Microsoft takes the wraps off Storage Server ‘Breckenridge

On November 8, Microsoft took the wraps off a new version of Windows Storage Server, which seems to be is the product codenamed “Breckenridge.”

Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials, like its Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 sibling, is a platform for network-attached storage appliances. The difference is Storage Server Essentials is aimed at small businesses (up to 25 users) — companies which may or may not have dedicated IT pros on staff.

Link – http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-takes-the-wraps-off-storage-server-breckenridge/7921

More on Microsoft Hyper-V Cloud

Using the infrastructure as a service model, the Microsoft solution for private cloud, built on Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V and System Center, is a key part of Microsoft’s approach to cloud computing, enabling you to build out a dedicated cloud environment to transform the way your deliver IT services to the business.

Deploying Microsoft’s private cloud infrastructure also positions you to take advantage of the Windows Azure public cloud platform through powerful identity, development, and management tools. These tools span across private and public cloud environments so that you can more easily build, migrate, or extend out to the public cloud and benefit from virtually unlimited scale and even greater efficiencies whenever you need it.

Link – Microsoft Private Cloud

“Private Cloud” Takes Center Stage at Microsoft Tech•Ed Europe 2010

BERLIN — Nov. 8, 2010 — Less than two weeks after announcing major updates to Windows Azure at the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference, Microsoft Corp. again demonstrated the breadth of its vision for cloud computing today when it unveiled Hyper-V Cloud, a set of programs and offerings that makes it easier for businesses to build their own private cloud infrastructures using the Windows Server platform. Dell Inc.

Link – http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2010/nov10/11-08MSTEEPR.mspx?rss_fdn=Press%20Releases

“Private Cloud” Takes Center Stage at Microsoft Tech•Ed Europe 2010

BERLIN — Nov. 8, 2010 — Less than two weeks after announcing major updates to Windows Azure at the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference, Microsoft Corp. again demonstrated the breadth of its vision for cloud computing today when it unveiled Hyper-V Cloud, a set of programs and offerings that makes it easier for businesses to build their own private cloud infrastructures using the Windows Server platform. Dell Inc.

Link – http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2010/nov10/11-08MSTEEPR.mspx?rss_fdn=Press%20Releases

Microsoft Visual Studio Team Explorer Everywhere 2010 SP1 Beta 1

Download the beta version of Microsoft Visual Studio Team Explorer Everywhere 2010 SP1, the Eclipse plug-in and cross-platform command-line client for Visual Studio 2010 Team Foundation Server. This beta version of Team Explorer Everywhere can also function as a 90 day evaluation of the product. See Instructions below for further details.

Link – http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=4449babd-1dc8-40e3-9e27-2b743a4a173c

Use Hotmail features without changing your email address

If you’ve been reading this blog for the last few months, you’ve seen lots of new features added to Hotmail that make Hotmail more efficient, like Sweep or the ability to send up to 10GB of photos in one message. Some of you sent feedback asking if there’s a way to use these features without the hassle of getting a brand new email address.

Link – http://windowsteamblog.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2010/11/01/use-hotmail-features-without-changing-your-email-address.aspx

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 – PowerPivot for Microsoft Excel 2010 – RTM

Microsoft® PowerPivot for Microsoft® Excel 2010 provides ground-breaking technology, such as fast manipulation of large data sets (often millions of rows), streamlined integration of data, and the ability to effortlessly share your analysis through Microsoft® SharePoint 2010.

Link – http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=e081c894-e4ab-42df-8c87-4b99c1f3c49b

Windows 7 & Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Release Candidate

Microsoft announced the Release Candidate (RC) of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) to the public.  This RC signals the last public beta build to be released prior to the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) final release.  As previously announced, the only new features added to the SP1 are the Windows Server 2008 R2-related virtualization technologies, Dynamic Memory and RemoteFX – please see the Windows Server Division Weblog for more details. These features will help customers who choose to deploy Windows through Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) by enabling a more scalable and rich user experience.

While Windows 7 SP1 will enable PCs to take advantage of these server-based features to provide a more scalable and richer VDI experience for end users, there are no additional new features specific to Windows 7.

You can download the RC of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 by clicking here.

Windows 7 & Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Release Candidate

Microsoft announced the Release Candidate (RC) of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) to the public.  This RC signals the last public beta build to be released prior to the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) final release.  As previously announced, the only new features added to the SP1 are the Windows Server 2008 R2-related virtualization technologies, Dynamic Memory and RemoteFX – please see the Windows Server Division Weblog for more details. These features will help customers who choose to deploy Windows through Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) by enabling a more scalable and rich user experience.

While Windows 7 SP1 will enable PCs to take advantage of these server-based features to provide a more scalable and richer VDI experience for end users, there are no additional new features specific to Windows 7.

You can download the RC of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 by clicking here.

Some details about the upcoming Hotmail full-session SSL feature

By now you should all have the latest Hotmail update announced back in September 2010. As we mentioned last week, unfortunately the long-awaited full-session SSL (or HTTPS) feature did not make the cut in this update. We know that this feature will be coming quite soon – and we’ve been seeing this option in some of the internal testing sites:

Link – http://www.liveside.net/2010/10/25/some-details-about-the-upcoming-hotmail-full-session-ssl-feature/

The new Messenger for Mac 8 with Video Chat

Today Messenger for Mac 8 came out of beta! It will be available (soon) as part of the Office for Mac 2011 suite, and is also available as a free standalone download.

Link – http://windowsteamblog.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2010/10/25/the-new-messenger-for-mac-8-with-video-chat-is-now-out-of-beta.aspx

Graphical user interface (GUI) enhancements in Exchange 2010 SP1

SP1 whets the appetite of administrators who want to use Exchange Management Console (EMC) and Exchange Control Panel (ECP) to administer various features. More and more features are exposed in the EMC and ECP, helping Exchange Administrators to manage their Exchange 2010 infrastructure.

Exchange 2010 SP1 brings a long list of improvements. This blog focuses mostly on the GUI enhancements both in EMC and ECP.

Link – http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2010/10/21/456702.aspx

Windows Phone Developer Tools updated

The Windows Phone Developer Tools just received an update.

The October 2010 Update includes:

  • Windows Phone Capability Detection Tool – Detects the phone capabilities used by your application. When you submit your application to Windows Phone Marketplace , Microsoft performs a code analysis to detect the phone capabilities required by your application and then replaces the list of capabilities in the application manifest with the result of this detection process. This tool performs the same detection process and allows you to test your application using the same list of phone capabilities generated during the certification process. For more information, see How to: Use the Capability Detection Tool.
  • Windows Phone Connect Tool – Allows you to connect your phone to a PC when Zune® software is not running and debug applications that use media APIs. For more information, see How to: Use the Connect Tool.
  • Updated Bing Maps Silverlight Control – Includes improvements to gesture performance when using Bingâ„¢ Maps Silverlight® Control.

Supported Operating systems are Windows 7 and Windows Vista. Before you can install this update you must have the RTM version of the tools installed.

Download

Microsoft Brings Games on Demand to the Web With New PC Game Store

REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 22, 2010 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the Games for Windows Marketplace, a new online PC games store that combines the convenience of the Web with the power of Games on Demand online distribution. Launching Nov. 15, the Games for Windows Marketplace will offer PC gamers a robust lineup of games they love, easier navigation and purchase, and recurring specials such as Deal of the Week.

Link  – http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2010/oct10/10-22msgamesforwindowsmarketplacepr.mspx

Microsoft starts moving more of its own services onto Windows Azure

Up until recently, relatively few of Microsoft own products or services were running on the company’s Windows Azure operating system.

Some of Live Mesh was on it. The Holm energy-tracking app was an Azure-hosted service. Pieces of its HealthVault solution were on Azure. But Hotmail, CRM Online, the Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS) of hosted enterprise apps? Nope, nope and nope.

Link – http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-starts-moving-more-of-its-own-services-onto-windows-azure/7699

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →