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Today, Microsoft announced the release of Windows Essential Business Server 2008 release candidate 0 (RC0) and the pending release of Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2008 RC0. Both products, along with Windows Home Server, are now marketed as being part of the same product family, called Windows Essential Server Solutions. More interesting, perhaps, Microsoft will also announce pricing and licensing terms for the new products today.

As a refresher, SBS 2008 is, of course, the next-generation version of Microsoft’s popular SBS product line. Like its predecessor, it will come in Standard and Premium versions, but there are some differences this time around: The Standard edition includes 64-bit versions of Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition, Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) 3.0, Exchange Server 2007, and Windows Live OneCare for Server, and integration with the Web-based Office Live Small Business services. Premium edition adds a second copy of Server 2008 (either 32-bit or 64-bit, your call) and SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition (again, 32-bit or 64-bit). You may recall that SBS 2003 R2 includes SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition, so there’s an upgrade there. But also new in SBS 2008 is the fact that the second copy of Windows Server and SQL Server are now licensed to be installed on a second server.

Full Article – http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/sbs_ebs_2008_preview1.asp

Google Friend Connect lets you grow traffic by easily adding social features to your website. With just a few snippets of code, you get more people engaging more deeply with your site.

Link – http://www.google.com/friendconnect/

It can be argued that Microsoft’s main focus with Windows Vista was security. While sceptics try to claim that there has not been much improvement, Vista does appear to be Microsoft’s most secure OS to date.

Nevertheless, it’s far from perfect, and not only on the security front. While many tests show that Vista outperforms XP on some high-end computers, the average computer system does not run Windows Vista as well as it does Windows XP. This will of course change as the average computer becomes more powerful and as Microsoft tweaks the operating system (SP1 already offers some help), but the fact of the matter is that Vista is recognized as a slow operating system.

Full Article – http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2008/05/12/gates-windows-7-will-take-less-memory-be-more-efficient

It can be argued that Microsoft’s main focus with Windows Vista was security. While sceptics try to claim that there has not been much improvement, Vista does appear to be Microsoft’s most secure OS to date.

Nevertheless, it’s far from perfect, and not only on the security front. While many tests show that Vista outperforms XP on some high-end computers, the average computer system does not run Windows Vista as well as it does Windows XP. This will of course change as the average computer becomes more powerful and as Microsoft tweaks the operating system (SP1 already offers some help), but the fact of the matter is that Vista is recognized as a slow operating system.

Full Article – http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2008/05/12/gates-windows-7-will-take-less-memory-be-more-efficient

REDMOND, Wash. — May 12, 2008 — The final frontier got a bit closer today as Microsoft Corp. officially launched the public beta of its WorldWide Telescope, which is now available at http://www.worldwidetelescope.org. WorldWide Telescope is a rich Web application that brings together imagery from the best ground- and space-based observatories across the world to allow people to easily explore the night sky through their computers. WorldWide Telescope has been eagerly anticipated by the astronomical and educational communities as a compelling astronomical resource for students and lifelong learners, and as a way to make science fun for children.

“The WorldWide Telescope is a powerful tool for science and education that makes it possible for everyone to explore the universe,” said Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft. “By combining terabytes of incredible imagery and data with easy-to-use software for viewing and moving through all that information, the WorldWide Telescope opens the door to new ways to see and experience the wonders of space. Our hope is that it will inspire young people to explore astronomy and science, and help researchers in their quest to better understand the universe.”

Full Article – http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2008/may08/05-12WWTPR.mspx?rss_fdn=Press%20Releases

A detailed comparison of Visual Studio 2008 is available.

Full Article – http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/products/cc149003.aspx

Shows you how to make a virtual machine highly available. You will do this by creating a simple two-node cluster and a virtual machine, and then failing over the virtual machine from one node to the other.

Full Article – http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=cd828712-8d1e-45d1-a290-7edadf1e4e9c&displaylang=en&tm

These samples demonstrate many of the new features available with Visual Basic 2008 and the .NET Framework 3.5 including hundreds Language Integrated Query (LINQ) samples. These samples are broken down into the following areas:

Application Samples

These samples use various features to make end user applications like a threading application or a game or showing how to use Microsoft Excel from within VB

Data Samples

These samples show various data features like binding to databases and OCS

Language Samples

These samples show various language features like API calls and generics. These also include a comprehensive list of beginner and advanced LINQ samples

Server and Component Samples

These samples show how the VB Language can access component services like WMI and comports

Tablet PC Samples

These samples show how the VB language can be used for applications like speech recognition or text recognition

WCF Samples

These samples show how WCF (Windows communication foundation) can be used to make and consume services

Winform Samples

These samples show various winforms applications like GDIText and combo box examples and user controls

Full Article – http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/vbsamples

ZDNet article features the new HTC Diamond phone that brings some of the cool to Windows Mobile devices and then some. The phone will feature Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, Bluetooth 2.0, GPS, a 3.2MP camera, Opera Mobile browser and TouchFLO 3D interface. View a video of the new HTC Diamond on the HTC Home.

Full Article – http://blogs.zdnet.com/mobile-gadgeteer/?p=1068

A week after deciding not to release Windows XP Service Pack (SP) 3 via Windows Update and the Microsoft Download site as planned, Microsoft has begun pushing the collection of updates and fixes through those channels again.

On May 6, Microsoft both released officially SP3 and resumed automatic distribution of Windows Vista SP1. Distribution of both of the Windows service packs was halted when Microsoft discovered a compatibility glitch involving them and Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System, according to company officials.

Here’s Microsoft’s update on the situation, via a spokeswoman:

Full Article – http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1381

Microsoft continues to eat its own dog food to promote the adoption of its Silverlight technology.

The company is beta-testing a new version of its Microsoft Download Center Web site using the technology, a browser plug-in and development runtime for adding multimedia and high-definition video to Web-based applications.

A visit to the Microsoft Download Center on Tuesday opened a page inviting users to test the new site, which Microsoft said is being enhanced by Silverlight.

Full Article – http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/145564/microsoft_revamps_download_center_using_silverlight.html

Two of the single most begged for features for PowerShell, the devastatingly useful scripting tool now made an integral part of Windows Server 2008 and Exchange Server 2007, are being addressed in the Community Technology Preview for version 2.0.

As Microsoft now confirms, there will be a unique graphical front end for editing scripts and running commands and cmdlets (compiled PowerShell keywords). And yes, Virginia, there will be a newly supported remote link to servers running Server Core, the new minimal Windows installation introduced in WS2K8.

Full Article – http://www.betanews.com/article/Next_Windows_PowerShell_will_have_GUI_remote_management_support/1210112143

Yahoo is introducing new technology to its search engine which will warn users if they are about to click on a website that hosts viruses, spyware and spam.

SearchScan uses security firm McAfee’s SiteAdvisor technology to warn users about “potentially risky sites”.

The service, which is switched on by default, produces an on-screen alert.

Full Article – http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7385285.stm

Yahoo is introducing new technology to its search engine which will warn users if they are about to click on a website that hosts viruses, spyware and spam.

SearchScan uses security firm McAfee’s SiteAdvisor technology to warn users about “potentially risky sites”.

The service, which is switched on by default, produces an on-screen alert.

Full Article – http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7385285.stm

Laptop users may soon get longer battery life from their machines, with ZPower set to plug in its new silver-zinc batteries, which it claims last significantly longer than traditional lithium-ion batteries.

The batteries will be available in consumer and business laptops from major PC makers starting in August, according to Ross Dueber, the CEO of ZPower, although he declined to name any of the vendors on Thursday.

Full Article – http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20080501/tc_pcworld/145405;_ylt=AuHBEfBlc10UTqk1GK2DdxOSxLEF