Kurt Shintaku's Blog: Document

ARTICLE: Infoworld's article on "Longhorn" client & server

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 01:49:49 GMT

Infoworld wrote a helluvan article about Windows Vista & Longhorn Server. It's available as a downloadable article.

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Longhorn: More than just hype
For Windows IT managers, Longhorn is a must-have upgrade

"True, pieces of Longhorn may have slipped. A vivisected WinFS may lie gurgling in a back room somewhere, Vista’s PC Sync may have suddenly keeled over dead, and Vista itself may slip again due to its ultraslick, I’m-as-cool-as-OS X display technology. But you’ve got to give it to Redmond: Longhorn is a slam dunk, a must-have upgrade for practically every Windows systems administrator. "

DOWNLOAD: http://www.infoworld.com/pdf/special_report/2006/26SRmstech.pdf

RELEASE: Regulatory Compliance Planning guide for IT Professionals

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 10:48:46 GMT

Don't know where to start re: Gramm-Leach or SOX compliance? Never fear... we've got a guide to get you started. This is a fantastic overview of regulatory compliance considerations that you know that you're eventually going to have to comply by anyway... so take a look at it and prepare yourself before management comes in and asks you about it.

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The Regulatory Compliance Planning Guide is intended to help IT professionals and others understand steps that can be taken to help address regulatory mandates. The Planning Guide:

Shows IT professionals how they can use an IT controls framework to help address IT compliance requirements.
Includes a mapping of several significant regulations and standards, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to a sample control framework.
Directs customers to Microsoft resources that can help them address their compliance requirements.

DOWNLOAD:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=bd930882-0d39-4900-9a79-b91f213ed15d&DisplayLang=en

WHITEPAPER: Microsoft paper on Anti-Phishing

Fri, 30 Sep 2005 19:48:09 GMT

The focus of this white paper is to describe the basic workings of a new capability, the Microsoft® Phishing Filter, which will be included in the upcoming release of Internet Explorer 7, and as an add-in to the MSN Search Toolbar. The Microsoft Phishing Filter will not only help provide consumers with a dynamic system of warning and protection against potential phishing attacks, but — more important — it will also benefit legitimate ISPs and Web commerce site developers that want to try to ensure that their brands are not being “spoofed” to propagate scams and that their legitimate outreach to customers is not confusing or misinterpreted by filtering software.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b4022c66-99bc-4a30-9ecc-8bdefcf0501d&DisplayLang=en

INFO: MSN Messenger 7.5 "what's new" list

Mon, 29 Aug 2005 22:03:07 GMT

Leah, the Program Manager for MSN Messenger, posted a list of all the new cool features in MSN Messenger 7.5 which went to RTM just recently, on her blog. (http://spaces.msn.com/members/IMUnplugged)

Here's a list of the features she's identified - check them out. They're REALLY cool. Just sad that we don't have this posted anywhere:

Dynamic Backgrounds:

Backgrounds that subtly animate in cool ways. In the Backgrounds Menu there are four brand new Dynamic Backgrounds and you can buy more from the "What's Hot" link in the drop down. Cool things: 1) you can share any that you own with your friends, 2) some of them respond in interesting ways to receiving a nudge.

"See, the great thing about animation is that you don't have to pay the actors squat" – Homer, The Simpsons

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Voice Clip

Press and hold the Voice Clip button (or F2) and record up to 15 seconds of your voice or anything. When you release, it goes to your buddies just like an IM, and they can hear it instantly upon receipt. It’s designed to feel exactly like an Instant Message, except you trade in your hands and eyes for your voice and ears. It adds a personalized and emotional dimension to IM.

"My Italian boyfriend lives across the ocean. Just before he hangs up the phone, he always says to me ‘Ciao Bella!’ I love it! Give me a feature that will record his beautiful voice saying those words: ‘Ciao Bella!’ and let me play it over and over and over!" - Paraphrased anecdote from avid MSN user

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Freaking Awesome Audio Quality Improvements

Yes, that’s the technical name. Our new audio technology makes free Voice (Voip) calls super-clear. Mostly thanks to much improved echo-cancellation. It’s now just like using a phone except: "Look ma! No hands!"

Boy, that's just what every girl longs to hear" – Buffy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer

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Add a Contact link

Add a link/URL on a web page, MSN Spaces list, e-mail, MSN Alert, etc., or type/paste it into an Explorer address window, and you can do the following:

- Add a contact to your contact list:

msnim:add?contact=<emailaddress>@hotmail.com

- Start a conversation with a contact:

msnim:chat?contact=<emailaddress>@hotmail.com

- Send an invitation to start a voice conversation:

msnim:voice?contact=<emailaddress>@hotmail.com

- Send an invitation to start a video conversation:

msnim:video?contact=<emailaddress>@hotmail.com

"Heaven is just a mouse click away." – Pete, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton

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Expanded Security Settings

We have the new option in the Security options to 1) stop the send of hotlinks in conversation window & 2) disable File Transfer in the client. These can also be set by IT admins in Companies with SMS via registry policies. These could single handedly almost stop the transmission of current IM link virus sends between users.

"Cory, I have got something incredible to tell you. But for security reasons, I am going to use our code." - Sean, Boy Meets World

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Audio and Video Setup (used to be AV Tuning Wizard)

New fast and easy way to pick the right devices for audio and video conversations. Used to be a windows component, now ships with MSN Messenger (tools à Audio and Video Setup)

"How absurdly simple…" – Dr. John Watson, "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes"

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Transient Personal Messages from Device Clients

Users can now broadcast presence messages from any device running a Messenger client.

"No Homer, very few cartoons are broadcast live. It's a terrible strain on the animator's wrist." June Velany, The Simpsons

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Voice Entry Point Improvements

- one-click entry to video conversation

- webcam capability icons in the user tiles

- tips to encourage webcam use (it’s cool!)

- A Ring on the receiver’s side of a voice conversation

"Well, you'd better find a way to make it easy, soldier, or I'm going to start pushing buttons!" – Lily Sloane, Star Trek: First Contact

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New Login UI and Platform: The Identity Services team (passport) has created a client library called the Identity Client Run Time Library (or IDCRL for short). It provides a richer programming model and easier integration of passport authentication services into messenger. In other words: Improved Login functionality including reliability, auto-complete in the login address well; ability to save login information.

"I can't support an acronym without knowing what it stands for. I once joined NAMBLA because I thought it was an animal rights group" – Max, Buring Annie

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Patching

Due to the plethora of features in the Messenger client the download size has grown. In the future, instead of having to download the entire client each time an particular release is updated, we can download a small patch, on the order of 100K on to the user’s machine instead.

"Hey, kids! Want to drive through that cactus patch?" – Homer , The Simpsons

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Setup Changes

It wasn't easy, but Messenger had to make the painful decision to only support Windows XP gold and above users on this new version since the majority of our customers are running newer systems If you are running an older OS you'll have to stick with Messenger 7. Lucky for you that was a good product too. For the people running XP and above, thanks to this change we were able to clean up and get rid of a bunch of the bulk, which will result in a smaller setup package.

"What is this feeling? It just seems like everything's getting smaller and smaller" Jen, Dawson’s Creek

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Pre-installed Theme packs: allows the user to install a version of messenger that already has a particular theme applied to it, rather than having to install messenger, and then add a desired theme. So a partner, Coke, for example, can offer up a Coke-themed Messenger for Coke lovers out there.

"So I need to establish the themes. Maybe a banana nut. That's a good muffin" – Charlie Kauffman, Adaptation.

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Some General Bug fixes:

- The height of the text-entry box is now untied from the height of the display picture so you can make more room to type

- You can no longer send incessant nudges while someone’s status is set to busy.

- Major Accessibility fixes: Our screenreader will now tell sight-impared users when a group is expanded or collapsed, what a users' status is, and will read users' Personal Messages.

- The send & search button are combined to take up less space

- The dialogue for backgrounds now shows thumbnails like the other content dialogues

- See your buddies’ Dynamic Display Picture in the main window! (not just regular display pictures anymore)

- Add a contact is now at the top of the list – more intuitive and farther from the "search" well, where users thought they were supposed to enter an email address.

- The content buttons (winks, emoticons, packs, etc.) in the conversation window have been reordered for usability and appearance sake.

- Will no longer start and stop a Voice conversation and Video Conversation by accidentally double-clicking the buttons in the conversation window.

- We fixed a bug that was causing some clients to see erratic behavior like IM, Voice Clips or file transfer not working suddenly.

- Content dropdowns now change color when the converstaion window background changes.

- "Always sign in as:" is now honored when auto-reconnecting after resuming from hibernation. Also - if a user loses a connection more than once, "Always Sign in as:" will no longer reset itself to "Online.

- If a shared search result returns text that happens to be the same as an emoticon shortcut, we are no longer showing the emoticon, but rather the correct characters

- IF MSN Today is minimized, the button on the main window will now bring it back up to previous size rather than do nothing.

"If a person could find a better way to kill bugs, they would not only get rich, they'd probably get a lot more dates." – Red-Green, The Red-Green Show

DOCUMENT: Whitepapers galore!

Sat, 27 Aug 2005 07:10:31 GMT

My gosh. This has been a uber week for Microsoft whitepapers. Check this out:

Step-by-step Guide to Office LiveMeeting 2005:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=ac36cf8b-a4ff-459b-bd61-32791439fbd7&displaylang=en

Overview of the Distributed File System in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=5e547c69-d224-4423-8eac-18d5883e7bc2&displaylang=en

Step-by-Step Guide to Deploying Active Directory Federation Services for Windows Server 2003 R2 Beta 2

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=062f7382-a82f-4428-9bbd-a103b9f27654&displaylang=en

Introduction to Server and Domain Isolation with Microsoft Windows

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=9a3e2b2b-695d-4ff9-bcb1-5f2f3001845e&displaylang=en

Office 2003 Publication: Office Online Training Courses Quick Reference Cards Content

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=014d0985-5676-4223-965b-7ba34b832cf9&displaylang=en

Server Isolation with Microsoft Windows Explained

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=93bed81a-d073-4c2e-866f-e062dc2213b7&displaylang=en

Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Started with Microsoft Windows Server Update Services on Windows Small Business Server 2003

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=28c43d57-2e15-47b2-9a6f-1514aa3ed05f&displaylang=en

SECURITY: Messaging Security Solutions from Microsoft

Wed, 20 Jul 2005 18:11:58 GMT

There is an overview of all of our Messaging Security technologies (mainly the Sybari Antigen acquisition properties) available at the following web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/solutions/security/sybari.mspx

It covers:

- Antispam Products

- Antivirus Products

- ISA Server Gateway Filters

BOOK: "Windows Group Policy Guide" from MS Press

Thu, 30 Jun 2005 02:41:31 GMT

Great new book just got published…
Warning: It's MASSIVE.

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New Group Policy Book Available from MS Press
Microsoft Press has just released the Microsoft Windows Group Policy Guide, an 800-page reference guide for learning about and managing Group Policy within the enterprise. This book was co-written by industry-expert Darren Mar-Elia, Derek Melber, William Stanek, and the Group Policy Development team. The description of the book:

Get the in-depth information you need to use Group Policy to administer your enterprise system—direct from industry experts and the Microsoft Group Policy team. With Group Policy and Active Directory® directory service, administrators can take advantage of policy-based management to streamline the administration of users and computers throughout the enterprise—from servers running Windows Server 2003 or Windows 2000 Server to workstations running Windows XP Professional or Windows 2000 Professional. This essential resource explains how to simplify and automate administrative tasks, including policy enforcement, system updates, and software installations, as well as how to centralize the management of network resources. The CD provides essential utilities, custom ADMs, GPO spreadsheets, and more. It’s everything you need to help increase your efficiency while bolstering user productivity, security services, and system reliability.

For more information, check out the book’s web page at http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/8763.asp.
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DOC: Best practices on "Streamlining a Branch Office Infrastructure"

Thu, 30 Jun 2005 02:40:25 GMT

We've just published a ton of guidance around "Branch Office Servers" that I think might be relevant to you folks.

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Streamline a Branch Office Infrastructure
Use the Branch Office Infrastructure Solution (BOIS) guidance and tools to address the needs of large organizations and enterprises in designing and deploying appropriate solutions for branch office infrastructures. BOIS incorporates planning, design, and deployment information for a core set of Microsoft technologies working together to provide a complete and integrated branch office infrastructure solution (end-to-end, from hub through branch office server architecture).
The guidance focuses on reducing total cost of ownership for the customer through:
· Better utilization of server capacity.
· More efficient systems administration and management.
· Faster and more complete recovery of data in the event of a disaster.
· Higher degree of standardization and automation.

GO TO: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=47362
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GUIDE: Install and Upgrade to Windows Server 2003 R2

Mon, 09 May 2005 17:56:44 GMT

GUIDE: Install and Upgrade to Windows Server 2003 R2

Overview

Describes how to install and upgrade from earlier versions of Windows Server to Windows 2003 R2. Includes information about installing Server 2003 from the product CDs, a shared network resource, and using unattended setup. Also includes information about upgrading Server 2003 from the product CDs, a shared network resource, and using unattended setup.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=8690c156-82e1-4d5d-aa24-111627091832&displaylang=en

WHITEPAPER: Building Connected Systems: .NET and the Windows Platform in Financial Services

Tue, 01 Mar 2005 00:35:37 GMT

Building Connected Systems: .NET and the Windows Platform in Financial Services

This new White Paper includes an in-depth view of the Microsoft Platform and how .NET can be used to quickly develop and deploy enterprise level applications for an interconnected world. The document includes a drill down into the .NET Framework, Tools, Applications Services, Orchestration, the usage of Portals, Host Integration, Smart Clients, Smart Devices, Systems Management and the road to the future with the .NET Framework version 2.0 and Visual Studio.NET 2005. In the Fast Fact section of the white paper (beginning on page 29) you will find what the Analyst community is saying about .NET (Gartner, Forrester, Meta, The Middleware Company, Object Watch, and the Waters Group). In the Customer Experiences section (beginning on Page 31) you will find twenty-five live implementations of .NET and the Windows Platform in Financial Services (Allstate, Bank of Montreal, Barclays, CitiGroup, JPMorgan, Merrill Lynch, NASDAQ, Reuters and many more).

The White Paper is available at:
http://www.financialdevelopers.com/assets/Building%20Connected%20Systems%20in%20Financial%20Services.pdf