The Microsoft Wow Blog!

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

MSDN and TechNet Powered by Hyper-V
2008-05-21 21:26:00
For the last several months we have had the opportunity to focus on virtualizing both the MSDN and TechNet websites with Windows Server 2008 Hyper -V as a start to our overall virtualization adoption strategy. This was a group effort across our entire Operations Team including individuals from the Technical Architecture group I am part of, the System Engineers who run the sites, the data center hosting team which handles our infrastructure changes and the very supportive product group which is responsible for MSDN and TechNet. Today we are very pleased to be able to share how Hyper-V was deployed for those two sites and our lessons learned through that process.  We have written an article on the TechCenter which goes through how we approached virtualizing MSDN and TechNet and hopefully conveys how successful we found Hyper-V to be as a web platform. The article covers the reasons and characteristics which made MSDN the first site we looked to move onto Hyper-V.   It provides an over...

Windows ?Fiji? beta testing has begun
2008-05-20 23:13:00
Speaking of Microsoft information lockdown, there?s been no word in ages from Microsoft about ?Fiji ,? the next version of Windows Media Center Edition. But that isn?t because Fiji has evaporated. In fact, the Fiji beta began a few weeks ago, according to a few sources with whom I?ve spoken and who?ve asked to keep their identities under wraps. It?s not clear how many testers are part of this current test phase. There?s also no word on when and if Microsoft is going to tap the many other Fiji testers whom the company has signed up over the past year-plus or when Microsoft expects Fiji ? also known as ?Media Center Edition +1? in some circles ? is due out. Last anyone heard, Fiji was supposed to build on the functionality that Microsoft delivered as part of Vista Service Pack 1. Some potential testers said they heard that Fiji would deliver some of the fit and finish that was missing in the Vista release. DirectTV support also is expected to be added to Media Center with the Fiji rel...
More About: Beta , Testing

10 Free and Fantastic IE Add-ons
2008-05-18 14:58:00
Eat your heart out, Firefox ! Well, maybe not. Internet Explorer 7 , the current version of Microsoft's browser and the one that comes with Windows Vista, can do a lot of the stuff Firefox can do. One of those things is the ability to handle add-ons (formerly "extensions" in Firefox). The problem with IE add-ons is that most of them cost money. Finding decent, free ones is hard enough; even searching for free IE add-ons turns up scores of IE toolbars and little else. Toolbars! It seems like virtually every company with a product of some sort has an IE toolbar, evidently trying to capture the success of the ubiquitous Google Toolbar. Do we really need toolbars for casual game publishers, or for jazz radio? Buzz up!on Yahoo! We spent hours digging through the toolbars and other freebies to find ten totally free IE add-ons that don't suck. We split them into two categories: Useful Stuff and Fun Stuff. Each entry links to the Windows Marketplace page where you can find mor...
More About: Free

Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 Service Pack 1
2008-05-16 14:46:00
Save time and money as Virtual PC allows you to maintain the compatibility of legacy and custom applications during migration to new operating systems and increases the efficiency of support, development, and training staffs.With Microsoft ® Virtual PC 2007, you can create and run one or more virtual machines, each with its own operating system, on a single computer. This provides you with the flexibility to use different operating systems on one physical computer. For more information about the ways you can use virtual machines, see Virtual PC at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=78 095. This update for Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 includes support for the following additional Host and Guest Operating Systems: Additonal Guest Operating System support: Windows Vista® Ultimate Edition with Service Pack 1 (SP1) Windows Vista® Business Edition with Service Pack 1 (SP1) Windows Vista® Enterprise Edition with Service Pack 1 (SP1) Windows Server® 2008 StandardWindows XP Professional with ...

Office Live Update 1.1
2008-05-14 23:47:00
The Office Live Update 1.1 for Microsoft Office Live Workspace beta makes working with Microsoft Office programs faster and lets you access workspaces from Microsoft Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The Office Live Update 1.1 installs (1) performance updates to make using Office Live Workspace with Microsoft Office programs faster, (2) the latest Office Live Add-in for Microsoft Office that enables you to access your workspaces directly from Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and (3) the Multiple Document Upload Tool.The Office Live Update 1.1 auto-detects and installs these necessary updates to ensure optimum performance: Update for Office 2007 (KB 941637) Update for Windows Vista (KB 933860) Update for Windows Vista (KB 945145) Update for Windows Vista (KB 945435) Update for Windows Vista (KB 947864) Update for Windows Vista (KB 948531) Windows Live Sign-in Assistant The Office Live Add-in adds new menu options in the 2007 Microsoft Office Suite and a toolbar in Microsoft Off...

New Microsoft LifeCam Bends Over Backward for You
2008-05-13 21:44:00
Today, Microsoft Corp. reshapes the webcam experience with the LifeCam VX-5000, a webcam with a unique bendable attachment base that molds to virtually any surface ? from a notebook to a desktop ? so users can take it anywhere. The LifeCam VX-5000 will be offered in three colors: Lucky Green, Fire Red and Cool Blue. Click for high-res version. For personalized flair, the LifeCam VX-5000 features a brightly colored ring around the front of the webcam in the colors Cool Blue, Lucky Green and Fire Red, allowing consumers to choose their favorite to suit their style. To complement the fresh, new look, the LifeCam VX-5000 features MSN Photo Swap, a special feature that lets consumers share digital photos in midvideo conversation and see real-time reactions as both callers view the pictures. The new webcam arrives just in time to help share summer vacation memories and keep consumers connected throughout the year. ?With the LifeCam VX-5000 we are changing the perception of webcams from ...

Microsoft issues first SP1 betas for VS 2008, .Net Framework 3.5
2008-05-13 19:35:00
Microsoft is making available to testers a first beta release of Service Pack (SP) 1 for Visual Studio 2008 and the accompanying .Net Framework 3.5. On May 12, Microsoft made available to any/all interested parties the first beta bits for both VS 2008 SP1 and .Net Framework 3.5 SP1. These can be downloaded from Microsoft?s Microsoft Developer Network site. Microsoft is warning testers that there are some compatibility issues involving the VS 2008/.Net Framework 3.5 SP1 betas and Expression Blend, the Silverlight 2 Beta 1 software development kit (SDK) and Silverlight Tools Beta 1 for VS 2008. New to VS 2008 SP1, according to Microsoft, are ?new features for targeting Windows, Office, and the Web. Developers building .NET-basedapplications will enjoy improved performance in the WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) designer, new components for Visual Basic and Visual C++, as well as an MFC-based Office 2007 Ribbon. Web developers will see continued improvement in the client-side scri...
More About: Microsoft , Issues

Shutdown, Reboot, Remote Desktop all machines right from Windows Home Serve
2008-05-11 22:06:00
ASoft AutoExit for Windows Home Server is a console add-in for Windows Home Server. It can be used to shut down, reboot machines in your home network from within the console. Wake On Lan is also supported, this enables you to easily boot up machines remotely.You can execute these actions per machine or for all machines. Other handy features are sending messages to the different machines, configuring the timeout/message.There is even support for opening a Remote Desktop session to the remote machines and to the server!Statistics are kept of all actions, so that a detailed trace can be viewed on when certain actions were executed. AutoExit for Windows Home Server is free and does not need registration.   Current versionThe current version is 2008 RequirementsWindows Home Server PricingFree Download AutoExit 2008 for Windows Home Server Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)
More About: Machines

Live Mesh promo video shows Mac, Windows Mobile, Xbox & Zune clients
2008-05-11 16:38:00
Given Long Zheng's passion for Microsoft promo videos, I thought it only fitting that we pay tribute and post about the Live Mesh one that has appeared on YouTube from the Web2.0 Expo. While I can't offer high-res stills of Mesh bringing animals back to life, there's still a few points you can take away about the high-level vision Microsoft has for Mesh.   At first glance it seems a lot like the generic Microsoft "next-generation" videos that occasionally pop up, full of ideas for the future, most of which will probably never materialise.. Then you remember that actually the products it is showing are already here and Mesh, the link between them all, has just entered initial public testing. Score +1 point for lack of vapourware. Mobile : say hello to your new Windows Mobile Mesh client. The two screenshots show show before/after when you get a new file synchronised to a Live Mesh folder. Oh it looks good on the HTC Touch Dual too! There's a Mac in the video! I can'...
More About: Video , Zune , Xbox

HTC Touch Diamond - High Resolution Photos
2008-05-10 00:20:00
Why would you like to see some reduced in size images or images with somebody's logo on them, if you can see high-resolution and original photos of this new phone? Here is overview: ... and here are links to high-resolution images of HTC Touch Diamond (in some Internet browsers after opening you should zoom-in, for example by clicking on given image, to see them in full resolution): HTC Touch Diamond 6 View HTC Touch Diamond Angle HTC Touch Diamond Back HTC Touch Diamond Dimensions HTC Touch Diamond in hand HTC Touch Diamond-Side Orange Screen on HTC Touch Diamond Source: msmobiles.com Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)
More About: Photos , Windows Mobile , High , High Resolution

NTFS Compression bug fixed on WHS
2008-05-09 20:25:00
The Windows Home Server team has solved a software bug that may affect files that are compressed using Advanced Attributes (NTFS compression).   NTFS compression can be enabled on an individual file, folder or at the hard drive level and is sometimes enabled by users to save disk space on a home computer.  More information on the bug and a link to download the fix at KB950190. You can visit the Windows Home Server Community Forums if you want to ask questions or discuss this issue, by accessing this thread. Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)
More About: Compression , Fixed

XNA Game Studio 3.0 CTP released, supports games development for Zune!
2008-05-09 14:44:00
Today, we are delivering the first Community Technical Preview (CTP) of XNA Game Studio 3.0, giving you the ability to build games for the entire family of Zune media devices.  This feature gives you access to the majority of the XNA framework APIs while retaining a seamless sense of integration with the Zune media experience.  In addition, this release now requires either Visual Studio 2008 Standard Edition and higher (C# language support must be installed), or Visual C# 2008 Express Edition. Keeping with Zune media experience, the XNA Game Studio 3.0 integration includes discoverability/access to user?s non-DRM music ?  allowing you to customize background soundtracks or create real-time visualizations.  In addition, we?ve announced the ability to have multiple nearby Zunes wirelessly engage in an ad-hoc social gaming experience.  A preview release of XNA Game Studio 3.0 is now available through the XNA Creators Club Online site (http://creators.xna.com), with a final release sch...
More About: Games , Development , Released

Appointed as Microsoft Student Partner (MSP) for Bahria University
2008-05-07 21:03:00
It?s with great honor, pride and responsibility that I announce that I?m appointed as Microsoft Student Partner (MSP) for Bahria University Karachi Campus. I would also like to thank following people without whom this wouldn't have become a reality:   Syed Khusro Azmat Twaha Ahmed Minai Sumair Samad Shaikh Our Mission At Microsoft, our mission is to enable people and businesses throughout the world to realize their full potential. Everything we do reflects our mission and the values that make it possible. Our Values As a company, and as individuals, we value: Integrity and honesty. Passion for our customers, our partners, and technology. Openness and respectfulness. Taking on big challenges and seeing them through. Constructive self-criticism, self-improvement, and personal excellence. Accountability to customers, shareholders, partners, and employees for commitments, results, and quality. Here, I am sharing some MSP wallpapers that I found randomly over the Internet....
More About: General

HTC Touch Diamond unveiled - aka iPhone Killer!
2008-05-06 22:43:00
Check it out: 2.8-inch VGA display Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 eGPS, FM tuner Quad-band HSDPA 7.2 4GB internal flash, microSD slot 528MHz CPU 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus 10.7mm (0.47-inches) thick Supposedly also features an orientation sensor / accelerometerWhether it's got a QWERTY keyboard could still be up for grabs, especially since that configuration might belong to the CDMA-based Raphael. Still, the it makes sense HTC wouldn't want the XPERIA X1 they made for Sony Ericsson to be their best engineered device on the market for long. We'll be watching this one closely.   Portions Via Engadget Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)
More About: Iphone , Killer , Touch , Diamond

Zune 2.5 Firmware and Software Update
2008-05-06 18:48:00
I?m excited to announce the Zune Spring Update : Zune 2.5. We?re adding new features and enhancements to your Zune, the Zune software, Zune Social and TV shows in Zune Marketplace. For details on the update, head to the press release, but at a high level, in the Spring update: Zune cards becomes more portable.  You can already put it on social networking or other websites ? now you can drag and drop your friend?s cards onto your player.  If you have a Zune Pass that means you get full track versions of everything they?ve been listening to on your Zune We?re opening a video store in Zune Marketplace, with 800 episodes, from partners like NBC, MTV, Comedy Central, Turner and more. Adds a number of customer-requested features and improvements to the PC software and Zune Social ? like autoplaylists, browse your collection by genre and gapless playback on your Zune Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)
More About: Software , Firmware

Photo Album: Microsoft Heroes Community Launch Event {BIMCSdotNET}
2008-05-04 11:00:00
Microsoft Heroes Community Launch Event {BIMCSdotNET}123HEROES (2)HEROES (9)HEROES (14)HEROES (10)HEROES (8)HEROES (12)HEROESMore Photo s...
More About: Microsoft

Vista Sidebar Gadget for WHS (Windows Home Server) users
2008-05-03 21:32:00
The Home Server Hacks blog has just announced a new Windows Vista Sidebar gadget just for Windows Home Server users. This gadget, called "ShareMaster for Home Server," gives you quick access to the Windows Home Server's standard shared folders (Music, Photos, Public, Software, Users and Videos). The gadget has six icons on it that correspond to those six shared folders on the server. Clicking an icon on the gadget will open up that network shared folder. What's even cooler, though, is that you can drag and drop files onto the icons themselves to automatically move them from your PC to your Home Server. That's handy! This is definitely a must-have tool for any Windows Home Server owners. You can download the gadget from here. (image via Home Server Hacks) Source Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)
More About: Gadget

MSN Video/Soapbox Vista Sidebar Gadget now available
2008-05-03 21:25:00
David Cronshaw and I chat about the new MSN Video /Soapbox Vista Sidebar Gadget which is now available for download.  The official MSN Video/Soapbox Vista Sidebar Gadget is now available for downloading and installing: http://gallery.live.com/liveItemDetail.as px?li=b4ea67a2-5cb6-4a15-8ae1-048cccaf8ff c&bt=1 Some of the Highlights of the MSN Video Vista Sidebar Gadget:  Display Localized MSN Videos with links to MSN Video Destination Site Display Soapbox Videos and play natively Inline Localized for over 30 countries and languages Top-Level market Navigation Numerous Sort-by options Display Search terms Display Related Videos Customize number of thumbs and pages to show Auto-scroll Pages at defined intervals And much more?? Source Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Photo Album: Microsoft Heroes Community Launch Event {BIMCSdotNET}
2008-05-03 17:34:00
Microsoft Heroes Community Launch Event {BIMCSdotNET}123HEROES (2)HEROES (9)HEROES (14)HEROES (10)HEROES (8)HEROES (12)HEROESMore photos...
More About: Photo , Microsoft

Xbox 360 Blu-ray console shipping by September?
2008-05-03 15:30:00
For all of Microsoft's denial, the Xbox 360 Blu-ray console rumors just will not die. In fact, they are getting more and more specific. The Chinese language Economic Daily News is reporting that Pegatron, an OEM subsidiary of ASUS, has won the order from Microsoft to assemble the Xbox 360 with Blu-ray Disc ROM drive -- shipments are expected to being in Q3 of this year. Now come on Microsoft, just come clean on the matter, we won't tell anyone. Source: engadget         Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)
More About: Shipping , Console , September

Good news for TechNet Plus subscribers looking for XP SP3
2008-05-03 12:36:00
The full Windows XP install with SP3 integrated (also referred to as the Slipstream build) is now available for Tech Net Plus subscribers to download.  The following languages are currently available: Chinese-Simplified, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese-Brazil, and Spanish.  Additional languages will be added as they become available so watch on TechNet Plus Downloads for new languages. Download now at: http://technet.microsoft.com/subscription s/downloads/default.aspx Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)
More About: News , Good News , Good

Microsoft Expression Studio 2 Ships, Advancing Superior Developer and Desig
2008-05-02 15:45:00
Microsoft Corp. today delivered on its commitment to rapid innovation for the newest Microsoft platforms and latest Web technologies by announcing the release of Expression Studio 2. The suite of professional design tools includes Expression Web 2, Expression Blend 2, Expression Design 2, Expression Media 2 and Expression Encoder 2 and works seamlessly with Visual Studio 2005 and Visual Studio 2008, solving the age-old designer and developer workflow challenge. The innovations in Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML), used by both Expression Studio and Visual Studio, allow for unprecedented designer-developer collaboration for the creation of both standards-based and Microsoft Silverlight-enhanced Web experiences as well as Windows Vista and .NET Framework 3.5 client applications. Geotagging with Virtual Earth: Take advantage of geotagged images with Virtual Earth integration. View more high-res screen shots. In line with the team?s commitment to short release cycles, Expre...
More About: Microsoft , Developer , Ships , Superior

HTC Touch Find
2008-04-30 21:53:00
HTC is making many models of phones nowadays, of which several are almost the same. Here comes HTC Touch Find - yet another member of HTC Touch family: Specifications: GPRS, UMTS, HSDPA, GPS Quad Band: 850/900/1800/1900 Mhz Display 2.8'' Touch Screen with 65K colors Operating System: Windows Mobile 6.0 connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi primary camera: 3.0 Mpixel FM radio, GPS included TomTom GPS navigation software with one free map (of one selected city) QVGA display (320x240) This phone will be on sale in Italy for 599 Euro. We will see on May 6 several new Windows Mobile phones announced but obviously some phones from HTC Touch series are rather evolutionary than revolutionary enhancements - what may be not bad after all... although we would recommend spending a bit more money and getting a phone with VGA display (640x480 pixels) instead - it makes a huge difference! Source: msmobiles Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Microsoft cuts Xbox 360 prices in Asia
2008-04-30 19:56:00
Microsoft is ratcheting up the battle against rivals Sony and Nintendo in the hotly contested Asia n market, cutting the price of its Xbox 360 between 5 percent and nearly 20 percent in four areas throughout the region. The price of the 20GB model was cut 17 percent in Taiwan, 10.7 percent in Hong Kong, and 5 percent in South Korea. The steepest reduction was made in Singapore, where that version of the gaming console dropped 19.5 percent and the company cut the price of two other models: The 120GB Elite was reduced 12.5 percent and the Arcade, which has no hard drive, was cut by 13 percent. At the same time, Sony went in the opposite direction in Singapore and raised prices for its 40GB PlayStation 3 to $394. Nintendo, for its part, said late last week that it had no plans to cut prices on either the Wii console or its DS handheld in any regions. "This price drop is part of Microsoft's ongoing strategy to bring Xbox's high-definition gaming and entertainment experience to an ...
More About: Microsoft , Xbox 360 , Cuts

Mike Klucher: XNA Framework games running on Zune
2008-04-29 16:15:00
Mike Klucher talks about building XNA Framework games for the Zune and shows the soon-to-be-released CTP that enables developers to build Zune projects, adds a new menu on your Zune for games, and also enables device debugging directly from Visual Studio. For more information, go to creators.xna.com. Low res versionMP4 version Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)
More About: Running , Games , Mike

Search Command for Office Ribbon. Official Download!
2008-04-28 15:34:00
Search Command s helps you find commands, options, wizards, and galleries in Microsoft Office 2007 Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Just type what you?re looking for in your own words and click the command you need. Search Commands also includes Guided Help, which acts as a tour guide for specific tasks. Click here to download. Requirements:32 bit Windows XP or Windows Vista. Office 2007. Limitations: English only. Works with Word, Excel and PowerPoint only. Last updated: 04/23/2008 Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)
More About: Download , Search , Official

Virtual Machine Snapshots with Hyper-V
2008-04-27 23:20:00
Snapshots are a new feature of Windows Server 2008 Hyper -V. Snapshots are a point in time version of a virtual machine?..what does that mean you ask? It means that you can be running a virtual machine, take a snapshot and at any point you can select a previous snapshot and revert back to that point in time.  You end up with the virtual machine in the EXACT configuration that it was when you took the snapshot?and I mean exact?.memory, virtual hardware, processes, state, etc. So you can have a running virtual machine, take a snapshot, change the virtual hardware configuration, format the disk and install a different OS, it does not matter, when you apply the previous snapshot it looks exactly like it did when you took the snapshot. Snapshots do not affect the running state of the virtual machine, meaning that taking a snapshot does not change the virtual machine hardware, applications, or the currently running processes. It also means that deleting a snapshot does not change the virt...
More About: Machine , Virtual , Virtual Machine

Gates talks Google, Vista and (maybe) Yahoo
2008-04-25 23:15:00
Microsoft Corp.'s unsolicited bid to acquire Yahoo Inc. is still up in the air, but maybe it's inevitable in the eyes of Bill Gates . During an appearance Friday afternoon at the University of Washington, the Microsoft chairman at one point referred to his company as if it were second in Internet search. In reality, Microsoft is in third place in search market share -- although it would move into second place, still well behind Google , if it's able to bring Yahoo into its fold. "Often if you're No. 2 -- and in this case, a distant No. 2 -- you can try harder, so to speak, and try out new things that are quite different," Gates said when discussing Microsoft's technological ambitions in Internet search. Whether it was a slip or a sign of Microsoft's determination to finish the deal, the comment was the closest Gates came to even alluding to the acquisition drama. But he touched on many other topics during the event ? which felt like a combination homecoming and farewel...
More About: Vista , Organizations

Microsoft Launches New Windows Vista Ultimate Extras
2008-04-23 13:25:00
Despite no announcement being made on UltimatePC.com, Microsoft have released a new sound scheme and a content pack for Windows DreamScene as part of its Windows Vista Ultimate Extras offerings for customers who purchased the Ultimate edition of Vista.After installing the sound pack customers get Ultimate Extras Pearl and Glass sound schemes and additional Windows DreamScene Content. exclusive to Windows Vista Ultimate only! Source: Neowin Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Live Mesh Technology Preview Announced
2008-04-23 13:21:00
Today Microsoft is unveiling a technology preview to a really neat new software+services platform called Live Mesh . Live Mesh is a brand new platform that helps your devices act together through the internet enabling users such as you and me to manage, access, and share their files and applications from nearly anywhere. By bringing user's files, applications, and devices together along with the combination of social networking (such as with news feeds) - Live Mesh creates a unique platform experience. First and foremost Live Mesh is a new platform.  The first phase of the technology preview process provides a foundational experience that exposes core concepts and functionality of the platform.  In the near future developers can expect to be able to take advantage of Live Mesh to extend their software to the Web, and their services to the desktop and devices. Today's technology preview is a pre-Beta release designed to get early feedback to make the platform even better. I've b...
More About: Technology , Preview , Windows Live