Not yet using Microsoft’s voice-activated personal assistant, Cortana? You’re missing out on some beneficial, hands-free functionality, like launching applications, making dinner reservations, and more. Try the following commands to make the most out of your virtual assistant.

Hey, Cortana

Before asking her to do anything, we need to get Cortana’s attention by clicking or tapping the Cortana button on the taskbar. If you do not see Cortana on your taskbar, right-click the taskbar and go to Cortana > Show Cortana icon. To enable Hey, Cortana, simply say ‘Hey, Cortana,’ followed by your question. If you’re using a Windows Phone, you can press and hold the search button to activate Cortana.

Basics tasks

If you want to launch a program or open a website, simply use the word ‘Launch’ or ‘Open’ followed by the website’s name. Make notes by uttering the words ‘take a note’ or ‘note it down’. As for making drafts, start with ‘Write an’ followed by ‘email’ or ‘text,’ and end with the contact name and the message itself. Lastly, ‘Show me emails from [contact]’ will display all the emails sent from the specified contact.

Scheduling/Reminders

It’s important for small- and medium-sized business owners to stay on top of their schedules. Take a glance at your calendar events with commands such as ‘How’s my schedule looking?’ or ‘What do I have next week?’. Add or move appointments with ‘Add’ or ‘Move’ followed by the appointment and time. Reminders are easily scheduled by uttering the words ‘Remind me’ followed by whatever you need to be reminded about and when.

Search

If you can’t locate the file you need, don’t worry. By asking Cortana to ‘Find’ a document, video, or picture on your device from a specific time frame, she will sift through everything quickly to find what you need. You can easily initiate search queries with ‘Can you find’ followed by whatever you are looking for. You can even look at basic search results without having to open a browser window: Simply ask whatever question you have and enjoy combing through the results.

Window’s voice-activated personal assistant, Cortana, helps you accomplish daily tasks with ease and efficiency — but only if you use the right commands. If you have further questions or would like to know more Cortana commands, feel free to contact us. We’re ready to help!

Cortana is an intelligent personal assistant that assists you with a variety of tasks such as making phone calls, setting reminders, as well as searching for files. In order to fully utilize her, we’ve picked four of the most handy commands you can ask or say to Cortana on Windows 10 devices.

Hey, Cortana

Before asking her to do anything, we need to get Cortana’s attention by clicking or tapping the Cortana button on the taskbar. If you do not see Cortana on your taskbar, right-click the taskbar and go to Cortana > Show Cortana icon. To enable Hey, Cortana, simply say ‘Hey, Cortana,’ followed by your question. If you’re using a Windows Phone, you can press and hold the search button to activate Cortana.

Basics tasks

If you want to launch a program or open a website, simply use the word ‘Launch’ or ‘Open’ followed by the website’s name. Make notes by uttering the words ‘take a note’ or ‘note it down’. As for making drafts, start with ‘Write an’ followed by ‘email’ or ‘text,’ and end with the contact name and the message itself. Lastly, ‘Show me emails from [contact]’ will display all the emails sent from the specified contact.

Scheduling/Reminders

It’s important for small- and medium-sized business owners to stay on top of their schedules. Take a glance at your calendar events with commands such as ‘How’s my schedule looking?’ or ‘What do I have next week?’. Add or move appointments with ‘Add’ or ‘Move’ followed by the appointment and time. Reminders are easily scheduled by uttering the words ‘Remind me’ followed by whatever you need to be reminded about and when.

Search

If you can’t locate the file you need, don’t worry. By asking Cortana to ‘Find’ a document, video, or picture on your device from a specific time frame, she will sift through everything quickly to find what you need. You can easily initiate search queries with ‘Can you find’ followed by whatever you are looking for. You can even look at basic search results without having to open a browser window: Simply ask whatever question you have and enjoy combing through the results.

Window’s voice-activated personal assistant, Cortana, helps you accomplish daily tasks with ease and efficiency — but only if you use the right commands. If you have further questions or would like to know more Cortana commands, feel free to contact us. We’re ready to help!

You’ll find Cortana, Microsoft’s voice-activated personal assistant, extremely helpful for daily tasks, like rescheduling meetings, drafting an email, or dealing with several other time-consuming work. Learn how to use the following Cortana commands to make life so much easier for you.

Hey, Cortana

Before asking her to do anything, we need to get Cortana’s attention by clicking or tapping the Cortana button on the taskbar. If you do not see Cortana on your taskbar, right-click the taskbar and go to Cortana > Show Cortana icon. To enable Hey, Cortana, simply say ‘Hey, Cortana,’ followed by your question. If you’re using a Windows Phone, you can press and hold the search button to activate Cortana.

Basics tasks

If you want to launch a program or open a website, simply use the word ‘Launch’ or ‘Open’ followed by the website’s name. Make notes by uttering the words ‘take a note’ or ‘note it down’. As for making drafts, start with ‘Write an’ followed by ‘email’ or ‘text,’ and end with the contact name and the message itself. Lastly, ‘Show me emails from [contact]’ will display all the emails sent from the specified contact.

Scheduling/Reminders

It’s important for small- and medium-sized business owners to stay on top of their schedules. Take a glance at your calendar events with commands such as ‘How’s my schedule looking?’ or ‘What do I have next week?’. Add or move appointments with ‘Add’ or ‘Move’ followed by the appointment and time. Reminders are easily scheduled by uttering the words ‘Remind me’ followed by whatever you need to be reminded about and when.

Search

If you can’t locate the file you need, don’t worry. By asking Cortana to ‘Find’ a document, video, or picture on your device from a specific time frame, she will sift through everything quickly to find what you need. You can easily initiate search queries with ‘Can you find’ followed by whatever you are looking for. You can even look at basic search results without having to open a browser window: Simply ask whatever question you have and enjoy combing through the results.

Window’s voice-activated personal assistant, Cortana, helps you accomplish daily tasks with ease and efficiency — but only if you use the right commands. If you have further questions or would like to know more Cortana commands, feel free to contact us. We’re ready to help!

Windows 10 is a solid release, but it can throw people off because familiar things like System Restore and other system preferences are either missing or not working. You can try figuring out all the solutions to these issues by yourself, or you can follow these tips.

1. Less storage space

When you upgrade to Windows 10, your old software is not actually deleted but stored in your hard drive as “windows.old”. While this is a smart move that allows users to downgrade their software if they want, it also consumes a lot of space that you can use to store more important files.

If you want to delete this previous version to free your storage space, first type “cleanup” on the Windows search bar to pull up the Disk Cleanup app. From there, you can either click on OK right away, or you can choose Clean up system files to ask Windows to scan your system. Either of these options will open a pop-up box that will ask whether you would like to delete previous Windows installations.Then, select the files you want to delete and click OK.

2. System Restore isn’t enabled

In Windows 10, System Restore isn’t enabled by default. To turn it on, go to the Start Menu and type “Create a restore point.” Next, choose the system drive and click the Configure button, then select Turn on system protection. Use the slider to set an appropriate amount of maximum disk space to be used for restoring the system (about 5 GB should be enough).

3. Updates won’t work

First off, check if you’ve upgraded to the most recent stable update. Users should hold off on installing the Fall 2018 update until issues are resolved. If your updates still don’t work, download and run Windows Update Troubleshooter and try to update again.

4. Privacy violations

Windows 10 faces a lot of criticism over data privacy settings. We recommend you review them from time to time, especially after every update is released. To change the privacy settings, go to Start Menu > Settings > Privacy. On the left-hand side, you’ll see a list of features and data Windows has access to that you can disable, including the computer’s camera, microphone, account information, and so on. Turn off the ones that you don’t want Windows to have access to.

If you use Windows Defender, go to Update & Security, and decide whether you want to enable cloud-based detection and automatic sample submission, which uploads suspicious files to Microsoft Servers for analysis.

5. Windows 10 uses up all the 4G data

Windows 10 allows you to connect to the internet via cellular data, just in case the Wi-Fi is slow or unavailable. However, it can use up all your data if you’re not careful. To avoid this, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Data Usage. Select Cellular Data from connection options, and then click on Set Limit where you can adjust how much data your computer uses.

We hope these five fixes will help enhance your Windows 10 experience . But while there are some issues you can fix by yourself, others are more complicated and would better be handled by IT experts. Call us today, and let our staff get rid of all your Windows 10 headaches.

The latest Windows 10 update may have improved multitasking and login authentication processes, but it does have its downsides. From stuck updates to shrunk storage space, we got you covered on how to fix five of the most frustrating Windows 10 issues.

1. Less storage space

When you upgrade to Windows 10, your old software is not actually deleted but stored in your hard drive as “windows.old”. While this is a smart move that allows users to downgrade their software if they want, it also consumes a lot of space that you can use to store more important files.

If you want to delete this previous version to free your storage space, first type “cleanup” on the Windows search bar to pull up the Disk Cleanup app. From there, you can either click on OK right away, or you can choose Clean up system files to ask Windows to scan your system. Either of these options will open a pop-up box that will ask whether you would like to delete previous Windows installations.Then, select the files you want to delete and click OK.

2. System Restore isn’t enabled

In Windows 10, System Restore isn’t enabled by default. To turn it on, go to the Start Menu and type “Create a restore point.” Next, choose the system drive and click the Configure button, then select Turn on system protection. Use the slider to set an appropriate amount of maximum disk space to be used for restoring the system (about 5 GB should be enough).

3. Updates won’t work

First off, check if you’ve upgraded to the most recent stable update. Users should hold off on installing the Fall 2018 update until issues are resolved. If your updates still don’t work, download and run Windows Update Troubleshooter and try to update again.

4. Privacy violations

Windows 10 faces a lot of criticism over data privacy settings. We recommend you review them from time to time, especially after every update is released. To change the privacy settings, go to Start Menu > Settings > Privacy. On the left-hand side, you’ll see a list of features and data Windows has access to that you can disable, including the computer’s camera, microphone, account information, and so on. Turn off the ones that you don’t want Windows to have access to.

If you use Windows Defender, go to Update & Security, and decide whether you want to enable cloud-based detection and automatic sample submission, which uploads suspicious files to Microsoft Servers for analysis.

5. Windows 10 uses up all the 4G data

Windows 10 allows you to connect to the internet via cellular data, just in case the Wi-Fi is slow or unavailable. However, it can use up all your data if you’re not careful. To avoid this, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Data Usage. Select Cellular Data from connection options, and then click on Set Limit where you can adjust how much data your computer uses.

We hope these five fixes will help enhance your Windows 10 experience . But while there are some issues you can fix by yourself, others are more complicated and would better be handled by IT experts. Call us today, and let our staff get rid of all your Windows 10 headaches.

Although Windows 10 is packed with wonderful new features, it’s far from perfect. Users have complained about storage, connectivity, and update issues, among other things. If you’ve encountered any of these issues, no need to panic. We have listed down five simple fixes to the most common Windows 10 problems.

1. Less storage space

When you upgrade to Windows 10, your old software is not actually deleted but stored in your hard drive as “windows.old”. While this is a smart move that allows users to downgrade their software if they want, it also consumes a lot of space that you can use to store more important files.

If you want to delete this previous version to free your storage space, first type “cleanup” on the Windows search bar to pull up the Disk Cleanup app. From there, you can either click on OK right away, or you can choose Clean up system files to ask Windows to scan your system. Either of these options will open a pop-up box that will ask whether you would like to delete previous Windows installations.Then, select the files you want to delete and click OK.

2. System Restore isn’t enabled

In Windows 10, System Restore isn’t enabled by default. To turn it on, go to the Start Menu and type “Create a restore point.” Next, choose the system drive and click the Configure button, then select Turn on system protection. Use the slider to set an appropriate amount of maximum disk space to be used for restoring the system (about 5 GB should be enough).

3. Updates won’t work

First off, check if you’ve upgraded to the most recent stable update. Users should hold off on installing the Fall 2018 update until issues are resolved. If your updates still don’t work, download and run Windows Update Troubleshooter and try to update again.

4. Privacy violations

Windows 10 faces a lot of criticism over data privacy settings. We recommend you review them from time to time, especially after every update is released. To change the privacy settings, go to Start Menu > Settings > Privacy. On the left-hand side, you’ll see a list of features and data Windows has access to that you can disable, including the computer’s camera, microphone, account information, and so on. Turn off the ones that you don’t want Windows to have access to.

If you use Windows Defender, go to Update & Security, and decide whether you want to enable cloud-based detection and automatic sample submission, which uploads suspicious files to Microsoft Servers for analysis.

5. Windows 10 uses up all the 4G data

Windows 10 allows you to connect to the internet via cellular data, just in case the Wi-Fi is slow or unavailable. However, it can use up all your data if you’re not careful. To avoid this, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Data Usage. Select Cellular Data from connection options, and then click on Set Limit where you can adjust how much data your computer uses.

We hope these five fixes will help enhance your Windows 10 experience . But while there are some issues you can fix by yourself, others are more complicated and would better be handled by IT experts. Call us today, and let our staff get rid of all your Windows 10 headaches.

While it looked like all the major news from Microsoft’s Surface event today had already leaked ahead of time, the company still managed to surprise us with the launch of its new noise-canceling headphones and its new Surface All Access plans that offer a monthly installment plan for your Surface purchases, similar to the way you probably pay for your phone.

You can read all about the headphones here.

As for the All Access plan, the company said that plans start at $24.99/month for 24 months to get a Surface Go. At $625 over two years, that’s a bit more expensive than getting the Go outright, though Microsoft didn’t yet say what configuration we’re actually talking about here.

What we do know, though, is that All Access will include a subscription to Office 365, access to in-store training and support (or what Microsoft call “top-tier support”).

As far as we can tell, there’s no discounted upgrade plan included here, something Microsoft previously offered when it launched its first financing option for its Surface devices last year. Those plans quietly disappeared a few weeks ago, though, likely in order to make room for this new plan.

To get a device on this new plan, you’ll have to go to a Microsoft retail store.

Microsoft releases two major Windows 10 updates every year, one in spring and one in fall. Following Windows 10’s April 2018 update, Microsoft is set to release a fresh batch of features in October. So if you’re a Windows 10 user, here are some features to look forward to.

Your Phone
Windows 10 is getting a built-in app called “Your Phone” that makes it easier to integrate your phone’s features with your PC. For instance, it will let you send texts and instantly access photos from your phone’s library on your computer.

There’s also talk about syncing notifications between devices in future updates. Currently, the iPhone has limited compatibility with this app, but Microsoft promises additional features will be added later.

Clipboard History
The Clipboard app has been revamped and now allows you to access a list of items you’ve copied to your clipboard, pin frequently used images, and sync your clipboard across your devices. All you have to do is hit Windows key + V to pull up your clipboard history and copy-paste items without having to constantly switch between windows.

SwiftKey
Windows touchscreen devices like the Surface Pro will come with SwiftKey functionality, which lets you type by swiping your finger from letter to letter rather than tapping each one. According to Microsoft, this feature produces accurate autocorrections and makes typing faster once you get used to it.

Dark Mode
All Microsoft apps will now support Dark Mode, which can be enabled by going to Settings > Personalization > Colors. This improvement may seem small compared to other features in this list, but Dark Mode reduces eye fatigue and saves battery life.

Cortana Search
When you use Cortana’s search functions, she’ll now provide previews to give you more information. For instance, if you use Cortana to search the web, Bing search results will be displayed on your Start menu. Or, if you search for an application, Cortana will show you its download page.

Windows Security
Windows Security will replace the Windows Defender Security Center program and add even more safeguards for your devices. It will have a “Block Suspicious Behaviors” setting that detects and prevents app and file activities that can leave you open to attacks.

What’s more, Windows Security keeps track of all the antivirus software, firewalls, and other security measures on your device, so you can see threat reports and manage your device’s cybersecurity in one place.

Predictive Updates
If you’re tired of Windows 10 restarting your computer at the worst times, you’ll love the new predictive updates feature. This function uses machine learning to study your computer habits and predict the best time to restart and update your PC.

These are only a few of the features that Windows 10 has in store for users. Microsoft will likely release dozens more in future updates, so tune into our blog to learn about the latest Windows developments.

Microsoft has confirmed that the next major Windows 10 update, codenamed Redstone 5, is coming out this October. Unlike the standard updates and bug fixes released every Tuesday, this Windows 10 update introduces new features that will make your life easier. Here are some of the most notable improvements.

Your Phone
Windows 10 is getting a built-in app called “Your Phone” that makes it easier to integrate your phone’s features with your PC. For instance, it will let you send texts and instantly access photos from your phone’s library on your computer.

There’s also talk about syncing notifications between devices in future updates. Currently, the iPhone has limited compatibility with this app, but Microsoft promises additional features will be added later.

Clipboard History
The Clipboard app has been revamped and now allows you to access a list of items you’ve copied to your clipboard, pin frequently used images, and sync your clipboard across your devices. All you have to do is hit Windows key + V to pull up your clipboard history and copy-paste items without having to constantly switch between windows.

SwiftKey
Windows touchscreen devices like the Surface Pro will come with SwiftKey functionality, which lets you type by swiping your finger from letter to letter rather than tapping each one. According to Microsoft, this feature produces accurate autocorrections and makes typing faster once you get used to it.

Dark Mode
All Microsoft apps will now support Dark Mode, which can be enabled by going to Settings > Personalization > Colors. This improvement may seem small compared to other features in this list, but Dark Mode reduces eye fatigue and saves battery life.

Cortana Search
When you use Cortana’s search functions, she’ll now provide previews to give you more information. For instance, if you use Cortana to search the web, Bing search results will be displayed on your Start menu. Or, if you search for an application, Cortana will show you its download page.

Windows Security
Windows Security will replace the Windows Defender Security Center program and add even more safeguards for your devices. It will have a “Block Suspicious Behaviors” setting that detects and prevents app and file activities that can leave you open to attacks.

What’s more, Windows Security keeps track of all the antivirus software, firewalls, and other security measures on your device, so you can see threat reports and manage your device’s cybersecurity in one place.

Predictive Updates
If you’re tired of Windows 10 restarting your computer at the worst times, you’ll love the new predictive updates feature. This function uses machine learning to study your computer habits and predict the best time to restart and update your PC.

These are only a few of the features that Windows 10 has in store for users. Microsoft will likely release dozens more in future updates, so tune into our blog to learn about the latest Windows developments.

Windows 10 is developed as a service, and regularly receives patches and bug fixes. It also gets feature updates at least twice a year, and 2018 is no different. This October, Microsoft unveiled the October 2018 update, also known as Redstone 5, which comes with some amazing new features.

Your Phone
Windows 10 is getting a built-in app called “Your Phone” that makes it easier to integrate your phone’s features with your PC. For instance, it will let you send texts and instantly access photos from your phone’s library on your computer.

There’s also talk about syncing notifications between devices in future updates. Currently, the iPhone has limited compatibility with this app, but Microsoft promises additional features will be added later.

Clipboard History
The Clipboard app has been revamped and now allows you to access a list of items you’ve copied to your clipboard, pin frequently used images, and sync your clipboard across your devices. All you have to do is hit Windows key + V to pull up your clipboard history and copy-paste items without having to constantly switch between windows.

SwiftKey
Windows touchscreen devices like the Surface Pro will come with SwiftKey functionality, which lets you type by swiping your finger from letter to letter rather than tapping each one. According to Microsoft, this feature produces accurate autocorrections and makes typing faster once you get used to it.

Dark Mode
All Microsoft apps will now support Dark Mode, which can be enabled by going to Settings > Personalization > Colors. This improvement may seem small compared to other features in this list, but Dark Mode reduces eye fatigue and saves battery life.

Cortana Search
When you use Cortana’s search functions, she’ll now provide previews to give you more information. For instance, if you use Cortana to search the web, Bing search results will be displayed on your Start menu. Or, if you search for an application, Cortana will show you its download page.

Windows Security
Windows Security will replace the Windows Defender Security Center program and add even more safeguards for your devices. It will have a “Block Suspicious Behaviors” setting that detects and prevents app and file activities that can leave you open to attacks.

What’s more, Windows Security keeps track of all the antivirus software, firewalls, and other security measures on your device, so you can see threat reports and manage your device’s cybersecurity in one place.

Predictive Updates
If you’re tired of Windows 10 restarting your computer at the worst times, you’ll love the new predictive updates feature. This function uses machine learning to study your computer habits and predict the best time to restart and update your PC.

These are only a few of the features that Windows 10 has in store for users. Microsoft will likely release dozens more in future updates, so tune into our blog to learn about the latest Windows developments.

Microsoft has equipped Windows 10 users with a comprehensive set of tools to get their action center settings under control. Unfortunately, most desktops come with an abundance of software and features that result in more notifications. If you’ve reached the point of oversaturation, these three tips can help you better manage your action center.

Overarching action center settings

First of all, you should customize your Windows 10 system-wide notifications settings. To view these:

• Click on the Cortana icon on your taskbar and type ‘Notifications’.
• Click ‘Notifications & actions settings’.

Here, you can turn off alerts entirely or customize the alerts for core functions such as alarms, reminders, and incoming VoIP calls.

Settings for individual applications

If you want to take a far more nuanced approach to your notifications, there are advanced options to create rules on an app-by-app basis. At the bottom of the ‘Notifications & actions’ setting screen is a section titled ‘Get notifications from these senders.’ By enabling any of the items in this list, you can open a new window full of more graded notifications options. From here, users can specify lock screen, sound, and priority settings for individual software.

You can also adjust the amount of notifications of a particular app in the ‘Number of notifications visible in action center’ setting. To do so, click on the app’s name and select the amount of notifications you’d like to receive at any given time. Although the default amount is three, you can choose to get up to 20 notifications.

Closing the blinds

For users who have no interest whatsoever in the Windows 10 action center, you can banish it entirely. To do this:

• Open Cortana and search ‘Notification area’.
• Click ‘Turn system icons on or off’.
• Toggle the Action Center option to remove the icon from your taskbar.

You can also choose which apps to remove from your taskbar entirely. To do so, click the back arrow to return to the ‘Notification area’ window and choose ‘Select which icons appear on the taskbar’.

If artists have tools unique to their style, why shouldn’t the tools of your trade be tailored to your preferences? Get in touch with us today to speak with one of our tech-savvy specialists about your technology goals to start achieving new levels of productivity and efficiency on your Windows machine today.

Regardless of the app, platform, or operating system, digital notifications are a tricky business. Our devices are overcrowded with software of varying importance, and without proper customization the stream of information can become overwhelming. Thankfully, with the right settings, you can adjust Windows 10’s action center and manage your influx of notifications.

Overarching action center settings

First of all, you should customize your Windows 10 system-wide notifications settings. To view these:

• Click on the Cortana icon on your taskbar and type ‘Notifications’.
• Click ‘Notifications & actions settings’.

Here, you can turn off alerts entirely or customize the alerts for core functions such as alarms, reminders, and incoming VoIP calls.

Settings for individual applications

If you want to take a far more nuanced approach to your notifications, there are advanced options to create rules on an app-by-app basis. At the bottom of the ‘Notifications & actions’ setting screen is a section titled ‘Get notifications from these senders.’ By enabling any of the items in this list, you can open a new window full of more graded notifications options. From here, users can specify lock screen, sound, and priority settings for individual software.

You can also adjust the amount of notifications of a particular app in the ‘Number of notifications visible in action center’ setting. To do so, click on the app’s name and select the amount of notifications you’d like to receive at any given time. Although the default amount is three, you can choose to get up to 20 notifications.

Closing the blinds

For users who have no interest whatsoever in the Windows 10 action center, you can banish it entirely. To do this:

• Open Cortana and search ‘Notification area’.
• Click ‘Turn system icons on or off’.
• Toggle the Action Center option to remove the icon from your taskbar.

You can also choose which apps to remove from your taskbar entirely. To do so, click the back arrow to return to the ‘Notification area’ window and choose ‘Select which icons appear on the taskbar’.

If artists have tools unique to their style, why shouldn’t the tools of your trade be tailored to your preferences? Get in touch with us today to speak with one of our tech-savvy specialists about your technology goals to start achieving new levels of productivity and efficiency on your Windows machine today.