for HTML5 input elements
• Post previews now redirect to the permalink if the post has been published
• Email and URL input types have been implemented where appropriate in the admin
• Most uses of extract() have been removed from the core code
• 3gp mime type support was added
• wp_handle_upload|sideload() logic was consolidated
• Remove dead and unused code from dashboard.php following changes in 3.8
• The operator argument now case-insensitive in tax queries
• Now possible to disable drag and drop functionality in wp_editor() instances
• Trigger _doing_it_wrong() when a registered post type or taxonomy slug is too long (20 characters max)
• Widgets management in the Customizer to leverage the new Panels API.

JavaScript

• Heartbeat API "experimental" labels have now been removed
• Improved inline documentation for Media Views
• Forces an autosave on switch from Visual to Text editor

Bug Fixes

• Fix a notice with media attached to non-existent post type
• Fix expanding and collapsing the admin menu on small screen sizes
• Fix a bug where multiple Add Media buttons shared an ID attribute
• Fix get_the_ID() not checking for a proper post object
• Fix current track highlighting in audio playlists
• Fixed bug with audio player not properly floating around images in the editor
• Fix a bug where bulk actions would be performed upon clicking the Filter button in some circumstances
• Fix remove_all_filters() always returning true via has_filter() in some scenarios
• Fix a notice in wp_reschedule_event
• Fix paragraph tags not being converted in PressThis for the Text editor
• Fix get_the_excerpt() not always checking $post->post_excerpt
• Introduce caching for oEmbed responses
• Fix an issue where attachment display settings didn't work for galleries
• Leverage iframe sandboxing for audio and video, allowing arbitrary scripts to be loaded
• Ensure all plugins have an accurate oEmbed provider list by loading them "just in time"
• Fixed several problems with formatting of curly quotes, square braces, non-breaking spaces, and related performance issues.

http://codex.wordpress.org/Version_4.0

Windows Cortana Personal Assistant

The "Meet Cortana" web page. I forgot to include in previous post ...

Check out the video - has lots of details!

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/how-to/wp8/cortana/meet-cortana?src=ia&iaaid=50017000&ialnk=title

I love Windows 8.1 Cortana

It's becoming a love affair. Once I started actually texting, setting up reminders via Cortana and making calls with her as well, I knew all bets were off. Siri who?!

But seriously, Cortana's voice sounds surprisingly nice & clear, and the search is extremely fast - you do not even have to click a button after a few words are spoken. As soon as there's a pause, she is off on Bing finding information or working the Apps per the given commands. Of course, you need to access Cortana in the first place. I was clumsily going through Internet Explorer on my Windows Nokia Lumia 1020. From there you can hit the tiny microphone to begin voice search functions. Basic search and some other functions were all doable with the previous version that was built into Bing. But now there's a full App for Cortana. However, I either missed the prompt to add to my Start screen upon the Windows 8.1 update (very possible) or it was not offered. The easy fix is to add it: swipe left to open the alphabetized Apps list, go to "C". Hold Cortana down for 2 seconds, then select "pin the start". For me, Cortana is downright critical as my Lumia is not only fun, it's a work phone!

You CAN just hit the search icon itself on the phone (the icon to the right of the Windows Start button), but I do like to have the App on the scree - it has news headlines flashing through periodically, which is useful.

So, after above is done, I held the start screen Cortana for 2 seconds, then dragged the App upward. For me, it belongs on top. Others may want it down further, but consider: Cortana can send texts, make calls, set reminders, set alarms, search for movie theaters or restaurants, and ... tell you a joke. And more.

Open Cortana. Press the microphone to start. Before having fun, you may need to answer a few questions (your name, your interests, depending whether it's been used or not), then that is all - speak clearly and concisely. Happy searching & functioning! Of course, you still type, the old fashioned way. This may be needed, if you're at a loud concert for example.

Siri may be able to do some or all of this (not sure), especially with the new Apple releases coming out soon, but the bar has been set VERY high.