Oh yeah... Happy 50th BG!

The 28th of October was Bill Gates' 50th birthday. It looks like he was in London.

Microsoft releases Works 2006

This sounds like a fantastic deal. Microsoft Word 2002, Works 8, Money 2006 Standard, Digital Image Standard 2006, Encarta Encyclopedia Standard 2006, Streets & Trips Essentials 2006 for only $99US

SQL Server and Visual Stuido 2005 RTM

Microsoft just released two major development prodcuts to manufaturing. They are also available to MSDN subscribers. Paul Thurrott points us to the new .NET Framework that go along with it.

More Windows Media Player 11 screenshots

Thanks Paul

600 MSN buddies

Looks like the MSN Messenger guys have doubled the amount of contacts you can have from 300 to 600.

Great Bill Gate's interview

Kevin Schofield points out a great interview with Bill Gate’s over on MTV where Bill responds to questions from America’s youth.

Windows Vista Build 5231 CTP

Microsoft's next Community Technology Preview includes the much anticipated Windows Media Player (WMP) 11, Media Center - Vista style and Network Center (this looks great). Paul Thurrott has a write up of this build over on the Windows Super Site.

Exchange Server 2003 SP2 Ships

Looks like Microsoft have just shipped the free (to Exchange 2003 customers) Blackberry solution.

• New seamless Direct Push Technology e-mail experience. No longer is there a reliance on short message service (SMS) to notify and ensure that your device automatically retrieves new e-mail from your Exchange server. SP2 uses an HTTP connection, maintained by the device, to push new e-mail messages, calendar, contact, and task notifications to the device.

Hotmail Add-in for Media Center Screenshots

Sean Alexander tells us that a preview should be out sometime next week.

Office 12 Beta screens

More at ActiveWin

How to make a XP SP2 CD from an XP CD

Paul Thurrott has posted a step by step guide to slipstreaming you CD.

Microsoft Streets & Trips 2006 With GPS and Voice-Prompted Directions

Wow! This product just keeps getting better and better. Scoble can you do a Channel9 video with these guys. More on Yahoo News

Microsoft Streets & Trips 2006 with GPS Locator includes the following new features:

• New! Voice-Prompted Directions work with the GPS Locator to provide an easy-to-use, hands-free option that delivers turn-by-turn directional information to the desired destination.


• New! Driving Guidance Pane prominently displays text-prompted turn-by-turn directions, enlarged arrows indicating where to turn, and distance measurement by miles and yards as drivers get closer to the destination.


• New! Dynamic Turn View automatically zooms in to travelers' current position, allowing them to see where they are and upcoming directional changes.


• New! Night Map Style enhances views of maps and directions for easy reading when consumers are traveling at night or on dark roadways.


• New! Locate Me technology helps lost travelers who don't have their GPS Locator on hand determine where they are by utilizing Wi-Fi hot spots to estimate their location to help them get back on track or find nearby points of interest. Consumers can also go online to cross-reference MSN® Virtual Earth(TM) for greater trip-planning accuracy through additional maps and aerial imagery.

Portable Media Center lives!

It's been quite some time since we have seen one of these little PMC's. Nothing mind blowing in the sepc department. I suppose it's just nice to see that they still exist. Engadget has more.

UPDATED: New Vista screenshots from NeoWin

Showing off the new Windows Media Player 11 and brand new audio stack's interface. Thanks NeoWin; Paul Thurrott on the WinSuperSite has some too.

Update to MSCONFIG

This is a fantastic utility that was noticeably absent in Windows 2000 yet came over from Windows 98 to Windows XP. Ed Bott points us to the Microsoft Download.

Bureaucracy insight

Steven Sinofsky from the Office team talks about bureaucracy and where/if it works.

Office 12 loves PDF's

This is fantastic news! What a lot of time this will save everyone. Can't say Adobe will be too impressed yet that seems to be the general theme this year for Microsoft vs. Adobe. Brian Jones tells us more about what the Office team have been doing.

Get Virtual Earth in MSN Messenger

This is an awesome idea. Can't wait to get the maps in Australia. The Virtual Earth team have a MSN Space with more information.