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NASA releases first photos of Jupiter from New Horizons
2007-03-09 19:51:02
I know this is off-topic , But since am a huge space enthusiastic, i thought this should be posted From CNET News: Some of the most detailed photos of Jupiter ever captured were released by NASA on Wednesday. The photos were part of the data sent back by New Horizons, NASA's piano-size spacecraft en route to Pluto and beyond, that reached the closest point of its Jupiter flyby on Wednesday.The never-before-seen photographs of Jupiter provided more insight into Jupiter's famed Little Red Spot; a silhouette of the Tvashtar volcano's 150-mile-high dust plume on the moon Io; Ganymede, Jupiter's largest moon; and Europa, Jupiter's moon believed to have an ocean under its ice crust.NASA has not yet released a formal analysis of the photos, which were released to the public via its New Horizons Web site.While the photos and data from Jupiter are significant, the flyby was part of NASA's plan to use Jupiter's gravity as a slingshot. New Horizons essentially tapped into Jupiter'...
More About: Photo , Photos , Release , First , Piter

Microsoft move could be the end of the JPEG - Company seeks to makes its HD
2007-03-09 19:51:02
Microsoft Corp. will soon submit to an international standards organization a new photo format that offers higher-quality images with better compression, the company said today.The format, HD Photo -- recently renamed from Windows Media Photo -- is taking aim at the JPEG format, a 15-year-old technology widely used in digital cameras and image applications. Both formats take images and use compression to make the file sizes smaller so more photos can fit on a memory card. During compression, however, the quality of the photo tends to degrade.Microsoft said HD Photo's lightweight algorithm causes less damage to photos during compression, with higher-quality images that are half the size of a JPEG. The format can also accommodate "lossless" and "lossy" compression, two methods of compressing photo data with different effects on image quality. Microsoft said adjustments can be made to color balance and exposure settings that won't discard or truncate data that occurs with other bit-m...
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Visual Studio 2005 Update for Windows Vista Released...
2007-03-09 19:51:02
The final release of the VS 2005 update for Wind ows Vista is now available. This update fixes most of the issues that you may have faced with running Visual Studio 2005 on Windows Vista . Install Visual Studio 2005, the Service Pack 1 update, and then the Windows Vista update to get a fully-supported developer environment. There's also an interesting interview with Soma (the VP responsible for the Developer Division here) on Microsoft Presspass. The questions are a little soft (the interview is posted on our press relations site, after all!) but it's a good review of where the developer platform is today and the focus areas for the developer tools and platform part of the business.  

Windows Vista Hardware Assessment
2007-03-09 19:51:02
Brief DescriptionThe Wind ows Vista Hardware Assessment solution accelerator is an inventory, assessment, and reporting tool that will find and determine if computers on a network are ready to run the Windows Vista operating system. OverviewThe Windows Vista Hardware Assessment is a tool that will find computers on a network and perform a detailed inventory of the computers using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). Through use of the detailed inventory data, the tool will assess and report whether the computers can run Windows Vista, where to find drivers for devices on the computers, and provide recommendations for hardware upgrades, where appropriate. The Windows Vista Hardware Assessment tool does not require the deployment of agent software on the computers being inventoried and assessed. It provides a secure, quick, and easy way to determine which computers, in a networked environment, are Windows Vista ready.Download Here To view this Solution Accelerator onlin...

GDC 2007: Best game awards - Microsoft wins again
2007-03-09 19:51:02
 Part of GDC, the Game Developers Choice Awards were handed out in San Francisco last night. These are the only videogame awards that are bestowed upon developers by developers. Gears of War received the most acclaim with three awards, while Okami and Wii Sports each received two. The internet ?toy? Line Rider, scheduled to slide onto the Wii and DS this year, also took home an award for Innovation.   For composing the music to hundreds of games since the early 80s, including Maniac Mansion and LOOM, George ?The Fat Man? Sanger received a special award for ?community contribution.? I must also admit that Gears of War was something extra and these awards are probably well deserved. The full list: Best Game - Gears of War (Epic Games / Microsoft Game Studios)- Cliff Bleszinski, Michael Capps, Rod Fergusson Audio - Guitar Hero II (Harmonix Music Systems / RedOctane)- Jeff Allen, Eric Brosius, Izzy Maxwell Character Design - Okami (Clover Studio / Capcom Entertainment)- M...

Visit MIX07
2007-03-09 19:51:02
Microsoft is hosting a 72-hour conversation, and you're invited. April 30 ? May 2nd, The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas On the frontiers of the Web, boundaries are blurring?developers and designers, advertisers and publishers, software and services, media and technology, TV and PCs, PCs and mobile devices, producers and consumers. The old order is getting a little MIXed up. MIX is Microsoft?s conference for Web designers, developers and decision-makers who make their living at the forefront of the consumer Web. Join the conversation with Microsoft and others on how to harness the latest technologies, unlock new revenue opportunities, reduce development costs and improve customer experience. MIX is for cutting-edge Web professionals designing and building next-generation experiences. Click here to subscribe to our RSS feed for all the latest MIX news             ;      &nbs p;     ...
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The Ultimate Wallpaper
2007-03-09 13:50:04
Check out the download section. It was looking empty, so Microsoft created something special just for Ultimate users. They got the awesome graphics artists on the Windows Experience team to create unique static wallpapers for your desktop. They gave us two compelling images that we're offering to you in three resolutions. We think the images cover the gamut of displays. Even those of you with Ultimate-worthy 30-inch flat panel monitors will find something to fit your screen. The resolutions available include both 4:3 and widescreen versions. Whether you don?t want to install the preview version of Windows DreamScene (that?s fine!), have a computer running Ultimate that doesn't support Windows Aero, or just prefer backgrounds that don?t move, these images might be just the thing for you. Enjoy!  Source  
More About: Wallpaper , Wall , Paper , Mate

HOWTO: Convert from VMWare (.VMDK) to Microsoft's Virtualization format (.V
2007-03-09 13:50:04
There's an interesting set of tools available at http://vmtoolkit.com/. Here's a brief description of each of them: VMDK to VHD Converter This is a tool that will convert the virtualized hard drives from VMWar e's format (VMDK) to Microsoft 's Virtual disk format (VHD) so that you can run virtual machines originally created for use with VMWare to run in Virtual Server 2005/R2, Virtual PC 2004/2007, and assumedly Microsoft Virtualization Hypervisor (the virtualization layer to be used with Windows Server Longhorn), which has been touted as using the exact same format as existing Microsoft virtual machine technology. VHD Resizer This tool will resize your virtual machine hard drive files (VHD) and also allow you to convert them between Fixed and Dynamic file types by essentially doing a sector-by-sector copy from one type to another.  Source
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Longhorn:: Hypervisor - Windows Server Virtualization Demo
2007-03-09 01:49:02
Windows Server Virtualization running on Server Core managed from another Windows Server Longhorn box 64-bit hosts and 32-bit hosts and a Linux running on the same server core box An 8-core virtual machine System Center Virtual Machine Manager System Center Operations Manager Monitoring the VMs on the Server Core box  Fire off a PowerShell script to hot-add another NIC to a SQL VHD Image   Video: Longhorn - Windows Server Virtualization
More About: Windows , Wind , Hype

Microsoft Process Monitor 1.10
2007-03-09 01:49:02
Process Monitor is an advanced monitoring tool for Windows that shows real-time file system, Registry and process/thread activity. It combines the features of two legacy Sysinternals utilities, Filemon and Regmon, and adds an extensive list of enhancements including rich and non-destructive filtering, comprehensive event properties such session IDs and user names, reliable process information, full thread stacks with integrated symbol support for each operation, simultaneous logging to a file, and much more. Its uniquely powerful features will make Process Monitor a core utility in your system troubleshooting and malware hunting toolkit. Process Monitor runs on Windows 2000 SP4 with Update Rollup 1, Windows XP SP2, Windows Server 2003 SP1, and Windows Vista as well as x64 versions of Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 SP1 and Windows Vista. Process Monitor Enhancements over Filemon and Regmon Process Monitor's user interface and options are similar to those of Filemon and R...
More About: Microsoft , Soft , Proc , Micro

Microsoft's research labs offer freebies
2007-03-08 19:48:01
REDMOND, Wash.--While many of the projects at Microsoft 's TechFest are simply research concepts that will never come to market, a couple of the ideas are being made publicly available--for free. The goal of the internal science fair, which runs through Thursday at Microsoft's headquarters, is to give product teams inside the company a chance to see what the research unit is up to and, ideally, to have some of those ideas find their way into products. But in some cases, outsiders need not wait that long to get their hands on the latest from Microsoft's labs. One such project is called HD View, and is aimed at making it easier to view very large images via the Web. Initially, viewers see a smaller view of the whole image, which can hold millions or billions of pixels. Users can then zoom in on the image and scroll around, much as they might if they had the full image on their computer. But only about a million pixels need be downloaded at any given time. It's similar to an exi...
More About: Research , Freebies , Free , Search

Windows Live : Why Will You Work Here?
2007-03-08 07:47:02
Why Will You Work Here? We've been doing some work on bringing you a better Live Side (and helping to defray some of the expenses - this is a labor of love to be sure!).  As part of that, we've signed up for some new ads from Federated Media.  Interestingly, one of the ads is for jobs at MSN / Wind ows Live online services.  Talk about targeted advertising!  Ultimately linking back to Microsoft Careers, www.whywillyouworkhere.com has some nice information about Seattle and Puget Sound, a list of job categories, some info on employee and recruiter profiles, and even a reference to something called the MSN Media Network!  Go figure!
More About: Windows Live

Microsoft Research Keynote to Showcase Worldwide Innovations
2007-03-07 07:47:03
s part of the seventh annual TechFest event, Microsoft Research will demonstrate how its labs are tackling some of the toughest computing challenges.REDMOND, Wash. ? March 5, 2007 ? Microsoft Research will host a live webcast keynote presentation Tuesday, March 6, to discuss the future of computing technology. Rick Rashid, senior vice president of Microsoft Research, will discuss how the research labs fit into the cycle of innovation and contribute to the company?s future. Researchers will demonstrate new technologies across a broad range of disciplines, including search, collaboration and interaction. A virtual pressroom (VPR) with additional materials will go live at 11 a.m. PST, following the keynote.What: Live webcast of Microsoft Research keynote addressWho: Rick Rashid, senior vice president of Microsoft ResearchDate: Tuesday, March 6Time: 9:30?10:45 a.m. PSTLocation: The live webcast will begin at 9:30 a.m. PST. Viewers may access the webcast from http://research.microsoft.co...
More About: Keynote , World , Show

IT's ShOwtime! - By Microsoft TechNet
2007-03-07 07:47:03
 See hundreds of Funny MS videos Here 
More About: Microsoft , Showtime , Time , Tech , Show

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2
2007-03-07 07:47:03
Brief DescriptionDownload Service Pack 2 for Micro soft SQL Server 2005. OverviewService Pack 2 for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 is now available. SQL Server 2005 service packs are cumulative, and this service pack upgrades all service levels of SQL Server 2005 to SP2. You can use these packages to upgrade any of the following SQL Server 2005 editions: EnterpriseEnterprise EvaluationDeveloperStandardWorkgroup Note: To upgrade SQL Server 2005 Express Edition, obtain the SP2 version of Express Edition or Express Edition with Advanced Services. For a list of new features and improvements that are included in SQL Server 2005 SP2, review the What's New document. Download Here  
More About: Soft

Run/Emulate Windows Mobile 6 on your Computer
2007-03-07 07:47:03
If you develop for Wind ows Mobile or are just curious to check out how the new Windows Mobile 6 works, you can simulate (for free!) a Windows Mobile (WiMo) device on your computer without having to handle an actual device. You can even interact with the virtual device using your mouse and keyboard, and you may find that more informativie than just looking at screenshots. This blog post will explain how to setup the emulator and images to simulate a WiMo device on your computer. Read the Blog Post Here  http://blog.kirupa.com/?p =70 
More About: Computer

SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition Books Online
2007-03-07 07:47:03
Brief DescriptionDownload SQL Server Comp act Edit ion (SSCE) Book s Online and Readme.. OverviewMicrosoft SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition is a compact database ideal for embedding in mobile and desktop applications. You can manage a SQL Server Compact Edition database on a desktop computer or on a mobile device by using SQL Server Management Studio or SQL Server Management Studio Express. To download and install SQL Server Compact Edition Books Online, see the Instructions section.  Download here  

Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Installation Guide
2007-03-07 07:47:03
Brief DescriptionThe most current version of the Installation Guide for Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server and Team Explorer. OverviewThis is the most current version of the Installation Guide for Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server. It contains any changes that were made to the guide since shipping, including updates to support the installation of Visual Studio 2005 SP1. Note: On computers with security update 896358 installed, downloaded Compiled Help Module (CHM) files cannot be opened. For more information, see KB902225.    Download Here 

An Insider's Look into IIS 7.0 Features
2007-03-07 07:47:03
In this Webcast, we outline how pre-IIS 7.0 scenarios map directly to each new feature in IIS 7.0. We will dive into IIS 7.0 core server, new XML configuration, improved Administration features, and diagnostics functionality and then we will isolate and resolve your problems. The new core server offers developers a multitude of programming interfaces as well as feature parity with ASP.NET 2.0 event model. This allows smooth transitions for veterans of ASP.NET. We will also look briefly at how Microsoft built the new Win32 API, and its differences from ISAPI for programming modules that plug-in to IIS 7.0 core server. Then we ll discuss how IIS 7.0s brand-new configuration exposes these new features and functionalities. For example, ApplicationHost.config offers a locked-down configuration by default but is built to be distributed and in part of the Webcast well show you how to put this capability into action. Most experienced IIS users understand that the administration stack requir...
More About: Features , Feature , Inside , Side , Look

Server Security Patch Management at Microsoft - Sharing the Microsoft IT Ex
2007-03-07 07:47:03
Brief DescriptionThis 30-page technical white paper details how the Microsoft IT group manages server security patching. Details on internal processes, tools, and Systems Management Server 2003 features are given. Also included are the best practices and lessons learned for patch management, including security patch management for servers based on the internal Microsoft IT early adopter experience. OverviewThis 30-page technical white paper details how the Microsoft IT group manages server security patching. Details on internal processes, tools, and Systems Management Server 2003 features are given. Also included are the best practices and lessons learned for patch management, including security patch  Download Here  
More About: Security , Men , Ring

The Numbers of Vista's Brute Force attack
2007-03-07 07:47:03
In view of the latest Vista Activation Brute Force attack, I decided to take a look at the big numbers involved in this.We know the key length is 25. Also, there are 24 possible combinations pr slot. Based on these numbers, there are 3 552 713 678 800 500 929 355 621 337 890 625 (25^24) possible combinations. Let's say there are 5 billion valid keys (Keys Microsoft has printed/planning to sell). 25^24 / 5 Billion = 710 542 735 760 100 185 871 124 chance of hitting a valid key pr key tried. Let's say you can try 480 000 keys pr day. That gives you a one in 1 480 297 366 166 875 387 chance of hitting a valid key in 24 hours.Using these numbers, we know it will take 4 055 609 222 375 001 years, or 296 029 times longer than the estimated existence of the universe (From the Big Bang, 13,7 Billion years ago),  just to find 1 valid key.So why do people come up with working keys?Quite simply, Vista probably checks the key based on mathematical formulas. It probably&nbs...
More About: The N , Numb , Numbers

Microsoft Research Unveils More Than 100 Innovations for Future of Computin
2007-03-07 07:47:03
Researchers introduce new technologies to explore distant galaxies, bring friends and co-workers closer, and teach kids the magic of programming. REDMOND, Wash. ? March 6, 2007 ? Whether it?s helping people discover distant planets online, share their favorite digital photos with relatives, or show young kids how fun it can be to program computers, Microsoft Research speeds the way to a richer computing experience. Today the doors opened to Microsoft Research TechFest 2007, the company?s annual showcase of research projects, unveiling more than 100 innovations. At TechFest, researchers and product teams form close and lasting ties to jointly advance the frontiers of computing for the industry and customers.Speaking today at TechFest before an audience of customers, industry and government leaders and independent software vendors, Microsoft Research Senior Vice President Rick Rashid said, ?TechFest is one-stop shopping to see and experience the breadth of software innovations we...
More About: Research , Future , Search , Comp

Microsoft & Geekcorps Team Up - Microsoft Developer Experts Wanted
2007-03-03 13:43:02
From The JorDev Announcements BlogMicrosoft & Geek corps Team Up - Microsoft Developer Experts Wanted Microsoft and IESC Geekcorps have teamed up to send Microsoft developer experts to participate as volunteers in the Access to International Markets Through Information Technology (AIM-IT) project in Lebanon. Microsoft Volunteer Experts Microsoft Volunteer Experts will deliver briefing sessions and workshops to Lebanese software development companies, and in addition participate in selected engagements with partners and customers to help them deploy the tools and methodologies listed below by providing a proof of concept. Skills Needed IESC Geekcorps is in need of Volunteer Experts for the AIM-IT program in Lebanon to conduct training in the following types of tools and methodologies: Microsoft Solution Framework - Explain how the MSF team model is used. Visual Studio 2005 Team System & Team Foundation Server ? Instruct in the use of the VS Team System...

Learn to write applications and build Your own Web site with Microsoft Lear
2007-03-02 19:41:02
REDMOND, Wash.?Microsoft has launched a new Web site aimed at helping novices learn to write applications and build their own Web sites. Capping its thrust to tap the nascent market for tools for beginners, Microsoft launched its new Beginner Developer Learning Center on March 1.  http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/e xpress/beginner/ Overview Welcome to the Beginner Developer Learning Center - a centralized learning environment specifically targeted to beginning programmers. Here you'll find a rich array of learning content that starts with the very basics, and guides you through step-by-step to becoming a fully-fledged developer! No experience or programming knowledge required - so dive right in! For an overview of all the lessons available on this site, see My Learning Path. All lessons in the Beginner Developer Learning Center are organized into two development tracks: Windows Development and Web Development.Read More Here
More About: Applications , Cat , Write , Site

Microsoft Connect Available Connections
2007-03-02 07:40:05
Log into http://connect.microsoft.com, then apply your interesting programs from "Available Programs".  Program Start Date End Date Games for Windows ? Live Application Process 2/15/2007   Identity Lifecycle Manager 2007 Preview 2/6/2007   TestDB Upgrade - Configuration Manager 2007 Beta 2 2/1/2007 4/30/2007 Micro soft Dynamics NAV 5.0 Beta support 2/1/2007 7/1/2007 Education Blueprint: Primary and Secondary Schools 1/25/2007 6/30/2007 Expression Web 1.0 1/24/2007 8/4/2007 Windows Live ID Alpha SDK for Clients 1/21/2007   SMS 2003 SP3 Open Beta 1/17/2007 3/31/2007 Microsoft Transporter Public Beta 1/15/2007 3/7/2007 Windows Update Clien...
More About: Connection , Soft , Microsoft C

Microsoft Imagine Cup 2007 - WW Student Competition (Last Chance to registe
2007-03-02 07:40:05
Dear respected student!  You might have already heard about Imagine Cup 2007 ? Microsoft Premiere World Wide Comp etition - from your .net club champ or your faculty members, however, I just wanted to make sure that you don?t miss on the last chance to register for this world premiere student competition. This year?s theme: ?Imagine a world where technology enables a better education for all?  All online competitions? registration will close on March 15!  If you or someone you know is interested, kindly sign-up the soonest at the official imagine cup site using the appropriate links: Skills Challenges and Digital Arts
More About: Student , Chance

Video about Windows Ultimate
2007-02-28 19:38:12
Brief DescriptionRetail kiosk video showcasing Wind ows Ultimate OverviewOur own team participated in the creation of this video, so that is why you see Ultimate Extras featured prominently. We owe a compliment to Microsoft Studios, who used our content and produced the clip. Download here  
More About: Video , About , Mate

Games for Windows - Live Beta Announcement and Invitation
2007-02-28 19:38:12
"Games for Wind ows - Live" beta announcement and invitation! Are you interested in being part of a select group that is invited to help beta test a new service that lets Windows gamers connect with their friends on the Xbox through the LIVE gaming network? If you are, please read on. The registration period for this upcoming beta testing opportunity will only be available for a limited time. To be considered you will need to complete the Games for Windows - LIVE Beta application survey. To fill out the survey: 1. Go to https://connect.microsoft.com/Survey/Nomi nationSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=3599&Progr amID=1188&SiteID=363 2. You will be prompted to login with your Windows Live ID if you haven't already done so. 3. If you have not completed the Connect registration form, you will be presented with the Terms of Use agreement then you will navigate to the Connect registration page. 4. You must agree to the Terms of Use agreement prior to registration. 5. Once you have comple...
More About: Men

Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 VHD - 32-bit version
2007-02-28 19:38:12
Brief DescriptionExchange Server 2007 VHDA Pre-configured Virtual Machine OverviewThe Microsoft VHD Test Drive Program provides customers with an enhanced server-based software evaluation experience that?s faster, better supported and more flexible. You can now access the entire catalog of pre-configured Microsoft and partner products and solutions in the VHD format and start evaluating and testing today from www.microsoft.com/vhd. This download enables you evaluate how Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 and Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 together can help create an optimized messaging system for your organization. Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 is designed to reduce the growing cost and complexity of managing a corporate messaging system by providing more control for IT administrators, more value and expanded inbox access for end users, and increased security and compliance for the organization as a whole. Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 provides built-in prote...
More About: Change , Soft

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition VHD
2007-02-28 19:38:12
Brief DescriptionA Pre-configured Virtual MachineThis download comes as a pre-configured VHD. Micro soft SQL Server 2005 is a comprehensive, integrated, end-to-end data solution that empowers your people by providing a more secure, reliable, and productive platform for enterprise data and BI applications. OverviewThe Microsoft VHD Test Drive Program provides customers with an enhanced server-based software evaluation experience that?s faster, better supported and more flexible. You can now access the entire catalog of pre-configured Microsoft and partner products and solutions in the VHD format and start evaluating and testing today from www.microsoft.com/vhd. This download helps you discover some of the new features and functionality in SQL Server 2005, the next-generation data management and analysis solution from Microsoft. SQL Server 2005 provides benefits across your organization in three key areas: Enterprise data management Developer productivity Business intelligence...
More About: Edit , Soft