Kurt Shintaku's Blog

Hey you!  Go download the Windows 10 Technical Preview 2.  Do it now!  Installation from USB 3.0 on a Surface Pro 3 Core i5 is about 10 minutes tops.

If you’re not signed up for the Windows Insiders program, you need to do that first.  It’s easy:  Go the the Windows Insiders site, login with your Microsoft Account (Hotmail, Outlook.com, MSN, Live, whatever), then agree to the terms & conditions.  That’s it.

Here’s the download location for the ISO (x64 & x86):
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/preview-iso

The Product key is:
NKJFK-GPHP7-G8C3J-P6JXR-HQRJR

NOTES:

• Be sure to initiate an Update after you’ve installed.
• Here’s a few articles to get you started:
• ZDNET: Ed Bott Report, “Windows 10: What’s in the January preview release?”
  http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-10-whats-there-whats-missing/
• THURROTT: Known Issues in Windows 10 Technical Preview 2
  https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/629/known-issues-windows-10-technical-preview-2

If you’ve ever wanted a Power Type Cover for Surface Pro (Version 1), Surface 2, Surface Pro 2 & Surface Pro 3, now’s the time:  eBay’s got them available brand new for $74.99.

(These are normally $199.  Amazon has a sale on them for $99, but the eBay offer will save you another $25.)

• Surface Power Type Cover by Microsoft for Surface Pro Surface 2 Pro 2 & Pro 3 – $74.99
  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Surface-Power-Type-Cover-by-Microsoft-for-Surface-Pro-Surface-2-Pro-2-amp-Pro-3-/400847070791

The SharePoint 2013 and SharePoint Online solution packs contain code samples and documentation that demonstrate how to use site branding and site provisioning techniques, create and use UX components, address search customization scenarios, customize enterprise content management, provide localization, and work with user profile properties in SharePoint 2013 and SharePoint Online.

The SharePoint 2013 and SharePoint Online solution packs download contains seven solution packs for SharePoint 2013 and SharePoint Online.

• The Branding and Site Provisioning solution pack contains code samples and documentation that demonstrate how to use the SharePoint 2013 cloud app model (CAM) and a new site provisioning pattern called remote provisioning to apply branding elements to sites. This solution pack contains seven modules, supported by ten code samples.
• The Search solution pack contains code samples and documentation that describe search and demonstrate techniques for customizing search for SharePoint 2013 and SharePoint Online. This solution pack contains two modules, supported by three code samples.
• The UX components solution pack contains code samples and documentation that demonstrate how to use apps for SharePoint to customize the user experience both on SharePoint sites and in provider-hosted apps that interact with SharePoint.
• The Composite business apps solution pack describes how to create apps that integrate tightly with your business processes and other line of business technologies (databases, web services, etc.).
• The Enterprise Content Management solution pack contains code samples and documentation that describe enterprise content management and demonstrate techniques for customizing enterprise content management in SharePoint 2013 and SharePoint Online. This solution pack contains eight modules with eight code samples.
• The Localization solution pack contains code samples and documentation that describe how to implement localization in SharePoint 2013 and SharePoint Online. This solution pack contains two modules with two code samples.
• The User Profile solution pack contains code samples and documentation that describe working with user profile properties and how to implement personalization in SharePoint 2013 and SharePoint Online. This solution pack contains four modules with four code samples.
• See the SharePoint 2013 sample pack for a .zip file that contains many of the samples describes in these solution packs.

DOWNLOAD: SharePoint 2013 and SharePoint Online solution packs
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=42030

The Lync Server 2013, Resource Kit Tools help to make routine tasks easier for IT administrators who deploy and manage Lync Server 2013. For example, the Web Conf Data tool can be used to easily control data that is uploaded by users during an online meeting. The SEFAUtil tool can be used to set up delegate call forwarding and answering for users. We encourage IT administrators to use these tools to more effectively manage Lync Server 2013.

• DOWNLOAD: Lync Server 2013 Resource Kit Documentation
  https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj945604.aspx
• DOWNLOAD: Lync Server 2013 Resource Kit Tools
  http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkID=330429

For those responsible for Surface Pro 3 deployments in their Enterprises, this guide should be pretty helpful.

The guide was developed to show best practices for deploying Windows to Surface Pro 3 devices. This guide is organized in a way that minimizes the learning curve for you to understand how to deploy Windows to the Surface Pro 3 devices to your organization. It presents step-by-step procedures that provide essential building blocks for successive chapters. Therefore, it is a good idea to read the chapters in order. The deployment concepts discussed in this guide are valid for all Windows computers, but specifically targets scenarios for Surface Pro 3 devices.

• WHITEPAPER: Deployment and Administration Guide for Surface Pro 3
  http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=45292

The Xbox experience is coming to Windows 10. Together, they’ll take your gaming further with the worlds greatest multiplayer community, the best of Xbox Live and more.

(Suddenly that Minecraft acquisition’s starting to make even more sense, ‘eh? )

Read more about all of this here:

• The Xbox experience is coming to Windows 10
  http://www.xbox.com/en-US/windows-10

By the way? We’re also… y’know… releasing a new version of Windows. In case you hadn’t heard. And it’s gonna be FREE.

Free Upgrade Offer
Great news! We will offer a free upgrade to Windows 10 for qualified new or existing Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 devices that upgrade in the first year!*  And even better: once a qualified Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, we will continue to keep it up to date for the supported lifetime of the device, keeping it more secure, and introducing new features and functionality over time – for no additional charge. Sign up with your email today, and we will send you more information about Windows 10 and the upgrade offer in the coming months.

Read more on the new Windows 10 page:

• About Windows 10
  http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/about
• Windows 10 for Business
  Want to know more about Windows 10 for your company? Check out our blog for business and our blog for IT pros.
• Windows 10 Blog
  Follow our Windows blog to stay up to date with the latest information on Windows and the Windows ecosystem.
• Windows Insider Program
  Calling all tech enthusiasts! Help shape the Windows 10 experience for millions of people and join the Windows Insider Program.
  http://insider.windows.com/

In case you hadn’t heard, we made a little announcement about some optics we’ve been working on.

• Microsoft HoloLens
  The era of holographic computing is here.
  When you change the way you see the world, you can change the world you see.
  http://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-hololens/en-us

Imagine what this could do?

Apparently, the press like what they see:

• WIRED: “Our Exclusive Hands-On With Microsoft’s Unbelievable New Holographic Goggles”
  http://www.wired.com/2015/01/microsoft-hands-on/
• GIZMODO: “Project Hololens: Microsoft’s Audacious Plan to Make Anywhere a Holodeck”
  http://gizmodo.com/microsofts-wants-to-turn-your-living-room-into-the-holo-1680924508

Reminder folks… Registration for BUILD 2015 in San Francisco (Apr 29th-May 1st) begins 9:00am PST Thurs, Jan 22.

Yes, that’s TOMORROW.

Visit http://www.buildwindows.com for more information.

Perceptive Pixel 2.0?  Sure.  But much much more.  Take a look.

For more information on Microsoft Surface Hub:
http://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-surface-hub/en-us