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Computing Microsoft Tweets

Microsoft sticks to its guns, …

Microsoft sticks to its guns, keeps Do Not Track on by default in IE10 | Ars Technica http://t.co/9Fcvk7cR

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Certification Computing Microsoft Tweets

RT @KeithMayer: Get Certified …

RT @KeithMayer: Get Certified on MCSE Private Cloud with this FREE Step-by-Step Study Guide! #sysctr #hyperv http://t.co/bU3k34mr

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Computing Microsoft Tweets

Does Windows 8 succeed as a tr…

Does Windows 8 succeed as a true tablet operating system? | Ars Technica http://t.co/GEhm5gO6

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Certification Computing Microsoft

Michael Bender talks about the 60 Day Challenge

TrainSignal have a series of videos in which 60 Day Challenge founder, Michael Bender, explains how he developed this idea starting with the MCSE and how he envisions a community-based training framework.

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Computing Microsoft

Microsoft Surface photos

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Computing Microsoft

$299 “Xbox 720” for 2013 according to leak

Leaked document points to $299 “Xbox 720” for 2013

Following Microsoft’s presentation at E3 there was some disappointment that there was no announcement for a replacement to the Xbox 360 console, I personally felt that there was a lot of life left in the 7 year old console.

However a leaked document (assuming that it is authentic) indicates that Microsoft has plans for a replacement to hit the stores in the holiday season of 2013.

The improved hardware will allow for “true 1080p and full 3D” output, along with flexible resizing and compositing, according to the document. The new hardware will also allow for low-powered “always on” mode, which will enable features such as a “whole home DVR” that can record shows in the background and then stream them to other devices. For game storage, the “Xbox 720” will reportedly include a Blu-ray disc drive as well as both internal Flash storage and a hard disk drive, the document says. For internet connectivity, both WiMax and HSDPA (3G) coverage are included.

In addition it will come bundled with an improved version of their Kinect system and then additional features are to be rolled out over the following few years with a move towards cloud gaming in around 2015.

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Certification Computing Microsoft

60 Days to MCSE

I discovered the 60 Days to MCSE challenge a little too late to participate along with those who had planned to achieve their goal of passing all the necessary exams for the MCSE: Private Cloud certification.

As the beta exams for and were available during TechEd 2012 which finished just a couple of days ago there are I hope many success stories to be heard in the forum over the next few days.

I’m taking up the challenge but as I already have my MCSA: Windows Server 2008 and MCTS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Server Virtualization certifications I only need to pass the Exam 70-246: Monitoring and Operating a Private Cloud with System Center 2012 in order to become a MCSE: Private Cloud.

I don’t think that it is too much of a challenge to study for and pass this exam by the middle of August especially with the excellent resources available already from Microsoft.
Microsoft Virtual Academy
Microsoft Private Cloud Guided Labs
Private Cloud Evaluation Guide (pdf)
System Center 2012: Monitoring and Operations Tips and Advice (video)

Then after that perhaps the MCSE: Server Infrastructure

I’ll post about my progress and any other useful resources that I find, I’m sure that the videos of the TechEd sessions will soon be made available for example.

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Computing Copyright

Links of the week 27/01/12

After terrific year, music biz demands that world adopt SOPA plus
Despite growth in online revenues the IFPI pushes for yet more legislation to be adopted by governments worldwide.

The President’s Post-SOPA Challenge: All Right, You Come Up with a Solution!
Having upset Hollywood with the White House’s opposition to SOPA the President seeks some appeasement by asking for solutions from the tech industry that won’t break the internet.

New Righthaven offers hosting service “with a spine”
Swiss ISP that purchased domain from failed copyright troll uses it to launch a web-hosting service.

Google Reincarnates Dead Paper Mill as Data Center of Future
Google uses the frigid nature of the Baltic Sea to cool one of its new data centres.

Disappointing Ruling in Compelled Laptop Decryption Case
Colorado judge rules that a defendant cannot receive protection under the fifth amendment to prevent being compelled to reveal her decryption key.

Why History Needs Software Piracy
Without software piracy we would have lost our digital heritage.

EMI Boss Opposes SOPA, Says Piracy is a Service Issue
EMI’s VP of Urban Promotions Craig Davis believes that the key to solving piracy isn’t legislation, but innovation.

I do believe that a person should be compensated for their work. I feel that piracy is a big issue, and things like Spotify will assist in combating this problem,

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Computing Microsoft

Removing administrator rights fixes 90 percent of Windows 7 vulnerabilities

Ars Technica reports that 90 percent of Windows 7 flaws fixed by removing admin rights

After tabulating all the vulnerabilities published in Microsoft’s 2009 Security Bulletins, it turns out 90 percent of the vulnerabilities can be mitigated by configuring users to operate without administrator rights, according to a report by BeyondTrust.

Ars Technica describes this as being good news for IT departments who can reduce security breaches by mandating the use of the ‘Standard User’ account, but it is still not common practice for home users to do the same.

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Computing Security

Repressive regimes, airport security and PC tips

BoingBoing: HOWTO communicate in repressive regimes

Schneier: Fixing Airport Security

Maximum PC: 21 Essential Steps to Make Your PC Better/Faster/Stronger