Who's still supporting Windows 2000? You? Well, make sure you're up on the latest fix for an RCE exploit affecting Windows Media Services on the old Win2K.
The latest fix comes after the original fix was pushed out on Patch Tuesday, then pulled due to its ineffectiveness.
If you answered yes to my original question, why haven't you upgraded that server? Your "we still run Win2K because..." stories here or via e-mail.
Posted by Michael Domingo on 04/29/2010 at 11:59 AM5 comments
General McChrystal's intention when
saying that may have been to be clever and succinct, but there's a bit of truth in it. It's easy to blame PowerPoint because it's one of the easier programs to use for creating slide decks. But PowerPoint isn't really the culprit; rather, it's any software that can create flashy, convincing and persuasive slide presentations. Like
Apple's Keynote. Sometimes, a complex idea can't be reduced to a few slides with bullet points.
Posted by Michael Domingo on 04/27/2010 at 11:59 AM1 comments
Don't everyone rush the Microsoft Download Center all at once -- Office 2010 and SharePoint 2010 are available to TechNet and MSDN subscribers only, for the time being. Nearly everyone else must wait until the official release in June.
Office 2010 looks like an easy decision. Either you need it or you don't. And for those who can live without the ribbon interface (like me, who is still living in the computing dark ages), there are a handful of alternatives as well as the alternative that says "don't upgrade." What are the arguments for upgrading? Office 2010 early adopters, tell us here.
And if you have an opinion on SharePoint 2010, let us know that too. For example, what the heck is SharePoint? Who's using it and what are you using it for? Explanations welcome at [email protected].
Posted by Michael Domingo on 04/27/2010 at 11:59 AM0 comments
For anyone who has pooh-poohed Microsoft as the aging, humongous behemoth who was going to be financially undone because of the size of the company, they're probably wondering how Microsoft
managed to drum up $4 billion in third-quarter profit. Even with a hit on deferred Office revenue, Microsoft managed to best analysts' expected 42 cents per share by two cents.
Those pooh-poohers are probably going to go back at it, as Microsoft's stock took a small hit after the market closed.
It is a bit troubling that the Windows division generated the lion's share of the revenue for the company. Really, how long is that going to last? Predictions here.
Posted by Michael Domingo on 04/22/2010 at 11:59 AM0 comments
The Microsoft Learning Group is
turning to its MCPs to tell a friend, who'll tell their two friends, who'll then tell their two friends about Microsoft's cert program. It's kinda like an MLM for the certified type, with some form of reward program for those who get more of their colleagues to earn their MCP. All that an MCP has to do is tell colleagues about the benefits of getting certified and let them know about the myriad of resources that MLG offers to make exam-taking affordable.
The MCP Rewards program is free (and I'm not quite sure I know what rewards the program offers, to be honest), but does require registration. If anyone reading this takes part, we'd certainly love to hear about your experiences here or via e-mail.
Posted by Michael Domingo on 04/22/2010 at 11:59 AM2 comments
Just asking you to do me a favor: Listen to the last few shows and tell me what you think. I'd be particularly interested in what you like about the show, and what you think I can do better. Also, what do you think of IT Webgems? You can listen to the latest show
here. Or, if you prefer to download the show via iTunes, do that
here.
For comments, go here or e-mail them to me directly.
Posted by Michael Domingo on 04/21/2010 at 11:59 AM0 comments
NetProspex, who I've never heard of but probably will now that they've come up with this social media index, finds Microsoft at the top of a list of 50 companies ranked by their use of social media apps like Twitter and Facebook. The Reuters report doesn't mention Facebook specifically; not having seen the report in detail, I'm going to guess, if that's what the Reuters writer did, that FB is probably among the main social media apps being used by the Microsoft-surveyed, along with Twitter.
Curious: How many of you are using Twitter or Facebook? (And did you know we're up there, ready to be followed?
Posted by Michael Domingo on 04/20/2010 at 11:59 AM1 comments
I know the Certifiable blog veers into uncertifiable territory -- quite often -- and this post is no different: I was intrigued by the pictures, real or faked, of the iPhone 4G prototype on the Engadget and Gizmodo sites. It looked oddly squarish and -- dare I admit? -- Zune-like. So, the issues at debate with this "lost iPhone 4G prototype" are:
- Are the images real or fake?
- If real, how close does the proto resemble what's coming in the new version?
That might be it, except for the fact that the device was believed to have been forgotten or lost at a bar or some other place. And thus, it begs the question, in this case, whether the finder should have tried to locate the owner rather than keeping the prototype, taking pics of it, then taking it apart to discern its contents. Like a lost wallet or cell phone, I'd be prone to return it; then again, I'm what you would call your common fool. (If this proto is real, it's likely the person safeguarding the device is either fired or soon will be.)
Is Engadget and/or Gizmodo right to keep the device and take it apart, or should they have returned it to its rightful -- and forgetful -- owner? Or am I missing something here? Feedback to this common fool at [email protected].
Posted by Michael Domingo on 04/19/2010 at 11:59 AM2 comments
Microsoft is looking into allegations that KYE Systems, a Dongguan, China, manufacturer of its Web cams and Xbox controllers (it supplies other vendors as well), has been running a "militaristic" sweat shop. The story at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that a three-year investigation by the National Labor Committee, a human rights organization, includes claims that "teens recruited from high schools across China," some as young as 14, are laboring under the same brutal working conditions aside other young adult workers.
Not immune to the labor controversy, Apple has been scrutinizing operations of its partners after similar reports alleging similar harsh working conditions at a plant in Suzhou, China, where iPod and iPhone components are assembled.
Google or Bing "sports apparel" and "child labor" and you'll get pages of links with similar exposes and reports. Isn't technology supposed to be different in this regard, promising to improve our lives and our work? Or am I just exposing my naivete?
In any case, what should companies like Microsoft and Apple do to abolish such labor practices? And what should we as consumers do -- if anything -- to see that companies act appropriately in such circumstances? Take the mouse next to your keyboard or your iPod, and look at the label under it, think about who assembled it, and then send me your feedback at [email protected].
Posted by Michael Domingo on 04/16/2010 at 11:59 AM2 comments
Intel reported one awesome quarter, and now
there's talk of of economic recovery in IT. Chalk it up to sales of Windows 7 and the Wintel duopoly, but also chalk it up to
loosening of purse strings at enterprises globally. Microsoft, for its part, did a gangbuster quarter following Win7's release, and
it's still doing well, if OS marketshare numbers
like these are to be taken seriously. I'm not sure what it all means, but I know one thing for sure: Even in a recession, we want new and shiny things to make us feel better, and we'll spend a few hundred for them.
Posted by Michael Domingo on 04/15/2010 at 11:59 AM0 comments
The Microsoft Learning Group always has something to give away. Yes, as in free. No cash transfer, no credit card required.
Posted on the group's Born2Learn blog are links to online training clinics for introductory material highlighting what's in Exchange 2010, SharePoint 2010 and Windows 7, aimed squarely at IT pros. We here at MCPmag.com would be interested to know who's going to check out the SharePoint 2010 clinic. We keep hearing about this awesome product, but who's using it, and for what? Feedback me at [email protected] and explain.
Posted by Michael Domingo on 04/15/2010 at 11:59 AM1 comments
For those admins in the trenches, every once in a while you finally look up and there's a new version of some Microsoft technology. You don't immediately bite, but investigate. Sometimes what attracts you are some of the new features, but still, you continue to kick the tires.
Kicking tires is fine for most, but how do you measure how well you kicked said tires? Certification is one way, and seeing as this is a certifcation-related site, I thought I'd throw this quick poll out there: What Microsoft technology has you going back to certification in order to understand the product with more depth? (I think there's a simpler way to ask that question, but I'll figure it out later) Your choices:
Posted by Michael Domingo on 04/15/2010 at 11:59 AM1 comments