Microsoft’s New SideWinder X6 Keyboard released
Today at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany, Microsoft Hardware debuted the SideWinder X6 Keyboard — the most versatile gaming keyboard on the market with the first-ever switchable key pad that can be attached to the left or right side of the keyboard for ultimate flexibility. To round out the SideWinder line, the Hardware team is also announcing the SideWinder X5 Mouse, a fast, powerful gaming mouse designed to give mainstream gamers a competitive edge.
The switchable key pad makes the SideWinder X6 Keyboard ideal for gaming as well as productivity, as the key pad functions as a standard num pad in normal keyboard mode, but becomes a programmable macro pad in game mode. Complementing the unique versatility of the keyboard are features specifically designed for gaming, including the capacity to store up to 90 macros per game and backlighting that helps users get immersed in the game.
“We know that consumers don’t want to pull out and set up a second keyboard for a gaming session, so we created a device that was perfect for both gaming and regular computer use,” said Kevin Flick, user researcher for Microsoft Hardware. “With the switchable key pad, gamers will have a fantastic, customizable experience whether they’re playing their favorite game or creating Microsoft Office PowerPoint presentations.”
Source- Microsoft Press Release
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Live Mesh Tech Preview expanded to Canada,India and Ireland
Today the live mesh team has extended the reach of the Live Mesh Tech Preview to include Canada, India and Ireland (although you still need to run with an English locale.) This adds to existing availability in the USA, UK, Australia and New Zealand.
You may have missed our expansion in to the UK back on July 30th so if you haven’t got yourself on Live Mesh, now is the time. You simply head over to www.mesh.com to sign up and pretty soon you’ll by synching up to 5gb between your devices. That device list will soon include Mac’s & Windows Mobile and with peer 2 peer synching, you’re not limited to 5gb.
As Amit Mital says on the Mesh blog, the experience you see today with Live Mesh really is just tip of the iceberg! To see what it’s capable of check out the Channel 9 videos and if you can, come to the PDC.
source- MSDN Blog
Microsoft Office for Mac Updated
Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.2 Update
This update contains several improvements to enhance stability and performance. In addition, this update includes fixes for vulnerabilities that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer’s memory with malicious code.
Download here
Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.5.1 Update
This update contains several improvements to enhance stability and performance. In addition, this update includes fixes for vulnerabilities that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer’s memory with malicious code.
New Community Technology Preview (CTP) for Windows Embedded Standard (XPE)
The Windows Embedded Standard team (previously known as Windows XP Embedded) have been busy working on an updated Community Technology Preview (CTP) of Windows Embedded Standard (WES) - the CTP can be downloaded from the Microsoft Connect Site.
The CTP Refresh includes an improved setup experience and migration support from previous versions of Windows XP Embedded. Additionally, it now includes .NET 3.5, additional device drivers, System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) Client Prereq Macro, and various other updates based on direct customer feedback.
Today we also posted a CTP of Service Pack 3 (SP3) for Windows XP Embedded. This is a rollup of hot fixes and security updates Microsoft has released since the RTM of Service Pack 2. SP3 also includes select out-of-band features and enhancements. SP3 provides a new baseline for customers deploying Windows XP Embedded.
Source- MSDN Blog
Office for Mac: A Suite Deal on Student Productivity Tools
Office 2008 for Mac is available for up to 30 percent off with the purchase of any Mac at Apple resellers now through Sept. 8, 2008. A full list of participating Apple resellers is available by going to http://www.microsoft.com/mac/promotions/default.mspx and clicking on a “Save Now” link. In addition, many schools have volume licensing agreements with Microsoft Corp. and are able to provide discounted licenses of Microsoft software for student use. To learn more about academic pricing and software availability, students should contact their school’s bookstore or visit http://www.microsoft.com/education/howtobuystudents.mspx for special pricing.
Source- Microsoft Press Release
Microsoft Virtualization Launch
If you’re virtualizing your data center then the Virtualization Launch will be of great interest to you!!!!
Currently, the launch will take place on September 8th, 2008 in Bellevue, WA. However, there should be additional events around the US to be announced shortly! So if you’re in the Seattle area sign-up for the launch NOW as space is limited!!!! If you’re not in Seattle, once I know what other cities will have launch events I’ll post it here!!
(Are virtualizing and virtualization real words? If so, why do they fail in spell check? J )
Here’s some of the information from the getVIRTUALnow site:
On September 8th, 2008 Microsoft will launch its new virtualization products. Now you can virtualize from the data center to the desktop, and manage with the same tools you’re already using for your physical infrastructure.
Find out how Windows Server 2008® with Hyper-V™, Microsoft System Center - including Virtual Machine Manager 2008 - and Microsoft Desktop and Application Virtualization allow you to deploy, manage and get VIRTUAL now like never before.
- Learn about Microsoft’s virtualization strategy and roadmap from Bob Muglia, Senior Vice President, Server and Tools Business; Kevin Turner, Chief Operating Officer, Microsoft Corporation; Bob Kelly, Corporate Vice President, Infrastructure Server Marketing, Microsoft Corporation.
- Hear from customers who have deployed Microsoft Virtualization products
- Get a free Microsoft Virtualization evaluation software kit*
- Visit the exhibit hall and test-drive the latest hardware and software solutions for a virtual environment from Microsoft and its partners.
- Take a technical deep dive by attending one of the conference sessions or hands-on labs.
- Network with your peers at the attendee luncheon and closing reception
Source- Technet Blog
Demo: Instant Search in Windows Vista
A lot of times when the Product Team is showing off Windows Vista, the crowd is pretty impressed by all of the useful features we built into the OS. Most of these are things that will make day-to-day work quicker or easier - especially for those of us office drones. But many of our users just don’t know they exist. So we figured, why not show you some of our favorite features?
Over the next week or so, our own Esther Choi from Windows Vista Product Management will be hosting a series of short videos that don’t just cover what these features are, but also how and when to use them. We hope to make videos from the Windows Vista Product Management Team a regular thing, so let us know what you think by leaving a comment…and what you want to hear more about!
Today we’re kicking off with Instant Search, which is really cool in Windows Vista. Finding stuff can be a big pain, but the search capabilities built directly into the OS help me locate the documents, music files, photos, emails and whatever else you’re looking for quickly.
Video: Windows Vista Demo: Instant Search
Source- Windows Vista Blog
Windows ‘Mojave’ Video Posts
Last week we showed a video of the Mojave Experiment to a small group of folks here on campus. Today we are excited to share the results with the public.
For those new to the Mojave Experiment, it’s a focus group effort we initiated a few weeks ago. We interviewed and polled 120 participants in San Francisco, in hopes of better understanding everyday users’ perceptions of Windows Vista and seeing whether there really is a gap between perception and reality. We wanted to see how people reacted to Windows Vista when they were not aware they were seeing Windows Vista. We recorded our discussions, and today you can see them for yourself.
Some other facts about the research:
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The focus group took place over three days in San Francisco and was conducted earlier this month.
- All participants were either Mac, Linux, or users of versions of Windows that came before Windows Vista. Respondents were chosen from the focus group organizer’s database, called at random, but then selected based on having a low perception of Vista (<5 rating on a scale of 1-10).
- The participants were given a demo by a trained retail salesperson - geared towards the experiences they seemed most interested in following a series of interviews. While the retail salesperson drove the demo, it was geared by the interests and direction of the participant.
- We did not use some geeked out or custom built PC. We used an HP Pavilion DV2500. It had 2GB of RAM and was running an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU T7500 @ 2.20GHz. The OS was a 32 bit version of Windows Vista Ultimate.
- Of the 120 respondents polled, on a scale of 1:10 where 10 was the highest rating, the average pre-rating for Windows Vista was 4.4. After they saw the demo, respondents rated Mojave an average of 8.5.
Finally, some people have asked if Mojave is the big marketing project we’re working on - it’s not. The Mojave Experiment is just that: an experiment we conducted on the fly that yielded interesting results. We’re publishing the video today because we think you’ll also find it interesting.
Source- WindowsVistaBlog
