Kurt Shintaku's Blog

Let’s face it.  Our software updates are complicated.  As an IT professional, have you ever wondered:

• What was the version number of an update?
• What was the build number of the last release & all the updates after it?
• What is the KB number for that build?
• What improvements & fixes were made for that build?

Well, we published all of that online. Learn more about updates for Windows 10, including improvement and fixes, any known issues, and how to get the update at the URL below:

• Windows 10 update history – Windows Help
  https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4018124/windows-10-update-history

Microsoft has announced a branch of the Windows Insiders program called “Windows Insiders for Business”.

The program enables Enterprise customers to get engaged with the Windows Insiders program leveraging unique features available through the program that make participation easier & more useful.

WINDOWS INSIDERS FOR BUSINESS NEW FEATURES
Here are some key features of the program:

• CORPORATE CREDENTIALS
  Sign-in with corporate credentials (Azure AD) and increase the visibility of your
  feedback with Microsoft.
• INSTALL PRE-RELEASE BUILDS
  Access and control the deployment of pre-release builds in your organization so distribution is consistent with other updates.
• REAL-TIME FEEDBACK
  Provide and aggregate feedback to Microsoft via the Feedback Hub on pre-release builds in an automated manner with fewer steps.
• UP-TO-DATE CONTENT
  Stay ahead of the game with deployment guides, feature announcements
  and more.

ENTERPRISE MANAGEABLE FLIGHTING
There are some new advantages in how Enterprise users can evaluate & test new builds:

• Individuals can manage flighting
• Sign up in Insider Registration Page (same flow as MSA users)
• Configure flighting in settings on local machine
• Organizations will be able to manage flighting via Mobile Device Management & Group Policy
• Flighting enabled policy (Blocked, User choice, Force with/without user consent)
• Insider ring level (WIP-Fast, WIP-Slow, Release Preview)
• Insider ring level user configurable (Enabled/Disabled)

ENTERPRISE MANAGABLE FEEDBACK
There is an Enterprise level feedback system that provides businesses with the ability to manage the feedback being provided.  Corporations will be able to:

• View and update existing feedback submitted by your organization.
• Submit new feedback from your organization.
• Show a separate view to other Insiders restricting sensitive data

Additionally, Azure AD users can participate in feedback with other Insiders both Azure AD and MSA:

• See and upvote Insider feedback
• Post new feedback for the community to upvote
• Easily send the right diagnostics

Also individuals will be able to filter feedback on several dimensions:

• All feedback
• My feedback
• My company’s feedback

ENROLL TODAY!
Check out the new Windows Insiders for Business Program, here:

• SITE: Windows Insiders for Business Details & Enrollment
  http://aka.ms/wip4itpros 

Wanna be appraised of new Yammer Service updates early?

This is an external group for Yammer users who are interested in learning about new service updates prior to product release. You submit your email address and will be added to an external, private Yammer group.

(Note: To be able to participate, please ensure that you have not disabled the ability to join an external group from your home Yammer network.)

• REGISTRATION: Yammer Service Updates Sign Up
  http://aka.ms/yamserviceupdatessignup

Learn how to deal with widely dispersed intranets in this deep dive into BranchCache.

BranchCache has been a part of Microsoft Windows since Windows Server 2008R2 and Windows 7. It helps to reduce the bandwidth consumed and improves end user experience while accessing intranet-based HTTP and SMB content.

This session identifies challenges in network performance often faced by remote branch offices which accessing content stored in servers located in DataCenters across trans-continental Wide Area Networks, and how BranchCache helps in addressing these challenges. The session includes details of how this technology works and includes several demonstrations of how this feature behaves in Windows Server 2016 and Windows 10.

• VIDEO: Dig deeply into BranchCache: learning from the experts
  https://myignite.microsoft.com/videos/2958
• POWERPOINT: Dig deeply into BranchCache: learning from the experts
  https://onedrive.live.com/embed?cid=6B7CF2BD5F47F487&resid=6B7CF2BD5F47F487%21737&authkey=ADrIfS5Odm1xJHU&em=2

Microsoft Teams has arrived to Office 365, bringing a chat-based workspace to your fingertips. See how Microsoft Teams can pull together everything you need to collaborate – schedule and conduct meetings, share notes and files, have threaded conversations – all in one place.

At this event, you’ll experience

• Collaboration challenges organizations face with distributed, multi-generation workforce.
• Options users look for to get things done, and how that affects the role of IT.
• How to make your team more effective and give them instant access to everything they need – right in Office 365.
• Hands on environment to test drive Microsoft Teams.

About Microsoft Teams

• Chat for today’s teams: A one-to-one or one-to many chat with content and chat history.
• A hub for teamwork: instant access to everything your team needs right in Office 365 with built-in integration to SharePoint, OneNote, and Skype for Business.
• Customizable for each team: integrate the content and features your team needs to access and use every day.
• Security teams can trust: enterprise security and compliance features you expect from Office 365.
• Learn more about Microsoft Teams and start using it today.

Events are taking place nationwide in 21 locations, from Austin to New York to Milwaukee to Tempe. 

Register here:

• Introducing Microsoft Teams
  https://www.microsoftevents.com/profile/web/index.cfm?PKWebId=0x3874872564

Are you interested in ‘inclusive design’? Do you want your approach to technology to include ‘accessibility’ as a design theme?

Microsoft is a great resource for inclusive design & accessibility and our research is available for download:

• Inclusive: A Microsoft design toolkit
  https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/Design/inclusive

Microsoft @ CSUN Assistive Technology Conference 2017
We recently also participated in the CSUN Assistive Technology Conference this past March as hosted by the Cal State Northridge Center on Disabilities.  Here’s the list of sessions Microsoft presented at the conference:

• Windows Narrator: What’s New in Windows 10
• What’s new in Microsoft Office 365 & How it Helps Advance Digital Inclusion
• Use Skype and Skype for Business for More Inclusive Meetings
• Building a Diverse Workforce: Microsoft’s Inclusive Hiring Program
• Disability Answer Desk: Quality Tech Support for Customers & Enterprises
• Microsoft Edge and Office 365 with JAWS
• Sight Sign: An Example of Open Source Accessibility at Microsoft
• Accessibility in Windows 10: What’s New
• Multi-Device Automated Transcription for Use in the Classroom and Schools
• Accessibility at Microsoft
• New Reading & Writing Tools in Word for People with Learning Differences
• Journey to Make Software Usable for All: Learning from Microsoft Office
• Cities Unlocked: Light Up the World with Sound
• Accessible Authoring Made Easier in Microsoft Office 365
• What’s New in Skype and Skype for Business
• Excel Tips and Tricks
• Why Must Sound Only be Heard: Experiments in Artificial Intelligence

If you’re a customer of mine, and are interested in talking to one of Microsoft’s presenters, let me know and I’ll see what I can do.

If you’re interested in the PowerPoint decks from the conference that were presented by Microsoft, most can be found here:

• CSUN ATC 2017 – Docs.com
  https://docs.com/MicrosoftAccessibility/8117/csun-atc-2017

Did you miss out on the Microsoft Tech Summit?  If so, you missed out on close to 100 sessions, including these:

• Office 365
• BRK2118: Explore OneDrive for Business key features and roadmap
• BRK3301: Get the most out of the Office 365 security solutions
• BRK3303: Take control of your data with intelligent compliance in Office 365
• Windows
• BRK2135: Defend Windows clients from modern threats and attacks with Windows 10 security
• BRK3136: Implement Windows as a Service: understanding how to do it
• BRK4018: Fix web app compatibility with Enterprise Mode
• Azure
• BRK2139: Protect your business and empower your users with cloud Identity and Access Management
• BRK2306: Port your AWS knowledge to Azure
• BRK4008: Dive deep into Azure Container Services

RECORDINGS & DOWNLOADS
But you’re in luck: All available slides and recordings from the Chicago Tech Summit event are available at: http://techcommunity.microsoft.com.

• All Office 365 sessions: (34) 
  https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Tech-Summit-All-Office-Sessions/All-Office-365-Sessions-at-Tech-Summit/m-p/22942#M1
• All Azure sessions (33)
  https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Tech-Summit-All-Azure-Server/All-Azure-Sessions-at-Tech-Summit/m-p/25108#M1
• All Windows sessions: (23)
  https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Tech-Summit-All-Windows-Sessions/All-Windows-Sessions-at-Tech-Summit/m-p/25112#M1

Microsoft Teams has arrived to Office 365, bringing a chat-based workspace to your fingertips. See how Microsoft Teams can pull together everything you need to collaborate – schedule and conduct meetings, share notes and files, have threaded conversations – all in one place.

Hear from Emmitt Smith, Hall of Fame NFL Running Back, Businessman and Entrepreneur, on how to unlock the potential of teams and see a live demo of the new Microsoft Teams.

At this event, you’ll learn:

• How to make your team more effective and give them instant access to everything they need — right in Office 365.
• A new way to work in an open environment and how to be more productive working as a team.
• How other organizations are already using Microsoft Teams.

Event details:

• AGENDA:
  9:00AM Registration
  10:00AM Introducing Microsoft Teams
  11:00AM Customer Panel
  11:30AM The Art of Teams with Emmitt Smith
  12:30PM Lunch Reception and Hands on Demos
• DATE:
  April 25, 2017
• TIME:
  10:00 AM – 1:30 PM
• LOCATION:
  The Novo by Microsoft
  800 W. Olympic Blvd.
  Los Angeles, CA 90015
• REGISTRATION:
  https://www.microsoftevents.com/profile/form/index.cfm?PKformID=0x16570109853

“90% of CEOs believe that the digital economy will impact their industry but less than 15% are executing on a digital strategy” -MIT Sloan & Cap Gemini.  On Wednesday, March 29th join Microsoft online as we livestream from the Microsoft Campus and share actionable insights to add to your company’s digital transformation journey. The virtual event is open to all business leaders looking to learn how digital transformation is being applied across various industries and disciplines.

Join this event to learn about:

• New technology trends like artificial intelligence and blockchain that will affect the way your business operates and engages customers
• Strategies for keeping your organization secure against cyberthreats
• Customer-centric marketing in the new digital age
• The opportunities presented by the combination of LinkedIn with Microsoft

Be sure to stay engaged and connect with your peers! Follow us on Twitter @MSFT_Business and share your thoughts and questions during the event using #CXOsummit17.

Save the date and register to join us!

• DATE:
  Wednesday, March 29^th
• TIME:
  8:15am-11:30am PT / 11:15am-2:30pm ET
• REGISTRATION:
  https://vts.inxpo.com/scripts/Server.nxp?LASCmd=AI:4;F:QS!10100&ShowKey=37233

Avanade has written a nice blog post that talks to the frequent issue of “what Office 365 collaboration tool should we use for a given need”. 

They wrote a blog post that outlines 9 modes of communication & collaboration and how they appear to different generations in the workforce.  They also should what specific Microsoft Office 365 solutions meet these needs.

Read the full blog post here:

• BLOG: Microsoft Teams Supercharges Collaboration for Millennials to Boomers
  http://blog.avanade.com/avanade-insights/collaboration/microsoft-teams-supercharges-collaboration-for-millennials-to-boomers/

Download the slides here:

• SLIDES: Generational Preferences at Work
  https://1drv.ms/p/s!Ao0Dfn8MQdoAqpQqyK84azDdF_pkIw