10 underused Office features

There’s a saying that 80 percent of users will use only 20 percent of an application’s features. This is probably true of most Office users because they don’t know the features exist. Once they see the features in action, they put them to use. Here are 10 features that are among the most underused but easy-to-implement features in the Office suite. Most applications share many of these features; I’ve noted those that are application-specific.

1: Paste

Older versions had limited paste options. Now there are several, and they go well beyond simple pasting. They’re available via the Paste option in the Clipboard group on the Home tab. Paste is in all of the applications, but options are application-specific and contextual, as you can see in Figure A.

Figure A

The options are different, but Paste is available in all Office applications.

Perhaps the most helpful step you can take is to change the feature’s default. Office retains the source formatting when pasting content. To disable this behavior or customize it to suit your working style, access the settings as follows:

• Office 2010: Click the File tab, choose Options, and select Advanced in the left pane.
• Office 2007: Click the Office button, click application Options, and select Advanced in the left pane.
• Office 2003: Choose Options from the Tools menu and click the Edit tab.

In addition, Paste is a versatile feature that can perform calculations, transpose text, and much more.

Ban social media as a distraction? No, it boosts productivity

Far from diverting employees from their jobs, social media and smartphones actually make staff more productive - and employers should learn to deal with that new reality.
Access to social networks via mobile devices gives staff a “virtual co-presence” with direct benefits for the business in which they work, according to a new study.
That core presence enables workers to complete collective tasks more effectively by giving them a greater freedom over when and where they do their jobs, the study of technology companies in the UK, Germany and Finland found.
“This was an investigatory study, rather than a statistical proving. But it was very obvious that social media allows people to accomplish a lot more,” said Joe Nandhakumar, professor of information systems at Warwick Business School, which conducted the research.

10 most useful Word shortcuts

We've done a few useful hints and tips for Excel users so its about time we did something for all of us. The 10 most useful shortcuts in Word! These should really help you and are formatted in a way to allow you to print them out if your memory is like mine.

So... if you were stuck on a deserted island, which 10 Word shortcuts would you like to have with you?
Here are mine.

Windows 8 Power User? Secrete God Mode

For the record, I like Microsoft Windows 8. However, just like any operating system, it is not perfect - there are always annoyances. For many traditional power users, one of the most annoying things about Windows 8 is that it is not easy find all of the control panel settings and configuration wizards that have traditionally been available in previous versions of the operating system.
All of those settings are available; they are just difficult to put your finger on sometimes. For example, there are two control panels in Windows 8 - one is attached to the Start Screen and one is part of the Desktop environment. Of course, neither of them grants you access to all of the configuration settings you’d like to see. This is where you can employ the power of what has been dubbed “god mode.”

No Windows desktop mode!? No!

It comes as no surprise to anyone who reads my stories that I hate Windows 8's Metro interface. I'm not alone. Lots of people hate it. But instead of switching back to an Aero-style interface, perhaps the most respected technical Windows writer out there, blogger Paul Thurrott, looked at the leaked Windows Blue release and thinks Microsoft is planning on dumping Windows Desktop mode entirely. No!

Will Metro be Windows' only interface soon? Some experts think so.

I've thought all along that one way Microsoft could save Windows 8 from its current market malaise if it would make its desktop mode the primary interface instead of Metro.

That isn't what Thurrott sees happening though. In fact, he sees the exact opposite.

Check Data Usage: R U paying too much??

         

When Verizon launched the Share Everything Plan last year I signed up right away. I use a lot of mobile devices, and often on the 4G network, so the lure of a shared pool of data for one price was too much to pass up. I use 4G data frequently, so I signed up for the 10GB monthly pool to make sure I never go over the limit. Turns out I haven't come close to the cap in 6 months.

I have three devices on the shared plan with Verizon: iPhone, iPad, and iPad mini. I used the iPhone 4S as my daily phone until picking up the Note 2 on Sprint a couple of months ago. Data usage on the iPhone is now almost nothing.
See also: Verizon offers buckets of data with the Share Everything plan | Verizon Messages app brings text messages to all your tablets | Exciting work venues for the mobile professional
That's not the case with the two iPads. I use one or both of them every day, often heavily. Sometimes, I use the iPad with a keyboard all day and a lot of that is on 4G. I often use the iPad mini as a mobile hotspot with one laptop or another.

Excel Users, How to find duplicates quickly...

To find duplicate records, use Excel’s easy-to-use Filter feature as follows:

1. Select any cell inside the recordset.
2. From the Data menu, choose Filter and then select Advanced Filter to open the Advanced Filter dialog box.
3. Select Copy To Another Location in the Action section.
4. Enter a copy range in the Copy To control.
5. Check Unique Records Only and click OK.

Corporate Mail on your iPhone (Safe and Separate)

Summary...

I’ve been using TouchDown on iOS for a while, and I really like the organization of the application. Being able to get my corporate mail on my iPhone separately from my personal mail with the added security of IT controls is also pretty great. My organization doesn’t use remote wipe features as of yet, but this may be something we evaluate in the future. For organizations that need this capability, NitroDesk has a nice implementation. Because of the ease of use of the application and level of support provided at all levels, I’ll be using this application for a long time.

The TouchDown application

Like the built-in email application, TouchDown will provide badge notifications of unread items if enabled. For users who separate corporate and personal email, it’s nice to have a choice about the email in both accounts. I was also very impressed with NitroDesk’s support team, who were helpful throughout the entire review process. Overall, the TouchDown application doesn’t have one standout feature — the experience is very much like Microsoft Outlook, or at least as much like Outlook as one can hope for on an Apple device.

Using mail in TouchDown

The default folder in TouchDown is the inbox (Figure A).
Figure A

TouchDown’s inbox.

Alternatives to MS Office

While Microsoft Office is one of the most popular productivity suites available, its far from being the only choice available and some alternatives are free! Below are five alternatives to Microsoft Office that you might consider the next time you are looking to purchase an office suite. Heck, why not give one of the free ones a shot on you're personal computer...you might not ever go back to MS, I haven't. 

1. Google Docs

Google Docs is a cloud based productivity suite that lets you create word processing documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and drawings. Because Google Docs is a browser based application, it isn’t quite as full featured as some of the other productivity suites. Even so, Google Docs is free, and there is nothing to install on your computer. The interface is completely intuitive and Google Docs can be used to create and edit Microsoft Office documents.

"THE" 10 things to look for when buying a Multi Function Printer

Many small businesses use multi function devices which will print, fax, scan, etc. There are many on the market available through local office supply stores or online. But, what should you really look for when you're narrowing the selection? Brien Posey takes you through 10 of the most important criteria to consider before you commit to any multi function device.

#1: The warranty

I have to admit that I have never been one to worry about warranties. When it comes to computer equipment, my philosophy has always been that by the time the warranty expires, the device will be obsolete anyway. A few weeks ago, however, a motor burned out in an expensive, enterprise-class multi-function device that was less than a year old. Fortunately, the warranty was still in effect and the manufacturer replaced the unit at no cost to me. Because things like this can (and apparently sometimes do) happen, it is never a bad idea to check the warranty before making a purchase.

#2: The type of ink used

Like other printing devices on the market, multi-function devices tend to use either laser or inkjet printing. The type of ink that is used (laser toner or ink cartridges) not only affects your bottom line, but also plays a role in print quality. Some color laser printers, for example, produce less-than-desirable results when printing photographs.

Extend your Android battery life

A few Tips from Jack Wallen on how to save extend battery life on your Android phone. Let's face it, it stinks when our phone dies!

#1: Shut off unnecessary services

I have found the GPS does little to get me through the day. So unless I am using an application that absolutely must have the GPS turned on (and it’s an app that I must use), I leave that feature turned off. It can drain the battery the fastest, so when you need battery life over location discovery, turn it off and leave it off. Turn off WiFi as well. It’s another top offender. Although many might argue against this, I find the speed gain of WiFi is not significant enough to offset the battery drain.

#2: Upgrade your firmware

You would be surprised how much better 2.x is at retaining battery life than is 1.x. It was a significant upgrade on many levels, but none was more significant than battery life. One of the critical issues that was fixed was the ever-present messages application not going to sleep. Now the tool goes to sleep, thus saving your battery from an untimely demise.

Android Tips and Tricks!

Thanks to Jack Wallen for the great tips!

Caveats

Not all of these tips and tricks will work on every Android device because many of the devices have their carrier’s take on the Android interface. If a tip is applicable to a specific device, I make that clear.

Use voice activation

If you’re walking down the street and need to send a text message, you can use the voice activation feature to instruct your Android phone what to do. This is a much better option than potentially falling headfirst into an open manhole or crashing into a pole and winding up on YouTube, only to become the laughing stock of your company and friends.
To use voice activation, long press the Search button on the handset (it looks like a magnifying glass) and then speak into the phone. It is also possible to use the voice activation for various purposes, which include the following:

Here's how

10 advanced formatting tricks for Excel users

Thanks to Susan Harkins of Tech Republic!

Most Excel users know how to apply basic numeric and text formats. But users who push beyond the basics will create more readable and effective sheets. In addition, knowing how to apply just the right formatting to specific cells quickly and easily helps users work more efficiently. These 10 tips will help users get more out of Excel’s formatting features.