mspress 70 623 windows vista client phần 3 pps

110 Chapter 3 Configuring and Customizing the Windows Vista Desktop NOTE Evaluating gadgets Although the potential for clever and useful gadgets for Windows Sidebar is practically unlimited, users should exercise some caution when choosing what to download. Poorly implemented gad- gets might not work as expected or might use a significant amount of computer resources. One good indicator about the quality of a gadget is other users’ ratings. You can see how other people feel about the gadget and read their comments. Of course, it’s a good idea to return the favor: if there’s a gadget that you like or dislike, post an opinion so others can benefit from your experience. Configuring RSS Feeds In the not-too-distant past, tasks such as viewing maps, finding contact information, and keep- ing up with the news were handled without computers. The popularity of the Internet changed that, and many people now depend on online resources far more than their physical counterparts. Perhaps one of the most useful aspects of the Internet is the ability to find just about any information at any time. In fact, the major problem has become related to having too many different sources of information. One way to collect information from throughout the Internet is to visit Web sites manually. Although this often provides a good experience, it can be difficult to isolate just the informa- tion you need. Often, the presence of numerous ads and inconsistencies in site navigation can result in a less-than-ideal experience. Understanding RSS The RSS standard has been created to provide developers of Web-based content with a method for making this information easily available to the user, other sites, and applications. The data itself is made available in Extensible Markup Language (XML) format and can be accessed using any application or service that supports RSS. The benefit to users is the ability to obtain news and other updates from a large variety of dif- ferent sites and services and view them all in one place. The RSS data itself is often referred to as a feed because it provides data that can be consumed elsewhere. Feeds are generally updated based on the frequency of Web content updates. Visitors to a Web site or service can usually access RSS-based data by clicking an RSS link or icon. Numerous applications (both GUI- based and Web-based) for reading feed-based information are available on the Internet. NOTE What does RSS stand for? The RSS acronym is somewhat enigmatic in that it doesn’t represent a single specific term. It has sometimes been expanded to mean Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary. Regardless of the terminology, it refers to an XML-based standard that enables content producers to make their information available in a consistent format. Lesson 2: Working with the Sidebar 111 Adding the Feed Headlines Gadget Windows Vista ships with a gadget for Windows Sidebar that is designed to view RSS feeds within Windows Sidebar. The gadget is called Feed Headlines, and it works like many of the other gadgets. Figure 3-21 shows a sample view of the Feed Headlines gadget. Figure 3-21 Viewing RSS information using the Feed Headlines gadget The user interface continually shows the latest headlines obtained from RSS feeds. Users can click a link to see details related to that specific headline. In most cases, the content that is included with an RSS feed is limited to a brief summary of the total information. Readers who want the complete content of an article or item will need to visit the provider’s Web site. Configuring Feed Headlines Options Users can modify the properties of the Feed Headlines Gadget to display some or all of the information that they’re interested in. Figure 3-22 shows the available configuration options. Figure 3-22 Configuring properties of the Feed Headlines gadget The top drop-down list includes a list of all of the RSS feeds that are available on the computer. You can add feeds by using compatible applications such as Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 (which is discussed in Chapter 8, “Configuring Parental Controls and Browser Security”), Microsoft Outlook, or one of several third-party products. This model enables users to subscribe 112 Chapter 3 Configuring and Customizing the Windows Vista Desktop to and view RSS feeds by using several different methods. Because you can add several differ- ent instances of the Feed Headlines gadget to Windows Sidebar, a wide variety of information can be made readily available on the Windows desktop. Overall, the use of the Feed Headlines gadget can help users better manage information from many different sources in a consistent manner. Quick Check 1. What are some advantages of using Windows Sidebar instead of installing full Windows applications? 2. What is the difference between gadgets for Windows Sidebar that are attached and those that are detached from Windows Sidebar? Quick Check Answers 1. Gadgets for Windows Sidebar are quick and easy to install and can be configured to always be available on the Windows desktop. The process for adding new gad- gets is simple, and gadgets can be arranged based on users’ preferences. 2. Attached gadgets appear in a vertical strip that is part of Windows Sidebar itself. They generally show a smaller user interface. Detached gadgets can be placed any- where on the desktop and often have a larger display. Practice: Configuring Windows Sidebar In this practice, you configure Windows Sidebar to show a variety of different gadgets. In addition to the steps in these exercises, you should try to download and install new gadgets, if possible.  Practice 1: Add and Configure Gadgets for Windows Sidebar In this practice exercise, you work with adding gadgets to the Windows Sidebar display and to the system desktop. This exercise assumes that Windows Sidebar is currently enabled. (For information about enabling Windows Sidebar, see the text in Lesson 2, “Working with the Sidebar.”) 1. Start Windows Vista and log on to the computer. 2. Right-click Windows Sidebar and select Add Gadgets. This displays a list of all of the available gadgets installed on the computer. 3. Right-click the Weather gadget and select Add. Note that the gadget is attached to Windows Sidebar by default. 4. Add a second instance of the Weather gadget to Windows Sidebar by right-clicking it and selecting Add. Note that two instances of the gadget appear attached to the Sidebar. 5. Close the Add Gadgets dialog box. Lesson 2: Working with the Sidebar 113 6. Right-click the uppermost Weather gadget in Windows Sidebar and choose Options. Search for any city in the Options dialog box and click OK to select. 7. Next, perform the same configuration step for the second Weather gadget but select a different city. Note that each Weather gadget can show information about a different city. 8. Drag the uppermost Weather gadget to an area of the desktop and note the difference in display. Many gadgets display more information when they are in a detached location. 9. Remove both Weather gadgets from the display by right-clicking each one and clicking Close Gadget. This returns the Windows Sidebar configuration to its initial display. Lesson Summary n Windows Sidebar enables users to add small applications called gadgets to the user interface. n Users can easily add gadgets to or remove gadgets from Windows Sidebar. n Gadgets can be added to Windows Sidebar in an attached or detached configuration. n Most gadgets for Windows Sidebar provide configuration settings that enable users to customize their behavior based on personal preferences. n Users can download and install new gadgets from third-party developers. n RSS feeds provide a consistent method by which users can collect and view information from a variety of different sources. n The Feed Headlines gadget shows recent headlines from particular RSS feeds that have been configured on the computer. Lesson Review You can use the following questions to test your knowledge of the information in Lesson 2. The questions are also available on the companion CD if you prefer to review them in elec- tronic form. NOTE Answers Answers to these questions and explanations of why each answer choice is correct or incorrect are located in the “Answers” section at the end of the book. 1. A user has added several gadgets to her Windows Sidebar and would like them to be vis- ible even when other application windows are open. Which Windows Sidebar option or command will enable her to achieve this goal? A. Bring Gadgets To Front B. View List Of Running Gadgets C. Sidebar Is Always On Top Of Other Windows 114 Chapter 3 Configuring and Customizing the Windows Vista Desktop D. Restore Gadgets Installed With Windows E. Opacity 2. A user would like to remove the Clock gadget from Windows Sidebar but would like to have the ability to add it back quickly again in the future. Which of the following opera- tions meets these requirements? A. Uninstalling the gadget B. Closing the gadget C. Changing the Opacity to 0% D. Placing the gadget directly below another gadget E. Detaching the gadget from Windows Sidebar 3. A customer has subscribed to numerous RSS feeds by using Internet Explorer and would like to view headlines directly on the desktop. Specifically, he has eight different feeds configured on the system and would like headlines from three of them to appear within separate gadgets. How can he achieve this configuration? A. Add a single Feed Headlines gadget to Windows Sidebar and select the All Feeds option. B. Add a single Feed Headlines gadget to Windows Sidebar and select only the three feeds that he would like to monitor. C. Add three separate Feed Headlines gadgets to Windows Sidebar and configure each to display one of the three feeds that he would like to monitor. D. Add three separate Feed Headlines gadgets to Windows Sidebar and select the All Feeds option. Chapter 3 Review 115 Chapter Review To further practice and reinforce the skills you learned in this chapter, you can perform the fol- lowing tasks: n Review the chapter summary. n Review the list of key terms introduced in this chapter. n Complete the case scenarios. These scenarios set up real-world situations involving the topics of this chapter and ask you to create a solution. n Complete the suggested practices. n Take a practice test. Chapter Summary n Windows Aero provides an enhanced user experience through features such as window transparency and Flip 3D. n Users can customize desktop settings based on their preferences. Options include desk- top themes; backgrounds; and displaying adapter settings such as resolution, number of colors, and refresh rate. n Windows Sidebar allows users to add and arrange small applications called gadgets for Windows Sidebar. Several useful gadgets are included with Windows Vista. n The Feed Headlines gadget enables users to view information from RSS feeds that are configured on the computer. Key Terms Do you know what these key terms mean? You can check your answers by looking up the terms in the glossary at the end of the book. n Desktop theme n Feed Headlines n Flip 3D n gadgets n Live taskbar previews n RSS n Windows Sidebar 116 Chapter 3 Review Case Scenarios In the following case scenarios, you will apply what you’ve learned about configuring and cus- tomizing the Windows Vista desktop. You can find answers to these questions in the “Answers” section at the end of this book. Case Scenario 1: Customizing the Windows Vista Desktop You are supporting a customer who has recently installed Windows Vista Home Premium and would like to change several display-related settings based on personal preferences. Specifi- cally, he would like to increase the amount of information that is displayed on his CRT moni- tor and would like to make some visual changes to colors used on the desktop. 1. How can the user configure the display to show more information on the screen at once? 2. The user likes the transparency effects of Windows Aero but would prefer to define his own custom color for the glass. How can he configure this? 3. The user has made numerous display-related settings and would like to save them all so they can be easily restored if needed. How can he do this? Case Scenario 2: Configuring Windows Sidebar You are assisting a customer who has recently upgraded to Windows Vista. She believes that Windows Sidebar will be very helpful and would like to configure it to display numerous gad- gets. Currently, Windows Sidebar does not appear on the desktop, and there is no Windows Sidebar icon in the system tray. 1. How should she enable Windows Sidebar? 2. The customer has added two Weather gadgets to Windows Sidebar and would like each to show information about a different city. How can she configure this? 3. How can the user view headlines from all of the RSS feeds that have been added to the system? Suggested Practices To help you successfully master the exam objectives presented in this chapter, complete the following tasks. Chapter 3 Review 117 Customizing Windows Vista Based on User Preferences n Practice 1: Explore Windows Desktop Options Make changes to several different settings on a computer running Windows Vista. Specifically, you should view the effects of dis- abling transparency, changing the method of smoothing screen fonts, modifying the color of glass effects, and saving desktop themes. Note that if you would like to restore the original configuration of Windows Vista, you can do this using the Themes icon in Control Panel. n Practice 2: Manage Windows Sidebar Preferences If it is not already running on a com- puter running Windows Vista, enable Windows Sidebar. Change various configuration options such as opacity and the option to keep gadgets running visibly on top of other windows and view the effects. Add several instances of the Clock, Weather, and Feed Headlines gadgets to Windows Sidebar and configure each to use a different set of prop- erties. When finished, practice removing gadgets from Windows Sidebar. Take a Practice Test The practice tests on this book’s companion CD offer many options. For example, you can test yourself on just one exam objective, or you can test yourself on all of the 70-623 certification exam content. You can set up the test so that it closely simulates the experience of taking a cer- tification exam, or you can set it up in study mode so that you can look at the correct answers and explanations after you answer each question. MORE INFO Practice tests For details about all the practice test options available, see the “How to Use the Practice Tests” sec- tion in this book’s introduction. 119 Chapter 4 Configuring Windows Vista Features In the early days of computers, users considered themselves lucky just to be able to track and organize information on a single machine. Over time, however, the benefits of sharing data have become readily apparent. There’s no greater example than the public Internet, a network through which users from throughout the world can create and access information. One of the primary benefits of using modern operating systems such as Windows Vista is the ability to share information with others. In fact, one of the primary motivations for many cus- tomers to purchase a new computer is to access the Internet. Common tasks include sending and receiving e-mail, managing calendar information, and collaborating with others. Windows Vista includes several applications that provide methods of sharing information, using the Internet or a local area network (LAN). The main customer goals include communications and entertainment. In this chapter, you’ll learn about many different applications and features of Windows Vista. Lesson 1, “Working with Windows Communication Features,” focuses on programs that are designed to help users communicate and share information. Lesson 2, “Using Windows Media Features,” focuses on media-related functionality. Exam objectives in this chapter: n Post-installation: Customize and configure settings. q Evaluate user requirements and recommend, set up, and configure appropriate applications. n Configure, troubleshoot, and repair networking. q Configure Media Center. Lessons in this chapter: n Lesson 1: Working with Windows Communication Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 n Lesson 2: Using Windows Media Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 [...]...120 Chapter 4 Configuring Windows Vista Features Before You Begin This chapter covers a broad range of media and communications features in Windows Vista To follow the text and complete all of the exercises in this chapter, you need a computer that is running Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate In Lesson 1, you need to have an e-mail account to... with Windows Communication Features 1 23 Configuring Windows Mail for E-Mail One of the most important capabilities for most Internet users is the ability to send and receive e-mail Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Windows Vista includes a new e-mail program called Windows Mail Windows Mail is a replacement for Microsoft Outlook Express, which was included in earlier versions of the Windows. .. and appointments with Windows Calendar, and how you can create meetings with Windows Meeting Space After this lesson, you will be able to: n Enable or disable optional components of Windows Vista using the Windows Features dialog box n Create and configure new e-mail and newsgroup accounts in Windows Mail n Use the Junk E-mail filter and message rules to manage information in Windows Mail n Connect... I use Windows Media Center with my Xbox 36 0 all the time Therefore, I’ve become very familiar with its capabilities and options  138 Chapter 4 Configuring Windows Vista Features In other cases, however, you might not have a need for a particular program For example, because I normally use Outlook for e-mail and calendaring tasks, I didn’t have a need to use these features in Windows Mail and Windows. .. related to Windows Mail itself, named microsoft.public .windows. vista. mail For more information, see the Microsoft Communities home page at http://www.microsoft.com/communities/default.mspx Lesson 1: Working with Windows Communication Features 141 Figure 4-20 Subscribing to newsgroups Exam Tip Accessing news servers such as Microsoft Communities can be an excellent way to prepare for Exam 70- 6 23 In some... Connect to news servers and access newsgroups, using Windows Mail n Use Windows Calendar to keep track of tasks and appointments and to share scheduled information with other users n Set up and join meetings for sharing applications and handouts, using Windows Meeting Space Estimated lesson time: 75 minutes Managing Windows Features All editions of Windows Vista include a large number of different operating... Windows Vista networking options (for more information about configuring networking, see Chapter 9, “Configuring Windows Vista Networking”) Figure 4-5 shows the server setup options, along with some sample values POP3 and IMAP server addresses are generally valid Internet Domain Name System (DNS) names, although small-business owners might have their own local mail servers Lesson 1: Working with Windows. .. users (for example, the Telnet Server and Telnet Client features) To make changes to which features are turned on or off, open Control Panel and click Programs Clicking Turn Windows Features On Or Off launches the Windows Features dialog box (see Figure 4-1) It is important to note that Windows Features are components of the 122 Chapter 4 Configuring Windows Vista Features operating system; they are not... require Microsoft NET Framework 3. 0 Disabling it prevents those applications from running To apply the changes, click OK in the Windows Features dialog box Windows Vista automatically determines which files it should add and remove and which operating system changes it must make The entire process can take several minutes and depends on how many different types of changes Windows Vista must perform In some... users, this is not necessary  130 Chapter 4 Configuring Windows Vista Features Configuring Advanced Settings The Advanced tab contains numerous options that are helpful when troubleshooting connection and other related issues Figure 4-9 shows the available options The POP3, IMAP, and SMTP protocol specifications include standard TCP/IP port numbers for communications Windows Mail automatically chooses . Other Windows 114 Chapter 3 Configuring and Customizing the Windows Vista Desktop D. Restore Gadgets Installed With Windows E. Opacity 2. A user would like to remove the Clock gadget from Windows. tasks. Chapter 3 Review 117 Customizing Windows Vista Based on User Preferences n Practice 1: Explore Windows Desktop Options Make changes to several different settings on a computer running Windows Vista. . configuration of Windows Vista, you can do this using the Themes icon in Control Panel. n Practice 2: Manage Windows Sidebar Preferences If it is not already running on a com- puter running Windows Vista,