Kurt Shintaku's Blog

[this is a repeat of a previous post I wrote however some people have asked for it again and finding it can be a pain so…]

Have you ever accidentally hit SEND on an email before it should have been sent?

Ever found yourself frantically unplugging your network cable or shutting off your wireless to prevent the email from going out?

What if you had a rule that always delayed the transmission of any email you sent to give you a minute to "think it over" even after pressing the SEND button, except if you specifically indicate that the email needs to be sent immediately?
————————————

HOWTO: Delay the delivery of all outbound Outlook messages by 1 minute
(Unless there are 3 spaces in the subject line which will send the email immediately)

• On the Tools menu, click Rules and Alerts, and then click New Rule.
• Select Start from a blank rule.
• In the Step 1: Select when messages should be checked box, click Check messages after sending, and then click Next.
• In the Step 1: Select condition(s) list, select any options you want, and then click Next.
  If you do not select any check boxes, a confirmation dialog box appears. Clicking Yes applies this rule to all messages you send.
• In the Step 1: Select action(s) list, select defer delivery by a number of minutes. Delivery can be delayed up to two hours.
• In the Step 2: Edit the rule description (click on an underlined value) box, click the underlined phrase a number of and enter the number of minutes you want messages held before sending. (I enter "1" which is the default.)
• Click OK, and then click Next.
• Select any exceptions, except if the subject contains specific words .
• Edit the rule description (click on an underlined value) box, click the underlined phrase specific words and enter in 3 spaces.
• Click OK. Click Next.
• In the Step 1: Specify a name for this rule box, type a name for the rule.
• Click Finish.

Famed messaging migration experts & software developers, Binary Tree, have officially halted all Google mail migration technology development and left the Google partner program. 

If you know anything about mail migration, you know the name Binary Tree.  Any Enterprise company that’s either migrated from one mail platform to another (Lotus Notes to Exchange for instance) or had to integrate another company’s mail system into theirs as a result of mergers or acquisitions has at least visited the potential use of Binary Tree’s messaging migration/coexistence solutions.

Their exit from the Google partner program and separation from any migration tools into Google’s cloud mail offerings is telling.  I’ll let them explain why.

Binary Tree Exits Google Enterprise Partner Program

NEWARK, NJ – September 30, 2010 – Binary Tree, the world’s leading provider of cross-platform messaging migration and coexistence solutions, announced today that it is dropping its business partnership with Google. This means the suspension of all sales and marketing efforts for its CMT for Google Apps email migration product, and the exodus from the Google Enterprise Partner Program. Binary Tree will redirect resources to focus completely on transitioning customers to Microsoft’s on-premises and cloud based solutions for Microsoft Exchange and SharePoint.

“It’s simply a matter of customer demand,” stated Henry Bestritsky, Co-CEO of Binary Tree. “The tremendous uptake we are seeing in the market for migrating to the Microsoft messaging and collaboration platform cannot be ignored. And that includes moving to the cloud-based versions of these solutions like Microsoft’s Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS). The customers we’ve talked to about moving to the cloud, regardless of their size, have told us that they don’t want to move to an e-mail system that offers less functionality and decreases their end user’s overall experience. They are used to a full-featured user experience for e-mail, calendaring and collaboration, and won’t compromise their user’s productivity to save a few bucks. Our goal is to focus our people, processes and technology on helping our clients and partners to transition to the optimal environment for their business value, and hands-down we feel that is the Microsoft platform.”

Additional issues with Google were outlined by the General Manager of Binary Tree’s operations in Europe, Stefan af Bjur. Stefan stated that “the companies we have spoken to in Europe have specific requirements for privacy and security that haven’t been met by Google’s hosted solutions. This is especially true of the multi-nationals with offices in Europe who have told me that they need these issues to be addressed and would also like to see a realistic roadmap from Google before even considering their cloud. To date, Microsoft continues to be the preferred choice for cloud services from these types of companies, as shown by the recent decision of a global provider in transport and energy infrastructure based in France.”

…

Read more at:
http://www.binarytree.com/Company/btn28.aspx?goback=%2Egde_1821963_member_31015127

A lightweight version of Avicode technology is shipping in SCOM with the understanding that to get the full version you need to upgrade to the full version sold through our partner, Avicode.   This link below was recently announced and should be a part of any discussion when looking to bring in SCOM to a development shop developing on the Microsoft application stack.

This is great news and I hope this acquisition can further our goal to help monitor the most complex IT environments (with SCOM) including both customer infrastructure and custom application requirements.

More info:
http://www.microsoft.com/pathways/avicode/

Learn about Microsoft’s Acquisition of AVIcode
Microsoft has acquired AVIcode, a market leader in application performance monitoring and diagnostics of .NET applications and services. AVIcode will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft and will continue to fulfill its existing commitments to customers. AVIcode products will be integrated with System Center’s licensing model to enable customers to take advantage of a flexible, cost effective and simple approach to purchasing management capabilities.

Read the announcement blog post from Brad Anderson, CVP of Microsoft’s Management and Service Division here.

Get Answers

1. How does the AVIcode technology fit with existing System Center suite of products?
2. Can customers buy more AVIcode licenses or upgrades?
3. Who does the AVIcode customer need to contact for customer service and support?
4. What impact does this have on existing AVIcode partners?

3 Benefits of the Acquisition for AVIcode Customers

1. Brings together dynamic .NET application performance management with cost effective IT management from a single vendor able to support the end to end datacenter service lifecycle
2. Provides access to an extensible management platform to meet the complete needs of datacenter service management
3. Delivers access to a cost effective management platform for physical and virtual management

Ooh.  Have you heard?  Microsoft Online Services Suite customers are gonna be getting not only Exchange Online, Sharepoint Online, Office Communications Online, and LiveMeeting… but also OFFICE WEB APPS.  Yup.  For those who don’t know, that includes:

• Word Web App
• Excel Web App
• PowerPoint Web App
• OneNote Web App

Microsoft: Office Web Apps coming to its hosted business suite
By Juan Carlos Perez

October 4, 2010 03:21 PM ET

Microsoft has definite plans to add Office Web Apps to its hosted Business Productivity Online Standard Suite (BPOS), but the company isn’t providing a specific timetable for the integration.

Without those applications, BPOS continues to trail other rivals, namely Google Apps, which offer office productivity applications as a default component of their broader cloud-based collaboration and communication suites.

"We’ll certainly be talking a lot more about Office Web Apps delivered through BPOS as part of future capabilities of BPOS," said Betsy Webb, general manager of Microsoft’s Online Services division, in a phone interview.

Office Web Apps offers hosted versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote that have a subset of the features found in the on-premise Microsoft Office suite.

…

Read more at:
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9189323/
Microsoft_Office_Web_Apps_coming_to_its_hosted_business_suite_

App Analysis did a study on the privacy of Android apps which was written about at PC World:

• http://www.pcworld.com/article/206710/is_your_android_phone_spying_on_you.html?tk=nl_cox_t_crawl.

From the article:

The researchers looked at 30 popular Android apps, including The Weather Channel, MySpace, Evernote, BBC News Live Stream, Yellow Pages, and Spongebob Slide. They used a home-made tool called TaintDroid to track what data was being shared and with whom. The skinny:

• Two thirds of these apps violated user privacy by sharing location data or information that could identify individual handsets.
• Half of them sent user location information to advertising networks like Admob or analytics companies like Flurry without user consent.
• Seven of the apps sent the unique device identification numbers of the GSM user and the handsets’ SIM card to its servers.
• Two of the apps captured the users’ cell phone number along with the ID number and the users’ geographical coordinates.

Based on a study located at http://appanalysis.org/tdroid10.pdf.

Yay!  Windows Live Essentials is available for download!
[taken from the Windows Live Blog]

We are pleased to announce that Windows Live Essentials 2011 for Windows 7 and Windows Vista is now available for download! (Releasing in 48 languages over the next few hours, so if your language is not yet available, it will be very soon.) Windows Live Essentials 2011 was designed and built to connect your PC to the services you use every day. We’re also announcing today that Dell will be the first global PC manufacturer to ship PCs with Windows Live Essentials 2011 and Windows 7 pre-installed, just in time for your holiday purchases. Many other PC manufacturers are also planning to make Windows Live Essentials 2011 available and we’ll continue to keep you updated as they start releasing.

Designed for Windows 7

Windows Live Essentials 2011 was designed from the ground up for Windows 7. You can pin your applications to the taskbar and use jump lists to quickly get to common tasks. The ribbon brings common tasks to the front, letting you filter photos, change your font, or publish to your favorite services in a single click.

• For parents, Windows Live Family Safety gives you the tools to help keep your kids safer on the Internet.
• If you have more than one PC, or a PC and a Mac, Windows Live Mesh helps you sync your files and folders across your PCs and connect back to your PC from virtually anywhere.

Connected to the services you use

Windows Live connects your Windows PC to the services you use every day. Use Window Live Photo Gallery to share photos with your friends on SkyDrive, Flickr, SmugMug, Facebook, and more.

• Create a video using Windows Live Movie Maker and instantly publish it to YouTube.
• Stay in touch with your friends on Facebook, LinkedIn, and MySpace using the new Windows Live Messenger.
• Use Windows Live Writer to update your blog on WordPress.com, Blogger, TypePad, and many more blogging services.
• Use Windows Live Mail to keep track of your email from Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, and more.

Download it today!

Get started and download Windows Live Essentials 2011 today. It is being released in 48 languages over the next few hours, so if you don’t see it in your language yet, you should see it very soon. If you’re running Windows Vista or Windows 7 on your PC, make sure you have the latest Windows updates installed before you install Windows Live Essentials (see the system requirements here). If your computer is still running Windows XP, you can, of course, continue to use the current Windows Live Essentials software, and then switch to Windows Live Essentials 2011 when you buy a new PC or upgrade to Windows 7.

Together with Windows 7 and the new Internet Explorer 9 beta, Windows Live Essentials completes your Windows experience and connects your PC to the services you use every day. Try it out and let us know what you think!

On behalf of the entire Windows Live team, thanks for trying Windows Live Essentials 2011!

Chris Jones
Vice President, Windows Live engineering

UPDATE 9/29/10: 
LifeCam Studio receives PC’s Mag Editor’s Choice Award!
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/
0,2817,2369374,00.asp

———————
ORIGINAL POST:
Microsoft Corp. today sets a new standard in webcams with LifeCam Studio, featuring sharp high-definition (HD) video with a true 1080p sensor¹. Microsoft’s newest LifeCam is the perfect complement to Windows Live Messenger 2011, which will offer HD video calling in a 16:9 widescreen format so everyone can easily be seen in the video call with amazing detail². When people can’t attend an important life moment in person, LifeCam Studio delivers the closest thing to being there.

As Microsoft’s first webcam with a 1080p sensor, LifeCam Studio delivers superior sharpness and image quality in video calls. The native 1080p sensor is more than twice as large as the 720p HD sensors on the market and lets more light in so people experience great video in virtually any lighting condition. Whether the sun is streaming in the window or the user is lit only by the light from the computer monitor, LifeCam Studio brings friends and family closer than ever before.

More Than Just Good Looks
In addition to a high-quality video picture, LifeCam Studio features a stunning industrial design. But it’s not just about great design; every piece of this webcam serves a purpose. The new webcam is Microsoft’s first to feature a tripod thread, perfect for recording long video captures from different angles — not only in front of the monitor. LifeCam Studio also includes these features:

• A 360-degree view range, which means that users can easily point the camera at themselves or around the room — no need to pick up an entire laptop and turn it around.
• An elongated hood modeled after a high-end camera to help protect the lens from stray light to avoid washed-out colors.

First-Class Technology
LifeCam Studio features premium optics, with improved Auto Focus to keep objects in focus no matter how far the distance from the LifeCam³, and a high-precision glass element lens for superior clarity. It also includes two technologies to ensure video remains true to life in almost any environment:

• TrueColor Technology automatically delivers bright and colorful video in virtually any lighting condition and helps keep the most important part of the video call — the face — properly exposed.
• ClearFrame Technology helps keep video smooth and detailed even in low light.

Pricing & Availability
LifeCam Studio will be available exclusively at Best Buy stores later this month for the estimated retail price of $99.95⁴ and is available on BestBuy.com starting today. Microsoft backs this product with a worldwide three-year limited hardware warranty. More information about these and other Microsoft Hardware products can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware.

Product Web Site:
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/digitalcommunication/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=021

We are proud to announce The Microsoft Certified Career Conference.

Why this event? Well, staying competitive in the job market is top of mind for most people these days. Skills and knowledge can give you the competitive edge – whether you are just starting your career in IT or looking at your next career step. The Microsoft Certified Career Conference is a series of virtual events where you can meet potential employers, hone your technical knowledge, acquire job-seeking skills, network with fellow professionals, and glean career advice from real-life experts in the field.

What will you learn? Well, we will be offering a number of tracks that will help you build the technical skills as well as the soft skills that can make you stand out in the crowd. In addition you can visit the Career Fair and meet potential future employers. Whether you want to see who is hiring around the world, what types of positions are currently open in the market, or just want the opportunity to chat directly with company recruiters about their ideal candidates – The Career Fair offers a wide variety of opportunities. A full company list for your review will be available for download closer to the event date.

The conference’s main tracks:

• First Course: Technical sessions based on Microsoft Official courses where you will get a ‘taste’ of the course. We will offer sessions for IT Professionals, Developers, and Office power users and they will be delivered by MCTs and courseware authors. Audience: anyone considering taking Microsoft Training, each session will focus on one specific course.
• Super Cert Me: Thinking about taking an exam? How about some help in preparing for the exam? Audience: these high tempo exam preparation sessions assume a proficient level of knowledge on the course’s topic.
• Best practices: landing a job is an art – these sessions will help you identify the job that is right for you, write great letters, prepare for job interviews etc. etc.
• People and Technology: Whether you are in an IT career or whether you manage a team, new technologies impact the way we all work. What impact can ‘Cloud Computing’ have on your career or on your team? Will Unified Communications change the way we work? Audience: Hiring Managers, MCPs
• Opportunity Knocks: New technology = new business opportunity. Learn more about the technology, find out how where the business opportunities are and how to get started.
• The 60 Minute Rock Star: whether you are in accounting, marketing or an administrative assistant, we will show you tricks that will boost your productivity and amaze your colleagues
• A Day in the Life: What is it actually like to be an IT manager, an Enterprise Administrator, or an application developer? People in these roles will share what life is like for them, the challenges they face, the opportunities they see, the skills they learned on the job etc.
• MCT & Educator track: Microsoft Certified Trainers and academic educators are invited to learn about new courses and the tools of the trade. Audience: MCTs and Educators.

We’re still working on these tracks and of course we would love to hear your suggestions and input. At the same time, we look forward to the Career Fair, where you can meet potential future employers and discuss potential job roles. Be a part of it and register now.

MCPs and MCTs: keep an eye out for the MCP and MCT Newsletters for an attractive MCP discount!

Look out for more updates here on Born to Learn and of course: Find us on Facebook.

[taken from http://borntolearn.mslearn.net/btl/b/weblog/archive/2010/09/17/announcing-the-microsoft-certified-career-conference.aspx]

• REGISTER: The Microsoft Certified Career Conference
  http://www.msregistration.com/msl

The new Internet Explorer 9.0 Beta has been released with many new features as outlined in the Internet Explorer 9 Product Guide. 

• IE9 Product Guide (26MB PDF):  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/
  details.aspx?FamilyID=90a49773-64c8-4be8-9312-22bd3fcd59b8&displaylang=en
  (Download the IE9 Beta: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/ie/default.aspx)

This product guide outlines new features in Internet Explorer 9 Beta, highlights the top features, and provides additional information on features specific for end users, developers, and IT professionals.

What’s new in Internet Explorer 9?

• Hardware acceleration
• Streamlined design
• Pinned Sites
• Download Manager
• Enhanced tabs
• New Tab page
• Search in the address bar
• Notification Bar
• Add-on Performance Advisor

Once IE9 is installed:
Head over to www.beautyoftheweb.com to learn about the rest of IE9 and experience some of the early sites developers and designers have been able to build using IE9 and Windows. Enjoy fully hardware accelerated HTML5 with KEXP Airplay Data Visualization, Speed Reading, Fish Tank and Flickr Explorer .

Find resources on how to deploy, manage, and develop with Internet Explorer 9.

We recently released a new dashboard for customers of Microsoft Cloud-based services such as Exchange Online, Sharepoint Online, and Office Communications Online.  [taken from the Microsoft Online blog]

Introducing the Microsoft Online Service Health Dashboard

As I mentioned in my previous post, the mission of my team is to make sure that BPOS customers have a great experience with our services. Since writing my first post for this Team Blog, I have talked with a number of customers and followed your comments closely. One theme that has carried through – both in past and more recent conversations – is the desire of our customers to have more detailed information about the status of their services. 

Today, we’re taking a step forward in delivering more timely, accurate and targeted information about BPOS service status by introducing the Microsoft Online Service Health Dashboard.  It is designed to provide a greater level of information regarding the status of all services and tools, and it includes information about current service status as well a 35-day status history.

Accessing the Service Health Dashboard

There are separate Service Health Dashboard for each of our three data center regions: Americas, serving customers in North America and Latin America (NOAM); Europe, the Middle-East and Africa (EMEA); and Asia-Pacific (APAC).

Administrators can navigate to their regional Service Health Dashboard using one of the following URLs; administrators then use their normal BPOS credentials to access the Dashboard:

Datacenter Location	Service Health Dashboard URL
Americas (NOAM)	https://health.noam.microsoftonline.com/
Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA)	https://health.emea.microsoftonline.com/
Asia-Pacific (APAC)	https://health.apac.microsoftonline.com/

Using the Service Health Dashboard

Upon logging into the Service Health Dashboard, administrators are presented with the status of the current day and week for all BPOS services.  The status for each service or tool represented in the Service Health Dashboard is represented by one of four icons, each representing a different level of service availability.

Current day status displays the status as of the last login or page refresh. The historical status displays the greatest level of service degradation for the given day. The Additional Information, Performance Degradation, and Service Interruption icons are clickable, providing drilldown information about service status the given service and day. Clicking the Previous Week link allows administrators can navigate to historical service status for preceding weeks.

With all improvements to BPOS, we’re trying to increase our timeliness, accuracy and granularity of information.  I encourage every administrator to poke through the site and provide us with feedback regarding usage and improvements.  We hope the service health dashboard gives you confidence that we take information regarding status very seriously, and that you can stay ahead of questions from your own internal customers and users. 

As always, if you are experiencing service issues or have questions about the Service Health Dashboard, we encourage customers to contact us. Our customer support is available, 24 hours a day, by telephone or via Service Requests submitted from the Microsoft Online Services Administration Center.