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Microsoft rolls out Exchange 2010 Service Pack 2

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Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack (SP) 2 is available for download as of December 5. The latest SP includes functionality that is aimed at helping users navigate and manage their cloud-on-premises hybrid environments.

The newest SP adds new protection and compliance tooling; additional deployment options; and the return of Outlook Mobile Access (OMA). SP2 also includes a new hybrid configuration wizard, which, as Softpedia explained, can help automate “the setup of a hybrid connection between Exchange Online running in Office 365 and an on-premises Exchange 2010 organization.”

Exchange 2010 SP2 is supported on Windows 7 Professional 64-bit, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard, Windows Server 2008 Standard.

Exchange 2010 SP2 isn’t the only  Microsoft offering that bridges the cloud-on-premises gap. Microsoft is in the midst of a strategy shift in terms of how it intends to encourage customers to move from private to public clouds, officials have said recently.

Windows 8 will be ‘largely irrelevant’ to traditional PC users: IDC

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t’s that time of year: The time when prognosticators get out their crystal balls and make predictions.

The researchers at IDC have just released to their clients their “Worldwide System Infrastructure Software 2012 Top 10 Predictions.” (Al Gillen Program VP, System Software, tweeted the list of ten on December 2.)

One of those predictions caught my eye: “Windows 8 Will Launch with Split Success.”

IDC analysts didn’t mince words about Windows client. “Windows 8 will be largely irrelevant to the users of traditional PCs, and we expect effectively no upgrade activity from Windows 7 to Windows 8 in that form factor,” according to IDC’s prediction document. (IDC is predicting Windows 8 will be released to manufacturing in time for new Windows 8 PCs to emerge by August 2012, at the latest. And they are very bullish about Windows Server 8’s prospects, for what it’s worth.)

IDC’s skepticism on uptake isn’t out of left field. Other company watchers (including yours truly) have wondered about the applicability of the Metro tiled interface on anything other than a tablet. Microsoft officials have hinted there may be some changes on the Windows 8 usability front for those wielding keyboards and mice by the time the Windows 8 beta hits in early 2012. But the developer preview that Microsoft released in September has led to lots of user uncertainty regarding Microsoft’s promise that Metro will be just as navigable with a mouse/keyboard as with fingers/stylus.

Microsoft (including Windows!) on The Ellen DeGeneres Show Today

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Did you catch today’s episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show? Today’s show marked Day 3 in Ellen’s 12 Days of Giveaways (a segment she does regularly on her show). The theme of today’s segment was all about staying connected with your family and friends over the holidays.

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In honor of today’s theme, Ellen revealed that lucky audience members will receive Microsoft products – all available from the Microsoft Store! The full giveaway package includes:

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An Acer Aspire S3 – a very sleek, thin and light Windows PC. This PC can resume from sleep in nearly 2 seconds! It also has a “deep sleep” feature so that when it is sleeping, it conserves battery life. You can buy this PC here at the Microsoft Store.

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Microsoft Office Home and Business 2010 – includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and one of my personal favorite apps – OneNote! You can buy this Office suite here at the Microsoft Store.

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2 Microsoft LifeCam HD-6000 webcams – perfect for use with their Acer Aspire S3! But why did folks get 2 webcams you might be asking? So that they can give the 2nd webcam to a family member and stay connected through the holidays by video chatting with them via Windows Live Messenger (or Skype)! You can buy this webcam here at the Microsoft Store.

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A HTC Radar 4G Windows Phone – which includes 6 months of service from T-Mobile and a $25 giftcard to the Windows Phone Marketplace to buy apps and games with! Oh, and this phone comes with all the Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) awesomeness too! You can buy this Windows Phone here from the Microsoft Store.

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An Xbox 4GB Bundle with Kinect – includes a 12-month Xbox LIVE Gold membership. Now is the perfect time to have an Xbox and Kinect especially with the Xbox update coming tomorrow (Dec. 6th) which includes lots of new features (like Bing!) and custom applications from leading TV and entertainment providers. Trust me – you want an Xbox and Kinect in your living room. You can buy this Xbox bundle here from the Microsoft Store.

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