Hands On: Inviting Others to use your Outlook.com Premium E-Mail Service

Earlier this week Microsoft stripped the preview tag off of their Outlook.com Premium subscription service, and we showed you the extensive process to sign-up and then configure your customized domain to use with the service.

One of the benefits of the Outlook.com Premium subscription is that you can invite four other individuals to create their own customized e-mail accounts using your unique domain.

After you invite them, they will receive an e-mail with information about the service and a link to get started with the sign-up process.

A couple of key items about the accounts your guests create:

- If they already have an Outlook.com account their unique e-mail address, they create on your domain will be an alias for their own Outlook.com account. So, just like we discussed in our sign-up and configuration hands on,  they will be able to use this account to sign into their various Microsoft services without any problem.

- If they do not already have an Outlook.com account, then this will create a new Outlook.com account for them to use.

- Each unique e-mail account has the ability to create up to six aliases using your customized domain.

I did notice one issue when I was testing this sign-up process. I used my customized email address which I created when I signed up for Outlook.com Premium earlier this week, and the system told me that e-mail address was available for use through the guest sign-up process. There is no reason an account that is already set-up on a customized domain should be allowed to be used a second time. I will report this to the Outlook.com team so they can look into it further.

The process itself is very quick, and so your friends will be able to start using their customized e-mail address on your individual domain almost immediately.

These pictures will show you the steps for inviting someone to use your custom domain on Outlook.com Premium and then show you the sign-up experience for those you invite.

You begin the invitation process by browsing to premium.outlook.com and signing in with your Outlook.com Premium account.

This is your Outlook.com Premium Account Domain Dashboard.

Click/Tap Invite Others to begin the invitation process.

Provide the requested information and then click/tap Send Invite.

You will be returned to the Domain Dashboard where you can exit or click/tap the Invite Others button to invite additional guests to use your custom domain.

Your invited guest will receive this email from Outlook.com Premium and just needs to click/tap the Accept button at the bottom to begin the sign-up process.

They will then be sent to the Outlook.com Premium homepage, and they just need to click/tap Sign in to get Started.

They will then be taken to this page where they pick their e-mail address on your custom domain. They will need to click/tap Check Availability to continue.

They will then see this confirmation that their requested e-mail account is available and then can choose to make it the default from address for any emails they send that report.

If they click/tap No then the process of choosing an e-mail address will start over.

Once they have accepted their new e-mail account options, they will be returned to their Domain Dashboard.


From there they can go straight to the inbox, or they can click/tap Advanced Settings to select aliases for this account using the custom domain.

Alias account management page.

Once they have signed up, there will be another e-mail from the Outlook.com Premium team with more details and links to information about how their new account works.

Adguard and Ebates Added to Windows Store and Slow Trickle of Microsoft Edge Extensions

Over the last month or so, Microsoft has added two new extensions to the Windows Store for its Edge browser in Windows 10.

This brings the total number of extensions available to Microsoft Edge users to just 23 and you can look at that number a few ways.

First, since there is still no public submission process for Edge extensions yet, as we reported back in December, that means every extension is a specific partnership between that company/service and Microsoft.

Second, Microsoft has made the tools available, in the form of a UWP app, to help extension developers create/convert their work to the Edge extension. However, until that submission pipeline is opened to the public the tool is only beneficial to those whom Microsoft partners with for new extensions.

Third, the only way the Microsoft Edge extension library is going to really grow is for that pipeline to be opened to all public submissions. As I speculated back in December, I think this might just happen in conjunction with the release of the Creators Update, the third major Windows 10 feature update, when it is expected to be available in April.

Until then it is just going to be a slow trickle of extensions including the two latest editions.

Adguard AdBlocker

Adguard Ad Blocker effectively blocks all types of advertising on all web pages, even on Facebook, YouTube, and others!

## What Adguard ad blocker does:

1. Blocks all ads including:
- Video ads (including YouTube video ads)
- Rich media advertising like video ads, interstitial ads and floating ads
- Unwanted pop-ups
- Banners and text ads (including Facebook advertisements)
2. Speeds up page loading and saves bandwidth, thanks to the missing ads and pop up windows
3. Blocks many spyware, adware and dialer installers (optional)
4. Protects your privacy by blocking common third-party tracking systems (optional)
5. Protects you from malware and phishing (optional)

## How Adguard Ad Blocker can protect your privacy?

Just enable "Spyware and tracking filter" in Adguard's settings. It completely removes all forms of tracking from the internet. Adguard has one of the largest tracker filters containing more than 5,000 rules.

## How to remove social media with Adguard?

Tired of all the «Like» buttons and similar widgets infesting all of your frequented web pages? Just enable Adguard's "social media filter" and forget about them.

## How Adguard Ad Blocker can protect you from online threats?

At the moment we’ve got more than 1,800,000 malicious websites on record. Adguard can block domains known to spread malware, protecting your computer against viruses, Trojan horses, worms, spyware, and adware. Adguard lowers risk of virus infections and prohibits access to malicious websites to prevent potential attacks.

Ebates Cash Back

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HTC's mobile VR solution said to be coming before the end of the year

HTC will offer a mobile VR solution, and it’ll work with the company’s new top-end smartphone, the U Ultra, but it’ll be more than just a headset that lets the smartphone do most of the work like the Samsung Gear VR, according to HTC CFO Chia-lin Chang, who spoke to CNET. The plan is to introduce their mobile VR product sometime before the end of the year, Chang added.
HTC is increasingly focusing on VR as one of its largest product categories, and launched the dedicated HTC Vive headset in partnership with Valve last year. The Vive is an expensive device, however, and one that also requires an expensive gaming PC to run. The overall cost is a big contributing factor in terms of its ability to reach a large number of customers – Samsung leads the pack by a wide margin in terms of overall sales, and Vive likely sold only somewhere south of 500,000 units, depending on which estimates you believe.
HTC’s not going to just replicate the Gear VR or Daydream approach, however, based on Chang’s comments. He told CNET that the company has “a good plan in terms of combining mobility with VR,” and added that “it’s not a phone slapped into a headset.” Chang also reiterated the importance of VR to the company’s overall efforts, adding that “we’re a VR company, we’re going to have something” in terms of a mobile offering.

This isn’t the first time HTC has talked about mobile VR. At last year’s MWC show, it admitted that a product to “unite” its phone and VR businesses “would make sense,” while adding that it would’t comment on its future roadmap.
Some kind of mobile approach to VR that does more than just turn the phone into a small VR viewer sounds like an interesting concept, though of course we’ll have to learn more about HTC’s plans before we can evaluate the soundness of the strategy. But untethered VR is still a huge opportunity, so perhaps whatever HTC has in mind will aim to free up range of motion and your reliance on a large computer for high-quality VR experiences.

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Pixar offers free online lessons in storytelling via Khan Academy

There are few organizations in the world that can claim more expertise when it comes to storytelling than Pixar. The Disney-owned animation studio is known for its ability to consistently create world-class movies with gripping narrative alongside stunning visuals. Now, Pixar is helping others learn the secrets of great storytelling – for free, in partnership with online education provider Khan Academy.
The two have teamed up to create “Pixar In A Box,” and in this third instalment of the series, lessons are sourced from Pixar directors and story artists including Inside Out and Up director Pete Docter, Brave director Mark Andrews, Inside Out story artist Domee Shi, and Ratatouille animator Sanjay Patel.

The first lesson is available now, and will provide an introduction to storytelling as well as help you hone your initial creation of things like setting and character. The lessons include both videos and activities for students to complete, and provides a general basis on which to build. The next instalment will focus on Character creation specifically, and others segments will address storyboarding, emotional appeal and more, with releases happening throughout 2017.
Pixar’s previous Khan Academy courses include topics like virtual cameras, effects and animations, but this is the first to focus on the less technical aspects of movie creation.

DIGITAL PAINTING : Why not you ?

DIGITAL PAINTING, Definition:

The digital painting (painting) is a form of painting in which digital tools are applied instead of traditional techniques (pencil, oil paint, charcoal, impasto acrylics) .The canvas, brushes, colors, rags, gums, … are applied using digital software in a computer skills (PC, tablet, …); creations downloaded and printed.
The digital painting is used by professional and amateur artists to create digital artwork (Drawing, Painting, etc …); As practiced by technical professionals to meet the visual demands of the market, such as illustrations, rear-scenes and designs used by economic activities (production of video games, television programs, cartoons, advertisements, decorative themes, … ..etc).

DIGITAL PAINTING, To begin:

After watching beautiful digital paintings of artists; Most of you asks: why not me?
The question is legitimate, you can imagine digital artist, amateur or professional, and you can begin the first steps tonight. BUT you must have some requirements, including:
1) You must have a love of colors, paintings, photographs, illustrations, figures, landscapes, modes … .as ART, not just as decoration.
2) You must have a drawing of “primary” experience of several years (not less than 10 years) .. (your brain always keeps your tastes, your feelings, your joys … that you experienced during childhood practices … they will be your artistic intuitions)
3) You must have a study or a technical course of painting “classic” (not less than one year) .Car these are the techniques you’ll practiced, but with the new computer tools.
4) You must have a strong ambition to BE someone, no POSSESSION wealth. The Eternal Art is never the right path of wealth (same effort, the same energy, same time, same budget … will give you a lot of money in economic activity quickly ..and).
5) You must have sufficient SPACES to practice it, isolate, create, store, archive and publish … I’m talking about several areas: time slot, surface area, budget space, computer Download Area … and psycho-social area.
If you have these conditions, be the (la) welcome (e) in the next section to read the main stages … .You will one day DIGITAL ARTIST.
“The computer creates nothing, it is the creation of the artist”

DIGITAL PAINTING; First steps:

You decided to practice digital painting? you have conditions? Bravo.

Now you need to …:

Visit the largest exhibition of digital painting, especially in specialized sites (in thousands) .You notice topics, themes, colors, lines, shapes, and emotions to each table.
Make your first choices (follow your skills, your tastes, your personality, your favorite subjects, and ambitions): What do you prefer? pencils or paintbrushes? black-white or color? sweet, hot or shocking? Real (Nature, portraits, architecture, objects, …) or abstract (blurry subjects, movement, geometric, spots, lines, …)? personal, decorative or commercial? [You can try several options before choosing]
choose your hardware (tablet, software, printer, external hard drive, USB, …). To make these choices must consider the broader market on the net and always start with the easy and cheap (everything will come later). Keep your classic drawing materials (especially pencils, eraser, drawing paper) close to you, you will need.
Make technical training -with the help of a teacher, net video courses, or search engines – to become familiar with your equipment and organize your workspace and your tablet screen.
Draw primitive where drafts are in lines, geometric shapes, colored spots, mixtures, points, writes by hand …….. repeat, repeat, repeat …… hundreds drafts.
Now you master the technique, you know where each tool is, you have your artistic choices … Let’s meet the next item

“The computer creates nothing, it is the creation of the artist “

 ALOZADE A.

What Does the "Print Screen" Button Do ?

Q: I push ‘PrintScreen’ (or PrtScn) and nothing happens.

I have to teach this as a full-blown lesson in my classes because it is so counter-intuitive.

• When you push PrintScreen, it saves a copy of your screen to the clipboard. Now, you must tell the computer where to put it.
• For example, open MS Word and a new document. Paste (using Ctrl+V or right click+paste or the icon on the toolbar–or Edit-paste) and a copy of your screen will appear as a picture.

It can be pasted into docs, emails, cards, wherever you’d like.  Just don’t forget to paste it!

If you’re looking for more than a snapshot of your entire screen, that’s called a ‘screenshot’. Most (well, actually, all I know of) digital devices have a method of accomplishing that without extra software, add-ons, or tools:

• Windows devices (laptops, desktops that run Windows): it’s a tool included in Windows called the Snipping Tool. Once you activate this tool, you can take a full or partial snapshot of your screen with some annotations
• Mac: Command Shift 3 for a full screenshot; Command Shift 4 for a partial screenshot
• Surface tablet: hold down volume and Windows button
• iPad: hold Home button and power button at same time; this saves a snapshot of your screen to your camera roll
• Online: use a screenshot tool like Jing (software download), Nimbus (online websites only), or Snagit (software or an extension)

Question? Leave a comment here and I’ll answer it .

The Most Popular Programming Languages

Our annual look at the relative popularity of programming languages reveals that while Java still rules, other options are catching up for significant groups of developers. Just as important, more and more developers are taking a polyglot approach, leveraging multiple languages according to which one best solves a particular problem.

Choosing a language ain’t easy

Software developers know that choosing the best programming language to use—for your project or for your career—can be critically important but often challenging. The criteria can be confusing and the options difficult to determine. Even the questions you need to ask aren’t always clear:

• Which programming languages are hot right now?
• Which languages seem most likely to grow in usage and importance in the future?
• Which languages offer the most employment opportunities?
• Which languages are most powerful for the tasks you need to complete?
• Which languages are easiest to learn and use?

And that’s only the beginning. To help developers address these questions and make informed decisions, in 2014 and 2015 New Relic looked carefully at various measures of programming-language popularity to suss out the most relevant trends. Notably, for this year’s version, we’ve also incorporated learnings from our own usage data.

Java still rules, but…

By many measures, Java retains its position atop the language rankings. It’s by far the most sought after programming skill in job ads—especially for enterprise positions.
According to New Relic Product Marketing Manager Neha Duggal, Java is the most widely implemented New Relic agent as well. However, Duggal sees evidence that Java is maturing and may not be growing as fast as easier-to-use languages such as JavaScript frameworks like Node.JS—which has shown a sharp year-over-year increase—and Go (now supported in New Relic APM). That change is especially prevalent, she says, in newer, smaller organizations likely to prize ease of use and faster time to market. PHP usage is slipping in the enterprise, but remains very popular in small organizations.

Analyst firm RedMonk’s rankings of programming language popularity seem to support this view, slotting JavaScript, Java, and PHP in the first through third positions.
Perhaps more important, though, New Relic’s usage data shows an increase in number of customers deploying multiple languages. Midmarket customers (those with between 101 and 1,000 employees), in particular, use the largest variety of language combinations, and Ruby is now used in combination with other languages more than it is alone. “This trend may suggest a slow change in businesses adapting more diverse technology stacks into their businesses,” Duggal says.

Which programming languages do employers want?

Let’s first look at the skills that tech employers are asking for. We asked job-finding site Indeed to comb through its 16 million job listings to see how often each of the various programming languages were mentioned in the first five months of 2016. As shown in the chart below, Java showed up in job titles far more often than any other language, with 2,992.19 mentions per million listings.

According to Terence Chiu, vice president of Indeed Prime, “It is not surprising that Java is such a popular programming language. It’s been around for a long time, runs in many computing environments, and has advantages of readability, scalability, and robustness.”
Java is also popular on another major job board, Dice. The top 10 “languages” in its listings, along with their year-over-year change in frequency, are:

1. Scala: 50%
2. Puppet: 20%
3. Python: 13%
4. Hadoop: 11%
5. Java/J2EE: -4%
6. SOAP: -5%
7. HTML: -7%
8. C, C++, C#: -7%
9. UML: -9%
10. Perl: -9%

Dice also notes a healthy increase in demand for Python, whose 13% growth lands it in third place, up from eighth last year. C, C++, and C# fall to eighth place from first last year, even though the number of listings fell by only 7%. If Indeed combined the trio into a single listing, it would grab a strong second place, so it seems premature to dismiss them. This list is confusing, however, in that Scala, which compiles to Java bytecode, earns the top slot. Puppet, Hadoop, and SOAP, meanwhile, are not actually programming languages.

What developers and programmers say

What employers want is one thing. What developers are actually doing is another. According to RedMonk’s analysis of the number of repositories devoted to a language on GitHub and the amount of discussion on Stack Overflow, JavaScript remains the most popular choice. In fact, the list has changed little since the last rankings in January:

1. JavaScript
2. Java
3. PHP
4. Python
5. C#
6. C++
7. Ruby
8. CSS
9. C
10. Objective-C

Unsurprisingly, RedMonk’s list resembles the results of a recent Stack Overflow survey of more than 50,000 developers. JavaScript tops that list, too! Employers may not be asking for JavaScript programmers as much as for folks skilled in other languages, but the people who use it certainly like to talk about it.
Of course, just because a lot of developers are using a language, that doesn’t mean they like it. Stack Overflow tried to get at developers’ preferences by asking what languages they most loved. This list was dominated by newer languages like Mozilla’s Rust, Apple’s Swift, F#, Scala, and Go:

1. Rust: 79.1%
2. Swift: 72.1%
3. F#: 70.7%
4. Scala: 69.4%
5. Go: 68.7%
6. Clojure: 66.7%
7. React: 66.0%
8. Haskell: 64.7%
9. Python: 62.5%
10. C#: 62.0%
11. Node.js: 59.6%

Translating the results

So what do all these data points add up to? Java remains incredibly popular in the enterprise, and job seekers can’t go wrong learning it. JavaScript skills may not land you a job as quickly, but you’ll be in good company with legions of other programmers. There’s still interest in the various flavors of C as well, and PHP plays a big role in the mid-market. Forward-looking programmers may want to jump on the bandwagon for newer languages like Go, Rust, and Swift, which seem to be making the developers who use them happy.
But perhaps the real takeaway is that we seem to be moving into a polyglot world where organizations increasingly employ multiple languages. The idea is to take advantage of each language’s special strengths as well as the varied expertise of the programming team.