Windows 7 is going to virtualize XP so 7's pretty much completely compatible with XP. Microsoft says there's a secret XP Mode (XPM) for its new rep-redeeming operating system that hasn't been part of any beta code or even disclosed before that's "specifically designed to help small businesses move to Windows 7. It says it will run "many older productivity applications," probably the programs that Vista had trouble with as well as legacy 32-bit programs. Windows 7 is after all Vista fixed up. Microsoft code honcho and director of Windows enterprise and virtualization strategy Scott Woodgate explained on a Windows Team Blog late last Friday that these apps can be installed directly in the Windows XP Mode, which he described as a "virtual PC environment running under Windows Virtual PC." "The applications will be published to the Windows 7 desktop and then you can run th... (more)

Microsoft to Collect More Android Royalties

Microsoft hurried out Monday to say that General Dynamics Itronix, whose defense contractor parent has a market cap of $27 billion, will be paying Microsoft royalties for broad patent protection for its Android devices. The deal must have gone down relatively easily because Microsoft deputy general counsel Horacio Gutierrez called it "an example of how industry leaders address intellectual property" in the announcement. Itronix, which makes rugged laptops and tablets, said, the deal would let it "meet the evolving demands of our customers with more diverse applications and increased functionality in products that incorporate the Android platform." The ink was barely dry on the Itronix license when Microsoft popped back up Wednesday to say that it's also got a royalty-bearing patent deal in its favor covering privately held Velocity Micro's Android-based Cruz tablets... (more)

What's New in Group Policy for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012?

Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8 include support for over 350 new group policy settings ...This brings the total number of manageable system policies via Active Directory group policy to over 3,600 policy settings!  Below, I've summarized the new categories of group policy settings that I'm most excited about and I've also provided a link to a downloadable reference workbook ... What's New in Active Directory Group Policies? These new Group Policy settings provide improved management for new areas of these operating systems, such as: Managing enterprise installation of Windows 8-style application packages (AppX) Desktop personalization for Lock screen and Start screen background Start Screen customization settings, such as Show "Run as Different User" on Start screen and clearing History on tile notifications User Setting Sync configuration (ie., "Sync your Settin... (more)

Wildcard Subdomains in Windows Azure

I was meeting with a small company today that has developed a SaaS solution around task and project management. It's a very cool application, and as is the fashion these days, uses subdomains to determine the end user's company as requests come to the browser. So, if I were to sign up for the application, my home url would be http://adamhoffman.getdonedone.com, whereas if you signed up (and had the unlikely name of Bill Ion), your home page would be http://billion.getdonedone.com. This is handled in ASP.NET application code on their Win2K8 servers hosted at Rackspace. The question quickly became "hey, we can do something similar in Azure, right?" The answer is yes, and no, and yes. Let me explain. My instant assumption was "yes", and ultimately, it is true that you can accomplish this behavior. It does, however, require that wherever you host your DNS that points to... (more)

Orchestrated Patch Management for Continuous Availability

If you’ve supported enterprise IT solutions for as long as I have, at some point in time you have most likely witnessed The 3 Immutable Truths of IT Patch Management.  Respect these truths, and you’ll enjoy a stable, manageable datacenter environment.  Ignore these truths, and … well … let’s not even think about those possibilities! The Three Immutable Truths of IT Patch Management All software requires patch updates from time-to-time. All hardware requires firmware updates from time-to-time. If you attempt to dismiss #1 or #2 as being irrelevant to you, you may soon know well one of my favorite quotes: /p> Once we’ve accepted these 3 truths … the questions we have at-hand in enterprise IT management are not “Why apply patches?” nor “How many patches?” And, certainly, we don’t want to be in a situation where we are asking ourselves “How long can I go without applyi... (more)

Building Your Hybrid Cloud

Back for Part 3 of the “Building a Hybrid Cloud” series, Keith Mayer and myself chat about and demo the latest networking enhancements made in Windows Server 2012 R2. Keith really shows you how Windows Server 2012 R2 offers networks for your virtualization hosts but also your virtual guests.  One of the things that amazed me, is that the configuration steps for the host and guests are nearly identical. __________________________ Experience Microsoft's latest products with these FREE downloads! Build Your Lab! Download  Windows Server 2012 R2,  System Center 2012 R2 and  Hyper-V Server 2012 R2 and get the best virtualization platform and private cloud management solution on the market. Try it FREE now! Don't Have a Lab? Build Your Lab in the Cloud with Windows Azure Virtual Machines. Try Windows Azure for free with no cost or obligations, and use any OS, language,... (more)

Cynergy Continues Global Expansion with Opening of New Offices in Taipei

WASHINGTON and TAIPEI, Taiwan, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Cynergy Systems, Inc., a leader in rich Internet application (RIA) design and development, today announced the opening of its newest office in Taipei, Taiwan. In the past four months, the company has expanded nationally and internationally, with new offices in Rochester, N.Y., and Sydney, Australia. Cynergy has appointed Jeremy Lu as country manager, in charge of the new Taipei facility. Taipei is Cynergy's eighth office; the company has two offices in Washington, D.C.; and, in addition to Rochester and Sydney, maintains offices in San Diego, Calif.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; and Copenhagen, Denmark. Dave Wolf, vice president, Cynergy stated, "With the opening of our new Taipei office, we are building on the continued demand for Cynergy designed and developed rich Internet applications, as well as expanding our global... (more)

Intertech Introduces New Courses to Support Microsoft's Launch of Visual Studio 2008

ST. PAUL, Minn., March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading software developer training company, Intertech, whose expansive national client list includes NASA, Eastman Kodak, Cargill, and Boeing, has launched a series of instructor- led courses to support Microsoft's latest release of Visual Studio 2008, SQL Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008. Full course descriptions are found at http://www.intertech.com/. Leading the .NET instruction team is Andrew Troelsen, an Intertech Partner and Instructor with Intertech. A recognized teaching authority, Troelsen is a published author whose book Pro C# 2008 and the .NET 3.5 Platform is in its 4th Edition. Among the courses offered from Intertech with complete detail on http://www.intertech.com/ -- C#.NET -- Visual Basic.NET -- ASP.NET -- Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) -- Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) -- Windows Workflo... (more)

Microsoft présente ses partenariats et collaborations sectoriels au Management World 2009

NICE, France, May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Cette semaine, à l' occasion du Management World 2009, Microsoft Corp. exhibera la valeur du modèle de partenariat du secteur des télécommunications. Microsoft présentera les résultats de sa collaboration avec Logica, MetraTech Corp., Microsoft Surface, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. et Tribold, en mettant en lumière un nouveau scénario de gestion des recettes, des services, des clients et des produits. (Logo : http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO) << Microsoft possède l'un des programmes de partenariat les plus étendus du secteur, et nous nous consacrons à impulser l'innovation par le biais d'investissements dans notre écosystème de partenaires >>, a déclaré Terry McGuigan, directeur des télécommunications du Secteur Communications de Microsoft. << Dans une économie difficile et un secteur compétitif, il ne s'a... (more)

Bion to Present at Noble Financial Capital Markets' Equity Conference

NEW YORK, Jan. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. (OTC QB/BB: BNET), an environmental services company that provides cleantech and waste treatment solutions to the livestock industry, announced today that Craig Scott, Bion's Vice President – Capital Markets, will present at "NINE" – Noble Financial Capital Markets' Ninth Annual Equity Conference at the Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, Florida, on Tuesday, January 22nd at 4:30 pm Eastern Time. At the time of the presentation, a live audio and high-definition video webcast of Bion's presentation and a copy of the presentation materials will be available on the Company's web site, www.biontech.com, or through the Noble Financial websites: www.noblefcm.com, or www.nobleresearch.com/NINE/home.htm. Bion recommends registering at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the presentation to ensure ti... (more)

VIZIO Prevails in Patent Troll Case, Again

IRVINE, Calif., June 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- VIZIO announced the United States District Court of the Central District of California, Hon. Mariana Pfaelzer presiding, granted summary judgment of invalidity on a patent held by Lochner Technologies LLC, ruling all the asserted claims are invalid. (Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090204/LA66605LOGO) "We are gratified that the ill-advised tactics of the patent troll community continue to falter and are being rejected by the U.S. authorities.  The Court's most recent ruling is yet another vindication of VIZIO's position, in a long list of VIZIO victories in battling patent trolls and the apparent extortion attempts," said Jerry Huang, VIZIO General Counsel, Vice President of Legal Affairs.  "As an intellectual property rights owner, VIZIO respects such rights and their proper exercise.  VIZIO has demonstrated it... (more)