West Region News for Education : Beta and TAP Programs

Internet Explorer 8 Site Compatibility

LShort — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:32:18 GMT

Consistent with our efforts to promote further interoperability across the Web, Microsoft will be releasing Internet Explorer 8 to render content in its most standards-compliant way by default. Giving top priority to Web standards interoperability allows...(read more)

Producer for PowerPoint 2007 Beta Available

LShort — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:09:00 GMT

Microsoft is pleased to announce that the beta version of Producer for PowerPoint 2007 is now available to customers on Microsoft’s Connect site! Microsoft is releasing this add-in because of the vocal requests we’ve been getting from customers deploying...(read more)

Office 2008 for Mac Corporate Beta Nominations - July 2007

jolumia — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 19:06:00 GMT

Nominations for the Office 2008 for Mac Corporate Beta is now open. The Corporate Beta is for enterprise customers who wish to preview and test Office 2008 for Mac in their corporate environments. If you represent a higher education institution, with...(read more)

System Center Configuration Manager BETA 2 Released

jolumia — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 21:50:00 GMT

The Beta 2 of SystemCenter Configuration Manager (the new name for System Management Server (SMS)) has now been posted to https://connect.microsoft.com/

Some highlights of this Beta 2 release of SCCM ’07:

· Admin UI – New MMC3.0 support, Search Folders, Easy Task access, Feature Landing pages and multi select

· OS Deployment – Complete deployment automation for Client and Server

· Desired Configuration Management – Policy based, model driven state management of device roles and regulatory reporting

· Software Update Management – Simplification of Patch Administration for MS, ISV and LoB applications.

· Security integration to Longhorn NAP – Policy based perimeter security integration with NAP services

· Internet Based Management – Manage your desktop, laptop, server or device anywhere anytime.

· Device Management – Over the air management of Windows mobile devices

· Software Distribution – Significant improvements in software distribution, adding granular control functionality to advertisements and collections.

With the release of Beta 2 we are continuing to drive down the cost of running the enterprise. From discovery and inventory through asset intelligence, through OS deployment and into operations - CM ’07 delivers automation to all aspects of the organization. We are continuing to prove we are the best platform for the deployment and management of Windows Vista and Office 2007, through enhancements in OS deployment using the task sequence engine, WinPE boot environment, WIM/WAIK integration and the driver catalogue. Chaining OS deployment for all devices to areas like application distribution, patch management, desired configuration and the soon to be released NAP, System Center Configuration Manager 2007 will prove through a depth and breadth of feature set that this is the strongest tool available to deploy and manage the stack.

We want you to see the power of this major release. Open public beta 2 is now available on the Connect Site. Some mirror sites may not be up to date yet but should be completed by the end of the day 23 Feb 07.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sms/2007/evaluate/download.mspx

Beta Programs Available on https://connect.microsoft.com - As of January 12, 2007

jolumia — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 21:37:00 GMT

Beta Programs available on https://connect.microsoft.com

Connection	Description
BizTalk	This will be a external facing website for all all information related to BizTalk
Connect Web Site Improvement	This site is intended for users of the Microsoft Connect Web site and by extension Microsoft's software to provide feedback on the Connect Web site and its functionality.
Expression Blend	Microsoft Expression Blend
Expression Design	Vector Based Professional Graphic Design Tool
Internet Explorer Feedback	A resource for Internet Explorer feedback and information.
Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit	Beta release site for the Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) version 5.0.
Microsoft Dynamics	Allows EMEA Dynamics AX partners and customers to search on product defect, and vote, validate or comment on these bugs.
Microsoft Forefront Client Security	Microsoft Forefront Client Security provides businesses the control they need to protect against current and emerging malware threats. FCS is designed to guard against emerging threats such as spyware and rootkits as well as viruses and other traditional attacks. Insightful, prioritized reports and alerts help focus precious IT resources on the right issues and through integration with IT infrastructure already in place, reduces deployment time and maximizes value.
Microsoft Game Studios Beta Program	If you interested in beta testing Microsoft Games, sign in.
Microsoft Office Accounting 2007 Beta - US	This site is used to administrate the Beta program for the product Microsoft Office Accounting 2007.
Microsoft Office Live EAP	This is the private site for the Microsoft Office Live Early Adopter Program for Solution Developers
Microsoft Office OneNote	This is a site for OneNote Users to pass along product bugs for current and beta releases and other suggestions about future versions of OneNote.
Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 (CTP)	Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 brings together next generation scorecarding, analytics and planning capabilities in a complete performance management solution.
Microsoft Office Project 2007	Use this site to submit bugs and feedback on Project 2007.
Microsoft Office Publisher Beta	Get feedback, bugs, and documents from Office 2007 Publisher users
Microsoft Operations Manager	Microsoft Operations Manager
Microsoft Robotics Studio	The Microsoft Robotics Studio is a Windows-based environment for academic, hobbyist and commercial developers to easily create robotics applications across a wide variety of hardware.
MSDN Wiki	MSDN Wiki Connect Site
Phoenix	Phoenix is the code name for a software optimization and analysis framework that is the basis for all future Microsoft compiler technologies.
Platform Adoption Tool Beta	The Platform Adoption Tool is an application registration system designed to provide you, the Software Vendor, and Microsoft with information about how applications use Microsoft technology.
SQL Server	SQL Server
System Center Virtual Machine Manager	Virtual Machine Manager is a new, stand-alone management product intended to control the execution of workloads in virtual machines.
Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 Beta	Public Beta Program for Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1
Visual Studio and .NET Framework	Visual Studio and .NET Framework
Web Services Enhancements	Web Services Enhancements
Welcome to the Grava Beta site!	Grava, Microsoft Interactive Learning Environmant, testing, support and feedback.
Windows Communication Foundation (Indigo)	Windows Communication Foundation
Windows Hardware Developer Central	Secure and managed area of content to support and augment the www.microsoft.com/whdc site
Windows Live OneCare Beta	Windows Live OneCare is an all-in-one PC care service that’s always on, helping provide persistent protection against viruses, hackers, and other threats, and helping keep your PC tuned up and your important documents backed up.
Windows Networking Developer Platform	Windows Network Developer Platform includes technologies such as Winsock, WinInet, HTTP Server API and WinHTTP. Subscribe to this program to provide feedback for HTTP Server API, WinHTTP and WinInet.
Windows Presentation Foundation (Avalon)	Windows Presentation Foundation (Avalon)
Windows Server Update Services 3.0 Beta Site	WSUS 3.0 Beta Site
Windows Vista Hardware Assessment Beta Program	Windows Vista Hardware Assessment is designed to help business customers assess the readiness of their PCs for Windows Vista upgrades centrally from a single networked PC.
Windows Workflow Foundation technology feedback	At this site you can provide feedback on bugs or any feature suggestions for Windows Workflow Foundation
XNA	Want to write games for Windows and Xbox 360? Are you just learning or are you a grizzled veteran? Come here to learn about the new and exciting XNA game development products. Come participate in the XNA Game Studio Express Beta 1 program!

Visual Studio Orcas TAP - Technology Adoption Program: Product Feedback - Open for Nominations

jolumia — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 23:27:00 GMT

We would like to alert you about this new announcement concerning our open enrollment for our Visual Studio ORCA Technology Assessment Program. Additional information about Visual Studio Orcas can be reviewed at: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/aa700830.aspx

This information has been posted to our HiED West Technet Blog site at: http://blogs.technet.com/hied_west_blog/

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Visual Studio Orcas TAP

Technology Adoption Program: Product Feedback

Introduction

The Technology Adoption Program is designed to enable key customers to maintain a direct line into Microsoft product teams while using prerelease versions of Visual Studio Orcas to build production software.

Microsoft benefits when customers find bugs in real world scenarios before the product ships. TAP customers benefit by ensuring that the upcoming Visual Studio release supports their product, by training their employees on the latest and most productive toolset, and by learning from direct interactions with the teams that build Visual Studio.

Your Responsibilities

· Adopt Early: Build your project on prerelease versions of Visual Studio Orcas

· Find Bugs: File bugs and suggestions to improve Visual Studio Orcas

· Evaluate: Provide feedback about quality of Visual Studio Orcas user experience

· Confidentiality: Microsoft will discuss with you prerelease details about Visual Studio Orcas

What You Receive

· TAP Champ: Central point of contact for communications with Microsoft

· Calls: Weekly conference calls with Visual Studio Orcas development team

· Support: Priority support on Microsoft Forums and Product Feedback Center

· Builds: Regular prerelease builds of Visual Studio Orcas (public and private)

· GoLive!: Licensing to deploy Visual Studio Orcas Beta 2 solutions into production

· Labs: Potential to attend labs with Visual Studio Orcas development team

· Signoff: Potential to participate in Visual Studio Orcas Customer Signoff Program

· Launch: Potential to participate in Visual Studio Orcas launch events

How to Apply

If you would like to apply for the Visual Studio Orcas TAP Program, please complete the application form (https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/Survey/Survey.aspx?SurveyID=3030).

Microsoft Product BETAs (https://connect.microsoft.com) - As of November 14, 2006

jolumia — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 22:28:00 GMT

To obtain additional information and/or enroll into an open BETA program, please visit https://connect.microsoft.com

Connection	Description
BizTalk	This will be a external facing website for all all information related to BizTalk
Connect Web Site Improvement	This site is intended for users of the Microsoft Connect Web site and by extension Microsoft's software to provide feedback on the Connect Web site and its functionality.
Exchange Server 2007 Beta 2	This site will be used for logging bugs and suggestions for Exchange 2007 Beta 2.
Expression Graphic Designer	Vector Based Professional Graphic Design Tool
Expression Interactive Designer	Interactive Designer
Managed Services Solution Beta	This site will be used to inform Microsoft partners about our upcoming Managed Services Solution and let them register for the upcoming public Beta.
Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit	Beta release site for the Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) version 5.0.
Microsoft Forefront Client Security	Microsoft Forefront Client Security provides businesses the control they need to protect against current and emerging malware threats. FCS is designed to guard against emerging threats such as spyware and rootkits as well as viruses and other traditional attacks. Insightful, prioritized reports and alerts help focus precious IT resources on the right issues and through integration with IT infrastructure already in place, reduces deployment time and maximizes value.
Microsoft Game Studios Beta Program	If you interested in beta testing Microsoft Games, sign in.
Microsoft Office Accounting 2007 Beta - US	This site is used to administrate the Beta program for the product Microsoft Office Accounting 2007.
Microsoft Office Live EAP	This is the private site for the Microsoft Office Live Early Adopter Program for Solution Developers
Microsoft Office OneNote	This is a site for OneNote Users to pass along product bugs for current and beta releases and other suggestions about future versions of OneNote.
Microsoft Office Project 2007	Use this site to submit bugs and feedback on Project 2007.
Microsoft Office Publisher Beta	Get feedback, bugs, and documents from Office 2007 Publisher users
Microsoft Operations Manager	Microsoft Operations Manager
Microsoft Phonetic Input Tool Beta	The Goal of KiTiKi is to provide an intuitive method for users to input text in any Indic language based on a phonetic scheme and also conversion of text into various formats. KiTiKi is very useful for bilingual /multilingual users who normally use English keyboard and would like to write messages /documents in their native language by typing in English.
Microsoft Robotics Studio	The Microsoft Robotics Studio is a Windows-based environment for academic, hobbyist and commercial developers to easily create robotics applications across a wide variety of hardware.
MSDN Wiki	MSDN Wiki Connect Site
PerformancePoint Server 2007 (CTP)	Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 brings together next generation scorecarding, analytics and planning capabilities in a complete performance management solution.
Phoenix	Phoenix is the code name for a software optimization and analysis framework that is the basis for all future Microsoft compiler technologies.
Platform Adoption Tool Beta	The Platform Adoption Tool is an application registration system designed to provide you, the Software Vendor, and Microsoft with information about how applications use Microsoft technology.
SQL Server	SQL Server
System Center Virtual Machine Manager	Virtual Machine Manager is a new, stand-alone management product intended to control the execution of workloads in virtual machines.
Visual Basic 2005 Power Pack Suggestion Center	Visual Basic 2005 Power Pack Suggestion Center
Visual Studio and .NET Framework	Visual Studio and .NET Framework
Web Services Enhancements	Web Services Enhancements
Windows Communication Foundation (Indigo)	Windows Communication Foundation
Windows Live OneCare Beta	Windows Live OneCare is an all-in-one PC care service that’s always on, helping provide persistent protection against viruses, hackers, and other threats, and helping keep your PC tuned up and your important documents backed up.
Windows Networking Developer Platform	Windows Network Developer Platform includes technologies such as Winsock, WinInet, HTTP Server API and WinHTTP. Subscribe to this program to provide feedback for HTTP Server API, WinHTTP and WinInet.
Windows Presentation Foundation (Avalon)	Windows Presentation Foundation (Avalon)
Windows Server Update Services 3.0 Beta 2	WSUS 3.0 Beta 2
Windows Vista Readiness Assessment Beta Program	Windows Vista Readiness Assessment (WVRA) is designed to help business customers assess the readiness of their PCs for Windows Vista upgrades centrally from a single networked PC.
Windows Workflow Foundation technology feedback	At this site you can provide feedback on bugs or any feature suggestions for Windows Workflow Foundation
XNA	Want to write games for Windows and Xbox 360? Are you just learning or are you a grizzled veteran? Come here to learn about the new and exciting XNA game development products. Come participate in the XNA Game Studio Express Beta 1 program!

If you participate in a program, you can provide valuable feedback. To apply to participate in a program, click Apply for a program in the following table (if you are not registered on Microsoft Connect, you will be asked to register):

Program	Nomination Start Date	Nomination End Date	Options
Beta for Windows Live Messenger for Mobile	11/13/2006	3/1/2007	Details Apply
BizTalk Server 2004 SP2 beta	8/8/2006	11/30/2006	Details Apply
BizTalk Server 2006 R2	6/6/2006	3/15/2007	Details Apply
Certificate Lifecycle Manager Beta 2	2/14/2006	3/1/2007	Details Apply
Configuration Manager 2007 (SMSv4) Open Beta	2/15/2006		Details Apply
Data Protection Manager v2 Beta1	9/27/2006		Details Apply
Enterprise GO - Partner Program	4/3/2006		Details Apply
Exchange Server 2007 Beta 2	7/19/2006	1/1/2007	Details Apply
exFAT	4/25/2006	12/30/2006	Details Apply
Feedback Tool for Expression Graphic Designer	1/24/2006		Details Apply
Feedback tool for Expression Web Designer	5/14/2006	2/9/2007	Details Apply
Feedback Tool for Interactive Designer Public CTP	1/23/2006		Details Apply
Host Integration Server 2006 Public Beta Program	3/31/2006	12/31/2006	Details Apply
Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.0 - Beta	2/15/2006		Details Apply
Microsoft Dynamics Product Feedback	2/1/2006		Details Apply
Microsoft Forefront Client Security Feedback	9/18/2006	12/31/2007	Details Apply
Microsoft Game Studios Beta Program	10/1/2006		Details Apply
Microsoft iSCSI Software Initiator (Boot Version)	5/1/2006	3/30/2007	Details Apply
Microsoft Managed Services Solution Public Beta	8/25/2006		Details Apply
Microsoft Phonetic Input Tool	7/1/2006	1/10/2007	Details Apply
Microsoft Robotics Studio Beta (CTP)	6/19/2006		Details Apply
Microsoft Windows Driver Kit (WDK)	4/20/2006	4/27/2007	Details Apply
Microsoft Wireless LAN API for Windows XP SP2 beta	4/27/2006	11/30/2006	Details Apply
MIIS 2003 Management Agent for SAP Early-Adopter Program	10/31/2006	1/31/2007	Details Apply
MIIS 2003 SP2 Early-Adopter Program	10/31/2006	1/31/2007	Details Apply
Network Monitor 3.0 Beta	6/6/2006	12/31/2006	Details Apply
OneNote 2007 Beta 2 Technical Refresh (B2TR)			Details Apply
OpsMgr 2007 Public Beta (MOMv3)	4/17/2006		Details Apply
PerformancePoint Server 2007	6/5/2006		Details Apply
Phoenix RDK	6/1/2006		Details Apply
Platform Adoption Tool Beta 1	8/31/2006	11/24/2006	Details Apply
Publisher Beta Program	6/26/2006	1/1/2007	Details Apply
SCCM2007 (SMSv4) Desired Configuration Management (DCM) Nomination Survey for Partners	4/17/2006	4/27/2007	Details Apply
Shared Computer Toolkit V2 Beta Test	10/16/2006	12/31/2006	Details Apply
SQL Feedback			Details Apply
SSMA V2	11/28/2005		Details Apply
System Center Essentials Beta	4/20/2006	4/20/2007	Details Apply
System Center Virtual Machine Manager Beta 1 Program			Details Apply
Upgrade Toolkit for Windows SharePoint Services Sites and Templates	11/10/2006		Details Apply
USMT 3.0 RC1	4/19/2006	11/14/2006	Details Apply
Virtual Machine Additions for Linux	3/31/2006		Details Apply
Virtual PC 2007 Beta Program	10/10/2006	3/30/2007	Details Apply
Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 Beta 1	4/25/2006	3/30/2007	Details Apply
Visual Basic 2005 Power Packs	8/14/2006	8/15/2007	Details Apply
Visual Studio 2005 Service Pack 1 Beta	9/18/2006		Details Apply
Windows "Monad" Shell			Details Apply
Windows Live General Beta Tester Community	4/24/2006		Details Apply
Windows Live OneCare Family Safety	8/23/2006		Details Apply
Windows Network Developer Platform	9/20/2005		Details Apply
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 Technical Beta	6/14/2006		Details Apply
Windows Vista Readiness Assessment Beta Program	10/11/2006	1/31/2007	Details Apply
Windows Workflow Foundation technology feedback			Details Apply
Windows XP Embedded Community Tech Previews	7/10/2006	2/28/2007	Details Apply
WSUS 3.0 Beta 2	8/8/2006	2/28/2007	Details Apply

Forefront Client Security BETA Released November 14th

jolumia — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 19:55:00 GMT

Yesterday, we announced the availability of the Forefront Client Security BETA. Below is a brief recap of the product, and the URL to the download site for the BETA. We will be planning a deep dive HiED Technology Briefing in mid-January 2007 on the Forefront Client Security product.

Microsoft Forefront Client Security delivers:

Unified Protection

· Unified protection from viruses, spyware and other current and emerging threats, so you can feel confident that your business systems are better protected.

Simplified Administration

· Provides easier administration through central management, so you can protect your business with greater efficiency.

Critical Visibility and Control

· Produces insightful, prioritized security reports and a summary dashboard view, so you have visibility and control over malware threats.

What is Client Security?

Download the Forefront Client Security Public Beta

Try Forefront Client Security today and experience the benefits of Unified Protection, Simplified Management and Critical Visibility and Control.

Download the Microsoft Forefront Client Security Datasheet (.pdf)

Microsoft Forefront Client Security Frequently Asked Questions