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Sometime today, the Hotmail sign in page was updated. Although there is nothing new feature wise, General performance seems to have been improved. The update is in preparation for Wave 4, of the Windows Live line-up.

Link – http://mail.live.com

The RTM builds of Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode are now available for people with an MSDN / TechNet subscription.  On MSDN you can sign in and:

• Go to Subscriber Downloads
• Select Applications
• Scroll to the bottom of the list and select Windows Virtual PC

Recent whispers across the blogosphere that Microsoft currently has no plans to launch the Zune HD in France prompted us to prod Redmond impatiently for more information. We got it, but we’re sad to say you probably won’t like it if you live north, south, east, or west of the US border. Not only are there no plans for France, but Microsoft is excluding every single country outside of the US, at least for now.

Link – http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/09/its-official-no-plans-to-sell-zune-hd-outside-the-us.ars

As a Windows Mobile user who’s doubted the future of the platform at least once, it’s been very reassuring to hear that not only do the at least one person at Windows Mobile genuinely acknowledge and understand some of the shortcomings of the Windows Mobile experience and platform today but in response to this they are committed to updating the platform more frequently than it has been.

Link – http://www.istartedsomething.com/20090910/the-future-of-windows-phones-and-windows-mobile/

Windows XP Mode is specially designed for small and medium-sized businesses to help ease the migration process to Windows 7 by providing additional compatibility for their older productivity applications. The newly updated Windows XP Mode now works with the RC and RTM versions of the Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate and Enterprise SKUs. For all up guidance on Windows 7 Migration, please go to the this Windows XP to Windows 7 Migration resource on TechNet.

In most cases, we recommend running applications natively in Windows 7 as many applications that currently run on Windows XP-based or Windows Vista-based PCs should just run natively on Windows 7. Windows XP Mode provides what some like to call “last mile” compatibility, where its clear that an application isn’t compatible with Windows 7 and is likely never to be. In this case, this technology enables users to run Windows XP applications in Windows XP Mode directly and seamlessly from a Windows 7 desktop.

You can download the Release Candidate from the following location: Windows XP Mode Release Candidate

Below is a list of some useful downloads that i found this week.

Update for Windows® XP SP3 to enable RemoteApp –
This package lets you to run many Windows XP productivity applications from a Windows 7-based PC using Windows Virtual PC. This patch needs to be installed in your Windows XP SP3 virtual machine.

Download – http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=e5433d88-685f-4036-b435-570ff53598cd

Windows Server 2008 R2 Documentation & Resources –
Want to know more about Windows Server 2008 R2? Learn more here with access to Whitepapers, Datasheets, ppts and other resources.

Download – http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=079eb880-6e15-4381-9edf-53cfaff3ab02

Microsoft FTP Service 7.5 for IIS 7.0 –
Microsoft FTP Service 7.5 for IIS 7.0 helps you enable powerful publishing capabilities for your Web environment.

Download – http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=ffb7c167-279e-48d3-8169-dea85784c4d1

It looks like there won’t be a browserless version of Windows 7, after all.

Microsoft said late Friday that it won’t ship the Windows 7 "E" version of Windows even though Europe has yet to sign off on its revised plan. The plan calls for the company to ship Windows 7 with Internet Explorer, but present a ballot screen in which users in Europe can decide whether they want Internet Explorer or another browser.

The software maker had originally proposed shipping Windows 7 in Europe without a browser at all–the so-called "E" version of the operating system. However, European regulators indicated that might not satisfy its concerns.

Full Article – http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10301299-56.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-5

Microsoft is to launch an online TV player in the UK next week, initially featuring 350 hours of BBC and ITV television programmes.

The ad-supported service, called MSN Video Player, is designed to complement TV channels’ existing online video services by offering older programmes no longer available on the BBC’s iPlayer or Channel 4’s 4oD, Microsoft said on Thursday.

Content will include BBC programmes including Hustle, The League of Gentlemen, Mock the Week, Hotel Babylon, Dead Ringers, That Mitchell and Webb Look and Jack Dee Live at the Apollo, as well as content from All3Media, the producer of How to Look Good Naked, 10 Years Younger, Peep Show and Midsomer Murders, Microsoft said.

Full Article – http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39700492,00.htm

If you haven’t received the official email, from Microsoft. Take a look below.

It’s almost here! We’re very happy to tell you that we’ve hit the last big milestone on the way to Windows 7: Release to Manufacturing. We’re packaging copies and manufacturers are putting it on new PCs. On October 22, you’ll be able to get the final shipping product. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done; you helped make this an operating system we’re all going to enjoy.
Don’t miss the good stuff. With the final release rapidly approaching, make sure you learn about special offers and other news including details about launch events in your area. A great way to keep up with what’s going on is to sign up for one of our free newsletters. Not only will you get the scoop on the Windows 7 launch, you’ll get useful news throughout the year.

-If you’re interested in general Windows topics, Exploring Windows is the best choice.

-Want technical guidance and resources? Sign up to be a Springboard Series Insider.

-Developer? Get MSDN Flash.

Meanwhile, RC’s downloads are still available. You can get the release candidate download until August 20, 2009. After that, you won’t be able to get the download, but if you have the software, you can still install the RC and get a key if you need one. (Keys will be available till March 2010. To get a key, just go to the Downloads page and follow the instructions.)
We’re listening. Tell us what you think. If you’re using Windows 7 Release Candidate, please go http://input.microsoft.com and tell us what you think. You’ll be able to give feedback on various aspects of the operating system.
Got the RC and need help? Experts on the Windows 7 Forum can help answer your questions. The forum also gives you a way to share what you’ve learned with other people.
Essential resources

-The Installation Instructions give you the info you need to get started.

-To get more information about Windows 7, such as feature descriptions, visit the Windows 7 website.

-Looking for technical help or information? Here are a few sources:

-The Windows 7 online forums are a great place to start.

-You can keep up to date on news about Windows 7 on the team blog.

-Find essential "getting ready" info at Microsoft Answers.

Thanks again for your investment in Windows 7.
The Windows 7 Team

Microsoft Wave is a new portal that shows the breadth of new technology that the company is involved in.

There are sections on :

• Hardware – Mediaroom, Surface & Xbox 360
• Software – Online services, Worldwide Telescope and Gaming
• Some key technology blogs
• Tools for learning more about Microsoft products
• Some of the latest videos

Website – http://www.microsoft.com/uk/wave/home.aspx

Almost exactly two years ago, I wrote about “Microsoft’s licensing mess.” Judging by my mailbag, nothing has changed in the meantime. Microsoft has done an exceptional job of designing Windows 7, but a terrible job of communicating how it will be sold. As Microsoft dribbles out details of the Windows 7 release schedule and product lineup, including pricing and upgrade offers, I’ve been deluged with questions from readers about whether they qualify for a Windows 7 upgrade and, if so, what’s the simplest, most cost-effective way to acquire it.

Before I dive into the Q&A section, it’s worth taking a second to clear up the source of much of the confusion I’m encountering. In the often bewildering world of Windows licensing, the word upgrade has two separate and distinct meanings. The first refers to the license that you purchase, which in turn allows you to run Windows on a specific PC. The second refers to a mode of setup, where you keep installed programs and personal data files while replacing the underlying operating system.

Full Article – http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=1184

Microsoft research has released a new tool, aiming to get people interesting in learning to program. The program is capable of creating games that can run on both the PC and XBox.

“Kodu is a new visual programming language made specifically for creating games. It is designed to be accessible for children and enjoyable for anyone. The programming environment runs on the Xbox, allowing rapid design iteration using only a game controller for input.”

Website – http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/kodu/