June 2009 - Posts

Off topic: Out of town

Hello all, just to let you know I am out for a week and I am likely to be offline. In the meantime I couldn't help sniggering when I saw fellow Facebook chums experiencing poor iPhone 3GS quality control! Looks like another mega Apple recall is immanent....

Source: here

Posted 29 Jun 2009 by Adam Jacobs | no comments
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OCS 2007 R2 video overview as seen in the recent TechNet virtual conference

Check out a really informative video presentation on Office Communications Server 2007 R2, presented by Brett Johnson from Microsoft UK.

Source: here

Posted 25 Jun 2009 by Adam Jacobs | no comments
Microsoft/Nortel unified comms partnership in jeopardy?

Nortel has laid off senior staff in the UK who were responsible for the company’s unified communications partnership with Microsoft, according to sources.

Nortel's liquidation could cripple UC relationship with Microsoft

Those let go on Monday include John Mann, who led Nortel’s unified communications business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Sources say a handful of Mann’s colleagues also were swept up in the layoff.

Source: here

Posted 25 Jun 2009 by Adam Jacobs | no comments
Off topic: Flat UK plug

Whenever I visit stateside technology stores I am always envious of compact plugs on US power supplies, the UK plug is a monster and more often than not shreds my compact bag to pieces!

At long last an answer to this problem may be here (soon at least)

Source: here

Posted 24 Jun 2009 by Adam Jacobs | no comments
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Microsoft sets July 13th for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM!

Microsoft has now set July 13th for RTM “sign-off”

Sign off is the process where all divisions sign that they agree on the final code, which means the actual RTM build will be created a few days earlier, which is targeted on July 10th.

The general availability (GA) is set to October 22nd, this is when you can buy it in stores in a box or on new PC’s (OEM).

We can expect the RTM much earlier on MSDN, Technet and Volume Licensing download sites, probably a few days after July 13th.

Source: here

Posted 24 Jun 2009 by Adam Jacobs | no comments
Microsoft Security Essentials aka Morro - available for trial outside US, Israel, China & Brasil (sort of)

If you try to participate in the public beta of Microsoft Security Essentials (a pre-release version of Microsoft's non-commercial/free Anti-Virus product that replaces OneCare) outside the countries listed above then you will be blocked, unless of course you follow my links below! However be quick because it is capped at 75,000 downloads.

Go here if you live within the permitted regions, otherwise you can use this workaround to directly access the Connect site and sign-up.

Posted 23 Jun 2009 by Adam Jacobs | no comments
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Office Communications Server 2007 R2 event in Dublin

The TechNet Ireland Blog has just announced an interesting event focussed on Office Communications Server 2007 R2 (a keen area of interest for me!), for those in the area on July 9th you should definately register below.

Event details here

Posted 23 Jun 2009 by Adam Jacobs | no comments
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Exchange 2010 featuring "find-me" functionality out-of-the-box

The Exchange Team are taking Exchange Unified Messaging to the next level, in a new "Spotlight on Exchange 2010" blog entry we can see up and coming "find-me" functionality. My only question is how does this all integrate (if a all) with Office Communication Server?

Source: here

Posted 22 Jun 2009 by Adam Jacobs | no comments
Windows 7 now rumoured to RTM July 17th

Neowin reports:

Wzor is claiming that the final sign off is set for July 13th. According to a translation, this is the final roadmap for Windows 7:

FINAL ROADMAP FOR WINDOWS 7 [CLIENT-SERVER]:
6/1 - 6/19 BUILDING RTM ESCROW - already assembled RTM ESCROW.
6/22 - 7/10 RTM RECALL - assembly and search for candidates to the final RTM release.
7/10 WINDOWS 7 RTM FINAL BUILD TARGET - build day "gold code".
7/13 WINDOWS 7 RTM SIGN-OFF - the date of signing the final RTM release!

We previously reported that Windows 7 could RTM at the end of this month, but if Wzor is correct. and that's a big if, it looks like we may now have a final RTM date. Wzor is stating that the latest RTM branch build is 6.1.7263.0.win7_rtm.090619-1900, and the latest build in the winmain branch is 6.1.7233.0.winmain.090614-1655, and that the next winmain assembly will be the final RTM build.

Source: here

As stated by Microsoft the public release of Windows 7 is still slated for October 22nd.

Posted 22 Jun 2009 by Adam Jacobs | no comments
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iPhone 3.0 jailbreak out on bail

The Dev-Team have now released their much anticipated update of Pwnage for iPhone 2G/3G and 1G iPod Touch (2 days later than the public release from Apple), ultrasn0w will be released shortly afterwards and distributed via Cydia.

Announcement from the Dev-Team below:

This is the low down on our tools for use with the 3.0 firmware from Apple, read the whole post in full before attempting anything. Because of some bugs and unexpected changes this will be a multipart release, starting with the release of PwnageTool for Mac OS X. QuickPwn for Mac OS X and Windows will follow sometime soon, please don’t bug us about it, we are working flat out to get everything finished to release them.

  1. GOLDEN RULE: If you are using a 3G iPhone with yellowsn0w and rely on yellowsn0w to obtain cellular service, then you should NOT use PwnageTool right now. UltraSn0w is not included with this release and therefore your baseband will be locked and unable to use an operator other than the official one it was bought for. UltraSn0w will be release via APT (cydia and icy) soon. If you have an original iPhone (1st generation) then 3.0 unlock works with this PwnageTool release.
  2. Yellowsn0w in its current form will NOT work with the baseband version that is present in the 3.0 update, you will need Ultrasn0w, which will be released sometime soon, Ultrasn0w will work with all iPhone 3G models (but not 3GS), even ones that were previously unlockable, Ultrasn0w (when available) will be released via APT (this means you can get it via Cydia or Icy).
  3. Please read all parts of this post before downloading and using these tools.
  4. Read items 1, 2 and 3 again and again.
  5. At the bottom of this post are the bittorrent files for the 3.0 capable version of PwnageTool.
  6. This app is suitable for the recent 3.0 release.
  7. PwnageTool will NOT work for the iPhone 3GS.
  8. PwnageTool WILL work for Original iPhone (1st Generation), Original iPod touch (1st Generation) and the iPhone 3G.

Baseband 101

The ‘baseband’ is the generic nickname given to the internal components of the iPhone that handle the phone calls and Internet access. This ‘baseband’ is a tiny and unique independent computer system that runs inside your iPhone, it is separate to the main system that handles the applications (such as email and google maps) and it talks to the main part of the phone over an internal communications network. Think of it like a cable modem or other peripheral that is attached to your home PC that needs occasional updates. When a software update is released and presented to you within iTunes the baseband is sometimes updated (to fix bugs or add new features). The 3.0 update for the iPhone 3G contains such an update, so running the vanilla updater straight away with iTunes will reprogram and update the baseband.

SIM Free/SP Unlocked/Factory Unlocked iPhone 3G

This applies if you bought your iPhone 3G for $$$$$$$. This model of iPhone 3G doesn’t have an Service Provider lock (aka factory unlocked) and you are able to put any SIM card into the phone and get service. Your phone is already unlocked so you do not need to worry about baseband updates, simply upgrade to 3.0 using iTunes and then use PwnageTool to create an ipsw and then use this to jailbreak your phone.

iPhone 2G (1st Generation)

Use PwnageTool to do the magic and then restore with iTunes using your newly created .ipsw ‘nuff said, you don’t need to worry about anything, the baseband will be unlocked, the phone jailbroken.

iPod Touch 1G (Original iPod Touch)

Use PwnageTool to create a firmware image and restore with that .ipsw using iTunes.

iPod Touch 2G (New iPod Touch)

Sorry, no support at this time within PwnageTool, use Redsn0w for an earlier (pre 3.0) firmware release instead.

Official Bittorrent Releases -

Source: here

Posted 19 Jun 2009 by Adam Jacobs | no comments
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Google voice soon to be open to the public?

This would be great news (for people that were not already a member of "GrandCentral"). What would be even better news would be extending this outside of the US - well UK would be great anyways!

Google Voice is a service that gives you one number for all your phones, voicemail that is easy as email, and many enhanced calling features like call blocking and screening, voicemail transcripts, call conferencing, international calls, and more.

Source: here

 

Posted 18 Jun 2009 by Adam Jacobs | no comments
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Hyper-V installation made easy

Did you know Windows Server 2008 with Service Pack 2 has the final release of Hyper-V built-in? Well it does...

Source: here

Posted 17 Jun 2009 by Adam Jacobs | no comments
Preserve iPhone baseband with 3.0, no need!

It turns out that the 3.0 software due for public release by Apple this evening has already had it's baseband exploited. The iPhone Dev Team have been talking about a "yell0wsnow", exploit in 3.0 beta seeds for some time now, it turns out the same hack (now known as "ultrasn0w") is still present in the RTM code released to developers last week.

Video of MuscleNerd demonstrating the hack below

Posted 17 Jun 2009 by Adam Jacobs | no comments
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Contact Centre + OCS = Happier customers?

On Thursday I am heading over to Nortel's UK HQ for a seminar reviewing functionality within Contact Centre v.7, the specific interest I have is to understand it's tight integration with Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007. I'll not doubt post my views and coverage later in the week. Unfortunately I am unable to make this event due to work commitments, boo!

Key features of Contact Centre 7.0 include:

  • Open Interfaces - In addition to the openness delivered by SIP, Contact Center 7.0 provides open Application Programming Interfaces using a Services Oriented Architecture (SOA), which enables integration of the contact centre into a company's business applications and processes. With web service interfaces for queuing, Computer Telephony Integration (CTI), and database integration, a business can automate workflow between front and back office applications to remove tedious manual processes.
  • UC in the Contact Center - With Contact Center 7.0 and Microsoft OCS integration, it is easy for customers to interact with a business using various modes of communication. This unique integration provides a single, unified agent desktop interface for inbound/outbound voice, email, web chat, and instant messaging. For example, Contact Center 7.0 can intelligently route customer contacts to available experts using SIP-based presence. Agents can also use presence to quickly determine which of their experts is available to help with a customer request, enabling first contact resolution.
  • Predictive Outbound Dialing - Typically provided as a separate application, Nortel has fully integrated this technology within Contact Center 7.0 to improve the efficiency of agents by allowing the system to intelligently predict when an agent will become available and place an outbound call to coincide with their availability. And, because it is integrated with Contact Center 7.0, reporting and management are seamless.
  • Service Creation Environment (SCE) - Contact Center 7.0 also features a graphical 'drag and drop' tool that takes the work out of contact center and self-service workflow creation. With SCE, the workflow orchestration between different applications is simplified using open, web services interfaces, which reduces the cost and speed of deployment. Nortel estimates use of this tool to be five times faster than traditional workflow creation methods.
  • Services - Contact Center 7.0 solution is complemented by an enhanced set of new services spanning all aspects of contact center operations. These include: Consulting and Design; Development and Customization; Implementation and Integration; Manage and Maintenance; and Optimization services.

Source: here

Windows 7 on the brink of RTM?

Rumours are afoot that Microsoft may RTM Windows 7 as early as this week (15-19th June), head over to Neowin for more information.

Source: here

Posted 16 Jun 2009 by Adam Jacobs | no comments
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