Live Mesh Service update: Beta and required client upgrade
Whooooo boy, today is a big day for Live Mesh. We are about to begin rolling out an update which brings our service and PC software to beta with significant new features, and includes the first technology previews of the Mac and Windows Mobile clients. Details below. We blogged on Tuesday about how the combination of this platform experience beta, the additional devices, and the CTP of Live Services and the Live Framework are significant milestones on the path to bringing our software + services vision to life.
As we noted previously, users of the Technology Preview version will find that their clients must update to this latest version in order to continue participating in Live Mesh . We will update the blog here when the rollout of services is complete and the new client software is available.
New features:
· New devices supported. We are delighted to release our client software for Mac OS X (10.5.1 or higher) and Windows Mobile (6.0 and 6.1). Because these are both significant new software investments for us, we’re going to only provide them on a limited basis for now (and mobile is restricted to only US or UK to start.) If you get a message saying that we’re at full capacity for these clients, keep an eye on the blog here. We’ll post updates as we increase availability over the coming months.
· To get access to the Mac client, sign in to www.mesh.com, click Add Device, and then click the “Limited Mac Tech Preview now available” link underneath the Install button. If we haven’t exceeded the limit for Mac clients, you’ll get a confirmation dialog, and then Mac will show up under the available list of devices when you choose Add Device from the ring.
· To get access to the Windows Mobile 6.x client, click on one of the following links (US residents, UK residents). Sign in with your LiveID, and you’ll be redirected to the device ring where you’ll see a link to “Use Live Mesh for mobile devices.” Alternately, once you’ve signed in this way, the mobile client should be available for download by pointing your phone’s browser to http://m.mesh.com
· Worldwide availability. We’ve removed the limits on what countries are able to sign up to use Live Mesh. We previously had limitations in place so that we could complete our testing with various language and locale settings, and now that work is indeed complete (with the caveat of course that for now the mobile client, as mentioned above, is not actually available worldwide).
· WAP access. Some of you already discovered that browsing http://m.mesh.com from your WAP-enabled phone gives you a lightweight way to view Mesh content (and, on phones that support it, upload new files.) We’re now making WAP an officially supported feature.
· Folder roles/permissions. Members of a folder can now be assigned one of the following roles to control their access rights: creator, owner, contributor, and reader. Previously, the only permission level (aka “role”) you could set for a member was “owner,” which meant that all members had the same control over the contents of a folder (adding, changing, deleting) as you did. Now, you can assign specific permissions for each member in a Live Mesh folder. Want members to be able to read what’s in a folder, but not change any content? Make them readers. Want them to be able to add to the folder, but not invite other users? Make them contributors.
· Automatic update is now available for the Live Mesh software. This has been a common user request, and we’re taking a first step towards making it possible for your Mesh client software to update itself automatically, without you having to click on any links. In this Beta release, automatic update works like magic if you chose not to install the extra enhancements that required administrator rights. If you did install them, we still have to prompt you to update so that you can click through the UAC elevation prompt and give us permission to update administrative components. We will continue to work on streamlining this process for you in future releases.
· P2P sync can be managed from your computer. When we first enabled P2P sync, you had to go to the Live Desktop to change the sync settings for a folder so that it would no longer synchronize with your Live Desktop and eat up your 5 GB storage limit. We heard from many customers that this was not very intuitive (and we agree: it wasn’t). Now you can change this sync setting from the Live Mesh software on your computer, without having to visit the Live Desktop at all.
· You can drag and drop files to folders on your Live Desktop. One of the most frequently requested features since we opened Live Mesh as a technology preview in April has been the ability to drag and drop files and folders to and from your Live Desktop. We’re extremely happy to be able to say: You can do this now! This makes the Live Desktop experience much more intuitive and even more aligned with Windows. Note that the drag-and-drop feature currently only works with a Windows PC and Internet Explorer 6 or later.
· You can select multiple files for upload or download. In addition to drag-and-drop, you can now use SHIFT and CTRL to select multiple files/folders when uploading them to your Live Desktop.
· Added new synchronization status indicators. If you’ve been using Live Mesh to sync a lot of data, you’ve probably found yourself wondering at some point how far along the synchronization process was. We’ve added an icon to the notification area of the taskbar and a progress bar so that you can tell at a glance how your folder sync is coming.
· “Get started” feature added for new users. Quick tips on how to start using Live Mesh appear on the Live Desktop and when new users install the Live Mesh software. Great for friends and family you invite!
Additional improvements:
· Improved peer-to-peer (P2P) reliability and performance. P2P synchronization is an integral part of how Live Mesh keeps your data current across all your devices. Most of the time, P2P sync happens in the background without you having to worry about it. When Live Mesh tries to update a file on one of your devices, it will leverage whatever connections it can, sometimes pulling from your Live Desktop (the “cloud”), other times pulling from your other devices. You can also choose to have some folders only sync P2P by choosing to never synchronize those folders with your Live Desktop. We have made numerous improvements to P2P sync with this release of Live Mesh. We’re now regularly testing synchronization of folders as large as 60GB, and we’ve also had success synching a single file as large as 20GB.
· Hidden remote screen is now the default for Live Mesh Remote Desktop. We heard feedback from many customers that they’d like to see this feature turned on by default to help ensure the privacy of their remote desktop feature.
· Improved conflict resolution. The user interface (UI) for resolving conflicts has been updated to be easier to use. You’ll also now see the same conflict resolution UI between the Live Mesh software on your device and the Live Desktop on the web. And, when resolving a conflict, you’ll be able to choose keep either version of a file or all versions.
· The Live Mesh bar appears minimized by default, and remembers its previous state. When you create a new Live Mesh folder, the mesh bar (appears when you open a Live Mesh folder) will now appear minimized by default. The mesh bar will also remember the last state it was in (minimized or maximized) for each Live Mesh folder, and show that state the next time you open the folder.
· Better support for large display configurations using Live Mesh Remote Desktop. We’ve added a new “superpan” feature to improve support for large desktop display configurations (e.g., high-resolution displays or multiple monitors).
· Added support for two-factor authentication for Live Mesh Remote Desktop. Enterprise customers can now require two-factor authentication (both domain password and smartcard) for Live Mesh Remote Desktop on networks, or choose to disable the Live Mesh Remote Desktop functionality altogether.
· Install Live Mesh with roaming profiles. The Live Mesh client now supports installing to a user account with roaming profiles. Previously users may have noticed an inability to sync or remotely access devices that use roaming profiles.
Source- Live Mesh Blog
Windows Mobile Developer Portal Refresh
The Windows Mobile Developer Portal (and team blog) has a fresh new design, brand new content, and a new attitude.
Check it out and provide us some feedback!
http://developer.windowsmobile.com
Source- MSDN Blog
Microsoft confirms Zune coming to Windows Mobile devices
It has been long rumoured that Microsoft would introduce Zune software onto the Windows Mobile operating system.
In an interview with CIO magazine Steve Ballmer confirms that Microsoft is looking to port the software to Windows Mobile devices.
When questioned why Microsoft developed the zune, Ballmer replied:
"At the end of the day, one of the big trends is that all content is going digital. And if we don’t have the software and services that are useful, helpful and valuable for the consumption of music and video, we are sort of not really a player.
Now, we built the Zune hardware with the Zune software - and what you’ll see more and more over time is that the Zune software will also be ported to and be more important not just with the hardware but on the PC, on Windows Mobile devices, etc."
This is the strongest indication that Microsoft will be porting the software. We’re not sure when exactly but you can bet that Windows Mobile 7 will have it included.
Source- Neowin
Announcing: Virtual Earth 6.2 and Virtual Earth Web Services 1.0
If you follow Microsoft Virtual Earth I’m sure you’ve picked up some blog posts that posted some of the features for this release, but those posts mysteriously disappeared. Information leaked out and you wondered, "Was that real?" Well, finally the definitive source on the new Virtual Earth Web Service and the new Virtual Earth Map Control 6.2 I deliver to you. If you want to skip the descriptor and just get coding you’ll be happy to know the Virtual Earth AJAX Control SDK on MSDN, as well as, the Virtual Earth AJAX Control SDK on MSDN, as well as, the Virtual Earth Interactive SDK have both been updated.
Users can now build mobile applications with Virtual Earth, which offers more features and enhancements to support mobile platforms such as, Windows Mobile, RIM Blackberry and Apple iPhone. Rich imagery creates immersive mobile end-user experiences that bring location-based information to life.
Source: MSDN Blogs
Windows Mobile 7 release delayed
According to Cnet News.com Microsoft has been informing its partners that it will be delaying Windows Mobile 7 to the second half of next year.
Windows Mobile 7 was widely expected to be released to device partners and operators early next year. The delay could severely set back sales of Windows Mobile devices as Apple’s iPhone sales grow stronger and Google’s G1 android device looks to make an impact in the smartphone market.
Earlier this year news leaked about multi touch, motion gestures and a new UI for Windows Mobile 7 pictured below which drew huge excitement from Windows Mobile and smartphone fans. 
Despite HTC updating Windows Mobile with the touchflo interface and Samsung introducing its own interface on top of Windows Mobile the operating system still requires an overhaul to bring it in line with touch based devices. Here’s hoping that Microsoft get Windows Mobile 7 out as soon as possible as we are all looking forward to it.
Microsoft has not commented publicly on the news.
View: Windows Mobile
Source- Neowin
Microsoft Tears Down the Walls for a Better View
For the past two weeks, millions of people have watched the series of Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld television ads with the Windows logo at the end and wondered: “What’s next?”
Today, Microsoft answers that question with the next phase of a multi-year, multi-million dollar Windows marketing effort designed to reconnect with consumers. And tonight, the Bill-and-Jerry “teaser” ads give way to a new series of television ads that celebrate the diversity and passion of consumers around the world who use Windows to stay in touch with the people, information and ideas that they care about.
The new ads are just a part of this major Windows marketing initiative, all designed around connecting with consumers in meaningful ways throughout their Windows experience – whether buying a PC, using a Windows Mobile device, or living life on the Web.
“Windows is truly the shared language of creativity and connection for more than one billion people,” says Bill Veghte, Senior Vice President, Online Services & Windows Business Group. “It’s a vibrant community of individuals who are passionate about how Windows helps them express their ideas and live life on their own terms. Starting today, we want to reflect the passion and excitement of this community in how we tell the story of the Windows brand.”
Tearing Down Walls
Microsoft signaled the next phase of the Windows brand campaign with full-page newspaper ads carrying the headline: “Windows vs. Walls”. The copy in the ads lays out the driving philosophy behind the new Windows marketing approach. Veghte says: “At the core, Windows is about enabling each one of us, as individuals, to live our lives without walls … I want to work when I want to work, I want to play when I want to play. I want to communicate and share with friends and family and co-workers.”
The “Life without Walls” tagline brings another key facet of the Windows brand to life: Windows connects people not only via the PC, but also via phones, devices, and the Web. The Windows platform of Windows Vista, Windows Mobile, and Windows Live were built to work together and to expand the Windows experience beyond the PC to the phone and the Web. The campaign will reflect this holistic, connected approach.
“On our journey to make sure that Windows enables a life without walls, we’ve taken a step back, reevaluated and tuned and tweaked our approach. So you’re seeing that in the advertising, in the products, in the experience at retail and on Windows.com,” notes Veghte.
Source- Microsoft Press Release
Media Center Gadgets for Windows SideShow Release Candidate announced!
Just got the mail from the Windows Sideshow team that have released the RC version of Media Center gadgets for Windows Sideshow has been released.
Here is what the mail reads-
Download the Release Candidate build of the Windows Media Center Gadgets for Windows SideShow here:
(download links removed, you would be only able to download only if you were approved earlier to test the product)
Please install this build and provide feedback. The final release will be posted to the Windows Live Gallery in the near future.
While you are there, check out some of the great new gadgets that have been uploaded including Remotebook (for Facebook), AccuWeather, Twitter, System Health and Windows Live Messenger (all available in 9 languages)!
Support for Media Center Extenders:
Extenders are now supported if you are using a SideShow device that can pre-enable the gadgets. The Ricavision Vave100 remote control is an example of a device that pre-enables the Media Center gadgets.
Try this with your Xbox 360 or other extender device and provide us with any feedback. Additional instructions have been added to the Installation Instructions page about using the gadgets with an extender.
Connect Site Links:
Installation Instructions
Gadget general information and known issues
Send Feedback
Want to write your own Gadget in Managed Code? It’s easy!
You can download and install our easy to use SDK, which includes templates for a gadget that integrate with Visual Studio (2005/2008 including express editions). You can build and run the template Gadget right out of the box giving you an easy place to start to tailor your own gadget. Download this today from Microsoft Download Center:
Windows SideShow Managed API 1.0 SDK
Have a Windows Mobile 5 or 6 phone?
Download and install Windows SideShow for Windows Mobile Developer Preview
Your feedback has greatly increased the quality of this release! Thank you so very much from our entire team for taking part in the Windows Media Center Gadgets for Windows SideShow Beta.
Thank you!
The Windows SideShow team
New Windows Mobile Phones Offer Even More Choices for All Walks of Life
Only six months after the launch of its Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system, Microsoft Corp. announced that more than 25 phones powered by the platform are expected in market by holiday 2008 with many available today. Offering form factors ranging from touchscreens and QWERTY keyboards to dual sliders, the diverse spectrum of smartphones will be available from a wide range of device makers and mobile operators.
Around the world, the open platform of Windows Mobile is best suited to meet the growing demand for smartphone experiences that are as dynamic as people’s everyday lives.
“People want their phones to reflect their personality,” said Todd Peters, vice president of marketing for the Mobile Communications Business at Microsoft. “With the growth we’re experiencing, people can select from an increasing number of phones, applications and services that meet their daily work and personal needs.”
Source- Microsoft Press Release
