Kurt Shintaku's Blog

We’ve recently ramped up for the launch of the Microsoft Translator Service, a Web-based service from Windows Live that enables both application software & other web sites & services to translate content between different human languages freely. 

Languages supported as of September 2008:

• English to/from:
  • Arabic
  • Chinese Simplified
  • Chinese Traditional
  • Dutch
  • French
  • German
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian (RUS->ENU only)
  • Spanish
• Chinese Simplified <-> Chinese Traditional

• What’s the scoop on Microsoft Translator?
  Microsoft Translator is the ingredient technology behind the “Translate with Windows Live” feature in IE8 Beta 2.  Check out Bill Veghte’s mail last night announcing the IE8 Beta 2 launch – included in the list of his top 5 favorite features!

  Translation powered by the Microsoft Translator technology is currently available through IE8, Live Search, Windows Live Toolbar; we also working on a translation bot for Windows Live Messenger, and working with product groups on integration into Office, Hotmail, and other Windows Live services to be announced.

• Big deal.  This has been around for a while hasn’t it?
  Not exactly.  While it’s been around for nearly a year, if you go to http://www.windowslivetranslator.com/, you’ll be using Microsoft own translation technology from the Microsoft Research team.
• How can I link to the Translator service from my public corporate site or blog?
  There will be instructions on how to link our services from your external-facing web site. 
• Can I test out the Messenger bot?
  The Messenger bot does translations for you! Just add mtbot@hotmail.com to your contacts and start chatting away. You can have one-on-one conversations with the bot, or you can invite a friend and chat in different languages with the bot translating for you.  The bot uses the same set of engines as http://www.windowslivetranslator.com does.
• And Office translations?
  Our translator is available through the Office Research Pane, now also for external users. Here are complete instructions. 

For more information:

• Translator Homepage: http://translator.live.com
• Windows Live Toolbar Translator Button: http://gallery.live.com/default.aspx?pl=3
• Add our Web Page Translator to *your* Site: http://translator.live.com/addin.aspx
• Need affordable professional Translation? Get an instant quote from our partner at LiveTranslation https://livetranslation.com/microsoft.default.aspx

Menu items will NOT appear on the Home screen unless it’s specifically configured for your device.

• MARKETPLACE:  For example, unless you’ve linked your device to a Windows Live account in the Zune desktop software, you won’t see the “Marketplace” menu item.
• PODCASTS:  If you haven’t synced any Podcasts in the Zune desktop software and you haven’t synced them to your device, you won’t see the “Podcasts” menu item.
• GAMES:  If you haven’t expressly installed Games on your Zune from the Zune 3.0 software installer, you won’t see the Games tab.
• AUDIOBOOKS:  If you haven’t installed Audible, you won’t see the Audiobook menu item.

LINK:  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956610?sd=zune

—————————————

Audible makes it’s debut on Zune 3.0
And speaking of Audible:
Download the Audible Manager and get started installing Audiobooks and most importantly daily subscriptions to the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal.

Sadly, a long time ago, back in 2000, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and other periodicals were represented as daily subscriptions on Audible.  But they all cut out after a year because I guess it wasn’t popular.

But who knows?  Maybe they’ll be again soon with the addition of Zune and it’s business-oriented customer base.

LINK:  http://www.zune.net/audible

How ‘bout that.  I didn’t even know our guys were talking with CBS Radio.  Looks like they hooked up with KROQ to create an exclusive channel for alternative music in the Zune 3.0 desktop software & the new Zune Marketplace.

Here are most of the songs from Castle Crashers that can be found on Newgrounds. They can also be downloaded straight from Newgrounds now. These are legally downloadable for your listening pleasure.

• Opening Title Screen
• Arena Theme
• Blacksmith and Shop Theme
• Forest Entrance
• Thieves Forest
• Abandoned Mill Chase
• The Cave song
• Wedding Crash Hallway
• Snow Level
• Forest Troll
• Parade
• Lava World
• Pirate Ship
• Online Menu
• Flying Black Knight Fight
• Desert Stage
• Marsh
• Ice Castle
• End of level

DOWNLOAD:
http://forums.xbox.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=22490189

<stolen from Eric Charron’s blog… he doesn’t seem to update it very often so I’m just gonna lift his post in case the site disappears>

One trick is that you have to follow the steps outlined here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/954282

Even if you install the Integration Components for Hyper-V, the VM will not update because the VMBus device will not start (This device cannot start. (code 10)).  What you have to do if you are trying to move is the following:

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. Start the virtual machine.
2. Click Start, click Run, type Msconfig.exe, and then click OK.
3. In the System Configuration dialog box, click the Boot tab, and then click Advanced Options.
4. In the BOOT Advanced Options dialog box, click to select the Detect HAL check box, and then click OK.
5. Click Yes to restart the virtual machine.
6. After the virtual machine is restarted, open Device Manager, and then verify that all Integration Services devices are installed.
7. In Device Manager, expand Computer, and then verify that ACPI x86-based PC is listed as the HAL.

Note You can clear the Detect HAL check box that you selected in step 4. If the Detect HAL check box is selected, the virtual machine takes a slightly longer time to start.

It’s been brought to my attention that it’s not entirely clear what the costs are associated with the courses, trainings, workshops, and hands-on-labs that I post on this blog.

Unless otherwise specified, the cost associated for any training, workshop, event, launch, or hands-on-lab that I post on this blog is, well, “NOTHING”.  Just register – first come, first served.

The event is complimentary to our directly supported, Enterprise customers, meaning that only customers that have Account Managers & sales staff supporting them have access to the event.  This makes for a good opportunity to discuss issues & challenges with other companies working with the same technologies you are.

Ultimately, at our workshops, Microsoft picks up the tab for:

• Instructor fees
• Workshop manuals & materials
• Equipment

Additionally, if specified, we’re often also picking up:
(A lot of this depends on the venue, the time of day, the date, how many people there are, the technology represented since some product groups are ‘better off’ than others, etc.)

• Breakfast/Lunch
• Parking

The Configuration Manager team is pleased to announce the release of System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R2! The installation kit is available through the Download Center.

This release includes key enhancements in the following areas:

• Application Virtualization Management
• Client Status Reporting
• OS Deployment
• SQL Reporting Services Integration
• Forefront Client Security Integration

Below is a brief overview of each major enhancement category, with detailed information available on TechNet.

Application Virtualization Management
The Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 feature set is integrated into the Configuration Manager 2007 R2 release. This provides administrators with the ability to manage and deploy virtual applications using Configuration Manager. It gives administrators the same experience for managing virtual applications as standard, or “physical,” applications, where logical. The core scenarios enabled in this feature set include packaging and distribution of virtual applications, deployment of virtual applications to clients (connected and offline), launching and running virtual applications (connected and offline), and inventory and reporting of virtual applications.

Client Status Reporting
This feature is built on the SMS 2003 Client Health Tool but includes important new improvements and features. An external service is provided that queries site systems and Configuration Manager clients for client status on agent activity and overall health. The system then reports on key indicators of client activity to help administrators monitor and maintain the health of their Configuration Manager clients.

OS Deployment
With R2 we provide for support of multicast of OS images to Windows PE, simplifying the deployment process in this scenario. In addition, R2 introduces the capability of doing OS provisioning without the need to pre-create records in Configuration Manager. This capability is delivered via a feature called “unknown computer support.” This feature works with boot media and PXE boot. We’ve also implemented two new resources that can be put into collections and targeted with task sequences (x86 Unknown Computer and x64 Unknown Computer). Also new within the OSD feature set is the ability to specify credentials on Run Command Line task sequence action. This provides “Run As” capability for applications, such as SQL Server, that should be installed under a specific account.

SQL Reporting Services Integration
Configuration Manager 2007 R2 provides native integration with SQL Reporting Services as a reporting solution. Administrators have the ability to convert/copy classic SMS reports to Report Definition Language format and publish them to the “Reporting Services Point” server. This feature provides the ability to manage, browse and run SQL Reporting Services Configuration Manager reports from the Configuration Manager console.

Forefront Client Security Integration
With Configuration Manager 2007 R2 we have provided integration with Forefront Client Security, Microsoft’s security solution providing malware protection for business desktops, laptops and server systems. The integration is facilitated through a Configuration Pack that assesses the states of the Forefront Client Security agents on machines that are managed by Configuration Manager 2007 R2. The Configuration Manager administrator can view reports of the overall states of the Forefront Client Security clients through the existing Desired Configuration Management reporting infrastructure.

We are excited about the new functionality provided in the R2 release and encourage you to begin your upgrade plans!

DOWNLOAD:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=7376214f-cba3-4e0d-81fe-ad52488be3a3&displaylang=en

MORE INFO:
http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/configmgr/default.mspx

WEBCAST: System Center Configuration Manager SP1 and R2 Overview (Level 300)
https://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032369054&EventCategory=5&culture=en-US&CountryCode=US

We are pleased to announce the Windows Server Virtualization Exam (70-652) which leads to “Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): Windows Server Virtualization, Configuration” Certification will go live on August 25.

The skills measured in the test are:

• Installing Hyper-V (14 percent)
• Configuring and Optimizing Hyper-V (20 percent)
• Deploying Virtual Machines (30 percent)
• Managing and Monitoring Virtual Machines (36 percent)

Preparation Tools and Resources

You can also visit http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exams/70-652.mspx for more information.

Man, I just love this.

Kotaku did a survey of 100 retailers asking them basically what console they should buy for their 15 year old son.

You can probably guess what the consensus was but what will surprise you is how the responses breakdown.  This is a helluva survey.

LINK:
http://kotaku.com/5050453/the-100-retailer-pop-quiz-+-what-gaming-console-should-we-buy

Interested in Microsoft Virtualization technologies?  Can’t get to our hands-on-labs events?  We have several eLearning courses being made available online for free for a limited time called “Exploring Microsoft Virtualization Technologies”.  They include 4 clinics and 7 hours of content… all for FREE!

Collection 6333: Exploring Microsoft Virtualization Technologies

This collection of three 2-hour online clinics and an 1-hour online clinic provides IT Professionals experienced in Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003 with the knowledge and skills to implement and manage virtualization technologies.
Topics covered in the clinic within the collection include:

• Introduction to Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008
• Overview of Microsoft Application Virtualization
• Overview of Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008
• Overview of Hyper-V

Student Prerequisites

• Experience in planning, implementing, and supporting Windows Server–based networks, operating systems and platform infrastructure. This may include experience in Windows 2000 Server, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Server 2008.
• Knowledge of server virtualization and Hyper-V.

This offer includes the following:

E-Learning

• Clinic 5935: Introducing Hyper-V in Windows Server 2008
• Clinic 6334: Exploring Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008
• Clinic 6335: Exploring Microsoft Application Virtualization
• Clinic 6336: Exploring Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008

DOWNLOAD:
https://www.microsoftelearning.com/eLearning/offerDetail.aspx?offerPriceId=228501