Kurt Shintaku's Blog

If you attempt to install Windows Live Writer Beta and get the following message:

This program couldn’t be installed:  Writer Beta
Writer Beta couldn’t be installed. Core: 0x80004005

Don’t panic.  The problem is that you already have a previous version of Windows Live Writer installed.  (Version 12 likely)  The package downloader & installer for the Windows Live Betas is too stupid to understand that there’s an existing install of Windows Live Writer on your computer and doesn’t uninstall it.

Simply, go to Control Panel and uninstall Windows Live Writer, then go back to http://download.live.com/writer and start the installer again.  All your previous configuration elements and drafts will be carried over – they aren’t deleted when you do the initial uninstall.

BTW:  These are the things that I’ve found most notable about this Beta:

1. Font changing via Toolbar
2. “Find” using Control-F
3. Imaging cropping, tilting, rotating

<stolen from Jesse Liberty’s blog>
I’m very pleased to confirm that we’ll be releasing Silverlight 2 tomorrow.

eWeek has an article that mentions the release and our funding for an open-source project to create an Eclipse plug-in for Silverlight.  My personal opinion is I can’t imagine using Eclipse for Silverlight development on the PC given the availability of Visual Studio…. but on the Mac, if/when such a thing is available… that would be very different. (Of course, this is a personal preference)

ZDNet covers the story and mentions that Silverlight penetration is approaching 50% in some countries, and that during the Olympics, NBCOlympics.com, powered by Silverlight had 50 million unique visitors, 1.3 billion page views.  Here’s what ZDNet has to say about the Eclipse announcement

Microsoft is going to be working with Soyatec to bring Silverlight development capabilities to Eclipse, which in theory means that we could finally have Mac and possibly even Linux development tools for Silverlight. According to the press release this will also be free. A technology preview of the tool is available now

Computer World’s coverage includes these morsels

Microsoft is also releasing for free a set of programming templates called the Silverlight Control Pack under its Microsoft Permissive License, as well as the technical specification for Silverlight’s Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) vocabulary via Microsoft’s Open Specification Promise…[and] letting users of the free Visual Web Developer 2008 Express

Strangely, I haven’t seen much press on this.  Halo 3 Recon was announced at the Tokyo Game Show.

Here’s the content of the Press Package:

Title: “Halo 3: Recon”
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Bungie
Format: DVD for the Xbox 360 video game system; Xbox LIVE-enabled
ESRB Rating: Rating pending
Availability: Fall 2009

Developed exclusively for Xbox 360 by acclaimed developer Bungie, “Halo 3: Recon” is a stand-alone expansion that extends the award-winning “Halo 3” experience with hours of new campaign and multiplayer gameplay.* The release adds a new dimension to an all-encompassing universe that gamers around the world have known and loved for more than six years.

The new campaign chapter predates the events that unfold in “Halo 3” and gives players a new perspective through the eyes of a new hero in the “Halo” universe. New multiplayer maps ensure that the award-winning Xbox LIVE experience of “Halo 3” continues to thrive.

Features: Top features include the following:

• All-new campaign content. The “Halo 3: Recon” campaign is an intriguing side story that takes place during the terrifying events leading up to the Master Chief’s return to New Mombasa in “Halo 3.” Experience the fate of Earth from the brand-new perspective of a special forces ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper), adding a unique outlook and new gameplay elements to the events that unfold in the trilogy’s finale. While the feel of this new chapter will greatly resemble that of previous “Halo” experiences, “Halo 3: Recon” will require players to employ more elements of stealth and cunning than ever before.
• A new hero: Prepare to drop. Known for their courage, valor and, at times, insanity, ODSTs are among the fiercest UNSC soldiers, priding themselves on being the first unit deployed into hostile situations. While not as large or supernaturally gifted as their Spartan comrades, these “Hell Jumpers” more than compensate with their ferocious attitudes and unwavering nerve.
• Expanded multiplayer collection. No “Halo” experience would be complete without groundbreaking multiplayer content,* and “Halo 3: Recon” gives fans more of what they love. With exclusive new maps and full Forge options, players will find more multiplayer content than ever before with “Halo 3: Recon.”
• Ever-growing community options. Players will continue to enjoy all the great “Halo 3” technological innovations, including Saved Films, screenshots, Campaign Scoring and four-player co-op. All of the new multiplayer maps fully support the Forge editor, offering endless gameplay customization possibilities for fans.

Press Package for Halo 3 Recon:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/4/4/4/44485df6-3519-4174-979b-8c4a5a859e45/HaloRecon.zip

I’ve been buying Xbox Live Points using Live Cashback on eBay for 30% off. I’ve been buying them at $48 for 4000 points.  At 30% off, I save $14.69 and essentially pay $34.50 instead.

I’m not normally picky about costs but this is a helluva savings.  Imagine if I were buying an Xbox 360.  A $199 Xbox 360 Arcade Edition would cost only $139, saving $60.

As you can see in the snapshot to the right, when you follow the instructions  -basically search for the item on Live.com, and click on a paid advertisement for the item on eBay that reads “Live Search Cashback” and you’ll be taken to eBay – you can get 30% off.  (It’ll even tell you straight up that “You may get 30% off…”)

The 30% off appears at the bottom of your total when you click “Buy-It-Now” and start to close the transaction for the item.  You will not get the cash immediately, nor will you see the cash integrated into the total transaction.  It will be a separate rebate that is given to you in PayPal at a later date.

When you finish the transaction, you’ll get an email in your eBay account that will allow you to access your Cashback account (or open a new one if you don’t already have one) and see where the funds will be tabulated at a later day.

Important limitations/considerations:
(http://pages.ebay.com/cashbackoffer/terms.html)

• Must start your search using Live Search (http://search.live.com) and connect to eBay through an eBay sponsored link
• Only have 60 minutes from the initial clickthrough on the ad to make your purchase
• Must use “Buy-It-Now” to purchase the item
• Only applies to the first item purchased in the transaction
  (So if you purchase 4 of the same item in the transaction, the discount will only apply to 1 of them)
• 6 Live Cashback transactions maximum per eBay account
• $200 maximum savings per online session
• Total rewards through Live Cashback and other Microsoft programs are capped at $2500
• You must collect at least $5 in cashback to receive the money
• You will get your cashback 60 days later in your cashback account at https://cashbackaccount.search.live.com for transfer to your PayPal account

Hey – Free Music from a Video Game.  Cool.

We have created a special Fable album for free download for a limited time!  This includes a wonderful selection of Fable 1 music and 3 brand new tracks from the upcoming Fable II soundtrack.

Go to http://www.sumthingdigital.com, and enter “FableCollection” promotion code.  The entire album is a 42.3MB download.

(Taken from http://gamerscoreblog.com/press/archive/
2008/10/01/fbllecttcge.aspx)

UPDATE 10/9/2008 8:54PM: 
Whoa.  The Fable Collection was written by Danny Elfman of Oingo Boingo fame as well as being the musician that created the themes for Batman, all of Tim Burton’s movies, the Simpson’s theme, all the Spider-man movies, all the Men in Black 1 & 2, Tales from the Crypt, Beetlejuice, and various other major motion pictures & TV shows.  It was written with Russell Shaw, the head of sound & music at Lionhead Studios, creators of Fable.

Whoa.  Check this out:

Interactive Debate Analyzer:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032553/
#scroll_debates

Basically what this is, is the Presidential Debates which have had all the audio dialogue digitally recognized, translated into keywords, and mapped to a timeline of the entire debate.

What this allows is for you, the viewer, to go back and look through the debate to when specific keywords are used by the candidate such as “economy” or “budget” or “Iraq”.  Each keyword has references to markers in the audio/video timeline that are visible and immediately referencable by simply “jumping” to that point in the debate and watching it.

It also breaks out when on candidate is speaking versus the other so that you can select which candidate you’d like to hear from.

We license this technology from a company called nexidia (www.nexidia.com) and what makes this fascinating is that this is really something that can be done in real time.  Conceivably, it’s possible for anybody who speaks in any video online to be recognized word-for-word and be “speech search engine and keyword optimized”.

Live Search Maps Add-In for Microsoft Office Outlook is packed with time-saving features.

Add maps to Outlook

• Send your Microsoft® Office Outlook® meeting requests with maps you can see in road, aerial, bird’s-eye, and amazing 3D views!*
• Use real-time traffic updates to help avoid accident or rush-hour delays and find the best routes.*
• Print driving directions “to go”, then save the details for viewing when you’re offline.
• If you have installed Microsoft MapPoint® 2006 (North America), work with your map when offline.

Make Outlook meeting notices more useful than ever

• Send maps and directions to meeting attendees to help them arrive on time – even those without Live Search Maps for Outlook.
• Create friendly names for frequently used locations, such as "Downtown office."
• Receive meeting reminders based on the estimated travel times.
• Quickly locate nearby places.

Use Live Search Maps to find places near your meeting location, such as restaurants, hotels, office stores, and gas stations.

DOWNLOAD:
http://outlook.local.live.com/minisites/local/outlook/default.aspx

(Note:  All the instructions are included in the accompanying Readme file that is displayable after installing the plug in.)

Webcast: An Overview of the Changes from Excel 2003 to Excel 2007

Date: Thursday, October 21, 2008
Time: 10:00 AM PST (Duration: 30 minutes)

Microsoft and QuickStart Intelligence invite you to join us for a 30 minute complimentary webinar designed to help you understand some of the key changes within Microsoft Excel 2007 that will help increase productivity and return greater value for you and your organization.

If you are using an older version of Microsoft Excel, this event will help you understand why the new enhancements and features will simplify the way you are currently using Microsoft Excel.

Part I. Introduction
Part II. Overview of the User Experience – Ribbon Toolbar
Part III. Overview of Spreadsheets – Enhancements and Tables
Part IV. Overview of Data – Formulas, Formatting, Charts, PivotTables, PivotCharts
Part V. Conclusion

Register Online at http://www.quickstart.com/events/webinars/Excel2007

Who Should Attend: Anyone who is interested in learning more about Excel 2007

To Register:
http://www.quickstart.com/events/webinars/Excel2007

Microsoft IT content shares how we do "IT".  It provides guidelines and documented information to help our customers better understand where to start and what considerations to take in implementing Microsoft technologies.  Links below are external so you can easily download these real-world perspective whitepapers.

• Microsoft IT Enterprise SharePoint Performance and Optimization
  Technical White Paper
  
• Deploying the Live Meeting Service Portal
  Technical White Paper | IT Pro Webcast | WMA | MP3
  
• Deploying PKI Inside Microsoft
  Technical White Paper
• Exchange Hosted Services at Microsoft
  Technical Case Study | IT Pro Webcast | WMA | MP3

We also have numerous upcoming IT Manager Webcasts for people to view instead of read.  These are the ones recently released or upcoming:

• How Microsoft does IT: Managing Network Access Protection
  Tuesday, November 11, 2008
  
• How Microsoft does IT: Management and Operations in Windows Server 2008
  Watch any time on demand
• How Microsoft does IT: Deployment Planning for BitLocker Drive Encryption for Windows Vista
  Thursday, November 16, 2008
• Microsoft IT Compliance: Policy, HBI, SOX, and PCI
  Watch any time on demand
  
• How Microsoft IT Approached the Deployment of Microsoft Application Virtualization v4.5 (SoftGrid)
  Listen any time on demand

At E for All this past weekend, the Epic Games folks dropped by and let everyone play the new multiplayer scenario called ‘Horde’ on Gears of War 2.

One of the chotchkies they handed out during the show-and-tell was a COG tag – something you might recognize from the game itself.  On the tag was an interesting viral inscription that gave you a clue to something special.  It was a URL and a special code.

It turns out the clue leads you to all sorts of interesting pre-release material.  Here’s some useful tips from Kotaku that shows you how to get all of this to work:

• Go to http://gearsofwar.xbox.com/lastday/
• After the age gate and the flash site loads, click the cog icon at the bottom of the log in screen to activate the code entry.
• The code is: 617461-ZMTDP-EL
• After that’s entered, you can explore by clicking on the blue bars that radiate up on each side.
• Look for things to click on in the screen after that.