The things that are better left unspoken : Product and Manufacturer News, Microsoft Windows 8

System Center 2012 ServicePack 1 has arrived for TechNet and MSDN subscribers

Sander Berkouwer — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 11:58:40 GMT

System Center 2012 was released in April 2012, well before Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 were released. As a consequence, these Operating Systems weren't supported. This functionality was slated for System Center 2012 with ServicePack 1, among other new exciting new functionality. This makes ServicePack 1 for System Center 2012 not just an ordinary ServicePack.

Per December 20, 2012, TechNet and MSDN subscribers can download System Center 2012 with ServicePack 1 in the following packages:

System Center 2012 – Virtual Machine Manager with SP1
(x64, ISO file, 1320 MB)
System Center 2012 – Data Protection Manager with SP1
(x64, ISO file, 4721 MB)
System Center 2012 – Configuration Manager and Endpoint Protection with SP1
(x86 and x64, ISO file, 904 MB)
System Center 2012 – Service Manager with SP1
(x64, ISO file, 404 MB)
System Center 2012 – Operations Manager with SP1
(x86 and x64, ISO file, 1059 MB)
System Center 2012 – Orchestrator with SP1
(x86, ISO file, 157 MB)
System Center 2012 – App Controller with SP1
(x64, ISO file, 77 MB)

All these downloads include the Chinese-Simplified, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese-Brazil, Russian, and Spanish languages, except for Configuration Manager and Endpoint Protection (this download doesn’t include the Italian, Portuguese-Brazil and Spanish language) and both Operations Manager and Orchestrator (English only).

What’s New

Service Pack 1 for System Center 2012 is not just a maintenance release, it also includes a lot of new features:

Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 have RTM’ed

Sander Berkouwer — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 21:45:00 GMT

Just as Microsoft announced, both Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 have been released to manafucturers (RTM’ed) in the first week of August. Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 were RTM'ed with buildnumbers 9200 and build dates of July 25th, 2012.

The complete list of products that have been released today is:

Windows 8
Windows 8 Professional
Windows 8 Enterprise
Windows Server 2012 Standard
Windows Server 2012 Datacenter
Hyper-V Server 2012

Also, today, Microsoft RTM’ed Visual Studio 2012 and .Net Framework 4.5.

What does this mean?

This milestone depicts the final stage in the development of these two Operating Systems. The product teams have done their work and all the code, features, artwork and EULAs have been included.

What’s next?

Microsoft is now readying its distribution channel to get Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 to customers. These channels include TechNet websites, MSDN websites, Microsoft Stores and OEM partners.

Windows 8 for customers and Microsoft enthusiasts

Windows 8 will be available to customers on October 26th, 2012, together with Microsofts Windows RT-powered Surface tablets and devices from other manufacturers. People with MSDN and TechNet accounts will gain access on August 15.

Windows 8 for businesses

Volume License customers with active Software Assurance on the Windows Client, Professional Desktop or Enterprise Desktop will be able to download the bits and product keys on August 16. Partners will also gain access on August 16, unless they are Action Pack subscribers. (these partners have to wait untill August 20). Buying Windows 8 without Software Assurance within Volume License programs will become available on September 1 through Microsoft Volume License Resellers.

Windows Server 2012

The only officially announced data for Windows Server 2012 is September 4th, 2012. On this date, Microsoft hosts an online launch event for the new cloud-optimized Windows Server Operating System.

Visit this site to save the date for the launch event.

Party on!

Windows 8 Release Preview (Build 8400) ready

Sander Berkouwer — Thu, 31 May 2012 19:10:42 GMT

Today, Microsoft has made the Release Preview available for Windows 8.

This is great news, since the Release Preview is Sinofsky-speak for Release Candidate (RC). Typically, in Microsoft development this is the last pre-release version of the product before it hits Release to Manufacturers (RTM). Then, the bits are ‘done’ and find their way to volume license customers, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and after General Availability (GA) to you.

The Release Preview of Windows 8 is available in 32bit and 64bit (x86-64) through the links below:

Download Windows 8 Release Preview x86
ISO-file English 2,5 GB

Download Windows 8 Release Preview x64
ISO-file English 3,3 GB

* Other languages and formats are available on the download page.

Product Key: TK8TP-9JN6P-7X7WW-RFFTV-B7QPF

As you might expect, there’s no download for the ARM-based Windows RT flavor of Windows 8. All indications are this version will not be released in the same time schedule of the above versions.

The build number of the Windows 8 Release Preview is 8400.

Windows 8 Consumer Preview is here (build 8250)

Sander Berkouwer — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 14:39:00 GMT

Microsoft, today, released the next pre-release version for the client version of Windows 8. It is available in both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) versions.

This release is dubbed ‘Consumer Preview’, which, in contrast to the previous ‘Developer Preview’ version, dating September 14 2011, targeted at developers, is targeted towards consumers and businesses.

Consumers, mostly, will enjoy the many touch- and keyboard navigation tweaks that have been made to the Start screen. Now, more than in the Developer Preview, the Start Screen is a mere screen, supporting both multi-touch and traditional keyboard and mouse interfaces. It’s still immersive, but it’s more of a full screen Start Menu now, compared to the experience of a totally new User Experience (UX) in the Developer Preview.

Businesses are also heavily targeted with this pre-release version. While the name might be a little confusing for this purpose, Microsoft has released a 15-page Windows 8 Consumer Preview Guide for Business document, detailing the new productivity capabilities, flexibility and manageability. Here are a couple of excerpts:

Windows 8 helps bridge the gap between users who want a more personal and meaningful experience and IT professionals who want a more secure, manageable operating system.

With Windows 8, workers can type, swipe, or click their way
through the work day.

Also, available are the 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) versions of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) that enable systems administrators to manage roles and features on Windows Server 8.

Download

Windows 8 Consumer Preview is now available in ISO-format for you to download. Windows 8 Consumer Preview is available in the English, Chinese (Simplified), French, German and Japanese language.

Use the links below to download Windows 8 Consumer Preview in English :

Windows 8 Consumer Preview (x86) (2.5 GB)
Windows 8 Consumer Preview (x64) (3.3 GB)

The easiest way to convert these ISO files to DVDs in Windows 7 is to use Windows Disc Image Burner. Alternatively, you can use the USB/DVD download tool provided by the Microsoft Store. You can also download Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup, which includes tools that allow you to create a DVD or USB flash drive from an ISO file (Windows Vista or Windows 7 required).