Outlook error: “This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer”

The default browser has been changed from IE to another application. and corrupt some registry entries.

Solution:

Close outlook and any web browsers you may have open.

Open an elevated command prompt window (run cmd as admin)

Type the following commands line by line into the command prompt window

REG ADD HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.htm /ve /d htmlfile /f

REG ADD HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.html /ve /d htmlfile /f

REG ADD HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.shtml /ve /d htmlfile /f

REG ADD HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.xht /ve /d htmlfile /f

REG ADD HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.xhtml /ve /d htmlfile /f

Open Outlook and try again.

Lost Illustrator top properties bar? How to get it back

 

Lost Illustrator top properties bar? How to get it back

Index network drive in MacOS, or reindex / rebuild index

So straight from Apple's mouth:

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201716

1. Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Spotlight.
2. Click the Privacy tab.
3. Drag the disk or folder that you want to re-index to the list of locations that Spotlight is prevented from searching in.
   Or click the add button (+) and select the disk or folder to add.
4. From the same list of locations, select the disk or folder that you've just added. Then click the remove button (–) to remove it from the list.
5. Quit System Preferences. Spotlight will re-index the contents of the disk or folder. This can take some time, depending on the amount of information that is being indexed.

 

How to stop Siri asking for passcode when your phone your iPhone is locked and you say hey Siri for a command

Finally after using Siri for many many years and after creating my own Shortcuts for things like driving home or driving to work or doing some repetitive things I have found out how to prevent iPhone for interrupting the workflow and asking for a passcode. This passcode was often just me holding up the phone to my face to unlock it and sometimes the workflow would get interrupted.

The solution is simpler than I thought. Just go to Siri settings in the iPhone preferences in the iOS and configure Siri to not work when the iPhone is locked. In other words, require the iPhone to be unlocked before Siri side button works. That way you just hold your iPhone look at it press the side button and tell Siri whatever you want. Since the iPhone will automatically unlock when you are looking at it by the time you are done speaking to Siri the command will be executed without interruptions. Finally

(Sorry I typed these short post using Siri dictation while I don’t have time to perfect the punctuation :))

Apple MacBook 12" butterfly vs Lenovo ThinkPad x240 keyboard comparison

I got this super cute notebook, the ThinkPad x240 from a friend and couldn't believe how great the keyboard was. In particular I was surprised how easily I could reach even the number keys while typing with all ten fingers. Thus this comparison... The distances are still the same - surprise! And keys on the MacBook are even larger. Anyway, sharing this for anyone interested. Check it out yourself.

Apple MacBook 12" vs Lenovo ThinkPad x240 keyboard comparison

MacBook Air 2018 is out - my first thoughts

Rumours were true: Apple announced their 2018 revival of a classic, the MacBook Air. I am not a customer here, but the features of Apple's notebook lineup get mixed up again. This time we get:

• Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, instead of just one in their 12" MacBook
• Touch ID, instead of no such thing in the 12" model
• No touchbar, whereas their MacBook Pro models have one

So another in-between solution. None of their notebooks have it all, right? One of the best features of the new MacBook Air 2018 is the one it doesn't have. Yes, the touchbar. This strange addition to the MB Pro line-up is discussed enough on the web, so I am not going to comment further on it. We do get the Touch ID, though, so again, if you want one in a retina display ultraportable machine, you've got to buy this new Air. MacBook 12" will surely get it later, which in itself will make it another reason for you to reconsider and keep buying. Just like Face ID with iPhone. Why isn't it in the MacBooks? Because it will be the reason to update your hardware in a few years from now (BTW, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon has "infrared camera (optional) with advanced facial recognition" already) . 

Apple has played this card ad nauseum, but it just keeps on giving and works like a charm every time!

MacBook Air 2018. No ports to disturb the view.

To elevate the aesthetics, there is no headphone jack either. This will certainly cause inconvenience and allow people to buy additional accessories. Like for the missing SD card readers, USB slots, HDMI slots etc..

Apple's dongle hell. Apple's fastest growing income category?

Not sure if anybody still remembers the convenience just a few years ago...

MacBook Pro Retina: SD slot, HDMI, USB ports, the wonderful MagSafe, headphones, etc..

Or even today, but from other manufacturers:

Lenovo X1 Carbon still has a regular USB and a HDMI port.

All in all I was hoping for a student laptop this year. Before the event, I could be heard saying that this is the time to final nail the market and persuade users by storms to go all Apple. But with the current pricing, it's not gonna happen. Apple is still very expensive, very premium. Who is going to buy this to their 6th graders for school?

iPhone 6 Official Wallpaper - purple flower (also in white) adapted for iPhone X

And here two wallpapers based on the iPhone 6 Official Wallpaper featuring purple flowers. So beautiful and calming

It's adapted for iPhone X and uses true black for OLED display to conserve power. Enjoy this free download, kudos to the original photographer.

 

and in pure white, if you like: