FIRST LOOK: MICROSOFT OFFICE 2013

The next revision of Office adds touches of Metro without itself being a Metro app

Ever since the first beta editions of Windows 8 appeared, rumors have circulated over how Microsoft would revamp its other flagship consumer product, Office, to be all the more useful in the new OS. Would Office become touch-oriented and Metro-centric, to the exclusion of plain old Windows users?

Now Microsoft has whipped the drapes off the preview edition of Office 2013, providing the short answer to the above question: no. Office 2013 has clearly been revised to work that much better in Windows 8 and on touch-centric devices, but the vast majority of its functionality remains in place. The changes made are mostly cosmetic -- a way to bring the Metro look to Office for users of versions of Windows other than 8. Further, Office 2013 has been designed to integrate more closely with online storage and services (mainly Microsoft's), although those are thankfully optional and not mandatory.

The new look and feel
Microsoft has demonstrated before how the Metro look can be ported to apps that don't run on the Metro desktop -- such as the ill-fated Zune client. Office 2013 is the latest test case, but for the most part, the Metro look is confined to places where it makes sense: the File tab, for instance, or what Microsoft has called the "backstage areas" of Office. Even when Office 2013 is installed on Windows 8, it runs on the conventional Windows desktop -- yes, even when Windows 8 is itself installed on a slate PC.

Aside from the Metro makeover, you're likely to notice a certain detail about Office 2013, one that many people also noticed with Windows 8 itself: an expanded degree of integration with Microsoft's Windows Live. Office can be used in a local mode, without being attached to any online service. Sign into Windows Live via Office, however, and the "open or create documents" pane that appears upon opening an Office app will contain a link to your SkyDrive account, where users get a handy 25GB of storage for starters. The hard part, at least in the preview beta, is signing back out; the Office preview only lets you switch Live IDs, not sign out completely and use Office only in local mode again.

Agencyport Software Releases New Version -AgencyPortal(R)

Agencyport Software, a important provider of software and services to the global insurance and reinsurance industries, today announced the immediate availability of AgencyPortal(R) 4.5, the latest version of its market-leading platform for insurance companies to offer self-service portals to their retail agents, brokers, MGAs and policyholders. Agencyport made the declaration at the 2012 ACORD-LOMA Insurance Systems Forum in Orlando, Florida.

 Over thirty P&C insurance carriers currently use AgencyPortal(R) across personal, commercial, specialty and reinsurance lines of business in several countries including all 50 U.S. states. New usability features such as account management capabilities, predictive analytics and user history tracking are introduced in this release. Each feature is also configurable in the AgencyPortal(R) Toolkit. 

AgencyPortal(R) 4.5 ships with an important new Account Management feature that carriers can enable in their agent portals for all lines of business. AgencyPortal(R) Account Management allows agents to quickly determine account eligibility for multiple lines of business based on the carrier appetite for the risk as well as whether or not a specific line is currently reserved. 

Common information on the agents' accounts is used to pre-fill the quote data, saving keystrokes and time and incentivizing agents to quote multiple policies at a discounted premium. Account Management also allows carriers to respond to common agent requests for a single view of all in-force, quoted, and historical policies for all lines of business associated with a specific account.

Samsung exposes 3 new Wi-Fi capable cameras

Samsung, one of the most innovative companies when it comes to incorporating new technology into cameras, has just announced 3 new cameraswith wi-fi capability.

 All of the new cameras are based off of the existing NX200 and have integrated wi-fi connectivity, which promises to make wired Internet connections a thing of the past. The new cameras are as follows: the flagship NX20, a mid-level NX 210, and the entry-level NX1000. 

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Amazing New Technology - D-roll Laptop Design

D-roll Laptop design is a next generation concept which is way unique from usual laptops in both shape and function. The long tube shape of this laptop, which was motivated from the storage tubes that artists are using for storing large drawings, eliminates perception of the traditional book looking laptops.

This multifunctional laptop has two working modes. When it is operating in full function mode, the laptop is unfolded completely and all peripherals are turned on. The main display is turned off and a smaller screen, attached with main body is turned on allowing the users to check and send mails when D-roll is under email mode. VC is a helpful add-on for capturing pictures or videos and Locking System can provide certain security to the laptop.

Microsoft's new technology - PhotoDNA

STATE and federal police will begin using sophisticated image-matching software to tag and track child pornographic images in an attempt to reduce their sharing across the internet.

The technology, developed by computer giant Microsoft's research group along with scientists from Dartmouth College, creates a unique signature on a digital image that could be compared with the signature of other images to determine if they were copies.


The manager of cyber crime operations at the Australian Federal Police, Glen McEwen, said when police came across child abuse material their first priority was to establish whether the images were new, and the child was still at risk, or whether they were versions of known images.
That process was currently carried out manually by police officers, he said.

Commander McEwen said,”access to the new technology, called PhotoDNA, will mean police could identify victims and apprehend abusers faster, and make it easier for enforcement agencies to share information”.

The technology would also limit officer’s exposure to disturbing material, he said.

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