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Some folks probably think that the Synch Center function of the Vista Mobility Center is the replacement for ActiveSynch (with a device), but actually that mantle now goes to the Microsoft Windows Mobile Device Center (WMDC). WMDC allows you to set up new partnerships and synch with Windows Mobile 2003 or later devices. Note: the WMDC is only supported on Windows Vista and must be downloaded, it is not an OOB functionality (in the RTM version).
A key new functionality in WMDC is the picture acquisition wizard (PAW), which simplifies managing media between your WM device and PC. With the PAW you can easily tag and transfer all of the pictures from your Windows Mobile powered device to your PC’s Windows Photo Gallery - cool, eh.
Highlights of the new Windows Mobile Device Center Include:
- Streamlined setup - A simplified new partnership wizard and improved partnership management.
- Robust synchronization - Synchronization of business-critical data such as e-mail, calendars, contacts, tasks, favorites, and files.
- Enhanced user interface - A simple and compelling user interface helps you to quickly access critical tasks and configure your device.
- File browsing - A new device browsing experience enables you more quickly browse files and folders and open documents on your device directly from your PC.
- Photo management – Picture management helps you detect new photos on your Windows Mobile powered device, tag and import them to the Windows Vista Photo Gallery.
- Media synchronization - Use Microsoft Windows Media Player to synchronize and shuffle music files on your device.
You can download it now at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/devicecenter.mspx.
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Need a refresher or more info on small business oriented licensing? Check out the link below (to Eric Ligman's MSSmallBiz blog). In early MAY, Eric will be repeating some of his most popular licensing webcasts including: “Introduction to Office, Windows, and Server Licensing For Partners”, “Introduction to Open License For Partners”, and regular Thursday “Small Business Desktop Advantage Sales Forum”
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WOW redux!! This just came out in Internetnews.com security article (see: http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3667201). What's really surprising here is that Symantec has really complained about some aspects of Vista security and isn't a particular "friend" of Microsoft. At least their research appears to be objective and corroborates what we saw in Jeff's blog and the point I made about the ultimate effect of the Trustworth Computing Initiative. I've included a brief intro to the article below. One of the most interesting points is in the last sentence below "Windows had the ... shortest average patch development time of the five [OS's]" monitored. I specfically saw comments in Jeff's blog that indicate that a LOT of folks still don't "get" this - Microsoft has a very robust Security Response mechanism, you should research it if you're not familiar with the comprehensive we deal with threats and vulnerabilities. As in the other post, I hope you find this as interesting as I did and can possibly use some of this "data" (this is not opinion or perception this is real-world) to help your customers understand that, going forward, a bet on Microsoft technology in the security context is likely a better bet than almost any other platform.
March 21, 2007 -- Surprise, Microsoft Listed as Most Secure OS
Microsoft is frequently dinged for having insecure products, with security holes and vulnerabilities. But Symantec, who isn’t a friend of Microsoft, said in its latest research report that when it comes to widely-used operating systems, Microsoft is doing better overall than its leading commercial competitors. This information was part of Symantec's 11th Internet Security Threat Report, which was released this week. The report covered a huge range of security and vulnerability issues and operating systems. The report found that Microsoft Windows had the fewest number of patches and the shortest average patch development time of the five operating systems it monitored in the last six months of 2006. [See article link above for rest of story]
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Most of you should have gotten your January Update to the Action Pack by now. If you have not received your update kit yet, you can send mail to: maps-na@microsoft.com to check into the delay. As you know, the JAN Update brought you the RTM bits for Vista Business (Upgrade) and the Office 2007 Enterprise Suite, as well as Expression Web, and the updated Small Business Assessment Toolkit.
In case you missed the most recent "Getting More Action Out of Your Action Pack" webcast (on the Jan Update), you can register for on-demand version at: http://www.msusapartnerreadiness.com/wscart.asp?eid=5080
Along with the discussion of the Action Pack elements above, there was a brief FAQ section at the end which I'll summarize below.
Downgrade Rights -- In accordance with the Microsoft Action Pack Subscription (MAPS) agreement and the program guide, Partners are encouraged (but not required) to upgrade to the most recent version of any product included in the MAPS kit within six months. To the extent you have certain constraints that prevent you from upgrading your systems to Windows Vista, you may keep using your existing product licenses, even if you are renewing your subscription and the product is no longer included in the subscription. For more information on this see also: http://blogs.msdn.com/mssmallbiz/archive/2007/02/15/update-what-downgrade-rights-are-included-in-my-action-pack-subscription.aspx
Vista Business vs. Ultimate rationale -- Windows Vista Business is recommended for a majority of the business customer segment and thus is considered the most appropriate version for Action Pack subscribers to experience. Windows Vista Business is also available thru Volume License scenarios which also aligns with the preferred way partners should be selling Vista to qualified customers.
Windows Vista Ultimate is predominantly a consumer and small business edition that is aimed at high-end users, gamers, multimedia professionals and personal computer enthusiasts. One of the interesting aspects of this is that Partners can upgrade to Ultimate for $139 using a new technology available with Windows Vista called Windows Anytime Upgrade.
Move from full version to upgrade only -- Microsoft now offers only the UPGRADE version of the Windows desktop operating system within Action Pack, which is consistent with how this product is distributed to our Volume Licensing customers. The total number of Windows Upgrade licenses remains at 10 although now it can be a mix of XP and Vista per the info in the downgrade paragraph above.
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Wow, I just read the most interesting article on security that I have come across in a long time -- it's on Jeff Jones Security Blog and its called Windows Vista - 90 Day Vulnerability Report
http://blogs.csoonline.com/blog/jeff_jones
http://blogs.technet.com/security'
you might also read his article entitled Exactly how biased am I?
Would any of you have guessed that MacOS X 10.4 had more published security vulnerabilities than Vista at it's launch and in it's first 90 days? Would you have guessed that it actually had more than XP? Get the real scoop from Jeff's blog, this is good stuff (IMHO) but you already know about my bias <grin>. He clearly states his methodologies and as best I can tell just relates data that is published in the National Vulnerability Database. You can also read all the "darts" that folks throw at him because I guess they're not comfortable with the fact that Microsoft's Security Initiative seems to be working (in my interpretation of the data). If you support Microsoft OS's (and most of you reading this likely do), then this should be good news to you. Not that we're "there" yet, but it would appear we (MSFT) are definitely heading in good direction on the security front, if nothing more than the fact Vista has done better in the early stages than it's predecessor, not even counting how it ranks against all the other OS's. Hope you find his article as interesting as I did.