Microsoft has published their Experience Pack for Tablet PC, a package of add-on's for Windows XP Tablet PC Edition.

Some of these items have been available in single-item downloads before - The snipping tool, for example, has been available as a beta for some time, and is greatly improved in this final release. 

But some are new - namely the Media Transfer option, which requires you to run Windows Media Connect on your home PC, and then lets you stream or transfer media files (photos, videos, music, etc) to your tablet PC to be viewed/listened to there.

And it's free. Your can download it here.

From Microsoft's web site:

Overview

If you have a Tablet PC, the Experience Pack is a must. Download the Experience Pack and get six new programs that will help you be more productive and creative.

Ink Desktop
Take notes directly on your desktop for quick and easy access later. Jot down a phone number, directions, or top priorities for the day.

Snipping Tool
Use your tablet pen to select a portion of a web site, document, or other content on your screen. You can add handwritten comments and then paste it into an e-mail message or other program.

Ink Art
Paint with your tablet pen using Ink Art, which simulates an artist’s toolset. Choose from different textured canvases, paint brushes, chalks, crayons, and more.

Media Transfer
Copy or stream media files from your home computer to your Tablet PC, so that you can enjoy your favorite music, home videos, or digital photo albums wherever you go. [ed: You'll need Windows Media Connect on your home computer, instructions are here]

Ink Crossword
Solve crosswords on your Tablet PC with your tablet pen. Twelve puzzles come with the game. You can also download a free daily puzzle and purchase more puzzle packs online.

Energy Blue Theme Pack
Brighten the look of your Tablet PC desktop, Start menu, windows, and toolbars. Also get a new Windows Media Player skin that’s customized for the Tablet PC.

Microsoft's Office Online has a useful one-page conglomeration of deployment resources for SharePoint Portal Server. It's a great resource for those who need the info and appreciate the one-stop-authoritative-shop approach to organizing information. Of course, you'd think if people were looking to deploy SPS, they'd be exactly the types to appreciate that approach.

The only thing it seems they could so better would be to run it on, oh say... SharePoint Portal Server? ;)

Other good SharePoint Portal Server resources at Office Online:

• SharePoint Portal Server Technical Library
• Office Online Home Page for SharePoint Portal Server

Lots more links branch off of that last item, too. It's nice to see the Microsoft-provided content continuing to grow, as documentation in this area has historically been scattered and incomplete.

I decided today to check out WB Editor 2, a blog-posting and editing app that's available for Windows. It's darn-right cool.

Unfortunately, some of the XML-RPC functions don't want to work with dasBlog, even though that's the specific software I designated when I set up the blog account in the program interface. So, I can upload the screenshot here with the tool - I'll have to add those manually.

I have to say, I really like the user interface - it's quite well-polished and allows easy access to all sort of functionality. So, I'll be contacting the author to find out what's up with the dasBlog glitches and we'll see what can be done to help there.

At any rate, if you are a Windows user and you would like a better/different way to post to your weblog than the simple web text entry UI, you might want to check out WB Editor 2 and see what you think.

(Thumbnails added with another tool I like called BlogJet - click to view full-size images)

When Microsoft sets its sights on a market segment, look out. It'll happen, sooner or later.

I've been using a whole bunch of the latest mobile phones recently to test them and see how well they'll work for business use. The fact of the matter is, most of them pale in comparison to the Blackberry devices. Blackberries are great tools. All the others are great gadgets. At work, I need a great tool more than a great gadget.

But what I really want is the best of both worlds. Push email, real-time sync on email, calendar, and all that. Lookups live over the air from my company's active directory. MP3 player, phone, voice recorder, MP3 and poly ring-tones... and the RIM form factor works great - he typical PDA-phone running Windows Mobile is a little too goofy and unusable - especially in the keyboard area. Blackberry keyboards work great - the palmOne and PocketPC keyboards I have used - well, they just suck.

From Engadget, with reference to an article at Internet Week, word about the upcoming Windows Mobile 2005 and how Microsoft likely intends to compete with RIM's Blackberry devices - and server.

This will raise eyebrows and - if the Windows Mobile devices can be improved to be a better tool and less gadgety - it's entirely possible they could take away a lot of the market currently sufficiently served only by RIM...

Microsoft wants to kill the Blackberry dead with Windows Mobile 2005

If their recent deals to license their ActiveSync technology to Nokia, Symbian, and palmOne are any indication, Microsoft is working hard to steadily encircle the Blackberry with the next version of Windows Mobile, aka Windows Mobile 2005 aka Magneto. The plan? CRN reports that Microsoft is finally going to unveil Windows Mobile 2005 at the Mobile and Embedded Developers Conference in Las Vegas next month, and that they’re going to be taking a serious swipe at RIM by adding Blackberry-like support for push email and live content updating to Windows Mobile-powered Pocket PCs and Smartphones. The CrackBerry’s pretty damn entrenched, but Microsoft knows a thing or two about dislodging a market-dominating competitor, and so will be reviving a familiar tactic: to compete with RIM’s server product they’re going to be giving away their Exchange 2003 Server Pack 2 update, which adds support for push, for free.

What the heck is going on with MSN search? If I search for my name, I get all this random weird stuff. AAARRRGGGHHH!!!

The weird thing is, if you read it closely, it's so very close to being true... Hmmm...

Web Results
1-8 of 20733 containing Greg Hughes (0.23 seconds)
Results

• Citing ridiculous work hours, Hughes's computer calls it quits

  In a case believed to be the first of its kind, Greg Hughes's work computer has gone on strike. "At first the cursor kept dodging around," an angry Hughes said. "Then it started spontaneously dropping into "hibernate" mode. It's just MALINGERING." Technical specialist Evan Chan agreed. "The poor thing sent out a hundred and forty three emails after four am this morning. It's just had it. Give the little guy a mental health day or something. Nobody could keep Hughes's hours without going crazy...

etc etc etc...

Are you a GTA game fan? Into Legos (like someone I know)?

Then this is for you.

Check out Grand Theft Auto - Lego City.

Yeah - it's a Lego-people version of the GTA Vice City trailer...

Windows Server 2003 SP1 was finalized and released to the world today at 5:20 PM Pacific Standard Time, in English and German language versions. Let the compatibility testing begin!

• Review overview information
• Get detailed technical information
• Download Windows Server SP1
• Windows Server 2003 SP1 FAQ
• Top 10 Reasons to Install Windows Server 2003 SP1

In addition, Windows Server 2003 x64 Editions and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition were released to manufacturing (RTM), but they won't be available until sometime in April.

In the latest chapter of what is apparently turning out to be an ongoing video saga that somehow has something to do with the upcoming TechEd conference in June, Scott and Rory drink the Microsoft KoolAid.

Click on over to see the latest video. Funny. Weird. But hey, it's Rory and Scott, whatcha expect?

A friend introduced me to a book recently, and after reading though it I went right out and got my own copy. Actually I bought three, so I would have two to give as gifts. It's called REAL Ultimate Power - The Official Ninja Book, and it's hilarious.

Says "author" Robert Hamburger:

"Hi, this book is all about ninjas, REAL NINJAS. This book is awesome. My name is Robert and I can't stop thinking about ninjas. These guys are cool; and by cool, I mean totally sweet."

From random ninja fantasies to ninja dreams to term papers written both on and off Ritalin, it's a completely random and funny book to read.

From the intro to the book:

Dear Everybody,

This is my last will and testimony. If you find this book, then you should consider me dead meat. I have left the neighborhood, because I am a true live ninja and I have a destiny - total sweetness. You probably don't understand what that is, because you're an idiot. Everybody I know doesn't understand the complete sweetness of ninjas and it hurts me - you hurt me. But don't get me wrong - I don't want your heads to explode. I forgive you, but I just deserve something cooler.

You can have all my stuff: my shirt, my beach towel, and that bowl. I don't care. But most importantly, I leave you this book so maybe, just maybe, you can understand the way of the ninja - REAL Ultimate Power.

Farewell dummies,
Robert Hamburger

Highly recommended for those who like to flip out and long for total sweetness. Seriously, it's the best $8.96 I've spent in a long time, just for the laughs. Oh and don't forget the web site.

(And by the way, there's colorful language in both the book and the site, so don't go there if you don't like that kind of stuff)

As I was checking out a few of the ways the earthquake that happened earlier today is being covered, I happened upon something I had not noticed before: MSNBC.com has a whole section of Citizen Journalism:

http://cj.msnbc.com

It's not quite completely run by and written by plain-old citizen journalists, but it's still cool. MSNBC employees collect stories and letters sent to cj@msnbc.com and from there they publish the content.

Cool idea. Interesting reads.

Do you have a living will/advanced medical directive? If something happens to you, who should make decisions for you about medical care? Do those people know what your wishes are? How do they know?

We have all seen recent news stories that have brought this concept of advanced directives to the forefront of our minds. For my part, I don't have a directive in place yet, but I will before the month is over with.

Regardless of your wishes or desires, an advanced directive a good thing to do - not just for you, but also for the those who might have to act in your best interest.

For people living in the United States, PDF forms for Advanced Directives can be downloaded for free at The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Go here to get one for your state. Complete instructions covering how to fill it out and what to do with it are included.

Wow, researchers like David Hansen at UT-Dallas are doing some robotics work that's both amazing and freakin' creepy. The image on the right is not of a human, it is an interactive, expressive android. It's name is Eva and it's - well - go see for yourself in this Quicktime video:

Video: Eva talks [Quicktime .mov]

Hmmm, I am not so sure I like the idea of fake people acting like real people. It's fascinating and interesting, but it also looks like one of those things in science that has the potential to eventually get out of control.

Or maybe I'm just crazy. Crazy like a pirate.

[vie Engadget and University of Texas-Dallas]

Many in America complain about how much their school systems stink. Yeah, well - it turns out that over in Melbourne, Australia they've got one up on all us Yanks:

Great name, and such a great opportunity for toilet humor.

F-Secure has a real knack for creative sarcasm on it's security weblog, and today is no exception in their headline linking to an interesting report. Apparently, a study has been published showing the relative number of vulnerabilities, comparing Windows 2003 Server to a Linux distribution in several configurations.

Update: In a won't-really-build-confidence-with-the-common-folk move, apparently the researchers did not reveal at the RSA conference that this study was funded (but according to the researchers, not influenced by) Microsoft. They reveal this fact in the published study itself, but did not tell the audience at the conference when they presented the results. Read more here.

Get the PDF file of the study here. For a document describing the methodology in detail and for more information (including an email address to provide comments), go here.

F-Secure used the headline, "It's Official - Linux Sucks?" No doubt others will comment that the reality of the situation is that Windows is better for stupid people (meaning people who don't harden their machines). Flames will go forth, but you can't deny the report.

The end result of the study is that Windows Server 2003 was more secure than the Linux distributions tested.

Uh, heh... That should make a few people stand up and scream.

Using out-of-the-box, standard/recommended OS installs, the researchers found that the Windows 2003 server was more secure, with less vulnerabilities counted and a lower average for days of risk, when compared to the Linux distributions tested (Red Hat Enterprise Linux in default and "minimal" recommended configurations):

"In this report, we have studied both quantitative and qualitative data that affects the vulnerability and thus operational security risk of different web server platforms. In order to produce a meaningful comparison of platforms, systems were tested in their default configurations and then looked at in minimal server role configurations. When the default configuration did not provide for a functional web server, systems were configured according to manufacturer’s directions."

For a quick Readers' Digest style overview of the result of the study, get the free PDF of the report and flip down to page 35 and look at the charts on that page. I won't post all the images and tables here, that's what the report is for.

In reality, this is a complex study that is worth reading. The methodologies applied appear to be good ones, and the results are pretty compelling. The real world is never as simple as s lab environment, but if nothing else, this certainly shows how far Windows Server has come over the years (or else it shows how poor Linux distributions have become, or maybe some of both).

Forgive the headline please, Robert. It's all in good humor. 

In a completely understandable and laudable move, Robert Scoble has announced he's decided to give up publishing to his linkblog, in order to have more time for more important things in life. You know, important things like family and friends. Good for him!

All things in moderation - That's a lesson I know I've had to learn from time to time. The truth of the matter is that sometimes the best way to manage over 1000 weblogs a day is - well - to not manage over 1000 weblogs a day. Or at least to manage them less. I know I just cut my own RSS subscriptions back drastically last weekend, so I am back down around 300 feeds now from something like 700 before the surgery. It took a drastic slash across my RSS reader, but it needed to be done.

Of course, the demise of Robert's link blog is also a bit of a bummer in a way, since for many it's been a regular source of great links and information - or even more often for me, links to links to links...

Multi-layer clickthroughs from Robert's linkblog have always been valuable to me. More often than not I will read something he posts on the linkblog, and that will entice me to click through to the linked author, and from there I will uncover more interesting things and links to other interesting people.

But it's completely understandable that when you find you're spending anywhere from 8% to 33% of your day linking to and for others (sleep time included), a selection of robots just might do an effective enough job of what up til now has been a very human endeavor. Maybe. Those services show me what I am looking for based on what I put into them. The difference with the "human aggregator," so to speak, is that I am often pointed to things I would never have looked for. Of course, there are also other services existing and coming that will help people see what others are reading and how popular items are, in order to find things of interest. I hope those don't work out to be the electronic version of the high-school popularity contest, but we'll see.

So, when Robert points to a few popular search and aggregation services as alternatives to his link blog, I can't help but think of the perfect tongue-in-cheek name for them as a collective replacement for Robert's link blog...

"Robot Scoble"

(Yeah, you have to read it carefully. Spelling counts.)

Says Robert:

"I've been looking at my link blog, and the requests lately about it, and I've decided just to stop doing it.

"Why? Well, there are so many other ways for you to find cool new blogs now. Pubsub. Bloglines. Technorati. Feedster. NewsGator (Greg Reinacker reminded me again that NewsGator has a really cool set of online services including a search engine)."

Robert's right, but again it's worth pointing out that the human factor is part of what makes his linkblog so valuable - I think many people liked it because they appreciate the "Scoble Filter" - you don't get that with automation. Well, not quite yet anyhow.

At the same time, it had to be painful to maintain, with well over a hundred entries some days, and since Robert says he may still post a little bit there from time to time, hopefully we will still get a few Robert Scoble Human Filter links now and then.

Hey, there's always his regular weblog. In fact, chances are his Scobleizer weblog will just become a better place for information - kind of a quality over quantity thing.

By the way, in the linkblog department - Jeremy Zawodny's linkblog is another I subscribe to and enjoy, but it is quite different than Robert's.