The Life of Brian : News

A Free Office is a Smart Move for Microsoft

BrianM — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:36:00 GMT

I’ve read a few articles this morning concerning Microsoft’s move to release a web version of its upcoming Office 2010 product. This is a direct fire toward Google’s application suite and I think Microsoft is going to this help their dominance in...(read more)

Microsoft Certified Master

BrianM — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:41:00 GMT

How many of you have heard of this? This is the new “Premier Technical Credential” from Microsoft . The program will be required to obtain the Microsoft Certified Architect program. Kind of weird having the “Premier Technical Credential” in...(read more)

Microsoft’s Virtualization Direction

BrianM — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 18:05:34 GMT

Mike Neil (GM, Virtualization Strategy) of Microsoft has a wonderful post on the Windows Server Division's blog . It's refreshing to see someone at his level blog about what his team's goals are and how passionate they are about helping customers. Virtualization...(read more)

Virtual PC 2007 Released

BrianM — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 15:37:56 GMT

Another day another release from Microsoft. Yesterday Microsoft released SQL 2005 SP2 and today it appears they have released the much anticipated Virtual PC 2007 . I found this out from my good friends from the north . The reason I say much anticipated...(read more)

SQL 2005 SP2 Released

BrianM — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 19:08:01 GMT

If you're using SQL 2005 you may want to start investigating and testing out SQL 2005 Service Pack 2 . Microsoft just released this SP today and it is intended to help take advantage of enhancements within Windows Vista and Office 2007. Take a look here...(read more)

Bill Gates let Windows Home Server out of the bag

BrianM — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 23:47:00 GMT

I just read over at the Windows Server Division blog that at last night's CES keynote Bill Gates announced the Windows Home Server. This should be interesting as it will no doubt be a welcome addition to most of us geeks. It is going to allow you to back...(read more)

Windows Vista Launch Event Coming to Phoenix in January

BrianM — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 01:38:00 GMT

This January Microsoft will be having one of their launch events here in Phoenix on January 17th. If you're interested in finding out more details on Windows Vista, Exchange 2007 or Office 2007 then you'll want to show up. Heck even if you want to get...(read more)

Microsoft Exposed

BrianM — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 20:33:00 GMT

Just saw this video on an investigative report dealing with Microsoft hiring college grads. I would love to see more of this from Microsoft. It always seems like they are this ultra conservative company from the outside but there really are some fun things...(read more)

20% Voucher for Microsoft Exams

BrianM — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 14:15:00 GMT

I know a lot of you are either looking at new certifications or looking to renew existing ones. This voucher is good for VUE testing centers only!!! Voucher # - MSUU4C7E701E Microsoft ONLY This voucher can be used as often as needed so feel free to share...(read more)

Virtual PC 2004 100% FREE!!!

BrianM — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 17:12:00 GMT

I just saw off another MVPs blog that Microsoft is making Virtual PC 2004 free! This is not a demo but instead the full product . Microsoft has said for some time that this component will come with Vista and it looks like this confirms that as well. Take...(read more)

Microsoft Private Folder 1.0

BrianM — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 21:30:00 GMT

Update: It looks like Microsoft is pulling this down. The reason being that in a corporate environment it would be way to easy for people to hide stuff in this password protected folder. There also is no recovery options. I personnaly like it and if you...(read more)

Draw Online with Friends!!!

BrianM — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 04:40:00 GMT

This is hands down the coolest thing I have seen on the web in a LONG time. GE has an online whiteboard that you can actually share with people. You have to check this out yourself! GE Whiteboard...(read more)

Its Official...Windows Live Server

BrianM — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 04:19:00 GMT

...is NOT going to be the next name for the server product currently known as Longhorn. However there were some pretty funny ones they came up with. Check out some of the names they played around with here ....(read more)

Are you ready for Windows PowerShell?

BrianM — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 16:45:00 GMT

Ward Ralston of the Windows Server Division at Microsoft sends news that Monad (tasked based command shell & scripting language) has a new name...Windows PowerShell. I'm not sure I like the name so much but hey it's hard to beat cool codenames like Monad. By the way a quick search on Google on PowerShell and it gives you the following

"PowerShell is a terminal emulator for the X11 Window System"

I wonder if Microsoft knew if this name was already being used?

Intel's new desktop brand - vPro™

BrianM — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 22:30:00 GMT

For the first time since 1993 Intel (the company I work for) is releasing an new brand name entitled Intel^® vPro™. You may be familiar with our last desktop brand name as it changed the industry...does the brand name Pentium ring a bell??? This is Intel's third new brand name in 3 years. If you know the other two brand names put them in the comments and let's see who can get it first.

The Mac lab at Microsoft

BrianM — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 15:17:00 GMT

This is one of the coolest things I have ever seen on the web (and i've seen a lot). As most of you know Microsoft makes software for MACs such as Office and Virtual PC. There is a group of people at Microsoft that just play with MACs. Take a look here to read up on it and see for yourself. Below you will find a picture of their automation lab.

SQL 2005 SP1 Released

BrianM — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 07:54:00 GMT

I didn't see this one coming, probably because I haven't even played with SQL 2005 yet. I will be building a SQL 2005 cluster very soon so i'm about to get my hands dirty with this one.

Microsoft has released Service Pack 1 for SQL 2005. How long has SQL 2005 been out? This seems to be the fastest service pack release I have ever seen.

Here is a list of improvements with SP1 and here is where you can find the fixes.

Visual Studio 2005 Express Free

BrianM — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 20:36:00 GMT

I'm the furthest thing you will ever see when it comes to developers...makes you wonder why i'm so freaking jealous of those know it all code monkeys. According to Dan Fernandez (Lead Product Manager - Visual Studio Express) effective today:

"all Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions including Visual Basic, Visual C#, Visual J#, Visual C++, and Visual Web Developer Express will be free permanently!"

When will Microsoft come out with an Express OS that is free???