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Thursday, August 30, 2012

Samsung Ativ S - The World's First Windows Phone 8 Unveiled

By Anu Passary | Aug 30, 2012 01:12 PM EDT


ATIV S
Samsung Electronics UK General Manager Damian Cusick presents the new Samsung ATIV S smartphone during the Samsung Mobile Unpacked event in Berlin, August 29, 2012. (Photo : Reuters)
The Korean tech giant Samsung rolled out its Windows Phone 8 smartphone, given the moniker ATIV S, on Aug. 29 at the Samsung Unpacked event in Berlin, Germany. The announcement gives Samsung the distinction of being the first manufacturer to reveal its Windows Phone 8 mobile device.
Samsung's Ativ S smartphone unveiling at the IFA precedes the Nokia-Microsoft launch, which is slated for Sept. 5 in New York. The ATIV S smartphone launch augurs well for Windows-based phones and gives Microsoft and its partners the opportunity to expand their spectrum of offerings.
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"Samsung is a highly-valued partner and it's great to see this investment in a global brand for its Windows-based tablets and phones," said Nick Parker, corporate VP of original equipment manufacturers for Microsoft.
The 4.8-inch ATIV S sports a HD Super AMOLED display and measures 137.2mm x 70.5mm. The 8.7mm thick smartphone weighs just 135gms, putting it in the same league as the flagship Galaxy S3 model. A 1.5GHz dual-core processor powers the device, which features a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera and an 8-megapixel rear-facing one. The smartphone will be available in 16/32GB on-board memory variants with microSD card support.
Along with the ATIV S smartphone, Samsung also unveiled the 10.i-inch Activ Tab, which is a tablet based on the Windows RT version. The 8.9mm thick tablet weighs 570gms, making it slimmer and lighter than the current iPad. A 1.5GHz dual-core processor will power the Activ Tab, which will sport a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera and a 5-megapixel rear-facing one. The tablet will be available in 32/64GB on-board memory variants with a microSD card support of up to 64GB.
ATIVA S
ATIVA S

Samsung's slew of new Windows-based devices gives a fillip to both its and Microsoft's market presence.
"This gives us an increased opportunity to inspire our customers with excitement and confidence as they enjoy Windows experiences across their beautiful Samsung devices, including entertainment scenarios, mobile productivity and cloud services," said Parker.
Not much is known about Samsung's Activ S release date, but rumors suggest an October launch may be expected.
Read more at http://www.mobilenapps.com/articles/4009/20120830/samsung-ativ-s-first-windows-phone-8.htm#j90GRe1wbb3OotUq.99

Samsung Ativ S - The World's First Windows Phone 8 Unveiled : Smartphones : Mobile&Apps

HP Unveils New Ultrabooks with Touch Screens for Windows 8

HP Spectre TouchSmart Ultrabook
Sure, you can use a traditional touchpad to navigate through the tiled interface in Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8 operating system, but even at this early stage it's well understood that the platform has been designed to be swiped, flipped, and pinched through. This consideration without a doubt informed HP's decision to manufacture two new ultrabooks equipped with capacitative touch screens, both of which were unveiled today.
The first of the two finger-friendly systems is the HP Spectre TouchSmart Ultrabook. About that screen: its edge-to-edge 15.6-inch display has a resolution of 1,920 by 1,080 and comes equipped with IPS technology. For added visual flair, the Spectre TouchSmart's all-metal chassis also sports a soft-touch base. Measuring 17.9mm at its thinnest point, its dimensions hew to Intel's parameters for the coveted ultrabook designation, and it weighs 4.7 pounds. The Spectre TouchSmart sports a healthy array of ports, including Gigabit Ethernet, dual USB 3.0 ports, and HDMI. Moreover, it's HP's first notebook to feature Intel Thunderbolt technology. While the touch screen is undoubtedly the main attraction here, the base configuration of an Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and an optional solid-state-drive (SSD) is impressive enough to warrant attention on its own merit. The HP Spectre TouchSmart Ultrabook is expected to be available in the United States in December with a starting price of $1,399.


HP Unveils New Ultrabooks with Touch Screens for Windows 8 | News & Opinion | PCMag.com

Bing Now Lets You Search And Browse Your Friends’ Facebook Photos

icrosoft just launched a new search feature for Bing that lets you search your friends’ photos on Facebook. This new tool, says Microsoft, is essentially an expansion of the photo experience Bing introduced as part of Bing’s redesign earlier this year. Today’s launch takes this experience a bit further, though, and you can now browse your friends’ photos, ‘like’ them and add comments to them right on Bing.
Previously, clicking on a link to a photo in Bing’s sidebar would take you to Facebook. The experience actually looks quite a bit like Facebook’s standard photo pages, with your friends’ updates and comments on the right and a large version of the image on the left.

Bing and Facebook always had a very close relationship and Microsoft has worked hard to highlight this alliance in Bing’s social sidebar (Google, after all, doesn’t have access to this data). Indeed, while Bing offers a landing page for the new search feature, there won’t be a link to it from Bing itself. As a Microsoft spokesperson told me, the company expects that most people will engage with this tool through the sidebar.
Facebook’s users currently upload over 300 million photos to the social networking site every day and as Microsoft’s Ian Lin, a senior program manager on the Bing Social team, notes, “photo viewing is one of the most popular things people do on Facebook.”
Bing, of course, will respect your Facebook privacy settings and will only show images that you and your friends have made viewable. Your photos, Microsoft stresses, will never be shared with the public.


Bing Now Lets You Search And Browse Your Friends’ Facebook Photos | TechCrunch

Microsoft Event Schedule For October Gets Detailed

While we know that Microsoft Windows 8 operating system will be available commercially from the 26th of October, the exact details of the various event that Microsoft will hold in the month of October is not clearly known. Now, a source has told CNET’s Mary Jo Foley, some of the more finer details about the various events such as the individual launch dates and venues where they will be held.
The first of the lineup of events will begin on the 25th of October, a day before Windows 8 will become publicly available. The 25th Oct event is going to be the big one, where Microsoft will officially introduce the Windows 8 operating system and the hotly anticipated Windows Surface RT tablet. The venue selected for this mega event will be The Big Apple (New York city). “Windows 8 and the Surface RT ARM-based devices should be available (at least technically) at midnight, following the launch event.”, says CENT.

Microsoft Event Schedule For October Gets Detailed | StudentNews.ie

Xbox 720, PlayStation 4 Projects Under Development: Gearbox

Rumors regarding the impending arrival of two highly- anticipated next-gen gaming consoles - Xbox 720 and PlayStation 4 - have created quite a stir on the web. Latest reports suggest that Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has confirmed that their studio has next-gen projects under development, which will be announced in the near future.
Pitchford, in an interview with Gamasutra, confirmed the news.
"We've got a few things going on right now that we haven't talked about but that will appear later," Pitchford said.
Pitchford is just one of the many developers coming out in the open and revealing that the next-gen projects are already underway. He expressed excitement and interest in the arrival of the next-gen consoles.

Windows Phone 8 Launch Adds to Microsoft's Busy October

According to Mary Jo Foley at ZDNet, Microsoft is planning an official Windows Phone 8 launch event on October 29, possibly in San Francisco or Los Angeles. Foley's unnamed tipster claims the first Windows Phone 8 devices will likely hit store shelves a week or two later.
Foley also reported that Microsoft will hold a launch event for Windows 8 and the Surface RT tablet on October 25, the day before general availability. A midnight launch for the tablet and operating system may happen after the event.
Windows Phone 8 will be a major update for Microsoft's mobile OS. It has a new start screen with room for more Live Tiles, enhanced browser security, new camera features, turn-by-turn navigation from Nokia and support for digital wallet services, such as loyalty cards and gift certificates. The OS will also support a wider range of hardware, including dual-core processors, 720p displays and removable storage.

Windows Phone 8 Launch Adds to Microsoft's Busy October ( - Mobile - Software )

Office 365 Open: Microsoft Mum on Partner Cloud Billing Details | TalkinCloud

Office 365 Open: Microsoft Mum on Partner Cloud Billing Details | TalkinCloud

Monday, August 27, 2012

Who is Microsoft Hiring? | News & Opinion



You can learn a lot about a business by reading its job listings, especially when the hiring company is a high-tech corporation trying to attract people by describing interesting projects. Microsoft is a good example.
Those who have read my columns for several years know that I have various themes that I recall every so often. Lately, because of the Microsoft stores, I've been exposing the reason behind Microsoft's new branded products and specifically a Microsoft-branded PC. 


Who is Microsoft Hiring? | News & Opinion | PCMag.com

Office 2013: What IT Needs to Know - CIO India News on | CIO.in



With Office 2013, Microsoft sets the bar high. The reworked suite ofapplications runs on a range of devices, including new Windows tablets; it has a new look, which is fast and fluid, yet has familiar commands; it responds to touch and stylus, as well as keyboard and mouse; and everything's cloud-connected. 
The customer preview we tested is available in four plans through Microsoft's cloud service, Office 365. We selected Office 365 Enterprise Preview since it meets the needs of midsize and large organizations. This subscription includes Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Access, OneNote, Publisher, InfoPath and Lync clients. Additionally, enterprises have access to Exchange Online (including new archiving and legal hold capabilities), SharePoint Online and Lync Online to conduct meetings.
In the Preview, administrators can create 25 user accounts, with each allowed five installations of the applications on different systems. Microsoft hasn't announced pricing or scalability for its new Office offering. The current Office 365, which supports more than 50,000 users, costs from $8 to $22 per user per month. The top-tier enterprise plans include a subscription to Office Professional Plus 2010 for up to five devices per user.


Office 2013: What IT Needs to Know - CIO India News on | CIO.in

Channel partners find success selling virtual desktop services

Channel partners offering virtual desktop solutions found themselves in a tough spot just a few years ago.
The technology, dubbed virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), seemed like a logical follow-on sale to customers heavily engaged with server virtualization. But while the server-side category found wide use, its desktop counterpart encountered adoption challenges. The main problem: a far from compelling return-on-investment story.
While server virtualization let organizations consolidate boxes for a quick return, VDI failed to offer a rapid payback. The basic sales pitch focused on ease of IT administration, greater security and desktop cost savings. But VDI's infrastructure demands, particularly in storage, made ROI a discouraging prospect. Uptake was limited.
VDI, however, has made considerable progress over the last 12 months, according to solutions providers. ROI is faster now and building a business case is easier than it used to be. In addition, technology trends such as bring your own device (BYOD) and enterprise mobility have given resellers a reason to revisit customers who previously balked at the technology.
"When the technology was immature, there was not a whole lot of ROI out there," noted Joe Brown, president of Accelera Solutions Inc., a solution provider specializing in virtualization. "It was a tough sell as a simple desktop replacement solution. It took a little while for the technologies to advance and for additional business drivers like mobility to convince customers that it was a viable solution."
As for what they're selling, resellers tend to focus on Citrix Systems' XenDesktop and VMware's View. They may also package and brand their own virtual desktop services.


Channel partners find success selling virtual desktop services

Microsoft Office 2013: Tap and go

“This is the biggest, most ambitious release of Office that we’ve ever done in our history,” Microsoft CEO Steve Balmer said recently when unveiling the release of Office 2013. Embracing the mobile world, it brings touch-based controls and cloud storage, giving you access to your files from any computer, anywhere.
New versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook will respond to touch as well as a computer keyboard or mouse and were redesigned to make the most of the Windows 8 operating system. PC World notes that where Office 2013 shines is embracing the mobile world and the cloud with deep integration with Microsoft’s cloud service SkyDrive and collaboration—integrating its re­­cent acquisitions Skype and Yammer.


Microsoft Office 2013: Tap and go — Business Management Daily: Free Reports on Human Resources, Employment Law, Office Management, Office Communication, Office Technology and Small Business Tax Business Management Daily

WESTFORD, Mass.: Sonus Completes Acquisition of Network Equipment Technologies | Business Wire | Rock Hill Herald Online

Combination Brings End-to-End Portfolio of Enterprise Session Border Controllers to Accelerate Deployment and Adoption of SIP Trunking and Unified CommunicationsKey Takeaways:Completion of Network Equipment Technologies (NET) Acquisition Expands Session B

Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/08/27/4214816/sonus-completes-acquisition-of.html#storylink=cpy


WESTFORD, Mass.: Sonus Completes Acquisition of Network Equipment Technologies | Business Wire | Rock Hill Herald Online

Sennheiser Unveils Premium Headsets Optimized for Microsoft Lync, Enabling Increased Quality in Unified Communications Deployments

Sennheiser
8/27/2012 10:28 AM EDT
OLD LYME, Conn., Aug. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Audio specialist Sennheiser announced the launch of two headset lines optimized for Microsoft Lync. The Circle Series wired headsets and the DW Series wireless headsets have been optimized for Microsoft Lync to enhance productivity in busy working environments. The new headsets help enable organizations leverage productivity advantages of a unified communications environment while providing comfort, voice clarity and premium sound quality for users.
The Circle Series includes two Microsoft Lync-compatible models: the dual-sided SC 260 ML and the single-sided SC 230 ML. Each is designed to deliver HD voice clarity sound and comfort to busy contact center, office and Unified Communication professionals. "In increasingly busy workplaces, smart communication tools that allow users to work more efficiently can give a competitive advantage. With Sennheiser's launch of its new wired Circle Series headsets optimized for Microsoft Lync, we can help provide our mutual customers with an even wider choice of Unified Communications tools to improve their business productivity," says Giovanni Mezgec, General Manager Lync Marketing at Microsoft Corp.
The DW Series DECT wireless headsets includes three Microsoft Lync-compatible models: the 2-in-1 DW Office ML with headband and ear hook, the DW Pro1 ML single-sided headset and the DW Pro2 ML double-sided headset. "The DW Series of headsets optimized for Microsoft Lync leverages Sennheiser's expertise in sound quality, noise cancelation and wireless audio transmission," said Tori Seliokas, channel manager for telecommunications at Sennheiser's U.S. headquarters. "The DW Series features an intelligent design, intuitive pairing options and a range of approximately 180 feet within a typical office building. These features, especially when combined with Microsoft Lync optimization, can be a very powerful unified communications tool in just about any workplace."


Sennheiser Unveils Premium Headsets Optimized for Microsoft Lync, Enabling Increased Quality in Unified Communications Deployments

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Windows 8: A Quick Round Up Of Reviews - Mobile & Apps

Microsoft is getting both praise and criticism over choices it made with Windows 8, but nothing can be changed now that the final version of the OS is in the hands of reviewers. We have been taking a keen look at all the reviews of Windows 8 out there on the Internet, and so far, the general consumption is that Windows 8 is good.
Windows 8 is a true upgrade from Windows 7. However, the missing start menu and flipping between Windows 8 New UI and the regular desktop seems to be the main problems reviewers are finding with the operating system.
Windows 8 Reviews at a Glance:
>  It looks like Windows 8 is certainly going to take some getting used to. But underneath that daunting new interface are a wealth of smart decisions that go a long way towards dragging the behemoth that is Windows into the future. Perhaps most promising is the stuff we haven't looked at yet: the apps, and the way multiple Windows 8 PCs and tablets sync together. - PC Advisor Staff (PC Advisor)

Microsoft Logo Evolution Over 37 Year Period (PHOTOS)

By Vamien McKalin | August 26, 2012 12:35 PM EDT

Microsoft has been around for 37 years, and during this time, the company managed to change its logo 5 times. The company wasn't shy about changing its logo in the early days, but when it changed to a different logo in 1987, it would take another 25 years before a new logo was brought into the fray.
The newest Microsoft logo launched ahead of some of the company's major product launches such as Windows Phone 8, Office 2013, and Windows 8 later in the year.
What you are looking at is the first ever Microsoft logo from when the company was founded back in 1975. It probably looked awesome to the founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen back then, but looking at it now, not so hot.
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It didn't take Microsoft long to change from the first corporate logo to something with more of edge. In 1980, a new logo was introduced; this was after the company moved to Washington.
Two years later, the logo changed again. Seriously, what was going through the head of the people atop of the Microsoft food chain back then? They didn't seem easily pleased. A year after this logo was introduced, IBM debuted its PC running MS-DOS 1.0.
In the next 5 years, and a year after Microsoft went public with its stocks, the company changed the logo again. This time, the new logo would define Microsoft for the next 25 years. Microsoft's success with Windows began 3 years after the new logo came along, and from then on, the company flourished.
Here we are in the present, and here comes a new Microsoft logo. August 23 marks the date the company splashed the new logo into everyone's faces. It is also the first Microsoft logo with color. First Microsoft logo with color you ask? Yeah, and that's a big deal coming from 37 years of black and white. This logo will define Microsoft for the foreseeable futur. Now only if we could figure out when the next logo will show up.
Read more at http://www.mobilenapps.com/articles/3927/20120826/microsoft-logo-evolution-over-37-year-period.htm#FCBhZVTdvfbAjBge.99

Tablets 2.0: Microsoft Surface | Business 2 Community

Tablets 2.0: Microsoft Surface | Business 2 Community

Apple Matches Microsoft Step-For-Step; Plans iPad Mini Release In October

Microsoft unveiled its Surface tablet in June this year that is widely touted as Apple's iPad competitor. Though unveiled in June, Microsoft plans to launch the tablet on October 26.
The Cupertino technology giant that maintained a dignified silence for long seems to have unleashed new missiles against competitors, as news of its iPad release has just been confirmed for October, slightly ahead of competition.
Initially, it was rumored that "iPad Mini" will be unveiled along with the next-generation iPhone at the September 12 event. However, experts including Daring Fireball's John Gruber averred that "iPad Mini," may not share spotlight with the new iPhone.


Apple Matches Microsoft Step-For-Step; Plans iPad Mini Release In October - International Business TimesPublish Post

How to sniff out the Microsoft phone call scam

This phone-based scam has been around since 2008 and the scammers are using more sophisticated social engineering tactics to make them appear to be legitimate.

Based on the number of people asking us about these phone calls on our free help Facebook page , it's obvious that the scammers have cranked up their efforts.

Remote service is completely safe and a great way to get your computer taken care of, but only when YOU initiate the call to a service provider. Microsoft does not have a random task force that monitors infected Windows computers around the world and calls when they see a problem.

Here are some of the ways that they are currently trying to trick people:

The caller ID generally says 'Home Security' and includes what appears to be a valid number. In general, you will likely hear a strange accent.

In the past, if you were to ask them for a phone number and name so you can call them back, they would hang up. Today, they will gladly give you their direct extension and name in an effort to get you to let your guard down.

Whatever number they give you will generally ring busy if you were to try calling it (part of the scam).

If they can convince you to stay on the line, they quickly try to convince you that your computer has been compromised by having you run some 'diagnostics' yourself as proof.

A recent tactic is to get the victim to open the Windows Event Viewer, which has a log of any errors that Windows has detected. Unless you just recently installed Windows, your Event Log is bound to show some errors (very normal), which can be made to seem scary to non-technical users.

Another trick that they use is to get you to drop to a command prompt (black background with white text) to check your system ID and to have you run a verify command, which will return the message that 'verify is off'.

They will then tell you that your computer ID can't be verified which means your computer hasn't been able to get Windows updates (which is completely false; the verify command is to verify that data has been written to a drive correctly).

They may even guide you to pull up something that they claim is a system certificate that has a 2011 date, which they will try to convince you means your computer hasn't been updated since last year.


How to sniff out the Microsoft phone call scam

Apple patent victory boosts Microsoft as Asian vendors scramble

 HONG KONG/SEATTLE (Reuters) - Apple Inc's decisive triumph over Samsung Electronics in the most closely watched patent trial in years could open the door for Microsoft Corp to finally hop on board the mobile boom as manufacturers of Android-based smartphones and tablets weigh their legal risks.
Microsoft sounded a challenge to Apple and Samsung in July when it took the wraps off its Surface tablet, a showcase for the revamped Windows software that it hopes will pave the way for its entry into the mobile space.  It remains to be seen if the new touchscreen-friendly and cloud computing-ready Windows 8 can prove a serious rival to Android, the world's most-used mobile software, or Apple's iOS. But mobile industry executives who had been cautiously considering Windows as an alternative to Google's Android say Friday's ruling that Samsung had copied Apple's designs and software features had intensified their interest in a Microsoft alternative.

Apple patent victory boosts Microsoft as Asian vendors scramble - Chicago Tribune

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Sonus Session Border Controller Selected by Telenet as its Unified Communications Platform

--Sonus SBC 5100 selected to connect Telenet's existing PBX and Microsoft(R) Lync(TM) systems and provide SIP trunking services to Telenet's 2,000 employees across 11 locations
--Sonus SBC 5100 expected to lower Telenet's operating expenses by eliminating costly PRI trunks, reducing phone charges and simplifying its network management
--Sonus SBC 5100 was chosen for its scalability and powerful media transcoding
--Telenet is the first Sonus customer in Europe to take shipment of a Sonus SBC 5100
Sonus Networks, Inc. SONS -1.09% , a global leader in SIP communications, today announced that Telenet, the largest provider of broadband cable services in Belgium, has selected the Sonus SBC 5100 Session Border Controller (SBC) to unify SIP communications for the cable operator's approximately 2,000 employees.
Telenet currently has 2.1 million service subscribers and offers Triple Play services (voice/video/high-speed Internet) to residential and business customers in Belgium and Luxembourg. The Belgian cable operator selected the Sonus SBC 5100 for its unique scalability (which is approximately 2X that of competitive mid-sized SBCs) and powerful media transcoding. The Sonus SBC 5100 will be deployed in Telenet's internal network as the centerpiece of a new SIP trunking solution that is expected to help the cable provider lower its operating expenses by eliminating costly PRI trunks, reducing its internal long-distance phone charges and simplifying its network management.
Telenet will also leverage the Sonus SBC 5100 to consolidate its communications by connecting with its existing Private Branch eXchange (PBX) and Microsoft(R) Lync(TM) systems.


Sonus Session Border Controller Selected by Telenet as its Unified Communications Platform - MarketWatch

Sonus SBC 5100 and Sonus SBC 5200 Certified in Microsoft's Unified Communications Open Interoperability Program for Microsoft Lync Server 2010

Sonus Networks, Inc (Nasdaq: SONS), a global leader in SIP communications, today announced that the Sonus SBC 5000 series of session border controllers (SBC) has been tested and certified in Microsoft Corp's Unified Communications Open Interoperability Program for Lync Server 2010. The Sonus SBC 5000 series includes the Sonus SBC 5100, which delivers 250 to 10,000 sessions, and the Sonus SBC 5200, which supports 64,000 sessions on a single server. By achieving this certification, service provider, enterprise customers and resellers can be confident that Sonus SBC 5000 series products interoperate with Microsoft’s unified communications solutions featuring Lync Server 2010.


Sonus SBC 5100 and Sonus SBC 5200 Certified in Microsoft's Unified Communications Open Interoperability Program for Microsoft Lync Server 2010 | Virtual-Strategy Magazine

Monday, August 20, 2012

Aruba Enhances Wi-Fi for Greater Density

The new ArubaOS updates is also certified to deliver the Microsoft Lync unified communications solution. Dondurmacioglu said that Aruba has been working with Microsoft's Lync development team directly as a technology partner.
"Our innovation with regard to identifying and prioritizing Microsoft Lync calls is an Aruba innovation and it is the primary reason for Aruba being the only wireless LAN vendor to date that has received qualification in the Microsoft Lync Server Wi-Fi compliance program," Dondurmacioglu said. "We have learned a lot from the Lync team at Microsoft with regard to how the application performs signaling and starts media streams – and we have implemented deep packet inspection to track Lync flows dynamically, thanks to the stateful firewall on the Aruba Mobility Controllers and the Aruba access points."

Aruba Enhances Wi-Fi for Greater Density

Microsoft Lync Online rides coattails of Office 365 adoption

The audience of small and medium-sized businesses that might deploy Microsoft Lync Server 2010 on-premises is limited, but partners report accelerating interest in the cloud edition, Lync Online.
Microsoft Lync Server is a unified communications platform that combines instant messaging, videoconferencing, email and collaboration technologies. Lync Online can be purchased either on its own or bundled with Microsoft Office 365.
At InfinIT Consulting, a managed services provider in San Jose, Calif., close to 85% of Lync customers opt to combine Lync Online with Office 365, replacing insecure communications platforms such as Skype or more pricey offerings such as Citrix GoToMeeting or Cisco WebEx, said Jerod Powell, CEO and founder.
"Lync is a slam dunk argument for most people," he said. "It can save some companies thousands of dollars."


Microsoft Lync Online rides coattails of Office 365 adoption

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Office 365, Office 2013: Microsoft Erases Cloud, On-premises Line

Yes, The Line Is Gone

But am I sure the line between Office 365 and Office 2013 will be erased? Absolutely yes. Just look at Microsoft’s plans in the consumer and small business market. Microsoft has announced, word for word, these cloud-driven suites:
  • Office 365 Home Premium designed for families and consumers. This service also includes an additional 20 GB of SkyDrive storage and 60 minutes of Skype world minutes per month
  • Office 365 Small Business designed for small businesses. This service also includes business-grade email, shared calendars, website tools and HD webconferencing.
  • Office 365 ProPlus designed for enterprise customers who want advanced business capabilities and the flexibility to deploy and manage in the cloud.
Each of those offerings, Microsoft has said,will include the new 2013 editions of the Office applications — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher and Access.

Partner Spin

What does all that mean for channel partners? I’ve often stated that some Microsoft VARs are far too focused on Microsoft’s tight margins for SaaS partners. Instead, VARs should focus on consulting, migration and project management revenues for Office 365. Over time, the monthly recurring revenues will build — but it’s gravy, not your meat and potatoes revenue.
Bottom line: You can’t fight Exchange server’s shift into the cloud. And soon, you won’t be able to fight Office 2013 (and beyond) subscription services. Instead of fighting those market realities, figure out where the profit opportunity is — or move onto new markets.

Office 365, Office 2013: Microsoft Erases Cloud, On-premises Line | TalkinCloud

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Top 10 Windows 8 touch apps | Reviews | CNET UK


The Windows 8 Release Preview has been available since the beginning of the month, so by now you've probably played around with it a little and started to get used to the way everything works in the new Metro environment.
As we've learnt from mobile operating systems such as Android and iOS, the OS is only half the story. For Windows 8 to be successful, it needs some great third-party apps to go with its touchscreen-friendly interface. Fortunately for Microsoft, there are already a lot of really good touchscreen titles in its Windows 8 store. Here's 10 you should definitely try out.

Top 10 Windows 8 touch apps | Reviews | CNET UK

Nokia Maps to replace Bing Maps in Windows Phone 8, report says

 Microsoft and Nokia have made it clear that their partnership extends beyond the operating system that is bundled into a device. And with the launch of Windows Phone 8, that will be apparent, according to a new report.

Nokia Maps to replace Bing Maps in Windows Phone 8, report says | Wireless Week

Ratio Interactive Launches Contest to Inspire Great Windows 8 Design

 Ratio Interactive, an award winning Digital Agency announced today that they will sponsor a contest to inspire great Windows 8 design. The contest will open following this week’s Windows 8 Virtual UX Training, a free online event hosted by Microsoft that will be held this Thursday, June 14th.

Ratio Interactive Launches Contest to Inspire Great Windows 8 Design | Virtual-Strategy Magazine

Google Chrome Browser Gets Windows 8 Metro Styling

 Google have today officially released the first test release browser for Windows 8 that is non-Microsoft. The test release is noteworthy in that it does not follow the typical Metro designs. However will fans of Chrome care?
Google Chrome Browser Gets Windows 8 Metro Styling

Microsoft providing mapping data for Apple’s new Maps app


Update: A reader sent the images above showing some of Apple’s maps are identical to Microsoft’s for certain locations.
Yesterday evidence surfaced showing that Apple was crediting TomTom, in addition to OpenStreetMap, for at least some of the data used in its new in-house Maps app. Today a report from TechPP (via TheNextWeb) pointed to proof that some of Apple’s Maps data appears to be coming from Microsoft as well:

Microsoft providing mapping data for Apple’s new Maps app | 9to5Mac | Apple Intelligence

Aging Microsoft Lures Young Tech Idealists

The young interns, some of the nation's best and brightest in technology, business and design, had plenty of enthusiastic words to describe their summer employer.
Fun. Cool. Special. A giant start-up. Revolutionizing the world. Facebook, perhaps? Or Twitter? Or Google?
Try Microsoft Corp : the company once derided as the "death star" of the technology business and lately thought of not so much as dangerous, but merely irrelevant, bureaucratic and dull.
"Microsoft feels cool again," said 22-year-old Gbenga Badipe, an electrical engineering student at Rice University, one of 1,500 interns spending 12 weeks at the company's leafy campus this summer. "Microsoft products touch almost every area of technology, and everything they do is starting to work together."

Nokia Confirms PureView Technology for Windows Phones


Nokia has confirmed that its PureView camera technology will be headed to Windows Phones at some point in the future.
Chris Weber, Nokia’s U.S. President, confirmed the good news in an interview with Howard Chui of the popular site, Howard’s Forums. In the lengthy interview, which was first reported by WPSauce, Weber says that PureView technology will be coming to Windows Phone handsets.

Nokia Confirms PureView Technology for Windows Phones

Office365 for the Enterprise, SharePoint in the Cloud

 With broad adoption of SharePoint 2010 coupled with the business need to drive down costs and management overhead of information technology, many organizations are looking more closely at hosted versions of SharePoint — both private and public cloud offerings, as well as Office365.

 

Office365 for the Enterprise, SharePoint in the Cloud at #TECHED2012

Microsoft Q&A: With Windows 8, the Choice Is Yours - Windows Store, iPads, javascript, internet explorer, Facebook, cio, Technology Topics | Operating Systems, Technology Topics, tablets, hardware systems, smartphones, consumer electronics, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows, operating systems, software, Microsoft,

Microsoft Q&A: With Windows 8, the Choice Is Yours - Windows Store, iPads, javascript, internet explorer, Facebook, cio, Technology Topics | Operating Systems, Technology Topics, tablets, hardware systems, smartphones, consumer electronics, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows, operating systems, software, Microsoft, TECH ED - CIO 

Shane O'Neill (CIO (US)

Xbox 360 System Update v2.0.15572.0 goes LIVE, details revealed

 Microsoft has just released a new Xbox 360 system update v2.0.15572.0. It activates new languages of Bing including Genres and Sorting. It also switch the layout of homescreen and now display avatar store linked right next to gamers avatar.  By Sehran

Xbox 360 System Update v2.0.15572.0 goes LIVE, details revealed

Windows 8 Tip: Shut Down, Restart, and Sleep


With Windows 8, Microsoft is standardizing a lot of common tasks through new system-level features such as charms, contracts, and settings. But this standardization is causing some users fits, so I’m writing up a series of tips aimed at helping you overcome some common gotcha’s. In this tip, I look at a common source of confusion in Windows 8: How you shut down, restart, or sleep the PC.
It used to be so simple. In Windows 7 and all previous Windows versions dating back to 1995, you would initiate various power management actions via the Start Menu. In Windows 8, however, that interface has been replaced by a new full-screen Start experience, called the Start screen. And those Start Menu-based power management options are no longer available there. So what’s a poor Windows user to do?
Learn how it works in Windows 8, of course.

Windows 8 Tip: Shut Down, Restart, and Sleep

Microsoft: Windows 8 is 'enterprise ready' - Windows 8, Windows, operating systems, software, Microsoft

Microsoft urged enterprises on Tuesday to adopt Windows 8, its upcoming OS for desktops, laptops and tablets which some industry experts believe faces an uphill battle for acceptance by IT professionals.
At a keynote speech at TechEd North America in Orlando, Microsoft officials outlined a series of reasons for enterprises to seriously consider upgrading to Windows 8, which is expected to be commercially available before the end of this year. About 10,000 IT pros are attending this year's conference.
However, analysts at Gartner, IDC and other IT research firms have expressed skepticism that IT departments will embark on wholesale Windows 8 upgrades, since many companies have just finished, or are in the midst of, upgrading to Windows 7 from Windows XP. 
 Juan Carlos Perez (IDG News Service)


Microsoft: Windows 8 is 'enterprise ready' - Windows 8, Windows, operating systems, software, Microsoft, TECH ED - ARN

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Microsoft releases seven security updates

As we have seen in some of the last year's data breaches, this lowers the success rate only slightly as attackers are capable of drafting a convincing e-mail that can trick a percentage of the e-mails recipients into opening such a file.   Author: Wolfgang Kandek, CTO, Qualys.

Microsoft releases seven security updates

Can Google Apps Unseat Microsoft Office and Exchange? YES!!

In an IT environment of MacBook laptops, Windows PCs, iPhones, iPads and Droid devices, why would any enterprise stick with Microsoft Outlook for email and collaboration?
That very question prompted a 60-day pilot test at New England Biolabs, an Ipswich, Mass.-based molecular biology company. Given the growth of Macs and mobile BYOD technology at the company, as well as the need to collaborate with mobile users and international subsidiaries, the IT team decided it was time to seriously investigate Google Apps for Business as an alternative to Microsoft Outlook and Exchange Server.
"Many of us, myself included, went into the process thinking this would be a no-brainer," says Ken Grady, CIO and director of IT at New England Biolabs. "We figured we'd end up moving to Google, saving a bundle of money, and everyone would be happier."
"Boy, was I surprised," Grady added. As a result of its proof-of-concept testing, New England Biolabs decided to stick with its existing Outlook/Exchange Server set-up and plans to transition to a hybrid solution that adds the cloud-based Microsoft Office 365 for remote and international users.


Can Google Apps Unseat Microsoft Office and Exchange? CIO.com

If Microsoft Has Its Way, The Facebook Phone Will Be Powered By Windows

 If Microsoft has its way, the long-awaited Facebook Phone will actually be a Windows Phone.
We learned this, and everything else in this post from a single source briefed on Microsoft's mobile strategy.
Though several other sources in the mobile industry described this news as plausible, logical, and even likely, none were able to fully corroborate it. So take what you read here with a grain of salt.

If Microsoft Has Its Way, The Facebook Phone Will Be Powered By Windows - Business Insider

Microsoft Turns Gestures into Commands Using Audio Waves | Gadget Users



http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/05/microsoft-gestures-commands-audio-waves/

 It seems that the success of Microsoft’s Kinect has driven the company to branch out further into the gesture-related sciences given that one of its latest projects offers gesture control with just a computer’s speakers, a microphone and some inaudible sound waves. The project which has been dubbed SoundWave, utilizes the Doppler Effect which can apparently relate changes in sound frequency to movement and subsequently, detect gestures. whether that reminds you

Microsoft Turns Gestures into Commands Using Audio Waves | Gadget Users

www.bluepointer.net

Web Host Infinitely Virtual Offers Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Hosting | Web Hosting - Domains - EasyShop - Vogue - Celulares - Payments

Web Host Infinitely Virtual Offers Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Hosting | Web Hosting - Domains - EasyShop - Vogue - Celulares - Payments

Nokia will get help from Microsoft

 Nokia will seek assistance from Microsoft.

Help from Microsoft is considered the most appropriate choice to help Nokia from the downturn. Microsoft currently have poured funds of U.S. $ 1 billion per year to help Nokia develop phones based on Windows Phone. Development of Windows-based smart phones from Nokia Phone did not go smoothly. This is evident from the lack of enthuses Nokia Lumia market.


Nokia will get help from Microsoft - Gadget Fan

Microsoft Security Advisory: Update Rollup for ActiveX Kill Bits: May 8, 2012

 General Information

Summary

Microsoft is releasing a new set of ActiveX kill bits with this advisory.
This update sets the kill bits for the following third-party software:

Microsoft Security Advisory: Update Rollup for ActiveX Kill Bits: May 8, 2012

www.bluepointer.net

Good vs. Evil: My endless journey of curiosity: Microsoft offers $99 XBox consoles

Good vs. Evil: My endless journey of curiosity: Microsoft offers $99 XBox consoles

Sunday, April 29, 2012

windows 8 wiped my spare drive clean - Microsoft Answers

windows 8 wiped my spare drive clean - Microsoft Answers

HP’s Windows 8 tablet to take on iPad


Hewlett Packard is working on a Windows tablet for enterprises that could give the iPad a run for its money, the internet has revealed.
A PowerPoint slide said to have been leaked to the website Neowin reveals that the world’s largest PC maker has a fairly thin, fairly light tablet known as the Slate 8 in the works, that you’ll be able to control either with your fingers or with one of those digital input pens which helped to hold back the popularity of Windows tablets the last time around.

HP’s Windows 8 tablet to take on iPad

Apple Ten Years Behind Microsoft With Security Issues: Kaspersky

MSFT News: Apple Ten Years Behind Microsoft With Security Issues: Kaspersky

Microsoft fixes critical Hotmail password bug

Microsoft has issued a temporary fix for a scary and potentially disastrous Hotmail vulnerability that could allow hackers to erase your email password, set up their own and take over your account.
The previously undisclosed vulnerability made it possible for a remote attacker to bypass Hotmail's password recovery service and exploit the bug to reset the password using their own values, according to a notice from Vulnerability Laboratory. Hotmail has more than 350 million active users, and is the largest Web-based email service provider in the world
New Mobile Arrivals: Microsoft fixes critical Hotmail password bugPublish Post

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Microsoft Corporation To Offer Free Services In New Zealand

Microsoft Corporation To Offer Free Services In New Zealand

Microsoft signs patent deal with Pegatron

Microsoft signs patent deal with Pegatron - KPVI News 6 - Pocatello, ID

Collaboration made easy with a Nokia Lumia

 When it comes to being entertained and connected, the Nokia Lumia smartphones are the tool for the job. However, they’re not all about the fun-times, they’re also the perfect gadget to help get things done when you’re in (or out of) the office.

Collaboration made easy with a Nokia Lumia – Nokia Conversations : the official Nokia blog

News : Microsoft develops Spotify-like 'Woodstock' for multi-platforms

News : Microsoft develops Spotify-like 'Woodstock' for multi-platforms | Radio-Info.com

Brown University Center for Statistical Sciences Moves Critical Customized SharePoint 2007 Content Into SharePoint 2010 With Metalogix Migration Manager for SharePoint

Brown University Center for Statistical Sciences Moves Critical Customized SharePoint 2007 Content Into SharePoint 2010 With Metalogix Migration Manager for SharePoint - BroadcastNewsroom

Facebook Strengthens Security With Partnerships

Facebook Strengthens Security With Partnerships :: EDGE on the Net

5 Reasons Microsoft SkyDrive is Better Than Google Drive

 If you're looking for a new service to sync and store files across multiple devices and the cloud, you should give SkyDrive a serious look. Not only do you get more free storage, but you'll also have an easier time managing online documents and you get free remote access to your home PC while you're on the go. Google Drive may be the current media darling, but for people just looking to get some work done here's why you should give SkyDrive a try.

5 Reasons Microsoft SkyDrive is Better Than Google Drive | PCWorld

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Gaming keyboard Microsoft Sidewinder X6

Gaming keyboard Microsoft Sidewinder X6

Microsoft Office Flaw Exploited in the Wild with Malicious Documents

Microsoft Office Flaw Exploited in the Wild with Malicious Documents - Softpedia

www.bluepointer.net

Helpful Methods For Utilizing Microsoft Sharepoint For Your Own Business


Sharepoint 2010 is Microsoft’s very own Enterprise Content Management System or ECMS. Using this application, businesses may establish web site for spreading information. Furthermore, users can create, manage and publish documents using MS Sharepoint. Therefore, organizations and folks opt for sharepoint classes for finding out about this particular application. Other activities you can do with Sharepoint include:


Helpful Methods For Utilizing Microsoft Sharepoint For Your Own Business

Computer Tips – Configure Speech Recognition in Microsoft Office XP

Computer Tips – Configure Speech Recognition in Microsoft Office XP

How to Sync Microsoft Outlook Business Contact Manager to Android Devices with Microsoft Exchange

CompanionLink has the ability to synchronize one type of Microsoft Outlook folder to another. This allows you to sync the BCM folders to the Exchange folders in Outlook. The Exchange server can then synchronize this data to mobile devices, such as Android, iPhone (News - Alert)®, and iPad®, that support Exchange ActiveSync

How to Sync Microsoft Outlook Business Contact Manager to Android Devices with Microsoft Exchange

Microsoft offers summer sneak preview of Windows 8

BBC News - Microsoft offers summer sneak preview of Windows 8

Microsoft opens $23 million technology center in Singapore

Microsoft opens S$23 million technology centre in Singapore - Channel NewsAsia

Yammer Integrates With Microsoft Dynamics

Yammer, Inc., the leading provider of Enterprise Social Networks, today announced an integration with Microsoft Dynamics, which enables updates from the CRM solution to appear as activity stories in the Yammer Ticker. Dynamics users who have installed the plug-in can follow important records such as accounts, campaigns and opportunities. When changes to these records occur, an activity story describing the event is published in Ticker in real-time.

Yammer Integrates With Microsoft Dynamics

SolarWinds Joins the Microsoft System Center Alliance

SolarWinds® (NYSE: SWI), a leading provider of powerful and affordable for more than 100,000 customers worldwide, announced that the company has joined the Microsoft System Center Alliance program. The System Center Alliance is a network of technology providers building solutions that extend System Center. The program helps customers select partner solutions that provide a seamless IT management experience with System Center solutions.

SolarWinds Joins the Microsoft System Center Alliance

Microsoft Features Family-Friendly Online Organizer AboutOne as BizSpark Startup of the Day

AboutOne (http://www.AboutOne.com), the online organizer that makes it fast, fun, and easy to preserve family memories and manage household paperwork, announced that the company has been selected from among thousands of startups to be featured by Microsoft as a BizSpark startup of the day (http://www.microsoft.com/bizspark). The announcement comes as AboutOne launches the BETA release of its new Windows Azure-based family management system.

Microsoft Features Family-Friendly Online Organizer AboutOne as BizSpark Startup of the Day - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

Students put tech to good use in Microsoft’s Imagine Cup contest

 Teams of high school and college students competed April 23 in using technology to help improve education, health care, the environment, and other pressing issues, reports the Seattle Times. It looked almost like a scene from an old-time video arcade: teenagers and young adults crowded around computer screens and displays, buzzing excitedly. But instead of “Donkey Kong” or “Pac-Man,” students played on-screen shooting games that obliterated diseases, or they waved their arms in front of a Kinect sensor to change the slope of a line on a screen and the math equation that generated the line.

Students put tech to good use in Microsoft’s Imagine Cup contest | eSchool News

Dotmatics Launches Novel Chemistry Add-In for Microsoft(R) Office at the Bio-IT World Conference & Expo

a leading provider of informatics solutions and services to the pharmaceutical and bio-technology industries, today announced that it will showcase a new chemistry add-in for Microsoft® Office at the Bio-IT World Conference and Expo (Booth 323). The software, will facilitate communication and sharing of scientific data across applications and teams.

Dotmatics Launches Novel Chemistry Add-In for Microsoft(R) Office at the Bio-IT World Conference & Expo

CommVault and Microsoft Expand Relationship to Offer Simpana Data Management with Windows Azure


CommVault today announced an expanded collaboration with Microsoft Corp. to offer a cloud storage capability that combines the power of Simpana® software with the benefits and flexibility of storing data on the Windows Azure cloud platform. As data is expected to double every two years, organizations are grappling with flat budgets and costly primary storage that may contain up to 70

CommVault and Microsoft Expand Relationship to Offer Simpana Data Management with Windows Azure

Microsoft and Facebook Shore Up Patent Defenses Together

Microsoft and Facebook Shore Up Patent Defenses Together - Windows IT Pro | ThunderFeeds

ITC judge: Microsoft Xbox infringes on Motorola patents

ITC judge: Microsoft Xbox infringes on Motorola patents - Portland Business Journal

Is Microsoft's Live Mesh on its way to the graveyard?

Is Microsoft's Live Mesh on its way to the graveyard? | ZDNet

Monday, April 23, 2012

EPA RELEASES LIST OF TOP 50 GREEN-POWERED ORGANIZATIONS

 Intel, Kohl’s, Microsoft rank in top three

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released an updated list of the Top 50 Green Power Partnership organizations voluntarily using clean, renewable electricity from resources such as solar, wind, and low-impact hydropower. Intel Corporation tops the list as the largest single user of green power, followed by Kohl’s Department Stores and Microsoft Corporation. Combined, the Top 50 partners are using more than 15 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually. Through their use of green power, these top organizations are avoiding carbon pollution equal to that created by the electricity use of more than 1.3 million American homes each year.

EPA RELEASES LIST OF TOP 50 GREEN-POWERED ORGANIZATIONS - TheCypressTimes

The corporate economy is booming

Economic statistics have been terrible of late. And this is not because we've had disappointing job growth, tepid home sales, or slipping consumer confidence. What's really terrible is that the gloomy macro data distracted investors from the powerful momentum propelling corporate profits.

Weighing those inputs is a daily challenge. Sure it's nice that General Electric (GE -1.91%) nipped its earnings estimates on the strength of a 14% revenue surge in its industrial businesses. But how long can that go on with Spanish bond yields around 6%?

And sure, Honeywell (HON -0.69%) and Microsoft (MSFT -0.80%) are up after even stronger reports, but what about the recent uptick in jobless claims?

There's been a lot of discussion of late about when record corporate profit margins might revert to their long-term average far below current levels, and my guess would be not for a good long while.

The corporate economy is booming

Apple News - Microsoft Releases SkyDrive for iPad and Mac OS X

 Microsoft has released an update to its iOS app that brings iPad support and released a preview of SkyDrive for Mac OS X Lion.

SkyDrive is the place to store your files so you can access them from virtually any device. With SkyDrive for iOS, you can now easily access, manage, and share files on the go. You can also upload photos or videos from your iPhone or iPad to SkyDrive.

Features:
• Access all of your SkyDrive content including files shared with you.
• View recently used documents.
• Choose multiple photos or videos to upload from your phone.
• Share your files and photos-send a link in email or get a link you can copy and paste.
• Manage your files-move, delete, rename, or create new folders.
• Open your SkyDrive files in other iOS apps.



iClarified - Apple News - Microsoft Releases SkyDrive for iPad and Mac OS X

Microsoft: Primary Video Consumption Still Likely

 Microsoft says the key to video's online future is universal access to high-speed broadband, but that the near future of video is still likely to be over traditional TV channels.

That is according to a copy of a summary of the prepared testimony of Microsoft exec Blair Westlake for Tuesday's (April 14) Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the migration of video to online platforms.
 By John Eggerton

Microsoft: Primary Video Consumption Still Likely via Traditional TV: Microsoft says the key to video's online future is universal access to high...

Go Ahead and Sneer, But Microsoft’s Windows 8 Could be Huge

Have you heard about the hot tech item for 2012 -- it’s the PC. Walt Mossberg, the closely followed tech columnist at the Wall Street Journal and an Apple (AAPL) devotee by all accounts, told readers recently to hold off buying a new laptop until the fall when there should be an exciting set of new offerings using Microsoft’s (MSFT) anticipated Windows 8 operating system.
The new Windows seeks, among other advances, to challenge Apple’s touch-screen functionality. Microsoft has been riding the wave of a revival in the much-maligned PC this year, as its stock has surged ahead of the broader market. 


Go Ahead and Sneer, But Microsoft’s Windows 8 Could be Huge

www.bluepointer.net

Nvidia says Xbox 360 graphics power will hit mobile devices by 2014


Nvidia aims to deliver the graphics power behind gaming consoles like Microsoft's Xbox 360 to mobile devices by the year 2014, which could mark a further shift to mobile gaming.
 
An Nvidia slide revealed by AnandTech shows its forecast for the GPU industry, which sees relatively little change in consoles, steady growth for PCs, and sharp growth for mobile devices.
 
The solid lines show estimated performance, which will see mobile devices matching the graphics power of the Xbox 360 next year and then surpassing it the year after. The dotted lines show trends, which suggests the power match being made in 2014, while the console market advances a little further.

What Could Have Been: Neill Blomkamp’s ‘Halo’ Movie

 The rise and fall of the Halo movie has become legend in Hollywood. One of the biggest video game franchises ever failing to launch a movie at the peak of its popularity due to creative differences and stubborn greed. A new article for Wired fills in a few details and examines the “culture clash” between the tech/gaming world at Microsoft and the egos of Hollywood, and how it led to the movie’s permanent place in Development Hell history. The piece, from Jamie Russell’s book GENERATION XBOX: How Video Games Invaded Hollywood, includes quotes from insiders close the deal and director Neill Blomkamp (District 9), who speaks candidly about how the production was “a clusterf*ck from day one.” Here is what happened to Halo:  by

What Could Have Been: Neill Blomkamp’s ‘Halo’ Movie - News in Film

Aidmatrix Partners with Microsoft to Enhance Disaster Relief Communication Tools

 The Aidmatrix Foundation today announced that it is partnering with the Microsoft's Citizenship team to enhance disaster relief management. The partnership will focus on further development of the Microsoft Windows Azure Disaster Response technologies and programs that facilitate communications between responders and the public during disasters.
Under a grant provided by the Microsoft, this partnership will help to build Windows Azure-based web and mobile technologies s that provide immediate access to the latest information on conditions in the disaster area, as well as the ability to rapidly share critical information with the community and other relief organizations using dynamic maps, social media integration, photos and video content.

Aidmatrix Partners with Microsoft to Enhance Disaster Relief Communication Tools

Microsoft enterprise licensing changes favor Windows RT, put Android and iOS in their place

If you can't beat them, manage them. It's a strategy that has worked well for Microsoft in the past, and it is emerging as a key element in announcements last week about how Microsoft will license Windows 8 in all its variations, including the x86 consumer, Professional and Enterprise editions, the embedded Windows RT and the cloud-based Windows Intune.    By

Microsoft enterprise licensing changes favor Windows RT, put Android and iOS in their place

Microsoft adds paid storage tiers to SkyDrive cloud service

 Brand new SkyDrive users get 7GB of storage for free. Existing users (those with accounts as of April 22) continue to get up to 25 GB of storage for free if they opt to do so. After that, an additional 20GB costs $10 per year; an additional 50GB costs $25 per year; and an additional 100GB, $50 per year.

Microsoft adds paid storage tiers to SkyDrive cloud service | Microsoft - CNET News

Microsoft releases update for Deployment Toolkit utility

Microsoft releases update for Deployment Toolkit utility - Computerworld

Microsoft, Facebook Announce Patent Agreement

REDMOND, Wash. and MENLO PARK, Calif., April 23, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Microsoft Corp. and Facebook announced today a definitive agreement under which Microsoft will assign to Facebook the right to purchase a portion of the patent portfolio it recently agreed to acquire from AOL Inc. Facebook has agreed to purchase this portion for $550 million in cash. 

Microsoft, Facebook Announce Patent Agreement - MarketWatch

Full online/offline mobile client for Dynamics CRM finally available


 Resco a leading provider of mobile software solutions for Microsoft Dynamics CRM just released a revolutionary update for its Resco Mobile CRM, top level mobile solution for Microsoft Dynamics CRM, which is leaving its competitors years behind.

Full online/offline mobile client for Dynamics CRM finally available

How Microsoft Office Tops LibreOffice: 11 Features

How Microsoft Office Tops LibreOffice: 11 Features - Datamation

Windows Phone Gets Skype App

The Skype app will be available beginning of next week and it should be available in all the local app stores within the first two days of the actual US local release. The Skype has officially been tested on the following Windows Phone handsets from the likes of HTC, Samsung and Nokia —
  • Lumia 900 – Nokia
  • Lumia 800 – Nokia
  • Lumia 710 – Nokia
  • HTC Titan
  • HTC Radar
  • Samsung Focus S
  • Samsung Focus Flash


Windows Phone Gets Skype App « Solar Panel News