Kurt Shintaku's Blog

Forefront TMG Beta 2 is available for public download at Microsoft web site. This TMG version has so many news that you have to take some time to install, analyze the new GUI, read the deployment guide and see with your own eyes the exciting new set of features that this version offers. Let me highlight some of them:

• SMTP Protection
• Network Inspection System
• Integration with the Forefront Security Suite (codename Stirling).
  For this you will need Stirling Beta 2.

Now go ahead and download TMG Beta 2 and enjoy this great release. On the page below you will find the bits, release note and deployment guide. So you are all set to test, evaluate and send feedback about TMG Beta 2:

DOWNLOAD:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e05aecbc-d0eb-4e0f-a5db-8f236995bccd&DisplayLang=en

(As taken from Yuri’s blog)

In today’s challenging economy, retail companies need to build a strong connection with customers, differentiate their brand, and make it easier for customers to spend with them.
Virtual Earth can help retailers:

• Showcase locations, products, and promotions on the Web.
• Boost business, particularly among multi-channel retailers that offer purchase online and pickup in store.
• Connect with customers through rich experiences that differentiate their brands.
• Gain insight for better decisions by visualizing business data in the context of location.

————–

Show Your Customers the Big Picture
Join Chris Pendleton, Microsoft Virtual Earth technical evangelist, to learn how Virtual Earth can help your company connect with customers, build loyalty, and boost profits.

• Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2009
  Time: 10 a.m. Pacific Standard Time

Register today to join this webcast and receive a free white paper on how Virtual Earth can help retail companies maximize their businesses.

————–

Virtual Earth Empowers Developers to See and Show the Big Picture
Learn how you can use Virtual Earth as a development platform to build immersive end-user experiences that connect customers with your locations, products, and services offered–on the desktop or on mobile devices.

• Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2009
  Time: 10 a.m. Pacific Standard Time

Register today to join this webcast and receive a free white paper on how Virtual Earth can help retail companies maximize their business.

Learn more:
www.microsoft.com/virtualearth

OMG.  It’s “PowerShell Wizard” by ye110wbeard of LandofSilly.
(as sung to the tune of “Pinball Wizard” by The Who)

http://landofsilly.mypodcast.com/2009/01/PowerShell_Wizard-177292.html

This is just awful.  And yet awesome at the same time.

I’m so confused.

(First of all, no, I wasn’t looking around for a job and this has nothing to do with the recent news about Microsoft’s 5000 head layoff.  Knock on wood. [meager smile!])

I was perusing some of the updated Microsoft blog RSS feeds I get and this article popped up as something rather interesting and yet a little controversial.  I thought it would be good food for thought for some… or possibly cannon fodder for others depending on your opinion. 

Five ways to fail my phone interview
Posted Tuesday, January 20 2009 by The JobsBloggers

Understanding that every recruiter conducts initial candidate screens differently, I wanted to share some of the themes that come up with candidates I don’t end up moving forward with. JobsBlog has lots of great tips for ways to improve your phone screen, but here are some things to avoid.

• Be Cognizant of Time – Most phone screens are budgeted for 30-45 minutes, which means there’s an opportunity to cover several topics at a high level or one to two in deep detail. I’ve always felt two minutes should be enough time to give a complete answer about your experience (granted, specific technical problems might take longer to solve). In any case, it makes sense to be aware of how long you take to answer a question. If more depth is needed, a recruiter will not be shy about asking you to expand!

…
READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE:
http://microsoftjobsblog.com/blog/fail-my-phone-interview/

Personally I found it interesting because I don’t think the advice is that difficult to follow especially if you prepare adequately however I can see how some things might be difficult for folks that aren’t used to speaking and thinking on their feet in oral engagements like these.

Take your web development and design skills to the next level at MIX09. Now in its fourth year, the MIX conference is a gathering of designers and developers who are building the world’s most innovative web sites.

Just like you, Microsoft understands that the Web is the future of commerce, education, and communication, and we want to make sure you have the tools and knowledge to create the next generation of UI, applications and web design.

At MIX09, you’ll get in-depth exposure to exciting new Microsoft technologies, exchange ideas with fellow developers and designers, meet the industry’s thought leaders and be inspired. MIX09 brings together the best ideas, sessions, parties and people, and it’s where you’ll find everything you need to ❤ your Web.

• Explore the next wave of opportunities and help redefine the boundaries between content and commerce, PC and TV, Windows® and the Web
• Be inspired by an impressive lineup of UX, design and development sessions
• Connect with experts on a wide range of topics for one-on-one guidance and inspiration
• Learn about the future of Silverlight™, Internet Explorer®, Expression®, ASP.NET and other web technologies from Microsoft
• Network with executives from Microsoft and some of the world’s largest web sites and interactive agencies

MIX09 brings together the best ideas, sessions, and people, and it’s where you’ll find everything you need to ❤ your Web.

Who Should Attend
MIX is for designers and developers who build innovative web sites. Attendees are coders, strategists, information architects, visual designers, UX professionals and digital marketers. They represent top web sites, web start-ups, interactive agencies and other organizations that do business on the Web.

LINK:
http://2009.visitmix.com/

Great news for anyone interested in Virtualization! Understanding Microsoft Virtualization Solutions from Microsoft Press is available to you as a FREE download.

This 15MB E-Book is over 400 pages long, so it is quite comprehensive. It covers all current Microsoft Virtualization technologies  even the newest, such as the Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V), and VDI. Definitely a worthwhile addition to your library.

Synopsis:
This guide will teach you about the benefits of the latest virtualization technologies and how to plan, implement, and manage virtual infrastructure solutions. The technologies covered include: Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2009, Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5, Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization, and Microsoft Virtual Desktop Infrastructure.

The book also provides insight into the Core Infrastructure Optimization model, and how implementing virtualization technologies can help move a company further along toward the goal of building an efficient, reliable Dynamic IT infrastructure.

DOWNLOAD:
Register at http://csna01.libredigital.com/?urmvs17u33

NOTE: Once you’ve authenticated using your Passport/Live ID the only required fields for registration are: name, country, role, and an email address. You’re taken directly to the download from there (you will need to temporarily allow Pop-Ups for the download window).

This is a limited time offer, (Seriously… It’ll be gone in a few weeks) so if you want it, you should download it now.

Many of you have asked for Office 2007 Quick Reference sheets that can be handed out to end users to allow them to refer to something for guidance when they first start using the new ribbon interface of Office 2007.

A company I use called “Custom Guide” provides freely distributable COLOR quick reference guides in PDF form that you can download and distribute to your end users for no charge.  They can be hosted internally for download within your organization’s support site, and duplicated as many times as you like.

• http://www.customguide.com/quick_references.htm

The quick references sheets include, among other things:

• Access 2007
• Excel 2007
• Internet Explorer 7.0
• Infopath 2007
• Office 2007
• OneNote 2007
• Outlook 2007
• Powerpoint 2007
• Publisher 2007
• Project 2007
• Sharepoint 2007
• Visio 2007
• Windows Vista
• Word 2007

…and they also have downloads for previous versions of many of the products as well.

BUT WHAT IF I WANT TO CUSTOMIZE THEM?
Well, if you want to put your company’s logo on the sheet (to hide the fact that you didn’t actually make the sheet yourself <ahem>), you need to license the sheets from CustomGuide.  You can then put your company logo on the sheet and make it appear a little more professional.  The licensing fees to do so incidentally are really minimal – something like a few hundred bucks I think for your whole organization.

They do NOT allow you to copy the content and modify it outside of the logo, however.  They might allow this with another licensing type or something but I don’t know how that works.

Microsoft is delighted to announce SharePoint Conference 2009 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 19-22, 2009.  Don’t miss your chance to attend the premier worldwide conference dedicated to SharePoint and related technologies!

SharePoint Conference 2009 will be the conference to learn about SharePoint “14”.  Be the first to learn about the improvements we’ve made to the platform and how many of those investments can be quickly implemented to add value to your organization and businesses.

If you’re an IT Professional, an IT Decision Maker, an Architect or a Developer you will find a deep set of technical content to give you a kick start for SharePoint “14” and further your skills and knowledge with SharePoint Server 2007. 

In addition to the session content you will have ample opportunities to network with technical and industry experts including many of the Microsoft staff that helped in building SharePoint, Microsoft Most Value Professionals and many of our top Certified Partners.

Early bird registration is open today for a $300 discount for the first 500 registrations only.   Don’t miss out on the biggest SharePoint event of the year!  Register today to save over 25% and secure your spot at this monumental event!

For more information please visit the SharePoint Conference website at www.MSSharePointConference.com.

Thank you again for your interest in the Conference. We hope to see you in October!

– The Microsoft SharePoint Conference 2009 Team | SPC@Microsoft.com

In a keynote address at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer announced the beta availability of the Windows 7 operating system as well as the availability of the latest version of the Windows Live, a suite of personal communications services and applications.

The beta version of Windows 7, Microsoft’s next-generation PC operating system, can be downloaded today by MSDN, TechBeta and TechNet customers. Consumers who want to test-drive the beta can also download the beta at http://www.microsoft.com/windows7.

• Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7
• WAIK Windows 7 Beta The Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK)
• Update for Windows 7 Beta (KB961367) and Update for Windows 7 Beta for x64-based Systems (KB961367) Install this update to resolve live and recorded TV issues in Windows Media Center.
• Windows 7 Beta Toolkits – All
• Windows 7 Walkthrough: Enterprise Application Compatibility
• Windows 7 Walkthrough: Deployment Image Servicing and Management
• Windows 7 Walkthrough: BitLocker and BitLocker to Go
• Windows 7 Walkthrough: Problem Steps Recorder
• Windows 7 Walkthrough: AppLocker
• Windows 7 Walkthrough: User State Migration Tool
• Windows AIK for Windows 7 Beta documentation
• Release Documents for this Beta Release of Windows 7

Does your organization have an Enterprise Agreement with Microsoft?  Do you have Sharepoint licensing on the contract?

If so, you likely have available to you a ton of Sharepoint resources that you and your staff may not even know about.

————

Microsoft Sharepoint eLearning

Using the Microsoft E-Learning extranet site, you can access a current list of Microsoft SharePoint E-Learning pre-sorted by role for IT Pro, Developer and Information Worker. Want to learn more about Software Assurance?

IT Pro	Developer	Information Worker (IW)
Collection 3376: Implementing Enterprise Search Collection 5403: Implementing Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Collection 5404: Implementing Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Collection 6306: Designing a Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Solution Collection 2286: Implementing Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services	Collection 5385: Developing Solutions with Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services Collection 5392: Developing and Extending Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services Collection 6071: Developing Solutions with Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Clinic 5045: Inside Look at Developing with Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Clinic 5046: Inside Look at Building and Developing Solutions with Microsoft® Office SharePoint® Server 2007	Collection 5266: Core Training for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Collection 6285: Working With Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Collection 6301: Working with Microsoft SharePoint Designer 2007 Course 4001: Team Collaboration Using Microsoft® Windows® SharePoint® Services Course 4114: Doing More with Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 2.0 Course 4115: Getting Started with Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 2.0

 

SharePoint Deployment Planning Services

SharePoint Deployment Planning Services (SDPS) is designed to help your organization plan an effective deployment of Microsoft Office SharePoint Server. SDPS includes a broad range of planning tools and services that help optimize the effectiveness of the Office SharePoint Server core capabilities, help lower the cost of deployment, and help improve the productivity of your organization.

Customers with Enterprise Agreements that have Sharepoint licensed, usually have SDPS available to them which essentially acts as an allocation of consulting funds for getting a Sharepoint deployment moving in the right direction.

Learn more…