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November 22 Get 10% Off Everything at the Microsoft Store! The Official Microsoft Store is offering a 10% discount on all items including games, Xbox 360 consoles, Window 7, etc. 2 Xbox 360 Console deals are still in stock: - Xbox 360 Elite holiday bundle w/ 2 games for $269.99 (Save $30)
- Xbox 360 Modern Warfare 2 Limited Edition Console - $359.99 (Save $40)
Offer valid 11/16/2009-11/25/2009. Steps:  
November 19  “Here at Live Labs we’re all about experiments, and Pivot is our most ambitious to date. Pivot makes it easier to interact with massive amounts of data in ways that are powerful, informative, and fun. We tried to step back and design an interaction model that accommodates the complexity and scale of information rather than the traditional structure of the Web.
Pivot is currently available by invitation only to a small technical audience to help us explore future scenarios. To learn more about Pivot and our vision for this project, check out this video, share it, embed it, and blog/tweet/post your thoughts about it. Why We Think This Is Exciting When we use the Web today we treat the most fundamental scenarios as separate activities. Search takes us from many things to one, browsing moves us from one thing to another, and recommendations expose affinities that enable us to explore related topics. Can we do better by combining these scenarios into a more unified experience?  Pivot focuses on this intersection, enabling us to learn key lessons while attempting to broadly apply this philosophy to the Web. We hope that Pivot will inspire and fuel transformative experiences across the Web.
At the heart of Pivot are "Collections." They combine large groups of similar items on the Internet, so we can begin viewing the relationships between individual pieces of information in a new way. By visualizing hidden patterns, Pivot enables users to discover new insights while interacting with thousands of things at once. For those with access to our limited preview, this site includes a wealth of developer details to create Collections. We hope you will join our technical discussion to share your work and interact directly with the Pivot team. If you don’t have an invitation, please leave your email address and we will notify you if we expand our private preview in the future.  Also known as, you get what you pay for.
The wily statistical researchers at SquareTrade, the folks that insure/warranty products predominantly from eBay but also independently have found through their monster database of numbers that people that buy cheap laptops… usually end up with malfunctions up to 20% more often than folks that purchase higher end laptops. In fact, Premium laptops have the lowest malfunction rate where as Netbooks get returned due to malfunction the most. Surprised? Additionally, SquareTrade broke down who’s laptops are most reliable versus who’s… well… have malfunctions more than the others. The message is clear: Smaller outfits tend to have fewer returns. And there were some interesting discoveries along the way. -------------------------------------------  Manufacturers: Vast Differences in Reliability
- When excluding accidental damage and examining hardware malfunctions by manufacturer, Asus and Toshiba come out on top.
- Apple and Dell both fall in the middle with approximately an 18 percent failure rate; while industry leader HP has the highest failure rate.
- Over one in four HP laptops in the study experienced a hardware malfunction during the first three years of ownership.
Other highlights of the study include: - Asus and Toshiba were the most reliable manufacturers, with fewer than 16 percent having a hardware malfunction over three years.
- Netbooks are projected to have a 20 percent higher failure rate from hardware malfunctions than more expensive laptop computers.
- Manufacturers proved to be a more reliable determinant of reliability than the type of laptop and should be a greater factor in making a purchase decision.
DOWNLOAD: SquareTrade Research: “Nearly 1 in 3 Laptops fail over 3 years”
http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/laptop-reliability-1109/?ccode=bs_war_buyerblog [taken from the SquareTrade blog]  I hate Scott Hanselman. Alright. Maybe I don’t hate him. But I secretly seeth because his blog is so much better than mine. Sob.
Like this recent post. I write posts that go deep on certain topics based on my own personal experience on that one topic. Scott on the other hand writes posts that are exhaustive in nature because of his breadth of experience and knowledge. How the heck does one ‘list’ all the apps that leverage Windows 7’s inherent Aero Taskbar features? Man – that’s just insane. POST: List of Applications that use new Windows 7 Features
http://www.hanselman.com/blog/LightItUpListOfApplicationsThatUseNewWindows7Features.aspx  For all geek poets,
A Windows Server haiku Means prizes click here ---------------------------- There’s no way to really explain this other than to just have you go to it and see for yourself. The idea is to have folks generate some creative haikus… flex that IT brain, so to speak, around what Windows Server 2008 R2 delivers. And by the way, there’s even a nice plug for our free Microsoft Press book, “Introducing Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2” LINK: Windows Server 2008 R2 Haiku Contest
https://www.r2haiku.com/ November 18  Windows Management Framework, which includes Windows PowerShell 2.0, WinRM 2.0, and BITS 4.0, was officially released.
By providing a consistent management interface across the various flavors of Windows, we are making our platform that much more attractive to deploy. IT Professionals can now easily manage their Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 R2 machines through PowerShell remoting – that’s a huge win! The big component for myself is obviously Windows PowerShell 2.0. Here’s a quick description of PS2.0 as described in the Support entry: Windows PowerShell is a command-line shell and scripting language that is designed for system administration and Automation. Built on the Microsoft .NET Framework, Windows PowerShell enables IT professionals and developers to control and automate the administration of Windows and applications.
New features that are introduced in Windows PowerShell 2.0 include the following: - Remoting
Windows PowerShell 2.0 lets you run commands on one or more remote computers from a single computer that is running Windows PowerShell. PowerShell remoting allows for multiple ways of connecting. These ways include interactive (1:1), fan-out (1:many), and fan-in (many:1 by using the IIS hosting model). - Integrated Scripting Environment
PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE) enables you to run interactive commands and edit and debug scripts in a graphical environment. The main features include color-coded syntax, selective execution, graphical debugging, Unicode support, and context-sensitive help. - Modules
Modules allow for script developers and administrators to partition and organize their Windows PowerShell code in self-contained, reusable units. Code from a module executes in its own self-contained context and does not affect the state outside the module. - Advanced functions
Advanced functions are functions that have the same capabilities and behavior as cmdlets. However, they are written completely in the Windows PowerShell language, instead of compiled C#. - Background jobs
Windows PowerShell 2.0 allows for running a command or expression asynchronously and "in the background" without interacting with the console. - Eventing
This feature adds support to the Windows PowerShell engine infrastructure for listening, forwarding, and acting on management and system events. - Script internationalization
This new feature enables Windows PowerShell scripts to display messages in the spoken language that is specified by the UI culture setting on the user's computer. - Script debugging
New debugging features were added to Windows PowerShell that let you set breakpoints on lines, columns, variables, and commands, and that let you specify the action that occurs when the breakpoint is hit. - New cmdlets
Windows PowerShell 2.0 introduces over 100 built-in cmdlets. These cmdlets, excluding other tasks, enables you to do computer-related, event log, and performance counter management tasks. You can download the packages here:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=151321 I told you guys you all should sign up for this years PDC. And to be clear – this is NOT a ‘netbook’ as it’s been claimed in some news outlets. This is a full blown customized Acer convertible Tablet PC with Windows 7 Ultimate on it, with a custom installation of the OS installed. Acer – in case you didn’t know – holds the patent on the Tablet swivel in most Tablet PCs today.  In the absence of any big news during his keynote address this morning, Microsoft Windows President Steven Sinofsky took a page from Oprah's playbook and stirred the crowd to life with the surprise announcement that all of the paying attendees at the company's big Professional Developers Conference in Los Angeles would get a free laptop.
Sinofsky said the laptop was custom-designed by the Windows team, working with PC maker Acer to create a machine that represented the best overall experience it could create with the new Windows 7 operating system. It's meant for software developers to fully explore the possibilities of the new operating system. "We're going to take this laptop, and it's going to be available to you," Sinofsky told the crowd. "For free." As heard on the webcast, there were huge cheers in the giant keynote hall at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Sinofsky encouraged them to stick around for the rest of the talk, recalling an incident a few years ago, when Microsoft similarly gave away a free mobile device that caused people to rush for the distribution center. Microsoft historically has focused on operating systems and applications software, not PC hardware, but the company has increasingly been working more closely with PC makers to get them to tune their systems more carefully to work more smoothly with Windows. In that way the Windows team's work with Acer on the custom "PDC Laptop" is an interesting development even if it won't be available outside the show. (Taken from Todd Bishop’s Microsoft Blog & CNET’s Unboxing of the PDC Laptop)  The Windows 7 Application Compatibility List for IT Professionals is a Microsoft Office Excel-based spreadsheet containing software applications which have met Windows 7 Logo Program testing requirements for compatibility with 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7 (“Compatible – Windows 7 Logo”).
Additionally, this list contains applications with a status of “Compatible,” “Free update required,” “Paid update required,” “Future compatibility,” and “Not compatible.” Any of these mean the software publisher has stated the compatibility status but note these products have not met the Windows 7 Logo Program testing requirements. For the latest collection of compatible applications and hardware devices, please visit the Windows 7 Compatibility Center. You can also leave feedback on compatibility and suggest new products to get added in future reports. DOWNLOAD: Windows 7 Application Compatibility List for IT Professionals
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=890e522e-e39e-4278-aebc-186f81e29173 November 16  About frickin’ time. Windows Marketplace is now available to download for the REST of us that don’t own brand spankin’ new devices.
The good part about having the Windows Mobile Marketplace available is that it’ll make available a lot of FREE products that many people had no idea existed. Here’s a few that you can find on the Marketplace that are real gems: - Mobile Manager for Netflix
If you have a Netflix account, you can arrange your shipments online through your Windows Phone. - Bing for Windows Phone
This is a rich mapping product that works great with phone GPSs and provides local restaurants, gas stations, and other necessities all directly. - Tower Defense
Arrange your towers and defend yourself from bombers, drones, and hummers. DOWNLOAD:
Windows Marketplace for Windows Mobile 6.0/6.1
http://windowsphone.com/getmarketplace (Also go straight to http://mp.windowsphone.com to download straight to your phone) In a nutshell, this Management Pack for System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2 can be used to keep track of the level of coffee in left in the pot. Through the use of SCOM 2007 R2, a network camera, and this management pack, you will never run out of coffee which as we all know is the most important part of a productive environment!  
This is mostly made as a proof of concept, as this technique can be transferred to other monitor types. It could be expanded with other types of sensors, like a weight to check the level of coffee instead of a camera, or a thermometer to check the temperature of the coffee. This is the very first version. By default, it will trigger a warning when under 50% is left, and a Critical Alert when under 20% is left. DOWNLOAD:
Coretech Coffee Monitor Management Pack for Microsoft System Center Operations Mgr 2007 R2
http://bit.ly/356ZOy November 15  Got a Zune? Tired of not being able to take advantage of the oodles of Apple iPod accessories out there because the pinouts on your Zune don’t work with the Apple iPod connector pinouts?
This looks promising:
The CableJive Universal Dock Converter It reportedly gives you standard USB connectivity which works to both charge your Zune as well as send audio to an iPod/iPhone dock. All you need to bring is the charging cable that comes with the Zune. Now you can have all the advantages that the ZuneHD has over the iPod as well as the opportunity to leverage a rich ecosystem of accessories: - 2X FASTER CHARGE TIME:
Fully charging a ZuneHD takes only 2 hours versus the iPod Touch’s 4 hours. - ALMOST HALF THE WEIGHT:
The ZuneHD weighs 2.6oz versus the iPod Touch’ 4.05oz. - LONGER BATTERY LIFE:
Playing video on a ZuneHD for up to 8.5 hours on a single charge versus the iPod Touch’s ability to last 6 hours. - VIVID HIGH DEF DISPLAY:
ZuneHD features a next gen 16:9 OLED display versus the iPod Touch’s standard LCD 4:3 display. - ZUNE HD RADIO:
ZuneHD contains both an FM as well as an HD receiver providing owners with clear digital audio as well as the ability to automatically add any song they hear on the radio to their ‘shopping cart’ to purchase on Zune Marketplace or via… - ZUNE PASS
ZuneHD users get the ability to download any and all music they want for a flat monthly subscription fee of $14.95. Additionally, they can download 10 MP3 for permanent ownership each month for use regardless of whether they continue their subscription the following month. - ZUNE DESKTOP SOFTWARE:
The award winning, easy to use, fresh interface of the Zune desktop software provides users with a richer, better experience than iTUNES as acknowledged by industry experts. LINK: CableJive Universal Dock Converter
http://bit.ly/1kAza November 13  Last week at the TechEd Europe conference, in conjunction with the launch of Exchange Server 2010, Microsoft launched Forefront Protection 2010 for Exchange Server. The product and evaluation software is available now.
Part of our Business Ready Security strategy, Forefront Protection for Exchange (FPE) offers multiple anti-malware engines for 38 times faster detection than single engine solutions, and 99% guaranteed spam protection with only one in 250,000 spam false positives. Customers also have the choice of using the hosted Forefront Online Protection for Exchange service, or both offerings together for defense-in-depth. Like all of our Forefront solutions, FPE is designed to help companies balance the needs of business with security requirements. Email is an extremely critical application, of course, and it presents challenges to both businesspeople and IT managers. Employees (and non-employees) needs secure access to messaging and documents from anywhere, as well as a spam-free inbox and protection from malware. On the other hand, IT must manage multiple sites and devices, ensure information protection and compliance, and ward off financially-motivated threats. Combined with Exchange 2010 and other Microsoft identity and security technologies, FPE is part of Microsoft’s comprehensive solution for secure messaging. It’s worth watching a video presentation on the whole solution here, in fact.) New features in Forefront Protection 2010 for Exchange Server include: - Premium antispam protection, with 99% detection rate, less than 1 in 250,000 false positives, and backscatter filtering
- New user interface with dashboard view of detection statistics and health monitoring
- Antispyware scanning provided by the Microsoft Antimalware Engine
- Support for Exchange 2010, Windows PowerShell, and Hyper-V
- Standardized installation using MSI installer
Already a number of customers have deployed FPE with success. Quotes from two: - “Forefront Protection 2010 for Exchange Server goes hand-in-hand with Exchange Server 2010. We wouldn’t put anything else for e-mail security on our Exchange Server 2010.”
Jonathan Wynn, IT Manager– Del Monte Foods.
- “Implementing Forefront Protection 2010 for Exchange Server was an easy decision for us following the success of our previous Forefront Security for Exchange Server implementation”
George Podolak, Director of IT, Pei Cobb Freed & Partners On your marks… get set… Register to receive the Office 2010 System Beta! -------------------  OFFICE - Microsoft® Office Professional Plus 2010 Beta. Enhance the creation, management and sharing of information, while streamlining processes and improving security.
Sign up for Office 2010 Beta  SHAREPOINT
- Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2010 Beta. Connect and empower people using the integrated set of rich features in the business collaboration platform for the Enterprise and the Web.
Sign up for SharePoint 2010 Beta PROJECT - Microsoft Project Server 2010 Beta. Use innovative capabilities in a familiar UI to capture work in a centralized repository, build and maintain project schedules online, and create powerful dashboards and reports.
- Microsoft Project Professional 2010 Beta. Simplify planning, collaboration, and resource management with powerful, visually-enhanced tools.
Sign up for Project 2010 Beta VISIO - Microsoft Visio Premium 2010 Beta. Take diagramming to a bold new level with dynamic, data-driven visualization tools and templates.
Sign up for Visio 2010 Beta  SquareTrade, the company famous for providing warranties for eBay purchases released a report detailing the aggregated return rate of the 3 major consoles on the market: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Wii. It goes over the past history of the Xbox 360’s failure rate relative to the other consoles and gives numbers to back comparisons up.
LESS THAN 1% FAILURE RATE
What is interesting about the report, a survey involving a random sample of 16,000 console purchasers that had warranties with SquareTrade, is that it found that since introducing the “Jasper” chipset in the 4th quarter of CY2008, returns for the Xbox 360 console have dropped to <1%. This is obviously good news for people planning on purchasing an Xbox 360 this holiday season. The “Jasper” chipset (photo & identifying detail from console above) is a a 65nm trace-based CPU with a 65nm trace-based GPU, which means the computational units of the console are dramatically smaller, consume dramatically less power, and dissipate dramatically less heat in comparison to the previous 4 generations of chipsets within the Xbox 360. This technology is what effectively “vaccinates” this generation of Xbox 360’s from the “Red Rings of Death” of previous generations. 
REPORT: SquareTrade - “Game Console Failure Rates”
https://www.squaretrade.com/htm/pdf/SquareTrade_Xbox360_PS3_Wii_Reliability_0809.pdf November 12 Bing Maps new release is live! The improvements are focused around the user experience, performance, and some added exploration functionality. This is the first phase of the Bing Maps Wave 14 release which includes the improved AJAX functionality & Local Search Verticals with the second phase coming soon… Here’s a review of some of the changes:  Draggable Routes – Yes! This is a great (and much requested) feature added to Bing Maps allowing you to generate a route, then in the case that you need to change the route, you can simply grab any part of it and drag it to where you want the route to actually go. To use draggable routes, click the car icon near the bottom of the welcome pane. Enter a start and end, generate a route, then grab anywhere on the route to move the route line. The route will regenerate for you. - Zoom Bar – No longer just a zoom in and zoom out button, the zoom bar allows you to jump to specific zoom levels within predefined settings.
- Dynamic Compute – We’ve moved the processing power closer to the user. Using Microsoft’s ECN, we now have Bing Maps running in data centers in 7 locations around the world. This means wherever you are around the world, you will access Bing Maps from the closest geographic node to where you are physically located.
- Command Parsing – Want driving directions? Enter “Bellevue, WA to Space Needle” in the Bing Maps search box. Want traffic info? Enter “Seattle Traffic” in the Bing Maps search box.
- New Navigation – We also added a subset of features to a button bar along the bottom of the welcome pane. Each button loads features on Bing Maps. Welcome loads the welcome pane; the car loads the route planner; the star loads My Places, formerly called Collections; the envelop loads the ability to share the map with someone via email, copying a URI or embedding the map into a web page (more on that below); the printer icon is for printing; and, stoplight will load a traffic overlay with flow and incident information.
 Embed a Map – You can now take a map view right from Bing Maps and embed it into your site. To do this, you’ll want to click the Share button once your map is where you want it to be. You can copy the embed code from there; or, you can click the Customize View link which will take you to the embeddable map customizer (EMC). The EMC allows you to set a map to the map height and width (small, medium, large or custom); the map type (static or draggable); the map styles (road, aerial, aerial w/ labels); and, add links to Bing Maps for Viewing a Larger Map or Getting Directions. Once you’ve set everything the way you want it, click Generate Code and boom! there’s your code. You copy it, then paste it into your web page and you’ll have the map you wanted. - World Wrap - no longer will your Bing Maps experience stop at the international date line. Keep going around, and around, and around...
- Diet Bing Maps - The default Bing Maps home page dropped from 678kb to 484kb. It zips through the pipes much faster now. Ultimately, the site loads in half the time, with end user look & feel performance being half of that.
LINK: Bing Maps
http://www.bing.com/maps LINK: Bing Maps Local Search
http://www.bing.com/local So here’s my report card on the accessories I bought – mostly imports from Hong Kong – for the Verizon HTC Touch Pro 2. All accessories arrived within a week and a half. - Charge & Sync Cable - $33.99
Grade: A. This is awesome. Expensive but awesome. In particular, there’s a switch in the middle of the cable to use it, instead of as a “charge & sync” cable, as a “charge ONLY” cable. This is useful because it takes advantage of a special feature in the Touch Pro 2 that allows the phone to be charged in half the time if no synchronization is taking place. Very unique.
http://www.ppctechs.com/HTC-Touch-Pro-2_1163/accessories/Lil-Sync-Pro-Cable-Mini-5-DUO-Adapter-Bundle_613-360.htm
$33.99
- High capacity 3600 mAh battery - $14.99
Grade: C. The good news is the battery works and it indeed has a capacity nearly 3x that of the stock HTC Touch Pro 2. The bad news is that it protrudes from the device so a different backplate has to be placed on your unit. It comes with a battery-fitting backplate however the design of the backplate is for the TMOBILE Touch Pro 2 which has a different interface at the base of the phone. It’s possible for force this plate onto your Verizon however you have to trim some of the plastic off the plate to make it fit using some strong scissors which is what I did. And even when you do, now the Silicone case (see below) no longer fits. Not cool. I suppose this might be useful as a backup power source… or something to use if on a long plane ride.
- Car Charger Cigarette Lighter Adapter - $5.54
Grade: A. This is a standard mini-USB port-based charger for the car. Works like a charm and cheap as heck.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Car-Charger-Cigarette-Lighter-Adapter-HTC-Touch-PRO-2_W0QQitemZ220452461013QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPDA_Accessories?hash=item3353fd99d5
$5.54
- USB Base Dock Cradle - $15.49
Grade: D. The good news is that it has a space in the back for separately charging a backup battery for your phone, along with having a docking area for your phone to charge. The bad news is that the unit, again, is designed for the TMOBILE Touch Pro 2 as so the port does not line up correctly on the dock with your phone and there’s no way to get it to work. So this ends up simply being an external charger for batteries – which can be useful, I suppose. But nothing like what I’d anticipated.
- 3x Extra Steel Ballpoint Combo Stylus Pen - $8.35
Grade: A. Perfect. It comes with 3 replacements which you’ll undoubtedly need and the pen works well in crunch.
http://cgi.ebay.com/3x-STEEL-BALL-POINT-STYLUS-PEN-FOR-HTC-TOUCH-PRO-2-II_W0QQitemZ400079041301QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPDA_Accessories?hash=item5d2691b315
$8.35
- Soft Skin Clear Silicone Case - $15.69
Grade B. The case fits and it does a good job fitting & protecting the phone much to my surprise. The gel wrapping fits like a glove and feels good in your hand because it improves one’s grip on the phone – preventing it from slipping from your hand. It additionally has almost all the right “holes” cut in it to expose the buttons and speakers and microphones on the unit. Every place that is except for the USB port which again is for the TMobile version. This is easily rectified by trimming some of the silicone off the bottom to expose the ports as they should be exposed. The gel does make the phone significantly thicker so be prepared for that however it really protects the device well.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Soft-Skin-Silicone-Case-For-HTC-Touch-Pro-2-Gray-2SPT_W0QQitemZ110445600927QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPDA_Accessories?hash=item19b712209f
$15.69 Gawd, I’m such a post leech, but I can’t help it. I apologize to Steven Bink and his crew but I can’t stop: Recently, they’ve been posting so much good tech that I have to repost.  This is small tool that adds Attach and Detach option to contextual (aka right-click) menu of Virtual disk (vhd) files. That enables those operations to be done without trip to Disk Management console. Detach option is available on hard drive contextual menu also.
Additionally program can be used as classic utility in order to see various information about virtual disk, even without attaching it. Do notice that this program only works with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. Older operating systems are not supported. LINK: "VHD Attach”
http://bink.nu/news/vhd-attach.aspx  The other week we launched a web site called “The New Efficiency” which describes how customers to become more efficient and “do more with less” through the use of Microsoft latest wave of products, namely Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Exchange Server 2010.
In a bit of irony though, the front page of the web site is MASSIVE because it downloads a large interactive Silverlight environment. The first page load may take as long as a full minute to load over a 3Mb pipe before you ever ready touch anything on the screen. Not particularly efficient if you ask me. That being said, when you load it up, you’ll likely find it pretty immersive and interactive. Here’s a sample of what you’ll be able to see: - 5 Keynote Presentations from the Microsoft San Francisco Launch event, TechEd Europe, and Exchange Connections in Las Vegas.
- Overviews for the Desktop, the Server, and the Unified Communications space.
- Overviews of Security
- A full redelivery of what was presented at the Exchange 2010 US Event
All in all, a pretty good site… just the initial load takes a while. LINK: Virtual Launch of “The New Efficiency”
http://www.thenewefficiency.com/  In October 2009, Microsoft commissioned Forrester Consulting to examine the total economic impact and potential return on investment (ROI) enterprises may realize by deploying Microsoft Exchange 2010. Microsoft Exchange 2010 is the newest release of Microsoft’s messaging and collaborative server software solution featuring email, voicemail, calendaring, contacts, and tasks; support for mobile and Web-based access to information; and support for data storage. This study illustrates the financial impact of deploying Microsoft Exchange 2010 for a retail and distribution organization of 1,500 employees and $450 million in annual revenue.
In conducting in-depth interviews with nine existing customers, Forrester found that these companies achieved cost avoidance of storage, reduced cost of high availability, cost avoidance in voicemail, savings in backup systems, fewer help desk calls, cost avoidance of mobility, enhanced communication security, and simplified compliance and legal discovery, among other benefits. Today, Forrester released “Total Economic Impact” study which concludes organizations can expect a payback period of less than six months with Exchange 2010. DOWNLOAD: “Total Economic Impact of Microsoft Exchange 2010”
http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9694416 November 11  Man, this is a cool tool. It’s called Skydrive Explorer and it’s NOT made by Microsoft but I wish it were.
Skydrive Explorer is, put simply, a means of using the File Explorer interface of Windows to access Skydrive. With the ability to open & navigate folders, create new folders, drag & drop files from desktop to storage and back, delete files & folders, etc. etc. Skydrive Explorer makes for one cool tool. Based on the the Readme, it appears that the tool works by screen scraping the web site and pushing instructions through script which is pretty darned cool. Here’s what the README says: After the installation you will see the "SkyDrive Explorer" icon in My Computer, this is your entry point into fast and comfortable work with online Windows Live SkyDrive service. To start work and open the session, you must enter the Windows Live credential into the logon dialog. Work session is active until the reboot or forced logout from SkyDrive Explorer, which can be made by clicking Logout command in the toolbar. During the session the credentials are not requested again. With the current beta version you can enjoy the following functionality: - View the structure and contents of folders in SkyDrive
- View files information (type, size, creation date in GMT format)
- Create new root folders and subfolders
- Copy files into the storage
- Delete files and folders
- Copy files from the storage to the computer
- Copy folders and subfolders from the storage to the computer saving their structure
- Use Drag & Drop for files operations
- Rename files and folders
- Create links to SkyDrive folders
- Copy URL of the selected objects into the Clipboard
- Autoupdate feature
Note: SkyDrive protocol is not documented, so the needed information is received by parsing web pages with content as response from service. If the content format is changed, SkyDrive Explorer functionality
can be partly or totally disabled.  Accessing a Skydrive Folder through the File Explorer interface DOWNLOAD:
http://www.skydriveexplorer.com/index.php November 10  The Compliance Solution Accelerators team has just released valuable extensions to the IT Compliance Management Series. And with “Companies now spend(ing) about 8.5 percent of their IT budgets on compliance needs," says French Caldwell, an analyst at Gartner (CIO Magazine, Sept 2007), these couldn’t be more timely. These new offerings provide specific technical guidance and resources for Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2.
The IT Compliance Management Series will help you shift the burden of your IT governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) efforts from people to IT systems and implement controls to address IT GRC requirements that apply to your organization. This series is intended for IT managers and IT professionals who must plan, implement, or configure Microsoft products and who want to ensure that IT GRC requirements are addressed efficiently and effectively. In addition to the already released IT Compliance Management Guide, the series now includes Beta versions of IT Compliance Management: Windows 7 and IT Compliance Management: Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2. Reviewers are asked to provide feedback on this collection of guides, resources, and compliance baselines that provide direction on how to enable Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008 R2 to support your organization’s key IT GRC initiatives by taking advantage of features and technology inherent in the operating systems.
The IT Compliance Management Series Beta review program includes IT Compliance Management: Windows 7 and IT Compliance Management: Windows Server and Windows Server 2008 R2.
The IT Compliance Management for Windows 7.zip file includes the following files: - IT Compliance Management Guide: Windows 7.docx. This guide will help your organization identify and implement GRC controls in Windows 7.
- IT Compliance Management Resources: Windows 7.xlsx. This Microsoft Excel workbook will allow you to configure Windows 7 in accordance with your organization’s configuration and change control practices. The Instructions tab provides reader instructions; users can filter the workbook by IT GRC grouping or control activity type.
The IT Compliance Management for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2.zip file includes the following files: - IT Compliance Management Guide: Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2.docx. This guide will help your organization identify and implement IT GRC controls in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2.
- IT Compliance Management Resources: Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2.xlsx. This Microsoft Excel workbook will allow you to configure Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 in accordance with your organization’s configuration and change control practices. The Instructions tab provides reader instructions; users can filter the workbook by IT GRC control grouping or control activity type.
- IT Compliance Configuration Packs—DCM Baselines for Windows Server 2008. Three DCM Configuration Packs for Windows Server 2008 are included for you to use with the DCM feature in Configuration Manager 2007 R2. These packs assist in validating the configurations prescribed in the IT Compliance Management Resources workbook.
Note: This Beta review period will run November 9, 2009 to December 9, 2009. Please take advantage of this opportunity to provide feedback and influence the development of these new compliance offerings. Feedback and questions for these Beta releases will be conducted via a brief survey and on the Compliance Management Forum. Visit the forum for complete instructions and the survey link. The previously released IT Compliance Management Guide.zip file includes the following files: - IT Compliance Management Guide.docx. This guide will prepare you for a conversation with GRC subject matter experts such as attorneys, auditors, specialists, and consultants working for your organization. It introduces an approach based on Microsoft Operations Framework (MOF) 4.0 that can help you address compliance requirements as well as organization-wide governance initiatives.
- IT Compliance Management Resources.xlsx. This Microsoft Excel workbook contains four worksheets. The Instructions worksheet provides reader instructions on the use of the tabs within this workbook. The GRC Control Objectives worksheet contains high-level objectives applicable to an IT department assigned GRC duties. The GRC Configuration Job Aids worksheet contains GRC objectives and associated Microsoft product configuration guidance to meet these objectives. The GRC Management Inventory worksheet contains GRC management guidance and additional product guidance for the management of a GRC solution.
This Solution Accelerator also includes the following files: - Release Notes.rtf. Provides information about updates and changes to the IT Compliance Management Guide.
- IT Compliance Management Guide data sheet.docx. A two-page overview of the IT Compliance Management Guide that describes its purpose and provides other relevant information for IT managers and IT professionals.
Note: The IT Compliance Management Guide replaces the Regulatory Compliance Planning Guide version 1.0, published July 7, 2006. To ask questions or provide feedback, subscribe to the Compliance Management Forum. This forum also provides the ability to join discussions and collaborate on GRC-related compliance management issues with your peers. During this Beta period, reviewers are being asked to provide feedback on guides, resources, and compliance baselines that provide direction on how to enable Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008 R2 to support your organization’s key IT GRC initiatives by taking advantage of features and technology inherent in the operating systems. Successful implementation of these recommendations will allow organizations to simplify the enforcement and management of their IT GRC objectives. Looking for other Windows 7 resources from the Solution Accelerators team? Check out the Windows Desktop Solution Accelerators page. Want more Windows Server 2008 R2 resources? Visit the Windows Server 2008 R2 Solution Accelerators page. DOWNLOAD:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=56419 November 09  The Solution Accelerator team is pleased to announce the immediate availability of the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 5.0 Community Technical Preview (CTP). Designed to simplify and streamline the IT infrastructure planning process across multiple scenarios through network-wide automated discovery and assessments, this tool provides a quick and complete inventory of the current IT environment of any organization, hardware and device compatibility assessment, and actionable reporting of recommended hardware upgrades for migration.
The MAP Toolkit 5.0 CTP includes these new features: - Heterogeneous Server Environment Inventory for Technologies including Windows Server, Linux, UNIX and VMware.
- Ability to determine usage of deployed System Center Configuration Manager, a member of the Core Client Access License Suite.
- Readiness assessment for migration or upgrade to Microsoft Office 2010.
Over 800,000 Microsoft customers and partners including Costco Wholesale Corporation, Continental Airlines, and Pella Corporation have already downloaded and used this toolkit to help plan for their server and PC deployments. 
Additional MAP Toolkit Features include: - Windows 7 Hardware and Device Compatibility Assessment.
- Windows Server 2008 R2 Hardware and Device Compatibility Assessment.
- Virtualization Candidates Assessment for Hyper-V Server Consolidation.
- Inventory of VMware Server Hosts and Guests.
- Enhanced Usability and Improved Inventory Performance.
- SQL Server Instance Discovery.
- Desktop Security Assessment for Anti-virus and Anti-malware Programs Installation.
- Forefront Client Security/NAP Readiness Assessment.
Next Steps  I’ve been struggling for the past 2 days trying to get my HTC Touch Pro 2 to install as a tethered USB modem on my Windows 7 Ultimate x64 installation – the last item on my migration path from the 32-bit world to the 64-bit world of Windows.
I’m used to Samsung devices admittedly. With Samsung Windows Phones, like clockwork, all you’d need to do is set the phone to “tether” mode on the phone and plug it into the serial port of your computer on any current Windows OS and walla – the driver would either install miraculously or it would be downloaded over the Internet from Windows Update. No muss, no fuss. 100% functional every single time. HTC… not so much. THE UNEXPECTED EXPERIENCE – HTC AUTO INSTALL = NOT?
I followed the following procedure above for my HTC Touch Pro 2 from Verizon and all I go was “Could not install driver" after Windows clearly went to Windows Update to check for a current driver. Now I know that the driver for this phone as a tethered modem is a very basic driver but for some reason there’s nothing registered for it’s hardware identifier within the Windows 7 x64 OS or online in Windows Update. (This usually means – ahem - that the OEM manufacturer didn’t bother to register the driver with Microsoft, something Samsung has done repeatedly for previous operating systems) So I searched… GOD, did I search… high and low for a driver to download and install. I tried unzipping them and pointing “Device Manager” to the unpacked drivers and it would never recognize any of them. It got to the point where I was able to actually configure the phone to be a BLUETOOTH WIRELESS MODEM (which did autoinstall correctly using Windows Update by the way) but still couldn’t get Windows Update to pick up the HTC TP2 as a wireless tethered modem despite it being USB connected.  THE TURNING POINT: THE VZACCESS DISC
I’d installed the VZAccess Manager Software to see if the drivers would install and the phone would be recognized as a device. After all – the thing is supposed to be an end to end installer right? No joy. I installed the VZA Manager software and even it wasn’t able to finagle the OS to recognize the phone.
I was beginning to hate life when I realized: HEY. Maybe the drivers were on the disc? I searched the disc and found nothing. Then I thought… HEY. Maybe the drivers got installed by some miracle on my machine during the VZA install but the installer didn’t install them correctly? Grasping at straws? YES. But desperate times… HOLY CRAP. I do a search of my machine and lo and behold, I find this directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\HTC\WModem_Installer\Vista64 There’s a bunch of .SYS files and .INF files in there. Lookin’ good! I open START-CONTROL PANEL-DEVICE MANAGER and right mouse button click on the “Generic Serial” devices listed under OTHER DEVICES, and click “Update driver software”. I point to “C:\Program Files (x86)\HTC\WModem_Installer\Vista64” annnnnnd….  BOING! “HTC USB Modem” appears! Hallelujah! I do the same for the “other” Generic Serial entry in OTHER DEVICES (there were two) and “HTC Diagnostic Interface (COM8)” appears!
SETTING UP THE DIAL UP NETWORKING CONFIGURATION
The rest is downhill. I go to START-CONTROL PANEL-NETWORK AND SHARING CENTER and I click the link for “Set up a new connection or network”. I click “Set up a Dial Up Connection” on the next screen, then select my newly created “HTC USB Modem” and click ‘Next’. I fill in the following information:  The User name is simply your phone number with “@vzw3g.com” appended to it. And that’s it! The software should autotest things and you should be good to go!
BUT WHY NOT JUST STICK WITH BLUETOOTH IF THAT ALREADY WORKED?
I stuck to trying to figure this out over USB instead of staying happy with just Bluetooth tethering which did in fact work because of one reason: SPEED. I was recording about 990kbps download speeds over Verizon’s network while using the Bluetooth configuration and knew that the HTC Touch Pro 2 was capable of EvDO Rev A speeds that were much higher.  The moment I tethered the phone and tested my new HTC USB Modem driver enabled configuration, I saw a massive difference in overall bandwidth. I got as high as 1892kbps… a speed that starts to rival my home DSL line.
BUT I DON’T HAVE THE VZACCESS MANAGER!
Yeah, you’re supposed to download it from this link. You will need a current subscription to Verizon Wireless’ services to get in. Now that being said, I’ve zipped up the stupid directory of drivers for my phone and have posted it to my web site to make it easy for people to install. Anyway, I hope this saves at least ONE person out there the trouble that I had to go through to figure this out.
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