Download the Microsoft Lync Server 2010 trial and see how Lync delivers a connected experience that transforms communication into more collaborative, engaging and accessible interaction from virtually anywhere your users may be.   

With Lync Server 2010 and the Lync 2010 client application, users benefit from a single user interface that unites voice, IM, audio-, video-, and web-conferencing that is more efficient for users and works consistently with familiar Microsoft Office applications like Microsoft Word, Outlook, and SharePoint.

More to come,

Mitch

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Microsoft yesterday released an update for Windows Internet Explorer 9 Beta. This update improves the reliability of Internet Explorer 9 Beta in various scenarios.

For more on what’s in the update and to download the update package, view this knowledge base article.

More to come,

Mitch

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December 1, 2010, 9:00 AM Pacific Time -- In this webcast you will see several demos of the new features introduced in the Windows Azure November 2010 Release (DPE110CAL), including Virtual Machine Role and Elevated Privileges which can make it easier to move existing applications to the cloud, Windows Azure Connect which can enable you to connect on-premises systems to the cloud, and core enhancements such as a new Windows Azure platform portal experience.

Register for the Webcast.

For more on the new enhancements, and information about the new Windows Azure SDK 1.3, check out the Windows Azure Team Blog.

More to come,

Mitch

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While Windows 7 last month celebrated its first year with more than 240 million licenses, another big milestone looms: It was 25 years ago this month that Microsoft unveiled its first operating system with a graphical user interface, called Windows. And (gulp!) I was there, as a member of the press, properly impressed by how it looked on those monochrome CRT displays. Heck, you didn’t even need a mouse to use it.

Windows, you wear it well. How many computer products have been around for 25 years?

Yes, there have been a few refinements to Windows since then. One of the ways Microsoft, and the community, continues to improve is in making Windows easier to deploy, and you’ve no doubt heard by now that enterprise deployments of Windows 7 are more streamlined than ever before. I have to believe that is due, at least in part, to the advanced, task-specific tools and resources from Microsoft, not to mention the guidance and best practices which have surfaced in the greater Windows community.

In the latest edition of TechNet ON, we’ve compiled a number of great articles that explain the use of these resources and tools. For a quick run-through of the resources, check out Jeremy Chapman’s Best of compilation of Windows 7 deployment resources.

To familiarize yourself with the new tools and techniques, TechNet Magazine has several new articles, including Joshua Hoffman’s Modern Guide to Desktop Deployment and his Windows Deployment Resource Guide, which explains the differences among the various deployment tools. And for a great how-to piece, Greg Shield’s “Geek of All Trades” column takes you through Windows 7 Deployment in 7 Easy Steps.

There is a wealth of great guidance in this edition and, of course, links to the tools themselves with specific how-to content for each tool.

And finally, we brought back a fan-favorite, the free eBook Deploying Windows 7 Essential Guidance from the Windows 7 Resource Kit and TechNet Magazine.

We know that many of you are still working toward your enterprise deployment of Windows 7 and hope this package serves as a one-stop resource.

Here’s to the next 25 years of innovation,

Mitch 

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Microsoft has delivered the community technology previews of new and enhanced services for Windows Azure AppFabric, our cloud middleware platform for developing, deploying and managing business applications.  In addition, we also announced the SQL Azure Reporting CTP, and updates to SQL Azure Data Sync.

Get more information here.

More to come,

Mitch 

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