We have been waiting for Microsoft to open the beta for Fiji, the suspected codename for the next version of Media Center for well over a year now.  I first posted about it in March of last year, with invites first opening just a month after that, and now it appears we may finally have taken a step forward.

Users (who shall remain nameless, because I edited them out) at The Green Button are reporting that they have received e-mails from Microsoft Connect.  If true, this would be the first step to finally getting something in our hands to play with (under NDA of course).

This release will bring DIRECTV support among other unannounced features.  I had expected it to include HD DVD support, but I wouldn’t count on that any more.  Other features have been kept under tight wraps, though I’ve got a few in mind that I’m rather sure will be there.

Continue At Source

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Thanks for your patience while we roll out our first major update. Some users have reported having problems with the new website and the new version of FolderShare for Windows. We’re happy to anounce that we've posted updates to address the majority of those concerns.

What we've addressed

• The problem some users had with Windows Vista and Windows XP failing to respond.
• All known website sign-in and library management problems.
• The version number typo on the download webpage.
• The difficulties that users of the IOMEGA external hard drive had with the website. Users may need to re-sync their PC libraries now that we've fixed that. (By the way, syncing with the actual devices isn't supported anymore, which we warned about in the previous blog post.)

Please use the latest version

All Windows users should be using version 14.0.1329.0317, which is available on the FolderShare download webpage. If you have any problems after installing it, please tell us by posting to the FolderShare newsgroup.

Also, please note that we've posted a couple more FAQs to the previous post.  Thanks for all your support and feedback...and a special thanks to the users who helped us perform some swift investigative work!

The FolderShare team

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

It's no secret that those futuristic demos at the Consumer Electronics Show each year don't always turn into real, live products. But when Microsoft showed a working version of the "GroupShot" photo-editing tool at CES last year, there seemed little doubt that it would be released as promised as part of the Windows Vista Ultimate Extras program.

That's not how it turned out. More than a year later, GroupShot hasn't yet been released as an Ultimate Extra. As explained in this story in today's newspaper, that's one of the ways that the Ultimate Extras initiative has fallen short of original expectations. But what happened to GroupShot, in particular? I asked Microsoft's Barry Goffe that question when I spoke with him for the story.

"The thing that we showed at CES was real, live code ... but it wasn't really up to snuff, it wasn't something that I would have felt good about shipping to millions of customers," Goffe said. The company had to make "some tough choices, and one of the choices was we're not going to ship that one right away -- it was too much work to get it out." He said the company may still decide to ship it as an Ultimate Extra in the future.

A version of GroupShot, from Microsoft Research, is available for download on this site. [See correction below.] It takes similar photos and assembles them into a composite image that reflects the best qualities of each.

See today's story for more on the Ultimate Extras initiative.

Correction: As noted by reader "Kubla Kant" below, the program is actually no longer available for download. The download link on the GroupShot page leads to a page that says the beta period has expired, although they're "currently considering several options" to bring it back.

Source: Todd Bishop's Microsoft Blog

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Remy has just blogged on the Silverlight Streaming blog on dev.live that you will soon be able to put advertising into your Silverlight Streaming app. The pilot scheme is due to start soon this Spring.

So how will this work? The ads will be provided by the Microsoft AdCenter platform and deliver contextual ads based on the keywords associated to the Silverlight video and these ads will appear actually in the playback. To register your interest for this, head on over to http://advertising.microsoft.com/publisher/sls and provide the requested information.

Unfortunately, it is important to note that this is, as usual, only open to US participants, but as Remy is keen to highlight:

This is a real program, with revenues paid in US dollars, and it will include revenue sharing for the accounts participating in the trial.

So, if you are in the states and using SLS, good way to bring in some cash for doing nothing!

Source: LiveSide

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Are you running the beta of IE8? With all the new features, like WebSlices, Activities, and the new Favorites Bar, there is a lot to see and try. So, if you want to get your IE8 Beta up to speed with only the best of the new features, look no further - here are the best add-ons for IE8:

1. Me.dium's Activity for IE8: With the Me.dium Activity for IE8, you can right-click on a web page or highlight text and right-click, then choose "Discover with Me.dium." You'll then be recommended new pages around your selection based on what other Me.dium users are surfing right now, in real-time. (Stay tuned for a Me.dium WebSlice, coming soon)
2. Internet Buzz on StumbleUpon: This add-on is a WebSlice that shows you the hottest sites on StumbleUpon right now. To subscribe to a WebSlice, click on the purple icon and then click "Add." You can then click on the WebSlice on your Favorites bar and see a list of thumbnails and links to the currently "most Stumbled" web sites.
3. eBay Search Activity & WebSlice: OK, technically this is 2 add-ons, but each of these are great. The eBay Search Activity lets you highlight text on any web page and then hover over "eBay Search" to see active listings for that item. The eBay WebSlice lets you monitor your favorite eBay items and auctions from IE8's Favorites Bar.
4. Facebook WebSlice: To access this WebSlice, just log into Facebook and then click on the purple WebSlice icon on your Favorites Bar to see your Facebook friends status updates. (Vista users - if you have an issue with this, launch IE as an Administrator before adding the WebSlice). Pick up the "Share on Facebook" Activity on this page, too.
5. Mapping Activities: Why have just one mapping activity? From this page, you can get both the Live Search Maps and Yahoo! Local Maps Activities.
6. News: Get the MSNBC "Related News" Activity here and the "MSN Headline" WebSlice here.
7. Helpful Activities: There are Activities that help you Define, Translate, Blog, and Email.
8. ShareThis: the ShareThis browser button works with IE8, too. With this button, you can easily share web content on various services like Digg, Facebook, del.icio.us, facebook, MySpace, StumbleUpon, etc.

Source: Channel 10

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Today Microsoft delivered the Hyper-V release candidate (RC) code broadly to customers and partners. This is a key milestone signaling that Microsoft is on track to deliver Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V virtualization by August 2008. Hyper-V RC is a feature-complete version and has three main enhancements from the beta release:

• An expanded list of tested and qualified guest operating systems including: Windows Server 2003 SP2, Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 SP1, Windows Vista SP1, and Windows XP SP3.
• Host server and language support has been expanded to include the 64-bit (x64) versions of Windows Server 2008 Standard, Enterprise, and Datacenter - with English, partial German, and partial Japanese language options now available and the ability to enable the English version of Hyper-V on other locales.
• Improved performance & stability for scalability and throughput workloads.

The release candidate provides updated, near-final code that customers and partners can download at http://microsoft.com/Hyper-V to begin planning and testing the end deployment scenarios. With less than 10% of all servers virtualized, Microsoft has a broad set of cost-effective products (spanning the desktop to the datacenter) that position the company to take advantage of significant growth opportunities in the virtualization space. Hyper-V provides customers with efficient and cost-effective virtualization infrastructure software, and now with the availability of the latest test code, Microsoft is one step closer to making virtualization a reality for customers. For more information on the announcement visit:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/mar08/03-19RCHyperVPR.mspx

Windows Server Division Weblog
Windows Virtualization Team Blog
System Center Team Blog

Download Now!

Source: blogs.technet.com

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) is an update to Windows Vista that addresses feedback from our customers. In addition to previously released updates, SP1 will contain changes focused on addressing specific reliability, performance, and compatibility issues; supporting new types of hardware; and adding support for several emerging standards. SP1 also will continue to make it easier for IT administrators to deploy and manage Windows Vista. Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Language Standalone version can be installed on systems with any of the following language versions: English (US), French, German, Japanese, or Spanish (Traditional).
Read the overview of Windows Vista SP1, including what's new, technical details, guidelines and notable changes.
Read the Deployment Guide for Windows Vista SP1. This guide includes technical information, procedures, and recommendations for installing Windows Vista SP1 in a business or corporate environment.

DO NOT CLICK DOWNLOAD IF YOU ARE UPDATING JUST ONE COMPUTER: A smaller, more appropriate download is available on Windows Update.

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Language Standalone for x64-based Systems (KB936330)
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Language Standalone for x86-based Systems (KB936330)

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Today at Sheraton Hotel Karachi, Microsoft launched their three flagship products(Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 & SQL Server 2008) as part of their 2008 launch wave. I was fortunate enough to witness the biggest launch of Microsoft and am proud to be a part of history.

One of the things I like about such events is the goodies you get for just attending the event so this one was no exceptional: I got free copy of Windows Vista Ultimate and Evaluation copies of all the three newly launched products i.e. Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 & SQL Server 2008.

Here is a short video showing all the items contained in the launch kit (requires Microsoft Silverlight)

Additionally, pictures can also be seen here(Windows Live Spaces) or here(Flickr).

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

I just got my brand new notebook, its none other than HP Pavilion dv2799 Special Edition with famous "Verve" imprint finish. Before this, I owned an HP Pavilion dv5191 notebook. This one just kills that notebook in every department. From its sleek & sexy design to the power of Intel Core 2 Duo processor. This one has it all!

The system came with following configuration:

Operating system Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium 32-bit

Processor Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T9300
2.50 GHz, Level 2 cache 6 MB (45nm)

Memory 2048 MB
Supports up to 4 GB DDR2 memory

Storage
250 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive 5400 rpm
up to 9 GB partition for system recovery
Lightscribe Super Multi DVD Writer (+/-R +/-RW) with Double Layer
support
Create silkscreen-quality disc labels direct from your PC with LightScribe:
Just burn, flip, burn.
5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards,
MultiMedia cards, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, or xD Picture cards

Ease of use Integrated finger print reader

Mobile entertainment
HP QuickPlay media player software and its dedicated menu controls,
music and DVD buttons
HP Pavilion WebCam with Integrated Microphone
HP Mobile Remote Control

Display 14.1” WXGA High Definition BrightView Widescreen Display
Resolution: 1280 x 800

Video
NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8400M GS
Up to 1407 MB Total Available Graphics Memory with 128 MB
dedicated PCI Express®

Sound
3D Sound Blaster Pro compatible sound 16 bit integrated
Altec Lansing® speakers

Included accessories
HP Wireless lasermouse and Slip Case

Communication
High speed 56K modem
Ethernet 10/100BT integrated network interface
Intel® PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection
Bluetooth® wireless networking
One ExpressCard/54 slot (also supports ExpressCard/34)

Keyboard
101 key compatible keyboard
Touch Pad with On/Off button and dedicated vertical Scroll Up/Down
pad, volume control, mute buttons, 2 Quick Launch Buttons

Ports
2 USB 2.0, 1 HDMI connector, 1 VGA port, 1 RJ11 modem connector, 1
RJ45 ethernet connector, S-video TV out, 2 headphones-out, 1 mic-in, 1
IEEE 1394, remote control infrared port (remote optional), cable docking
connector

Power
90 W AC Power Adapter
6-cell Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery

Software
Microsoft® Works and Microsoft® Office Home and Student 2007
60-Day Trial Version
Microsoft® Internet Explorer 7.0
Windows Mail
Adobe® Reader 8.0
Windows Media Player
Windows Photo Gallery
DVD Play
Windows Movie Maker, Windows DVD Maker
Cyberlink DVD Suite
Windows Media center, QuickPlay for Windows
Digital Persona Fingerprint reader software
HP Total Care Advisor

Weight
Out of package: 2.50 kg (5.59 lbs)
Packed: 4.40 kg

Dimensions
Out of package: 23.70 cm (L) x 33.40 cm (W) x 2.60 cm (min) H /
3.90 cm (max) H
Packed: 485 x 112 x 360 mm

The design team at HP has done a great job, the "Verve" imprint is nothing short of "Wow".

HDMI Port: One of the main reason i bought this notebook.

Touchpad: Feels great. The on/off switch is a great plus!

Integrated fingerprint reader lets me log in & out of Windows and websites just with a slide of my finger.

Keyboard: The keyboard on this notebook is a great improvement. The keyboard on my previous notebook felt too cheap. This one is way better. Also the quick launch buttons on the top of the keyboard are touch sensitive, which is another great plus of the notebook.

and yes, HP ships free wireless laser mouse and a slip case with this special edition notebook.

The score of this notebook on Windows Experience Index is 4.1

For the complete photo gallery, visit here (Windows Live Spaces) or here (Flickr)

Pros:
1. Design ("Verve" finish is awesome!)
2. Size: I was worried at first when I ordered this notebook that 14.1'' would be too small for me as my previous notebook was 15.4''. But to my surprise, I found 14.1'' to be the perfect size!
3. The power of Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 Penryn Processor (Penryn is the new 45nm processor)
4. Build quality
5. HDMI port
6. Wireless Laser mouse & Slip Case

Cons:
1. Weight: I thought it would be light, but that isnt really the case.
2. Only 2 USB ports. Should have been atleast 3.
3. 6 Cell battery means only 2 hours of power backup. (see an update on battery below.)

My Rating: 9.0/10

Here is a video of notebook starting up for the very first time. (Requires Microsoft Silverlight)

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

ShadowExplorer is a cool utility that lets you browse the shadow copies created by all versions of the Vista OS in a point-and-click GUI fashion. With ShadowExplorer, you can see the available point-in-time copies, browse through the copies that have been created, and retrieve older versions of files and folders as needed. It should be noted that ShadowExplorer is in no way a replacement for backups, but it can definitely help you find an restore older copies of file from time to time. The utility is available as a free download from here. (via ghacks)

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Microsoft Corp. brings the beauty of Windows Aero from the PC to the devices that surround it with its latest keyboard and mouse desktop set, the Wireless Laser Desktop 7000, designed to complement the Windows Vista operating system with its striking design.

The new desktop set includes an ultrathin Comfort Curve keyboard and rechargeable mouse, delivering ultimate performance and comfort. The keyboard features a Windows Aero-inspired translucent design, floating Hot Keys and instant access to Windows Flip 3D,¹ making this desktop a perfect companion for today’s Windows Vista-based PC.

Wireless Laser Desktop 7000
Click for high-res version.

Today Microsoft also debuts the Digital Media Keyboard 3000, an ultrathin, stylish yet affordable keyboard designed to fit the digital lifestyle.

Wireless Laser Desktop 7000: The Sleek “Little Black Dress” of Peripherals

The Wireless Laser Desktop 7000 brings together productivity-enhancing features and a sophisticated design to create an elegant accompaniment for today’s computers. The following are among its new design elements:

• Smoked translucent border brings the subtle elegance of Windows Aero to the keyboard.

• Floating My Favorites Keys deliver one-touch access to users’ most-used Web sites, files and folders. Users simply push and hold a key to assign it to the current destination, just as they would with a car stereo’s preset buttons.

• Amazingly sleek, thin design complements any living room or office décor and features quiet touch keys.

“This keyboard is a perfect example of Microsoft’s focus on connecting its hardware with Windows Vista, bringing the elegance of Windows Aero to the keyboard,” said Carla Forester, group marketing manager at Microsoft. “The Wireless Laser Desktop 7000 truly brings the best of both worlds together — a beautiful design and a full suite of productivity features — making it the best option for customers desiring a sophisticated accessory for their computer.”

“We are thrilled to see the simplicity and beauty of the Windows Vista Aero experience conveyed in the Wireless Laser Desktop 7000,” said Jeff Price, senior director in the Windows Group at Microsoft. “With the smoked translucent border and floating keys, this keyboard is a true extension of the dynamic design of Windows Vista.”

Comfort Curve Is King

The Wireless Laser Desktop 7000 keyboard features Microsoft’s best-selling Comfort Curve design, which encourages a more natural position with a slight 6-degree curve. With more than 6 million Comfort Curve keyboards sold worldwide,² Microsoft Hardware continues to shine as a leader in comfortable computing.

Wireless Laser Mouse 7000

Digital Media Keyboard 3000
Click for high-res version.

The included Wireless Laser Mouse 7000 is a stylish, rechargeable mouse that perfectly complements the sleek keyboard. The horizontal charging station provides a sturdy base, and the battery status indicator lets users know when it is time to charge. By choosing a rechargeable mouse, users can reduce their battery consumption by up to 80 percent over three years of use.³

Get Confident With 2.4 GHz

The Wireless Laser Desktop 7000 features advanced wireless technology using 2.4GHz frequency. Benefits include the following:

• Confident connection with virtually no interference.Intelligent technology “hops” frequency when it encounters interference, making it ideal for crowded wireless environments with multiple computers.

• Wireless freedom. Users can sit back and click up to 30 feet away from the transceiver, even if it is out of sight.

• Easy setup and use. Users can just plug in the transceiver and start working.

Digital Media Keyboard 3000

Microsoft also announced today the Digital Media Keyboard 3000, designed to fit today’s digital lifestyle. This affordable keyboard allows users to bring digital media to life with one-touch access to photos, Windows Media Player, My Favorites Keys and Zoom. This sleek, thin keyboard is also optimized for Windows Vista, with quick access to Flip 3D⁴ and the Windows Start Button.

Pricing and Availability

The Wireless Laser Desktop 7000 will be widely available in April 2008 for an estimated retail price of $129.95 (U.S.).⁵ The Digital Media Keyboard 3000 will be widely available in June 2008 for an estimated retail price of $29.95 (U.S.).⁵ The Wireless Laser Desktop7000 and Digital Media Keyboard 3000 are now available for special pre-sale on Amazon.com and will ship in April and June respectively, when the products are widely released.

About Microsoft Hardware

For 25 years, the Hardware Group has employed innovative engineering, cutting-edge industrial design and extensive usability testing to create products of exceptional quality and durability that enhance the software experience and strengthen the connection between consumers and their PC. Microsoft Hardware leads the industry in ergonomic engineering, industrial design and hardware/software compatibility, offering consumers an easier, more convenient and more enjoyable computing experience. Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer, which launched in 1999, earned a place on PCWorld.com’s December 2005 list of “The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years” as the first mainstream optical mouse that “brought gunk-free pointing devices” to a broad consumer base. More information about the Hardware Group is available at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware.

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

I use about 2-3 different PCs throughout the week for work - including my laptop when I travel away from the office. In doing this - I have files scattered on multiple PCs. I'll go to one PC and find I need a file from another PC. So to make sure all my PCs are in-sync with all the important files I need and use - I use Windows Live FolderShare. Windows Live FolderShare is a service that lets users sign-in to set up Libraries that consist of folders on multiple PCs. These Libraries are synced using the Windows Live FolderShare client that sits on each PC. Users can have multiple Libraries setup as well as Shared Libraries with friends.

Today, the FolderShare Team is shipping a Beta Refresh of both the Windows Live FolderShare website and client that offers some great improvements to the Windows Live FolderShare service at http://www.foldershare.com/. Those improvements include:

• Improved usability with the Windows Live FolderShare website - UI aligns with other Windows Live services.
• Updated Windows Live FolderShare Client.
• Back-end improvements.
• Full Windows Vista support with updated Windows Live FolderShare Client.

Today's Beta Refresh supports Windows Live FolderShare's already supported countries and regions: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese.

If you are already a Windows Live FolderShare Beta user - it is recommended you upgrade to today's new beta client. Your account information, folders, device, and settings should migrate over just fine. Users who don't upgrade to the new Windows Live FolderShare client Beta should expect to be asked to upgrade in the near future.

I thought I'd do a quick over view of my experience with the new Windows Live FolderShare website.

To login to the new Windows Live FolderShare site - I logged in with the same credentials I did with the previous Windows Live FolderShare site. You account remains exactly the same despite the awesome new site.

After logging in, I was able to view all my Libraries and PCs configured with the Windows Live FolderShare client. Here I can create and manage Libraries (both shared and private). I'll get to the remote access stuff here in a second but essentially this is where I can see which of my PCs (running the Windows Live FolderShare client) are online. I can also use remote access to access files on the PCs that are online.

I was able to click on one of my Libraries I have set up and see the sync status. You'll see here my "Microsoft_Work_Docs" Library. I have 37 of 37 files synced between two PCs with another PC offline (this is my laptop).This is a Library I have set up that syncs up all my blog posts I write. I write my posts in Word or Windows Live Writer and save them to a specific folder on my PC which is then synced with Windows Live FolderShare and my other PCs. I sometimes write posts on my laptop when I'm out traveling but want to come back to them later on one of my desktop PCs at home. The Library makes sure all my drafts for blog posts are all synced on all my PCs.

As mentioned above, PCs that are shown as online under "Remote access" allow me (via the Windows Live FolderShare website) to access files and folders remotely. This is an absolutely wonderful feature. Here I am accessing my Dell XPS 420 desktop PC.

I can access the specific storage devices I have on my XPS 420 (darddrives and removable media like external harddrives and USB sticks) or pre-determined folders.

NOTE: The pre-determined folders are folders under which ever user account Windows Live FolderShare is running under.

If I click on the "Photos" folder, I can view all my photos.

I can pick and choose any file - in this case any photo - and download them to the PC I am using to access the Windows Live FolderShare site at that time. This works for music, videos, or any other files stored in specific folders.

Beyond the Windows Live FolderShare website - we have the updated beta client. The Windows Live FolderShare client sits on the taskbar in Windows Vista and runs in the background. By clicking on the Windows Live FolderShare client icon on the taskbar, I can view all the Libraries I am syncing on my PC.

I can also use the client to quick go to the Windows Live FolderShare website to set up new Libraries. It's very easy to set up new Libraries and they show up almost immediately. You can also view the Activity of the files being synced to your PC as well through the Windows Live FolderShare client.

Windows Live FolderShare is an amazing way to sync your files with multiple PCs and access your files remotely. It really saves a lot of time from bouncing between multiple PCs. Thanks to Windows Live FolderShare, all I have to do is sit at any of my PCs and I have all my important files I need.

To get started with today's Windows Live FolderShare Beta refresh - just head on over to http://www.foldershare.com/!

UPDATE: The kinks are still being worked out after migrating to the new Windows Live FolderShare. If you are having a problem downloading the client installer - you can download it directly here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=111309

Source: windowsvistablog.com

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

LAS VEGAS--While Internet Explorer 8 demos, Silverlight progress and a Monkey Boy reprise from Steve Ballmer captured much of the attention at Mix 08--it was a database announcement that could be the sleeper announcement of the show.

What Microsoft announced was a database-in-the-cloud service where Web developers can store their data. Those attending the Mix show here were able to sign up for a beta test that is set to begin in three or four weeks, with a final version aimed to be launched by the end of the year, according to Dave Campbell, a technical fellow in Microsoft's SQL Server division.

"We're taking SQL Server we're pulling pieces of it apart and we're putting it back together," Campbell said in an interview. One of the challenges is taking software designed to run highly reliable servers and storage and turning it into a commodity service.

But, Campbell said, that's also where the opportunity lies. "In this world, dumb and fast rules."

"If you give up a tiny bit in terms of the degree of consistency in the architecture, you can get tremendous resiliency and scale, but you want to retain enterprise-class quality around data service," he explained. Factoring data into classes of data or tiers is one way to improve the class of service using commodity gear, he said.

What Microsoft is doing in this case with its database is also the kind of thing it makes sense to imagine the company doing with a variety of "building block" services.

"SQL Data Services is a building block for Microsoft's longer term vision of a services fabric for developing and deploying applications," Campbell said. "Imagine at some point a version of Visual Studio with a services palette in the toolbox and wiring up and composing services."

Illuminata analyst Gordon Haff said that it's important for Microsoft to be a player in this area.

"A lot of computing and storage is going to be moving online," he said. "For them not to get into this game would be suicidal at some level."

Campbell downplayed the notion that Microsoft was competing with Amazon.com's S3 service.

Haff said that there are some differences, since Amazon targets largely unstructured data and Microsoft is aimed more at structured and semi-structured data, but said it's not like the two don't overlap.

"They are targeting a somewhat different market, but everyone competes at some level," he said.

Campbell wouldn't get into how Microsoft would price the service, but said it some type of usage model that takes into account both the amount of data stored in the cloud as well as the bandwidth used in transferring information.

Source: C|NET NEWS

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

What will this mean for Windows Mobile?

Live reporting from Engadget at Apple Press conference:

I'm really excited to be the one to talk to you abut iPhone in the enterprise. We've had some great customers at the forefront wanting to adopt the iPhone into their enterprises." Talking about using Genentech using a fleet of iPhones. "We have a lot of great university customers." Stanford, for example; hundreds of iPhones for faculty and staff.
"There are a lot of things enterprise customers have told us that have hold us back from being HUGE in the enterprise. What do they want to take the iPhone into the enterprise. What do they want? Push email -- huge request. They want great calendar integration. They want it pushed to them wherever they are.
10:05AM - They want push contacts, global address list, Cisco IPsec VPN, they want authentication and certs, enterprise class WiFi (WPA2 / 802.1x), security policies, enterprise configuration tools, and they want remote wipe.

"That's a long list of important features enterprise customers want. Well, I'm excited to be the one to tell you today, we're doing ALL these things in the next release of the iPhone software."

"Microsoft has come up with a much more advanced architecture, where the iPhone can work directly with the Exchange server in a more reliable and affordable way. We're building Exchange support so you get push email, push calendaring, push contacts, global address lists, and the ability to remote wipe it."

"The same email app, calendar app, and contact apps that customers really love will get information directly from the Exchange server." So no new apps on the iPhone for using Exchange.

Continue at source!

NOW there is an official MS press release too!

Q&A: Microsoft Helps Connect Apple iPhone Users to Microsoft’s Exchange Server

Terry Myerson, corporate vice president for Exchange, talks to PressPass about the importance of the new agreement between Microsoft and Apple to offer built-in support for Exchange on the iPhone, and the increasing popularity of Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 among mobile professionals.

Source: www.engadget.com

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Whether creating standards-based Web user interfaces by using Microsoft ASP.NET, building cross-platform rich interactive applications with Silverlight, or creating ultimate Windows Vista experiences with Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), Expression tools enable designers to fully apply their creativity while collaborating with developers using Microsoft Visual Studio. Expression Studio includes the following products:

• Expression Web for building standards-based Web sites.
• Expression Design for professional illustration and graphic design.
• Expression Blend for creating engaging Web-connected experiences for Microsoft Windows. This special preview version is compatible with creating content for Silverlight 1.0 Release Candidate and Silverlight 1.1 Alpha.
• Expression Blend 2.5 March 2008 Preview
  Build content that targets Silverlight 2 Beta 1 with the Expression Blend 2.5 March 2008 Preview.
• Expression Media for assets management as well as media encoding. This version also includes the Expression Encoder tool for transcoding video content.

Download Expression Studio 2 Beta 

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

WeatherBug is proud to present a mobile weather application based on Microsoft Silverlight Technology. The technology is cross-platform and the same application can run on Windows, Mac and Mobile Phones.

• To view the demo, make sure you have the latest version of Microsoft Silverlight installed on your computer.
• Click on the WeatherBug logo to change your location. Enter a US Zip Code or city name and hit the enter key.
• Click on the city name in the upper right to choose from recently selected locations.
• Click on the arrows at the bottom to navigate to radar, 4-day forecast and hourly forecast.
• When severe weather alerts are active an exclamation point (!) will display near the current temperature. Click on the exclamation point for more information about the alert.
• Press any key from 1-5 to see various weather animations. (click on the app to make sure it is in focus first).

Try out the application yourself here

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Internet Explorer 8 can be installed on Microsoft Windows Vista^® Service Pack 1 (SP1), Windows Vista, Windows XP^® Service Pack 2 (SP2), Windows Server^® 2008 and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2). Downloads are available from the following locations:

Download Links:

Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008

Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 for Windows Vista x64 Edition and Windows Server 2008 x64 Edition

Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 for Window XP SP2

Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 for Windows Server 2003 SP2

Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 for Windows Server 2003 SP2 x64 Edition and Windows XP SP2 Pro x64 Edition

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Microsoft has launched a new site UltimatePC.com for Windows Vista Ultimate customers. It’ll deliver new “Ultimate Exclusives” which will work together with Ultimate Extras.

Whereas Ultimate Extras are add-ons that extend certain OS capabilities, Ultimate Exclusives provide Windows Vista Ultimate customers with unique products and services at special discounts to enhance the computing experiences and enable users to do more with their PC.

Note that Ultimate Exclusives are not going to replace Ultimate Extras.

Microsoft is still working on Ultimate Extras and they have a plan to deliver more new Ultimate Extras in coming year. Following are a few hints for what you are going to get in new Ultimate Extras from Microsoft:

• A New original game
• Enhancements to Movie Maker and DVD Maker
• DreamScene experiences
• A Few New Screen savers
• New sound schemes

The Windows team is launching UltimatePC.com with three Ultimate Exclusives:

• EVGA: Great deals on EVGA e-GeForce 8800 series graphics cards to enhance your gaming
• Pinnacle Systems: Exciting offers on consumer video editing software and HD TV products
• Stardock Systems: Promotional pricing on Stardock Multiplicity for Multi-PC control

Source: www.askvg.com

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Don't forget to watch MIX08 keynotes streamed live real time over the internet on Wednesday, March 5th 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM Pacific Time (Wednesday, March 5th 10:30 PM - 01:00 AM Pakistan Standard Time)  and Thursday, March 6th 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM Pacific Time (Friday, March 7th 2:00 AM to 4:00 AM Pakistan Standard Time).

Timing for other cities around the world can be found here.

Links for Webcasts:
Ray Ozzie Keynote
Microsoft Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie will be joined by Scott Guthrie, Corporate Vice President, .NET Developer Division, and Dean Hachamovitch, General Manager of the Internet Explorer Team, to demonstrate the latest technologies built for Microsoft's Web platform.
Watch the live Webcast: 100 kbps | 300 kbps | 750 kbps
Steve Ballmer Keynote
Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer will be joined by industry luminary and venture capitalist, Guy Kawasaki at Microsoft's MIX08 conference in Las Vegas for a wide-ranging discussion and open-mic Q&A session.
Watch the live Webcast: 100 kbps | 300 kbps | 750 kbps

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)