Download "Windows 8 Security" ebook for FREE

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As an IT professional, you are quite possibly being asked to review Windows 8 and determine if it is a good fit for your organization.

Or, you are being asked to implement Windows 8 or develop a transition plan that moves your organization's systems from their current operating system to Windows 8 over time. Other than the interface, which is of course the focus of the user experience, Windows 8 comes with increased security features designed to make your life as an IT professional easier. These features are supposed to enhance security and give you enhanced tools for support and protection. Some of the topics covered in this eBook, UEFI, Dynamic Access Control, BranchCache, DirectAccess, BitLocker, Virtualization, Social Media, SmartScreen and WindowsToGo.

Free ebook from Microsoft Press: Programming Windows 8 Apps with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

The "Programming Windows 8 Apps with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript" free ebook provides comprehensive coverage of the platform for Windows Store apps. Since its second preview in August, the authors have added the remaining chapters on live tiles, notifications, background tasks, background transfers, networking, devices, printing, WinRT components, accessibility, localization, and the Windows Store itself. The final ebook contains 17 chapters. And of course all of the earlier chapters have also been reviewed and refined-over 800 pages in total, along with new and updated companion content!

This book is about writing Windows Store apps using HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript. The primary focus will be on applying these web technologies within the Windows 8 platform, where there are unique considerations, and not on exploring the details of those web technologies themselves. For the most part, then, the author is assuming that you're already at least somewhat conversant with these standards. The book covers some of the more salient areas like the CSS grid, which is central to app layout.



You can download the "Programming Windows 8 Apps with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript" ebook in PDF format here (17.9 MB)

Note: The MSDN blog will be updated and you will be able to download EPUB and MOBI formats in the near future.

The ebook's companion content is here (59.9 MB)

p.s. Yet another free book on Windows 8. Poor sales? Too few apps in the Windows app store?

Free PDF ebook from Dell and Wiley&Sons: Windows 8 for Dummies

Windows 8 operating system is very counter-intuitive. So you should find the book "Windows 8 for Dummies" by Andy Rathbone very useful. It covers many aspects of Windows 8 from its new Start Screen to Windows Apps and Desktop mode.



Windows 8 For Dummies eBook Table of Contents :

• Chapter 1: The New Start screen


• Chapter 2: The Traditional desktop


• Chapter 3: Storage: Internal, External, and in the Sky


• Chapter 4: Working with Apps


• Chapter 5: Engaging the Social Apps


• Chapter 6: Getting Connected and Having fun through the Start Screen


• Chapter 7: Ten things you'll Hate about Windows 8 (And how to fix them)

Download PDF ebook from Wiley&Sons for free (11 MB)

How to upgrade (a pirated version of) Windows 7 to Windows 8 Pro

Microsoft allows to upgrade your Windows 7 to Windows 8 Pro for $14.99 only. The offer is valid until December the 31st 2012 or earlier. The most interesting thing is that there is a paradox when some legal customers of desktops and notebooks with Windows 7 pre-installed fail to get an upgrade to Windows 8 while some users of pirated versions of Windows 7 were able to get the upgrade for only $14.99. Microsoft will probably close the loophole unless it is interested at legalizing pirated versions of Windows 7 by any mean.

How to upgrade (a pirated version of) Windows 7 to Windows 8 Pro

1. Navigate to the Windows Upgrade page and select your region. Let's assume you have chosen "United States - English".


2. Hit the "Continue" button.


3. The "Register for the Windows Upgrade Offer" page will load. Enter your name, cell phone number, e-mail, CAPTCHA. Agree with the terms of use and the privacy statement. Obviously you have bought your Windows 7 computer 2-5 weeks ago from one of major retailers and your computer model is very popular ;) Enter the details of your purchase including the date of your purchase, retailer and computer model (Remeber that the upgrade offer is available for recent purchases only). Hit the "Continue" button.


4. On the next page enter your name, phone number and your e-mail.  Hit the "Continue" button.


5. Microsoft trusts its customers and will send you a coupon code by e-mail. This coupon code will allow you to buy Windows 8 Pro (a downloadable version) for only $14.99. All further instructions are included into the e-mail.


6. Download the Upgrade Assistant and launch it.


7. If you decide to skip the compatibility check, make sure your hardware is indeed compatible with Windows 8.


8. Choose a payment method (like credit card), enter your billing address. Make sure to use the coupon code which is sent by e-mail. It will cut the price down to $14.99.


9. Also make sure not to order a backup disc. The setup wizard allows you to save the downloaded copy of Windows 8 Pro as an .ISO image file (you may burn it onto a DVD disc using freeware software like ImageBurn). Also it allows you to create a bootable flash drive with Windows 8 Pro.


10. Hit the "Buy" button.


11. After paying for your order you will receive a Windows 8 Pro licence key.


12. Enjoy!

Note that PCs purchased with Windows 7 between June 2, 2012 and January 31, 2013 are eligible for the Upgrade Offer. Eligible PCs are new PCs with a valid Windows 7 OEM Certificate of Authenticity and product key. Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate versions are eligible, while Windows 7 Starter Edition is not eligible for this offer.

System requirements to use Windows 8:

• Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with support for PAE, NX, and SSE2


• RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)


• Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)


• Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver

More details can be found on the Microsoft web-site.

Buy Parallels Workstation for Windows and Linux for $9.99 instead of $79.99

Parallels Workstation 6 lets you simultaneously run multiple OS configurations at the same time on Windows and Linux PCs, without rebooting. You can even access them remotely with the Parallels Mobile app for iPad or iPhone!

Top Features:

• Windows-based & Linux-based applications on the same PC without rebooting


• Drag & drop, copy and paste, share files between Virtual Machines (VMs) as well as the host OS to simplify the movement of data


• Quick VM isolation from the host computer


• Automatically encrypt VMs to improve privacy and security


• Seamlessly move between virtual environments with SmartMouse features, adaptive hypervisor, cut and paste capabilities, shared folders and Windows drag and drop capabilities


• Remotely access your virtual machines using the Parallels Mobile app for iPad and iPhone, available in the AppStore

Buy Now $79.99 $9.99

Parallels offers a free activation key for its Parallels Workstation 2.2

Parallels Workstation is a virtual machine that allows to run multiple Windows and Linux operating systems on your computer. It supports 32-bit versions of Windows and Linux and typically costs $49.99.

Parallels offers a free activation key for its Parallels Workstation 2.2 for filling out a short form. The code will be sent via email.

http://www.parallels.com/getkey/lunarp/