Kurt Shintaku's Blog

In these three short screen casts, IT Pro Evangelist Matt Hester shows how you can help customers install the Service Level Dashboard 2.0 for System Center Opera­tions Manager 2007 R2 to keep mission-critical, line of business applications up and running.  The dashboard automatically displays application or system availability and performance in near-real time. 

Using the dashboard, customers can easily keep track of availability and performance trends, and head off problems before they occur.  The dashboard also lets customers easily create role-specific dashboards to support differ­ent departments, like HR, Finance, or Operations. 

• Part 1: Service Level Dashboard overview 
  link: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=177619
• Part 2: How to install Service Level Dashboard 
  link:  http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=177621
• Part 3: How to configure Service Level Dashboard 
  link: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=177622

If you don’t have the Service Level Dashboard downloaded already, grab it from this link:

• Service Level Dashboard 2.0 for System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2
  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=1d9d709f-9628-46a8-952b-a78f5dd2bdd9&displaylang=en

…For Today, Tomorrow and Beyond.
http://www.flexibilitysecurityandcontrol.com

Cloud computing is becoming an increasingly popular approach to driving down costs while making the business more nimble. With Microsoft cloud computing, you can:

• Increase productivity and satisfaction by providing seamless experiences across the PC, Web, and phone and from the data center to the cloud
• Remain confident that your data and services will be protected and available as you reap the efficiency, cost, and environmental benefits of the cloud
• Choose whether your applications will run locally, in the cloud, or a combination of the two based on your business needs

Interested in the potential of cloud computing for your business? We invite you to join us for a series of webcasts to learn how our approach enables enterprise-class services, consistent connected experiences, and the power of choice.

Unifying the Workplace: Connecting Deskless Workers to Critical Information – An Industry Perspective:
Do you have a large number of “deskless” workers in your organization who use computers very infrequently if at all? Is your organization forced to share critical benefits and company information with them mainly through expensive printing of hardcopies, intra-company mailings, posting on bulletin boards, shared kiosks/PCs or direct mailings?

Join one of the webcasts below to learn more about how organizations within your industry are using Cloud Services to connect the deskless worker to critical information.

If you are eager for information in advance of the webcasts and the in-person conferences, we invite you to visit the following websites:

• Online Services from Microsoft
• Microsoft Strategy: Software + Services
• Microsoft Cloud Computing Infrastructure
• Dynamics CRM Online
• Windows Azure Platform

Or, check out the following materials:

• Forrester Report: Tier Your Workforce To Save Money With Cloud-Based Corporate Email; Forrester finds customers can save "$1.3 million annually with Exchange Online Deskless Worker" – Forrester
• Microsoft pumps cloud, trumps Google with GSK – ZDNet
• Introducing the Windows Azure Platform

Everyone has this problem.  They go to work, log into their corporate network, and they use a corporate printer.  Then they go home, they log into their home network, and they and they have to change their default printer to a home printer.

Windows 7 makes this process AUTOMATIC through a new feature called “Location Aware Printing”.  Depending on what network you’re on, it’s easily configurable to have your default printer change.

1. Click START –> CONTROL PANEL –> DEVICES & PRINTERS
2. Select a Printer already listed.  The Menu will list an item called “Manage default printers”.
3. Click “Manage default printers”

Here’s the weird part:  This is automatically configured by printers.  When you log into a network and configure a default printer, that printer is automatically bound to that network as your default.  When you log into another network and configure yet another default printer there, it will remain the default printer only as long as you’re connected to that network.

So a lot of people probably had no idea that this feature was there.  It just made their lives easier because the “right printer” was always configured no matter where they went.  They probably didn’t even notice that they didn’t have to constantly reconfigure their default printer where ever they went.

And shouldn’t all improvements be that way?

We are running an exclusive event that will provide you with hands on experience with Windows Server 2008 R2 across a variety of common workloads.   This event will take place at two locations:

• The Microsoft Office in Downtown Los Angeles (Dec 15th)
• The Microsoft Technology Center in Irvine (Dec 10th)

This is a one day session.  

• Windows Server 2008 R2 Session Description
  This overview event will give students a hands-on introduction to Windows Server 2008 R2, with built-in web and virtualization technologies, which enable you to increase the reliability and flexibility of your server infrastructure.  New virtualization tools, web resources, and security enhancements help you save time, reduce costs, and provide a platform for a dynamic and optimized datacenter.  Powerful new capabilities like hosting ASP.NET application on Server Core, Live Migration of Virtual Machines, and Publishing Centralized Desktops provide cost saving solutions that ensure you have a flexible, manageable server infrastructure on which to build your business.

By attending this course you will become familiar with new capabilities across the four investment pillars – Web, Virtualization, Security and Management.

Registration:
Please RSVP with me if you are an Enterprise customer of mine and I will tell you when it is and how to register. 

Microsoft Southwest District – Los Angeles
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Hands On Labs  – Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
Address:
333 South Grand Ave, Suite 3300
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Phone: (213) 806-7300
See map and/or driving directions

Microsoft Southwest District – Irvine
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Hands On Labs  – Tuesday, December 10th, 2009
Address:
3 Park Plaza Suite 1600
Irvine, CA 92614
Phone: (949) 263-3000
See map and/or driving directions

One of the best Windows Phones out there, the Samsung Jack, is now upgradable to Windows Mobile 6.5.

Why do you care?  Windows Mobile 6.5 will provide folks with the following:

• Windows Marketplace for Windows Mobile
• Internet Explorer 6.0
• Instant access to AT&T’s WiFi networks when you’re arounmd them
• Vlingo
• Performance & reliability updates from 6.5

Get this while you can!  Remember:  ROM updates are posted for a limited time.

DOWNLOAD: 
http://ars.samsung.com/customer/usa/jsp/faqs/faqs_view.jsp?SITE_ID=22&PG_ID=2&PROD_SUB_ID=557&PROD_ID=558&AT_ID=177858

[originally taken from the WMExperts]

Starting in December, a free instructor-led training, “Introduction to Office Communicator,” will be offered at no-cost at various times.

• This high level course will explore:
• Instant Messaging
• Presence
• Contact Management
• Audio and Video
• Desktop Sharing
• Live Meeting
• Live sessions, held in a virtual classroom, allow users hands-on experience and live demonstrations to build knowledge, skills, and confidence.
• Recorded sessions are also available for on demand viewing.
• Registration through Live Meeting
  https://events.livemeeting.com/967/15027/reg.aspx

The next one is on Dec 09, 2009, 10:00 AM Pacific.  Please click the link for dates & times.

Support for all editions of Windows 2000 (Server and Professional) and Windows XP SP 2 ends on July 13, 2010. This transition date marks the natural progression in the support of these products, and is in accordance with the Microsoft Support Lifecycle policy for Business and Developer products.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

• All machines must be upgraded to supported OS’s to ensure on-going support.  Failure to do so means accepting the risk & responsibility of operating without the assistance of Premier Support or the availability of any patches.  This includes monthly security patches as well as stability, performance, and functional patches.
• Enterprise customers with existing Premier Support agreements may establish a “Custom Support Agreement” to specifically provide support for Windows 2000 or Windows XP SP2.  This is a time-limited cost paid to provide continued support for these products, which also require a pay-per-fix fee in addition to the ongoing custom support fee.  Note:  These agreements are in excess of $100,000/year, and per-fix charges are often $25k+ so this is usually not an acceptable solution for most.  See below for more information.
• There are a number of migration options, resources, and offerings available to customers migrating from Windows 2000 & Windows XP SP2

BACKGROUND:

• Extended Support for all editions of Windows 2000 Server and Windows 2000 Professional (including Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server, Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server, Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition, and, Microsoft Windows 2000 Server) ends on July 13, 2010. Customers running Windows 2000 will need to upgrade to supported products, such as Windows 7 and/or Windows Server 2008 R2.
• Additionally, support for Windows XP Service Pack 2 also retires on July 13, 2010. After this date, customers will need to be on Windows XP Service Pack 3 (or a supported product, such as Windows 7) to obtain support.
• After this date, public support for these products ends. After public support ends, Microsoft will no longer provide any assisted support or security updates to customers.
• This transition date marks the natural progression in the support of these products. It is in accordance with the Microsoft Support Lifecycle policy for Business and Developer products, which states that Microsoft will provide a minimum of 10 years of support to Business and Developer products. Windows 2000 has already received over 10 years of support. Windows XP has been supported since its RTM in 2001.

Support Options for Customers after July 13, 2010:

• Self-help Online Support
  All customers will still be able to access Self-help Online Support for Windows 2000, such as online Knowledge Base articles, FAQs, troubleshooting tools, and other resources, to help resolve common issues.
• Custom Support for Windows 2000 and Windows XP SP2
  Custom Support is also available for purchase for those customers who have not been able to complete their migration to a supported product or service pack, and absolutely need additional support from Microsoft.

  Custom Support for Windows 2000 and windows XP SP2 includes security hotfixes for vulnerabilities labeled as “Critical” by MSRC at no additional cost, and access to Problem Resolution Support. Customers may also have the ability to request non-security hotfixes on new issues, for a per-fix fee. Additionally, they will also have access to Microsoft’s existing database of security and non-security hotfixes for Windows 2000 that may be critical to their organizations.

  Note: To enroll in Custom Support, customers must have a Premier Support contract. Additionally, customers are required to have a migration plan in place, prior to purchasing Custom Support.

  Remember, Custom Support should be considered the option of last resort for those customers who are unable to complete their migration off Windows 2000 and Windows XP SP2. If you absolutely cannot complete their migration prior to support ending for Windows 2000 and Windows XP SP2, we can work with you to create a migration plan and potentially leverage the Custom Support program.
   

• Migration Planning: Help Customers Realize the Potential of Microsoft Software
  The latest, supported products, such as Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 provide greater security, reliability, environmentally friendly features, and a host of other benefits that our customers want to take advantage of. Migration blockers sometimes force customers to delay migration and continue to run legacy products. In such cases they frequently opt for expensive alternatives like Custom Support.

  Microsoft Services is uniquely positioned to help customers overcome migration blockers and adopt these latest, supported products. Work with your account team to identify migration blockers and communicate those to your leadership. There are a number of Services offerings and services that are available to enable customers to migrate off Windows 2000 and Windows XP SP2.

The new Bing Mobile 5.0 for Windows Mobile 6.1/6.5 devices in the US is out.  Non US locations or folks using older revisions of the OS (such as 6.0) must use the older Bing which is still available from the same link as the new 5.0 version.

Bing Mobile 5.0 now includes a variety of new features, including a facelift of the interface to more closely reflect the Bing site’s character:

• New Bing background/wallpapers.
• Traditional map views, satellite views, and traffic view which overlays the other two.
• Maps are now navigated using a finger-friendly menu bar/buttons at the base
• Optimized for cellular speeds, with inbound tiles coming in more frequently to constantly provide visuals
• Turn-by-turn directions
• “Locate Me”, leveraging GPS on phone which is on by default now
• “Speak to search”, providing look up of addresses and locations by voice
• Traditional directory of local services such as restaurants and other items one might find in the Yellow pages.
• New “News” section – providing current National & State news from Bing
• New “Zune-like” navigation

DOWNLOAD: Bing Mobile  (Visit the site from your Windows Mobile browser)
http://m.bing.com/download

The Microsoft Office 2010 Deployment Kit for App-V is required for sequencing and deploying Office 2010 client products with Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V). This kit includes the components required for Office license activation.
This product must be installed on the App-V sequencing station prior to monitoring the Office 2010 client installation.
This product must also be installed on the client machines to which virtualized Office 2010 client packages will be deployed. It can be configured to enable certain system components to interact with virtualized Office 2010, including:

• Fast search in virtualized Outlook 2010 using Windows Desktop Search
• Ability for virtualized Office 2010 applications to open, edit, and save Office files hosted with Windows SharePoint
• Search indexing support for Office file types
• URL protocol redirection to virtualized Outlook 2010
• Print to virtualized OneNote 2010

DOWNLOAD:  Microsoft Office 2010 Deployment Kit for App-V (Beta)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=fcacf32f-7da1-4e53-8181-c92fe8da4fd7

Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 is a new Windows product that allows multiple users to simultaneously share one computer. Ideal for educational institutions that want to provide more teachers and students with access to technology, Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 can provide a cost-effective solution for you!

Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 enables students to get the valuable 21st-century skills that come only from personal engagement with a computer. And, MultiPoint Server 2010 was designed to be easy for teachers to set up and use. It gives teachers and students the familiar Windows experience, allowing them to focus on teaching and learning the curriculum, not a new computer system.

And, since MultiPoint Server 2010 is based on the latest Windows technology, support can be obtained through a Microsoft authorized partner, you have access to its full capabilities, the latest updates, and the confidence that you are getting the experience you expect.

Coming in H1 of 2010.

MORE INFO: 
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/multipoint/default.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/multipoint/learn-more.aspx

BLOG:
http://blogs.technet.com/unlimitedpotential/archive/2009/11/12/expanding-education-s-access-to-technology-with-windows-multipoint-server-2010.aspx