Kurt Shintaku's Blog

I thought this was interesting.

While Enterprise customers have dealt with or at least known about Digital identities for a while, the concept is a fairly new topic to consumers.  They understand that they use a user name and a password to access certain sites but they don’t know the relevance of that identity to the rest of the Internet.

Add to this all of a user’s corporate identities from Active Directory,  ERP, HR, LDAP, Portals, web apps, etc… and you can see how "identity" on the Internet is a really important concept.

http://blogs.msdn.com/richardt/archive/2006/11/16/how-many-identities-do-you-have.aspx

For those of you with Windows 2000 Server or Windows 2000 Professional, there is going to be a live webcast to address how to deal/cope with the issue:

Support WebCast: Deploying Microsoft Windows 2000 updates for daylight saving time changes for worldwide use

Thursday, January 18, 2007 10:00 AM Pacific Time
60 Minutes

This Support WebCast introduces the daylight saving time changes for calendar year 2007. This session also provides an overview of why the changes are needed. This WebCast specifically focuses on Microsoft Windows 2000. It talks about the registry changes and the time zones that are being updated. This WebCast also tells how to confirm that the updates have been applied, and then provides information about testing and rollback procedure.

Register here:
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032324210&EventCategory=2&culture=en-US&CountryCode=US

The Energy Policy Act extended daylight saving time by four weeks in 2007.  This change starts on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November.

What does that mean to you as a Microsoft software user?  Plenty.  Any product that is using time zones in anyway is affected and needs to be patched or "adjusted".

WINDOWS XP SP2/WINDOWS SERVER 2003 SP1:  NO PROBLEM!
Normally this isn’t a big deal if you’re using a supported Operating System like Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 SP1.   There is a patch that will update your machine through MicrosoftUpdate.  (http://update.microsoft.com) and you’re problem free. 

If you need to download the patches yourself, they’re available here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928388

OLDER OPERATING SYSTEMS:  PROBLEM!
Unfortunately, there are many people that are either:

• Still running Windows NT or 9x or…
• Still running Windows 2000 Professional/Server Service Pack "whatever"
  (which is completely unsupported without a custom support agreement with Microsoft)
• Still using Windows XP Service Pack 1
  (which is again unsupported)

WHAT TO DO?
The good news is that this whole issue is very, very, very well documented.  Most everything you need to know is available here:

• Preparing for daylight saving time changes in 2007
  http://www.microsoft.com/windows/timezone/dst2007.mspx
• The solution for individuals with older, unsupported operating systems is documented here:
  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914387

The net net of the solution is that that days in which Daylight Savings time is enacted has to be adjusted in the registry and this can be done using either:

• a GUI tool called TZEDIT.EXE
• through REGEDIT locally on the machine
• by applying a .REG file to the local machine with the appropriate registry changes

MASS DEPLOYMENT
It is possible to deploy registry changes globally to all your workstations by using a login script however the administrator will need to elevate the privileges of his users for the applicaiton of these reg changes because most users don’t have the security required to edit the registry.  This is addressed in http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914387.

WEBCAST FOR WINDOWS 2000 USERS
We’re going to have a live webcast on January 18th, specifically on the topic of Windows 2000 & the DST change.  You can sign up here:
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032324210&EventCategory=2&culture=en-US&CountryCode=US

File this one under the heading of "Holy cow:  Where did that come from?":  We recently released a monstrous number of new online Virtual Labs for learning many of Microsoft’s core products.

Virtual Labs – for those who’ve never used one – are remotely controlled labs allowing you to fully test & work with our products using Virtual PC technology that is broadcasted over the Internet to your workstation.  You have full remote control over the virtual machine that you are doing the lab on.  You can even save your place and return to it at a later date.  It’s all managed from our datacenter in Redmond and it doesn’t cost you a thing to use.  It’s a great way to get familiar with a new product – like Windows Vista’s drive imaging tools – very quickly.

Windows Vista:

• Deploying Microsoft Windows Vista Operating System Images Using SMS 2003
• Exploring New Functionality in Internet Explorer 7
• Microsoft SoftGrid Demonstration Virtual Lab
• Windows Vista Readiness – Application Compatibility
• Using System Image Manager to Automate Windows Vista Installations
• Windows Vista: Image Engineering
• Introduction to Windows PowerShell Virtual Lab
• Designing Anti-Spam Defenses Using Intelligent Message Filter Virtual Lab
• Configuring and Managing Windows Deployment Services Virtual Lab
• Configuring Windows Firewall with Advanced Security Virtual Lab
• Exploring New Group Policy Settings in Windows Vista
• Exploring New User Account Control in Windows Vista
• Migrating User State from Windows XP to Windows Vista Virtual Lab
• Customizing Windows PreInstallation Environment Virtual Lab
• Exploring Windows Vista Group Policy Management Features Virtual Lab
• Managing Windows Vista and Windows Server Longhorn Network Bandwidth with Policy-based Quality of Service Virtual Lab
• Managing Windows Vista Using New Management Technologies

Others:

• Exchange Server 2007 Virtual Labs
• 2007 Microsoft Office System Virtual Labs
• Technet Virtual Labs

Optimizing the Windows Desktop: 
Accelerating Deployment and Managing the Desktop
February 2, 2007, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

To accompany the launch of Windows Vista, we are hosting a LiveMeeting session on the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack, scheduled exclusively for Enterprise Customers only. This event will provide an overview of new desktop management technologies with Windows Vista, and will provide an overview of Windows Vista licensing and SA benefits.   At this presentation, we’ll cover key technologies only available to volume licensing customers.  These include:

• Key Features in Windows Vista Enterprise
• Microsoft SoftGrid:  Application Virtualization
• Microsoft Asset Inventory Services
• Microsoft Diagnostic and Recovery Toolset
• Microsoft Advanced Group Policy Management

This webcast targets Southern California Enterprise Customers, and will include live Q&A at the end of the session.

REGISTER NOW!
Date:   February 2, 2007
Time:   10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time
Event ID:  1032325636
Registration URL:  http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032325636&EventCategory=2&culture=en-US&CountryCode=US

Please RSVP for this “invitation only” event, at: TBD

Or, you can visit http://www.microsoft.com/usa/events  and search on the event code listed above, or call 1.877.MSEVENT (1.877.673.8366)

Have you ever wanted to "trim the beginning & end" off of a LiveMeeting 2005 recording?

PROBLEM: 
The challenge is that LiveMeeting videos are specifically encoded using:
– Windows Media Audio 9 Voice (8 kbps, 8 kHz, mono)
– Windows Media Video 9 Screen Capture
…this is optimal for desktop screen captures & mono-voice recordings.

When you edit using Windows Movie Maker, it reencodes the media file to:
– Windows Media Audio 9.1 (32kbps, 32kHz, stereo)
– Windows Media Video 9.1
…this is optimal for live action video & CD quality audio.

Obviously, live action video & CD quality audio takes up tremendously more storage than the other.

SOLUTION:
The easiest solution for these folks is to use the Windows Media File Editor, which is part of the "Windows Media Encoder 9.0" installation.  This is a small installation of a very cool set of utilities for editing and converting Windows Media content – particularly LiveMeeting 2005 content.  DOWNLOAD: 
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/encoder/default.mspx

WINDOWS MEDIA FILE EDITOR:
Once you download and install the encoder, a START–>PROGRAMS entry will be created called Windows Media.  In there there is a program called "Windows Media File Editor" which you can run located at "C:Program FilesWindows Media ComponentsEncoderwmeditor.exe".   

This tool, once run will allow you to File–>Open the LiveMeeting 2005 file which should be a file with a .WMV extension.  Once loaded, you will see and interface very similar to Windows Media Player (Play, Stop, audio level, etc.), a place that shows  where all the markers are in the video stream, and a place to "mark in" and "mark out" specific time segments of the clip.

Simply mark in and mark out the times that you want, and the FILE–>SAVE AS & INDEX and you’ll find that the file saves VERY QUICKLY because no conversion and no reencoding needs to take place.

EDITING PROPERTIES:
The Windows Media File Editor does more than just "trim" media files.  It can also edit the attributes of the file.  Have you ever noticed that the bottom of the Windows Media Player shows details about the video/audio you’re viewing like "Author", "Title", "Copyright", "Description", etc.? 

These are Attributes or Properties that you can edit using the Windows Media File Editor.  Click on the "Attributes" tab and you can change everything from the "Author" of the file to the Audio Dynamic range that the listener can hear.  This last Attribute can distort  the audio if you minimize it but it can also shrink your file.  It can also grow the filesize if you do other wise.

MULTIPLE LANGUAGES?
Did you know that you can take an existing LiveMeeting presentation, create a new Foreign Language audio track for it, and integrate it into the existing file?  Or maybe you want to create a new media file using a higher fidelity audio track, or a better video recording? 

The Windows Media Stream Editor allows you to do this.  This is another of the Windows Media Encoding tools that comes with the Encoder 9.0 installation and is located in the same START-PROGRAMS location as the Windows Media File Editor.

MORE INFORMATION
If you’re interested in even more information about these tools, check out:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/encoder/features.aspx 

There’s information on how to:

• Rights protect your media so that it can’t be copied
  http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/howto/articles/ProtectContent.aspx
• Add a "watermark" or a "logo" into the corner of your media file to "brand" it
  http://www.broadcast.harris.com/inscriber/instream/
• Frequently asked questions about Windows Media Encoder
  http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/encoder/faq.aspx

If you find this interesting, I strongly encourage you to get a copy of the Windows Media Resource Kit which is a great reference for EVERYTHING related to Windows Media files – including those generated by LiveMeeting 2005.

IF FOR SOME REASON you need to reencode, that’s what the "Windows Media Encoder 9.0" tool is for but that’s much more complicated and I won’t go into that now…

Microsoft TechEd 2007 is coming to Orlando, FL on June 4th-8th.
http://www.microsoft.com/events/teched2007

In order to be notified when more information is available, please sign up to the mailing list at:
https://profile.microsoft.com/RegSysProfileCenter/wizard.aspx?wizid=b4dd5d9c-9934-40aa-bd08-4eb91e447209&lcid=1033

To my customers only: 
If there’s anyone planning on attending, please let me know ASAP so that I can try searching for discounted passes/sponsorships for you.

Wow.  That was fast.  We have a venue of many thousands of people and it’s completely full… and so is the waitlist.  Anyone thinking there’s no interest in Windows Vista would be sorely mistaken.

That being said, if you WANT to attend (and you’re a customer of mine) please contact me  (and you should know how to do that already) and I’ll get you in by pushing you to the top of the waitlist using my gently powers of persuasion upon our marketing team.

Here’s the original date/time/sign up link:
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032314640&Culture=en-US

Overview of the Microsoft Virtualization Strategy and Road Map:
Join Microsoft for this breakfast seminar where we will discuss the latest Microsoft Virtualization Strategy and Roadmap. This roundtable discussion begins with a brief review of previous Microsoft virtualization technologies, and then presents upcoming virtualization solutions including Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1), and the Windows Virtualization (hypervisor) technology in the next release of Windows Server code-named “Longhorn”. This session also includes a brief overview of the newly announced Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007 enterprise virtualization management application. Attendees will walk away with an understanding of Microsoft’s virtualization strategy that enables you to make informed decisions on virtualization technology adoption in your organization.

Key topics include:

• Microsoft Virtualization Strategy
• Microsoft Windows Virtual Server 2005 R2
• Virtual Server 2005 R2 Service Pack 1
• System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007
• Windows Server Virtualization Roadmap

Audience:
The seminar is designed for Director of IT, IT Management, IT Architects and IT Professionals. This invitation is non-transferable.

Date: February 13, 2007

Time: 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Registration begins at 8:30 AM

Location
Marriott Long Beach
4700 Airport Plaza Drive
Long Beach, CA 90815
(Continental breakfast and parking included)

Registration
Please RSVP for this “invitation only” event, Click Here to RSVP.
(http://msevents.microsoft.com/cui/eventdetail.aspx?culture=en-US&eventid=1032318265)
Or call 1.877.MSEVENT (877.673.8368) or visit http://msevents.microsoft.com/ and search on Event Code 1032318265.

UPDATE 1/16/2007:
As the rest of the Internet knows by now, Apple’s look-and-feel lawyers are on the bandwagon, sending "cease & desist" emails to anyone and everyone with a link to or a bitmap of the infamous iPhone UI skin for Pocket PC.  In reflection, I can understand why Apple’s got their panties all bunched up:  If the UI becomes commoditized, it’s no longer a trademark, much in the same way that we have to protect the word "Windows" from being used improperly by our competitors – i.e. Lindows.

To be honest – I haven’t been contacted.  I’m probably either a) too small a blog that no one in Apple’s legal dept really cares, b) gone basically unnoticed by Apple’s legal department and therefore "under the radar" of their email barrage to the blogosphere, or c) I have no actual contact information publicly available on my site for their legal "cease & desist" spammers to send to and thus they have no way to actually contact me.

While I have no doubt, I fall into options A & B, I’ve been pinged by enough people, both external & internal to Microsoft, that do know how to contact me that are "concerned" enough for my well-being enough that I’m taking down the bitmap showing what the UI is.  Instead, I think it’s safe to say that anyone that’s heard this is probably interested in trying to build User Interfaces for the Pocket PC themselves using some simple bitmaps and the cLaunch tool.

So basically, here’s a link on how to "create your own UI experience" on Pocket PC with just a few bitmaps and the UI skinning tool, cLaunch:

HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN CLAUNCH USER INTERFACES:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=289523&highlight=

…

And now for something completely different…  
Here’s a bitmap I found for your reading enjoyment.  Take a look.  Save it.  Print it on your work printers.  Leave a copy lying around.  After all, everyone can use a good laugh here and there, ‘eh?:

Original PDF available here for download:
http://www.aboyandhiscomputer.com/images/
Announcing_the_Apple_iProduct.pdf 

———————–

ORIGINAL POST:

In a demonstration of how simple it is to configure & program the Pocket PC, the guys over an XDA Developers retooled the UI on Pocket PC to look like an iPhone interface.

And it’s all free.

• http://www.modaco.com/index.php?showtopic=251112
• http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=1097832#post1097832