15 Essential Windows 8 Projects

15 Essential Windows 8 Projects is your guide to settling in with and getting more from Microsoft's all-new Windows 8 operating system. Written by Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Jim Clark, this 366 page eBook details fifteen great projects for users new to Windows 8 and is a superb companion to We Got Served's Building a Windows 8 Home Server - Step by Step. From navigating the new Windows 8 touch user interface, customising and synchronizing your settings across multiple Windows 8 PCs, extending media file format support and even bringing back the familiar Windows 7 Start Menu, 15 Essential Windows 8 Projects is a fantastic resource to guide you through your first few days and weeks with Windows 8. Chapter List Navigating Windows 8 Bring Back the Start Menu Install Essential Windows Apps in a Single Bound Create Your Own Desktop Start Menu Install and Run Windows 8 on an Apple Mac Set Up a Remote Connection From Your iPad to a Windows 8 PC Store, Share and Protect Your Data in the Cloud Download Files With SABnzbd Extend Music & Video Media Support in Windows 8 Update Your PC's Desktop Applications Automatically Protect Your Windows 8 PC Back Up Your Critical Data With File History Get to Work With a New Office Suite Synchronize Your Settings Across Multiple Windows 8 PCs View PDF Documents With the New Windows 8 Reader App

Using Windows Server 2012 Essentials - Step by Step is our comprehensive guide to Microsoft's ideal "first server" platform. Written specifically for home and small business owners new to servers, or those migrating from Microsoft's Windows Home Server, Using Windows Server 2012 Essentials provides easy to follow steps for installing, configuring and extending Windows Server 2012 Essentials - at home or at the office! Fully illustrated with hundreds of colour screenshots, this 586 page eBook is designed to provide a friendly deep dive into the features and workings of Microsoft's server platform - no IT degree required! Author and Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Jim Clark walks you through first steps with your server - from the computer hardware you'll need to host Windows Server 2012 Essentials, through installing the software, configuring user accounts and security settings, connecting client PCs, mobile devices and Apple Macs. We take a look at backing up and restoring your vital data, sharing files and folders across multiple users and devices, accessing the server remotely via the web or VPN, streaming music, video and photos and a whole lot more. The eBook wraps up with a high level guide to additional software you could consider installing to extend the Windows Server 2012 platform as well as an introduction to advanced server management tools and features. Whether you're considering the use of a server at home or for your small business, thinking of moving from a Network Attached Storage device or back-up hard drive to a more powerful option, or simply whether you just want to find out more, Using Windows Server 2012 Essentials - Step by Step has been written to answer all of your questions - by non-IT geeks, for non-IT geeks!

Building a Windows Home Theatre PC is We Got Served's definitive guide to planning, building, installing and using a Windows-based home theatre PC. If you're serious about streaming and managing your music and movies collection, then a Home Theatre PC (HTPC) puts you firmly in control. Sure, you can stream media on Connected TVs, Blu-ray players and other receivers but you have limited opportunities to customise and tailor those offerings to your needs, your family’s needs and the needs of your home. Depending on your choice, you get these services, miss out on those services and are reliant on a benevolent manufacturer to continue adding new apps and maintaining existing apps. But a HTPC with a small footprint - powerful and silent hardware running slick, easy to manage media center software is not a dream. It’s available for you today. Right now. You can build the hardware you want, install the services you prefer and play the media you love. In this 513 page guide, we walk you step by through creating a first-class, small and mighty HTPC - you'll plan the specifications, components and form factor you need, select the hardware and learn how to assemble a barebones kit (such as our reference build, an Intel NUC HTPC) or build a PC from scratch. From there, we deep dive into maximising performance of your HTPC through tweaking motherboard settings and installing Intel's Rapid Start and Smart Connect management applications. We'll install the latest release of Windows and configure the operating system for HTPC use, tailoring settings to support DTS and Dolby Digital audio, then enhancing video support for Blu-ray disc. With support for Blu-ray on board, you'll be guided through advanced topics like region unlocking and DVD/Blu-ray ripping to a choice of formats, including MKV, BDMV and ISO for streaming in your favourite media center software. We install USB and Network TV Tuners for configuring Live and Recorded TV and use DVBLink to integrate our channels and EPG into a variety of popular media applications. If you think we're done, then hold on! The guide takes a detailed look at configuring a universal remote control (the Logitech Harmony Hub) for use with our HTPC and look at various ways to download and manage music, video and TV metadata for our media collection. You'll learn the basics of popular file downloaders SABnzbd and uTorrent and we wrap up with a comprehensive review of leading media center packages Plex Media Server and XBMC. Building a Windows Home Theatre PC is packed with tips, tricks and tutorials to help you build a kick-ass home theatre PC that will last you for years to come! Chapters Chapter 1: Consider the Environment Chapter 2: Selecting Your HTPC Hardware Chapter 3: Assemble a Barebones HTPC Chapter 4: Build Your HTPC From Scratch Chapter 5: Configure Your UEFI Motherboard Chapter 6: Maximise Responsiveness With Intel Rapid Start and Smart Connect Chapter 7: Install Windows 8.1 Chapter 8: Configure Windows Audio for DTS and Dolby Digital Surround Sound Support Chapter 9: Enhancing Windows Video and Blu-ray Support Chapter 10: Rip Your DVDs and Blu-rays for Viewing Any Time Chapter 11: View Live and Recorded TV on Your HTPC Chapter 12: Configure a Logitech Harmony Remote to Control Your HTPC Chapter 13: Manage Your Music Metadata Chapter 14: Automatically Collate and Manage Movie & TV Metadata Chapter 15: Flex Your Media Muscles With Plex Chapter 16: Download Files on Your HTPC With SABnzbd Chapter 17: Install a BitTorrent Client Chapter 18: Using XBMC Step by Step

Using OS X Mountain Lion Server at Home is the "missing manual" for Apple's OS X Mountain Lion Server operating system, and the follow up to the very popular Using OS X Lion Server at Home. Fully revised, updated and extended for Apple's latest server platform, this eBook takes you step by step through selecting the right hardware, installing and configuring Apple's server operating system. Written in straightforward language for non-geeks and those new to OS X, this comprehensive guide ensures you can get the most out of OS X Mountain Lion Server in the home by walking you through the product's essential features, including file and folder sharing, setting up shared family calendars and contacts, remote access, backup, media streaming, serving software updates to your Mac clients, running your own Mail server at home, managing iPhones and iPads and more. Alongside a full update covering changes from OS X Lion to Mountain Lion, this 373 page eBook includes four brand new chapters exploring advanced topics, including running an FTP Server on Mountain Lion, managing your own eMail courtesy of the on-board Mail Server, caching OS X Software Updates and serving to clients, as well as managing Mac App Store Application and Operating System updates using your server. If you're new to OS X Server or simply upgrading from the last release, you'll find Using OS X Mountain Lion Server at Home an indispensable guide to getting started and doing more with Apple's server release.

25 Essential Windows Home Server Projects Volume 2 is the follow up to the wildly popular guide to getting much, much more from Microsoft's home server platform. Written by Microsoft Windows Home Server MVPs Jim Clark and Christopher Courtney, this eBook provides another 25 detailed, step by step walkthroughs for those seeking to extend the features and usefulness of their home servers - with projects designed for both Windows Home Server v1 and Windows Home Server 2011. Beginners and experts alike will find the eBook essential reading, with a wide rage of projects including using your home server with Apple iTunes, building a Recorded TV Collection with Sick Beard, transforming your Remote Web Access website into a personal cloud server, updating your Windows Home Server Client Restore CD with the latest drivers and a whole lot more. Advanced users can check out how to install Active Directory on Windows Home Server v1, create a Sharepoint collaboration site and boot the Windows Home Server Restore CD from over the network! This all-new, 822 page guide will help you push Windows Home Server to fulfill its potential in the digital home and small office. Projects include: Stream Music and Movies to Android, iOS and WP7 Devices with Subsonic Convert Your Home Server’s Security Certificate to a Friendlier Format Use Windows Home Server as a Time Server Manage PC Updates With Windows Server Update Services Keep Your Electricity Bills in Check with Lights-Out Power Management Update Your Windows Home Server Client Restore Disk With the Latest Drivers Run Virtual Machines on Windows Home Server Spring Clean Your Files and Folders With the Power of De-Duplication Create a SharePoint Collaboration Site on Windows Home Server Back Up Your Home Server’s Files to the Cloud for Added Protection Create Your Own Streaming Internet Radio Station With SHOUTcast Build a Widgetised Web Portal for Your Home Server Replicate Your Files and Folders Automatically to an External Storage Device Sync Your Home Server’s Files Across Multiple Devices Build and Manage an iTunes Server for Your Network Clean and De-duplicate Your iTunes Music Library Install an FTP Server on Windows Home Server Stream DVDs, Blu-rays and ISOs to Network Devices and Games Consoles Migrate From Windows Home Server to Windows 8 Secure and Monitor Your Home Server’s Remote Web Access Manage Your TV Show Recordings With Sick Beard Upgrade Your HP MediaSmart Server to Windows Home Server 2011 Create a Personal Cloud Server with ownCloud Add a Windows Home Server Restore Option to Your PC’s Boot Menu Enable Active Directory Support on Windows Home Server v1

Explore Visual Basic 2012 and .NET 4.5 with this fully updated resource After a quick review of the of introductory topics of Visual Basic 2012 and .NET 4.5, this book moves quickly into advanced topics such as data access with ADO.NET, security, ASP.NET web programming with Visual Basic, Windows workflow, and threading. You'll explore the essential Visual Basic 2012 functions you need, including .NET features such as LINQ, WCF, and more. Plus, you'll examine exception handling and debugging, Visual Studio features, and deployment. Puts the new Async keyword and Iterators to work Explores new options and interfaces presented by Windows 8 development and WinRT Continues strong coverage of core language elements and tools and creating componentized applications This updated version of Professional Visual Basic 2012 and .NET 4.5 retains its expert author team, including one of the best-known and respected Microsoft Visual Basic MVPs, Bill Sheldon, and Microsoft Regional Director “Software Legend” Billy Hollis.

Building a Windows 8 Home Server - Step by Step is We Got Served's essential guide to Microsoft's "re-imagined" Windows operating system... with a twist! Whether you're new to the world of home servers, thinking about upgrading from Windows Home Server or swapping your Network Attached Storage device for a real computer, this 360 page eBook will help you build, install and configure Windows 8 for home server use. Written by Microsoft Windows Home Server MVP and We Got Served Editor Terry Walsh, Building a Windows 8 Home Server - Step by Step walks you step by step through your Windows 8 home server setup, illustrated with hundreds of detailed, full-colour screenshots. From selecting hardware components, building your own home server PC, through installation, set-up and usage, Building a Windows 8 Home Server - Step by Step brings to life the most relevant new features of Windows 8, helping you build your home network around a Windows 8 PC. Detailed walkthroughs include a deep dive into Microsoft's all-new Storage Spaces feature, (the successor to Windows Home Server Drive Extender), File History and data backup options, configuring user accounts, homegroups and shared folders, navigating the brand new (and more than a little quirky) Windows 8 Start Screen and Apps, configuring Remote Access and in-home/mobile media streaming and much more. Finally for Windows Home Server enthusiasts, there's a bonus chapter on converging Windows Home Server 2011 client backup and remote access with Windows 8 - bringing together the best of both worlds! Building a Windows 8 Home Server - Step by Step chapters include: Introduction Windows 8 Home Server Hardware Building Your Windows 8 Home Server Configuring Your UEFI Motherboard Installing Windows 8 A Lap Around the Windows 8 Desktop. Erm, Desktops Windows 8 Storage and Storage Spaces Managing User Accounts and Family Safety Homegroups and Shared Folders File History, Backup and Data Recovery Windows 8 Media Streaming and Play To Remote Access, Remote Media Streaming and the SkyDrive Cloud Running Windows Home Server as a Virtual Machine in Windows 8

The ultimate beginner's guide to programming in Visual Basic 2012 Visual Basic, used to write Windows applications and web apps with ASP.NET, is an essential language for beginning programmers. Using the time-tested Wrox approach, this guide provides a step-by-step format that gets beginners up and running quickly and confidently. Essential topics covered include writing Windows applications, working with dialog boxes and menus, object oriented programming techniques, programming for graphics, using Visual Basic with ASP.NET for web apps, and dealing with data access and SQL Server. Visual Basic is a popular first language for beginning programmers; this Wrox beginner's guide covers all aspects of the newest version Uses a basic, step-by-step approach to help beginners learn quickly and easily Covers essential topics including flow control, data structure, writing Windows applications, error handling and debugging, objects and object oriented techniques, and class libraries Explains Windows Forms, graphics programming, accessing databases, web programming using Visual Basic with ASP.NET, data access, SQL Server, ADO.NET, and XML Beginning Visual Basic 2012 is a must-have for programming newcomers who want to get a solid footing in one of the most important programming languages.