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This Month's Newsletter
The end of summer is coming fast-we hope you've been able to beat the heat wherever our newsletter finds you! This month there's a global theme to our coverage, starting off with the amazing MSN Live Earth Concert held all over the world-the physical world and the virtual world-last month. Even if you missed the live event, you can experience it for yourself by watching many of the great clips available online.
We hope you'll also take a new look at Windows Live (there are some great things happening there!) and take advantage of the resources we're passing along. Have a great month, and don't forget the sunblock!
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See the MSN Live Earth Concerts!
Have you heard about the history-making Live Earth concert that took place last month? On July 7, 2007, people all around the world gathered to participate in concerts designed to focus energy on environmental concerns. Here's a clip from the press release: "A history making audience of viewers from around the world united together at http://LiveEarth.MSN.com to experience the excitement of the Live Earth concerts and to confront the threat of global warming. Since the start of the first Live Earth concert in Australia, MSN has delivered more than 30 million live and on-demand video streams of the concerts. During MSN's exclusive live coverage, more than 8 million people watched over 15 million streams, with peak simultaneous viewership of 237,000 people, making it the most-watched entertainment event in online history."
Click here to see videos and photos from the event, and click here to read the press release.
Imagine Cup 2007 Results
Here's another hopeful event you may not know about. Each year, Microsoft sponsors a competition called the Imagine Cup that asks young people to use their imagination, passion, and creativity to design products that make the world a better place. This year, students were given the challenge of "imagining a world where technology enables a better education for all." Regional finalists included teams from 10 different countries: Brazil, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, North America, Poland and the United Kingdom. The finals were held earlier this month in Seoul, Korea. Click here to see what these amazing young designers came up with!
Take a (New) Tour of Windows Live
Since its introduction in November 2005, Windows Live has been growing by leaps and bounds. Recently Microsoft Corporate VP Chris Jones, with Windows Live Experience Program Management, answered questions about this new phase of Windows Live. To find out where Windows Live is going, read the Q&A session by clicking here. And if you haven't seen Windows Live recently, you haven't seen Windows Live! Take a tour online by going here.
For the full list of all Windows Live betas currently available, go to http://get.live.com/betas.
Free Classifieds on Windows Live Expo
Summer is the time for garage sales. But why not avoid the heat by selling your items online? One of popular services at Windows Live right now is Windows Live Expo, a classified listing service that enables you to post items you need to sell and find great things you want to buy. Click here to find out more about Windows Live Expo and create a free account.
What Did You Do on Your Summer Vacation?
If you haven't yet joined the ranks of people who are creating personal web sites for sharing photos, experiences, videos, and more, you may want to click over to Windows Live Spaces and take a look. Windows Live Spaces is a free online tool you can use to share pictures, stories, contacts, and more. Setup takes only a few minutes, and you can control who gets to see your space (you can make your space private or public, depending on your preferences). This is a great way to stay in touch with family members and friends who may be scattered across the globe. Click here to find out more.
Windows Vista and Windows Live: Enjoy the Experience
One of the great things about Windows Vista and Windows Live is that you can tailor your desktop with all sorts of gadgets to truly make them your own. Windows Live Gallery offers all sorts of Sidebar gadgets (for Windows Vista), toolbar buttons, Web gadgets, and more. If you're feeling adventurous, you can even create your own gadgets to share with the rest of us! Click here to see what's available on Windows Live Gallery.
Great Tool for End-of-Summer Travels
Are you planning one last road trip this summer? Or, flying to a destination and then renting a car for local travels? Either way, Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 can help you find the best locations in an area near you. Plot your trip, check for construction delays, and calculate mileage (and gas costs!) using the program; then save and share your information in a variety of ways. Click here to find out more.
Microsoft has posted a number of articles to help you get the most out of Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007. Click here to get the links.
Blogging with Windows Live Writer
If you've been on the fence about whether you want to create a blog for your user group, this free tool from Windows Live might just sway you. Windows Live Writer is a new blogging tool that enables you to post directly to your blog (or multiple blogs) by using a single easy-to-use interface. You can write a post once and publish it many times if you like. Including photos, creating lists, and even adding video is simple and fast. Click here to find out more.
A New Member of the Family: Windows Home Server
Have you been following the story of Windows Home Server? This new product from Microsoft makes it easy for your family to safeguard in one central location your photos, media files, tunes, and more. And you aren't tied to location with Windows Home Server--you can even access your home server while you're traveling. Windows Home Server will be available in stores this fall, but you can find out more about it by going here.
Resources for Leaders
Microsoft In-Person Events
Did you know that you can get an up-to-date listing of all the in-person events Microsoft offers. One may be traveling to a city near you! Topics range from general (Microsoft Connections for Small Business) to product-specific (Visual Studio 2005, Windows Server, SharePoint, Silverlight, and more). Click here to get the list of in-person Microsoft events. Training Presentations for Office 2007
If you want to show your group what's new in Word, Excel, Outlook, or PowerPoint 2007, you'll be pleased to know Microsoft makes it easy for you with new, free, downloadable training presentations on each of those programs. Click here for more info.
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!
. Continuing Ed with OneNote 2007
. Think "green" computing
. Take control of your Inbox
. Your stories, events, and more!
Thanks, as always, for your participation in Mindshare. 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—
