I'm a UC Blog

I’m guessing that if you are reading my blog you are technically minded or as others call it (a-geek) therefore I would like to make a profound statement “everybody should have an Exchange Server at home”.

Now before you think I have completely lost the plot let me recite my evidence:

• Microsoft has already launched a home server product aptly named “Windows Home Server”, for the purpose of hosting media content, centralised home backup, remote access and document management.
• Mass market “consumer” mobile phones have become smart phones, i.e. iPhone, Windows Mobile, BlackBerrys etc and they all want to feed from a centralised mailbox
• Webmail, we all want enterprise strength web access with near-Outlook functionality (because we have seen that it exists by using it at work)
• Unlimited storage, I know Hotmail offers 5gb but do you really want to be restricted given the fact that you are taking pictures and movies via your mobiles?
• Remote access to your home voicemail aka “home call director”
• Anti-spam, anti-virus – do I need to say more?

This is to name just a few higher-level reasons, bottom line is that most consumers want to have the same experience at home as they do within the enterprise (albeit with less restrictions). So imagine a cut down, easy to install and configure “Exchange Home Server”?

Summary of features would include:

• Out-of-the-box iPhone, Windows Mobile & BlackBerry connectors (with an easy SSL configuration wizard)
• Outlook web access via dynamic DNS
• No static IP required because it would just download POP-3 from your e-mail provider
• Forwarding your e-mail to your ISPs SMTP relay service (to get around spamhaus etc. dynamic IP mail relay blocks)
• Off-site backup (cloud based?) – I’m sure the folks at Carbonite would be happy to write an agent
• Unified communications via a PSTN SIP device, giving callers an ACD-like call direction service with “follow-me”
• Built-in Forefront for anti-virus and anti-spam control

So come on Microsoft think of slotting a product in-between Hotmail and Small Business Server?

Overview

Download here

The hunt for the best PC to put beneath your TV is constantly evolving and Dell’s Zino HD (quite a similar name to the Zune HD and looks of a Mac Mini – strange?) may be the perfect solution. No specs yet but as the name suggests it does include an HDMI port at the back.

Source: here

Old habits die hard and this one is no exception!

In Windows 7 the show desktop button is located on the far right of your taskbar and now includes “Peek at Desk” (aka Aero Peek.). Personally I find my cursor is usually floating around the left of the screen and would prefer to have my old “Show Desktop” icon back (certainly until I make the transition).

If this is of any interest “Tweaking with Vishal” has the answer here. The other alternative is “Windows key + D”.

Taken from Techflash:

“Brian Seitz from the Zune team giving an extended demonstration of the Zune HD, including a quick look at its minimalistic web browser, which offers a search field powered by Microsoft Bing. The key question is whether the revamped Zune will be enough to give Microsoft any real traction against the iPod.”

It seems that Mary-Jo Foley wouldn’t rule this out and she does bring interesting arguements to the table:

• Exchange 2007 will not be supported on Windows Server 2008 R2 (now available to business customers with software assurance)
• The Exchange team has said to expect the product to RTM before the end of 2009
• More recently, company officials said to expect Microsoft to “launch” Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 7 and Exchange 2010 together

As usual when Mary asked a Microsoft spokesperson she was told:

“We have said that Exchange 2010 will become available in the second half of 2009. There’s nothing additional to share at this point.”

Source: here