Microsoft’s Red Gets a Makeover. Here’s Why It Matters for Accessibility

Microsoft’s Red Gets a Makeover. Here’s Why It Matters for Accessibility

Microsoft 365 quietly updated its standard red font color to improve readability and meet accessibility standards. This small change makes a big difference, and you can apply it manually too.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

September 29, 2025

Ever struggled to read red text on a white slide? 

You’re not the only one. 

For years, Microsoft’s default red, used to emphasize, alert, and annotate, has been visually loud but not always legible. 

Especially for folks with low vision or color sensitivity, that bright red could be more of a barrier than a beacon. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Microsoft Has Adjusted the Default Red in Microsoft 365 Apps.

It’s a subtle shift, but it speaks to a broader push for inclusive design.

How SmartArt in Microsoft 365 Transforms Your Lists

How SmartArt in Microsoft 365 Transforms Your Lists

If you're using Microsoft 365, you already have access to SmartArt, a simple way to turn plain bullet points into visuals that actually communicate. Here's how to use it in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor 

August 18, 2025

Have you ever sat through a presentation where slide after slide was just text and bullet points?

It’s a fast way to lose your audience.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Convert Bulleted Lists to SmartArt.

SmartArt is built into Microsoft 365 and lets you turn a list into a visual diagram in seconds. 

No design skills are needed. 

Just pick a layout, paste your list, and you're done. 

Whether you're teaching, presenting, or writing a report, SmartArt helps your message come across more clearly.

Bing Video Creator: AI-Powered Video Generation Made Easy

Bing Video Creator: AI-Powered Video Generation Made Easy

Unlock AI-Powered Video Creation with Bing Video Creator Bing Video Creator revolutionizes video production by enabling users to generate high-quality, AI-driven videos simply by entering text prompts.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor 

June 5, 2025

Creating professional-grade videos has historically required expensive software, specialized skills, and hours of editing. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Create videos with the new Bing Video Creator.

But now, with Bing Video Creator, anyone can generate engaging short videos simply by entering text prompts—no editing experience needed. 

Whether you're a business user, an educator, or a content creator, this AI-powered tool streamlines video production for impactful storytelling.

Microsoft's New Sign-In Changes: What You Need to Know

Microsoft's New Sign-In Changes: What You Need to Know

Starting February 2025, Microsoft will automatically keep users signed in to their accounts unless they explicitly sign out or use private browsing. This change aims to enhance user convenience but raises security considerations for those accessing accounts on shared or public devices.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 16, 2025

Imagine accessing your Microsoft account without the repetitive hassle of signing in each time. 

While this seamless experience enhances convenience, it also introduces potential security concerns, especially on shared or public devices. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Be Sure To Log Out of Microsoft Accounts on Public or Shared Computers.

As of February 2025, Microsoft has implemented a significant change to its sign-in process that every user should understand.

In an effort to streamline user experience, Microsoft has updated its authentication process. 

Previously, upon signing in, users were prompted with an option to stay signed in. 

Explore Copilot’s New Voice Feature

Explore Copilot’s New Voice Feature

Discover how Copilot’s new voice feature, released in October 2024, revolutionizes user interaction with AI, making tasks more intuitive and efficient. Learn how to activate and utilize this feature to enhance your productivity.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

October 2, 2024

Have you ever wished you could simply talk to your AI assistant and have it understand and execute your commands flawlessly? 

Here's a Cool Tip: Use the new Copilot voice feature.

This groundbreaking update promises to transform the way we interact with technology, making it more natural and efficient. 

But what exactly does this feature offer, and how can you make the most of it?

How to Co-Author a File in Real Time in Microsoft 365: Collaborate with Ease

 Have you ever worked on a project with a group of people and found it difficult to coordinate everyone's contributions? 

Do you struggle with sending multiple versions of a document back and forth, trying to keep track of everyone's changes? 

If you answered yes to either of these questions, you're not alone. 

Collaborating on documents can be a headache but here's a Cool Tip: co-authoring. 

With co-authoring, multiple users can work on a document at the same time, seeing each other's changes in real-time. 

Here's how to use co-authoring in Microsoft 365 so you can collaborate more efficiently and get your projects done with ease.

• Save the file in OneDrive.  
• Share the file with others
• To share the file with others, click the Share button in the top-right corner of the screen. 
• Enter the email addresses of the people you want to share the file with. 
• Set permissions to control who can view and edit the file.
• Start co-authoring
• You and your co-authors can see changes in real-time.
• You can also communicate with your collaborators using the chat function, which is located on the right-hand side of the screen.
• Save your changes
• When you are finished, save and close the file.

The next time you have a project to collaborate on, try using co-authoring in Microsoft 365 and see how it can boost your productivity and teamwork.

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Draw a Perfect Straight Line, Square or Circle with This Cool Tip

Draw a Perfect Straight Line, Square or Circle with This Cool Tip

When using Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook or PowerPoint, you can add shapes, such as boxes, circles, and arrows, to your documents, email messages, slide shows, and spreadsheets. 

But how do you get a perfect circle rather than an oval?  Or a square rather than a rectangle?  Or a straight line rather than a jagged one?

The secret Cool Tip is to press and hold the SHIFT key when dragging the mouse to create the shape.

Here's how to do it:

• On the Insert tab, click Shapes
• Click the shape icon you want to draw, click anywhere in the workspace and drag to place the shape.
• To create a perfect line, square or circle (or constrain the dimensions of other shapes), press and hold Shift key while you drag to create the shape.

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Realign the Start Button in Windows 11

Windows 11 is Microsoft's latest operating system and it is full of changes - both big and small.

Long time users of Windows won't have a problem adjusting to the new system.

However, there's one small change that is annoying.

The Start button has moved from the far left of the task bar to the center. 

 It looks odd and out of place.

Here's how to move it back to the left, just like in the earlier versions.

• Right-click the taskbar
• Open Taskbar Settings. 
• Select the Taskbar behaviors drop-down
• change Taskbar alignment to Left. 

fig.1 - Realign Start Button Windows 11

This will move all your taskbar icons to the left and put the Start button back where it belongs. 

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How to Insert a Screenshot in Microsoft Power Point, Excel, Word or Outlook

We've told you before how the Windows Snipping app is great for adding screenshots to a document.

And the Windows 10 version is even better with a delayed timer.

But Microsoft Office products, Power Point, Excel, Word and Outlook, also have a built-in tool to insert screenshots.

Here's how to do it.

1. Click the "Insert" menu on the Office Ribbon.  Then select "Screenshot".
2. To add the entire window, click the thumbnail view of the available windows.
3. To add part of a window, click "Screen Clipping".  Press and hold the left mouse button to select the screen area to capture.

That's it.  It's easy to add an entire screen or just a part into your presentation, document, spreadsheet or email.

Enjoy!

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How Do I Get Windows 10 for Free?

It's true.  Windows 10 is free*.

OK, it's Free but with an *.

Microsoft is making Windows 10 available as a free upgrade for qualified Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone 8.1 devices.

It will be available to install starting July 29, 2015.

You can reserve your free copy today. But you only have until July 19, 2016 to take advantage of this offer.

To reserve your copy,

• Click on the small Windows icon located at the lower right side of the taskbar.
• Click "Reserve your free upgrade" when prompted

That's it.  Microsoft will download Windows 10 to your device when it's available and let you know when your device is ready to install the upgrade.

To learn more about this offer, check out the Windows 10 FAQ HERE.

Source: Microsoft

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