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Windows Vista RC2 public download closed

Techweb ran an article on how the public, free Vista RC2 download was closed. “As promised, Microsoft opened its newest build of Windows Vista to public downloading, but the short time that Release Candidate 2 (RC2) was available irked left-out users.”


The team noted on their blog that RC2 download was closed, and had apologies for those unable to get to the download. Said Nick:



“As you’ve probably already surmised, downloads of Windows Vista RC2 for the Customer Preview Program (CPP) have now closed and the links are no longer active.  We were bowled over by your response to RC2 — in fact, we hit our download target (200K+) within 72 hours of propping the files! This is an incredible response.


“Special thanks go out to everyone who participated in the CPP by downloading and installing this new build, and please keep the feedback coming — it makes a huge difference.”


Happy to see that the team is o responsive on their blogs. Very transparent to let customers know that we hit the targeted number of downloads, closing the program so that the team can process the customer feedback that comes in.


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Just released: New T-Mobile Dash Smartphone

T-Mobile Dash SmartphoneMSNBC has a quick review quick review from Gary Krakow on T-Mobile’s new Dash phone, a slick smartphone Krakow calls a “slick, new design… best-of-breed for Windows Mobile devices.” It’s so new that the phone is not yet on the T-Mobile site or on their press page. (Update 101306: The T-Mobile Dash press release is now available here.)


Says Krakow:


“The phone performed every task I asked it to do without any problem — a big deal for today’s, feature-laden smartphones. I have yet to find a program that makes the Dash trip up or miss a beat.


“It has handled all my remote e-mail, Web browsing and even some photography and music-listening duty with aplomb. The Dash is one of the best smartphones I’ve tested to date and definitely the most enjoyable Windows Mobile phone I’ve used.


“But don’t take my word for it.  Over the course of the past two weeks every person who has seen me use the phone has asked if they could look, touch, feel and play with it. I have never seen a cell phone receive that kind of reaction before.”


Disclaimer: this is on my short list of new devices. My wife was looking at getting a new phone with a larger screen and a QWERTY keyboard over her current Smartphone, and this should fit the bill. Originally we were looking at upgrading to the Motorola Q, but that model isn’t compatible on on our network. 


More info:



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Microsoft security updates for Aug ’06

Updates for August are noew available here, on the Microsoft security update bulletins site.


Other helpful info from the site:



How to get the updates


To get the Windows update for your home computer or laptop go to the Microsoft Update Web site now.
NOTE: Please review the FAQ on the site to see whether updates for your versions of Windows, Office, or PowerPoint are available on Microsoft Update. If they are not, go to Windows Update or Office Update.


To manually download the Windows update, go to Microsoft Update. After your computer has been scanned to see which updates it needs, click the Custom button to find and choose the update you want to install. We recommend you install all Critical updates immediately.


We recommend that you get the updates delivered automatically to your PC. When your computer is on and connected to the Internet, the most current security updates are automatically downloaded and installed. See how to use Automatic Updates: Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Me.


Other steps you can take to help protect your computer



As always, Microsoft recommends that you get the updates delivered automatically to your PC. When your computer is on and connected to the Internet, the most current security updates are automatically downloaded and installed. See how to use Automatic Updates: Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Me.


More info:



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Managing podcasts: Marc Mercuri’s InfoCenter

Microsoft Watch has an article today on Marc Mercuri’s information-aggregator, Information Center, or InfoCenter.  As noted on Marc’s blog, if you haven’t heard of InfoCenter, then it’s worth checking out http://dotnetrocks.com/default.aspx?showID=189.


From Microsoft Watch:



“Carl Franklin, the CEO of Pwop Productions, who has had a chance to see the product, described InfoCenter as “an RSS aggregator/podcast-enclosure downloader on steroids.”

“Mercuri showed off a prototype of InfoCenter to a handful of individuals at Microsoft’s TechEd conference in June. In July, he unveiled InfoCenter to a broader group, via the “.Net Rocks” radio show. Mercuri is expecting to release for download the latest InfoCenter bits, complete with a newly redesigned interface, around August 9.”


Anything that makes it easier to track and manage podcasts is super, so August 9th can’t come soon enoug. As I was discussing with Richard Sprague yesterday, there’s just way too much to manage these days around mail, blogs, podcasts and websites.


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