Kurt Shintaku's Blog

Visual Studio Team Explorer Everywhere is now offered as a free download.

Visual Studio Team Explorer Everywhere helps .NET and Java development teams collaborate across platforms and may be used in conjunction with Visual Studio Team Foundation Server Express. Visual Studio Team Foundation Server Express provides small teams of up to five developers with source code control, work item tracking, and agile project tracking tools for their software projects so that they can deliver predictable results.

Visual Studio Team Explorer Everywhere 2010 product will be removed from Volume Licensing price lists in April 2012.  Customers may download the product at Microsoft.com/download.  It is also included with MSDN subscriptions.

WEB SITE: Visual Studio Team Explorer Everywhere 2010
http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/en-us/products/2010-editions/team-explorer-everywhere

DOWNLOAD:  Microsoft Visual Studio Team Explorer Everywhere 2010 with SP1
http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9802898

Microsoft has made significant investments to help Software Assurance customers with their changing IT, deployment, and support needs. New and enhanced Planning Services offer organizations greater flexibility to plan on-premises, cloud-based, or hybrid software deployments. License Mobility extends application server license use to the cloud, while System Center Advisor helps customers assess their server configurations to proactively avoid problems, reduce downtime and improve performance. Windows® Thin PC helps make virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) more affordable, robust, and secure. Lastly, a new Microsoft® Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) tool helps customers protect data on mobile devices by making large-scale implementations of Microsoft® BitLocker® easier to manage.

• New Software Assurance Planning Services
  Software Assurance Planning Services now include expanded offerings to help you plan for deployment of Microsoft System Center, Windows® Server, Windows AzureTM Platform, SQL Server®, and Visual® Studio Team Foundation Server and Test Tools. Structured consulting engagements are provided by qualified partners or Microsoft Services. In addition, new cloud deployment planning content is available through existing Desktop, SharePoint, and Lync and Exchange Deployment Planning Services to help organizations plan migrations to Microsoft Office 365.
• PUBLIC CLOUD, WINDOWS AZURE DEPLOYMENT PLANNING SERVICES
  Offers hands-on training and guidance on migrating applications and data to the Windows Azure Platform.
• PRIVATE CLOUD, MANAGEMENT AND VIRTUALIZATION DEPLOYMENT PLANNING SERVICES
  Provides fundamental analysis, business case, process, and technical procedures needed to optimize your datacenter.
• SQL SERVER DEPLOYMENT PLANNING SERVICES
  Provides in-depth assessment and planning for deploying or migrating content to SQL Server, SQL Server upgrade, or SQL Server BI solution.
• DEVELOPER TOOLS DEPLOYMENT PLANNING SERVICES
  Provides rigorous analysis and a process-focused approach to develop deployment plans for Visual Studio Team Foundation Server or Visual Studio Test Tools.
• License Mobility through Software Assurance
  Organizations have a range of IT deployment options, including on-premises, Microsoft-delivered cloud services, and partner-delivered cloud services. License Mobility through Software Assurance gives you the ability to deploy certain server applications with active Software Assurance on-premises or in the cloud, without having to buy additional licenses. This benefit update provides additional hosting flexibility and affordability. Learn more at www.microsoft.com/licensing/software-assurance/license-mobility.aspx.
• System Center Advisor
  System Center Advisor is a cloud service hosted on Windows Azure that regularly analyzes your servers’ configuration to help you proactively avoid problems, while enabling support staff to resolve issues faster by accessing current and historical configuration data; all with the security features that meet your needs. Additionally, System Center Advisor helps reduce downtime by providing suggestions for improvement, and notifying you of key updates specific to your configuration. Learn more at www.microsoft.com/licensing/software-assurance/system-center-advisor.aspx.
• Windows Thin PC
  Windows Thin PC (WinTPC) provides a low footprint, locked down version of Windows 7 Enterprise that enables organizations to repurpose existing PCs as thin clients, thereby reducing the need for new thin client hardware. And since these PCs retain their existing Software Assurance coverage, they do not need any additional Windows Virtual Desktop Access (VDA) licensing for VDI. WinTPC offers an excellent thin client experience, while still providing users with a superior remote desktop experience. Learn more at www.microsoft.com/licensing/software-assurance/windows-thin-pc.aspx.
• NEW tool added to Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack –
  “BitLocker Administration and Monitoring (MBAM)”
  Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack has long offered a suite of technologies to help improve compatibility and management, reduce support costs, improve asset management, and improve policy control. Now organizations using Windows 7 Enterprise BitLocker Drive Encryption and BitLocker To Go to protect data on Windows 7 PCs and portable storage devices can turn to Microsoft BitLocker Administration and Monitoring (MBAM), to help make large-scale implementations easier to manage while minimizing support costs. Learn more at www.microsoft.com/licensing/software-assurance/mdop.aspx.

On a Windows AD-based network using Outlook connected into Exchange, most people expect that they won’t need to enter any credentials.  After all, your AD credentials used upon login should be enough to provide pass-through authentication.

However I’ve noticed that some folks have encountered a situation where once they start Outlook, it indeed requests (via a pop-up dialog box) that the user retype their AD username and password… much to the bother & annoyance of the user.

The issue may be that you have multiple cached credential entries for Outlook stored within Windows – which take precedence over Windows Authentication – and Outlook doesn’t know which to use.  Here’s how to delete them and get back to using seamless Windows Pass-through authentication for connecting into Exchange via Outlook:

Delete the personal credentials
===========================
If you are running Windows 7, remove the user’s stored credentials in Windows Credential Manager. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Credential Manager.
2. Locate the set of credentials that is used to connect to Exchange. The credentials should be shown as MS.Outlook: username@…
3. Expand the set of credentials, and then select Remove from Vault.

Now when you start Outlook it’ll use your cached corporate domain login without prompting.

Microsoft SQL Server 2012 enables a cloud-ready information platform that will help organizations unlock breakthrough insights across the organization as well as quickly build solutions and extend data across on-premises and public cloud backed by capabilities for mission critical confidence.

SQL Server 2012 enables a cloud-ready information platform that will help organizations unlock breakthrough insights across the organization as well as quickly build solutions and extend data across on-premises and public cloud backed by capabilities for mission critical confidence:

• Deliver required uptime and data protection with AlwaysOn
• Gain breakthrough & predictable performance with ColumnStore Index
• Help enable security and compliance with new User-defined Roles and Default Schema for Groups
• Enable rapid data discovery for deeper insights across the organization with ColumnStore Index
• Ensure more credible, consistent data with SSIS improvements, a Master Data Services add-in for Excel, and new Data Quality Services
• Optimize IT and developer productivity across server and cloud with Data-tier Application Component (DAC) parity with SQL Azure and SQL Server Data Tools for a unified dev experience across database, BI, and cloud functions

Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Documentation:

• What’s new in Microsoft SQL Server 2012
• Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Privacy Statement
• Microsoft SQL Server 2012 License Terms
• Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Systems Requirements
• Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Release Notes
• Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Readme

UPDATE 3/9/12 8:00AM:
Well, that was fast.  The offer expired around 12 midnight last night, I guess, as did the 50% off deal on William Stanek’s books.  So if you’re interested in the PowerShell 2.0 book, it’s $23 from O’Reilly.

——————-
ORIGINAL POST:
WOW.  There’s an insane amount of confusion going on about this free eBook we made available on the day of the launch of SQL Server 2012 so I’m going to post these instructions on how to get it… and as of March 8th 9:00PM PST it still works, even though I think it was supposed to be taken down.  It was supposed to be a one-day-only deal as far as I understand.  (Just know that if you needed these instructions to figure out how to get it, you fail and that’s all I’ll say about that.)

So here we go – here’s how to get the free copy of Microsoft Press’ “Windows PowerShell 2.0 Administrator’s Pocket Consultant” eBook. (445pgs)

1. Login to http://www.sqlserverlaunch.com /WW/Booth/MSL.  (Assuming you’ve registered)  You’ll be sent to the keynote page.  There will be a button called “Visit Expo Hall”.
2. Click the red button called “Visit Expo Hall”.  You’ll see a biplane with a “Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Microsoft Pavilion” banner behind it.
3. Click the “Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Microsoft Pavilion” banner.  This will take you to the Microsoft Pavilion.  You’ll see a blue sign that reads “Microsoft Learning – Be the Next Microsoft Employee”.
4. Click the sign that reads .  You’ll see at “Menu” drop down.  When you click on the Menu, it will reveal several options including “Documents”.
5. Click on “Documents”.  This will reveal a dialog box called “MSL Details”.  Two items will be listed, including one called “Top 5 Tips for Career Success”. 
6. Click on “Top 5 Tips for Career Success”.  It will reveal another dialog box that will have a “Download” button on it.
7. Click on the “Download” button.  It will download an Acrobat PDF entitled “Top 5 Tips for Career Success”.  In the bottom left corner, you’ll see the words, “Free eBooks” and there’s a link below it that reads, “Get yours today.”

8. Click on the link within the PDF called “Get yours today.”  You’ll need to have links enabled within your PDF reader for it to work.  This will send you to the O’Reilly store with a prepopulated discount coupon and the book in your online basket.  You’ll notice that the cost of the book is $0.00.
9. Check out.  The book will be available in your O’Reilly library account to download. 

10. Click on the words “Your Account” to go to the download area.  You’ll be able to download the book in a variety of formats including APK, DAISY, ePub, Mobi, and PDF.
11. Click the button of the format you want.  Enjoy your new eBook.

Microsoft Device Center is a new beta application that helps you make the most out of your Microsoft keyboard and mouse.  It allows you to customize devices from an easy-to-learn Windows 8 interface and create new shortcuts that make tedious tasks a breeze.

Device Center helps you personalize and customize how you work on your PC

• Tailor your mouse and keyboard to meet your unique needs and work style.
• Modify your mouse and keyboard settings to make it easier to use the unique features of most PC apps.

Effortlessly transition to Device Center from existing device management apps

• Launch the app from the Windows 8 Start screen.
• View and change basic and application-specific settings for all connected devices in one place.
• Explore features with pop-up descriptive and “how-to” InfoTips.
• Includes access to an online How-To/Troubleshooting library.
• Includes access to an online Healthy Computing Guide for tips on how to work more comfortably on your computer.

BETA: Microsoft Device Center for Windows 8
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/downloads/device-center

Note: This app is intended as a Beta release for the Windows 8 Consumer Preview and is currently available only in English.

IT Camps are semi-structured, no-fluff events exclusively designed to serve IT professionals. They are a free, in-person learning event for anyone seeking professional development as it applies to IT Professionals.

The agenda is intended to deliver a technical overview and hands-on experience that is less formal or structured than traditional instructor-led training. Participants will have a chance to perform hands on activities / exercises individually or as a team. At the end of the day, we encourage everyone to share their thoughts and experiences with the rest of the group. Come prepared to have fun, be excited, and interact in a group.

Please visit Harold Wong’s and Chris Avis’ blog today to start making topic suggestions for the upcoming event in your city.

• Harold Wong: visit Harold’s blog here
• Chris Avis: visit Chris’ blog here

To participate in the afternoon session, you will need to bring your own computer (laptop preferred) with the following minimum configuration:

• 4GB RAM (8 GB preferred)
• At least 20GB of free disk space (75 GB preferred)
• x64 compatible processor with Intel VT or AMD-V technology

Recommended downloads prior to IT camp:

• System Center 2012 Suite – click here to download
• WS 2008 R2 w SP1 –click here to download
• Microsoft Virtual Academy – click here to download

————-

DATE/TIME:
Thursday, March 15, 2012 8:30 AM-4:30PM

LOCATION:
Microsoft Los Angeles Office
Room: MPR 1
333 S Grand Ave – Floor 33
Los Angeles California 90071

REGISTRATION:

• Register by Web:  https://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032506625&Culture=en-US
• Register by Phone: 1-877-MSEVENT (9AM-7PM EST M-F) Event ID: 1032506625

PARKING:
Parking for this event will not be hosted, but is available at the World Trade Center, entrance located at 335 S. Flower Street. Rates are $8.00/day if you arrive before 10 AM, and $15/day after.

Product(s): Microsoft Hyper-V Server, Microsoft System Center and Microsoft technologies.

Audience(s): Architect, IT Decision Maker, IT Generalist, IT Implementer and IT Manager.

The Support Quarterly Lifeline Newsletter enables our customers to better understand what they can do to keep their products supported, such as transitioning to new services packs or exploring existing alternatives to the end of support.  Subscription link for English version is below:

• Support Quarterly Lifeline Newsletter
  https://profile.microsoft.com/RegSysProfileCenter/subscriptionwizard.aspx?wizid=98973176-f0b1-4f60-957d-5936c3b933c0&lcid=1033

This past quarter’s newsletter covered the following:

• End of Support for Windows XP and Office 2003: Top Three Questions Answered
• Why is support ending for Windows XP SP3 and Office 2003?
• What does the end of support mean?
• What are customer options following April 8, 2014?
• Clarification of the Microsoft Support Policy for Daylight Saving Time or Time Zone Changes
• Support Lifecycle Policy for Microsoft Reader

Designing software, creating code and then bringing a product to market is an incredibly complex affair — and it’s becoming more complex by the minute as software users demand greater integration between applications, across devices and among services.

To help integrate cross-functional teams and help developers accomplish goals more efficiently, Microsoft released code-named “Visual Studio 11” Beta and .NET Framework 4.5 Beta on Feb. 29.

“Visual Studio 11” is an integrated solution that helps individuals and development teams of any size to be productive and focused, to collaborate seamlessly with colleagues, and to turn their ideas into exceptional and compelling applications.

The .NET Framework 4.5 enables developers to productively build responsive, scalable and efficient client and server applications. Download ”Visual Studio 11” Beta and .NET Framework 4.5 Beta and learn more about the new features by visiting http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio. To see screen shots of the new user interface, visit http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/developer.

See also:

• Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Professional Beta
• Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Team Foundation Server Beta
• Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Ultimate Beta
• Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Premium Beta
• Agents for Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Beta
• Team Explorer for Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Beta
• Agents for Microsoft® Visual Studio® 11 Beta Language Pack
• Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Test Professional Beta Language Pack
• Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Beta Shell (Isolated)
• Remote Tools for Visual Studio 11 Beta
• Microsoft Team Explorer Everywhere 11 Beta
• Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Team Foundation Server Express Beta
• Feedback Client Language Pack for Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Beta
• Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Beta SDK
• Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Beta Shell (Isolated) Language Pack
• Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Beta Shell (Integrated)
• Team Explorer for Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Beta Language Pack
• Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Test Professional Beta
• Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Beta Shell (Integrated) Language Pack
• Feedback Client for Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Beta
• Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Express Beta for Windows 8
• Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Beta Language Pack
• IntelliTrace Collector for Visual Studio 11 Beta
• Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 11 Installation Guide
• Microsoft® .NET Framework® 4.5 Beta
• Microsoft® .NET Framework® 4.5 Beta Language Pack

Test Lab Guide: Base Test Lab Guide for Windows Server "8" Beta

This Microsoft Test Lab Guide (TLG) provides you with step-by-step instructions to create the Windows Base Configuration test lab, using computers running Windows 8 Consumer Preview or Windows Server “8” Beta. With the resulting test lab environment, you can build test labs based on other Windows Server "8" Beta-based TLGs from Microsoft, TLG extensions in the TechNet Wiki, or a test lab of your own design that can include Microsoft or non-Microsoft products.

For a test lab based on physical computers, you can image the drives for future test labs. For a test lab based on virtual machines, you can create snapshots of the base configuration virtual machines. This enables you to easily return to the base configuration test lab, where most of the routine infrastructure and networking services have already been configured, so that you can focus on building a test lab for the product, technology, or solution of interest. See also the following new Guides for Windows Server 8 Beta:

• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate Remote Desktop Services in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate Remote Desktop Services Desktop Virtualization in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate High Availability Printing in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate Virtualized Domain Controller (VDC) in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate ADDS Simplified Administration in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate DirectAccess Single Server Setup with Mixed IPv4 and IPv6 in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate DirectAccess Simplified Setup in an IPv4-only Test Environment in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate Windows Server "8" Beta Print and Document Services
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrating DHCP Failover in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate IP Address Management (IPAM) in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Servicing in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot BitLocker in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Remote Desktop Services Desktop Virtualization in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Scale-out File Servers in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Printing in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Remote Access in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Remote Desktop Services in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot High Availability Printing in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Activation Technologies in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot IP Address Management (IPAM) in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Cluster-Aware Updating_(CAU) in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Hyper-V Replica in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot DHCP Failover in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Dynamic Access Control in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Microsoft Online Backup Service in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot AD DS Simplified Administration in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Virtualized Domain Controller (VDC) in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Storage Spaces in Windows Server "8" Beta