Futurecat - Michael Karek

Since releasing our first Vail beta we have received lots of great  suggestions for “Vail” and quite a few interesting bugs.  Thanks to all of you who are beta testing!  We love having you part of our extended team and appreciate your help.

This new build has plenty of enhancements and improvements over the original build and can be downloaded from the downloads section of our connect site.  If you are new to the beta, please go to http://connect.microsoft.com/windowshomeserver to sign up for the download.  You can provide feedback about the new build through our Connect site and even log ideas or feature suggestions for future versions of Windows Home Server. 

The Windows Server code name “Vail” Preview SDK is also available for download.  The SDK provides the following content:

·         API references that help you understand all the API elements that can be used to extend and manage Windows Server Code Name “Vail”

·         How-to documents that help you to understand how to build add-ins

·         Templates that help you build add-ins with Visual Studio 2008

·         Samples that provide examples of complete add-ins

We also have some other resources available to learn more about Windows Home Server and our upcoming product:

·         Windows Home Server Social Forum

·         Online Help Site

·         Online Release Notes

Thanks for the continued support and we’ll be sure to keep you posted as newer builds become available.

- Jonas Svensson, Community Program Manager

A recent case study was conducted to show the benefits of Windows Home Server in Bunten & Associates, a small business located in Covington, Kentucky.

Bunten & Associates provides small businesses and individuals with payroll, accounting, and tax services. With just three employees, the firm provides approximately 60 small businesses with accounting and payroll services, and helps up to 500 individuals annually with tax preparation. The firm wanted to improve its management of customer information, and in October 2009, Bunten & Associates learned about the Windows Home Server operating system from Kevin Royalty of Total Care Computer Consulting. “We were immediately sold on the ease of use of Windows Home Server,” says accountant, Jennifer Means. With automated backups and streamlined access to information, the firm’s three employees save nearly a full day of work each week. Using the solution, the firm also has optimized its protection of valuable customer data.

Be sure to read the entire case study , and see how their Windows Home Server solution has helped improve their work experience and efficiency.

To learn more about Windows Home Server and to see how it can advance your small business, check out the product Website.

-Nicole

In case you missed it, we let you know a few weeks ago that Windows Home Server – along with our very own Senior Product Manager Mark Pendergrast – is being featured on the national TV show, Designing Spaces. Well, today’s the day for our big debut on the small screen!

Be sure to check it out on the Designing Spaces website linked here. The show is broadcast nationally on The Learning Channel (TLC) and Women’s Entertainment (WE) channels starting today. You can also watch on your local TV channels if you live in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, and Seattle. Below is the full TV schedule.

Of course, if you don’t live in one of those areas or just can’t wait for the show to come to you; you can go up on the Designing Spaces website any time where the Windows Home Server segment is streaming 24×7. Also take a look at our behind-the-scenes filming of the episode.

Our special thanks goes out to our Seattle-based customers, Jim and Cindy Combs, who are featured on the show. They love Windows Home Server and have been using it from Day 1. Cindy also shares how she uses Windows Home Server to run her PR/marketing company, Cindy Combs Consulting.

Check it out!

Windows Home Server on Designing Spaces TV – National Airing Schedule

National airings are a dual Satellite feed and times are listed are EST/PST

One month ago, the Windows Home Server team filmed a 10-minute feature story for the national TV show Designing Spaces entitled “Innovations for the Connected Family, Solutions for Managing and Protecting Your Media.” Designing Spaces, currently in its sixth season, recently ran its 100th episode. The show’s innovative topics and expert advice continue to attract a sophisticated audience of homeowners and do-it-yourself enthusiasts. This was filmed to educate families and home office users about Windows Home Server.

The segment will feature Senior Product Manager, Mark Pendergrast, who provided an excellent overview and short demos of the product. Then, to illustrate Mark’s points, we filmed one of our Seattle-based customers, Jim and Cindy Combs (who were a part of the original beta program) talking about their use of — and love for — the product. The Combs’ are huge fans and generously gave up a workday to film for us. Their story is powerful because it not only shows how average families can use Windows Home Server, but how small/home-based businesses can benefit as well. Cindy talked about how she uses Windows Home Server to run her PR/marketing company out of her home office.

I was lucky enough to attend the film shoot and do some of my own flip-cam, behind the scenes filming of the day. The first clip shows some of the set creation, and includes an interview with the director, George Tweddle, Senior Producer for o2 Production Studios, Inc.

In the second clip below, you will be able to see Mark Pendergrast during his interview, and also hear his final thoughts on how the day went.

The show will begin airing on April 9, 2010 nationwide. Distribution includes 20 airings on: The Learning Channel (TLC), Womens Entertainment (WE), and Network affiliates for: ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX. Please see below for the schedule. In addition the segment will stream 24 hours a day on the www.designingspaces.tv website.

-Nicole

You could easily claim that Windows Home Server is like having your very own genie; automatically protecting your data, restoring it in minutes if disaster strikes, and centralizing all of your media. Sounds like magic to me!

Starting today, two, 30-second Windows Home Server commercials will run for 3 months throughout 25 different shows that are aired on Hulu. The videos were created to be metaphors of Windows Home Server, and convey 2 of the key features – Backup and Recovery, and using it as a Media Server.  In the 30-second clips, Windows Home Server is described as a “Genie in the Box” who magically works to keep your data safe, and in one central location.

TV Shows for Windows Home Server

• Lost
• The Simpsons
• Human Target 
• Burn Notice
• Fringe
• 24
• Chuck
• Heroes
• Stargate SG-1
• Archer
• Caprica
• Kitchen Nightmares
• Naruto Shippuden
• Legend of the Seeker
• Fight Science
• Better Off Ted
• Dollhouse
• Strictly Sexual
• Samurai X
• Jimmy Kimmel Live
• The Beast
• Cops
• Bleach
• Sanctuary
• The Jay Leno Show

Be sure to tune in to the above shows starting today to see the Windows Home Server commercials live on Hulu!

To see them immediately, you can also watch them below, or on the Windows Home Server YouTube Channel.

*Data Recovery

*Media Server

Enjoy!

Nicole

Whenever I’m confused on how to do something and am looking for some help, YouTube is one of the first places I go. Without fail, I can always find some form of video that gives me the answer I need. The Windows Home Server team has also seen the benefits of YouTube, and we thought it would be helpful and fun for our customers if we started making our own videos!

Now, with the new creation of our Windows Home Server videos, we have made our very own Windows Home Server channel on YouTube. On the channel, you will find variety of different videos including:

• Team interviews – learn about Windows Home Server’s team members and how they use the product in their day-to-day lives.
• Windows Home Server overviews – if you are still learning about Windows Home Server, watch an overview on how it can beneficial in your home or even a small business.
• Informational how-to screen casts – each how-to video will show you how to use various features of Windows Home Server.  

Be sure to subscribe to the channel so that you can watch all of our newly added videos!

-Nicole

“Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho

It’s home from work we go . . . “

A familiar song from your youth? That’s right, "Heigh Ho" is a song sung by the seven dwarfs in the 1937 animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, as they come home from (and go to) work. It is the movie’s most popular song, but, while most people mistakenly sing "it’s off to work we go," the lyrics are really “it’s home from work we go.” Just a little trivia for you. 

So what does this have to do with Microsoft? Well, I point out “it’s home from work we go,” because we all want to get home to our Windows Home Server, now don’t we? And Windows Home Server is now in one of the coolest homes around, the Innoventions Dream Home in Tomorrowland at the Disneyland^® Park in Anaheim, California. The home delivers on Walt Disney’s vision for showcasing cutting-edge technologies that make life better and easier.   

This home of the future has recently been updated and now features the HP MediaSmart EX495 Home Server. You can check out a virtual tour of the home here. Hint: look behind the desk in the family room where the white arrow is pointing. You’ll see other cool Microsoft products in the home, including an Xbox 360 Elite and Microsoft keyboard and mouse.

The Innoventions Dream Home was first introduced in June 2008 with Microsoft as an original exhibitor , and the home has been a huge hit since then. The home, which shows how a connected digital lifestyle can simplify and enhance many aspects of daily family life, is a perfect showcase for how Windows Home Server helps families centralize and connect their digital experiences.

The Innoventions Dream Home is both a show and a showcase, offering guests a hands-on experience with new in-home technologies, some that are practical and some that are just truly astounding – like the Magic Mirror, a virtual mirror that projects accessories, hairstyles and clothes from your closet onto your reflection, allowing you try out different "looks."

Also, check out the Taylor Morrison Dream Home Giveaway contest on the Innoventions Dream Home site. Depending on where you live, looks like you could be in the running to win the home of your dreams – the perfect place to put your Windows Home Server!

- Stephanie

Many small business owners know the benefits of having a server in the office, but cannot always justify the price of one or the additional IT cost that goes along with it. So what is the other option if owners want the benefits, but not the cost? Windows Home Server of course! Windows Home Server is a perfect fit for Small and Home Offices and comes at a much lower cost than other larger servers. Feature sets of Windows Home Server such as user permissions, expandable storage, remote access, and data protection are something that a business should not live without.

Last year in our 2009 user survey, we learned that the number of home-based businesses using Windows Home Server nearly tripled in the last year. This seems to indicate that HP was onto something by introducing their Data Vault into the market – the first Windows Home Server to specifically target the SOHO space.

*HP Storage Works X500 Data Vault

It is very exciting for us to see the home server category and Windows Home Server quickly propelling into the SOHO market. Because of this, we are happy to share our newly created SOHO page with you! Now a part of our Windows Home Server Web site, you can learn more about how Windows Home Server will help make your business more efficient and effective.

On this new page, you can watch case study videos and see first-hand how Windows Home Server has been positively affecting small businesses. You will even have the opportunity to buy your very own HP Data Vault!

Be sure to also check out some other resources related to Windows Home Server in your small office including Windows Home Server for small businesses, and a previous blog post on the top 10 reasons to use Windows Home Server in your SOHO.

Enjoy!

-Nicole

Computer Shopper: Build Your Own Windows Home Server

Looking for a cool way to repurpose that old PC sitting in the corner? We can’t think of a better use than to build and configure your own Windows Home Server! And Computer Shopper agrees. Check out this new article by Daniel Begun, Computer Shopper “Weekend Project” guru. He gives a great in-depth, step-by-step guide for building your own Windows Home Server. 

Daniel walks us through what hardware you’ll need to get started, how to get your hands on the Windows Server operating systems and then how to configure everything together. Finishing touches include installing the cool add-ins and Windows applications, as well as how to access the vibrant Windows Home Server community for tips, tricks and advice. The article is complete with screen shots and lots of resource links.

Check it out here!     

What better way to prepare for Valentine’s Day with our extended Windows Home Server community than to help us help you show the love for WHS! We’ve got a fun Valentine’s Day promo to announce to kick off the celebrating – thru everyone’s favorite…some Windows Home Server Stickers!

2009 has been a great year and we’re sure 2010 will be even better with the incredible combination of Windows Home Server and Windows 7 protecting, connecting and organizing everything in your digital life. Show off your love for Windows Home Server by letting us send you some of our favorite Home Server stickers including the tattoo, “Mommy book” cover, the blue house and the status houses.

So how do you get your stickers? Usually were all about technology and  e-mail, but this time we’re going OLD SCHOOL with snail mail to avoid keeping any information about you. Just send a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) to the address below. We’ll send you all four stickers pictured above and shred your original envelope.

Send me the WHS stickers!

15580 NE 31st St

Redmond, WA 98052

Make sure to include enough postage to return a sticker pack via U.S. mail. It’s less than one ounce, so a standard First Class stamp will do if you’re in the United States; enclose an envelope with International Reply Coupons (IRC) if you’re outside of the U.S. And be sure to send your envelope in soon — one per person please.
Microsoft will use your self-addressed stamped envelope to send you the offer materials.  We will not keep or maintain your contact information.

* We sadly don’t have an unlimited supply of these, so this offer is good only for the first 2,500 to respond. Limit one set of stickers per person. This offer is non-transferable and cannot be combined with any other offer.  This offer ends on Feb 28^th or while supplies last, and is not redeemable for cash.  Taxes, if any, are the sole responsibility of the recipient.  Any gift returned as non-deliverable will not be re-sent. Please allow 6 – 8 weeks for shipment of your stickers. Due to government gift and ethics laws, government employees (including military and employees of public education institutions) are not eligible to participate.