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This Month's Newsletter
Happy Fall! It's hard to believe the summer in Washington State slipped by so quickly, but the leaves have already started changing and soon we'll be well into autumn. I enjoyed meeting many of you at the South West User Group Conference in San Diego in early August. It was nice to hear what's going on in your groups and learn more about what you'd like to see coming from Mindshare in the future. Lorrin and I enjoyed having the opportunity to share a few highlights on the Windows Vista Beta 2 features as well. Hopefully you have received your August "Presentation in a kit" featuring Windows Vista so you can introduce and demo the product for your group members.
The Mindshare community has a lot of great experience and insight, and we want to make the most of it, so don't be surprised over the coming months when we invite you to share what you know and enjoy in new and creative ways. (More about that in a future newsletter.)
For now, we have many articles and tips to share with you. The most exciting news this month is that Windows Vista RC1 is now available!
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Windows Vista RC1 Available Now!
We're excited to tell you that Windows Vista RC1 is now available! Windows Vista Home Premium is the ideal edition of people who use their PCs at home and on the go. This edition makes finding information, staying connected, and interacting with your PC much easier than ever.
If you haven't yet tried out Windows Vista, this is the one to try! As a valued participant in the Mindshare program, we would like to invite you to experience Windows Vista RC1 (Release Candidate 1) as part of our Customer Preview Program (CPP). You can also participate in the newsgroup forums at www.windowsvista.com/community. You and your groups can begin experiencing Windows Vista right away by going to www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getread/default.mspx.
Take advantage of the many features in Windows Vista that streamline your computing experience, ramp up your productivity, and take your media experience to a whole new level. What's a Release Candidate? Release Candidate is the term used to describe a build of software that is offered for testing in order to determine whether the product is ready for final wide release. This is the "almost ready" stage of software development. Windows Vista RC1 incorporates changes from all previous beta cycles as well as beta tester and partner feedback, which makes the Windows Vista RC1 the latest and greatest Vista you can get. Where can I get it? Windows Vista RC1 is now available at www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx. Also, keep an eye on the Windows Vista Team blog to get the latest news on Windows Vista. How do I get a copy?
You can order a DVD of Windows Vista RC1 or download the program by going to www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx.
Windows Vista Scenario Voting
If you are testing Windows Vista, the Windows Vista team wants your help. A new site has been developed to gather user feedback about using Windows Vista in various user activities. A new Windows Vista Scenario Voting site provides participants with a list of activities and descriptions and asks you to weigh in by letting developers know what you're doing with Windows Vista, what you think, and what you'd like to see change. Click here to go to the Windows Vista Scenario Voting site.
New Resource for Windows Vista
Windows Vista now has a detailed entry on Wikipedia that gives lots of good information about the major program features. Here's the opening line: "Windows Vista (formerly codenamed Windows "Longhorn") has many significant new features compared to previous Microsoft Windows versions, covering almost every aspect of the operating system." Be sure to check out the entry when you get a chance-it's a great resource!
Internet Explorer 7 RC1 for Windows XP Released
Microsoft recently announced the availability of Internet Explorer 7 Release Candidate 1 (RC1) for Windows XP, available via free download at www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/default.mspx . With this release, Microsoft is strongly encouraging web developers, enthusiasts and IT professionals to finalize their testing and ready their environments for the final availability of IE7. Test out this new release and enjoy enhanced security features, tabbed browsing, and much more!
Get the Jump on E-mail Viruses
E-mail viruses seem to be all over the Internet these days. How can you and your group members be sure you're not making your system vulnerable when you open e-mail messages? Many common viruses arrive in our Inboxes as e-mail attachments, and they are launched when we double-click them to open the file. Windows XP SP2 provides the strongest security against this type of attack, and the latest versions of Outlook and Outlook Express both have features that help isolate and protect your system from e-mail viruses. But there's more you can do. Click here to read the article, " Help Avoid Computer Viruses That Spread Through E-mail," and get tips for ways you can further safeguard your
system.
Show Off Your Group with Windows MovieMaker 2
Windows MovieMaker 2 is a free, downloadable video-editing tool available for Microsoft Windows XP. Whether you want to videotape and edit your latest group presentation, put together a series of slides and set them to music, or create a fun user group demo you can share at your next regional conference, downloading, installing, and using Windows MovieMaker 2 is simple, fun-and free!
. Download Windows MovieMaker 2
. Get Started with Windows MovieMaker 2
. Join the MovieMaker 2 newsgroup
Make Video Calls with LifeCam and Windows Live Messenger
Whether you travel around the globe or communicate with friends and family who do, staying in touch has never been easier. Microsoft recently released a webcam designed to work with Windows Live Messenger so that you can make video calls to your Windows Live Contacts whenever you see them online. The cameras are fun and affordable-and easy to setup and use. They even include a Windows Live Call button on the webcam so that you can initial the call with the push of a button. Click here to find out more about the LifeCam VX-6000 and LifeCam VX-3000 and take a tour.
A New Blogging Tool from Microsoft: Windows Live Writer
Office 2007 Beta 2 Technical Refresh Released
Introducing Office Live
If you have always wanted your own web site but haven't had the time to learn how to use web development software, you will be pleased to know that Microsoft just made creating and hosting a web site a whole lot easier. Office Live is an online service now in beta that enables you to choose from three different products, depending on what you want your web site to do:
. Office Live Basics, is free-both during the beta program and after the product is released-and you get a free domain name, 5 e-mail accounts, and the use of web design tools and technical support.
. Office Live Collaboration enables you to create and host a shared site that enables you to interact with group members, vendors, staff, customers, and more. Office Live Collaboration is free now during the beta and will be $29.95 per month after release.
. Office Live Essentials is the high-end Office Live product, providing everything included in the Basics and Collaboration, with 50 free e-mail accounts, web site analysis and reporting, and much more. Office Live Essentials is currently free and will be $29.95 per month after the product is released.
To find out more about Office Live, go to http://officelive.microsoft.com. To see a comparison table of the three Office Live products, visit http://officelive.microsoft.com/WebHosting.aspx.
Time for a Diversion: Microsoft Flight Simulator X in Free Trial!
It's hard to believe that it's been 25 years since Microsoft Flight Simulator changed the face of the gaming world forever! The new version works with both Windows XP SP2 and Windows Vista (and if you're testing Windows Vista you'll be able to see how the game takes full advantage of the capabilities of the new operating system!). Get the free trial download and test out the amazing new missions by clicking here.
Resources for Leaders
Downloadable Support Webcasts
Microsoft offers a collection of free, downloadable support webcasts you can save to your computer and share with your group. Click here to get the links to downloadable webcasts on Windows Vista, Office Live, Windows Media Player 11, Media Center, and more! Microsoft Office 2007 Virtual Labs
If you want to get some hands-on experience working with Microsoft Office 2007, sign up for one of the Microsoft Virtual Labs. Get a thorough introduction to the 2007 Microsoft Office System user interface changes; learn about Windows SharePoint Services; get a sense of the new Open XML formats that are part of Office 2007. To find out more, go to http://rss.microsoftvirtuallabs.com/Office2007/rss.aspx.
User Spotlight: Gini Pedersen
Gini Pedersen is recognized in the San Diego area as an outstanding instructor and a powerful advocate of computer literacy for older adults. She works as an instructor at the North City Campus of the San Diego Community College District. She also volunteers as a guest speaker for two groups of the APCUG, the Seniors Computer Group (SCG) and the Rancho Bernardo Community Computer Club (RBCCC). When Gini is a guest speaker, members come early to get a good seat.
In addition to her classes and presentations, Gini has written articles for print and web publications and developed print and video training materials for companies such as Hewlett Packard, AT&T, Target, California Highway Patrol, and others. Through her website, Gini offers a monthly newsletter and a message board so others can ask computer and internet questions. Go to http://www.iteachyou.com and click Ask a Question. Gini's passion is in helping the novice learn to use and enjoy a computer.
The governing board of the Seniors Computer Group recently awarded Gini an Honorary Lifetime Membership for her outstanding work in the community. This award was announced at the South West User Group Conference X3 held in San Diego, August 11 - 13, 2006. She has won many other awards, and she has been a popular presenter and a panel member at SRUG conferences in San Diego.
Coming Next Month
Here are a few of the stories we're working to bring you next month. Be sure to write to us at mindshar@microsoft.com and let us know what topics you would like to share with your user groups!
. A Closer Look at Windows Vista
. Windows Live - what is it, how do I get it?
. Windows Media Player 11
. Windows Experience Index (WEI)
. Windows Easy Transfer for XP Beta
. Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA)
. Windows Desktop Search
. Internet Explorer 7
. Your stories, events, and more!
Thanks very much for your participation in Mindshare! Enjoy the changing seasons in your part of the world, and we'll see you next month.
Until next time,
Sheri Sullivan
Mindshare Project Manager, Microsoft Corporation mindshar@microsoft.comwww.microsoft.com/mindshare
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Big Blue and Cousins: The Greater Victoria Personal Computer Users' Association—
