Personalize your Phone and PC with Ringtones, Emoticons, and Wallpapers

Tired of boring desktop themes and a blah ringtone? There are many options available in the Windows operating system to customize your PC and phone. Start with Windows 7 themes, or download free ringtones for your cell phone. You can even find emoticons for instant messaging, backgrounds for your Windows desktop, and clip art and photos to customize your folders.

Click here to continue reading this article at Microsoft at Home.

Up and Running with Office Web Apps with Lynda.com

In this course, author and Office expert Curt Frye shows how to create, edit, and share Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote documents online with Office Web Apps. Each chapter addresses one of the programs, highlighting which features are available online and how they differ from the desktop versions. The course also includes information on integrating the Office Web Apps with SkyDrive and mobile, sharing online documents with other users, and embedding documents in web pages.

Watch trailer.

Microsoft Excel - Widening Columns

Here is a quick and easy way to widen all your columns in your worksheet at one time:

1. Highlight all the columns in your worksheet.
2. Double click between any two columns.

Excel will now adjust all columns in your worksheet to fix the text.

It's easy and simple.  Try it!

Microsoft Office - Short Cut Keys

Below are some great shortcut keys that you cans use in all Microsoft Office programs:

Ctrl + 0    Adds or removes 6pts of spacing before a paragraph.
Ctrl + A    Select all contents of the page.
Ctrl + B    Bold highlighted selection.
Ctrl + C    Copy selected text.
Ctrl + D    Open the font preferences window.
Ctrl + E    Aligns the line or selected text to the center of the screen.
Ctrl + F    Open find box.
Ctrl + I     Italic highlighted selection.
Ctrl + J     Aligns the selected text or line to justify the screen.
Ctrl + K    Insert link.
Ctrl + L    Aligns the line or selected text to the left of the screen.
Ctrl + M    Indent the paragraph.
Ctrl + P    Open the print window.
Ctrl + R    Aligns the line or selected text to the right of the screen.
Ctrl + T    Create a hanging indent.
Ctrl + U    Underline highlighted selection.
Ctrl + V    Paste.
Ctrl + X    Cut selected text.
Ctrl + Y    Redo the last action performed.
Ctrl + Z    Undo last action.

Cloud Computing First Look with Lynda.com

In this course, author David Rivers explains the essentials of cloud computing and answers the basic question: What is the cloud? The course then explores the benefits and drawbacks of cloud computing, including a candid look at balancing the sharing and privacy issues with the productivity gains of working in the cloud.

David also presents an overview of migration and common cloud technologies as you contemplate a move to the cloud, including Google Apps, Microsoft Windows Live, and more. The final chapter outlines how to evaluate the ongoing effectiveness of the cloud for your business.

Watch trailer.

Microsoft Word: View Two Documents at Once

Word has a very neat trick that allows you to view two documents side-by-side. You can also synchronize the scrolling of the documents too so that you don’t have to change focus or jump between each one as you work through them.

Follow these steps to compare two documents:

1. Open the two documents you want to view at the same time.
2. Go to the View tab > Window command group.
3. Click View Side by Side.
4. On the Compare Side by Side window, select the document you want to compare this one to, then click OK.

The first document opens on the left and the other opens on the right. On the View tab of the left document, the synchronous scrolling button is automatically selected. Click it to turn it off and on.

Time Management Tips: 5 Beliefs that Limit Productivity

Productivity—both at home and at work—depends on multiple factors, not the least of which are time management and organization. Compiling to-do lists and wrangling the email in your Inbox are two basic time-management skills that promote productivity and organization.

Click here to continue reading this at Microsoft at Work. 

Google+ for Business with Lynda.com

In this course, author Lorrie Thomas Ross teaches you how to use Google+ to effectively promote a business. Discover how to set up an account for a business or client, and add company information, post photos and video, create compelling copy to market products or services, and improve your reach with contacts. Find smart ways to leverage the power of Google+ circles, blogging, and video sharing to make a real and lasting connection with an audience. This course also shows you ways to improve market visibility and open an online dialogue about your business.

Watch trailer.

Microsoft Word 2007 - Changing the Highlighting Color

The Highlight tool is very helpful when you want to draw attention to different areas of a document. The default color used for the highlighter is yellow, but this can be easily changed to any other color.

To change the color of your highlighting:

1. On the home tab click the down arrow at the right of the Highlight tool in the Font group.
2. Select the color you want to use for highlighting.