Surface Pro 3

I recently purchased a Surface Pro 3 and have to say – I absolutely love it.  The marketing is spot on with this device, it truly is a laptop and tablet in one.  I am particularly impress with the battery life.  Last week, I did a few battery tests with very pleasing results.  The first test was with brightness at 100%.  I carried on a normal day of emails, Yammer posts, conference calls while writing notes, etc.  At 100%, I was able to work 5 hours before I needed to find some power.  The second test was with brightness at about 50%.  You may think 50% is pretty dark, but I was happy with the brightness and able to see just fine (after a little while I had forgotten that I was working under reduce brightness).  With the same type of ‘work’ activities on the device at 50%, I was able to work 7.5 hours before hitting the 5% critical mark.  During this second test, I actually worked the entire day without plugging the device in.  Awesome.

I won’t do a full review of the device since there are plenty of place you can read in depth evaluations…however, I will say that this really is a great work and personal device.

InstantGo

I wanted to share an interesting feature of Windows 8 that I found recently.  Related to the great battery life above, Windows 8 added a feature called ‘Connected Standby’ which is now ‘InstantGo’ in Windows 8.1.  You can read more about InstantGo here: http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/windowsexperience/archive/2014/06/19/instantgo-a-better-way-to-sleep.aspx

Sleep Study

PCs that have Windows 8.1 and compatible hardware, also have a cool new feature called ‘Sleep Study’.  It’s a logging mechanism that monitors the battery drain during sleep.  You can then analyze what hardware components are causing wake/sleep drain of the battery.

Enabling Sleep Study

Enabling Sleep Study is easy.  Just fire up a command prompt with Administrative privileges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once you have the command prompt open, type powercfg /sleepstudy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your report will be created in a temporary location like C:\windows\system32\sleepstudy-report.html

Copy that file to the desktop (or different location other than C:\windows\system32 directory)

Open the file in Internet Explorer

 

 

 

Windows 8 has officially Released to Manufacturing (RTM).  I wanted to share a recent blog post with information regarding this milestone, but call out a few important dates for those people eager to get their hands on Windows 8.

Blogging Windows

http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2012/08/01/windows-8-has-reached-the-rtm-milestone.aspx

Important Dates

• August 15th: Developers will be able to download the final version of Windows 8 via your MSDN subscriptions.
• August 15th: IT professionals testing Windows 8 in organizations will be able to access the final version of Windows 8 through your TechNet subscriptions.
• August 16th: Customers with existing Microsoft Software Assurance for Windows will be able to download Windows 8 Enterprise edition through the Volume License Service Center (VLSC), allowing you to test, pilot and begin adopting Windows 8 Enterprise within your organization.
• August 16th: Microsoft Partner Network members will have access to Windows 8.
• August 20th: Microsoft Action Pack Providers (MAPS) receive access to Windows 8.
• September 1st: Volume License customers without Software Assurance will be able to purchase Windows 8 through Microsoft Volume License Resellers.

Another Windows 8 milestone is upon us.  Windows 8 Release Preview (release candidate) hit the shelves today and it is awesome.

 

You can find information on Windows 8 Release Preview, here:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/release-preview

Or, download the ISO, here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/iso

(use the Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool to make a bootable USB thumb drive)

Be sure to also check out the Windows Experience Blog.  It has a lot of great content on Windows 8 and specifically Release Preview.  Read the latest post here: http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/windowsexperience/archive/2012/05/31/the-windows-8-release-preview-amp-windows-upgrade-offer-windows8.aspx

This just came across my inbox and I thought I would pass it along.  It also sparked a need for a consolidated list of local technology user groups, so I’m including that as well.

First, hot off the press – the Twin Cities Windows 8 User Group – a user group for people who make software to learn about all things Windows 8.  Find more information here:

http://www.meetup.com/Twin-Cities-Windows-8-User-Group/

The first meeting is coming up on May 22 and will cover WinRT APIs.

 

Second, I created a page as a single place to consolidate a list of all user groups.  If there is a group that I missed, please leave a comment at the bottom of the page or use the contact page.

http://www.erickraus.com/usergroups/

At a Windows 8 Consumer Preview event in Barcelona, attended by partners from Europe and around the world, Microsoft shared some key new updates in the Windows 8 Consumer Preview:

Broad range of product changes and improvements. Since the Developer Preview in September, designed to preview the programming platform, Windows 8 has progressed across every dimension. From completing the user experience for touch, keyboard and mouse to refining the development platform, the Consumer Preview improves performance, quality and reliability across all subsystems. With the added features, it represents a more complete view of the capabilities of Windows 8.

• Windows Store with new apps. The Windows 8 Consumer Preview marks the beta opening of the Windows Store, which is filled with a variety of new Metro style apps from both third-party developers and Microsoft. During the Consumer Preview, these apps are available to try and experience at no cost to users. The Windows Store will offer personalized recommendations, and Windows 8 gives users the ability to take their apps and settings with them across multiple PCs, making it easy to discover and try new apps while offering developers the greatest opportunity of any platform.

• Connecting to the cloud across Windows-based PCs and Windows Phone. The Windows 8 Consumer Preview offers seamless integration with the content people care about across their devices. An optional additional sign-on with a Microsoft account provides access to a host of features, including the ability to roam all settings, use cloud storage, communicate with email, calendar and contacts, and connect to a broad range of services. Your connection to the cloud works across your Windows-based PCs and your Windows Phones.

• Internet Explorer 10 Platform Preview 5. The best way to experience the Web on Windows is with Internet Explorer 10. The browser has been re-imagined to create a new experience designed specifically for Windows 8 devices. It provides an edge-to-edge user interface that is all about less browser and more Web. Fast and fluid, Internet Explorer is hardware-accelerated to enable Web performance.

• Preview of new hardware capabilities. At the event, Microsoft also showcased Windows 8 running on a wide range of new x86- and ARM-based reference hardware. This hardware will be available to select developers for trial and testing as previously announced.

Learn more and download here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/consumer-preview

Continue to follow the Building Windows 8 Blog by Steven Sinofsky for general updates on Windows 8.

 

To install Windows 8 Consumer Preview from USB drive:

1.  Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview in ISO format

ISO Format: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/iso

2.  Follow the instructions on the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool to make a bootable USB drive.

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool

 

At Microsoft, we have been supporting “Consumerization of IT” long before it was hot industry trend. Our internal IT department (MSIT) has always had a strategic goal of enabling the workforce and not inhibiting it. Employees are empowered to use devices that increase their productivity, including devices running Windows and even devices running non-Windows software.

However, Microsoft sees Consumerization of IT as more than just devices. Here are a few additional challenges MSIT frequently evaluates:

• Devices (Phones, Tablets, Slates, Netbooks, etc.)
• Identity (Corporate, Live, OpenID, etc.)
• Social Media
    -Internal (OfficeTalk, //mysites, SharePoint, Lync, etc.)
  -External (Facebook, Twitter, Skype, blogs, etc.)
• Cloud Services (SkyDrive, LiveMesh, Google+, Mozy, etc.)
• Application and Media Marketplace (Zune, iTunes, Amazon)
• Rich Media (YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, etc.)

With consumerization planning, organizations need to weigh Business Value against Risk Mitigation.

Business Value at Microsoft

Hardware – Microsoft has a 3 tier model for classifying user hardware. MSIT Standard, MSIT supported consumer, Self-hosted consumer devices.

Support – The global helpdesk is tiered much like hardware is. Standard hardware has full support from MSIT, whereas supported consumer products are supported by an offsite third party.  Self-hosted devices have no MSIT support.

Mobile – Microsoft recognizes the EAS (Exchange ActiveSync) logo certification process in determining which devices should be allowed to connect.  Line-of-business applications are supported and identity is handled through an intranet portal.

External Sites – Microsoft supports social media and encourages employees to use sites appropriately through regular training and awareness.  Very few sites are blocked at Microsoft and employees are allowed to connect with other employees, partners and customers through these mediums while at work.

Rich Media – Microsoft does not block rich media as it has become an effective way of distributing information.

Productivity – Enabling Anywhere, Anytime, Any Device mindset enables user to be productive in new ways.

Risk Mitigation by MSIT

Data – Blurring the line between business and personal data is risky.  Microsoft invested a great deal of time defining policies around data security (within IT and within the user population).

Procurement – Based on the tiered model of support, the Procurement department prepares hardware from the standard list as it would normally.  In the case of supported consumer devices, MSIT may work with third-parties to purchase these devices.  Self-hosted devices are purchased by the end user.

Provisioning – Microsoft manages both standard and supported devices under tools such as System Center – Configuration Manager. At this time, consumer devices are unmanaged and are the sole responsibility of the end user.

Software – Some applications are known to be problematic (e.g. peer-to-peer sharing software). Those software packages are among the few that are blocked from running on managed devices.

Management – Both standard and supported devices are domain joined and grant CorpNet (intranet) access. Self-hosted devices are not managed by MSIT.  However, there is limited connectivity to CorpNet available for these devices.

Support – Because all standard MSIT devices include a TPM chip, those devices in addition to supported consumer devices that also have a TPM chip, are allowed to configure DirectAccess. Consumer devices that do not meet these requirements must connect through Exchange ActiveSync.

Training – Microsoft has developed training modules on effective use of public social media tools.  Microsoft employees are also required to participate in regular training around disclosures and confidentiality.

Summary

As a Microsoft employee, I am able to choose the right device to do my job most effectively.  As a user, there is little thought I need to invest when it comes to how I connect a device to do my job.  The experience is seamless.  More than ever Microsoft is making investments in supporting multiple platforms, heterogeneous environments, and enabling users with a word-class software experience.

Today, Microsoft officially announced support for Windows 8 on ARM processor architecture.

Steven Sinofsky’s blog post is long, but thorough and interesting.  Here are some highlights from the post.

Windows on ARM

• Windows will run on ARM
• Windows on ARM is still under development with expected milestones that align with x86/64
• Metro style applications will run on ARM
• Windows on ARM will ship with new versions of desktop applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote (currently ‘Office 15’) and Internet Explorer 10
• Windows on ARM will support a desktop experience similar to X86/64 with File Explorer and Internet Explorer

Support for Connected Devices Services

• Mobile Broadband
• Printer
• GPS
• Sensors (accelerometer, rotation, gyroscope, compass, magnetometer)
• Bluetooth
• Media Transfer Protocol over USB and IP
• Windows Update

Other Notes

• Developing apps for ARM will be the same as developing Metro style applications on WinRT.
• Applications for Windows on ARM will only be serviced through the Windows Store (metro applications)
• Windows 8 will run on all Windows 7 logo PCs

 

You can find the entire post here: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/02/09/building-windows-for-the-arm-processor-architecture.aspx

What a way to kick off the new blog… Microsoft has officially annouced that Windows 8 Consumer Preview (beta) will be available for download on February 29th.  If you haven’t had a chance to look at Windows 8 yet, it’s worth a peak.  Here is a short list of some of the features coming:

• Windows (App) Store
• Metro (Tile) Design
• Resilient File System (ReFS)
• Live Tiles on Start Screen
• Fast Boot up / Sleep Wake up
• Picture Password
• and MUCH more…

For more information on Windows 8, be sure to check out these resources:

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/preview

http://www.buildwindows.com/