Spring clean your digital life this Lunar New Year!

Do not attempt – there are better ways to spring clean your device!
Do not attempt – there are better ways to spring clean your device!

It’s tradition for families celebrating Lunar New Year to spring clean their homes before the start of the new year. It’s also a good time to spruce up their computer systems and get rid of unwanted stuff hoarding valuable hard disk space. Whether it’s an app or a document, the “digital dust” collected over time can impact the performance of your device, so it’s always a good practice to invest some time to keep your tech gadgets in tip-top condition.

Here are three easy tips to spring clean your devices for the Lunar New Year:

1. Manage your disk space more efficiently on your Windows 8.1 device

In the past, you would have had to dive into complex settings to figure out what apps/programs were hogging the computer system. With Windows 8.1, there are tools in the Modern UI control panel that make it much easy to manage your disk space. Under PC Settings, navigate to PC and devices, then select Disk space.

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You will be able to see a breakdown of the programs and file types that are in your device and decide where you should start deleting files to free up hard disk space. If you still find your pictures, videos and music taking up too much space, perhaps it’s time to consider a cloud service like OneDrive.

2. Declutter your device; Save your precious memories

OneDrive is a great service for you if you are looking to expand the storage capacity of your device without having to replace the physical hard drive. OneDrive gives a Microsoft account holder a basic 15GB of free space, and unlimited storage for all Office 365 users (you can find out more about storage options here). Besides being accessible on your browser and Windows device, you can also access your files via apps on Windows Phone, iOS and Android devices. In fact, you will receive double the storage space when the camera roll backup is enabled.

Recent updates to OneDrive has made it easier to curate your photos from your smartphones and desktops. Soon, you will be able to automatically import photos from the devices that you connect to your computer and save screenshots directly to OneDrive. This will make it easier to back up photos on your camera, USB stick, or external hard drive to your computer. These photos will be saved to a new “Camera Import” folder on OneDrive. Essentially, this means there is no longer a need to keep a copy of your images on your hard disk, freeing up more space for new programs and documents.

3. Be safe & organized with Windows Updates!

It’s always a good habit to keep your device updated with the latest software and firmware. After all, these updates come with the latest security patches that can help protect your devices and important data against unauthorized access and malware. If you’re still on Windows 8, it’s time to move to Windows 8.1 – which not only offers some nifty new features, but also improves protection for your device as well. You can refer to this step-by-step guide to update your Windows 8 device to Windows 8.1.

For Windows Phone 8.1 devices, the Lumia Denim update is also a great way to spring clean and organize your apps. With the new “Live Folders”, you can now organize your apps according to themes, genres and other preferences, allowing you to personalize your smartphone further while keeping it neat.

Out with the old, and in with the new!


In the recent “A Perfect 2015” survey conducted with over 2,200 respondents across Asia Pacific, 32% of them indicated that they are most likely to buy a technology-related gift for their loved ones during the Lunar New Year period. If you are planning to give a gift instead of a red packet (traditionally given by elders in the family to signify good wishes and luck for the new year), why not consider one of these stylishly bold devices?

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Designed to delight and surprise, the Asus Transformer Book T200TA is an 11.6-inch Windows 2-in-1 that is as stylish as it is portable and powerful. With up to 10.4 hours of battery life, the Asus Transformer Book T200TA can last through the day, be it at work or at play. The device is also available in stunning red – perfect for the Lunar New Year!

 


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Available in bright and cheery pink, the HP Stream 11 is an affordable Windows device for users who prefer a full-fledged computing experience. Under the hood, the notebook comes with Office 365 Personal, and users can leverage on the unlimited OneDrive storage to store their precious photos and videos.

 


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Do more with the tablet that works like a laptop. The Surface Pro 3 features a 12-inch full-HD screen that is thinner than the 11-inch MacBook Air, but yet is able to run full Windows apps with its Intel Core processor chipset. With the Surface Pro Type Cover in Red, you can simply snap it on and transform your device into a workhorse instantly.

 


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All things that glitter is gold – and the same can be said of the Lumia 930, available in limited-edition gold this February.

Sleek and stylish, the Lumia 930 offers a superior imaging experience with Zeiss optics, and the Windows Phone 8.1 experience supports a wide range of apps, including Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Skype so that you can stay connected with your loved ones throughout the day.

 


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Need an auspicious accessory for your office desk? The Microsoft Wireless Mouse 3500 Limited Edition in Red is a perfect addition to your workspace to help you usher in the new year.

 

We’d like to hear from you on how you’ve spring cleaned your digital life – share your stories with us @MicrosoftAsia with #WindowsHoliday.

And from all of us at Microsoft Asia Pacific, here’s wishing you a bountiful Year of the Goat in 2015!

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