Microsoft patcht sneller dan Apple

For the record ...

Critici beschuldigen Microsoft vaak van traagheid als het aankomt op het uitbrengen van patches voor kritieke beveiligingsgaten. Apple zou het veel beter doen. Een Zwitsers onderzoek wijst nu het tegendeel uit. ...

Source: Microsoft patcht sneller dan Apple

ISO to announce Microsoft Open XML result Wednesday

I'm closely monitoring the news .. Peter O'Kelly quoted Reuters who aparently quotes the ISO comittee ... fingers crossed ...

The saga continues... at least until Wednesday

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) said it would reveal on Wednesday whether Microsoft (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) had won the support needed to have its document format made into a global industry standard.

"Because ISO needs first to inform its worldwide membership of national standards bodies of these results, a press release on this subject will be issued on Wednesday, 2 April, 2008," ISO spokesman Roger Frost said in an e-mail message.

ISO to announce Microsoft Open XML result Wednesday | Industries | Technology, Media & Telecommunications | Reuters

Source: ISO to announce Microsoft Open XML result Wednesday | Industries | Technology, Media & Telecommunications | Reuters

Networkworld: Microsoft SharePoint taking business by storm

Networkworld published an article about the (very) rapid uptake of Microsoft SharePoint Server.

Very cool that the introduction of Microsoft Online Services, which includes Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 hosted by Microsoft, is referred to as the 'perfect storm' ...

... Versatile Microsoft server may not be perfect, but it is attracting interest as tool to address anything from collaboration to process management

Microsoft's SharePoint Server is on a billion dollar juggernaut to potentially become the next must-have technology, offering companies tools for building everything from collaborative applications to Internet sites and potentially handing Microsoft its next cash cow.

"I have not seen anything like this since the early days of [Lotus] Notes," says Mike Gotta, an analyst with the Burton Group. In those days, corporate users were enamored with a shiny new technology that seemed to have infinite uses. "The talk [around SharePoint] is getting strategic now and people are talking about it as a middleware decision," Gotta says.

Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) 2007 is the fastest growing product in the company's history and seems to have as many uses as a Swiss Army knife. Its six focus areas are collaboration, portal, search, enterprise content management (ECM), business process management and business intelligence.

Just last month, Microsoft added a hosted alternative to fuel adoption. There is a "perfect storm," observers say, around SharePoint in terms of the popularity of Web-based computing, demand for less-expensive ECM and portal tools, collaboration technology and integration around Microsoft's Office suite.  ...

Read on : NetworkWorld.com

RSS Feed subscribers verdeeld naar reader

Willem vroeg me via een comment op mijn RSS Feed 'Mijlpaal' post naar de onderverdeling per RSS reader :

Zoals je ziet is mijn 'Microsoft aanhang' vrij groot; veel gebruikers maken gebruik van de RSS lezer in Outlook 2007 en/of IE 7 ...

In doubt ... Naymz

 

 

I'm getting about 3 or 4 a day of these invites. No doubt this is another result of social networks crossing over just like Plaxo Pulse and others.

Reputation Network ?

Naymz created Reputation Networking to help verify your reputation and connect with other reputable professionals. Your Reputation Network is comprised of people that you invite and those that invite you. Anyone in your Reputation Network is able to give an opinion about your reputation, agree to act as a reference, and/or leave an endorsement on your profile. You have the ability to do the same for them. Your RepScore is ultimately determined by the reputations of those in your Reputation Network and what they think of you.

You may remove someone from your Reputation Network at any time for any reason.

Fiilling out as much as possible about yourself gives you a 'Repscore' ..

I haven't figured out why I should include Naymz in my toolkit .. have you ?

RSS subscribers door de 400 grens :-)

Vandaag is het aantal abonnees op mijn RSS feed voor het eerst door de 400 grens gegaan.

Nog niet zo lang geleden, Op 11 oktober 2007 bereikte ik de 300 grens.

Elke mijlpaal moet je vieren, toch ? :-)

De digitale economie 2007

Het CBS publiceert jaarlijks het rapport 'De Digitale Economie' wat zo'n beetje alle mogelijke statistieken over de ICT sector en het gebruik van ICT in Nederland bevat ...

 

Nederland blijft internationaal koploper als het gaat om de beschikbaarheid van ICT in huishoudens. De belangstelling voor digitale televisie is in Nederland toegenomen: eind 2006 maakten ruim 2 miljoen huishoudens gebruik van deze toepassing. Verder hadden 7,5 miljoen personen wel eens elektronisch gewinkeld.
Internationaal gezien behoort het ICT-gebruik van de bedrijven in Nederland niet tot de absolute top.

De omzet via e-commerce bedroeg in 2006 bijna 11 procent van de totale omzet van de bedrijven. In het breedbandgebruik doen de bedrijven het wel relatief goed.

Eind 2007 was ruim twee derde van de overheidsdiensten elektronisch beschikbaar. Hiermee functioneert de Nederlandse overheid Europees gezien bovengemiddeld. De zorg- en onderwijssector lopen echter niet voorop als het gaat om ICT-investeringen.

De ICT-sector heeft sinds 2004 gretig geprofiteerd van het aantrekken van de economie, vooral de ICT-dienstensector. De internationale handel in ICT-goederen en -diensten is in de afgelopen tien jaar sterk gegroeid, zowel de uit- als invoer floreerde in Nederland. De telecommunicatiesector heeft in Nederland ongeveer 2,5 procent bijgedragen aan het bruto binnenlands product in 2006.

Bron: CBS.nl

Microsoft Partners with Top Social Networks to Put Users at the Center of their Data

Another big step in interoperability between social networking platform and Microsoft's Live platform. This new way of interop is much safer for end-users and its easier to invite your friends from other networks ...

... Today Microsoft is announcing some significant developments to the Windows Live platform that demonstrate Microsoft’s commitment to data portability and giving users a choice of how to use and control their information. ...

... Strong Partners

The collaborations with Facebook, Bebo, Hi5, LinkedIn and Tagged will make it easier, safer, and more secure for people to have access to their contacts and relationships from more places on the web. These networks will be adopting the Windows Live Contacts API instead of “screen-scraping.”  Starting today, you can visit www.facebook.com and www.bebo.com to find your friends using the Windows Live Contacts API.  Hi5, Tagged and LinkedIn will be live in the coming months. ...

... We encourage you to visit www.invite2messenger.net to see these ideas in action, and to invite your Facebook, Bebo, Hi5, LinkedIn and Tagged friends to join you on the world’s largest instant messaging network, Windows Live Messenger. ...

Source : dev.live.com

Een beetje sneeuw en een "beetje" file

  Mijn reistijden gadget sloeg wel heel erg ver uit vanochtend  ...

  Ik werk gelukkig thuis vandaag :-)

 

2e Paasdag / 24 maart 2008

Alles komt samen ... McVista :-)

News ways to use "ink" on your PC: InkSeine

Ken Hinkley of Microsoft Research is working on new and improved ways to use "ink".

 

 
Video: InkSeine from Microsoft Research - The Official Video

The prototype application is availanble now for download :  

... Ken Hinckley always thought that searching for information on his computer was like going on a fishing expedition. Every so often, he’d even catch whatever it was he wanted.

Hinckley, a senior researcher in the Adaptive Systems and Interaction group at Microsoft Research Redmond, has been netting better results than usual lately. And now he’s angling to share the secret to his success with Tablet PC users everywhere.

An example of an InkSeine note with links, searches, and screen clippings.

That secret is InkSeine, an innovative new inking tool that Hinckley and his team began developing in 2006. InkSeine is designed to help users get the most out of a Tablet PC by unifying ink, search, and gather functions into a fluid workflow uniquely suited to pen interaction. The ink component enables users to capture freeform thoughts and ideas in handwriting on a page; the integrated search functionality gives users quick access to supporting materials and documents with a few simple pen gestures; and the gather element lets users integrate the search results back into their notes—all without breaking the creative flow. As for the name, Hinckley explains: To “seine” is to fish with a net; to fish for results from your ink notes, use InkSeine.

Effective Feb. 15, Microsoft Research is making a prototype of the InkSeine application available as a download. Hinckley, whose group is charged with exploring interface form factors beyond the traditional mouse and keyboard, hopes Tablet PC users will take the bait. ...

Source: Microsoft Research

Video: Microsoft research projects help simplify your life

Some very cool Microsoft Research projects. Organise your music, filter blogposts, improved translations, you name it ...

Several new projects and ideas emerged from Microsoft's TechFest 2008 to help streamline people's media intake. CNET News.com's Kara Tsuboi has some of the highlights from the event, including a political blog aggregator and an application that can search your music library.

Source CNetnews.com

Smart Move: OpenOffice.org 3.0 to Support Read/Write of OOXML

Guy Creese posted about an interesting move by OpenOffice.org; the support of OOXML ...

...

According to a post at OpenOffice.org Ninja, OpenOffice.org 3.0 is planning to support the reading and writing of OOXML documents. This will not occur in the immediate future: OpenOffice.org 3.0 is about six months away (with OpenOffice.org 2.4 shipping in the meantime) and the screenshot included in the post shows a lot of work still needs to be done. However, this means that sometime in 2008 OpenOffice.org users will be able to easily share documents with workers or partners who are using the Microsoft Office 2007 default file formats. ...

Source: Pattern Finder - Smart Move: OpenOffice.org 3.0 to Support Read/Write of OOXML

It-ondernemer Eckart Wintzen overleden

Groot verlies. Ik had juist deze zomer zijn boek gelezen. De man heeft veel betekent voor de Nederlandse IT industrie ..

... Afgelopen vrijdag overleed Eckart Wintzen (1939) geheel onverwacht aan aan een hartstilstand in zijn huis in Frankrijk. Wintzen, oprichter van BSO, werd 68 jaar oud. Hij geldt als een van de belangrijkste Nederlanders it-ondernemers en denkers. ...

Source: Computable ICT-nieuws - It-ondernemer Eckart Wintzen overleden

Google verliest beroep om recht op Gmail-merk in EU

 

Google mag blijkbaar de naam Gmail niet meer gebruiken in Europa ..

... Google mag de naam Gmail in de gehele Europese Unie niet meer gebruiken voor zijn gratis webmaildienst, zo heeft de Harmoniseringsdienst voor de Interne Markt in een beroepszaak besloten. Het handelsmerk behoort toe aan de Duitser Daniel Giersch.

Medio vorig jaar verloor Google al het recht om de naam Gmail in Duitsland te bezigen. De Harmoniseringsdienst besloot reeds vorige maand om Google mede op grond daarvan het recht op het handelsmerk in de EU te ontzeggen, maar heeft de beslissing nu pas gepubliceerd. ...

Source: Tweakers.net

Anti file rijden

Anti file rijden is een term die Theo Rinsema nog wel eens gebruikt om aan te geven dat ochtend en avond spits niet de momenten zijn om in de auto te zitten. En daar zit wat in natuurlijk.

Maar ... hoe weet je wanneer de ochtendspits voorbij is ? Er zijn natuurlijk diverse online tools en gadgets die file informatie geven, maar tot op heden heb ik er nog geen gevonden die zo handig is als Zomoto. Zomoto is te installeren als gadget in Vista of op Live.com en ook op andere platformen als widget.

Via de site geef je de routes in die je regelmatig rijdt, je installeert de gadget en stelt hem in op de juiste route et voila, je hebt de reistijd in minuten rekening houdend met files, etc. De kleur geeft aan of het ok is om te gaan rijden ...

Als je op de gadget klikt krijg je de gedetailleerde file informatie, als je daar al geïntereseerd in zou zijn ...

Windows Live OneCare Video

5 minute video giving a thorough overview of Windows Live OneCare :
Video: Microsoft Windows Live OneCare

CIO's fear consumer technologies

Every year CIO.com has a survey amongs CIO's about the usage and uptake of consumer technologies:

... Even if most CIOs and IT managers were to acknowledge that major technology innovations occur in the consumer space first before they carry over into the enterprise, that doesn’t mean they have to like it. It also doesn’t mean the explosion of devices, smart phones, Web-based applications and social networks doesn’t keep them up at night worrying about enterprise security. In the Nine Consumer Technologies CIOs Fear, we profiled which technologies IT executives find the most troublesome from a security perspective. ...

Source : cio.com So what's on the list ? .. Threat No. 9: VoIP Clients (1%) Threat No. 8: Web-Based Productivity Applications (2%) Threat No. 7: Digital Cameras (4%) Threat No. 6: Remote Storage (5%) Threat No. 5: Smartphones (7%) Threat No. 4: Social Networks (10%) Threat No. 3: Instant Messaging (11%) Threat No. 2: Consumer E-Mail (18%) Threat No. 1: Portable Storage Devices (43%) Source : CIO.com

Forrester: Get Ready For Collaboration In The Cloud

The full report is for Forrester subscribers only, however, the small management summary looks promising. My humble and biased opinion is that Forrester overestimates Google's current capability, but I do agree the landscape is changing much faster than it did in the past ...

... While Microsoft's move to acquire Yahoo! attacks Google's extraordinarily profitable search and advertising business, another angle could hold even larger implications for the Redmond giant. Google has moved tentatively into the enterprise software market, potentially threatening Lotus and Microsoft in a big way by continuing to add enterprise capabilities, such as the workspace offering Team Edition. Google's move essentially signals a sea change in how enterprises license and distribute software. Although Yahoo! could help Microsoft get there faster, it's not just a Google /Microsoft race, and all bets are off with IBM/Lotus' Project Blue for cloud-based Social Computing as a clear finalist. There is also a dark horse in this race: Cisco. Each vendor will face considerable challenges as significant portions of on-premise collaboration software disappear into a cloud. From an information and knowledge manager's perspective, putting productivity and collaboration software in a cloud-based model has clear benefits — it's potentially much less expensive, easier to manage a single source of the truth, and is available anywhere, at any time. ...

Source: Forrester Research: All Research - Get Ready For Collaboration In The Cloud

Two cool Windows Mobile resources

Windows Mobile solutions for work and pleasure ...

...

While you're working:

• Windows Mobile Library. This technical library contains resources that can help you deploy and operate Windows Mobile powered devices.

While you're playing:

• The official Windows Mobile page on Facebook. Discuss, share photos, tell everyone on Facebook you're a Windows Mobile Fan!

...

Source: Windows Mobile Team Blog - Two cool Windows Mobile resources

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Language Standalone (KB936330)

SP1 is here ... recommended ...

... Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is an update to Windows Vista that addresses key feedback from our customers. SP1 addresses specific reliability and performance issues, supports new types of hardware, and adds support for several emerging standards. ...

Source: Microsoft Download Center - Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Language Standalone (KB936330)

Microsoft @ Interact2008

Terry Myerson will do a keynote on Exchange Labs over at Interact 2008. Exchange Labs is a Software + Services offering for Education ...

Hi everyone,

I wanted to let EHLO readers know I'll be keynoting at INTERACT 2008 in San Diego on Wednesday, April 9. We're planning a good walk through Exchange history, and then a peek into the future with Exchange Labs.

Register here with code EXCHANGE08.

I hope to see you there!

Thx,

Terry

Search Engine Strategies met Maurits-Jan Groen van Microsoft

Leuk interview met mijn collega Maurits Jan over Search Engine strategies ...

Tijdens Search Engine Strategies 2008 in Londen heeft Miriam Martinus namens Checkit enkele interviews opgenomen. ..

... De derde video was een interview door bovengenoemde Bas met Microsoft. De vierde video is weer Nederlandstalig en met niemand minder dan Maurits-Jan Groen van MSN. Enjoy!

Source: Search Engine Strategies met Maurits-Jan Groen

Evenementen de komende 2 maanden

Voor de komende 2 maanden staan er weer een aantal leuke evenementen op het programma waar ik de gelegenheid heb gekregen te spreken :

 

07-05-2008	Heliview- Van Web 2.0 naar Enterprise 2.0
17-04-2008	Lifehackingacademy - Het nieuwe werken
15-04-2008	MKW Deelnemersdag - De Onderneming 2.0

 

Zoals je ziet, het is bijna alles "2.0" wat de klok slaat. Het is voor mij wel belangrijk om daar een concrete invulling aan te geven; iets wat met name door de vele nieuwe produkt - en dienst ontwikkelingen binnen Microsoft op dit gebied steeds gemakkelijker wordt.

Ik houd een overzicht van evenementen bij op mijn Speaking @ Events pagina.

De presentaties die ik extern geef staan meestal nog dezelfde dag op mijn Presentation & Publications pagina en op Slideshare.net

Bouw platform Rijk naar Sogeti

Mooi en veel besproken project. Het is aan Sogeti gegund en de oplossing is gebaseerd op het Microsoft platform ...

... Sogeti Nederland gaat, met HP als onderaannemer, voor de rijksoverheid een nieuwe digitale samenwerkingsomgeving inrichten en beheren. Dat is de uitkomst van een door de ICTU/Rijksweb uitgeschreven Europese aanbesteding.  ...

... De nieuwe oplossing zal daar in eerste instantie instant messaging, een Rijks-adresgids (waar alle rijksmedewerkers in staan), een virtuele samenwerkruimte en aanwezigheidsignalering aan toevoegen. In een later stadium zullen videoconferencing, voice over IP, blogs en wiki’s worden toegevoegd. Verder is het de bedoeling dat ook het aantal gebruikers sterk toeneemt. Potentieel gaat het om ongeveer 120.000 werkplekken bij departementen en Hoge Colleges van Staat. 

In eerste instantie zal een en ander worden gerealiseerd op basis van Microsoft-oplossingen zoals Sharepoint en OCS. Maar Sogeti heeft ICTU/Rijksweb wel toegezegd de mogelijkheid open te houden van een componentgewijze overstap naar andere oplossingen, waarschijnlijk op basis van opensource. Voorlopig is ICTU echter tevreden met open standaarden, zoals ook Microsoft die belooft te gaan bieden. ....

Source: Automatisering Gids - Bouw platform Rijk naar Sogeti

Carl Tyler - My PowerPoint pet peeve

Carl has a good question on functionality in PowerPoint. Something that does work in Lotus Freelance and does not work in PowerPoint .. Be sure to check the screencast (follow link)

This is a pet peeve of mine in PowerPoint (and also Lotus Symphony), it would be great if someone can tell me if Microsoft have fixed this in 2007.  I'd be interested to know, what does he apple software do in this situation?
http://screencast.com/t/iRz8tJZoF

Well, I took on this "challenge" and created a 'this it how it works in PowerPoint 2007 :-)

 Peter's screencast

(The screencapture is optimal, but you get the message ..)

Source: My PowerPoint pet peeve

Microsoft Team Blogs list is updated

Brandon LeBlanc did an excellent job again by updating the list of Microsoft Team Blogs i.e. all Microsoft (Product) Teams that are blogging. And what an impressive list it is :-)

I wanted to let everyone know I’ve done an update to the Microsoft Team Blogs page I have going over on the Windows Experience Blog:

http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsexperience/pages/microsoft-blogs.aspx

Apple iPhone and Exchange ActiveSync

Endgadget reports live from the Live from Apple's iPhone SDK press conference

Picture say more than words ...

Microsoft SearchTogether : Social / Collaborative Search

Cool new development from Microsoft Research : MicrosoftTogether.

... Today, Web search is a solitary experience. Web browsers and search engine sites are typically designed to support a single user, working alone. However, collaboration on information-seeking tasks is actually quite commonplace! For example, students work together to complete homework assignments, friends seek information about entertainment opportunities, family members jointly plan vacation travel, and colleagues jointly conduct research for their projects. My research on collaborative search is aimed at facilitating small-group collaboration on search tasks; this webpage contains links to my papers and videos on collaborative search. ...

 

Microsoft Online Services - new portal

The new portal is live. It contains, information on the various offerings and lot's of links to trials, etc. If you are a Microsoft Partner (or want to become one) do check out the Partner section.

Please notice that the Microsoft Online offering for companies with less than 5000 seats is still beta only and focused on the US ... If your company has more than 5000 seats there's nothing that should hold you back wherever you are ...

Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. Announces Migration to Microsoft Collaboration Suite

This is a very cool (ice cold) reference to have. If I am not mistaking Coca Cola is a  Lotus Notes Domino shop ... Now moving 'to the cloud' to Microsoft's new

Business Productivity Online platform

 

 

 

 

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Coca-Cola Enterprises (NYSE: CCE) today announced that it will begin using Microsoft’s integrated communication and collaboration tools across its organization.

The use of Microsoft Office suite, SharePoint Online, Exchange Online, Office Communications Online and Live Meeting for Web and video conferencing will integrate CCE’s communication and collaboration capabilities and improve its speed, flexibility and effectiveness. This integrated platform will combine technologies by connecting software and internet services through Microsoft Online.

“To become the best beverage sales and customer service company, we must drive efficiency and effectiveness throughout our company while significantly increasing opportunities for collaboration among employees, customers and suppliers,” said John F. Brock, president and chief executive officer. “By working with a world-class leader like Microsoft, we can continue to drive innovation throughout our organization and more effectively address the complexities of today’s global business environment.”

“Coca-Cola Enterprises operates in an environment where better collaboration and communication can deliver a real strategic advantage,” said Bill Gates, chairman, Microsoft Corp. “By providing the flexibility to manage software over the Web or from servers managed on-site, Microsoft Online will help Coca-Cola Enterprises drive greater efficiencies and enable employees to connect to each other more effectively than ever before.”

Coca-Cola Enterprises is the world's largest marketer, distributor and producer of bottle and can liquid nonalcoholic refreshment. CCE sells approximately 80 percent of The Coca-Cola Company's bottle and can volume in North America and is the sole licensed bottler for products of The Coca-Cola Company in Belgium, continental France, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Monaco, and the Netherlands.

Source: Businesswire.com

Flash-concurrent Silverlight op mobieltjes Nokia

Dit is een mooie deal voor het verkrijgen van installed base voor Silverlight ...

... Interactieve webapplicaties worden beter toegankelijk op smartphones van Nokia. Het bedrijf gaat Microsofts Silverlight-platform distribueren op miljoenen toestellen. ...

Source: Flash-concurrent Silverlight op mobieltjes Nokia

Microsoft Matches Google With SaaS for E-Mail/SharePoint

Gartner has produced a first response to yesterday's announcement. "Matches Google" is really an understatement ...

Responding to the threat from Google, and sensing a significant business opportunity, Microsoft has announced substantial plans for an Exchange and SharePoint software-as-a-service model.

On 2 March 2008, Microsoft announced a beta version of a multitenant server software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform, to be used initially for e-mail and teamware (SharePoint), but expanding, we believe, to other applications, such as Office, over time. Delivery of the platform is planned for 4Q08. Microsoft already offers a dedicated server SaaS platform for companies with over 5,000 seats. This implementation is for organizations with under 5,000 seats. Pricing has not been announced.

The SaaS model is in its infancy, but holds considerable appeal, particularly for small and midsize businesses (SMBs). This is because it offers fixed monthly fees, freedom from most operational management, elimination of upgrade responsibilities and, in some cases, lower costs. The potential of the SaaS delivery model has had a significant impact on vendor dynamics, driving Cisco to acquire WebEx, Yahoo to buy Zimbra, Google to purchase Postini, Dell to buy MessageOne and SAP to invest heavily in its Business ByDesign platform.

We believe the SaaS model will dramatically change the way businesses provision, operate and consume IT services during the next five years. Microsoft's SaaS investment is both an offensive move to capture operational revenue (in addition to the license fees it now collects), and a defensive measure to combat potential incursions from suppliers such as Google.

The challenges Microsoft faces are considerable. While it runs one of the largest public portal sites in the industry, providing large-scale SaaS services for business requires significant expertise in high availability, security, multitenant architectures, network topologies and problem resolution. Furthermore, Microsoft is retrofitting its existing software to the multitenant server model. It won't be until the next version of Exchange (due in 2011) that its core products are better architected to run in a multitenant SaaS model.

Nonetheless, Microsoft's substantial market share in the e-mail and teamware market, particularly among SMBs, and the growing acceptance of SaaS business models create a significant opportunity for Microsoft. We believe that 20% of enterprise e-mail seats will use a SaaS provisioning model by 2012, compared with 1% in 2007.

Recommendations

• Develop a model for evaluating SaaS offerings in preparation for the expected heavy vendor participation in this area during the next several years.
• Pilot Microsoft's SaaS offering in 2008 if appropriate, but deploy it in production only after maturity is demonstrated, which is likely to take 12 to 18 months.

Source : Gartner.com : microsoft_match...pdf

New SharePoint tools help drive adoption

At the SharePoint Conference, Microsoft announced the availability of two new and exciting tools that help IT engage end users and stimulate SharePoint adoption:

• Internal Buzz Kit: the kit provides sample materials to help customers kick off go-live communications and user training. It includes electronic files with demo videos, brownbag presentations, posters, training certificates, and guidance on how to run an ‘internal buzz campaign’.
• GEAR Up: this online content tool inserts adoption in the broad context of phases in SharePoint implementations. GEAR UP includes the internal buzz kit, and also points to the training kit and Get the Point blog, released back in December. GEAR UP will help IT professionals and business managers find timely resources and guidance through phases of a typical SharePoint Server 2007 deployment cycle:
• Get Ready: how to build a business case and win executive sponsorship
• Engineer: resources to help with site design, capacity planning and governance
• Adopt: recommended tactics and materials to both engage and train end users..
• Release: build a community for ongoing support

Go to http://sharepoint.microsoft.com/gearup.

This collection of resources (GEAR UP, buzz kit, training, user hints blog, etc) help demonstrate to the public, our commitment to the millions of SharePoint  users. With methodic approaches, actionable tactical recommendations and sample starter materials, the tools also will help customers through the complex challenges in stimulating both technology adoption and change management.  

GEAR Up

Internal Buzz Kit

training kit

Get the Point blog

Office Live Workspace beta open voor Nederland

De Office Live Workspace beta is nu internationaal beschikbaar voor een aantal landen, waardonder Nederland. De beta is  nu alleen nog in het Engels beschikbaar is en zal uiteraard later dit jaar ook in het Nederlands beschikbaar komen.

Inschrijven kan met een bestaande of nieuw te creeeren Windows Live ID binnen 30 sec. Zoals ik in een eerdere blogpost al vermeldde is de functionaliteit recentelijk nog uitgebreid en gebruikers kunnen ook met enige regelmaat nieuwe updates verwachten.

O ja ... het is gratis ...

Microsoft to Expand Microsoft Online Services for Businesses of All Sizes

Microsoft is expanding the Business Productivity Online offering for all businesses ... SharePoint and/or Exchange "from the cloud" ....

Monday from the annual Microsoft Office SharePoint Conference, Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft Corp., will announce that the company will offer Microsoft Online Services to businesses of all sizes. This announcement marks a significant step for Microsoft toward expanding its software plus services strategy.

“The combination of software plus services gives customers advanced choice and flexibility in how they access and manage software,” Gates said. “With Microsoft Online Services, businesses can deploy software as a subscription service, from servers they manage on-site, or a combination of the two, depending on their specific needs. In the future, customers and partners should expect to see this kind of choice and flexibility for all of Microsoft’s software and server products.”

Today Microsoft also opened a limited beta trial of the new services; U.S.-based companies can register for the trial at http://www.mosbeta.com. The new services are scheduled to be generally available to businesses of all sizes in the second half of the year.

Based on the proven, business-class software available in Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, the new services enable businesses to access e-mail, calendaring, contacts, shared workspaces, and webconferencing and videoconferencing over the Web. The new services are managed through a single Web-based interface, designed to meet the needs of IT professionals. Through this security-enhanced interface, IT professionals can monitor the performance of the services, add and configure users, submit and track support requests, and manage users and licenses.

Enterprise Foundation

In September (http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/sep07/09-30RoadmapForBusinessPR.mspx), Microsoft announced the worldwide availability of Microsoft Online Services for businesses with more than 5,000 users. Today’s announcement extends the same performance, scalability, security and service level capabilities to all businesses.

Autodesk Inc., Blockbuster Inc., Ceridian Corp., Coca-Cola Enterprises, Energizer Holdings Inc., Ingersoll-Rand Company Ltd., PFT-Medway and XL Capital group of companies are among the first companies moving their communications and collaborations solutions to Microsoft Online Services.

“To become the best beverage sales and customer service company, we must drive efficiency and effectiveness throughout our company while significantly increasing opportunities for collaboration among employees, customers and suppliers,” said John Brock, president and chief executive officer, Coca-Cola Enterprises. “By working with a world-class leader like Microsoft to leverage the power of software plus services, we can continue to drive innovation throughout our organization and more effectively address the complexities of today’s global business environment.”

Flexible Licensing Model

To help companies take advantage of Microsoft Online Services, Microsoft introduced a new licensing model with flexible options for customers.

New customers and customers without Microsoft Software Assurance can purchase Microsoft Online Services as a per-user subscription. Existing customers with Software Assurance on their Microsoft Client Access Licenses can purchase a user subscription at a discount, enabling them to maximize their existing Microsoft software investments. Customers with a subscription have rights to both Microsoft Online Services and to access on-premises server software, giving them the ability to blend Web-based services with on-premises software.

Microsoft will offer Exchange Online and SharePoint Online together with Office Communications Online and Office Live Meeting as a suite of services or as individual service offerings.

Expanding Partner Opportunities

Microsoft Online Services create new opportunities for partners to resell, customize and provide consulting, migration and managed services for customers. Atos Origin S.A., BT, Ceryx Inc., Evolve Partners Inc., Getronics NV, HCL Technologies Ltd., and Unisys Corp. are among the first partners to announce they will support Microsoft Online Services and provide offerings based on the new services.

“Microsoft Online Services provide partners with opportunities to expand reach, grow revenue and increase speed to sales and implementation,” said Chris Capossela, senior vice president of the Information Worker Product Management Group at Microsoft. “By extending our enterprise software offerings as a subscription service, our partners have the ability to develop and deliver new services with little overhead but maximum revenue potential.”

More information on Microsoft Online Services can be found at the following resources:

• Microsoft Online Services home page: http://www.microsoft.com/online/default.mspx

•Feature story: Partners Embrace Huge Opportunities in Software plus Services Era

• TechNet Edge video: http://edge.technet.com/Media/Introducing-Microsoft-Online-Services

• Partner reaction: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/misc/AllSizeBusinessesQS.mspx

Source: Microsoft to Expand Microsoft Online Services for Businesses of All Sizes

Microsoft launches WorldWide Telescope into private alpha

This is an awesome application, if you think Google Space is an innovation, this is a quantum leap ...

Check out the video on TED : http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/224 

 

It made Scoble cry, and soon it can make you cry too. The website for the latest Microsoft Research project, WorldWide Telescope, is now up at http://wwtelescope.com/. Here's how Robert describes it:

"So, back to the World Wide Telescope. You drag around the sky. There’s Mars. There’s the big dipper. There’s Betelguese. Etc. It’s just like the star party you probably attended in college.

But it has one difference between any telescope you’ve ever looked at.

You can zoom. Zoom. Zoom. Zoom.

We picked a point of light inside the big dipper. Zoom. Zoom. Zoom. Zoom. Holy ***, it’s two galaxies colliding. It looked like a star. Zoom. Zoom. Zoom."

No sign of the download yet, with Scoble saying its in private alpha right now. If you're interested in finding out more, Sunshine posted a bunch of info on it last week. We'll let you know when its open to all. ...

Source: Microsoft launches WorldWide Telescope into private alpha

Office Live Workspace - first feature update goes live

Office Live Workspace get's its first update ...

In case you didn't know, Office Live Workspace is bases on SharePoint, integrated with Office XP and newer version and .. free :-)

A new Activity pane to help you keep track of what’s happening in your workspaces and email notifications so you always know when the people you share with make updates. This feature is a lot of fun and makes it easy to see at glance the changes happening in your workspace and in individual documents. Now you’ll know when someone comments on your document, adds a note, or updates an important list.

New support for adding multiple documents to your workspaces. The Add multiple documents button makes it is easier than ever to bring your documents into a workspace by browsing and selecting files from your computer or dragging and dropping files on the document uploader.

New permalinks for sharing direct hyperlinks to your workspaces and documents. Now you can bookmark individual workspaces and items in your workspace using the “add to favorites” tool in your web browser or copy the address bar and paste those links into emails to share with others.

A new Share workspace UI to easily invite others to your workspace. With the improved address book buttons you can quickly add people from your Windows Live addresses book (contacts from Windows Live Hotmail and Windows Live Messenger) and people you have shared with before. You can also include more details in your invitation with the larger message box and choose to CC yourself on the invitation.

Besides these, other fixes and improvements have been made and the Office Live add-in has been updated.

Office SharePoint Server 2007 DoD 5015.2 Resource Kit

SharePoint Server 2007 is DoD 5015.2 Chapter 2 compliant this resourceguide allows you to fully evaluate the solution :

... The DoD 5015.2 Resource Kit provides tools and guidance for evaluating additional features and functionality which has enabled SharePoint Server 2007 to be DoD 5015.2 Chapter 2 compliant. At the end of the evaluation you should engage a qualified partner to implement your DoD solution. This resource kit is not intended for production usage.
Please note, installing the DoD 5015.2 Resource Kit replaces the out of the box Record Center SharePoint site template. Site administrators will be unable to create a standard record center once the add-on pack is installed. ...

Source: Office SharePoint Server 2007 DoD 5015.2 Resource Kit

The Sofaside PC

Very good suggestion by Sean. Why put all of this just just underneath the TV, thanks Sean excellent solution, I have started the project already :-)

...

Outstanding idea hiding a full-fledged home theater system in a stylish end table.  This piece would make all of our other furniture hide in the corner in shame.  Cable management has to be a bear though. ...

Sofaside PC Anyone? | eHomeUpgrade

Source: Addicted to Digital Media - The Sofaside PC

Introducing Forrester's Web 2.0 Framework

Forrester's Erica Driver introduces a framework around Web 2.0. Somehow all these models look alike ...

... One of my roles here at Forrester for the past year or so has been chief Web 2.0 cat herder. I'm by no means a Web 2.0 expert -- I've just helped to coordinate our coverage. A large team of analysts has put our heads together to try to create a well-rounded Web 2.0 research agenda and formulate a consistent way to conceptualize and communicate about this giant hairball of a topic. We hope you're seeing the results in our published research. Below is one result of our team meetings: a high-level Web 2.0 framework.

Source: Forrester Information and Knowledge Management Blog - Introducing Forrester's Web 2.0 Framework

Macbook AIR - battery

Short clip of one very brave person who took his Macbook Air apart .. wow ..