Microsoft today released Windows Live Essentials 2011, a suite of free consumer apps that connects Windows to the cloud to help people connect, create and share online.

As Windows 7’s one-year anniversary approaches, Microsoft is bringing together the power of the PC with the promise of the cloud. On Thursday, September 30, Microsoft released Windows Live Essentials, a set of free applications that helps Windows 7 users connect, create, and share online.

The software suite is available for download and includes:

Windows Live Photo Gallery, Movie Maker, Messenger, Mesh, Mail, Family Safety, and Writer.

Windows Live Essentials reflects a changing landscape in consumer behavior, where more and more people communicate and share online, says Jamie Cannon, group product manager for Windows Live. Today’s release offers Windows users an integrated experience that acts as their “key to the cloud.”

“We’ve brought together the best of Windows with the best of the Web,” Cannon says. “People are spending more time in the cloud, and as a result it’s where people communicate, connect and share. And so, we believe that bringing them together in a seamless way allows consumers to bridge the power of both.”

Windows Live Essentials is that bridge, Cannon says. The free suite helps users share their photos and movies, organize their e-mail, and stay in touch with the people that matter most, regardless of whether those people use social networks, chat or traditional e-mail, he says. It also enables users to access their “stuff” from anywhere over the Internet.

“We’re getting every Windows 7 PC connected to the cloud with Windows Live Essential,” Cannon says. “It takes the Windows that you know and brings the promise of the cloud so you can create, communicate and share all from one place. With Windows and Windows Live, you’re connected to your people and your networks whenever and wherever you want – from your PC, devices and phone.”

Regards

Marc Liron – Microsoft MVP (2004-2010)

Microsoft’s Future Social Experiences Labs (FUSE) has launched another new project

Project Emporia sifts through the ever-evolving web content streams to identify hot stories, categorizes them into topic areas and ranks them, and then presents them to you in a friendly browser based UI. Just by opening the Project Emporia page you get popular stories on topics of your choice without ever having signed up for anything.

This is just the starting point however; as mentioned, there is no login required to browse by topic and read the stories that other users have shared and voted on. That said, by logging in with your Facebook credentials, you can also influence how future stories are chosen for you, one vote at a time. Your votes will improve the relevance of Project Emporia’s story choices not just for you, but for every other user as well.

Project Emporia is currently in Alpha release from FUSE Labs and Microsoft Research.

Discover more here: http://www.projectemporia.com/

Kind Regards

Marc Liron
Microsoft MVP

For over 10 years newsgroups (NNTP) have been Microsoft’s primary public support forums for its products and technologies.

Currently there are more than 2,000 public newsgroups and 2,200 private newsgroups devoted to its various products and services.

But from June 2010 these will be moved to revamped forums on Microsoft TechNet, MSDN and Microsoft Answers.

Here is a statement from a Microsoft spokesperson:

“On June 1, Microsoft will be progressively  closing newsgroups and helping active newsgroups users migrate their discussions to the refreshed Microsoft forums that include Microsoft Answers, TechNet and MSDN.  This decision was made in an effort to provide the best community and support resources and experience to our customers with social features and functionalities that address their feedback and needs.”

You can read more about this transition on the Microsoft Newsgroup page: Click Here.

I personally think this is a good move as it will allow less technical users to access these communities, rather than rely on newgroup readers. In 2010, a web based (and even social) approach to support is the way to go.

Regards

Marc Liron – Microsoft MVP

Messenger Connect from Microsoft marks an important step forward for the Windows Live Messenger service as it will allow websites to integrate the function into their pages resulting in better sharing with friends.

Essentially its a new social API that allows new ways for partners and developers to connect with Windows Live Messenger. (It incorporates exisitng APIs Windows Live ID, Contacts API, Messenger Web Toolkit).

Messenger Connect is a major leap for Microsoft. Until now, the company’s social products have been largely closed off to 3rd parties. Now, this new API allows Windows Live Messenger and 3rd party websites and applications that use it, to pull in data from across a user’s online social world.

Developers are going to be able to create compelling social experiences on their websites and apps by providing them with social promotion & distribution via Windows Live Messenger, and when you see the new capabilities of the Windows Messenger due in a few weeks time – that is really going to be a great experience for the end user.

Microsoft really are putting “Social” at the heart of their new Windows Live products coming this summer!

Regards

Marc Liron – Microsoft MVP

Microsoft has been hard at work on the next version of Windows Home Server – codenamed “Vail”.

This new version of Windows Home Server is notable chiefly for being based on Windows Server 2008 R2 — a major upgrade from the current version, which uses Windows Server 2003 SP2 as the underlying OS.

Essentially it’s an Operating System with a built in Media Server, Backup, Data Recovery, Document Management, Remote Access and a gaggle of “add-ons” bundled in; and allows you to build a reliable network at home!

The Windows Home Server team blog cites four key areas of improvement with the new version: extending the ability to stream media outside of the home network and over the internet; multi-PC backup and restore; simplified setup and user experience.

This time round the OS is 64-bit only, with no 32-bit version available. Minimum hardware requirements are modest: a 1.4GHz x64 CPU, 1GB or RAM and a 160GB hard disk.

Individual hard disks larger than 2TB are now supported, as are iSCSI storage devices, and drive removal operations have been improved.

Here is a screenshot of the new User Interface:

In the following video you will see a walk through of the new product UI and take a first look preview of Windows Home Server v2

Click here to view the embedded video.

Touchscreen phones and MP3 players could soon be a thing of the past after Microsoft developed a technology to turn your skin into a touch screen.

The system, known as “Skinput“, works by sending out acoustic signals to sensors when a finger is tapped on the skin. Software, coupled with the sensors, can be taught which sound means which location. Different functions – start, stop, louder, softer, can be bound to different locations.

Early trials suggest Skinput can be learned with about 20 minutes of training the sensors and can pick up a five-location system with accuracy in excess of 95 per cent.

Microsoft says improvements still need to be carried out to increase accuracy before Skinput can become a commercial product.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Kind Regards

Marc Liron – Microsoft MVP

Microsoft Research have just released this new video showing how they are combining the use of BOTH Pen and Touch when working with Microsoft Surface.

This use of both hand gestures and an input device, like a pen, is a logical step – and an exciting one!

Watch the video below for a practical demonstration:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Kind Regards

Marc Liron – Microsoft MVP

Has Microsoft got a new Windows Live Hotmail Logo coming soon?

This is the current logo being used:

However, in a video released by Microsoft this week, a new Windows Live Hotmail Logo has emerged:

You can watch the video here.

Regards

Marc Liron – Microsoft MVP

The Windows 7 Application Compatibility List for IT Professionals is a Microsoft Office Excel-based spreadsheet listing software applications which have met Windows 7 Logo Program testing requirements for compatibility with 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7, and have thereby earned the right to display the Windows 7 Logo Program logo with the application.

These products are identified with the compatibility status “Compatible – Windows 7 Logo.”

Additionally, this list includes applications with the following compatibility statuses: “Compatible,” “Free Update Required,” “Paid Update Required,” “Future Compatibility,” and “Not Compatible.”

These statuses are based upon the software publishers’ statements of compatibility. These products have not met the Windows 7 Logo Program testing requirements.

For an explanation of the various compatibility statuses, please see the Release Notes for the Windows 7 Application Compatibility List.

Download the spreadsheet here.

Kind Regards

Marc Liron – Microsoft MVP

Microsoft are currently rolling out a new look to their MSN website.

“More than half of people online start their sessions on sites like MSN and they told us they want simplicity – yet still want the latest information and their favourite services delivered together,” said Lisa Gurry, senior director at MSN.

The new site carries links organised into 8 categories: News, Sports, Money, Food, Must See, LOL, Celebs and Autos. US users will also be able to get localised information about their area. Partners supplying content include MSNBC and Fox Sports.

To keep up with all things social you can also connect your Windows Live, FaceBook and Twitter accounts on the home page and have them display all the latets posts/feeds/twits etc…

The MSN logo has also been redrawn to more closely resemble that of Bing.

Current Look:

New Look MSN:

Regards

Marc Liron – Microsoft MVP

Microsoft has recently announced  support for its “Tag Reader” on the Google Android platform.

What is Microsoft Tag?

Microsoft Tag is a breakthrough technology that transforms everyday things in the real world into live links to online information and entertainment. From your mobile phone, simply snap or scan a Tag image anywhere you see it – in editorials, advertisements, product packaging, signs and storefronts – and gain instant access to Websites, videos, reviews, schedules, contact information, social networks, discounts, promotions and more! All you need to do is download the free Tag reader on your web enabled camera phone and when you see a Tag, snap or scan it to interact with the world around you in new ways!

How does Microsoft Tag work?

The Microsoft Tag Reader uses your mobile phone’s camera to capture a Tag. On some phones, you merely need to aim your camera at the Tag. On other phones, you’ll aim and then click. The Tag is decoded, and the action associated with the Tag, such as opening your phone’s browser and displaying a specific web page, takes place. Microsoft Tag requires an Internet connection to work, and normal data charges apply.

What type of phones will Tag work with?

The Microsoft Tag Reader is available for most smartphones and many feature phones. It is available on Windows Mobile, J2ME, iPhone, Blackberry, Symbian S60 and now Google Android phones. (Of course, your phone needs a camera and it must have Internet-access.)

How do I get started?

All you need to do is download the free Tag reader on your web enabled camera phone and when you see a Tag, snap or scan it to interact with the world around you in new ways! Download it now: http://www.microsoft.com/tag/content/download/

Will the Tag beta be available outside of the U.S?

The Microsoft Tag Beta is intended for use in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Turkey. We are working on providing official support in additional countries.

What can I do with Microsoft Tag?

From your mobile phone, simply snap or scan a Tag image anywhere you see it – in editorials, advertisements, product packaging, signs and storefronts – and gain instant access to Websites, videos, reviews, schedules, contact information, social networks, discounts, promotions and more! And all of the Tags you snap are remembered so you can access them later, or share them with friends.

Can I create my own Tags?

You can easily create a Tag that links to your online profile, contact info, blog, website, photo album or video. Add a Tag to your business card, and other people can download your contact information.  Attach a Tag to an item and if you lose it, whoever finds it can scan the Tag to find out how to return it. Read more: http://tag.microsoft.com/

What does it cost to use?

Microsoft Tag is FREE. It is free and easy to get the application for your phone, free to scan tags, free to create and use them. Microsoft Tag uses the Internet connection and the other services on your phone and your normal carrier usage fees will apply.

Fig 1.0 – A Microsoft “2D” Tag

Microsoft Tag in action

In this short demo video with Aaron Getz, Microsoft Tag product unit manager, you can see several uses of the technology: (on this demo a windows mobile phone is being used.)

Click here to view the embedded video.

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In this next video CNET’s Ina Fried has a look at the technology:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Kind Regards

Marc Liron – Microsoft MVP

The press has been full of Apple iPad madnesss recently, despite the concerns that many have about its lack of support for Adobe Flash/No Inbuilt Camera/Lack of USB and FireWire etc…

However a really strong IT story is currently brewing in the background, and this time its Microsoft that is the story.

During the keynote presentation at TechEd Middle East in Dubai last week, Microsoft’s Eric Rudder (Senior Vice President, Technical Strategy) played the same Indiana Jones type game on a Windows PC, a Windows Phone 7 phone, and an XBOX 360.

Microsoft is finally using the knowledge they have in computing and video games, to give them an edge in the mobile industry!

…I can see many XBOX 360 users wanting to take their gaming experience with them on the move (the session is maintained when you move from device to device).

I appreaciate Apple is trying something similar, though with a much more basic implementation, with the iPhone/iPad combination.

BUT Microsoft is onto something much bigger here!

I look foward to seeing more information being released at CTIA and MIX this month.

Regards

Marc Liron – Microsoft MVP

Prior to the launch of Windows 7, Microsoft had teamed up with the Fox media network to air a special Family Guy episode to help create more buzz on Windows 7.

Not long after announcing the deal Microsoft pulled support for the episode because of:

“riffs on deaf people, the Holocaust, feminine hygiene and incest”.

..so it was a suprise to see some clips form the show appear on the official Windows Team YouTube channel:

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Click here to view the embedded video.

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Click here to view the embedded video.

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Click here to view the embedded video.

Microsoft and Yahoo! announced today that they have received clearance for their search agreement, without restrictions, from both the U.S. Department of Justice and the European Commission, and will now turn their attention to beginning the process of implementing the deal.

Implementation of the deal is expected to begin in the coming days and will involve transitioning Yahoo!’s algorithmic and paid search platforms to Microsoft, with Yahoo! becoming the exclusive relationship sales force for both companies’ premium search advertisers globally. Once the transition is completed, the companies’ unified search marketplace will deliver improved innovation for consumers, better volume and efficiency for advertisers and better monetization opportunities for web publishers through a platform that contains a larger pool of search queries.

“This breakthrough search alliance means Yahoo! can focus even more on our own innovative search experience,” said Yahoo! Chief Executive Officer Carol Bartz. “Yahoo! gets to do what we do best: combine our science and technology with compelling content to build personally relevant online experiences for our users and customers.”

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer concurred with Bartz’s assessment. “Although we are just at the beginning of this process, we have reached an exciting milestone,” Ballmer said. “I believe that together, Microsoft and Yahoo! will promote more choice, better value and greater innovation to our customers as well as to advertisers and publishers.”

Consumer Search Experience

Under terms of the agreement, which was announced in late July 2009, Microsoft will provide Yahoo! with the same search result listings available through Bing, and Yahoo! will innovate around those listings by integrating rich Yahoo! content, enhanced listings with conveniently organized information about key topics, and tools to tailor the experience for Yahoo! users.

Yahoo! will focus on providing a compelling and innovative search experience that allows people to find and explore the things, people and sites that matter most to them. While Microsoft will provide the underlying platform, both companies will continue to create different, compelling and evolving experiences, competing for audience, engagement and clicks.

Transition Timeline

Yahoo! and Microsoft will work with advertisers, publishers and developers on a customized plan designed to make the transition as efficient and seamless as possible. Both companies will begin working closely with most partners well in advance of their planned transition to the Microsoft platform and will communicate important information to partners about the transition periodically via phone, e-mail, webinars and a newly-created Web site at www.searchalliance.com.

The companies will begin the transition of algorithmic search and have set a goal of completing that effort in at least the United States by the end of 2010. The companies also hope to make significant progress transitioning U.S. advertisers and publishers prior to the 2010 holiday season, but may wait until 2011 if they determine that the transition will be more effective after the holiday season. All global customers and partners are expected to be transitioned by early 2012.

Customer Relationships

Once the transition is in place, Yahoo! and Microsoft will each represent and provide customer support to different advertiser segments. Yahoo!’s sales team will exclusively represent and support high volume advertisers, SEO and SEM agencies, and resellers and their clients. Microsoft will represent and support self-service advertisers.

Regulatory Summary

Although the transaction previously was cleared by regulators in Australia, Brazil and Canada, the terms of the agreement required clearance by U.S. and European regulators before it could commence. Meanwhile, Microsoft and Yahoo! continue to work with regulators in Korea, Taiwan, and Japan to ensure that they have all relevant information necessary to evaluate the transaction before the deal commences in those specific jurisdictions.

From Feb. 16 to 19, as the Winter Olympics showcase the world’s best athletes in Vancouver, B.C., approximately 1,300 of the top leaders from the world’s technical community will spend four days at the Microsoft Corp. headquarters in Redmond, Wash. Participating in Microsoft’s 2010 MVP Global Summit are Microsoft’s Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs), an exceptional group of technical community experts committed to helping others get the most out of their technology investments and to representing the “voice of the community” to Microsoft.

During the four-day summit, worldwide MVPs, who are all non-Microsoft employees, will share critical feedback with Microsoft about its products and services. The summit also provides MVPs with the opportunity to interact face to face with product groups and sharpen their technical skills through more than 700 sessions offered as part of the ongoing connection that the MVP Award Program offers throughout the year. Stephen Elop, president of the Microsoft Business Division, will headline the summit and discuss the important relationship Microsoft has with MVPs and how the company uses their feedback to create a better experience for all technology users.

“Summit brings together some of the top leaders within global technical communities,” said Toby Richards, general manager, Community and Online Support for Microsoft. “I always look forward to this week and am extremely excited to engage with technology’s best and brightest and discuss what’s on their minds.”

With the recent launch of Windows 7, this has been a significant year for Microsoft and for MVPs. Even before Windows 7 had hit the shelves for consumers, many MVPs published books and online guides for users to more easily navigate the new tools, tricks and benefits of the new operating system. Furthermore, there are now 247 MVP blogs devoted to Windows 7, and the number is growing.

“The tremendous feedback and real-time peer-to-peer support provided by MVPs make a positive difference to thousands of technology users every day,” Richards said. “I eagerly anticipate the feedback that MVPs will share for some of Microsoft’s future big bets during the 2010 MVP Global Summit.”

About the Microsoft MVP Award Program

Microsoft began the MVP Award Program as a way to recognize community leaders in the general public who devote their time and technical expertise to helping others in various online technical forums. Over time, the program has evolved; today, awards are annually given to members of technical communities worldwide for their outstanding contributions to communities, which also include their own Web sites, user groups, blogs, wikis, social media and more.

More than 100 million people participate in technical communities, and this year Microsoft awarded more than 4,000 MVPs worldwide on a quarterly basis. Outstanding technical-community members can be nominated by their peers in the community, Microsoft employees or other MVPs. Microsoft’s MVP Award Program is in its 17th year, with MVPs today representing 96 countries, speaking 37 different languages and spanning 94 Microsoft technology areas.

More information about the MVP Award Program and the 2010 MVPs can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/mvp and at http://blogs.msdn.com/mvpawardprogram. More information on Microsoft technical communities can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/communities.

Regards

Marc Liron – Microsoft MVP

Microsoft CFO Peter Klein on the keys to driving up profits and his outlook for online services and business.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Microsoft has announced record revenue of $19.02 billion for the second quarter ended Dec. 31, 2009, a 14% increase from the same period of the prior year. Operating income, net income and diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $8.51 billion, $6.66 billion and $0.74 per share, which represented increases of 43%, 60% and 57%, respectively, when compared with the prior year period.

These financial results include the recognition of $1.71 billion of deferred revenue, an impact of $0.14 of diluted earnings per share, relating to the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program and pre-sales of Windows 7 to OEMs and retailers before general availability. Adjusting for the deferred revenue recognition, second-quarter revenue totaled $17.31 billion, and diluted earnings per share totaled $0.60 per share.

“Exceptional demand for Windows 7 led to the positive top-line growth for the company,” said Peter Klein, chief financial officer at Microsoft. “Our continuing commitment to managing costs allowed us to drive earnings performance ahead of the revenue growth.”

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 launched globally on October 22 as anticipated. Through the second quarter, Microsoft has sold over 60 million Windows 7 licenses making it the fastest selling operating system in history.

“This is a record quarter for Windows units,” said Kevin Turner, chief operating officer at Microsoft. “We are thrilled by the consumer reception to Windows 7 and by business enthusiasm to adopt Windows 7.”

Regards

Marc Liron – Microsoft MVP

In response to widespread interest from consumer device-makers around the world, Microsoft Corp. is announcing a flexible licensing program for its Extended File Allocation Table (exFAT) technology. The latest generation of Microsoft’s file system, exFAT delivers a significant leap forward in terms of the size of files that can be stored on a broad range of consumer electronic devices, and the speed with which they can be accessed. The exFAT technology is already being adopted by partners in the industry, and these manufacturers are using the licensing program to deliver a richer and more seamlessly integrated media experience for their customers.

“There has been an explosion in the use of rich audio and video files,” said David Kaefer, general manager of Intellectual Property Licensing at Microsoft. “exFAT is an ideal file system that delivers fast and reliable use of audio and video files. It is an important technology in Windows 7, and now that we are licensing this technology broadly to the industry, we want to encourage and support partners to build products that also contain this technology.”

# exFAT is the modern version of its predecessor, the FAT system, and greatly expands the size of files that flash memory devices can handle. The exFAT file system not only facilitates large files for use of audiovisual media, it enables seamless data portability and an easy interchange between desktop PCs and consumer electronic devices. In specific terms, the exFAT file system does the following:

# Enables future growth in media capacities, increasing support from 32 GB up to 256 TB

# Handles more than 4,000 RAW images, 100 high-definition (HD) movies, or 60 hours of HD recording in a single directory

# Speeds up file saves of Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC) cards to achieve their full 300MBps speed using modern storage allocation techniques

# Supports interoperability with future desktop operating systems

Provides an extensible format, including OEM-definable parameters to customize the file system for specific device characteristics

“Consumers want a richer media storage experience, and we chose the exFAT file system for our SDXC memory card specification because of its incredible potential,” said James Taylor, president of the SD Association. “The exFAT file system supports large volumes, large files and better contiguous on-disk layout, which supports the SD Association’s plans for the SDXC specification to provide consumers with quicker transfer speeds, support for very large files and seamless portability among devices. We look forward to incorporating the technology into our products.”

Microsoft’s Commitment to IP Collaboration

Microsoft offers flexible intellectual property (IP) licensing programs that give companies access to many of the foundational technologies in its own products, allowing those companies to build devices, applications and services that work seamlessly with each other. Microsoft has entered into exFAT licensing agreements with several leading companies including Sony, Canon and Sanyo. In addition, SanDisk Corp., as a member of the SD Association and the Memory Stick standard, has endorsed the adoption of the exFAT file system for use in the new extra capacity storage media.

More information about Microsoft’s exFAT licensing programs is available at

http://www.microsoft.com/iplicensing

Regards

Marc Liron
Microsoft MVP

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CSC have announced this week that it has signed an agreement with the UK’s Royal Mail Group to provide cloud computing information technology (IT) services. The new agreement expands the company’s current contract signed with Royal Mail Group in 2003 to maintain its desktop computers and manage and develop its servers, mainframes and IT processes.

The new contract is an industry first, with CSC being the first Microsoft partner to lead and win a cloud computing services agreement of this scale. Under terms of the contract, CSC will provide Royal Mail Group’s 30,000 employees with access to new IT services using Microsoft’s Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS), part of Microsoft Online Services. CSC will also provide first line helpdesk support.

CSC’s cloud services are designed to help businesses easily and securely adopt cloud computing solutions, allowing them to reduce the costs of managing and maintaining business systems while giving them access to the latest Microsoft Online Services including Microsoft Exchange Online, Microsoft SharePoint Online, Microsoft Office Communications Online and Microsoft Office Live Meeting.

Royal Mail Group’s Head of Technology Service Delivery, Carol Olney, said: “This deal forms part of Royal Mail’s drive to invest in new technology to improve efficiency and customer service.”

“The Microsoft suite will give people across Royal Mail Group the tools they need to do their jobs more effectively, enabling our business units to collaborate with each other, partners and other external organisations more freely, easily and securely while securing cost savings.”

“We are pleased to expand our relationship with Royal Mail Group and deliver the benefits of cloud services,” said Kevin Brown, vice president and chief operating officer of CSC in the UK. “Working collaboratively with Microsoft, we look forward to helping Royal Mail Group lower operational costs and providing more flexibility in the management of its IT systems.”

“Public and private sector organizations, such as Royal Mail Group, are moving their critical applications to Microsoft Online Services in increasing numbers,” said Ron Markezich, corporate vice president at Microsoft. “Partners like CSC are important in helping our customers take full advantage of the enterprise-grade capabilities and flexibility Microsoft’s cloud applications deliver.”

Read more about CSC here: http://www.csc.com/about_us/ds/29505-company_profile

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With most holiday shoppers looking to save money, Microsoft and eBay will present online Daily Deals through a new Windows Internet Explorer 8 Web Slice that will showcase popular products selling at deep discounts. Customers will receive continuing updates and detailed information about these Daily Deals for eBay, all within the Favorites Bar in Internet Explorer 8.

“With almost 200 million live listings, the eBay Marketplace is second to none when it comes to holiday gift options,” said Rob Chesney, vice president of buyer and seller experience, eBay. “This season we are making it even easier for Internet Explorer 8 users to find amazing products at deep discounts with the eBay Daily Deals Web Slice.”

With online shopping expected to increase this season, Internet security is a key concern for consumers. In direct response to customers’ needs, Microsoft developed Internet Explorer 8 with built-in security protection. A study by NSS Labs shows that Internet Explorer is the leading modern browser in malware and phishing protection.

“Our customers tell us they want a browser that puts them in control of their security and privacy, and those are key ingredients to a positive online experience,” said Amy Barzdukas, general manager of Internet Explorer and Consumer Safety, Microsoft. “The eBay Daily Deals Web Slice is just one more great reason to upgrade to and use Internet Explorer 8 for all your online holiday shopping.”

The holidays are a fun time to surprise friends and family with gifts from the heart. The InPrivate Browsing feature in Internet Explorer 8 allows consumers to shop online without leaving information behind for others to find on shared computers. InPrivate Browsing allows the user to control whether or not Internet Explorer 8 saves the browsing history, cookies, temporary Internet files and other data.

For enhanced holiday shopping online, eBay and Microsoft offer customers the opportunity to find the best Daily Deals through the innovative use of Internet Explorer 8 Web Slice. Internet Explorer 8 delivers the features that Internet users want, making the browser faster and easier, while increasing security and privacy — for online holiday shopping and beyond. eBay will also launch a “12 Days of Deals” promotion along with an exclusive Mystery Deal featured each day of the Daily Deal from Nov. 27 through Dec. 8.

More information on Internet Explorer 8 and the eBay Daily Deals Web Slice can be found at

http://ie8.ebay.com

Regards

Marc Liron
Microsoft MVP

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Windows 7 is breaking exisiting sales records. Here are a few recent online articles discussing the Windows 7 adoption growth:

Microsoft Boosted as Windows 7 Sales Outpace Vista

Early sales of Windows 7 suggest that shoppers are switching to Microsoft’s new operating system in their droves, shrugging off the cloud cast by its predecessor, Windows Vista.

Windows 7 Sales Boosted by Pre-orders, Smashes Vista

After outselling Harry Potter in pre-orders, Windows 7 creams Vista too.

Huge pre-order sales of  Windows 7 have seen Microsoft’s new operating system out-do its disastrous predecessor Windows Vista by a whopping 243 per cent.

Windows 7 Early Adoption Rate Outpaces Vista’s

Windows 7 has broken the 4% market share barrier in less than three weeks, a mark that took Windows Vista five months to reach, a Web metrics company said today.

According to Net Applications, Windows 7 has crossed the 4% line in the California company’s daily tracking of operating system usage. By comparison, Vista was under 1% a month after its late-January 2007 release to retail, and didn’t exceed 4% until June of that year.

Windows 7 Usage Outpaces Vista, Closes In on Mac

There’s a new sign Windows 7 is off to a strong start: Web surfers have started moving to the operating system much more quickly than they did its troubled predecessor, Windows Vista.

A new research report says Windows 7 on Saturday surpassed 4% of all devices visiting Web sites that day, a little over two weeks after the commercial launch of the product. It took Windows Vista, in contrast, about seven months to pass 4% after it was introduced to businesses in November 2006, according to the report from Net Applications, a firm that tracks online usage.

Microsoft Windows 7 Smashes Sales Records

Research firm NPD Group said Microsoft users were switching from Windows XP and Windows Vista to Windows 7 in significant numbers. Sales of Windows 7 in the days following its Oct 22 release were 234 per cent higher than those posted by Vista when it was launched in January 2007.

Windows 7 Versus Apple: The Great Computer Software Battle

There’s no escaping it: Windows Vista was a disaster. Launched in 2007, Microsoft’s follow-up to the massively successful Windows XP software, which powers the vast majority of the world’s computers, met with lukewarm reviews and terrible customer satisfaction ratings.

Regards

Marc Liron – Microsoft MVP

The UK now has its own version of Microsoft’s search offering BING.

“This is a serious, long-term commitment from Microsoft to put a differentiated search product in to the market place,” said Ashley Highfield, managing director of Microsoft’s consumer and online divisions in the UK. “We have not just used the US version of Bing. We’ve had a UK team focusing on what will work particularly well over here”.

However, UK users will have to wait a bit longer for Twitter feeds and computational results delivered by Wolfram Alpha to appear in UK based search results.

My own use of the UK version of BING has been good (I live in the UK) and I find the local search results in particular to be on a par with Google UK results.

As long as we do get the additional features that US users currently receive, I think the only way is up for BING UK.

Regards

Marc Liron – Microsoft MVP

Microsoft had a grand opening of its first physical store open to the general public at Scottsdale Fashion Square in Scottsdale, Arizona, at 10 a.m. on October 22. yes that’s the same day as the Windows 7 launch.

Its flagship retail outlets will serve to show off what its technologies are capable of, with PCs, Notebooks, Xbox 360s, Zune HDs, Windows Mobiles and more…

Some Apple fan’s are upset as they say Microsoft are just copying their beloved company. But when a highly successful company such as Microsoft has over 1 Billion customers for just ONE of its products (Windows), my question is why haven’t Microsoft opened one before now.

Move over Apple fan boys. Microsoft is now on the high street and ready to serve its army of loyal customers.

And all without the premium price tag that Steve Job’s forces upon his followers just so that they can feel good about their purchase!

Here are a couple of photos from the store opening:

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Regards

Marc Liron – Microsoft MVP

Microsoft start their global Windows 7 marketing campaign today. The creatives aim to highlight how the new operating system was developed with the help of users and is designed to simplify people’s lives.

Much of the advertising ends with the tag line: “I’m a PC and Windows 7 was MY idea!”

Here is one of the short videos being run on TV

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Today Microsoft Corp. announced the worldwide availability of its new Windows 7 operating system. Windows 7 delivers on a simple premise: make it easier for people to do the things they want on a PC. Managing Director of Microsoft Australia, Tracey Fellows talks about Windows 7.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Regards

Marc Liron – Microsoft MVP

Starting in the autumn, Tesco will allow customers in the U.K. who purchase certain home video titles from Tesco to download “digital copy” versions of movies to their Windows-based or Apple Macintosh computers in a “virtual DVD” experience. The digital copy versions will include a similar level of video quality, interactivity and bonus content available on the physical products.

In addition, the digital copy versions will provide consumers with extra network-connected features such as auto-updated trailers, exclusive bonus content, movie viewing parties with online chat, related music offerings such as MP3s and ring tones, and networked games.

“Tesco is excited to be the first retailer to partner with a broad range of major movie studios to offer this next-generation movie experience,” said Rob Salter, category director for Entertainment at Tesco. “For the first time, consumers will be able to enjoy a DVD equivalent experience with digital movies, which paves the way for more advanced viewing experiences enabled through Silverlight.”

“This is just the beginning. In the future we expect to offer our customers innovative digital solutions that far exceed the DVD experience and deliver exclusive content, Web events and services wherever and whenever they want them,” Salter said.

The underlying technology that enables these experiences is the Microsoft Silverlight browser plug-in, which powers rich, interactive experiences on Windows-based PCs and Apple Macintosh computers across all popular Web browsers. Silverlight provides a powerful engine for premium media experiences and sophisticated network-connected applications. It also enables developers and designers to build and deliver the same application anywhere Silverlight is running.

“Microsoft is committed to enhancing digital entertainment to deliver richer quality video and, ultimately, more enjoyable and interactive experiences for the viewer through technologies like Microsoft Silverlight,” said Gabriele Di Piazza, senior director for the Media & Entertainment business in the Communications Sector at Microsoft. “We believe this alliance will offer consumers in the U.K., and eventually additional markets, the opportunity to download a digital copy that is truly the equivalent of a physical disk — with the same package of navigation, bonus features and director commentaries.”

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Microsoft Songsmith is a musical accompaniment application for Windows, launched in early 2009.

Songsmith immediately generates a musical accompaniment after a voice is recorded. The user can adjust tempo, genre (such as pop, R&B, hip-hop, rock, jazz, or reggae), and overall mood (e.g. to make it happy, sad, jazzy, etc.)

The software was developed by a team at Microsoft Research, led by researchers Dan Morris and Sumit Basu. The product began as a research project called MySong, conducted at Microsoft Research in collaboration with a University of Washington student, Ian Simon, in the summer of 2007.

You can download a free trial here.

Songsmith is the second commercial project from Microsoft’s Microsoft Research, after AutoCollage.

Here is Microsoft’s excruciatingly yet hilarious video for the software!!!

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Regards

Marc Liron – Microsoft MVP

Microsoft has announced its thinnest keyboard ever, the Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000, made exclusively for Bluetooth notebook and desktop computers.

(For an image click here – new windows will open.)

Projections show that over 55 percent of notebook PCs will ship with Bluetooth by the end of 2010. With mobile PCs getting more compact, the Microsoft Hardware team created the Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000 to address consumers’ need for comfortable and portable computing accessories.

Microsoft Hardware’s Industrial Design team designed the keyboard so it doesn’t sacrifice style, while creating a compact, clean and refined product, offering ultimate comfort with Microsoft’s Comfort Curve layout. The keyboard also features a portable Bluetooth Number Pad that helps people stay productive wherever they work.

“The design tenets of compact, clean and refined really set the stage for the success of the keyboard,” said Chris Kujawski, industrial designer for Microsoft Hardware. “There is nothing extraneous about the design. We removed everything that didn’t fit with those ideas and ended up with something we’re really proud of — a compact, sophisticated keyboard that pairs perfectly with Bluetooth computers.”

Keyboard Looks As Good As It Feels

Microsoft’s thinnest keyboard ever — just a few millimeters thicker than a AAA battery at the back — the Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000 tapers down toward the front, so the keyboard is light and easy to pick up. And to enable the small footprint to still deliver ultimate comfort, the keyboard uses a Comfort Curve design for a more ergonomic typing experience over the straight keyboard layout of notebook computers. Microsoft’s Comfort Curve design encourages natural wrist posture with a slight 6-degree curve that is easy to use with virtually no learning curve. With more than 10 million Comfort Curve keyboards sold, it’s a consumer favorite, with 94 percent of users who own a Comfort Curve keyboard saying they would recommend it to friends and family.

Pricing and Availability

The Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000 and Bluetooth Number Pad will be available in October 2009 for an estimated retail price of $89.95 (U.S.) and $44.95 (U.S.), respectively. The Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000 and Bluetooth Number Pad are backed by a worldwide three-year limited hardware warranty from Microsoft.

More information about these and other Microsoft Hardware products is available at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware

Regards

Marc Liron – Microsoft MVP

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Windows Anytime Upgrade (WAU) is the primary upgrade method offered by Microsoft, and some resellers via a boxed version, for PC users who wish to upgrade their edition of Windows 7.

Determine which edition of Windows 7 you currently have and then check this Windows 7 chart to see if you will benefit from upgrading: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/compare-editions

(Click Start, right-click Computer, and then click Properties. Your edition of Windows 7 will be listed under Windows Edition.)

Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade + Click here To Enlarge

You can either purchase a lic key online – in one of the following 13 countries: Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK or the US

OR via a retail product offered by some stores on the high street from the 22nd October 2009.

Microsoft states that the upgrade should take no more than 10 minutes since no installation media is required. In addition your current programs, files, and settings will remain intact!

Marc Liron – Microsoft MVP

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Microsoft to Deliver New Generation of Windows Phones on Oct. 6th 2009.

The new phones will be the first to feature Windows Mobile 6.5, the latest version of Microsoft’s mobile phone software, and will deliver new customer experiences through an improved, easy-to-use user interface, better browsing capabilities and access to valuable services, including Windows Marketplace for Mobile and Microsoft My Phone.

“A Windows phone gives people a single phone that works for their whole life, keeping them connected to the people and information they care most about by harnessing the power of the PC, phone and Web,” said Todd Peters, corporate vice president of the Mobile Communications Marketing Group at Microsoft.

Industry Players Rally Behind Windows Phones

Partners from around the globe are committed to updating or expanding their portfolios to include phones with Windows Mobile 6.5.

In North America: Mobile operators AT&T, Bell Mobility, Sprint, TELUS and Verizon Wireless, and phone manufacturers HP, HTC Corp., LG Electronics, Samsung and Toshiba Corp.

# In Europe: Mobile operators Orange, Deutsche Telekom AG and Vodafone Group Plc, and phone manufacturers Acer, HTC, LG Electronics, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Toshiba

# In Latin America: Mobile operator TIM Brazil, and phone manufacturers HTC, LG Electronics and Samsung

# In Asia Pacific: Mobile operators NTT DOCOMO Inc., SOFTBANK Mobile Corp., SK Telecom, Telstra and WILLCOM Inc., and phone manufacturers Acer Inc., HTC, LG Electronics, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Toshiba

Powerful Mobile Services

Windows phones will debut with two new powerful mobile services so that the information, contacts and applications customers want are always at their fingertips. A wide variety of approved and certified applications will be available for direct download to Windows phones from Windows Marketplace for Mobile, and an easy return policy lets customers buy with confidence. The free My Phone service allows customers to automatically back up and sync photos, music, contacts and text messages from their phone to the Web, making it easy to access and manage them from their phone or PC or restore the information in the event of a lost phone.

Regards

Marc Liron – Microsoft MVP

LifeCam Cinema Introduces 720p HD Widescreen Video!

Widescreen technology is everywhere these days, built into virtually every new notebook, desktop monitor and flat-panel TV, and today Microsoft Hardware sets a new standard for webcams with the launch of LifeCam Cinema, the first consumer webcam on the PC to offer widescreen video with a native 720p sensor.

With more and more people going online to share videos with friends and family; in fact, more than 10 million videos are uploaded each month to Facebook alone. LifeCam Cinema webcam’s 720p widescreen sensor will deliver clear, quality videos — without leaving anyone out of the shot.

“When we started working on LifeCam Cinema almost a year ago, we were motivated by the fact that new computer displays were predominantly widescreen and top social networking sites were allowing widescreen video,” said Stuart Milton, systems engineer for Microsoft Hardware. “LifeCam Cinema sets the stage for the next generation of webcam use: uploading widescreen videos with amazing quality to social networking sites and soon chatting live with friends and family in widescreen format.”

Feel Like a Movie Star in Virtually Any Light

LifeCam Cinema was created to deliver an experience like the movies, with great high-definition (HD) video and clear sound. However, life doesn’t happen on a movie set, and most people don’t have a lighting team in their house to make them look camera-ready. In common indoor settings (low-light situations4) Microsoft Corp. is delivering an easy way to show amazing video quality in these scenarios. Maintaining a high frame rate even in the lowest lighting, LifeCam Cinema helps ensure that users look well lit and that video remains smooth.

Webcam Goes Wide

As the only PC consumer webcam on the market today with a native 720p sensor that delivers widescreen video capture at 16:9,2 LifeCam Cinema provides 720p high-definition video and features Auto Focus to keep video sharp from across the room all the way up to 4 inches from the webcam. Also launching with LifeCam Cinema is Microsoft’s ClearFrame Technology, which offers faster image processing technology to help deliver smooth video at any resolution and improved noise reduction technology to reduce image graininess and keep video sharp.

Finally, the LifeCam Cinema webcam’s widescreen technology allows the widest angle of capture ever for a Microsoft webcam, at 74 degrees — no need to worry about leaving anything out of the shot again.

Available from September 2009  (For more information on Microsoft’s range of LifeCam’s Click here.)

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