UX Passion - All things user experience, tutorials and Microsoft

HOW TO: Show large icons in Windows Vista / XP QuickLaunch bar?

UXPassion.com - All things user experience, tutorials and Microsoft — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:15:51 +0000

Are you sick and tired of small icons in your QuickLaunch bar? Or you like them but you would like to try out something new? Well look no more, in this short HOW TO article I will show you how easy it is to enlarge icons in QuickLaunch bar and make your Taskbar distinctive. I will [...]

Year in review: UXPassion.com during 2008

UXPassion.com - All things user experience, tutorials and Microsoft — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:25:57 +0000

UXPassion.com has “officially” been launched on September 9, 2008. Beginning of the new year is good opportunity to look back and share statistics and interesting details as well as give you some insight on what direction UXPassion.com will take in 2009. Also, there is a call to action for you as a reader. As I just [...]

What am I going to write about in near-term future?

UXPassion.com - All things user experience, tutorials and Microsoft — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 12:30:11 +0000

UXPassion.com is growing at really nice rate and I feel that lots of readers are finding this blog useful and interesting. Therefore, I’ve decided to share with you my draft list of planned future posts on this blog - you can add to this list by putting your comments and suggestions. Of course, this list is [...]

HOW TO: Make taskbar in Windows Vista/XP to look more like one in Windows 7

UXPassion.com - All things user experience, tutorials and Microsoft — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:23:28 +0000

While you are waiting for Windows 7 to go into beta and after that to go into RTM and become broadly available, you can play with your Windows Vista /XP taskbar and make it to resemble one in Windows 7. Of course, resemblance will be just slight, but still interesting to play with. PLEASE NOTE: This [...]

Implementing Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 by Vjeko Babić and David Roys

UXPassion.com - All things user experience, tutorials and Microsoft — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 18:54:44 +0000

My dear friend and colleague, one of the finest Dynamics consultants in Europe, Vjekoslav Babić, has published his first book called Implementing Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 together with David Roys. Let me share my feelings about this great book with you. For the past 8 months Vjeko was working hard on his first book titled [...]

HOW TO: Use and add ribbon to your WPF applications? (Part 4)

UXPassion.com - All things user experience, tutorials and Microsoft — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:46:59 +0000

In this WPF ribbon tutorial I will show you how easy it is to apply Office 2007 look and feel to your WPF ribbon control. That was the question I’ve received several times via e-mail and in comments, so it is good idea to share that little trick with the rest of the world [...]

Windows Live Search – new picture every day

UXPassion.com - All things user experience, tutorials and Microsoft — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:56:11 +0000

I use Live Search. I use Google Search too. I’ve never really used Yahoo! Search. For me, this search engine thing has started in 90’s with Altavista. It was great for me at that time. But nowadays I stick with Google and lately, more and more with Live Search. What I really like about Windows [...]

What is RoleTailored user experience in NAV 2009? Part 1

UXPassion.com - All things user experience, tutorials and Microsoft — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:05:41 +0000

Usually, ERP systems are considered to be complex, difficult for use with steep learning curve. Seeing that as one of the challenges Microsoft has deliver RoleTailored user experience for products like Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009. What is RoleTailored user experience and how it can help users to be more productive? This is first article in series [...]

Seadragon AJAX - DeepZoom without Microsoft Silverlight

UXPassion.com - All things user experience, tutorials and Microsoft — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:51:41 +0000

I am pretty much sure you know what is DeepZoom and that it requires Silverlight as a platform. But what if you don’t use Silverlight and still want to have coolness of DeepZoom? Meet Seadragon AJAX - written in JavaScript it enables you to add DeepZoom viewer into your blog or website. Let’s make one thing [...]

List of new and improved features in Silverlight 3

UXPassion.com - All things user experience, tutorials and Microsoft — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:47:01 +0000

With Silverlight 2 released and already being installed on about 25% computers, we all look to new Silverlight 3. What we can expect from new Silverlight 3? What are new features in Silverlight 3 and why is this great time for you to start learning and exploring Microsoft Silverlight technology? Silverlight 2 is here, but everyone [...]

Goodbye, Yugo - ugliest car ever (Bad user experience we loved)

UXPassion.com - All things user experience, tutorials and Microsoft — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:40:49 +0000

Cheapest car ever until recently, ugliest car ever, car that is used in number of presentations about user experience as an example of bad user experience - Zastava Koral Yugo is going to history today. After 17 years of being in production, Yugo is retired today, November 20th 2008. This is a tribute to Yugo [...]

Great tips about using flags, colors and flowers in user interface (for applications and websites)

UXPassion.com - All things user experience, tutorials and Microsoft — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:11:38 +0000

Often we you are creating and designing user interfaces for your apps or websites you face challenges like how to convey specific language or nation. You might consider using different flags, maps, colors, symbols as a part of your user interface. But that can be challenging and even very dangerous. Tip 1. Avoid using flags in [...]

HOW TO: Get started with WPF and Silverlight 2? Software resources.

UXPassion.com - All things user experience, tutorials and Microsoft — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:17:01 +0000

What tools and software do I need to start building WPF and Silverlight applications - this is one of the most frequently asked questions I have received. So in this short guide I will give you all resources you need to quickly start developing and designing your WPF and Silverlight experiences. So, this is all you [...]

HOW TO: Use and add ribbon to your WPF applications? (Part 3)

UXPassion.com - All things user experience, tutorials and Microsoft — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 20:35:49 +0000

How about adding icons, labels and tooltips to our free WPF ribbon control? Well, in this, 3rd part of tutorial I will show you how to do just that and how to assign basic commands that will be executed when user clicks on button in ribbon control. Let’s start! In case you are joining this tutorial [...]

HOW TO: Use and add ribbon to your WPF applications? (Part 2)

UXPassion.com - All things user experience, tutorials and Microsoft — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:12:48 +0000

Let’s go and continue with our first tutorial on adding the WPF ribbon control in your interface. In this part I will show you how to add tabs, groups and buttons to ribbon control. Also, I will give you feeling on what can you expect in next part of this tutorial. Before you start implementing ribbon [...]

HOW TO: Use and add ribbon to your WPF applications?

UXPassion.com - All things user experience, tutorials and Microsoft — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:05:09 +0000

How to add ribbon control to your Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) application? How to add it trough Expression Blend or Visual Studio 2008? This is first part of tutorial series and it shows you how to add ribbon and how to use it in your applications. First thing first - you will need free WPF ribbon [...]

Download free WPF ribbon control (Windows Scenic and Office 2007 style, too)

UXPassion.com - All things user experience, tutorials and Microsoft — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 22:46:30 +0000

You need free ribbon control for your WPF applications? You would like to build applications with Windows 7 Scenic ribbon or Office 2007 ribbon? Well, in this article I will tell you where and how to get it and how to use free ribbon control in your WPF applications. I’ve been talking a lot about ribbons [...]

New Microsoft Windows 7 screenshots (Taskbar, Scenic Ribbon…)

UXPassion.com - All things user experience, tutorials and Microsoft — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:28:37 +0000

Where to find and download new Windows 7 screenshots? What is new and what is improved in Windows 7? I’m bringing you very nice collection of Windows 7 screenshots and some commentary. Scenic ribbon? For sure! New Windows 7 taskbar? You betcha! By clicking on pictures they will open in full size for your viewing pleasure [...]

HOW TO: Convert PowerPoint to Silverlight (Deep Zoom) like presentation

UXPassion.com - All things user experience, tutorials and Microsoft — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 16:26:19 +0000

How to convert PowerPoint (PPTX) presentation into Silverlight - Deep Zoom like experience? In this article I am providing you with all resources you need and several videos to help you out. Final result: Your presentation as a unique and great zoomable experience. Go and try it! First thing you need is free tool called pptPlex [...]

New Microsoft .NET logo and branding

UXPassion.com - All things user experience, tutorials and Microsoft — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 13:32:06 +0000

Just few days before PDC 2008 and bunch of new things to be announced there, Microsoft has announced new Microsoft .NET logos and branding. First Microsoft .NET logo was designed back then in 2000 and since then, things changed for .NET and Microsoft too. Team has decided that it is a great time to bring on [...]