Kurt Shintaku's Blog

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

In case you missed it, you can now video chat between Skype & Lync.  It does require Skype for Windows 7.0.x.100 so download the latest Skype for Windows client here:
http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-windows/downloading/

In 2013, we enabled Lync users to contact people on Skype using instant messaging, presence, and audio calling right from your contact list. I’m happy to say that we’ve now taken the next step by adding video calling between Lync 2013 and the latest Skype for Windows desktop client, available for download here. Now Lync users can conduct everyday business and collaboration “face-to-face” with customers, partners and suppliers who use Skype.

The screenshot above shows a video call from the Lync perspective. Whether you’re using Lync or Skype, it’s an easy, familiar experience—you make the video call the same way you make any other call, with the same options for starting, stopping, re-sizing and maximizing video.

Read more here:

• OFFICE BLOG: Video calling between Skype and Lync available now
  http://blogs.office.com/2014/12/05/video-calling-skype-lync-available-now/

For folks interested in cloud backup solutions for desktops & client systems, this announcement may be of interest.

We are excited to announce the support for backing up data to Azure from Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 machines, using Azure Backup. You can find more details on the supported client operating system versions, SKUs in KB3015072. By downloading this update, you automatically get all the capabilities released in the last few months, including:

• KB2989574: Support for data sources more than 850GB
• KB2997692: Long Term Retention and Simplified Signup & Registration
• KB2999951: Support for Windows Server 2008
• KB3015072: Support for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1

This release opens up new scenarios for Azure Backup by enabling customers to back up their on-premises files and folders directly to Azure. Once the initial backup copy is completed, Azure Backup tracks the changes to the backed up files and efficiently transfers only the changed content over HTTPS.

…

Read the rest of the post here:

• AZURE BLOG: Azure Backup – Announcing Support for Windows Client Operating System
  http://azure.microsoft.com/blog/2014/12/16/azure-backup-announcing-support-for-windows-client-operating-system/

Neowin’s Brad Sams wrote an article that goes over the distance-per-step calibration process for the Microsoft Band and explains how it can be more accurate than other pedometers and what the Microsoft Band team says about it.

The tl;dr essentially involves using the “GPS” or “Run” function AT LEAST ONCE to gather information about the distance you walk versus the number of steps you’ve taken.  Once you do this, the Band will have some information to accurately measure your steps, distance, etc.

Read the entire article here for more details.

• NEOWIN: You need to calibrate your Microsoft Band: Here’s how
  http://www.neowin.net/news/you-need-to-calibrate-your-microsoft-band-heres-how