McKinstry, a builder and manager of energy-efficient commercial buildings, needed an efficient and accurate way to track tools. Microsoft worked with the company to create an app using Access 2013 (and hosted on Office 365) showing current location, availability, usage history, and storage locations. A barcode scanner sends keystrokes through a USB connection, and Access uses built-in search to instantly identify the tool based on the code in the record for that tool. A data macro checks out the tool and adds a record to the checkout history with a simple button click. Read on to learn more about this productivity improvement and cost savings and see a video of the tool tracking Access app in action. 

Every couple of weeks we round up industry news and articles you might have missed. Read on for our latest selections.

A couple of weeks ago, we did a live, 2-hour course on getting started in OneNote 2013. It was all about getting organized, taking notes, and sharing information. If you missed it, no worries, because the recording is now available. Check out this post to learn more.

SkyDrive Pro apps for Windows 8 and iOS are now available!

Today Microsoft released the Consumer Preview for Windows 8.1, also known as Windows Blue. If you try it out you'll notice a lot of awesome changes. But try out the Windows + S shortcut for screen clipping in OneNote and you'll find it doesn't work as expected! Don't panic, a fix is coming soon and in the meantime, you can use this workaround.

A dashboard is an important business tool that provides real-time graphical representation of Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for a business process. It conveys current status in a graphical manner, which helps surface problems and aid quick decision-making. Learn how to use Visio to create dashboards that make sense and immediately deliver value.

Join us in Denver on Tuesday, July 2 to learn how Access 2013 web apps allow you to quickly create a database in Office 365 and on Thursday, July 11 to see how easy it is to create, share, and collaborate with Access 2013 in an IT managed environment.

About a month ago, we announced that Excel Web App and the Office Web Apps are destined to become a comprehensive productivity experience on more browsers and devices (not just companions to the desktop applications). We didn't give any specific timelines as part of that, but last week we released our first feature update since that announcement. I'm excited to share some of the awesome new things you can do in Excel Web App now in both SkyDrive and Office365, and I’ll give a peek at some of what we've got coming in future updates!

To celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Yammer acquisition,  let's take a moment to reflect on where we've come from and talk about where we're going. It's been a busy year--and it's exciting to see our vision start to take shape.

Information overload is real, and it's important to #unplug for creativity and sanity. We also realize most people don't always have the luxury of doing so, and that includes most of us at Microsoft. One of our dev teams even built an internal app, called Focus Time, to shut off electronic distractions. The app, which was downloaded internally thousands of times, switches Outlook to offline mode and sets Lync to "Do Not Disturb," so we can work without electronic distractions.

For those who can't escape to a tech-free summer camp, here are some tips on how to put your technology to work for you--stopping it from distracting you and helping you harness it as a force for good.