Windows 7: Be first. Save half.
Pre-order Windows 7 today at Microsoft Store. You'll get it for at least half off and be one of the first to get it. Hurry, quantities are limited.*
It's pretty simple
Windows 7 is coming on October 22, 2009. Here's an easy way to get it fast and save a bundle: Pre-order a Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade for $49 or a Windows 7 Professional Upgrade for $99 at Microsoft Store. That's about half off the estimated retail prices.
Want more info?
Go to the Windows team blog and find out all the details.
* The offer begins on June 26, 2009 and will continue while supplies last, or until July 11, 2009, whichever comes first.
Windows Live for Mobile is now Bing for mobile. Features are about the same, just a new name, and of course a new decision engine behind the button. What is new is Bing 411. Dial 1-800-Bing-411 (1-800-246-4411) for audio directions, traffic conditions, weather reports, etc.
Hear Audio Demo
I thought this was going to be an MS alternative to GOOG-411, which it’s not. Goog 411 is a free phone listing directory service (Bing does this too) – while Bing 411 is really a business directory and local information service – like an audio version of the Bing (formerly Live) mobile client.
Click for install: Bing for mobile
Imagine your cell phone recharging itself wirelessly while in stand-by mode, just off of ambient radio waves – TV, radio, cell phone, etc. Nokia has a 5 milliwatt rechargeable phone prototye. Wow.
Prototype Nokia phone recharges without wires : Christopher Null : Yahoo! Tech
Virginia becomes the second state to launch Elevate America with 6250 Microsoft elearning vouchers for IWs and ITpros. Details below on how to activate this benefit through the VA community college system.
State joins forces with Microsoft for technology training | Richmond Times-Dispatch
Having lived in Virginia for 6 years before coming to Redmond, and seeing my niece go through the local community college on her way to Mary Washington College, this program feels very rewarding. Peace and Love to all my Arlington and Alexandria peeps– all y’all.
Very cool app from Microsoft. Aim your mobile device camera at the barcode, and you are quickly redirected to the web, blog, mail address – without having to type in the address. On the provider side – creates instant tracking of where your mobile visitors are coming from.
Read more, download the app, and create your own barcodes:
Mobile Tagging: Interactive 2D Barcode Reader
My blog:
Way to go Chrome :-)
Two cool tools I installed this week:
Qik – was in the news for being preinstalled on the new Nokia – but it’s a free download for your smartphone. Qik is live mobile video streaming to the web. http://www.qik.com/ Like UStream I think.
Screencast.com – free video upload service, up to 2GB per month. I was sent a screencast video today as part of a customer support ticket. I like these better than having support problems going out on YouTube. http://www.screencast.com/
We recorded an interview between me and a few MCTs on the value of Microsoft technical certification – now live on Born to Learn podcast page. It’s getting late on a beautiful PNW Friday – crack a cold one and give a listen.
Born to Learn Podcast: Certification Series
No commentary, just sharing a useful link.
Operating system market share
As of end of April:
BTW, Windows 7 is ranked 9th at .25%, just behind iPhone at .55%.
A smart way to make a little ad revenue and sell concert tickets and album pre-orders, while hopefully defeating the bit torrent frenzy over leaked versions of Dave Matthews Band’s new album. Looks like Pandora is managing the streaming and the ad placement – all on a dedicated page. So is the record industry still dead, or finally getting smarter?
http://www.pandora.com/davematthewsband
Seems like the easiest way to get the word out on new releases. Follow me here.
There are 7 new Windows 7 Learning Snacks available, showing off some of the new features of the Win7 desktop, others covering troubleshooting and deployment:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/snacks/default.mspx#WIN7
These snacks are built with the LCDS, and the soon to be published Snack Converter.
My Twitter badge on the left rail doesn’t seem to be working. No loss, I don’t have much to say there yet. Find where you are on the 4 stages of twitter scale.
The four stages of the average Twitter user | Between the Lines | ZDNet.com
[Excerpt]
As I’ve written before, I think Twitter can be an very useful tool for business and technology professionals. For more, see:
And here are a couple external links worth looking at:
You can sign up now for the Office 2010 Technical Preview release in July here. If you’re attending TechEd this week – you’ve already received info on the release (if not, look for someone at the Office booth for details).
What’s new in Office 2010. Read it here on the Office 2010 team blog.
Here’s what I can tell you:
1. Office 2010 will be available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.
2. Office 2010 will run on Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.
3. You don't need to replace hardware that is capable of running 2007, it will support Office 2010. Like Windows 7 has demonstrated, we realize that taking advantage of the hardware you already own is just as important as supporting all the new technology coming out.
There’s an interesting comment from TechEd about Groove on the Office 2010 twitter feed.
