Microsoft Surface RT Videos (Reviews, Tips, Apps)

[vgjfelix]

This one is a quick look at the lack of uniformity when changing settings. Why is the same option accessed by different methods.

 

[vgjfelix]

Another quick look, this time at frustrating experiences of the App store search function (am I really doing something wrong?):

 

[vgjfelix]

Another quick look, this time at frustrating experiences of the App store search function (am I really doing something wrong?):

Review # 19: Quick Look Useless App Store Search? - Microsoft Windows Surface RT (Windows 8) - YouTube

And I've just had another little play with this problem and solved it.

 

[vgjfelix]

As I start to get a grip on this operating system, more and more Basics tutorial videos will start to come out. In this one I look at the offscreen swipe gestures (on the startscreen).

 

[vgjfelix]

Another quick look, this time at my shrinking storage:

 

[martinblank64]

Another quick look, this time at my shrinking storage:

Review # 20: Quick Look Shrinking Storage Capacity - Microsoft Windows Surface RT (Windows 8) - YouTube

Several things you can do to get more storage space. I have 15.8GB free with all updates installed. First, DELETE the Windows Update cache. When updates are installed, a cached copy of the downloaded update remains on the device, for no reason! If you've never deleted this cache, it will probably clear up 1GB or more. The files to delete are located in the following folder:
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

Next, by default, the Surface is configured with 1GB of virtual memory. If you navigate to Advanced System Settings, then the Advanced tab, press the Settings button under performance. In the window that opens, go to the advanced tab and press Change under virtual memory.

In the new Window, uncheck the auto configure box, and select custom size. Set the initial size to 256mb and the maximum size to 512mb and press set, then OK on the open windows and restart. You also have an option to not use a paging file entirely, which should be just fine as long as programs don't need more than 2GB of RAM, which they shouldn't.

You can also gain an additional 4GB of storage if you move your recovery partition from the surface internal storage to a USB flash drive:
How to backup the Surface’s recovery partition to a USB flash drive | Microsoft Surface Blog, Windows RT, Windows 8, Surface Pro, Xbox Surface, Microsoft

 

[vgjfelix]

Several things you can do to get more storage space. I have 15.8GB free with all updates installed. First, DELETE the Windows Update cache. When updates are installed, a cached copy of the downloaded update remains on the device, for no reason! If you've never deleted this cache, it will probably clear up 1GB or more. The files to delete are located in the following folder:
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

Next, by default, the Surface is configured with 1GB of virtual memory. If you navigate to Advanced System Settings, then the Advanced tab, press the Settings button under performance. In the window that opens, go to the advanced tab and press Change under virtual memory.

In the new Window, uncheck the auto configure box, and select custom size. Set the initial size to 256mb and the maximum size to 512mb and press set, then OK on the open windows and restart. You also have an option to not use a paging file entirely, which should be just fine as long as programs don't need more than 2GB of RAM, which they shouldn't.

You can also gain an additional 4GB of storage if you move your recovery partition from the surface internal storage to a USB flash drive:
How to backup the Surface’s recovery partition to a USB flash drive | Microsoft Surface Blog, Windows RT, Windows 8, Surface Pro, Xbox Surface, Microsoft

Excellent post. I'll be trying these things out and maybe doing a video on it in the future

 

[vgjfelix]

Another quick look in this one regarding High Contrast Mode:

 

[vgjfelix]

A look at an excellent Tech news app that's arrived early on Surface RT

 

[crystal_planet]

Wow. Great app - thanks for the heads up!

 

[vgjfelix]

A guide and impressions of the app store in this one:

 

[vgjfelix]

A quick look at how the Surface RT is a nice tablet to relax with

 

[vgjfelix]

I When my battery got low and I turned it off and then turned it back on again I ended up with this problem. It made me want better battery indicators which the Surface RT doesn't seem to have.

 

[vgjfelix]

In this video I show you how to quickly move tiles around your startscreen,

 

[vgjfelix]

So the Surface RT is seriously telling me that it won't support the resolution of my television so I can't watch movies on it? Very disgruntled! Help someone!

 

[martinblank64]

1280x720 is 720p. 720p implies a 16:9 aspect ratio, which is where the 1280 comes from. Unfortunately I don't think the apps will run with a vertical resolution below 768. In fact, many "720p" TVs actually have a 768 vertical resolution these days. The only solution would be to use a TV/monitor that is 768p or above. Time for a new 1080P TV?

 

[vgjfelix]

1280x720 is 720p. 720p implies a 16:9 aspect ratio, which is where the 1280 comes from. Unfortunately I don't think the apps will run with a vertical resolution below 768. In fact, many "720p" TVs actually have a 768 vertical resolution these days. The only solution would be to use a TV/monitor that is 768p or above. Time for a new 1080P TV?

Not really. It's totally unacceptable for a tablet that's supposed to be powerful and more adaptable to situations that the average tablet to not support what is a very common resolution. And is this going to be the same if you try to plug it into slightly older LCDs monitors via the VGA adaptor?

 

[vgjfelix]

A quick basic video about lock screen passwords.

 

[Jazmac]

I was looking for a solution for the screen fading to black while watching videos. Another thing I need to resolve is what happens to my Bluetooth streaming when the screen fades. My Ipad2 and Nexus 7 did not need attention in that area but it seems my Surface does. And that's ok just as long as there is a place where it can be resolved in the settings. Any ideas here vgjfelix?

 

[Jazmac]

A look at an excellent Tech news app that's arrived early on Surface RT

Surface RT App-Snack: #2 Appy Geek - YouTube

Thanks for the heads up on AppyGeek. But as I looked at the review I kept saying to myself, I've seen that interface somewhere before. Sure enough, you then pointed out NewsRepublic. Another of my favorite RT / Windows 8 metro apps. I'm going to give AppyGeek a try. I don't know if you've seen News Bento yet but it has a lot of promise in my opinion and I like it in a few ways better than NewsRepublic. But thanks for doing these.