Posted by: kurtsh | July 27, 2005

RELEASE: Microsoft Location Finder for Virtual Earth

Now this is cool.  It’s called the Microsoft Location Finder… think GPS, without a GPS device.
 

Microsoft Location Finder is a client-side application that turns a regular WiFi enabled laptop, Tablet or PC into a location determining device without the addition of any separate hardware. When launched by a user Microsoft Location Finder uses WiFi access points – or reverse IP lookup when WiFi is not available – to center and display the person’s location on an MSN Virtual Earth map enabling the user to quickly and easily search in their present location.

 

DOWNLOAD:  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b5e8c83a-ea8e-4464-9980-7b6a8dd1013c&DisplayLang=en

 

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Posted in Release

Posted by: kurtsh | July 27, 2005

COMMENTARY: Why MSN Virtual Earth over Google Maps?

First of all, I want to thank the news pundits for advertising MSN Virtual Earth for us.  By crying wolf over the "disappearance of Apple", and providing us with tons of free advertising, they’ve managed to do all the marketing we need to announce the product.  And we never even had to spend a dime.  And for the record, the imagery for that area is from 1991 and a TAD OLD, but it’s just placeholder imagery until we get some new images.  That’s why they call it a BETA.
 
Now, there’s been such a ridiculous amount discussion comparing Google’s Maps product with our that I think it behooves a quick comment about, "What makes Virtual Earth cool".
 
IMAGE RESOLUTION:
For my tastes, MSN Virtual Earth has great image resolution.  Look at the resolution of Google’s campus on MSN Virtual Earth here:
…and now look at the maximum resolution of the same geographical imagery on Google Maps here:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1600+Amphitheatre+Parkway%3B+Mountain+View%3B+CA+94043&spn=0.004687,0.006778&t=h&hl=en

 
VIRTUAL EARTH TEAM’S BLOG:
Here is where you can read about the Virtual Earth philosophy and why they chose not to just "make a bunch of cool features".  Virtual Earth is much more than what Google Maps has in many very powerful cases.

http://spaces.msn.com/members/virtualEarth/Blog/cns!1p1jUqsfPsDJ0sEPuZ997-OA!134.entry

 
ENSIGHT’S REVIEW:
Here’s a positive review that details what’s better about Virtual Earth: http://www.ensight.org/archives/2005/07/25/review-msn-virtual-earth/
 
BLOG REVIEW:
Here’s a blog that talks about MSN Virtual Earth’s cool points for developer’s in particular:

http://blogs.msdn.com/jgalla/default.aspx

 
COMMENTARY ON THE NEGATIVE PUBLICITY:
And here’s some commentary on all the negative comments being made about Virtual Earth:

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Posted in Computers and Internet

Posted by: kurtsh | July 26, 2005

NEWS: Thoughts on the “Windows Vista” name

There’s been more than a fair share of jokes on the Internet about the name we’ve selected for our poor Longhorn Client. 
 
Internally, there’s been a few gags too.  Just yesterday someone made the crack that he hopes that we name Blackcomb "something kickass like Windows Metatron" or something like that.
 
Then there was the reference to "The OS formerly known as Windows Vista":
2009: Windows g
 
…along with the obvious suggestion of calling the next version, "Microsoft Door".
 
Someone made a reference to it being possibly "retro-cool" like the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser.  Someone else cracked that even though the Vista Cruiser was once, the "new hotness", it’s now "old and busted".  (Men In Black 2 quote)  To which someone then replied, "I disagree. Windows 3.11 runs much faster than the competition these days, and has far fewer vulnerability alerts."
 
So for the record, as much as we may seem like the ultimate kool aid drinkers, we can always laugh at ourselves just as much as the next guy.  (Besides, we both know you want the beta as much as the next guy.  <grin>)

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Posted in Computers and Internet

Posted by: kurtsh | July 24, 2005

BETA: Virtual Earth Beta is live!

Ooh!  Virtual Earth is LIVE!  Check out our new mapping technology.  This is wicked.  The photos from the satellite imagery are wonderful and the map overlays are dead on. 
 
The great thing is that there’s more to come:  They are incorporating telescopic imagery from aerial flights of the US, so you’ll actually get angle views of the location you’re looking for.
 
 
 
 

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Posted in Beta

Posted by: kurtsh | July 22, 2005

BETA: Windows Vista Beta 1

I can nominate you to be a Beta tester for Windows Vista Beta 1 if you’re a customer of mine, however be aware that the technical beta will require a commitment to do actual testing of the OS.  Beta testers that aren’t actively engaged in providing feedback may be cut from having access to Beta 2 so only sign up if you think you’re going to have the time. 

I will need the following:

  • First and Last Name
  • Company Name
  • Shipping address (No PO Boxes – our carriers only ship to street addresses)
  • Microsoft Passport ID
  • Phone Number
  • Email Address

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Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by: kurtsh | July 22, 2005

NEWS: Longhorn renamed to “Windows Vista”

Here’s some things I’ve heard whispered about here in the hallowed halls of Microsoft:
  • The letters VI in "Vista" represent the roman numeral 6 which as everyone should know is the version number of Longhorn.  The issue is that while theres a movement to change our product releases back to "version" numbers (witness the release of Windows Mobile 5.0 for example) 6 isn’t exactly a very popular number, and additionally, the Windows Marketing MBAs need something wizbang to throw in the commerials so they selected "Vista".
  • If you look at the Windows logo, a casual glance might lead you to believe that it hasn’t changed much.  But upon careful inspection, notice that the gradiency has changed from lateral (left to right) to a radial gradient.  It’s supposed to be indicative of a broader view of information… i.e. a vista.
  • The pronunciation being used for vista is "vist-uh" with a short i.  Believe it or not, that question is a real popular one being asked.  We have a large latin contingent that’s trying to get it to be "veet-stuh" because of their usage of the letter i as an "ee" sound.  Heh – good luck that one guys.

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Posted in Computers and Internet

Posted by: kurtsh | July 21, 2005

RELEASE: Microsoft Video Screensaver

The Microsoft Video Screensaver includes sample movie footage that gives you a surprisingly new sight of countries all over the world. Every language release has its own video that shows you in a new and surprising way what living in these countries may look like. This international version represents a compilation of some of the best scenes from several country-specific releases.

You can either chose to play the default video or your own private selection of your favourite home videos. Simply point the Microsoft Video Screensaver in the configuration dialog to a custom video folder and you can play your own video files or links to these video files from that folder – either randomly or in sequential order.

 

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Posted in Release

Posted by: kurtsh | July 20, 2005

BETA: MSN Screen Saver

With the MSN Screen Saver (Beta) you can:

  • Personalize with background photos and news and weather information from MSN® or any RSS feeds from websites you choose.
  • Search the Web and click news headlines directly from the Screen Saver.
  • Stay connected with MSN Hotmail®, MSN Messenger, and MSN Spaces. Track how many unread Hotmail messages and current Messenger conversations you have, and display blogs and photos from your friends’ MSN Spaces.

DOWNLOAD: 
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=9a53f492-b999-465f-ac70-435536bafa33&displaylang=en

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Posted in Beta

Posted by: kurtsh | July 20, 2005

BETA: Microsoft Office Business Scorecard Manager 2005 Beta 2

Microsoft introduced a second beta version of its business intelligence package for servers on Tuesday. Dubbed Microsoft Office Business Scorecard Manager 2005, the test version of the product, formerly code-named Maestro, is being made available for free download at the company’s Web site.
 
1) Go to http://beta.microsoft.com
2) Guest ID:  MaestroTester
 

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Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by: kurtsh | July 20, 2005

DOWNLOAD: Windows Server System Reference Architecturer v2.0

Windows Server System Reference Architecture is a technology architecture that has been rigorously tested and proven in a partnered lab environment to provide exceptional planning and implementation guidance that addresses fundamental infrastructure issues such as availability, security, scalability, and manageability of the platform.

WSSRA consists of the following downloadable packages:

  • Overview Documents
  • Architecture Blueprints
  • Implementation Guides
  • Deployment Toolkit
DOWN LOAD: 

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Posted in Release

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