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Much ado about something (important): World IPv6 Launch 2012 is June 6

A long time between posts, but starting up again with a note on IPv6.

Last year, I posted about Microsoft Bing and Xbox.com Support World IPv6 Day. This year, we welcome World IPv6 Launch (which kicks off tomorrow) as we once again work with other members of the Internet Society (ISOC) on promoting this next step in the progression of the Internet, Microsoft will participate in World IPv6 Day. (For more information on IPv6, you can Bing it: http://www.bing.com/search?q=ipv6)  If you read this blog, you already know that the transition to IPv6 is not the End of the World. No, Really.

So, ahead of World IPv6 Launch, here’s the post from Chris Palmer form the Windows Networking team on IPv6 improvements to Windows 8: http://win8.ms/ipv6…

Microsoft, along with other technology companies, has been working on the deployment of IPv6 to ensure that end-users continue to have high-quality Internet access, despite the performance and connectivity limitations brought about by IPv4 address exhaustion.

The most immediate benefit of IPv6 is that it provides more than 3×1038 IP addresses, enough for every person to have billions of addresses all to themselves, or enough to give every atom in the universe a unique address. This will allow the Internet to grow and evolve. IPv6 also provides for many security and performance improvements, like built-in support for IPsec. (What happened to IPv5, you ask? Bing can help you find out why it’s being “skipped.”)

Upgrading the entire Internet to IPv6 isn’t something that can be done instantly. It has taken many years to get to where we are today, and we still have many years of work to do. Currently, around 1% of devices can connect to the Internet using only IPv6.

As noted, the entire Internet is gradually shifting to IPv6, representing a foundational shift in every Internet experience. Microsoft is taking this transition very seriously, and working to ensure there is no interruption of service for our users as IPv6 is widely deployed. Since IPv6 was fully introduced in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista, Microsoft has been working to support this next generation Internet protocol.

Most consumers and computer users won’t see any a major impact today: your current IPv4 address, as well as the applications and services you use today over IPv4 will likely be unaffected and continue to work, as Internet service providers (ISPs) and your network administrators will support your connection to the Internet. The tables below provide a summary view of the IPv6 support status of various services and products from Microsoft. Where available, links to more information about the support state of the products have been included. Consumers with IPv6 Internet capabilities – with both a device that supports IPv6 (like a Windows 7 PC) and support from your Internet provider – will automatically utilize IPv6 when connected to participating website. While the protocols are different, the browsing experiences of IPv4 and IPv6 are identical.

For IT professionals and technical users, additional information about server products is available through our Common Engineering Criteria (CEC). A set of engineering requirements are outlined for our Server products as part of the CEC program, which includes support for IPv6.

Microsoft maintains the Microsoft IPv6 information site on TechNet to provide more information on this new IP. There you can read more about how we’ve already built IPv6 support into the latest versions of Microsoft Windows, including Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, and even in older versions such as Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, and even Windows XP and Windows CE .NET. We offer overviews of IPv6, technical information, deployment and developer resources, including an overview of Teredo, the Microsoft platform that provides IPv6 connectivity across the current IPv4 Internet.

So, consumers, sit back and relax, knowing that (likely) your Internet Service Providers and Mobile Operators are hard at work to ensure that you have a seamless transition to IPv6. I know many IT Professionals and developers already have plans and efforts already to make to move to IPv6 (some are already there). For the ones who haven’t: get a plan in place lickity split and get a move on. Your customers and users are counting on it.

You can also read bout the next iteration in my post on IPv6 SP1. 😉

Tags: Windows, Microsoft, IPv6, IPv4

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Another look at the PC of tomorrow, in your pocket with Windows To Go

A couple of months ago, I opined about what will the PC might look like in five years, and offered a view of my son’s possible Windows PC in 2016

“The icing on this hardware cake will be the additional power outside the box. Given he’ll be connected to the most powerful servers on the planet anywhere and everywhere, the cloud will provide the real computing horsepower he needs to handle heavy computer lifting.

“So I’ll stick with my wager: off hours, my son’s primary technology consumption and communication device will be a phone… with his two PCs and cloud storage allowing him to express his creativity and manage his life. (What the phone will look like is anyone’s guess, but I do like where we’re going with the Windows Phone form factor – eventually I’ll be able to replace the contents of my slim wallet with my phone, but I’m not sure we’ll get there by 2016.)”

Today, I wanted to add to that list, primarily looked at from a consumer point of view, with a bent towards enterprises, given the announcements today on the Windows blog and live at CeBIT supporting an even smaller, more portable and affordable form factor: a USB drive.

My friend Erwin Visser from the Windows org noted how enterprise customers will be able to leverage Windows To Go, which provides a Windows 8 desktop on an external USB drive…

“… that a user can boot from any PC available at work, at home, or just about any location, with or without connectivity. It’s like having your secure corporate PC in your pocket. And this means employees will be able to do things like travel light without sacrificing productivity, IT organizations can support the “Bring Your Own PC” trend, and businesses can give contingent staff access to the corporate environment without compromising security.

“Every time I talk with customers about Windows To Go, a new scenario comes up, like how it will be helpful in situations like working from home or vacation and disaster recovery, and we expect it will be highly valuable for certain industries like military or education. I’m excited to hear how Windows To Go will be used within your organization because I truly believe it will give businesses an array of new possibilities in mobile productivity.”

Imagine besides having your phone, also having a secure corporate PC in your pocket, with the same security and management you have on your corporate Windows 7 PC today. At today’s prices – roughly $1/GB – users will have affordable yet robust systems with a huge amount of storage space, further enabled with cloud connectivity, processing and storage, all on a small form factor that operates just about anywhere.

Ars Technica wrote about Windows To Go today with a step-by-step guide on creating your own Windows 8 “mobile” alternative…

“In theory, Windows to Go could give administrators a way of creating a verified, locked-down image of the Windows 8 OS that can be given to wandering users, temporary off-site contractors, or telecommuters to allow them to connect to the corporate network with confidence from their own (or someone else’s) computer.

“So is this a potential solution for enterprises? Since this works with any USB-mountable storage, it’s certainly one way to deal with the whole bring-your-own-device conundrum companies are now facing in various ways. It would allow employees and contractors to use the hardware of their choice (as long as it’s up to the task). And by using administrative tools to do system policies and Active Directory lockdown, it’s possible to prevent users from exfiltrating data to their own systems, or infect the corporate network with the viruses they’ve downloaded to their own systems.”

Today I carry a couple of password protected USB drives (using as I noted here with Bitlocker To Go) with the files I need on the go. It won’t be long until I have the entire computer experience in my pocket.

Tags: Windows, Windows 8, Windows 7, Microsoft.

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Microsoft on standards, behind the scenes building Windows 8, and more of what I’ve read this week

A few links of interest today… a quick post as I need to get through my email. Busy week.

With Valentines around the corner, I particularly enjoyed these 16 things Calvin & Hobbes said better than anyone else http://on.news.me/zyH7yH via @moorehn

Thanks to Larry Hryb (aka @majornelson) we’re reminded what happens to the losing team’s championship shirts: http://mjr.mn/wNXkqn #SuperBowl

This great news on the Microsoft Giving Campaign: Microsoft Employees Give Back in Record Fashion: US$100.5 million in 2011 http://bit.ly/z8yEPr

My take on what the PC will look like in five years, with a nod to my son’s possible Windows PC in 2016: http://bit.ly/wFJ7Ti

Microsoft’s public statement on support for industry standards: http://bit.ly/wW1hrw, plus our blog post on Microsoft’s position and support for industry standards: http://bit.ly/zfQEtK

BuildWindows8: Good grief. We said “Media Center will definitely be part of Windows 8” in http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2011/09/02/reflecting-on-our-first-conversations-part-2.aspx http://pic.twitter.com/8c2IJM7U

Also from the Win8 team: Behind the scenes building Windows on ARM, “WOA”.. video demo and tons of details see post http://win8.ms/woa … lots to read about! 🙂

While we’re on the topic: CNET reported that Metro’s not just an interface to Microsoft. “It’s an ethos.” Here’s why it rules. http://cnet.co/zOoHEn

Since we’re on a roll, how about this post on Windows 8, which should be called “Alive and kicking!” 😉 via @MichaelGillett

And worth reading: “Designing Windows 8 or: How to Redesign a Religion” http://gizmo.do/A28FqP via @MPalermiti

Via toddbishop: Microsoft merges voice-response tech into 24/7 Inc., promises smarter self-serve calls http://bit.ly/xWoPiF

From Microsoft Australia: SMB Video Series: How to manage your PCs #intune http://spr.ly/6016RL9o

Via Forrester Research: Top customer experiences can come from unexpected places – what brands surprise you with their customer experience? http://bit.ly/wipkA0

From Linda Thomas: Facebook Timeline: Disliked by the Masses http://on.mash.to/zg8Ngq

Related, @marypcbuk‘s article ‘Why Windows 8 needs architectural hygiene for WOA’ http://bit.ly/yMdZBb #zdnetuk

Via danah boyd: More people live alone than at any other time in history. This is good & bad. @NYTimes oped by @EricKlinenberg: http://bit.ly/wHBsYN

Is This Living Room Big Enough for My TV? @NYTimes has some helpful hints: http://nyti.ms/yC5cq8

Related, this from Om Malik on why smartTVs are going to be the next net neutrality battle ground. http://gigaom.com/broadband/smart-tvs-cause-a-net-neutrality-debate-in-s-korea/

From Eric Ligman, Microsoft Unveils Microsoft Dynamics CRM Mobile http://ligman.me/AnTpdZ #msuspartner #mspartner via @kevinmachayya

Alan Moore explains the Guy Fawkes mask, Occupy, Anonymous and anti-ACTA protests http://dlvr.it/1BLFZr

The erudite Michael S. Kaplan blogs: The oft-repeated ‘What version of Unicode do we/will me support?’ question, Redux http://blogs.msdn.com/b/michkap/archive/2012/02/06/10264279.aspx

Vinod Khosla: Lies, Damned Lies, and Medical Science – Magazine – http://snip.it/s/1qzl

The average price of a home in Menlo Park has already gone up from $1.8m to $2m ahead of Facebook’s IPO http://www.bloomberg.com/video/86075210/

From Roger von Oech, creativity strategy: For a fresh approach: “Change Viewpoints.” Fun story at: http://j.mp/cwp106

Via Fast Company: With “Lillyhammer” @Netflix Wants To Destroy Traditional TV, Get You “Hooked” On All-At-Once Watching http://is.gd/cbgz4C by @AustinCarr

By SAI: The Least Stealthy Startup In The Valley Has Officially Launched $CSCO by @Julie188 http://read.bi/wTZK9m

From Techland: Study suggests that Apple mobile apps are more crash-prone than Android apps | http://ti.me/AsgiNP

From VentureBeat: Dylan’s Desk: What it takes to compete with Silicon Valley http://wp.me/p1re2-1Bpm

In the Wall Street Journal: Are French parents superior? This author says while American’s fret, French raise happy children without the anxiety. http://on.wsj.com/yHEZQx

Just a reminder: Google+ ‘is not a social network’ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/8880977/Google-is-not-a-social-network.html via @Telegraph. Confused with a movie of the same name

Via Bruce Temkin: Thinking about a Chief Customer Officer role within your company? Check out my new post: http://experiencematters.wordpress.com/2012/02/10/advice-for-chief-customer-officers/ #cx custexp

Cisco’s Vision: Top 5 Future Technology Trends http://ow.ly/8BuxN

Harvard Biz Review: America’s Next Top Engineer: She Needs Your Models http://s.hbr.org/AmXFRt

Via Dare Obasanjo: the difference between solving problems in real life versus school – http://i.imgur.com/Lus4Y.png #programming

How can we capitalize on #cloud computing to strengthen the #EU economy? http://om.ly/BlxCI from Microsoft Europe

More on Kinect for Windows: Game on for commercial use http://bit.ly/zYxOEn

Tarran Vaillancourt, Why I love #Windows7 – it can help employees be more productive while achieving better work-life balance http://bit.ly/wFu7vh “Ohmmm” 🙂

W3C co-chair: Apple, Google power causing Open Web crisis (@stshank / CNET) http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-57373764-264/web-leader-apple-google-power-causing-open-web-crisis/ http://www.techmeme.com/120210/p21#a120210p21

Here’s How Microsoft Could Sell Lots Of ARM Tablets To Big Companies (MSFT) http://read.bi/yZKHKk, via Everything Microsoft

Also courtesy Vinod Khosla: The Future of Peer Review – http://snip.it/s/1qqx

From Jessica Vascellaro, With 5.2% of PC shipments and 13.9% of smartphone shipments globally here’s one way Apple wants to close the gap. http://on.wsj.com/yHSOa0

Thanks to David Aronchick for the pointer on this great essay… may you all never have this problem:  http://bit.ly/yHvYYM How to Minimize Politics in Your Company via @bhorowitz

Steve Wildstrom reports Why Tablets are Important For eCommerce | http://techpin.io/zCr0Rn The Daily @Techpinion

And to round it out, from @tgrumm: Hilarious – Will Ferrell introducing da Bulls http://bit.ly/yXLgv8

Did you see ‘Walk Off the Earth’ cover song that got 50,000,000 views AND a record deal? http://on.mash.to/y2LBmA

Tags: articles, what I read, twitter.

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New blog from the Windows team: Building Windows 8

Building Windows 8

Want to see posts from the Windows 8 team? Follow their new blog, Building Windows 8, aka "B8", starting today.. https://t.co/FlEh2yk

This from Steven…

"For the Windows team, this blog is an important part of developing Windows 8, as was our blog for Windows 7. Blogging allows us to have a two-way dialog with you about design choices, real-world data and usage, and new opportunities that are part of Windows 8. Together, we will start the unique adventure of bringing a major product to market. We’re genuinely excited to talk about the development of Windows 8 and to engage thoughtfully with the community of passionate end-users, developers, and information professionals."

Hmmm. B8? Hope they don’t apply for a Google nameWinking smile

 

Tags: articles, blogs, Windows 8, Microsoft, Win8

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Microsoft Previewing ‘Windows 8’

Noting Julie’s article today, we demonstrated the next generation of Windows at the D9 Conference today, internally code-named “Windows 8.”

"Windows 8 is a reimagining of Windows, from the chip to the interface. A Windows 8-based PC is really a new kind of device, one that scales from touch-only small screens through to large screens, with or without a keyboard and mouse."

Building "Windows 8" – Video #1

View in stand-alone player (.mp4)
View on YouTube

Also see our news today from Computex…

"… at COMPUTEX, Microsoft is showing off more than 130 new, innovative Windows-based devices brought to market by more than 50 of its hardware partners. In its booth, Microsoft showed off nearly 100 PCs, either newly available or soon-to-be-released, ranging from ultraportable thin and light notebooks as well as small and always-connected companions to secure business laptops, high-performance entertainment notebooks and high-end gaming rigs. PCs, phones, servers, TVs, handheld specialty devices — they’re all here. New designs, advanced technologies, innovative components, and new computing trends point the way forward for the Windows device ecosystem."

Enjoy. 😉

 

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