Now Available: Security Baselines for Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 8

Now that Windows 7 is available, are you looking for some security baseline recommendations from the experts? Then here’s another timely release from the Microsoft Solution Accelerators team! Today, new security baselines for Windows® 7 and Windows® Internet Explorer® 8 are available for download. Over the past few months, the Solution Accelerators team collaborated with Microsoft security experts, multiple government agencies worldwide, and a large community of IT security professionals to develop and test these new security baselines.All of these baselines are free for you to use. In case you are not familiar with all of the security baselines available for Microsoft products, they ship as part of the Security Compliance Management Toolkit (SCMT) Series. The SCMT helps you to plan, deploy, and monitor security baselines for Windows® operating systems, Internet Explorer, and 2007 Microsoft® Office applications. It contains background information about compliance, and planning advice about how to automate security compliance. It also refers you to other tools and guidance that you can use to establish and deploy a security baseline, and then monitor and maintain compliance with your established configuration. Where do you start? At a high level, security compliance consists of four basic steps: Plan how to meet security baseline requirements. Deploy security baseline configurations. Monitor security baseline configurations. Remediate security baseline configurations. The tools, guidance, and recommendations in the SCMT help you through each step of this process and give you the support to make key decisions about security baseline settings for your specific environment. Here’s what you get: Security guide – The toolkits include new and updated security guides for Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Microsoft Office 2007 SP1, and Internet Explorer 8. The guidance provides you with best practices and automated tools to help you plan and deploy your security baselines. Attack Surface Reference workbook – A resource that lists the changes introduced as server roles are installed on computers running Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008. Security Baseline Settings workbook – A resource that lists all of the prescribed settings for each of the preconfigured security baselines that the guides recommend. Security Baseline XML – XML files that allow you to consume the data defined in the security baseline settings workbooks. GPOAccelerator tool – A tool that you can use to create all of the Group Policy objects (GPOs) you need to deploy your chosen security configuration. This release also supports creating security configurations on computers not joined to a domain. Baseline Compliance Management Overview – The overview discusses best practices on how to monitor security baselines for Windows operating systems, Office applications, and Internet Explorer 8. DCM Configuration Pack User Guide – A step-by-step prescriptive user guide about how to use Configurations Packs with the DCM feature in Configuration Manager 2007 R2. DCM Configuration Packs – Configuration Packs that provide prescriptive security information, which you can use to check the compliance of systems in your environment. What should you do next? Learn more about the Security Compliance Management Toolkit Series. Download the Security Compliance Management Toolkit Series. Find other Windows 7 Solution Accelerators here: Windows Desktop Solution Accelerators. The Solution Accelerators team is developing a new tool called the Security Compliance Manager. It will help you manage your security and compliance process for the most widely used Microsoft technologies. Join the Beta review program and provide your feedback on the features you want most. Get all the step by step guides, whitepapers, how to’s and screen casts on deploying and managing Windows 7 in your environment from the Springboard Series on TechNet.

Seavus Project Evolution - Integrated Project Collaboration Environment for MS Project users

Seavus Project Evolution is a MS Project based suite of tools, designed to create a real collaboration environment for all projects in your company. It is a suite for project teams to successfully manage task updates, report and track issues, as well as acquire knowledge using wikis. This collaborative project management suite allows project viewing, updating, tracking and team collaboration. This suite include tool for every team member of the project team: For team members - Seavus Project Viewer - Team members install Seavus Project Viewer in order to view mpp files and more important to collaborate amongst each other in order to provide greater value to the project. For Project Managers - MS Project Standard add-in - Project managers install the add-in to their MS Project Standard. Once the project manager is logged into the server she/he can explore and use the Seavus Project Evolution features. For team members out of the office - Seavus Web Client - If you are out of the office on a meeting or a business trip you can use the Seavus Web Client to access Seavus Project Evolution and work on your projects same as if you are in your office. Storage of information - Seavus Project Server - The server is where the collaboration happens. Project managers and team members connect to the server to manage/update task progress, report and track issues, acquire knowledge using wikis. What should we say more! This is the best compact EPM (Enterprise Project Management) suite on the web. Link for more: Seavus Project Evolution

Install Emesene 1.5 with one click on Ubuntu

The new emesene version comes with various bug fixes and improvements and new features: Compatible with the latest Window Live Messenger(tm) New plugin set (Plus! colors, Notifications, Mail check, etc.) HTTP connection and proxy support @msn accounts support Better contact list management with Privacy Tab and ability to reject users Improved Offline Messaging experience Support for msn groups No more gui locks Experimental webcam support with a configurator New layout options and improved usability along with customization Tons of new languages supported To install emesene 1.5 on your Ubuntu system with just one click, download .deb package from getdeb.com according to your Ubuntu version or follow the next links: Emesene 1.5 for Ubuntu 9.04 32bit click here Emesene 1.5 for Ubuntu 9.04 64bit click here Emesene 1.5 for Ubuntu 8.10 32bit click here Emesene 1.5 for Ubuntu 8.10 64bit click here After downloading, double click on downloaded .deb file to install it. Enjoy.

How to make song list from Winamp

If you want to record some mp3s to CD or other media and you dont want to make song list with a hand writing, you can use Winamp as a song list generator. Open the songs or add the songs you want to burn in Winamp and press Ctrl+Alt+G. Next, the Winamp list will be shown on your internet browser. Copy that list in Notepad, Write, Word, OpenOffice for printing, font changing editing Thats it, easy and simple.

How to launch OpenOffice.org faster on Ubuntu

Open Office is a little start up slow, so to fix that follow this excellent tutorial. Open the Startup Manager, you can find it on System-Preferences-Startup Applications and add a new entry. In the command filed type: openoffice-nodefault-nologo and reboot. With this option, OpenOffice.org will be cashed on system start up, so the feature OO opening will be blink fast. There will be a little startup delay to initial boot-up but I'm sure that you'll hardly notice it. Enjoy.

How to install Skype 2.1 beta on Ubuntu 9.04

This is beta version and anyone who uses Skype professionally should avoid this installation tutorial. Skype 2.1 beta announced new features and improvements: Skype's SILK codec for outstanding sound quality High Quality Video PulseAudioSending SMS messages Organizing your contacts with contact groups Chat improvements (typing indicator, new emoticons and message editing) To install the new version, first download .deb file from here (for 9.04 choose 8.10 +). Next, double click on downloaded file to install it or if you cannot install it with double click open your terminal and copy and paste this lines (Ctrl+Shift+V to paste): sudo apt-get autoremove skype skype-common sudo dpkg -i skype-ubuntu-intrepid_2.1.0.47-1_i386.deb Enjoy.

Skype 2.1 beta for Linux

It is known that Skype for Linux greatly lags behind the Windows and Mac version; it has fewer options and offers only basic functionality. Becouse the code is closed, Linux users can only remain the developers and let them know that we are their customers too. After an almost year break, the new beta version 2.1 is here. News is just a few, but they are certainly welcome. Now there is a SILK codec, which should provide better audio quality even on slower connections, support for high quality video and also PulseAudio. Contacts can be organized in groups, and now it is possible to send SMS with Skype, there are new emoticons, typing indicator, so you can see when the other side is writing message. More info can be found here. If you're impatient for the final release, beta version can be downloaded from the official Skype website (there are ready-made packages for Ubuntu 8.04, Ubuntu 8.10 +, Debian Lenny, Fedora 9 and openSUSE 10 & 11 +).

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 Release Candidate Now Available for Download

We are pleased to announce the immediate availability of the release candidate of MDT 2010. This release contains numerous bug fixes since MDT 2010 Beta 2. MDT 2010 RC has been tested and will work with Windows 7 RTM and Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM as well as all previously supported operating systems. A BIG thank you goes out to all who tested and have given feedback for MDT 2010 Beta 2 (see our post here). We were able to fix several bugs and push through some design changes based on your feedback. Now is the time for you to verify the bug fixes and continue to provide feedback as we work towards the release of MDT 2010. As with any release please make sure you read through the release notes to understand the known issues with this release and make sure you have a backup of your deployment environment before you upgrade to MDT 2010 RC. If you have not signed up on Microsoft Connect you can still do so here. If already a member, click here to get the Release Candidate of MDT 2010.

Introducing the Microsoft LifeCam Cinema

A few days ago you may have heard about a new webcam from Microsoft Hardware that does 720p High Definition widescreen video. Well meet the new LifeCam Cinema! The LifeCam Cinema records video at 720p HD in 16:9 widescreen up to 30 frames per second (fps). It uses ClearFrame Technology for smooth, detailed video and has an improved de-noiser. The improved de-noiser reduces image graininess - especially in low light. It also has a faster image-processing technology that keeps video smooth at any resolution. The LifeCam Cinema also has a high-precision glass element lens for much clearer video quality. You know how some webcams have blurry corners in videos? Yeah not here! Other features include taking 5.0 megapixel stills, a digital noise-canceling microphone, and a flexible attachment base bends to fit on most surfaces (like the top of LCD monitors and notebook screens, or simply on your desk desk). Through the LifeCam 3.0 software (which can be downloaded here), LifeCam Cinema users will enjoy integration with both Windows Live Photo Gallery and Windows Live Movie Maker which was released yesterday. To record video and take still photos with the LifeCam Cinema, you will need the LifeCam software installed. After recording a video, you can quickly launch Windows Live Movie Maker to edit that video and share with friends and family online. Using Windows Live Movie Maker, you can add transitions and other animations to videos recorded with the LifeCam Cinema as well as music, captions and more. When taking still photos, you can view those photos in Windows Live Photo Gallery and edit and add tags. The LifeCam Cinema will be available starting in September 2009 for an estimated retail price of $79.95 (U.S.). For more information on the LifeCam Cinema, click here for the press release. I am currently giving the LifeCam Cinema a spin myself courtesy of Microsoft Hardware. Expect to see some movies created with the LifeCam Cinema and edited with Windows Live Movie Maker in the very near future.

Get The New Windows Live Movie Maker Today!

Brian Hall, General Manager for Windows Live, just has announced via the Windows Live Team Blog that the new Windows Live Movie Maker is now available. The new version of Windows Live Movie Maker is part of an update to Windows Live Essentials available for download here. Im currently running the new version of Windows Live Movie Maker on Windows 7 RTM and it will also run on Windows Vista too. For more information on the new Windows Live Movie Maker, see Brians blog post or this awesome resource website which includes demo, HD samples and deep product info. Sorry for such a short post, but Im off to make me some movies!

Comfort of Web Development with Aptana Studio for Linux, Mac or Windows

Aptana Studio is free, open source Ajax development environment. With over a million downloads, developers all over the world are discovering why Aptana Studio is the leading choice of web professionals everywhere. Studio offers free plug-ins for PHP, Ruby on Rails, Adobe AIR, and even Apple iPhone development. Get unrivaled support for popular libraries including jQuery, Prototype, YUI, dojo, Ext JS, MooTools, and others. Of course Studio also includes rich support for development of Jaxer-based Ajax applications. In fact, as of Studio 1.1, Jaxer is fully integrated so that development of end-to-end Ajax applications requires no further installations or server setup. Just create a new HTML document and you can build fully realized client/server applications rich with database access, network access, and much more. Download Aptana Studio for Windows, Mac, or Linux. Both the standalone and Eclipse plug-in distributions are free, open source software. Link: www.aptana.com

Paint.NET v3.5 Enhanced for Windows 7

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The Paint.NET Team has announced the v3.5 of Paint.NET will use DirectWrite on Windows 7 for rendering text. DirectWrite is part of Windows 7s text rendering enhancements. Very cool!

DirectWrite is one of the new additions to the DirectX family of APIs in Windows 7. DirectWrite enables better readability, adds support for a large variety of languages and scripts, and in conjunction with Direct2D provides superior rendering performance for Windows applications. Applications can also use DirectWrite with GDI and carry forward existing investments in the Win32 code base. You can read more about DirectWrite here.

You can download an alpha build (build 3509) of Paint.NET v3.5 here. Please be warned that alpha builds are pre-beta quality and will likely have issues. But if you want to play around, give it a try.

Free Vector-based 2D animation software for Mac, Windows and Linux - Synfig

Synfig is a Free, powerful, industrial-strength vector-based 2D animation software package, designed from the scratch for producing feature-film quality animation with fewer people and resources. While there are many other programs currently on the market to aid with the efficient production of 2D animation, we are currently unaware of any other software that can do what our software can. 2D Animation has traditionally been very expensive because every frame must be drawn by hand. Even with today's digital inking and painting software, the process still relies on individuals hand-drawing each frame. This laborious task is called "tweening". Its animation technology eliminates the task of manual tweening, producing smooth, fluid motion without the animator having to draw out each frame individually. This allows you to produce 2D animation with fewer people while producing a product of a higher quality. Link: synfig.org