IT edge

Apple released it’s financial results on April 20th (http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2011/04/20results.html) with quarterly revenue of $24.67 billion and net profit of $5.99 billion. Microsoft released it’s financial results on April 28th (http://www.microsoft.com/investor/EarningsAndFinancials/Earnings/PressReleaseAndWebcast/FY11/Q3/default.aspx) with quarterly revuenue of $16.43 billion and net profit of $5.23 billion.

Comparing the revenue and net income of these companies is interesting. If my math is correct, a quick calculation shows Apple has a little better than a 24% profit on their revenue, while Microsoft has nearly a 32% profit on their revenue.

Quest Software has published a brief whitepaper on Best Practices for Migrating to Office Microsoft 365. The paper discusses:

• Why you should be interested in hosted Messaging and Collaboration
• What Office 365 is and how it’s different from BPOS
• Considerations when migrating to Office 365 and what is involved in the migration process.

It’s a quick read at 5 pages of content, but still provides a good overview.

Office Platform Team released two add-ins that help print-disabled and hearing-disabled users of Office 2010. These add-ins should be particularly important to government agencies as they need to ensure that people have access to all content. 

• The Subtitling Add-In for Microsoft PowerPoint (STAMP) helps Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 users add closed captions to the video and audio files included in their presentations, which boosts their impact for those with hearing disabilities. This also enables video and audio in PowerPoint to be localized in different languages.
• Building on our partnership with the DAISY Consortium, Save as DAISY for Office 2010 helps Microsoft Word users convert Word Open XML files to the Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY) format, which powers digital talking books and compatible software & braille readers for this with print disabilities. This version now supports Office 2003, 2007 and 2010. 

More information about these two new add-ins on the Office.com Blog.

I found a very interesting article by Nathan Newman, written for the Huffington Post that address how Google operates it’s business model and the reasons for an anti-trust investigation. The article “You’re Not Google’s Customer – You’re the Product: Antitrust in a Web 2.0 World” addresses how Google collects person information from users of their “free” products – Google.com, Gmail, Google Apps, Android, Chrome, Chrome OS, Google TV – and uses it increase their internet advertising monopoly.

He argues that the business model it to create free products which attract users to their devices to grow their ability to collect data and target ads. While the vast majority users don’t read the privacy policies on websites, or may not even know how to locate them, they should be concerned. He lays out why in the article.

Using this model of Ad supported products they have managed to destroy entire markets for this type of software by giving it away to users, and have made it nearly impossible for any type of competition to challenge them. Google talks about innovation, but their business model stifles or prevents new competition in certain areas. So when the competition is stifled what’s the motivation for them to continue to innovate? Nathan explains why regulators need to address these issues and other issues with Google.

I have heard from clients that they are experiencing some problems with the Apple iPad & iPhone when using Exchange Server. For example, if you are using Microsoft Exchange for your Enterprise E-mail and Calendaring platform and are using the iPad or iPhone to connect to it, you may be experiencing things as:

• Meeting attendees are missing from the appointment
• The meeting details are changed to plain text
• Changing attendees of a meeting does not sync back with Exchange/Outlook
• Appointments may be out of synch
• If you change an appointment from the iPad/iPhone it disappears from Outlook
• Reminder time is changed on a meeting
• Various iTunes sync problems

This issue appears to be an issue with certain versions of the Apple iOS. If you are experiencing this problem update the device to Apple iOS 4.3.1 and update iTunes to v9.2+ and the issues should be resolved.

I am discovering that many IT Professionals and Business Managers, when making purchasing decisions are not aware that that Office Pro Plus is required for Outlook-based access to Exchange 2010 Personal Archives. 

Exchange Personal Archives cannot be accessed from Outlook installed via Office 2010 Standard Edition.

If you have already purchased, or are considering the purchase of the Exchange Enterprise CAL and have deployed Office Standard to your end users, the “Integrated Archiving” feature cannot be used within Outlook. Users can access Personal Archives via Outlook Web App (which does not require Office Pro Plus) as well as an updated Outlook 2007 client with reduced functionality.

For more information on Office licensing requirements related to Personal Archives, see License requirements for Personal Archive and retention policies: http://office.com/redir/HA102576659

Microsoft released the final general availability of Internet Explorer 9 in 39 languages across the world. You get it from here and experience it for yourself.

IE9 redefines fast with a fully hardware-accelerated browser, harnessing the full power of the PC through Windows.  IE9 delivers a clean, site-centric experience, putting the focus on your sites.  You can use what Windows offers around the browser – for example, pinning sites to the taskbar just like pining applications in Windows 7.  There are new protections from real-world threats to safety, privacy, and reliability that make it the world’s most trusted browser.  With HTML5 at its core, IE9 enables a more interoperable web, so developers can write the same markup across browsers and the web.

To learn more about what’s in IE9, and to start experiencing a more beautiful web visit: http://beautyoftheweb.com.

If you are deploying Office 2010 and using KMS for Volume License Activation, you will need to apply the Microsoft Office 2010 KMS Host License Pack to your KMS Server. This is a bit confusing since Windows Volume License Activation does not require such an add-on to your KMS Server. the License Pack is needed because the Windows and Office KMS activation systems are not quite identical.

There are instructions on deploying Office 2010 Volume Activation in the TechNet Library here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee624357.aspx

The Springboard Deployment Series explains the different Volume Activation options, and provides guidance where to start. That page is here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-ca/office/ee691939.aspx

This third-party blog that provides screen shots of the installation of the Microsoft Office 2010 KMS Host License Pack onto your existing KMS Server: http://www.toddlamothe.com/deployment/office-2010-kms-host-server.htm

App-V 4.6 SP1 highlights:

• Simplified

• A simplified packaging experience – new packagers are productive right away
• Step-by-step guidance for common packaging tasks
• Diagnostic that alert you to potential issues before they become problems

• App-V Package Accelerators speed packaging of complex applications
• App-V Templates provide a way to quickly and easily reuse common settings
• Eliminate the App-V Sequencing learning curve

• Consistent, repeatable application packaging
• Built-in best practices make you a sequencing expert
• Streamlined command-line scripting enables automation

App-V 4.6 SP1 rolls-up existing App-V hotfixes and also extends support for the App-V read-only shared cache to RDS as well as VDI scenarios. With this new support, you can save storage space no matter which desktop virtualization technology you choose for server-based computing.

Check out videos that demonstrate the new features in App-V 4.6 SP1. And when you’re ready to get started, you can download the App-V 4.6 SP1 Trial Guide. If you’re already an expert at App-V, then the updated App-V 4.6 SP1 Sequencing Guide is for you.

MED-V 2.0 helps you bridge “the last mile” of application compatibility as you move from Windows XP to Windows 7 by allowing older applications, including web-based application, to run in a Windows XP-based compatibility workspace within Windows 7.

Don’t confuse MED-V with Microsoft’s consumer and small business compatibility tool, Windows XP Mode. MED-V expands on the capabilities in Windows XP Mode by adding enterprise features, such as the ability to use a custom Windows XP image, automating first time setup and controlling URL redirection for Internet Explorer.

What’s new in MED-V 2.0?

• No dedicated MED-V infrastructure to deploy.

• MED-V 2.0 workspaces are deployed and managed using existing electronic software distribution (ESD) systems, including System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) 2007 R2 or higher.

• Users can save their passwords for seamless sign-on to the MED-V workspace.

• New applications deployed to MED-V workspaces, including App-V virtual applications, are available to the Windows 7 host automatically.

• Legacy applications work just like locally installed applications when it comes to opening, saving and printing documents.

• USB devices, including thumb drives and Smartcard readers can be shared between the host and applications running in the MED-V workspace.

• Wildcards    (http://*.example.com)
• Sites           (http://www.example.com/hr)
• Page-levels  (http://www.example.com/hr/benefits.asp)
• Ports           (http://vpn.example.com:1234)

• The MED-V workspace is seamlessly suspended when the user logs off or shuts down the Windows 7 host.

See for how MED-V looks from a user’s point of view. There are videos that show you how to create and deploy MED-V workspaces, and a MED-V 2.0 Trial Guide to help you get started.

See Official TechNet Blog Post: Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) 2011

Training Class: Microsoft Virtualization for VMware Professionals 

Dates: March 29-31, 2011 from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT.

Just one week after Microsoft Management Summit 2011 (MMS), Microsoft Learning will be hosting an exclusive three-day Jump Start online class specially tailored for VMware and Microsoft virtualization technology pros.  The course is COMPLETELY FREE and OPEN TO ANYONE! 

Sessions

• Day 1 will focus on “Platform”
  (Hyper-V, virtualization architecture, high availability & clustering)

• 10:00am – 10:30pm:  Virtualization 360 Overview
• 10:30am – 12:00pm:  Microsoft Hyper-V Deployment Options & Architecture
• 1:00pm – 2:00pm:  Differentiating Microsoft and VMware (terminology, etc.)
• 2:00pm – 4:00pm:  High Availability & Clustering

• Day 2 will focus on “Management”
  (System Center Suite, SCVMM 2012 Beta, Opalis, Private Cloud solutions)

• 10:00am – 11:00pm:  System Center Suite Overview w/ focus on DPM
• 11:00am – 12:00pm:  Virtual Machine Manager 2012 | Part 1
• 1:00pm –   1:30pm:  Virtual Machine Manager 2012 | Part 2
• 1:30pm – 2:30pm:  Automation with System Center Opalis & PowerShell
• 2:30pm – 4:00pm:  Private Cloud Solutions, Architecture & VMM SSP 2.0

• Day 3 will focus on “VDI”
  (VDI Infrastructure/architecture, v-Alliance, application delivery via VDI)

• 10:00am – 11:00pm:  Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Architecture | Part 1
• 11:00am – 12:00pm:  Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Architecture | Part 2
• 1:00pm – 2:30pm:  v-Alliance Solution Overview
• 2:30pm – 4:00pm:  Application Delivery for VDI

More Information

• This cutting edge course will feature expert instruction and real-world demonstrations of Hyper-V and brand new releases from System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 Beta.
• Suggested prerequisite skills include real-world experience with Windows Server 2008 R2, virtualization and datacenter management.
• Learn more from the Microsoft Learning Blog

To Register

• Visit the Registration Page and sign up for all three sessions.