Archive for January, 2009
E7: Showcasing Windows 7 Platform with Applets
This blog post discusses some of the platform innovations in Windows 7 and how Windows 7 applications have adopted and showcased these innovations. This post details some of the platform features that developers and partners can expect in Windows 7 and how Windows 7 programs have showcased these innovations. This post also discusses how applications have been given a facelift both in terms of their functionality as well as their user experience by focusing on key Windows design principles and platform innovations. Finally, this post can serve as a pointer or guide to application developers and ISVs to get themselves familiar with some of the key new Windows platform innovations, see them in action and then figure out how they can build on these APIs for their own software.
Read more about it at the Engineering Windows 7 blog
January, 2009 Update for Windows Home Server
Today the Windows Home Server team is releasing a small update to the product. The update improves the capability of Windows Home Server to repair abnormalities detected in the home computer backup database. The update should be automatically downloaded and installed on your home server over the next several days, if you have Windows Update turned on. You can check if you have Windows Update turned on, by opening the Windows Home Server Console - Settings - General page.
The Knowledge Base article (#958926) for this update will be posted shortly at this link.
Source- Windows Home Server Team Blog
WSUS 3.0 SP2 beta now available
Today the WSUS product group launched the WSUS 3.0 Service Pack 2 beta program over on our Connect site so if you want to get a head start on testing and evaluating this Service Pack then you’ll want to make your way over there and download a copy today. WSUS 3.0 Service Pack 2 addresses a number of product features and fixes and includes the addition of support for Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7. Just remember that you have to be a registered Connect user and logged in or you won’t see the download being available.
The official Connect site where you can read the documentation and download your own copy of the beta is here:
http://connect.microsoft.com/site/sitehome.aspx?SiteID=110
The WSUS product team blog also has a nice write-up detailing our new OS support, feature improvements and fixes in the SP here:
Source- Technet Blog
Hotmail adds POP3
If you live in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, Japan, Spain, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands then you have a new way to get your Hotmail on your mobile phone: via POP3. The POP3 protocol is a standard email protocol that lets you retrieve email messages from a server and deliver them to your designated program. With this functionality in place, you can easily add Hotmail to your Windows Mobile phone, iPhone, or BlackBerry.
Here’s the technical information you need to know:
POP server: pop3.live.com (Port 995)
POP SSL required? Yes
User name: Your Windows Live ID, for example yourname@hotmail.com
Password: The password you usually use to sign in to Hotmail or Windows Live
SMTP server: smtp.live.com (Port 25)
Authentication required? Yes (this matches your POP username and password)
TLS/SSL required? Yes
If you don’t live in one of the regions specified, the Hotmail team says not too worry – they will be rolling out POP3 to other parts of the world later this year.
Of course, you can still access your mail on your mobile from mobile.live.com or by using Windows Live on your Windows Mobile phone. And on your desktop, you can check Hotmail using Windows Live Mail (which uses IMAP as the default) or Microsoft Office Outlook via the Outlook Connector.
Source- Channel 10
Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Release Notes
These documents contain important information that you should know before you deploy and use Office Communications Server 2007 R2 and Office Communications Server 2007 R2 clients. The following files are available for download:
- Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 R2 Release Notes (Office_Communications_Server_2007_R2_Relnotes.htm)
- Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 R2 Release Notes (Office_Communicator_2007_R2_Relnotes.htm)
- Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Attendant Release Notes (Office_Communications_Server_2007_R2_Attendant_Relnotes.htm)
- Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Group Chat Release Notes (Office_Communications_Server_2007_R2_Group_Chat_Relnotes.htm)
- Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 R2 Phone Edition Release Notes (Office_Communicator_2007_R2_Phone_Edition_Relnotes.htm) Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile for Windows Mobile Release Notes (Office_Communicator_Mobile_for_Windows_Mobile_Relnotes.htm)
Download here
Exclusive Internet Explorer 8 RC1 screenshots
We have mentioned in the previous post that Internet Explorer 8 RC1 is available for download though the links were removed pretty fast from the official Microsoft Download site,still we were able to download the first public copy of Internet Explorer 8 RC1 .
Here are the first exclusive IE 8 RC1 screenshots
Windows Internet Explorer 8 RC1 Released
Internet Explorer 8 RC1 has just been launched, bringing significant improvements in its performance, stability and compatibility with standards, as well as the necessary security updates, monitoring and data protection.The new browser is faster with greater facilities like highlighting the Smart Address Bar that allows more easy location of sites with potential interest to the user, depending on their history of use and content match.
The following are changes since Beta 2 that will appear in the IE8 RC1
- The Developer Tools now has a menu option to let the user choose the view source app.
- Check box added in Tools->Compatibility View Settings to receive updates from Microsoft
- A new option allows users to put as many items on the Favorites bar as they want. The size of Links bar items can now be set to long (default), short (5 characters), or simply the favicon.
- New InPrivate Blocking button on the status bar. This can be pressed to turn InPrivate Blocking on and off.
- InPrivate Subscriptions have been removed.
- The "Add to the top of the list" option now works
- Add-ons are now disabled while in InPrivate Browsing
Here is what the IE 8 RC1 download page reads
Internet Explorer 8 is the latest version of the familiar web browser you are most comfortable using, helping you get everything you want from the web faster, easier, more privately and securely than ever before.
- Faster Internet Explorer 8 is more responsive with new pages and tabs, opening up fast and reliably. You can now get to the information you care about most, in fewer steps; one click access to your webmail, favorite news sites or other online services.
- Easier Reduce the steps to accomplish many common tasks, and automate your access to real time information updates. You can keep track of your favorite sports team, news, weather with a single click.
- More Private Helps protect your privacy and confidential information where ever you go on the web.
- More Secure Helps protect and stop malicious software from reaching your PC, and makes it easier to detect when a website is an imposter.
Support for IE8 RC1 can be received by visiting the Internet Explorer Beta Newsgroup to discuss issues, or by contacting Customer Support Services.
If you use a screen reader, please consult the Internet Explorer 8 Release Candidate 1 release notes before downloading.
Download Links
Download Internet Explorer 8 Release Candidate 1 Release Notes
Update: It seems Microsoft has removed the links for the time being though I was able to get the direct download link.Here is the download link to the IE 8 RC1 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
Halo Wars Gone Gold
Microsoft Game Studios and Ensemble Studios announced today that “Halo Wars,” the highly anticipated action strategy game based on the legendary “Halo” universe, is finished and sent to manufacturing! Created from the ground up for the Xbox 360 console and controller, “Halo Wars” combines a peerless control scheme and gameplay with an incredibly rich, epic story set 20 years prior to the story told in “Halo: Combat Evolved”. The result is a commanding experience that is a must-have for “Halo” fans and a title that is sure to become a classic amongst fans of strategy games.
As fans eagerly await launch day, a video documentary series announced today will explore defining themes of “Halo Wars” and give viewers a behind the scenes look at the game’s development and some of the people involved in its creation. The premier episode captures key elements that frame “Halo Wars” gameplay: the controls, perspective and strategy. The “Halo Wars” video documentary is available for download on Xbox LIVE and can be viewed at Xbox.com/Halo.
In addition, the recently announced Xbox LIVE public demo for “Halo Wars” will be available beginning on Feb. 5 at 2 a.m. PST in Xbox LIVE enabled regions worldwide. In the demo, players will be able master Ensemble’s groundbreaking control scheme in optional beginner and advanced tutorials or jump right into the action to experience the beginning of the “Halo Wars” story with the first two campaign missions. The demo will also include “Chasms,” one of “Halo Wars’” 14 multiplayer maps, wherein players can battle it out in Skirmish mode vs. A.I., playing either as the UNSC with Captain Cutter’s leader powers, or as the Covenant with the Prophet of Regret’s own unique abilities. Don’t forget to set your Xbox to download this demo!
Source- Halo Wars
