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Safer Internet Day: Feb. 15, 2011
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Caitlin McCabe – MicrosoftMary-Katharine Juric – Agency
Remember the old saying, “the world doesn’t revolve around you.” Well, in the case of the Windows Phone 7.5 update release – it does. The latest features and experiences are designed to build on the phone’s intuitive, people-first foundation, using integrated social networking and conversational threads, for connecting with the people in our lives.
For example, the new Groups feature lets users create groups from their contacts and turn them into a personalized Live Tile on the Start screen. From there, people can use the feature to quickly contact everyone, or to see communication received from people in that group, whether it’s a call, text, or email. The 7.5 update also features intelligent multi-tasking so people can quickly switch from one app to the next without affecting battery life or performance.
The update has begun and will gradually be rolled out to existing Windows Phone owners. Additionally, it will be pre-loaded onto a number of new phones that will be released by operators in the coming months. Windows Phone users can check on the status of their phone’s update on the “Where’s My Phone Update?” table on the Windows Phone website. More information can be found on the Windows Phone Team blog.
The phone continues to integrate the latest and greatest from across Microsoft, including Bing, Xbox LIVE, Internet Explorer and Windows Live. Interested in learning more? Visit the Microsoft News Center or a Microsoft Store nearest you: locations in Costa Mesa, Mission Viejo or the Westfield Century City store.
Today Microsoft announced the launch of Bing Deals that harnesses deals from major providers and retailers, including Groupon, LivingSocial, Nordstrom, Target and many others, to help you cut through the clutter and find the best deals in one central location. Now you have a place to browse, find and purchase.
And this is just the beginning. More money-saving features will roll out over the coming weeks, including the following:
For more information, please read the full blog post on the Microsoft News Center here and also visit Bing.com/deals to experience the offers yourself.
Microsoft is “BUILDING” a bridge with its developers this week in Anaheim, Calif. We’re constantly innovating and reimagining solutions for our customers and BUILD is an event that shows modern hardware and software developers how to take advantage of the future of Windows and provides an avenue for them to discuss other products and tools we’re working on.
At the D9 conference back in June, we gave a sneak peek of the next generation of Windows - “Windows 8,” but this week, we’ve revealed more about the direction we’re taking. We’re excited about the variety of new features within Windows 8 such as touch-first user interface, powerful applications and a seamless experience that syncs across all of your devices. The increased accessibility of applications across devices also brings about some exciting opportunities to drive innovation and creativity within the developer community. But, this week isn’t only about Windows - we’re also previewing other advancements in Microsoft technologies, including Visual Studio 11, code-named “Windows Server 8,” and new capabilities for Windows Azure.
If you are interested in knowing more about BUILD or what’s new from Microsoft, check out the Microsoft News Center feature, Microsoft Blog and watch the keynotes from the BUILD website.
September is synonymous with back-to-school, as students return to the classroom, reconnect with friends and teachers and share tales of summer fun. For some, however, back-to-school often means a return to cyberbullying.
The Cyberbullying Research Center in the U.S. defines cyberbullying as “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones and other electronic devices.” Examples include sending hurtful or threatening messages, posting embarrassing pictures or information about another person, and maliciously impersonating someone online. Global media reports show that, in rare but highly publicized instances, Internet bullying can intensify to such a degree that young people may see taking their own lives as the only way out.
Newly released Microsoft research shows that, on average, 27 percent of adolescents have been exposed to cyberbullying in the last 12 months.
In an effort to create a culture of safety and to promote good digital citizenship worldwide, Microsoft has dedicated itself to inform parents, caregivers, teachers and school officials about cyberbullying. As part of these efforts, we’ve published 10 tips for tackling cyberbullying. Examples include:
· Be an advocate. Kids need to know that adults can and will provide positive, active and predictable support. And, that they should never, under any circumstance, bully someone.
· Talk about it. Encourage kids to report bullying to a trusted adult.
· Look for signs of online bullying. For example, if kids get upset when they're online, or they show a reluctance to go to or be at school.
· Encourage them to make friends. Urge friends to look out for one another. Cyberbullies are less likely to target those whom they perceive as well-supported.
No individual, company or organization can combat an issue such as cyberbullying alone; it is a shared responsibility between students, teachers, administrators, parents and communities. As kids head back to school, teach them safer online habits and practices, and encourage them to stand up to cyberbullying.
Please explore and utilize our cyberbullying prevention resources available at our Safety & Security Center, including a factsheet, brochure, article and recent cyberbullying research and findings. For additional support, contact groups such as iKeepSafe, Wired Safety and the Family Online Safety Institute, who work to prevent cyberbullying and reduce other online risks.
Content reposted from Microsoft’s Office blog
The annual back-to-school routine is right around the corner and this year a projected 55.5 million K-12 students and 19.7 million college students will head for the classroom (according to the U.S. National Center for Education Statistics). More than 7 million children in grades K-12 and nearly 2.5 million college students are heading to school in California alone - that’s a lot of book bags, computers and jeans!Whether you’re a parent preparing your child for high school, or a college student suiting up for that first day on campus, technology can help plan for a successful school year. So whether you want your kid to have right tools to do their best in school, Office 2010 and Office for Mac 2011 have all the essential features to help people create standout work.
10 things you can do with Office 2010
1. Download the free OneNote 2010 student planner for capturing and organizing class research, notes, and ideas! Come study time, it’ll be easy to search your notes for a word, tag, or date.
2. Collaborate simultaneously with classmates, or review your term paper with mom while she’s on a business trip, using co-authoring in the Word Web App.
3. Show off your work! Embed your presentation (PowerPoint 2010) or science experiment data (Excel 2010) into a blog post with just a few easy steps.
4. Quickly crop photos in Word 2010 and PowerPoint 2010. You can also edit audio and format videos within PowerPoint 2010 — no special media editing software needed.
5. Use Word 2010 for more than just your standard paper. New charting and graphing tools make it easy to add graphics that illustrate your point, or search thousands of free templates at Office.com to create dazzling posters and flyers.
6. Include people outside of the classroom by delivering your next group presentation via the Broadcast Slide Show feature in PowerPoint 2010.
7. Use OneNote 2010 for your next 30-page biology paper, and experience first-hand the benefits of having your research, notes, bibliographical information and ideas in one easy-to-view location
8. On a tight budget? Let Excel 2010 help you manage your expenses. You can even deter impulse shopping by checking your budget on-the-go with Excel Mobile 2010.
9. Last minute changes to a Word or PowerPoint document are easier than ever with Reorder Objects in Office for Mac 2011.
10. Can’t focus with emails and IMs popping up? Maximize your on-screen space in Word 2011 for Mac with Full Screen View, letting you focus on your reading and writing.
And while we’re on the topic of Office and education, it would be a miss if we didn’t remind you that the History Reimagined contest is still going on. So if you want to win an Xbox 360 + Kinect in the weekly drawings or a trip to Philadelphia, the Museum of Science and industry in Chicago, the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C., or Cape Canaveral in Florida. Just click here and watch the videos between now and August 17 and you get a chance to win!
For more insight and tips for back to school, check out Microsoft’s Office blogs.
Today, 100 educators from across the country are in Redmond to participate in the first day of the U.S. Innovative Education Forum (IEF), Microsoft’s premier educator recognition event. These teachers are being celebrated for their innovative use of technology in the classroom and their creative approaches are making a significant impact on their students as they learn new skills to help them prepare for their future.
Daphne Bradford of Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles will be joining the festivities today. Bradford and her Digital Media Team students use the skills they’ve learned in digital photography and video production to teach California State Dominguez Hills Osher Lifelong Learning Institute students, ages 55 and older, how to make digital photo albums and movies.
IEF is designed to give innovators the opportunity to meet top educators from around the country who are similarly passionate about improving education by infusing technology into projects and changing the lives of children. They are contending to move on to a bigger opportunity to compete and collaborate with educators from around the world at the Partners in Learning Global Forum in Washington D.C., from November 6 through November 11.
At Microsoft, we understand the importance of a strong education and we are so inspired by these teachers who are changing the face of learning as we know it. Good luck to Bradford and the rest of the participating teachers!
To find out more about IEF and what teachers will experience, please check out the Official Microsoft Blog.
Last week marked another successful Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC). This year’s conference was held in Los Angeles and gave us five full days to focus on the success of our partners, our customers and the communities that support them. Since 2003, partners from more than 130 countries have benefited from the opportunity to network, build connections and share best practices as we work with them to plan business strategies for the upcoming year. Throughout this year’s conference, our theme, “Winning Together,” was felt prominently by all, extending far beyond WPC and the five days that we had a chance to spend together.
Kicking off the conference was the Day of Giving, where volunteers from Microsoft and partner organizations joined together to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) and the Magic Johnson Foundation with a carnival-style event that offered games, food and fun. All the proceeds went directly to the two foundations, which provide so much to the community through their public services. By providing safe places for kids to learn and grow, with special emphasis on technology through the BGCA Club Tech programs, both organizations embody this year’s WPC theme. When we help youth to succeed – even against the odds – we all win.
CEO Steve Ballmer took the stage Monday in front of a rousing crowd, delivering big developments on what’s next for Microsoft. For Xbox, our goal this year is to increase the content in the entertainment catalogue from hundreds to millions. How to do that? Improve search functions by bringing Bing to Xbox, enabling you to use your voice to find what you want instantly. Steve also emphasized the strong and successful relationship between Microsoft and its partnership network. For every dollar Microsoft makes, partners make $8.77. Carrying the enthusiasm offstage, he met Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilmember Jan Perry for a reception, during which Steve was presented with a proclamation that officially made July 10-15, 2011, Microsoft Week in the City of Los Angeles.
On Tuesday, cloud computing was the talk of the town. Senior leaders from Microsoft Corp. discussed how partners could benefit from the transition by helping customers improve agility, focus on business goals and reduce costs. Customers have adopted Office 365 at a rate of more than one every 25 seconds in the two weeks since the cloud-based productivity service was released, and the revenue opportunities appear endless for partners. “By betting on Microsoft’s comprehensive approach to cloud computing, partners can embrace this transformation and build strong and vibrant practices that will advance how business gets done,” said Satya Nadella, president of the Server and Tools Business at Microsoft.
Virgin Founder and Entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson served as the WPC special-guest keynote speaker to an eagerly awaiting audience on Wednesday. He spoke to his life lessons as an entrepreneur, touching upon the continuation of innovation for the future and the importance of trust in company partnerships. With a Virgin Galactic video playing in the background, Branson advised the audience that work needs to be fun, and employers need to be flexible in the way they treat staff, whether they are working from home or job sharing.
With such an exciting, packed week, we are happy to see that the mutual commitment to each other that we know is ever present, not only during WPC, but every day of the year, as we move forward to ensure profitability and long-term business success.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer takes the stage for his vision keynote speech.
Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group speaks to Jon Roskill, corporate vice president and head of Microsoft Partner Group.
**** This concludes our live blogging for the day. Thanks for following!
UPDATED: 11:14 am:
- Key takeaway from Sir Richard Branson is the future is full of limitless possibilities - don't stop innovating.
UPDATED 11:05 am:
- If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be? One of Branson's choices would be Cleopatra.
UPDATED 11:00 am:
- Main stage is broadcasting a Virgin Galactic video - the journey has already started!
UPDATED 10:56 am:
- Branson states a partnership is both people bringing something to the party, and a high level of trust between both companies.
UPDATED 10:50 am:
- Branson recommends befriending your "enemies" in business - its good for both parties involved.
UPDATED 10:44 am:
- "If you spend 90% of your time at work, it should be fun... go out of your way to make sure your staff genuinely enjoys what they do. We need to be more flexible in how we treat our staffs... If people want to work from home on Monday, let them. If people want to job share, don't think of them as lazy." - Richard Branson
UPDATED 10:38 am:
- Jon Roskill just introduced Richard Branson - having an on-stage sit down to discuss business and the future.
UPDATED 10:36 am:
- Microsoft COO Kevin Turner just finished his keynote - crowd getting ready for Sir Richard Branson!
Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference continues with a guest keynote this morning from Sir Richard Branson. Check back in as we live blog during his address to the crowd!
Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference keeps making news in Los Angeles! Yesterday at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer joined Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilmember Jan Perry for a reception in the Solutions Innovation Center. During the reception, Councilmember Perry presented Steve with a proclamation that officially made July 10 – 15, 2011 Microsoft Week in the City of Los Angeles!
Thank you to the city for your warm welcome – we’re enjoying everything Los Angeles has to offer!
**** This concludes our live blogging for today's keynote - thanks for following! Check back in throughout the week for more WPC news!
UPDATED 11:06 am
-2011 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Award winners being brought on stage with Steve Ballmer and Jon Roskill - Congratulations to all the winners!
UPDATED 11:02 am
- Steve hopes attendees leave WPC with the following thoughts - we had a great year last year; Growth will be fantastic this year: and we're all in together for success - we have to do what we do together.
UPDATED 11:00 am
- Steve takes the stage again - Windows is the backbone product of Microsoft, that's where we're grounded. We're moving in a great direction across all devices.
UPDATED 10:45 am
- Announcing the beta for the next release of Windows InTune - available today on TechNet. http://blogs.technet.com/b/windowsintune/archive/2011/07/11/windows-intune-beta-now-available.aspx
UPDATED 10:42 am
- The ROI Windows 7 brings is proven - driving down costs and providing a secure work experience.
UPDATED 10:33 am
- Tami Reller is invited on the stage to talk about where we're going with Windows.
UPDATED 10:30 am
- Our vision for the future of television: you say it, Bing finds it.
UPDATED 10:26 am
- What's next for Xbox - our goal for this year is to increase the content in the entertainment catalogue from hundreds to millions. With so much content, search needs to be improved. The solution? Bing on Xbox! With Bing on Xbox, you can use your voice to find what you want instantly.
UPDATED 10:22 am
- Steve Ballmer quotes Kevin Turner "Lync is the Kinect for the enterprise!" The power of Lync and Skype, we can do even more fantastic things together, says Steve.
UPDATED 10:20 am
- More than 50,000 organizations are trialing the new Office 365 service, less than two weeks after the official launch. American Red Cross will have more than 66,000 seats on Office 365 by the end of the year.
UPDATED 10:17 am
- Steve announces Los Angeles Unified School District's move for it 70,000 employees to Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Starting with Dynamics NAV next year, Microsoft ERP solutions will be in the cloud. We're all in!
UPDATED 10:13 am
- Boeing built an application, on Windows Azure, to market the 737. Boeing states its the best thing for customers next to walking through the actual aircraft. Microsoft partner Wire Stone LLChelped developed the application for Boeing.
UPDATED 10:04 am
- Stefan searches "Dodgers tickets" on Bing, and with one click, he can see the tickets available, decide on a price within his range, and see the view he will get from the seat he selects. Go Dodgers!
UPDATED 10:00 am
- Bing Director Stefan Weitz takes the stage to show us what's new with the decision engine. Highlights how Bing is bringing social into search, making results more personally relevant.
UPDATED 9:57 am
- Bing's marketshare is up 3 points this year! With Bing, people can decide and take action.
UPDATED 9:47 am
- Steve explains his meeting last week with college students from Microsoft's Imagine Cup competition, with students in more than 180 countries that participate. Good news for us that need to employ talented people. With technology, these students are working to solve some of the world's toughest issues. Video begins highlighting Microsoft's Imagine Cup. Check out the competition website: http://www.imaginecup.com/
UPDATED 9:41 am
- Steve thanks Microsoft partners for their phenomenal work.
UPDATED 9:40 am
- Steve exclaims he is "beyond excited to be at WPC! The most exciting thing I get to do all year is come to WPC!"
UPDATED 9:38 am
- Steve Ballmer takes the stage!
UPDATED 9:32 am
- First mobile Microsoft Store is at WPC!
UPDATED 9:30 am
- Students to Business program participants are in the crowd, wearing shirts that say "Hire me!" Check them out here: http://www.microsoft.com/studentstobusiness/home/default.aspx
UPDATED 9:24 am
- Winning Together is the theme for WPC 2011 - Together there is growth - for every dollar Microsoft makes, partners make $8.77.
UPDATED 9:20 am
- Video highligting yesterday's Day of Giving - Thank you, Los Angeles, for inviting us into your community and thank you, Microsoft partners, for giving back!
UPDATED 9:17 am
- Jon Roskill is invited on the stage, welcoming attendees to WPC 2011 and recognizing partners from Japan.
UPDATED 9:12 am
- Keynote is about to start - Touching video is playing in Staples Center of Japan's tsunami - there is power in working together.
Live from LA! We're live blogging from today's Worldwide Partner Conference keynote, starting at 9 am PT. Check back in shortly for Steve Ballmer to take the stage!
Microsoft’s West Region Citizenship Director, Celeste Alleyne, discusses why Day of Giving is the ideal kick-off event for Microsoft’s annual Worldwide Partner Conference.
Each year Microsoft invites thousands of global partners to attend the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC), and each year we open the conference with the Day of Giving. The Day of Giving is our chance to give back, and celebrate how integral giving and community are to the Microsoft culture. It sets the tone and spirit of the conference and unites our global partners around a unique and meaningful goal.
For this year’s Day of Giving, volunteers from Microsoft and our partner organizations will join together to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) and the Magic Johnson Foundation with an event that we are delighted to host and share with the community. Volunteers will convene in Gilbert Lindsay Park, just outside the Los Angeles Convention Center, to host a carnival-style event that will offer games, food and fun to the 500 children and teenagers who are expected to participate. All proceeds will go directly to BGCA and the Magic Johnson Foundation, two organizations that provide outstanding public services. I work closely with both organizations and believe strongly in the work they do to encourage young people to reach their full potential.
When children drop out of school or fail to thrive, it is a loss for all of us. By providing safe places for kids to learn and grow, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America is emblematic of this year’s WPC theme of “Winning Together.” Each year more than 4 million children and teens have safe places to go after school, supportive adults to talk to, and the guarantee of a healthy meal – all due to the work of BGCA volunteers. They deliver critical services, such as technology skills through their Club Tech programs, which help youth to succeed – even against the odds – and when the children in our communities succeed, we all win.
Please join us in this celebration, and meet us today at Gilbert Lindsay Park from 2:30 pm – 4 pm PST.
WPC gives us five full days to focus on the success of our partners, our customers and the communities that support them. Since 2003, partners from more than 130 countries have benefited from the opportunity to network, build connections and share best practices as we work with them to plan business strategies for the upcoming year. I hope that the Day of Giving inspires all participants to consider the other opportunities they have to connect and influence positive outcomes in whatever region of the world they call home. Strong communities enable strong businesses and partnerships, and we are grateful for the chance to give back and inspire an attitude of “winning together” that I hope extends far beyond WPC.
We'll be posting entries throughout the week, highlighting Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference occurring this week in Los Angeles, so check back in periodically! Also, follow the action on Twitter, using the hashtag #WPC11.
See you in L.A.!
People doubted them, said it couldn’t be done. But when Santiago Canyon College students Gary Kelley, Jr., Hayden Donze, Dale Laizure, and Bill Vetter decided to enter the Microsoft Imagine Cup student technology competition – they committed themselves to the project whole-heartedly. Starting today, the Southern California community college team, Syntax Errors, will be representing the United States in the worldwide final round of the competition for the Embedded Development category against teams from 19 other countries, including China, Germany, India, Japan, Pakistan, Russia, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.
The team is competing for more than international recognition and $25,000 in cash prizes – each team member has something to prove. The team is the only community college in this year’s competition, with group member ages ranging from 20 to 50 plus, and whose collective average higher education is an associate’s degree, this is a chance to show the world technology has no limits.
Team Syntax Error’s proposal is a turnkey solution that enhances communication and logistics for first responders in disaster relief efforts. Their innovative idea was born out of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina; the group collectively envisioned a self-contained workstation that could catalog, manage, and track resources in real time using wireless local area network (LAN) and radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies. From this idea, F.R.E.D. (first responders embedded device), was born. The technology consists of a battery-powered asset manager with GPS capability providing the user’s exact location. Its database driven system will allow responders to track key resources – water, food, medical personnel, supplies and equipment – tagged with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag and within proximity of the reader.
The team has been receiving tremendous amounts of media attention due to their unique and inspiring story. Recently, the Orange County Register featured them in a story titled “O.C. underdogs take on global Microsoft content,” highlighting their struggle, drive and passion to have made it this far in the competition.
Opening ceremonies for the Imagine Cup Worldwide finals begin tonight in New York City and closing ceremonies will take place on Wednesday, July 13. During their time there, the finalists will attend special training sessions, meet peers from around the world, and participate in volunteer and cultural activities in the city.
Each year, Microsoft partners around the world convene at the Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) to learn about Microsoft’s technology roadmap, network and share best practices with peers and experience the latest product innovations.
We’re thrilled that the City of Los Angeles will host WPC next week, from July 10-14. The conference is expected to draw more than 15,000 international attendees.
Recently, we had the opportunity to speak with Amy Costello, marketing and alliance manager at Perficient, a Southern California-based Microsoft partner, about the value WPC brings to their company and what she’s looking forward to at this year’s conference.
What value does WPC provide to your organization and to you in your role?
A: WPC is the perfect way to start the new fiscal year. My team and I love to attend to hear Microsoft’s vision for the coming year and strategize with our Microsoft colleagues around ways we can implement that vision to help our customers and grow our business.
The networking opportunities with Microsoft and fellow partners are also invaluable. This is the only time of the year when all of these people are together in the same place, and it’s the perfect opportunity to make new connections, rekindle old ones and start looking ahead toward working together to evangelize Microsoft technologies.
In my role as a marketer, it’s critical that I align Microsoft’s messaging with my own to make my campaigns successful. Being at WPC gives me the chance to hear this messaging straight from the source and ask questions to gain deeper understanding. Additionally, I have the opportunity to have face-to-face planning sessions with my Microsoft counterparts to build momentum around our joint initiatives.
With all the planning sessions, knowledge sharing and opportunities for networking, WPC is critical to getting our year started on the right foot.
What kinds of benefits do your customers experience as a result of your attending WPC or members of your company attending?
A: Customers look to Perficient as a trusted advisor when it comes to Microsoft technologies. Being at WPC allows Perficient to learn firsthand about innovative solutions we can offer to our clients. WPC also provides our team the opportunity to ask questions of Microsoft product and industry teams to learn about their strategy and better understand how we should advise our customers regarding industry trends and product roadmaps. Our clients expect us to be in the loop with the latest and greatest developments in the Microsoft community, and WPC allows us to do just that.
What kinds of sessions/content are you most interested in at WPC, and why?
A: For FY12, I am most excited about digital marketing, cloud computing and business intelligence. Not only are these important focal points for Perficient, but they also are areas I am eager to evangelize in the market.
I am also interested in the conference keynotes. Last year, we were given insight into Micorosft’s plans to tackle the consumer market with products like Kinect for Xbox 360 and Windows Phone, and it’s been a thrill to watch these products flourish over the past year. Microsoft always has exceptional speakers as well, and I am sure Sir Richard Branson will not disappoint.
What are you most focused on as you prepare to attend this year’s WPC?
A: Preparing for WPC is all about planning ahead. I do everything I can to make the most of my time there, including preparing for meetings and making sure I can make time to meet with everyone I can. It’s important also to balance meetings with conference sessions and networking events to get the full conference experience.
Amy Costello, marketing and alliance manager at Perficient
It’s here…
Today, Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer announced the global availability of Office 365, Microsoft’s next generation productivity service. Office 365 is the culmination of more than 20 years of experience delivering world class productivity solutions to people and businesses of all sizes.
To put it simply, Office 365 is a subscription service that combines Microsoft Office tools like Office, SharePoint, Exchange, and Lync with up-to-date cloud service. Here’s why you should check it out:
Email & Calendar:
Office 365 accesses email, calendar and contacts of Microsoft Exchange Online, from virtually anywhere, at any time. Work from a desktop, laptop or mobile device, with productive, easy-to-manage tools that naturally protect against viruses and spam.
Office Web Apps:
Access, view and edit documents directly in your web browser among multiple users with Office Web Apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and SharePoint.
Websites & Collaboration:
Whether designing and maintaining a public website, or managing inventory, product catalogs and customer records, Office 365 enables you to collaborate on simple, user-friendly tools from any shared computer or smartphone.
IM & Online Meetings:
Connect with people inside and out of your organization through Microsoft Lync Online, which grants easy communication with instant messaging (IM), Lync video calls and online meetings.
99.9% Uptime Guarantee:
Powered by the same Microsoft email and collaboration products that businesses have been using for decades, Office 365 is designed to deliver reliability, availability and performance.
For more information on Office 365, including a free trial, please visit or www.office365.com. Visit a Microsoft Store nearest you: locations in Costa Mesa, Mission Viejo or the upcoming Westfield Century City store, opening today!
“Can you hear me now? … Good!”
And now we can all hear one another loud and clear on the newest Verizon Wireless Windows Phone device! Verizon Wireless recently released the HTC Trophy in all of its stores.
As we’ve discussed before, Windows Phone offers a unique phone experience that brings together the best of Microsoft in a format that accesses the things you care about most in an easier and faster way. Combining Xbox, Bing, and Office all into one device, Windows Phone offers an entirely new dimension of gaming, entertainment and communication.
The HTC Trophy features the Music + Video Hub, giving consumers quick access to music and movies on their mobile device. With a Zune Pass subscription, you can stream or download millions of songs and access more than 15,000 quality apps and games.
If you buy a HTC Trophy before July 15, you can choose between any of the free Xbox 360 console games– a $60 value:
Click here to find out more about this offer. The HTC Trophy is available online at http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/index.html or also in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores.
Visit a Microsoft Store nearest you: locations in Costa Mesa, Mission Viejo or the upcoming Westfield Century City store, opening June 30. To hear more about Windows Phone, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/windowsphone/en-us/default.aspx.
People are talking…talking about Microsoft Office 2010. Since its release a year ago, people are continuing to love Office, and it shows in the numbers: business customers are deploying Office 2010 five times faster than they deployed Office 2007. Nine out of 10 users say it is the best version ever, and 96 percent would recommend it to others. With such rave reviews, what comes with this new user experience?
With the latest version of Office, we are embracing three major technology trends that have been evolving over the past few years: social networking, mobile computing and cloud computing. Together, these technologies are enabling people to connect to others and information from any device, anywhere. Multimedia features facilitate the ability to create awesome-looking documents; social media integration with Outlook social connector keeps us on top of busy schedules; tools are now present for managing email overload and online capabilities with Office Web applications. And that’s just the beginning.
Nixon Peabody LLP, a global law firm with a main practice here in Los Angeles, has seen the true value of Office first hand. The company has saved an estimated $50,000 and increased overall productivity with the implementation of the latest version of the product. By deploying Office 2010, they were able to enhance client management, generate effective collateral that met the firm’s standards and streamline costs by reducing third-party fees.
We will continue to evolve Office to meet the changing needs of consumers and businesses, from Anaheim to Mannheim and everywhere in between. Check out Ten Behind Office 2010, a series about the employees behind some of the new and updated features in Office 2010 and SharePoint 2010. To get your very own Office 2010 and other products, visit the Microsoft Stores in Costa Mesa, Mission Viejo or the upcoming Westfield Century City location, opening June 30.
The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is now underway in Los Angeles! Microsoft kicked things off on Monday by demonstrating continued leadership in online entertainment. Throughout the last 12 months, Xbox has been the top-selling console in North America, with more than 55 million Xbox consoles sold, more than 35 million Xbox LIVE members, and more than 10 million Kinects sold. With these E3 announcements, Xbox is on track to become the number-one game console worldwide.
At 2010’s E3, Microsoft launched Kinect, which quickly became the fastest-selling electronic device in history. This year, Microsoft announced it will be adding voice search with Bing to Xbox and Kinect, allowing people to use their voice to search their Xbox to find news, movies, sports and all their favorite channels, giving them fast and easy access to the world of entertainment. Also, as part of the Xbox LIVE update, Microsoft also announced that Netflix, Hulu+, YouTube and ESPN would be joined by UFC on Xbox LIVE.
Microsoft also announced several new Xbox 360 features and games, including new installments of “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare;” “Gears of War;” “Forza Motorsport;” and “Fable: The Journey,” a new addition of the Fable franchise that will take advantage of Kinect’s hands-free technology. To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of one of the most beloved franchises in gaming history, Microsoft will release a re-mastered version of “Halo Combat Evolved,” as well as Halo 4, which fans can expect to be available in 2012. Kinect fans also can expect sequels to their favorite games, including “Dance Central” and “Kinect Sports.”
Microsoft plans to bring more than 100 new partners on board to provide content and build on Xbox’s ever-growing platform. Last year, Kinect pioneered how people experience games and entertainment by bringing life to the console; this year, Microsoft brought voice abilities with “You Say It- Xbox Finds It.” There is plenty in store for the Xbox community, with new games and partners that will be announced throughout the year. For more information of E3 and what’s coming up for Xbox, visit the Microsoft News Center.
Technology is big in Los Angeles and about to become bigger. With an estimated 15,000 international attendees flocking to the city in mid-July, Microsoft’s annual Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) is both the company’s largest annual event and the largest conference ever to be held in Los Angeles. The gathering kicks off on July 10, serving as an opportunity for the Microsoft partner community to network, build connections, share best practices, learn new skills and technologies, experience the latest product innovations, and learn about Microsoft’s roadmap for the upcoming year,
Los Angeles will see significant economic and reputational benefits as international attendees assemble in the city; LA INC. estimates that WPC will infuse local businesses with at least $45 million in additional revenue. Additionally, Microsoft partners will take an active role in helping make the community a better place through a sports-themed “Day of Giving,” where they will host booths featuring games and sports at a Los Angeles street fair. Children and their families who are beneficiaries of the Magic Johnson Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs and St. Jude Children’s Hospital are invited to attend the street fair to laugh and play games like Kinect on L.A. Live’s jumbotron.
Stay tuned for more details on WPC by visiting the Microsoft News Center. For our Los Angeles residents interested in the opportunity to check out the newest solutions and applications displayed at this year’s event, click here to learn more. We hope to see you there!
Yesterday, Microsoft provided the first official look at the next release of Windows Phone, code named “Mango.” With the new release, Microsoft takes a major step toward redefining how people communicate and use applications and the Internet, giving users better search results with less effort. Mango will be available for free to all eligible Windows Phone customers this fall.
For all you app fans out there, Mango is pushing the boundaries of the smartphone experience by integrating apps directly into the core experience of the phone. This innovative approach blurs the line between search and applications by presenting results to the user as related views on the screen, instead of links to web sites. In addition, Mango will take the Internet beyond the browser by viewing the Web in a way that is more localized, actionable, and—most important—relevant.
With Mango, the Windows Phone Marketplace will expand from 16 to 35 countries allowing more users the opportunity to play with the more than 500 new features. Countries that are being added include Brazil Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, India, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Sweden and Taiwan. Southern California residents can find the latest in Microsoft products and accessories at Microsoft Stores in Costa Mesa, Mission Viejo or the Westfield Century City location, coming soon. Check out the Microsoft News Center for updates on anything and everything related to Mango.
Always wanted to see KISS live at a Los Angeles theatre but tickets were instantly sold out? Today, you can join an online multi-language global live chat event with KISS Live & Global, presented by Ortsbo.com and celebrity spokesperson Gene Simmons. Showcasing the power of the Windows Azure cloud platform, the event will feature a live, interactive studio audience right here in Los Angeles and be broadcast around the world via live streaming to computers and mobile devices. Guinness Book of World Records will also be onsite tracking the attendees as Ortsbo.com plans to break the current world record for a live streaming chat, which is currently at 50 nationalities.
For the first time in history, pre-registered Ortsbo.com fans from all over the world will have the opportunity to interact with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley in their native language. Questions and answers will instantly translate in up to 53 languages, allowing viewers all over the world to review the live chat and ultimately communicate in new, unique ways, making this event a truly worldwide spectacle.
For more on how the cloud is powering businesses in Los Angeles and beyond, check out the Microsoft Cloud website.
It’s 7:30 a.m. Monday and you are sitting in your car, halfway through the hour- and-a-half commute to work. The cars are bumper to bumper on Interstate 405 north headed to downtown Los Angeles, and the traffic doesn’t appear as if it will be lessening anytime soon. While you are waiting in the seemingly never-ending car ride, you wonder if you will be able to make it to your daughter’s soccer game tonight. A daydream ensues, where you picture how much easier your work-life balance would be if you could work from your home office instead of sitting in the Interstate “parking lot.”
This scenario is typical for many of Los Angeles County’s 9.9 million residents every day. Recently, Microsoft conducted a survey of more than 4,500 information workers in 15 U.S. markets to assess opinions and attitudes of remote working as well as the technologies that enable or hinder it. The survey explored the prevalence of telecommuting, employer policies and the technologies available to employees to support this. Key findings from Los Angeles revealed that the market has been slow to formally adopt a remote working policy, with only 50 percent of information workers citing that their company currently has teleworking guidelines in place. The other 50 percent of employees whose companies have implemented a teleworking program cite the elimination of a long commute and the creation of a better balance between work and life priorities as primary reasons for remote working. With employees clamoring to telework, you’d think businesses would take note.
Microsoft offers the technologies and business solutions that help companies implement a formal telework policy or take a business to the next level of seamless communication. Recently, Southern California based company Sony Electronics sought a more efficient way to organize and search for documents on the corporate intranet, while also making it simpler for employees to connect with each other and share expertise. With staff located in offices around the world, Sony Electronics faced challenges in communication across divisions and between employees. By deploying Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and becoming an early adopter of Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010, the company has given employees advanced document sharing capabilities and a more effective and easily searchable intranet, saving time and boosting productivity.
Check out the latest on Microsoft’s remote- working study and ways that our innovative mobile technology tools can help take your company’s productivity and profitability to the next level.
Unable to pay her rent after losing her job as an office receptionist in 2007, Los Angeles native Gloria Pulido found herself living somewhere she never could have imagined: her car. Homeless, Gloria and her teenage son searched for community resources to help her get back on her feet, and they found the Microsoft Elevate America state voucher program. Designed to help address one of the worst economic downturns in our nation’s recent history, the program provides unlimited access to Microsoft courses in basic computer skills to help individuals improve their workplace technology skills.
With unemployment close to 11 percent, California was one of the 32 states that joined the Elevate America program, offering information and communication technology (ICT) training to anyone seeking new or improved workplace skills. Gloria took a course in Microsoft Excel and, on her first try, passed the Microsoft Online Specialist certification exam. Emphasizing the new expertise on her resume, she attained a part-time job as a cashier for Saturday-night bingo games at the Don Bosco Technical Institute. While there, she improved the scheduling and notification tasks associated with parent volunteer efforts, applying the skills she gained from the certification course. Impressed with her initiative and her way around a spreadsheet, the school offered her a full-time position (with benefits) as the parent liaison.
“When I heard about the Microsoft training, it was like a little glimmer of light went off in my head,” reflects Gloria. “I knew if I could get at least one of the certifications, it would show that I knew that [software] program.” Gloria is just one of the 800,000 recipients of no-cost training and certification vouchers that Microsoft has provided in the past two years to help people across the United States get the skills they need to be prepared for 21st century jobs. Not only has the program helped thousands of individuals improve their employability, but it also has raised awareness of the importance of ICT literacy and offered public workforce systems around the country practical experience in delivering these ICT training programs.
If you or someone you know is interested in enhancing current job skills, please visit the Microsoft Elevate America site. There, you’ll find many participating cities and states that can help you on your way to achieving career success. Check out the Microsoft News Center for additional information and updates.
Kinect for Xbox 360 was launched in November, 2010; and in the few short months since, it has been named the fastest-selling consumer electronics device in history by Guinness World Records. The device has opened the door to build new experiences with technology, thereby capturing the hearts and minds of creators and users alike. Kinect’s immediate success has continued its rapid momentum with some exciting new developments.
Last week, we announced that Hulu Plus is now available on Xbox 360 LIVE to Xbox LIVE Gold members in the U.S. Users will have the ability to play, pause, fast forward and rewind thousands of TV shows and movies with Kinect. This announcement comes as part of Microsoft’s continuing investment in natural user interfaces (NUI), where technology is becoming more natural to use and is transforming our relationship with computers. NUI opens enormous opportunities that span everything from delivering new personal entertainment experiences to addressing societal challenges in the fields of healthcare and education.
NUI is the driving force behind Microsoft Research’s upcoming release of a non-commercial Kinect for the Windows software development kit, which encourages the freedom to create amazing experiences. We are in a world where technology is becoming invisible, made possible by combining sensory inputs (touch and voice) with the technology’s recognition of what you’re trying to do (contextual awareness), where you are and what is around you (environmental awareness); 3D simulation; anticipatory learning; and more. Through advancements like Kinect, this transparency is made possible. Microsoft Chief Research and Strategy Officer Craig Mundie has referred to Kinect as the next big incarnation in computing, where technology understands us, so we don’t have to understand it.
We all will get a kick out of the Kinect for Windows SDK when it’s delivered later this spring! For more updates and information on the Kinect for Windows SDK, check out the Microsoft Research website. Learn more about the Kinect for Xbox 360 and join the excitement by picking up your very own Kinect today at the Mission Viejo or Costa Mesa Microsoft retail store locations.
Calling all Los Angeles business owners, looking for a way to help your business grow! Most consumers use the Internet to find out where to dine, shop or play, but it may be difficult to fully showcase the benefits of your business. Now, there's a new tool that can help you. Recently, Bing announced the beta launch of the Bing Business Portal (BBP), available at www.bing.com/businessportal, a new service that helps business owners create and control their listings on Bing.
With the new tools, business owners can customize their listings with enhanced details such as photos, logos, hours-of-operation, menus, parking availability and more - helping to attract more customers and make their businesses more discoverable on Bing.
Additionally, business owners can easily create and promote deals - for free. Consumers love a bargain, and promotions are a great way to help boost sales and drive both online and in-store traffic. Deals will be highlighted on the Bing desktop and mobile browse search experiences, and they can also be uploaded directly to a business's Facebook page for quick discoverability.
For more details on the BBP, including a full list of features, check out the Bing blog post.